Title: Too In Love to Let It Go

Author: MysteriousSwaggerOfScrubs

Pairing: Arizona/Callie

Rating: M/NC-17 (Maybe in the Future)

Summary: After the death of her husband, Callie Torres returns to Seattle to be near her childhood best friends Arizona Robbins and Mark Sloan. When Arizona finds out that her wife of five years has been unfaithful, will she and Callie be able to provide the support the other so desperately needs?

Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, songs, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

A/N: This is the first fanfiction I have written in a very long time and the first ever for Grey's. I value constructive criticism, but please be kind.

A/N2: A big thank you to my friend Angela for reading through this for me. She's the best BESTIE a girl could ever have!

One

Arizona Robbins stood at the arrivals gate of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport anxiously awaiting the arrival of her best friend. Nervously fidgeting with the sign she held in her hands, she craned her neck around the crowd of people who were intent on flying to different destination around the globe, searching for a tall, admittedly gorgeous Latina.

It had been six months since she'd seen her best friend; the circumstances surrounding their last visit less than enjoyable, because unfortunately, that trip wasn't for fun. No fun at all, because Arizona and their other best friend Mark Sloan had flown to Washington, DC where Callie lived in order to attend the memorial service and burial of the Latina's husband, Nick.

Arizona sighed at the thought. Such a kind and generous man; it was shocking to think that he would no longer be a part of their lives and even more harrowing than that was the thought that her best friend was now a widow.

At the ripe old age of thirty-four.

Thirty-four years old. The same age as herself. The same age as Mark. The same age as her own wife, Lauren.

It was so hard to consider just how precious life really was. In the prime of his life, Nick had been taken from this earth, all because he had chosen to be brave; all because he had chosen to defend his country and make it safe for the people he loved, and every other citizen of the United States, to sleep in their beds.

Arizona, Mark, Callie, and Nick had been inseparable for most of their lives, ever since their fathers had been stationed together at Camp Pendleton. They grew up together, traveling from US Marine base to US Marine base all over the world, and Arizona considered herself lucky to have had such a strong and loving core group of friends; being a Marine brat sometimes sucked, but in these people, she found stability. She found love and acceptance. She found a home.

It was obvious from the age of ten when Callie and Nick got married in Arizona's tree house that they would be together when they grew up, that they would get married and have a family and be the stable couple that everyone wanted to be. While Arizona, Callie, and Mark all three had decided to go to college and then to medical school, Nick thought differently; his own path in life veering off from theirs for the first time in ten years, and that was okay.

Nick felt that he had a different purpose, a different calling, and after high school, he joined the Marines, just like three generations prior to him. He was a proud man, a good man, and he and Callie had been married during her second year of residency at Johns Hopkins.

Arizona smiled at the thought of her as Callie's Maid of Honor and Mark as Nick's Best Man. It didn't get much prettier than that; they certainly were one amazing group of gorgeous human beings.

But now, Nick was gone, and Callie was living all alone in Washington, DC where he had been stationed prior to his death in Afghanistan and where she was working at Georgetown University Hospital as an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon.

"See her yet?" Mark's gruff voice interrupted Arizona's silent reverie as he stepped up behind her with a beverage carrier filled with three cups of all their favorites.

"Not yet," Arizona remarked, her eyes scanning the multitude of people rushing this way and that.

Mark watched his friend as she shifted her weight from one side to the other, and he was unable to ignore the little sighs that left her mouth. "You okay, Robbins?" he asked, resting a large hand on her shoulder.

Arizona paused momentarily before looking up at her friend. "Yeah, yeah. . .just lots to do."

Mark narrowed his eyes upon hearing her response. "I told you I could pick her up myself. It's no problem for her to stay with Addison and me while she's here."

Arizona shook her head. "No, no. It's not that. It's just. . .I'm. . .Lauren. . .we're. . ."

Mark raised his eyebrows at his best friend's nearly unintelligible ramblings.

"I'm just getting nervous, I guess," the blonde finally managed to explain.

Mark took a sip from his to-go cup as he looked down at the blonde, his gaze full of concern. "You should tell her."

Arizona let out a bark of rueful laughter, her blue eyes rolling. "Yeah. Suck it, Mark."

Mark gruffly chuckled at the remark before turning his attention in the direction of the gate. Spotting exactly who he was looking for, he nudged Arizona before pointing off into the airport.

"Calliope!" Arizona excitedly breathed when the chocolate brown eyes of the beautiful Latina found her own.

Taking long strides in the direction of her two blue-eyed best friends, a megawatt smile covered Callie's face, and she softly laughed when she read the word TORRES written across the large sign Arizona held in her hands. Finally reaching them, she played with the strap of the messenger bag crossed over her shoulder, her eyes brimming with happy tears. "Hey," she said simply, squealing in delight when Mark took her into his arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around and around. "Put me down, Mark! You're gonna make me puke!" she demanded on what felt like her thousandth rotation.

Mark laughed heartily, squeezing her tightly as he set her down. Landing on her feet, Callie found her bearings before stepping up to Arizona and quickly taking her into her arms.

Arizona paused, the all too familiar feelings she had felt for her best friend since the age of ten, taking hold. It was more than friendship. More than best friendship. So much more, and the blonde felt goose bumps rise on her arms at the Latina's touch as butterflies fluttered about in the pit of her stomach. It was the same feeling she had every time. She was completely unable to control it. When they hugged, she never wanted to let her go. When Callie smiled, she did too. Every time Callie spoke, Arizona couldn't help but smile and fall even more under her spell.

But, she was married, and not to Callie, but to Lauren.

Arizona had always hoped that there could be a chance for her and Callie, but that never happened because Callie was straight and had been in love with Nick since the age of ten. She still held out hope, though - that the Latina would somehow change her mind and that she would realize that she was indeed gay or even bisexual. Arizona's dreams were dashed, however, the day Callie and Nick actually said I do. At that point in time, she stopped living in her fantasy world and decided to take the plunge herself; she and Lauren were married just nine months after Callie and Nick.

Pulling away from her best friend's stimulating embrace, the blonde cleared her throat before flashing a dimpled grin in her direction. "It's good to see you," she said, her eyes searching Callie's face and finding fatigue etched around her eyes.

"It's good to see you, too."

Arriving back at the house Arizona shared with her wife, Mark helped Callie pull her oversized suitcase through the front door.

"I can get a hotel, Arizona. It's no problem, or I can stay with Mark and Addison. I really don't mind," Callie stated as they moved toward the staircase

Arizona turned around to face her friend. "Don't be silly, Callie. We have plenty of room, and since the party will be here tonight, there's no reason why you shouldn't just stay here."

Callie smiled at her friend's hospitality before following her further into the house. Once Mark had her bags settled in the upstairs guest room, friends retired to the living room to catch up.

"You have everything ready for tonight?" Callie asked from where she sat against the arm of the loveseat. "Is there anything I can do?"

Arizona crossed her left leg underneath her, making herself more comfortable on the cushion next to Callie. "Everything's taken care of. The caterer will be here in about. . ." she glanced down at her watch, "an hour and other than that, we're all set."

Callie nodded her head with a smile. "I can't believe you and Lauren have been married for five years," she said, the smile beginning to fade from her face. "I-I. . .that's awesome, Arizona."

Noting the quick change in her best friend's behavior, Arizona reached out to rest her hand on the Latina's thigh. "You okay?" she sincerely asked.

"And be honest with us, Cal. You know you can tell us anything," Mark added from where he sat in a recliner on the opposite side of the room.

Callie looked to the ceiling, attempting to keep the tears that began to well in her eyes in place. "My life isn't much different, I guess. Nick was always deployed somewhere while I stayed in DC. We never really saw each other and over the past year, we'd become more like friends than anything else," she softly admitted as she ran a single finger over the rim of her wine glass. "It wasn't because we didn't love each other, but just because we were always apart. I don't blame him. He didn't do anything wrong. He was just doing his job. . ." she continued as a loan tear trailed down her face.

Arizona hurriedly reached over Callie to grab a tissue from the box on the end table behind her. Taking the proffered Kleenex from a pale hand, the Latina blotted at her eyes before continuing to speak. ". . .a job that got him killed, and I miss him, you know? Maybe not as my husband, but as my friend."

Arizona and Mark glanced between each other, both surprised by what they had just heard. Callie and Nick always looked so happy together; like the perfect couple. "I had no idea you two were having trouble," Arizona softly spoke.

Callie shook her head. "I wouldn't call it trouble. We never fought. . .we just grew apart. While he was always off in the desert fighting, I spent every waking hour at the hospital. And when he was home, we were more like roommates than lovers. . ." she trailed off with a shake of her head. "It wasn't anyone's fault. It just. . .happened."

Standing from his chair, Mark moved to gather his friend into a bear hug. "What would you think about staying, Cal?"

Pulling back from his embrace, watery brown eyes met his gaze. "What do you mean?"

"The Head of Ortho position at Seattle Grace just opened up, and I may or may not have already talked to the chief. He knows that you'll be here until Tuesday, so you have an appointment with him on Monday at nine," Mark replied as he moved from the open area of the living room into the kitchen to pour himself another glass of Merlot.

Callie and Arizona exchanged questioning looks before quickly standing from their seats to briskly follow him. "Mark!" Callie called, watching as he filled his glass. "What were you thinking? I can't just leave my job at Georgetown! I can't just. . ."

"Look, Cal," Mark interrupted, turning from the granite countertop to face his best friends. There's nothing for you in DC. Not anymore. Nick's gone. . .and your family's in Miami. Arizona and I are here, and I really think a change of scenery would be good for you. Don't you?" he remarked, mockingly looking toward the blonde and then to the brunette.

Arizona's eyes widened as she shot Mark an indignant scowl. Turning her frown upside down when she looked back at Callie, she paused before she spoke. "I-I think it's an excellent idea."

"What's an excellent idea?" a new voice asked from behind where they stood.

The three best friends slowly turned around to spot Lauren standing in the archway between the living room and kitchen. Arizona's mouth fell open slightly at the sight of her wife, her lips parting and closing like a fish out of water before she gathered herself enough to move across the room to stand next to her. "Hey, babe," she said, laying what appeared to both Mark and Callie to be an awkward kiss upon Lauren's cheek. "We were just saying that Callie should apply for the Ortho position at the hospital."

Lauren scanned the room, slight indignation written across her face as she studied her wife's best friends. "Mark," she greeted, her tone flat. Stepping up to the Latina, she took the taller woman by the shoulders before quickly hugging her. "Callie. . .it's so good to see you," she remarked before pulling back. "I'm so glad you could make it."

Surprised by the embrace, Callie stood motionless in the other woman's arms. It had always been blatantly obvious that Lauren Boswell was not fond of Arizona's best friends; she barely tolerated Mark, and it was no secret that she basically despised Callie. Mark knew it. Callie knew it. Even Arizona knew it.

The hold Lauren had on her left Callie feeling ill at ease, the blonde's hands stroking up and down her back in a surprisingly sensual way. Quickly pulling back, the Latina stepped closer to Mark, appreciating his silent presence. "Nice to see you, Lauren," she replied, her eyes apprehensively flitting around the room.

Arizona moved to stand next to her wife, hoping to ease the room's sudden tension; so thick that it could have been cut with a knife. "Honey, Callie's going to stay with us while she's in town."

"If you don't mind," the Latina was quick to add.

Lauren looked Callie up and down, her eyes raking over her body like she was a piece of meat. "That would be great," she said, subconsciously licking her lips. "I don't mind at all."

Later that night, Arizona and Lauren's five year wedding anniversary party was in full swing, and as the alcohol flowed freely, Callie found herself standing among the crowd, watching as Arizona and Lauren prepared to make an announcement to all of their guests.

"So. . ." Lauren drawled from where she stood next to Arizona on the stairs, both women looking out over their friends who had gathered to hear their news. "Arizona and I want to thank all of you for coming to celebrate our anniversary with us, but there's something else we need to announce. Another reason to celebrate."

Lauren glanced toward Arizona who stood silently at her side before taking her hand into her own. "Do you want to tell them?" she whispered into the shorter blonde's ear.

Arizona could only muster a small smile before shaking her head. "No. You go ahead."

Lauren searched Arizona's face before glancing back toward the crowd. "And that reason is. . .we're having a baby. Arizona is twelve weeks pregnant!"

There was a momentary pause throughout the room before cheers and applause reached the couple's ears.

"Well, this should be interesting," Mark muttered from where he stood between Callie and his wife, Addison Montgomery.

Callie turned to look at him, a confused look on her face. "What? Why?"

"Don't look at me like that, Cal. You know as well as I do that Lauren is a lying, cheating. . ."

"Mark!" Addison scolded, swatting her husband across the chest.

Mark was unphased. "And besides that, you also know that Arizona has had the hots for you since we were ten, and you married Nick in her tree house. She didn't want to be the Maid of Honor in your wedding any more than you wanted to be in hers. You love her, Cal. I can see it in your eyes, and not just in an I've been your friend for the past twenty-five years kind of way, but in an I wanna pound your cake kind of way. . ."

This time, Addison and Callie both swatted him across either of his arms. "Enough, Mark!" the Latina demanded before taking a long gulp from her glass of red, her eyes wide. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me, Torres. Nick told me about that hot blonde intern you banged before you two were married."

Callie's face fell in shock, her tanned skin paling in complexion. "Wh-what? I. . .I. . ."

"Are you speaking the vagina monologues, now?" Addison quickly interrupted, noticing the Latina's discomfort.

"What?" Callie asked in disbelief.

"I'm all for it. I think it's fantastic. Arizona? She's amazing. I really do like her. Lauren, not so much, but. . .this is great. I mean you and Arizona. . .are you?

Callie rolled her eyes at this sudden onslaught of highly uncomfortable questions. "You want to know if I like girls? If I have romantic feelings for Arizona?" she incredulously asked as she finished off the very last drop of her wine.

"You seem like you have feelings for her," Addison remarked as Mark nodded his head in agreement.

Callie let out a nervous laugh. "OK, that's. . .that's just. . .that's insane, is-is. . .what it is. I was married to a MAN for six years, and we were together for years and years before that," she pointed out as she stole a shot of something she hoped was highly intoxicating off of a waiter's tray. "You both know I like penis. I mean, I'm a huge, huge fan of penis. Ha, hilarious. You've been listening to your dumb ass husband for way too long. Way too long. Ha. Ha," she tried to defend.

"Hey, guys," Arizona greeted upon approaching her friends.

"Hey!" Callie anxiously replied, taking the glass of scotch Mark held in his hand and throwing it back. "Congratulations! We're all so. . .happy for you," she continued, glad for Arizona's interruption. Tugging her best friend into a hug, she glanced over the blonde's shoulder toward a smirking red head and a smug looking Mark.

Pulling back, Arizona's lips curled in a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Callie. I'm. . .we're very excited,"

A half hour later, Callie found herself alone in the kitchen as she poured herself a generous glass of red wine. Grabbing a beer for Mark, she moved to return to the party, but stopped suddenly when Lauren entered the room.

"Oh hey, Lauren. Great party," the Latina said with a smile. "And congrats. You and Arizona must be very happy."

Lauren didn't speak, instead stalking toward Callie like a ravenous animal. Stepping into the brunette's personal space, her eyes once again travelled up her body as her hands reached out to rest on curvaceous hips.

Callie immediately stepped back, shocked by the woman's blatant advances. "Excuse me!" she said as she tried to move around her, but she wasn't fast enough; Lauren grabbed her by the arm, spinning her around to place a hard kiss upon her shocked ruby lips.

Dropping the glass and bottle she held in her hands to the cold tile floor, Callie immediately tried to push Lauren away, but as hard as she fought, the blonde fought harder to keep her in place. "Don't pretend like you don't want this," she husked into her ear before tracing the shell of it with her tongue. "It's okay to lose control."

"I don't want this! I don't want you!" Callie argued, finally able to remove herself from the other woman's grasp.

"Oh, no, that's right," Lauren shouted with a knowing laugh. "Of course you don't want me. . .because all you want is my wife!"

Callie shook her head in denial as she bent over to begin cleaning the mess of glass and alcohol that she had just made. Stopping abruptly when she felt two insistent hands come to rest against her hips, she tried to straighten herself up, but was shoved forward as the blonde leaned over her to kiss the skin that lay exposed from her backless dress.

"No, Lauren!" the Latina demanded, twisting herself upright and out of the woman's hold, her chocolate eyes blazing with anger. "You have got to be kidding me with this! You're married to my best friend. You're having a baby!" she shouted.

Having heard the commotion, Mark had quickly excused himself from where he sat talking with Addison and Arizona. Stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Callie staring daggers at the blonde, he moved across the room to take Callie by the arm. "Come on, Cal. She's not worth it. Let's not ruin Arizona's party."

Callie nodded and moved to join him, but Lauren took her other arm, spinning her around and slapping her squarely across the face.

"Hey! What's your problem?" Mark demanded, quickly stepping between the two women fully prepared to protect his best friend in any way necessary.

"I'm tired of playing second fiddle. I'm tired of hearing Callie this, Calliope that! Stay away from my wife, bitch!"

Callie stood speechless, her shaking hand gently rubbing against her reddening cheek.

"That's enough, Lauren!" Mark warned. "Callie hasn't done anything wrong."

Lauren shook her head, an almost demonic laugh falling from her lips. "Oh, poor, poor Callie. She never does anything wrong. Poor Callie is all alone while Nick is deployed. Poor Callie's husband died. Poor Callie is devastated. Poor, poor. . ."

Lauren's juvenile tirade was brought to an abrupt halt when Callie found her bearings, harshly shoving against her shoulders, causing the woman to trip and stumble onto the hard tile floor.

"Callie!" Arizona shouted in disbelief upon seeing her best friend shove her wife to land on the glass and alcohol stained floor. "What's gotten into you?" she questioned, rushing to Lauren's side.

Everyone in the room went silent as Arizona looked between them, her gaze searching their faces for an explanation. "Would someone care to tell me what the Hell is going on in here?"

"Arizona, I. . .I didn't. . ." Callie tried to explain, but didn't know what to say.

"Spit it out, Callie!" the blonde impatiently demanded.

Callie looked toward Mark who protectively stood at her side before once again glancing toward the couple who sat huddled on the floor. Adamantly shaking her head, she threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "You know what? I can't do this. I'm staying at Mark's!" she huffed, large tears welling in her expressive brown eyes as she hastily stepped over Lauren's outstretched legs to move toward the door. Before she could exit, though, she turned back around, her mouth open and ready to speak, but realizing it would be futile at this time to argue with Arizona after what she had just witnessed, she quickly shut it. Not wanting to cause any more of a scene than she already had, she dejectedly hung her head before exiting the kitchen. Hurriedly rushing up the stairs to gather her things, the tears she had so desperately tried to hold back, defiantly beginning to fall.

She seriously couldn't believe this was happening. How had things gone so terribly wrong? How had a simple visit to celebrate an anniversary and see her best friends turned into such a shit show?

The three people remaining in the kitchen continued to sit in uncomfortable silence for several moments following the Latina's escape. "You okay?" Arizona finally asked her wife, pushing a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

Lauren nodded, an unusual smirk present on her face. "Yeah, babe. I'm good."

Mark shook his head as he watched the entire scene unfold and unable to remain quiet any longer, he spoke. "You're making a big mistake, Arizona. A big mistake."

A/N3: Sooooooo, what do you think? Should I continue to write this story, or should I just give it a rest. I'm super excited to see what you think! Can't wait!