Are you awake on this first greyless week? 80 days to go! Ugh! I can NOT believe we've already watched the mediocre mid-season finale already! I'll try to keep you guys entertained until Greys comes back, how's that sound?

Chapter 38

At this very moment in her life, Arizona was in absolute heaven. She didn't think things could get any better. Okay, they could, but the only thing that would make it even better is if she could completely be with Callie in all forms. She would love to show the Latina how much she meant to her, however Arizona herself wasn't ready to be with her in that way, at least not yet. But, when that time came she knew it would be absolute bliss.

So much had changed in the last four weeks for Callie and Arizona. With all the great things that had occurred between them recently, the bad still trumped them all in Arizona's opinion.

But with every single event that occurred in their life, the past month had led her to this place; a place where she stood in her bathroom in front of the mirror as she prepared for their first official date while contemplating her life and the people in it.

She had a great life, job, friends, her mother was back in town and greatest of all, she had the most beautiful woman in the world as her girlfriend, but yet, she hated how all those events led her to this place.

It all started with their fight over three weeks ago, a fight that she had picked out of jealousy; an argument that she would never forget. It wasn't that it was a terrible fight, but it led to her and Callie being at odds with each other, and that led to the rape of the latter. An attack that she wishes she could have prevented. It absolutely pained her heart at the thought of someone touching her girlfriend in any way. Callie was the nicest, most kind hearted, generous, sweetest person she had ever met and she couldn't understand why someone would make her feel less than she was. In Arizona's eyes she was nothing less than perfect.

If she were to ever come face to face with Mitch it wouldn't be pretty for either one of them. Callie may have let things go, but she sure as hell hadn't. She was certain if she were to ever run into him she would make damn sure he would suffer a slow painful death.

But even so, the rape brought them closer together on a deeper level. They had become more comfortable with each other as friends. Callie had let Arizona in more after her attack which eventually led to their first kiss that she wouldn't change for anything in this world.

But before they even had a chance to wrap their minds around what had happened between them, she was gut punched with the death of her father.

The loss of her dad was a shock to her system, but she hated to admit it helped that her parents had lived across the country for several years now. Most days it still felt her dad was alive, but now that her mother moved back to town, it was hard to see her without her father. It was an adjustment, but her girlfriend was helping with that. And yet again, that tragedy brought them even closer together.

If someone had told Arizona she would have to relive those two major events over to get to this point where she was standing in her bathroom looking in the mirror as she readied herself for her date with Callie, she couldn't do it.

Even though being with Callie was everything she thought it would be and more, she just wouldn't go through all of it again. Just knowing someone had touched the woman in an uncompromising way made her sick to her stomach even now, so she sure wouldn't let it happen again. She couldn't fathom the thought of someone touching her girlfriend in that abhorrent way.

But that didn't matter, because she already lived it and there was no redo's in life. It all led her where she was today. She was excited but nervous to be taking her girlfriend out for the first time in Seattle. After everything they had been through, she was beginning to see the silver lining.

Checking her makeup and reapplying her pink lipstick one last time, she gave her face and braided hair a once over in the mirror, before slipping into her navy blue jeans and her white laced top, and topping her look off with a black blazer jacket and brown knee high boots.

She wanted Callie to be proud to have her by her side, so she was going to look her best for the brunette.

There was no way Callie could keep her hands off her tonight.

Smiling at her finished product, she couldn't help but wink at herself in the mirror before walking out of the bathroom and grabbing her purse off the counter and making her way out the door to go pick up her date for the evening.

Callie had to run down to the bakery Sunday morning to meet with her employees hours before opening day to make sure everyone knew their place, and since she would have to be there a few hours she suggested that she would just get ready for her date that evening at Barbara's new apartment over the shop.

She was excited for their date, but she slightly regretted saying she would dress at the older woman's apartment. She had already tried on three different outfits for the night and Barbara had nitpicked every choice. But finally after her fourth outfit, they were both satisfied with her wardrobe.

Thankfully Arizona's mom had finally meandered down to the bakery to give her some privacy to finish getting ready for her night.

Putting the finishing touches on her wavy hair, she placed a few drops of her perfume behind her ear just as she heard a knock on the door.

Checking herself again in the mirror, she ran her hands down her sweater to smooth the wool out. She wanted to look perfect for Arizona, and she didn't think the blonde would be disappointed.

"Hey you," She grinned when she saw her girlfriend answer the door wearing cream loose sweater with black jeans and flats. Callie was so stunning.

"Hi," she grinned, meeting the blonde's super magic smile that always seemed to light up a room.

"These are for you," Arizona said handing over a small bouquet of three burnt orange roses mixed with baby's-breath and sunflowers.

"You bought me flowers?" Callie said in awe, accepting the gift from her girlfriend. Arizona looked so breathtaking she hadn't even noticed the arrangement in her hands.

"I did."

"They're beautiful, Arizona," she smiled, bringing the spray up to her nose and inhaling the sweet scent.

"Not as beautiful as you," she whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You look amazing, Calliope. So beautiful,"

"Thank you," she couldn't help but bashfully smile before reciprocating the blonde's kiss on the cheek. "You look radiant." She shyly smiled.

"Are you ready?" She asked, feeling a pink blush slowly creep up her face when Callie said she looked nice.

Damn, she had only been in the brunette's presence for less than a minute and she was already making her nervous.

"Yeah,"

"Well, your chariot awaits, Milady." Arizona held her arm out for Callie to grab before escorting her out of the building.

"So what are your plans?" She asked when Arizona opened the driver side door of her truck and helped her inside.

"Well, since you liked Hay Market Square in Boston so much, I thought you'd love Pike Place Market." Arizona said, getting behind the wheel of the old ford.

"A farmers market for a date," She questioned, sitting the fresh flowers in the seat beside her before buckling herself in beside the blonde.

"Original, huh," She grinned, looking at woman.

"No," she giggled. "You're stealing my thunder."

"I know," she shrugged. "But you liked it so much, I knew you'd love this place, plus we're a month away from Christmas so the place is dressed up with decorations and lights," she said, placing her hand on the woman's thigh after pulling out into the street. "It's really beautiful."

"A beautiful place, with a beautiful blonde," she said, causing the woman to shyly glance over to her. "I think it will be a great date."

"Well," she swallowed. Callie had never really expressed that about her before and made her silently giddy inside. "That's not the only thing, I'll treat you to dinner, too," she chanced a glimpse of the brunette beside her as she drove down the street.

"Oh yum," she giggled, leaning into the blonde's body.

"I haven't picked a restaurant." She admitted. "We've known each other for months and it's kinda odd I don't know your favorite food besides our comforting pizza or Chinese," she chuckled. "So I picked a few places out and I'll let you pick."

"What did you pick?"

"Well, there's Pike Place Chowder, it's pretty good. Or we can have sushi, seafood, anything you want."

"If a tourist asked you for one your favorite choices, where would you tell them to go?" She asked. She had lived in the city for six months now and she was yet to really take in the city, so she had no clue what it had to offer.

"I would tell them to try Lowell's. They have seafood, and the best waterfront view of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and the Port of Seattle." She said as she came up to their destination. "It isn't fancy, but it's a great meal and great scenery."

"Lowell's sounds good," Callie said, grabbing the blonde's hand.

"We'll sit on the second floor; they have a lounge bar area. It's nicer."

"Kay," she said as the woman pulled into a parking space. "Arizona?" She whispered, looking out to the lite up street in front of her.

"Yeah,"

"I love Italian by the way. Don't get me wrong, pizza and Chinese are my favorite go to at home, but I love Italian the most," she clarified. "Maybe it's the hopeless romantic in me." She shrugged.

"I'll remember that," she said, taking the brunette's hand and kissing her smooth skin. "I love Italian, too," she nodded in agreement. "I also like Thai, French, a good American meal, anything really," she chuckled.

"And I'll remember that, too," she said, tugging on the blonde's hand to pull her in for a soft kiss.

"Shall we go take a look around?" she asked, getting out of the truck and reaching for the woman's hand to help her out.

"Yes, please," Callie took the woman's hand as she helped her out of the truck and laced their hands together as they started to make their way through the market place.

Callie couldn't wipe the smile off her face all the while she and Arizona strolled through the street as they took in the view of their surrounds.

The blonde never broke contract with her the whole time, and she loved that. No one had ever made her feel the way Arizona continued to do every day. She had even told her more than once in past two days how beautiful she was. Not that Callie believed her because she had never heard that from anyone, however hearing it from the blonde it made her feel a bit shy.

When Arizona complemented her at times it made her wonder why she would say such things. But after a little thought, she knew it was only because she had become accustomed to being put down every time she turned around in her old relationship. Most times she pushed it aside and accepted the complement, but it was still hard, however little by little she was learning to turn that off.

Arizona had also begun to make her feel worthy a little at a time. She knew she wasn't just a little road bump in someone's life. She was more; so much more than she had felt for years. The blonde made her feel that her life had some meaning. A purpose. A reason.

Arizona had slowly begun to make her feel that she was more than she had been taught. She was realizing that didn't have to settle for less than she deserved; that even she was worthy to love and be loved.

But that still made her wonder what Arizona saw in her. She was bringing so much more baggage into this relationship than her girlfriend was and she wondered if it would hurt them in the long run even though Arizona accepted her completely.

The woman knew all of her dark secrets she had been hiding for so long, and yet, she still wanted to be with her. She didn't understand how the blonde didn't find her repulsive because that's how she felt after her rape, but Arizona insisted it didn't change the way she saw or felt about her.

Her reassurance was comforting, and she felt like she held the blonde's trust in the palm of her hands; however she felt bad she couldn't completely trust the woman yet. She was trying, boy was she trying, but she wasn't there yet even though Arizona was doing everything she could to show her she was worth trusting.

After everything Arizona had done for her, she should already know the woman was worthy of her trust. She had took her into her home without an ounce of hesitation, welcomed her into her group of friends, got her a job, and then proceeded to start a business for her, all the while making her feel worthy again.

Callie promised herself and Arizona she would try, and it was working, slowly but surely, the doctor was breaking down her walls she had built up over the past few years.

She was still nowhere near ready to be intimate with Arizona; however the woman had started to spark that desire within her that had been put out ages ago.

After buying her girlfriend freshly squeezed lemonade to quench her thirst, the two strolled around hand in hand as they took in the scenery until Arizona decided it was time to grab some supper.

The couple shared a few different platters of seafood while they enjoyed the view of the bay and easy conversation with one another until the night started to press on, and she had one more stop before they headed home.

Callie's grand opening at the bakery was in the morning and Arizona didn't want to have her out all night; she wanted her rested and refreshed for her big day.

After returning to the truck, they headed off to the same hangout spot they had spent with their friends the previous night. Arizona wanted to spend some time up there with her girl as they took in nature at its finest.

"Why is this spot so special?" Callie asked when the woman came upon the field overlooking the bright city.

"It's not necessarily special," she shrugged, parking the vehicle in the field on the mountain overlooking Seattle. "It's just a place I like to come to reflect, to think about things. When I'm here, all things are possible."

"It's a beautiful view," the brunette said looking out to the backdrop.

"It is," Arizona agreed. "When I look out at the mountains, the man made city, then on past to the ocean, I realize my problems aren't as big as I make them out to be. It's like everything fades and you're one with nature." She glanced over at the brunette who was intently watching her talk. Giving her a soft smile, she turned back to the view and continued on. "All the noises of the city fade completely away and all you hear are the sounds of nature. The crickets, the frogs, owls, smaller animals rustling around in the woodland area; It's peaceful."

"You wanted to share this with me?" Callie asked softly. It warmed her heart to know the woman was willing to share a place that seemed so personal to her.

"I do," She said, wrapping her arm around the brunette's shoulder. "I want to share so much with you, Calliope."

"That's why you loved sitting outside at night at your parents' house back in Boston," she whispered. Anytime she couldn't find Arizona in the house she knew exactly where to go and that was outside in her parents' double swing off the edge of their property. "Is this the spot you were talking about that you love to come to?"

"Yeah," She nodded.

"Can we back the truck up and sit in the bed a while?" She wanted to experience what the blonde was describing.

"It's chilly, are you sure?"

"Yes, more than sure," she nodded

At Callie's request, Arizona turned the vehicle around so they could see the view from the bed of her truck. Grabbing a few blankets from behind the seat she had stored there previously, she threw one down in the bed and helped Callie inside before bedding down together and getting comfy.

"I can't believe how quiet it is here," Callie said, pulling the cover up over her body so she didn't catch a chill.

"It's nice, isn't it," Arizona said, wrapping her arm around the woman's shoulder as she snuggled against her. These moments where she and Callie just sat snuggled up together were what she came to treasure. Neither had to say much, but it felt like they spoke volumes to each other.

"How did you find this place?" The brunette asked as she looked around the open tall grassy field.

"It's mine."

"Yours," Callie turned her gaze away from the opened space and looked over to her. "You own this land?"

"Yeah," she confirmed. "My parents purchased it years ago when Tim and I were young. They had big plans of building a home here."

"Why didn't they?"

Shaking her head before shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know, really," she said. "It was one of those 'later on' type things, but my dad was away too much to see it anything through, and my mom wasn't about to be in charge of it."

"You love this place," she stated to the woman. "So why haven't you built a house up here?"

"I don't know... I never felt the need or had a reason to before now."

"Before now," Callie caught on to the word.

She searched chocolate eyes before answering honestly. "Now I... might be able to find a reason," she nodded, not turning her gaze away from the backdrop.

"I wish I could wake up to this view outside my window every day, it's breathtaking."

"It is," she nodded, tightening her arm around the woman beside her. It was way too early to say, but she could see herself building a home here for Callie and herself if things worked out between them.

Minutes passed while they both just sat there reveling in their surroundings. Both women sat and quietly thought about the past few weeks events and how it all came to this.

And after, Arizona couldn't help but imagine a small quaint home sitting out in the middle of this property. She could see herself sharing this view with the woman in her arms for years to come.

She hated to even think it right now, but she felt Callie was the one for her. She could see them outside in their yard, gardening or having late nights lazing outside cuddled up by a fire pit while they enjoyed the night view. And chickens, she would love to have a few running around. She could even imagine Poseidon or some other animal they would have tormenting the poor birds.

"Thank you, for bringing me here," Callie broke her out of her little bubble.

"Thank you for coming," she turned her head and pressed her pink lips to the brunette's temple. "I'm glad I can share this with you."

"How many girls have you shared this with, exactly?"

Her eyes widened immediately when the realized she had said it loud. She didn't mean to say it, it was more of a thought that accidentally slipped through her lips.

"Ahh..." she was slightly taken aback by that question.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she held her hand up to stop her. "Don't say it, that was so rude of me to ask," She implored. "It's none of my business."

"Callie, you're my girlfriend, how is it not your business?" She was surprised the woman asked, but she wasn't about to hide it from her.

"It's still inappropriate of me to ask."

"I brought five up here, excluding you."

Five? Callie was now the one a bit taken aback by the answer. She thought this place seemed special to her, but to bring five random girls up here didn't shout special. "Okay," she said wanting to forget it already. Wow, she was really shocked how jealous she felt at the moment.

"To be fair though," Arizona felt the woman pull away from her just a tad. "It was never to share anything like this," she clarified. "Meredith, Cristina, Addison, April and Teddy have all came out here with me, but we've only came to have a fire like last night. I've not brought anyone up here like this, except for you." She said, looking into the woman's eyes waiting for her to soften a bit. "This place one of my favorite spots and I'd only share this with my favorite person."

"Oh, just them," She said, a bit relieved.

"Just them," She repeated, softly caressing the woman's arm. "You're the only person I'd want to share this with, Calliope."

"Yeah,"

"Yep,"

"Arizona," she breathed. She loved that the woman shared this with her, but she wanted to know what all went through her mind up here. Callie her crazy, but she just wanted to be more in tune with the woman. "Tell me what you're thinking."

"What?"

"I want to know exactly what you think about when you're up here, so tell me. What's running through your head at this very moment?"

Oh no! What was currently on her mind was not something she wanted to voice at loud to her yet, but she knew if she wanted to crumble the woman's walls down she needed to be open and truthful with her. "Well," she said debating within herself if she should really share her feelings she was having at the moment. "This is probably inappropriate to share right now, but being here with you I feel it so strong," she said. Looking over at the woman hugged up beside her, she took a deep breath before saying. "I want..." She paused, feeling her heart racing. Taking another deep breath, she tried to get herself under control.

"You can tell me anything, Arizona." Callie whispered when she saw the woman wrestle within herself.

"Being here makes me realize what I want in life," she admitted. "I want you, Callie," she admitted, feeling her stomach flip-flop at her admissions. "I know it's premature, but I can't help it. I want you, Calliope. That's it. I want all your flaws, scars, mistakes, smiles, giggles, jokes, sarcasm. Everything, I just want you." She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally got her feelings out.

Callie had told Arizona that she wanted her just yesterday, but she didn't go as deep as the blonde. She was speechless at the woman's admissions, and the only thing she could do was wrap her arms around the woman's sides and bury her face into the blonde's neck; a place she had recently come to love.

"I know you still don't trust me, Calliope," Arizona said after a few moments. "You've been so mistreated, and I couldn't blame you if you never trusted anyone for the rest of your life. But, all I'm asking for is a chance. A chance for you to be open to accepting to what I have to offer."

The Latina lifted her head and peered into the woman's eyes. She could see the honesty written all over her face, but she decided to tease her a little. "Have you been nipping at a flask or something this evening, because you're rambling like you do when you're drunk," she couldn't help but chuckled at the woman.

"No," she sighed. "You make me so damn nervous," she indulged "I've just opened myself up, and you're not saying anything."

Calming the blonde's nerves, Callie cupped her face, slightly tilting her head to the right before pressing their lips together in a heated kiss. "What the hell am I supposed to say to that?" She questioned, pecking pink lips again. "You leave me speechless with the things you say and do for me." She said, brushing her thumb over her cheeks. "I'm learning, okay?" She whispered before pressing their foreheads together. She tried to wonder why Arizona was so willing to accept all of her when she found it hard herself.

"Okay," Arizona's voice was barely a whisper.

"Every day I'm learning more and more about myself, and the more I learn, the more I realize I want you, too," she nodded in agreement. "Even when you snore,"

"Wha... I do not snore." She protested.

"Yeah," Callie conceded. "A little bit you do," she nodded when the blonde scoffed. "Seriously," she said, holding her index finger and her thumb less than a centimeter apart. "Just a little," she smiled, when the blonde couldn't hold back her grin any longer.

"You do, too," she clarified.

"Ha! I know," she said placing her hand over her chest. "That's a lie." She scoffed.

"You do just a little bit," Arizona mimicked the brunette.

"Whatever," she laughed, shaking her head before taking a deep breath. "I know I have never slept better than I do when I'm with you." The brunette breathed.

"You shouldn't say that," she turned the woman around and pulled her to lay in her arms.

"Why not," She laughed at her advances.

"Because of the rules, tonight's a school night and you're supposed to sleep on your own bed now that my mom has moved out," she said as her face hovered over the brunette's.

"Fuck the rules," Callie boldly stated in a whisper before her face broke out into a huge smile.

"Tisk, tisk," she shook her head at the woman. "You're such a badass aren't you," she giggled, pressing her face into the brunette's, soaking up the feel of the woman's presence.

"Maybe," she laughed, she too broke out into a fit of giggles when she felt the blonde nip at her cheek playfully as she wrapped her arms around Arizona's neck, keeping her in place. "I hope this never gets old."

"Me too," Arizona whispered, kissing all over the Latina's cheeks before pulling back to peer into shining brown eyes. "How do you feel about tomorrow?"

"I'm so nervous, but yet, so excited." She confirmed. The opening of her bakery was merely hours away and the closer it came the more anxious she became.

"I'm sorry I can't be there, honey," she sighed, giving her a half smile. She hated that she couldn't change shifts with someone so she could help out on the grand opening of Sweet Goddess Bakery.

"But you've been there when it really counted." Callie countered; bushing back a few stray blonde hairs that had fell out of the woman's braid. "That's all that matters, Arizona."

"But tomorrow's an important day in your life, and I want to be there." She said, still hovering over the brunette's face that still lay in her arms.

"I know, but it's not like you're skipping out. Work must come first."

"Being an adult sucks," she sighed in frustration. She and Callie had worked so hard for this day and now that it was here she wasn't going to be able to enjoy it with the woman, but it was Callie's day and nothing would take away from that.

"Not really," she disagreed with her. "I wouldn't be able to kiss you anytime I want if we were kids," she grinned, pulling the woman down for a passionate kiss before they finally broke apart, winded.

"It's getting late," Arizona whispered after peering down at the Latina for a few moments. "I should get you home and put you to bed, you need your rest."

"Will you bring me out here again, soon?"

"I'd love too."

Oh, yeah.. and about the Grey's winter finale... (As a Calzona fan, I felt my head bob up from underneath the water, just barley!) Callie talking to Jackson about having breakup/makeup sex with Arizona the whole episode...I'LL TAKE IT! Ahh... :) I enjoyed that! I will look at that as a huge positive. My hope will remain alive! Sounds like someone misses sex with Arizona. I'll hold onto that memory during the whole hiatus!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. You guys are amazing!