Title: Hades' Ladies

Author: zenparadox

Pairing: Callie/Arizona

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing.

Summary: The latest addition to my Hospital-on-a-Hellmouth series. Sequel to: A Demon, a Goddess, and a Muse/The Hubris Incident/The Kepner Method/Hypocrisy Oath/Halloween Hootenanny. Takes place following the events in Halloween Hootenanny: Re-wedding Day has arrived, but a surprise visitor shows up causing Callie to have second thoughts.

Author's Note: Just remember I love them. I'm not Shonda or Joss or anywhere near brave enough to do permanent damage. They my bbys.

"Callie!" Arizona said, relieved. "Thank god you're ok."

"Arizona, wait… stay back," Callie implored, her eyes only leaving her older self for a second to make sure her wife was well. "I'm fine. Just… I need to take care of something, and I need you safe so I can do it. Ok?"

"Callie, what…"

"Just stay back, please," Callie insisted.

"Fine," Arizona agreed. She took a step back away from the older Callie. "Is this good?"

"Yes," Callie replied, still holding the purple orb out in front of her. "You guys, too. Go stand with Arizona." She directed the other three women, they quickly complied.

"You need to be careful with that thing Callie," Her older self said. "You don't know how to use it."

"I just want to ask you a few questions," Callie said.

"This doesn't change anything," Older Callie insisted, anger tinged her response. "You know what you have to do, be a better person than me…. Do it. Now!"

"Why can't I just refuse that case?" Callie asked.

"I'm sorry, what?" The older Callie asked, confused.

"The case, uh… Travis Reed? I'll just turn him down. That way I don't get sued. I can still marry Arizona, we can be happy. Right?"

"Callie, what are you talking about?" Arizona asked.

"Uh… no," The older Callie ignored Arizona. "The only way for you both to be happy is if you don't marry her."

"Why?" Callie asked.

"'Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.'" Older Callie said. "I read that somewhere, it's kind of beautiful, don't you think?"

"What?" Arizona questioned. "I don't understand."

"Because…" Old Callie provoked, "You make each other miserable."

"I don't believe you." Callie said. "Why are you so fixated on us not getting married? I don't get it."

"I told you. You… uh… you ruin each other's lives."

"No, the lawsuit did," Callie said. "Why aren't you trying to stop that? What aren't you telling me?"

"I'm so confused," April whispered to Meredith and Cristina.

"Me too," Meredith agreed.

"This is so much more entertaining than a stupid wedding," Cristina said.

"You are a lot smarter than I gave you credit for, I'll give you that." Older Callie finally said.

"Who are you?" Callie asked again.

"I'm you…"

"Don't give me that crap." Callie fumed. "I'm not falling for it anymore. Who are you?"

"Oh, Dr. Torres… I can see why Arizona finds you so… magical," She laughed. "You are a tough nut to crack. I should have picked her… It didn't take much to make her lose control last time, I'm sure this time wouldn't have been any different."

"Oh my god!" Arizona yelled. "Lauren? Uh… Atё?"

The older Callie morphed into the much younger and blonder, Lauren Boswell, aka the disgraced Greek goddess and former vengeance demon, Atё. "It was getting so hard to hold that form."

"I wish I had some popcorn." Cristina whispered. No sooner she said that, than a large bag of movie theater popcorn appeared in her hand.

"I wish I'd been invited to the wedding," Anya said as she teleported in behind Cristina. "I think it would have saved everyone a whole lot of trouble."

April's eyes grew comically large with shock at Anya's sudden arrival, she held in a chuckle at April's confused and horrified expression. The vengeance demon put her finger over her lips to indicate they keep quiet, then pointed to the couch and the three surgeons moved to sit there, out of the way.

"Wait," Cristina whispered. "Is this popcorn safe to eat?"

"Yes," Anya answered quietly, "Consider it a gift, not a fulfilled wish." She was still unnoticed by the two brides and Atё.

"What… what is happening here?" Arizona asked. "You… you were trying to stop my wedding?"

"Not trying… did." Atё laughed. "There is no way your precious 'Calliope' marries you now. She's seen your future."

"What was it? What did she show you? Was it something about me?" Arizona asked her wife. "Because she obviously wanted you to hate me, Callie."

"It wasn't you," Callie sighed. "It wasn't you I was hating… But, I don't believe that future," Her demeanor changed. "Not a single bit of it," She spat.

"Oh, my dear loyal Callie, ever faithful," Atё chuckled. "Can you say the same about your wife?"

"Yes," Callie said, this time with no doubt. "Yes, I can."

"What…" Arizona asked Atё. "What are you trying to accomplish?"

"A little pain, a little suffering, a lot of humiliation." Atё replied. "Oh, by the way, did you enjoy that little pre-wedding gift I left for you? I heard your Halloween party was quite the monster mash."

"That was you, too?" Arizona asked. "What do you have against me?"

"Actually," Anya finally made herself known. "I believe that's what Willow is in town to talk to you about."

"Anyanka," Atё said, surprised. "What brings you here? I'm no longer under your purview, the vengeance business is in my past. I've branched out."

"Me too." Anya said. "But, I've been successful. This? Is a pathetic attempt at… actually it's too pathetic to even figure out what you were attempting."

"You know…" Atё shrugged. "You win some, you lose some."

"You could also come up with your own ideas." Anya complained. "You had to steal my sob story? I told you the tale of my humiliation in confidence, when I thought you were my vengeance coworker!"

"What are you talking about?" Callie asked.

"My fiancée left me at the altar, because some stupid philanderer I cursed took him on a trip through a fake future, except, it worked on him, because he's a big ole dumbass. But… don't tell Willow I said that, they are still best friends. They have this whole weird yellow crayon thing."

As Cristina, Meredith and April watched the events in front of them unfold, they passed the popcorn between them.

"Hey, April," Cristina whispered. "Why don't you wish for some soda, this popcorn is really dry."

"Don't do it," Meredith warned. "I don't think you want to make too many wishes in front of vengeance demon."

"I don't know what a vengeance demon is," April replied, "And… I think I'm ok with not finding out."

The air in the room suddenly became electrified and everyone's hairs stood on end. With a crack and a pop, Willow and Bokhee appeared in the room.

"Anya!" Willow smiled, surprised to see her old friend there. "It's good to see you!"

"You too, Willow," Anya replied. "How are things in jolly old?"

"Oh, you know, Buffy and Xander dating inappropriate people, Giles being grumpy, Dawn… we, uh… don't talk about… so, the usual." Willow said. "Did the call of vengeance bring you here?"

"Oh, no. More like the call of Callie." Anya replied. She held up her iPhone and pointed toward Callie. "She said she might need some back-up."

"Ah… and you must be the missing bride?" Willow said, as she turned to Callie. "Or should I say the self-rescuing bride? I guess I don't need these frog toes and newt eyes anymore." She hands the jars to Bokhee and reaches out to shake Callie's hand.

While Willow was seemingly distracted introducing herself to Callie, Atё tried to sneak out the door unnoticed.

"Ah, ah, ah…" Willow said, her eyes suddenly black as coal. "This… is not your exit." With a wave of her hand Atё was raised into the air and spun around. Willow moved her finger back and forth in a come-hither motion, and Atё's body floated back into the room toward the witch.

"Ok, she is scary," Meredith said. Cristina and April nodded their heads in agreement.

"Is she the vengeance demon?" April asked.

"No, I think she's just a witch," Cristina said. "A scary, scary witch."

Atё's body came to a stop in front of Willow and slowly floated down. Once her feet were firmly on the ground, Willow's eyes returned to normal and her smile reappeared on her face. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Willow Rosenberg. I'll bet you've heard of me." She said menacingly.

"Oh, I know she has," Anya said. "D'Hoffryn has painting of your grief fueled rampage hanging in his new office. Remember, when you went all black and veiny? After…"

"Anya," Willow warned. "That may have been eleven years ago, but there is still a bad taste, so don't push."

"I know," Anya said quietly, "I still miss her too."

Atё struggled to move, but her feet were stuck to the floor. She attempted to calculate the extent of her reach… Callie was standing pretty close… if she could just reach that orb…

Meanwhile, Arizona had moved around the three women, and stood in front of her wife, "Calliope? Are you ok? Are we ok?"

Tears filled Callie's eye and she nodded her head in affirmation, the words stuck in her throat, caught on a sob. Arizona moved in for a hug, just as Atё grabbed for the orb. Callie pulled the orb back from Atё but it was too late, it had been activated sucking all three of them into the purple light.

"Ok," Willow said. "That was unexpected." She looked at Anya, then Bokhee, "where do you suppose they went?"

The three women stumbled out of the purple light into the bright yellow light of a beautiful sunny day. They were standing on a cliffside, overlooking a body of water. A fleet of ancient ships sat unmoving in the calm sea, no wind to provide push to their sails.

Callie immediately reached for Arizona, "Are you ok?"

"I… I'm fine. What the heck just happened?" Arizona asked. "Where are we?"

"I, uh… I have no idea," Callie said. "This isn't like before."

"Yeah, because I know what I'm doing," Atё replied. "This," she gestured around her, "is what happens when amateurs drive." She pointed at Callie accusingly.

"Well, I didn't mean to take us anywhere," Callie huffed "But you were being all grabby…"

"And let me guess… you thought about getting away?"

"Yes, I was thinking I needed to get Arizona away from you," Callie replied.

"Figured. What was on your mind right before that?"

"The first time we met," Callie looked at Arizona.

"Well, there you go," Atё threw her hands in the air.

"Um, this doesn't look like bathroom at Joe's," Arizona said.

"Don't think in such limited terms, Arizona." Atё mocked. "This," she gestured toward an altar below where a group of people stood, "is the first time you met. The first time your souls met."

"I… don't understand," Callie said. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that this is the port city of Aulis, and Agamemnon is about sacrifice his precious daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the, oh so easily offended, and spoiled by her daddy, Artemis." She once again points to the altar, "Use your eyes and look."

Callie and Arizona step closer to take in the scene laid out before them.

Agamemnon and his guards stood around the altar on which his daughter kneeled, her head hung low, her face obscured by the executioner who stood before her. When she raises her head to look into the eyes of her father, both Callie and Arizona gasp. Though her features were slightly different, a reflection of her current Greek lineage, it was undeniably the face of Callie Torres.

"Have you no guilt father, I accept my fate, for the good of Greece." Iphigenia said.

The executioner raised his sword, about to swing the killing blow, when a thick fog rolled in. Everyone froze in place, unable to move- as if they were posed for an artist, to capture the scene for eternity. From the fog stepped the form of a woman. Though her face was still obscured somewhat by the fog, her beauty was unquestionable, her golden locks tied high on her head, her lithe form stood regal. By her side, stepped a healthy young stag, docile in her presence. She had a bow made of gold and a matching quiver of golden arrows.

"Rise before your goddess, Iphigenia," Artemis commanded, time had stopped for all but the two women. "You give yourself freely?"

"I do," Iphigenia replied, head still bowed before Artemis. "My father erred, offended you… he is a man, it is his nature to boast. He is no great hunter… or king, but Greece is great. And Troy must fall. I would be known as the savior of Greece. Not a weak and simpering woman who must be dragged to the altar, but an honorable and strong woman who gave her life for her great nation… Who gave her life to the whim of a spoiled goddess."

Artemis laughed joyously at the fire shown by Iphigenia, "You would call me spoiled, when I hold your fate in my hands?"

"My fate is my fate, not even you can change it." Iphigenia said. "Whatever was going to happen, is going to happen. Whatever choice you make here, you've already made. Do you spend so much time with the animals that you've lost track of the ways of the divine?" She finally raised her head to look upon Artemis and when she did gasped, the fog had cleared showing her a face of beauty, unlike any she'd seen before. The bluest eyes, hair of gold, and dimples appeared as Artemis grinned the most mischievous grin.

"I like you," Artemis whispered. "You make me smile." She reached down and grabbed Iphigenia's hand and they disappeared into the fog. As time started moving forward again, the executioner's sword met its target with great force. Blood flew… not the blood of a young woman, but that of a young stag, left in sacrifice to the betterment of Greece.

"That… that was us?" Arizona asked.

"Oh yeah, it was… kind of." Atё replied. "My sister Artemis, always daddy's favorite. Finding her soul-mate. It makes me sick."

"Me, uh her… finding her soul-mate makes you sick? Why… wait… we're sisters?" Arizona shouted. "Are you insane? You tried to sleep with me, what is wrong with you?"

"Have you never read any Greek mythology, sister?" Atё taunted. "Incest abounds."

"Stop calling me that!" Arizona cringed "It's gross."

Atё laughed hard, "Don't worry, sister, these bodies aren't related." She looked around as if to make sure they were alone. "Besides, Zeus isn't really my father… Hades is. My mother, Eris, is a bit of a trickster too. I get my dishonesty, honestly."

Callie stood still, taking everything in, her head spinning with all the information today had provided.

"So… I'm Artemis… and Callie is… is Iphigenia?"

"Yes, and the Romans call you Diana, sweet sister. Today was the day you met your immortal companion. You whisk her away to become one of your priestesses, but eventually- and this is the part that really pisses me off- eventually, you make her into a goddess. After getting father to throw me off of Olympus. You raise up this… human." Atё spat the word human with so much hatred, that Callie was brought out of her reverie. "So I cursed you. If I had to live away from the heavens, then you did too. The curse made you mortal, but your connection was too strong, you are still immortal companions." There was so much venom in Atё's voice. "You always find each other, life after boring human life, you come together… and I hate it. I hate you. So… I find you and cause you pain. That's my reward. Making you my whipping boy."

"Not anymore," Callie said with certainty. She pushed Atё down on the ground. "She belongs with me, and I remember who I am, who she made me. I am Hecate, Goddess of the night, Queen of the witches," Callie eyes became as black as the night, "and you will not cross me." The air around her crackled with energy.

"Callie!" Arizona yelled. "Callie, look at me…"

Callie turned back to Arizona and her eyes immediately softened. "Arizona?" She whispered.

"Yes, sweetie, it's me," Arizona smiled. "Hi. Welcome back."

"What… what happened?"

"You went a little scary there, with the black eyes, and the commanding voice… Scary titles…" Arizona said. "Scary… and a little sexy."

"I don't… know what…" Callie seemed confused.

"It's ok," Arizona soothed. "We'll figure it out."

"Yeah… yeah we will, but right now? I want to go home… I'm taking you home," Callie said. "So we can get married." She raised the purple orb and closed her eyes. The orb glowed and the light engulfed Callie and Arizona, swirling around them.

"Hey," Atё shouted. "What about me?"

"Find your own ride," Callie yelled just as they disappeared into the light.

"Well, fuck me." Atё flopped back on the ground and sighed. "It's the hanging around to gloat that gets me every time."

"What do we do? What do we do?" April panicked. "They are both gone! Disappeared! What do we do?"

"We don't usually run around in circles like a fool," Anya replied.

"Yeah, we generally call a meeting," Meredith said.

"Kind of like a board meeting, but sometimes ghosts, witches, and demons attend." Cristina added.

"Well excuse me for being new to all this," April grumped. "I think I've handled myself pretty well under the circumstances."

"Everyone just calm down," Bokhee intervened. "We still have the ingredients for Willow's more powerful locator spell, we'll just use them to…"

Before Bokhee could finish her sentence the room was filled with purple light and Callie and Arizona popped into place.

"Or not," Willow said. "Those poor frog toes and newt eyes… They're gonna get a complex."

"Where is that bitch, Atё?" Anya asked

"Callie left her in ancient Greece… it's kind of a long story." Arizona laughed. "I'm not even sure if I believe it. I don't think we have to worry about her for a while, though."

"You were in ancient Greece?" Willow asked. "So you know then? About… your history?"

"I think so, we saw some things… but that's a discussion for later, right now…" Callie took Arizona's hand, "I want to marry you, for the last time."

"I can't wait," Arizona replied.

"Your parents and Sofia are waiting with my dad, but… I kind of had Daddy send the rest of the guests on to the reception, I hope that's ok?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Arizona laughed again. "I don't need anyone here but you, and Sofia. Let's go get re-hitched."

"And then party." Cristina said.

Bokhee and Willow stood in the back of the church while the two women exchanged their vows. Flanked by their closest friends and family, they once again promised each other forever.

"We'll need to discuss with them what they saw, and what this all means for them." Willow said. Outside the thunder cracked and the rain gently pelted the windows.

"Also, Atё's involvement with the Omega Consortium." Bokhee agreed. "With their help, she'll find her way home, of that I'm sure. And we need to be ready."

"Meh, I'm not worried about her," Willow said. "She's trifling compared to those two." Thunder rumbled. "I hope this storm isn't a bad omen."

"No, I don't believe it is," Bokhee replied "Rain on your wedding day means a new beginning, a fresh start. It washes away bad memories, in effect, it gives way for a completely new, fresh chapter in life."

"I hope it's a good chapter." Willow smiled as the two brides kissed. "They deserve it."

End.