for nic ( robbinsarzona) who helped me come up with this months ago and I only just now finished it

title from ella fitzgerald and louis armstrong's "cheek to cheek"

seem to find (the happiness i seek)

Arizona spun Callie out with a laugh, both of them nearly losing their balance, the combination of heels and champagne and just elation making them a bit unsteady on their feet. The song came to an end and they just swayed together for a moment.

Callie pressed a brief kiss to her lips before pulling back. "I'm gonna go drag Bailey out."

Arizona pouted at her wife. "You're ditching me for Bailey?"

Callie nodded to someone behind Arizona. "I'm giving Karev an opening before his poor little head explodes." Callie spun Arizona around so she could face Alex, who sure enough was standing there, his cheeks flushed, rocking back on his heels. "All yours, Karev."

Alex shuffled forward, a sort of pained smile on his face. "D'you wanna dance or whatever?" He offered a hand and Arizona resisted the urge to tease him.

"I'd love to, Alex." She accepted his hand, taking a few steps forward. As the music started again, Arizona helped Alex place his hands before his ears started blowing steam.

"Just thought, y'know, since you've helped me so much and all..." Alex trailed off, fixing his gaze somewhere over her shoulder. "Just, I wanted to say thanks, I guess."

She patted him on the shoulder. "You know, I'm really, really proud of you, Alex." He finally looked her in the eye, a sort of hope and need for acceptance in his eyes. "Really, I am. I told you a year or so ago that you were the future of this hospital and I am so glad that I was right. You're gonna do awesome things, Alex Karev, I just know it."

Alex's expression turned bashful and Arizona's heart ached a bit. She knew it wasn't necessarily fair to Alex, but God, sometimes he reminded her so much of Tim. And today, that ever-present ache was just a bit more noticeable.

Alex nodded, glancing down at his feet for a moment to avoid her toes. "That… that means a lot coming from you. It's, uh, it's nice to have someone who's looking out for me. Not many people have ever really tried, or cared to try."

Arizona gave his elbow a reassuring squeeze. "You're a good guy, Alex. And a great surgeon. Not many people are hardcore enough for peds. It's not an easy job. But I know you're not a guy who gives up. You're tough. But you're also compassionate. You know, you, uh," she paused, blinking back tears, "You remind me a bit of my brother sometimes."

"Yeah?" Alex asked, voice choked and hoarse.

"Yeah, Tim would've really liked you." Arizona tried to surreptitiously wipe one of her eyes as a tear fell. "He really would've."

Alex cleared his throat, "Um, well, that's, um, thanks." Alex stumbled a bit over his feet, nearly knocking her off hers, but he managed to save them from further embarrassment. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Arizona couldn't help but laugh a bit at the sheepish look on his face, which soon broke into a crooked grin. "Very smooth, Karev."

"There weren't freakin' lessons on the waltz where I grew up. More darts and cheap beer than champagne and fancy dancing."

"We're basically just stepping side to side."

"That's a waltz, boss."

"So you do know how to waltz?"

"No!"

"Kinda seems like you do."

"Do not."

"Do too."

Alex sighed heavily, looking for all the world like he deeply regretted stepping out on the dance floor. "I learned. For Izzie. Right before the ceremony. I knew she always dreamed of the whole white wedding and it was all so rushed. So Meredith taught me."

"Awww," cooed Arizona as Alex spun her out. "See, that's why I'm glad you're my pick, Alex. You always go that extra mile to help people out, to make things better for them. That will get you far." Alex grumbled out what was probably a thank you. "And for the record, I grew up with more darts and cheap beer, Karev, and I could totally kick your ass at darts."

"Can I cut in?"

With a surprising amount of coordination, Alex spun her out and into Callie's waiting arms. Callie tugged Arizona closer, wrapping her arms around Arizona's waist from behind.

"Calliope," she hummed, tilting her head back to grin at her wife. "How was Bailey?" Callie pressed a fleeting kiss to her temple.

"She says we owe her a bottle of brandy for the ceremony and that you owe her a dance. May I have this dance, Mrs Robbins-Torres?"

Arizona twisted around in Callie's arms to wind her arms around the back of Callie's neck, losely linking her hands together. "Of course, Mrs Robbins-Torres. I'd be happy to." Callie beamed back at her, just the sight of her smile filling Arizona with warmth.

They were married. And the sky wasn't falling and it was all just a bit perfect.

Arizona pulled Callie in for a slow kiss, savoring the beauty of the moment. They swayed together, not quite to the beat of the music, simply happy to be together.

After a few more songs with Callie, Arizona was pulled away by Bailey and then Mark and then her mother and it all started to turn into a whirlwind until she found herself back in Callie's arms.

"Fancy meeting you here," Callie laughed as Arizona spun her.

"Ortho, right?" Arizona asked with a giggle, giddy from the excitement of the day and the number of glasses of champagne she had had. "Oh, wait, I think I already used that line."

Callie rolled her eyes, even as she grinned at her wife. "Is that your best line, Robbins?"

"Excuse you, that's Robbins-Torres."

"Yeah, it is." Callie glanced over Arizona's head, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, I have a little present for you."

"Is it jewellry? Because I'm not sure how practical that is, given surgery and everything, we already have to decide what to do with our rings during wo- Is Karev going to talk to my dad?"

Arizona squinted her eyes at the sight of Alex approaching her father where he stood against the bar, nursing a whiskey. "Where's my mom? Shouldn't someone be with my dad?" Arizona whirled around, finding her mother dancing with Webber. "Okay, well that's weird and almost uncomfortable, but why is Alex talking with my dad?"

"Because he's being polite?"

Arizona arched an eyebrow at Callie. "Have you ever met Karev before? He's not exactly Miss Manners."

"Fair enough, but I may have told him that you'd appreciate him introducing himself to your dad. Oh my God, is Karev saluting him?"

Arizona whipped back around and sure enough, there was Alex Karev, the grumpiest resident she had ever had the pleasure of teaching, saluting her father, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "He's doing it wrong."

"He's doing it wrong?"

"His elbow. He needs to fix his elbow. Your el-" Callie clamped a hand over Arizona's mouth before she could really pick up the volume at all.

"Did you just lick me? That's so gross, Arizona!"

"We're married, Calliope. And it's not like I haven't, you know, licked you before."

Callie choked out a laugh. "How much champagne have you had?"

"Enough to have lots of fun with my very hot wife." Arizona stepped further into Callie's space, cupping her face like it was the most precious thing in the world. As she leaned up, Callie met her halfway, holding her by the small of her back as they kissed. "What do you say we get out of here?" Arizona whispered against Callie's lips as they pulled apart by a fraction.

"Lead the way, Mrs Robbins-Torres."

xx

i'm back ! since i last posted, i graduated my masters, moved country and started my new job so it's been a busy bit of time ! as always not promising an update schedule or anything, but I'm gonna keep clicking away through my requests and drafts !

hit me up on twitter lavender_lenax or tumblr spookyrobbins or in the comments here if you have requests! (for either drabbles or something longer!)

if you're interested in the discord, shoot me a message and I'll get you sorted

much love xx