Chapter XXXIII

Callie had secured a table with two high chairs at the bar and was not so patiently waiting for Arizona to arrive. As soon as they had hung up, Callie had sent Arizona the bar's address. She was actually kind of glad she had been at work, it saved her having to doubt which outfit to wear as she only had limited options in her locker. She smoothed her top over once again and started fidgeting with a coaster in front of her.

This spontaneous outing was proof that they were getting along well again. But it was also the first time since the divorce that they were going out with just the two of them. There was no Sofia and no other people around. Even though it was a simple thing like having a drink together, it also felt like a step in the right direction. A step towards a healthy way of co-parenting. It excited her, but it also made her nervous.

Whenever the front door opened, she would look up expectantly. Only to look away when it was not Arizona entering the bar. She was way too early, which gave her too much time to think and worry. Callie Torres was not falling for her ex-wife. She just was not. She was probably feeling this way because of old times' sake. Because of the history, they had shared and because the sharp edges of the hurt were gone, there was room for good memories again. She was not going to mess this little step up by getting all sorts of feelings.

The fact that they were both single, did not have to mean anything. This was a chance to restore the bond between them and to give Sofia the happy life they both wanted for their daughter.

When the blonde did enter, Callie broke into a big smile and waved at her. Once their eyes met, her smile was returned and Arizona walked over.

"Hey you," Arizona said with a smile before wrapping her arms around the taller woman.

"Hey, glad you could make it," Callie replied, giving Arizona a quick once over once the blonde pulled back from their short hug. Her ex-wife always looked good. She could not even recall a moment where she had not looked stunning. When Arizona slid onto her chair, Callie told the little voice in the back of her head to shut up. She wanted to just enjoy this without overthinking every single word and gesture tonight. They were two people, having a celebratory drink at a bar. No need to overcomplicate things.

"So, what are we celebrating?" Arizona tilted her head slightly while looking at Callie.

"Don't you want a drink first?"

"Well, I kinda need to know if I'm ordering champagne or wine. Depending on the celebration," she shot Callie a smirk and shrugged theatrically.

Callie chuckled. "Well, I guess it would be a champagne kind of celebration," she paused and pursed her lips. "But the champagne here sucks. Their white wine is actually pretty good."

"Oh. Well, in that case, I'll have a white wine."

"Celebratory wine coming up," Callie replied while she hopped off her chair and walked over to the bar. She returned with two glasses of wine, one red and one white, and a bowl of peanuts.

"Oh wow, you're going all out," Arizona teased while nodding her head towards the peanuts. "Must really be something we're celebrating."

"I guess you missed the red carpet outside," Callie quipped back. Her nerves seemed to be gone, mainly thanks to Arizona's light banter. She got the Letters Patent out of her handbag and handed it over to Arizona. "This is what we're celebrating."

"Oooh, fancy," the blonde said as she took the document and moved her hand over the front, much like Callie had done earlier. She bit her lip while she opened the document and started reading the bibliographical page and abstract of the patent.

Callie looked at Arizona expectantly, feeling slightly nervous about her reaction. Even though this Patent had little to do with prosthetics or bionic limbs, it all started when she started her research with Derek Sheperd, when she tried so hard to help Arizona. Implanting sensors to control the bionic limbs was one thing, but it had brought her to this idea.

The blonde took her time reading and Callie noticed a slight change in Arizona's demeanor. Did she realize the part she had unknowingly played in this? Was she happy for her? Proud of her? Callie suddenly found it really hard to read Arizona and took a big gulp of her wine to calm herself. Again, she had to tell the little voice in her head to shut up. She was not going to be this nervous heap of a woman in front of Arizona, she was not that woman anymore.

"Callie," Arizona said before she looked up, her eyes locking with the other woman's. "This is amazing! Congratulations." Her lips curled into a bright, dimpled smile.

The woman across the table practically beamed. If someone hooked Callie up to New York's electrical grid, there would be light for days.

"How…when did you start this?" Arizona closed the Patent document and carefully handed it back to Callie. "No wonder the Yankees hired you."

"The idea came to me when I was researching your…" she stopped mid-sentence, her eyes locking with Arizona's. For a short few seconds, the voice in the back of her mind gained the upper hand, but she managed to control herself. Things that happened in the past should stay just there. She had learned from her mistakes and she moved on, she really needed to stop letting her mind get to her like this. "When Derek and I were working with the implants, it got me thinking. At first, it was actually more about monitoring the function of the limb and the effects on the surrounding tissue. But during my research, I realized it could also be applied in different areas."

Callie's research had started out as a way to measure if the bionic or prosthetic limb and surrounding tissue were functioning properly and to find any issues before they became an actual issue. Later she also found that implanting sensors in healthy joints, for example in the joints of injured athletes, would make it possible to measure strain and recovery rates.

Arizona was quiet for a moment and Callie wondered what she was thinking. But before she had the chance to ask, the blonde lifted her glass of wine. "I'm proud of you, Callie."

It was a short sentence. Simple words. But the words coming from Arizona's mouth sparked a whole range of emotions within Callie. She had been happy earlier today when Emma sang her praises, but it did not even compare in the slightest to how accomplished she was feeling right now. This was exactly why she wanted to celebrate with Arizona. Her ex-wife's support still mattered. And she was not afraid to admit that anymore.

This exchange also proved to Callie that things had changed. Somehow, somewhere deep inside, she had expected Arizona to pick a fight with her over this. She was afraid that the blonde maybe still had the idea that Callie was trying to fix her. But that did not happen. She chastised her own inner voice for even thinking that way. But it did make her realize she was almost kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Things seemed to be going too well between her ex-wife and her and it was a little unsettling. At least with the fighting, she knew what to expect. She was prepared for that, to have to put up her walls to protect herself. But now, this, it was almost harder than fighting. But she was going to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

"Thank you." Callie lifted her glass and clinked it against Arizona's. "To us, kicking ass and taking names in New York."

Arizona smiled and nodded. "To us."

Their conversation changed to Arizona's work at the Center and Callie happily watched Arizona tell her about the way they were planning to finish decorating the place. With Dr. Herman flying in to visit the center the coming week, the blonde was going to be plenty busy.

Here she was, sitting at a bar, having drinks with the woman who cheated on her. The woman she had loved more than anyone else in her life. The woman she still loved in some kind of way. The woman with whom she had lived through some of the hardest times in her life. The one she fought with the most. And they were just being friendly. As much as it felt right and like coming home, it was also extremely unnerving. How come it was so easy?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Arizona suddenly said, her eyes staring straight into Callie's. She had not even realized that her mind had drifted off until Arizona called her on it.

Callie chuckled. "Really?" Maybe it was the alcohol, but she felt like teasing Arizona with that particular remark.

Her words seemed to make Arizona realize what she said and the blonde burst into giggles. "Pun obviously not intended," she replied after regaining her composure. "You suck."

This made them both laugh. Callie had always loved the banter between Arizona and her and she was a little taken aback that it was still there.

"I was just thinking…..this….this is nice," Callie said. She decided right there and then she was not going to hide. She was going to be honest and tell Arizona how she was feeling. Maybe not all of it, that would be verbal diarrhea. But she was not going to wallow in silence or play martyr anymore, she was going to lay it all out there. Although, that was probably the alcohol talking. "I'm glad you're here."

Arizona nodded and smiled. "Yes, it is." She leaned over the table and picked up the bottle of wine they ordered and divided the last bit over both their glasses. "I'm glad I'm here too." She gazed at Callie for a moment and bit her lip. "Ahh, talking about Penny…..I have to ask…what happened there. You seemed so committed to the relationship?"