Chapter 9
Dinner was a success for the parenting mom's they didn't feel strained to be nice to one another because they were actually happy to be in each other's company. But now with Mikey asleep that awkwardness that was not there before filled the apartment and both women are unsure if they should just call it a night or stay a while longer.
Arizona takes the silence as her time to leave. She picks Mikey up from the couch to take him to his bed and makes sure to tuck him in before she leaves.
Exiting her son's room the blonde could feel Callie close behind, "Don't leave. It's not that late and I have a great wine you might appreciate."
She looked into those same brown eyes of her son and knew she couldn't deny this woman, "Sure one glass wouldn't hurt," Arizona set her stuff by the door as she made her way back to the couch.
"Thanks again for dinner. I'm pretty sure Mikey prefers your food over mine because I can never get him to eat more than one plate. You were always a better cook though," tonight's dinner had reminded her of the first time she was invited over and the difference the times had been because this time the blonde actually felt a part of the family.
"It's a talent and it wasn't always easy to get him to eat. When he was two everything ended up on the floor or on me. Unless it was something sweet than he would eat it, but I figured he got that from you," there was a moment of pain that flashed across the smaller woman's eyes that made Callie regret talking about a time where Arizona missed out on being Mike's Mama but was soon replaced with a smile.
"Well the throwing the food around is all you. He definitely has your temper and I will be honest I was frightened by it. I really thought it was a joke but nope his bedtime routine is altered just a bit leads to a lot of tears and shouting."
The brunette laughed because she knew all too well of Mikey's tantrums. At least Arizona was lucky to have it happen to her in the privacy of her home as opposed to the grocery store as Callie is all too familiar with.
"I warned you to follow everything as I said so don't blame me."
"I suppose so," Callie handed her glass of wine and the blonde moved back to make herself more comfortable on the couch. "Callie?"
"Hmm?"
"I really have missed you and not just now but before all of this. Even after you know the, the…"
"Miscarriage?"
"Yeah," years later and the word could still not come from her mouth.
"I missed you too," Callie took a small sip of her wine as she observed the other woman across from her.
"Who would have known that the second time I meet you again and I still get yelled at?" She chuckled at the memory of bumping into the once stranger when she was just a med student.
"Yeah obviously not my best quality, but it didn't stop a certain woman coming after me?" Her final statement came off more as a question because she had no clue what Arizona felt for her. Especially after keeping Mikey from the blonde Callie had no way of knowing they had a standing chance to fix their relationship.
"Maybe," all Arizona could do was shrug. If she was being honest it would probably be a yes.
"I could live with a maybe," Callie spoke with a smile.
"Good because that's all you get. Now let's watch some trashy TV before I have to go home."
They shared a few comments as they watched old episodes of Hoarders on how unsanitary most homes looked or why one person needed a whole home devoted to dolls was ridiculous. By the end of the first episode both women sat a lot closer to one another without letting the other know how little distance was now between them.
Arizona could feel someone watching her and slowly she realized that she must have fallen asleep while watching TV. As the blonde allowed her body to stretch on the now not so comfortable couch her eyes flew open when she could see the light out. Standing clad in Spiderman pajamas Mikey stared at his Mama with a smile on his face.
"How come you didn't tell me we were having a sleepover," he pointed to his other mother who was still snuggled into Arizona's side.
"Because Mama wasn't meant to stay the night but I must have been real tired and fell asleep like Mami," moving quietly out of the embrace Arizona was able to right herself as she moved towards the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
"Are you going to sleep here every night when you're sleepy?"
"No, I have my own house Mikey. Do you not like coming to Mama's house?"
"I like it a lot, but I like when we're all together."
She knew this was the problem, but the blonde wasn't ready to just jump straight into relationship with Callie either. They needed time to get to know each other and if it couldn't work amongst them it was best that things stay the way they are now in order to not confuse Mikey.
"Mikey I know and Mama's going to come here more often okay? I'll make sure to be here for dinners and bedtime stories, but after I have to go back home."
Stomping his foot Mikey was not done just yet, "NO!"
"What was that?"
"No, I want you here with Mami"
A groan came from the couch as Mikey chose to use his loudest voice to get his point across.
"Mikey why are you yelling it's too early for that," came from the Latina.
"Mama won't live with us," his voice was becoming thick with emotion, "She doesn't love us anymore."
As tears fell from his eyes both mothers were in shock this was not what they had ever expected to come from their son's mouth.
"Hey, hey that's not true little man. I love you and I love Mami. Trust me with all my heart," she said as she looked at the brunette frozen to the couch, "but right now it's best that we have separate homes for a while. I know it doesn't make sense sometimes I don't get it, but when you're older it will be easier for you to understand."
"I'll think about it," was all he could say before walking to his room and closing the door behind him.
"Did he just yell and then close the door on me?"
Callie was still looking at the closed door before she answered, "Yes and get used to it he'll yell and scream so you know how he feels, but then will sit in his room before he calms down and can come back to either talk or apologize."
"Should I be worried by what he said though?"
"No, he's angry. I'm sorry though you do not need to spend any more time with me than you have to."
"I want to though. Callie I still care about you and your Mikey's Mami. I'd like to get to know you again whether it is just to be great parents for Mikey or more, but I meant what I said to Mikey. I love you and I always will."
"Arizona there is no need to say all of that. I need to get ready for work and I know you do too. We'll figure it out, but for now why don't you tell Mikey we need to get going."
The blonde nodded her understanding. Neither woman had a clue where they were going. But for now, it was easier for both to hide from what they were really feeling and just go about living their day.
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By the time they entered the hospital Mikey had apologized for his outburst yet both Moms knew the fight wasn't over with their son. They headed towards the daycare to drop Mikey off with a hug and kiss before going to the locker room to trade in their street clothes for a pair of navy blue scrubs. After quick goodbye's they went to their separate floors to begin their day.
Arizona had barely left a patients room when her taller blonde friend strode up to her.
"I saw you and Torres come in together. Are you guys playing housewives yet?"
The PEDs surgeon had to roll her eyes at Teddy's statement, "No, I just stayed the night and before you can read into that I fell asleep on the couch, with Callie maybe cuddled into me," she muttered the last part.
"Wait there was cuddling? With clothes on I assume. Does this mean what I think it means?"
"What do you think this means? Because to me it sounds like a tired mother just fell asleep after a busy day of work and then worrying whether or not her son will be okay with the mess that has become his life."
"First of all Mikey is probably ecstatic to having another mother in his life and especially that mother being you. Second did he say his life was a mess because a four year old should not even know to describe his life like that?"
"No, not in those exact words, but he's mad that I don't share a house with him and Callie. I mean how do you explain to a four year old that said mother is still the love of my life I'm just a chicken shit and can't ask her out."
"I knew it. It was so obvious you still liked Callie with the constant fawning over her across the cafeteria and telling me how hot she looks in her leather jacket," Teddy laughed at the blush that was beginning to rise on the PEDs surgeons cheeks.
"The worst part is she doesn't even think I like like her anymore, which I know is my fault since I hardly talk to her unless it's about Mikey. But I'm scared that we try to date and what we had is no longer there. Then what? Mikey would be devastated that his moms will never be together."
Teddy could see the panic in her friend's eyes as she voiced her reasons why it would be a mistake to date the brunette but she could also see that no matter what the blonde still loved and probably always will if things didn't work with Callie.
"Okay I get these are good reasons to be afraid of dating a person, but what if they're not true, then what are you going to pass up being with the love of your life because of fear? You both deserve to be happy and with Callie walking on egg shells because of her guilt, it's your turn to step up."
"It's not that simple…"
"Actually it is and you'd be an idiot not to ask her out," she could tell her friend was about to object so she pushed harder, "If you don't ask her out someone else will and talk from the nurses is that Callie's scrub nurse Colleen has the hot's for your woman. So Arizona Robbins are you taking Callie out or is Colleen?"
"I uh I. People are already lining up for her?"
"Why wouldn't they? She's hot. I mean if I was into the whole leather and hot Latina thing I'd be in that line, but I'm not."
"Or ladies," Arizona added.
"That too, but that's not the point. Are you going to ask her out or what?"
Arizona could not let Callie go out with another woman it had to be her and she was going to march down to wherever the hot Latina was and ask her out on a fancy date.
#######
"Shit I thought Colleen was just talk, but there she is already putting the moves on Callie," Teddy had to scoff at the nurse who was running her hand up the ortho surgeons arm in the cafeteria.
"That's my competition?"
"Yeah and I honestly thought you would be first in line. Well maybe next time," the taller blonde made her way to the buffet of food.
"Wait that's it I just give up because of some other woman? They could just be talking about a patient or…"
"I highly doubt that. Man I was really rooting for you guys. The two of you were supposed to be my aspirational couple."
"Well we will. If I still know Callie than that nurse is not her type," Arizona stated with confidence.
"Oh yeah well than what is her type?" the cardio surgeon was more interested in whether she should have a tuna or turkey sandwich.
"Me. I'm her type with blonde hair and blue eyes. Oh yeah that's Callie's weakness and once this woman gets her hands off my woman than I'll show you that I'm right."
"Mhmm okay well let's make our way over there hotshot."
As the two blondes made their way to Callie's table they could see the surgeon blush as Colleen continued to flirt with her. Arizona thought it was just tacky, but then again jealousy was green-eyed monster.
Callie looked up at the pair and her smile grew wider when she saw Arizona in front of her. They hardly ate together since revealing that Mikey was the blonde's son, but she was happy none the less to see Arizona obviously annoyed at the nurse.
"Arizona I asked if you were going to sit?" Callie asked as Arizona continued to glare at Colleen.
"Sorry got distracted," she pulled a seat out before offering a hand to Colleen who the blonde did not know before Teddy explained who the woman was, "Arizona, PEDs surgeon. I don't think we've met."
"Colleen, ortho nurse and no, we haven't but it's nice to finally meet the woman who caused all the gossip for the nurses. Not all of us are bad though."
"Hmm, I bet."
"Callie thanks for the company, but I should get back to work. And if you're plans change I'll still be waiting," the nurse winked at the surgeon as she got up to leave.
"What was that all about?" Arizona didn't want to sound annoyed, but she sure felt like it and the wink only made matters worse.
"Nothing too important Colleen just wanted to know if I could grab a drink after work, but I told her it was my week with Mikey, maybe next time."
"That's not happening."
This got Callie to fully look at the smaller blonde who was fidgeting in her seat. Teddy on the other hand was now fully engrossed in their conversation after Arizona stated how easy it would be to get Callie to go on a date with her.
"Is that so? Do I get an explanation?"
"Um well, I…it's just not a good idea." Arizona had never been the type to get nervous by a woman, but here she was unable to ask Callie who she was once married to, on a date.
"What? Why not?"
"Because youshouldbegoingoutwithme," the blonde figured if she just spoke quickly through her nerves then maybe Callie would understand her yet everything that came out of her mouth just seemed to confuse the brunette.
"How about we speak a little clearer because what I was able to make out from that sentence was you trying to ask me out," this was not the ortho surgeon's first time deciphering one of Arizona's rushed sentences and it seemed Mikey had the same habit when he was nervous and wanted a toy he knew his Mami would object to.
"If I was will you say yes?" she looked up to find warm brown eyes staring back at her.
"Maybe. I'm busy this week so-"
"That's okay because if you need a sitter Teddy would love to," injected Arizona.
"I didn't know Teddy babysat."
"That's because I don't," but a kick from Arizona got her to continue, "Although I'd love to watch Mikey for a couple of hours if you two wanted to go out."
"Well that depends if Arizona is going to properly ask me out," came to Callie's response with a sly grin.
"Calliope would you go on a date with me this Friday?"
The brunette stood with her tray of food and began to walk from the table causing Arizona to slump in defeat before she leaned down to whisper, "Pick me up at 7."
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Arizona was excited for her date with the hot ortho surgeon. At this point nothing could get her down even after her parents continued to call and leave threatening messages that they would come to Seattle if she didn't respond soon. She had been so busy with work and spending time with Mikey that only the night before did the blonde send an email saying, Busy, yet alive. Arizona really wanted to tell her parents everything that had happened, but wasn't quite sure how to tell her parents that her ex-wife worked at the same hospital and oh yeah now she was a parent. Not the best thing to rush into an email so the PEDs surgeon kept telling herself she was waiting for a free day to formulate a plan and then go to her parents with the news.
As she exited the shower there was a loud knock coming from her front door and quickly pulled on her robe to answer it.
She was surprised to see Callie and Mikey at the door, but then she noticed the small boy had a backpack that was used to carry his stuff when he came over to the blonde's place.
"I am so sorry Arizona," Callie rushed into the house as she set Mikey down, "but that restaurant we had reservations to collapsed and they need an ortho surgeon and the only other attendee is out of town so I have to go in. I wouldn't, but it seems the cases that are coming in are pretty severe."
"No there is no need to apologize this is our job and I completely understand," Arizona was still disappointed that they would have to postpone their date but being a surgeon never guaranteed plans to be set in stone. "Will Mikey be staying the night?"
"Actually if the surgery doesn't run too late I can come back over. It might be late and all but I'll bring dinner for us."
"Sure that could work. We'll be waiting for you," Arizona leaned in to give Callie a kiss on the cheek. "Go be a rock star."
"Thanks. Mikey Mami loves you come say bye."
With a hug and kiss from her son Callie said one more good bye to the blonde before taking off down the hall back to the hospital.
"Mikey how about we order some pizza and get into our pajamas?" Arizona looked to her son who was already at his toy box in the corner of the living room making a mess of the once clean apartment.
"Yay, with lots of pepperonis."
"Is there any other way to eat pizza?"
"Nope."
While waiting for the pizza they ran around the apartment decked out in sunglasses and velcro vests playing with Mikey's Nerf guns. The apartment looked like a war zone as they moved furniture around to hide.
Arizona could hear a giggle come from behind the couch as she tiptoed her way towards the noise. Jumping to find her son with his hand over his mouth to keep from being caught, "Not so quiet are we Mikey?"
Once being discovered, the little boy moved as fast as he could to get back on his feet to run from the blonde. "I'm too fast for you Mama." His little legs took him as fast as they could towards the open door of his mom's room.
The blonde quickly ran after him thinking that if she jumped over the couch it would be a lot faster, but she miscalculated the jump and ended up tumbling over hitting her face hard against the wooden floors.
She groaned in pain pretty sure the warm feeling on her face was blood coming from her nose. When Arizona reached to touch her face she could hear tentative feet make their way towards her.
"Mama is you okay?" Mikey crouched down next to the blonde with worry all over his face.
"I'm okay, Mama's just really clumsy."
"But there is blood coming from your nose. Do we have to go to the hospital?"
"No, I'll just go to the bathroom and clean it up and I'll be all better. Why don't you start cleaning up so when our pizza gets here any minute we can watch a movie okay?"
"I can do that, but can I give you a kiss so it won't hurt anymore?"
She had to smile at how sweet Mikey was over her injury, "Of course and maybe I can get cuddles during the movie too?"
"If that makes you feel better then I'll do that too."
When the blonde left Mikey began to pick up the pillows and push the chairs back that had been pulled out from the small table. He made his way to the toys he had left by his toy box to put them back so his mom wouldn't step on them like she always did. After picking up the last toy he heard a knock at the door and quickly ran to open it for the pizza waiting for him on the other side. Both Callie and Arizona tried to get Mikey to wait for them to answer the door when there was a knock, but the small boy never listened and continued to answer it whenever he heard someone at it.
He was surprised to see that instead of the pizza delivery boy standing in front of him with a pizza box was an older couple looking at him with wide eyes.
Still standing at the door Mikey yelled, "Mama we have guests."
Arizona could not believe that once again her son did not listen to her and answered the door. She was about to give another speech on how dangerous it is for someone his age to answer a door without an adult present when the PEDs surgeon stopped short at the sight outside her door.
"Mom, Dad what are you doing in Seattle?"
AN: I apologize in advance but my posts might take a while as the end of the semester is soon approaching and I have a lot of tests and projects to prepare for. As always I enjoy reading everyone's comments and they are always great motivation to keep writing. Thanks again xxxx