I'm glad y'all are continuing to enjoy the story. Here's chapter 3
Arizona approached Alyssa from CPS that same day, after speaking with April and deciding to put in her application to foster Luke. Alyssa was hopeful; she agreed that the fetal surgeon had the upper hand when it came to being able to care for the young boy's needs. The downside was that she had never fostered before but Alyssa assured Arizona that her experience with children and her references should help with that.
In the meantime, Luke remained in the pediatric ward, and was getting better every day. He had started some physical therapy as well, and between her and Alex, one of them always made the time to attend the sessions with him. He got frustrated easily, and it usually took some encouragement from the blonde to get him to do what they asked. She always remained calm and soothing with him, knowing that sudden loud noises and movements didn't fair well. It was a careful balancing act, but it didn't take long for her to figure out what he liked and disliked and their relationship was quickly blossoming.
Arizona's best day in a long time came not quite 2 weeks after Luke was admitted to the hospital when she received a call from Alyssa stating that she had been approved, and they were just waiting on the final paperwork to go through. Forgetting that she was in the middle of the busy peds floor, Arizona squealed, startling Alex, who was working at the peds desk next to her when she received the call.
"Good news?" he asked. Though judging from her ear to ear grin he knew without a doubt it was. Smiles like that were rare from Arizona Robbins these days.
The blonde nodded, "I was approved to foster Luke!" Her eyes sparkled as she relayed the message.
Alex's face matched hers and he quickly embraced his mentor in a hug." That's great news. Congratulations!" He was amazed to see how quickly Arizona had taken the little off hand suggestion he'd made about fostering Luke and turned it into a reality.
"Thank you!" She quickly gathered the charts strewn around the desk and neatly tucked them away. The excitement radiated off of her. "I'm so happy. I can't wait to take him home."
Alex chuckled watching as she bounced a little. He knew how he could make her day even better. "I can get that arranged," he said and winked. "Today?"
Her blue eyes went wide and her head bobbed up and down enthusiastically. "Yes please!" She threw her bag over her shoulder. "I'm going to go talk to Bailey." Thinking ahead she had spoken to the Chief of Surgery upon her applying to the foster care system, and had been granted two weeks off once everything went through and she was able to take the boy home. "I'll talk to you later Alex!" she exclaimed as she rushed off.
Arizona finished carrying in the few things that Luke had with him and dropped them in the hallway before heading to the living room where she had deposited Luke several minutes prior. He sat, eyes wide, looking around the room, taking in his new surroundings. His pale skin hung loosely on his tiny frame, and Arizona couldn't wait to spoil him. She smiled as she sat next to him, propping his leg up on with a pillow and pulling a blanket over top of him.
"How's that?"
Luke smiled shyly, "it's good. Thank you." His sweet voice never failed to make Arizona melt.
"You're welcome." She watched as he scanned the room, his big blue eyes darting everywhere. She could only imagine how her large, warm, and inviting home seemed to him after coming from where he had lived before.
"It's really nice here Dr. Zoney."
She beamed. "Well, you get to stay here now." She reached out and brushed blonde curls off his forehead. "And Luke, you don't have to call me Doctor."
"I don't?"
Arizona chuckled and shook her head. "You can call me whatever you want. Arizona is just fine if you'd like."
"Can I call you Zoney?" His innocence was a breath of fresh air.
Arizona beamed. "I'd like that a lot."
The small boy mirrored her grin, "okay Zoney!"
She stood and placed a kiss on his head. "Luke I have a little cleaning I have to do. Would you want to watch TV?"
"I'm allowed?" Luke questioned.
Her smile faded and Arizona nodded, saddened that even with no threat of his father, he still looked frightened.
"Then yes, please!"
Arizona turned on the television and flipped to a few of the cartoon presets that Sofia used to enjoy. "What show do you like?"
Luke looked at her and shrugged, "I wasn't allowed to watch TV. What can I watch?"
Arizona's frown deepened and she sat back on the couch, shifting closer to him before turning on Max and Ruby. "My little girl used to love this show." She felt the all too familiar pain in her chest at mention of the little girl residing 3 time zones away.
"Where is your little girl?" Luke asked.
Arizona looked at him. His inquisitive little eyes seemed to bore into her and for some strange reason she felt like he could feel her sorrow. "She lives with her mama in New York."
Luke frowned, "don't you miss her?"
Arizona nodded, "very much so. I talk to her on the phone and I get to see her on video chats. And she'll be coming to visit me soon." The blonde mentally reminded herself that Christmas wasn't all too far away.
Luke nodded, accepting that answer for now, and put his head back, taking in the surroundings again. "I like it here."
"I like having you here, little bear." She felt the smile find it's way back onto her face.
Seeing her smile, the little boy smiled too. "May I please have a snack? Is that ok?"
"Sure." She continued to be amazed at how polite he was. "Do you like goldfish?"
Luke nodded and the blonde got up and got him a bowl and placed it in his lap.
"Thank you," Luke said politely and started nibbling on one and turned his attention back to the television.
"You're welcome," Arizona said and ruffled his shaggy hair. He looked adorable snuggled up on her couch, and she knew she made the right choice in fostering him. She puttered around the room, tidying up and keeping an eye on him, and nearly melted when she saw him yawn, close his eyes and drift off. Looking at the clock and realizing it was well after eight, she scooped him up in her arms and took him into the spare room, tucking him in gently.
The small boy yawned and sleepily opened his eyes as Arizona tucked the blanket around him. "I like it here Zoney." He murmured softly.
A grin spread across her face, ""That makes me happy little bear."
Another sleepy grin and he closed his eyes and promptly fell back to sleep.
Her heart bursting with love, she gently kissed his forehead and left the room.
It was later that night as she was putting away the rest of the groceries, that Callie called, as she usually did Sunday nights. They would talk about Sofia mostly, usually avoiding any talk of either of their personal lives. But Arizona knew that tonight's call would have to include some talk of Luke. She picked up the phone when it rang.
"Hey Callie." She cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear as she stacked cans of soup in her pantry.
Callie sounded tired, "Hey. How are you?"
Not feeling much like small talk, she humored Callie anyways, "I'm good. How are you? How's New York treating you?" She tactfully steered the conversation back towards her ex.
"It''s alright... Still trying to adjust really. It's more difficult than I thought."
"It'll come, I'm sure." Arizona wasn't quite sure why but she always found herself wanting to reassure her ex-wife that she was going to be okay. "Are you still planning on coming with Sofia for Christmas?"
"Yes... I've already booked our tickets. I'll send you the information."
"That's great." She stacked the last can of soup and then wrapped her hand around the phone. She knew it had to be now. The idea of an extra child sharing her home was not something that could be sprung last minute. "Then there's something you should know Callie."
Callie froze when she heard those words. Every time they talked she dreaded Arizona telling her that she had begun dating. While she was expecting this, sure, they were divorced after all. They had both gone their separate ways. She was with Penny and she was happy. Arizona deserved the same. Yet it bothered her still. She cringed as she asked, "oh? What is it?
"I'm fostering a little boy. He's not quite four."
Callie went silent, taken completely by surprise. That was pretty much the exact opposite of what she'd expected the blonde to say. "I'm sorry?" she asked a moment later.
Unfazed Arizona continued on. "Do you remember Luke Evans?"
Callie thought back. "The little boy who was abused by his father, right? He was in a few times... I remember him."
"His father pushed him down a flight of stairs and finally got arrested." She quickly filled in the blanks of how Luke was now able to be in her care.
Callie gasped, "oh my God... That's terrible about Luke. Is he ok?" Thinking back she now remembered the little boy quite fondly, always thinking about how polite he was and how how he was the only patient who ever requested orange jello.
"Broken leg and minor head injuries. He had surgery on his leg and otherwise he's doing okay."
It took Callie a moment to put it all together. "And so, you're fostering him?"
"I am." Her answer was short and definitive.
"Okay," Callie said hesitantly. "For how long?"
Arizona didn't know why but she felt herself starting to become frustrated with the constant questioning. For her it didn't seem like such a hard concept to grasp. "I don't know yet. I'd assume until someone decides to adopt him. But he'll still be here at Christmas. Nothing is going to happen that quickly."
"I see."
Arizona's irritation grew with the brunette's tone. "Is that a problem?"
"I'm not sure." Callie started out slowly, trying to put her thoughts in order. "I just don't know how Sofia is going to take this."
Arizona sighed, she knew the issue with Sofia would come up. That was the whole point of telling Callie this now. But just as April had said, Arizona believed that her daughter was mature beyond her years and would understand. However, instead of taking that approach, she let her frustration dictate her answer. "Well do you expect me to just be alone for the rest of my life?" Only partially sarcastic, she wondered what the brunette had to say.
"Of course not... That's not what I was implying." Callie tried to backtrack. Without even seeing Arizona she knew how the blonde looked right now; fiery eyes, pursed lips, and a hand perched on her hip, a position that commanded respect and betrayed her aggravation. "I just meant that Sofia might be put out by this. She comes home and finds out that you've basically replaced her?" Callie winced. Wrong words again.
Arizona's grip on the phone tightened and she felt her jaw clench. "What did you expect me to do? He didn't have anyone Callie. No one was going to treat him properly with a disability. I understand him. And I don't have anyone either." She bluntly made her point.
Over on the East coast the brunette frowned at the impact of Arizona's words. It's true she was alone now because Callie had taken her daughter across the country. She couldn't fault the blonde for this decision. "Arizona... I'm happy for you. I think it was the right decision. He needs someone who can help and understand him. And that's you. I'm just thinking of our daughter. I'll talk to her though ok?"
Arizona exhaled, "fine, sure. Thanks." She was done with this conversation.
Unfortunately, Callie wasn't. "Is there anything else? Are you seeing anyone?" Callie blurted out seconds before Arizona could hang up the phone.
Arizona almost laughed. She would have if she hadn't been so caught off guard by her ex-wife's question. "No. Of course I'm not."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Callie, people don't go for the chick with one leg." Point blank and painfully honest. Arizona thought she could hear the other woman cringe through the phone.
"I doubt that's true Arizona. You're beautiful."
"My dating profile results don't agree, but I'm glad you think so." Sarcasm dripped off her words. Now Arizona was really done with this conversation.
"You'll find someone Arizona. Just give it some time."
Arizona snorted, "I'm glad you think so."
"I do. And I'm sorry, but I have to go. But I'll talk to you soon. I'll send you the flight info. And I'll talk to Sof."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone, a feeling of depression washing over her. She had just about forgotten about dating, now with Luke giving her something to occupy her time with. She scrolled through her dating profiles, noting that she had no new messages nor matches and sighed. She considered deleting the damned things, but instead closed her laptop and poured herself a drink and turned on the TV.
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