chapter sixty-four:
❛ ex-degenerate (1)❜

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A soft, wailing cry pierced the stillness of the night, pulling Arizona from the depths of sleep. She groggily blinked her eyes open, feeling the warmth of Miguel's arm draped over her waist. For a moment, she was still caught between the haze of sleep and wakefulness, the distant sound of Laura's cries registering faintly.

Then, another sharp wail.

Miguel let out a groggy groan beside her, shifting against the pillow. "Laura," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

Arizona stretched, rubbing at her eyes before sitting up. The dim glow from Miguel's alarm clock read 2:37 AM. She turned toward him, watching as he slowly dragged a hand down his face.

"I got it," she murmured, already swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Miguel shook his head, forcing himself up as well. "Nah, we'll both go."

Without another word, they both padded barefoot out of his room, the hardwood floor cool against their feet. The crying grew louder as they neared the nursery, each little sob tugging at Arizona's heart. As they stepped inside, they found Carmen already there, cradling Laura in her arms, bouncing her gently.

The exhaustion on Carmen's face was unmistakable. She moved instinctively, her motherly instincts keeping her patient despite the late hour. She turned when she noticed them standing in the doorway.

"Lo siento," she whispered, rocking Laura a little more. "I didn't mean to wake you both."

Miguel shook his head. "You didn't. We can help, Mamá. You should get some rest."

Carmen hesitated, rubbing slow circles on Laura's back. "Are you sure?"

Arizona took a step forward, holding out her arms. "Of course. I'll take her."

Carmen let out a soft sigh before carefully passing the baby over. Arizona adjusted her grip, holding Laura close to her chest, feeling the little girl's tiny hands clutching at her shirt.

Miguel placed a reassuring hand on his mother's shoulder. "Seriously, Mamá, go sleep. We got this."

Carmen searched both of their faces before finally nodding. "Okay... but if she doesn't settle, wake me."

Miguel nodded, and with one last glance at her daughter, Carmen disappeared down the hall.

Arizona shifted Laura slightly, so she could look down at her face. Her big brown eyes were still glossy with tears, her little lips trembling with leftover whimpers.

"Shh, it's okay, little one," Arizona whispered, gently swaying from side to side. The movement seemed to soothe Laura slightly, her tiny body pressing closer to the warmth of Arizona's chest.

Miguel leaned against the doorframe, watching with a soft smile. "You're kinda magic, you know that?"

Arizona smirked but kept her focus on Laura. "Not magic. Just patience." She paused before adding, "And rhythm."

She began humming softly, letting the melody settle in the quiet room before she started singing-a lullaby she'd heard a long time ago, one that had always stuck with her.

Her voice was low and soothing, a soft cadence that wrapped around the baby like a warm blanket. Laura's tiny fingers uncurled, her breaths slowing as her eyelids began to droop.

Miguel exhaled, shaking his head in quiet admiration. "Okay, I take it back. You are magic."

Arizona chuckled softly, glancing at him. "You wanna put her back in her crib?"

Miguel nodded and carefully took Laura from Arizona's arms. He cradled her gently, his movements steady as he lowered her into the crib. She stirred slightly, but with a final sleepy sigh, she settled.

They stood there for a moment, watching her. The night had returned to its peaceful stillness, the only sound being Laura's soft, steady breathing.

Arizona finally exhaled, stepping back. "Mission accomplished."

Miguel grinned and reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers as they silently made their way back to his room.

As soon as they were under the covers, Miguel pulled her close, his arm once again draped over her waist. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice low and drowsy.

"You're really good with her," he murmured.

Arizona smirked against the pillow. "Guess I'll make a good babysitter, huh?"

Miguel chuckled, pressing a lazy kiss to her shoulder. "Or maybe something more than that someday."

Arizona rolled her eyes but felt the warmth of his words settle deep in her chest.

"Go to sleep, Miguel," she mumbled, closing her eyes.

He hummed in response, and within minutes, the two of them drifted off, the night remaining quiet until morning.

The room was quiet, save for the sound of soft breathing and the occasional rustling of sheets as Miguel shifted beside Arizona. She could tell by the subtle movements that he wasn't sleeping, his mind clearly active, and she felt a twinge of concern.

"Miguel," she whispered, turning toward him, her voice gentle in the darkness. "You okay?"

He was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling, his brows furrowed slightly. "Just thinking," he murmured, his voice a little hoarse from sleepiness. "I can't believe graduation is almost here."

Arizona nodded in agreement, her fingers lightly tracing the outline of his hand, which rested by his side. "I know. It's crazy. In a week, it'll all be over." Her voice softened with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "College is just around the corner, and it's a whole new chapter."

Miguel turned his head to look at her, his gaze quiet but intense. "Yeah, but for you, it's more than that. You're going to Stanford... that's huge, Arizona." He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes, like he was trying to reconcile with his own future.

Arizona felt a pang of guilt at his words. She didn't want to rub it in, but she was proud to have been accepted into Stanford. She had worked hard for it, but she also understood Miguel's struggle. He had always been the one to encourage her, to push her to do her best, and it hurt to know he felt like he was falling behind.

"Yeah, Stanford's... it's crazy. I'm really excited about it. But I'm also scared, you know?" Arizona admitted, her voice trailing off. "I've always thought about going, but now that it's happening, I don't know... it's like everything is changing. I mean, I'm even planning on using their study abroad program to go to Okinawa. To learn more about karate, get some real experience." She paused, her voice a little more hopeful, trying to distract herself. "It feels like it's all coming so fast."

Miguel shifted on the bed to face her, his eyes locking onto hers. "You've always wanted that. I'm proud of you for making it happen. It's going to be amazing."

Arizona could see the sincerity in his eyes, and it made her heart swell a little. But then she saw the slight sadness again, so she gently brushed a lock of hair from his face, concerned. "Miguel, you're not... I mean, you're going to be fine, too, right?" she asked softly, her voice full of care. "I know you didn't get into Stanford, but you're going to make it. You always do."

He didn't immediately answer, his lips pulling into a tight line. "Actually," he began slowly, his gaze flicking away from her, "I've been meaning to tell you something."

Arizona's heart skipped a beat. "What?" she asked, her voice low and full of curiosity, wondering what he was talking about.

Miguel let out a deep breath before he turned his head back toward her. "I actually got into Stanford too. I just didn't want to tell you until I knew for sure."

Arizona's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. "Wait, what?" she whispered, leaning in closer, her voice barely audible. "Miguel, are you serious? You got into Stanford?"

He nodded, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched her reaction. "Yeah, I guess they really liked my application after all."

For a moment, Arizona was completely speechless. Then, without thinking, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Miguel, that's incredible! I'm so happy for you!" She felt his warmth and the familiar scent of him enveloping her as they both sat there, holding on to the moment.

Miguel chuckled softly, a little embarrassed by her enthusiasm, but his voice was filled with affection. "I knew you'd be happy. But I wanted to wait until we were sure."

Arizona pulled back just slightly, still holding onto his shoulders as she looked him in the eyes, her expression full of pride and admiration. "I can't believe this. We're both going to Stanford. We're going to be at the same school. Can you imagine?" She smiled widely, the excitement in her voice impossible to contain. "This is insane."

Miguel grinned at her, his face lighting up. "Yeah, it's pretty nuts. But I'm glad. I want to be with you. Always."

Arizona's heart fluttered at his words, and she leaned forward to kiss him, a soft, sweet kiss that lingered for a moment before pulling away. "You always know how to make me feel better," she whispered. "But, you know, we can't just live in the future, right? We have to think about what comes next."

Miguel nodded, his eyes thoughtful now as he lay back down on the pillow, his hand finding hers. "What do you mean?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Arizona squeezed his hand gently, taking a deep breath before answering. "I mean, we're both going to be at Stanford, but that's just the start. We've got to think about... everything else." She paused, her voice soft but steady. "Like our future. Our life together."

Miguel's brows furrowed slightly, but there was a gentle smile playing on his lips. "What do you mean by everything else? I'm just thinking about making it to the first semester of classes."

Arizona laughed softly, brushing her lips across his forehead. "You know what I mean. Like... kids. Our future. You know, some day."

Miguel's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by her sudden shift to such a serious topic. "Kids?" he asked softly, a small grin creeping up on his face. "Well, we've got plenty of time for that, don't we?"

Arizona smiled, her gaze soft as she played with the edge of his shirt. "I don't know. I just think about it sometimes. What it might be like, you know? I have this feeling sometimes, like... one day, maybe we'll have a family. Our family."

Miguel's expression softened, his voice turning serious as he looked at her. "You know, I've thought about that too. Like... us, with kids. Maybe a little girl who looks just like you."

Arizona giggled, imagining the idea. "A little girl with a karate gi, running around the house, kicking everything in sight."

Miguel grinned, shaking his head. "Yeah, maybe one with some of my moves in her too."

Arizona chuckled softly, looking at him with a sense of hope and contentment. "Yeah. A little version of both of us." She paused before asking quietly, "Do you think we're ready for that, though? Do you think we're ready for the future we're building?"

Miguel was silent for a moment, the weight of her question settling between them. Finally, he reached for her hand, his voice steady and full of conviction. "I don't know about ready, Arizona... but I know we'll be okay. We've got each other. And that's enough to get us through anything."

Arizona smiled softly, leaning in to kiss him again, a gentle but firm kiss that spoke volumes. "Yeah. We've got each other."

And with that, they lay together in the quiet darkness, their hearts beating in sync as they dreamed about the future-whatever it might hold.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the house. Sam had just fallen into a deep sleep, the kind where the weight of the world seemed to disappear, and all that was left was the comfort of her blanket. The hum of the night outside, the rustling of trees in the wind, had created the perfect ambiance for a peaceful rest.

That was until she heard the faint sound of a knock at her window.

At first, Sam thought she was dreaming. The knock came again-louder this time, followed by a soft tap on her window pane. She sat up in bed, blinking in confusion, and rubbed her eyes. "Who the hell...?" she muttered to herself as she glanced toward the window.

She couldn't make out who it was at first, but then she recognized the silhouette. It was Dylan.

She groaned, pulling her blanket up to her chin, unwilling to get up. But Dylan, ever persistent, knocked again, this time louder, and Sam could hear the muffled sound of him calling her name.

"Sam! I know you're awake!" he shouted through the glass, his voice full of mischief.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Dylan, it's the middle of the night! What the hell are you doing here?"

"I need you," Dylan said, a grin in his voice. "Come on, open up. I've got a surprise for you."

Sam sighed and reluctantly pulled herself out of bed, her hair a mess, her pajamas wrinkled from sleep. She shuffled toward the window and slid it open, glaring at him.

"What is so important that you had to wake me up?" she asked, her voice sleep-ridden but amused.

Dylan's grin only widened as he held up a picnic basket. "We're going on a midnight picnic."

Sam blinked at him, half in disbelief. "A midnight picnic? Are you out of your mind?"

"C'mon, Sam. You only live once, right?" Dylan said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "It'll be fun. I promise. You've been stressed out lately. This will help you relax. I'll even let you pick the spot." He wiggled his eyebrows, clearly proud of himself.

Sam couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't that she didn't want to go-it was just that she had so many things on her mind. But something about the twinkle in Dylan's eyes, and the way he was standing there with that picnic basket, made it impossible for her to say no.

"Fine," she said with a dramatic sigh, "but if I get bitten by mosquitoes, I'm holding you personally responsible."

"Deal," Dylan replied with a grin, opening the gate and heading toward the backyard.

Sam followed him outside, her bare feet cold on the grass as she closed the window behind her. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake off the drowsiness as she caught up with him.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow. She was genuinely curious now-part of her was starting to feel the excitement too.

"I thought we'd go to the old park near the lake," Dylan said, glancing over at her as they walked down the driveway. "The one Demetri and I used to hang out at when we were kids."

Sam nodded. It had been ages since she'd been there. "That park's been abandoned for years."

"Exactly," Dylan said with a mischievous grin. "It's perfect. It's quiet, peaceful, and there's a perfect little hill right by the lake where we can watch the stars. It's like we're the only two people in the world."

Sam felt a flutter in her chest. Dylan had a way of making the simplest things sound like the most magical experiences. She could already feel the weight of her stress lifting, just from the idea of getting away for a little while.

They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, the cool night air brushing past them. It wasn't far to the park, but with every step they took, Sam felt more and more awake. The excitement of doing something spontaneous, something just for the two of them, started to build in her.

When they arrived at the park, the world felt different. The sound of the city seemed to fade into the background, and the only thing that mattered was the soft rustling of the trees, the sound of their feet crunching on the grass, and the distant lapping of water against the shore of the lake.

Dylan spread out a blanket on the hill by the water and then opened the picnic basket, revealing an assortment of snacks: grapes, crackers, cheese, sandwiches, and, of course, a thermos of hot cocoa. "I knew you'd need this," he said, handing her a cup. "Hot cocoa at midnight-it's a classic."

Sam smiled, accepting the cup. She took a sip and sighed in contentment. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

Dylan flopped down next to her, lying back on the blanket and staring up at the sky. "I try," he said casually, but the way he looked at her-so full of warmth-made her heart skip a beat.

Sam sat beside him, her legs crossed beneath her. She gazed up at the stars, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her cup. The night was so clear, the sky a vast canvas of twinkling lights. She could feel the tension in her shoulders easing with each passing second, the peacefulness of the moment wrapping around her like a warm blanket.

For a while, they just sat there in silence, listening to the sounds of the night. The sound of the lake, the rustling trees, and the soft buzz of distant city lights.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Dylan," Sam said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.

Dylan turned his head toward her, his smile soft. "You'll never have to find out."

She looked at him then, truly looked at him-his messy hair, his carefree grin, the way his eyes glinted with affection. Everything about him felt like home to her. A sense of comfort, of safety. It was easy to forget all the chaos of the world when she was with him.

"So," Sam said, nudging him with her elbow. "You never told me why you wanted to do all this tonight. What's the real reason?"

Dylan tilted his head back, looking up at the stars. "I just... I don't know. Sometimes I feel like we forget to just be kids, you know? Life gets too serious, too fast. And I wanted to remind you of that. To remind you that there's more than just stress and everything else. There's fun, too."

Sam smiled softly, her heart swelling at his words. "You're right," she agreed, her voice a little quieter. "I needed this. Thank you for dragging me out here."

"I'll drag you out any time, Sam," Dylan replied with a wink.

They fell into a comfortable silence once more, but this time it was different. It was filled with understanding, with a shared sense of happiness that was unspoken but deeply felt.

As the night wore on and the thermos of hot cocoa emptied, Sam laid back on the blanket beside him, letting the stars wash over her. She glanced over at Dylan, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like everything was right in the world.

For that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just the two of them, under the vast expanse of the night sky, sharing a peaceful, perfect midnight picnic.

And for once, Sam felt like everything she needed was right there with her.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

a filler chapter between johnnys fight and miguel and arizona winning 🫶🏻 theres gonna be a few filler chapters in between scenes because i dont want this book to end yet :)

sorry for this shortish chapter... i couldnt think of much to fill between ep 14 & 15

ALSO i forgot someone commented saying something about how arizona knew robby and daniela was struggling with drug and not alcohol and let be honest... 1. i forgot(writers error) 2. i had originally had this book published for like one week and got bored and unpublished and republished it a month later... so i forgot about that. so im sorry about that😭 ill go back to change the summary soon. i keep having this happen with this and another fic of mine. especially with the gaps of waiting for the seasons to come and being caught up, i forget some things😭 writers error lol

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PLEASE STOP BEING FREAKIN A GHOST READER!!! PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE!!!!! stop being ghost readers!!!! its really annoying!!!

the reason i keep unpublishing and republishing is chapters is because when i see views go up and votes aren't... its really annoying. cause its not hard to vote and show support on fanfics.

can you guys please stop being ghost reader and just freaking vote please. this is so annoying

THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SEE VIEWS GO UP BUT NOT VOTES. its annoying for us writers. so please just vote and comment!! its not that hard!!!!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! i dont how many times i have to say this. i am so sorry for the notifications but this is really annoying to see views go up when the votes aren't. PLEASE JUST FREAKIN VOTE!!!