Title: Perfectly Imperfect

Author: HandsThatHeal

Pairing: Callie/Arizona

Rating: M/NC-17 (For Future Chapters)

Summary: Big changes bring big upheaval as Callie and Arizona find themselves alone for the first time in years. Will they be able to happily adapt to this new life without their children under their roof or will they now find that they have nothing in common in the absence of the ties that bound them together for so many years? Sequel to Clarity.

Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, songs, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.


Chapter Two


(Arizona's POV)

They say there's a distinct beauty combined with an explicit challenge to being a mom. As tightly as I would like to hold on to my precious little ones, I will eventually have to let them go and, with each letting go, I'll be forced to watch all three of them step further into the unique women or man they now are, embracing their strengths, challenging their weaknesses, and learning what it is to be human.

It takes courage and wisdom to become that cognizant and fully conscious mother of grown adults and, while I love my children with all of my heart and all that I am, I've recently realized that over the years, I've slowly but surely been relinquishing the reins bit-by-tiny-bit so that eventually, my precious babies will be able to assume full responsibility for their own lives.

And that. . .is no easy task. In fact, it's harder than I ever anticipated it would be, because there's a fine line between renouncing my responsibility for them and not letting go of the beautiful relationships I've developed and nourished with all three of them throughout the years. It's a precarious system of give and take, and it's important to realize that letting go doesn't imply less of a loving relationship, but a change in that relationship, an alteration that will eventually allow me to enjoy my kids as fellow adults. It's simply a matter of letting go of who they once WERE in order to embrace who they now ARE.

But unfortunately, that's not as simple as I'd like it to be; it's honestly. . .hard as Hell. It's like I just turned around and my three babies were twenty-five, twenty, and eighteen. It's a shock to the system because I have no idea where the time has gone. Wasn't it just yesterday that Sam was taking his first steps, or Olivia was skipping off to school, or Sofia was going on her first date? I can't believe how much time has passed, and I want so desperately to hold on. I want to keep them safe and protected in my loving embrace.

Well, at least the overprotective part of me does. . .

The more rational part of me wants to be able to respect them and honor them as independent adults, and I know that I need to draw a line and maintain boundaries between being a supportive and helpful mom versus an overbearing and intrusive one. I need to learn how to treat them as nothing less than the women and man they are today, in order to have a loving relationship with them in the future. Treating them as they were yesterday, just won't work. It will never work, and I've begrudgingly come to terms with the fact that this will most likely be the most emotionally difficult transition Callie and I have ever had to endure. Fortunately though, she and I are a team, and we are wholly determined not to make the mistake of denying Sofia, Olivia, and Sam the respect they deserve.

Just thinking about my babies growing into the amazing adults they now are makes me beyond proud, but overwhelmingly sad at the same time, and it's going to take Callie and me some time, but we need to somehow come to terms with the fact that this house, the loving home where all three of our children grew into the adults they are today, is no longer a nest to house our baby birds, but instead, a net to catch them if they should happen to fall.

Our family has now reached a place of preparation, a launching pad of sorts, a commencement into our children's futures, and while my wife and I would love to have Sofia, Olivia, and Sam home with us forever and ever, we both know that is an irrational expectation. Instead, we must deliberately make the distinction between 'caring for' and 'taking care of' our children and, at this point in time, Calliope and I have to hope that we haven't missed anything, that we haven't failed to cover even the smallest of practical lessons.

Will Sofia be able to file her taxes? Can Olivia change a flat tire? Can Sam do his laundry without turning all of his white socks pink?

While I know they can do all of these things and that they have learned these simple lessons at home and elsewhere in life, I still can't help but hope that they'll turn to us when the need arises. I can't help but long for the morning when one of them will be standing in their kitchen pondering the act of balancing their checkbook or scrambling an egg. . .and our telephone will ring.


Stepping through the kitchen door and onto the patio, one arm holding a bowl of pasta salad, a pitcher of Sangria in the other, Arizona set the bowl onto a long wooden outdoor dining table before pouring herself a generous amount of the cool beverage into a poco grande glass. Topping it off with an umbrella straw, she smiled as a round of infectious laughter, from somewhere in the yard, caught her attention.

Looking up in the direction of the cheerful noises, her eyes landed on Olivia who was desperately attempting to drag her much larger baby brother to the ground as he successfully continued to evade her with a football tucked in his arms, a squealing Sofia thrown over Caleb's shoulder to keep her away from her teammate as he carried the ball toward the goal. Arizona couldn't help but chuckle at the site, completely unsure of how Sofia and Sam had ended up on a team against Olivia and Caleb and, as she continued to watch, she ruefully shook her head as Sam hopped one legged into the makeshift end zone, which she assumed was just past a flowering cherry tree, with Olivia firmly holding onto one of his knees as he dragged her along with him.

With another shake of her head, she sighed, turning back toward the dining area and, with a dimpled grin lighting her face, she couldn't help but stare at her very own Grill Master who stood slaving away over their meal; Callie's long brunette hair was bundled high atop her head, the caramel skin of her neck glistening with just a bit of sweat from the warmth of the June afternoon and the heat radiating from the grill.

Admiring her wife for several long moments, the heavenly aroma that only a barbecue could induce assaulting her senses, Arizona soon stepped up behind Callie, her left hand coming to lovingly rest at the small of her back. "Smells amazing!" she commented, pressing a gentle kiss to the prominence of her wife's jaw.

Callie smiled, leaning down to give her wife a more thorough kiss and, pulling back, she slowly licked her lips. "Mmmm, Sangria," she hummed, her own mouth now flavored by the remnants of the fruity beverage that lingered on those of her wife.

With a beaming grin and a sly wink, Arizona handed over the glass she held in her free hand.

Happily accepting it, Callie took a sip from the straw, her tongue immediately poking out to swipe a drop from her bottom lip. "Mmmm. Excellent. I think after all these years, you've finally perfected the recipe."

"You like?" Arizona asked, stealing back her glass.

"Mmhm," Callie answered, stirring the vegetables in a grilling basket atop the grate. "You know, I can remember a time when hot dogs and hamburgers were all they'd eat," she mused as she continued to work, once again commandeering her wife's beverage to take another sip. "But today, Sam wanted filet. Olivia wanted salmon with avocados, and Sofia wanted chicken and grilled vegetables."

Glancing down at the massive amount of food on their huge state of the art gas grill and what she assumed was even more goodies marinating in a container off to the side, Arizona couldn't resist teasing her wife. "Well, what about me? What about what I want."

Callie seemed to momentarily ponder her wife's question and, with a sultry smirk, she leaned forward, her teeth nipping at an ivory earlobe. "I'm fairly confident I gave you what you wanted. . .last night. Twice, in fact. And once again this morning."

With a wicked gleam in her azure eyes, Arizona's head tipped back with laughter and, wrapping her arms around her wife's neck, she pulled her down to intimately join their lips. Both women reveled in the essence of the Sangria mixed with the unique taste of her lover, each wife becoming intoxicated by the flavorful combination.

They kissed for several long moments and, finally pulling back, Callie found herself lost in the eyes she'd been gazing into for the past twenty-seven years. With one final peck to reddened lips and with a playful swat to a perfectly rounded bottom, she then turned her attention back toward the grill.

Hopping up onto a bistro stool, Arizona took back her glass, content to chat with her wife while watching their grown child playing like they were kids again. The sight of the three, plus one newcomer, warmed her heart, but she also found herself unable to fend off the overwhelming sense of sadness that now filled her soul at the thought of their daughters leaving to go back to school the following day. One week with their family back together again certainly wasn't enough.

"I was thinking since Sofia and Caleb have to be at the airport by nine in the morning, but Olivia's flight doesn't leave until one, maybe we could get Sofia and Caleb all squared away and then have breakfast at that one little restaurant at the airport. The one that's kind of out of the way. . ." she trailed off, her eyes shifting upward from the chicken breast she'd just flipped, trying to remember said restaurant's name. "What's that place called?"

Arizona remained silent, her fingers aimlessly fiddling with the open heart pendant on the chain she'd been wearing for the greater part of twenty-six years as she stared out at the four people running around on their perfectly manicured lawn.

"Arizona? Are you listening to me?" Callie asked when her question went unanswered. "Arizona?" she called again, glancing toward her wife.

Arizona visibly shook herself from her silent reverie, the sound of her wife's voice calling her name finally penetrating her reflective mind. "What? Oh, I'm sorry. It's Anthony's. That place, umm. . .I think it's called Anthony's."

Callie nodded in agreement, but realizing from the far off look in her wife's beautiful cerulean eyes that she was off processing something somewhere far-far away, she closed the lid of the grill, stepping in front of Arizona to rest her palms on khaki capri clad thighs. "You okay?" Callie whispered, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss against a smooth jaw, her own cheek lingering to press against a much fairer one.

Arizona smiled slightly, relaxing at the sensation of Callie's body against her own, a sigh leaving her lips as she tipped her head forward to comfortably rest her forehead against her wife's shoulder. "I'm. . .okay," she softly replied before straightening back up so she could look into Callie's eyes. "I'm just sad they're leaving."

Callie pursed her lips, her eyes reflecting sympathy and complete understanding as she lovingly ran her palms up and down her wife's legs. "I know, sweetie. Me too," she earnestly admitted, taking Arizona's hands into her own. "But, they have to go back to school."

Arizona nodded, lacing her own pale fingers through caramel ones, her attention trained downward as she fiddled with Callie's wedding ring. "I know."

Callie remained silent, allowing her wife a few moments of quiet introspection. Knowing that Arizona had fretted over their daughters' departure the following day, on top of the subject of Caleb's desire to marry Sofia for the past week, she had to hand it to Arizona for keeping herself together fit as long as she had.

But, Callie was also well aware that they still hadn't given the poor guy any sort of response concerning his request, she decided to take a chance, finally broaching the topic that had been thickly hanging over them for the past week. "I know we've been putting it off, but they have to leave tomorrow, Arizona, and we've yet to talk to Caleb about. . ."

Arizona blew out an exaggerated breath, shaking her head. "I know. I know," she interrupted, waving Callie off before the actual words could come falling from her wife's beautiful mouth. "I've just been. . ." she trailed off, closing her eyes. Gathering her thoughts, she once again opened them, staring over her wife's shoulder with narrowed eyes as she watched Sam pick up Sofia to carry his teammate into the end zone. "I've been going over and over the thought of Sofia getting. . ." she paused again, and after surreptitiously searching her surroundings, she lowered her voice, "married. . .every day since Caleb asked. In the shower. In the OR. In my dreams. . .and I-I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some concerns."

Nodding her head, Callie leaned back slightly so she could better see her wife's face. "Me, too," she agreed, swallowing hard, one hand reaching out to nervously fidget with the wide strap of the dark pink tank top her wife was wearing. "So, let's talk about it," she urged with a tight nod. "We have some time before dinner."

With a defeated sigh, Arizona knew this conversation indeed needed to happen and, taking the hand that now rested on her shoulder, she laced their fingers together, pressing her lips to the back of a tanned hand. "I know I'm just being a mom, which probably means I'm also being a little irrational and more than a little overprotective, but I think my concerns about this are quite valid, Calliope," she began by way of explanation before she had even spoken one word of what was causing her apprehension.

Lovingly gazing at her wife, Callie nodded her head as she quickly gathered her own thoughts. "You're not just being a mom, Arizona. Well, you are, but please tell me what's going on inside your head, honey," she requested, knowing that when her wife got on a rambled roll, it could take hours to bring her back down to earth and to the point of the matter. "We can't have a conversation about this unless I know what you're thinking."

Arizona momentarily stared at her wife, her mouth opening and closing twice before she felt truly together enough to speak. "I'm thinking. . .should we talk to Sofia about this first? Should we warn her? Well, maybe not necessarily warn her, but at least, tell her? I mean, how do we even know she wants to marry him?" she ranted, her hands gesturing around her body to emphasize her words.

Callie incredulously stared at her wife; of course Sofia wanted to marry Caleb, that much was obvious from the conversation they'd had with their daughter about her boyfriend the night before Sam's graduation, not to mention the time they'd spent with the young couple over the past week. "Arizona. . ."

Realizing from the look on Callie's face and the tone in her voice that this particular argument was thoroughly inadequate and quite ill-conceived, Arizona sighed, pausing to carefully choose her words. "Th-they're both still students, Calliope. And, does he plan on proposing right away? A-a-and if he does, how long will they be engaged?" she fired off in rapid succession, barely taking the time to breathe. "And if they get married right away, how will they support themselves throughout the remainder of med school and then residency?" she continued. "I mean I know we're here for Sofia; she's got money saved from her summer jobs, and certainly has more than enough in her trust fund, but what about him? Is Sofia going to be supporting him throughout the remainder of their schooling? Is he financially stable?"

Callie nodded her head, finding this list of worries completely rational. "I totally agree with you, and I think we need to talk to him about all of these concerns," she replied, grabbing the hands of her adorably flustered wife. "I don't think this is something we should keep quiet about, and I think we're right to voice our opinions. We have lots of life experience that, if Caleb is as miraculous as Sofia insists he is, he won't mind listening to and taking into consideration."

Arizona sighed, her gaze dropping to the stone pavers beneath her before popping back up to stare into the magical brown eyes of her wife. "When did I become the crazy one in this relationship, and you the rational one?" she asked, leaning forward to hug her wife.

Callie chuckled softly, turning her head so she could press a loving kiss against intoxicating pink lips. "Mmmm, just today. Tomorrow I'll be the crazy one."


(Flashback: Nine Years Ago)

"Shit! Shoot! Damn it!" Callie cursed, juggling two boxes of pizza and two grocery bags in one arm, her purse and laptop case over her opposite shoulder with three more totes full of food held tightly in her hand, a set of keys dangling from her teeth. "Don't hate me!" she called into the bottom floor of the house after dropping her keys onto a small table near the door. "I know I said I was going to grill tonight, but surgery ran long. So. . .who wants pizza?" she sheepishly asked the empty room, nearly tripping over a football and a backpack as she precariously toed off her shoes. "Sam! Olivia! Come get your shi-stuff out of the middle of the floor!" she yelled, fighting mightily with some fancy footwork to not drop the load in her arms.

When the house remained silent, Callie sighed, kicking the ball out of her path. She remembered a time not so long ago when she was greeted at the door by an excited eight-year-old Sofia, showing off her latest A+ paper, an exuberant three-year-old Olivia, animatedly chatting about the latest picture she'd drawn in day care as a one-year-old Sammy cruised his way around the furniture, mere moments away from letting go and toddling his way toward her to cling to her leg.

Wondering what had happened to those days, she started toward the kitchen, but paused when the pizza boxes almost slipped from her hands. "Olivia! Sam! Please come get your stuff and take it to your rooms," she repeated, once again moving through the house to unload the bags and boxes in her arms.

But, before she could make it, Arizona appeared from the kitchen, a brightly colored beach towel draped over her right shoulder. "Hey! There you are," she happily stated, taking the pizza boxes from her struggling wife's grasp. "The kids are in the pool. Why don't you go outside with them, and I'll put this stuff away."

Callie smiled in thanks, setting the bags atop the kitchen island. "I'm so sorry I'm late," she spoke, leaning down to peck at her wife's lips.

Arizona offered her an understanding wink before pressing herself upward to capture her lips in a more thorough and proper welcome home kiss. "Now, go before one of them tries to drown the other," she stated with a smirk. "I'll bring the food out when I'm finished. Wine?" she asked as an afterthought.

Callie blew out an exaggerated breath and with an adamant nod of her head, she honestly spoke. "Yep. Just bring the whole bottle."


Ten minutes later, Arizona stepped onto the patio to find her wife seated at the pool's edge, her pants rolled up to her knees as her feet dangled into the water. "Bailey told me about your surgery. How'd it end up?" she asked, pouring Callie a glass of Merlot.

Callie sighed, shaking her head as she turned in her wife's direction. Knowing exactly what that dejected look meant, Arizona didn't ask anything further, pulling up a chaise lounge so she could sit behind her, two girly hands immediately coming to Callie's shoulders to knead the tense muscles she found beneath her blouse.

They sat in silence for several long moments, watching their children play; an eleven-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy, both with penetrating brown eyes and raven locks, each taking turns doing tricks off the diving board.

"Since when do they not hug me when I get home?" Callie sadly asked, leaning further back into her wife.

Arizona tipped her head to the side, pursing her lips in concentration as if she was figuring an obscure math problem. "Well, by my estimation, Sofia hasn't for about four years, but these two. . .I'd say that's been about a month and a half," she teased, leaning forward to rest her chin on her wife's shoulder.

Callie smirked upon hearing her wife's response; she already knew the answer, but hearing it aloud made the feelings of nostalgic dejection even worse.

"Hey, at least I still love you?" Arizona commented, pressing her lips to a caramel cheek. "In fact, I can't get enough of you."

Shaking herself from her melancholy reverie, Callie couldn't help but return the stunning smile Arizona offered her. "Love you, too," she whispered, quickly moving out of the way as Sam's football came flying across the pool, bouncing inches from where they sat.

"Sorry, about that," he immediately apologized, quick feet padding around stone pavers to retrieve the wayward ball.

Arizona smiled, tousling the unruly wet hair atop his head as he passed. Out of all three of their children, Sam had always been the best-behaved, always wanting to please his mothers and everyone around him even though he did tend to be incredibly ornery and persistently rambunctious more often than not. "Put your stuff away and get dried off. It's time for dinner," she then informed. "Come on, Olivia. You, too."

Pulling herself into standing, Callie reached down to take her wife's hand, tugging her up along with her and, starting toward their outdoor dining area, she paused, quickly glancing around. "Where's Sofia?" she asked, glancing first at her wife, and then back toward a sopping wet Olivia.

"She's in her room getting ready for her date!" the girl answered, her voice sounding way too smug for her age. "She's been up there for hours changing her clothes and putting on make-up."

Callie's eyes narrowed upon hearing her daughter's response, Olivia's slim form now tightly wrapped in a towel as water dripped from her wet locks. "Wait, wait. What? I thought THAT was tomorrow night," Callie spoke, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Nope. It's tonight," Olivia simply answered, her voice taking on a tattle tale tone. "He's coming to pick her up at seven."

Glancing from the little girl toward her wife, brown eyes questioningly searched knowing cerulean ones. "I specifically remember her asking to go to a movie with Thomas on Saturday night, Arizona. And though I've had an admittedly terrible day, I'm fairly confident that today is Friday, not Saturday," she carried on as she passed out paper plates.

"Their plans changed at the last minute, Calliope," Arizona calmly explained, placing a slice of pizza on Sam and Olivia's plates.

Callie shook her head, wondering how her Type-A know-it-all wife was not freaking the Hell out about the sudden change in the day and time of their daughter's first official date. "Well, I didn't know anything about this, Arizona, and I certainly didn't know he'd be coming to get her. I thought we were dropping her off at the theatre and then picking her back up."

Taking her wife's flailing hands into her own, Arizona momentarily paused, carefully choosing her words. "She called me about it this afternoon. You were in surgery, so I didn't want to bother you," she began to explain. "I didn't think pushing their date up one day would be such a big deal."

"A CAR DATE is a big deal!" Callie immediately argued. "I mean, you are aware of what happens in the back seats of cars, right?" she incredulously disputed before closing her eyes and swallowing hard. She honestly couldn't believe she was taking the idea of Sofia going on her first REAL date so negatively. She was supposed to be a COOL mom, not one who freaked out at the drop of a hat, and certainly not one who behaved like her own father. Shit...she really needed to get it together and, slowly opening her eyes, she sighed, feeling slightly comforted by the steady calm she found in her wife's eyes.

"She's sixteen, Calliope, and Thomas is seventeen. I think. . ."

"B-b-but we were going to talk to her about s. . ." Callie trailed off in her interruption, looking behind her to see Olivia and Sam chowing down, and lowering her voice so they couldn't hear, she finally continued. ". . .stuff."

Arizona nodded her head. "Already done," she insisted.

"Curfew?"

"Eleven," Arizona quickly answered.

"Phone?"

"On at all times."

"Letting us know when she gets to wherever they're going and if she leaves to go somewhere else?"

"Text as soon as she gets to the theatre for the movie and text again before she goes elsewhere."

"And if we call her?"

"She has ten minutes to respond."

"And if she doesn't?"

"We'll call her until she does."

"And then?"

"If she still doesn't answer, we bust up into the joint like the freaking Gestapo."

Callie rolled her eyes at her wife's response but then sighed, wracking her brain for anything else she could possibly think to ask. Finding nothing, she visibly deflated. "Mother of the Year," she sheepishly grumbled, her eyes momentarily gazing downward before she glanced back up in Arizona's direction. "How the Hell are you so calm? And when exactly did I become the crazy one in this relationship?"

Arizona laughed at her wife's response, shaking her head as she pulled Callie into a loving embrace. "You're just crazy today, and I'm just the mother who happened to be here," she coyly replied.

Pulling back from Callie's arms, Arizona stared into still worried chocolate eyes before gently placing her palms at the sides of caramel cheeks. "She's going to be okay, Calliope. She's sixteen. She's a good girl, and she's never given us any reason NOT to trust her."

Before Callie could respond, she heard the kitchen door open and, turning around, both mothers' bodies went tense at what they saw. Sofia now stood on the patio, ballet flats and dark washed jean capris covering her long legs, a salmon colored tank top with lace trim adorning her torso as a gray sweater hung over her bent arm. Her wavy raven hair had been straightened, just a touch of make-up lighting her flawless caramel face.

"You look beautiful, Sofia," Arizona breathed out after several long moments of silence.

"Too beautiful," Callie grumbled so only her wife could hear.

Arizona playfully swatted at Callie's arm with the back of her hand before stepping around the table to lovingly brush a stray lock of raven hair behind their eldest daughter's ear.

All too soon, the sound of unfamiliar footfalls coming through the garden gate interrupted their brief moment; the boy making his way toward them had curly light brown hair, the yellow polo shirt he wore, ill-fitting as it hung from his slender form. "Thomas," Sofia greeted, stepping from between her mothers to stand next to the slightly taller boy. "Thomas, these are my moms. Moms, this is Thomas."

Arizona smiled, warningly squeezing Callie's hand when she heard her wife once again grumble under her breath. "Hello, Thomas."

"Hey, Dr. Robbins," he goofily greeted.

An awkward silence permeated the area and, receiving an elbow in the ribs from her wife, Callie finally stepped up, anxiously running her hand through her hair. "Look, Thomas, I'm just going to cut to the chase here. I. . ."

"Mami!"

"Callie!"

Completely brushing off her daughter and her wife, Callie stood toe-to-toe with the shorter boy, her hands now resting on the curve of her hips. "I just need you to know a little bit about the cargo you're carrying in your car with you," she informed, her voice slightly cracking. "She's precious, okay? So, NO speeding. NO showing off because you think you're cool. Hands always at ten and two, and never. . .NEVER take your eyes off the road. Got it?"

Thomas swallowed hard, his hazel eyes widening when he realized that Dr. Torres was not kidding with him in any way. "I. . .umm. . .yes. Dr. Torres. Ma'am. Your honor. I. . .umm. . .I-I-I. . .I got it."

Callie couldn't help but smirk at the nervousness she imposed on the seventeen year old boy, her demeanor softening when she finally turned to take Sofia into her arms. "I love you, mija. Have a good time."

Pulling away from Callie, Sofia fought the urge to roll her eyes at the over-protection of her mother, but thinking better of it, she moved toward her other mother. Hugging Arizona goodbye and waving at Olivia and Sam, she then stepped through the gate, softly closing it behind her.

Watching the hinge click shut, Callie then leaned forward, the wind completely knocked out of her entire form. "I'm seriously gonna puke."


At precisely 11:01pm, Callie heard a key in the front door and, looking up from the SUDOKU puzzle in her hand, she smiled as Sofia made her way into the living room.

"Hey," Sofia greeted, sitting on the couch next to her mom as she pulled off her shoes. "Where's mom?"

Setting the newspaper to the side, Callie watched as her daughter removed her sweater, draping it over the arm of the sofa. "She got paged into the hospital right after you left. She should be home any minute, though."

Sofia nodded her head, tucking her legs beneath her to get more comfortable on the cushion nearest her mother and, after sitting in silence for several long moments, Callie finally decided to speak. "Did you have a good time?" she cautiously asked.

Sofia shrugged her shoulders, picking up the blanket that was covering her mother's legs so she could cuddle up next to her. "It was okay, I guess," she answered, resting her head against Callie's shoulder. "Thomas is a little too. . .wimpy for me."

Callie smiled slightly, biting her bottom lip in an attempt to resist the urge to laugh at her daughter's response before wrapping her arm around her shoulders. Pulling the blanket more snuggly around them, she then handed Sofia the remote so she could find something for them to watch on the TV.

When her daughter settled on a repeat of Frozen on the Disney Channel, a movie she'd watched ad nauseum between the ages of three and four, Callie couldn't help but feel that maybe being the mother of a teenager wasn't so bad, after all. Their relationship was obviously changing, but Sofia clearly still loved her, still valued their time alone together, and Callie was perfectly okay with that.


After assuring their children had eaten their fill of the barbecued feast Callie had created, she and Arizona sat side by side on a glider in their favorite spot in the garden and, with crickets and other nighttime creepy crawlers happily chirping and buzzing their own special tune, one fair hand grasped tightly to a caramel one as they watched Caleb approach them from inside the house.

Nervously taking a seat in a chair across from them, he smiled, though the sigh that emanated from his chest proved his anxiety.

"Caleb. . ."

"Dr. Robbins, I'm sure you have a ton of questions," he quickly butted in, unable to stop himself. "And you definitely have that right. Sofia is your daughter, and I completely respect the fact that you and Dr. Torres most likely have some concerns about the fact that I want to marry her."

Arizona nodded her head, glancing between the young man and her wife. "Yes, Caleb. We do have some questions and concerns, like. . ."

"Like when do I plan to propose and how long I'd like to be engaged before the wedding, or-or-or how we'll support ourselves," he rattled off, scratching the side of his head as he watched one set of blue and one set of brown eyes widen in surprise at his nervously rambled interruption.

Anxiously shifting in his seat, Caleb then sighed, trying his best to compose himself in the face of his girlfriend's admittedly intimidating mothers. "Sorry. I'm sorry," he apologized, standing from his seat and beginning to pace around the stones of the patio beneath his feet. "It's just. . .the two of you, well. . .you make me very nervous."

Arizona felt almost giddy at the thought; her mind immediately jumping to a time when Carlos Torres had scared the shit out of her but, choosing to spare the poor guy any further distress, she bit her bottom lip in a valiant attempt to keep a straight face.

Caleb apprehensively ran his hand over the top of his blonde hair and, inhaling a deep breath to try to calm himself, he sat back down. "I. . .I've been thinking of proposing sometime soon, but I don't want to get married until after we're finished with Med School," he finally offered.

"So, a year?" Callie asked, still holding her wife's hand.

Caleb nodded his head in affirmation. "And then, things are a little uncertain when it comes to residency but, I'm hoping that if we're married, we'll at least be able to get into residency programs in the same city. I know Sofia wants to stay at Hopkins, and I'd never ask her to give up her dream of being Chief Resident just like you were, Dr. Robbins, so. . .I'm willing to stay. I'm willing to do anything and everything in my power to make your daughter happy."

Callie and Arizona shared a poignant look, both pleased with his answer, but concerned all the same. Early in their own marriage, both women had travelled the path of desperately trying to make the other happy in the face of their own despair and, the fact that this young man was so willing to potentially make the same egregious mistake, was definitely a cause for concern.

"What about you, Caleb? What about what you want?" Callie asked, her tone sincere.

Caleb nervously squeezed his hands together as he considered his response. "To be completely honest, I. . .I'll be happy wherever Sofia is. She's the most important thing in my life, and I. . .I just never really had a dream like hers. I always wanted to be a doctor, and I worked hard to get where I am today, but other than that, I know that I'll be happy with any good residency program. As long as I'm with Sofia, I'll always be happy," he trailed off, swallowing hard. "I love your daughter, and I can't imagine my life without her. She's strong, and caring, and honorable. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

They sat in silence, Callie and Arizona staring at the blonde haired man who now refused to drop their gaze. "What about money? How do you plan to support yourselves through residency?"

"I've had a job since I was sixteen. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to, and umm. . ." he paused, attempting to clear his throat of the lump that had formed there. "My dad. . .he umm. . .he died when I was twelve and left everything to me. When I turned eighteen, the money became available to me but, instead of spending it, I've been investing ever since."

Callie glanced sidelong at her wife who now wore a strangely relieved, but saddened expression on her face. "I'm sorry to hear about your dad, Caleb," Arizona honestly whispered. "Sofia lost her own father before she was even two."

Caleb nodded, acknowledging his awareness of Mark's death. "Yeah, she and I have talked about it," he replied, his voice taking on a distinctively melancholy tone.

Callie shifted in her seat, refusing to falter in the tight grasp she held on Arizona's hand; the thought of Mark no longer invoked the insurmountable sadness deep inside her that it once had, but instead, knowing that Sofia still found it important to speak of the father she barely knew, made her extremely proud. "That had to be difficult for you," Callie commented, fighting the urge she now felt to gather the young man into her arms.

With a slight shrug of his broad shoulders, unwilling to let the death of his father get him down, Caleb continued. "Yes, in the beginning, but it happened a long time ago, and while I'd give anything to be able to talk to my dad just one more time and to introduce him to Sofia, I think his absence has made me stronger. More self-sufficient. More reliable and more mature."

Taking in his words, Arizona slowly released Callie's hand and, standing from the glider, she crossed the garden to take a seat next to him in a nearby chair. Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together in front of her, her elbow resting on her thighs. "You know Sofia is precious to us, right?"

"Yes, Dr. Robbins, I know," he softly replied with a nod of his head.

"And no matter what, she'll always be our little girl," Callie earnestly added.

Caleb once again nodded in respectful understanding. "Of course, Dr. Torres."

"But, we've been watching the two of you together, Caleb, and it's clear just how much you love each other, and not just that, but how much you respect and value being a part of one another's lives," Arizona stated, hesitantly reaching out to lay her palm against his arm. "And so, we. . .we'd like to give you our blessing in marrying Sofia."

Caleb looked almost shocked, a large dimpled grin breaking out onto his face, one that made him look more like an eight-year-old boy than a twenty-five year old man. "Really?" he asked, his bright blue eyes quickly flitting between his two future mothers-in-law.

Callie gave a tight nod of her head, her own lips curling into a megawatt smile. "Really," she answered.

With a happy grin on her face, Arizona took Caleb's hands into her own, holding them tightly. "Welcome to our family, Caleb," she honestly spoke. "But, if you ever hurt her. . .physically or emotionally. . .I swear to God, I won't hesitate to kill you with my own scalpel."


(Callie's POV)

I remember very clearly when my kids were young, and the parenting advice that anyone would give was. . .they don't need a friend, they need a parent. Now that they're grown, however, I find that it's the opposite because, clearly, when the nest begins to empty, life changes. Those adorable silky-skinned little babies, once crying to be held and then contentedly nuzzling against my cheek, now need and crave freedom to explore life on their own, and like any adult, they don't want a micromanager choosing their playmates, fretting about how much sleep they get or worrying about how they spend their time. Instead, they're looking for the very thing I've always wanted to be, a wise and loving friend and mentor to all three of my amazing and miraculous children.

But, how do I do that? How do I restructure our relationship so that I'm neither too involved, nor so hands-off that there isn't much of a relationship left at all? And right now, where Sofia is concerned, how do I go from being just a mother to an appropriately involved mother of the bride?

I've been to seemingly hundreds of weddings, heard hundreds of tearful parents say sweet, embarrassing, and sometimes cringe worthy things about their daughters and new sons-in-law, but for me, this process, this change in our relationship is so much more than that. So much more than reciting words about love, trust, happiness, and the longevity of marriage, but instead, actually meaning them.

How do I watch my daughter take this man's hand in marriage and actually let her go?

I'm sure this will be a momentous time in our lives, a beautiful and awe-inspiring occasion for Sofia, but also for myself and Arizona, as well. We will witness our little girl step into the full bloom of her womanhood, watching her as she stands on the precipice of an extraordinary transformation. We will be letting go of our little girl, releasing our beautiful daughter, watching her loosen ties to her family of origin so that she can begin a family of her own. And that. . .allowing our family to let go of her so that an entirely new family unit may be formed, may be the hardest part of all.

But, I know Arizona and I are going to make this work. We are determined to be fluid in the changes that we know are around the corner, not rigid and unbending. At the same time, however, I know we need to remember that this period in our life is also a transition, a bittersweet time that may cause more than a few tears to be shed.

While we are ready to take on and embrace our new roles as 'advisors extraordinaire', we also know we need to be gentle with ourselves. We need to take time to grieve and reminisce while muddling through our new jobs as consultants and supporters instead of twenty-four/seven managers to not only Sofia, but to Olivia and Sam, as well.

Loving our children and being loved by them has always been our ultimate goal, but no matter how much we love them, we do not own them or have the right to live their lives for them. Our task was to prepare them for life and to support them and, unfortunately, sometimes being supportive means stepping back and watching all three of them develop wings of their own. Just like we had to let go and watch them fall when they were learning to walk, we must now do the same thing. Our input and advice is no longer the rule of the house or written in stone, but instead. . .it has become nothing more than a tool, a part of what our children now may use to make important decisions in their lives.

Growing up, Sofia, Olivia, and Sam lived under our roof and benefited from our provision for their needs, but now that they're young adults, the time has come to shift from the outgrown mother-dependent child mode to an emotionally healthy mother-friend mode and because of that, we are all taking our first steps into an utterly profound journey.

I know there will be ups and downs, bends in the road, and wrong turns along the beaten path, but we are all on this journey together. Arizona and I are committed to each other, to our children, and to this emotional migration, and we know it is going to be difficult, but letting go is the most benevolent thing we can do.

It won't be easy. It will take more than a little self-discipline, but our goal is nothing less than an adult-to-adult, friend-to-friend, equal-to-equal relationship between ourselves and our grown children.

So, maybe we'll turn our energy to ourselves. Perhaps we'll do all those things we always wanted to do, but didn't have time for between carting kids to swim lessons, art classes, and football practice while at the same time nurturing both of our flourishing surgical careers. Maybe I'll surprise Arizona with a trip to Fiji or Spain, perhaps a cruise of the Caribbean or the Greek Isles. Maybe we'll buy a vacation home at Big Bear, Aspen, or even Martha's Vineyard, I don't know, but what I do know is that she and I have done our very best, and while Sofia, Olivia, and Sam still have a lot to learn, we've taught them as much as we can.

And now, though it hurts my heart to even consider this option, it's time for me to join my wife and be a good man in a storm, as it is also time for our children to not only be who we raised them to be, but the beautiful, amazing adults they're bound to become on their very own.

The time has come. . .for us to let them go.