AN: Thank you for your kind responds and reviews.
Just to make sure... this won't be a big drama-drama-fic, it will contain a little bump once in awhile though because, well.. life can be a bitch sometimes.

Here's the next installment. Enjoy :)


This is not happening. This is NOT happening. I can't, I just can't handle this right now. I simply don't have the time. While constantly trying to ignore the burning in my throat and the dripping from my nose, I push through the day. I'm actually all kinds of happy today since yesterday happened. Yesterday kind of got me two things. A girlfriend and a cold. I'm pretty sure I didn't ask for the latter. But I'm trying not to complain because I got her… I got the shiny, pretty prize. Not that Arizona is a physical thing for me to own, but I still really needed for her to be mine. For her to finally become the one with whom I spend my days and my nights, and the hours in between. I needed her attention, and I needed her to notice me, and look at me now? I succeeded, I got what I wanted. Because I wanted her, so badly… I still want her even though she told me yesterday, that she was in fact mine. I can't keep myself from wanting her even more now that she is mine, my girlfriend. That title's just got my head in the gutter like all the time, every day, every waking and sleeping hour. I can't get enough of my blue-eyed ray of sunshine, pure sex on sticks when she strolls the corridor in her lab coat, her blonde hair cascading down her back like a veil made out of silk, one of her ears free of hair revealing the three small ear-sticks framing her perfectly shaped ear. I'm a puddle of lovey-dovey-goo every time she as much as ghosts my thoughts and-

"Ah-ah-ah-ah-chew!" I sneeze, quickly covering my mouth and nose in my sleeve. I inhale and exhale, trying to compose myself.

"Gesundheit," someone behind me offers. I turn around and find Richard Webber silently sitting behind the nurses' station.

"Thank you, Dr. Webber," I nod and goes to mind my own business, wanting to locate my girlfriend's… my girlfriend!... currently whereabouts. I don't get that far in my plan, when Webber offers yet another attempt on what?... dialog?

"That's some cold you've got going on there, Dr. Minnick," he says, giving me a look one would want to describe as friendly. "You okay?"

Turning to see if he could be talking to someone else, I come to realize that he in fact did address me. "Thank you, Sir, I'm okay. I guess the Seattle weather surprised me yesterday," I tell him still on edge, but trying to come off as secure as I've known to be at Grey Sloan Memorial.

"It can be sneaky, yes," he nods as he rises and puts an iPad into the charging-bin. "How come you were out in the rain last night?"

I don't know if I should lie or give him the truth. I don't want to place Arizona in yet another awkward position, but I don't want to make up excuses whenever I'm with her. I try the middle way of things for now. "I ate a late picnic with a friend and we got caught in the rain," I say as I give him a friendly smile, then feeling my throat once again getting hoarse. I let out a little cough, making sure to keep my hands clean and direct it at my sleeve again.

Webber nods suspiciously and hands me a handkerchief from the pocket of his lab coat. I assume it's his, his own and private handkerchief… and he's just handing it to me. I feel all kinds of weird. Not only by the fact that someone's still got a handkerchief, but also by how he suddenly seems to want to be nice to me. I accept the handkerchief without really doing so, as he just hands it over and walking away. "I'm not hoping Robbins has got that bad cold, too," he states confidently, knowing very well who my picnic-friend is.

"She's as good as ever, Sir," I hear myself call after him. Mentally slapping myself and my stupid choice of words, I press my hand to my forehead. Realizing I've still got Richard Webber's handkerchief, I stick it into my pocket and try to shake the last five minutes off. Where were I? Where were I headed? What was my plan? Think, Eliza, think… ahhhh… Arizona. The image of my girlfriend immediately blinking before me, I pull out my phone with the intension of texting her.

What I see when I unlock my phone is not what I expected. I've got three messages. One from my sister, one from my mother and one from my girlfriend. Arizona's name on my screen never falters to make me smile, but this time it's different. This time I don't know if I'm in the dog's house or not.

Richard tells me you're not feeling good. Poor baby! Anything I can do? And Eliza… picnic-friend? Is that what I am to you now? :) - A

She's kidding, right? Yeah, she is. Typing my reply, a smile breaks from Arizona's choice of name calling. It might be because she's a mom and that term of endearment comes naturally, but it might also be because she really meant it… that baby part? Anyways… sending my message, I hope I'll be able to speak to her soon… I need to see her, like in person. I miss her… a lot. I know I saw her last night but hey… I'm entitled to miss her now. It's not like I like missing her, but I like the fact that I'm allowed to.

It's just a cold, I'll be fine :) And… wow. Webber doesn't beat around the bushes, does he? Ummm… I didn't know if I were allowed to say that I picnicked with you since, well… it's pretty new. - E

As I await Arizona's reply, I press on the text from my mother.

Hey little E. Cannot wait to see you and your Arizona. We'll be in Seattle Thursday afternoon. Love, Mom.

Well, that's my mom alright. Still using nicknames, not as sweet as Arizona's, though. I quickly text her back letting her know I'm going to pick them up. In the meantime, Arizona's finally replied.

I'm actually very good at vanquishing colds. Your place in an hour and a half? :) And hey, he knows, Eliza. There's nothing more to hide. I don't want to hide us, I want to be able to talk about how you made me one heck of a picnic, leaving us soaked ;) - A

Okay, no more hiding! I like that and I can't wait to see you. - E

Me too, me too. See you in just a bit. - A

I tuck my phone back in my pocket, heading for the Attending's lounge to change into my street clothes. I'm pushing through, I'm pushing through. Not going to get bothered by a minor cold, I don't get sick. I'm thriving on obstacles, so I've learned. And now I'm trying to will my good health to come back, so that I can kiss my girlfriend without fearing she'll catch a cold herself. As I strip down and put on my jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt, I collect keys, Webber's handkerchief and phone from my lab coat. As I'm about to throw the items into my back, my phone vibrates again. Crossing my fingers and feeling my heart swell with the opportunity that it might be Arizona texting me, I watch as my screen informs me that it isn't. My heart sinks, just a little, but then I read the message. I remember that I didn't get to read my sister's text from earlier, so I unlock my phone once again being directed straight to my inbox.

E, we've got trouble. - V

Big trouble, E. Louie's got a new girlfriend. - V

The desperation is palpable. Vera's always been the biggest drama queen, but she's never really wrong when it comes to our oldest brother. I quickly text her back as I walk out of the lounge, headed for the exit.

He's got new girlfriends before, Veve. I'm sure this one's as nice and blank as the others ;) - E

You're not hearing me, E. We've got trouble… or actually, you've got trouble. - V

What is that supposed to mean? How can this concern me? - E

I sniff once I'm finally reaching the cold that is the Seattle night. I'm in a bit of a hurry, since Arizona is soon on her way home to me. I want to be there first, to greet her with kisses and hot cocoa… whoa… when did I become that woman? When did I want to do such things instead of hitting on girls in bars? When did I-

"Ah-ah-ah-chew," I sneeze, my head almost hitting the screen on my phone. I pause for a second, collecting myself and sniffling yet another time. I'm pushing through, I'm pushing through, I'm not sick. I'm not sick. Eliza Minnick doesn't get sick, she prevents sickness. Vera's reply pops up on my phone.

You know her! - V

Come on already. He's dated almost the entire West and East coast, it was bound to happen ;) - E

You know-know her, Eliza. - V

Okay, spill it. - E

I'm starting to lose my calm. Vera being the drama queen always drags out everything. And I've frankly not got the time now. I'm obviously on my way home to make hot cocoa for my girlfriend, who'd thought?! Slipping inside of my car, buckling my seatbelt and inserting the key, I chance one last look at my phone before driving. Vera's reply lightens up the dark of my car.

It's Mable! - V

My phone goes dark as the screen dwells because of the lack of my touch. This is not happening. This cannot be happening. And then the Seattle sky releases a thunder that echoes throughout the city, my car, my thoughts and my heart. And then the rain starts falling… again.