Four hours later Arizona was finally on her last task of the day, and was walking towards Ortho looking for Callie. She was in a pretty good mood, April finally agreeing to listen to her and in that moment she decided against trying to apologise again, April knew she was sorry, knew the reason why she told Jackson, so instead she just told her that she'd wait, she'd wait while April took the time to forgive her and if that was in two weeks when she got back, in a few months or years then she'd be there and even if she never forgave her but needed someone then all she had to do was call.
She felt good, instead of blaming it on someone else, something post plane crash and pre new self-Arizona would have done she took the time, realised her mistake and accepted it. She took the ball, said what she needed and threw it back into April's court. She's proud of herself, she'd done a lot of soul searching since the divorce, and she has weekly sessions with a therapist, some days to talk about her problems, others just to talk. It was because of her that she was able to change, after Callie walked out of their therapist's office she had given Arizona the number of a new one, and with Arizona's permission she had emailed over her notes, the next day the blonde was walking into a different waiting room and met Dr Mason. She helped Arizona see where she had gone wrong, showed her ways to deal with everything and over time Arizona considered her a friend in a way. She had had an session with her last night and after spending the hour talking about April and Callie and Penny's step forward, how Sofia accepted her so easily, they both decided that Arizona needed some time off and away from everything.
She was so lost in thought she didn't realise she was walking through the Ortho ward until walking into the person she was looking for
"Shit, sorry Callie" she said as she grabbed onto the brunettes arms to stop them both from falling
"That's ok" Callie laughed a little confused why her ex-wife was up there "What's up? I don't think any of your patients are up here"
"I was looking for you, can we go to your office to talk?" the blonde looked around, realising how many people were up here. The Latina nodded, a little worried about what she could have to talk to her about. Once inside she motioned to the couch they sat and she waited patiently for her ex to talk
"So I need to talk to you about next week, I know it's my week with Sofia however I'm going to need you to take her if that's ok." Arizona wasn't quite sure why she was so nervous, however she soon realised she's always like this when she's so close to her ex, Callie had always and will always make her feel like a teenager with a crush
"Sure, that's fine. May I ask why though? Are you ok?" the brunette didn't mind but was a little concerned, her and Arizona had an agreement that each would have Sofia for a week before switching off. The only time the blonde had to change this was when she knew she was going to be sick, her ex was lucky in a way, knowing 24 hours in advance that she was going to be ill.
"I'm ok. I'm just going away for the next two weeks. Tim's anniversary is coming up and I was thinking of going home. I've already got the OK from Bailey and I've talked to Karev about looking after the department and some surgeries, I just needed to organise Sof with you" she could already feel herself starting to relax, just the thought of this little holiday making her feel a bit better.
"Oh… I knew the anniversary is next Sunday and that's usually trade off day but I was going to see if you wanted to keep Sofia for the day. Did you want to take her with you? I'm sure your parents would want to see her too"
"Yea I know they would but I really just want to get away, take some time for myself you know. They're coming to visit in a month anyway so they'll see her then. I'm actually thinking of driving anyway and we both know how much Sof hates being in a car for more than an hour" she laughs, remembering the last time she drove down they had to stop at least every 2 hours so she could stretch her legs
"You're driving down? Is everything ok? You only go for long distance drives when you're going through something, I know we're not each other's people anymore but I'm still here for you if you need to talk" the brunette placed her hand on Arizona's thigh, the blonde felt her heart race, the usual speed it goes when Callie touches her as well as the compassion she is showing
"I've just got a lot on my mind and I've just been so stressed lately, I've doing both neonatal and paediatric surgeries and so much paper work, which I think Bailey is just handing out because I don't remember ever having this much before. Plus everything with April, which I know now I shouldn't have gotten in the middle of, and well, don't take this personally or anything because I know you and I know you'll feel bad but don't, I thought I had gotten used to the fact that you'd moved on, I got used to seeing you and Penny everyday together but since this weekend, with Sofia going on and on about how much fun she had with you two, it just… it just hurts, so maybe I haven't gotten used to it, hearing and seeing Penny in the place I was, where I would still be if I didn't screw everything up and I just need a bit of time away to come to terms with it all" she sadly smiles, moving to stand up but the hand on her thigh presses her back down
"Why didn't you say anything? Why let me walk around here bragging about my new girlfriend? Why not tell me you were hurting?" tears start to build in big brown eyes that are so full of emotion
"I'm telling you now. Plus you were happy, apparently happier than you've ever been, so I didn't want to ruin that for you, I was the cause of your unhappiness for so long so I kept it to myself. I had to get used to this new normal, that's why I didn't have a problem with her meeting our daughter, I knew it had to happen and I had to live with the thought of you guys being a family, I just didn't realise how much it would hurt when that time actually came" she saw the tears fall from the brunette and without thinking she wiped them away
"That's what this time is for, to get over the hurt, to get used to listening about the fun times you guys will have. To get over you and over a future that I still imagine that doesn't exist. Did I tell you I met a man in his 80's that found love again? He made me realise that even if you lose the love of your life, someone that you will always love, there is a second happiness out there for you, you've found yours now I need to take the time and find mine" she stands this time, the hand on her leg has relaxed and she notices the brunette in her own world "I'm leaving on Saturday so is it ok if I pick Sof up Friday after school to spend some time with her? I'll have her back before bedtime as I'm leaving early in the morning" she waits for a response "Callie" the brunette snaps her eyes up to meet bright blue ones
"yea, Fridays fine" she mumbles before going back to her own world, Arizona takes this time to escape, phone already in hand as she makes her way to the elevator calling her Dr. She needs an appointment asap, she went too far, she wasn't supposed to admit all that to Callie, she was just supposed to tell her she was leaving and to take Sof, but no, she had to get nervous and she had to blurt out everything that was on her mind and in her heart. "Whelp there goes our friendship and calm co-parenting" she thinks to herself.