Arizona still wasn't sure how she ended up in New York. At least that was what she kept telling herself.
Sure, she could readily acknowledge that the job opportunity and Sofia's well-being were huge contributors to her decision, but even she could recognize that they weren't the only contributors.
Even she knew that a big part of why she decided to move was because Callie was there. Here, Arizona corrected herself. We're both here.
And since Arizona had moved, Callie had been the most helpful, supportive ex-wife possible—she had helped her ex-wife unpack, invited her over for dinner on numerous occasions, and gave her (with Sofia's help) a tour of the city.
With all the time they spent together, Arizona was quick to note that Penny was absent—not just from Callie's apartment, but from her life. Not that Callie ever said anything. But Arizona really, really wished she would.
With Sofia off at her friend's house for a slumber party, Callie found herself lying in bed, her eyes to the ceiling. She was bored. No, not bored. Lonely. No. Introspective. And, in that moment, she was introspecting about Arizona. The one woman who, so many years ago, had stolen her heart. And still had it.
With a loud, albeit surrendering, sigh, Callie reached for her iPhone on her side table. She dialed the number she knew by heart.
Arizona was watching a Friends rerun when her phone began to buzz beside her. She muted the TV. "Hello?"
"Hey." Callie bit her bottom lip, suddenly nervous. "It's Callie."
Arizona smiled. "I know."
"Right." Duh. Callie blushed. "I just, uh. Are you doing anything tonight?"
Arizona stifled a self-deprecating snicker. "Friends."
"Oh. Sorry," Callie apologized. "Never mind."
"No!" Arizona exclaimed, a little too quickly. She dialed it back a little. "I mean, I'm watching the show," she laughed. "So I'm not doing anything."
Callie chuckled, relieved. "In that case…" She paused. "Do you want to do something? You could come over, or I c—"
"Do you want to come over here?" Arizona suggested, not wanting to change out of her pajamas, if she could help it. "I'm in my PJs."
"So am I," Callie laughed. "You and I can have a slumber party of our own." It was only after she said it that she realized how strange it sounded; she and Arizona'd had years of slumber parties; it was called marriage.
Arizona smiled. "Sounds perfect."
"Okay," Callie began nodding, unable to contain her excitement. "I'll call a cab right now. See you in a few?"
"See you then," Arizona confirmed.
Fifteen minutes later, Arizona had only just put on her prosthetic leg and boiled some water when Callie knocked on her apartment door. Arizona sashayed to the door, anxious despite herself to see her ex-wife.
"Hey," she smiled, seeing Callie standing before her in Uggs and polka-dot PJs. She wanted to reach out and hug her.
"Hey," Callie exhaled, admiring Arizona's own PJs, the thin material of her shirt.
As they walked toward the kitchen, Arizona offered, "Do you want a cup of tea? I just heated up some water."
"Please." Callie rubbed her hands together, still recovering from exposure to the cold air outside. She sat at a barstool, watching her ex-wife grab two mugs and make their tea. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Arizona turned to her and made a face. "I'm just putting tea bags into water, Callie," she teased. "I think I can handle it."
Callie grinned. "Hey, I'm just trying to show that I'm grateful that you're willing to hang out with me on a Saturday night. I mean, you could be doing anything."
"So could you," Arizona countered as she handed her a class.
"I know," Callie conceded. "But I'm glad I'm here." She felt her cheeks flush.
Arizona didn't seem to notice. Without missing a beat, she agreed, "Me, too."
As they found their respective seats on the couch facing the TV, Arizona turned it on. Still Friends. "Do you want to watch something else? I have HBO."
Callie shook her head. "I'm happy." She offered a small smile.
Arizona smiled back then turned her attention to the TV.
After a few minutes, Callie grabbed the blanket beneath the coffee table, spreading it over herself and then silently offering Arizona half.
Arizona nodded, grateful.
Still, Callie couldn't focus on the show. She couldn't focus on anything but the few inches between her and Arizona that felt like an ocean, like a decade. And she could practically see the warmth radiating off the blonde's shoulders, her arms. How much she ached to touch.
Arizona wasn't having any easier of a time focusing on the TV. She could feel Callie's eyes on her, and she itched to look back. To look into those endless brown eyes…
To touch.
She swallowed hard, hyperaware of the sound in their quiet, no light but what little snuck past the kitchen and the muted light of the TV.
She forced her eyes to remain on the show, to try to pay attention, to try to forget the fact that the love of her life was sitting inches away from her in all her blazing beauty.
As Ross pulled Rachel in for a kiss, Arizona zoned out, imagining Callie's arms wrapped around her.
Suddenly, Callie snapped her out of the fantasy. "Arizona?" she wondered, looking concerned.
Arizona's head snapped toward her. "Huh?"
A worry-line formed between Callie's brows. "Are you okay? You just let out this weird, really breathy sigh."
"Oh." Arizona's cheeks reddened. "Yeah." She let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm fine."
Callie looked at her for a long second, trying to interpret her words. "Okay," she finally conceded. A strand of hair fell in front of Arizona's face, and Callie itched to reach out and tuck it behind her ear. Instead, she forced herself to face the TV again.
Arizona followed suit, but it wasn't long before she was worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. "Callie?" she began in a small voice, her eyes still facing forward.
"Hmm?" Callie didn't let herself look at Arizona.
Arizona muted the show, trying to buy herself a little time.
Finally, Callie turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" she wondered. Though, frankly, she wasn't entirely certain that she wanted to know.
Arizona exhaled an uneven breath that turned into a nervous laugh. "Sorry. I just—"
Callie waited, expectant.
"I just…" Arizona licked her lips. "I've been thinking. Well, it's stupid."
"I don't care," Callie replied solemnly. "I want to hear it." And she did.
Arizona looked down at her hands, shaking in her lap. "Well," she began again. "I was just thinking about you and me…"
Callie felt her heart accelerate.
"I just…" Arizona looked up shyly. "I know that, if I could, I'd give up the last year of my life if it meant one more minute with you."
Callie inhaled a sharp breath.
"And I know that might make you feel weird," Arizona was quick to add. "I know I'm the one who practically pushed you out the door when you decided to go to New York, and I know how long it's been." She sighed, remembering. "I know how long it's been since we've been together." It had been years since she'd had her home.
"I do, too," Callie assured her. "Almost down to the day. The minute." She offered a humorless laugh. She couldn't find anything funny about the fact that they were meant to be together but hadn't been able to work it out. Carefully, she lifted her hand, tucked that blonde lock behind an ivory ear.
Arizona shivered, her eyes falling shut. "Calliope…" It sounded almost like a moan.
Callie's thumb brushed across her cheek, down the sharp line of her jaw. "I don't want another minute with you," she began, her peppermint tea-scented breath washing over Arizona's face. "I want a lifetime."
Arizona exhaled a tremulous breath, feeling every inch of her body beginning to buzz. She opened her eyes, was met with Callie's face, her sparkling eyes. She lifted her hand to Callie's shoulder, ran her fingers down her arm, wrist, hand.
Callie shuddered. "Arizona…" she murmured, full of want, of love.
Arizona leaned in, a hair's breadth away from full lips. "I'm in love with you, Callie Torres," she breathed. Then she eliminated the space between them, pressed her body into Callie's and captured her lips in a hungry kiss. She relished in the warmth of Callie's mouth, in the vibration as Callie groaned at her taste.
She felt her heart pounding in her ears and pulled away just far enough to catch her breath. "I love you," she said again, loving the feel of the words in her mouth, especially after so long. She ducked her head, demanding another deep kiss. Callie was more than happy to accept and reciprocate.
"Always have been." Kiss. "Always will be." Kiss.
Callie moaned, pulling Arizona tighter against her, inhaling the scent of her skin, the softness of her breasts, around her hips. "God, Arizona…" she breathed. She pulled away—just far enough to look her in the eyes. "I missed you."
Arizona smiled, so full of joy she thought she might burst.
Callie cupped her cheeks. "God," she breathed in wonder. "What took us so long?" How had she lived so many years without this? How had she settled for so much less?
Arizona shook her head. "I don't know. But it's been long enough. And this time there's no way I'm letting you go."
Callie leaned in and began kissing her neck. She tightened her grasp on Arizona's waist, pulling her even closer. "I'm already having a hard time with that. Literally."
Arizona laughed. She leaned in to give Callie a slow kiss. "So, what are we?"
"Meant to be." Callie was too happy to be embarrassed by her over-the-top cheesiness. Anyway, it was true.
Arizona smiled. "No, I mean…what now? What do we tell Sof?"
Callie shrugged. It was an easy question to answer. "We tell her we're happy. We're family. And then we all live happily ever after."