Disclaimer: I own none of these characters; all belong to Shonda Rhimes. Any resemblance to the show is simply borrowed.
A/N: GAH I'M SORRY. Which doesn't make up for it, but hopefully a chapter will? :) I'm not going to bore you with the many reasons and excuses I have for not updating sooner, but I have them. Read away!
Chapter 18:
A few weeks went by this way, in their happy little bubble, using each other's keys if need be, or just because they wanted a chance to use them. They were happy, and both loved the place they were in.
"What's this for?" Arizona asked picking up a green pepper. They were in the kitchen, Callie cooking at the stove while Arizona sat on the counter top next to her.
Callie chuckled. "It gives the rice some flavor."
"Can't we just put some butter on it?" Arizona asked with a grin. She loved to tease Callie.
"No, we cannot do that," Callie said with a smile while she concentrated on her cooking.
Arizona watched the slight crinkle in Callie's eyebrow, her plump lips pursed in concentration, hair loosely pulled back into a long ponytail. She bit her lip slightly, smiling at the beautiful Latina.
"Have I ever told you how insanely hot you look while you're cooking?" Arizona drawled out sliding off the counter slowly.
Callie smirked, not meeting Arizona's eyes. "Hmm maybe once or twice."
"Well you are," Arizona said wrapping her arms around Callie from behind, placing her head gently on Callie's shoulder, nuzzling her neck and hair and inhaling the scent purely Callie, "And you smell extra good while you're cooking too. Is it the peppers?"
Callie laughed and refused to meet Arizona's attempts. "I'm not going to be able to finish cooking if you keep doing that."
"Is there a problem with that?" Arizona asked seductively, nibbling on Callie's ear.
Callie swallowed the lump in her throat and sighed in contentment as Arizona did wonders to her neck. Arizona knew that special spot behind Callie's ear that could always get to her.
Arizona made sure her body was pressed up against Callie's as she ran her hands gently down Callie's sides. The doorbell rang, stopping Arizona in her movements. She kissed Callie's shoulder gently and said, "Your kids are here."
"Well then you better finish what you started later, because that was just wrong," Callie said chuckling slightly, obviously aroused. It didn't take much when she was around Arizona.
Arizona laughed and skipped to get the door. The second she opened the door, Allegra wrapped her tiny body around Arizona's legs and Owen took the two boys in as well. "Hi, Arizona!" they all sang.
"Where's mommy?" Allegra asked.
"In the kitchen cooking something yummy," Arizona barely responded before Allegra hopped away, the boys waddling after her.
"Thanks for dropping them off," Arizona said with a sincere smile. She'd always liked Owen as a person. Just not with Callie, obviously.
"Yeah, of course," Owen said, but stood scratching the back of his head slightly, as though he had more to say.
"Do you...wanna come in?" Arizona asked holding the door open a little more.
Owen nodded and walked past her to the living room.
"Callie's in the kitchen," Arizona said, confused as to why Owen chose the couch.
"Yeah, I know, I..." Owen started, "I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh," Arizona said, startled, "Okay..." She sat down on a chair across from where Owen sat, waiting patiently for him to start talking.
"Things with you and Callie are pretty serious," Owen stated. Arizona nodded. "And my kids seem to love you," he again stated.
"I'm just glad they can put up with me. I'm crazy about them," Arizona said grinning.
"Yeah, I can tell," he said nodding.
Arizona hesitated, and said gently, "But I could never replace their father. It's not like that."
Owen sighed a little. "Yeah, I know. I do. I'm really glad Callie is happy and that the kids get along with you. I wish they got along with Cristina as much."
"Ahh," Arizona said in understanding, "Well, just give it time."
"And I know this sounds a little, albeit, hypocritical coming from me, but..." Owen said, careful with his word choice, "Just. Take care of her."
Arizona knew the conversation had flipped to Callie. "Of course," Arizona said obviously, a little annoyed, "What gives you the right to-"
"I know, I said it was hypocritical, okay?" Owen admitted, "But I care about her and want the best for her. And that just wasn't me. I never meant to hurt her. But I did. And I just don' t know how much more pain she can take..."
Arizona nodded slightly, trying to understand where he was coming from. "No offense, Owen, but I would never even think about doing what you did to Callie. She's the most important person in my life, and I love her. I would never do anything to hurt her."
Owen nodded. "Well, I appreciate that."
"And she's not broken," Arizona said, feeling the need to add more, "she may have been in pain for a while, but I've watched the pieces slowly get put back together."
"Because you've put them back together," Owen admitted with a smile. Arizona smiled back.
"Well, I'll get going," Owen said moving to get up.
"Hey, Owen?" Arizona called after him before he could leave.
"Yeah?"
"I'm not going anywhere," she said in full seriousness looking him directly in the eye.
He gave a half smile and said, "Yeah, I know."
Arizona made her way to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame as she watched the scene in front of her unfold. Callie had Ethan on her hip, Allan tugging at her leg, and Allegra on a chair leaning over the food trying to help. She smiled and rubbed her arms to try to rid the goosebumps that formed through her body at watching this little family. No, she wasn't going anywhere.
Callie turned slightly and saw Arizona watching them. An even bigger smile grew on her face as she looked at the blonde.
"Come help, Arizona!" Allegra called hopping off the chair to grab Arizona's hand to drag her in the kitchen.
Soon the group was sitting at the table, talking and laughing and eating together. After dinner, they sat in the living room on the floor with the lights dimmed, all playing games together. Naturally, they pulled out the game Operation.
Arizona had a concentrated look on her face as she attempted to pull the funny bone out without touching the edges. Callie had been rubbing circles on Arizona's lower back, relishing in the goosebumps that formed there. As Arizona was about to get the funny bone out, Callie moved her hand lower and gently squeezed, causing Arizona to shiver and resulted in dropping the game piece.
"For a doctor, you stink at this game, Arizona!" Allegra said laughing as she reached for the tweezers.
"Hey!" Arizona said in defense, "I was winning."
"Was being the key word," Callie said smirking as the kids giggled.
Arizona glared at Callie but was smiling, "Oh yeah, no idea how that happened."
"Mommy, your turn!" Allegra said handing over the tweezers.
As Callie tried to pull out the heart, she felt Arizona's hand on her thigh creeping up higher and higher slowly. She swallowed as she tried not to think about the hand making circles on her inner thigh. She knew she has only asked for this by distracting Arizona. Arizona's hand made one flick over the seam of Callie's jeans and Callie was done for. The game beeped loudly causing the kids to laugh.
"You stink too, Mommy!" Allegra said clapping her hands.
Arizona casually draped an arm over Callie's shoulders and said, "Yeah, mommy, what happened?"
Callie turned to look at Arizona and said said softly, "Touche."
The doorbell rang at that moment, breaking the group's little game.
"I'll get that," Callie said smiling and making her way towards the door. A tall man she immediately recognized stood before her. "Daddy?"
Her father looked passed her and into the living room, confirming what he suspected. "What the hell is this?" he asked a low, gravely tone.
"Grandpa!" Allegra chirped excitedly.
Arizona had been frozen since she heard the word "daddy" escape from Callie's lips.
"Uh...dad..." Callie started.
"Calliope, I will not stand for this," he said roughly making his way into her home.
Callie's initial fear was immediately replaced by something else entirely as she gained a new confidence in her voice. "Allegra, take your brothers upstairs," she said still staring at her father.
"But Grandpa is-"
"Allegra, take them upstairs and go to bed, please," she said calmly never breaking eye contact.
Arizona cleared her throat slightly and spoke up for the first time, "I can take them if you want."
Carlos immediately whipped his head around to glare at her, "Absolutely not, we will not condone this!"
"Dad!" Callie yelled, "You can't just come into my home and start barking orders. Allegra, go to bed, now," she looked at her daughter for the first time.
Allegra nodded and grabbed each hand of her brothers and ran up the stairs. She didn't need to be told twice this time. She saw the look in her mother's eyes.
Arizona quietly got up off the floor as Callie made her way into the living room and turned on some lights. Carlos fidgeted slightly.
Arizona cleared her throat and tried to speak again, "I can go."
"No," Callie said softly, but firmly, "I want you right here." She gently grabbed Arizona's hand in her own. "Unless you want to leave."
Arizona smiled slightly. "Not a chance."
Callie looked up at her father, who was looking at the pair in disgust. She tried to remain calm. "Would you like to sit down and discuss this calmly?"
"There's nothing to discuss Calliope. What you're doing is wrong. It is a sin," he said sternly.
Callie rolled her eyes, "So who told you anyway?"
"Owen's mother talked to me and let it slip that the two of you were playing house."
"We're not playing, dad. This relationship between Arizona and I-"
"Don't you dare!" he cut her off, "Don't you dare call this-this-thing a relationship! This is not real."
"How dare you. How dare you!" Callie said squeezing Arizona's hand slightly, "I'm trying to have a calm discussion about this and you won't even give me a chance to explain, immediately disproving of my relationship before even giving it a chance!"
"It's not a relationship, Callie. It's an abomination. An eternity in Hell. Do you know what that's like? Knowing your child will be going to Hell?"
"Enough!" Callie said, beyond angry, "What I have with Arizona is real. And I won't let you just barge into my home and tell me otherwise! Jesus is my savior, daddy, not you!"
"I thought I taught you better than this," he said obviously not listening to her, "I just don't understand where I went wrong."
"Where you went wrong?"Callie asked incredulously.
"Yes, where I went wrong! I raised you to be better than this, Calliope, and I can't believe this-this-this woman, waltzes into your life and ruins it."
"Hey!" Callie said letting go of Arizona's hand to stand near him, "Don't you dare talk about her that way. Ever. She didn't do anything but-but love me, and support me, which is what I thought a father was supposed to do too!
"I do love you, Calliope, which is why I'm here now, to save you from making the biggest mistake of your life."
"This is not a mistake, dad, God!" Callie exasperated, "What we have is real, and beautiful, and more loving than any relationship I've ever known. I love her, Dad."
"Don't you dare insinuate there's anything loving or normal about this!"
"That's enough," Arizona voiced, strong and suddenly from behind Callie.
"Excuse me?" he asked looking at her.
"That's enough," she repeated, "You've done enough here." Callie was out of breath and looked as if she were about to cry any moment, face bright red, tears waiting to spill. Arizona reached for Callie's hand again and squeezed it gently before continuing, "Your daughter is still the caring, honorable, beautiful girl you raised her to be. And I love her. I do. More than anything in the world. And I can't let you stand here and tell me that's not real, or more importantly, I can't let you stand here and hurt Calliope anymore. You've done enough. So get the hell out."
Carlos stood still for a moment, glaring. After a moment of silence he said, "It's her or your family, Calliope. I hope you know that. I hope you know what you're doing."
"Seriously, Dad, you're going to make me choose? Because it will be her every single time," Callie got the last part out in a breath as she felt tears choking up inside her.
Carlos shook his head.
"Get out, Dad. Just go," Callie said one tear escaping.
Carlos hesitated, turned to leave and slammed the door shut behind him.
Okay, so I hate the Carlos stuff that always happens in these stories, but it had to be done so I can move on to other stuff. I've kind of been avoiding this chapter. So hopefully the next ones will be updated sooner. Plus, summer is here in 3 DAYS SO YAY
Let me know what you thought. Open to ideas. Feels good to be back (: