AN: Thank you all for such a warm welcome back! Also, I'm sorry for those who read this when I originally posted it earlier today - there was randomly an entire section missing. This will make a lot more sense now!

Chapter 2

September 2002

"Hey, Blondie!" Mark grinned with outstretched arms. Beer sloshed over the side of his solo cup as he pulled Arizona in for one-sided hug.

"Hi, Mark," Arizona responded with an eye roll. Her eyes lit up and a genuine smile graced her features as she noticed the woman standing behind Mark. "Calliope! I haven't seen you around lately."

"Yeah, well, beginning of school is always a busy time," Callie replied shyly, staring into her fruity cocktail. Her head snapped up suddenly. "Wait, how do you know my full name?"

"Class rosters, Calliope. We have Macroeconomics together." Callie furrowed her brow. How had she not noticed Arizona? Sensing her confusion, Arizona continued, "I sit in the back. Plus, I'm not surprised you haven't noticed me since you're too busy ogling Professor Bradbury."

"I am not!"

"What? She's cute! I mean totally not my type, but if you're into blondes, she's pretty hot."

Mark, realizing he was definitely no longer needed, headed over to the beer pong platform, prepared to school the eager freshmen.

"So are you?" Arizona asked, smiling into her own drink.

"Am I what?"

"Into blondes."

"I might be two cups of strong strong gin bucket in, but I am not letting you get away with that. No, siree." Callie scrunched up her nose and returned to her potent gin bucket. Had she really just said 'no, siree' to the hot British girl? One look at Arizona's smile of utter amusement confirmed that she had, in fact, said that. In an attempt to salvage some of her coolness, Callie grasped Arizona's arm and dragged her to an unoccupied couch. "So, tell me how a British girl winds up in an economics class at Boston College."

o0o0o

"So, what's your type, then?" Callie asked, now three cups of gin bucket and two shots of tequila in.

"You," Arizona replied brazenly. Her confidence was fueled both by the alcohol she'd consumed and the desire to have the time of her life while she was studying abroad in the States. Callie Torres seemed just like the fun she was looking for: a sexy, curvy, passionate candy bar. A candy bar she was very much looking forward to eating.

"I…have absolutely no comeback for that," Callie said with a nervous laugh.

"No words necessary. Why don't you just come back to my place? I have a one-bedroom off campus. No roommate. No uncomfortable dorm beds. No freshmen," Arizona teased.

"You had me at one-bedroom."

And with that, the two stumbled to the sidewalk and managed to hail a cab and give the driver Arizona's address. Arizona scrambled in first and Callie slipped in beside her. Callie tried to figure out whether she should sit in the middle seat or farther away from Arizona next to the window, and eventually thought sitting next to Arizona would seem more welcoming. When Arizona's hand slid across her thigh, however, she realized her mistake. Arizona grinned at Callie's sharp inhalation of breath and teased the flesh beneath her fingers, rubbing small circles upwards on Callie's thigh.

When they arrived at Arizona's dorm, Callie shoved a wad of cash at the driver. Arizona barely had time to contemplate what a college student was doing with that much money, because Callie was gripping her wrist and yanking her out of the car.

They barely made it through the front door when Callie had Arizona pressed up against it. Lips, teeth, hands were everywhere as Callie roughly took Arizona in her living room, more than thrilled that the blonde lived alone. Arizona was more than willing to repay the favor for at least an hour. This time they even made it to the couch.

And it was exactly what both of them were looking for, a no-strings-attached, casual, passionate, sexy fling.

October 2012

"Hey, Arizona. It's, um, it's Callie. Just got into London. I'm here for a few days on business. I found your number in the pocket of my jacket. I bet you never thought I'd use it. I never thought I'd use it. But here I am, using it. Anyway, just wanted to see if you'd like to get a drink…like coffee or tea or something, because I don't think we're ready for alcohol together. You could bring Rachel! I liked her. The three of us could hang out. Unless you think that would be awkward. I just…I would like to see you. Anyway, now you have my number. Call me."

o0o0o

"Hey, Arizona. It's Callie again. Now I sound super desperate and clingy, don't I? Calling you within 24 hours after my first message? I'm not sure if you just don't want to see me or if you have some perfectly good reason not to return my call. I'm sure you can guess which option my brain went with. I just feel like we've been given a second chance, you know? A second chance at friendship, at least. I never thought I'd see you again. Ever. And then there you were, in the damn security line at Heathrow. It's just too much of a coincidence. Look, I'm staying at the Cumberland. The hotel has a ridiculously over-priced bar with flashy lights and uncomfortable minimalistic bar stools. I'll be there tonight at 8 and I'd love some platonic company to distract from the neon and chrome. Please come. Bye."

o0o0o

October 2002

Their one night stand turned into many nights where Callie found herself at Arizona's apartment, unable to resist the absurd sexual chemistry the two shared. And eventually, they gave up the pretense and Callie even started staying over.

"You were supposed to be my fun American fling during my study abroad trip," Arizona noted nonchalantly as she straddled Callie's hips. The early morning sunlight filtered through the blinds in Arizona's bedroom and with it came the need to be honest and open. At night, it was all too easy to succumb to their desires and forget the real world, but there was something about the sun that exposed their reality and forced them to think about what they were doing. And that is exactly why Arizona had refused to let Callie spend the night before now.

"Am I not fun? Or American?" Callie asked cheekily.

Arizona rolled her eyes even as she ground her hips into Callie's abdomen. "I'm saying maybe you're not a fling?" Try as she might, she couldn't help the insecurity that seeped into her tone.

"I like that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Callie confirmed with a quick kiss. "I'm going to take you on a date. And at the end of the night, I'm going to walk you to your apartment, kiss you good night, promise to call you the next day, and then we're going to sleep alone in our own beds."

Arizona screwed up her nose in disgust. "This is starting to sound less and less fun."

"Hey, you're the one who declared this a non-fling, so be prepared to be romanced."

Leaning over Callie's body, Arizona moaned when their bare skin slid together. "So when does this non-fling start?" Arizona whispered in Callie's ear.

"Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow."

o0o0o

October 2012

Callie hated martinis. But they were Arizona's drink of choice. Callie had a sneaking suspicion that Arizona did not actually care for the bitter taste of gin and vermouth; it was more likely that she just enjoyed having olives in her drink. Callie could see no use for having food in your drink. Really, it just slowed down the getting drunk process. So, no, Callie did not enjoy martinis, yet here she was, sipping on a martini and twirling the olive skewer between her thumb and forefinger, wincing as the tart alcohol swirled around in her mouth. She'd long since finished her rum and coke and had moved on to the martini she'd ordered for Arizona. She figured that if Arizona wasn't going to show up, it was a shame to let the £10 drink go to waste.

Callie sighed into the martini glass and glanced at her watch again. She had been such a fool to think that Arizona would show up just based off a half-assed voicemail invitation. Had the situation been reversed she probably wouldn't have shown up either.

"Can I get you anything else?" the bartender asked, slinging his hand towel over his shoulder. "Another martini?"

Callie snorted. "No. Definitely won't be needing another one of those."

"Got stood up, huh?"

"Something like that."

"Well, he's a fool," the bartender replied sincerely.

Callie shook her head and took another swig of her martini. "No, she's not. It's complicated."