A/N

Another long one with a lot of focus on flashbacks. I think I've only really used them in a couple of stories before, but I'm finding myself really enjoying them as a plot device, particularly for the slow reveal of all the details in this story.

CalzonaFan123 – I hope that this chapter starts to explain the answer to at least one of your earlier questions

The single benefit to being a family member of the deceased at a funeral was that you got to be the first to the bar at the wake. Arizona laughed uncomfortably at the darkness of that thought, but equally she was entirely sure that Tim would be in agreement.

The wake was inevitably being held in Newport's one and only bar. It was in theory closed to the public, not that it really made a difference seeing as the vast majority of the town's drinking age population were attending the funeral.

Deciding that she needed a change from her motel supply of vodka, Arizona decided to order a rum and coke. Maybe she was feeling a bit nostalgic. It was either that or gin, and even she wasn't quite so stupid as to drink something notorious for bringing out emotions at a wake.

Drink in hand, she turned awkwardly to her parents as the other guests filtered in.

"Lovely service" she said to them, on the assumption that that was a safe comment to make in the circumstances.

"It really was" her mother agreed, having just about managed to stop crying "and thank you for speaking. You know I…well there's no way I could have got up there"

"Yes quite" her father added somewhat sternly "although it might have been preferable if you hadn't gone into such…unnecessary details"

"You mean telling stories about Tim?" Arizona asked, raising a brow pointedly.

"You know exactly what I mean"

11 years previously

Arizona was seventeen, and by this point there wasn't even a hint of a doubt in her mind that she was a lesbian. At first, she'd wondered if it was just an infatuation with Callie. But as time had gone on she realised that even if she couldn't be with Callie, she had no desire to be with a man. Whether it was celebrities, or tv shows, or in real life, the only people that she was interested in romantically were women.

She'd always thought that figuring out who you really are would be a freeing feeling. But the fact that the only other person in the world who knew was desperate to keep it a secret, for her own reasons, meant that it was more suffocating than freeing.

And so she had made the decision to tell Tim when he returned from his first tour in Iraq. He was nineteen by then, having signed up to the military the summer after he finished high school. Telling him was always going to be a nerve-racking process. Despite the fact that she knew deep down, he would always have her back, no matter what, she had no idea about how he would feel about his sister being gay. It just wasn't a topic of conversation that ever came up in their household.

But then she'd told him, and his reaction was better than she ever could have hoped for. To Tim, it wasn't a big deal at all. It didn't change how he saw her. All he was concerned about was his opportunity to show off his dance moves. Or maybe he'd just said that to make her laugh.

And after he'd talked about dancing at her wedding, he'd held both of her hands and looked into her eyes.

"You have such a big heart, Zo. So just promise me you'll always be true to it. When you love someone, love her with everything that you are and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. And promise me something else?"

"Anything" she'd agreed eagerly, fighting back tears at quite how supportive her brother was being.

"When you guys get married…"

She looked at him in mock confusion as her heart started to pound. She had definitely not made any mention of their being anyone in particular that had prompted her admissions. But he just raised an eyebrow that said very clearly that she hadn't needed to say a word.

"…I'm second in line to salsa with you"

She burst out laughing and pulled him into a hug "You got yourself a deal, buddy"

And so feeling buoyed from that conversation, she had made the decision to also come out to her parents that night.

With hindsight, she should have stuck with her original win and cashed out while she could.

Her mother…well, as was fairly typical for any serious issue in their household, her mother hadn't really said anything at all.

Her father had left no room for any further discussion.

"You might think that's who you are, and that's a matter for you and you alone. But it is not something I ever want to hear about, and most definitely not see. Once you are out from under my roof, I have no need to know of your personal affairs. Until then, I suggest you have a think about whether you want a place in this family"

Present day

"Oh I know dad" she flashed him an entirely fake smile that had been perfected after years of practice "but in case you hadn't noticed, I'm no longer under your roof, nor have I commented on my "personal affairs" as you so kindly put it, at any point in the last ten years. But today is about honouring Tim, a man who, despite his upbringing, despite the military culture he was surrounded by, chose to accept me for exactly who I am. In fact, not just accept me, but encouraged me to be myself. So let's let today be about him and his values. Excuse me"

She walked away without waiting for a reply, crossing her parents off the already short list of people that she could talk to at the wake.

The bar was getting busier, and she worked the room for a few minutes, receiving handshakes and sympathetic words from people she was fairly sure she had never met.

She felt the relief flood over her as she almost literally bumped into Mark as he was walking away from the bar.

"Hey" she smiled at him genuinely.

"Hey blondie" he pulled her in for a long hug.

"Taking advantage of the free bar I see?" she teased, nodding at the double whiskey in his glass.

"You know me, just drinking Tim's share. He wouldn't want good whiskey to go to waste"

She grinned "You're literally the only person who could get away with saying that"

"It's all part of my charm" he shrugged nonchalantly "anyway, you did great today kid. Honestly"

"Thanks. It's a shame not everyone feels that way" she nodded towards her parents.

"Listen" Mark eyeballed her "you know Tim. I know Tim. And we both know he was laughing away up there. Particularly at you socking it to the old homophobes in this town"

"God I hope you're right"

"You know I am. I always am"

"You haven't changed a bit" she shook her head incredulously.

"Nope" he grinned before his expression turned more serious again "and though I can't quite say the same for you, I also know that the real Arizona is still there, hiding behind what you think people want to see"

"Ha" she scoffed "let's just say, you've never met New York Arizona"

"I think I'd love New York Arizona"

"You have no idea who that is"

"In fact I'm sure I would" he continued "if she's the same carefree girl that I used to know"

Arizona smiled wryly "You know what, I think she is. Although, maybe a slightly more adult version"

"Even better"

They were joined at that moment by an unfamiliar face, although Arizona quickly deduced from the way that Mark's hand came to rest on the small of her back that this must be the girlfriend that he'd mentioned.

"Arizona, meet my much, much better half, Lexie"

"Hi!" Lexie smiled widely and shook her hand "It's great to finally get to meet you, I only wish it were in different circumstances. I'm so sorry about Tim"

"Thanks" Arizona shook her hand, immediately warming to the younger woman "and I'm super excited to meet the only person in the world that Mark has ever described as being better than him"

All three of them laughed, mainly at Mark's expense.

"It's so good to finally put a face to all the stories that I've heard about you" Lexie continued.

"Stories?" Arizona turned to Mark, raising her eyebrows.

"What?" he protested "You were wild back in the day"

"Like when?"

"Like your graduation party?"

10 years previously

The annual beach party for high school graduation was a long-standing tradition in Newport, and just as Callie and Arizona had tagged along to the one held for their older siblings two years previously, the one held for their own graduating class had a few additions. Namely, Mark, Eduardo, Juan and Aria, none of whom had gone to college or moved out of Newport, plus Eliza and Penny who had returned for their summer vacation. Tim by that point was preparing for his second tour, and although Arizona missed him, it did mean that she could let loose in a way that just wasn't possible when your older brother was around.

Just as it had two years previously, the setting of the sun had prompted the lighting of a fire and the instigating of a game of dares. Only this time, the head cheerleader in their own year, Izzie Stevens, was in charge. And somehow Teddy had managed to wangle her way into being her second in command. The fact that she had managed to steal several bottles of liquor from her dad's drinks cabinet might have had something to do with it.

The first few dares had been relatively tame. Callie had been made to lick Mark's big toe (which resulted in some very exaggerated gagging). She had then dared Teddy to drink from one of the boy's shoes. Even once the game picked up, there were a few instances of cheerleaders having to kiss each other, various drinking dares, and one of the more prudish girls, April Kepner, point blank refusing to simulate fellatio on an empty beer bottle. Eventually, the bottle had landed on Izzie, and she had then been made to make out with one of the quieter boys in their year, George O'Malley.

When the head cheerleader span the bottle and it landed on Arizona, she felt her heart sink. It was one thing being dared by your friends, it was another thing when your fate lay in the hands of a girl who had essentially looked at you like you were dirt for the last four years.

"Arizona Robbins" Izzie stood up, hands on her hips with a smirk on her face "I dare you to run into the sea naked"

The look on Arizona's face clearly said it all, because Mark spoke up before she had a chance to.

"It's a fair dare, but I feel like she should be allowed to take her clothes off behind the rock over there and run down. You can't really expect her to just strip in the middle of the circle"

Izzie looked like she was going to protest, but Callie spoke up before she could.

"Yeah, I mean, you didn't specify where she had to run into the sea"

"Fine" Izzie folded her arms, accepting defeat "but you have to do it now"

Arizona swore under her breath. She knew that her friends had fought for her as much as they could, and at least she didn't have to strip naked literally in the middle of a circle of friends and acquaintances. She got to her feet and headed towards the rock. Ironically, the very same rock that she and Callie had kissed behind two years previously.

"Teddy, you follow her and tell her when to run" Izzie ordered, and Teddy obeyed without question.

Arizona ran to the rock and stood behind it, stripping down until she was naked. Teddy had followed her and stood on the other side of the rock.

"Are you ok with this Zo?" Teddy asked.

"I guess I have to be"

"You could always say no"

"Arizona Robbins does not back down from a challenge"

"Fair. Ok, you ready?"

"As I'll ever be"

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Teddy screamed at the top of her lungs.

And with that, Arizona began running. The fact that it was dark, and the sheer speed with which she was running, meant that actually very little was visible to the rest of the group. She reached the sea to a round of cheers, and ducked down to her shoulders to ensure there was no further chance for anyone to ogle her.

Apparently that was the end of the game, as the group started to break out into their own conversations, with drinks being replenished, and several couples (in fact, including the unexpected pairing of Izzie and George) finding slightly more secluded spots to make out.

Callie was half focused on Arizona in the sea whilst also trying to listen to whatever Mark was telling her, when she caught sight of her sister giggling with Eliza and Penny, as they headed towards the rock that Arizona had left her clothes behind.

She was about to shout to them when Eliza broke off from the group, darting behind the rock and scooping up all of the blonde's clothes.

"Hey!" Callie shouted, running towards them "Drop them now!"

Penny grabbed hold of the brunette to prevent her getting any closer to Eliza.

"Sorry!" she grinned sarcastically.

"No can do Torres Jr!" Eliza yelled, before throwing the clothes up in the direction of the cliff face that dropped down onto the beach.

As Callie pushed past Penny's arm, which wasn't exactly the most effective barrier, she ran up next to Eliza, only to see every item of Arizona's clothing lodge itself on various jagged edges of the cliff face.

"GET THE FUCK OVER THERE!" she yelled at the top of her voice.

Even her own sister wouldn't disobey her when she was screaming like that, and the three former cheerleaders ran past her and back to the main group.

Arizona, still blissfully unaware as to the situation regarding her clothes at this point, ran back up the beach to the rock, where she found Callie waiting for her.

"Callie, what the hell?" she exclaimed "If you've stolen my clothes, that really isn't funny"

"It wasn't me, I swear!" the brunette protested "It was Eliza and crew. And that…that's not really the bad part…"

"Tell me" Arizona growled.

"Your clothes are all stuck up on the cliff face"

Before the blonde could yell anymore, Callie grabbed hold of her arms and crashed their lips together. Any anger that Arizona felt in that moment was swept away the moment that she felt the brunette's lips on hers. She allowed herself to be backed against the rock, vaguely registering how cold it felt against her naked back, but nothing else really mattered in that moment.

Callie started to kiss her way down the blonde's neck, letting one hand roam up and down her naked torso while the other gripped a bare hip tightly.

"If we were anywhere else" she husked "I would be taking you so hard right now"

Arizona groaned, pulling the brunette flush against her. Their hips ground together desperately as their lips found each other once again.

It was only when they broke apart from the kiss that Arizona realised the situation that she was in. Precisely, the fact that she was butt naked, with no chance of retrieving her clothes, at a party that was attended by their entire graduating class and more.

"Cal…" she breathed, looking desperately into the brunette's eyes "what the fuck am I going to do?"

"I have an idea" Callie kissed her gently "it's not perfect, but it's the best I could come up with in the circumstances"

Before Arizona could respond, the brunette had started stripping down to her underwear. The blonde gulped, never failing to be turned on by the latina's curves. She looked up in confusion as Callie handed her the vest top and hot pants that she had just removed, and hurriedly put them on herself.

"You can deal with going commando, right?" Callie asked.

"Not sure I have much choice, but what about you?"

The brunette smirked and removed the fabric scarf that was tied round her neck, re-tying it round her waist like a sarong.

"It's basically like I'm in a bikini, which is perfect beach attire, right?"

Arizona looked her up and down, unsure of which emotion was strongest right now.

"Thank you…Cal…you, well you've literally saved my butt. And also…you look fucking hot right now"

It was the blonde's turn to run her hands over the body in front of her, taking her time to cup the brunette's breasts through the fabric of her bra as she captured Callie's lips with her own.

They broke apart when they heard the sound of loud whoops and cheers from the area where they had previously been sat, a sudden reminder that they weren't in fact alone on the beach.

If only their eyes had been less focused on each other, they would have noticed that they weren't alone on that part of the beach.

But in that moment, Callie and Arizona could only see one another.

Present day

"Mark Mark Mark" Arizona smirked, trying to fight back the memories of her body pressed to Callie's that night, whilst also realising that the version Mark would have told Lexie would definitely be missing some important details "how many times do I have to tell you that you really aren't going to woo a woman by talking about the time you saw another girl naked?"

All three of them laughed as Mark faked a shocked face.

"Damn blondie, you're telling me that's where I've been going wrong all this time?"

"I did try to tell you" Lexie teased "but you never listen. You just think of boobs and you're a gonner"

"You know what" Arizona grinned "I like you. I'm glad Mark has finally met his match"

Before anyone could respond, the blonde could swear that the air around them changed.

The first thing that she saw was those brown eyes that she could lose herself in forever. And the most genuine smile that she had ever seen. But immediately behind her was a face that caused her stomach to drop.

Eduardo.

And more importantly, Callie's husband.