She hadn't been left alone all morning.

First thing, Teddy had knocked on her hotel door with a schedule so detailed it made her head spin.

Then her mother obviously had appeared, followed by all sorts of people to do her hair and makeup and everything else on Teddy's plan.

Now finally she stood in front of a mirror in her dressing room, alone, and she had a chance to breath.

All of a sudden there was a knock on the door but before she could answer, the person on the other side entered and shut the door quickly behind her.

Arizona saw a flash of white and immediately closed her eyes.

"Hey darling."

"You can't be in here." She responded without opening her eyes but turning to face the woman she was about to marry.

"Tough."

She felt Callie take a step towards her and she put up her hands to halt her.

"It's bad luck." She explained.

"I don't believe in bad luck, or at least that we can do anything to stop it. I need to be here." She said seriously.

"Why, has something happened? Is it Aria?" Her voice immediately reflecting her concern. "Has she said something to your parents?"

"No." The brunette reassured. "They are driving me crazy though."

She smiled and listened to what her partner was saying.

"They keep asking me why she isn't here and I've told them that I asked her not to come. They asked me why and I said there was an incident but there's no point them knowing. Then my Dad keeps asking about me going into business with Amber and my Mom asks about the flowers and the music and the catering and when they are both done on that they ask me about the house." Callie eventually stopped for breath.

She walked towards her this time. "They saw it yesterday."

She stopped after a couple of steps, her eyes still closed.

"I said it was gonna be finished before the wedding. It's not. That's not how we work."

"That wasn't your fault Calliope. We have a house but the guy in charge of decorating the place was off sick so it's not done yet. It will be when we get back from this amazing honey moon you've planned after this wedding that we've poured so much of ourselves into."

She didn't stop Callie from closing the distance between them this time and felt two hands on her arms.

"This is why I needed to be here." The brunette whispered. "It's getting a bit too much out there."

"I know. Why'd do think I'm having a minute by myself?" Her hands stroked up Callie's arms and landed on her shoulders. "But this is nice. Before we go out there and do all of that stuff in front of everyone we get some time."

"Well I haven't seen you since yesterday morning."

"I know. It's important for my family that we follow the tradition."

"So I can't get caught in here?"

"No."

"Okay. You look amazing by the way." Callie spoke with such sincerity in her gentle voice that Arizona had to open her eyes and saw her bride to be for the first time.

"You," Her breath caught and the surgeon watched her head dip. "I can't believe you're marrying me Calliope. I don't deserve you."

"Arizona that's not true." She protested.

"Nobody deserves you. I'm so lucky to be the one with you. You're a gift that I promise to look after and love forever."

Callie looked up and smiled, clearing her throat in an attempt not to cry.

"If seeing each other is bad luck then hearing your vows must be frowned upon." She joked.

"They're not my vows. I can talk about how much I love you all day. That one's just between us."

"In our secret moment of sanctuary... from family."

Both women smiled.

"My parents haven't been half as bad as yours but I didn't have a punch up with my sister two nights ago."

"There were no punches." Callie suddenly turned serious.

"Sorry it was a joke."

"Yeah I know, I'm sorry." She shook her head.

"Well while we're on the subject of siblings." Arizona started but she wasn't sure what she wanted to really say.

"Days like this, the ones that are missing are even more conspicuous." Her partner worded it and received a nod. "Which is why it's okay, more than okay, if you want some time to think about Tim or if you want us to talk about him. Would he have pulled me to one side today and told me not to hurt you or else?"

That made Arizona smile.

"You should expect my Dad to that if he hasn't already."

"Darling he pretty much did that the first time we met."

"Of course he did. Yours hasn't although it's not needed. Amber had a word when I was planning to propose. Tim wouldn't have needed to. You would have just known. He was extremely protective." Her voice was doing that thing it always did and she knew her expression had changed but Callie listened just as she always did.

Callie always listened when she could.

She always paid attention when she could.

When they first met she had made out it was to pick up women but Arizona knew that wasn't true.

She encouraged you to talk because it was a privilege to be able to listen and not just because of her injury. If you were talking and telling her things then you felt safe and that's what she wanted.

Callie Torres cared.

And Arizona Robbins loved her for it.

"It explains why he wanted to serve. To protect." Callie said. "I bet with you he went above and beyond though."

"Yeah." The blonde smiled.

"I don't blame him."

"It was growing up on those bases. We were best friends. He was my oldest friend. My oldest friend isn't here. He's not gonna be here for my wedding."

The words coming out of her own mouth were a punch to the gut but luckily she had somebody to hold her steady. Two arms wrapped around her and a shoulder was there for her to rest her chin on. They stayed stood in their embrace.

Callie said nothing and her partner didn't need her to. This was enough.

After a couple of minutes the blonde spoke.

"I don't want to be doing this today, I'm sorry."

"Rule one Arizona." Callie felt the other woman pull back. "And for the record you can do this when ever."

"Isn't somebody going to be missing you? Amber? Your parents?" She glanced at the door.

"One more minute." It wasn't a question.

"We've got the rest of our lives Calliope."

The brunette leant forward and rested their foreheads together.

"So one more minute before the rest of our lives." She whispered and smiled.

"You're scared it's going to be different?" Arizona whispered back.

"I think it probably will be but it's still gonna be the greatest, just a different type."

"So you wanna savour this for one more minute before we go out there?" The surgeon smiled too.

"One more minute before the rest of our lives."