A/N - Hey guys! Just a small update today. I seem to have hit a wall this week and haven't written much. I blame re-watching Greys season 9 and onwards when
everything goes wrong for Callie and Arizona. Makes you lose your mojo. Hopefully this week it'll return. Have a good day and thanks for the support and comments :)
xxxxxxxxx
Previously…
"I can't believe how big and angry looking that bruise is."
"Well what do you expect when you fucked me into next week against the front door?"
Callie concealed a laugh and apologised to the blonde. "Don't be sorry" Arizona told her. "It was worth it." She leant on, bringing their lips together. After a few moments, she pulled back. "How about we get washed and then you can kiss it all better?"
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Chapter 25
Picking up her cell, she answered the call. "Hey mom."
"Morning Calliope. How are you?"
Sitting back in her chair, the Latina stretched out her free arm above her head. "I'm great thanks. Pretty slow day at work so far. I'm heading up to Sloan's this afternoon. One of his horses is ready to pop out a foal."
"Oh that's wonderful sweetheart. You've always loved your horses."
Callie nodded. "I know. I could never have one again myself though. Saying that, I said that about a dog but now I've fallen in love with Arizona's little mutt."
Isabella laughed on the other end of the phone. "Coco is very adorable." Over the last year, Callie had taken Arizona over to Miami a couple of times to see her parents. They in turn had come over to visit a few times too. The Latina had been relieved to see her girlfriend and parents get on so well from the get go. She shouldn't have her surprised. She herself knew first hand how easy it was to fall in love with the blonde.
"She is. So what's new?"
"Oh well you'll never guess what I've done? I'm retiring.."
Callie smiled widely in the empty room. "Well it's about time, mom. You've been saying it for how many years?"
Isabella rolled her eyes on the other end of the line. "I know, I know, but I feel like this is the right time. I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to be able to enjoy retirement before the curtains close."
"Mom!"
Isabllella laughed. "Oh Calliope, don't be so sensitive. Anyway, your father and I were thinking of coming over to Oklahoma this weekend if you and Arizona are available?"
"Absolutely. We'd love that."
"Excellent. Maybe we could do some wedding planning together? Have you decided on a date yet?"
On Sunday, the couple had spent a few hours discussing dates, locations and guests. It wasn't going to be a huge event. They were quite happy having just their family and close friends with them to celebrate.
"Early December we think. We need to go to the town hall and see what dates are available."
"Well if you're wanting it in December it's only a few months away. It's amazing how quick that time will pass."
"I know mom. It'll be fine. We have alot of help from friends here and with you and Arizona's parents added to the mix, it'll be even better."
Talking for a little longer, Callie finally said goodbye to her mother before hanging up and dialling Arizona's number. She had a feeling it would go unanswered as the doctor was probably with a patient but was surprised however when Arizona's voice sounded down the line. "Calliope? To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I missed you.." She smiled.
Arizona laughed down the line. "You saw me like 2 hours ago."
"I know and it's too long." She smiled again at the blondes laugh. "Don't you have patients?"
"One just left as you rang. I've got another waiting outside actually so don't have long."
"No worries I just wanted to let you know my parents are coming over this weekend. I thought perhaps you'd like to invite yours over and it could give them all a chance to meet?"
"That's a great idea. I mean I don't know if they're able to but I'll give them a ring at lunch and make the offer to them."
"Great. Saturday we could perhaps host a BBQ? Maybe invite a few others just so it's not so...intense."
Arizona laughed. "I know what you mean. Sounds like a fun Saturday."
"Mhmm. Anyway, I'll let you get back to your patients. I'm gona grab an early lunch before heading up to Sloan's. Let me know when you find out, OK?"
"I will. Love you."
The Latina smiled. "I love you more."
Xxxxxxxxx
A few hours later, Callie and Mark were sat outside his farm house after witnessing a successful birth in the stable. Mare and foal were resting up now and the farmer and vet had left them to get acquainted.
Laughing at one of Marks inappropriate jokes, the Latina suddenly realised how much she'd missed her once frequent catch up with one of her best friends. The last year and a half had seen a massive turn of events in Callie's life. She finally now felt she was back on steady ground.
Swigging back some Pepsi from her can, Callie looked out at the surrounding fields. A picture began to form in her head. "Its really pretty up here, isn't it?"
Mark nodded, looking down as he always did toward town and it's outskirts. "Best view in town" he agreed.
"What would be your thoughts on Arizona and I having our wedding here?"
The farmer looked toward his friend. "You wona get hitched up here?"
Callie looked around, her mind imagining gazebo's, tables and chairs. A makeshift alter in the field decorated with flowers and ribbons, looking over the town. "It would be a beautiful setting."
Mark thought on. "There's the unused barn around the back. I guess over the next few months, with enough of us putting in the work, we could get rid of the hay bails, splash a bit of paint on her and she'd be a great host for the reception."
Callie looked at her friend. "You'd do that?"
"I'd do anything to keep that smile on your face, Torres." He smiled back at her. "Talk to Blondie. If you guys decided you wona tie the knot up here, we'll make it happen. Who knows, if it's a hit, maybe I can get a little business going on the side." He held up both hands, moving them away from eachother as he spoke. "Sloan's farm, pastoral wedding venue."
Callie laughed. "If you do, I want a cut of the business. You know, seeing as I came up with the idea." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Seriously though Mark, you'd do that?"
He nodded. "Absolutely."
"Its the beginning of December. It'll be cold."
"So we'll hire heaters. Get a few log burners going. I think it could all work out pretty spectacularly to be honest Cal."
The Latina felt an excitement building within her. She couldn't wait to get home and tell the doctor. Hopefully she'd imagine it to be just as beautiful as she was imagining. Like a light switch however, her mind suddenly flipped. A memory entered her mind that could potentially ruin the dream she'd created. "Shit."
"What's up?" Mark asked.
"How can I get married here when this is the place Erica lost her life?" She rubbed her temples, guilt coursing through her veins.
Mark studied his friend as he spoke. "Cal, Erica would want you to be happy. You say you didn't feel like you were really together before she died but the friendship was still real with her. You respected eachother. I honestly think she'd want you to move on and be happy. I know fine well that marrying Arizona up here in December would make you happy."
Weighing up the pros and cons of it all, Callie decided she'd talk it out with the blonde that night and they'd go from there.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
While Abbey sat drawing pictures of the kind of dress she'd like to wear for the wedding, Callie ran her idea passed the doctor as they sat drinking a glass of wine after dinner.
The Latina brought up her concern of the location but having loved the idea from first hearing it, Arizona assured Callie that she shouldn't feel guilty. "In a way, do you not think in your mind Sloan's farm will always harbour bad memories for you? When you go there, that's the first thing you think about. At least, it was for a long time. But if we actually went through with this, that farm could end up holding precious memories too. I don't want to sound like I'm disrespecting her memory or anything. Far from it. In fact, we could somehow pay tribute to her at the wedding, if you wanted to."
Callie took a sip of her wine. "How do you mean?"
The blonde shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps a memory table or we could light a candle in her honour. Oh, we could ask people to make a donation to a charity she supported." Her hand came down to rub and squeeze at the vets thigh. "It can be your choice. I'm happy to do whatever you want."
Callie's arm came up so she could rest her head in the palm of her hand against the back of the sofa. "You are amazing Arizona. You know that? I don't know many people that would allow a partners ex to be part of their wedding."
"Hey, she was your family, Callie. She was Abbeys mother. I want her to still be apart of your lives. Her memory will live on and I personally would like to make a promise to her to look after and love her girls for the rest of my life."
Tears filled underneath Callie's eyelids. How on earth did she get so lucky? This woman was absolutely everything.
Seeing a tear break free and roll down the Latina's cheek, Arizona leant in. "Hey, come here." She wrapped an arm around the vets shoulders, squeezing her in.
"I'm sorry" Callie sniffed. "I just feel so lucky to have you."
Ducking her head down, Arizona placed a few kissed on the vets temple. "I'm the lucky one, Calliope. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd fall in love so deeply with someone. Not just you, but your daughter. You guys are my life now and you've made me the happiest woman in the world."
"Mommy, are you crying?"
Leaving Arizona's embrace, Callie looked over to her daughter who was watching them from the table. She laughed while wiped at her face. "I am baby but it's happy tears. Your mommy is super happy."
Abbey thought about her mother's words for a few moments before sliding off her seat and running into the room. She jumped onto Callie's lap, wrapping her arms around the Latinas shoulders. "Don't cry mommy."
Callie laughed as she held her daughter tight. She looked at the blonde who had brought her hand up to stroke up and down the little girls back. "Your mommy just loves you and Arizona so much."
Pulling back, Abbey reached out and brought the other woman in for a hug. "I love you too, mommy."
Seeing her daughter and fiancé embrace caused fresh tears to spill over Callie's eye lids. The scene before her was just too touching for words. Leaning in, she wrapped her arms around Arizona shoulders, effectively sandwiching the little girl in. After a few moments, they separated and both Callie and Arizona got Abbey ready for bed before reading her a bedtime story together.
A couple of hours later, the pair headed to bed themselves. No words were spoken as they undressed, getting into bed naked and finding eachother beneath the covers. They kissed tenderly. Hands softly caressed the others skin. They moved together and just as they brought one another to the brink of release, they found eachothers eyes. That night they experienced one of the most intensive moments of all the time they'd been together. It was that night they knew for sure...
She was the one.
Xxxxxxxxxx