Chapter 49

"Ok, I have to say... this is the most tired I have about ever been at the end of a work week," Arizona says, sitting down at the desk and laying her head down flat on the cold desk.

Laughing, Mandy and Teddy lock the doors and roll their eyes at the blonde. "You know, you have turning into an old married lady right before our eyes," Teddy says, shaking her head.

"Mm...," Arizona grumbles. "...old lady, I'll give you. Married? That's another thing all the way around."

"Still won't talk about it?" Teddy asks.

Sighing and sitting up, Arizona says, "Nope," over emphasizing the "P" sound. "I haven't brought it up since right after we started back to work full-time. I didn't feel like getting aggravated if I kept asking and kept getting put off. So, i just quit bringing it up."

"That was what? Six, eight mmonths ago?" Mandy says, shaking her head. "You mean to tell me, the Arizona Robbins I know has sat around like a whipped puppy for six months and not said a damn word to her fiancé? You are just moping around waiting? That is NOT the Arizona Robbins I know. The Arizona Robbins I know wouldn't give up until she had a date."

"Well, I've changed. And I won't push Calliope into a marriage she isn't quite ready for. I can't pressure her into it. I want to get married but not like that." Arizona exhales. "Anyway, I better get going. It's my turn to fix dinner tonight and I'm exhausted. If I don't go do it soon, we will end up eating just a bowl of cereal."

Arizona stands and heads into her office while Teddy and Mandy watch her leave the room. Teddy looks at Mandy and says, "I hope Callie comes around soon."

"Me too, girl. Me too." Mandy files away what she has in her hands and then reaches for her jacket off the coat rack. As Arizona walks back out into the waiting area, she says, "You know, asking one more time, since you haven't asked in a while, might be worth it."

Giving Mandy a sad smile as she switches the lights off and heads out the door, she says, "Yeah, maybe. We'll see." With that, the three women head their seperate ways for the weekend.

When Arizona makes it home, she walks into the house to smell something delicions coming from the kitchen. Walking in, she finds the small kitchen table set up with place settings and candles lit, and a smiling Callie pulliing down her apron and laying it on the counter. "What's this?" Arizona asks, surprised.

"Well...I was doing a little thinking while I was staring at the calendar today and work, and..." Callie started, but Arizona interrupted.

"...And you picked a date for the wedding?" Arizona asks, hopefully.

"Um... well, uh... no. Not exactly. I mean, I um, I was going to say we shared our first kiss eighteen months ago. So, I know it isn't a yearly anniversary date, but I just thought we could maybe still celebrate. Eighteen months is still a mileston, in my opinion.

"Oh yeah," Arizona says, trying to smile but Callie can see that it doesn't quite meet her eyes.

"Arizona," Callie starts, as Arizona pulls a seat out at the table and sits down.

"Yeah"?

Sighning, Callie pulls the chair out next to her and sits as well, trying to figure out how to discuss the topic that she can see if obviously on Arizona's mind. "Arizona, I know that you want us to set a date, I do. And it isn't that I don't want to. I do. I really do. I just.. it might sound a little silly, but, I don't know. I guess..."

"You guess... what?" Arizona drawls out, not wanting to rush her, but eager to hear what the brunette has to say.

"I guess... I just want to wait until Katie can be there."

"Katie can be there now. I don't understand," Arizona says, shaking her head.

"I guess I just picture our wedding with Katie as our flower girl, walking up the isle and dropping flowers all the way. I was hoping after the trial that she would just get better and then we could schedule something. I dodn't think we would be this far out and not having more improvement in her than what there has been."

"Calliope... that's it? That's the only reason you aren't ready yet?"

"What do you mean, "That's it?" I think that is a pretty big reason," Callie says, narrowing her eyes at Arizona.

"No, I don't mean it that way. It's just, I though maybe you were having doubts about... marrying me," Arizona says, avoiding the gaze of Callie's eyes.

"Wait. You really think I still have doubts? I just fixed us an eightoon month dinner as a celebration of our first kiss. I love you, Arizona, and there is nothing I want more than to marry you. I just, want to wait until Katie can walk down the isle too."

"I know you love me. But, I am still the first woman you have been in a relationship with. I guess I was just imagining the worst possiblity. I just wish you would have talked to me aout it sooner.."

"I should have. Honey, don't ever be insecure about how I feel about you. I cannot wait to be your wife. I really should have told you what I wanted right up front. But, part of me was afraid you would point out that she might never walk again. And I know that... I just, I hope that's not the case."

"I wish you would have told me from the beginning. Would have saved me a lot of wondering and we could have talked about it. We both know that's a possibility. Right now though, we have all the hope in the world that she will be walking before you know it. And then, we will set our date."

"I love you, Arizona. I'm sorry I made you feel like I was maybe having doubts. I don't have the first one. Not at all," Callie says, pulling Arizona closer to her and going in for a kiss. "I love you more than I will ever be able to express," Callie says, pulling back for air.

"I love you too," Arizona says. "Now, since you saved me from fixing dinner, which I was sooooo looking forward to," Arizona says laughing, "What are we having?"

"I have to be honest... I actually cheated a little bit. That new Italian place opened today, so I ordered take out," Callie said grinning. "And I may have put it in actual pans to give the illusion I cooked. But, since we are being honest right now, I figured I should go ahead and fess up," Callie says, laughing, as Arizona joins her.

"Well, give me some of this food you slaved away at then," Arizona says, handing Callie her plate.

"Why is it my job to serve? It was technically your night to cook anyway?" Callie asks, smirking.

"Because you love me..." Arizona says. Then realizing they were alone, she asks, "Where is Katie, by the way?"

"Taking a nap. Your mom said she wouldn't take one earlier. She said Katie was too interested in watching cartoons to even think about closing her eyes after the therapists left."

"Look at that. Already being a typical kid!" Arizona says, laughing.

Six months later...

"Come on, come on, come on..." Callie hears, as she walks into the house carrying groceries. Quckly setting them down on the counter, she rushes to the living room to see what is going on. The therapist has Katie standing in a device that supports her, but will also let Katie move in it once she begins walking.

"Come on Katie," the therapist says encouragingly, as she notices Callie rush into the room.

Callie stops by the doorway and takes in the scene in front of her. One therapist is in front of Katie about two feet holding her arms out while the other therapist is beside her watching her legs. As Arizona walks in right after Callie, she stands next to Callie.

"What are you watching? What's going on?"

"Shhh... watch," Callie says, reaching for Arizona's hand, needing something to calm her nerves that seem to have skyrocketed just in the past couple minutes as she watches her daughter strive to reach a milestone.

Arizona realizes what is happening, and she too becomes nervous. "Come on Katie... take a step for your mommas. Come on..." Arizona whispers, not wanting to distract Katie from the therapists who are working with her.

No sooner did Arizona say that, does Katie do what they have been waiting months for. Her right leg comes off the floor just enough to scoot forward just a few inches before it makes contact with the ground again. What may have only been a few inches as far as distance, was a giant leap in her recovery, and the adults in the room start clapping and Arizona and Callie rush to Katie to give her a kiss. Smiling a big smile, Katie realizes she wants that reaction again and does the same thing with her left foot. The reaction she receives is almost louder than the last one, causing a laugh to burst forth from Katie's mouth.

The therapists think that was enough for one day, and return Katie to her regular chair. "Well ladies, we will see you tomorrow. Now, remember, we don't want to do too much too quick, but wow... she did it. She will be doing this on her own in no time."

"Thanks. We appreciate everything you guys do for her. You have just been amazing with her," Callie says, still not able to wipe the smile off her face.

After the therapists leave, Callie pulls Arizona in for a kiss. She took a step!"

"I know. She took two steps!" Arizona can't help but smile.

"Arizona... I was getting ready to lose hope that it would happen, but you never stopped believing. So thank you."

"Remember, what one of us can't do, the other does," Arizona says smiling.

"I love you. So much. I guess now, maybe we can start discussing dates. I know we are still several months out, but maybe just talk about some dates?"

"Music to my ears, Callliope," Arizona says, kissing the woman in front of her. "Now come on, we need to get this girl some ice cream and celebrate!"

"Absolutely!" Walking over to Katie, they each give the little girl another kiss. "You want some ice cream?"

Not expecting her to reply, she nods her head yes, surprising both women for the second time today.

AN: A few time jumps in this chapter to hurry past some of the recovery time. I didn't feel it necessary to show every part of it. I'm hoping to wrap this story up in another couple chapters.