Chapter 49

Arizona could not remember the last time she was so tired. It had to have been way back in med school, maybe intern year. She felt like a zombie. She wanted to sleep, but her bladder had other ideas for her. She slowly and reluctantly opened her eyes. She had to blink a few times to adjust to the early morning light streaming into her bedroom window. She looked over to Callie's side of the bed and did not see her wife sleeping. Guilt took over Arizona because she did not wake up with her wife to take care of their babies. She wanted to be there. She couldn't be the one to actually supply the milk to feed them, but she could always handle diaper changes and baths and everything else. The call to the bathroom was getting stronger and she could not ignore it any longer. She got out of bed and padded her way over to the bathroom. When she opened the door, she was met with a hilarious sight. Callie had not actually gotten up with the twins, but at some point since the last feeding had gone to the bathroom and actually had fallen asleep on the toilet. She was slumped over with her head propped up on her elbow. She was snoring softly and had a small trickle of drool falling from the corner of her mouth. Arizona struggled not to laugh out loud. It was proving to be very difficult. At least she was not the only one who was struggling with their lack of sleep.

'Calliope.' she said softly nudging the sleeping woman. Callie had the ability to sleep through a hurricane. It seemed like the only things to wake her was her pager or the babies. 'Calliope.' she tried again a little louder. Callie continued to snore. She was out.

Arizona's need to pee was increasing with every passing second. There were other toilets in the house. She had to go. She could wake her wife once she handled her business. She started down the hallway. She thought about using the bathroom that connected the twins' rooms, but decided it was too risky. She didn't want to wake them, so she was going to use the one downstairs. She carefully walked down the steps so that they did not creak. Once she got to the bottom of the steps, the toilet was in sight. She took one step towards the open door and stopped. One of the babies had woken up. She couldn't tell who it was, but was almost confident that it was Levi. He was usually up first. She huffed out and started back up the stairs. Her bladder would remain full.

'Hey there big guy.' she said softly to her son. 'Good morning. Let's get you changed so you can get some yummy breakfast and Mommy can go pee. What do you say?' She lifted the little boy our of his crib and over to the changing table. She grabbed a clean diaper and the wipes and powder. She was getting pretty good at diaper changes. It was a well rehearsed dance by now. She managed to get Levi's diaper changed without him peeing all over her…this time. She wouldn't let that happen again. She cradled her son in her arms and they walked back to the master bedroom to wake Callie.

'Mami' Arizona said when she walked in. To her slight annoyance, Callie had managed to get back into the bed. She walked closer and Levi started making baby grunts. Callie reacted immediately. Her eyes shot open and she sat up and reached for her son.

'You hungry little man?' she asked. She lifted her shirt and Levi latched on immediately. Their son was an eater. Arizona smiled warmly. She loved watching their babies eat. It was always so beautiful, her wife feeding their children. Then she remembered that she still had to use the bathroom. She once again started in the direction of the toilet. She had just gotten to the bowl and about to pull her pants down when Naya decided she wanted to wake up. 'Arizona… could you get her please?' Callie called from the bed. She was never going to use the bathroom.

The twins were eating every couple of hours. Callie tried to pump some milk from time to time so that Arizona could feed one if they were both hungry at the same time. She felt like a milk factory. She spent the majority of her day either pumping or feeding. Her nipples were sore, and she was so tired. She didn't even remember falling asleep on the toilet that morning. The twins were sleeping for the moment and she decided to call her mother. They talked nearly every day since they had returned to Miami. Callie wanted more details about what Lucia and Aria had said to get Carlos to change his mind. He even called her a few times since they had been home from the hospital. It was nice that she was able to reconnect with her family.

The phone rang a few times before Lucia answered. 'Hello?'

'Hola Mami. How are you today?'

'Oh Mija! I'm fine. How are my grandbabies?' Lucia asked.

'They just started doing gymnastics! They're hoping to qualify for the next Olympics.' Callie said.

'Very funny Calliope.'

'They're fine Mami. Eating, sleeping, diaper changes. Living the life. Me and Arizona are fine too. Thanks for asking.' Callie said rolling her eyes.

'I miss them already. I can't wait to come back to visit. Are you sleeping? You always got sarcastic and snippy if you didn't get enough sleep.'

'Not really, Mami. There's so much to do and then we have two more people that we literally have to do everything for just to keep them alive. It is so much. We are not sleeping. I'm so tired.' Callie said. Her voice was shaking. She was starting to cry.

'Mija. What are you crying for? What do you mean there's so much to do?' Lucia asked.

'Laundry, cooking, cleaning. I'm pumping milk all of the time. My boobs hurt Mami. I just want to sleep for more than an hour at a time.' Callie said sobbing into the phone.

'Mija, listen to me. There is always time for laundry. So what your house gets a little dirty? You are both new parents and new parents get a pass. You need to sleep, Mija. You need to take care of yourself too. Do you hear me?'

'Yes, Mami. I hear you. I will get some sleep.'

'Ok, I have to run. I love you Mija. Give those babies a kiss from their Abuela and send Arizona my love. It will be ok Calliope. Try to enjoy this time. They won't be babies forever.' Lucia said before hanging up the phone.

Callie set her phone down. She was trying to keep up with everything. Two babies were a lot of work. She knew that Arizona was feeling just as tired as she was. She couldn't ask anymore of her wife. She handled most of the diaper changes and burping. They were a great team. They just needed some good sleep.

That afternoon, Callie and Arizona were cuddled on the couch watching their babies rock back and forth in their swings. 'Oh my goodness, Calliope. I am so tired. I can't believe how little sleep we are actually getting with these two.'

'I know. I kind of broke down earlier to my mom. She told me to take better care of myself and get more sleep.' Callie said.

'I kind of did the same thing today when my mom called. I feel so guilty sleeping when I know that you are pumping milk or I know that there is something around the house that I could be doing instead. Life still happens. We still need to cook and clean. We still have errands to run. It's all so exhausting.' Arizona said lightly stroking Callie's arm.

'It's going to get better, right? I mean, they'll start sleeping more and we will get more sleep. It's got to get easier than this.'

'It will Calliope. We just have to find what works for us.'

'Yeah. I'm going to fall asleep right here if you keep doing that on my arm. It feels really nice.'

'Get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up. I love you Calliope.' Arizona said pressing a kiss to Callie's temple.

'I love you too.' Callie said drifting off to sleep.

They both ended up falling asleep on the couch. That is, until both Naya and Levi woke up crying for food. Callie removed her shirt and started feeding both babies at the same time. Naya had finished eating pretty quickly and Arizona took her upstairs to change her diaper. There was a knock at the front door. Callie got up to answer it forgetting that she was topless.

She opened the door to see Amber standing there. 'Amber, hey. Come in.'

'Well, hello to you too Cal. Do you always answer the door topless, or is that new?' Callie looked down. Levi was still latched onto her, but sure enough, she was tits out topless.

'Oh shit!' She quickly walked back into the living room and grabbed one of the baby blankets and covered herself up. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she turned back to other woman. 'Sorry about that. I am so tired. I don't know what way is up anymore.'

Amber couldn't help herself, but to chuckle. 'It's fine Callie. That's why I am here. Your mom called me and told me that you were both struggling to sleep. So here I am. Lexie is home with Frick and Frack so I am here to take care of Naya and Levi while you and Arizona take a much needed nap.'

Arizona was coming down the stairs at that time. 'You want to babysit?'

'As many times as you both helped me out, it's the least I can do. So once he is done eating, I want you both to go upstairs and sleep. We will be fine as long as there is some milk in the fridge for later.' Amber said.

'I pumped today so yeah, there's milk. Are you sure that you can handle them both by yourself?' Callie asked her friend.

'I got this. Don't worry about a thing. Go get some sleep.'

'I'm not going to turn down a nap right now. I am exhausted.' Arizona said.

'So its settled.'

Arizona and Callie hurried upstairs and settled into their bed. They pulled the blanket up to their chins and nearly melted into their pillows. 'I feel weird sleeping. Like that guilty feeling again.' Arizona said.

'Shhh, we have to get over that. Let's sleep.' Callie pulled Arizona close to her and kissed the back of her neck. They were asleep in seconds wrapped up together in the bed.

When they got up, it was dark outside. Callie looked at the clock. 10pm. 'Arizona. We slept for almost five hours!'

They shot out of the bed and quickly but quietly started down the stairs. Amber had Levi in her arms and was rocking Naya in her bouncer with her foot.

'...and then your Mami came out of the apartment and she looked all sorts of nervous. She was babysitting your cousin, Maci, and I thought something happened to her. But Mami just wanted to ask your Mommy to marry her. I needed to distract Mommy with a story. Mommy obviously said yes, and now, here we are. Some things have changed, but your mommies still love each other so much. You two are very lucky to have them. I am too. They mean the world to me.'

Callie and Arizona reached the bottom step which always creaked, no matter where they stepped on it. Amber turned and saw her friends with tears in their eyes.

'Hey guys. How did you sleep? We had a good time. Didn't we guys? We watched some tv and we had some milk. Then we had a diaper change and just had some storytime.'

'We heard. We slept really well. We really needed it. Thank you for staying with them.' Callie said.

Amber stood and handed Levi over. 'That's what I'm here for. Take care of yourselves and don't be afraid to ask for some help. We are just down the street. I have to go now. Make sure my house is still standing in one piece. Maci and Lexie are bad influences on each other. There's no telling what they have gotten into.'

Callie engulfed her friend in a hug mindful of her son in her arms. 'Thank you.' She pulled back and Arizona wrapped her arms around the other woman. 'We love you.'

'I love you both too. See you later.'

When she closed the door, Callie and Arizona looked to one another. 'I feel good. I also feel a little jealous that she handled both of them by herself.' Arizona said.

'I know. I have to ask her what her secret was.'

Just a funny little chapter. The struggles of having newborns. I'm glad those days are over. Thanks for reading.