Eliza's POV

This is huge, Eliza knows that. This might be the greatest gift Arizona has ever gotten her. Besides when she said yes to become her wife, of course. But other than that... this might be the biggest gift Arizona has ever given her. No, it's actually the most important one. Because Eliza knows what this kind of gift means. She knows that this isn't just any chair. This isn't a chair-chair. It's the chair. It's the chair Arizona and Tim both got nursed in as babies. It's a handmade rocking chair made by Arizona's great grandfather which has been carried on through generations of Robbins babies. And now it's on their front porch. Now the rocking chair Arizona's mentioned a couple of times during the time they've known each other is actually here. That can only mean one thing, and Eliza knows that.

"Arizona..." Eliza breathes out, an affectionate smile on her face. "Of course, I remember."

"Really? It's been awhile since I told you about it, but it just popped into my mind earlier today. With us talking about starting a family and all."

"Not just talking about it, honey," Eliza smiles, softly shaking her head. "We're doing it."

"And that's why I wanted you to have this..." Arizona gestures towards the rocking chair. "This is yours. Ours, now. If you want it, of course. But if you think it's too old or ugly or anything, just... tell me. And we can totally find something else."

It's really cute, Arizona's rambling that is. But it has got to stop now. Eliza has always known how much that chair means to Arizona. She's always known the specific tradition and memories it holds. So it's definitely no surprise that Arizona would want to make it their chair, their baby's chair. It's no shock whatsoever that Arizona wants to decorate their future baby's room with the special furniture. And honestly, Eliza wouldn't want it any other way, really. It is adorable and it is kind of antic in a beautiful way. The tiny engraved flowers and the meticulous pattern on the armrest... and the wood has his chestnut-ty colour with a touch of bronze. It really is marvellous. And to think that Arizona would doubt her appreciation of the wooden piece of art, well that's just stupid.

"Arizona, I love it. And I really, really wanna carry on your family's tradition. It would be an hour, honey."

"God, I love you," Arizona lets a deep sigh leave her throat, a relieved smile on her face. "I don't know why I suddenly got nervous about what you'd say, it's just... Eliza, it really means the world to me. Thank you," Arizona sighs contently, that special smile forming on her lips as Eliza can't help her own enormous smile creeping all the way up to her ears.

"You don't need to thank me, Arizona. Actually, it's me who should be thanking you," Eliza grins, running her one hand through her wife's hair only to stroke her up and down the neck.

"How so?"

"For wanting me to help you carry on the tradition."

"Eliza... there's no one else I want. I want you. And I've always wanted you. You're it. If anyone were to be the mother of my child and nurse them in that chair, it's gotta be you. Only you," Arizona nods slowly, stroking Eliza's cheek lovingly while her other hand grabs her neck to pull her in closer. Their lips connect in a sweet kiss, the butterflies in Eliza's stomach bouncing around.

It's Arizona's birthday. She should be the one receiving gifts, not Eliza. It's all just very surprising but so very, very amazing as well. She didn't expect this getting up this morning, that's for sure. Arizona has finally come to terms with her birthday, good terms. She's finally accepted the joy of her own birthday which makes Eliza so completely happy. But this? Arizona giving her the rocking chair as a symbol of their new family... it's just. It's overwhelming but in an unbelievably good way.

"You know I love you, right?" Eliza croaks out, her voice think with tears. Okay, so she's emotional. It's no secret. They've just established the fact that Eliza is very emotional wherever her wife is concerned, but she didn't plan on crying today. But she is. She is crying but due to the powerful feelings Arizona continues to explore and develop deep inside of her.

"I do, honey," Arizona smiles, wiping away Eliza's tears with her thumbs. "Please don't cry."

"I can't," Eliza chuckles through her tears.

"Oh," Arizona smirks. "You're being super emotional because of me right now, aren't you?"

Eliza can't help the laugh erupting from deep within, Arizona quickly joining in. Pulling her wife into a hug, Eliza sniffles as their laughter subsides. "Thank you for the chair. Even though it isn't my birthday. So just… thank you."

Arizona's orbs of cerulean meet Eliza's eyes, the sheer love pulling Eliza further and further into her wife's soul. And it's unquestionably a beautiful place to be, to camp out, to stay forever. "I know but since I've been such a birthday Grinch in the past, I thought it was the perfect time, and you know what they say... New chapter, new chair, right?"

"No one says that," Eliza snorts, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Then they should."

"Definitely," Eliza smiles, placing another kiss to her wife's soft lips. "You ready for dinner now?"

"Absolutely," Arizona agrees with a big smile.

Eliza's got a new case today. A new case containing a set of parents and a 7-year-old boy. Both parents have gotten a new partner and now they both want their son to play happy family 24/7. It's just not as simple as that, unfortunately. Eliza scratches her neck, letting out a deep sigh. Looking at her screen with all the facts, Eliza tries dividing all the information in groups of relevance. Pros and cons. Yeah, it isn't the most professional kind of working but sometimes it's just necessary. The mother has a full time job at a nursing home and her new husband is a successful architect with his own company. On the other hand, the boy's father is a sought out orthodontist with a specialty in dental braces while his new girlfriend works part time at the local pedicure shop. Both households want the child. And they want him full time because they can't let go of the fact that he's their child and not some object they can use for their own social status. It's horrible, really. But the worst part is not how they pull the boy in two different directions, no. It's how they don't treat him as if he's a person, a human being with feelings and opinions. And that's where Eliza comes into the picture. Thank God. She's been hired as the mother's attorney who claims the boy's father to be a complete imbecile. Eliza knows that isn't the case but she's got to speak for her client… with the boy's health and wellbeing at the main priority. She's just got to find the perfect angle, is all.

"What's on today's agenda?" Penny asks Eliza from her opposite desk.

"I've got a meeting with Mrs. Lawson in an hour, then we've got to go over our procedure for the upcoming hearing," Eliza clarifies, clicking her pen furiously.

"Where d-do you, um where do you want m-me?"

The stuttering and the blushing has been going on ever since she introduced Arizona, and frankly... it's annoying Eliza to say the least. Penny Blake has got to gather herself. Arizona isn't even here. Letting out a deep sigh, Eliza looks at Penny. She's got to rip off the bandage if they're going to work together... because they are. They're colleagues. And they share a freaking office. They need to be able to co-work without Penny being all nervous or whatever it is she's being. Penny needs to work through whatever her deal is and be professional. Eliza is sure Penny is quite capable of doing that. She's a grown woman for God's sake. Penny might have a crush on her wife but she needs to handle it, though. She needs to put her personal things aside because it's gotten out of control and affecting her work.

"Ms. Blake, can I ask you something?" Eliza clears her throat. Penny's eyes widen as if Eliza had just electrocuted her.

"Um, y-yes, of course."

"I'm going to be very frank because I feel like it's becoming a problem. Or it could become a bigger problem if we don't address it now," Eliza slides her glasses up to rest atop her head while she leans slightly across her desk and clasps her hands in front of her.

"O-kay."

"Do you have a problem with me? With working with me that is? Because I feel like you can't look me in the eye... which is kind of a problem when we need to work long hours and go over case upon case. I need you focused and believe me, you're good. I mean, you're a very competent attorney but there's just something..."

"Can I, can I say something before you continue?" Penny interrupts. "Respectfully, of course."

"Go on," Eliza nods.

"It's not because I won't, you know. Look you in the eyes. I always get like this which is rather silly, I know. But I always get like this when... when I," Penny explains, her eyes wandering the room.

"When you what? You always get like what?"

"I always get nervous whenever I'm around... whenever I'm around someone I, um, someone I like."

"Someone you like?"

"Yeah. It's not that I want to act on it. I didn't come here to... um, I didn't mean to feel this way. Believe me, I didn't seek it."

"Okay, you need to help me out here," Eliza shakes her head in confusion. "What is it exactly you're trying to tell me?"

"I didn't plan to feel this way, Mrs. Minnick-Robbins. I came here to work. I came here because I've always appreciated your work as I've told you before. I didn't expect to develop feelings. And definitely not when I found out about your marriage."

So much is happening inside of Eliza's head right now. It's becoming rather hard to differentiate all her thoughts and the facts she's just been giving. But one thing is perfectly clear to Eliza now. She wasn't wrong when picking up on the gay vibes Penny had been giving when Arizona had entered their office. She's isn't wrong in thinking Penny's got the hots for her wife. It's understandable, sure. But it isn't welcomed, anyway. They can't work together if Penny can't get over her crush and be present, useful and efficient. Good thing it finally came out, though. Then Eliza can make a stop to it and they can move on.

"I see," Eliza clears her throat, giving the framed picture of her wife a sideway glance. "Well, as flattering as you finding my wife attractive may be, I think we need to work through this on a professional level... it's out in the open now, so you can just take it easy. It's okay. I'm not going to hold it against you, Ms. Blake. We don't chose who we want to have feelings for, it's not possible. So, how about we just work now? With eye contact and comprehending sentences?" Eliza suggests with a friendly smile. She's not an evil person. She's not mean or anything remotely like that. Penny can't help how she feels... but she can try to pack them away and just work.

The redhead looks like she's contemplating whether to speak or bolt through the door, leaving a Penny-shaped hole in the glass wall. Eliza tries analysing the redhead's facial expression, but she gives her nothing. Penny lets a deep sigh escape her throat, her shoulders slumping and then she stares right back at Eliza. Okay, something loaded is going to come flying out of the mouth of Eliza's new colleague, that's for sure.

"That's not it."

Surprised, Eliza furrows her brow. It wasn't exactly what she expected Penny to say. "I'm sorry what?"

"That's not it, Eliza..."

They've never been to first name basis except from the time where Eliza introduced herself. So this is rather strange.

"S-sorry. I just... it's not, um... my feelings, I haven't got feelings for your wife."

"Okay, you gotta give me more words, Ms. Blake. Because I don't understand anything anymore."

"My feelings... they're for you. And that's why I've got..." Penny finally reveals, her nails scratching the surface of her desk. "That's why I haven't been able to look you in the eye."

"So..." Eliza tries catching up with what she's just been given of information. Surely it can't be true. She's got it all wrong. Penny must've expressed her words wrong.

"So yeah. It's not your wife, it's-"

"Imma stop you for minute," Eliza holds op a hand, cutting off Penny's words.

Okay, so she may have been wrong in her assumption of Penny having feelings towards her wife. But there were feelings involved in all of this. Just... they were aimed at her. Penny's got feelings for... her. Eliza can't believe it. It's just so absurd, so unreal to imagine this woman having any sorts of romantic feelings concerning her. Penny hasn't been able to look her in the eye ever since her first day, but Eliza always thought it to be because of the idolizing of her as an attorney. Never in a million miles did Eliza imagine Penny's stuttering and blushing to be caused by the redhead's crush on her. "You have feelings... for me?" Eliza widens her eyes, her heart beating weirdly in her chest.

"Yes."

All this time she's been bugged by something that wasn't even real. All this time Eliza has been tweaking about Penny's intentions regarding Arizona. But it's all been in her head. It's all been imaginative. Truth is, Eliza hasn't been able to see Penny feelings regarding her because she'd been positively sure Penny's nervous actions were caused by Arizona. It all started when Penny accidentally knocked over the framed picture of Arizona on her desk. And then Arizona turned up. And then the sweaty palms... it wasn't caused by Arizona in particular. It's because of her. It's because of her and her being married to Arizona. It's perfectly clear now. How the hell does she get out of this situation without it being awkward? Damn it.

All Eliza wanted was a stress free and drama free life. She's been through enough drama and emotional rides to last her a lifetime what with Arizona's amnesia and the accident. She can't also deal with this. Nope. And she's about to start a family now, for crying out loud. In this very moment Arizona's picking up a various amount of files of potential donors. Because tonight's the night where they start the process… or some of it, anyway. It's one of topics they want to address and check off before Christmas and New Year's. So Eliza can't handle this right now. She really can't deal with a co-worker crushing on her. Arizona's going to be an emotional wreck when they've finally gotten the seeds planted in her stomach, that's for sure… which is why Eliza can't have Penny becoming an issue. It would just disturb the process and Arizona's mood. This is just surreal. Eliza needs a break. Eliza needs a safe place. She needs to get out. Thankfully she's got the meeting with Mrs. Lawson, and if she's sneaky… she can get out of here without Penny finding out. Eliza knows it's childish, but she can't help it right now. She needs to think and she thinks better when being alone and going over her procedure. It's not teaching. It's not mentoring. But Eliza's quite sure there's no mentioning in any HR-brochure of the mentor speaking to a peer about crushes. So… she'll just flee. Yeah. To some place windy and secluded.

"Don't be mad!" Eliza rushes immediately when catching sight of her wife on the couch. "Please, just… here me out."

Arizona's eyes are narrowed as she's placed on the couch, a book in her lap. It's a little over 6pm and Eliza had promised Arizona to be home around 4:30 and 5pm. She had texted Arizona, though. She had done the right thing. But Eliza knows that what she's done is far from okay. This afternoon should've been where they chose the donor or at least just looked through the potential candidates. But Eliza had needed air. Not because of Arizona or the baby making plans, definitely not. She had needed space because of Penny. She had needed space to come up with a way to work through this without anyone getting hurt. Especially not Arizona. Having spent an hour or so at the docks with the wind blowing in her face and pulling at her every nerve, Eliza is completely wiped. And she hasn't even come up with a plan. Shrugging out of her coat while balancing with two cups of coffee in her hands, she hurries to the couch and kneels down in front of her wife.

"Arizona… please. I can explain," Eliza urges, trying to gauge what mood her wife's in.

"Go on…"

"Okay, so… first, here you go. I bought you this," Eliza hands Arizona one of the cups, smiling timidly.

"As a bribe or?" Arizona squints her eyes, although accepting the hot beverage.

"More as a peace offering, I guess."

Arizona nods, taking a sip of her offered coffee. She doesn't say anything. Eliza watches as the hot liquid runs down her wife's throat, as the appreciation of the coffee creeps onto Arizona's beautiful face. The blonde's hair is up in a messy bun, some stray locks have fallen out here and there. Her face is makeup free and just a piece of soft art. The light from the roaring flames in the fireplace illuminates the living room and Arizona's face so angelic, it makes Eliza's heart skip a beat. Arizona's just so, so beautiful. And she cannot wait for their children to inherit all of her wife's features. It might even be too much for Eliza to handle at times, the beauty and resemblance that is… but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"So…" Arizona pulls Eliza out of her internal dialogue. "What happened?"

Taking a sip of her own coffee, Eliza nods and places a hand on Arizona's knee. The warmth from the coffee spreading through her entire being, it helps Eliza gather herself and speak. It's Arizona. It's just her wife… she can tell her anything. "Okay, listen… I spoke with Penny today."

"Not this again," Arizona shakes her head in disbelief. "Eliza, this is just silly. You have got to let it go. She isn't interested in me. And even if… it just doesn't matter. Please, honey… just let it go."

"Arizona, I know. I know she isn't interested in you."

"Mmh?"

"I asked her to come clean."

"You didn't?! Eliza," Arizona exclaims almost choking on her coffee. Taking the cup from her wife's hand and placing it on the coffee table nearby, Eliza turns her wife on the couch so that she's kneeling between both of Arizona's legs. "What?" Arizona asks confused when Eliza shoots her a sad smile.

"I had to. It was driving me crazy and she kept stuttering and wouldn't look me in the eyes and so on. So, I just, I called her out on her bullshit and she told me."

"She told you what exactly?"

"That she isn't attracted to you but…" Eliza drags, trying to get her wife on track with where she's going. Giving Arizona a couple of seconds to catch up, Eliza nods slowly as her wife is processing the news.

"You," Arizona states when the realization kicks in. "Really?" she asks, raising her eyebrow.

"Hey…" Eliza exclaims a little offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Arizona shrugs.

"Is it that hard to believe that other people would find me attractive?" Eliza scoffs, pulling a little back. "Well, newsflash… they do, Arizona!"

"Come on, that's just not fair," Arizona rebukes as Eliza stands, the blonde catching her wrist. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Really?"

"I'm just surprised, is all. But it makes sense…"

"What makes sense? Please tell me because I really can't figure out how to go about this," Eliza exclaims frustrated as she drops down onto the couch next to Arizona. Arizona quickly crawls into Eliza's lap, legs on either side of the brunette. "I can't handle the drama, Arizona… I just, I can't. I just wanna go to work, be awesome, come home to you and hopefully… in ten months or so, our baby. I just… I can't and won't do anything else," Eliza sighs, throwing her head back against the back of the couch. Arizona's hands caress her shoulder and neck, somehow making Eliza feel so very sensitive and tired all the while also feeling extremely relaxed and protected. But that's just how Arizona is… that's just how she does things; to Eliza's body, mind and soul that is.

"Honey…" Arizona begs softly. "Eliza?"

"What?" Eliza groans, her eyes closed.

Arizona's soft chuckle immediately pulls Eliza out of her misery, although it's a tiny bit annoying and rather mean to laugh in this particular situation. She's in the middle of crumbling here and all Arizona does is laugh. Well, not exactly all… but she's still laughing at her, nonetheless.

"Stop laughing, Arizona!" Eliza whines. "Not nice. Not nice at all."

"But honey…" Arizona chuckles. "You texted me you had to do something. Then you come home with coffee… the good kind from the corner, I know… and then you're telling me the new employee at your office has got the hots for you instead of me. Can't you see it?" Arizona asks a little too amused for Eliza's liking, though.

Opening her eyes, Eliza groans. Grabbing her wife by the ass to get a better hold of their position on the couch, Eliza finally locks eyes with her wife again. Arizona's grinning like a complete fool. A cute fool, sure. But still… "The fun part? Nope, I really can't see it."

"First… Penny's been fangirling you ever since starting at the firm, right? Yeah. Secondly, you just said it yourself, honey, You've been through so much drama the last year."

"Yeah. I have… we have. And then what?"

"Then this shouldn't be something to get you all riled up, Eliza. You're like the master of dealing with drama. This is just a tiny, tiny bump in the road. A bump you're able to smooth out. Because you're awesome and experienced," Arizona smiles, tugging a loose stray of hair that's fallen out of Eliza's ponytail behind her ear.

"You're kinda annoying, you know that right?" Eliza sighs, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, it comes with the age of 32," Arizona shrugs, pecking Eliza's lips. "Just go with it. You know I'm right."

"That's annoying, too."

"What is?"

"That you're right."

"That's just how it is, honey," Arizona smirks. "Gotta get used to it. I'm gonna be the mom who's always right and you're the mom who-"

"I'm the mom who what exactly?" Eliza raises her eyebrows, her hands slowly roaming Arizona's back beneath her shirt.

"Who always know when to get the other mom coffee," Arizona winks. "The good coffee."

"Seriously? That's what you're giving me? Really? Gee, thanks," Eliza snorts. "No wonder I married you."

"You'll also be the mom who always look amazing. Stunning even."

"Yeah, you can't save it. Don't even try," Eliza shakes her head as she tries pushing Arizona off of her lap. Arizona grabs Eliza's shoulders, holding on for dear life as she's being hurled to her back on the couch. The squeal rolling from Arizona's vocal court and bounces from off of the walls makes Eliza's heart swell… every noise Arizona makes just creates symphonies of the big musical kind. And Eliza isn't mad at her wife. Not at all. She knows Arizona is only joking. Thankfully.

Trapping Arizona beneath her, Eliza leans down to her wife's ear with Arizona's hands firmly clasped around her back. "You'll have to behave yourself, Arizona. Just keep in mind who's gonna rub your back or tie your shoes when time comes…"

"I'm willing to play a little risky if this is how I'm being punished," Arizona breathes out, the hotness of her breath making Eliza shiver in delight. Bucking her hips, Arizona forces Eliza down onto her thigh which causes the brunette to gasp in pleasure.

Pulling back to look her wife in the eyes, Eliza bites down onto her lip. "And me who thought you'd be mad when I got home. Boy was I wrong…"

Arizona shrugs nonchalantly, smiling. "I'm not… just tell me. What did you do when finding out about Penny?"

"Urgh," Eliza growls, burying herself in the crook of Arizona's neck. "I…"

"You what?" Arizona chuckles, roaming her hands up and down Eliza's spine.

"I bolted," Eliza admits in a whisper.

"You what?!" Arizona exclaims in a high pitch tone.

"You heard me."

"You… the one who's been telling me for so many months not to bolt, to stay put when things get hard… you just bolted yourself."

"I know," Eliza sighs, dropping small kisses below Arizona's ear.

"Hypocrite!"

Giving Arizona's neck a soft bite, Eliza soothes it with a kiss afterwards causing the blonde to moan. "Mmmh…" Eliza responds, tugging at Arizona's earlobe.

"You know what that means, don't ya?"

"What? What do you mean?" Eliza replies as she continues to drop small kisses all over Arizona's collarbone.

"You've got to speak with her tomorrow."

"Nah."

"Yes, Eliza. You need to speak with her. You left that poor girl… heartbroken."

"Would you please stop referring to Penny as poor and heartbroken!?" Eliza counters, pulling back to look at her wife. "She's not…"

"But she is, honey," Arizona states, cupping Eliza's cheek. "You need to work out some system… or I don't know, you'll have to come up with a plan or make someone else mentor her or whatever."

"Are you jealous?" Eliza smirks, dragging out her sentence.

"I'm not," Arizona screws up her face in horror. "Nope, nuh-uh. Just… for Penny's sake. And yours."

"Sure… for Penny's sake. Of course," Eliza puffs playfully.

"Yup!"

"Yup!"

"So… let's take a look at those fellas," Arizona suggests chirpily, gesturing towards the coffee table where a large pile of folders is situated.

"Let's," Eliza agrees as she shoots her wife a knowing and loving smile.

Sure, Arizona might not admit she's feeling a smidge of jealousy but that's okay. Eliza doesn't need Arizona to say it out loud. She knows how she's feeling because she's been there herself, to be honest. When she thought Penny was interested in Arizona it almost drove her insane, no not almost. It did. So Eliza is very well aware of how Arizona is feeling. And that's why she knows she's got to speak with Penny to figure out where they go from here.

Now she can't think about work and Penny, though. Now it's all about finding the right sperm, the right candidate. Now they're going to pin out the best donor to give them half of what they desperately want and need. Christmas is next week, New Year's following suit and then… then it's a new year. Then it's the year where they expand their family. Then it's the time where two become three. It's the year where Arizona will carry their child, where Eliza will be able to witness the beauty of her wife reach heights she didn't know were even possible. And she cannot wait. Next year at this time there'll hopefully be a new resident in the yellow house with the hugging oak. If everything turns out just right…

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. It's appreciated greatly, so please… continue.