AN: For those of you who were reading the story before, this is the first chapter with major edits. I added a scene in the beginning. It's not all that important to the plot, but I thought I'd mention it. Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 4

November 2002

Arizona sighed as her head flopped back on the pillow below her. "God, you're so good at that," she said with a delirious laugh.

Callie slinked up Arizona's body, leaving idle kisses along her path. Placing one last kiss on Arizona's lips, Callie laid her head down next to Arizona's on the pillow. Arizona ran her index finger along Callie's cheekbone, not letting her gaze stray from Callie's eyes.

"What?" Callie asked, blushing under the scrutiny.

"It's just…you're amazing," Arizona said with a dimpled grin.

Callie scoffed. "That's the orgasm talking."

Arizona's eyes fluttered closed as she thought back to a couple minutes prior. "I mean, yes, that was…that was…you're a goddess, basically."

Callie laughed and went in for another kiss, but Arizona stopped her. "It's not just the sex. You're…I just wanted a fling with the really hot girl in my economics class. But these last three months have been some of the best of my life."

"I couldn't agree more. Why do I sense a 'but' coming?"

"We live in different countries. On different continents…separated by a large ocean."

"So you want to end this before it's even really started?" Callie asked, pulling back to scan Arizona's face.

"No, definitely not," Arizona said, smiling sadly. "I just thought it was something we should talk about."

Callie released a puff of air through her pursed lips. "I…don't want to think about this right now."

"Callie…at some point, we have to."

"We have no idea what will happen between now and the end of the year. Plus, there are…there are planes and visas and…and there's no way we can solve this problem right now," Callie said, her voice becoming more and more frantic.

"Hey, hey," Arizona responded, cradling Callie's face in both of her hands. "It's okay. We will table this conversation and cross this bridge when we come to it."

She leaned in and kissed Callie softly on the nose. "I know it's a serious topic, but for what it's worth, you're adorable when you're a little panicked."

"I'm not adorable, I'm hot and sexy," Callie replied with a slight pout.

"Yes, so sexy," Arizona teased. Kissing her pout, Arizona slid her hand down Callie's shoulder and over her arm. She pushed Callie onto her back and slipped her leg over Callie's waist. "Speaking of how sexy you are, I totally owe you a mind-blowing orgasm right about now."

December 2002

"Arizona!" Callie whined as she opened her apartment door. "Do you really miss me that much? I know I'm irresistible, but we'll see each other tomorrow in…" Callie's voice tapered as she took in Arizona's tear-streaked cheeks and trembling chin.

"I didn't know where else to go. I don't know that many people here and I just...this was a stupid idea. I'll talk to you later," Arizona said with a shake of her head. She spun on her heels and began to walk down the hallway, shaking her head and muttering under her breath something about being stupid.

After a few seconds of trying to process what had just happened, Callie ran after Arizona and gently tugged on the blonde's arm, stopping her from walking further. "Whoa, wait! Arizona, what's wrong?"

Still shaking her head and sniffling, Arizona finally turned to look at Callie. Callie took the time to really take in Arizona's appearance. Her usually clear blue eyes were bloodshot and the skin around them was swollen and red. Her hair was unkempt and tangled. Her rosy lips were dry and cracked. She looked like she'd aged ten years overnight. Callie reached out and laid a comforting hand on Arizona's shoulder, attempting to bring her in for a hug, despite Arizona's resistance. "Honey..." Callie tried again.

Arizona sighed and started to walk back towards Callie's dorm. More confused than before, Callie simply followed her. Once inside the dorm room, Callie shut and locked the door. She sat on her bed while Arizona paced up and down the length of the room.

"Arizona," Callie said softly as her patience began to wane. "Please tell me what's wrong."

Arizona stopped pacing and shut her eyes, breathing deeply. She sat on the bed, leaving a comfortable space between the two of them. "It's Timothy," Arizona said simply as if it explained everything.

"Who's Timothy?" Callie asked while laying her hand on Arizona's knee.

"My brother," Arizona whispered.

Callie scooted closer to Arizona, wrapping a tentative arm around her back. "What happened?" Callie asked softly.

Arizona shook her head, willing her tears to subside.

"Did you two fight?" Callie asked patiently.

Arizona shook her head again. "No. God, no. I wish we had," she whispered.

"Honey, what happened?"

"He died," Arizona whimpered. "He just…he just…he's not…he's gone. And I don't know…oh, god," she cried, burying her face in Callie's shoulder.

Callie had literally no idea what to say and knew that any words that she could think of would sound trite and clichéd, so she simply held Arizona as tightly as possible and stroked her hair with her free hand.

When Arizona's tears began to abate, she pulled back and sighed. "The funeral's this weekend and I just don't even know how I'm going to survive it."

"I'm coming with you." Callie had no idea why she'd said that. She knew exactly what Arizona's answer would be.

Arizona jerked back. Any sadness in her eyes had been replaced with anger. "Um, no, you are not."

"Yes, I am. I won't stay with you all the time. I'll just get a hotel, come to the funeral, and if you need me, I'll be there."

Arizona jumped from the bed and immediately began pacing around the room, muttering under her breath.

"I can't hear you!" Callie finally interrupted.

"I said it's inappropriate!"

"Why?"

"You didn't know Tim. In fact, you just had to ask who Tim was! That shows you how little you know about me and how freaking inappropriate it would be for you to come with me."

"I'm not coming for Tim, I'm coming for you! As your girlfriend, I want to support you. I don't have to go the funeral. I know you well enough to know that you might need someone."

Arizona stopped pacing and turned to look at Callie, a fury in her eyes that Callie had never seen before and never wanted to see again.

"I know that I was all lovesick and blinded by the amazing sex we had, but the reality is that we've only known each other for 3 months and it. is. inappropriate," Arizona said, pointing her finger to punctuate her words.

Callie rolled her eyes. "Look, I get it. You are hurt and angry and upset because of your brother and you are taking it out on me. I don't care if we break up now, in England, or when we come back, I am going with you, because whether you like it or not, I know you'll want me to be there."

When Arizona opened her mouth to yell some more, Callie put her finger up. "And that is final."

o0o0o

December 2012

To: azrobbins gmail . com
From: ctorres torreshotels . com
Date: December 2, 2012
Re: Hi

Arizona,

Thanks for contacting me. You heard right – Torres is taking over Brittania, so I've been traveling back and forth. I'm trying to find someone to run the hotels in Britain, but I haven't found anyone suitable. You should see the people who have applied. One guy wore jeans to his interview and managed to work in his list of sexual fetishes after the "what makes you qualified for this position" question. No joke. Our grand opening is in May and I have to train someone before then! Needless to say I'm busy. And I'll be in England a lot. And I know no one there except for you and the boring people I work with…so you should keep me company.

This is awkward to write via email, but I wanted to send my condolences about your brother. I know today is the 10-year anniversary of his death, and I'm sure that can't be easy for you. I just wanted you to know that I'll be thinking of you. As always.

Love,

Callie

o0o0o

December 2002

Callie noticed Barbara Robbins first; Arizona was almost a clone of the older woman, with their blonde hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. As Arizona greeted her parents, Callie stayed behind, awkwardly watching other families and friends greeting one another. Eventually, Barbara turned to Callie, an inquisitive look on her face.

"Oh," said Arizona sullenly, "this is Callie.

Callie would have rolled her eyes if it wouldn't have been obscenely rude.

"Oh Callie! We've heard about you!" Barbara said pleasantly, pulling Callie in for a warm hug. "Haven't we, Daniel?" she asked pointedly, trying to bring him into the conversation.

"Mmm," he grunted in agreement.

"I'm very sorry for your loss. I, uh, wanted to be here to support Arizona, and…"

"Even though I told her I didn't need it."

"And will get out of your way," Callie continued, speaking loudly over Arizona. "I've booked a room at a hotel, but if any of you need anything at all, Arizona knows how to reach me."

"Nonsense! We've got a spare bedroom. You're staying with us."

Arizona and her father wore matching grimaces when they heard Barbara's words.

o0o0o

The Robbinses were quintessential WASPs, and like any good WASP, every Robbins was well versed in keeping his or her emotions hidden from public view. As soon as Callie entered a room, she would notice them straighten their backs, subtly wipe away unwanted tears, and smooth invisible wrinkles from their pants.

Arizona had remained stoically cold, most of the time ignoring Callie's presence, much like her father. Her mother, on the other hand, overcompensated by being bubbly and warm and offering Callie her weight in homemade meat pies.

It wasn't until the night after Timothy's funeral – at which Callie had sat dutifully at Arizona's side waiting in vain to be able to comfort her – that the cracks began to show. Barbara Robbins had pulled out a worn photo album, containing captured moments from the Robbins siblings' childhoods. Staring back at Callie were hundreds of pictures of a tiny pigtailed Arizona with a lightly older male clone of herself. Their matching impish smiles showed off their charming dimples. Clearly, they had been two peas in a pod, and, no doubt, partners in crime. As Callie flipped through the photos, Barbara regaled her with their antics, including, when the two were teenagers, how they always went after the same girls. Arizona had interrupted at that point, saying, "no way would I have let him get to Calliope first." Having been essentially ignored for the past few days, Callie had beamed.

Despite that small glimmer of hope, Callie was still surprised when she was awakened at 2am, Arizona straddling her and pressing fervent kisses all over her neck and chest. When Callie got over the initial arousal she felt and realized that they were in Arizona's parents' house, and more importantly, why they were in Arizona's parents' house, she sat up and tried to push the blonde backwards.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I'm horny, and you're here, so you might as well make yourself useful," Arizona snapped.

"Whoa, whoa, hey! Did you seriously think you could just come in here and start assaulting me and I would just go with it? You think I'm that easy?"

Arizona looked down at her hands and picked at her fingernails. She actually looked a bit embarrassed. "No."

Slowly, she slipped off Callie's waist and threw her legs over the side of the bed. She rested her hands on the edge, ready to push herself off the bed, when Callie's hand jutted out to stop her by grabbing her wrist. "Arizona, you can stay if you want."

Arizona shook her head. "I just wanted to forget." She turned to face Callie. "I've been having dreams, good dreams, where he's alive, but then every time I wake up, I realize he's not."

Callie patted the empty spot in the bed next to her and Arizona crawled into the space and under the blankets. "How about you stay here tonight? I know that in the morning, the situation will be the same, but I'll try to remind you that life will still be okay."

"Just seeing you will help," Arizona confessed.

"Yeah?" Callie really hadn't intended to sound so insecure, but she couldn't help it.

"Yeah," Arizona reaffirmed. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I'm…really glad you're here," she murmured tentatively.

"Nowhere else I'd rather be."