I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
Chapter Fifty-Two
ARIZONA'S POV
Waking to the sound of absolute silence throughout our home, I glance down and find Eliza has some sort of death grip on my midsection. Early this morning she asked a big question…huge, even. I know things have been pretty tough lately, but I'm glad that I listened to her last night. When I heard that she was with Lou, I saw red, I won't lie. I mean, am I supposed to be okay with her ex being around? I'm not sure many people would be, but Eliza is here with me. Not her. I meant what I said when I told her I trusted her. It was just in that moment when I heard those words, my heart broke. It broke like never before. Deep down I knew she would never intentionally hurt me, but I have to look at it from her point of view. She was meeting with Lou to ask her to back off. She was meeting with her to try and keep the peace. I get that. It doesn't mean I accept the fact that she kissed my girlfriend, though. No way. I also won't let that go. I mean, she is dating a good friend of mine, and right now, I'm torn as to whether I should tell him. I know I should, but how serious was she about her and Eliza? Did she do it for the sake of it? Did she do it to cause a rift between us? Does she not like seeing Eliza happy? I don't know. They are all things I'm going to have to think about. I know, ultimately, I will tell Andrew, but I need to think about this first.
Ghosting my fingers up and down Eliza's naked back, goosebumps follow and it makes me smile. I'm the one who causes that reaction. Not Lou, or anyone else. I'm the one who rocks her world, and I'm the one she has asked to marry. Yeah, we're getting married. When? I don't know. There is no rush. What I do know, though, is that we will spend our lives together. We will become wife and wife. Honestly, I never thought I'd marry again, and at one point, I never wanted to, but then Eliza came into my life and messed with every promise I'd ever made to myself. She came in here and turned my world upside down. Everything I'd imagined in my life has happened…tenfold, and it's all because of her.
Did I honestly believe I'd never find love again? Yes. Did I give up at one point and just focus on my career? Absolutely. But it's our time now. I know better than anyone how quickly life can change from one day to the next, so I'm making it my mission to be happy. I'm making it my mission to enjoy my life, with Eliza, and whatever else comes with it, well that's just a bonus.
Desperately needing to use the bathroom, I slip out from under her body and try not to wake her. It's almost midday and so much has already happened. We spent an hour or so after her proposal rolling around in the sheets, but our bodies got the better of us, and sleep was inevitable. I'd slept on and off the night before, so my body needed its rest. I'm still not one hundred perfect, but I'm feeling so much better than earlier in the week.
Pulling on an oversized hoodie and a pair of boy shorts, I slip off into the bathroom. I'm already feeling a lot more settled, but I know there are still things to discuss. Hearing Eliza beg me not to let her go broke my heart. I was mad, and I was pissed, but I was more angry at myself for thinking that she would willingly kiss her ex. I know she isn't that kind of person, and I know that she would never cheat on me. Do I want to rip Lou's head from her shoulders? For sure. I'm better than that, though. I don't need to use violence to get my point across. I can do that with my words. If she thinks for one minute that she can break me and Eliza, she is sadly mistaken. I don't know much about her, but I don't like her. I don't like how she has used my fiancé to cause problems. It's not acceptable, and it stops now.
Finishing up in the bathroom, I hear movement outside the door and dry off my hands. Opening the door, I find the hallway empty. Weird. Heading back into the bedroom I find nothing but a mess of sheets on the bed. Eliza, gone. Making my way downstairs I can hear shuffling and whimpering, and as I round the corner and into the kitchen, I find Eliza with a look of worry on her face. "Hey, what's up?" I give her a look of confusion.
"Oh God." Placing her hand on her chest, she breathes a sigh of relief. "I thought you'd gone."
"Um...gone where?" I ask.
"Just...gone." She sighs. "I thought you'd changed your mind."
Realizing that we've not said a great deal about what has happened, I open my arms and motion for her to come closer. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she nuzzles into my neck and takes in a deep breath. "God, you smell so good."
"I know." I smile as I run my fingers through her hair. "You want to talk about anything?" I ask.
"I just want to know that we are okay?" She pulls back and gives me a serious look. "I mean, I know we have things to talk about, but you know, are we okay?"
"We are, Eliza." I give her an honest smile and the relief is evident on her face. "Lou, however, is not okay."
"What do you mean?" She furrows her brow.
"We need to figure something out. I don't want to have to worry whenever she is around. I also don't want you to have to worry about her because I know you will." I give her a sad smile and she nods in agreement.
"I don't get why she did that. I mean, she's dating De Luca and she knows that I'm happy."
"Maybe that's why she did it." I shrug. "Some people can be a little crazy like that, unfortunately."
"I know, I just didn't expect it to happen to me." She sighs. Pulling me further into the kitchen she pins my body against the counter and places her hands either side of me. "Would my fiancé like some coffee?" The smile on her face as she uses that word for the first time makes my heart melt.
"Mm.." I smile into our kiss. "Your fiancé would love some coffee."
"Awesome." Her smile lights up the entire kitchen and my own dimples pop. "Does my fiancé have any plans for the day, or?"
"She does." I nod. "But it's nothing to worry your beautiful head about."
Reaching my floor, I approach the nurse's station and give my regulars a genuine smile. I'm not quite back at work yet, but I have some things to collect. Eliza was kind enough to bring some files home a few days ago, but I figured the more I could get done at home, the less I have to face when I do return to work. "Hey, Julie. Could you, um…could you page Nurse Sinclair down in Dermatology please?"
"Sure. Dr. Robbins." Julie smiles and goes about doing as I've requested. "To your office?"
"That would be perfect. If you get nothing back, call down to her department. I need to see her and I don't really want to hang around here for too long."
"No problem. I'll see what I can do."
Giving her a smile, I round the corner and unlock my office door. Stepping inside, I can't help but want to get home to Eliza. We have some making up to do, and I just want to lie back, snuggle down, and do nothing. Seems I want that a lot lately, but I'm not worried. I mean, who wouldn't want to settle down with someone like her? Who wouldn't want to have their arms wrapped around her at every possible opportunity? Powering up my computer, I go about transferring some files from it and print a few case files from a previous surgery.
A knock on the door startling me a little, I glance up to find Lou standing in the doorway. "You wanted to see me?"
"I did." I nod. "Come on in."
"Um, o…kay." She shrugs. "Everything okay? Is El okay?"
"I'm sorry, who?" I give her a look of confusion and she rolls her eyes.
"Your girlfriend."
"Fiancé." I correct her and her mouth drops.
Clearing her throat, she straightens herself out and smiles. "Oh, I didn't know." I can see that look of hate in her eyes, but I'm prepared for anything she may throw at me. "She didn't mention it when we spent time together yesterday." And there it is.
"I wouldn't imagine she had much of a chance to since you were busy kissing her." The complete shock of my words written all over her face, she backs up a little and connects with the wall. "Problem?" I raise an eyebrow and act as nonchalant as possible.
"S-She told you?"
"Of course, she did." I laugh. "Why did you think she wouldn't? Hoping she would keep it your dirty little secret?"
"I, uh-"
"Ah." I smile. "You hoped she would have something with you behind my back, right?"
"N-No." She shakes her head. Her face now a whiter shade of pale. "It just happened. We couldn't stop it."
"Stop it? Um, did it last longer than she says it did? Is she lying to me?" I feign worry, and she plays right into it.
"I think she is, Arizona."
"It's Dr. Robbins," I state.
"Sure. Whatever." She shrugs. "Not really time for name correction, but okay. Look, Eliza and I will probably always have a thing. We were together for quite a while. I'm sorry if you don't like that, but it's just kinda how it is."
Standing, I round my desk and close the distance between us. Closing the door, she flinches a little and I simply smile whilst staring at her. I know she is intimidated by me, and that's exactly the reaction I was hoping for. "Do you have a problem with me?" I ask in a calm voice.
"Not really but if you get in my face any more than you already are then yeah, I will have a problem with you." Cocky! It really doesn't suit her.
"In your face?" I laugh. "I don't need to get in your face." Moving impossibly close to Lou, I give her a signature smirk, and she just glares at me. "This is the only warning you will get from me. If you don't stay away from us, I will make your life hell."
"Oh, I'm terrified." She scoffs. "What are you going to do…chase after me? Oh wait, you can't can you?" Low blow. So she wants to play games?
"Am I supposed to congratulate you for your knowledge that I only have one leg? That's old news around here, Lou."
"Look, just back off, Arizona. I'm not scared of you, and if Eliza wants to see me, that's up to her. I'm surprised she even told you."
"Well she did, and it says a lot about how well you supposedly know her."
"I know her better than you ever will, so I'm not concerned." She shrugs and now it's her turn to get in my face. "You're just something new for her to play with. So I'll let her, and then I'll get her back."
"I suggest you watch your mouth and your back." Stepping back, I open my office door and motion for her to leave.
"Now who's worried?" She smirks.
"Me? Oh, I don't think so." Laughing, I shake my head. "Carry this on, and you won't have a job here."
"Please." She scoffs. "Don't try to threaten me, Arizona."
"I don't need to threaten you," I state. "I own part of this hospital and if I want you gone, you will be out of that door faster than your skinny ass can register what is happening."
Stepping back, slack-jawed, she doesn't say anything else. I've got her spooked, and I hope that it will be enough. I don't like to use the fact that I'm on the board as an excuse, but if it comes to it, I will have her fired. It's as simple as that.
Grabbing the printed files I need, I power off my computer and head to the door. Locking up, it will only be a few minutes before I get back home and see Eliza. She doesn't need to know about this conversation we have just had, so I won't bring it up. I'm not hurt or offended by any of Lou's words, so I don't feel the need to repeat them. She doesn't worry me, and she doesn't scare me.
Reaching the entrance of Grey Sloan in record time, I head out to my car and fire up the engine. Sending off a quick message to Eliza to let her know I'm on my way, I throw my cell down onto the passenger seat and pull out of the parking lot.
Driving through the streets of Seattle, I wonder how we managed to get to this point. How we worked through the minor shit storm we've faced, and came out this strong. It does baffle me occasionally, but the only thing that matters is that we made it through. No one could break us, and I know that me giving Eliza the opportunity to speak this morning was the right thing to do. Communication is important to me since it was scarce in my past relationship. This one won't be the same. I refuse to allow it to be.
Pulling up the drive, I grab my things from the seat beside me and exit my car. It's almost four in the afternoon and honestly, I'm done. I just want to lock up behind me and throw on some sweats.
Slipping my key into the lock, I turn the key and push the door open. Finding Eliza in the kitchen waiting for me, I give her a dimpled smile and she moves closer to me. Candles lit, and the place a little darker than I'd expected, I furrow my brow and tilt my head a little. "You didn't have to do th-" Cutting me off, she takes my hands in her own and gives me a smile.
"Arizona, I know you have already said yes, but I want to do this properly. I want you, no, I need you to know that you are the only woman in this world who could ever make me happy. Your entire being just fills me with complete love, and I want to be the one who shares that love with you for the rest of my life." My eyes filling with tears, I wasn't expecting this at all. "I know that we still have so much to learn about each other, but I cannot wait for that. The thought of discovering something new about you for the rest of my life fills me with so much hope in such an awful, dreadful world. You are the light in my world, and you are the one who makes me feel like my true self."
Dropping to one knee, my heart skips a beat and stare down at her with complete love. "I can't promise to ever be perfect, and I can't promise that I won't ever make you sad, but I promise to always be there for you. To always have your back. I promise to look after you when you aren't feeling so good, and I promise to try my hardest to fill your days with laughter." Her own voice breaking, I tighten my grip on her hand and she pulls out a velvet box. The most beautiful ring I've ever seen flashing before me, my breath catches in my throat. "You are it for me, Arizona Robbins. No one else in this entire world could ever compare to you. Your heart is filled with so much love, and I want that love to be mine. I want your heart to be mine. So, if you are willing to allow me to love you unconditionally for the rest of your life, I'd like to know if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
This woman, God. Pulling her up to her feet, I take her jaw in my hand and find her eyes. "Yes, Eliza. A million times over, yes."
"Promise?" She smiles.
"I'd love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you."
I don't know what the future holds for us, but I know it can only get better and better with each day I spend with this woman. Not only does she make me feel like I'm on top of the world, she honestly does complete me. She completes me in every way possible.
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I'd like to thank you all for your awesome support throughout this fic, because honestly if it wasn't for all of you… it would have crashed and burned a long time ago.
