Romance is dead, long live Romance 1/1
Title: Romance is dead, long live Romance 1/1
Author: Neolithicdream
Pairing/Character: Calzona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: "What? That's today? Its the 14th already? Ugh!" Someone is not in the mood for Romance. Set a few years down the road from mid season 10. Romance comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
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 libellous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
It was dark, as dark as Arizona's mood. Way past midnight.
Technically her shift had ended at 7pm, so she'd hoped when she was paged for an emergency at 6am this morning that she'd at least make it home in time to tuck her little girl in. But no. She'd had to stay late. Again. For the third time this week. Apart from rushed breakfasts she had barely seen her little girl all week.
She'd lost a long term patient yesterday and today, two kids from a freeway collision died on her watch. Not her fault, it would have taken more than a miracle to save any one of them but still. There had been successes too but the losses always impacted that bit more, especially now.
And she'd been covering for her trusted Lieutenant, Dr. Karev for the past seven days too. Double shifts and so she was dog tired. She shook her head in depressed wonder yet again at that turn of events. How in hell did Alex get to sweep his new bride off for a honeymoon to beautiful Fiji, of all places, when, after all these years, she and Callie had yet to travel outside the USA together.
Arizona sighed as she laid her keys and oversized bag on the console table at the front door. The house was in semi-darkness, the glimmer from that one light down the hall breaking the otherwise pitch black. She edged carefully through their home towards the light, anxious not to wake any of the sleeping occupants,
"Goddamnit, Callie!"
She just managed to stifle her annoyed yell into a disgruntled mutter as she regained her balance after tripping over a single upturned, apparently abandoned red stiletto. Callie's favourite shoes, hell they were Arizona's favourite too - the way they made her wife's calves and ankles look sexier than should be legal in any of the fifty States. Just not when they were lying as a concealed hazard in her own home.
She looked cautiously for the other one, it wouldn't be too far away. She soon spotted its comrade, lurking harmlessly under a second console table in the wide oversized hallway. She sighed again in surrendered exasperation; she only needed to close her eyes to picture the scene, Callie kicking her shoes off with an energetic flick of one foot, then the other once she was done with them, not caring where they landed.
Entering their bedroom quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping huddle in the middle of their bed. She smiled quietly to herself notwithstanding her mood. The sight of her wife in their bed always smoothed the edge off a bad mood, and the sight of Callie stretched out as if claiming each and every part of the bed as hers never got old. Especially as now, with a Super King sized bed, she just couldn't quite stretch far enough.
A few minutes later, night routine completed, she switched off the light in their generous bathroom, sat gently onto the bed, removed her prosthetic and sock and gratefully sank into the warm embrace of their marital bed. Fitting herself snugly around her wife's body, every fibre and sinew in her body relaxed. She'd be asleep in moments.
"Hey..." A sleepy Callie muttered, "... long day?"
"Longest..." Arizona just managed a reply,"...sleep now."
The clock said it had been fifteen minutes of blissful sleep; Arizona, if asked would have said fifteen seconds. Tops. Fifteen seconds before the, by now, so-familiar wail began. Began, as always, as a low guttural sound but inevitably would build to a high pitched household-waking crescendo if given enough time.
"No, no..." Arizona groaned despairingly, "...no." Callie stirred too but engaged in the subterfuge of silence. If she wasn't awake, she couldn't hear; if she couldn't hear, Arizona would get up. It was her turn after all. She felt Arizona disengage from being big spoon,roll on her back and sigh in exhaustion. And then no further movement. Not even as the wail moved up a notch.
She knew her wife was exhausted,work being particularly manic for her recently. And her guilty conscience kicked in, "...I can go?" Said in a whisper.
"It's my turn, Callie." Arizona sighed again.
"You're exhausted, there's a bottle left over in the fridge so I can..."
"I said I'll do it!" She snarled back, tiredness the sole reason. Well with maybe a tiny dollop of parental inferiority complex thrown in the mix. With a little huff, and a slightly larger puff Arizona dragged her weary bones to the side of the bed. Putting on first the sock, then her leg with practised ease she stood and within seconds was gone, groaning not so silently as she went.
Callie wrapped the bedclothes tightly round herself as light entered and then left the room as Arizona opened and shut the door. She smiled to herself, content that she wasn't doing this particular night feed and bemused at her wife's grumpiness. It was out of character except when she was tired. Oscar the Grouch had nothing on a tired Arizona.
She smiled too at the sounds now coming over the baby monitor. A certain antidote to her wife's grumpiness was their kids.
" Hey, big boy, what you making that awful noise for?" Came a voice now bathed in gentleness. The " awful noise" subsided for a moment, it's source clearly recognising his Mommy's voice, before resuming but with less enthusiasm then before.
"You hungry, little man?" Callie could hear Arizona reaching and lifting him from the crib, could hear the strain in her breathing as she adjusted her balance to compensate for the added weight of their hale and hearty six month old. Could hear too as the wailing subsided to a muted sobbing and then to a more contented gurgle as the gentle voice continued to talk.
"Oh you are an impatient little boy tonight, aren't you..." Arizona held her son close to her chest, inhaling his clean sweet baby smell, kissing the small tuft of fair hair on his head. No matter how bad her mood, no matter how weary her bones, no matter how her residual limb ached from over-standing this right here soothed it all. She didn't think it was possible to feel this a second time, that overwhelming, over powerful love for a child. She'd thought Sofia must be the exception, but little Christopher Timothy Torres was just as adored. Single dimple and all.
"Patience, sweet cheeks ...food is coming as soon as I sit down..." She whispered in his ear as he tried to gain immediate access to a swollen breast..."...you know you get your grabby hands from your Mama!"
In the next room Callie smiled in faux indignation at that,then as sleep almost reclaimed her she stiffened as she heard the unmistakeable sound of a barely-recovered stumble followed by a simultaneous,
"Goddamnit, Callie!"
And a fright inspired wail, louder than any that had gone before.
She heard Arizona attempting to sooth the now frantic baby in her arms, "...it's okay, sweetie, Mommy's got you now...Mommy's sorry, I got you, Christopher, I got you..." Callie recognised the panic in Arizona's voice without registering the fact that the voice was coming ever closer until the door of their bedroom swung open and an unidentified object propelled through the air hitting her feet. Somewhat aptly as she quickly recognised it as her old comfy gym shoe.
"Jesus , Cal...could you tidy your stuff away just for once?" Arizona's words came fast and furious, "...I tripped on your stupid shoe! I could have, I could have...." She inhaled deeply,a calming technique learned from their marriage counsellor. one they both found invaluable at times. "...I could have dropped him, I could have..."
Callie was awake now, wide awake. If the shoe hadn't already ensured that then the look on her wife's face would. Scared, horrified, vulnerable, every emotion visible. Nothing hidden.
"Babe, I know... But he's ok..." Said softly in understanding, "... He's fine, look at him...he's fine..."
Arizona breathed deeply, Callie was right, their little son was unharmed, content and secure in her arms, nuzzling at a tee shirt clad nipple. She nodded, suddenly feeling foolish, "...I'll just go do this so..." nodding towards Christopher's nursery next door where a rocking chair awaited.
"Hey, feed him here, come to bed..." Callie patted Arizona's side.
"No, you were sleeping, I should let you sleep, I'll just..."
Callie grinned widely in the semidarkness, "...well I was asleep but then my wife threw a shoe at me..." She sighed dramatically, laughter seeping through despite her best efforts, ".... So now I'm wide awake and want two of my favourite people in my bed."
Arizona needed no further invite and moments later she was snuggled up against Callie as snugly as Christopher, now happily feeding, was snuggled against her in turn.
They sat there, a picture of contentment, in silence till Arizona spoke, somewhat sheepishly, "... I'm sorry for throwing a shoe at you..." She continued, "... But when I trip....I only have one actual leg, ya know?"
"uhm, yes but what..." It seemed an odd, if obvious,statement of fact.
"When you wear a prosthetic, it's like learning to walk all over again, like a baby in some ways. And it's hard, Callie, it's really hard."
Callie nodded, eyes narrowing in confusion all the same.
"But you learn, you learn how to balance again, learn so well it feels nearly natural, instinctual but it's not instinctual at all, it's learned so when you trip sometimes instinct kicks in but instinct is for two real legs so I'm more likely to fall if I trip than someone with two legs." She lay her head on Callie shoulder as she finished, "If I hurt him, I'd never forgive myself"
Callie sighed. Sometimes nowadays she forgot that Arizona was an amputee at all. Even when staring at her prosthetic leaning against a wall, or seeing her wheel chair in the corner or while stroking her residual limb she could forget. It was only a couple of years earlier when everything about Arizona, about them as a couple, was defined by her leg or rather her missing leg. It had been the catalyst for so much hurt, so much damage. It was different now. They were happier than they had ever been, more solid, their love was true and deep and based on reality now not some mythical fantasy of love.
"I'm sorry for being so untidy."
"You're not, not really, it's just with shoes..." Arizona replied, turning her head to meet Callie's eyes. "...I unexpectedly met one of your sexy red heels in the hall too earlier... Nearly broke my neck." She nudged Callie playfully to let her know it was ok.
"Oh, it's after midnight..." The mention of the shoes she'd been trying on earlier jogged her memory.
Arizona sighed, adjusting the nearly sleeping baby in her arms as she did." ...it's actually after one."
"Exactly so it's tomorrow already! Happy Valentines, Arizona, will you be my Valentine, again." Callie kissed Arizona on the cheek playfully.
"What? That's today? Its the 14th already? Ugh!"
"Well, way to kill the romance,babe." It was so not the reaction she'd expected.
Arizona groaning loudly turned to look at her wife in dismay, "Please tell me you don't have some elaborate plans for tonight, I just want to finish my shift and sleep...for days."
She bit her tongue, trying but failing to hide the disappointment on her face, "... It's fine, Arizona, nothing that can't be cancelled."
"Calliope..." Arizona felt guilty but her deep seated exhaustion won the day nonetheless, "... Maybe we can just do something nice next week?"
Callie nodded, smiled weakly and stayed silent. It was how they remained and soon Christopher was snoring loudly, head lolling against his Mommy's chest. It didn't take long before he was back in his crib and Arizona back in her bed, safely in Callie's arms. Sleep coming for neither, no matter how yearned for. Entwined closely, Callie asked, " ... So part from an Attack of the Killer shoes what else in your day had you wearing your grumpy boots tonight?"
"Too much work, not enough people; crazy board, insane parents...the usual." She smiled into Callies shoulder, " ... Oh and a love lorn intern following me around with big blue puppy dog eyes."
The new interns had arrived last week, younger and more stupid than all that had gone before.
" Oh, which one? Do I know her?" Callie turned Arizona in her arms so they were facing each other.
" His name is James, he clearly hasn't got the memo yet..." Arizona smiled, "... So there's no need for you to worry."
Callie paused, thought twice but decided to say it anyway. It was another thing they'd learned in their year long counselling sessions. "I know that and if her name was Jemima I still would have no need to worry." She said it softly but the love and honestly was clearly audible all the same,
Arizona swallowed, the residue of shame flit across her face all the same.
"Calliope... " she'd said the words so many time, apologies, assurances, yet her own need to say them still emerged from time to time, long after Callie needed to hear them.
Callie swallowed up her words in a kiss, finishing the kiss off with a playful peck on the tip of Arizona's nose, a nose their son had inherited. "I know...I trust you 100 %, I love you, I trust you, always."
Arizona nodded, she didn't doubt the veracity of Callie's words, but God it was nice to hear them all the same. She smiled at her, suddenly overcome with gratitude. For Callie, for Callie's love. For their two gorgeous kids and for the life they were building together.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, about cancelling plans. I want to be your Valentine, again.." emphasising the last word playfully, " .... Don't cancel your plans, our plans, whatever they are, they will be great."
"You sure?" Callie said with a smile, "... I know you've been working all hours but.."
" I'm sure, after tomorrow's shift, rather today's..."she frowned as she realised just how late it was, " I've got three days off to reintroduce myself to the kids...and to sleep so don't cancel."
Callie smiled, an idea forming all the same, "...Can I decide what you wear too?"
"Oh, God Callie." Arizona wanted to say no, but do you say no to a Callie Torres, really? "Fine but nothing too revealing, there's a lot of baby weight still..."
" Love handles..." Callie nuzzled her neck, "... Now sleep."
************
It had been a good day, all told, Arizona thought as she parked the car and walked up the short path towards their bungalow. As always she admired the white picket fence surrounding the small front yard, a yard dwarfed in size by the yard at the back.
Karev and Wilson were back, and after showing her copious images of pristine white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, they actually managed to take some of her workload.He owed her big time for the last week, especially Alex. A debt she fully intended to have him repay for a very long time. Starting today when he worked through lunch so she could nip out. and collect the jewellery she'd ordered weeks ago. She may have been the Grinch who stole Valentines last night but generally the Romance in her still thrived.
And she'd collected the freshest largest bunch of red roses on her way home. and she'd showered at work, so she was ready for whatever Callie would throw at her. Fancy restaurant? Check. Dancing till dawn? Check. Making out in a sleazy bar? Check. Midnight ferry ride in freezing Seattle? Check.
Whatever Callie wanted, Callie would get tonight. What she herself wanted? A night in snuggling her babies on the sofa? That could wait till tomorrow.
" Hey, guys I'm home."
Sofia through herself excitedly at Mommy, smothering her with kisses and crushing several roses to pieces in the process, "Mama, mama..." She shouted excitedly back towards the bedrooms, "Mommy's here, Mommy's here."
"Mommy, are those flowers for me?" Sofia asked, her smile showing two missing teeth,"They're the 'sact same colour as my new Jammies, see?" She twirled around showing her brand new red onesie, featuring on the front her favouritest fish from the new Nemo movie, a lobster.
Arizona oohed and aahed appropriately at the onesie she had never seen before. Callie must have been shopping.
"Happy Valentines, babe." Callie's voice was sultry as she appeared from the hallway. Arizona had half repeated the words in reply before looking up and pausing in mid-word, "... What? Calliope?"
She'd expected Calliope to emerge looking insanely sexy in a sexy dress, clinging obscenely to her luscious curves. maybe wearing those red stilettos. She was wearing red alright. A red onesie, the colour matching their daughter's but this time sans fish. She was carrying a sleepy baby, clad head to toe, in a red baby grow, the soles of the tiny feet adorned with lobsters matching Sofia's.
" We got new Jammies for you too, Mommy, look?" Sofia thrust what looked like an identical red onesie at her, made from the softest snuggliest material Arizona had ever felt.
" Calliope?" She asked in awe but Sofia had more too add, "... And, Mommy, we got Pizza and Ice cream for dinner..." Sofia was in wonder at that, cause that almost never happened, "... And Mama said I can stay up late and snuggle on the couch with you and Mama and watch the fish movie again. Can I Mommy, can I? Mama said I could." Usually one mothers approval was all she needed but this was such a fantastical possibility she wanted to double check. " Mama said its cause its Happy Love Day." She finished with a couple of short authoritative nods that she'd learned straight from the 'Arizona Robbins' handbook.
" Calliope?" It seemed the only word which she could utter.
Callie smiled, simply saying softly, " I may have changed the plan just a little." The smile falling quickly as her wife's eyes filled with tears and huge drops fell down fair cheeks.
"Arizona? I thought that... Oh God did you want to go out and..." Her words drowned out by a kiss and a fervent "I love you, Calliope, I love you so damn much." The following kiss was longer, deeper, Arizona still holding the roses, Callie still holding Christopher. A kiss full of love and acknowledgement. Acknowledging how far they'd come together. Acknowledging that the rest of the journey would be taken together too, till the end of their days.
The excitement was too much for Sofia all the same. She joined her brother in gentle snores long before Dory and Nemo and the Lobster were reunited with their families. And soon there were only two red onesie clad people on the sofa.
" I have something for you..." Arizona said reaching for the distinctively wrapped box.
" You bought me jewellery? As well as roses? Best wife ever!" Callie smiled before tearing the wrapping with abandon.
"It's my heart pendant? But how?" She'd been devastated a few months into Arizona's pregnancy when unnoticed her necklace and pendant got caught up in a pair of bloody scrubs and made it all the way to the incinerator. After that Arizona stopped wearing hers too in a gesture of solidarity. She told Callie that Sofia could have it when she was older.
"Well. It's not exactly. It's the same design as our old ones, I got a new one too. Not silver and gold though. These are made from Platinum. I was explaining to the jeweller last month what I wanted, and he suggested platinum. He said it was stronger and more durable than gold or silver but just as pretty." Arizona shrugged her shoulders just a little , shyly adding "I thought that summed us up pretty well now."
The kiss she received in return made it clear that Callie agreed. As it threatened to turn into something else Callie said, " I have something else for you too but we have to go to the bedroom for it."
In the bedroom, Callie slowly and deliberately unzipped her onesie to reveal heretofore hidden and somewhat scandalous lingerie.
Arizona swallowed hard before smiling, "So seeing as you picked my outfit earlier its only fair if I pick yours now, right?" She didn't wait for an answer before disappearing into Callie's walk-in closet.
"Uhm, babe?" Callie asked in confusion, " I was kind of expecting to take clothes off not put more on?"
Arizona emerged with a mischievous grin clutching only a pair of killer red stilettos.
By the time Christopher's predictable wails came through on the monitor several hours later they'd both agreed that sleep was overrated, romance not so.
Several times in fact.
The End