A/n: I would like to apalogize for the long hiatus but I am working on polishing up chapter 13 to make it all pretty and shiny so I can post it today. As a peace offering.
Arizona finds that she under estimates Callie's new friends. No one not even Erica gives her so much as a dirty look as Callie and Arizona tell the men of the recent events. In fact the only dirty look comes from Jason and Angel and it is directed at Erica when they find out she is the one that stopped Callie from breaking the little ho bag, thier words not Arizona's.
"Come on guys. She is an orthopedic surgeon. You know the repercussions of her literally breaking a coleuge? At the time it wasn't worth it." Erica defends.
"And now?" Jesse asks a smirk on his face.
" I would have helped her." Erica replies liking the idea more.
Callie and Arizona refuse to send Sofia back to the daycare in the near future so the group comes up with a schedule that also includes Cristina, Alex, and Meredith that will allow Callie and Arizona to breathe easier for the next month. Jesse is touched when he finds that he is apart of the schedule for the two weeks he is in town. Not even the teasing that comes from Angel fazes him.
By the time the two women leave the restaurant Arizona feels as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Sofia will be safe and with people that care about her for the time being. They haven't heard or seen Lauren since the fiasco with Sofia. Sofia is asleep when they pick her up and snuggles into the bed as soon as they lay her down. Callie smiles at Arizona as they get ready for bed and crawls into Arizona's arms when they lay down bringing Sofia close to her. The last thing Arizona hears before she falls asleep is Callie whisper of I love you.
The first ones up on the minion watching schedule, dubbed so by Cristina when the plan are Jason and Angel. The couples enthusiasm matches and possibly even surpasses that of Sofia. Callie thinks nothing of it when she drosp of the toddler but that is changed when hours later Arizona sends her a text message of Sofia when she picks her up. The picture shows her daughter in a sea hawks jersey, the tiara they gave her lopsided on her head and covered head to toe in Hello kitty stickers. It takes them two days to convince Sofia to take off the jersey Angel and Jason gave her which makes both women greatful that the two men do not watch Sofia again for another week. That goes out the window when Jesse picks her up three days later Jason and Angel in tow grinning from ear to ear.
"We would tell you not to spoil her but that is just going to fall on deaf ears." Angel leans into kiss Callie on the check.
"You know us well darling." Sofia is practically dancing with excitement in Arizona's arms.
"Give us kisses minion." Sofia gives both her mothers big kisses complete with an audible muah before Arizona lets her down. She runs up to Jesse and Angel and grabs both their hands so the men can swing her in between them on the way to the car. Arizona leans her head on her wife's shoulder as they watch their giggling toddler swing through the air.
"Well at least we know she will go straight to sleep tonight." Callie laughs and pulls Arizona back inside to finish getting ready for the day.
Their saving grace is Erica and Meredith. Cristina is no better than the men when it comes to spoiling Sofia. Alex plays tough but is completely wrapped around Sofia's finger as soon as she calls him Unckle Alec. Meredith on the other hand is not so easily swayed due to Zola and Bailey. Although she has fun she isn't spoiled in the same manner as she is with the rest all except Erica. It does not surprise Callie that Erica is good with Sofia but her natural mother's instinct does. She knew when to be firm with Sofia and when it was okay to be silly. She spoke to her in a clear voice and it's not that the others didn't but save Meredith, Erica was the only one to speak to Sofia and expect her to understand and Sofia rose to the occasion. All in all Callie and Arizona could breath a sigh of relief. Sofia had her fun but was also not allowed to act like a spoiled brat.
For the first week everything seemed to go back to normal until Arizona starts to receive text messages again. The first one she receives is a picture from the resturaunt that she had gone to with Erica and her cousins. Arizona could feel her stomach turn at the idea of Boswell following them. she sends the message tobthe police in hopes that if Lauren slips again they have enough to get her out of their lives. The next morning Arizona receives another one of a coffee shop her and Callie stopped at on their way to work. For the next few days the text message continue . Each of a picture of a place her and Callie had been to. Sometimes the come in order sometimes they are sent out of order. Some pictures are even taken at night even though they were there during the day. Arizona thinks it's Boswell's way of throwing her and keep then in the dark and to wonder if she is around lurking at any given time. Arizona sends every one she gets and let's Callie know what is going on. Sofia is watched like a hawk. Arizona tries to push from her mind the idea that Lauren is watching them but is hard to do as the text messages continue.
"Crazy bitch." Arizona mutters frustrated and shoves her phone back into her lab coat. She looks up and finds Erica looking at her with a raised eye brow. Arizona enters the break room and plops down on a chair across the table from her.
"Boswell?" Erica asks. Arizona nods her head.
"You would think she would give it a rest already. She took my kid does she really think if she ever showed her face in person again that she would stand a chance?"
"I am pretty sure she is crazy and I do not think crazy understands logic." Erica reasons.
"I know it just makes me want to scream." Arizona lets her head fall on the table and Erica shakes her head. She can only sympathize so much. She gathers her things and pushes her uneaten bluberry muffin towards Arizona and leaves the room. knocked on the door shifting side to side uncomfortably.
Arizona shifts uncomfortably and knocked on the door in front of her. She really wishes Callie had not been pulled into that last minute surgery leaving her to pick up Sofia. Arizona got along with Erica liked her even. The cardio surgeon was great with Sofia and Callie's best friend. Hehe even show moments of understanding when it came to Arizona herself. The bluberry muffin from earlier in the morning was very much appreciated, but this was still awkward. Erica opened the door to an uncomfortable looking woman.
"Hi, Callie couldn't come?" Erica waves Arizona in as a small body slams into Arizona's legs.
"Mama!" Arizona smiles wide and lifts Sofia into her arms.
"Hello beautiful. Did you have fun?" The toddler nods her head happily and shows Arizona a picture.
"Rica and me..."
"I" Erica corrects without really thinking. Sofia nods her head again.
"Rica and I colored." Sofia smiles proudly.
"I see that it's very pretty. You think you could go get your coat for me?" Sofia immdeatley starts to wiggle to be put down. "Do you need help?" Arizona calls to her daughter's retreating back. Sofia shakes her head as she heads into the living room.
"I do it." Arizona looks at Erica and notices that she now looks a little uncomfortable.
"I hope you aren't mad that I corrected her. It is just something that she does while she is here." Arizona holds up her hand to stop Erica.
"Think nothing of it. Callie and I trust what you are doing when you have her." Erica leans against the door frame as they wait for the independent toddler to return.
"I figured Callie was the reason my cousins and I were added to babysitting rotation.." Erica states already knowing the answer. They may get along suprisingly well but they both know at the end of the day Erica is Callie's friend.
"She is." Arizona answeres honestly. "but when we came up with this whole idea at the restaurant I would have said something if I had concerns. The truth is I have no issues with you. You haven't added to our issues, all you and your cousins have done is been the friends Callie needed." Erica considers the shorter woman for a second before speaking.
"I like you and I genuinely mean that. You are not as annoying as I thought you would be. Callie is my best friend and Sofia is pretty awesome and Callie seems happy so it is not hard for me to be a good friend. That being said if you screw this up with her Arizona I will give you a run for your money. I am not the type to break up a happy family but I think it only fair that you know if you misstep then I will step in." Erica takes a moment to let that sink in before adding softly. "All that matters to me is Callie's happiness."
Arizona does not feel anger like she thought she would but rather an understanding. She is not to mess this up again because if she does Erica will become a very real threat. Arizona nods her head in understanding as Sofia comes storming into the hallway jacket on but unzipped. Arizona smiles down at her daughter.
"Do you need help?" Sofia crosses her arms and stubbornly nods her head. Arizona kneels down and zips up her jacket. "Go say bye to Erica okay?" Sofia nods enthusiastically and runs up to Erica wrapping her arms around her leg.
"Bye Rica!" She smiles at the little girl and places her hand on the little' girls head.
"Bye Munchkin. I will see you next week with the boys." Sofia releases her leg and smiles up to her before returning to Arizona.
"See momma!" Arizona picks her and up and smiles.
"Yes, we are going to see momma." She nods a goodbye to Erica and walks to the car. Sofia in her arms she is going to get her wife.
