Title: Tiny Dancer
Author: A. Windsor
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. My one semester of law school could allow me to legalese this a little more, but it also tells me it's pretty useless. So please don't sue; it's not mine, I'm just playing!
Summary: They have a plan for four.
Author's Note: Thanks for the great response! I'm glad everyone is enjoying, though baby!fic may be the furthest thing from everyone's mind right now. Here's part two of how the Robbins-Torres family became complete.
Since it's Saturday, pizza is accompanied by a movie after the kids change into their pjs. It's Beauty and the Beast for the ten thousandth time, but Callie still just barely pulls Arizona away from it to call Addison on speakerphone while the kids are curled up in the living room.
"You wanted to talk to us, Addy?" Callie asks, pulling the stool over so that she can put an arm around Arizona's waist. Arizona's cell phone sits on the breakfast bar. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's great. Wonderful, in fact."
"Wonderful?" Arizona questions.
"That means awesome in grown-up speak, baby."
Arizona pokes Callie in the ribs for her impertinence. Addison laughs.
"I think I found you a birth mom," she announces.
Callie and Arizona freeze mid-poke war.
"Now there are a lot of details to work out, a lot of paperwork and meetings, and screenings, but I have the inside scoop, and right now, you're her first choice." A pause. "Are you guys still there?"
"Yep. Just, processing," Callie says slowly.
"Her name is Marisol Garcia. She's sixteen, Dominican-American. From right here in LA; she's actually a patient of mine. She's due to deliver a so far very healthy baby boy in April.
"Wow," Callie breathes out.
"I don't know what to say," Arizona starts.
"Just say you'll talk to her. She's a great kid, and I think she'd be a good match for your guys. Nothing too serious. Talk about it, then call me back, and I'll get you in touch with her social worker."
"Yeah, okay," Arizona sighs, squeezing Callie's hand.
"Did you get a good Christmas tree?"
"Asa and Cari picked out the biggest one on the lot," Arizona says brightly, trying to distract Callie from the conflicted look spreading across her face.
"And Lena?"
"She wanted the most Charlie Brown tree I've even seen. That big old heart of hers has a soft spot for strays."
"You didn't get it?"
"Of course I did. I put it in her room and told her she had to take care of it."
Addison laughs. "Okay. Sam's looking at me like he'll kill me if I don't get off the phone and eat the yummy dinner he made. Promise me you'll think about what I said."
"We will," Callie speaks up, scooping up the phone. "Talk to you soon. Enjoy dinner, and say hi to Sam for us."
"Will do. Bye!"
"Tell me what you're thinking," Arizona says softly, running her fingers up and down Calliope's spine.
"It's just... A lot to process."
"Oh, Momma, look! It's Gaston!" Lena interrupts.
"They want you. Go. Get some snuggles and watch your movie."
"You, too," Arizona insists. "They've missed you. Think you can stand 'Be Our Guest' for the umpteenth time if you can get some cuddling out of it?"
"Yeah, I think I can manage," Callie forces a smile as Arizona kisses her cheek.
"And then we'll talk. About everything. Once we've bundled the munchkins off to bed."
Callie nods and takes a deep breath, pushing off of the barstool.
Arizona immediately plops down next to Lena and puts an arm around her slim shoulders.
"Ooh, Gaston. What a jerk."
Callie sits between Asa and Caroline. Asa immediately stretches his legs across her lap and passes her a little half-smile before turning his attention back to the movie. Cari keeps her distance, holding tight to her green blankie, sleepy eyes trained on the screen. She's already so grown up; she'll be three in February, and she just hates being treated like a baby. She wants to walk and talk on her own, and do everything else just like her brother and sister can.
Callie's hands idly stroke Asa's knobby knees as she longs for the days when he was a tiny infant who did nothing but lie sweetly in her arms or take naps cuddled close to Arizona's chest. (The latter he's still been known to do, occasionally, though he'd never admit it.) She wants that, just one more time, just one more little newborn that screams all night, the brother poor hopelessly outnumbered Asa has been begging for. But she can't get her hopes up. Nothing's official until they're chosen and the delivery is complication-free and a baby boy is laying in the empty bedroom upstairs.
"Mami, yo gané. Quiero un cuento más. That was the deal." [Mami, I won. I want one more story.]
"You made that deal with your momma. Take it up with her."
"Well, mándala aquí. Quiero uno más." [Send her here. I want one more.]
"You're a bossy little thing, just like she is," Callie plants a kiss on Lena's proffered lips.
"Sí. Soy Momma." [Yes, I'm Momma.]
"Te quiero, mi alma."
"No, no. I'm Abuelito's alma. Su alma cubana." [His Cuban soul.]
Callie laughs. "Oh-kay. I won't take your abuelito's nickname. I promise."
"Okay, good. Te quiero también, Mami."
"I'll send your momma in."
"Gracias."
Callie walks through the jack-and-jill bathroom to check on Caroline, who is still snoozing away in her toddler bed. Back on the other side, she can hear Lena greet Arizona.
"Momma, I need my Momma snuggles and my extra story. Lots of Momma snuggles."
Arizona laughs. "I'll see what I can do, Lena Rose."
Having already kissed Asa goodnight, Callie makes her way back towards their bedroom, starting to get ready for bed. Arizona comes down several minutes later, covering a yawn with her hand.
"Finally got away from her, huh?" Callie asks warmly, spitting into the sink. "I'd be jealous if I thought you had a thing for blondes."
"No, that's you."
"True. I have a weakness for them."
Callie replaces her toothbrush and heads to bed. Arizona takes her time washing up and then appears in the doorway, hands on her hips.
"This is good news, right? I mean, cautiously optimistic, good news, but you still wanna do this, right? Because I still do, but I stand by what I said. Four is just a number, and I love our family the way it is."
"No, no. It is. Good news. Cautiously optimistic good news. I promise."
"Then what's with the face?" Arizona asks, crawling into her side of the bed.
Callie laughs a little. "What's wrong with my face?"
"It's frowny."
Callie sighs and takes her into her arms, soothed as Arizona's head settles onto her shoulder.
"I'm just... nervous. About everything. About finding the right match. About, doing it differently this time. Will I still love him the same? Even though I never felt him inside of me?"
"Of course you will."
Of course you say that, Callie refrains from biting back, but Arizona knows she's thinking it.
"You will. It's just... scarier, I'd imagine. You feel out of control, separated from everything. But none of it matters once the baby's here, none of it. When you have the baby in your arms... everything falls into place."
Callie's never heard her articulate it like this, what the births of their children felt like for her.
"Is that why you're such a baby hog for the first forty-eight hours?"
Arizona drops a grinning kiss onto Callie's shoulder.
"Yep. Have to make up for forty weeks of bonding."
"Is he gonna feel left out? Because he's adopted and his brother and sisters aren't?"
"Not if we don't let him," Arizona says resolutely.
"And you're sure you wanna do this, Miss Control Freak? I mean, we have no control over that baby until we have him with us. No assurance the birth mom won't change her mind. Or that she's eating the right things or avoiding the right things."
Arizona makes a face, contemplating her wife's words.
"It'll be hard, but, yes. If you're sure, I'm sure. If not this specific baby and mother, then whatever one we're supposed to add to our family. I'm ready."
Callie's hands trail down to Arizona's hips, rolling a little and pulling her wife on top of her. Their noses brush gently, and Callie closes her eyes, enjoying the familiar, protected feeling of their bodies pressed together.
"I still don't understand how you always know the right thing to say," she says softly, lips against the corner of Arizona's mouth.
"It's a gift," Arizona sighs. "Calliope, you have enough love in your heart for a thousand kids. You will be just as amazing of a mom to Baby #4 as you are for the rest of our awesome kids."
Callie threads her fingers in Arizona's silky hair and pulls her in for a kiss. Arizona has become especially adept at talking down her crazy since Caroline's birth.
There's a tell-tale click of their bedroom door being opened by small hands. Arizona lets out a breathy laugh and doesn't even have to look before saying:
"Hi, Lena-bug."
Arizona rolls off of Callie as Lena runs over to bed.
"We just put you into bed, m'ija," Callie admonishes lightly as Arizona lifts the covers and their frequent escapee clambers into bed.
"Can't sleep," the newly six year old says extra-sweetly, curling into Callie's side. "Can't turn my brain off. Momma y tú me ayudan dormir y me calman los sueños." [You and Momma help me sleep and calm my dreams.]
Callie drops a kiss onto the top of Lena's head. She knows her little charmer is totally milking her with cuteness, but she falls victim every time. Lena's charm should be a registered weapon.
"Lena, you really should sleep in your own bed," Arizona complains, even as she succumbs to their daughter's sleepy, dimpled smile. She brushes a blonde curl behind Lena's ear and snuggles in with the two of them.
"I know, Momma. Tomorrow night, I promise," Lena sighs as she presses her head into the pillow and tucks her little butt into her Mami's tummy, fingers of one hand tangling into the front of her Momma's pajama top.
"Mm, another night in bed with two cute blondes. I'm the luckiest girl in the world."
"There he is! He looks good, Marisol," Dr. Montgomery says warmly.
"You're gonna send it to Callie and Arizona, right?" Marisol asks, shifting on the uncomfortable hospital bed while the steady heartbeat of her unborn son, - no, their unborn son – pulses through the room.
"Of course."
"Good. We have a Skype call tonight. Asa's been asking for pictures."
"You guys've really hit it off, huh?"
"His brother and sisters like to talk to him, and his moms want to check in. Arizona is reading him Harry Potter, 'cause she read it to the others before they were born. You're, uh, sure he's healthy right? I don't wanna give them a defective baby."
"Everything is going well. You're still taking your vitamins, right?"
Marisol nods. "And I'm walking at least thirty minutes, every day."
"Then you're doing everything right."
"You're going to deliver him, Dr. Montgomery, yeah? Callie said you deliver Robbins-Torres babies, and I... He's gonna be different enough, a little black boy with a blonde big sister, but I want him to be as much like them as he can."
Marisol's hand drops to her seven-months pregnant belly as Addison looks her over appraising.
"Definitely. Marisol, how are you doing? With all of this, I mean. It's a difficult thing, and you made your decision pretty quickly."
"You don't think Arizona and Callie are the right choice?"
"No, of course I do. It's just... They're my friends, and I want to make sure you're comfortable when it comes time for this baby to be born. Because they're investing a lot. Their kids are investing a lot in this, and it will destroy them if you're not sure. If this baby comes and you can't hand him over."
Marisol's brow wrinkles.
"I want him to have the best. And they're the best. I really don't want a baby."
"Have you decided what sort of contact you'd like after the baby is born? I know they said they'd be open to you seeing him a little."
"We're still talking about it. I dunno how much I'm gonna wanna see him. It'll be weird."
"I think as long as you're all clear about expectations and boundaries, whatever you decide will be best for both you and the baby."
Marisol nods.
"Kinda funny that after twelve weeks or so, you'll be a bigger part of his life than I am."
"I hadn't even thought of that," Dr. Montgomery smiles, eyes returning to the ultrasound picture with extra warmth. "Okay. We're all done here. I'll email this to you and Cal, and I'll see you in four weeks. You have my number if you need me, right? Even just to talk. And you're my patient, so I won't tell anyone about what we talk about. Not even Callie and Arizona."
"So, how did you meet?"
"Oh, I don't think he's ready for the story of how Momma kissed Mami in a dirty bar bathroom within five minutes of introducing herself."
"It was much sweeter than you make it seem. It sounds tawdry when you say it like that."
"Momma, what's tawdry mean?"
Callie and Arizona laugh, and Arizona hauls Lena into her lap.
"Lena, say hi to Marisol."
"Hola. ¿Cómo está mi hermanito?"
"Está bien. Tu mami tiene un video para ustedes. ¿Cómo estás tú?" [He's good. Your mami has a video for y'all. How are you?]
"Bien. Ha crecido mi hermanita, ¿no? Su cumple es mañana." [Good. My sister's grown, hasn't she? Her birthday is tomorrow.]
"Gonna be tres," Caroline chimes from Callie's lap, holding up three fingers.
"You are bigger," Marisol tells the girl warmly. "Where's your brother?"
"Play date," Arizona answers. "He left a note for Lena to read to the baby."
"Okay, I think he's ready..."
"'Hola, hermanito,'" the kindergartner begins. "Sorry I... missed our t...talking time. Next... week I'll tell you about my basketball game. Love, Asa."
"Lena, lees muy bien." [Lena, you read very well.]
"Gracias."
"Nice work, m'ija. How about you take Cari to the playroom, okay?"
"Sí, Mami. Bye, Marisol!"
"Bye-bye," Caroline echoes.
"Ciao, niñas."
Arizona's pager blares as the girls disappear from view.
"Shoot. 911 on my transplant kid. Sorry, Marisol. See you next week."
"Bye Arizona. Suerte."
Arizona kisses Callie's cheek and hurries towards the door.
There's an awkward pause as the two women are left with little to discuss. Callie realizes that Arizona and the kids have been dominating these interactions all along.
"Pues, ¿de dónde es tu familia?" Marisol finally asks. [Well, where is your family from?]
"Miami, now. Havana originally. My parents were born there, and their families moved to Miami when they were kids, after the revolution. What about you?"
"La Victoria, D.R. My abuelos all immigrated here. My mami was born in New York. I think my dad was too. We moved out to LA when I was two or three."
"Why did you choose us, Marisol? You had to have plenty of more traditional couples to choose from."
"Well, you were the only couple Dr. Montgomery could personally vouch for. And sure, the other couples were nice-"
"And had dads," Callie interjects.
"Yeah, but I guess my life's made me think a man's not that important for a kid."
"Even for a boy?"
"Asa's a better kid than most boys I've met that do have papis. I want the baby to have people that love him and siblings to play with, and you guys are all that. And we get along. And it's kinda nice that he'll grow up hablando la lengua, y'know?"
"Oh yeah. Hablamos la lengua all the time en esta casa. [We speak the language all the time in this house.] Poor Arizona can barely keep up."
"Okay, well, I've gotta get some sleep. Same time next week?"
"Yeah. Call us if you need anything before then, okay?"
tbc
