"How could you keep this from me!? I had to take care of you! And he's been alive this whole time?"

Arizona stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the man she thought was dead. Her dad, Alexander, was standing right there, alive. The room seemed to spin as her mind struggled to comprehend the reality before her. "Dad? How—How?" she stammered, her voice trembling with confusion and shock.

Daniella, her mom, exchanged a tense glance with Alexander. Arizona's younger brother, Diego, stood behind her, his mouth agape in disbelief. "Di, go to your room, please. Dad and I will come in to talk to you in a little bit, okay?" Daniella instructed gently. Diego looked at Arizona for reassurance, and she nodded, signaling him to obey. Reluctantly, he turned and headed upstairs.

Arizona shrugged off her jacket, her movements slow and deliberate as if she were in a dream. She made her way toward the living room, every step feeling surreal. "Sugarbean, please... sit down," Alexander pleaded, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety. Arizona couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Instead, she directed her anger at her mother, a slap resounding in the quiet room as her hand connected with Daniella's face. Daniella winced, holding her jaw.

"How could you keep this from me!? I had to take care of you! And he's been alive this whole time?" Arizona shouted, her voice breaking with emotion.

Daniella's eyes filled with tears as she tried to calm her daughter. "We'll explain everything as soon as you calm down," she said, her voice pained but steady.

Arizona shook her head, taking a few steps back. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she finally turned her gaze to her father. "How the fuc—frick are you alive?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face.

Alexander took a deep breath, stepping closer. "I had to go into witness protection. I was a cop, and there was a very bad guy who wanted to hurt me. I thought you all would be in danger if I stayed around. So, I was gone for a while. They finally found the guy and took him into custody. That's why I'm home now. It's safe now," he explained, his eyes pleading for understanding.

Arizona's legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions and information. "But, why... why tell me he was dead, Mom?" she asked, not looking up.

Daniella knelt beside her, tears in her eyes. "I never told you that. When I first told you, I had just found out I was pregnant. I told you Dad was going to be gone for a while, and you thought I meant he died. Whenever I tried to bring him up, you would scream at me. So, I never clarified. And I should have. I'm so sorry," she said, her voice breaking with guilt and sorrow.

Unable to process any more, Arizona pushed herself up, grabbed her keys, and fled the house. She got into her car and sped off, the roar of the engine drowning out the chaos in her mind.

         Arizona drove to Miguel's house, her mind a whirl of confusion and emotions. The drive felt like a blur, and before she knew it, she was parked outside his apartment. She sprinted up to his door, her breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. She banged on the door, the sound echoing in the hallway until it finally opened to reveal Miguel.

        "Ari? Are you okay?" Miguel's eyes widened in concern as he took in her disheveled appearance, mascara streaking down her face.

        Arizona didn't wait for an invitation. She pushed past him into the apartment, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "My—My dad is back. He's alive! My fucking dad is alive—and after all this time, he was in witness protection because some stupid bad guy wanted to hurt him! When I was little, I thought he died. I—" Her voice broke, and she started to hyperventilate, her chest heaving with the effort to breathe.

        Miguel quickly stepped forward, grabbing her shoulders and holding her steady. "Breathe in and out, Ari. Remember, breathe," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. He began to breathe slowly and deeply, guiding her to mimic his breaths.

        Arizona nodded, trying to focus on his instructions. She matched her breathing to his, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. Gradually, the panic began to subside, and her breaths became more even.

       "There you go, just like that," Miguel encouraged softly, his hands still steady on her shoulders. "Now, sit down for a moment."

       He led her to the couch, and she sank down onto the cushions, her body still trembling from the adrenaline. Miguel sat beside her, his expression filled with concern and patience.

       "Tell me what happened, Ari. Start from the beginning," he said gently, giving her the space to gather her thoughts.

        Arizona took a few more calming breaths before she began to speak again, this time more slowly. "I came home, and there he was. My dad, just standing there. I couldn't believe it. He explained that he had to go into witness protection because of his job as a cop. There was a dangerous guy after him, and he thought we'd be safer if he was gone."

        Miguel listened intently, nodding to show he was following. "And your mom? She knew the whole time?"

        Arizona nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Yes, but she didn't tell me. I thought he was dead all these years. She said she tried to explain, but I misunderstood and thought he was gone forever. And I wouldn't let her talk about him, so she just... let me believe it."

        Miguel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry, Ari. That's a lot to take in. But you're safe now, and your dad is back. We'll figure this out together."

         Arizona clung to him, finding solace in his presence. "Thank you, Miguel. I didn't know where else to go."

       "You're always welcome here," he reassured her. "We'll get through this. Just take it one step at a time."

         Arizona sighed, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings of Miguel's apartment. It was a modest place, filled with personal touches that made it feel cozy and warm—photos on the walls, a worn but comfortable couch, and the faint smell of freshly cooked food lingering in the air. She turned to Miguel, her eyes still red from crying, and asked, "Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to go home."

          Miguel didn't hesitate. "Of course," he said with a reassuring nod.

          Arizona managed a small, grateful smile. "I'm so tired. I guess I'll just sleep here," she said, pointing to the couch they were sitting on.

          Miguel shook his head firmly. "No! You take my room. I'll sleep on the couch," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

          Arizona shook her head, reluctant to impose. "No, I shouldn't..." she began, but Miguel gave her a look that silenced her protest.

         "Please. You need a good night's sleep," he said, his voice softening.

          Arizona sighed in defeat, realizing she didn't have the energy to argue. "Okay," she agreed reluctantly.

         Miguel nodded and stood up, leading her to his room. "Take any clothes you want to change into," he told her before gently closing the door behind him.

        Arizona looked around Miguel's room. It was simple and clean, with a few personal items scattered around—a lot of posters on the wall, a stack of books on the nightstand, and a framed photo of him with his family. She rummaged through his closet and found a Star Wars t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. The familiar scent of his detergent brought her a small measure of comfort as she changed into them. Crawling into his bed, she pulled the covers up and quickly fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, the events of the day finally catching up with her.

        A little while later, Miguel quietly opened the door to check on her. He saw her sleeping soundly, her chest rising and falling steadily. Her soft snores brought a faint smile to his face. He closed the door quietly and walked back into the living room where his mother, Carmen, was waiting, her face etched with concern.

        "How is she?" Carmen asked softly.

         Miguel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No idea, Ma. I'm really worried about her. She has so much going on at home. First, her mom went to rehab and just came back because of all this. Then, her step-dad was a piece of shit, but he's gone now. And she had to take care of her brother because her mom couldn't. I'm really worried about her," he confessed, his voice heavy with concern.

        Carmen pulled Miguel into a comforting hug. "She's lucky to have you, Miggy. Just be there for her. She needs support and stability right now," she said, her voice filled with maternal wisdom.

        Miguel nodded, holding onto his mom for a moment longer. "I will, Ma. I just want her to be okay," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

        Carmen smiled, pulling back to look at him. "She will be. With friends like you, she'll find her way," she reassured him, patting his arm gently.

        Miguel nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. "Thanks, Ma. I hope you're right," he said, his resolve strengthening.

       As the evening settled in, Miguel kept an ear out for any sounds from his room, ready to help Arizona in any way he could. He knew it would be a long road, but he was determined to be there for her every step of the way. He set up his makeshift bed on the couch, laying out a blanket and pillow, and settled in for the night, his mind still racing with thoughts of how to best support his friend.

         Arizona, meanwhile, slept soundly in Miguel's bed. The comfort of a safe place, away from the overwhelming emotions and revelations at home, allowed her to rest deeply. She dreamt of simpler times, moments of laughter and joy with her family before everything became so complicated. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

        As Miguel lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling, he vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to help Arizona navigate through this difficult time. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but with the support of his family and his determination, he believed they could get through it together.

ASH SPEAKS!

i feel bad for arizona:((

but she's got miguel and he's gonna make sure shes okay!

sorry for the short chapter but i didnt know what else to add on to!

next chapter tory is introduced... and she causes problems for my sweet ari and mig:(