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"Hey" Callie smiled warmly at Casey as she entered the living room. It was 9am and the sun was already blazing. "Did you get much sleep?"
"No" Casey shook his head. "Not really" he sighed. "This whole thing is just a mess" he exhaled. Callie nodded sympathetically at the boy.
"It wasn't my hope for Sofia to become a parent this early on" she replied taking a seat beside Casey. "I was only my age when I had her myself"
"What was it like?" Casey asked. "Being a parent so young?"
"Challenging" Callie replied quickly. "I'm not going to be the one who paints a picture of parenthood as being all rosy. There are good times, so many precious good times, but there's also tough times ahead"
"I love your daughter" Casey replied firmly. "And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make our situation work"
"Well that makes me feel a little better" Callie smiled. "She needs you right now"
"Do you think my sister will ever speak to me again?" Casey asked. "I mean she was so angry, I've never seen her that mad before"
"Maybe she just needs time Casey" Callie replied. "It came as a shock to all of us" she said. "Not that I'm exactly thrilled myself" she added as a yawning Sofia made her way into the room.
"Hey" Callie and Casey both said in unison.
"How you feeling?" Casey added.
"Sick" Sofia pulled a face. "Could you both please stop staring at me like that?" her eyes glowered at Callie and Casey. "It's creeping me out"
"Like what?" Callie questioned.
"Like I'm fragile" Sofia rolled her eyes. "I need coffee"
"Yeah…no" Callie rose to her feet. "I don't think so Sof"
"Isn't caffeine bad for the baby?" Casey asked concerned as he joined Callie's side.
"Casey knows what he's talking about" Callie smiled. "No more coffee until the baby is here. Remind me to get you decaf next time I go shopping"
"This is so unfair" Sofia rolled her eyes.
"You got yourself knocked up, you have to deal with the consequences" Callie called out after her. "What are you doing?" she yelled out as Sofia disappeared to the kitchen.
"Getting some milk" Sofia called back. "If that's still allowed, that is" she lowered her voice so Callie couldn't catch the last part of her sentence.
"We also need to have a chat" Callie said as Sofia came back into the room, glass of milk in hand. "Obviously, there's going to be a lot of changes around here" she added as someone knocked on the door.
"Hey" Sofia half-smiled as she came face to face with Arizona at the door. Casey walked over to his sister.
"I overreacted" Arizona stated simply. "I'm sorry"
"It's fine" Casey shrugged it off.
"Can I come in?" Arizona peered around the inside of Callie's home as though she wasn't already familiar with it. Casey looked over at Callie who nodded.
"I was just saying we need to have a chat but now that you're here I guess you'll have some things to say too" Callie smiled as the four made their way over to the table.
"Yeah" Arizona exhaled. "So you're keeping it?" she directed at Sofia and Casey.
"Of course" Sofia responded firmly.
"No…I wasn't saying you should…" Arizona's cheeks reddened. "I just wanted to know what your plans were"
"Oh…okay" Sofia nodded.
"I've made you an appointment" Callie told Sofia, pulling out a piece of paper from her pocket. "For an ultrasound. So, we can see how far along you are and if the baby is developing as it should be"
"Thanks" Sofia took the crumpled-up piece of paper and glanced at it.
"And I know this is going to be a big year for you both exam wise but I think that if you are both serious about raising this child together you should work in your free time" Callie said, realising how much Sofia and Casey would be relying on her otherwise. "Casey, do you still work at the restaurant?" she asked, remembering his job in the restaurant Arizona part-owned.
"Yeah" Casey mumbled.
"Well you'll be getting a lot more shifts" Arizona told him. "You too Sofia, we're in need of a waitress for the next couple of months anyhow"
"Thanks" Sofia nodded.
"And I'm going to speak with cousin Julie" Arizona added, looking at Casey. "See if she's got any old baby stuff she's looking to get rid of"
"Does mum know?" Casey asked, his eyes widened.
"Nope" Arizona shook her head. "But she's coming to the bay today and she's probably pissed at me for telling the cops that Tim attacked Angelo so I would wait to…share your news too"
"Good point" Casey nodded, grasping Sofia's hand. "We can do this" he smiled. "Let's just take it one day at a time"
"One day at a time" Sofia repeated the words slowly. "Sounds good to me".
"Jesus Callie" Arizona panted as her girlfriend kissed her neck before climbing off her. "That was…"
"Incredible…mind blowing…dirty" Callie finished Arizona's sentence for her with a seductive grin. "And just what I needed"
"Oh god same here" Arizona added, pulling her top over her head before she flopped back onto the bed in the little motel room. "After the past day"
"I thought you were avoiding me" Callie pointed out. "You kept rejecting my calls"
"I thought you'd be angry at me" Arizona bowed her head. "And at that point, I wasn't sure if you'd want to still be girlfriends"
"Why not? You did the right thing after all" Callie screwed her face up in confusion.
"You've made it clear before that you didn't like my family"
"Okay, that was a while ago. Whilst I'm not completely loving Casey at the minute with the whole pregnancy thing I still think he's a good kid. And I'm actually pretty thrilled he's sticking by Sofia because it's tough being a single mum. Tim, well he left my friend for dead. I don't think I'll ever be his biggest fan"
"I know" Arizona exhaled. "He makes the most stupid decisions"
"What time is your mum coming over?" Callie asked.
"Soon" Arizona grimaced. "Although to be honest I'm trying to avoid going back home at all"
"You could always stay here" Callie pointed out glancing around the motel room which had become like a second home to both of them.
"Without you?" Arizona raised her eyebrow.
"I know" Callie pouted.
"Why don't we just tell everyone about us" Arizona blurted out. "It's been a long while Callie and people they're not likely to care. I mean they might care in the beginning but then it will all die down and it will be us. Just us, Casey, Sofia and little baby Robbins"
"Arizona…" Callie exhaled. "You really think now is the time to start telling people we're dating?"
"When is there a good time?"
"We've just arrested your brother. He's going to be the talk of Summer Bay for the next few weeks. Trust me now isn't the time"
"Will it ever be the time?" Arizona asked.
"Of course" Callie nodded. "Just trust me" she smirked. "I've got to get back to the station for a quick meet, you coming to the ultrasound tomorrow?"
"Sure" Arizona nodded, watching Callie leave the motel room. Feeling deflated she turned over so her back was to the door. Maybe Callie was right, maybe now wasn't the time to tell people about their relationship. They'd just have to wait that little bit longer.
"Tim Robbins has been charged with the assault on Angelo Rosetta" Callie's boss spoke to the room filled with police officers. "After confessing to his sister who alerted the police, we were able to arrest and get a full confession from Robbins himself"
"He confessed?" Callie whispered to Teddy who nodded.
"Probably figured his chances weren't all that good. I mean his sister was the one who told us it was him. Plus we searched his car and found the weapon he used to assault Angelo with"
"True" Callie nodded as she refocused her attention to her boss again.
"So what will happen next?" another officer called out.
"Well, he's been jailed until the case goes to trial. If he is found guilty he could face up to five years in prison"
"Good" Callie muttered under her breath and could have swore Teddy muttered something similar. The meeting came to its natural end and the officers left the room. "So how is Angelo doing?"
"Good" Teddy smiled. "We're still waiting for him to remember the attack so if he does before the case goes to trial we'll have even more evidence to nail Robbins."
"Good" Callie smiled. "Is he at home yet or?"
"Think so" Teddy shrugged. "I've been pretty much living here the past few nights, you got lucky not being on shift the past few nights"
"Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure about that" Callie exhaled.
"What do you mean by that?" Teddy raised her eyebrows.
"Well I'm going to be a grandmother"
"No way" Teddy exclaimed in surprise. "So is this good news?"
"Would it be bad of me to say I wished Sofia was a little older, with a stable job. I mean she's still a child and now she has to grow up a lot quicker than everyone else…" Callie exhaled.
"I don't think that is a bad thing to say at all" Teddy replied. "But Sofia's a tough girl and she's got a pretty bad ass mother too so it will all work out"
"I hope so" Callie nodded. "I'm going to catch up on paperwork at home so I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. We have a hospital appointment in the morning" she smiled.
"Well good luck" Teddy called out after her. "And tell Sofia congratulations…I guess" she added.
"Mum" Arizona smiled as Barbara Robbins came to the door.
"So it's true then? Tim's been arrested"
"I had to do the right thing" Arizona spoke firmly, afraid of her mother's reaction. Their mother adored Tim, maybe it was because he stepped up and became the man of the family when their dad died, Arizona just couldn't put her finger on it.
"I know" Barbara nodded. "He was a stupid boy"
"Well I'm glad you're on my side" Arizona smiled, obviously relieved. "For once" she muttered under her breath. Barbara didn't quite hear.
"So what's going to happen to the restaurant?"
"What do you mean what's going to happen to the restaurant?" Arizona asked. "I can take over"
"And you really think this Angelo guy will want you there? After what Tim did?" Barbara raised her eyebrows at her daughter.
"I need to discuss things with him"
"And if he doesn't then what will you do?" Barbara asked.
"I don't know" Arizona sighed. "I guess Angelo can buy us out of the restaurant so we'll have some money for the time being"
"Tim's money" Barbara pointed out.
"Our money" Arizona corrected her through gritted teeth. "Have you been to see him yet?" she asked referring to Tim.
"Not yet" Barbara shook her head. "I don't think your father and I ever thought he'd turn out this way. He was such a good kid"
"I know" Arizona smiled thinking of a time when her father was alive and Tim was allowed to be the child that he was. "He had to grow up quickly" she gulped, realising that Casey no longer had this option himself. She opened her mouth to talk again but figured it wasn't the right time.
"I should have been there for you. I should have been more of a mother" Barbara glanced at Arizona.
"You were grieving. It wasn't your fault" Arizona turned away from her mother momentarily. "I keep trying to decide whether I should go and visit Tim"
"I think he could use his family right now" Barbara nodded. "Maybe he won't realise it now but you made the right decision. A man could have died. Maybe getting punished is what he needs to get on the straight and narrow again"
"Maybe" Arizona added half-heartedly.
"So where is Casey?" Barbara added looking around the room. "I would like to see at least one of my sons whilst I'm here"
"He's probably with Sofia" Arizona shrugged.
"Young love" Barbara smiled. "I remember a time when your father and I were joined at the hip".
"Gross" Arizona pulled a face.
"You were never quite a sucker for love were you, sweetheart? Maybe it's time you found someone for you too"
"Maybe" Arizona muttered, her thoughts flicking to thoughts of Callie and the conversation they had had in the motel room earlier.
"Angelo" Callie smiled as she stepped into Angelo's apartment. "So I take it you're feeling a lot better if they let you out?" she questioned.
"I feel fine" Angelo responded. "And memories of the attack are coming back, I remember being in the park"
"I understand Teddy has told you we found who was responsible for the attack?" Callie continued.
"Yep" Angelo nodded. "I can't understand why. I know he has this dodgy reputation but he seemed like a good bloke at work" Angelo shook his head lightly.
"It seems to us like you interrupted something going on there" Callie said, trying to get Angelo to remember the attack.
"I can't remember Callie" he shook his head sadly. "I wish I could"
"It's early days yet" Callie responded. "So when are you heading back to the restaurant"
"I don't know if I am" Angelo mumbled.
"What?" Callie asked.
"Nicole and I have been thinking about moving away. A fresh start" he responded. "Once the trial is over I mean"
"Yeah" Callie added. "So what, you'll sell the restaurant?" she asked. "Or get someone to buy your share"
"Hopefully" Angelo nodded. "I guess with Tim behind bars it will be Arizona taking over" he responded. "She was the one who handed him in, right?" he asked.
"Yeah that's what I believe" Callie nodded.
"Well, at least she's not like him. The younger one seems to be alright too" Angelo added.
"Yeah, well I mean they're not Tim"
"No, they're definitely not" Angelo added.
"I better get home" Callie excused herself. "Sofia will be wondering where I am"
"Sure. Thanks for calling in" Angelo smiled showing his friend to the door.
"No problem" Callie responded. "And if you remember anything more about what happened at the National Park…"
"I'll call you" Angelo promised. "See you later Callie"
Callie popped into the restaurant on the way home to pick up some pizzas. With Angelo resting at home and Tim behind bars, Arizona was running the place by herself. Callie nodded at Casey who was waiting tables. The place was packed.
"You're doing well. Considering" Callie smiled as she walked up to the counter where Arizona was taking orders.
"What do you want Callie?" she responded with a bored look in her eyes.
"Two pepperoni pizzas" Callie responded. "What's wrong?" she lowered her voice, trying to catch Arizona's gaze.
"TWO PEPPERONI PIZZAS" Arizona yelled into the kitchen, ignoring Callie's question. Annoyed, Callie tried to catch her girlfriend's attention again.
"What have I done?" Callie asked.
"I'm just trying to pretend like we don't exist to each other" Arizona whispered back. "Like we're not two people who have been girlfriends for months. Like we're not two people who are in love"
"This is about what I said earlier. About not going public, isn't it?" Callie realised. "Come on, Arizona"
"I can't keep us hidden forever"
"No one said it had to be forever"
"It feels like forever so far"
"Just give me a little more time" Callie smiled. "Come on, I'll make it up to you tomorrow"
"Okay" Arizona nodded, the edges of her lips turning upwards into a small smile. "I'll hold you to that".