~~My sincere apologies for the hiatus. Experienced a little bit of writer's block, but I think I've found my streak again.

To clarify: the flashback from Chapter 5 was an unintentional overdose, not an attempt at suicide. Susanna's character, as I'm beginning to discover myself, is very complex with multiple layers. Callie watched Susanna battle with depression all throughout their years together. Chapter 5's flashback was one of the first, severe episodes Callie saw. This chapter is another piece to the puzzle. Trying to increase word count and descriptive flow...it's happening slowly but surely :) Comments please! As always, thank you for reading! ~~

The early morning dim began its seep through the bedroom curtains as Colleen sat up with her phone still in-hand. Her eyes settled on the blinking screen. Call time 1:06. The exchange had been short and unsettlingly so.

Normally the length of their conversations was never pertinent and the time rarely noted, but something seemed odd. Was it the abrupt ending? Or was it the lack of genuine tone? Colleen didn't know…but Arizona's disinterest in the intended flirtation sat uneasily with her.

There she was half-naked in the blonde's bed and all she got was a "Sorry, babe. I'll call you later." It was so unlike Arizona to be so distant, even if they were only nightly solace to each other in a lonely bedroom.

Insecurity began its takeover as the brunette reached down for her clothes—the air seemed colder now. After slipping into her wrinkled scrubs, Colleen grabbed her keys off the bedside table. She needed a drink to chase the chill away.

The morning came and with it the Seattle rain. At this hour the streets were quiet—the calm before the morning rush. Seattle Grace Hospital began its preparations for the new day. Night nurses clocked out and the morning shift trickled in one by one.

"Where the hell is Robbins?!" Alex Karev thought rubbing at his sunken eyes. He peeked into the NICU hoping that he'd find her there checking charts, but had no luck.

"Could she have gone home? No, not after a surgery like that….She should do her own freakin busy work." Exhaling heavily he turned his focus back to the tiny humans.

Arizona waited until Callie had fallen asleep before slipping out the door. Walking towards an on-call room, she felt the night's weight fall heavily on all her muscles. It had to be nearly 8 AM and she was scheduled for surgery in two hours. Though her day hadn't yet started, the imminent stress already haunted her.

What had her residency trained her for if not for a night like the last?

It was then that Arizona remembered the metal object pressing into the palm of her hand. Uncurling her fingers there it was, a simple shape, silver and unblemished by any jewel or diamond—just Susanna's words.

The locket's imprint left a dull pain in Arizona's hand. Callie had given her such forthright directions, yet Arizona wasn't sure she could dispose of it. It undoubtedly meant a great deal to Callie, and certainly so to its giver. Staring hard at the cursive adornment, Arizona slipped the locket into her pocket. She would determine its destiny after some sleep.

Sofia, nearly 9 months-old, crawled into her mothers' bedroom. Her round eyes were bright with wonder and hungry for attention. Looking around she indulged in the colors of the room—the blue in the walls, the red in the bed sheets. She searched further for any sign of movement and cooed as she found one of her mothers standing over the dresser.

"Hi baby," a sweet voice spoke. "How's my girl? Were you looking for Mommy?" Susanna reached down bringing her daughter up into an embrace. The little girl giggled at the kisses she received.

Susanna dangled a silver chain in front Sofia. Small hands stretched out to grab the shiny object and Susanna laughed at her daughter's efforts.

"It's pretty, isn't it? You think Mami will like it?" Sofia continued her admiring babble over the necklace.

Though Susanna was smiling, her eyes spoke differently. Unlike their normal, vibrant blue, they were clouded and grey—indication of a manic episode. She had been in the middle of writing Callie a note when Sofia crawled into the bedroom. There wasn't much time, and she needed to write out everything.

Sofia, now atop the freshly made bed, found interest in her toy elephant. Frantically Susanna resumed her scribble on a crinkled receipt she had in pocket from this morning's pharmacy run.

She began with an apology. It was too much. She wasn't enough and she didn't belong. She was selfish and Callie deserved better, Sofia deserved better.

"My love, my light—

I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. For everything, for all the pain, for all the worry.

In my ordinary life, you were my lucky break. I never believed those Hollywood love stories…they were all a bunch of bullshit to me, that is until I met you.

You gave me all of you and without question. Don't think that I ever needed more from you, because it wasn't that. I needed more from myself.

You are amazing. And you deserve more than the ordinary love I gave to you. Both of you do. You deserve far more.

Thank you for loving such a selfish soul.

-Susanna"

Readers: Let me know if you would prefer longer chapters that are more intricately written...or if you enjoy the current pace and flow?