Secret Santa Fic for walking_weapon: No Place Like Home For The Holidays
Title: No Place Like Home for the Holidays
for: walking_weapon
Pairing: Callie and Arizona
Summary: walking_weapon said that she wanted a fic that had absolutely nothing to do with Africa, and perhaps something to do with Callie and Arizona's families. Well, my muses took hold and now we have this. It's sort of long, so bear with me!
A/N: I've been feeling very baby-crazy lately, so I hope you'll enjoy toddler Liam.
A/N: Enjoy this, walking_weapon! And have a very Merry Christmas. :)
Snow blankets the city in a serene, calming fluffiness that looks far less dangerous than in reality. It impossibly piles up, burying cars, stacking on sidewalks, and collecting in corners of windows. Callie watches out the window, chewing her thumbnail nervously. She hates the fact that the snow could seriously be a detriment to their holiday plans. Their nativity scene is sunken down under inches of snow; baby Jesus nearly invisible beneath it. Callie sighs, and sips from her lukewarm mug of coffee, Sinatra’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas plays from the stereo, a log crackling in the fireplace. The whole set up is mystical, like something out of a movie scene, except something is missing. Well, four somethings are missing.
“Still no word?” Arizona whispers, taking a seat next to their sleeping two year old, who has been up for hours with a terrible ear infection and has fitfully fallen into an exhausted sleep.
“No, and I’m getting really nervous, I hope they’re all right. All four cells keep going to voice mail,” Callie’s tone matches Arizona’s, and the two exchange a worried glance.
This is their first Christmas with both sets of parents. Callie’s mother and father are flying in from Miami, and Arizona’s are coming in from Baltimore. Both should have been here before nine thirty, but now it’s flirting dangerously close with eleven am. Callie is worried, which is making Arizona worried. The back of her hand brushes back Liam’s curly chocolate locks as she touches his forehead. Callie can tell she’s worried about him, and the fact that her parents are late is very stressful as well. It’s only moments before the pacing begins.
“On the plus side, Li feels much cooler than eight o’clock this morning when he was reenacting Night of The Living Dead.”
“Poor kid,” Callie nods, smiling at the sight in front of her. Arizona tucks the blanket underneath their baby’s chin, and kisses his head, trying to distract her eyes from the piling snow. Arizona moves to the chair that Callie is sitting in and takes a seat on the arm, pressing a kiss onto her forehead.
“The worst that happened is they’re delayed. And that’s okay. Dinner will just be later, and Liam needs to rest. Abuelos and Mimi and Pap are going to stir him up. Don’t worry so much, okay? You look mad when you’re worried, and it’s Christmas Eve,” Arizona adds, cupping her wife’s cheek. “You can not be mad on Christmas Eve, I won’t allow it.”
Callie smiles and eyes the diamond on Arizona’s ring finger. It was four Christmas Eves ago when she gave her that ring, and there was no way she could let today sully that memory. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I just want this to be good for him, I want this to be a happy memory for him.”
Arizona laughs softly; grinning as she presses a kiss to Callie’s pouting lower lip.
“You’re starting to sound remarkably like me.”
“Oh, no. Bury me in the snow!” Callie feigns fright, dramatically lolling her head back.
Arizona punches her lightly in the arm, not enough to hurt her, but enough to elicit a gasp from the Latina, who grabs Arizona around the waist and pulls her in, giving her another kiss as she digs her fingers into her hips, tickling her.
At this, Liam’s messy curls lift from the couch as he wrinkles his nose. The cotton ball in his ear makes him look so tiny and vulnerable, and he groans. “Shh, Mama. Don’t be so loud!" His button nose wrinkles, sending the patch of freckles into deep furrows.
Arizona nods, “Yeah, don’t be so loud, Mama.”
“Yeah, Santa’s not gonna bring you no presents!” Liam continues, and Callie questions whether he really is her son, or if he secretly came from Arizona.
“Any presents, amor,” Callie adds.
Liam “humphs” and buries his head under the blanket. The last thing on his mind is grammar. “When’s Mimi and Pap and mis abuelos gonna see me?” Callie laughs at his histrionics, and moves over to sit next to him.
“Well, baby, there’s a lot of snow. Planes are hard to fly with all the snow."
His head peaks out and his bottle blues look at Callie seriously, “What about Santa?”
“Santa’s fine, bud,” Arizona adds, before coming to join him on the other side. “Those reindeer can see through tons of snow.”
“Maybe they shoulda gone wif Santa…” Liam laments, as he lays his head in Arizona’s lap. Callie frowns. She hates seeing him anything but chipper and happy, and his mopey little self just breaks her heart.
“Hmm, what’ll cheer my big guy up?” Callie asks, looking to the ceiling and thinking. “How about chocolate chip pancakes? And a big cup of apple juice?”
Liam momentarily rouses for this, but then shakes his head.
“No fank you, mama. Tummy is not hungry.”
“What about noodle soup?” Arizona asks, “We have some frozen from the last time Mama made that for you.”
“Mummy, no…” He shakes his head, pouting, rubbing his runny nose on his pajama sleeve.
“Do we have to call Santa?” Callie asks. “Let me make a call.”
As she gets up to “call” the big guy in the North Pole, Liam grumbles and says, “Okay, soup.”
“Excellent!” Arizona says and holds out her arms for him, which he crawls lethargically into. His head slips against her shoulder and she rubs his back through the fabric of his Scooby Doo pajamas. She hates when he’s sick, even with something as minor as a viral ear infection.
Callie hangs the phone up in its cradle and shuffles from the living room to the kitchen. She’s been dressed since seven this morning and adjusts her bright red sweater, preening over her stomach and black pants. As Arizona fetches the frozen soup, and a pot to heat it in, Callie can’t help but stare at her. The grey dress and black tights with the purple cardigan make her look even more stunning than usual. Especially since that pretty blond hair is pin straight and trickling past her shoulders.
Arizona catches her look and giggles softly, shaking her head. She mutely utters a “perv” behind Liam’s head, to which Callie looks offended and clutches her chest. “Not me!” She mouths back.
Liam rubs his eyes again and tugs at his ear, miserably awaiting his soup. He cracks a smile at Callie’s antics though, and even gives a little giggle. It makes Callie’s heart melt when he shoots her a singular-dimpled grin.
“Mama is silly,” he laughs still and Arizona stirs the thawing soup with him still in her arms.
“Oh, don’t I know it, partner.” Arizona giggles and kisses the side of his face.
Just then the doorbell rings, and Callie’s heart leaps out of her chest. She hurriedly moves out of the kitchen and into the front hall, her heels nosily clacking all the way to the front. She opens the door to a pair of nearly frozen Robbins’, and smiles to them both.
“Daniel and Amelia, you had me worried,” She breathes, ushering them in with a big hug around both of them. Daniel’s pea coat is dusted with snow, and the faux fur of Amelia’s hood is as well. They look tired, but smile when they see their daughter-in-law.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” Daniel smiles, pressing very cold lips against her cheek, around the stockpile of presents in his arms. “Sorry we’re late. Our flight was tied up in Nebraska. They’re getting walloped with snow out there.”
“She always looks beautiful, Daniel. Now, where is my grandson?”
“Right in the kitchen with Arizona. He’s a little sick, ear infection.” Callie explains while she hangs their coat on the rack.
“Oh, no, no.” Amelia frowns and shakes her head. “Some time with his Mimi should be just what he needs, hm?” She says definitively and walks into the kitchen.
Daniel smiles proudly at Callie and wraps his arm around her shoulder.
“Your home is so lovely, we’re so happy to be here today, Calliope, you have no idea.” And then he smiles at her in the same way that Arizona does and she giggles.
“Well, your daughter is pretty amazing and this house is so beautiful because of her. I’m also excited for you to meet my parents,” Callie adds, hugging her father in law around his middle. He walks with her through the foyer and into the kitchen.
“Same here, sweet pea,” He nods, and smiles at the sight of Liam sitting in his wife’s lap, while their daughter feeds him.“And there’s my boy!” Daniel booms, making Liam grin and salute. His spirits seem lifted already, despite his bum ear, and this tickles Callie.
“Pap!” He shouts through a mouthful of soup, dribbling some down his chin. He usually feeds himself, except for when he’s sick, and distracted by his grandparents. Arizona wipes his mouth with a laugh.
Amelia strokes his hair, kissing the back of his head.
“Look at all this hair! I love that you two are growing it out. He looks so hip and chic!”
“Well, thanks, mom. But he won’t let us cut it. He loves it. It is pretty great, though. Right, my man?” She asks Liam as he nods, fluttering pretty, long lashes at her.
“Callie, he favors you so much it’s scary!” Daniel remarks, crossing his arms over his sweater-clad chest. “He’s going to be quite the lady killer!” Callie feels warmth spreading through her at the scene, so happy to have everyone in tow. A pang of sadness fills her chest when she realizes that her parents aren’t here yet. She chews her nail again.
====
There’s a half hour left on the oven timer, and the smell of turkey is making Callie’s stomach hurt. She’s forgotten to eat, and the Christmas cookies from Arizona’s mom aren’t enough to satiate her. The call from her parents’ was so vague and hard to understand that she was mumbling curse words in Spanish under her breath. They said they would be here in an hour, and that was three hours ago.
Arizona is stirring the gravy on the stove while her parents dote over Liam in the other room, humoring him as he makes them watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, to which he knows most of the songs and sings them loudly, making Amelia laugh. Occasionally there’s a flash from their camera, and Callie knows how much her son is eating this up. Like his mummy, he loves having his picture taken.
Callie wraps her arms around Arizona’s waist from behind and nuzzles into her neck, the Dolce and Gabana Light Blue that she wears on special occasions flutters into her nose, and reminds the brunette of the first time they met at Joe’s. She kisses against the skin there, and feels Arizona press against her, before turning around in her arms.
“You in this dress is just…I can’t even handle it,” Callie admits, holding Arizona by her waist, smoothing over the grey material.
“What about these heels and slacks? You look… super amazing,” Arizona swallows the urge to press Callie into the ‘fridge and kiss her, extremely considering it, but then stops as she hears her father from the other room.
“You two need any help in there?” Daniel asks, “I’m going to make myself a drink I think.” The pair splits like a duo of caught teenagers, and Callie wipes her lipstick from Arizona’s neck.
“No Daddy, but if you need a drink feel free to make yourself one!” Arizona calls back, eyeing Callie carefully. “And behave,” She whispers to the woman.
“Okay, okay,” Callie mutters woefully, fetching a rocks glass for Daniel’s drink, adding ice and handing it to him as he walks in, along with the Scotch they kept for occasions like this.
Liam bounds into the room with cheeks red enough to match his button down. He let Amelia dress him, and Arizona grins at how adorable he looks with his shirt tucked into his faded jeans and the little black belt.
Her mother, always the stylish one.
Arizona swoops down to pick her baby boy up and kisses him on the cheek. He still feels cool to the touch, so the flushed cheeks must be from all the running around. And, the cotton ball is still in his ear.
This is a large victory.
“Where’s my abuelos?” He asks, pulling back to look at both moms, scrunching his face up to match the look on Callie’s. She’d almost forgotten that her parents were tragically late.
“I’m sure they’ll be here, tiger. Why don’t we let your moms cook and go watch The Grinch?” Daniel says, and Liam wriggles out of his mom’s arms, taking his grandfather’s hand.
“Your dad’s amazing with him, it’s so cute,” Callie comments, grinning at the sight of Daniel’s imposing form and the fact that Liam’s tiny hand can only comfortably hold three of his fingers.
“He’s a sucker for babies, and especially ones that look like you, I’m assuming. He’ll rave about you to me on Monday,” Arizona smiles. “And this turkey’s almost done. Want to try calling your mom and dad?”
Callie sighs and picks up the phone; dialing the number she’s been trying all day. It goes straight to “This is the voice mail box of Carlos Torres,…” and she hangs up.
“They’ll be here, Calliope.” Arizona pats Callie’s shoulder and starts preparing to serve the meal.
=====
Much to Callie’s dismay, her parents do not arrive in time for dinner. Even though Arizona’s stall tactics of spontaneous photography are very sweet and delay dinner for another forty minutes, they eat their meal without the Torres’. Liam even eats some turkey and mashed potatoes because his Pap tells him he’ll grow big and strong if he does. This is enough for Liam, always listening to his Pap. Callie is just grateful that her boy is eating, and that his ear infection isn’t bothering him.
“So,” Amelia asks as she wipes her mouth on her festive green napkin. “Any more grandchildren in the future?”
Callie grins and Arizona blushes and chokes on her water. Liam looks at Daniel, shrugging his shoulders.
“Mom…” Arizona admonishes, clearing her throat, trying to cough to regulate her breathing. “Blunt much?”
“What?” Amelia asks as she sips her wine. “You’ve got such a perfect boy,” She strokes Liam’s cheek fondly, “Why not a few more?”
“I’m perfect!” Liam shouts, eliciting a long chuckle from Daniel.
“We haven’t thought about it, much, honestly,” Arizona defends and looks down at her green beans, shuffling them on her plate.Callie furrows her brows and takes Arizona’s hand, knowing that her mother-in-law can be a little…blunt after a few glasses of Shiraz. She can tell by the way her usually pallid complexion is tainted with pink, and the way those big blue eyes sparkle. Arizona is the same way after a few drinks.
“Well, I’m certainly just asking, Arizona,” Amelia says tersely, taking another drink from her wine glass.
“Can I have a brudder?” Liam asks, resting his head in his hand. “I don’t want a sister.”
Arizona’s cheeks are red now and she sips deeply from her water goblet. Callie knows the battle inside of her head. It took years for Arizona to mentally ready herself for children, and she was absolutely a nervous wreck while Callie was pregnant. She wouldn’t even let Callie drive anymore, or lift anything. If Arizona were the one carrying the baby…Callie’s not sure what would happen. She shudders, and Arizona gently kicks her underneath the table.
“Who’s up for some dessert?” Daniel says with a grin, disarming the glowering face Arizona is giving her mother. “I’ve been eyeballing that cheesecake from the moment I walked in here.”
“You can thank Callie for that. She made it from scratch…and the raspberry topping,” Arizona adds.
Her mind goes to the night they had with the leftover reduction, and how Callie dripped the cooled sweetness right between her breasts, and along her inner thigh…
And then cleaned it up with her tongue.
“Oh, it’s really good. I’m totally taking the credit for that!” Callie smiles, giving one of those million watt grins to her in-laws.
Arizona strokes a hand through her straightened locks. “Oh, so, so good.”
The two share a knowing smile before Callie’s standing and clearing the plates away, giving Liam another roll to eat, because she’s so happy that he’s eaten three-quarters’ of his plate. Arizona assures her all the time that kids go through this phase of not particularly wanting to eat, so watching him scarf down another buttered treat elates her.
A pounding knock at the door startles Callie whom nearly drops the china in her hands, hastily depositing the plates into the sink and rushing through the foyer to the front door. She can see her parents standing there, shivering.
They so hate that of all the places for Callie to become an Attending is freezing, blustery Seattle.
“Daddy!” She shouts after tearing open the door to accept the bear hug that her father pulls her into. Her mother looks absolutely nonplussed about this weather and all but collapses against Calliope. They’re both frozen, and set their bags of gifts down on the runner in the hall.
“Do I hear someone’s Abuelos?” Arizona asks as she carries Liam into the room who makes grabby-hands for his Abuelo and accepts the kisses from his Abuela.
“Arizona,” Carlos smiles and pulls her into a hug, kissing both of her cheeks.
“Oh, look at this baby!” Ariana Torres gushes, taking him gently from his mother, “How is my little beautiful angelo?”
“Abuela!” He drones, groaning, “I’m not beautiful, I’m handsome!”
She laughs, and puts a hand to her chest. “How could I forget-handsome!”
Ariana gently puts Liam down as she looks at her daughter after wrapping her up in a warm hug. “Arizona, are you feeding her? She looks so thin!” She says after pulling away.
Arizona clenches her jaw and slips an arm around Callie’s waist. “She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?”
“Ma, you know how long it took me to lose the baby weight, I feel good. I really do. I look the same as I did before I got pregnant.” Callie smiles and presses a kiss to Arizona’s face. She notices her mother breezes by them at that instant.
“Maybe so, mija, but your mother is just worried about you. You know how she can be,” Carlos adds, ruffling Liam’s chestnut curls.
It’s three minutes into her parents being here, and she’s rolling her eyes already.
“Why don’t I make some coffee, and you guys come in and get warm,” Arizona gestures, guiding the two inside the door, to where Daniel and Amelia are standing, smiling some.
Callie loves the way Arizona says coffee.
After admiring her wife’s intonation, it dawns on her that neither side has ever met the other. Even when they got married, they just went and did it, got hitched and visited the families separately, their witnesses being Cristina Yang and Teddy Altman (who both bawled like babies, although they would never admit it if someone asked).
Arizona’s mom is kind of tipsy and grinning. “Hello, such a pleasure to meet you. I’m Amelia, this is my husband Daniel.”
Ariana Torres is Callie in twenty years. She’s got long, thick black hair past her shoulders in waves. Those lips and eyes remind Arizona of Callie without question, but the thing that really gets her is that laugh. They have the same laugh. And it makes Arizona grin, broadly.
While the couples make small talk about flying in the weather and how cold it is here, Arizona and Callie set about cleaning the kitchen. After chit chat, the crowd dissipates. Carlos and Daniel are off in the other room, discussing the cigars Carlos brought from Miami. It’s only a matter of time before Daniel mentions his military connections and Carlos is clapping the taller man on the shoulder.
As the last of the leftovers are put away into Tupperware and the kitchen looks presentable once more, Arizona listens as Liam chatters happily to his Mimi and Abuela who take turns showering him with kisses and compliments. Just by the tone in the little man’s voice, he is totally eating it up.
Arizona, happy to have a moment with her wife, leans against the counter and motions Callie over with a come-hither curl of her forefinger. Callie, realizing everyone else is distracted, doesn’t miss a beat and smiles to the woman, pressing her lips against the other pair. “Such a beautiful night…” She whispers, and Arizona’s fingers wind in her hair.
They’re kissing like this when Amelia walks into the kitchen, smiling, “Ariana, see what I mean? They act like two teenagers all the time and they don’t want to give us more babies.”
Callie whips around like she’s on fire and bites her lower lip, “Sorry, I…”
“Callie, you don’t need to be sorry. My daughter’s your wife. Don’t be silly.” Amelia playfully swats at her sweater-clad arm.
Ariana stiffens, however, still not quite used to the blatant displays of affection. The Robbins’ have known about Arizona since high school, whereas this is a much more recent development for the Torres’. She bristles and walks past them, fetching a glass of wine for herself, and then walks back out of the room.
Callie shakes her head.
“Shit,” She whispers to Arizona, who gives her mom a knowing look, and lets the Latina out of the room.
“Was it something I said?” Amelia asks, feeling a pang of guilt.
“No, Mom, I think this is just something they need to talk about.” Arizona smiles and slides her arm around her mom’s shoulders. “Thanks for coming, by the way,” She adds and kisses her mom’s cheek.
“Oh, sweetie. I remember being just like that with you. I’d get so upset seeing you kissing your girlfriends, but now…. I mean, I can’t imagine it any differently. Calliope is a dream, honestly. And your son…Danny would be so happy to see you this happy, darling. He would.”
Arizona smiles warmly. “I know, I know…”
“I know, honey. Now, let’s get a baby girl that you can name after your mom, what do you say?” Amelia asks, listening to the scene unfold between Callie and her mother. Arizona pretends to be intently focused on the stomping and yelling upstairs.
Arizona can hear rushed, loud Spanish and something about “I’m your daughter, and she’s my wife,” and she goes into the living room where Liam is dozing on the couch.
“Come on, mister man. Mimi said she wants to read to you, and then it’s bed time. Okay? Santa’s coming, and if he sees you awake he’ll fly right over the house.”
Liam looks at his mummy, debating on a protest but then walks over to his Mimi who picks him up. He rubs his eyes and rests his head on the older woman’s shoulder, yawning as he’s walked over to Arizona.
“I love you Mummy,” He says as he kisses her very softly on the corner of her mouth. He doesn’t even fight her on bedtime because he’s sleepy, and after two books he’ll be snoring soundly.
“I love you my sweet boy,” She whispers back, hearing the door to the bedroom slam. She needs to break this up before there’s a serious fight, and Christmas is ruined, and Liam goes to preschool talking about how loud and insane his two moms are.
Definitely not needed.
And she’s always been pretty good at damage control. Except for a few, choice years ago… when she happened to pick Africa over Callie. Other than that, though… solid.
She makes a bee line for the bedroom door and knocks.
“Um, hi, sorry. I just… I don’t mean to interrupt, but Liam’s going to bed, and,” She pauses, “He wants to say night to his Abuela.”
Ariana opens the door after a minute and forces a smile for Arizona while Callie watches her walk away with sad eyes. Arizona knows that in moments Callie will be crying. She folds her arms around her to stop the tears from falling.
“You have to give her some time. She’s not used to this. She may need a period of adjustment,” Arizona soothes.
“She’s just so nitpicky. About everything. I shouldn’t have to not kiss you in front of my parents. Ever. We have a baby together. A home. A freaking family. When’s she going to get that I’m not going to ride off into the sunset with a man?” Callie seethes, letting off a frustrated sigh.
Arizona strokes Callie’s hair.
“I know, but remember your dad? Look at him now. He no longer wants me skinned alive, and he loves Liam, and you. She just needs some time is all.” The blond is reminded of a similar conversation about this that they had years ago, except that was almost eight years ago, and she was chastising Callie.
“Plus some families just aren’t okay with PDA, ever…” Arizona offers. “I don’t mind saving my kisses until your mom is more comfortable. She just needs a second. I know you love me. I love you. And we love Liam. And she should see that. And if she doesn’t, she’s missing out. But she’ll see it. ‘Cause we’re awesome. And he’s the most awesome child in the world.”
Arizona elects to keep the she’s just like you to herself to stave off another fight.
“I know, I know.” Callie huffs as she rests her head against Arizona’s. Her speeches never fail to soothe her.
====
After Ariana and Amelia each read Liam a book, Arizona and Callie are exhausted, wanting to go to bed. Arizona opts to set the moms up in their respective guest rooms while Callie is the first to bid the dads goodnight. The pair have been talking for hours, seated in the living room watching White Christmas. Their personalities instantly click, and Callie smiles as she hears Carlos laughing at something Daniel’s just said.
“Daddy, Daniel, we’re going to sleep, alright? If you need anything, our door is the last one on the right.”
“Thank you, hija. We cut into your dessert. Dios Mio who taught you how to bake?” Carlos asks, adjusting the robe he’s changed into and crossing his pajama-clad leg.
“I think it’s a Mom prerequisite or something,” Callie says with a grin and kisses her dad’s balding head.
Daniel gets up and hugs Callie, kissing her on the cheek.
“Thanks, Calliope. If Arizona isn’t passed out already, would you tell her to come down for a moment?”
“Of course, goodnight you two,” She says and walks up the stairs, grinning at how famously they’re getting along.
Arizona has just gotten done showing her mom to her room. Callie feels her heart sink when she notices the light is out in her parents’ room, and the door is closed. Perhaps it’s just best to let it go for the night, and to reassess it in the morning.
“Goodnight, Amelia,” Callie says from behind the slightly open door.
“Oh, goodnight Calliope. I’m sorry, I’d come say goodnight, but I think that wine has gone straight to my head!” Amelia calls in return.
“Tell me about it,” Arizona whispers, before increasing the volume of her voice. “Night, mom!”
“Night Peanut, love you!”
“Peanut…” Callie says adoringly with a wide smile.
“Let’s go check on Liam,” Arizona says after swatting at her wife’s backside playfully.
Liam is presumably sleeping, but upon the door opening shoots straight up, throwing the blue duvet off of his body. “Did Santa come?”
“No, handsome. Not ‘til the morning.” Callie says as she sits on the edge of his bed, grinning.
“Yep, and then you can wake up and open up your presents, and Mimi, Pap, and tus abuelos will still all be here!” Arizona reminds him and he giggles, sleepily.
“Will Santa remember that they’re sleepin’ over here?” Liam asks, and Callie can see the concern etched on his face despite the darkness of the room.
“Yep. Santa’s magic, he never gets lost,” Callie adds.
“Mama, you always get lost,” He yawns. Callie huffs, and grins, while Arizona smooths her fingers across his cheek.
“It’s a good thing Santa isn’t mama, huh?” The blond whispers.
“Yeah,” He says sleepily. “Good fing.”
“Night, night,” He says, and Arizona knows all the excitement from today is finally catching up to him. “Love you.” He sighs contentedly, and it makes Callie’s heart skip a beat. No matter how many times she hears it from him.
“Love you, baby…” Arizona says and Callie kisses his cheek, whispering her I love you into his bum ear. Poor buddy.
After tiptoeing out of the room, the moms close Liam’s door and share an exasperated look. Today has been a roller coaster of stress, between their sick baby and their parents, the tiff with Ariana Torres and the weather. Callie can’t wait to go to sleep, since they’ll have to be up to play Santa before Liam rouses, and she wants to make breakfast for the families.
Arizona smiles and presses a warm kiss against her wife’s forehead.
“Your dad wants to see you downstairs,” Callie remembers, even though she wants to melt into those arms and that kiss.
Arizona sighs, wanting the same exact thing. To be curled up around this woman while the falling snow illuminates their room.
She dutifully trudges downstairs, catching Carlos and her father with a half eaten cheesecake in the middle of them while White Christmas is on. It’s so adorable; she feels bad putting a hand on her father’s shoulder and shaking him from his reverie.
“Hi, dad,” She says softly. Daniel looks up at his daughter and then over to Carlos, who nods expectantly and gets up.
“I’m very tired,” he explains. “Goodnight, Arizona. Daniel. Thank you again for dinner, we will see you and Mrs. Claus in the morning.”
Arizona grins and nods, “’Night Carlos,.”
Once he’s up the stairs, and Arizona hears his door close, she looks at her father.
“Are you okay, dad?”
“Yes, yes. I just wanted to talk to you is all,” Her heart rate quickens, but she relents when she sees him smile, dimples appearing in his clean shaven cheeks. “I’m just…very proud of you, Arizona.”
“Daddy…” She sighs, feeling choked up.
It took a lot for Daniel Robbins to say that to her. And it almost made up for all the times she yearned to hear it as a teenager as well as most of her adult years.
“I’m serious. Your home, your son… your wife.” He swallows and takes one of his daughter’s hands. “You’ve grown into the woman I’d hoped you’d become, and then some…” He explains. “And you’re raising a fine young boy.” Arizona’s lip is quivering. She can’t help the tears that fall from her eyes, and her father wipes them away.
“Well, I learned how to be a great person from the best of people.” He smiles and pulls her in for a hug. She suspects from the way he roughly sniffles that he’s crying, too. Since retirement he’s gone a little bit soft. But just a little bit. And she’d never point it out. He pulls away, and smiles.
“Go to sleep, Arizona. I’ll tidy up down here,” He says as he settles back into the chair. Arizona is beaming at him in the utmost pride and love.
“Thanks, Dad. I love you. Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Arizona,” He says as his eyes fixate on Bing Crosby once more. “I love you, too.”
There was a lot of saying those words today, and Arizona was more than okay with that.
=====
She climbs the stairs to their bedroom where Callie is pulling Liam’s toys out so they can take them downstairs in a few hours. Arizona joins her and the two manage to create a pretty decently sized pile, not to mention the smaller one for their parents. Together they manage to get the gifts together, and Arizona sighs. Happy that bed is near, and she can be out of that dress.
“Unzip me?” She asks Callie, who does so without hesitation, pulling the zipper down at the back of the dress. She presses one kiss to the bare skin there. It’s so reverent that Arizona almost cries, but she chalks that up to feeling emotional about what her dad said.
She shrugs out of her dress and into a short night gown. She usually wears next to nothing to bed, but it’s too risky with all the people in the house. Callie does the same, opting in for a long, loose shirt that falls just above her knee. She crawls into the sheets, pulling her arms around Arizona.
“Was your dad okay?” Callie asks, and Arizona nods.
“He was,” She pauses and turns so she’s facing Callie in their moonlit room. “He said he was proud of me. And Liam. And you.” She swallows the lump forming in her throat.
“Oh, Arizona…” Callie says softly and pulls her in, letting Arizona’s happy tears fall into her hair. It’s the sweetest way she can think to end today, and falls asleep trading heavy-eyed kisses with her wife. Words aren’t necessary now, everything that’s anything has been said with nothing at all.
====
The shrill sound of “Presents!” awakens Arizona from slumber. Callie’s wrapped around her, snoring like a lumberjack and she elbows her very gently. She rolls over, and pokes Callie’s nose before pressing a kiss to her lips.
“Wake up, sleepy head. It’s Christmas,” She mumbles in a hushed smile and Callie replies with a “Nnynnhgg, but we were just up three hours ago lugging all those damn boxes downstairs.”
The rapping in the door makes Callie bury her head in the pillow, but Liam bursts through and dive bombs into the bed anyway, despite her resistance. He wraps his arms around Arizona’s neck and wills her to come forward.
“Mummy, Mama, Santa brought us all presents!”
Callie fumbles for the alarm clock. It’s only 6:18. She whimpers.
“Mama, even for you!” Liam sounds surprised, and Arizona looks away.
This has nothing to do with how often Arizona tells her Santa isn’t bringing her anything.
Arizona smiles and presses a kiss to Liam’s head, his curls completely awry after sleeping through the night. She slips out of bed and puts on her robe.
“Come on, squirt, let’s make coffee and let your Mama the grizzly bear wake up,”
Liam accepts this proposition and runs ahead of his Mummy, certain to knock on both guest bedrooms. All four grandparents make some semblance of a noise that sounds something like Callie, and Arizona hears everyone shuffling in their bedrooms. It’s the best feeling she’s had on Christmas, yet.
Well, except for the one where she woke up next to Calliope with a ring on her finger.
Or the first one with Liam.
This is a close third, though.
As they reach the kitchen, Liam opens the last drawer and uses it as leverage so he can climb onto the counter while Arizona works. She offers him a sippy of Orange Juice, which he takes and sips deeply, pulling back with an, “Ah!”
“Someone’s feeling better,” She smiles as he wiggles excitedly on the counter. On any other day except today she’d make him get off of there in an instant. But it’s Christmas.
She scoops the coffee into the pot, adding the maximum amount of water, and opening the cupboard where the mugs stayed. She counts six, and places them readily on the counter, leaning against it while the coffee brews, wishing she could will it to go faster with her mind.
“Mama?” Liam asks from behind her.
“Yes, Li?” She retorts, knowing from his tone that this is going to be good, turning around to face him.
“Can I have a brudder?” His face is very serious.
Arizona pales and stares at her son for a moment. She smiles, then thinks for a moment. It’s not that she doesn’t want anymore children, it’s just…terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
“A brother would be fun, huh?” Arizona smiles and smooths down his hair. There’s no dice, though. It’s sticking straight up and only a bath and a scouring of shampoo will fix it.
“Yeah, really fun!” He enthuses, drinking more juice. “I’d be nice to him, too.” Liam adds. “Promise.”
She smiles, wondering what life was like before him. Sure, it was wonderful. Her job, her wife, her family. But, with Liam… things were just whole, a perfect circle. He made everything worthwhile. Arizona thinks of Danny just then, remembering all of the fun, the laughter.
“Okay, buddy. I promise you, a brother, sometime soon…” And instead of the pang of fear, her stomach washes with butterflies. She even surprises herself sometimes.
She can hear footsteps behind her, very familiar ones, and she grins without turning around.
“Morning sleepy grizzly bear,” But when she hears a clearing of a throat that isn’t so familiar she spins around.
“Oh, my God. Ariana, you… I’m so sorry I thought you were Calliope,” She gives a sheepish grin. They even walk the same way. It’s kind of scary.
Ariana looks different than last night, softer. She takes one of the mugs and pours herself a cup of coffee. “When are you going to start calling me Mama, hmm?” She asks the girl and kisses Liam’s head.
Well, this is certainly a Christmas miracle.
Callie is the next one in the room, barely speaking as she shuffles her feet forward to the coffee, grunting. This tickles Liam, who just about falls over with laughter.
“Grizzly Mama!” He shouts.
Callie takes a sip of coffee and kisses Liam’s face. “Tell Santa to come at 8:30 next Christmas, wouldja?”
She moves over to Ariana next and kisses her cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mamacita,”
“Merry Christmas, hija,”
When it comes to Arizona’s turn, Callie chastely hugs her, and Arizona returns it without question.
Ariana scoffs and says to Liam, “Why don’t you go get your Pap and Abuelo tell them their coffee is getting cold and we’re going to send their presents back to Santa if they don’t get in here this instant!”
Liam does as his Abuela tells him and pounds up the stairs shouting, “Pap! Abuelo!”
The older Torres woman walks over to the pair.
“Arizona, I heard what you were saying to Liam, and I’ve been… how can I put this and still remain a lady…unfair?”
Callie wonders what the conversation was and tightens her robe. Whatever it is, it’s early, and this coffee isn’t kicking in yet.
“It just… is different for me to see her with a woman,” Ariana admits and Arizona nods understandingly. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, and my grandson very much in my own way. You make her happy, and that makes me happy.”
“Thank you,” Callie says as she hugs her mother warmly, Arizona smiles at the pair.
“What were you saying to Liam?” Callie asks casually, sipping her coffee.
“Well…” Arizona trails off.
“Liam was very sweetly asking for a baby brother, and, well, Arizona told him that she thought that was a good idea,” Ariana claps her hands together on her chest, looking remarkably ecstatic at the news.
Callie has to set her coffee down. “Really?” She exclaims. Sounding as excited as she did the first time she heard the words, You’re pregnant from her OBGYN.
“I mean, we still have to…” Arizona defends, drowned out by the flourish of laughter and shouting.
“What’s all this fuss about?” Amelia asks as she pours herself a cup of coffee. Daniel enters behind Carlos who has Liam up on his shoulders.
“Um, well,” Arizona fidgets nervously with her hands and clears her throat, “Nothing really just…”
“Arizona wants to have another baby,” Callie blurts out, and Amelia shouts out her joy while Carlos and Daniel smile to one another.
Liam clambers down from his Abuelo’s shoulders and listens to the commotion of adults, watching them hug and kiss his mama, as well as Mummy. He sighs and buries his face in his hands.
“I think you guys are forgettin’ that SANTA CAME TO TOWN.” He sighs, “Can we talk about my baby brudder later?”
Arizona speaks first. “Yep! Yep! To the presents!”
Kids are so useful sometimes.
The rest of the room erupts into a guffaw, only coming down from it when Liam crosses his arms across his chest and wails dramatically. “Seriously!”
Callie lets the rest of the family follow Liam into the living room where all the presents are arranged beneath the tree and grabs Arizona by the wrist.
“Hey, don’t go getting lost in your head. We’ll talk about this when all this Christmas stuff is done, okay?” She kisses Arizona’s cheek. “But for the record, I think Liam’s more excited than I am, if that’s possible.”
Arizona sighs, and then smiles. She’s actually looking forward to talking about this later, so that has to count for something.
“I love you Calliope Torres. Merry Christmas, gorgeous.”
“Merry Christmas, mi amor…”
The pair walk into the room hand in hand with just enough time for Liam to open his first gift, watching the snow fall outside the window and their parents clicking cameras at their main attraction. Liam pulls a truck out and shouts his first
“Thank you, Santa!”
They smile to one another and share a kiss.
Even though coffee breath kisses aren’t the best, they’re blessed, and they know it.
for: walking_weapon
Pairing: Callie and Arizona
Summary: walking_weapon said that she wanted a fic that had absolutely nothing to do with Africa, and perhaps something to do with Callie and Arizona's families. Well, my muses took hold and now we have this. It's sort of long, so bear with me!
A/N: I've been feeling very baby-crazy lately, so I hope you'll enjoy toddler Liam.
A/N: Enjoy this, walking_weapon! And have a very Merry Christmas. :)
Snow blankets the city in a serene, calming fluffiness that looks far less dangerous than in reality. It impossibly piles up, burying cars, stacking on sidewalks, and collecting in corners of windows. Callie watches out the window, chewing her thumbnail nervously. She hates the fact that the snow could seriously be a detriment to their holiday plans. Their nativity scene is sunken down under inches of snow; baby Jesus nearly invisible beneath it. Callie sighs, and sips from her lukewarm mug of coffee, Sinatra’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas plays from the stereo, a log crackling in the fireplace. The whole set up is mystical, like something out of a movie scene, except something is missing. Well, four somethings are missing.
“Still no word?” Arizona whispers, taking a seat next to their sleeping two year old, who has been up for hours with a terrible ear infection and has fitfully fallen into an exhausted sleep.
“No, and I’m getting really nervous, I hope they’re all right. All four cells keep going to voice mail,” Callie’s tone matches Arizona’s, and the two exchange a worried glance.
This is their first Christmas with both sets of parents. Callie’s mother and father are flying in from Miami, and Arizona’s are coming in from Baltimore. Both should have been here before nine thirty, but now it’s flirting dangerously close with eleven am. Callie is worried, which is making Arizona worried. The back of her hand brushes back Liam’s curly chocolate locks as she touches his forehead. Callie can tell she’s worried about him, and the fact that her parents are late is very stressful as well. It’s only moments before the pacing begins.
“On the plus side, Li feels much cooler than eight o’clock this morning when he was reenacting Night of The Living Dead.”
“Poor kid,” Callie nods, smiling at the sight in front of her. Arizona tucks the blanket underneath their baby’s chin, and kisses his head, trying to distract her eyes from the piling snow. Arizona moves to the chair that Callie is sitting in and takes a seat on the arm, pressing a kiss onto her forehead.
“The worst that happened is they’re delayed. And that’s okay. Dinner will just be later, and Liam needs to rest. Abuelos and Mimi and Pap are going to stir him up. Don’t worry so much, okay? You look mad when you’re worried, and it’s Christmas Eve,” Arizona adds, cupping her wife’s cheek. “You can not be mad on Christmas Eve, I won’t allow it.”
Callie smiles and eyes the diamond on Arizona’s ring finger. It was four Christmas Eves ago when she gave her that ring, and there was no way she could let today sully that memory. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I just want this to be good for him, I want this to be a happy memory for him.”
Arizona laughs softly; grinning as she presses a kiss to Callie’s pouting lower lip.
“You’re starting to sound remarkably like me.”
“Oh, no. Bury me in the snow!” Callie feigns fright, dramatically lolling her head back.
Arizona punches her lightly in the arm, not enough to hurt her, but enough to elicit a gasp from the Latina, who grabs Arizona around the waist and pulls her in, giving her another kiss as she digs her fingers into her hips, tickling her.
At this, Liam’s messy curls lift from the couch as he wrinkles his nose. The cotton ball in his ear makes him look so tiny and vulnerable, and he groans. “Shh, Mama. Don’t be so loud!" His button nose wrinkles, sending the patch of freckles into deep furrows.
Arizona nods, “Yeah, don’t be so loud, Mama.”
“Yeah, Santa’s not gonna bring you no presents!” Liam continues, and Callie questions whether he really is her son, or if he secretly came from Arizona.
“Any presents, amor,” Callie adds.
Liam “humphs” and buries his head under the blanket. The last thing on his mind is grammar. “When’s Mimi and Pap and mis abuelos gonna see me?” Callie laughs at his histrionics, and moves over to sit next to him.
“Well, baby, there’s a lot of snow. Planes are hard to fly with all the snow."
His head peaks out and his bottle blues look at Callie seriously, “What about Santa?”
“Santa’s fine, bud,” Arizona adds, before coming to join him on the other side. “Those reindeer can see through tons of snow.”
“Maybe they shoulda gone wif Santa…” Liam laments, as he lays his head in Arizona’s lap. Callie frowns. She hates seeing him anything but chipper and happy, and his mopey little self just breaks her heart.
“Hmm, what’ll cheer my big guy up?” Callie asks, looking to the ceiling and thinking. “How about chocolate chip pancakes? And a big cup of apple juice?”
Liam momentarily rouses for this, but then shakes his head.
“No fank you, mama. Tummy is not hungry.”
“What about noodle soup?” Arizona asks, “We have some frozen from the last time Mama made that for you.”
“Mummy, no…” He shakes his head, pouting, rubbing his runny nose on his pajama sleeve.
“Do we have to call Santa?” Callie asks. “Let me make a call.”
As she gets up to “call” the big guy in the North Pole, Liam grumbles and says, “Okay, soup.”
“Excellent!” Arizona says and holds out her arms for him, which he crawls lethargically into. His head slips against her shoulder and she rubs his back through the fabric of his Scooby Doo pajamas. She hates when he’s sick, even with something as minor as a viral ear infection.
Callie hangs the phone up in its cradle and shuffles from the living room to the kitchen. She’s been dressed since seven this morning and adjusts her bright red sweater, preening over her stomach and black pants. As Arizona fetches the frozen soup, and a pot to heat it in, Callie can’t help but stare at her. The grey dress and black tights with the purple cardigan make her look even more stunning than usual. Especially since that pretty blond hair is pin straight and trickling past her shoulders.
Arizona catches her look and giggles softly, shaking her head. She mutely utters a “perv” behind Liam’s head, to which Callie looks offended and clutches her chest. “Not me!” She mouths back.
Liam rubs his eyes again and tugs at his ear, miserably awaiting his soup. He cracks a smile at Callie’s antics though, and even gives a little giggle. It makes Callie’s heart melt when he shoots her a singular-dimpled grin.
“Mama is silly,” he laughs still and Arizona stirs the thawing soup with him still in her arms.
“Oh, don’t I know it, partner.” Arizona giggles and kisses the side of his face.
Just then the doorbell rings, and Callie’s heart leaps out of her chest. She hurriedly moves out of the kitchen and into the front hall, her heels nosily clacking all the way to the front. She opens the door to a pair of nearly frozen Robbins’, and smiles to them both.
“Daniel and Amelia, you had me worried,” She breathes, ushering them in with a big hug around both of them. Daniel’s pea coat is dusted with snow, and the faux fur of Amelia’s hood is as well. They look tired, but smile when they see their daughter-in-law.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” Daniel smiles, pressing very cold lips against her cheek, around the stockpile of presents in his arms. “Sorry we’re late. Our flight was tied up in Nebraska. They’re getting walloped with snow out there.”
“She always looks beautiful, Daniel. Now, where is my grandson?”
“Right in the kitchen with Arizona. He’s a little sick, ear infection.” Callie explains while she hangs their coat on the rack.
“Oh, no, no.” Amelia frowns and shakes her head. “Some time with his Mimi should be just what he needs, hm?” She says definitively and walks into the kitchen.
Daniel smiles proudly at Callie and wraps his arm around her shoulder.
“Your home is so lovely, we’re so happy to be here today, Calliope, you have no idea.” And then he smiles at her in the same way that Arizona does and she giggles.
“Well, your daughter is pretty amazing and this house is so beautiful because of her. I’m also excited for you to meet my parents,” Callie adds, hugging her father in law around his middle. He walks with her through the foyer and into the kitchen.
“Same here, sweet pea,” He nods, and smiles at the sight of Liam sitting in his wife’s lap, while their daughter feeds him.“And there’s my boy!” Daniel booms, making Liam grin and salute. His spirits seem lifted already, despite his bum ear, and this tickles Callie.
“Pap!” He shouts through a mouthful of soup, dribbling some down his chin. He usually feeds himself, except for when he’s sick, and distracted by his grandparents. Arizona wipes his mouth with a laugh.
Amelia strokes his hair, kissing the back of his head.
“Look at all this hair! I love that you two are growing it out. He looks so hip and chic!”
“Well, thanks, mom. But he won’t let us cut it. He loves it. It is pretty great, though. Right, my man?” She asks Liam as he nods, fluttering pretty, long lashes at her.
“Callie, he favors you so much it’s scary!” Daniel remarks, crossing his arms over his sweater-clad chest. “He’s going to be quite the lady killer!” Callie feels warmth spreading through her at the scene, so happy to have everyone in tow. A pang of sadness fills her chest when she realizes that her parents aren’t here yet. She chews her nail again.
====
There’s a half hour left on the oven timer, and the smell of turkey is making Callie’s stomach hurt. She’s forgotten to eat, and the Christmas cookies from Arizona’s mom aren’t enough to satiate her. The call from her parents’ was so vague and hard to understand that she was mumbling curse words in Spanish under her breath. They said they would be here in an hour, and that was three hours ago.
Arizona is stirring the gravy on the stove while her parents dote over Liam in the other room, humoring him as he makes them watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, to which he knows most of the songs and sings them loudly, making Amelia laugh. Occasionally there’s a flash from their camera, and Callie knows how much her son is eating this up. Like his mummy, he loves having his picture taken.
Callie wraps her arms around Arizona’s waist from behind and nuzzles into her neck, the Dolce and Gabana Light Blue that she wears on special occasions flutters into her nose, and reminds the brunette of the first time they met at Joe’s. She kisses against the skin there, and feels Arizona press against her, before turning around in her arms.
“You in this dress is just…I can’t even handle it,” Callie admits, holding Arizona by her waist, smoothing over the grey material.
“What about these heels and slacks? You look… super amazing,” Arizona swallows the urge to press Callie into the ‘fridge and kiss her, extremely considering it, but then stops as she hears her father from the other room.
“You two need any help in there?” Daniel asks, “I’m going to make myself a drink I think.” The pair splits like a duo of caught teenagers, and Callie wipes her lipstick from Arizona’s neck.
“No Daddy, but if you need a drink feel free to make yourself one!” Arizona calls back, eyeing Callie carefully. “And behave,” She whispers to the woman.
“Okay, okay,” Callie mutters woefully, fetching a rocks glass for Daniel’s drink, adding ice and handing it to him as he walks in, along with the Scotch they kept for occasions like this.
Liam bounds into the room with cheeks red enough to match his button down. He let Amelia dress him, and Arizona grins at how adorable he looks with his shirt tucked into his faded jeans and the little black belt.
Her mother, always the stylish one.
Arizona swoops down to pick her baby boy up and kisses him on the cheek. He still feels cool to the touch, so the flushed cheeks must be from all the running around. And, the cotton ball is still in his ear.
This is a large victory.
“Where’s my abuelos?” He asks, pulling back to look at both moms, scrunching his face up to match the look on Callie’s. She’d almost forgotten that her parents were tragically late.
“I’m sure they’ll be here, tiger. Why don’t we let your moms cook and go watch The Grinch?” Daniel says, and Liam wriggles out of his mom’s arms, taking his grandfather’s hand.
“Your dad’s amazing with him, it’s so cute,” Callie comments, grinning at the sight of Daniel’s imposing form and the fact that Liam’s tiny hand can only comfortably hold three of his fingers.
“He’s a sucker for babies, and especially ones that look like you, I’m assuming. He’ll rave about you to me on Monday,” Arizona smiles. “And this turkey’s almost done. Want to try calling your mom and dad?”
Callie sighs and picks up the phone; dialing the number she’s been trying all day. It goes straight to “This is the voice mail box of Carlos Torres,…” and she hangs up.
“They’ll be here, Calliope.” Arizona pats Callie’s shoulder and starts preparing to serve the meal.
=====
Much to Callie’s dismay, her parents do not arrive in time for dinner. Even though Arizona’s stall tactics of spontaneous photography are very sweet and delay dinner for another forty minutes, they eat their meal without the Torres’. Liam even eats some turkey and mashed potatoes because his Pap tells him he’ll grow big and strong if he does. This is enough for Liam, always listening to his Pap. Callie is just grateful that her boy is eating, and that his ear infection isn’t bothering him.
“So,” Amelia asks as she wipes her mouth on her festive green napkin. “Any more grandchildren in the future?”
Callie grins and Arizona blushes and chokes on her water. Liam looks at Daniel, shrugging his shoulders.
“Mom…” Arizona admonishes, clearing her throat, trying to cough to regulate her breathing. “Blunt much?”
“What?” Amelia asks as she sips her wine. “You’ve got such a perfect boy,” She strokes Liam’s cheek fondly, “Why not a few more?”
“I’m perfect!” Liam shouts, eliciting a long chuckle from Daniel.
“We haven’t thought about it, much, honestly,” Arizona defends and looks down at her green beans, shuffling them on her plate.Callie furrows her brows and takes Arizona’s hand, knowing that her mother-in-law can be a little…blunt after a few glasses of Shiraz. She can tell by the way her usually pallid complexion is tainted with pink, and the way those big blue eyes sparkle. Arizona is the same way after a few drinks.
“Well, I’m certainly just asking, Arizona,” Amelia says tersely, taking another drink from her wine glass.
“Can I have a brudder?” Liam asks, resting his head in his hand. “I don’t want a sister.”
Arizona’s cheeks are red now and she sips deeply from her water goblet. Callie knows the battle inside of her head. It took years for Arizona to mentally ready herself for children, and she was absolutely a nervous wreck while Callie was pregnant. She wouldn’t even let Callie drive anymore, or lift anything. If Arizona were the one carrying the baby…Callie’s not sure what would happen. She shudders, and Arizona gently kicks her underneath the table.
“Who’s up for some dessert?” Daniel says with a grin, disarming the glowering face Arizona is giving her mother. “I’ve been eyeballing that cheesecake from the moment I walked in here.”
“You can thank Callie for that. She made it from scratch…and the raspberry topping,” Arizona adds.
Her mind goes to the night they had with the leftover reduction, and how Callie dripped the cooled sweetness right between her breasts, and along her inner thigh…
And then cleaned it up with her tongue.
“Oh, it’s really good. I’m totally taking the credit for that!” Callie smiles, giving one of those million watt grins to her in-laws.
Arizona strokes a hand through her straightened locks. “Oh, so, so good.”
The two share a knowing smile before Callie’s standing and clearing the plates away, giving Liam another roll to eat, because she’s so happy that he’s eaten three-quarters’ of his plate. Arizona assures her all the time that kids go through this phase of not particularly wanting to eat, so watching him scarf down another buttered treat elates her.
A pounding knock at the door startles Callie whom nearly drops the china in her hands, hastily depositing the plates into the sink and rushing through the foyer to the front door. She can see her parents standing there, shivering.
They so hate that of all the places for Callie to become an Attending is freezing, blustery Seattle.
“Daddy!” She shouts after tearing open the door to accept the bear hug that her father pulls her into. Her mother looks absolutely nonplussed about this weather and all but collapses against Calliope. They’re both frozen, and set their bags of gifts down on the runner in the hall.
“Do I hear someone’s Abuelos?” Arizona asks as she carries Liam into the room who makes grabby-hands for his Abuelo and accepts the kisses from his Abuela.
“Arizona,” Carlos smiles and pulls her into a hug, kissing both of her cheeks.
“Oh, look at this baby!” Ariana Torres gushes, taking him gently from his mother, “How is my little beautiful angelo?”
“Abuela!” He drones, groaning, “I’m not beautiful, I’m handsome!”
She laughs, and puts a hand to her chest. “How could I forget-handsome!”
Ariana gently puts Liam down as she looks at her daughter after wrapping her up in a warm hug. “Arizona, are you feeding her? She looks so thin!” She says after pulling away.
Arizona clenches her jaw and slips an arm around Callie’s waist. “She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?”
“Ma, you know how long it took me to lose the baby weight, I feel good. I really do. I look the same as I did before I got pregnant.” Callie smiles and presses a kiss to Arizona’s face. She notices her mother breezes by them at that instant.
“Maybe so, mija, but your mother is just worried about you. You know how she can be,” Carlos adds, ruffling Liam’s chestnut curls.
It’s three minutes into her parents being here, and she’s rolling her eyes already.
“Why don’t I make some coffee, and you guys come in and get warm,” Arizona gestures, guiding the two inside the door, to where Daniel and Amelia are standing, smiling some.
Callie loves the way Arizona says coffee.
After admiring her wife’s intonation, it dawns on her that neither side has ever met the other. Even when they got married, they just went and did it, got hitched and visited the families separately, their witnesses being Cristina Yang and Teddy Altman (who both bawled like babies, although they would never admit it if someone asked).
Arizona’s mom is kind of tipsy and grinning. “Hello, such a pleasure to meet you. I’m Amelia, this is my husband Daniel.”
Ariana Torres is Callie in twenty years. She’s got long, thick black hair past her shoulders in waves. Those lips and eyes remind Arizona of Callie without question, but the thing that really gets her is that laugh. They have the same laugh. And it makes Arizona grin, broadly.
While the couples make small talk about flying in the weather and how cold it is here, Arizona and Callie set about cleaning the kitchen. After chit chat, the crowd dissipates. Carlos and Daniel are off in the other room, discussing the cigars Carlos brought from Miami. It’s only a matter of time before Daniel mentions his military connections and Carlos is clapping the taller man on the shoulder.
As the last of the leftovers are put away into Tupperware and the kitchen looks presentable once more, Arizona listens as Liam chatters happily to his Mimi and Abuela who take turns showering him with kisses and compliments. Just by the tone in the little man’s voice, he is totally eating it up.
Arizona, happy to have a moment with her wife, leans against the counter and motions Callie over with a come-hither curl of her forefinger. Callie, realizing everyone else is distracted, doesn’t miss a beat and smiles to the woman, pressing her lips against the other pair. “Such a beautiful night…” She whispers, and Arizona’s fingers wind in her hair.
They’re kissing like this when Amelia walks into the kitchen, smiling, “Ariana, see what I mean? They act like two teenagers all the time and they don’t want to give us more babies.”
Callie whips around like she’s on fire and bites her lower lip, “Sorry, I…”
“Callie, you don’t need to be sorry. My daughter’s your wife. Don’t be silly.” Amelia playfully swats at her sweater-clad arm.
Ariana stiffens, however, still not quite used to the blatant displays of affection. The Robbins’ have known about Arizona since high school, whereas this is a much more recent development for the Torres’. She bristles and walks past them, fetching a glass of wine for herself, and then walks back out of the room.
Callie shakes her head.
“Shit,” She whispers to Arizona, who gives her mom a knowing look, and lets the Latina out of the room.
“Was it something I said?” Amelia asks, feeling a pang of guilt.
“No, Mom, I think this is just something they need to talk about.” Arizona smiles and slides her arm around her mom’s shoulders. “Thanks for coming, by the way,” She adds and kisses her mom’s cheek.
“Oh, sweetie. I remember being just like that with you. I’d get so upset seeing you kissing your girlfriends, but now…. I mean, I can’t imagine it any differently. Calliope is a dream, honestly. And your son…Danny would be so happy to see you this happy, darling. He would.”
Arizona smiles warmly. “I know, I know…”
“I know, honey. Now, let’s get a baby girl that you can name after your mom, what do you say?” Amelia asks, listening to the scene unfold between Callie and her mother. Arizona pretends to be intently focused on the stomping and yelling upstairs.
Arizona can hear rushed, loud Spanish and something about “I’m your daughter, and she’s my wife,” and she goes into the living room where Liam is dozing on the couch.
“Come on, mister man. Mimi said she wants to read to you, and then it’s bed time. Okay? Santa’s coming, and if he sees you awake he’ll fly right over the house.”
Liam looks at his mummy, debating on a protest but then walks over to his Mimi who picks him up. He rubs his eyes and rests his head on the older woman’s shoulder, yawning as he’s walked over to Arizona.
“I love you Mummy,” He says as he kisses her very softly on the corner of her mouth. He doesn’t even fight her on bedtime because he’s sleepy, and after two books he’ll be snoring soundly.
“I love you my sweet boy,” She whispers back, hearing the door to the bedroom slam. She needs to break this up before there’s a serious fight, and Christmas is ruined, and Liam goes to preschool talking about how loud and insane his two moms are.
Definitely not needed.
And she’s always been pretty good at damage control. Except for a few, choice years ago… when she happened to pick Africa over Callie. Other than that, though… solid.
She makes a bee line for the bedroom door and knocks.
“Um, hi, sorry. I just… I don’t mean to interrupt, but Liam’s going to bed, and,” She pauses, “He wants to say night to his Abuela.”
Ariana opens the door after a minute and forces a smile for Arizona while Callie watches her walk away with sad eyes. Arizona knows that in moments Callie will be crying. She folds her arms around her to stop the tears from falling.
“You have to give her some time. She’s not used to this. She may need a period of adjustment,” Arizona soothes.
“She’s just so nitpicky. About everything. I shouldn’t have to not kiss you in front of my parents. Ever. We have a baby together. A home. A freaking family. When’s she going to get that I’m not going to ride off into the sunset with a man?” Callie seethes, letting off a frustrated sigh.
Arizona strokes Callie’s hair.
“I know, but remember your dad? Look at him now. He no longer wants me skinned alive, and he loves Liam, and you. She just needs some time is all.” The blond is reminded of a similar conversation about this that they had years ago, except that was almost eight years ago, and she was chastising Callie.
“Plus some families just aren’t okay with PDA, ever…” Arizona offers. “I don’t mind saving my kisses until your mom is more comfortable. She just needs a second. I know you love me. I love you. And we love Liam. And she should see that. And if she doesn’t, she’s missing out. But she’ll see it. ‘Cause we’re awesome. And he’s the most awesome child in the world.”
Arizona elects to keep the she’s just like you to herself to stave off another fight.
“I know, I know.” Callie huffs as she rests her head against Arizona’s. Her speeches never fail to soothe her.
====
After Ariana and Amelia each read Liam a book, Arizona and Callie are exhausted, wanting to go to bed. Arizona opts to set the moms up in their respective guest rooms while Callie is the first to bid the dads goodnight. The pair have been talking for hours, seated in the living room watching White Christmas. Their personalities instantly click, and Callie smiles as she hears Carlos laughing at something Daniel’s just said.
“Daddy, Daniel, we’re going to sleep, alright? If you need anything, our door is the last one on the right.”
“Thank you, hija. We cut into your dessert. Dios Mio who taught you how to bake?” Carlos asks, adjusting the robe he’s changed into and crossing his pajama-clad leg.
“I think it’s a Mom prerequisite or something,” Callie says with a grin and kisses her dad’s balding head.
Daniel gets up and hugs Callie, kissing her on the cheek.
“Thanks, Calliope. If Arizona isn’t passed out already, would you tell her to come down for a moment?”
“Of course, goodnight you two,” She says and walks up the stairs, grinning at how famously they’re getting along.
Arizona has just gotten done showing her mom to her room. Callie feels her heart sink when she notices the light is out in her parents’ room, and the door is closed. Perhaps it’s just best to let it go for the night, and to reassess it in the morning.
“Goodnight, Amelia,” Callie says from behind the slightly open door.
“Oh, goodnight Calliope. I’m sorry, I’d come say goodnight, but I think that wine has gone straight to my head!” Amelia calls in return.
“Tell me about it,” Arizona whispers, before increasing the volume of her voice. “Night, mom!”
“Night Peanut, love you!”
“Peanut…” Callie says adoringly with a wide smile.
“Let’s go check on Liam,” Arizona says after swatting at her wife’s backside playfully.
Liam is presumably sleeping, but upon the door opening shoots straight up, throwing the blue duvet off of his body. “Did Santa come?”
“No, handsome. Not ‘til the morning.” Callie says as she sits on the edge of his bed, grinning.
“Yep, and then you can wake up and open up your presents, and Mimi, Pap, and tus abuelos will still all be here!” Arizona reminds him and he giggles, sleepily.
“Will Santa remember that they’re sleepin’ over here?” Liam asks, and Callie can see the concern etched on his face despite the darkness of the room.
“Yep. Santa’s magic, he never gets lost,” Callie adds.
“Mama, you always get lost,” He yawns. Callie huffs, and grins, while Arizona smooths her fingers across his cheek.
“It’s a good thing Santa isn’t mama, huh?” The blond whispers.
“Yeah,” He says sleepily. “Good fing.”
“Night, night,” He says, and Arizona knows all the excitement from today is finally catching up to him. “Love you.” He sighs contentedly, and it makes Callie’s heart skip a beat. No matter how many times she hears it from him.
“Love you, baby…” Arizona says and Callie kisses his cheek, whispering her I love you into his bum ear. Poor buddy.
After tiptoeing out of the room, the moms close Liam’s door and share an exasperated look. Today has been a roller coaster of stress, between their sick baby and their parents, the tiff with Ariana Torres and the weather. Callie can’t wait to go to sleep, since they’ll have to be up to play Santa before Liam rouses, and she wants to make breakfast for the families.
Arizona smiles and presses a warm kiss against her wife’s forehead.
“Your dad wants to see you downstairs,” Callie remembers, even though she wants to melt into those arms and that kiss.
Arizona sighs, wanting the same exact thing. To be curled up around this woman while the falling snow illuminates their room.
She dutifully trudges downstairs, catching Carlos and her father with a half eaten cheesecake in the middle of them while White Christmas is on. It’s so adorable; she feels bad putting a hand on her father’s shoulder and shaking him from his reverie.
“Hi, dad,” She says softly. Daniel looks up at his daughter and then over to Carlos, who nods expectantly and gets up.
“I’m very tired,” he explains. “Goodnight, Arizona. Daniel. Thank you again for dinner, we will see you and Mrs. Claus in the morning.”
Arizona grins and nods, “’Night Carlos,.”
Once he’s up the stairs, and Arizona hears his door close, she looks at her father.
“Are you okay, dad?”
“Yes, yes. I just wanted to talk to you is all,” Her heart rate quickens, but she relents when she sees him smile, dimples appearing in his clean shaven cheeks. “I’m just…very proud of you, Arizona.”
“Daddy…” She sighs, feeling choked up.
It took a lot for Daniel Robbins to say that to her. And it almost made up for all the times she yearned to hear it as a teenager as well as most of her adult years.
“I’m serious. Your home, your son… your wife.” He swallows and takes one of his daughter’s hands. “You’ve grown into the woman I’d hoped you’d become, and then some…” He explains. “And you’re raising a fine young boy.” Arizona’s lip is quivering. She can’t help the tears that fall from her eyes, and her father wipes them away.
“Well, I learned how to be a great person from the best of people.” He smiles and pulls her in for a hug. She suspects from the way he roughly sniffles that he’s crying, too. Since retirement he’s gone a little bit soft. But just a little bit. And she’d never point it out. He pulls away, and smiles.
“Go to sleep, Arizona. I’ll tidy up down here,” He says as he settles back into the chair. Arizona is beaming at him in the utmost pride and love.
“Thanks, Dad. I love you. Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Arizona,” He says as his eyes fixate on Bing Crosby once more. “I love you, too.”
There was a lot of saying those words today, and Arizona was more than okay with that.
=====
She climbs the stairs to their bedroom where Callie is pulling Liam’s toys out so they can take them downstairs in a few hours. Arizona joins her and the two manage to create a pretty decently sized pile, not to mention the smaller one for their parents. Together they manage to get the gifts together, and Arizona sighs. Happy that bed is near, and she can be out of that dress.
“Unzip me?” She asks Callie, who does so without hesitation, pulling the zipper down at the back of the dress. She presses one kiss to the bare skin there. It’s so reverent that Arizona almost cries, but she chalks that up to feeling emotional about what her dad said.
She shrugs out of her dress and into a short night gown. She usually wears next to nothing to bed, but it’s too risky with all the people in the house. Callie does the same, opting in for a long, loose shirt that falls just above her knee. She crawls into the sheets, pulling her arms around Arizona.
“Was your dad okay?” Callie asks, and Arizona nods.
“He was,” She pauses and turns so she’s facing Callie in their moonlit room. “He said he was proud of me. And Liam. And you.” She swallows the lump forming in her throat.
“Oh, Arizona…” Callie says softly and pulls her in, letting Arizona’s happy tears fall into her hair. It’s the sweetest way she can think to end today, and falls asleep trading heavy-eyed kisses with her wife. Words aren’t necessary now, everything that’s anything has been said with nothing at all.
====
The shrill sound of “Presents!” awakens Arizona from slumber. Callie’s wrapped around her, snoring like a lumberjack and she elbows her very gently. She rolls over, and pokes Callie’s nose before pressing a kiss to her lips.
“Wake up, sleepy head. It’s Christmas,” She mumbles in a hushed smile and Callie replies with a “Nnynnhgg, but we were just up three hours ago lugging all those damn boxes downstairs.”
The rapping in the door makes Callie bury her head in the pillow, but Liam bursts through and dive bombs into the bed anyway, despite her resistance. He wraps his arms around Arizona’s neck and wills her to come forward.
“Mummy, Mama, Santa brought us all presents!”
Callie fumbles for the alarm clock. It’s only 6:18. She whimpers.
“Mama, even for you!” Liam sounds surprised, and Arizona looks away.
This has nothing to do with how often Arizona tells her Santa isn’t bringing her anything.
Arizona smiles and presses a kiss to Liam’s head, his curls completely awry after sleeping through the night. She slips out of bed and puts on her robe.
“Come on, squirt, let’s make coffee and let your Mama the grizzly bear wake up,”
Liam accepts this proposition and runs ahead of his Mummy, certain to knock on both guest bedrooms. All four grandparents make some semblance of a noise that sounds something like Callie, and Arizona hears everyone shuffling in their bedrooms. It’s the best feeling she’s had on Christmas, yet.
Well, except for the one where she woke up next to Calliope with a ring on her finger.
Or the first one with Liam.
This is a close third, though.
As they reach the kitchen, Liam opens the last drawer and uses it as leverage so he can climb onto the counter while Arizona works. She offers him a sippy of Orange Juice, which he takes and sips deeply, pulling back with an, “Ah!”
“Someone’s feeling better,” She smiles as he wiggles excitedly on the counter. On any other day except today she’d make him get off of there in an instant. But it’s Christmas.
She scoops the coffee into the pot, adding the maximum amount of water, and opening the cupboard where the mugs stayed. She counts six, and places them readily on the counter, leaning against it while the coffee brews, wishing she could will it to go faster with her mind.
“Mama?” Liam asks from behind her.
“Yes, Li?” She retorts, knowing from his tone that this is going to be good, turning around to face him.
“Can I have a brudder?” His face is very serious.
Arizona pales and stares at her son for a moment. She smiles, then thinks for a moment. It’s not that she doesn’t want anymore children, it’s just…terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
“A brother would be fun, huh?” Arizona smiles and smooths down his hair. There’s no dice, though. It’s sticking straight up and only a bath and a scouring of shampoo will fix it.
“Yeah, really fun!” He enthuses, drinking more juice. “I’d be nice to him, too.” Liam adds. “Promise.”
She smiles, wondering what life was like before him. Sure, it was wonderful. Her job, her wife, her family. But, with Liam… things were just whole, a perfect circle. He made everything worthwhile. Arizona thinks of Danny just then, remembering all of the fun, the laughter.
“Okay, buddy. I promise you, a brother, sometime soon…” And instead of the pang of fear, her stomach washes with butterflies. She even surprises herself sometimes.
She can hear footsteps behind her, very familiar ones, and she grins without turning around.
“Morning sleepy grizzly bear,” But when she hears a clearing of a throat that isn’t so familiar she spins around.
“Oh, my God. Ariana, you… I’m so sorry I thought you were Calliope,” She gives a sheepish grin. They even walk the same way. It’s kind of scary.
Ariana looks different than last night, softer. She takes one of the mugs and pours herself a cup of coffee. “When are you going to start calling me Mama, hmm?” She asks the girl and kisses Liam’s head.
Well, this is certainly a Christmas miracle.
Callie is the next one in the room, barely speaking as she shuffles her feet forward to the coffee, grunting. This tickles Liam, who just about falls over with laughter.
“Grizzly Mama!” He shouts.
Callie takes a sip of coffee and kisses Liam’s face. “Tell Santa to come at 8:30 next Christmas, wouldja?”
She moves over to Ariana next and kisses her cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mamacita,”
“Merry Christmas, hija,”
When it comes to Arizona’s turn, Callie chastely hugs her, and Arizona returns it without question.
Ariana scoffs and says to Liam, “Why don’t you go get your Pap and Abuelo tell them their coffee is getting cold and we’re going to send their presents back to Santa if they don’t get in here this instant!”
Liam does as his Abuela tells him and pounds up the stairs shouting, “Pap! Abuelo!”
The older Torres woman walks over to the pair.
“Arizona, I heard what you were saying to Liam, and I’ve been… how can I put this and still remain a lady…unfair?”
Callie wonders what the conversation was and tightens her robe. Whatever it is, it’s early, and this coffee isn’t kicking in yet.
“It just… is different for me to see her with a woman,” Ariana admits and Arizona nods understandingly. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, and my grandson very much in my own way. You make her happy, and that makes me happy.”
“Thank you,” Callie says as she hugs her mother warmly, Arizona smiles at the pair.
“What were you saying to Liam?” Callie asks casually, sipping her coffee.
“Well…” Arizona trails off.
“Liam was very sweetly asking for a baby brother, and, well, Arizona told him that she thought that was a good idea,” Ariana claps her hands together on her chest, looking remarkably ecstatic at the news.
Callie has to set her coffee down. “Really?” She exclaims. Sounding as excited as she did the first time she heard the words, You’re pregnant from her OBGYN.
“I mean, we still have to…” Arizona defends, drowned out by the flourish of laughter and shouting.
“What’s all this fuss about?” Amelia asks as she pours herself a cup of coffee. Daniel enters behind Carlos who has Liam up on his shoulders.
“Um, well,” Arizona fidgets nervously with her hands and clears her throat, “Nothing really just…”
“Arizona wants to have another baby,” Callie blurts out, and Amelia shouts out her joy while Carlos and Daniel smile to one another.
Liam clambers down from his Abuelo’s shoulders and listens to the commotion of adults, watching them hug and kiss his mama, as well as Mummy. He sighs and buries his face in his hands.
“I think you guys are forgettin’ that SANTA CAME TO TOWN.” He sighs, “Can we talk about my baby brudder later?”
Arizona speaks first. “Yep! Yep! To the presents!”
Kids are so useful sometimes.
The rest of the room erupts into a guffaw, only coming down from it when Liam crosses his arms across his chest and wails dramatically. “Seriously!”
Callie lets the rest of the family follow Liam into the living room where all the presents are arranged beneath the tree and grabs Arizona by the wrist.
“Hey, don’t go getting lost in your head. We’ll talk about this when all this Christmas stuff is done, okay?” She kisses Arizona’s cheek. “But for the record, I think Liam’s more excited than I am, if that’s possible.”
Arizona sighs, and then smiles. She’s actually looking forward to talking about this later, so that has to count for something.
“I love you Calliope Torres. Merry Christmas, gorgeous.”
“Merry Christmas, mi amor…”
The pair walk into the room hand in hand with just enough time for Liam to open his first gift, watching the snow fall outside the window and their parents clicking cameras at their main attraction. Liam pulls a truck out and shouts his first
“Thank you, Santa!”
They smile to one another and share a kiss.
Even though coffee breath kisses aren’t the best, they’re blessed, and they know it.