Hey everyone. sorry this took me a while to get up, been flat out busy lately.
Who else was so happy Arizona got full custody? That's what Callie gets for being a selfish bitch the last few episodes. I feel sorry for Sara Ramirez having to play her lately.
Anyways without further ado, the next chapter!
"Morning sweetie" Barbera Robbins said while not even looking up from the pancakes she was making, she would know the sound of her daughter coming into the kitchen sleepily anywhere, the sound of the crutches may have also helped
"Morning Mom, how long have you been up?" the blonde yawned while sitting down, placing her crutches next to her chair
"Not long, just enough time to cook breakfast before you got up, how'd you sleep?" the older woman asked as she placed a plate in front of her daughter
"Great, I always do when I'm here" AZ said around a mouthful of pancakes
"What have I told you about talking with your mouthful? And that's good. I wish you had brought Sofia with you though" the blonde couldn't help but cringe at being told off by her mother and waited until she swallowed before answering
"I know but it's the middle of the school week plus she's got dance that she won't want to miss, not to mention she's busy having so much fun with her new best friend" Arizona grumbled, stabbing at the smiley face she had made with whipped cream
"Something tells me this new best friend isn't just another 6 year old from school" her mother always knew her better than anybody
"It's not"
"Does this person happen to be a resident doctor who is also dating your ex wife?" the look Arizona gave her answered that question "and does Sofia getting close to Penny make you jealous and think you're being replaced?" the tears that ran down her daughters face confirmed her question, pulling her into a hug she rubbed her back as the tears continue to fall and whispered comforting words letting the blonde know she's there for her
"She's taken my place Mama" the blonde cried, she always reverts to calling her Mama only when terribly upset "I was slowly getting used to her taking my place next to my wife but I wasn't prepared for this intense jealousy and hurt when she started to move in on Sofia as well, hell I was the one who basically told Callie to introduce them, told her I didn't have a problem with it, I didn't think Sofia would love her so much, like her yes but not instantly love her. I know Sofia loves me, I know I'm her Mama but I feel like soon Callie will realise how much she loves Penny, how much Sofia loves her and they'll all move in together and Penny will become Step Mommy and they'll live happily ever after and I'll just be able to see her my weeks but have to listen to how much fun she's having with her new family unit." The blonde's cried subsided, having gained the comfort she needed from her mother but her heart still hurt
"That may happen but you know what Sofia will do when she has her week with Callie? She's going to sit there and talk about how much fun she had with you. And why is she going to do that? Because you're her Mama and you always do fun stuff with her and as she gets older she's gonna get into different things and you're going to be there to explore them with her. She's going to go home in 2 weeks and tell Callie all about how much fun she had at the zoo and in 10 years she's going to go and tell her about how much fun she had getting her nails done with you, or how you taught her to drive. And who knows she may also talk about your partner and maybe a brother or sister" her mother paused and Arizona's heart hurt more, a quick thought of the child that could be running around right now if not for her miscarriage, ran through her mind. She never got to tell her parents that she was pregnant and after losing it she didn't see the point, why get their hopes up just to get them broken in the next sentence
"Are you still trying to meet someone new?" the older blonde asked, she's always known her daughter was still in love with Callie, and in a perfect world she'd hope they'd get back together but now she just wants to see her happy and if that's with someone new or not then that's all that mattered to her
"I'm trying. I've been out a few night with Richard Webber, he's kind of been my wingman. I've met a few women but after the first date things just fizzle down with them, there's no real connection. I thought maybe dating outside the hospital would be a good thing, away from the drama, away from everyone knowing everyone else's business, away from people already knowing about me and my past but there's just something that doesn't work. At first it's exciting for them, hearing about how I save unborn babies and children, but once they hear of the hours, that I'm nearly always on call it's just too much for them. The funny thing is that that's too much and I never get close enough to some to even tell them I only have one leg, that I was in a plane crash, that I have a daughter and work with my ex-wife." The blonde laughed and moved out of her mothers embrace, she had tried, really she did, she had conversations, listened to what the other women were interested in, they listened to her, she was physically attracted to them but somewhere during that time she couldn't see anything passed the next morning with them.
"Oh Sweetie" her mother sympathised "everything will be ok. I know this isn't how you saw your life working out, but you've got to adjust that image or you fight for it. If you love Callie as much as you say you do, fight, don't lay down and let this Penny take your place. Over the last 10 years I've watched you go from partying womaniser to mother and wife to broken to your true self. I've been with you every step of the way since the plane crash, even though I don't know what entirely happened with your divorce but I held you when you lost your leg, held you up during your PT when you learned to walk again, I scolded you when you cheated and showed my disappointment when you slept with that Murphy girl. I celebrated with you when you got back together with Callie and when you brought your house, then once again I held you when you divorced. I don't mind holding you, you're my baby and it hurts to see you hurt but you've made your way through all of that. The woman that you are now has come through the other side of such trauma and problems and is better. This person you are now is probably the best version of yourself, you're stronger, you don't cry at a person of authority anymore, you're a wonderful mother, amazing doctor and if you give yourself the chance you can be the best person for Callie.
However if you don't want to fight, if you truly feel she is better off, is happier with Penny than you then move on, you've got so much love to give, you've got to bring Callie down from this pedestal and give others a chance. It's up to you my sweet, know I'll be here for you, I know it will be hard but you need to take this time you're away from home and think about what you really want" her mother hugged her tighter, gave her a kiss on the temple and left the blonde to her own thoughts.
Does she want Callie back? Hell yes. Does she think Callie will want her back? Probably not. Will having Callie back make her happy? More than anything. Does she think Callie is already happy, happy with Penny and won't want Arizona to ruin that happiness? Unfortunately yes.
But what if she's not? She'd once been a master at knowing Callie's facial expressions, tones of voice and body language and if she is still the same then what Arizona has seen over the last few weeks isn't totally in love happy Callie, it's generally happy Callie. The happiness you get when hanging out with friends or extended family or the happiness that comes from a successful surgery, she's seen Penny and Callie together, hell just the other day she walked in on them in a storage closet and it just seems like their chemistry isn't there, they just don't seem to match. But when she sees them smiling and walking hand in hand, walking out of the hospital as a couple off to enjoy the night together, she has doubts, what if she's seeing what she wants.
"Arrgh" she stands up, grabs her crutches and goes to her room, she needs to talk to someone, someone who's seen them together as well, someone who doesn't really care. She picked up her phone, immediately knowing who to call and waits for the phone to connect
"Hey Miranda"
Brown eyes slowly opened as she spat out a mouthful of red hair, something that seems to happen a lot lately with Penny staying over more now that she's met Sofia. The brunette slowly rolls out of bed, turning off the alarm before going about her morning routine then starts making breakfast for her girls.
She just finished off the bacon when Penny walked in, giving her a kiss and taking the coffee Callie handed to her "Morning"
"Good morning, how'd you sleep?" Callie asked taking a sip of her own coffee
"Great, especially in your arms" the red head smiled.
"Well aren't you a soppy romantic this morning" she pulled the younger woman into her arms and kissed her, ignoring the tiny thought in the back of her brain telling her that she was kissing the wrong lips
"Mmmm, I actually have something to talk to you about" Penny said as she pulled away "I was hanging out with Jo and Steph last night and they were filling out their applications for the Preminger grant and I want your opinion on whether or not I should go for it too. It would be an amazing opportunity if I got it but I want to hear what you think because I love you and if I get it I'd have to move to New York" the red head rambled and Callie couldn't help but be in shock
"Can I um have a moment? I'm going to go shower and when I come out I'll have an answer for you" she rushed off into the shower, knowing Sofia wouldn't be up for another half an hour she had this time to think this through.
She stood under the spray her thoughts running wild. Why did this have to come up now? These past two weeks had been crazy, first Sofia and Penny meeting, then Arizona's confession, then she spent time running through her own thoughts and feelings and now this. Back before she lost hope she'd take this as a sign, questioning her own feelings at the same time Penny has a chance to move away, seems bit coincidental but that's not who she is anymore, she doesn't hope, hope means having something to lose, she lives day by day now taking life as it comes.
But this isn't a taking life at it comes moment, this is a think of the future, make plans, re organise her life moment. So she does what she now does in moments like these, pros and cons.
Pro, it's a great opportunity for Penny, it'd advance her career in a way Grey Sloan can't. Con, it's in New York. Pro, she loves New York, good place to visit. Con, she's not sure how well a long distance relationship would work. Pro, being away from each other will make their time together more amazing. Con, would she be able to get away that often? Pro, she's never had phone or Skype sex before so could be a learning experience. Con, with time apart would she start letting her feelings and thoughts about Arizona seep through?
By the time the water started going cold, she had made her decision, but first she had to get her daughter ready and off to school. Said daughter was sitting at the kitchen table, happily munching on the bacon she had made earlier when she came out of the bedroom, hair a mess and clothes on a little off centre.
"Morning sweetie" she bent down and gave her a kiss, fixing up her clothes as she stood
"Morning Mami, can you do braids for me this morning?"
"Sure thing, but I can't do the ones Mama does for you so you're just going to be happy with just the one down the middle" the tiny Latina pouts but nods anyway. The whole time she does her daughters hair Callie doesn't look at Penny, who is standing in the kitchen, pretending to keep herself busy by washing up.
"Alright sweets all done. Go brush your teeth then we'll go get Zola and Bailey and head off to school" she watches her daughter run off before turning to her girlfriend "You should do whatever it is you want to and I will support you in any decision you make. However I do think you should go for it, this opportunity doesn't come around that often and it'll be an amazing experience not to mention it's in research which is exactly what you want and will further your career quicker than what you're doing now" she pulled the redhead close, holding her in a lose hug
"But, if I get it, what will happen to us?" green eyes started tearing up and she felt a little guilty for not feeling as sad as her girlfriend
"We'll figure it out then but for now, just apply and see what happens" she gives her a quick kiss, hearing her daughter running down the stairs
"Ready Mami! Bye Penny" she screamed running out the door
"Looks like I've got to go. Let me know what you decide, I'll see you at work later" she kisses her and grabs her bag and keys before following her daughter, slamming the door shut, leaving Penny still standing in the kitchen, holding a dirty dish towel.