Driving home the other night in my post work stupor, "Just Give Me A Reason", came on and for a change I didn't change the station. As I listened to it, it occurred to me that it describes CALZONA rather well and this fan fic began brewing in my mind.
Soaking in the bathtub, Callie takes a sip of wine and then lays back and replays the conversation in her head again, wondering if anything will change between them now that Arizona knows the truth. She always knew that Arizona would find out when she looked at her medical records, but to Callie's surprise she didn't review them. Maybe she didn't look at them because she was truly working to get past it, but then why did she throw it in Callie's face every time they fought.
Sighing as she hears her phone buzzing on the floor, Callie opens her eyes and sees it's Arizona calling, so she picks it up.
"Hey," she says as neutrally as possible.
"Hey, do you have a moment to talk?" Arizona asks carefully.
"Sure, what would you like to talk about?" Callie replies casually.
"I'm outside, can I come in to talk?" The blonde asks.
"Wait, what? Oh, hold on. I'm just, uh..." Callie almost drops the phone as she tries to stand up in the tub.
Hearing the splash, Arizona realizes that Callie's taking a bath. "Callie, we can talk another time. I don't want to interrupt your evening."
"It's fine, just let yourself in and I'll be out in a few minutes." The brunette replies holding the towel to her body.
Callie nervously looks in her closet for something to wear. Rolling her eyes at herself, she finally just pulls on yoga pants and a over-sized t-shirt. Glancing in the mirror, she decides to leave her hair pinned up. She shrugs, what did the blonde expect, stopping by like this?
"Calliope," Arizona says standing up when she enters the room.
"Y-you wanted to talk?" Callie says slowly moving towards the couch. Arizona is dressed casually in jeans and a blouse, but looks stunning as usual.
Waiting for the brunette to sit down, the blonde then sits back down. Turning slowly towards her, Arizona looks down as she begins to speak, "I've been thinking, actually I can't stop thinking about, well everything." Slowly she looks up and into those soft brown eyes before she continues, "I-I-I checked out my medical records and I've spent the last two nights going over them."
Nodding Callie encourages her to continue.
"I know that it's been four years, but Calliope, I just couldn't bear to read your surgical notes about removing my leg, but now, now that I know that you didn't do it, I read them. It was hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. You did everything, I know that. I mean, I really know that." She exclaims clutching her hands to her heart.
"Okay," Callie replies slowly, still not sure how to respond.
Reaching up to tuck a stray curl back behind her ear, Arizona smiles nervously before she continues.
Sitting there observing the blonde, Callie is wondering where this is going. There is something really different about tonight, not only is Arizona uncharacteristically nervous, there's something else going on with her. Tilting her head as she thinks, Callie suddenly realizes that she's been asked a question.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Callie asks.
"You're distracted, probably tired. I should go. We'll do this another time." Arizona says standing up suddenly.
"Arizona, wait. Yes, I am distracted, but it's not, what I mean is...I'm distracted by you ... by this. You are saying things that I never thought I'd hear, so yes, my mind is racing to figure out what this means, if anything, and that's not going to go away if you leave. So stay, please don't leave this unfinished tonight." Callie says pleading a little.
Glancing around the room, Arizona licks her lips, "Okay." She says as she sits back down. "Maybe I could get us both a glass of water?" She replies.
"No, sit." She says reaching over to touch the blonde's arm. "I'll get it. But I'm having wine, would you like one?" Callie says over her shoulder as she walks into the kitchen.
"Just water for me. I'm actually on call tonight." Arizona reminds her, absently rubbing her arm where Callie just touched her.
"Oh right." Callie says pouring water from the pitcher in the fridge, then pouring herself a glass of wine.
Setting both glasses down on the coffee table, she sits back down on the couch and waits for Arizona to continue.
The blonde picks up the water and takes a sip and sets it back down.
"You look beautiful tonight, I don't want you to think that I didn't notice. I always notice, I just don't know that I should." Arizona says nervously.
Confused even more now, Callie reaches out for her glass of wine and takes a sip. "Thank you," she says setting the glass back down. "Arizona, I just don't..." She begins but the blonde interrupts her.
"Wait." She says reaching out and ending up grabbing the brunette's hand. Nervously, she licks her lips again, "Calliope, I want to ask you out, but I don't know if it's a good idea. That's where I'm going with this." She blurts out.
Waiting a moment to gauge her reaction, then realizing that she's still holding Callie's hand, Arizona leans in and tucks a strand of Callie's hair back behind her ear.
Callie's breath hitches at the touch.
"Sorry, I just uh..." Arizona apologizes and stands up, "Look, I should go. I'm just making a mess of this."
"Give me a reason." Callie says clearing her throat.
"What?" Arizona asks turning around.
"Why do you want to do this Arizona? Give me a reason." Callie says firmly.