Summary: For the first time, the Robbins and Torres clans are all under the same roof. And you thought Arizona had authority issues before. Part four of the Muddy Buddy world.
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Me: And here is story three! Ya'll asked, so we delivered, enjoy!
Not me: Hey everyone, we're back! I really hope y'all enjoy this story.
Callie makes herself comfortable on her plane while waiting for the pilots to notify her for take-off. Arizona is comfortably seated next to her, filling out a stack of forms required by the state for them to adopt. Every time it seems they finish one pack, they get another, though Arizona is quick to fill it all out with her ever present smile, just as she easily accepts the hormone injections that they both have to take for the IVF they'll be starting at the end of the summer. As they begin the taxi to the runway, Callie thinks back on the night that Arizona told her she wanted to start a family. They had just had a mentally relaxing week, followed by a mentally taxing week that all ended with the knowledge that they had just saved a tiny human. Out of everything that Callie thought would come out of Arizona's mouth, what did was not something she expected.
"I love you, Calliope Torres." Arizona whispered, biting her lip. "Calliope?"
"Yeah?"
"I want a baby."
"Really?" Callie turns to her with tears in her eyes, almost expecting the blonde to change her mind.
"Really. I know, I'm going to be an overly neurotic mom that worries over every scrape and bruise, but I'm ready. I want to start a family with you." Callie smiles broadly, leaning in for a kiss, keeping it soft.
"So, do we kick Christina out? Or do we find our own place?"
"I vote for finding our own place… if we have a daughter I want her kept far away from Mark Sloan." She answers with a chuckle that Callie returns easily.
She's brought out of her musings when she feels Arizona's hand in her own. The paperwork has been put away and she feels the plane level out at cruising altitude, on their way toward Baltimore. They'd offered to fly down to San Diego to pick up Daniel and Kerry before crossing the country to pick up Erin, Jamie and Matty before continuing down to Miami; but Daniel and Kerry planned to fly down later that day, after having dinner with the family of one of the men Danny saved before he died.
Arizona leans back, weaving her fingers with Callie's thinking back on the previous evening. Together they had agreed to keep the baby discussion to themselves for the time being, knowing that their fathers would request a wedding and not wanting their moms to go crazy planning one before said baby makes an appearance.
"Nice bird you've got here, Torres." Callie looks up to see Matty enter, dressed to the nines in his summer whites, removing his cover as he enters. "Much better than the ones Uncle Sam sets me up on."
"Some people get first year medical school tuition for their 21st birthday, CIT here gets her own plane." Erin follows her brother on board, followed by her husband, who is lugging their bags on board.
"Hey, you don't appreciate it, you can go fight your way through commercial." Arizona defends Callie, looking from one to the next, expecting a reply, she ends on Jamie, the only one who didn't comment. He holds up his hands in resignation.
"Hey, no complaints from me, I never got to ride on one of Uncle Sam's rides, despite being one of his misguided children – at least not that I remember." He stores his bag in an overhead compartment before doing the same with Erin's and taking a seat.
"You were in the military, Jamie?" Callie was unaware of this. He seems so jovial compared to Daniel and Matty, who despite their easy going nature have their moments when you can see they appear to be carrying around the weight of the world.
"Second Lieutenant, Second Marine Division, Combat Engineer. I was in Iraq for about 10 minutes when my base was hit, I took a piece of shrapnel to the side, woke up in a hospital in Germany less one kidney. Two weeks later I was sent home for the duration."
"Just in time for the Christmas festivities with our folks at his parents' estate." Erin concludes, stroking his face fondly with remembrance of the week they first met.
"I don't mention it much, I was hit so early on my first tour, I don't particularly enjoy calling myself a veteran, certainly not like Matty and Daniel are."
"I can respect that. So, how are you feeling these days, Erin?" Callie changes the subject easily, questioning how Erin's pregnancy is progressing past the halfway point.
"Not too bad these days. I do enjoy having a personal masseuse at my every beck and call as my body starts to elongate into odd shapes and forms, throwing my natural body aesthetics off balance. How's it feel to be a Harper Avery recipient?"
"Pretty surreal, especially since I'm only a second year attending, and ortho rarely gets this kind of acknowledgement."
"Who were you up against? I know there was an ENT that did some sort of research on restoring the hearing in deaf children; then there was the vascular surgeon that headed up the team that created the artificial heart. And then there was a cardio thoracic guy up for his second Harper Avery-,"
"Preston Burke." Callie supplies. "There were more than a few sighs of relief that he didn't get it, no one wanted to see another article posted on the surgical bulletin board about his successes."
"He used to work at Seattle Grace-Mercy West?"
"Yup, until the day he left Christina at the altar."
"Christina? As in Christina Yang? Christina Yang was engaged to Preston Burke?" Erin can't seem to believe this revelation.
"Yup. So, out of curiosity… who's going to be taking your spot in the Muddy Buddy this year?"
"Mac will," Matty answers. "She'll be flying down later tonight and driving to your folk's house with Mom and Dad."
"Awesome," everyone on the jet smiles at Arizona's trademark word coming out of Callie's mouth, though wisely they keep their mouths shut. "It'll be great to see her again. Though one of you might have to sleep on the pullout couch in my dad's office, we only have three guest rooms."
"I thought there were four?" Arizona questions.
"There were, yes; a pipe burst in the bathroom next to the one on the first floor and there was a ton of water damage, so there's nothing in that room at the moment save for some soggy, rolled up carpet waiting to be carted off."
"That's cool." Matt cuts in. "We can sleep in the same room, it wouldn't be the first time we've had to share a room." Something in his voice causes everyone to whip around toward the young sailor; slowly, knowing smiles appear on each of their faces, save for Erin, she's got the smirk that everyone knows screams 'danger, Will Robinson, danger!'.
"So you two have finally pulled your heads out of your sixes and acted on the attraction everyone but you two have been aware of for the past 12 years, huh? It's about dang time, kid."
"Best not let the Colonel know, he'll be demanding that you take the office and let Mac have the bedroom." Jamie speaks up. "Wait," he turns to Callie, "your folks aren't the type that demand separate rooms like the Colonel does, are they?"
"So long as you keep it down, they don't particularly mind, no."
"I thought the rooms were sound-proof?" Arizona comments with a tone that would sound innocent to all those that don't know her. "Or was it just that we weren't anywhere close to anyone else?"
"The second one, likely. Cause if Sophia heard anything, she definitely would have asked us what the noises coming from my room were."
"Lalalalalalalalalala, I can't hear you! Lalalalalalalala!" Erin has her fingers in her ears, like Matty, though the younger Robbins is merely humming to block out the sound of the conversation. Jamie, on the other hand, is sitting by amused. He's become a master at reading the expressions and tones of the older Robbins' child, and he recognizes that the two women are teasing the younger siblings.
The following two hours are filled with teasing and jesting, and a little conversation on Matty's legal cases as well as how finals and graduation went for Jamie. Arizona questioned Erin about how Abby Gibbs was doing now that she was back home and recuperating while Matty disappeared into the bedroom area of the plane to change out of his summer whites. There had been an incident that morning that required him to make an appearance in the office, which unfortunately left him no time to change out of uniform in order to make it to Baltimore in time to meet up with Erin and Jamie for the flight.
Once landing, everyone exits the plane to find Aria waiting for them a ways off, leaning against an SUV. Callie drops her bags just shy of her sister to draw the younger woman into a hug while Arizona holds everyone else back to allow them a moment to themselves. Eventually they separate and introductions are made before they load up the vehicle and proceed on their way towards the Torres Manor.
"So, how is school going, Aria?" Callie questions from her spot in the middle chair. She knows her baby sister just registered for her first year at University of Florida, Miami.
"Well, I've signed up for a few summer courses – just some general courses – I'll probably be able to get away with being undeclared for about a year."
"Any ideas?"
"Medicine, maybe?" Erin questions with a grin. During one of their many conversations in Seattle, Arizona had clued her into what had happened with the younger Torres sister earlier in the year and the life changes that she was making as a result.
"Not for me, thanks. Three doctors in one family is more than enough." Everyone smiles at the readiness in which Aria welcomed Erin into the family fold given that they'd only met ten minutes prior. "I figure maybe business. I've helped Mama with enough of her parties to know every caterer, florist and decorating company in Miami well enough to have them follow me if I were to open my own party planning company."
"That sounds awesome, Aria. And you know your mother just might hand over her client list if you're willing to bring her on as a consultant."
"I doubt that I could afford her." Aria responds to Arizona's comment, smiling at her in the rear view mirror, sharing a laugh. "Well, here we are." She pulls up to the front door of the Manor, shutting off the car and leading everyone out into the sunshine.
"Whoa." Even Jamie stops short at the sight of the Torres Manor, and he's no slouch to large, fancy homes, having grown up in the inner circle of DC's wealthy and elite.
"Home sweet home." Callie leads them up to the front door.
Callie, Arizona, Jamie, Erin and Matty walked into the large living room behind Aria. "Mama, Papa, I found some strays on the side of the road and brought them home."
Andromeda walked out, dressed in a flowing white and blue dress that made her look ten years younger. "Welcome everyone." She smiled, hugging each of them. "Aria and Callie will show you to your rooms and you can freshen up a little before dinner."
"Alright troops, move out." Aria laughed, showing Jamie and Erin to a room with a beautiful view of the ocean and their own bathroom because of Erin's need to pee every half hour like clockwork.
"Nice." Erin moved into the room, Jamie carrying their bags.
"Don't mind me everyone." He said, making his way into the room. "I'm just the man servant."
"You knew when you married me that you would be." Erin said, looking at the carved wood on the walls.
Aria took Matty to the room across the hall. "Here you go." She smiled at him before leaving.
Arizona and Callie walked to Callie's old bedroom, putting their things down on the floor by the bed before collapsing on it. Arizona moved so Callie could spoon her, Callie willingly doing so. "It's going to be a good trip I think. As long as we don't kill our younger siblings and our mother's don't start planning a 2,000 person wedding." Callie laughed against the back of Arizona's neck.
"I want a small wedding, just our families and friends there." Arizona smiled, her eyes closed, moving deeper into Callie's embrace. "I want our fathers to both walk us down, one after the other. I want to promise you things that make you laugh and cry at the same time. And I want a full on make out when the preacher says you may kiss your bride."
Callie blushed a little. "We may have to practice that. We haven't made out before." She teased the woman in her arms. "I mean at least not in the last half hour."
Arizona turned over and kissed Callie, her tongue plunging into the Latina's mouth. She pulled back before Callie could commit to the kiss. "Like that?"
Callie smiled breathlessly. "No I think more like this." Callie moved her hand to the back of Arizona's head and pulled her into a deep kiss. Both women laughed as a moment after they started to make out three groans came from the door.
"Time for dinner you two." Aria had her hand over her eyes, trying to act like they were caught in the middle of sex.
"Oh grow up you three." Arizona laughed as she and Callie got off the bed. "It's not like all of you haven't made out before. Well except Matty."
"Hey!" Matty protested. "I've made out a bunch, with hundreds of women." He said, trying to protect his manhood.
"Hey, me too." Arizona smirked as she and Callie walk hand in hand to the dining room.
Carlos was already seated at the head of the table, Andromeda on his right. Aria took the spot on the left, Callie and Arizona on the left and Matty, Erin and Jamie alone the other side, three spots empty.
"What's for dinner tonight Mama?" Callie asked, knowing whatever the chef made would be really great.
"I thought tonight we would have Ropa Vieja, Shredded Beef Stew with Peppers, Onions and Tomato." She explained to those who didn't know. "With grilled bread underneath it. One of my favorites."
A big dish, enough for twice as many people was brought out with a large plate of the grilled bread. One the table already was a few side dishes, wine, juice and milk.
"It smells really good, Mrs. Torres." Jamie smiled, getting some wine for himself and juice for Erin.
"I've had a craving for something like this for weeks and I couldn't find it." Erin wasted no time putting the bread in her bowl and filling it with the Ropa Vieja. She was eating for two now, anyone who looked at her could see how she glowed and see the bump under her shirt.
"Do you have to do speaking engagements for your award?" Andromeda asked her oldest child.
"Yes. I have to speak at the Harper Avery dinner in a month then I have to speak at the Seattle Grace – Mercy West Ball that Derek decided to have this year." Arizona took Callie's hand under the table, knowing just how much she hated to speak in public.
"And I will be there to make sure she doesn't pass out and break her neck when she falls off stage." Arizona playfully teased. Callie blushed but she didn't say anything back, she would be getting Arizona for that later.
"Does family get to attend these engagements?" Carlos asked his daughter.
"Yeah, you all should get your invitations in about a week for the Harper Avery dinner, it's in Washington DC. I can invite 11 others so just family fills up the talk, Aria you and Matty can each bring a date." Both blushed, knowing just who they would ask to join them.
"Hey, is that a volleyball court?" Matty asked, looking out the large window.
"Yes, do you play?" Aria asked.
"We all do. How about a little friendly game after dinner?"
"Erin and I can sit out." Aria offered.
"Hello, anyone here?" Jesse Cardoza called as he walked in. In the last few months he had been around enough he was given permission to come in without knocking.
"Hey." Aria said enthusiastically, before blushing.
Arizona and Callie shared a look but didn't say anything. "Jesse this is my sister Erin, her husband Jamie and my brother Matty. Everyone this is Jesse Cardoza, he's a CSI."
After everyone was introduced Jesse sat at the end of the table. "What's going on tonight?" He asked, looking at Aria a second longer than the rest of the table.
"We're playing three on three volleyball." Callie smirked. "You, Matty and Jamie against Arizona, Aria and me. Erin do you mind keeping score?"
"Nope. We here are more than happy to." Erin patted the bump, smiling.
After dinner was eaten, and the table cleared, Aria, Arizona, Callie, Matty, Jamie and Jesse went to change. Jesse kept an extra suit here; oddly enough it was in Aria's room. The three women in bikinis; Callie was in dark purple, Arizona was in baby blue and Aria was in black, the boys all came down in board shorts, flexing on their way to try to look intimidating.
"Best two out of three, play till 21, must win by two?" Callie asked the boys.
Everyone nodded and took their places on the court. Erin flipped a coin and the boys won serve, she rolled them a ball and the game begun.
Both teams played hard, not wanting to lose to the others, they were covered in sweat and sand. The girls had a lot more skill overall than the boys but the boys were talking and hit the ball a bit harder. After two and a half games it was 1-1 and the third game was 19-19.
Callie walked back, handing the ball to Arizona so she could serve. "Serve to Jesse's right." She whispered before taking her spot. Arizona did as Callie told her, putting it just to Jesse's right. He moved to get it, his feet crossing the other, he touched it just before it fell to the ground. Callie smirked to herself, he always tripped over his feet when he went to the right.
"20 serving 19." Arizona called before she served the ball. Matty dug it to Jesse who set it to Jamie who hit it square into the net.
The three women laughed and ran to each other, hugging even though they were sweaty and covered in sand.
"I think the losers should have to go get the winners some beers." Callie laughed at the three boys.
"I'll do it." Jesse offered.
"I'll help." Aria smiled at him.
Callie almost swore she saw them hold hands as they walked into the house. She shook it off as a figment of her imagination.
Erin's pocket buzzed, she said a silent prayer that it wasn't the hospital. When she looked at the caller ID she took a deep breath. "Hey Mom."
"Our flight is delayed because of the weather, Mac, your father and I should be there about 9 tomorrow morning." Kerry said from the other end of the line. There was a huge lightning storm over the airport.
"Alright Mom, I will tell everyone." Erin smiled.
"Give everyone my love."
"OK Mom, love you, too."
"Sorry Matty you are going to have to sleep alone tonight." Erin told the group. "Mom, Dad and Mac won't be in until 9 tomorrow morning."