Disclaimer: I own none of these characters; all belong to Shonda Rhimes. Any resemblance to the show is simply borrowed.

A/N: Thank you for all your kind words! They mean so much to me, and always motivate me to keep it going. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I can't seem to stop writing for this story! Forget that I've completely neglected my novel due in 12 days...you guys are lucky I've got some crazy writing streak for this thing! Haha alright, enough of me. Read and enjoy!

Chapter 8:

As Callie walked through the hospital doors the next day, she couldn't contain the jittery feeling in the pit of her stomach or stop the unconscious smile from spreading across her face. She couldn't help but feel excited at just the prospect of seeing Arizona. She was walking tall again, and she hadn't walked tall in a long time.

Callie made a quick stop at the coffee cart before she decided to head up to the Peds floor. She thought for the briefest of moments she shouldn't at the risk of coming off too eager and needy, but that thought quickly left as soon as she remembered their last interaction. To hell with coming off eager, because she totally was. She always had this desperate need to be around the blonde, but now it was even more prominent. She felt a natural pull towards her, something she had never felt before. She could only hope the blonde felt half of what she was feeling.

Arizona was busy pretending to be doing charts, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the beautiful Latina. It was really making it hard for her to get any work done. She really hoped this wasn't a one time kiss thing and that Callie didn't regret it, but she had her doubts. Maybe Callie had just gotten caught up in the moment. Maybe she would tell Arizona today they could only remain friends. Arizona didn't think she could handle that. Now that she had kissed Callie, she never wanted to go back.

Arizona happened to glance up from her chart as the object of her affection stepped off the elevator. Callie glanced around for a moment before her eyes finally landed on Arizona. Both stood for a moment, smiling giddily at each other. As Callie took a step toward Arizona, Arizona looked back at her chart, pretending to be busy, but this time she had a sly grin on her face.

Callie took a deep breath. She's just a girl. Just a girl you kissed, no big deal. No need to freak out.

She finally reached Arizona and slid the coffee on the counter closer to her.

"Morning, Dr. Robbins," Callie said smirking.

Arizona looked up from her charts. "Well, good morning, Dr. Torres. How was the rest of your evening?" The conversation may have looked innocent to any observers, but Callie was close enough to see the glint of mischief in her eyes.

Callie pretended to be nonchalant and shrugged, leaning back against the counter, "Eh, it was alright. Nothing too special." Callie glanced at Arizona out of the corner of her eyes and sent a small smile.

Arizona took a sip of her coffee and squinted at Callie. "Hmm, I highly doubt that."

Callie raised her eyebrows in Arizona's direction. "Oh?"

"Mhm. If it was anything like my night..." Arizona scooted slightly closer and placed a tentative hand on Callie's arm. Callie shivered at the contact. "Then it was..."

"Unforgettable?" Callie finished.

Arizona nodded with a smile and added, "Mind-blowing."

Callie bit her bottom lip and stared into the blue eyes filled with intensity before her, and could think of nothing to say. Her mind felt void of words and her heart fluttered. She tore her gaze away in an attempt to actually speak and chose instead to look at the hand lightly placed on her arm. She started drawing circles and patterns on said arm as she sighed and said, "I am so bad at this."

Arizona gulped as she felt goosebumps cover the very arm Callie was touching. She cleared her throat and formed a response. "At what? Talking to me?" Arizona looked up at Callie through her eyelashes and bit the corner of her lip.

Callie's hand stilled on her arm as she looked into Arizona's eyes again. She stood staring for a moment before she finally said, "Yes! See? When you-that-you can't...I can't. Just. Ughhhh..." Callie covered her face in her hands out of embarrassment.

Arizona glanced around before she quickly grabbed Callie's arm and pulled her away. Callie allowed herself to be dragged by the woman into the nearest on-call room. Arizona pulled her in and shut the door behind them.

"Arizona, what-"

Callie was quickly silenced by a pair of lips covering her own as she found herself being pressed against the door. Her legs trembled as her mind finally caught up with what was happening and she found her hands wrapping around Arizona's sides while she responded to the kiss. This kiss was just as magical as the night before. Callie found her hands tangling in the blonde locks as Arizona leaned into Callie, melding their bodies together. As the kiss slowed and they released, Callie was left with a glazed over expression on her face. Arizona giggled a little.

"Uh, what-what was that for?"

Arizona brushed a strand of hair behind Callie's ear and said, "I just couldn't wait to do that anymore. Especially when you were getting all rambly. It's insanely cute."

Callie blushed slightly, looking at Arizona, and asked, "So last night...not a fluke?"

Arizona beamed. "Not a fluke in the slightest."

Callie beamed back with her signature smile.

Arizona leaned in slightly and whispered, "And about what we were talking about earlier..." Arizona pressed into Callie, their faces centimeters apart. Callie could feel Arizona's light breath and a slight graze of her lip on her cheek as Arizona spoke, "You know you can talk to me..." Arizona was now trailing her hands up and down Callie's sides, and transferring to Callie's other cheek, still maintaining distance. "About anything..."

Callie couldn't take it anymore. The things Arizona was doing to her. She was so close, but not close enough. Callie gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her in for another searing kiss. The kiss quickly became heated as Callie flipped them around, pinning Arizona to the door. When breathing became a necessity, they parted panting and leaned their foreheads together. Arizona's hands gripped Callie's shirt and Callie's were firmly placed on the door behind Arizona.

"I can't talk around you when all I want to do is kiss you..." Callie trailed off, taking one hand off the door and cupping Arizona's cheek.

Arizona felt her body hum at the mere closeness of Callie. Callie suddenly gripped Arizona's shoulders and pushed her to one side of the room and quickly let go, backing away to the other side of the room.

Arizona took a step forward as Callie moved back. "What-"

"No, no," Callie said putting her hands up, "I do want to talk to you, but I can't do that apparently within a one foot radius of you."

"Oh, come on, this is ridiculous," Arizona said rolling her eyes and taking a step forward.

Callie took another step back, thus hitting the wall and said, "Okay, okay, I know it's ridiculous, but can you just...nyeh."

Arizona giggled, but did stop her movement towards Callie. "So now every time we talk I have to stand across the room from you?" Arizona acted annoyed but she had a cute little smirk on her face, finding hilarity in this situation.

"Not every time! Just for now," Callie sighed, then added, "And I'm glad you find this so funny!"

Arizona started to walk forward and said, "I'm sorry, I just-"

"You're moving," Callie stated a matter-of-factually.

Arizona stopped again. "I'm sorry, I don't find it funny. I find it extremely adorable."

"Adorable that I'm a blubbering idiot in front of you? That I seem to lose all ability to form a coherent sentence? That just thinking about you does things to me that I can't-I can't even express this stupid...this feeling here..."

"Calliope..." Arizona said gently taking a step forward yet again. She felt as though her heart spontaneously combust.

"No, let me just...try to get this out," Callie said avoiding eye contact, "I've never felt this way so quickly about anyone before, and that scares the hell out of me. Not because you're a girl, but because...I don't know why, I guess because you can hurt me that much more. And because you're my best friend and I don't want what we're doing to screw that up and-"

She was cut off again by none other than the pair of lips she was quickly getting addicted to. Arizona couldn't hold back anymore. The words Callie spoke meant too much to her to hold back. She poured everything she had into the kiss.

Arizona gently released, but kept her hands on Callie's face as she looked into her eyes. "Can I say something now?"

Callie simply nodded, unable to say anything.

Arizona sighed. "Calliope..." she drawled trailing her hands up and down Callie's arms lightly, "I'm in the same boat you're in, so just...stay with me. You think it's easy for me to just talk to you when you just...stand there. You don't even have to do anything and I'm a mushy mess."

"You don't seem as nervous," Callie mumbled looking down.

"Well I hide it well then, because I'm always a wreck around you," Arizona said chuckling a little, "Everything you're feeling, I can promise you I feel it too. It's not in your head. You're not crazy. In fact, I thought I was the crazy one until you opened your mouth."

Callie lightly scoffed before Arizona continued, "But...it turns out we're both just crazy. And that's okay. We can be crazy together."

Callie smiled lightly as she felt her eyes well up and leaned in for a hug. It was nothing like their other hugs. This one was intimate. This one lingered, and hands clenching everywhere, and faces buried in hair. "You always know what to say..." Callie murmured.

Arizona lightly kissed her cheek before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "I'll never intentionally hurt you, Calliope," Arizona said with all sincerity, "You're my best friend, too."

"I know," Callie said smiling slightly and sealing it with a peck on Arizona's lips.

"So..." Arizona drawled, "How long after kissing a gorgeous woman is appropriate timing to ask her out on a date?"

Callie's heart jumped at the word, but she remained composure, "Hmm. I don't know, you've been in the dating game more recently than I have, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're supposed to ask the girl out before you kiss her."

"Oh, shutup," Arizona said lightly hitting her arm, "You kissed me back."

Callie hummed, "That I did."

"So are you gonna go on this date with me or what?" Arizona said smiling, still wrapped in Callie's arms.

"Romantic," Callie said sarcastically.

"Quit teasing me and answer the damn question, Calliope," Arizona said in mock anger.

Callie chuckled and answered seriously, "I can think of nothing I'd love more than to be escorted by you, Arizona Robbins."

"Much better," Arizona drawled before leaning in for another kiss, "How's tomorrow?"

"Perfect," Callie mumbled against her lips.

Arizona slowly released from Callie and started to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?" Callie said trying not to sound too pathetic.

"I'm not supposed to kiss the girl too much before the date, remember?" Arizona said winking, "Besides, we should get back to work."

"But kissing you is so much more fun," Callie pouted.

Arizona walked back over and pecked the pout away, whispering, "Agreed. This just gives us something to look forward to later."

Callie nodded with a smirk as she allowed Arizona to quietly leave the room. Once out of sight, Callie flopped onto the bed and let out a series of giggles. She had it bad.

"Wanna go to Joe's tonight?" Addison asked coming up to Callie after a surgery, "Unless you're planning to get freaky with Barbie."

"Addison!"

"What?" Addison shrugged, "You've been in a daze all day. Don't get me wrong, it's wonderful, but it's just sickening. You two need to get past this stage for the sake of my health."

"Oh, I'll be sure to coordinate my dating life with your health in the future," Callie said scrubbing out.

"So, Joe's?" Addison tried again.

"People are going think you're an alcoholic if we go out every night, you know," Callie joked.

"Oh, whatever. It's my second night out since the little booger, and it just so happens Mark wants to stay in with him. So, unless you have prior plans, you're coming with me."

"Fine," Callie drawled, "Besides, my date with Arizona isn't until tomorrow night."

"Why not tonight?" Addison questioned.

Callie shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe she's busy. And apparently I have to get drunk with you."

"Atta girl."

Callie and Addison headed straight for the bar as soon as they could.

"You're lucky Owen has the kids for these few days," Callie said ordering a drink.

"You're lucky Owen has the kids so you could spend this wonderful time with me," Addison quipped.

Callie just rolled her eyes.

As they talked, at one point Callie had a blank stare as she looked straightforward. Addison waved her hands in front of Callie's face. "Hellooo?"

Callie didn't move. Although she looked sad. Addison followed Callie's line of sight and saw what had the girl in a trance. Arizona was here, dancing with another girl. It appeared to be Colleen.

"Oh, Callie, it's just Colleen," Addison said trying to shake her friend out of it.

At that moment, another brunette assumed the other side of Arizona, effectively creating an Arizona sandwich while dancing.

Arizona felt as though she was being watched. When she looked around, she met the sad eyes of Callie.

Callie had no right to be upset. Yet she was. And she hated herself for it. She grabbed her coat and quickly made a beeline exit for the door.

"Callie!" Addison called out.

Callie ignored her an continued through the bar. Arizona immediately followed her, knowing what Callie thought.

Callie sat down outside against the wall, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

"Hey," the small voice she loved spoke. It still startled her.

"Jesus, Arizona, you scared me!"

"Sorry," Arizona said sheepishly and kicking her foot against the concrete. She was the one standing, yet she felt 2 feet tall.

"Why don't you just go back inside and continue whatever it was you were doing with Colleen," Callie snapped with such venom it even startled her.

"Calliope, listen," Arizona tried.

"No, you don't owe me anything. You can see whoever you want, right? It doesn't matter how I feel, okay?" Callie said trying to get up and move in the other direction.

Arizona lightly grabbed Callie's wrist before she could get away. "It obviously does matter."

"Is that what I am to you?" Callie said her voice rising, "Just another one of your conquests that you can brag about later? Just a-a fling?"

"No!"

"Is that why you never wanted to go to Joe's? To keep us separate?" As Callie asked the questions, the more she believed them and she felt tears once again fall, "And here I am crying in front of you, again!"

"Calliope, no, stop," Arizona pleaded, grasping Callie and holding her arms to keep her from going anywhere, "God, you really don't see it do you?" Arizona's voice was softer now.

Callie waited for her to continue, folding her arms.

"You don't see just how crazy I am about you..." Arizona trailed off, "And only you. God, Colleen means nothing. She's just a friend, okay? The other girl? I don't even know her, she just started dancing with me."

"You kissed Colleen last week," Callie said in an accusing tone.

"Yeah, she kissed me, because our little devil of a friend, Addison, paid her to do it."

"What?" Callie said, shocked.

"Yeah, well..."

"I'm not surprised," Callie said shaking her head before waiting for Arizona to continue.

"Calliope, I have been avoiding Joe's. But not because of what you think. Because I do have...a variety of exes that may or may not come here a lot, and I just didn't want to subject you to that. I don't want to see them, and I figured you didn't want to see them."

Callie grunted.

"But...you have to know...you're the only one on my mind. You're the only one in my heart. I haven't kissed a girl, hell even dated, a girl since our freakin' case! Okay?"

Callie's eyes softened, but she sensed Arizona wasn't done.

"I haven't wanted to be with anyone else but you. Which scares me too. But you know what scares me more? That you might not feel the same."

Callie immediately felt an urge to reassure her. "Arizona, how could you think-"

"No, let me just...let me have a turn to get out this stupid insecurity stuff," Arizona said lightly, "I just...I've been trying so hard to not fall for you, and all of a sudden, it's happening and it's wonderful, better than wonderful, but it scares me. Because I've been protecting my heart for so long, not giving it to anyone. But you have it, Calliope. God, you have all of it. And the thought that...that I could just be a...a vacation in lesbian land for you, or that you've changed your mind, or that you're actually straight...all of that scares me. I've never given my heart to a...a newborn. But you, you come along and you just change everything...you make it impossible to stay away and to not give you my heart. You...you just change everything." Arizona sighed and looked down, her face feeling flushed with embarrassment, nerves, and despair.

Callie suddenly realized, Arizona was just as afraid of getting her heartbroken as she was. Even more so, maybe. Callie hadn't even thought to assure Arizona just how sure she was about her sexuality now because she didn't even think about it; she didn't think about that uncertainty from Arizona's perspective. She realized it was now her turn to do some comforting.

She took Arizona's face in both her hands and stared into her eyes with empathy and understanding. She wiped blonde strays out of her face and whispered, "Arizona...listen to me."

Arizona swallowed, prepared for anything.

"I can't promise you there won't be hard times ahead, or moments of insecurity on both ends. I can't promise a lot. But I can promise you this: I'm not going anywhere. As long as you want me here, I'm here. I know it sounds crazy to you for me to be so sure about you...but it sounds crazy to me for you to not realize just how much I feel for you. I've worked through all the confusion and the uncertainty. I did all that while I was still married. I was struggling to get you out of my head, and I couldn't, and I talked to Addison and to myself and figured out what was happening...and I realized, it didn't matter. It didn't matter that I'd been with only men, or that I had kids, or that I had no idea if you felt the same...all that mattered was I knew, I knew with every fiber of my being, that I had feelings for you that went so beyond friendship. Arizona, I've never felt this way about anyone before. You have to believe me. I don't know a lot of things, but I promise, you are the one thing in my life that makes sense right now. You are one thing I'm so sure about. I'm so completely, utterly, indescribably sure about how I feel about you. All I know is, I want to be with you and only you and-"

Getting cut off mid-monologue by a kiss was quickly becoming the pair's new favorite thing. Arizona had heard enough. Callie had her convinced in the beginning of that speech. She grabbed her face and kissed her, kissed her so hard she could cry, just trying to pour everything she had into the kiss. Tears were falling down both sets of cheeks now. Arizona chuckled slightly and smiled as she nuzzled Callie's nose with her own and whispered, "So...now that we know we're both insane."

Callie laughed.

Arizona smiled and continued, "Does this mean you're my girlfriend?"

"If you want me to be," Callie said with such vulnerability.

"Mhmm. Very much so," she punctuated this with a kiss.

"Then I am," Callie said smiling.

"I know we haven't officially gone on a date yet, but we're already so..."

"It doesn't matter. I don't care. I want you to be mine and only mine."

Hope you liked it! I'm trying to set the pace right here. I don't want things moving too fast, but I also don't want them moving too slow. They have been friends for a while, so they kind of have to jump head first and all-in to this, in my opinion.
Let me know what you guys thought!(: