Chapter 16: Vows and Oaths
Notes: Thanks for all your kind reviews and support! Amezona stans are my favorite stans. Y'all are the best. I really only have time to update Tuesdays and Thursdays since I'm working a lot of hours at my two jobs. I'll do my best to better keep up.
Timeline: Approx early season 13.
Enjoy!
April and Arizona are relaxing in the Attendings' lounge; they finally have some time to catch up with the goings on in their lives.
"How's Harriet?" Arizona asks as she sits on the couch, catching up on emails.
"Good. A handful, but she's sleeping through the night." April smiles, picturing her baby daughter's face. She pours Arizona a cup of coffee and hands it to her before plopping down on the couch next to her.
"So, three weeks, huh?"
"Sorry, what?" Arizona asks, looking up from her phone.
April chuckles. "Can't you go two minutes without talking to Amelia?"
"I wasn't!" Arizona protests, but it's a lie and April knows it. Arizona has a tell.
"Okay, so spill. Why such a quick wedding?"
Arizona shrugs. "We don't want anything fancy. Just a small ceremony with close friends. Something simple."
April nods sipping her coffee. "But how'm I supposed to be a good maid of honor if I have nothing to plan." She pouts.
Arizona laughs. "I appreciate the enthusiasm."
"Can I ask you something?" April seems apprehensive. Arizona wonders if she judges how quickly her relationship with Amelia is progressing. But April is her best friend and she respects her opinions.
"How do you know this is different? Then you and Callie, I mean. I just don't want to see you getting hurt again." April explains earnestly, placing a hand on Arizona's shoulder.
The blonde just shakes her head and smiles. "It's very different. With Callie, we were never in the same place at the same time. We were still growing as separate people and never quite wanted things simultaneously." Arizona explains. "Like when I went to Africa and she didn't want to come with. Then, she wanted a family when I didn't. There were just so many things that weren't in sync with us. With Amelia, it's different. We've experienced so many similar losses, we understand each other on a different level. We're both done progressing in our careers, we're in a stable, happy place. She's more then ready to support and take care of Sofia. Everything just, fell into place at the right time."
April watches as her best friend's smile widens and her eyes sparkle as she talks about Amelia. She can see that Arizona is truly happy and that's what matters the most.
She returns Arizona's smile. "I'm glad you found a great love again."
"Me too." Truly, she is; Arizona feels like the luckiest woman in the world to be given a second chance at true love.
—
"Three weeks? That's soon." Maggie says across the surgical table as she and Amelia work to save a patient.
"What's soon?" Jo asks curiously as she assists Amelia.
"Amelia and Arizona are getting married." Maggie announces.
"Maggie!" Amelia protests.
"You are? Congratulations!" Jo exclaims, genuinely happy for them both. "I wonder why Alex didn't tell me…"
"Well, we hadn't exactly decided to share the news with everyone yet." Amelia explains, glaring at Maggie.
"It's just, are you sure? A few weeks ago you were hiding out on Mer's couch and now you're jumping into this headfirst. It just seems like a lot."
"Can we just focus, please?" Amelia snaps. She knows Maggie means well, that she's just concerned, but Amelia doesn't feel like this is the time or place to discuss this. She sighs, noticing the hurt in Maggie's eyes. She didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Honestly, of course she's nervous. Arizona deserves the world and Amelia isn't sure she can give it to her; but she also knows that she's never loved anyone as much as she loves Arizona and she will do her best to make Arizona and Sofia happy.
It's going to be a long surgery and Amelia doesn't know if she can handle the tense silence in the O.R. She clears her throat.
"I've never known anyone like Arizona." She starts, quietly. "There's just something about her. I've always been kind of a mess. Well, more then kind of." Amelia chuckles. "But Arizona just…understands. She has this calming effect that I can't really explain. When everything around me is falling apart- like right after Derek died- I get impulsive and stupid. Hurricane Amelia." She shakes her head. "But Arizona keeps me calm. She helps me think straight. She's the calm during a storm."
"Awwwe." Jo says teasingly, but it's actually really cute. Amelia is this badass surgeon who's absolutely smitten.
Maggie is tearing up. "You love her."
Amelia nods. "I really do."
Later that night,
Amelia and Arizona are relaxing on the couch as Sofia colors at the kitchen table.
"Everyone was so nosy today. That hospital, I swear." Amelia rolls her eyes.
"You too, huh? April was giving me the third degree." Arizona chuckles.
"Yeah, I got it from Maggie and then later from Meredith!" The brunette exclaims, sighing. "Are we crazy?" She asks, only half-serious, there's no way she's getting cold feet. She won't let something this perfect slip through her fingers.
"Well you are." Arizona giggles, elbowing Amelia gently before placing a quick kiss to her lips.
"Mom! Look what I made!" Sofia exclaims, running up to Amelia.
It surprises her. It's completely unexpected, to hear Sofia call her 'mom'. She can tell it surprises Arizona too. Amelia isn't officially or legally her mother yet. But already the little girl has completely accepted her and it makes her heart melt.
"Is that me and your mommy?"
"Yup! And me too!" Sofia beams. She's handed Amelia a drawing of what is clearly her and Arizona getting married, and Sofia acting as their flower girl.
Amelia smiles, ruffling Sofia's hair. "You're excited about the wedding, huh?"
"Uh-huh! Can I go put on my dress again?" Sofia is practically bouncing up and down.
Amelia chuckles. "I'm pretty sure it's time to get ready for bed." She glances at Arizona who nods; she doesn't want to overstep her boundaries with parenting Sofia.
"Amy's right. Go get ready and I'll come tuck you in." Arizona hugs Sofia.
"Can Amy read to me tonight?" Sofia asks.
Amelia nods. "Sure kiddo, now go brush your teeth."
Sofia leans forward to hug Amelia before running off to get ready for bed.
"Sorry." Amelia says quietly. She's embarrassed by how quickly everything has turned domestic. It's a little unsettling, especially being called mom. But it also just feels…right somehow. Like it's meant to be. In the past, she would run from situations like this. It just proves to her how right this decision is- marrying Arizona. getting to be her wife and being a part of this family.
Arizona is smiling- that bright smile that Amelia loves; it makes her blue eyes sparkle and it takes Amelia's breath away. "It's okay. You don't need to be so cautious. She loves you."
Arizona places a soft kiss to Amelia's lips. "I love you too." She trails warm, wet kisses down the brunette's neck causing Amelia to gasp quietly. She bites back a moan as Arizona playfully nips and sucks at her earlobe. "I'll show you just how much I love you later tonight." The blonde whispers in her ear and Amelia shudders in delight.
"Okay." She agrees breathlessly. She could really get used to nights like this.
There's no church. There's no giant frilly white dresses. No string quartet. There's just a small gathering of close friends and family. There's simple vows, promises of love and security. Promises of a happy future and a happy family. The faces of their smiling friends and coworkers; their make-shift little hospital family. Afterwards, there's food and drinks and music at Meredith's house.
Meredith, Maggie, April, and Arizona stand around the island of the Grey house. They're camaraderie is only strengthened by the alcohol relaxing their lips and the familial atmosphere of the gathering.
"Now, Robbins is the kind of sister-in-law I asked for." Meredith jokes, gently elbowing Amelia. Her wine glass is half-empty and her cheeks are a little flush; it's nice seeing Meredith get to relax for a change. The women share a laugh. It's nice to be free of the stress of the hospital. To just be. To appreciate and spend time with friends and family without any drama for a change.
Maggie, ever the sentimental sister, has an arm around Amelia's shoulders and is teary-eyed. "I never thought I'd get to see you get married!" She exclaims.
"You all are such emotional drunks." Amelia quips, flashing a quick smile to her tipsy bride. Her wife. That thought blows her away. If you had asked her a year ago if she thought she'd be Arizona Robbins' wife, if Amelia could see herself raising a child with the perky peds surgeon, or even in a long lasting relationship with her- well, she'd had no idea the positive effect this beautiful, intelligent, kind and sweet woman would have on her life. Despite losing her brother and nearly losing herself, Amelia somehow managed to keep her life together- with the help of this amazing woman. Now, she can't imagine her life without Arizona in it.
Amelia shifts over to Arizona's side and gives her a quick kiss, sliding an arm around the blonde's waist and settling there comfortably. She glances down at the simple sterling-silver wedding band around Arizona's finger and smiles.
"Hey." Arizona is beaming at her and Amelia is certain she's never seen anything more beautiful.
"Hey yourself." Amelia replies, not caring that they're being ridiculously sappy. She's happy and for once in her life she finally feels like she deserves it.
"What?" Arizona asks, sobering a bit. "Why're you looking at me like that?"
Amelia just shakes her head and smiles. "I love you, Arizona Robbins."
"I love you too, Amelia Shepherd. Always."
Notes:
I think this might be a perfect stopping point for this story. I'm either going to make a sequel or do a time skip to the beginning of season 14. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated :) Y'all are the best!