CHAPTER 6 - BLINDED

Amelia was laying onto the couch into the attending's room. Her day had been pretty slow, a few surgeries here and there that had gone smoothly, and Edwards was now assuring their surveillances so she was allowing herself a break.

Her phone between her hands, she kept on scrolling down, more and more disappointed as she carried on. She was apartment hunting. She loved her family dearly, she really did, but it was getting to the point when she felt the need to have her own place. A place where no baby was crying every two hours for its bottle, a place that she could decorate as she wished and where she could watch whatever mindless TV she wanted with a bowl of ice cream. A place she could call home and do the fuck she wanted.

The door opened and Arizona Robbins waltzed in, fresh and glowing, a smile appearing on her features as she saw her colleague.

"Hello Amelia," she greeted warmly and went to the coffee machine.

"Hey you. Long time, no see."

"You saw me literally three days ago and we video-called yesterday," she chuckled and served two coffees. "Scoot," she instructed.

Amelia moved, sitting up on the couch instead of taking all of the space, and the pediatric surgeon sat next to her and handed her a mug of black coffee.

"Thanks," she gladly took a sip as she kept on scrolling on her phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for an apartment. I can't live with my brother and his family forever. Also, the walls are pretty thin and the guest room's conveniently just next to theirs, because of course it is," she replied, her tone annoyed.

"Poor baby," Arizona chuckled. "Did you find anything interesting yet?"

"No. Everything is either way too expensive or too far from the hospital."

"You know, I've been looking for a roommate since Deluca moved out," Arizona said, both eyebrows raised.

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" the neurosurgeon's brows furrowed, her eyes quitting her phone screen to look up at her friend.

"It's just me and Sofia every other week. It can get pretty lonely when she's not here," the blonde shrugged.

"Wouldn't it be weird ? Me moving in with you? You have a kid and all that jazz."

"Sofia has no problem with it. Deluca lived with us for about six months and she absolutely loved him. She was inconsolable when he told her he was moving out. If I have a new roommate, it might as well be someone I like and that she likes too."

"So you like me Robbins?" Amelia asked with a smirk.

"Shut up," Arizona giggled and hit her friend's shoulder lightheartedly. "You won't get the room with this attitude."

Amelia thought about it, genuinely taking the offer into consideration. She had been over Arizona's more time than she could count since she had decided to move to Seattle. Her house was great, no stairs and a bigger garden than Derek's. Sofia was a delight to be around and she could see them hanging out more, playing with her and helping during bath time. And sure, the pediatric surgeon and her hadn't been friends for that long but she had spent enough time over to know what their habits' were and to know that she wouldn't mind living with those two humans on a day to day basis.

Arizona… well she was feeling conflicted about Arizona. She liked her, there wasn't any doubt about that, but she hadn't quite figured out if she liked her as a friend or if her feelings expended beyond friendship. Living with her could become problematic if it turned out to be the latter. She wouldn't have anywhere to run away from her emotions and confessing would just get her kicked out, back to square one where she was today. However, the more she pictured the three of them goofing around after a long day at work, the more it seemed appealing to just say yes.

"Well, I guess being awaken by only one little screaming monkey every other week is better than three little screaming monkeys every day. I'm sold."

"Wait, really?" Arizona seemed surprised by her agreement.

She had expected Amelia to at least take a few days to think it over, even asking for a few test days or something but she obviously wasn't expecting a flat out yes right out of the gate.

"Yeah," the neurosurgeon smiled confidently. "Your place is awesome. The guest room is bigger than the one I'm currently occupying and much better decorated. It's close enough to the hospital and also close to Derek's house so I can still help out. Sofia is an awesome kid. You're a great friend. Why not?"

"I-uh," Arizona cleared her throat and tried again, her voice finally back with a warm grin. "Okay. You're officially my new roommate then."

"Great! When can I move in?"

"So, should we establish some ground rules or something?" Amelia asked as she sat onto the other end of the couch and turned to face her friend-turned-roommate.

"Ground rules?" Arizona raised an eyebrow and took a sip out of her wine glass.

"Yeah. Like don't pee with the door open or all music must be listened with headphones on unless it's Queen because everybody loves him. You know, important stuff."

Arizona laughed. "While I like the way you think, I don't think those ones in particular are going to be useful. How about some basics rules? No swearing when Sofia's around."

"Now that I can do."

"No walking around naked, at least underwear and tank top must be on in shared space/common rooms."

"Always knock before entering," Amelia quickly added, she truly didn't need to traumatize her new roommate away with her habit of sleeping naked.

"All sex-related activities are to be practiced in one's room and no judging the one night stands – whoever they may be," Arizona said with a pointed look and Amelia chuckled. "Goes both ways of course."

"It always does with me," Amelia joked badly, referring to her bisexuality and Arizona rolled her eyes. "Hakuna matata on that, Robbins," the neurosurgeon pretended to zip her lips and threw the imaginary key away.

"And of course, last but not least, Sunday is PJ's day. But you already know that one. Do you have anything else you can think about?"

"Not right now."

"British bake off?" Arizona asked with a knowing smile as she grabbed the remote.

"You bet," the other woman smiled back and got herself comfortable, grabbing the blanket that was thrown over the back of the couch and threw it over their legs. "I haven't lived there even twenty four hours and I can already tell I did the right thing accepting your offer."

"I'm glad. I think we're going to be awesome roommates."

"Well, I'm pretty awesome to be around so, you know," Amelia said smugly with a teasing smile.

"I'm already starting to regret my decision," the blonde playfully elbowed her in her ribcage and rolled her eyes.

Arizona was in the process of flipping pancakes when two little feet could be heard shuffling against the hardwood floor. She turned around just in time to see her sleepy daughter entering the kitchen. Her long dark hair was a tangled mess and she was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, a big yawn escaping her.

"Hola mommy," she greeted drowsily.

"Hello sweetheart," the pediatric surgeon leaned forward and scooped her daughter up into her arms to sit her onto the counter next to her. She dropped her kiss onto her forehead, taking a breath of her daughter in, the soothing smell of artificial strawberries and childhood tingling her nose, "Did you have a good night?"

Sofia nodded, still not quite waken up yet and her thumb found its way into her mouth. Arizona kept on flipping the pancakes quietly, letting her emerging at her own pace. About three pancakes later, Sofia seemed a little more into her usual woken up-self, her eyes studying her mother's gestures with focus.

"Mommy?" she mumbled around her thumb.

"Yes Sof'?"

"Did you already wash the salad bowl con the batter?" she asked hopefully, her dark eyes shining with gluttony.

"I knew you would ask," Arizona giggled at her cuteness.

She grabbed the unwashed bowl out from the sink and installed Sofia onto one of the bar stool in front of her so she could keep an eye on her and still flip the pancakes. Her daughter's smile grew until it was hurting her cheeks and Arizona's heart melted at her cute angelic face.

"Thank you mommy!"

"You're welcome baby. Please, roll up your sleeves before putting your hands in there, okay?"

Sofia did what she was told and eagerly went to town, her little fingers coming and going between the glass bowl and her mouth at lightning speed. Just as the last pancake was cooked, Sofia was finished with the bowl so she handed it back to the blonde so she could wash it.

"Any good?" she asked her daughter.

"Si, me gusta a lot."

"Why don't you go wake up Amelia while I clean up honey? I'm sure she'll be happy to see your pretty face."

"Okay!" Sofia said cheefully, now definitely woken up and climbed down her stool.

"Wash your hands first, baby though," Arizona warned.

"Si mommy," the little Latina scattered away and the blonde heard water running down emanating from the bathroom. Thirty seconds later, the water stopped and Sofia ran out of the room towards Amelia's, "AMELIA! WAKE UP AHORA! MOMMY MADE PANCAKES! I'MMA EAT 'EM ALL!" and with that she hopped on the brunette's bed, half landing on the very groggy and confused neurosurgeon and half on the covers.

"Huh!" Amelia cried out in pain, being suddenly effectively waken up from deep slumber. "Careful with your landing Sof," she said in one breath.

"Pardonamé," she said with a toothy grin, putting her face really close to the adult one. That kid had no idea of what personal space was, it seemed. "Me and Mommy made pancakes," she sat on Amelia's belly on the covers.

"You did?"

"Huh-huh" Sofia nodded proudly.

"A little birdie tells me that mommy actually made the pancakes while Sofia licked the bowl," she smirked and her hands softly tickled the kid's sides.

"I was hungry," Sofia giggled and wiggled, trying to get away from her tickling fingers. "'MELIA!"

"What, Sof'?" Amelia said playfully.

"ST-STOP!"

The adult pretended to not understand, her eyebrows furrowing. "What was that? I didn't quite understand."

"UN-UNCLE!" the little Latina let herself fell onto her side next to the brunette, her knees bending into her chest to protect herself.

Happy to see the little girl's joyful smile and her warm deep chocolate eyes sparkling with their usual liveliness, Amelia stopped and dropped a kiss onto her forehead.

"How about you start setting the table? I'll be right out to help you."

The kid sprinted back from where she came from before Amelia could attack her again, her hair flying all around wildly, "MOMMY, SHE UP!"

The brunette chuckled at the six years old's behavior and got up, happy about the prospect of pancakes. She quickly grabbed her sleeping attire and went to the kitchen, finding Sofia already sitting at the table and Arizona in the kitchen, pouring coffee into mugs.

"I do not remember agreeing to being awoken by a screaming monster and being kneed in the stomach first thing in the morning when you proposed me to move in," Amelia said pointedly to the blonde as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Sorry, I asked her to wake you up. I had no idea she was going to do that," she bit her bottom lip, trying her hardest to stifle her upcoming laugh.

"Mmmh-mmh," the other woman could easily tell the blonde was definitely entertained by her daughter's behavior but was trying her best to not show it. Arizona handed her a coffee mug in lieu of apologies, which she eagerly accepted. "The kid's lucky she's stinking cute."

"You heard that too?" Amelia asked as she tied her robe around her midsection.

Some weird noises had woken her up, so after a few moments of wondering what the hell it could be, she had decided to just get up and investigate. Barely had she opened her door, she saw Arizona's opening and a sleepy blonde in her pajamas coming out in the corridor.

"It's probably just Sofia having a nightmare," she rubbed her eyes, trying hard to push the sleepiness away. "Sorry she woke you up. Go back to sleep, I've got it."

Amelia felt a little weird and guilty to let her friend go and take care of Sofia. Somehow, she wanted to help. The idea of Sofia feeling sad and in pain made her heart squeezed in her chest uncomfortably. That kid was such a bundle of joy and rainbow, Amelia wanted to help but she wasn't really sure if it was appropriate. So she asked, bashfully, "It's okay, it's not her fault. Can I uh- help in any way?"

The reassuring smile her roommate gave her in return put her more at ease. "Sure," the blonde motioned to follow her and walked up to her daughter's room.

Arizona knocked, not really waiting for an answer and opened the door. The dimly light from the hallway gave her just enough light to spot the switch of the nightstand lamp. Once it was on, it became rather clear to both adults that Arizona's assumption that her daughter was having a nightmare was unfortunately right.

The little brunette was trashing in her bed, her sheets long gone and now pooling on the floor. Her features contorted themselves with worry and apprehension, her whole body screaming fear. Arizona softly sat on the edge of the bed, her crutches falling noiselessly onto the sheets, her move deliberately slow as if she was scared it would frighten her baby even more.

Not sure of what to do with herself, Amelia sat criss-cross on the floor, her head at the perfect height to see the pain embroidered onto Sofia's face. She felt a shiver ran down her spine and something dropped into her stomach. She wondered for a few moments what Arizona felt like. She wondered if the worry and the nervousness cursing through her veins were the same.

"Do we wake her up?" she whispered.

Arizona nodded and her hands ran delicately onto Sofia's legs to shake them carefully. The neurosurgeon copied her movements, one of her hand wandered onto the little girl's shoulder.

"Sweetheart, wake up, it's just a bad dream," Arizona cued, her voice sweet and caring.

Again, Amelia followed her lead. "Sof, kiddo, wake up."

A few encouragements and shakes later, Sofia woke up, her eyes opened wide and Amelia could see the terror inhabiting her dark irises. Her trashing body finally froze, and the pediatric surgeon could feel the goose bumps running under her fingertips. Her little fingers clenched around the cuddle toy, like it was her lifeline. Her breath was harsher than usual, the throat felt dry and tight.

"It's okay, Sof. You're safe," Amelia said softly, her thumb tenderly caressing her arm protectively.

"It was just a nightmare baby. We've got you."

The sound of her mommy's voice seemed to spur something in Sofia. She sat up immediately and threw herself into her mother's arms. She hid her face into the crook of her neck, into her tickling blonde hair and heartening smell, a soothing mix between hospital disinfectant that never really seemed to come off and just plain motherhood. Tears swelled up into her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, her breath turning into a crying hiccup.

"It's okay sweetie. You're safe, I'm here," Arizona wrapped her arms around her baby girl, her hands strolling up and down her back to comfort her.

"Muy scary mommy," Sofia managed to get out between two hiccups.

"I know baby, I know," she kissed her forehead and then leaned her cheek onto her.

Amelia felt like an intruder. She was thankful to see that motherhood happening but at the same time, it brought her immense pain because it only reminded her what Mother Nature had deprived her of. She hadn't gotten the chance to have that. And it hurt, because it was absolutely wonderful.

Without even realizing it, her eyes started to swell up with tears too. So when a pager was heard, she was glad for the opportunity to simply run away and calm her nerves.

"I'm on call, it's probably mine," she said and got up. She walked out from her emotional breakdown as well as Arizona and Sofia.

"Can I sleep with you esta noche?" Sofia asked as she fisted her mother's pajamas top.

"Sure honey."

The brunette came back a few moments later and sat on the bed next to the mother/daughter duo, thoughtful to be careful and slow in her actions to not scare the little girl. She looked at Arizona apologetically and handed her her pager.

"I'm sorry. It was yours. 911."

"Shit," Arizona let slipped before she could help herself. "Baby, I'm so sorry but mommy has to go to the hospital."

"But you said- you said I could sleep with you," Sophia said upset and, even thought she understood it was important for her mother to go to work right now, it still sucked big time because she needed her.

"I know, I'm sorry. I wish I could baby, hold you tight against me so the bad dream wouldn't come back but you and I both know 911s are really important. Mommy has to go and for tonight, I need you to help me. You're going to be the brave and strong big girl I know you are and you're going to sleep in your own bed."

"She could sleep with me," Amelia's words escaped her mouth, she was surprised by her own outburst. But it felt weirdly right to at least offer. This kid was terrified and they were no reason for her to go back to sleep alone when her bedroom was right next door. Moreover, there was no way Amelia could sleep soundly knowing Sofia might be having another nightmare. Her eyes found black ones and she offered Sofia an uncertain smile. "I mean, I know I ain't your mommy but I promise you I have some mad cuddle skills. Like you're gonna love them so much that you'll never want to be out of my arms ever again. Also, I don't snore so that has to count for something, right? And the only monster I know is the tickle monster so we should be pretty safe."

Arizona chuckled and kissed her daughter's forehead. "What do you say Sof? Sounds cool to me," she asked with a supportive smile.

Sofia still seemed upset but nodded anyway. She liked Amelia and it was better than being alone, so why not. "Can we sleep in mommy's bedroom though?" she asked, her head still safely tucked onto the blonde's shoulder.

Arizona nodded yes at Amelia's questioning gaze.

"Whatever you want buddy," the neurosurgeon's hand squeezed her little thigh protectively.

Arizona kissed her daughter's forehead one last time and looked at her into her beautiful eyes with assurance. "You sleep tight baby, I love you," she whispered as her thumbs stroked her baby's cheeks. "Thank you Sheperd."

"It's nothing. I'm glad I can help. Wanna come over here, honey?" Amelia opened her arms instead of grabbing Sofia.

She knew it was hard for her, so she let her smell and squeeze her mother to bring her courage until the little girl was ready to let go. She scrambled out of her mother's embrace slowly and immediately wiggled her way into Amelia's arms, mirroring the comfortable position she was in previously.

The pediatric surgeon looked at Amelia, "Thank you so much. Call me if anything comes up. I'mma change real quick and then I'm gone."

"Bye mommy," Sofia waved at her as she walked out of the room, knowing Sofia was in good hands.

The adult scrunched up her nose, "It sucks, doesn't it? That your mommy can't be with you all the times."

"She saves kids' lives," Sofia said with a nonchalant shrug.

"I know, that doesn't mean it doesn't suck. I think you're really brave though. To let your mom go like this without any tantrum, it's very nice of you."

"Mama and mommy always say I'm muy courageous."

Amelia skipped the Spanish word, "Well, they're right," she kissed her forehead gently. "You know what would help it suck a little less?"

Sofia shook her head doubtfully but yet curious to see what the brunette was going to come up with. The neurosurgeon made a show of looking all around the room, as if to be sure no one was listening and leaned in real close to Sofia's left ear. They could hear the front door opening and closing in the distance, indicating that the blonde had just left.

"A hot chocolate," she whispered secretly with a playful smile. "What do you think, princess?"

Sofia giggled and nodded assuredly, "I think it would."

"Let's get going then," she kissed her forehead and walked to the kitchen, the kiddo protectively tucked into her arms.

She softly sat her onto the counter and then proceeded to put the milk into the microwave. She sat next to her onto the counter.

"Do you wanna talk about your nightmare?" she offered as she gently elbowed Sofia playfully.

"Not really. Just some big spiders, I'll get over it," the little girl shrugged and lightly elbowed her back into the ribs.

"You sure?" Amelia asked concerned, her elbow knocking Sofia a little harder and threw her balance off.

Sofia chuckled as she righted herself, "Yep."

She pushed the adult back more firmly and Amelia faked to topple over. Amelia came back up and just as her tickling fingers came in contact with Sofia's sides, the microwave beeped loudly and broke their little light-hearted bubble.

"You're lucky, saved by the bell," the brunette took the mug out and handed it to the little girl who took it carefully with both hands.

A hot chocolate later, both girls were tucked into Arizona's warm bed, the bedside lamp on and Sofia's cuddle toy in the middle.

"You know what my brother used to do when I was little and I had a bad dream?"

Sofia shook her head no.

"I used to go to his bed and he would always make place for me. Then he would take his flashlight out of his bedside table. He would light it up, pointing it on the white wall next to the door and we would make shadow puppets. Tons and tons of hand shadow puppets until I fell back asleep. I think I should tell you that Derek is bad it hand shadows. Like, really bad. One time, he made me laugh so hard that we woke our mommy up. Let me tell you, she was not happy about it," Amelia said good-naturedly and Sofia laughed. "Wanna try it?" she asked shyly.

The little girl nodded and Amelia searched around for a flashlight in Arizona's bedside. She turned it on.

"Okay, you ready for me to turn the big light off?" she asked. She didn't want to turn it off and scared Sofia, it would just be awful.

"Si, I'm ready."

Amelia turned it off and laid comfortably on her back, the light pointing onto the wall in front of them.

"Okay, here goes nothing."

The neurosurgeon made a few, terrifically bad, animal impressions. Sofia was laughing, obviously making fun of her poor skills. To Amelia, it was pure magic to see the little girl so relaxed and she felt weirdly proud.

"I thought you said your hermano was supposed to be the bad one."

"Hey!" Amelia stopped and looked at the child, a playful smile on her lips. "Constructive criticisms only, little Miss."

Sofia smiled deviously. "Well, the good thing is that you can only improve from here."

"It's not as simple as it looks," Amelia rationalized badly to justify her lack of talent.

As the night went on, Sofia's soft giggles turned into yawns as she slowly but surely wiggled her way under Amelia's arm. Lulled by her mother's smell, the soft voice and the protective arm around her, Sofia was quick to fall into a nightmare-free sleep.

She turned off the flashlight and switched on the bedside lamp, mindful of the little girl. Amelia quickly snapped a picture and sent it to Arizona, hoping to reassure her.

Daughter out, sleeping like a little baby. Good luck for your surgery. Amelia.

She eventually switched off the light and went to sleep. The neurosurgeon snaked her second arm around her and laid her head on top of Sofia's, the calming fake strawberry smell reaching her nose. Within minutes, she fell into Morpheus' arms.