A/N: I've been asked if this is the end of this fic, now that Oliver's has arrived. I will assure you that this fic is NOT ending anytime soon. I have so much more story to tell for the Robbins-Torres family. Don't worry about that. Thanks for the awesome reviews. :)
The sound of Oliver's cries woke them for the fifth time. At this point, both she and her wife couldn't really call what they were attempting to do "sleeping," since it was more like hoping to get in a thirty minute nap until the next time he woke them.
"Your turn," Arizona grumbled.
Callie reached into the basinet which was on her side of the bed and picked the baby boy up. "What's the problem?" she asked, giving him a kiss. "Are you hungry?"
Assuming this was it, Madre got up and headed into the kitchen where she started heating up a bottle that had been pre-made by Mommy. Oliver continued crying – and getting louder and louder – until the nipple of his bottle was in his mouth.
"There we go," Callie said with a yawn.
Grandma Robbins came out from the nursery which, as planned, doubled as a guest room. "Need any help?" she asked.
"No," she said. "We've got it under control."
"He's been up quite a bit, huh?" she asked.
"Yeah, but he's still pretty content. He's really woken up to be fed or changed. Oh, and once when he got a little too warm because of the swaddle blanket. He hasn't been fussy, though."
She smiled. "Good."
To no one's surprise, Mommy emerged from the bedroom. She had told Callie it was her turn and acted like she wasn't getting up, but she couldn't resist spending a few moments with Oliver. They had waited so long for their boy, and a lack of sleep hardly even mattered.
"Did Madre get you some milk?" she asked as she sat down beside Callie and started brushing her thumb ever so gently over the little man's little hairs.
In the fourteen hours since they had been home with him, they had learned that he liked this. Apparently, he found it soothing. They had also discovered that Oliver loved being cuddled close while his madre sang him the same Spanish lullabies that her parents had sung to her as a child. Getting to know Oliver had been amazing so far, and he wasn't even three days old yet. Arizona knew much more bonding time was in store for them, and she was excited for all of it.
They had worried about bonding with Oliver. Part of them couldn't help but wonder if he was wondering where his birth parents were. When he cried, did he want them to pick him up? Was he missing them? Did he feel like he was in a strange place with strange people? They weren't naïve to the fact that this wouldn't be simple. It would take some time for these thoughts to completely subside along with the unique mix of feelings adoption brought up. They were expecting that they would probably feel a sense of guilt for some time. They had also been told that it was common for adoptive parents to feel alone, because none of their family or friends could really relate to what they were going through, even if they tried. It was a unique experience that only the two of them really understood.
However, learning that they had what it took to calm the newborn was helping. He liked the things they were doing for him. They were able to comfort him just like any other mother would. They could do this. Oliver was such a blessing and he made all the tough parts worth it for sure.
"Oliver, Abuelo is going to come meet you tomorrow," Callie smiled as she told her son. "He should be here by dinner time."
"Well, today," Arizona corrected with a yawn.
"Yeah, I guess," she agreed. "He's excited you're here," she told the hungry boy. "You're his first grandbaby, too! You're the first grandbaby on both sides. Did you know that?"
"We'll spoil you lots," Barbara said. "And so will Abuelo, I'm sure."
"Oh, yeah."
"You deserve it, right?" she smiled.
The Robbins-Torres family went back to bed and manage to get a good three hour stretch of sleep before Oliver insisted that their day begin. Everyone had a pretty low-key morning that was spent just enjoying Oliver.
They were just finishing up his first at-home bath when Mark and Greyson came over for a little visit. "Oh, is it bath time?" Uncle Mark asked.
"Say 'it was, but I'm all clean!'" Arizona replied as she dried the little boy off. They still had to be careful to keep his umbilical cord stump dry, so it had been only a sponge bath this time.
"Greyson wanted to meet you, Buddy," Mark told Oliver.
Greyson started fussing and everyone laughed. "Are you being forced to make friends against your will?" Callie joked. "Poor Greyson!"
"Should we get some clothes on you and go play with Greyson?" Arizona asked.
"You're so happy," Mark said. "After his baths, Greyson's always so mad at us for gettin' him wet."
"He seemed to like it," Grandma smiled.
"Good."
Once Oliver was dressed, they laid both boys down on a blanket. Greyson looked like a giant compared to brand new Oliver and they all found it funny.
"Are you boys buddies?" Arizona asked as she took pictures. "Oliver, what do you think of Greyson?"
"How old is he?" Barbara asked Mark.
"He'll be three months on Sunday," he answered.
Greyson started babbling as he looked over at his little friend. It seemed like the boys were attempting to have their first conversation of many. "Do you boys already have secrets or something?" Arizona asked.
"Well, that's not good," Grandpa joked.
They took a few more pictures before Oliver began fussing. He certainly liked being held much more than he liked being put down, and he had had enough of this for now.
"Okay, okay, okay," Callie said, picking him up. "You'd rather be held, right?"
Greyson started crying because he heard Oliver. "Oh, you love playing on the floor!" Mark laughed as he picked him up. "You're just bein' silly."
Callie kissed Oliver's head. "How dare we put you down?" she asked Oliver. "That's so unfair, isn't it?"
Mark watched the way the new moms interacted with their boy. He knew of their concerns when it came to bonding, but he knew that things would work themselves out. They were naturals, even if Oliver wasn't their biological son. It was so nice to see his friends this happy.
As promised, Callie's dad arrived that evening. Callie and Colonel Robbins were putting away the dishes after dinner when they heard the knock at the door.
"Hi, Daddy," Callie said as she opened it. "How was the flight?"
"Great," he said, giving his daughter a kiss. "Where's my grandson?"
"Arizona and his grandma are changing his diaper in his room," she laughed. "Put your stuff down first."
Arizona and Barbara brought Oliver out and handed him over to his abuelo. "Say 'hi, Abuelo!'" Arizona smiled.
"You're such an alert little guy, aren't you?" Abuelo asked. "Hello, Oliver!"
"Isn't he perfect?" Callie asked.
"Absolutely."
Oliver started fussing. "Oh, what's wrong?" Arizona asked.
"I wonder if he's still hungry," Callie suggested, since everything else seemed fine. "He only ate one ounce last time."
"Do you want more?" Carlos asked his grandson. "Are you still a little hungry?"
Callie kissed her son's little hand. "I'll go get you some more milk."
The milk did the trick. As soon as Abuelo began feeding him an extra ounce, Oliver settled right back down.
Callie loved watching her dad interact with her son. Carlos Torres couldn't have been more delighted over the little boy, and that was exactly what Callie wanted. She was so glad that Oliver's entire family saw him as a new member. Adopted or not, he was one of them.
"Did he sleep well last night?" Abuelo wondered.
"Not exactly well," Callie replied. "But it wasn't bad. He's not a fussy baby. He only cries when he wants something."
"Good."
"Hopefully tonight's the same," Arizona said. "If not better."
"Hopefully."
"Are you sure you're okay on the couch, Dad?" Callie asked. "We can put you up in a hotel if –"
"Calliope, I can afford a hotel," he smiled. "I want to be here. It's fine."
"Everyone's staying here, Oliver!" Arizona announced. "Sure, Grandma and Grandpa are getting more use out of your room than you are, but still."
"That'll change one day," Callie said. "When we decide he's ready for his crib."
"Which won't be anytime soon," Arizona pointed out. "You didn't want him to nap in it!"
"It's so nice having him so close," she smiled. "That's all."
"I know."
