Callie sat stunned on the park bench, ice cream melting down her hand. What the fuck just happened? Arizona was walking at a steady pace away from her, Sofia eating her ice cream and trying to keep up with her Mama. Callie shook the cobwebs, stood up and chased after her wife and daughter. She caught up with them half way between the park and the Robbin's family home. She picked up Sofia, who giggled, and pulled Arizona's arm to stop her progress.
"What's wrong? Why'd you do that?"
Arizona just glared at Callie, shook the hand off her arm, and stormed to the house. Callie stood with a squirming Sofia, chocolate ice cream everywhere and scratching her head in disbelief. They had such a wonderful time at lunch, it had reminded her of when they started dating. Just catching up with each other, talking about the surgeries they performed, and generally having fun. Mama Rosso had been such a hoot and the food had been so delicious, but the best part was the company. Her beautiful wife sitting there with such a peaceful look on her face, no worries in the world. It was such a change from the way their lives had been for the last year.
When that stranger had hit on her, asking for a date, she admitted she was flattered. After all, Kelly was a beautiful woman, but she meant it when she said she was very happy to be married. They may not have been completely happy given recent events, but she didn't ever want to give up their marriage, if she did she would have filled for divorce when everything went down. The last three days proved they could work on the issues affecting them if they just talked and listened to each other.
Callie put Sofia back down on the ground and gave her a little pat on the butt and sent her through the door Arizona left open when she stormed inside. Callie sighed, she guessed she better suck it up and find out what was going on. Callie went in to find the members of the family staring at the staircase. Sofia run up to her Pop Pop and jumped on his lap. Curious eyes turned to Callie. Daniel was the first to speak up.
"She's upstairs. I think she just about ripped the hinges off the door when she slammed it shut, so best of luck Cal."
Callie nodded sadly, lifted her eyes to the stairs and took the first steps into what she was sure was going to be a humdinger of an argument. As she took the first few steps she heard what she was sure was a snicker or two. She turned and glared. No one was brave enough to meet her gaze and they went back to their earlier activities. As soon as she was out of earshot, everyone cracked up. Barbara's youngest brother Robert turned to Daniel.
"Think Callie will survive? 'Cause I really like this one, and I don't want to bury anyone else this week!"
Daniel laughed along with everyone else, the tension broken. It had been hard on the family this week and knowing the temper Arizona sometimes had, this was sure to be entertaining. Daniel shook his head, a serious look now on his face.
"All jokes aside, Arizona needs to pull her head in. Callie is the best thing to ever happen to my daughter and she better not screw it up. That girl needs to realize not everything is always about her. Marriage is about compromise, trust and love. Callie has been nothing but patient and it's about time she learned to do the same."
The family all agreed. Arizona could be a hot head, but when all was said and done, they loved her and wanted her to be happy. If Callie was the person to do that, they would all support and help them get through anything that came their way.
Meanwhile upstairs, Callie was standing outside the bedroom door, unsure if she knock, just go in or run for her life! She decided to just knock and go straight in. Three quick taps, and she turned the handle. She was surprised it wasn't locked. She went in to find Arizona sitting on the far side of the bed, back to the door, her leg off, the silence deafening. Callie decided to speak first and break the ice.
"Is your leg hurting that badly? Is that why you dumped ice cream pretty much in my lap and stormed off like a four-year old?" When Arizona didn't answer, Callie persisted with her questioning. "What took you so long to get the ice cream anyway? I was worried something had happened to you?"
Arizona turned, eyes glistening with tears. "What do you care? You were too busy flirting with that woman in the park! I came back with the ice cream and tried to sneak up and surprise you. But surprise, surprise, here you are flirting away, touching that woman's arm, probably giving her your phone number when I stopped watching!"
Callie flared and pointed an accusing finger at Arizona. "Oh fuck no! You don't get to sit there and judge me for getting hit on when you fucking cheated on me!"
Arizona glared back. "Well I would stand and judge you, but I seem to have misplaced my leg!"
Callie was furious! "Oh, so you're pulling the 'I cut off your leg' card are you? You know what Arizona?"
Arizona grabbed her crutches, walked around to where Callie stood and got right up in her face. "What Callie, WHAT?"
"Fuck you, just FUCK YOU! I'm done. I'm done being your punching bag! I'm done taking the blame, I'm just done." Callie looked Arizona dead in the eyes before she spoke again. "We're done."
Arizona reeled back from Callie. "No, you don't mean that, do you?"
"I think I do Arizona. I'm done. That woman in the park, we were just having a conversation and you just jumped straight to the conclusion that I was flirting with her or going to go on a date with her, just like you did when Nicole rang the house. YOU are the one who cheated on me, yet YOU are the one who is in my face accusing me of cheating! TWICE! YOU don't trust me. Well you know what, I DON'T TRUST YOU!" Callie fumed, chest heaving up and down, steam about to come out of her ears.
Arizona was stunned into a temporary silence. She knew trust was one of their key issues, hers because she trusted Callie to keep that stupid promise, a promise she regretted ever asking her to make, and Callie, obviously, because of her cheating with Lauren. Arizona was about to speak when Callie broke the silence.
"I'm going to get a hotel room, get a flight in the morning and head back to Seattle. I'll arrange for a lawyer and we can work out custody for Sofia, aside from that, we're done."
Arizona sobbed, shoulders slouching. "No Callie, please don't, I can't, I won't lose you."
Callie stubbornly wiped at tears of her own. "You lost me when you kissed that woman. I lost you when I cut off your leg, it's as simple as that. We hung onto each other for a year, but no matter how far I thought we'd come, especially in the last three days, you threw your leg, my promise, in my face the first chance you got! You really haven't forgiven me at all have you?"
Arizona reached out to touch Callie, but she recoiled. "I have Callie, I really have. I couldn't help saying that. Every time I'm reminded of cheating on you, I feel like I have to throw something back at you so it takes the focus off me. I wouldn't blame you if you want to leave me Callie. I cheated on you, I made the conscious decision to kiss that woman, I ruined us. But please, I beg you, don't leave. Yell at me, scream at me, just don't walk out that door! Please. I love you, and I want our family back. I will do anything you want me to. I'll stand on the corner of the busiest street in Seattle and tell the world I cheated on the most faithful and loving woman I have ever met! I'll do anything, just don't leave me!"
Callie sighed and run her fingers through her hair. "That's the problem Arizona. You can't help saying it. It makes me feel like you are always going to hold it over me. Two nights ago I asked you if you could move on from it and forgive me, and you said you would, that you already had, but here we are, fighting about it again. I mean, why do you even want me to stay Arizona? Is it because you really want to work things out, or do you just not want to be alone?"
Callie let the question hang in the air before she continued. "And just so you know, that woman in the park, her name was Kelly. Her son was playing in the sandbox with Sofia and we got talking while I waited for my wife. I will be honest, she asked me on a date. But you know what I told her? I told her I was a happily married woman and at that moment I was. I was ready to suggest that when we got back to Seattle we see Nicole together, to work everything out and be together again, but here you go throwing your leg in my face again, so yeah, I'm pretty sure we're done."
Arizona and Callie stared at each other, both afraid to say another word. A knock at the door broke them out of their stand-off. Daniel entered, a concerned look on his face. The rest of the family decided to head out when the shouting got really loud. Callie headed to her suitcase and started packing. Arizona walked on her crutches to the door, more defeated than ever. Arizona turned to her father.
"Dad, where's Sofia?"
Daniel put a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder. "She's in my study, watching a movie on my computer. I didn't want her to hear her mother's fighting."
Callie stopped packing momentarily at the mention of her daughter. Her shoulder slumped, but she carried on packing. Daniel turned to Arizona and ushered her out of the room.
"Go sit with Sofia, let me talk to her."
Silent tears rolled down Arizona's face. "I don't think anything is going to change her mind Dad. I think we're really done!" Arizona broke into sobs and slumped against her father. He rubber her back and waited for her to calm down some.
"Go sit with your daughter."
Arizona nodded yes, too tired to argue. She carefully went down the stairs on her crutches and joined her daughter in the study for some Lion King time. She couldn't help but think about the woman upstairs, the love of her life. Had she really just lost her?
Upstairs, Daniel walked back into the bedroom, quietly shut the door and sat on the bed. Callie was exiting the bathroom with her travel pack when she noticed Daniel sitting on the bed. Daniel patted the bed and motioned for her to sit. Callie reluctantly sat, put her head in her hands and let the tears flow. Daniel put a comforting hand on her back and rubbed circles until she calmed down. Callie looked at her father in law.
"I think we're really done Daniel. She accused ME of cheating 'cause some chick in a park hit on me. I didn't even reciprocate, I was just chatting! I can't remember how many times since I've been with Arizona that some woman or man even, has hit on me, and I have never once, not once, thought about cheating on her, it's just not in me to do it, ever! She cheated on me Daniel, she cheated on me and I have to prove myself to her! She cheated on me because of that leg. It's always about that fucking leg! I should have just kept my promise, let her die, maybe then she wouldn't hate me!" Callie broke down in tears again and Daniel wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Never think that Callie, ever! She could never hate you, she doesn't. I'm grateful you saved my little girl. I know Sofia is, I know you are too. You two just need to both stop the accusations, stop the back and forth, and forgive each other. You told me she's forgiven you for breaking that god damn promise, well I think she has. I know my daughter, if she says she's forgiven you, she has. It doesn't justify her actions, but you know Arizona, she cannot lose an argument!"
Callie chuckled slightly while Daniel continued.
"But what I want to know is, have you forgiven her for kissing that woman?"
Callie wiped at her nose. "I had this discussion with Chief Hunt before we left. Part of me thinks it was just a kiss, we can move on from it. The other part of me wants to know if she'll do it again?"
"I think that's something you need to ask Arizona, the question won't answer itself. You need to stay, you two need to talk, but most of all, you need to ask yourself if you can live the rest of your life without her."
Callie nodded and took a deep breath. "Can you send Arizona back up? I think it's time the question was answered."