Two days later, Callie was driving into a familiar little town in Arizona driving a rental that was way too nice for the atmosphere. She had only one destination in sight, then she was booking it out of here and back to NYC. She pulled up to a quiet little house on the lake and started slowing down. This was all too familiar and she knew what was waiting at the end of the driveway. She parked and got out of her car looking around. It looked the same, but it had been fixed up cute. The house was the same color she had fought Arizona about years ago. There was an adorable little bench near the water and a hammock between the trees. All things Arizona had just brushed off and not done for Callie. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a voice she hadn't heard in 6 years.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Calliope Torres, what can I do for you?"
"For starters, you can get your stubborn ass down here and give me a divorce," Callie said slamming the papers down on her hood.
"You come back here after 6 years and demand a divorce. No, hey baby, remember me, your wife."
"I'm not your wife, I haven't been for a long time."
"Well according to those papers you are."
"Do you know how much money the lawyer charged me every time you sent these papers back?"
"Oh boo hoo. Get out of here."
"No, Arizona, I'm not leaving till you sign these."
"Well I'm not signing your stupid papers."
"Ughhh," Callie exclaimed following Arizona up the steps only to have a door slammed in her face.
"Arizona! Damnit open this door."
Arizona wasn't budging so she went around to the back and used the spare key. Going in, she found Arizona about to take another shot in a line up of 5 with 3 empty already.
"Oh that's great Arizona, just drink your problems away like you always do."
"That is not fair Calliope. You fucking left me and I haven't seen you for six years. Then you waltz back in demanding a divorce. I deserve a few drinks."
"Fine, whatever I don't care. Sign the damn papers and I'll leave you alone."
"Sorry babe, I have a hot date."
"You what?"
"I have a hot date and I don't wanna be late."
Callie knew she didn't have the right, but she was hurt. She never thought about Arizona dating someone else. She didn't like that idea at all. Arizona had never dated anyone but her.
"Calliope, don't you dare look like that. Go back to your precious fiancé."
Callie was taken back, "You know about Jade?"
"Everyone knows about Jade. It's all over every gossip source. It's all anybody around here has talked about since it happened."
"I'm sorry you found out that way."
"Well you obviously weren't thinking about me with all of it, but don't worry, I'm fine. See ya later."
With that Arizona swept out the door to leave Callie feeling confused and upset. She looked around and saw Arizona had barely changed a thing. Their wedding photo was even still up. The walls were deep red, just like she wanted. She perused the photos and saw all of the wonderful pictures of them being happy.
Callie decided it was time to hit the bar and get some pressure on Arizona to sign the papers. As she entered she heard her mother in law.
"Ohhhh lord jesus, Callie Torres, come here baby," Barbara said as she pulled Callie into a tight hug.
"Hi Barbara."
"Oh honey, my favorite daughter in law has finally returned."
"Ex-daughter in law actually," Callie said holding up her new ring.
"Oh my, my would you get a look at that."
"Yeah."
"Well, you'll always be my family as far as I'm concerned Callie."
"Thanks Barbara."
After quite a scene in the bar, Callie stormed out and stumbled to her car. She was followed closely by Arizona.
"Fuck you Arizona, I'm driving."
"You may be the biggest pain in my ass imaginable, but there is no way I'm going to let you kill yourself. Now get in my truck."
"Ugh, you make me so mad!"
Arizona helped Callie into the pickup and then jumped in to drive her home.
On the drive home, Callie kept mumbling and even though Arizona was pissed, she still found it adorable. Arizona thought about taking Callie to her parents, but she knew that wouldn't be the best way for Callie to come back into their lives. Instead she drove back to her house. By the time they got there Callie was basically passed out. Arizona put her over her shoulder and carried her inside to the couch. Then she went to get some water, but when she came back Callie was gone. She found her in the bedroom sprawled out on the bed.
"Damnit Callie."
Arizona pushed her over and crawled into bed. She spent a few minutes just taking Callie in. She was still as beautiful as the day she first met her all those years ago. God, Arizona had missed her.
About halfway through the night Callie rolled over and turned into the other body in the bed. She cuddled up and nuzzled her face in Arizona's neck very much still asleep. This movement caused Arizona to wake up. Oh no, she thought. She had dreamt about this for years. She had her wife back snuggled up with her in bed. Except this is not the way she pictured it. Once Callie woke up, they wouldn't be fine again and she wouldn't be hers. So, for now, Arizona just enjoyed feeling whole again.
"Hm Jade?" Callie mumbled as she felt herself come into consciousness while pressed against a body.
Arizona had been awake for quite a while and she froze when she heard Callie call out her new fiance's name.
"Um, no Calliope it's me."
Callie's eyes flew open and she immediately threw the covers off to check if she had clothes on.
"Oh phew. Why am I in your bed?"
"You got so wasted last night I had to bring you here so you wouldn't drive home."
"Oh um thanks I guess, nothing happened right?" Callie said really hoping she had just passed out.
"No nothing happened. But you are afraid it would be easy to fall back into bed with me."
"No I just don't remember anything and I wanted to make sure you didn't take advantage of me," Callie said immediately regretting it.
Hurt flashed across Arizona's face then she replied, "Honey, I took care of your stupid drunk ass. Trust me, I don't want you."
"Well you coulda fooled me since you have been sending divorce papers back for 3 years and still refuse to sign."
"Calliope, can we please not fight. I just don't have the energy anymore."
"Fine."
"So, do you want breakfast and coffee? I have this great place out on the dock I like to eat."
Callie knew it probably wouldn't be a good idea to stay, but she was drawn in by Arizona's sudden sweetness.
"That sounds nice and I really need some coffee."
Callie freshened up and then went into the kitchen assuming she would have to cook. What she found surprised her, Arizona was cooking.
"You cook now?"
Arizona turned to look at her, "well yeah. I mean you are a better cook, but a lot of things have changed since you left."
"Yeah I noticed," Callie said gesturing to the redecorating the blonde had done.
"After you left I thought about a lot of things. I realized how stubborn I had been about so many stupid things like the color of the walls. Plus, the new color made me feel like you were here with me," Arizona said sadly.
"I'm sorry I left you like that."
"Sorry you left me like that or sorry you left?" Arizona asked.
"We were young Arizona. Too young to be married and I had big dreams that wouldn't have ever happened here."
"I know, that's why I let you be. When I saw everything you were doing in New York, I knew I had to make something of myself and let you do the same."
"What?" Callie said confused. How did Arizona know about what she was doing in New York?
"Nothing, food's ready," Arizona covered as she handed Callie a plate.
They sat in silence for a while on the dock when Callie brought it up again.
"Arizona, how did you know about New York. I only started being in the tabloids about two years ago?"
"I came after you," Arizona stated simply.
"What?" Callie said in disbelief.
"About six months after you left. I spent every moment missing you and going over and over in my head what went wrong and how to get you back. Then I hopped on a plane and came after you."
"Why didn't you stay and see me?"
"I saw everything you were doing and I was so proud of you. I couldn't hold you back. I'm just a country hick who worked at the factory, once I saw your life there, I knew you deserved better," Arizona admitted sadly. She had been working every day since she left New York to try to be good enough for Callie.
"You were good enough for me. I didn't need you to be better, I just needed you to really be there for me and stop being so stubborn."
"Well, you found better now. I read about Jade. She's beautiful and very impressive. She's exactly the kind of woman you deserve, I'm glad you found that."
"Arizona," Callie said looking her in the eyes.
"Just leave it Callie, it was a long time ago. I'm happy for you, really."
Arizona got up and held out her hand to Callie.
"Come on, I want to show you something."
Callie took her hand and Arizona led her to a water plane. They flew for about 20 minutes and Arizona landed her in a little pond. She led the plane over to another dock. Then, they hiked up some hill to a huge clearing at the top. There was a bench there with the most beautiful view.
"Wow, Arizona this is amazing."
"Yeah, I come here a lot. I actually came here to think about you a lot."
"I guess it's a good place to think," Callie said not knowing what else to say.
"This is where I realized I may have to let you go. This is where I came pretty much every day for a year after I came to New York. And I came here last week when I found out about your engagement."
"You shouldn't have had to find out in a tabloid Arizona."
"Your right, I shouldn't have, but I knew it was coming. You served me divorce papers years ago and have had a perfect new girlfriend. I knew it was only a matter of time."
"Still, I'm sorry I didn't tell you myself."
Arizona looked up into Callie's eyes and got lost. God she missed this woman and in this moment she was sure, she would never love anyone else. She wished she had a chance, but she knew it was over between them. That was the hardest thing to accept, in fact, she still held out some hope because of the way Callie looked at her right now. Then it happened, Callie grabbed her face and kissed her. Arizona got lost in the moment. Her whole life was about kissing this woman, nothing else compared. She let herself get lost in it, until her mind caught up with her and she pushed Callie away gently.
"Calliope, you have to stop."
"Why?" Callie asked leaning back in.
Arizona pushed a little harder this time, "Because you have a fiancé and this may just be you getting caught up in the moment, but it means something to me."
"It means something to me too. Why do you always assume that I don't care?" Callie said starting to get angry.
"Because you don't. You sweep back in here and have a little fun with the cute little country girl you married right out of high school, then you go back to your accomplished hot mayor's daughter. It's not fair to me."
"None of this is fair, it's not fair to me either. I'm so confused."
"Well don't confuse yourself more."
"I am happy in New York, but then I come here and look at you and all those feelings come back. I didn't leave because I didn't love you. A part of me still loves you."
"Please don't say that."
"It's true. I still think about you and think about what our life together should have been. We should have two beautiful little children right now who we could bring here for picnics, but that didn't happen. It sucks for me too."
"I think we should go," Arizona cut her off because she couldn't talk about the life they would never have. The life Arizona dreamed about every night.
"Fine, just brush me off like you always do. It's what your good at."
"And you can leave like you always do."
The ride back was silent and when they got back to the house Callie stormed off and left. She wandered around town, then found herself parked in front of her parents house. She hadn't seen them since she left and she was nervous. Finally, she got up the courage and knocked on the door.
Her mother answered, "Calliope, what are you doing here?"
"Hi Mama, I came to see you."
"I heard you were in town."
"I'm sorry I didn't come earlier, I just had to see Arizona first."
"Yeah I get it. So, you and her gonna work it out?"
"No Mama, I need her to sign the divorce papers. I'm engaged again."
"Oh my, well that's nice."
"I need you to be happy for me. You are gonna love her."
"I'm sure she's mighty nice."
"Calliope?" her father said coming into the room.
"Hello Papi."
"Arizona told me you would be coming by."
"Of course she did."
"Well, she is your wife."
"She's not my wife. We are getting divorced, I'm getting married to someone else."
"That poor girl."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean Arizona. That poor girl has spent the last 6 years busting her ass trying to be good enough to win you back and you just throw her away."
"Ugh, Papi, she doesn't need to be good enough, we just aren't right for each other."
"Not even a Yankee would believe that. You two were a match made in heaven."
"That was a long time ago, I'm not that girl anymore."
"Well, I can't tell you what to do. Go help your mama with dinner."
