I'm back from Japan!
The chapter is here. I hope you'll like it. It was not corrected, so it must be full of mistake. They are all mine.
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Travis and his sister were quietly settled at the kitchen table, not really sure about what was going on. They were listening to their grandmother rant about the reason their Mama was at their Mommy's place that morning and they weren't really understanding it.
They were just happy to cuddle with her and to see her. And so was Callie.
Arizona wasn't there. Barbara had tried to make her come to the table earlier, but the blonde had close her door and wasn't answering her phone.
So Barbara didn't want to worsen the situation and she had let her be. She was focusing on on her grand kids and her ex daughter in law for the moment, trying to make the children believe her little lies about Callie's presence.
« Isn't that exciting ? You'll have both your mommies every day... for a while... » Barbara smiled, stroking Travis hair.
« But for how long ? » Olivia asked as she get on her mother lap.
« I don't know ? » Callie mumbled, looking at Barbara.
And it was true. She had let the older woman convince her to stay at Arizona's place but was it really a good idea?
Arizona seemed not okay with it, looking at her behaviour. She hadn't speak to Callie and was clearly avoiding the family this morning.
« For as long as she need to. » Barbara reassured the brunette. « She's home here too, right ? »
« Yay ! » Olivia beamed at her grandmother words, hugging her mother tightly.
« But it doesn't make any sense. » Travis said. « You're telling us you're here because the house is going to be repainted ? But we already repainted the kitchen and the living room last summer, and we didn't have to leave home during the construction works. So why would we have to do it this time ? And where is Penny ? »
« I... She... » Callie mumbled, freaking out immediately at her son discernment.
« She's out of town for a few days, right Callie ? » Barbara helped her.
« Right ! » Callie noded. « She's... She went to another hospital to... to learn other things and … that's it. »
Travis looked at her and knitted his brow. He wasn't really buying the story, but he was above all thrilled about the outcome of that situation.
« Ok... » the boy simply stated, finishing his pancake as Barbara stood up.
« So, it's time to go. I'm going to drive you to school. » she said. « And then i'm going to the park with this little one. She loves spending time with her grandma, right baby girl ? »
Olivia smiled at her and got down from Callie's lap, taking her grandmother hand in hers, eager to go outside playing on the swings.
« I can do it. » Callie proposed.
« Non sense. You're going to call your chief and taking the day off. You need it darling. Then you're going to relax and we'll be back at noon. » Barbara smiled as she opened the door. « Kiss your Mama goodbye and let's go ! »
…...
Callie did as she had been told by Barbara.
She called in sick and was not even sorry to lie. She couldn't face Penny right now, and she knew she would be at the hospital that afternoon and that she would probably try to talk to her, or maybe threatening her one more time.
Remembering the event from the day before, she shook her head, still shocked by how rude and dark Penny had appeared to her.
Her wrist was still sore, and she could see bruises showing already.
She felt so stupid. How couldn't she have not seen the real Penny, the one Mark had warned her about more than once, the one Meredith and other friends had talked to her about.
She felt even more stupid to have run to her ex wife house. Even if she had been taken care of by Barbara, she knew Arizona wasn't living the situation that well.
What was she doing here ?
The only good things was the joy on her children face when they saw her in the kitchen this morning. They had rushed in her arms and hugged her so tightly.
She needed to think about what she was going to do next. She couldn't keep living that way, something had to change.
But for now, she needed to relax, and she decided to take a warm bath and to forget about the world.
At the opposite side of the house, Arizona was laying on her bed, her eyes tied to the ceiling. She was upset by the confession she made to her mother a few hours earlier.
She hadn't been able to admit it to herself for so long. But it was the truth, she was still in love with Calliope Torres.
Hearing the car leaving, she knew the kids and her mother had left, and probably Callie too. She had to be at the hospital in two hours and she could use of coffee right now.
She stood up and walked to the kitchen, trying to forget about last night.
She couldn't let her mother dictate her what she had to do. She was a grown up, a single mother, doubled certified surgeon, and it was her house, so her rules, right ?
So tonight, she would stay at the hospital in an on call room and she will text Callie to tell her she couldn't stay longer there.
Once in the kitchen, She noticed the two mug of coffee in the sink and sighed in relief. Callie was really not there.
She grabbed the remote control and switch on the tv. Not that she really care about what was on the screen, but she liked to have some background noises when she was alone in the morning.
She began her morning routine, still convinced she was home alone.
Two french toast, a mug of coffee and a glasse of fresh orange juice to start that long day. She put her toast on a plate and took the jam pot. She then turned to settle at the table when she almost bumped into the only person she didn't want to face.
« I'm sorry ! » Callie said as she stepped back to give Arizona space. She felt the tension building in her ex wife body. « I didn't mean to scare you. I just forget my phone there. »
Not wanting to communicate, Arizona gaze imediately dropped to the floor, avoiding brown concerned eyes.
She restrained a sighed and walked to the table, sitting and trying with everyhting she had to avoid any kind of contact with Callie.
« Listen, I know you're not really okay with me being here. And I'm sorry I'm intruding your personnal space right now. » Callie apologized. « But I won't stay here for a long time, I promise. »
Arizona closed her eyes and swallowed hard at Callie's word.
The last time she had promises her something, it had been a lie.
« We told the kids the morning I'll be staying for a few days, so, if you're okay, I think I'll stay one more night, and then, I'll left. » Callie continued. « But you should have seen their face this morning. They were so happy. As I told you the other night, I think we need to do things as a family, for them. »
Arizona grabbed the remote control and increased the TV volume, in a childish attempt to make Callie shut up.
« Can you... » Callie tried to make her communicate. « Can you at least look at me, please ? »
Arizona suddenly raised her head and looked directly in Callie's eyes.
Callie smiled at her and tried to read any emotion in the blonde's gaze. She could see panic, anger and fear. They were very dark and Callie knew it meant she wasn't really open to talk.
« We'll do as you want. If you want me to go, then I'll go. » Callie said, trying to ease the tension. « I don't want to embarass you. I... I'm sorry. »
Still not talking Arizona stood up and get to the sink under Callie's confused eyes.
She emptied her plate and her glass in it. She had not even touch it.
« Arizona... Please... Don't do that. » Callie almost begged. « Can you try to tolerate me, at least tonight ? They will be so happy to have diner with the both of us. I swear I'll go to a hotel after that. I won't stay here for the night if that's what you want. »
« You... You can do whatever you want. You always have anyway. » Arizona stated coldly. « I don't care if you stay here. I just don't want to deal with you. I can't do it. But I want the kids to be happy. And if you being here make them happy, then you can stay as long as you want. But leave me alone when they're not around, please. »
Tears threatening to roll on her cheeks, Arizona remained in front of the sink, not able to face Callie one more time.
« I'm going to work anyway. » She said, walking to grabb her jacket and her key car. « I don't know if I'll be back for diner. I'll text my mother. »
« I... Okay. » Callie mumbled. « I... Than you for... for letting me stay. I'll be gone tomorrow. »
Arizona sighed one more time and really looked at her ex wife for the first time in month. She could see Callie was exhausted, dark lines surrounding her amazing brow eyes.
It broke her heart to see the woman she loved so vulneralbe. Callie had always be so strong and confident when they were together.
That's when she was about to go she noticed Callie was holding her left wirst, massaging it slowly.
Without thinking twice, and surprising herself by the gesture she was about to do, Arizona reached her ex wife and took her hand in hers, pulling away her massaging hand from the bruised skin.
Looking at the visibly swollen wirst, Arizona studied it with her doctor reflex.
« Ouch... » Callie cringed when Arizona's touch hurt her.
« What happened ? » Arizona asked, regretting it immediately. « I mean... You should put some ice on it. »
Callie withdrew her hand and noded politely.
« Yeah, sure... »
« Did someone did that to you ? » Arizona asked. She knew those kind of bruises were most of the time the result of contention occuring in fight or assault.
« No, it's nothing. » Callie lied.
« What happened Callie ? » Arizona worried, the piece of the puzzle connecting in her mind.
« I... » Callie tried to say as she was saved by the bell by her phone buzzing.
She rushed to take it and answer as fast as she could, avoiding that awkward talk with Arizona.
« Hello... » Callie said, immediately recognizing the voice of the person calling her. « Don't you dare... What? No, I won't ! »
As fast as she had take the call, she hung up, switching off her phone at the same time, her breathing becoming louder and louder.
« Callie ? What's wrong? » Arizona asked again, now more worried than ever. « Why did you came last night ? What happened to you ? »
Too upset to do anything else, Callie just bite her lips and fled to the guest room slamng the door behind her.
Arizona walked after her, the door closed in front of her. She only heard her bursting into sob.
Feeling not legitimate to help her, Arizona just let her finger rest a moment on the door, devastated by what she just witnessed.
After so many years apart, they were almost like strangers.
It was maybe time to talk and to try to build some kind of relationship between them, for their children's sake, and for themselves too.
...
Reviews are welcome!