Arizona placed the last dirty cup in the sink and walked over to flip off the light in the kitchen. The dishes could wait until tomorrow. She smiled thinking about the night she and Sofia had just shared.

The evening had gotten off to a rocky start. Sofia was not in a good mood when Callie brought her down to the lobby to meet Arizona.

"The daycare workers said she has been a B-R-A-T all day," Callie told Arizona, spelling out the word so that Sofia wouldn't hear.

Arizona looked down at Sofia and smiled.

"Did you have a bad day sweetheart?" she asked.

Sofia nodded her little head, looking up at her mother with those big brown eyes that were all Callie.

Arizona knelt down in front of her and reached into her bag. She pulled out a lollipop and held it out to Sofia.

"Is there any chance that a lollipop would help you feel better? It's your favorite color," Arizona said, offering the purple lollipop to the little girl.

Sofia's eyes lit up as she happily clapped her hands.

"Yes mommy yes!" she squealed, pulling the wrapper off and plopping the sucker in her mouth.

Arizona chuckled. Sofia definitely had her sweet tooth and thank god for that. It had helped Arizona get herself out of many, many binds.

"Are you ready to go home with mommy Sofia?" Callie asked, kneeling down to zip the little girl's jacket up.

"Mhm, we havings a girl's nighttt" Sofia sang, hopping over to grab Arizona's hand.

"That sounds like fun," Callie said, smiling upon seeing Arizona and Sofia side by side. "Can I get a kiss before you go?"

Sofia licked her lollipop one more time before placing a big sticky kiss right on Callie's cheek.

"Thank you mija," Callie said, slyly wiping the sugary substance from her face. "I love you. Have fun baby."

"I have fun mommy. Lots of fun," Sofia smiled, shoving the sucker back into her mouth.

Arizona took Sofia's hand again and glanced up at Callie.

"I'll have her call you in the morning," Arizona said.

"Sounds good. I look forward to it," Callie smiled, though Arizona could still see some sadness behind her eyes.

"Okay princess are you ready to go?" Arizona said excitedly, hoisting Sofia onto her hip.

"Let girl's night begin!"

The rest of the night went off without a hitch. They watched their movies and made Arizona's famous root beer floats. They built a fort and took turns giving each other tickle attacks. Eventually, Sofia had fallen asleep from pure exhaustion.

Arizona snapped herself out of her thoughts and made her way out of the kitchen and back into the living room where she picked up the sleeping Sofia and carried her to her bedoom. She placed her under the covers, making sure she was tucked in nice and tight and had her night-light turned on. Before leaving the room, she took a moment to look at her daughter. Arizona was never happier than when she was with Sofia. She laughed more and smiled more with her than anyone else. She had never imagined that a child would be the center of her universe, but Sofia was just that. Life without her, it just wouldn't make sense.

Arizona exited the room and made her way back downstairs. When she reached the bottom step, she saw Jo sitting on the floor, admiring the fort that Arizona and Sofia had built.

"This is awesome!" Jo said, climbing under the hanging sheets and snuggling between the pillows lying on the ground.

Arizona shook her head, "You know how ridiculous you look right?"

"Hey, kid who never had a family here remember?" Jo replied.

Arizona's smiled dropped from her face. Crap..that's right. Jo had been a foster kid. Why the hell did she just say that?

Jo started laughing hysterically. "Arizona, take a breath. I was just joking."

"You are such an ass."

"I know, but I think you kinda like me anyways."

"You're growing on me," Arizona smirked.

"So how was your night with Sofia? I want to hear all about it!" Jo exclaimed, patting her hand on the pillow next to her, inviting Arizona to take a seat.

Arizona crawled under the fort and settled in next to Jo.

"It was awesome. Sofia had so much fun. She's been so confused by everything lately…it was nice to hear her laugh."

"I'm sure," Jo said, nodding her head in understanding. "How's everything with you?"

Arizona tilted her head to the side. No one had asked her that. It had been over a month since her and Callie's divorce and this was the first time anyone had bothered to ask her how she was doing.

Arizona sighed.

"As well as can be expected I guess," she said, reaching for the popcorn bowl that had been forgotten among the heap of pillows in the fort. She grabbed a handful and popped it in her mouth, the crunching noise filling the silence that had fallen between her and Jo.

"Right," Jo said. "I suppose that's the politically correct answer. But let's cut the crap. That's not the answer I was looking for. How are you really doing?"

Arizona looked at Jo, surprised at her candidness. She had just called Arizona out and she liked that. She needed someone who could handle the truth. Someone who didn't need her to put on a happy face and give the answer that would make them comfortable and keep them from having to really listen or care.

"Honestly...I'm good but I'm not. It's still hard. I thought I had my future all figured out. Me and Callie. Sofia. Maybe even more kids. That was the plan. But now….it's all blank. And part of me is sad beyond measure. I still love Callie. And I miss her everyday. But the other part of me…the other part is excited for what that blank slate could hold. I was so lost when Callie left me. I wanted us to stay together. No matter what it took. I sat around just hoping that she would change her mind and tell me she was crazy for deciding that she didn't want to fix us anymore. But then the divorce papers came and I was faced with reality. We really were over. We really had reached the end of the road. And that just about killed me. But then I woke up one day and noticed the sun was still shining. And then I was able to perform a surgery for hours without ever once thinking about it or her. And I realized life goes on. I can mourn what we have. I still mourn it everyday. But it's time for me to get to know me again. It's time for me to worry about me. I need to rediscover what makes me happy. I still care for Callie. I always will. But we need to be apart. That is so clear to me now. And honestly, that makes me excited. Is that crazy?"

Jo shook her head, "That doesn't make you crazy Arizona…that makes you strong. Stronger than I could ever hope to be. If Alex were to break up with me….I don't know if I could do what you're doing. It's incredible. You're trying to rebuild your life. You're trying to rebuild you. That's not crazy, it's brave."

Arizona smiled. It felt good to have someone to talk to. Jo was right, she was a good listener. And she genuinely cared. That's something Arizona had been wanting for so long. For someone to genuinely care.

Jo hoisted herself up and offered her hand to Arizona, helping her up off of the floor.

"Do you know what I think we need?" Jo asked.

"What's that?" Arizona responded curiously.

"A dance party!" Jo chirped, running to grab the remote to the stereo and punching the button to turn it on.

A familiar tune quickly filled the room. Arizona couldn't even believe her ears. Of all the songs in the world, this was the one on the radio.

At first I was afraid, I was petrified

Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side

But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong

And I grew strong and I learned how to get along!

Jo began singing along to the music, swaying her hips from side and flinging her arms around in the air.

She grabbed Arizona and pulled her to the center of the room, encouraging her to join in. Arizona slipped her jacket off her shoulders and prepared to dance her ass off.

IT TOOK ALL THE STRENGTH I HAD NOT TO FALL APART

KEPT TRYING HARD TO MEND THE PIECES OF MY BROKEN HEART

AND I SPENT OH SO MANY NIGHTS JUST FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF

I USED TO CRYYY, BUT NOW I HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGHHH

Arizona and Jo belted the lyrics out while dancing around the room.

Arizona grabbed a hairbrush sitting on the end table and turned it into her own personal microphone.

WEREN'T YOU THE ONE WHO TRIED TO BREAK ME WITH GOODBYE

DID YOU THINK I'D CRUMBLE

DID YOU THINK I'D LAY DOWN AND DIEEE

OH NO NOT IIII, I WILL SURVIVEEEE

Arizona and Jo continued to dance, wiggling their butts and feeding off each other's theatrics.

Then suddenly the music stopped and they whipped around to see what had interrupted their fun. Alex was standing next to the stereo, looking like he was trying to hold in a bout of laughter.

"What the hell do you guys call that?" Alex cracked.

"We call it having fun Alex. You should try it some time," Jo quipped.

Arizona smiled. Damn she liked her. Anyone who could put Alex is in his place was okay in her book.

"Yeah, well I call this my house and I have to sleep because I work tomorrow. So take your fun elsewhere," he said, unplugging the stereo from the wall for good measure.

Jo turned to Arizona and gave her a look. Arizona nodded in silent understanding. Before Alex knew what was happening, Arizona and Jo charged towards him and tackled him to the ground.

"What the hell?!" he huffed, as he hit the ground.

Arizona and Jo stood up and high-fived.

"What you deserved for being an ass," Jo replied as she headed for the stairs. "Have fun sleeping on the couchhhh."

Alex looked at Arizona in disbelief.

Arizona just laughed as she followed Jo up the stairs.

"Women," Alex muttered, grabbing the sheets and pillows from the fort in order to make up his bed on the couch.

Arizona and Jo reached the top of the stairs and Arizona stopped Jo who was heading towards Alex's room.

"Jo?" she said.

"Don't worry Arizona, he'll get over it," Jo said, worried that Arizona was concerned about Alex being banished to the living room for the night.

"No…not that," Arizona said. "I just wanted to say thanks. For tonight and everything. I've really needed a friend and that was so much fun."

Jo smiled. "It was wasn't it! Plus…the look on Alex's face!" she exclaimed, laughing uncontrollably.

Arizona laughed too, so hard that she had to stop and catch her breath.

"You're going to be alright Arizona. You know that right?" Jo said, the tone becoming more serious.

"I know," Arizona said. "I will survive."

The lyrics in this chapter are not mine. Thay are from the song "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. I needed a chapter with some fun in it so I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!