A/N: This fic won't be updated as frequently as my other story, because that's just ridiculous and I'm amazed that I've kept it up for so long. But you can thank JCLuv for being the reason this chapter is up! If she had have picked a different number I could have ended up doing some silly like school work or cleaning, gross.
Arizona and Tim made their retreat after dinner, helping their Mom take everything back to the kitchen before escaping to the basement with their donuts.
Up until the Colonel had moved out the basement had always been his place, but it hadn't taken long for Tim and Arizona to make it their own. They didn't have many expenses living at home so they had decided to spent a sizable chunk of money making the rec. room their own; what was once boxes and an office type space was now outfitted with a leather couch and two of the biggest, comfiest chairs they could find, along with a flat screen tv and their gaming systems. They liked having a space where they could just be themselves without having to hang out in each other's rooms and somewhere where their mom or step-dad would be hovering around.
So now they were sprawled out in their chairs with the box of donuts on the stand between them. Tim was flopped in his chair with the footrest out, one leg stretched out and the other thrown over the arm of the chair, laptop perched on his lap. Arizona was sideways in her chair, legs tossed over one arm with her head resting against the other, with her laptop resting on her lower stomach.
They'd sit like that, night after night, for probably what would be considered longer than healthy. They'd exchange jokes or fun facts they came across, sometimes telling the other to go look at something for themselves if it was longer or hard to explain.
Between the two of them there was never a shortage of ideas, and that gave way to countless hours spent researching and talking themselves out of said ideas. Other nights were literally just spent wasting time watching stupid videos or reading stories. They always found something to pass the time, and if they weren't wasting time in their little cave, they were outside racing around the neighbourhood on their bikes or roller skates; they were as well known around the neighbourhood for their races as they were at the daycare for wearing their Heelys.
x-x
The next morning arrived and as they were standing in the kitchen chugging down some orange juice when both of their phones rang within seconds of each other. They both glanced at the clock to make sure they weren't late before distancing themselves to take their calls without having to talk over each other.
"Daycare week." They both said.
It had happened a few times before, if either the daycare or animal shelter happened to be short staffed for the day their bosses would arrange for them to both work at the same place for a day. It seemed as though this time they might be working together for a bit longer as one of the daycare workers had quit after being the victim of one too many kicks to the shins.
They grinned and shrugged, and made their way out. It was better than fighting over who went to which job today, and they would get to ride together and save the use of one of their cars.
They knew that when the two of them were together they could almost be as much trouble as the whole group of kids, the other workers would roll their eyes and pretend to be upset with the tables turning against them but they were secretly glad. When the Robbins' worked together the kids were not only over the moon with the "adults" indulging them, but they were also worn out in record time.
The two blondes working together just generally made everyone's day a little better.
x-x
They pulled open the big glass doors of daycare with big smiles on their faces. They kicked their wheels out and glided across the smooth flooring to the reception desk to see what if there was anything they needed to know about today.
Just as they were told that it was just another day they heard a giggle that seemed to be getting closer.
"Big birds!"
They grinned and spun around to see one of their favourite tiny humans. Zola wasn't much for verbal communication yet but ever since she had heard that their last name was Robbins she had taken to calling them Big Birds. It made them think of themselves as giant yellow birds but it didn't really matter when they looked down at the adorable little girl beaming up at them with her little arms tucked in like wings.
"Little bird!"
They both crouched to be at her height and held up their hands for high fives.
Meredith was smiling just as much as her baby girl as she watched Zola put one of her hands to each of the offered hands to high five the Robbins'. She loved it when they were both working, Zola was always so much happier when she got picked up; they just seemed to know how to handle the kids, and she couldn't really say the same about some of the other daycare workers, and certainly not the manager, . Honestly, if it weren't for Arizona and Tim she probably would have looked for a different centre for Zola.
"See you later, Zo-Zo!"
She waved until Zola disappeared back into the daycare with Arizona and Tim and then made her way to the hospital for the day.
x-x
By the time the nap time had ended, one of the kids had revealed that he had snuck in a pair of battle helicopters which quickly turned into an argument between the kids and the caretakers about whether or not the toys would be allowed.
Some of the older kids had realized that it was a battle they were quickly losing and chimed in.
"What about if Tim and Arizona use them and we just watch?"
They knew it wouldn't be the same as battling by themselves, but they knew that watching Tim and Arizona compete for anything was a good show.
"We can totally do it!" Arizona piped up
"Yeh, we'll sacrifice ourselves for the cause!" Tim added, both of them trying to suppress their grins
"Fine. But you're responsible if anything goes wrong." The other worker huffed and left.
The kids all gathered around in a wide circle while the helicopters were prepped. Some of the more restless children took markers and paper to create signs to cheer for their favourite, pretty much a perfect 50/50 divide between Team Awesome, Arizona's team, and Team Super, Tim's Team.
Tim and Arizona stood opposite of each other in the circle and squared the shoulders, narrowing eyes and cocking eyebrows, putting on a show for the kids. Looking on to the scene from a distance it would almost look like an old western showdown with tiny humans everywhere instead of tumbleweeds and old wooden buildings.
Tongues peeked out as helicopters bobbed and weaved around each other. Tiny gasps came from the little crowd when there were near collisions between the two 'copters.
'snickt' A big communal gasp as the blades of Tim's helicopter brushed against one of the decorations hanging from the ceiling.
'Whoooooa' Little eyes widened in rapt fascination as Arizona's chopper miraculously recovered mid fall and shot back up
'Ooooo' Utter delight was shown at the neat tricks Tim was doing as Arizona's tiny craft followed
The helicopters dipped and dived, circling around each other in the tiny area. Tim and Arizona were fully invested by this point; they crossed that line a while ago.
The two helicopters kept climbing higher and higher, both Robbins distracted by keeping out of the reach of the other's infrared beams, each of them had already received two hits, the next hit would declare the victor.
Helicopters suddenly dove in opposite directions and dipped slightly just to shoot back up, both blondes attempting the same trick to fool the other.
'snick-t-tt-crinkle-tsscht'
Everyone looked up with their mouths hanging open in disbelief – both helicopters were twisted up and hanging from the streamer/string combo that had been used to keep some of the paper mache creations suspended above the play area.
The sound of the first round of parents coming to collect their children garnered a collective groan; there was no choice but to leave it a tie.
A few tiny humans from Team Awesome had dubbed Arizona "Air Zona" and insisted upon being "flown" to their awaiting parents; she went with it and appointed Tim a co-pilot to help clear the kids out; she wasn't just going to let him stand there while she ran back and forth carrying kids.
Parents just looked on in amusement as they watched their kids land bum first on the reception desk after being delivered via "Air Zona", most giggling and launching into their tale of the 'epic helicopter battle' that they were just witness to.
As the last kids left and it was finally time to lock up, they had to admit that it was a pretty good day. They just hoped the rest of the week would be the same.