ACT SEVEN: OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON…AND GETTING TO MEET THE ELUSIVE MRS. LUCIA TORRES…

Callie, Sofia and I say our goodbyes at Sea-Tac airport as the two of them board their plane for Miami. I am headed to New York to be with my family through the holidays without my best friend by my side. But seeing the excited look of love on Teddy's face when she and Henry take the three of us to the airport…priceless. Callie and I promise each other that we will talk everyday and Sofia has promised to Skype me on Christmas morning. Callie and I have been pretty inseparable since we first fell in love so neither of us are very excited about not spending our first Christmas together. We promised each other that next Christmas all of our families will have to come to Seattle for the holidays. Hopefully before then I will be able to meet Callie's parents…and the mysterious Lucia Torres…I have heard so much about her from Callie and Sofia…and even from Louise O'Malley…who by the way…is not a fan…not at all.

Tim and Jessica and Timmy pick me up at JFK and I contently listen to my niece and nephew tell me about their school year so far. Tim gets a word in every once in a while telling me about how our father has overdone it again with the Christmas lights. Tim describes our parent's home as being like a contest with Clark Griswald from Christmas Vacation. About a half hour later I see from the road about a half mile away just what Tim means when all you can see for as far as the eyes can see are Christmas lights smothering our parents home. I hear my brother laugh and say "See Arizona…mama told daddy that he will have to dip into their savings to pay for the electric bill this winter. She told him that he should've bought shares in an electric company a long time ago…because now it's going to bite him in the ass". Tim pulls into my parent's driveway and as I look up and then down the road I can see everyone's front yards being lit by my father's Christmas lights. I so love that my parents are as crazy as I am about decorating for the holidays…hey wait a doggone minute…now I know where I get my craziness from…my mama and my daddy.

Sofia and I say our goodbyes to Arizona as we stand for a moment and watch her stumble down around in the waiting area watching my daughter and I board our plane to Miami. Sofia looks up at me and says sarcastically "Mami, you should not have kissed Arizona like that…the airplane people are going to think she has had too much to drink…and maybe she is drunk". I just smile at my daughter and laugh when I say "Well baby girl, did you ever think that maybe that kiss was Arizona's fault…because she kisses so well…Hmm". I trace my two fingers over my lips remembering the sensual kiss that my girlfriend and I just shared and the smile on my face grows wider. But then I realize that I will not be close to that gorgeous blond for two weeks…two whole weeks. Our first holiday apart and then suddenly my smile leaves my face at that thought.

Once my daughter and I land in Miami my father is there waiting for us with open arms. On the car ride back to my parent's home my father tells me of about my cousin Carlotta and her adorable twins that she has given birth to a couple of months ago. My father says "Your mother and sister have been visiting your cousin and her twins almost everyday. The doctors are not quite sure if the girls can be separated successfully or not…without one of them not surviving. So the debate continues but your mami says that your cousin Carlotta and her husband Guillermo are being positive and vigilant about the outcome. Their main concern is the location of where the little girl's bodies have been fused together. I do not know all the medical terminology but your mami and sister will be able to tell you more about the situation tonight over dinner". My first thought after hearing my father talk is if Arizona could be able to help. But first I have to defuse the bomb that will eventually go off in the Torres household when I tell my parents about me dating the infamous pediatric surgeon Dr. Arizona Robbins…the shock of me being in love with a woman…another woman…especially from my mother…because she never liked Dr. Erica Hahn…not one bit.

During our dinner conversation tonight my mami and my sister catch my father and I up on our cousin Carlotta's twin girls and their concerns. Then when the conversation begins to reveal that some of the doctors on their case are searching for help by consulting some leading pediatric surgeons outside of Miami it is my daughter that joins to discussion by saying curiously "What about Arizona mami…she's a little kids doctor…or as she likes to tell people…Hi I'm Dr. Arizona Robbins, I am not a pediatrician…I don't do diseases on little people…I do surgeries on tiny humans". And my daughter and I just laugh for a moment because that is exactly what Arizona says….all the time. Then my mother wipes the corners of her mouth with her silk napkin and says to Sofia "Dr. Arizona Robbins…and how do you know of this special kid doctor my dear granddaughter"? My daughter has no filter and no concept of when not to say something because she just blurts out casually and without a care in the world to her abuela "Oh…because she and mami are dating".

And there it is…out in the open for all to hear and see…my daughter telling her beloved grandparents and aunt that her mami is dating a woman. I ask my daughter "Sofia, why don't you and your cousins go play until it is time for bed". Sofia looks up from her dinner and at her abuela's face to ask me "Did I say or do something wrong, mami"? I smile as I kiss her forehead and whisper in her ear "No mija, I just hadn't got around to telling your abuelo's and you Aunt Aria about Dr. Robbins. It's alright baby girl…I'll tell them now".

I begin to hear the muffled sounds of my niece and nephew whispering and my mama asking them to be quiet until everyone wakes up. I smile at this because it reminds me of when Tim and I were younger and our mama always trying to keep the two of us quiet on Christmas morning while my father was still sleeping in. I take a few deep stretches in my nice comfy bed when I hear my brother's voice joining in the mix of the voices outside my bedroom door. Deciding that it is high time I get my skinny little ass out of bed and be with my family on this blessed day I make my way across the room to gather some clothes to wear. Ever since I have met the gorgeous Latina Dr. Callie Torres I find that I like sleeping in the nude…although I am not too crazy about sleeping in the nude…all by myself…but talking with her last night on the phone for a couple of hours before we both drifted off to sleep…has its perks…and my lovely Latina girlfriend has a foul but intriguing mouth…on her to say the least…as so do I…and we both made it worth our while…several times.

After Christmas morning breakfast has completed and all of our presents have been opened, Timmy and Jessica are playing a video game when the flashing light in the corner of my parent's brand new wide screened plasma TV, a Christmas present to my folks from Callie, Sofia and I, begins to tell the seven of us that a message is coming through on Skype. Timmy and Jessica switch their video game to the alternate screen and low and behold is the smiling face of the little munchkin that along with her mami that has stolen my heart. With a hearty and gracious Christmas morning good morning from all seven of us to the adorable Miss Sofia it does not take but about a minute until my beautiful girlfriend begins smiling back at me. The nine of us exchange some detailing chit chat for about a half an hour about how our Christmas morning has gone so far. Then when it is just my girlfriend and I conversing back and forth to each other Callie begins to tell me about her cousin Carlotta's baby girls and the operation that needs to be done sooner than later. Callie has sent me everything that the pediatric surgical team at St. Mary's Hospital in Miami has concluded…and now she is asking me for my professional opinion…not as her girlfriend…but as one…if not the only…pediatric surgeon…who can complete this surgery.

Touchdown at Miami International Airport…December 26th at 6:13 p.m…Seven doctors stand waiting at baggage claim…six professional surgeons…and one professional student surgeon…that is still learning…and is in his fellowship phase…of his medical career…to become a pediatric surgeon…just like his mentor…each one with a specialty…in their own right…and each one being called one by one by two women…who they respect and are friends with on some level…find their luggage and are swept off their Christmas holiday feet by the Crown Victoria limousine that has been sent to bring them to the groundbreaking surgery…of separating conjoined twin baby girls…named Gabriella and Isabella Sabatini.

Dr. Nick Samuels walks along with me through the Pediatric Surgical wing of St. Mary's Hospital as he escorts me to Room# 2641…and to the parents of Callie's twin cousins. I walk into the room to see a handful of family members doting over the two lovely little tiny humans when Dr. Samuels, the girl's pediatrician, introduces me to the Sabatini family. After discussing the game plan, if you will, with the parents of the twins I walk back into their room while Dr. Samuels continues talking to Carlotta and Guillermo. Checking the girl's vital signs and making some notations in their chart, I do not hear or see the small petite woman of Latina descent walk into the room until I hear her breathing. I glance at her and smile but keep my focus on what I am doing and recording in the twin's medical chart when I hear this woman ask me cautiously and in a whisper "Do you love her…them…do you love my Calliope and my Sofia"? And in that instant I realize that I am seeing and hearing the voice of the infamous Lucia Torres for the first time.

My father along with my sister and my daughter and I begin to run frantically through the halls of St. Mary's Hospital because we are on a mission. My mother just found out through my cousin Carlotta that Dr. Arizona Robbins…the pediatric surgeon that I called to confer on my cousin's conjoined twin's surgery…and my girlfriend…is here in Miami…right now. The four of us arrive in the twin's room but only Carlotta and Guillermo are in here. When I ask if they have seen my mother or Dr. Robbins it is Carlotta that says "They both were in here earlier but your mother had a question to ask Dr. Robbins and she asked her if she could have a word with her and they both left about thirty minutes ago. Why Callie…what's the matter…does it have anything to do with my girl's surgery tomorrow"? I see the worried and concerned looks on both my cousin and her husband's faces when I say "No Carlotta, this has everything to do with me…and my mother…and my girlfriend Arizona". I quickly ask my father and sister if they could watch Sofia when I hear my cousin say in a questioning tone "What do you mean when you say…your girlfriend Arizona…Callie…are you telling me that you and Dr. Robbins…that …she is your girlfriend…seriously Callie". And I leave my cousin's presence pondering that thought…because I am on a mission to find my girlfriend and my mother.

On Christmas Day…well Christmas afternoon…before dinner…I am sitting in my parent's study on my computer going over the scans and x-rays and every other piece of information that Callie has sent me about her cousin Carlotta's two tiny humans when my mama and my niece come into the room. Jessie hovers behind me looking at the same computer screen as I am when my mother and I begin discussing the case of the conjoined twins. Jessie is fascinated by what she is seeing and hearing as I tell my mother what our plan of action is going to be because we all, all of the doctors involved, have to be precise and meticulous about how we are going to separate these two young girls. While my mother and niece marvel at the pictures on the computer screen together my cell phone begins to buzz and my call from Teddy is being returned. Teddy and I discuss the case further and she tells me that she will leave Seattle by midnight and be here in Miami first thing in the morning. I ask her to tell Karev to come along too…because we need all hands on deck…a fatherly metaphor….from my past.

Now with all of these thoughts of all of these prestigious doctors descending into the city of Miami and our conversing together in a few hours to make the final preparations before our surgery tomorrow, I am now standing in a large conference room with just me…and Callie's mother…who probably needs a bazillion questions answered…because she now knows that the two of us are dating. For the second time in less than five minutes I hear her question again "Do you love her…them…do you love my Calliope and my Sofia"? Without one more second of hesitation in my voice I say profoundly "Yes ma'am I do…I love them both so much…so much more than I can tell you in mere mortal words". I watch the mannerisms of Mrs. Lucia Torres, the matriarch of the Torres family here in Miami, as she strolls around the massive meeting room contemplating her next question…or her next move…not really sure.

Searching every nook and cranny of the second floor of St. Mary's hospital but I cannot find my mother or even my girlfriend anywhere. Not even a peep or a strangled cry coming from either one of them…anywhere. Every family relative I pass in the hallways points me in different directions throughout my journey saying they just seen the two of them. But to no avail…my quest to find these two women…two women that I love…is coming to a quiet and somber end as I make my way back to my cousin's children's room down the hall. Then before I round the last corner of the building I hear it…my mother's snorting laugh that I get from her…and the sweet southern giggle of my girlfriend…that she gets from her mama. Then without a care in the world the immense double doors to the conference room open and I hear my mother say harshly "I mean it Dr. Robbins…do you hear me because…I will not take no for an answer". That is when I feel that Arizona needs rescuing and I begin to scold my mother for her harshness to my lady lover but then I am pleasantly surprised when I hear my girlfriend say back to my mother sternly "Well then Mrs. Torres…Lucia…I guess I had better not say no then. My team…I mean our surgical team…would be honored to join your family for the New Year celebration at your home". Then my mother takes Arizona's hands in hers as they smile at one another. Realizing in that moment that my mother never ceases to amaze me when she says to my girlfriend "No matter of the outcome…whether it is good…or it is bad…we will celebrate these children lives…one way or the other…we will celebrate". Tightening her grip on Arizona's fingers and hands until she heard my girlfriend say without a doubt "No matter of the outcome…we will celebrate". My mother then walks into Arizona's personal space and placed a kiss on her cheek as I faintly heard her say "Good luck tomorrow my dear". Then after their brief interlude concludes they both look in my direction and my mother smilingly says to me and Arizona strictly "Calliope how long have you been standing there…and by the way mija…she's a keeper".

Every hospital has them…off the beaten path…a little room…maybe with a single bed…or a set of bunk beds…for privacy…so the doctors on duty can…get some sleep…or do other things…that two hot blooded…and sexy doctors…do to…one another…to have some…sexy time to themselves. Arizona and I find such a room after my mother leaves our presence.

Mainly because we are entitled and hot…and…hungry for one other. I don't know exactly what came over me but seeing my mother and my girlfriend standing before me…in a playful banter…and actually getting along…was quite a turn on. I sure never expected to see that from my mother…not after the way she acted…when she found out about Erica and me. But now here I am with my girlfriend pinned between my body and the back of the on call room door…and we are having our way with each other. Just being here together for a moment and enjoying each other's company while we share some sensual and sexy kisses.

Then there is a knock on the on call room door and we both here my best friend whisper through the crack around the door "I know this is a bad time Arizona…since you and Callie are having your…you know…sexy time…but all the doctors that you both called to come to help you both with this surgery tomorrow…well we are all waiting in the skills lab…to do our final preparations…so if you both would not mind"? I turn my head from deep in Callie's face to whisper back to Teddy "We'll be right there Teds". I place another sensual and sexy kiss on Callie's voluptuous lips that includes a whole lot of tongue and then I say to her mischievously "What do you say we pick this up later…after we talk to the other doc's…and we all tell you what our plan is for tomorrow…and then maybe if Sofia can stay at your parent's home tonight…and you take me back to my hotel…so we can have the rest of the night to ourselves…and we can fuck each other's brains out. What do you say baby"? Callie smiles and says happily and without a doubt in her voice "I like the way you think Dr. Robbins…and besides the way my mother is smitten with you right now…I'm sure she will happy to watch Sofia for us…because tomorrow…you're going to rock this surgery…and tomorrow…you be a hero in my mother's eyes…just like you are in mine and my daughter's and my family's eyes...but tonight...we get to rock each other's world".