Callie watched Arizona carefully as they packed up the Callie's car ready for the long drive back to Seattle. After Timothy's funeral Arizona wanted to stay with her Mom for a while just to help both her parents rebuild a little after the loss of their son. She wanted her parents to know that she was still there and that their family was going to be ok. Needing to sort out her patients, Callie flew back to Seattle before driving to Virginia with some extra clothes and the intention to stay for as long as Arizona needed her.

The pair packed up Timothy's bedroom and sorted out everything the Marines sent home with his body so it gave Barbara one less thing to worry about. She had been a mess since the soldiers turned up on her doorstep with earth shattering news so Arizona wanted to make things just that little bit easier.

"So that's everything" Callie commented as she shut the trunk of her car with a little more effort than usual. Tim had written a will before he left on his last tour outlining what he wanted if something happened to him. Anything sentimental like his fourth grade spelling trophy or his Star Wars collector's mug went to his parents and Arizona, while most of his clothes went to charity. Arizona was taking a few of his hoodies and blankets she'd managed to sneak past her Mom so she could have a little bit of Tim with her always along with a few of his other belongings she wanted to keep.

"One more thing" Daniel called out as he raced from the house carrying a small box. Opening the box slowly, he was very wary of his daughter's reaction to the contents "Soldiers usually get buried with these but Tim wanted you to have them. Something about the Marines motto having a special meaning between you two?"

Arizona picked her brother's dog tags up out of the box and held them gently in her hands. She felt Callie's hands on her waist as if holding her up in case she collapsed. Taking a deep breath Arizona knew she wasn't going to collapse because her brother was there holding her up.

"Arizona?"

Arizona put the cold chain around her neck with no intention of ever taking it off and took another deep breath before looking up at her family "I'm ok. I'm not going to cry"

Daniel simply smiled as he pulled his little girl into a tight hug. Amazed by her strength, he was so proud of her in that very moment. If the tables were turned he would have been a blithering mess on the ground. The last two weeks had been the hardest of his life and that was even after five tours of duty since he joined the Marines at 18.

"We should get going" Arizona smiled weakly as Callie still watched her carefully. The Latina kept a watchful eye in case something happened. She was ready for anything "Calliope has patients and I have to get back to rehearsals"

"You're going back to Giselle?" Barbara asked softly. After everything that had happened, Barbara thought her daughter would take some time away from her dancing. Arizona had the complete opposite planned. She was going to dance and she was going to dance for Tim. He was there when she went to her very first dance class and he'd be with her til the very last time she performed.

"Tim wouldn't want me to stop dancing. He knew this was my dream and he would kill me if I gave that up"

"Oh Arizona" Barbara cried softly and hugged her daughter tightly. Nothing made her happier than to hear that Arizona would dance for her brother.

"Ok we really should go before I cry again" the blonde laughed softly and pulled away from her Mom "We will call you when we stop every night ok?"

"Drive safely and take shifts"

"Yes Dad"

"And call if anything happens I'll come straight out no matter how far away you are"

"Yes Dad" Arizona giggled as she watched her childish replies getting to her father

"And don't pick up any hitch hikers"

"Yes Dad"

"And don't push through fatigue or anything like that. If you are tired then stop"

"Yes Dad" Callie chuckled quickly getting in before Arizona. Daniel laughed softly and pulled both girls into one last hug before they moved onto Barbara and eventually got into the car. As Callie pulled away from the kerb she noticed Arizona tearing up as she stared back at her waving parents. "We don't have to go home just yet. We can stay another couple days if you want to"

"No, it's time to go back. You have patients, I have rehearsals and we have to move you into my apartment remember?"

"How could I forget?"

Arizona rested her hand on Callie's knee as she settled forward in her seat "Are we crazy for driving back? Should we have flown?"

"With all these bags? At least I have company on this trip. My only accompaniment on the way over was my iPod and my bad singing"

"You have a lovely singing voice Calliope; I've heard you sing in the shower..."

"You've been listening through rose coloured earphones my love" Callie chuckled and picked up Arizona's hand that was leaning on her knee and kissed it softly "I love you Arizona"

"I love you too Calliope"

Sorry for the delay. Thankyou all for being such amazing readers