AN: Hey guys sorry it's been so long we are both really sorry. Its been a couple of sucky months between illness, surgery and real life responsibilities we were unable to get this story finished. But we're back with this, I've had my surgery and Nic well we've drip fed her chicken noodle soup to get her better, we hope you continue to enjoy. Thank you to everyone taking the time to review, thank you to the ones who read and add to a alert. Means a lot that people are enjoying reading.
Please excuse any mistakes we may have missed. Greys characters as always belong to ruler of all evil, we're just playing.
Chapter 15: And There's A Hole In My Soul, Can You Fill It
There's Always One That Gets Away, The One That Sneaks Up On You That Slips Away
She couldn't help but smile as she watched from the gallery. Callie was rocking this surgery; her spirit was infectious and everyone in the room was feeding off her energy. She had to admit she had never seen her so focused, happy with herself. The ache of her not being the reason for it although not completely gone had alleviated somewhat and Tony sat there finding herself just smiling at the woman she once held so closely at night.
"You know you have to stop stalking her. Let her see you. She misses you, Red."
When Tony turned she was met with the sad, sympathetic eyes belonging to Toby who was leaning against the frame of the open door which now illuminated the darkened room. "I miss you too, mostly!" He smiled cheekily before she could respond. He flicked on the lights as he came in to take a seat beside her.
"I know. I miss you too." Tony sighed as she once again looked to Callie who was bopping her head to the music she had blasting in the OR. "I miss how it used to be, but that's the point right. It can't be how it used to be."
"Stop being such a douche, Tony, because you're missing out on being her friend. Remember you were her best friend before you started the naked rumba. Be that again! If you can't, you lose the only part of her you can have. I know it's BS, but that's the only option you have. And if you really love her as much as you keep denying that you do, you'll suck it up and be there for her, or you need to stop this. This isn't helping either of you." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder which brought her tearing eyes to meet his soft caring ones.
"I know. I'm trying. I come and watch her whenever I can, I keep telling myself that today is the day I do suck it up and say 'Great surgery Cal', but then I think about the naked rumba and how Robbins is getting to do that with her. I hate her, but I can't hate her and I hate that I can't hate her…You know what I mean?" Tony confused herself with her own questions as Toby began to laugh. "Toby it's not funny, don't laugh at me." She couldn't help but smile at her friend as she watched his face light up. She knew that face; that was his gossip face.
"Well, not even Robbins is getting to do the Rumba dear. They've been going to counselling for a while now and the man has banned them from sex. Every time they've gone back he keeps adding more time on saying that they have to listen to each other and not fall into bed to sort out their problems. They have to learn to sort out their problems and he says that sex just gives them a way to avoid issues. You know, hump the issue under the duvet so to speak." He laughed. "I'm having great fun annoying Callie about it and Cristina is loving rattling Arizona's cage about it. Their loss has been our comical gain." Toby's face would light up the room had it still been dark but he'd already turned on the lights making everybody below aware of their presence even if they hadn't yet acknowledged it.
"So, you and Cristina have hit it off then?" Tony smiled at her friend.
"Yeah, she's a mean bitch, I love it. Infuriating at times but she tells it like it is. If only she had a penis, she'd be my perfect match." Toby smirked as he felt the shove from Tony as she snickered.
"Have you ever thought about asking her to wear a strap on if the penis is the only issue coz I know you. You'll put that thing anywhere." Tony's giggle turned into a full out dirty laugh as King made his best offended face before it changed to something she could have sworn was almost thought.
"Well you know I don't like being defined as one or the other, and for me, sex is sex and the back of her head is rather hot!" Their less than PC humour was interrupted as the alert from the monitors started blasting and they heard Callie's voice roar to life trying to find out what had happened.
"Shit, an artery ruptured!"
Both Tony and Toby jumped up to see Callie looking at the man's chest as it quickly filled with blood under the skin. Giving each other a look both ran to get scrubbed in quickly.
"Callie, what happened?" Callie's eyes darted toward the door as she heard Tony's familiar and missed voice.
"I was doing a femur fracture and all of a sudden an artery ruptured in his chest, I had to open, I didn't have a choice and damn it…I have my hand covering the tear." She sounded panicked. "I can't move or he'll bleed out. Tony there was no time, I didn't know what else to do." Callie tried to rationalize the drastic measures she had to take hoping somebody, anybody would deem them as necessary.
"It's okay, you keep holding, I'll repair the tear and King is right behind me, he can deal with the femur. Callie, we can do this, so just breathe." Tony saw Callie's panicked eyes, her hands were wrist deep in a pool of blood. Moving over beside Callie she took her position, "Suction please…Let's see if we can get a clamp in and let you relax a little." She looked at Callie and saw that Callie had already relaxed slightly as her eyes calmed just by Tony's new presence. It was trust in Tony, a trust that she was risking by avoiding Callie and she knew if she continued these hide and go seek games, she'd lose it completely.
"I'm surprised it wasn't the patient's eardrums that ruptured listening to your crap taste in music Torres." Callie rolled her eyes as King walked into the room. "You're buying the beers after we save your ass." He teased.
Callie completely relaxed, aside from her hand currently keeping the man from dying on her watch. She nodded her head looking straight into Tony's eyes, who returned the nod before they all went to work.
But 6, 7, 8, 10 Beers Ago I Had A Revelation, All Is Well Right Now
"Chug, Chug, Chug…Wooooo!" Tony held the empty glass above her head in victory.
"I'm glad we have tomorrow off, I think Red might take the record off of me tonight the way she's going." Toby sighed.
"Yes! I'm getting more drinks, just something else we've taken from you brat, you shall be KING of nuthin'." Callie stood up laughing and began her staggered journey to the bar as Tony slumped back into her chair.
"Who are you texting now? You've been on that thing all night…oh are you sexting, does the recipient have a penis?" Tony slurred her question.
"It's Robbins." Toby smiled as he continued to type.
"Arizona has a secret penis and you're sexting her?" Tony drunkenly giggled as she leant forward and snatched the phone from him.
"Give me that back, Bitch!" Toby tried to grab the phone back but knocked over the remainder of his drink. "Tony please, give me it back." He whined changing his tactics hoping to get his phone back.
"Tell me why you're talking with her, are you two friends now?" Toby watched as a little jealousy stirred in Tony's eyes.
"No, not really. You know it's Callie's birthday in a few weeks, Arizona wants to arrange a surprise birthday for Callie. Her and Cristina are coming unannounced specifically for the weekend of and well they obviously needed someone on this side to sort everything. And well you know me, I do like a good party."
"Oh do they know you'll turn it into a rainbow circus considering your need for the dramatic?" Tony mocked as she sent Arizona's contact to her mobile. Toby was too busy panicking that Callie was on her way back over to realise what she was doing. Once she was done she threw him the phone, he checked to make sure she hadn't sent something inappropriate to her pretending it was him. "Do you really think that I would be that petty to send her a message?" Tony said as she knew exactly what he was looking for as he threw her an eye roll because they both knew she would but she used all her restraint to hold back. This time, maybe later.
"Hey, looks like we're not allowed anything else tonight, he's cutting us off and phoned a cab." Callie stood with her hand pointing accusingly at the bartender who just shook his head and went back to cleaning the bar. "I say we go back to my place. I have booze back there and Sofia is at Barbara's tonight." Callie picked up her leather jacket and bag and pulled Tony up cuddling up to her in support. "I've missed you, you said you weren't going and you did, you left!" She whispered accusingly in Tony's ear.
Looking slightly uncomfortable from guilt, she laid her head on Callie's shoulder. The comforting gesture was purely friendly, on both ends, and she hadn't realized just how much she missed just being in Callie's presence until that moment. "I'm sorry." She said looking up with puppydog eyes. "I said I needed time to hate her! I'm not saying I'm happy about this but…I've missed you too." Tony held tight, both women swaying in their drunkenness.
Watching from the other side of the table, Toby smiled. It was about time. Feeling overwhelmed with emotions and booze, he felt the damper on his buzz and immediately squashed that. "I would say get a room but then that's like poking a horny bear." Toby pointed at Callie and the pointed to Tony. "And she wants to poke the horny bear!"
"King!" Callie shouted and tried to lunge for the man, knocking over a chair in the process. Tony kept a firm grip on her friend in order to save her other one as King ran away giggling like a drunken, gay fool.
"Callie it's alright, it's true. My feelings for you aren't going to change overnight, I'm here for you in whatever role you want…now I would love to poke the bear since you were told you couldn't have sex with Arizona, but he didn't say you couldn't get off by other means ..." Callie's eyes widened when she heard Tony who quickly realised that it sounded completely wrong. "Oh no I mean there are other ways…by yourself, with someone watching. Shit. Not someone. I mean Arizona…Arizona watching. Not me. Fuck why am I telling you this? Why are we even talking about this? Hello foot!" Tony looked annoyed and completely mortified with herself as Callie smiled at the sentiment.
"Firstly, I'm not even going to bother asking how you know about our bedroom restrictions since I know it was gossip mag over there and secondly, how about we don't talk about the S-word around each other." Callie grew serious. "I don't want to lose you again, Tony. These last few months without you in my life have royally sucked. I really thought you weren't going to come back."
"Callie I told you I would, you know me. I keep my word. I just needed time. But I'm not going anywhere now, okay?" She waited until Callie nodded in agreement. "Now let's go get King before he gets us in anymore trouble, or picks up a street walker." She held out her hand which Callie took gratefully. "I have better boobs than her, you have to admit that though." Tony joked as Callie cuddled in more and relaxed as the two went to find their third Musketeer.
I Would Like You To Dance (Birthday) Take A Cha-Cha-Cha Chance
"Keep your eyes covered, Callie. No peeking." Arizona tried her best to direct the unamused woman into the hall. "Leave the blindfold alone...Callie!" She slapped the woman's hand away from tugging at the material that was obstructing her view. Callie didn't like it, not knowing what she was going to see when it was removed; that was making her extremely nervous.
The first lie that Arizona told Callie was that she couldn't get away for her birthday weekend and they'd celebrate it at a later date. Then without any notice, she showed up with Cristina in tow as a surprise. But she gave her no time to relax and enjoy her presence telling Callie another lie, that she was taking her for a romantic dinner for her birthday. Callie hadn't been in the mood to get dressed up like this if she wasn't going to have the pleasure of trying to take Arizona out of the sexy dress she currently had on. She cursed Arizona slightly for letting her see her dress before she pulled the blindfold out. For a moment she found excitement only for the realization that she couldn't do fuck about it at all because of their ban and that the blindfold wouldn't lead to something more ... kinky.
Arizona too was, at that moment, wishing she could cover her eyes with Callie as she had no idea what was waiting for her behind the door. As Cristina had warned her would happen, Toby had completely taken over and with her still being in Seattle she had little choice but to just go with it. The only thing that gave her any glint of hope that it wasn't going to be over the top was the kind and unexpected offer from Tony that she would keep King's extreme flamboyancy to an acceptable level. She couldn't believe it when she had got the text message from the redhead offering her assistance. It had given her mixed emotions; she felt guilty because she had taken Callie from Tony but on the other hand she took heart that Callie had found that type of love and friendship.
As she got both of them into the correct position before the door she took a deep inhale of breath before removing the blindfold from the brunette.
"Arizona? Why are we outside my apartment?" Callie looked to her own door in confusion. "Are we not going for dinner anymore? And did you just drive me in a circle for the last forty minutes?" Callie smiled as she saw the cute, dimple popping smile come from the amused blonde.
"You know, I just decided that we should have a nice romantic meal in comfort so I asked King to set up the apartment for us." Arizona smiled when Callie's eyes widened in horror.
"You let King? I swear Arizona if there's naked butlers in there it's all your fault." Callie looked horrified as Arizona began to open the door and all the combinations of infinite inappropriateness possibilities flooded Callie's mind.
"Surprise!"
Callie stood in the threshold completely shocked when all her friends from the hospital stood in her living room wearing hats and setting off poppers. Catching Cristina, Toby and Tony in front of the large Happy 40th banner, her smile widened as Cristina let the little bundle of hyper run to embrace her.
"Happy birthday Mommy, are you surprised. Mama and Uncle T...and there are doughnuts and Gramma brought me over. I made you this." Sofia handed Callie her drawn card. She was trying to stop herself from laughing at her daughter as she could see the remnants of sugar glossing her cheeks. Callie choked a little as she saw Sofia's drawing of what was supposed to be a picture of them with her moms holding hands. "Have aaaaaaaaa Awesome Birthday Mommy" in rainbow coloured sharpie sprawled across the top of the card made Callie's heart melt.
Callie lifted Sofia up and turned to face Arizona. For once Callie couldn't find the words but Arizona saw nothing but joy in those brown eyes; the delight and happiness glowed from them.
"Ma'am, would you like some champagne?" Callie was still looking toward Arizona when she heard the deep voice over her shoulder. Her expression changed to hesitancy when she saw Arizona start to look rather uncomfortable. Her hand covered her mouth and her eyes gave away that Callie maybe was correct about King's party planning skills. Sucking in a lip as she turned to confront the voice she couldn't help but laugh nervously.
A very well-toned blond man wearing only an apron stood holding a silver tray with a number of champagne flutes on it. Arizona's eyes zoned over to King's where he stood with the biggest grin on his face, his arms extending giving her the thumbs up. Behind him Cristina was bent over double and Tony was trying to look anywhere but make contact with the blonde's blue eyes.
Sofia looked at both her mothers as they took a glass, trying to keep themselves from cracking at the ridiculous man slave look of the poor boy. As he walked away from them they finally lost control of their laughter as Sofia's voice was heard.
"Mama? Why is that man wearing a diaper?"
You Have Always Worn Your Flaws Upon Your Sleeve
"Oh Callie!" Barbara sang from her position at the back of the room, she gave Toby and Tony a smile before she joined her daughters. "Well don't you both just look absolutely beautiful? Happy Birthday, my dear, I'll give you our gift when it's a little quieter, later but I just wanted to give you this card. I was told to give you it later on in the night but since I have you here just now. No-one needs to know that I didn't wait." Barbara handed an amused Callie the red envelope.
"Who is it from?" Arizona bounced on her heels as she tried to see around Callie who straightened as she read it. Arizona laughed when she saw Callie's face and the growl she made was indescribable.
"Excuse us, Barbara!" The next thing Arizona knew was that she was being pulled very quickly across the room, looking back at her confused mother who was looking at the discarded card on the floor.
Picking the card up Barbara looked even more confused as she read the message inside as Toby amused by the strange behaviour joined her to see what had happened.
"Hey Mrs. R what was that about?"
"I have no idea Toby, I gave Callie the card and once she read it she got very red and pulled Arizona away." Shrugging her shoulders she handed the card over to Toby.
'Happy 40th Birthday. BAN LIFTED! See you girls tomorrow.'
King's eyes widened as he lifted them in the direction his friend had left just as he heard the thud and the giggles mumbled through the door. Making eye contact with Tony who was still standing where he had left her talking to Cristina he waved frantically making sure both were looking before he pointed over toward Callie's closed bedroom door. When they looked back at him in confusion he made a triangle shape with his fingers before sticking his tongue into it and wiggling it around. Tony still looked confused although Cristina caught on and erupted into laughter. When there was another louder thud against the door, Tony's brain kicked into gear and now looked on mortified as other guests began to look toward the room. Cristina made her way over to the stereo and turned the music up trying to drown out any other noise coming from the bedroom.
"Who wants a drink?" Toby shouted drawing all attention to him, just the way he liked it.
And I Have Always Buried Them Deep Beneath The Ground
The door slammed shut and before Arizona had any time to try and figure out what was going on she was pushed back against the once again closed door. Callie's strong hands worked up underneath Arizona's dress. Callie had talented hands and in this moment she found herself getting lost in the feeling of her titillating touch. The Ortho Goddess knew the human body well, knowing exactly all the pressure points and pleasure spots that could have Arizona's body turn to jelly.
"Callie, what are you doing?" She just managed to breath out when she felt the soft fingertips hungrily caress the skin underneath, making her melt once more. Callie leaned in closer to her, kissing and nibbling at her neck as she pushed her body, pinning Arizona between the hot and cold surfaces. Arizona felt her body react to both feelings. She felt the hair on the back of her neck lift even more as she felt Callie's breath against her ear.
"The card was from Jay." Arizona felt the warm air from the beautiful lips as Callie's thigh made its way between her legs adding enough pressure to cause her to moan at the feeling. "It said ban lifted." Callie's voice was low and full of lust but all of a sudden she was now frozen, she was now looking straight into Arizona's eyes as she watched her words connect in the other woman's mind.
Arizona could see the trepidation in those beautiful brown orbs, they seemed to burst with want, but Callie was never one to stall and the blonde used it to her advantage. The next thing Callie realised was that Arizona in one swift movement had managed to change their position and Callie was now the one with her back pinned to the door. Arizona kissing her way down her neck leaving a wet trail that the cool air seemed to be igniting in an array of senses she thought was lost years ago. The feeling of Arizona's lips working down her exposed flesh, the feeling of her fingertips as they hungrily massaged down material, Callie hadn't even realised that Arizona had unzipped her dress, the material falling as Arizona hands roamed over exposed thighs as she knelt before Callie. Helping Callie step out of the discarded dress, Arizona hurriedly threw the clothing away to the side. Blue eyes sparkled as she looked up, her hands stilled under the hem of the lace pants.
Looking up Callie's body, it was divine. Her head was back against the door lost in the feeling that Arizona was conducting in her. She followed the neckline down, the small faded scar on her chest over her bra clad breasts. Down over her belly, past the seven year old washed out caesarean mark and then stopped when she saw her fingers twisted around the lace. Why was she stalling and why on earth did Callie stall. She was brought from her thoughts when she felt the hand under her chin making her look at woman she had been dreaming about since forever being in this position. When she made contact with Callie's eyes she couldn't stop as the water filled her eyes. "Damn it!"
Arizona stayed kneeling, her forehead resting against Callie's middle as she continued to hold on to the lace as though her life depended on it. Callie tipped her head back against the door not in ecstasy as she thought she would be but to stop the tears from falling. Her hands held Arizona's head lovingly as they tried to compose themselves.
"Why do I get the feeling Jay knew this was going to happen? I guess it was never going to be this easy to sex our issues away. We're going to have to talk later, aren't we?" Callie sighed when she felt Arizona's head nod against her stomach.
"We should get you dressed and go enjoy what's left of your party…" Arizona looked back up into Callie's sad eyes. "I didn't mean for…"
"Arizona, don't. I love you, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere?" Callie helped Arizona to her feet before she pulled her in at her waist so the two bodies became locked and gave her a gentle kiss.
"Why did you stop, Callie?" The fear in Arizona's voice filled the room, she couldn't bear the other woman's stare so Arizona moved to gather Callie's discarded dress. She heard the other woman sigh and take a breath.
"It was stupid really, I thought I was over it. I hadn't thought about it until that moment all my thoughts before were what I was going to do with you when we were allowed to...Not once had she entered into my thoughts. Not until there...Lauren, I saw you and her together." Callie looked over to Arizona who was now slowly moving back toward her with the dress. As she handed over the material, Arizona gathered the confidence to speak. "And you?" She asked timidly.
"I saw Tony. She's been nothing but nice...do you know she actually helped set this up? You were happy before I came back here, I was selfish. She's on the other side of that door...and I want to take you, Callie I wanted to really make you mine again." Arizona let tears fall as Callie wiped them from her cheek. "But all I could think about was that I hurt you, she doesn't."
"Arizona, please. I want this. I know I haven't made it easy. I've let my emotions rule me for too many years. Yes, Tony helped with that, and yes, I do love her that will never change but it's a different sort of love. I have never let anyone fully have all of me ... other than you. You have been the only one, and will be the only one. I'm in this, I look at you now and I want this. We can make this work. Yes, I might have the odd occasion I freak a little but I know things sucked back then, you made a mistakes, I made a mistakes. You've fixed yourself, I'm so sorry I never let you back in sooner...you might have to make do with lots of heavy petting until I can banish her and you together fully from my thoughts but I'm not going anywhere."
"Calliope. We both have scars, physical and emotional." Arizona put her hand over the scar at Callie's heart, the look in Callie's eyes broke down any doubt that she had that Callie wasn't in this, that Callie would tell her it was over and go back with Tony floated away. "Scars fade in time, I'm okay with heavy petting." Both women smiled at each other. "I suppose we should get back, and you should really put that dress back on...at least I get to take it off you again later?" She raised an eyebrow in flirtation as Callie laughed.
"Oh god do you think anyone knew what we were doing?" Arizona panicked as the after thought hit her.
"Seriously Cristina and Toby are out there, we'll be lucky if they haven't told the room. Come on Dr. Robbins, wipe the embarrassment away we're still young, and oh so sexy...plus King will probably have diaper boy cornered somewhere making a fool of himself, we better save him." Callie fixed herself into her dress and gave her make-up the once over in the mirror before holding out her hand for Arizona. "Shall we?" Arizona took a deep breath, flicked her hair over her shoulder and smiled as she took Callie's hand.
And I will stumble and fall, I'm still learning to love, Just starting to crawl
Barbara disappeared into Sofia's room while their friends tidied up from their guests. Everybody else but Cristina, Toby, and Tony had left the birthday girl's party at a mostly decent hour, each with their own excuse that sounded lame and rehearsed and probably King-forced but neither woman outwardly questioned it. When their three friends began making plans for an extension of their night without including them and Barbara returned from their daughter's room with an overnight bag and Sofia in tow shouting her little head off as she quickly picked items she needed, things became clearer for them.
"I told you I'd give you your gift later…the gift of a Sofia free night and morning!" They realized they were being "banished" to the apartment. Apparently they weren't as good at hiding their emotions as they thought and their friends and family were giving them the space to deal with whatever had arouse in the bedroom.
"Well Birthday Bitch and her blonde babe, we are off. Lovely party but of course, I was in charge." Toby smirked as he peppered air kisses on both women's cheeks. "I think the menu tonight clearly states that all involved shall get laid so go at it, do your dirty vagina bumping."
Cristina and Tony both groaned in unison.
"Keep those groans for when I can't find a stallion to ride tonight and one of you ends up in my bed. If I'm drunk enough, I can pretend anything." Toby teased. Maybe.
"Tata." He pulled his two sidekicks out the door leaving a slightly traumatized Barbara in his wake.
"So ..." Barbara was clearly flustered. "Sofia and I are off, don't worry about picking her up early in the morning, she has picnic lunch plans with her grandfather so no rush, no rush." Barbara wasn't dumb and for goodness sake they were married at one point and before that, with a child. She knew they had sex but it still made her uncomfortable to think about, her daughters in a compromising position.
Arizona couldn't help but laugh awkwardly at her mother's antics. "I love you." She leaned in with a giant hug. "You too, Munchkin." She kissed her daughter, trading places with her ... with Callie, giving her a chance to say goodnight to her mother.
Watching them also disappear out the door, the two women rocked back on their heels, waiting for the other to say something, anything.
"This was really sweet of you." Callie broke the short silence first. She never could deal with the stress of such things and cracked immediately under the pressure.
"I need to say something and I'm not sure ... can we just talk? I don't want to ruin your birthday or anything but we need to talk and we're alone and I really want to rip your clothes off and forget we need to talk but we know better, so can we?" Arizona asked timidly.
Starting to worry, Callie slowly backed away, giving enough room between them for comfort. Well, not for comfort but in case she needed to flee to the sanctuary of her bedroom. This didn't sound good. "Arizona, get to the point, please." She begged.
"We've been working hard, dissecting our relationship, talking about where we both went wrong, what we both did that ultimately ended us. It hasn't been easy and I know we've both thought about throwing in the towel more than once ..." Arizona stopped mid-sentence as tears sprung to Callie's eyes.
"I love you." She babbled when there was a moment of silence giving her the ability to say what she needed Arizona to hear before she wasn't able to say it any longer; before she wasn't allowed to say it any longer.
Biting her lip and taking a moment, Arizona studied the woman before her. "I love you." She confirmed for Callie. "So, well, because ... look there's no simple way to say this and I need you in the loop ..."
"And I'll change. I'm trying to change. And I'm sorry I brought up Lauren. I know we've had sex since and I didn't say anything then and I shouldn't have, it's my problem. I know I walked out on our marriage, I didn't give you a chance. And I know we've both had other partners since then. It was a moment, I was having doubts that you wouldn't want to still deal with me. This is on me, please just give me a chance to deal with it. I never had to because I refused to deal with you but please Arizona, don't give up on me, on us." Callie was begging. Nobody had ever brought that side of her out but Arizona and she didn't care either because if she was going to be herself with anybody, if she was going to give over to her weaknesses and be honest, she wanted it to be with Arizona.
"Callie, stop." Usually Arizona found Callie's pacing to be cute but right now, with her insecurities playing havoc and giving her doubts, Arizona wanted to stop them in their tracks. "Let me talk for once." She ordered harsher than she intended.
"I'm sorry." She had no choice but to stop as Arizona's hands grabbed her shoulders bringing her to a halt.
"I'm not walking away from you, I wanted to give you my birthday present." She waited until Callie was looking at her. "Look, I ... I am moving here. I can't kick out my renters like I expected, stupid clauses and shit, but I'm looking at a few apartments nearby. I want to be here, with you, for you and Sofia. I'll find a job, there are enough hospitals in the area but that's the least of my worries, I just needed to make sure you were on board with this, making us more permanent." She let it all out without taking a breath.
Callie stood silently watching Arizona unable to utter a word edgewise. This was not what she had expected to take place, especially since she had given Arizona every reason to believe otherwise.
"Say something ... anything." Arizona begged.
"It's not what I want." She squeaked out watching panic cross Arizona's face.
Tears spilled down her cheeks without her realizing it. Arizona was completely floored by Callie's refusal to go a step farther and almost lost it.
"No, no, no, no, no, no." Callie quickly caught herself. "I didn't mean, I meant ..."
"No, it's okay Callie. Maybe you're right, maybe our time has passed." Arizona responded with defeat.
"NO!" Callie yelled out. "That's NOT what I mean."
Looking up with trepidation, Arizona bit her lip and hoped for the best but expected the worst. "What is it you mean, Calliope?"
"It's not enough." She spewed angrily. "We've been working too hard for this snail pace any longer. And I get we had things to work through, I get that we had to figure things out but if you are leaving your entire life behind ..."
"But you're my entire life, you and Sofia and you've always been." Arizona interrupted her.
"Then we need to make things real and you living down the street or whatever makes no sense. I want to live with you." She finally got out. "If you don't want to live here, we'll find another place. Probably nothing as big for this price but I'm willing to move, for you. I want you to be happy and comfortable." Callie was babbling hoping Arizona was okay with the idea, more than okay but on board.
"What?" Arizona looked at Callie as if she had grown two heads.
"Move in with us. I want to be a family again." She answered honestly. "I'm sorry I screwed up but we're moving forward, right?"
"You ... but we ... and ..." Arizona babbled unsure what to say in response.
"I want to wake up every morning with you and go to bed at night with you and I don't want to have to call you for a bootie call and wait for you to get your ass here because Lord knows I might take care of it myself." Callie didn't get to finish her thoughts as her back slammed into the wall and Arizona's mouth began ravaging her.
All thoughts of other parties past went out the window as a pale hand cupped a material covered breast and the other brought the bottom of the dress up enough as a strong, muscular thigh found its way between her legs. No more words were needed as they found the pieces they'd been missing. It wasn't about Tony or Lauren here but the confirmation of a future, together. They had been too busy thinking about the past but everything was in the past, they had to think about the future now. And that's what they needed, not somebody to remind them who was touching their bodies but that their lover knew every spot, every part of their body that drove them nuts and they were okay with those hands, that mouth, on them. Their false start only hours before was more about a lack of direction than their past and with their newfound future ahead of them, they could easily melt into the others embrace without reservation.
Callie held tight to her lover ... her lover as Arizona's hands took full control, undressing them both and completely giving into pleasure, she gave her the best birthday present she'd had in years.
To Be Continued- one more chapter.