Thanks for the reviews! Sorry, it's been a while I've had a lack of inspiration so writing was slow! Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
"I still don't know why we couldn't have sleepovers sometimes" Arizona commented as she cuddled closer to Callie. "You at my place, me at your place"
"Your brother would love that" Callie raised her eyebrows. "Besides your pretty loud in the bedroom and last time I checked no one we live with is hard of hearing"
"Funny…you're funny" Arizona pouted moving further away from Callie as she sat on the end of the bed. "At least this place has become sort of like a second home"
Callie nodded. It was true. Summer Bay was a small enough town that didn't attract too many tourists and the rates were cheap. In fact, most nights Arizona would stay there, whether Callie was joining her or not. Casey was busy with studying or hanging out with his friends or Sofia most nights and Tim…well Arizona didn't even want to know what was going on back home. All she knew is that her brother started to whisper down the phone whenever she was in earshot. Besides living by herself was pretty peaceful, she no longer had to act like a mother to her brothers. Losing their dad had been tough on all of them and Arizona guiltily resented her mother as a child for leaving her and Tim to raise Casey and ensure there was money and food on the table. Now she was older and she understood. Her relationship with Callie was full of love, at least on her half and she was beginning to get scared that something would happen to threaten it.
"I uh got you something" Arizona stammered reaching into the drawer beside the bed. It was Callie's birthday in a few days and she wanted to get her something special. She handed Callie a black box.
"Arizona…" Callie began as she opened the box to see a beautiful silver locket with a love heart. "I love it" she grinned trying to put the necklace on and failing.
"Here I'll help" Arizona grinned, thrilled that Callie enjoyed her gift. She held Callie's hair away from the back of her neck and fasted the necklace in place. "Beautiful" Arizona smiled when Callie turned to show her the necklace.
"I love you" Callie smiled, blurting out the three words before she had a chance to do anything else. Her eyes widened once the words were out there. For a moment or so, Callie wondered if there was any way she could take her words back but she couldn't. Instead, the smile widened on her lips. "I love you" she repeated.
"You do?" Arizona questioned, the ends of her lips curling upwards to form a smile. "I love you too"
"So the surprise party is all in place for tonight" Sofia beamed around at her friendship group as they sat down for lunch. "You're all coming right?" she asked receiving nods and replies from her friends. "Zola I've got your mum on board"
"I know" Zola laughed. "I still don't know why she's rubbish at surprises"
"Well my mum definitely doesn't know anything" Sofia replied, proud of herself for keeping this under wraps for so long. "I've got it all sorted at Angelo's and Casey's sister said she's going to help with some decorations"
"That's nice of her" Maddie replied. "How have you managed to keep this thing a secret anyway?"
"Well" Sofia began, flicking her hair behind her ear. "The idea popped into my head when I was at Casey's and once I told Arizona she was pretty eager to help out. Actually, she's doing most of it" Sofia smiled. "The food, the music etc…all I have to do is tell people where to show up and at what time"
"I wonder why your sis was eager to help out Casey" Evie piped up. Sofia had commented before on how their two families were civil to one another, but not actually friendly yet.
"I think she likes being out of the house recently" Casey shrugged. "Plus the money the restaurant will get that night will be good"
"That's true" Sofia smiled. "I'm really looking forward to it, I had to practically grill when she had the time off work, she's always there nowadays"
"I bet Casey isn't complaining" Xavier smirked as both Casey and Sofia went bright red.
"Shut up Xav" Sofia huffed. "You're not funny and if I hear any more comments like that then you're not invited"
"Oooh" Xavier mocked his friend. "Chill out Sof, I'm only kidding" he grinned. Sofia glared at her friends and all the giggling soon calmed down.
"Come on let's just eat" Casey added, noticing that Sofia didn't look too happy with Xavier. Casey wrapped his arm around Sofia's shoulder. "Don't let it get to you" he smiled. "You know Xavier is just being silly"
"I know" Sofia smiled back at her boyfriend. "Anyway back to the topic of tonight…" she grinned at her group of friends as Casey rolled his eyes. At the rate Sofia was talking about Callie's birthday, he was more than glad that tonight was finally coming around.
"You're an idiot, Brody" Tim Robbins yelled down the phone as Arizona returned back to the place she shared with her two brothers. Upon seeing his sister, Tim ended the call and ran his fingers through his longish hair. "Haven't seen you in a while" he stated gruffly, wondering why Arizona had changed so much since their move to Summer Bay.
"I've been busy" Arizona responded. "Taking care of your restaurant whilst you do god knows what with your stupid mates"
"You know, you've changed so much since we came here" Tim told his sister. "You were never this uptight in Mangrove River"
"I thought this was our way of cutting ties with the past" Arizona explained. "Otherwise, what was the point in moving here?"
"I dunno, it's got a nice beach" Tim replied. "The restaurant makes good money"
"And one hell of a profit when your selling stolen liquor" Arizona shook her head.
"We did a lot worse back in Mangrove River" Tim reminds his sister. "Or do you not remember?"
"That was different, we just lost dad!" Arizona raises her voice. "Mum couldn't function, we had Casey to think of and we had to put food on the table"
"I put food on the table" Tim told her. "If it wasn't for me, we'd all be dead – little precious Casey included"
"I don't have time for this, I've got stuff to do for tonight" Arizona argued back. "Tim, whatever you're doing I know it's big otherwise you wouldn't go all quiet whenever I walk in the room"
"Well, I guess you'll have to keep guessing" Tim snaps, walking out of the house slamming the door shut behind him.
"Well if it isn't Albert Einstein himself" Tim shook his head after bumping into his pal Brody on the street corner. "How many times do I have to tell you not to let anyone know about our dealings here?"
"Alright alright, I was just trying to make a little bit of extra money. It's not like we're running out of dope anytime soon" Brody grinned.
"Yeah well, you'll probably find that copper will be sniffing around you now, so you better keep your mouth shut"
"You know I will" Brody narrowed his eyes. "So we're on for tonight?" he asks. "A little birdie told me it's the coppers surprise party tonight at the restaurant"
"Oh yeah?" Tim raised his eyebrows wondering why he heard nothing about this event from his sister or his co-partner Angelo. "We're on then. We'll get to the national park before sundown then we're meeting Pirovic once it's dark and the deal will be dusted"
"See you then" Brody nodded, heading away from Tim. Tim walked off in the other direction, unaware that someone had been listening in to their entire conversation.
"So" Meredith grinned as she and Callie grabbed coffees from the diner. "This is fun, it's been a while since we've hung out properly"
"Yeah" Callie smiled, twirling the necklace that was hanging around her neck. "I've just been so busy with work"
"Tell me about it" Meredith rolled her eyes. "For such a small place, that hospital is always busy" she laughed. "So how have you been?"
"Good" Callie smiled. "How about you?"
"Well Derek is driving me insane" Meredith rolled her eyes for the second time. "He wants to adopt again"
"That's a huge step" Callie sipped her coffee. "And what you're not ready for baby number four?"
"There would be a huge gap between Zola and the new baby" Meredith shook her head. "It's not as though it matters much but I thought that part of my life was over with. Now my babies are growing up and it's a lot easier"
"Have you told Derek any of this?" Callie raised her eyebrows, knowing how secretive Meredith could be at times. "Maybe if you told him now it would nip thinks in the bud"
"I've tried" Meredith said half-heartedly. "Now my kids are grown up, I want to focus on my career now"
"That isn't a bad thing you know" Callie smiled. "You've done the motherhood thing three times, if you don't want another then that's your choice"
"Would you have another even though there was a huge gap between kids?"
"I'd have to find someone to have a baby with first" Callie reminded her. "I don't know, I guess I'm still pretty young"
"Younger than me that's for sure" Meredith smiled. Although they were friends, there was an age gap between them, with Callie being only sixteen herself when she had Sofia. In fact, the only reason they became friends was because they were next door neighbours.
"I don't know about kids" Callie shrugged. "I've never given the idea much thought"
"I suppose you still have time" Meredith smiled. "So I was thinking maybe we could go out for dinner tonight? I could really use a girl chat"
"Yeah" Callie grinned. "I'd love to…but I'm working"
"What?" Meredith questioned. "Can't you get someone to cover your shift?"
"Couldn't we go out another night?" Callie narrowed her eyebrows.
"I mean…yeah but it's two meals for twenty dollars plus a free bottle of wine" Meredith grinned.
"I'm kidding, I can come" Callie said after a few moments. "Wouldn't want to miss my surprise party after all"
"Erm…what surprise party?" Meredith asked, the smile on her face had vanished immediately.
"Yeah I'm not falling for that" Callie laughed.
"Oh come on, how did you find out?" Meredith questioned.
"Well, they don't hand out these police badges for nothing…" Callie smirked.
"Just act surprised" Meredith laughed. "Or Sofia will think I've blown the whole thing"
"You got it" Callie laughed.
"I mean it about the girl chat, though. I could really use it" Meredith added.
"I know" Callie nodded. "I think I could really use it too" she added quietly so that Meredith barely heard.
Callie paced up and down her room. She was dressed and ready to go to "meet Meredith for dinner" but she was incredibly nervous. She glanced down at the necklace Arizona had brought it. She was in love with Arizona and she was scared, scared because it was the first woman she had felt so strongly for since Bianca and secondly because she knew that despite Arizona being a good person, people would still criticise their relationship. She wished it could be a little easier for her, at first the secret meetings were passionate and fun but it was clear to both of them that it was a lot more than that. She was in love with Arizona and she wanted to tell the entire world. Her conversation with Meredith had got her thinking, where did she see this thing with Arizona going? If things were getting serious, they couldn't stay hidden away forever. So tonight she would tell Meredith at least, Meredith would offer her the right advice, the rational advice she needed right now.
Callie set off in the direction of the venue where her surprise party was being held. She was nervous, she hated the idea of parties and being the centre of attention although she knew Sofia only meant well. Besides, a night with her nearest and dearest was what she needed.
Meanwhile Sofia and half of Summer Bay were sat in Angelo's waiting for Callie to come up. Presents were piled high on one of the tables and Arizona was serving people drinks.
"Sof your mums outside!" Evie shouted across the room after being put on lookout duty.
"Right everyone hide!" Sofia instructed.
"Where?" Casey glanced the room trying not to laugh. Angelo's didn't exactly have many hiding spots.
"Right good point. Everybody just look casual" Sofia instructed as Arizona quickly dimmed the lights. When Callie entered the restaurant the lights were flicked back on and everyone in the room yelled out "surprise". Callie giggled and walked over to where Sofia was. "Were you surprised mum?" Sofia questioned.
"I most definitely was" Callie smiled as Meredith raised her eyebrows after eavesdropping the conversation. "I love you little miss Sofia"
"Oh stop with the little miss, I'm sixteen now!"
"Stop reminding me" Callie laughed as more of her friends came up to engage in conversation. Callie could see Arizona at the bar from where she was stood and smiled, gently playing with the necklace Arizona had given her earlier that day wishing that Arizona was by her side rather than working her party.
"Jesus Christ, it's almost dark, I bet none of you morons brought flashlights" Tim Robbins yelled as he stepped out of his car at the national park.
"Christ mate give it a rest will ya" Brody replied throwing Tim a flashlight from the car. "I've got it right here.."
"Shut it idiot" Tim hushed the boys. "Can anyone hear a car?"
"No one is going to be out here this late" Spencer added. "Let's get this deal done"
"I can hear the engine of a car, which one of you morons messed up again?" Tim yelled.
"None of us mate" Brody argued back.
"Well thanks to you, it could be the cops up there" Tim shook his head. "Turn the flashlights off"
"Then we can't see where we're going" Spencer moaned, waving the flashlight around the area. "There's nothing there"
Tim grabbed the flashlight from Spencer's hand waving it around the area but he couldn't see anything.
"Let's get this done then boys. We all know Pirovic doesn't like to be kept waiting" Tim instructed his mates.
Meanwhile, a figure sat in darkness a little further away. He could hear Tim yelling that someone was in the distance and immediately turned off the engine. Angelo shook his head. Callie was right about Tim Robbins after all and now he'd gone into business with the guy. He knew it was Callie's party tonight so he got the number of the police station up ready to call.
"Well look who we have here" A loud voice behind Angelo spoke. Angelo turned to face whoever it was but before he could catch a glimpse of the guys face a loud crack was heard. Angelo fell to the floor with his phone in his hand, blood oozing out of his head as Tim walked away, free of any interruptions from now on.
Callie's party was a success and everyone was in good spirits after that. Callie had even agreed to let Casey stay over with Sofia, although Arizona guessed that was more to do with the amount of wine she had drank more than anything else. Callie stumbled back into the restaurant, where only Arizona remained.
"You left your bag behind" Arizona grinned, pointing at the clutch bag on the bar. "And if it wasn't for you I could have gone home hours ago"
"I'm sorry" Callie bit her lip as she came closer to the bar. "I guess I had too many wines to be subtle" she giggled. "I wanted to see you"
"I'm touched" Arizona smiled wrapping her arms around Callie's neck. "You look beautiful"
"I nearly told Meredith about us tonight" Callie blurted out.
"Really?" Arizona questioned. "Why didn't you?"
"I don't know. I was scared. I don't want everyone turning against us here"
"We don't have to tell anyone just yet" Arizona reassured her. "I love you so much and I don't want anything to ruin what we have"
"Me neither" Callie replied. "But I know I want you, for a long time maybe even forever"
"I think that's the wine talking" Arizona laughed. "But I want to be with you for a long time too and that's with no wine talking" she smirked. "Come on I'll walk you home" she broke off from the embrace and held out her hand for Callie to take.