Chapter 22 Finish Line
After Arizona's and Callie's night apart, the day finally arrived for the rehersal dinner. The dinner was planned for 7pm at an exclusive restuarant downtown. All the family and bridal party members would be in attendance. Callie had about 4 hours to finish in her shift, which was slowing passing by. This gave her time to finally sit down and write her vows out. As Callie recalled the good and bad times of her relationship, the words finally flowed onto the paper. When she was done, she looked up and saw her shift was over and it was time to get ready for the dinner.
Arizona on the other hand was being driven crazy by the momzillas. They had her driving them all around town picking up all the last minute items for the wedding. All Arizona wanted to do was be with Callie, preparing for their day. She had finally had enough when Teddy called her, asking to be picked up for the dinner. Once Arizona was dressed and ready, she picked up Teddy and headed for the restuarant.
"So are you all set to be a married woman? Any second thoughts?" Teddy asked as they drove to the dinner.
Arizona smiled "It's all I've dreamed about for my whole life. Calliope is everything and once I look into her eyes and say I do, I will be the happiest woman in the world. Teddy I can't wait for tomorrow to come."
"I'm so glad for you, you do realize that Callie and you are my dream couple right? You guys are the epitome of love everlasting and I can only hope to one day find that." Teddy replied.
"Aww Teddy, you will find it, I know you will. Who would have thought that a fire, a little girl and a bear would deliver my true love in my arms?"
Finally the girls pulled into the parking lot and they entered the restuarant. Both families were gathered around a larger table and the bridal parties were seated at adjoining table. As Arizona scanned the room for
Callie, she was disappointed she hadn't arrived yet. Neither had any of the guys from the station. Arizona hoped that there wasn't a fire holding them up. Just as she was making her way to her seat, the doors opened and the guys came walking in laughing, but still no Callie. Mark was the first to reach Arizona and whisper in her ear.
"She is being detained by a gentleman in a Marine uniform as we came in, I believe it's your brother but he was so hitting on her." Mark laughed.
Arizona walked out the doors to indeed find Callie and her brother standing outside the restaurant. He was smiling and holding her hand. Jealousy flared through her body, and she had to take a deep breath from hitting Josh with a brick, but looking at Callie melted any of the feeling away.
"So you found it, I can't believe it. I'm glad you came. This has to be fate! It's my sister's rehearsal dinner, I can't wait for you to meet her. By the way, how did you know I'd be here?" Josh said to Callie, who smiled noticing Arizona coming towards them.
"Well it's funny cause I was under the impression that I had to be here." Callie motioned to Arizona.
"Oh, here comes my sister. Hey sis, this is the firefighter who helped me yesterday. Umm, I'm sorry I didn't get your name?" Josh grinned.
"Joshua, her name is Calliope and she is to be my wife tomorrow, so would you please take your paws off her." Arizona wrapped her arms around Callie and leaned in for a kiss. "I missed you baby. How was your shift?"
Callie laughed and Josh stood in shock. Both women just stared at each other and took in each other's beauty.
"Wait, your Callie? Why didn't you tell me? I was totally hitting on you and you never said a word.
Arizona do you know how hot she is in her gear? Damn Zona, you really know how to pick them." Josh hugged his sister and then turned and gave Callie a bear hug.
"Well you were such a good guy helping out on scene and then I didn't have the heart to tell you since you tried really hard to get my number." Callie said as he put her down. The 3 went inside and after all introductions were made the dinner finally began.
During dinner the families shared stories of both women from years past. Some embarassing, some endearing but it was all in good spirits. As dinner finished everyone was preparing to leave, but Callie and Arizona wasn't ready to part ways.
"Calliope, how about a nightcap?" Arizona smiled, flashing the dimples Callie loved so much.
"Hold up, there is not going to be any nightcaps or sneaky business, you ladies are to retire to your respective rooms and get some sleep. Tomorrow you both need to look stunning for the pictures." Barbara Robbins declared. And with that she pulled Arizona off without some much of a goodnight kiss from Callie. Both women knew that it was the last night they would be without each other but time was moving too slow.
The day of the wedding couldn't have been more perfect. Sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. For Arizona everything was almost perfect, except for missing her brother Timothy. She sat on her bed in her dress, wiping away tears when a knock came on her door.
"Hey Zona, are you ready yet? Cause if not I'll gladly take your place out there." Josh said as he entered the room. Looking at his sister he rushed to her side. "What's the matter sis? It's your big day, don't go and ruin all that work momma put in on your make-up she'll kill you."
Arizona chuckled and drew in a breath attempting to keep the tears at bay. "Josh, I miss Timmy so bad. He was supposed to be here. He was supposed to be dancing at my wedding. He promised Josh. He said he'd dance so hard, but no he had to go off and get himself killed." Arizona wrapped her arms around her little brother.
"Hey, you know he is up there right now putting on his dress blues, and shining his shoes. He is dancing Arizona, I'm sure he is doing the twist across heaven right now, hitting on Mary, and having Jesus spinning the tunes. Come on it's time to get this show on the road." Josh helped Arizona up and wiped her tears away.
"You know, your not bad at those speeches. It must be a Robbins trait." Arizona punched Josh and put the final touches on herself.
As the music began the guests rose, a silence filled the room. The bridal party each took their places at the front of the ceremony, leaving just the girls and their fathers at the top of each staircase. As the wedding march began the crowd took a loud aww, as the women dressed in the most beautiful of white gowns, Arizona's strapless A shape gown flowed behind her, simple but elegant. A small headress flowing with her golden locks pulled back in a small braid. Callie's dress was just stunning. Intricate beading and designs throughout and a long train, ever the traditional gown. Her raven hair left down and back off her should with a tiara and veil. The ladies were guided down the steps, tears flowing, to the final place where 2 became one. As the men gave their daughters away, each quickly wiped stray tears away. The official began the service, with Callie and Arizona's hand joined their began their vows.
I, Callie, choose you, Arizona, as my best friend for life, to embark upon this great journey of marriage with me. I take you, as my soulmate and companion, to be my wife, my partner, my friend, my confidant, my soulmate. Together, we can accomplish anything. Together, we will be better than we could be alone. Together, we will share our love with the world. Together, our love will grow into a bond too strong to break. Our love may be like the ebb and tide of the ocean, but it will always flow. Through the good and bad, I want you to always know that I will be by your side. I will be there for you in the ups and downs of life. I pledge my all to you. In sickness, I will nurse you back to health. In health, I will encourage you on your path. In sadness, I will help you to remember. In happiness, I will be there make to memories with you. In poverty, I will do all that I can to make our love rich. And in wealth, I will never let our love grow poor. When you need someone to encourage you, I want it to be me. When you need a helping hand, I want it to be mine. When you long for someone to smile at, turn to me. When you have something to share, share it with me. Though life may not always be as perfect as it is at this moment, I vow to always keep my love as pure as it is today. I promise to be there for you in your laughter and your tears, in your sickness and your health, in your comfort and your fears, in your poverty and your wealth. I know that our love is heaven sent, and I promise to be there for you for all your life, come what may. We have already been through a lot together, and I believe that God has been preparing us for this moment and for our future together. I promise to keep the good memories alive, and to let the bad ones die. I vow not to let the sun go down on our anger, and to treat each morning as a new day to love you, the gift I have been given. I will not forsake you or these vows that we have made, but rather strive to show you my love for the rest of our lives. This is my promise to you.
Arizona's tears freely flowed the words of Callie touched her so, and with a full and complete heart she spoke to her one true love.
Callie, now we will feel no rain for each of us will be shelter to each other. And now we will feel no cold
For each of us will be warmth to each other now there is no loneliness . We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls, I'll look to you and there you'll be, and I'll take your hand and you'll take mine
And we'll turn together and we'll look to the road we travelled to reach this-The hour of our happiness.
It stretched far behind us, and our future lies ahead-
A long and winding road where every turning means discovery
All the hopes, new laughter, shared tears,
The adventure has just begun. In the past few days I've been something that I've rarely been at any other time in my life - silent. But you're at least partly to blame. From the day we met, you've surprised me, challenged me, and engaged me in a way that no other human being ever has. And I've never been able to tell you what that meant to me. But today, of all days, I have to find a way. Before I knew you, I wasn't living. I was waiting. And hoping. Because even though I've lived my life in a cold and souless city - I've always known that somewhere in the heart of it there is a wall and then there is a door. And if you're lucky enough to get inside, you'll be about as close as any of us are going to get to the Garden Of Eden. I know this is gonna sound ridiculous, but I feel that's pretty much where I'm standing right now, sans snake and the apple tree, of course. I love you with everything I am, and whether we live 100 years or just a few minutes more know that I will never be so fulfilled as I am in this moment. You are my everything and I am so glad I get to call you my best friend, my lover and now my life. You are my sun and my moon and every star in the sky is the moments that I treasure with you, too numerous to count. I promise to love you throughout sickness and health, rich or poor and everything in between. This is my solemn vow.
As the official pronounced the women wife and wife, the from the skies and warm rain fell, confirming to Arizona that indeed Tim was watching over her.