"Are you excited?", Ms. Miller asked as they were walking down a not so busy street a week after the funeral and the first day Calliope spent at the Robbins' home. "You'll see, they are very nice. Mister Menken is a teacher and Misses Menken is a nurse at the hospital." She watched the little girl walking beside her, her head hung down, her eyes focused on the ground while she stayed silent. "You know, they live pretty close to Arizona's family, same street", she said.
At that, Callie's eyes went wide and she looked up. She'd spent a lot of time with the Robbins' over the last week, getting to know them even better. And she liked them, a lot. Plus, Arizona was so funny and happy all the time. She made her smile even when she felt like crying her eyes out. "They do?", she asked.
Ms. Miller nodded. "But you have to promise me, you still tell me the truth if something feels wrong just as you did with the Bakers and the Thomsons last week, okay?" She honestly feared that Callie would turn down every other family except for the Menken's just because she could be next to Arizona every day. It was astounding how strong their bond was and how much the Robbins' cared for the little girl. Somehow she wished, they'd make a move, but it was up to them and not her place to make the offer.
"Miss Miller!", Callie exclaimed, startling the grown woman a little until she was sure that the little Latina wasn't hurt. Instead she found the little girl looking at one of the big store windows.
"Is something wrong?"
The girl didn't answer. She just kept staring at what was displayed behind the glass front.
"Hey, Calliope", she bent down, "talk to me."
"Look!" the little Latina said and pointed her finger to a particular place behind the window. "Look, Ms. Miller! There!"
Miss Miller looked up and instantly saw what Callie was referring to. "Aah, now I understand. Do you want to go in?"
Nodding eagerly, Callie asked, "Can I buy it? I want to buy it for Arizona. I could give it to her when I visit her in the afternoon. I promised to come again. I still can, can't I?"
"We talked about that already. We have to see how the meeting with the Menken's will be, okay?"
Callie sighed, but nodded. "But I really really want to buy her that. Pleeeease!"
Miss Miller could do nothing but smile as big brown eyes looked up to her. It was the first time her smile reached her eyes though she was not around Arizona. But then again, she was just talking about her best friend. "What do you say, I call the Colonel and tell him that I'll bring you over at some point this afternoon, but that we can't give a time, yet. You try to find out if you like the Menken's or not and after that, I'll take you to see Arizona and Timmy, okay?"
"Very okay! Come on, Ms. Miller. We have to buy that before we meet the Menken's!", Callie exclaimed.
The six year old made a beeline for the door and was through it before Ms. Miller could blink. Somehow, the little blonde had rubbed off and Callie became more and more happy. She still had her moments and that was okay and it was very important for Callie to know that it was still okay to cry. But then there were moments like these, when she was all happy and enthusiastic about something and she was very sure, it had a lot to do with the blonde ball of energy.
"Miss Miller!"
"Coming", she smiled and entered the shop after the girl.
xxx
"Hello Mrs. Menken, Mr. Menken, I am Ms. Miller and this is Calliope Torres", she greeted the couple as they rose from their seats in the small cafe. "I am sorry we are a little late. We had a major important thing to buy, isn't that right, Calliope?"
The little girl hid herself behind the left leg of Ms. Miller. Brown eyes looked curious past the woman's leg at the two strangers in front of her.
"Hello Calliope, I am Susan and this is my husband, Liam. And who is that friend of yours in your hand?"
Callie made a step to the side and hold the stuffed toy in front of her little body with her left hand, her right hand still safely wrapped up in the green cast. "That is Mrs. Turtle. I bought her for my friend. She gave me Mr. Turtle when I was in the hospital and now the baby turtle is alone. But a baby should never be without a mommy or a daddy", she explained as she tugged at the red bow around the turtle's armour.
All three grownups sighed simultaneously. Ms. Miller thought Callie just wanted to surprise Arizona. Now she knew it was just one part why she wanted to buy the turtle so much.
"Maybe we should sit down? Calliope, do you want something to drink?", Liam Menken asked.
"No", she shook her head.
"Do you want some cake?"
"No, thank you", Callie said, hugging the toy a little tighter.
"This friend of yours is a special friend?", Susan asked.
"Uh huh. Arizona is my best friend", Callie answered after she sat down and Ms. Miller took the seat to her right, giving the strange woman a slight smile.
"It is very nice of you to buy her a present", Liam said, giving the girl a nice smile. "Do you want to tell me about her?"
"Why do you want me to?"
"Because we want to get to know you. And you really seem to like her."
"I do", Callie grinned. "She is blonde with curls and has blue eyes. And she loves Memory just like I do. We play almost every time I go visit her. And we colour! She keeps the colors within the lines just like I do. And her mommy makes a super apple pie and I get to drink a hot chocolate. I was not allowed to go up into the tree house yet, because of my cast. But we played hide and seek in the whole house and backyard!", Callie said with excitement.
"Your friend seems to be pretty much perfect", Susan smiled, making Callie smile some more in return and nod.
"I will go see her today. And I will give her Mrs. Turtles so baby turtle has a mommy again."
"We have Memory too, you know."
"You do?", the little Latina asked, her eyes lighting up.
"We do. I have it since I was a child. I was a little older than you are now, maybe eight or nine years old. It had tigers and bears and elephants."
"Me like tigers!"
"You do? I like them too. But do you know what I like more?"
"No."
"Lions. The king."
"Me too! Daddy said, they are proud animals. But I love turtles the most", she admitted, peeking down at the turtle in her hand. "They remind me of Arizona."
"That is a really beautiful reason to like an animal. What else do you like?", Liam asked, trying to carefully break down the wall Callie had built around her. They knew from Ms. Miller what she'd been through and that she had a hard time letting people in – except for the Robbins' of course, but that was something the Menken's didn't know.
Ms. Miller leaned back and watched with a smile as the little Latina let go of her toy and relaxed right in front of her and there was a small smile almost constantly tugging at her lips. Maybe she found the right people. Maybe it would all blow up in her face after a while. But for now, it seemed to work.
"Hello, Ms. Miller", Daniel said as he opened the front door, welcoming the guests into their house. "And hello to you, too, Calliope. It is so good to see you again", he turned to the little girl, tousling through dark curls.
"Hello, Colonel Robbins", the Latina smiled. "Can we come in?"
"Of course you can", he answered, stepping aside to give both ladies shelter from the cold December rain.
"Thank you, Colonel Robbins", Ms. Miller said as she closed the umbrella and took of her coat.
"That is not Mr. Turtles", Daniel said as he noticed the stuffed turtle in Calliope's hands. First, Mr. Turtles was a little darker shade of green and brown and second, he looked kind of 'used' due to the nights his daughter had had a tight grip around his neck.
"No. It's a present for Arizona", Callie grinned.
Barbara's heart swell at the cuteness of the little girl in front of her. She just came into the hallway as Callie explained to her husband why she got a Mrs. Turtles for their daughter. "Arizona's upstairs in her room. We had a little accident down here and she spilled some orange juice all over her pants. She'll be down any minute."
"Miss Miller, do you want a coffee? We – my wife just made some."
"Gladly."
"And you, young lady? Hot chocolate?", Barbara asked.
The grin on the little Latina's face got even wider as she nodded eagerly.
"Calliope!", Arizona exclaimed as she came running down the stairs, clad in some light blue dungarees. Blonde locks bounced up and down as she skipped the last two steps and jumped down, landing safely on her two feet. Smiling that she didn't fall or even stumble, she took off and sped towards Calliope, hugging her best friend as if she hadn't seen her for at least two months.
Wearing a matching smile on her face, Callie hugged Arizona back with her arm that was not in a cast and still holding on to the toy. "I have something for you."
"What?", Arizona asked, letting go of her friend.
Smiling, Callie shoved the turtle into Arizona's arms. "Mrs. Turtles. So baby turtle is not alone anymore."
Blue eyes widened as she looked down at the visible new turtle in her hand. "You...you got me a turtle?"
"Of course!"
"Mommy! I got a new turtle!", Arizona said, turning around to her parents.
"We see that, Dimples. What do you say when someone gives you a present?"
Turning on her heels to look at her friend, she mumbled a 'Thank you' before hugging the girl again. "Want to go upstairs and color? Or puzzle?"
"Can we?", Callie asked. Though she was acting way more like a child her age would, she still knew her manners and asked a lot of things instead of just doing them.
"What do you say, you bring down everything you need to color and you can colour on the breakfast table with a cup of hot chocolate and some cinnamon pie?"
Dark brown eyes looked up to Mrs. Robbins. "I love cinnamon", she stated.
"Me too. It reminds me of Christmas."
"Me too!", Callie exclaimed.
"I won't take a no for an answer, Ms. Miller", Barbara said as she walked back into the kitchen with a smile on her face.
"Believe me, she won't", Daniel laughed as he saw the stunned look on the woman's face.
"Pie it is", she smiled and followed the Robbins further into their house as the girls raced up the stairs to get everything they would need.
xxx
"Can I have some more hot chocolate, mommy?", Arizona asked, using her dimples to get what she wanted.
"I think one more is okay. Calliope?", Barbara asked, ripping the girl out of her concentration of copying a picture from 'The Lion King'. It was too adorable. Her tongue peeked out between her lips and her brow furrowed when there was a difficult part.
"Pardon?"
Every time Callie used a word like 'pardon' the adults were a little taken aback, but the Robbins' were getting used to it. "Do you want another cup of hot chocolate?"
"No thank you. Can I have some water instead?"
"Of course you can."
"Can I have some water too?", Arizona asked, looking over to her friend and even copied the sound Callie had used for her question.
"So, now you want some water?"
The little blonde nodded. "Yes, please", she answered with a smile, making her parents smile in return. As much as her little girl was rubbing of an Callie, the same happened the other way around. Over the last days, they heard way more 'thanks' and 'pleases' than before. Not that they hadn't taught her girl to be polite and say thank you and please, especially Daniel. She just thought it was not that necessary with her parents. But since she spent so much time with Callie, that had changed – and they were happy about it.
"Water it is then. Do you want another coffee, Ms. Miller? There's still some. Or do you want some tea or water?"
"I am good, thank you. Calliope, why don't you tell the Robbins' about the people we met today?"
"Oh! The family", Arizona smiled. Calliope always told her about the couples she met. "Were they nice?"
"So nice!", Callie exclaimed.
"And they live a few houses down the street", Ms. Miller interjected.
"They do? What's their name? Maybe we know them", Daniel asked. He had been quiet for most of the time Callie and Ms. Miller were there, letting his wife to the talking part and just watched the girls 'play' colouring, while rocking his son in his arms or against his shoulder.
"The man's name is Liam and the woman's name is Susan", Callie answered.
"Honey, we need their surname", Barbara chuckled, placing two glasses on the table, each half filled with water.
"Menken", Callie said, laying the pencil and rubber on the table and reaching out for the glass.
"Oh, I know them! Mister Menken is a good man. He is a teacher at the local elementary school. There's a good chance he will be Arizona's class teacher next year", Daniel said. He still hoped, the Army was not going to make them move and leave everything behind again. He was already opting with the argument of having two kids now and wanting them to grow up at one place instead of 15 different states or countries. Maybe it could work once Arizona was going to school.
"He has a lovely wife. We saw them as we went to his school in summer, making our way around on an open day to see if we'd consider sending Arizona to that school. She was so eager. She wants to go to school for more than a year now, but they said she was still too young."
"Not too young, honey. Too small. They were worried about the big guys picking on her."
"Daddy's teaching me how to write my name and to read a little bit", Arizona said proudly. She took one of the pens and a new sheet of paper and wrote a big A on it. When she was done with the last letters of her name, she slipped the paper over to Callie.
"Arizona Robbins", the girl read aloud, took a pen herself and wrote down her name only to push the paper back to Arizona.
The blonde smiled. "You write better than me."
"I'm in school", the Latina shrugged. It didn't matter to her, not even one bit. She knew her friend was smart and would not have a problem learning how to write properly once she was attending school.
"I'll be there too, next year", Arizona grinned.
"So, the Menken's", Barbara started, "is there a possibility you want to live with them?"
Turning her gaze from Arizona to her mom, tilting her head from left to right and back. "Maybe?"
"Maybe?"
"Maybe!", Callie answered, a wide grin on her face as she turned her focus back to the drawing in front of her.
xxx
"Mommy, daddy!", Arizona and Callie came running back into the kitchen after they were gone for a good hour, watching one of their daughter's favorite movies in the living room.
"What is it, Dimples?", Daniel asked.
"Miss Miller?", Callie started, shoving her little foot on the floor.
"Calliope, is something bothering you?"
"No...yes...I do have a question?"
"Can Calliope stay overnight?", Arizona asked before Callie could even find the courage to ask Miss Miller.
"Uhm..." Pretty stunned by the little girl's question no grownup knew what to say.
"Pleeeeeeeeeeease", both girls said in unison and Daniel knew it was not a good idea to let them watch the Lion King.
"Calliope", Ms. Miller sighed. "Don't you think you're spending already enough time with the Robbins? They just got a baby and-"
"No. It would be okay, wouldn't it, Barb?", Daniel said quickly as he saw the girls' faces and both pairs of big eyes saddening.
"Fine with me", she smiled. "Really. We love to have her here. She's no trouble whatsoever. We have everything she could need. She can sleep in one of Arizona's pajamas and for tomorrow, I think we can find something for her to wear from Arizona's cousin. They are almost the same height. We even have a toothbrush. And frankly, can we say no to these two angels?"
Miss Miller smiled, "I guess, I am outvoted then. But before I can give the go, I have to inform the orphanage and see if they are okay with it. It's not unusual that kids are gone over night, but they spend those nights with their families." She got up and left the room to make the call.
"Of course," Daniel nodded.
"Daddy? Can you build us a den of pillows and blankets so we can sleep in it?", Arizona asked.
"Let's see first if Calliope is allowed to stay the night, okay?"
Both girls nodded.
"But if she can, can we have the den?", his daughter asked, looking up to her father from where she stood.
"Arizona..."
"Please, daddy, Colonel Robbins, Sir."
"She knows how to work you, Daniel", Barbara laughed as she saw her husband's stern face relaxing.
"Yeah, I wonder where she got that from", he chuckled. "If", he turned to his daughter, "if Calliope is allowed to stay the night, I will build you the most comfortable bed of pillows and the best den of blankets you've ever seen, Dimples", he promised.
"YAAY!", Arizona exclaimed just as Ms. Miller came back into the kitchen.
"They said it's okay. I told them you'd bring her back by 11am tomorrow, because I have an appointment in the morning. So, if you can arrange that, it will be okay."
"Of course we can", Barbara smiled. It was almost perfect. They were supposed to be at the hospital with Timmy for his next checkup anyway, so they'd just leave a little earlier.
"Well then, that's my cue to leave and spend some time with my daughter at home." She bent down to get at eye level with the little Latina. "You promise to be a good girl?"
Callie nodded.
"Don't make them regret their decision, okay?"
"Never", Callie grinned a toothy grin. "Miss Miller?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Mr. Turtles is still in the car..."
"Of course, how could I forget", she smiled. She had to do a good job at convincing the girl to leave the toy in the car for their meeting with the Menken's. And it even turned out to be useless because Callie found Mrs. Turtles on their way to the small cafe.
"Daddy, the den", the blonde reminded her father.
"I guess I have some serious work to do, so I better get to it. It was nice to have you here, Ms. Miller. Calliope is always welcome in our house and the same goes for you, if you want to stay while she's here."
"Thank you, Colonel Robbins. Hopefully though, I do not have to bring her over that often anymore", she smiled, knowing that the Robbins' indeed understood how she meant it.
"We hope that too", Barbara said. "I'll get Mr. Turtles for you, Calliope. Why don't you go upstairs with Daniel and Arizona and help them build the den?"
"I don't know how", Callie said.
"What?", Arizona asked.
"Mamà and papà never build a den for us."
"It's easy. You need lots and lots of pillows and blankets."
"I'll show you", Arizona said with a smile, grabbing Callie by her little arm, wanting to show her how to do it, but Callie stood still, stopping the blonde from rushing off.
"Bye, Ms. Miller", she said.
"Bye, Calliope", she said, brushing a few strands out of the little brunette's face. As the girls ran up the stairs, she put on her coat and turned to Mrs. Robbins. "She still has nightmares. If you can't get her back to sleep, just call me, okay?"
"We won't need to. And we place a baby monitor in the girls' room so we will hear her."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you, Ms. Miller. I know it is not the usual way of your work."
"It is not. But Calliope is not just any kid. She's kinda special and I know she loves you."
"We love her too."
"I know."
Barbara opened their front door and both women stepped out into the dark. "Miss Miller, let's say the Menken's don't want to have Calliope or she does not like them in the end, what will happen with her? She can't stay in the orphanage forever." The girl told them that she didn't like it there and that she was scared of one of the taller girls.
"I do my best to find a family for her. The Menken's would be perfect, though. They are good people and it was the first time I saw Calliope smile while she was meeting a couple. The way they interacted with her was so beautiful. But I am not blind, it's a different kind of happiness you can see in her eyes when she's with you."
"You said they live down the street?"
"They do. Another good point to give Callie some stability back after she lost her family. But in the end, it is her decision."
"And that is the best way to make the decision. But, what I actually wanted to ask is, if you would see any chance for us? Just in case, you know. We'd be happy for Callie to find a family that can give her all the attention she needs. But we love her so much already and Arizona really looks up to her though she's barely a year older."
"Mrs. Robbins, are you asking me what your chances are to get custody of the girl?", she asked as they were walking down the driveway to her car.
Barbara nodded. "I know we already have two kids and one's a newborn, but-"
"I do not see why there should be any problems. But you'd have to go through every procedure, you have to be aware of that."
"We know that. Daniel and I talked about it, a lot. And every time Callie tells us about a family that she does not like, we just want to ask her if she wants to stay with us, although we know we can't just ask her and it's settled. But, do you think we should try?"
"Honestly, that is your decision to make. Calliope would be the happiest orphan to get you as her parents", she answered with a smile. It was everything she hoped for the little girl.
"So you're suggesting that we should get the stone rolling?"
"Yes. I'd suggest that in case it is what you really want." She grabbed Mr. Turtles and handed it over to Mrs. Robbins. "Would you tell her I said good night?"
"Of course, Ms. Miller", Barbara said, hugging the toy to keep herself warm as Ms. Miller got in the car. "Bye."
"Bye."
xxx
"Daddy, will you read us a bedtime story?", Arizona asked as she climbed under the covers that were splayed across the mattress and pillows on the ground in the den.
"That depends...are you ready for bed?"
"Yes!"
"Teeth?"
"Brushed", Arizona answered, giving her father a radiating smile. Looking over to Callie who was clad in one of her pajamas with her hair braided for the night, she saw her doing the same.
"Face?"
"Washed."
"Feet?"
"Daddy, I took a bath!", Arizona giggled. "And we already said good night to Timmy. Please, daddy."
He sighed. These days it was a lot easier to get his baby boy down for the night. "Okay. One story, so choose wisely."
"Your choice", Arizona said, placing her five favorite books in Callie's lap who was taking in the size of the den.
It was so big, Arizona could stand tall and her head would still not touch the ceiling. The blankets around them made the air warm and with the pillows and mattress under them, it was pure comfort. "My choice?"
"Uh huh", Arizona nodded. "Pick a long one."
"Dimples..."
"Sorry, daddy. But you are the bestest bedtime story reader in the whoooole world."
"Don't let your mommy hear that", Daniel chuckled. "You okay, Calliope? Do you need anything?"
"I'm good" the little Latina said, shaking her head and just holding Mr. Turtles tight in her arms, still deciding what story she wanted to listen to. "Snow Queen or Swan Princess?", she asked, not sure if Arizona would like any of them.
"Snow Queen! It's my favorite", Arizona said smiling as she reached out for Mrs. Turtles and the baby turtle. Of course, all of them had to sleep with them in the den.
"Mine too."
"That was fast", Colonel Robbins laughed, taking the books Callie held out for him and put them on the shelf except for the Snow Queen. "But we won't make it through the whole tale in one night."
"That means Calliope has to stay more nights", the blonde ball of energy grinned.
"Dimples, you know it is not that easy", Barbara said from where she was standing, witnessing the conversation.
"Mommy! Daddy's reading us the Snow Queen! It's Calliope's favorite", Arizona exclaimed as she spotted her mommy leaning against the door frame of her bedroom.
"That's great, Dimples."
"You want to stay and listen too?", Callie asked, dark brown eyes looking up to Mrs. Robbins. Her daddy had never been home early enough to read her bedtime stories. Usually, it was her mom who had done it, some nights even Aria. But never her father.
"You want me to?"
Callie nodded, but looked over to Arizona, seeing if she was okay with it.
"Come here, mommy." The blonde moved closer to Callie to make some room for her mom.
Placing two baby monitors on her daughter's chest of drawers, she made her way into the middle of the room and sat down beside her daughter. "Well, I am waiting", she said, nudging her husband into his thigh with her foot.
Daniel coughed a few times until he finally started, "First story. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters.
Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall know more than we know now: but to begin.
Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite..."
