TITLE: For Old Time's Sake

AUTHOR: rcruz

Disclaimer: If I owned them, things would look a lot different. The characters, settings, established histories, and general Grey's Anatomy universe referenced in this work are properties of their respective owners. This is a work of fiction for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 9

"Please tell me that's your girl," said Vonda. "Damn, she's hot!"

"What are you talking about? I don't know who…" started Erica looking closely at her door.

Who was standing on her steps? Who would be showing up to her house at this hour? Recognition slowly dawned on her. Her eyes widened and her stomach dropped to her shoes as she realized just who was standing there in the moonlight. Yep, she was pretty sure there was a huge gaping hole where her stomach used to be because it felt hollow as she contemplated a very real Callie Torres standing on her steps looking a little cold and a lot lost.

Callie barely registered the car moving up the street until it slowed almost exactly parallel to where she stood and then she worried. It wasn't Erica's car, so it was most likely a neighbor, but it might be a neighbor who would call the cops on her. She was trying to think of what to do. Should she try ringing the bell? That might make her look like she was expected or at least belonged. It might assuage the fear that she was a burglar. Then again, what kind of visitor shows up close to midnight? She wasn't Santa Claus. Deciding the best thing to do was to acknowledge whoever had just shown up, she put on a smile and tried desperately to think of an explanation. The car double-parked right in front of Erica's townhouse, so she assumed someone was being dropped off. When two people emerged from the driver and passenger's side she was confused. Then her heart stopped.

Erica.

Erica was the passenger and a very pretty redhead was getting out of the driver's side.

Shit!

She let her eyes dart to her car, but there was no making a run for it. They'd already noticed her.

Fuck!

She had not planned for this exactly. She thought there was a small possibility Lisa would be here too, but she hadn't really believed that's what she would find.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Having no other choice, she made her way down the stairs hoping to escape before they reached her, despite the utter impossibility of that scenario.

"HI!" shouted the redhead who was thankfully hanging by her car for the moment.

Callie finally managed to reach the sidewalk and was cursing her good manners for preventing the major hundred-yard dash she wanted to run straight to her car. The redhead was eyeing her curiously, her body covered by the driver's side door she was still standing behind.

"Aren't you a sight? You must be freezing. How long you been out here?"

Callie almost laughed. The woman was doing a pretty bad imitation of Dolly Parton, but her overall demeanor was friendly. Somehow she didn't fit Callie's imaginary profile of Lisa.

"Just a little while," she managed to get out glancing at Erica's dumbfounded face.

Erica was standing in the street. She held a phone loosely in one hand and the strap of her bag in the other. She didn't look happy.

"This was a mistake," said Callie as she turned in the direction of her car.

"Now hold on a minute, missy. You been waiting God knows how long, you can't just leave. I don't even know you yet. I'm Vonda," she said slipping from behind the door of her car and slamming it behind her. She made her way to Callie and stretched out a gloved hand. "Well, hello all proper and such," she offered with a smile. "Who might you be?"

This woman is insane, was Callie's first thought. Her second was: her name is not Lisa. Feeling a little confused, a tad off balance, but a lot happy that this woman wasn't Lisa, she did the only thing she could. She shook the woman's hand.

"Hi, I'm Callie," she said cheerfully.

"So the mystery woman has a name; a pretty one too. Well nice to meet you Callie. I work with the good doctor over here. She's had a little car trouble tonight so I just popped her home."

They both turned in Erica's direction, but Erica was still in shock.

"She'll come out of it soon. I don't think she was quite expecting you, but she's real happy to se you." She tilted her head still looking at Erica. "At least I think so."

Callie smiled. This woman was crazy but right then and there, Callie decided she liked her. She looked over at Erica who was finally moving closer to them.

"What are you doing here?" Erica asked, joining them on the sidewalk. She looked around and tried to get her bearings. She still couldn't believe Callie was here. Callie's presence turned everything upside down for her. It took on new meaning especially after Callie's text message earlier. It made the wanting and desire, the longing for things that had been, but would never be again a little too strong and real.

It was close to midnight, snowing, cold and Christmas. None of them should be standing on that sidewalk. Vonda should be home with her partner. Callie should be with her family and Erica should be alone in her place not thinking about any of this.

"What are you doing here?" she repeated, her breath coming out in cold wisps of air.

"I came to see you," said Callie in an unsure tone. She smiled weakly.

Callie's hair was turning white. The snowflakes, which seemed to be getting thicker, were swirling around all of them. Her rosy tinted cheeks glittered in the moonlight making her appear radiant and inviting, too inviting.

"Why?" asked Erica.

Erica didn't know why she asked that. It was too broad a question. She liked specifics in her questions. It usually resulted in better answers, but she wasn't sure what she would hear if she asked a more specific question right now and was even more uncertain of what she wanted to hear as a response.

Callie's smile faltered a little.

"I just needed to know," she responded.

"Know what?" was on the tip of Erica's tongue. It was the type of specific question she liked, but she didn't ask it. Instead, she addressed Vonda.

"Vonda, thanks for the ride. You should probably get home," said Erica as kindly as she could. She didn't want to offend Vonda, but this was a personal matter and whatever happened tonight with Callie was private and needed to stay that way.

For the first time since Erica had known her, Vonda seemed at a loss for words. Her thick eyelashes caught flakes of the falling snow causing her to blink awkwardly as she stared at the both of them. She looked from one to the other as if trying to figure something out. After a few seconds she seemed to come out of her dazed state.

"Don't y'all stand out here too long," she said somewhat more subdued than she had been earlier as she reached for the zipper of her jacket.

"Be careful. It's coming down pretty hard," said Erica finally taking her eyes away from Callie and giving Vonda a grateful look.

"Thanks, I'll be as careful as a canary in a mine. Well, I guess I better skeedadle," Vonda drawled as she finished zipping. She rubbed her eyes and tried shaking the snow out of her hair. She was stalling because she felt she ought to say something more, anything to cut the tension, but nothing was coming to her. She was ecstatic to find the mystery person here. It was like her imaginary Christmas movie was coming true, but she felt the tension and hurt that existed between them from where she stood. It made the air heavy and labored and she wondered whether this story would have a happy ending. Needing to do something and finding Callie more approachable, she reached for Callie's hand. Callie was surprised by the gesture, but went with it, squeezing Vonda's hand in hers.

"It was nice to meet you, Callie. I'm really hoping we'll see each other soon," said Vonda. She leaned in to Callie's ear. "You take care of her now, ya hear? She's been awfully tense today." She winked at Callie and then walked back to her car. "See you the day after tomorrow, Dr. Hahn. I'll want details," she said as she slipped into her warm car and drove off.

She didn't know if it would all work out, after all nothing is guaranteed in life, but it was Christmas and in her Christmas movie, the next time she saw Erica, she imagined the doctor would be completely, utterly, and absolute unwilling to divulge the details. She would however, be smiling as she refused. It would be a happy ending. It had to be.

"She's a little odd," said Callie as she watched her drive away.

"Nothing is as odd as this," said Erica gesturing between them. She managed to pick up her purse and position the strap over her shoulder. She was standing, ramrod straight, phone clutched tightly in her hand, a very serious expression on her face.

"What did you…?" Erica struggled again to ask the question she wanted to know the answer to. She didn't know why she was struggling. Was she fearful of the answer or the asking? She looked away from Callie and around at the various townhomes that bordered hers. No lights had come on, so that was a relief. They had not managed to wake the neighbors yet. She tried again. "What did you want to know, Callie?"

She wanted it to sound neutral, but wasn't sure she'd achieved it. Her voice sounded weary and scared in her head. Maybe she was, but she never wanted to project that. She didn't want it out there. She silently cursed the fact that with Callie it was hard to hold back. It was hard to hide. Callie had always been the exception to every one one of her rules.

Callie's mind was frantic. She had nothing big yet. She had nothing in fact. Wanting to give herself time, she stalled.

"I thought that was Lisa at first," she said letting her gaze wander to where Vonda had been.

"Lisa's…Lisa's history," said Erica with a slight shiver. It was getting cold. She should go inside. They both should. She knew that, but she wanted an answer to her question. She thought about repeating it and getting them both back to the topic keeping them out in the cold, but she said nothing, still waiting for Callie to explain herself.

Callie was looking at her trying not to react with giddiness at the news that Lisa was no longer a concern. She tried to be normal and act as if this was a routine social call between friends, knowing the attempt would fail abysmally, as all of this was far from routine.

"I didn't mean to intrude or anything, I just…" Callie stopped unsure of how to proceed. What she wanted to know was Erica's reaction to her text. She wanted to know if there was anything left of them for her to hang on to? But the fact that Erica had not answered and was not answering now seemed ominous, despite the news about Lisa, and as a result Callie was struggling with the asking.

"What did you want to know?" Erica asked again, still looking expectant. She knew she was being unfair. Yes, Callie was here unexpectedly, and yes Erica had a right to ask the question, but Erica had yet to respond to Callie's text message. She'd looked at it enough to know it had been sent hours ago. Technically, the next move should be hers. Yet, here she was waiting for an explanation from Callie.

Callie put her hands in her pockets. Her brother had told her she needed something big. She would find nothing big there. She looked around the area they were standing in, hoping for a little inspiration, but there was nothing except snow. She was surrounded by street lamps, cars, and buildings; all being gently enveloped in a layer of snow that seemed to be coming down faster. She sighed. That sound seemed to indicate something to Erica because she let the stony resolve fade into sadness for a second. Callie saw it happen. It was as if Callie's sigh signaled some defeat. Seconds later Erica began rummaging through her purse, probably for house keys. In the distance Callie heard a bell. It seemed strange until she placed the sound and then her heart sank.

Clank…clank

They were Church bells. It must be midnight. Christmas would be over soon. Callie made her way over here tonight because she wanted to believe in Christmas magic and miracles, but Christmas was coming to an end and it was leaving without her miracle.

Clank…clank

She had nothing big to offer Erica. No boom box, no song, no poetic soliloquy. She turned in the direction of the bells while Erica continued to rummage. Apparently the keys were being elusive. Callie frowned a little growing frustrated that Erica seemed to think the big important conversation she wanted to have was over before it started. It was as if she hadn't said the right thing fast enough and Erica was done. She was done with Callie and done with standing out in the cold.

Clank…clank

"I just wish…" she said out loud turning her eyes back to Erica who had stopped paying attention to her and was instead continuing the search for her keys.

Clank…clank

"Damn keys, I can never find them in this bag," she heard Erica mumble.

Suddenly Callie was reminded of something. "Erica," she said in a soft voice.

Clank…clank

Erica lifted her head from her purse. "What, Callie? What? It's cold and I'm tired. I'm not sure why you're here or what you wanted to know and you don't seem capable of telling me."

Called winced at the tone, but she understood it. "I just…" she said and then the memory of their first kiss and how much it resembled this moment came back in full and she knew what she needed to do. She knew what her big something needed to be.

Clank…clank

"I just want to…" she started to say. "Fuck it," she finished impatiently as she heard the sound of the last few bells and let her heart go where it wanted to go, the place it had never forgotten.

Clank…clank

She stepped right in front of Erica, let slightly cold hands land on a warm and flushed face and pulled Erica's lips to hers forcefully. She sighed into the kiss as their lips met and then sighed again when Erica's mouth opened to hers. Their bodies gravitated to each other as the kiss deepened. She thought she would melt on the spot when she felt Erica's arms around her. She wanted to say so, but she didn't want the kiss to end. She shifted her legs moving their bodies even closer and felt Erica's arms tightened around her. God, that felt good.

Much too soon the kisses slowed and she felt Erica's arms relax and loosen until there were familiar hands on her hips steadying her. Finally there was only one long, lingering kiss before they both separated. They stared at each other for a long moment without saying anything.

Callie was at a loss. She wanted to say so much, but was afraid of ruining the moment. She had ruined so many. But she had not driven half way across the city to say nothing.

"Merry Christmas," she managed moving closer and not resisting the urge to nuzzle her face in the long beautiful neck she thought of constantly.

It was the best kiss they had ever shared, but they had shared wonderful kisses last night too. She needed to make things clear and then she realized that the kiss was not big enough. She still needed her something big. She braced herself and thought of the biggest thing she could think of.

"I love you. I want to be with you. It's as simple as that."

"Callie stop!" said Erica. Erica wasn't sure yet if she wanted to hear this. It was crazy. They'd been broken up for a year. They had run into each other by chance. These things just don't happen in this way, no matter how much she wanted it to be a reality. "You can't just… You can't just send me a text message and expect everything to be okay."

Callie stepped back. "I know that," she said sadly. "I understand if it's too late for us, but know that I want you. I'm standing here like I couldn't a year ago and telling you that I want you for life. I want to wake up with you every morning and snuggle up to you at night. That's what I want and I wanted to know if there was still a chance that you wanted that too. Obviously, you don't, but I had to try," said Callie trying to hold herself together.

Erica was struggling. She shouldn't want this. They were over. They had made an abysmal effort at trying to make it work and it resulted in utter failure. Neither of them should want to rekindle the fledging thing they'd had. It didn't make sense.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you," said Callie through a forced smile before placing a sweet, soft kiss on Erica's damp cheek. "Merry Christmas," she whispered as she pulled away. She turned without a backward glance not wanting Erica to see the tears and started in the direction of her car.

She focused on her car and cursed the stupid snow that she would have to clean off before she could drive away. She needed a clean exit and the snow was not going to allow that. The jingling bells coming from her pocket was out of place and she was disoriented for a moment before she realized it was coming from the phone in her pocket. She was going to ignore that. It was probably her brother sending drunken text messages.

"I think you have a message."

That was Erica's voice from behind her, closer than it should be considering the distance Callie thought she had put between them. "What the hell?" She muttered to herself trying to formulate a reason why Erica would be behind her telling her to check her messages. One immediate possibility presented itself in big bold flashing letters. She stopped in her tracks and reached into her pocket with trembling hands. Her heart went into immediate overdrive as she clutched at the phone in her pocket nervously.

"Check the message, Callie," said Erica close enough now that Callie felt her presence.

She slowly pulled the phone out of her pocket and swiped at the flakes landing on it before navigating to her messages. She was shaking all over, but there it was, a message from Erica. She hovered over the screen for a few seconds, held her breath, and touched it. There was a nanosecond's pause before the message materialized.

I still love you too

"It's a crazy thing," said Erica, "and I don't know if it means…" She took a breath before continuing. "I don't know if it means we can try again like you…" She stopped again. She couldn't do that. She couldn't just put it all on Callie. She had to be honest. "Like we want," she finished, letting out a sigh as if it was a relief to get that out. "I couldn't let you walk away without letting you know that."

Callie almost dropped her phone at the words. She didn't, which was good because it was new and she didn't think it could survive snow. She turned around as she slipped it back in her pocket, smiling like she had not done in a year. She was too excited to talk and giggled instead as she made her way to Erica engulfing her in a hug.

The kissing started immediately after. Unlike their earlier kisses these were quick and hot, both of them seemingly trying to make up for lost time in the space of a few seconds. Callie kissed everywhere she encountered, lips, nose, cheeks, even Erica's eyes. She brought her hands to Erica's face enjoying the soft white skin that was quickly heating to her touch or their activity, she didn't know which.

Erica was relentless in her attentions, reaching for all the parts of Callie she could as she met Callie's mouth over and over again. She pulled at Callie's coat, linked her fingers on pant loops and pulled their bodies together until no space existed between them. They struggled with breathing until they could take it no more, letting their mouths separate to inhale much needed air. Their hot breaths mixed with the cold air, creating an artificial fog around them that took awhile to dissipate. Despite the very real internal heat they were generating, it was still snowing and still very cold outside.

Callie fingered the buttons on Erica's coat. She still had that same long trench coat she had favored when she was at Seattle Grace. They shared their first kiss in that trench coat. Callie smiled. Christmas miracles.

"You gonna invite me upstairs?" she asked feeling more confident than ever about the answer.

Erica closed her eyes and looked skyward with some difficulty as the snow was falling on her face. She turned her gaze back to Callie and let her cold, clammy hand cup Callie's cheek. "I guess we need to talk about some things." She smiled and pulled Callie closer. "Besides, we should get off the street and go upstairs. We're going to wake up the neighbors," she declared still gazing at the twinkling eyes dancing in hers.

They walked hand in hand. Callie's heart was racing a mile a minute at the new direction her life had just taken. The jingle of keys made her smile. Somehow Erica had managed to locate her keys. She fit them in the lock and opened the door for both of them standing aside to let Callie in first. As Callie brushed past her, Erica spoke.

"I want you to spend the night," she said sounding slightly unsure.

Callie stopped in the doorway and gave her a warm smile. She reached up to caress Erica's cheek. Erica held her breath for a few seconds waiting for Callie's response.

"I'm not going anywhere," said Callie. Their eyes held. "Ever," she added still smiling as she pulled Erica fully inside.

With a newfound confidence in what lay ahead of her, Erica shut the door behind them with a gentle thud.

Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!