Chapter 21- Callie

I couldn't be mad. Could I? It's been a few days since Arizona and Alex went to see my father and brought back the box of things from my office, guess I really won't be returning to work. I found myself going through it, nothing I couldn't live without. Tossing the stuff back in it, I put it in the closet. When I heard footsteps coming down the hall and a light knock on the door frame, turning I see Daniel "got a minute?" I nod and he steps into the bedroom that Arizona and I share. "I like what you've done with the place" he laughs seeing Arizona's poster was taken down, and there were a few girly things up on the walls. "thanks" I laugh

"so, Zo's birthday is coming" I nod, this I know, although I didn't know what to get her, I'd figure something out. "I was wondering what you thought about going up north for the week, do some fishing and relax a bit"

"what about the kennel?"

"I'll make sure we don't have any dogs" he smiles

"and our dogs?"

"we'll bring them with" he says, the thought of Pen in the car for 3 to 4 hours made me laugh. "we can either rent a cabin, or we can use the Kepner's camper"

"I think that would be a good idea" I smile

"good, I'll talk to Alex, and we'll figure out the details" I nod, and he turns to leave. The thought of being gone for a week sounded good. I remember Arizona mentioning that they were thinking about going, but since I hadn't heard anymore, I thought the plans had changed. Looking around the room, I can't help but smile. There was a picture, Alex had taken, of Arizona and I cuddled up on the couch, that Arizona had printed out and framed, I picked it up and stared at it. I loved her so much, was it too soon to actually propose? It's only been a few months. I remember what Daniel had said about him and Barbara not knowing each other long before they got married, and he still loved her to this day, even though she was gone. I nod at myself in the mirror, and go about putting some actual clothes on. I needed to go to town, I had some shopping to do. My plans had changed, when I got down to my car and saw a vehicle coming down the drive, kicking up dust behind it. Rolling my eyes, I take a deep breath as the car parks, and my mother appears. "hello Calliope"

"mom" I nod and walk over to her "what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see where you called home" she looks around, where my dad had disgust written all over his face, she had a look of awe on hers. "Aria called" she goes on "she told me you're doing well, but I wanted to see for myself" I nod and look around. Arizona was standing in the doorway of the barn, watching "I'd also like to meet this Arizona, I've heard so much about"

"Aria?" I ask, she nods "hmm" I look over at Arizona who is watching me closely. I wave for her to come; she nods and walks over. "we've been busy working today" I say "I was just headed into town" I say making small talk, why is it so hard to do? Arizona gets closer, I see her pull out a towel she sometimes keeps in her back pocket to wipe her hands on. "mom this is Arizona Robbins, Arizona this is my mother"

"Lucia Torres" she holds out her hand "it's a pleasure to finally meet you Ms. Robbins"

"please, call me Zo" Arizona says, I smile, I'm the only one allowed to call her Arizona.

"well Zo" she tries it out on her tongue "it's nice to meet you" it was at that time the dogs decide to see what's up. Pen of course was full of energy as she ran up to us, but with a simple wave of Arizona's hand, she sat down. Jack and Rose were their well-behaved selves and sat down waiting for lovins. "this is Jack and Rose" I say and smile "this bundle of energy is my dog Penelope"

"you have a dog?" my mom says with a smile, I nod "you've always wanted a dog"

"I did" I smile as I watch my mom reach her hand out and scratch Pen's ears.

"now you've done it" Arizona laughs as Pen jumps up and starts licking my mom.

"she's still a pup, someone found her on the side of the road, brought her here" Arizona explains

"let me guess, Calliope fell in love with her?"

"yup" Arizona says smiling at me

"would you like to come inside?" I ask looking at Arizona for confirmation I did the right thing. Her eyes seem to say 'it's your house too'

"I'd love to" my mom smiles and I lead her to the porch

"I'll be there in a minute" Arizona says, I knew she was going to tell Daniel and Alex who was here. I nod, with a smile and lead my mom into the house.

"wow" she says once we enter the kitchen

"would you like something to drink? We have coffee" I look at the pot that has been on since Arizona turned it on early this morning "I'll make some fresh, I don't know how old it is"

"I'm fine Calliope" she says sitting down at the table. I nod and head to the fridge, pulling out a can of coke and a bottle of water. Placing the water in front of my mom, and taking the coke for myself, I sit down. "I love this old charm" she says looking around the room.

"Arizona's mom decorated it" I say and see my mom nod. We sit in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, I let out a deep sigh and say "why are you really here?"

"I came to make sure you were ok"

"I am" I smile, and hear the back door slam, and see Arizona come in, heading towards the sink to wash her hands. Watching my mom, I see her watch Arizona, who turns to dry her hands "dad told me to start lunch" she says, I look at the clock it is almost noon. I nod, and look at my mom as Arizona says "will you be joining us Mrs. Torres?"

"please call me Lucia" she says with a smile I could tell was genuine "and I'd love to" I nod and stand, as she asks "is there anything I can help with?"

"no" Arizona smiles "we were going to throw some burgers on the grill, Alex can handle that" "Alex?" she asks confused, as if he were summoned Alex walks into the house "mom this is Alex Karev, he's like a brother to Arizona"

"nice to meet you mam" Alex smiles, nods and heads to the fridge "you got the burgers ready?" Alex and Arizona have a conversation, as Alex pulls the burgers out of the fridge. Arizona leans over and kisses me as she follows Alex outside. She was giving me and my mom time to talk. Although I would rather have her here. "your father is a wreck"

"I don't want to talk about him" I say

"I know you don't, and that's not why I'm here" she says softly, then pauses "I really just wanted to see you" I nod, I wasn't quite sure rather to believe her or not, but I decided to give her the benefit of doubt, until she proves otherwise. "Arizona is nice"

"she's amazing" I look up and meet her eyes, I was expecting to see hurt, or hate in them but all I saw was love. A mother's love, something she tried to show Aria and I growing up but it was always just out of reach. "Calliope" she says softly, I nod "I'm sorry about everything" I didn't say anything "I, I" she shakes her head "I should have stood up for you"

"yeah" I mutter and look away

"you know how he is" she says, I turn to look back at her "he loves you, he just" shaking my head "if he loved me, he wouldn't try to control me"

"that's what he knows" she says

"no, it's not what he knows" I shake my head, she looks at me with confusion "did you know him and Daniel used to be friends?" her eyes are wide at this information, I nod "Daniel has pictures, if you need proof"

"no" she shakes her head "I don't need proof"

"so I know he wasn't like that, it wasn't until college" I start to say, but stop when I hear her say "until he met me" her voice was soft.

"it wasn't you Lucia" Daniel says coming in

"mom, this is Daniel"

"Carlos has pictures of you" Daniel looks at her confused, I too am confused. I have never seen said pictures. "he keeps them in a box under the bed, I just" she shakes her head "I just didn't know who was in the pictures"

"hmm" Daniel hums, coming into the room

"I recognize you from the pictures" her voice is soft "after we got together, he used to tell me stories" she looks up at Daniel "what happened?"

"I have no idea, when he left for college, he swore when he came back, we'd go fishing, and do all the stuff we used to"

"but when he came back, I was with" Daniel nods, his voice is soft and sad "I never talked to him again"

"I'm sorry Daniel" she says

"it wasn't your fault, shit happens, people move on"

"not that fast they don't" I mutter

"she's right" mom says "he was so excited for us to meet, I never understood, why we never did"

"I don't know either" Daniel says sitting down at the table

"well I'm meeting you now" my mom smiles, and then did something that had me confused, she reached out for Daniel's hand. "I want you to know, that first year Carlos and I were together he did nothing but talk about you, you were a friend he knew he'd never find again" Daniel gave a half smile "and I'll find out what happened" she says and smiles, then turns to me, "you're happy here"

"I am" I smile, Arizona comes in, I can feel my heart start to race and my smile getting bigger. My mom looks at Daniel and I see them share a look, and Daniel winks.