A/N – Sorry sorry sorry for the long wait, you know how life can be sometimes. I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the love you have shown me and my story! Please keep the reviews coming!
Chapter 10
The flight from Johannesburg to London was long and uncomfortable, neither one of them speaking more than two words at each other. Arizona just stared out the window for the most part, she didn't even try to hold the singer's hand when the plane took off. If there is one thing Callie had learned from this whole situation it's not to pressure Arizona into talking to her. Even if more than anything she wanted to explain to her what happened and apologise, but she decided to back off and give the blonde her space.
When they arrive at their new hotel everyone goes their own separate ways without a word to one another. Callie really hates hotel rooms, they are all so impersonal and not at all homey. Not having Arizona around only makes it that much worse. Deciding just to go to bed and hope tomorrow is a better day she starts going through her bag looking for her pair of most comfortable pyjamas for the lonely night. Her hand stops when she feels what appears to be a leg. She pulls it out to see that it is in fact Spot Arizona's teddy bear she left in her room the night of the so called 'attack of the lions'. Climbing into the bed Callie hugs the teddy trying to soak up as much of the blonde as she can, it even smells like Arizona.
At 02:00 Arizona wakes up from another nightmare. This is getting ridiculous, realizing sleeping will not be happening tonight she pulls out her laptop and goes to work. Her phone rings, wondering who it could possibly be calling at this time of night.
"Hello?" She says half annoyed.
"Hi sis."
"Tim!" She hasn't talked to her brother in weeks, hearing his voice after such a long time is like a breath of fresh air.
"I just got back to base camp so decided I'd risk giving you a call."
"I was already awake. I'm so glad to hear your voice." Tim is more than just a brother, he is her best friend and confidant. He always knows just what to do and say to make her feel better.
"Me too. So tell me what is keeping my little sister up this late at night?"
"Nightmares." She says with gridded teeth.
"How bad are they this time?"
"Seven nights in a row now."
"Wow, that's rough. Did something happen that could have triggered it?" Silence. "Arizona?"
"Okay, I have a pretty good idea of what could have triggered it."
"I'm sensing that not the whole story?" It's kind of scary how well her brother could reader even all the way on the other side of the world.
"Because of the stupid nightmares I had a fight with Callie."
"Arizona what did you do?"
"I may have snapped when she started asking me about Emma."
"Ouch." He knows firsthand that the Emma subject is a big no no with his sister.
"It felt like she had me backed into a corner, my fight or flight instinct was leaning to fight. Dad taught us to hit hard so you only have to hit once. So, I hit the one place I knew she would back off." She felt really bad, she knows she was being unfair to Callie.
"O boy, you sure like to make things difficult for yourself."
"Tell me about it."
"So besides the fight what is it like dating a famous singer?" When his sister first told him she is dating the singer, he thought it was just another one of her crazy fantasies but the photo she send him proofed otherwise. Unless she suddenly become a Photoshop expert.
"Kind of scary honestly. I have this constant fear that I'm not good enough for her. People like Callie should date celebrities and even royalty not her silly little blonde assistant." It's the first time she has vocalised that fear of her.
"If it's really bothering that much you should talk to her about it."
"I know I know." She says falling back onto her pillows.
"Arizona promise you will talk to her?" He knows his sister all too well, this is something she is going to keep quiet about until she drives herself crazy obsessing over it.
"I promise Tim."
"So, tell me where in the world are you now?"
Arizona steps out of the shower to the smell of bacon and pancakes. She exits the bathroom and sees the singer sitting on the couch. She slowly moves over to her. There is a plate full of the most delicious looking breakfast on the coffee table, Arizona takes her plate and sits down on the opposite side of the couch leaving enough space between her and Callie.
Callie has been thinking of a million things to say to the blonde but now that she is here, she can't think of a single thing to say. Arizona keeps her eyes on the plate in front of her. They eat in uncomfortable silence. Stealing glances at the blonde Callie tries to read her emotions but she has her poker face on. She is hoping her little peace offering will lighten the mood between them a bit. Maybe just showing up to her room is too much. Well at least she is eating and not yelling. Unless she is building up her strength to tell you to go screw yourself? Callie thought to herself
"Their 'I'm sorry' eggs and 'Please forgive me' bacon." Callie says in almost a whisper, Arizona turns her head to face the singer for the first time. "I'm really sorry I tried to push you to talk. It was not my place."
"It's okay." She says keeping her eyes on her plate. "I lost my temper and it wasn't fair to you."
"I called Mark and told him I'm done pretending. I'm going to fix this mess." Arizona drops her head in her hands.
"Callie I knew what I was signing up for from the start, you never tried to hide it from me."
"But I'm forcing you to be the other woman." Arizona turns in her seat to face Callie, her expression is softer almost scared.
"Hey, I know this whole situation is not ideal but Callie whatever you decide I will support you. As long as you can promise me that I have a part in all of this craziness that is your life." Arizona can see the guilt written across Callie's face. "You know most celebrities start to care more about their own image then other people. But you care about everyone like crazy and I love that and I'll keep loving that even if you decide to lie about me. I would rather have you some of the time than anyone else all the time"
After talking to her brother and telling him about all the amazing things she and Callie have done together, she realized just how amazing it is to be with Callie. Her fear of not being enough for the singer only increased.
"So, if I keep the Mark thing going and people find out about us and you are turned into my dirty mistress you would be okay with that?" Still not sure Arizona fully understands what secretly dating her meant.
"I can always just write a tell all book about my struggles as a Hollywood mistress and be on Oprah." Callie chuckles.
"So, can we just forget about this whole mess and move on, please?" Callie really wanted to talk things out. She wanted to explain why she pushed the Emma subject. But those blue eyes pleading with her convinced her to drop it for now.
"Sure." Arizona gives her a grateful smile. "So what do you want to do today? We are in a whole new city, we have a ton of exploring to do." Changing the subject as requested.
"Um, I honestly don't know. Maybe we should do all the regular sightseeing stuff. I mean there has to be a reason all those tourists are lined up to see them?"
"True, but we may have to go at night or when it is a little less crowded." Callie plus crowds is not a good idea.
"O yeah right. I'll call a few places and see what I can arrange. So, are you going to meet the Queen?"
"No, I'm not going to meet the Queen." Callie sometime thinks Arizona doesn't realize that she is not the president. Her bodyguards don't have guns and the Queen isn't lined up to meet her.
"Well that's her loss. Are you going to be ready for the show?" Arizona knows Callie is always nervous performing when the crowd gets past a certain size, and this show is going to be one of the largest so far.
"I think so, but I really wish I could just sneak you on stage with me. I'm always more relaxed when your around."
Neither of them really knowing what else to say, they just finished their breakfast. There was still a very large elephant in the room but neither of them wanted to acknowledge it yet.
It's been two days since their talk, Callie believed they had talked everything out. But Arizona has been distant almost avoiding her and her perkiness is turned down. Even when they are alone together they don't have anything to talk about. Callie can feel there is something bothering the blonde that she wanted to say but isn't sure how. It's almost if Arizona is afraid to get to close that something might happen that would hurt her again.
Callie is sitting on the edge of the stage looking at Arizona typing away on her laptop, she has her earphones on blocking out the outside world. Another tell that something was up. She misses the sparkle in those ocean blue eyes. Alex takes a seat next to her.
"Hey."
"Hey Alex."
"Is everything okay with you and Arizona?"
"Honestly I don't know, she says we are okay. But I can't help but feel there is still something she hiding from me. I just wish she would talk to me. But getting her to talk is like trying to force a child to eat their vegetables. Useless and someone ends up crying."
"That sucks."
"Tell me about it."
"You two are good together. In the beginning I figured that it would be me and Blondie who would hook up." Callie gives him a look, telling him she is not happy with where this is going. She knew Alex liked Arizona from the start. "But if I had to pick someone else for her it would be you, I know you will treat her right."
At first Callie couldn't understand the strange relationship that formed between her assistant and her bodyguard but Alex has almost become like an annoying little brother to Arizona, but he truly cares about her.
Arizona can feel the singer's eyes on her as she is busy working on her laptop. She knows she is avoiding the singer, but she had enough drama for now. She is busy replying to her emails when the chat box pops up with a message from someone anonymous.
Anonymous: Hi
Arizona decides to just ignore the message and continues on with the email she was writing.
Anonymous: Your Callie Torres PA right?
AZ: Who is this?
Anonymous: I just wanted to warn you not to get too comfortable, who knows how long you'll have a superstar to babysit?
"Hey." Arizona almost jumps out of her seat, she quickly slams her laptop close. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you."
"No Callie its fine." The singer is standing awkwardly in front of her not really sure what to do, shifting from one foot the other.
"So, I was wondering if you could figure something out about those sights you wanted to see." Truthfully Callie would rather spend time out and about with the group then have another uncomfortable night of sitting in silence.
"O, yeah. I have arranged a few things for tonight."
"Great."
Falling into another awkward silence that seems to be the norm these days. Deciding to risk it Callie leans down and places a kiss on the blonde's cheek. She is surprised when a hand grabs her shirt to stop her from leaving pulling her down into a real kiss. "Have a good rehearsal." Arizona knows she is being silly and she really misses Callie even if she is right next to her, she misses her touch and her kiss.
Later that night the group goes around the city enjoying the sights and sounds. Most of the places the visit is already closed to the public so it is only them. Everyone is laughing and having fun, April and Lexie are very close to another sugar high because of all the ice cream they have consumed. The guys are having an in-depth discussion over football vs. rugby. While Meredith and Cristina secretly passes around their not so empty flask. Callie can feel Arizona's mind drifting off again, she takes her hand hoping to keep her in the moment. She gives Callie a half hearted smile. It's strange the comfort the singer can give her with just holding her hand.
Their next stop is the London Eye. When it's their turn Arizona enters first, Callie follows her. She stops at the door giving the others her famous Torres glare daring them to follow them.
"We will just catch the next one." Owen quickly says.
After about 10 minutes of standing at opposite sides in silence. Callie decides she had enough of this game they are playing. She turns around to look at the blonde who is staring out at the city in front of them. Arizona sees Callie looking at her in the reflection of the glass and she knows what Callie wants to ask her. She promised her brother she was going to talk to Callie and she has already put it off for too long.
"Why me?" Not turning around keeping her eyes on the city lights. "Why did you pick me? I'm not someone special, I'm invisible and everyone knows who you are. You get on stage and you have thousands of people falling in love with you with just one of your beautiful smiles. I'm just one of the crowd. You can have anyone you want." Callie is caught off guard by the blonde's question. "I guess I'm just scared you'll wake up one day and realize you were just wasting your time with me. We are not really compatible if you think about it."
Callie sees the blonde's head dip. Closing the distance between them she stops right behind Arizona reaching around her to hold onto the railing in front of them. Callie takes a deep breath trying to think of the right words to use to explain just how much she cares about Arizona.
"You see all these people?" Looking out at the night sky painted over the city. Lights shining bright after another day of hard work. "They are watching me, they talk about me, they know my name but they really don't know anything about me. That person on stage that's not me. When the curtain closes and I'm out of the sparkly dresses, that person who sits in a crappy old hotel room in jeans and a t-shirt that is the real me, you see the real me." She moves her hands over the blonde's. "I'm not someone special either. Honestly I would pick singing you to sleep over a singing in front of a crowd. Yes, I could probably date anyone I want. But I only want you. You are so beautiful, but that's not why I like you." Callie sees the blonde's confused look in the reflection of the glass. "Well, it's one of the reasons. I like your smile, I like your perkiness, I like your mischievous side, I like that you're not a star, and I even like that stupid wheelie shoes of yours. I like every single thing about you. But mostly I like you because your you." Arizona turns around needing to see those brown eyes. All she sees is honesty and adoration. "All of these people none of them can make me feel the way you do, no one can." A tear rolls down Arizona's blushed cheek. "Arizona Gabriella Robbins you're the most special person in my life. Arizona I…" Callie stops herself before she gets to the point of no return. "I can't take my eyes off of you. When I look in your eyes my heart skips a beat and my world turns upside down. I wouldn't trade you for anything."
Arizona is sure she is dreaming, the happiness in side of her she has never felt before. Grabbing the singer's jacket she pulls her closer pressing their lips together. Her lips saying what her words can't. The kiss is slow, washing away any doubt she might have had left. Each of them pouring every emotion into that kiss. When they pull away Callie sees that sparkle is back in those beautiful blue eyes.
They turn back to look at the night live. Callie hugs Arizona from behind, resting her chin on the blonde's shoulder. Arizona wishes she could stay like this in Callie's arms forever, forget about yesterday and not worry about tomorrow and just be with Callie.
Today has been an exhausting day, both physically and emotional. Callie is very happy when she finally gets back to her hotel room ready to go straight to bed. Callie opens the door and sees something on her bed. She walks closer to find a new acoustic guitar on her bed with a little pink bow on it. She has been thinking about getting a new one, her old one has seen better days. She remembers looking at a similar guitar with the blonde. There is a note stuck between the strings she takes it out and opens it.
Calliope, I'm always with you. - Arizona
She smiles and picks up the guitar she turns it around to find a beautiful hand drawn butterfly on the back. Arizona had clearly taken her time to personalise the guitar for Callie, just a small drawing that can mean so much.
After talking everything out Arizona was back to her perky self even more so. Her brother was right she should have talked it out with Callie rather than obsessing over it for days. She is determent today to make up for all the fun they have missed out on.
"Wake up pretty lady." Arizona whispers as she places a kiss on a sleeping Callie's cheek.
"No." She moans half asleep.
"Come on, early bird catches the worm." This time kissing her on the lips, she waits until she feels Callie kissing her back before walking away.
"That poor worm got up just as early and look where it got him." Callie sits up and for the first time sees what the blonde is wearing. Dressed in black and light blue tight fitting tank top and a black short skirt exposing her long flawless legs. Her blonde hair in two braids to add a little cute to her otherwise very sexy look. "Um…" Callie struggles to form words. "I don't know what's going on but I like it."
"Heads up Superstar!" Callie catches the flying shopping bag
"What's this?" Callie pulls out the material from the bag.
"Put those on, we are going to go play tennis." The blonde says excited.
"Wait I don't think I heard you right. Tennis?"
"Yes, tennis. I booked us a private indoor court for the morning. Now get dressed everyone is already waiting down stairs. It's going to be super fun, super!" She gives Callie her best dimple smile as she almost skip out of the room.
"What?" Callie repeats when the door closes behind the blonde.
Everyone waits downstairs for Callie to join them. When she finally joins them down stairs its Arizona's turn to be speechless. Callie pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail, and has on the white and red tennis dress Arizona bought for her, it fits her perfectly. It stops mid thigh and its thin straps crosses at the back exposing mouth watering tanned skin. Arizona really loves Callie in red.
"You're staring." Callie whispers as she passes the blonde.
"Can you blame me?"
Callie hits Cristina at the back of her head with her racket.
"Ow!"
"You borrowed my laptop and returned it all sticky."
"I did not!" Rubbing at her head.
"So you didn't spill anything on it?" Cristina avoids eye contact. "I know you're guilty."
"Unlike your laptop the charges will never stick." Cristina walks away quickly.
"Just remember who signs your pay checks Yang!"
They divide into two separate groups the guys playing against each other and girls against one another. Since they refused to play Meredith has to keep score for the guys and Cristina the girls. After couple of rounds the two finalists in each group are put against one another. Owen and Jackson fight it out with Jackson winning it for the guys. Leaving the last match of the day between Callie and Arizona. Everyone has gathered around to watch two women fight it out. Lexie and April come back with coffee and muffins for everyone. Before the match starts Callie and Arizona walk up to each other each on either side of the net.
"Are sure you are ready for this?" Callie asks Arizona who is busy retying her braids.
"O you just worry about keeping hydrated from all the tears you'll be crying when you lose."
"Cocky are we?"
"How about we make this interesting?"
"What do you have in mind?" Arizona looks over to their friends smelling the sweet smell of coffee.
"Loser gives up coffee for a month." Since coffee is seen as one of the important food group for both of them.
"Deal." Callie knows there is no way that the blonde can beat her. She has been playing since she was in diapers. After shaking on it they walked back getting ready for the first serve.
Callie clearly underestimated the blonde's tennis skills. They are neck and neck the entire game. When it comes down to the last and finale point its Callie's turn to serve. It's been a long hard game, both women are starting to feel the fatigue in their muscles. Their skin glowing from a thin layer of sweat. The fact that the blonde's already formfitting tank top is now skin tight is more than a little distracting. After shaking her head from not so PG rated thoughts Callie gets ready to serve.
Arizona's sweaty hands are making it hard to grip her racket. Trying to get a better grip she wipes her hand on her thigh and moves it up slowly making her skirt move up too. She sees Callie visibly swallow as she watches her hand move.
"Play ball!" Cristina yells.
"Yang you know this is not baseball?" Cristina just shrugs.
With Callie's now over stimulated mind she falters and Arizona scores the last point and wins. She starts doing a happy dance Callie as she walks over her.
"That was cheating." Callie pouts crossing her arms.
"Nope, it's not my fault you're so easily distracted." Callie narrows her eyes at the smirking blonde.
"How do you sleep at night?"
"Well, first on the one side then the other." She holds out her hand to Callie to shake. "Good game." Callie reluctantly shakes the blonde's hand. "Just think how great you are going to feel without that nasty caffeine floating around in your body."
"I hate you!"
"Because I'm right, and I'm awesome!"
Later that afternoon, Callie is already feeling moody from the lack of coffee. When she enters the blonde's room her mood instantly shifts when she finds her laying on her bed like a starfish, her cell phone in her right hand and Callie can hear a voice coming from the phone.
"You know it usually works better if you hold the phone to your ear."
"It's my mom, I love her but boy that woman can talk. It's like her mouth works three times faster than her brain." Reminding Callie of a certain blonde she knows.
"O, so it's genetic."
"What?"
"Nothing." Arizona eyes her suspiciously. She holds the phone up to her ear.
"Mom my boss just got here, I got to go she doesn't like it when I take personal calls when I have to work. Yeah, okay. Love you too, bye." Callie sits down on the bed and pulls out her laptop.
"Your boss sounds like a real hard ass?"
"Actually she has a really hot ass." Arizona giggles at the now blushing singer. "So, what's on the agenda for the rest of the day?"
"Work, unfortunately." Sometimes Callie forgets that this is a working trip and not just a vacation travelling the world. She opens up her still sticky laptop to get started. After slamming a few keys she jumps off the bed. "That's it I'm killing Yang!"
"What did she do this time?"
"She borrowed by laptop earlier and changed my password now I can't unlock my laptop." Arizona laughs. "It's not funny! Derek send me the first draft of the script that I need to read."
"I'm sorry here use mine." She gives Callie her laptop hoping to save the drummer so serious bruises. Arizona figures to use this time to catch up on some TV while Callie is working.
Callie starts working when the chat box opened with a new message. She is not really sure what to do, knowing it's meant for Arizona's eyes only she just ignores it. But after the third one arrives she decides to see what is so damn urgent. She reads it and types a reply. She frowns when a new message arrives and replies again.
"Hey did you get it?" Arizona asks looking over the back of the couch.
Callie quickly closes the chat box before Arizona can see. "O yeah thanks. Derek has arranged a meeting in about in an hour I have to join them via video call." Placing the laptop on the table she takes a seat next to the blonde.
"O that sounds exciting!"
Callie just keeps thinking about what that message said. Hoping some work will keep her busy while she wait for her meeting she grabs her guitar and starts playing something Arizona has never heard before.
"Is that a new song?" She turns off the TV to focus on what Callie is playing.
"Yeah, I have been working on it for a wail but it's still not finish."
"It's very pretty."
"Thanks, I have had some really great inspiration lately." She gives her a wink.
"I was wondering if maybe you could teach me how to play? My brother tried to teach me when I was 15 but that didn't go so well." Her brother wanting to start his own band and like any young sister who idolized her older brother wanted to join. But to join she needed to actually play an instrument. Tim offered to teach her but 3 hours in a lot of tears curse words and 2 broken guitar strings later her parents had to intervene.
"Sure, if you want to I can show you some chords." Arizona moves closer and the singer pulls her over to sit between her legs to help her. "Let's start with some basic cords? Put your index finger here, middle finger here and ring finger here." She points to each place. "Now that's your 'A' chord."
Arizona's frowns as she places each finger on the corresponding place. "Like this?"
"Perfect. Now just strum."
Arizona lets her right hand glide across the strings and a very false note comes flying from the guitar.
"Good!"
"What? That was horrible." Even she knows that's nowhere near what it should sound like.
"Okay that was pretty horrible. But don't worry with some practice you will get the hang of it. Hey I have an idea." She replaces the blonde's left hand with her own and takes her right hand in her own. "I will press down the chord and you can just do the strumming part?" She moves Arizona's hand across the strings in the rhythm, as she changes between chords.
"Now you're just showing off."
"I just have a few years head start." After playing the chords a few times Callie starts singing Matt Nathanson's Faste.r
"You're so delicious, you're so soft, sweet on the tip of my tongue. You taste like sunlight, and strawberry bubble gum. You bite my lip, you spike my blood, you make my heart beat faster."
Arizona can't help the smile on her face as Callie sings to her. Even if she is just playing around, she always make Arizona feel special like the words where written just for her.
"Own me, you own, you rattle my bones. You turn me over and over, 'till I can't control myself. Make me a liar, one big disaster. You make my heart beat faster."
After playing around for some time they decide to take a break to relief the blonde's now hurting fingers. Arizona decides to take a well needed water break while Callie has a video call with Derek, Mark and the rest of the production crew of the movie. They go over the script and film schedule as well as other details. When the rest of the production crew leaves Callie sees this as good as time as any to talk to Mark and Derek.
"I'm sorry Mark I love you like a brother but I can't go one pretending to be something I'm not. And if that means I can no longer be in your movie Derek I'll just have to take it." She blurts out before losing her nerve.
"What are you talking about?" Derek asks completely lost
"Me and Mark, we were never a couple. The whole thing is just pretend. But now, now I have found something real and I can't go on pretending anymore, it's not fair to her."
"Her?"
"Yes." Callie says proud, she knows she's smiling like a fool just like every time she thinks about Arizona.
"Callie I don't care if you and Mark are really dating or not. That is your personal business that I'm no part of."
"But you said that the two of us dating will bring a lot of publicity to the movie."
"The only thing Hollywood loves more than a hot celebrity hook up is a break up." Derek says as he gathers his things and leaves as well like nothing has happened.
"So, are you okay with us breaking up?"
"Of course Cal. I want you to be happy, and I can see how happy she makes you."
"Thank you Mark." She kind of figured he would be a little more upset about the break up since it was his idea, unless… "Mark your seeing someone to aren't you?" The goofy grin on his face told her everything she has to know.
Arizona comes into the room with a juice box in hand trying to get the straw in. She looks up and sees Callie.
"Well, at least you know I will never be able to stab someone because I can't even get the stupid straw in the juice box." Callie reaches over and stabs the straw into the juice box in one swift motion. "My hero." Arizona says as she takes as seat next to Callie on the couch, she sees Mark's face on the computer. "O sorry I'm interrupting your meeting."
"No its fine where done." She gives the blonde a quick peck on the lips.
"Hey Blondie nice juice box."
"Bite me Sloan." She says taking a sip of her drink.
"O you would like that wouldn't you." Mark gives her a devilish smirk, sending a signal straight to the blonde's gag reflex. Callie sees the uncomfortable look on Arizona's face.
"Mark go away and stop harassing my girlfriend." Callie knew it as soon as she said it. Mark being oblivious to the situation just ends the video call. Callie just keeps her eyes closed and biting down on her fist for being such an idiot. When she finally masters up her courage she turns her head around to face the blonde. Arizona is just looking at her, her mouth slightly open in shock.
"You just called me your girlfriend."
"I did." Not knowing what else to say.
"Am I your girlfriend?"
"Well, technically I just broke up with Mark so the position is available." Callie says with a hopeful smile.
"You broke up with Mark, for me?" Callie nods. "Callie you didn't have to do that." She takes the singer's hand in hers.
"I know but I wanted to. I don't want to hide you Arizona." She cups the blonde's cheek running her thumb over the soft flesh.
"Aw, my girlfriend just broke up with her boyfriend for me. Now there is a sentence I never thought I'd hear myself say." They both laugh. "Now you're finally mine."
"I have always been yours."
Arizona is sitting in her girlfriend's dressing room, her girlfriend! She can't stop saying that. Callie pulls out her new guitar.
"Thank you for my gift. I love it especially the butterfly on the back." She gives the blonde a long sensual kiss.
"I'm going to go head down to the VIP section so I can get the best seat." She gives Callie a kiss. "I'd say good luck but you don't need it." One last kiss before leaving the dressing room. After she is gone, Callie checks the hallway to make sure she is out of ear shot before pulling out her phone.
"Hi, Bailey I need to talk to you about something."