Dearest Guest Reviewer Emma,
Your wish is my command.
Seriously though guys, this is a big one. Because I don't like writing sex scenes at all, but I did it. Or they did it. Whatever.
Anyway, this is actually a big chapter for a lot of reasons, one being that it's the calm before the storm. Chapter 9, which I will be posting shortly, is heavy and big and is the first in many heavy and big chapters. So enjoy this one y'all. I tried to give you some fluff for the road.
EDIT: For the purposes of this story, Amelia will drink - though it is something she'll have to keep in check. Just so you know, I'm not ignoring her substance abuse story line. Just amending it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Praise be to Shonda.
Chapter 8
The door slammed behind them, forgotten as they chased one another up the stairs and into Arizona's bedroom. Amy slid her hand down the blonde's side, dragging the zipper of her tight, strapless blue dress with it. She gripped the top of the fabric, her fingers leaving a trail of fire down Arizona's skin as she pushed the garment down. Arizona followed, pushing the brunette back onto the bed and pulling her dress off of her, followed by her shoes, bra, and underwear.
Arizona stood over Amy, her eyes memorizing every inch of the woman's body before she bent down to begin removing her prosthetic.
She had surprised Amy with tickets to a show and a nice dinner. Without giving any details, she'd called her, ordering her to put on a dress and meet her outside the hospital at 7:30. Amy had obliged happily, almost fainting when she saw how undeniably sexy Arizona looked getting into her car.
They had barely made it through dinner. Amy fingered the hemline of Arizona's dress the whole dinner and after knocking back nearly two entire bottles of wine between the two of them, they stumbled into a cab and wound up back at Meredith's. The ballet be damned, tonight was about them.
Amy wasted no time in ridding Arizona of her bra and panties once the blonde had settled back into the sheets. She swung her leg over her hips, straddling her as she sucked and licked and lips all the way down her body and back up.
When their lips finally met again, it felt like an explosion had rocked their bodies. Amy took the lead, pushing her fingers into Arizona, pumping in and out gently but deep and fierce, until she felt her body tense up and come undone.
After taking a moment to breathe, Arizona turned the tables. She rolled Amy over, pushing three fingers as deep into Amy as she could and working her thumb against the other woman's clit. Amy moaned loudly before biting down into her lip to muffle her own voice. She grinded against Arizona's fingers, her body, anything to generate friction. She shook as her own body gave in to Arizona's coaxing, wrapping her arms and legs around the other woman.
As Amy's body finally relaxed, Arizona scooted up and laid her head on the brunettes shoulder. She brushed a kiss over her jaw, closing her eyes and succumbing to the sweet pull of sleep.
Two months had quickly turned into three and four. Before they knew it, Amelia and Arizona had been together for six months. Both women felt themselves fall into the simple rhythms of life together; most nights Amy slept in Arizona's bed, curled up around the other woman. In the mornings they would drink coffee and eat breakfast and leave for work together. They tried to have lunch in Amy's office every day, surgical schedule permitting. Amy felt herself falling harder and harder for Arizona every day. In fact, both of them felt that their lives together were almost perfect.
Except for one small detail.
"I need my own place," Arizona sighed, throwing herself back on her bed with an exasperated sigh. Amelia giggled, walking to the bed and lying beside her girlfriend. She propped her head up on one arm, leaving the other to trace patterns with her fingers over Arizona's stomach. The blonde turned her head to look at Amy, watching her with loving eyes as she stared off into space.
"Why don't we move in together?" Amy said suddenly. She locked eyes with Arizona to indicate that she was serious.
Arizona didn't respond verbally, instead staring at her girlfriend with wide eyes, mouth half open, unsure of what to say.
Amy's heart dropped. Maybe she had misread Arizona's commitment to her – maybe she wasn't that serious about them. Maybe she wasn't ready to live with another woman. Maybe Amy had allowed herself to fall too quickly, too fully. But she felt ready, more than she ever had. When Owen had wistfully talked about a future and a house and kids, Amy had run every time. But with Arizona, she saw her own future.
Had she just ruined her chances of achieving that?
"We don't have to, I'm sorry. I know that's quick. It was just an idea," Amelia spoke quickly, trying to backtrack away from whatever button she had just pushed. She broke eye contact with Arizona and sat up.
Arizona followed suit, but reached to hold Amy's hand as she did so. "No, Amy, I'm sorry."
Amy started to pull away. She knew it was she had messed up, but the rejection still stung. She felt tears gathering behind her eyes and stood up, turning to leave the room.
But Arizona was quicker; she jumped to her feet and closed the space between them, putting her hands on either side of her girlfriend's face. She stared deep into her eyes, her voice soft and sweet when she spoke, "Amelia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to react that way." Amy felt her body relax a touch, giving in to Arizona's soft skin on hers. Her mind refused to calm, though. "It feels really fast, but I do think that sounds like a wonderful idea."
Amy's jaw fell open as she saw the sincerity in Arizona's eyes. That wasn't what she had expected her to say. She expected her to say they needed to slow down, that this was too far, too fast. She expected her to ask her to leave, that they needed space and time. Or maybe she expected her to end it right then – that, if this was the pace they were going at, she couldn't be a part of it.
She stammered, staring back into clear blue eyes to confirm whether or not Arizona meant it; she did. The blonde met her gaze, leaning in to kiss her, whispering, "I would love to wake up to you every morning."
When their lips parted, Amy chuckled, "You kind of already do."
Arizona just smirked and kissed her again.
They spent the rest of the day lounging on the couch, looking up real estate listings. Arizona was picky, Amelia realized less than an hour into the hunt. Wherever they lived, it had to be close to the hospital, but also close enough to Sofia's school that in case of emergency, Arizona could be there at short notice.
Besides that, Amy was starting to find that Arizona was opposed to the idea of an apartment. They had looked at several units – beautiful, modern, chic apartments with all of the updated bells and whistles, and a list of commodities that made Amelia's eyes bulge. She loved them, but Arizona was less than interested. Eventually, Amy caught on to what Arizona was doing, consciously or not, and she closed the window on her laptop. She turned to face her girlfriend, taking her hands gently in her own.
"Okay, so I think we need to come up with like… A wish list. Like they do on House Hunters," she suggested. "And I think your wish list is going to include 'not an apartment.'"
Arizona smiled sheepishly. "I'm being difficult, aren't I?" she asked, ducking her head.
The brunette laughed, leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. "You have standards. High standards. But I don't mind. Honestly, I think I'd really like to get a small house or something," she admitted, still smiling as curious blue eyes watched her. "Granted, anything would be better than my closet of an apartment."
When Arizona just stared at her, Amy rushed to explain, "That is, if you want a small house. Or a house. Or anything. I just thought, you know, since you didn't seem interested in any of these apartments that maybe –"
"Amy," Arizona interrupted sweetly. "Relax."
Taking the laptop from Amelia's lap, Arizona pulled up the local real estate page again and changed their search parameters to 'Houses.' She leaned back into Amelia so that both of them could see as she scrolled through the listings. It didn't take long for them to find one that they both liked – no, loved.
"Three bedrooms, two and a half baths," Amy read off.
"Oh, look at that kitchen!"
Amy giggled, planting a kiss on top of Arizona's head. "And it even has a nice little backyard."
"Maybe we could get a dog," Arizona said. Amy just looked at her, dumbfounded. "What? I'm just saying." Arizona defended unapologetically.
Amelia laughed again. She couldn't wait to start a life with Arizona someday.
"I'm not okay with this," Callie said, following Arizona into the attendings lounge from the hallway.
Arizona sighed, not bothering to turn and face her ex-wife as she said, "You don't have to be. This is my decision."
"Your decision that affects my daughter, Arizona."
"She's my daughter too! Callie, you have got to give this whole thing a rest!" Arizona insisted, her voice rising in irritation.
Callie was quick to match her tone. "You have to talk to me!"
Arizona's sigh sounded like a growl this time as she turned to face the other woman finally. She hadn't meant to let slip that she and Amelia were looking at a house today after work, but her excitement had gotten the best of her. Callie, seemingly unable to let Arizona live her own life as far as the blonde was concerned, had chased her through the halls, demanding her to reconsider. Arizona wasn't having any of it, though. "Calliope, we've had this argument already. I'm an adult, and I'm not obligated to please you anymore."
Callie took a step towards her, eyes trying desperately to hold on to Arizona's to plead with her. "It just seems like you're going into this so quickly, Arizona. Don't you want to slow it down? Do you even love her?"
Arizona froze, her surprise at the question getting the best of her. "Of course I love her, Callie. I love her." She said resolutely, realizing in that moment that it was true; from the very beginning of their relationship Arizona had felt an ease that she'd never experienced with anyone else, maybe even Callie. Their lives molded together perfectly from the get-go. In retrospect, she was surprised with herself that she was just now figuring this out.
Callie, however, was fighting to keep her cool. She had suspected, of course; Arizona looked happy with Amelia - a kind of happy she hadn't seen on the woman since, well, before the divorce. Almost three years ago. Callie collected herself carefully before she spoke.
"Just think about it, Arizona. Think about our daughter."
Callie turned and walked away, leaving Arizona standing alone in the attendings lounge. The blonde didn't mind though, hardly even realizing her ex-wife had left – she was distracted. I have to tell Amy. I have to tell her. I love her.
Arizona grabbed her coat and headed for the elevators. She needed to get home.