"Are your parents still together Callie?" Daniel asked.

Callie darted her gaze to her girlfriend, who was determinedly dissecting an innocent piece of broccoli, an uncharacteristically stoic look on her face. It hadn't taken her long to see that the normally vivacious Arizona was somewhat…subdued around her parents, particularly her father. She had faced down their disapproval early in the evening, to defend Callie to her mother, but since sitting down to dinner she had been largely silent. For their part, Arizona's parents had seemed more interested in quizzing Callie than in catching up with their daughter. The questions thus far had been mainly related to her education and career, but she sensed they were coming to the crux of the issue now.

"They are. It'll be 38 years this fall."

"How lovely. And do you have siblings?" Jane, this time.

"Yes, one older sister. Aria."

"Is she married?" Daniel again.

Callie fought against the urge to smile at the very obvious line of questioning, an urge made only stronger by the sight of Arizona sinking lower in her chair, picking at her dinner.

"She is, she married right out of college actually."

Daniel nodded. "We married when we were 25. I was just getting out of basic training." He smiled at his wife and Callie smiled in response, amazed at how it softened his face.

"Our wedding was so romantic, and the wedding night… well of course I was a virgin, it was all so new and magical." Jane chipped in, "I suppose those were different times."

Arizona whimpered audibly.

Callie snorted ungracefully into her wine glass, trying to cover it with a cough.

"We're traditional people," Daniel said in a level tone, his meaning unmistakable.

Callie sobered quickly, understanding that levity wouldn't be appreciated. "I understand. My family is … traditional as well." Her eyebrow quirked, actually her parents would probably get along just fine with the Robbins'.

Arizona's mother interrupted her musings. "What Daniel is trying to say is, we want to know what your intentions are, with Arizona."

"Mom!" Arizona protested, before being quelled by a pointed look from her father.

"It's just that she's our little girl," continued the older woman, "and she's so talented and smart, too smart for us really, but she's never been very lucky with love. I mean, the girls she used to bring home! Definitely the wrong sort. But at least she brought them home, we haven't gotten to meet anyone since, what, college Daniel?" Her husband nodded in agreement. "We know she's focused on her career, and that's fine, but we want to see her happy."

"Worst dinner ever." Arizona muttered, slowly enunciating each word. She abandoned the broccoli to stab at a pea pod aggressively, why even bother talking when everyone was hell bent on talking about her rather than talking to her? She rebelliously ignored the quelling look her father sent her.

"My intentions," Callie began, her gaze drawn to the sullen blonde, "My intentions are good." Her voice softened, "I love your daughter."

Arizona looked up, immediately captured by a warm brown gaze that soothed her irritation. She smiled gently, the smile she saved just for her love, at hearing her unknowingly echo her own words to Callie's dad.

"We're happy," Arizona announced, summoning the courage to speak up. "We're together, and we live together, and we're," she swallowed, drawing confidence from Callie's gaze, "we're going to start a family, someday."

Callie's smile grew as Arizona's words echoed her dream. It seemed impossible that she could love the woman any more, but hearing her tell her parents about their future, she realized a new depth to her feelings.

Arizona's mother had drawn a pleased breath at Arizona's announcement and was smiling broadly, her delighted gaze shifting back and forth between the two young women. Her father had a more thunderous look on his face, "You will be married before that happens."

Callie's eyes widened, suddenly understanding why Arizona had so much trouble standing up to the man. That tone certainly brooked no disagreement.

Surprisingly, Arizona came to her rescue, sitting forward in her chair for the first time since dinner began; "We have a long way to go Daddy, before we get there." She smiled charmingly, suddenly all dimples and fluttering lashes. "But don't worry, we're being responsible."

'Daddy?' Callie thought incredulously. It seemed to work though; the older man returned to his dinner, seemingly appeased. Her eyes shifted to Jane, who was watching the scene with amusement. When she realized she had Callie's attention, she gave her a similarly disarming dimpled grin.

Callie shook her head. Regardless of whether that look was inherited or learned, it was dangerous! She made a mental note to proceed with caution the next time Arizona turned that particular smile her way.


"Yes, I promise, we'll meet you for dinner tomorrow night. Is 8 ok?"

Jane nodded, "That's fine dear, just let us know if you… or Callie I suppose, get caught up in a surgery. Oh dear, two doctors, twice the trouble planning!" She smiled and waved her goodbyes to both women as she followed Daniel out the door.

"I'll call. And Mom? More low-key tomorrow. Please," Arizona said with a pointed look.

Her mother's lips twitched with a suppressed smile, "I'll see what I can do sweetie."

Arizona closed the door with a heavy sigh, leaning against it weakly. She stared at the floor for a long moment before risking a peek at Callie, who had finished cleaning the kitchen and was waiting, a hip cocked against the counter.

"Will 'I'm sorry' help?"

"They were…charming."

Arizona laughed sardonically, "That's an outright lie. They were prying, manipulative, and downright rude at times."

"Ok, 'charming' was an exaggeration, but they were just being parents Arizona," Callie shook her head at the sometimes clueless blonde. "Your parents. I would rather have had some forewarning, but I can't imagine that would have gone any differently if I'd had weeks of notice." She was actually rather proud of herself; the 'meet the parents' ordeal had gone much more smoothly than she'd imagined it would. She rather thought they liked her.

Arizona's mouth fell open. My god. What did she ever do to deserve this woman? "You're a saint."

Callie snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hardly." She eyed the weary-looking blonde. "Because the things I'm going to require to make up for today, for the on-call room and then this," she said, her emphasis pointed, "would definitely disqualify me for sainthood."

Lips curving into an easy grin, Arizona straightened and pushed off from the door. She paced toward Callie, her exhaustion forgotten. "Oh yeah? Do tell," she hooked her hands around her lover's waist, drawing herself against Callie's strong body. "Anything you want," she promised fervently, leaning up for a light kiss. Her lips lingered, sliding warmly against Callie's soft lips, trying to express her love and thankfulness.

Callie's eyes drifted closed as she savored the sweetness of the blonde's kiss. She settled her arms around Arizona's shoulders, one hand toying with soft golden locks. She drew back when Arizona would have deepened the kiss. Vulnerable brown eyes met stormy blue, "I just want you," she said simply. "Always. Just you."

Arizona swallowed, waiting for the nerves that usually came with any hint of deepening their commitment, of trust.

Nothing.

She shook her head lightly in amazement, unable to look away. She couldn't even remember what she had been afraid of. She could see her future in those dark brown eyes. It was beautiful and full of love and not the least bit scary.

"Ok," she answered in an upbeat tone.

Callie's eyebrows shot up. "Ok?" She searched her lover's face, anxious to believe but terrified to misread the situation. "I mean- Did you- Do you-" She knew Arizona still had some fears about their relationship. She honestly hadn't meant to give voice to her deepest request; it had slipped out unbidden, freed by the sweetness of the blonde's kiss.

Arizona smiled at the Latina's inability to complete a sentence. She pressed a soft kiss to her jaw, unable to contain the love welling up inside of her. "You can have me." She slid her mouth to the Latina's ear, delicately tracing the lobe with the tip of her tongue. "Always."

She drew back, a self-deprecating half-smile playing across her lips as she searched Callie's face for her reaction, unsure if the dark-haired woman was aware of the momentousness of her words.

A single droplet fell from thick lashes, staining a light trail down Callie's cheek. Her face was a portrait of love as she shook her head slightly and lifted a finger to brush across Arizona's lips, wiping away the blonde's self-conscious smile.

She shook her head again when a somber Arizona opened her mouth. No more words were needed. She withdrew the arm that was around Arizona's shoulders, trailing her fingers gently against the blonde's jawline, tracing down her elegant neck, dancing across her strong shoulder, softly tracing a path down her arm until their fingers met. Callie tangled her own fingers lightly with those of her girlfriend, using the connection to guide the other woman as she pushed away from the counter, backing toward their bedroom.

Arizona followed willingly, her thoughts lost in the sudden fog of desire that the Latina always seemed able to conjure up at a moment's notice. She fought against her nature, which would have taken command of the encounter, understanding that Callie needed this. That tonight, she needed to cede control. She needed to give herself and trust that Callie would catch her when she fell.


She stood where Callie left her, just inside the door to their room, her eyes struggling to adjust to the darkened room. She heard the sound of a match being struck and turned to watch Callie light the candle on the dresser. The dark-haired woman stared intently back before moving away. Arizona heard rather than saw the door close behind her, the only illumination now coming from the single candle beside her. A soft breeze alerted her that Callie was nearby; she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as the scent of the Latina washed over her.

She opened her eyes, searching for her love. The flickering light was just strong enough for her to make out the shape of her girlfriend on the other side of the bed, standing motionless. She swallowed, feeling vulnerable. She could see Callie's face, highlighted as it was by her fall of dark hair, but her expression was masked by the night.

Tingles spread across her body, evoking memories. She would be in the middle of work, totally focused on the task at hand, when she would get this feeling. The feeling of Callie's eyes on her body, wanting her, promising illicit things. In the hospital, she would usually blush and drop whatever she was holding while looking around for the Latina. Here though, in their bedroom, she knew what Callie wanted.

Her hands rose to the buttons on her blouse. She exhaled shakily as she slowly and methodically worked her way down the row of tiny buttons. Never removing her eyes from the shadowed face of her girlfriend, Arizona slipped the shirt off her shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor in a gentle whisper of fabric. She dropped one hand to the tab of her pants, unfastening the garment enough that it could slide down her legs.

Callie was transfixed. Arizona was close enough to the candle for her to make out every dip and curve of her body. Her eyes swept over soft skin hiding delicate bones, lingering at the dark, simple lingerie still covering her lover's body. Most alluring however was the blonde's face. Her eyes were shadowed, but Callie could clearly read the vulnerability and love on her face and she cherished it.

"Beautiful."

Arizona smiled, her dimples impossibly deep in the candlelight. With one whispered word, Callie had rid her of any lingering nerves at their role reversal. She reached up and released the clasp on her bra, hardly pausing at all before shimmying her panties over her hips. Still silent, she took the two steps needed to reach the bed and climbed onto it, crawling up to the pillows before turning and relaxing on her back. It had taken every bit of willpower not to continue across the bed to the brunette, but she wanted Callie to come to her in her own time.

Laying back, Arizona watched as Callie undressed. She pressed her knees together, her thighs rubbing against each other as her anticipation built. She marveled at the physiological reactions of her body. Callie hadn't touched her, she couldn't even see the other woman clearly, but she could feel her presence, her desires and her need. The physician in her distractedly catalogued the increased heart rate, the flush she could feel spreading across her chest, and the undeniable moisture pooling between her thighs, the focus of her attention the tall, curvy woman stepping slowly out of her panties. Her lips parted slightly, oxygen becoming a precious commodity as her eyes strained to penetrate the shadows cloaking her girlfriend.

A soft, desperate sound escaped her lips as felt the bed shift. She clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging half moon shapes into her palms as she fought the urge to roll onto the brunette and have her way with her. She knew that Callie would yield to her. She typically took the lead in their lovemaking, using it as an outlet for her possessive nature. This was about giving herself, though, showing Callie that she could have her, always. Trusting Callie. Letting her in deeper than she'd ever let anyone before.

"Arizona."

Callie stroked the slender woman's cheek as she eased onto her side next to the blonde. She bit down on her lower lip, her gaze tracing over soft curves. "Arizona," she repeated in a raw whisper, her tone commanding.

Arizona shifted restlessly, her thighs pressing together more tightly before giving Callie what she wanted. "Please." She felt a jolt travel the length of her body at the look in Callie's dark eyes. She swallowed slowly. "Please Calliope. Touch me."

Callie felt a thrill of deep emotion at Arizona's words. She knew how hard it was for the assertive blonde to yield in the bedroom; the few times it had happened before had been fast and fiery, with Callie having to battle for control. The blonde had never voluntarily given up the upper hand before. Callie leaned closer, tracing her lips over Arizona's cheek on her way to her mouth. Her hand traced a leisurely trail down her lover's neck, stroking lightly over her jutting collarbone as her lips settled over Arizona's. She gave her all to the kiss, her lips and tongue stroking gently but insistently, demanding access.

Arizona moaned, the sound lost in Callie's mouth. She arched her back as Callie's exploring hand dipped lower, tracing a fiery ring around her hard nipple before moving to cup the soft flesh.

Desperate for air, Callie pulled back from the kiss and groaned at the vision before her. Lips wet and swollen, Arizona watched her through hooded eyes, her body writhing, arching to push her jutting breast further into Callie's hand.

Callie dropped her head again, this time trailing wet kisses along Arizona's jaw line to her ear. Reaching her destination, she let her tongue trace the delicate shell in a move that always drove Arizona wild. Breathing heavily, she lifted herself over the other woman, knees straddling Arizona's clenched thighs. Drawing a sensitive earlobe into her mouth, she lowered herself until she could slowly brush her body against Arizona's. Her hand continued to massage her lover's breast, fingers occasionally tweaking the nipple.

"Ca- Cal-" Arizona stammered, unable to do more than thread a hand through Callie's thick dark tresses, fingers tensing against her scalp. She rocked her hips upward, feeling the heat of Callie's arousal just above her but unable to garner any friction with her thighs trapped together. "Baby, please!" she pleaded as Callie relentlessly toyed with her earlobe, her body slowly undulating against the trapped and on-edge blonde.

The sharp edge in Arizona's cry pierced Callie's concentration. She slid her body lower, her lips tasting every bit of Arizona along the way. She paused in the dip of her neck to inhale the blonde's scent.

Arizona's body jerked upwards as Callie's trailing mouth moved to her sensitized breast. She cried out as she felt warm, wet heat surround her aching nipple. She tightened her grip on Callie's hair, holding her to her breast. Her pleased utterances hissing through clenched teeth.

Callie laved her tongue lovingly over the hard bud in her mouth, her hand caressing the blonde's other breast in time with her gentle sucking. She groaned into the soft flesh at the feeling of Arizona's hot center pressing against her stomach. She fought the urge to shift, to intertwine their legs, knowing that the lack of firm contact was driving Arizona closer to the edge.

She felt the hand in her hair tugging, and she willingly shifted her mouth, kissing her way to Arizona's other breast. "You like this huh?" she teased, her fingers lightly tweaking the wet tip of the breast her mouth had recently abandoned to the cool air. She stiffened her tongue, stroking tight circles around Arizona's nipple.

Arizona could only moan in response, her head thrashing on the pillow as Callie drew the tormented bud into her mouth. She pushed her hips up harder, trying desperately to rub herself against the dark-haired woman. A mew of displeasure escaped her throat as she felt the Latina shift away from her body, rising up on her knees and elbows. Her eyes opened, searching her lover's face for an explanation.

Callie watched deep blue eyes widen as the blonde felt her hand brush the top of her thighs. Arizona's hips lifted desperately as she stroked her hand over the top of her mound.

Arizona bit her lip before whispering sweetly, "Touch me Calliope."

It was Callie's turn to moan, her knees shifting apart reflexively, finally allowing Arizona to spread her legs for her.

The blonde struggled to keep her eyes open as Callie finally touched her, a gentle hand cupping her heat and massaging lightly. "Inside, please," she pleaded, shivering from the feeling of her lover's gentle caress and the intense look in her dark gaze.

Callie broke their eye contact, looking down to watch her middle finger slip easily between wet folds as she continued to massage Arizona, gently shifting along the length of her.

Arizona planted her feet firmly on the bed, thrusting up against the touch of her girlfriend. She felt a telltale tightness in her chest. She drew Callie's mouth down to her own, plunging her tongue into her mouth hungrily. She was panting when she drew back, oxygen-deprived. "I'm so close baby, let me touch you."

Callie felt another surge of wetness escape her, the throbbing in her swollen center increasing with Arizona's words. She nodded slightly, words beyond her. Her knees shook as she felt the blonde's soft hands immediately slide down her body, one cupping and kneading her ass, the other sliding between her open thighs.

Arizona wasted no time, too far gone to tease. She plunged a finger deep inside the Latina's tight, drenched passage, groaning and thrusting her own hips upward against her lover's hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to rein in her arousal as Callie mimicked her action, finally sliding one of her long fingers deep inside her.

Arizona cried out as the other woman ground the palm of her hand against her, her finger still stroking deep inside. She thrust herself against her lover's hand repeatedly as she came, her own thumb roughly circling Callie's clit.

Callie shuddered as her own orgasm washed over her, triggered by both the sound and feel of her love breaking apart under her hand and the clever hand caressing her. Breathless, she pressed a fierce kiss to Arizona, teeth nipping already swollen lips. "Mine," she panted, their breath mingling as they both rode through the aftershocks.

Arizona nodded, unable to find words. She wrapped her free arm around the dark-haired woman, urging her to collapse atop her. She slowly slid her finger out of Callie, but kept her hand pressed tightly against her still-quivering flesh.

Long moments passed before Callie recovered enough to lift her head. She grinned at the smug, cat-who-ate-the-cream smile she found on Arizona's lips. Dropping a light kiss to the side of her mouth, she let the tip of her tongue dip into a charming dimple. She shook her head, a wide smile stretching across her face at the satisfaction the blonde was practically radiating. She laughed lightly, "Pleased with yourself?" she enquired as she rolled onto her back. She wrapped her arms around Arizona as she shifted, so that the blonde ended up splayed atop her.

The blonde snuggled comfortably into her, propping her chin against Callie's chest to be able to look into her face. "Pleased with you," she corrected, her blue eyes sparkling with laughter. "If I'm going to belong to someone, I'm glad it's you."


A/N: So that was a challenge. I think this one's about done. Perhaps one more chapter? As always, your input is read & appreciated :-)