Disclaimer: I own nothing! (and I am owned by my muse)

I do tend to borrow somethings sometimes, but I promise to put them back where I found them when I'm done.

(I'll even alphabetize them upon return if that's what tickles your fancy)


"The night sky was dark." the woman whispered menacly.

"How dark?" came the hushed reply.

Peeking over the top of the novel, Callie raised an eyebrow. "We've read this book a million times, mija, you know the entire thing by heart."

With a huff, the child rolled her eyes. "You're not doin' it right, Momma."

"Sorry."

"Mommy always says, 'never say sorry if you don't really mean it'." the girl quoted, complete with tsking finger and serious face.

"You're getting way too good at that." the Latina chuckled.

After throwing her arms into the air dramatically, Sofia poked her mother's leg. "Come on, Momma!"

"Right, right. Sorry, my little knucklehead." Looking up, she caught a glare. "What? I meant it that time."

"Mommy says nick names can be hurtful."

Callie rolled her eyes. "That's just because she doesn't like it when your dad calls her 'Blondie'." she pointed out.

Continuing her glare, the girl added a heavy sigh and an arm cross. "You're 'posed to be nice, Momma."

"Exactly what part of that was about ME being mean?"

"Momma!" the girl huffed. "You're bein' a bad sample."

"Bad EX-sample, mija. I am not a piece of cheese." Callie laughed lightly.

Sofia eyed her mother carefully. "What kind of cheese?"

"Maybe we do spend too much time together." the Latina smirked, kissing the top of her daughter's head.

"Besides," she continued. "Although some nicknames are meant to hurt or tease, most are said with love, and those are the ones that are okay to say."

The child looked thoughtful. "Like when Mommy calls me baby girl?"

"Exactly, sweetie."

The girl quickly made a face, then grinned. "I guess that one's okay too."

"No more Knucklehead?" her mother's lip quivered as she pouted. "How about Joint-in-the-finger?"

Sofia rolled her eyes again. "They're the same thing, Momma."

"Okaaay. How about Princess?"

"Momma! I'm too big for Princess!" the girl huffed.

"You're never too big to be a princess, mija." her mother smiled as she kissed her forehead. "Alright, come on big girl, it's past your bedtime."

"But...but...you said I could stay up late!" the child scoffed as she was tucked in.

"I did, and you have. It's 9 o'clock, mija." Callie pointed to the girl's bugs bunny clock.

"I can't tell time!"

"Yes you can."

"Oh..." Sofia shrugged. "Can I stay up later?"

"No."

"Can I stay up just 'til Mommy gets home?"

"No."

"Can I have a glass of water?"

"You have one right beside you." The Latina pointed out, smirking as the girl leaned over to inspect the contents of the cup.

"Can I have a new one?"

"No."

"Can I..."

"Go to sleep, Sofia." Callie's Momma voice took over as she slowly closed the door, being sure to leave it cracked and the hallway light on. Satisfied, she started down the hall.

"Momma!"

She turned to find her daughter peeking out from behind her baby blue doorway.

"Yes, mija?"

"Can we read some more?" the girl asked, sticking her arm through the opening and waving the book about.

"No we can't, Sofia. It's bed time."

The girl pinched her face in thought suddenly.

"How come Mommy doesn't like it when Dad calls her 'Blondie' but she stills calls him a manwh..."

"SOFIA ROBBIN SLOAN TORRES!"

Her daughter threw her arms into the air. "WE'RE NOT 'POSED TO YELL IN THE HOUSE, MOMMA!"

"THEN STOP YELLING!"

"YOU STARTED IT!" the child pointed out before placing her wrist to her forehead and sighing dramatically. "I can't sleep now."

With a roll of dark eyes, Callie held out her hand. "One chapter."

"Yay!"

Armed with the novel under one arm, she picked up her daughter with the other. Hoisting the now giggling girl over her shoulder, she walked them back to the child's bed. Once Sofia was tucked back in to satisfaction, she curled up close to her mother.

"From the beginning?" she asked sweetly.

"Seriously, mija?"

"Yes, Momma." she yawned widely then added, "Please?"

"Fine." her mother agreed, turning to the first page. "And thank you for saying please." she felt her daughter nod.

"The night was dark." she started, her voice low.

"How dark?" came the half awake response.

"It was as dark as the souls of evil doers." she whispered, smiling as she felt her daughter snuggle closer.

"And once again, the Evil Professor, Vile Niltha was up to no good." they said in unison just before the child fell asleep.


The icy rain tapped the glass in tune with some old, forgotten melody. The forecast called for snow, and seemed like it wanted to keep that promise. Somewhere along the way the cable had gone out, leaving a grumbling Latina continusly switching between the 3 remaining channels. When her frustration finally won over, she turned off the T.V. with a growl and flung the remote.

With a huff, she wiggled down into the couch, trying to find some sort of comfort. But, was she shifted from one side to the next and back, it became apparent that there was none to be found. With a sigh, she picked herself up and mosied over to the window, frowning at the sight.

The sky looked pissed, and quite frankly, it was really starting to dampen her mood. "Please be safe." she whispered to the darkened world outside, hoping it cared enough to listen. As if on cue, the door behind her opened, and as she turned she couldn't help but smile. There, in the dimly lit doorway, stood a very wet, half frozen Peds surgeon, holding a plastic container and a broken duckie umbrella.

"So...how was your walk home?" she approached cautiously.

Placing both hands on her hips, the blonde glared. "Really Calliope? Really?"

Gesturing to herself, she huffed, dropped the now useless umbrella to the floor, and began to peel her jacket off before shoving the container into the Latina's hands. "Here."

"My cupcakes!" smiling brighty, The Latina leaned down and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman, placing a kiss upon her cold lips.

"I love you."

The blonde looked sceptical. "You love the cupcakes."

"Yes, I do." she beamed. "But, you're the one that brought me cupcakes, therefore, I love you as well." she explained, kissing her wife again.

Arizona became thoughtful. "I'm not sure if I want love by association."

"You should take what you can get." Callie stated with a soft chuckle. Her mirth turning into an outright laugh when she felt a slap to her ass.

The blonde chuckled as she snuggled further into her wife's warmth. "I missed you guys." she sighed contently before pulling back a little, making sure to keep her hands inside the Latina's pockets where it was warm.

"Did you have any trouble getting her to sleep?"

"A little. I mean, she is kind of an evil genius." Callie pointed out.

"She got you to let her stay up again, didn't she?" Arizona chuckled.

The Latina shrugged. "She usually gets what she wants, just like her mom."

"Because her mother's a big softie." the blonde teased.

"I am not! You take that back!"

Arizona laughed as she kissed her now pouting wife. "Face it and embrace it, Calliope."

"Pfffft." The Latina made a face, then smiled brighty. "Our daughter's birthday is tomorrow." she whispered.

"I know! I'm so excited!" the blonde exclaimed, bouncing up and down on her toes. "For her, I mean." she sobered. "I'm excited for her."

"Oh, of course." the brunette nodded.

The Peds surgeon frowned briefly. "You think the weather will hold?"

"God, I hope not. I plan to see palm trees by mid morning." the Latina kissed her wife's nose, earning her a chuckle.

"So, you know I have to ask..." the blonde turned, walking towards their room. "Why did Baily make you sprinkle cupcakes?" hearing herself, she shook her head. "No, wait. Back up. I need you to start with the how. HOW did you get Miranda Bailey to make you sprinkle cupcakes?"

Container in hand, the taller woman followed. "She owed me a favor." she shrugged.

Arizona rolled her eyes. "Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not."

The blonde turned to narrow her eyes at her wife's bird eating grin. "Okaaaay, now to the why..."

"I like cupcakes."

"I don't think that explained anything outside of your head, Calliope." she replied as she kicked of her shoes.

"Last week, we bought our daughter a cake." the Latina explained. "Or, really, you bought a cake because you wouldn't get the one I wanted."

Arizona rolled her eyes at her wife's pout.

"Callie, how many times do I have to tell you, Cookie Monster is YOUR favorite, not Sofia's." she reasoned. "She likes Spongebob."

"Whatever. I still think we should have voted."

"I'm going to need you to focus."

"Right. So, you got this mediocre yellow sea sponge cake, which could have been this really great blue..."

"Let it go, babe."

"But it was frickin' cute!"

"Fine. I'll get you one for your birthday, okay?"

"I think I can deal with that." Callie nodded happily. "Now, anyway, you know how much I like cake. Cake is the best. Second only, of course, to cupcakes." Bringing the container to eye level, she smiled before making it dance. "Because cupcakes are just like cake, with all their glorious deliciousness, only smaller and conveniently portable." She added, beginning to moving her head in time with the treats.

The blonde stopped unbuttoning her shirt and knit her brow. "I'm not really sure that explains..."

The brunette carefully placed her plastic treasure chest inside their top dresser drawer before turning back to the blonde.

"Did you, or did you not say, and I quote: 'Do not touch this cake, Calliope. It's for Sofia's birthday, Calliope.'" She quoted, being sure to incorporate a pointing finger and a head bob.

The blonde smirked. "Is that what I sound like in your head?"

"Yes, but only when you're being a meanie." the brunette stuck her tongue out before starting to unbutton where her wife left off.

"I think you spend too much time with our daughter." The blonde chuckled softly, undoing her belt. "How about we long story short this, and skip ahead to the point?"

The Latina shrugged as she helped the other woman out of her jeans. "You brought me cupcakes so I won't try and eat the cake."

"Oh. Well then, I'm a genius." Arizona stated as she pulled off her shirt en route to start the shower.

"I have always thought so." the brunette called after her.

"Ha! Suck up!" came from the other room right before blonde curls reappeared around the corner suddenly. "You still owe me a new umbrella though."

"Whatever the lady wishes." Callie replied with a deep bow, her smile growing as the blonde stepped closer.

"I want one with butterflies!" Arizona laughed, grabbing the front of her wife's tank top, pulling her towards the running water.


A/N: Yes, I am aware that there is ALOT of talking going on, probably more than need be, really. But, as I myself am quite the chatterbox, I suppose it was bound to happen. After all, 'conversations' is the title, so I'm chalking it up to fair warning. Besides, I was going to do the story through interpretive dance, but quite frankly, I just couldn't get it to work out on paper.