A/N: So, it's been what, a century since I've updated? I have no good excuses, so I'm sorry to any of you who had been waiting for an update! I'm also not going to attempt to make any sort of conjecture about when the next chapter will be up. :-/ Also, shameless plug: I'm co-writing a story called "The Prep" with my friend under the name calzonaislove-emmer23, sooo you guys should probably check that out, too.
A/N2: This is set after Callie and her father make-up at the end of 6x05: Invasion.
Chapter 11 – Our Little Girl
"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again." – Enid Bagnold
o0o0o
Callie laughed at her dad's retelling of a classic Aria story as she turned the key in the lock.
"Man, what I wouldn't give to have seen Mom's reaction," Callie said with a shake of her head. The younger Torres was bound to give her mother a heart attack one of these days.
Before pushing the door open, Callie stopped and turned towards her father. "I'm really glad you're here, Daddy."
"Me too, m'ija."
She gave him a loving smile, before pushing her apartment door wide open. Both Torreses gasped at the sight in front of them, but Callie's shocked expression quickly turned to a wry smile.
Arizona was completely unaware of her visitors as she stirred the sautéing vegetables, humming softly and swaying her hips to music only she could hear through her headphones. She moved her free hand to the iPod clasped to her hip. Pressing the next button, she squealed at the song that came up next on shuffle and began shaking her ass a little faster.
Callie walked swiftly to the blonde and hugged her from behind. After jumping slightly, Arizona molded into the embrace, pulled out one ear bud, and craned her neck back to kiss Callie soundly. She startled, but didn't pull away, when she heard a throat being cleared behind them. Her lips still attached to Callie's, Arizona opened her eyes and searched to the side for the source of the sound. Eyes catching Carlos standing awkwardly by the door and looking intently at the side of their fridge, she jumped back from Callie immediately.
"Mr. Torres, sir…um, hi!" A blush crept up Arizona's neck and cheeks.
"Hello, Arizona," Carlos said with a nod and a polite smile.
Callie smiled at their interaction, before turning to Arizona. "I didn't know you'd be over tonight."
"Um, well, I wasn't sure what kind of…mood you'd be in," Arizona began cautiously. "So I thought I'd cook for you. I definitely made enough for three," she finished, turning to Carlos.
"Thank you, Arizona. I'd love to stay, if that's alright."
"You're welcome…sir." The good man in a storm had suddenly been replaced by a blushing girl, when she realized that she was finally meeting her girlfriend's father in an impromptu, yet official, capacity.
When Carlos cocked his head inquisitively, Callie shrugged and said, "Marine brat."
"No need for sir with me," Carlos said, a slight mischievous glint in his eye.
The three fell into an awkward silence, no one entirely sure how to approach the situation at hand.
"So what are you cooking? It smells delicious," Callie said, placing her hand on the small of Arizona's back.
"Oh, nothing fancy, just some stir fry with sautéed vegetables and chicken."
"See, Dad? Meat."
Carlos laughed heartily and mockingly clutched his chest. "Thank goodness!"
Arizona quirked her head to the side, but decided to let their apparent inside joke. "Mr. Torres, there's some red wine in the pantry. Please feel free to help yourself."
Happy to have something to do other than stand awkwardly in the corner, Carlos rushed to the pantry and began to root around for a bottle he recognized. Callie took this opportunity to sidle up to Arizona as the blonde turned her attention to the stove.
"Thank you," Callie murmured right next to her ear.
Arizona pulled away and snorted. "For what?"
The brunette shot Arizona her best 'don't play dumb with me' look, to which Arizona merely shrugged, as if confronting her girlfriend's bigoted father and completely changing his mind was something she did on a daily basis.
Callie kissed her on the cheek and stepped away when her father pulled back from the pantry triumphantly, a bottle of one of his favorite merlots in hand.
"Ah, Calliope, I have taught you well. A good vintage, too!"
"Actually, Dad, Arizona bought that."
Carlos gaped at Arizona, stunned that anyone had as refined a wine palette as he did. Turning back to his daughter, he grinned. "I like her already."
Dinner went as smoothly as possible, Callie facilitating most of the conversation. Eventually Carlos and Arizona entertained themselves, Arizona regaling the older Torres with Seattle Grace-Mercy West stories and giving him a slightly modified version of how she and Callie met and began dating. Callie sat back and watched adoringly as two of the people she loved (yes, she realized at that moment, loved) the most getting to know each other.
When Callie excused herself to go to the bathroom, Arizona looked up at her with wide eyes. The brunette ignored her silent plea and patted her shoulder, before walking off in the direction of her bedroom. Arizona watched her retreating form, until Carlos spoke.
"She's my little girl," Carlos said by way of apology. "And I have to catch her."
"I understand, Mr. Torres," Arizona replied with a reassuring smile.
"I just wanted to say thank you…for allowing me that opportunity and for helping me to understand." Carlos was a proud man, but he knew right from wrong, and he knew when he needed to make amends. This was one of those times.
Arizona continued to smile at the older man. Any hard feelings she'd had for him for hurting her Calliope flew out the window in that moment. She was more than impressed by the quick transition he had made and respected him for his abject love of his daughter. "Of course."
"What'd I miss?" Callie asked as she returned from the bathroom.
"Oh, nothing, Calliope. I was just telling Arizona about the time when your 6-year-old self ran screaming from your bathroom, stark naked, through my business dinner, because you thought you'd seen a bug."
"Oh that's not fair! You two cannot start ganging up on me and telling embarrassing stories, just because you're all buddy-buddy now!" Her grin betrayed her whining.
"Of course we can, Calliope," Arizona said in a sickly sweet voice. "It's our duty as father and girlfriend."
The three cleaned up with much laughter and joking, and Callie couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming joy at the familial bond the three had unintentionally created.
When all the dishes and leftovers had been put away, Carlos decided it was time to give the women some privacy. "It's past the old man's bedtime, I'm afraid."
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Callie asked hopefully.
"Yes, of course. I'll come by the hospital at lunch?"
"I'll be there!" Callie replied enthusiastically, pulling her dad into a tight hug.
"I love you so much, m'ija."
"I love you, too, Dad."
Releasing Callie, Carlos moved on to Arizona, enveloping her in a warm hug. Surprised, Arizona tensed slightly, before relaxing into the embrace.
"Take care of our little girl," Carlos whispered.
"It would be my pleasure."
