Chapter 14

Arizona gripped Sofia's hand as she 'helped' her walk from the car to her house. Her heart pounding, this was it, this is what she had wanted to be going home with her family. But this was terrifying.

It had been a week since she had last had a seizure and she was now discharged, but she felt weak, and shaky, and despite working with Shelia, her speech therapist she still struggled with words and while everyone promised her it was getting better, she was frustrated with the delay. Frustrated at herself for not being able to form the words she desperately wanted to say, or ask the questions she needed to ask. Her memories seemed to be back fully but her speech was worse than it had ever been. Everyone told her she needed to be patient, and that she was making good progress but that didn't stop her from hating herself and her inability to talk. Patience was not one of her strong points, she liked things done and always expected perfection, especially from herself.

Callie walked ahead going inside her house. That was another argument she had lost, without really being able to fight, she wanted to go home alone, or crash on Alex and Jo's couch but had been outvoted, by everyone without even being given a choice. Apparently, a couch was no good to recover on, the only good part of going home with Callie was Sofia was there too and any extra time with Sofia was a huge plus. Time with Callie was a positive too, but with her memories back the deep feeling of shame came back to. She had destroyed her family, suffocated her wife, and now she was back, just as disabled and dependent as before, last time that had broken her, and she had broken Callie. This time was different, this time she was going to be strong, make sure she was independent, that they didn't need to look after her. She needed to make sure she was strong, Sofia was older now if they broke up it would affect her more.

Other changes had happened to, Callie had accepted the Ortho position but would start in a few months, as she wanted to be there for her, wanted to make sure Arizona recovered. So here they were going home, to her house, her family, Sofia and Callie were moving in temporarily, having stayed at a hotel since arriving. Arizona had tried to offer her house for them to stay in, but Callie had refused, saying they had paid for the week, and it was closer to the hospital.

It was going to be agonizing, the love of her life moving back in with her, within touching distance, and trying to not suffocate her. If it hadn't been the promise of spending more time with Sofia's she'd have probably refused, but Callie came with Sofia, so for her daughter's sake she could do this.

"I thought I'd make my chicken Picatta tonight," Callie suggested, trying to break the tension as they walked into the house, "I have groceries, with our stuff in the car" she continued knowing it was Arizona's favorite, Arizona felt her mouth water, she nodded, eagerly, adding it to the list. She hated cooking, hated having to think every meal what to eat, she missed coming home finding Callie cooking in the kitchen singing along to the radio.

"yummmmm" she said, wishing she could say more, frustrated but knowing she couldn't take it out on her family, not like last time, when she lost her leg. Then she could talk all she wanted; she just had chosen not to. She just prayed her speech came back. She had so much she wanted to say, so much to apologize for and so many questions to ask.

"Mommy, I want to see my room" Sofia begged. Despite Arizona living they're for 5 months Sofia had only seen it on video and never in person. Arizona nodded, steadying herself against the wall.

She said open the first door her bedroom door. Sofia ran in exploring, while Callie stood at the door. She hoped the presence of her spare leg, nightclothes and personal items would be enough to explain that this was her room.

"This isn't an easter basket?" Callie commented pleasantly surprised, Arizona nodded, when she had brought the house, she had brought it with her family in mind, Callie and Sofia, even if they were living in New York, even if they were separated. She couldn't help it walking around houses, they may be apart but her family was always with her. Sofia would love this tree house, Callie would hate this kitchen. Whether they were together or not Callie and Sofia were a part of her.

She had decorated it accordingly, her bedroom was a mixed, a dark blue feature wall with pastel blues complimenting it, a perfect blend of both of them. Next to it was a dressing room lined with wardrobes, subconsciously Arizona had only filled the ones on the left, she always had the left side, Callie had the right. Next to that was the ensuite, complete with jacuzzi bath that would easily fit two.

Outside the master suite was an office, that would have made an amazing nursery, next was Andrew's room, a large room with an ensuite. Somewhere along the time he had moved out, leaving his room empty, Callie put her bags inside claiming it as her own. next to that was a large family bathroom, complete with ducks. Lastly was Sofia's bedroom, Arizona opened the door, nervous, she knew her daughter loved musicals, but especially wicked, the walls were painted, one a dark green with a yellow road passing along, on the road was a house with red slippers sticking out, surrounded by munchkins. On the next wall was the tin man, a tornado, a scarecrow in a field of wheat, a lion, the third wall had the magical city of OZ in its emerald glory on a blue background, on the last wall was Elphaba and Glinda holding hands, with the quote, everyone deserves the chance to fly written on, a white wardrobe, bed, desk, bookshelf, swing, and rug, offset the dark colors. Around the edge of the bed was fairly lights, all in the shape of mini witch's hat.

"Wow, mommy" Sofia cried, running around the room trying to take it all in.

"This amazing," Callie agreed. "How?" she asked, the artwork was detailed and exquisite,

"lesssssssbbbb ooookkieesss sssoorrrree" Arizona tried to explain, that as an apology for drugging half the hospital Danya and Peggy had arranged for some of their friends to paint Sofia's room after drugging nearly every attending in the hospital.

"Lesbian cookie sorry?" Callie repeated trying to work out the story, Arizona nodded, sighing when Callie still looked confused, having no idea how to explain the events with her current skills. Instead she waved her hand, another thing to explain to her later.

"Mamma, mommy a swing look" Sofia said sitting on the chair suspended from the ceiling,

"I can see, it looks super fun" Callie said, wincing as she said super, that was Arizona's word. "I'm going to get the rest of the cases,"

"Ok mamma" Sofia replied distracted trying to work out how to get the chair to move while she was in it. Arizona left Sofia following Callie, wanting to see her reaction. Callie went back to the living room, this time Arizona opened the door to the kitchen.

A few years ago, they'd been lying in bed, Callie had described her dream kitchen, with Agar stove, white cupboards with a marble top, a breakfast bar, an open plan dining area so she could cook and socialize with friends, a huge window overlooking the garden, with a tire swing, and yet, a homely feel, this wasn't a huge kitchen, this was a family kitchen.

"Wow, you remembered" Callie whispered tearfully, Arizona nodded, slightly embarrassed, there was no way to hide the fact she had brought this house with her family in mind, there was also a chicken coop already in the garden, it needed a refresh but that had been the icing on the cake.

Callie nodded, she knew Arizona couldn't talk but this suggested everything she hoped, Arizona was waiting for her. Or at least had been. She couldn't wait until Arizona was able to talk and they could have a proper conversation.

"I'll grab the bags," Callie offered, changing the subject, she knew they needed to talk but wanted Arizona to be able to express herself when they did.

Arizona nodded watching Callie go, trying to breath though her frustration, she'd been seeing so many specialists to try and get back from her injury, but still the progress was slow. She couldn't wait until her speech came back, she had so much she wanted to say, as the sound of music came from Sofia's room an idea sparked, maybe there was a way of saying what she was feeling, even if she couldn't physically say it, maybe she didn't have to.

With Callie now cooking, and Sofia dancing in her room, Arizona had a mission, she retreated to her room finding her phone, texting Meredith, because of her brain injury, even typing the words was hard,

2moz need Cal out, and Sof overnite, pls

She sent hoping Meredith could read between the gaps, that text alone had taken 30 minutes of mistyping, and trying to think of how to spell. It was seconds later a text came back,

Okay, I'll make Callie leave and Zola will love to have Sofia over for a play date, what time do you want her back? Meredith replied,

6

Arizona texted back, with some difficultly, at least this was only one character.

Done, I'm sending Amelia to help you, she is doing my head in,

Arizona rolled her eyes, she knew it was Meredith's way of hovering, but realistically Callie wasn't going to leave if she knew Arizona was alone. She just hoped Meredith was persuasive enough to get Callie out of the house for that long.

"Dinner" Callie called,

"Yay" Sofia replied,

"Hands" Callie shouted, Arizona hid the laugh as she heard the footsteps stop and turn, opening the bedroom door the smell was amazing, her stomach rumbling in anticipation,

"Ummm" she commented at Callie hoping she understood the compliment, Callie nodded,

"I love this kitchen" she said again as her phone buzzed, she frowned, "Sofia, Zola wants a sleep over tomorrow, would you like to go?" Callie asked reading out the text,

"Yay" Sofia cheered,

"I should have asked you first, Arizona, sorry, are you okay if Sof goes?" Callie asked, Arizona nodded, glad her plan was coming together, Callie's phone bleeped again,

"It's Bailey, I'm needed tomorrow to sign papers, ready to go back to work, apparently they need to do some security checks, but Amelia is going to pop by" Callie said, frowning, Arizona nodded understandingly, secretly happy that Meredith had managed it. Now she had to try and get everything sorted without making Callie suspicious.

After dinner, pretending she was tired wasn't hard, she went to her room lying down, not bothering to undress.

"Arizona, sweetie, open your eyes, you need your meds" Callie was saying moment's later, confused Arizona opened her eyes to find it had fallen dark outside, "here" Callie was saying helping her with her water and the tablets she needed,

"You should put on something more comfortable to sleep in" Callie ordered gently, Arizona frowned, her brain still struggling to wake up,

"Lift" Callie ordered, Arizona without thinking obeyed, she trusted Callie, she loved Callie, she felt her top being pulled up over her head, and the freedom of her bra being released, before the softness of a nightie, gently she was guided to lie down, her trousers being gently pulled down and her leg removed, before the blanket was pulled up covering her. A light kiss on her forehead sealed the goodnight,

"Sleep tight" Callie whispered, as Arizona let out a small snore, already asleep.

Any ideas what Arizona's plan is?

Let me know, reviews fuel writing