The Song Remains the Same

Chapter 26

The glow of a screen beyond her eyelids dragged Arizona awake, one hand fumbling for Callie's leg without opening her eyes. “No electronics in bed,” she grumbled. “That was the rule, Calliope!” That wasn't actually the rule – the rule was no TVs in the bedroom (theirs or any of the kids') but she was pretty sure the sun had only just risen, so the rules were being adapted. She fumbled as she attempted to shove her partner's thigh.

“I thought I was the one who barely slept last night,” Callie noted, her voice hoarse and scratchy. She'd started to come down with a cold sometime late last night and it was only getting worse as the sunrise had approached.

Arizona's eye cracked open to peek up at her, squinting against the hazy sunlight. “You sound sick,” she stated obviously. “When did you get home?”

“It was late,” answered Callie, still browsing on her laptop. One hand rubbed her bleary eyes under her glasses. “Shit,” she muttered as she read an email, the inbox cluttered with unread messages.

Blonde curls were mussed as Arizona’s head popped up to look over her shoulder. “What is it?” She pushed her hair back with one hand and squinted at the screen. “Nick?”

“Oh, no, sweetheart. It's not Nick. It's my dad.”

Arizona's brows furrowed and she sat up against the headboard. One arm stretched out over Callie's shoulders and steered the other woman to lean against her. Callie went without protest, adjusting her legs and laptop as she made herself comfortable in the new position. “What's he say?”

“That he's coming here, to Seattle.” The email was actually dated three days earlier. He was probably already in town, though it didn't surprise her that he hadn't called. Showing up when and where he wanted was more her father's style. Whenever he wanted to see her he'd appear.

“Oh, okay. Well, that's good, right?” Arizona checked, not sure how to respond.

Callie didn't say anything for a long moment, taking a congested breath and letting it out raggedly. “Remember how we're not talking about your parents not knowing that we live together?” Arizona kissed under her ear instead of answering, not pushing. “My dad doesn't -”

“He doesn't know you're living with someone?” Arizona guessed, the hand over her shoulder tracing Callie's collarbone gently. Her partner didn't answer and she pushed her next guess a little further. “He doesn't know you're with a woman.” It didn't have the intonation of a question because it was a statement. Her confirmation was in the stiffness of Callie's shoulders. Arizona ducked her face to kiss the crease of her neck and shoulder. “You've been with women before. You never told him?”

“I did,” Callie said quickly. “I told them, but -”

“But you married a man,” Arizona finished the thought for her when Callie's voice fell quiet. “It's okay. Whatever you decide to tell him, whatever you want to do, I'm not going anywhere.”

“I'm not going to hide anything, Arizona,” Callie denied without hesitation. “We're together, we live together, and the kids adore you.” She coughed and sighed.

Arizona nuzzled into her neck. “My parents have a suite at the Archfield. I could stay -”

“Shut it. The kids will revolt on me if you leave,” Callie argued, coughing again. Arizona's hand rubbed her back gently.

“I'm not going anywhere,” Arizona promised. “But no pressure. If you want to see your dad one on one, or with just the kids, I'm sure I can find somewhere else to be – temporarily.” Callie couldn't answer for a coughing fit. “Sit up,” Arizona requested, hands gently pushing her up so she could slip off the bed. She returned to Callie with a glass of water, guiding her back between her legs. “Of course both of our parents decide to come to Washington on the same weekend,” she noted with a heavy breath.