#chats ⸻ calliope & derek

[dreamofelectricmareep]

What’s our sorely-missed Calzona and company doing RIGHT NOW?

Headcannons from your favorite Calzona-obsessed and barely updated fangirl!

Callie is the chief of ortho at NewYork Presbyterian, with a huge research grant to take her artificial cartilage to clinical trials and to finish her and Derek’s work on robotic limbs for amputees. Amelia is consulting on her late brother’s work and flies out help (and see her friends) every few months. Callie is loving the baby time she gets with Scout during Amelia’s visits, and is not-so-subtly eyeing Arizona whenever a baby is in sight. Arizona begrudgingly agreed to be the face of NY Pres’ campaign for the robotic limb research, and Callie really loves pointing out to coworkers and patients alike that the hot blonde plastered across banners and walls and elevators is the woman she comes home to every night. The Chief of Surgery at NY Pres announced his upcoming retirement recently, and Callie just learned she’s been placed on the short list for his replacement.

Callie works just a short subway ride from the Robbins-Herman Center for Women's Health, where Arizona’s carts have reduced maternal mortality rates by a decent percentage. Herman is licensing off the rights to the carts across the country given how promising the results have been. Nicole and Arizona are teaching a promising “flock” of students. Nicole insists on referring to them as a flock, with Arizona being their mama bird, as she is Dr. Robbins. Arizona pretends not to be amused by Nicole’s less-than-stellar running joke, but she secretly loves being the rare, exotic mama bird, helping the new nestlings learn to soar in the field that she and Nicole are pioneering, saving lives in the process. Somehow, Nicole manages to, despite the blindness, always know exactly what’s going on, be it in a surgery or in Arizona’s love life. 

And Arizona’s love life is, for the first time in a long time, super awesome. She and Callie are stronger than ever, going into their relationship with better boundaries, coping mechanisms, communication skills, and understandings of each other. What hasn’t changed is the easy chemistry, laughter, and palpable, mutual attraction Arizona and Callie always seemed to share. Originally, Arizona had rented the apartment across the hall from Callie’s, but once her year-long lease was up, she, Callie, and Sofia, now a proper family again, made themselves comfortable in the far-more-spacious penthouse, with surprisingly low rent. Well, it was surprising until they found out that Carlos Torres of Torres Enterprises had ventured into Manhattan real-estate. He wanted nothing but the best for his Calliope, but Arizona doesn’t believe in handouts, so they pay a fair but below market-price rent for the four bedroom apartment. Between visits from Amelia and Teddy with Scout and Allison, Callie’s pleading looks, and her surprising ability to sic Sofia on the baby train, Arizona got on board. Callie and Arizona are in the process of becoming registered foster parents, as well as putting applications in with a few adoption agencies. 

When they realized that the fostering/adoption process would be much simpler if they were married, Callie popped the question (it was her turn, after all) during dinner at a three Michelin star restaurant. Callie had previously made a list of all the restaurants in New York she wanted to try, and although Arizona is a far less intrepid eater, she’s been holding her own on the adventure. Arizona said yes, not that it was even a question. After all, they’re Callie and Arizona, the great love story. They’re meant to be. Callie and Arizona had a quiet (legally-binding!) ceremony at their local courthouse with Sofia, but plan to have a destination wedding in Spain with the whole GSM gang once COVID travel restrictions lighten up. Sofia, a genius like both her moms and her dad, got to skip fourth grade and is loving fifth grade. She’s really excited for middle school, regularly claiming she’s all grown up now, but she’ll always be her moms’ baby girl no matter how many grades she skips or how old she gets. She has weekly FaceTime calls with Zola on her brand new phone. Arizona was staunchly against it, as The Colonel’s daughter, but seeing as Sofia took the subway on her own, Callie talked her into it.

Callie and Arizona keep up with all of their Grey-Sloan Memorial friends, past and present, but are definitely thankful to have gotten away from the drama that seemed to follow them around in Seattle. Meredith, aside from her comatose period during her battle with COVID, has done a remarkable job keeping them in the loop, with Maggie filling in when Meredith couldn’t. While Callie and Arizona couldn’t visit Meredith when she was sick, they hounded Bailey and Webber with endless phone calls for progress reports. Bailey was beyond happy to hear that the wedding she officiated ended up in a happy marriage, despite what she referred to as a little bump in the road. Richard is also happy he no longer has to be Arizona’s wingman, but the whole GSM gang still gets together for weekly trivia nights on Zoom every Wednesday, at Richard’s insistence. And whenever Callie gets into a disagreement with her soon-to-be former chief at NY Pres, one reminder that she is a close personal friend of Webber and Bailey seems to end with her getting her way. She promised she wouldn’t use that to her advantage, but she does. Her temper still gets the best of her, but not when it comes to Arizona or Sofia, which is all that really matters to Callie.

Arizona was overjoyed to hear about April’s move thousands of miles closer. She has booked train tickets to Boston for herself, Callie, and Sofia to help with the move. Sofia can distract Harriet, Arizona can be her type-A control freak self and make sure every box is put exactly where she thinks it should be, and she can stare at Callie’s ass while she carries boxes around, so, for Arizona, it’s a win-win-win-win scenario. Her apartment-warming gift to April is a very large Expedia gift card so that she feels obligated to visit Arizona often as she can get away from work. To say Arizona misses the woman she’d never have expected to become her best friend is an understatement.

Alex is still a little bitter he missed a number of years of the twins’ lives, but Arizona is helping him through that and he and Izzie are doing well. He’s, of course, the star at their dump truck Kansas hospital (not that Arizona would ever use that characterization to his face), having been Arizona’s protégé for all these years. He still calls Arizona when he needs to make a plan for a complicated case. Sometimes the cases he calls Arizona about aren’t all that complicated, but both Alex and Arizona know it’s Alex Karev’s way of checking in and catching up. He isn’t one to admit to calling people just to chat.

Cristina is hoping to make a trip out to see her god-daughter, who she still refers to as a chicken, when the pandemic restrictions relax. Until then, she and Callie talk every couple weeks, catching up on the latest groundbreaking, kick ass procedure Cristina has brilliantly invented. She says she’s married to her work, but there is a Swiss surgeon at the hospital who seems to be infatuated with Cristina, from what Callie can gather. And it appears to be mutual. Cristina is still not one to gush about boyfriends, but Callie can get bits and pieces in conversation. Every so often, Callie, Arizona, and Sofia get fancy Swiss chocolates in the mail, with a note to keep sending pictures of Aunt Cristina’s little chicken.

Addison has an open invitation to join the Robbins-Herman Center. Arizona even offered to amend the name, but Nicole was none too happy at the prospect of getting her name booted from second to third. But, again, the Robbins-Herman-Montgomery Center makes it sound like they are a man. Addison is still mulling it over, happy with her life, friends, and family in LA, but Callie and Arizona are still trying to wear her down. And Addison still regularly reminds them to thank her for Callie’s gay awakening, She was, after all, the first one to point it out.

Mark is beyond thrilled to see that all of his yelling has been working, not that he’s getting the credit. Now that Callie and Arizona woke up and aren’t missing the best part of life, Mark can enjoy watching Sofia grow up with Lexie by his side. Sofia is certainly growing into her Sloan looks, and will certainly be a heartbreaker once she gets a bit older. 

[isolatednights]

months ago, before her relationship with nathan had blossomed into what it had, calliope wouldn't have hesitated to take derek back, and their reunion would have gone so much differently. but everything about this situation was unfair. "i don't want to hurt you," she chokes. but where she'd once spent her days picturing a future with him, she'd started to picture one with nathan instead. "i love you. i will always love you, derek, and i will always be here for you i just ⸺ i just don't know if it can be in the way it once was." there's a tremble in her voice ( her entire frame ) as the admission escapes. "i'm sorry. i'm so sorry."

chest tightens at her words, a strange cocktail of relief and pain flickering across his features. her confession makes him glance up to meet her gaze, but it's the mention of nathan that makes his stomach drop. it was obvious that things had changed, but hearing her say it out loud, somehow made it more real. a large palm runs through his hair, giving her a soft, defeated nod after a few seconds. " yeah, i get it. " not exactly, but what else was he supposed to do ? takes a step back, putting some needed distance between them. " i don't expect you to choos eme, not when you've made a life with him. " pearly whites bite the inside of his cheek and his jaw tightens. " but just know that i'm here, and i always will be. whatever you need. "

[isolatednights]

"i know - i know you weren't gone by choice." at least, she does now. the truth she'd come to accept months ago is crumbling around her and despite the fact that derek is standing right in front of her, it's a hard reality to accept ( how long, she thinks, until she wakes up and this is a dream? ). still, the crack of his voice makes her move with a hint of hesitation before she's reaching forward to draw him into a tight embrace. "i'm so glad you're okay." even if it complicated things, calliope finds relief in the fact that he's alive. "yeah - i owe her a thanks," she murmured, dropping her head against the mans shoulder with a shuddered breath. calliope allows herself a few moments to just savor it - the closeness she thought she's lost before stepping back and swiping away and remaining tears. "you've got to be exhausted. did someone assign you and avianna a place to stay?"

the male's jaw tightens, guilt tangling with the ache in his chest as steely blues catch sight of the tears streaming down her face. his heart clenches, and part of him knows they're both right, in their own way. he hadn't thought of it like that, hadn't considered how his absence must have broken her, left her waiting, hoping, hurting. " calli," his voice is softer this time, long digits running through his dirt streaked hair, exhaling shakily. " i - god, i get it. i do. but you have to understand, i wasn't gone by choice, i was fighting every damn second to get back to you. " his voice almost cracks on the last word. " she's - she saved my life. she found me and dragged me out of there. " she was pretty much the reason why he was alive, so it was only fair that she came to jackson with him. " you'll like her, she's nice. "

[isolatednights]

"put yourself in my shoes," she counters softly, tears leaving trails down her cheeks as the reality of their situation truly begins to sink in. "imagine you're waiting for the scavenging party to return and your husband isn't with them. your told the number of infected was far greater than anyone had originally thought and you'd been swarmed. that there was no way you could have survived. when they go out again, you're told repeatedly that the person you thought you'd spend forever with is dead. but you hold out hope because it's you - weeks pass and it's determined it isn't safe to stay anymore." calliope had attempted to stay behind ; swearing there was still a chance derek might show up. someone had to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. when they'd finally reached jackson, nathan had been one of the first faces she'd seen. someone familiar - safe. he'd understood. had allowed her to fall apart and help pick her back up again. wiping away at her cheeks with her sleeves, calliope gives a shake of her head. no matter how she looked at it, neither of them seemed to be in the wrong. "who um, whose avianna?"

" put yourself in my shoes, image you're the one almost dying and you do everything to go continue this, the last of us universe: back to your wife only to find out she's with someone else. " he's not even trying to be mean, he just can't stop the words from spilling out. his voice cracks mid sentence, the realization of it all pressing on hi schest. " i wasn't expecting a parade, i didn't expect things to be perfect, but i thought - " cuts himself off, letting out a long exhale as he shook his head. " i just hoped you'd be waiting for me. that what we had was worth waiting for, worth fighting for. " maybe he's been too hard on her, god knows how hard it must have been for her, stuck here without knowing if he'd ever make it back. " i was swarmed by infected, i was bleeding out when avianna found me, she dragged me out of that hell, but i was in pretty bad shape, i was out for over a week. when i finally woke up, i still couldn't walk properly so i had to wait until i could move again. " and he's thankful for avianna, if she hadn't found him, he'd be dead. " when i finally made it back to the settlement, you weren't there. no one was."

[isolatednights]

it's a statement that causes irritation - anger - to begin to fester in her gut. so she was meant to expect him to find his way back to her, but he didn't think she'd look for him? a noise of disbelief escapes her - gaze reflecting the hurt he's causing. wounds that had begun to heal from his absence were now being ripped open. "what did i ever do to make you assume the worst in me?" their marriage had been good - strong - before the world had crumbled around them, and while there may have been some added stress afterwards, they'd still stuck together. faced the worst of it and seemingly come out stronger until everything had gone wrong on that trip outside the settlement - when everyone had believed him dead. fingers tremble at her sides - raising to grasp tightly at her elbows and for the first time since her husbands reappeared before her, she wishes nathan were here. "i didn't just crawl into someone elses bed the moment you were gone." not when she could hardly get out of theirs. "and i sure as hell never forgot you." she'd only just taken off her wedding bands - though now both now hung on a chain around her neck tucked beneath her shirt.

"where were you?" she turns the questioning around on him, "we weren't so far from the settlement that it should have taken you this long to get back."

"i didn't expect you to go back for me," not when going back for him would have put her own safety at risk. but the last thing he expected was for her to fall into someone else's arms, someone who wasn't him. the thought alone twisted something inside his chest, a knot of anger and hurt he wasn't sure how to deal with. "but i can't say i expected you to get into someone else's bed either, doesn't our marriage mean anything to you ? " sure, they had taken their vows long ago, before the world had fallen apart, but he hadn't forgotten them, how could she ? " who is this guy, anyway ? what's so great about him that made you forget all about me ? "

[isolatednights]

a noise of disbelief escapes her at the accusation. "don't act as if i'm the bad guy," she'd watched couples and families torn apart outside the safety of the walls - witnessed the aftermath. never had calliope expected to experience it herself, and even now, part of her is curious how she's survived it. "of course i knew you'd do whatever you needed to get back to me," just as she'd do for him, but as time passed, things had gotten worse - her hope had dwindled. "they wouldn't let me outside the walls after we got back." a flight risk, some had claimed. a danger to the others that accompanied her, others said. "what would you have had me do?"

"you think i don’t know how long it’s been?" he questions, shaking his head as his jaw tightens with the frustration rising in his chest. "i wasn’t exactly on a vacation, calliope." long digits run through his disheveled hair. " you gave up on me, " he continues, " and i get it, things looked bad. hell, they were bad, but i thought - i thought you'd know me better than that, that you'd believe i'd do whatever it took to make it back to you. "

[isolatednights]

the swirl of emotions she'd felt upon initially seeing him - disbelief, relief, hope - all soured the moment he opened his mouth. "jesus derek," so much for thinking they'd known each other well. "you were practically swarmed. i had to be dragged all the way back home i was so distraught. i made them go back later and check for you - and when you didn't show back up..." everyone had just assumed. "it's been months."

" so you assume i'm dead and you throw yourself at the first guy that bats an eye at you? " / @isolatednights , for calliope ♡