Chapter 40

"Have you heard anything?" Teddy asks, as she and Mandy make their way in the door of Katie's room. Both of them smile, seeing the blonde sitting in the chair, holding the little brunette. The blonde has changed a lot in the past several months. All for the better, but they are still getting used to this version of their boss and friend.

"No. Not a word. And I don't want to text her in case she is in the middle of something. But, it's nearly five o'clock their time. I mean, surely they are done by now. Maybe you could text Addie?" Arizona asks, hopefully.

"Yeah. Just give me a minute to pull my phone out of my purse," Teddy says, sitting her purse down on the counter by the sink. Pulling it out of her purse, she sends a quick text, then says, "There. Now we wait."

"I don't have a good feeling about this. I mean, they were supposed to be there at nine this morning. It's just… she would have called either way, right? I mean, if she was done, she would have called, right?" Arizona asks, worriedly.

"I would think so. I bet things got held up and they are just running behind."

"I hope you are right. I just… have a nagging feeling that something isn't right…."

"Addie will text back soon. Just be patient," Mandy says. "In the meantime, how is this little one doing?"

"She is doing ok today. She is starting to let us know when she isn't very happy. She starts to get really fidgety and her facial expressions give everything away. She is just like Calliope. Right now, that is such a great thing. Before, she couldn't really show much emotion so, for now, it is good. I'm sure later on, we will get tired of knowing she isn't happy about something," Arizona says making a silly face at the little brunette. "She hates to have you touch her feet. She makes a face every time."

"Now Robbins, don't be messing with that girl's toes just to make her mad," Mandy chuckles.

Teddy is laughing, when the phone in her hand vibrates, signaling an incoming text. As she pulls it up and reads it, she makes a face.

"What? What is it?" Arizona asks, worriedly.

"She says it isn't going well. Something about them questioning Callie's mental status?"

"What? Are you kidding me?" Arizona says, furrowing her brows, and shaking her head.

"Wish I was. Says it has to do with her going to therapy a while back and it looks like the hearing will continue tomorrow. She thinks it is about to be adjourned for the day though."

"I can't believe that, that… man! He has a lot of a nerve. I mean, he doesn't want everything that comes with this," She says, nodding her head down to the little girl in her arms. "He just wants to punish Callie for something that has nothing to do with him. If he cared at all, he wouldn't have given up custody to begin with. And now…. And now he wants to question the woman that has taken care of his daughter when he wouldn't? And not because he couldn't, but just wouldn't?"

"I Know. It doesn't make any sense. Not at all," Mandy says, shaking her head. "We see things like this all the time at office, but it is different when it hits close to home."

"I should have went with her. I should have known something would come up and she would need me."

"Arizona, she isn't alone. She has Addie and Christina. They will be there for her. I know it sucks, but they will take care of her."

Sighing, Arizona shakes her head. "I just don't understand why he is doing this, you know? I mean, he had his chance before and didn't want it. And now, just when things are good for them and she is improving… he wants to come and ruin it, all for the wrong reasons."

"I know. It sucks, all the way around," Teddy says. "But, hopefully the judge sees that. He has to," Teddy offers.

"I hope you are right," Arizona says, quietly. "I mean, I kept telling her she has nothing to worry about. I mean, who would give someone custody of a child they just willingly signed over custody over to just months ago? But… what if she chose to fight and it goes wrong? What if she resents me?"

"Arizona, you said yourself the other day, that she is doing this for her. That she said if she didn't, he would eventually find something else to hold over her. So you shouldn't feel guilty, no matter the outcome."

Arizona scoots up and stands, then situates Katie back in bed. Turning to look at Teddy, she says, "I feel like whatever happens, is on me though. I mean, it is because she is with me that he is doing this. Period. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have to worry about going through this."

"But… like we just said, Arizona. She knew if it wasn't over this… her being with you, that he would have picked something else to hold over her. It is a power play, that's all. Just don't jump to conclusions," Teddy says, looking to Mandy for a show of support.

"She's right. Just be patient right now. It will all work out."

Teddy's phone buzzes and she looks down. "Adjourned until tomorrow. They are going to try to get Callie to grab a quick dinner. Addie says she wouldn't eat lunch," Teddy says, looking up from her phone.

"She is probably a nervous wreck right now. I hate it she is so far away."

"I need to call her," Arizona says, picking her phone up.

"Actually, why don't you just give her a quick text and tell her to call you when she is ready. Let her get her thoughts together before she calls, so she can explain better what went on," Mandy suggests.

"Um, yeah, your probably right. It's just killing me to not know what's happening."

"I Know. Just let her catch her breath, though."

Nodding, Arizona sits back down and offers seats to the other two women. "Thank you, for being here.". She pulls her phone out and send a quick text to Callie, telling her to call her later, but she wants her to eat first.

"That's what friends are for…" Teddy and Mandy echo.

XXXXXXX

"Hello?" Arizona says, hurriedly as she answers her phone.

"Hey."

"Calliope… are you… are you ok? I mean, I know you're not, but…"

Sighing, Callie pulls her legs up under her and pulls the blanket she brought from home up to cover herself up. "I'm sorry I didn't call earlier. That wasn't fair of me. It was such a long day and all I wanted was to be with you and Katie. Damn it…. I don't know what I ever saw in him. He's turned into someone I don't recognize at all, Arizona."

"No, don't be sorry. I told you to go eat first. Addie texted Teddy so we had an idea of what was going on. I wanted to be there with you, so bad. I couldn't think of anything else today. What happened?"

Giving a disbelieving chuckle, she says, "He is actually questioning my mental status because I went to therapy. I mean, seriously? My kid is in what we think is a coma and her father becomes a deadbeat dad and decides he just doesn't want to be a father anymore. Now, I'm the one that has my mental health questioned because I wanted to talk things over with someone who happens to get paid to listen? And he willingly signed over custody after that happened anyway! And now he wants to use it against me because it is convenient?"

Listening to the woman she loves sounding so broken is tearing Arizona up inside. She just wants to be there to hold her, but she can't. "I'm so sorry, Calliope. You don't deserve this. At all. You did the right thing then. You are a better person, a stronger person because of it. Don't let him make you feel otherwise."

"The lawyer, his lawyer, kept questioning whether I was still mentally sound, because I am making life decisions that aren't in line with my previous beliefs. He is making it sound like my decision to be with a woman is because I'm still in an unstable mental state and that maybe I'm incapable of making sound decisions for my daughter. I mean, what even does that mean? That choosing to be bi means I can't be of sound mind?"

"That's his whole gripe to begin with, isn't it? He doesn't want you and I together, for whatever reason. So it isn't really a stretch for him to try to use that very thing against you. Not saying it's right or that I agree with that line of thinking, but I can see why he would try to use that."

"I know. I just… it's frustrating and it makes me so mad. I mean, we argued his lack of effort in spending time with her… we pointed out how he just willingly signed her over… I mean, I think our case stands on it's own, but I mean, if he can discredit my mental status at all, then he might have a shot, Arizona. We can't… we can't lose her to a monster," Callie says, starting to cry again.

"Shh… it's ok. That's not going to happen," Arizona says, stronger than what she really she is capable of right now. "Loving someone different is not a crime Callie. People become attracted to the opposite sex later in life all the time. That doesn't mean anything. He is the crazy one if he thinks that it does. I mean, can you get your therapist to testify? Is that a thing?"

"we debated it, but my lawyer decided against it. He is actually going to call Addie to the stand to attest to my mental stability. She is afraid they will twist her words, but it's the best shot we have. They kept questioning every decision I have made. Like… why I up and moved her across the country and everything else about the move and how I wasn't even with her every day after the move. And now… I'm questioning what kind of mom I am."

"Calliope, no. No, don't do that. You are an amazing mom. A wonderful mom who uprooted her life to make sure her daughter had the best doctors. A mom who put a little space there to be able to function and to find the means to be able to provide for her long term care. You were providing for your daughter, Calliope. Children have to stay in facilities all the time that aren't close to homes. And parents do the best they can to spend what time they can."

"I know," Callie says, quietly.

"And I hope that your lawyer pointed out that you were working and securing a way to financially be able to provide the best facilities for her. And that… that man… just let her go. He didn't even care enough to have visitation. He will try to put a negative spin on everything, Calliope. Just trust your lawyer to make your case. That man is just trying to get to you. Don't let him."

"It's just hard. Addie and Teddy took me out to eat, but I had no appetite at all. I just want this all to be over."

"Me too, Calliope, me too."

Arizona doesn't say anything for a minute, rather just listening to the sound of the soft breaths she can hear through the phone. "I never liked listening to someone breathe before. But I love to hear you breathe. It is calming to me," Arizona says, softly. "I know that might sound weird, but just hearing you breathe and knowing you are there, it's so soothing. Because I know as long as you are there… even when we aren't physically together, that everything is going to be ok, one way or another. I love knowing that you are mine."

"God Arizona… you just… you always say just what I need to hear even when I don't know what it is I need to hear to begin with. Just knowing I have you… that Katie has you, gives me the strength to make it through the next couple days."

"I love you, Calliope. I will always love you. No matter what."

"I'll always love you too." After a silent pause, she asks, "How is Katie? She doing ok?"

"She is fantastic. You know, I think we might take her out for a walk this weekend. I think she is getting to where she is up to a little stroll through the park out back. What do you say?"

"That…. sounds amazing," Callie says. And even though Arizona can't see her, she can hear the smile that she knows is gracing Callie's face.

"Good. Now, why don't you get off here and get some sleep. You need your rest for tomorrow."

"I just wish you could wrap me up in your arms, you know?"

Sighing and wishing she could make that happen, but knowing she can't, Arizona says, "I know. Me too. Soon…"

"Soon. Give our daughter a kiss for me."

Smiling, Arizona says, "I don't think I will ever get tire of hearing that. Of course I'll give her a kiss for you. We love you."

"I love you too."