Chapter 2
Callie was wondering aimlessly around the hospital hallways when she is looking into the day care window, she can see that Sofia is playing around with Zola and Bailey. It is almost a routine for Callie lately, whenever she feels sad or is having a bad day she will find herself outside of the day-care just watching her daughter, if there was anyone who could make Callie feel even remotely better it was Sofia. Her daughter has been the only one who has brought a lot of light to her ever darkening life lately and even though she was grateful for her little bundle of joy she still wishes she didn't need to rely on her as her only source of happiness. With a sad smile on her face, her thoughts drift back to why she was standing here in the first place. Arizona. It was always Arizona. The only difference this time is that she is not mad at the other women but confused. When looking at the blonde early she felt something in the pit of her stomach that she hasn't felt in a few years. Butterflies. Callie quickly shakes that thought from her head, she is just anxious that her current and past partners are in a confined space together for a long period of time. No matter how hard she wishes that was true the brunette knows it's more than that.
Looking through the window one last time at her daughter, she watches as Sofia darts around the room with not a care in the world. With a huge smile on her face, Callie turns her head to the left to see Miranda Baily walking in her direction.
"Torres." Miranda comes to a stop next to the stationary women.
"Bad Day?" Callie says referring to the surgeon's tight posture.
"You could say that," Bailey finally spots her son who is currently in the corner of the room playing with his best mate Jack. "One of my surgical residents thought it would be acceptable to cut open a patient with a clip board." With a tight jaw and emotionless face the chief continues. "That resident just happens to be my husband."
"What?" Callie whips her head round to face the older women. "Ben?"
"Who else would I be referring to when I say husband?" Bailey snapped at the brunette. "Sorry."
With Bailey finally showing some emotion, Callie can see how much stress the poor women is under.
"It's okay, I get it." Callie thinks of Penny when saying this - being her girlfriend's boss wasn't easy for either of the women.
After a few minute of silence Bailey asks the younger women, "How are you and Blake doing?"
Shocked by the sudden interest in her relationship, the brunette takes her time to think of a response.
"Things are going… okay."
"Just okay?" The chief tries to sound uninterested and keeps her gaze on her son.
"Yeah, I mean… we are both so busy with work and –" Callie stops abruptly.
"And?"
"I just," Callie lets out a long breath. "I just thought things would be different, y'know?" Bailey doesn't interrupt the obviously distressed women. "When myself and Arizona first got together, everything was so… amazing and thrilling. What we had from the beginning was so genuine and real, I knew from the very first kiss that somehow this annoying perky, beautiful women was going to be very special to me. I guess I didn't realises just how important she would come to be." Callie can feel the tears beginning in her eyes. Taking a moment to collect herself she finally announces what has frightened her since the beginning of hers and Penny's relationship. "I thought that it would feel the same with Penny."
"How does it feel with Penny?"
"New, fresh," Callie tries to think of the correct way to explain it. "Penny's great and we get on so well but it feels so… easy."
"I thought that's what you wanted?"
"It was. But I thought once I met the right person, the person I was meant to be with, I would feel that – connection again."
From the very first kiss in that dirty bar bathroom, Callie somehow knew that Arizona would grow to be someone how changes her life, at the time she was unsure if it would be for better or worse but she was willing to take that risk. Arizona came into her life like a wrecking ball, she destroyed all the bad in her life and replaced it with a load of happiness, for that Callie will always be grateful to the other women. Even now, Callie believes that Arizona will always be the great love of her life but she needs to move on and create a life and new love with someone else – hopefully Penny, Callie thinks to herself. They both had put a great deal of effort into their failing marriage and in the end she realised that the pain she was feeling at the time overpowered the love she had for the blonde, she finally realised that enough is enough. Some things cannot be fixed, she keeps reminding herself.
"Callie," This gets Callie's attention because Bailey only refers to her as 'Torres'. "I think you need to realise that Penny is not Arizona."
"What?!"
"You can't wait for that connection to happen with Penny because that won't happen." Bailey decides to be blunt with the women. "The bond you and Arizona had was one of a kind, we all know that but that doesn't mean that you are going to feel like that with everyone. How do you expect to properly connect with Penny when you are comparing your feelings for Blake with the ones you once had for Robbins? Stop focusing on what feels different and focus on what feels right."
Callie takes her time to process what Bailey has said to her. Does she compare Penny with Arizona? By the time she has finished thinking Baily is already done.
Scrubbing out of her last surgery of the day, Arizona takes her time to finally relax and stretch out her sore muscles. Today has been another long day and to top it off she has spent the majority if her day with her ex-wife's new girlfriend, all she can think about is spending the rest of the night at home watching Disney movies with Sofia. Checking her watch she sees that it is almost seven in the evening and she had promised Callie that she would be by to pick up her daughter at 7.30. Eager to see her little girl, Arizona rushes to the changing room then off to her car. The ride from the hospital to Callie's new house was on ten minute so she arrives at the family home at around 7.24. with time to spare she is sure that Callie won't mind her being a tiny bit early so she makes the small trek up to the bright white door. Knocking on the door she only has to wait a few seconds before she hears the sound of early footsteps coming closer to the closed door.
"Mama!"
"Hey there my gorgeous girl." Arizona reaches down to pull the small girl into a giant hug. "I missed you today."
"Me too mama." Sofia flings herself back into her mama's arms. Holding the little girl in a protective embrace, Arizona lifts her head to see Callie standing a few feet behind watching them with a loving but mildly jealous look on her face. Assuming that Callie is a tiny but jealous of the overly loving embrace from her daughter, the blonde gives a small smile to the taller women. Receiving a small shy smile in return. Damn, that feeling again. What is happening today? Arizona slowing extracts herself from the hug while lovingly pushing the dark silky hair behind her daughters little ear.
"You have everything ready bug?"
"Yeah mama, just need to get my bag from my room."
"Okay, why don't you go and get it so we can go." Arizona watches as Callie's mini me rushes off in the direction of the stairs.
"Hey," Arizona decides to address the women who is standing awkwardly in the hallway. "I saw you in the gallery today."
"Yeah, I was free most of the day so I thought I would watch some surgery." Callie looks anywhere apart from the blonde.
"Oh." Arizona feels mild disappointment that she hadn't come to watch her but she also was relieved that Callie wasn't there to watch her girlfriend.
"So what do you and Sofia have planned for the weekend?"
Arizona was glad that Callie had finally broken the awkward silence. "Well I thought I would take Sof to the zoo then maybe for ice-cream at that place she likes."
"I'm sure she will love it."
"Yeah." Again with the awkward silence. "What about you? Any plans?"
"No, I thought I would take advantage of not having Sof this weekend and spent the day cleaning the house."
"Ya'know if you are not busy you can always join us." Arizona is hesitant to suggest the idea but secretly she would love to spend some time with her family again.
"Oh… I wouldn't want to impose on your time with her-"
"You wouldn't be," Arizona cuts her off. "You know how much bug would love for you to join us. And I would too."
"You sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," Arizona tries not to sound too desperate. "Come on Callie."
"Okay," Callie relents with a small smile. "I would love to."
"Yay!"
Callie laughs at the enthusiasm of the other women. That was a word that Arizona had used quite commonly at the beginning of their relationship and she hadn't heard it since, Callie always thought it was really cute but she refuses to admit that to the blonde. Hearing it brought all them memories rushing back to the brunette and then feels that feeling in the pit of her stomach again. What the hell? Maybe tomorrow wasn't such a good idea. She can't think too much into it as she hears the sound of small feet rushing down the stairs.
"Ready mama." Sofia exclaims as she flies down the last step with her back pack in hand.
"Okay baby, say bye to mommy then we can go."
Callie has to steady herself when she feels a force hit her legs.
"Bye-Bye mommy," before Callie can even process what is happening, Sofia is by the door ready to go. "Love you."
"Love you too baby." Callie calls after her overly excited daughter. Watching the duo walk hand in hand down the pathway to the car gave the brunette an odd feeling of saddest. She didn't like watching her daughter walk away from her but seeing both her daughter and the mother of her child walk away gave her a totally new feeling of sadness.
After getting home and ready for bed, Sofia and Arizona are tucked up in a huge bed watching frozen. With Sofia cuddled up on her chest she can see her daughters eyes begin to droop.
"Okay baby, time for sleep."
"Okay mama," Without too much fight Sofia rolls of her mama chest onto the pillow next to her.
"Can we call mommy and say goodnight?"
"Of course you can sweetie." Arizona reaches over to the table beside her bed and grabs her phone.
The duo only have to wait a few rings before they hear the phone line connect.
"Hello?" Callie would always receive a call from her daughter when staying with Arizona and vica-versa.
"Mommy," Sofia says with her adorable sleepy voice.
"Is someone ready for sleep?" Callie teases the young girl.
"Just wanted to say goodnight mommy…" The young girl trails of as she falls into sleep land.
"Good night my sweet baby, Mommy loves you."
"She's asleep, just like her mommy, falls asleep at the drop of a hat." Arizona teases with a small laugh.
"Oh shush, At least he doesn't take hours to fall asleep, like you." Callie teases back.
"Okay you have a point there," She hears Callie release a small giggle down the phone and Arizona doesn't want the call to end but she knows she has to be up early tomorrow. "Anyway, I better join go. I'll see you at 9?" Arizona lays her head on her pillow facing Sofia.
"You will see me at 9. Sweet dreams Arizona."
"Sweet dreams Calliope."
The phone cuts off and both women are left in their respective beds with butterflies taking flight in their stomachs. Oh crap they both think to themselves before drifting off to sleep.
