Sorry that it has taken a while to update but I hope that you like this new chapter. As always I love hearing from you guys! Happy reading!
Chapter 17
The doorbell rang as Arizona was making her way down the stairs. Callie was already standing in the foyer dressed in a beautiful knit dress and black flats. Answering the door Callie pulls her father into a hug. She is overwhelmed with emotion, being pregnant has been getting even harder on Callie's emotions, she was all but a basket case more than a few times a week.
"Hi Daddy" Callie says wiping tears from her eyes as she pulls out of her father's embrace. Callie realized just how much she missed her parents. They were aware of her pregnancy but because they lived so far away hadn't been to see Callie until this impromptu visit.
"Mija, you look beautiful" Carlos says. "How are you doing? How's the baby?"
"I'm fine Dad, the babies are fine. Arizona has been taking such good care of me" Callie answered, emotions changing in an instant as a megawatt smile graces her features.
"When you let me" Arizona jokes from a few feet away. "Hello Mr. Torres, it's great to see you again". Walking closer to the door Arizona stuck her hand out for Carlos to shake not sure if she was trying to just be friendly and polite or if she was trying to make a good impression on her girlfriend's father… Can you make a good impression on someone that you already know? Someone who doesn't know that you are dating their daughter?
"It's great to see you too Arizona. Thank you for taking such good care of my Calliope. It means so much to Lucia and I that you are here." Carlos answered bypassing Arizona's hand and pulling her into a warm embrace.
Arizona was a little shocked to be pulled into a hug by Callie's father. They may have known each other for a long time but were never considered close. Pulling out of the embrace Arizona looked at Carlos and gave the only answer she could think of. "Sir, it is my pleasure to be able to take care of your daughter. She is a wonderful woman and is going to be a phenomenal mom."
Listening to the banter between her father and girlfriend already had Callie overly emotional. Watching her father hug her girlfriend was pulling even harder on Callie's heartstrings but the topper to her emotional breakdown was Arizona's response to her father. Wiping a tear from her cheek Callie did the best to rein in her emotions. "How about we get going? Don't want to miss our reservations."
"Sounds like a great plan" Carlos answered turning back towards the door and leading the way out.
Arizona followed behind Carols and as she passed Callie she leaned in and whispered "You look beautiful Calliope, please don't cry." Reaching up Arizona wiped another tear from olive skin and grabbed Callie's hand helping her make her way to the door.
Stepping outside Arizona dropped Callie's hand to lock to door behind them. Little did the ladies know that Lucia had been watching the two exit the house and was aware of the comforting hand holding her daughter was engaged in as she exited her home. What she wasn't sure of was how to classify the hand holding. Was it just a friend helping her pregnant daughter to exit the door or was it something different entirely? Filing what she saw away Lucia made a mental note to keep an eye on the interaction between the women during their upcoming meal.
The drive to the restaurant was filled with small talk as Callie's parents worked to catch up with the daughter they hadn't seen in some time. The decision to come to Seattle had been partly for business and partly to see their daughter, all of which was discussed on the short drive to Nova. Reaching their destination had the ladies and Carlos exiting the car and handing the keys to the valet as they entered the restaurant.
"This place is beautiful" Arizona said as they entered the restaurant and were lead to a private table near the back.
"We love it here, the food is exceptional" Carlos said as he pulled the chair out for his wife. Watching across the table, Arizona was pulling Callie's chair out as well. A knowing smile played across Lucia's face at the caring nature coming off of the blonde the look did not go unnoticed by Carlos. Lucia still wasn't quite sure how to file all of the oddities she had seen in the short time she had shared with the women.
Once everyone was situated the waiter came by to take drink orders and everyone fell back into easy conversation.
"How has work been Arizona? Callie tells me that you are working at the hospital close to the house." Carlos asked taking Lucia's hand in his own he looked over at his wife as they shared a knowing look.
"It has been amazing Sir. I really love working at the hospital and it is really close to the house so I worry less about leaving Calliope alone all day." Arizona answered with a dimpled smile. "It has been great helping all of the tiny humans here." Arizona added as an afterthought wanting to put the focus back on the love of her career and not the love she had for the woman sitting next to her.
Carlos and Lucia shared another look as they heard their daughter's full name slip from Arizona's lips. Callie never let anyone call her Calliope and Carlos and Lucia were very aware of this fact. The loving look on Callie's face at Arizona's answer to their question also didn't go unnoticed.
Arizona saw the look between Carlos and Lucia and began to get a little nervous. Looking over at Callie, a tan hand found it's way to her knee under that table. Sliding her own hand under the table and ivory hand interlocked with an olive one in a reassuring squeeze. Sharing a look of their own a shy smile spread across both of their faces.
"Please excuse me, I need to use the ladies room" Callie broke into the silence, glancing at Arizona she shot her a look of confidence as she made her way towards the bathroom, hoping that a lecture from Carlos wasn't on it's way for Arizona.
"I'll join you sweetheart" came her mother's voice she began to head in the direction of the bathroom.
Once the two latinas were out of earshot Carlos looked intently at Arizona. Sizing her up for a second he wondered how he should proceed. He had known Arizona as a teenager and knew that she came from a loving family. For most of their relationship Carlos saw Arizona as another daughter. The amount of time his daughter spent with Arizona in high school was enough to make anyone think that Arizona was an adopted member of the Torres family. Looking at the nervous woman across from him Carlos decided to go a little easy on the blonde.
"So how long?" Carlos asked breaking the icy silence encasing the table.
"I'm sorry? How long what?" Arizona asked shaking her head a little trying her best to look like she had no idea what Carlos was asking.
"How long have you been in love with my daughter?" Carlos asked keeping his face neutral as he integrated the woman sitting across from him, though he was pretty sure that he already had a good idea as to the answer.
"I don't…" Arizona began.
"Arizona Danielle Robbins don't you try to play dumb with me. I have known you too long, I can read that look on your face like a book. And even if I didn't know you so well I have two daughters of my own. You gals should really work on not looking so similar when caught." Carlos said laughing a little at his own words and the horrified look coming from the blonde.
"I- I… Since I was about 16 Sir" came Arizona's answer. Her voice was weak and defeated and her eyes downcast as she spoke.
"Thank you for being honest, Arizona. I could see it back then and I can see it even more now" came Carlos' easy answer. "How long has my daughter been in love with you?" Carlos asked.
This made Arizona's eyes jump up from the table and meet those of the man across from her. Carlos was like a father to her and with her own father now gone he was someone that she was hoping to look up to as a father figure. Hearing Carols ask how long Callie had loved her Arizona was thrown off guard. Did Callie love her? Arizona knew that Callie loved her as a friend, a best friend even, but she wasn't sure of more than that.
"I don't think that she is" came Arizona's timid answer. Looking into Carlos' eyes she saw him looking back at her quizzically.
"She is…" came Carlos voice "even if she doesn't realize it yet." A knowing smile came across his features as he watched Arizona look back at him in total shock before a super magic smile spread across ivory features and a blush colored Arizona's cheeks.
"Um… How… How do you know?" Arizona's voice broke out like a cannon voicing a question she really needed the answer to. She was sure that they had been careful about their interactions in front of Callie's parents.
"You guys really aren't that sly" was all Carlos got out before two beautiful latinas rejoined the table.
- In the restaurant bathroom -
Callie all but ran into a stall as her urge to relieve her bladder was almost too much to handle. Taking care of what she needed to Callie exited back into the open sink area to wash her hands and check on her makeup. Finishing washing her hands she was joined by her mother, a knowing look finding her in the mirror made Callie turn to her mother looking at her as though asking her to spill whatever was on her mind.
"How are you mija?" came Lucia's caring voice.
"Being pregnant has been kicking my a… butt mom" came Callie's response.
"That's normal, it gets a little easier but then it's going to get uncomfortable again" came Lucia's voice reaching out to caress her daughters extending stomach. "Are you happy?"
Looking up from her stomach Callie watcher her mother carefully trying to see where this line of questioning was going. "Yes mom, I'm happy. Which is saying something after everything that I have been through in the past 6 months."
"I'm glad to hear it Calliope" Lucia said with a smirk just visible under her calm demeanor.
"Mom, come on you know that I hate it when you call me that." Callie said looking back at the mirror to check her lipstick.
"You don't seem to mind when Arizona calls you Calliope…" Lucia's words made Callie's breath hitch as she realized what her mother's line of questioning was actually about.
"She has been a big help to me mom can you just leave it be please?" Callie's response was not at all acceptable to the latina's mother.
"No I will not just leave it alone." Lucia's quick response put Callie on the defensive.
"Look mom I'm sorry but I don't want to talk about this right now okay. I'll tell Arizona to stop calling me Calliope if it bothers you so much."
Quickly changing her tactic Lucia decided on a different line of questioning. "Does she make you happy Callie?" Lucia's words held more meaning as they rolled with emotion off off her mother's lips.
"Of course she does mom" Callie's response was made looking into her clutch purse and avoiding eye contact with her mother.
"And you love her." Lucia's words rang in Callie's ears. The words were not a question but rather a statement that in the moment made the latina's eyes jump up to meet her mother's.
When no words came from Callie, Lucia stepped in and continued right on talking. "She has been in love with you since high school Callie."
"What? No she hasn't." Callie's response was followed by a laugh at the idea that Arizona had loved her that long or even at all for that matter.
"I'm not here to fight with you Calliope" using Callie's full name just to emphasize her point Lucia continued "I just want to make sure that she makes you as happy as you are leading on. As you mother I want to know that you aren't just putting on a show to make me feel like you are happy."
"Mom…" Callie's response came annoyed and like a teenager being hounded by her mother.
"It's my job as your mom to make sure that you are happy Callie. If she makes you happy then that is all that matters to me. Arizona is practically a part of the family already anyways with how much she was around while you were in school."
"Mom…" this time Callie's words came out soft as a tear rolled down her cheek. "She makes me very happy. I can't promise anything though. It's all VERY new. Don't go adding her to the family tree just yet." But maybe someday Callie thought to herself.
Lucia wrapped her daughter in a warm embrace, pulling away Lucia turned to exit the bathroom and rejoin their table. Callie could just barely make out her mother's words as she followed her out into the restaurant "I knew sending Arizona to stay with you was the right choice."