A/N: Holy moly, I initially thought that I'll be wrapping up this story in like 26 chapters because I really don't like reading stories who have a lot of chapters but wow, we are 30 and I'm like literally 6-7ish chapters before I finish. But then as an author I'm really clingy to all of my works and like keeping them going, so… but yup, I have a rough outline prepared so don't worry, won't leave you all hanging.

Heads up, if I thought my schedule was hectic before, boy was I wrong. I like to keep a five-chapter buffer, like I like having 5 chapters written before I publish them, but now I think it's more like a two-chapter buffer.

God! I'm really trying to be regular because I hate waiting for chapter updates too. But hey! I'm trying my best here.

Also, for all you binge readers out there! You have no idea about the torture people who have been following this story from late October have been going through.

Again, all opinions are welcomed, even the ones that don't make much sense and if you have any idea that would integrate well with this story hit me up.

I have another idea for a Calzona story, something along the post-divorce time but pre-Penny with Derek still alive era, so let me know how you like that idea.

Also checkout the Mafia story that's out now, it's called 'Guns and Scalpels' let me know how that one works for you.


Chapter 30: Callie

Present Day

Sofia said that she would try.

She. Would. Try. That's great, right? But then why does this feeling not pass?

I know she has picked up most of Arizona's traits than mine, but I also know that this girl can hold a grudge. I don't mind her being mad at me for staying away from her for as long as I did. I just don't want to be angry because I had another child.

I know it feels like I kind of gave Finn priority over her and let's be honest I kind of did. But I was in a bad place at the time. Seattle felt toxic to me, I had to leave. I couldn't… shake off this feeling of… well Seattle Grace Mercy Death. Everything bad happened here, sure I grew up in the hospital under great mentors like Dr. Webber and Dr. Chang, okay maybe not Dr. Chang, the chief of Ortho couldn't tell the difference between an elbow and a knee, well he could, but you know what I mean.

I fell in love here, I got married here. But… I… the shooting happened here, the car accident, Mark died, Arizona almost died, I got cheated on… that too twice! Here, in Seattle.

I just had to extricate myself to look after myself, I just… I wish Sofia didn't have to pay the price.

Things will get better, they have to, right?

Yuck, I sound so perky, it's off putting.

I followed Sofia down the stairs and into the kitchen as I watched Finn and Arizona working in the kitchen and setting up the table.

He loved helping me around the house whenever he could and I loved giving him tasks that would make him feel like he actually helped. Even though it was nothing major, he still liked doing it.

I saw Arizona handing him cutlery as he skated past her to place them on the table. I guess rule number two was already abandoned.

Ugh!

"Finn! What did I tell you! Pop those skates back in!" I yelled as I reached the last step.

"It's okay Callie, I don't mind"

"NO! He has to learn that he can't simply skate whenever and wherever he wishes to do so, there are rules!" I yelled.

I saw the smile that was Arizona's face turn into a frown. Great! I have a weeping daughter, a son who's decided to challenge all of my rules and an upset ex. Could this dinner get any better?

I watched Sofia as she made a face at Finn, but quietly went and took a seat on the table without saying a word to him. That counted as trying, right?

Anyway, I quickly made my way around the counter towards the sink and nudged Arizona on her forearm but she didn't look at me and quietly continued tossing the salad.

God, she looked hot. She had this really sexy black dress on paired with a really hot red lip. She had curled her hair which were resting on her shoulders as her bangs lightly framed her face and to top it all off, she was wearing these high heels that made her butt look breathtaking. I literally had to fold my hands so that I didn't reach out and tuck her hair behind her ears or… nope.

I was wearing boring jeans with a semi-decent neckline. I had to bid farewell to most of my dresses after having Finn. Chasing him around in dresses was not fun.

I focused my attention on Arizona, she was definitely mad, no salad in the world would require that level of aggressive tossing.

"Arizona?" I tried getting her attention again but she still didn't look up "Would you please-"

"No Callie, this is not how it's going to work between us. You will not yell at me, especially not in front of the kids" Arizona said as she finally put the salad away and turned to look at me.

"You're right, I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have yelled, but it's just tonight…"

"I understand, I'm a little nervous too. But we have decided that we are going to talk to each and not scream at each other"

I nodded.

We were going to civil this time, we are going to hear what we have to say instead of blurting out the first thing that comes to our mind, well comes to my mind.

I must still have a guilty look on my face because Arizona shakes her head before smiling at me.

"Just… it just makes me happy watching him skate around the house. Even though I know it's going to leave marks on the floor, which I'll happily scrub away. Besides, it's possible that I might have suggested that skating would get him to the table faster"

"Arizona!"

"What's done is done! Besides look, he's popped them back inside, all's good"

I try to give her a scary look but I can't fight off my smile muscles, damn it! Arizona loved skating around the hospital, the only time I saw her without her skates was when there was a 911 page or when we were walking together and even then, she suggested that I should get a pair of my own so we could skate together.

I gently picked up the bowl of salad that she had put aside before taking it to the table. Before I could reach the table, I realized there were no tongs in the bowl, so I turned around suddenly. Arizona immediately looked up to my face as a slight redness took over a face.

Did I just catch her checking out my butt? I think I did. I guess these jeans weren't as boring as I made them out to be.

"Where did you put the tongs?" I asked as I walked back to her.

"Oh… what?"

"Tongs? For the salad?"

"They are right here" as she pointed at the counter before she grabbed them.

I walked closer towards her before I brushed my hand on her waist as they traveled over her arms, her wrist and finally reached her fingers. I laced my hand in hers for a second before I grabbed the tongs that were in her hand and retracted from her completely. I could hear her breathing deeply. I watched her face as she fought back to hold my hand a second longer before I could completely break them, but I was faster.

Her eyes flicked up at my face and lingered on my lips. I would have taken her right here on this table. But I couldn't. I briefly looked at our kids who seemed to be perfectly content on the dining table, or as content they could be. Sofia was still pouting, while Finn was… well Finn was looking around the house. Looks like he's going to be breaking another one of my rules.

But it didn't matter, not anymore. Not when she was looking at me like… she'd take me on the counter too, if she had the choice.

"Arizona… behave" I whispered as I stepped in closer towards her.

"Hmmm?" she replied.

Before Arizona could think of something clever to say I walked away and made my way towards the dining table.

"You forgot the tongs" Arizona called out as she walked up.

"Oh! I didn't really come to the counter for tongs" I whispered as I winked at her.

"Callie?" she said as she placed the tong in the salad bowl "Behave"

I chuckled. I guess I deserved that. Before I could reply, Sofia stood up from her chair and grabbed my hand.

"Okay, so you sit here and then Mommy can sit here and then I'll sit in between you both" Sofia said as she pointed out the chairs for us.

"No, I want to sit next to Mommy" Finn said as he grabbed my other hand.

"NO! I want to sit in between my Mommy and Momma"

"I want to sit next to my Mommy too!"

I looked up at Arizona not really sure how to go about it.

"Sofia" Arizona warned her.

"Mommy, I want to sit next to Momma!"

Arizona looked back at me, I guess the both of us were lost for words.

"How about this?" Finn starts "You can sit here" he says as he points at the head of the table "Arizona and Mommy can sit on either side of you and then I can sit beside Mommy too"

That's actually pretty smart, it was a win-win situation for the both of them, this way Arizona and I can hand out food easily too and you know what happens when you sit on the opposite side of the table…

I meant nervously looking at each other! Jeez! No under the table action, not when our kids are also present at the table.

"That's not my chair dummy!"

"Ella realmente quiere pelear eh" Finn says under his breath.

"Finn!" I yelled at him.

I know Sofia and Arizona didn't understand what Finn said in Spanish, but I did. He said 'she really wants to fight huh' oh lord! I see Finn has abandoned another one of my rules. He had already skated in the house, even though Arizona was fine with it he shouldn't have, and now he was being rude.

Finn and I spoke to each other in Spanish, but that was really something he liked to do with his grandpa. There were times when I used to return from work and be amazed by the number of words he managed to pick up from my father.

Sure, there were some that both my father and I had to get out of his memory. Apparently, Finn was listening on one of my dad's phone calls and asked him what a few words meant. My then three-year-old son had learnt cuss words in Spanish. I was so mad at my father for not being careful around him. But we managed to get rid of those words.

I know Arizona knew nothing beyond a few regular words in Spanish like 'how are you' and of course a couple of numbers that she had picked up from Dora the Explorer and Handy Manny, they were a couple of popular kids cartoon shows a couple of years ago. She also knew a few words that I had taught her, but I knew she definitely didn't understand what he said.

If Arizona didn't know Spanish, it was a safe bet that Sofia didn't know the language either. I remember Mark was trying to learn the language so he could talk to Sofia when she was a few months old. I think I walked in on him tucking her in bed and heard him saying 'te quiero mucho', which means 'I love you so much'.

It almost made me cry, it was a sweet gesture.

"Finn, that's a great idea. Why don't we just move chairs around okay Sofia?" Arizona asks.

"Okay Mommy" Sofia replies before switching out her chair with the one at the head of the table.

I helped her up on her chair, even though I know she doesn't really need help with it, I was glad to do it. Before I pushed her chair in. I turned to Finn and saw that all the chairs were too low for him but then I felt something hitting me.

I looked on the floor and saw a pillow before looking up at Arizona who was smiling at me. When did she go to the hall?

Nevertheless, I leaned down and picked up the pillow that Arizona threw at me and placed it on the chair before picking Finn up and placing him on it. I gestured for Arizona to sit in front of me, even thought that was Finn's idea, this had worked out perfectly.

This is how it should always be.

This is what I want. But what if we can't… What if we fight again? What if we go through something even more painful than what we had already been through.

I don't want to go back to New York, but I think… I think I have to.


A/N: I think I'm almost done with the dinner, but I really want to do another Arizona dinner chapter too. But yeah let me know, what do you guys think about it?