Disclaimer. The characters belong to Shonda Rhimes. The various references, quotations used in this document do not belong to me. This work is non-profit just for fun. Thank you for reading and giving your opinion

Two chapters today because tomorrow will be for me a day of travel so I will not be able to update. I will undoubtedly do it the next day . Enjoy and thank you for all the super nice reviews

Chapter 10: Dance with Me

Callie has been working on her presentation for a month, practicing in front of her mirror. When Sofia is in bed, she resumes again facing Arizona who listens patiently, repeating the lecture she'll give in a few weeks.

She could replace her on short notice because she knows the text by heart, but it reassures Callie to repeat and repeat again, tirelessly, so Arizona supports her as she has always has.

She is very busy between her job in the pediatric surgery department at Mount Sinai Hospital, and the steps she started for the implementation of " the Robbins-Hermann Center for Women's Health."

Teddy allowed her to bring Callie into the confidence of her pregnancy and her situation, because Arizona didn't want to keep secrets from Callie, she cares about an honest relationship. The three women spent a few evenings together, as in the good old days, and the cardiologist will also start working at Mount Sinai in a few weeks. Right now, she has to come back Seattle to talk to Owen and move back later to New York permanently.

For Arizona and Callie life flows easily, organized between Sofia and their work they share daily life, as if they were a real family. As for their personal relationship, they're not really stuck in the "Friends" area It's not so simple, rather stuck each in their own guilt. Their life is like a hesitant dance: two steps forward one step back. They feel like they are frayed, the slightest touch or the evocation of a memory can make, at the same time, their cheeks rise red with desire or plunge them into doubt, fear or sadness.

Callie had respected Arizona's wishes, and had made no comment on the reading she had entrusted to her. The next morning, when Arizona had noticed, her eyes reddened by the tears, she hugged her and whispered tenderly.

- Please Callie no more pain, no more sadness, let's not ruin this now

Callie visibly upset, had withdrawn from the embrace, nodding with a semblance of a smile, and for a while she had avoided crossing the blonde's gaze. As the days went by, their relationship had normalized. Arizona thought they had perfectly clarified things in such a way that they could become excellent friends and powerful co-parents for their daughter.

It took Callie a few days to digest the heartbreaking information that reading the notebook had revealed to her, and after having cried a lot, having self-flagged for her behavior, she analyzed the situation calmly. She perceived in the writings of Arizona so much love in the midst of all this pain that it was so many arguments justifying to fight to rebuild their relationship. Everything she had read proved to her that it was worth it.

She knew that this wasn't won with the particularly stubborn Robbins specimen who had clearly decided to wear blinkers so as not to see the obvious. She was also aware that she had lost Arizona's trust, and it was going to be difficult to convince the woman who had already accused her, years ago, of falling so easily in love with man, woman etc... But she was gonna fight for it, she could do it, she had to do it. She was, however, less comfortable with the court episode, how could Arizona forgive her when she herself could not?

Forgiveness was exactly why Arizona wouldn't let herself go. She was certainly afraid of failure, she had certainly afraid of suffering again, and making Sofia suffer, but she was above all convinced, that Callie could never forgive her adultery, her attitude after the crash, all that she had miserably ruined, it would come back one day like the eternal reproach, she didn't want it anymore.

Yet she must be acknowledged that her life since moving to New York was sweeter than it had been for a long time she felt soothed, serene, whole again. They had no longer discussed about the apartment, Arizona had continued the research without too much doggedness however, and when Teddy had offered her a possible co-location she had pretended not to hear because she felt good with Sofia and she had to admit it, with Callie too.

It is late when Arizona pushes the door of Callie's apartment, she is stopped by the sight of the Latin from the back, in panties and pink tank top, the headphones of her iPad in her ears, swinging her body to the sound of music that she alone hears.

As at the beginning of their relationship, she always and again finds her of supernatural beauty, she remembers that she could not stop looking at her sensual curves, her long coppery legs, and tonight, almost 10 years later, it's exactly the same.

Moved by the show she had not seen for so long, she remembers their life before, when everything was easier. Callie was definitely, the sexiest woman she ever knew. She closes her eyes for a second wanting to dispel this feeling.

Unaware of the presence of her ex-wife, Callie carried away by the music makes a U- turn thus finding herself in front of the blonde.

Caught off guard, she jumps, quickly removing the headphones from her ears, but crossing Arizona's thoughtful gaze, she teases her with the mischievous look.

- Hey, you were there? Would you be staring at me?

- No, no, no, sorry, sorry I ... uh I thought... Just, do you like again dancing by yourself in little panties? Arizona mumbles those words, panicked at the idea of somehow looking like a perverted peeper

- yeah, but actually I realized that much more than dancing alone in panties, my favorite thing is dancing with you. Dance with me begs Callie

She approached Arizona whose shy look gave her a crazy charm, she had not moved a step away, as if her feet were screwed to the ground. She slips her an earpiece in and drags her into a very glued tightly salsa. Trying to swallow, the ball that blocks her tight throat Arizona defends herself a little

- Callie is not a good idea; then I don't dance like that anymore...

- Do you really think I fell in love with you because your dancing skill? Let yourself be carried by the music and by me

After a few seconds of embarrassment, Arizona relaxes in the arms of the very scantily clad brunette, letting herself be greyed out by her perfume, by the contact of her skin, she lets herself be guided by her ex-wife even forgetting that she has a prosthesis and that she had no longer danced in this way since. While the music changes to a slower rhythm Callie does not let her escape, holding her firmly by the waist, she lays her forehead on that of the blonde and while gently swinging she whispers to her.

- We used to do this so often. What happened to us Arizona?

Without changing position Arizona takes a deep breath and declares tenderly, eyes filled with nostalgia.

- We grew up, we had a baby, and then the universe unleashed against us.

- yes, we've had so many losses all these years. How could we have gone through all this, without damage?

- But we are still standing, and I am so glad that we can be friends again. Walking away a little to dive into the black eyes she adds: I missed you so much

Arizona removes the earpiece from her ear and now completely separates from the Latina she confesses smiling

- But as much as I enjoy this moment Callie, I am not of wood and holding you in this outfit, will certainly not help me to stay on the way of friendship. I'm going to take a shower.

- Hey, are you abandoning me?

- Yes I assure you, it's wiser pleasant Arizona

Callie a big smile drawn on her face, watches Arizona come out of the room and the walls of the rampart crack.

- Arizona! Cold shower?

The two women laugh, regaining their complicity. The shower will actually be cold

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