She woke up to that smell again.
It was a source of comfort now. She couldn't help but breathe it in, tucking her face into the crook of Arizona's neck as she did. She smiled against the blonde's warm skin, feeling impossibly safe in her arms.
She opened her eyes and took a moment to take in her surroundings. The sun was just beginning to rise, illuminating the small room as the two of them lay in bed, their bare bodies pressed together.
Amelia sighed, propping her head up on her hand to admire the sleeping woman. She studied her face, her peacefulness as she slept. Her soft blonde hair, perfectly tousled and strewn across the pillow, the faint freckles that dotted her nose and the tiny indent of her dimple on her cheek. Amelia smiled at the sight. She wanted to touch it. She wanted to stroke her finger over the lines of her face, down her nose, across her cheekbones, her slightly parted lips.
But, at the same time, she didn't want to wake her. She found herself unable to tear her eyes away from Arizona. She watched her as she breathed, her eyes trailing down to her chest. Her gaze drifted to her exposed shoulder, and she noticed the tiny goosebumps that covered her skin. She gently pulled the blanket upward, draping it over the blonde's shoulders. She couldn't resist brushing a few strands of hair out of her eyes, watching in admiration as her eyelids fluttered.
She leaned down again to press a soft kiss against Arizona's shoulder, her skin smooth and warm against her lips. She tucked her face back into the crook of her neck, wrapping an arm around her waist. She loved being this close. She loved the way Arizona's skin felt against her own, the way she felt when she was cradled in her protective embrace.
She felt Arizona stir, and she smiled to herself as the blonde mumbled, slowly gaining consciousness. Amelia tilted her chin upward, placing a gentle kiss against the taller woman's cheek.
"Mmm, good morning," the blonde mumbled, smiling sleepily at the gesture.
Amelia pressed another kiss against her neck, nuzzling her affectionately and smiling into her skin.
"Morning."
Arizona turned onto her side to face the other woman, wrapping her arm over her waist and pulling her in closer. She stroked her fingertips over the brunette's back, tracing every line, every muscle, every vertebrae of her spine. Amelia's breath hitched at the sensation.
It made the blonde smile, and she leaned in to kiss her gently. Her lips moved slowly against the shorter woman's, warm and sweet and soft. She sighed contently as she pulled away.
"You have terrible morning breath," she complained, her voice a soft whisper.
Amelia flushed, and Arizona giggled, leaning in to kiss her again.
"It's okay," she whispered against her lips. "You're worth it."
The brunette laughed, swatting her away.
"So cheesy, Robbins."
She grinned, snuggling back into the taller woman's arms. Arizona held her close, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. She glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table.
"I hate to tell you this, but we have to get up."
Amelia groaned, pouting at the other woman, and Arizona giggled. She found it adorable.
Arizona leaned in to give her one last peck on the lips before sitting up and scooting to the edge of the bed to secure her prosthetic. She stood up and turned around to find Amelia still sprawled across the mattress, eyes closed.
"Come on, you. We're gonna be late."
She came home to an empty house that night.
Amelia's shift had ended much earlier than hers. Even after going to a meeting, she should have been home by now. It made Arizona worry.
She tried calling her several times, each call going straight to voicemail. She sighed, pacing the room.
She didn't want to assume the worst. She knew Amelia was strong, and that she was committed to her sobriety. Yet, she couldn't shake the thought of the brunette sitting alone in a bar, an empty glass in her hand. She tried calling one more time, sighing again when it went right to voicemail.
She stopped pacing suddenly, knowing exactly where to look.
She made her way to the very top floor of the old building, and sighed, in relief this time, when she was met with the sight of Amelia sitting in the middle of the roof, leaning back with her elbows propped up against the ground. She began to walk over to her, slowly and cautiously.
The sound of the other woman's footsteps caused Amelia to snap out of her daze. She turned around, her expression softening when she saw that it was Arizona. The blonde gave her a sad smile.
"Thought I might find you here."
"How'd you know?"
Arizona sat down behind her, gesturing for the shorter woman to sit up and move back, so that she was now situated between her legs. Amelia leaned into the embrace as the blonde circled her arms around her waist from behind.
"It's the only place that doesn't get cell reception."
"Right," Amelia smirked, although still rather sadly.
Arizona held her tighter, pressing her lips into soft brown hair.
"Wanna talk about it?" she asked, assuming there was something to talk about. She could sense the other woman's sadness.
Amelia nodded.
"A little boy died on my table today," she said. "He was seven. Massive intracranial hemorrhage."
The blonde remained silent. She understood.
"What can I do?"
The brunette sighed. "Just..." she began. "Just be with me. Don't leave."
Arizona's chest tightened at the simple request. She rested her chin on Amelia's shoulder.
"Okay."
They stayed quite for a while, Amelia resting against Arizona's chest.
"It scares me," the brunette whispered, her voice so soft that Arizona wasn't entirely sure if she had even said it.
"What does?" she wondered.
Amelia let out a breath.
"The way you just..." she started. She sighed, frustrated. She began again. "I was devastated. This case, it... it destroyed me today. But then you showed up."
She seemed oddly amused now.
"You showed up, and that's all you had to do. It scares me how easily you can do that. It scares me how you make me feel."
Arizona furrowed her brow.
"Why?"
Amelia's gaze drifted to her lap. She toyed with her fingers.
"Because it makes me realize that I'm falling in love with you."
Her sentence came out in one continuous breath, her words quiet and voice cracking. She was surprised at her own admission, at the fact that she even felt it. She didn't know it was possible to feel so strongly, so fast.
"And I know it sounds crazy, I know that," she continued, nervous now. "That's the part that terrifies me. That, and..." She paused.
"And what?" the blonde asked.
"Everyone I love dies."
She met Arizona's eyes now, her own filling with tears.
"I can't lose you, too." Her voice was quiet, raw and vulnerable.
Arizona gazed back at her. She could feel her heart beating fast in her chest. She leaned in to capture Amelia's lips in a slow kiss, tasting the other woman's tears as they began to flow freely. Pulling away, she reached her hand up to brush them away, her thumb gently stroking her cheek as she cupped her face.
"You wont," she told her, her tone soft but serious. "I'm here. You're not going to lose me, okay?"
She held her tighter, and she realized she didn't want to let go, ever. She knew it was sudden, but she was falling too. Hard.
She was scared too.
