Chapter 41

Waiting. Waiting is hard for anyone, especially on a parent waiting to find out the fate of their child.

It had been a long morning of back and forth questioning, lots of tears and frustration, and she is now just ready for all this to be over. Even though she feels confident in her case, especially after Addie testified on her behalf, she is still nervous that things won't go the way she wants them too. The fear that you may be about to lose custody of your daughter, is almost terrifying.

After a short recess, the judge begins to walk back into the court room as someone calls his name from behind him, gathering his attention. Callie is holding her breath as she watches the judge say something to the bailiff, then turn to head back to his chambers.

"What is that all about?" Callie whispers to her lawyer. "I can't handle this waiting…," Callie says, nervously.

"I'm not sure. We will have to wait and see though," her lawyer whispers back, looking around to see if he can get a feel for what's going on.

About a half hour later, the judge finally reemerges.

"All rise!"

The judge enters and takes a seat, instructing everyone else to do so as well.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had a matter to attend to. Now… in the case of O'Malley vs Torres… Mr. O'Malley, just mere months ago, you signed over physical and legal custody… washed your hands clean of everything to do with your biological daughter. Now, from what Miss Torres has said, it wasn't until her own mother alerted you to her current lifestyle choices to which she herself disagreed with, that you seemed to have a change of heart. Now… I'm not usually one to allow this, but a call came in just as I was walking in earlier, and some information was then faxed and asked to be submitted to Miss Torres' lawyer. Would the bar approach the bench please…"

Callie watches as her lawyer looks to her, then makes his way to the bench. The judge holds out copies of documents for each lawyer to take. Both lawyers look over the document given to them, to which George's lawyer becomes irate at.

"With all due respect, I object, your honor. This wasn't properly submitted. You can't take just anything into evidence that anyone decides to send in!" George's lawyer is furious.

"I agree. However, this happened to be faxed to me from an old college friend who happens to be a state supreme court judge from Florida. I understand that although it is not common practice, it comes from a trusted authority and seems very relevant to the case. So, having said that, although not typical, I am allowing the lawyer for Miss Torres the choice to actually submit it or not. What is it going to be?" Looking to Callie's lawyer for an answer, the judge raises his eyebrows.

Confused as to what is going on, Callie looks on.

"Your honor, I would like to enter one final piece of evidence. I would like to submit to the court… a document, showing a payment of 2.5 million dollars, paid to the account of George O'Malley from the account of Lucia Torres. I want the date of this transaction noted as being the exact date that Mr. O'Malley filed this request for custody."

Callie gasps, completely dumbfounded about the recent development. Hurt at the actions of her mother but elated that this is the nail in the coffin for George. After this revelation, it would be hard to ever justify giving George custody.

The judge holds his hand out, ready to officially accept the new piece of evidence. As he takes one last look at it, he looks to Callie, then over to George. "I already had my decision made, but this new piece of evidence just verifies that I am making the right decision." As the lawyers are instructed to return to their seats, the judge gathers the papers on decision. "I hereby grant sole legal and physical custody of Katherine O'Malley, to her mother, Calliope Torres."

At hearing this, Addie and Christina… who had both been waiting quietly seated behind Callie, stand to their feet, erupting in cheers for Callie, who lets out a sob she had been holding back.

"Order…" the judge yells, trying to quiet the two women behind Callie. The two woman look apologetic, as they once again take their seats.

"Now, I usually make my ruling, and then move on. However, filing for custody after being bribed… has got to be one of the more tasteless acts I have seen. Mr. O'Malley, apparently you need to be reminded that this a real child, not a pawn to be used between different parties. I strongly recommend you take to heart what I'm about to say. I better not ever see you back in my courtroom again, especially pertaining to this young child. As a matter of fact, I am going to request that the council draw up paper work, and make available for you to sign immediately, the termination of your parental rights."

As soon as Callie hears this, she breaks down in tears. Not sad tears, only happy ones. At most, she was hoping to walk away maintaining legal and physical custody. It never occurred to her that he would be made to sign over all parental rights.

"I will add to that, if it is not done by the end of the day today, I would encourage Miss Torres, to bring him back to court and we will see what we need to do to make it happen. So… I suggest you save us all the trouble Mr. O'Malley, and sign when you have the chance. Council, I expect to see this paperwork pass through my office by the end of the working day today. Court adjourned."

XXXXXXX

"You told Arizona the good news so what are you stressing out about over there?" Christina asks, as she watches Callie chew on the corner of her lip.

"I am just thinking about how to celebrate tonight."

"No. We are not going to talk about your kinky sex life. I don't want to hear it."

"For your information, I was not going to talk about my sex life with you. I usually talk about that with Addison," Callie says, laughing.

"True story. Feel free to talk to Yang about it though. My ears have heard enough about Arizona's talents to last a while."

"Oh stop it. You know I don't talk about my sex life. Not unless you ask, anyway," Callie says, chuckling.

"Ok… anyway…. What are you thinking about doing to celebrate tonight?"

Callie gets a dreamy look, and begins to tell them what's on her mind.

XXXXXXX

"Alright munchkin, mommy said she would be back anytime, and that she will fill us in on all the good news she has for us," Arizona says, watching Katie make a face as she grabs ahold of her foot again.

"Hey…," Callie says, as she makes her way into Katie's room.

"Hey, there you are… How are you doing?"

"I am just… emotionally drained, but so glad to be back with my girls," Callie says, making her way over to hug Arizona. "How's our girl?"

"She's good. Really good. She's been making faces at me about all day," Arizona says, laughing.

"Might that have something to do with you bugging her?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Sure you don't…." Callie says, laughing. "Teddy was texting Addie and saying you were doing everything you could to aggravate her."

"Ok… but only because it gets a reaction from her. Which is what we want, I might add," Arizona says, smiling and letting her dimples pop.

Callie reaches down and plays with Katie's bangs as she leans down to give her a hug. "Everything is going to be just fine now, sweetie. You are right where you belong."

Arizona watches them for a few minutes, and can see Callie visibly relax for the first time in weeks.

"So… are you going to fill me in on what happened?"

"Uh… yeah. But first, can you run down and grab me something to snack on? I am starving and didn't stop to eat before heading here. I actually haven't had anything since yesterday. I just… couldn`t stand the thought of food."

"Yeah. I will. You definitely need to eat. Just sit and visit with Katie and relax, I will be right back."

"Thank you…" Callie says, leaning to give her a kiss.

Watching Arizona leave the room, she then looks back to Katie. "Ok, munchkin. I need your help with something. You think you are up to it?" Not that she can really help, but Callie wants to involve her in this somehow, and it is all she has thought about since she boarded the plane in California to head home.

About twenty minutes later, Arizona walks back in, to find Katie propped up slightly in bed, with Callie standing right next to her, having changed into a yellow dress and is holding a red rose.

"Calliope, you look beautiful," Arizona says, as she sits the snacks down that she brought back. "What`s going on?"

Callie takes her hand and reaches over to squeeze Katie's hand, then takes a deep breath.

"Arizona… I love you. We both do. I know Katie can't say it yet, but she does. I see the way her eyes twinkle when she watches you. She does, she loves you. I…, I had this all planned out… What I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. But now that you are here, I just… I can't think straight." Callie takes another deep breath and smiles. Because although she is nervous, she is so happy right now with the step she is about to take.

"When I met you… you ignited a passion in me that I didn't even know was there. I have felt more alive in the past six months than I have in a lifetime without you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. To us," Callie says, motioning to Katie.

"You two are the best thing to ever happen to me too," Arizona says, taking a step closer to the two brunettes.

"Today… everything fell into place as I was fearing things would fall apart. I wanted to tell you earlier but I didn't want to do it over the phone. Um, George… he signed away all his rights. ALL of them. It all happened so fast. I… I didn't even think the courts could work that fast, but, it's done. She is all mine."

"What? Are you serious? The judge… was that… was that part of the ruling?" Arizona asks.

"Not exactly. And I will tell you every single detail later, but, the result is that I don't have to worry about him ever again. We don't have to worry about it. She is all mine. But.. I want to change that," Callie says, looking over to Katie. "Katie has something for you," Callie says, looking down at the small stuffed animal Katie has her hands laying on.

"That's a monkey…," Arizona says, taking the small stuffed animal from Katie to look at it, when she feels something on the monkey hit her finger. "Calliope… what…," Arizona pulls the monkey up to see what she wasn't expecting to see. There, hanging by a small colored piece of ribbon, she sees a ring. The same diamond and sapphire ring she saw just a few weeks ago while they were at the Bed and Breakfast. "Calliope…," Arizona says, with wide eyes, hoping beyond hope that Callie doesn't get cold feet this time.

"Arizona…" Callie says, taking the stuffed monkey from Arizona and pulling the ring off that she had tied to it's tail. Looking at the ring, then back to Arizona, Callie gets down on one knee. "I know this isn't the most romantic setting, but I just… I can't wait another minute," Callie says, shaking her head, as Arizona brings her hand up to cover her mouth. "From the minute I sat down on the plane, I just couldn't wait to get back here. The only thing I wanted to do was get back to the two of you."

"We couldn't wait for you to get back either," Arizona says, smiling.

Taking a deep breath, Callie smiles. "Arizona, you make me happier than I have ever been. You make me so happy and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to spend every minute of my life loving you like you deserved to be loved. But as much as I want you in my life, I want you in Katie's life too. I couldn't ask for someone to be any better of a parent to her than you are. You put her first and you love her unconditionally, which just makes me love you more if that's even possible." I want you to be Katie's mom. I mean, you are already are, but legally as well. I want to file papers, I want it to he legal… if that's what you want too, I mean."

"You know I want that," Arizona says nodding quickly as tears continue to stream down her face.

"That makes me so happy to hear that. It really does," Callie says, nodding.. "Now, for the next part," Callie says, with a small giggle that she can't seem to contain. "I know that the last time I asked this, the timing was wrong. But… please, please know, that I'm asking this time because I know it is the right time to ask. I want it all with you. I want everything. So, Arizona Robbins…," Callie says, as she carefully gets down on one knee. "I love you, and plan on showing you every day, for the rest of our lives, if you will let me. Will you marry me?"

Arizona can't hold the tears back as they stream down her face. Six months ago, she had no idea that her life would revolve around the two brunettes that are both looking at her, waiting for an answer that will forever change all of their lives.

"Of course I'll marry you!" Arizona laughs a joyous laugh as she bends down to give Callie a kiss and to pull her back up. "Of course I'll marry you. I love you so much," Arizona says, giving Callie a kiss.

Pulling back, Callie reaches for Arizona's left hand, and slides the ring on Arizona's finger, where it fits perfectly. "There. It is finally where it belongs," Callie says, softly.

"I love you," Arizona whispers, as she looks down at her finger and rests her forehead against Callie's.

"I love you too."

Arizona pulls away and holds onto Callie's hand, as she walks towards Katie.

"Hey sweetie… I just want you to know that I love you too, and I can't wait to officially be your momma."