DISCLAIMER:: not mine. belongs to shonda and abc studios

A/N:: sorry this took so long. having a little boy is A LOT crazier than i thought it would be. no time for breathing let alone writing. more updates to come as time allows.

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Arizona had always been logical. Sure she lived in her dreamy world of peds where anything was possible, but that was because there were kids involved and kids needed that. They needed somebody who they thought believed in magic and monsters. She was that person for them. But at the end of the day she went home, leaving the magic and the monsters at the doors of the hospital. Losing her brother had proven there was hardly magic in the world. There was beauty, great beauty, but nothing magical.

At least that was what she had believed. Then Calliope came into her life. Breathtaking, wondrous Calliope Torres. Calliope had made her believe in magic again.

It wasn't that she didn't expect there was more to Callie's frequent vacations than just hanging out with Addison, but she wasn't ready to face it. There is a short term safety in being oblivious. So she put on her blinders and just forgot that her girlfriend spent a week every few months in Los Angeles. It helped that Calliope never hinted at it. When she was there her every affection was directed at Arizona. The blonde just had to look in Callie's eyes and she could see the orthopedic surgeon was sincere. There wasn't a moment Arizona ever felt unloved.

Once she let her suspicions sink in, her mind wandered to the obvious. Addison Forbes-Montgomery. She was a big name, bigger than Arizona by far. She was rich and well bred like Calliope. And they had a history. They were best friends. It didn't hurt that she was brutally hot either. Redheads weren't really her forte, but even she would make an exception for Dr. Montgomery.

But then Calliope took a trip, rather unexpectedly, to Baltimore. When Addison called to talk to her while she was away Arizona realized the redhead neonatal surgeon had just been a cover. A little effort in the research department gave her the answer she was looking for. Erica Hahn was at Johns Hopkins. Callie was going to Baltimore to see her. It hurt her that Calliope didn't even want to hide it anymore. The end of their relationship was in sight, Arizona knew it.

When her plane landed in Baltimore, Calliope had called her and said they needed to talk when she got back. Arizona dreaded her return. But when Calliope did return over a week later, the talk, at least as Arizona expected it, never happened.

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Two Years Ago--- Seattle

"Thanks for coming to pick me up." Callie shuffled her feet. She look slightly defeated and almost as if she had aged a number of years in her time away. "After that phone call, I thought you probably wouldn't want to."

Arizona nodded. "We need to talk does have a negative connotation, but that doesn't mean I'm going to leave you stranded at the airport."

Calliope did something that surprised her then. She threw her arms around her neck and hugged her hard. It took her a second to react but she finally had the good sense to return the sentiment.

Callie pulled out of the hug but not out of Arizona's arms. "I love you."

"I love you too. What's wrong? You look upset."

Callie paled a little. "Can we go home first?"

Arizona frowned, but nodded. "Sure."

Arizona held out the steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee which Callie took gratefully as Arizona sat next to her.

After she had given Callie enough time to absorb some caffeine, she decided to broach the inevitable. "What were you doing in Baltimore? Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

Callie was quiet for several minutes. "No, I don't want to talk about why I went to Baltimore." Callie sighed and set down her coffee. "I've been having an affair, but I think you already knew that."

Arizona nodded. "With Erica Hahn."

Callie's silence was Arizona's confirmation.

"Do you love her Calliope?"

Callie flinched at the pain in Arizona's voice. If this had been anyone else that pain would be accompanied by anger, but there was no trace of resentment in Arizona's voice.

"It's over."

"That's not what I asked."

"I don't know. No. Yes. Of course." Callie gazed into Arizona's eyes and again she was reminded of how tired and defeated Callie looked.

"So, where do we go from here Calliope?"

Callie closed her eyes and turned back to her coffee cup. "That's up to you. Like I said, it's over."

Arizona got up. "What happened?"

"She betrayed me."

The finality in Callie's tone was enough to keep Arizona from pressing. "Calliope… you can't expect me to be okay with this. I can't just believe it's over between you two so it's okay to forget what you did."

Callie looked at her. "I know. I'd be lying if I told you I had expected you would stay. But I do love you. I know that doesn't mean much, but it is true. I love you."

Arizona smiled sadly and the first of the tears fell. "And that would be enough… if you didn't love her too."

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Present Day--- Seattle

Now Arizona was standing face to face with the other object of Calliope's affection.

She didn't realize everyone was holding their breath, including herself, until she heard the footsteps outside the door and they sounded so loud in the silence it hurt her ears.

She searched Erica's eyes and she saw a longing and a desperation she knew better than anybody and at that moment she had no doubt Erica had loved Callie every single bit as much as Callie had loved her.

"I think we should talk."