Thank you all for reading and for all the kind feedback. I may not be able to upload as swiftly after this chapter, as Christmas vacation is almost over and I'd be going back to school. However, I will try to update at least once a week. Again, feel free to comment or message me. Your kind words keep me going.


Arizona Robbins was satisfied with the mini red dress she bought. The dress hung just above her knees, and had short sleeves. The cut hugged her body just right and showed just enough cleavage. Moreover, it was a darker shade of red to not direct too much attention.

She was just finished fixing her hair. At first, she did not know what to do with it. Five months ago, she had cut her long blonde hair short, and now it was beginning to grow above her shoulder in odd directions. After half an hour of struggling, she finally decided to just leave it bouncy and messy. Arizona applied concealer beneath her sallow eyes. She might not have any hair products with her, but she had make-up. She sometimes used make-up for disguise. It was a skill that only she, as the only woman in El Tigre, knew how to do.

The blonde thickened her eyebrows and applied mascara. She puffed her cheeks up with a light red blush and brought her lips to a rosy pink pucker. She sprayed Callie's favorite freesia scent. The blonde gave herself a wide smile, which brought out her dimples.

Arizona tiptoed over to the shopping bag and brought out a small rectangular box. She opened it, biting her lower lip in anticipation. Inside was a pair of black, open-toe heels. The blonde almost cried. In 5 months, she never had the luxury of wearing heels. She had always worn sneakers, which were made for running. Arizona slipped on the heels she just bought, and stood in front of the full body mirror her room conveniently came with.

For the first time in months, Arizona felt beautiful. Self-esteem was a luxury she allowed herself, just this once, just for tonight.

Callie had been right. It was only now that she acknowledged that she really did look good in red.

FLASHBACK:

"Dear, I bought you something, it's in your closet," Callie said as she cleared the table and what was left of the delicious lasagna dinner she cooked for her and her girlfriend. Arizona was in the bar, pouring wine for both of them.

"Mhmm?" Arizona mumbled in between sips of her white wine. She picked up a lilac envelope on the counter and took out what was inside.

"Calliope," Arizona said, poring through the contents of the envelope. "This wedding thing you have to attend on Saturday, it says that they reserved two seats for you. I wonder, since you'd be taking Mark, can you cook lunch for me beforehand so I just have to reheat it? I can't cook to save my life."

Callie gave her a disbelieving look. "Who said I'd be taking Mark? You idiot, of course you'd be my date, that's why I bought you a dress. It's in your closet. Now fit it and let me see," Callie smiled, but then frowned when Arizona gave her one of her cute pouts.

"It's just, what will your friends think of you, bringing me as your date? Weddings are very personal, and you and your group of friends are close-knit. To them, I'm an outsider you just met for a week," Arizona said, pouting. Her blue eyes were so sad and sincere; Callie felt that she could melt in a puddle at any given time. The brunette put the plates down on the dinner table and approached her girlfriend.

"Sweetie, you are not just an outsider I met for a week and then asked to move in with me," Callie said, massaging the furrow on the blonde's forehead with a thumb.

"Yeah, because we know each other for two months now," Arizona answered in sarcasm. True enough, they have known each other for two months. But it has only been a week after Callie, Mark and Alex Karev were able to arrest the Santos father and son, a week of living a normal life in the outside world with Arizona. As soon as the Santoses were brought in to the headquarters, and Callie and Mark praised and decorated by the Chief, Callie asked Arizona to move in with her. The blonde resisted at first, not wanting Callie to think that she was a burden, but she succumbed to the reasoning of the brunette. Indeed, Callie was right. Arizona knew nothing of a world aside from what was inside the Miami crime ring. Callie would help her adjust, until she found her place in it, including landing on a stable and legal job.

"Hunny, what we went through together during those two months, that was special. I would not exchange it for any length of time of getting to know you. I love you, and you love me, and none of the rest of it matters. Certainly not my friends. And precisely because they're my friends, they won't judge," Callie replied, caressing Arizona's cheek. The blonde melted into Callie's palm before responding.

"You haven't even come out to them," Arizona replied.

"I did not even know I was attracted to girls before," Callie countered.

"Fair enough," Arizona replied, smiling. Callie could not resist kissing both of her dimples.

"Now get up, go try on your dress and model it for me," Callie said, spanking the blonde's butt as she got up from the stool. Arizona ran into their room.

"I'm excited, is it blue?" Arizona asked from inside the room.

"Nah-uh," Callie replied.

"Oh, it's red," a disappointed voice came from inside the room. Arizona came out with the red, knee length, halter dress still in its hanger, with matching disappointed face.

"What's wrong?" Callie asked.

"You wear it. You look divine in red," Arizona said, waving the dress in front of Callie and nodding in agreement to her own statement.

"Sweetie, the moment I saw this dress in the mall this afternoon, I imagined you in it," Callie replied. "Don't you like it?"

"You wear red, you look like Aphrodite. I wear red, I look like a tomato," Arizona reasoned, pouting.

"But you're a very cute tomato, the cutest tomato that ever lived," Callie replied, teasing. "But seriously, hunny, just try it on. You haven't even seen it on you. Pretty please?"

Callie had on her caramel puppy dog eyes that Arizona could never resist. The blonde stripped from her jammies and put on the red dress. The brunette stood up from the stool and helped Arizona with the zipper on the back, not without giving her creamy, white nape a feathery kiss.

"Thanks," Arizona whispered. She twirled in her dress. "Well?"

"Breathtaking," Callie said, with her hands in her mouth. The blonde felt uneasy. Red was not her color. Blue was cool and serene, but red screams for attention. All her life, she did her best to hide in the shadows. All her life, she was taught that it was her place. That was why she found sanctuary in blue.

Yet the look on Callie's eyes told her that the brunette was only being honest when she told her she looked breathtaking. Like she wanted the world to notice Arizona. The blonde was not sure whether or not she was worthy of the attention, but she was willing to bend for this woman. She was willing to believe, because of this woman she loved so much.

"Of course, I'll wear it. Anything for you, Calliope."


Arizona waited inside a taxicab a safe distance away from Callie's apartment building. It was ten minutes past 8 on her watch, and she hoped Teddy would come sooner to pick Callie up before the driver grew suspicious. Almost like a miracle, a white Toyota Camry pulled beside the entrance of the building. Calliope Torres came out of the front door, wearing a red blouse underneath her favorite leather jacket. Brown leather boots adorned her feet, which she wore over her jeans. She had her hair tied in a half pony. It was a simple get up, yet enough to take Arizona's breath away.

Callie entered the car through the door at the back. Addison must be sitting beside Teddy.

"There, follow that car," Arizona told the driver.

"Will I get in trouble for this, ma'am?" the driver asked suspiciously.

"No. I just think my boyfriend is cheating on me with that woman," Arizona lied. The driver snickered.

"Well, you should dump him. He's an idiot for cheating on a lady as gorgeous as you are," the driver replied as he hit the gas and began tailing Teddy's car.

Arizona did not reply, though she couldn't help but blush. It was the first compliment she had received in months.


The three ladies entered the hole in a wall bar with Teddy going in first to introduce herself to the owner. They were faced with a dainty woman wearing thick blue-rimmed glasses and sporting spiky hair. She was in a brown apron with the name Sonia's written in front.

"Girls, this is Sonia Zaldivar, she was my classmate in history when I studied in Spain for 2 years. Sonia, these are my good friends, Callie Torres and Addison Montgomery," Teddy introduced the lot.

"Nice to meet you, thank you for inviting us to your bar's opening," Callie and Addison said in unison, shaking the owner's hands.

"It's my pleasure to meet Teddy's friends. Please come in and enjoy yourselves. Drinks are on the house," Sonia replied. A waiter led them to a private booth far from the dance floor as Sonia entertained her other guests. The bar looked homey and impressive. It had the right balance for when one wanted to socialize, or wanted to be left alone. The dark place was illuminated by dim, soft lights, and each booth was illuminated by colorful, aromatic candles.

Callie placed down her bag on the table as she sat down in front of Addison and Teddy. The same waiter took their orders of margaritas and tapas.

"Well," Addison started. "Teddy told me about your next assignment. We know how hard it is for you, so we decided in the car that tonight is a Callie-night. Seriously, we won't be bringing up our own issues. Tonight, you have our ears exclusively." Addison was not a police officer, so she's not always up to date with department gossip. Teddy would fill her in so that she would not feel left out whenever the three went out together. The trio had been best friends since high school; however, the red head took a different path and went to medical school.

"Thank you." Callie started. "I saw her, Addie. She was there, by the park. I saw her three days ago. When the Chief told me that Arizona would surely be coming for me, I half expected her to turn up in my apartment the moment I got home. But it has been three days. She knows how to reach me. I hate thinking that maybe, she has changed her mind, that she did not trust me after all. I hate the false hope this assignment has given me." Callie felt her chest go lighter as she let it out, though tears were once again threatening to fall.

"And you are hoping for?" Addison asked, a furrow on her forehead.

"I don't even know, Addie. Sometimes I imagine seeing her again, and running to her arms, forgetting what she has done. Sometimes I imagine myself giving her the good, hard slap on the face that she deserved. But when I saw her in the park, not any of those two scenarios occurred. I just stood there inside Chief Webber's office, frozen. And now, three days have passed. I'm afraid I lost the chance to tell her how I feel about her leaving me, even though I don't know for myself how I really feel," Callie explained.

"But do, you, still, you know, love her?," Addison asked. Teddy gave the red head a kick underneath the table. She felt that she was pushing Callie too soon.

Before the brunette could even process that question, the waiter came back with their drinks and food.

"Margaritas for the damas, and tapas for the pelirroja," the waiter said, winking at Addison. However, as he set the food down, the tapas fell on both Addison's and Teddy's laps.

"I'm terribly sorry," the waiter said with a worried look.

"No, no, it's okay, we understand. It's a soft opening, everything's still shaky," Teddy said.

"Yes. No worries. Just kindly tell us where the bathroom is," Addison replied, totally wanting to bite the waiter's head off. The green dress she wore was new.

"Right these way, ladies."

"Excuse us for a minute, Callie, will you be fine by yourself for a while?" Addison asked.

"Take your time, don't worry about me," Callie smiled. The waiter led Callie's friends to the direction of the bathroom.

Callie took a sip of her margarita. She was grateful for the diversion. She was not quite ready to give Addison an answer to her question.

It has not been a minute after Addison and Teddy left when a big, burly man in a suit approached the brunette with a hand extended.

"Will you give me the pleasure of a dance?" the man asked. Callie looked up to stare at him. He was bald and sporting a goatee, and was about 6 feet 5 inches tall. He spoke with an unmistakable Cuban accent and was reeking of alcohol.

"Sorry, sir, I have company," Callie refused politely.

"Come on, lady, you look sad and alone. You could use some lovin' tonight," the man replied.

'Is this man serious?' Callie thought. It couldn't have been more than five minutes since Addison and Teddy left.

"A no is a no, sir," Callie said. She returned to her drink, but her left hand was on her police badge, ready for when he caused trouble.

"No one says no to me, you bitch, don't you know who I am?" the man shoved Callie's shoulder back in order to force her to look at him. Callie was about to show the man her badge, when she saw a red dress go between her and the man, and a pair of the bluest eyes ever.

"Is he bothering you?" Arizona Robbins spoke to Callie Torres for the first time in three years.

"Who the hell are you?" the man shoved Arizona so strongly that she fell to the floor. At this, Callie stood up and placed herself between the blonde and the man.

"You gotta back off, now! That's no way to treat a woman," Callie said, her hand on her badge, ready to flash it.

Arizona tried to stand up. This was not the kind of meeting with Callie she had in mind. She looked up, removing the wisps of blonde her from her face. The first thing she saw was the face of the man, and she knew the man was staring at her, too.

It was Ben from El Tigre. An expert on the transport and concealment of illegal firearms. They even knew each other personally. She saw Ben's eyes grow wide, trying to fight the alcohol in his system to put a name to her face.

"It's her!" Ben yelled. Three men in black suits previously facing the bar turned to face their direction.

'Oh shit' Arizona thought. She stood up immediately and grabbed Callie's hand.

"Calliope, run!" she ordered the brunette. She led Callie towards the kitchen as the blonde heard gunshots fired in their direction. Callie saw Teddy rush to the scene with her gun in her hands as soon as she heard the shots.

"Go, get backup," Teddy shouted, throwing her car keys to her friend. She had a police radio in her car.

Arizona continued to lead her towards the backdoor of the kitchen and outside as they heard people scream and plates and glasses shatter. As soon as they hit the gravel outside, it was Callie who pulled on Arizona, as the blonde had difficulty running on her heels.

"Come on Arizona," Callie said as Arizona stumbled to the ground. The brunette looked back. The bald man was able to follow them outside and had his gun pointed at Arizona. Callie saw that the blonde was also looking at the man in suit.

Callie moved fast. Arizona saw the bullet move just a few inches above her nose. She heard a yelp from Ben. The brunette had shot him on the leg.

"Come on, the car is over there," Callie help Arizona stand up. The two ran to the parking lot towards a white Camry. They opened the driver and passenger's doors simultaneously and went inside. Callie fumbled for the police radio, which she handed to Arizona.

"Turn it on, ask for back up, describe what happened and the location," Callie instructed as she pulled out of the parking lot. In the rearview mirror, she saw two men try to run after Teddy's car, firing several shots on it.

"Get down!" Callie said, shoving Arizona's head down.

"Roger, I'm with Officer Calliope Torres, requesting for back up, over," Arizona began, looking at Callie, unsure of what she was doing.

"Who is this?" the voice of Mark permeated the car. Callie knew he was on duty.

"It's Callie, Mark, it's Callie! Teddy needs help; she's alone fighting three men. I took one down" Callie shouted through the radio that Arizona held. "I'm on the run!"

"Well, turn back and help her!" Mark replied. "Where the hell are you?"

"I'm with the subject. I'm with Arizona Robbins," Callie replied.

"Don't turn back. Whatever you do, Torres, don't turn back, we'll handle it," the voice of Richard Webber took over. "Take her to a safe place. Where is Teddy?"

Callie motioned for Arizona to take over as she navigated the busy streets looking for a place to take Arizona.

"It's a restaurant called Sonia's, down Jefferson street corner 64th," Arizona spoke through the radio.

"Okay, got it," Mark Sloan replied coldly. The Chief began dispatching the other units to the place.

Callie drove for ten minutes without speaking to her passenger as she looked for a safe place to stop. It was Arizona who broke the silence.

"We could go to the forest just outside the city," the blonde suggested.

"Yeah, we could," Callie replied with a knot in her stomach. That was the place where they tried to have sex once and almost got caught by a park ranger. Callie went out of the freeway and exited to the road leading to the forest. In twenty minutes, they reached their destination. Callie parked Teddy's car just at the edge, where the trees were still thin. Her right hand, the one that Arizona held as they ran a while ago, was still burning.

"What the hell, Arizona? What have you gotten yourself into," Callie said. She was surprised at her words. Years of practicing what to say to Arizona when she finally decides to show up all boiled down to a few cuss words.

"I'm sorry Calliope, I swear..," Arizona started but Callie cut her.

"Do not Calliope me and do not dare swear again if you cannot follow through," Callie responded, crossing her arms around her chest.

"I understand your anger, I guess I deserved it," Arizona said. "But we all have our reasons for our choices. " Arizona let out a tired sigh. "I did not get myself involved in anything. I was living a clean life."

"I believe you," Callie said, calming down.

"Thank you. Can we talk?" Arizona said. Callie heard the pleading in her voice.

"We have all night," Callie said. And then, relaxing her arms, she added, "you look really pretty."

"Thank you for noticing. I tried," Arizona replied, blushing.

"You wore the red dress and everything," Callie said, chuckling lightly. Arizona laughed along with her. The brunette had missed those dimples.

It's going to be a long night, and deep in her heart, Callie already knew exactly what she was hoping for.