Fan Fiction: All I want for Christmas (1/1)
Title: All I want for Christmas
Author: IAdoreCallie
Pairing: Callie and Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: One Shot. Callie's Christmas Gift.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fiction, nor do I have any rights in regards to them.
Authors Note: Just a one shot that's been in my head. Will get back to the other story soon. Honest.
Snow was falling heavily over Seattle. Coating everything with a white glaze that made Callie hungry for donuts. She hated being sick while the world was becoming a winter wonderland outside her door. Its hard to enjoy ice skating, or building a snow man when your head feels like a rock. Instead she contented herself with curling up under a thick blanket, watching the snow fall past her window and wallowing in self pity.
Mark had stopped by to visit earlier before heading into work, bringing with him magazines and a few DVD's that he had borrowed. However as Callie sat alone she felt that ache in her chest that Arizona had caused when she pulled her heart out in the middle of the airport. If Callie ran her fingers over her chest she was sure that where her heart should be there was instead a gaping chasm. Every time someone had walked away it hurt her. But nothing like this. She had always rebounded. Come back stronger and more determined than ever. This time it felt as though every step she took to try and rebuild, was a step further away from where she wanted to be. While she wanted the pain to stop, she didn't want to forget Arizona. If anything the pain was a comfort. It kept her near.
Curling down onto her side Callie glanced at her nightstand. Since moving back in, the place had felt deserted. It only took her a few days to put everything back where it belonged. And despite words of caution from Mark, Arizona's photos had been returned to their rightful places. Mark had begun looking at Callie as if she were insane and expecting her to begin talking to an imaginary Arizona at any moment. Callie knew that Arizona was gone. But it didn't mean that the place she held in Callie's life would evaporate over night. Callie loved her. Not wanted, needed or desired. Though they were all factors. She loved her. The sort of love that made reality melt away and all that mattered was the feelings. Callie knew that somewhere out in the middle of Africa, Arizona was feeling the same way. Despite Teddy's assurances that Arizona didn't talk about her, Callie knew that she wasn't the only one suffering. Arizona had to be feeling that dizzying ache. This wasn't George who had difficulty making decisions and wanted to please everyone. This wasn't Erica who apparently while able to work on hearts, didn't have one of her own. This was Arizona. Mender of sick little people. Life of the party and light of Callie's life. She had a heart. She knew what she wanted. And she wasn't the sort of person to tell someone they love them and then just forget about them.
Callie knew Arizona. And it only took her a few weeks to understand why she had done what she had done. Arizona had tried to hurt Callie so that Callie would move on out of Anger. Arizona was trying to give Callie a chance at a life. Callie wondered what Arizona was thinking. Was she thinking of her right now?
As Callie lay there she looked out of her door into the living room. Christmas... Single... Sick.... Perfect. Tomorrow was Christmas day and then the whole "festive" thing would be over and she could get ready to start a new year. Even saying it in her mind didn't sound convincing. Her head was hurting, so she knew it was time for another round of Nyquil. Popping a couple into her mouth she lay back and closed her eyes. If she couldn't have Arizona in reality, she'd dream about her instead. Her eyes had barely closed when she could already see those piercing blue eyes swim into her mind. Followed by a heart swelling smile. Dreams took her quickly and she welcomed them.
****
The crash from the living room startled Callie awake. Followed by a muffled sound of exasperation. Glancing at her clock she knew it couldn't be Mark. Reaching under the bed she groped around for the Louisville Slugger she kept for occasions where brute force was needed. Slipping from the bed she stepped as quietly as she could towards the door. Reaching around for the light switch she prepared herself to leap forward and yell while brandishing her bat and terrifying the intruder into submission. But as she flipped the switch the bat fell to the floor as did her jaw.
"Merry Christmas Calliope... I'm sorry I woke you." Arizona stood by the tree looking bewildered with a large dose of regret.
Callie struggled to find words. her instinct was to rush over, sweep Arizona into her arms and kiss her till New Years. But there was also a strong urge to pick up the bat and chase her from the room. The Country.
"What? How? Why?" Was all Callie could manage as she stood paralyzed in the door way to her room.
"What am I doing here? I have asked myself that a few times since getting off the plane. Mainly its because this is the only place I want to be. How did I get in or how did I get here? I got in as I still had my key. I got here on a plane, several in fact. Getting a flight on Christmas eve is a nightmare by the way. And Why? Well I woke up this morning which was probably last night for you and I couldn't breathe. I realized that it was Christmas and the one thing I wanted was a million miles away and I had been the biggest ass and walked away from it. So after some yelling, and a threat I would never work in medicine again, the Grant Committee agreed to let me go. I gave up the grant. I gave up Africa because none of it made me as happy as you made me." Callie was speechless as Arizona continued to ramble on. "So basically I am back here with my tail between my legs and a weak plan of putting a gift on the table for you and hoping you would agree to see me tomorrow or some time, anytime. Completely your choice. I didn't factor in for the rearranging of the furniture." Arizona rubbed absentmindedly at her knee.
Arizona took a deep breath and put the small box she was holding on the table and turned towards the door. Looking back Arizona had tears welling in her eyes. "I missed you Calliope. And I'll do whatever you want to try and make up for the mistake I made of walking away from the best thing that has ever happened to me. And in such a stupid way too. I don't think I will ever forgive myself for doing it in the cheesiest of movie fashions."
"You came back." Callie whispered. Her voice not able to find its ground.
Arizona stopped with her hand on the door knob, turning and looking confused "I'm sorry?"
"Callie cleared her throat and stood a little straighter. Not needing the door frame to support her anymore. "You came back."
"I can leave if it makes you happy. I don't want to. But... I screwed up. And ..."
"You.. Came ... Back..." Arizona was staring at Callie. Her eyes drifting towards the bat on the floor and a look of concern and fear flashed across her face. "No one has ever come back." Callie was processing in her mind. Arizona wasn't even sure that the words were meant to be spoken aloud anymore. She stood silently waiting to take her cue from Callie. However long that would take.
Callie took a deep breath and broke down into uninhibited sobs. Arizona had crossed the room before she was even aware that her feet were moving. Her arms wrapped around Callie, holding her as her body was wracked with the emotions flowing out of her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Callie. I never wanted to hurt you. To be like the others. I'm stubborn. And stupid and a total ass. I'm so sorry."
Callie looked up. Her eyes blood shot. The snot running down her face shouldn't have been attractive but Arizona didn't care. Right at this moment Callie was beautiful. A sight for eyes that had been desperate to see her again. "You don't g..get it" Callie stammered.
"They never come back and you came back. George. Erica. They walked away and didn't look back. You walked away. But you came back. You're here. And you're sorry. No one is ever sorry. They move on and its not their problem anymore. I'm not their problem. You came back. I love you and you came back." Arizona was bemused. Callie rambled on but the sobs made it difficult to understand exactly what was being said. But the wet kiss that landed on her lips told her that while she may not be completely forgiven, she had a chance.
As Callie cried into Arizona's shoulder, Callie finally believed in Christmas miracles. And while she was sure she would make Arizona jump through hoops, over hurdles and generally make her beg for forgiveness, Arizona was there. And Callie would make sure she didn't have the chance to walk away again.