This quick update is to thank you all for being SO patient; I didn't think it was fair to make you wait another few months for more. Thank you to all of you who left such lovely feedback on the last chapter.
This one's short, but I have a feeling you'll like the chapter's ending. Let me know ;)
Previously:
This gained her an incredulous look from the flight attendant.
"You're not scared of take-off, are you?"
"I'm not scared, I just don't understand the science of how tons of metal gets off the ground. Once it's off the ground I'm fine."
Arizona giggled, threading her fingers through Callie's.
"Ok, I'll distract you." She promised, sealing the declaration with a kiss.
Chapter 16
Arizona's eyes fluttered open as their plane touched down on the tarmac at LAX. She blinked sleepily, snuggling into Callie's side.
"How long was I asleep?" She murmured.
"Since about five minutes after we took off." Callie smiled, tucking her iPod into her pocket as the blonde yawned.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I like sleeping on planes too. I'll bet you don't get that luxury often."
"No, I certainly do not." Arizona chuckled, pulling her hair from its messy top bun and running her hands through to tame it. "Did you just listen to music?"
"I slept a bit too. Not as soundly as you did though." Callie replied as their plane taxied from the runway to its stand.
"Wow…look at that thing!" The surgeon grasped Arizona's hand as she tapped on the window. Arizona ducked her head to see the aircraft that Callie was pointing at.
"Oooh, that's one of our new Airbus 380s."
"That thing gets off the ground?!" Callie's brows raised in disbelief as Arizona giggled.
"Yes. Very smoothly too I might add. I've only flown on it twice. It's huge. It's the only passenger aircraft that has two floors from front to back."
"Holy crap." Callie breathed as their own plane pulled into its parking stand beside the Éclat giant. Arizona rolled her eyes.
"Watch this. Ten bucks everyone stands up before the captain turns off the seatbelt signs."
Callie frowned.
"Why bother until the door is open?"
Arizona shrugged.
"I've been asking myself that same question for years."
After waiting until the door had actually opened before collecting their stuff, the couple made their way through to arrivals and out into the LA sunshine to meet their hotel shuttle.
"How far is it?"
"Only a few minutes. We're staying at the Archfield. Éclat have a deal with the hotel so we always spend US layovers in an Archfield hotel." Arizona explained.
Callie's eyes widened. She was hopeful that Arizona would take her involuntary reaction as one of approval, and was quiet for the remainder of their short shuttle ride.
As they pulled into the hotel's vast tree-lined driveway, Callie worked to shake the nervous feeling brewing in her stomach. As they thanked their driver and took their bags, Callie followed Arizona to the check-in desk, hanging back just behind the blonde. She watched as the gentleman behind the desk checked the Éclat reservation, asked if they required a wake-up call, gave the details of meal times, and finally asked how many room keys they would like. Arizona turned to ask the brunette.
"Callie? Do we want one key or one each?"
Callie shrugged, stepping forward.
"Let's get two. I'm so bad at remembering to take mine."
She locked eyes with the gentleman at the desk, who visibly paled as he recognized her.
"Miss Torres. Good evening, I am so sorry. We will upgrade you to the usual suite. I'm so sorry."
Callie endeavored to stop him, but he hastily handed over two key cards, these a gold laminated card instead of the usual black.
"You know where you're going; please, Miss Torres, don't hesitate to contact us if you require anything else." He smiled, glancing back to a bewildered Arizona.
"You ladies have a lovely stay."
Moments later, as they swiped their shiny gold cards to unlock the top floor button of the hotel's elevator, Arizona spoke.
"What on earth was that?"
"Considering that my dad has cut me off, I have no idea." Callie muttered. She sighed, coming clean to Arizona.
"You remember when my dad cleared my accounts after I came out to them?"
Arizona nodded. She still harbored anger for Callie's parents and their refusal to accept their daughter's sexuality.
"My dad owns the Archfield brand." Callie divulged.
Arizona was sure her jaw had hit the floor of the elevator.
"Wait…you're an heiress?!" She gasped.
"Well not anymore." Callie grumbled.
"Why are you just telling me this now…?" Arizona asked.
Callie shrugged, speaking softly.
"My dad's money has ruined so many of my relationships…"
Arizona nodded.
"I get that. Hey, we don't need to talk about it. Just, what kind of upgrade are we talking about here?"
Callie smiled as the elevator, dinged, signaling their arrival to their exclusive floor.
"Just look."
The elevator door opened slowly, and Arizona didn't think her jaw would ever lift from the floor again. Directly in front of them stood a wall composed entirely of windows, offering a panoramic view of LA. Just before the window sat a sunken living room, with grand chairs and lights dotted around the step down to the lower level. The door immediately to their right led into a fully functioning kitchen with an accompanying dining room that could host a family of twelve.
On their left was the suite's main bedroom with teal-colored walls and crisp white sheets, the view as breathtaking as in the main lounge. Off the main bedroom sat an enormous bathroom with a stand-alone tub, a large walk-in shower, and again a spectacular view of the city.
"Oh my God…" Arizona breathed.
"Yeah." Callie nodded, amused by her girlfriend's reaction.
"This is bigger than both of our apartments combined."
"I know. You should see the size of our house in Miami. It's sickening actually." Callie scoffed.
Arizona took a moment to gaze from the wonderful room to her girlfriend.
"You don't like the money and the perks?"
Callie shook her head.
"Money is great, of course, but there's just so much more important stuff, you know? That's why I became a doctor."
"I get that." Arizona agreed.
Callie smiled, snuggling into her girlfriend from behind, pressing a kiss to her head as smaller arms wrapped around hers.
"Do you want to order dinner up here or go out?"
LA was somewhere that Arizona had stayed countless times, and could recommend countless amazing restaurants, but being here with Callie was different.
"Here. We won't find a view of the city as amazing as this anywhere else."
"Also, we can eat naked." Callie agreed, running her lip gently along Arizona's neck as she spoke. The blonde bit her lip, her hunger for the ortho goddess threatening to override her stomach's hunger for food.
"If you keep that up the only thing I'll be eat - " Arizona was silenced by Callie's lips against hers. She turned; their bodies flush against each other as Arizona's hands began to roam through dark tresses.
Their tongues battled for dominance as Callie nimbly lifted the smaller woman, depositing her gently on the bed as their lips continued their familiar dance.
Surgically trained hands made quick work of Arizona's jeans, tossing them aside as she peppered kisses up her perfect legs.
"God, you're gorgeous." She hummed, pecking Arizona's lips in appreciation as the blonde tossed her shirt to the side as well.
"You have too many clothes on…" she accused as she tried to rid Callie of her blouse. Obliging, the offending object followed Arizona's jeans to the floor.
"Pants too." Arizona commanded, proud of her ability to speak as Callie's fingers brushed teasingly against her underwear.
"You're so bossy." Callie smirked, her teeth gently nipping at the blonde's earlobe as she quickly worked her leggings off.
"Is that a problem?" Arizona murmured, her fingers tugging at Callie's underwear.
"No, it's very, very hot." Callie assured, punctuating each word with a kiss.
"I think I might explode if I have any more." Arizona breathed, her head coming to rest back against the mountain of pillows now haphazardly strewn across the bed.
"Sex or food?" Callie smirked, her fingers trailing along the side of Arizona's stomach.
"Both!" Arizona laughed, turning to kiss Callie. The surgeon pouted.
"But we've not had dessert yet." Callie reminded, the plates of desserts still awaiting consumption on the desk at the other side of the room.
"Oh crap, I forgot about them."
"How can you forget dessert?" Callie countered.
"Well you're very distracting."
"Hey, I'm just proud of my girl." Callie replied, snaking her arm around Arizona's waist. Arizona smiled, moving to lie on her side so their noses touched.
"I'm very proud of you too, Callie. You're working so hard, and you're going to be an awesome attending."
Perfect brows frowned.
"I hope you're right."
Arizona sighed.
"You don't think I am?"
"I hope you are, but this last round of firings is going to be brutal. I just hope Webber doesn't think I'm expendable."
Arizona shook her head, pressing her lips to Callie's before she spoke.
"You're not expendable. You work so hard, you keep thinking of new and innovative ways to help your patients, and you care. In my eyes that makes you a perfect surgeon; anything but expendable."
The blonde paused, wanting Callie to appreciate the full impact of her next words.
"I love you, Calliope Torres."
Arizona watched as brown eyes sparkled impossibly brighter.
"You do?"
"I do." Arizona promised, and was rewarded with Callie's signature grin.
"I love you too."
Reviews are better than dessert ;)