Chapter 10 - Under the night sky

Callie was walking back and forth in front of Arizona's room. She was fidgeting with her hands unsure of what to say and how to say it. After a while she mustered up the courage to knock on her door.

Knock knock knock…

Arizona opened the door and Callie saw her tear streaked face. Her heart broke at the sight of her.

"I should apologize. I was wrong." Callie started.

"You should or you are?"

"Didn't I just?"

"I'm not sure that you did."

Then Maria lets her presence known, "An apology, dear, is when you look at someone straight in the eye with contrition and sincerity and actually say the words "I'm sorry."

Callie surprised, "Nana, I didn't see you there." She clears her throat and looks at Arizona straight in the eyes.

"Arizona, I'm sorry…"

After receiving no response, she added, "do I get on my knees and beg too?"

Callie starts to do just that. Arizona stops her.

"Please don't. I'm sorry too." Arizona softly said to Callie. Both of them share a smile.

Maria smiles as the tension eases. "Excellent. Now that hostilities are over. Let go get dinner. I'm starving!"

Arizona laughs and it was music to Callie's ear. She can't stop the smile forming in her face.

The trio goes to Bailey's restaurant two blocks away to get some food.

"Arizona!" Bailey exclaimed upon see her.

"Hi Bailey, how have you been?"

"Good good. Come sit. I'll have dinner ready for you three."

They start eating and Maria asks "So, Arizona, what for you now?"

"I leave in a couple of days. I need to get back to New York for our grand opening of our restaurant, "Barbara's"

"Oh how wonderful! Between you and me, despite what my emotionally stunted pig of a granddaughter thinks, you did a wonderful thing for an old lady... I'll never forget it."

On the other side of the table, Callie felt sad. Arizona was leaving. Of course they are also going back to Spain. But it hurts her heart to learn that she will never see Arizona again when she just found her.

Then she heard Arizona say,, "Even though it led nowhere?"

"It's been an adventure. There aren't many adventures left at my age. And It didn't lead nowhere. I got to meet you didn't I?" Maria says.

"I guess. Though a new friend isn't much consolation for an old love."

"Depends on the friend."

Arizona smiles.

"Unfortunately you had to meet Calliope, but then we can't have everything can we?"

"It wouldn't have been quite the same without her"

"uh… thank you?" Callie says.

"My pleasure."

Callie looks at her - not all sure what that means. "You have a knack of saying things which could be taken as gorgeous compliments or sarcastic digs."

"It's taken years of practice." Arizona smirked at Callie.

Bailey arrives with a bottle of fine wine. She pours them a glass each and leaves the bottle at the table.

Maria held up her glass, "To Lorenzo, wherever he may be."

Arizona and Callie raise their glasses and says "Lorenzo".

"Damn, that's good wine." Callie said and Arizona nodded her head in agreement.

Callie picked up the bottle and reads the label, ""D'Annunzio", How do I know that name?"

Shocked, Arizona said, "You don't think…"

As the penny drops, Arizona catches Bailey's attention.

"Bailey! Excuse me. The makers of this wine. Are you familiar with them?"

"I am. Yes."

Maria hardly dare ask. "And is there an Lorenzo Gabriel D'Annunzio?"

"Yes. There is one. He lives not far from here. Let me get the address of the vineyard."

The three looked at each other shocked but with a sign of hope. They have massive smiles on their faces. Tomorrow, they will see Lorenzo.

Later that night, Arizona looks out of the window for a moment and sees Callie wandering out of the hotel into the garden. She saw her look up at the sky and then lies down on the lawn, her arms spread-eagled.

Deciding to join her, Arizona comes out of the hotel and wanders over to her. "You okay?"

"Just looking at the stars."

She lies down beside Callie.

"It's beautiful." Arizona says.

"It's awesome."

Arizona laughs, turns to Callie and hits her in her shoulder playfully, "Hey! That's my line!"

Callie is no longer looking at the night sky.

"You have a wonderful laugh."

Slight pause. They both look away.

"So what do you think will happen tomorrow?" Callie breaks the ice.

"I hope its him. Because we've come too far, it'd just be too unfair if it wasn't."

Surprised, Arizona responded, "Callie? Am I hearing right? Is that optimism I detect?"

"I'm capable of it on occasion."

"I find it hard to believe. But surely you have someone who makes you happy"

"Besides, Nana? No I don't think have. I broke up with my girlfriend, Penny awhile back. It just didn't work out."

"Sorry to hear that."

"And what about you? What's in the stars for you"

"Wish I knew"

"Successful business? Marriage? Lots of dashing children?"

"You need to have someone special for that to happen."

"No one waiting for you in New York?"

"No. Why does that surprise you?"

"I just thought. Actually, i know that a lot of people will be lining up for you. You're beautiful, Arizona." Callie clears her throat, "So what about all that romantic true love codswallop you peddled about Nane and Lorenzo then?"

"I want them to prove me wrong. That's all. I want to believe two people can reconnect and it can all be okay. I'm clinging to the wreckage of "there's always hope." Theres a lot of good and bad things that happened in this world. When my sister, Emma, died, all light has been sucked out of me. I didn't know what to do. I became so closed off. When you asked me if I knew about real loss, I did. I do. But somehow, I get to hear stories of hope and actually see it. That's what pushed me to hold on to the knowledge that happy ending do exist. I just wish that one day it happens for me."

Callie looks at her. It suddenly makes sense to her.

Callie moves to lie on her side and Arizona does too so they are now facing each other.

"Im sorry for your loss." Arizona sees the sincerity in her voice.

"Don't be." She smiles at her bravely. A tear falls down her cheek. Callie leans over and wipes it away. She manages another smile.

Arizona looks at Callie. Callie looks at her. There's a moment. Then suddenly Callie kisses her. And she kisses back, hungrily, passionately. For a few seconds they're unaware of anything but each other.

Then Arizona's head catches up to her heart. She pulls back.

No word was said. Arizona gets up heads back into the hotel.

Callie stands, "Arizona... wait... I…" But Arizona continues on her journey back to her room.

Callie pauses for a moment then walks into the hotel.

Little did they know that Maria is standing in her bedroom window, smiling gently, having observed it all.