Evening all! Hope you're all good! Thanks for the continued alerts and comments. Its awesome having people continuing to catch up with the story! I see Erica's getting up some peoples noses. There's still a little to come with her, but I promise, soon I'll do a chapter with only Callie and Arizona in it. Like chapter 22 perhaps… ;) Hope you like this one...as always your views are very much appreciated! Ill try get an update out to you pronto! Toodles for now!

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Previously…..

No problem. Have a safe flight home Zona, I'll talk to you tonight.'

'I'll text when we land. Bye beautiful.'

'Lovies and Toodles Babe.'

'Lol, Toodles?' Arizona typed with a chuckle.

'It's something Addison says. She's kinda got me saying it now lol.'

'Brits….'

'I know haha!'

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Chapter 21

It was just after 7pm on Thursday night and after returning from work, Callie had busied herself in catching up on some Jessara fan fiction. What with everything being all go, go, go in her life of late, she hadn't been on the board as much as she used to be.

Arizona was currently at her parents house for dinner, but that hadn't stopped the blonde from texting her several times. It was almost like neither of them could go an hour without having some form of contact with the other.

Apparently Arizona's parents had cottoned on to the blondes noticeably perkier attitude and instantly knew it could mean only 1 thing. Their daughter was seeing someone. As much as Arizona wanted to shout it from the rooftops, she had down played her feelings for the Latina so she wasn't hounded to bring her around for dinner so soon.

The Latina had text back half an hour ago to say she loved parents, and if they were as sweet as Arizona she'd be there tomorrow.

'Oh my god!' Callie exclaimed into the empty room. 'I can't believe it!'

Clicking on the reply button she began typing furiously.

'That is sooooo mean! You can't seriously leave us hanging there! How am I meant to wait for like…..however long you plan to leave it? Really….don't make me get a brick! Please, please, please update soon! I LOVE this story, thanks for sharing!'

Posting her comment on one of her favourite stories, she got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen. Just as she retrieved a bottled water from the fridge she heard the front door close. She assumed it was Jack returning from work. He'd been helping out in the shop while Erica was away. Truth be told she'd hardly seen him the last few days. He'd either be at the shop til late or out with friends. Callie herself spent most nights in her room talking to Arizona on Skype.

Leaving the kitchen she found Erica taking off her jacket. 'Oh, hey…'

Erica turned and offered Callie a smile. 'Hey…'

'I wasn't sure how long you'd be away for.'

'Neither was I…' Erica replied. 'After a shaky start with Diane she ended up being really supportive.'

Callie offered a genuine smile. 'That's great. I'm glad.'

'Is Jack in?'

'No, I guess he's still at the shop or maybe out with….'

'OK' Erica cut in, moving into the living room.

Callie took a second then followed her. Erica took a seat on the couch where Callie had been sitting minutes earlier. She noticed the blonde look at the computer screen.

'Still reading fan fiction?' Erica asked.

'Ugh…yea…' Callie replied, moving toward the table, shutting the lid of the laptop. 'Passes the time you know.' She sat herself on the other end of the couch. Sinking into the cushions she suddenly wished the TV was on. Some background distraction would make this tension a lot more easier to cope with.

'So, is that where you met….Arizona?'

Callie furrowed her eyebrows at her ex. 'Huh?'

Erica nodded her head to the laptop. 'On that site…'

Talking to your ex girlfriend about your current girlfriend didn't seem like such a safe subject right now, but Callie wasn't going to lie to her. 'Yea, I did.'

Erica nodded, looking at the floor as she got seemingly lost in thought. 'It's quite funny really.'

'What is?'

'Well, 7 years ago you and I met on that Buffy fansite. It started so well. So well infact that when I asked you to move in with me after only a couple of month you jumped at the idea…'

Callie could see where this was headed. 'Erica, I'm not about to move in with her. We've only just started talking. We're getting to know each other.' It felt like someone had their hands wrapped tightly around her throat. Squeezing her flesh and cutting off her air supply. This situation didn't feel good at all.

'You have to admit…' Erica went on, 'It's like de ja vu. Is she from around here or….?'

'No…' replied bluntly. She didn't feel the need to include where Arizona was actually from. Until….

'So where is she from?'

After a slight pause, Callie answered. 'Missouri.' Deciding she didn't want Erica to ask any more questions, she changed the subject. 'So, the confession to Diane was a bit rocky to start was it?'

Erica nodded but it seemed her mind was still elsewhere.

Callie waited to see if the blonde was going to elaborate but when she didn't, she cleared her throat and pushed the conversation. 'So….what happened?'

It took several moments for Erica to break out of her trance and look toward, but not at the Latina. 'It took a while for me to actually tell her. She could see from the moment I got there I wasn't my usual self.' Callie swallowed hard as she continued to listen. 'It was quite late on the first night when she finally knocked it out of me.'

'And….what did she say?'

'At first she started acting….weird. She had an arm around me but when I told her I'd been in a relationship with you for the last 7 years she….she kind of backed off. Like I had some sort of gay cooties or something. Then she started saying my name after everything. Wow, I never assumed that Erica. If that's what you want Erica. That's great Erica.'

'She was freaking out?' Callie asked.

'Basically, yea. She said she was tired not long after that and we went to bed. I had it in my mind that night that I'd be coming back home the next morning…..she obviously didn't want to be around me so I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.'

'So why did you stay?'

'The next morning she was so different. She hugged me and told me everything would be alright. She was sorry for acting funny the night before it had just taken her by surprise.'

Callie began to smile. 'You see, it's not such a big deal after all.'

'That's only 1 person Callie and my friends are a lot older than yours. They grew up in a different time….with different beliefs.'

'OK, I get it Erica….I'm just trying to point out the good here' Callie replied defensively. 'So, she turned out to be a good confidant?'

'She did. She actually gave me some good advice.'

'Really? That's great.' Callie liked the sound of this. Maybe some time away with her friend had helped the blonde deal with the situation better.

'Yea, I didn't know this, but she and Howard went through a bad patch a couple of years ago. They were so close to divorce but then Diane suggested counselling. Howard was reluctant at first but….' She looked at Callie accusingly. 'He gave it a try and it really helped them. It gave them a chance to really analyse where the relationship was going wrong. And with the help of the counsellor, they fixed it. Now they're stronger than ever.'

Callie held the blondes gaze for a few moments before dropping it to the couch with a sigh. 'Erica….that's great for them. It really is.'

'Don't you see what I'm saying Cal? We could try that. It could be us taking those steps to fixing us. You just have to be willing to ask for help.' She shuffled slightly closer to where Callie was sitting. 'We can do this Callie. I still love you so much and this relationship is worth the effort.' She lifted her hand to Callie's cheek. 'Please Callie. I don't want to lose you. You're my girl.' She brought her face closer, until she was mere inches away….

….But just before she could get any closer, she felt herself get pushed away.

'No, Erica. You can't do this. I can't do this. It can't be fixed coz there's nothing left to fix!' She got up from the couch, pacing from one side of the room to the other. 'I'm trying to be as gentle and understanding as possible Erica, I really am but you're starting to really test my patience. We're over and there's nothing that you or anyone else can do or say to change that. Not only that but I'm…..I've…..I've moved on. I'm with someone else.'

'Oh Callie for god sake, what is your problem?' Erica interrupted. 'Is this some sort of game to you? Meet a woman online, make her fall in love with you, make her world revolve around you then just when she thinks she's settled for life, you break her heart and move onto your next online lover.'

'No….that's not it at all Erica.'

'Really? Coz it seems all too real right now!'

'Erica, I understand you're upset, you have every right to be but don't start accusing me with these ridiculous accusations. OK, so we met online and now I've fallen for another woman the same way but where else am I mean to find someone? I never went out socially….not without you at least. I've always been the girl that spends her life online. A lot of my close friends live in other countries….'

'Oh woe is you Callie…'

The Latina was getting more and more angry as time went on. She didn't want to feel like this. She shouldn't allow her ex to get to her so much. 'You've been away. You've had your friend breath new life into you but nothings changed Erica. We're over.' She started to back away. 'The sooner you understand that the better.'

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Friday morning finally arrived and Arizona was literally buzzing with excitement as she rechecked the items in her case. She'd never put this much effort into packing her bags before. This was different though. She wasn't just flying to some random destination.

Nope, this trip mean so much more to her than some pay check and a test-drive into different cultures. She was on her way to see a girl.

Her girl to be specific.

She smiled to herself as she pushed down her cosmetic bag onto the various garments beneath. The bag she'd packed was noticeably larger than what she'd generally take away with her. The thing was, tomorrow night she'd be having her first official date with Calliope Torres and figuring out what was best to wear had been a rather difficult task.

Last night and this morning!

In the end she'd decided to take a selection and just go with what felt right at the time. To say she was nervous would be…..a fair assumption. The excited butterflies were in full flight in her lower stomach and they had been since her Skype session with the Latina last night.

This week had gone painfully slow for the blonde. It literally felt like a year had passed since she'd seen Callie. In the last few days she'd been thinking….quite a lot, about her career and her promising relationship with the Latina. It had only been 2 weeks but it felt like this relationship had the potential to be 'the one.'

The one that lasted.

Callie wasn't some fling that she'd get bored of in a few weeks. She knew in her heart she was falling hard for her. It wasn't just that Callie was attractive, coz god knows, she was astoundingly beautiful, but everything about her made Arizona feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

That's why she'd been thinking of changing her routine. Flying in and out of Europe every week and making the time difference between them grow and grow, really wasn't desirable on her part and nor did she think it was on Callie's. OK, so they lived in different States and chances are it wouldn't mean they'd actually be in contact anymore than they would be if she were still flying to Europe, but still.

She'd spent the majority of her time in Spain just wishing to be back in America. At least if she only flew US flights she'd still be more or less in the same time zone.

Maybe it was too soon to think about changing her whole routine for a girl she'd only known for 2 weeks. Even so, right now it was definitely something she was going to put a lot of thought in to.

As she zipped up her case, her phones buzzed on the nightstand.

'Good morning beautiful, I hardly slept a wink last night.…I'm so excited! I'll be finished work about 12 so I'll pick you up at the airport! You're flight gets in at 3:30 right? C x'

Sitting on her bed she smiled and sent her reply.

'Good morning Calliope, I hardly slept either. Maybe that was due to the images you painted in my mind last night you naughty girl. Yea the flight gets in at 3:30. Can't wait to see you! A x'

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When Arizona's reply came through, Callie grinned to herself. She'd been slightly aroused last night and it had been hard to control certain words coming out of her mouth. She'd wanted to try a bit of Cyber-sex, just to loosen some tension, but with Erica just down the hall it didn't seem right.

'Sorry for keeping you from your sleep….especially seeing as I wasn't there ;) I can't wait to see you either. I'm gona cook for you tonight and I'm gona pick up some DVDs. So damn excited! C x'

Putting her phone on the kitchen table she picked up her half drunk cup of coffee and went over to the sink. As she poured out the contents, Erica walking into the room. Their eyes met and Callie offered a small smile.

*Oh boy, this is gona be fun…*

'Morning…'

'Morning Callie.'

While the blonde went over to the fridge, Callie tried to go over in her head how to approach the whole going away for the weekend subject. A few moments passed and Callie was still stood staring at the floor, hand still grasping her now empty cup.

'What's up?' Erica asked, noticing Callie's stance.

'Ugh….nothing. It's just….I'm going up to Cristina's place in the country for the weekend…'

'Oh..' Erica closed the fridge door and move towards the cupboard to retrieve a cup. 'That's nice.'

'Yea…' As Erica busied herself in making a coffee, Callie decided to slip out of the room. She only made it a few steps before Erica spoke again.

'Are you meeting with Arizona again?'

Callie haltered her movements, her face dropping. This was exactly what she'd wanted to avoid. She didn't turn around. 'Yes. I am…'

The kettle boiling was the only sound in the room…..until she heard a cup dropped in the sink and then heard Erica move toward her. As the blonde brushed passed her she heard a quiet 'Have a good time…' before she was once again left alone in the kitchen. Closing her eye's she took a deep breath.

*Keep calm, it's all for the greater good. Just think of seeing Arizona later today!*

Opening her eye's she smiled and went to get ready for work.

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'You didn't have to come up here Teddy, I mean it is your day off!' Arizona finished off the last of her coffee before throwing it in a trash can outside the attending lounge.

'Meh, I had nothing else to do, you know…..seeing as my best friends flying off to see her lover!'

'Hmm, me thinks you need to get yourself some other friends.'

'I have plenty friends!' Teddy scolded jokingly, nudging her shoulder into her friends.

'Ohhh, I get it. You're gona miss me!'

'Maybe slightly. Don't go getting a big head….those planes are pressurized enough!'

As Arizona laughed, she pulled out her ID badge, ready to insert into the slot.

'You're not thinking of….you know, moving to Seattle are you?' Teddy asked, scuffing her foot off the ground.

The blonde looked back at her friend. 'No….I mean, Teddy I've known her 2 weeks! Its far too soon to think about that. I'm content just visiting her whenever I can for now.'

'OK, good. I've kinda got used to having you around.'

Laughing, Arizona enveloped her friend in to a tight squeeze. 'Teddy, I don't know what's going to happen with Callie in the future, or what State we could end up in but I know one things for sure….you'll follow wherever I go!'

Teddy nodded her head in agreement. 'You're probably right. I know you couldn't live without me…'

'Yea….that's the reason' the blonde teased.

'Go on, have an awesome time with the hot Latina! Be good….and if you can't be good….'

'Make her scream..' Arizona finished. 'I'll try my best.'

Saying their goodbyes, Arizona entered the lounge and went to get ready for the flight. Once she was all suited up, she pulled out her cell, opened her messages and began to type out a message to Callie.

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'At the airport now, wish I were boarding a jet! You'll be finished work soon, lucky duck! See you in a little while! A x'

'Damn right I will be…' Callie said aloud. She smiled to herself as her mind thought over everything she had planned tonight. As soon as she finished here at 12, she was going to pop to the store and pick up ingredients for dinner, aswell as drinks and DVDs. Then she'd head over to Cristina's place, bring in some wood so they could set up a fire later. She wanted everything to be perfect.

At the beginning of the week she'd gone into a jewellery store with the intention of seeing if anything stood out. As soon as her eyes landed on a gorgeous crystal blue necklace and matching earrings, she just had to get them. They matched the blueness of Arizona's eyes perfectly. She knew she'd look amazing with them on. She planned on giving them to her tonight after dinner. Maybe she would wear them for their first 'official' date the following night.

Tonight would be just the start of an unforgettable weekend together.

Opening a reply box she began to type out a quick reply.

'Torres!'

Callie's head quickly jerked up as Richard entered the room. 'Yes sir…' she replied, putting her cell down on the desk.

'Just had a tip off….Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon have just been spotted covertly entering one of the Cleveland Motel rooms together. I need you down there as of yesterday! Stay there until they come out. The press has been all over these 2 for months now….this might be the moment we get the evidence to go with the rumours!' He dropped a note on her desk with directions to the Motel.

The Latina's eyes grew wide as she realised this could be an all day job. This assignment would usually have her running to the scene, coz I mean Sasha and Angie in a potential relationship, hello, she's all over it….but her life….her relationship with Arizona was worth so much more than getting some pictures of the 2 actresses getting it on in some Motel room. 'Sir, wait….I can't.'

'Torres did you hear what I said? Harmon, Alexander, Motel room…..dressed in glasses and baseball caps for god sake! I need pictures and I need them now!'

'But sir I….'

'NOW Torres!' Richard yelled before leaving the room.

*Shit* She hit her hand off the desk. This can't be happening. Of all the days these 2 actresses decided to potentially out themselves, why did it have to be today? She'd done stakeouts like these before and more often than not, she was sat outside until the next morning.

'Shit…' she cursed aloud this time. Standing up she grabbed her cell and the note Richard had left. She had to think of something. She promised Arizona she would pick her up and damn it she wasn't going to let her down.

Picking up her camera bag from the floor, she headed out of the room. Walking down the hallway she spotted Mark watching the TV through the window to the cafeteria.

'Mark!' she exclaimed, hurrying into the almost empty room. 'I need a huge favour!'

The tall man turned and raised an eyebrow at the Latina. 'Torres, I thought you'd never ask!'

Shaking her head she decided to ignore his obvious crude intentions. 'Mark, Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon have been spotted entering a hotel room together. Or at least that's what Richards tip off said. He wants me to go down there and stakeout the place. The thing is Arizona's coming over and….Mark, focus!' she warned. If she hadn't lost him at Sasha and Angie in a Motel then she knew she definitely had when she mentioned Arizona. Punching his arm for effect, she continued on. 'I've got this whole thing planned after I pick her up and I don't want to let her down.'

'You want me to stakeout 2 of Hollywood's hottest actresses in a possible lesbian tryst?'

The Latina had to laugh. 'Yea….would you? I know it's a huge ask….well, actually…..not really but, I just want to be able to impress Arizona…'

'Damn. Torres you know I'd do it for you, I really, really would, but I've got a game on later.'

Callie closed her eyes and sighed. *Damn it!* Shaking her head she looked around the café. It's all ruined. I should have known this would happen. I can't catch a break.'

'Hey…' Mark told her, grabbing her upper arms. 'What time does she get in?'

'About 3:30?'

'OK, so I'm assuming you want to pick her up?' Callie nodded. 'OK well the game doesn't start til 5:30. How about I go stakeout for you until you pick her up, then you and she can take over and perhaps, make a night of it….in the car.'

'A date in a car? Mark I can't do that to her.'

'It doesn't have to sound boring Cal. You could even pick up some food. Chinese is usually good on stakeouts. Play some music…..even take a DVD to watch with one eye on the ol' laptop. Then of course there's talking.…getting to know each other. I think you'll find she'll just be glad to be in your company Callie. And well….she's gay, are you telling me she wont be even slightly excited to see those girls leaving a Motel room all hot and satisfied?'

The more Mark went on, the idea of spending the night in a car with Arizona didn't sound so bad after all. And if they we're lucky, Sasha and Angie would make an appearance sooner rather than later. 'Mark, you are great!'

'I know, well done for catching up!' She leant into give him a hug before handing him her camera bag. 'So tell me, what Motel am I headed too?'

'It's the Cleveland Motel in Bellevue. Here…' she said, handing him the directions. 'It's about a 25minute drive away.'

'OK, sorted! Go get yourself set up, I got this!' Mark told her.

'Mark, you're a star, I owe you!' she told him as she began to back away.

'I'll remember that…' he winked back.

Turning she hot footed it out of the building. Pulling out her cell she erased the half typed message she'd been in the middle of doing before and began to write a new message.

So much for all her planning!

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'We'd like to thank you all for flying with us today and the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tin, we hope you'll think of us at Southwent Airlines.' An eruption of laughter met her ears at the front of the plane. 'Oh and remember, last one off the plane has to stay and clean it! Thank you!' With a dimpled grin, Arizona reattached the microphone to the wall and turned to her snorting colleagues.

'You're about ready to burst with excitement aren't you?'

Arizona laughed. 'You know I think I really am.'

'I cant wait to catch a glimpse of this woman that's got you even perkier than I thought possible.'

'Oh you'll see her. You wont be able to miss her…'

As they escorted the passengers from the plane, Arizona assisted in some cleaning before making her way into the airport. She turned on her cell and waited for it to load. Her heart was thumping in her chest now. She popped some gum into her mouth. She didn't want to see Callie for the seconds time with bad breath. Her phone beeped.

'Hey babe, slight change of plan. Don't worry though, I'll explain when I pick you up! C x'

Oh dear. What had gone wrong? Was it something to do with Erica or was Cristina's place no longer available?

*Oh shush, she said don't worry….just go with it!*

Locking her cell, she slipped it back into her blazer pocket and continued her journey through the terminal. A few minutes later she walked through the double doors into the crowds of people. She smiled and nodded her head as she walked passed passengers from her flight, but her eye's were more interested in catching a glimpse of the Latina.

The moment their eyes connected, Arizona's breath caught in her throat. A smile lit up Callie's face and was immediately mirrored on to her own. As they moved closer to one another, everything seemed to be in slow motion. It was like something from a movie scene. She zoned out all of the background hustle and bustle. All she saw was the woman in her path.

*It's our second meeting, do we hug or is it a kiss?* She thought. *Would she mind if I kissed her in public? No, we kissed when I left last time…*

She didn't have too long to ramble in her head as the Latina was now almost at touching distance.

''Zona…' Callie grinned.

All her internal rambling went out the window for when they met, she did what came naturally to her….she leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Callie's lips then engulfed her into a tight embrace.

Wow! No words could describe how great it felt to be in the taller woman's arms again. 'Hey you…' she replied, letting out a content sigh in the crook of Callie's neck.

Eventually they pulled back, excitement dancing on both their faces. Callie stared down, taking in the blondes attire. 'Yowza! You know, I didn't realise I liked a woman in uniform….until now.'

The blonde blushed and let out a chuckle. She swayed her hips slightly. 'Yes, the uniform in rather dashing isn't it…'

'I'll say…' she blew out a puff of air. Was it getting hotter in here or…. 'Oh, here's I'll take that for you…' Callie said, holding out her hand for the blondes bag.

'Oh don't worry I got it.'

'Please, I want to…' Callie smiled.

Biting her bottom lip, Arizona handed the bag over. 'If you insist.'

Taking hold of the bag, Callie put it in her right hand, allowing it to wheel behind her. Holding out her left elbow, she smiled as the blonde slipped her arm through the gap.

'So, Calliope….what's this change of plan…'

Letting out a nervous giggle, Callie sighed. 'Where do I start….' she began.

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