"Sorry I'm late."
That was the first thing Arizona said when she got to The Acorn. She found her bride to be sat in a booth with Jonathon and Amber. The bar was as busy as usual on a weekday evening. The surgeon sat down and felt Callie's arm around her shoulders as she snuggled in close.
"It's okay." Callie smiled before they kissed each other. "Hey."
"Hey."
"Hey." Amber joined in and broke them from their staring contest. It was then that Arizona noticed the white wine waiting for her on the table.
"Oh, thank you." She said, picking it up and taking a sip.
"Just perfect wife material, hey?" Jonathon asked.
"Absolutely." The blonde confirmed.
"Speaking of which," He continued. "Two days, or should I say nights, left of freedom; what are you gonna do?"
"Oh that's a load of crap." Callie responded as she took a sip of her own drink.
"How'd you mean?"
"What do expect me to do? Go out and get drunk, get a lap dance and sleep with a stranger."
"Wouldn't be the first time." Jonathon shrugged.
"Since meeting the love of my life it would be." The brunette pointed out, leaning forwards. "That's what I don't get; the need for some huge blow out, getting married is a death sentence."
"Sometimes it can be." Amber interjected. "But don't worry, I know a good lawyer."
"That won't be necessary." Arizona said, reminding the others that she was there.
Callie turned around to face her.
"No, it won't." She smiled again, even wider and leant in to kiss her, again, when Amber suddenly said a word she did not expect to hear.
"Aria?" The red head burst Callie's bubble with the word she spoke.
"Most definitely." An almost unfamiliar voice spoke.
Callie's eyes went wide and she turned towards the sound.
"Aria?" She said in disbelief.
"Hey."
Arizona watched her partner stand and hug her sister tightly.
"What the hell are you doing here? Why didn't you warn me?" Callie asked.
"I like to surprise people. That's my style. I'm here because despite seeing my sister eighteen months ago, I've never met the woman she's going to marry in two days. Not that I think she's rushing or anything." Aria said with a smile.
Callie shook her head. She knew her sister well. "It was closer to two years when we last saw each other. Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary."
Aria waved a hand dismissively.
"I'm assuming this is Arizona," The younger Torres continued. "I mean I know your track record for getting cosy with woman but in a public place like this I'd assume you'd only cuddle up to your fiancé."
"Yes Aria, this is Arizona. Arizona, this is Aria."
"Nice to finally meet you." The blonde said with a smile, although she was already on edge.
"And you." Aria responded, smiling to. "So what are we having to drink?"
"White wine please." The surgeon replied as she was almost finished with the one she had.
"And just a lemonade."
"I'll get those for you." Jonathon insisted. "Sit down Aria, take the weight off."
"Why thank you." She smiled as she sat and watched her older sister rejoin her fiancé opposite her. Again Arizona sat in Callie's protective hold and tilted her head slightly to lean on the brunette's shoulder. Arizona's left hand was underneath the table on her partner's thigh. Callie picked up her glass with her left hand and the engagement ring she always wore shined in the light.
"So you're the perfect peds surgeon?" Aria started.
"I never said I was perfect." Arizona responded.
"I might have." Callie said.
"Mom and Dad definitely have."
Jonathon came back with the drinks. "Hey Cal, can I have a word?"
"Sure." She replied.
"No I mean in one of the offices."
Callie raised her eyebrows.
"It's private. Remember." His eyes darted between her and Arizona.
"Oh shit. Yeah." She said in sudden realisation and turned back to her partner. "Sorry."
"It's okay." Arizona smiled and kissed her on the cheek causing Callie to smile as well.
"I'll be right back." The older Torres insisted as she stood and followed her friend.
The surgeon watched her go. She watched her all the way to the door that read 'PRIVATE'.
"I went to The Avenue first." Aria broke her concentration again. "I thought that she'd be there. I was kind of hoping actually."
Amber tried to make herself look as small as possible. She knew both women.
"Callie suggested meeting here because it's closer to the hospital and I was gonna be late."
"That was nice of her. Well I stayed for a drink at the club and talked to some people. You should have seen their faces when they found out whose sister I was. I can only imagine the looks you get. A lot of people had things to say about you and Callie."
"It's nobody's business." All smiles had disappeared.
"Oh I know but it's like you stopped the supply to a bunch of crack heads." Aria paused and took a sip of her drink. "Although I heard some things about you too. I knew you couldn't be as perfect as my parents made out. To be fair though, Callie was sleeping with everything she could so when she met you they probably were happy that she stopped screwing around. It's not as if you had a tough act to follow."
Arizona blinked. Her fiancé didn't talk about her sister very often but she had received warning of this type of interaction. Her response was simple.
"I love your sister. Excuse me."
With that she stood and went to leave. Callie was on her way back to the table at the same moment and stopped her.
"Hey." She saw the look on her partner's face and rubbed her hands up and down Arizona's arms. "What's wrong?" She asked, although she already knew.
"Nothing." The blonde lied. "I'm gonna go home."
"Arizona."
"Stay and catch up with your sister. I'm just tired." She went to leave again but Callie stopped her by holding onto her arms. Reaching into her pocket, Callie then gave her the keys to her car but Arizona didn't look up.
"Wait for me and I'll drive us home."
This time she did make eye contact. "Look she came all this way so just have a drink and..."
"Go wait in the car Arizona." Callie said unusually forcefully and her fiancé realised how rattled she was too.
"Don't do anything stupid Calliope." The surgeon pleaded before leaving.
By this point Aria was back at the bar. Callie stormed over and her sister saw her coming.
"Oh hey, where's your girlfriend?" She smiled.
The older of the two women grabbed her by the collar of the jacket that she was still wearing and pulled hard.
"Callie." Aria tried resisting but her sister had always been stronger.
"Callie." Amber tried but it was no use. She led Aria back through the door that read 'PRIVATE', passed the offices and out of the downstairs fire escape. There she forcibly let go, effectively pushing her away from the building, and slammed the door shut behind them.
"Callie." Aria said with her hands up.
"How dare you." She yelled with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at her little sister accusingly. "You disappear for two years. Our parents get, what, one phone call a month and I get nothing. Then you show up two days before my wedding and upset Arizona."
"Oh and we mustn't do that." She spat back. "I just heard that she cheated on her last girlfriend. I don't really want you to marry someone like that."
Callie shook her head.
"No. You don't know anything. You're just jealous."
"Yeah right." Aria yelled back defensively.
"Get lost. Do what you do best and fuck off. I don't want you here." Callie suddenly said.
"You can't do that."
"It's my wedding. Arizona's the love of my life and you came in here and did what you do. No more chances Aria."
Callie nodded and walked around the building to her car and got in. Her partner was sat in the passenger seat.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
Callie nodded again but remained looking forward.
"Is she okay? I mean you looked like you were gonna..."
The brunette brought her hand up to Arizona's cheek and guided their mouths to meet. She kissed her hungrily until the other woman pulled away.
"What happened with you and Aria?" She asked an inch from Callie's lips.
"Nothing. What did she say to you?"
Arizona closed her eyes and took a deep breath before kissing Callie again.
"Just take us home Calliope."