I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
Chapter Fifty-Four
ELIZA'S POV
I'm sitting on the London Eye and right now I don't know what to do with myself. I mean, I'm going to become someone's wife and I never imagined that would happen. At least, not willingly. My life has changed so much in the past six months or so that I haven't even had time to step back and think of everything that has happened. I'd like to. I'd like to take a moment to think about my recent past, but I don't have time. I never seem to have time. I don't think I've had a single opportunity to sit down with my own thoughts since I met Arizona. I'm not complaining, far from it, actually...but this has been the very definition of a whirlwind. Everything about my life lately has been a whirlwind. From moving to New York and meeting Arizona in a local bar, to my mom removing me from her life, to Hawaii, Cuba, Alexis. I can't even think straight right now. I have no words.
At the time of those things happening, I wasn't sure Arizona and I would ever make it, but when I look back now...how could we not have made it? How could we have ever walked away from one another? Everyone knows we love each other more than anything in this world, but honestly, we were made for each other. She was always supposed to come into my life. I was always supposed to apply for that job. Just...everything has happened how it was supposed to. Regardless of how hurt I was when my mom walked out of my life, everything is how it should be. I'd love for her to be happy for me, but that isn't ever going to happen. She wasn't happy when I was in her life, so she isn't going to be happy for me now that I'm out of it. I came to terms with that long before I met Arizona. I came to terms with that way back when I was still living in Detroit.
I don't even know where she is or if she is well, and yeah...that hurts a little. It hurts because she brought me into this world and she should be in my life. I know it won't ever happen, but that doesn't mean I can't be upset about it. It doesn't mean I can't wish that she may one day accept me for who I am. Shaking myself from my thoughts and impending emotional state, I glance to my right and find Arizona grinning from ear to ear at the view in front of her. She loves this. Anything involving pretty buildings is her kinda thing...obviously. It's why I brought her up here. I knew she would love it. "You know, I could watch that smile on your face forever."
"Come and see this view, Eliza." Motioning me over, I stand and close the distance between us. "It's beautiful." Taking my hand in her own, she tugs me closer and wraps her arm around my waist. "Don't you think?"
"Yeah." I give her a nod and my voice breaks a little.
"Hey, what's up?" She furrows her brow and turns to face me fully.
"Nothing." I wave off her comment. "Just busy with my own thoughts. I'm sorry."
"Is it anything you want to talk about?"
"No, not right now." I give her a genuine smile. "Just...enjoy the view. It's awesome."
"Stand with me?" She suggests.
"Sure. I'd love to." Turning and facing out at the London skyline, she wraps her arms around my waist from behind and rests her chin on my shoulder. I can feel her heart beating against my body and it only makes me smile harder than I was a little while ago. "I can't believe I'm going to be your wife." Resting my hands against her own, I lace our fingers together and she sighs against my neck. "I never thought I'd ever feel this way about anyone. I never thought I was allowed."
"Baby…" she breathes against my neck. "You can do anything you like. You are free to do as you please...don't ever forget that."
"And you showed me that." I turn my head a little and she places a kiss on my cheek. "You showed me exactly how it feels to be loved, Arizona."
"And I always will." She smiles. "I promise."
"You made me the happiest woman in the world today," I admit. "Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for believing that I deserved to be in your amazing life."
"You make my life amazing by being in it, Eliza, so don't ever thank me…" Her lips pressing against my neck, her hands slip beneath my jacket and rest against my stomach. "I should be thanking you for turning my life around."
"No, please don't." I shake my head. "We are here…together, and exactly where we should be. That is enough for me. I don't need your thanks, but I do appreciate it."
"I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you…it's going to be amazing." Her breath washing over my skin, I shudder and tighten my grip on her hands that are around my waist. Holding me in place. Securely. Safely. Forever.
Reaching our hotel room, Arizona pulls me inside and her lips attach to my neck before the door has even closed. I've wanted her all day, but my mind is so full right now that I just need to sit for five minutes and mull over the day's events. I just need to be in my thoughts and move on. "Arizona…" I breathe out as she forces me further into the room.
"What is it, beautiful?" Her tongue working its way down my neck, I pull back and cup her face with both hands.
"I love you, and I want you, but I just need a minute…" Her brow furrowed, I give her a sad smile.
"Right…I'm so sorry." She releases me from her grip, steps back and clears her throat. "I just…I'll leave you alone for a little while."
"No, stay." I smile. "I just need to give myself a moment to think, is all."
"T-Think about what?" She stutters.
"My life." I laugh. "I'm going to marry a multi-millionaire and I've come from nothing. I just need five to process things." I do. I cannot believe what I'm about to do, but it's happening…I'm going to marry Arizona Robbins. Can I believe it? No. If it didn't feel so real, I'd laugh and tell her not to be so ridiculous. I'd tell her she was crazy. Crazy she may be…but she's my kind of crazy and I wouldn't want any of this to be any other way. It's perfect, and just…us. My hands fisted in her shirt, I pull her closer to me and she gives me a genuine smile. "You are crazy…" I admit. "Completely batshit crazy…" I laugh. "But I love you, and you love me."
"That I definitely do." She gives me a nod in agreement and I back up a little, my legs connecting with the end of the bed. Falling down, I pull my fiancé down on top of me and she settles between my legs. "Did you only just discover that I'm crazy?" She furrows her brow as she runs her fingers through my hair, scratching my scalp as she does. That feels amazing. "Really?"
"You're my crazy so it wasn't as obvious, I guess." Shrugging, I pull her down into a kiss, my hands still fisted in the soft material covering her beautiful body. "I can't quite believe any of this." I shake my head and a slight blush creeps up my neck. "I cannot you want me to be your wife, Arizona."
Lifting her hand, she places it against my face and I lean into her touch. Her blue eyes piercing through my soul, she grazes her thumb across my cheek and smiles. "Well, you better believe it, beautiful. I wouldn't want to share my life with anyone else."
"How do you do that?" I sigh. "How do you make me feel incredible when I'm in your arms?"
"Because you make me feel incredible, Eliza. You always have." She admits. "Even when things got rocky, I could still feel how you made me feel. Deep inside, I could feel every emotion you had ever brought out of me."
"Did you think we would ever make it this far?" I ask, genuinely intrigued to know how she is feeling. "Did you think that night I met you in the bar…we would become this?"
"Honestly?" She raises an eyebrow. "Yes."
"Y-You did?"
"I did because I felt that connection when you shook my hand. I felt the goosebumps prick my skin as you breathed against my ear. I felt everything, Eliza. Everything." The honesty in her words is obvious and honestly, I thought I was the only one who felt that spark between us. "Then you demanded you come back to my place…and I knew you weren't like any of the others. The way you touched me…" She smiles. "The way you took control and worshipped my body…" Her eyes closing as she memorizes our first night together, I can't help but smile. "Wow." She breathes out. "Just…I knew."
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" I smile as she presses her body against my own. "Do you realize what a beautiful person you are?"
"You brought that out of me." She states as she tilts her head a little. "You brought so much out of me, and that's just one more thing I love about you." Shifting a little, she rests her head in the palm of her hand and grazes her fingertips against my slightly exposed collarbone. "I love so much about you, Eliza."
"Thank you for seeing me." I sigh as she works her magic on my skin. "Thank you for noticing me. Giving me the chance when at times I deserved nothing from you."
"I don't think I could have ever walked away from you." She shakes her head. "You are something else Eliza Minnick, and I'm still figuring you out."
"Do you think your mom will be happy?" I ask.
"Mom will be beside herself. I can promise you that." She smiles. "Should we call her?"
"We?" I furrow my brow.
"Yes…we." She pulls her cell from her back pocket and rolls off of me. Her back hitting the mattress beside me. "She loves you, Eliza, and she will be thrilled to hear from us both. And, everything is about to become we so why not begin that right now?" She raises her eyebrow.
"Sure, okay." Smiling, I shift a little closer to her and she brings up her mom's contact information. Hitting FaceTime, that familiar call sound flows through the air and her mom appears on the screen in front of us…a sandy white beach in the background.
"Mom!" Arizona yells. "Where the hell are you?"
"Antigua, sweetie." Holding up her cocktail, Arizona shakes her head and laughs. "Eliza, honey…so good to see you." She throws me a wave.
"Hey, Mrs. Robbins." I wave back. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Well…" She shrugs. "I've had better cocktails, but I guess I can't complain."
"No, Mom." Arizona laughs. "But I don't think the rest of the beach heard you if you want to say it a little louder!" Trying to hold back my laughter, I could watch these two interact all day. They're more like sisters than mother and daughter. "Hey, Mom…uh, could you take a look at Eliza's hand? Something isn't right."
"What am I?" She laughs. "A doctor!"
"Mom, just take a look…please?" Rolling her eyes, she turns to me and I chew on my bottom lip. Holding up my left hand, Barbara's eyes widen and she drops her cocktail to the floor. "Mom?"
"Sweet Jesus, Arizona!" Her hand covering her mouth, I can see the unshed tears desperately wishing to spill out. "My baby is getting married?" She cries. "Look…" Tilting her screen, one of her waiters suddenly appears beside her and I don't even know what to do. "Miguel, my Arizona is getting married. That is her beautiful fiancé. Isn't she beautiful, Miguel?"
"Very beautiful, Mrs. Robbins." The camera switching back to Arizona's mom, I'm mortified. Who the hell is Miguel? Does he even know who Arizona is? I'm totally lost right now.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you both." Barbara places her hand against her chest and gives us a genuine smile. "My baby is finally happy, and I couldn't wish for a better person to come into our lives, Eliza."
My own emotions close to getting the better of me, I drop my gaze and clear my throat. "Thank you, Barbara." Arizona's hand lacing with my own between our bodies, she grips it a little tighter and runs her thumb across my knuckles. "Enjoy the rest of your vacation." I smile.
"Mom, I'll call you when we are home." Arizona gives her mom a dimpled smile and Barbara slowly nods. I think she may be a little lost for words right now, but I get that. I am, too.
"Goodbye, girls." She waves. "I love you both." The screen turning black, Arizona glances my way and I'm trying to take in the world I've just heard. Arizona's mom loves me? How?
"See…" My fiancé throws me a wink. "Told you she would be happy."
Giving her a nod, I close my eyes and give myself a moment to process what is happening here. I may have lost one family, but I've gained another and my mother in law to be has just told me that she loves me. I'm not sure my own mother ever told me she loved me, so yeah…this feels kinda weird right now. Kinda weird…but kinda great. "I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes." I sigh. "This is completely not how I saw my future."
"You deserve the world, Eliza…and I'm going to give it to you."
Her head coming to rest against my chest, I can feel my heart pounding but it feels good. It tells me that my heart is completely intact after the crazy day I've had. It tells me that it beats for Arizona and only her. My life may have turned completely on its head, but it feels like it should. I feel like I should be in her arms. I feel like she should be resting against me. It may have flipped the totally opposite way, but look how amazing it is? Look how unbelievably happy I am in every aspect of my life. I may not have my family around me, and I probably never will, but Arizona is my family. Arizona is my home. My comfort. My safety. So long as she is in my life…nothing and nobody else matters. They don't matter because this woman loves me. Me…Eliza Minnick. Yeah, she does and it feels amazing.
Thanks for reading, guys. Reviews are welcome as always. Thanks for the great response to the last chapter.
