Erica had been quick to volunteer for as many on call shifts as she could manage without going crazy. One of the perks of being a doctor was that there was always work to be done. It was easy to immerse yourself and get lost in your job. She could go to work and spend her time fixing someone, trying to make up for her guilt at not being able to fix Callie.

Even when no surgeries or consults were to be had, she spent her time in her office catching up on paperwork. It was easier than facing the tension at her apartment, their apartment.

She'd given up trying to question Callie about their obvious lack of communication. It wasn't that Callie ignored her or pushed her concern aside, but she gave vague answers and wouldn't explain herself. Especially when she brought up the subject of Ethan West and his recent decision to relocate to Seattle. It's not that Erica didn't trust Callie to be on her best behavior, or that she even cared that Callie wanted to be friends with her ex-fiance. It came down to jealousy. She was green with envy that Ethan West was the man Callie turned to for advice and support. There was something that had brought them back together, but Callie had been avoiding answering that question in particular.

So it came as a particular shock when Callie came to her office the following Wednesday, dressed in street clothes, and knocked on the open door. "Hey."

Erica looked up, surprised. "Hey."

"You didn't come home last night after work. I was worried."

Erica searched Callie's eyes, but she only saw sincerity. "You were?"

Callie smiled. "Of course I was." She sauntered into the office, closing the door and sitting down across from the blonde. "I missed you."

Erica dropped the pen in her hand onto her desk and looked over the top of her glasses, not quite believing her ears. "You did?"

Callie smiled and nodded. "I did." She glanced at the clock on the east wall. "Which is why I was hoping you might consider going out with me."

Erica stared at her in disbelief. "But it's Wednesday."

Callie's brow furrowed, confusion on her face. "Is that supposed to mean something? Did I forget plans or something?"

Erica shook her head. "No. It's just… It's Ethan's day."

Callie laughed. "God, you say that like you guys have joint custody."

Erica shrugged. "Well, actually…"

Callie shook her head. "Oh no, don't even try and go there. We're friends Erica, that's all. You are more than welcome to come to any of our lunches. I've invited you before, but you always have been adamant that it would be too awkward."

Erica couldn't argue with fact. Callie had invited her… a lot, in the beginning, and she had always respectfully declined. But that was also before she knew it was going to be this big thing in Callie's life.

"So…?"

"So what?" Erica snapped back out of her thoughts.

Callie rolled her eyes playfully. "So, me, you, a walk through the park… what do ya say?"

Erica couldn't help but smile. This… this was the Callie she had been missing. This was the woman she had fallen in love with, the woman she had married. "Okay."

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They had been walking around the twisting paths of Washington Park for nearly an hour without so much as a word. Erica was too happy that Callie finally seemed to be showing some sign that she was getting back to how it used to be to point out this fact. There were so many things that were still left undiscussed between them, but that wasn't her priority at the moment. When they had arrived at the park and started their little trek, Callie had grabbed her hand. It had been so long since Callie had shown any affection towards her in the privacy of their own home, let alone in public. But now she seemed content to walk hand in hand with Erica all day.

"Thanks Cal."

Callie looked over. "For what?"

Erica shrugged. "For coming here with me today."

Callie smiled.

Erica decided to take advantage of Callie's good mood. "We've just been so distant lately and I was worried that… I mean we used to be… It's not like..."

"I wanna get married."

Erica came to a standstill. "What?"

Callie's face remained blank. "I want to get married."

Erica frowned. "We are married."

Callie shook her head. "I want to do it again, do it right. I want Gail there, and Michael, Benjamin, and my family. I want all our friends from work. I want to have my dad walk me down the aisle and give me away. I want a reception with ridiculously corny toasts about love and forever. I want flowers and champagne and a tiered wedding cake."

Erica was amazed to see tears in Callie's eyes.

"I want to stand in front of everyone we know and tell them how much I am in love with you and how happy I am that I get to spend the rest of my life with you."

Erica smiled and wiped away the tears that had started to fall. "And what brought all this on?"

Callie looked down, ashamed.

"Cal, what is it?"

Callie looked up. "I woke up and you weren't there. You weren't there and I was scared maybe you, I don't know, finally got tired of all this and left."

Erica frowned. "Why would I leave?"

Callie shrugged, focusing her attention on two joggers as they ran past to avoid looking into Erica's eyes.

"Cal, it's okay, you can tell me." Erica put her hands on the brunette's shoulders and squeezed them gently.

Callie shrugged again. "There's so many better things you could be doing with your life. You could find work anywhere. Your this cardio god. And I'm just an ortho resident. Not to mention how I've treated you lately, keeping secrets from you, spending more time with Ethan, talking with Gail when I should be talking to you."

Erica grabbed Callie's hand and pulled her gently down along the path until they were walking side by side down through the park again.

"We're married Cal. I couldn't leave you even if the thought ever crossed my mind to do so."

"We are married, by Canadian law. But here… if you wanted to walk out that door, you could. You'd have no legal obligation to stay."

Erica stopped and pulled Callie into a hug. "No, but I have an emotional obligation to stay. I love you Cal, that's the only thing I need."

Callie pulled back. "Sometimes, loves not enough."