"Did you push her?" Carlos asked softly as he walked over to stand in front of his wife
"Would you believe me if I said I didn't?" she asked just as softly
Carlos sighed as she reached for her hand. "I want to believe you …truly…I do. But…I don't recognise you sometimes. I don't recognise who you become. I know how much you love Calliope, I know it…I see it. You had a chance Lucia….a chance to have your little girl back…."
"My little girl?" she hissed suddenly. "No Carlos. My Calliope…my daughter….is gone. My daughter would not behave like the creature I saw today!"
"You hurt Arizona…she was defending her …she is the strong woman we raised her to be, protecting those she loves"
"Loves! LOVES? You call what they have love? Carlos….it's…it's not natural…two women….it is against God!"
Again Carlos sighed. "I thought so to, when Callie first told me…when I cut her out of my life…I thought…I thought she would see the error of her ways. But instead…it is I who saw the error of MY ways. My…blindness….my …my ignorance"
"To follow the word of the Lord is not ignorance Carlos" Lucia said as she reached for his hand. "It is to follow the path or righteousness….to avoid sin"
"To lose love? To lose our child?" Carlos shook his head as he looked at his wife and gave a small smile. "Our daughter is an amazing young woman…our GRANDAUGHTER is a beautiful and miraculous gift…one that I can not believe is not meant to be a part of our lives! And Arizona….she is a wonderful young woman…and she loves our daughter so much, so very, very much. I know my Calliope is safe with her….I know…she will always be safe, and happy. All a parent could want"
Lucia took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. "When our daughter was a teenager, I worried so much…her…wilfulness, her wild streak. She had so many boys around her…a different boyfriend practically every month…I worried…worried she would never settle down, that no man could ever tame her….could ever match her….that she would be too much for any man to hold on to….and no man could keep her interest. But I hoped….I dreamed….that there would be such a man. One strong enough to stand up to her, smart enough to hold her interest….kind enough to be her shoulder to cry on when she was weak….confident enough to be her partner when she was strong. I hoped one day such a man would work with her and take over our company….that their children would work with them…and our legacy would live on. But never….NEVER…did I ever see …ever….see….my daughter….with a bastard child….and….alone!"
"Alone? Lucia, Arizona is Callies WIFE. They are happy together"
"NO! No Carlos. I can not accept that two women can be married…..not in the eyes of the law….not in the eyes of the Lord….and not in the eyes of a mother"
"Then, I have to agree with you Lucia. You have lost your daughter. If you refuse to accept her wife…her child….then you will lose her. Forever"
Lucia lowered herself to sit on the edge of the bed and dropped her head into her hands. "I don't WANT to lose her Carlos. What kind of a heartless bitch do you think I am that I could easily walk away from my own flesh and blood?"
Carlos sat down next to her and gently draped his arm around her shoulder. "Then don't. Don't walk away. Lucia….times change, attitudes change….but they only change because we are no longer as ignorant, as scared of things we do not know or fully understand. " Carlos gave a small shake of his head before carrying on. "When Callie told me she was in love with a woman, I was….horrified….sickened and ashamed. But then Arizona came to speak to me….not plead with me or beg with me….she just….talked. She told me a little of who she is…mainly about her name and the pride behind it….! But, it was enough to give me an insight into HER family….her upbringing. She comes from a good family….good people….! Like us, they….they raised her to be kind, and strong….and smart. They raised her to be a daughter they could be proud of. They didn't raise her to be gay! But, they accepted it…because they love her…as much as we love Calliope."
Lucia shook her head and moved a fraction away from him and sighed heavily
Carlos gave a small smile as he moved closer to her again before quietly saying. "These girls…they didn't choose to be gay to upset or anger us….they didn't choose to love each other to annoy us….! They chose to love each other because they followed their hearts….and we should be proud of that….! Proud that we have raised them to be brave enough and confident enough to live a life that makes them happy, rather than live a lie." He sighed and shook his head sadly as he whispered. "They have been through SO much together…Arizona gave up her dream job to be with Callie….And then, when Callie was in the car accident….Arizona was with her every step of the way as our daughter fought to recover and heal…she stood by her to raise Sofia, despite Mark still being in the picture…even having you walk away from their wedding wasn't enough to stop them making that commitment to each other. Just when things were looking so right for them….Arizona was in that plane crash…and you saw with your own eyes how broken Callie was in the days she was missing…how the light went from her eyes…a part of her died."
"Perhaps it would have been better if she had died on that mountain" Lucia whispered
"LUCIA!"
"I'm sorry, I don't mean it…I don't. But…if she had, maybe Callie would have moved on from all this…"
"Calliope would never just move on from Arizona. Even in the dark days of Arizonas recovery…of her cheating…Calliope stood by her…because they love each other"
Lucias head had shot up and she glared at Carlos. "That…that WOMAN cheated on MY daughter!?"
Carlos took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Once, she cheated once. And…it….it was a mistake and…."
"A mistake!"
"Lucia….Arizona was in a dark place ….she….she needed….help. After the crash….after all she went through…."
"She went through? My daughter went through hell because of her….now you tell me…she….she CHEATED!"
Again Carlos took a deep breath as he looked at his wife, her eyes so like his daughters as they flashed with anger. "Arizona, made a mistake….she was not…herself, and she needed help. It was a cry….for help. Callie….Callie was angry at first…of course she was…but eventually…she forgave her…and they worked together to rebuild their marriage. Because their love was strong enough….their commitment was real. As real as ours….as strong as ours….when you forgave me….and took me back…and we started over…stronger than ever…building this wonderful life together with our children…the same way Callie and Arizona are doing"
Lucia sat silently for several minutes before asking quietly. "So….Arizona is pregnant? I….I thought I heard you talking to Callie a few months ago and mentioning…uhm…surrogate?"
Carlos nodded
"So…they changed their mind?"
Carlos studied his wife and wondered if he should break his daughters confidence. "It….it's not….quite so simple…." he began
[xx]
"It's not so simple" Callie began to explain to the young doctor who was just finishing taking Arizonas history. "My wife was in a…uhm….she was in a plane crash…about sixteen months ago…."
"It's how I lost my leg!" Arizona chipped in with a small but sad smile
"And how she got the scars you are currently looking way to closely at!" Callie raised her eyebrow as she realised the young man was taking far too long for her liking studying her wifes body
With a small cough the young man blushed a fraction and hurriedly pulled Arizonas top back into place
"I was stuck on a mountain for four days with no food or water…blood loss from the leg and some internal damage to really make my life fun!" Arizona explained quietly. "My kidney was damaged…I had dialysis for a few weeks after being brought back down…ironically the lack of water was probably what saved my kidney…and so maybe my life! It recovered after rest and the dialysis"
"Your OBGYN is fully aware of your medical history right?" Her doctor asked as he placed the blood pressure cuff on her arm
"Of course!" Callie answered indignantly. "We are both doctors….we wouldn't take any risks!"
"Doctors!" the young man sighed. "Great!" he added half heartedly
"I know….we make the worst patients right?" Arizona chuckled, wincing as she felt a twinge in her back and swallowing quickly as she felt her stomach flip. "Bowl!" she gasped, reaching for the cardboard utensil just in time to yet again empty her stomach
"How long has this intensity of sickness been going on?" the doctor asked as he thoughtfully passed her a tissue and a glass of water
"We're not here because of her morning sickness!" Callie cut in as she stood up and carefully stroked the hair back of the pale blondes face. "We're here because my mother pushed her over, and she is pregnant….and in pain….her back….hurts….she is pain….sort that out….please!"
"Callie….calm down….I'm fine….and I told you…I fell….she didn't push me!"
Callie huffed. "You were on the floor….and my mother was on the other side of the room….fall, or pushed….she should have helped you….she should have made sure you were ok…but she didn't….so it's the same to me. She didn't help….and if anything has happened to you….to our child….."
"Stop Callie…just….please….oh" Again Arizona reached for the bowl and began to retch
"Ok" the young doctor stepped forward and gently rubbed her back. "I'm a little concerned, your BP is a little low…."
"Low?" Callie whispered
"And there does seem to be some bruising on your back that is a little to close to your kidney for my liking"
"For your liking!" Arizona chuckled
"And I am concerned with the morning sickness. So I will ask again…how long has the nausea been this intense?"
"Uhm…it has really only been this bad since this morning…I have had a few really rough days the last couple of weeks…but we have done a lot of travelling so some of it was that….truthfully…it's only today that I have felt like crawling into my bed and hiding from the world…all things considered, perhaps I should have!"
Callie smiled and gently kissed her forehead as she rubbed her back. "Not your fault babe…I should have let you stay and sleep it off!"
"You needed me!" Arizona whispered as she reached for Callies hand. "You would have had to tie me to the bed to keep me there"
With a slow smirk and a raised eyebrow Callie leaned forward and whispered. "I'll save that for another night!"
Arizona quickly blushed, glancing at her doctor and sighing in relief as she saw he was too busy writing notes to have heard. She gave a small shake of her head and nudged Callie with her elbow
"So you're twelve weeks along?" the doctor asked
Arizona looked at Callie and nodded. "Just" she said quietly
"You are fairly sure of the timing?" he asked
"Oh yeah….trust me…can give you the exact date if you need?" Arizona gave a weak smile, leaning back a fraction as she felt Callie wrap her arm around her shoulders
With a small nod the doctor looked up at both of them. "Well, I don't think that we need to do an X-Ray…seems to be bruising but no skeletal damage. I AM concerned about the low BP and think it may be advisable to set up an IV to try and deal with the nausea …just get some extra fluids in you, maybe some glucose to settle things a bit…but mainly I think it would be wise to monitor you for the next twenty four hours…."
"Oh no….not twenty four!" Arizona sat up and wriggled a fraction. "We're taking our daughter to Disney World tomorrow…no WAY I am disappointing our little princess! Make it….make it twelve hours and I will promise to be the best patient you have ever had….and we have a deal!"
"A deal?" the doctor chuckled. "Is this how you practice medicine back in… ?"
"Seattle" Callie grinned. "And no…no it isn't….but it is our little girls birthday the day after….and she has been staying with friends whilst we had an extended holiday…so we owe her….big time!"
He thought for a moment then gave a small smile. "Twelve hours….you stay in the room I put you in…COMPLETE bed rest…you call a nurse if you need the bathroom…no wandering around on your own….AND I will see if your BP has levelled out. If it has…you can go…."
"If it hasn't?" Callie asked with a small frown
"Let's worry about that IF we have to hmm?" he said with a small smile as he closed the chart. "I'll go and sort out a room….remember…twelve hours COMPLETE rest….and maybe you will still be having breakfast with Mickey for your little girls birthday!"
"Thanks doc!" Arizona grinned as she watched him walk out of the room, her smile faltering as she looked at Callie. "I'm sorry" she whispered
"Hey hey hey…you have nothing to be sorry for" Callie sat on the edge of the bed and kissed her cheek
"Just…Callie…I'm scared. I….I can't believe I'm going to say this…I thought…I thought I couldn't have this baby….I was still thinking that maybe….when we got back to Seattle…that maybe….there was still time…and I could decide then…."
"Arizona?"
"Because I didn't think I could have this child….HIS child. But as the weeks went on….as you and I spent time together and talked and planned…I realised…oh God Callie…I realised….just how much I want this baby….I DO….I do. And now….now I could lose it….and I don't know if I could survive that!"
Callie wrapped her arms around her and sighed softly as she felt Arizona bury her head against her shoulder. "You're going to be fine Arizona…you're not going to lose this baby….we're not going to lose this baby. You are going to rest…and when we go to Disney World we will hire a cart and you will still rest….Arizona… I know…I know what happened last time you were pregnant upset you so much…it hurt both if us….But baby…12 weeks….! That's nearly through the first trimester!"
"Bit I feel so sick!" Arizona whined
"Hey…if the Duchess of Cambridge can survive this kind of morning sickness….then so can my superstar!"
"Yeah?" Arizona chuckled
"Yes!" Callie whispered before pulling her tightly to her to slowly and gently kiss the forlorn looking blonde, only breaking the kiss when an apologetic nurse knocked on the door and explained they had the room sorted.
"Go ring Miranda whilst they move me! She will still be sulking you didn't let her stay with you!" Arizona said quietly, "And go get yourself a cup of coffee…you look like hell!"
Callie chuckled and nodded as she took the room number and waved them off before going to ring Miranda, laughing to herself at how hard it had been to convince Miranda that she didn't need her to come back to the hospital. She glanced over to the small sign for the coffee shop, then glanced down at her phone again. With a soft sigh she selected the familiar number. "Daddy?" she muttered as she heard the phone connect
"Calliope" came his soft reply. "How is she?"
"They are keeping her in for observation…her BP is too low and she still feels sick. She has a big bruise on her back where she…she fell daddy. Arizona told me….she fell"
"Yes, your mother said it was an accident"
"She left her on the floor daddy….she didn't help her up or check on her…."
"Calliope…."
"My mother didn't help….yet Arizona still defends her….still tries….she is…..amazing!"
Carlos gave a small laugh. "Yes Calliope….Arizona is indeed….very special!"
Callie bit back a sob. "Why can't she accept us daddy?" She whimpered. "Why does she hate us?"
"Se doesn't hate you mija. She just….doesn't understand. But….she doesn't hate you….she could never hate you….you're her daughter"
"Am I?" Callie asked softly
"Always mija….always" There was a small silence before Carlos hesitantly said. "She knows about the baby Calliope"
Callie frowned a fraction as she replied. "Of course she does daddy…I told her…I yelled it at her!"
"No" he sighed. "I mean…she knows….everything. I told her…I told her about your surrogate baby….and I told her about how…how Arizona got pregnant"
"Oh God daddy…." Callie whispered, her eyes going wide. "I trusted you! What have you done….? Telling her…telling her everything? Daddy? What have you done?"
