FIC: Against The World
Title: Against the World
Author: xxcalliefanxx
Rating: R
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres' life together. The ups and downs. The laughs and cries. Join them for this roller coaster ride as they go up against the world.
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.
AN: This is dedicated to my wonderful girlfriend, Lizadizzle who also beta'd this for me. :) Thank you darlin'!
“Nervous?”
Calliope Torres jumped at the sound of the perky voice behind her. She turned around from the mirror in the bathroom and smiled softly at her girlfriend of a few months.
“Eh, somewhat.”
“Don’t be.” Arizona Robbins wrapped her arms around Callie’s waist from behind. “You’re incredible.” A light kiss was placed on Callie’s shoulder.
Callie smirked. “I know.”
“So don’t be nervous then.” Arizona cheesed at Callie in the mirror.
Callie sighed happily. She couldn’t believe she finally had this. What she dreamed of. What she wanted with George. She had someone who gave her everything she ever wanted... everything she could possibly dream of. Love finally found her. Even though those three words have not been said just yet.
“You in a daydream?”
Callie snapped out of her thoughts. “What? No... I was just thinking how I want a lot of cases today as my first day as an attending at Seattle Grace hospital.”
“Calliope Torres. You are wishing for people to break bones... and whatever else you Ortho people wish about.”
“Us Ortho people?” Callie chuckled. “Way to talk about your girlfriend.”
“You know what I mean.” Arizona turned Callie around and kissed her lips. “Mmm… vanilla…,” Arizona pulled back and stared at her partner intently. “Did you… Is that my lipgloss?”
“Mhm. Tasty huh?”
“Daydreaming about breaking bones and now a thief.”
“You love it.”
Arizona had a thoughtful look on her face as she glanced up at Callie’s hair.
“Let me do your hair.”
“Why?” Callie’s lips found Arizona’s smooth, creamy skin. “My hair is fine,” she mumbled against her neck.
“Well I know this, Calliope… but you’re an attending now. I want to do your hair like an attending. All braids… and curls… and sophisticated looking.”
“Now I’m not sophisiticated?”
“Want sex tonight?”
Calliope jerked her head up.
“No braids and it’s a deal.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chaos. That was the only word Callie could use to describe her first day back on the job. Mercy West’s ER had closed down permanently the previous night, and the emergency room at Seattle Grace was flood… well the emergency room at Seattle Grace Mercy West was flooded.
“Ah, our new attending.” Owen Hunt smiled at Callie as she made her way towards the nurse’s desk.
She kept a tight grip on her stethoscope as she grabbed a chart quickly and smiled.
“Hey.”
Derek Shepard, who Callie had the utmost respect for, grinned up at her.
“First day back?”
As much as Callie wanted to stay and chit chat with the guys, she just didn’t have the time. She had a huge caseload for her first day back. People wanted to see Dr. Callie Torres.
“Yeah.”
Derek nodded. “Picked a good one. It’s nice… quiet… Not a lot going on.”
Callie laughed. “Yeah!”
She turned around quickly and rushed back to the other side of the hospital. She didn’t have time to waste. Laying her chart on the nurse’s station near her patient’s room, she went over to the supply cart and began digging around for tools she‘d need to do the procedure she had waiting.
“Did the gentleman from the waiting room ever find you?”
Miranda Bailey’s voice rung in Callie’s head. Why would a man from the waiting room be looking for her?
“What?”
“It’s the gentleman.... who could possibly be your father?” Bailey pointed out, causing confusion and surprise to soar throughout Callie’s body.
Bailey motioned her head towards the waiting room. Callie’s eyes followed. Sitting there… was indeed her father. Her father who she had not seen or heard of since coming out to him a couple months ago. Bailey patted Callie’s shoulder and walked off.
“Shit... shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” Callie mumbled to herself.
A Mercy West resident walked by her. Callie instantly grabbed his arm.
“Stop. You. Know anything about Orthopedics?”
“I... I do actually. I…Um... I plan on being Ortho.”
“That’s lovely... So take these supplies. Go in room 314. Patient needs to be examined for patellar subluxation. X-ray promptly to make sure it’s not dislocated, I haven’t had the chance to actually thoroughly look at the patient’s knee just yet. I need to take care of some business... But get this done for me and I’ll be in there. Okay?”
“Yes Ma’am.” The resident nodded.
“Thank you.” Callie smiled and walked towards the waiting room.
She placed both hands in her pockets and sighed. Nerves flooded her body.
“Daddy...”
Her father, Carlos Torres, placed the magazine on the table and stood up.
“Calliope...”
Confusion was still present on Callie’s face.
“What...What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.” A small smile formed on his face.
Callie stepped back a tiny bit.
“Why?”
Her father attempted to close the gap between them by a couple inches.
“Calliope, we used to talk every Sunday. I’d wait for your call...and you’d tell me everything...all about your crazy adventures.”
Callie sighed and nodded. A slight smile spread across her face as she looked down. She missed her father. There was no doubt about that. Relief began to rush over her body. She had longed for this moment ever since she put him out of her life.
“Even when you were in trouble, you’d still call. And we worked it out… We’d always work it out, Mija.”
The smile grew even larger on Callie’s face. She stepped closer to her father.
“Daddy... I’m sorry. I’m...sorry things got so out of hand. I mean the fact that you came,” her eyes directed themselves to the other side of the waiting room. She froze. “Daddy, is that Father Kevin?” They both pulled back from one another.
Calliope’s childhood priest stood up. “Hello Calliope.”
“Wait... are you two here to…,” Callie looked disgustingly at her father. “You think you can pray away the gay.”
Her father put his hands up.
“If we could just sit and talk...”
Callie shook her head. She couldn’t believe this. Was he honestly dropping to this level? She was completely disgusted at her father right now. She couldn’t even stand to look at him.
“Oh no...you can’t pray away the gay.”
“Calliope Iphegenia Torres!” Carlos began to step after his daughter.
Hearing her full name be called was the final straw for Callie. She let all her anger and emotion out as she turned around. She didn’t care about the patients and other doctors standing amongst her. The words needed to be shouted out at him. For everyone to hear.
“You can’t pray away the gay!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The man flew three thousand miles to make me straight… with a priest!” Callie’s grip tightened on the metal bar.
Arizona scrambled through the supplies in the supply room as she listened to her girlfriend rant about her outraged father.
“I’m lucky they didn’t march into the ER swinging incense all hepped up for an exorcism.”
Arizona popped her head around the corner of one of the shelves.
“Are you done yet?”
“Am I?”
“I just…,” Arizona went back to searching for the items she needed.
"No!” Callie’s voice raised even louder.
Her temper was showing even more now.
“They are trying to disinfect you from my life… you don’t find that abhorrent?”
Arizona walked to the other side of the room.
“I do, but...”
“There is no but.” Callie interrupted. “Oh what, you’re gonna tell me you get where he is coming from?”
“Maybe... you should try and talk to him.”
“I have nothing to say! If he wants to throw away a relationship after thirty years then that’s his decision.”
Arizona threw her head back and smiled widely noticing that her girlfriend was not understand what she was trying to say.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong here,” she walked over to Callie. “You’re the one who changed the game.”
Callie looked at her puzzled.
“You...You didn’t expect a little understand when you came out to your parents?”
“I...,” Arizona stuttered. “I never had boyfriends. Ever. I had a poster on my wall of Cindy Crawford... and I wasn’t just looking at her mole. “ A grin formed. “It wasn’t news to my mom when I brought someone home named Joanne. But you...,” she sighed. “You dated men your whole life. You loved men. You even married one. You wanna talk about thirty years of relationships... He’s been consistent for thirty years. And all of a sudden you’re a whole new girl. So cut him some slack. Sit down and have a conversation. Give him a little room to be a little shocked.”
Callie chewed on her bottom lip as her girl walked by her. She wanted to grab that blonde hair and just kiss the hell out of her. Why was Arizona always so right?
“I hate you.”
Arizona smirked as she walked out of the supply room.
“Cause I’m right… and I’m awesome.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Silence. That was the only word Callie could use to describe the conference room at the moment. Her dad sitting across from her. Father Kevin took the seat next to her. Which was probably for the best. She couldn’t really smack a priest if the conversation got too heated. Well she could... but it would be an invitation to hell probably. She took a deep breath. She was going to have to be the one to start this conversation.
“Alright fine... I get it. I sprang this on you. It’s a lot to take in. And you feel like you don’t have much experience with gay people… Even though Uncle Berto hasn’t been single for sixty years for no reason."
“Calliope.” Carlos groaned.
“It’s just an adjustment. That said... you should have adjusted by now.” Callie looked at him with pleading eyes. “You’re supposed to love me. No matter what. That’s what a parent does.”
Carlos threw his hands out.
“I love you with all my heart. But with all that’s going on with you,” he made eye contact with his daughter. His voice turned even more serious. “I’m scared for you. It’s an abomination... it’s an eternity in hell.”
“Let’s not start with words like hell.” Father Kevin spoke up.
Callie shook her head. She couldn’t fight the anger any longer.
“Oh that’s why you flew three thousand miles? To tell me I was going to hell? I thought you came here to apologize.”
“I can’t apologize, Calliope! I don’t understand what happened or where I went wrong.” Carlos raised his voice.
Callie’s voice began to crack. “Where you went wrong?”
Carlos jerked a note card out of his pocket and began reading off of it to prove his point.
“Leviticus: Thou shall not lie with a man as one lies with female, it is an abomination.”
“Oh don’t do that Daddy... don’t quote the Bible at me.”
“The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and the sin is exceedingly grave.” Carlos continued, ignoring his daughter’s request.
“Carlos, this is not what we…” Father Kevin stated, but was cut off by Calliope. His expression turned surprised as she began reciting verses from the heart.
“Jesus: A new commandment that I give unto you, that you love one another. “
Carlos shot back. “Romans: But we know that laws….”
“Jesus: He, who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”
Carlos looked up from his cards. “So you admit it’s a sin?”
Callie rose from her seat. Her emotions rose even higher.
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy! Jesus: Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven!” Callie attempted to fight the tears that began to form at her eyes, but she was losing the battle. “Jesus is my savior, Daddy, not you... And Jesus would be ashamed of you for judging me... He would be ashamed on you for turning your back on me. He would be ashamed!”
Callie couldn’t take anymore. She turned and walked out of the conference room with the tears pouring down her face. All her emotions out there in open for everyone to see. But she didn’t care. She needed one person right now. The only person that made all this pain worth it.
Carlos watched his daughter walk down the hallway. His heart broke as the pain he inflicted on her shined through. He placed his cards down on the table and looked at Father Kevin. No words needed to be said. Carlos was ashamed. The way Jesus was ashamed of him right now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Arizona.”
Arizona turned around at the calling of her name. Mark Sloan stood there. From the look on his face, she knew Callie needed her.
“Where?”
“Peds staff lounge.” Mark responded. “Go.”
Arizona quickly shut the chart she was updating and hustled to the lounge. The lights were off when she approached, but she saw Callie with her face buried in her hands. She quietly opened the door trying not to startle her. Callie quickly looked up and her body relaxed as soon as Arizona walked through.
“Didn’t go well, huh?”
Callie wiped the tears from her face and shook her head. “Well at least now I can move on with my life. Stop entertaining the thought of actually getting back with my family.”
Arizona’s heart shattered. She sat next to Callie and placed her arm around her back. She rested her other hand on Callie’s knee and drew tiny circles with her thumb trying to calm Callie.
“Whatever...I don’t need a father.” Callie noticed Arizona turn her head to the side and wrapped her arm through Callie’s. “I don’t... Not one that won’t accept me.” The tears threatened again.
Arizona felt the tears form in her eyes as well. She couldn’t stand seeing Callie like this. How could Carlos do this to his own daughter? How could a parent cause a child this much pain? Why couldn’t the parent see how happy their own kid was? Arizona placed a gentle kiss on the side of Callie’s head and pulled her closer to her.
“Cry.”
Callie did just that. She collapsed into Arizona’s arms and cried her heart and soul out. Arizona tightened her grip on her girlfriend and placed her head to hers as her hand found Callie’s. A slight whimper escaped her mouth. Arizona knew just what she had to do. She couldn’t let this man get away with breaking Callie like this. It wouldn’t happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carlos was standing in the hallway of the hospital looking out the window. Thoughts replaying in his head of the conversation he shared with his daughter earlier. What had happened? Where did he go wrong in all of this? He had to stand his ground. He had to stick with his beliefs. He turned around at the sound of footsteps behind him. Arizona approached him. He took a deep breath as she greeted him with a slight smile. He wasn’t having this conversation with her.
“I don’t know you well enough to talk about her. We’re not gonna do that.” He couldn’t even make eye contact with this woman.
Carlos took a step to the side away from her. Arizona didn’t budge.
“Most people think I was named for the state, but it’s not true. I was named for the battleship. The USS Arizona. “ Carlos could hear the shakiness in her voice. “My grandfather was serving on the Arizona when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and he saved…,” she smiled, “nineteen men before he drowned. “ She took a deep breath and paused for a moment. “Pretty much everything my father did his whole life was about honoring that sacrifice. I was raised to be a good man in the storm. Raised to love my country, love my family, and protect the things I love. When my father…,” she turned and looked at Carlos for the first time during her speech. “Colonel Daniel Robbins of the United States Marine Corps heard that I was a lesbian, he said he only had one question.” Arizona pointed to her chest. “I was prepared for ‘how fast can you get the hell out of my house?’.”
Arizona looked down for a moment. The memories from that day rushed into her mind. She realized how lucky she was to have a father like hers. One who understood.
“But instead... it was ‘are you still the person I raised you to be?’” She stood taller as Carlos began to look towards her slightly. “My father believes in country the way you believe in God. And my father is not a man who bends… but he bent for me….because I’m his daughter.” Arizona tried to keep her voice strong and steady. “I’m a good man in the storm.”
As Carlos looked down, Arizona gained more strength. The next words that came out of her mouth were the hardest ones to say... but yet the easiest at the same time.
“I love your daughter. And I protect the things I love.” Carlos turned his head to her. “Not that I need to...she doesn’t need it.” His eyes met with hers for the first time. “She’s strong and caring and honorable.” Arizona’s voice couldn’t take anymore. The tears that were there were for Callie. “And she’s who you raised her to be.”
As Carlos turned his head again, Arizona stepped back. She said all she needed to say to this man. She walked backwards a couple steps then turned around. Proud of what she had done. She still was... a good man in the storm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Calliope.” Carlos stood outside with the cold Seattle breeze hitting his face.
His daughter finally walked out of the building. She looked at him with a look that she had never given him before. His daughter’s looked portrayed sickness.
“I can’t do this... you’ll, ya know, see me in hell.” Calliope stormed past him, but Carlos grabbed her arm.
“Just give me a minute please.” Callie stopped in her tracks and raised her head up to him. “I have to catch you.”
“What?” she asked confused.
Carlos sighed and thought about Arizona’s talk to him earlier.
“Your whole life, you...You’ve always been on a bridge, Calliope. Ever since you were a little girl. And you don’t just walk on it either, no... you climb on the railing... you’re ready to leap.” He paused. “And when you do… when that happens, I have to be there. I have to catch you.”
Callie’s shoulder relaxed. She shook her head.
“You don’t have to catch me, Dad.”
“Yes, I do. It’s my job.” He nodded as Callie’s grinned at him.
He was so happy to see his daughter smile at him again. He knew he had to fix what he had destroyed.
“If this...works out between you and Arizona, is there a chance that you’d um... give your mother a wedding?”
Callie took a deep breath. Without any hesitation, her mouth gave a response.
“If Arizona wanted to spend the rest of her life with me? Yeah I’ll put on a big white dress and dance down the aisle.”
“And how about grandkids?”
Callie nodded.
“Yes I would imagine… when the time came...there will be kids.”
“Does she make you happy?”
Callie’s smile grew wider.
“Yes, Dad... She makes me very happy.” Her arms wrapped him tightly. “I love you, you know that?”
Carlos pulled back.
“She’s not a vegetarian, is she? Cause I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“She’s not a vegetarian.” Callie laughed as she rubbed his back.
“I feel very old.” Carlos sighed.
Callie let out a laugh. Her first laugh with her father in months. Things were looking up now for her. She got her family back... and the woman she was in love with was only a few feet away watching the scene play out. Callie glanced over to her and winked. Their life was officially starting together. One day at a time. Them against the world.
Author: xxcalliefanxx
Rating: R
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres' life together. The ups and downs. The laughs and cries. Join them for this roller coaster ride as they go up against the world.
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.
AN: This is dedicated to my wonderful girlfriend, Lizadizzle who also beta'd this for me. :) Thank you darlin'!
“Nervous?”
Calliope Torres jumped at the sound of the perky voice behind her. She turned around from the mirror in the bathroom and smiled softly at her girlfriend of a few months.
“Eh, somewhat.”
“Don’t be.” Arizona Robbins wrapped her arms around Callie’s waist from behind. “You’re incredible.” A light kiss was placed on Callie’s shoulder.
Callie smirked. “I know.”
“So don’t be nervous then.” Arizona cheesed at Callie in the mirror.
Callie sighed happily. She couldn’t believe she finally had this. What she dreamed of. What she wanted with George. She had someone who gave her everything she ever wanted... everything she could possibly dream of. Love finally found her. Even though those three words have not been said just yet.
“You in a daydream?”
Callie snapped out of her thoughts. “What? No... I was just thinking how I want a lot of cases today as my first day as an attending at Seattle Grace hospital.”
“Calliope Torres. You are wishing for people to break bones... and whatever else you Ortho people wish about.”
“Us Ortho people?” Callie chuckled. “Way to talk about your girlfriend.”
“You know what I mean.” Arizona turned Callie around and kissed her lips. “Mmm… vanilla…,” Arizona pulled back and stared at her partner intently. “Did you… Is that my lipgloss?”
“Mhm. Tasty huh?”
“Daydreaming about breaking bones and now a thief.”
“You love it.”
Arizona had a thoughtful look on her face as she glanced up at Callie’s hair.
“Let me do your hair.”
“Why?” Callie’s lips found Arizona’s smooth, creamy skin. “My hair is fine,” she mumbled against her neck.
“Well I know this, Calliope… but you’re an attending now. I want to do your hair like an attending. All braids… and curls… and sophisticated looking.”
“Now I’m not sophisiticated?”
“Want sex tonight?”
Calliope jerked her head up.
“No braids and it’s a deal.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chaos. That was the only word Callie could use to describe her first day back on the job. Mercy West’s ER had closed down permanently the previous night, and the emergency room at Seattle Grace was flood… well the emergency room at Seattle Grace Mercy West was flooded.
“Ah, our new attending.” Owen Hunt smiled at Callie as she made her way towards the nurse’s desk.
She kept a tight grip on her stethoscope as she grabbed a chart quickly and smiled.
“Hey.”
Derek Shepard, who Callie had the utmost respect for, grinned up at her.
“First day back?”
As much as Callie wanted to stay and chit chat with the guys, she just didn’t have the time. She had a huge caseload for her first day back. People wanted to see Dr. Callie Torres.
“Yeah.”
Derek nodded. “Picked a good one. It’s nice… quiet… Not a lot going on.”
Callie laughed. “Yeah!”
She turned around quickly and rushed back to the other side of the hospital. She didn’t have time to waste. Laying her chart on the nurse’s station near her patient’s room, she went over to the supply cart and began digging around for tools she‘d need to do the procedure she had waiting.
“Did the gentleman from the waiting room ever find you?”
Miranda Bailey’s voice rung in Callie’s head. Why would a man from the waiting room be looking for her?
“What?”
“It’s the gentleman.... who could possibly be your father?” Bailey pointed out, causing confusion and surprise to soar throughout Callie’s body.
Bailey motioned her head towards the waiting room. Callie’s eyes followed. Sitting there… was indeed her father. Her father who she had not seen or heard of since coming out to him a couple months ago. Bailey patted Callie’s shoulder and walked off.
“Shit... shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” Callie mumbled to herself.
A Mercy West resident walked by her. Callie instantly grabbed his arm.
“Stop. You. Know anything about Orthopedics?”
“I... I do actually. I…Um... I plan on being Ortho.”
“That’s lovely... So take these supplies. Go in room 314. Patient needs to be examined for patellar subluxation. X-ray promptly to make sure it’s not dislocated, I haven’t had the chance to actually thoroughly look at the patient’s knee just yet. I need to take care of some business... But get this done for me and I’ll be in there. Okay?”
“Yes Ma’am.” The resident nodded.
“Thank you.” Callie smiled and walked towards the waiting room.
She placed both hands in her pockets and sighed. Nerves flooded her body.
“Daddy...”
Her father, Carlos Torres, placed the magazine on the table and stood up.
“Calliope...”
Confusion was still present on Callie’s face.
“What...What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.” A small smile formed on his face.
Callie stepped back a tiny bit.
“Why?”
Her father attempted to close the gap between them by a couple inches.
“Calliope, we used to talk every Sunday. I’d wait for your call...and you’d tell me everything...all about your crazy adventures.”
Callie sighed and nodded. A slight smile spread across her face as she looked down. She missed her father. There was no doubt about that. Relief began to rush over her body. She had longed for this moment ever since she put him out of her life.
“Even when you were in trouble, you’d still call. And we worked it out… We’d always work it out, Mija.”
The smile grew even larger on Callie’s face. She stepped closer to her father.
“Daddy... I’m sorry. I’m...sorry things got so out of hand. I mean the fact that you came,” her eyes directed themselves to the other side of the waiting room. She froze. “Daddy, is that Father Kevin?” They both pulled back from one another.
Calliope’s childhood priest stood up. “Hello Calliope.”
“Wait... are you two here to…,” Callie looked disgustingly at her father. “You think you can pray away the gay.”
Her father put his hands up.
“If we could just sit and talk...”
Callie shook her head. She couldn’t believe this. Was he honestly dropping to this level? She was completely disgusted at her father right now. She couldn’t even stand to look at him.
“Oh no...you can’t pray away the gay.”
“Calliope Iphegenia Torres!” Carlos began to step after his daughter.
Hearing her full name be called was the final straw for Callie. She let all her anger and emotion out as she turned around. She didn’t care about the patients and other doctors standing amongst her. The words needed to be shouted out at him. For everyone to hear.
“You can’t pray away the gay!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The man flew three thousand miles to make me straight… with a priest!” Callie’s grip tightened on the metal bar.
Arizona scrambled through the supplies in the supply room as she listened to her girlfriend rant about her outraged father.
“I’m lucky they didn’t march into the ER swinging incense all hepped up for an exorcism.”
Arizona popped her head around the corner of one of the shelves.
“Are you done yet?”
“Am I?”
“I just…,” Arizona went back to searching for the items she needed.
"No!” Callie’s voice raised even louder.
Her temper was showing even more now.
“They are trying to disinfect you from my life… you don’t find that abhorrent?”
Arizona walked to the other side of the room.
“I do, but...”
“There is no but.” Callie interrupted. “Oh what, you’re gonna tell me you get where he is coming from?”
“Maybe... you should try and talk to him.”
“I have nothing to say! If he wants to throw away a relationship after thirty years then that’s his decision.”
Arizona threw her head back and smiled widely noticing that her girlfriend was not understand what she was trying to say.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong here,” she walked over to Callie. “You’re the one who changed the game.”
Callie looked at her puzzled.
“You...You didn’t expect a little understand when you came out to your parents?”
“I...,” Arizona stuttered. “I never had boyfriends. Ever. I had a poster on my wall of Cindy Crawford... and I wasn’t just looking at her mole. “ A grin formed. “It wasn’t news to my mom when I brought someone home named Joanne. But you...,” she sighed. “You dated men your whole life. You loved men. You even married one. You wanna talk about thirty years of relationships... He’s been consistent for thirty years. And all of a sudden you’re a whole new girl. So cut him some slack. Sit down and have a conversation. Give him a little room to be a little shocked.”
Callie chewed on her bottom lip as her girl walked by her. She wanted to grab that blonde hair and just kiss the hell out of her. Why was Arizona always so right?
“I hate you.”
Arizona smirked as she walked out of the supply room.
“Cause I’m right… and I’m awesome.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Silence. That was the only word Callie could use to describe the conference room at the moment. Her dad sitting across from her. Father Kevin took the seat next to her. Which was probably for the best. She couldn’t really smack a priest if the conversation got too heated. Well she could... but it would be an invitation to hell probably. She took a deep breath. She was going to have to be the one to start this conversation.
“Alright fine... I get it. I sprang this on you. It’s a lot to take in. And you feel like you don’t have much experience with gay people… Even though Uncle Berto hasn’t been single for sixty years for no reason."
“Calliope.” Carlos groaned.
“It’s just an adjustment. That said... you should have adjusted by now.” Callie looked at him with pleading eyes. “You’re supposed to love me. No matter what. That’s what a parent does.”
Carlos threw his hands out.
“I love you with all my heart. But with all that’s going on with you,” he made eye contact with his daughter. His voice turned even more serious. “I’m scared for you. It’s an abomination... it’s an eternity in hell.”
“Let’s not start with words like hell.” Father Kevin spoke up.
Callie shook her head. She couldn’t fight the anger any longer.
“Oh that’s why you flew three thousand miles? To tell me I was going to hell? I thought you came here to apologize.”
“I can’t apologize, Calliope! I don’t understand what happened or where I went wrong.” Carlos raised his voice.
Callie’s voice began to crack. “Where you went wrong?”
Carlos jerked a note card out of his pocket and began reading off of it to prove his point.
“Leviticus: Thou shall not lie with a man as one lies with female, it is an abomination.”
“Oh don’t do that Daddy... don’t quote the Bible at me.”
“The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and the sin is exceedingly grave.” Carlos continued, ignoring his daughter’s request.
“Carlos, this is not what we…” Father Kevin stated, but was cut off by Calliope. His expression turned surprised as she began reciting verses from the heart.
“Jesus: A new commandment that I give unto you, that you love one another. “
Carlos shot back. “Romans: But we know that laws….”
“Jesus: He, who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”
Carlos looked up from his cards. “So you admit it’s a sin?”
Callie rose from her seat. Her emotions rose even higher.
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy! Jesus: Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven!” Callie attempted to fight the tears that began to form at her eyes, but she was losing the battle. “Jesus is my savior, Daddy, not you... And Jesus would be ashamed of you for judging me... He would be ashamed on you for turning your back on me. He would be ashamed!”
Callie couldn’t take anymore. She turned and walked out of the conference room with the tears pouring down her face. All her emotions out there in open for everyone to see. But she didn’t care. She needed one person right now. The only person that made all this pain worth it.
Carlos watched his daughter walk down the hallway. His heart broke as the pain he inflicted on her shined through. He placed his cards down on the table and looked at Father Kevin. No words needed to be said. Carlos was ashamed. The way Jesus was ashamed of him right now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Arizona.”
Arizona turned around at the calling of her name. Mark Sloan stood there. From the look on his face, she knew Callie needed her.
“Where?”
“Peds staff lounge.” Mark responded. “Go.”
Arizona quickly shut the chart she was updating and hustled to the lounge. The lights were off when she approached, but she saw Callie with her face buried in her hands. She quietly opened the door trying not to startle her. Callie quickly looked up and her body relaxed as soon as Arizona walked through.
“Didn’t go well, huh?”
Callie wiped the tears from her face and shook her head. “Well at least now I can move on with my life. Stop entertaining the thought of actually getting back with my family.”
Arizona’s heart shattered. She sat next to Callie and placed her arm around her back. She rested her other hand on Callie’s knee and drew tiny circles with her thumb trying to calm Callie.
“Whatever...I don’t need a father.” Callie noticed Arizona turn her head to the side and wrapped her arm through Callie’s. “I don’t... Not one that won’t accept me.” The tears threatened again.
Arizona felt the tears form in her eyes as well. She couldn’t stand seeing Callie like this. How could Carlos do this to his own daughter? How could a parent cause a child this much pain? Why couldn’t the parent see how happy their own kid was? Arizona placed a gentle kiss on the side of Callie’s head and pulled her closer to her.
“Cry.”
Callie did just that. She collapsed into Arizona’s arms and cried her heart and soul out. Arizona tightened her grip on her girlfriend and placed her head to hers as her hand found Callie’s. A slight whimper escaped her mouth. Arizona knew just what she had to do. She couldn’t let this man get away with breaking Callie like this. It wouldn’t happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carlos was standing in the hallway of the hospital looking out the window. Thoughts replaying in his head of the conversation he shared with his daughter earlier. What had happened? Where did he go wrong in all of this? He had to stand his ground. He had to stick with his beliefs. He turned around at the sound of footsteps behind him. Arizona approached him. He took a deep breath as she greeted him with a slight smile. He wasn’t having this conversation with her.
“I don’t know you well enough to talk about her. We’re not gonna do that.” He couldn’t even make eye contact with this woman.
Carlos took a step to the side away from her. Arizona didn’t budge.
“Most people think I was named for the state, but it’s not true. I was named for the battleship. The USS Arizona. “ Carlos could hear the shakiness in her voice. “My grandfather was serving on the Arizona when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and he saved…,” she smiled, “nineteen men before he drowned. “ She took a deep breath and paused for a moment. “Pretty much everything my father did his whole life was about honoring that sacrifice. I was raised to be a good man in the storm. Raised to love my country, love my family, and protect the things I love. When my father…,” she turned and looked at Carlos for the first time during her speech. “Colonel Daniel Robbins of the United States Marine Corps heard that I was a lesbian, he said he only had one question.” Arizona pointed to her chest. “I was prepared for ‘how fast can you get the hell out of my house?’.”
Arizona looked down for a moment. The memories from that day rushed into her mind. She realized how lucky she was to have a father like hers. One who understood.
“But instead... it was ‘are you still the person I raised you to be?’” She stood taller as Carlos began to look towards her slightly. “My father believes in country the way you believe in God. And my father is not a man who bends… but he bent for me….because I’m his daughter.” Arizona tried to keep her voice strong and steady. “I’m a good man in the storm.”
As Carlos looked down, Arizona gained more strength. The next words that came out of her mouth were the hardest ones to say... but yet the easiest at the same time.
“I love your daughter. And I protect the things I love.” Carlos turned his head to her. “Not that I need to...she doesn’t need it.” His eyes met with hers for the first time. “She’s strong and caring and honorable.” Arizona’s voice couldn’t take anymore. The tears that were there were for Callie. “And she’s who you raised her to be.”
As Carlos turned his head again, Arizona stepped back. She said all she needed to say to this man. She walked backwards a couple steps then turned around. Proud of what she had done. She still was... a good man in the storm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Calliope.” Carlos stood outside with the cold Seattle breeze hitting his face.
His daughter finally walked out of the building. She looked at him with a look that she had never given him before. His daughter’s looked portrayed sickness.
“I can’t do this... you’ll, ya know, see me in hell.” Calliope stormed past him, but Carlos grabbed her arm.
“Just give me a minute please.” Callie stopped in her tracks and raised her head up to him. “I have to catch you.”
“What?” she asked confused.
Carlos sighed and thought about Arizona’s talk to him earlier.
“Your whole life, you...You’ve always been on a bridge, Calliope. Ever since you were a little girl. And you don’t just walk on it either, no... you climb on the railing... you’re ready to leap.” He paused. “And when you do… when that happens, I have to be there. I have to catch you.”
Callie’s shoulder relaxed. She shook her head.
“You don’t have to catch me, Dad.”
“Yes, I do. It’s my job.” He nodded as Callie’s grinned at him.
He was so happy to see his daughter smile at him again. He knew he had to fix what he had destroyed.
“If this...works out between you and Arizona, is there a chance that you’d um... give your mother a wedding?”
Callie took a deep breath. Without any hesitation, her mouth gave a response.
“If Arizona wanted to spend the rest of her life with me? Yeah I’ll put on a big white dress and dance down the aisle.”
“And how about grandkids?”
Callie nodded.
“Yes I would imagine… when the time came...there will be kids.”
“Does she make you happy?”
Callie’s smile grew wider.
“Yes, Dad... She makes me very happy.” Her arms wrapped him tightly. “I love you, you know that?”
Carlos pulled back.
“She’s not a vegetarian, is she? Cause I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“She’s not a vegetarian.” Callie laughed as she rubbed his back.
“I feel very old.” Carlos sighed.
Callie let out a laugh. Her first laugh with her father in months. Things were looking up now for her. She got her family back... and the woman she was in love with was only a few feet away watching the scene play out. Callie glanced over to her and winked. Their life was officially starting together. One day at a time. Them against the world.