In The Mind's Eye

Disclaimer: This is an AU story that combines The Godfather and Greys Anatomy together. I borrowed these characters, I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mommy and Me

"We've all heard the same. It's one of those things we learned in seventh grade science class. Adapt or die. Adapting isn't easy, though. You have to fight your competition, fend off their attacks, and sometimes, you have to kill. You do what you need to do to survive..."

Once back in the States, the Torres Family's limousine headed straight for their home in Long Island New York. Their two week vacation had come and gone. With Callie's parents in the car, the ride home is fairly quiet. Peaceful. This vacation has been good for all of them. Arizona scrolled through her phone checking emails and the current news events while Gavin was fast asleep in his car seat.

It's important to stay abreast with what's happening in the world. And, what had been happening back home was rather alarming to say the least. The news articles told of some rather unfortunate deaths in the New York area recently. As she quietly scrolled through several articles, the blonde doctor saw the names of several high ranking mafia members listed as the deceased. The moment of truth had now arrived for Callie Torres.

Looking up from her phone to her wife, Arizona sized up the brunette sitting next to her in the car. Callie seemed calm. She was poised, not at all bothered by anything or anyone. Sure, Arizona knew her wife wasn't exactly up to par on everything in her business. But, did she have something to do with this? Could Callie have been behind all of this? Was her wife capable of...

"What?" Callie asked looking over to her wife as Arizona stared at her with an intense look. Breaking Arizona from her thoughts, Callie studied her wife's face. Arizona furrowed her brow as her thoughts ran away.

Catching a glance of the phone that his daughter in law phone placed beside her leg, Carlos deduced that this was not going to go well. Arizona was way to smart for this to just blow right past her. Hell, anyone was to smart for that. But it was a necessary cleansing that needed to take place. Yes, other members of the families would arise. Possibly resisting Callie's reign. But with a little muscle and the political and law enforcement connections the Torres' had, they could be kept at bay.

Arizona continued to look at her wife yet, she said nothing. She wasn't fooled at all. This had Callie Torres written all over it. But, she would keep quiet until they were home. Alone. Now that they had a baby, Arizona refused to argue in his presence. He was innocent in every way. It wasn't his fault his mother was potentially responsible for what had to be the most heinous crimes Arizona had heard of... Gunned down on the courthouse steps. Shot to death inside of a revolving door as the man left his hotel. Murdered in a hotel bed with his mistress. All on record. All on the internet. All, someone's doing. She just really hoped when she asked Callie about this, that somehow it wasn't her wife that was responsible.

Arizona was making Callie feel quite uncomfortable with the inappropriate starting. Arizona was never one to stare unless she was upset or mad. Callie saw out to the corner of her eye what Arizona had been looking at. She saw the photo on the cell phone. She knew what the looks were for. Callie just hoped that this conversation could take place in the privacy of their home. So, she tried to ignored her wife's looks.

Thirty minutes later, the iron gates opened to the long black limo that housed the now highest ranking member of the mafia Families in New York. Stepping from the car, Callie helped her mother out, while Clemenza and Rocco helped Carlos from the car and into the house. With a three month old Gavin in her arms, Arizona made her way inside their brick home. The sleeping baby was out for the count. Jet lagged and tired from the long trip, Arizona changed him into soft pajamas and placed him in his crib.

Walking back downstairs, the blonde waited for her wife in the kitchen. She dreaded this conversation. But, it was a necessary one. She had to know if Callie had anything to do with this or if she had any knowledge of it at all.

Twenty minutes later, Callie walked into their home. She had been getting her parents settled in. During that time the brunette had a conversation with her father on how to handle Arizona. She knew her wife would have questions. The brunette knew that would happen the moment Arizona saw it on the news. But, she did it anyway. It wasn't anything personal, it was just business.

"You want me to make us a snack before bed?" Callie asked. Trying to play off the situation, the brunette acted as if nothing were wrong.

"Did you have anything to do with the numerous murders that were committed while we were in Sicliy?" Not wasting time, Arizona lit into Callie with a fierceness. No small talk was needed. No softening up the conversation was required. Just hit it head on...straight to the point.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Callie looked her wife in the eyes. She was adamant. No confession would be given this time. Her father had encouraged his daughter to stay the course and not give into Arizona's rounds of questioning that he knew would take place.

Not willing to stop, Arizona continued, "Callie. Just talk to me. Several men were killed while we were away. Several from high ranking mafia families. Did you have something to do with those murders?"

"Don't ask me about that." Callie didn't want to lie to Arizona. How could she keep from doing that? How do you tell your wife that thinks you're on the way to becoming legitimate, that sometimes issues crop up. Issues that prevent you from becoming a better person. No matter how are you try, they still weight you down. She had to do it. In her mind, it was the only way for them to be free. And, Callie didn't want to have this conversation with her wife. Not now, not ever.

"I have a right to know Callie." Pressing the issue, that she knew would cause an argument, the blonde went against her better judgement. There was only so far she could push Callie and she knew it.

Callie looked at Arizona with a fire in here eyes. She needed this to stop. Nothing good would come out of this tonight. So she did her best to shut it down. "No, you don't. You don't have a right to know. You, need to stay out of those things. For your own sake. Just don't ask questions."

"Did you kill someone with..." Arizona was relentless in her pursuit of the truth. No matter the cost. She just wanted the truth.

"Enough!" Callie screamed as she slammed her hand on the kitchen counter, silencing her wife. Arizona jumped as Callie's hand hit the counter. Feeling the need to remove herself, Callie walked to her office and slammed the door shut. Leaving Arizona in the kitchen alone.

Feeling guilty about her outburst, Callie immediately turned and made her way back into the kitchen. Arizona didn't deserve that. Her wife had just had a baby not long ago. And no matter how Arizona tried to play it off, she really wasn't well. The blonde doctor had a bad spell two nights ago while in Sicily. Callie was more protective than ever of her wife and baby. But, there was a line that Arizona couldn't cross. Especially where this was concerned. This particular issue was off limits.

"Hey, I'm sorry." Standing just inside the kitchen doorway, Callie could see that Arizona was upset. It pained her to watch the beautiful blonde sobbing. Watching her cry as she stood at the sink, Callie felt terrible. Absolutely horrible for her actions. "Don't cry. Please."

Hearing her wife sob, Callie gave in, "This one time, I will let you ask me. But just this one time. What do you want to know?"

"Did you have those people murdered? I read the names. I know the names Callie. I just want an honest answer. Did you?" The look of disgust was in full display on Arizona's face. The blonde waited for an answer. An answer that Callie was fully ready to give back in return.

"No." Shaking her head, the brunette affirmed her actions. Honesty was important to Callie. Honesty in her marriage was important as well. But, not about this. This was a conversation that would never receive honesty. Not now, not ever.

Squinting her blue eyes, she asked, "Are you telling me the truth?" Unsure if Callie was lying or not, Arizona sought to reaffirm her wife's answer. She wanted Callie to be telling her the truth. That answer was the one she's had wanted to hear. But, she just wasn't sure it was the right answer. Was Callie trying to appease her?

"I had nothing to do with that. If I did, don't you think the police would have already questioned me? Even meeting me at the airport or waiting here at home if they suspected I had anything to do with this? It's the mafia. Those kinds of thing happen in that lifestyle. That's why I am trying to get out. I was not even here. I have no idea what happened. That's the truth."

Nodding her head, Arizona let out a visible breath. Callie was right. They would have already questioned Callie if she was a suspect. And, Callie was thousands of miles away when it all happened. Callie had always come clean in the past. Eventually anyways. And right now, the brunette was portraying a convincing storyline. A story that was heart felt. Sincerely honest. A story that on the surface seemed to not be withholding anything from Arizona.

Callie could see her wife's relief. The burden seemed to be lifted from the blonde. And in that instance Callie felt mighty guilty. Because the truth was...she was lying.

Two weeks had passed since the couple had returned from Sicily. Two weeks to the day that Callie had claimed her innocence of those horrendous murders. Two weeks since Arizona had felt some relief about what Callie had told her. Still, in the back of her mind Arizona knew Callie had to have some sort of interest in this. It was to...convenient for Callie. But, Arizona couldn't prove a thing. And, her wife had adamantly denied any involvement. So, she did what she knew to do. She tried her best to put those thoughts out of her mind. After all, Callie wouldn't lie to her. Right?

Coming back from Sicily, Callie was happier. Her countenance was lighter in so many ways. The brunette even offered to take her wife dancing. Something that they hadn't done in ages. And they had quite a few long walks on the beach. Sometimes just the two of them, other times Gavin went along. The brunette was a different person coming back from vacation. She was happier than Arizona had ever known her to be. Giddy. An excitable spirit. And, because of Callie's joyous spirit and contagious laugher over the past two weeks, Arizona felt somewhat lighter too.

It's funny isn't it? Sometimes in such great times of joy, sadness suddenly strikes...

Sitting around the breakfast table before leaving for work, Arizona took the time to feed Gavin before she left him with Carmela. As she and Callie talked, Arizona was taken back by her wife's latest idea. As if the dancing and long walks on the beach weren't enough over the past two weeks, Callie was now forging ahead with another grand idea.

"I signed us up for Mommy and Me Classes twice a week." Callie said as she read the newspaper. Looking to her wife for some sort of response, the brunette was surprised that Arizona seems to be dismissive of the idea.

"I thought Mommy and Me started at age six months?" Arizona inquired. She didn't mind the class at all. She just didn't think that most children or babies in this case started that young. Gavin was nearly four months, but that was still a ways from the sixth month requirement.

Smiling, Callie answered, "Well, I know the director. So Gavin can go at three months. Isn't that great!"

Agreeing with Callie, the blonde nodded. She was fine with the idea her wife had presented. "I didn't know that was an option. That sounds like fun, doesn't it Gavin?" Smiling at her son who was taking his bottle, Arizona kissed his forehead. He was a sweet baby. And, a happy baby. Arizona was so thankful for that.

The blonde doctor now only worked four days a week as a pediatrician. And, every other Thursday, she took off at noon. That way she and Gavin could travel with Callie when she went out of town. Carmela kept Gavin everyday while Arizona and Callie were at work. The time she and Carlos spent with their infant grandson was so precious. It was therapy for the ailing Carlos.

As the mothers walked their son next door, Arizona held Gavin close. It was always hard to say goodbye. Goodbye are tough, aren't they? Goodbyes are bittersweet. I think we all can agree that saying goodbye is never easy. And while the word "goodbye" has garnered a rather negative emotional connotation in society, there is another way, a more positive way, to perceive it. It can be perceived as, "until we meet again." If it's hard to say goodbye, then you have been very blessed.

Kissing Gavin goodbye, "Bye sweet boy. Mommy will be back really soon." Arizona said as she waved at Gavin. He was sitting in Carlos' lap, smiling brightly. And, as happy as he could possibly be.

"Goodbye Papa." Arizona kissed Carlos as well. She liked seeing her father in law being so blissfully happy with their son. The older man seemed to be refreshed by Gavin's presence.

"Tell mommy and mama bye." Carlos waved Gavin's small hand to both of his mothers.

Once Callie dropped Arizona off at the hospital, the blonde doctor's day went by very characteristically. No new cases. Just repeat visits and daily rounds were in order for today. It was an easy day. A breezy day. And today, Arizona had worn her famous heelys. Her wife had returned the offending shoes, as promised. They were a hit with all the tiny humans and their parents.

Arizona rolled through the hallways with practiced ease. Just as she had always done. It was nice to be getting back to her former self. Well not entirely back, but close. So close in fact that the blonde felt lighthearted today. Her wife's good moods since returning were rubbing off on her. Today she felt happy. Free. A spring in her step was noticed by several colleagues, and for that they were grateful to see the old Arizona returning as well.

Feeling the vibrations from her cell, Arizona jumped when she saw her mother in law's house number. Immediately the thoughts were that something was wrong with Gavin.

"Excuse me. I have to take this," the blonde doctor told her patient.

Stepping from the patient's room, the Arizona answered the call. No one ever called from Carmela's house while she was at work. Hearing her wife on the other end was quite alarming. The voice rang loud and clear, as Callie frantically screamed,

"Get home now!"

Then, the line went dead. Apparently Callie hung up immediately afterwards, before Arizona had a chance to respond. No explanation. No conversation. Just screaming and demanding for her wife to come home immediately. Trying to call the number back, Arizona was met with a busy signal. Five minutes passed as Arizona made some hasty arrangements to turn patients over to another doctor.

Running as fast as she could down the halls, the blonde doctor made her way out of the hospital. Stepping outside, she realized she had no way home. Callie had driven her to work that morning, as Callie did most mornings. Realizing she would have to call a cab, Arizona rubbed her temple. That idea would not be acceptable with her wife at all. But, she had no other option. And, Carmela's house number and Callie's cell number were both busy. What on earth was going on?

Just as she was about to walk back inside, the familiar black Mercedes pulled up in it's usual parking space to the right side of the back entrance.

Seeing Rocco walk around to open her door she asked, "What's going on? Is it Gavin?"

Shaking his jet black hair, the body guard answered, "It's Carlos."

"...Adapt or die. As many times as we've heard it, the lesson doesn't get easier. Problem is we're human. We want more than just to survive. We want love. We want success. We want to be the best that we can be. So we fight like hell to get those things. Anything else feels like death."