Arizona lays, staring at the African savannah for what feels like three straight days. To her, it feels like she has literally arrived at the other end of the world. She smiles to herself, remembering momentarily how hard she had worked to get to this point in her life. It had been two years. Two long years since she had applied to do this. She was, in her own words, a different person two years ago.
She desperately wished that the person who applied for the grant could shake her in that moment, and tell her that nothing else matters. This endeavor, these children, this clinic were it.
She finally rises to her feet, and numbly unzips her suitcase. She pulls out a simple, strapless black dress, It's all she can think of to wear in the sweltering African heat. She stands, moments later peering at her reflection, and returns to her suitcase a moment later to fish out the small, velvety pouch tucked deep within the lining of her suitcase. Finally, she locates it, and takes out the small, delicate heart necklace she had received for Valentines day.
She smiles as she remembered that day, the early dinner, and the giddy excitement of exchanging gifts at the table, even though they were both well aware of what they would be receiving. After all, they had gone to pick them out the weekend before, and promised to exchange them that night. That necklace means the world to her. She adjusts the clasp, takes one final glance in the mirror, and quietly shuts the bedroom door behind her.
"There she is! Our guest of honor!" Penny exclaims as Arizona joins her colleauges in the lobby of the clinic.
She smiles gratefully, "I really can't believe you've done all of this for me. I can't thank you enough"
Penny pats her hand "Just enjoy this evening, because tomorrow? Tomorrow your work begins!" she says with dramatic flair.
Arizona quietly takes in the beautiful African sunset on their drive to the American Embassy.
"It's pretty amazing huh?" Evelyn remarks.
Arizona nods "It takes your breath away."
"When we have a day off, we'll take you on a hike. Then you'll really get to see everything up close" Finn spoke up.
"I'd love that" She smiles.
Finally, the car arrives at the steps of the American Embassy. Penny smiles once more at the four of them. "Show time!"
"Is that my... face on that poster?" Arizona gasps suddenly.
"Well. You're kind of a big deal" David chuckles. It's not every day we have a leading pediatric surgeon winning the actual grant and getting on a plane to actually be here. Most of us are here on our own volition."
Arizona's eyes suddenly widen. "I see. Wow. Well... I'm kind of a a loss for words." She admits.
David grins and holds his arm out to her "May I escort the guest of honor in?"
"Please." Arizona is relieved and grateful that her colleages are kind, giving people who appreciate the effort. Suddenly, she chuckles considering her friends back in Seattle. If they could see her now. Alex Karev would have a field day with the "Arizona Freaking Robbins" appreciation dinner. Cristina Yang's head would be exploding with sarcastic jokes.
And suddenly, she misses them so much, she began to ache.
It is only moments after Arizona takes her place at the table before Penny rises to the podium to speak.
"You can see her smile from space" Arizona mumbles to Finn, who chuckles quietly, as Penny lists off Arizona's credentials and background for all to hear.
" And now, my friends, colleagues, and members of the embassy, on behalf of the Carter Madison foundation, I am pleased to present you with tonight's honoree, doctor Arizona Honor Robbins.
"Honor?" David whispers, holding back good natured laughter
"Quiet you!" she hisses, trying to fight back her own laughter at the ridiculousness of all of this, and feeling a sense of comraderie with her fellow doctors suddenly.
The room bursts into applause as Arizona slowly stands up. She squints as a flashbulb goes off in her eyes.
"Dr. Robbins, a few words, please?"
Arizonas eyes go wide. A speech? Now? She knows better than to say no, but inside her nerves are shot to hell.
She slowly approaches the podium and centers herself.
The room is awkwardly quiet, waiting for her to speak. She leans into the microphone and then recoils at the screeching feedback that she is met with. "I'm sorry" she babbles. "I'm not one for public speaking, but, thank you, so much to the Carter Madison foundation for allowing me to be here, I have a lot of hope that we can positively impact the lives of these children. I..I'm honored, and humbled to be a part of it. Thank you."
For the first time,she dares to look far out into the crowd. Suddenly her eyes sharpen on a woman standing in the back of the ballroom. She quietly gasps, and gracefully exits the podium.
She scans the room in shock. Was it even remotely possible? Had she followed Arizona all the way to Malawi? the idea was crazy. Insane. Impossible. Right?
Suddenly Arizona spots her again, an quietly excuses herself, making a beeline for the back of the ballroom.
"Please. Please" she silently hears herself pleading in her head.
"Calliope? " She is within enough distance to see her, to reach out, and touch her.
The woman turns around, "I'm sorry, who?" She is strikingly beautiful, with the same beautiful long dark hair but it is most certainly not her love. Of course it isn't Callie. How could she possibly have thought that it would be her? What, did she honestly think that Callie would swoop in suddenly declaring her love for Africa, and take Arizona in her arms and forgive her after leaving her standing in the airport like that? She suddenly felt ridiculous. She quietly wiped her eyes, uncaring if the mascara was smudged, and walked back toward the table.
"Hey, you okay?" Finn approaches her as she is headed back to the table.
Arizona plasters a smile on her face "I'm fine. Hey, is there an open bar here? After that, I could really use a drink."
Finn throws back his head and laughs, "Right this way... Honor."