I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.

Chapter One

ARIZONA'S POV

This day is really kicking my ass. I mean, most days kick my ass but this one? The worst. It's been a while since I've suffered some major writer's block but here I am, in my local coffee shop, and suffering like never before. I'd have thought yesterday's book launch would have given me a little motivation to break down that wall I seem to have hit, but nothing is working. Nothing is happening. Maybe I need to take a few weeks off. Maybe I should close my MacBook and settle back in my seat. I love watching people. I love seeing how they interact with one another. I could sit in the window of this shop all day and I wouldn't tire of it. I could watch people's lives on a daily basis. It's just who I am. The love. The fighting. The gossip. Maybe it's what encouraged me to become a writer, I don't know. Maybe it's what I was born to do. All I know right now is that my writing isn't happening and there isn't a lot I can do about it.

Last night was pretty amazing, and spending it with friends was all I could have hoped for. Childhood friends and my family sharing my special evening with me was a dream I'd always hoped would come true. Since I left college and pursued a career in writing, it was all I wanted. My name on the spine of a book. It was hard and at times I never thought it would happen but last night definitely happened. It happened…and now it's back to the grindstone. Now it's time to get my next hit novel out there. It won't be easy, just like last time, but it's what I love. It's the only thing that keeps me sane at times.

"Hey…" A voice pulls me from my thoughts and I look up from my blank screen. "Can I get you a refill?"

"That would be awesome, thank you." Giving the unknown woman my best smile, she takes my cup and leaves the space we have just shared. She must be new around here. I spend most of my time at this coffee house and I've never seen her. I'd have remembered her. Focusing back on my work, I breathe out a deep breath and pinch the bridge of my nose. Come on…give me something. I genuinely have nothing right now. Nothing but terrible writing.

Slamming my MacBook closed, I place my head in my hands and run my fingers through my hair. I can feel a headache coming on but it's only early so it's not the time to sleep yet. It's not the time to lock myself away at home like I do most nights and drink a bottle of wine. Wine is my favorite friend lately. It's the only thing that is always there for me lately. My friends have their own lives. My friends have their own work commitments. They don't need me to bitch and whine at them when things aren't going my way. The just don't need the drama of me in their lives.

"Excuse me…" The same voice startling me from my thoughts once more, I straighten my shoulders and sit upright. "Y-Your coffee." She smiles. That's a pretty smile.

"Thanks." I sigh.

"You looked like you could use a little something extra so I threw in a Blueberry muffin." Lingering a little, I'm not sure what she wants from me. I'm not sure why she is still in my personal space. "Sorry, I just…" Glancing down at my newest book, she picks it up and runs her fingers over the front. "Have you started this yet?"

"No." I smile. "I haven't had time."

"You should make time…" She smiles. "I read half of it before I left for work this morning." Okay, she doesn't look the type to read raunchy lesbian novels. "You won't be disappointed."

"Maybe I'll give it a whirl tonight with a glass of wine." I smile, my dimples popping. A light blush creeping up her face, she drops her gaze and steps back a little. "Thanks for the muffin."

"N-No problem." She waves off my comment and gives me a small wave. "Enjoy…"

A final smile from me and the unknown brunette heads off back towards the counter, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. My cell buzzing at the side of my laptop, I glance down and find a familiar name flashing on my screen.

Taking you out tonight. Pick you up at ten. T x

I'm not sure I feel up to it, but thanks. Az x

I'm not taking no for an answer. Be ready at ten or I'll drag you out in your pajamas. T x

Rolling my eyes, I lock my cell and place it back down. I really don't want to roam the streets of New York tonight. It's cold and I'd sooner be home trying to begin what I should have begun a few weeks ago. My publisher won't wait forever, and she has made that clear on more than one occasion. Lacing my fingers around my coffee cup, I sit back, cross my legs, and take in the hundreds of people walking around outside. Only the glass separating us, I feel a million miles away.

Glancing over myself in the mirror, I'm satisfied with what I see. I'm looking pretty hot tonight, and I've only dressed like this because I know my best friend will be trying to get me hooked up with someone. She usually is, so I may as well just play along, right? Grabbing my cell and my keys, I slip them into my purse and straighten out my very tight, very small black dress. Why do I wear these heels? I know I'll be barefoot by the time I'm heading home later tonight, but it's Friday and maybe I will just meet the woman of my dreams. Not likely, but we can all hope. Don't get me wrong, I love to play around and yeah…I do occasionally bring a girl home with me, but it hasn't happened in a while. It hasn't happened because I've been too crazy with my writing to allow myself to let off some steam. Maybe a one night stand will help me to do just that. Maybe I'll wake tomorrow, satisfied…and my new book will just flow. Yeah, because you are that lucky.

Shaking myself from my thoughts, I head for the front door of my apartment and slip out into the hall. It's about to hit 10 pm and I know how much my best friend hates waiting around. Good thing she doesn't read my novels, huh? She would be waiting for a long time. Hitting the elevator call button, I step inside the carriage and it takes me down to the entrance to my apartment block. Teddy is waiting outside for me and as she catches sight, she rolls her eyes and checks her watch. Flipping her the finger, she shakes her head and I step out onto the street. "It's barely even ten, Teddy…chill out."

"So, maybe you could get here for 9:55 and then I wouldn't have to be mad at you." Tugging me down the street I furrow my brow and we cross the street. "You look good by the way."

"Um…thanks." I laugh. "Who have you set me up with this time?"

"Now, I figured you would say that so I decided to change it up a little tonight." She slows her pace and I fall into a more comfortable step with her. "We aren't going out to find your next lay tonight, Arizona."

"Oh." I shrug. There goes my night of fun. "So, where are we headed?"

"Strip club." She states as we cross another street.

"Sure we are." I shake my head and laugh. "Where are we going?"

"I just told you…we are going to a strip club." She deadpans. Studying her face, she isn't lying. She is really taking me to a strip club. "Move your ass, Arizona."

"Um…" Gripping her wrist, I stop her in the street and she turns to face me. "I'm not going to a strip club."

"Yeah…we are." She counters. "Stop being such a prude and go with it." Prude? If only she knew what my novels entailed. If only she knew what I wrote about. She would be horrified. "Look, think of it as my celebration to you for the launch of your book."

"Thanks but I really don't want to go to a strip club."

"Why?" She furrows her brow. "Think of all the hot women."

"Yeah…and think of the reason why they are doing it." I scoff. "They don't all want to be there you know, Teddy? They don't all choose to do what they do for the fun of it."

"So…we'll figure out which ones are doing it for a career and go from there." She shrugs. "Come on, just try it. Give it a little time. If you really don't like it, we will leave, okay?"

"Fine." I sigh. Dragging my feet as we make our way down a street I'm not familiar with, I come to stop outside a dark building and honestly, I hate this. Why would anyone want to watch women dance around a pole because it's the only choice they have right now? I mean, sure…some do it because they want to, but some don't. It just doesn't sit well with me. It's making me feel uncomfortable just standing outside this building. Dropping my gaze, we head inside and Teddy pulls me towards the bar. "Just a water for me, thanks." I smile and she wrinkles her nose a little. "What?"

"Why the hell are you drinking water?"

"Because I feel bad enough being here, Teddy. I don't need alcohol to play with me even more tomorrow morning when I regret my life choices." I shake my head. "I just…a water will be fine, thanks." Glancing up, my eyes take in the decor around me and I'm pleasantly surprised. This place is amazing, and not seedy at all. Nothing about this venue would even indicate that women are being exploited. I hope they aren't, and this isn't your average slime ball dive, but I'm still not too sure about this place. Maybe after a little while here I'll feel a little more comfortable, but right now…I'm undecided. This club is filled with beautiful women, and honestly…they look anything but sad and desperate for a little cash. They look like they are well looked after. They look thrilled to be here. Maybe I was wrong about this.

Brought out of my thoughts by a nudge in the side, I turn my attention back to Teddy and she has two bottles of wine in her hands. "Water my ass." Giving me a knowing look, she points to an empty area and I follow her through the growing crowd of men and women. "Come on, I may or may not have booked us a VIP section."

"You mean you had this planned all along?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Maybe." Shrugging, she rounds the table and drops down onto the expensive leather couch. "Sit back and relax, Arizona. You deserve this…and you definitely need this." She winks. "Just let your hair down. Stop feeling bad."

"But-"

"But nothing." She cuts me off. "Did you really think I'd take you to some back street bar?"

"I guess not." I smile as I pour us both a glass of wine.

"My best friend only deserves the best." She smirks. "Maybe I have a little something else planned for you this evening…" She trails off.

"Like what?" I furrow my brow. "I think you've excelled yourself tonight, Teddy."

"Oh." She raises an eyebrow. "So, you are enjoying yourself?" Swallowing hard when a gorgeous blonde grips the pole in front of us, I give her a slight nod and my eyes fix on this beautiful woman. She's not my kind of woman, but I'll take what I can get right now. Too much fake boob going on for my liking. I like my women natural. I like my women exactly how they were created. This, though, this is a welcome change from sitting at home on a Friday night. I won't lie. "Mm…thought as much." She laughs. "Enjoy the show, Arizona…you've worked your ass off this past year, and I'm proud of you."

"Mmhmm…" I nod. "Dinner would have sufficed, though…just for the record."

"Whatever. Dinner can be eaten whenever." She states. "This is so much more fun."

"You know…" My mouth falling open slightly when the blonde in front of us bends over, I clear my throat and smile. "…I think you could be right."

My eyes fixed on the mesmerizing view this enticing blonde is providing me with, I sit back in my seat and take my glass of white between my teeth. If I don't I'll smile way harder than I should. My eyes could burn through this woman right now given half the chance, but I know…no touching. No touching, only looking. Looking is good enough for me right now, though. Looking will provide me with some hot dreams tonight when I climb into bed alone.

A little saddened when the blonde disappears from in front of me, I narrow my eyes and internally criticise the guys on the other side of the stage who have just called her over. Checking out what else is on offer, I catch sight of a brunette who is walking our way. She has her eye on me, and honestly…she's all kinds of hot. The blonde was hot, but this woman? Wow. Out of this world. "Whoa…" I breathe out.

"Mmhmm…" Teddy agrees. "And, she's all yours for the next thirty minutes."

"Excuse me?" I almost spit my wine all over me. "Did you just…No! No way, Teddy."

"Why?" She furrows her brow. "Go and have a little fun, Arizona. Jeez, you are so uptight lately."

"You're telling me you have set up a private dance from this woman?" I ask, my tone low as she is about to reach the pole the blonde has just had her body all over. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, and it cost me a small fortune, so…"

"So, get a refund." I shake my head. It's one thing to be sitting here and watching these women, but a private dance? No. That is crossing one very very fine line. A line I would never cross. Whilst I'm out here with everyone else, I'm not exploiting this gorgeous woman. While I'm out here, I don't feel like a creep. "Teddy, I can't…" I drop my gaze.

"Sure you can." She winks. "I'll be right here waiting for you." She smiles. "Just keep those hands to yourself."

Being pulled up to my feet by this super hot woman in front of me, she pulls me away from the table I've been sharing with my friend and we disappear into a private room. "You know, I've been watching you since you walked into the club." Her voice low in tone, I have to take a minute to center myself. I have to take a minute to remind myself that I cannot touch this woman. She is here to dance, and that is all. "You're new here…"

"Y-Yeah." I smile. "Look, we don't have to do this," I admit. "I'll pay you, but the dance or whatever, it just…you don't have to do this."

"What if I want to?" She narrows her eyes as she pushes me down into a seat. "What if I want to dance for you?"

"I-I, uh…" Her breath washing over my ear, the scent of her shampoo sends me crazy, and right now I'm not sure I'm even breathing. "What's your name?" Surely it's appropriate to ask since this woman is now grinding down against my thigh.

"Never mind what my name is…" She flips her hair and turns her back on me. Her ass now in my lap, I've never felt the urge to touch someone as much as I do right now. "How about I just give you what you want."

"S-Sure." I swallow hard. Turning once again, I look deep into her eyes and furrow my brow. Why do I feel like I know this woman? Why do I feel like we've met before? I want to tell her that she has beautiful eyes, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to hear it. I'm pretty sure she doesn't care, either. My breath hitching as her breasts press against my own, I close my eyes and allow this woman to make me feel amazing without even truly touching me. I know it's been a while since I've had another woman in my bed, but I'm throbbing right now. I know I shouldn't be and I know that me being here is just all kinds of wrong, but I'm struggling to pull myself away from her right now. I'm struggling with everything since she is making me feel so damn good.

I'm the romantic kind, but this woman is making me want to just drag her back to my place and have my way with her right now. I know it will never happen, but maybe this isn't going to be my only experience in this place. Maybe I'll come back again. If only to see her. I feel like I know her, but I've never been to a strip club before so I doubt it. She doesn't look like the kind of woman I'd have ever hung out with before, but there have been a few. Maybe too many to remember.

Thanks for reading, guys. This fic may not be to everybody's taste, but if those of you who are willing to read this want some more, let me know. Since I'm about to wrap up two fics, I figured I'd get going on my list of ideas….