I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
Chapter Forteen
ELIZA'S POV
This past week has been awesome. Amazing, even. After Arizona had come by my place, something felt different. Like, the air had been cleared a little. She asked me to be her girlfriend and honestly, I could have fallen to my knees. I never expected that from her. I never expected her to ask me that. Do I want it? Yes, more than anything. It's just not going to be as simple as I wish it could be. Arizona is a well-known figure around the world, so we have to keep things quiet. We have to avoid the touchy-feely stuff out in public. You never know who could be watching. When Jo told me who she was, I googled her and found several pictures of her papped in the street, so I know that she has photographers following her. We've agreed to avoid hand holding out on the street but we more than make up for it when we spend the evening together. She is the total opposite of what I see at the office, and it just makes this so much more special.
I know it's secretive, and I know it isn't how either of us wants to live our lives, but for the time being, it's how it has to be. Mom cannot find out I'm gay via a news channel or a magazine. I'd be worried about her coming to New York and spotting me, but she doesn't have that kind of money to travel here. I've only been here for three weeks and she has called once. That once? I ignored. I know it's terrible of me to do so, but I'm happy at the moment and I don't need her negativity in my life right now. I'd cut her out of my life, but she is my mother. I don't have anyone else. We haven't exactly had the best relationship, but she still brought me into this world, so I owe it to her to stick around.
Tapping at the keyboard in front of me, I send off one final email and settle back in my seat. "Done." I breathe out.
"You're going to have to be a little more specific, Eliza."
"I'm done." I furrow my brow as I turn to face her. "I can't really be any more specific than that."
"Like, you're finished for the day?" She glances over the top of her glasses and gives me a look of confusion. "How is that even possible?"
"Because I'm awesome at my job, Miss Robbins." Powering my screen down, I stand and move towards the window. "O'Neil is calling you tomorrow. Johnson is having three brick samples sent over Monday morning. Janine from accounts is arranging the dinner with Phillips and Mason...oh, and Don downstairs has requested a leave of absence while he attends a hospital appointment with his wife."
"Is she okay?" Arizona asks.
"I, uh...I don't know. I didn't ask."
"Oh, well keep a check on that. If he needs any more time off, have Janine give him paid leave." Her eyes flick back to the screen in front of her and I simply nod. "So, do you have anything planned for this evening?"
"Not up to now, no." Leaning against the wall, my eyes scan Central Park and a small smile settles on my face. "What time is your drinks thingy?"
"Seven." She sighs.
"It's going to be fancy, huh?"
"Yeah. The guys I'm meeting love all of that." I turn to face her and she rolls her eyes. "It's really not my kinda thing."
"I'm sure you'll have a nice evening, Arizona." Taking my blazer from the back of my chair, I shrug it on and my hair comes to fall around my shoulders. "I'm okay to leave now?"
"Sure. Go and do whatever it is you do." She smiles. "I don't know how late I'll be tonight so I don't want to invite you over only to let you down…"
"No, don't worry about it." Waving off her comment, I grab my purse and my cell from my desk. "I'll see you in the morning, okay? I'm headed home to change into my sweats. I think it's a noodles in front of the TV kind of night."
"You don't have a TV." She furrows her brow.
"I do now." I smile. "Tonight I will finally get to try it out."
"Oh, that's awesome." Removing her glasses, she stands and rounds her desk. "I'll miss you tonight." Her arms wrapping around my waist, she pulls me in close and places a soft kiss on my lips. "Do you want me to call if I'm home early?"
"I think I'll just grab an early night. Just go and enjoy yourself, Arizona. You've worked your ass off this week."
"But it's Friday…" She whispers against my lips.
"And that is exactly why you are going to go out and enjoy yourself." I smile. "I'll see you in the morning. I'll just come by whenever I'm ready, yeah?"
"Okay." She pouts. "I'll call you later." Pulling back, she steps away from me and I miss her already. I haven't even left the room and I miss her. It's been like this all week. Whenever I've realized that I won't see her, it makes me sad. It makes me want to drop whatever it is I'm doing and take her in my arms. She just makes me want to be that kind of person.
"Bye, beautiful." Opening her office door, I throw her a wink and step out into the corridor. It's going to be a long evening sitting home alone, but Arizona deserves this. She's spent every possible hour in her office this week, and yeah…she needs a break. She will go crazy if she doesn't. I know it's her job and it's her business. I know she is used to it. I just think she needs to let herself go every once in a while. She's only human like the rest of us. Human and so God damn beautiful.
Lay back on the couch, my hand is within ideal reach of the bowl of popcorn I've prepared for myself. I've been home for a little over an hour and I'm now settled and refusing to move for the rest of the night. A blanket draped over me, I can see the lights of New York shining through my window, and right now…my life is pretty damn perfect. Arizona may not be here with me, but she is still with me. That's all I need to know to keep me going for the rest of the evening. A stack of movies on one end of the coffee table, I bring my steaming mug of hot chocolate up to my lips and take in the comforting aroma.
Startled by the sound of my cell buzzing against the hardwood, I set down my cup and unlock the screen.
Are you busy? I could really use your help. Arizona x
Not busy but also not willing to leave my cocoon. Eliza x
Well, that sucks. Arizona x
What's up, pretty lady? Eliza x
Needed some help with my outfit but you are settled so don't worry about it. Have a good evening. Arizona x
Oh, I can come by if you really need me to? Eliza x
Would you….
Sure. I'll head over soon. Eliza x
No need. Rich is outside your place waiting for you. Arizona x
Well, that was a little presumptuous of you! Eliza x
Just like to be organized. See you soon. Arizona x
Smiling at the fact that she has sent a car for me, I glance down at my choice of clothing and simply shrug. I'm too chilled out right now to care what I look like, and no matter what I change into, Arizona will still look way hotter than me. It's kinda nice that she has asked for my advice, but I'm not entirely sure that she needs it. That woman could wear anything and make it look like she has just stepped out of a photoshoot.
Pulling on some converse, I glance out the window and find Rich staring up at me. Giving him a wave, he tips his hat to me and I step back into the middle of the room. Powering off the TV, I take a quick sip from my mug and grab my keys. This baby is coming with me. It's at the perfect temperature so I'm not about to let it ruin in this dark lonely apartment. Slipping out into the hall, I lock up and head for the elevator.
Checking myself out in the mirror as it takes me down to the lower level, I realize that I look awful. My hair looks like it has been styled by a three-year-old, and my clothes are older than the freaking building I live in. Too late to go back now. Arizona is waiting for me. Shrugging, I step off the elevator and Rich holds the back door to his limousine open for me. "Thanks." I smile.
"No problem, Miss Minnick." He closes the door and slips into the front seat. Arizona's driver knows we are together, but he's a good guy and he has been with Arizona several years now. "Streets are quiet tonight, ma'am, so I'll have you at Miss Robbins place in no time." He calls out from the front seat.
"Don't worry." I laugh. "Arizona should have called earlier if she was in a rush."
"Yes, ma'am." He gives me a nod in agreement.
A few minutes later, I find myself pulling up outside the entrance of my girlfriend's condo block. I say block, but it's more like a skyscraper. A familiar face holding open the door for me, I give John a smile and rush inside. Arizona will kill me if she sees me walking around here dressed how I am, and right now...I want to kill me. The elevator doors opening, I hit the floor want and breathe a sigh of relief when the doors close.
Arriving at my girlfriend's private landing in no time, the door clicks and she pulls it open. Her hair pulled up and out of her face, she looks adorable. A thick cream woolen oversized jumper covering her body, I rake my eyes further down and find her lower half naked. Nothing but boy shorts. Barefoot included.
"Hey…" She smiles. "That was quick."
"You needed help, so here I am." Holding out my hands like some sort of god, she rolls her eyes and glances to my right hand. "Oh, um…it tasted too good to leave." I shrug.
"You could have brought me some hot chocolate." She whines.
"Move out of my way so I can make you look even more beautiful than you already look right now." Stepping around her, I move inside and the smell of vanilla hits me. It is the most comforting scent in the world and right now I'm struggling to concentrate on why I'm here. I just want to lie on her couch and look at the view outside. I don't want to help her choose an outfit. I don't want her to leave. I just want to be locked away in here with her for the rest of the night. Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have come here. "Okay, so what are you struggling with?"
"Not being with you." She whispers into my ear as her arms wrap around my waist from behind.
"Arizona…" I lean into her touch and give a slight smile. "You know I want to be here with you, but you have plans. Plans that don't include me, and I'm okay with that."
"I canceled." She admits.
"You what?" My brow furrowed, I turn in her arms and she drops her gaze. "You can't just cancel."
"Uh, I can and I did." She states as she pulls me in for a hug. "I just want to stay here with you tonight." Glancing over her shoulder, I find the fire lit and various snacks laid out on the coffee table. "It's too cold outside and this is the ideal night for just snuggling and doing nothing."
"Agreed, but you can't just cancel every time you have plans." She did this three nights ago when she was supposed to catch up with some friends who she hadn't seen since a previous project. "We have all the time in the world to be together."
"Yeah, and tonight is one of those nights." She smiles as she pulls back and narrows her eyes. "Are you saying you don't want my snuggles and my snacks?"
"Oh, no." I shake my head. "Your snuggles and snacks are what keep me going." Pulling her over to the couch, I fall down and she settles between my legs. Her back pressed against my front. "When did you cancel?"
"Before I left the office." She responds, nonchalantly. "I didn't tell you because I knew you would try to talk me out of it."
"I love this." I sigh as I make myself comfortable. "I love being here with you. Just…everything about it."
"I'm happy you feel that way." She tilts her head a little and her dimples pop. Leaning down and placing a kiss on her lips, and a silence settles over us. I do love this. I love everything about this woman. She may be professional and business-like at the office, but this is the other side of her. I can't believe I ever thought she wanted me for casual sex. I can't believe I ever thought that she didn't want this. Us. Thank God I took my head out of my ass. Thank God for Arizona. "I was thinking maybe some movies since it's pretty early, and then just relax. I don't know."
"Sounds perfect to me." I give her a nod in agreement. "You know when I'm here with you? I never want to leave."
"You know you are welcome here anytime you want, Eliza. I'm just taking this at your pace right now."
"And I appreciate that." I breathe out. "Thank you for being amazing, Arizona. Thank you for being you."
"I love a night out." She admits. "I always have. I just love to socialize."
"Okay…"
"Since meeting you, though...I never want to leave this place. I never want to be away from you. Is that annoying?" She asks. "You can totally tell me to back off and I will, but I just needed you to know that I love you being here and I love spending my evenings with you. Whether that is out to dinner or being here like this, I just love it."
"It's not annoying." I smile as I place a kiss on top of her head. "And I love being here, too."
"You'd tell me, though, if you didn't?"
"I would." I agree. "This is just all so new to me. I've never been able to just be myself like I am with you. I could never date because I couldn't date women, but when I saw you in that bar, Arizona, I just had to know you. I had to spend time with you…".
"I just want us to be happy, Eliza. However we have to do that, it doesn't matter. So long as you are comfortable and happy in yourself, that is all that matters." She has a way with words, but I can hear the honesty in them, too. I've never been as comfortable as I am right now, and I want that to continue. In an ideal world, everything would be okay and I could be openly gay, but right now that isn't possible. I have thought about calling my mom and just telling her everything, but I just want this to continue a little longer. I just want this bubble to stay intact for some more time. "You okay?" Arizona pulls me from my thoughts and glances up at me. Her fingers ghosting up and down my right knee.
"I'm more than okay, Arizona," I whisper as I pull her body back against me a little tighter. "Let's get this snuggle going, huh?"
"Mm, that would be nice."
Shifting a little, my girlfriend turns on her side and nuzzles into my chest. Hitting play, a movie plays in the background but I don't even know what it is that we are watching. I'm too engrossed in everything that is Arizona to care. Her scent. Her soft skin. Her curled hair. Her blue eyes. Those dimples.
Right now, my mom can go to hell for all I care. I'm happy, and surely that is all that matters. Surely, she wouldn't deny me the opportunity to be happy….
Thanks for reading, guys. Sorry for the delay in updating.