Chapter 4
"She's dating someone. I can tell, look at how happy she is, practically glowing." Callie says to Maggie as they sit at a table in the cafeteria.
"Good for her, I mean you're seeing someone, she should too, right?" Maggie points out as she takes the last bite of her salad.
"Uh, right." Callie replies a little nervously as Penny sits down at the table beside her.
"Hey, I just have a minute." Penny says leaning over to give Callie's cheek a peck, then to Maggie she adds, "Dr Pierce do you mind if I sit down?".
"No, not at all but I just finished and I've got a surgery in 20 minutes." Maggie says picking up her things and leaving.
As she heads out of the cafeteria she runs into Kepner and Arizona in the hall. They seem to be coordinating schedules.
"No I can't move that. Hunt's off that day, I have to cover it. Shoot, I can't believe you had to change that appointment, I really wanted to be there." April says pouting.
Arizona looks up and spots Pierce waiting for the elevator. She pulls April's sleeve and moves a little further down the hall. "Look, just come up to my office later and we'll talk about this, I want you there too. We'll figure it out. Okay?"
"Maybe I can get Riggs or Jackson to cover the Pit for me?" April replies.
"Try Riggs first, he won't ask as many questions as Jackson will." Arizona points out.
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"Sidonnie Roberts?" The nurse calls out and it takes Arizona a minute to remember that's her. She has removed her lab coat, changed her blouse and left her pager and phone in her office. She knows this won't work for long, but she hopes the charade can protect her through the first trimester. Six weeks in and she's gained ten pounds. Which so far no one seems to have noticed, especially since she lost weight in the last year between the fellowship and beginning her new specialty.
Dr Miller greets her and then realizes who she is and asks the nurse to step out of the room for a minute.
"Dr Robbins, I didn't realize that you were Dr Montgomery's VIP patient. I'm so happy that you decided to try again. Will Dr Torres be joining us?" Miller asks.
"No, uh Dr Torres and I are no longer together and she's no longer my emergency contact. My friend April Kepner will be supporting me through this and she and my parents are the only people you are authorized to discuss my medical needs with. The alias is to keep my records restricted and anonymous in our system, so I would appreciate your team helping me maintain that anonymity, especially through the first trimester." Arizona explains.
"Of course, that won't be a problem." Dr Miller replies. "Oh and we have the web link set up for Dr Montgomery to see the Ultrasound in real time. Let me step out and bring Sara back in."
A few minutes later, Dr Miller, her nurse Sara and Kepner all walk into the room. Dr Miller sits down and Sara turns on the weblink, "Good afternoon, Dr Montgomery, are you there?" she asks.
"Yes, I'm here, Ms Roberts how are you feeling today?" She asks Arizona and April nudges her.
"Oh I'm fine Dr Montgomery." She replies nervously.
"Okay, well Ms Roberts, this is a transvaginal ultrasound as I mentioned when we met a few weeks ago. I'll be inserting this wand into your vaginal canal so that we can check on the embryo and ascertain its placement in the uterus. Hearing a heartbeat at this stage is possible, but not common." She reminds her gently, as Miller remembers that the last pregnancy they never heard the heartbeat.
A few minutes go by and Dr Miller and Addison discuss what they are seeing, then all of the sudden they all stop talking as Dr Miller has moved in to examine the fetal pole and there is a distinct yet faint trace of a heartbeat. Smiling, they look at Arizona, "There's the heartbeat Ms Roberts," the doctor says punching the record button, so she can make a copy of it for the patient.
Tearfully, Arizona just shakes her head in awe. April grabs her hand and squeezes. "I knew this would be good. I'm so glad that I didn't miss it." She says hugging her friend's head.
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Making her way back to her office, Arizona feels like she's floating. That is until she runs into Miranda Bailey in the hallway outside of her office.
"Chief, can I help you?" Arizona asks opening her office door.
Following the blonde into her office, Miranda closes the door behind her. "When were you going to tell me that you're pregnant?" She asks the blonde.
"How did you find out?" Arizona blurts out.
"You're not drinking coffee, you've eaten Greek yogurt instead of doughnuts and you've gained, what, ten pounds?" Bailey points out.
"Okay, so I'm only 6 weeks along, I'm not telling anyone until second trimester, but I was planning on telling you first." Arizona explains.
"I can't believe you didn't give me a heads up that you were planning to do this, wait, Karev doesn't know?" She asks.
"Kepner is the only one who knows outside of my doctors and you, now. Oh and my parents." Arizona replies.
"Torres doesn't know either?" Bailey asks.
"No, this has nothing to do with Callie. I'm doing this on my own Miranda. I'm doing this for me." She explains.
"Oh, well good for you. And you and Kepner are not..." she asks.
"Absolutely not, she and Jackson are working things out." Arizona reminds her.
"Right, right. Okay, so you've set up an alias in the system right and you've restricted the record, so no one can snoop?" Bailey asks. "I've got news for you, you're glowing like crazy right now, so you may want to hide in your office. Anyone who's been pregnant is gonna take one look at you and know." She adds.
"I heard the heartbeat, Miranda. Last time, we never heard it. But today, I heard the heartbeat." Arizona replies excitedly.
"That's wonderful. Arizona, let me know if you need anything, okay?" Miranda says moving in and giving her a hug.
"Thank you Miranda. Oh and Addison is following my case. She'll be coming to Seattle in a few weeks for the first Doppler ultrasound. Hoping to sneak her in and out." Arizona informs her.
"Addison Montgomery does not have a good track record for sneaking in and out of this hospital. But I'll see what I can do to give her some cover. At least you can schedule her for a consult, so no one will suspect you're the patient." Miranda points out.
Arizona took Miranda's advice to heart and even had April pick up Sofia from daycare for her. She didn't want to risk anyone seeing her and guessing that she was pregnant. The next day she went in early to avoid running into anyone when she dropped Sofia off and then slipped into the locker room to change quickly, she has a new patient today and one procedure scheduled.
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"Wow, you look gorgeous today!" Amelia says entering the locker room. "What's different?" She asks.
"Well thanks Amelia. I have a new stylist. I'm surprised that you noticed." Arizona replies, not exactly a lie, she did get a new one, she didn't want to keep seeing the same one as Callie.
"You're in early today and I didn't see you on the board this morning?" Amelia asks.
"I have a new patient coming first thing, they flew in from Idaho last night." Arizona explains, grabbing her things quickly. "Have a great day!" She adds as she slips out of the locker room quickly.
"Hey, I was surprised to see Sofia in the daycare already. Is everything okay?" Callie asks stopping Arizona in the hall on her way to change.
"Everything is great. I just have an early start today. New patient, coming in from out of town." She adds.
"Okay, it's just April picked her up yesterday and I just, I mean. You're not sick or anything right?" Callie asks reaching out and putting her hand on the blonde's arm.
"I'm perfectly healthy Calliope. Thanks for asking. But I do have a patient waiting." Arizona replies, turning to leave.
Grumbling Callie enters the locker room and Amelia overheard the exchange outside the door, so she knows that it's about Arizona.
"She looks pretty damn good, you have to admit." Amelia says poking her head around the locker.
"Does she talk to you, Shepherd? Do you know what's going on with her?" Callie asks.
"Said that she has a new hair person. That's all I know." Amelia says closing her locker and draping her stethoscope around her neck.
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Arizona is waiting patiently in Craig's office, he's on the phone with the manufacturer trying to get them to send him a new prototype. He wants to upgrade her prosthetic before she gets too far along in the pregnancy. She's made him agree to consult with the ortho at the University and not Callie. It's less convenient for both of them, but Arizona feels like it's important to have a doctor who is less involved in her life.
"Okay, here's the thing. They're going to send it to Dr James at U-Dub and and we'll have to go over there to fit it and try it out, but the upside is that we can fit both of them next week. Plus they have a pool in their PT room, so we can do it all in that one appointment. Can you meet there instead of here next week?" He asks.
Pulling up her calendar on her phone, she considers it. "I need to move a couple of things, but I should be able to make that work. Is two hours enough?" She asks.
"Better make it two and a half, since we'll be in the pool." He reminds her.
"Okay, I'll send these changes to Naomi and I'll let you know by end of the day if I need to change it." She replies. "Craig? I just want to thank you for doing this. I know it makes your job a little harder, but I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
"I know and I get it. But we've been expanding our program to work more with U-Dub, so it's actually a good thing. They have the amputee aquatic program that we're trying to get going here. You're doing me a favor by giving me a case that crosses over with their program." He reminds her.
"Just please remember to code the new prosthetics to Sidonnie Roberts in the system, if Dr Torres sees that I'm getting new prosthetics she'll want to know why she wasn't informed. I haven't told her anything yet, but I will. I just need to get through another two weeks." She informs him.
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Back in her office, Arizona takes a minute to call her parents. They Skyped last night with Sofia but they didn't get to talk.
After exchanging pleasantries they begin to get down to the details. Her parents have sold their house and have an offer on one here in Seattle near the hospital.
"We just found out that they accepted our counter offer. Your father is already on the other phone with the moving company arranging everything." Her mother explains.
"Oh, wow. Okay then. Is there anything that I can do to help?" Arizona asks.
"No honey, you've done so much. You found that house and it's perfect for us. We're just thrilled to be moving there to be a family again." Barbara exclaims.
"Mom, have you talked to Callie this week?" Arizona asks.
"No, she called us Sunday morning, like usual. We don't usually talk to her during the week. Is there anything wrong?" She asks.
"No, I'm just nervous. I met with Craig today about the new prosthetics and I haven't told her yet that I'm going to be seeing the Ortho at the University, who specializes in amputee rehab." Arizona confesses.
"Honey, she'll understand. She wants what's best for you, don't you know that by now?" Barbara asks.
"I know, but I still think she's not going to be happy with it. It's just been so nice not arguing with her. We haven't argued in months." Arizona explains.
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"Come out to Joe's with us." Alex says at lunch a few days later. "Callie said she can't go because she has Sofia, so no excuses."
"Alex, I have a lot to do. My folks are coming next week and they're going to be staying at my place until the house is ready. Tonight is one of my few nights off without Sofia to get stuff done. I'm sorry, maybe next time." She replies, glancing around, she spots April, "Excuse me," she says to Alex, "Dr Kepner!"
April turns around when she hears Arizona call her name. "Hey are you going to Joe's tonight?" She asks.
"No April. I can't go to Joe's tonight. As soon as I don't drink, everyone will know something is up." Arizona reminds her.
"Oh right. I didn't even think of that. Well, shoot. I was hoping that you would go, Jackson is going to meet me there but he's going to be late." She explains.
"No way am I going to Joe's tonight. Alex already thinks something is up, because he saw me drinking decaf coffee." Arizona replies.
"Hey are you going to Joe's tonight?" Amelia asks approaching the two surgeons.
"Arizona can't, but I was going to go and meet Jackson later." April replies.
"Oh, well why don't we go together? Owen is going to be late too." Amelia replies. "What's up with you Robbins? Why are you passing on a night out?"
"Uh, my parents are coming next week and this is one of the few nights that I don't have Sofia. So I have a ton of things I need to get done." She explains.
"That is so lame. Come on, go out with us!" Amelia prods.
"I really can't. Thanks for asking though. Maybe next time." Arizona says smiling before she jumps into the open elevator.
"What is up with her?" Amelia asks April.
"Her parents are moving here. Isn't that enough to make any of us a little crazy?" April replies.
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"I think she's being weirder than usual, that's all I'm saying." Alex remarks to Jo.
"I think you should let her be. She hardly ever comes out with us." Jo reminds him.
"At the house she would at least have a beer with us." Alex reminds her.
"But that was at home, not at the bar." Jo points out.
"Okay, okay. But she was drinking decaf coffee yesterday," he adds.
"Wait, she was drinking decaf? Robbins was drinking decaf?" Jo asks trying to comprehend it. "Shit, Alex she's pregnant. Remember? She told us that she was thinking about having another child, even if she and Torres didn't get back together? Well, Torres is dating Blake, so Arizona must have decided to do it. Alex, she didn't come out tonight because if she doesn't drink, we'll all know why." Jo replies turning to him.
"You're crazy. She wouldn't do that without telling me, she wouldn't do it alone." He replies.
"Her parents are moving here, she's not doing it alone," Jo points out.
"Jeez, you might be right." He admits. "Look, let's not say anything to anyone. If she's keeping this quiet, then we need to respect that, okay?"
"Of course, I mean. It's obvious that she hasn't told Torres yet and I'm not crazy enough to want to be the one to break that news to her." Jo replies taking a sip of her beer.
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The next morning Alex finds himself alone with Arizona in her office, they are waiting on lab tests for one of their long time patients. He can't stop thinking about his conversation with Jo last night.
"Robbins, we don't have a lot of secrets. I mean, we talk about stuff. You know that you can tell me anything and I've always got your back. I don't care if its Bailey or Torres, I've always got your back." He says.
"Okay, thanks Alex. Good to know." She replies a little confused.
He shakes his head, realizing that she has no idea what he's trying to say. "Are you pregnant?" He blurts out. "Jo and I were talking last night and it occurred to us that you not drinking caffeine and passing up drinks at Joe's, well you'd only do that if you were pregnant."
Arizona closes her eyes. Shit, I can't believe he figured it out, but probably more credit goes to Jo. "Listen Alex, the only reason that I haven't told you is because I know you and you'll treat me differently, then everyone will know." She explains.
"Seriously? You did it without telling me?" He asks hurt that she wouldn't include him.
"I couldn't tell you. You would tell Meredith and then she would tell Callie. I just wanted to wait, you know, until it's safe to tell people." Arizona explains.
"But if you don't tell us, how can we help you if it doesn't work out?" He asks. "You can't go through this alone and you don't have to. Hell Jo is all ready to come over to your place and help with the nursery."
"She's sweet. But I'm not ready to do that. Look next week, I have the 8 week sonogram. If everything goes well, then I was planning to tell the board at next month's meeting. Please don't say anything. Only Kepner and Bailey know right now, okay?" She asks.
"Of course, yes. Okay." He replies, "But you'll promise to let me know if there's anything that I can do, right?"
"Yes, I promise. The main thing that I may need you to run interference next week. Mom and Dad are coming and they want to be there for the sonogram." Arizona replies.
"Okay, well they can meet you over there and go in through that side of the building. You don't need me for that." He replies.
"No, but Addison is coming in and I have a consult for her. So I'm going to be meeting her over there, if Callie were to find out that my parents were also over there, she'll realize that something is up?" Arizona points out.
"Dude, you just need to tell her already. She's all wrapped up in her girlfriend anyway, just tell her and stop freaking out over it." He suggests.
"Oh, well you may have point there. It is adding stress and I don't need any more stress." Arizona admits.