AN: I know I'm ending this pretty quick but I wanted to finish before school started. I'm going to upload these last two chapters together so make sure you read both of them.
Chapter 29
"Robbins, I don't know how you got me into this."
I looked down towards the floor and saw Jackson strode out covered with various toddler toys. Maria crawled around and grabbed more to hand over to the quarterback.
"Dis, dis!" She piled toys on his stomach telling him to look at them.
Jackson stared up from the ground. "Seriously, how do you do it?"
Without turning around from the kitchen counter, I laugh and continue to cut up the fresh fruit Aria left for snacks. Other than the minor scare today, I'd say it was a good productive day.
"So there's been something on my mind..." I started.
"Yeah?"
"I think I'm going to find a place for me and Callie."
"Now?" Jackson sat up off the ground letting some of the toys fall off him. "What's the rush?"
"I'm tired of living in hotels and working jobs I have no interest in. Callie and I need a place where she can become a doctor and I can help in the Army. I wouldn't want to leave her so we need a place near base like dad had before everything went to you-know-what."
"Why don't you go back home with your parents?"
"Jackson, I'm going to be twenty soon, I want my own place I can go to and have a job to provide."
"Well, my mom said she lived with my grandpa until she finished college."
"Really?"
"Yep, she was twenty-four."
"I just… I'm ready to be on my own. I feel so independentnow and stronger than I've ever been."
"You just met up with your family again; don't you want to spend time with them?"
"I do, I do want to find a place near them." I took a deep breath and handed out the bowl of fruit to Jackson and Maria.
We sat and watched Maria color on blank pieces of paper. I remember watching Callie's little cousin draw when I first went to Callie's house. Normal kids draw suns in the corner of the paper with green hills and misshaped flowers, but not Maria. The precious little girl was drawing brown grass crushed beneath tall silver gates that resembled the ones surrounding the hotel. She also drew stick figures of Aria, Callie, Jackson, and me. We all looked accurate even with the weapons attached to our sides. What has this world become? Will things ever be the same again?
Saturday, May 16th
Callie's POV
The key fits perfectly under the knob to Aria's room. Thank God. I worked in the clinic all night long and once Bailey saw me dozing off this morning she sent me to get some rest. When the door is fully open, I see Jackson lying in the floor surrounded by toys and juice boxes while Arizona is on the couch with Maria asleep on her back as if my wife was a bed. A warm smile surfaces from within and suddenly, I'm not as tired.
"About time you got here." Avery mumbled.
"Sorry, I lost track of time and…"
"Can I go now?" He interrupted.
"Uh, yeah. I guess. What's the rush?"
"I don't' know about you, but I can't get much sleep on a floor. I'm going back to my room and grabbing some more rest." He started to get up, tiny toys falling from the crevasses of his shirt.
"You do know it's like…" I looked at the clock in the kitchen, "eleven-thirty right?"
"I can still squeeze in a few hours. It's my day off… don't question me."
I put my hands up in defense and gave Jackson a giggle. "Okay, okay. Good luck with trying to convince April to let you sleep that long."
Avery stopped as he gripped the doorknob. "UGHHH." He sluggishly walked out the door, slowly closing it with a grunt.
"Well." I took off my jacket and laid it on the kitchen counter. I'm surprised Arizona got Maria to sleep this long into the day, but she probably let her stay up all night as well. I shook my head at the thought and turned to the refrigerator. I knew when they did wake up they'll probably be hungry so I decided to start something for lunch.
While I'm cutting up some lettuce, I notice Maria start to stir on Arizona's back. She lifts her head up quickly and looks to the floor. After noticing Jackson was gone, she sits up on Arizona's back and looks around with messy hair flowing down her face.
"Cawie?" Maria slid off the couch and came over to me in the kitchen running as fast as her stubby legs would let her go. Her tiny arms wrapped around one of my legs and squeezed tight.
"Hey Maria. How was your night with Arizona and Jackson?"
"Fun."
"That's good. Why don't you wake Arizona up for me while I finish lunch?"
"Okay! Zonaaaa!" She ran and jumped on Arizona's back again, shaking her to wake up.
Soon, the blonde stirred from her drowsy sleep. "Mariaaa."
"Zona, Cawie here."
"She is?"
Maria nodded and pulled on Arizona's arm until she was off the couch and dragging her feet into the kitchen. "Callie? What are you doing up, you were supposed to work all night?"
"I did." I managed to avoid Arizona's glare which I knew she would give me. "I'm fixing you girls lunch."
"I guess Avery left sometime during the night…"
"No, he left this morning."
"Oh, see, he can survive one night with us. Although he was covered in a heap of toys the majority of the time."
"Jackson fun." Maria said after she sipped on a juice box in her chair beside the kitchen island.
Arizona came around the counter and wrapped her arms around my waist then kissed me softly on my shoulder. "You should get some rest."
"I'm fine." I calmly and quietly replied.
"Mhmm. I can cook the rest of this. What are you fixing, pancakes? Yeah, I can fix pancakes and fruit."
"I'm hungry too so I'll just finish them myself."
"Okay, it's whatever you want to do." Arizona leaned in and gave me another kiss on the lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Static began to come in on our walkie-talkie which Arizona had left beside the refrigerator.
The annoying static hissed. "Arizona, you there?" It hissed again. It was Arizona's dad on the other end.
"Yeah, I'm here." Arizona responded.
"You're mom and I have good news, meet us in the lobby."
Arizona looked to me questionably before I shrugged my shoulders in response. She picked up the walkie and clicked a button on the top. "Copy that. I'll be there in a few, over."
"Sounds good, this is dad over and out."
Arizona giggled before running to grab her jacket off the couch. "I'll be back as soon as possible, love." She gave me a quick kiss and went towards the door. Before she could open the door herself, it opened up and Aria squeezed inside. My sister's hair was frizzy, her clothes were almost on backwards, stretched sideways. When I saw her shoes clasped in her hands, I knew what went on last night.
Aria ran her hand through her hair before letting out a nervous laugh. "So…how did things go here last night?"
Arizona smiled real big. "Pretty swell. Not as good as your night went I'm guessing." She began to eye my sister up and down.
"Arizona…" I started. I stepped between them and put my arm around Aria's back. "But really, you guys… you know?"
"Yeah…"
"And you really like him?"
"Yes…"
Arizona pulled me away. "Callie, leave the girl alone."
"What, I'm her sister. I have the right to know."
Arizona huffed and turned to leave. "I'll be back soon."
"Okay, love you." I yelled just as she closed the door.
"Where is she going?" Aria asked as if she was almost out of breath for some reason but most likely from a busy night.
"Dad has news for her. I'm not sure what's going on."
"Oh." There was an awkward pause. "So where is my Maria at?
"She's in the kitchen waiting on lunch. Somehow, Arizona got her to sleep until eleven."
"Oh my god, that's a miracle."
"She probably stayed up all night though with lots of sugary treats."
"Of course." Aria huffed before walking around the tiny piece of wall that separated the door and kitchen. "Maria?"
"Ria?!" Maria tried to get out of her chair, but eventually waited for Aria's assistance.
"Hey baby girl. Did you have fun with aunt Arizona and Jackson?"
"Jackson fun."
"Really?" Aria turned to me with her head turned sideways and an unsure smile.
"Yeah, I have no clue either. She told me the same thing."
Once we were seated down with food, it wasn't long before Arizona rushed back in. "You guy are not going to believe this."
"What is it?" I ask.
Arizona took the last chair from the opposite side of the table and moved it to sit beside me. "There's this small neighborhood right outside of Seattle that's cleared and supposedly has working electricity and water again."
Aria coughed, seeming to choke on her food. "Sounds like a miracle."
"I know." Arizona continued. "Anyways, apparently they're getting ready to move some people in here. Guess who's at the top of the list."
I shook my head in disbelief. The hotel has been a great place for us to stay, but it would be delightful to have privacy and our own place to put our stuff. "Arizona, you better not be playing a joke or prank, or…"
"I'm not." She took my hand in hers. "Mom and dad have a house to themselves and so do we."
"They're not shoving ten people to one house?" Aria asked with a mouth full of food.
Arizona smiled. "See, that's the thing about these houses; they're small enough only for two people. It was either that or apartments, and there's no way I'm doing that again."
"Don't we have to pay for something somewhere?" I asked.
"It's on a system much like the one in Texas. We have work papers we turn in to keep the place and food, water, electricity. As long as we're working to help others get up on their feet and help with food and clean other houses, it's all ours."
"This is amazing."
"I know!" Arizona cupped her hand beside my check before leaning in and lacing a soft kiss on my lips. I could feel her excitement and hurry.
"Okay, you guys have to stop because I'm trying to eat." Aria interrupted.
Arizona gave her a glare before turning back to me. "Come on, we have to pack." She hopped up and pranced off into our room. "Oh, and Aria?" She poked her head out from behind the door.
"Yeah?"
"You have no room to talk because we all know what you did last night."
My sister's face blushed and she lowered her head to finish her plate.
"I guess we're packing now." I sighed out before getting up and returning my plate to the sink. Even though I was uncertain about this whole idea, I couldn't let Arizona know I had doubts. She's waited for this opportunity too long and I know my wife wants to get this world back to the way it was. I'm scared though-inside-I'm scared that the world will never be the way it was. As long as Arizona is beside me, I'm sure there's nothing we can't face. I smiled to myself when multiple knocks rattle the front door.
I opened the door to find Jackson and Mark out of breath. Mark put one hand on his hip and the other in front of him like he was telling me to wait for him to say something. "Callie…you're not going to believe this."
"Um, there's a neighborhood cleaned out and we're at the top of the list to move in?" Playing with Mark never gets old.
Avery punched him in the arm. "Dude, I told you Robbins would have told her already."
I laughed as they continued to bicker and shut the door in the middle of their conversation.
"Callie, are you going to come pack?"
I slowly made my way to Arizona standing in our doorway making sure my hips swayed side to side. Once I reached Arizona, I wrapped an arm around her waist and moved it up into her shirt. I lowered my voice and after placing a kiss on her neck, whispered, "How about we celebrate first?" I continued to kiss Arizona down her neck and shoulder.
"Uh…yeah…we could do that too."
I turned to my sister. "You know, Maria likes to play with that girl on the floor above us. Maybe you could take her Aria?"
"Can't it wait until you guys get you own place?" My sister moaned.
"Nope." Arizona replied from behind me and when I turned around, I saw the goofy nod she was doing shaking her side-to-side.
"Ugh. I guess we can go." Aria gathered Maria and some of her toys then left but not without stopping to glare at me as Arizona kissed my neck from behind.
I pushed my wife into out room and onto the bed then plumped down beside her. "I can't believe we're getting our own place."
Arizona pulled me so I was laying on top of her. "I can't believe I married a goddess." I smiled as she pulled me down for a kiss.
"You think things will turn back to the way they were?" I asked rushing my fingers through her straight blonde hair.
"I'm not sure, but I would hope so." There was a quick pause. "As long as I have you though, there's nothing we can't get through. I love you, Calliope."
"I love you too."