It was their second full practice after agreeing to be partners, and Arizona was helping Callie with some practice on her groundstrokes. "You're tall but fast!" the blonde woman told her as they approached the net, "you get into the net as often as you can and you have amazing reach to cut their shots down, but you leave yourself vulnerable if you are even a pace to late or you come too close, narrows your reach down. Maybe if you get to midway, until you can read the shot? Might give you more chance of covering the extra angles?"

Callie shrugged her shoulders and pursed her lips. "I like the volley shots, that's why I always come right in!"

"And you play them well, if you get to the ball, and with your pace, I figure you'll still reach as many of those hanging shots for you to volley to your hearts content. But, midway? Your speed? You could stop those passing shots that have the sharper angle!"

Callie nodded slightly. "Teddy has told me the same thing, but I thought it was just cos she wanted me practice more ground shots!"

Arizona chuckled. "And the great Callie Torres is above listening to her coach?"

"No, the LAZY Callie Torres didn't wanna!"

Again Arizona laughed. "Well get your lazy butt back on the line Torres, I'm gonna fire some serves your way, you return them, IF you can…and I'll line up some passing shots. Try coming in midway, read the shot…and catch me if you can?"

"Really?" Callie chuckled back. "You think you can beat me? Ha. Bring it blondie!"

"Oh you didn't? You did NOT call me Blondie!? You'll pay for that. No more Mrs Niceguy. Prepare to get your ass whupped!"

"Oh, you talk the talk…blondie!"

Arizona shook her head and walked to the baseline. Taking a deep breath, she decided to show Callie what she could really do. She bounced the ball a few times to settle down, then casually tossed it high in the air, swooping her racquet through the air and smiling at the connection, the ball flew across the net and Arizona was sure Callie stood no chance. Instead, she stood in open mouthed amazement as the brunette merely stepped to the side and brought her own racquet across in a perfect forehand, leaving Arizona standing as the ball sailed across and landed perfectly in the far corner. "That the best you got Robbins?" Callie called over

"Seriously?" Arizona muttered under her breath. "Oh this is so on!" She bounced the ball again, settling the slight flutter of nerves, before firing across one of her favourite serves, adding extra spin. Quick as a flash, Callie was on it and the ball was thundering back across the net. But this time Arizona was prepared, and returned the shot. Hit for hit, strike for strike, until Callie made her move and raced into the net. But Arizona had seen her, saw the approach, and instantly changed her shot to a stinging backhand, that sailed at a sharp angle, straight passed Callie, just beyond her reach. "You came in too close Torres, I warned you!"

Callie stood there with her hands on her hips, and chewed her bottom lip as she replayed the rally in her mind. The approach shot had been perfect, she had forced Arizona wide, how the hell had the blonde made that pass? "Huh!" she grunted as she looked up at the younger woman. "Again, set that up again!"

"Say please, and admit I was right!" Arizona grinned

Callie laughed. "Please, and MAYBE you have a point!"

"I'm always right, and I'm awesome!"

They practiced for another hour before Teddy and Miranda joined them on court. "As much as I know I am going to regret this in the morning, time to practice some doubles so, uh, we're ready!" Miranda looked nervous as she walked with Teddy to the opposite side of the court

Callie laughed as Teddy took up position to serve. "You could barely walk after our last session, what makes you think you can cope today?"

"I hadn't played a full match for a while, I'm outta practice, but I'll be ok today, so come on, we gonna play…or talk about it?" her coach replied

"Fine!" Callie chuckled. "We're ready, right Robbins!?"

"Right!" the blonde laughed as she moved to the net.

Teddy had been a great player, but injury had forced her to retire early, right when she was at the top of her game. She had been friends with Callie and had still been her practice partner once she had healed sufficiently. When Callies old coach had decided he no longer wanted to travel as much, Callie had asked Teddy to take his place, though they did still consult with him, and he had played a major part in Callies own recent recovery. She saw him standing in the corner of the court and waved, just as Teddy fired her first serve over the net. "HEY!" Callie yelled, "I wasn't ready, I was waving at Callum!"

"Tough!" Teddy laughed. "Lesson number 1 today, stay focused!"

Arizona laughed at the child like pout Callie pulled, shaking her head at her partner as they changed positions. "Dork!"

"What did you call me?" Callie gasped and smiled

"Focus Callie!" Arizona playfully teased, before expertly returning one of Teddys better serves, Miranda instantly volleyed it back but Callie was quick and intercepted the shot, slamming it down the line and laughing at the shocked expression on their opponents faces.

They played just one set, Callie aware of Callum scribbling notes as he watched them play. At the end of the set, which Callie and Arizona won 6-1, they all adjourned to the sun terrace for a cool drink before hitting the showers. "So, Callum, what do you think?" Teddy asked her old mentor

"I think, I was wrong when I called you crazy for pushing our girl here to play doubles!"

Callies head shot up and she looked at Teddy before asking. "Uh, you asked Callum before me? Then ignored him?"

Teddy just shrugged and gave a small smile

"She did, but I was wrong. Watching you out there, it was like watching you when you first joined the circuit. You were having a blast out there today Callie, you were relaxed and laughing, your shoulders weren't as tense, and you pulled off some truly amazing shots, without even trying! And you Robbins, I have watched some match tapes of yours, trying to figure why you have only won one major championship. And it's cos you think too much, so you tense up to, lose your rhythm, lose your timing…"

"Thank you!" Miranda smiled, "it's what I have been telling her all this time, but does she listen? Mule!"

Callum laughed and pointed at Callie, "Maybe that's why they get on so well!? But seriously, Arizona, if I can call you that, you were laughing and joking to, you didn't over think your game or your shot, just let your instincts take over, and your talent shone through! You two, have both got, extraordinary gifts, Callie, I believe it won't be long until you are number one again, but you have a real rival for the position sat right next to you!"

"Yeah?" Arizona grinned, then frowned a fraction. "But, that doesn't mean we can't be friends right I mean, I don't wanna be your arch rival or something, I mean I'm your doubles partner, I thought we could be friends and…"

Callie reached over and put her finger on her lips. "Moron!" she chuckled. "We are friends, much to my surprise, but that doesn't mean I won't try to destroy you if we ever meet on court in a tournament. But, we walk off the court and promise, win or lose, we stay friends, we leave the tennis ON court, leave any rivalry right there, and walk off as friends. Deal?"

"Deal!" Arizona nodded enthusiastically as they shook hands. "Should we sign a contract or something to that effect?" she asked, blushing as the others laughed

[xx]

"Hey, sorry I'm late!" gasped Arizona as she raced on to their practice court the following week.

"Everything ok?" Callie asked in concern as she saw the way the blonde appeared to be flustered

"Uh, yeah, yeah. Everythings fine. Thanks. Just uhm. Traffic, yeah, 'I got caught in traffic!"

"Uh huh. Right. Ok!" Callie didn't believe her, but already sensed it was better not to push. "Wanna practice some baseline shots?" she asked as turned to jog to the other side of the net.

"Sure, why not!" Arizona answered quietly

Within five minutes Callie knew there was something really bugging the blonde as her friend missed two easy shots that she would normally have hammered passed Callie, and then enjoyed teasing the brunette over. Instead she merely growled in frustration and muttered to herself.

Five more minutes of this and Callie gave up, walking in to the net and beckoning her friend over. "Look, seems to me your head is elsewhere today, and Teddy and Miranda are both busy. We have been practicing a lot, a real lot. What do you say to cutting out of here early, and going for ice-cream?"

Arizona looked at her and gave a small laugh. "I'd say heel yeah! I'll even buy the ice-cream!"

"You're on, but I warn you, I want a triple scoop from…"

"Dagotinis!?" the younger woman laughed

"Where else? Come on, let's go get changed and get outta here!"

Twenty minutes later they were climbing into Callies car having decided to just take one and not both cars. She pressed the button and dropped the roof down, pulled on some super cool shades and switched on the stereo, making Arizona laugh as she instantly started to sing along to the song playing. "Really? Heart? Didn't figure you as a soft rock kinda girl?"

Callie wiggled her eyebrows as she replied. "Whole lot you don't know about me Arizona. I'm badass!"

"Hardly!"

"Oh yeah! Wait until they play some Chicago, or Foreigner, my kinda jam!"

"Lame!"

Callie just chuckled and then carried on singing, smiling to herself as she heard Arizona join in to. they pulled up outside the ice-cream parlour and rushed inside, still giggling from some of Arizonas made up words to a song she recognised but couldn't really remember. They placed their order and found a secluded booth. They talked non-stop, about music, fashion faux pars, sibling rivalry, tennis, all-sorts of random things. They ordered a second helping of ice-cream, laughing as the waitress looked at them as if they were crazy, laughing more as she suddenly recognised Callie and asked for her autograph, then turned to Arizona, and asked for hers to. "Fame at last!" the blonde had quipped

They were still laughing as they went to leave the shop, Callie stopping dead in her tracks when the waitress called out. "I was sorry about Mark Sloan Miss Torres, but am real glad you're ok!"

"Th, th-thanks!" Callie stammered before rushing out of the shop

Arizona raced after her, and found her leaning on the edge of her car dragging in several deep breaths. Automatically she stood behind her and gently rubbed small circles on Callies back. "You ok?" she whispered as Callie shook her head and seemed to stand a little straighter

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Uh, I should take you back to get your car, then I need to head home, too much ice-cream!"

Arizona nodded and walked over to the passenger side. "Yeah, me to!" she sighed to herself as she fastened her seatbelt. Rubbing at her temple she sighed again. The few hours with Callie had helped her forget, escape. But back to reality now. Back to her life. She sighed again and squeezed her eyes closed. She wasn't sure if her nausea was due to having over indulged, or what she had to deal with once she got home.

Callie was too lost in her own thoughts to notice how silent her partner was, how distracted. Her own was whirling as she started to replay the last conversation she'd had with Mark, and how she wished it had been different. So very different