BONUS
Another snippet, that - for reasons - took me way longer than it should. Hope you like it!
Baños - Ecuador
"Eliza?"
"Yes, honey?"
Looking down at the young girl right next to her, Eliza stares straight into a pair of big, brown eyes.
"Are you scared?" Sofia asks her.
With the question lingering in the air, they simultaneously turn their gaze back to the deep, wide canyon in front of them.
"A little bit," Eliza admits. "But a good kind of scared. The kind that gives you butterflies. You know what I mean?"
Sofia nods. "Yeah, I feel them too. Right here!" She puts both of her hands on her belly.
"Exactly," Eliza laughs.
"Do you think Mom is a bad kind of scared?" Sofia goes on. "Is that why she's not going?"
Eliza looks pensive. "No," she answers, "I think she's afraid to get a bad kind of scared. I think she would love to join us, but she's worried that this will bring back certain memories - scary memories."
Sofia looks up at her again. "About the forest?" she asks, "And the plane?"
"That's right," Eliza nods, showing the girl a soft, warm smile. "Mom learned to avoid the things that might really scare her, even if she would actually really like to do those things. So I think not doing the thing she wants makes her very smart. And very brave."
Sofia's lips curl into a smile. "I think so, too," she agrees.
For a second they get distracted by the high-pitched whistling tone of the zipline, about thirty feet away from them.
"Have you ever been bad scared?" Sofia continues her questioning.
"Of course," Eliza nods again.
Sofia narrows her eyes. "Like when?" she asks eagerly. "When were you the most scared ever?"
Careful not to fall off the fence they're sitting on, Eliza slightly turns towards Sofia. "Probably when I had that accident at the hospital," she starts telling. "That was not that long before I met you, remember? I got injured and I was really scared that I would lose my leg."
Sofia lifts her hand and gently touches the scar on Eliza's leg. "Just like Mom?"
"Yes, just like Mom."
Lowering her hand back to the railing, Sofia looks at Eliza again. "I'm glad that you got to keep it," she smiles, her voice warm and sincere, and - as many times before - melting Eliza's heart on the spot.
Lightly draping her arm around her, she cautiously pulls the girl a little closer to her.
"Me too, sweetie," she sighs. "Me too."
They stay silent for a moment, till the sudden sound of someone scraping her throat behind them makes them both look over their shoulders.
"I think you're almost up, right after these people. Ten minutes or so," Arizona tells them. "You guys ready?"
"No!" Sofia exclaims, turning around completely now, "I need to pee again!"
She jumps off the rail and quickly makes her way to the small building at the other side of the parking lot. Eliza follows her with her eyes, while Arizona just keeps hers on Eliza. Not able to hide the smile on her face, she slowly closes the distance between them.
"How long have you been standing there?" Eliza asks her, raising her brows.
Arizona lays her hands on Eliza's knees. "Long enough," she mumbles, right before bending in for a soft kiss. "I love how good you are with her," she hums.
"It's not that complicated," Eliza returns her smile, "I love being around her. She looks just like you."
"Ha! I think someone forgot her contact lenses this morning!" Arizona snorts.
Eliza gives her a playful poke against the shoulder. "You know what I mean," she laughs. "She's got such a great example in you. Being this curious, and wise, and funny. And so, so good-hearted." Her smile grows even warmer. "She really is a mini-you."
Suddenly her expression changes. "I uh- I wasn't completely honest though," she continues, making Arizona frown. "I'm sorry, I know how much you value honesty, but-"
"Honest about what?" Arizona interrupts her.
"About my scariest moment," Eliza clarifies, as she jumps to the ground. Now standing opposite of Arizona she gently takes her hands in her own. "The chance of losing my leg was definitely a nightmare, but when it comes to it I believe my biggest fear was, well... losing you." She averts her eyes, looking a bit shy all of a sudden. "I know it sounds ridiculous, pathetic even, but I can't remember ever being as scared as when I thought we weren't going to make it."
Arizona softly squeezes her wife's hands. "You know what I believe?"
Eliza cocks her head, waiting for what comes next.
"I believe we need a little fear sometimes," Arizona continues. "Fear shows us what's important. It makes us aware of the things we don't want to lose. Makes us fight for those things we really care about. So when you look at it that way, there really is no such thing as a ridiculous fear." She gives a half-smile. "And just so you know, that moment is quite high on my list, too."
Eliza's mouth curves into a smile. "We were wrong though," she grins, lifting the heaviness that fell over them.
Arizona grins back at her. "Boy, were we wrong!" she roars with laughter. Moving Eliza's hand towards her lips, she presses a kiss on top of her wedding ring.
"I guess it's not always a bad thing to be wrong, huh?" Eliza muses as she closes the small space between them to capture Arizona's lips with her own.
"I guess not," Arizona chuckles into their kiss. "So tell me... have you ever since then been scared like that?"
Gazing into her eyes, Eliza tenderly tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her wife's ear. "About losing you? Never! I simply won't let you go!"
"Oh, is that right?" Arizona questions, pressing her lips together and taking a small step backwards.
"Yes, that's right!" Eliza cries out, swiftly grabbing her by the collar of her shirt and pulling her back. "I told you in my vows, remember?"
With her smile growing even bigger, Arizona's eyes light up.
"Like it was yesterday!" she breathes, before giving Eliza another peck. This time they don't get the chance to deepen their kiss though, as Eliza is suddenly pulled backwards.
"Come on, it's our turn!" Sofia, showing up out of nowhere, cheers.
Eliza takes a deep breath, telling Arizona how nervous she actually is, then turns around with a big smile on her face. "Is it really? Let's go then!"
While they go get their instructions and equipment Arizona waits for them at the platform. When she sees them again, walking towards her, she can't help but laugh. They're both wearing big, white helmets.
"Oh my God," she snorts, "You look just like that little chicken, the one with the egg shell. What's his name... Calimero!"
Eliza pulls a face. "It's an injuuuuustice, it is!" she playfully wails, before cracking up - just like Arizona.
Sofia looks from one to the other, a confused look on her face - the hilarity is clearly beyond her. She shakes her head. "Dorks," she sighs in a way only a preteen can, and making them laugh even harder.
"Zip it, my precious egghead!" Arizona chuckles, as she wipes the tears from her face. She taps her daughter on top of her helmet. "Now have fun. And be safe!" She turns towards Eliza, who's harness is just getting attached to her zipline. "You too, babe. Have a good flight!"
Eliza - already in a horizontal position, as this is the type of zipline that will make them whiz face down - lifts her head. "You know I blame you for this, right?"
Somewhat indignant, Arizona pulls a face. "What did I do?!" she cries out, wide-eyed.
"Uhm, you made me fall in love with you," Eliza points out. "I'm pretty sure I'd still be consulting, or fixing bones - instead of running the risk of breaking my own, if you hadn't put this spell on me. Making me wanna be with you, always and literately everywhere!"
Trying to suppress another giggle, Arizona shrugs. "I'm sorry love, I guess I just can't help being this awesome."
Eliza playfully grumbles.
"It's never too late to go back, you know?" Arizona continues with a small wink.
Acting like she's giving it some serious thought Eliza looks pensive for a moment, until the hint of a grin flashes over her face. "I'd rather jump of this cliff!"
Before Arizona can respond to this kind-of love declaration, they get interrupted by the zipline-guy, who just secured the last line - the one between Eliza and Sofia, keeping the two of them together as they'll fly across the canyon.
"Listo?" he asks them.
Sofia looks up at him. "Listo!" she cheers - her voice eager and excited.
"Listo?!" Eliza asks, sounding way less steady now. "What does listo mea- eeaaaan?"
Right then they both get a soft push, making them scream, though in very different ways.
Laughing out loud, Arizona watches them go. Watches how they quickly seem to relax a bit, enough to spread their arms and look around, at their surroundings and at each other. Their screaming turns into cheering and laughter, echoing against the high walls of the canyon, and Arizona realizes it's the best sound she ever heard.
They keep flying forward, getting closer to the other side now, swiftly turning into little dots.
Arizona turns around and walks back to the chiva - the colorful truck that is serving as public transport. As Sofia and Eliza were the last two on the lines, Arizona is the last of the less daring tourists to be back at the bus. It leaves as soon as she sits down, crossing the bridge to the other side, where they pick up the group of daredevils before they continue the tour.
"Did you see me?!" Sofia bounces on her feet, still pumped up on adrenaline.
"I did," Arizona laughs, "And I heard you, too!"
Sofia and Eliza both climb into the chiva, where Eliza sits down next to Arizona, while Sofia takes a seat in front of them, together with some kid she's talking with. Arizona leans forward and ruffles her hair. "Proud of you, Pumpkin," she tells her, yet her voice gets drown out by the very loud music that suddenly pops out of the speakers.
Arizona sits back again, resting her hand on Eliza's knee. "And proud of you, too!" she tells her, raising her voice a bit so she can actually hear her. "How was it?"
"To die for!" Eliza smirks.
"What?"
Eliza wraps her arm around Arizona and pulls her closer. With her lips close to the blonde's ear she gives it another try. "It was surprisingly fun," she continues. "Freaking scary, but fun. Especially because we got to do this together."
As if on cue they both look at Sofia again, who's now fervently singing along to Despacito - after all this years people still seem to believe tourists can never get enough of this track. And based on Sofia's reaction, you can almost understand.
"Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito. Nos vamos pegando poquito a poquito," the little Latina sings in perfect Spanish.
"See?" Eliza laughs, "A true mini-you!"
Arizona joins in her laughter. "Except for the Spanish!" she giggles, "But honestly, I believe that might be a good thing here. I don't think I really wanna know what she's singing about!"
Eliza mirrors her crooked grin, before squeezing her even closer against her. She presses a kiss on her temple.
"Talking about honesty," Arizona goes on. "That thing you told me earlier, about not being totally honest to her? Don't beat yourself up. You think I tell her everything?"
"No?" Eliza tries somewhat hesitantly.
"Hell no!" Arizona laughs again. "She might be ten already, but she's also just ten. She doesn't have to know everything - even though she wants to."
Eliza raises her brow. "But you're always advocating for honesty!?"
"Yes, because I do believe it's important," Arizona nods, "But I also believe that it's our job as adults to protect children from unnecessary worries. And to keep their world fun and easy and miraculous. It's sad enough that she doesn't believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy anymore..." Her voice fades out as her mind drifts off to that time when her babygirl actually still was a baby girl.
The sudden braking of the bus brings her back to the here and now. They arrived at their final destination of today: the Pailon del Diablo waterfall.
Even though they visited one of the biggest waterfalls in the world just a few weeks ago, they both knew straight away they didn't want to skip this one - for one because this time Sofia is with them.
The girl runs ahead of them as they start the fifteen minute walk through the rainforest, to the cascade. The closer they get, the more damp the air becomes. The cool, moist feeling on her skin brings Arizona back to the rainy days of Seattle.
"What's with the smile?" Eliza asks her, while softly squeezing her hand.
Arizona tilts her head to look at her. A small, melancholic sigh escapes her. "Just memories," she answers.
She doesn't get the chance to explain, as Sofia suddenly pops up again, squeezing herself in between them and grabbing them both by the hands. "Come on, it's right there, I'll show you!" she exults, pulling them with her with a surprising strength.
A few steps farther on the pathway curves left and there it is indeed. It might not be Iguaçu, but it's definitely a big boy!
"Have you ever seen a waterfall as big as this one?" Sofia beams, clearly impressed by the wonderful miracle of nature.
Arizona and Eliza look at each other, sharing a warm, understanding smile.
"Never!" they lie in unison.
And with that the three of them start climbing down the slippery, winding stairs. Ready to be amazed... and to get completely soaked!
... ...