Hey my lovelies. Here I am with another chapter. Please review if you're still liking this story :).
P.S. My Polish teacher is named Google. Bear with me.
'If I can't find the cure, I'll fix you with my love.
No matter what you know, I'll fix you with my love
and if you say you're okay I'm gonna heal you anyway.
Promise I'll always be there, promise I'll be the cure.Rub your feet, your hands, your legs,
let me take care of it, babe.
Close your eyes, I'll sing your favorite song.
I wrote you this lullaby, hush now baby, don't you cry;
anything you want could not be wrong.'
The Cure – Lady Gaga
Chapter 29
"Take care my babies! It was so good to see you both!" Ludwika said as she hugged her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend for what seemed the thousand time. "You be good girls, okay?" she said looking at both of them.
"Mom, we're not 12, stop it."
"Shut up Bullwinkle." The older woman said laughing as she gently patted her daughter in the butt. "Don't sass at me or I'll spank you if I have to."
"No, that's Tucson's job now." Brandon said low enough for just his brother and wife to listen to him.
"Brandon, stop it!" Sadie said as she slapped him
"That's not what you were saying last night, my cute little angry Chinese dragon." He said as he wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her cheek. "It was the exact opposite, as a matter of fact." She said into the kiss. She just laughed and turned her face to peck him on the lips.
"You guys are just as disgusting as they are." James said, pointing at his sister and her girlfriend.
"You're just jealous because while your girlfriend is inflatable, my wife looks like she belongs in a KPop girl group."
"Baby! KPop is Korean!" she said nudging his side and placing her nose against his cheek.
"…the Chinese equivalent of that, then." He said obtaining a chuckle and another kiss from his wife.
"Gross." The youngest Minnick said.
"You're just jealous because you haven't gotten any in 28 years." Brandon said mocking him as he saw his mother hugging both women once again.
Having spent some days with the Minnicks, Arizona was already used to Ludwika's affection. It's was comforting, it felt mother like. She was also absolutely crazy about her granddaughters. Arizona couldn't help but imagine Mama Minnick carrying her and Eliza's baby. Meeting Sofia. Yeah, she was getting way ahead of herself but why the hell not?
"Take care of my girl, yes?" Eliza's mother said with teary eyes.
"With my life." She answered, tears threatening to leave her own eyes.
The redheaded woman then turned to her daughter and grabbed her by the face before kissing her cheeks, nose and forehead. "Kocham cię tak bardzo, moja Eliza. Nie mów tym małym frajerom, ale jesteś moim ulubionym dzieckiem." (I love you so much, my Eliza. Do not tell those little suckers, but you're my favorite child.)
"Hey! We're standing right here!" Brandond said, earning a chuckle and a 'just kidding' from his mom.
"Kocham cię widzieć tak szczęśliwy. To wszystko, czego kiedykolwiek chciałem dla Ciebie i teraz masz wreszcie to. Jest dobrą dziewczyną i bardzo cię kocha, także się nią opiekują." (I love to see you so happy. That's all I ever wanted for you and now you have finally got it. She is a good girl and loves you very much, take care of her too.) she said hugging her daughter again and then whispering into her ear. "Zostawiłem pierścionek ślubny mojej mamy w torebce. Użyj go, gdy tylko będziesz gotowy. Bez nacisku. Mam nadzieję, że wkrótce ... Nie będę się młodszy." (I left my mother's wedding ring in your purse. Use it whenever you are ready. No pressure. But, hopefully soon…I'm not getting any younger.)
Eliza rolled her eyes at her mom before realizing what she had said. Her grandma's wedding ring? The white gold one with the princess cut diamond and diamonds band? Ever since she was a little girl she had loved that ring. It was beautiful…dramatic, yet elegant. Flamboyant, yet subtle. It was simply gorgeous.
It was very expensive as well. Not even in their times of need had the Minnick's considered selling that ring since it was one of the few things that Ludwika still had from her mother. She had never mentioned anything about giving it to one of them so that they could give it to whoever they chose as their spouse. When Brandon told them about wanting to ask Sadie to marry him no one even thought of the ring.
"Zawsze wiedziałem, że to ona." (I've always known she was the one) she said winking her eye. "Come here Charlie, my love, say goodbye to our daughter." She said
The tall man walked over to his daughter with a big smile and hugged her tightly. "Goodbye, my wonder girl. See you soon. Don't be a stranger, okay? Keep being your brilliant self."
"I love you daddy." She said, wrapping her arms around him even tighter.
"I love you too, my dear." He said. "Goodbye Arizona. It was nice seeing you again." he said. He was going to shake her hand but then opted for a hug.
"Goodbye gorgeous Ladies. Branasshole, the munchkins and I will be waiting for you in New York." Sadie said as she hugged them both. "Say goodbye to your aunties, girls!" she said as she pushed the stroller with the two giggly girls towards them. "Look! Lena is even being all giggly and flirty for you."
While Arizona cooed at the girls Brandon approached his sister. "Take care, stupid." He said affectionately.
"I hate you and you smell like poop. How did you land such a babe?" she said pointing towards Sadie.
"The feeling is mutual." He said laughing and hugging her. "Come visit soon, okay?" he asked kissing her cheek.
"Definitely." She said shaking his hair as she went over to say goodbye to Arizona.
Alec had left the day before. He was needed in Spain. James, true to his nature just awkwardly hugged both of them and said 'uh, bye'.
The two of them watched them as they went past security and got lost on the sea of people.
"I can't believe they're gone. I'm going to miss them. Their visit was short." Arizona said as they drove back to the hospital. They had shifts today, since they had taken a few days off to be able to be with the Minnicks.
"Seriously? I think I had enough Minnick time for like—"
"Oh, stop it, Lizzie. You love them!" Arizona said, caressing Eliza's head as she drove.
Eliza didn't say anything she just smiled at her girlfriend and kissed her hand. She couldn't stop thinking about the bomb her mother had just dropped. What was she supposed to do with a wedding ring? Where was she supposed to put it? Sure, she had thought about marrying Arizona many, many times but thinking about it and having a ring in her pocket where different things. They were not ready yet. They would be, soon but not now. Maybe her mother got the idea when she saw her diamond bracelet? The one Arizona had given her for Christmas?
"What are you thinking about?" Arizona asked.
"What?"
"You're clearly thinking about something…" Arizona said.
"Uh…yes! Yes!" she said. "I was wondering when are The Colonel and Barbara visiting us? You got your Minnick time, now I want my Robbins time."
"They have mentioned wanting to come visit us. I'll ask, perhaps in a few months."
"They should come for your birthday! The big 40s!" Eliza said.
"You're turning 40 this year too…" Arizona answered back.
"Yeah, but months later. The brunette said. "It's an important birthday, baby."
"Why don't we throw a Sweet 40 party then?"
"Oh, shut up."
"I'm serious, Lizzie. Maybe we can even recycle that horrible peach dress my mother wanted me to wear for my sweet 16…"
"Should we invite Henry Change so that he can kiss you again too?" Eliza asked playfully…
"Oh yes, please. I've always had a feeling that he's my one true love." She said dramatically as Eliza rolled her eyes and parked their car in their usual parking space at the hospital.
The day went by fast and uneventful. At least according to Eliza. She hadn't had any complicated surgeries that day but she hadn't been able to see her lovely girlfriend at all. Whenever one was out of surgery, the other one was just scrubbing in. It sucked. They weren't even able to have lunch together. Eliza had to eat with Wilson while Arizona ate with Amelia. She had texted her but gotten short answers. Like she tends to do when she's busy.
However, something was off. Arizona left earlier that day. Left without her. She took a cab instead of waiting for her. Claimed she was feeling a little under the weather and left. Eliza couldn't leave when Arizona wanted to. She was in a meeting with Bailey and Richard, discussing implementing a new program based on her way of teaching. She wasn't even able to say 'wait!'. When she was out of the meeting, Arizona was already gone. She texted her but got very short and cryptic answers. Was she mad at her?
She drove as fast as she could to their house and basically ran inside the house.
"Arizona?" Eliza called. "Arizona?"
"Up here!" said a small and croaky voice. She knew her girlfriend perfectly, she had been crying.
Eliza went up the stairs as fast as she could and found her girlfriend in their bed, with tons of used tissues around her, crying softly.
"Baby, what's wrong?" she said as she sat next to her and rubbed the blonde's back. Arizona didn't answer, instead she just leaned into her girlfriend and kept crying. "Phoenix…" she said, as she wrapped her arm around the love of her life and picked her up slightly so that she was sitting in her lap. Arizona responded by clinging into her and placing her face in the crook of Eliza's neck. That was her safe place.
Eliza realized that her girlfriend didn't need to talk. She just needed to let whatever was bothering her out. She also needed her by her side and she would stay for as long as it was necessary. Arizona seemed so small while crying in her arms. She felt an overwhelming need to protect her forever. To be with her forever. Officially. Legally. It wasn't the right time though. It was too soon and Arizona was crying her eyes out in her arms, how could she be thinking about marriage?
The cry became softer and soon it became a sniffle. Arizona had completely relaxed in Eliza's arms and had gotten the comfort she needed. "I love you so much Lizzie." She said as she tenderly kissed her girlfriend's neck and fresh tears left her eyes.
"I love you too, Phoenix." She said. "Since ever and forever." She said, earning a chuckle from the blonde.
"I love it when you get cheesy." Arizona said, bringing her head up to kiss the brunette's cheek.
"How about I run us a hot bubbly bath and then we can talk?" Eliza whispered into her lover's ear.
"I'd like that." She answered.
Minutes later, both stood up and went to their bathroom so that they could start the bath. When it was ready, Eliza helped Arizona out of her clothes and into the bathtub, before removing her own clothes and getting in, sitting behind Arizona. They sat in comfortable silence for a while until Arizona spoke up.
"I missed another milestone."
"What?"
"With my daughter. I missed another milestone."
"What happened?"
"She lost her first tooth." Arizona said smiling. "She was so excited and so happy. Some of her friends had already lost one or two but she hadn't. She was sure there was something wrong with her…we kept telling her nothing was wrong…and now…now she lost one. And I don't get to see her live with her little window, I don't get to be the tooth fairy…I just get to see her through a screen."
"Baby…"
"It's stupid. I know it's stupid…it's just a tooth, it's not like it's her wedding day or anything."
"Of course it's not stupid, Arizona." Eliza said, kissing Arizona's cheek and drawing lazy circles in her arms. "Losing teeth is an important part of children's development…it means that they're not so little anymore! Sofia losing her first baby tooth IS a big deal." She said reassuringly.
"You really think so? I'm not overreacting?"
"No, baby. You're not."
"I just…I just wish this living situation was different. It seems like I got the short end and it's not fair." She said sighing "I should get to be the tooth fairy too."
"You did get sole custody. You could change the situation. Why can't Sofia live with you and visit Callie during the summer or breaks?"
"I couldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"It would break Callie apart." Arizona said. "I can't just do that. I can't. I wouldn't be right." She tensed slightly in her girlfriend's arms but quickly relaxed again. "Even me wanting it is wrong. I chose this living arrangement, I should suck it up."
"Baby…" Eliza began but Arizona interrupted her.
"It's not that simple."
"I know it's not but…you should think about it." Eliza said, not wanting to get her girlfriend upset again.
"I will." Arizona said, leaning into Eliza and placing her head between her neck and her shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For this. For being here. For not making me feel like my reasons for being upset are stupid."
"You've got nothing to thank me for, Phoenix. I love you. I would do anything for you." Eliza said. "Nothing you could ever want could be wrong." She said as she kissed her softly. "And nothing, listen to me, nothing regarding you or your feelings could ever be stupid to me, you hear me?"
Arizona simply nodded as new tears left her eyes.
"Now, let's just relax for a little longer before getting out and getting ready for bed." The brunette said as he wrapped her arms tightly around her girlfriend's torso. "Unfortunately, I don't have a cure for your pain, but I can fix you with my love…"
"Are you quoting Lady Gaga on me?" Arizona asked confused.
"….and if you say you're okay, I'm gonna heal you anyway." Eliza sang, a little out of tune, while poking the blonde's side.
"You are. You really are quoting Lady Gaga on me."
"Promise I'll always be here, promise I'll be the cure…" she finished as they both laughed at Eliza's silliness.
Arizona's heart swelled up and her eyes got teary again. Happy tears this time. "Yes, you'll always be the cure. I have no doubt about it."
