"I know you know how to run your life. But just take my advice on this and go see her, Callie." And then Mark left the room.

Callie closed the door. She stood there for a moment thinking about the chess game.

Checkmate.

That was it. She was done with thinking about it. She needed to make a move. She had tried to stay away from Arizona, and even though in her mind, she hadn't broken that rule...she wasn't fooling herself any longer. Sane women didn't drive by a woman's apartment and place of work several times a week.

She was in love with Arizona Robbins. Crazy, stupid in love with her and it was time to show her.

Time to make her move.

But there was something she needed to do before she spoke with Arizona. She needs to draw some lines—-as she won't allow any confusion to come between her & Arizona anymore. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Penny! I need to meet you!"

Callie clicked off her cell phone after finalising a meeting with her ex-girlfriend. Her whole body felt tight with stress. She had never been much of a sleeper, but lately she hadn't been getting any sleep. Callie remembered the last night she had slept beside Arizona. She had fallen into such a deep sleep that she had to be woken up by her the next morning. And that never happened. God, she would give anything to sleep like that again.

Callie's cure for stress and insomnia was always sex or exercise. Sex or exercise? Who was she kidding? She knew she wasn't having sex with anyone. That's what Arizona had done to her. So she proceeded to look for her Nikes.

The next morning, Callie waited patiently for Penny to arrive at one of her clubs. Penny always had to be ten minutes "fashionably" late. Normally to punish Penny for her lack of consideration when it came to her time...Callie would have just left. But this was important and she needed to have a conversation with her as soon as possible.

Penny showed up dressed in some trendy outfit, obviously trying too hard to look hot.

"Hello Callie," Penny said, as she plopped down in the seat. "Excuse me," she said, stopping the nearest waiter. "I'll have a Lychee Martini please." She then turned to Callie and removed her sunglasses, "So what is this about?"

"I'll cut the chase, Penny. I'm moving forward into a serious relationship. You have been interfering in my personal life and business for a while now and to respect the past, I never stopped you. But this life I'm trying to progress on is important to me, and I won't have you walk around in my personal spaces like you own them. I want you out of my life."

Callie watched as Penny's eyes darkened and she leaned back in her chair. "You drug me out of bed for this? You can't be serious. I mean, I know we've had our problems in the past, but we can work this out."

"No, we can't. Don't make this difficult, Penny. We were never a couple. We were convenient. That's all but I won't have your interference any more."

"Why after all this time are you just now—oh, this is about her?! Oh my God, if you want to continue screwing that woman, then go ahead. You know I never minded stuff like that—,"

"—it's not about THAT!" Callie said, raising her voice, before she immediately lowered it. She was not about to engage in an argument.

"This isn't a relationship, Penny. And it hasn't been for a long time, if ever. We both misled each other, but now we have a chance to correct it and put it all behind us. I hold no hard feelings toward you and I hope in time, you won't hold any against me."

"Fuck you! How about that?!" Penny shouted.

Callie sighed. She can have restraining orders pulled out against Penny but she really did not wanted to go the legal route.

"Penny, there was never a relationship to begin with."

"Yeah, and would you like me to tell the people around you that during the three years we were together, you screwed other women the whole time? Oh...and that you run a very lucrative hidden side business in your restaurants and clubs and your money isn't all white money?."

Callie ran her tongue over her teeth when she finally unclenched her jaw. What the hell did she ever see in this girl? What a huge difference between her and Arizona. Penny's expensive tastes used to cause Edwards mini panic attacks, yet she couldn't get Arizona to pick out some jewelry at Tiffany's. Go figure.

She looked at Penny again. Fine. If Penny wants to play dirty, she won't stop herself from getting her hands dirty either.

She narrowed her eyes on Penny. "And what about the times you were screwing behind my back ?"

She smiled on the inside when Penny's eyes widened. Callie never said it aloud so Penny always assumed that Callie didn't know but she always knew. "You know….," Penny whispered. She then straightened up in her seat and tried to shake off her nervousness by rolling her eyes at Callie.

"Should I talk to your Dad about your drug abuse while we are at it?

Penny watched Callie for a few moments before she nodded and stood up.

"I hope she's worth it"

Callie nodded.

"She is."

Then she walked out of the restaurant and hopefully out of Callie's life for good.

Carina pulled at her collar. It seemed to be getting tighter and tighter, the more she thought about asking Callie about Arizona. She just got back today from Seychelles, where Callie had sent her to hone her culinary knowledge and restaurant running skills but now that she's back, she really wants to know how Arizona is doing. She was grateful for the opportunity Callie had been given, but the price she had to pay for it...was still keeping her awake at night. Callie had said she would take care of the situation, but Arizona wasn't living with her. So where was she? No one in Torres Mansion talked about her. It was like Arizona's name was off limits.

Callie had invited her to meet her. Usually Mark was around to guide her in what to do and what not to do, but today he was spending time with his family. So it was just Carina and Alex in the house with Callie. And Alex was definitely a man of few words.

Carina climbed the stairs and saw Alex sitting outside on a plush sofa of Callie's office. She thought about how difficult it would be to always have to be on guard, the way Callie had to be. To know that your life is threatened every single day, that even in your own home you have to be careful.

"Hey Alex, Ms. Torres is expecting me?" Carina said

Alex stood there a moment and then opened Callie's door and closed it behind him. Carina waited on the outside of the door for a few seconds, before Alex opened it and let her in.

As always, Callie was behind her desk writing something. Callie didn't look up when she entered. Carina walked up to her desk and stood, waiting for Callie to address her.

Callie continued to write for a few moments, and then placed the papers inside her desk and locked it. Then she looked up at Carina and saw the questioning gaze.

"Go ahead," Callie said to her.

"Hey Torres, I hate to bother you, but I needed to ask you something."

Callie continued to stare at her.

Carina took a deep breath. "Callie, I would really like to apologize to Ariz—her about the way I treated her. I haven't been able to really sleep since that night, and I think if I knew if she was okay, I'd feel better."

Carina watched as Callie leaned back in her chair. "She's okay," Callie simply stated.

Carina didn't know what to say. Was the conversation over? She wished he had Mark with him. At least Mark would know when to pull her or if she could continue. At least with Mark, he had a family, so you knew there was a little bit of a softer side. But with Callie, despite what Arizona had told her...Carina wasn't so sure there was another side.

"Thank you. That makes me feel a lot better….so you wanted to see me?," Carina said. But still, she wanted to apologize to Arizona personally.

After a few more awkward seconds, Callie stood up from her desk and went out, indicating Carina to follow her. They crossed the elongated hallway to a area Carina could only identify as a kitchen of sorts. She has been to Torres Mansion's dining area before and that has a gigantic accompanying kitchen with hordes of kitchen staff always bustling around it whenever Callie has parties or get togethers. But this upstairs kitchen was much smaller.

She watched in silence as Callie moved around the kitchen like a pro and got started on something that Carina could easily identify as Mushroom Risotto.

When Callie added brandy to sauté the mushroom, the pan sizzled with fire causing Carina to jump a bit.

"Italian food is your forte isn't it?" Callie asked

"Yes?"

"I'm good at Mexican, I learned this dish just last week….for any restaurant business to thrive, it is important that you know that your chefs aren't cooking up shit. This bistro we are opening with you is your responsibility. You need to make sure you know what your chefs are doing. It's not as much about about knowing how to cook a dish rather than how a dish should taste"

Carina nodded in understanding. She understood that this is a serious investment for Callie now rather than a way to have Carina be away from Arizona. If Callie wasn't serious about this project, she wouldn't have tried to learn an Italian dish. In that moment, Carina admired Callie for her determination and experience.

After Callie was done cooking, which hardly took her 10 minutes, considering the rice was pre-cooked, she sat on the breakfast table and enjoyed her lunch, all the while Carina stood there in confusion because Callie didn't even offered her a plate to comment how it tastes….but she felt a bit more relaxed at Callie's laid back attitude.

Once done, Callie turned to leave, but before she took more than a few steps out of the kitchen, Carina heard herself ask, "Torres…., would you mind if I met with her?"

Callie slowed her steps and turned back around. She narrowed her eyes at Carina.

"I appreciate you taking Arizona in when you did. But she is...she is special to me. And if you haven't noticed….." Callie indicated to the lunch she just finished.

"…I'm not a woman who shares. Especially when it comes to her. So I strongly suggest that you don't contact her."

Carina didn't want to agree, but she wasn't about to cross Callie. Not when just several feet away was an empty lunch plate that Callie hadn't shared… .

"Okay.", she agreed reluctantly.

Callie had decided tonight was the night. She had to have Arizona back. She hadn't been the same since Arizona had left her, and Callie wanted to finally show her what her life could be like as her girlfriend. Callie sat in her black Escalade watching Oyster's from afar. She watched through the windows as Arizona gracefully rushed around the crowded restaurant with her charming personality.

She looked at Arizona as she smiled at each customer and guided her staff to take and place orders. She was truly in her element.

Callie sat and watched for another hour. She felt like a stalker, but she couldn't help herself.

Arizona looked tired when they closed for the day. She watched as Arizona hugged a red head, Arizona's roommate, and the said roommate made her way out.

She watched Arizona enter her apartment as she saw the lights turn on the second floor. She saw Arizona's shadow move back and forth through the apartment, and then she watched as darkness flooded the place.

Callie pulled out her pen and began to write. She wasn't ready just yet to knock on Arizona's door. She would give her some time. Give herself some time to get herself together. Then she smiled to herself. The thought of waking Arizona up so she could see that cute, pissed off face she sometimes made, the one that always caused her own heart to flutter, for some strange reason.

Arizona woke up from her sleep. Someone was at her door at...she turned to look at the clock-one in the morning? The light knocking continued. She knew that April wasn't there, which made her wary of answering the door to begin with. She only had on a flimsy white tank top, which had been washed way too many times. And her black shorts from work.

She tiptoed to the door and looked through the peep hole. Shit! It was Callie. It had seemed like forever since she had seen Callie. Arizona exhaled. Callie had not contacted her, so she assumed it was over. She had hoped it was.

Another soft knock came through her door.

"Callie...what do you want?" Arizona asked, leaning her head against the door.

"I'd like to speak with you," was Callie's muffled response.

"My roommate, she's—," Arizona was about to lie.

"—not here," Callie said.

Arizona exhaled again. She had been about to say April was asleep.

"And how do you know that?"

"I have my sources."

"Calliope Torres! Does that mean you've been stalking me again?" Arizona asked, irritatedly.

Calliope Torres.

Calliope

Callie's heart fluttered a little wildly every time Arizona used her full name. Not many people know how to pronounce it correctly so Callie always preferred not using it, but when Arizona says it…it felt like honey was rolling out of her tongue.

Silence.

"Just go away. I have nothing to say to you. Our deal or arrangement or whatever twisted word we can call it—is done. I mean, do you really even care how horrible you treated me the last time I was at your loft?"

More silence.

Arizona gave a small snort and shook her head. "No, I guess you wouldn't care about that. You don't really care about anything. And in return, nothing cares about you. So forget what I told you in that room at the club. I didn't mean it. Just chalk it up to the rest of this crazy, confusing, fucked up relationship we had. Have a good life and leave me the hell alone," Arizona said with finality.

After a few seconds, she glanced back through the peephole, and Callie was gone.

Arizona stepped away from the door and into the living room. Her heart was racing and her stomach was flip-flopping just from hearing Callie's voice. She was crazy. She walked over to the couch and sat down. She knew there was no way in hell she could go back to sleep now. She sat there a moment tapping her feet, before she realized she should probably be doing something more productive. She went into her bedroom and grabbed her laundry. It wasn't necessarily the easiest thing to do at one in the morning, in a dark basement, but she had too much nervous energy. It was either this, or clean the already spotless kitchen again.

She slipped on a pair of light blue fuzzy bedroom shoes, picked up her basket and headed out the door. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she froze. Standing less than three feet from her was Callie. Her heart began racing once more. Callie was leaning up against the wall with her head down, as if she were asleep...or thinking. Then Callie slowly lifted her head as those deep brown eyes captured her blues.

As always, just Arizona standing there in her thin white tank top and little black shorts was causing Callie's heart to beat around her ribcage. Her gaze lowered from Arizona's shocked face to her neck, and then to her full, heaving breasts. Arizona's nipples were protruding through the tight top, teasing her mouth. Callie glanced down at her small waist and full hips and then to her toned, milky white legs. She slowly drew her eyes back up to Arizona's eyes. Arizona was staring at her with a pissed off expression.

It wasn't the cute playful one she remembered. This one seemed to be full of hate.

While waiting in the hallway, Callie had tried to leave several times, but she just couldn't. She still wasn't sure what she was going to say to Arizona, but she knew she had to say something. But Arizona staring at her like that, with all that hate, wasn't making it any easier.

"Arizona," Callie said, as Arizona exhaled and walked right past her.

Callie followed close behind her as Arizona went down several flights of stairs. She knew not to say anything about it at the moment, but Arizona just looked so beautiful to her in that moment. It had been days, long torturing days since she had seen the blonde woman up close. When Arizona stopped walking, Callie looked up and realized she was in the laundry room. There was only one washer and dryer, and the room was full of storage supplies, probably of Arizona's restaurant.

Arizona knew Callie had followed her, but she wasn't ready to face her. Or talk to her just yet. She slowly placed each article of clothing into the washer, taking as much time as she could. She couldn't hear Callie behind her, but she knew she was there. She could feel Callie's gaze scorching a path down her backside. And even though she was hot, Callie's presence caused her to shiver.

Finally after she poured in the detergent and started the machine, Arizona turned around. "What?" she said, with as much hostility as she could muster.

"I need to speak with you."

"No, I'm done with that. I have nothing to say to you, and don't want to hear anything you have to say to me."

"This isn't easy for me, Arizona," Callie stated.

"Like it's been easy for me! Did you think it was easy to accept your arrangement? Did you think it was easy to accept the way you treated me? Did you think it was EASY to admit that I was in love with a woman who told me I was little more than a— a— a whore? So forgive me, if I don't care that it hasn't been easy on you," Arizona spat out sarcastically.

Callie opened her mouth, but then quickly closed it. Every time Arizona threw their agreement at her face, Callie felt ashamed. And angry.

"Can we just go back upstairs to your apartment and talk?" Callie asked, trying to get her emotions under control.

"Oh, we've done enough talking over the past few months. Hmm, let me see, the many things you've said and done to me. You called me a 'agreement'...remember that? You also called me that the night I had gone looking for you, only to find you with another woman. And let's not forget having me disrobe in front of you. Betting me in a fucking pool game. Or letting me know I was worth every penny you paid for me," Arizona said. She tried not to let her voice crack, but she was hurting all over again. This arrogant woman wouldn't see another tear from her.

Callie's face burned with shame. She felt like an idiot. She truly had been a wolf and Arizona was nothing more than a lamb. No competition at all really. And she had tried to destroy everything that was innocent about Arizona for her own amusement and then punished her because Arizona made her feel things she wasn't ready to admit. She felt like a little bratty kid in school with a crush. A young kid who pushed, annoyed and bullied the young girl she had a crush on. She knew the things she had said to Arizona were to hurt her and convince herself that she wasn't more than just physically attracted to her.

But that was so not the case anymore. Her feelings have evolved, changed. She has changed herself, so much. But how? How does she make Arizona see how much she had changed for her? Callie felt dizzy.

Callie didn't much want to do this in a dark, cold basement with the loud droning of the washer in the background, but it was now or never.

Arizona rolled her eyes. She just wanted Callie out of her life. She grabbed her basket and walked up to Callie.

"Callie, I don't have any more time to waste on you. I'm done with-"

"I'm in love with you."

"—all of...," was the last thing Arizona whispered. She closed her mouth, then opened it, but closed it back. She felt the ground give away beneath her.

Because WHAT?

Arizona wasn't sure what to say. She searched Callie's eyes, and they looked...sincere. It wasn't that cold, glacier look Callie often gave her. It was a different look. Like Callie was shy or something. Uncharacteristically, Callie kept on looking down—-she would meet her gaze and then again look down. Never since she has known this woman, Arizona has ever seen Callie feeling shy about something, anything.

After a few more moments of silence, Callie finally spoke again.

"Arizona, if you let me come upstairs, I have even more I'd like to say to you," Callie said, staring into Arizona's light blue eyes. Arizona was so beautiful to her. Her messy curls pulled tightly into a ponytail, and that deliciously curvy body. How the hell had Arizona managed to wrap her tiny hands around Callie's own heart and squeeze it? Years of building up a façade that Arizona Robbins broke down in a few months. But tonight, she was laying it all on the line for Arizona if she would give her the chance. She waited patiently for Arizona's reply.

Arizona looked down at her empty basket. She wasn't sure what to do, but she prayed she was making the right choice.

"Okay," she whispered.

Callie realized she had been holding her breath. She quietly breathed out. She followed Arizona out of the laundry room and back upstairs to her apartment. Arizona wiggled the key in the lock, trying to open the door, but it wouldn't unlock. Callie leaned around her and grasped her soft hands, pulling the key from her. Callie pushed it harder into the lock and turned. Arizona was completely still in front of her, while Callie's body was pressed against Arizona's back.

When they entered the apartment, Callie looked around. Everything was very neat but very beautiful. The kitchen/living area was pretty much just one room. The hallway was short and narrow, and Callie assumed it led to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Sh turned to look at Arizona as she glanced around the room.

"It's not much, but I like it," Arizona quietly admitted.

"Could I have a glass of water?" Callie asked. Suddenly her mouth was dry at the thought of what she was about to do.

After Callie drained the glass she walked over to the sofa and sat down. It wasn't really a plush couch, but it was bouncy and soft. Callie wiped her hand down her face and sat staring at the blank TV. She wished she had drank a glass of wine or something because she felt she needed more courage. She turned to Arizona and watched her as she sat down on the opposite end of the couch.

"I...," Callie started, then stopped. She reached into the inside pocket of her coat, pulled out a book and handed it to Arizona.

Arizona looked down at the book. '100 Greatest Love Poems of All Time', her book that she couldn't find after her heart had been smashed into a million pieces by Callie.

"Sorry I kept your book. I read through it and I hope you don't mind, but I added another poem at the end," Callie said.

Arizona slowly flipped through the book, the pages looked more worn than they last were, like someone has read it over and over again. Some inside pages even had some stains, like dried drops or water…or—-she didn't finish that thought but instead looked at Callie's face and then back into the book in her hand. She flipped again until she reached the last page. Scribbled in black ink were several words written in what she could only assume was a prose poetry of sorts.

"What does it say?" Arizona whispered, mesmerized by the cursive handwriting strewn beautifully across the crisp white pages.

Callie silently exhaled and took the book and got started.

"It says: In the eyes of my lady I see a light full of spirits of love, which bears to the heart a sweetness never known, so joyous life awakens there."

She glanced at Arizona. Arizona's head was down and her eyes were closed. Callie continued,

"Something happens to me when I am in her presence, I cannot describe it to the intellect; it seems to me that from her lips there issues forth a lady so beautiful, the memory cannot hold her, because at once another is born of her, of unknown beauty, from whom it seems a star arises and says, 'Your salvation is come forth'."

Callie looked at Arizona again. Arizona's long charcoal eyelashes lay gently down on her face. Her cute, tiny round nose and full lips caught her attention. She placed the book down on the floor and recited the rest by memory, for it was one of Callie's favorite poems. And now she could truly understand what the author meant.

"There where this beautiful lady comes forth, a voice is heard preceding her, and it seems, moved by her humility it sings her name so sweetly, that if I try to describe it, I feel how her worth makes me tremble; and in my soul sighs bestir themselves which say, 'Behold, if you gaze upon this one, you will see her virtue ascended into heaven'."

Callie saw a tear spill from underneath Arizona's eyelids as Arizona quickly wiped it away. Callie wanted so badly to kiss the trail where the tear had made a wet track down Arizona's cheek, but she didn't make a move. She wasn't sure if that would upset Arizona because she couldn't tell what Arizona was thinking. She was normally very good at reading people. It came in handy in her line of work, but right now, she couldn't read Arizona.

Neither one said a word for a few moments.

Finally Arizona spoke. "Callie, I—I just feel like so much was done and said, that it may never be right, you know." She wiped at her face again and then stood up from the couch and walked down the hall.

Callie stood and walked behind her. No way in hell she was going to give up that easily. No way. She followed Arizona into her bedroom. She quickly glanced around at Arizona's lavender walls and beautiful fairy lights decorations. She noticed a small single bed in the corner. Nothing more than a box spring and two mattresses low to the ground. Callie felt a small pierce to her heart because in her mind, Arizona deserves all the luxuries. But she can never win Arizona back with any luxuries that she has to offer. It has to be with true feelings and even truer emotions.

Callie focused back on Arizona. She was standing in the middle of the comfy looking bedroom space, with her arms wrapped around her upper body as if she were supporting herself. "I'm sorry Arizona. I'm ashamed of my past behavior and I hope that you won't hold that against me for long."

Arizona shook her head. "Callie, I-I don't know how I feel about any of this. So much has happened and..."

"I know," Callie quietly said.

Arizona didn't know what to do. She hadn't really prepared herself to see Callie ever again, and especially not tonight—this morning, or whatever time it was. She had been taken completely off guard. Callie hadn't tried to contact her after their reunion in the club, so she figured Callie was through with her. And as much as it had hurt, she placed Callie at the back of her thoughts and concentrated on getting a place of her own & settling down and her restaurant. But now that she had the apartment, late at night when everything was quiet, she would think about Callie. Dream about her. In her dream Callie wasn't a cold illicit woman. She was a wife, a business woman even, an upstanding citizen with legal obligations and even a mother in some of her dreams. Arizona knew they all were a long shot, but when no one else was around, she felt it was okay for her to think about those things.

Even if they would never come true.

What life Callie even has to offer to her? These thoughts tormented Arizona often. She loves Callie but can love be enough?

And now here Callie was and it was confusing the hell out of her. But Callie had said she loved her. Was that enough to wipe away every pain she has felt?

"Callie, you hurt me so bad. I'm still so hurt and mad at you," Arizona admitted, praying her voice wasn't cracking.

"What can I do to make you forgive me?" Callie said, taking a step toward her. Pleading.

"Let me slap the shit out of you," Arizona spat, and was immediately taken back by her statement. "I mean-"

"Go ahead," Callie said.

Arizona looked up at Callie. "What?" she asked, incredulously.

"Hit me, if it will make you feel better," Callie whispered, approaching Arizona more closely. She reached out for Arizona and immediately Arizona's tears began to fall from her eyes. She tried to push Callie away but Callie held on to her tightly.

"Don't, Callie," Arizona said, trying to control her frantic breathing.

Callie started to lean down to kiss her, but Arizona's hand suddenly connected with the side of her face with a loud crack. Callie stopped, but didn't flinch from her. Arizona slapped her again and then a third time…a fourth time, until she wrapped her arms tightly against Callie's torso and collapsed into sobs.

Callie could hear Arizona mumbling something through her cries, but she couldn't understand it. She just wanted to hold her. She pulled Arizona out of her hold and cupped her cheeks, "I love you," Callie whispered.

"I-love-you," Callie whispered, her heart breaking at the wounded look in Arizona's eyes. She kissed Arizona's forehead, nose and then her lips and whispered 'I love you' repeatedly.

"Don't h-hurt me a-again," Arizona stuttered through hiccups, as she ran her hands through Callie's soft black hair.

"I promise. I won't. I love you, Arizona. I just…love you"

AN 1 - So….thoughts? How was Callie's confession? Who remembers the poetry book?

AN 2 - I have posted a new fic.

'The Bride' - It's Callie & Penny's wedding, and Carlos has invited Arizona.

Go check it out on my page if you haven't already.