#Terrazzo Hallway

[tilecleaningtoday]

Terrazzo Floor Cleaning and Maintenance Tips from South Wales Expert

The customer from Barry in South Wales contacted Tiled Doctor to see if anything could be done to revive their Terrazzo hallway floor which was in need of renovation. I contacted them and arranged a mutual time for me to pop over a survey the floor.

Terrazzo is notoriously vulnerable to movement in the subfloor as it’s made from thousands of pieces of crushed stone including marble and laid as single slab so its not just as simple as replacing a tile should any cracks form. I’m pleased to say there was no evidence of any cracks, just signs of wear and tear due to the age of the floor and general maintenance issues.

The customer was about to put their house on the market and the Estate Agent had advised them it would be best if they were to sort the floor out first. Naturally first impression count and the hallway would be the first thing any prospective purchases would see when entering the house. Ideally once deep cleaned and polished the Terrazzo floor would add some wow factor to the property and help turn those prospective purchases into buyers.

Deep Cleaning a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

To renovate the Terrazzo, no chemical products would be needed for the cleaning, just a set of diamond encrusted burnishing pads starting with a coarse 400-grit pad. The pads fit to a rotary floor buffing machine which is weighted to improve contact with the floor. The coarse pad breaks out the deepest stains, removing dirt and old sealers and each pad is passed over each tile four times. Water is used to lubricate the process and it isn’t long before this turns into a dark slurry. After each pad the floor is rinsed with a little more water and the slurry extracted with a wet vacuum.

This process was repeated with the 800 and 1500-grit pads again rinsing and extracting in-between. After a final rinse the last pad in the sequence which is a 3000-grit pad is applied dry with only a little water sprayed onto to the floor. This last pad is a polishing pad that adds a subtle satin shine to the Terrazzo.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway Floor

Due to the fact the cleaning process involved minimal amounts of water and the last pad is applied dry the Terrazzo was dry in no time and therefore ready for sealing. For sealing I had selected Tile Doctor Colour Grow which not only seals the floor but enhances the colours of the stone segments to achieve a beautiful result.

Once done the floor looked cleaner, lighter and all the little characterful motifs really stood out. The customer contacted me a week later to say that the estate agent was delighted with the decision to go ahead with the floor restoration as it had certainly transformed the floor.

Source: Terrazzo Floor Cleaning, and Restoration Service in South Wales

[hometoursandotherstuff]

A buyer just closed on this cool 1968 house in Belleville, IL and they got a good deal. It needs a little TLC, but it has unusual architecture, 1bd, 1ba, but I think it has room for expansion, and it was only $200K. It's way better than paying rent on a 1bd. apt. and having nothing, right?

Drive right up to the front door and park. Very convenient.

Not only do I love it b/c it's pink, but look at the entrance hall. Looks like a little castle, doesn't it? A little pink castle. I love it.

Right off the entrance is the bath and it has a walk-in tub, which are not cheap. So, this is the only bath. Not bad.

Love this. Kind of an Alice in Wonderland vibe. They left the clock and other pieces of furniture, as well.

The entrances to this home would make me feel like a queen.

Now, I told you that it was unusual. This is the bedroom. I'm trying to figure out what this building could've been before. This is a built-in seat.

It has a partially finished basement, so those are the stairs.

And, the bed goes here by the headboard attached to the wall.

I really can't figure out what this room is, w/the small sink, but I like it.

Beautiful room. This could definitely be a primary bedroom.

This could be a an extended part of that bedroom. Or, it can be eliminated altogether and just make it a hallway w/the stairs to the basement, making this the primary bd.

This elegant room is clearly the living room. The floors are terrazzo.

This home is big, there's so much you can do with it. We're in the lower level. It even has a fireplace. This home can be so pretty, and they left the armoire.

The kitchen is small, industrial, and doesn't have a stove, but they did leave the fridge and a very nice butcher block. So, the kitchen needs some work.

They left a washer and dryer in the unfinished part. The floor is a nice river rock.

For $200K this home is so worth it. Look at the gorgeous grounds.

Isn't this beautiful?

There's a table under here. And so many cement sculptures come with the property. It has a total of 5.49 acres that you can build on.

That's not all- there's also a cottage on the property.

It needs some work, but it can definitely be a rental. It's big and looks like it has 2 bds.

Here, you can see the main house and the cottage on the bottom. Gorgeous property and it fronts the Frank Scott Parkway. What a steal!

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/348-Avery-Hl-Belleville-IL-62223/112796405_zpid/

[cahootings]

the past 20 minutes of the office have gone as such:

coworker jokingly suggests we all figure out what our 40-yard dash time is

we decide we really will figure out our 40-yard dash times

grabbing the 100-ft measuring tape to measure the length of our office (it is only 15 yards)

measuring the hallway outside our office that extends past cubeland (it is plenty long but terrazzo flooring)

deciding that it'd be safer to do this on grass

looking up terrain maps to find a flat grassy area nearby that has at least 40 yards of straight, uninterrupted terrain

me saying i wonder if i can run right now

standing up and doing two minutes of heel raises just to warm them up because I've been sitting for a while

i start walking faster and faster but i am too scared to go past a quick power walk pace

my boss said maybe you should wait until after your MRI tomorrow

this is a good point

we postpone our 40 yard dash trials until next month

[nehamanglani-102002]

Concrete Finishing for Home: Enhance Your Space with Modern Techniques

Concrete finishing can dramatically transform the look and feel of your home's surfaces, offering both aesthetic appeal and durability. From sleek, modern looks to textured, rustic finishes, concrete finishing techniques can be tailored to suit any design preference. Here’s an overview of popular concrete finishing methods and how they can enhance your home.

Types of Concrete Finishing Techniques

Polished ConcreteDescription: Polished concrete involves grinding the surface of the concrete with progressively finer diamond pads to achieve a smooth, glossy finish.Benefits:

High durability and resistance to wear

Reflective surface enhances lighting

Low maintenance and easy to clean

Ideal For: Interior floors, particularly in modern homes, offices, and commercial spaces.Tips:

Choose a high-gloss finish for a sleek, contemporary look.

Add color or stains before polishing for a custom appearance.

Stamped ConcreteDescription: Stamped concrete mimics the look of natural materials like stone, brick, or wood by pressing patterns into the wet concrete.Benefits:

Versatile and customizable with various patterns and colors

Provides the appearance of high-end materials at a lower cost

Durable and resistant to cracking

Ideal For: Driveways, patios, walkways, and outdoor spaces.Tips:

Use release agents to prevent the stamping tools from sticking.

Seal the stamped concrete to enhance its color and protect it from weathering.

Exposed AggregateDescription: Exposed aggregate concrete involves removing the top layer of cement to reveal the underlying aggregate (such as pebbles or stones).Benefits:

Slip-resistant surface, making it ideal for outdoor areas

Aesthetic appeal with natural, textured look

Low maintenance

Ideal For: Driveways, pool decks, and outdoor walkways.Tips:

Choose aggregate with contrasting colors for a more striking appearance.

Seal the surface to protect against staining and weathering.

Broom FinishDescription: A broom finish is achieved by dragging a broom over the surface of wet concrete to create a textured, non-slip finish.Benefits:

Provides good traction, making it ideal for outdoor areas

Simple and cost-effective

Can be applied to both fresh and existing concrete

Ideal For: Sidewalks, driveways, and patios.Tips:

Use a stiff-bristled broom for a more pronounced texture.

Apply the finish while the concrete is still wet for best results.

Concrete StainingDescription: Concrete staining involves applying a stain to the surface of the concrete to add color and enhance its appearance.Benefits:

Wide range of color options

Can create a variety of effects, including antiquing or marbling

Enhances the concrete's natural character

Ideal For: Interior floors, countertops, and decorative walls.Tips:

Test the stain on a small area to ensure the desired color is achieved.

Seal the stained concrete to protect the finish and enhance durability.

Terrazzo FinishDescription: Terrazzo is a composite material made by embedding marble, glass, or other aggregates into a cement or resin base and then polishing the surface.Benefits:

Highly customizable with a wide range of colors and materials

Extremely durable and long-lasting

Provides a sophisticated, elegant appearance

Ideal For: High-traffic areas, such as lobbies, hallways, and luxury homes.Tips:

Choose a terrazzo mix that complements your overall design theme.

Regular maintenance and sealing are necessary to preserve the finish.

[misschf-aisa]

I’m trying to sleep and I’ll tell you the sleep is fighting me. Apparently I need to spill a little bit so my brain and heart can have space to sleep and refill. As before, I choose Tumblr because the post will disappear in the way it should but I still feel like someone somewhere maybe read it.

It’s a hospital thing. This hospital thing always begins with the cramped and crowded parking garage where the all too plentiful extended cab trucks stick out into what is supposed to be a two way street and pedestrians who are dazed by whatever trauma brought them to the hospital have a tendency to walk right in the middle of the lanes. I drive a Fiat, but sometimes in this garage even I have to reverse and cut the wheel sharply before my little car is safely between the lines of the parking space.

2023 I did this dozens of times. Countless times. Mom was in the hospital again, Dad wouldn’t leave her side. A few days, she got to go home, I took him to chemo, she still had the drainage tube connected to her colon but she was okay and he wasn’t losing his hair.

I finally get parked and walk into the elevator bank that’s just inside from the parking garage. It doesn’t matter what floor I’m parked on because there are only two floors that will get you to the patient rooms in the other tower. The 6th floor is also the floor all the babies are on. It’s the place I gave birth to my first child over 30 years ago. I prefer to go all the way down to the first floor and walk the long hallway past the information desk and gift shop and security to get to the elevators I need so I tan go up to the 9th floor where Dad is right now.

The hospital floors are terrazzo, which makes me think if one of my favorite house flipping shows that takes place in Florida. They’re always so excited to keep a good terrazzo floor.

There are 6 elevators, but it always takes forever for one to get to the first floor. Almost always I’m standing waiting with a bored hospital employee on their phone, or a nervous family trying to pretend they’re not nervous. Sometimes if it’s just two of us on the elevator they’ll tell me a story, like the woman who was so grateful she’d gotten her man here in time when she realized he was having a stroke. Everybody in the hospital elevators who isn’t an employee is super friendly. Most of the employees are too.

Someone invariably gets off in the 7th floor. That’s the ICU, of course. Last June I spent an entire week practically living on the 7th floor in a freezing room. I was in the padded bench so Dad could have the hospital recliner while Mom fought the confusion of having had a stroke when she woke up from surgery and she couldn’t talk or move her right side and there was a horrible tube in her nose that she used every ounce of cleverness and willpower to try to remove for the entire week Dad and I kept watch over her.

It was important for me to get there around noon because Dad’s chemo required that he eat well. I don’t know what he did in the hours when I went home at night, but I know he ate lunch and dinner. And chemo was going well.

When I get off of the elevator on the 9th floor - Dad’s in room 946 - I lose almost a full year. I’ve been up there twice now and both times it’s the same. The 9th floor is where they treat patients with strokes. Dad didn’t have a stroke, they don’t think, but they worry there’s something weird in his brain so the stroke floor is a good place for that. Mom had a stroke, though.

Dad and I carried the bags that had accumulated while he basically lived in her ICU room. She was transferred up to the 9th floor. We were talking about rehab and next steps and then I hugged my dad, told my mom good night, and went home happy and hopeful for the first time in over a week. It would be tough, she was still unable to talk or move her right side, but we’re pretty tough too so we’d get this handled. She wasn’t in the ICU anymore, and they’d bring hospital food to my dad now that he was staying with her on a real floor. I planned to stay home the next day and let my son sit with my dad.

Of course, the next day she died from complications from the surgery she’d been there for in the first place.

So now Dad is the one in the bed. His problems are super different, they’re certainly not as acute. But I walk those halls surrounded by ghosts from a year ago. The beeps and chatter from the nurse’s station, the way the hallways smell, the sounds of random television shows as you walk past room after room. The view of Swan Lake and downtown from the window in Dad’s room. It’s different, but it’s the same.

Thanks for letting me vent, I think I might just be able to fall asleep now that I’ve given it to you, whoever you are.

[rugsaustralia]

The Hottest Trends in Hall Runner Rugs for Modern Homes

Hallways often get overlooked in the home décor process, but they deserve some love too! A well-chosen hall runner rug can elevate your entryway, corridor, or staircase from functional to fabulous.

Here are the hottest trends in hall runner rugs for modern home in 2024, sure to add a touch of personality and style to your space:

Bold and Beautiful

Color pop

Ditch the beige and embrace vibrant hues! Jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red make a statement, while mustard yellow and terracotta add warmth.

Graphic geometry

Playful geometric patterns like stripes, chevrons, and terrazzo are perfect for adding visual interest. Opt for contrasting color for extra impact.

Texture Tales

Layered luxury

Combine a plush under-rug with a thinner patterned runner on the top for a layered look and a delightful feeling underfoot.

Natural Woven Wonders

Embrace the beauty of natural materials like jute, sisal, and wool for a touch of rustic charm and a sensory experience.

Sustainable savvy

Eco-friendly fibers

Choose runners made from recycled materials or sustainably sourced fibers like bamboo or hemp for an eco-conscious touch.

Vintage vibe

Upcycled or vintage runners add a unique character and story to your hallway. Look for one of a kind patterns and color.

Practical Style

PerformanceFabrics

Opt for stain-resistant and easy to clean fabrics, especially if you have pets or kids. Look for materials like nylon or polypropylene.

Runner grips

Ensure safety and prevent slip with a non-slip rug pad underneath your runner.

Are you Ready to shop? Visit to All Modern Rugs store in Australia to find the best hall runner rugs trends! With a wide variety of styles, colors, and materials, you are sure to find the perfect runner to step up your modern home’s style.

[ejanitorial]

New Jersey Hard Floor Care Services industrial cleaning services nj

Maintaining the floors of a commercial or industrial facility can be a challenging task. With constant foot traffic, spills, and dirt accumulation, floors can quickly become dull, stained, and slippery, compromising the safety and appearance of the facility. This is where professional hard floor care services come into play.

New Jersey Hard Floor Care Services is a company that specializes in industrial cleaning services in NJ, including hard floor care. With their expertise, advanced equipment, and eco-friendly cleaning products, they can transform any type of hard floor, from concrete and tile to marble and terrazzo, into a clean, shiny, and durable surface that enhances the aesthetics and hygiene of the facility. Janitorial Services in Morristown NJ

What are the benefits of professional hard floor care services?

Enhanced appearance: Clean and polished floors create a positive impression on employees, customers, and visitors. They convey a sense of professionalism, attention to detail, and cleanliness that reflects positively on the brand and business image.

Improved safety: Dirty and slippery floors can cause accidents, injuries, and liability issues. Professional hard floor care services can remove dirt, stains, and contaminants that make floors hazardous, as well as apply non-slip coatings and finishes that increase traction and prevent slips and falls. janitorial services bergen county

Extended lifespan: Hard floors are an investment that requires proper maintenance to last long and retain their value. Professional hard floor care services can remove scratches, scuffs, and marks that damage the surface, as well as apply protective coatings that resist wear, tear, and abrasion.

Eco-friendly cleaning: New Jersey Hard Floor Care Services uses environmentally friendly and biodegradable cleaning products that minimize the impact on the environment and the health of the employees and customers. They also use advanced equipment, such as HEPA vacuums and microfiber mops, that reduce the need for chemicals and water and ensure a thorough and efficient cleaning. janitorial services morris county

What are the services offered by New Jersey Hard Floor Care Services?

Stripping and waxing: This process involves removing the old wax and dirt buildup from the floor, then applying a new layer of wax that protects the surface and gives it a glossy shine. This service is recommended for high-traffic areas such as lobbies, hallways, and cafeterias.

Scrubbing and recoating: This process involves deep cleaning the floor with a scrubber machine and then applying a new layer of finish that restores the luster and durability of the surface. This service is recommended for areas that receive moderate foot traffic, such as offices and classrooms. industrial cleaning bergen county

[vintagehomecollection]

Inspiring simplicity on a grand scale in a 1930s house. The terrazzo flooring is dramatically enhanced by natural light and the plain wood door, and its sculptural quality is seen in the curved line of the staircase. The bareness of decoration emphasizes the fine architectural lines

Terence Conran’s New House Book, 1985

[garageperfect123]

Quartz Floors Services | Garage Perfect Elevate your space with Quartz Floors Services by Garage Perfect. Transform your garage with durable, stylish quartz flooring solutions. Discover the perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics for your space today. https://www.garageperfect.ca/concrete-finishes/quartz-floors/

[tilecleaningtoday]

Restoring an Terrazzo Hallway Floor Hidden Under Carpet in Doncaster

This beautiful Terrazzo floor was uncovered in the hallway of a house in Doncaster, as you can see it had taken a bit of a beating over the years, but the owners were keen on having it restored. Restoring period features like these are a great idea as they are very sought after and can add a lot of value to a property. The floor had spent many years below carpet and nails had been hammered through the floor to hold carpet grippers in place. Along with this there was a lot of glue and paint Read more at https://terrazzo.tilecleaning.co.uk/restoring-an-terrazzo-hallway-floor-hidden-under-carpet-in-doncaster/ To read more on this topic click here

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Who added a square to the round house? According to some research, this house was also a Community Center, then became a Church. Eventually, the 1952 mid-century modern became a home to several owners. It's recently been remodeled and is located in Safety Harbor, FL, has 2bds, 2ba, & the owners are asking $699K.

The front door opens to a round hallway. The floor looks like stained cement.

The living room is gigantic, but it looks like the current owners either have a business or are set up for a moving sale. The floor in here is terrazzo.

It looks like they pushed the sofa behind the screen.

The round kitchen is kind of interesting. It looks like they painted the original cabinets black, b/c MCM cabinets would be flat front style.

This looks like a bedroom, possibly the primary.

And, here's bath #1, that has a double shower.

In order to accommodate the addition on the roof, they put up a spiral staircase that looks like it may be part of the primary bedroom.

Interesting configuration.

Oh, I get it now, the house was originally only 1 bedroom and 1 bath, and that's why they did the addition. This is all newer construction.

The 2nd bath is up here- a small shower room. Wow, $699K for this.

You couldn't call the small cement area a patio, but there's some lawn.

It has a garage with a large parking area.

The house is on a .27 acre lot.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1111-Dr-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-St-N-Safety-Harbor-FL-34695/46971387_zpid/

[sailorhyunjinz]

~ On the other side ~

Warnings: SMUT; idol!bf!Jeongin, fem!gf!reader, video/phone sex, mutual masturbation, orgasm(f and m), petnames (babygirl/babyboy), fingering.

Word count: 1,077 words 

Requested: Yes! Thank u so much anon <3 

Note: Two Jeongin drabbles... spoiling yall also wtf if this is super inaccurate it’s because phone sex is literally something i don’t get ahshsha 

36 days without Jeongins prescense. You knew that a relationship with an idol would not be all glitter and rainbows but neither that it would be this difficult. Jeongin is on a tour with the rest of the band, performing in a country on the other side of the world. Sure, he called you multiple times a day but you missed his touch.

The jingle from your phone startled you, eating popcorn and watching a movie to forget that you’re missing him. “Jeongin bby 🥺” popped up on your screen, a picture of him sleeping attached to it. You clicked the green answer button of the facetime call making your phone vibrate.

“Y/n! Baby! I missed you~”, the boy greeted you with his eye smile, dimples deeper than your love for him if that’s even possible. 

“I missed you too, it’s so lonely” you said with a pout, adjusting your hair bun. 

The other boys blocked Jeongins face with their hands and started to yell “hellos” which made you smile but made Jeongin whine cutely.

“Hi everyone! Good luck on your stage today you guys” your smile streched from ear to ear. You were so lucky to not only have a fantastic boyfriend but 7 other friends that you trusted. 

All the boys thanked you, yelling through the slightly echoy room they were in. 

Jeongin hushed at them to be quiet so he could talk to you but ended up giving them a dirty look and exiting the room.

You laughed; “Not easy to be with 8 messy boys all the time, right?”

“I’d much rather be with you because you’re more cuddly than the boys” said Jeongin with a sigh, hearing his footsteps hit the terrazzo floor in a hallway. 

“Do you know what I miss the most?” you smirked, the screen reflecting it’s blue light on your eyes. 

He tilted his head questioningly, looking as cute as a puppy. “Tell me, princess”.

A blushed creeped onto your face upon hearing the nickname, making you hesitate to say what you wanted to say but you blurted it out without thinking.

“I-i miss your touch...” he smirked back at you, running his tongue on the inside of his cheek. You heard a door open in through the phone and Jeongin sat down in a vocal room. The sound of the lock clicking made you wet, remiding thinking about the other times the sound of the lock led to heated sex. 

“Tell me more. What do you want me to do about it?”. Licking his lips, the saliva glistened in the white lights in the room. 

You hummed for a while, clenching your thighs and gaining friction to your pussy getting wetter by the minute. 

Jeongin must have seen you hesitating, you knew exactly what you wanted to say but were shy. You had never been this straightforward before.

His eyes narrowed. They filled with lust and looked down on you through hooded eyelids. 

“Touch yourself” he growled.

Your your eyebrows heightening at his bold remark, the boy smirking at your reaction. 

“B-but don’t you have something with the boys soon..?” your voice filled with confusion. 

“Yea... so your basically losing time right now, baby girl. Touch yourself” he repeated, the smirk had been wiped off his face. 

A embarrassed laugh came out of you as you placed your phone at a lower angle. You stood up and in one swift motion removed both the grey sweatshorts and underwear you were wearing. Sitting down, the camera caputured both your flushed face and dripping cunt. 

Jeongin groaned at the sight. Your face looking so innocent but your cunt begged to be stuffed. The sound of the belt buckle made you curious.

“Show me how hard you are, baby boy” you said, getting closer to the camera and coating two of your fingers with your saliva. 

He tilted the camera, exposing his dick that popped through his black jeans. The tip was a delicate shade of rose. a bead of precum shimmering. You moaned quietly, wanting to suck him off til he was crying out for you to stop. 

“Look how hard you make me, baby~” he let out a long groan as he ran his thumb across the tip, spreading the precum. 

The heat between your legs was starting to get unbearable, you needed pleasure. Your saliva-coated digits started to circling the clit. Due to not having sex since Jeongin left, you were unusually sensitive, the small contact making you throw your head back as the circles started to get bigger and sloppier. 

“Finger yourself for me baby girl” you heard through the speakers of the phone to which you inserted two fingers, pumping rapidly, your moans filling the room as they mixed with Jeongins deep breathes. The sound of skin slapping came  from his end of the phone. 

Your pussy swallowed the digits whole and even if it wasn’t Jeongins fingers simply his voice made you feel as if he was next to you.

The moans got louder from Jeongin as he was jerking himself, your name slipping from his tongue with a needy tone. 

“y-y/n...fuck... baby I wish you were here to suck me off..ahh” 

“Innie...please cum for m-me...” you replied in slowly due to your fingers curling up inside of you. Fingertips lightly grazing your g-spot making you tightly shut your eyes, tears forming in the corners. 

“b-baby you look so beautiful like this, i love y-you..”, Jeongin choked on his own words, nearing his release from the frequent hisses and clenched jaw. 

You felt as if you’re going to explode. The pleasure was too much for your cunt that hasn’t been touched by Jeongin in a while. 

“ahh..fuck i’m gonna cum...innie..” you cried out to the boy through the phone as his own pace quickened. 

You threw your head back as your orgasm crashed upon you, the wave of bliss giving you goosebumps. You looked at Jeongin that was groaning with tiny words of love escaping him now and then.

“Innie~...I’ve been a bad girl, look how much I came without your dick pulsing inside of me” you said, wanting to tempt the boy to cum. 

Through his clenched teeth a small, muffled moan was heard before white ropes of cum ran down his dick and onto his abdomen. He contuinited jerking as he rode the wave of his orgasm. 

Panting, the corner of his lip curved upwards.

“You’re in trouble when I come home”

[30secondfics]

EAT OR BE EATEN (A/U) 6 OF 6

~ Author’s Note ~ “Before the renaissance we had the Black Plague.” 

- @thekingoflegoland

Rated M

Part 1 > Part 2 > Part 3 > Part 4 > Part 5a > Part 5b > Part 6

Seattle, January 2021

Gabriella Torres stepped out of her rideshare and studied the house she stood in front of. A small shingled house, hunter green, the grass browned from the cool weather and the paint of the white front door chipped from years of neglect. She knocked.

A woman with a black lacquered cane opened the door with widened eyes, pale, as if she had just seen a ghost.

“Hi, I’m looking for Calliope Torres-”

“She doesn’t live here.“

“My name is Gabriella Torres. Aria Torres is my mother—was—my mother.”

The woman sighed and eyed the young woman. “You're a spitting image of your mother. Come in.”

The sunroom of the house was clean, sterilized. It still smelled of cleaning products and polish; it was well tended to, unlike the exterior of the house.

“Can I get you a coffee or a tea?” the woman asked.

“Water, please, if you wouldn’t mind,” Gabriella answered. She took the glass the woman offered her and took a generous sip.

“What did you say your name was again?” the woman asked, taking the seat in front of her guest and leaning her cane against the side table.

“Gabriella.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”

The woman paused in thought.

“I’m sorry to come out of the blue, but I thought you would prefer meeting in person rather than starting a paper trail…  Aunt Calliope.”

Calliope nodded in agreement and cleared her throat. “So how did you find me?”

“I just started grad school at the University of Washington, I’m doing my masters in library studies-”

“Impressive,” Callie nodded, glad and relieved to learn her niece was educated.

“Thank you. I was in foster care my whole life, you see, I knew nothing but my mother’s name. I swore to find her one day and I searched for her for years and years. Then, finally, I came across her obituary and I found out she lived in Miami… and, well, my research led me to you.”

“So you know who I am…” Callie cleared her throat and picked at the cotton of her pants.

“You’re Calliope Torres. You were the head of the Torres Crime family. You were responsible for the Miami Mob Massacre of 2013 when all of the heads of the city’s crime families were murdered.”

“Allegedly,” Callie corrected.

Gabriella nodded in agreement. “Early in 2014 the Feds gathered enough evidence to put you on trial-”

“Alex Karev and George O’Malley came forward and turned themselves in, in an attempt to put me away,” Callie informed. “Even after I paid them a very generous amount of money to leave town. It seemed that it wasn’t enough for two men who felt overpowered by a single woman.”

“You were on trial for 21 days,” Gabriella continued. “Until you were proven not guilty. After 21 days they were going to let you walk free, you were free—then you were showered with bullets on your way out of the Miami courthouse. A man named Robert Stark was arrested; he claimed you destroyed his life over unsettled debt.”

“And yet he’s still in jail and I am not,” Callie couldn’t help but smirk.

“My mother perished that day, and you were airlifted to Miami General with life-threatening injuries,” Gabriella added. “Some articles reported that you wouldn’t make it out alive, while others rumoured you would never fully recover. You were mentioned in the papers for months, until suddenly you weren’t. New leaders of the other crime families began to take their place, and new gang wars plagued Miami. By the time you walked out of the hospital a free woman, you were old news and the Torres empire had crumbled. You’ve been laying low ever since.”

Gabriella was nothing but correct in her explanation. The Torres empire crumbled, and it crumbled hard. In Callie’s absence, and Alex and George’s incarceration, other members of the corporation fought for themselves, fought amongst themselves, stole for themselves, until there was nothing left but a few skids of canned peaches scattered across the city. The Torres mansion was looted and then destroyed by opportunistic rival families. The Torres name became irrelevant. A name no longer feared. A name no longer remembered, despite the damage it did in the past decades. Bigger crimes flooded Miami, and though grudges still existed, seeking revenge against the Torres family was no longer a priority. 

Callie remained silent. It had been years since she lived that life, it was hard to believe its vibrant contrast to the life she lived now.

“Sorry,” Gabriella brushed. “I was just searching for my mother, I didn’t mean to uncover so much more about you.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Callie reassured. “That was my past, and I will take what I did to my grave.”

Gabriella remained silent.

“So what do you want to know about your mother?” Callie asked.

Gabriella released a sigh with both grief and relief. Grief of the loss she had held in her heart for so long, and relief that she was finally going to get some answers.

“I want to know why my mother left me at the hospital that day, knowing she had the means to raise me.”

“I can’t answer for the dead,” Callie shook her head.

“I know that, but you at least knew her…”

“And I know giving you up was probably the best decision she could have made for you.”

“What?” Gabriella asked with furrowed brows. She spent her life in poverty. She was alone. She moved from foster home to foster home. The closest thing she has to a family is an old college roommate.

“My sister Aria was… impulsive. Especially when it came to money. She and my father would always clash on her irresponsible spendings. I believe she had you the year she just about had it with our father and so she disappeared for a year to travel across the country in a van with some friends. She was in no state to raise a child, even if we had the money.”

“But I grew up poor, without a family-” Gabriella began to argue.

“Do you think a crime family would have been any better?”

“Maybe,” Gabriella shrugged.

“It cost us your mothers life,” Callie reminded. “It nearly cost me mine.”

Gabriella remained silent.

“A life of riches is far from a fairytale when it’s funded with bloodmoney.”

Gabriella avoided her aunt’s eyes.

“So if it’s money you want from me I no longer have much of it,” Callie admitted.

“I don’t need money,” Gabriella promised. “I just wanted answers.”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer anymore than that,” Callie replied. “I didn’t even know my sister had you until this morning.”

“Would you have stepped in if you knew back then?” Gabriella asked.

Callie paused in thought. “Probably not,” she answered honestly. She believed the mob was no place for a child.

They sat in silence for a moment. Then Callie glanced at the clock.

“Then I won’t take up much more of your time,” Gabriella promised and stood from her seat. “Thank you for your time.”

Callie simply nodded.

“Can I ask how you found out where I live?” Callie asked before the younger woman could leave.

Gabriella signed. “Seattle Grace held a Gala last week. I was sorting the newspaper section of the library when I saw your face. Your hair is much shorter now but I had studied the family so much I recognized you right away… it wasn’t hard after I ran a search for you in Seattle.”

“What newspaper published that article?” Callie needed to know: if her niece could recognize her, how many more people could.

“Seattle Local. Don’t worry, I’ve already shredded as many copies of the paper as I could find,” Gabriella reassured.

“Thank you,” Callie sighed in relief.

“Can I ask you one last question before I go?” Gabriella asked.

“You just did.”

“Do you think there are people out there who still want you dead?” Gabriella proceeded to ask.

“I know there is,” Callie nodded. “Dozens of them.”

“How do you bear it? How do you live in fear?”

“I don’t,” Callie answered confidently. “Knowing my life could end at any moment is what makes every day so worth living.”

000

There was one part of Gabriella’s story that was missing; one part of the Calliope Torres story that was very private and protected from the public eye. Down a long hallway, two feet and a cane dully tread across grey terrazzo floors. The door at the end of the hall held a plaque, yielded the Seattle Grace Hospital logo and the title Chief of Surgery. She opened the door.

Large windows letting in lights from the Seattle Skyline also enclosed the spacious and personalized office. The walls were decorated with various frames, some with photos, others with accomplishments and awards. One of which was the 2014 Carter Madison Grant and a photo of a small clinic in Mawali. 

Arizona Robbins glanced up from her laptop and over reading glasses arched a single eyebrow.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Callie apologised.

Arizona smirked and motioned for her lover to come closer with finger.

Callie rounded the cherrywood desk and gave her wife a kiss.

“Hmm,” Arizona hummed with satisfaction.

“Missed you.” She said this every day.

“Missed you too,” Arizona replied with a smile. “How was your day?” she asked, pushing her chair back to make room for her wife.

“Well…” Callie leaned her cane against the desk and pushed the laptop back to sit on her wife’s desk, “I had a visitor at the house today.”

“A visitor?” Arizona repeated, intrigued. “We haven’t had a visitor in a very long time. Who was kind enough to send you a hitman this time?” she asked sarcastically. 

“Not an assassin,” Callie informed with a small smirk. A very small part of her missed when an assassin or two would shake up their home. It had been so quiet the past few years since they moved to Seattle, Callie could almost say she was starting to get bored. She and Arizona had become so good at silently putting hitmen away; they made great fertiliser for the flowers in the back garden. 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, it turns out I have a niece. It looks like Aria forgot to mention she had a kid twenty-two years ago.”

“No way…”

“She looks just like her, Arizona, if she’s a con artist she sold it really well.”

“How’d she find you?”

“She saw a photo of me in a local paper, from the Gala.”

“Oh, Calliope… I didn’t know you’d be photographed.”

“It’s fine,” Callie shrugged. “I’m sort of glad she found me. It was nice talking about Aria again.”

“Are you going to keep in touch?”

“I didn’t want her to feel obligated to keep in contact. She’s a smart girl, she’ll come back if she wants to.”

Arizona gave her wife a sympathetic smile.

“Anyways, tell me about your day…” Callie encouraged her wife.

“I think I’d rather save the talking for later,” Arizona said with a smirk.

“Oh…” Callie chuckled and moaned when her wife pressed their lips together. Arizona’s hands were on her waist and they slowly made their way up her shirt as they kissed.

“You called for me, Doctor Robbins?” Callie teased, between kisses.

“I did, and you’re late,” Arizona played along. She loved her wife for a hundred million reasons, and one of them included how ungodly good she was at getting her off.

“I’m awfully sorry,” Callie apologised in her bedroom voice.

“Y-you’d better be,” Arizona gasped when her wife’s mouth wrapped around the skin on her neck and began to suck. “D-don’t leave a mark…” she scolded, “again.”

Callie smirked and slipped her hand into the white lab coat and down the navy blue scrub top. She cupped her wife’s breast; soft, warm, and a bit more plump than she remembered.

Arizona felt wetness begin to grow between her legs. Slick. Heat. Then a gush of fluid like the breaking of a damn.

“Callie!” Arizona shrieked.

“Arizona...” Callie gasped when she felt the wetness run down her leg, “was that?”

“I think my water just broke,” Arizona said with widened eyes.

“It’s a good thing we’re already at a hospital,” Callie chuckled and took her wife by the hand before leading her towards the maternity ward to have their baby.

Callie and Arizona rushed down the aisle, hand-in-hand, away from the altar where Elvis stood to officiate. With no family left between the two of them, they spent their wedding night celebrating their rather spontaneous wedding with a rather expensive bottle of wine and room service.

Overlooking the city of Las Vegas, a city also once ruled by crime families such as the Torres’s, Callie held Arizona in her arms as they watched the night lights.

“I never pictured myself getting married,” Arizona admitted softly.

“You’re telling me this now?” Callie arched her eyebrow, taking hold of Arizona’s hand that was now weighed down by a wedding band. 

“No, Calliope, I mean… I never pictured myself getting married in the white dress and large crowd. But this… this was perfect.”

“Oh…” Callie smiled mischievously and planted a hot kiss on her wife’s neck.

“Callie!” Arizona squinted her eyes and stopped walking.

“Breathe…” Callie coached.

“I am breathing,” Arizona gritted through her teeth, freezing for a couple of minutes before gathering up the strength to walk again.

“We’re almost there,” Callie reassured.

Arizona puffed air out of her cheeks and followed her wife’s lead. Moments later, she found herself on a hospital bed, monitors attached to her belly and her wife by her side.

“Push,” Arizona encouraged.

Callie let out a long grunt as she pushed against the resistance band that Arizona was holding behind her. She took three bullets in her arm, two in the gut, and one in her femur which left her with a permanent limp. She had accepted her fate of the cane, but she had yet to give up on rehabilitating her dominant hand.

“Good,” the physiotherapist praised. “You’re really motivated today!”

“Motivated to use my good hand in bed again,” Callie pushed against the purple band again.

“Callie!” Arizona gasped, not impressed with her lover’s vulgarness in front of the physiotherapist.

The therapist couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s good to have goals.”

“Let’s see how your baby is doing…” Doctor Carina DeLuca snapped on a clean glove and placed herself between the patient’s legs. “Oh…” 

“What?” Callie and Arizona said in unison.

“When did you say your contractions began?” Carina  asked.

“I guess, this morning…” Arizona thought out loud.

“This morning?” Callie repeated with disbelief. Her wife had been in labour all day and she didn’t receive a single text of mention.

“I thought it was just a stomach ache from all the poundcake I ate for breakfast.” Arizona admitted. 

“Did you eat the whole coffee cart too?” Callie teased.

“I only had three...” Arizona defended, “this time.”

“Move to Seattle with me,” Arizona said, her head nestled on her wife’s chest. Las Vegas streets were loud but she could still hear Callie’s pounding heartbeat.

“Seattle?”

“They’ve offered me a job as an attending… if I accept it, we can have our own life there. Just you and me, far away from the craziness in Miami. You don’t belong there anymore, we don’t belong there anymore. We both need a new start, somewhere we can raise a family.”

“You want kids?” Callie asked, surprised. With all the commotion, they forgot to talk about having children.

“I want a family, whatever that may look like. I’ve never had one and I want one with you.”

“You can start pushing on your next contraction,” Doctor DeLuca instructed.

“Callie, I’m scared,” Arizona told her wife.

“You’ve made it this far, Arizona, I believe in you.”

“What if we lose this baby too?”

“We can’t think like that right now, Arizona, you need to focus on having this baby, okay?”

Arizona nodded her head and grunted as she pushed as hard as she could.

The house was so quiet.

With Lucy’s passing, there was no longer pitter patter of paws against the hardwood as she played around the house. Now their house filled with the noise of Arizona turning the page of her newspaper, and Callie watching car review videos on her phone.

“You think it’s too soon to get another dog?” Arizona asked.

“I don’t know if I want another dog,” Callie admitted.

“Can I finally have my chicken coop, then?”

“No…” Callie slowly shook her head.

“Well, we’re certainly not getting a ferret, Calliope-”

“I’ve been thinking… it’s a good time to have a baby.”

Arizona’s face brightened into a smile. “A baby?” she breathed out.

Callie nodded, “A baby.”

“Your baby is almost here…” Carina announced.

“Really?” Arizona phanted.

“Do you want the mirror?”

“Oh god, no,” Arizona shook her head in denial.

Callie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t you dare laugh,” Arizona scolded her wife. “You owe me a new vagina after this!”

“I’m sorry…” the doctor repeated herself. “Please stay and use the room for as long as you need to.”

“Thank you,” Arizona nodded at the doctor and continued to console her wife.

Callie watched the doctor leave with blank eyes. The news hurt her more than she thought it would. She didn’t even know she wanted kids until she married Arizona, and now that she found out she couldn’t, she was heartbroken. Her life of crime, the bullets of revenge, had already taken her sister from her; she was saddened to learn it also took away her chance of having children of her own.

“What do you need from me?” Arizona said softly.

“I don’t know,” Callie shook her head.

“I’ll have them, Calliope, I want to have them,” Arizona offered for the hundredth time.

“I…” Callie gulped to rid of the dryness in her throat, “I thought we could have some of yours and some of mine too.”

“Oh, Calliope…” Arizona sighed in defeat. “It would have been amazing to have a little you running around the house, but I promise you they will be our babies no matter what.”

“She’s here…” Carina announced.

“It’s a girl?” Callie asked with surprise, relief and excited butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

“It’s a girl,” Carina confirmed.

Callie and Arizona smiled at the crying infant. Carina placed the child on Arizona’s chest and Callie wrapped her arms around her family. She was so little yet so loud, and mighty. Her hands were bronze like a Torres and her eyes were blue like a Robbins. She was there and she was theirs.

“I love you…”

“What?” Callie said past dry lips. She thought she would never see Arizona Robbins again, let alone have her visit her hospital room every day for the past three months. 

“I love you,” Arizona nodded her head. She had known, deep down, for a long time. But she was at the airport, ready to leave for Africa, ready to truly move on from her tango with the mob and start a new life, a new clinic, for children in a new land, Malawi, when she saw the Torres heir fall to the ground in front of the courthouse. She hated that she had to see Calliope Torres get shot multiple times on television to realise it. She loved the notorious boss and she couldn’t leave Miami without her.

“Arizona, you can’t-”

“You’re not my boss, Calliope, you can’t tell me what I can and can’t do anymore-”

“No, Arizona, you need someone... normal,” Callie defended her stance. “Someone who can give you the easy life you deserve. Someone who doesn’t have a past-”

“I know your past, Calliope, and I know the kind of woman you are deep down. Do you think it was easy to let someone else run my clinic in Africa, to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I can spend three months in this hospital with you? I know love isn’t easy, but I choose it because—because life without it is dull and cold.”

Callie eyed her lover.

“I know there are people who want you dead...” Arizona continued, “that danger will follow you, but—why live in fear when we can take our chances at being happy?”

“Jeez, okay, enough with the dramatics,” Callie teased.

Arizona gasped, offended, then laughed. Her speech was quite cheesy.

“I love you too. I’ve known for a while,” Callie admitted. “But I want what’s best for you. That’s why I let you go...” 

“And I know what I want,” Arizona countered. “That’s why I came back...”

Callie cradled baby Sofia as Arizona finally fell asleep in her hospital bed. Sofia had that intoxicating new baby smell and Callie soaked in every minute of it. Swaddled in her hospital blanket, Sofia was content and happy to be in her mother’s arms. 

Callie glanced at Arizona and watched her peacefully rest. She deserves it. Arizona let out a soft snore and it made Callie smile. Her mob career started in her father’s hospital room. Her love for Arizona blossomed in her hospital room. Now their middle family had grown by one in the hospital room.

Callie Torres was working in a cubicle, in an office, on a floor, in a building full of cubicles. She was the daughter of a notorious crime boss and she was in an office working a nine-to-five desk job. Despite her upbringing, she went to college. She attended Penn State, the first in her family to go to college. She told herself that she needed space from the mob, but deep down she knew she left home because she resented her father for not being a good husband to her mother. Over a decade later, she still blamed him for making Lucia Torres flee. So Callie moved away, to a city where nobody knew her name, and for four years she studied literature, made an honest living, and lived a modest lifestyle. She was set. She had financial independence from her father and no ties to the life he lived.

Until a single phone call changed her projection. She came back to Miami after years of avoiding the city and the chaos within it. Giovanni sent one of the drivers to pick her up at the airport and she felt helpless in the backseat of the Cadillac. She hated it: the feeling of being the young woman with no independence, thanks to the nature of the family business. There was a reason why she moved out: to be able to do things on her own.

The short car ride felt like hours, but soon she was at Miami General: pushing through a crowd of news reporters hoping to get information and FBI agents hoping to find dirt that will finally warrant the arrest of the biggest mob boss in the city. The FBI were always around—ever since Carlos himself was a child—but they could never find enough evidence to take the family court. Thus, they tried to get close whenever they could. It disgusted Callie. Her father was ill and all people cared about was exposing him. 

She ran to his bedside the moment she squeezed past the door and took his hand into her own.

“Calliope…” he coughed up.

“I’m here, papa.” Callie soothed, combing what was left of his hair with her fingers.

“You came home,” Carlos smiled.

“Of course I did. You take it easy, okay?”

Carlos closed his eyes and nodded his head. He was weak, and he drifted off to sleep shortly.

“Miss Torres?” a soft knock came from the door. “I’m Dr. Teddy Altman, your father’s surgeon.”

Callie turned around and stood to politely shake the woman’s hand. “Call me Callie,” she insisted. “Can you tell me what happened? ”

“Callie…” Teddy sighed, “From the looks of things, your father has had heart failure for years.”

“He’s never mentioned it...” Callie insecurely crossed her arms, “Is he going to make it?”

“He’s responding to the ‘tropes, the medications we’re giving him, but that’s all I can say for now.”

“Is he going to make it?” Callie repeated.

“It’s hard to say…” Teddy trailed off, “But I can tell you that we’re doing everything we can.”

“Is he going to be treated just like everyone else?” Callie asked. She knew the doctor wasn’t oblivious to who she was taking care of. A high-profile man like Carlos Torres drew attention wherever he went.

“We provide treatment solely based on the patient’s clinical needs...” Teddy promised, “without moral discrimination.”

She stayed by her father’s side—only going home to get cleaned up and sleep. When she wasn’t tending to him, she was making sure his casinos were running smoothly. She became a frequent customer at the cafeteria, and even the girl at the coffee cart knew how she took her coffee. She didn’t know if it was love or guilt that made her stay by her father’s side. She felt guilty that she had deserted the family, all those years ago. And if she didn’t keep her head down that day, she would have ran into the blonde-haired blue-eyed surgical resident that stood in front of her while she waited for her coffee.

“How are the casinos?” Carlos asked one day, when he had the strength.

“Don’t worry about them,” Callie insisted, “I’ve made sure Alex and George stay on track; you just work on getting better.”

“You’re getting involved with our operations?”

“Yes, it’s fine, everything is fine.”

“You know, I always thought it would be you that I’d leave the casinos to…”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t cut-out to be a boss,” Callie hung her head in shame.

“Don’t say that, mija, I’m so proud of you,” Carlos admitted.

“You are?” Callie questioned softly.

“Always,” Carlos promised. “My smart, beautiful, girl.”

Callie wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks and held onto her father’s hand.

Later that evening, Callie was leaving her father’s room to go home when she realized the watchman that usually guarded the door was not at his post. She grabbed her phone to call Giovanni and sighed in relief when he told her that he would fire the man for leaving his post and send over another member of his security team immediately.

In the meantime, Callie waited by her father. It was highly unlikely that any harm would come, but she still had an unsettling feeling in her gut—which amplified when she heard the door open, and she turned her head in time to see a grey-haired man.

“You must be his little girl,” he chuckled.

“What do you want?” Callie asked harshly.

“Well…” he shrugged his shoulders, his hands in his pockets. “I’m here to take him out. I don’t want to hurt anyone else, but now that you’re here... I don’t have much of a choice.”

Callie stood from her seat and took a step back. She was scared—initially— then anger sparked within her. Suddenly, she wanted to get him before he could get her or her father. She quickly weighed out her options. She was unarmed, and had been for years. She knew he had a gun, she could see the outline in his pants. She glanced around the room and in a matter of seconds she had a plan.

She grabbed the flower vase from the nightstand behind her and threw it across the room. Distraction. He lifted his hands to block the glass from hitting his face, and she rammed her right shoulder into his sternum, pinning him against the wall. Attack. The impact caused a couple of his ribs to break, and the noise of the vase shattering onto the floor caused the nurses to start peering into the window. He was able to strike her cheek with the gun, causing the skin to break, but she didn’t feel the pain. Her adrenaline was pumping through her veins and she wanted nothing more than to see him dead.

“Bitch,” he spat, trying to point the gun at her head, but bone-breaking strength pinned his body against the wall. The Torres heir was stronger than he thought.

Callie groaned and struck her elbow against his windpipe. Once. Twice. Three times. The sound of his cartilage breaking from impact. At this point, he was still alive, but the injury to his neck narrowed his trachea and he struggled to take the faintest breath of air. So Callie stepped back, letting him fall to the floor, and she kicked the gun out of his hand. She glanced back, her father was still asleep. She looked forward, the nurses had called security and they were waiting outside the door. She opened it, stepped outside, and a nurse walked to her side.

“You want me to look at that, Miss Torres?” the nurse asked.

“Look at what?” Callie mindlessly asked, still in shock from the events that took place moments ago.

“Your cheek is bleeding…”

Callie took a seat on a nearby chair, exhausted. She couldn’t believe it. She won her first fight.

“What should we do with him?” one of the security guards asked, wanting to be of assistance but also not wanting to get too involved with the mob.

“Leave him. Someone will be here to clean up shortly,” Callie sighed. It was only now that the blood from her cheek trickled down her neck that she realized she was bleeding. “I’m sorry for the noise…” she told the hospital staff, and the few patients that watched the scene unfold, “But nobody saw anything, right?”

All watching eyes turned away and went about minding their own business. Except the nurse who had offered to help, she had gone to get a dressing kit and returned to tend to Callie’s injury.

When Carlos Torres came to consciousness and learned of his daughter’s doings, that Callie was managing the casinos quite well and taking care of business in his absence, he knew what to do before his inevitable death. With her father’s ring on her finger, Callie Torres took her place behind the desk in the office she was forbidden to be in at her childhood home.

“I can’t believe she’s home…”

“I can’t believe she’s ours…”

Callie and Arizona cooed at the sleeping infant in the crib.

“We should go to bed and get some sleep while we can,” Arizona suggested. “She’ll be up wanting a feeding before we know it.”

“You go to sleep before she needs you. I’ll stay up a little longer, just in case she needs anything else...” Callie volunteered.

“We’re across the hall, Calliope, she’ll be okay on her own for an hour or two,” Arizona promised. 

“I don’t mind,” Callie insisted.

“Come to bed with me, please?” Arizona pleaded.

“Arizona, I…”

“What is it, love?” Arizona asked, placing a soft hand on her wife’s arm.

“I think I’m scared…”

“She’s safe here,” Arizona promised.

“What if something bad were to happen to her, to us, to our family? I don’t want her out of my sight. I know you we’ve been safe here but you know my past-”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with your past, Calliope,” Arizona couldn’t help but smile. “That’s called being a mother. We’re going to worry about her for the next eighteen years, at least. We’ll have eighteen years to worry about her so please, can we go to bed for now?”

Callie sighed then nodded her head in agreement. Why live in fear when we can take a chance at being happy? She had chosen happiness these past few years, she took a vow to choose happiness with Arizona. Now she vowed this: if anyone laid a finger on her baby, she would hurt them before they could hurt Sofia.

FIN.

[bougieaesthetic]

https://instagram.com/p/BYKR9v1ggc4/

[palakyt]

https://youtu.be/BaIA4eWguGU

SIMS 4 GIRLS HOUSE CC

Window - https://simsationaldesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/vaulted-ranch-mcm-inspired-build-set.html

Door - https://simsationaldesigns.blogspot.com/2019/03/graciously-georgian-version-20-classic.html

Brick Wall - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-walls/title/bricks-7/id/1300621/

Brick Kitchen Wall - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-walls/title/bricks-2/id/1300615/

Wallpaper - http://ts4novvvas.blogspot.com/2018/06/wallpaper-collection.html

Living Room Wallpaper - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-walls/title/uxev-walls-3/id/1444523/

Wall - https://ts4maxismatch.tumblr.com/post/117421420913/simsrocuted-heyya-im-just-popping-in-to-share

Bathroom Tiles - https://ts4cc-finds.tumblr.com/post/163089802705/sanoysims-vakkert-set-ts4-heavily-copied-of

Wood Floor - https://ts4novvvas.wixsite.com/thesims4cc/wood-floor-1

Bathroom Floor - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-floors/title/terrazzo-floor-tiles/id/1425272/

Door - https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Mutske/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-buildmode-doors/title/new-york-door-glass-1x1/id/1457361/

Counter - https://wondymoon.com/downloads/sims4/sets/kitchen/juglans-kitchen/

Oven - https://peacemaker-ic.tumblr.com/post/179481071239/mina-kitchen-contemporary-shaker-style-kitchen

Toaster - https://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2018/03/compact-kitchen_7.html

Fridge - https://slox.tumblr.com/post/179889763749/hulea-kitchen-items-this-set-includes-10-new

Laundry Clutter - https://ts4cc-finds.tumblr.com/post/156838137100/sanoysims-anye-laundry-room-set-ts4-as-soon

Clutter - https://slox.tumblr.com/post/187286149389/sutaron-kitchen-6-new-meshes-for-a-kitchen-set

Books - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-decor-clutter/title/binge-inking-stacked-books/id/1473037/

Light - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-lighting-ceilinglamps/title/apollo-ceiling-lamp-short/id/1500950/

Plant - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-decor-plants/title/apollo-plant/id/1500945/

Clutter - https://pqsim4.blogspot.com/2020/06/mares-pantry-sims-4-custom-content.html

https://slox.tumblr.com/post/179556343764/mote-pots-and-pans-this-set-includes-9-new-meshes

https://slox.tumblr.com/post/187119542754/goop-kitchen-additions-a-set-with-some-new-meshes

https://slox.tumblr.com/post/174854994989/senteo-dining-room-the-cc-is-made-for-decoration

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https://slox.tumblr.com/post/164331093794/b2b-bedroom-this-bedroom-includes-10-new-meshes

https://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2018/03/over-rainbow-laundry.html

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-sets-objects-bathroom/title/oceane-bathroom-set/id/1500009/

https://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2018/06/aiza-workout-clutter.html

http://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2018/11/joung-laundry-clutter.html

https://www.patreon.com/posts/38615833 (free)

Rug - https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/174120499936/mxims-novvvas-hay-dining-room-collaboration-hay

Shoe Rack - https://www.leosims.com/product/shoe-rack-set/

Coat and Hanging clothes - https://lunaticavillage.tumblr.com/post/166785685732/mxims-mincsims-mxims-collaboration-part-ii-menu

Plant - https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/622379348407746560/loft-life-set-26-new-meshes-deco-objects-are

https://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2018/08/ansa-potted-plants-set.html

Painting - https://pqsim4.blogspot.com/2020/06/claudia-bedroom-sims-4-speed-build.html

https://slox.tumblr.com/post/175335025704/piko-wall-frames-collection-huge-set-of-wall

http://ts4novvvas.blogspot.com/2018/06/hsiao-ron-cheng-art.html

https://ddaeng-sims.tumblr.com/post/153526999750/misc-requests-s3-to-s4-leaning-pictures-mari-b9

https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/162708079786/random-art-3-15-swatches-download-art-by-martin

https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/163961184541/studio-proba-collection-rugs-8-swatches-posters

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-decor-paintingsposters/title/chromium-painting/id/1491193/

Bathroom - https://peacemaker-ic.tumblr.com/post/141688309403/well-my-new-furniture-set-is-finished-and-again

https://peacemaker-ic.tumblr.com/post/176620685469/roarsome-kids-bedroom-30-new-items-for-toddlers

Blanket Bag - https://sanoysims.tumblr.com/post/170097388291/lykke-bedroom-set-ts4-my-little-hiatus-was

Pillows - https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/616406310715555840/safari-toddler-bedroom-37-new-meshes-recolors-of

Nightstand - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-surfaces-endtables/title/one-nightstand-tall/id/1467890/

Modern Clock - https://mellouwsim.wixsite.com/mellouwsim/post/shire-living-set

Panel - https://mxims.tumblr.com/post/139118574232/2t4-curio-bedroom-fixed-version-this-set-has

Bed - https://sanoysims.tumblr.com/post/170097388291/lykke-bedroom-set-ts4-my-little-hiatus-was

Wallpaper - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-walls/title/d720-scw2/id/1426288/

https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/172769244006/wallpaper-collection-16-swatches-30-neutrals

Rug - https://sloxsims.blogspot.com/2019/08/haba-hallway-decor.html

Desk - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-sets/title/social-distancing-desk-amp-vanity-set/id/1489224/

Desk chair - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-comfort-miscellaneous/title/tellurium-desk-chair/id/1483491/

Makeup Deco - https://www.ebonix.com/single-post/2018/12/28/Ebonix-Clear-Purses-Deco

Floor Lamp - https://slox.tumblr.com/post/163760344194/dimanche-living-this-livingroom-includes-10-new

Wardrobe - https://pqsim4.blogspot.com/2020/04/martia-bedroom-sims-4-custom-content.html

Bed - https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/171176154111/misc-conversions-set-floor-bed-2-versions-7

https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/159683812591/pseudodigs-design-books-conversion-8-swatches

https://slox.tumblr.com/post/172553745124/sinda-bedroom-its-been-more-than-half-a-year-with

https://mxims.tumblr.com/post/139118574232/2t4-curio-bedroom-fixed-version-this-set-has

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-lighting-tablelamps/title/tellurium-table-lamp/id/1483163/

https://peacemaker-ic.tumblr.com/post/185128124229/vara-office-set-10-new-items-or-the-sims-4-this

Desk - https://lunaticavillage.tumblr.com/post/166785685732/mxims-mincsims-mxims-collaboration-part-ii-menu

Wallpaper - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-walls/title/d720-scw3/id/1426289/

https://peacemaker-ic.tumblr.com/post/144343932463/with-all-the-building-i-have-been-doing-in

https://novvvas.tumblr.com/post/158670453621/random-wall-panels-2-8-swatches-download

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-decor-paintingsposters/title/chromium-painting/id/1491193/

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-plumbing-sinks/title/ruthenium-sink/id/1481378/

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-objects-furnishing-decor-sculptures/title/eclectic-wire-shelf-(decor)/id/1318432/

https://yumesims.tumblr.com/post/145587857504/ts2-ts4-hanging-planters-conversion-just-a

[pendragyn]

here's an excerpt of my fic Ineffable Bastards, which starts off with the missing scene from Saturday night into Sunday morning. There's also a (not so) secret code in the text, can you find it?

Chapter 1 ∞ Sunday ∞ Very Early On The Very Last Day Of The Rest Of Their Lives

Groaning brakes pulled Crowley from their thoughts and they led Aziraphale off the bus, waiting until it had pulled away to turn towards their building. There was a sharp twinge in their chest when they looked to the empty spot where the Bentley was usually parked. They felt another twinge when they looked at Aziraphale, who was staring up at the building with a distant blankness of expression that Crowley understood all too well. “C’mon, angel, I think we could both use a drink.”

No sound came at first, but Aziraphale managed to croak out, “Yes,” after a moment. The angel felt strangely distant from their feelings in the odd silence and they trailed behind the demon into the flat, which was both nothing like and exactly like what Aziraphale would expect from Crowley. The art got a few blinks but there was no energy to consider what it might mean after the day week decade they’d had.

Unlike the bare concrete walls in the other rooms, the kitchen was slick with creamy white marble and terrazzo tiles, ebony cabinets that gleamed and stainless steel appliances that had never been used or even plugged in, though they were well stocked with food and drink. Crowley grabbed a bottle at random and a couple of glasses, bringing them over to the chrome and glass table with a small collection of colourful orchids in the centre. “Salute.”

The angel lifted their glass to toast before downing the drink and holding it out for a refill. Crowley obliged and they sat in silence for a while before Aziraphale asked, “Now what?”

“Eh, now I fall down and sleep for a while and you…” Crowley pulled off their glasses and gave the angel a long look. “You don’t really sleep do you? You should try it, great for getting away from your thoughts.”

“Rarely. Doesn’t seem to work that way for me, I’m afraid.” Aziraphale sighed and shook their head. “I just keep thinking about Agnes’ prophecy. Face the fire.” They shuddered a little. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Rubbing at their tired eyes, and the sting of unsheddable tears, Crowley nodded. “You’re in big trouble, angel.”

“You know full well we’re both, as they say, in for it,” Aziraphale corrected, smiling a little when Crowley gave them a look. “I’ve toed the line for a long time, but you, my dear, have danced around it to the point that I’m not sure they even know where they drew the line to begin with. If Heaven is going to ‘fire’ me, what’s Hell going to do to you?” Saying it aloud had tears burning in their eyes and they wiped at them hastily.

“Psh, they’re not that imaginative,” said Crowley in an effort to soothe, staring down into their glass. “Their favourite is an eternity in the pits being subjected to your worst nightmares. But it never works out that way,” they said with a sneering laugh, finishing their drink and pouring them both more. “Reliving the same thing over and over again only works for so long.”

“Really?” Aziraphale found themself feeling the slightest bittersweet hope that maybe Crowley would survive, even if they themself wouldn’t.

“After a while it’s not even scary any more.” Crowley darted a look at Aziraphale and looked away from the understanding in their eyes. “’Sides, I know the Elemental who runs the pits, owes me a favour actually, I could get out like that,” they boasted, snapping their fingers and summoning another full bottle from the cabinet.

The angel stared down into their glass and swirled the dark liquid around. “I don’t think it will be quite so easy for me.” They gave Crowley a bitter smirk. “I don’t recall an angel being put to true death before. How lovely to set a precedent.”

Crowley let out a startled laugh. “Never thought you’d be one for gallows humour.”

“Happens that I never thought I’d be the one on the gallows,” Aziraphale admitted with a grim smile. “I always feared…” They looked away when tears threatened again. “I wonder how they’ll get a hold of the hellfire? I suppose the Elementals could do it, but I know they’d make a rather big fuss.”

“Elem-? Wait, what, they’re going to use hellfire?” Crowley demanded.

“That’s the only thing angels are truly vulnerable to,” Aziraphale reminded them. “Same with demons and holy water I assume?”

The demon nodded but their thoughts were whirling as an idea popped into their head but exhaustion had it whirling away again. “I need sleep. Are, is that-”

“Get some rest,” Aziraphale said lowly, and called upon their very unangelic ability to cover up that they were lying when they said, “I’m fine. I’ll miracle up a book to pass the time.”

“Ngk, ‘kay, well, make yourself comfortable, whatever you want,” Crowley said, gesturing to take in the entire flat. When Aziraphale nodded and shooed them off, they let out a cracking yawn and retreated to their bedroom.

Unscrewing the cap of the fresh bottle, Aziraphale poured themself another glass and waited until they heard the bedroom door latch before pressing their hands to their eyes and letting out a shuddering breath. They shoved up from the table, taking the bottle and glass with them as they wandered aimlessly out of the dining area back into the mostly empty front room.

Finding the odoriferous pile of clothing by the door into the office was an unpleasant surprise but the angel quickly miracled it away before stepping into the room. They couldn't help but laugh a little to see the opulent desk and gilded throne-like chair set in front of the impressive view out the west facing windows. “Oh, Crowley.” They looked around, hoping to find a private spot that didn’t feel so overwhelmingly big and empty.

Resplendent in her spot on the eastern wall was the sketch of the Mona Lisa, and the only other items in the room were a falcon statue and an urn on pedestals as well as a gilded chair shoved in the corner behind the door to the front room. To the north was a short hallway with two doors and an oddly familiar statue of a giant bird lurking at the end. The right hand room was a small unused bathroom. The door on the left proved to be an illusion, but they found the real door around the corner, past the eagle statue. Inside was a small sun room.

Etched windows gave the room privacy, but it was hardly necessary with the veritable jungle of plants crowded in front of them. There was a small potters’ table near the door stacked with empty plant pots and a half-empty bag of potting soil and Aziraphale set the bottle and glass down on it. Aside from the kitchen, it was the only place in the entire flat that didn’t feel like a warehouse or a mausoleum.

Doubtful, but at a loss for what else to do, they decided to take Crowley’s suggestion of sleep and miracled up a chaise lounge against the empty eastern wall. They also conjured up a set of sleep clothes straight out of a production of A Christmas Carol: a sleep shirt, night cap, and a big plush robe to keep the chill out.

Donning the shirt, they left off the night cap and the robe, not needing them with how warm the room was, and flicked off the lights before stiffly settling themself onto the lounge. They fidgeted around after a moment and made a couple pillows and finally pulled the robe over themself as a blanket before curling onto their side, just barely able to make out the silhouette of the plants against the sky through the frosted glass.

I’ve made a real mess of things, the angel admitted to themself. They closed their eyes, the past few days replaying in their mind’s eye, and they saw again the stricken expression on the demon’s — on their friend’s face when they were rejected, abandoned, by someone they’d considered a friend, just when they needed them the most. How can Crowley ever forgive me for what must surely seem like the worst kind of betrayal? And now there was no time left to make things right, not in any meaningful way.

Enveloped in darkness and their own bitter thoughts, the tears came and Aziraphale had no choice but to let them fall.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the flat, Crowley was trying to sleep, but no matter how or where they tried their thoughts continued to churn and sleep refused to come. Frustration soon had them flinging off the covers and lurching from the bed with a curse as they snapped themself back into their clothes and went in search of Aziraphale and another drink.

Emptiness greeted them in the kitchen, and their stomach sank with dread as all the worst scenarios immediately played through their mind. Oh, shit, did they come back? Did they get Aziraphale while I was stupidly trying to sleep? They sent their senses outward with an edge of panic.

Relief washed through them to sense Aziraphale at the far end of the flat and they tried to pretend they weren’t hurrying, that they weren’t desperate to reassure themself that the angel was still there, alive and well. They sidled past the partially closed door to the darkened sun room, but the teasing joke they’d been about to say died upon seeing the tears trailing down the angel’s cheeks.

Crowley couldn’t help but want to comfort them. The angel gasped in startlement when Crowley touched their arm, too caught up in their thoughts to have sensed their arrival, but when the demon settled beside them and gathered them close, they held on tightly and pressed their cheek against Crowley’s shoulder. A dry, silent sob escaped the demon then and they wished they could cry too. Wished for a lot of things that couldn’t be and likely never would be.

Unable to give voice to the apologies and confessions clamouring in their mind, Aziraphale’s tears began to flow in earnest to feel Crowley press their face into their shoulder and let out a harsh shuddering breath. It felt to the angel as though they wept on their friend’s shoulder for hours but barely ten minutes passed before Aziraphale made themself loosen their hold, made themself give Crowley a way out if they wanted it.

Regret gripped Aziraphale’s heart like a vice when Crowley eased away.

“You want me to go?” It was barely a whisper, and even that was a struggle for Crowley to get out past the lump of emotion in their throat. They didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to let go, but it seemed the angel wanted them to. But Aziraphale shook their head and hugged Crowley tightly again and the demon returned the embrace equally in spite of the vague sense that they shouldn’t. That it would only hurt more in the long run.

Neither could bear to end the hug nor lose the comforting closeness after everything they’d gone through and had yet to face. They kept their silence though there was so much aching to be said, and eventually exhaustion caught up with both of them.

∞

read the rest at AO3 (link in bio)