Arizona
I'm still in bed when my doorbell rings out violently. I get up out of bed, quickly attaching my leg and wrapping a dressing gown around myself. I look at Amelia who's still sleeping peacefully and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. The bell rings out again. How is that not waking her up?

I make my way down the stairs and the bell rings again. Whoever this is, they need to learn some patience.

"Coming!" I shout as I'm half-way down the stairs. The bell rings again. And, again. And, again. Okay, now they're starting to piss me off.

"HEY! What the hell are you-" My words stop as I reveal the person behind the door.

It's my attacker: James Blake.

He's standing tall; proud. His shadow heavily draping over me. There's not a scrap of remorse in him. In one hand, he holds a needle full to the brim with an unidentifiable liquid. In the other, he holds a camera. He looks me dead in the eye as he smirks and utters the words: "Not guilty."

...

Amelia
I feel the body next to me jolt violently. My eyes flutter open to see Arizona, still asleep, but wearing a completely distressed expression. I pull her closer to me and hold her tight, trying to ease any worry happening inside her mind. The nightmares are quite frequent and they're getting worse as we get closer to the trial date. Suddenly, her eyes are open and she takes in a sharp breath. She tries to struggle out of my embrace. "NO, STOP," she yells, starting to lash out, hitting me weakly in the chest in her half-asleep state.

"Arizona... it's okay, it's me..." I hold on tighter, but speak calmly. "It's me. You're okay. You're safe."

It takes a few moments for her to register what I'm saying. I can pinpoint the exact moment she realises it's me because her features completely soften and her face is full of concern instead panic.

"A-Amelia?" She whispers. I nod and stroke her cheek.

"Just a bad dream, baby," Ew. 'Baby'? Who am I?

"Are you okay?" She asks, her eyes and fingertips scanning the area she was just thumping.

"Hey, I'm fine," I say, tucking some strands of hair behind her ear. "Are you okay?"

She doesn't answer me but sits up in bed, pulling the sheets close to her. She uses her free hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "Fuck... I'm sorry."

I sit up next to her and rub her bare back, hoping this will comfort her. "You don't need to be sorry," I say, gently. And, I mean it. She genuinely didn't hurt me.

"What time is it?" She asks out of the blue.

"Uhh..." I glance over at the clock on my bedside table. "It's 4:30." I hear her sigh out and she nestles into my shoulder. As she does, my arms automatically wrap around her. I bring both of our bodies back down to a laying position, keeping her close to me the whole time.

"I can't stop thinking about the trial," she admits. "I'm sorry, this kind of brings a downer on the festivities. Probably not how you imagined spending the day after Christmas."

"Arizona, please stop apologising," I say, rubbing up and down her arm. "This isn't your fault." She doesn't say anything in response, but clings around my rib cage. I feel an intense urge to take her mind of the trial. "Hey... What are you doing during Christmas limbo?" There's a pause.

"Christmas limbo?" She asks, finally.

"Yeah... you know... that weird time between Christmas and New Year's when no one really knows what day it is or what time it is, or even what to do with themselves. Christmas limbo." I think I've confused her enough to take her mind off it a little.

"Errr... my parents are coming to visit," she says. "I'm kind of worried they're going to know something's off."

"You haven't told them about the trial?" I ask. She shakes her head. I go to say something... to tell her off for keeping her parents in the dark. But, I stop myself. I'm not here to judge. This is her choice. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I ask instead.

"Yeah, just... if you see them... don't mention it, please," she pleads with me. "I played it down... A LOT. As far as they're concerned, it was a minor assault and everything's been dealt with."

"Okay," I whisper, before placing a kiss on her forehead, telling her non-verbally that I will do anything to make this whole thing easier for her. Suddenly, I remember something. "Oh... I didn't give you your gift!" I get out of bed and feel Arizona's eyes follow my naked body across the room.

"Last night wasn't my gift?" She quips. I'm so relieved to hear a little bit of a spark in her voice.

"Well... you know me. I'm very... giving." Great innuendo, Amelia. Bravo. Idiot. "Here," I hand her the box as I get back into bed. "It's nothing spectacular..." I say, bashfully. Jeez, what is wrong with me? I watch her as she opens it, really hoping she likes it. It really is nothing spectacular. It's a very plain, silver necklace with an anchor dangling at the bottom. She smiles at the necklace and then looks at me. "To remind you of the sea..." I say, my eyes looking to settle anywhere but her face. Why do I feel so embarrassed?

She doesn't say anything. She puts the box on the bedside table and pulls me into a fierce kiss. Soon, our naked bodies mould back into one another, as they had done a few hours ago, and the kiss is deepened. We break only to get air back into our lungs. I think she likes her gift.

"So, jewellery's the way to get you into bed then?" I joke.

"Amelia, I was already in your bed," she rolls her eyes at me. "Plus, that's not why I'm kissing you and you know it," she fires back, playfully. I feel her smile into our next kiss and I'm in total bliss.

...

Arizona
My parents' visit came and went in a total blur. Obviously, most of the time was spent taking Sofia on various outings together, so they didn't have much time to question me about the assault, although, Mom did mention the scar. The one across my forehead isn't too deep and can be covered easily with make-up, but the one on my cheek is stubborn and won't be silenced. It screams 'victim' at me every time I look in the mirror.

Having waved goodbye to my parents at the airport and having dropped Sofia off with Callie, I find myself alone again. The silence is really unsettling. I pick up my phone to call Amelia and notice a text from Karev.

Impromptu house party at ours tonight. BYOB. Alex.

I smirk at his blunt message, before phoning Amelia.

"Hello, stranger," she answers. "I've missed you."

"Hey... I've missed you, too," I say, blushing. Thank God she can't see me right now, I'd never hear the end of it. "Are you going to Alex's tonight?"

"I mean... I'll go if you go." I already know she's cringing at how High School-y that sounds. "What do you think? You feeling up to it?"

"Yeah, I think I need to. I can't spend the rest of my life avoiding crowded places. Plus, I really want to bring in the New Year with you."

...

Amelia
Alex and Jo's place is filled with people from the hospital. It's not too loud, or too crowded, but there's a good buzz in the air. Arizona and I are taking up two of the couch spots and talking to Meredith who's pulled up a chair next to us, drinking a glass of something fizzy. I'm on the water, and so is Arizona. Suddenly, it hits me. I've rarely seen the woman drink in front of me. She had a glass of wine at Christmas and maybe something on our first date... but I don't recall any other time. I wonder if that's intentional.

"You not getting a drink?" I ask, curiously.

"What? I- Uh- No, I'm fine with water," she smiles at me.

"Arizona, it's New Year's Eve! You can have a drink in front of me," I reassure her. "It's fine. I'm fine." I say honestly, squeezing her hand. She sighs and looks at me with sympathetic eyes.

"I could really do with a glass of prosecco," she smiles.

"Already poured," Maggie says out of nowhere, handing Arizona a glass before taking a seat next to Meredith. "So, how long have you guys been a thing?" Great! Now Maggie knows?!

"Meredith!" I scold. I feel like a teenager again about to start an argument with an annoying sibling.

"Don't look at me, I didn't tell her!" She says, holding her hands up.

"No one needed to tell me, you two spend every possible moment together. Plus, look at you!" She says, referring to how close together we're sat and the fact the my hand is still covering Arizona's. "You guys are so cute together," she says, a little louder than I think either of us are comfortable with. "Why can't I find that? Not with a woman, obviously. But, with a man. A good man. Where are all the good men?" Okay, she's a little drunk.

"The one I married is alright," Jo says, taking the empty seat next to me on the couch. "What are we talking about?"

"Nothing," I say, quickly, letting go of Arizona's hand and shooting a warning glance at Maggie. Suddenly, the room starts to chant numbers. It's the countdown to midnight.

"Speaking of which, that's my cue to go find him," Jo leaves and stands with Alex, continuing the countdown with him.

"And, that's our cue to go and find anybody!" Maggie says to Meredith, dragging her out of her seat.

"8... 7... 6... " It's getting closer to that time and my palms start to sweat. Are we going to kiss? Are we not going to kiss? Will anyone notice?

"5... 4... 3..." What's the plan? We didn't discuss this! Is she ready for people to know? Am I ready for people to know?

"2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Oh, fuck it. I don't care. I'm kissing her.

I lean in and place a gentle kiss on her lips. She wastes no time in kissing me back. The kiss only lasts a few seconds but it stirs something deep within me. It isn't lustful, but tender and caring. It hits a part of me that I didn't know existed. It's euphoric. I feel unstoppable. And, if I wasn't already convinced that this woman is in fact a goddess, I certainly am now.