Title: "Not for Us"
Author: carpesomediem
Feedback address: carpesomediem@gmail.com
Date in Calendar: 27 December 2009
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1017
Summary: Arizona reminds Callie what the holidays are really about.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW09

Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings and events 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.

Author's Note/Beta: This is part of the FemSlash Advent Calendar :: Dead of Winter. Thanks to grdnofevrythng for beta reading this.

Callie was on the war path, it seemed. She was careening through the halls of Seattle Grace with only one goal on her mind: To find Arizona and figure out just why Christmas dinner went cold on her kitchen table. When she finally zeroed in on her, she was looking over what appeared to be a much more interesting chart. Callie knew she was about to pick a fight, on Christmas, no less.

"Why are you still here?"

"What?" Arizona turned, startled by the familiar voice practically yelling at her. The blonde still held the chart in her hand as she tried to figure out just what Callie was doing at the hospital on her day off. Immediately, Arizona knew she was about to be put through the ringer but she was hardly in the mood for it. Not on Christmas, not when the shift was only four hours from being over.

"Why are you still here?" Callie repeated, clearly annoyed. Arizona was confused; they'd already talked about this. Arizona always worked a double on Christmas. She went home two weeks ago to spend "the holidays" with her family; Callie did the same having put behind the troubles with her father and the rest of the Torres clan. "You promised you'd come to my place for dinner – for your break – that was two and a half hours ago. You weren't answering your pages, and you certainly weren't answering your phone."

"I was here," Arizona responded, regaining her ground. "I was busy. It's Christmas… It's always busy in Peds." She handed the chart to the nurse behind the desk and then began down the hall. If Callie didn't know Arizona better, she would've been left behind in the dust as the blonde headed down the wing.

"I know you were here," Callie said emphatically. "I just don't understand why you couldn't take one hour of your day to be there. At my apartment. Eating Christmas dinner… With me."

"I'm sorry, Calliope." Arizona stopped in her tracks forcing Callie to barrel into her. Recovering quickly, Callie wrapped her arms around the blonde and pulled her close before saying quietly.

"I just wanted to spend some time with my girlfriend on Christmas."

"I know," Arizona replied, barely above a whisper. She turned in Callie's arms and smiled softly. "I'm sorry, I just… I always spend Christmas here, the whole day, I don't know how to leave some of these kids when there parents and family – who should be here today – just aren't-"

"-Arizona-"

"-Christmas is supposed to be about happiness and joy and love, and some of these kids have lost that. Most of them have lost that. They're battling these insurmountable odds and Peds is all about the butterflies and rainbows-"

"-And the miracles," Callie finished.

"And the miracles," Arizona nodded, smiling again.

"What can I do to help?" Callie asked. The question caught Arizona off-guard, usually it took her prodding to get Callie to do something like that, especially when it came to the Pediatrics ward. It's not that Callie didn't want to help her, no; it wasn't that, Callie just didn't understand how things worked for Arizona, how she worked so hard to save so few lives.

"That's a loaded question around here," Arizona threw back. She took Callie's hand in her own and started down the corridor. "Come to the supply closet with me."

"Arizona!"

"Not for that, Calliope," Arizona shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder if you've been spending too much time with Mark."

"I do not spend too much time with Mark," Callie rolled her eyes. "You always blame Mark."

"Who always blames Mark?"

"Speak of the devil," Arizona grinned, breaking away from Callie to cross her arms. The three stood staring back and forth at one another for a moment before Mark broke the silence.

"So, what am I being blamed for now?"

"Arizona thinks I spend too much time with you and only have sex on the brain."

"I do," Arizona chimed in.

"I'd have to agree with blondie," Mark shrugged. "Sorry, Callie. But it's true. Since you met me, your mind has turned to that one thing. I've rubbed off on you. I'm kinda proud." He wore this smug grin on his face. Arizona slapped his shoulder. "Hey, now! It could be worse-"

"-Really, Mark? How much worse can it be?" Callie asked, embarrassed by the fact that not only what Arizona said was true but that she kind of liked it being true.

"I think I'm going to go now," he pointed down the hall and turned to make his getaway.

"Not so fast, Sloan," Arizona grabbed him by the arm. "You've been enlisted to help us in Peds."

"Enlisted?" Mark threw Callie a "please help me" look.

"Yes, enlisted," Arizona nodded firmly. "Lexie said you would help us pass out the remaining toys tonight."

"She didn't tell you I'd dress up as Santa for that, did you?" he asked, dejected. He already knew the answer before he asked the question.

"She said you'd make a wonderful Santa!" Arizona practically beamed as she pushed Mark forwards and started down the hall again. "We've got to get you suited up and ready to spread some Christmas cheer!"

"Bah humbug," he muttered under his breath. How did he manage to get himself into this? Oh, yeah, that's right… Lexie, he thought and smiled to himself.

"What was that?" Arizona asked. Callie was trying to contain her laughter. Mark kept scowling in her direction and she just shook her head and chuckled at him.

"Nothing," he coughed. "Merry Christmas, spread good cheer, got it."

"I sure hope you do!" Lexie popped out into the hall, holding a Santa hat in her hand. "Look what I found!" She pointed to the elf ears she was wearing and smiled proudly.

"Oh my God," Callie lost it, laughter echoing down the hall as all three of them stopped, stared and wondered just where Lexie kept her elf costume hiding all year.

"Merry Christmas, Calliope," Arizona said as she pulled Callie into her side.

"Merry Christmas, Arizona."