A/N

So the good news for all of us is my internet is back and so am I!

Totally accept that I ended the last chapter in a somewhat cruel manner, but I have to keep you all hooked somehow, right? Some important conversations and answers coming up

"I think we need to talk"

Callie let her words hang in the air, watching the blonde's face contort in visible emotional pain.

"Calliope please" Arizona begged softly "please just give me a chance to explain"

"Ha" the brunette scoffed "how many times have I had to hear that over the last few days? Honestly, I really don't have it in me to listen to any more bullshit"

"I'm not gonna bullshit you Callie, I promise"

"Yeah" the brunette bit her lip "I'm just not sure promises mean very much to me anymore"

"I…I'll tell you everything. I've never meant to hide anything from you"

"Really? Because from where I'm standing it sure feels like all you've ever done is hide things from me"

Arizona sighed, closing her eyes to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"I'm sorry" the brunette apologised tersely "that was uncalled for"

"No, I deserved that" the blonde said sadly "I know you don't owe me anything but please, all I'm asking is that you hear me out right now"

"I'll listen" Callie laughed sadly "it's not exactly like I have anywhere else to go, is it?"

The blonde took a deep breath "Should we sit down?"

"I'd prefer to stand"

"Ok, sure, whatever you need. I…" Arizona gathered herself "ok, so that was Carina. And yes, she's the woman that I was seeing before I left New York"

"I gathered that"

"She also happens to be DeLuca's sister, which is obviously how she found out I was back"

"Arizona" the brunette cut her off "the fact that she found out you were back in town really isn't the bit of this story that I care about"

"Right, yes, sorry. What I meant to say was that I wasn't expecting her to turn up, not before I'd had a chance to explain everything to you"

"How unfortunate for you" Callie sneered.

"Calliope I know this looks bad. Worse than bad. It looks awful. But I promise you, there's an explanation"

Two hours earlier

The two women watched as Callie walked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

"Oops" Carina turned to the blonde with a fake smile.

"Carina, what are you actually doing here?"

"Well I originally just wanted to see you" she reached out to stroke Arizona's arm, but the blonde immediately stepped out of her reach "but apparently I'm also getting a chance to size up my competition. She's hot"

"There's no competition here" the blonde glared at her "you knew the deal"

"Sure" Carina laughed "Neither of us are the type to commit, right? It's what makes us so compatible"

"That's not what I mean and you know it"

"Arizona" the Italian smirked "I've lost count of the amount of times you've called things off between us. You always come back. You know you can't resist me"

"This time was different. I told you…you weren't there for me when I needed you. And that was a wake up call. It wasn't working for me. I told you I'd speak to you once I'd processed everything, but to consider us done"

"I was busy, you knew that"

"Carina, my brother had just fucking died!"

Carina shrugged "I know, but you seemed like you were doing ok"

The blonde shook her head "You really don't know me at all. But you know what, that doesn't matter. Because I said we were done and I meant it"

"And how was I supposed to know you meant it this time?"

"There's a massive difference between when I've said we should cool things off for a bit and this time. I couldn't have been clearer. Whatever was going on between us is over, and has been since before I left for Newport"

"Sure, whatever" Carina shrugged "although I have to say that even for you, being back in the city for a few hours and already getting someone new into your bed is pretty impressive"

"That's none of your business"

"Oh I see" the Italian smirked "she was already in your bed before you left, wasn't she? Your brother's funeral was just a convenient excuse to get rid of me so you wouldn't have to tell me about her. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

"How dare you" Arizona hissed "how dare you suggest that I'd take advantage of Tim's death like that. Get out. Now!"

"No problem" Carina shrugged "I'll see you in a few weeks when you realise what you're missing"

"Out!" the blonde yelled, slamming the door behind Carina before bursting into tears.

Present day

"Ok" Callie pursed her lips as she processed what the blonde had just told her "let's say I believe you. That doesn't explain what you said that night on the beach. You told me you were seeing someone. Present tense"

Arizona sighed, running her hand through her hair "I know. That was a dumb mistake. I was trying to convey that I was still conflicted. Whatever could be said about how I ended things with Carina, we still had a history, and I still felt guilty because I've spent years insisting that I would never want anything serious with anyone, when deep down I knew that I did…it was just that there was only ever one person that I wanted that with. And so I didn't want all the guilt to be on you. But I realise now that it was disingenuous and selfish and I'm truly, truly sorry"

"Fuck" the brunette leant on the counter "I really don't know what to make of all of this"

"Do you believe me?" Arizona asked quietly.

"I…I honestly don't know what to believe right now"

The blonde swallowed "I understand"

Callie screwed up her eyes and sighed. There were a million thoughts running through her mind, and she was struggling to separate reality from the imagery that she'd spent the last couple of hours creating.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and walked to the blonde, slowing reaching out to cup her cheeks.

"Look at me" she commanded softly "and tell me that what you've just told me is true, that I'm not just some bit on the side"

"Calliope" tears began to spill onto Arizona's cheeks "I swear to you, it's all true. I was…unattached…by the time I came to Newport. And you…you could never be less than everything to me"

Feeling her own tears falling, the brunette gently wiped one from Arizona's cheek "I believe you"

"Yeah?" the tiniest of hopeful smiles appeared on the blonde's face.

"Yeah" Callie exhaled "but I'm still gonna need some time to process this. And I need you to swear to me right now that this is it. No more secrets"

"I promise. Not bad secrets anyway"

The brunette raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, not the time for that comment. I'm sorry, I just…"

"It's ok" Callie smiled at her "I'm nervous too. And that broke the tension, so thank you"

"I try"

"I…I have a small confession to make" the brunette said coyly.

"Oh yeah?"

"I may have ripped up your grocery list instead of actually going to the store"

Arizona laughed in relief "Ok, that kind of confession I can totally live with. And it probably wasn't undeserved. I'd rather live off the contents of my freezer and have you talking to me again"

"Or I could help you make the list again?"

"Or that" the blonde smiled.

Grabbing another piece of paper, the two women quickly managed between them to recall everything that was on the list.

"Listen Ari…" Callie said quietly as the blonde gathered what she needed to head to the store "I've been thinking. I do believe you ok, but I also meant what I said about needing a bit of space. I think it would be best if I check into a hotel for tonight"

"Oh" the blonde's shoulders visibly dropped.

"Regardless of everything we've just talked about, we also agreed that we were going to start from the beginning. And that's gonna be a hell of a lot harder if we're effectively living together" the brunette pointed out.

"I know that you're right" Arizona turned around to look at her "but it doesn't mean I have to like it"

"This is just…I don't know, an interim measure while I find my feet"

"I understand" the blonde nodded "and I don't mean this to sound patronising, but will you at least let me pay? I don't want you to run out of me when this is essentially all my fault"

Callie instinctively went to reject the offer, but paused at the last second. Arizona was ultimately right, of course. She had $1,600. That was hardly going to last long if she was paying New York hotel rates.

"Ok" she agreed reluctantly "but only until I sort out some income. I'm going to start looking for jobs this afternoon"

"See I was actually thinking about that, and I think I might know someone who might be able to help you out there"

"Ari, while I appreciate your confidence in me, I'm pretty sure I don't have the right qualifications to work in a hospital" the brunette winked.

Arizona laughed "While that might be interesting to say the least, actually one of the doctors I work with, Maggie, has a boyfriend who works for the New York Times. She owes me a favour for covering a couple of shifts for her so they could go away for their anniversary. So I was thinking maybe I could ask her to put in a good word…."

The brunette's eyes widened "The New York Times? You can't actually be serious"

"Why not?" the blonde shrugged.

"Because I…no way Ari, that's just too big, and I can't ask that of you"

"You're not asking, I'm offering. And it's hardly a big effort on my part"

"I couldn't…" Callie looked at the floor.

"Listen Calliope, I'm not going to force you, ok? But you know journalism, you need contacts, otherwise you'll spend years just trying to get a foot in the door. I have those contacts, please let me use them"

"I…" the brunette sighed, knowing that the only thing holding her back from accepting was her pride "ok"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Thank you Ari, that would be amazing"

"You're very welcome. Now, there's a hotel a couple of blocks away that I know visiting doctors stay at. Unless you want to go further?"

"No" Callie shook her head "that sounds great, thank you"

"Great" the blonde smiled "well how about I walk there with you and get them to pre-authorise my card, that way you can stay as long as you need?"

"Only if you're really sure?"

"I'm sure. Go grab your stuff"

Returning with her holdall that contained all her worldly possessions at this point, Callie paused when she saw the blonde smile at her.

"Ari…I'm doing the right thing, aren't I?"

Arizona walked towards her, wrapping her in an embrace. She knew that the brunette was someone that always second guessed herself and needed that additional reassurance.

"Yes" the blonde said softly "the right thing for you, and the right thing for us"

"Ok" Callie nodded "let's do this"

They walked the couple of blocks to the hotel together, and before the brunette could disagree, Arizona told the receptionist to pre-authorise her card for a week long stay.

"Arizona" the brunette hissed "that's too much"

"You'll pay me back when you're an internationally renowned journalist" Arizona smiled.

"Fine" Callie relented "but I'm paying you back every cent"

"Deal"

"Thank you" the brunette's expression grew serious "for this, and for everything"

"It's the least I could do. Now, go get yourself settled in, and you just text me when you're ready, ok?"

Callie nodded.

"I mean it, no matter how much it drives me crazy, I'm gonna give you space and so you take as long as you need" the blonde told her.

"Thank you. Enjoy the grocery store"

Arizona smiled "See you later, Calliope"