PART 2

"I am sorry for being so emotional" Julie continued. "This was not my intention."

Arizona responded with a shaky voice, "No, it's ok."

"I wanted you to find me. Everything I did for those first five years was for you. And then something changed. I started doing it for me. I started going to meetings for me, not because I wanted to make you proud. It was because I wanted to make myself proud. I started going to church again, for me. I talked to my parents about that night, for me. I went to counseling, for me. And somewhere along the line it paid off. I made it. That night was the hardest thing I have ever been through. And I regret everyday that I abandoned you. But it helped me find myself. When I absolutely had to do it for myself, I did it. And that is something that I am proud of."

"Julie…." Arizona said, giving Callie's hand a tight squeeze before releasing her hand and taking Julie's hands in her own. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I didn't know what to do. I wanted more than anything to help but I feared that I would make it worse if I pushed things. I knew that I reminded you of what happened and I felt that I had disappointed you for not being there or not doing something more. They wouldn't even let me see you at the hospital. And I was so angry. And scared. I called your mother every day for a month and she told me how you were but that you needed space. Then it went to every week. Then a few times a month. Then it just hurt too much and I stopped."

Callie kept a protective hand on Arizona's leg, her heart reeling from the emotions between the two women.

"But we got our happy ending, Zona. I met someone. Her name is Jess. I met her at a rape survivor's meeting. You aren't really supposed to date people you meet at those things, and we didn't right away. It just kind of happened. She understood me. I understood her. I took care of her and was able to allow her to take care of me without feeling guilty or weak. We fit. We have been together for three years. We are getting married in February. She reminds me of you Zona. So strong. Headstrong and determined but caring and compassionate. She doesn't have your beautiful blonde hair, but she does have a Mercedes, so I guess it evens out."

Arizona laughed and wiped away her tears, finding Callie's hand again with her own.

"So you are happy…" Arizona questioned.

"I… am… truly truly happy. For the first time since the night before the attack, Zona. I am happy."

"And you were happy then…? Before? It wasn't something that I did that made it easy to leave?"

"God, no Arizona." Julie said, staring fiercely into Arizona's eyes. "You were perfect. You were amazing. Too perfect for me to feel comfortable being broken. I could not break your spirit. I just couldn't. So trusting. And honest. I felt like I would ruin you."

Arizona let her tears fall freely and looked to Callie, suddenly realizing that she was probably very uncomfortable with her conversation with Julie. Callie gave her a reassuring smile and wiped away a tear which escaped her eye. Arizona brought her hand to rest on Callie's cheek and gave her a heartfelt smile, running her thumb over Callie's cheek bone.

"And you are happy, too" Julie stated after observing this interaction.

"I am." Arizona said without breaking eye contact with Callie. "I am."

Callie wiped away another tear before kissing Arizona's palm. "I have to get back to work. Are you going to be ok babe?" She asked Arizona.

"I am." Arizona's eyes fluttered a few times from Callie to Julie, not knowing whether she should leave with Callie or stay and speak with Julie. Callie noticed her uneasiness and smiled warmly. "Why don't you come walk me out and you can get back to talking." Arizona smiled sweetly and both women stood. Callie walked to the other side of the table and, as Julie stood, she wrapped her in a tight hug. "It is so good to meet you Julie. I had heard a lot about you but her words did not do justice to your strength and character. Arizona and I are both lucky to know you. I have to go but I hope that you and Jess can come to dinner one night. You can meet Sophia, whom I am sure Arizona will talk all about once she gets the chance. It would be nice."

"That would be…. Really nice actually. I will talk to Jess. She was a little nervous about me coming to meet Arizona. But I think knowing that you were here will put her at ease."

"Alright. Well you two catch up. It was very nice meeting you" Callie again hugged Julie and looked to Arizona.

"I will walk you out, excuse me for a second Julie."

Once the women were outside Arizona wrapped Callie in a hug that stopped her in her tracks. In the middle of the parking lot the two women held each other tightly. "You are…..amazing, Calliope."

"So I have been told."

Arizona laughed. "Do you know how much I love you?"

"I have an idea. Just remember that when she is talking about your beautiful blonde hair again." Callie smiled, letting Arizona know that she was joking. "I have to go baby. Go talk. I trust you. And I love you." Callie kissed her girlfriend and walked to her car, giving her a genuine smile before driving off.

"I love you too."

Arizona entered the restaurant again, sitting in front of Julie.

"She is gorgeous"

Arizona smiled. "She is. And brilliant. You know she is single-handedly heading up a project that is creating synthetic cartilage? It could be ground breaking. She has been nominated for the Harper Avery which, I don't know if you are familiar, but it is a huge deal. She is such a good mother. And she is just…. Perfect. She pulled me out of a dark place."

"You look so happy Arizona."

"I am… I really am" She said smiling

"I am happy for you. You guys gonna get married?"

"I haven't really thought about it. We haven't discussed it. I mean it is not like it would change anything. We live together. Sophia calls me Momma. Oh Julie, Sophia… you would absolutely love her. She is the spitting image of Callie, dark olive skin, black hair, big chocolate brown eyes. She has the cutest little laugh. And she is so happy. All the time. Just happy. For no good reason. It is so refreshing. Sometimes I hold her when she is sleeping and I just…" Arizona lowered her gaze and blushed. "I am sorry, you probably don't care about any of this."

"No, no. Go ahead. Please."

"Ok. Well I just feel so lucky. "

"You are lucky, Arizona. We both are."

"Well what made you want to get married?"

"Hm. That is a good question. One day I just looked at her and calling her my girlfriend seemed so juvenile. What I felt for her didn't deserve to be summed up the same way as a high school relationship. The thought of losing her… well I just couldn't think about it. And I just knew. I knew that I wanted to make it official. Not that that matters I guess. But she deserves it." Julie smiled.

Arizona smiled at Julie, reached her hand across the table and took Julie's in her own. "I still care so much about you Julie. I always have."

"I know, Zone. I love you, too. I probably always will. This is good though. This new friendship. It is good."

Arizona gave Julie's hand a squeeze and smiled. "Well I should let you get back to work. I probably need to do so myself." The women stood and pulled each other in for a tight hug.

"Bye Julie"

"Bye Zona"