After another couple of beers with Mark, Arizona felt the most relaxed that she had been since she'd landed at Tacoma. Or in fact, since she had heard the news about Tim.
That feeling soon passed as she reached the parking lot at the motel.
There, leaning against her car and in Arizona's opinion, looking too perfect for words, stood Callie.
Taking a deep breath, she approached her purposefully.
"So…either you really like hanging around outside this motel, or you're waiting for me" she said coyly, scuffing her toe in the dirt.
"You got me" Callie grinned "I figured if I waited here long enough, you'd come back eventually. Either that, or I'd end up desperately needing to pee and have to persuade someone to let me into your room"
"Ok yeah, that would've scared the crap out of me so I'm glad you're here hiding in plain sight"
"Not really hiding at all" the brunette pointed out.
"True" Arizona agreed "Didn't have you pegged for the stalker type though"
"I'm so not a stalker"
"I'd say showing up uninvited at someone's motel twice in twenty four hours is bordering on stalkerish" the blonde teased, with an added wink just to ensure Callie knew that she was kidding.
"I just…" the brunette wrung her hands nervously "I didn't like the way things ended last night, and I didn't want you to have any more on your plate what with it being the funeral tomorrow…so I figured we should try and talk, and smooth things over or whatever, but if you want me to go then that's fine too, this is about what you need, and I…"
"Calliope"
The use of her full name snapped Callie out of her rant and she stared at the blonde, wide-eyed.
"You're rambling. Which I'm totally ok with" Arizona continued "but do you want to do it inside rather than in the parking lot?"
"Yes, I erm…yes, I'd like that" the brunette smiled gratefully.
They walked to the room in comfortable silence, and it was Callie who spoke first once they'd closed the door.
"So where did you go today? Not that you have to tell me, I mean it's totally none of my business and I really hope that didn't sound accusatory or anything, I'm just genuinely interested…"
"Stop" Arizona put a hand on the brunette's arm, causing them both to swallow "You're allowed to ask questions, ok? Especially when they're as genuinely simple as where I've spent the afternoon. And the answer is I was having a beer with Mark"
"Ok" Callie took a deep breath "sorry I just, well honestly, I get really nervous around you"
"You do?"
"Yeah, kinda"
"I would say something about you really not needing to, but if I'm being honest, you make me nervous too. I think that was pretty evident last night"
"I'm glad we can be honest with each other" Callie smiled.
"Me too"
"And in the interests of honesty, I'm also kinda liking the fact your hand is still on my arm"
"Oh, I…" Arizona blushed and pulled her hand away instinctively.
"Sorry , I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable"
"You didn't" the blonde said firmly, deliberately reaching out to squeeze Callie's hand "I don't think you've ever been capable of making me uncomfortable"
"You seemed pretty uncomfortable last night" the brunette pointed out.
"Oh erm…well that was different. That wasn't you making me uncomfortable as such…"
"Just the fact that I'm married" Callie finished for her.
"I guess"
"Can I ask you to be honest?"
Arizona looked straight into her eyes before answering "Yes"
"Did you react the way you did last night because I'm married, or because I'm married to Eduardo?"
The blonde exhaled "Starting with the easy questions, huh?"
"Is it a difficult question to answer?"
"No. Yes. I don't know. I guess the answer is kind of both. Eduardo and I…we don't exactly have the best history. In fact, I think I summed it up last night by calling him a jerk before I knew…well, before I knew he was your husband"
"You're allowed to think that you know. He was a jerk in high school. And now? Well he can still be a jerk now"
"But you married him?" the blonde said, half stating, half questioning.
"I think we're still on my question" Callie folded her arms defensively.
"Ok" Arizona took a deep breath "honestly? Yes, it threw me when I realised you were married. Not that it should have done. Of course you found someone, you're awesome, there must have been a queue of….people…wanting to marry you. But that doesn't mean it was easy to hear. And I know I have no right to say that, but I can't help how I feel"
Callie's nostrils flared "You're right, you have no right to say that. Or to feel that. What did you expect, that I'd just sit here celibate, hoping that you'd come back some day? For all you know I did exactly that, but ten years is a really long time"
The blonde closed her eyes "I'm sorry"
"I'm sorry too" the brunette sighed "I didn't come here to fight with you"
"Do you…" Arizona paused, her eyes darting around the room to avoid the brunette's gaze "do you love him?"
"You know you're only the second person who's ever asked me that?"
The blonde frowned "Who was the first?"
"Mark. On my wedding day. Which was two years ago, just to save you asking"
"Should've guessed" Arizona replied, ignoring the second part of the brunette's answer "And what did you tell him?"
"I said I was getting married"
"That's not an answer"
"It was enough of an answer for him" Callie retorted.
"It's not for me" the blonde replied quietly.
"I…I feel like there are levels to loving someone. I do love him. He took care of me, was patient and waited for me to come around to the idea, he's generous. My family love him. Since Aria and Juan got together, which I assume you know about since you met with Mark, my dad has been revelling in a Cuban takeover of the shipping industry round here with Juan and Eduardo's fathers. So um…yeah"
"Can I speak honestly?"
"Please do"
"It sounds like you got married for your family's sake rather than your own"
"You don't get to say that Arizona. You don't get to judge the decisions I've made"
Arizona could see the fury rising in the brunette. It wasn't that her hot temper was unfamiliar, but it was something that had very rarely even glanced in her direction. Being on the receiving end of that glare was terrifying.
"I just want you to be happy" she said softly.
"No, you don't get to do this. I was happy, I had everything I wanted, and I damn well know what love feels like. So don't you dare try to lecture me about…"
Arizona grabbed the brunette's head and pressed their lips together firmly. Tears were running down both of their cheeks as they whimpered at the contact.
It was the blonde who pulled back first, just a few millimetres, with her hands still gripping waves of dark hair firmly. The break in contact seemed to snap Callie into action, and she grabbed the blonde's elbows, forcing their bodies together as she took possession of Arizona's lips with her own. The kiss was desperate, years of anguish pouring out as their tongues danced together. The blonde was shaking, but Callie steadied her as they moulded themselves together.
Everything about Callie just tasted and felt like home to Arizona. Every time their tongues met, she felt a jolt of pleasure shoot through her body. Her hands just couldn't stay still, one moment she was cupping the brunette's cheeks, the next minute she was squeezing her shoulders, and then she was tangling them back into her hair again. She couldn't get enough of the woman in her arms.
When they pulled apart, both women were panting, their eyes tightly closed as their heads still rested together. Tears flowed freely down both of their cheeks, but it was Arizona who began to sob first. Callie pulled her into an embrace, stroking her hair.
"It's ok, sshh, I've got you"
"I missed you so much" the blonde wept.
"I missed you too baby, I missed you too" Callie pulled her in even tighter.
"Please…please don't leave right now"
The brunette pulled back to make Arizona look at her "I'm staying right here until you're ok. I promise"