Fluidity

This fic is about gender fluidity, specifically, Callie's gender. And I really don't care to read reviews about Arizona's sexuality and how she wouldn't date someone like this and all that. It's called fan FICTION for a reason, and it's clearly AU. Also, I jump between pronouns for Callie in this story, if that gets confusing, let me know and I'll figure something else out. Anyway, enjoy.

Moving to New York had been a freeing experience for Callie Torres; she was able to make new friends, start fresh at a new hospital, and embrace her new self. A large part of embracing her new self consisted of an edgy haircut, a wardrobe change, and coming to terms with how she felt about her femininity.

Callie had always been fairly girly, mostly because it was what the world expected of her. The furthest she'd ever strayed from society's views of feminine, was wearing her trademark skull thermal shirts under her scrubs, which she knew wasn't even 'unfeminine'. But, that had all changed. Her hair was now clean shaven on the sides and back but longer on top, long enough that, if she didn't slick it back, the hair flopped into her eyes. Her wardrobe now consisted of mostly pants and slacks, button down shirts, and a few waistcoats, she even threw in a few couple new leather jackets and some flannels. Callie had never felt better, honestly. Well, that is until she felt like something else was missing from her life.

It took a little while, and a lot of reading, to figure out what she was feeling. But, finally, after three months of internal struggle and some therapy, Callie figured it out.

Flashback*

"I think… Well, I think I'm not exactly a woman…" Callie spoke just above a whisper.

"What do you think you are, Callie?"

The brunette looked up at her new therapist, "I'm not transgender, I know that. Well, I guess not in the sense that I'm a man, because I know I'm not a man but I'm not really a woman either. I've uh, I've done a lot of reading and I'm thinking maybe the best definition of what I've been feeling is gender queer, or maybe gender fluid is a better term. I'm just… Sometimes I'm totally fine with being referred to as Callie Torres, the female, but other times, I feel like using female gendered terms just rubs me the wrong way."

The therapist nodded her head, listening intently, "Have you done anything more than reading into this?"

Callie looked down again, nodding her head silently and the therapist noticed the brunette looked almost ashamed.

"Talk to me, Callie," the therapist leaned forward and put a hand on the brunette's knee. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me."

Taking a deep breath, Callie began speaking, "I ordered a few things online and went out the other night. But I didn't go out as Calliope Torres. I wore a binder an-and a packer and went to one of the LGBTQ parties a friend of mine told me about. I introduced myself to people as Cal, not Callie or Calliope."

"And…" the therapist gestured for Callie to continue.

"It felt… amazing." Callie smiled, "I think some of the people knew I wasn't male but it was amazing to not be gendered, ya know? Most people used gender neutral terms and pronouns, unless they asked what I wanted them to use. But, they didn't ask if I was a man or a woman, they didn't care. They just asked my name and how I was liking the party. I felt comfortable for the first time in a long time."

End Flashback*

And now, Callie was getting ready to leave work, her binder, packer, and a change of clothes in her backpack heading to dinner with a few friends when her phone rang.

Catching the name on the caller ID, Callie smiled, "Arizona, hey."

"Callie! Hey, um, so I was thinking, um, and I think, I think that-I think that Sofia should move back to New York with you."

Callie stopped dead in her tracks and let out a squeak that sounded something like, "What?"

"Yeah, and I think that I need to move back with her…" Arizona's voice trailed off.

Callie couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, "Absolutely, Arizona. I would never say no to having my baby girl home, or having you come with her."

A few days later, Callie sat on the couch, watching TV on her afternoon off when she decided to text Arizona. She knew the blonde was at Alex and Jo's wedding but, if she was being honest, she couldn't stop thinking about her ex wife moving to New York. Would Arizona accept Callie's new look? Would she still find Callie attractive?

I can't wait to see you!*

Less than a minute later, Arizona texted back, *I can't wait to see you either. I've missed you, Calliope.*

Callie couldn't help but cringe slightly at the use of her full name as she sat around the house in boxer briefs and nothing else. It was one of those days, the ones where the brunette felt decidedly not feminine.

Um when you have a few minutes, preferably after Sof goes to bed, could we FaceTime or something? There's some stuff I wanna talk to you about.*

There was an almost instant reply from Arizona, *Is everything ok? Are you having second thoughts about me coming out?*

Callie quickly texted back, *No, everything is FINE! No seconds thoughts, just want to talk about a few things, is all.*

Later that night, after taking a quick shower and settling back onto the couch, still in just a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else, Callie's phone rang with an incoming FaceTime call.

Callie took a deep breath before hitting the answer button, "Arizona, you look amazing…"

"Y-you cut your hair?!" Arizona gasped.

Callie nodded her head, "This is why I wanted to FaceTime. There are some things we need to talk about. I-"

"You're also not wearing a shirt…"

A/N

So, in case you missed it, Sara put her pronouns in her Twitter bio and the whole thing made me feel some type of way. I wrote this months ago and didn't have the guts to post it, until now. Sara using she and they pronouns validated my feelings in writing this so... here it is. I'm rating it M as it will get smutty later on.

And please know that hate of any kind will NOT be tolerated, especially if you're a coward on hate anonymously.