AN:/ Hello to you dear people of the world! SO here is the following hours to the florida trip.
I hope you'll enjoy it, but please be sure to tell me what you think about it and what you are expecting for the next one! Jax helped me once again, so I don't know what to see but Thank you so much!
...
« I told you so... » was the only thing Arizona could say to her ex-wife as she entered their room. She walked to the couch facing the bed where Callie was sitting, emotions mixed between anger and sadness.
She quickly wiped the tears that were annoying her in the corner of her eye, and she clenched her teeth.
« It was a stupid plan Callie. I've said this from the beginning. And I'm not telling you that now because I was right, but you have already hurt your Penny, and other people are going to suffer from it. » Arizona said, as she smiled sadly at her ex-wife. « If your parents find out, they'll be devastated... I'm still hoping that Sofia is not going to be too confused by how she's living right now. But in the end, I think that it's you who will be the most affected. »
« And what? You are going to tell me that you care? » Callie snapped, immediately regretting it.
Her stupid plan, as Arizona had called it, and it was stupid, had to work now, she had no other choice.
« In case you don't remember, we have a child together, and because of her, we are going to have to deal with each other for at least another decade. » Arizona replied. « I don't want to fight. I'm not going to lie though. I'm still mad at you and at what you have put Sofia and me through. But I don't want her to be stuck between the both of us. I want her to be happy and for that she needs two happy moms... »
Callie didn't know what to say. Ultimately, Arizona was right, but because of how she was thinking, she was blinded by her will to get a relationship with her sick mother.
Her mother denying her was something she had never mourned properly. When her mother left the day before her wedding with Arizona, she had cried, then she had been mad. But, not wanting to be carried away by this anger burning in her chest, she had decided to put it aside, to forget about it and to focus on what was making her happy at the time: her wife and her daughter.
Her need to reconnect with her, after all the horrible things she had said to her, after all the years of silence and disapproval, she needed the good years, the years when she was accepted to count, and this was a way to forget the awful memories, to bury them and to start afresh.
« Penny will come around. If she's not stupid, she will forgive you and you'll get another chance. I hope that you haven't screwed it up, like I did. » Arizona said. « She makes you happier than you've ever been, and you deserve that. But if she's really the one for you, If she was worth leaving everything behind and to live this New York adventure, please make it work. »
Callie's eyes opened wide with surprise. The words coming from Arizona's mouth were both unexpected and deeply selfless. She had noticed a bit of sadness, or regret in her tone. But no bitterness or pity.
« How... » Callie mumbled. « How can you be so... so magnanimous? »
« I don't have a choice do I? I have agreed to be here to have my daughter back, and I do so willingly » Arizona replied. « I don't want to live in a world where we hate and fight all the time, for Sofia's sake. So, we are going to pretend that everything between us is ok for a while and after this weekend, we will try to coparent civilly. »
« I could live with that... » Callie smiled at her ex-wife.
Arizona blushed. Callie's smile had always been her favourite. She could feel something happening in her body, it was the hormones playing with her obviously. She needed to get some fresh air quickly.
« Well, I'm going back to your parents. Take a little time for yourself, and don't think about Penny. I told you she will come back to you. We will tell them you lost a patient and that it did a number on you, okay? » Arizona said before standing up. « See you in a bit. »
Callie just smiled as she watched the blonde coming away.
How that woman could be so wise after everything she had been put through... It was making the brunette feel guiltier than ever.
She knew the road would be long before the pressure and the anger disappeared, but she was willing to try what Arizona had suggested.
Pretend that everything was okay between them.
What was that supposed to mean? How have they ended up so far away from each other when they were sure they would grow old together.
She lay down on the giant bed and let her spirit wonder. Tears were streaming in her cheeks. She wasn't so sure that Penny would want her back despite Arizona's words.
The red head was a very proud woman, she didn't let anyone tell her what she had to do. Callie knew that too well.
Penny had been really clear when she had tried to speak to Meredith and Amelia about their way of treating the young resident.
She had been really offended and had resented her girlfriend for days.
But other than that, Penny was a nice girl. She was easy, she was young and enthusiastic. She was open and talked easily about what was on her mind.
That was the biggest difference between her and Arizona.
What was the point in comparing your future or already ex-girlfriend with your ex-wife?
Callie sighed deeply, sitting back on the edge of the bed. She rubbed her temple with her fingers, feeling a headache coming on.
She needed some aspirin to stop it fast. She stood up and walked to the bathroom, looking for something in the medicine cabinet, but it was empty. She looked in her vanity case where she thought she could find something, but it was empty.
She wouldn't let this migraine ruin everything she had fought so hard to build.
She looked around and saw Arizona's toilet bag put in the corner of the cabinet, leaning against the wall.
She opened it and found what she was looking for. She smiled, noticing her ex-wife was still a control freak and was still prepared for everything and every scenario. She grabbed the bottle, but in the process made another one fall to the ground.
She grumbled, opening the bottle and swallowing a much-needed pill before filling a glass of water and drinking it.
Before leaving she grabbed the bottle which had fallen on the floor and put it back in Arizona's bag. She raised her brow when she thought she recognized the name of the prescription, and when she realised they were what she thought, her eyes went wide with surprise.
It was a bottle of prenatal vitamins.
Why would Arizona have these here, with her? It was total nonsense. The blonde couldn't be pregnant, could she?
How could that have happened? And why would it have happened?
It was clear by everything she had done in the past that Arizona didn't want more children right?
And she was gushing about something happening in her professional career soon.
Callie didn't know what it was, but it wouldn't be the good time to have a kid now. Arizona was a planner since the plane crash. She needed things to be prepared.
But she must have changed in the years Callie had spent away from her.
Then she noticed the name on the bottle wasn't Arizona's. It must have been one of her patients' prescriptions; she must have put them in there by mistake. Of course!
Callie smiled at herself in the mirror and felt a bit stupid thinking the pills were Arizona's.
But what was bothering a bit was that the second she had believed Arizona could be pregnant, she had felt a weird feeling of both disappointment and bitterness.
Where was that coming from? Arizona could do whatever she wanted, even being pregnant and having 20 more kids, it didn't concern her anymore, at all.
But still, the emotion had been there.
Anyway, there was no need or no time to think about that. Arizona was not going to make conversation with her parents for very long, she needed to get back, she would put a big fake smile on her face and pretend her life was amazing when everything around her was falling apart.
…...
Lucia and Carlos had proposed a walk on the beach after lunch.
They had listened to Callie's lie telling them she was a little upset by some updates on her patient, but she hadn't given them any more details.
Her parents were too thrilled to have her there that she did not really look further either.
Sofia was running on the sand, really happy to be with both her mom's. It was something she had not been able to have for months, and it felt good, even if it was just for the weekend and even if it was play pretend.
She was also really happy to be with her grandparents. Getting to know her grandmother she never thought she would ever see, was really enjoyable. The older woman was very kind to her. She was interested in everything she was saying, and it was more than enough for the little girl.
Callie was between her parents, talking about everything and anything. It was mostly about Sofia.
Carlos was listening to everything Callie was saying. He could listen to things about his granddaughter forever, he was passionate about her. Arizona was walking a little behind, lost in her own thoughts. She was enjoying the warmth of the sun on her pale skin. Noticing she was a little left behind, Sofia ran to her and grabbed her hand as they continued their walk.
As they reached a specific spot one of the Torres employees was waiting for them, Carlos stopped them and took the basket the man handed him. They had also placed a table with a giant fruit basket and crystal glasses.
« Please ladies, have a seat. » The older man asked them.
Lucia sat between Callie and Sofia, feeling a real bond happening between them. Arizona hesitated a moment when Callie occupied the seat next to hers with a genuine smile.
Despite her possible Break up with her girlfriend, the brunette was going to live this family weekend with relish. She would deal with Penny later.
Arizona joined the family and sat down next to Callie where she was supposed to, but she pulled the chair a little further away from her ex-wife.
The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Lucia who raised one eyebrow, surprised by the discrete move.
« Here we go! » Carlos interrupted them, showing a bottle of champagne. « It's a special bottle for a special occasion. »
He opened the bottle, the bottle cap flying in the air under Sofia's amused eyes. The older man served glasses of champagne and sat next to Sofia and Arizona. He gave the little girl a glass of lemonade and stroked her hair.
« Let's toast! » He said. « To our family and to all the good times we are going to share from now on. » He raised his glass, gladly followed by Lucia, Callie and Sofia.
Arizona did the same, neutral expression all over her face. But as the other adults drank their beverage, Arizona just put the glasses back on the table, hoping no one would notice. It apparently worked in the excitement of the celebration, but Lucia stopped Arizona's short relief.
« You aren't drinking dear? » Luci asked directly.
Callie immediately looked at the full glass on the table and cast a confused look at Arizona. Her ex-wife wasn't a woman to deny a fancy glass of champagne, at least not when they were together. She was even more surprised because she thought Arizona would have drunk the glass quickly in an attempt to avoid the awkwardness she was imposing on her.
« I... No thank you though, but I already had a few glasses of wine during lunch, so I don't think it's a good idea to add more... » Arizona lamely excused herself.
« No, you didn't have any wine earlier. You only had water. » Lucia insisted. « Is there something you are not telling us? »
Carlos opened two big eyes, almost spitting the champagne he had just drunk out and immediately looked between Arizona and Callie, huge smiles appearing on both of Callie's parents' faces.
« Oh no, don't get any silly ideas... » Callie said, understanding what her parents were thinking. « We are not expecting, and Arizona is just not really keen on drinking alcohol, right honey? »
« I... Yeah, I'm just not tolerating alcohol anymore. » The blonde replied, her cheeks reddening as her secret had almost been discovered by her former mother-in-law. « I'm just getting older and I … well that's how it is... »
« Is that really it? » Carlos asked. « Because if you were about to make the family a little bigger, we could not be happier. »
Arizona swallowed hard. How had she got herself into this situation so quickly? She just hoped Callie wouldn't question her later. She didn't want to have that conversation.
« Believe me Dad, it is not on the agenda. » Callie revealed, smiles fading on her parents' faces.
« But you don't want to give Sofia a sibling? » Lucia asked. « Surely she would love it. Is it totally out of the question, haven't you ever considered it? It could be a good thing you know. »
« We tried. » Arizona cut into the awkward turn the conversation was taking. « We tried, but it didn't work. We had been really trying hard for m... for us, so we have decided not to think about it at the moment. And moreover, we both have big projects in our professional careers coming up, so it's not really a good time. »
The tone was harsh and cold. Callie didn't know how to react, too many things were running through her head. She could see everybody was upset. Fortunately, Sofia was playing a little further on the beach and didn't hear any of it.
« I'm sorry Arizona. » Carlos broke the silence. « I didn't... we didn't mean to offend you or anything. »
« It's okay. » Arizona replied, trying not to show how panicked she was. « You wouldn't have known anyway, because I didn't think Calliope would tell you. She's the one with the big secrets to tell... »
Callie looked at her with a death glare. Arizona was playing with fire right now, and she was still acting weirdly, so it was going to be a real nightmare to survive the last hour of this day.
« Please Arizona, accept my apologies. » Lucia said. « I know I have hurt you and your family. I can feel how distant you are, and I understand it, totally. But please, be sure, I will not hurt your wife or your daughter, or you. I think I have already done enough damage, and I want to spend the time I have left to make amends for my words and actions toward your amazing family. »
Overwhelmed by everything she had lived in less than a day, Callie couldn't help herself, she burst into tears. She had waited to hear those exact words for so long.
Arizona knew she had to do something to try to play the perfect wife. She grabbed the brunette's hand in hers and kissed her fingers very lightly.
The gesture sent an electric shock through Callie's body, giving her goosebumps. It made her sobbing stop suddenly as she looked intensely into her ex-wife's blue eyes. She was frustrated to not be able to read what those eyes were expressing. She had lost this ability and privilege over the years.
Arizona had built high walls around her, even more now she had to protect two more tiny humans.
As Callie continued to look at her with so many emotions, the blonde gulped. She saw her ex-wife tilt her head and nod several times, and before she could even react or say anything, Callie's lips were on hers.
This had nothing to do with the original plan. Callie wasn't even really realising what she was doing as her hands cupped the other woman's face.
Both of them closed their eyes for a brief moment and as they reopened them, Callie came back to her senses and almost jumped, surprised by her own actions.
The kiss had been chaste but not short. Arizona had not pulled away, to not give her ex in law more clues about the fraud they were living.
« Well, I'm happy to see you are still loving each other. » Carlos said. « I was concerned you were not as close as you used to be. »
« Don't worry Dad, we are more than okay. » Callie lied.
Her cheeks were flushed by everything that had just happened. She didn't know what was happening, but it was not something she had expected to happen and even less to feel the familiar goose bumps her ex-wife used to generate in her.
« I'm happy for you Mija. » Lucia said. « I'm grateful your wife is so protective of you, and I am grateful you have been able to put our past aside and give us a chance. »
« Oh, I forgot to tell you something about tonight! » Carlos cut his wife. « We are having a big family party tonight! »
« What do you mean a big Family party... » Callie worried because she knew how unpredictable her father could be.
« I mean a big party here. On the beach. And at home of course. » Carlos replied. « Everybody will be there. Your sister, your uncles, your aunties, most of your cousins! And I have thought about everything. You will have dresses waiting for you in your room. »
« Daddy, I don't think it's a good idea. We came here to enjoy time with the both of you, not with people I haven't seen in … decades... » Callie said, noticing the panic growing in Arizona's eyes.
« Calliope, it's our way to offer you a party, for you, Arizona and this little one. We walked out of your wedding, let us give you this. Everybody is so eager to see your family and you! »
…..
Back and alone in their room after all the revelations and emotions, the fake couple were on edge.
Callie let herself fall on the bed, when Arizona went to the bathroom. She closed the doors behind her without a word to her ex-wife.
This day had been a nightmare and it was going to be worse tonight during that family party.
She would never be able to fit the dress Lucia had picked for her for sure. Even if her baby bump was easy to hide under shirts and blouses, it wouldn't be the same with a dress.
And after everything she had heard, felt and lived today, she was already exhausted. The pregnancy wasn't helping but she was here now, stuck in this stupid prank Callie had trapped her in.
But her level of stress grew higher when she noticed her bag had been opened and the first thing she could see was her prenatal vitamins sticking out.
She was now going to have to enter a liar game with Callie.
The brunette was not stupid, she would quickly put the pieces together and understand what was going on. The only thing she could hope for is that she would be too upset by her break up and her reunion with her mother to really care about anything else.
She turned on the tap and splashed fresh water on her face, trying to focus on the upcoming party. She had to find an excuse not to wear the dress.
She had to figure something out quickly.
« Arizona? » She heard Callie knocking at the door. « I... I just want you to know that … I just want to thank you. I know it's not easy for you to pretend. But you are doing great. So, thank you for that. »
From her side of the door, Callie was really upset.
Tears were filling her eyes. She was at a loss. As soon as Arizona lips had brushed her skin, she had felt like she felt the first time the blonde had introduced herself to her at Joe's, in the bathroom.
She had been totally taken by surprise and carried back to the kiss the blonde had given her that night.
So why had she felt that today, now that she was, or wasn't, in a relationship with a resident for whom she had crossed the country and left everything behind her for : friends, a job she loved, a hospital she had bought...
Something was wrong with what happened today. She was totally torn, lost and sad. But she was also so happy her mother was acting the way she was.
It was a miracle. Sofia was happy and Carlos was thrilled.
There was just her who was experiencing so many mixed feelings, she couldn't even put a finger on it, and Arizona who was always on edge and yet really into her role.
Arizona unlocked the door and walked out with the prenatal vitamins in her hand.
« Well, I don't know how I managed to do that, but it looks like I've picked up one of my patients' prescriptions instead of my usual vitamins. Isn't that funny? » Arizona said awkwardly, a fake smile plastered on her face. « I can be so self-absorbed sometimes... »
Callie looked at her with a puzzled expression. At least now she had an explanation for her earlier discovery.
« And about tonight, I'm not sure it's a good idea. I'm not feeling well. Between the flight, the heat and everything. I don't think I can last for that long. And I'm not putting on a dress. It's been a very long time since I wore one, and it will certainly not be happening tonight. And anyway, your family don't know me, they are only here for you and Sofia. I'm just … a patch. No one knows who I am and it's certainly for the best. Or your parents are going to believe things again and ….
« Arizona... » Callie pleaded. « Stop rambling. »
She smiled at her ex-wife. She loved it when she rambled. She was nervous and trying to drown the fish by talking too much and too fast. When they were together, Callie found it adorable, and it still was, but right now, she didn't know what was exactly bothering the blonde that much.
« Can you please come for one hour? » Callie asked as she approached the nervous woman from behind, who was now looking at the dresses Carlos and Lucia had picked for them.
« One hour... I can make it one hour, if I don't have to talk too much. » Arizona caved in.
« And you don't have to wear the red dress. » Callie whispered near her ear. « But that is a shame, because you would look stunning in it. »