A/N - Wow, guys...I just want to start off with an apology. I cant believe its been so long since I updated. I think I've been distracted by another fandom from over here in the UK. I've been writing other stories for them. Sorry I've left you all hanging for so long. I actually had half this chapter already written in my notes. Finally finished reading through the whole story in the sun the other day and got back up to speed with everything. I'm hoping to start to wrap this up in another chapter or 2 perhaps. Thanks so much for the continued comments and PM's about this story and the other stories I've written. It still means so much to me. Hope you're all still here for the remainder of this story. On with the next instalment :)
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Chapter 30
"Ok, refill for the bride" the redhead said as she tipped the bottle of prosecco up, generously refilling the glass sitting on the dresser.
Arizona rolled her eyes. "April, that's my 3rd glass already. My dad will have to carry me down the aisle, never mind walk me."
"Oh please. You're a few glasses away from that Arizona. Remember that night we left the gala and I found you in the supply room and we drank like...a couple of bottles each?! Then the next morning you thought you'd slept with..." The death glare from Arizona through the mirror caused April to trail off. With her mouth opening and closing, April slowly turned towards Barbara, who was sat raising an eyebrow on the other side of the room. "Ugh, I mean you thought you'd slept...on, your left leg because you...you couldn't feel it when you woke up but then you remembered you don't have a left leg.." she laughed awkwardly, her left hand coming up to tug at her ear lobe.
A silence filled the air momentarily before the older woman in the room spoke. "That was very smooth, dear." April saw the twinkle in Barbara's eye while Arizona burst out laughing.
"Yea.." the blonde responded. "April's always been real smooth."
The red head grimaced before deciding to change the subject. "You look so beautiful Arizona. I'm so happy you asked me to be apart of your special day."
Arizona reached out to grasp the once again full glass of prosecco. "Hey, I was part of both of your weddings to Matthew. It's only right I return the gesture."
April grinned back. "Can you believe how similar we are? I mean the fact we both remarried our first loves?"
Arizona thought on for a few moments before responding. "Well, let's be honest April, you didn't marry Matthew that first time and I'm pretty sure Jackson was your first love..."
April waved off the blonde. "Technicality. Matthew was always the one I was meant to be with. The timing just wasn't right. Jackson was... well, he'll always be special to me but I think friendship is what we were always destined to have. Matthew is the love of my life. I'm so happy I got to have this second chance with him."
Barbara had been listening quietly as the 2 younger woman talked. "If 2 people are meant to be together, no matter how long it takes, how far they go, how tough it seems, fate will bring them back together."
Arizona turned to face her mother before looking back at April and cocking her head in her mother's direction. "Oh my god, it's Yoda."
Barbara rolled her eyes. "Mock all you want, Arizona but you know I'm right. You and Callie are made for eachother. No one goes through everything the 2 of you have and come out stronger than ever unless they're meant to be."
Arizona looked back at herself in the mirror and smiled. "She's the only woman I've ever been in love with. She drives me crazy, she makes me lose my mind and feel... I feel everything with her. She makes me feel alive. I love her so much and like you April, I'm so grateful that we got to have this second chance."
The women in the room all turned to the door on the other side of the room as it opened. Sofia came wandering in dressed in a beautiful pale blue dress. The women fussed over her, telling her how pretty she looked while she almost strutted towards her mother. "Are you almost ready, mommy? It's so busy downstairs. Dr Herman asked me to give you this..."
Arizona reached out to take the small box from her daughter. "Oh that's sweet. I'll have to put it with the other gifts."
"No, she said you had to open it now."
"Oh, OK. Thanks sweetie." Setting her glass down, the blonde opened the lid of the box before removing the tissue paper from the top of the gift. She rolled her eyes before putting the lid back on the gift.
"What is it" Sofia asked, reaching up to try and take the box from her mother.
Arizona held the box away. "Nothing. Just Dr Herman being funny. How about you go run and tell your mama that were just about ready here and that I'll see her in 10 minutes?"
With a slight pout, Sofia backed away. "Ok."
Once the door shut behind the little girl, Arizona turned to her mother and friend. "She got me a garter" she laughed.
The red head laughed along. "I love Dr Herman. She's been through so much with the tumour and then losing her sight but she still has that wicked sense of humour."
Barbara stood up and came towards her daughter. "So are you going to put it on?"
Arizona furrowed her brows before laughing. "Umm, no. Garters symbolise virginity and sorry to tell you this mom, but I'm no virgin."
"Far from it" April whispered before coughing theatrically.
"Oh shush. It's just a bit of fun. I imagine Callie will love it. Come on, I can help you slip it on."
"Mom" Arizona protested. "You are not helping me put it on." After a few moments thought, Arizona removed the lace garter from the box before sitting down and slipping it up her right leg. She laughed and shook her head. "Only Nicole..."
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Over on the other side of the Torres estate, Callie was sitting in front of a mirror while her sister applied a little more hair spray to her styled locks.
The last month had passed in a blur as Callie and Arizona had worked hard to put their temporary move to Miami in to action. Both had taken an extended leave from work while Sofia once again left the school she loved. She had ofcourse been upset at having to leave her friends and favourite teachers for the foreseeable future, but held onto the promise her mother's had given, that they would return for good in a few months.
Alongside the move, a wedding had been organised to take place on the Torres estate. Though Lucia's health had been slowly deteriorating, having her daughter's wedding to plan had kept her active, leaving little time for her to sit and think about her health.
"Right, I think that should do it." Aria took a few steps back, surveying her sisters hair.
Callie turned her head from side to side, looking at Aria's handy work. She smiled as she looked through the mirror at the 2 women behind her. "Its perfect. Thanks, Aria." She got up from the seat and turned towards her mother. "What do you think?"
Lucia shook her head slightly as she felt so many emotions invade her body. "Oh, Calliope." The tissue she had scrunched in her palm came up to dab beneath her eyes once more, soaking up a few stray tears which fell from her lids.
Aria stepped towards her mother, putting an arm around her. "She's beautiful, isn't she mama?"
"She is. You are beautiful, mija. My whole life, I've waited to see my girls be brides."
Aria scoffed. "This girls not for marrying, mom. You know my career comes first."
Aria had followed in her mothers footsteps and become a lawyer. Using the excuse of a busy career, she'd never had a long term boyfriend. She had always been more of a love them and leave them kind of girl.
"And that is your choice, mija" Lucia told her other daughter. She looked at Callie. "I know you've been here before but for me... I finally get to see you commit the rest of your life to the person that holds your heart." Tears began to bubble once more. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Calliope."
Callie frowned and stepped towards her mother. "Hey. Why are you sorry?"
"I was horrible to you. All those years ago. The things I said to you on your special day. They're unforgivable, I know. If my mother had treated me the way I did you, it would have broken me."
Callie rubbed Lucia's arm. "Hey, we've been over this. It's Ok. It's Ok."
"No, it's not."
"Ok, it's not. I'm not going to deny how much you hurt me a few years ago. To tell me my life was an abomination and then for both you and daddy to leave me on my wedding day. It broke my heart."
"Oh Calliope."
Callie reached for her hand. "But I've forgiven you, mom. I understand that when you were younger, things were different. I get that you grew up with different beliefs but all I ever needed from you was for you to bend for me. Me falling in love with a woman doesn't mean that you failed in your job as a parent. Far from it. You and daddy, you were amazing parents. You taught me respect, kindness, to work hard to achieve my dreams and how to love. I have an amazing career and I am about to re-marry the one person in my life that I've ever truly been in love with."
"You're a remarkable woman, Calliope." She reached out to take hold of Aria's hand too. "You're both remarkable women. You've made me so proud. I only wish... I wish..." She couldn't finish her words.
"Hey, we know. We wish we had more time too, mom."
Lucia nodded, laughing slightly. "Can you remember when you were a little girl and would play dress up? You would always have to be the bride and Aria was your flower girl."
Callie laughed, remembering how much she'd loved the idea of being older and marrying the person she loved and hoped to be with forever. Its safe to say her life hadn't turned out quite the way she'd envisioned 40 yrs earlier, but she really couldn't ask for anything more. "You always hope that when you get married, that will be it. You'd be with that person forever. Life however, is forever throwing you curveballs."
This was going to be her third wedding. Second to the same person but still... this would be the third time she said I do. It was however, the first time her mother would get to see it. She looked back at Lucia and smiled sadly. She wasn't ready for her mother to not be in her life. For years, their relationship had been strained and now, when they were finally getting back to the way they once were, her mother was beginning to disappear before her very eyes. Even in the last month, Lucia had lost more weight. Her movements were slow and methodical and words still continued to fail her at times.
"You've turned into every parents dream, Calliope. I'm sorry it took the extreme for me to come to my senses. Arizona is a wonderful woman. I know you've had your ups and downs but your father tells me she's a good woman. That she's good for you as you are for her."
"We are. I think we were always meant to be together, it was just... the timing wasn't right. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned. This is it now, mom. We're end game now. I've had a life with her and a life without her and what I've learned is that without her, I'm incomplete. She's my missing piece. I won't let us lose our way again."
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A short time later, both women made their way to the entrance of the gazebo that had been erected behind Carlos and Lucia's home. Seeing eachother for the first time that morning brought back so many happy memories from their first ceremony. The dresses and location may have been different, but the people were all the same...for the most part. With Lucia's change of perspective, other family members from Callie's side had shown up to show their support of the Latina and blondes marriage.
The ceremony took place a little after 1pm. Aswell as their close family, various friends from both New York and Seattle had made the trip over to Miami to celebrate the couple's day. It had been a few years since Callie had been around her Grey Sloan family and they had all brought back many happy memories.
Vows had been exchanged, a verbal declaration of their love and commitment shared once again before their family and friends before everyone moved back inside the house where an extravagant party got under way.
Lucia had cherished every minute of the day and had retired to bed before 9pm, her body and mind completely spent from the events of the day. Everyone else had stayed until around midnight before they filtered off to various hotels in town.
Carlos had arranged for the newly wed couple to stay in the honeymoon suite of his nearby hotel for a few nights. Arizona's parents were staying on the Torres' estate so Sofia would be looked after by both sets of grand parents while Callie and Arizona could enjoy a few days to themselves. They'd agreed that they didn't need a honeymoon right now. There would be plenty of time for that in the future but in the mean time, Carlos' hotel offered many luxurious amenities, including an ocean view from their balcony, a pool and spa which made it feel like they really were on holiday.
None of that however had been a fleeting thought to them when they arrived in their suite. From the moment they stepped into the room, they were on one another. Removing their dresses had taken some time but eventually they made it to the bed and proceeded to love and explore eachother's bodies before succumbing to sleep around 3am.
Now, as sunlight filtered in through the large open window, Arizona began to stir in the king size bed. Somewhere in the last few hours, they'd moved away from one another but as the blonde looked to the right hand side of the bed, she immediately shuffled herself closer to the woman who was sprawled out on her front. Lifting herself, Arizona lay herself on top of the Latina's body, moulding their skin together. A deep, drawn out moan left Callie's throat as she too began to stir. Smirking, the blonde placed soft, lazy kisses over the Latina's shoulder. "Good morning, my beautiful wife" she whispered near the ear hidden by a mass of dark locks.
After a few seconds, Callie began to stretch out her tired limbs, incoherent sounds grumbling from her mouth. Arizona continued to smirk while her hand snaked between their bodies, between her wife's legs from behind and dipped down before pressing firmly against her partners clit.
A sharp squeak left Callie's mouth, her hips instinctively thrusting down and her thighs squeezing together. Goosebumps appeared on her skin when Arizona's deep laugh sounded right by her ear. "That was mean."
"What?" Arizona asked. "I just figured you needed a little physical stimulation to wake up."
The Latina attempted to turn her body but with her wife's full weight now pressed back down on top of her, her efforts were in vain. "Your physical stimulation almost ended my life lastnight, Arizona."
The blondes body bounced slightly on top of the Latina's as she laughed. "We just got married...again. You know what putting a ring on my finger does to me, Calliope."
Callie smiled as she thought back to their first wedding or more aptly, the night after they'd first said I do."I remember, though you definitely out did yourself lastnight."
"Yea well, you were still in recovery from the crash after our first wedding. I needed to be gentle. Not so much this time.." she said with a dimpled grin. She dropped her mouth to the Latina's shoulder, sinking her teeth lightly into the skin.
Callie smiled, basking in the tender nips the blonde was leaving over her bare skin. "I didn't think it possible but lastnight topped our last wedding…by an absolute mile. I guess having my parents there played a big part in that and Sophia. She was still so small the first time round, but having her there yesterday, watching us say our vows.." she felt tears begin to form in her eyes. "It just felt so much more special."
Rolling off the Latina's body, Arizona laid on her side, her head resting in the palm of her hand. She reached out with her other hand, stroking hair out of Callie's face and tucking it behind her ear. "I love you so much Calliope. There's no words to describe how happy I am that were together again. I felt like I was a limbo when we separated. I didn't know what I was doing with my life, other than surgery. Away from work, besides Sophia, I had no life. Webber tried to get me back in the game but it was just meaningless. Everything I did meant nothing. But now... I feel complete. You, me, Sophia... we're like a jigsaw puzzle that's finally been finished."
"Not quite" Callie told her. "Still a few pieces we need to slot into place."
"There is?"
"Mhmm" Callie replied, turning onto her side, propping her head up in the palm of her hand, mirroring her wife. "We need to buy our happily ever after home. Then a dog...and I guess we'll buy some chickens to finally fulfil that life long dream of yours."
Arizona's dimples popped once more as she laughed lightly at the Latina. "You're right. Those pieces still need putting into place. Where should we look to buy?"
Callie shrugged. "There's alot to think about. Somewhere close to Sophia's school and work for us I guess but also away from the real hustle and bustle of the city centre, you know?"
Arizona nodded. "Yea. Im ready for the quiet life. I loved our house in Seattle. Kind of wish we could teleport it over here and put it in the middle of an empty field."
"We'll find somewhere just as good, if not better. I promise."
The blonde smiled back before reaching out to stroke her hand over Callie's hip. "As long as I've got my girls, I'm happy." She leant in, pressing their lips together.
A loud growl sounded in the pit of the fetal surgeons stomach causing Callie to open her eyes and pull back. "Someone's hungry this morning..."
Smirking, the blonde began to lean her body into her wife. "My stomach can wait" she said, before pushing Callie's shoulder, effectively turning her on to her back once more.
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