Chapter 8

"Forget about taking things slow…Come inside with me, Arizona." Callie hungrily asked.

More than anything Arizona wanted to burst through the front door of the house and take Callie to her bedroom. More than anything she wanted to make love to Callie. She wanted to forget all of the years that they had missed, forget all of the hurt that was still lingering around, unspoken about. Arizona wanted more than anything to be the woman in Callie's life again, the woman that she trusted…that she felt safe with…that she could give her heart to once again. But deep down she knew if they didn't talk about their feelings it could just lead to more trouble in the future. Arizona didn't want anything to stand in the way of her chance of having Callie back again.

"Callie? Why don't we take a walk?" Arizona countered, exercising every bit of self control that she could muster. "I want to go inside more than anything but I think we should talk first…"

"Arizona…"

"Callie…Please?"

Callie wasn't quite ready to talk. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answers to the questions she had. She wasn't sure if she was ready to bring up the past. She wanted to carry on in this moment and pretend as if it was all a dream, but she could tell that this was important to Arizona. "Okay…Myrtle Edwards Park is just a few blocks away." Callie said. "We could walk down there."

Arizona and Callie walked hand in hand headed toward the waterfront park. It was a cloudy night but the moon peeked out from behind the clouds offering them a gentle nightlight as they walked. The trail led them right to the water giving them a great view of the Puget Sound. Walking along the rose lined path, they spotted a secluded bench and the women decided to take a rest.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Callie asked nervously. She locked eyes with Arizona, wanting to see all the love that was behind those intense blue orbs.

"I want to talk about us. I want to know what you're feeling …" Arizona asked with a heavy heart.

"Do you really want to talk about this now?" Callie was unsure how much she wanted to get into right now, especially after such an amazing night.

"Yes, Callie. More than anything, I want us to start off on the right foot this time. Talk to me about what you're feeling…" Arizona pleaded.

"Why did you leave me, Arizona?" All of the emotions that filled Callie seemed to rush out at that moment. She had to fight back tears.

Arizona grabbed the brunette's hand, taking it in her own. "I left for Africa thinking that it would be the most amazing opportunity for me. A once in a lifetime opportunity…I knew you were willing to go with me but I could see that you were miserable. Calliope, Africa wasn't what you wanted…"

"But I was willing to go for you…" Callie defended.

"I couldn't ask you to give up everything for me…So I left. And then I got there and all I could think about was you…the love of my life…" the blonde confessed. "And then I came back for you and you told me you were pregnant…it was as if you had moved on with your life….without me. I was so hurt that you had moved on so fast. I couldn't stay…"

"Arizona…I…"

"Callie, why did you sleep with Mark?" Arizona asked, her voice unsteady.

It was Callie's turn to be honest. "I was trying to take my mind off of you…I wanted to forget that you had left me. I didn't think you were coming back." Callie paused. "But we had talked about kids, Arizona. Why did I being pregnant make you run away?"

"Because, Callie, We had talked about us having kids. I wanted a lifetime with you…Not a lifetime with Mark. That wasn't my dream…"

Callie had to fight to hide her anger, but deep down she could see where Arizona was coming from. "Mark is still a very big part of my life you know."

"I know…I've spent the last sixteen years wondering what would have been. What our life would have been like if I had stayed. What it would have been like to raise a child with you. I didn't even know if you had a little boy or girl." Arizona confessed. "So many times I wanted to come back but I always figured that I had no right. I left you at the most vulnerable time of your life."

"I don't regret it…sleeping with Mark." Callie said. She looked up to gauge Arizona's response. "I can't regret it. I cannot ever imagine my life without Sophia."

Arizona pulled Callie into a hug. Wrapping her arms around her she whispered in her ear. "I don't expect you to regret it, Callie. Sophia is such an amazing part of your life...One that I wouldn't ever expect you to want to change. I just hope that I can be a part of both of your lives now. I've changed a lot over the years, Calliope. I just want one more chance."

As Arizona looked up, she caught Callie's eyes, she felt her throat constrict and her eyes fill with tears. "I love you, Calliope."

Callie looked at Arizona and held out her hands, knowing at that moment…Yes…she loved Arizona. Yes…she could open her heart up to her once again. She knew deep down that her heart had always belonged to Arizona. Callie reached up to cup the blonde's face in her hands. Pulling her close she placed the most delicate kiss on her lips. Both women let out soft moans as their bodies pressed together, still fitting perfectly together even after all of the years apart. "I still love you too."

The women stayed in their tight embrace, their kisses continued to grow deeper, oblivious to anyone that may have been around them. They both let their hands roam, feeling each other's familiar curves. Arizona broke the kiss. "Callie, it's starting to rain…"

She pulled away and stood to head back when Callie stood to follow her and wrapped her arms around her waist and lifted her up. She wound her legs around her waist as they started to kiss in heated passion. Arizona ran her tongue across Callie's bottom lip asking for entrance, which was gladly given to her. She slid her tongue inside the brunette's mouth and started to explore every inch of it. In need to catch a breath, Arizona pulled back to see Callie's soaking wet face. She looked into her coffee brown eyes and saw an intense amount of love inside them. For the first time in almost seventeen years, Arizona felt at home.

"C'mon…lets head home." Callie said reaching out for Arizona's hand.

…..

Arizona woke to soft raindrops splattering against the bedroom window. It took her a moment to take in the unfamiliar place, but once she realized where she was, a big grin crept across her face. She looked over and saw Callie sleeping just as she always did, on her stomach with her arms and legs wrapped tight around a pillow. Tears started to form as she realized that this was a dream come true for her. There was no sex involved, just an intimate moment between her and her partner. Simply waking up next to Callie and seeing the love of her life the first thing in the morning was something Arizona had longed for.

Callie slowly woke up sensing that she was being watched. Not even bothering to open her eyes she rolled over to pull the woman in her bed closer to her. She knew who was there but she was afraid that if she opened her eyes the dream would be over. "Hi…" she whispered with a big smile on her face.

"Good morning, Calliope." Arizona whispered, reaching up to gently rub her thumb across Callie's cheek.

"How did you sleep?" Callie asked, opening her eyes to match Arizona's gaze.

"Better than I have in years…" the blonde answered.

Arizona pulled Callie close, their bodies intertwined. They laid there in silence until they both drifted off to sleep again.

….

Rushing through the front door, Sophia was excited to tell her mother about her newest project at school. Not bothering to knock she raced into her mother's bedroom. "Mom, I'm home. I…"Sophia paused at the surprise of the two women before her. "I…umm…I…I'm sorry. I umm…Ahh… Welcome back, Arizona." Sophia blushed as she closed the door to her mother's room.