CHAPTER 10

CALLIE POV

"Your mom hates me now. It's official." I speak out into the darkness of our room. Sleep unwilling to quiet my racing mind.

Arizona rolls over reaching for the remote by the bed, to switch on the light overhead. Illuminating every worry sketched on my face, making me want to shrink away.

"I promise you. She doesn't hate you. She loves you, trust me. I've had girlfriends she has hated. You're not one of them." She rolls over again, so that she is facing me once more. Her blue eyes shine with nothing but pure honesty.

"I'm not just another girlfriend though. Technically I'm your ex-wife we've had our rough times, times that destroy relationships. In fact, the problems we faced destroyed our relationship." I pause to gently stroke her cheek. "I've hurt you before, it makes sense why she would hate me."

"I know all of this Calliope. I lived through it too. My mom does have her reasons to be overprotective. She's my mom. It's her job after all."

Arizona searches for my hand to intertwine our fingers. "We are rebuilding what we had, shaping it to fit the women we are today." She leans in giving me a very soft kiss. "My mom just needs to make sure that you're no longer the woman who put me through a horrid custody battle."

"I guess I do have some making up to do." I can't stand her gaze any longer. I try to blink back the moisture in my eyes.

"Hey, no none of that no more hiding our feelings! Not communicating is part of how we ended up in this mess in the first place. Look at me!" She brings my face inches away from hers. I know our comforter is very pretty, but it's not that interesting." Arizona laughs, and I instantly feel better, because oh how I love the sound of her laughter. "We will get through this little bit of awkwardness and my mom will remember just how much she loves you! Seriously sometimes I think she loves you more than me." Arizona laughs again, and my heart feels lighter than it has all day; because how can I not feel better after listening to a classic Arizona Robbins rant?

"Speaking of love, I love you a lot Calliope. It's almost four in the morning though. Sofia will have us up no later than eight. Plus, my parents most likely have a full schedule all planned out for us tomorrow, so we should probably go back to sleep now."

"I love you too, Arizona Robbins goodnight." I kiss her quickly before closing my eyes sleep finally coming to me at last.

"I love when grandma and grandpa come to visit. Grandma you make the best bacon ever!" Sofia crunches down on her fourth piece in maybe ten minutes.

"Hey, slow down! Save some bacon for the rest of us." I swipe a piece off her plate with a grin.

"No fair Madre" Sofia pouts.

"Callie leave her alone, let her eat her breakfast in peace." Barbara jokes, but her voice is flat, and her smile is tight with force.

"Oh, relax Barbara, we're just teasing her" Daniel smiles swiping another piece from Sofia throwing me a wink in the process.

"I think I'm just going to fry up some more bacon, excuse me." Barbara moves to the kitchen to fry up more pieces of bacon. Daniel looks conflicted which is a strange look for the usually put together military man; clearly debating to follow his wife or not. Luckily Arizona saves him by changing the subject.

"Sof grandma and grandpa have decided that you should be the one to choose what we do today. Any ideas what part of the city we should show them first?"

Arizona and I share a knowing smile already expecting the answer she gives before she speaks it aloud.

"We should go to Central Park, show grandma and grandpa how big it is! I can bring my Heely's and maybe we can get ice-cream from one of the little stands while we are there."

Sofia's smile is bright growing brighter with every word spoken. Her excitement radiating off her, infecting all of us, like when you're at a concert thriving in the music with those around you. Maybe grandma and Madre can talk too. So, grandma can stop being so mean to her." Sofia adds, going to grab another piece of bacon.

"Ha, Barb. I told you, you aren't being as covert as you would like to believe you are!" Daniel shoots his wife a playful glare from his seat at the table, causing all of us including Barbara to release a chuckle, breaking some of the tension.

The walk over to Central Park is good. We chat as a group. Everyone enjoying spending quality time together. Once we get there our group kind of naturally splits up. The park having always been a favorite of Sofia's ever since we first moved here. She is eager to race Daniel who still is in remarkable shape for his age, to see who is faster. Daniel on foot or Sofia with her Heely's. Arizona is close behind them, keeping an eye on the pair, because apparently, they need to have an eye kept on them. Leaving Barbara and I to lag behind the three of them.

"Callie dear, do you think you and I can talk for a minute?" Barbara asks carefully, already leading us to a nearby bench.

"Sure" I nod taking a seat on the bench.

"I owe you an apology Callie, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting towards you since we arrived. I let my overprotective mom take over again. I think when you lose a child the protection for the surviving child must double, because ever since we lost Tim, I've felt so protective of Arizona, not that she's ever needed it." Barbara laughs as we look over only to see Arizona not so secretly watching us.

"Hi my love." I wave at her with a smirk, making her look away embarrassed that she has been caught.

"Arizona Robbins go back to your walk. This is a private mother daughter conversation. Barbara smiles at me with all the warmth and love that comes with being a part of the Robbins Family.

AN THOUGHTS ON THIS CHAPTER? I HAD A LOT OF FUN WRITING PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THIS LITTLE WORLD WE SHARE! AS ALWAYS YOUR SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH! AND GOOD NEWS MY SEMESTER IS OFFICIALLY OVER SO UPDATES WILL BE COMING FASTER! NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE UP SOON!

GOODNIGHT LOVELIES!