A/N Thanks everyone for the reviews…Love reading them…

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

Present day…Summer 2039 into Winter 2040…

You know the great thing about being the parents and grandparents of the groom is that even though you are able to show your gratitude by paying for the rehearsal dinner and buying the booze for the reception, you really do not have to be involved in the day to day chaos of the planning of the wedding? You just show up in your best dressed outfit and let the bride's family do all the rest. Yeah right…that was my first thought when Timothy and Elizabeth told all of us about their upcoming nuptials but that was before my wife and mother-in-law became involved. The total chaos of the day to day planning became the total insanity show between Arizona and her mother. Poor Timothy was just caught in the middle and whenever anyone in the family…on either side…tried to make any changes to the plan…all hell broke loose. I found it interesting to just sit back and watch everything and everyone implode.

The funny thing about making plans with any family when planning a wedding is that no matter how hard things get between family members…the end result is what matters most to the bride and groom. With months of arguing, screaming, debating, the changing of plans to suit certain family members and then finally getting everything right and perfect as June 25th 2039 arrives and everyone takes their places as the bells of St. Mary's begin to chime. Because today is the day our son is marrying the woman that he loves.

With the beginning of the precession being dedicated to the grandparents here today and those that have passed on, both of Elizabeth's grandmothers walk down the aisle together as they meet at the altar to light two candles representing both of Elizabeth's grandfathers who are no longer with us.

Then the two women take their seats on the left side of the church.

Then Carlos Torres escorts Barbara Robbins to the same altar as they both light candles representing Lucia Torres and Daniel Robbins as they take their seats on the right side of the church.

Then Samuel David Ruiz escorts his and Elizabeth's mama Abigail Elizabeth Ruiz to her seat next to the grandmothers on the left side of the church.

Next is Theodore Robbins-Torres as he escorts his mami Calliope Robbins-Torres and Alexander Robbins-Torres escorts his mama Arizona Robbins-Torres as both mamas take their seats on the right side of the church next to their now single parents.

The groom Timothy Daniel Robbins-Torres comes out from the priest's office to stand at the end of the altar to wait for his bride.

Then the wedding party begins their descent down the aisle to the altar.

First is Rachel Maria Ruiz being escorted by Alexander Michael Robbins-Torres as they represent the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.

Next is Constance Teresa Farrell being escorted by Ezequiel Roberto Ruiz as they represent the bridesmaid and the groomsman.

Next is Bailey Georgia Robbins-Torres Ruiz being escorted by Samuel David Ruiz as they represent the bridesmaid and the groomsman

Next is Addison Barbara Robbins-Torres escorted by Miguel Beau Ruiz as they represent the bridesmaid and the groomsman

Next is Spencer Madison Worthington escorted by Theodore Carlos Robbins-Torres as they represent the Maid of Honor and Best Man

Everyone rises from their seats for the introduction of the bride.

Father of the bride Marcos Henry Ruiz escorts his daughter, the bride Elizabeth Maria Ruiz to the altar and to her groom Timothy Daniel Robbins-Torres.

The priest Father Norman Alverez asks "Who gives this woman to wed this man" as Marcos Ruiz proudly says "Her mother and I do". Father Norman places each of his hands on Elizabeth and Timothy's heads as he asks the wedding guests "Let us pray" and everyone in the church kneels and begins to pray.

With all of the festivities of the wedding reception winding down as the bride and groom make their way around the room to bid their guests their goodbyes, Timothy and Elizabeth find their way to us. Elizabeth begins by apologizing to Theodore and Addie "Tim and I are both sorry we won't be here to celebrate you birthdays next month so we got you both a little something for your special day and for making our special come true". Elizabeth gently nudges her new husband as he says "I know that you both will enjoy your presents. Happy Birthday and we love you both very much. The rest of you, Lizzy and I will see you all soon. We love you". Everyone takes their turn in the hugging and kissing of the bride and groom as Timothy takes a special moment for his mamas when he has us follow him into another room.

My wife and I are standing in this room with our son as he begins to speak "Mamas, there are no words to express my love for the two of you. Over twenty years ago you both took a chance on me when neither of you even knew I existed before our first encounter. You both have loved me and along with everyone else in our loving family, raised me to become the man I am today standing before you. If I can be half the parent to my children as you both have been to me, then I will have succeeded as a father. I love you both more than words can say and I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for everything you have ever done for me and for all of the values that you have instilled in me. I am a better man for having your love to guide me throughout my life. Now that I take this next step in my life to be a husband and eventually a father, I want and need you both just as much today as I did twenty three years ago when I stood before you a somewhat frighten little boy that circumstances beyond our control led me to the two of you".

With both Arizona and I standing in front of our son crying our eyes out, all I could think to say was "Son, your mama and I have been the proudest parents to you and we have never been happier to raise a tiny human like yourself to become the man you are today. I love you with all my heart". Then Arizona takes Timothy's handkerchief from him as she wipes her eyes and says "My beautiful boy, you are definitely a Robbins-Torres child with that speech you just gave. I agree with my Calliope when she says that we could not be prouder of you and the man you have become. You will be a great husband and even a greater father to our future grandchildren. Your mami and I cannot wait to hear the pitter patter of tiny human feet when both you and Elizabeth as well as Bailey and Samuel welcome us with grandchildren. I love you with all my heart and have been so grateful that you came into our lives. You and the rest of our children are a blessing that I am so glad I have been a part of for all these years. Now you better go and find your bride so you both can start off your marriage in style with the wedding night. I love you".

Timothy gives my wife and me a much needed hug and kiss before he leaves our sight to go in search of his wife to begin their life together. My wife and I stay in this empty room a little longer when I walk over to my wife and wrap her up in my arms as I ask "Baby, you alright"? My Arizona melts into my arms and says "Yes baby, I am just fine. I am just thinking about the pitter patter of those tiny humans little feet because I cannot wait to be a grandmother. Does that make me sound old"? I begin to laugh and say "No baby, it does not make you sound old. It's the circle of life just like Elton John sings about and I cannot wait to be a grandmother too. Having more little Robbins-Torres children to run amuck, I freakin' love the idea". I kiss my wife with such pleasure in my heart for our future with grandchildren.

With all the festivities of the 4th of July in full swing here at both our house and my mother's home here in Seattle, Bailey can no longer contain herself as she asks Samuel to have everyone join them by the pool. "First of all I would like everyone to join me as we give Theodore and Addie a well deserved "Happy Birthday" says Bailey as the crowd of family members sing "Happy Birthday" to the birthday twins. Then Bailey begins again "It has been two weeks today that Samuel and I were told some very good news but with Timothy and Elizabeth's wedding, well we did not think it would be appropriate to "steal their thunder" so we are going to tell all of you today". Just then Samuel decides to interject his thought into the conversation because he is about to burst but Bailey takes his hand in hers and says "Baby, let me". Samuel obliges his wife as she says "Everyone we would like all of you to come to Miami for Thanksgiving this year because Samuel and I would like for all of you to meet the new addition to the Robbins-Torres Ruiz family".

"Arizona and Callie please come quick Bailey needs you both right now" Samuel screams from behind his mask. My wife and I enter the birthing suite where our oldest daughter is crying just the way she used to cry when a thunderstorm would wake her up in the middle of the night. I walk over to our daughter as I take her hand in mine while my wife is still putting on her gown and mask. I begin to sing while stroking her hair "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, I'm not of those, who can easily hide, I don't have much money, but boy if I did, I'd buy a big house, where we both could live" as Bailey stops crying and stares at me and then Calliope and Samuel sing along with me "If I was a sculptor, huh but then again no, or a man who makes potions, in a traveling show, I know its not much, but it is the best I can do, my gift is my song, and this one's for you" as our baby girl smiles at her mami and me while she tells us both she loves us. Then her Aunt Addison looking up at our daughter from between her legs and says "Baby girl you need to push".

Samuel pokes his head out of the door as he looks at the awaiting Robbins-Torres and Ruiz family members as he says to his parents as well as George "She is ready to see you all now". With the three of them along with my wife and I surrounding our daughter's bed while she is holding two of the most beautiful tiny humans that we all have ever seen. Our daughter says "Everyone, Samuel and I would like to introduce to you, Michelle Iphigenia Lucy Ruiz and her two and a half minute younger brother Samuel David Kevin Ruiz". George makes his way over to the curtain that surrounds Bailey's room as he opens the curtain so that everyone that is left in the waiting room can meet his new granddaughter and grandson. Three days before Thanksgiving on November 21st 2039, my wife and I welcome our first two grandchildren into the family…Michelle and Samuel.

My wife and I along with most of our family are spending the Christmas holiday in Boston. Bailey and Samuel and the twins decide to stay in Miami as my father's health begins to deteriorate. He is seen by round the clock nurses while Bailey and Samuel and their children have move back into the Torres mansion. We keep in touch with them everyday to make sure they as well as my father are alright. We have all finished our breakfast and are cleaning the dining room and kitchen up when we hear this god awful scream coming from the downstairs bathroom. We all see that Timothy is standing outside the door asking his wife if she is alright when the door flies open and Elizabeth is standing there holding a pink piece of plastic and we all hear Timothy say "Yes…Yes". Elizabeth walks out of the bathroom crying and smiling and unable to speak as Timothy raising his hands over his head and once again screams "Yes, we did it baby, we did it". Then he wraps his wife up in his arms as she continues to cry wrapping herself up in her husband's arms. That is when we all find out together in that one happy outburst…the Robbins-Torres family is expanding with the accumulation of more grandchildren on the way.

The traditional Robbins snowball fight is in full swing as everyone takes it easy on the new mother-to-be while her husband defends her honor. I am the last one to get ready and leave the house when I hear that someone is calling us on the plasma screen. I turn on the screen to see Bailey and Samuel on the other end of the call. I see Bailey has been crying as Samuel says "Mama…Grandpa Carlos was down stairs earlier having breakfast with us and he excused himself to go and take a nap. He told us to wake him before lunch. One of the nurses went to check on his a while later and…" as now Samuel begins to cry and Bailey wipes her eyes and says "Mama…Oh mama he just went to sleep and passed away. Mama…he just went to sleep. What…How are we going to tell mami, mama"? I too begin to cry and tell my daughter and son-in-law "I will tell your mami and everyone here and we will fly to Miami today. I will call you soon…baby girl. I love you both and we will all see you soon". I turn off the plasma screen and head out into the cold winter day here in Boston to tell my wife what has happened…to her father.

I stand on the porch for a moment or two as no one sees me come out of the house. Then with my wife's back to me…I begin to descend the steps and make my way to her. I motion for everyone to follow me as I reach my wife and she has just hit Karev in the face with a snowball. Calliope turns abruptly to face me as she throws a snowball in my face and she sees that the snowball running down my face and the expression on my face never changes. I say softly to my wife "Calliope" as she sees the fear in my eyes and says "No…Arizona…No". I walk towards her with my arms open as my Calliope just stands there and she lets me take her in my arms and she begins to cry. I say to her as everyone but Alexander begins to engulf my wife and I in their arms "I am so sorry, my love". When the thirteen almost fourteen year old Alexander begins to realize what has happened…he then screams at the top of his lungs looking up to the heavens "No…you son of a bitch…Why would you do this again…you greedy ungrateful bastard. I fuckin' hate you" and he runs off behind the house and into the woods. Timothy and Theodore begin to chase their brother down but the younger brother has grown so much in size the last two years that the race becomes more of a challenge for the two older Robbins-Torres boys than they ever imagined.

All three Robbins-Torres boys are wearing their fair share of winter attire so you would think that this would slow them down. Actually it does slow down Timothy and Theodore but not Alexander. When the distance between the three boys becomes greater, Alexander does not notice a car coming out of a side road while he has his head turned to watch his brothers in the distance. Just when he turns his head around to see the oncoming car…it is too late. Our baby boy flies over the car's hood and lands on the ground. His brothers gain the distance that once separated them as they stand above him and the two police officers jump out of their car to ask "What the hell is going on with you three. We have been chasing all of you for miles". Before answering the police officer's questions, Timothy and Theodore help their baby brother up off the ground to make sure he is alright. Then they begin to tell the police officer's what has happened. The police car pulls up into the long and winding driveway that leads to the Robbins-Torres house as everyone but their mamas are standing out on the front porch.

Their Grandma Barbara is the first to speak and she directs her comment to her grandson Alexander "Are you alright Alex" as he says to her as he hugs her "Yes grandma, I am alright but I just don't understand…why Grandpa Carlos"? My mother looks at our son's scraped face and hands as she begins to say "My sweet baby boy, from the moment we are born we have a certain amount of time on this earth and when that time is up…for most of us we live for several decades like your grandfather…but when our time is through…we leave our loved ones behind to finish what we started…to carry on our legacy. Your Grandpa Carlos lived a long and fulfilling life before he passed away. Look at all he accomplished in his ninety years. Now my beautiful grandson it is up to you and your brothers and sisters that will carry on in his memory. Alexander your mamas are waiting for you in their bedroom to talk to you. So why don't you go and get washed up and go and see them. Your mami is taking this very hard and would love to see you right now. So go and see your mamas my dear boy" then my mother kisses our son and leads him into the house.

Alexander makes a quick stop in the bathroom to clean and bandage his face and hands, with the help of his Aunts Teddy and Addison. Then he knocks softly on his mama's bedroom door as he pokes his head into our bedroom. I see my son when I say "Shhh" as he enters our room. He takes a seat beside me when he sees his mami taking a nap in my arms. I place my hand to his cheek and see that he has scraped his face while I trace my thumb over the hurt area. Then I whisper to my baby boy "What happened" as he smiles and says "Life happened mama". I make my way out of the bedroom to let my wife sleep for a bit before we all head to the airport when I see Teddy and Addison sitting at the dining room table as everyone else is getting ready to leave. I walk into the dining room as Addison asks me to sit down.

Teddy begins to say "Addison, Karev, George and I will clean up the house and lock it up tight so that all of you can get to the airport" and then Addison says "We talked it over with your mama and there will be a car here in two hours to pick all of you up and take you to the airport". Then George comes into the room and says "After we lock this place up, all of us will be on the next flight to Miami". I stand to face George and say "You should probably come with us. You know Bailey will need her daddy" but George just smiles at me and kissing the palm of my hand as he says to me "I will be only a few hours behind you both and besides Bailey will need her mamas first and foremost". I hug him and kiss his cheek. When I break my hug with George…I see Alexander pacing back and forth out on the back deck.

I open the back door that leads out onto the back porch when I say to my son "Hey there you" and he says "Hey mama". I walk over to my son and say "You want to explain yourself and why you ran off the way you did"? My son encases me in his arms and begins to cry "I have lost three of my grandparents in the last two and a half years that I am finding it hard to understand why this is all happening. Grandma Barbara told me earlier today that from the moment we are born we all have a certain amount of time here and what we do in that time reflects a legacy that we will leave behind for future generations to fulfill. I guess I just feel a little short changed because I have not had enough time to be with my grandparents and losing them at my age…at this stage in their lives…I just feel short changed that's all". I hug my son tight as I say "Oh my boy, you are wise beyond your years".

Then I remember his swearing like a sailor when I say to my son "I know that you are scared but where did you learn so many swear words, Alexander? You know that you screaming them earlier today is totally unacceptable". Then I hear my son say while he begins to laugh "Seriously mama…between you and mami…growing up in our household you both have filled more than your share of swear jars to put me through college". I too chuckle a bit but then say with my father's stern face "You are right son but from now on watch the language please" as our son places me in another hug and says "Yes ma'am".

With about thirty minutes to go before the car arrives to take us to the airport, I go into the bedroom to wake my wife. I have already packed our luggage but I want to give her enough time to get herself ready for the flight to Miami. I kiss her forehead softly as she begins to stir about the bed. When I see that her eyes have opened I begin to tell her of our plan. She begins to rise from our bed and makes her way into the bathroom to change and get ready to leave. From the time I have awoken my wife and throughout the car ride to the airport, my wife has been silent. I text Bailey and Samuel our arrival time to Miami and Bailey texts me back that we need to go directly to the funeral home to complete the arrangements.

We arrive at the funeral home and Calliope and I go directly onto the funeral home director's office where we are met by Bailey and Samuel. The rest of the family stays outside with the town car as the four of us discuss the funeral arrangements. Once we complete this task the funeral director Thomas asks us if we would like to see Carlos. Then Bailey walks outside to retrieve the rest of the family and we all make our way into another room in the funeral home. With all of us standing around the casket that holds my dear…sweet father-in-law…Timothy begins to hand me a box of tissues. Everyone takes two or three tissues from the box as Father Kevin enters the room too as he makes his way to stand beside my wife as he asks her if he may say a prayer and my wife nods her head yes. With every remaining member of the Robbins-Torres family taking each others hand in theirs, Father Kevin begins to pray.

After the prayer has been spoken Alexander whispers to me "Mama, Grandpa Carlos looks like he is sleeping". I whisper back to him "I know mijo, I know". Then Bailey whispers in my ear as she holds me close "Is mami alright mama"? I tell her she will be fine and Bailey whispers "We will all wait outside for the two of you" as she motions to the rest of the family and they all follow Bailey out the door. Calliope turns in my arms as she asks me "Baby, can I have a moment with my father before we leave"? I kiss her tenderly on her lips and say "Always my love" and I turn to leave my wife to let her say her final goodbye to her father.

I am leaving my wife's sight when I hear her begin to hum a tune. I open the door to make my way to the other side when both our sons open the door for me as we all stand there and listen to my wife sing a song in Spanish to her father. I whisper to all of the family members and say "I do not think that I have ever heard this tune before" that is when my mother begins to say "No sweetie you never would have heard this song before. It is a special song that Carlos used to sing to Callie when she was a child".

With a look of concern on every member of the Robbins-Torres family's face I say to my mother "And how do you know this, mother"? My mother smiles and asks her grandsons to close the door while she motions all of us with her hands. We all make our way outside as my mother begins to tell us her tale of self discovery about this very private Spanish song between a father and a daughter. "You see sweetie, when we first went to visit Callie's parents in Miami right after Bailey was born, Bailey woke up in the middle of the night and Carlos went into your room to see if he could quiet her down as not to wake you or Callie. Then when he began to talk to her in Spanish, she began to make those cooing noises that babies do so he decided to take her out of the room so that he could sing to her back to sleep. He began to sing her this lullaby in Spanish as she just stared at him and did not make a sound. I was coming out of the bathroom when I saw him singing to her and after he finished the song she was still wide awake. After a short discussion about music…we both began to sing…very softly as not to wake anyone else up, Bailey's song and before we even finished the song…she fell back to sleep in her grandfather's arms. So throughout all of your children's childhood if they had any trouble sleeping at night Carlos would go into their rooms and begin singing that Spanish lullaby first and then he would sing their song to get them to fall back to sleep. Now you wife is singing that same lullaby to her father that her father sang to her all those years ago".

Every member of our family is standing outside of the funeral home when I come outside and there is not a dry eye amongst them when I ask "What is going on"? My mother-in-law Barbara is the first to speak when she says "Oh sweetie, I was telling them a story about your father and the waterworks started to flow". I smile at her and we all file into the town car to take us to the Torres mansion. The ride was somber and quiet with the occasional smile to different family members while my wife holds me close. Once we arrive home the boys take our luggage to the guest house and everyone disperses throughout the house to find which rooms are theirs now since Bailey and her family as well as Timothy and Elizabeth have now moved into the mansion to live her permanently.

Arizona finds me in my father's study just standing there gazing upon the room itself when she breaks the silence in the room by asking "Baby, is their anything you need"? I turn to her and say "Just you, baby" and she walks to me and says "You always have me, baby" then she swallows me up in her arms and we just stand there holding each other close.

I begin thinking with my wife still holding me close as I ask her "Baby, can we talk"? My wife and I separate our hug as she looks deep into my eyes and says "Always" then we make our way to sit on the leather sofa in my father's office. I begin by saying "Baby, when we retire in the next ten years or so, can we move from Seattle and spend our summers in Boston and our winters here in Miami. I do not want to sell this house or the house in Boston. I want our future grandchildren to have a place to call home when they grow older. So do you think this is a good idea"?

Arizona places a kiss on my lips as she says "Yes, baby I think this is a wonderful idea. Do you want to tell the children"? My smile turns into a frown in an instant as I say "Let us wait until after my father's funeral tomorrow and then we will tell them" with the look on my face my wife takes me back into her arms and holds me close again. We both just sit on the leather sofa in my father's office holding each other close and take in the sights and smells right down to the smelly cigars smell that lingers as I see my wife just smiling to herself because she remembers those cigars and everything else in the room that is truly…Carlos Miguel Torres.

St. Mary's Catholic Church here in Miami is "packed to the gills" as my father used to say, for his funeral service. With everyone who is anyone in the Miami business, political and law enforcement community attending and giving their respects to my father. This is the part of the funeral services that take most of the day and when it is finally time to travel to the cemetery it is close to four p.m. Our three sons along with George O'Malley, Alexander Karev and our son-in-law Samuel Ruiz take their respective places at the rear of the hertz as my father's casket begins to roll into their awaiting hands. These six men carry my father to his final resting place next to my mother and my sister just as Father Kevin begins the graveside service. Once all the praying…the receiving of guests…and with all of the Robbins-Torres children holding hands and saying goodbye to their grandfather is complete…my wife and I stand alone together and say our goodbyes. Then I leave my wife's side and wait with the rest of the family…not far away…so that we may hear beautiful voice when she sings to her father the lullaby once again that he sang to her all those years before