January 2007 - Part 2
Meredith and her best friend Cristina stood in front of the OR board.
"That should be my surgery with Altman," Cristina moaned.
"Is she still not letting you into the OR?"
"Yeah." Cristina scowled. "I need to learn the scary woman's secret."
"The scary woman from this morning?"
"Yeah. I need to know the secrets of how to intimidate everyone and make them do my bidding with just a look." She mimicked the haughty posture and sneer the woman had given them earlier.
"You should ask Callie."
"Why?"
Meredith shrugged nonchalantly. "Lexie said it was Callie's mother."
Cristina shook her head and shivered. "I feel sorry for roller girl. That look she gave us would chase away all the perky."
"You'd be surprised, Dr. Yang," Arizona's voice came from behind them. "I'm a lot tougher than I look. I was raised by a Marine."
The two residents turned to face the pediatric fellow. "Have you met her?" Cristina countered.
Arizona shook her head. "No. I didn't even know she was here."
"I'd steer clear of her if you see her. She looks like an older, thinner Callie. Oh, plus Torres has been on the warpath today. Rumor has it she even made an intern cry," Cristina informed her.
"Callie's mom can't be that bad." Arizona waved away the comment in disbelief.
"She nearly made Lexie wet her pants." Cristina snickered at the memory of a terrified Lexie.
"I have experience with scary moms and believe me, she's scarier than my mom," Meredith commented with a shudder.
Arizona considered Meredith's words. She'd never met Ellis Grey, but her surgical reputation preceded her with tales of how she put the fear of God into everyone who ever worked with her. "I'll take my chances," Arizona said with a confidence she didn't quite feel. "Have either of you actually seen Callie lately?"
"OR 4," Cristina said, pointing at the board. "It's hip replacement day."
"Oh right. I knew that." She mentally berated herself for forgetting. Hip replacement day tended to be more stressful for her girlfriend due to the wide array of post surgical complications.
A nurse approached the group. "Dr. Robbins, Dr. Karev wanted me to pass along a message that he is unable to assist you in OR 3 this afternoon."
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll need to find someone else to assist. Is Dr. Bailey available?" She focused her attention on the surgical board.
"No, she's in surgery with Dr. Webber right now."
Arizona turned to the two women. "Either of you interested?"
"What is it?" questioned Meredith.
"I'll do it," Cristina said at once before hearing the surgery.
"Splenopexy for a wandering spleen." Arizona was surprised by Cristina's enthusiasm. "Great, you have two hours to get yourself familiar with the case and the procedure, Yang." Arizona pulled the chart and handed it to her.
"I'll be ready."
"I'm sure you will. Two hours, Dr. Yang." Arizona chuckled as she watched the two residents walk away arguing about the surgery, Meredith making the point that Cristina didn't even like kids.
A harried looking Callie exited the scrub room and walked up to the board. She erased the surgery she'd just completed and scowled.
"Oh, hey, Dr. Torres," Arizona said in a sing-song voice. "I heard you had a visitor today."
"Not now, Arizona. I've got no time to chat. My last surgery ran long due to a variety of complications and now I've got another complicated hip replacement in ten minutes, this time with a seventy year old."
Arizona had to admit Callie's attitude stung a little, but she understood. Surgeries running long and messed up schedules were part of the job. Add in whatever stress she was feeling about her mother's visit and Arizona could see why Callie was a little short with her.
"Okay, then. I'll see you later." She kissed Callie's cheek. "Good luck in your surgery."
# # # # # # # # # # #
Arizona shifted her purse on her shoulder as she waited for Callie in the lobby. She wanted to know the details of Callie's mom's visit so badly. The suspense was making her antsy.
Callie approached slowly with a bewildered look on her face. "Why are you doing your pee dance? The restroom is right behind you."
"I'm not doing my pee dance."
Callie arched an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Okay, maybe I was a little overly excited to see you and get out of here." She grabbed one of Callie's hands and entwined their fingers loosely. "I missed you today."
Callie's look of disbelief morphed into one more sultry. "Oh yeah?"
Arizona nodded and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"I missed you, too." She let out a heavy sigh. "Today was…rough."
Arizona waited until they were in her SUV and on the road before she inquired further. "Wanna talk about it?"
"Not particularly."
"Callie," she drew her name out.
"Arizona," she mocked in the same drawn out tone.
"I know you had a visitor today." Arizona focused on the road in front of her. "The residents were very intimidated by her, so I want to make sure you're okay, but I can't do that if you won't talk to me," she said in a rush.
Callie rested her forehead against the windowpane next to her. "It was my mom. We're not close. She only ever speaks to me to discipline me or tell me how I'm wrong about something."
"At least she was speaking to you. That's progress." Arizona tried to remain hopeful.
"Right away she berated me for not contacting her. In all the years I've been in Seattle, today was the first time she's been here to visit. She was giving me a hard time for not reaching out but she didn't either! Then," she made a frustrated growling sound deep in her throat. "Then, she had the audacity to fling religion at me and disparage our relationship. So I snapped…or I started to but my phone buzzed and showed my lock screen and it was like a switch went off and suddenly there's a different woman in front of me, one who wants the scoop on our relationship and to see pics of the girls." She shook her head. "I really don't know what to make of it all."
"What's on your lock screen?"
"Me and the girls in Santa hats making silly faces." She pulled the phone from her pocket and tapped a side button to light up the screen to show the picture in question.
Arizona slowed to a stop at a red light and glanced over to see the picture. She smiled broadly. "That's such a good one."
Callie's voice softened. "I showed her several from Christmas, a couple from Halloween, their first day of school. The more I showed her, the more she wanted to know about them and you. By that point, I really had to get down to surgery, so I told her that one day down the road, when we get married, those girls would be her grandchildren, but that her and daddy needed to get on board with our relationship now or stay the hell away."
Arizona's breath hitched. "You think about that? Us getting married?" She pressed the button for the garage door opener and parked the SUV.
Callie unclipped her seat belt and faced her. "I do. Does that scare you?"
Arizona flung her her seat belt aside and lunged forward to kiss Callie deeply, passionately. "I do too and it scares me so much but I love you. That's what matters."
"It scares me too, but you and the girls are worth it. Do I want my parents to be involved in my life? Of course, I do, but not if they can't support our relationship, our family."
Arizona gathered her purse and exited the vehicle. "I have just one question. Is your mom really as scary as the residents made her out to be?"
All Callie could do to respond was laugh.
# # # # # # # # # # #
The next day as she scrubbed out after a simple meniscus repair, Callie found herself still trying to wrap her head around her mother's change in attitude. It had happened so fast Callie felt like she had whiplash. I will never understand that woman, she thought as she dried her hands. Oh, my God. I just called my mother "that woman". She was shocked at her thoughts and regretted them almost immediately. She exited the scrub room and walked over to the surgical board to erase her finished procedure.
"Calliope."
"What?" Callie said, spinning around to find her father standing there. "Oh, my God!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Why do you keep doing this to me?"
"I'd like to speak with you."
"Well, I don't want to speak with you," she snapped. "This is my place of work. I save people's lives. I can't do that if you and Mom keep taking me to a damned conference room every day."
"Calliope," he said sternly.
"Maybe that's how you run your business, Daddy, with people interrupting you all day, but you can't do that here." He glared at her and opened his mouth to speak but her pager went off. She pulled it out her pocket and glanced at it. "I have to go. It's 911 to the ER."
Carlos remained in the hall, watching Callie's retreating form before she disappeared behind the elevator door.
"You're not being fair to Calliope," Arizona stated as she came up behind Carlos after overhearing the conversation.
"Excuse me?"
"You and your wife can't keep bothering Calliope at work, especially when your family won't respond to her attempts to reach out to you. People's lives depend on her, us, having a clear head, which she can't when she's worried about disappointing you and if she's going to make rent this month. No, sir. I won't let you. Not on my watch, you won't." Arizona's voice was firm.
"I don't know you, Dr. Robbins, and I'm certainly not going to speak to you about my daughter." He started to walk away from her.
"She's happy, why can't you be happy for her?"
He bristled at her suggestion."It goes against God's word and if she continues down this path it'll only lead to heartache." Once more he tried to leave but was stopped by Arizona's voice.
"Most people think I was named for the state, but it's not true. I was named for a battleship. The U.S.S. Arizona." She waited for Carlos to look at her before she continued. "My grandfather was serving on the Arizona when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and he saved 19 men before he drowned. Pretty much everything my father did his whole life was about honoring that sacrifice. I was raised to be a good man in a storm. Raised me to love my country. To love my family. To protect the things I love." She paused and took a deep breath. "When my father - Colonel Daniel Robbins, the United States Marine Corp - heard that I was a lesbian, he said he had only one question. I was prepared for, 'How fast can you get the hell out of my house?' But instead, it was, 'Are you still who I raised you to be?' My father believes in country the way that you believe in God. And my father is not a man who bends, but he bent for me because I'm his daughter." She waited a moment for the words to sink in, then continued. "I'm a good man in a storm. I love your daughter. And I protect the things that I love. Not that I need to. She doesn't need it." Her tone became soft and endearing. "She's strong, and caring, and honorable. She's who you raised her to be."
Lucia stepped out from behind Arizona and took Carlos's arm. "She's right. Carlos. This is where Callie works. You should listen to her." She held out her hand. "Lucia Torres. You must be Dr. Robbins," she said warmly.
"Arizona Robbins," she said, shaking Lucia's hand firmly.
"Calliope showed me some pictures yesterday, Arizona. Do you have them as well?" When she nodded, Lucia suggested, "Why don't you show them to my husband?"
Arizona pulled out her phone and showed him the same picture of Callie with the twins that Lucia had seen the day before.
"Have you ever seen our daughter look so happy, Carlos?" Lucia implored.
"She is happy. I'd like to think my family and I have something to do with it. I know she's added so much joy to our lives." Arizona scrolled to show him a few other photos.
"How can both of you be in so many pictures together?" he questioned thoughtfully.
"Oh, my mom grabs whoever's phone is the closest and snaps away so we can be in the moment but still have the memories," she explained, handing him the phone.
Carlos continued to scroll through the pics, his features softening and at one point, chuckling at some of the sillier ones. Finally, his stiff posture returned as he returned Arizona's phone to her "My wife and I don't fight very often, Dr. Robbins, and she curses even less. But we did last night. Lucia kindly told me to get my head out of my ass because she wants to show off pictures of grandchildren."
Arizona blushed and Lucia smiled. "I think we should get to know one another properly before deciding to hate each other. We'd love to have you come to dinner at my house. Are you available tomorrow night? Callie and I are both scheduled for a half day so we'll have the evening free."
Carlos started to huff. "We can't. I have meetings in San Francisco."
"We'd love to," Lucia interrupted.
"I don't want you to have to change your plane reservations."
"Oh, don't worry about that. We have the company jet. It only flies when we say it flies," Lucia said with a wink.
A private jet? I know Callie said they were wealthy but I thought only first class seats, not private jets. Arizona thought to herself. She pulled a post-it pad from her lab coat pocket and wrote her address. "Here's my address. Let's say six tomorrow night?"
"Sounds wonderful," Lucia enthused. Carlos stared bewildered at the two wondering when he lost control of the situation. She grabbed her husband's arm. "Come along, Carlos. We've taken up enough of Arizona's time for today. We'll see you soon."
Arizona stared after them with a bright her face. Where on earth did the residents get the idea that such a delightful woman was scary?
# # # # # # # # # # #
Once Mr. and Mrs. Torres had left the hospital, Arizona fired off a quick text to ask Callie where she was. When she finally found her charting near the emergency room nurse's station, Arizona tentatively approached Callie, a guilty look on her face. "So I did a thing and you might not like it but it's happening," she said in a rush.
Callie's pen stopped moving. "What did you do, Arizona?" Callie asked warily.
"I invited your parents over for dinner tomorrow night," she blurted.
"You did what?!"
"They're coming over for dinner tomorrow night so they can meet my parents, and Cam and Vivvy and get to know me better."
Callie dropped her pen and tangled her fingers in her hair. "Why? Why would you do that?"
"We've been dating for several months, Calliope. You know my family, It's only proper that I get to know your family." Arizona shrugged as though it were obvious.
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into, Arizona," Callie said, shaking her head. "My mother -"
"I met your mother. I don't understand why the residents think your mom is scary. She was so nice to me."
Callie's eyebrows drew together quizzically. "We are talking about the same woman, right? Lucia Torres? Hell in high heels?"
"Of course." Arizona rolled her eyes.
"Nice and my mom don't belong in the same sentence," Callie scoffed. "I think you've made a big mistake. One of them will probably show up swinging incense around and the other reciting the rosary."
"I think you'll be surprised, Callie. I had a lovely conversation with them."
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's true. They seemed very excited to be invited to dinner."
"Excited? Not possible."
"Okay, maybe not excited exactly, but they were agreeable to it."
Callie shook her head again. "It's always been a freaking disaster whenever my parents meet who I'm dating." She flashed back on when a still somewhat drunk George met her father. "Or marry," she muttered under her breath.
"You know, Callie, neither my parents nor I got a chance to meet Jillian's parents. And I know that is something that they would've liked to have done."
Callie felt a little ashamed, knowing Jillian's parents had died before Arizona and Jillian were together. "What time is it?" Callie sighed, knowing she couldn't not show up.
"Six o'clock. That'll give us both plenty of time to get home and change and help my mom with any last minute preparations. And I need to get some cleaning done."
"What are we having?"
"I think my mom said she was going to make pot roast with all the fixings, and I'll probably bake a pie or something for dessert tonight."
"Oh, baking, huh?" Callie waggled her eyebrows up and down. "How about a little baking after the girls go to bed?"
"I think that could be arranged," Arizona said lightly. She pressed a quick kiss to Callie's cheek. "It will all work out. You'll see." She smiled brightly as she walked away from her girlfriend.
Callie shook her head and sighed heavily. If only she shared Arizona's optimism.
# # # # # # # # # # #
The next morning, Callie flopped down into a chair in Addison's office. "My girlfriend is crazy."
"Crazy as in 'crazy for you' or crazy as in 'find a straight jacket crazy'?" Addison asked as she looked up from the medical journal she was reading.
"Crazy as in completely lost her mind."
Addison took her glasses off and set the article aside. "Explain."
"You know my parents are in town, right?"
Addison nodded. "I heard a rumor to that effect, and I still want all the details."
"Not important right now," Callie dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Arizona is nuts."
"Why?"
"She invited my parents to her house for dinner. They're coming for dinner tonight."
"Oh," Addison said simply. "And why is that a bad thing?"
"My parents. At Arizona's house. With her parents. With the twins."
Addison shrugged. "I don't see the problem. It's a natural progression when you're seriously dating someone. You're supposed to meet the parents."
"But my parents. My high society, four star restaurant dining, have a private chef, mansion living parents having dinner in the suburbs in a house that if we're lucky isn't completely chaotic."
"You know, Callie, you sound like a snob. Are you embarrassed for your parents to be in Arizona's home?"
"What? No! Absolutely not!" she denied. Addison pinned her with a steely stare. "Ok, maybe a little. It's just…"
"You're afraid your parents are going to think you're 'slumming it' and will say or do something to ruin your image with the Robbinses."
"It sounds so bad when you put it like that."
"Because it is a bad way of thinking. When are you going to realize that it doesn't matter what I, your parents or even the man in the moon has to say about your relationship with Arizona. All that matters is what you say and think and do with her."
Callie scowled and threw an arm over her eyes. "Ugh, I hate when you're right."
# # # # # # # # # # #
Later that morning, Arizona was having a similar conversation with Teddy. "You need to relax, Arizona," Teddy told her friend as they walked - well, she walked, Arizona was practically bouncing - down the hall.
"I'm nervous, Teddy."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," she teased.
"What was I thinking, Teddy? Callie's parents in my house?"
"I'm sure it'll be fine."
"I doubt it, Mom's making dinner. They'll think I don't know how to cook." She wrung her hands worriedly.
"No they won't. They know that you and Callie are busy surgeons."
"And we're having pot roast," Arizona continued.
"What's the matter with that? I've had your mother's pot roast and it's to die for." Teddy's mouth watered thinking of Barbara's pot roast. "I don't think there's a restaurant that can make it any better."
Arizona rolled her eyes. "Not the point, Teddy. I know it's good. It's better than good."
"Then what is the point?"
"You don't get it." Arizona struggled to find the words to explain, while also keeping Callie's confidence. "Her parents are used to fancy things like beef wellington and risotto, not homemade pot roast."
"It'll be fine," Teddy slung her arm across Arizona's back and gave her a reassuring hug. "Even if her parents have such a fancy palate, they'll probably appreciate some real home cooking."
"I hope you're right."
"What else are you worried about?" Teddy probed.
"What if the girls spill something or say something? You know how they can be."
"They're five, Arizona, not little adults. They'll be as they always are. You've got two great kids. Callie's parents will love them." She nudged Arizona with her elbow. "How's Callie? Is she as nervous as you are?"
"Probably more. Addison told me earlier that she had to talk Callie out of a near panic attack."
Teddy laughed. "Kind of like I'm doing right now."
Arizona chuckled. "Yes, and thank you."
"I try," she said with a grin. "Speaking of which, I'll also do my part to keep Nick company tonight so nobody has to worry about him."
"That's such a hardship for you, I can tell," Arizona grinned. "Sure we can trust you two kids to behave yourselves all alone?"
"I hope not," Teddy retorted.
"Should I plan on sending you an alert when my parents leave?"
Teddy's cheeks reddened. "Probably wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Glad someone will be getting a little something tonight," Arizona muttered. "Callie and I will both be too stressed out at dinner to even think about anything fun later."
"I bet you're wrong. Fun can be a great de-stresser," she teased her friend once again.
"Too bad we won't have time before dinner," Arizona sighed.
"Why not find Callie and drag her into an on-call room?" Teddy suggested. "It wouldn't be the first time you've done that."
"Not gonna happen." She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. " I'm leaving early to clean the house and Callie's in surgery."
"That sucks," Teddy sympathized.
"It does. It really does."
# # # # # # # # # # #
"I'd like to stop and get some wine to take to dinner," Lucia said as they rode down in the elevator from the Presidential Suite at the Archfield.
"We could stop at the bar," Carlos suggested. "Do you know what we're having for dinner?"
"Calliope sent me a text that it was going to be a simple homemade dinner, whatever that means. We should pick up a bottle of white and a bottle of red just to be on the safe side."
The attention Callie had received when she and Arizona had stayed overnight was nothing to what Carlos and Lucia received. Every employee in the building knew who Carlos and Lucia Torres were. The employees were on high alert and when the couple entered the bar, the bartender straightened up even further. "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Torres," he said. "What may I do for you this evening?"
"May I see the wine list?" Lucia asked. She had become somewhat of a connoisseur of good wine while Carlos liked fine scotch.
"Yes, Ma'am."
He handed her the list and she reviewed it for a few moments before selecting a Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. She knew Callie liked wine, and hoped that Arizona and her parents did as well.
"I'd like a bottle of scotch," Carlos said, indicating the Macallan 15 year double cask single malt scotch on the top shelf.
"Would you like these sent to your room?" the bartender asked.
"Would you pack them up, please? We're going to a dinner party."
"Right away, Mr. Torres."
Minutes later, a luxury car pulled up in front of the Archfield. The driver quickly got out of the car and opened the door for the couple. Carlos handed him the address as he and Lucia sat down in the back.
"Calliope texted me today, warning me about the girls."
"Warning?" Carlos was confused.
"Yes, apparently they can be boisterous and Callie wanted to prepare me. I think she believes I don't like children, or I can't handle them."
Carlos chuckled. "They can't be any more rambunctious than she was at that age."
Lucia smiled. "She was a handful when she was little, wasn't she?" She sighed. "I can't wait to meet them. You've met them. What were they like?"
"I only met Mrs. Robbins."
"The girls, Carlos."
"It was only for a few minutes."
Lucia sighed. "The pictures Callie and Arizona showed us… those little girls seem so full of life."
"Well, maybe it'll be karma for Callie to deal with kids that were as energetic as she was."
Lucia laughed. "A mother's revenge." She fell silent for a moment. "Do you think we're overdressed? Callie did say informal."
Lucia gestured to Carlos in his suit, though he did forego wearing a tie. Lucia was wearing a tailored pants and jacket suit of her own.
"We'll be fine," he said, patting her hand.
"I'm actually a little nervous."
"Nonsense. Torres men and women don't get nervous."
"Have you met our daughter?" Lucia laughed
# # # # # # # # # # #
At Arizona's house, it was a very different atmosphere. Arizona flitted from room to room making sure everything was perfect. She'd enlisted her father's help cleaning earlier, and the girls had been sent to their room to pick up. All the toys in the playroom were neatly put away. Her mother had the cooking well in hand so she didn't have to worry about that. Callie had been late in surgery so Teddy had given her a ride. She was currently in the shower and Arizona hoped she'd be ready before Carlos and Lucia arrived.
She smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on her light blue cashmere sweater and dark gray slacks. She didn't want to be overly dressed, but she didn't think a pair of jeans were appropriate either. Cam had pushed back a little on "dressing up" but finally agreed to wear a pair of navy blue chinos and a bright green turtleneck. Vivvy was the opposite. She was excited to get dressed up. She was finally satisfied wearing a pair of pink leggings and a long blue top with pink butterflies designs on the front..
"Do you remember what I told you?" Arizona asked the girls as she finished braiding Cam's hair. Vivvy's hair hung loosely but was held in place by a pink headband that matched her leggings.
"Yes, Mommy,"
"Quiet voices."
"Bestest behavior."
"Be polite."
"Good girls." Arizona stood up. "Go on downstairs. They'll be here soon. I"m going to check on Callie."
The girls started to run, but saw the look on Arizona's face and quickly stopped and slowly walked down the stairs.
Daniel was setting up glasses and a few bottles on the breakfast bar. "I don't know if I like the idea of Callie's parents being here," he grumbled.
"Daniel, we need to be open to them. I don't like how they treated Callie any more than you do."
"I just do not understand how a father can just cut off his daughter because of who she loves."
"I know. I agree. But Daniel, do you remember how terrified Arizona was to tell you?"
"No, she wasn't. She didn't cry until after she told me." He remembered with a smile, knowing his daughter's issues with confronting authority figures.
Barbara shook her head. "She had a bag packed, Daniel. She was convinced you were going to throw her out."
Daniel felt the outrage build within him. "I would never have thrown my daughter out because of who she loved. Never!"
"I know, dear, but not all fathers are like you. Some fathers, and mothers, I think, really struggle with it. Religion can be a big part of it. Plus, we're a military family and 'don't ask, don't tell' was the military's standpoint in those days."
"Family always comes first," Daniel stated firmly.
"I know. And I love you for that, Daniel Robbins." She kissed him on the cheek, causing him to blush. "But enough of that talk," she said, spotting the twins. "They are guests in Arizona's home, and we will treat them accordingly. Best behavior, Daniel." Barbara's words unknowingly echoed Arizona's to Cam and Vivvy.
"Yes, dear."
Arizona and Callie entered the kitchen, hand in hand. Callie was relieved to see that no one was overdressed. Daniel was in a pair of khaki pants and a flannel shirt and Barbara was wearing a pair of black slacks and a printed top.
"How's dinner coming along? Sorry I was late," Callie apologized. "I wanted to help."
"Everything is just fine. We should be ready to eat around six-thirty or so. I made sure the girls had a late snack so they wouldn't be too hungry or cranky."
"Thank you. Thank you for doing this."
"No need to thank us. It's what families do for one another."
Cam and Vivvy were waiting at the front window, keeping an eye out for Callie's parents. When they saw a fancy black car pull into the driveway, they loudly announced their arrival with a "They're here!"
"It'll be fine," Arizona said to a nervous Callie as she gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I hope you're right."
Arizona quickly walked to the front door to greet Callie's parents before one of the girls could open the door. Barbara and Daniel followed her into the room, with a nervous Callie lagging behind.
"Good evening, Dr. Robbins," Carlos said formally.
"It's Arizona, and please come in." She opened the door wide and stepped aside so Carlos and Lucia could come into the house.
"Who are you?" Cam asked Lucia as she stepped protectively in front of her mother and sister.
"Why is the mean man here?" Vivvy asked timidly as she tried to hide behind Barbara's legs.
Lucia covered her mouth to hide her laugh at Vivvy's question and Carlos's discomfort at being called out. She'd forgotten how amused she could be whenever Carlos was put in place.
"Vivvy!" Arizona admonished her. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Torres."
"That's quite all right," Lucia said kindly. "He can be mean sometimes." She winked at Vivvy before she turned her attention to Cam. "I'm Callie's mother."
"I'm Cam, and that's my sister, Vivvy," she said pointing across the room to her twin.
"Mr. and Mrs. Torres, these are my parents, Colonel Daniel Robbins and Barbara Robbins. Mom and Dad, Carlos and Lucia Torres."
The introductions went off without a hitch, and Callie was relieved. So far, so good, she thought. I hope the rest of the evening stays this easy.
"You have a lovely home, Arizona," Lucia said, looking around the main room as they stepped further into the room. "Charming."
Callie knew from experience that was her mother's polite way of saying "small and pedestrian" and she stiffened. She was about to open her mouth, but stopped when she saw the sincerity on her mother's face.
"Thank you, Mrs. Torres."
"Please call me Lucia." She turned toward her husband. "And no more "Mister Torres'. It's Carlos."
Callie's head was spinning. Who is this woman and where did my mother go? This is not my mother, she thought in awe.
"Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes," Barbara announced. "Would anyone like a drink before dinner?"
Callie leaned over and whispered into Arizona's ear. "God yes. A nice big one."
Arizona snickered. "I'm with you."
"That would be lovely," Lucia said. "We weren't sure what you were serving. I hope our choices are compatible with dinner." She handed the bag to Arizona.
"Oh, that wasn't necessary, but thank you." She led her guests into the kitchen where she placed the bottles next to what Daniel had already put out.
"Colonel, you strike as a man who likes good scotch," Carlos said.
"I do."
"I think you'll find this to your liking," Carlos continued, holding the bottle out for Daniel.
Daniel examined the bottle. "Very nice. Would you like me to pour you a glass as well?"
"Please."
Arizona wanted to tell her father to loosen up and not be so formal. She knew he was being protective of his family, Callie included, and hadn't been happy with how Callie had been treated. "Lighten up, old man," she teased as she passed behind him to get a corkscrew.
"You're looking well, Calliope. Healthy." Lucia remarked.
Callie bristled a little. Healthy was code for thinner. She'd always been self-conscious of her weight, especially with Aria always being 'the skinny one'. She bit back the snarky comment in her head. Yeah, not having any money to buy food will do that. She blushed when she remembered telling Arizona she'd been losing weight and that her clothes were getting looser. Arizona had given her a wink and had teased "all the easier to get you out of them". With a deep breath, she responded, "I'm eating better, healthier, since I've started sharing so many meals with Arizona and her family."
Her mother nodded. "Healthy, that's good.I don't imagine you get much of an opportunity to eat good meals with the crazy hours you work."
"No, we don't."
"And what kind of doctor are you, Arizona?"
"Mommy's a surgeon," Vivvy answered.
"She cuts open kids," added Cam nonchalantly.
Seeing Lucia's shocked lock, Arizona quickly explained, "I'm a pediatric surgeon. I'm working on my fellowship right now."
"She's a great surgeon," Callie boasted. "Addison Montgomery has been trying to get her into maternal-fetal surgery."
Lucia's eyebrows raised in admiration. Dr. Montgomery was well known as one of the best in her field as well as in high society. "Oh, that's impressive."
"It would mean another fellowship," Arizona deflected. "I need to get through this one." She took a sip from her glass of wine. "Callie is a fantastic surgeon. She practically runs the Orthopedic floor as a resident. Now that's impressive."
Calie beamed and blushed at the compliment. Maybe this evening won't be the trainwreck I'd imagined.
# # # # # # # # # # #
Lucia turned to her left, where Barbara was seated. Barbara was seated between Lucia and Carlos, Arizona at one end of the table and Daniel at the other. Callie was sitting across from Barbara, between the girls as each wanted to sit next to Callie and Vivvy did not want to sit near the mean man. "This is simply the best pot roast I have ever had."
"It's an old family recipe that I've modified over the years."
"You must give me the recipe. I can't wait to try it."
"You mean have your cook make it," Callie pointed out.
"No, I'd like to make it."
"You cook?" Callie scoffed. "Since when do you cook?"
"Lucia is an excellent cook," Carlos said before taking another bite of the pot roast.
"I used to cook all the time when we were first married."
"I don't remember you ever cooking."
Lucia was a little put out by Callie's remarks. "You were very young. Then my practice expanded almost overnight after I won that antitrust case in '83. Your father was traveling a lot, so it just made sense to hire people to take care of the household," she defended.
"Practice?" Barbara inquired, hoping to quell the tension that seemed to be rising between Callie and Lucia.
"I'm an attorney."
"What kind of law?" Barbara was curious.
"Corporate law. A lot of my practice is being a lawyer for other lawyers, but we also have contracts with a few minor corporations in the Miami area."
"Callie told us she has a sister. Aria, I think?"
"Yes, Aria," Carlos answered. "She has an MBA and she works for me."
"You must be very proud of your daughters."
"We are; of both of them."
Arizona watched Callie's face soften at her mother's words. She wondered if Lucia had ever said she was proud of Callie. She wished she was sitting closer to Callie so she could at least give her hand a squeeze.
The talk around the dinner table soon turned to the Robbins family travels due to Daniel's military career and the Torres business travels around the world. There were a few stories shared by both sets of parents about their daughters' antics when they were young.
While the others remained seated around the table, Callie and Arizona cleared the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen,though there wasn't much to clean there as Barbara was a firm believer in 'clean as you go'. Once the kitchen was clean and the food put away, they both began to bring the coffee cups and saucers to the table.
"Would anyone like some dessert?" Arizona asked. "I made an apple pie and a blueberry pie."
"Me! Me! I want pie!" Cam said, excitedly waving her arm in the air.
"Mommy is the bestest baker," Vivvy said to Lucia.
"She is?"
Callie brought in the coffee. "Oh, yeah, Arizona is great at baking," she confirmed with a wink in Arizona's direction, causing a slight blush on her girlfriend's cheeks.
"Well, I can't wait to have a slice," Carlos said, nodding to Callie as she poured the coffee. "I always did like a good apple pie."
"I've got vanilla ice cream if anyone would like that on the side."
Once everyone had a plate of their preferred dessert and after dinner coffees for the adults, Lucia turned her attention to the young girls. "Callie tells me you two like dance and soccer," she said to Cam and Vivvy.
"I like soccer," Cam corrected her. "I don't like dance. Vivvy likes dance."
"And we both swim," Vivvy added. "We go to swimming every week in a big pool."
"Oh, you like to swim? We have a pool at our house."
"You do?"
Callie smirked. Just a pool was an understatement. The pool at her parents' house was close to Olympic sized, and there was a two bedroom pool house along with an outdoor kitchen.
"We do. Maybe you'd like to come down for a visit this spring and swim in it. And we're close to the beach so you can swim in the ocean."
"The 'lantic?" Vivvy asked, already getting excited for a trip.
"That's right. The Atlantic Ocean." She lifted up her cup of coffee. "Perhaps you could all come down this spring for Calliope's birthday. And the invitation is extended to you both as well." She looked at Barbara and Daniel.
"I think that's a great idea," Carlos said.
Callie felt like she'd dropped into an episode of the Twilight Zone, or maybe pod people had taken over her parents. Her parents hosting Arizona's family? She downed her glass of wine in one big gulp, causing Arizona to give her a look.
"Can we Mommy?" Cam and Vivvy looked to Arizona. "Please?"
"We'll see."
"Calliope's birthday is in April," Lucia persisted. "Right after Easter. Do you have a spring break then?"
"I'll have to check the school schedule." Arizona felt a little ashamed at not knowing when Callie's birthday fell. "Depending on work, we might be able to get away for a few days."
"I want to swim in the 'latnic," Vivvy said.
"We've never been to the ocean before, Mommy," Cam pleaded.
Arizona gave the girls a look that silenced their pleadings. Carlos was impressed with that. He pushed his empty plate away from him. "Arizona, I don't think I've had a finer piece of apple pie in my life."
"Thank you, Carlos."
"Yes, Arizona, this pie is divine."
"Carlos, would you like to join me on the patio for an after dinner cigar?" Daniel asked.
"I would enjoy that very much."
The two men rose from the table and Arizona tried to take stock of her father's mood. He'd been polite, civil and at times almost friendly, but she knew something was simmering beneath the surface.
Out on the patio, the two men stood shoulder to shoulder looking out into the dark backyard with a cigar in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other. The atmosphere exuded a heaviness which had been held at bay until now.
Carlos was the first to break the silence. "As a military man. how do you reconcile your daughter's lifestyle - "
Daniel turned to fully face him. "Let me stop you right there. It's not a lifestyle. It's who she is,"he said firmly.
Carlos remained nonplussed with Daniel correcting him. "How do you reconcile it with what you do?"
"Because above everything else, she's my daughter. She is who I raised her to be. It's that simple."
"Leviticus teaches-"
Daniel held up a hand. "It doesn't matter what the Bible says. Do you love her?"
Carlos was stunned by the question. "She's my daughter. Of course I love her. That's why-"
"Do you love her enough to let her make her own decisions and trust in her judgement? Is she who you raised her to be?" Carlos remained silent, simply lost in thought as he stared into the abyss of the backyard. Daniel continued. "My wife and I think the world of Callie. She reignited a light within Arizona that we thought was buried with her wife. For that, she will always be a part of our family. The question remains, is she still a part of yours?" With that note of finality, Daniel finished his scotch, snuffed his cigar and rejoined the party inside, leaving Carlos to his thoughts.
In the house, the mothers, Callie and the girls moved to the living room. Arizona busied herself putting the pie away and making another pot of coffee. When her father came back inside, she tried not to make it obvious that she'd been watching the two of them from the kitchen window.
"Everything okay, Dad?"
"Everything's fine." He walked over to her and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I have an incredible daughter and I don't tell you nearly enough how proud of you I am."
"Dad?"
"I love you." He pulled her in for a close hug.
Arizona blushed and buried her face in his shoulder. "I love you, too, old man."
"The others?"
"In the living room." She pulled away and busied herself with wiping the counter. "I'll be right there."
Daniel entered the living room to find Cam and Vivvy sitting on either side of Lucia. The older woman was laughing at something one of the girls had said. At least one of Callie's parents seems to be coming around, he thought.
"Mrs. Callie's mommy, do you want to see our room?" Vivvy asked.
Lucia laughed. "That's quite a mouthful. Why don't you call me Mrs. Lucia for now?"
"Mrs. Lucia, would you like to see our room?" Vivvy repeated.
"I'd love to."
"I'll join you," Callie said, pouring herself another glass of wine before following them up the stairs. She still wasn't quite sure if her mother was just acting a part or if she really liked the Robbins family. If it was the former, she wanted to make sure she didn't say anything upsetting to the girls.
"That's the extra bedroom," Cam said, pointing at a closed door. "And that's our bathroom."
"Mommy has her own bathroom," Vivvy added.
"And that's Mommy's room. Sometimes Callie sleeps there, too," Cam continued very matter-of-factly.
Callie nervously glanced at her mother, then took a big swig of wine from her glass. If her mother wasn't truly okay with her and Arizona as a couple, this would be an opening for her. To her surprise, Lucia merely nodded.
"This is our room." Vivvy pushed open the door.
"I sleep on the top bunk," Cam said proudly. She grabbed her stuffed animal and showed it to Lucia. "And this is Sir BarksALot. He likes to sleep with me 'cause sometimes he gets scared."
"That's very kind of you to let him."
"Do you wanna see our playroom?"
"Very much."
Vivvy took Lucia's hand and led her to the last room on the second floor.
"This is where we play and draw," Vivvy explained.
"Callie gave us Barbies for our birthday. This is mine." Cam held up "Soccer Barbie".
"And this one is mine." Vivvy showed her "Ballerina Barbie."
"Your Barbies look a little like you."
Cam and Vivvy looked at their blond, blue-eyed dolls then one another. "They do!"
"When Callie was little, she and her sister Aria had Barbies." She didn't say that her daughters had grown up with the Barbie Mansion and other assorted Barbie accessories.
"Do you want to play Barbies with us?"
"Or Legos?"
"I'd love to."
"But it's past your bedtime girls," Callie said, coming into the playroom.
Vivvy immediately pouted and Cam crossed her arms across her chest defiantly. Callie's glare matched Cam's and the younger girl finally lowered her arms, her pout now mirroring her sister's. Lucia couldn't help but be amused by the scene playing out in front of her. No matter how she looked at it, Callie was a mother to those girls.
Callie held out her hand, hoping one of the girls would take it. "Let's go back downstairs so you can say goodnight to everyone."
"Okay," Vivvy sighed, taking Callie's hand.
Not wanting to be left out, Cam took Lucia's hand, and not for the first, second or third time that evening, Lucia's heart melted. She was enchanted by the girls and their spirit. Callie and Aria had been like that once, but somewhere along the lines, they'd stopped. Lucia made a vow then that if she ever got to be a grandmother to these girls, she'd do everything she could so that they'd keep that spirit.
# # # # # # # # # # #
Once everyone left and the girls were put to bed, Callie laid on the bed staring up at the ceiling, her mind racing but never quite settling on a specific thought. She felt the bed dip beside her as Arizona joined her and felt Arizona's arm creep over her belly.
"Penny for your thoughts."
"I really don't know what to make of everything that happened this evening." Callie rubbed her left temple. "My mom…she… the woman who was here tonight is not the mother I know. I'm not sure what to make of it. And Daddy…" Her voice trailed.
Arizona rested her head on her palm as she faced her girlfriend. "For what it's worth, I like your family and while most father figures intimidate me, Carlos doesn't. Because I will spend every day fighting for you. And your mom is not the scary woman everyone thinks she is."
Callie released a pent up breath and chuckled. "You're crazy, but thank you." She leaned over to press a soft kiss to Arizona's lips. She rolled over to straddle her, deepening the kiss. "I think we both need to relax after this evening."
Arizona hummed against her lips. "I like the way you think." No more words were needed the rest of the night.