My Grown Up Christmas List (1/?)
Title: “My Grown Up Christmas List” (1/?)
Rating: PG
Summary: Set 5 years from most recent episode. George chose Callie out of obligation; Izzie kept a secret. George moves back and slowly finds his way back into Izzie’s life. O’Stevens. Obviously.
-5 years later-
It’s Christmas Eve, and Isobel Stevens is running late. She’s been so busy running the neonatal unit at Seattle Grace, she had just forgotten to finish her Christmas shopping. And she had a very anxious 4 year old waiting at home for the latest Baby Burps-a-Lot or whatever toy Emma had specifically asked Santa for.
As she reached for the bright pink box containing the coveted doll, she heard a man clearing his voice behind her.
“Listen, buddy, this is the only thing my daughter asked for this year. I was here first, and you just can’t have it.”
“I don’t want the doll, Izzie.” The voice that responded was familiar, causing Izzie to whirl around and face it’s owner.
“George! What are you doing here?” She greeted her old friend, feigning excitement. She hadn’t seen him in 5 years, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to start now.
“Jerry and his family just called to say they were coming to Christmas at Mom’s after all, so I have presents to buy for 2 nieces and a nephew.”
“Wow, Jerry got busy. What about Ronnie?”
“His wife is expecting right now, but it’ll only be their first.”
“How’s Callie?” Izzie asked, more out of obligation than anything.”
“We’ve been divorced for 4 years now; I thought you would’ve heard that through the grapevine. “
“Divorced? What about the baby?”
“There was no baby; she lied. I realized that about a month after we left Seattle. I tried to make it work because I didn’t want there to not be a reason why I left the people I loved to be with a woman I didn’t. I thought I could force myself to love her, but it didn’t work.”
“That’s really too bad, George.” Izzie lied, tired of the small talk. He had left her brokenhearted when he’d chosen Callie because she’d said she was pregnant. He had told Izzie that he loved her, too after she had confessed her love to him before Cristina’s non-wedding. He had said that, and that he was going to tell Callie that the marriage was over, but the next night he had come back with a regretful look on his face and told Izzie that leaving Callie wouldn’t be right. He had to be the honorable man and stand by his pregnant wife.
“How old is your daughter, Iz?” George questioned, truly interested.
“ She turned 4 about 3 months ago. She’s certainly a handful. But we’re doing just fine.” Izzie asserted, almost defensively.
“I’m sure you are. Who’s the father? Anybody I know?”
Izzie considered the question carefully before proceeding. “Nope. I thought I loved the guy, but he really just turned out to be a sperm donor. I love my daughter, though, and am glad he was at least man enough to give me that.” She picked the doll up, and made her way to the cash register to pay and be on her way.
After the clerk handed her the receipt and the doll, she made her way to the car, only to realize she was being followed.
“Izzie…I want to catch up. I moved back to Seattle to clean up the messes I made that year. I’m going to finish my residency at Seattle Grace because I miss you, and Mer, and even Cristina and Alex, some.”
“George, it’s Christmas Eve. My daughter is sitting at home with a babysitter. I really need to be with her.” Izzie sighed. It was just like him to disappear for an extended period of time and then expect to pick up right where they left off.
“Iz…please? I’ve missed you. I know I was a coward, and that you really have no reason to forgive me, but I’ve been miserable, too.”
“That’s funny, because I got over it. I realized I had better things to do in life than spending my time dwelling over a man that really wasn’t a man at all. If you had really loved me, George, you would have come back when you realized the marriage wasn’t going to work.”
“I was scared, Izzie. I had made you promises that I couldn’t keep. I told you I loved you, and then turned around and stayed with Callie. I was an idiot, and I figured you thought so, too.”
“At least we still have one thing in common.” Izzie snapped, and instantly regretted doing so. She may not be George O’Malley’s biggest fan anymore, but she is still Izzie Stevens, and it is the Christmas season. “Alright, George. Emma and I are having a Christmas party tonight. It’ll be small, but you can come if you want.”
A/N: So, I was lame and totally misheard the George/Callie conversation at the end of 0402. This is just an idea I had based on what I thought I heard, and how it could affect the O’Stevens love.