"Who needs drugs when they have those pancakes" Callie chuckled as she set the pile of plates into the sink. They were all eloquently sufficient or 'damn stuffed' as Mark put it once they finished off their plates. The most amazing pancakes any of them had tasted, no-one wanted to eat til dinner though. They wouldn't have the room in their stomachs for it.

"They're quite a sugar hit I know" Arizona smiled and started cleaning up the mess she'd made.

Callie stopped the blonde and pulled her into a warm and gentle hug. "Breakfast was incredible and you did an amazing job so you should let someone else clean up" Kissing her forehead softly, Callie rubbed Arizona's back feeling goosebumps rise on the cream coloured skin. Resting her arms around the Latina's shoulders, Arizona pressed her lips to Callie's softly. Their lips moved together effortlessly as Arizona entangled her fingers in her girlfriend's dark curls. Running her tongue along Arizona's bottom lip, Callie didn't have to wait for her girlfriend to deepen the kiss. Leaning against the bench top, the pair pulled apart a few moments later to catch their breaths.

"You know you two really should I don't know, get a room or something" Teddy laughed as she got up from the couch after hearing a knock at the front door.

"You were having sex in the shower and didn't lock the door. I can make out with my girlfriend wherever the hell I like" Arizona shot back quickly and stuck her tongue out at her best friend like she was 8 years old.

"Ok I'll give you that one" she laughed and looked through the peep hole to see who it was "Were you expecting your Mom Riz?"

"No"

"Well she's here..."

"Don't open the door" Arizona told Teddy before looking around the apartment for something. Spotting her grey zip hoddie on the couch, she quickly pulled it on before pushing Mark off the couch "Go put some clothes on, both of you. Please?"

Teddy looked down at what she was wearing and realised that Mrs Robbins really didn't need to see her like that. Pushing Mark the rest of the way to her bedroom, the pair disappeared to get dressed. Arizona opened the door with a smile and stepped back to let her Mom in.

"Hey Mom, Merry Christmas"

"Merry Christmas baby girl" Barbara smiled and kissed her daughter's cheek before walking into the apartment. Looking around, she greeted Callie warmly before turning back to Arizona "I can't stay long, I just wanted to give you and Calliope something special before your father and I go down to Kent to see his Aunt Arabella. I promise we'll be back before dinner tonight"

"Something special?" Arizona asked curiously as she led her Mom to the living room "Can I get you a cup of tea? We have a few of my Christmas pancakes left over if you're hungry"

"You are 24 years old and you're still making those pancakes?" she laughed and shook her head. Barbara had hoped that her daughter would grow out of that tradition but sadly that wasn't the case.

"Yes I am still making them, its tradition"

"You are going to keep this tradition going for the rest of your life aren't you?"

"Uh-huh because it's the best tasting tradition I've got" Arizona giggled and took Callie's hand as they sat down on the couch next to Barbara. Intrigued as to what Arizona's mom was holding in her hands, they stayed silent so she could explain.

"Now there is another tradition on my side of the family, one Arizona has wanted to be a part of since she was a little girl" Barbara began with a smile as she opened the two jewellery boxes in her hands revealing matching silver lockets. Arizona gasped softly at the sight of the necklace she had admired since she was 4 years old "In our family Calliope, these two lockets have always been handed down to the sisters in each generation. My mother and my aunt gave them to my sister and I after they were handed down to them. My mother said just before she died that Arizona wasn't to get these lockets because she doesn't have a sister and her aunt only has sons. I was told to keep them for Arizona's two daughters if she was blessed with children but I don't want to wait. These lockets have always meant an eternal love and bond between two people who just happened to be sisters in our family and I know this meaning will still apply to the love and bond you two share. I want you both to have them"

"Barbara..." Callie gasped as she was handed one of the lockets. Arizona remained silent as she stared at the silver necklace still in her Mom's hands. Callie squeezed Arizona's hand gently but she didn't move. It wasn't until her Mom said her name that the blonde looked up.

"Grandma only said those things about giving these lockets to my daughters so you wouldn't be hurt. She told me that I never deserved these. I wasn't ever going to marry a man so I would never have children therefore they would stay with you. After I came out to her, I never expected I'd ever get them" Arizona told her mother who didn't seem at all surprised.

"I know she said those things to you which is why I had always planned to give them to you and the woman you loved. She was a very old fashioned woman who bent for no-one even her only granddaughter. I could never agree with that especially when you came out to her and she shot you down like you were nothing. You will always be the same Arizona she taught to sew and bake so there is no reason why you shouldn't be a part of this tradition" Barbara smiled as she sniffed back tears. Pulling her daughter into a tight hug, she felt Arizona kiss her cheek before resting her chin on her mother's shoulder "These are my lockets and you are my little girl. Just seeing you two together makes me certain that they belong to you and Callie"

"But you didn't see us together til you got here" Arizona chuckled and sat back, wiping away the tears from her cheeks.

"I knew from all your calls and emails that Callie was the one for you so I brought them with me. When I saw you two last night at dinner, I knew I wasn't taking them home with me"

"Thank you Mom" she smiled and hugged her Mom once again. Her parents and her brother had always been ok with her sexuality but this gesture just meant so much to Arizona.

"Yes thank you so much Barbara, I can't tell you what this means" Callie smiled still admiring the necklace in her hands. This gesture meant so much to Callie as well because it meant Arizona's family accepted her after such a short time. They had faith that she and Arizona would last a lifetime.

"Hold your hair up" Arizona chuckled as she turned to Callie, pulled the locket from it's box and opened the clasp. As Callie lifted her hair, Arizona put the chain around her neck and clasped it. Placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck, Arizona pulled Callie's hands down before hugging her warmly.

Barbara smiled at the young couple's interaction knowing she made the right decision. She had never seen her daughter like this with any other woman until Callie came along.

"I should get going, Daniel is down in the car waiting for me" Barbara chuckled as she stood up and smoothed out the creases in her trousers. Standing up, Callie pulled Barbara into a gentle hug thanking her once again for the necklace and the beautiful things she said. Arizona too hugged her mother once she'd walked her to the door.

"This Christmas was already perfect before you came over but now it's even more so. Thank you" she smiled and kissed her Mom's cheek "I love you Mom"

"I love you too baby girl. I am glad you're so happy"

"Me too"

"Now expect your brother over here in a couple hours" Barbara laughed as she walked toward the elevator "He was asleep when we left but no doubt he will be here when he wakes up"

"I'll keep the left over pancakes for him then"

"Timothy will appreciate that" she chuckled as the elevator doors opened for her "Your father and I will be back for dinner, I promise"

"See you then" Arizona smiled and watched her Mom disappear as she got into the elevator and the doors closed. The blonde stayed at her door watching the elevator for a few moments trying to sort out her thoughts. Never thinking she would ever get to continue on the tradition on the Monroe side of her family because of her sexuality, Arizona felt incredible respect and gratitude for her mother at that moment. Arizona knew how much her mom loved her but this was going beyond love. It was accepting Arizona for who she really was and who she chose to be with.

'When you fall in love, you fall for the person and everything that makes them who they are on the inside not on the outside'

Those were the first words Barbara told her daughter when she brought home a lovely girl by the name of Joanne. Insight that could be used in so many situations, Arizona knew exactly what her mother meant when those words were said to her. Still relevant now, those words of wisdom echoed in the ears of the blonde as she felt her girlfriend's hands on her shoulders.

"Hold your hair up" Callie smiled and waited for Arizona to lift her hair before she put the locket around her neck. Letting her hair down once Callie had clasped the chain, Arizona turned around and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's shoulders.

Kicking the door shut, she didn't want anyone passing the apartment to see them kissing. Capturing Callie in a passionate embrace, Arizona cupped her girlfriend's cheeks gently "I love you" she smiled as she rested her forehead on Callie's "I love you so much"

"I love you too"

"This Christmas couldn't get any better" Arizona giggled and started dancing around the apartment high on happiness. She had the most amazing woman for a partner, an incredible Mom and the one thing she had longed for since coming out and that was to be truly accepted for who she was.

Thoughts? Not everyone gets accepted for who they really are so I wanted to write about the rare few who have amazing family and friends who love and support them through anything. More on Christmas dinner in the next chapter