A/N - apologies for the late post, I went away for the weekend and meant to take my laptop and when I got to the hotel I realised it was still sat at home!

I have finally written our two girls getting together, i agonised over it for days trying to work out the perfect way and I dont know that its perfect but im pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Thats all from me, hope you are all doing well, drop me a comment when you get to the end of this chapter and let me know what you think to it so far :)

AL x

-oOo-

"Hey I'm finished" Callie smiled softly into the phone as she walked through the corridors towards the entrance.

"Hey, I'm on my way... how did it go?" Arizona replied to the happy voice with a cheery tone as she stood up and strode from the viewing deck.

"Yeah good, I'll tell you about it in person. I'm almost at the entrance where are you?"

"I'll be there in a few I'm on my way"

"How was the surgery?"

"Oh my god. So good. Mark is an amazing surgeon, that little girl is going to have such a better quality of life because of this operation"

"That's great news"

"I can't wait till I can start doing solo surgeries"

"It won't be long now, just wait and see"

"Hey I see you" Arizona smiled as Callie spun around and searched for her before breaking out in a big smile at her best friend. "You look happy, you sound happy... I take it that it was a good session"

"Yeah it was good" Callie said before hanging up the phone, stepping towards the blonde and pulling her into a hug. Arizona melted into the embrace and wrapped her arms around Callie's building curves. The woman had been skin and bone several weeks ago when she was admitted into the hospital after the 'incident' but with Lucia's cooking and Arizona and Mark's treats, she was finally starting to put some weight on.

"Hey are you ok?" Arizona asked softly.

"Im going back to med school" Callie answered without pulling away from the embrace.

"You are... to Drew's?" Arizona said with shock in her voice, the Latina had been too-ing and fro-ing between whether to go back or not.

"Yeah, I was talking to Dr Warner about him... Earl... and it all just kind of fell into place, I want to be a surgeon and like hell am I going to let that bastard ruin it for me"

"Thats fantastic news. What about the baby?"

"Well I would imagine if I keep him or her, I would need to take a few weeks off at the beginning but at three months they will accept them into child care until im finished. Plus mum has said her and dad will take a step back from work to help, plus there is you and your family. Im sure it will all work out, whats important here is I have finally made my mind up and just in time. The new semester starts this coming week so it doesn't leave me time to get organised, I have like four days to sort everything out"

"I am so proud of you, this causes for a celebration. How about we head to Joe's for one tonight and crack open the apple juice?"

"I think we will you know, I cant promise to stay for long but im on a high right now and I feel like celebrating... I have nothing to wear to a bar though"

"Do you want to go shopping and pick something out?"

"I don't have any money Arizona"

"Dont worry about it its on me"

"No I cant ask you to do that"

"Your not asking I'm offering. Come on it will be fun. Like the old days, you used to love going on a shopping spree"

"I will agree but only on one condition. No shopping spree just one outfit"

"You have yourself a deal. Come on lets go, if we are going to make it to Joe's on time we have to hurry"

The two women exited the hospital and made their way back to Arizona's car and made their way to the nearest shopping mall. Feeling a little overwhelmed Callie was silent at first and turned her nose up at every outfit choice Arizona picked out for her.

"Calliope come on, at this rate we will be going in jeans and a tshirt which is totally fine by me but wouldn't you rather feel pretty wearing something like this" Arizona asked as she picked up a simple black dress and showed it to the brunette.

"You know I think that will work" Callie offered a sheepish smile.

"So youll try it on?" Arizona asked hopefully.

"Lets just get it in my size" Callie said with a confident voice.

"Oh shoes, youll need shoes to go with it" Arizona clapped happily.

"We agreed on one outfit remember"

"Shoes are the most important part of any outfit, you know this" Arizona raised her eyebrow challengingly. "Anyway all you have is those tennis shoes you wear all the time.. Come on, one pair!"

"Fine you win... but nothing too flashy!" Callie offered knowing she wouldn't win this argument. They made their way to the shoe department of the store and Callie picked out a pair of practical black shoes which caused Arizona to shake her head.

"What about these ones" Arizona asked picking up a pair of black sandals.

"I havent worn heels in over three years I will probably fall flat on my face" Callie complained lightly.

"Youll be fine, look lets try them on and see how you feel in them, if you don't like them I will let you buy those monstrosities without any arguments" Arizona tried to compromise. She really wanted for the Latina to go all out and feel really pretty tonight, feeling pretty always helped boost your confidence and if anyone needed a confidence boost it was Callie Torres.

Succumbing to the argument, they got a shop assistant to fetch a pair of the sandals in Callie's size and she removed her tennis shoes and socks and tried them on and actually felt good in them. Arizona silently cheered as the brunette smiled her acceptance that the blonde had won and she would be taking the sandals.

Half an hour or so later and Arizona pulled her silver prius up onto her parents drive, the two women bid their farewells for now as they made their way into their respective homes to get ready.

"Mija how did you go? Have you been shopping?" Lucia asked as her daughter entered the house and she spotted the shopping bags.

"Yeah im going out with Arizona tonight to a bar if that's ok?" Callie asked nervously.

"Of course it is Mija, you don't need to ask permission" Lucia smiled softly.

"I've decided to go back to Drew's" Callie started anxiously. "I know its going to be hard work, especially with the baby on the way but its what I want to do"

"Thats fantastic news Mija, doesn't term start soon though?"

"Yeah in four days" Callie groaned at how much she needed to do in the next four days to get ready.

"Right well, how about tomorrow we head out and buy you some necessities, we can make a day of it... oh please say yes"

"Mama I have no money to buy necessities... this is going to be a tight few years"

"Nonesence, who do you think paid for Aria all these years. I will speak to your father and get him to sort you a credit card out and I wont hear any arguments about it"

"But my trust fund is gone, Earl spent it all"

"Well it's a good job we have plenty more money in the bank. And once the trial goes to court and HE is found guilty the court will reward you will compensation as well as 'refunding' you the money he stole from you. That will be a nice little nest egg for you and the baby. Until then your father and I have enough money to see you through" Lucia said grabbing her purse from her handbag and swiping two fifty dollar bills and holding it out to her daughter "for tonight" Lucia stated with a 'dont argue with me' tone.

"Mama I cant take that its too much"

"Sweetheart its money. What matters to us is your happiness. Now take the money and go get ready"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, no arguments... take the money and have fun"

Callie finally accepted the cash and kissed her mother softly on the cheek as she thanked her before making her way to the bathroom to take a shower. She used her mothers hairdryer to blow dry her hair straight. When the hairdryer stopped her mother made her way into the bedroom knocking softly on the door before entering.

"Mija I brought you some makeup to wear" Lucia offered out a case containing a lot of make up which made Callie smile softly.

"Mama you didn't have to do that" Callie offered.

"We will add it to the shopping list for tomorrow, my little girl needs make up" Lucia smiled behind watery eyes, she never thought she would have a moment like this again with her eldest daughter.

"Mama stop or your going to make me cry too"

"Im just so happy to have you back mija, I missed you so much"

"I missed you too mum, I really did" Callie smiled as a tear slipped from her left eye.

"None of that now, come now and dry your face. I will help you put your make up on if youd like?"

"I would love that, thanks mama"

-oOo-

"Holy shit" Arizona mumbled under her breath when she caught sight of her neighbour walking towards the car. Callie looked amazing wearing her black dress and sandles. The small amount of weight she had put on over the last few weeks had filled her body out perfectly and her hair was down instead of being up in a constant ponytail and she was wearing actual make up which made her eyes pop. She looked breathtaking and Arizona had to steel herself to not make too much of a big deal out of it and make the nervous woman self conscious.

"Arizona you look really pretty" Callie commented as she took in Arizona's royal blue dress with little flowers on it, it was off the shoulders and had a ruffle that hid her cleavage, she had paired it with a pair of nude wedges and had a matching clutch bag in her hand.

"Callie you look... woah!" Arizona smiled softly as Callie blushed, she glanced down at her black dress and sandles and knew she felt pretty but hearing it from her best friend made her feel really good about herself. "We should head out if we are going to get there on time. I thought we could park at the hospital and walk over to Joe's" Arizona said as she opened the passenger side car door and motioned for Callie to jump in.

Callie did as she was told and smiled at the care Arizona took of her thinking to herself how differently her life was now as the blonde dashed around the car and jumped in the drivers side.

"How are you feeling?" Arizona asked as she cranked the engine and reversed from the drive.

"Nervous... a little sick but I will be ok" Callie admitted.

"I will be there with you every step of the way" Arizona offered as she laid her hand softly on Callie's knee for a second before putting the car into first and pulling away.

"You know, you look really amazing" Arizona said after a few moments of silence.

"I feel amazing, it really is incredible what a dress and a bit of make up can do for your confidence"

"Well im glad your feeling that way... did you tell your mum about Drew's?"

"Yeah, we are going to go shopping for supplies tomorrow"

"Was she excited for you?"

"I think equal parts excited and nervous, I don't think she likes letting me out of her sight at the moment. Its almost like she thinks I'm going to disappear again"

"I think we all feel like that Cal, you were gone for so long that I think we all started to actually believe we were never going to see you again so its surreal having you here... its going to take some getting used to knowing that when you go somewhere your going to come back"

"Im sorry I put you all through that"

"Its not your fault Calliope, its that bastards... he is the only one who should be apologising"

"Im still sorry, I could have asked you for help that day we argued but I was too proud to ask for help, I thought I had it under control, I thought it was just Earl having a few bad days because of his apprenticeship finals, I thought... well I was wrong and I am so sorry"

"Hey none of this now, tonight is about celebrating fresh starts... no more morose talk or we will both ruin our make up"

"Ok your right... god I wish I could have a real drink to celebrate, its been so long since I drank a tequila"

"Well I can always order you a shot of juice"

"Its hardly the same thing Arizona"

"No, your right its not... but looking after this bub is the most important thing in the world and if that means forgoing without alcohol for a little while longer then that's what we will do"

"We?"

"Well if you cant drink then its hardly fair that I drink"

"Arizona don't be crazy, I don't want you to stop drinking because of me... atleast have a beer tonight so I don't feel bad"

"You have nothing to feel bad for"

"You should be drinking with your friends and peers and because of me you're the designated driver, that's hardly fair"

"I volunteered. Anyway ive had plenty of nights out drinking and gotten myself into some right states, it will be good for me to not drink so much"

"Please Arizona, one beer"

"Why?"

"Because im asking you too"

"You know I cant say no to you, its so unfair"

"Looks like I win then"

"Fine you win"

Arizona pulled into the hospital carpark and looked for a space near the end of the car park closer to Joe's, she had to drive around for about ten minutes but eventually she found a space and pulled in it. They exited the car and met around the front of it and Arizona led them in the direction of the bar. As they approached the door Callie stopped in the street, her hands trembling.

"I don't know if I can do this" Callie murmered quietly in a shaky voice.

"Then we wont go in, we don't have to do anything your not comfortable with"

"But we got all dressed up and your friends are expecting us"

"Then we let them down, its no big deal"

"Why are you so ok with this?"

"Because you made it this far, you got ready, you made yourself look gorgeous, and you walked all the way to the bar... I'm proud of you but if tonight isnt the night we go in there then that is perfectly ok with me, there will be other nights that we do go in"

"Will you... no never mind"

"Will I what?"

"It doesn't matter im being silly"

"No your not, you've been through a truamatic experience and getting this far is an amazing thing, but what do you need from me?"

"Will you hold my hand while we go in there, I just need to feel some strength from you" Callie admitted with a blush.

"Of course I will, I will hold your hand alll night if that's what you want and what you need"

"Just while we go in there will be fine, but thanks for the offer"

Arizona held her pale hand out to the Latina who took it in her caramel hand and the two smiled softly to each other.

"Shall we?" Arizona asked as she tried to ignore how the hand trembled within her own hand.

"I'm ready" Callie said in a voice that trembled with nerves.

Arizona opened the door with her spare hand and the sound of raised voices hit the two women, they stood there for a few moments, the blonde allowing Callie to 'climatise' to the noise before she guided her by the hand into the noisy bar. She spotted Mark stood by the bar instantly and made her way over towards him glancing behind her every few seconds to make sure Callie was ok. Although a little pale, the brunette was doing well considering everything, when they approached Mark they saw that he was sitting with Derek and Addison, the recently divorced couple.

"Well hello there" Addison beamed at the two women who approached them, Derek glanced up and offered a smile whilst Mark spun on his chair and beamed at the two.

"You made it... and you both scrubbed up... welcome Torres, what can I get you to drink?" Mark smiled warmly.

"I'll have an apple juice and Arizona will have a beer please Mark" Callie asked politely. Mark glanced down to their joined hands before throwing Arizona a curious glance, she shrugged and shook her head for him not to ask so he pulled two stools near them for the women to sit down and turned to order their drinks.

"You look amazing Callie" Addison cooed as the two women sat down, hands still clasped together.

"Thanks Addie"

"Hey what about me" Arizona joked.

"Your ok, nothing on Callie here thought" Addison winked at the intern jokingly before turning and offering the brunette a big smile.

"Charming as always" Derek laughed at his ex wifes antics.

The five sat and chatted about the hospital for a little while, Callie choosing to just listen and not offer any input herself, she was too busy focussing on her breathing and squeezing the hand that held her own tightly as if trying to centre herself. It wasn't until she realised everyone had stopped talking that she realised Derek had asked her a question.

"Sorry I was miles away" Callie commented nervously, if Earl had spoken to her and she hadnt answered she would have received a back hand from him, but Dereks face held no anger at all, instead it was plastered in a cheeky smile.

"Thats ok, I said congratulations about going back to med school, you must be excited" Derek repeated himself.

"Oh right" Callie glanced to Arizona who nodded her head as a sign for her to continue "Yeah there is a lot to do over the next few days to get ready... but its only Drew's, nothing to be too excited about"

"Dont be silly Cal, it doesn't matter where you go to med school it just matters that you go to med school. I mean not every doctor comes from Hopkins" Mark smiled softly with a hint of pride in his face.

"Who's going to med school?" A voice asked from behind Callie making her flinch and tighten the hold on the hand held within her own, her fingers paling at the tightnes of the hold.

"Callie is" Addison said as she glanced between the spooked woman and Dr Bailey who had just scared said spooked women.

"Callie that's amazing, congratulations" Bailey patted the spooked womans shoulder carefully before rubbing her back soothingly. Callie instantly relaxed now she knew who it was who had scared her, for a second when she first heard the voice, for some strange reason she had heard Earls voice and it didn't sound happy. She started to doubt herself and Arizona must have noticed.

"Youve got this Calliope, its okay" She whispered close to her ear.

Callie took a deep breath and glanced into deep blue eyes that held nothing but concern and compassion. She nodded that she was ok and took a sip of her apple juice.

"Thanks Bailey, I didn't know you would be here tonight" Callie finally answered, blushing at how much time it had taken her to answer and feeling dumb, she was so out of practise at being in a social situation it was like she had forgotten how to act and behave.

"Well a little birdy told me that you might be here so I thought I would stop in and say hello before I head home" Bailey offered, nodding her head towards Mark who smiled bashfully at being caught gossipping once again.

"Well its lovely to see you Bailey" Arizona smiled at the shorter woman.

"You too Robbins hows your internship going, is Sloan looking after you?"

"Oh yeah, when hes not hitting on people" Arizona snickered as Mark had the decency to cringe at Bailey.

"I hope hes not giving you any trouble Robbins" Bailey glanced between the frowning man and the smirking woman.

"No not me, he knows he stands no chance with me" Arizona scoffed.

"Nah Robbins speaks the vagina monologues isnt that right" Mark turned the attention onto the blonde who offered him a playful glare.

"I wouldn't be so crude about it but hes not wrong, Mark is definitely not my type"

"Well good, the hospital has a none fraternizing policy for a reason and Dr Sloan here would be wise to remember it"

Callie couldn't help but giggle as she watched Marks face pale. Time passed as the now five doctors and Callie sat talking and laughing about various stories around the hospital and before they knew it they had been there a little over two hours. Callie excused herself to use the ladies room, finally releasing Arizona's hand. The blonde had asked if Callie wanted company but the Callie had said she would be ok and would be back in a few moments, when ten minutes had passed Arizona excused herself to go and find her friend and found her in front of the sinks in the bathroom dabbing at her eyes with a piece of toilet tissue.

"Hey whats wrong?" Arizona asked carefully as she stepped closer to the weeping woman.

"Im sorry Arizona, I think its just been a bit too much for me, I was having such a good time then I came to the toilet and the thought of going back out there alone just... im just expecting him to appear out of nowhere and drag me back to that prison"

"Earl is locked up, he's got a restraining order against coming near either of us and even if he tried Mark would knock him out if he got to him before I did, you have nothing to be scared of anymore Calliope"

"I know what your saying makes sense but that doesn't stop the fear"

"Listen, why don't we call it a night, we can head out and grab a mcdonalds on the way home, how does that sound?"

"But you were having so much fun, I don't want you to end your night early"

"Callie, I'd rather go and grab a mcdonalds and head home than stay here when your not comfortable... are you going to be ok walking back through the bar?"

"I should really say goodnight to everyone before we leave"

"You don't need to do that, they will understand"

"I want to, they've all been so welcoming and involving me with everything I would feel rude if I left without saying goodbye"

"Ok then, lets head out... do you want to hold my hand?"

"No I will be ok... do I have make up all over my face"

"No you look beautiful Callie"

"I wish you wouldn't say stuff like that?"

"What, that you are beautiful?"

"Yeah"

"Why not?"

"Because... well... I just don't feel beautiful"

"But you are beautiful, you're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen... I've always thought that"

"Even will all my scars?"

"Your scars tell the story of how incredibly strong you are. You are beautiful Calliope even with the scars, because of the scars, they are a part of who you are now so please don't feel anything less than gorgeous"

"You always know the right things to say to cheer me up, how do you do that?"

"Youve forgotten that I have known you for more years than I havent known you. We were seven when we met and we may be a bit older, may be a bit more battered around the edges but your still as beautiful as you were when I first met you. I know how to cheer you up because I have had plenty of years of practise"

"True"

"Come on. Lets go say good bye and we will head out, Im sure Lucia will be starting to worry by now"

"Maybe I should give her a call and update her on whats happening, I'd hate for them to be sat worrying"

"You can do that from the car, first things first lets say goodnight to that drunken lot"