Dealing with Reality 9/?
Title: Dealing with reality. 9/?
Author: Kel_085
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Callie and Arizona talk after their break up and about their future in each other’s life.
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.
A/N Okay, this has been a long time coming. I hope people are still interested in this story even though I’ve kept you all waiting for so long. I am so SO sorry… but I thought I’d get this up while my muse was happy to play with me. :) And *Fingers crossed* you won’t have to wait too long for the next one. And thank you to those who were asking me about updates to my story, you gave me a kick up the ass. :P
“Arizona, wait.” Mark yells down the corridor, jogging to catch up to Arizona.
Arizona stops walking and rounds on Mark. “What do you want Mark!?” Arizona shouts angrily, in disbelief that he actually has the audacity to follow her after everything he said.
“Just to talk. I just want to talk.” Mark clarifies calmly, trying his best not to piss Arizona off more then he already has.
“To talk? You don’t think you said enough in that room?” Arizona yells in response, her anger getting the better of her. “How about you rub in the fact that I can’t give Callie a baby as easily as you? Or that I can’t legally marry her… Oh… Oh I know! Why don’t you just tell me, that you think she’ll be better off with you Mark? I mean you pretty much told me that she’ll come running back to you soon enough.” Arizona spits out venomously, turning away from Mark so that he can’t see the tears that are quickly forming in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I really am, I didn’t mean to hit a nerve and upset you. I was just joking. What I said, it’s not true… It was all just a bad joke. I’m so used to messing around with Cal. I just didn’t think. She’s my best friend and I normally don’t have to sensor myself around her, she just gets me.” Mark explains trying to justify himself. He can see how upset Arizona is getting, he takes a slow hesitant step forward and places a gentle hand on Arizona’s shoulder, trying his best to comfort her.
“A joke!?” Arizona screeches, pulling out of Marks touch and turning around to face him. “I don't care that you were joking, you were out of line, so SO far out of line. Calliope's friends with you and I won't get in the way of that, but if you ever disrespect me like that again, Lexie won't be the only one to have broken little Sloan.” Arizona threatens. “Just leave me the hell alone Mark!” Arizona hisses, walking towards the exit of the ICU.
“I’m here for Callie. So no, I won’t leave you alone. She asked me to talk to you.” Mark replies softly not giving up even after the threats she just made towards him. He hopes the mention of her girlfriend will calm her down. He starts walking towards Arizona, closing the distance between them.
“For Callie?” Arizona scoffs.
“Yes, because I for one don’t want to see her attempt to chase you down the corridor, after you stormed out on her.” Mark explains. “Plus she threatened to turn her dad on me, if I didn’t fix this, I’m sure he’d take much pleasure in breaking every one of my bones. Honestly one physical encounter with Mr Torres is enough for a lifetime.”
Arizona turns and looks at Mark, “Right now. I don’t think its Carlos you should be worrying about.” Arizona smirks. “And I never stormed out on Callie. I stormed out of there so that I didn’t do this with you, in front of her.” Arizona clarifies, gesturing between the two of them.
“I know you didn’t storm out on her and I’m sure she knows that too... But she’s scared and alone and she begged you not to leave, she tried to explain and reassure you.” Mark replies, trying to make Arizona see that walking away and hiding from Callie because of him and his big mouth, isn’t the answer.
“You don’t think I know how my girlfriend is feeling Mark!?” Arizona shrieks. “Should we just add insensitive to the list too?” Arizona asks angrily, “I know that my girlfriend is lying in that hospital bed alone and probably scared and confused right now. I know that I walked out on her, and that pains me but I couldn’t stay in there fighting with you. Her best friend. She loves you Mark. I don’t know why, but she does.” Arizona snaps, she take s a few deep breaths trying to clam herself down.
“Are you done yet?” Mark asks, his patience wearing thin.
“Am I done yet?” Arizona queries, stunned at Marks question.
“Yes, are you done ranting and raging about absolute bullshit?” Mark clarifies.
“You think that my anger isn’t justified? Do you think I don’t have a right to be pissed off at your big mouth? At how much of an insensitive asshole you are? You don’t think I have a right to be upset at the fact that my girlfriend is lying in a hospital bed alone and I’m out here seething with anger because of you and your stupid ‘jokes’? I’d much rather be in there comforting her.” Arizona rants, tears starting to fall steadily down her cheeks again.
“You have a right to be angry at me yes. You have every right to be upset. But you have no right to doubt Callie.” Mark tells her.
“Doubt Callie? Who said I doubted Callie?” Arizona asks, confused by Mark’s accusation.
“You did. With everything you just said. That whole little rant about ‘me’ being able to give Callie things you can’t. That’s all fueled by your insecurities Arizona. If you trusted Callie enough…”
“If I trusted Callie enough!? How dare you Mark! You know nothing about my relationship with Calliope and frankly it’s none of your damn business! Just stay the hell out of it!” Arizona shouts cutting Mark off.
“You know what? It is my business, because Callie is my best friend and I love her. So I won’t stay out of this. I was there when George cheated on her. I was there for her when Erica walked away from her. And I was there the night you WALKED out on her. So THIS IS my business. Your insecurities that could hurt her, IS my business.” Mark retorts.
“Best friend” Arizona points to Mark, “Girlfriend” She points to herself “Best friend” She points to Mark again, “Girlfriend” She points to herself. “Do you need me to say it one more time? Maybe a little slower so that it sinks into your small pea size brain?” Arizona asks sarcastically through gritted teeth. “I am her girlfriend, you are her best friend. I’m the one in the relationship with her… not you! So stay out of it!” Arizona barks. “You know what. I’m not wasting my time shouting at you any longer, when I could be in there with Calliope. Just stay out of my relationship Mark.” Arizona says as she walks past him and back down the corridor to Callie’s room.
Mark sighs, turning towards the exit he sees a small group of nurses huddled whispering among themselves.
“Don’t you all have some work to do!?” Mark yells, as he walks towards the exit, making them scatter in three different directions.
-----
Callie turns her head towards the entrance to her room, when she sees Arizona walk through the door and leans up against the wall. She watches as Arizona takes a few deep breaths.
“Hi.” Callie whispers, getting the blondes attention.
“Hi beautiful.” Arizona greets, trying to push away her anger, a small smile spreading across her lips at the sound of her girlfriend’s voice.
“Beautiful? Huh.” Callie laughs. “Have you seen what I look like at the moment?”
“You are still the most beautiful woman on this planet.” Arizona replies, walking over towards Callie.
Callie holds out her good hand for Arizona when she’s close enough. Arizona smiles and takes the offered hand running her thumb softly over the warm skin of Callie’s palm. Callie can see the anger in Arizona’s eyes, she uses all the strength she has and pulls Arizona down into a passionate kiss, trying her best to calm her down. Arizona instantly melts into the kiss, momentarily forgetting everything that’d just happened out in the corridor.
“I’m sorry, for walking out on you.” Arizona whispers, gasping for air after breaking away from the kiss.
“I take it Mark found you?” Callie questions curiously.
“That man is a class A asshole. I’m sorry Calliope, I know he’s your best friend. But who does he think he is? He had no right saying the things her said, joke or not. It was so wrong and disrespectful. And the last thing I want is to be angry, when you’re injured in that bed. I want to be snuggled up alongside you comforting you. But no, that asshole had to over step the line.” Arizona rants, now pacing in front of Callie’s bed.
“I’m sorry. I asked him to go after you. I knew you were upset, I could tell that he hit a nerve. And I couldn’t come myself, otherwise I would’ve.” Callie explains.
“I know you couldn’t.” Arizona replies, still pacing. Everything Mark said to her out in the corridor coming back to her at full force, along with her anger.
“Ari?” Callie whispers.
“Mhm what?” Arizona murmurs, continuing to pace, not looking up at Callie.
“Just stop pacing and look at me.” Callie states, causing the blonde to stop and look up at her.
“What Mark said? You shouldn’t let it upset to you so much. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending him, what he said was wrong so wrong, he’s an ass at times. But it’s not true. So don’t let it get to you okay?” Callie says reassuringly. “Unless you were already thinking along those lines. Were you?” Callie questions curiously. She knows that Arizona had some insecurities but they’d never truly discussed the extent of them.
Arizona sighs and picks up her pacing again, not sure what to say to Callie, and not knowing how to answer her question without possibly causing a fight... This is the last place she wanted to have this conversation.
“Arizona answer me!” Callie shouts, frustrated at the blonde.
“Yes.” Arizona mumbles quietly, stopping at the end of Callie’s bed.
“Yes what?” Callie asks, needing clarification.
“Yes, I was insecure and scared that you’d leave me for Mark or some other guy okay? That one day you’d wake up and realize that you were no long interested in a relationship with me. That maybe I was just a… experiment.” Arizona admits, she looks Callie in the eyes for the first time since they started talking, “I was already scared and then Mark said what he did and I just snapped… It’s been an emotion few days Callie. Normally I would’ve just laughed it off, but today I couldn’t. Today it hit me hard and I just couldn’t….” Arizona explains resuming her pacing.
Callie sits and shakes her head at Arizona’s explanation, “What am I going to do with you Arizona Robbins. How am I going to make you see that I love you and only you? If I could I would get down on one knee and prove to you once and for all, you're the only one for me” Callie declares.
Arizona stops her pacing and quickly turns to Callie, having only heard the end of her sentence. “What?” She asks.
“I said. If I could I would get down on one knee and prove to you once and for all, you’re the only one for me.” Callie repeats smiling at her blonde.
“Oh.” Arizona sighs, before picking up her pacing again, in total shock at what Callie had just said. Her heart skipped a beat when it really sunk in. She just wasn’t sure if Callie meant it as a question or as a statement.
“Arizona! Did you not hear me?” Callie asks, absolutely confused by Arizona’s actions. Arizona stops her pacing once again, this time she walks around the bed and over to Callie and pulls the brunette into a heated kiss.
“I heard you.” Arizona whispers against Callie’s lips, kissing her again. Callie whimpers into the kiss as pain shoots through her stomach, but she doesn’t stop kissing. She never wants to stop kissing her blonde.
“I love you.” Callie sighs, leaning her head against Arizona’s when they finally break the kiss.
“I love you too, Calliope.” Arizona whispers, a blissful smile spread across her lips.
“So that got your attention huh?” Callie teases a small smirk playing across her lips.
“That certainly did.” Arizona replies, nodding.
“So do I have to get out of this bed and prove it to you?” Callie asks. “I will you know. It may not go down well or be romantic, but I will… to show you.” Callie whispers, taking Arizona’s hand in hers.
“You better not attempt to get out of this bed young lady, there’s no need.” Arizona replies smiling, she gives Callie’s hand a squeeze.
“So, will y-“ Arizona place’s a finger softly over Callie’s lips cutting her off. Callie raises her eyebrow curiously.
“Not here, not like this, and certainly not because of this.” Arizona explains, removing her finger from Callie’s lips and placing a small tender kiss on them.
Callie nods her head in understanding, she moves across on the bed making room for Arizona, who smiles and takes up the position next to Callie wrapping an arm around the brunette and holding her close.
“I really am sorry that I ran out of here.” Arizona whispers, running her fingers gently through the ends of Callie’s hair.
“It’s okay, I probably would’ve run out if I was in your situation too… or maybe I would’ve just hit him.” Callie laughs, snuggling deeper into Arizona’s side, laying her arm over Arizona’s stomach.
“Are you in pain?” Arizona asks, looking down at Callie who was now snuggled deep into her.
“A little but not enough, to stop me from holding you right now.” Callie admits, playing with the hem of Arizona’s top.
“Just let me know if you need anything okay?” Arizona tells her, kissing the top of her head.
“For you to be honest with me.” Callie mumbles honestly against Arizona’s chest.
“I am being honest with you Callie.” Arizona hesitantly replies, not wanting to get into the conversation right now.
“You weren’t until I brought it up… or well until Mark made you angry. I will always be a newborn in your eyes wont I?” Callie questions, lifting her head to look at Arizona, hurt evident in her eyes.
“No… yes… maybe.” Arizona sighs in response.
“What do I have to do to change that opinion? Apart from what I’ve already offered. Or more what am I doing to give you that opinion after over a year together?” Callie asks.
“Calliope, I was just a little unsure… until about ten minutes ago. I’m only the second woman you’ve been with… Its just..” Arizona sighs, trying to find the right words. “I’ve been hurt before.” She finally admits.
Callie moves her uninjured hand up to Arizona’s cheek cupping it, running her thumb over it softly. She can see the hurt behind the blue eyes, they’d lost their sparkle as the memories came back to her.
“I’m not going to leave you Arizona, not for another guy or girl. You need to trust me on that. I’ve not felt this way about anyone… ever. I can’t image my life without you in it.” Callie tells hers, trying to once again reassure her that she’s going nowhere.
“We were together almost three years, and one day she just tells me she no long thinks she’s gay. I was her first lesbian relationship. After that… that’s when I decided I wouldn’t date ‘newborns’. There’s too much risk in getting your heartbroken.” Arizona explains, hoping Callie will understand her insecurities a little better. “Then you came along… I broke my rules…”
“Ari, that’s not going to happen here. I’m never leaving you again, I want to marry you… one day, we’ll have kids or not” Callie adds quickly not wanting to freak Arizona out anymore then she already is. “And we’re going to live as cliché as it sounds ‘happily ever after’ okay?” Callie says leaning in and kissing Arizona, pouring all the love that she has for her into that one kiss.
Arizona smiles into the kiss, for the first time in months she feels safe, a sense of relief washes over her. She has everything she’s ever wanted, and everything she didn’t think she needed in a relationship right here in front of her. Callie’s has managed to show her what true love really is.
“Chickens.” Arizona says between kisses.
“Huh?” Callie asks, pulling out of the kiss, looking Arizona in the eyes.
“Add chickens and we’ll have our happily ever after.” Arizona replies, giggling.
“Fine, if you must.” Callie says, rolling her eyes “I love you, Arizona. I just need you to not shut me out, be honest with me, if you’re unsure or worried about something or jealous of Mark or anyone else. Just talk, as long as we keep talking we’ll be okay.”
“I love you too. I promise I’ll try.” Arizona whispers, wrapping her arms around Callie. “Can we just lay here for a while before I give you a sponge bath, I don’t want to let go of you just yet.” Arizona asks, running her fingers lightly over Callie’s back.
“That sounds good to me. As long as you don’t pass out from my rancid smell.” Callie jokes.
“You smell perfectly fine to me Calliope. Always will.” Arizona whispers into Callie’s ear.
“Your nose must be blocked.” Callie laughs.
“Callie, please don’t ruin the moment.” Arizona pleads, snuggling down into Callie’s side so that their faces were now millimeters apart.
“Sorry.” Callie whispers against Arizona’s cheek.
“This… this is how we can snuggle at night.” Arizona says, looking Callie in the eyes, finally answering her question from earlier.
“Perfect.” Callie sighs, leaning forwards, brushing her lips against Arizona’s.