AN: Hi, everyone! I am glad you are all enjoying this fic. Just to clear a few things up/answer some questions:
- There will definitely be flashbacks and/or parts explaining back stories and history.
- Ratings may change later, but I'm not sure. I'm writing this in terms of their ages and although I have no problem with M high school things, for right now, the next few chapters will remain T.
- Calzonafan123: That was the original plan and eventually it'll be mentioned, but for right now, think of it as a compromise, mostly on Callie's part. She doesn't want Arizona changing anything about her life to take care of Mila (although, let's be real that's not flying with Arizona).
- Kyoshiob69 - She was with Leah before Callie, no worries!
If anyone has any other questions, comments, wants to know more "back story" stuff that is beyond what would be in a fic, feel free to leave it in the comments here or submit an ask on tumblr (buildyourownarchitecture)! Enjoy :)
Eyes shooting open in dread the next morning, Callie had a gut feeling it was way past 5:00 am, when Mila and her normally woke up and began their day. Her suspicions were confirmed after a quick glance at Arizona's alarm clock. Flying out of bed, she was halfway out of her pajamas when her second realization of the morning hit her. The clock read 6:20 and Arizona's room was silent. Noticing that the pack and play in the corner was empty, panic filled Callie's lungs before she reminded herself whose house she was in.
A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. "Come in," she called, distractedly and watched Barbara Robbins stick her head into the room.
"Good morning, Callie! I was just coming to check on you. Arizona said you showered last night after you got here and as long as you were up by 6:30, you'd be able to make it to school in time for homeroom."
"But-"
"Don't worry. She had a plan before she turned your alarm off. Daniel's home today so he can keep Mila. Breakfast is in the kitchen, if you're up for it." Slipping back out of the room to let Callie get ready, Barbara made her way to her own bedroom to change for work.
Without having had a chance to argue with her girlfriend or her girlfriend's mother, Callie realized Arizona probably set it all up this way on purpose. On any other terms, the brunette would have fought tooth and nail so that Daniel didn't "waste his day babysitting" and the Robbins wouldn't put extra effort into tackling her own responsibilities this morning. Smiling, she allowed herself a few moments to get dressed, brush her teeth, wash her face, and fix her hair. Sending a quick thank you text to her girlfriend, Callie swiped eyeliner and mascara on her face, and was downstairs with time to spare. Thankful that her girlfriend's house was in walking distance to their high school, Callie made her way into the kitchen and smiled at the sight before her. Daniel, sitting at the table, nursing a cup of coffee and singing nursery rhymes, had a giggling Mila on his lap.
"Good morning," she greeted, making a quick plate of eggs and Arizona's asinine vegetarian sausages, before sitting down across from Daniel and wiggling her fingers in a wave. "Hey, Mi!"
"Mama!" Reaching out, the one-year-old grasped frantically until Callie leaned over and plucked her across the table.
"Hi, baby. You having fun with your buddy?"
Her daughter's babbling began and Callie, trying her hardest to pay attention, dug into her breakfast while shooting Daniel an appreciative look. The man stood up from the table, taking his mug with him. "You two finish your good morning chat while I run up and change. Just yell when you've gotta head out."
Callie grabbed his wrist as he was walking past her. "Thank you," she whispered, looking up at Arizona's clone and willing herself not to cry. "Thank you for everything."
"Hey, sneak," Callie whispered, slipping into homeroom and poking Arizona in the hip from behind. The blonde was talking to one of the girls on her team, but quickly wrapped up the conversation.
"Cutting it close, hm?" Arizona teased after a glance at the clock hanging above their teacher's desk.
"Well, if someone's parents weren't such amazing chefs, I wouldn't have devoured food up until five minutes before school started."
Laughing, Arizona winked. "Did you eat my veggauges?"
"Your what?" Callie probed, pulling Arizona over to their seats by her elbow. Just because she got to school with seconds to spare didn't mean she wanted to be out of her seat and flirting with her girlfriend when Mrs. Vitale walked into the room.
Snorting, Arizona slid into her own seat and immediately twisted her body backwards. "My veggie sausages!"
"Oh my god. Turn around."
The bell killed Arizona's argument and with a quick smack of their lips, which Callie immediately swatted away at, the blonde flipped and crossed her legs, transforming into the picture perfect student. Rolling her eyes and giving the chair in front of her a swift kick when Mrs. Vitale turned her back, Callie grinned when her girlfriend's body went flying forward. The blonde quickly masked her laughter with a fake coughing fit, leading to their teacher and a few unobservant students asking her if she was okay.
"Fine, fine," Arizona promised, taking a sip of water from the bottle Callie's outstretched hand was offering. "Just choked on my own breath or something."
When all eyes were off the pair, Arizona obnoxiously slid down in her seat and rested her head against the chair back, letting her still wet hair fall onto Callie's planner. Feeling the other girl swipe it away, Arizona giggled silently.
"Stop. You win," Callie hissed, playful tone to her voice. Arizona shot back up and righted her posture and the brunette could just imagine the smirk on her girlfriend's face. Making a note to get back at her later, she tried to tune into the morning's announcements.
Sliding a soft pretzel and a cup of cheese sauce across the lunch table, Callie chuckled at her girlfriend's pleased face. She continued to laugh as Arizona immediately dug into the food. "Happy?" she asked, stealing a piece.
"Ecstatic! Thank you!"
"Mhm." Leaning a hand over, she let her pointer finger swipe cheese from the side of Arizona's lip, licking it off and then linking their hands. "I figured I owed you after this morning. Thank you, again. I don't say that enough."
Waving her free hand at Callie in dismissal, the blonde continued eating. "That's because you don't have to. But I thought you were mad at me."
Callie rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about your stunt in homeroom today."
Giggling, Arizona shook her head. "Whatever are you talking about?" Knowing Callie too well, the other girl quickly crossed her legs onto her seat to avoid the kick the brunette sent her way. "Stop kicking me!" she laughed loudly. "Where are you learning that? Mila?"
"Uh, Mi learned it from me, grasshopper."
Finishing the last bite of her pretzel, she waited for Callie to pack up the now empty container of her what was once chicken salad. With a quick glance to her watch, she stood up and outstretched her hand. "Care to join me for a 30 minute nap a la lip to lip in the back of my car?"
"You are truly an idiot." Standing up and throwing her trash away, Callie lifted her bag to her shoulder and linked hands with Arizona. "But I'll never turn down that kind of offer."
"Are you joking!"
Callie visibly cringed at her girlfriend's statement. They were sitting in their advanced child development class discussing a classmate's presentation on gender dysphoria, and one of their peers had just royally pissed her girlfriend off, big time.
"You must be joking."
Cringing again, Callie knew this was going to get ugly.
"Um no, I'm not joking, Arizona," Jen replied, turning to face the blonde sitting a few rows away from her. "I think it's insulting how rude you can be. This is a debate. You aren't always right."
"I never said I was always right, but I'm right about this."
"Ladies, I'm not going to tell you you can't explore your differing opinions, but I expect it to be done in an appropriate, respectful way," their teacher intervened, giving both girls a look that meant business.
"Well! In that case," Arizona began, flipping her hair over her shoulder and staring directly at Jen. "I respectfully think you're being ridiculous."
"Boys are boys and girls are girls, Arizona. There's literally no argument."
Murmurs began to circulate around the classroom, which were quickly hushed by their teacher.
"Exactly! Boys are boys and girls are girls and it doesn't matter what reproductive organs they're born with if their hearts and heads are telling them something different."
Jen rolled her eyes. "God wouldn't make them that gender if they weren't supposed to be that gender."
Closing her eyes for a moment to compose herself, Arizona sucked in a breath. "Jen, I completely respect whatever faith you believe in, but if you're going to use religion as an argument, back it up. I don't believe in God, but I'm pretty sure he's supposed to love everyone."
"He doesn't love you." Turning to the friend that shared her desk, Jen snorted. "He condemns gays."
Callie's heart jumped up to her throat. Arizona may act tougher than nails, but she knew her girlfriend well enough to know she was feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
"Especially gays who help unwed teen moms," Jen whispered, loudly enough for the class to hear.
Hand shooting up, Arizona spoke without waiting for their teacher to call on her or deal with the situation. "Mr. Spokas, I need to be excused."
"So mature to run away from your problems," Jen added. "I thought you could discuss this in a mature and respectful way."
Already packing up her things and sending Callie a look that conveyed a million different things at once, Arizona halted her motions and turned. "I'm not running away from the conversation. I'm leaving the room so my fist doesn't break your fake nose. You should be grateful."
A sweep of blonde hair and tye-dyed book bag later and Callie finally registered what just happened.
An hour and a half later, Callie was pulling into the Robbins' driveway to pick Mila up. She had no idea where Arizona had gone when she left class and she wasn't sure if she should give the girl space or go find her. Opting to finish the debate her girlfriend started (meanwhile relishing in Jen's week-long before and after school detention) and attend Writing, her last class of the day, she was relieved to finally be picking up her daughter, knowing Mila always grounded her and reminded her of what truly mattered.
What she wasn't expecting was to walk into the house and find her girlfriend and baby wrapped up together on a beanbag on the living room floor. Red rimmed eyes met her own and Callie's heart sunk. Maybe she should have went off in search of Arizona.
"Was Mr. Clayton upset?"
Placing her belongings down and gently joining a quiet Arizona and sleeping Mila on the floor, Callie shook her head. "No. I think Mr. Spokas wrote a note for you and I told him you had to leave early. Got your work for you. Also made sure Jen fully regretted her statements and I possibly ripped her a new asshole in the hallway after the dismissal bell rang while she was crying about having detention all next week."
Grinning, Arizona kissed her. "I don't think God hates you."
Kissing her back, Callie sighed. "I don't know about her God, but my God doesn't hate me. And if he or she does, they'll have to deal because I'm not going to stop loving you or Mila anytime soon."
"He or she, again."
"Huh?"
"You said they'll. But you said he or she the first time. Inconsistent," Arizona explained, placing butterfly kisses against Mila's forehead after she finished.
"Wow – you are such a loser," Callie teased. Sobering, she laid her head down. "I do love you. So, so much."
"I love you, too, Cal, sins and all!"
Thanks for reading! :)