SURPISE! Sorry it's been forever since I last posted. It's been an trying year for all.

Very poorly edited but it is what it is!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Chapter 14

The front door slamming broke Callie out of her shaken stance.

Taking a deep breath, she rushed out of her bedroom before coming to a quick halt by the bay window at the top of the stairs only to see the taillights of their SUV pull out in haste.

She knew her wife was upset with her but it gave her no excuse to be reckless on the road. So, she sent up a quick prayer for her safety and the healing of her father-in-law, all the while, clutching the new mother necklace that Arizona placed around her neck less than an hour ago just as Charlee's cries only grew louder.

Gathering her daughter, the brunette immediately settled in the rocker.

She tried to sooth her and for a few minutes it worked. Her cry turned to a whimper until Callie's own cry escaped her throat startling the girl again which then got her crying for Arizona.

"Mama,"

"Come on, baby," she sniffed back her own tears the best she could as she tried to comfort the little girl that was wallowing her to death.

"Mama," she whimpered again. "Mama," she kept repeating over and over until she laid her head on her mother's shoulder hoping the other woman would walk through the door per usual.

"I want mama, too, Charlee," Callie whispered while the little girl whimpered, "but Papa is sick."

"Owie," she mumbled through her silent tears.

"Yeah," she kissed her head. "He has a little owie, but don't you worry... Papa will get better."

"Mama make better," she quickly raised her head quickly forgetting the reason she was crying. "Like me," she laid her hand on her chest as she spoke in her baby voice.

"She's gonna try her best," she nodded when the girl eyed her. "And Ma is going to make you better," she adjusted the little one in her arms.

"Sing, Ma," she requested with a yawn after finally relaxing in the crook of her brunette mother's arm.

Callie not only sung Charlee to sleep but she also sung herself to a light slumber as well, and if it weren't for the incessant knocking that caused her to stir she would still be in a happier place than her current status.

She gently rose from the chair with a sound asleep Charlee in her arms.

Placing the child back in her bed, she quickly tucked her in with an added kiss before heading downstairs to ward off the persistent noise.

"Ohhh," Teddy exhaled in fright none the wiser to the couples earlier spat.

So she definitely wasn't expecting the door to be swung open so forcefully.

"Shit," Callie sighed forgetting all about Teddy coming over to get Charlee.

She had been so distraught when Arizona left she completely forgot to cancel Teddy.

"I figured you'd be waiting on me," the intruder pulled the jacket from her arms as she stepped inside of her best friends home. "Where's Arizona," she questioned looking around the dark lit area before focusing on the woman before her. "You can't go in your pajamas," she continued when she noticed Callie was not dressed for any public function even if it were an emergency. "I thought you'd both be..." she trailed off throwing her jacket down on a nearby chair before gazing into Callie's reddened eyes. "Oh god," she immediately thought of the worst case scenario when she saw her swollen orbs. "Please... tell me... he didn't." She felt her own emotions bubbling to the surface when she caught Callie's solemn look.

"No, God no, but Arizona... she..." she sniffed back while quietly shutting the door behind them.

"What's wrong?" She quickly looked around the room for the blonde.

"Arizona... she went to the hospital," Callie wiped her tears away.

"I came as soon as I could," she stepped forward and pulled Callie into her arms. She could tell she had been visibly shaken with the news. "I'm sorry you have to go separately," she stated when she felt Callie's body begin to tremble. "Jax woke up and Henry couldn't settle him down an..."

"No Teddy," she cut her off. "That's not it," she cried pulling back.

"What?" She questioned seeing a look in Callie's eyes. "What's going on?"

"Arizona," she shook her head and wiped her nose with her arm. "She was upset. She just left. She left and told me not to come," she finally said as more tears threatened to surface.

"Of course she would be upset," she tried to defend but again was quickly stopped.

"No," Callie shook her head. "She was upset with me and just left. Told me she didn't want me with her."

"Arizona said that?" Teddy questioned in disbelief.

"Yes," Callie breathed before losing herself again.

"Whoa," Teddy whispered under her breath as Callie fell into her arms for the second time.

Teddy knew if Arizona was seething enough to deny Callie by her side she knew it must have been bad.

"What the hell did you do?"

Across town a distressed blonde had been pacing in the hospital courtyard for some time now.

Many things were running through her mind so she couldn't keep still to shave her life.

Upon arriving she received a text from her mother stating that she was in a room with her father and would come looking for her as soon as they began his testing.

So Arizona found herself wondering around the same hospital that she had become so accustomed to in the beginning of her relationship with Callie. But that didn't last long before their relationship skyrocketed and Callie bought into her practice.

After several minutes of pacing a cool breeze broke Arizona out of her stride and reflection.

Taking a deep breath she looked towards the night sky when a night chill swept over her face.

Arizona Robbins needed some clarity.

This had been such a good day and even better night up until about an hour ago. She had no idea how her world could take a 180 degree turn in a matter of minutes.

She was on the outs with her beautiful wife and her father's life was currently in the balance.

She had no idea his condition much less the severity of his health.

She really needed her partner to keep her grounded.

She couldn't fathom not having her by her side in a moment like this but yet here she is.

Alone.

"Zo,"

Or that was until she heard her name being called out of thin air.

Arizona was quickly jerked her head around when she heard the ever so familiar voice.

"Teds," she whispered a small sigh of relief when she saw her long time best friend.

She immediately let her guard down when she saw the taller blonde quickly make her way to her.

"Teddy," she met the woman the rest of the way before collapsing in her friends arms.

She had tried her best to keep her tears at bay for the last few minutes but after seeing Teddy all hope was lost.

"My dad," she clung to the slightly taller woman. "He," she choked out before her emotions decided to defy her.

"I know," she whispered holding the distraught blonde tight as her body began to tremble with grief. "I know," she quietly comforted her. "It's okay, Zo," she softly whispered as Arizona fell apart in her presence.

The doctor felt so much heaviness on her chest right now and even though she tried her best to stay calm she immediately crumbled when she saw Teddy.

And, all the latter could do was comfort Arizona until she was able to get herself under control.

She knew if Arizona walked out on Callie her world was crumbling and she was gonna break and that was what she was currently dealing with.

"He'll be okay, Arizona," she continued to soothe the woman until she quieted down. "He is a Robbins."

"He's my dad," she agree with a bit of a quiver in her tone. She knew it would take a lot to keep a Robbins man down but the worry didn't cease. "I can't even think about something happ..." she was quickly cut off.

"No," she shook her head and pulled back from the upset woman. "You can't think the worst, okay," she caressed her shoulders to keep a comforting touch.

"I can't lose my dad," her bottom lip trembled yet again as she tried with all her might to keep her emotions at bay.

"You won't," she said pulling Arizona in again when she became choked up. "You won't."

"Callie and I had a fight," she mumbled into Teddy's shoulder voicing the other topic that was weighing on her as well.

"I know."

Teddy knew that their argument was on her mind because Arizona normally kept her cool in tough situations unlike this time.

The woman was falling apart.

Anytime Callie was involved Arizona was a mess because her love for the brunette ran deep so that's why she decided to take this detour on her way home.

"I wish she were here."

"I know," she softly agreed yet again knowing Callie was the only one who could calm her best friend down in a time of need.

"I'm still so mad at her though," she squeezed her eyes tight as another tear slipped out of the corner of her eye.

"I know."

At home, Callie had laid back down for what felt like the tenth time in the last hour.

After Teddy left she returned upstairs to check in on Charlee. The little girl seemed a bit restless but after caressing her back and humming a quiet song she seemed to find a relaxed state.

After staying a few moments to make sure Charlee was okay, she returned to the scene of their fight.

Seeing the room put a huge hole in Callie's heart. Clothes were strung all over the room where Arizona had frantically searched for an outfit.

The surgeon began cleaning up the mess but became choked up a few times in the process.

Arizona had stormed out of their home well over two hours ago and she still felt the wrath of the front door slamming.

Callie felt torn.

She felt so adrift without Arizona.

She wanted nothing more than to disregard the woman's wishes and storm into that hospital and be at her side but she knew they both needed a little space to settle their emotions down first.

It wouldn't do either one of them any good at the moment.

They were both loving and passionate about one another so at times they had to create some distance to get over their arguments.

So... she would obey her wishes for now, but she couldn't promise how long that would last.

Meanwhile in the city, Barbara looked around the exits of the waiting room. She had been with her extremely quiet daughter for some time now.

When she found Arizona she was walking the hall of the waiting room waiting for answers.

Arizona hadn't said much to the elder woman. She hugged her mother and listened to her side of the incident other than that not much else had been said.

So Barbara was none the wiser of Arizona's own turmoil when she started scanning the breezeway areas of the hospital.

Needless to say, she was expecting Callie to pop in with some sort of news at any time.

That would be the only explanation of why she wasn't waiting with them.

She knew this was the brunette's former stomping grounds so she figured as soon as she stepped foot into the building she was on a mission. However, Arizona had yet to even mention her since her arrival.

"Where's Callie?" She questioned her alarmingly silent daughter. Both had been lost in their own thoughts and the elder needed to break the stillness. "I figured she'd have an update by now."

"Update?" She broke out of her thoughts to glance to her right confused by her mother's statement.

"Yeah, I assume she's behind the scenes."

"What?" She shook her head. "No,"

"Where is she then?"

She's at home with Charlee," she stated like it was obvious.

"How did you manage that?" The woman questioned her daughter but all she received was a deep sigh and shake of her head.

"She is always glued to you. I find it hard to believe she didn't want to be here."

"I told her to stay home," Arizona flatly replied to her mother as the woman paced around the waiting area while anxiously anticipating any news on her husband.

"Why in the world would you do that?" She questioned the blonde who was bent over with her head in her hands most likely trying to digest the current happenings.

"I just did," she snapped and pulled her phone out of the pocket of her sweatshirt just as it went dark.

She had to break the glare she was receiving from her mom.

The device dimming was odd because she hadn't used it since her phone call with her mother earlier in the night alarming her of her father's condition.

And to be honest, Arizona was a bit in shock when she checked the electronic.

She was surprised that there weren't a dozen missed calls or texts from her brunette.

It was unlike her wife to stay silent for long after arguments especially when Arizona was mad, much less in a crisis. But, then again, Callie was upset as well and that thought caused a pain to escape from her throat.

She, in reality, didn't expect to see anything from her but she kinda hoped she had something reassuring at the moment to hold onto as it felt like a part of her world was slowly caving in.

"Zona," she said demanding an answer when Arizona fumbled her phone back in her pocket breaking her out of her thoughts once more. "You need your wife right now," her tone softening when she sat beside her daughter.

"Don't," she sighed sitting back in the chair beside the woman as everything began to catch up with her. "I'm tired mom, I'm so, so tired," she finished leaning her head back against the wall behind her as her hands still toyed with the phone in the pocket of her hoodie.

She was exhausted. She was internally worrying herself ragged over Callie's pregnancy and it was catching up with her with the news of her father.

They had tried so hard to conceive so she couldn't help but be super protective over her lover.

Arizona's first pregnancy didn't go as they had hoped and it caused them such heartache and she couldn't help but worry that it could happen with Callie's first as well.

It was silly but that is how she felt.

It would destroy Callie and possibly them in the process.

She didn't voice her concern to the brunette though. She only kept it in the back of her mind.

"What's bothering you sweetie?"

"Mom," she breathed. "I-I'm just... tired. I'm tired of worrying. I'm tired of being the rock for everyone and when I need someone," she shrugged her shoulders. "I have no one here," she looked around. "When is someone going to be here for me?" She questioned more to herself than her mother. "All I want is for someone to take care of me right now." Sure Callie could be here but when she needed her the most she went and opened her beautiful mouth and hurt her with her words. "I'm tired of having to be the one holding every one together. I need time to break, too, mom," Arizona unloaded on her mother then slumped over while releasing a deep breath as she pressed her thumb and index fingers against the bridge of her nose.

She was trying to be everyone's rock as of late.

She had been steadfast since she and Callie tried expanding their family.

During that trying time in their life she had held strong for her wife.

Of course, she had weak moments but she tried to keep those at bay the best she could while putting on a strong face for Callie.

Someone had to keep the faith during that year and she couldn't ask her wife to do that.

She felt it was her burden to bear and she gladly did so and she'd do it all over again in a second to get where they are today... maybe minus their fight.

But with all of that it took a toll on her and she felt herself cracking because she needed someone to bear this for her right now.

Teddy had still been dealing with the whole Henry/hotel fallout.

Charlee needed tending to every moment of every day and then there was Callie.

She loved her best friend like a sister.

Her daughter had brought a tremendous joy to her life that she never knew existed and that love was about to expand in a matter of months.

Then there was Callie.

The center point of her existence.

Her light.

Her life.

She had been there for all of them without a single qualm, and she would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

She just wished she had that from Callie in return.

That hurt Arizona's heart.

Yeah, she knew she lashed out in anger from the shock of her situation. She even felt badly but at the same time she was still flabbergasted that Erica's name would come out of Callie's mouth so freely.

If it weren't for that she would be seeking comfort in her wife's arms right now.

Arizona knew if things were different she would practically be using Callie's hand or arm as a lifeline to cling to right about now and quite frankly it upset her that she wasn't.

However, it was mainly her fault.

She knew she over reacted over the mention of Erica but with everything going on at the moment she just lost herself.

"You know Callie would be here in a second if you hadn't told her to stay," she placed a gentle hand on her back. "So why would you?"

"Someone had to stay home with Charlee."

"Arizona," her tone was cold. Barbara always had a way of knowing when her daughter was bullshitting her. "You told me Teddy was going to pick her up."

She knew her mother could see right through that. Her actions were telling her there was a lot more than just someone needing to stay with the baby.

"We are fighting, okay," she finally admitted albeit weakly while she waited for some sympathy from her mother but that never seemed to come. "Before I left we had an argument."

"So," she stated bluntly. That didn't matter. "Being mad should never stop anyone, especially either of you from being there for the other and you know that. You need her right now, Arizona."

"She said something that hurt, mom. I-I just need some space to cool down."

"Space is the last thing you need right now."

"Mom,"

"She is probably pacing around that house right now waiting to hear from you."

Arizona didn't need this right now.

"She best not be," she whispered as she began worrying about Callie stressing over anything, especially them. "She better be in bed resting."

Callie adding stress to her body was the last thing she needed on her plate right now yet she stormed out anyway.

She felt like an idiot.

All she did was put stress on herself and Callie and a wedge between them at the moment.

"Arizona," Barbara studied her daughter several moments before voicing herself again. "She is pregnant, isn't she," she said frankly.

"Why would you think that?" She quickly snapped her head up and glared at her mother in confusion.

There was no way anyone would know that right now.

"You are being so protective over her right now even though you are clearly upset with her," she stated watching Arizona's face turn from stern to more of a softer side for a split second. "And," she admitted, "I saw her turn her nose up at some of her favorite foods at dinner yesterday and you were coddling her the same way she did you when you were pregnant," she shrugged as if it were obvious.

"You really think so?"

She knew Callie made sure her every need was met while with child and she really wanted to do the same for the brunette.

Callie never once acted like it was a hassle which caused her to feel remorse after confessing to her mother she was exhausted.

"I know you two better than you think," she broke her out of her thoughts.

"I would have thought you'd be more excited," Arizona stated with a raise of her brow.

"I was afraid to get too excited. I was worried I was thinking too much into it, but I guess I'm not." She genuinely smiled at her daughter.

She had watched her daughter and her daughter-in-law struggle for nearly two years and then one day out of the blue their demeanor changed.

"You aren't," she breathed. "I'm gonna be a mom again, mama," Arizona sent her mother the breathtaking smile. One that always seemed to blow Callie away. "Calliope is pregnant and you are about to become a new grandma," she said proudly.

"Oh, Arizona," the woman quickly stood at her daughter's confession. "I'm so so happy for you, baby," she finished when the woman before her stood and accepted her embrace.

"Thank you, mama, I am beyond happy."

"Your father, oh, he is gonna be so excited, too."

"I sure hope so," she mumbled into her moms shoulder as she inhaled the comforting scent.

"How far along is she?" Barbara finally pulled back from the hug.

"She's about 7 to 8 weeks along. We haven't had our first ultrasound yet. We are waiting on Addie to get back from LA."

"And how is she handling it?"

"Morning sickness has been rough on her, to say the least, but she is a champ, mom, she really is," she gave her a half genuine smile when she thought of her woman.

She was so proud of how Callie was handling her morning sickness. It was much worse than anything she had experienced and her wife rarely complained about it.

"And you left her?" The woman smacked her daughter's arm. "Arizona Michelle,"

"Don't make me feel bad, mama," she already felt adrift from her wife since their fight. She didn't need someone adding to that.

"You should feel bad. That poor girl is probably beside herself because she isn't here with you. She needs you as much as you need her right now."

"Mama, it's not that I don't want to be there because I do, I always, always want to be there for Calliope. She needs me, and I'm there...I just... I can't be the person she needs right now. I need someone. I want that someone to be Callie, but she goes and opens her gorgeous mouth and she just..." she took a deep breath getting upset all over again. "I've been there," she paused collecting her emotions that were about to spill forth again, "right beside her through two years of trying to get her pregnant. I was there day in and day out.

"I smiled and I reassured her during times that I wasn't sure myself, but I did it anyway because I'm her wife and that's what she needed me to do. I did it without hesitation. I have no regrets, but the one time I need her," she paused to sniff back a few tears that were threatening to bubble to the surface. Her feelings were all over the place right now. She wasn't sure which circumstance was causing her to cry. Probably a mixture of both if she were being honest. "I needed her and she... she's not here, mom," she choked before dropping her head when the tears threatened to spill again. "She's not here."

"Oh, sweetie," Barbara tried to comfort her the best she knew how.

Callie was the only person Arizona wanted to cry on but she was still so aggravated with her.

Yes, Arizona's knew it was petty.

They had both suffered at the hands of Erica, but the woman's name seemed to always trigger some severe anxiety deep within her and it always caused her to lashed out.

Callie of all people knew what that woman put her thought and them as a couple through. So she needed room to be mad.

And yeah... she also knew any other time she wouldn't have been so demanding of Callie not following her, but with the stake of her father weighing heavy on her at the time she just exploded on the one person who cared the most.

"Are you sure about that?" Barbara asked after Arizona started to calm down.

"Yes," she looked around to a room void of the brunette. "I couldn't be more sure," she scoffed.

"Arizona,"

Taking a deep breath, Arizona closed her eyes quickly replaying Callie's pleading words in her head.

"Possibly," she admitted, "but," she sighed with a shake of her head. She realized the place Callie was coming from, but it still upset her that she even thought about that maniac. "She has a terrible way of showing it," the blonde quickly sat back up in her chair and tried with all her might to compose herself.

"Honey, I don't know what happened, but your emotions were raw because of your father."

"I know," she quickly wiped a tear away from the corner of her shiny azure eye. "I know."

The light shinning through the opening door glistened in his eyes causing him to squint a second before adjusting to see the coming intruders into his room.

"There's my girls," he managed to rasp out when two women walked into his cold hospital room.

"Daddy," Arizona sighed in relief before plopping all of her belongings in the floor with a thud when her eyes landed on her father. "Oh, daddy," she breathed again quickly coming to rest by his bedside. "I'm so glad you're okay," she leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"I'm tired, but I think I'll make it," he promised as Barbara leaned down for a kiss of her own.

His grumble was low but it put relief on Arizona's shoulders once she heard the man.

"You'll be good as new soon,"

"Where's the other girls? Where is my Charlee girl," he said with slight disappointment when he didn't see the toddler in tow with her mama.

"She at home. I didn't wanna wake her," she replied smoothing the blanket out that laid across her father's abdomen.

"Callie?"

"She stayed behind with Charlee," she answered bring a chair closer to her father's bed.

He knew his daughter well enough as well to read that there was more to that statement.

"I'm going to go grab me a quick cup of coffee," Barbara announced wanting to give Arizona a private minute with her father. "I'll be right back," she squeezed the hand that had sought hers out the moment she came to his side.

"Hurry back, sweetheart," he replied after the woman laid a kiss on his hand.

"How are you really feeling, daddy?" She questioned taking her father's hand in hers.

"I'm okay, bug," he gave her a soft smile. "How are you?" He wondered seeing exhaustion written all over her face.

"I'm doing better now that I get to see you," she replied cradling her father's hand between hers. "You really had me beside myself there for a little while."

"I'm sorry I scared you."

"No, daddy, don't be sorry," she kissed the man's hand. "I'm just glad you are doing better."

"Let's hope I continue getting better."

"We will get you better dad, "she insisted. "This is the best hospital in the country. We will make sure you're as good as new in no time."

"Thanks, honey," he whispered closing his eyes and lying his head back against the pillow until he heard a faint sniffle.

"Bug," he raised his head when he saw tears welling up in his daughter's bright blue eyes. "Honey, I'm going to be as good as new soon."

"No, I know, daddy, I know you will. You're a Robbins man. Nothing will hold you down," she tried to cover her solemn look she knew she couldn't hide.

"Then what's wrong?" He prodded her knowing something more was going on with her.

"Nothing daddy, just the adrenaline wearing off I guess," she tried to convince him but she was failing miserably.

"Tell me, sweetie. What's going on? Is it Charlee?" He questioned getting a shake of her head in return. "Then what," he waited for a response but it never came. "Is it the wife?"

All Arizona could do what's scoff when he said that. He would always refer to Barbara as the wife around his friends and it tickled Arizona.

"Yeah, it's the wife," she confirmed giving him a sad smile.

"So, do we need one of our infamous talks?"

"I could really go for one right now," she took a long drawn out breath before slowly releasing. "So you gotta get better, okay." She nodded knowing now wasn't the time to get into this with her father. He just needed to focus on getting better. "And," she paused hoping this would get him motivated. "You gotta get healthy so you can be around to meet your first grandson."

"Grandson,"

"Yeah," she nodded with a smile when she saw her dad's eyes light up. "I'm gonna be a mom again, daddy, and I just know it'll be a boy," she insisted. "So you gotta get better,"

"Another Robbins man," he agreed. "Just what this family needs."

"Exactly what this family needs," she agreed.

Will they talk soon? Will they stay at odds for a while? Who will eventually crack first? What do you think happens next?

Let me know your thoughts.

I'm working on the next chapter and it will be posted WAY sooner than last time!