"HEY! Dr Newbie, let us out!"
"I- I can't Dr Torres, Dr Yang made me-"
"-Does it look like I care what Dr Yang said?"
"To be fair, erm, Calliope, he can't actually see you."
It was hearing that calming voice that brought her back out of her fit of rage. Callie's focus switched from the door and intern (who was destined for scut duty for the next six months) to the love of her life, who stood right in front of her, nervously fiddling with her scrubs. Her tone and face were soft, almost resigned, but to what, she didn't know. The possibility of being stuck in the on-call room with her for hours? She wanted her out of her house after all, why would she want to stay locked a room with her?
Arizona took a couple of tentative steps forward, noting Callie's posture loosened when she said her name. The words left her mouth without a deliberation, if she had thought it through, she would have lost the courage. "Is what Yang said true, you want to stay?"
Callie replayed her friend's words in her head, 'Arizona wants Callie to stay with her, Callie wants to stay with Arizona'. Wait, did Arizona want her to stay? Cristina wouldn't make such a comment if it wasn't true, she messed with other people, but never her. "I- I do."
That was all she needed; Arizona threw herself at the brunette before she could form a verbal response. It was only after a few seconds did she utter the words she had been desperate to say. "I want you to stay too." She buried her face into Callie's neck.
They shared a tight embrace; Callie wrapped her arm round the back of Arizona's head as the blonde held onto the waist she had adored for years. They stood there for a moment, no words exchanged, no loosening of grips, just content to hold the other. After an inordinate amount of time, Callie brought them back into reality. "Probably best I stay in the guest room for a bit though, right? Don't want to confuse Sof and rush this, you're it for me Arizona. I don't want us to mess up because we have zero communication skills." She gave her a delicate, reassuring kiss on the top of her head.
Whilst they had both enjoyed their night together, it made sense, clearly they both still sucked at talking to each other. As she whispered "I agree" into a comforting chest, a text came through. Arizona retrieved the device from her lab coat, pulling back only slightly, and read the contents of Alex's message aloud; 'I see Yang's sorted it out, you're idiots. Love you both but learn to talk, and that's coming from me. Laters boss, don't do anything I wouldn't do in that on-call room'.
They looked at each other, embarrassment etched across their faces. What did Arizona say once? 'Got my ass handed to me by Alex Karev'. It was humbling when he was a second year resident, even worse now he was an attending/friend. He was right though, they sucked at it, they still had a long way to go but maybe this could be the first major 'hey remember that time when we didn't talk and just assumed?' event they could refer back to in years to come.
Her voice was tender, "Hey."
Arizona didn't want to remove herself from the safety of Callie's body. "Mmm?"
"Will you go on a second date with me?"
"I would love to, Calliope."
Callie kissed blonde hair again, withdrew and made her way to the door. Hurt and frustration had given way to love and happiness, but she wasn't going to show the intern that. She was not going to let him get away with locking two attendings in an on-call room. "Dr Newbie, we've figured it out, now remove the barrier and let your superiors out of here or you'll be in the morgue cleaning up dead body fat for the remainder of your internship."
With that, the door flung open, and he made his escape, maybe he should have accepted a place at Seatle Pres after all.
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The following night, Arizona pulled up to a local community centre, she'd asked if she could take the reins for this one as she'd always wanted to do it. She did inform Callie it wouldn't be a traditional second date, but still one she'd enjoy.
"Now class, I want you to draw one thing that makes you happy. Not a person, not an animal, not a memory, but an object."
Art class? A frickin' art class Arizona? Really?! She looked over at the blonde, who's tongue was firmly held between her teeth, concentrating on the task. The problem for this one is that Callie's happiness had never been based on material things, she loved people, actions, motions, but an inanimate object? No, that's more for Aria. After surveying the room for a bit, and realising how serious her person was taking it, after some careful consideration, she drew a very dodgy looking femur. She leant across. "What did you draw?"
Her whispered question was met with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not telling you Calliope, that's the point of this class, we reveal it at the end."
"So we're having a date but I can't talk to you?"
"Okay one, this is only part one of three, give me some credit." She paused, tilted her head to inspect her work before continuing. "And two, I've always wanted to do this with someone, but you're the only person I'd ever want to do this with."
Damn, play at her heartstrings. "Okay fine. But it's either a stethoscope or a donut."
How in the hell did she… Fine, two can play at that game. "And yours will be a bone, Calliope." Arizona took the sheepish look, rosy cheeks and silence as an affirmative. She loved making Callie squirm, in more ways than one.
After allowing some time for the group to finish, the teacher continued his instructions. "Next, I want you to draw an action you like doing…"
Callie's attention quickly darted to Arizona and flashed a pair of cheeky eyebrows.
"…whether it be a motion…"
That was followed by a suggestive smile.
"…or a hobby, an interest or again, just something you like doing."
Callie went to lean over but was instantly halted by a precariously close paintbrush. She looked behind the offending object and was met by warning blue eyes. If the brunette moved even a centimetre closer, she'd have a face full of paint to contend with. Sufficiently put out, she huffed and returned her attention to the canvas. She drew a stereo and what could kind of pass as a human figure in a pose that would indicate they were dancing. After more consideration, she drew a second figure next to it, making sure she changed the colour on the brush to a soft yellow as she finished the hair.
After warding off her person's flirtatious actions, Arizona couldn't decide between drawing someone on wheeled shoes or someone holding what she'd deem a scalpel, but everyone would else would probably see it as a knife. They were both true, but her most favourite? She looked over at Callie, who had clearly thought of her 'action' (and hoped whatever she was drawing remained family friendly) and smiled. She knew, she knew at that moment what her favourite action was, it was just being with her. She drew a couch with two larger figures and a smaller one cuddling. Well, what she took as cuddling, could have been wrestling.
They were told to draw more - favourite memory, favourite TV show, favourite music artist for example until they had ten or so pictures on their canvas.
After going round the group, the teacher landed on the pair. "So, Calliope…" Arizona snorted as Callie glared at her. When she signed them up for this class, she purposefully signed Callie as 'Calliope', knowing that's how the teacher would refer to her. Arizona loved her person's name, loved how it sounded on her tongue and loved it even more when it escaped her lips when making love… but she also knew someone else saying it would absolutely wind Callie up. "…Please reveal your favourite TV show."
Callie turned the canvas round to face Arizona, she held a confident smile until she noticed she was met by a face that only conveyed confusion. "What is that?"
"It's a cake."
"What sort of cake?"
"A vanilla sponge!" She pointed her brush to the red line, indicating the strawberry jam.
"It looks like a half-blooded scrub towel."
"Does not!" She leant forward and admired her work; it was clearly a cake. She returned her attention to Arizona and noticed she'd turned canvas round too. "Well, what's yours?"
"Duh, a cupcake."
"Looks like we should change your rating to PG there, Dr Robbins."
She scoffed. "Oh now you're just making stuff up."
The teacher decided to interrupt this back and forth before Callie could elaborate just what Arizona's cupcake, which sported a cherry on top, did indeed look like. "So, if these are both baked goods, I'm guessing it's some sort of cooking show?"
They were in agreement with that at least. They looked at each other, cheeks flushed, smiles warm. It was the show they bonded over when they first started dating and the show that brought them somewhat back together after the crash. They had continued to watch it whilst Callie recuperated after the attack, both relieved it hadn't been tarnished by the later experience. "Yes, the Great British Bake-Off."
The knowing looks soon changed when Arizona's eyes dropped to another picture. "Why have you drawn a white tree trunk?
Incredulous. "That's a BONE."
She scoffed. "Funny lookin' bone."
Oh, offense was taken. "Well what is that? Some sort of deformed, two headed snake?"
Her mouth dropped open; "It's a stethoscope, Dr Torres."
"Funny lookin' stethoscope" she muttered.
After more reveals, the class had essentially given up, the two surgeons were in their own little world, taunting each other for their lack of artistic skills. For their favourite memory, both had drawn figures wearing a wedding dress, although Callie insisted Arizona's looked like a bedsheet and so assumed it was an early Halloween party with Sofia.
They left the hall 20 minutes later, still giggling, poking and teasing each other, they may have been kick-ass surgeons, but neither were helping Sofia with her art homework anytime soon. When they reached the car, both out of breath from laughing (Arizona even had to walk away to ease a stitch) they managed to calm down and caught each other's gaze. When was the last time they'd laughed like this? Playfully baited each other? Who knew. What they did know at that point is they wanted to seal the first part of the date with a kiss. Simultaneously dropping their work on the floor, Callie inched closer until she had Arizona lightly pinned against her car. Her left hand reached for a right thigh and gently caressed the underside, raising it slightly off the ground. Arizona's hands were in one of her most favourite of places, running through soft locks as she pulled Callie close. There was nothing between them.
"Call-i- Calliope, we- we need to- to…"
She smiled against a pale neck. "Need to what, Arizona?"
How could she ask Callie to stop kissing her lips, jaw and neck when it's all she'd wanted for months? Thankfully (or not), their little make out session had caught the attention of some teenage boys who were very vocal in showing their appreciation. Not wanting to give them a free show, they reluctantly pulled apart. After straightening herself out, Callie popped both canvases into the boot and was surprised when Arizona held out her hand instead of getting in the car. "Ready for part two?"
A curious smile crept across an excited face as they made their way back to the community centre. This time they took a right instead of a left when entering and as they made their way further down the corridor, the sound of music steadily increased.
They reached their destination and Callie looked inside. "Dancing? You're taking me dancing?"
Arizona just nodded, not taking her attention away from Callie's dazzling smile that she knew she was the cause of. She could get lost in those eyes and aura for days. After pulling away, she scanned the room, and her heart sank. She didn't know what she expected, it was a dance class after all, but for some reason she didn't expect salsa, tango and every dance under the sun that required quick footed movements and the confidence to complete them. The picture on the flyer depicted a couple slow dancing, although could have been interpreted as the waltz.
Callie instantly felt the blonde tense and the face she had memorised in her mind looked broken. She could see the panic, the embarrassment and the total devastation because she was about to do the one thing Arizona never wanted to do again - let her down.
Callie wouldn't give her the chance. "You know, as fun as this looks, I'm kinda beat, it's been a long day and that art class was more stressful than an ACL repair." That earned a snort from the blonde. "How about we skip this for tonight?"
Arizona knew exactly what she was doing but was too resigned to the fact that she wouldn't be able to form a convincing argument. She was heartbroken, ashamed and quickly wiped a few tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes. Her reply was meek. "Erm, yeah okay."
They headed back to the parking lot, the jovial pace when entering replaced with heavy footed sadness. As Arizona's hand reached for the car door, Callie stopped her and pulled it to her chest. She knew Arizona wouldn't be able to make eye contact, so she placed soft kisses against it and waited for her to look up. She was heartbroken when a set of slightly puffy eyes and a dejected demeanour met her head on. Arizona was willing to do something Callie wanted to do, despite still not having the confidence to do so herself. She could in her apartment, and didn't mind pulling out some moves in front of family, friends, colleagues and even some patients, but complete strangers who might laugh and judge? It was too much.
They loved dancing before the crash, they had gone to a couple of clubs and often ended up dancing together whilst Callie cooked. It was this memory that made the decision for her. She grabbed her phone from her pocket and scrolled until she found the piece she was looking for. She increased the volume, put the phone on airplane mode, placed it on top of the car and pressed play. Out came soft music, perfect for two lovers to share a close embrace.
She looked at her slightly more confused blonde and held out her hand. "May I have this dance?"
The tears she had previously wiped away were back as she choked back a laugh, nodding due to her inability to form what she'd consider coherent words.
They danced, cheek to cheek, feet shuffling slightly, the act of dancing secondary in Callie's mind, she just longed, had longed for what seemed like an age, to hold Arizona this close again.
Elvis Presley serenaded them with 'Can't Help Falling in Love'
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
The Righteous Brothers with 'Unchained Melody'
Oh, my love
My darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I, I need your love
God speed your love to me
And Ben E. King with 'Stand by Me'.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Other artists and groups delicately coursed their romantic sounds around the couple and into the night's sky. The blonde could barely keep her head up, using the opportunity to lay into the crook of Callie's neck again, where she felt most safe, most comforted, most secure, most at home.
Callie whispered into her ear. "I love you."
The response was barely audible due to the level of emotion, but it was there. "I love you too."
The opening verse of Savage Garden's 'Truly Madly Deeply' had resulted in them pulling even closer together as the tears freely fell.
I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need
I love you more with every breath truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on
A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning
As the song came to its melodic conclusion, they were suddenly met with KISS's 'Crazy Night', the opening 'WOO' bringing them out of their contented little cocoon. Callie must have selected the wrong song for that specific playlist. After bringing their selves down from the laughter and slight scare the change in pace caused, they both straightened up and the brunette posed the question, "So, although this night has been perfect, what does part three consist of, Dr Robbins?"
"Burger and fries on the pier."
She couldn't think of a better finale. "All right! I'm starving!" That destination did require a drive however, she grabbed her phone and reversed all previous actions. As she went to go round the passenger's side, the voicemail notification pinged, bringing her attention to the device. She hit the icon and placed the phone to her ear.
"Hi, this is a message for Dr Torres, this is Detective Gibson of the Seatle Police Department, just to let you know that Mr Johnson pleaded guilty to your attack and the attorney would like to discuss the appropriate sentencing options with you. Please call me back on this number and we can arrange for a home visit or you can come to the station."
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A/N - Guys, thinking about changing the rating from a T to an M to allow for some sexy time within the next few chapters, but not sure if you want it to remain suitable for all ages. Let me know in the reviews/DMs and I'll be guided by the readers.