Eliza's POV

It's a slow day at the office but Eliza is going out of her mind. It's too quiet and she feels like she's being watched. Nope, she knows she's being watched. Her boss has been eyeing her all day... actually, he's been watching her for the last couple of weeks and it's making Eliza insane. It really isn't comfortable. Arizona's been telling her to just call him out on it, but Eliza has trouble doing just that. It's easy for Arizona to say when she's not the one having to work with him afterwards, but Eliza knows. She knows she's got to point out that his staring is making her feel uncomfortable. So... this might be the time. Especially since he's doing it right now, the staring. Letting out a big sigh, Eliza braces herself and stands. Shooting a sideway glance to the picture frame on her desk, Arizona's pretty face reminds her of how much Eliza's able to do when she sets her mind to it. Her wife's beauty makes Eliza sure. It assures her that everything is in fact possible. Sending her wife a thought, Eliza nods mostly for her own sake. When fixing her eyes on the man behind the glass wall, he suddenly drops his gaze. It's time.

Exiting her own glass office, she knocks on her boss' door. When he looks up from his computer screen, he nods for her to enter.

Sticking her head inside, Eliza gives him a small smile. "Can I talk to you for a moment, Sir?"

"Of course, Mrs. Minnick-Robbins. Come in," he replies, resting his clasped hands in front of him on the desk.

Eliza closes the door behind her and places herself in the chair opposite her boss. Taking a deep breath, she once again deems it time.

"What's on your mind?"

"Lately, um... okay, you see, Sir. Lately I've noticed that you've watched me... working. A lot," Eliza explains, trying to keep the situation and conversation light. "It's just... it's making me, um... it's been making me feel uncomfortable, Sir. So I just wanted to ask you if there's something you... if you're not satisfied with my work or if maybe there's something I can do to improve my work here? Because I'm just, I'm just so very satisfied by working for you, Sir. I really love my job. And I know I got behind when my wife got into the accident but I..." Eliza tries to defend her actions because truth is... she really needs this job. She really loves it. She can't be fired. She's not one to get fired, she's the one who leaves. And she doesn't want to. She wants this job. And she's been wanting it ever since she got here five years ago. "I've been working my a-, I've been working for four people ever since Arizona got better. So please, tell me what's going on, Sir. Please."

Okay. She's said it. She's just told her boss how she's been feeling the last couple of months. Because the staring has been going on for far too long now. She's been working her ass off ever since Arizona got back on track, ever since Arizona finally regained her full memory. Eliza's been working at the office and from home. She's really been putting her all into her work because she's been feeling like she needed to. Now her life is finally good again, it's running smoothly in every department. Her wife has recovered and is now back at work for the second week. And Eliza herself, she's working like a maniac without feeling like she's neglecting anyone while doing so. While Arizona were hospitalized, she felt bad she didn't work but when she finally worked she couldn't help feeling how abandoned Arizona felt by her. Although Arizona didn't know about them being married. But that's why she finally decided to take a leave of absence. But now she's back, though. She's back at work… but she's been feeling watched ever since being so.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Minnick-Robbins."

"Eliza, Sir. Please."

"Eliza..." the man smiles, giving her a soft nod. She needs this to be a little more personal because well, yeah... it is personal. She knows he is her boss, but right now she can't do with the formalities. She just needs answers. "I'm so very sorry that you've been uncomfortable lately. It really hasn't been my intention. I've just been very amazed by your working ethics. You've been extraordinary, Eliza. And I haven't asked you how you've been... which is also something I'd like to apologize for."

"How I've been, Sir?" Eliza asks, furrowing her brow.

"Yes. I've been meaning to ask you how your wife is and how you're managing. But you've been so engrossed in your work. And I know, Mrs. Minnick-Robbins... sorry, Eliza. I know you're good at what you do. That's why I hired you, after all. And... I haven't been able to ask you because well, I can't imagine what you've been going through. But believe me when I say that I'm so very happy for you. And your wife."

"Thank you, Sir," Eliza smiles kindly. He's really a sympathetic man, really. She's been feeling so blessed by the opportunity she was given five years ago. Because being employed by Mr. Webber at his law firm, it's been a dream of hers ever since graduating. "We are both doing fine. And Arizona is back at work so that's really amazing."

"Really? I'm so profoundly pleased to hear that she's doing so well."

Eliza doesn't really know what more to say to the man opposite her. He might have just apologized for a lot of things but it doesn't make the staring any less uncomfortable, though. Okay, she needs to grab the bull at the horns, as one would say. Nodding, she crosses her one leg above the other and laces her fingers in her lap.

"But, Sir. Mr. Webber?"

"Yes?"

"The... the staring. It needs to-"

"Consider it done," he smiles friendly. "I need to ask you one other thing, though. And I wouldn't ask you if I didn't think you would be the woman for the job, just know that."

"Sir?"

"You know I had to let Ms. Murphy go and therefor we've been shorthanded."

"I know," Eliza sighs, narrowing her eyes. Leah Murphy's dismissal has been one of the reasons why she's been working late the last couple of weeks. She knows very well that they're shorthanded these days. "I've had to take over some of her cases."

"Exactly," Mr. Webber clears his throat. "What I need to ask you... you see, I've hired a new pair of hands. And I was wondering if you could be her mentor? You know... get her into how things get done around here and so on?"

"You're asking me to mentor a new attorney?"

"Yes. If you're up for it? Have her on some of your cases, let her follow you in court... I really don't want to push you into anything. You're just, you're my best candidate, Eliza. But I understand if you feel like you can't at the moment what with your wife and all."

"My wife's fine, Sir," Eliza clarifies. Arizona's been very fine for a very long time now. And Arizona's been making it very clear that she doesn't want Eliza to turn down anything work-related anymore... because Arizona feels responsible for all the time off Eliza had been forced to take during the accident and the time afterwards. "I'll do it!"

"Really?"

"Really, Sir. I'd love to. When?"

"Her contract starts first of November."

"It's in two days, Sir?!" Eliza exclaims wide-eyed. "I haven't... I'm just..."

"I know. And I'm also apologizing for just throwing it at you with such short notice. I can find someone else to mentor Ms. Blake, but-"

"No, Sir. I'll do it. Just... I've got that big case with the Thornhill family. It's taking up all of my time."

"Bring her. Use her. Make her see what we do best here," the man raises his eyebrow, giving Eliza a slow nod of confidence. "I believe in you, Mrs. Minnick-Robbins. You've got this."

Entering her home, Eliza drops her purse to the floor while shrugging out of her winter's coat. It's late October and the autumn is slowly guiding Seattle towards winter time. Kicking off her ankle boots, Eliza lets the heath of her home hit her full force. It makes her shiver in pleasure. And it's good to finally be home. The silence is making her calm while the dim lightning is making her love her wife even more. Arizona knows how much Eliza and her eyes need the dim lighting when coming home this late which is why the blonde has made the small lamps glow.

From the corner of her eye, Eliza can see a plate atop the kitchen counter. Taking the steps towards the kitchen, Eliza smiles at her wife's cuteness. Atop the cling-filmed plate of rice, beans and broccoli is a note with Arizona's swirled letters.

Welcome home, honey.

It's vegetarian-day. Yay!

Eat your broccoli and come to bed.

I love you, A.

Looking at her watch, the digests tell Eliza that it's a little past midnight. Wow... she's been working way too much today... or tonight, actually. Eliza didn't even know it's gotten past midnight. She's been that engrossed in trying to write the best proceeding speech. She's due in court tomorrow, well today. And she's got to have a good night's sleep. But the thought of suddenly being a mentor has kept her mind spinning all night, too. It's not like she needs it, and it's not like she doesn't want it. Because truth is, Eliza loves teaching and she loves passing on her knowledge. And this is the perfect opportunity to do just that. It's just so sudden and she's so unprepared. But, but, but. No time for weeping, she could've just said no. So now she's got her new colleague arriving in two days, and she's got the big speech tomorrow. It's good. She can handle it. She can do it.

But first... she needs the meal Arizona has made for her. Her vegetarian meal. Snorting at her wife, Eliza grabs the plate and places it in the microwave. She loves Arizona, she really does. But her veggie meals are just silly sometimes. She can't complain, though. Not when she wasn't home when dinner had been made. So, Eliza will eat her very late dinner as a good wife. Placing herself in the swinging bench on the porch, she hugs herself with a blanket and pulls up her feet. This is amazing. Well, having dinner with Arizona would be the most amazing thing, but that just aren't possible every day. So this... Arizona having made her dinner, the silent night and the shining stars in the sky. This is her night. It's beautiful. And it's just... mesmerizing. Knowing that her wife is sleeping soundly upstairs just makes Eliza even more calm and happy. Her life is pretty damn good at the moment, if someone were to ask her how things were going. Sure, work's stressful but that's just how being an attorney is sometimes. But Eliza thrives. Really, she does. She loves her job, she loves her wife and she loves her life. Everything is finally as it should be… again.

Stuffing a forkful of hot rice and beans into her mouth, Eliza hums in pleasure. She loves a good steak and a juicy chicken breast but sure, this is amazing too. The wind hits her cheek from the left and she shudders a little, hugging her legs with one arm as the plate rests atop her knee caps. It makes it look quite artistic when Eliza slides the fork beneath the mountain of rice as she tries balancing the plate without any help from her hands. When she leans in above the plate to better catch the fork while still keeping the balance, a soft giggle is heard from the right. Eliza doesn't move, afraid of the plate falling from her knees.

"You need some help there?"

"Please!"

"You could've just placed the plate on the table, you know..." Arizona giggles as she approaches Eliza and takes the plate from her knees. "Although, it wouldn't have looked as cute."

"Shush!" Eliza puffs before taking the fork into her mouth. "I thought you were sleeping?"

Arizona kisses the top of the brunette's head and places herself beside her. "I heard you heat the food, so..."

"Ohhh... I'm sorry," Eliza rushes as she takes the plate from her wife's hand, placing it on the nearby table. Leaning in and kissing Arizona's lips, she feels her wife sighing into the lip-lock causing Eliza to smile.

"Don't be. I've missed you, so I just thought I'd go find you," Arizona shrugs, smiling. "Eat, honey."

Eliza does as she's told, taking the plate and stuffing her mouth with the food while a comfortable silence falls upon them. The night is clear as rain and the stars are so very visible; one thing Eliza knows Arizona can't get enough of. The stars have always been Arizona's preferred wonders of nature. It's kind of cute, really. And Arizona is currently watching the stars like she was watching a movie. It's a beautiful sight... Arizona's eyes searching the sky, the constellations and the patterns. Arizona's frame so relaxed, so at ease and so, so overwhelmingly beautiful. Eliza can't get enough of Arizona. She just can't.

"Stop watching me and eat your beans, Eliza," Arizona chuckles without looking at her.

"I prefer watching you, though."

"Cute. Although it doesn't fill your stomach."

"It fills my heart."

"Okay, smooth talker," Arizona replies with a soft chuckle as she turns her head to look at Eliza. "Eat and tell me all about your new title."

"It's not a new title per say," Eliza shrugs, taking another bite of broccoli and rice. "I'm just doing some kind of mentoring thing, is all."

"You'll be rocking it, that's for sure, honey," Arizona grins. "You're awesome."

"Now you're cute. Thanks. Let's just see how it goes."

"Yeah. Did you get the speech done?"

"You know it. I think... well, I hope I've got the all the right angles to get the jury on board," Eliza states a little hesitantly while finishing her meal. "I'll make sure they get all the facts, though. And I really intend on them getting a closer look into the children's reaction patterns."

"They couldn't be in better hands, Eliza," Arizona smiles, cupping her cheek.

"Thank you," Eliza smiles affectionately at her wife, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the blonde's lips. "And the staring thing... it's stopped."

"Really? I'm so proud of you... standing up for yourself," Arizona crinkles her nose in amusement. "What did he say?"

"Ha," Eliza nudges her wife's shoulder. "He offered me the mentor job."

"Then it all turned out to be a good thing, huh?"

"Well, he had been meaning to ask me how you were doing and all that... he just couldn't, I guess... and then he offered me mentoring Blake."

"You can tell him I'm doing perfectly fine and if he wants to give my wife a raise, he's-"

"I can't do that, you moron," Eliza exclaims, puffing.

"Think about it."

"Arizona, I'm not asking for a raise..."

"You've been working like a robot these last few months and I know it's because of me and-"

"Stop, Arizona. Please. It's not your fault."

"If you could stop interrupting me, that would be excellent," Arizona points her finger to Eliza's chest causing the brunette to drop her gaze in embarrassment.

"Sorry."

"Just... think about it, Eliza. You've earned it."

"I will, I promise," Eliza fixes her eyes on her wife's, catching Arizona shooting her a soft smile. "Did I tell you that I love you today?"

"Nah..." Arizona shrugs.

"Come here," Eliza chuckles, grabbing her wife by her shoulders and closing the distance between them. Their lips meet in a warm and passionate kiss, Arizona's hands on Eliza's cheeks as her thumbs strokes the skin they find. Eliza feels how her stomach is twirling, how all the butterflies bask and a round of love courses through her every vein. This is it. This. Right here. This is what she's living for. Arizona. This is what makes her wake up every morning and keep on going. This is why she longs to get home every night and crawl into bed. Arizona... it's all Arizona. She makes her want to breathe and live. And she makes her want to be better. She makes her want to do everything. Although it can seem impossible or hard, she knows she's got to at least try... and she knows she can try because she's got the support and the love from Arizona. This is it. Her life. And it's pretty damn amazing. "I love you, Arizona. I love you very much."

"Thank God," Arizona replies dramatically as she rolls her eyes, looking up at the roof of the porch.

"And thank you... for dinner," Eliza pecks Arizona's lips one more time. "Let's go to bed."

AN2: So, I managed to write this chapter today when I had planned on reading for my finals… tomorrow! So… consider yourself lucky ;) And now… reviews are appreciated.