Title: Back at One

Author(s): y0ungalaska & BrennaAimee

Rating: Ranging from PG-13 to M

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Shonda Rhimes and ABC. We own nothing but our ideas.

Summary: "It's so incredible, the way things work themselves out and all emotional once you know what it's all about."

A/N: Hey Ya'll we're back with another installment! Thank you for sticking with us even though we don't update that often. It's hard when life gets in the way. We went on our trip and had a blast, we even wrote for yall when we were on the plane. (You'll see that in an author note on the chapter we worked on.) I hope that you enjoy and you stick around for more! Much Love – BrennaAimee

Chapter 11

Arizona and Callie walked quietly back to Callie's place. When they arrived, Callie took Arizona by the hand and led her to the guest bedroom where they had been staying. She sat her down and went back downstairs to grab them something to drink. Walking back up the stairs slowly, she thought about the most recent events that had happened.

James broke in, he actually broke in. He was going to hurt her and Arizona. What would make someone do that? Callie understood that he was upset about what went down, but he brought it on himself. He had no right doing what he had been doing to Arizona for probably five months out of their seven month marriage. Callie really didn't understand how she was letting that happen. She knew she wasn't really letting him, but she stayed. She might have been scared. Callie just couldn't fathom living through that. Then she thought of how Arizona got mad at her for pressing charges, but Callie wasn't going to not press charges. She had to protect herself and her best friend at all costs.

Callie was more than happy that Arizona had finally turned around to come back to her house. She knew she was mad at her, but she also hoped that Arizona would understand that she was just trying to protect her. She wanted to make Arizona understand why she did it, but Arizona had just finally broken down. She trusted her enough to do that, and she didn't want to undermine her progress. They would talk about it, one day.

Callie took a deep breath and entered the room. Arizona finished changing into different night clothes and went to sit back down on the bed. Callie handed her the drink she had gotten her and sat down beside her. They fell into an awkward silence, neither knowing what to say. Arizona wanted to explain to Callie and Callie wanted to say something but on the other hand wanted to ignore the break down so that Arizona would be more comfortable.

"Callie . . ."

"Arizona, we don't have to talk about it. He's your husband I get it."

"No, Callie, you don't. Please I want to explain, just let me."

"Arizona, you have nothing to explain to me. You don't have to justify anything."

"Calliope, shut up, just shut up. I want to explain this, just let me." Arizona looked at Callie to see if she was going to protest but the Latina simply nodded. "I am not mad at you. Let me repeat, not mad at you. You have been amazing. I didn't press charges on him because he is my husband and I didn't know he was capable of anything like this. That is not the man I fell in love with. My James isn't capable of anything like this." Arizona stopped for a second to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Callie lifted her hand and grabbed Arizona's rubbing small circles on the back of it to soothe the woman who was holding back tears.

"I guess he is capable of it, and I should have known. When he was younger, he used to get into a lot of trouble. One breaking and entering charge when he was sixteen, but I thought it was just a stupid teenage thing. He has always been violent in a way, even before I married him, but it was never directed toward me. He stopped and calmed down before we got married. I thought he had his temper under control. Was I ever wrong. I should have known Calliope." Arizona began to quietly sob and Callie pulled her in to cry on her shoulder again. "I should have pressed charges." She said repetitively through sobs. "I shouldn't have let him try to hurt anyone else. He could have hurt you. I'm mad at myself. I should have stopped him."

All Callie could do was stroke Arizona's back to calm her down and let her get it out. It hurt her so much to see the blonde going through this. Callie scooted back on the bed and up the already messy covers. She pulled Arizona down to her and let Arizona curl up to her body and on her arm. She played with Arizona's blonde locks until the blonde was able to breath normally again. About the time Arizona finally got close to sleep Callie felt her phone vibrate in her pajamas pocket. She pulled it out and answered the phone whispering and began playing with Arizona's hair again. Javi was on the other end of the line telling her to not worry about the noise downstairs that it was just him. Callie got off the phone and lay for a while.

"Arizona, I'm going to go talk to Javi and then take another shower, I'll probably sleep in my room tonight." She got up, walked around the bed, placed a kiss on the top of Arizona's head and walked out the door. She walked down stairs and sat at the bar staring out toward the pool. She watched as the moon danced across the water's surface. That was the only time Callie was at peace, when she was by water. The only noise she could hear was Javi banging around putting the new door knob on. She got up and fixed him something to drink. When the noise was over and she heard him kick his toolbox to the side, she walked to him and handed him the glass.

"Thank you, Cal." Callie nodded and tilted her head for him to follow her as she walked into the living room to sit on the couch. He did as she requested and followed. He walked around the couch and sat on the other side. He kept his eyes on his drink or on the floor. He didn't even know what to say to Callie anymore. All he wanted to say was how sorry he was, but he thought back on the conversation him and Arizona had had earlier in the night. He knew he had to give her space. He couldn't force her to forgive him and he wasn't even going to push. He could feel Callie's eyes on him.

"Javi," she said and lifted her hand to his face, rubbing her thumb over a sore spot on his eyebrow. Javi flinched back a little. "You're hurt." Javi let himself savor the slight contact he was getting.

"I'm fine; I didn't even know it was there." He sighed and put his hand over hers stilling it momentarily.

"Let me get you some ice, it's swollen." Javier nodded. Callie made her way to get ice and returned quickly putting it to his face. Javier nodded his thanks and looked her in the eyes, he could tell she was about to break. He leaned back into the couch and pulled Callie to him. She was reluctant at first, but she finally leaned into him. She wanted someone to hold her right now; she didn't even have the strength to fight. Javier wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly. Callie let a few tears fall from her eyes, but never broke down completely.

"Callie, I understand you aren't ready to forgive me and you may never be, but I am here for you. I would want more than anything to be given a second chance with you, but I know what I did is unforgivable."

"Javi . . ."

"I won't ask you for that chance. I'm not even going to apologize anymore because by now I sound like a broken record. I want you to think back to the beginning of our relationship. We fell in love because we were best friends. We were there for each other. All I can do now is be here. I am still as protective of you as I have ever been, and that is why your father sent me to watch the house. You are still the best thing that ever happened to me and still my best friend and that will never change. I will be here to talk to you, or for you to break down with and honestly I will be lucky if you even let me be here for that. I'm supposed to stay here all week and if you want me to I can or I can go to the hotel. I know this is hard for you, for me to be here. If I go to the hotel you have to check in with me every hour, so your father still thinks I am here."

"I think it would be better if you weren't here. I don't think I can do this every night. We need space and Javi I don't think I can ever forgive you. Like you said we fell in love because we were best friends, after some time apart, I think I want to keep that. This, that we are doing right now, is comfortable. You are my comfort zone in a way. As far as us being together I don't see it happening. I want to go through with the finalization of our divorce. I want you to move on. I want you to be happy again. Do that, for me?"

"Cal, I will do whatever you want me to. For you, I will."

"Javi?"

"Yes?"

"Can I lie here a little while longer?"

"As long as you want."

Callie lay with Javier and they talked for about an hour before she went upstairs to her room. She pulled some clothes out of the dresser and got ready for her shower. She started her water and got undressed, letting the steam fill the room. She stepped in the shower and let the hot water run over her skin releasing some of her tension. Her thoughts began to race. She thought about Arizona so weak and so vulnerable curled up next to her crying. She couldn't stand Arizona crying, but she didn't have a choice. One of them had to be the strong one. What she was going through was nothing compared to Arizona's situation. Flashes of Arizona's battered body and her tears ran through her head like a scary movie. Callie began to cry, finally let everything out. After she did that not only those flashes set in, but she began to really feel the effects of her divorce. Even the strong one needed to break down. Callie showered and sobbed until the water ran cold. When she got out the tears stopped. The shower was her break down spot. She slipped into her clean pajamas and went into her room to get into bed. Laying down she already knew it was going to be a restless morning of sleep.

The next morning Arizona woke up before anyone else in the house. She decided to make breakfast, since Calliope had fixed hers the past couple mornings.

(The following night)

Arizona tossed and turned in her sleep. The sweat cascaded down the sides of her face, leaving her pillow damp and moist. Hands gripped the sheets and legs kicked frantically beneath already tethered covers.

She was having a nightmare.

Three nights ago, Callie had suggested that maybe the two of them sleep separately. Even though the Latina was more than comfortable sleeping beside the blonde, she also knew that she had to take some time to herself. So many things had happened within the past week in both of their lives and she needed the time to think, to breathe. Arizona reluctantly agreed, also knowing that maybe the two of them needed some space from one another. Things were somewhat tense at times and even though she didn't want to admit it, it seemed as though the two women were walking through the days without dealing with things happening around them. They never talked about James or Javier, they never mentioned the break-in and the only time they spoke about pain was when Callie would make sure that Arizona was taking her pain meds.

But three nights ago…three nights ago is when the nightmares began for Arizona. James, in all of his anger, haunting her. Every painful memory, every fear seemed to come to life when she would close her eyes. For the past two days, she had been on edge. She would snap at Callie for no reason, she was pissed off almost all the time, but she couldn't tell the Latina why. Callie already had enough on her plate and Arizona didn't want to burden her with more so she kept the dreams, the fears and the thoughts to herself.

"Noooooo!" Arizona's soul-crashing scream could most likely be heard to the end of the block. She sat straight up in the bed, her body rigid. Looking from left to right, she slowly began to calm her panicked heart as she realized that she was alone. She was alone and she was safe. Dropping her shoulders, she wiped her face with the back of her hand and noticed that silent tears were falling.

Just then, the door shot open and Callie stood, frantic, in the doorway. "Arizona? What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

So much for keeping her dreams a secret.

Arizona sighed, not wanting to talk about it. "I'm fine, Calliope. Go back to bed."

Even in complete darkness, Callie could see that the blonde was everything but okay. Slowly, she made her way to Arizona's bedside and sat down beside her. "Hey, you're not okay. Talk to me."

At the touch of Callie's hand, Arizona stiffened and Callie immediately withdrew her hand. "Can we just… can we forget this happened? Please?" Arizona almost begged.

"Arizona, you just screamed bloody murder in the middle of the night. No, I can't forget this happened. Was it a dream? Did you see something?" Callie began to look around the completely dark room for some kind of answer.

"No!" The blonde's voice rose as she crawled out of the other side of the bed. "Calliope, I'm fine. Just stop asking, okay?"

Callie, quick on her feet, followed her into the hallway. There was no way she was going to let this go. Not now. Arizona had been nothing short of bitchy and completely short with her for the past couple of days and although it was two in the morning, Callie couldn't take it anymore. "Arizona, you are not okay…"

Before she could continue, Arizona spun around on her heels bringing Callie's stride to a halt, "Will you stop telling me that I'm not okay?"

"Will you stop telling me that you are?" Callie shot back.

The two women stood in the hallway, face to face. Callie could see the anger residing behind those blue eyes and she understood that Arizona was going through a lot, but she refused to let Arizona push her around. She honestly cared for this woman.

Arizona stood her ground for as long as she could before her tears began to slowly fall. Her shoulders dropped and an almost silent sob left her body. Before she knew it, Callie was standing in front of her, arms wrapped tightly around her body and she was leaning into her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Calliope." Arizona sobbed as she leaned in and wrapped her arms around Callie's torso. "I know I've been a super bitch for the past couple of days, but I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself and at James and," she sniffled as she leaned back to look into the brown eyes that had become her safety net, "I have so much anger in me, Calliope. So much and I don't know what to do with it. And I take it out on you. I shouldn't do that. I know I shouldn't…and then, these dreams started and…"

"Hey, hey," Callie soothed as she ran her hands up and down the blonde's back. Taking a hand, she slowly pushed a strand of blonde out of Arizona's face, "It's okay. I know it's been hard for you. You're dealing with a lot and you're very stubborn and want to do things on your own. If there's one thing I've learned about you, it's just that. So I get it. But you have to know that I'm here for you, okay? And when things like this start happening, instead of getting mad, you should tell me because even if I can't take them away completely, maybe I can do something that will keep them away for a while, you know?"

Arizona nodded as she stepped back and wiped away the last of the tears. "Thank you, Calliope. Really. Thank you. I don't deserve any of this. I've been nothing short of horrible to you and you've done nothing but try to help me."

"Arizona, stop apologizing." Callie spoke with a tilt of her head. She smiled and reached out to the blonde. Watching, Arizona slowly took the hand offered. "Let's try to get some sleep?"

"Callie?" Arizona questioned, causing Callie to stop and turn around. "Will you… I mean, I know we agreed that we needed space, but…"

Callie smiled at the blonde's sudden bout of shyness, "Screw the agreement."