Title: Widow Robbins II
Author: captstarbuck and pensco_927
Rating: T
Disclaimers: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual. (I don't own any of the characters from Grey's Anatomy.
Author's Note: If you haven't read Widow Robbins, you should probably read that first or this won't make much sense. Chapters will be posted every 4 to 6 weeks, but they will be much longer than the chapters in Widow Robbins 1.
October 2006
It's funny how quickly life can change in an instant. Just over three months ago, Dr. Arizona Robbins was Widow Robbins, the new pediatric surgical fellow who had twin girls. Now, well she was still Widow Robbins with twin girls, but the widow moniker was used less frequently since she and Callie Torres started dating. Callie brought light, fun, and happiness to their lives that had been missing since her wife, Jillian's death.
However, it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows in the Robbins-Torres relationship.
"Eeyore? No. Absolutely not," Callie crossed her arms over her chest.
"Callie..."
"No. I'm not dressing up like some dumb donkey."
"Do you want to go trick-or-treating with us?"
"Yes."
"Then you have to wear a costume. End of story," Arizona insisted
"Why can't I be something else?"
She thought for a moment. "Well, there's Rabbit and Kanga, but you can't be Kanga because the girls would fight over who gets to be Roo."
"This is a dumb idea. Who decided this?" Callie grumbled with a scowl.
"The girls. They wanted Winnie-the-Pooh this year."
Callie dropped her arms in defeat. She was stuck. If the girls wanted to dress up as Winnie-the-Pooh characters and she wanted to take them trick-or-treating, then she was going to have to suck it up and wear a stupid costume. "Have you always done themes?"
"Sort of," Arizona admitted. "Last year, Vivvy was a princess and Cam was a knight. One year, they were still tiny, Jillian dressed them as two peas in a pod."
Callie's heart melted at the mental image. "Please tell me there's a picture somewhere."
"There are. Jillian took pictures of everything. She knew I would miss a lot due to my residency, but she wanted me to have the memories." Arizona sat on the edge of the bed facing away from her girlfriend as long buried emotions bubbled to the surface. "Can you please just think about it?" she questioned in a small voice.
Callie released a pent up breath when she realized how much Arizona's stance stemmed from feeling like a failure as a partner to her dead wife. "I'll think about it." she promised as she pulled back the covers and slipped between the sheets.
Arizona breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She switched off the light and crawled under the covers, laying on her side facing away from Callie.
Callie turned towards her and scooted to curve her body around her lover's, sliding an arm around her waist. She pressed a soft kiss to the back of Arizona's neck. "I love you."
"Love you, too"
October 31st, 2001 Seattle Presbyterian Hospital, the twins' first Halloween
Jillian Waters pushed a black twin baby stroller through the halls of the pediatric unit wearing a black sweater covered in orange pumpkins. She loved Halloween and couldn't wait until her girls were old enough to enjoy dressing up in costumes. She saw her wife standing at the nurse's station and called out to her. "Arizona!"
Arizona heard her name being called and was surprised to see her wife and newborn babies coming down the dark hallway. "Jill, honey, what are you doing here?"
"I haven't seen you in two days." she pressed a soft kiss to Arizona's lips. "I miss my wife." She stepped back to gesture towards the stroller. "And i wanted you to see the girls' outfits."
"I'm so sorry. Work has been crazy." She crouched over the stroller to peek at the sleeping girls. One wore an orange onesie with black pumpkins and the other wore a black onesie with orange pumpkins. "Awwww, they're so adorable." She ran her index finger over each of their chubby cheeks. The babies twitched but remained asleep. She stood and faced her spouse. "I'm almost done." She glanced at the thin watch on her wrist. "Should only be another hour, two tops."
Jillian pressed another quick kiss to her lips. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
October 31, 2002 Seattle Presbyterian, the twins' second Halloween
Jillian Waters pushed a double stroller encased in green poster board to look like a pea pod, the twins dressed completely in green. She wore a loose pair of overalls over an ill fitting red flannel with the sleeves rolled up and a wide straw hat. A gardener with her two peas in a pod. Her steps were slower, as though it took more effort to perform simple tasks. Once again, her wife was chit chatting at the nurse's station. "Arizona Charlotte Robbins!"
Arizona's head snapped up and her back straightened when she heard her full name. "Jill." she said in surprise. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
Jillian held up a hand. "Don't give me that. What are YOU doing here? WHY are you here? You've been working nonstop for two weeks, picking up extra shifts, working on your days off. Oh yes. I know about that. Do you honestly think I don't know your schedule?"
"Are you checking up on me?" Arizona crossed her arms defensively.
"I was trying to make plans for our family to spend time together because you keep bailing on special occasions. You were on call and got paged for Thanksgiving AND Christmas last year. Your surgery ran long on Valentine's Day. You didn't even give me an excuse for missing Easter. So yes, I called your boss to ask for a single day to spend with my wife and you wanna know what he told me? 'I give her days off. I can't keep her at home if she comes in on her days off.' "
"What do you want from me?" Arizona snapped.
Suddenly, Jillian's face and frail body morphed into Callie Torres. "I want us to have some privacy. Just us. With no kids. It's never just us. Not at work, not at your house."
"My house? What happened to it being home?"
"Do you really think I'm going to wear some dumpy Winnie-the-Pooh costume? You've lost your mind."
Arizona bolted into a seated position with a gasp, her heart racing. She looked around the bedroom. It was all a dream. Well mostly a dream. Some memories. She eased off the bed and gingerly walked down to the kitchen.
She grabbed a coffee mug, filled it with water and placed it in the microwave. Her mother would murder her for not boiling water in a kettle the "proper" way, but Arizona couldn't take the chance of waking the others in the household. She stopped the microwave at 2 seconds left to avoid the loud beep. She placed a bag of Sleepytime in the mug and allowed it to steep for several minutes.
Once her tea was ready, Arizona grabbed the mug and walked over to the patio doors to stare out at the moonlit backyard. She thought back to the past the dream had mangled. While it was true many holidays got cut short due to pages from the hospital, she was always present. Jillian had never accused her of being a workaholic.
She sipped her now cold tea. There had been an argument on Halloween when the girls were fourteen months old, though. Jillian wanted to return to work, but Arizona was against it, saying the girls needed the stability of a parent being at home, at least until they started school.
Arizona felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist as Callie nuzzled her neck sleepily. "Tiny coffins?" Callie asked quietly.
Arizona leaned into the support provided by her girlfriend and shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She heaved a heavy sigh and shook her head. "Ghosts."
# # # # # # # # # #
Teddy Altman looked across the cafeteria table at her friend. Arizona looked exhausted and there were dark circles under her eyes. She wasn't really eating her lunch, either. She was just pushing it around on her plate. "Wow, you look beat," Teddy commented as she sat across from her.
"Not getting enough sleep," Arizona said dismissively.
"Callie keeping you up all night?" Teddy inquired with a waggle of her eyebrows.
"No," she sighed.
Teddy's brows drew together in concern. "Something wrong?"
"I don't know. Maybe?"
Teddy leaned forward and lowered her voice. "You and Callie fighting?"
"No, not really. Just a disagreement about Halloween and it dredged up some old memories and gave me some weird dreams."
"Have you talked to Callie about it?"
"No."
"Maybe you should?" Teddy suggested.
"I… I don't think it's a good idea. Old memories of Jillian are not something I think she wants to hear about."
"Maybe let Callie make that decision."
"I don't know…" Arizona's voice trailed off warily.
"Arizona, it's affecting your relationship with Callie. Talk to her." Teddy leaned back in her chair and folded her slender arms across her chest. "Or you could talk to me first?"
Arizona looked back across the table at Teddy. They'd become close friends since almost the day Teddy joined the staff at Seattle Grace. Teddy had trusted her enough to tell her about her unrequited feelings for Owen, and she trusted Teddy enough to share some of her past with Jillian. Teddy had become like a sister to her, something she'd never had but had always wanted. "I think…I think I might be pushing Callie too hard."
"How so?"
"I kinda gave her an ultimatum about Halloween. I told her if she wanted to go trick-or-treating with me and the girls that she had to wear a costume." Arizona frowned. "And now I think she won't go with us. The way I put pressure on her…it sounded a little like something Jillian would've, no, actually did, say."
"And?"
"And Callie is not my wife. She's not the girls' other mother and it was wrong for me to insist that she wear a costume and trick-or-treat with us like she is. I know how hard it is for residents to get time off, especially Halloween. Lots of good, interesting trauma comes in and she won't want to miss it. At least, I didn't as a resident."
"I'm sure if you ask her she will."
"Callie has such a big heart that of course she would. But she shouldn't have to and I shouldn't ask her to. I'm sure she'd rather be working than go trick-or-treating in a costume she doesn't want to wear."
"You're kidding, right?" Teddy said with a chuckle. "Have you seen her with the twins? She'd rather be with those two than just about anything."
"I know, but it's… I think it's too much for her. I'm holding her back from enjoying her life with her friends."
"Arizona, Callie is an adult. I'm sure she's capable of deciding what she does and doesn't want or need. Talk to her."
"We're in such a good place though. I don't want to fight over this. I don't want to leave our pretty pink bubble."
"Trust me. You're going to want to pop that bubble."
"But it's so pretty and… and stress-free."
"Pop. The. Bubble. You can't always avoid conflict. Sometimes it's better to face the problem head on. If your relationship is fragile enough to fall apart over a Halloween costume, then it's not strong enough for the big issues that are going to come along later. Trust me, you want to figure that out now."
Arizona frowned and pushed her tray away as she mulled over her friend's comments for the rest of their lunch.
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie spotted a familiar head of red hair down the hall and quickened her pace to catch up to her friend.
"Addison!" she called out.
"Callie!" Addison Montgomery spun around and greeted her friend with a hug.
"When did you get here?" Callie asked, returning the hug.
"Last night. I thought I'd get some things settled here before I start on Monday."
"I'm so glad you're here," Callie smiled. "Where are you staying? Have you found a place?"
Addison grinned broadly at her friend's exuberance. "I'm staying at the Archfield temporarily until I find a place."
"The Archfield? Well, I'm going there with you after work and make sure you get the family discount." She saw Addison open her mouth to protest. "I insist." She linked her arm with Addison's as they walked down the hall. "Are you looking to buy or rent?"
"Rent first. My contract's only for a year to start. If it works out, then I'll sell my place in LA and look for something more permanent here."
Callie racked her mind for any prospective properties for her wealthy friend. "You know, there's a unit available in my building. It's up on the top floor. It's bigger than mine - maybe three bedrooms? I'm not sure. You should rent that."
"Well, it would be convenient to the hospital," Addison mused. "I don't need three bedrooms, though."
"Sure you do. You need the closets that come with the bedrooms for all those clothes you have," Callie said with a smirk.
"Funny," Addison couldn't find fault with Callie's logic, however.
"I'll get the info for you." Callie was almost giddy at having Addison as a sort of neighbor.
"So what have I missed while I've been in LA?" Addison asked.
"We have a new chief of cardio. Teddy Altman. You'll like her. She and Arizona have become good friends."
"Speaking of Arizona, anything you want to tell me, Callie?" Addison raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Callie blushed, and seeing the smile on Addison's face, became suspicious. "You know."
"Know what?" Addison questioned with faux innocence.
"About me and Arizona."
"What about you and Arizona?"
"Oh, c'mon, Addison. Don't play dumb with me. Who told you?"
"Who do you think?"
They both said "Mark" at the same time.
"Mark is a terrible gossip," Callie grumbled.
"I am an excellent gossip," Mark said as he came up behind them. "Addison, good to see you again," he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
Callie greeted him with a punch to his bicep.
"Hey! What did I do?" he asked, rubbing his arm and stepping away from the two women.
"You have a big mouth. Mark," Callie complained before turning her attention back to Addison. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"No, I was just thinking about heading down."
"Great."
"Will Arizona be joining us?" Addison asked as the trio headed for the elevator.
"No. She went to lunch with Teddy. I just got out of surgery and she's got one after lunch."
As the trio exited the elevator, they found Teddy and Arizona waiting to return to the surgical floor.
"Addison!" Arizona exclaimed brightly. "You're here. When do you start?"
"Monday."
"Addison, this is Teddy Altman, our new head of cardio," Arizona introduced the two doctors. "Teddy, this is Addison Montgomery, our soon-to-be head of Maternal-Fetal medicine."
The two women greeted each other, while Callie stood silently by Addison's side.
"Are you coming over tonight?" Arizona asked Callie timidly. She wasn't quite sure where they stood since their disagreement over the costumes.
"No. I have an early day tomorrow and I want to catch up with Addison tonight."
"Oh, okay" Arizona said simply, almost sadly, her disappointment palpable. She glanced at the heavy watch on her wrist. "Well, I have a surgery to get to. Welcome back, Addison," she said with false cheerfulness and without making eye contact with anyone as she stepped into the elevator.
"Well, that was awkward," Mark quipped as the elevator doors closed, taking Arizona and Teddy away.
"Shut up, Mark." Callie and Addison chorused.
"It was!" he insisted.
Once the trio had their food and were seated, Callie wondered aloud. "Did that seem weird to you? The way she blew me off."
Addison shook her head, silently wondering if they had witnessed the same interaction. "Uhhh Callie, you're the one who blew her off." Her friend scoffed in response, so she continued to elaborate. "She asked if you were coming over and you very abruptly said no."
"Why can't I have one night in my own bed?"
"No one says you can't, but you could have been nicer about it." Addison admonished gently.
Mark chose a different tactic. "Do you think she wants to break up with you?"
Callie scoffed once more. "What? No, but thanks for planting that idea in my head, you ass."
Addison shook her head. "I don't think that's it, Callie. She seemed genuinely disappointed that you weren't going over to her house tonight. Is there something else going on?"
Callie scowled at her plate and pushed it away. "It's…challenging dating a single mom. Especially one whose family is so enmeshed in her everyday life. There's no privacy. You're both exhausted all the time. And the Robbinses are perky. Constant, neverending bubbliness"
"Tried to warn ya." Mark took a bite of his apple in emphasis.
"Are you having second thoughts, Callie?" Addison asked.
"No! No, I'm not. It's just... She's acting all weird and distant. I keep finding her on the patio, staring at the backyard at all hours of the night." she explained. "And now, she insists I wear a Halloween costume if I go with her to take the girls trick or treating."
"Doesn't seem unreasonable." Mark responded with a shrug.
"I'm not seeing the issue, either." agreed Addison.
"Adults wearing costumes while trick-or-treating with kids. Who does that?"
"Adults with small children. I think it's sweet and very telling."
Callie drew her brows together in thought. "How so?"
"Arizona and the twins want you to be a part of their traditions. They're making you an important part of their family unit. It's sweet." Addison turned her attention to Mark. "So how's Lexie?"
Callie tuned out their conversation about Mark's romantic troubles with dating the much younger resident and considered the points Addison had made.
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie shifted her purse more comfortably on her shoulder as she waited for the elevator. She had come to the pediatric floor in hopes of finding Arizona, but her search had come up empty. Once the doors opened to reveal Teddy Altman dressed in her street clothes, she sighed a breath of relief. Maybe Arizona's work wife could help her figure out her relationship woes. "Evening, Teddy. Done for the day?"
Teddy nodded politely. "You?"
"Heading to Joe's." She shifted uncomfortably. "So…uh…you're Arizona's best friend…"
Teddy held up her hand. "I'm going to stop you right there. As Arizona's best friend, I'm not going to betray her confidence and tell you how to fix your relationship. A relationship, which I might add, doesn't need fixing." Her voice rose at the end of her statement. "You two just need to learn to talk to one another. Like grownups." She looked up at the ceiling. "Why are these elevators so damn slow? It's a hospital for God's sake. People have places to be."
"Hot date?"
"If only. Chinese takeout, a bottle of merlot, and my DVR."
As if on cue, the elevator doors opened and Callie rushed out, feeling thoroughly admonished. "Enjoy your night."
"You, too," Teddy responded. "And Torres," She waited for Callie to look at her. "Just talk to her."
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie entered the Emerald City Bar and looked around for her friends. She knew Mark planned to come after his shift ended and Addison planned to be there at some point. Surely, given the time, they were both there somewhere.
"Torres!" Mark's booming voice caused her head to whip in the opposite direction. She noticed him waving her to a corner booth where he was joined by both Addison and Lexie and worked her way through the crowd to join them. "About damn time you showed up."
"Sorry I'm late,"
"Surgery?"
"No, I went to Arizona's office to try to catch her before she left."
"Oh? Did it not go well?" Addison asked gently, noticing Callie's mood.
"Did she break up with you?" Mark put it bluntly.
"No, she did not break up with me," Callie answered.
"DId you break up with her?" Mark was relentless.
"No! Nobody's breaking up, okay? She was already gone by the time I got there." She looked around the bar. "I need a drink."
"I'll get it," Lexie offered. "I need a refill. Anyone else?"
The intern got everyone's drink orders and quietly went to the bar. Addison, sitting beside Callie, turned to face her friend, while Mark leaned forward across from her.
"So spill," Mark said. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just have a lot to think about."
"Things not going well in lesbianland?" Mark asked.
"Don't be an ass, Mark!" Addison sternly said. "Talk to us, Callie," Addison prodded her in a gentle voice. "Is this still about wearing a costume for Halloween?"
"Kind of."
"I don't get it. Why is the costume such a damned big deal, anyway?" Mark asked as Lexie returned with the drinks.
"I love Halloween." Lexie interjected as she slid the drinks to their owners. "Dressing up in costumes, pretending to be someone else for the day." She smiled brightly.
"You can dress up for me anytime." He winked lasciviously as he obviously glanced at her cleavage.
Callie rolled her eyes. "It's not just the costume, Mark. It's…"
"It's what?"
"I think Halloween is a big deal for their family. Arizona told me they have theme costumes and…"
"And what?" Addison wanted to roll her eyes. Getting Callie to talk was like pulling teeth.
"I feel like I'm replacing Jillian."
"Who's Jillian?" Lexie asked.
"Arizona's late wife," she explained, realizing that while Lexie may have known about Arizona's dead wife, she probably had never heard the name.
"Oh, no, Callie, I'm sure that's not it," Addison countered. "It's been three years."
"Everyone has their baggage," Lexie blurted. She pointed to Mark, "Manwhore". She pointed at Addison. "Serial cheater." Lastly, she pointed at Callie. "Insane jealousy," Callie opened her mouth to deny it. "No, no, George told me all about it," Lexie said, cutting Callie off before she could speak. "And while you had reason...good reason...you were always jealous of Izzie". The older surgeons bristled at Lexie's statement, however accurate it was, but said nothing. "Arizona's baggage is that she's a widow," Lexie continued. "Her dead wife is always going to be there in the background but Arizona deserves to forge a new life and it seems like she wants to do that with you."
Addison nodded in agreement with Lexie's last statement. "Arizona seems to be ready to take another step forward in your relationship with her, but what do you want? Do you want a future with her and the girls? Or is it too much too soon for you?"
"I - I don't know. I suppose so."
"Suppose so isn't good enough, Callie. Not when there are children involved. It's not just you and Arizona. It's you, Arizona and the twins." Addison reminded her.
"And if you're not, you could always just end it." Mark added.
Callie's patience with the plastic surgeon snapped. "Enough, Mark! I'm tired of you always trying to drive a wedge between me and Arizona. Since we got together…every time I try to tell you about my relationship…it's always asking if we're breaking up. I'm sick of it." She pointed at Lexie. "She just said that my issue is jealousy, but honestly, I'm beginning to think you're jealous of Arizona."
Lexie faced her older boyfriend. "Is that true?"
"It's not how it sounds," he protested.
Lexie rolled her eyes and stood. "It never is with you."
"Lex. Lexie, come on!" Mark slapped the table in frustration. "Now look what you've done. Wear the costume. You got a girl… one you love who loves you back. Wear whatever stupid costume she wants. Do whatever she wants. Just stop bitching about your relationship and making it seem like you don't appreciate what you've got." He angrily rose from the table and chased after Lexie.
"Trouble in paradise?" Addison asked.
"Probably," Callie said, picking up her drink. "Whenever he has problems with Lexie, he sticks his nose in my business."
"He does have a point," Addison commented.
"What? Breaking up?"
"No, not that, Halloween. I don't understand why you're so resistant to it."
"It's not just the costume. It feels… bigger? Like it's more than just a 'oh, hey, we're going trick-or-treating and here's your costume' . I don't know, Addison. I don't think it's a test, but there's something else."
"Then talk to Arizona, Callie."
# # # # # # # # # #
Arizona leaned against the back of the elevator. Surgery had not gone well and informing the parents had gone even worse. She opened her phone to see a text from her mom informing her that the girls wanted a sleepover. She typed up a response and hit send when the elevator doors opened to reveal Teddy.
"Why is it every time I see you this weekend you look like shit?" Teddy asked as she pressed the button for the floor she needed.
Arizona shrugged. "Gee thanks."
"I'm serious."
"Just a shitty weekend, I guess." Arizona responded forlornly.
Teddy pressed the button to stop the elevator's descent. "Alright, Robbins. Talk."
"Callie's pulling away from me."
"Are you sure it's not you who's pulling away?"
"She's the one who keeps turning me down every time I ask to spend time together away from the hospital." Arizona crossed her arms over her chest petulantly.
"Callie has a life separate from your relationship." Teddy pointed out. "Not everyone is capable of being, nor do they necessarily want to be, a parent overnight. You guys…your relationship… it's still new. You're still feeling things out. Callie is right to want to have some space from time to time. But you're never going to know if that's what this is unless you pop the damn bubble." She restarted the elevator.
"I hate you sometimes."
Teddy laughed and swatted her arm. "You love me."
Arizona scowled at her. "Maybe, but I still hate you right now."
"As someone once told me, it's 'cause I'm right and I'm awesome." Teddy said cheekily.
Arizona feigned hurt. "Using my own words against me?"
The doors opened and Teddy stepped off. "Pop the damn bubble, Arizona!"
Once the doors closed, Arizona pulled out her phone and quickly shot off a text to Callie asking her to come over that evening to talk.
# # # # # # # # # #
Arizona held open the door to her home. "Thanks for coming over."
"Where are the girls?" Callie asked from the doorway, looking around the living room.
"They're at my parents' house." Arizona was baffled by Callie's silence and that she was not making any attempt to come further into the room. She closed the door behind Callie and headed toward the sofa, hoping Callie would follow.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Callie blurted out.
"What?" Arizona spun around. "No!" she exclaimed emphatically. "Why do you think that?" she asked. A small trickle of fear went down her spine as she wondered if Callie wanted to break up with her.
"I… you asked me over to talk."
"Talking is not breaking up," Arizona said firmly. "Have a seat. Would you like a glass of wine?"
"We need wine for this talk?" Callie asked, nervously shifting her weight from one leg to the other and back again.
"Not really. I just thought you might like a glass."
"I'll have a glass if you are," Callie answered, sitting on the edge of the sofa. She noticed what appeared to be a photo album sitting on the coffee table.
Arizona briefly left the room, returning with two glasses of wine. She handed Callie a glass of red and then set her own glass of white down on the end table after taking a large sip.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Callie asked as tonelessly as possible.
"I owe you an explanation, Calliope." Callie opened her mouth to speak, but Arizona quickly cut her off. "I need to tell you some things, and I need you to listen. Can you do that for me?"
Callie nodded. "I can try."
"Do you remember when we were discussing Halloween costumes?" Callie scoffed but said nothing. "When I told you about the girls dressed as peas in a pod when they were younger, well, it triggered some memories for me. I've been having some weird dreams since then. They're like memories, only twisted up with some made up thoughts, and they've left me unsettled." Arizona took another sip from her wine glass. "And they got me thinking about us, and the pressure and expectations I put on you."
"Arizona - "
"Callie, let me finish." Arizona paused for a moment. "I think I might be projecting my failings as a parent onto you."
"What do you mean?" Callie shifted and curled one leg under her so she could face her girlfriend. "And you are not a failure as a parent."
"Halloween was always a big deal for Jillian. She really enjoyed it and when we found out she was pregnant with twins, she couldn't wait. She had lists of ideas. I didn't… I couldn't get so invested in it. I was a new intern, and then a resident. I was always at work, always chasing traumas and surgeries." Callie nodded understandingly. She remembered what it was like during the first two or three years of residency. "And I missed holidays or special days because I was working or on call. I tried to be as present as possible when the girls were younger. Every spare moment I had, I tried to spend it with the girls but work always seemed to come first, and dressing up for Halloween wasn't a priority then."
Callie remained silent, knowing there was more that Arizona wanted to share. She studied her girlfriend's face. She had a far-off look in her eyes and she seemed sad. She almost wanted to tell Arizona that she didn't have to say any more, but stopped herself.
Arizona reached for a photo album, The front was marked "Halloween" in neat handwriting. As she flipped through a few pages, Callie caught a glimpse of a younger Arizona with another woman that she assumed was Jillian.
"The twins were just about ten weeks old for their first Halloween," Arizona said, leaving the album open to one page. "There really isn't a lot you can do for costumes when they're that little, but Jillian managed to come up with something."
Callie smiled at the photos of the tiny twins, one wearing a black onesie with orange pumpkins and the other wearing the reverse. Arizona stood behind them with an orange t-shirt with black pumpkins pulled over her scrub shirt. Beside her was Jillian, wearing the reverse of Arizona's shirt. It was the first photo of Jillian that Callie had seen, other than the one in the girls' room. JIllian was attractive, very attractive. She was a little bit taller than Arizona, slender with blue eyes and light brown, almost blonde hair. Callie was oddly relieved that she and Jillian were very different in looks, but disconcerted by the resemblance to Teddy Altman.
"I of course was working, but Jillian stopped in to the hospital where I quickly put on a shirt for a few snapshots." She turned the page, "The next year, they were fourteen months."
Callie's smile widened when she saw the twins dressed all in green inside their "pea pod" stroller. She couldn't get over how adorable they were. She even smiled at Jillian's farmer's outfit. Arizona was still in her scrubs. "They are so cute," Callie commented.
"I did manage to get away for a few hours for trick-or-treating but then went back to the hospital to work an overnight shift."
Despite the smile on her face, Callie could see how tired Arizona looked. She noticed the difference in Jillian from year to year as well. "Was Jillian sick?"
Arizona stared intently at the picture, hoping to glean some clues. "Honestly I don't know. At first I thought the weight loss was just Jillian getting back to pre-baby weight. But more came off and she was tired a lot. I see it more now looking back at pictures but at the time, I didn't notice it. I just assumed it was postpartum stuff." She frowned. "I beat myself up for a long time, thinking I'd missed something. I even talked to Erica about it." She shook her head. "You and I both know that with a triple A there's often no warnings." She turned a few pages, pausing first to let Callie see the remaining photos of the girls in their pea pod. "And then there was the year after they turned two."
Callie looked carefully at the photos. Arizona's brother Tim was holding the handle to a wagon made to look like a tank and the girls were sitting in it. They were wearing camouflage tops and pants with little camo hats. Tim was wearing something similar.
"I was a mess that year. Jillian had been gone for about two months and I was not handling it at all. Halloween was the very last thing on my mind. It was all I could do to get out of bed to go to work." She turned the page to show one of her and Tim with the girls. "Tim surprised me two days before Halloween. He had used what little leave he had to come see me and help me out." She pointed to a photo of the girls trying to salute. "Tim was shocked that I wasn't doing anything for Halloween. He and my parents immediately went to work. They used some old uniforms of my dad's and sewed together little BDUs for the girls." She smiled sadly at the photo. "I think Tim and Dad spent hours trying to teach the girls how to salute." She chuckled. "Which they promptly forgot how to do the next day."
"He sounds like a great guy."
Arizona smiled sadly. "He was. He was the best brother anyone could ever want." She sighed heavily, as she mentally beat herself up over her actions. "He stayed for a week and helped me get my shit together, then he went back to Iraq." She turned the page. "The next two years it was just me and the girls, and I made a point to be home to take them, even if it meant going back to work afterwards."
"What in the world?" Callie said when she saw the next year's photos. Cam and Vivvy were dressed in navy blue with badges and police officer's hats, while Arizona was wearing black and white striped top and pants; clearly she was the prisoner.
"Don't ask. It was my dad's idea. I had no idea until I came home and had to put it on. I ended up wearing it to work, actually." She chuckled softly recalling how surprised everyone had been at the hospital when she'd come back wearing that outfit.
'
Callie laughed, then laughed harder when she saw the photos from last year. Cam was dressed as a knight, complete with a helmet (which looked to be her bike helmet covered in tin foil) and sword made from an empty tube of cardboard. Vivvy was dressed as a princess, a crown atop her head. What made Callie laugh even harder was Arizona dressed as a dragon. "Oh my God. A dragon?" she asked incredulously. If she hadn't seen it, she wouldn't have believed it.
Arizona rolled her eyes. "Yes. Mom was feeling rather creative last year."
"Wow. We never had anything creative like that when Aria and I were kids," she said, a trace of envy in her voice.
"It was cute and funny until Cam decided she had to slay the dragon and kept whacking me with her sword."
"I don't have any problem imagining Cam doing that," Callie said with a laugh.
Arizona set the photo album back on the coffee table. "The point I'm trying to make is that Halloween is a big deal for me with the girls. It doesn't have to be for you. We just wanted to include you. If you want to come with us, great. If you want to wear a costume, there's one ready for you. If you don't, that's okay. I'm not forcing you into anything, and I don't want to put any pressure on you."
Callie hesitated. This seemed to be a momentous step for them and she wasn't sure she was ready to take it. She loved the girls, and she loved Arizona, but this seemed like it was something deeper. This seemed to be taking a further step into their family. "Can I think about it?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Just let me know either way the day before."
"I will."
They both leaned back, wine glasses in hand. They sat in silence for a few minutes, each caught up in their own thoughts.
"Tell me about Jillian," Callie said softly.
"What do you want to know?"
"Whatever you want to share. Maybe start from the beginning?"
"Why?"
"I just think it's important to know about her. She was important to you and to the girls."
"I will tell you, Calliope, but then I don't ever want to talk about her again this way. I want to move forward with my life and the girls' lives. Not be stuck in the past."
Callie reached across the cushions and took Arizona's hand. "You don't have to tell me anything."
Arizona took another sip from her glass before she started speaking. "I met Jillian in the summer after my first year of medical school," she began. "Did I ever tell you that one of my roommates was Derek Shepherd's little sister?" Callie shook her head. "I never met him back then, but I'd heard enough about him from Amelia."
"Small world," Callie commented.
Arizona nodded. "Anyway, I met Jillian. We hit it off the moment we met. We talked for hours at the party. She was really smart, like scarily smart. She was working on her PhD in biochemical engineering. I was actually a little in awe at how intelligent she was."
"Don't sell yourself short," Callie said. "You're smart, too."
"Thank you, Callie," Arizona accepted the compliment with a smile. "We didn't date at first, at least not right away. We met for coffee and lunch and sometimes we went out for a drink. We just kind of fell into dating. We spent all of our time together, as much as we could with our busy schedules anyways. I'd go over to her apartment - she lived alone - so I could study where it was quiet."
She finished off her wine before continuing. "I guess I knew it was serious when I brought her home for Christmas. Jillian was an only child and her parents had died two years before we met so she didn't have any place to go."
"Did your parents like her?"
"My dad didn't, not at first. He thought she was too intense, but he came around eventually. It helped that her grandfather served in the Army. Mom liked her, though and Tim did, too. Then again, Tim liked everyone, except for a couple of girls I dated in college," she said with a smile. "I didn't move in with her until the end of my second year. Jillian had defended her thesis and got her doctorate. She began a research position at Johns Hopkins while I finished medical school." She turned to face Callie. "I think you would've liked her, Callie. She was funny, smart, and warm with her friends."
"Maybe under different circumstances. I think I'd have been jealous of her." she confessed.
Arizona chuckled softly. "She would've been jealous of you, that's for sure."
"It sounds like you had a wonderful life together," Callie said a little begrudgingly.
"Most of the time it was," Arizona said wistfully. "Don't get the wrong impression, though," she added. "We had our problems like every couple."
"How, when did you decide to have kids?"
"Right after Christmas after we had been living together for about six months, Jillian got baby fever. She was a few years older than I and had completed her studies so she was all in on having kids. I was, to say, somewhat resistant to the whole idea."
"You didn't want kids?" Callie asked, shocked. Arizona was a natural at being a mom.
"Not then. I still had another year and a half of med school and then residency in my future. I couldn't imagine trying to do all of that while having kids."
"What happened? Obviously you have the twins."
"We argued. A lot. At one point we almost broke up. I even went and stayed with Amelia for a few days." Arizona wished she had refilled her glass of wine. "We decided that it wasn't worth breaking up over, and made a plan. Jillian was very persistent and persuasive."
"What was the plan?"
"Jillian would get pregnant first, and carry my egg and then when I finished residency, I would carry her egg." She sighed. "So, we started the process. Well, Jillian did all the work finding a fertility specialist and a sperm bank. I helped with picking out a donor, and the summer before my last year of med school, I had my eggs harvested. We never thought it would take the first try and that we'd have twins." She shrugged her shoulders. "The rest, as they say, is history."
"And now you've got two wonderful little girls," Callie said.
"That I do." Arizona played with a loose string on the couch cushion. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
Callie shook her head. "I already know the rest of that story. I think that's enough about Jillian." She glanced at the clock on the mantle. "I should probably head out."
Arizona's brows drew together in hurt confusion. "Are you sure you don't want to stay? The girls are staying with my parents tonight." she reminded her.
Callie leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I would stay every night if I could, but I think tonight we both need some space."
"Okay." Her tone was disappointed as she averted her gaze.
Callie pressed a kiss to her temple and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "I love you."
"Love you, too." she responded automatically. Arizona watched her rise from the couch and head to the door. "Text me when you get home." Callie nodded in response and let herself out of the house. Arizona stood and walked over to the living room window in time to see Callie pull out of her driveway. I don't get it. She's been on a kick lately about wanting us to have time together without the kids and when we have it, she leaves. She asked about Jillian and I told her. What am I missing? Unfortunately, the answer never came as she replayed the evening continuously throughout her restless night.
# # # # # # # # # #
Arizona held a mask over her face and stepped into the OR. "You paged?"
"Yes," Addison said, not looking up from her patient. "Scrub in. I need a second pair of hands. I have to do an emergency C-section and the baby's in distress."
Arizona rushed back to the scrub room where she vigorously scrubbed. A scrub nurse was waiting for her once she re-entered the OR. She was quickly gowned and gloved.
"Have you notified NICU?" Arizona asked, stepping up to the table.
"Just did."
The two women worked as a well-oiled machine, seeming to read each other's thoughts and actions as they operated. A casual observer would think that they'd been working together for years, and not just a few weeks several months ago.
Once the mother and son were safely in post-op with no complications, the pair of surgeons took a moment to breathe deeply and relax the tension that they'd ignored while operating.
"Thanks, Arizona. Nice job," Addison commented as they scrubbed out.
"You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to work with you. I'm glad you're back and I look forward to more cases together."
"How are things?" Addison asked. She hadn't seen Arizona since she first returned to Seattle Grace four days ago and hadn't caught up with the peds fellow yet.
Arizona knew Addison had been talking to Callie so her first thought was that Callie might have said something. "What did Callie say?" she answered with a question.
"I asked about YOU...not your relationship," Addison replied.
Arizona blushed, feeling foolish. She felt as if Addison were a school girl asking a friend about her crush. "Well, I've been busy with my fellowship and of course, the twins," she said lamely.
Addison gave her a pointed look. "Let's go get a cup of coffee. I am in desperate need of at least one cup." They walked in companionable silence to the coffee cart. Once they had their drinks, she led them to a nearby bench. "I caught up with Callie Friday. Now I want to catch up with you," Addison gave Arizona a kind smile and decided to open with an easier topic, one that she was sure Arizona would be comfortable with. "So how are the girls?"
"In kindergarten and loving it," Arizona said with a smile. She loved that Cam and Vivvy liked school as much as they did. Every day it was something new that they wanted to share, be it something they learned, some new activity or something one of their friends did.
"And Callie and the girls?"
"A few bumps along the way," Arizona chuckled. "Mostly just misunderstandings," she said as she remembered the mixup with the Disney movies. "But she's great with them."
Addison took a long sipe from her coffee. She decided to change the topic again. "Richard tells me Kenley is talking about retiring soon, maybe next year, and wants to make you his replacement."
Arizona felt her face flush. "Wow! I had no idea those kinds of talks were taking place. I mean, I've barely a few months into my fellowship. I'm not ready to be head of the department."
"Seems like you make an impression with everyone you meet."
"Guess so." Arizona sipped her coffee. "But you don't want to know about work."
Addison reached over and touched her arm. "I know a lot has changed in the months that I've been gone. I'm checking in to see how my friend is handling it all."
"I don't want to put you in a position of choosing sides between what's going on with me and Callie. She's been your friend longer."
"I can be friends with both of you and remain impartial. My lips are tighter than Fort Knox." She made a motion of zipping her lips and throwing away a key.
Arizona considered Addison's words. When she'd spoken to Addison about Jillian when they first worked together, she hadn't told Callie. "Sometimes I think it's all moving too fast, and that my expectations are too much for Callie." She sighed. "Don't get me wrong. Callie has been wonderful to me and the girls, but I feel like she's pulling back sometimes." She sipped from her coffee cup. "I keep forgetting that she has a life outside of me and the girls. For so many years, I've only had my work and my family. Callie has so much more in her life."
"I think Callie has proven she has enough room in her life, and her heart, for you and the twins." Addison set her now empty cup down. "It is a lot to go from being single to being in a relationship with someone who has a child."
"And I've got two."
Addison nodded. "Even as baby crazy as I am, I don't think I could jump into a relationship with someone the way Callie has. She adores those girls."
"She does."
"And even though it sounds like you're ready to take another big step forward, Callie might need a little more time."
"You're probably right."
"In any case, just talk to her." Addison shook her head. "You two need to communicate better instead of just assuming you both know what the other is thinking or feeling." Addison's pager went off. "I've got to go," she said, patting Arizona's knee before getting up from the bench. "Think about it and talk to your girlfriend."
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie hadn't seen much of Arizona the past few days and she needed to see her. Their schedules had been completely out of sync and it had been over a week since their argument about the costumes and several days since they'd spent the evening discussing Arizona's past relationship. Callie missed her and she missed the girls. Going to bed alone and waking alone night after night was not what it was all cracked up to be. Maybe a little time apart was what they, no, she had needed to appreciate what she had with Arizona, Vivvy and Cam.
She'd thought long and hard about her conversation with Addison Mark - and even Lexie, the other night. No, she didn't want to just be friends with Arizona. She couldn't go back to that. Was she ready to be even more involved, more a part of the family? Yes. She loved Arizona, was in love with her, and she loved Cam and Vivvy. I'm ready, she thought. I'm ready to deepen the relationship with Arizona and her family. It's what I really want.
With a decision made, Callie was now on a mission to find her girlfriend. She needed to tell her she was all in, and not just for Halloween. She was all in for everything. As she rounded the corner on the surgical floor, she stopped. Arizona and Teddy were standing close together and laughing. Callie instantly remembered how Teddy somewhat resembled Jillian and her jealousy flared up, then she remembered Lexie's words about her jealous nature. Arizona is NOT George and Teddy is NOT Izzie - or Jiilian, she kept telling herself. Her jealous thoughts soon vanished when she was greeted by a dimpled smile. "Hey," she said, smiling back. "You got a minute?" She glanced over at Teddy, then looked back at Arizona. "Privately?"
"For you, I can spare more than a minute," Arizona flirted back. "Where?"
"Your office?"
Arizona gestured for Callie to lead the way. Callie entered the small room first. As soon as Arizona closed the door, she pressed her against it. "Oh!" Arizona's exclamation of surprise was muffled by Callie's lips on hers kissing her deeply. Feeling breathless, she reluctantly brought their kiss to an end and she rested her forehead on Callie's. "Wow…ummm…wow! What brought that on?" She smiled. "Not that I'm complaining."
Callie pressed a quick kiss to her lips and stepped back, straightening her lab coat. "I missed you," she said matter of factly.
Arizona felt her heart melt a little. "I missed you, too."
Callie glanced at her watch. "I don't have much time, but I wanted to tell you I'm in."
"In what?"
"For trick-or-treating. And.. I'll wear the Eeyore costume."
"Really?"
Callie replied in a deep Scottish accent. "Really really."
Arizona smiled widely. "That's Shrek. He was an ogre. He did have a donkey companion though."
She took her voice lower and slower. "I know."
Arizona laughed and pointed at her with both index fingers. "That's the one!"
Callie laughed and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "You're lucky I love you." She opened the door and walked past her.
Arizona watched her walk down the hall. "Don't I know it," she said to herself.
# # # # # # # # # #
"I'm not late, am I?" Callie asked as she walked through the front door after a quick knock. Even though Arizona had told her that she didn't need to knock, she still felt funny about just walking it.
Barbara gave Callie a welcoming smile. She was pleased to see that she and Arizona had worked out whatever differences they had. "Right on time," she said. "Costume's upstairs on the bed. Arizona's in the bathroom putting on the last of Cam's makeup."
"Hi, Callie!" Vivvy called out with a wave. She was seated on the sofa and looked to be ready for trick-or-treating. She was wearing pink tights and a pink top with a purple sleeveless top layered over. She had a hood pulled up with small pink "pig ears" attached. Her face was pink and the tip of her nose was a dark pink.
"Hi, Piglet," Callie said with a smile as she headed for the stairs.
"I'm not Piglet, I'm Vivvy!" she giggled.
"Wow, that's a very good costume, Vivvy. I thought Piglet was sitting on the couch."
"You're silly," Vivvy said with another burst of giggles.
Callie hurried up the stairs, stopping at the bathroom door when she reached the top. Arizona was kneeling with her back to Callie and she was putting the finishing touches to Cam's face. Callie could see that Arizona was already in costume - a brownish bear costume and a red shirt over it. She noted the hood with ears that was currently down. The young girl was wearing tiger striped tops and bottoms with the front having a large yellowish patch. A tail stuck out from the back and she had a hood with tufted ears on it.
"Hi, Callie!"
"Hold still, Cam, I'm almost done," she ordered.
"Is that Cam?" Callie asked. "I thought it was Tigger."
Cam hopped up and down and said, "Boingy Boingy Boingy!"
"Cam!" Arizona said firmly. "You need to stand still." A few more spots and the makeup job was finished. "All done," she said standing up. "Go join Vivvy. We'll be down in a few minutes."
Cam hopped down the hall and then the stairs, her "Boingy Boingy Boingy" echoing off the walls. Arizona laughed and turned around. As soon as Callie saw her makeup, she burst out laughing. "Well, hey there, Pooh," she teased.
"Don't be so cocky, Callie, you need to go get changed or we'll be late."
"Yes, ma'am!" she snapped off a salute.
"Your salutes still need work," Arizona said, following Callie into the master bedroom, a room she privately now considered theirs.
"Well, maybe you can give me some private lessons some time," Callie flirted.
"I'm sure that can be arranged, but right now, you need to change," she said, picking up the outfit from the bed.
"Do I have to do makeup, too?" Callie whined as she pulled her shirt over her head.
"Not enough time. You lucked out." When Callie stepped out of her pants and stood there in her bra and panties, Arizona swallowed hard. It occurred to her that it had been too long since she'd seen this much of Callie, a nearly naked Callie. If she hadn't been wearing her own ridiculous Winnie-the-Pooh costume, she would've tackled Callie onto the bed. "Hurry up," she choked out. "Do you have a pair of comfortable shoes?" she asked, heading for the walk-in closet.
"I think I left a pair of sneakers in there last time I was here," Callie said, pulling on the gray-blue pants, then the top. The front had a purplish spot, and the hood had a mane made of black yarn and two floppy ears. Barbara really knows how to craft these costumes, she thought.
"Here, put your shoes on," Arizona said as she handed Callie her sneakers.
"I look ridiculous." Callie whined.
"No, you don't, and the girls will love it."
"Fine," she grumbled. "All set," she stood up after putting her shoes on.
The girls were waiting at the bottom of the stairs for them, and when they saw Callie and their mommy, they clapped and grinned.
"Oh, my goodness! Look at you all!" Barbara exclaimed.
"Are you joining us, Barbara?" Callie asked, wondering why she didn't have a costume on.
"Oh, no, dear. I hand out the treats at this house and Daniel hands them out at our house." She picked up her camera. "Now everyone smile for the picture!"
The four of them posed several different ways and in several combinations before Barbara was satisfied with the photos she'd taken.
"Can we go now?" the girls asked as one.
"Yes. Do you have your bags?"
"Yes, mommy," they said, each holding up a pillow case.
"Don't forget to stop and show Grandpop your costumes."
"We won't."
"Do you remember the rules?" Arizona said when they stepped out onto the front porch.
"Uh huh. No running ahead."
"Never go to a door without you or Callie."
"Stay on the sidewalk."
"Look both ways before crossing the street."
"And hold your hand or Callie's hand before crossing."
"And?" Arizona prompted them.
"Always say 'thank you'!"
"Good girls."
They stepped down from the porch, the girls holding hands with one another and walking just a few paces in front of Callie and Arizona.
"When was the last time you went trick-or-treating?" Arizona asked.
"I don't know. Maybe fifteen or twenty years ago."
"Ever attend any parties where you had to dress up?"
"In med school I went to one where we had to wear a costume."
"Oh? What did you wear?"
"I went as Xena."
"Hot," Arizona murmured. "I'd love to have seen that."
"Y'know, too bad you weren't there. You would've made a good Gabrielle." Arizona made a face. "The hot Gabrielle, the warrior one."
"Hmm. Maybe."
"Well, if we ever have to go to a party where we dress up, we should consider that."
"I don't know if I want anyone else to see Hot Xena Callie."
Callie laughed. "And maybe I wouldn't want anyone to see the Hot Gabrielle Arizona showing off her abs."
"Quite the dilemma then."
"And it's kind of weird to be talking about hot Halloween costumes while we're dressed as Winnie-the-Pooh and Eeyore."
"Good point."
After stopping at a few houses, they approached Barbara and Daniel's house. They could hear the spooky music before they even reached the driveway. A large web was attached from the porch to the yard, a big hairy spider attached to it. A 'dancing' skeleton stood sentinel by the walkway and three witches were huddled over a cauldron in the center of the yard. Calllie's jaw dropped when a ghost soared past their heads, then another. "What the -"
"Little ears, Calliope."
"How did he do that?" she asked as the ghosts flew overhead again.
"He and Tim devised some sort of motorized pulley system that runs lines from the house to the trees." She rolled her eyes. "My dad goes a little overboard when it comes to holiday decorating."
"It's great."
"The girls enjoy it," Arizona said with a shrug of her shoulders. "My mom, not so much. Why do you think she volunteers to hand out treats at my house?"
"I would've thought your mom would be all in on the decorating, especially with how good she is at making costumes."
"Costumes are one thing. Making the house a "spectacle", in her words, is too much."
The girls were allowed to run ahead to their grandpop, Arizona and Callie trudging up behind them. Daniel greeted them with a big smile.
"Trick-or-treat!" Cam and Vivvy shouted.
"Well, look at you. Great costumes, girls," he said, throwing a wink Callie's way.
"I'm Tigger!"
"And I'm Piglet!"
"And Mommy's Winnie-the-Pooh!"
"And Callie is Eeyore!"
"You look just like them," he said, reaching into the bowl of candy. He dropped several pieces into the girls' pillow cases, much to Arizona's disapproval. "They're my granddaughters," he defended himself. 'I can spoil them."
"Thank you, Grandpop!" the girls said.
"You're welcome."
"Let's go, Mommy!"
"We have lots more houses to go to!"
# # # # # # # # # #
An hour or so later, Cam and Vivvy were sitting on the living room floor, going through their haul from the trick-or-treating. They were currently engrossed in trading candy back and forth. Cam hated anything with coconut and Vivvy didn't like anything sour.
Callie desperately wanted a glass of wine or a bottle of that craft beer that was sitting in the refrigerator but drinking while dressed as Eeyore was even too much for her. She had to admit that she'd had fun with Cam and Vivvy, even having to wear a costume. It felt nice being a part of their family one more time.
"Just a few more minutes, girls, then it's time to get the makeup off your faces and out of your costumes," Arizona said.
The girls reluctantly put their candy away into their separate pillow cases and handed them to Arizona. She would stash it away to keep them from overindulging in the sweets. She set it temporarily on the island in the kitchen and led the girls upstairs, Callie following.
"Did you have fun tonight?" Arizona asked as she began to wipe the makeup off Vivvy's face, Callie doing the same with Cam.
"Yes."
"We got lots of candy!" Cam added.
"You did."
"I'm glad you were with us, Callie," Vivvy said.
"I'm glad, too. I had fun."
"It was the best Halloween ever," Vivvy said.
"Okay, let's get you out of your costumes and into pajamas," Arizona said when the makeup had been removed. "You have school tomorrow so it's straight to bed tonight."
The girls for once didn't protest. It had been an exciting night for them. Pajamas on and teeth brushed, the girls climbed into bed. Goodnights were made and they quickly fell asleep.
"I'm gonna get my makeup off," Arizona said. "I'll be right down if you want to get us both a drink."
"Beer or wine?"
"I think a beer would taste good tonight."
"That's what I was thinking," Callie agreed. "I'm gonna get out of this costume first. I'll meet you downstairs."
After changing into a pair of comfy sweatpants and an oversized long sleeved t-shirt, Callie went downstairs. She grabbed two bottles of beer and then settled down on the sofa to wait for Arizona. She sipped her beer and thought about the evening's activities. She did have a good time, and she wondered why she had been so resistant to being with the Robbins family.
When Arizona came down stairs, Callie hid her disappointment. Arizona's face was freshly scrubbed free of makeup, but she was still wearing her Winne-the-Pooh costume. "Um, aren't you going to take off your costume?" she asked.
Arizona picked up the bottle of beer Callie had set out for her, but remained standing. "Well, since you've been a good sport about Halloween, Callie, I have a special treat for you."
"Okay?"
"I couldn't just walk down stairs without wearing the Pooh Costume, because what I have on underneath, just for you, well, it wouldn't be appropriate."
"Are you wearing something naughty?" Callie's eyes twinkled at the thought.
Arizona nodded. "Uh huh."
Callie grinned, thinking about what Arizona could be wearing. "Well, I think we should go upstairs and get you out of that bear outfit and show me some bare Arizona," she said, quickly getting up from the sofa.
"While I appreciate the sentiment, don't give up your day job, Calliope," Arizona teased as she headed up the stairs.
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie parked her car in the driveway. There was no point in parking in the garage. She couldn't stay long; she was working the overnight shift. Arizona knew that but asked her to stop over before work as there was something important to show her. At first she was worried about Arizona's request, but quickly dismissed it. Arizona had sounded like her cheery self.
"Knock, knock," Callie said, knocking once before opening the door.
Arizona, Cam and Vivvy were sitting on the sofa together. Arizona was holding something but as soon as Callie approached, quickly tucked it away.
"Hi. Callie," the girls said with a smile. They were always happy to see her.
"Hi mini Robbins," she greeted them back, adding a kiss to the top of their heads.
"Hi, Calliope. I'm glad you were able to stop by."
"I don't have much time," she admitted, then gave Arizona a quick kiss, ignoring the looks the girls gave her when she did. "What's up?"
"Have a seat," Arizona said, patting the cushion beside her. Once Callie was settled, Arizona handed her the Halloween photo album. "The girls and I agreed that you should get to pick the first picture from this year's Halloween to put in the album."
"Really?"
Arizona nodded as the girls handed Callie a small stack of photos from the night. "You get to pick first, then the girls get to pick, and then I get to pick."
Callie carefully went through the photos. She liked all of them, but she kept going back to one where the four of them were standing together, the girls in front of them. All of them had big smiles. "I pick this one," she said, handing it to Arizona.
"Hold on to it," Arizona said, opening up the album. She flipped to the page titled '2006'. "Okay, you can put it in, Callie."
Callie carefully placed the photo in the slot. Cam and Vivvy picked through until they found two pictures of the two of them standing together. Those photos went in next, with an assist from Arizona.
"Which one are you going to pick, Arizona?" Callie asked.
"This one." From behind her back, she pulled out a candid photo that Barbara had taken without their knowledge. It was just the two of them, smiling at one another and looking like they were about to kiss.
"That's a great shot. If I wasn't dressed like Eeyore, I'd ask for a copy to hang in my locker."
"We'll have more photos in the future for you to choose from where you're not dressed like Eeyore," she promised before giving Callie another kiss.
"How many more can we choose, Mommy?"
"Two each for the next page."
The girls passed the photos back and forth, trying to decide which ones they liked best. Arizona leaned her head against Callie's shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Calliope," she whispered.