I was blown away with the response on the last chapter. Thank you guys so much for that. I'll be working on the sequel over the next little while considering this chapter will be the second last. Sorry it took me a while to get up; I had an annoying case of writer's block but thankfully school ended for summer holidays so I've got a lot more time on my hands. This chapter will be written from Arizona's, Rory's, Mark's point of view. I hope you guys enjoy! =D
Also, ShaskaShane, don't feel lame you're not the only one who wants something like that (Y)
Twenty. Vindicated
"And I am flawed but I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself."
- Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional
I awake to the sound of Calliope's soft snoring filling my ears. I wipe the sleepiness from my eyes; the rare sunshine is beaming in through the open blinds consequently causing me to shut my eyes again in shock. I carefully open my eyes once again, guarding them with my hand, and look at the clock to see that it is nine forty eight in the morning. I can't help but smile slightly realizing I would be the one to wake Calliope this morning rather than vice versa as it usually has been since my father's death barely over a month ago.
Rolling over carefully the slight smile on my face grows. The sunlight is framing Calliope's face, accenting every feature. I slowly lift my hand up to her face, brushing her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"Calliope." I whisper, giggling slightly at her reaction.
Her eyelids flutter and she slightly wrinkles her nose. Her eyelids open slowly to reveal her stunning brown eyes that never seem stop being a safe harbour. "Good morning, gorgeous." I say, placing a kiss on tip of her nose.
"Well good morning to you too," Calliope smirks before wrapping her arm around my waist pulling me closer so that she can give me a quick good morning kiss. "So what's the plan for today, Dr. Robbins?" She says with a smirk.
"Mark's soccer game is at eleven thirty, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are correct."
"Well I was thinking peanut butter toast and turkey bacon for breakfast, maybe some eggs. The boy's got to have some protein before the game." I chuckle. "You going to help me?"
"Affirmative." Calliope says with a smile before beginning to pull down the bed sheets. "I'm sure Rory's already up and I'm also sure that you want to get the dirt on how her date went last night."
"Why are you so sure of that?" I give her a confused look in an attempt to hide my curiosity.
"Because I'm curious, and you're more like me than think when it comes to the kids." She chuckles. "Tell me you're not the least bit curious."
The smile I've been trying to hold back burst through and my dimples become prominent. "Fine, you caught me. Now, can we get on the morning? Because I seriously think I need to wake up as much as possible even if I'd rather lay here and be lazy with you all day." I ask, squinting slightly due to the sun shining into my eyes.
"I think that can be arranged." She says with a smirk.
Before I know it I'm being hauled out of bed by Calliope. As I collide with her body she almost immediately begins tickling my sides, fully knowing it was one of the better ways to make me completely awake.
"Calliope!"
"Yum, something smells good." I say as I enter the kitchen, taking a seat at the bar top counter. "Whatcha makin'?"
My mother set of blond curls pop out from behind the open fridge door. "What does it look like silly? I'm making breakfast." She says with a wide smile as she shuts the fridge door.
"I know that but I was wondering about the specifics. Eggs? Toast? You know what I mean Mom." I chuckle as she walks over to the counter.
"We're having peanut butter toast and turkey bacon." Ma's voice enters my conscious as she enters the kitchen from behind me, causing me to jump slightly. "Relax, there hija." She chuckles slightly before placing a quick kiss on top of my head on her way farther into the kitchen.
"Pulling out all the protein stops for Mark I see." I giggle, "I'm sure that was your idea wasn't it Mom?"
"You know me so well, Rory. Every pediatrictian knows that growing boys need their protein." Mom gives me a dimpled smile as she begins to unwrap the turkey bacon. "You want to help?"
"Don't I always?" I smirk before hopping off the stool.
"You sleep well last night?" Ma asks as she begins to toast the bread.
"Yes, I did actually." I say, I can feel the blush from remembering last night's events.
"The date with Jess went well I take it?" Mom cuts in.
"Yes, that was good too." I say taking a few pieces of turkey bacon and place them in the pan.
"So spill," Mom giggles. "You know that we both want to know all about it."
"I had a lot of fun and I actually learnt a lot about Jess." I say as I take spatula and flip the bacon. I'm hoping the sizzling will distract my parents enough to drop the subject because as much as I liked Jess, it felt kind of awkward discussing our date with my moms.
"Well that's great. You two were doing a lot of laughing, and I do mean a lot." Ma says with a chuckle.
I laugh nervously before replying, "She's really funny. She doesn't come across as the comedian type but she is actually hilarious. She'd give you a run for your money, Ma."
"I'd like to see that sometime, if you let me. And your Mom of course." Out of the corner of my eye I can see my Ma giving me a content smile.
"Well, I can't see why not." The smile on my Ma's face surprisingly has a calming effect on me.
"I have an idea." Mom cuts in cheerfully. "Why don't you invite Jess to watch Mark's game with us?"
"Good idea, Mom, in theory that is."
"Why?" She gives me a confused look, slanting her head slightly like a little kid. I would have to say Mom's childlike antics were quite endearing. They had definitely had helped make my childhood as great as it was.
"Mom, our first date was last night."
"And?" She stills ceases to see my point.
"She doesn't want to come across as clingy, Arizona." Ma says to my mother, thankfully I wasn't the one who had to say it.
"I talked to you the morning after our first date." Mom replies as the toast pops out of the toaster, almost causing me fling bacon everywhere.
"Arizona, do remember the conversation we had after our first date?" My Ma raises her eyebrow slightly as she pulls the toast out of the toaster before shoving, and yes I do mean shoving, more slices of bread in.
"Yes, I do. It had to do with sandwiches." Mom picks up a piece of bread and waves it in front of Ma's face.
"You guys talked about sandwiches?" I look at my parents in disbelief.
"Yes, Rory, we did talk about sandwiches."
"But you don't even like sandwiches." I had got more than slightly confused at this point. I ceased to see how sandwiches had anything to do with me not wanting to come across as clingy or needy to Jess.
"My point exactly." Mom gives me a wide dimpled smile, further confusing me.
"Arizona dear, our daughter doesn't know the entire story so I think you're really confusing her." Ma says with a chuckle.
"Sorry, Rory. I'll actually tell the story so that you get the point." My Mom began to tell me the story of my parents first date and the aftermath. "… So your Ma said 'I am broke, and I am exhausted Arizona. I'm working in the ER because I need the money. 6 people died on my watch today and I am fried. I wanted to stay in last night.' So my head is spinning and I'm feeling like complete idiot. She then said 'But, you wanted to go to a fancy restaurant. I can't do that. I can't.'"
"And I felt like a complete mess but that didn't matter. It didn't matter because do you know what your Mom said to me?" Ma pauses for a moment, almost as if it was for drama effect. I can't help but notice that she glances and Mom with a smile. "She said 'It's okay. So we'll stay in and eat sandwiches.' and I replied with what you said about her not liking sandwiches. She countered with 'But I like the girl who has the sandwiches.' She do you see your Mom's point?"
"I think." is all I can say, as I am still trying to see how it connects with my current situation.
"If you really like, which I think you do," Mom says with small giggle, "then don't play games. Just call her and ask her to come if you want to. Don't do what I did and forget about the things she tells you because you want to impress her."
Mom shakes her head before speaking again. "I turned your Mom down twice, so I decided try and impress her and make up for my mistake when I knew better. I did that instead of doing what actually would have been better for the both of us. I played the game."
"Thankfully, your Mom doesn't play games any more. I smartened her up." Ma chuckles, wrapping her arm around Mom.
"I think I get your point." I say with a chuckle. "And I think I'll give her a call."
"So do you actually like soccer or do you just watch because your brother plays?" Jess asks as we pull into the soccer pitch parking lot.
I had called Jess after eating breakfast with my parents and siblings. My parents, Mark, and Addie had come in my parent's SUV. Tommy had opted to stay home and tinker with Ma's Dodge Charger; Tommy had inherited Ma's grease monkey nature and liked to work any machine he could get his hands on.
"It can be kind of boring to watch sometimes but I actually like watching it, playing is another story." I chuckle slightly. "My hands may be coordinated but my feet? Definitely not. You've got to have skill in more ways than one to be a good player in soccer." I say as I turn the keys in the ignition.
Jess turns to look at me giving me a confused look as we get out of my car. "I think I've missed something here."
"You know that painting in my dining room, the one adjacent to the kitchen?" I ask, forgetting that I didn't mention being artistic last night at dinner.
"The one of the tree with the tire swing?" Jess replies correctly.
"Yes, that one, it's of the tree in the front year of my Mom's house growing up. She would always go there when she needed to think or just clear her head. I painted it for her birthday last year."
Jess locks at me in shock. "You did that?"
"I'm not a big fan of doing water colors but my Mom really likes them so I put my dislike for them aside and painted her one." I can feel the slight blush on my cheeks.
"Woah, you are really talented. Do you just paint or?" She doesn't finish her question, obviously wanting me to finish it for her.
"I draw as well. That's why I always carry that green notebook around all the time. I tend to doodle a lot in class and I used to ruin my notes so I eventually just got another notebook." I chuckle as we enter the opening to the stands.
"I've wondered about what's in there." Jess giggles with a smile.
"Rory!" The voice of my younger sister, Addie booms through the small crowd catching my attention. I turn my head to see my sister waving at me; she is sitting next to my Mom, who has Ma on the other side of her. Addie motions to the empty seats along side of my Ma which I assume they have saved for Jess and I.
"Do you mind sitting with my family?" I ask hesitantly.
Jess gives me reassuring smile that manages to make butterflies flutter in my stomach. "Do you think I that I'd be here if I did? Come on, we better sit before the game starts."
I can't help but be slightly shocked as I feel Jess's hand takes my own and begins to lead me up the stands towards my family; as a result a smile crosses my face and realization crosses my mind. My Mom had been right; I didn't have anything to worry about, all I had to do was do what was right for me and things would fall into place.
Leaning against the goal post stretching my legs while talking to a few other players on the team I notice the rest of my family arrive. Pulling my arm behind my head I hear a loud laugh attempting to be stifled.
"Something funny?" I ask giving a look of confusion to Rory's ex-girlfriend's brother. Josh Sullivan was a fairly nasty piece of work, he was that guy who tried to be funny but always cruel and was a jerk.
"Oh nothing." he replies with a devious smirk crossing his face.
"Spit it out, Sullivan." I was fairly certain what he was laughing about but I had to hear it from his mouth. My imprinted Torres temper must have been showing because some of my teammates began to spread away from Josh and slowly moving towards me.
"I thought my sister had ruined girl on girl for me but I was just proven wrong." The smirk on his face grows, causing anger to course faster through my veins. "I thought Casey had messed your sister up really good. I didn't think she was ever going to bounce back. I was hoping she was turned off from chicks altogether so that I could get a chance to get some from her too. " He lets out a cackle to go with his devilish smirk.
Without even thinking I immediately lunge after him. As my body collides with mine a yell from the stands makes me hesitate to make another move, "Mark!" My Ma's voice booms through the pitch.
As a result I receive a blow to the face.
"Mark!" Calliope's voice enters my conscious drawing my attention to my son getting punched in the face.
"Robbins!" Mark's coach yells across the field as he rushes over towards the goal posts to pull the two of them apart.
I have to hold Calliope back from practically jumping out of her seat. She looks back at me with her expression saying "Why the hell are you holding me back?"
"Wait." I say, almost whispering. "Give him a minute so calm down, and then we'll go." I give her look of reassurance followed be a smile. I knew from experience with Calliope that it was best to give her, and our kids who had her temper, a moment to blow off the steam before start the questioning. As Mark begins to walk off the field, continuing towards us I give Calliope a nod.
"You guys stay here, we'll let you know if we're staying or not." Calliope looks at Addie then to Rory and Jess before taking my hand and pulling me up from my seat.
Reaching the sidelines I watch Mark spit the blood from his mouth before wiping the small trail running down his chin. "Mark Daniel Robbins, what the hell was that all about?" My use of language and tone is completely serious in attempt to hide the concern I'm feeling because I know that Mark made the first move.
"That was about Josh Sullivan being a complete pig." Mark says looking me straight in the eyes, not backing down as if to clarify that he had valid reason to go after him. There is also something about the look on his face that tells me there is something more to it than that; something about it that made it personal.
"Yes, Mark, we all know that. But that doesn't tell me why you lunged at him." I say, slightly surprised that Calliope hadn't said anything and was giving the key point on this one.
"I won't repeat the things he said because it doesn't deserve my breath, Mom." Mark looks at Calliope for a moment, then back to the stands to where I assume his eyes have met the sight of my eldest daughter. The look of disgust and slight pain in his eyes made it apparent that yes, what that pig of a boy had said as bad as I thought it was. "If you dishonour my family, I protect my family the best way I can. He deserved it."
With his words Mark sounds so much like my father, full of dignity and pride. No matter how it seemed to other parents I could help but let go of Calliope's hand and pull my son into a quick hug. "Then I believe you." I give my son a reassuring smile as I pat him on the back.
"So I'm assuming this game isn't going be one you're playing in is it?" Calliope asks hesitantly.
"I don't so, Ma, I don't think so." Mark says, the pride in his voice beginning to deteriorate.
"In that case, let's blow this popsicle stand!" I say excitedly with a smile in attempt to cheer my son up.
"Mom, have I ever told you how crazy you are?" Mark chuckles.
"Maybe once," I smirk, happy to achieve my goal. "Or twice."
As I look back up into the stands as my Ma motions to the rest of my family and company to follow them because we were leaving I can't help but notice a familiar face.
My heart almost immediately drops into my stomach as a result. "Great Mark, you've just made yourself look like an ass." I think, hanging my head as we exit to the parking lot, unfortunately it's not before my sister takes notice. Rory looks back behind her to directly where I had been looking. "Great job, Mark, just great."
"So what was that?" Rory asks in a whisper, nearly scaring me to death as they meet up with us."
"You don't want to know." is all I say not wanting to dissolve her happiness. You could tell that she was happy, her hold on the redhead standing slightly behind her, who I had assumed was Jess' hand was evident of that.
"You didn't know that Emma was there did you?" is her next question and I honestly do not want to answer that one either so I say nothing. "Okay I'll drop it." She finally says the words I'm waiting for.
"Thank you." I say gratefully.
"I'd like to introduce you to someone," Rory says with a small smile, her famous blush creeping up slightly on her cheeks. "Mark, this is Jess." She motions from me to the redhead then vice versa. "Jess, this is my brother Mark."
"It's nice to meet you." Jess holds her hand out to me to shake and I honour the gesture.
"Likewise." I smile as I shake her hand. As I finish shaking her hand realization dawns on me, my hands are empty; I had left my bag on the end of the bench. "I hate to meet and run but I just realized I left my bag back there on the bench. I'll see you again, I'm sure." I pause to give her a small smile; I would have to say that Jess had a positive energy around her which I was sure was already wearing off on my sister.
And with that I'm off, back to face the rest of my team even if it was only for a moment. That moment was likely enough to draw the attention of those around me to myself. I can't help but hope that I would be stealthy enough to get in and get out without a hitch; right now that was all I wanted.