I don't own anything…all credit goes to ABC/Shondaland
Chapter Fifty-Two
AN: A little filler chapter…hope you enjoy!
Arizona's POV
As a way to get out of the house, Tim and I headed to the mall with Sofia. Callie is at work and I still have few days before I return to work. Tim is leaving us soon to go back to Maryland and spent his last couple of days together with our parents before heading back over seas.
"So what exactly are we looking for, sis?" Tim asks as we leisurely walk around the mall. It's the middle of the day so not too many people are shopping, but it's still winter break for most students so young teens and college students seem to be roaming the mall as well.
"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to get out the house and since it's winter we can't do much outside. Plus Sofia loves the mall." I say pushing her stroller in front of us. "She likes to look around and take in the sights."
"Ahh, to be young again." He says walking next to me, "Everything seems so simple."
"I know right?"
"So are you ready for the next one? What, you're four months right?"
"Just about. I'm naturally nervous, but excited. When I met Callie Sofia was about six months so I missed out on the really early stuff, so I'm anxious about that. I'm anxious about all of it really. It's still weird to me that I'm a parent and responsible for two other human lives." I say honestly.
"It's a good thing you have Callie. I know she had Mark with her when Sofia was born, but it's not the same as being in a relationship with someone. I can only assume it was hard for her." My brother adds.
"Yeah, it was unconventional, but they made it work. I wouldn't want to be doing this with anyone but Callie."
"It's still a little weird to me that you're pregnant. I'd never thought I would see the day." He jokes. "I thought you'd get married sometime in your thirties and just live a simple life, ya know? Never did I think you'd be married with one kid and another on the way at twenty-six."
"Neither did I, but it just happened in it's own way."
"Well you guys have a huge house, have you picked out a room yet or started decorating?"
"No. I guess we should start getting a few things together for it. Everything has been kind of rapid fire lately, Callie getting shot, the wedding, honeymoon, Christmas, New Years. Sof's birthday is in a few months. I go back to work next week. It never seems to slow down."
"Not to mention your birthday…I still can't believe some crazy guy shot up the hospital. That's fucking wild!"
"Tim! Little ears." I say nodding towards Sofia in the stroller, "but I know. It was scary. They said he was distraught."
"Still not an excuse. There are other means to relieve stress or whatever. It doesn't help to hurt other people. It's hard to hear about that stuff when I see unimaginable things overseas."
"I can only imagine. Hey, let's stop in this store for a second." I say turning to walk into a maternity clothes store.
"Oh come on, Arizona. Seriously? You're not even that big!"
"Oh relax, I just need some pants. Just twenty minutes, plus I need someone to watch Sofia while I try on some clothes."
"Twenty minutes, Arizona! I don't like shopping for women's clothes, let alone maternity clothes."
"Grow up, it's not that serious. I just want to be comfortable. Help me look for some pants."
"Shouldn't you be doing this with Callie or someone? What about Teddy? She seems like a nice girl."
"I hate to break it to you, but Callie and I don't do everything together." I snap sarcastically. "Besides she's at work and we're here now. I think Teddy is still on vacation. Just think of this as brother-sister bonding!" I say trying to cheer him up. "This would go quicker if you helped me."
"Fine, what about this?" He says holding up a pair of black pants.
"Good, but look at the rack you got them off." Right in front of him in big, black bold letters is says six months pregnant.
"Ohh…right you're only four months." He says slightly embarrassed.
"Good thinking, but not quite there." I chuckle to myself amused. We continue to look around the store and when I have a few things I head into a changing room to try some things on while Tim watches Sofia in the seating area.
"Can I take Sof out? She's getting a little restless."
"That's fine. There are some toys and snacks in my bag." I call out from my changing room.
"Speaking of food, can we head to the food court after this? I'm hungry."
"Sure." I get the first pair of pants on and model a little in front of the mirror. Satisfied with the size and fit, I take them off and try on another pair.
"Callie just texted you."
"Um, can you read it to me? Actually, wait! Just pass me my phone please." I reach my hand out to get my phone. Callie and I have been known to partake in some naughty texts every now and then and I really don't need my brother reading or seeing anything.
Hey babe, just wanted to let you know I have to work late tonight. Probably won't be home for dinner. Sorry, kiss Sof for me. Love you.
That stinks. We'll miss you. Love you too, see you soon!" I type out quickly.
"Looks like it'll be just the three of us tonight. Callie has to work late."
"That's unfortunate. It seems like ever since Christmas Callie has been working."
"I know, hospital shifts are crazy. She tries to make it home for dinner most nights." I say putting on another pair of pants.
"I guess that just means some more one-on-one time with uncle Tim." Tim says in a baby voice that gets a few giggles and sounds from my little girl. "Mommy is taking her sweet time isn't she?" He says more to me then Sofia.
"Five minutes tops!"
"Whatever. You can't say I've never done anything for you. This is by far the last thing I thought I'd do with you."
"But you love me so it doesn't matter."
"Yeah, yeah…" He says dismissively. I finish trying on clothes and head to the cashier to pay for my items. Once out the store we find the food court and grab a few things to eat.
"So have you given any thought to what you want to do when you come home?" I ask while helping Sofia with her juice box.
"Honestly not really," He says taking a bite of his cheeseburger. "I'll probably take a few weeks off and get reacquainted with civilian life then maybe look for a job. Some engineering work possibly. Mom basically enlisted me as a handy man for the house, but I don't think that's going to last too long."
"Mom? So you're thinking about staying in Maryland?"
"Well yeah…" He says as its almost obvious.
"I was just thinking you come to Seattle. You could live with us, our house is big enough." Is it bad that I want my brother around? He's been gone so much and I miss spending time with him.
"Arizona I can't do that," Tim says softly, "You have Callie, Sofia, and another kid on the way. I don't want to get in the way, and—"
"You wouldn't get in the way." I quickly sputter.
"What I'm saying is that you don't want your bachelor brother living with you. You have a new life now, I'll for sure come visit but I can't live with you guys. Plus, I know no one in Seattle. Maryland is my home." Truthfully he's right, but I wish he would have given it more thought.
"The offer still stands."
"I appreciate it. Speaking of home, I should be back permanently in—"
"Don't say it!" I say swiftly, holding up my hand to stop him from finishing. "You know I don't like to know, just call or visit me when you get back."
"Fine, but just in case something happens just know that—"
"Tim! Stop talking like that. Mom hates and so do I. We aren't going to have that conversation, let alone in the middle of a food court in the mall." I say looking around at my surroundings. "You're coming home healthy and safe, is that right Sof?" I ask playfully to my daughter in my lap. I tickle her little belly and she lets out little squeals in delight.
"Well if Sofia say so, then I have to!" He plays along. We spend the some more time eating and talking before heading home. The rest of the evening was spent talking and playing with Sofia. Tim helped put together some of the big toys that she got for Christmas, including a play princess castle that Mark got her. Callie is convinced that Sofia is going to grow up aspiring to be an actual princess. I kind of find the whole situation a little comical. I mean she's not even two yet, but I understand where Calliope is coming from. Kids are impressionable from a young age, but the castle is cute so for right now Sofia is in her fantasy world. After dinner and going through Sofia's nighttime routine for bed, Tim and I watched a movie and a half before heading up to our respective rooms. It was a little after eleven while I was watching a late night talk show when Callie finally comes home.
"Hey, you're still up?" She asks walking into the room and taking off her shoes and jacket.
"Yeah, I was trying to wait for you." I say sitting up in the bed. "You left early this morning and didn't really get a chance to see you."
"I know, I missed you today. I would've been home a little earlier, but there was a last minute complication and we had to go back into the OR." She says giving me a kiss before heading into the bathroom to do her usual nighttime routine. She keeps the door open so we can still talk. "How was your day?"
"Good, we took Sofia to the mall just to get out the house. I made Tim do some shopping with me."
"Ha, that should've been fun." She laughs.
"It was definitely entertaining. I just wish Tim could stay here and be our in house babysitter while we are at work. He's actually pretty good with her."
"As much as I love Tim and I'm sure he loves Sofia, I highly doubt he wants to be our babysitter."
"I know…just a thought. I even asked him to move in with us when he returned."
"Uh, what?" She asks confused.
"He shot it down quickly and I would've talked with you about it if it was serious." I say playing with my hands. It makes me sad to know that he's leaving me in a few days. I know the day would come, but that doesn't mean it gets any easier.
"I don't think he really wants to live with his sister and wife plus their kids." Callie says plainly.
"I know, he basically told me the same thing." She comes out of the bathroom face washed with pajamas on and rounds the bed to get in. I turn off the television and move down in the bed and next to my wife. "I'm just going to miss him, that's all."
"I get it. Maybe we can all go out to dinner before he heads back to Maryland."
"I'd like that."
"Yeah, we should do it." She says pulling up my nightshirt a little and rubbing my stomach. I've come to notice she does that every night. At first it was a little strange to me, but I've come to realize it's just her way of being close to our nugget and oddly enough it's become soothing to me.
"I missed you today, I don't like it when you work late." I say rolling over to rest my head on her shoulder and lay my arm across her stomach and possessively hug her.
"Me neither."
"That's going to change right? After our new little one comes?"
"I hope so. I haven't talked to the Chief about maternity leave, but I don't think it'll be an issue." She says reassuringly.
"But what about after maternity leave?"
"I'll just delegate more I guess. I'm sure some nights I'll still have to be on-call. It'll be like what we do now. For the most part I'm home by five or six."
"I know, I guess on nights like this I just get nervous. When you come home late Sofia is usually out for the night, and we only get a little time to talk. Not to mention, it'll be two kids and I'll be alone."
"I much rather be here, but it's my job babe. Nights like this rarely happen anymore. I promise I'll try to be around as much as I can. You won't be alone, Arizona." She says running a comforting hand over my back. "Your mom did offer to move in with us for a few weeks after the baby comes."
"Maybe for a week, but I don't want her getting settled here. It'll be harder for her to go home."
"All I'm saying is that it's going to be an adjustment period for all of us, so her presence will be helpful."
"Let's table this, I'm tired." I say with a yawn, and not in the mood to discuss the possibility of my mom living with us. Callie pulls the duvet cover over us and gives me a kiss goodnight on the lips.
By the time the week ends we are walking Tim to his gate at the airport. I know he's just going back to Maryland to spend his last few days in the states with our parents, but it's the last time I'll see him for a while.
"I should get going…" He says putting down his duffle bag and taking Sofia for a goodbye hug. "Be good for your moms, Sofster. You have a big responsibility; you're about to be a big sister. Make sure you take advantage of being an only child for as long as you can. Don't get grow up too much while I'm gone." He finishes before giving her hug and kiss on the cheek. He hands her back to me and gives Callie her hug goodbye.
"Take care, Callie."
"You too, Tim. I'm glad you were able to come for the wedding and stay for a while."
"I wouldn't have missed it." He says looking at me with a smile, "Take care of my sister, will ya?"
"Of course. Have a safe trip."
"Thanks…alright sis, your turn." My brother says opening his arms wide for a hug. Callie takes Sofia from me and I give Tim a hug back. It would be easy to blame all my emotions on my pregnancy, but I think – I know this is just me being sad that my brother is leaving.
"Remember, it's not a goodbye…"
"It's a see you later." I finish.
"Don't be sad, I'll be back before you know it. I expect a healthy niece of nephew." He says lightening the mood. "Don't worry about me. You just got married! Everything is still sunny and roses. It's the honeymoon period, or whatever they call it. You're having another kid!" He says placing his hand on my stomach. "All good things and I can't wait to come back be the cool Uncle again."
"Just come back."
"I will…don't mess things up with Callie, she's a keeper." He says jokingly, throwing a wink to my wife.
"Trust me I know. Tell mom and dad I said hi."
"Even better, I'll call you when I land."
"I'm holding you to that."
"I always keep my word…I came for your wedding, didn't I?" He grins with a haughty smile.
"Touché."
"I gotta go, I don't want to miss my flight. Love ya, sis."
"Love you too." With one last quick hug he heads for the security line and the three of us watch him leave and wave good-bye.
"Unc bye-bye?" Sofia asks.
"Yeah, he'll be back soon." Callie answers. When we can't see him anymore we make our way through the airport and back to the car.
"You okay?" Calliope asks a few minutes into the quiet car ride back home.
"I'm good…at least I will be. Going back to work will be a nice distraction." She takes my hand in hers and laces our fingers together. She brings the back my hand up to her lips and gives me a kiss. I'm glad that she surprised me with my brother for our wedding. It was special and will never be forgotten. I don't like to talk about Tim when he's gone because I just get worried and nervous, and luckily Callie knows that and respects that so she doesn't press me too much to open up.
"Home?" Sofia asks from her car seat.
"Yeah, we're going home." Callie answers.
"Ice-cweam?"
"I could eat some ice-cream, what about you mommy?" Callie asks spiritedly.
"Ice-cweam mommy?" The voice of my little girl is one of my favorite sounds. It's hard not to smile around her; she's contagious. In her world everything is perfect, and in retrospect it is. Tim was right, I have a lot of positive things happening in my life right now and I'm happier then I've been in a long time. I can't dwell on my brother, I just have to trust him and believe him when he says he'll be back, and deep down I know he will.
"I could definitely use some ice-cream…with some Oreos of course."
"Ice-cream it is!" My wife cheers, and just like that my day is better because I get to go home with my wife and daughter. I have a lot to be grateful for.
Thanks for reading!
AN: any preferences on the baby…boy or girl?