A/N

Sorry for the delay in posting, my wifi is rather unhelpfully down. I'm putting this chapter up by tethering but will be going away for the weekend, so it might be a couple of days til the next one

She was barely a few hours into her first morning in New York, and Callie had already decided that she loved this city. If she was honest with herself, of course she would have loved any city that Arizona was in, but right now she loved New York.

They'd had a lazy morning so far, with the blonde doing some laundry and digging out some frozen pastries from the freezer to cook for their breakfast. She'd left a message with her boss, Dr Bailey, explaining that she was back in town but would probably need a few more days before she came back to work. Later she'd exchanged a couple of messages with her colleague and friend, Andrew DeLuca, agreeing that she'd be seeing him soon.

"You're ok to meet up with DeLuca and some of my other friends from work at some point this week, right? It'll give me an excuse to start showing you where New York Arizona goes to drink" she turned to Callie with a smile.

"Yeah, sure. Totally" the brunette managed a weak smile back.

"Callie…are you nervous?"

The brunette bit her lip "Maybe?"

"But why? You're the kind of person that just fits right in to any social situation. Like I've literally never seen you seem out of place"

"This is different, Ari. This is like…your friends. So it matters what they think of me. And I'm some small town girl who's come from writing for a local newspaper, whereas you guys are all…well, doctors in one of the top hospitals in the country. I don't even begin to measure up" Callie answered honestly.

"Calliope Torres" the blonde stepped closer to her, cupping her cheeks "don't you dare put yourself down like that. You have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. You're funny, you're sweet, and you could make conversation with one of the corpses in the morgue at the hospital. Being a doctor isn't the be all and end all. You can be smart without being a doctor, and trust me, some of the doctors I know are the most socially inept people I've ever encountered in my life"

Callie laughed "A corpse? Really?"

"That's what you take away from everything I've just said?"

"No I'm sorry" the brunette blushed "it's just kinda intimidating, you know?"

"I get that. And I promise that I won't leave your side. Everyone's gonna love you"

"Ok" Callie seemed to visibly relax "I mean, I do kind of like the idea of getting to hear stories about New York Arizona"

The blonde chuckled "I'm sure they'll find plenty to tell you. Some of it might even be true"

"I don't doubt that"

Smiling, Arizona leant in and gently brushed her lips against the brunette's. Before she could back away, she felt arms wrapping around her body, pulling her closer. Their lips moved together in harmony, tongues intertwining as they immediately became lost in each other.

It was Callie who broke away first, stepping back and biting her lip coyly.

"Wow" the blonde breathed "what was that for?"

"Just you, being you. Making me feel better"

"In that case I promise to keep making you feel better. A lot"

The brunette grinned before growing serious once again "Ari, when I meet them…who are you going to introduce me as?"

Arizona took a deep breath "I guess we're having this conversation now, huh?"

"It feels like now is as good a time as any"

"I think" the blonde bit her lip "I would like to be able to say that we're dating…"

"Uh huh"

"…and in order to do that, I guess we need to go on a date"

"Is this you asking me out?" the brunette smiled.

"I guess that depends on what your answer's gonna be"

"I think my answer" Callie looked into her eyes "is that yes, probably twelve years later than it should have been, I'll go on a date with you"

"Ok" a wide smile spread across the blonde's face "awesome"

The brunette raised her eyebrows "Awesome?"

Arizona shook her head and laughed "I get that from most people that would seem sarcastic. But I mean it. That really is awesome"

"You're one of a kind Arizona Robbins"

"And thank god for that, right?"

Callie laughed "I would say that one of you is exactly the right number for me"

The blonde smiled, but eventually lowered her gaze, avoiding looking straight at Callie.

"Hey" the brunette immediately sensed the change in Arizona "what's going on?"

"Callie" the blonde looked up at her "do you…do you think we're moving too fast?"

"By going on a date?"

"No, I guess I mean everything else. Like I know how I feel about you, how I've always felt about you. But we've been apart from each other for a really long time. I guess I'm scared that we've just jumped back in feet first as though nothing has changed"

"I get that" Callie nodded "and believe me, I've had the same thoughts. I worry that I'm so wrapped up in the way that you make me feel that I'm doing what I always do…making impulsive decisions. Leading with my heart without thinking through the consequences"

"I can't believe I'm trying to discourage you from going with your heart" the blonde laughed ironically.

"It's gonna take a lot more than that to stop my heart feeling like it does about you"

"Ok. Good. I think"

"Do you think…" Callie paused, considering the implications of what she was about to say "we should start from the beginning? Like…not forget what's happened before of course, but start with a first date and see how things go from there?"

"You're talking about a sex ban, aren't you?" the blonde narrowed her eyes.

The brunette laughed "Why am I not surprised that's your focus?"

"Hey" Arizona raised her arms in defeat "I'm not ashamed of the fact that I like sex"

"And I'm not complaining. But what do you think about my suggestion?"

The blonde smiled sweetly "I actually think it's a really great idea"

"Oh thank god" Callie exhaled "I was worried you were gonna think I was crazy"

"I mean, I still do. Or maybe I'm crazy. Who knows?"

"Maybe we're both a little crazy" the brunette smiled.

"Maybe" Arizona returned the smile "so how about we seal that agreement with a hug?"

The brunette immediately obliged, wrapping Arizona in her arms and squeezing her tightly "Hugs you can always have. Even before we've been on a date"

"Good to know" the blonde smiled, rubbing Callie's back.

"So…" the brunette stepped back from the embrace "how about I grab a shower and then maybe you show me the neighbourhood?"

"Sounds good"

As Callie headed for her shower, the blonde made herself busy hanging out her laundry and making a shopping list, intending that they'd head to the store as she showed the brunette around. She was playing through their conversation in her head, and although she was nervous at the fact that she was going to have to control herself around Callie, she knew that it was the right thing to do. They had to do this properly this time around. They had a second chance, and she was fairly sure that she'd never be as lucky as to get a third. And that meant that they needed to take things slowly and actually get to know each other again. Of course, the fact that Callie was staying in her apartment was going to make the whole thing a hell of a lot harder. But that was something they could deal with another day.

Just as she was adding a couple more things to her shopping list, Arizona heard a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone, so had a puzzled look on her face as she opened the door.

"Carina" her eyes widened as she acknowledged the woman in the hallway.

"Hey Arizona" Carina stepped into the apartment, leaning in to give the blonde a kiss which she managed to deflect to her cheek by turning her head.

"I wasn't expecting to see you" Arizona said honestly, turning and letting the other woman follow her into the apartment.

"I guess not, seeing as I had to hear from my brother that you were back"

The blonde ran her hand through her hair "I'm sorry, I only got back last night and I'm not quite ready for the real world yet"

"And that explains why you've been avoiding my calls, too?"

"Hey Ari, do you have a hairdryer I can…"

It was at that moment that Callie walked back into the room, fully dressed but towel drying her hair. She stopped in her tracks the second she saw the somewhat angry looking woman standing across from Arizona.

A wry smile spread across Carina's face "No, I guess this is why you've been avoiding my calls"

"I…" Callie looked back and forth between the two women, immediately recalling Arizona's words from just a few days earlier, that she'd so easily cast out of her mind.

"I'm going to be honest now, not that I'm sure it will help, but I want you to know that you're not the only one who's feeling that way. I…I'm seeing someone"

She could feel the bile rising in her throat as realisation dawned on her. This women, standing right there in Arizona's apartment, was the woman that she was seeing. Was the woman that had probably had her hands all over the blonde in a way that Callie wanted to be the only one doing. And was the woman who right now seemed like she could take away every little hope that she had.

Her gaze moved to Arizona, who was forcing herself to look her in the eyes. She tried desperately to read the emotion playing out in those baby blues. Guilt. Guilt was all that she could see. But in that moment, she was completely unable to work out what exactly it was that the blonde was feeling guilty about.

"You know what, I'm gonna go to the store" Callie said decisively, throwing her towel over the back of a chair and putting on her shoes.

She grabbed her phone and purse in silence, seeing the list that Arizona had started to make and picking it up without even really thinking.

Picking up the key that she had seen the blonde put on the side the night before, she turned back to face her "Can I take this?"

"Yeah…umm yeah, of course. I…" Arizona stammered "I won't be long, ok?"

"Take your time" the brunette gave her a forced smile before heading out of the door.

Callie hurried down the corridor and took the stairs that led down to the front door of the apartment block two at a time. Pushing open the door, she inhaled deeply, feeling desperately in need of fresh air to prevent her from bursting into tears. She began walking down the street, not even caring where she was heading. She just had to get away. As far away as possible from the woman who could be about to break her heart into a million pieces.

Pulling out her phone, she pulled up google maps and searched for the nearest convenience store. As she mindlessly followed the directions, she tried to fight the images in her head of Arizona and that woman, locked in a passionate embrace.

The store appeared before her without her even realising that she'd completed the journey, and she pulled the blonde's shopping list out of her purse. She was just about to step into the store when she found herself pausing. Looking down at Arizona's handwriting on the piece of paper, she felt a sudden wave of anger rushing over her.

"Screw you, Arizona" she muttered to herself "I can't believe I fucking fell for this"

It suddenly all seemed abundantly clear to her. She'd been played. Taken for a ride. Arizona had swanned back into her life and swept her off her feet, and then just like she had done all those years ago, she was going to ditch her without a second thought for her feelings. Only this time, instead of leaving her in familiar surroundings, she was going to leave her in a completely new city that Arizona herself had persuaded her to move to. She ripped up the paper in anger, throwing the pieces onto the sidewalk and walking hastily away from the store.

Pulling her phone back out again, she decided to call the one person who remained a constant in her life.

"Aria? Hey…it's me"

"Callie?! Girl, where the hell are you? Not gonna lie, I've been going a little crazy since you walked out" Aria scolded her.

"I'm sorry, I…I just had to get away"

"I understand that. And I'm gonna try really hard not to get mad at you but damn Cal, I was fuckingworried"

"I didn't mean to worry you. I'm sorry, it was kind of a spur of the moment decision, but I got a flight to New York"

"New York…" Aria paused "as in you left with Arizona?"

"Yes. And I have no idea if that might be the worst idea I've ever had. But I'm here, and Aria, I can't come back. You understand that right?"

"Yeah. Yeah I do. I just wish you hadn't gone so damn far!"

Callie managed a half smile "I never was known for my sensible decision making"

"You've never said a truer word. So what's going on? What's making you second guess yourself already?"

"I just…I didn't really stop to think about the life that Arizona had out here. And now I'm not sure I have a place in that"

"Well you need to figure that shit out, ok?" Aria told her firmly "And if New York doesn't work out, you know that isn't it? You don't have to come back to Newport, there's a million other cities out there"

"I guess so. I just…I don't even have my own fucking bank account anymore. I've got some cash in my purse, and a few clothes in a bag. I've literally jumped from dependent on one asshole to another. Aria…" Callie took a deep breath "I'm scared"

"Right, first things first. You got your ID, right?"

"Yeah"

"So you get your ass to the bank and open an account in your name. And then you send me the details so that I can help you out if it comes to that. And then you turn right on around and go and talk to Arizona so that you actually know where you stand"

"How do you know I haven't already had that conversation?"

"Because I know you. And I know you'll be thinking the worst before you've even heard it for sure. So figure it out. Don't start making decisions based on guesses"

"Fine" Callie sighed, knowing that her sister was right "Thank you for the sense check"

"Anytime. And I mean it, send me your bank account details and then just go and talk to her"

"Love you Aria"

"Love you too lil sis"

The phone call with her sister had the desired effect. Callie immediately felt calmer, like she could approach things with a degree of rationality that she sometimes lacked. She did exactly as Aria had suggested, heading to the nearest branch of Bank of America, deliberately choosing a bank that her husband had no prior accounts at. She opened up an account in her own name, and as soon as she walked out, did exactly as she had promised and texted the details to Aria.

Immediately she felt more confident. Like she had something that was just hers. And she decided to follow through on the second part of her agreement with her sister, and take that new found confidence back to Arizona's apartment to figure out exactly where she stood.

When she turned the key in the lock, she immediately saw the blonde approaching, and then suddenly hesitating once they were a couple of metres apart.

"Calliope" Arizona whispered.

"I think we need to talk"