'Did she definitely say she was coming?' Arizona asked Amelia as they bundled into their coats to head across to Joe's.

'Yeah, she seemed really up for it I think. Have you texted her yet?'

Arizona felt the outline of Lauren's business card in her pocket thoughtfully. 'No, I think the voicemail was enough. I'll wait to see if she shows up at the bar. I can't believe you!'

They step outside into the pouring Seattle rain.

'Look, I'm sorry but she caught me off-guard. I was a little flustered.'

'You? You don't get flustered. You're like, amazingly unflusterable.'

'\If I were in charge, that would SO be a word, but I'm not. I most certainly am not, Amelia reiterated mentally, as she recalled her recent flustered moments around Arizona. That whisper in her ear yesterday was so...seductive.

They crossed the road and relaxed at a table in the warm sanctity of the bar. It was a familiar scene, and yet the anticipation of sitting down for an evening with Lauren filled Arizona with uncertainty. She stood up. 'It's my turn to get the tab I believe. Sparkling water?'

'Nah, I'm gonna let my hair down tonight. I'll have a diet coke please.'

'Easily done,' smiled Arizona.

'And Arizona?'

'Yep?'

Amelia stopped herself from saying anything meaningful and instead opted for 'No ice.'

Arizona squeezed her shoulder and went to the bar.

Amelia watched as she walked away. What were these feelings she was experiencing? Why had she let Dr Boswell fluster her earlier, and why was she seeing a whole new side to Arizona that she hadn't seen before?of course she knew the beautiful peds surgeon was gay. She knew she was beautiful. But never had she felt these stirrings. Perhaps Arizona's languishing over Lauren had tweaked something in her too. Oh, she was probably just being territorial. They had become close friends lately. That must be it.

Over at the bar, Arizona ordered the diet coke, along with a large gin and tonic for herself. She had never been in this situation with Lauren and had no idea what she might drink. She asked for another gin, aware that if Lauren was late, she would happily have it herself to settle any nerves. She looked back at Amelia. She was so glad her friend was here supporting her in this. She knew that when Lauren walked in, she might well falter. Amelia was the perfect tonic to her gin. She suddenly remembered the sweet little kiss that was planted on her earlier. She brushed her cheek gently and smiled. What a quirky one Amelia Shepherd was!

'You double parked?!' Amelia asked when she brought the drinks over. 'That used to be my trick.'

'I didn't know what Lauren would want, so I-'

'...double parked to better make that decision...' nodded Amelia dryly.

'No,' Arizona smiled at her. They proceeded to mock and jostle each other for a good hour – so playful in their interactions that Lauren could be forgiven for seeing more between them when she eventually approached their table.

'Hi.' Her syllable was friendly, as she played with the shoulder strap of her handbag. Was she nervous?

'Lauren,' Arizona beamed as she stood up to greet her. 'You came.'

'You thought I mightn't?'

'Well I didn't...' She trailed off as she felt Lauren's slender arms wrap around her. She had to brace herself so as not to swoon. She was taken aback by their proximity, barely believing it and how charged it felt after all this time. They could be back in that on-call room, there was so much heat between them. When their greeting was over, Lauren motioned to Amelia with her outstretched hand.

Another perhaps more brief shake, Amelia made sure to deliver. As all three women smiled and sat down, Arizona placed the G&T in front of Lauren. 'I wasn't sure what you'd want. I'm afraid the ice has melted.'

'I'm sure it will taste just right, thank you Arizona.'

Their eyes locked again, beckoning Amelia to cough with intent. Arizona adhered to Amelia's ploy for inclusion, and opened up the conversation, mustering up all her willpower to break eye contact every so often with Lauren. 'How was your day at work?' she asked Lauren, but looking first to Amelia then back.

Lauren, talking to both women, briefly outlined the case she was involved with. 'But the real highlight was meeting Dr Shepherd Brains here.'

Amelia perked up, mostly out of the shock of hearing her name. she had resigned herself to being a gooseberry. 'Ah yes, I've made a mental note to buy a vanilla soy yoghurt on my way in tomorrow.'

Lauren laughed at Amelia and lightly tapped her arm as she excused her from the purchase. 'Not at all necessary,' she said. Arizona couldn't believe how infectious Lauren's nature was, finding herself smiling with every word she said. She couldn't recall ever seeing such a twinkle in someone's eye. She had to ask. 'Yoghurt?'

'And nuts, if we're getting into details here,' Lauren added.

'Yes well Shepherd here does like her nuts.'

'What can I say? I'm old fashioned like that.' Amelia kept a very straight face before all three women simultaneously broke into laughter.

'Another drink!' Lauren declared, noticing her companions were empty. Arizona moved to stand up, having left a tab at the bar, but Lauren insisted. With a graceful but strong finger, she seductively tapped the table, looking intently at the two. 'This way you can talk about me when I'm gone.' As she straightened up she lifted said finger and waggled it slowly at them. The move was flirtatious, commanding, intriguing. With her eyes lingering on Arizona, she turned on her heels.

Amelia leaned in to Arizona, whose blood had rushed to her cheeks.

'FUCK ME, Robbins, you want me to get the air conditioning eeked up for you? You look a little hot and bothered.'

'Did you just wink at me?' Arizona raised her eyebrows at the enigmatic brain surgeon. 'You just winked at me! No wonder you get hit on by horny girls in the bar.'

'Did you actually just say horny?' Amelia retorted.

'Soooo…what do you make of Lauren? Things seem OK I think.' Arizona smiles a slightly forced smile, seeking affirmation.

'Things seem better than OK. I mean, she's great, and clearly still into you in a big way…'

'No that's just her. She makes people feel like that, like they're the only thing in the room. You must have felt it?'

Amelia knew what Arizona was talking about with Lauren. It was the way she was beginning to feel about Arizona… 'I feel nothing,' she jokes. She points to her skull. 'Empty. Void of feeling.' Her fingers mimic a gun just fired and she lolls her head to the side.

'And here are our drinks!' Arizona exclaims, as Lauren returns. 'Thank you.'

'My pleasure,' Lauren drawls. She lets her fingers brush Arizona's with the passing of her drink. She sees Amelia still playing dead, and leans right in close to Arizona, placing a hand on her thigh. Heat, raging. She draws out her words slowly. 'We're like a couple of lost little sheep.'

Arizona swallows her arousal with a tiny gulp and asks, slightly raspier than intended, 'How's that?'

'We've lost our Shepherd.' Lauren maintains her body language with Arizona, leaning as close as before, but paints her with a beautiful smile while allowing her grip on Arizona's thigh to tighten.

Instinctively, Arizona went to place her hand atop Lauren's, but in a swift movement, the intoxicating woman had sat up and resumed her neutral position. Amelia dragged herself back to the land of the living, and quipped to Lauren 'Are you trying to kill me again?'

'Ah, so my paranoia is intact! I wondered if it had been me who had driven you to pull the trigger!'

'No, Amelia was simply seeking a little bit of attention,' Arizona teases. 'She looks quite sorted, but she just wants to be loved.' Arizona reaches over to hold Amelia's hand. 'Isn't that right?'

Lauren briefly looks down at Arizona's hand on Amelia's. 'Well I'm relieved to know that your death was only temporary. A medical miracle! We should toast.' Lauren lifts her glass and they all clink together.

Not letting go of her poise, Arizona keeps her glass aloft, and says 'What is it they say if you don't make eye contact when saying cheers? Seven years bad sex?'

They took it in turn to cheers again, eyes intensely avoiding any such curse.

'Seven years of any sex would be fine by me,' Amelia joked.

Lauren took a sip of her G&T then addressed her ringing phone. 'Please excuse me, ' and she hunched into a ball at the end of the table, her back to them, to take her call.

Amelia then whipped out her own phone and fervently began to text.

'Gosh, you two sure know how to make a girl feel special,' Arizona said aloud to herself, before her own phone vibrated in her pocket. She slipped it out to see a message from Amelia. It read

Hot for you

Then another

This is insane

Arizona looks up across her phone to tell Amelia she thinks the texts might not be meant for her, but is stunned to see Amelia's eyes fixed back on her. What was going on? Was Amelia hitting on her?

Another vibration

Lauren wants you

OK, so she is referring to Lauren! Not herself! Phew…

And then

So do I…