A/N: Sorry for the slight delay in uploading. I got caught up reading fanfiction! I hope this chapter will make up for that ;-)

So, I only just realized that the dividers I have been using in my chapter don't stick when I upload them. So if there was any confusion about weird time skips in the story, I apologize. I think I have found a new way of using dividers, hope that works better!

Thanks to babyjamo for being critical and helping me improve the story!

Chapter XXXII

"Come on, Sofia, mommy is waiting for us," Callie said while she watched her groaning daughter drag her feet. The little girl was exhausted after their week in Miami and the three-hour flight they had just been on. She had been sleeping on the plane and now they had landed, she had a hard time waking up.

"I bet mommy can't wait to see you," she tried, holding her hand out for Sofia. The young Torres sighed dramatically and took her mother's hand. Callie could not help but chuckle, the theatrics her daughter used, were the exact copy of how she had been as a child.

Callie sat down on a bench near the luggage belt, waiting for their suitcase. Sofia settled in next to her and leaned against her mother while closing her eyes. For a moment, Callie just looked at Sofia, her heart feeling like it was going to explode with the amount of love she felt for her daughter. Mark would have been so proud of her. He would flash that cocky grin of his at seeing Sofia's antics and he would be so, so proud. Her lips curled into a sad smile as the memories of Sofia's father played in her head like the trailer to a good movie. She still missed that man, every day. She ran her hand through Sofia's hair and spoke softly. "Wake up, baby. You can go to sleep when we get home, I promise."

The little girl groaned again and slowly sat up, rubbing her tired eyes. "Okaaaay."

This time it was Arizona who was waiting in the arrivals hall. The blonde had been more than happy to offer her taxi services without Callie even having to ask. She was not even going to ask, but when Arizona brought it up, she had taken the offer. Sofia seemed to have forgotten about her fatigue once she saw her other mother. Callie smiled as she watched her daughter run into Arizona's arms. Seeing the scene in front of her stirred up some feelings she was trying to keep subdued. It really felt like coming home.

"I've missed you," Arizona said while hugging Sofia. In the middle of her sentence, her blue eyes looked up and locked with Callie's. The look in Arizona's eyes gave the words a different meaning, making a slight blush creep up Callie's cheeks. Had Arizona missed her? They had only been gone for a week.

Things had been good and light between them lately and even though Callie was adamant about trying to keep things friendly and just the way they were now, she frequently caught herself smiling about all things Arizona. And that was not good. Well, good in one way, but not good in another. She did not want to make things complicated, now they had finally found a good way to deal with each other. They had not fought since Arizona had arrived in New York. They had not fought in a long time. It was refreshing. It was nice. And it had Callie slightly scared for what it might do to the way she felt about her ex-wife.

Although, if she really thought about it, she knew that even though she tried to stop how she was feeling, it was already happening.

"How was Miami," Arizona said when Callie reached her and Sofia.

"Hot and lovely as always," Callie responded with a smile. "Our daughter has been spoiled rotten and I think we need to put her on water and bread the rest of the holiday. Or else she might expect us to treat her the same." While she spoke, she eyed Sofia and when her eyes landed back on Arizona's, she winked at the blonde.

"Hey! Mama! Not fair," Sofia protested.

Arizona giggled, a sound that was music to Callie's ears. "Let's get out of here, it's getting late and someone should be in bed already."

"Abuelo says hi, mommy," Sofia said while Callie followed the two of them to Arizona's car. "I told him about our new place and that we are all together now. He says he will come to see us soon."

"That sounds great, honey." Arizona was listening intently to Sofia's stories about Miami and Callie watched their interaction in silence.

The past two weeks off, Callie had spent all her time with Sofia, some of it together with Arizona. And it had been pure bliss. As much as she loved her job, loved being able to help people, the past two weeks off had made her feel like a human being again. She only realized how much she needed this break now it was almost over.

As usual, Sofia was talking their ears off in the car. The little girl seemed to want to tell Arizona about every single detail of their weeklong trip to Miami. Callie knew it was one of those flare-ups before fatigue would completely take over and Sofia would crash, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. It was amazing to see how well her daughter adjusted to her new life in New York. She was obviously happy and that made Callie happy.

And she had also noticed that it made Arizona happy too. Her ex-wife always looked good, but right now she looked radiant. Maybe it was because she had not seen her in a week or maybe New York was being very good on the blonde. Even though she did not want to admit it to herself, Arizona had flooded her thoughts more than once in her week away.

When they reached Callie's apartment, both Arizona and her hesitated. Callie could feel the awkward tension rise. Did Arizona feel it too? She was not ready for this to end, but she also did not think it would be a good idea to ask Arizona if she and Sofia would come with her for a drink or something.

Arizona turned to Callie and flashed her a sweet smile. Callie's eyes met the blonde's and she was not sure what she read in there. Was it wishful thinking or did Arizona not want this moment to end either? "Thanks," Callie said with a smile, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks as she fiddled with her purse.

"No problem, Callie."

Callie turned towards the backseat and smiled at her daughter. "I had a great time, Sofia. Sleep well for later and be good, okay?"

"Mama, I need a hug."

She turned to Arizona and shrugged. The blonde nodded and patiently waited while Callie got out and walked around the car to give Sofia a hug. She pressed a loud kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "I love you, baby. I'll see you soon."

"Me too, mama."

She could not help herself and gently put her hand on Arizona's shoulder before she reluctantly backed out of the car and closed the door. She walked over to the trunk and took out her suitcase. She closed the trunk and patted it to let Arizona know she was done. When the blonde drove off, Callie stood there and waved. Only now, she released the breath she did not realize she was holding. What had gotten into her? She had only touched Arizona's shoulder, through her jacket, but her hand was still tingling. Shit.

####

Before she properly realized she had a holiday, it was over again, and Callie found herself roaming the halls of the hospital. It was good to be back, she felt refreshed and happy. Eager to continue her research and see how her patients were doing. It had been a long and busy day before she could even make time to go to the lab and meet Emma, who had been keeping an eye on her work while she was away.

"Hey," Emma said while Callie walked into her research lab. "Wow," she added once she got a good look at Callie, "you look like you had a good holiday."

She flashed Emma a beaming smile and nodded. "Yes, I did. I feel so rested, ready to take on the world." She walked over to the desk and sat down in the chair next to Emma's. "How are things here?"

"Great!" Emma replied excitedly. She flashed Callie a beaming smile and slid a big manila envelope towards her.

Callie's eyes caught Emma's in a questioning look, her eyebrow slightly rising.

"Go ahead, it won't open itself," the blonde said, her tone of voice excited.

The raven-haired woman unconsciously bit her lower lip while she picked up the envelope and opened it. The cover letter was from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, announcing that the patent the hospital had applied for in her name had been granted. Her lips curled into a smile as her eyes skimmed over the letter.

The other document in the envelope was the actual Letters Patent. A red and cream colored booklet with a ribbon and seal printed on the front. This was hers. Her research idea, which she had come up with while working on a better solution for Arizona, had solidified into an actual patent.

She ran her hand over the cover, feeling the slight carvings in the paper. After flashing Emma another quick look, she opened the cover and looked at the first page. It was there, behind the colon after 'applicant', Calliope I. Torres. Followed by Emma G. Caplan and Benjamin T. Liebermann.

It was not the first patent she had gotten her name on, but this one just felt extra special. It was the crown on top of her hard work, but also felt like a crown on top of her personal development. She was no longer the same person that started this project. No longer the same person from when she had only just arrived in New York.

"Emma G. Caplan?" Callie said, her eyebrow raised. "What does the G stand for?"

The blonde next to her let out a throaty laugh as she threw her head back. "Wait a minute, you have been handed your patent and all you wonder about is my middle name?"

She did not respond, just continued staring at Emma expectantly.

"I'm not telling you."

Callie chuckled. "I'll find out one way or another." In a swift move, she put down the patent document and wrapped her arms around Emma in a hug. "Thank you, I couldn't have done this without your help."

"Just doing my job, Callie. It's an honor to work with you."

"You are such a brownnosing little weasel," Callie replied with a chuckle while she pulled back. She knew Emma meant her words, but the blonde gave herself too little credit. And she probably thought showering Callie with praise would make her forget about the quest for the middle name. She would find out one way or another.

"Does it get me drinks?" Emma replied, wiggling her eyebrows.

"I can't tonight, how about tomorrow?" Callie did not really have plans for tonight, but she wanted to call Arizona and tell her about the patent. Maybe they could celebrate.

"Sure thing. We should invite Liebermann as well, his name is on here too." Emma said. She opened her mouth to say something else but was interrupted by her pager. "Shit, my shift was just ending. Gotta go." She flashed Callie an apologetic look and made her way to the door. "You did it, Torres," she said before leaving.

Callie's lips curled into another beaming smile while she shook her head. She grabbed her phone out of her lab coat and dialed Arizona's number. While the phone was ringing, she suddenly felt really insecure. Was it weird that all she wanted to do was call her ex-wife? For the past while, she mainly had to contact Arizona because of Sofia or the new apartment. Now she was calling for a personal reason. Yes, they were becoming friends, at least, that was how Callie felt it. Would she be overstepping to ask Arizona to go celebrate this professional win? Probably not, but what if it was too much?

And then there was the reason why she had started this research. And how it was part of why her marriage to Arizona tanked as hard as it did. She realized now that putting her everything into trying to fix Arizona was not the best way to go. That maybe it had made Arizona feel like she was not enough or something like that. Which was far, far from the truth. Callie knew for sure that Arizona had been more than enough and she doubted she would ever find love that profound again.

The familiar voice on the other side of the line stopped Callie's reverie and brought her back into the moment. "Hey Callie."

There had been times in her life that she could not hear that voice anymore. That any word coming from Arizona's mouth was like a knife being jabbed in her heart. Or her back. But right now, at this moment, it was calming her down. Arizona sounded happy and, well, like herself, like her perky, happy self. And it made Callie instantly feel better.

"Hey Arizona, am I interrupting anything?"

"No, not at all. I actually just dropped Sofia off at her friend's house for her sleepover."

Callie had almost forgotten about that. Almost the second Sofia had landed in New York, her old friend Kayla had jumped in. After one playdate it was almost like Sofia had never left.

"Oh, yes, I remember now." Callie felt a little silly, almost as if she was asking a girl out on a date for the first time or something. Which was ridiculous. This was Arizona she was talking to. And they were just friends. Why was she feeling this way? "I ah…do you have plans?"

"I actually planned a date with a nice bottle of wine at home," Arizona replied. Callie could almost hear her smiling into the phone and in her head, she pictures the dimples that came with Arizona's genuine smiles. "But if your plans are better, I might be persuaded to stand up the wine."

She chuckled, feeling less stupid as the conversation went on. "I actually have something to celebrate and I was wondering if you wanted to celebrate with me?"

"Oooh, what are we celebrating?"

Callie smiled into the phone. "I…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Arizona interrupted her. "You know what, I want to be surprised," the blonde said enthusiastically. "I haven't been out in forever and I'm actually pretty close to the hospital. You are still at work, right?"

Well, Callie had hoped Arizona would say yes. But she had not expected her to be this enthusiastic about it. It made her feel almost giddy in a weird way. "Yes, I am. I'm about to clock out. How about we meet at the bar next door? I'll send you the address."

"Perfect!" Arizona replied. "I'll be there in half an hour."