A/N -
Happy Sunday everyone, time for an update. Bit of a light chapter with finally a little (I mean a little!) Calzona fluff. We are getting there though, not long to go now before our girls will face their feelings for each other.
Bit of a cliff hanger at the end, lets see if you can guess who the unwanted guest is... could it be Earl back? youll have to wait for the next chapter to find out ;)
Thank you for all of the reviews so far, I love reading them. Someone commented that this is a bit too much of a slow burn and although I agree, it is a long winded story and I wanted to be true to the start of the story. Callie wouldnt jump straight into another relationship after what she endured at the hands of Earl and Arizona wouldnt go there when her friend was still healing. Please trust me though, this is DEFINITELY Calzona endgame and I have already written up to the baby being born and the girls getting together so there isnt much longer for you all to wait till we get some Calzona time.
AL xxx
-oOo-
It was a week and a half later and a big day in the Torres household. The garden had been preened carefully by landscapers and had been set up beautifully by an event planner. Pink and Blue were everywhere, in buntings, banners, balloons and a cake to name just a few. Lucia had been in charge of everything except the cake which Arizona had taken charge of because other than Callie, she was the only one who knew the sex of the baby.
Callie strolled down the stairs and poured herself her morning cup of coffee before walking into the garden and smiling softly at the sight that met her. It was perfect, it was beyond perfect and she couldn't wait to share that she was having a little girl with her family and friends.
She had invited a few of the people from med school that she had become close with over the last month and a half, as well as some of the doctors from the hospital who she had become quite close to as well as the usual suspects. Her sister had claimed that she couldn't attend due to being stuck at school but considering the state of their relationship at the moment that was to be expected.
It was now eight in the morning and the guests weren't expected to arrive until eleven so she had a few hours up her sleeve to play with. She made her way back inside and grabbed her laptop, intent on making a start on the new assignment they had been set, this one a month long assignment, the first of its kind and it was on a much harder topic but she was confident that she knew enough to get it done. She would still get the blonde to proof read it before submitting it but so far she had been gaining top scores on all assignments and couldn't be prouder of herself academically.
She perched in her chair and set herself up and began typing down notes and where she wanted the assignment to go when a flash of blonde hair caught her attention from the corner of her eye.
"Morning Neighbour" Callie called catching the blonde's attention as she popped her head over the fence line.
"Well good morning to you too" Arizona grinned before opening the gate and appearing in her pyjama's.
"Good sleep in?" Callie asked in an amused voice.
"The best, it's so nice to know I don't have to work today. I can actually have a proper drink and not worry about being on call" Arizona grinned.
"You'll have to have a drink for me... I miss drinking" Callie admitted with a wistful smile.
"Not long to go now and you'll be having a drink to wet the baby's head" Arizona wriggled her eyebrows playfully which caused the Latina to laugh.
"You're in a good mood" Arizona commented as she grabbed the brunettes coffee and took a swig, grimacing as usual.
"One day you will learn to bring your own coffee" Callie scoffed.
"Why would I do that when you have coffee here" Arizona pouted.
"Weirdo" Callie laughed.
"Freak" The blonde retorted making Callie laugh harder, something that set the butterflies in her stomach free. It was such a carefree and simple laugh and it brought a broad smile to the blondes face.
"So, are we excited for today?" Arizona asked with a smile playing on her lips. What Callie didn't know is that the blonde had set up a gift page with all the things she knew the Latina wanted for the baby which included lots of neutral colours like pale grey. Many of the doctors at the hospital had chipped in for items too at Arizona's surprise. They all remembered Callie from her time in hospital and from the many visits she still made, socially and for medical reasons and thought the world of her. The chief had even purchased a car seat for the brunette much to Arizona's amazement.
"Yeah, I am actually. It feels like something really good, and I haven't had a lot of good for a while" Callie admitted.
"Well today I want you to just sit back and relax and enjoy. Lucia and I have everything covered. The caterers will be here to set up at twelve and everyone knows what time they are expected to be here so you have nothing to worry about" Arizona smiled softly.
"Thank you for doing this, I'm sure if Mami had been left to her own devices this would have been a massive affair with dozens of people I don't even remember" Callie laughed lightly.
"Probably, that does sound like your mum" Arizona smirked.
"I appreciate this you know, it feels like it's been a long time since I had something nice done for me" Callie admitted with a bitter smile.
"It's the least you deserve Cal, I can't wait till everybody is here and the party gets going" Arizona chirped happily. "I'm just so happy that you are here with us to celebrate this with"
"Me too, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else" Callie admitted honestly.
-oOo-
It was finally eleven o'clock and Callie arrived in the garden wearing a long maxi dress which showcased her baby bump beautifully, even if it was just starting to show. Arizona was putting some finishing touches to gift table with her back to the brunette, so Callie crept behind her with a smile.
"Whatcha doing?" Callie whispered in the blonde's ear making Arizona jump a mile.
"Jesus Calliope, you nearly gave me a heart attack" Arizona moved her hands to her chest dramatically before spinning around and taking in the sight before her. Callie had her hair down and it was cascading in loose ringlets that framed her face beautifully, she was wearing a dress that accented her breasts and baby bump and she was glowing and Arizona had to swallow the lump in her throat. "You look beautiful Calliope" She finally managed to muster up some words then wanted to kick herself for the dreamy tone in which she had said it.
Having feelings for Callie Torres was nothing new to her, she had battled these feelings her entire life, but seeing the brunette as she was now was taking her breath away. She moved her eyes away from the brunette in a bid to stop herself from drooling and her eyes landed on the neatly packaged parcel on the gift table.
"Before everyone gets here I have a gift for you" Arizona announced.
"I thought gifts were for later?" Callie teased, she of course had noticed the gleam of desire in the cerulean eyes but with the lack of confidence she had since Earl she put it down to something else, no one would look at her with desire, she was damaged goods. Her body was covered in scars that would never fade because they hadn't been treated properly and her self confidence was shot. Sure she had made the effort to look nice for the occasion, but beneath the pretty dress she knew she looked ugly now. She was just thankful that none of the scarring was on her face or arms and that she could get away with wearing a dress like this. A dress with her mother had surprised her with last night as an early gender reveal gift.
"They are" Arizona broke her friend out of her musings. "But this one is for you not for little miss" Arizona whispered the last two words so nobody over heard her and it spoiled the surprise for them.
Callie took the gift and unwrapped it carefully, surprised to find a polaroid camera with stacks and stacks of photo paper, she glanced between the gift and the nervous looking blonde before breaking out in a smile.
"I know you like to keep a journal of everything going on with the baby so I thought this may help. I mean I know you can take photos on your phone and things are different these days to when we were little but I thought you might like a real camera to take photos with so you can put the photos in your journal with the scan photos" Arizona rambled.
"It's perfect. Let's put some paper in and take the first photo of many on it, me and you" Callie smiled warmly at the strange look on her best friend's face.
"You don't want to save it for when the baby is born?" Arizona asked.
"No, I want to start making memories today... come on show me how you do it" And so Arizona did, she taught Callie how to put the photo paper in the bulky camera, how to turn it on and then the two posed for a selfie, smiling into the little lens. When the photo came out and developed in a few moments Callie frowned at it. The pair of them although close were quite far apart and the smiles they held didn't meet their eyes. She begged Arizona to take another one and when the blonde agreed, she wrapped her arm around the blonde's shoulders and whispered into the blonde's ear "Will you be the godmother?"
Arizona beamed instantly, her smile taking over her entire face. Callie hit the button and forced her best smile onto her face. When the photo developed she smiled even wider. That was the photo she wanted, the two of them looking so happy and close. It symbolised their friendship perfectly.
"Torro there you are" Tim yelled as he walked through the garden gate and found the two women beaming at something in their hands. "What's got you two so happy?" He asked as he approached them, placing a carton of beer on the floor before sidling up to them.
"Callie just asked me to be godmother" Arizona grinned.
"Wait what, that's amazing!" Tim beamed back.
"You know this little one is going to need a god father too" Callie smiled at Tim hopefully.
"You mean me?" Tim asked in shock and Callie nodded with a huge smile on her face, of course the Robbins twins would be her first choice. Tim squealed in a girly way before picking Callie up and spinning her around on the spot.
"Put me down you idiot" Callie guffawed as she slapped Tims shoulder. He put her down carefully and turned to his sister and picked her up and spun her around too. Arizona couldn't contain her laughter if she tried.
Callie took a moment to take a picture of the siblings celebrating to add to her journal. When Tim placed Arizona back on the floor the two blondes high fived.
"What's going on out here has the party started without us?" Lucia asked as she walked out the French doors carrying a platter of cupcakes in pink and blue.
"We are going to be god parents" The two Robbins children said at the same time in the same awed voice.
"She finally asked you hey?" Lucia grinned back.
"Wait... Arizona knows the sex and I don't, that's hardly fair. Give me a hint... please" Tim pleaded.
"Nope, no way. You can wait till the reveal like everyone else" Lucia scolded softly. She had begged and pleaded with her daughter numerous times over the last week and a half but her daughter was tight lipped, as was Arizona. It shouldn't really come as a surprise, after all the two had been as thick as thieves since the day they met and always had inside jokes and secrets from everyone, well everyone except Tim.
"Your no fun Lucia" Tim smiled cheekily at the older woman who swatted at his shoulder before pointing to the beer on the floor. "Stick that over by the drinks table please"
"Yes Ma'am" Tim saluted before doing as he was told.
-oOo-
It was now one o'clock and everyone that was going to arrive had arrived. Barbara and Daniel had arrived with Claire shortly after Tim. Mark, Addison, Derek and Bailey all arrived around the same time. Callie's friends from school arrived at around half eleven and looked like they had already started the party before hand, much to Callie's amusement. Several of Callie's aunts, uncles and cousins had turned up for the occasion. Lucia and Carlos of course were there to celebrate.
After everyone was done eating, Arizona stood and asked everyone to grab a drink before they cut the cake to reveal the gender, she was super excited to see everyone's reaction and even more so to not have to keep secrets from anybody anymore. It was hard work and tiring especially when people like Lucia and Tim were unrelenting with their questions.
Once everyone had a drink and Tim had the polaroid at the ready, Callie made her way to the cake stand and grabbed the large knife sitting beside it. Suddenly an image flashed into her mind of the time Earl had held a knife to her throat as he forced her to withdraw from Drews. She felt tears prick in her eyes at the memory but before she could lose herself in it she felt a presence beside her and a warm hand on her back.
"Hey, are you ok?" Arizona asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I am now" Callie smiled, blinked a few times to rid the tears in her eyes and focussed back on the crowd. She could do this, she wasn't going to allow that bastard to ruin the best day she had experienced in so long. She cut the cake into a wedge and lifted it exposing the pink cake inside the blue and pink icing and the crowd around her cheered.
"Oh Mija, a grand daughter. I'm so happy" Lucia cried as she spun around and hugged a shell shocked Carlos.
"I'm having a girl" Callie announced, smiling at Arizona and Addison, silently thanking them for keeping her secret. Both women grinned back at her, Addison throwing her a wink.
-oOo-
"Jesus there is so many presents here... more than people. What's going on?" Callie asked Arizona quietly as they made their way to the gift table to start unwrapping the presents.
"That may be my fault. I set up a gift list with all the things you had told me about and some of the doctors at the hospital went a bit nuts" Arizona admitted nervously.
"They didn't have to do that, you didn't have to do that. Thank you Arizona. You have made today perfect in everyway" Callie smiled tearfully.
"Hey what's with the tears?" Arizona asked worriedly.
"Happy tears I promise" Callie smiled to her friend. Arizona guided Callie to a seat where she began to unwrap gift after gift after gift. There were various items that were practical as well as dozens of gender neutral outfits. Carlos and Lucia came out of the garage with a dark grey push chair in the model that Callie had all but drooled over in the brochure one day. There was a car seat from the chief of surgery, who had been invited but had to work and his wife Adele. Mark had bought an excessive amount of baby grows and diapers as well as a picture frame that had spaces for a picture of the baby for every month it was born up until it was a year old. Tim and Claire had bought a rocking horse with Claire promising to give free riding lessons when the little one was old enough. Addie had bought a beautiful pink dress and a hand crocheted blanket that was in pinks and greys. Daniel and Barbara had gifted two gift hampers, one for the mother to be as was made up of pampering products and useful items that Callie would need over the next few months and one for the baby which was made up of things like baby bath, shampoos, nursing clothes and diapers.
To say Callie was feeling overwhelmed was an understatement. So many people had given her such beautiful gifts that her head was spinning slightly. She had gone years without a single gift for a birthday or Christmas and now she was showered with gifts that it was just a bit too much for her and she had to excuse herself for a few moments. When she came back into the yard everyone was drinking and laughing together and it made her heart smile to see all aspects of her life blending together.
The med school students were mingling with the doctors, probably grilling them about what cool surgeries they had done that week. The doctors were mingling with her family, everyone was smiling and having a good time and it made her feel a tad guilty for not being in there enjoying it with them.
"The party is here" Callie spun on her heel when she heard that voice, she would recognise that voice anywhere and her heart sank. So much for it being a beautiful day.