fic: First Seasons (2/2)
Title: First Seasons (2/2)
Author: silver222
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG13
Summary: Some happy holiday times with Callie and Arizona. Callie comes back from spending Christmas in Miami with her family and celebrates New Year’s Eve with Arizona.
Disclaimer: All characters, events, settings and situations mentioned in this work are sole property of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, in constitutes fair use.
Part 1
December 30th
Standing at the nurse’s station, I figured I had about thirty minutes to spare before rounds baring any emergencies. If I finished these charts in half the time, I could probably run down to the cafeteria and grab a muffin or donut and still be back in plenty of time to see Callie when she got here for her shift. The five cups of coffee I’ve already consumed this morning definitely did not make up for the lack of food. I reached into my pocket and unwrapped a cherry lollipop hoping that would hold me over until I could get to the cafeteria.
“You’re like a little kid all hyped up on sugar, you know that? You’re supposed to be giving those lollipops to your patients not eating them all yourself,” Mark smirked as he walked up beside me and dropped off a chart to a nurse at the desk.
“Thanks for the tip,” I replied in a deadpan manner while continuing to focus on finishing up the notes on the patient’s chart in front of me.
“So when’s Callie getting back?” Mark asked leaning against the nurse’s station.
“She’s already back. She sent me a text last night when she got home. She’s getting a couple of hours sleep before starting her shift.” Callie had come back to Seattle late last night after spending six days in Miami over Christmas with her family. After stopping by her apartment to drop off her suitcase and make sure that Christina had kept up her end of the bargain and kept the apartment generally clean and tidy (which Callie credits to Owen rather than her actual roommate), Callie was supposed to be getting a couple of hours of sleep before being thrust right back into work at Seattle Grace.
“Have you seen her yet? I bet she got a wicked tan from all that Florida sun while we’re cooped up indoors,” Mark teased.
“No, she’s supposed to come find me when she gets here. I had the night shift last night,” I answered purposely ignoring his comment about my girlfriend’s potential tan. I was already eager enough to see her - I did not need to add any more mental images of Callie to those that have already been swimming around in my head all night.
“Ahhh,” Mark uttered while nodding his head.
“Ahhh what?” I questioned not really sure I wanted to know where he was going with this.
“That explains the incessant bouncing.” Mark answered pointing his hand in my direction as though it was obvious.
I put my pen down on the chart and looked up at him with my eyes narrowed. “I am not bouncing,” I objected although I grudgingly admitted that I was feeling a bit more perky than usual for the end of a shift. “I’ve just had a lot of caffeine…and sugar…and it was a good shift so I am in a super fantastic mood.”
“Right…and your girlfriend coming back has nothing to do with this super fantastic mood?” Mark countered.
He had me there; I couldn’t really deny Callie’s imminent return had me on cloud nine throughout the night to the point where I think I was even driving the nurses in peds who are used to my antics a little crazy. “I didn’t say that. Why are you so concerned with my mood anyway…,” I trailed off as my attention drifted to the elevator where said girlfriend had just walked off. Damn…she looked good. My eyes glazed over her jeans hugging her hips in all the right places and what appeared to be a new green shirt under her leather jacket that she must’ve just gotten for Christmas that accentuated her cleavage just right. I realized I was staring and zoning off about her body before I looked up and at the same time she turned and spotted me, flashing a brilliant smile my way. We had talked on the phone every day she’d been away and yet it still took my breath away at seeing her. I started walking towards her with a skip to my step before leaning back on my heely’s to cover the last few feet between us a bit quicker. Okay maybe Mark really was right about the extra bounce in my step this morning.
“Oomph,” Callie grunted as she caught me wheeling up to her at full speed just as I moved onto my toes to stop. I took advantage of her catch to put my arms around her neck and delight in the warmth of being in her arms again. “You’re still wearing those things?” she asked in disbelief. Callie had lectured me more than once on the number of broken bones she has had to set from kids falling wearing heely’s.
“Yes I am. The kids still love them and it helps me get around faster.” I grinned repeating the same argument she heard from me every time. “Now would you like to continue discussing my choice of footwear or can I welcome you home properly?” I asked while smiling brightly at her and giving her my best flirty eyes.
Callie appeared to consider her options for a second before gently moving one of my locks of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail behind my ear, and leaning in to give me a kiss that was chaste in comparison to the emotions flowing through us. But we were standing about twenty feet away from the nurse’s station and I’m also pretty certain Mark let out a low whistle which went ignored by Callie and me. “I’ve got about twenty minutes before my shift starts. Can you take a break?” Callie asked softly in between quick kisses before leaning her forehead against mine. I nodded my head and she leaned in and gave me another kiss before grabbing my hand and dragging me along with her to find an open room.
“You know if you wore wheelie sneaks too we could get to the on-call room a lot faster,” I quipped as I bounced ahead to fall in step alongside her and nudged her hip with our conjoined hands. Callie looked over at me and let out a quick laugh before releasing my hand and putting her arm around my shoulder. “It’s good to be home,” she whispered while we continued towards our destination.
New Year’s Eve
Callie was catching up on some extra shifts to cover for the people who had worked for her over the Christmas holiday but fortunately she had pulled the day shift on New Year’s Eve. After meeting her in the lobby of the hospital, we headed over to Joe’s, planning on ringing in the New Year with a few drinks and a few friends before heading back to her apartment for some long awaited alone time.
I spotted the usual gang of Mark, Lexie, Christina and Owen at a table to the left when we walked into Joe’s. After grabbing a couple of drinks, Callie and I headed over to join them in the midst of what seemed to be a very lively discussion judging by the rowdy laughter coming from the table.
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked innocently sliding onto a chair between Callie and Owen.
“Our best and worst New Year’s Eve stories. Care to share yours?” Christina challenged.
“Oh my best New Year’s was during my residency. We used to go all out decorating the Ped’s ward and we’d create this whole re-enactment of Times Square complete with a disco ball that we would use for the countdown. The kids would love it and we’d pass around noise makers and confetti to toss in the air. I think they loved that for once they could make as much noise as they wanted,” I recalled smiling widely.
“Figures,” Christina groaned, “Seriously, don’t you have anything a little more exciting? A little more adventurous?”
“Nope that’s my favorite and I’m sticking with it,” I said grinning proudly, taking a sip of my drink.
“I think it sounded really nice,” Owen defended me before holding his hands up in surrender as Christina glared at him. “I’ll share a couple of stories,” Owen volunteered proceeding to tell about how his platoon would ring in the New Year when he was stationed in Iraq. Before long Derek and Meredith arrived and joined the table as well and also jumped in with some stories of years past.
“Torres, you want to join the conversation or you gonna just keep staring at your girlfriend?” Mark said with a snicker catching Callie paying no attention to the group.
Callie fixed Mark with one of her patented glares, “Hey, I can’t help it if I missed my girlfriend. And you two,” she pointed at Christina and Mark, “should just be grateful that I’m finally happy on New Year’s for once. Need I remind you of the drunken debauchery that was the last two years that I subjected you both too?
“Yes please do,” Mark retorted raising his beer and taking another sip.
I couldn’t hold back my chuckle which also earned me a glare from Callie, albeit much less harsh than what Mark had just received. It was definitely going to take a few more drinks to keep up with this group tonight. “I’m going to get another round.” I said sweetly to Callie patting her hand that was resting on my knee. I turned my attention back to the group at the table, “Does anyone else need anything from the bar?”
“Absolutely, another couple of beers for me and Lexie please,” Mark answered.
“Hey, hook me up too,” Christina shouted as I had started to walk away but I turned around to acknowledge her with a thumbs up.
As Christina, Lexie and Owen started in on a debate about the best city to spend New Year’s in, Mark leaned over to Callie. “It’s good to have you back Torres,” he said sincerely. “I mean Robbins is great and everything but she just doesn’t get my jokes. Actually I think she tunes out half of what I say,” he shrugged looking to engage Callie in some of the witty banter that he’s come to rely on.
“It’s good to be back,” Callie responded distractedly before she looked over her shoulder towards the bar in search of her girlfriend who had only just left her side. “I’m going to go see if she needs help,” Callie said to no one in particular before getting up and following in the same trail towards the bar.
“Hey, what do you say to us getting out of here,” Callie spoke just loud enough in my ear to be heard over the crowd as she came up behind me and rested one hand on my hip and the other on the bar.
I was trying to get Joe’s attention as I glanced back at Callie with a puzzled look. “What? Calliope, it’s almost midnight, we’ll miss the countdown.”
“No, we’ll just have our own countdown somewhere else. Come on, we can go for a walk along the pier; it’s a pretty nice night. We can probably even find a spot to watch the fireworks show,” Callie pleaded with a hopeful tone to her voice.
I gave up on flagging down Joe as I tried to understand Callie’s desire to miss out on the New Year’s celebration with their friends.
“Hon, are you ok?” I questioned as I stared into the brown eyes I’ve come to be able to read so well. Although right now, I couldn’t figure out what they were saying.
“I’m fine…I just…I just want to spend some time with you...just us…away from the hospital, and everyone here…we missed our first Christmas together and I just want us to ring the new year in right.” For someone who had the reputation as an Ortho badass, there was a sentimental side of Callie that came out every so often that I felt privileged to see.
“So you’re still planning on kissing me at midnight right? This isn’t an elaborate ploy to trick me into leaving, leave me out in the cold, and kiss some other warm body?” I joked in amusement to Callie as my hand held her forearm that was resting on the bar.
Callie sighed. “No. No one else. Just you. Only you.” With a mischievous grin starting to form she added, “And I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
I leaned up on my toes to kiss Callie but right before our lips touched I whispered “Let’s go” and gave her a quick peck before grabbing her hand and pulling her behind me with a giggle. As I stopped to get our jackets, Callie said our goodbyes to the group, leaving them with a vague excuse and our best wishes for a happy new year.
“Hey does this mean I have to get my drink myself?” Christina moaned to our departing forms.
“Let them go Yang, I’ll get the drinks,” Mark responded already getting up from his seat.
***********************************************************************************************
As Callie and I walked along the pier with my right arm tucked through her left elbow and my left hand draped across my body to hold hers, Callie was atypically quiet. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation during which I almost missed the craziness of the bar and voices of the patrons all trying to talk over each other to be heard, I figured maybe she needed a little push.
I leaned my head against her shoulder before saying, “You’re awfully quiet tonight. You sure everything’s ok? Did something happen in Miami that you’re not telling me about?” I questioned with concern laced in my voice.
“Hmm? Oh no. Definitely no. Everything with my family is good. I think they may try to come out in a few months to Seattle and I promised my mom and sister they could finally meet you.” Callie squeezed my hand for emphasis. “I was just thinking about everything’s that happened this year. I mean I didn’t even know you at this time last year. And then everything that happened with George and Izzie and my dad and the merger and my job…it’s just been a crazy year.”
“Yeah it has…” I agreed trailing off to let her finish.
“And yet this is the first year in a long time that I haven’t been anxious to start a new year because I wanted a fresh start. Even with all the bad things that happened this year, I’m happy. Really happy. And it’s because of you. You took a chance on me, two chances actually, what with first kissing me in Joe’s and then finally agreeing to go out with me.” Callie teased with a quirk of her eyebrow that I returned with a teasing smile.
Callie stopped walking and turned to face me intertwining her left hand with my right as she continued with her revelation, “Sometimes I can’t believe how short of a time we’ve known each other. Because even though I learn something new about you all the time, and I love that, I just feel like we know each other so well. And I love you so much. Which sometimes I think freaks me out because I also know that you came into this relationship a little unsure, what with me being a newborn and all, and then combine that with my past history, and I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Callie confessed.
“Calliope,” I waited a beat until she looked into my eyes, “I love you too and I promise you that I am sure about this, about us. Very sure,” I said nodding my head in agreement with my words. “This is the happiest I’ve been in awhile too. You make me happy. So stop waiting for something to go wrong and let’s just be happy we finally found each other,” I implored. Because sometimes I think we forget that you have to go through a lot of wrongs and weather the subsequent hurt to get to that chance with the right one. Almost as an afterthought I added, “And that newborn theory went out the window after the first week with you.”
“Good to know,” Callie said with a smirk.
With both of us feeling a little lighter after those sentiments, we walked a little further until we found a secluded spot along the pier where we could wait for midnight and have a good view of the fireworks. We could also still softly hear the music from the live band playing further up towards the crowd.
“Are you cold?” Callie asked noticing me shiver a bit as she ran her hands up and down my arms.
“Just a little. My hands are cold,” as I rubbed them together to try to ward away the cold.
“Here put these on,” Callie requested as she pulled out a small pair of black gloves from her jacket pocket and held them out for me to put my hands into.
“Thank you. You know what else would warm me up?” I pulled Callie in closer by the collar of her leather jacket and pressed our lips together. As our kiss deepened, I slide my hands around to her lower back and slipped them in the back pockets of her jeans.
Callie broke off our kiss with a chuckle, “Now if I knew you were going to do that, I wouldn’t have shared my gloves.”
I smiled softly at her, “Too late, you already gave them to me,” before giving her a wink and leaning in to kiss her cheek. We could hear the crowd beginning to stir and I looked at Callie, “What time is it?”
“11:57,” Callie responded dutifully after looking at her watch.
I waited a beat before asking again. “What time is it now?”
“11:58 and 2 seconds.” Callie looked at me with an amused grin, “You weren’t a patient child were you?”
“Calliope, focus on the time!” I scolded pointing to her watch, not wanting to miss midnight. “And no, I was not a very patient child. I’m still not. I hate waiting,” I mumbled showing my growing impatience for midnight to come.
Callie just smiled at me before dropping her arm where she had been monitoring her watch for the time. “Ehhh, I was never one to follow the rules anyway. Happy New Year,” Callie said as she gazed into my eyes and then kissed me softly at first before bringing her hands to my face and deepening the kiss making me forget all about waiting until midnight.
“Happy New Year,” I whispered against her lips as we broke for air. I tuned out all the music and celebrations of the crowd further down as I focused on the girl in front of me and delighted in that for once I had the girl I had only before dreamed of with me on New Year’s Eve.
“So Calliope what are your resolutions for the New Year?” I asked her as we broke from our kiss but I kept a firm hold on Callie to keep her close.
“Hmm…” Callie pondered as she held onto my hips and continued to pepper me with kisses as she responded. “I think I’m going to pick up a new hobby…maybe skiing…”
“Skiing? Really? How very..umm…sporty of you?” I responded a little unsure. This was a new development. Callie wasn’t exactly a winter and snow girl but I guess she is always up for new adventures.
“Well it’ll be more about the two of us finding a weekend to get away together. I was thinking of finding a resort in Canada,” Callie shared. She continued with the kissing before clarifying further, “We can spend an hour on the bunny slope and then spend the rest of the weekend in a cozy, comfy cabin doing other ‘sporty’ activities that we both love,” Callie punctuated her answer with another kiss.
I grinned. That was more like the Callie I know and love. “Mmm I’m all for new hobbies then,” I agreed letting our lips fall together again. “What else?”
“Maybe I’ll start exercising more. Isn’t that almost like a required resolution? I don’t like exercising but I like dancing. So we need to find a nightclub and go dancing,” she declared and gave me a deep kiss before I could respond.
“Uhh…’we’? Who’s ‘we’?” I stammered when she broke away really hoping this was one of those times when ‘we’ meant her and Christina.
Callie grinned and gave me a tell tale look as though the answer was obvious, “Us ‘we’. You’re my dance partner Dr. Robbins.” She was still grinning as she laid a kiss on my scrunched up nose.
“Oh no, I don’t think so Calliope.” This was one resolution that wasn’t going to happen.
“But you dance with me all the time,” Callie whined and added a pout for good measure.
“Umm yeah in the privacy of your apartment. Not in a crowded public place to crazy clubbin’ music and being surrounded by people that move their bodies in ways I can only dream of,” I argued. “No, I don’t think you really want me to go clubbing with you.”
“Did you really just say ‘crazy clubbin’ music’?” Callie questioned trying to control her laughter. “And I beg to differ. I do want to go clubbing with you.” Callie’s lips started a trail along my neck from where my jacket left off to my ear and I knew she was trying to weaken my resolve.
“Ok, good luck with that one,” I retorted with a sarcastic snicker as Callie looked at me with a glint in her eyes and I knew she already had some ideas in the works to wear me down. Sadly, I knew that this was going to be one more thing that I added to the list of things I never would have dreamed of doing before I met Calliope Torres.
Callie continued on with her kissing of my neck and her list of resolutions, “Ok how about this one then. I want us to stop paying separate rent checks to two different places every month.”
“Ok…” I said distractedly as she continued to kiss up and down my neck and I was pondering whose apartment we could get to faster. But then her words started to faintly register somewhere in my brain amongst the haze of Callie’s kisses. “Wait...What?!” I interrupted her ministrations on my neck and I pulled back and put my hand to her cheek to turn her face up to meet mine.
Callie straightened up and moved her hands back down to my hips and I could fill her thumbs stroking my side in a calming manner even through my jacket. “I was thinking that maybe when our apartment leases are up in a couple of months, we could talk about maybe moving in together,” Callie clarified with a nervous shake to her voice.
She waited a beat to gauge my reaction before continuing, “We spend nearly every night together now that we’re not working. And to be honest, I hate sleeping without you next to me. And it’s not just about the nights - I’d spend every waking minute with you if I could,” Callie admitted looking up at me shyly. “So I’d really like it if you moved in with me. Or we could get a new place. Or I could move into your place. It really doesn’t matter where.” Callie sighed as she knew she started rambling. “We don’t have to figure it out now but my New Year’s resolution is that at some point in 2010, I’d really like it if we officially lived in the same place or at least talked about it.”
“Ok,” I answered simply as my eyes were glistening with unshed tears at Callie’s breakingly honest and heartwarming words. Because if I was also being honest I’d have to admit that this wasn’t the first time I’ve thought about moving in with Callie sometime in the near future. But just as Callie has fears about this relationship, so do I, and rushing Callie into something that, until tonight I didn’t think she was ready for, was at the top of the list.
Callie was shocked. “Really?” she asked, needing confirmation.
“Yes. Really. Absolutely. Don’t be so shocked. The whole hating to sleep without me next to you? It’s the same for me. Has been that way for months now. There’s a reason I sneak over to you place and crawl into bed with you after my shift or a page no matter the time. And it’s not about your place being closer to the hospital than mine,” I admitted to Callie before continuing, “And I don’t care where we live either. Although I could do without some of Christina’s interruptions…”
Callie let out a soft laugh, “You and me both. Ok well we don’t need to decide anything tonight. I just wanted to put it out there.”
I nodded my head in agreement as I ran my thumbs across her cheeks. “So how much would Christina mock me if I told her that walking along the pier, watching fireworks, and spending the night with you was my favorite New Year’s Eve ever? I asked teasingly.
“Oh Arizona I’d rather you didn’t,” Callie begged. “Nothing good can come of sharing stories of happy times with Christina.”
Before I could respond, a couple of loud squeals and thumps could be heard. “Oh the fireworks are starting!” I exclaimed with delight and turned around in Callie’s arms to watch the show.
Callie laughed, never tiring of seeing my excited energy at the smallest of events, and kissed my temple as she stepped closer behind me and wrapped her arms around mine on the railing. After covering Callie’s hands with my gloved ones to keep her warm, I turned my head to look up at her, pecking a soft kiss to her lips. “Best New Year’s Eve ever,” I said with a cheerful smile that she returned before turning back to watch the rest of the show happy to be starting the New Year exactly how, and more importantly with who, I wanted.
Author: silver222
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG13
Summary: Some happy holiday times with Callie and Arizona. Callie comes back from spending Christmas in Miami with her family and celebrates New Year’s Eve with Arizona.
Disclaimer: All characters, events, settings and situations mentioned in this work are sole property of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, in constitutes fair use.
Part 1
December 30th
Standing at the nurse’s station, I figured I had about thirty minutes to spare before rounds baring any emergencies. If I finished these charts in half the time, I could probably run down to the cafeteria and grab a muffin or donut and still be back in plenty of time to see Callie when she got here for her shift. The five cups of coffee I’ve already consumed this morning definitely did not make up for the lack of food. I reached into my pocket and unwrapped a cherry lollipop hoping that would hold me over until I could get to the cafeteria.
“You’re like a little kid all hyped up on sugar, you know that? You’re supposed to be giving those lollipops to your patients not eating them all yourself,” Mark smirked as he walked up beside me and dropped off a chart to a nurse at the desk.
“Thanks for the tip,” I replied in a deadpan manner while continuing to focus on finishing up the notes on the patient’s chart in front of me.
“So when’s Callie getting back?” Mark asked leaning against the nurse’s station.
“She’s already back. She sent me a text last night when she got home. She’s getting a couple of hours sleep before starting her shift.” Callie had come back to Seattle late last night after spending six days in Miami over Christmas with her family. After stopping by her apartment to drop off her suitcase and make sure that Christina had kept up her end of the bargain and kept the apartment generally clean and tidy (which Callie credits to Owen rather than her actual roommate), Callie was supposed to be getting a couple of hours of sleep before being thrust right back into work at Seattle Grace.
“Have you seen her yet? I bet she got a wicked tan from all that Florida sun while we’re cooped up indoors,” Mark teased.
“No, she’s supposed to come find me when she gets here. I had the night shift last night,” I answered purposely ignoring his comment about my girlfriend’s potential tan. I was already eager enough to see her - I did not need to add any more mental images of Callie to those that have already been swimming around in my head all night.
“Ahhh,” Mark uttered while nodding his head.
“Ahhh what?” I questioned not really sure I wanted to know where he was going with this.
“That explains the incessant bouncing.” Mark answered pointing his hand in my direction as though it was obvious.
I put my pen down on the chart and looked up at him with my eyes narrowed. “I am not bouncing,” I objected although I grudgingly admitted that I was feeling a bit more perky than usual for the end of a shift. “I’ve just had a lot of caffeine…and sugar…and it was a good shift so I am in a super fantastic mood.”
“Right…and your girlfriend coming back has nothing to do with this super fantastic mood?” Mark countered.
He had me there; I couldn’t really deny Callie’s imminent return had me on cloud nine throughout the night to the point where I think I was even driving the nurses in peds who are used to my antics a little crazy. “I didn’t say that. Why are you so concerned with my mood anyway…,” I trailed off as my attention drifted to the elevator where said girlfriend had just walked off. Damn…she looked good. My eyes glazed over her jeans hugging her hips in all the right places and what appeared to be a new green shirt under her leather jacket that she must’ve just gotten for Christmas that accentuated her cleavage just right. I realized I was staring and zoning off about her body before I looked up and at the same time she turned and spotted me, flashing a brilliant smile my way. We had talked on the phone every day she’d been away and yet it still took my breath away at seeing her. I started walking towards her with a skip to my step before leaning back on my heely’s to cover the last few feet between us a bit quicker. Okay maybe Mark really was right about the extra bounce in my step this morning.
“Oomph,” Callie grunted as she caught me wheeling up to her at full speed just as I moved onto my toes to stop. I took advantage of her catch to put my arms around her neck and delight in the warmth of being in her arms again. “You’re still wearing those things?” she asked in disbelief. Callie had lectured me more than once on the number of broken bones she has had to set from kids falling wearing heely’s.
“Yes I am. The kids still love them and it helps me get around faster.” I grinned repeating the same argument she heard from me every time. “Now would you like to continue discussing my choice of footwear or can I welcome you home properly?” I asked while smiling brightly at her and giving her my best flirty eyes.
Callie appeared to consider her options for a second before gently moving one of my locks of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail behind my ear, and leaning in to give me a kiss that was chaste in comparison to the emotions flowing through us. But we were standing about twenty feet away from the nurse’s station and I’m also pretty certain Mark let out a low whistle which went ignored by Callie and me. “I’ve got about twenty minutes before my shift starts. Can you take a break?” Callie asked softly in between quick kisses before leaning her forehead against mine. I nodded my head and she leaned in and gave me another kiss before grabbing my hand and dragging me along with her to find an open room.
“You know if you wore wheelie sneaks too we could get to the on-call room a lot faster,” I quipped as I bounced ahead to fall in step alongside her and nudged her hip with our conjoined hands. Callie looked over at me and let out a quick laugh before releasing my hand and putting her arm around my shoulder. “It’s good to be home,” she whispered while we continued towards our destination.
New Year’s Eve
Callie was catching up on some extra shifts to cover for the people who had worked for her over the Christmas holiday but fortunately she had pulled the day shift on New Year’s Eve. After meeting her in the lobby of the hospital, we headed over to Joe’s, planning on ringing in the New Year with a few drinks and a few friends before heading back to her apartment for some long awaited alone time.
I spotted the usual gang of Mark, Lexie, Christina and Owen at a table to the left when we walked into Joe’s. After grabbing a couple of drinks, Callie and I headed over to join them in the midst of what seemed to be a very lively discussion judging by the rowdy laughter coming from the table.
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked innocently sliding onto a chair between Callie and Owen.
“Our best and worst New Year’s Eve stories. Care to share yours?” Christina challenged.
“Oh my best New Year’s was during my residency. We used to go all out decorating the Ped’s ward and we’d create this whole re-enactment of Times Square complete with a disco ball that we would use for the countdown. The kids would love it and we’d pass around noise makers and confetti to toss in the air. I think they loved that for once they could make as much noise as they wanted,” I recalled smiling widely.
“Figures,” Christina groaned, “Seriously, don’t you have anything a little more exciting? A little more adventurous?”
“Nope that’s my favorite and I’m sticking with it,” I said grinning proudly, taking a sip of my drink.
“I think it sounded really nice,” Owen defended me before holding his hands up in surrender as Christina glared at him. “I’ll share a couple of stories,” Owen volunteered proceeding to tell about how his platoon would ring in the New Year when he was stationed in Iraq. Before long Derek and Meredith arrived and joined the table as well and also jumped in with some stories of years past.
“Torres, you want to join the conversation or you gonna just keep staring at your girlfriend?” Mark said with a snicker catching Callie paying no attention to the group.
Callie fixed Mark with one of her patented glares, “Hey, I can’t help it if I missed my girlfriend. And you two,” she pointed at Christina and Mark, “should just be grateful that I’m finally happy on New Year’s for once. Need I remind you of the drunken debauchery that was the last two years that I subjected you both too?
“Yes please do,” Mark retorted raising his beer and taking another sip.
I couldn’t hold back my chuckle which also earned me a glare from Callie, albeit much less harsh than what Mark had just received. It was definitely going to take a few more drinks to keep up with this group tonight. “I’m going to get another round.” I said sweetly to Callie patting her hand that was resting on my knee. I turned my attention back to the group at the table, “Does anyone else need anything from the bar?”
“Absolutely, another couple of beers for me and Lexie please,” Mark answered.
“Hey, hook me up too,” Christina shouted as I had started to walk away but I turned around to acknowledge her with a thumbs up.
As Christina, Lexie and Owen started in on a debate about the best city to spend New Year’s in, Mark leaned over to Callie. “It’s good to have you back Torres,” he said sincerely. “I mean Robbins is great and everything but she just doesn’t get my jokes. Actually I think she tunes out half of what I say,” he shrugged looking to engage Callie in some of the witty banter that he’s come to rely on.
“It’s good to be back,” Callie responded distractedly before she looked over her shoulder towards the bar in search of her girlfriend who had only just left her side. “I’m going to go see if she needs help,” Callie said to no one in particular before getting up and following in the same trail towards the bar.
“Hey, what do you say to us getting out of here,” Callie spoke just loud enough in my ear to be heard over the crowd as she came up behind me and rested one hand on my hip and the other on the bar.
I was trying to get Joe’s attention as I glanced back at Callie with a puzzled look. “What? Calliope, it’s almost midnight, we’ll miss the countdown.”
“No, we’ll just have our own countdown somewhere else. Come on, we can go for a walk along the pier; it’s a pretty nice night. We can probably even find a spot to watch the fireworks show,” Callie pleaded with a hopeful tone to her voice.
I gave up on flagging down Joe as I tried to understand Callie’s desire to miss out on the New Year’s celebration with their friends.
“Hon, are you ok?” I questioned as I stared into the brown eyes I’ve come to be able to read so well. Although right now, I couldn’t figure out what they were saying.
“I’m fine…I just…I just want to spend some time with you...just us…away from the hospital, and everyone here…we missed our first Christmas together and I just want us to ring the new year in right.” For someone who had the reputation as an Ortho badass, there was a sentimental side of Callie that came out every so often that I felt privileged to see.
“So you’re still planning on kissing me at midnight right? This isn’t an elaborate ploy to trick me into leaving, leave me out in the cold, and kiss some other warm body?” I joked in amusement to Callie as my hand held her forearm that was resting on the bar.
Callie sighed. “No. No one else. Just you. Only you.” With a mischievous grin starting to form she added, “And I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
I leaned up on my toes to kiss Callie but right before our lips touched I whispered “Let’s go” and gave her a quick peck before grabbing her hand and pulling her behind me with a giggle. As I stopped to get our jackets, Callie said our goodbyes to the group, leaving them with a vague excuse and our best wishes for a happy new year.
“Hey does this mean I have to get my drink myself?” Christina moaned to our departing forms.
“Let them go Yang, I’ll get the drinks,” Mark responded already getting up from his seat.
***********************************************************************************************
As Callie and I walked along the pier with my right arm tucked through her left elbow and my left hand draped across my body to hold hers, Callie was atypically quiet. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation during which I almost missed the craziness of the bar and voices of the patrons all trying to talk over each other to be heard, I figured maybe she needed a little push.
I leaned my head against her shoulder before saying, “You’re awfully quiet tonight. You sure everything’s ok? Did something happen in Miami that you’re not telling me about?” I questioned with concern laced in my voice.
“Hmm? Oh no. Definitely no. Everything with my family is good. I think they may try to come out in a few months to Seattle and I promised my mom and sister they could finally meet you.” Callie squeezed my hand for emphasis. “I was just thinking about everything’s that happened this year. I mean I didn’t even know you at this time last year. And then everything that happened with George and Izzie and my dad and the merger and my job…it’s just been a crazy year.”
“Yeah it has…” I agreed trailing off to let her finish.
“And yet this is the first year in a long time that I haven’t been anxious to start a new year because I wanted a fresh start. Even with all the bad things that happened this year, I’m happy. Really happy. And it’s because of you. You took a chance on me, two chances actually, what with first kissing me in Joe’s and then finally agreeing to go out with me.” Callie teased with a quirk of her eyebrow that I returned with a teasing smile.
Callie stopped walking and turned to face me intertwining her left hand with my right as she continued with her revelation, “Sometimes I can’t believe how short of a time we’ve known each other. Because even though I learn something new about you all the time, and I love that, I just feel like we know each other so well. And I love you so much. Which sometimes I think freaks me out because I also know that you came into this relationship a little unsure, what with me being a newborn and all, and then combine that with my past history, and I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Callie confessed.
“Calliope,” I waited a beat until she looked into my eyes, “I love you too and I promise you that I am sure about this, about us. Very sure,” I said nodding my head in agreement with my words. “This is the happiest I’ve been in awhile too. You make me happy. So stop waiting for something to go wrong and let’s just be happy we finally found each other,” I implored. Because sometimes I think we forget that you have to go through a lot of wrongs and weather the subsequent hurt to get to that chance with the right one. Almost as an afterthought I added, “And that newborn theory went out the window after the first week with you.”
“Good to know,” Callie said with a smirk.
With both of us feeling a little lighter after those sentiments, we walked a little further until we found a secluded spot along the pier where we could wait for midnight and have a good view of the fireworks. We could also still softly hear the music from the live band playing further up towards the crowd.
“Are you cold?” Callie asked noticing me shiver a bit as she ran her hands up and down my arms.
“Just a little. My hands are cold,” as I rubbed them together to try to ward away the cold.
“Here put these on,” Callie requested as she pulled out a small pair of black gloves from her jacket pocket and held them out for me to put my hands into.
“Thank you. You know what else would warm me up?” I pulled Callie in closer by the collar of her leather jacket and pressed our lips together. As our kiss deepened, I slide my hands around to her lower back and slipped them in the back pockets of her jeans.
Callie broke off our kiss with a chuckle, “Now if I knew you were going to do that, I wouldn’t have shared my gloves.”
I smiled softly at her, “Too late, you already gave them to me,” before giving her a wink and leaning in to kiss her cheek. We could hear the crowd beginning to stir and I looked at Callie, “What time is it?”
“11:57,” Callie responded dutifully after looking at her watch.
I waited a beat before asking again. “What time is it now?”
“11:58 and 2 seconds.” Callie looked at me with an amused grin, “You weren’t a patient child were you?”
“Calliope, focus on the time!” I scolded pointing to her watch, not wanting to miss midnight. “And no, I was not a very patient child. I’m still not. I hate waiting,” I mumbled showing my growing impatience for midnight to come.
Callie just smiled at me before dropping her arm where she had been monitoring her watch for the time. “Ehhh, I was never one to follow the rules anyway. Happy New Year,” Callie said as she gazed into my eyes and then kissed me softly at first before bringing her hands to my face and deepening the kiss making me forget all about waiting until midnight.
“Happy New Year,” I whispered against her lips as we broke for air. I tuned out all the music and celebrations of the crowd further down as I focused on the girl in front of me and delighted in that for once I had the girl I had only before dreamed of with me on New Year’s Eve.
“So Calliope what are your resolutions for the New Year?” I asked her as we broke from our kiss but I kept a firm hold on Callie to keep her close.
“Hmm…” Callie pondered as she held onto my hips and continued to pepper me with kisses as she responded. “I think I’m going to pick up a new hobby…maybe skiing…”
“Skiing? Really? How very..umm…sporty of you?” I responded a little unsure. This was a new development. Callie wasn’t exactly a winter and snow girl but I guess she is always up for new adventures.
“Well it’ll be more about the two of us finding a weekend to get away together. I was thinking of finding a resort in Canada,” Callie shared. She continued with the kissing before clarifying further, “We can spend an hour on the bunny slope and then spend the rest of the weekend in a cozy, comfy cabin doing other ‘sporty’ activities that we both love,” Callie punctuated her answer with another kiss.
I grinned. That was more like the Callie I know and love. “Mmm I’m all for new hobbies then,” I agreed letting our lips fall together again. “What else?”
“Maybe I’ll start exercising more. Isn’t that almost like a required resolution? I don’t like exercising but I like dancing. So we need to find a nightclub and go dancing,” she declared and gave me a deep kiss before I could respond.
“Uhh…’we’? Who’s ‘we’?” I stammered when she broke away really hoping this was one of those times when ‘we’ meant her and Christina.
Callie grinned and gave me a tell tale look as though the answer was obvious, “Us ‘we’. You’re my dance partner Dr. Robbins.” She was still grinning as she laid a kiss on my scrunched up nose.
“Oh no, I don’t think so Calliope.” This was one resolution that wasn’t going to happen.
“But you dance with me all the time,” Callie whined and added a pout for good measure.
“Umm yeah in the privacy of your apartment. Not in a crowded public place to crazy clubbin’ music and being surrounded by people that move their bodies in ways I can only dream of,” I argued. “No, I don’t think you really want me to go clubbing with you.”
“Did you really just say ‘crazy clubbin’ music’?” Callie questioned trying to control her laughter. “And I beg to differ. I do want to go clubbing with you.” Callie’s lips started a trail along my neck from where my jacket left off to my ear and I knew she was trying to weaken my resolve.
“Ok, good luck with that one,” I retorted with a sarcastic snicker as Callie looked at me with a glint in her eyes and I knew she already had some ideas in the works to wear me down. Sadly, I knew that this was going to be one more thing that I added to the list of things I never would have dreamed of doing before I met Calliope Torres.
Callie continued on with her kissing of my neck and her list of resolutions, “Ok how about this one then. I want us to stop paying separate rent checks to two different places every month.”
“Ok…” I said distractedly as she continued to kiss up and down my neck and I was pondering whose apartment we could get to faster. But then her words started to faintly register somewhere in my brain amongst the haze of Callie’s kisses. “Wait...What?!” I interrupted her ministrations on my neck and I pulled back and put my hand to her cheek to turn her face up to meet mine.
Callie straightened up and moved her hands back down to my hips and I could fill her thumbs stroking my side in a calming manner even through my jacket. “I was thinking that maybe when our apartment leases are up in a couple of months, we could talk about maybe moving in together,” Callie clarified with a nervous shake to her voice.
She waited a beat to gauge my reaction before continuing, “We spend nearly every night together now that we’re not working. And to be honest, I hate sleeping without you next to me. And it’s not just about the nights - I’d spend every waking minute with you if I could,” Callie admitted looking up at me shyly. “So I’d really like it if you moved in with me. Or we could get a new place. Or I could move into your place. It really doesn’t matter where.” Callie sighed as she knew she started rambling. “We don’t have to figure it out now but my New Year’s resolution is that at some point in 2010, I’d really like it if we officially lived in the same place or at least talked about it.”
“Ok,” I answered simply as my eyes were glistening with unshed tears at Callie’s breakingly honest and heartwarming words. Because if I was also being honest I’d have to admit that this wasn’t the first time I’ve thought about moving in with Callie sometime in the near future. But just as Callie has fears about this relationship, so do I, and rushing Callie into something that, until tonight I didn’t think she was ready for, was at the top of the list.
Callie was shocked. “Really?” she asked, needing confirmation.
“Yes. Really. Absolutely. Don’t be so shocked. The whole hating to sleep without me next to you? It’s the same for me. Has been that way for months now. There’s a reason I sneak over to you place and crawl into bed with you after my shift or a page no matter the time. And it’s not about your place being closer to the hospital than mine,” I admitted to Callie before continuing, “And I don’t care where we live either. Although I could do without some of Christina’s interruptions…”
Callie let out a soft laugh, “You and me both. Ok well we don’t need to decide anything tonight. I just wanted to put it out there.”
I nodded my head in agreement as I ran my thumbs across her cheeks. “So how much would Christina mock me if I told her that walking along the pier, watching fireworks, and spending the night with you was my favorite New Year’s Eve ever? I asked teasingly.
“Oh Arizona I’d rather you didn’t,” Callie begged. “Nothing good can come of sharing stories of happy times with Christina.”
Before I could respond, a couple of loud squeals and thumps could be heard. “Oh the fireworks are starting!” I exclaimed with delight and turned around in Callie’s arms to watch the show.
Callie laughed, never tiring of seeing my excited energy at the smallest of events, and kissed my temple as she stepped closer behind me and wrapped her arms around mine on the railing. After covering Callie’s hands with my gloved ones to keep her warm, I turned my head to look up at her, pecking a soft kiss to her lips. “Best New Year’s Eve ever,” I said with a cheerful smile that she returned before turning back to watch the rest of the show happy to be starting the New Year exactly how, and more importantly with who, I wanted.