The next day Meredith greeted Arizona at the coffee cart.
"Hey, I need a favour, I have a friend that's just broken up with her girlfriend and she needs to get back on the dating wagon, and I know you have been dating a lot recently."
"You want me to go on a pity date" Arizona said raising an eyebrow,
"Could you please, it would mean a lot, I promise she is a lot of fun, really fun" Meredith said, "I've already booked the restaurant, La Copella 8pm, I'll take Sofia" Meredith told her quickly walking off.
"I haven't said yes yet" Arizona replied to herself. She considered chasing Meredith down, telling her she couldn't face another date. That she was resigned to being alone forever, but then decided what was one more date, and La Copella was supposed to be nice and fancy. She'd wanted to go there with Callie before the crash, it was their plan for the next date. So now she was going to go without Callie, and it would be fine, because she was fine.
That evening Arizona finished work on time, which was unusual, everyone seemed really helpful, and determined to help her get home in plenty of time. Also, she hadn't seen Callie or Penny all day and nobody knew where they were. Arriving home Arizona decided to make the effort for her date, not for her date but it felt nice to dress up a little. She curled her hair slightly, going with a light make up and her black dress. It was the dress Callie loved, it showed enough to be sexy but not enough to be indecent. It emphasised her boobs and slim waist. Lastly were her killer heels, adjusting her high heel leg to compensate, she only had one calf she had to make it took good. Meredith's friend had no idea what they were going to walk into today.
The taxi dropped her a La Copella at exactly 1945, right on time. For Arizona if she wasn't 15 minutes early, she was late. Entering the restaurant she greeted the maître-dee.
"Hello, I'm meeting a date," she said realising she didn't know the name of her date, "My name is Doctor Arizona Robbins"
"Yes, follow me your date is already here"
Arizona followed him through the restaurant, her eyes instantly drawn to the figure at the back. It looked like Callie, she'd recognise that figure anywhere. Her heart dropped, this was going to an awkward date if they were sat next to her ex-wife and Penny. First dates were bad enough as it was. He was taking her closer, Arizona scanned the tables in that direction, there were no other women sat alone, he was leading her to Callie's table, why was he leading her to Callie's table?
"Hey" Callie greeted, as he pulled out her chair so Arizona could sit down,
"Hey" Arizona greeted, her heart pounding. Callie looked stunning, her make-up was dark, making her eyes pop, her lips bright red. She was wearing a dark green dress that clung to her curves perfectly. "You look really pretty" Arizona said,
"You look amazing" Callie replied sounding just as nervous. "Can we get a bottle of white wine?" Callie ordered, "I hope you don't mind"
"You know I prefer white" Arizona said, "Callie what's going on, your dating Penny" she asked confused, guarding her heart, she loved Callie she knew that but breaking up with Callie had nearly destroyed her there was no way she could live through that again.
"I heard you yesterday, in the canteen, and after lots of tequila I realised I love you, I have always loved you, there is nobody else for me, and I was hurt, you cheated on me, you broke me" Callie said trying not to cry. "But I broke you too and I'm sorry but I need you, you're my one true love. You're my Derick and I can't live without you" Callie pleaded.
"I love you too Callie, but I need you to be happy, and I wasn't making you happy I was suffocating you" Arizona recalled those words still stabbing her heart every time she thought of them. Its one of the reasons she had let Callie go without a fight, why she had passively sat back watching as her ex-wife began dating, because Callie deserved to be happy.
For the first time Callie could see just how much those words had destroyed Arizona, how they had affected her very psyche.
"I'm sorry" she apologised, as the waiter brought the wine pouring 2 liberal glasses. "It wasn't you," she paused because it had been, but not really, "The PTSD, it was draining, for you and for me" Callie explained, "And I tried to be there, to be supportive"
"But I didn't let you in" Arizona finished, "I still have PTSD Callie, I still wake screaming" she explained wondering if that would be it, the end of the chance. Still, she had to give Callie the chance to escape, to be free, to not be burdened by her.
"I know, but I'm stronger now, and I've been to therapy, a lot of therapy." Callie sighed, "And I've reflected, and I can see I didn't help and sometimes made it worse, so even if you're still struggling, I'm ready" Callie said, Arizona blinked back tears. This was everything she had ever wanted to hear, she had another chance,
"I've been going to therapy too, and I want to try," Arizona said taking a breath, "But I'm scared that I'm not enough and I'll drive you away again, but I'm willing to try, I really want to try, but" Arizona paused, not sure if she had the right to make demands, not wanting to blow this chance.
"But" Callie prompted, her hand reaching across the table taking Arizona's paler one, giving it a squeeze.
"Can we go slow, I mean really slow, and date just for a bit, just to make sure your happy and I'm not overwhelming you" Arizona begged, Callie nodded slowly she could do that she could date Arizona, if that's what she needed.
"Hey fetal medicine, right," Callie grinned leaning forwards, watching as Arizona relaxed. "I'm Callie Torres, Ortho surgery, I've seen you at the hospital. People talk where we work, they talk a lot. So I think for the sake of being honest I should tell you, I know things about you, because people talk and people they really like you over there."
Arizona scoffed,
"They do, they respect you and they're concerned and interested, and they like you, some of them really like you." Callie raised her eyebrow to make sure Arizona knew she was one of those people,
"And I thought that you should know that the talk is good, there are people lining up for you"
"You want to give me some names?" Arizona asked playing along, she couldn't believe Callie had remembered her speech. Callie grinned leaning forwards capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.
"I think you'll know"
Just the brief kiss had left both women wanting more, going slow was going to be hard.
"Can I take your order?" the waiter came over allowing them to simmer down. He been watching from the bar and sensed if he didnt interupt then the women would quickly become indecent.