"Hello," Isabella smiled as she sat in front of the computer. One of the highlights of Arizona's week was when her kids remembered to Skype.
"Hi Bella, how's school going?" The blond asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Good, jungle?"
Arizona chuckled and nodded. "Pretty good, I do miss Seattle though." Around now was when she usually asked about Callie, to which either sister would respond with a couple vague words.
"How's Callie?" She said softly. The brunette shrugged, "Fine, she's chill." Arizona shot her a tight smile over the glitching camera.
By all accounts, Callie had moved on.
There was some muffled yelling, and then Isabella started laughing when Arizona's computer cut off.
Maybe going back wasn't the worst option.
Maybe like, second or third worse. Not high above that.
Arizona Robbins was probably going to throw up.
Correction: Arizona Robbins was definitely going to throw up.
Edit: A few tears as well.
The blond was always good at epic speeches and declarations, yet as she stood in front of the slightly chipping brass numbers: 502, she felt miniscule. Raising a hand to the door, she knocked quietly.
In a weird way, she hoped it was quiet enough that Callie wouldn't hear so she could wallow and say she tried, but she knew that light blue door was paper thin. Her heart beat steadied slightly in her chest, fluttering as she recited her speech quietly.
"Just pi-" The door swung open, her blue eyes fixated on Callie, who just froze, staring back at the blond. "Why are you.." Her voice trailed off as Arizona smiled softly.
"Just, picture this. I am in Africa, and everything is perfect. Yet, I can't stop crying constantly. One day my boss asks why, and I say "Well, I just miss my girlfriend and kids so much." He asked if they should replace me so I could come back.. meaning to say no, somehow yes escaped, and now I'm here, so please tell me I didn't give Africa up for nothing."
Then, an all too familiar face appeared from behind. She was met with Mark Sloan staring at her too with wide eyes.
"Blondie? Didn't you leave for Malawi?" He bit the inside of his lip, crossing his arms.
"I did.. I just needed to.." She trailed off, looking back at Isabella, who shot her a thumbs up from the kitchen. The blond smiled back at her, making Callie and Mark turn around which caused Isabella to retreat to the living room.
Then it dawned on her.
Callie.
Callie and Mark. And her children.
Arizona really didn't want to jump to conclusions, especially as she drowned out the whisper argument between the two adults standing before her. "I, you left." Callie said, her voice unintentionally bitter.
Arizona just let out a sigh, putting her hand on the suitcase. "It was a horrible mistake." The brunette laughed softly, "Yeah, understatement of the century." Addison poked Mark's arm and pointed to Arizona, her voice low. "Can I say hi?"
The man narrowed his eyes, but nodded, allowing Addison to pass him. Immediately, she wrapped her arms around Arizona, making the woman's heart swell ten times its size. "Oh, Addie, I missed you so much."
"I'm so glad you're back!" The brunette shot her mom a grin, pulling from the hug. Callie pulled her back, "You have to get ready for bed."
Reluctantly, the young girl retreated to the apartment, and the blue door shut. Arizona Robbins' life had crumbled, and she was the one to blame.
The next morning, Mark sat silently sipping coffee at his kitchen island. Isabella was occasionally snickering about Arizona's return which she totally 'called' weeks before, furthermore proving her psychic abilities. Addison chatted about Arizona's return, which she was elated to say the least.
Callie looked down at the two Clearblue tests, both read: Pregnant. She smiled again and wiped her stray tears. "Torres, 5 minutes if you don't want another late on their report cards," Mark called from the kitchen.
Quickly, she fixed her hair and double-checked everyone was ready for school, "Are you okay? Your eyes are all teary." Isabella squinted up at her. The brunette smiled and shook her head, "I'm good."
As they were walking out of his apartment, she glanced across the hall, the door ajar. None other than Arizona was inside, carrying boxes. "What in the hell."
Boxes. Multiple boxes. The same ones they had given to movers three months earlier. Was this serious? Had there been a tear in the time space continuum overnight? Because with their previous conversation, Callie felt there was no mention of a reunion, much less a return to the apartment.
Isabella's mouth opened to say something, but all that escaped was hysterical laughter. Addison was blissfully oblivious as usual, continuing to walk to the car with Mark, talking a mile a minute. The brunette scoffed, pushing the door open.
"What are you doing here?" Callie's voice held tensions, her eyes flickering between Arizona and the scattered belongings.
"I bought out the subletters!" Arizona smiled, not looking up at Callie.
"Oh, you bought my subletters?" Arizona nodded, and Callie sighed.
"Look, get your shit out of my apartment, and by the way, me not wanting to see you is not a little strategy, or something, I just don't want you around. This isn't some ploy, I can not trust you."
The brunette sighed, tucking some hair behind her ears as she quickly left the apartment. Isabella looked around, staring at the blond who was busily moving about. "Callie's mad, which is good, means she cares." Arizona said cheerily, in her own deluded state. "Mhm.." Isabella grimaced, following the rest of them downstairs.
After a long day at work, Callie was looking forward to getting home, even if that meant having to drown out her ex-girlfriend. She stepped on the elevator, followed by none other than Arizona.
"I'm ready to listen now, we can talk." Arizona smiles, fidgeting with her purse.
"Get your stuff out of my apartment." Callie repeats, more cold than the first times.
"Look, I know I walk away when things get tough. I'm just not good at commitment.. try moving every year and a half for the first 18 years of your life. But look, I left my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with you, and my kids. I mean, you're not perfect either, and not forgiving is a flaw." She shrugs. "We're in love with each other, and you might as well forgive me. All I want is a chance, I swear it'll be better." She smiles again.
"I'm pregnant, it's Mark's baby. How about now?" She sarcastically smiles, stepping off the elevator.
Arizona stood grappling with her words, an eyebrow raised as she mouthed, "what the fuck." into the air. She shook her head and got off the elevator, seeing Callie and Mark walk off together. Obviously, she took the long route and went the other direction, desperately trying to avoid whatever sort of comp-het hell they had going on over there.
Driving two girls around to extracurriculars and appointments was never easy, yet today it was especially draining and stressful. The late autumn sky was already dripping in sunset hues by the time the three got home.
As she turned the key in the lock and Addison pushed the door open, and she sighed at the sight of a familiar handbag draped over the coat rack. "I am so done." she thought to herself as the realization hit.
"Is Arizona here?" Addison asked, clutching her backpack, her voice one of curiosity.
There, in the living room, stood Arizona, surrounded by unpacked boxes. Arizona looked up, a bright smile on her face, "You guys are finally home!" Isabella, once again just bursted into laughter as she put her backpack down and walked to her room, shaking her head, "I need someone to love me like that."
"Arizona, you're back! Again!" Addison smiled, completely unaware of the practically hostage situation they were under. After some small talk between Arizona and Addison, she walked off to her bedroom to begin homework.
Callie stood there with her arms crossed, trying to compose herselfl. "We need to talk, or maybe I need to talk." Arizona looked up, sensing the seriousness of Callie's tone.
"Get your shit out of my apartment, for the twentieth time! For God's sakes, have you never heard of the word "stability"? You don't just waltz in here and act like you own the place." She threw her hands up in the air and sighed. Arizona furrowed her brows. "Well, I do own the place.. but Callie, I came back for you guys, I want to be here, the girls want me to be here.. on some level, you do too."
"You never should've left in the first place." she shook her head, subtly glaring at Arizona. Arizona began defensively, but Callie just raised a hand. "Look, if you want to be here, don't just move in and start singing kumbaya."
Arizona and Isabella sat on the park bench together. "Callie's dating Mark?" The blond turned her head toward Isabella, breaking the silence.
The teenager shrugged, "I don't think so? They're friends, and they do their.. own things." She shrugged.
Her stomach dropped, obviously she had assumed they would go back to old ways.
It had always been Callie and Mark, a pair with no room for Arizona.
She nodded silently. Callie had chosen Mark's side in all their arguments, gone to him about every issue in their relationship.
They were just "best friends" which somehow outranked her role as girlfriend.
"I don't know, he's just been around. Addison likes him, I think he's alright." Arizona chuckled, at least someone was on her side. "I get it. Oh trust me, do I get it."
Callie fiddled nervously with her necklace, waiting for Mark to get out of the shower. Moments later, he emerges from the hallway, wearing a towel around his waist, his wet hair dripping down his face.
"Mark, there's something important I have to tell you." She began, her voice hinted with excitement and apprehension.
Mark, sensing the anxiety in her tone smiled, adjusting his towel as he stepped closer. "What's on your mind Torres, seeing a ghost or something?"
Her gaze met his, a mix of emotions raging inside her. "I'm pregnant Mark. It's your baby."
His eyes widened in surprise as she nervously braced herself for his reaction. Slowly, a grin spread across his face, "We're going to be great parents."
She nodded, a genuine smile on her face. "Yeah, we will be." She sighed, still smiling.
"Oh god, what am I going to tell Lexie.." Mark grimaced, just the thought of telling his on-off girlfriend made him sick.
"Just tell her the truth, quickly too. I mean, I can give you an out if that's what you want. "Cool Uncle Mark" isn't the worst thing ever." She laughed, looking at Mark's anxious facial expression.
"No, this kid is a-a part of me, my kid." He smiled, hugging her. "You're already cool with Addie and Bells, and I was pretty okay with Sloan, so I think we're qualified enough." He smirked, making coffee for the two of them as they discussed their exciting news.
Callie finally got home from work at 4:30am, shutting the door softly behind her. Mid-yawn, trying to go back to her room to get some much needed rest, Arizona appeared in front of her smiling.
"Are you ready to talk?" Arizona questioned, the cheery smile unwavering. She narrowed her eyes, partly from exhaustion, partly from not wanting to deal with any more of Arizona's crap.
"I- sure." She sighed, knowing the blonde wouldn't take no for an answer. They sat on the couch, looking at each other in awkward silence. Arizona's smile finally dropped, "I want to say some things, and I want you to listen. No storming out or saying that we're over ok?"
She nodded, then added, "Arizona, we aren't together, let me just make that clear." Arizona rolled her eyes a little before continuing. "Look, sue me but I'm mad you slept with another person. I know we're broken up, I know you're bisexual, it just hurts more that it was a man. Let alone the fact you're pregnant and now Addison look at him like a parent?"
"You think I planned this? No, but now I'm going to have a baby, let alone the other two. I have to plan a lot out, and I don't know how long I can give you to process or whatever. Arizona, I want you to be a part of that plan, I want us to be a family." She smiled, meeting Arizona's gaze. "But, are you in or out? I just need that."
"I.. I'm in." She sighed, before adding, "I still need time, I'm still mad."
"I get that, but there's only so much time to give ok? I missed you, Arizona." Arizona leaned her head on Callie's shoulder, "I'll take the girls to school ok? You go get some rest, I don't want anything happening to my baby."
"Our baby." The brunette added.
Arizona smiled, "Our baby."
Arizona was immediately greeted with a dish towel to the face when she tried to help out for dinner. "No one in my kitchen." The brunette called from inside. "Sheesh," the blond sighed, sitting at the kitchen island.
Isabella emerged from her room, clad in pajama pants and a large hoodie. "What are you guys doing?" She choked out through a yawn, stretching out.
"It's Thanksgiving." The blond grinned, setting plates down on the table. "You guys do Thanksgiving? Huh." Arizona cocked her head to the side, her jaw practically falling to the floor.
Some of the fondest memories she had with her family were Thanksgiving. Hunting with Tim and the Colonel, helping in the kitchen, and playing football with her cousins were extremely vivid in her mind. "You don't?"
Isabella shrugged. "Guess I do now." After a few minutes, the table was set and Addison joined them from the living room.
"What are you all thankful for?" Arizona asked, poking around her plate.
Addison piped up, "I'm thankful for my school, and family!"
She grinned proudly at Addison's innocence, trying to steer the conversation to a positive note. "What about you Bell?"
The teenager sighed, "All of you, thank you guys for everything you do for me and Addie."
"I'm thankful that our family is growing, again." Callie added, Isabella shot her a surprised smile, while Addison as per usual, was utterly confused. "Oh my god, congrats to you.. two?" Isabella laughed, Addison moving her gaze to each member of the table. She hugged Callie, still smiling until she told her sister, who shot up, a wide grin on her face.
"Are you serious! Yay!" She too hugged Callie, before sitting back down to start eating. "Boy or girl?" Bella questioned, to which Callie shrugged, "We don't know." The girls asked about a million questions for the rest of dinner.
The four sat on the couch, covered in blankets watching the parade. Callie requested they watch football, her home team of the Miami Dolphins playing, to which the other three declined.
"Football is fun to watch," she frowned. "Maybe if you're a 40 year old man, yeah?" Isabella chuckled, pointing at a float. "Hey, that one looks li-" Arizona pushed her hand down, shooting her a glare. "I dare you to finish that sentence."
Note: the thanksgiving bit is SO BAD. struggled sm with writing it, anyways ty for reading!
ps: moved homes (again), just trying to adjust for a few days, sorry for the inconvenience!