As always, thank you for your wonderful reviews!

This chapter is a slight filler for the events ahead. I hope you like it nonetheless!

"Wow."

Teddy sat back in disbelief, reeling from the story Arizona had just told her.

"I know." Her friend grimaced, nodding gravely.

"Guess I owe you an apology then – you were right!"

"But that's not the point!" Arizona slapped her palm with the back of her other hand to express her frustration. "The point is she's sticking with him! She thinks it's the right thing to do!"

Teddy frowned slightly. She didn't want to insult her friend, but.. "Isn't it?"

"No!"

She waited for Arizona to elaborate. The blonde sat there stewing on Teddy's couch, having turned up at her doorstep a few hours ago, with a face so serious Teddy had cancelled her dinner date with Henry there and then, knowing immediately that her role as best friend was to be the priority tonight. When Arizona told her, Teddy couldn't quite believe her ears. She had definitely not expected this. Eventually, Arizona spoke again.

"I can see why she thinks it's the right choice.." she began, staring ahead. Teddy wondered if she was actually talking to her any more, or merely vocalizing her thoughts to herself.

"I mean, sure they were married.. They still are. Morally, yeah, she should try and make it work.. Plus she cheated so – that definitely calls for some major grovelling. I get all that.. But.. To a man that doesn't love her any more? She's clearly fighting a losing battle, moral or not. No matter how many 'rights' she does, he's still gunna be in love with Grey. So, to put it bluntly..What's the point?" At the last words she turned and directed her gaze at Teddy, evidently waiting for some sort of solution.

Teddy knew whatever she said would be futile, unless it was an agreement. Arizona was stubborn. This Teddy knew all too well. She was hotheaded in arguments, and once someone got her fired up, the term 'compromise' would become alien to her. She would dig her heels in, and simply refuse to budge until she'd won, or the other person had stormed off. Usually it resulted in the latter. Later however, once she'd calmed down and assessed the situation fully (quite a few times) she tended to soften and see things from other people's perspective, and become a lot more cooperative. It was irksome to someone like Teddy who knew her well, and knew that in the end she would rationalise, but in the heat of the moment, she would fight you for all she was worth.

Fortunately for Teddy, they didn't have many arguments. Now however, seeing her sitting there so wound up, Teddy knew she was treading in a minefield.

"Alright, you're not gunna like what I tell you – but you have to promise not too bite my head off, because sitting there right now, you look like Erica on a Monday morning, who's just been told she's working with Yang."

Arizona snorted, and her features softened slightly. She suddenly felt guilty for all the times she'd snapped at Teddy. Rejected her suggestions, or disregarded her advice. Her friend was only trying to help, after all, and, now Arizona thought about it, she was often right in the end.

"Alright," She sighed. "Let's hear it."

Teddy took a deep breath.

"Well, if I'm honest.. I think you need to step back."

Arizona cocked her head to the side, and waited. Teddy sat back, crossing her legs and resting her head on a hand before she continued. She needed to word it carefully.

"And when I say that, I mean just let her do her thing.. For the time being. She's made her choice, and in the end she'll see it's the wrong one when Derek inevitably leaves her for Meredith-"

Arizona sat forward and opened her mouth to protest, but Teddy held up a hand to silence her. "– but until then, step back. Be friends with her? Sure. Be there for her? Definitely. But don't persist on pushing her into a relationship, because you'll only succeed in pushing her away. I know Addison, and I'm telling you now, she's not the best at handling her emotions. So you just have to sit back, and let her come to you. Which, if she was as intense as you say she was in that elevator – will happen eventually." She paused. "And probably soon to be honest, as Derek really isn't that amazing at emotions either." She added as an afterthought.

Arizona chewed on her lip as she contemplated this, picking at a bit of stuffing that was poking out of the couch.

"Of course, there is always another option." Teddy said slowly, and Arizona's eyes swivelled back up to her. She raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Well.. You could always pursue other lovely ladies in the meantime."

Arizona scoffed, but Teddy continued "I'm serious! See I know this really great nurse, Ellie. She helps out a lot in cardio, I really think you'd like her, she's got an amazing set of-"

"No."

"What? It's a great idea!"

"No, Teddy."

"Why?"

"I'm just not in the mood."

"Well there's a first!" Arizona didn't smile, and Teddy sighed. "Look." She leaned forward. "Just think about it okay? I think it'll do you good to get your mind off Addison, I've never seen you like this over, like.. Anyone! – what happened to Arizona the womaniser?"

Arizona scoffed again. "I'm not a womaniser!"

Teddy raised a sceptical eyebrow, and held up two closed fists. "Okay so first there was Kate.. Then Betty, then Lucy.." she began, counting on her fingers as she rattled off the names. "Cassandra, Emily, Lilith, Jade.. Sam.. That girl with the purple hair.. Who else.."

"Alright" Arizona raised her hands in defeat.

"Oh wait there's more, there's a whole lot more – I'm gunna need my toes." Teddy smirked., and Arizona rolled her eyes.

"Point proven Altman! Maybe I am – was." She corrected herself. "But Addison is.. I don't know, different. I know I'm being a massive cliché right now, but she is." She shrugged.

Teddy smiled warmly, and went to stand.

"Just think about it okay?" She patted her friends leg. "I'm gunna make tea."

She left, leaving Arizona lost in thought as she continued to absent-mindedly pull Teddy's couch apart.

"Oh my god." Erica rolled herslef off Callie, and flopped onto the bed. Facing the ceiling, breathing heavily, a huge smile on her face. "That. was. Amazing."

"I know" Callie gushed next to her, trying to catch her breath.

Erica clasped Callie's hand, and brought it to her mouth, giving it a gentle kiss. Both women were still flushed as their breathing eventually slowed and their heart rates returned to normal, coming back down to earth. "We are amazing." She added, and the brunette gave a contented sigh in agreement.

Callie shifted, rolling on her side and propping one elbow up, resting her head so she could face her girlfriend. "So.. Since I'm so.. Amazing.." She drew small trails up and down Erica's bare shoulder with delicate fingers. "Maybe you could do me a little favour."

Erica closed her eyes, exhausted and enjoying the tingling sensation that Callie's light touch was creating.

"What is it?" she yawned.

"Well.." Callie continued her trails. "Here's the thing.. I need you to bully April Kepner."

Erica's eyes flew open again in confusion. She frowned and turned her head to look up at her girlfriend.

"Come again?" She asked.

Callie gave an innocent smile.

Addison stood hunched over the main reception desk of the hospital, brow knitted together as she studied this case. The boy had returned to the hospital over five times now, complaining of agonizing stomach pain. But his results and all the hundreds of different lab tests they'd done had proved to be normal. CT showed nothing, MRI was clean. Addison had even done an ultrasound on this young man – zilch. So why did he keep coming back bent double, screaming and crying his eyes out? She pushed her glasses up her nose and tapped her pen impatiently. She felt she was missing something.

The slam of a folder next to her made her jump suddenly, and she whirled around to see Robert Stark stood there, flicking roughly through the pages, muttering to himself.

"These indignant residents live to test me, I swear!" He ranted. "'we can do it ourselves.' Pah! The only thing they're able to do themselves is tie their damn shoelaces together, and by looking at some of their footwear, I'm starting to think that might be regarded as a high achievement for some of them! How dare they challenge me! I'm an attending for gods sake!"

He looked up at Addison, expecting her to agree, but she wansn't really interested. "Are you even listening?" He demanded.

Addison continued to tap her pen. "Not at the moment Dr Stark, I've hit a wall with this case." She scratched the back of her head and her mouth twisted to the side as she read and re-read the same data.

Stark snorted and looked disapprovingly at it.

"That the Robbins case? Huh." He grunted.

Addison frowned. "What?"

"The amount of times I've had to open that boy up, for no good reason. All the peds surgeons in the department including me, have had the good sense to turn him down and send him home. Yet here he is, back again, under her orders – awaiting more unnecessary surgery and more unnecessary spending. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with that boy, it's just too much mollycoddling on his mothers behalf. That's what's wrong. That girl needs to get her head out of the clouds." He practically spat the last part, and Addison stood up straight, hitting him with a challenging glare.

"I think you're wrong."

Stark's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Oh, you think roller girl might actually find something? Something I might have missed? Is that what you're saying?" He retorted angrily.

"I'm not gunna stand here and listen to you insult her because you refuse to open your mind to other possibilities. She's a brilliant surgeon, and I trust her judgement. If she says the boy needs further testing, he needs further testing. If she says there is something wrong with him – then we will find it. She doesn't need to get her head out the clouds, you need to get your head out of your ass." She snapped.

Stark stood there, stunned. The surrounding hospital staff fell quiet as the two attendings glared at each other.

"Fine." Stark hissed, his chest heaving. "If that's how it's going to be, then you can deal with it. But the Chief will hear about this! And if – no, when the two of you open the boy up yet again and find NOTHING, I'm going to report you to the board!" He declared, and a smug smile emerged on his face. "And Robbins can kiss goodbye to her career, good riddance – the hospital will go back to the way it should be, with someone more appropriate" he jerked a thumb into his chest. "-In charge. Just you wait."

Addison removed her glasses in one swipe, and took a large step forward, invading Stark's personal space. She turned her back on the rest of the staff, body blocking them so they couldn't see the vice like grip she had on his collar.

"Listen you arrogant little troll." She spoke through gritted teeth. "You will do no such thing. Know why? Because I have far more influence, authority, and respect in this hospital than you. So if you think you can take me on, by all means go for it. But you will lose."

He gulped, taken by complete surprise.

"Oh and another thing." She tightened her grip so hard that the material pulled on his skin and he winced. "You will stay away from Arizona Robbins. You will not interfere with her career, you will not meddle with her cases. And if I see you so much as breathe in the wrong way around her.." He grey eyes flashed dangerously. "I will end you. I will put every inch of my being into making your life at this hospital total and utter hell." She allowed her words to sink in, and loosened her hold. "Do we have an understanding?"

He nodded weakly.

"Alright then." She let him go and stepped back, gaze still intently on him. He coughed once, straightened his jacket out, and look around at the astonished staff.

"What are you all staring at? Don't you have jobs to do?!" He snapped, and they looked away hurriedly, busying themselves with imaginary tasks.

He cleared his throat and re-adjusted his tie. "Doctor Montgomery." He nodded civilly and left, desperately trying not too show his dire embarrassment.

Addison watched him go, and her temper began to soothe.

Alex Karev appeared behind her, having witnessed the whole thing.

"Dude!" He exclaimed appreciatively, a gleeful smile on his face. He hated Stark with a passion. "You totally owned his ass! Remind me never to disrespect Robbins in front of you! That was awesome."

Addison bit her lip as his words made her realise. She mentally chastised herself for her public reaction.

Ever heard of subtlety Addie?!

It was rare for her to flare up like that, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd actually threatened someone in such a malicious way, let alone used physical force. She was being far too protective, and she knew it.

"It wasn't about Robbins." She lied.

"Oh.. Well whatever, it was still-"

"-It's just him, he's so... ugh." She interrupted. And turned to look at Karev. "He's a pig."

Karev shrugged. "Whatever, you don't need to justify your reasons, I'm just glad you kicked his sorry ass into next week. Consider my day made." He grinned at her. "See you in the OR Dr Badass." He plucked a shiny green apple out of his pocket. Proceeding to throw it in the air and catch it with the other hand, he turned round and took a huge bite out of it, humming to himself as he walked away.

Addison leant back over the desk and pinched the bridge of her nose, she sighed. She could not allow herself to react in such a manner again, it was far too obvious. Holding herself to this promise, she placed her glasses back on and hunched back over the case files, as the rest of the staff who had witnessed the event looked at her with new found respect.

April Kepner hesitated, bracing herself, she stood like a lost puppy outside the door. She'd been her for the past two minutes, mentally preparing herself. Raising a slightly shaky hand, she gave a timid knock.

"Come in." a steely voice said from inside. Kepner took a deep breath, and opened the door to the office.

She was met by piercing blue eyes and an icy gaze as Erica Hahn stood waiting.

"You're late." She snapped, and April checked her watch.

"I'm not – I'm early! You said 5 past! I didn-"

"Sit."

"I'm sitting!" She gave a nervous giggle as she practically fell into the chair.

She hadn't noticed Callie Torres sitting in the corner.

"We need to talk to you, Kepner."

The voice made her jump as she looked around wildly, before spying Callie. Who stood, and made her way over, standing next to Erica, she folded her arms as the two looked down at her.

April gulped slightly. "About?" She squeaked. She wondered why it was so dark in here, why they had closed the blinds.

"I've been watching you for a while now Kepner." Erica clasped two hands behind her back as she paced the room.

Callie placed her hands on the desk and leant forward. "Are you listening carefully Kepner? Are you?!" April nodded, wide eyed.

"Hunny?" Erica came back over, placing a hand on Callie's and quietly muttered in her ear.

"I thought I was bad cop?"

"Whoever told you you were bad cop?"

"I thought you said I was the scary one?"

"I never said that, I said you could do the bullying!"

"Which is essentially the same as bad cop!"

"I'm the one who dimmed the lights for effect!"

"We can't both be bad cop, that's not how it works!"

They continued to bicker, hissing at each other with increased volume, not realising how loud they were getting in front of a very bewildered and confused April.

"You both make excellent bad cops!" She piped up eventually, very much wanting to put an end to this strange scene.

"Shut up." They replied in union and glared at her, before abruptly looking back at each other. Realisation dawned on their faces as they realised April had heard almost every word.

Callie blushed and looked down, and Erica turned her eyes to the sky and clicked her tongue.

"Alright let's just get straight to it, it's not like you're going to say no to me anyway." She chuckled at the thought.

"We want you to do something for us and you're going to put all your best efforts into it. Understand?"

"Well it depends what it-"

"Kepner, do you like your job as Chief Resident?" Erica interuppted.

"Well it can be very stressful at times, and I often wonder why I was picked, but you know, Dr Hunt always said.." She trailed off at the sight of Erica's death glare. "I'm sorry, okay, getting to the point – right! Yes, yes I do Dr Hahn."

"Good." Erica straightened up. "Then you'll want to keep it. So that means, ultimately, you'll do as I say."

April's shoulders slumped as her hyper active brain dreamt up many exaggerated scenario's of impossible tasks Erica could set for her, she pictured paperwork, manual labour, no sleep, constant pager buzzing, and a general overall image of her, drained and exhausted, no longer with any form of social life.

"Alright." She muttered, the images swimming around in front of her mind. "What do you need me to do?"

Erica smiled and sat back down, still facing her.

"We need you to spy on Meredith Grey."

"Wow, that was pretty intense!" Arizona marvelled as she followed Addison to scrubbing room, leaning against a sink and reminiscing about the surgery they had just performed whilst Addison proceeded to forcibly scrub her hands.

"Mmmm." She replied.

Arizona pulled of her mask.

"I mean, did you see that heart rate? Boy, I really thought we were gunna lose her for a moment."

"Mmmhmm."

"But, thankfully, we're awesome. And that kid is now gunna grow up with awesome new organs, thanks to her awesome surgeons."

"Mmmm." Addison nodded, scrubbing vigorously.

Arizona blew air up from her bottom lip, and moved to stand next to the redhead.

"Addison, would you just relax? You're coiled like a spring."

"Huh? Me? Unrelaxed? I'm totally relaxed Arizona, totally! I'm relaxed, I'm chilled, I'm mellowww." Her tone varied throughout as she tried and failed to reassure the blonde, who was having none of it.

"Look, I got the message okay? I'm staying well away when you're with Derek – like you asked, and I'm not interested in making you feel uncomfortable by pushing it, so there's no need to be so.. Tense."

"I'm not tense!" Addison argued.

Arizona smirked. "Addie, in the three hours of surgery we just had, the only way you were capable of communicating with me was by making noises from your throat. And your hands are looking pretty red right now." She raised an eyebrow at Addison's hands, turning raw from where she was still scrubbing vigorously.

Addison blushed and stopped, whilst Arizona mocked her. Standing to attention, she clenched her jaw, and making herself as physically tense as possible, she began rubbing her palms together earnestly. 'Mmmhm! Mmm? Hmm" She teased, echoing Addison's earlier speech.

"That's you. Now does that look like someone who's 'mellowww' to you?" She joked, and Addison laughed, her face breaking into a genuine smile, and she felt her body sigh as the stiff tension finally left her muscles. Arizona was right, she'd been rigid for the whole surgery, and had been dreading it all morning, anticipating how Arizona would be around her – expecting her to be cold and shut off, as most people who'd been rejected would be. But no, the redhead was shocked to find Arizona was the complete opposite. Having pretty much bounced into the OR, she'd been her usual merry self, chatting animatedly to the nurses and treating Addison in exactly the same way. She hadn't mentioned the elevator. Not even hinted at it, and so far she was acting as if it had never happened. Which was refreshing for Addison, as she was so used to Derek's emotional outbursts followed by weeks of ignorance and 'the silent treatment.'

"Alright smart ass, maybe I was a bit tense." She admitted, and leaned against the sink. "I'm sorry." She added, and her words were heavy. If Arizona felt the ambiguity of the apology, she didn't show it. Instead Addison's two favourite dimples appeared on the blonde's cheeks and she leaned against her own sink, mirroring Addison's pose.

"I'm just saying you don't have to be on guard around me. I'm capable of just being your friend you know." She said, internally quashing her hearts loud protests.

Addison nodded. "I'm glad." She smiled. "I really am."

Feeling the air grow thick again, Arizona decided to break the ice once more.

"So, what're your plans for tonight? I know Callie wants to go to Joe's – me and Teddy might need help this time." She joked.

Addison chuckled. "Actually I think Derek and I are going after work too."

"Oh.."

Arizona fell quiet, and Addison suddenly realised what she was thinking.

"Oh crap I didn't mean.. It's not like you can't go too, I.. I probably wont see you anyway.." In that moment she realised what a complete and total ass she felt like. Who was she to control where Arizona could or couldn't go? Just because she couldn't get a grip on her own damn feelings, she was making this woman's life revolve around Derek Shepherd's whereabouts?!

Grow up, this isn't high school.

She cleared her throat. "It'll be good to see you all." She smiled, but Arizona looked puzzled.

"But, you'll be with Derek.. And you said-"

"I know what I said and I'm an idiot. I'm a selfish idiot and I'm being totally unreasonable. Honestly, forget what I said. You shouldn't have to not go somewhere just because I'm with my husband." She bit her lip, feeling rather guilty for previously enforcing it on Arizona. The more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt.

"Well okay.. I doubt you'll see us much anyway, Teddy's dragged me into a blind date." She rolled her eyes, missing the effect her words had on the redhead, who's grip suddenly tightened on the sink and her head snapped up, mouth agape. She quickly composed herself.

"Oh right.. A date huh? Do I know her?" She squeaked, fighting to keep her voice level.

"I doubt it, it's a cardio nurse of Teddy's or something, I told her not too but she thinks I'll really like this girl." Her voice was laced with scepticism.

Her body language suggested she was completely at ease, but her mind was whirling. She honestly didn't know what had compelled her to tell Addison about the nurse, some stupid part of her thought it might help put the redhead at ease, shwoing her they could still talk as friends do. Of course, she just had to pick that topic to have a 'friendly chat' about.

Idiot.

She had mentally scolded herself before realising that now it was out there, she couldn't really lie. She just hoped Addison wouldn't question her further.

She didn't. Instead opting for plastering that smile on her face again – that weird, scarily wide one that made Arizona nervous.

"Awesome!" She trilled. "I err.. I hope it goes well."

"Thanks." the blonde gave her a warm smile, before looking back into the OR.

"So do you wanna tell the kids mother how awesome we are? Or should I?" she joked, and, just like that, Addison visibly relaxed again, happy for the change of subject, and they left. Chatting contentedly, chatting about everything, and anything – so long as it didn't involve Derek or the cardio nurse.

They both pushed it to the back of their minds for the rest of the day, and went their separate ways. Though the closer evening dawned, the more and more it niggled them both.

Arizona thought about it as she listened to a teenagers erratic breathing through her stethoscope. She was extremely apprehensive about the night that lay ahead, predicting a very awkward date with this nurse, and wishing she'd never said anything to Addison. She sighed. Alcohol was going to be her best friend tonight.

Addison thought about it too as she waited for the scan to show up on the ultrasound. She was extremely apprehensive about the night that lay ahead, predicting a very awkward time with Derek, and wishing she could deal with jealousy better. She sighed. Alcohol was going to be her best friend tonight.

Jealousy rears it's ugly head in the next chapter, and we all know how well Addison can hold her drink ;) I'm also planning on Meredith and Cristina making an appearance, (followed closely by April ;)) as for this chapter, as I said above, I hope you liked.

Ta! :)