A/N: Sorry for the delay. Here you go. Thank you for waiting so patiently and thank you for the reviews, PMs, Follows and Favourites. Longest chapter yet. Hope you like it. :)

CHAPTER 10

It had been almost 2 weeks since Meredith's party. Things between Arizona and Callie had never been better. Arizona noticed that being with Callie and being with Callie were two completely different things. Calliope was not the same person she was when she was just friends with Arizona. Meaning, they were friends, and it was all great, but certain things became more obvious and noticeable when there was a shift in their association from friends to girlfriends. There were times when Arizona found Callie staring at her with just a slightly mischievous smile on her face. When Arizona asked about it, Calliope's go-to response would be "Nothing". Callie would sometimes slip a note inside Arizona's locker that would have sweet yet funny messages. Whenever they had a class together, Arizona somehow always found her hand within Callie's. Even though it scared her to be holding someone's hand when she was really supposed to be focussing on the subject at hand, Arizona really loved it. All the little changes that came with being with Calliope were welcome. Arizona soon realized that being with Callie was… intoxicating. There was nothing like her. Nothing that could compete with the feeling of even just being with Calliope. Her personality, her habits, her pet peeves, everything… everything she did was addictive. When they hugged, Arizona would find herself smelling Calliope's hair, as creepy as that is. When they kissed, Arizona couldn't help but wonder how lips could be that soft. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, and no one like Calliope. Just a few days ago, Arizona remembered how she walked into the bathroom at school and found Callie there with Addison and Teddy. When they left, Arizona and Callie ditched school that day and just hung out. There was a small forest behind their school which led to a low cliff that had a beautiful meadow, where Arizona spent what was left of the day with Calliope. Smiling at the memory of that beautiful day, Arizona remembered how they didn't really talk or do anything much. It was just the other person's company that mattered. Sometime last week, they'd been on another date. Even though it was just an evening out in the city, it was an enjoyable experience. Any waking moment she spent with Callie was enjoyable. And any waking moment she didn't spend with Callie, her mind would just drift through topics and land on the beautiful brunette. Smiling at the silliness of her thoughts, Arizona shook her head, trying in vain to clear her mind and stop thinking about her wonderful girlfriend.

Arizona's friendships, too, were flourishing. She was now fine with Samuel, even though his presence made her a little possessive of Calliope. She was friends with Lauren, too. Lauren Boswell was a tall, slender blonde with bright green eyes and a pretty smile, who had just moved to town with her parents. Lauren, she found out, was a huge basketball fan, played table tennis, collected stamps, and had a range of other strange habits. Somehow, Arizona always got the impression that Lauren was gay. Like tonight, Lauren had come over to work on their project, and after working on it for a while, she and Arizona had decided to take a break. They were watching a movie. Even though Arizona did not see the point of watching a movie in bits and pieces, as they would be doing because they were supposed to work more and take lesser breaks, she obliged.

"Cameron Diaz is hot," came Lauren's voice after 4 or 5 minutes of watching the movie. Subtle statements like this one made Arizona wonder if Lauren was gay. There wasn't just this, she was sure she saw Lauren checking girls out at school every now and then. Deciding to go for the kill, Arizona finally voiced her thoughts and asked Lauren outright.

"I'm sorry, are you gay?"

Laughing, Lauren turned to look at Arizona. "You know, if I didn't know you were gay, I'd be offended by that question."

"So, you're not gay? I'm sorry, I should not have just assumed you were. It's just that you say stuff like this. A lot. And you check out a lot of girls. It's just- something I noticed," Arizona said, trying to put the other girl at ease.

Laughing again at Arizona's response, Lauren continued. "I am gay, Arizona. It's just not something a person would notice without actually hanging out with me. Nice gaydar," Lauren said in a rather flirtatious manner.

"Wait how did you know I was gay?" Arizona said, suddenly remembering Lauren's previous statement.

Before Lauren could answer, Arizona's phone beeped with a text message.

Parents gone. Officially alone for 2 days. 2 school days though. :( – C

Staring at the message, Arizona said, "Sorry. One moment," before typing her own reply and hitting the 'Send' button.

Meanwhile, Callie was lying in bed after seeing her parents off. Carlos and Lucia had to go to Paris for 2 days and had trusted Callie enough to leave her alone for that duration. Even though Callie wouldn't exactly be alone; the butler, the maids, the cook – everyone was there and everyone was trustworthy – her parents still worried a little. Carlos seriously considered asking Aria to return home from NYU for those 2 days, but Lucia and Callie together managed to convince him that Callie would be fine alone. Now that they had gone, Callie found herself on her bed, texting some of her friends. She texted Arizona, inspite of knowing that Arizona wouldn't be able to reply as quickly as she would normally, since Arizona was working on her project with Lauren. She wanted to be with Arizona and talk to her and bask in her company as much as she could. No sooner had she sent her message, she got a reply from Arizona.

Want me to come over? ;)) No, seriously, let me know if you do. – A

Laughing at the message, Callie typed quickly, pushing the keys with her thumb.

I'd love it if you do. But aren't you working with Lauren on your project tonight? – C

It was a while before her phone beeped again. When it did, Callie quickly viewed the message.

No. Something I wanna tell you about something to do with her too. I'm coming. – A

Brow furrowing, Callie wondered what Arizona would want to tell her about Lauren. She wasn't friends with Lauren or anything. Callie found Lauren to be friendly and funny, and liked her as much as she could, considering the fact that they were virtually strangers.

Alright. Come on over. – C

Her heart now pounding with anticipation, Callie waited for Arizona. She just couldn't sit not knowing something, especially when Arizona sounded that serious. Something was off about her texts and Callie did not like that at all. After fifteen agonizingly long minutes, her doorbell rang and she rushed to open it.

As soon as she saw her girlfriend, Callie quickly pulled her towards herself, kissing her. When she felt Arizona cut the kiss short and make eye contact with her, Callie was beyond afraid. "What's the matter, Arizona? Are you okay?"

"I am. Just let me speak first, okay?" Arizona said, giving Callie a small smile.

"Okay."

"And do not get angry and do not interrupt me, okay?"

Callie felt sick. It was as if her heart had dropped from its usual place to somewhere near her stomach. What was it that Arizona wanted to tell her?

"Okay?" Arizona asked again, after not getting a reply from Callie.

"O- Okay. Arizona, what is-" Callie was cut off by Arizona's words.

"Shh. Let me talk first, Calliope. You know I was with Lauren tonight, don't you?"

Heart sinking further below at Arizona's words, Callie was able to mutter a "Yes," which took all her strength.

"Right. So, she keeps doing things that make me think she's gay. So I finally asked her today. Turns out, she is."

Ugh. Callie could only anticipate where this was going, and she did not like it. Not one bit.

Arizona continued, "She knew I'm gay, too."

Oh god. It was as if all of Callie's strength was slowly seeping out of her, and it took everything for her to stand in one spot and face her girlfriend. 'Girlfriend?' Callie wondered, sighing inwardly, 'what did you do, Arizona?'

"She- she sort of- made a move on me." At Arizona's words, Callie felt her heart jump from her stomach to her throat. This was not something she could handle. Callie felt like someone had a tight grip on her insides, and that someone was now trying to squeeze them to a pulp.

Arizona took a step forward, and took Callie's hand in her own. "Before you say anything, I just want to tell you that it was nothing, and I stopped it right away, and I would never hurt you like that, and…" Arizona trailed off, watching Callie helplessly as she saw the brunette turn away from her to wipe her tears.

"And what?" Callie spoke, her back still on Arizona, her voice gravelly and on the verge of breaking.

"And…" Arizona trailed off yet again, her throat dry as a bone. She wanted to speak, to say what was on her mind, but it felt like she had lost the ability to form words. Callie was still not facing Arizona, and Arizona could hear soft sobs. As the sobs grew louder, Arizona's voice cut them short, when she finally spoke. "And I don't want her kissing me. I don't want anyone kissing me. Anyone who's not you. You're the only person I want kissing me, Calliope. I…" Arizona cut off yet again, when her voice was starting to sound gravelly too. She cleared her throat before finally saying what she had come to say. "I love you." Upon hearing the words, Callie finally turned around and took in Arizona's state. She was wearing a baggy pair of brown shorts and a grey tee, and she looked oddly… sweaty.

"Why're you sweating?" Callie asked, completely disconcerted by Arizona's appearance.

Giving Calliope an 'are-you-nuts' look, Arizona said, "Uhhh… Because I wanted to tell you that I love you and I was afraid of a reaction like 'Why are you sweating?' instead of the appropriate one?"

Now laughing at Arizona's words, Callie finally stepped close to Arizona. Taking Arizona's face in her hands, Callie said, "Say it again."

"I love you," Arizona said, looking into Callie's eyes. God, she just wanted to lean in and kiss Calliope. She let her eyes flutter close when her face was so close to Calliope's that she could feel the other woman's exhales tickle her face.

"You do?" came Callie's voice. The vulnerability Arizona heard in those words caused her eyes to snap open.

"I do. I really, really do," Arizona said, placing her lips on Callie's as she spoke, but not quite kissing her. Yet.

"I love you too," Callie whispered. As soon as she did, Arizona's lips parted, taking Callie's bottom lip between her teeth. Smiling into the kiss, Callie wrapped her arms around Arizona's waist, simultaneously feeling Arizona's hands in her hair, pulling her closer still, locked in an intimate embrace.

FLASHBACK

"Sorry. One moment," Arizona said, typing a reply to Callie's message, her mind drifting away from the present and from this world, to the world where only she and Calliope existed. Oblivious to everything else. Where she would just be with Calliope. Just Calliope… "Wait how did you know I was gay?" Arizona said, suddenly remembering Lauren's previous statement.

"I just do," Lauren whispered, moving closer to Arizona.

"How?" Arizona asked, truly confused. She hadn't told Lauren about Callie. And she wasn't as… flirtatious as Lauren, so it was impossible how Lauren could've known.

"I see the way you look at me, Arizona," came Lauren's sultry voice.

Now amused, Arizona shifted uncomfortably; Lauren was too close. "Ha, no. I have a girlfriend. I wasn't looking at you in any particular way, Lauren. You just misread the situation."

"Oh, pshh! Tell me you don't feel this!" Lauren said, before grabbing Arizona by the nape of her neck and kissing the other blonde.

Arizona shuddered when she felt Lauren's tongue probing into her mouth. And it wasn't because she liked it. It was because she felt sick, kissing someone who was not Calliope. Quickly pulling back, Arizona said, "I don't. You should leave, Lauren. We'll finish the rest of it in school tomorrow. There's close to nothing left. It won't take long."

Before Lauren could say anything, or before Barbara could stop them, Arizona had already led Lauren out of the house. She yelled "I'm going to Callie's" over her shoulder, then turned to Lauren. "You should get home now, too, Lauren. Your parents might be worried. I'll see you tomorrow." Without looking back, Arizona turned on her heel and walked as quickly as she could to go see Calliope.

END OF FLASHBACK

XXXXX

A/N: Okay. A few things I want to ask/tell you people. Should I try writing in the first person format? Like, from Callie's POV or Arizona's POV? Let me know. Secondly, I really want to write new fics where I can mix things up. Sort of. The problem here is that I rarely get the chance to actually sit and write. And third, I know the meadow thing sounds very Twilight-y. I swear I didn't see it till I was going through the chapter to find any errors and fix them. Anyhoo.