Chapter 12
One year, nine months later…
It was one of the most beautiful days in Seattle ever encountered. The sun was shining bright , there was a slight breeze that blew. Everyone was filled with joy.
In a secluded area of one of Seattle's parks, a white tent was set up, with soft, white satin drapes flowing open in the breeze. Arrangements of white orchids and lilies evenly placed all around. Rows upon rows of white covered chairs were occupied by many men and women dressed to the nines in their best dresses and suits.
A minister stood before these men and women, as soft music began to play. At the opening chords of the music, everyone stood up off of their seats, turned around and looked to the two people making their way down the aisle.
Arizona Robbins had dreamt of this day all her life. Making her way down the aisle in a beautiful long flowing white strapless gown, holding on to her father's arm, her face projected the biggest super-magic smile that anyone had ever seen. An array of emotions were flowing through her body as she came closer and closer to where the minister was standing. She took her place at the altar, kissed her father's cheek and focussed her attention to the back of the tent to where her fiancé would soon appear. Arizona stood anxiously waiting. Anxiously waiting for what felt like a year. And then there she was. The love of her life stood at the back of the tent with her father. Arizona gasped with excitement and at the sight of beauty before her.
Callie Torres was walking towards her future. Walking towards all the possibilities that life had to offer. Her father Carlos Torres could feel her excitement and nervousness and gave his daughters hand a light squeeze of reassurance. Callie, dressed in her own white gown couldn't hold in her smile as she was approaching her Arizona.
As Callie drew closer, Arizona could not contain the tears that were at bay in her eyes. Tears of utmost joy, happiness, love and hope. Callie had finally made it up to the altar. Giving her dad a peck on the cheek, she then turned and stood face to face with her soon to be wife. Both of them smiling brightly to each other. This was it. They made it.
"Please be seated" The minister said. Everyone soon followed and sat down.
"Dear friends and family. We are gathered here today in the presence of god to celebrate a love and happiness and loyalty that these two share. To bring together two exceptional human beings who have chosen to commit themselves to one another in the sacred bond of marriage."
Everyone looked on at the two brides smiling brightly. Callie and Arizona's parents sitting in the front row, tears of joy filled their eyes.
"It is true that same sex marriage is not legal in Washington, however the commitment that these two are making to one another is the foundation of what a marriage is and that makes it just as real. Now, may I ask, who gives this bride…" The minister asked pointing to Callie. "to this bride?" changing his direction from Callie to Arizona.
Callie's father stood up, smiling from ear to ear he responds. " Her mother and I do."
"Very well let us begin. It is my understanding that the two brides have prepared their own vows. Arizona, please." The minister said smiling to Arizona. She smiled back and then looked straight into Callie's eyes. Holding her hands in hers, she took a deep breath and began.
"Calliope, I don't even really know where to begin. Nearly two and half years ago, this beautiful, mesmerising police officer pulled me over for speeding." Everyone laughed a little at the comment but quickly quieted down and continued to listen to Arizona speak. "She smiled at me and my heart just melted. You melted my heart. We kept bumping into one another, which just melted me even more. And the day that you slipped me your phone number…changed my life forever. We've shared our ups and our downs but ultimately you have always been there for me. Loving me, taking care of me and protecting me. Which is why I, Arizona Robbins take you, Calliope Torres to be my wife. I promise to love you, take care of you and protect you for all the days of my life. I love you."
Callie welled up with tears at Arizona's vows and was almost speechless. She took a deep breath, looked Arizona in the eyes and began her vows.
"Arizona. You were this gorgeous, lively, and perky woman that I kept running into. After running into you for the second time in one day, I knew that our lives would somehow be intertwined. There was always something missing in my life and I've never been more sure in my life that it was you. You are my very best friend. You've seen me at my best, and my worst. You've been there when I needed a shoulder to cry on or just someone to talk to. I'm a strong person. I always have been, but after knowing and loving you I know that I am an even stronger person with you than I am without. All I want is to love you and protect you and take care of you….and be your best friend for the rest of my life, which is why I, Calliope Torres choose you, Arizona Robbins to be the one with whom I spend my life. I love you."
After their vows, Callie and Arizona exchanged their rings and continued to look lovingly into each other's eyes as the minister went on to conclude the ceremony.
"I now pronounce you wife and wife. Dr. Robbins, you may kiss your bride." The minister said smiling to the blonde newlywed who was smiling from ear to ear.
Arizona cupped Callie's face and pulled her in for a soft, gentle, loving kiss that lingered for a few seconds. The two slowly pulled apart, Arizona grabbing for Callie's right hand with her left, the two of them turned to face their guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen, It is an honour and great pleasure to introduce to you Dr. Arizona and Calliope Robbins-Torres."
The guests rose from their chairs engaging in an applause as the happy couple, still holding hands made their way up the aisle and exited the tent.
Later that evening….
The reception was held in a banquet hall at the Archfield, downtown Seattle. Everyone was enjoying themselves, engaging in conversations with the people at their tables, eating and drinking to the couple.
Callie and Arizona sat at the head table, their fingers intertwined with one another, they were having their own conversation and smiling at each other with looks of pure love and joy. Suddenly they were brought out of their little bubble at the sound of Mark clanging his knife to his glass of champagne.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please. I'd like to propose a toast. Over nearly two years, I've watched these two grow together. I've been there through their best of days and I've been there during their worst of days. But one constant that I have always witnessed between these two is love. No matter how dark a place they were in, in their relationship or whether they were on cloud nine, the love that these two share for each other has always shined through. They've always fought for each other. And that is why I know, that not only is this marriage going to work. I know that as long as you continue to fight for one another, this marriage will last forever. So, I'd like to raise my glass to two extraordinary women, may your lives be filled with love, happiness and joy. To Callie and Arizona." Mark said smiling to his best friend and her new wife as he raised his glass in celebration.
Everyone in return raised their glasses and sipped their champagne. Once the crowd started to settle back down in their seats, Carlos Torres stood up from his seat and faced his daughter and new daughter in-law. "As most of you know I am Calliope's father and I can't even begin to tell you or my daughter how proud I am of her choice in a life partner. I didn't always understand the way my daughter chose to live her life. I will admit that at first I didn't want to accept her relationship with Arizona. But after getting to know the woman my daughter loved so much, Arizona showed me that it wasn't a choice. My daughter simply was who she was. Arizona, you are a good woman, you love Calliope very much and I trust that you will protect my little girl. As a gift and a sincere welcome into the Torres family, I have a wedding present for the two of you." Carlos put his champagne glass down and dug into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Callie.
Callie looked down at the sealed envelope, and then shared a look of surprise and curiosity with her wife. Looking back up at her father she said "Daddy, you helped pay for this wedding, you didn't have to get us anything."
But Carlos interrupted. "Yes I did, Calliope." He smiled down at his daughter who smiled back and then pulled out the pieces of paper that were folded up inside the envelope. She opened them up and glanced over them. A look of shock and uncertainty washed over her face as she read over the papers.
Arizona watched her wife's expression and glanced up at Carlos and gave him a look, questioning what it was that had Callie so shocked and speechless.
Carlos went on to explain. "It's a house in Miami on a private stretch of beach. I thought that you could use it for vacations and an excuse to come to Miami to visit the family from time to time."
Tears in her eyes, Callie smiled to her father, stood up and pulled him into an embrace. Everyone looked on and cheered and clapped for the display of love between father and daughter.
Later on, after everyone had finished their meals, everyone made their way to the dance floor where they danced the night away. Callie and Arizona were dancing to the music, holding each other and looking lovingly into each other's eyes with bright smiles on their faces. The music was slow and within a minute of the music playing, Arizona rested her head against Callie's chest, underneath her chin. "I love you so much Calliope."
With her eyes closed, Callie smiled brightly. "I love you too"
"To think that I was going to throw the possibility of this away, because of my stupid fears…"
"Shh…that doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is this. You and me. And speaking of you and me…" Callie said with a devilish grin. Arizona looked up and smiled back with a similar expression, showing Callie that they were both on the same wavelength. "….we should….."
"I agree we should." Arizona said back pulling Callie towards the exit.
Everyone danced on and drank into the early morning while Callie and Arizona spent the rest of their night together in one of the hotel suites.
Coming in through the door, Arizona headed in first followed by Callie. Callie closed the door behind her and made no hesitation in immediately pulling her new wife into her arms and crashing their lips together.
Both of them moaned into each other's mouths as Callie carefully directed Arizona to the bed. Never once pulling their lips apart for more than enough time to take in a breath, they each hastily grabbed at each other's gowns. Unzipping them and pulling them down and off their bodies, they then moved on to their bra's and panties. Callie pushed Arizona onto the bed and climbed on top of her. Both of them breathing deeply and heavily, Callie looked into her wife's eyes. Those blue eyes that she fell in love with the first time she ever looked into them. She looked deeply into those eyes, caressed Arizona's cheek and whispered softly. "This is our night. I want to go slow, because I want to remember this always." Arizona pulled Callie close to her body, locked her lips on hers and rolled them over so that she was now on top of Callie.
Slowly, Arizona began to thrust against Callie in a very slow, steady pace, causing soft moans to escape Callie's mouth. She kept a steady pace and after a few moments of rubbing her centre against Callie's thigh, she positioned herself in between Callie's legs and continued the thrusting of her hips. As she did this she made no hesitation in kissing down the length of Callie's exposed neckline and chest. With Callie moaning in her ear, Arizona couldn't hold back any longer and pushed her hand down to Callie's core. Feeling its warmth, she pushed two fingers in and began a to thrust her hips in a steady rhythm. Callie pulled Arizona's face up so that it was above hers and pulled her into a heated kiss. As Arizona's pace sped up, Callie's moans grew louder. Callie could sense that Arizona's arousal was intensifying, so she manoeuvred her hand and managed to feel Arizona's wet centre. She pushed two fingers inside and started to match Arizona's rhythm. Moaning into each other's mouths as the rhythm steadily sped up, they could feel each other tightening up. The both of them moaned into each other once more as they felt their bodies enter a state of an incredibly high euphoria. Riding out the waves of their orgasms, Arizona fell beside Callie and wrapped her arm around Callie's waist, pulling her closer.
"To think that I almost turned my back on this." Arizona whispered while trying to catch her breath.
"On what? Sex?" Callie teased. Arizona laughed at this and planted a soft, delicate kiss on her wife's lips.
"On all of this. On a relationship with you, a wedding, a marriage. A life. A life with you. From the moment I heard you speak, I knew that all I would ever want was a life with you, and I nearly screwed it up." Arizona said as tears lightly trickled down her face.
Callie wiped them away with the back of her fingers and placed her hand upon Arizona's face, cupping just behind her ear. "Listen. That doesn't matter anymore. Look how far we've come. We have come so far from where we were a couple years ago. Being here with you tonight, on our wedding night….says it all."
"I am so in love with you, Calliope"
"I am so in love with you too. More than anyone could possibly imagine." Callie said, beaming from ear to ear. She pulled Arizona into a kiss. It was soft, and slow and filled with all the love in the world. Pulling away slowly, Callie looked into her wife's eyes and knew right then that they were forever.
"I have something…that I want to tell you." Callie said
"What is it? Is everything okay?" Arizona asked. An expression of worry creeping up on her.
"No, everything is fine, I just…I got some news a couple days ago, and I just wanted to wait and share it with you at the right time. And I can't think of a better time than now."
"Okay, well what is it?" Arizona asked pushing some stray hairs back off of Callie's face.
"Well, I'm kind of changing my field of work. They're promoting me to detective…which means, no more walking the beat and being put into the line of fire all the time. They're will still be some late work sessions and my work often will come home with me. But I'm hoping that this puts your mind at ease a little when it comes to my job." Callie said. A look of worry on her face as she waited for Arizona's reaction.
Arizona broke out into a smile and pulled her wife into a heated kiss. "I am so proud of you. It doesn't stop the worry, but my heart can beat a little better knowing that at least you aren't out on the streets all the time. You are my wife and I am always going to worry about you, but I will always support you in everything that you do. Just promise me one thing?" Arizona asked.
"Anything"
"Just promise that you will be careful and that you'll come home to me."
Smiling, Callie responded. "I promise"
With that settled, they both revelled in their surroundings and in the new status of their relationship, making love over and over into the early rising of the sun.