"Eliza?" Arizona called as she came through the front door.
"In here." Her girlfriend responded from the living room.
Arizona hung her jacket up and put her bag and keys on the table by the front door, before heading to the living room. She was greeted by her girlfriend lying lazily on the sofa flicking through the channels.
The blonde headed to the arm of the sofa, leaning over it, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend and kissing her cheek sweetly.
"Hey." Arizona said causing Eliza to smile.
"Hey yourself, how was your day?" Eliza asked her girlfriend.
"Mmmm work like. Horrible knowing you were in my home whilst I was stuck there. What about yours?" Eliza raised her eyebrows, giving Arizona a look before answering her.
"Well I slept most of it, and I woke up alone, twice." Eliza said acting upset.
"Sorry, I had to go to work but I didn't want to wake you, I knew you wouldn't be feeling great." Arizona said feeling guilty for just leaving her girlfriend this morning. Eliza's face suddenly burst into a grin, causing Arizona to realise she was messing with her. "You're winding me up aren't you?"
"Of course I am, I knew you had work today. Whilst I would have preferred to wake up next to you, in your bed, I know it couldn't happen today and I appreciate you letting me sleep. I was in quite a state last night, and this morning." Eliza grimaced at the memory of the pain she felt first thing this morning.
"Oh, trust me, I know, I witnessed it." Arizona responded with a dimpled grin, causing Eliza's grimace to become even bigger.
Arizona moved around the sofa and sat down where Eliza's legs had been moments before, pulling them back up and onto her lap, so she could continue lying down. She loved seeing Eliza so comfortable in her home, even if she clearly had something bothering her.
"Whilst we're on the subject of last night" Eliza began not really knowing how to start the conversation about her girlfriends smoking. Arizona just looked at her, waiting for whatever was on her mind to come out of her mouth. "Um, you smoke?" Eliza finally asked. Arizona looked away from her girlfriend, not knowing whether the brunette really remembered last night but seeing she wasn't happy about the subject all the same.
"Ummm no?" Arizona almost questioned Eliza. Already knowing she may be in trouble here.
"Arizona, I remember a few bits of last night, also your cigarettes are in the same cupboard as your mugs." Eliza stated, letting Arizona know she couldn't avoid this.
"Then I guess the answer is yes, but why ask if you know?" Arizona was getting a bit defensive. She didn't want to argue with her girlfriend, but she had a feeling Eliza's views on smoking were not accepting ones.
"I asked because I was hoping you wouldn't try and lie to me about it, and I was hoping I hadn't remembered that correctly." Eliza said, pretty annoyed now that Arizona tried to lie about it, amongst other things. Eliza didn't like people she cared about smoking, she knew the damage it caused. She needed to escape the situation.
Eliza removed her legs from Arizona's lap and got up, heading out of the room. Leaving Arizona completely stunned just sat on the sofa. 'What just happened' the blonde thought to herself.
A few minutes passed, Arizona was still trying to understand what had actually just happened, she needed to talk to her girlfriend. Arizona went in the direction of the kitchen looking for Eliza. Spotting the back door slightly open she gingerly pushed it open finding Eliza sat on the back step, seeing a half drunk bottle of beer in her hands.
"Is that a good idea?" The blonde asked her girlfriend cautiously.
"Probably not." Eliza snapped back before taking another swig from the bottle.
"Eliza, talk to me. Tell me what's going on in your head. Please." Arizona said leaning against the doorframe, not wanting to get too close to the brunette and have her walk away from her again.
"You lied to me." Was all Eliza said. That wasn't the biggest problem, it wasn't even really a lie, she just tried to hide one of her bad habits and Arizona could tell that wasn't what was bugging Eliza. Eliza's reaction wouldn't be this bad from a small half hearted attempt at lying to her.
"That's not the issue here. I'm not stupid. Don't treat me like I am." Arizona was getting a bit annoyed as well now, but she tried to stay calm. She knew something was going on with Eliza and she needed her to be there for her right now.
Arizona went back into the kitchen, leaving Eliza sat outside. The blonde grabbed two beers from the fridge and headed back outside. Sitting down next to Eliza she opened one beer for herself and handed the other to Eliza as she had finished the first one she had.
"Thank you." Eliza grunted.
"Now talk to me." Arizona demanded.
"I can't, I don't know how to talk about this." Eliza stated shakily before breaking down in tears completely.
Arizona pulled Eliza to her, wrapping her arms around the brunette and soothingly stroking her hair. She wasn't used to this woman being so fragile and broken. Eliza was always confident and strong. Arizona didn't know how to help her feel better so she just held Eliza whilst she sobbed, trying to soothe her.
Eventually Eliza calmed down and pulled back from Arizona's embrace, not wanting Arizona to see her so upset. Turning away from the blonde and staring off into space, Arizona's hand still on her back. After a few minutes of being lost in her own thoughts Eliza finally spoke.
"I'm sorry, I should go." Eliza abruptly stood up walking back into Arizona's house before the blonde even had chance to register what was happening.
"Eliza, wait." Arizona called after her. Eliza carried on walking away. "Eliza Minnick, get your ass back here and talk to me please." Arizona finally said in a stern but pleading voice. Growing up with her father, she had been subjected to this tone of voice all her life and knew she could use it when need be. Her tone of voice caused Eliza to stop in her tracks, not turning around though, she stood waiting for whatever her girlfriend was going to say next. "Just talk to me. I'm here for you, whatever it is." Arizona's tone had become soft again the instant Eliza stopped walking.
"You're not going to leave this alone are you?" Eliza questioned, still facing away from Arizona. Arizona walked up behind Eliza, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend, placing a gentle kiss against the side of her neck. She felt the brunette relax into her embrace.
"No, I'm not going to leave it alone. Whatever it is, it's clearly hurting you and I care about you. Besides, where are you going to go? I have your car keys still, and after the amount you drank last night and the two extra beers just now you think I'm going to let you drive?" Eliza sighed, she knew she had no way out of talking to her girlfriend now.
"I just, its hard for me, to talk about." Eliza stumbled over her words. She knew she had to tell Arizona why she had such a problem but she didn't know how. Eliza turned around and looked at her amazing girlfriend. She looked into Arizona's crystal clear blue eyes and saw nothing but care and love, a hint of worry. Eliza realised that no matter what she could rely on her girlfriend, but she just couldn't say the words out loud. "I can't talk about this right now Arizona, I'm sorry, I just can't." And with that Eliza turned and left. Leaving Arizona stood in her hallway not knowing what to do.
