This is an Ariliza fanfiction, I have no idea where this is going but I wanted to write a little more about Eliza so here it is...
Title translation: Be proud my love, always
Don't hesitate to leave reviews and ideas, or expectations, I'll try to take it into account.
Eliza had just started her day at the hospital when she received a text "I'll be in Seattle this week-end, I wasn't planning to see you, but I don't know, maybe if you want we could at least get a coffee…" the number wasn't saved in her mobile but she had quite an idea who that could be.
At the same time Arizona had a break in her crazy schedule and decided to text her girlfriend, she knew she just started and she probably won't have time to see her now but that was part of their habits, texts at each breaks "hey babe first break after 8hrs, I'm exhausted, can't wait for my week-end off with you, text me if you want to grab coffee later".
Eliza dialed the "unknown" number, it didn't answered but she waited for the voicemail message to be sure ."Hey there, you're on Beth Minnick's phone, obviously I'm not available yet, just leave a message"
That was exactly who she thought, she wasn't really ready to give up her plans with Arizona for her sister but they hadn't seen each other in over five years and just the fact that she texted her was a big step.
After 3hrs of consults Eliza was able to free herself and texted Arizona: "Hey there, need to talk to you, can you meet me asap in an on-call room?"
10 minutes after the fetal surgeon was there "Hey you!" she locked the door kissed the brunette softly and took a sit next to her on the bed. "So what was it about? Are you ok?"
El: It's not that big of a deal, but ok, it's going to sound weird like that, there is something you need to know about my family"
Az: Ok, why now, I thought we already talk about it…
El: I know, I just intentionally didn't mention someone, and this someone texted me this morning.
Az: Ok, this is getting weird, should I be worried?
El: No, no no no, not this kind of someone… so, here is the thing, I have an older sister, I haven't seen her in years. She reacted pretty badly to my coming out and she never really accepted me for who I am so we just don't see each other anymore.
Az: oh ok, I'm sorry Eliza, so what now ?
El: I know we had great plans for the week-end, but she wants to see me…
Az: Do you want to ? I mean, that's your sister and idk a lot about her, but I'd get if you don't want, I'll support you and your choice anyway here ok.
Eliza nodded, she had tears starting to run down her face. Arizona was trying to swipe them away from her girlfriend's cheeks, she grabbed her face and kissed her.
Az: We'll have plenty of week-ends together, just take your decision and I'll support you, always.
El: I love you. I, ehm I'm sorry I needed to see you, thank you.
Az: No problem babe, I'm here for that, it's ok. Do you want me to come to your place tonight?
El: Yes please, if it's ok for you.
Az: Are you kidding? It's more than ok, I love every minute I spend with you." She kissed her girlfriend, took her hand to help her stand up before giving her a hug and cleaning the last tears on her face "will you be ok?
El: Yes, I will, see you in a few hours"
Eliza went back to work the afternoon seemed so long and lots of things were happening in her head. Beth had never accepted her, last time they saw each other it ended up quite badly and their parents had asked Eliza to leave because she was "making too much trouble". It had always be clear that her parents weren't very comfortable with her sexuality and they had always chosen Beth side's over hers, but she was still speaking to them.
She was a very proud woman, doctor and lesbian but her sister (and her family) were always making everything so complicated she just didn't care so much anymore.
At the end of the day Eliza went home, Arizona was there waiting for her near the door.
Az: So… how were the last hours ?
The blonde took her girlfriend hand and pulled her closer so she could give her a tight hug, she knew that was what she needed.
El: It was ok, I wasn't very into work today, come in…
She escaped from Arizona's arms, opened the door and led her inside
Az: oh, I thought you weren't that much into cooking tonight so I ordered Thai, you should go take a shower, I'll open this bottle of wine and we can just go to bed and talk all night if that's what you need.
El: when did I get so lucky? You're perfect, you could have any of them, why me?
She smiled and kissed her girlfriend before heading to the bathroom.
40 minutes later the food had arrived and they were sitting in bed, eating, drinking, chatting and laughing until Arizona brought back the sensitive topic…
Az: So your sister… what happened? What about this week end?
El: 5 years ago we were at my parents' and, at the time I was dating someone but none of them knew, she gave me the "you're acting like a kid, this lifestyle of yours is so unstable, look at you, still single, not even thinking about a family, just stop all of this mess, get your thing together Eliza, stop being stupid" speech, that she gave me every time we saw each other."
Arizona was listening very carefully and was surprised by all she was hearing, how long had Eliza heard those awful word, how many more did she had to endure…
She put away the food, took the glass in Eliza's hands, put it on the nightstand, "come here" she said as she pulled her closer and out an arm around her so the brunette could rest on her shoulder.
"El: I don't know what happened in my brain this day, but suddenly, it was too much and I couldn't take it anymore, I yelled at her, said terrible things that I didn't mean, I called her some names, my parents were in the middle of this, and then, before dinner she came in the living room where I was playing chess with my dad, she looked at him and said "I'll never get along with her anymore, I tried so hard the past years, but this girl here isn't my sister, she is not the girl I share boys stories with when we were younger, she isn't the one I love, the one I'd protect at all costs. Dad, I know you understand it, her and I" she said pointing at me "we are nothing, and I can't handle the presence of a stranger into this house… I didn't mean to do that someday, but I have to, it's her or me here, never together, I'm leaving tonight if she isn't"
Az: Wait what? She asked your parents to make a choice between you two? "
Eliza was trying not to cry and explain all this calmly, but this hurt so much, still, she could here all the conversation rezoning in her head.
El: Not really she never forbid them to see me, she just ask not to be there when they do… So on that day, my dad looked at me and said "I'm sorry El, it's not against you, but with what you said to your sister, I'm gonna ask you to leave tonight"... I have those words in my head, it never stops, I mean, sometimes it does, but every single time I feel down, I have these words stabbing me right in the heart…
Eliza was crying as she finished this story, she had never been so vulnerable, almost no one knew about it, she felt completely naked.
Arizona didn't know how to react properly, she knew she had been pretty lucky with her family and her coming out. She couldn't believe Eliza, her beautiful, strong, confident girlfriend, went through all that, she had no idea things were that complicated. She knew she wasn't close to her family but she didn't know why exactly until today. "Eh eh eh, look at me" she said as she put an hand under Eliza's chin and lift it up "just take a look at me and listen, no one, do you hear me, no one is never going to make you feel this way again, it's ok to feel down sometimes, but those words, I'm going to get them out of your head and they'll never come back!" she kissed her softly "Never! You, you are the most impressive, amazing woman I know, just don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be proud my love, always."
Eliza's face changed as she heard her girlfriend words, suddenly she felt better, she felt stronger, she moved on the bed and sat so that she was facing Arizona, she kissed her so intensely like she was getting energy from their lips touching. She looked at her girlfriend's eyes, she grabbed her hands, brought them together and kissed them, and said: "I am, I am so proud of who I am, and I am so proud to be your girlfriend, but that's my family… Maybe she wants to apologize, maybe I should go see what she has to say…
Az: Do you feel like facing her? Do you want me to be there ?
El: Because I am with you, because more than ever before I feel like I know who I am, I feel like giving her one last chance. I'll do it, I don't want you to be here just in case she says hurtful words, I don't want you to hear that, but if anything goes wrong, I'll call you ok? And I'll spend the rest of the week end with you...