AN: We have reached the end. It's taken us a while to agree on our ending, we set out with a plan and it totally curved and ended up Fluffy…Nic is not comfortable with fluffy, she doesn't do fluffy and I went there and GOD I don't even do fluffy but we have fluffy and I'm sorry Nic. I don't want to take too much blah up but a massive thank you to my writing partner, it has been a fun experience. Thank you to Shinata-Riyoko for acting as beta for us (she's awesome) and a big big big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read, enjoy and review this. And for the last time in this story, we hope you enjoy.

Epilogue

Chapter 16: Changes On Our Hands And On Our Faces, Oh, Oh Memories Are Mapped Out By The Lines We'll Trace.

"It's just like riding a bike"

That saying is used a lot in life because, well, it's kinda true…you never forget.

It's whether you're brave enough to get back on. The first couple of goes, you're gonna be shaky, you might even fall off and graze your knees. You'll make all the same mistakes you made before, but the probability of you being aware of them this time and dealing with them head on is so much better, you've grown.

The cobbled street that looked like fun before, this time you know it's going to end up with you on your ass. When you see yourself going down that road, you put on the brakes this time and see if there's a better path.

Clarity comes with age and sometimes it takes a number of failed attempts to make something work. We are ever adjusting, doing things differently, yet sometimes things are done the same because you can't change everything, but it's how you deal with them that count.

Maybe you will go down that cobbled path again, you just know that this time you need to hold on tighter.

We'll Be Talking, These Words Are All We Have, We'll Be Talking

Callie was pacing the small expanse of the office; every so often she'd throw a glare in Arizona's direction, but for the most part all you could hear was a low growling coupled with the occasional snort. As was the usual case, Jay had given them the floor and he often didn't intervene unless things bordered on mean spirited, so he sat back and let them work through whatever was the issue today. And Arizona knew very well to let Callie walk it out before she could form more than inarticulate verbiage that would ultimately get the nowhere, because questioning her lover would only further anger her and Callie would never get to the point.

"You..."

"And I can't..."

"And for crying out loud, Arizona, do you really..."

The low purr, usually reserved for bedroom activities, grew from deep within and everybody in the room was very aware that Callie was about to explode.

"So this one has three bedrooms and possibly a small nook for an office. I know you said you don't really work from home, but it does afford you some privacy if you wish. What sizes are you looking for, bedroom wise?" The realtor asked while opening the door.

"I'd like two of them at least nice sizes, roomy and spacious." Arizona explained. She didn't feel safe having Sofia's playroom in an underground basement, and a larger bedroom afforded their daughter a play space as well. While they needed the space and she wanted the space, there was a good chance the basement would be for storage. Arizona still prepared for worst-case scenarios and there was no escaping a house fire if you were in a basement with no doors or windows to flee from.

"My secretary didn't give me much detail, there will be how many people living here?" She asked.

"Three."

"Your husband?" She noted there wasn't a ring, but in this day and age, that meant nothing. Marriage wasn't as important as it was in her earlier days, and as a realtor she found this to be the case more often than not.

"Oh no, Dr. Torres, Callie. Um..." Arizona played with the necklace on her neck trying to figure out the best way to word it. She hated being a woman almost in her mid-forties calling her partner 'girlfriend'. She was too old for a girlfriend. Twenty-somethings had girlfriends.

Thirty-somethings had girlfriends. She was just passed the stage in her life where she had a girlfriend. "She's Sofia's other mother." She spat out quickly as the pause was getting uncomfortable for her. She inwardly cringed knowing had Callie been around to hear her call her that she'd surely be sleeping on the couch for a few days.

"And speaking of Callie, hi." Arizona spoke shyly.

Smiling in greeting, Callie joined the women as they fully entered the premise.

They started from the bottom up. Arizona hated the basement, Callie loved it. They both agreed on the main floor dynamics, but things only got uncomfortable as they reached the bedrooms.

"This is nice for a growing child. Enough play room, plenty of closet space for storage. Great view, but really, all of the bedrooms have a great view. Next we'll see the second largest. I guess you two will be figuring out who gets what." She led them toward an open door, Callie shaking her head and looking back to Arizona with nothing but confusion gracing her face.

"It's a regular sized master, shares a bathroom with the smaller bedroom, but it's a big bathroom. The grand master suite has a much smaller bathroom in comparison, so I guess it depends on which one of you has more hair products and which one of you has more clothes. The size of the tub in this one is worth having to share with your daughter." She was trying to give the benefits of both rooms hoping to sell the women since most of the rest of the house had been a hit. It would be her last sale of the season and then she could return home and spend almost a month in sunny Florida instead of snowy Philadelphia.

"Wait, what? Wait." Callie stopped them as they walked toward the hallway. "Why do we need two master bedrooms? And one of us is sharing with Sofia? Can somebody explain this to me?"

"Dr. Robbins explained that three bedrooms were needed. Two large, if at all possible, and since this house has two master suites, I figured since you're Sofia's other mother that because well, she didn't mention and she said other mother and I don't know." She ended stammering and feeling foolish. She had figured, well, she didn't know what she'd figured. She figured they were an alternative family? It wouldn't be the first time she had two best friends raising a child together. It was the twenty-first century after all. She would have assumed lesbian couple had Dr. Robbins responded with a sentiment regarding Dr. Torres, but she didn't. She called her Sofia's other mother. Not wife or partner or girlfriend. And the agent was thoroughly confused.

Turning on a dime, Callie glared at Arizona. "The Other Mother?" She raised her eyebrows in angry question as her voice's edge said all Arizona needed to hear; crap, she was in trouble.

Avoiding her lover's gaze, Arizona looked at the uncomfortable realtor. "Callie's my significant other." She refused to say girlfriend, and as they weren't in a business contract, partner was out too.

"I'm so sorry. So sorry. I didn't get that from… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." She was flustered.

"No, no. It's not your fault." Callie continued to glare. This wasn't the first time somebody had confused them as roommates or friends or even sisters before lovers came into the picture. It had nothing to do with people being homophobic or an idiot, it was the way Arizona kept introducing or not introducing Callie.

"The larger second bedroom is going to be for Sofia. Arizona isn't too keen on basements with no escape as a play area for our daughter. She'd like to have a large enough room that will also be a play area. The third bedroom is going to be converted into a guest room." She explained nicely. It wasn't this woman's fault her girlfriend was an asshole at times. She'd deal with Arizona later, for now she was done with house hunting and didn't care if they lived in a shack ... or together. Arizona obviously didn't care enough to cement a future for them, so why in the hell were they buying a damn house together? Her apartment was the perfect size for them.

"How many times are you going to call me 'The Other Mother'? Or your roommate? Or... whatever you say when somebody asks you? Do you know what that feels like for me? After everything we've been through?!" She was yelling, tears streaming down her cheeks, as she finally let her feelings out.

Oh hell no. She wasn't letting Callie put this all on her, whatever this was. Arizona's anger started to boil. "I'm 43 years old, Calliope. FORTY THREE YEARS OLD. I don't want a girlfriend. I don't want a partner either; we aren't in business together. I'm sorry I called you my roommate, but that guy was a homophobic asshole and I didn't want to deal with it. It was easier to just fire him and explain to his boss my reasons. Which is what I did and why I got us the new realtor. You know, this wouldn't be an issue if you just married me." She screamed back, her annoyance at the situation blacking out all common sense.

Breathing heavy from exertion, silence filled the room. They stood feet apart, staring off at each other while Jay sat silently in the corner of the room with a goofy grin on his face.

"You want to marry me, again?" Her voice was small and insecure. Nodding, Arizona took a step forward closing the distance between them.

"I know I pick really crappy times to propose, obviously it's not something I'm good at but I do. I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife. If you'll have me." Her own insecurities were at an all time high. They'd lived together for almost a year now and neither had broached the subject of marriage. The only thing she'd ever heard regarding Callie and marriages was from Toby, and he told Arizona that Callie had told him, years ago, that she was never getting married again. She'd done that, twice, and failed, twice. And the risk just wasn't worth the short reward. So with that, Arizona never brought it up. Callie never brought it up. But here they were, bringing it up and going back down a path they'd both already been down, together.

"And that's all the time we have for today. I really don't think I need to see you ladies again." Jay spoke up from his place in the corner, his goofy grin still pasted to his face.

"What?" Callie responded.

"You're done. You two don't need me, you'll do just fine on your own." He repeated more clearly.

"But we just had a screaming match, in your office, for the past almost two hours." Arizona reminded him, stunned that he was kicking them out of his office, for good.

"Oh, I've seen much worse from you two. Muchworse. You two talk. It's not immediate, but most people don't do it immediately, you need to process and you two do that. You talk, you fight, you listen, and you solve your problems. I haven't had any input into your relationship in months; you just keep coming and using my office as neutral territory. But you don't need it, you two have passed the class." He laughed at their gaping mouths. "Oh, and Arizona you might want to, on your way home, get something that will remove…I'm guessing sharpie pen, because if that's a tattoo, you seriously have money to waste." Arizona scrunched her brow as she watched him stand up and straighten his suit out before walking toward them.

Ushering them out, Callie turned around. "But I didn't answer, don't you want my answer?" She asked with confusion. She hadn't said yes, what if she said no? He's just kicking them out.

"Oh, just send me an invitation to the wedding." He gave Arizona a little shove, pushing them both out the door and shutting it before they could speak again.

Both women stood outside the door, still in shock. Arizona looked down at her prosthetic leg and pulled the fabric up slightly. "I can't see!"

Callie laughed when her eyes caught what Jay had seen. "You have what looks like a unicorn throwing up a rainbow drawn on your leg in sharpie." Callie covered her mouth as the laughter continued to rattle in her throat when Arizona's expression changed from confusion to realisation.

"Sofia!" Arizona looked dumbstruck as Callie sucked her lip trying to stop laughter.

"Mmm hmm…Sofia." Callie replied still trying to keep the smile off her face. When she saw Arizona rub furiously at the pen with two wet fingers, getting herself more riled up when it didn't budge. Callie wanted to calm her quickly. "We don't need bells and whistles this time, maybe we could do something small, like you, me, Sof, your parents, and a justice of the peace, in Rockefeller Center? By the tree? Just the family?" Callie instinctively took Arizona's hand as they made their way to the elevator.

Smiling at Callie's response to her proposal, a much better one than waking up from a coma after she threw her through a windshield in her opinion, Arizona responded. "If Cristina and Toby don't get invited, we'll never hear the end of it."

"I love you." She leaned in and kissed Arizona's cheek but leaning back, Arizona caught her and turned Callie's innocent kiss into a steamy display of public affection.

"I was never ashamed of you, just so you know." Arizona waited a beat for Callie's nod before leaning back in for a few more chaste kisses. "I love you too." They looked around at everybody in the waiting room and smiled as they all clapped and cheered. The same people week in and week out had been witnesses from the other side of the door to their loud appointments for the past year; if anybody knew how much they deserved that round of applause it was them.

It's Hard To Argue When You Won't Stop Making Sense But My Tongue Still Misbehaves And It Keeps Digging My Own Grave

"Aw look, somebody's already begun decorating for Christmas." Callie managed to crack a smile at the stack of wrapped gifts in the corner of the elevator. "Come on, Arizona." She stood in the doors as they beeped at her, watching Arizona hang up her phone and head her way.

"Who was that?"

"I called Mom and Sof to tell them we were on our way up and to get ready so we can go out and grab some dinner. I think they're up to something." Arizona looked a little worried as they boarded the small box for their apartment.

"Hmm? Why do you say that?" Callie asked as the elevator began its very slow climb.

"Just the tone in mom's voice, and Sofia seemed more hyper than usual in the background, I don't know." She paused for a moment while biting the inside of her mouth in thought before shaking the nagging feeling from her head.

"You didn't say anything about us did you?" Callie panicked; she knew she was going to have to tell Arizona what she wanted to.

"Of course I didn't. I wanted to wait 'til we could see their faces. So are we going to tell them tonight or get everybody together and tell them at once? And do I get a ring this time around?" Arizona smiled sweetly. "Oooo, and should we Skype Cristina in? I was thinking..." Her thoughts were cut short as the elevator jumped, lights flickering before darkness engulfed them. The compartment came to a screeching halt, once again throwing Arizona's unbalanced state toward Callie, them both landing in a thud on the floor.

"Damn it!" Callie whined. "They have seriously got to fix this." She laughed sarcastically as the emergency lighting kicked in; she really didn't want to have this conversation in such a small space and who knows how long they'd be stuck. "They'll probably fix it right after we move out. Can you give me your cell? You're kinda sitting on mine." Callie laughed when Arizona wiggled her ass making Callie open her legs; Callie scooted back until Arizona plopped down on the floor between her legs, leaning back against Callie's front. Arizona wiggled her cell from her jeans pocket as she felt Callie's arms wrap around her stomach. Giving the cell to her lover, she relaxed, knowing it would be quite a while until they were rescued, again. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness for a moment before the nagging in her head resumed. She really thought against having a conversation in this death trap, but the awkwardness would be unbearable if she didn't.

"Callie, you've been really quiet all the way home, is everything alright?" Arizona watched Callie as she shook her head at the lack of reception; she had watched Callie since they left the therapists office. She wasn't sure, but she knew something was going on in her brain because she really wasn't acting like someone who just said yes to a marriage proposal…wait she never said yes, did she? The conversation replayed in her head, she didn't actually say yes.

She felt Callie tense and pull away from her and had moved to the back wall to lean against, Arizona turned and could see the very visible conversation she was having in her head.

"Callie, use your words. Please?" Arizona's heart sunk as she saw the terrified look in her eyes.

"I'm so so sorry, but…" She trailed off and looked to her feet, as she really didn't want to look into Arizona's eyes as she said this. "I don't want to get married. I got caught up in the moment, but I don't want to get married Arizona." Callie's heart wanted to break as she saw Arizona's tears fill her eyes.

"I thought, I thought this is what you wanted, what we wanted?"

"Oh come on Arizona, you never wanted to get married in the first place, you just wanted to get my attention off of Mark, it never interested you…I bullied you into marriage and wanting kids back then." Callie closed her eyes and instantly regretted it as soon as Mark's name passed her lips, slowing her breathing down, she thought about what she wanted to say, she didn't want to fight.

"Oh please… You're bringing this up again. We've had this conversation, in this very spot. I told you it wasn't about Mark. I wanted you, all of you."

"Yeah, see? That's exactly it, what did you think a ring was... is going to mean to me now, Arizona? It meant nothing at all to you when you were screwing that woman in the on call room." Arizona noted that there was no malice in Callie/s words just the truth, her tone was calm and unthreatening.

"I can't keep making apologies for that, you said you wanted to try again… We can't keep coming back here." Arizona felt herself panic, was Callie done.

"And we won't. I just don't want to get married Arizona. I don't need it. I love you, and I want to make this work, but the symbol of a ring, marriage. It's just a promise of trouble for me. You don't need to marry me just because that's what you think I want. I want this, us, our family, but that ring just makes me… it scares me." Callie's voice broke; she watched Arizona's face blank. Is she going to bail?

Arizona couldn't think of anything to say, she didn't want to start a fight, so she just sat still trying to think things calmly over in her head. Callie would think she was on the attack if she reacted right now, and all the good work over the last year would be lost.

Callie sat with her head tilted backwards trying to keep the tears from falling, she knew she was being ridiculous, but it was just a nagging feeling and with all the counseling, she knew it was better to get this out in the open now. They had both done this before, keeping their feelings locked inside.

"Callie," Arizona watched as Callie wiped the tears from her face before bringing the red washed eyes to make contact with her own tearing ones. "Callie, I want to marry you. I've changed. I'm not the same person I was before. If I could do things differently, I would. I look back on the past and I have to live with that, what I broke. I broke us." Arizona shuffled herself closer to Callie to take the brunette's hand in hers. "You have known me for a year now, this version of me. This me is kneeling in front of you asking you to marry the me you know now. The me who wants a house, who wants a family, who would rather go to Disneyland with the kids than sit on a beach with a sangria. I want you and if that means not getting married, then I'm okay with that as long as we can figure out what I introduce you as." Callie laughed a sob as she watched Arizona smile. There was nothing but love there and Callie swallowed hard when she saw Arizona lick her lips. Callie swallowed even harder when she realised that Arizona had said kids, her heart hurt, it knotted tightly. If Arizona wasn't going to bail because of her lack of response to her proposal, the next conversation that left her mouth could well be the nails in their coffin. She had a brief second where she thought about not saying anything, locking it in, but then she knew that it was stupid, they'd come so far.

Callie leaned forward and gave the blonde a gentle chaste kiss before pulling back and looking into her eyes, smiling. "I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yes either. I need to think about it." Arizona almost bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying; she nodded her head as Callie put her hand under Arizona's chin getting her to look at her. "Just give me a little time to get my head around the idea. I love you. I really do. And I need to tell you... Around two and a half years ago, I spoke to Addison. I wanted to have another baby."

Arizona's voice was so small as she took the information in. "You and Tony were going to have a baby?"

"No... No, we weren't together back then. It was a decision that I was making, alone. Addison ran all her tests... I wasn't a candidate for IVF. The scar tissue from the car accident, it was just too extensive. Addison even apologised, she felt it had been her fault. I can't carry a child Arizona... You want children, and I can't give you that." Callie's tears fell freely.

"Oh honey… we have other options. I want you, everything else will work out."

The compartment shook and the lights flickered back on, Callie pulled away from the body she was currently wrapped around. They had held each other tightly as they took comfort in the feeling of each other.

"Mmm, must not have been because of a blown fuse, it was actually just the elevator being old this time." Callie smiled as she kissed Arizona's head and stood up. "Come on, up you get. We can go have a bath before we go for dinner." Arizona's eyes twinkled when she saw the extended hand waiting for hers. Helping her up, she smiled as she stood before Callie. She felt Callie's hands snake around her waist and pull her into her. Bodies fitting nicely as lips met and the women shared a tender kiss. Arizona looked into Callie's eyes she saw nothing but love reflecting back. If Callie didn't want to get remarried, then she was fine with it because she knew in that moment that Callie wasn't going anywhere. Neither woman was bailing.

And So It Goes, This Soldier Knows A Battle With The Heart Isn't Easily Won...But It Can Be Won

The noise was rousing as the group sat around the large table; empty plates littered the surface as the meal Callie had slaved over for hours was now filling the occupants' bellies. Callie looked over her family and friends; laughter, banter and rising voices filled the air of their new home as they talked about anything and everything. To be honest it was quite surreal, Arizona sat chatting with Tony, both women hysterically laughing at something they'd found amusing, no doubt it was at her expense. She bit her lip to stifle the laughter that threatened to spill when she watched King rather flamboyantly explain something to Barbara. Daniel sat trying to look un-amused as Sofia painted his nails, he growled at King when he made a joke about it suiting him and that he had a few friends that would love a sugar daddy. Barbara burst into laughter again as Cristina came back into the room after finding a better musical choice, the Christmas music that had been playing in the background through dinner had been 'too Christmassy' for her liking.

"Hey guys, I would like to get the table cleared and start the dishwasher, so if you wouldn't mind moving into the sitting room please?" Callie smiled at the group as they smiled back and began to gather themselves.

Arizona began to pick up plates to help Callie, but when she felt a hand stop her she looked to see the red head standing at her side. "Hey, you go make sure Toby doesn't say anything to your dad, I'll help Callie." Tony smiled as Arizona smiled back and thanked her as she followed everyone else into the sitting room.

Carrying a few plates over to the food recycling, Tony stood for a moment and watched Callie as she moved haphazardly around the room, stopping as though forgetting what she was doing.

"Callie?"

"Hmm!"

"What's going on? You're a little preoccupied. You left the glasses on top of the microwave. If that's what you're looking for?" Tony laughed as Callie slumped her shoulders. Before turning to look at her friend, she leaned against the worktop. Tony couldn't read what was actually going on in the brunette's head.

"Arizona asked me to marry her three weeks ago…I don't know, I told her that it wasn't a no, but it wasn't a yes either. It's been driving me crazy since, I mean, she's been great and she hasn't pushed for an answer and I love her. I just, fuck Tony, I don't know." Callie took a deep breath as she finally let all that out, she hadn't spoken to anyone about it and it was driving her crazy. She always said her problems out loud, that's what Mark was for her. Toby had become that, but for some reason she hadn't spoken to him about it and now she was blabbing it out to her ex-girlfriend. She laughed at the situation.

"Oh." Callie laughed even more when she saw Tony's surprised face at the information that was just rambled at her.

"I'm sorry, Tony, I didn't…It's not fair for me to have…"

"Callie. Stop talking!" Callie raised an eyebrow at the red head's tone. "Callie, relax, calm down and just breathe." Tony smiled when she saw Callie scrunch her eyes at actually being told to be quiet.

"Callie, you over think things constantly and then you end up this tightly wound ball of 'arrrrgh'. I'm just surprised you didn't throw some Spanish in there." Again Tony smirked as she saw Callie's expression soften when she realised her friend was playing. "So why is it 'not a no, but it's not a yes either'?"

Callie found herself lifting her hand and running it through her hair, taking a pause to think about the best way to put it to her friend. "We were married, we had the rings, but it didn't stop her cheating. We were married, we had the rings and it didn't stop George from cheating."

"Callie, you love Arizona, you always have… you never stopped."

"Tony."

"No Callie, stop talking and hear me out." Callie bit her bottom lip, keeping quiet. "I'm not stupid, I knew that Arizona was always the one for you, but I was happy just being the best I could be for you. I get that you're scared, I get that you think the ring is just a symbol of a promise broken and more than once, but she made a mistake, all be it a fucking monumental mistake, but I get what a trauma can do to you. If you don't want to get married then that's fine, I'm sure Arizona will still be here because I've gotten to know her over the last year and she will do anything for that little girl in there. Even if it doesn't work out between you two, Sofia is her little girl and that's never going to change. But I think that you do want to get married to her again. I know you Callie Torres, you are the most stubborn woman at times, you know what you want and you go out to get it. So the fact that you didn't just say no means yes; so suck it up and make a decision, stop living in the past and make a future." Tony came over with the last of the dishes and placed them next to Callie before giving her a kiss on her forehead. Pulling away, she turned to walk out of the room and leave Callie to her thoughts.

"Tony?" Callie's voice was quiet and small. When Tony turned to face the woman again, Callie's eyes looked to the floor. "Would you be my maid of honour? I know that's a lot to ask." Callie still refused to look up; she wasn't sure what she was going to see in her best friend/ex-lover/best friend again.

"I told you Callie, I'm here for you. I would be honoured to get all dressed up for you, but I swear if you make me look like an idiot in front of Nicole, I'll let King embarrass you. I really like her." Tony gave Callie a huge smile as the brunette finally looked up to look into her eyes. "Callie, I'm really happy for you, you deserve to be happy." And with that Tony turned around and walked from the room.

Sorting her thoughts she finished tidying. Tony was right, it had always been Arizona, she couldn't keep thinking about the past. Arizona was right, she was a different person; Callie was a different person too. They were a different couple now; they dealt with things as a couple. Straightening her clothes and checking her reflection in the stainless steel fridge freezer making sure that her make-up was still good in condition, she made her way back into the sitting room.

Stopping at the door for a moment while she made sure everyone was there, she spotted Arizona sitting on the sofa tickling Sofia as the eight year old tried furiously to escape her mother's grip. Sucking some air into her lungs, she marched into the room and moved quickly over to the blonde, stopping before her and extending her hand out for her lover to take. Arizona stopped her tickling assault of Sofia to look up at Callie. Tony smirked in the background as she rattled her elbow against King's ribs to get his attention.

"Everyone, sorry, can I get your attention please?" Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked around toward Callie as she brought Arizona to her feet. "Three weeks ago, Arizona asked me a question and I stupidly couldn't give her an answer. I was scared, my brain wouldn't let me let go of the past and even though I knew I wanted to answer her, I couldn't. I'm the person who believes in love and second chances, but I couldn't when it came to myself." Shaking her head she took both of the blonde's hands in hers and squeezed slightly when she caught the tears form in blue eyes. "Arizona Robbins I'm asking for a second chance, my answer is yes. I really really want to marry you. If you still want to marry me?"

Everyone cheered as Callie got all the answer she needed when Arizona's lips slammed against hers. Barbara's tears fell freely, Cristina and Toby childishly high fived before Toby reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred dollars. Tony laughed when King huffed as he shook his head at his loss. Sofia was jumping around shouting, but the noise began to fade out as Callie and Arizona got lost in the feeling of each other, that was until Sofia's voice sent them crashing back to reality.

"Good, can I get a little brother now?"

Don't be scared... just get right back on, pedal and hold on tight.