Title: White Wedding: A Father's Love
Author: Elocing
Rating: K
Summary: Colonel Robbins and Carlos Torres toast their daughters at their wedding reception. Purely Fluff.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and profit from nothing. No Beta. All mistakes are mine
Author's note: This is a one shot but I may write a few more wedding or honeymoon moments. We'll see how the comments go. Constructive criticism is welcome and seen as love. You may want to listen to the song Hear and Now by Luther Vandross on You tube before reading this. It is totally not necessary but it will set the mood for the beginning.
Calliope Torres could not ever remember being as content as she was at this very moment in time. In the arms of her new bride feels like where she was always meant to be. Both Callie and Arizona had drank a few glasses of champagne and were more relaxed than they had felt all night.
The couple swayed back and forth on the dance floor to the song Here and Now by Luther Vandross. The entire room seemed like it had faded away an only they existed for each other. Callie knew that they should be mingling with the crowd and showing their appreciation to all of their guest but she just couldn't break the spell she was under and in all honesty she really didn't want to. So instead, she pulled the blonde tighter and bend her head slightly so they were cheek to cheek. Arizona smiled and let out a satisfied sigh. The brunette whispered in her ear "you complete me." Arizona almost burst out laughing at her wife's cheesy reference to one of their all time favorite romantic comedies but instead she found herself captivated by Callie's melodic voice as she began to sing the song they were dancing to into the blond's ear. Arizona leaned further in and closed her eyes as her bride privately serenaded her.
"I look in your eyes and there I see
What happiness really means
The love that we share makes life so sweet
Together we'll always be
This pledge of love feels so right
And, ooh, I need you"
There was nothing more sensual to Arizona then when Callie sang to her. She pulled her head back and gazed into the chocolate colored eyes. The blonde leaned in and captured the ruby lips in a slow and lingering kiss. Just as the two began to deepen the kiss and get lost in each other's embrace they heard cheers and whistles from the crowd. Arizona smiled and reluctantly pulled away from the kiss. The brides both smiled brightly and pulled apart to a respectable distance. Arizona flushed deeply as she saw her usually stoic father standing on the sideline with champagne in his hand smiling at his only daughter.
It was time for the toast and Callie and Arizona had decided that they would allow their fathers to each speak . Mr. Torres went first as everyone gathered around to listen.
The debonair older gentleman had to take a moment to gain his composer as he blinked back the tears glistening in his eyes as he began to speak.
"I almost missed this. I almost allowed tradition rob me of this moment with my beautiful daughter."
Callie beamed as her father looked her in the eyes and continued.
"I once thought that my job as a father was to protect my daughter at all costs. I wanted to protect her from the harsh realities of life and I never wanted to see her hurt. I feel as if our hearts are connected by an invisible string of love and when she hurts I hurt. At age two and a half she got her first scrape on her knee from falling off her tricycle after running over a tree stump. And, oh man, I nearly ordered our helicopter to immediately take her to the best hospital in Florida." A few chuckles went around the crowd.
"And that is why I would not have chosen this path for my daughter."
Callie looked down at the floor and Arizona tightened her grip on her bride's hand continuing to listen.
"I didn't want her to encounter the hurts that were sure to come. But… I was looking at things all wrong. When she got up from her scraped knee I saw a look of fierce determination that I had never seen before. My Calliope got up off the ground and turned and kicked that tricycle. She then jumped back on riding even faster than before. She is strong and fearless and yes… she is who I raised her to be. The look of triumph on her little face as she mastered that tricycle made my heart swell. So I know, that because my heart is attached to my Calliope's, when hers soars mine has no choice but to follow. And you Arizona make her heart soar. I know this because I feel it too." He placed his heart on his chest. "Thank you for making my little girl happy and I pray that you continue to grow your family together. On this day I give my daughter to you to love, cherish, and soar together."
The crowd erupted in applause and everyone was teary eyed . Both Callie and Arizona had tears streaming down their faces and huge smiles dominated their faces. Mr. Torres went up to the brides and embraced his daughter first and then he embraced Arizona. He whispered to her "I am honored to have you as a daughter. Welcome to the family mija."
As Colonel Robbins stood up to speak a silence fell over the crowd. Arizona looked expectantly at her father hoping that he was pleased today and the choices she has made with her life. She had always craved for his approval and all though he has been nothing short of supportive her whole life, she is still intimidated by his clear authority. Callie placed and arm around her shoulder and Arizona leaned into the solid strength of her wife.
"As you all know I am Colonel Robbins of the United States Marine Corps. My life has been dedicated to living up to the values this country was built on. The values of freedom, sacrifice, tolerance, and pride. I love my country as much as I love the air I breathe."
Arizona tensed hoping that her father was not going to give his patented "country over all else" speech after Carlos' eloquent tribute the couple. Callie, feeling the change in her wife's demeanor began rubbing circles in her back to ease her tension. She leaned over and whispered "give him a chance."
Colonel Robbins continued, "What you may not know Is that I am also just Daniel. Father to Arizona and Timothy. "
At the mention of her brother's name Arizona's head snapped up and tears sprang to her eyes. She knew that mentioning her brother, in this setting in particular, was extremely difficult for her father.
"When Timothy was born Arizona looked up at me with those big four year old eyes and said 'Daddy, he's mine right? I can keep him forever, can't I?' and I told her yes. From then on she treated him as her most prized possession. She was fiercely protective over and loyal to Tim." Daniel began to wipe the tears from his eyes and then looked at his daughter. "Forever was too short and I'm sorry about that baby girl. I miss him too."
Arizona was openly weeping at this point and Callie pulled her into a tight embrace.
"When your brother died I thought that I would never see you happy again. I thought that my little girl had lost that innocent sparkle in her eyes. The child like part of you that believes in forever. Until you meant Calliope Torres. She has given you back what I couldn't," he straightened himself up to full stature, " and for that I am eternally grateful to her."
Callie beamed as she dabbed at her eyes with her father's handkerchief.
Arizona gasped as her father brought out a candle and a framed collage of pictures of her brother with his army dog tags as the centerpiece of the frame. A caption in script was written across the bottom that read "I'm in heaven dancing so hard. I love you sis."
Arizona looked over to her mother and beamed. She was the only other family member who knew Tim's response to her coming out to him. She looked back to her father no longer attempting to wipe the tears that long ago had ruined her makeup.
At that moment Colonel Robbins lit the candle and said, "He would be so proud baby girl. So proud. This candle is a testament to the love between you and your brother and a foreshadowing of the love that you will carry into life with your new family. And always remember to build your family's foundation on honesty, loyalty, love, and commitment. I love you"
The crowd was stunned into silence by the intimate outpouring of love they had just witnessed. As people were passing around napkins to use as makeshift handkerchiefs Jackson Avery began the slow clap. As everyone joined in Arizona embraced her father and then her mother as the family stood and looked at the glowing candle. Arizona then turned around and held her hand out for Callie to join them around the candle. Arizona beamed and said "you complete me too."With all of the emotions of the day coursing through their bodies they could no longer hold back and both women burst into laughter as some guest looked confused but the Seattle Grace onlookers smiled and knew exactly what that meant. A new beginning.
