A/N: Hello darlings! I'm so sorry that this chapter has taken so long. I've been incredibly busy with work, moving back in to school, and quite frankly I just couldn't get happy with this chapter. But it's up now, and I hope you like it. We are currently weathering Hurricane Irene, and the power is flickering, so I have lots of down time to brainstorm!

Logan - Hello sweetheart! Thanks for following up on me. And yes, I will eventually attempt to get Luxury publish published.

Jonna - You were so right, I fixed it! Thank you so much for pointing that out!

Nyla - hopefully this doesn't make you too sad!

Anon - I did say that Callie will come home mostly safe and sound, so we'll have to see how things play out.

mmls - thank you! That means a lot!

Jess - let the tears continue!

And with that, enjoy :)

Summer is going…well, as well as it can go I expect. It's July 3rd. Tomorrow is the 4th. Sofia is in her room "packing" to go to my parents tonight. Mark would have come with us I think, but he headed out to New York three days ago. My parents have really warmed up to him since you've been gone. I know they've been standoffish, but with the way that he's been with Sofia and with me since you've been gone, they've warmed up to him and accept him as part of the family. I know what I've said before Calliope, but he really has grown on me. I wouldn't be able to do this without him. He really is a great dad. Decisions aren't as hard as I thought they would be. We have discovered one dilemma though. Since Lexie and Mark are getting married, we have to figure out what Sof is going to call Lexie. She's been calling her Aunt Lexie, but we don't know if that should change. I guess we have time though. They've decided to not get married until you come home. So now you have to come home sooner rather than later, and on time. I know how the military works, Callie. Get your ass home on time.

Sofia is excited for the fireworks. She understands that we are honoring soldiers and she's excited to tell everyone that her Mama is one. Colonel Grandpa and Grandma are excited to spend some time with her. I was thinking about trying to go see your parents in August, but I don't know if that's a good idea without you. I know your father would like it, but even though your mother has warmed up significantly, I don't know if it's a good idea. I guess I'll ask you next time I talk to you. Speaking of which, if that could be soon, I'd really appreciate it. I miss your voice. I miss everything about you, but since I'm clinging to what I can, I really miss your voice.

It's hard, Callie. It's really hard. Being brave for Sofia when all I want to do is curl up into a ball of loneliness and sob is hard. I still ask myself every night why it was you. Why you were the one who had to be picked for this. Why this had to happen to my family again. I became a doctor so that I wouldn't have to do this anymore and yet here I am, writing in a journal instead of talking to you over dinner or morning coffee because I married a doctor and then she got drafted! What the hell is wrong with the universe? Sofia is getting used to you not being here. She doesn't ask so many questions. She is proud that her Mama is a soldier. Something I should be more of. And I am, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud to call you my wife. I just really hate the military and what it does to families and I really miss you. But Sofia has never lived through that tragedy and I'm praying to every god in the galaxy that she doesn't have to. She's only five, Callie.

Come home safe, my love. I'm waiting for you.

Sofia bounced on the balls of her feet while Arizona rang the doorbell of her parent's house. This was going to be good for them. Sofia could get away from all the worrying over Callie and Arizona could talk to her mother about being a military spouse. She needed the advice. Her parents lived in Northern California, and the drive wasn't too bad. They'd gotten up early and Sofia had slept most of the way. It had given Arizona time to think. Too much time.

A shrill "Grandma!" snapped her back to reality.

"Sofia!" Barbara Robbins exclaimed happily. "How is my little pumpkin?"

"Fireworks!" Sofia hugged her. Arizona smiled down at the cute scene. She waited her turn to hug her mother hello. By the time they disengaged, Colonel Robbins had already gotten ahold of Sofia. "Colonel Grandpa," she asked, "are you going with us to see the fireworks?"

All of them laughed. One time, when Sofia was much younger, Daniel Robbins had informed her that he was supposed to be called "Colonel" and ever since, she had called him Colonel Grandpa. "Yes little one," he smiled at her before pulling his daughter into a hug. "Hey Arizona."

"Hi Daddy," she relaxed under his strong embrace.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, concern written all over his face.

"Sof, let's go get a snack," Barbara pulled the youngster into the kitchen to give father and daughter a chance to talk.

"I'm fine, Dad," Arizona sighed. "Just tired, as usual. I miss Callie."

"How is she?" he asked.

"I guess she's fine. She called two weeks ago for Sofia's birthday," Arizona said, leaning against the wall. "But other than that, we haven't really heard from her. Cristina got a call from Owen saying that they were moving around a lot, so I guess that explains it."

Dan nodded, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. It's one thing to be in the military because you want to be. It's another entirely to be drafted."

Arizona hugged him again.

"Where is the sperm donor? Out gallivanting with some woman? " he asked, his disapproval seeping into his tone.

"Daddy! Be nice to Mark," she said. "I thought you guys were okay with him."

"His behavior concerns me," Dan shrugged. "I don't want Sofia growing up thinking that kind of behavior is acceptable."

Arizona let out an exhaustive sigh, "Dad, he's fine. He's mature. And for your information, he's in New York, with his parents!"

Dan smiled at her and stroked her hair, "How are you really?"

After a breath, she said, "I'm really scared."

"Callie is a tough woman."

"Not just for Callie. But for Sofia," she said. "How is this going to affect her?"

"She seems fine to me, Zone. You worry too much. You turned out more than fine and you were a military brat," he emphasized the brat part. "Now buck up, soldier. You have a little girl who needs you and fireworks to watch."

Arizona smiled sadly as he walked away to join his granddaughter in the kitchen. "But I'm not the soldier, Dad."

Arizona and her mother spread out the blanket on the grass. The whole neighborhood always came to this park to see the fireworks that the town set off. Vendors set up all throughout the area and Dan had taken Sofia off to see what there was to be seen. The little five year old was curious about everything. She had run up to three people, one woman and two men, and told them that her mother was in the military too. They smiled at her and then she surprised Arizona. "Thank you."

They had all looked at her, stunned, before crouching down and saying "thank you" right back to her. It had thrilled the little girl, and she had come skipping back to her family, super magic smile plastered onto her face.

But Arizona had been quiet all day, and she knew that her mother was worried about her. She just didn't know how to talk about what was bothering her. She didn't know how to break down. She didn't know how to accept everything that she was feeling long enough to talk to her mother about it. "I'm fine, Mom."

"I didn't say anything," Barbara replied, sitting down.

"You may as well have," Arizona sighed. But the silence that was existing between them ate at her and before long she found herself saying, "I miss her. I miss her so much. I'm so lonely."

Barbara nodded. "I remember what it was like when Dan went off and I had you and your brother. I didn't know what to do with myself. I would cry, but then you were there and I couldn't cry because you were crying and I had to be strong for you. But I learned and you learned that everything would be okay. I'm so sorry honey. At least you have Mark. He's really stepped up. I do like him. He's a good father to Sofia. I had thought that you would bring him with you."

"He's in New York, visiting his parents. And he is good to Sofia," Arizona smiled. "It's funny. I never thought that I would be able to handle Mark Sloan being a permanent fixture in my life. Now, I don't know what I would do without him. I don't know when that happened."

Her mother smiled. "Things have a way of working in mysterious ways."

"How did you do it, Mom?"

"A day at a time, Arizona. She'll come back. She'll be fine."

"People die every die. On the news, abroad, in training, at my job. How do I know that she's not going to be one of those people?"

"You don't," Barbara looked at her. "You just pray and believe that she won't be."

"Sofia asks so many questions."

"So did you."

She'd never thought about it that way. She had never considered looking at it from Sofia's point of view, because so many parents couldn't. But she could. She could remember what it was like to be five and have her Daddy leave for months at a time. She remembered what it was like to have him miss her birthday. Every year. That's why she didn't celebrate her birthday anymore. It wasn't a celebration for her, it never had been. She didn't want that for Sofia, and yet she had let her fifth birthday pass with no party. She remembered not being able to understand why her father had left for missions. She remembered not understanding why everyone was worried and why Mommy was so sad and scared.

"Mommy!" she heard the squeal and whipped her head around. Sofia was running towards her, a too big fatigue hat slipping forward over her eyes. She winced in anticipation as Sofia tripped over her own feet. Dan reached forward and caught the back of her shirt, stopping her from falling over. When she'd regained her balance and pushed the hat back up onto her head, she took off again for Arizona. "Now I look like Mama!"

Arizona laughed. "Yes you do." She reached into her purse and took out the video camera, remembering her promise to tape everything for Callie. "Want to make her a video?"

"Yes!" Sofia climbed into Arizona's lap. Barbara and Dan joined in the video and said hi to Callie as well, after Sofia was finished showing off her new hat. Arizona kept the camera on, filming their evening. The national anthem started playing and Dan showed Sofia how to hold her hat over her heart. Arizona smiled at her and met her mother's gaze. Tears shone in both of their eyes. When it was over, Dan helped Sofia adjust the hat back on her head. It slid down over her eyes again, but she didn't care. Before the fireworks began, a woman came by and saw Sofia.

"She looks just like my daughter did when my husband was at war," she smiled. "What's your name?"

Sofia looked to Arizona for confirmation, and at her nod said, "Sofia. And it's not my daddy at war. It's my Mama."

Arizona laughed at her daughter's fierce streak of pride.

"Where is your Daddy?"

"In New Ork," Sofia said. She had yet to say "York" when talking about the Big Apple.

Arizona swallowed, but let Sofia continue. She could see where this was headed and it was as good a time as any for Sofia to learn how to handle situations like this.

"Is this your Aunt?"

Sofia took Arizona's hand. "This is my Mommy."

The woman looked up and Arizona extended her free hand. "Sorry, Sofia doesn't always explain as well as she could. My wife is in Iraq."

The woman shook her hand. "I see. Who is your wife?"

"Major Calliope Torres, Army."

The woman crouched back down to talk to Sofia. "You tell your Mama when she comes home that I am grateful for her service to our country and that she has a beautiful daughter. I will be praying that your Mama comes home soon and safe."

When they got home, Dan carried a sleeping Sofia into the house. Barbara and Arizona stayed outside talking. Arizona was staring at the stars as her mother talked, wondering if Callie was thinking about her. After a little while, her mother went inside as well. Arizona talked to her brother for a little while, laying on the grass and staring up. "Keep an eye on her, Tim. If anything happens to her, I'm blaming you. Make sure that she stays safe. No bombs. Please, no bombs. No air raids blowing up her compound or her camp or wherever she is. No coffins. No more coffins."

Her phone started ringing and she answered it. "Robbins."

"Sloan," Mark responded. "How were the fireworks?"

"Hey Mark," Arizona smiled. "They were good. Sofia loved them. How is your trip going?"

"Good," he said shortly. "My parents are okay."

"Good. Sofia got my father to buy her a fatigue hat. She looks just like Callie now. It's so cute, she refuses to take it off, even though it keeps slipping down over her eyes."

"I hope you got that on film for Callie when she comes home."

"We most certainly did."