There were four parts to Callie Torres' twenty-fifth birthday that led her to that specific moment in time, falling asleep with a smile on her face.

Part I

It was the loud ringing of her phone that jerked her out of sleep. She didn't have class today – lab was canceled – and she had fully intended on making the most of that happy coincidence and sleeping in. Maybe until noon, who was she to set a limit? Besides, she was allowed to be lazy today. It was her birthday.

Reaching her hand out, she grabbed the phone off the table next to her bed and slid her thumb across the screen to answer it, grunting, "Hello?"

A loud screeching in her ear woke her completely, and she jerked the phone away from her face, startled, as multiple voices sang, "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dearrrrr Callieeeeee! Happy birthday to you! Wooooo!"

Wide awake now, she sat up smiling, "Now, that's a wakeup call."

"Auntie Callie! Mommy says you're real old now. She says you're even older than her and daddy and they're old. Are you?" Came her niece's excited voice chirping into the phone.

Laughing, she settled into the blankets around her, "Yes, I'm really old. You better be careful, one day you're going to be just as old as I am!"

Now that voice had a defiant edge, "Nuh-uh, I'm gonna be five at my next birthday. That's not old; I'm just gonna be a big girl. You're a big, old girl."

In the background, she heard her sister say, "That's enough insulting Auntie Callie, honey, go finish packing your bag," before there was some shuffling and her sisters laughing voice was in her ear, "How does it feel being old? You're halfway to thirty, sis."

"Don't make it seem like I'm that much older than you are; you'll be twenty-five in fourteen months," she shot back, running a hand through her hair, noting that it was only just before eleven.

A heavy sigh came through the receiver, "Don't remind me. I'm getting up there in years; already twenty-four."

She snorted, "Yeah, twenty-four and happily married with two beautiful kids."

Now Aria's sigh was dreamy, "Very true, very true. Well look at you, twenty-five and brilliant, over halfway through school to become a surgeon. With a hot girlfriend," she added on, her voice mischievous.

"A hot girlfriend who I don't get to see today," Callie grumbled. She really shouldn't complain – Arizona had stayed over all weekend after spending the night last Friday, and they'd stayed in her bed pretty much through Sunday night, when she was feeling all better and they'd had incredibly mind-numbing sex. Then she'd stayed over Arizona's apartment Tuesday night. But her hot blonde girlfriend had to leave on Wednesday to go to a conference with Dr. Webber, scheduled to end Saturday morning.

She heard little feet scrambling around from her sister's phone as Aria spoke muffled words she couldn't hear before responding, "Well, that part sucks. But you're going to have an awesome celebration out tonight with Mark and Addison, right?"

"Right, I know," Her sister was right; she had two amazing friends who were going to take her out for a play she'd wanted to see for over two months and then for free drinks, so she really shouldn't complain. Especially when Arizona had promised her a great Saturday night date as a prelude to their two week spring break.

"Okay, I have to go bring Dani to her afternoon pre-kindergarten now. She wanted to call earlier, but I knew you were sleeping," Aria explained, then handed off the phone, as there was now a four-year-old voice in her ear.

"Happy birthday Auntie Callie! I love you!"

That voice could always put a smile on her face, "I love you, too, Dani! Have fun at school!" And as unceremoniously as only a child can do, the phone line went dead in her ear.

It was a good thing they'd woken her up, she thought, glancing at the clock, because if memory served, Arizona's next session wouldn't start until eleven, and that left her a good eight minutes to get in a morning phone call. Quickly pulling up her contact, she couldn't stop a smile spread over her face seeing the photo stored in the contacts, one she'd taken when the blonde had been brushing her teeth in Callie's bathroom, in Callie's pajamas, hair thrown haphazardly in a bun after just waking up, from earlier this week. Arizona didn't understand why she wanted that picture stored in her phone, but Callie loved it. It just said that Arizona was hers.

Her girlfriend's bubbly voice picked up after only one ring, "Happy birthday, beautiful!"

And she'd thought hearing Dani's voice made her smile… hearing Arizona's was like seeing the Miami sun come out on a cold, rainy Boston day, "Thank you! Good morning."

"I'm surprised you're up this early; I thought for sure you'd be sleeping until the afternoon, especially after we were up so late last night," the blonde teased.

Laughing she closed her eyes. Last night they'd been up until almost four in the morning on the phone. Arizona had called her at exactly midnight as to be the first person to wish her a happy birthday, and they just wound up talking until later than either of them had expected, "I just thought I should get up in solidarity for you, you know, having to get up at seven."

As if on cue, Arizona yawned, "I thought a show of solidarity would be you getting up at seven? You still got almost four more hours than I did!"

Still chuckling, she was about to settle back down into her blankets and cuddle into them for a few minutes with Arizona's voice when there was a knock on her door. Knowing Cristina was in class, she groaned.

The blonde heard the sound, "What's wrong?"

"I have to get out of bed," she answered, balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder and pushing herself up, grimacing at the cold floor touching her bare feet before she pulled on her robe to keep her tank top and shorts covered body warmer and covered, "Someone's at the door."

Arizona's voice held a knowing tone, "Ah, I see… you better answer it, then."

Feeling excited, she felt a little jaunt to her walk, "Arizona, if you are at my door right now, I think that would be the best birthday surprise –"

Simultaneously, she opened the door to see a man standing there just as her girlfriend's voice in her ear said, "I'm sorry to inform you, Calliope, but it's not me at your door. It could, however, be the Edible Arrangement chocolate covered strawberries I sent you."

"Arizona! You're the best," she said, grinning from ear to ear at the fact that her girlfriend remembered her favorite treat to have on her birthday, then slid the phone from her ear for a moment to answer the boy's questioning look.

"Are you Cal-Calliope Torres?" he asked, fumbling over her name a bit.

"I am," she answered inquisitively, anxiously signing her signature on the form her handed her, expecting a box from Edible Arrangements, but when he leaned over to retrieve her delivery, she was met with a bouquet of flowers that automatically brought a lump to rise in her throat.

"Have a good day!" The young man smiled at her and walked away after handing the floral arrangement to her.

Feeling numb, she looked down at the flowers with one arm in the same motion as if she was holding a baby, unable to move for a few seconds until she heard Arizona's voice, somewhat alarmed, from her phone, "Calliope? Are you still there? What's going on?"

As if her arm felt foreign, she raised the phone to her ear, her voice hardly more than a whisper as she tried to blink back her tears, "Um, it's… I didn't get your Edible Arrangements. I got flowers."

Confusion was palpable in her response, "Flowers? Who – I didn't send you flowers."

Taking a few steps to her right, she brought her arm up to place the bouquet on the counter, then lifted her hand to stroke over a petal, "I know." She had to clear her throat a few times, before she was able to say, "They're from my dad."

She knew it even before a shaking hand lifted the small, elegantly written card from inside the arrangement. Her room at home had always been kept with a fresh vase of red canna flowers, because her dad knew that they were her favorites. And when she'd moved up here to go to school, he always sent a bouquet of them to her on her birthday. She told herself not to get her hopes up about these flowers, but she couldn't stop that hopeful feeling from rising in her stomach.

Her hands tore open the card and flipped it open, reading the gold inscription on the cardstock,

My lovely Calliope, you've made it through another year and I can't believe how amazing you are and how lucky I am to have you as my daughter. Happy birthday, sweetheart – Daddy

Flipping the card over, that balloon of hope and excitement and happiness that was rising in her chest just popped, turning the card over and seeing the tiny time stamp at the bottom. He'd ordered these the day after her birthday, last year. The thoughts of possible reconciliation, of planning what she would say to him, were dashed in the blink of an eye and this time she couldn't properly blink back her tears.

She forgot she was still on the phone until Arizona's voice sounded in her ear, "Calliope? What's going on? You said they're from your father? Does this mean –"

Unable to control the hitch her breath took, she lifted her hand to wipe furiously over her eyes, collecting tears, dampening her hand, then knocked that same hand back down to slide the flowers into the trash, slamming the lid down, but keeping the card, crumpled, in her hand, unable to let it drop, "They're from last year. He pre-ordered them. I guess he forgot to cancel."

Feeling more tears burn the back of her eyes, she leaned on the counter for support and wished she had Arizona there, with her, instead of just on the phone. "I'm so sorry. Do you –"

Callie cut her off, because if she heard even one more word, she was just going to dissolve. And she didn't want to dissolve; she wanted her birthday to be a good day. She didn't want those stupid flowers, or that stupid note, or to hear her not stupid girlfriend's sympathetic voice, "I'm fine. But I have to, um, to go. I think Addison wants to take me out to lunch, so I should probably…" Tears clogged her throat, making it hard to breathe, "Probably get ready." Taking a few seconds to try to calm down, she took a few deep breaths and looked at the clock, "And it's a minute past eleven – you have to get to your next session."

"I can be late," Arizona's response was immediate and strong, but she couldn't… she just couldn't.

Shaking her head regardless of the fact that the blonde couldn't see her action, she lifted her hands to wipe away the stupid tears that wouldn't stop coming despite her mind telling them repeatedly that she didn't want them here, "No, no, you should go and be amazing. I'll, um, just see you tomorrow."

She hung up the phone before Arizona could get in another word and braced herself on the counter. This certainly wasn't how she'd thought her birthday would start off.

Part II

The dial tone buzzing low in her ear hurt marginally less than her girlfriend's broken voice had. Sighing, she walked through the doors she'd sat outside of to take Callie's call, walking to the long table that was lined with pastries and coffee, and poured herself a large cup.

She didn't want to be here, she wanted to be there. Even more now than she did last night. Having been raised on military bases, tears weren't openly shed by many people – she herself rarely cried due to emotional upset. Her issue with authority figures, different story. Regardless, tears had somewhat made her feel uncomfortable when other people cried around her. But back to the first time when Callie had cried on her – on Thanksgiving, which felt like years before now rather than a little over three months – she hadn't felt uncomfortable. Those tears that ripped apart the gorgeous Latina made her want to hold her until they went away.

The last time she'd seen those big, beautiful brown eyes fill up had been before they were actually in a relationship, that night in Callie's kitchen. The night before she realized that they were basically already in a committed relationship. She could still feel how that body had trembled against her, crying. Because of her parents. She'd been unable to resist taking her into her arms then, too.

And now, hearing her over the phone, and knowing that she was crying by herself just made Arizona need to be there. She didn't want Callie to hurt, and she really didn't want her to hurt all alone.

But she was at this conference that Dr. Webber had told her about last minute, Monday afternoon. It was for medical school Teaching Assistants from all over the country. And yes, it had been a great tool for making connections and the seminars she'd been attending weren't boring by any means. It really was a good opportunity, and she was more than happy that Dr. Webber had suggested it to her, thinking it would be good for her impending future.

Only now, she was here in New York, a four hour drive away from Boston, for her girlfriend's birthday. It had been okay knowing that they were going to be together for all of tomorrow, but now…

With a heavy sigh, she shook up four sugar packets to dump them into her cup. Normally, she drank it black, but on days like today, she needed to combination of the caffeine and sugar to keep her going.

"You had a late night, then?" A voice asked behind her, making her freeze.

Spinning on her heels, she stared, agape, at Joanne, "What?"

The redhead smirked and gestured at the cup of coffee, "You're loading that thing with sugar. I know you well enough to know you only do that when you're really tired."

Rolling her eyes, because the idea that Joanne knew her "well" at all, even after all their time together was just… "What are you even doing here?"

"It's a conference for TA's in med school… I actually took your position for Dr. Thiemann when you left," she explained, green eyes running down her body, then back up to her face in a way that once made her feel wanted but now just disgusted her, "You look surprised to see me."

"I am," she replied, tersely, taking a sip of her hot coffee. Joanne used to tease her for being a TA, saying it was the job of a brown-noser. But of course, as soon as Arizona had left, she jumped in to get her chance at taking the job. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at the face she'd spent years memorizing, "But you don't seem to look surprised to see me."

That slow smile spread like southern honey over her face, "I'm not. I saw your name on the index yesterday morning. I thought it was only a matter of time before we had a session together."

And of course she knew Arizona would be here, "Right. Well, I'm going to go find a –"

Interrupted by a booming voice from the front of the room, both girls turned to look at the lecturer, "Ladies, seeing as how we called for people to be in their seats a minute ago, I'm sure both of you wouldn't mind pairing up to volunteer for my demonstration?"

As everyone turned to face them, she felt her face flame bright red. Standing here, with her fucking ex-girlfriend while her awesome girlfriend was at home in a different state most likely crying her eyes out was so not how she'd expected today to go.

Part III

Callie's day did get better, thank god, by almost eight at night. Addison took her to their favorite bistro in the North End they'd discovered sophomore year of undergrad, then they joined up with Mark to go to the Boston Opera house to see a play Aria had sent her tickets to for today. It wasn't like that had been her first sting of rejection from her parents.

Swirling the brightly pastel colored fruity drink Addison insisted she drink because it was a birthday special, she stared into its brightly colored depths. Both of her friends were working hard to turn today around for her, and she truly loved both of them for it, but something was off.

The red cannas that were still sitting in her kitchen trash can were in the back of her mind. Her dad had the sharpest mind of anyone she knew; how could he have forgotten he pre-ordered them for her? Wouldn't he have noticed the charge go through on his credit card last month? She'd never had a birthday, in her now twenty-five years, where her parents hadn't been the first people to call her. Hell, her first year away from home, her mother had sent her a singing telegram. And look where they were now.

Even looking past the flower incident this morning, she thought the biggest problem was the lack of Arizona. Mark and Addison did brighten her spirits, both in their own ways, joking around, treating her to lunch, dinner, drinks. Both of them putting away their sniping for today, both of them dancing with her, making sure the juke box was playing her favorite songs. She insisted she needed a break from dancing – her moves were lackluster tonight, anyway – and was sitting at the bar for now.

Arizona just had this way of making her feel better, of making her feel just… good. She needed that. She needed her girlfriend. Frowning as she took out her phone for what felt like the billionth time, she put it down heavily on the bar next to her. After their phone call, Arizona's phone had been off for a few hours, as it was required to be during these lectures she was attending. But it was practically eight o'clock now, and all of the responses she'd gotten since Arizona's last seminar at three had been very pithy. Abrupt, almost.

She felt herself pout a little bit – she just wanted to be with her girlfriend on her birthday, and since that wasn't possible, she wanted to at least talk to her. Was that too much to ask? Looking down at the blank screen on her phone, she sighed, she guessed it was.

"Cheer up, pretty lady. I hear it's your birthday," an all too familiar voice said, low in her ear.

Feeling her heart race, she spun around to see Arizona smiling back up at her. And just like that, it felt like her problems melted away. That super magic smile beaming right up at her, and one of the very few genuine smiles she'd granted all night appeared on her face, "What are you doing here? I thought your last conference brunch thing wasn't until tomorrow morning."

The smile dimmed just a bit, "It is. But I left early and drove back, which is why I haven't really been texting you for a few hours. I needed to see you, in person, because… I really need to tell you something."

Curious, she lifted a brow, "What about? Don't get me wrong, I think you showing up here, right now, is literally the best thing that happened to me all day, but what was so important you – Arizona Robbins who never missed a class – skipped out on this conference early?"

That smile dimmed even more, turning into an anxious look, "We should…" she looked around the semi-crowded bar, then looked out the door, "Can we leave and maybe talk about this at your apartment?"

Looking over at Addison and Mark who were both still dancing, she nodded, "Sure."

Arizona's hand reached out and gripped hers, practically dragging them across the street, not talking. And as the silence continued to reach them until they got to her apartment door, Arizona's anxious look started to make her feel anxious. What in the world could her girlfriend have to tell her?

Coming to a halt outside of her door, she looked down at Arizona's large suitcase on wheels that was parked next to the door, and the blonde rushed to explain, "Oh, well, I didn't really know where you were, but I figured drinks at Joe's would be a safe place to start. And I didn't want to be wheeling this behind me the whole time, so I just dropped it off here, first."

"Um. Okay," she responded, nerves starting to tangle in her stomach at the way Arizona was now clasping her hands together and biting on her bottom lip. Whatever was so important that she'd left her conference early and then didn't take the time to stop at her apartment first… with a deep breath, she unlocked the door and led them both in, through the kitchen, into her bedroom.

Arizona closed the door behind them then took a deep breath, "Okay. Um. I bought you a plane ticket, for your birthday."

That… hadn't been what she'd expected, but it did make her feel a little bit better, because she thought maybe the blonde's nerves were those same ones she got when talking about commitment and maybe she was second guessing herself. That was something she could deal with. Familiar Arizona territory. Smiling a bit, she took a step closer to her girlfriend, "Arizona… I don't understand what's so bad about that. Unless it's a one way ticket to Timbuktu and you're trying to tell me something here," she joked, trying to get the blonde to lighten up and tell her what the big problem was.

A small laugh edged out of pink lips, "Ha, no. It's a two-way ticket, to go with mine. To visit my parents for spring break. We would leave Sunday night. It was presumptuous, I know that, but I just… I want you to meet them. My mom already loves you and she asks me when I'm bringing you home every time we talk, so I thought… maybe…"

Putting an end to her ramble, Callie laughed. If this was Arizona's big problem, then there was still a chance that this could be a pretty good birthday. Closing the distance between them, she took the tense, slim hands in her own and lowered her mouth to gently skim over Arizona's, whispering, "I would love to go to your parents with you. Addison had been toying with the idea of Cancun, but I'd much rather go to Virginia with you."

Wide, blue eyes stared at her as soft thumbs stroked over her hands, and she could feel Arizona's pulse racing. Then, words that she didn't predict coming out of Arizona's mouth spilled out, "Joanne was at the conference. And she made a move on me."

Callie stared at the tearful, nervous looking blonde, as her heart felt like it was going to stop beating. Just drop right out of her chest to the floor. This was it. Hands down, the worst birthday of her entire life.

Part IV

The warm, caramel hands that had taken hers into that paradoxically strong and soft hold dropped and she watched as tears filled those deep brown eyes. Before Callie, she didn't really think twice about brown eyes – they were brown, what else was there to say? But her girlfriend's said a thousand words with one glance. Before she could say anything more, Callie was already yelling a mile a minute.

"She – she made a move on you? What like, kissed you? Did you… what… how… did you like it? Is that what you had to drive back to tell me? Oh my god, that's what you came back to tell me about. You want to be back with Joanne," Callie's voice was raised so high now, almost in hysterics.

She stood, as if glued in place, watching as Callie's eyes seemed to turn to fire and simultaneously brimmed with tears. Her heart was beating so fiercely in her chest, she thought she might pass out, and the feeling only intensified when Callie stopped all movement and stared her right in the eyes, "Arizona, just – just answer me because I need to know. Do you want to be with Joanne?"

Arizona wanted to answer her, wanted to speak, she wanted to scream the way she felt at the Latina who was now storming around the room, grabbing Arizona's suitcase and yanking it toward the door, but the words were stuck and they wouldn't come out no matter how much she tried. It wasn't until the sound of the door actually opening snapped her back into reality and she leapt forward, grabbing Callie's wrist in a tight grip as the words finally ripped from her throat, "Don't make me go. I don't want to be with Joanne."

Callie tore her wrist from the grasp, closing her eyes against Arizona's probing blue ones, and she swallowed hard. Arizona could see her swallow back tears, and her voice was nearly broken when she opened her mouth again, "I can't take this tonight, don't you see that? I can't… I can't… I need you to go."

Seeing a heeled foot take one more step toward the door , taking the suitcase with her, Arizona jumped forward and slammed the door shut again, her heart now pounding against her ribs so loud she could hear it in her ears, "Well, you can't make me go! Joanne made a move on me, that's all I said. She tried to kiss me, and I pushed her away. I pushed Joanne away for the first time in my life, Calliope, because I love you! Can't you see that? You made me fall in love with you; I had all of my rules about sleepovers and bringing women back to my place and the three-times-or-less rule because I've had my heart shattered and now you made me fall in love with you. And it's more, it's bigger, than I ever felt for Joanne or ever wanted to feel or thought I could feel for anyone. I didn't even know it was possible to love another person this much, but now I do and –" she cut herself off, feeling tears burn the back of her eyes as she took a heaving breath and managed to calm herself down, "But now that I do, and you can't make me leave."

Callie's heart had stopped beating again. In a good way, in the best way she'd ever thought imaginable. It was in her throat listening to the most amazing words ever being spoken to her, and she held herself back – she thought patiently – until those blue eyes, deeper than the ocean, she was positive, looked up at her. They were glistening in tears now, and they were… Arizona was… "I love you. I love you so much, and you love me."

Arizona nodded now, words seeming impossible for her again, but that was absolutely fine with Callie. Kicking her bedroom door closed again, dropping the handle of the suitcase, letting it fall to the floor, she was in front of the blonde in two strides, wrapping her arms around her slim waist and pulling her tight against her body. She could feel Arizona's heart beat against her own chest and she closed her eyes, breathing in her smell, lowering her mouth to the blonde's ear, "I know you're still scared. And I know that took a lot for you to say. But I love you so much, and Joanne didn't love you right, baby, but I will. I do."

Arizona nodded against Callie's shoulder, the feel of the Latina's breath on her ear making her shiver, and she whispered back, "You already do." She leaned back just enough to tip her head back and get up on her tiptoes, bringing their mouths together, feeling those plump lips against her own, continuing, "Calliope, I'm in this now. I love you, and I love hard. You can't get rid of me now."

"I don't want to," was all that could be breathed out before those lips attached themselves to her own, a warm tongue seeking entrance in Arizona's mouth.

She sucked on it frantically, pulling it deeper into her mouth, groaning at the taste of Callie. Her hands came up, pulling off Callie's jacket, then dropping it to the ground, wasting no time in dropping her hands to the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head, needing to feel the soft skin underneath.

The front clasp bra. God damn, she loved that front clasp bra, she thought, her clit throbbing in response, the need to have Callie consuming her. The bra joined the other clothes on the ground, her hands immediately zipping up to cup those deliciously heavy mounds. Her thumbs swiped back and forth over rock-hard nipples, the Latina's mouth falling back in a moan.

Taking advantage of the new position, she dipped her head, attacking that neck with her teeth. The skin in her mouth was so fucking warm and smooth, and she loved feeling Callie's pulse jackhammer under her tongue.

The Latina's hands pulled and tugged at her top, and she pulled back, giving them just enough space between them for her clothes to join Callie's. Dark eyes stared at her revealed breasts, hands reaching up, tweaking her nipples. A grunt made its way from her lips, and she arched her back so those hands touched her more firmly, her own reaching down to unbuckle Callie's hands.

Callie kicked them the rest of the way down, then reached for the blonde's, yanking her jeans off, down slim legs, her hand coming up to cup Arizona. Digging her hands into strong, caramel shoulders, she swore, "Fuck, Calliope, I – I…" Unable to get the words she needed to say out with those hands touching her, she forced herself to step back.

Callie gave her a confused look, "What…"

Biting her bottom lip, feeling uncharacteristically shy, she looked in the direction of her suitcase, "I got you the plane ticket… but I also got you – us – something… else. For your birthday."

Perfectly shaped eyebrows drew down, and Arizona had to work so hard to keep her eyes on Callie's face instead of those heavy, glorious breasts, "Arizona, what are you talking about?"

"I, well, there was this shop a few blocks from the hotel where the conference was, and I went in, and…" it was just easier to show her, she decided, and bent down, freezing, pleasure ripping through her as she felt Callie's hands land on her butt, kneading the muscles there. With shaking hands, she drew out the gift she'd gotten, holding onto it by the harness, and turning, presenting it to the Latina, whose mouth dropped open. "I… you said before you wanted to try it. And I thought we could. And tonight, right now, I want to be in you."

"Yes!" Callie's bright brown eyes snapped to hers, the desire in them so blatant, Arizona felt her wetness increase just from staring into them. Hurried tan hands reached out to grip the medium sized blue dildo attached to it, and seeing her hand there made something inside of Arizona snap, pushing Callie backwards by her shoulders so she fell onto her bed.

Arizona had the straps around her waist by the time Callie had pushed her hair out of her face, her heart pounding as she climbed over the Latina. Reaching down to test the Latina's wetness, she was shocked as her fingers slid right between her lips, "You – how are you so ready already?"

Callie's teeth clenched, her hands rising to cup Arizona's cheeks, "You. You are so fucking sexy Arizona, and I want you, all the time. And especially right now."

Taking the toy in her hand, she reached down, brushing the tip lightly through Callie's folds, gathering moisture on it. She drew away her fingers that had been playing in the liquid heat moments before, and slid them over the shaft. Keeping just the tip at her entrance, she bent down, nibbling lightly on Callie's lips, feeling those hips writhe under her, "Are you ready? Now? Or do you –"

The hands that had been tenderly stroking the hair from her face slid down, over her back, to grip her butt hard, pulling them tighter together, the toy slipping inside, "Now, Arizona, I want you now."

Rocking her hips, she thrust the first couple of inches in, reveling in the way Callie arched her back and drew her legs up so they were bent at the knee. Encouraged by those hands digging in firmer, she rocked again, going farther, this time knowing Callie's walls were clenching the toy, feeling the friction on her clit. Dropping her forehead to a tan shoulder, she struggled to get her breathing under control.

But Callie didn't have that kind of patience, and she rolled her hips up, taking in the entire length, making both of them moan in tandem, holding in place for just a second, before Arizona pulled out slowly, then worked back, in, closing her eyes at the feeling of the way the harness rubbed her clit every time she pushed in.

That slow, savory pace didn't last for long, minutes later sweat beaded on her forehead, their rhythm now frantic, both of them searching for that release. Every time she thrust in, she paused for just a second, grinding down against the harness, her clit throbbing against it, driven on by the sheer animalistic sounds dropping from luscious lips. Smooth, tan legs wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her hard against the curvy, sweaty body below her.

She was so close, she thought, as her hips rubbed in fast circles, feeling her center already beginning to clench. Panting, she asked, "What – god, Calliope, you're – uhhhh – what do you need?"

Those big, soulful dark eyes flipped open, and the sight of them nearly sent her over. Gritting her teeth she held on, wanting to keep herself from coming before Callie. She wanted to come – oh, fuck – together, and the Latina's amazing hips worked against hers. She groaned, her hands digging into Arizona's ass, "Say it. Say –" her eyes rolled back for just a moment before she came back to blue eyes, her back arching, "I'm cl-close, but I w-want you to say – you love –" she broke off on a moan, her eyes rolling back again as Arizona thrust deep, against a particularly sensitive spot.

Recognizing that, and that moan setting her on the edge again, she slowed their hips down. Before Callie was able to say a thing, she pulled her hips back, the dildo almost leaving Callie completely, before thrusting in, finding that spot again. As Callie groaned, she rocked forward against that spot, "I –" she rocked again, this time her own eyes rolling back as their nipples rubbed against each other, "Love –" she rocked once more, as deep and hard as she could, gasping out, "You," as her she was thrown head first into her orgasm.

Her body collapsed on top of Callie's, tan hips jerking wildly, strongly against hers, her entire body trembling, the most incredible feeling stealing all of her breath, all of her strength. Eventually, those long legs lazily slid off of her, falling onto the bed, long fingers tracing patterns over her back.

As soon as she was able to, she propped herself up on her elbows, still breathing hard, and reached down. Moving her hips back, she pulled the strap-on out of Callie, who groaned gravelly at the empty feeling. When the straps were off of her, she all but fell back down onto the bed, instinctively turning her head into Callie's shoulder, as the Latina wrapped her arm around her waist.

They laid there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Arizona bringing her hand up to rest right over Callie's heart, feeling it beat under her palm. She loved this woman. She was in love, and she'd said the words, and it felt good. Lying here together wasn't just their usual after sex, pre-sleep cuddling. It was better. It was love.

Callie ran her hand down the blonde's smooth back, then gently scraped her nails up, "Arizona?" she asked, her voice low.

Her girlfriend's breath was starting to even out, and she sleepily hummed back, "Hmm?"

"I love you," she said, and even though she'd said the words several times in the last hour, she couldn't get enough of them. She'd wanted to repeated them to Arizona for over a month, and now she could.

She felt those perfect, pink lips smile against her shoulder, her tired voice saying the words Callie had only heard a few times, but she knew for a fact she wanted to hear them again and again, forever, "I love you too, Calliope. Happy birthday."

Arizona was in this, she'd said. She loved hard and she held on and she meant it. So, the way she saw it, regardless of whatever other crap was going to happen, it didn't matter. Maybe, now, she didn't have her parents. But she had two awesome best friends – who were probably wondering where the hell she disappeared to – and a sister, brother-in-law and niece and nephew who were there for her. And she had her girlfriend, who loved her, who wanted her to meet her parents. Who was in this, in them, for the long haul. And knowing that, having that security wrapped around her the way Arizona's arm was around her waist as she drifted off into sleep, was enough to put a smile on her face.

Please let me know what you thought of this chapter! Kind of like when I was going to have them get together, I didn't plan on Arizona saying I love you at this point, either, but I just felt like it had to happen because I knew she felt it then. Thank you so much for reading!