"Hey Aps, how are you," Arizona said over the phone when April picked up the call.
"Arizona! I am good, how are you? How was the flight?" April asked excitedly
"Flight was like always, but I am fine. You say how it's like to being married again? How's Mathew doing?" Arizona replied
"We all are doing great." April answered, "So, how is it?"
"What?"
"New York aaanndd Callie," April asked
"So far so good… I … um still at Callie's… she booked my Hotel from Monday… so… well… I am staying at her place" Arizona mumbles the last part.
"Woah! Sooo…. Give me some juice" April asked playfully.
"April Kepner, there is no juice… She thought it will be good for me to spend some time with Sofia before she goes to summer camp… and… its… it's good for Sofia…. So" Arizona tried to explain
"Yeah! Sure… Sofia… that's why she asked you to stay…" April said sarcastically.
"Will you stop that? There is no other reason" Arizona said. Just then Callie's voice from the living room got her attention "Ok, listen we are going to look for apartments for me… talk to you later?"
"ooo! WE...sure darling, I'll catch up with you later… take care… love ya" April said happily.
Shaking her head Arizona replied with a smile "love ya too" and went down to the living room
.
.
Callie was waiting for Arizona and Sofia in her room when her phone started ringing. As she looked at the screen, it was Clyde.
"Hey," Callie said as she picked up the phone.
"TORREESS!... what's up girl?" Clyde replied in a mischievous tone.
"Why are you being weird?" Callie asked perplexed "I mean weirder than usual?"
Clyde laughed out loud "well when My best friend who calls at least 3 times a day for everything, doesn't call me or message me for 12 hours… it got me worried" He taunted
Now it was Callie's turn to laugh "Sure dude, you were "Worried" about me…that's why you called… come to the point and ask what you want to ask?"
"Hmm! Alright... so, how is Sofia? How was the meeting with "Arizona"? Did you have the talk? If yes, then what happened? If no, WHY NOT?" Clyde said everything in one breath.
Callie's eyes widened in surprise "Good God Clyde, take a breath…" Callie snickered and said in a similar tone as Clyde " to answer your questions, Sofia is great, it's great to have them here. Meeting with Arizona was little awkward but otherwise great… no we didn't have any kind of talk… because I didn't want to spook her the day she landed in New York."
"Hmm! So basically, you chickened out" Clyde concluded "Torres, you have disappointed me"
"Wha… I DID NOT chicken out… the timing was not right" Callie defended herself
"Sure dude…whatever you say" Clyde replied but it was clear with his toned that he is not convinced, Callie chickened out. "Anyways, when can I meet this amazing Sofia and Dr Robbins".
"Let's see, today is Friday… so … NEVER" Callie retorted.
"WHAT! Why not?" Clyde exclaimed.
"Because I don't think you will behave in front of Arizona… I don't trust you" Callie responded humorously.
Clyde gasp in fake hurt "You are a mean Lady… Dr Torres… I expect you, Arizona and Sofia at my place tomorrow for dinner." Clyde replied with a best friend – authority.
"No, Cly…" Callie began to argue only to be shot down by Clyde.
"nuh-uh! No excuses Torres… I'll wait for you all" Clyde settled.
Callie hung her head in defeat "You know what… I hate you"
"Neah! You love me" Clyde countered funnily,
"No, seriously …I Hate you" Callie replied
"Nope… say you love me, or I will not let you go anywhere… say you love me… SAY IT" Clyde bantered.
"FINE! I Love you… happy now… just hang up now I have things to do" Callie replied
"YES!... I knew it… buh-bye Torres … give my "Love" to Arizona… and Sofia" Clyde teased delaying the last part deliberately.
Callie hung up the phone chortling and mumbled "Moron"
As she turned back, she found Arizona standing at the door of her room with a blank expression.
"Oh god, how much of that did she hear," Callie thought. "Hey, Ready to go?" Callie spoke out loud with a smile.
"who were you talking to?" Arizona asked, still with a neutral expression, but she then realized it was sounding intrusive so she added "if I may ask"
"Oh, that was Clyde… you know… my best friend here" Callie replied.
Clyde was mentioned by Callie a few times when she talked to Arizona, but up till now she didn't think of it much but after hearing their banters and comfortable conversation, Arizona couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
"Oh, so… you guys are…. Close?" Arizona asked meekly
"Oh yeah…super" Callie replied but didn't notice the frown forming in Arizona's face "Lets hit the road..."
The Trio went to look for a few apartments and several houses all around Manhattan. Some places were far from Sofia's school, some were too far from the women Centre site. After roaming and looking around for 7 hours, they finally found a place at west end avenue which had 2-bedroom, 2 bath and good city view, it was just across the park from Callie's apartment and around 7 miles from Sofia's school. Finalizing the house and putting in the check for 2 months' rent upfront, they went to check the women centre sites.
After considering the rent, distance and connectivity of the site, Arizona finalized the space at 2nd avenue. The paperwork and contract would be done once Nicole Herman arrives in New York next week. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant and head back for the house. A whole day of jumping around and running had made Sofia to tired that she slept in the car itself. As they moved back toward Callie's place both women stayed quiet for a while. Callie was concentrating on the road as the traffic at this time was way too much for Callie's patience. Arizona on the other hand was still thinking about Callie and Clyde. An internal debate was going on in her mind.
What did Callie mean by being super close?
Is she?
No, they are just friends…. Best friends
Huh! Heard that before.
Why don't I ask her directly…? I mean… what worse can happen?
She could confirm my suspicion…that can happen.
In her internal battle, Arizona didn't realise that Callie was looking at her.
"Arizona, everything okay?" Callie asked bringing Arizona out of her thoughts
"What…yeah… everything is fine" Arizona replied looking flustered
"No! you are thinking too hard… tell me… what's on your mind?" Callie insisted
"Nothing I was thinking about the centre and shifting and everything…. It's all so huge and sudden" Arizona lied.
"that's true… but also it's so great as well… think about how many women you are gonna help and how many young minds you would train… that's awesome" Callie chuckled after saying Arizona's go-to term which made even Arizona smile.
After mustering up the courage Arizona asked "So… um… Clyde…you two… I mean… are you… you know"
All of sudden it dawned upon Callie, the reason for Arizona's silence and the mood was her notion towards Callie's relationship with Clyde. Callie suppressed the laugh which was building inside her and decided to ignore the question. Clearing her throat, she said "We are almost home… I think we should wake Sofia up"
Callie's diversion from the topic fuelled Arizona's doubt but before she could say something Callie asked "Listen, Clyde has invited us for dinner tomorrow... if it's okay with you"
"He invited me too. Why?" Arizona questioned; her voice little louder than intended.
"What do you mean by why he wants to meet Sofia and you… I mean... if you are comfortable… I can easily say no to him if you will be uneasy … really" Callie clarified.
"What...no… no, why would I be uncomfortable. I am Fine" Arizona replied with fake smugness.
"Okie then, I will let him know"
After reaching home Callie put Sofia to bed and without further discussion, both women went to sleep as well.
…
Saturday was errands day for both Callie and Arizona, the apartment they went to look was ready to move in, so they went there and kept few of Arizona belongings in the apartment. Rest of her stuff was getting shipped from Seattle which would take another four days to arrive. Arizona didn't bring much from Seattle except her books, TV and bed, rest of the furniture she decided she would buy from here. Callie cashed this opportunity and convinced Arizona to go to and look for furniture's together. They dropped Sofia at her friend's house, till the time for dinner at Clyde's and went to pottery barn, Ikea and some local furniture shops. They spent most of the day selecting Sofa, coffee table and bedroom set up for Sofia's room (She has given them a long list of her requests). By the time they finalize the furniture and paid for it, it was almost 6 and their time for dinner with Clyde.
Arizona was feeling a mixed kind of emotions. Firstly, Clyde was Callie's best friend which means she was going to be scrutinized or judged by him; Afterall he called his best friend's Ex-wife for dinner for some reason, so Arizona was nervous. Secondly, if Arizona's suspicion was true and Callie was sleeping with him than there was an infallible emotion of jealously rising from the pit of her stomach and the combination of both was making Arizona nauseous. As Callie knocked on Clyde's door, Arizona took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.
"Torres!" Clyde said excitedly hugging Callie "and you must be Dr Robbins… hi I am Dr Clyde Goodwin," Clyde said extending his hand towards Arizona.
"Hello… Please Call me Arizona" Arizona said taking Clyde's had for a handshake. If Arizona was feeling jealous of Clyde till now, her jealously increased tenfolds when she saw how charming and handsome Clyde was. "He is totally Callie's type… ugh!" Arizona thought.
"And this little princess must be Sofia…Please come on in," Clyde said shaking Sofia's little hand.
Arizona looked around his house, it was well organized, spacious and cosy. As she was admiring his house, she didn't notice two new presence in the living room.
"Stefan, meet Arizona, Sofia's other mother…and this is Sofia…" Clyde introduced them "and this is Stefan… my husband and our son Ryan"
"Husband" Arizona mumbled in shock but a relief spread across Arizona face.
When she didn't respond for a few seconds Callie nudged her with her elbow.
"Sorry, I didn't realize that you were…" Arizona began but stopped herself from saying what she was actually thinking instead she said "…Married"
"Oh yeah! 13 years this October" Clyde replied with a grin.
The hosts gestured them towards the sofa as Sofia and Ryan went to his room to play video games.
"Callie… did you forget to mention something about Clyde" Arizona whispered to Callie so that Clyde and Stefan couldn't hear them.
"What, that's he is married… or that he is gay?" Callie asked with a smirk.
"Both actually," Arizona said with raised eyebrows.
"I didn't think it was a big deal… I don't think it matters… you see, I don't judge people…" Callie said playfully with a grin.
Arizona gasped "Callie! I am not Judging…but… you should have…"
"Why? is that matter?" Callie asked wiggling her eyebrows
"You know very well what I was thinking Callie… don't act so innocent now… I know you hid that intentionally." Arizona chided.
Callie was enjoying it way too much to let it go "Really Arizona, I don't know what you are talking about… what were you thinking by the way?" Callie said with the most innocent face she could possibly make at that moment.
"Ohh you are such a trouble Calliope Torres" Arizona said without realizing, but Callie's head spun around hearing her name from Arizona's mouth and a wide smile spread on her face...
"What," Arizona asked when she saw Callie staring at her with a grin, but Callie didn't respond and shook her head.
After a delicious dinner which was prepared by Stefan, kids resumed their games, Arizona and Stefan started the discussion on some books on the rooftop and Callie and Clyde went to the kitchen to bring dessert.
"Torres, where did you find Female Stefan" Clyde asked.
Over the dinner, they realized that Stefan and Arizona were quite similar, they both were perky and vivacious, they had similar taste in movie, music and a shared interest in broadways.
"You know what, I was thinking the same thing that Stefan is Male Arizona" Callie laughed.
"Well, it makes sense… seeing how similar we are… our choice of spouses are also similar" Clyde replied.
"Well… ex-spouse for me" Callie added sadly.
"Not for long…Callie… Hang in there" Clyde said as he put the plate of eclairs and hot fudge sundae on the table. "What are you doing Torres? Why are you not taking any steps towards your happy ending?" Clyde asked as he saw Callie staring at Arizona with a smile, who was laughing hard on something Stefan had said.
"I don't know Clyde… I am scared and it's too soon… she just came here…she already has too much to deal with I don't want to pile on" Callie replied
"I trust your judgement, but my advice… act fast… enough is enough… you, her and Sofia deserve more… much more" Clyde advice "you got a second chance here… don't screw it up and whatever it worth… I like her… she is Amazing"
Callie nodded her head in agreement "Thanks Cly… it does matter to me and I promise I won't screw it up… not this time"
Rest of the dinner went in the discussion of Arizona's paper, which Clyde was dying to talk about and kids summer camps.
As the night grew darker the Trio bid adieu and left for their place.
…
Sunday was the last day of Arizona's stay at Callie's before she checks in to the hotel. It will take at least a week and a half for Arizona to get settled in her new home and make it liveable for Sofia which meant that she won't see Sofia for a while. So, the trio decided to spend the day doing something fun. In the morning they went to their favourite breakfast place which Arizona remembered from her last visit. Later they went to the mall for shopping and arcade gaming, which, much to Callie amusement, Arizona was enjoying as much as Sofia was, if not more.
The evening brought May shower with thunder, so they had to return home reluctantly. After a bath, Sofia went straight to bed while the adults pour wine and went to sit in the living room. The conversation started casually, discussions of Women centre, Sofia school and some surgeries, but as more wine kept getting poured, the words became less and less. While talking they didn't realize how closed they had come. Now sitting on a two- sitter couch facing each other, they were staring into each other eyes. No one spoke anything, as if they were afraid that it will break the spell. Arizona saw Callie's eyes flickered between her eyes and lips and her own eyes mirrored the motion.
Callie leaned forward slightly and waited for Arizona to make a move, tipsy on wine and with defences down Arizona leaned in as well. As Arizona breath hit Callie's lips, her heartbeat increased. Arizona closed her eyes, but the awaited kiss never came. She opened her and saw Callie staring at her.
Not understanding what's the holdup was, Arizona asked: "Callie… what…?"
"Arizona… I want to give us another try."
Hey all, Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
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