A/N: I want to put a trigger warning on this chapter. I think Lucia Torres was one of the WORST characters to ever grace Grey's Anatomy. How she treated Callie was really disgusting and I don't think their relationship was ever salvageable. Especially after how she acted towards Sofia. There is some harsh language in this chapter and some homophobic behavior. If that is triggering to you, I would consider skipping. As to not "penalize" anyone for not being able to handle that I will do a "previously in The Race" section at the beginning of next chapter and hit the high points.

Chapter 44

Callie's POV

Callie was getting dressed for a brunch she didn't agree with. A brunch that she can't believe she was being dragged to.

"Arizona. Seriously, we don't have to do this." Callie whined as she was slipping her dress on.

"Calliope. What do I have to do to convince you this is going to be fine. I can handle myself. I have heard worse things. I've been called every single slur on planet Earth." Arizona confidently responded.

"But that's the thing, Arizona. You and I shouldn't have to sit through that. We just got engaged yesterday. We are in our bubble. WHY do we have to pop it?"

"Because I want to meet my future mother-in-law and I told your Dad we would come. So we are going. I keep my word so we will be there. The bus is leaving in 15 minutes." Arizona clapped her hands as if to say 'chop chop'.

Rolling her eyes, Callie continued getting ready. This is going to be a disaster.

Arizona's POV

If Arizona were being honest, how nervous Callie was, was making her nervous. It couldn't be that bad, could it?

Taking Callie's hand they walked up to the Torres estate. Taking a deep breath Arizona turned to Callie. "Ready for this?" She whispered. "No." Callie deadpanned. "But, I am excited to see my Dad and have Laura's French Toast. So you get a pass." Callie grabbed Arizona's hand and lead the way into her parents house.

"Mija!" I am so happy you are here. Arizona smiled as Carlos wrapped Callie in a hug and then surprised Arizona at wrapping her in one as well. "Arizona. Thank you for getting her here." Carlos smiled genuinely. "Of course." Arizona returned the hug.

"Come you two. Brunch is being served now. Aria. Mark, and the girls are out back." Arizona and Callie followed Carlos into the back yard where the most beautiful brunch spread was laid out. "Everything looks delicious, Carlos. Thank you." Arizona sat down, she was on alert and the firm grip on her thigh was enough to let her know Callie was also waiting for the guest they are waiting on to show.

"Mama look, chocolate chip pancakes! Our favorite!" Sofia leaned in to Arizona. "Yeah Sof! I see."

The grip on Arizona's thigh suddenly became painful and she didn't even have to look up to know that Lucia had entered the room. Everyone had gone silent. Arizona looked up and the coldness that was in the brown eyes that so closely resembled her fiancés would make Elsa shudder. She had been spending too much time with Sofia.

Going back to what was instilled in her growing up, Arizona rose from her seat. She watched as Lucia Torres strut in like the queen. Arizona approached her and tentatively reached out her hand. "Mrs. Torres. Arizona Robbins. It is a pleasure to meet you." She confidently introduced herself. She hadn't even realized Callie was now at her side.

"Mami. This is Arizona Robbins. My fiancé." Callie put her arm around her waist and Arizona could feel her hands shaking.

Arizona watched the look of disgust flash across the face in front of her. The clearing of Carlos's throat broke the tense moment.

Everyone was aware of the fact children were present so they returned to their seats without another word. Everyone kept the conversation light. The weather, business, and Miami society were all discussed. Lucia was not good for more than 5 words. Arizona and Callie thought they were going to escape unscathed but then the one thing that could derail the whole meal happened.

"Abuela! Mami and Mama are getting married!" Sofia yelled as happy as can be. She had been way too entranced by her pancakes and bacon to speak up earlier. The clang of Lucia's fork hitting her plate made the rest of the table fall silent.

"Mama?! Sofia Aria. This woman –" Lucia started, her voice laced with venom.

"Mija. Take your cousins and go in the house now." Callie instructed Sofia. The 7 year old able to hear the seriouslness in her mother's voice grabbed her cousins and headed inside.

"My loves, there are some new toys in the playroom for you." Carlos smiled at his granddaughters and their mood quickly shifted at the promise of new things. Clearly Carlos knew this was a possibility.

Arizona was about to speak when Callie cut her off. "I got this." Callie whispered.

Callie's POV

"Mother. You can say what you want about me. Say what you want about my life, my choices. Anything. But you WILL NOT downplay the importance of my fiancé's role in our daughters life." Callie firmly stated.

"She is not Sofia's mother, Callie. YOU are. You can not continue to poison my granddaughter with this depravity! I won't allow it." Lucia raised her voice which was uncharacteristic.

"OHHH so NOW Sofia is your granddaughter. Any other day it is take it or leave it because I had her before I was married. She is your granddaughter when it suits you." Callie stood up. She was seething. She felt Arizona's hand on her arm trying to comfort her, but she shook it off. This conversation was a long time coming.

"Mami. Please stop. Arizona and Callie are happy. Please just let them be happy." Aria chimed in from the other end of the table.

"Aria. Stay out of this." Lucia insisted in her motherly tone. That tone shifted the second she turned back towards Callie.

"Calliope. I love you. I can't have you doomed to hell. This is a sin! You are sinning. God can look past the child out of wedlock. But this….committing your life to this-this woman. No! I will not allow it. We let you have your fun. Go through your phase. But I draw the line here." Lucia slammed her hand down on the table. Callie went to respond through her tears but the voice that spoke up was strong and sure.

"Mrs. Torres. You don't know me. You just look at me as the woman who is corrupting your daughter. I will have you know I love your daughter. I also love MY daughter. The daughter who happens to be your granddaughter. I promise you there is not one negative thing you can say to me to make me go away. However, I will not let you sit here and speak to my fiancé like this. I will not have you making her upset and questioning MY place in MY daughters life in front of her. Is that understood." Arizona proclaimed.

Callie's heart melted at Arizona referring to Sofia as her daughter. But, more than anything Callie felt a rush of pride at the way Arizona defended her. Defended their relationship.

"Sofia is NOT your daughter. She has a mother and she has a father. A father I hear YOU drove away. You dyk-". Lucia screamed.

"ENOUGH!" Carlos screamed. Freezing the whole table.

"Lucia this has gone far enough. You will NOT speak to Arizona like that and you will not speak to our daughter like that." Carlos's voice was cold. Distant.

Lucia looked around the table. She saw she was outnumbered.

"I will have no part of this. You are not welcome in my life or my home. I will not be at your wedding. I-" Lucia was about to continue her rant when Callie cut in.

"You act like you were invited." Callie coldly stated. "Mom, Arizona is the reason I am here. I didn't want to come. I knew you were going to pull this shit. But, for my fiancé I tried. You proved me right though. Goodbye forever, mother."

Callie grabbed Arizona's hand and looked around the table. "We will see the rest of you soon. I love you all." Callie looked in Arizona's eyes and with all the love she had she declared. "I love you. Take me and our daughter home." Callie ushered Arizona out of the house with Sofia in her arms. The seven year old was getting bigger but Callie would always carry her when she needed comfort.

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Arizona's POV

Arizona went about drawing a hot bath for Callie as the Latina put their daughter to bed. It was kind of sudden that Arizona declared Sofia as her daughter. The protective instinct she felt for her when Lucia uttered her name just made it happen. Arizona had met a lot of crappy people in her life, but Lucia Torres was top 5. IT was some sort of miracle that Calliope was part of her

Hearing their bedroom door close, Arizona walked out of the bathroom and saw her lover with her head back resting on the door. Her eyes were closed and she looked defeated. But, she still looked stunning.

"Would it make you feel better if I said you were right?" Arizona tried to joke.

Callie just looked at her and chuckled. "I didn't want to be." She whispered. The day was finally catching up to her and she felt drained.

"Come on, love." Arizona grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bathroom. "I just want to go to bed Arizona."

"Just come on." Arizona heard Callie gasp at the set up she had prepared. The candles, rose pedals, dimmed lights. Arizona slowly began to undress Callie. There was nothing sexual about it. She just wanted to make her fiancé feel better and she knew what one of her favorite things to do after a hard day was.

"Thank you." Callie whispered when Arizona helped her into the tub. "No problem. Just relax." Arizona undressed herself and lowered into the tub behind Callie. She began massaging her shoulders, trying to take the stress away.

"Why can't she just get it?" Callie sighed. "I really don't know. I wish I had the answers and I wish I could fix it. But I really don't know." Arizona leaned her head into Callie's neck. "I'm sorry."

They sat in silence as Arizona massaged Callie. She slowly began to wash the Latina's hair the way she loved to. She slid out from behind Callie and told her she would be right back. Walking out of the bathroom she wrapped her robe around herself. She returned with a robe straight from the dryer and helped Callie out of the tub and into the robe.

"I love you." Arizona whispered, leading Callie into their room.

"I love you too. Thank you, for today. For defending me. Defending Sofia. We are lucky to have you." Callie laid down and cuddled into Arizona.

"I am the lucky one, Calliope. Get some sleep." Arizona whispered as she kissed Callie's head.

Lucia Torres could say what she wanted. She could question their relationship, say it was wrong. Anyone could do that. But it didn't matter. As long as she had Callie and Sofia, she was complete. She learned a long time ago that there were people in the world who didn't get it. Didn't want to get it or try to get it. But it didn't matter. They loved each other and the rest of it didn't matter.

A/N: Shorter chapter. But I felt it needed to happen before they could get married.

Next on The Race: A small time jump. Golf resumes, Wedding Planning for the girls and Tim and Teddy's wedding.