[fic] the song remains the same [25/?]
Title: The Song Remains the Same
Rating: M
Spoilers: 8x13
Summary: I had a dream. Crazy dream. Ellis Grey is alive and well. Seattle Grace is the premiere hospital in the country. Callie Torres is married to Owen Hunt, with a home and three children, while Arizona Robbins does who and whatever she pleases. The history is different, the world itself has changed, but the song remains the same.
*If/Then* Calzona - Picking up where 8x13 ended
*****
The lounge was quiet, its occupants diligent but relaxed. It would have been a perfectly professional scene if Callie wasn't sitting with her legs across Arizona's lap while they read, both in glasses. Arizona was flipping through a chart while her partner perused scans on her tablet. They were both working but the atmosphere was close, private, in spite of the location. Callie groaned when her pager broke the peaceful quiet, reaching for it on the floor and holding it up to read the display. “Oh boy.”
“What is it?” Arizona asked without glancing away from her folder. She turned the page and her hand returned to Callie's leg, rubbing small, gentle circles just below her knee.
“Ellis wants to see me. I guess there's a VIP Cardio case coming in.”
Arizona's phone rang on the coffee table and Callie stretched out to snag it for her. “It's my mom.” Callie sat up unwillingly, stretching and turning to put her feet back on the floor. “Page me if you get free?”
“Sure,” agreed Callie with a smile. “Tell your mom I said 'hey.'”
“Will do.” Arizona winked. “Hey mom.”
Callie knocked lightly on the open door frame of Ellis Grey's office as she arrived. “You wanted to see me, Chief?”
Ellis looked up from her computer and gestured for Callie to enter. “Ah, yes, come in, Dr. Torres.” She made a final click on her keyboard and Callie's tablet beeped in her pocket. “I just sent you the case file of a high priority patient that I need you to take on. He's former military, with a progressive and invasive cardiac tumor.”
Callie was already scanning the file of one Nick Jordan and whistled lowly. “This is a big tumor.”
Ellis' lips were pursed and she cleared her throat. “Yes, well, it appears that Mr. Jordan is very stubborn. His family forced him to come in.”
“They're here already?”
“They're just waiting to meet you,” Ellis told her. “They've come to Seattle Grace for the very best, Dr. Torres.”
Callie stood up, nodding. “Alright.” She was confident in her own abilities. If Ellis wasn't she wouldn't be working here. “I'll have Yang assist.”
“Very good.” She nodded, dismissing her Head of Cardio. “Your patient should be in the Cardio wing already. Keep me updated, Dr. Torres.”
Callie was still surveying her patient's scans, frowning at the date on the edges of the image, as she left the office. She'd need new ones before she could get an accurate idea about moving forward. Yang would be drooling over this case. In the elevator she typed out a text to her protege to meet her at the nurse's station. Cristina was only ever in Cardio or the OR so she'd probably beat her there.
Sure enough, she was met by the younger surgeon as the elevator doors opened and she handed off the computer in her hands. “VIP case. Ellis wants us on it.”
Cristina whistled in appreciation as she zoomed in on the scans. “Damn, that's big.”
“Look at the date,” Callie suggested as she took the lead, Cristina following her without looking up. If Callie had chosen to lead her astray, she'd have walked into a wall without stumbling.
“Damn,” Cristina repeated as they walked. “I'll call up for an MRI.”
They had just turned the corner when raised voices got their attention, the two exchanging looks. The male voice was loud, frustrated, and unfamiliar. The answering female voice was one Callie knew, though. Whoever was yelling was shouting at Arizona. Callie was at the door in a burst of speed that left Cristina behind. “Hey!”
Her charge forward was halted by Arizona herself, the Peds surgeon catching her by both arms. “No, Callie, it's okay!” Callie's eyes were scanning the rest of the room, an older couple by the windows appearing to be watching the preceding argument with almost resigned expressions on their faces. A younger man was squared off against Arizona, one hand on a cane while his chest heaved. It was a strange scene she'd barged in on but no one yelled at her partner like that. Arizona squeezed her arm and Callie's gaze dropped from glaring at the man. “Calliope,” Arizona said softly, the name soothing her. “These are my parents.” Callie's eyes went wide. “Nick is an old friend.” Arizona made a realization of her own and sighed heavily. “And you're Nick's doctor.” Her eyes closed. “Shit.”
“Phoenix?”
Arizona's arm shot up behind her. “No. Don't - you don't -” Callie's hand reached up for Arizona's elbow, holding her arm steady. “How bad is it?” she asked, glancing over Callie's shoulder toward Cristina observing silently from the doorway.
“Flag-”
“Stop,” Arizona cut him off again. “You had months to tell me about this and you haven't said a word. I want to hear it from her.”
Callie took a breath and held it. “Actually, your scans are almost six months old. I'm going to need new ones before I know much of anything.” Arizona turned at her side to face the rest of the room. “I'm Dr. Callie Torres, and this is Cristina Yang.”
“We're the ones who'll be saving your life,” Cristina chimed in from behind them. Callie cleared her throat but didn’t chide her.
“It's nice to finally meet you, Callie,” Arizona's mother spoke up after a beat. “We've all heard so much about you.” She gestured between herself and her husband. “I'm Barbara and this is Daniel.” Nick was leaning more heavily on his cane, winded after the argument with Arizona, and Barbara moved forward to support him. “And our boy, Nick. Dr. Grey has spoken very highly of you. And of course Arizona works here, but Nick -”
Callie glanced sideways at Arizona but her partner's blue eyes were closed. “Mrs. Robbins -”
“Callie is my girlfriend, Mom,” Arizona interjected. “We live together,” she continued into the absolute silence that fell. Her hand slipped into Callie's and the taller woman squared her shoulders as every eye in the room turned to her.
“Yeah, call me when it's time to talk about the case,” Cristina announced.
“You go with her,” Arizona ordered Nick. “Do whatever she says. Yang, every test you think he needs, you run it.”
“Yes, Dr. Robbins.”
Left facing her parents Arizona took a bracing breath. “Mom...” She would be the weaker, more understanding link, and she started there.
“You've always talked to us, told us when you were dating someone.” Long before it got serious enough that she was thinking of moving in. Not that many of her relationships had gotten to that point.
“You kind of blindsided me here, Mom!” Arizona shot back. Callie squeezed her fingers gently. “I didn't know you were coming here. I didn't know Nick has cancer!”
“I'll find someone else to be Nick's doctor,” Callie offered, not wanting to complicate an already complex situation.
“No!” Arizona and her mother protested in unison. “Dr. Grey told us -”
“You're the best,” Arizona stated.
“Boston,” Callie countered. “Erica Hahn. I know her. I'd be happy to make a call.”
“We talked to her already,” Barbara said, surprising them both. “She sent us here.” Callie blinked, not expecting that. “We want you.” Her eyes traveled between the two younger women. “If that's okay.”
Arizona stayed quiet beside her and Callie nodded. “Of course.” She swallowed. “I guess I should go talk to the patient then.” Let Arizona have some time with her parents, each side deal with the new information they'd been given.
Arizona stood on her toes to kiss Callie's cheek, the brunette turning to face her. “I'll be here, I guess, when you get back.” Her gaze darted over Callie's shoulder to her listening parents. “If you need to work late I'll -”
“If you want to see your parents -” Callie tried to protest. Arizona suddenly had a lot on her plate. She didn't want to add three toddlers to it.
“I've got them,” Arizona insisted gently. “No need to call Ellen.” Callie's eyebrow arched doubtfully. “I'll call her if something comes up,” she promised. “Okay?”
Callie nodded, glancing over her shoulder and then turning. “Nice to meet you both. I'll be back when we get some test results.”
They were left in awkward silence, standing on opposite sides of the room from each other. The silence dragged, Arizona feeling the minutes pull and stretch before finally snapping. “Are you happy? Does she make you happy?” Barbara asked. It was on Arizona's face though, how happy she was. “So why didn't you tell us? Why did we only hear that you're living with someone now?”
There were three cute, pint-sized reasons that she hadn't told her parents about the changes in her life. She wasn't ashamed of them, at all, but she knew her parents would have some rather huge reservations about the situation she'd found herself in with Callie and the kids. It wasn't neat, or simple, or anything her parents expected from her. But she had no doubts, no regrets about the life they were making together.
She couldn't hide the kids from them, though. The family she'd started with and the family she was becoming a part of couldn't be kept separate forever.
“Callie has kids.” Arizona told them bluntly. She waited for the barrage of questions to start, watching her parents exchange a look, silently prioritizing their inquiries and deciding without speaking who would do the talking.
Daniel cleared his throat but kept his mouth shut. “Honey...”
“Three of them. Twin boys and a girl. Allegra, Gavin, and Angus.” Arizona smiled without realizing it. She just couldn't help herself. “They're amazing. Allegra is about to start five year old kindergarten in a few weeks and she's so nervous, but it's cute because she's really outgoing and she's going to love it. She gets all hyper and it's just adorable.”
“Arizona, why couldn't you tell us?” Barbara pressed gently.
Sighing, Arizona shook her head. “I don't have to justify them to you, either of you. I love Callie, and the kids.”
“What about Callie's ex?” Daniel asked, speaking for the first time since she'd arrived.
Arizona's expression pulled. “He died. In the plane crash.” They knew which crash she meant without clarification. She was supposed to be on that flight. Her coworkers had died.
“It's been six months, Arizona!” protested Barbara.
“We were together before that! And they were divorced!” She resisted the impulse to growl in frustration. There was a reason she'd had hesitations about how to tell them about everything. “It's complicated, I know that, but -”
“It's not just complicated,” Daniel said, voice barking and sharp. “This family lost someone and you've got yourself right in the middle of their lives.” His brows furrowed, arms crossing his chest. “He was a soldier.” Arizona's eyes closed and she took a deep breath. Of course that's what her father would know about the crash. And of course he'd choose a fellow military man to champion. “If something goes wrong you'll be hurt.”
Arizona sighed again, shaking her head. “I'm not going to get hurt, Dad.” He'd never believe that, though. She couldn't blame him - seeing it from his perspective. It wasn't an ideal looking situation from outside. Living in it was the most amazing, wonderful thing she'd ever done in her life.
“What if you hurt them?” he countered.
“I won't,” Arizona stated flatly, meeting his eyes without flinching. “Things happen, I know that. Neither one of us are stupid. We didn't go into this blindly.” She'd fallen in love. With an incredible woman - and with her children. Callie was a package deal with her kids and Arizona was in for the whole lot.
“You've always been resistant to the idea of having children,” Barbara said, as if she had to remind her, and hoping to keep her daughter and husband from fighting. “But you've put yourself in this relationship, with someone who has kids, at a very fragile time for them.” Her tone was carefully neutral, not berating but cautioning. “If something changes and you go -”
“Something has changed, Mom,” Arizona interjected. It was a discussion she'd had with herself over and over as things with Callie had grown deeper, had expanded to include the kids as part of her own daily life. “I have. I'm what's changed,” she said, sure and confident. “I love those kids, and their mother. That is never going to change. I'm not going to leave them.” Her father's eyes had been locked on her but they shifted, up and over her shoulder and Arizona knew who was behind her before she turned.
Callie's heart was in her eyes, her arms folded, one elbow bent to let her hand press flat to her chest. She was in the doorway, standing still and silent, and Arizona had no way of knowing how much she'd heard. She'd heard the last bit though, and it was obvious in her loving expression. Callie's smile was slow growing but utterly radiant, her eyes warm and locked on Arizona. They were the only two people in the room as far as they were concerned. Barbara shifted behind Arizona and Callie blinked as reality reasserted itself.
“We got the scans we need and Cristina is bringing Nick back down,” Callie informed them all in her Dr. Torres voice. She stepped closer and Arizona followed, ignoring her parents watching them for a moment. “It's going to be a late night -”
“I'll get the kids,” Arizona promised with a smile.
Callie smiled back, couldn't help herself. Her eyes darted up for a peek at her partner's parents. “Can I kiss you?”
Arizona’s dimples popped as she smirked. “You'd better.” She was the first to move - rising on her toes and curling her fingers around the lapels of Callie's lab coat to hold her close.
The kiss was soft, sweet, and Callie exhaled softly as it ended. “I love you.”
Arizona was smiling as she rocked back. “I love you too.” She took another light, almost smacking kiss. “I'll see you at home later.”
“Oh, remember, Gav's still in trouble for -”
“I know. No dessert.” Callie's more daring son had slid down the banister after being told not to do it and was now suffering the righteous punishment (or unrighteous depending on who was asked) of three days without dessert. Arizona was the first to admit that she was entirely inexperienced at parenting but Callie had backed her up with the kids when she'd reprimanded Gavin, Callie telling all of them that she expected them to obey Arizona as they did her. It wasn't always easy - hardly ever, actually - but Callie had promised with a smile that every parent in the world felt as clueless as she'd confessed to feeling when they started out.
Callie gave her an encouraging smile and squeezed her arm lightly. “You're doing great. Just stick with it and don't let the pout get to you,” she advised softly.
Easy for her to say. The kids all looked like their mother when they pouted. Callie must be more resistant to having her own look used against her because she was helpless against it. Arizona grinned, nodding. “Does that mean we can't go out tonight?” She wasn't sure what her parents would want to do for dinner. They might prefer to stay in the hospital with Nick tonight. If they were going to offer opinions about her life then she might rather they stay with Nick too.
She'd changed the game, she knew that. Children and a family weren't what they'd ever expected from her. It wasn't fair to expect instant understanding from her parents. But she knew understanding would come if they could only have time to meet the kids, get to know Callie, see them all together. She wouldn't let them question her love for them in front of the children in the meantime, though.
“Do anything you need to do,” Callie told her. “As long as Gavin doesn't get dessert.” She smiled, teasing. “Don't let him break you.”
“Good luck,” said Arizona, trying to let Callie's confidence give her some confidence of her own.
Callie nodded, squeezing her arm once more before she withdrew from the contact. “Kiss them for me.” She met each of the elder Robbins' eyes before turning on her heel and leaving them alone.
Arizona breathed deep before turning to face her parents. “I've got a few minutes, but I need to get the kids from daycare soon.”
“Well, does Nick need to stay in the hospital tonight? Maybe we could go out to dinner and talk? Nick misses you.”
“Nick's sick. He needs to stay here,” Arizona told her seriously, relenting when her mother sighed at her. “I'll come see him tomorrow.”
Barbara's hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “What about if we go out for dinner, then? After we get Nick settled here?”
“I'll have the kids,” Arizona told her, something not quite a challenge in her tone. Callie's children weren't optional, not to her.
“We'd like to meet them,” Barbara spoke up quickly. “If that's okay with you, and Callie.”
“That would be okay,” Arizona hedged. “We'll meet you in the lobby in twenty then.”
She left before Nick was back in the room, pacing and fidgeting in the elevator as she rode toward the daycare. Maybe she was running away, hiding, but she just couldn't handle dealing with her parents and Nick right now. She wanted to see the kids, the simplicity of their company.
Allegra was the first to spot her, waving through the window and starting to gather her things. “Hey! Where's Mommy?”
“Mommy's got to work late,” Arizona told her. “But guess what?”
“What?” The kids gathered around her curiously, Arizona kneeling to their level.
“My parents are here and they want to take us out to dinner. What do you guys think? Maybe that would be fun?” If any of them looked the least bit uninterested she would be perfectly fine calling her parents to cancel. She had food at home that she'd be happy to cook.
Instead they looked excited, flattered that someone related to Arizona, whom they adored, would want to meet them. “Your mommy and daddy? Are they going to like us? Can we get pizza?” The followup questions came along practically on top of each other, all three kids talking over their siblings.
Arizona smiled, shaking her head at Gavin's eternal love for pizza. “No pizza tonight. They are going to love you, I promise. You guys want to go?” There was a trio of affirmation and she sighed. “Alright.” She got a high five from Allegra and stood back up.
The Colonel and Mrs. Robbins were waiting when they exited the elevator, Arizona leading them out. Barbara's eyes lit up at the sight of them, enraptured at the image of her daughter with children in spite of the complications. Arizona stopped them a few feet from her parents, giving each of the kids time to react and adapt. Gavin stayed close but edged protectively in front of her leg while Allegra mirrored her brother by slipping into Arizona’s shadow, one hand balling into the back of her shirt. Angus tugged on Arizona's hand until she picked him up, nestling his head into her shoulder while he surveyed the new people.
“Mom and Dad, this is Gavin, Allegra, and Gus,” she introduced them, free hand on each head as she said their name. Allegra took it as soon as it returned to her side, peeking out from behind her. “Guys, these are my parents, Daniel and Barbara. Can you say hey?” Three quiet mumbles were her answer and she smiled, leaning her head against Angus'. “Did you have someplace in mind to eat?”
They ended up at a Chinese buffet a few blocks from the hospital (with Barbara promising to bring Nick some takeout). Arizona fixed the twins' plates and oversaw Allegra making her own, observing her father lean over to give Gavin some advice, the little boy carefully picking out an eggroll for himself. She bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling too widely. She nodded when he looked to her for confirmation of the proposition that he'd enjoy it.
Eating one handed while making sure the kids were all eating had become something Arizona was good at, so used to it now that she didn't even notice that she was doing it. Barbara noticed it, though, as did Daniel, their eyes meeting across the table.
Dinner conversation topics were Nick and Callie, and the cool sharp stick Gavin had found yesterday at the park with the whole family. He'd been brandishing it like a lance when he'd gone down the bannister and earned his no dessert.
Knowing her father was a big advocate of after dinner drinks Arizona invited them home, their rental car parked on the curb in front while she wrangled everyone out of their seats and toward the house.
Daniel, former US Marine Colonel, retired, accepted a glass of Jameson (from Callie's secret stash) and he stood in silent observation as the kids led Barbara on a tour of the house. Arizona leaned against the other half of the door frame for a few minutes before leaving him to join the tour. They were just so cute when they were playing tour guide. Each of their bedrooms was proudly displayed, Callie and Arizona's room indicated with a hooked thumb over the shoulder on the way back downstairs.
The hall walls were lined with framed pictures and Barbara slowed to look at the family photos on display. Pictures of Callie with the kids, candids of the kids playing in the yard and in the park, some more recent ones with Arizona, and a scattering of pictures of them with Owen.
The children's frenzied, eager explanations slowed as they pointed out pictures of Owen. “That's our daddy,” Allegra told Barbara, standing at the older woman's side. “He died saving people in a plane crash.” The words didn't come without emotion, the little girl tearing up and sniffling. Arizona was there before she could turn to look for her and she buried her face in the Peds surgeon's middle.
“It's okay to be sad,” Arizona reminded her gently, combing soft fingers through unruly curls. Over Allegra's head Barbara caught her daughter's eyes and gestured toward the door. Arizona nodded understanding and knelt to draw all three kids into her arms. Her priorities were clear and she had her arms around them.
[part 26 here]