Thanks again everyone for all of your fantastic reviews…just love reading them…and seeing how invested you are all in my story…another fun chapter,

CHAPTER TWELVE

We told each other months ago about the people we were in love with during that twenty year span but now my girlfriend and I sit and talk as the dialogue delves deeper into our lives. Callie tells me everything about her love for George and her "sex buddy" Mark. At least that what she tells me it started out as between her and Mark but when I say to her "I guess I just want to know how you really feel about Mark. The way he calls you "Cal" all the time…it seems endearing…in an "I love you" sort of way". Callie tosses the covers off my body and lays her body flush with mine and in all seriousness says to me "Arizona, are you jealous…of Mark"?

My girlfriend does not have to answer the question I have just asked her because I can see it in her eyes and on her face that she is jealous of my relationship with Mark. I try to ease her pain that I see she is wearing as I kiss her lips and say "Oh baby, what can I say to make you believe that I love you…and only you". Arizona kisses my lips and says to me "I know that you love me and only me Callie but I guess I just feel that there is something more there with you and Mark. I don't know…but when I was with him for those four days in Baltimore, he generally seems like a very nice guy…but then hearing him talk to you over the phone that day…I guess I just wonder if maybe he is still in love with you and you don't even know it". I kiss my girlfriend so passionately again and then I tell her without any doubt in my mind "I don't care if Mark does still have feelings for me baby because you are all I think about…everyday…every waking hour…and even when I am asleep…you Arizona…and only you". Then I show Arizona how much I love her as we make love.

Arizona, Sofia and I are enjoying a very pleasant dinner at our favorite Santa Monica restaurant when our mija blurts out "Mama, daddy's coming to town this Saturday". She tells my girlfriend her good news before I have had a chance to tell her myself. Arizona just smiles at our daughter and says "That's some great news mija. I'm sure that you and your mami will be pleased to see him". Arizona does not even look my way when she talks to Sofia. But I know her well enough to know that she is not happy about the way she is just now finding out that Mark is coming into town. I take a sip of my wine and think to myself that I really have some explaining to do later…a lot of explaining to do.

When Sofia has had her bath and is safely tucked in her bed, I make my way downstairs to find Arizona and elucidate how I only found out this evening about Mark's upcoming visit to L.A. With the screen door closed but the back door open to let in the cool summer night ocean breeze, I can smell the distinct smell of a cigarette burning. I stand at the screen door and look out to see that my Arizona is sitting at the end of the back deck smoking that offending tobacco product as she takes a swig of her beer but does not see me standing there. But then Arizona turns my way when she hears the smack of the screen door as it hits the wooden door frame and says to me in that tone of voice of hers that tells me she is mad as hell "You're going to wake Sofia up slamming the screen door like that Callie".

I ignore her somewhat mean tone and ask her pleasantly "May I have a beer please"? My girlfriend just turns away from me without handing me a refreshing beverage and says "You should have told me Callie. Sofia should not have been the one to tell me about her father's visit…you should have told me". Then Arizona hands me a beer and I force my body to sit behind hers as she tries to move out of my way but I pull her body into mine. I wait a minute before I say to Arizona "I was going to tell you about Mark's visit but I did not want to do it over the phone or send you a text message. Then Sofia just blurted it out before I had a chance to even tell you". Without any movement or sound coming from my girlfriend I press on and say "Mark is coming to L.A. on Thursday night for his consult on Friday morning. The Board of Directors at Cedars are taking him out to dinner on Friday night to try to woo him to move to LA and work for them…that's all I know".

I sit between my girlfriend's legs on our back deck at the beach house as I lean forward a bit. I listen to her tell me what she should have told me before our little baby girl blindsided me at dinner tonight with the news of her father's visit. I knew that this visit was coming up soon but I just did not exactly know when it was going to happen. I take the last puff of my cigarette and put it out in the sand just below me as I hear Callie cough a little. I take a drink of my beer as we both just sit in silence all the while knowing that I want to tell her how I feel about Mark's visit…but I can't…so I sit and remain silent. Then I feel Callie lean against my back as she hugs me tight and whispers "Talk to me Arizona…please talk to me. I love you but I know that when you smoke that you are upset…so please talk to me".

I don't know if it is the two glasses of wine I had with dinner tonight or the three beers I have consumed since we have been home but I am feeling a little frisky as I feel Callie kiss my neck and hug me tight. I turn in my girlfriend's arms and push her back onto the deck as I climb up on her body and kiss her deeply. Callie seems a little startled by my action and begins to show her disapproval. I persist with my advances as I cover her lips with mine and begin to thrust my tongue down her throat. But when I try to force my hand inside her shorts to find what I am searching for…that is when I feel Callie push me off her body and say "No Arizona no". I catch my breath and say "What the fuck, Callie" then I sit down on the deck beside her and try to adjust my bearings because I am feeling a little tipsy.

I push Arizona off my body when she tries to have her way with me but I feel that she is too drunk and I am just not in the mood. I begin to cry when Arizona yells at me as she says "What the fuck". When Arizona sees me starting to cry her selfish side appears when she then says "You come out here and talk to me about Mark. You talk to me about a man that you say you used to love. But your hesitation today to inform me that your former lover is coming to town just shows me that maybe you do still love him and I am the fool in this relationship". But before I can even make my plea again that I love Arizona and only her, my girlfriend abruptly stands up and begins to loose her balance but catches herself along the edge of the deck and say "Go to hell Callie…you and Mark can have each other…just go to hell".

I turn over in my parent's bed and smell the freshly brewed scent of coffee. But before I even open my eyes I feel the two soft and small hands of my mija resting on both of my cheeks and feel her diminutive frame sit on my stomach. I open my eyes and smile at the very cute brunette that just happens to be the spitting image of her mami as I hear her ask and say to me "Oh Mama, what have you done"? I kiss my mija and prop myself up on the pillows as I lean back against the headboard and watch Sofia just sit on my belly and shake her adorable little head at me. I take a sip of my cup of coffee that is sitting on my nightstand and before I answer my daughter's question I ask Sofia "Where's your mami"?

Just then before Sofia can answer me Callie walks into my parent's bedroom with a plate full of food and says "I'm right here Arizona…I haven't gone anywhere…now eat something to help with your headache". When my girlfriend turns on her heels to leave my presence I say softly to her "I'm sorry Callie" but she continues to walk away from me and Sofia without saying another word. I place the plate of food between me and my mija as we both begin to eat and I say "I really messed up big time didn't I mija"? Sofia enjoying a piece of toast off my plate just shakes her head in the affirmative. "So what can I do to make this right" I ask Sofia and she says "You need to get over this fear of mami and me leaving you to be with my daddy. Trust me mama that is never going to happen. The last year that we were all together was the most painful year of mami's life. She will never go back to daddy and even if he does move here it will be for me and not for mami. So you just need to let mami know that you did not mean what you said last night and apologize".

Violet and Lucas have come by the beach house to pick Sofia up for their field trip. Arizona has come downstairs to see Sofia off but when Violet asks me if everything is alright we all watch Arizona excuse herself and make her way outside to the garage area. Then Sofia tells her Aunt Violet "Mami and mama had an argument last night and mami is mad at mama". I say my daughter's name "Sofia"

very strongly and she quickly asks Lucas "Wanna go outside while our mamis' talk". Lucas doesn't even answer his friend's question as he just walks outside with Sofia. I walk over to the back door as I look out at Arizona in the garage when I hear Violet ask "You going to tell me what's going on between the two of you, Callie"?

"She thinks I am still in love with Mark" I say to my college friend. I watch Sofia and Lucas walk into the garage as Arizona shows them her motorcycle. Then I hear my friend say "So, are you still in love with Mark, Callie"? I turn and walk back into the kitchen where Violet has helped herself to a cup of coffee and has taken a seat at the breakfast bar. I look at my friend straight in her eyes and say unequivocally "No Violet, I am not in love with Mark. We will always share a bond that is our daughter but I do not love him anymore". Then I take a sip from my coffee cup and say to my friend "I just do not know how to make Arizona believe me. That was what the fight was about last night…her fear that I still love Mark and that he is still in love with me". My friend of over fifteen years says to me "Well if you want my opinion" and I quickly say to Violet "I do".

Violet's professional answer to our three way dilemma is simply "You need to have a talk with Arizona and Mark together. You need to put everyone's cards on the table and tell Arizona in front of Mark that you do not have any kind of romantic feelings towards him. That way you and Arizona will both know and find out together if Mark has any unresolved feelings for you. If by chance he does and confesses to you both then you need to make it perfectly clear that you do not feel the same way and you must do this in front of Arizona…and make her believe you…really believe you Callie otherwise…this fear of hers will never go away". I hug my friend and tell her "Thank you" as she tells me that she will watch Sofia on Friday night so Arizona and I can meet Mark for some after dinner drinks and have a conversation.

I walk out to the garage after my daughter and my friend and her son leave for their field trip. Arizona is finishing her final touches on her bike as she looks up at me and says "Hey Callie". I lean against the seat of her motorcycle and ask my girlfriend "Can we talk"? Arizona answers me as she says "Yes" and then says again "I am so sorry about last night. I did not mean what I said…I am so sorry". We both walk back inside the house and have a calm and productive conversation. Arizona says she will do anything I ask of her to prove her fears are unfounded. I call Mark and make arrangements for the three of us to meet after his dinner on Friday evening. Then Arizona and I go for a ride on her motorcycle as I hold on tight and then later I let her have her way with me as she makes love to me. Then afterwards I forgive her for her outburst last night. Then I make love to her too.

Arizona and I arrive a few minutes early to the Beverly Hills Hotel and take a seat in the bar. Arizona makes the snide comment "Guess this is the appropriate hotel for a famous double board certified plastic surgeon and ENT specialist to stay at while visiting L.A. don't you think, Calliope"? I just shake my head at her comment all the while smiling at my girlfriend and say "Look Arizona I know that you are nervous…so am I…but for a man that you are so jealous of…you seem to know quite a bit about his credentials honey". Arizona orders our drink order from the dark haired cocktail waitress as I see her smile at this woman and hear her say back to me "Well Calliope, when we both were in Baltimore last month the man could not stop talking all about himself…whenever he found a moment…that was all he talked about…himself and him being a double board certified physician…it was quite annoying if you ask me".

I practically spew my drink all over the table at Arizona's final statement about Mark as I think that I agree with my girlfriend at Mark's constant reminder to everyone he comes in contract with about his medical credentials. While Arizona helps me clean myself up with the excess liquid on my blouse and on the table top, Mark walks up to the table and says very sarcastically "Can I help you ladies"? I tell the father of my child "No Mark but please have a seat". The three of us carry on a conversation for over two hours about all of our hopes and fears. When the subject of Arizona's fear of Mark still being in love with me makes its appearance during on conversation Mark does the most incredible thing I've ever seen him do.

Mark turns to face me and only me after I ask him "Are you still in love with my girlfriend and are you going to take her away from me"? Mark sits up straight and looks into my eyes and says "I will always love Callie but not in the way you are thinking. She is the mother of my child, and now according to the talk I had with my daughter last night, so are you in Sofia's eyes. I made a promise to our little precious four year old baby girl to tell you the truth. So here's the truth Arizona. I love women…I cannot help myself so yes I do love Callie but Arizona I am not in love with her because she is in love with you". I begin to cry at his answer but then I leave my chair and engulf my girlfriend in my arms as I apologize profusely.

While I hold my Callie in my arms and she says once again tells me again that she forgives me for all of my craziness lately it is Mark that continues to talk about himself that brings the two of us back to reality. Callie and I sit and listen to Mark say "I have been seeing a resident at New York's Presbyterian Hospital. Her name is Lexie Grey and I am in love with her and she is in love with me. She is about to complete her residency and has accepted a fellowship position and a contract with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I, too, have accepted the same from Cedars and we will be house hunting in the Los Angeles area sometime in the next month or so. So my question is to you Dr. Arizona Robbins, Head of Pediatrics at L.A. Children's Hospital, do you trust me being around your girlfriend and the mother of our child? Because if you don't then Lexie and I will figure out another way to not move to southern California but you get to explain why to our daughter and I do not envy you with that task my dear…because have you met her…she can be very persuasive".

Callie and I both laugh at Mark's implication of our daughter's way of thinking because she can be very influential when she wants to be. I hold my girlfriend tight as I look into her eyes and tell Mark "Please Mark, you and Lexie keep your plans to move here to L.A. I know that I along with my girlfriend and our daughter will love having you and Lexie around more often. And if you need a good realtor I can recommend a few". I kiss my girlfriend as we both say goodnight to the father of our child and make our way home since we have the night to ourselves. On the way to the Jeep I notice Callie having a weird look on her face as I ask her "Something else on your mind tonight baby"? I open the passenger door for Callie when she says out of the blue "I wonder if Lexie Grey is any relation to Derek Sheppard's wife Meredith Grey at Seattle Grace. That would be hilarious if she was because that would mean that Derek and Mark will probably run into each other again some time in their future. That would be so fucking hilarious Arizona because Mark slept with Addison Adrian Montgomery Sheppard and left Seattle to be with her…only to have her leave him…and now he is in love with Meredith Sheppard's sister Lexie…Oh my Mark and Derek are so going to run into each other…in their future".