Proposal Re-write Event: Memories of misery.
Title: Memories of Misery
Author: Metriosity
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: "It all started here, seems right the next stage should start here too."
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I wish I did. Shonda and ABC are the lucky ones with all the rights, claims and ownership.
Callie poked her head around the bathroom door and grimaced as she saw Arizona sitting on the end of the bed holding onto a small pink blanket. "She will be fine. Stop worrying. Mark may be an ass but he is a good Dad." Arizona looked up at the sound of Callie's voice and smiled weakly. Despite being frustrated that Arizona was taking so long to get ready, Callie couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy at seeing Arizona so attached to Sofia. Her biggest worry was that Arizona wouldn't find a way to connect to their young daughter, but those fears had been unfounded. Arizona and Sofia had a special bond that even Callie envied. She guessed that saving a life forges a bond which even biology can't break. Not that she wanted to. Sofia always seemed to be peaceful when Arizona was around. Not just quiet and content, but peaceful as though she knew that nothing could hurt her as long as Arizona was around.
Slipping her jacket over her shoulders Callie dropped down onto the bed and wrapped her arm around Arizona's waist. "We'll be just down the street. He has our cell, pager and the bar numbers. Baby, don't worry OK." Arizona leaned into Callie and placed the blanket on the bed beside her. Closing her eyes slowly to release her tension Arizona seemed to transform before Callie's eyes.
"I am ready to go. Our first date since Sofia was born. Got to make the most of it!" Callie laughed as Arizona tugged on her hand pulling her towards the front door. Even though Arizona was trying to be positive and excited, Callie noticed her longing glance towards Mark's apartment door as they passed. Once out in the street the chill air helped to quicken their steps. It was only a few minutes more before they were safely nestled at the bar. Joe poured them both soda's. He refused to serve either of them alcohol until Sofia was 30. It didn't matter who met her, everyone became instantly protective of their baby girl. Turning to face one another Arizona smiled "This is nice. Just the two of us... No bottle warming, diapers, spit up..." Callie smiled warmly. She knew Arizona was doing her best to enjoy their time away and she did miss and worry about Sofia too. But Callie had more faith in Mark than Arizona did. Granted Arizona's lack of belief in Mark's parenting abilities was justified.
They had all had a long talk when Callie was well enough to handle it. Everything had been revealed. Mark had seemed stunned that Callie took Arizona's side. To her, Arizona was everything and Arizona had made the right decision. Callie wanted her baby girl to live. No matter what Mark's suggestions, nothing and no one can replace your child. They aren't like sneakers, you can't just replace one if you lose a pair. Since their talk, Mark had shown what he believed to be respect to Arizona. Sarcasm and crude jokes where about as respectful as he got. And to Sofia he was more doting than Callie could have imagined. Arizona still couldn't shake the thought that he could give her up so easily.
The bar was full, residents, interns and attendings having animated conversations and filling the air with raucous laughter. Callie loved it. For a moment she wasn't a Mom. A fiancee. She was just her, carefree and with the most beautiful woman in the world sitting in front of her talking blissfully about some rumors she had heard around the hospital. Callie was happy to just smile and stare at Arizona. She had gotten everything she had ever wanted and it was all because of Arizona. Not only did she save the life of their baby, but she had given Callie unconditional love. Something she had always craved and never quite received. Arizona did everything she could to make sure that Callie was happy. Determined not to mess up again and instead focus on their family. Callie couldn't be happier.
As Arizona excused herself Callie followed her with her eyes and reflected that when they had first met. here, Callie's life was the total opposite of what it was now. Crying over a bathroom sink, Callie had been at the bottom of a hole. Struggling to climb out. And then a beautiful golden ladder stretched out before her and offered her a way out. And at the top was Arizona. Callie was moving towards the bathroom as the memory became an idea.
Opening the door she saw Arizona washing her hands over the sink. "Hey! Ped's right?" Arizona looked up into the mirror and smiled back at Callie. "I'm Calliope Torres. Ortho. I've seen you at the hospital. Hey, you ok?" Callie did her best to keep her face straight.
"Callie, what's wrong with you?" Arizona said with a smirk as she leaned back against the sink.
"People talk. Where we work. They talk. A lot. So for the sake of being honest I think I should tell you that I know things about you... Because people talk." Callie had stepped forward, smiling warmly.
Arizona looked confused for several seconds and then Callie could almost see the light bulb flash above her head. "Oh! I get it. Ugh! What was it you said..." Arizona thought for several more seconds and then groaned "Terrific" she smiled after her moment of mock misery and watched Callie with amusement.
"It is actually. The talk. People really like you over there. They respect you and are concerned and interested. They really like you." Arizona was doing her best not to laugh at this point as she leaned against the sink which had been Callie's perch so long ago. "Some of them reeeallly like you." Callie smiled broadly.
Arizona did her best to look disinterested as she waited for the next section of her speech. She felt silly listening to it and would chastise herself later for sounding what she thought was cheesy. She had no idea just what this meant to Callie.
"There is one person who really really likes you." Arizona's brow knitted together as Callie began deviating from the memory. "Specifically one Callie Torres in Ortho. You might remember her, it was in this bathroom that you saved her life. You stopped her from drowning. You brought her back up into the sun and you showed her just how amazing life can be." Callie shifted herself between Arizona's thighs and wrapped her arms around Arizona's back. Arizona's eyes were welling with tears as Callie continued. "It all started here. It seems right that the next stage should start here too. I love you Arizona. I loved you the moment I met you. And right here, in this spot, my life began."
"Callie..." Arizona's question was silenced by a soft, tender kiss. Callie's memory of that first kiss here was as vivid as if it was yesterday. The kiss that changed everything.
"Arizona, for all of our ups and downs. For all the joys and the sadness. I wouldn't change a thing. Not one moment. Everything has led us here. To this crummy bathroom." Arizona giggled and hung her head, embarrassed that this was where she started it all. "You asked me a question and I said yes. But I need to ask you that same question. I need for you to know that to me, this is more than just a yes. You are more to me than anything. So, would you Arizona Robbins, do me the honor of being my wife? Will you let me love you more every day? Will you sit beside me in 60 years and smile as we look back at everything and everywhere I lives have led us?" Callie looked down at the floor, contemplating getting down on one knee.
"Don't you dare. You'll get all sorts of diseases off that floor." Callie smiled with relief at Arizona who sat smiling at her. "Will I marry you? Hmm... I dunno..." Callie rolled her eyes and swept Arizona into her arms. Laying soft kisses down Arizona's neck. Her eyes closing Arizona felt her head getting light "Yes Calliope. A million times yes."
It took several minutes for them both to regain their composure and return to the bar. Callie sat beside Arizona, holding her hands and smiling as though this were the first time marriage had been mentioned between the two. Both lost in one another, it was so easy to do. Not noticing April exiting the bathroom dabbing her eyes and smiling at the pair as she exited the bar.
Author: Metriosity
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: "It all started here, seems right the next stage should start here too."
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I wish I did. Shonda and ABC are the lucky ones with all the rights, claims and ownership.
Callie poked her head around the bathroom door and grimaced as she saw Arizona sitting on the end of the bed holding onto a small pink blanket. "She will be fine. Stop worrying. Mark may be an ass but he is a good Dad." Arizona looked up at the sound of Callie's voice and smiled weakly. Despite being frustrated that Arizona was taking so long to get ready, Callie couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy at seeing Arizona so attached to Sofia. Her biggest worry was that Arizona wouldn't find a way to connect to their young daughter, but those fears had been unfounded. Arizona and Sofia had a special bond that even Callie envied. She guessed that saving a life forges a bond which even biology can't break. Not that she wanted to. Sofia always seemed to be peaceful when Arizona was around. Not just quiet and content, but peaceful as though she knew that nothing could hurt her as long as Arizona was around.
Slipping her jacket over her shoulders Callie dropped down onto the bed and wrapped her arm around Arizona's waist. "We'll be just down the street. He has our cell, pager and the bar numbers. Baby, don't worry OK." Arizona leaned into Callie and placed the blanket on the bed beside her. Closing her eyes slowly to release her tension Arizona seemed to transform before Callie's eyes.
"I am ready to go. Our first date since Sofia was born. Got to make the most of it!" Callie laughed as Arizona tugged on her hand pulling her towards the front door. Even though Arizona was trying to be positive and excited, Callie noticed her longing glance towards Mark's apartment door as they passed. Once out in the street the chill air helped to quicken their steps. It was only a few minutes more before they were safely nestled at the bar. Joe poured them both soda's. He refused to serve either of them alcohol until Sofia was 30. It didn't matter who met her, everyone became instantly protective of their baby girl. Turning to face one another Arizona smiled "This is nice. Just the two of us... No bottle warming, diapers, spit up..." Callie smiled warmly. She knew Arizona was doing her best to enjoy their time away and she did miss and worry about Sofia too. But Callie had more faith in Mark than Arizona did. Granted Arizona's lack of belief in Mark's parenting abilities was justified.
They had all had a long talk when Callie was well enough to handle it. Everything had been revealed. Mark had seemed stunned that Callie took Arizona's side. To her, Arizona was everything and Arizona had made the right decision. Callie wanted her baby girl to live. No matter what Mark's suggestions, nothing and no one can replace your child. They aren't like sneakers, you can't just replace one if you lose a pair. Since their talk, Mark had shown what he believed to be respect to Arizona. Sarcasm and crude jokes where about as respectful as he got. And to Sofia he was more doting than Callie could have imagined. Arizona still couldn't shake the thought that he could give her up so easily.
The bar was full, residents, interns and attendings having animated conversations and filling the air with raucous laughter. Callie loved it. For a moment she wasn't a Mom. A fiancee. She was just her, carefree and with the most beautiful woman in the world sitting in front of her talking blissfully about some rumors she had heard around the hospital. Callie was happy to just smile and stare at Arizona. She had gotten everything she had ever wanted and it was all because of Arizona. Not only did she save the life of their baby, but she had given Callie unconditional love. Something she had always craved and never quite received. Arizona did everything she could to make sure that Callie was happy. Determined not to mess up again and instead focus on their family. Callie couldn't be happier.
As Arizona excused herself Callie followed her with her eyes and reflected that when they had first met. here, Callie's life was the total opposite of what it was now. Crying over a bathroom sink, Callie had been at the bottom of a hole. Struggling to climb out. And then a beautiful golden ladder stretched out before her and offered her a way out. And at the top was Arizona. Callie was moving towards the bathroom as the memory became an idea.
Opening the door she saw Arizona washing her hands over the sink. "Hey! Ped's right?" Arizona looked up into the mirror and smiled back at Callie. "I'm Calliope Torres. Ortho. I've seen you at the hospital. Hey, you ok?" Callie did her best to keep her face straight.
"Callie, what's wrong with you?" Arizona said with a smirk as she leaned back against the sink.
"People talk. Where we work. They talk. A lot. So for the sake of being honest I think I should tell you that I know things about you... Because people talk." Callie had stepped forward, smiling warmly.
Arizona looked confused for several seconds and then Callie could almost see the light bulb flash above her head. "Oh! I get it. Ugh! What was it you said..." Arizona thought for several more seconds and then groaned "Terrific" she smiled after her moment of mock misery and watched Callie with amusement.
"It is actually. The talk. People really like you over there. They respect you and are concerned and interested. They really like you." Arizona was doing her best not to laugh at this point as she leaned against the sink which had been Callie's perch so long ago. "Some of them reeeallly like you." Callie smiled broadly.
Arizona did her best to look disinterested as she waited for the next section of her speech. She felt silly listening to it and would chastise herself later for sounding what she thought was cheesy. She had no idea just what this meant to Callie.
"There is one person who really really likes you." Arizona's brow knitted together as Callie began deviating from the memory. "Specifically one Callie Torres in Ortho. You might remember her, it was in this bathroom that you saved her life. You stopped her from drowning. You brought her back up into the sun and you showed her just how amazing life can be." Callie shifted herself between Arizona's thighs and wrapped her arms around Arizona's back. Arizona's eyes were welling with tears as Callie continued. "It all started here. It seems right that the next stage should start here too. I love you Arizona. I loved you the moment I met you. And right here, in this spot, my life began."
"Callie..." Arizona's question was silenced by a soft, tender kiss. Callie's memory of that first kiss here was as vivid as if it was yesterday. The kiss that changed everything.
"Arizona, for all of our ups and downs. For all the joys and the sadness. I wouldn't change a thing. Not one moment. Everything has led us here. To this crummy bathroom." Arizona giggled and hung her head, embarrassed that this was where she started it all. "You asked me a question and I said yes. But I need to ask you that same question. I need for you to know that to me, this is more than just a yes. You are more to me than anything. So, would you Arizona Robbins, do me the honor of being my wife? Will you let me love you more every day? Will you sit beside me in 60 years and smile as we look back at everything and everywhere I lives have led us?" Callie looked down at the floor, contemplating getting down on one knee.
"Don't you dare. You'll get all sorts of diseases off that floor." Callie smiled with relief at Arizona who sat smiling at her. "Will I marry you? Hmm... I dunno..." Callie rolled her eyes and swept Arizona into her arms. Laying soft kisses down Arizona's neck. Her eyes closing Arizona felt her head getting light "Yes Calliope. A million times yes."
It took several minutes for them both to regain their composure and return to the bar. Callie sat beside Arizona, holding her hands and smiling as though this were the first time marriage had been mentioned between the two. Both lost in one another, it was so easy to do. Not noticing April exiting the bathroom dabbing her eyes and smiling at the pair as she exited the bar.