Around 8 in the morning, Arizona went back to Zola's room to check on the girl, who was asleep. The fever broke down and she hasn't vomit anymore, which made Meredith relax.
"She's doing great, we can stop the fluids once this one's done and you can take her home" – Arizona said to Meredith, smiling.
"Thank you, Dr. Hotty" – Meredith said, kissing her.
"I texted Bailey as Zola's doctor and let her know you're having the day off, so go home and be with your kids, get some rest, ok?" – Arizona said, kissing her too.
"You didn't have to do that, thank you" – Meredith said, really touched by Arizona's caring.
"I wanted to. Sometimes you just need to let people take care of you, ok?" – Arizona said and hugged her.
It definitely felt good. The hug, the caring, the kisses, being part of each other's lives, even if it was a little faster that expected, was suiting both women just fine. Meredith took Arizona's advice and went home with Zola. Amelia and Maggie went looking for Arizona by lunchtime to check on Zola's update since they both got stuck on a long surgery all morning.
"Hey, Robbins, any updates on Zo?" – Amelia asked her friend.
"She was better, no fever and no vomit. Meredith took her home and got the day off." – Arizona said.
"Thank you!" – Both Maggie and Amelia said at once.
"No worries. If you're not on call tonight you should help Meredith with the kids, I bet she's exhausted from this morning" – Arizona suggested, making Amelia smiles with the caring behavior towards her sister.
"We will, don't worry! Thank you for everything, Robbins. It's nice to have you close" – Amelia said.
Arizona had to hurry to perform a 911 surgery on a mom in labor with triplets. Maggie was mesmerized by how sweet the blonde was with Zola and Meredith.
"More than ever I think Meredith should really consider dating her. She's so caring and sweet with our family" – Maggie said to Amelia, not knowing that she already knew about them being a couple.
"Oh, well, I guess you can stop wishing that now. They're together!" – Amelia couldn't keep the secret.
"They WHAT? How do you know? Why Meredith didn't tell me?" – Maggie sounded pissed and surprised at the same time.
"I discovered this morning, when I got here with Zola, Arizona was already waiting for us, and by the time Meredith thanked her I figured it was no longer our sweet imagination!" – Amelia quipped about it.
"They're out, then? Like, officially a couple?" – Maggie asked.
"I don't think they've labeled it yet. It's better if we keep it down for now, but they're together. Meredith was looking like a moron teenager in love, it was ridiculously cute" – Amelia said, pulling out some "OWWW" from Maggie.
A few hours later, Arizona called Meredith to check on her and Zola.
A: Hey, how is Zola? And you?
M: We're pretty good, there's an awesome doctor who took really good care of us.
A: Oh, is that so? Good to know, then. Did you get some rest today?
M: Well, not so much. The kids were really happy to see me home all day, they wanted attention.
A: Yeah, I figured that. Do you need something? Can I help you in any way?
M: To be honest, I was thinking of you all day. I wanted us to have dinner and maybe have our first real date, but I'm so exhausted right now that I bet I'll be the worst date you ever had, so maybe Friday?
A: Friday sounds perfect. Get some rest, ok? Call me if you need anything, for real.
M: Does anything include missing you? I might want to call you for that.
A: Call me, especially if you'll miss me, beautiful.
M: You better have your phone close, then.
The feeling of having butterflies in the stomach was something almost new to Meredith and Arizona. Although they've felt like that before in their lives, it was a long time since they really liked someone. Since the divorce, Arizona had only a few bad dates and casual sex, and the first time she actually found someone that could maybe be different, Meredith was there, standing in the way. Arizona knew she wouldn't be able to jump in something with the hematologist when all she could think of was the kiss she had with Meredith. And, on the other hand, Meredith always felt guilty being in dates because of Derek. She couldn't explain if it was different with Arizona because she is a woman, but it was really great allowing herself to be happy by someone's side without blaming herself for moving on. Deep down, she knew Derek would hate to see her alone for the rest of her life.
Two days after that, the so-expected Friday, Meredith was nervous as a teenage girl having her first date. They were both at the hospital but barely saw each other, since Arizona was drowned in so many surgeries that day. Maggie and Amelia looked like vultures surrounding Meredith wanting details about the date.
"Where will you go tonight?" – Amelia asked.
"Will it be a fancy dinner? Or a bar? Are you excited?" – Maggie continued.
"Do you know what you're wearing?" – Amelia insisted.
"Guys! Stop making me nervous! I don't know any of these answers" – Meredith shouted and Alex heard it.
"What's going on?" – Alex asked and the three women suddenly kept in silence. An awkward silence. – "What is it? Who has a date?"
"Why do you assume someone has a date?" – Maggie asked, trying to sound convincing.
"Because that's pretty much the only reason women get so perky and loud about" – Alex answered. – "So, who is it?"
"It's me. I have a date tonight" – Amelia jumped in to distract Alex from Meredith since she knew her sister didn't want to tell anyone by now.
"Oh, good for you. Do we know the guy?" – Alex asked her.
"It's a girl, actually" – Amelia answered, waiting for Alex's response.
"A girl? I didn't know you play for that team" – Alex said.
"Alex, that's rude and misogynist" – Maggie pointed.
"I didn't mean it that way, I think it's great. Maybe you could date Robbins. She's single again, she's a good catch" – Alex pointed making Meredith sighs with discontentment.
"Can we go home now, please? Don't you have to get ready, Amelia?" – Meredith said with a bit of anger in her voice.
"I do. Gotta go, Alex. Tell you later about my awesome date with this awesome girl!" – Amelia enjoyed making the story up.
Thinking about how people were going to react about them being a couple really started to freak Meredith out. Will they think of her as a traitor of Derek's memory? Things just started to get worse when Zola saw her getting dressed for her date.
"Are you going out, Mom?" – Zola asked with a disapproval look.
"I am, Zozo. Why? Do you need something?" – Meredith said, trying not to give into her daughter's wishes.
"Are you going out on a date?" – The girl shot the question and made Meredith uncomfortable.
"Why are you asking me that?" – Meredith needed to gain some time to think about what to answer.
"You're dressing up fine. I don't like you dating, Mom." – Zola said, sitting on Meredith's bed.
"And why is that?" – Meredith asked, smiling, trying to see that just as a kid's jealousy of the parents.
"Because I think you should be with Dad" – Zola answered, making Meredith look sad immediately.
"Zozo, we already talked about this hundred of times. I wish Dad was still here with us, but he's not and now he is our guardian angel. He would like me to move on with my life" – Meredith said, kneeling down to look into her daughter's eyes, who just left the room in silence.
Meredith picked up her phone and dialed Arizona's number.
A: Hey, I'm almost ready, how about you?
M: Yeah, me too. I was wondering, could we meet at the restaurant?
A: I was going to pick you up, don't you think it's better?
M: I'm sorry, I just think we can keep this a little low for now, can we meet there?
A: Mer, why are we going to use two cars? Maggie and Amelia know about us already, what's the big deal?
M: They know, but my kids don't. I just think it's better like this, at least for now. Is it ok for you?
A: Yeah, yeah, of course. Let's say 8 pm there?
M: Great, see ya!
Arizona wasn't completely ok with that, to be honest. She knew Meredith was going to have a hard time during this process of outing herself, but Arizona knew better not to kiss her in front of the kids, she was a mom herself and would do anything to protect her daughter from this exposure as well, at least at the beginning. But she was sensing that the kids weren't the only reason and she was afraid Meredith wasn't ready at all for any kind of relationship, especially one with a woman.