A baby?
Her baby?
Arizona is pregnant with her baby!
Oh god!
How did this happen? They used condo—oh maybe there were instances where they might have got carried away—SHIT!
The first emotion that coursed through Callie's body was panic. Panic at what this could mean. How her life was changing right in front of her eyes.
The next emotion that pumped in her veins was anger. Because how dare Arizona share such an important news about their lives in such a callous manner.
The final emotion that clenched her heart was pain. Because not just she just got separated from her girlfriend, she got separated from her baby too.
And now both of them were out there in danger because of her.
It all happened in a split second. Callie ripped open the door of the cottage just in time to see Arizona entering a rental car. She was about to go after her when she saw Carina running up to her from her room, a duffle bag on her shoulder.
"Torres! I tried to reason with her but she won't listen. She's saying she will drive alone if I don't go with her" Carina's voice held a sense of panic that Callie had never heard before.
"No. You have to go with her!" Callie said as she kept her eyes trained on Arizona who was sitting at the passenger side of the car, arms crossed, staring at the vast darkness on the other side of the road, at anything, but towards her. "…It's okay. She's stubborn and it's still dangerous out there. We can't let her go alone…"
"…Just make sure you don't leave her alone until you hear from me or Mark. I mean it DeLuca, something happens to her, and I'll feed you to my wolf pack" Callie's voice was cold as ice. A part of her disliked the idea of letting the Italian be Arizona's protector but a part of her was glad that she took upon Edwards suggestion of bringing Carina with them on this mission, otherwise Arizona would have been so alone.
Carina nodded her head frantically as fear and panic settled within her.
"Give me a couple of minutes," Callie said as she made her way towards the rental car.
Callie always thought that love has made her weak. It's been messy ever since she put her heart on line. Arizona has got such a strong hold over her heart, that Callie sometimes felt like she couldn't breathe. And she thought that that was the most strongest emotion she had ever felt. Yet, what she was feeling now—the irrational protectiveness, the all consuming need to shield, to—to safeguard—these emotions were way more powerful than any emotions she had ever felt in her entire life. Love hasn't made her weak, it has now given her a sense of power that made her shiver. Because now there's nothing she won't do to protect Arizona, even if it meant that she had to let Arizona go to keep her safe. It wasn't like drowning in emotions she can't name anymore, it was like coming up for fresh air.
Callie pulled open the door to the rental car and dipped down to meet Arizona's glassy eyes.
"This isn't over Arizona. You don't get to decide when we can work and when we won't. I get that you are mad but you don't get to make these decisions alone….not when you're pregnant with MY child." her grip tightened on the car door and for a moment Callie just closed her eyes…..letting the novelty of calling someone as hers roll on her tongue. It was frightening and yet cathartic.
Arizona kept her eyes trained ahead. She knew her resolve would break if she looked at Callie. And she had to be strong.
"Will you please look at me!" She could hear the desperation and plea in Callie's voice and no matter how hard she tried, she knew she would give in if she stayed here one moment longer. She looked to the other side, where Carina was standing near their cottage room's door and waved for her to get in and then she turned to look at Callie, meeting the soulful orbs that carry the power to make her go weak. She nodded for Callie to go ahead.
"When we get to New York, we are meeting a gynaecologist. Just…give me a day…or two to sort everything out" Callie added as she shut the car door gently.
When Arizona nodded in agreement again, Callie took one last glance at her and then walked away.
Arizona was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. The trip from that hotel in the middle of nowhere where she had left her heart behind was a blur. She had slept most of the time while Carina drove back. She slightly remembered Carina singing along to some rap song, but then she was out again.
She did however wake up right as Carina was pulling up to some lavish hotel at around 3AM in the night, and she vaguely remembered telling Carina to keep on driving until they reached something she could afford. A Motel 6 or something like that. But Carina just laughed, insisting that Callie would kill her if she dropped her off at such a place, plus Arizona didn't have her purse with her. And now that Arizona had physically seen a man being killed because of her, maybe Carina had a point. The valet who took their car gave her a once-over. Arizona was sure she looked ridiculous. She was half out of it, and was wearing a silly t-shirt with no bra. But luckily they had stopped by her apartment, and Arizona had quickly gathered some extra clothes with her eyes half shut.
When they walked through the hotel room doors, she thanked Carina and tried to march straight to bed, but Carina grabbed her hand.
"Wait a second, Arizona. I need to talk to you."
"Oh, Carina, please, please, can it wait until tomorrow. I don't even know what I'm saying right now, I'm so tired."
"I know, but Callie said I need to get what's in your head now, while it's still fresh. Then you can go to sleep, okay? Now did those guys say anything, anything at all?"
Arizona plopped down on the couch and rested her head in her hands, covering her eyes. She really didn't want to think about anything from earlier that day. The whole ride back she had been trying to block it out of her mind.
Arizona started relaying the details to Carina as she remembered them. Once she was done, she walked to the bedroom and dropped onto the bed.
Carina sat down on the couch. She was about to turn the TV on when she heard Arizona yell something. She hopped up and walked to the bedroom door.
"What was that?"
"T-Tell Callie I'll pay her back for everything and mmph frog nop tim," Arizona said, with her face buried into the pillow. Carina laughed when the rest of Arizona's train of thought turned even more unintelligible and then she heard a snore.
"She would rather have you back than the money, Arizona," Carina whispered before she left the room.
Callie didn't sleep after Arizona left the cottage. And instead of staying the night, she woke Mark, Alex and Aria up, telling them she wanted to head back to New York immediately. They all agreed, realizing that there was a real chance that Arizona still wasn't out of danger.
After they dropped Aria off at her hotel, the rest headed back over to Callie's place, and then Mark went home, praying Lexie wouldn't kill him for going away for so long.
Callie had asked Carina to check in with her every hour, and so far Arizona was still asleep.
"Hey Callie, I—I don't know what the hell all this means, but Arizona told me that the kidnappers thought she was a banker's wife. And that they had a photo of her working at Oyesters' and they were talking to someone else on the phone...and well, it seems as though that person set them up. At least that's what one of the guys said."
"They didn't give a name?" Callie questioned.
"No, she said they never said any names, other than the three stooges."
"Did she remember anything else?"
"Only that they seemed really confused. And when they found out that she was with you, they got scared and realized they had been double-crossed."
None of it made sense to Callie. Why the fuck would Amelia go through so much fucking trouble?
"Oh! She did mention that whoever it was they were talking to on the phone got really pissed that they had taken the tape off her mouth. They apparently weren't supposed to let Arizona talk."
"Alright. Well, watch over her and continue to give me reports."
"Will do," Carina said, and then hung up.
Callie leaned back at her desk and closed her eyes. She had so many questions swirling around in her head. Who gave Amelia information on where her mother lived? She never even told Penny, and Penny was her girlfriend for three years. Mark was the only other person, and she trusted Mark with her life. Mark would never double-cross her. Who else could be involved?
For a moment Callie quietly chastised herself for losing control and having Aria involved. Because now all they had were three dead bodies and they were back to square one. Callie knew she couldn't move in on Amelia until she could pinpoint evidence on the prick. There had to be some link. Something...
Callie pulled out a bottle of vodka to slow down the many thoughts that were racing through her head. She poured a shot and downed it, then poured another. But as Callie was staring at the colorless liquid in the shot glass, it came to her with the strongest of clarity. Clarity that shook her to her very core, causing her to drop the bottle and the glass.
Oh god! Carina had no business in going with them on the mission in the first place!
Callie knew now who set all this up.
Motherfucker!
Callie knew Mark was already at home, and probably asleep in bed by now, but she needed to talk to him and explain her theory. She quickly dialed Mark's number. When he picked up Callie said, "I know who it is. Bring all the stuff that you and Aria took off the bodies."
Once she hung up on Mark, she called Aria next.
Carina walked into the bedroom to check on Arizona for the tenth time that night. Actually it was morning by then. Arizona was still passed out and still snoring. 'God, she is so beautiful,' Carina thought. Honestly, she never believed that she and Callie belonged together. They just seemed so different. She remembered the first night she met Arizona at the party. She was so fucking sexy in that red dress, and she seemed so nervous. And as Arizona was talking to her that night while she was passing out hors d'oeuvres, she couldn't stop staring at her lips. Arizona had the most perfect, plump set of lips she had ever seen. And she had this cute innocence about her, like she didn't know she was getting the attention of every man and woman in the room that night. And maybe Arizona really didn't knew. She could definitely see why Callie was so attracted to her...physically Arizona was a walking wet dream, but Arizona's personality didn't really fit her body. She seemed awkward and uncomfortable around those high-class nosey people. Like Arizona didn't know what to do with her hands, or even what to say. And secretly that's what she liked about Arizona. And apparently Callie too.
Carina sighed and walked back out of the room. She sat down on the couch again, and was about to take her shoes off when Mark called. 'Jesus man, she's okay,' Carina thought.
"Hey Mark, she's-"
"Change of plans. Callie needs us to come to her place right now," Mark said, then hung up.
A chill immediately ran up Carina's spine. Callie wanted her to leave Arizona, who could be in danger, to come to her house at five in the morning? It didn't make sense, but for some reason it scared the shit out of her. Should she tell Arizona, or should she just leave?
Carina decided to just leave. She grabbed her jacket and walked out the door. When she pulled up she noticed Edwards's car out front as well. This must be an urgent meeting of the minds.
When she entered, she noticed Edwards sitting in the hallway typing on her iPhone. She looked up and greeted her.
"Well, looks like they found the culprit," Edwards announced, sliding her glasses back up the bridge of her nose.
"Oh! Who is it?" Carina asked.
"Don't know, apparently they have her in the office. Wonder if it was Amelia Shepherd after all," Edwards said nonchalantly.
Carina sat down. "Well at least she's okay now."
"Who?" Edwards said, staring at the screen of her phone.
Carina glanced at her and rolled her eyes. "Arizona, of course."
"Oh. Yeah, good thing you guys got there in time," Edwards said, yawning.
Carina rolled her eyes again. Edwards had no personality whatsoever. Carina had tried talking to her on several occasions, but Edwards just always had a distant look in her eyes. Like she really didn't care about anything but business. Something Mark had warned her about beforehand, but Carina being the talkative girl that she was, tried to break the ice, but it never broke or even thawed.
Finally Mark came out from the office and stared at both of them for a second, before she said for them to follow him.
Carina really didn't want to go. She didn't want to see whatever it was they were about to do to this poor bastard. Of course whoever it was deserved it, but Carina couldn't stomach it. Seeing brains splatter against a wall from earlier that day was enough for her.
When they finally reached the office, they turned to the right and entered into a small room. One Carina had never been in. It was dark and smelled like bleach. They both looked around to see who the prick could be, but they found no one. Where was the mystery man?
"Hello ladies," Callie said from behind them. Carina jumped, and turned to look at her. Callie looked so calm and collected, dressed in all black...including black gloves. What the hell was going on? Carina gulped and looked around the room again. She saw Alex standing over in a corner with protective goggles and a blow torch, turning it from bright orange to burning blue. What the fuck?! Carina thought she was going to hyperventilate. And pass out.
Callie walked in front of them and stared. After a few seconds, she spoke. "As I was sitting in my office a few hours ago, something came to me. Very clearly. I was careless when it came to my mother. I was cocky and too trusting that nothing would ever happen to her again. You see, whoever went after Arizona, knew where my mother lived. And that's not a information I give out to anyone. Only myself and Mark know. Or knew. And Mark, you didn't try to kill my girlfriend, right?"
"No Torres! I didn't" there was an anger and coldness in Mark's tone that made Carina gasp.
"Of course not. And Mark, if someone tried to kill Lexie or your girls, what would you do if you caught them?"
"I would skin the motherfucker," Mark said with a straight face.
"As would I," Callie said, as she turned back around and started walking around the small cramped room. "I wracked my brain trying to find out who else would have known where my mother lived. That's information I even kept from my ex-girlfriend. Who would know?" Callie said as she circled the two women.
"Then, it came to me. The one tiny loophole that I had been overlooking, because I never actually received them. Do you know what that was, Carina?" Callie asked, turning to look at her.
Carina's breathing quickened. She was going to be sick. 'Please, God, what is Callie even getting at,' Carina thought. "No," Carina whispered.
"Bills. My mother's bills that had her residence on them. Bills that were entrusted to my accountant," Callie said, turning her attention to Edwards.
Callie watched as Edwards's eyes widened.
"Torre—-Callie, I-I, I don't know what you're talking about," Edwards stuttered out, turning to leave but running straight into Mark, who was behind her. She glanced back and forth between Callie and Mark, while Carina scooted to the side and slid back against the wall, grabbing her heart. She had thought she was dead. That someone set her up and they were going to kill her for whatever reason. But it was Edwards!
Callie continued to stare at Edwards. "Carina said that Arizona mentioned the guys thought her 'husband' was a banker. Makes sense...I'm sure you quoted them a bunch of phony facts and numbers that seemed legit since you used to be the head accountant at one of the largest bank corporations. You would know enough to make three strangers believe you….without having to spend a penny. And you also knew that hiring them to shoot at Arizona would cause me to send her away, because that's what I had done with my mother. But you knew I wouldn't keep Arizona away for long, so you thought of another way to get rid of her. But you weren't betting on the fact that they would disobey you and remove her gag. That they would contact me."
"I swear t-to you Callie, I—I swear, I had nothing to do with any of this. I mean, anyone could have known where your mother lived," Edwards begged, now visibly sweating for all of them to see.
"Really?" Callie stated flatly.
A phone started ringing, causing Edwards and Carina to jump in the small space.
"I think that's your phone ringing, Edwards. Go ahead and answer it," Callie said, staring the smaller woman down.
"Uh, no, it can wait," Edwards whispered.
"Answer it," Callie demanded, narrowing her eyes.
Edwards nervously reached into her pocket. Her hands shook as she clumsily swiped on the phone without looking down. "Hello," she croaked out.
"Hiya, Edwards," they all heard Aria, who had just entered the room from behind. Carina watched as Edwards seemed to crumble right before her eyes.
"Recognize that number?" Callie asked.
Edwards didn't say anything. She just stared down at the floor and mumbled to herself.
"Aria got that phone off the dead Irish guy. Funny how the last number just so happened to be yours. How could such a smart woman make such a costly mistake?" Callie asked, turning her back and walking away.
"Callie I...oh God," Edwards muttered. "I ju-just wanted you to be th-the best, you know. Like yo-you've always b—been. With no distractions. She was ca-causing problems. I was, shit, I was just trying to help. We—we were a great team...I was just trying to help…"
Callie turned back around. "Help? By killing the woman I love?"
"By, um, clearing your mind. Nothing would have happened to her— I swear—-it was just to scare her…" Edwards whispered.
Callie quickly walked back over to Edwards and slapped her square in the face, breaking her glasses...and perhaps her nose. "Did that clear your mind, you fucking coward?!" Callie yelled, as Edwards grabbed her face, and writhed in pain on the floor.
Callie pushed her hair back. "You knew sending Carina with me would keep me confused. Would keep me thinking about her unrequited feelings about Arizona…that's why you insisted she go with us…didn't you?"
Carina's eyes widened, "Torres I have nothin—-" she tried to interject, but Callie just gave her a glare to stay silent.
Callie lifted a foot and kept it on one of Edwards' trembling hands on the floor and pressed it hard, "Tell me how much Penny was involved in all this?"
Edwards kept mumbling, so Callie pressed on her hand harder and shouted, "LOUDER!"
"She—she wasn't involved…. I just told her that Arizona was out of town and that she can make a ….move if she wants…." Edwards added in a trembling tone.
"What else!" Callie asked, pushing down harder on the hand
"Derek Shepherd called you multiple times…he wanted to talk to you…I kept that information to myself….so you would keep thinking it's Amelia….I also gave him Arizona's number…." With that Callie lifted her leg to bring it down on Stephanie's face but Aria pulled her away.
"Alright….alright that's enough Callie" Aria kept a strong hold on her little sister who kept on leaping at Edwards.
On Aria's nod, Alex walked over to the door and let two women cops enter behind him.
"These are my pals at the NYPD. They will take it over from here. We will write a report that we arrested Edwards from her house with the evidence we just discussed…." Aria said as the two cops went to put handcuffs on Edwards.
"Carina, you might want to step out of the room now. Go." Callie said without taking her eyes off Edwards, who was standing looking at the ground.
Callie sure as hell didn't have to tell Carina twice. Carina jetted for the door straightaway.
"Aria. You were saying once that if I ever wanted an out from this life, I would need a scapegoat to put the blame on, for all my wrong deeds right?" Callie asked, as stared at Edwards' shaking form.
"That's absolutely correct?" Aria said with a sharp smile.
Edwards's entire body was shaking. "NO—that would mean years in jail" she whispered.
"You didn't think you would get away with what you did with mere six months in jail, now did you?," Callie said, as she walked back to her desk and pulled out a thick file.
She handed the file to Aria and then walked away, Mark and Alex following her loosely.
Carina walked outside and sat on the steps. No, she couldn't do this. This was not the life she wanted to live. No matter how much money and glamour could come with it, it's not what she wanted. She didn't know if it was even possible to leave the business, but she had to talk to Callie. She would just stick to her bistro. No illegal shit whatsoever. And if that meant she had to let that bistro go, then she would let that go too. Maybe her ex-girlfriend Maya was right all along. There's no shortcut to success. She wiped her sweaty brow and closed her eyes as the cool night air hit her face.
The next morning, Arizona woke up to the sounds of knocking. She quickly hopped out of bed, threw on a robe and ran to the door. She looked through the peephole at a man in a black suit with a tray. She cautiously opened the door a few inches.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Good morning, Mrs. Torres. Your wife wanted to make sure you ate something as soon as you woke up," the man said, pushing the door open and moving around Arizona to set the tray on the table. He turned around and smiled at her.
"She's not my—I'm sorry, I don't really have any cash on me. You know, for tips," Arizona admitted.
The man continued to smile as he walked to the door. "No worries at all, Mrs. Torres. Your wife has paid quiet handsomely to ensure that I, and only I, deliver all things to your room. Your room will be cleaned once a day by Susan, and I will accompany her inside and stay until all is done. I will see you again at lunch, and please don't hesitate to call me for anything, no matter how big or small. You can dial the number on my card which is on the tray, or dial the front desk and ask for Ellington, which is my name," the man said "Good day."
Arizona closed the door and leaned against it. 'Damn Callie,' she thought with a sad smile. Before she could walk away from the door, she heard knocking again.
"Yes, Elling-," she started to say as she opened the door, but quieted when she realized who it was.
"Miss Robbins, how are you?" Detective Avery asked, although Arizona could tell he really couldn't care less if she were fine or not. He pushed past her and walked into the living room.
"I'm fine, thank you. How did you get up here?" Arizona asked.
Avery flashed his badge to her. "It's amazing what this little badge can do. Nice room. What do they call this, the penthouse, right?" he said, walking around.
"I guess," Arizona answered, pulling her robe tightly shut.
"Yeah, I'm thinking that's what it's called. I wouldn't know. I'm just a lowly detective making an honest living. Hell, I'd have to fork over my kid's college tuition to stay in a room so fancy. Quite a step up from your old neighborhood."
Arizona walked toward the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked, trying to be nice in hopes that he would leave soon.
"Sure. Coffee, black. Thanks. So, how is it that you know my good friend, Callie?"
"We dated. We recently broke up, end of story," Arizona stated matter-of-factly, as she poured him some coffee from her breakfast tray.
"Is that right," Avery said, grinning and walking toward her.
"Yep."
"Why did you break up?"
"That's really none of your business," Arizona said, handing him his cup.
"I can question you here in your comfortable hotel room or downtown under some harsh florescent lights if you don't play nice, Arizona," Avery warned. "And remember, it's not nice to lie to a detective."
Arizona was scared. She had never even been given a ticket before, and here she was about to lie to a cop.
"She's married to her work. I've been an afterthought for the most part. So it wasn't a hard decision."
"And what work might that be?"
Fuck! Perhaps Arizona shouldn't have brought up anything dealing with Callie's job.
"Her restaurants and club."
"Hmm...are those the only businesses that you know of?"
Arizona tried not to swallow. "Yes."
Truth was, Arizona really didn't know what else Callie did. She vaguely remembered Callie once telling her that she won't have to lie for her if she didn't even knew what it was and now she can see what Callie meant.
"And you wouldn't be lying to me, correct? Because that would not work well in your favor."
"No."
"What about-"
"Excuse me, Detective Avery, but I thought you were investigating a shooting at Oysters. What does any of this have to do with Callie?" Arizona asked.
"Callie might be related."
"You think she's a suspect? That she would level her own girlfriend's workplace with an Uzi, then show back up to the scene of the crime to comfort me?"
"I didn't say she was a suspect, I said she could somehow be related. And how do you know it was an Uzi?"
"I don't, I just guessed. There were a lot of shots at once like I stated in the report that day. And I highly doubt Callie has anything to do with it. But truthfully, I don't know much about her anyway, so if you have questions about the shooting at Oysters, I'll answer, but more on Callie, I won't be able to help you," Arizona said, praying that he couldn't see through her bullshit.
Jackson just continued to stare at her, and then slowly sipped his coffee.
Arizona wanted him to leave so bad. She didn't like this guy one bit. He seemed like he was just waiting to catch her in something. The less she said, definitely the better.
"Where did you go?"
"What?" Arizona asked.
"You left town...even though I asked you not to. Where did you go?"
"I, um, I was scared after the shooting, and decided to take a vacation to Callie's mom's house."
"And where does she live?"
Not a chance. "Okay, this is going to sound silly, but I was on some pretty heavy medications, and I don't really remember going or coming. It's a small town, and I would probably never remember the name of it."
"Try," Avery said, staring her down.
Arizona sighed. Why wouldn't he just leave?! "Hmm, nope, not coming to me. I'm sorry. But if I think of it, I'll call you."
Avery made a clicking noise from the side of his mouth, as he walked back to the couch and sat down. "So when you say you were Callie's girlfriend, what kind of relationship did you two have?"
Arizona almost choked. "What?" she asked, setting her cup down.
Avery continued to stare at her. "Basically, was it a business association?" Avery asked, taking another sip.
Arizona glanced down at her cup of coffee. An evil person like Avery wouldn't understand that her and Callie's relationship was so much more than business. That she loved Callie and Callie loved her. But Arizona figured in this case, the more Avery thought he was right, the better. Let him think falsely. So Arizona held her tongue.
"Yes," Arizona whispered.
"Thought so. And how did you two meet?"
"He financed my father's restaurant."
"And are there any documents to prove this?"
"I don't know, it was between the two of them. I just worked there."
Avery stood up and walked around the counter and stood in front of her.
"Well, Miss Robbins, if you have any more 'useful' information regarding the shooting...or Callie Torres, do let me know," he said, walking to the door. He opened the door, but stopped before he exited. "Or information on Mark Sloan, Alex Karev, Stephanie Edwards, and the new girl, Carina DeLuca, who I believe, according to hotel security, checked you into this hotel. Callie sure is a generous ex-girlfriend to let you use her card. Good day."
Arizona tried to shut the door, before he stopped it. "Tell your girlfri—excuse me, your ex-girlfriend that she will make a mistake, and I'll be there when she does."
"Yeah. And the next time you come to interrogate a woman, make sure you bring a lady cop with you!" Arizona said as she met the hard stare in front of her.
She finally shut the door and leaned against it. Shit, Detective Avery probably saw right through all of her lies. Especially since he knew Carina checked her in with Callie's card. Arizona felt sick to her stomach. She needed to lie back down. But before she could reach the bedroom, she heard her cell phone ringing.
She didn't recognize the number, but she recognized the city. "Hello?"
"Arizona?"
"Mama?" Arizona asked, not believing who it was. She hadn't heard from her parents in…..well, since the shooting.
"Oh My God, child, are you alright?" her mother said, worry evident in her voice.
"Yes, mama. I'm fine."
"Thank God. I didn't know what had happened. A cop stopped by the apartment asking questions about you and that woman."
"What? What did you tell him?" Arizona asked, sitting down on the couch. She prayed her mother and father didn't say anything that Avery could use against Callie.
"I didn't know what to tell him. I said that after you and your father got into an argument and he, well, he made you leave and you were living with that woman for all I know."
"Mama, is that exactly what you said? Nothing else?"
"Yes, I believe that was it. I mean, I didn't know what to say, I hadn't heard from you in weeks. I just told him that your daddy didn't approve of who you were with, and that we hadn't seen you. Was that okay?" Barbara asked.
"Yeah, that was good. Thank you."
"He said something about a shooting, and since we didn't know what he was talking about, he wouldn't tell us. What shooting?"
Arizona leaned her head back against the couch. "Well, you know the restaurant I told you about? Oysters….there was a shooting. They're just investigating the place and everyone who was a witness."
"Oh. But you're okay, right?"
"I'm fine, mama."
"Good."
Neither knew what to say. Both were remembering that last day Arizona spent with her parents.
"So...how's daddy?" Arizona asked. She wondered if she really even cared, but she asked anyway.
"Same," her mom sighed into the phone. She didn't offer anything more, and Arizona didn't ask further.
Arizona heard her mom clear her throat. "I got your number from that cop, I hope that's alright. I just hadn't heard from you and your old number wasn't reachable. I didn't know if you were okay, considering this whole situation you were in. I hope you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind," Arizona said. She waited, as she heard her mother go silent and then sniff.
"I—I miss you, Arizona. So much," she heard her mother whisper. "Maybe...I could stop by and see you?"
A warm feeling flooded through Arizona's body. She really had missed her mother, no matter how awful they parted. She and her mother were always on the same team, and they both knew how difficult her father could be. Arizona remembered so many times wishing her mother would just leave him. That one day she would tell Arizona to pack and they would head out into the world on some adventure that would take them to some exotic location where her father wasn't allowed. She had wished so bad, but it never happened. Instead the further her father was involved in his failed businesses, the more he dragged her mother down with him...and her mother's spirit.
But for the most part, Arizona stayed out of her parents' relationship. She kept her mouth shut, did her homework and reported to her father for work. And the day she graduated from high school, when most kids receive a party, money, car or college-bound gifts—the next morning Arizona received her first double shift. The first of many to come, but she did it without complaint. She had thought about just getting on a bus and never looking back, but it was her mother's sad face that kept her from leaving.
"Um, sure. You can come over," Arizona said, wiping away a tear as she gave her mother the address to the hotel. She quickly showered and changed into a cute shirt and jeans. She pulled her curls back into a ponytail and sat at the counter, waiting for her mother to arrive.
As she sat waiting, she hoped she looked presentable. The last thing her mother really knew about her was that she had slept with a stranger to pay off a debt. Not exactly something she ever wanted her mother to know...even if she had done it for her.
The phone ringing caused her to drift from her train of thought. She hopped up and sprinted to the counter to answer it.
"Mrs. Torres, there's a Mrs. Barbara Robbins here to see you. She gave us the name Arizona Robbins, but when she described you, I thought I would check with you first," Ellington said.
"Yes! Yes, that's my mother. I'll be down to get her."
"No need, ma'am. I'll personally see her upstairs for you."
"Oh. Well, thank you." Arizona would never get used to people treating her like she actually mattered. She walked to the door and waited. In a few minutes, she heard a knock and immediately pulled open the door.
"Mrs. Torres, your mo-," Ellington tried to get out before Arizona moved past him to hug her mother. She didn't know why she felt so emotional about their reunion, but she did. Now that she was becoming a mother, all she needed was her mother.
"Hey mama," Arizona said, smothering her mom. Barbara hugged her back and the two walked into the hotel room.
"Oh, thank you Ellington," Arizona said before closing the door.
Inside, Arizona offered her mother something to drink and the two settled down on the couch. Barbara picked some imaginary lint from her blouse and Arizona tried to think of something to say.
"I've never been in a hotel this beautiful before," Barbara said finally, looking around.
"Yeah, it's really nice. I still don't know what I'm doing here. I have to stay here…till it's a bit safe."
Arizona stared at her mother. She looked really tired and Arizona knew why. It took a lot of energy to deal with her father on a daily basis.
"So, that man said your name was calling you ? Anything I should know about?" her mother asked, glancing at her fingers and then raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, no. We're not married. I think Callie...I don't know why she did that, maybe for less questions."
"I'm confused, Arizona. I thought, well, that whole debt deal you had with her, and now she has people calling you Mrs. Torres? What's going on?"
Arizona walked over to the couch and sat down. "Mama, it's probably to keep me safe. To hide my whereabouts. But I'm going to be honest with you about everything that's happened, so you can understand, and see if I made the right decision."
Barbara nodded, sat down beside Arizona and placed her purse on the floor. She looked over at her only daughter. "Okay, lay it on me."
Arizona told her mother the whole story. She left nothing out as she told her about how at one point she couldn't stand Callie, but somehow fell in love with her. She told her about their trip to London, the shooting, kidnapping and end result. Arizona kept the pregnancy to herself. She wasn't sure she should share that just yet. Her mother would every now and then raise her hand to her mouth or chest, but remained quiet.
"So, that's how I ended up here," Arizona finally said, standing to pour them something to drink.
Barbara shook her head. "Well, she sounds like an interesting woman, Arizona. Dangerous...but interesting. But you two aren't together anymore, so what will you do now?"
"I don't know. Do you think I made the right decision?"
Her mother sat her glass down on the table. "Now that, I can't tell you. All I can say is that if you are waitin' for that woman to change...it might not happen. I've been waitin' for your daddy to change for years, and you know that's been a losing battle. But I don't know Callie, so I can't judge her."
"Mama, that didn't help at all."
Barbara laughed. "I'm sorry, but I'm just saying what I know."
The two retired to the table once Ellington brought up their lunch. A fancy feast of things neither one of them had ever heard of.
At first they ate in silence, but then Barbara spoke.
"Arizona...I'm sorry."
Arizona looked up from her plate. "For what, mama?"
"For everything that happened that day. I'm so sorry."
Arizona felt a heavy sadness cloud over her. Remembering her mother's face that day as she said nothing and let her dad kick her out. Her lack of response hurt Arizona more than her father's heated words.
"Mama...why didn't you say anything? Why did you let him do that? I don't understand...I just-," Arizona couldn't finish her sentence. She stared down at her plate. Suddenly, she had lost her appetite, but she continued to take small bites. Anything to keep from looking at her mother.
Several seconds went by before she heard her mother answer. "I guess I was just so sick and tired of arguing with him. It was making me sick, and I decided to be weak instead of strong. I can't believe I let him put you out on the street. If I had it to do over again, I would have told HIM to leave, and I hope you believe me. I'm so sorry, Arizona," Barbara stated, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her cloth napkin.
Arizona knew she wasn't ready to forgive just yet, but one day she would have to let it go. Despite everything that had happened, her mother was very important to her. But today she just couldn't let it go, so instead she changed the subject.
"Why didn't you ever leave him? If you say he wouldn't change, then why stay?" Arizona asked. She picked over her food while she waited for her mother to answer.
"I guess I held onto the hopes that he would change. At some point, I waited and waited, but he never did."
"So...why are you still waiting?"
"I'm not."
Arizona dropped her fork and looked up. "What?"
"I left him this morning. I took my bags to Roberta's place, and that's where I'll be staying until I figure out what to do next."
"What?" Arizona repeated, jumping up from the table and hugging her mother.
"See, we both can be strong by ourselves," Barbara said, smiling and holding her daughter.
Callie sat staring at the empty wall in her room. She had taken a shower, but had yet to put anything on, other than the bathrobe that was draped around her form. After they had sent Edwards to jail, she had barely gotten any sleep. She thought figuring out who had caused Arizona harm would have made her feel better...but it didn't. She thought that torturing that bitch would have made her feel good...it hadn't. Because even after all of this, sure Arizona was safe, but Arizona wasn't here with her. Arizona had asked that she stay away from her. But there was no way in hell that was even possible for Callie now.
Callie sat staring at the wall, but looking beyond it, as images of Arizona's face flooded her eyes. Her beautiful, dimpled smile and long, wild blonde hair. She had memorized every contour of her face and body. Her favorite expression of Arizona was right after she came, she would slowly open her eyes to look at her with eyes as dark as midnight. If Callie could freeze that look, she would carry it with her always. That look caused her heart to flutter.
The images in front of her transformed into, Arizona playing with a toddler in a park, a toddler who looked just like Arizona, wild blonde curls, piercing blue eyes and dimples that can melt Alaska. The grin on Callie's face was that of contentment but then she froze momentarily and looked down at her hands.
She had just sent someone to jail.
When she thought of motherhood, she thought about her mother who baked the best apple pie and cooked the most delicious chicken piccata. Who was always full of warmth and comfort. Not someone who carried out illegal trades and hit other people.
She wasn't cut out to be a mother!
But Callie knew what Arizona wanted. Normal. Something that her lifestyle was not. Callie sat thinking long and hard about what to do next. As the wheels in her head started turning, she hopped up to get dressed. She knew exactly what she wanted to do next.