AN: What and excellent and exciting response. I have four of six chapters written for this, and am working on a couple one-shots. So we'll see what happens.

Though only two weeks had passed since her wedding to Arizona, Callie had begun to feel more and more at ease in her new home. It was much different than her own country, with its own customs and traditions, but everyone had been welcoming, and helped her settle into a routine.

She'd wake alone, either to Miranda or April, who would help her dress in the morning while Arizona was freshening herself up in the washroom after her morning training sessions. They would then eat breakfast together in the privacy of her room, a chance for them to be alone and to talk to each other without the prying eyes of Arizona's family. It was comforting and filled with laughter and joy, the silences between them were comfortable and lit softly with the moon sunlight.

Then she'd spend the afternoon with Arizona's nieces and nephews in the library, learning the history of her new home with the children and spending time with them. It only occurred to her recently that they were also her nieces and nephews, small and blonde haired and blue eyed children that took to her instantly. And she loved them just the same. Tim, Arizona's younger brother, and his wife were equally as easy to love and they all got along well.

Dinner was a family affair where Arizona, Tim, her father and her other younger brother, often discussed the military and political tensions that fraught the region, while the rest of them discussed castle gossip and listened to the men. It was a very divided affair, but mostly they accepted her into the family. Though her mother in law and youngest brother in law refused to accept her wishes and call her by her chosen name, the two of them insisted on calling her Calliope. She didn't understand why they were so hostile towards her, but it seemed that they were in the minority of her new family.

Stretching in her bed, Callie let out a deep sigh and was surprised that she had awoken on her own, without the soft tones of either her maid or Arizona's. After a moment of quiet, she rose from the bed and headed towards the en-suite and stopped in her tracks. The shower was running, and through the crack in the door she was able to see Arizona in the shower. Her body was completely bare and water and steam swirled around her body. But she wasn't relaxed, and her breath stopped in her chest as she understood what she was witnessing.

What she couldn't tear her eyes away from.

Her wife was stroking herself, her long and hard shaft, her right hand braced against the wall as her left hand worked her length hard. It was breathtaking watching her, the pulling in her core and a flush of wetness in her underwear matching the soft moans as Arizona continued to masturbate.

She didn't want to tear her eyes away.

How long she stood there, she didn't know, but the feelings stirring in her were warm and comforting. Arizona hadn't broken her promise and had slept every night in the settee. Both April and Miranda had assured her that no one had asked or inquiries about their consummation, the way her mother in law spoke to her made Callie wonder if she suspected.

She knew that eventually they would do that, because they would have to. But now, here in this moment, she wanted to. She wanted Arizona in that way. She'd wanted others, had felt the same stirring in her centre, the same flood of arousal and desire… but never like this. She liked Arizona now, appreciate her for how gentle she was with her, how her laugh and her dimples made her smile and her laugh was like music in the air. They were on the path to friendship and possibly something more.

Suddenly Arizona came with a jerk and a groan that shook Callie to her core, how visceral and primal it sounded as her voice shuttered and her hand stumbled on her cock.

Taking a deep breath, Callie rushed back to her bed and climbed in, her heart racing and her hands trembling with the memories of Arizona in the shower. Her taught frame and rippling muscles as she stroked herself. Her physical strength wasn't overt, but her body was firm and tanned from her hours of training as a soldier. Her breasts, creamy and pale outlined by lines of tanned flesh in the shape of a tank top, were divine. She wanted to know what they felt like in her hands or her mouth. And her cock, hard and long and thick as it pulsed with her release… and Callie just wanted.

Just as her heart beat settled, April came into the room softly and whispered her name, her common greeting when she woke Callie. The shower turned off in the bathroom and she felt able to sit up and greet April. But her mind could only focus on the vision of Arizona pleasuring herself, of bringing herself to completion and her seed spilling on the floor of the shower as she painted her release.

"Good morning, Callie." Arizona called, coming into the room dressed in her uniform, this was much more subtle than the dress uniform she wore for their wedding, and Callie thought it suited her more. But all that she could see still was the image of her wife in the shower.

"Yes, hello, good morning."

*8*

"And she hasn't done anything?" Callie's best friend Addison asked.

On her second day of being married, Arizona had asked her if there was something she could to make her life better and happier. Her answer had been quick - allow space in their court for her best friend. Her father had said that Addison wouldn't want to leave their home behind and that he wouldn't ask it of her future in laws, and had closed the matter. Arizona's response had been to send for her immediately, to tell Callie to write and inform her that should she wish to come and be a subject of their kingdom, she was welcome.

"No, she has kept her word and given me space." And it only served to endear Arizona to her. Despite the overwhelming feelings from earlier this morning, she had already been developing an affection for the blonde. It was a far cry from love, but it was deeply rooted in her heart the affection for the woman.

"I mean, I've only been here for two days, and the rumours I've heard…" Addison said quietly. Because Callie had heard the rumours too. The palace court was as gossipy as it was beautiful, and it seemed that every member of the waitstaff had something to say about the royal family. Her included. The whispers would stop as soon as she came near, but she knew enough. Arizona had been with many women in the castle as well as outside it. If Callie were to believe only one in a hundred things she'd heard about Arizona, then the fact that her wife had waited two weeks so far, and promised three months.

But then… what if this was only the first time she'd seen Arizona do that? One of the rumours that she'd heard and believed was that Arizona had stopped meeting with her favourite chambermaiden. Because of her rotating guard, a different man of Arizona's every four hours who followed her everywhere except into the bathroom, she knew where Arizona was almost at all times. And though she was gone before Callie awoke in the morning, the settee was always slept in. Perhaps she'd never witnessed it before and it wasn't the first time her wife had done that.

"And what of Erica?" Addison asked quietly.

Callie sighed. The woman she'd told Arizona she didn't know what they were. As the third child of royalty, Callie's prospects were not that great socially or for advancement. But the opportunity to marry for love, that had been. Especially when her choices were lords and ladies of the court. She had no responsibility to bear children and no need to produce an heir, so who she married hadn't been a big issue. And that's when she'd met Erica at her older brothers wedding. They danced and talked with each the whole evening and eventually started courting each other.

Before her marriage to Arizona, she had been sure she was falling in love with the woman. But then she'd began having breakfast with her wife, an hour and a half of time that they spent together, just the two of them, and it produced a host of confusing feelings in her. The spark with Erica had been immediate and blown to a full inferno just as quickly. But with Arizona, it was growing slowly, and building in its intensity in her chest or her lungs.

And this morning, watching her masturbate, it had filled her with desires that she'd had for Erica - but those were likewise nothing a like. Erica had been a thing she could take or leave, it was there when their fingers met, and when they snuck away for a kiss or two. But Arizona? It was a much deeper and fuller desire. That was immediate. A raging forest fire that moved without organization or pattern, a chaos that threatened and overwhelmed.

"I don't know," she admitted.

They were walking along one of the palaces outside walkways, a covered and stone passage that looked down upon the grounds. In the distance she could hear the sounds of battle training. Yells and grunts, roars of applause and the clang of metal on metal.

"That's her, isn't it?" Addison asked. They had stopped over the sword arena and were watching as Arizona duelled a man who was almost a foot taller than her. His reach was longer, as was his sword, and he was bigger and stronger and should have had the advantage. But Arizona was clearly winning.

"Yes, that's my wife." A swell of pride rose through her as they watched. Maybe her feelings for Arizona weren't entirely friendly.

They watched in silence from then on, waiting for the end of the battle. It gave her time to watch Arizona where she was most comfortable. She always carried herself with dignity and poise, but Callie always knew that there was something missing when she was walking. Some sort of choreographed power and strength that was barely contained when she moved slowly and surely, but on the battlefield, even if it was a practice ring, she was nothing short of exquisite. Deadly and scary in her motions as she parried blow after blow from the dark skinned man.

Callie couldn't explain what happened, but suddenly the man was on his knees and his own sword was laying several feet away in the dirt, Arizona stood over him her chest heaving and her skin soaked with sweat. Those who had been watching rose a cheer and the man bowed his head in defeat, but broke into a smile when Arizona offered him a hand to his feet.

And then Arizona was looking at her, a soft smile replacing her look of victory and she waved. Callie felt her own smile lift to her cheeks as she waved back before Arizona turned back to her compatriots and continued her afternoon training.

"'Your wife?'" Addison asked, the redhead turning to look at her. Casting a quick glance at her friend before looking back to Arizona who was slowly showing the men how she had disarmed and defeated the dark skinned man, those gathered trying to move on their own.

"She is my wife, for the rest of our lives, we are married and she is my wife." Callie said, her eyes stuck to Arizona as she taught and trained her men.

"And Erica?" Addison asked.

"When I told her what had been planned, she told me she wanted me to be happy. I think she was referring to herself. Our first night together, Arizona said something similar. She asked if I had left anyone behind… and I said… something to the effect of yes." Callie hesitated then, remembering the hitch of pain in Arizona's voice. She believed that Arizona was truthful and that she didn't have another in mind and that she wouldn't look for one. "She said she wants me to be happy."

"Can you be happy with her?" Addison asked softly, her hand coming to rest on Callie's elbow, prompting Callie to look at her friend.

"Maybe." It has only been two weeks, who could say that they knew much about a person in two weeks. The feelings she felt could be lust more than anything else, but she was generally affectionate of the blonde. Arizona had hoped for tolerance of each other, but they could laugh and smile with each other, and they could talk about things that didn't require thought to prepare what she should or shouldn't say. She knew she trusted Arizona.

But her wife had been right too. She would need love to be happy. And she liked Arizona, and desired her physically, but that was not love.

"Well at least you know she can handle her sword," Addison said with a wink, the obvious double entendre not lost on Callie

"Addison!"

*8*

A week had passed and Arizona had been gone. No one would tell Callie where she went, but her guard had been replaced by men from Tim's company. She had seen Arizona at dinner, but when she hadn't appeared for the night, neither Miranda nor April seemed to know where she had gone. She had even asked Tim but he had seemed evasive and concerned as well, but either he couldn't answer her or he wouldn't. And she didn't know what was worse.

Now, laying in bed, she missed Arizona's presence on the settee, the comfortable sound of her as she breathed and lived across the room, the way she slept so quietly and soundly sprawled across the small couch which now sat bare and empty without even the bedding Arizona had used.

It had only been two weeks that they'd spent their nights like that, but it had caused an emptiness in her heart and mind that she couldn't explain. Breakfast was now a somber affair, even though she had been joined by her nieces and nephews, the absence of Arizona was poignant and caused her heart to clench as the blondes usual chair sat empty.

A knock sounded at her door and Callie called for them to enter.

"Your Highness?" Teddy called opening the door, one of the few women soldiers apart from Arizona, a prominent member of Tim's company who had been placed on her guard.

"Yes, Teddy?" The dirty blonde woman looked pained and a hard grimace was on her face, and Miranda and April stood at her shoulder, both of them looking scared and grim.

"It's the Princess," Callie gulped, terror filling her heart, "She's been hurt. Can we bring her here?"

Callie nodded quickly and shot out of the bed, both April and Miranda rushing in to place a robe over her. It wasn't long before men from both Arizona and Tim's company carried the blonde in and placed her on the bed.

Callie's heart clenched. Her hair and clothes were tattered and covered in grime and blood, her left arm was strapped to her chest and a dagger was embedded in her shoulder, the glint of steel obscured by blood.

It was a flurry of activity as someone sent for Richard Webber, Arizona's personal surgeon, and a flurry of words and action as the men fretted about Arizona, sweeping her room and Arizona's looking for something.

"Everyone out!" Richard commanded when he saw what was happening, but everyone stopped where they were, and didn't leave the room. Their weapons at the ready, and determination on their faces.

"Hey," Arizona Callie's weakly from the bed, all eyes turned to their future queen and Callie felt the tension in her heart ease slightly. She was pale and clammy, and she sounded much smaller than Arizona should ever sound.

"Karev, Sloan, and Warren," the three men stood at attention, weapons still at the ready. "Move to my room and rotate guard and try to get some sleep."

The men bowed their heads and quickly moved to do as asked, dipping their heads to Callie as they went. She was standing with April and Miranda, all three of them crying.

"Tim, send your men to your family, but leave Altman for me, please." Tim nodded quickly and the men Tim nodded at quickly left, once again bowing to both of them before they rushed away. "Richard, wait."

"John?" Arizona asked, looking at Tim.

"I think so." He nodded and cast a glance at Callie.

"April, do you still have the dagger I gave you?" April patted her back and nodded. "Go to Addison's quarters and stay there. I'll send a man to you soon, trust no one but yourself and him. There is a traitor in the palace." Callie watched as April stood proudly and left.

"What will you do?" Tim asked.

In all of this Callie was confused and scared, not just for herself and apparently Addison, but Arizona as well. She didn't appear to be gravely injured, but the sight of her covered in blood and stabbed with a knife terrified Callie, and the fact that no one had spoken to her yet, served to frighten her further.

"I do not think he'll act against us now, he has to know we know. I'll go to the country under the guise of our honeymoon." Finally Arizona looked at Callie and offered her a small smile. "Warn father, but do not tip mother off. It was her man that stabbed me so she must be part of the plot."

Tim nodded and made to leave. "Wait, give Bailey your spare knife." Callie watched as her brother gave her matron a long dagger, the confusion on her face evident as she gingerly held the knife in her hands as Tim left.

"May I begin now, Your Highness? Your stabbed Highness?" Richard asked sarcastically, pulling a wheeze of a laugh from Arizona.

"Yes, thank you," Arizona replied just as sarcastically.

"Altman, quickly show Bailey how to hold the knife, how to defend herself and Callie." Teddy nodded and moved towards Miranda as she still held the knife as if she was confused.

"Why do I need this?" She asked, looking right at Arizona as Richard began to cut the blonde's shirt away.

"My brother has been scheming to start the war and assassinate me." Callie gasped at Arizona's words and looked at her. "Callie is in danger and you must be able to defend her, or at least hold them off."

Miranda's grip on the knife became surer and she moved with Teddy to the corner, the instructions were soft and quiet, as her maid learned to wield the knife.

"Your Highness, come here please." Richard asked her, and she moved towards him. "Hold her arm while I removed the knife."

Callie nodded and placed her hands where Richard directed her. Arizona's shirt was cut away now, exposing her chest. Her left side was covered in blood and a deep purple and black bruise was spread down her rib cage and across her breast, the knife sticking out jaggedly.

"It didn't hit anything of importance, but your recovery will be long." Richard said, jerking the knife out sharply. Surprisingly Arizona didn't cry out, just winced in pain and her arm twitched softly in Callie's hand. "It appears you have some broken ribs as well, were you kicked?"

Arizona nodded, but remained quiet, and all Callie could do was feel the tears fall from her eyes as she attempted to help Richard as best as she could with her trembling hands.

When he was finished, Richard left with quiet instructions to spread the rumour that her sword arm may be irreparably damaged. He argued once softly, but a hard look came on to Arizona's face and his eyebrows rose in understanding.

"Bailey, are you comfortable using the knife?" Arizona asked. And the smaller woman nodded, slipping it beneath her clothes. "Good, take your post. You'll come with us tomorrow and if you want more training, it will be provided." Bailey nodded and bowed to both of them before slipping out of the door.

"Altman, help me to the settee please." And as Teddy moved towards Arizona, Callie stood from her position on the bed.

"No, you're injured and you'll sleep in the bed." It was almost comical the way that Teddy's eyes widened and flirted between the two of them. But finally Arizona nodded and Teddy left for the bathroom, finally leaving them alone.

"Callie, please, I don't want to-" and it caused a surge of affection for the blonde, so overpowering it was in Callie that she could think of nothing else but to kiss Arizona.

She surged forward and pressed their lips together roughly, kissing her with all the fear she'd felt over the last week. When Arizona didn't respond, Callie felt her face flush as she pulled away. But Arizona was looking at her strangely, her blue eyes hooded and confused.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" but she was cut off as Arizona's right hand slipped behind her head and pulled her back, surprising her with another hard kiss.

Callie sighed and leaned into the embrace, allowing Arizona's tongue entrance to her mouth. A moan slipped out and the feelings of fear and abandonment left her, quickly replaced by the lust and affection she felt for her wife. The way Arizona was kissing her, and she was kissing back, left Callie breathless and needing more. It wasn't their first kiss, that had been perfunctory at their wedding, and hadn't been anything more than a performance for the gathered crowd.

But this, this was what she thought a first kiss should feel like, wrapped safely in her wife's arm an explosion of feelings and sensations as their mouths and tongues worked against each other, desire coiling low in belly and causing her core to throb with need.

When she slipped her arms around Arizona's shoulders, the blonde cried out softly, breaking the kiss. "Oh my goodness," Callie cried, slipping her hand to the wound she had forgotten about, lost in lust and daze and Arizona and the kiss. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay Calliope," Callie's breath hitched when Arizona uttered her full name, a wave of pleasure rolling through her. "Sorry, Callie, I forgot too." And Arizona presses another soft kiss to her lips, Callie allowed herself to sink into it, the feelings and the kiss.

Pulling away, she rested her forehead against Arizona's, breathing in the scent of her wife. She was still grimy and covered in blood, but she still smelled like Arizona, spicy and musky, and it filled her lungs and her presence.

"I missed you Arizona… and no one would tell me where you'd gone and I was scared." She whispered, curling her fingers fighter around Arizona, careful to avoid her wound.

"I'm here now, and safe." She whispered, reaching up and wiping a tear of Callie's cheek and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

And Callie tensed. She didn't know what she felt for the blonde, what she was feeling for her wife, but she knew that she never wanted to experience that again.

"Please don't leave me."