A/N: This is my first story ever and I'm no writer. I did not use beta reader, and I wasn't able to proofread it, so all mistakes are mine. Reviews and requests are very much welcome. I searched "Little gestures that mean I love you" (LGTMILY) in Google and I found a whole lot of lists and articles, which is how I got this prompt. There are numerous songs mentioned in this story but I didn't bother putting their lyrics. So if you don't know the song or if you want to know why I chose that specific song, please feel free to search for the lyrics in Google. Some scenes are clearly based on the show, and the others are not. Lastly, this story is written based on the assumption that the songs I mentioned were already released when the scenes on the show have happened.
SUMMARY: Arizona makes Callie a playlist.
Make a playlist of meaningful love songs.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Callie received no answer.
Arizona and Callie were sitting on the living room couch, with nearly empty wine glasses on the coffee table. Callie had just finished reading a medical article when she noticed Arizona doing something on her phone very seriously.
"Honey?" No answer.
"Arizona?" Still no answer.
"Dr. Robbins?" Silence.
"Okay, should I be worried now?" Finally, Arizona looked up at her.
"There. Done." Arizona put her phone down and raised her hands up, as if saying that she's giving all her attention now to her wife.
"Now, I'm worried. Were you texting another woman?" Callie accused playfully, raising her eyebrows.
"No, silly. I wouldn't do that in front of you," Arizona retorted and laughed. "I was making you a playlist."
The brunette, confused at the weird, unusual thing her wife did, replied, "Well, let's hear it."
Arizona put one side of the earphones on her right ear, and put the other on Callie's left ear. She played the first song on the playlist.
1. Never Want to Say It's Love - Dido
This was the song that's been playing at Joe's when they shared their first kiss.
Callie was crying in the bar's dirty bathroom when the door revealed a curious Arizona. The blonde basically confessed her admiration for the other woman right then and there, which led her to kiss the brunette. During the kiss, the rest of the world was pretty much a blur for the both of them, but neither of them could forget the song that was playing right that very moment.
While the song was playing, both of the women reminisced everything that's happened that day. Who would have thought a bad day could end in a good way, a life-changing one?
After the first song ended, the next song followed.
2. Like a Ghost - Calahan
This song is not really as meaningful as the others in the playlist, but Arizona decided to add it anyway. This was the song playing in the bar when Callie confronted Arizona, who was having her date with Julie at the time, about her life experience and her excellent chicken piccata.
Callie may possibly have forgotten that moment, and may not recognize the song, but to Arizona, it was the moment when her admiration for Callie grew deeper. She already had it for Callie before said confrontation and wanted to give the brunette a chance. She even knew that Callie just recently came out and had dated only one other woman.
However, having been cornered by the ortho surgeon earlier that day — asking her out on a date — the blonde panicked and turned down the offer. Afraid of the possible heartaches and heartbreaks, she decided to take the safe road and follow her rule about dating newborns: Don't.
The moment the Latina professed her heartfelt confession – in front of her date – was the moment when Arizona realized that her feelings for Callie were much bigger than her fears. She knew that the brunette will be worth breaking her rules — and, possibly, her heart — for.
That moment, she realized she had to gofor it. Hence, this song is important to her.
Callie reached for Arizona's phone and paused the playlist for a moment, "This was the song playing at Joe's when you were having your date with that girl." It was more of a statement than a question.
Arizona, shocked at the thought of Callie recalling that night, asked amusedly, "You remember it?"
"Are you kidding me? How could I forget that night? I was drinking by the bar, listening to that song before I poured my heart out, embarrassingly I might add, in front of your date," Callie chuckled at the memory.
"You know what? I'm beyond grateful to have my date interrupted by some gorgeous and insanely hot Latina that night," Arizona winked at her wife.
Callie smiled at the blonde's reply, "Actually, I am, too." The brunette resumed the playlist, and the next song played.
3. Little Pieces - Gomez
This is the song they first danced to.
Callie and Arizona were at the brunette's apartment, having their first date. They had just finished their first box of pizza. They were talking about their hobbies when the Latina mentioned that she occasionally sings and dances. Learning this, Arizona asked the other woman for a show of her moves.
"Not if you dance with me," the ortho surgeon replied.
It took a little convincing on Arizona's side as she keeps on insisting that she had no moves and had two left feet. "Just let go and dance it out," was what the brunette advised Arizona.
The blonde finally gave in. Callie put her playlist on shuffle and this was the first song that played. They danced like hell that night, each woman showing the other an occasional flirty move.
"That was a very fun night!" Arizona recalled, "I found you even hotter after I saw you danced for the first time."
"Why thank you," the brunette blushed. Receiving compliments from Arizona is not new to her, but it still makes her stomach flutter every time. "I had never enjoyed dancing as much as I did that night, ever since."
Arizona resumed the playlist and the fourth song played.
4. Like a Virgin - Caught a Ghost
This was the song that played during the first time they made love. Arizona refuses to call it 'sex' because, according to her, "It was never justsex."
After Izzie and Alex' wedding, the couple had returned to Callie's apartment. They were exhausted from the long day they both had; Callie, running extra shifts in the ER, and Arizona, having back-to-back surgeries.
In addition to this, they had their first fight, which was only resolved after Arizona's many attempts at talking to Callie. During their talk, Callie admitted that she expected the previous night to be their night. She said she had wanted to stay in instead of going to some fancy restaurant. After talking about everything and expressing themselves, they were able to come to peace.
As soon as they arrived at the Latina's apartment, they ordered pizza, which was what they decided earlier that day. While Arizona was on the phone talking to the pizza place, Callie connected her iPod to the speakers and played her sexy playlist.
"Pizza will arrive in about 30 minutes," Arizona announced after she hung up the phone, noticing the romantic ambience of the room. She settled on the couch as Callie got beers from the kitchen.
After putting the six-pack on the coffee table, Callie sat very closely beside Arizona. They started talking about random things, both of them trying really hard to listen to the other and ignore the sexual tension — mostly brought about by the songs playing on the speakers and their close proximity to each other — building between them.
The next song on Callie's playlist started playing, a more sensual version — in Arizona's opinion — of Madonna's Like a Virgin.
When the sexy intro of the song was heard, Arizona leaned in slowly and kissed the brunette. The kiss was soft at first but had quickly escalated into a hotter and a more passionate one. Before the song was able to reach the chorus, tops and bras of both women were discarded on the floor, leaving them half-naked.
"Bedroom?" Callie asked, shortly cutting their kiss. The blonde just nodded in response, resuming their kiss. The couple stumbled their way to Callie's bedroom and continued their extracurricular activities there.
The song ended not long after the blonde brought Callie to her first orgasm of the night – and first of the many that they will be sharing, for the rest of their lives. They had done it countless more times until the pizza arrived, and even more times after they ate pizza and drank beer in Callie's bed, naked.
Arizona, remembering the events of that day (and night), felt happy. She was thankful for having reached this far with Callie. She moved closer to the brunette, resting her head on her wife's shoulders. The taller woman kissed the top of the blonde's head, and wrapped her arm around Arizona's shoulders.
The fifth song immediately followed after the previous one.
5. The One - Kodaline
This was the first song Callie sang to Arizona, for Arizona, and also the first song Arizona heard Callie sing.
It was, as usual, a cold, rainy night in Seattle and Callie and Arizona were cuddling on the couch in the former's living room.
"I have an idea," Callie randomly suggested, earning a confused, but curious look from the peds surgeon. "Dance with me?" Callie asked as she stood up and reached for Arizona's hand. The blonde gladly obliged and stood up.
The shorter woman positioned her head on the brunette's chest, just above her heart, and wrapped her arms around Callie's waist. The ortho surgeon, meanwhile, wrapped her arms around Arizona's shoulders. She lightly rested her chin on top of the blonde curls. They started moving from side-to-side, and continued it for quite a while.
"As much as I want dancing to your heartbeat and the raindrops, sing for me?" Arizona requested, looking up at Callie and flashing her super magic smile. Before the brunette could protest, Arizona continued, "I never heard you sing before."
The ortho surgeon smiled at the pouting Arizona. She started singing The One by Kodaline.
They continued to sway from left to right, but this time, they were dancing to the song Callie was singing. When the Latina reached the last few lines of the song, instead of singing them, she whispered them to Arizona's ear: You make my heart feel like it's summer when the rain is pouring down. You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong. That's why I know you are the one. That's how I know you are the one.
"You know, that was the first time I heard that song," Arizona paused the playlist, before the next song could play, "But after that night, it became my favorite song and your voice became my favorite music."
Callie smiled at the cheesiness of the statement. "I meant every word I sang that night," Callie confessed.
"I know," Arizona looked up and kissed Callie on the lips, and played the next song.
6. Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran
This was the song playing when they said their first I love you's to each other.
Arizona returned to Callie's apartment after witnessing the heartbreaking scene at the morgue: Wallace's parents bidding their goodbyes to the poor little boy. She entered the apartment quietly. She was met with faint music from the speakers, which, Arizona assumed, have been playing since earlier that night, during her supposed-to-be birthday party. However, the music that was playing now was Ed Sheeran's Kiss Me, which was obviously not a song intended for parties. Callie must have changed the playlist before she slept, Arizona thought.
She dropped her keys on the table, and saw her girlfriend sleeping on the couch. The brunette stirred at the slight noise made by the keys. "Oh, I'm awake. I'm aw- um, see? I'm- I'm totally awake!" Callie instinctively sat up. "I'm- there's hats, and gifts," The ortho surgeon put on the hat, and gestured her hands at the gifts. She reached for the plate of doughnuts on the table, "And- and- and doughnuts," she paused. Dropping her voice lower than normal, "And lingerie." She laughed nervously and tried to make sounds with the party horn, but failed miserably so she flashed the birthday girl her signature smile.
Having found the scene before her endearing and adorable, among all things, Arizona tilted her head slightly to the right, and looked at her girlfriend in the eye, "I love you."
The smile on the brunette's face slowly faded, "You do?"
The blonde nodded and smiled slightly, "I do."
The peds surgeon's revelation surprised the other woman as much as it surprised herself. Callie was not used to hearing these three words first, as she always said it first to whomever she was dating. Arizona, on the other hand, was not always the first one to admit it whenever she was in a relationship, and when she did, not this soon. This moment was a first for both of them.
Not a little while after, the brown-eyed woman replied, "I love you too."
Hearing Callie's reply, Arizona sat beside Callie and kissed her. The smaller woman poured all her emotions into that kiss, which was gladly received by Callie. After the kiss, Arizona pulled her girlfriend into a tight hug, positioning her head on the other woman's chest. They stayed in that position for a little longer.
This really does feel like falling in love. Both women thought, as they heard the last few lines of Ed Sheeran's song.
Both of the women know that they had fallen in love with the other long before they admitted it. While the circumstances could have been better, neither women would choose any other moment to say their first I love you's.
Remembering the memory associated with this song, Arizona looked at her wife in the eye and whispered, "I love you." She positioned her head on Callie's chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around the brunette's waist.
"I love you," Callie replied and kissed the top of Arizona's head while tracing circles on the back of the smaller woman.
The couple smiled at each other as the song ended. Shortly after, the seventh song played.
7. Make You Feel My Love - Adele
This was the song Callie proposed to.
Not wanting to revisit the tragic memory of their first proposal – which eventually led to a car crash – Arizona decided to leave a particular song out of the playlist, Someone Like You, which was ironically sang by the same artist.
Their second engagement happened very simply and intimately. Callie knew Arizona preferred private moments rather than grand gestures. It was their one-year anniversary since they rekindled old flames. They decided to celebrate it in their now shared apartment in New York. Sofia was sleeping over at a friend's house, so it was just the two of them in their apartment.
Callie prepared a romantic setup and cooked Arizona's favorite meal. There were flowers, candles, wine, and romantic background music. They ate dinner and talked each other's ears out.
When they finished dinner, Callie stood up and offered Arizona to dance, which was immediately accepted by the blonde. Before they could start to dance, Callie got her iPod and played a particular song for them to dance to, Adele's Make You Feel My Love. Once she played the song, she took the blonde's hand and led her to the middle of the living room.
The couple wrapped their hands around each other, Arizona's arms around the Latina's neck, and her arms around the blonde's waist. The shorter woman rested her head on Callie's chest, a familiar position she had gotten used to every time they slow-danced. Both women, feeling content in each other's arms, danced silently, listening to the lyrics of the song and feeling them.
About four minutes later, the song ended, and the room was filled with nothing but comfortable silence. They stayed in their position for a little while, until Callie broke the silence, "Arizona?"
The peds surgeon, not saying a word, lifted her head from Callie's chest for a while, and looked up at the taller woman. Blue and brown eyes staring at each other, Callie sang the last verse of the song, "I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. There is nothing that I wouldn't do. Go to the ends of the earth for you, to make you feel my love."
Arizona smiled at this gesture, feeling all the love in the world from Callie's voice. Before Arizona could say anything, the other woman started recalling everything they went through, the good, the bad, the ugly, the thick and the thin, from their first kiss in Joe's dirty bathroom to Arizona's move in New York — which led to their reconciliation three months later.
"We were never the perfect couple. It wasn't always easy with us. We faced too many tragedies and breakups for a lifetime, we might have even passed the quota," the Latina joked. "It might even be easier to just walk away and never look back, but I don't want easy if it means not being with you. I want everything with you. I want to laugh with you, cry with you, do stupid things with you, fight with you, make up with you, and everything else in between. You are worth the risk and I never, for one moment, regret anything that has happened between us in the past. I wouldn't change a thing about it. Everything that we've been through brought us to this very moment and turned us into the people that we are now. You deserve all the love in the world and I intend to give it to you and make you feel it every day, for the rest of our lives. I know that I may not have the best history with promises in the past, but I will try my hardest to deliver the promises I make now, and the promises I will be making." the brunette paused for a while. Callie and Arizona have already talked about this sensitive topic when they reconciled, and they now understood what it meant for the both of them when they broke their promises to one another. They found a sense of calmness in their hearts after a long, overdue heart-to-heart conversation, and forgave each other.
"I promise not to bail or run away when things get hard. I promise to do whatever you can't do. I promise to talk to you, and at the same time, listen to you – to what you are saying and not saying. I promise to love you, even when I hate you – although I could never hate you," the dark-haired woman smiled. Tears are now falling down both women's cheeks. "I love you. Everything about you. Only you. And Sofia. And our future kids. Our future dogs, and chickens."
Callie concluded their trip down memory lane and retrieved a small red velvet box from her pocket. She kneeled down on one knee, opened the box, revealing a fancy diamond ring, and said, "I am absolutely thankful and happy with my life right now. I couldn't ask for more other than having you as my wife, again." Callie smiled nervously which made Arizona smile back despite the tears falling from her eyes that have no intention of stopping anytime now.
"So, Dr. Arizona Robbins, world class pediatric and maternal/fetal surgeon, my good man in a storm, mother of my child, love of my life, and most especially, my soulmate," the blue-eyed woman can't help but laugh at how Callie described her, "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Callie flashed a big smile, tears now running down her cheeks.
After a long while of being speechless, Arizona finally answered, "Yes, yes, Calliope. A million times yes. I will marry you every day." Callie stood up and put the ring on her now fiancée's finger. They shared a warm, tight embrace. After pulling apart, Arizona leaned in closer and sealed their engagement with a kiss.
"Agreeing to marry you for the second time is one of the best decisions of my life," Arizona said when the outro was playing, looking at her wife's big brown eyes.
"Oh, yeah? Just one of the best? Not the best?" The brunette tilted her head, sincerely curious.
"Not even close," Arizona released a small laugh, "My best decision was kissing you in that dirty bar bathroom about a decade ago."
"Hmm, fair point," The taller woman smirked at the response and leaned in closer to give her wife a kiss. The song ended, and another song followed.
8. Morning Noon & Night - Ryan Shaw
This was the first song they danced to as wives, during their first wedding day.
They were dancing on the dance floor, while April Kepner tried her very best to capture every moment of their dance — of their entire wedding, actually. During their dance, Callie and Arizona were in their own world, lost in each other's arms.
"We're married," Arizona smiled, locking her blue eyes with brown ones.
"We are," Callie confirmed, not breaking the eye contact.
They fell into a comfortable silence, and kept their eyes locked at each other. They stared at each other like there's nothing else – and no one else (well, except for Sofia) – in the world that mattered. What matters for the both of them is the endless, boundless, and unconditional love they felt for one another, and for their daughter. They kept dancing to the beat of the song and said all the things they wanted to say each other with their eyes.
When the song ended, Callie leaned in and seductively whispered to Arizona's ear, "Especially now that you're my wife, I am going to make love to you morning, noon, & night." A turned-on Arizona decided to not say anything before she could lose her self-control in front of their guests and chuckled at the song reference her wife just made.
"We made love morning, noon, & night even before then, but I think we did it more often after we got married," Arizona said upon realization, earning a proud look from Callie.
"Well, you know me," the taller woman chuckled. "And I plan to keep on making love to you morning, noon, & night for the rest of our lives," she said with a low voice, in a suggestive tone.
She brought Arizona's face up, so they are now looking at each other. Arizona leaned in to kiss her wife. Callie attempted to deepen the kiss and move on to something more, when Arizona pulled away, "Later. We have a playlist to listen to."
Callie pouted at her wife, who just flashed the ortho surgeon her super magic smile. When Callie was about to complain, Arizona stopped her and returned to her position on Callie's chest as the next song played, "Oh, shh. I love this song."
9. Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
This was their second wedding song; the song that was playing as they walked down the aisle.
Their second wedding, unlike their first, was smaller and more intimate — not to mention, legal. They got married in a garden, by a minister, witnessed by Sofia, their closest friends from Seattle, a few of colleagues they grew closer with in New York, and both women's families – including Callie's mother, who eventually came around after talking to Arizona.
Callie wanted at first to just go to city hall and get married there. Arizona, however, insisted they wear white dresses and marry each other in front of their families and friends. According to her, they at least owed them a simple ceremony for being very supportive of their relationship and of their own individual endeavors.
Seeing Arizona has a point, Callie agreed to this, which is why she finds herself now at one end of the aisle, her left hand holding a bouquet, and her right arm wrapped around her father's left one. After taking a deep breath, she and Carlos started walking to the altar, and the string quartet played Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.
Callie surprisingly felt only serenity and joy while walking down the aisle. She wasn't nervous about any possible tripping or anything else. She was sure; and she was excited about their future. She thought about how far she and Arizona have come, and she's ever ready to go further. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she stopped it in order to avoid ruining her makeup – although, she wore waterproof mascaras, just in case. It took Callie and her dad the first verse and the chorus to play until they finally reached the other end of the aisle.
When the song reached its second verse, Arizona, being given away by her father, started walking towards Callie. She locked her blue eyes into Callie's brown eyes and never looked away. This time, Callie wasn't able to stop her tears from falling like waterfalls. Both women talked with their eyes, a thing that isn't unfamiliar to them. They could easily read each other's feelings by just looking at the other's eyes. Arizona thought about how grateful she was for being able to come back to Callie's arms, for the umpteen chances that the brunette gave her despite her faults, and for the tremendous amount of love they felt for each other. She always thought that she had found true love and ruined it; but now, she was thankful for having found it again, for the second time, only better and stronger – no matter how long it took.
By the time the bridge of the song had played, Arizona was already in front of Callie. Both fathers hugged their daughters, and then turned to hug their future daughters-in-law. After the hugs, Carlos and Daniel went to their respective seats.
"Did I walk too slowly? Did I make you wait too long?" the blonde pouted.
Finding the expression on the pale face endearing, Callie leaned in to Arizona's face – close enough to have their noses touching – and said, "You were perfect. And I will always wait for you no matter how long."
Both surgeons wrapped their arm around the other's arm and walked closer to the altar. The ceremony began.
Before the next song could play, Callie paused the playlist as she felt her top getting wet. She looked down at Arizona, "Hey, are you okay?"
The smaller woman brought her head up and looked at her with tears falling from her eyes, "I'm great. I just—I love you so much and I am greatly thankful to whatever gods are out there for bringing me back to you."
Callie, who also got emotional after hearing the song and her wife's statement, cupped Arizona's cheeks and used her thumb to wipe away the peds surgeon's tears. "I love you too, so much. I assure you nothing and no one will ever break us apart again," she leaned in, making their lips meet.
After their soft kiss, Callie played the last song from the playlist and wrapped both her arms around Arizona's body, embracing her into a warm hug.
10. The Story – Brandi Carlile
This song wasn't playing during some milestone moment in their relationship but they still considered this song very special because it was the song that they dedicate to each other. It's like their theme song.
They were cuddling on their bed one night after an earth-shattering, mind-blowing, and scream-from-the-top-of-your-lungs lovemaking. Callie's head was resting on Arizona's chest and her arms were wrapped around the petite woman's waist, while Arizona's right arm rested on Callie's back. They were sharing a comfortable silence, both women still recovering from their orgasms.
After a short while, Arizona broke the silence, "If there is a song you could dedicate to me, what would it be and why?"
Callie looked up confusingly at her then girlfriend and joked, "Am I in a job interview?"
The blonde chuckled at the reply she received and smacked Callie's butt cheek, "Just answer the question, please."
Shocked at Arizona's action, the Latina retorted, "Well, now, it's hard to." The shorter woman just glared at her girlfriend. "Okay, okay, fine," Callie started after seeing the look on her girlfriend's face. "If I was to dedicate a song to you, it would be The Story by Brandi Carlile."
Hearing the ortho surgeon's response, Arizona's eyes widened, "Are you kidding? That's also the song I want to dedicate to you. Are we so well-matched that we have the same thoughts?" Callie, also amazed at the coincidence (or fate), chuckled at the last sentence Arizona said, which was referencing to a conversation they had earlier in their relationship. Arizona continued, flashing a curious look, "Why did you choose such song?"
Callie pulled away from the arms of the smaller woman, rolled on her stomach, and sat up on her elbows. She looked at her girlfriend in the eye, "Because you know me better than anyone else, myself included. You know my story, and you accept me for who I am." The brunette's explanation may be short, but it was enough to let Arizona know everything she needed to know. Callie continued, "What about you? Why do you want to dedicate that song to me?"
The peds surgeon reached for one of the other woman's hand and kissed her knuckles before answering, "Because I will do everything for you. I will climb mountains, swim across oceans, and break rules for you." Callie smiled at the reference. "And, you're the first person with whom I want to share good or bad news. Whatever I do in my life, it's not awesome, unless you're there to see it or hear about it," Arizona explained.
Callie, touched at Arizona's explanation, cupped the latter's cheeks. She brought her face closer to her girlfriend's face, closed her eyes, and kissed her soft, pink lips.
Once the last song stopped playing, Callie whispered in Arizona's ear, "It's true, I was made for you."
Arizona leaned in and gave her wife a peck on the lips, "Did you like it?"
"I loved it. Thank you." The blonde, satisfied at Callie's response, gave her another quick kiss. "Now, can I cash in my prize? It's nighttime now, and I believe you owe me something," the brunette suggestively added.
Arizona can't help but chuckle at the brunette's retort, but immediately kissed Callie more deeply than the previous ones. She pulled away from their kiss for a little while and smirked, "I would very much gladly pay up."
