(no subject)
Title: It’s A Wonderful Life 1/1
Author: elise50
Pairing: Mark/Callie, mentions of others
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
For: aclairec who requested an angst/romantic fic with Mallie babies and something about either Mark or Callie’s past. Hope you like it.
A/N: I think I laid it on a little thick, but whatever it's Christmas time, so it should be allowed. Anyway Merry Christmas! (Just in case I don't get a chance to say it again.)
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“There’s a bajillion gazillion kids in the world daddy, does he read all our letters?”
Mark smiled, looking over at the raven haired five year old staring up at him. Her eyes were so piercing, full of imagination and wonder.
“Of course he does.”
“How?” She asked, scrunching her freckled nose at his response.
“He’s a really fast reader.”
Smirking at Andie’s ‘you’ve got to be shittin’ me if you think I believe that bull’ face, Mark reached up and scratched the whitening stubble on his chin as his mind reached for an outrageous enough answer.
“Magic.”
Blinking rapidly Andie glanced up at the ceiling, letting her father’s reply settle before finally accepting his explanation.
“Oh,” she nodded her head and grabbed the red crayon lying beside the white construction paper she’d started her letter on, to continue writing.
Sitting up straight in his chair Mark leaned forward, intending to peak over the side of his daughter’s shoulder. Catching onto to his objective, she scooped her arm, covered her paper and tilted her head toward him.
“Daaaddddy! I’m not done!”
Chuckling at her huff, Mark raised his hands in innocence and fell back against his seat. Andrea Sloan was a clone of her mother; feisty, beautiful, and someone he would love for the rest of his life.
“Christian!”
Swiveling his head in the direction of the hallway, Mark watched as a small crop of light brown hair darted toward him. Giggling, the boy glanced back to the doorway where a freshly showered Callie stood. Picking up his speed as his mother made her way into the kitchen, he ran with more determination and quickly leapt into his father’s lap.
“Very funny,” Callie bent, reaching for the boy snuggled against his father’s chest. “Time for bed little man.”
“Mommy…no no no.”
“Yes yes yes.”
“No.”
Callie pursed her lips, raised an eyebrow and looked to Mark for help. Laughing quietly, Mark shifted the boy in his arms, forcing the uncooperative child to face him.
“Listen to mommy little guy, it’s time for bed.”
“Noooo daddy,” the two year old whined, shaking his body for emphasis.
“Do still want to go to Uncle Derek’s tomorrow to see your cousins?”
“Yeah!” Christian’s voice brightened and his eyes lit up.
“Then you better go to bed,” Mark spoke sternly, dropping his forehead to the young boy’s, keeping their eyes locked.
Dipping his head in defeat, the boy hugged his father and mumbled an incomprehensible good night. Standing on Mark’s legs, he wobbled and turned to Callie, sending her the patented Sloan grin.
Unable to resist his charm she smiled back and opened her arms to the mischievous toddler, resting him on her hip after he jumped into them. With the child curled into the crook of her neck, Callie focused on her daughter.
“Come on Andie you too.”
“But mommy I’m not done,” the girl looked up in exasperation. Shooting her arm in the air, she raised her hand, “give me five minutes.”
“Three minutes,” Callie responded, now swaying the quieted boy in her arms.
“Four minutes.”
“Three and half minutes.”
“Two and a half minutes,” Andie beamed up at her mother, blissfully unaware of her poor bargaining skills.
“You have ten minutes to finish up,” Callie answered, leaning down to kiss the top of her messy haired head. Turning, she looked at Mark, “send her to bed when she’s done.”
“Will do you,” Mark sent Callie a two finger salute and watched her walk away, openly admiring the way her spandex sleepwear hugged her ass.
“Daddy I’m done now!”
Mark bit back a groan and forced his salacious thoughts back to the corner of his mind as he refocused on his daughter. Shifting, he glanced over at the grinning five year old, holding a folded paper to his face.
“Put a stamp on it ‘kay. Good night daddy,” the young girl said before kissing his cheek, hopping off her chair and scurrying to her bedroom.
“Good night peanut,” Mark laughed, holding the decorated letter in his hands, thumbs scraping the edges of the paper. Smiling he gazed around the room, taking in the festive look of his home. Christmas trinkets and lights were scattered throughout the house, making it warm and welcoming.
The holidays hadn’t always been that way for him. His parents didn’t care enough to help him experience the full joy of Christmas and spending time at the Shepherd’s felt like more of an intrusion than a celebration.
Never had he thought he’d have what he did now; he’d dreamt of it more times than he could count, but in his heart of hearts he hadn’t believed it possible. At least not until that memorable Christmas six years ago…
“Torres!” Mark banged on the door of the apartment just across the hall, waiting impatiently as the fingers of his free hand swept across the wrapped gift in his pocket.
“Maybe she’s not there or…or she’s busy.”
Turning Mark smiled at a disheveled Lexie Grey standing in his doorway, looking every bit the sweet, innocent woman she was in his mind. Grinning, he moved to her and wiggled his brows drawing a smile from her lips. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Mark leaned forward and dropped a quick kiss onto her awaiting mouth.
“She’s there,” he pulled away, chuckling as she flushed. Stepping back, he walked back to Callie’s door and rested against the doorframe, “she’s just ignoring me! Open the door Torres it’s Christmas!”
“I’m going to take a shower.”
Whirling his head, Mark smirked at Lexie, “don’t lock the door.”
Sending him a knowing smile, Lexie moved back into his apartment. Groaning, Mark let his head fall forward; that girl would be the death of him. But at least he’d be dying a happy man.
Shaking his head, he banged his fist on the door again. “Callie open the door! I’ve got--”
Callie’s door opened slowly, stopping him from his tirade.
“You look…” Mark stopped, glazing over her unkempt appearance, uncharacteristically baggy pajamas, short hair tied back in a bun, body language telling him that she was exhausted. She looked…“like shit.”
“Just what I like to hear in the morning,” Callie retorted sarcastically, walking back into the apartment. Mark followed suit, closing the door behind him.
“I come bearing gifts,” Mark bellowed happily, moving close behind her.
Stopping mid-stride, Callie brought a her hand to her nose.
“What’s that smell?”
“What?”
“It smells like really strong, cheap…cologne,” she managed to croak out.
“Oh,” Mark nodded realization hitting, he raised his arm, unintentionally waving it in front of Callie’s nose. “Lexie’s gift, not really my style, but I didn’t want her to…Callie?”
Furrowing his brows, he watched her dart toward her bedroom. All other thoughts forgotten, he chased her.
Turning the corner of her room, he heard her retching before he entered the bathroom. Pushing the door open, he spotted her on the floor, holding her stomach as she bent over the toilet. Concern overtaking him, he dropped to his knees and settled behind her, rubbing soothing circle on her lower back. After she had emptied her stomach, Mark helped her up and led her to the open faucet, where she scrubbed her face and washed out her mouth.
“Get away,” Callie commanded, toweling herself off before looking over her shoulder at him. Catching the hurt in his eyes, she sighed and rested her hands against the sides of the sink, “Sorry. It’s not you, it’s the cologne. I…the smell’s getting to me.”
Confused, Mark leaned against the shower stall door. “What? Why would…?”
Breathing heavily, Callie closed her eyes and bit her lip. She turned to him, tears welling in her eyes. Mark moved to stand, ready to reach for her when she needed it.
“Mark…I think I’m pregnant.”
Days later, her condition was confirmed. And their worlds were flipped upside down.
Both were finally in the relationships they’d worked so hard to get back. Callie finally had someone who willingly came back to her. Her and Arizona weren’t perfect, but they were trying to get there. He and Lexie were finally together again, not completely in sync but in a place they could work with.
Their thoughtless actions had the potential to ruin what they had fought tooth and nail for. But despite it all, no one could make them look at their baby as anything less than a blessing.
“This might be a little cold at first.”
Gasping as the cool gel touched her belly, Callie reached for Mark’s hand, grasping it tightly as Dr. Frisk, the resident OB, moved the transducer over her stomach. Seconds later, the sound of a fetal heartbeat filled the room, capturing the full attention of the soon to be parents.
Stepping closer to Callie, Mark grinned, “she’s beautiful.”
Laughing, Callie sniffled and smiled at the screen of the ultrasound machine. “She?”
Eyes watering, Mark chuckled and rubbed Callie’s palm with his thumb. “I don’t think God would be cruel enough to create another Mark Sloan.”
“It’s too bad he didn’t stop making the first one.”
Turning swiftly, Callie released the hold she had on Arizona’s hand. Tilting her head in displeasure, she lowered her voice in disappointment. “Arizona…”
“Sorry,” Arizona raised her hands and mumbled an apology. Looking away, she eyed the clock above them, “I’ve got a patient to check on.” Bending she kissed Callie, making a show of the display before pulling away.
“Do you need help?”
All eyes shifted to the quiet voice in the corner of the room.
“Yes Dr. Grey, I could use a few extra hands.”
Nodding and stepping away from her forgotten spot near the door, Lexie smiled tightly and quickly followed behind Arizona as she exited the room.
“Okay,” Dr. Frisk shook her head and shifted their attention back to the screen. Pointing to different parts of their child, she assured them that their baby was doing exceptionally well. Capturing a few images, she handed both Mark and Callie various printed copies of their baby and gave them the due date before she finished up.
“Next time I see you, which’ll be in about eight to ten weeks, I’d like to do a second ultrasound.”
“And we can find out the sex of the baby.”
Glancing at Mark, Dr. Frisk chuckled, “and we can find out the sex of the baby, if they’re cooperative. If you two have any questions before then, I’ll be around. Don’t be strangers.”
“Thank you,” Callie smiled.
“My pleasure,” Dr. Frisk retorted, nodding at both Mark and Callie as she left the room.
Squeezing her hand, Mark reached up with his free one and ran his fingers across Callie’s stomach.
“I’m sorry about…”
“Don’t be,” Mark cut into Callie‘s apology, moving his eyes to hers. “I can’t say that I’d be any happier if I were in her position.” Smiling he pulled away, “I’ll wait outside while you change.”
Minutes later Callie emerged from the room fully dressed. Mark pulled away from the wall, standing straight as she walked to him. Both paused for a moment, before Mark reached forward and wrapped Callie in a giant hug. Sighing, she met his enthusiasm and wrapped her own arms around him, swaying with him as he began to move.
Stepping back, she looked up at his beaming face. “You‘re going to be in our lives forever. If she loves me, she‘ll come to terms with that.” Pausing momentarily, Callie held a hand to her still flat abdomen. ”I‘m happy this baby’s yours. You‘re going to be a great dad.”
Heart swelling at her words, Mark pulled Callie against him again, squeezing her affectionately as she crashed into his chest.
“Peanut’s going to be perfect.”
Grinning Mark drew back, still gripping Callie’s hips as he stared down at her in amusement. “Peanut?”
Tilting her head, Callie pursed her lips, “Shut up.”
But accepting a baby was much harder for their significant others than either of them had anticipated.
Lexie was the first to pack up and walk away. It should have been devastating, but in reality, all she did was meet his expectations.
Only a year earlier she had ended their relationship because of his daughter and grandson’s appearance; although she had grown since then, it was no where near enough to prepare her for the life he was ready to have. He was grateful to her for teaching him how to have a relationship and he would always love her in some way, but he finally understood that they might never be at the same point in life.
Sometimes it was a little hard to deal with, walking into an empty apartment at night, but he lived with it, sucked it up because somehow, part of him knew that it was only a matter of time before Callie would be needing him.
“Shit!” Hissing, Mark threw the scalding water from his instant soup meal into the sink as he turned his door. The sudden knocking had startled and caused a kitchen accident. Trying to shake the pain from his hand, Mark reached for door knob and yanked it open.
Standing back, he stared into the bright blue eyes of one Arizona Robbins. Heart beating furiously, Mark’s mind ran through each reason why the purposely unpleasant lover of his child’s mother would be at his door.
“She’s fine, in the apartment taking a nap.”
Calming at her response to his tense posture, Mark pulled his arms over his chest, readying himself for the argument that had been building between them.
“I’m the good guy. Everyone wants my help. Everyone loves me.” Mark’s jaw tightened as he listened to the blonde’s self-appraisal. “And you’re Mark Sloan,” she spoke with a sneer, shaking her head as she thought of her next words. “You’re dirty…and bad.”
“I don’t need to listen to this,” Mark snapped as he moved to close the door, but Arizona’s hand reached out swiftly and held it open.
“And that baby will still grow up loving and respecting you more than she will me. I don‘t think that‘s something I could learn to deal with.”
Speechless, Mark stood ramrod straight.
“I love children, but going through this…made me realize that I still don’t want any of my own.”
Bending, she lifted a stuffed duffle bag over her shoulder and pulled at the handle of the luggage beside her.
“Don’t,” Mark shook his head disbelievingly.
“Tiny humans in Malawi need me.”
“Someone here needs you.”
“She has you. She‘s always had you.” Smiling sadly, Arizona turned to move down the hall. “Tell her that I love her.”
“I’ve never lied to her,” Mark spoke, a flurry of emotions stirring within him, “and I’m not about to start now.”
With that last comment, Mark shut his door. Walking to the middle of his apartment, he clenched and released his fists, tightened his jaw and flared his nostrils. He didn’t understand how anyone could completely walk away from Callie so willingly.
All the frustration and anger left him as he thought of her lying peacefully in her bed, unaware of what had just transpired.
She was going to be heartbroken.
Moving quickly, he grabbed the spare key she had given him to her apartment and made his way across the hall.
Half an hour later, Mark found himself stationed beside Callie’s bed, watching her rest, something he had done so many times before. He became so transfixed that he hadn’t noticed her beginning to wake.
Eyes still closed Callie reached up, stretching her arms as she yawned. Smiling, she slowly opened one eye after the other.
“What are you doing here?” Callie glanced over at him, flinching a little as he startled her with his unexpected presence.. “Where’s Arizona?“
Mark watched as she sat up and scanned her surroundings, her eyes lingering on the open closet door. He saw her grow rigid she realized which side of it had been emptied.
Shaking her head, she ran fingers through her hair and turned to him with a forced smile. Lifting herself from the bed, she walked to the door of the bedroom. “This kid’s asking for something to eat. Are you hungry? I could make you lunch.”
“Callie…”
“Lunch Mark.”
Standing, Mark followed her out the door and into the kitchen. He stayed back as she pulled items from the fridge. After a few moments, her movements began to slow and he decided it was time to make his way around the island to stand beside her.
Seconds later, he reached out and caught her when she finally turned into his chest and cried.
Two weeks after the incident, Mark moved Callie back into his apartment.
She had been withdrawn for months and he had been determined to pull her from the eventual spiral; taking care of her, helping her forget and slowly falling in love with her in a way he had only ever imagined.
“Torres! I’m home!”
Mark yelled cheerily, walking through the door of their apartment, holding a grocery bag filled with chocolate ice cream and pickles; he liked to be prepared any time Callie’s strangest, longest running food craving hit.
Not surprised by the quiet environment of the apartment (Callie was known to drop for naps at any given time during the day), Mark moved around the kitchen, setting the ice cream in the freezer and the pickles on one of the fridge shelves. He smiled at the baby’s latest photo stuck with magnets to the refrigerator door as he shut it.
Turning her removed his jacket and made his way to the bedroom.
His heart melted as he walked in and spotted her on the bed, in plaid pajama bottoms and a camisole, with one hand tucked under her chin and the other resting over her protruding belly.
She was gorgeous.
Moving around the bed, Mark kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it into a small pile with his already removed pants. Grabbing the blanket he assumed had been shoved off the bed by the dead asleep woman on the mattress, he crawled up behind her and pulled it over them. Resting a hand over hers, he leaned forward and kissed her bare shoulder before drifting off to sleep.
An hour and forty five minutes later, his eyes shot open. Groaning as he gained his bearings, Mark shut his eyes again and rubbed a hand over his forehead.
“Are you up yet Sleeping Beauty?”
Grinning at the raspy, teasing voice beside him, he popped one eye open slightly and found Callie lying on her side, smiling down on him.
“You know Torres Sleeping Beauty didn’t wake up until she got kissed.”
Raising a brow, Callie chuckled, “It’s both disturbing and endearing that you actually know that.”
Mark shrugged, “I’m prepping for when peanut comes flying out of you.”
Callie’s eyes twinkled with the mention of their daughter, their stubborn daughter who’d only recently let them know she’d be coming out a girl. “It’ll be a while before movies interest her Mark,” pausing she glanced down at her tummy, “and she’s not just going to fly out.”
Mark stifled a laugh and rolled on his side, getting closer to her. She quieted as he leaned in and flicked her messy hair from her covering face. She bit her lip when he didn’t back away and shivered as his fingers grazed her collar bone on their way back to the mattress space between them.
“Are you hungry?”
Mark smirked at Callie’s out of the blue question, inwardly amused by her reliance on them to break tension. “Are you?”
“Really Sloan?“ Callie scoffed at his response and hopped from the bed. “Get up Mark, I’m hungry.”
Chuckling he rolled, planting his head back onto his pillow and closed his eyes. “I stated my conditions for getting out of this bed.”
“You’re unbelievable,” Callie spoke, crossing her arms over her chest in mock agitation.
“So you’ve said before,” Mark wiggled his brows suggestively.
“Shut up,” Callie chuckled, giving in to his goading she moved toward the bed and leaned down. Hovering above him, she smiled, “you‘ve got to meet me the rest of the way here princess, I‘ve got this huge bulge that preven--”
Reaching up, Mark brought his mouth to hers, cutting off her words as he played her soft lips. He worked her slowly, savoring the small opportunity to please her, Nibbling on her bottom lip, he relished in the feel of her fingertips on his stubble, taking it as a sign of her building interest and willing participation.
But before he could deepen the kiss Callie pulled away, gasping excitedly. “Chinese food! I want Orange Chicken.”
Unable to contain himself, Mark buried his face against the rumpled sheets on his bed and burst into laughter. Raising his body from the mattress, he watched with interest as she pulled a purple blouse over her head and shimmied into a pair of dark blue maternity jeans. It was ridiculous how great she could make even the plainest outfits look.
And it was ridiculous how in love with her he really was.
This was first time he ever allowed himself to think about it without being interrupted by doubts, without reducing himself to her consolation prize or making his feelings for her seem like nothing more than a symptom of them having a child together.
No, he was in love with her. He was in love with Callie Torres, the woman who strode into his life some years ago and unknowingly changed everything he thought he wanted.
“Callie…”
Pausing, she stared at him expectedly.
A long silence ran between them, their gazes locked before the emotion over flooded him and he had to look away.
With a nervous breath, he scratched through the small hairs at the base of his neck and smirked at his cowardice. “Chinese food does sound good..” Aiming to bring humor back into the atmosphere, he grinned and stood. “I approve of your choice.”
Rolling her eyes, Callie grabbed a t-shirt from his drawer and tossed it at him. “It’s funny how you think your opinion on this matters. Now hurry up or I’m leaving without you.”
“You’re bluffing Torres you’d never leave without me.” Dropping a hand to her hip, Callie raised brow in his direction. “Give me ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes? All you have to do is pull on jeans.”
“I need time to groom.”
“Are you even aware how many questions you just put into my mind about your manhood with that statement.”
“Are you aware that you’re carrying my baby.”
“Still doesn’t help your ca--”
“And that there’s pickles and chocolate ice cream in the fridge?”
“Really?” She questioned, tilting her head at him.
“Really.”
Pursing her lips, she finally broke into a smile. “Okay, you earned ten minutes. I‘ll be in the kitchen. Tell me when you‘re ready.
“I will,” Mark called after her as she slunk to the kitchen. Lowering his voice, he nodded slowly. “Trust me, I will.”
When the time came, ironically on Christmas day, he finally did tell her. And much to his surprise, she showed no hesitation and quickly told him back.
Since then his holidays were filled with special moments; engagements, family get-togethers, private get-togethers, another pregnancy announcement…
The sound of footsteps coming up behind him pulled Mark away from his thoughts and memories. Shifting, he watched as Callie moved toward him. Pushing his seat back, he opened his arms to her and she silently responded by swinging a leg over his lap and settling across him. His head fell back as she began to wiggle, purposely teasing her husband as she tried to establish comfort. Sliding his hands to her hips, he growled and reached up pulling her chin down, kissing her before giving her butt a nice squeeze.
“Please tell me its my bed time now.”
Chuckling her signature raspy chuckle, Callie leaned back in delight. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she spotted the folded paper peaking out from his shirt pocket. “Did she finish?”
“Huh?” Mark rumbled, still slightly dazed. Watching as Callie pulled the letter from its resting place, realization hit him. “You really think she’d go to sleep without finishing? Your time constraints hold no water when she‘s writing a letter to Santa.”
Callie smiled and placed it on the table behind them. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his peppered hair. “Did you ever believe in Santa Claus?”
“Never. You?”
“I had older siblings, any existing childhood fantasy was ruined for me by the time I was four.” Mark laughed, brushing one hand over her thigh, caressing it lovingly. “So, what does she want this year? I hope it‘s something we can give her, I don‘t think I can take having another set of sex-crazed rabbits.”
“It’s too much like looking in a mirror for us isn’t it?” Mark snickered, unfolding the paper and reading the horribly misspelled but still easily understood words his daughter had written. His grin widened as his eyes shot to item at the top of her Christmas wish list.
“Well?”
Folding the letter back up, he stuffed it into his pocket and carefully moved to stand. Still holding Callie carefully around him, he had her tighten her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom. Depositing her on the bed, he turned and locked their door.
Lifting herself onto her elbows, Callie raised an eyebrow at him. Smirking, Mark peeled off his shirt and draped it over the dresser before slowly crawling up onto the mattress, stopping momentarily to kiss the underside of her right breast as he moved to hover over Callie’s body.
Kissing her lips when he finally reached her face, his hands worked at pulling the hem of her tank top up. Sliding the garment over and off her, he kissed her again and mumbled against her lips. “Andie wants a baby sister. Do you think we could give her that?”
Laughing for only a second before Mark’s mouth dropped to her neck and nipped at her skin, Callie pushed up against him and swiftly rolled their bodies so that she was straddling his waist. In expert fashion, she kicked out of her bottoms and easily got him out of his own. Smirking evilly, she reached around her back and unhooked the clasps of her bra.
“I think we might be able to work something out.”
Eager, he flipped them again and kissed her.
“I love you.”
Mark paused, looking down at Callie with amazement. It was incredible how wonderful his life had become in such a short amount of time and just how involved she was in all of it.
“I love you too Cal.”
“Good,” she beamed up at him, then slapped his backside playfully, “now get to work, we’ve got a baby to make before the 25th. We might be locked in here, trying night and day for this one, but I‘m willing to make the sacrifice if you are.”
Groaning as she bent up and played with the bottom of his earlobe with her teeth, Mark settled perfectly between her legs.
“I’m all yours.”