Callie turned on her blinker to pull into Starbucks. It was right off of Route 5, half way between Seattle and Portland. Arizona had been gone for less than a month, and her absence was resulting in a complicated ache for Callie. The purpose of this reunion, though, sat in the back of Callie's Mercedes. Sofia was going to spend the next few days exploring Portland with her Mama.
Callie saw Arizona casually leaned back against the hood of her own car, waiting for their arrival. When Callie pulled in, Arizona straightened up and seemed to brace herself with a deep breath before shining a distant smile at the familiar faces.
"You found it," Arizona said as Callie stepped out of the driver's seat.
"We did." Callie tentatively smiled, but an awkward silence lingered. She rushed to fill it. "Sofia dozed off a bit after we got out of Seattle, but she's been chattering non-stop for the last half hour. She's really excited to see you."
Arizona's eyes went to their daughter in the back seat.
"We are going to have a great weekend." Arizona moved to help Sofia out of the car.
Callie watched her sling Sofia's overnight bag over her shoulder and whisper something in her ear that made their daughter giggle. Sofia jumped down from Callie's car before skipping over to Arizona's back seat to get safely buckled in for the remainder of her journey.
Arizona turned back to Callie.
"So," Callie started. "How are you? How have you been?"
"I've been good." The response was short, but Arizona's tone was warm.
"You're getting settled? How's the new job? Are you making friends?" Callie couldn't help herself. She was curious. And worried.
"I'm fine, Callie. Thank you." Arizona gently smiled. She wasn't upset, but this line of questioning was a dead-end.
Callie understood. She gave an embarrassed smile and took a breath before nodding and heading back to her car.
"I've been lonely for years, Callie."
Callie turned back, surprised by the admission, to see Arizona nearly halfway inside her SVU.
"Turns out it's just a less painful version of lonely when you aren't staring daily at the life you once had."
The two maintained eye contact, both trying to make sense of what Arizona just confessed.
"Thank you for meeting me with Sofia. It means a lot." Arizona moved fully in her car. "We'll see you in a couple of days."
And with that, Arizona and Sofia drove off.
