Without turning around, she answered in a low voice, "We need to talk."

I gulped, sucking in the frosty night air. "Ok," I said slowly, unsure of exactly where this was heading, but knew without a doubt, that it wasn't somewhere warm and sunny.

Erica nodded and started walking briskly toward our apartment. The walk was quiet and tense, neither of us willing to rush the conversation looming in our future. Reaching our building, we stepped into the elevator. Normally, I'm not particularly uncomfortable in or nervous in elevators, but this time the air seemed suffocating and stale, and the walls were definitely closer together than they had been before. When the chime dinged, I practically fell through the doors in my desperation to get out. Erica flashed me a concerned look as we headed to my door.

Once inside, we both unceremoniously dropped our purses and coats on the nearest furniture. Erica moved silently to the kitchen pouring herself a glass of wine, wordlessly offering the bottle to me in question. I shook my head, not really wanting to drink anymore right now. She slowly stepped back into the living room and lowered herself to the couch, absentmindedly tracing her finger along the rim of the wine glass.

Through all of this, I stood rooted to my spot just inside the door, impatiently hoping for both the beginning and the delay of whatever was coming. Finally, unable to withstand the quiet riot of emotions battling in the air between us, I spoke in a timid tone, "Erica?"

I could see her twitch in surprise at my voice, but she didn't look at me. "Callie, come sit with me, please." Her tone wasn't demanding or harsh, it was soft and pleading, giving the impression of defeat. I could feel my heart ache at the tone, but did as she asked, slipping onto the cushion next to her.

Clasping and unclasping my hands, I struggled to keep my mouth shut, determined to let her speak first. After another minute, she asked, in almost a whisper, "Please tell me the truth." I glanced at her, unsure if there was more or if that was it, I didn't have to wait long before she added, "What is going on with you and Arizona?"

I dropped my eyes to my lap, guilty and unsure. I figured that was probably what this was about, but it still caught me off guard. "Nothing." Seeing her furrow her brows and purse her lips, displaying her dissatisfaction with that answer, I continued, dreading her reaction to my next words. "Well, not nothing, exactly. We haven't…I mean, we aren't…nothing is actually going on between us…but…" I stuttered to a stop, not really sure of how to put it in words.

"But, you like her." Erica offered, still not looking at me.

Wincing slightly, I nodded slowly, "Yeah."

"And, she likes you." Erica offered again.

Somewhat surprised by this revelation, I looked up at her. I felt that Arizona was feeling the same as I was, but had never thought the actual words. Hearing Erica say them made my heart skip a beat, and nearly brought a smile to my face. But, remembering who had said them, and the consequences that accompanied them, a deep sadness settled over me, "Yeah."

Erica must have sensed my surprise, chuckling mirthlessly, she glanced at me, "I figured as much after the song sex this evening."

My eyes widened, "We weren't- that's not what was happening," I sputtered.

She smirked sadly, "Yeah, Cal, it was. If I wasn't your girlfriend seeing our relationship falling apart…I would have found the whole thing pretty hot."

I sucked in a breath, "Is that what's happening? Is our relationship falling apart?" My voice had tapered off to a whisper, afraid to hear the answer.

Erica sighed, "I don't know. I can't see any other solution."

Feeling my gut drop, I mumbled, "Solution?" I wasn't quite sure what she meant.

"Yeah. You have feelings for someone else. I could foolishly hope that it's just a crush and you'll get over it, and stay with you. Or, I could let you go."

"Don't I get a say in this? It's my relationship, too." I didn't really know if I had anything to add, but I needed to buy more time to think this through.

"Ok. What are you suggesting?" Erica called my bluff.

I looked down, "I don't know…I know that I don't want to lose you…and, if this is just about Arizona, then-"

"It's not," Erica interrupted. She hesitated a moment before sliding her hand into mine, "I don't want to lose you either. But, Callie…forgetting Arizona for a moment…do you really see us lasting for very much longer?"

I shrugged hopelessly, "I…I love you."

She smiled softly, "And, I love you. But, are you still in love with me? We don't talk very much anymore, when we are together it's more like two best friends hanging out, than a couple, and the sex has been dwindling for a while-"

Uselessly I interjected, "You promised that would get better, and that it was our busy schedules getting in the way."

"Do you really believe that?" I looked away. Watching me she answered, "I don't either…And, you didn't answer my question…are you still in love with me?" Her eyes searched mine, pleading for me to be honest with her and myself.

I sniffed, the tears starting to make their inevitable appearance. I mulled over my feelings for Erica. I conjured up the feeling of my eyes meeting hers, the way I felt when she touched me, my feelings when I'm around her…none of those feelings felt like they did when we first got together, or felt like being with Arizona. I shook my head sadly, a tear finally escaping down my cheek, "No. I want to be, but…"

Erica nodded and tightened her grip on my hand, "I know, I feel the same way." After a pause, she sighed, "Callie, I want you to be happy. This is for the best." Her cracking voice betrayed her brave words.

Unable to stop it, I began to sob softly, "I want you to be happy, too. I'm so sorry that I couldn't make you happy."

Seeing me break down, her own tears started to shine in her eyes, she gathered me in her arms, holding me to her chest. "You do make me happy, it's just not enough for either of us anymore." After rocking me for several minutes, she mumbled in my ear, "I guess, I should get my things together."

This elicited another sob from me, "Please…Please, don't go." I wasn't sure she could even hear my strangled whisper.

Pulling back, she cradled my face in her hands, now showing me the tears that had tracked down her face, "I have to."

I shook my head, "No, just tonight, please just stay with me tonight." I couldn't bare the thought of being alone so suddenly. An hour ago, I was happy with a great girlfriend and not a thought of facing an empty bed or life. Now, emptiness was all I was seeing and feeling.

Erica studied my face, before slowly nodding, "Of course, I will."

Hoisting herself off of the couch, Erica held onto my hand, pulling me up as well. We trudged to the bedroom in silence. Both painfully aware that this would be the last time we shared a bed, or even the same space. We changed unhurriedly, neither willing to rush the impending conclusion to our relationship. After sliding into bed, I paused, before scooting next to her and allowing her arms to snake around me. I listened to our breathing, soaking in the sensation of her trailing her hand up and down the length of my arm.

Almost scared to disrupt the atmosphere, I managed to utter, "This isn't goodbye, right? I mean, we'll still see each other around?"

I could feel Erica smile, "Yeah, I'd like to think we could be friends- Not anytime soon, but eventually."

I nodded vigorously, "I would like that."

"Then, it's a deal," Erica placed a kiss on top of my head, "Good night, Callie."

I sniffed sadly, "Good night, Erica."

When I woke up in the morning, Erica and her stuff was gone. Only a single piece of paper resting on her pillow testified to her presence.

"You looked too beautiful to wake up…and, I couldn't handle another goodbye…I wish things could have been different…I hope you find everything that you deserve. I'll see you around."

With love, Erica

AN: Surprisingly, considering the subject matter, this has been one of my favorite chapters to write. I'm sorry it's a little short, but I didn't want to belabor the moment for the sake of length, and I didn't want to add anything that would overshadow or distract from this scene, because it was too important to me. I hope you guys appreciated it, and predictably, the next part of the story will begin to move toward a different goal than the previous chapters : )