Title: Their Belated Honeymoon
Couple: Callie/Arizona
Rating: NC-17
Summary: It is a look back through Callie and Arizona's relationship and their honeymoon which takes place twelve months after their actual wedding. Hopefully it will fill in the gaps for some missing scenes but it is not completely based on the show, as you will see.
Disclaimer: I wish I could claim that I own Grey's Anatomy or the characters but the simple fact is that I don't, I own nothing.
"Alright so are we ready to go?" Arizona asked, looking around the loft they were staying to check that they had everything.
"Um... yeah I think so," Callie replied, looking down at her watch to check the time, "Shit Arizona, we have to go, we are gonna be late, I don't wanna be late," fear now riddling her tone.
"It'll be fine, we have a daughter now, we can blame it on her," Arizona replied.
"Yeah, and how are you authority issues gonna go with that one. Are we going to tell the Colonel through sobs are we?" Callie retorted, now laughing as they exited the front door.
"Very funny Calliope and I am not going to tell him, you are."
"Oh is that right, fine but let's just get there already," Callie finalised as she buckled Sofia into the car. The car ride to the Robbins apartment was filled with a comfortable silence as Sofia's favourite CD played, very giddy tunes filling the silence. As they pulled into the driveway, Arizona went to the back to pull Sofia out of the car, carrying her to the front door while Callie grabbed their bags. They nervously stood at the door waiting for an answer.
"You're late," Daniel started before the door was even fully open.
"Yeah Arizona took forever, it's all her fault," Callie jokingly replied as she hugged Daniel.
"It did not, not my fault at all, it's just we have a family now, took a bit longer with Sofia is all" Arizona stammered defensively.
"It's fine Arizona, I was just joking, well you are late, but it is ok, I understand what it is like to have a young family, now come inside," Daniel replied as he took Sofia from Arizona's arms, "Now how is my favourite Granddaughter, huh, how is she?" he asked tickling her. As they entered the door Arizona leant in to Callie, whispering in her ear.
"Thanks for ratting me out, really thanks."
"I was just joking, and he is fine with it, it's ok," Callie replied, both now headed for the kitchen. Callie was amazed, though the apartment was small it was extremely modern and it had a magnificent homely feel, like it was well lived in. The walls were covered in family photos, ranging from Arizona and Timothy when they were toddlers all the way through to a few of Arizona and Callie's wedding day, some she never even knew had been taken. Callie had seen photos of Timothy before, but not many, and certainly none of him when he was older. Arizona was still very closed off about that time in her life, though she made a huge effort to tell Sofia stories of the uncle she'll never get to meet. The walls also had many photos of Sofia, some that Arizona had sent and emailed, and others that Callie was not so sure of the source, but the apartment boasted a family feel and Callie felt nothing but welcome.
"I see you like the photos," Barbara started, coming up behind Callie and placing a hand on her back.
"Yeah, we never really had photos hung in my family's house, and I am sure there would be none of Sofia and Arizona there, but you know," Callie replied, her disappointment obvious in her tone.
"Well if we get back from dinner at a reasonable hour I will pull out all the old photo albums, just don't tell Zona cause she will surely make dinner run extra long if she knows," Barbara continued, winking at Callie, "Alright, I have a booking for 6.30 so we best hit the road."
"Yep, so do you want to take our car 'cause we have the baby seat in it already?" Arizona questioned.
"Yeah sure," Daniel answered as they headed for the front door. The car ride was filled with light chatter and the odd display of back seat driving from Daniel, quickly followed by Barbara telling him that Arizona had been driving long enough to know what she was doing. Callie just laughed at the display while she rubbed soothing circles on Arizona's thigh in an attempt to remove the stern look from Arizona's face. "Alright this is the place," Daniel chimed in from the back. They entered the restaurant and Daniel and Barbara were greeted by the waiter,
"Ah, Mr and Mrs Robbins, how are you this evening?"
"Well thank you," Daniel replied, "Patrick, I would like you to meet my daughter Arizona, her wife Callie and their daughter Sofia."
"Very nice to meet you all, now I have you at the table by the window, will that suit for the evening, and I can bring a high chair over for young Sofia?" Patrick asked politely.
"Yes that would be fantastic," Daniel answered as they all followed Patrick to the table. After everyone was seated, Patrick went through all the specials and suggested what meals were the best and the wine to suit before he left the table to decide.
"So I am thinking the kids fish for Sofia, is that alright?" Arizona turned to Callie to ask.
"Yeah that looks nice and healthy, what are you gonna get? I am thinking the salmon but I also like the sound of the lamb," Callie replied, her indecision evident.
"Actually I was tossing up between the same two, so why don't we share," Arizona decided as she placed her hand on Callie's knee under the table, the love they shared evident to everyone in the restaurant. Barbara was delighted at the display; the pair was seemingly more comfortable to display their love now than they were back at the dinner they shared before their wedding. Barbara glowed at the sight of her daughter so in love and so happy, she could not help the smile that graced her lips as she looked back to the menu.
"Alright, is everyone ready to order?" Daniel asked looking up from his menu. "Yep's" and "yes's" rung out from the table as the waiter returned to the table to take their order. While they waited for their meals to arrive, the conversation started up again.
"So Dad, are you liking it up here, with the retirement and everything?" Arizona started.
"Yes, well I thought it would be hard to keep my mind occupied, but I have started teaching down at the academy, only a couple of days a week but it gives me something to do. And with you, how is the hospital, any interesting cases?"
"Yeah it is good, taking it a bit easier these days, trying to get as much time at home and with the family so that involved learning to delegate, not my strong point but it's not like there is no incentive to learn," Arizona replied, squeezing Callie's hand under the table and looking her in the eye briefly, "So yeah, it is good."
"And you Callie, busy at work?" Daniel continued, keen to find as much information about what his daughter's were up to.
"Yeah much the same, working hard but trying to get as much home time as well. And I have just had a breakthrough with some research I am doing which is good," Callie replied as Arizona scoffed at the last part, "What?" Callie retorted looking at Arizona in shock.
"Good, really Callie, just good?" Arizona questioned, but before she could get a response she turned to her parents, "Mum, Dad, it could be ground breaking, I mean who creates cartilage from scratch, I mean God does and you do Callie, you are the only two, so not good, it could be amazingly groundbreaking, career changing, you are too modest," Arizona finished, nothing but pride in her voice, as she looked at Callie who was now smiling broadly but shaking her head at her boastful wife.
"Anyway," Callie continued, "What about you Barbara, do you like San Diego?"
"Yeah it is nice, bit closer to you two, so we might have to start travelling up there a bit more. It is nice and quiet, though I do miss having the big family home that we used to have, but it is nice to finally settle and know that we won't be up and out of here in six months, not that I didn't like it back then but in my older age, not so easy anymore," Barbara reassuringly finished.
"Yeah I can't imagine what that would be like, changing schools all the time, making new friends, I was never good with that stuff, but I guess you learn," Callie finished as their meals arrived. Everyone ate in silence, except for the few moans of appreciation of the wonderful tasting food, even Sofia was relatively quiet for the duration as Callie spoon fed her the fish meal in between taking bites of her own meal. No plate was left unfinished, quite a feat they all agreed.
"So," Barbara started, "I was thinking earlier that Sofia would have had big day and would probably be rather tired, and Arizona you haven't been home in a while, and Callie has never had my pie, so I may have baked a pie, but I mean we can have dessert here if you want, but there is pie and coffee at home if you would like."
"Well I see where you get you rambling from," Callie joked, grabbing Arizona's hand, "But pie sounds great, thanks Barbara."
"Yeah wait til you taste it Callie, it is the best pie around, and I have had my fair share of pie," Daniel finished.
"Yeah," Arizona agreed, nodding her head.
"Alright then, I will grab the bill and meet you at the car?" Daniel ordered rather than questioned.
"No Dad, let me, really," Arizona tried.
"No darling, I wanted to take my family out to a nice meal so I have got it, you take Sofia out to the car, I got this," Daniel finalised as he kissed Arizona on the cheek before she headed for the door. Again the car ride was filled with non substantial banter about each of their lives and how Sofia was progressing until they arrived back at the Robbins residence.
"Alright, I will pop the pie in the oven and who wants coffee?" Barbara asked. She received a yes from both Arizona and Daniel who were playing with Sofia in the lounge room, while Callie followed her to the kitchen.
"I would love one, here I'll give you a hand," Callie said as she watched the threesome playing on the floor from behind the kitchen counter.
"You know," Barbara started coming to stand next to Callie, "She never bought many people home to meet us, but with you, she told us about you the day she started in Seattle, and every day after that that we spoke. I don't ever think I have seen her happier, and I know that she had always convinced herself that she didn't want kids, especially after Timothy, but I have never seen the that amount of love in her eyes for anyone but you and that little girl, and I will never forget the teary phone call we received when you two found out you were pregnant, she was so happy she could barely get the words out. We have you to thank Callie, for making our daughter so happy, so thank you," Barbara finished, tears filling her eyes as she watched her husband, daughter and granddaughter playing on the floor together. Callie did not know what to say, she was speechless, tears threatening to fall out of her own eyes at Barbara's unexpected confession. Taking a few moments to gather her emotions she tried to talk.
"You know she thought she wasn't cut out to be a Mum, and I look at her with Sofia and even her patients and I just can't fathom how she could ever think that of herself. She is the best mum ever, and I think you taught her that, so thank you Barbara, and thank you for accepting me and our family, it means the world to me."
"How could I not, you are a beautiful person and Sofia is way too adorable to ever deny," Barbara finalised as she turned back to the pie, not thinking of the power of her words. Callie was instantly taken back to the day before her wedding when her parents had come to stay and her mother had blatantly refused to accept Arizona or Sofia. The words that her mother said ran over and over in her head: 'You are not a bride. And I am not the mother of a bride. And this is not your wedding It isn't right.' She couldn't help but remember when she had to tell Arizona what her mother felt.
12 months ago
"Calliope, Callie you paged me 911 where are you? You're worrying me," Arizona called as she entered there seemingly empty apartment, worry evident in her tone. She headed for their bedroom where the door was closed, "Callie," she asked as she pushed the door open to reveal a sobbing Callie. "Oh my god, Callie, what happened? What's wrong?" she asked as she ran to the opposite side of the bed to pull Callie into her arms. "Callie, baby, talk to me."
"She left, she just left, she said that this wasn't real, that I wasn't getting married tomorrow and that she couldn't do this and that it wasn't right, and she left, my own mother left," Callie explained through sobs.
"Oh Callie, baby," Arizona tried, not really knowing how to comfort Callie this time. "You know we can wait, she will come around, I mean if you want, we can wait for her and I know..." Arizona started but she was cut off by Callie finally raising her eyes to meet Arizona's.
"No, I am not waiting for my mother, we are not waiting for my mother," Callie said convincingly, "She refused t accept me, you and Sofia, I mean I knew something was wrong when she refused to hold her, I mean your parent's came here straight from the airport, jet lagged and all to see you, to meet me and to meet their granddaughter, my father came, but mum, she went and got settled at the hotel. I mean really, how can she not accept Sofia and you, you are the best thing to ever happen to me and you're all perky and happy and nice, how could anyone hate you, even if they tried really hard," Callie continued, her sobs becoming more prominent.
"Callie, baby, I... I..." Arizona tried, "I really don't know what I can say, I just... I don't know."
"Just say that tomorrow you will marry me, say that tomorrow we will start our lives together, whether or not my mother wants to be a part of that," Callie tried, looking hopefully at Arizona.
"I will marry you tomorrow, and it will be the start of the rest of our lives, ok?"
"Yes, ok... Wow, I can't believe my own parents will not be at my wedding, not that they were there for the first one, but that one didn't count. This is my wedding, this is our wedding, no-one can take that away."
"Carlos will be there, so you will have your father there," Arizona reminded Callie.
"No, he can't. He can't go against my mother, I can't let him, I can't force him to choose."
"What do you mean?" Arizona questioned.
"He will have to go with her, I will ask him to go with her, because I am not going to make him choose between his wife and his daughter, it's unfair." Callie rationalized.
"Are you sure?" Arizona continued to question.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Are you ok?"
"Not really, do you have to get back to the hospital or can you stay?" Callie asked honestly.
"I can stay, I am done for the night, here lay down," Arizona suggested, and as Callie did she cuddled up behind her, wrapping Callie's defeated figure up in her arms. "It'll be ok, alright? I will do everything to make this day the best it can be ok?" Arizona continued trying to soothe Callie while rubbing soft circles on her stomach.
"I love you," Callie stated as she let her eyes drift close, "I love you so much."
"Yeah, I love you so much too, so much," Arizona replied as she dropped a kiss on Callie's temple before closing her eyes as well.
Present
Callie was finally pulled from her thoughts when Barbara yelled that the coffee was ready. Callie glanced down to the lounge room to find the threesome still deep in play, and she felt the tears rising again in her eyes. The moment that Arizona locked eyes with Callie's Callie felt the tears overload and Arizona's expression dropped from happiness to worry. Callie turned quickly trying to hide her tears "I'm just going to the bathroom," she said as she ran for the stairs. Noticing the change in mood, concern also took over Barbara's features, and then she saw Arizona too bound for the stairs.
"That's a bit odd, I was just thanking her for making Arizona so happy," Barbara said to Daniel who had entered the kitchen to get his coffee.
"I'm sure its fine, Arizona will look after her," he replied, grasping his wife's hand reassuringly.
Once in the bathroom Callie could no longer hold back the tears and she stood holding herself up by the basin as she sobbed quietly. It was not long after she heard and small knock on the door followed by Arizona's soft, but worry filled voice, "Calliope, are you ok?"
"Yeah Ari, it's nothing, don't worry about it, I will be done in a second," not an ounce of conviction in her voice.
"Calliope, please, open the door" Arizona responded. She heard the lock disengage after a few moments of silence, and the door slowly swung open, revealing Callie with a reddened face and tears streaming down her cheeks, "Oh Calliope, what is it?" Arizona asked, rushing forward to pull Callie into her arms, closing the door behind her.
"Its... nothing... never mind... it's stupid."
"Calliope anything that has gotten you this worked up is not stupid, please you can tell me, I am your wife and you can tell me anything" Arizona replied, after pulling back and trying to catch Callie's eyes which were focused on her feet.
"I don't know, it's just when we come here, your parents always welcome us with loving arms and I feel like I am their daughter and they treat Sofia like there Granddaughter, and they are just so loving, I really feel like I am coming home whenever I am here," Callie begun to explain.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Arizona questioned when Callie paused, trying to gauge what the problem was.
"It is a wonderful thing" Callie confirmed a smile gracing her lips before it faded and she focused back on her feet, "It just reminds me of how Sofia will never get that with my family, I mean I don't know if we will ever be able to spend time like this with my parents, sure with my Dad, but Sofia may never have a Nanna on my side, and... I don't know, it just kills me to see it. It kills me to know that my mother will never accept you or Sofia, she will never get to know how great of a family I have and I don't know, it just kind of hits me when your parents treat me like their own daughter and I don't know... I am sorry for ruining tonight Ari, I really am... But if you give me a minute I can get cleaned up and it will be fine."
"Calliope," Arizona said, sympathy filling her voice, "I don't know what to say but don't lose faith in your mother yet, she might come round, ok, but if she doesn't then that's ok, because we are not the one's missing, Sofia is not the one missing out, your mother is. She will miss out on this wonderful family that her daughter has built with the love of her life, ok, she misses out, and you will always be enough for Sofia and you will always be enough for me, you are enough for me, and I don't need your mother to tell me that, I already know, because you tell me, ok?" Arizona said, hopeful that she had convinced Callie, "And don't you dare think that you ruined this night, ok, you ruined nothing, and besides it just gives me an excuse to sneak away and cuddle my wife for a bit, ok?"
Callie choked out a small laugh at Arizona's attempt at humour before her serious face returned, "I love you Arizona Robbins, especially your speeches. I don't know what I would do without you, really you are my everything... Well you and Sofia."
"I love you too, now come here, you need a hug," Arizona finished, pulling Callie in by the hands for a hug, kissing her on the cheek as she wrapped one arm around Callie's neck and the other around her waist. "How did I get so lucky with you?" Arizona whispered into Callie's ear as she pulled her as close as she could.
"I ask myself the same question every day" Callie responded, snuggling face further into Arizona's shoulder.
"Ok, are you good?" Arizona asked pulling back from Callie's shoulder after a few moments to look her in the eye.
"Yeah I am good," Callie replied, giving a very unconvincing smile.
"Sure you are, but I am going to hug you for a bit longer now, ok?" Arizona responded, pulling Callie in again knowing that she needed some more time. "I know this sucks Callie, I do, and I am so sorry for that, I really am, but I love you and I just want you to know that I will love you forever, so you don't have to worry about being alone, ok I will always be here for you. Always" Arizona whispered into Callie's ear before she kissed her behind her ear.
Callie pulled back abruptly and Arizona froze out of a fear that she had said something wrong. "Firstly," Callie started, "you are not to apologize for my mother, she doesn't deserve for such a great women to apologize on her behalf, and secondly don't ever apologize for the fact that your family is so welcoming and loving because that is nothing to ever be sorry about, even if your wonderful family highlights how crappy mine can be, don't apologize for that, ok?"
"Ok" Arizona replied with a smirk on her face and she pulled Callie into another hug.
"Ok," Callie confirmed, "Alright I think I am good, and we are missing out on time with your family. I will wash my face and be down in a sec, is that ok?" Callie asked, pulling away from the hug.
"Yeah sure, do you want me to wait, cause I can wait?" Arizona asked.
"No, I'm fine, and you might want to explain to your parent's that it wasn't there display of love towards Sofia or your mother thanking me for making you so happy that made me cry," Callie replied with a laugh, clearly feeling lighter than before.
"She did that, really?" Arizona asked, embarrassed by her mother. Callie just nodded in confirmation. "Ok, and they will understand, and my Mum might even try and adopt you, so be warned," Arizona finished before dropping a kiss of Callie's lips and exiting the bathroom, but before she could close the door she heard Callie.
"Ari?"
"Yeah," she replied, turning on her heels as quickly as she could.
"Thank you, really thank you," Callie said with nothing but appreciation in her tone.
"Hey, it's my pleasure sweetie, ok, my pleasure," Arizona replied before heading down stairs to the lounge room.
As Callie descended from the stairs she could hear giggling in the lounge room so she headed in there. As she emerged through the doorway Barbara rose from her chair and came over, wrapping Callie up in her arms, whispering in her ear, "I am sorry dear, I had no idea, I am so sorry," she repeated as she took a step back as to look Callie in the eye, "And if you need a mother, I am always here, ok," she finalised, now smiling.
"Told you," Arizona chimed from in the background. Callie just smiled at her and headed to sit next to her wife.
"Alright so I am a woman who keeps her promises, so Callie, I will go and get those albums," Barbara announced as Arizona's face dropped the smile and fear took over.
"Nah, Mum, I think Sofia is pretty tired, we should be getting back," Arizona tried to argue.
"No, don't worry babe, I will put her down in their spare room, then we can stay as late as we like," Callie returned smirking at her wife, "Is that alright with you guys?"
"Yeah sure, by the time you do that the pie will be ready and I'll have the albums," Barbara finished as she headed for the stairs.
'Great' Arizona thought to herself, 'Now my mother and my wife are working together, extra goodie.'
It was no more than five minutes and Sofia was emitting a soft snore, indicating that her exhaustion her busy day had taken over. Callie crept quietly out of the room and headed for the lounge rooms where an abundance of laughter seemed to fill the room. Callie padded toward the loveseat that Arizona was curled up on holding a big green photo album. Callie snuck in behind Arizona, slipping a leg on either side of Arizona's giggling form. Callie leant forward to see what had Arizona in stitches. After her laughter subsided, Arizona flicked back to the beginning of the album and she started to go through each photo and explain the story behind it, with both Daniel and Barbara chiming in to add some embarrassing comments as well. Munching on what was the best pie Callie had eaten, she listened intently to the stories of Arizona's childhood and the many places that she had lived, enthralled in the excitement she had experienced during her younger years and keen to know as much about her wife as she possibly could.
"Oh here you go Callie, take a look at this one," Barbara started, "So I literally went upstairs to go to the bathroom, Arizona and Timothy were playing in the backyard happily when I went up, and then I come down all of five minutes later and Arizona is covered in mud, chasing her brother with a big slug in her hand," Barbara explained, handing the photo to Callie.
"Yeah well he pushed my face in the mud and I knew that he was scared of anything slimy so," Arizona chimed in trying to explain her side of the story. They sat like that, a family sharing stories of growing up, for around three hours before either Callie and Arizona realised the time. "Wow, geez Ma, it's like after midnight, we gotta get back, we have a flight tomorrow and Sofia is bound to be up ridiculously early," Arizona said, realizing the late hour.
"You know you could leave her here tonight," Barbara offered.
"Mum, we won't see her for two weeks, we need her to be with us for tonight, but thanks," Callie appreciated Arizona's response, fearful that she would miss her last night in San Diego with her daughter.
"I understand," Barbara finished as Arizona headed to retrieve a sleeping Sofia. The trio quickly exited, needing to get Sofia and themselves to bed. When they arrived back at the loft Callie pulled Sofia from the car and took her straight to bed while Arizona headed inside to clean up everything. Arizona had cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, washed her face, changed into her silk pyjamas, pulled back the covers and was just about to jump under when she realised Callie had not re-emerged from putting Sofia down.
Once in the loft, Callie had headed straight to Sofia's room and laid her sleeping figure into her crib. Once she was sure that she was sleeping, took a step back and watched her beautiful daughter sleeping from in the doorway. She hadn't realised that so much time had passed until she felt Arizona's arms curl around her waist. Leaning her head on Callie's shoulder, Arizona begun, "Here you are, are you ok? Not still upset are you?"
"No, not at all, she's just so adorable, I couldn't leave. I don't know how I am going to leave her for two weeks, not that I don't trust your parents, but its two weeks, basically in another country, with an ocean separating us," Callie rambled.
"Yeah I know, but I think it will be good," Arizona tried to sound convincing, knowing that there was no real value in them being away from their 18 month old daughter for two weeks. "And she won't even realise we are gone, Mum will keep her too busy."
"I had a great night tonight, despite my mini-breakdown, it was really nice, I really enjoyed it," Callie said, a smile gracing her lips.
"Yeah, me too," Arizona agreed, "Are you ready for bed?"
"Yeah, I think so," Callie replied, turning in Arizona's arms and hugging her tightly. "Thanks for tonight, you were great," Callie finished before tugging Arizona toward the bedroom. Callie entered the bathroom while Arizona climbed into the comfy king size bed they were enjoying for the two nights they were there, willing her eyes to stay open until Callie returned. A few minutes later Callie emerged from the bathroom feeling fresher than before, "So Arizona..." she begun before realising that Arizona was already asleep. A sweet smile crept over Callie's lips as she watched an adorable Arizona sleep as she too climbed into the bed. Arizona instinctively rolled over, throwing an arm and leg over Callie and snuggling into her shoulder, pulling Callie as close as she could. "I love you," Callie whispered before she closed her eyes to be taken over by sleep shortly after.