A/N: It was a long wait, I know, but in return you get a long update. I hope you guys really like this update. I know that I do. Thanks for all of the reviews. I know that I haven't replied to many of you, but I read all of them and they mean a lot to me.

You left about a month ago, but I missed you before you were even gone. It's been incredibly hard to readjust. You were only here for three days, but it felt like just hours and even still I turn corners and expect you to be there. But it's seemed like years since you've been gone. Sofia asks every day after school if you're home again yet. It's heart breaking to tell her no. We cried the whole way to the car and home that day. It was so hard to watch you walk away again, even though we know that you have to. We know that you have to go and we know that you don't want to go and that makes it that much harder, Calliope. We spent the rest of the day talking about everything we did together. Sofia LOVED watching all of those videos with you; she took great pride in her star quality. She wanted to watch them again, and then she wanted to make you another one.

She's taken to sleeping in my bed again because you aren't there to sing her to sleep the way you did. But that's okay, because after just two nights with you, I don't want to sleep alone again. Going to the park while it was snowing was beautiful. Our spot in the park will always be beautiful. It was a perfect Christmas and Sofia was even more thrilled that you liked her hat.

I need you to call me, soon, because I need to hear your voice. Sof, she's resilient, but she needs you to call too. Oh, and when she spends the night at Mark's, she's sleeping in between him and Lexie, and that's a little awkward for them. But they are good sports about it. I know he doesn't feel like he got to see you enough. But I think, after the many comments he made about my weight or lack thereof, that it was just enough. None of us got to see you enough though. He misses his best friend. I miss my best friend. I miss my wife. Having Teddy here is nice. It makes the hospital a little less dreary, and she talks about what it's like over there. It helps us understand what you and Owen are going through. But it scares me because I know that she's holding back some of the worst stuff. I know that you did too.

It snowed…well it's snowed a lot but up until recently, it's been too icy to play in. But it snowed the other day and it was the perfect packing snow. Needless to say, many snowball fights broke out amongst the interns and residents. Bailey and I took the kids out to play during a break in our day, including Zola. We built snowmen and when she was done Sofia stared at hers for a long time. She asked me to pick her up and she sat her hat on top. She still wears it every day. You should have seen how fast the snowballs fell to the ground. Everyone was moved by her gesture. Just about everyone said something to me about it. I had to steal her hat back because she freaked out when I took it off, but I didn't want someone to actually steal it. That hat means everything to her.

I haven't slept in days. Three days to be exact. I keep seeing the coffins. Every time I close my eyes I see the jets and the coffins and the American flags. I'm really starting to hate that flag. I've had some insane surgeries. Sofia has started watching them, and by that I mean playing in the gallery while I or Mark is in surgery. Everyone loves her though and apparently she asks astute questions for her age. Meredith says that she reminds her or herself, which kind of scares me, but I think Sofia is a little bit more normal than Meredith Grey.

I miss you, Calliope. It's getting easier to miss you again, but the longing isn't going away. I really miss you.

Arizona didn't want to go home. Not today, not to an empty apartment. The hospital was determined to remind her at every turn that she was alone, with hearts and red and streamers everywhere. She was trying desperately hard to ignore it. While she was happy for the hospitals many couples, she just really wanted to ignore this particular Hallmark holiday. So she had volunteered for child duty. Zola and Tucker were coming over to stay the night to give their parents a night off. But she still didn't want to go home, even with the abounding joy of children.

Sighing, she headed down to the hospital daycare to collect her young charges, but found that they had all been picked up. "Where are my kids?"

"Your kids? I thought you just had one, Dr. Robbins," the nurse said. "Sofia is with Mark."

"Zola Shepherd? Tucker Bailey?" she asked.

"Lexie Grey picked them up about half an hour ago."

As if on cue, her phone rang. "Mark Sloan! Where is my kid?"

"Just repaying the favor, Blondie," he laughed. "Go home, shower, get yourself all pretty. Your kid and I are taking you out. And she's all ready to go."

"Mark," she said, broken. "Please, just let me watch the kids."

"No can do. It'll be good for you. You need to get out of that apartment. Sofia has a surprise for you. You don't want to disappoint your daughter now do you?"

"Mark."

"Callie wouldn't let me," Mark said finally. "I have directions. Go home and get ready, Robbins. Lex has the other kids and I'm not asking."

Giving up, she dejectedly headed out of the hospital and to her car. She drove slow, trying to make time go by faster, bring the night and tomorrow close. She didn't want to disappoint Sofia, but today was just hard. It was just a hard day, and no one got that. Without Callie, today was just a hard day.

She took a hot shower, letting the steam clear her mind, but Callie was haunting her skin. She could almost feel those strong hands running down her arms along with the water. She didn't understand how anything good could come from tonight. All she could imagine was compounded loneliness as she tried to fall asleep beside her daughter later that night. The black rain accompanying her dreams that night would serve to push her deeper into the depression that had been clouding her mind as of late.

Mark made it seem like Callie had set this up, but she hadn't heard from Callie since the airport. If Mark had, tonight would not be the night to divulge that information. She didn't know why she wasn't coping. This wasn't her, but then again it was completely her, wrapped up into her fears surrounding Timothy. And when she was around Sofia, it was as if the sun was peeking through the dark clouds of her psyche. "Everything happens for a reason," she muttered out loud.

She knew that much was true. She had never wanted kids and now her kid was the only reason she was staying afloat. She had never liked Mark and now he was closer than a brother to her. He was her daughter's father. He wasn't her husband, but he was as close as she could imagine getting to one. She needed them more than anything.

"Robbins!" his voice rang through the apartment. She smoothed the wrinkles out of her dress and tossed her hair. This was for Callie. The makeup and the jewelry were for Callie. Her going along with it, that was for Sofia. "Robbins! Let's go! You look fine!"

She stepped into her heels and greeted him at the door, pulling her coat around her. "I know, Mark."

He beamed at her and led the walk, carrying Sofia in his arms. "Mommy, you look pretty. Estás muy bonita."

"Gracias," Arizona said, throwing her best accent into the phrase. "You're getting better."

Sofia grinned, "Thank you. I want to know it all when Mamá gets home."

"Everything?" Arizona grinned. "That's a lot to learn in a few months."

"Sof can do it, can't you?" Mark chimed in.

The little girl let her grin grow, "Yeah Daddy!"

Mom and dad laughed together. Arizona followed Mark's lead out to his sporty Audi. He bent over and snapped Sofia into her car seat. Then he opened the passenger side door for Arizona. She slid into the pristine leather seat with a graceful thank you. Turning to Sofia, she whispered conspiratorially, "Where are we going?"

"Daddy told me to keep my big mouth shut," Sofia said too loudly.

"That's right," Mark said as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Just relax, Arizona."

He reached over and squeezed her knee in a gesture of reassurance. She glowered at him, wishing that she could shoot lasers out of her eyes like those cartoons that Sofia watched. Eventually, they did settle into a peaceful chatter. Arizona didn't notice where they were going. It felt good to be out and about, talking about work, kids, and school. She could almost forget the pain of Callie's absence, almost.

"We're here," Mark said, pulling up to the curb. Someone opened the passenger door for Arizona and she took the gloved hand of the valet as she stepped out. Indalo, Callie's favorite place to bring Arizona during their few dates, rose before her. It was one of the most high end restaurants in the city. Mark got Sofia out of the back and threw the keys to the valet. "Not a scratch."

"Yes sir," the young man said dutifully.

"It's got to be fun, being a valet," Arizona chuckled. "You get to drive all the rich people's cars without having to own them yourself."

Mark offered her his free arm, "Let's go to dinner, shall we Mrs. Torres?"

She took his arm with a grateful smile at the gesture and they walked up the few stairs into the restaurant. They didn't wait in line, but rather Mark tipped his head at the hostess and someone appeared out of nowhere to lead them to a seat. "Mark," Arizona hated skirting lines.

"Tonight has been completely arranged by your beloved. Not by me," he shifted her blame onto Callie. "Besides, who doesn't love VIP treatment?"

"I feel like you're far too used to it."

They sat in a booth, semi-secluded from the other patrons. Arizona had shed her coat, not oblivious to Mark's stares as she slid into the booth next to her kid. Dad sat across from two of his women, sorely missing the third and fourth. Lexie had taken her niece and Tucker for the night to free up Arizona, and they hadn't heard from Callie in a month. But he was trying to not think about that tonight, even though he knew it was all that was on Arizona's mind. Their food came out and the talk fell to the wayside. Arizona realized how hungry she was. She'd stopped eating again, not on purpose; the days were just getting away from her. She reached around to help Sofia with her chicken tenders every few minutes, cutting them into smaller bites.

"Dr. Sloan," the waiter came to the table. "You have a phone call. If you could follow me."

Arizona looked at him in confusion. "I didn't know that they took phone calls for their patrons too."

Mark shrugged, winked at Sofia, and slid out of the booth to follow the waiter.

"Why do I feel like your Daddy is up to something, Sof?" Arizona eyed her suspiciously.

"Not Daddy, Mom. Mamá," Sofia laughed. "It's all Mamá's idea."

The look of confusion continued to spread across Arizona's features. "What do you mean, Sof?"

"I not telling," the little girl shook her head.

"I'm," Arizona corrected.

"I'm not telling," Sofia raised her chin defiantly.

"You look like your father," Arizona rolled her eyes.

"Damn right," Mark reappeared, package in tow. "They got a little confused. It was a package, not a phone call." He winked at Sofia again. "Let's see what we've got here."

Arizona watched as Mark pulled a laptop out of the box. Callie's laptop. She held her breath as Mark sat it down in front of her. Then he handed her an envelope. "Open it."

With trembling fingers, she opened the envelope and pulled out a letter in Callie's familiar script. Tears sprung to her eyes as the faintest scent of Callie's perfume wafted towards her.

My dearest Arizona,

I hate that I have to be writing this, instead of saying it to you in person. I would love nothing more than to be sending you on a wild goose chase for your present. But due to the circumstances, this was my best bet. I know Mark isn't always the best gamble, but I'm praying that he works out well this time.
Turn on the laptop. The video should immediately play. If it doesn't, go to…

Arizona waited as the laptop warmed up and gasped when Callie's face, body clad in uniform, greeted her. "Hey baby, I know this sucks. I miss you more than anyone could guess, but I know you'll disagree. You'll say that you miss me more. I haven't called, I know. I had to go undercover, but I didn't know how to tell you. So I hope that you'll forgive me. I made them send me home first though, because I couldn't do this without seeing you again, I will call you as soon as I can, Arizona. You have no idea how hard it is to not hear your voice.

"Don't forget how much I love you. Don't ever forget that. Your beautiful face is what keeps me going over here. I'm fighting for you, for Sofia, to make sure that you stay safe. I may not want to be here, but I'm here for you. I see your eyes every time I blink. I can't wait to touch your skin again, and hold you close.

"There is a cd in the box. It's for Sof. It should help her sleep."

Mark pulled a labeled cd out of the box and handed it to Sofia. "I think you'll have Mamá to sing you to sleep from now on, baby."

Callie's video continued, "You said she was having a hard time sleeping without my singing.

"Your present was a little harder to fit into a box. It's kind of big. So whenever you are done with dinner, Mark is going to take you for a drive. He'll tell you when to press play again. But to tide you over, Mark will give you the larger box."

Mark quickly shuffled around and pulled out a long velvet box. Inside was a silver necklace with a brilliant heart designed pendant encrusted with diamonds that would make a millionaire gasp. He stood and bade her turn so that he could place it around her neck.

"What else did she get me, Mark?" Arizona asked, the necklace was more than enough.

"You'll see," he said, ducking his head sheepishly.

She was pretty sure that Mark had been driving them around in circles on purpose. Seattle was big, but not that big, and Sofia was starting to get restless.

"Turn on the video again," Mark said, turning down another street.

With an exasperated sigh, Arizona obliged.

"Now that I'm sure Mark has driven you around in circles for hours just to torture you, he should be taking you to your final destination. There is a small box in the package. Take it out, but don't open it.

"My father insisted on this, but I knew you wouldn't want to do this without me. However, due to his business arrangement, time ran out and you have to. So I'll try to make it as easy as possible. This was supposed to be your anniversary present, but now it's your Valentine's Day present.

"Mark should be coming to a stop soon. Open the little box, and then look up. You're going to hate it at first, but maybe you'll love it later. I love you, Arizona. I'll be back as soon as possible. Happy Valentine's Day, mi cariňo. Welcome home."

Arizona sat the laptop down and opened the box. A set of keys fell out. Small metal keys. Four of them. She felt the Audi jar and elevate slightly. She raised her gaze to look out the windshield.

"Mommy," Sofia asked, "where are we?"

Arizona shook her head, not believing what she was seeing. A house stood before them in a residential neighborhood. But these weren't the suburbs. There were at least three acres and an iron fence surrounding the house. This was a high end neighborhood, like only Carlos Torres would afford for them. There were other houses nearby; she could see luxury cars and porch lights.

"Mommy! Where are we?"

"We're home, baby," Arizona said, dazed. She got out of the car and stood in the driveway, the skirt of her dress swaying in the breeze. Silent tears slid down her cheeks. She and Callie had discussed moving to a bigger place with Sofia growing up. They had even gone to look at houses at one point. But they'd never found anything suitable.

This house was the picture of beauty. The lights lining the porch windows cast a warm glow and lit up the entire front of the house. It was an architectural masterpiece. There were double doors in the center of the porch, painted deep blue to match the shutters and trim around the arched windows. The second level was more expansive than the first, extending over the three car garage. It was excessive, they didn't need so much space, but she had married a Torres and this was simply standard.

"Come on, Arizona," Mark put a hand on her back. He'd gotten Sofia out of the car and she was running around wildly across the concrete parking pad. She looked up at him and met his eyes. "We have to go inside."

Arizona felt like she was floating as they made their way up the steps to the doors. She barely heard Mark's barking order for Sofia to come with them. Turning the keys in the lock, Arizona opened the doors to a dark foyer. Her heels clacked loudly when she stepped inside and her downcast eyes could make out the swirl of marble. Mark turned on the lights behind her and brilliant glass and crystal chandelier lit up the room. The staircase to the left was twice as wide as it needed to be, dark wood rising is a curve to the next level of the house. A walk-in closet to the side had Mark's attention, while Arizona's readjusted to the mirror on her right. Then Sofia pointed up at something, and Arizona saw pictures hanging on the wall, following the ascent of the staircase. Resounding clacks fleeted her ears as she made her way to them, smiling like a kid as her own face met her eyes. She was gazing upwards, to the next portrait.

She remembered getting these done, Callie had insisted upon it. The middle portrait was of a very happily smiling Sofia. And beyond that, at the top of the stairs, was her beautiful Calliope, staring lovingly down at her daughter. Sofia's call tore her away from the pictures and she followed her two companions into a grand living room. Deep plush carpet gave away beneath her heels. Polished wood end tables complimented the leather furniture and tall bookcases were filled with all kinds of books and trinkets that Arizona had thought were packed away in storage. Callie must have been dearly relying upon the fact that she never went to the storage unit. A large portrait hung over the couch. They had gotten this one done separately, right before Callie had gone to boot camp. Arizona and Callie sat to the left of Sofia, with Mark and Lexie on the right side. It was as if Callie had known her best friend would marry the younger Grey, because she had insisted upon her being in the picture. Arizona smiled sadly, her perfect family was staring her in the face, and Callie looked so happy. But Callie wasn't here to witness this homecoming.

Mark steered her into the kitchen and dining room, but at that point she was overwhelmed. Everything was brand new. The house was already furnished with designs and furniture that she and Callie had picked out almost a year ago. She didn't have to do anything except bring all of their stuff over, if she could handle that without Callie. "Arizona, she's not done yet."

Blinking, Arizona realized that she had been sitting. For how long, she didn't know. "What do you mean?"

"There's an entire upstairs still," he said gently. This was a lot for her, and he didn't want to push her too far.

Finding an exploring Sofia trying to escape to the outside, they wrangled her into going upstairs with them. Sofia's new room was huge and very pink. Arizona didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Callie hated pink. She hated it so much. But their daughter loved pink, a trait that Callie swore Arizona had somehow genetically implanted into her. They left Sofia to play in her new room, full of toys from her grandparents, and Mark walked her to the master bedroom at the end of the hall.

White painted double doors met her with no resistance as she entered the room. A gasp left her lungs. It was beautiful. While maintaining some of Callie's signature bat cave feel, lighter elements of beige and soft greens had been brought into the overall design to compliment Arizona. Clean cut and elegant, Arizona found it hard to believe that she hadn't lived here for her entire life. She couldn't take in everything at once, but her eyes converged on something lying in the middle of the bed. She made her way forward. A dark wooden box was sitting on the bed. The word engraved on the lid was "cariňo." She hesitantly opened it and pulled out a final letter.

Para mi cariňo.
I will hold you in the bed.
I will cook for you in this kitchen.
I will watch our daughter grow with you in this yard.
I will love you in this house.
I will come home and I will love you for the rest of my long, long life.

PS – the chickens arrive on Saturday.

The crying blonde began to laugh.