"Callie," Arizona greeted.
Eyebrows raising, Callie looked towards her ex—wife. "Hey," she smiled.
Arizona gulped, stepping closer to the brunette. "I, um. Your hair looks really pretty today."
God. She had no idea what to say. She had no idea how to talk to Callie anymore. It had been so long.
Still, she looked over Callie's shoulder and gained a sense of confidence when she saw Webber offering her a thumbs up in the distance.
She could do this. She could tell Callie how she felt. She could give them another shot.
"Um, thank you?" Callie tittered awkwardly. She was more than a little surprised that Arizona had approached her, not to mention that she had offered a compliment.
Unconcerned, Arizona continued on her mission. "Are you leaving right now?"
"Yeah, I left Sof at home with the sitter. Are you?"
Arizona nodded. "Come on. I'll walk you to your car." She held her breath, anxiously awaiting her ex—wife's reaction. She knew Callie must have been confused, given that they had very rarely spoken during the past few months — and years — but Arizona was determined to express how she felt.
She was in love with Callie. Still. She had attempted to move on with little success, finding no one she was interested in connecting with.
She knew what she wanted. She knew who she wanted.
Callie.
So she was taking the steps to tell her, and — maybe, just maybe — win her back.
"Sure," Callie chirped. The comment from the blonde was more than a little odd, given their recent history, but it was nice, too.
Side—by—side, they walked into the parking lot.
Knowing that Arizona'd had a long day, Callie slowed her stride so that the shorter woman could keep up with her even with her prosthesis.
Arizona forced herself to take a few slow deep breaths, preparing to talk to Callie — seriously.
Beside her, Callie inconspicuously watched Arizona. The rumormill had been turning like crazy when it came to the blonde.
Some people had been saying that Arizona had seduced all the female nurses. Others had said she was having an affair with Richard (what the?). Others claimed that she had "found God" and was entirely celibate (again, what the hell?). Callie was eager to hear the real story, but she knew better than to ask.
As much as she wanted to know everything about Arizona these days, she also wasn't sure she'd like what she heard. Because, even then, the thought of Arizona sleeping with other women made Callie sick to her stomach.
It didn't make sense, but — well — it was how she felt.
They stopped when they reached Callie's car, each woman turning to face the other.
"Well, I…"
"Callie," Arizona interrupted.
Callie's eyes widened in anticipation.
"I, um."
"You met someone, didn't you?" Callie interrupted. "You're seeing someone."
"What? No!"
"Is it a nurse?" Callie pressed. "Oh, God, is it Colleen?"
"Callie!"
But Callie was just getting started. Suddenly, all her insecurities were at the surface of her consciousness, and she couldn't stop.
Arizona wanted to tell her that she'd moved on entirely, right?
Even though Arizona obviously had every reason to no longer even consider their ancient marriage, the prospect suddenly terrified Callie. It was unbearable, the thought of Arizona no longer having any lasting feelings for her.
"Or are you—"
"Callie!" Arizona exclaimed. "For one second, can you stop making assumptions and just listen?"
Well, that shut Callie up. Arizona hadn't totally exploded the way she might have several years ago, though. Though her voice had been stern, she offered Callie a kind, apologetic smile even as the words passed her lips.
"Please?"
Slowly, Callie nodded. "I'm sorry. I was…rambling."
Arizona smirked. "I noticed."
Callie closed her eyes, taking a deep, calming breath. "I'm listening."
Penny, her ex—girlfriend, had taught her how much she really needed to learn to listen.
Callie had learned a lot in the past few years. So, in that moment, she was ready to listen to the woman who she still cared about most.
Arizona's lips turned up. "Thank you."
Callie waited.
Arizona sighed. Why was saying her truth so hard? She knew she was a catch. She was confident around every other woman.
But Callie wasn't just any woman. Callie was the woman Arizona loved.
Finally, she began, "I know…we don't talk much, these days."
Callie nodded. It was true. Avoiding each other had been easier.
"But," Arizona sighed. "Calliope…"
Callie felt her heart take off in her chest. Suddenly, she was feverish. Suddenly, she wasn't breathing.
"I still find you miraculous. Breathtakingly stunning, inside and out. Even now, I can't stop looking at you."
Seriously. Callie wasn't breathing.
"And I have no idea where you're at with us. With everything. But I just wanted you to know that my love for you hasn't gone anywhere." She paused. "I love you as much as I always have. More," she corrected.
"You…still love me?" Callie repeated. God, she was dense. She knew it. But she needed confirmation. She needed to understand.
Not even a beat passed before Arizona confirmed, "Yes." It was true. She was still in love with Callie. She was sure of it. She felt it in her bones.
Callie looked into the never ending depths of Arizona's cerulean blue eyes, overcome with the same feeling herself.
She was utterly, without a doubt, completely in love with the woman standing before her. And she'd known it forever.
Even while attempting to love others, she'd always known that — in her heart — she loved Arizona, too. And that she always would.
"I find you," she began. But, suddenly, she didn't know how to finish. She couldn't find the words. She was overwhelmed by the relief and tears that threatened to consume her.
Arizona's breath hitched in expectation. She knew that Callie's response had the power to set her free or destroy her entirely. And all she could do was wait.
"God, Arizona," Callie shook her head, overwhelmed by how deeply she truly loved the woman standing before her. "You're the most amazing person I've ever known."
And it was true. She admired both Arizona's head and her heart immeasurably. Arizona was just…
For Callie, she was the good.
"And I love you, too," she whispered.
Briefly, blue eyes bulged. But, seconds later, the blonde was too overcome with joy and relief to hold back her emotion, and her eyes filled with tears.
And, both unable to stop herself and no longer seeing a need to, Callie's arms instantly wrapped around the shorter woman. She pulled Arizona as tightly against herself as she could, shivering at the feeling and at the warmth of the woman she had ached for for so long.
Arizona's arms immediately slung around Callie's back, holding on for dear life as she inhaled the sweet scent of the woman she loved.
"So what do we do now?" Callie asked as they pulled away, minutes later. "Go back to where we were?"
Arizona shook her head. "We start fresh."
And, with that, she put her hands Callie's waist and finally pulled her in for a kiss.
