Where's the Kick? 1/1
Title: Where's the Kick? 1/1
Author: Metriosity
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG13
Summary: Arizona waits for the kick to wake her up.
Authors Note: Hey all, IAdoreCallie here. This is my new main account. Strictly for doing one off's, commenting etc. The IAC account will only be used to continue on with the super long story that started out as a one off and is now a novel. I will update that when I am feeling it a little more.
Things weren't going as planned. From the get go, Arizona's pink bubble of forgiveness, love and making up had been punctured unceremoniously with a door being slammed in her face. Her pride was hurt but she had to admit, she deserved it. Maybe she should have stayed overnight on Mark's doorstep, waiting for Callie. But where would the romance be if she smelled like she had been on a long haul flight from a country where deodorant was a luxury. Maybe it had also been a mistake to steal Callie's apartment from under her. Alright, if she was honest it was definitely a mistake. Callie had been more than furious. Retrospect is a wonderful thing, after everything has hit the fan. She had spent days working out her faults. She didn't have any. Or so she thought, until Mark had pin pointed a stream of them. Perhaps thinking of herself as perfect was the biggest of all faults. It didn't allow her to see her own mistakes.
But this. She was sure she didn't deserve this. She couldn't breathe. She was sure that her heart had stopped beating and was instead now crumbling away into ash. The elevator wasn't descending any more it was spinning like a carousel out of control. She was hyperventilating now. A good sign, she was at least breathing, even if it was making her light headed. Why couldn't she see? Everything was a blur. As a stinging hot trail of tears burst over her cheek she realized that her world, her perfect dream world was being manipulated. Where was the kick to wake her up and bring her back to reality. Where Callie had embraced her with open arms. All forgiven. Where were the long languishing kisses as the sun rose over their fresh start? This all had to be a bad dream on the flight home to the love of her life. The food had been terrible. Maybe that's what caused the nightmare?
"Yeah. Thought so." Came Callie's harsh voice. There was the kick. Arizona snapped out of her thoughts long enough to see Callie storming out into the lobby. Passing Mark and Lexie. They looked to happy. Clearly Callie hadn't dropped the bomb on them yet. Would Lexie's world crash and burn like her's was doing?
Arizona stood clutching her heart. It hurt. Callie had kicked it, stamped on it. Then fed it to wild dogs. The doors were closing, but an arm shot between them. For a split second Arizona hoped it was Callie. She had done it before. But instead of warm chocolate eyes and a dazzling smile she was met with the faces of two of the last people she wanted to talk to. "You ok Robbins?" Mark looked genuinely concerned as she stood holding her chest and letting the tears fall freely. "Hey. You in there?" She looked up at him. Then to Lexie. They both stared at her like she might need a guerny at any moment. Her feet carried her out into the lobby, but her mind was left inside the elevator. She wasn't thinking and didn't want to. "Robbins. What happened?" Mark's voice was like a dagger twisting harder into her chest. She should have known that Callie would fall back to him. She even expected it. But she didn't expect there to be a permanent reminder of it growing inside Callie.
"You slept with her. That's what happened." She had hoped to put more venom behind the words but instead it sounded emotionless. Like a ghost whispering. Lexie was staring at her with sympathy now. She didn't want sympathy. She wanted to undo everything and go back to the start. Actually be perfect for Callie, rather than being perfect for herself. Lexie clearly knew Mark and Callie had slept together. It wasn't a surprise. It wasn't her place to tell either of them the consequences. Taking off as fast as she could Arizona fled into the parking lot. Leaving Mark and Lexie confused in the lobby. She needed time to think. Time to work out what she wanted to do.
It was as she ran passed Callie's apartment building that it hit her. I don't need to work out what I want to do. I need to work out what Callie wants me to do. Sitting on the sidewalk, her back against the building, she hung her head. Selfishness. That's what everything boiled down to. She had been selfish. Everything had been what she wanted. When she wanted it. If she was going to make things right, she had to do everything for Callie. And now Callie's baby. This was a test. One she wouldn't fail. Life wasn't life without Calliope and if that meant Mark's baby was in the picture too, then so be it.
Within moments she had hailed a cab and was on her way to her destination. So much to do and so little time to make it right. At this moment Callie was alone and waiting for Arizona to do the right thing. This time, I will do it. Not for me. For her.
***
Callie sat hunched into a ball on the sofa. Arizona had turned into a shaking vegetable when Callie had delivered the news that was going to change so many lives. She regretted it. All of it. Sleeping with Mark had been a bad move. One made to hurt Arizona, even if she never came back. Now she was pregnant and while she felt a sense of joy at being able to have her dream, this wasn't how it was meant to play out. She wasn't meant to be alone in a bathroom crying when she found out. She was meant to be with Arizona. Looks of joy on both their faces. Now she would be haunted by the image of Arizona turning various shades of gray and green. Life sucked. And then it sucked the life out of you.
A knock on the door startled her. The pizza she ordered got here much faster than she thought. Or perhaps she had been thinking for a lot longer than she thought. Slowly, she dragged herself towards the door. As she opened it she wasn't met with a pizza delivery guy. There was no one there. As she looked down her heart skipped a beat. Laying on the doorstep was a huge basket. Filled with everything a pregnant woman needs to take care of herself. Bath salts, lotions, the fluffiest robe she had ever seen, chocolates, baby magazines. It was like a baby shower in a basket. As she lifted it and looked down the corridor, she noticed a note attached to the side of the basket. She knew it could only be from one person as that was the only person she had told. But she still couldn't believe it. Shutting the door, she took the basket to the table and sat down to read the note. Her fingers trembling as she fumbled to get it out of the envelope.
Calliope.
I'm selfish Calliope. More than I ever realized. I took what I wanted and disregarded your dreams. You deserve better than that. You deserve to be loved unconditionally. To be given all the things you dream of.
I love you Calliope. I'll be here if you want me. I won't chase you. I won't run from you. No more running. You can't settle down when you are always on the move.
I can only hope that you want to stay put, with me. As a family.
My love. Always and forever.
Arizona.
*PS... I got the robe really big so that you have growing room for you and the little one to keep warm.*
Callie couldn't breath now as she dropped the note onto the coffee table. Callie wanted to laugh. Its all good saying one thing, but everyone always did the opposite. She could only rely on herself. Everyone ran, they never came back. Arizona had come back, even though it was her own fault she left in the first place. That wasn't Callie making her leave.
But now, even though there was something to make her run that was Callie's doing... She was staying. Despite knowing that the woman she loved had slept with a guy and was now carrying his child. One small note had said everything Callie wanted to hear. A second chance was what Arizona wanted. Maybe this was a second chance for them both.
She stood and walked towards the door. The least she could do was say thank you. As she opened it, she was met with brilliant blue eyes, gazing into hers. No fear. No hate. Nothing but love. Kindness. Devotion. All the things she wanted. Arizona stood in the doorway of their old apartment. Chewing her lip nervously. "Goodnight Calliope. Sweet dreams." Her voice was soft and stroked at Callie like butterfly wings. As she began to close the door, Callie felt her heart drop.
"Arizona wait!" The door stopped and Arizona's face appeared, resting against the wood. "Uhm... Do you want to get breakfast tomorrow?"
Arizona smiled warmly. "I'd like that."
As they closed their respective doors, both felt as though a new one was opening slowly. One they would both step through side by side.