Title: Understanding
Author: Jrn77
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary: Continuing the from the previous scene from the kitchen of the episode I can't remember for the life of me.
Rating: T for now
Disclaimer: All characters belong to ABC/Shonda Rhimes.
Note: Finally starting to get back in order episode wise,still a work in progress.
Progress
For Callie it seemed like it was only days ago when her and Arizona were in this living room at this exact spot for the first time.
Callie can remember their first date perfectly as her and Arizona danced around this exact room. The feeling of having her hands lay on Arizona's small but bony hips as she threw her hands in the air and danced around Callie. The sight of her bright white smile seeming to only get larger. Her blonde curly locks bouncing around in every direction.
Before Callie could bring a smile to her face, that memory was gone. It dissolved as quickly as dark images of the plane that carried her once super magic wife hit the ground, forever taking traits that made her the person she once had been began clouding within her mind. But now, they were back in the room were the so called magic had all begun.
But this time it was different. They weren't the bubbly eager energetic people they once were. They were damaged. But, were was the key word in that statement. Now,they were building. Building their relationship that was so fun loving that it made every couple in their workplace jealous, wondering how two people could be so hypnotized by one another. But now, it was time to rebuild all of the things they lost.
After Callie allowed Arizona to take her hand and lead her to the couch for their new ritual of american bake-off, they both find themselves unsure of where to proceed next. It had been months since the two had resumed the cuddling couch position that they had once mastered.
"How close do I sit..Where should I put my hands...Dare I touch for her...I can't stare..I need to focus..You can do this." Both women have these thoughts running through their minds,as if they are about to sit down next to a complete stranger.
After helping her wife stand and grab her crutches, Callie took the lead, taking her usual seat on her side of the couch. This forced Arizona to make her move. Arizona first sits a distance away from Callie, almost afraid to touch her wife. Then, the shiny ring that sat on her left hand reminded her that the physical contact from her wife was not something to fear. She was her wife. She remembered all her kind words. All that she has and had done for her. She scooted closer, and closer to Callie before finally speaking softly.
"Is this too close...am I bothering you...I know we haven't sat near each other in quite some time now..." her voice quietly disappears under her breathe just as Callie turns and gives her wife direct eye contact.
"This is fine," she says with a smile before continuing on."But this is even better."
Before Arizona is even able to react, Callie has pulled her completely over to her side as she wraps her arms around Arizona's body, gripping one of Arizona's hands and slowly rubbing her other hand across the top of her wife's temple.
Arizona seems to be shock at first,not sure if she's ready for this type of physical contact. But it only takes seconds for her to relax into her wife's embrace. An embrace that feels safe. An embrace that was one thing she needed during those cold nights in the woods. An embrace that is filled with pure love. An embrace that finally makes her feel at home.
"Callie..." Arizona begins to say before her eyes seem to become filled with tears.
Callie alarmed by the tone of Arizona's voice quickly becomes worried and tries to pull herself away from the embrace. But Arizona won't let her. She grips onto Callie's shirt with one hand and grasps her other hand tighter.
"Is this too much too fast,I'm sorry I didn't mean to," Callie is quick to say before realizing that her wife is refusing to let her go.
"No,no Callie stop. Don't move. Please. This...this is the first time that..just."
Arizona is unable to finish her words as a mindset of frustration thoughts over takes her ability to speak. Callie continues to let Arizona grasp onto her,still unsure of exactly what she can do to comfort her wife.
"Arizona,what do you need me to do? I'll do anything for you,you know that."
After her tears prolong long enough and her chest becomes less heavy, Arizona is able to lift her face off from the position of being buried within Callie's chest, she begins to speak.
"Stay with me. Don't leave my side. I've sat alone in our bedroom,which I know is all of my fault because I wouldn't let you near me,but I need you now. More than ever. Because I can't go another day without kissing you, receiving one of your hugs, and holding onto your hands. But I can't go to fast. Because everything is so overwhelming to me,I just..can't."
Shocked at the words spewing from her exhausted yet still amazingly beautiful wife, Callie does what she does best; she comforts her.
"Arizona,I will stay on this couch for days with you. I will hold your hand and never let go of it if it will help to make you feel better. I know I can't fix the things that have happened, but I do know that we have so many great things to look forward to in our future. A future that is you,me, and Sofia. Okay? No one is going anywhere. And I am never going anywhere without you by my side."
For a while, Callie's words only brought a burning feeling to Arizona's eyes and heart. But now, they bring back hope. She believes in her wife. She listens to her words and know they are coming from her never ending supply of love.
"Thank you,Callie." She says with a smile as she turns her attention towards the show that they have already missed 20 minutes of from their heart to heart conversation.
Callie nods her head and kisses the top of Arizona's head, a simple gesture that is signal for Arizona to lean back into her wife and make herself comfy.
Not long after their talk,the only noises to be heard from apartment 502 is the television, the soft breathing of Arizona, and the sound of hands being brushed through her wavy yet curly blonde hair.
Callie still awake,realized that her wife had fallen asleep like usual. She kissed the back of her head, trying to decide what to do next. Then, it hit her.
Arizona began to wake up as she realized she no longer heard the sound of the television and instead heard a large grunt coming from her wife who no long was sitting beside her.
"Cal...Callie..what in the world are you doing?!"
But before Arizona could do anything, Callie had already carried her all the way to their bedroom, where she gently placed her wife on her designated side of the bed.
"I'm putting you to bed,what does it look like I'm doing." Callie says with a giggle.
She then proceeds to kiss the side of Arizona's face and turn the light off.
"Goodnight Arizona,I love you."
But before she can turn away,Arizona grabs her hand and pulls her onto the bed.
"Stay Callie."
It wasn't a Calliope. It wasn't an I love you. But,it was a start. It was progress.
