New fic. I really wanted to write another Calzona A/U fic now I have the time to regularly update again! This first chapter is the backstory so the actual fic will begin starting next chapter.
Just a note, I do not have anything against Mark Sloan's character. It will all become clear. I just wanted Sofia Torres to have the same biological parents as she does on the show.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and if any readers watch the Australian soap Home and Away this fic may be a little familiar!
Callie Torres remembered the day when she became a cop. Crystal clear. It was the proudest day of her life when she received her badge and walked up on the stage as her family beamed at her and cheered. She wanted to make a difference, to put all the bad guys away. That being said, in the small town of Summer Bay not many bad guys came around. It was a sleepy little town in Sydney, Australia where locals spent most of their time on the beach rather than committing criminal activity. Callie loved it here, sure there were times when she regretted moving away from America. But America was where all the bad stuff happened. Stuff that Callie would remember for the rest of her life.
Of course, she had a living reminder of that – her sixteen-year-old daughter Sofia Torres. Callie was young when she got pregnant, so young that people often mistook Sofia and her for sisters. Sofia was a huge part of the reason why Callie decided to become a police officer and move to Summer Bay. She wanted to protect Sofia as much as she could from this bad crazy world.
Callie was openly gay, she had been since high school and had received a lot of hate for her relationship with a girl in her class called Felicity. The popular boys used to make fun of them, told them that one night with them would turn them straight and Callie tried to ignore it, but it was so difficult. When they were changing for class the other girls would squeal that Callie was staring at their bodies that their gym teacher pulled Callie aside and told her maybe it was best for her to get ready for gym class in a supply closet. It was horrible, the way they all treated her was horrible. One day Callie hoped their small minds would expand enough to see that it was okay to love someone of the same gender, that love is love no matter what. But it was nothing compared to what Mark Sloan did.
Callie thought they were friends. He was probably her only ally in school as she struggled with the daily torments. Mark stood up for her. People turned against him too. So one night when they were getting drunk in Mark's car as they attempted to deal with the bullying, Callie was horrified when Mark forced himself on her. The aftermath was a blur, she remembered crying to her parents who urged her to go to the police. Mark Sloan was found guilty of rape and was handed jail time and a restraining order meaning he could never be within six feet of Callie Torres ever again. Callie fell into a deep depression, her relationship with Felicity crumbled, she lost weight, her grades started slipping, she started skipping meals. Her parents pleaded with her to get help, they hated seeing their daughter like this but it was a struggle for Callie to do anything without thinking of him and that night. And she later found out she would never forget when she missed her period and a pregnancy test confirmed she was 6 weeks pregnant with Mark's child.
Her parents were religious but they understood if Callie wanted an abortion. Callie was torn, she loved kids and she would have the baby after graduation if she decided to keep it. Her parents promised to help her through whatever she decided so she made the decision to keep the baby. She got her life back on track, determined not to let Mark Sloan ruin her life. Her grades improved, she put weight back on and she looked healthy and happy. She went to therapy and overcame her issues even though she knew she would never fully forget.
Fast forward 7 months later and Callie gave birth to the most beautiful little girl she ever lay eyes on. It was in that moment Callie looked down at her new born daughter Sofia and knew she had made the right choice. Sofia Lucia Torres changed Callie's life forever. And despite the fear Callie had that she was going to hate her baby, Callie instantly fell in love with this gorgeous little thing who made the cutest noises.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned one, Callie and Sofia had moved out of the family home and into their own place. It was cosy enough for the two of them and Callie loved that she had Sofia all to herself. She loved being a mother, everything about it from the changing diapers to the 3am bottles. It was all worth it to see Sofia and the love she had for Callie. She was besotted with her daughter and no one could ever ruin that.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned two, Callie was pulling her hair out. She had underestimated the effect of the terrible two's and was constantly chasing after her daughter who seemed to have unlimited energy and a determination to put her mother through hell. There were tantrums over every little thing and Callie hated it when they were outside and Sofia would throw a tantrum. She was a young mother who everyone judged. She could hear the whispers and the gossips that she was too young to have a baby and was losing control. Sometimes Callie wanted to cry alongside Sofia. Other times, she wanted to scream at her.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned three, Callie felt at peace. Although there was still the odd tantrum, Sofia was behaving a lot more in public places and Callie began to feel as though she was succeeding. Sofia was a good toddler, they spent every Sunday morning at the park and every Sunday afternoon having dinner with Callie's parents. Callie began to work as a shop assistant and Sofia went to a childminder's so she could interact with other children there. It was good for them both, Sofia to meet children her own age and for Callie to earn a little money for them both, even though it wasn't much, so they could rely less on Callie's parents.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned four, she began to thrive. She was an intelligent young girl who was quick to back talk if you said anything stupid. She was irresistibly adorable and had everyone wrapped around her little finger. Callie loved seeing her daughter grow into a mini version of herself – before the bullying began and Callie began to lose that sense of who she was. Sofia was funny and Callie found it hard when she was put in a situation where she had to tell Sofia off because the little girl had an answer for everything. The only person who she didn't back talk was her grandpa. If anyone loved Sofia more than Callie did, it was probably going to be Carlos.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned five, she began kindergarten. Callie knew she was going to cry from the moment she saw Sofia come down the stairs, complete with her monkey backpack. Callie put her lunch in her bag for her and prayed, prayed that Sofia would have an easy life at school, a much easier life than her mama's. At the end of her first day of kindy, Sofia was so excited. She made lots of friends and was already excited to go back to school tomorrow. Callie was so pleased for her daughter but a little sad at the same time. Sofia was growing up and Callie couldn't believe she had already had five precious years with her daughter.
When Sofia Lucia Torres was six, Callie decided to become a police officer. She had always wanted to be a police officer and everything that happened with Mark Sloan only made her more determined when Sofia was old enough. Carlos and Lucia played a huge role in Sofia's upbringing in this stage as Callie worked her way through to becoming a cop. It was a long hard and gruelling process, that took a good few years but Callie was determined to get to the very end.
By the time Sofia Lucia Torres turned 10, Callie was an actual police officer. Not on probation anymore, Callie had the badge and the gun and she was so proud. Best of all, Sofia was proud of her mom too. The two of them had a close relationship that was strengthening each day and Sofia cheered the loudest when Callie got her badge. Two years as working as a cop in Seattle, Callie was horrified when she saw Mark Sloan again, his arm draped around a girl much younger than he was. She faked a stomach bug and escaped work, her heart was pounding and she felt dizzy. Once she was home she threw up in the toilet with tears streaming down her face.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned eleven, Callie was itching to get out of America and begin her life somewhere new. So when a job opportunity in a small Australian town came up, Callie jumped at the chance to take it. Her male colleagues smirked, figuring she couldn't hack being a cop in Seattle and were glad to let her take it. They knew the workload would be a lot less anyway. Callie's parents were devastated when she told them the news, although they knew she had been a little shaken by Mark's presence ever since and wanted Sofia out of there. They were happy for them, although they would miss their wife and granddaughter very much. It took a while for them to move to Australia, there was a lot to sort out like a school and a place to live. They found a small place near the beach and Sofia would attend Summer Bay High when she moved to Australia as she would then be twelve years old. It was sad leaving Seattle, but Callie knew she had made the right decision and Summer Bay was everything she hoped it would be.
When Sofia Lucia Torres turned twelve, they had settled into their house in Summer Bay. Sofia loved living in Australia where it was sunny and she could hang out on the beach with her friends. Callie loved her job too, it wasn't as much work as being a cop in Seattle which meant Callie had more time to spend with Sofia before Sofia didn't want to hang out with her mommy anymore. Callie met some great friends and had established a close friendship with a fellow cop Teddy Altman. Sofia was thriving at school and they were really adjusting to living in Australia. Callie also became friends with two doctors who were her neighbours, Meredith and Derek who were a little older than what she was and had one child who Sofia was friends with called Zola. Callie felt safe, she felt there was nowhere safer to be than Summer Bay and she had no problem allowing Sofia to play without being under her mother's watchful eye. They knew the whole town and the whole town knew them too. Callie missed her parents but this was where she belonged. Shortly after that, she began to think about dating which surprisingly Sofia urged her to do. Callie began dating a woman called Bianca for three years before Josie decided to call it a day. Callie was heartbroken, she loved Bianca with all her heart and Josie was the first woman Callie slept with.
Now Sofia had just turned sixteen and was beginning to sit her exams. Callie hoped she'd do everything she could to go to University and was thrilled that she was interested in Meredith and Derek being doctors that she wanted to study medicine. When Sofia turned sixteen, she got her first boyfriend, a tall guy called Casey who was already known to Summer Bay Police because of who his family were. Casey Robbins was the younger brother of Tim Robbins and Arizona Robbins, two surfer gang members, known for handling stolen goods in Australia. It wasn't all that surprising to Callie that there was a female gang member until Callie saw the woman for herself. They were approximately the same age, but she looked so innocent, like butter wouldn't melt. Casey had the same look on his face. Callie and Sofia began to argue over Sofia's relationship with Casey, now that the surfer gang had arrived in Summer Bay. They had money, so it was no surprise that they brought into a restaurant, co-owning with Summer Bay local Angelo Rosetta who was finding it hard to keep his business afloat whilst supporting his wife Nicole and their son George. Callie was told to keep a close eye on them, alongside her partner Teddy Altman who was fast succumbing to the charms of Tim Robbins, no matter how hard Callie told her it was wrong.
This gang was infuriating and Callie was more determined than ever to do her job right, whilst making sure Sofia steered clear of Casey. Only she didn't know what was in store quite just yet…