**WARNING - CONTAINS THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE**
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Apologies for the delay in updating. Must try harder.
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Chapter Seventeen
Waking up next to Arizona felt like winning everything in life. She had won everything in life. Callie had never felt this happy on a daily basis, even before she had met Suzanne. Sure, her life used to be good, but this good? Never. Going to sleep every night wrapped up in the strong, yet soft arms of her girlfriend meant more to her than she could ever describe.
No words could show Arizona just how much she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her, and no words could describe to anyone how much love Callie had for the blonde. The feeling was immense, and sometimes extremely overwhelming.
If someone had told her a year ago that she would be settled down every night on the couch with a hot blonde who loved her and cared for her, she'd have laughed. Maybe even called them a little crazy. It was happening, though, and it was incredible.
Slowly turning her body around to face the blonde next to her, she took in the sleeping form of Arizona. She was beautiful, and she would never get used to the sight. She could lie like this forever.
Knowing that in a few hours she would come face to face with Suzanne caused Callie to think hard about her decision. Did she really want to see her? Did she really want to tell her what she thought about her? She had seemed so sure and so confident last week when she had made the call to visit her, but now she wasn't entirely sure if it really even mattered.
"Mm, stop staring at me, Calliope." Arizona's words brought the brunette out of her thoughts.
"I can't help it. I have the most beautiful woman in the world naked right next to me." Callie smiled as she pressed a kiss below the blondes ear. "Good morning, pretty lady."
"It's creepy," Arizona stated as she opened one eye. The other not fully prepared to start the day just yet.
Feigning shock, Callie gasped. "Are you calling me a pervert, Arizona Robbins?"
"Depends." The other woman smiled. "Are you looking at me like you are going to grope me?"
Letting out a throaty laugh, Callie slapped her girlfriend's naked shoulder. "Baby, I always look at you like I'm wanting to grope you. Is that a problem?"
Feeling strong hands dip below the cover barely protecting the blondes lower half, Arizona smiled. "If those hands are going where I think they are, then no. It's not a problem."
Gripping onto a tight ass, Callie moaned. "Well then, that's a good thing, right?"
Topping her girlfriend, Arizona bit down on her own bottom lip. "Always a good thing, Calliope." Grinding her naked and aroused center down into the brunettes, both women moaned. "I love how wet you are when you wake."
Hearing the words fall from pink lips only heightened Callie's arousal. "Well now that I know, I'll be sure to make it a habit of mine."
Dipping her head, blonde locks fell forward and covered them during their kiss. Running her tongue across a plump red lip, Arizona was pleased to find she was instantly granted access. The feeling of strong fingers fisting in her hair was all she needed to know that things were about to get a whole lot more heated.
Pulling back, blue eyes deepened as they took in the sight of the naked bronzed body beneath her. "You are beautiful."
Palms flat, pale hands ran up a toned stomach and between gorgeous breasts. Callie's nipples hardening, she arched her back up into Arizona's touch. Tugging on her left whilst palming her right, Arizona's eyes darkened as she brought her mouth down to run her tongue over the swollen bud. Gently biting down before soothing the aching nub, she forced her hips down at the sound of a throaty moan from the woman beneath her. "Touch me, Arizona."
Nails dragging down her sides, the blonde trailed her tongue down to a bronzed hip bone and bit down gently. Kissing down the inside of the brunettes thigh, she slipped her tongue down into slick folds and moaned. The vibration doing everything to the body beneath her.
"Yes." Callie hissed. "That feels amazing."
"Mm, you taste amazing." The blonde smiled as she blew gently on a swollen bundle of nerves. Slipping a leg over her shoulder, Arizona positioned two fingers at her girlfriend's entrance and teased.
"God I want you so much." Callie groaned as she felt a single digit slip in, only to be removed a split second later.
"You have me, baby." Arizona placed a kiss behind her girlfriend's knee. Entering her, she felt walls immediately begin to tighten. Thrusting deep, Callie's body writhed and squirmed in delight. "Mm, tight."
"Oh god. M-More. Please."
"More of me, or more from me?" Arizona teased.
"Of you, shit-" Callie feeling her center being filled so deep and so fully caused her body to jolt upwards. Gripping onto pale shoulders, she rode the hand deep inside her and felt her stomach begin to tighten. "Oh God, yes, mm, A-Ari-zona.
Continuing to thrust, Arizona placed light kisses along her girlfriend's inner thigh and smiled. "God I could wake up with you like this every day for the rest of my life."
Her body coming down from the most amazing high, Callie groaned and panted as she felt her body release her girlfriend's fingers. Pulling the gorgeous body in front of her closer, she wrapped her arms around Arizona and held her tight. "You. Are. Amazing."
"Mm, not so bad yourself, beautiful."
Stepping out of the elevator, Callie took a deep breath and pushed the apartment block door open. Her car to her left, and the hospital to her right, she double checked she had everything she needed for her day ahead. The day she would come face to face with Suzanne again. Having spent the most amazing morning with her girlfriend, she wasn't sure she would ever leave the apartment, but she had, and now she found herself outside on a slightly warmer day than usual for the time of year.
Leaving her girlfriend's apartment, she had noticed a slight shift in the blondes mood, and she couldn't say she blamed her. Would I be okay with her meeting someone who used to beat her? Taking a moment to think about the answer to her own question, she sighed and made her way to her car. Let's just get this over and done with.
Slipping into the driver's seat, she buckled up and felt a wave of fear hit her. Maybe I should have asked Arizona to come with me. Shaking herself from her thoughts, she pulled away from her parking space and indicated right. Arizona had offered her presence to the brunette but Callie had suggested that she do this alone. She was quickly realizing that it may not have been her best idea of late. I think I kind of need her with me. Scoffing at how needy she felt was becoming, she continued on through the streets of Seattle and pulled onto the highway that would take her out of town.
What am I doing? She sighed. Do I really need to do this? Brown eyes narrowing as she thought about how important this meeting really was, she pulled off at the first exit she approached and pulled over when it was safe to do so.
Why am I meeting her? She thought hard. I don't love her. I don't like her. I don't want to be in her presence. Laughing at how pathetic she felt, she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. I don't need this woman in my life. I don't need closure. I have closure. She is behind bars for beating me. How much more closure do I freaking need?.
Pulling away from the sidewalk, she took a left and made her way back to Arizona's apartment. She wasn't canceling the visit because she couldn't do it without her girlfriend, no, she was doing it because she would rather spend the day happy with her girlfriend.
Arizona was right, it was Callie's decision, and as she made the short journey back, she realized that she didn't need Arizona to tell her what to do. She didn't need some sort of confirmation that the blonde was okay with it. Arizona was a totally different person to Suzanne, and Callie knew that. She was grateful for the blondes words when it mattered, and now, she was going home, yes home, to the only woman she needed in her life. Suzanne was no longer a part of her life. Well, she was, she always would be, but only her past life. Right now, her present life was so much more interesting, and her girlfriend mattered more than any freaking prison visit.
Pulling up in the parking lot, Callie quickly grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and made her way back into the elevator. Pleased that she had made the right decision, she hummed along to a tune in her head and stepped off on Arizona's floor and strolled down the hallway. Slipping her key in the lock, she turned the handle to find the most beautiful woman giving her a confused look from the couch. "Calliope?"
"Hey." Red lips curled into a smile.
"Is everything okay?" Blue eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, I decided not to go."
"Why?"
"Because I don't need to." Tanned shoulders shrugged. "I don't need to see her. I don't want to see her. I just want to get on with my life and spend my days with you."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Why would I want to spend my day off in a freaking prison visitation room when I could be kicking back on the couch with you? It's a no-brainer, right?"
"Well," Arizona shrugged. "I guess."
"Are you mad that I was going to meet her?" Callie questioned as she closed the door and took a seat beside her girlfriend.
"No." Blonde curls shook. "I'm a little relieved."
"Why didn't you tell me that you didn't want me to go?"
"Because you are your own person, Calliope. It's not my place to tell you what to do. I would never tell you what to do." Arizona smiled. "You know what you want in your life, and if that meant visiting her, then that is your choice."
Lifting the blondes arm and draping it around her shoulder, Callie placed her head against her chest and sighed. "I seriously don't know how I ever found you, Arizona. You are one of a kind."
"No, I'm not." Pale fingers stroked the brunettes upper arm. "I just know how to treat my girl right."
"Your girl. Mm." Red lips smiled. "I love that."
"And I love you."
Sitting across from her girlfriend in a booth of their local diner, Arizona sipped on a strawberry milkshake while taking in the features of the brunette. She seemed lighter than she had earlier in the morning, and she suspected it was down to her choice of not visiting Suzanne. She would be lying if she said she wasn't happy with her decision, but she would keep that to herself.
She had thought about following Callie and waiting for her outside but had decided against it at the last minute. She didn't want the brunette to think that she didn't trust her. She also didn't want her to think that she wasn't capable of running her own life. If Arizona had learned anything in the time they had been together, it was that Callie was anything but weak and vulnerable. She was amazing, and the way she had coped with the transition of her previous relationship into her new one was kind of beautiful.
Brought out of her thoughts by the waitress serving them their lunch, Arizona smiled and thanked her. Eying up the brunettes choice or food, she narrowed her eyes and slipped her hand across the table. "Oh my god isn't that-" Pointing to a passerby out of the window, Callie turned to look and Arizona snapped up a piece of her bacon. "Oh, never mind. Wrong person." A dimpled smile settled on her face.
Giving her a look, Callie glanced down at her plate to find a gap. "Um, did you just-"
"What? No! I have my own lunch." Blonde curls shook as she tried to straighten her face up a little.
"Uh, I think you may be lying." Brown eyes narrowed. "Arizona, look at me."
"Mm, this salad is so good." The blonde stated as she shoveled a mouthful in. "So good."
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to speak with your mouth full?"
"Mmhmm." The blonde gave a nod.
"Seems you didn't take any notice of that then." Callie laughed. "You know, if you want a piece of my bacon, you just have to ask."
"It's okay. I'm good with this."
"Mm, sure you are." The brunette scoffed. "You totally took some from my plate."
"Did not!"
"Oh, you so did!"
Feigning shock, Arizona pouted. "Are you calling me a thief, Calliope Torres?"
"Damn right I am. Get your own freaking bacon." Both women laughed before linking their fingers together on the table. "I'm joking. You can eat my bacon whenever you want."
"Oh!" Blue eyes widened. "I hope to God that is a euphemism."
"Dirty!" Callie blushed.
"Okay, enough of the teasing. I wanted to run something by you if that's okay?" Arizona placed her fork down and began chewing on the straw of her milkshake.
"Sure," Callie stated nonchalantly. "What is it?"
"I, um, I spoke to my mom a few days ago."
"Okay?" The brunette furrowed her brow. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, yeah." Arizona gave a nod. "Everything is fine. She, um, she wanted to know if she could meet you. Well, her and my dad."
"Uh, s-sure." Callie swallowed.
"If it's not something that you want, it's totally fine."
"No, it's not that. I just, I don't know why they would want to meet me." She shrugged.
"Because you are my girlfriend, Cal. I've always been close to my parents, and they like to know what's going on in my life. They're very supportive of me, my job and my lifestyle. Mom is great."
"Okay. I guess it would be okay. If you really want to introduce me to your parents that is."
"I'd love to." Pink lips smiled. "I'd really love to."
"Okay. Do they live close by?"
"No. A few hours away." Arizona stated. "We can drive down, or take a flight. It's up to you."
"Mm, drive? More fun." Callie raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"I think it sounds perfect."
"Me too. Do you think your parents will like me? I've never done the whole 'meet the parents' thing before."
"They will love you, Calliope. I know it."
"Tell me about them." Callie smiled as she sipped on her coffee.
"Oh, I wouldn't know where to start."
"Just anything."
"Okay, um, dad is military. Colonel Daniel Robbins." Arizona smiled. "He's big on authority. Huge on time keeping. I've slacked a little since leaving home, but I'm sure he will kick me into touch when I get home."
"O-Okay." The brunette gave an awkward smile. "Is he going to shout at me?"
Laughing, Arizona shook her head. "No, just his kids. Even mom doesn't listen to him."
"Kids?" Callie furrowed her brow.
Realizing what she said, the blonde dropped gaze and began tugging on the straw of her milkshake. "Me." She smiled. "He's only authoritative with me."
"No, you said 'his kids'." Her girlfriend stated. "Do you have siblings?"
"Had!" Pink lips let out a slight sigh. "My bother, Tim. He um, he died a few years ago. Iraq."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Arizona. I didn't know." Callie placed her hand over the blondes.
"I know. I was going to tell you, just not yet. I wasn't ready." Blue eyes met brown. "I'm sorry for keeping it from you."
"Don't be silly. You would have told me when you felt the time was right. I understand that." A tanned thumb ran across pale knuckles. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." A blonde curl dropped over her face as she gave a nod. "I just try not to think about it."
"It's good to remember him, though, right?"
"Yeah, I'll never forget him. I just hate thinking about him because all I see is his body lay lifeless in the middle of a freaking desert."
"Hey, you want to head back?" Callie gave the blonde a sad smile.
"You wouldn't mind?" Arizona furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry I ruined lunch."
"No." Dark curls shook. "You didn't ruin anything. I can see that it hurts you to talk about it, and although I can't imagine how you must feel about it all, I want you to know that I'm here for you. Always."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. You have been amazing, Arizona. I want to be there for you. I want us to be there for each other. It's the least I can do after how you have looked after me." Callie tightened her grip on the soft hand in her own. "You don't have to talk about it, but if you ever want to, I will always be ready to listen. I'd love to hear about him one day, but only when you are ready."
"Okay." The blonde smiled. "C-Can we head back?"
"Sure." Removing some cash from her pocket, she placed it down on their table and slid out of the booth. "Come on, let's go."
Placing her arms around a slim waist, Callie tucked her hand away in Arizona's back pocket and led them out of the door. The short walk home may provide them both with a moment to think about their afternoon. Callie had felt relieved when she had left their apartment for lunch. The idea of refusing the attention Suzanne was so desperately craving left her feeling stronger than she had ever felt, and Arizona had been proud of her. Now, the tables had turned and it was her time to show her girlfriend that she could be just as supportive when it was needed.
She understood Arizona's decision not to tell her about her brother, but now that she knew, she could tell her that it was okay to be upset and still grieving. Truth be told, if it had been her who had lost a sibling, she wasn't sure how she would cope. No matter how long ago Tim had died, the grieving process stays with you forever. She knew that.
Tightening her grip around Arizona's waist, she pulled the blonde into her body and placed a kiss below her ear. "How does a night in with ice cream and a movie marathon sound to you? I'll even throw in some pizza. Any topping you like?"
"Sounds perfect," Arizona spoke barely above a whisper.
Continuing on in silence, Callie watched as a single tear fell from blue eyes. She had only seen her girlfriend cry on one other occasion, and right now, it was breaking her heart. Bringing her free hand up to a pale cool cheek, she used her knuckles to wipe away the tear that had stopped at a beautifully defined jawline. "It's okay to cry."
Resting her head slightly below her girlfriend's shoulder, Arizona gave a slight nod and sighed. No words were spoken but she knew that Callie was right. It was okay to cry, and it was okay to feel a little weak at times. "Thank you for being here."
"Thank you for allowing me to be."
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