Epilogue - three years later.
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"Well, we did say ten…"
"No, you said ten. Besides, I wasn't expecting two for one! Twins don't run in my family, the donor's or Stacey's!"
"Calliope, I don't think the family history of the surrogate impacts-"
"-but what if it does? What if the uterus just expects to carry twins?!"
"Yes doctor, that's exactly how it works." Arizona looked down at the precious bundle of joy in her arms. She quietly cooed and placed a soft kiss on a tiny blue woollen hat. "Silly mummy, it's a good thing we love her, right little man?" She turned her attention back to her wife. "Funny, you're the one freaking out about children. Anyway, we've known about this for months, this isn't new information Calliope."
"Yeah, but now they're here, in our arms, all existing an- and- oh my god have we got enough of everything!?"
"We've got twice as much as we need, four times even. We've got what we've bought plus everything everyone has. Meredith got us enough onesies for eight kids, Yang bought out the entire Pampers warehouse, Owen bought us an army-type climbing frame they won't be able to use for 10 years, Richard went OTT with two state-of-the-art car seats, April spent hours researching, and then buying, the best nursing chairs available, Amelia got us the most high-tech baby monitors and Karev & Wilson offered unlimited babysitting, for practise. And with Teddy & Bailey being godparents, they'll be set for life." She took a moment to appreciate just how much their friends had contributed to her growing family. Everything they had brought had been given the green light by the pair of course, type-A mentality and all. "Plus my parents, your dad and Aria. I think Aria wants to make up for lost time, she's already bought Sofia a boat let alone the twins." Callie's eyes widened at that last comment, due to her sister's eccentricities she didn't know if Arizona was joking or not. "Oh yeah, and Nicole's going to buy them their first legal drink. Sofia's too."
Phew, her wife had managed to calm her down. "Thank you, for being the sane one today." She looked at Arizona, she was holding their son. Their son. She took a moment to needlessly straighten the pink woollen hat of the youngest Torres in her arms (she'd decided to come a few minutes after her brother) and gently rubbed her thumb against her cheek. "Your mumma is the best, she will be the calm and rational one until you start dating, then she'll be the crazy one." She heard a 'damn right' from the opposite chair. Focus back to her wife. "Want to hold Evelyn for a bit? She needs some mumma time, and I need to see my boy."
Arizona nodded as they swapped, love-filled blue eyes met teeny, tiny blinking brown.
Oh no.
Oh no no no. It was now Arizona's turn to freak out. She looked up and stared at… nothing, the fear at her realisation evident on her face. "Oh my god, three Torres women. I- I can't, I'll lose, I'll lose every time, I won't be able to say no, I- I-" She turned her attention to her wife who was now giggling. Arizona looked to their son. "Hopefully my little man & I form an alliance."
Callie scoffed. "It'll still be three against two-"
"-so, which one's Cristina?" As always, no knocking, no waiting for an invite to enter, not even a hello. Cristina Yang, never change. She walked into the private room with two extremely large stuff toys tucked under one arm and their daughter's hand clasped in the other. Upon seeing her mothers and new siblings, Sofia ran over to Callie and darted her attention between her brother and sister. You could tell from the way she was gently stroking their heads that she was enchanted, and they'd have a protector for life.
However, much do their dismay; it appeared their oldest also had a giant stuffed toy.
Callie rolled her eyes and indicated to the newest additions of their family. "Neither. This is Evelyn & Jacob Torres."
"So Evelyn's middle name is Cristina. Okay, well-"
"-no, it's Evelyn Arizona Torres and Jacob Daniel Torres."
"First, I wasn't maid of honour and now this. I'm godmother to the bridesmaid/sister Torres, I have an important role."
"I didn't have a maid of honour, Yang."
"I know, why did you pick such a small venue? It was standing room only."
"There were plenty of seats. My dad, Aria, Arizona's parents, you, Grey, Karev, Wilson, Teddy, Owen, Addie, Kepner, Bailey, Shepherd, Webber… it was perfect."
"Yeah well what about the after party?"
Callie always handled Cristina's indignance perfectly. "Just because you were drunk and can't remember anything, doesn't mean you weren't there."
"I remember dancing with the bride." She shrugged.
Arizona rolled her eyes. "Yeah you kinda gave me no choice."
Cristina ignored that comment, she vaguely remembers stalking Arizona around Joe's but couldn't swear to it. "Can't believe you lumbered your kid with Arizona as a middle name."
Callie threw her a look. "Cristina!"
"What?"
"All of our children are linked with their parents by name. Arizona wanted them to have the same surname, and I wanted Evelyn's middle name to be Arizona."
The blonde rolled her eyes; again, forever powerless against the Torres gene. "Trust me, I did not want to lumber Evelyn with the middle name Arizona."
Callie was unmoved. "Father's give their first name to their sons all the time, middle or first name, so I don't see the problem here. I was quite enamoured with Arizona Junior. AJ for short."
"What if I wanted Calliope as a middle name?"
"Well then you can suck it."
"Calliope! Not in front of our children!"
"Oh please, Cristina has taught Sofia worse." They both looked expectantly at the cardio surgeon, anticipating a 'haha, no I haven't' or 'I would never swear in front of Sofia' or… or… why wasn't Cristina correcting her?
Callie's tone was warning "…Cristina-"
Oops, realising her silence was telling, she changed subject. "-so I got these toys from the arcade…" she was met with two pairs of scowling eyes "…what? That frickin' five-bedroom house you made me help you to move into has plenty of space." She placed them down on an empty chair. "Still, at least it's all on one floor I guess. By the way, that damage to the sideboard, Kapner's fault."
"It was not!" Enter the trauma surgeon. "Oh my god look at them! Oh they're so cute! Family photo!" April grabbed her phone and got everyone into shot.
Callie, in the left-hand chair, a smile for the ages, dressed in a casual red top and black jeans, heart necklace around her neck, wedding ring on her finger, love and joy in her heart.
Jacob, held tightly in his mummy's arms, sporting a little woollen blue hat and a white onesie. Eyes closed, lips pouting, wrapped snug in a blanket.
Arizona, in the right-hand chair, also dressed casually in pink top and blue jeans. Heart necklace around her neck, engagement & wedding rings on her finger, tears in her eyes, love in her veins.
Sofia, sat on Arizona's lap, cuddling into her mumma with a proud grin, 'best big sister' t-shirt on, thrilled her family was growing.
Evelyn, held tightly in her mumma's arms, little woollen pink hat on her precious head, the same white onesie, eyes closed, bubbles coming from her mouth, snug as a bug in a rug.
Cristina, stood next to- wait, Cristina?
April lowered the phone. "Yang! Move!"
"What? Godmother of the sister here, I'm family." She leant in closer.
Callie's smile deceived her aggravated tone. "Get out of the picture, Yang."
"If godparents are included, me and Altman need to be in it right?"
Teddy clapped excitedly as her and Bailey entered the room. "Yes we do!"
Cristina was genuinely put out. "Well, I'm kinda the OG godparent, what have you done for Jacob and AJ?"
Arizona refrained from rolling her eyes, she was going to give herself a headache at this point. She was resigned to the fact she'd never escape from being Roller Girl and now it looks like Evelyn was going be referred to as AJ. Although, not gonna lie, she was secretly thrilled.
By then Callie had forcibly shoved Cristina out of shot and April took about 80 pictures of the five of them. Arizona then motioned for all three godparents to get into another picture, Bailey's presence enough to make Yang give up her centre spot stood behind the family. After the pictures, Bailey gave her a pointed look. "They're only a few hours old Yang, not exactly had the chance to do something for them."
Whilst Cristina was unapologetic, one surgeon scurried into the room, focused on the twins as she entered. "Sorry sorry sorry I've been in surgery." Amelia smiled as she took in the family in front of her but couldn't help wonder about the setting. "Why did you opt for here? Isn't Torres like a zillionaire?"
The Chief was offended. "Grey Sloan has Dr Carina DeLuca, the best OB/GYN-"
"-you know, I hear that Dr Montgomery is pretty hardcore too, a neonatal surgeon certified in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Maternal & Foetal Medicine."
Callie deadpanned her friend as she entered. "This isn't a job interview Addie. How is Stacey?"
"She's fiiiiine Torres, great in fact, like the other fifty times you and Robbins have asked. Her husband is with her, she's happy and healthy. You picked a good one, pretty sure she'd help with numbers four and five." Shit eating grin.
"WHAT?!"
Addison was in town to help monitor the final few weeks of their surrogate's pregnancy. She had helped with the initial insemination and oversaw the pregnancy from conception to. She was enjoying her time in Seattle on her friend's dime, opting for the most luxurious suite in the most luxurious hotel each time. Addison Montgomery travelled in style and it did help that the most luxurious suite in the most luxurious hotel was owned by Carlos Torres. She did have the offer to stay in the Torres-Robbins household but that didn't come with 24 hour room service, a jacuzzi, fluffy bath robes, complimentary toiletries, laundry and all around 5 star service that she insisted she needed to ensure a smooth pregnancy. Arizona was happy to accommodate, Callie threw the side eye after every request.
"Zola can't wait for sleepovers with Bailey, Ellis, Sofia, Evelyn and Jacob." Sofia's eyes widened as Meredith entered and mentioned play dates with her friends.
Callie arched an eyebrow, six kids at once?! "Err, that'll be at your house Mer."
Arizona's eye's widened and a smile instantly formed as the next visitor made his debut. "Dude, nice one boss, Torres." He went into autopilot and did a quick once over on the twins. His attention then turned solely to Callie. "Although I'm the one who's gonna have to put up with Arizona dealing with four identical Torres', she ain't gonna whine to Herman, so thanks for that."
Arizona shrugged. "Yeah well I won that argument, I wanted little Calliope's."
"Does that mean I get to run the department when you're on maternity leave, Dr Torres?" Although Jo was Callie's fellow, she wasn't quite ready to run the department yet, but the enthusiasm and ability was there.
The question was answered by an approaching figure who leant up against the door, arms folded. "Trauma kinda clashes with Ortho, so I've got this one, Wilson." Owen gave a small wink to Callie and his sometimes-wife.
The doctors continued to talk as Jacob and Evel- AJ slept soundly. Neither may ever know just how much everyone in that room had supported their parents' reconciliation all those years ago. Every now and then Callie and Arizona would meet each other's gaze and they'd get lost in a state of utter contentment; completely oblivious to what was going on around them. Their smiles were breathtaking; this is what true happiness felt like. And it was awesome.
"Hey erm guys, can we all get a picture? With everyone? I mean you've been with us since day one, been our biggest cheerleaders and despite the monetary betting, you all said we'd end up together." She gestured between all three of their children. "You helped make this happen."
Dimples. "Ooh yes! That would be amazing!"
Alex stopped a passing intern and instructed him to take the group photos. Arizona had added the threat of banishment if they were not all perfect, Bailey didn't interject. He took pictures, many many pictures; each of their village getting a turn to hold Evelyn and Jacob. The one of Sofia holding her siblings, whilst being supported by her mothers, would be the one that eventually ended up on the mantelpiece. It sat proudly next to their first family photo of Sofia, Callie, Arizona and Mark.
The blonde inspected every single picture that was taken on her phone. Once satisfied, she dismissed the intern who seemed to have a familiar scurry about him.
She leant into Callie as her phone was passed around the rest of the room. "Hey, wasn't he the one who guarded the on-call room Cristina locked us in?" Her wife nodded in response which just led to the pair reverting to a playful giggling state, something that had only grown as the years went by. Erugh, delight and optimism and bliss and jubilation is just the BEST.
Before everyone went back to their actual day jobs, Arizona asked if someone could take more candid/casual pictures of them all, like a selfie. After a few attempts, it was established no one would have the length to get them all in shot.
But April had gone Kepner mode, she pulled out a selfie-stick from her lab coat and held it up.
Of course April Kepner would have a selfie-stick.
So yet more pictures were taken. Owen was at the wheel due to having the longest reach and comfortably got everyone into shot. The laughter, the smiles and the joy caught in every single snap. This moment would forever immortalised, Callie and Arizona were surrounded by their family, their friends, their little village.
End. Game.
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A/N - Thank you to everyone who commented, reviewed, messaged, followed and/or favourited this story. I am truly humbled at the response; I hope you were all satisfied with the story's conclusion. It's been well over ten years since their peak and Callie and Arizona fics are still being written, reviewed and continue to go strong. I think that's testament to Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw's amazing portrayals. Greys may never confirm end game, but we all know they are. Thanks again guys, until next time, take care. TFP.