Title: The Talk is Good

Author: iheartcallietorres (laurenxx3 on LJ)

Pairing: Callie/Arizona

Rating: PG/K+

Summary: It's THE talk. Post 6x19. Possibly a one-shot, possibly multi-chaptered.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. All characters belong to Shonda Rhimes/ABC. I don't own anything. If I did, I'd be a lot richer than a poor college student. Any similarities to real life situations/persons are purely coincidental. Not for profit; for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: I have absolutely NO medical knowledge beyond what I see/hear on Grey's Anatomy, so forgive me of any medical-related errors. Also, this is un-betad, so all mistakes are mine. Please let me know if you come across any. As always, comments are much appreciated (and will encourage me to write more fics in the future - *hint, hint*).

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"So," Arizona said, her voice trembling a bit. "We're going to talk about it."

"Yeah," Callie replied. "We are going to talk about it."

Arizona took a deep breath, bracing herself for the questions Callie was sure to ask. She had a right to ask. "Maybe I should put some clothes on," she said quietly, hoping to stall a few more minutes.

Callie nodded and placed the book she'd been reading on the night stand. Even though she was sure the conversation they were about to have was going to an emotional roller coaster and could possibly end in the unthinkable (breaking up), she couldn't help but stare at Arizona while she stepped into a pair of panties before dropping the towel. Despite herself, Callie felt her heart race at the sight of Arizona's naked torso and she had to concentrate on reigning in her desire. Now was not the time to get aroused.

Arizona quickly pulled on a tank top and shorts before shaking out her still damp hair. She returned to her previous position sitting at the end of the bed, folding her legs Indian style.

Callie studied her intently. It was apparent she was as nervous as Callie felt. This could mean the end of their relationship and that scared Callie. She'd survived the hurdles of George and Erica, but she wasn't sure she'd survive losing Arizona.

Nothing was said for several long, tense moments. Finally, Callie couldn't take the silence or the giant chasm between them and she smiled sadly. She held out her hand. "Come here," she said softly.

Arizona looked at her outstretched hand for a moment and Callie was afraid she'd refuse. But she took it and crawled up next to Callie, settling under the covers against her. Arizona's head laid on her shoulder as Callie leaned back against the headboard, just holding her girlfriend for another long moment before speaking.

"Are you going to break up with me?" Callie asked, allowing her hand to rub across Arizona's back and shoulders.

"No," Arizona said quickly and with force, tightening her arms around Callie's waist. "If we're going to break up because of this, I am not going to be the one to do it." She looked up at Callie. "I can't. I just can't do it. I love you." A lone tear escaped, rolling down Arizona's smooth cheek and Callie felt her heart clench. She brushed the heartbreaking tear away with her thumb.

"And I love you," Callie whispered, feeling her own tears well up behind her eyelids. She fought hard to keep them at bay. "I love you so much. But, we want different things… I can't imagine my future without you, but I also can't imagine my future without kids. I don't know what to do." She kissed the top of Arizona's head. "You've obviously thought long and hard about this and made up your mind. Why don't you want kids?"

The question was so soft, Arizona could barely hear it. But she did hear it and she swallowed hard, knowing Callie deserved the truth about why she didn't want kids of her own. "Every day, I see kids suffer from horrible diseases and accidents. I see what it does to the parents. I see how much they suffer. I can't bring a child into this world just to see him or her slip away from me like that."

"But you know that for every sick or hurt child you treat, there are a hundred more that aren't hurt or sick," Callie said softly. "You only see the worst ones because you're one of the best so people come to you from all over the country."

Arizona sighed. "I know that, Callie," she said, noticing Callie's hand stop caressing her back at the use of her nickname. "But it's more personal than that." She paused, gathering her strength to discuss a topic that she could barely think about without crying to this day. She needed to sit up for this, she decided. She did just that, facing Callie, but still close to her, so close their thighs were touching.

Callie, noting the distressed look on Arizona's face, reached out and clasped Arizona's hand in hers, squeezing it in reassurance.

Arizona took a deep breath and continued. "Have I ever told you about Claire?"

Callie shook her head 'no.'

"We were college roommates. Instant best friends. We did everything together, even took the same classes. We were inseparable. Our senior year, she got pregnant by her boyfriend who turned out to be a complete asshole. He split as soon as he found out about the baby. But it was the last semester, so she was able to graduate and get a good job before he was born. Jacob Michael Greene." Arizona paused, a small smile forming on her lips as she thought of her best friend's little boy.

Callie had a feeling where this was headed and gave Arizona's hand another squeeze of reassurance.

Arizona continued. "Claire and I lived together. Platonically. She was straight and even if she wasn't, we were just friends. Like sisters, actually. I helped Claire with Jacob while I was in med school. I thought of him like my own son." Another tear escaped and Arizona angrily brushed it away.

Callie sat up straighter and cupped Arizona's cheek. "You don't have to," she whispered.

Arizona shook her head. "No, I do. You deserve an explanation at the very least." She regathered her thoughts for a moment. "My second year of residency, when Jacob was six, he was diagnosed with stage two Osteosarcoma."

Callie drew in a quick breath, knowing how serious the disease was and already knowing the outcome.

"Claire was wrecked and so was I. Jacob was immediately started on Chemo, but it was bad. He… he only made it three more months before… before…" she trailed off, unable to vocalize.

Callie moved closer to Arizona, pulling her close. "Arizona…" She didn't know what to say. Arizona sobbed into her shoulder and Callie rocked her gently back and forth, wishing she could take away her pain.

Several minutes later, Arizona's sobs had quieted and she sat up, wiping her eyes and cheeks. "Claire stopped being herself. She went into a depression and it took years for her to regain even half of her previous personality. To this day, I worry about her. That was when I decided to specialize in Peds. You know I've been focused on Osteosarcoma for my research. And that's why. I don't want other parents to have to go through what Claire or I went through." She looked Callie in the eye. "And that's why I can't have children of my own. I never want to feel that way again."

Callie was silent for several moments, trying to collect her own thoughts. As much as she wanted kids, now that she new Arizona's reasoning for not wanting them, she decided that she wanted Arizona more. She knew that if they broke up, she'd never find anyone she loved as much to have children with and she didn't want to have to raise them alone. She knew now that if she had kids, she wanted it to be with Arizona. But she understood Arizona's fear and anxiety.

"Arizona, I love you," Callie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I can't imagine not being with you. When I'm with you, I feel like… like I can take on the world and do anything I set my mind to. You've given me so much and I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done for me." She brought her hand up to cup Arizona's cheek again. "I want to have a baby. Badly. But I understand why you don't and… and I can accept that. Because if I can't have a baby with you, then I don't want one. I want us to have a family together and if that means it just the two of us and a dog and… chickens? No, I'm going to have to veto the chickens. I want you more than anything."

Arizona was dumbstruck. She had to be dreaming. Because she could have sworn she just heard Callie, sweet, beautiful Callie say that she was willing to give up her dream of having a baby… for her. She opened and closed her mouth several times before forming coherent words. "I can't ask you to give up kids, Callie."

"Don't call me 'Callie' and you're not asking," Callie said. "I'm offering because I love you. I love you and I'd do anything for you. I'd do anything to ensure that I get to spend the rest of my life with you because you are worth it. You're worth it all."

Arizona couldn't stop the tears this time, but they were tears of joy. She wasn't going to lose the love of her life after all. "Calliope Iphegenia Torres, you are amazing," Arizona whispered through her tears. "I don't even know what to say."

Callie hugged her close. "Just tell me that you love me."

"I do," Arizona said, clinging to her. "I love you so much." She placed her lips against Callie's in a tender kiss.

Callie immediately knew she'd made the right decision. There was nowhere else she'd rather be, no one she'd rather be with than Arizona.

She pulled away and looked into Arizona's bright blue eyes still wet with tears. "Marry me," she said softly.

"What?" Arizona asked, shocked, but not displeased.

"Will you spend the rest of your life with me as my wife?"

Arizona smiled broadly, unable to contain her happiness. "Marry you? As in a big church wedding, white dresses, everyone watching us exchange vows and promise to love each forever until death do us part?"

Callie chuckled. "The works," she said.

Arizona's grin faltered for a moment. "What if you change your mind?" she asked hesitantly, fear evident in her eyes.

"Change my mind? I won't change my mind about marrying you, Arizona."

Arizona shook her head. "No, I mean what if you change your mind want kids after all? What if, ten years form now, you resent me for not having kids with you."

Callie gathered her close once again. "I'm not going to change my mind because I do still want kids and, honestly, I'll probably keep asking you to have them. But I won't ever expect you to say yes, so I'm prepared to live my life without kids. I meant it when I said that I want you more than anything else."

Arizona kissed her then. Sweetly but with passion and love. She pulled back and whispered one word, "Yes," before kissing her thoroughly once again.

Things were just getting heated up when there was a frantic knock on the front door of the apartment.

"Who on earth?" Callie muttered, angrily dragging herself to the door and opening it to find Mark on the other side, gasping for breath. "Mark? What is it?"

"Sloan… here… baby… coming… now."