AN-

Ok I wouldnt blame you for shooting me on sight, its been a hot minute since my last update, all I can say is that life got in the way and I am sorry. But I do have a new chapter for you if you are still there and reading?

Hopefully there are still people in the fandom reading, if not it's going to be a quiet and lonely ride haha.

Love Always

AL xx

-oOo-

Arizona woke up in Callie's warm embrace and released a contented sigh. Growing up an army brat, Arizona had never really had a place to call home. Around every three years they would up sticks and move. From Germany to Cyprus, Hong Kong to England and various other places stateside. She had lived in plenty of houses, of all shapes and sizes, but never had she had a home and that's what she felt as she lay in Callie's arms as the sun began to rise outside letting golden rays dance across Callie's caramel skin.

Home.

The realisation of her thoughts made the smile on her face grow as she snuggled deeper into Callie's embrace. She closed her eyes and inhaled Callie's unique scent and basked in the moment of being completely encased in Callie. The feeling of being in her arms, her scent, the sound of Callie's deep breathing, the rise and fall of her chest. This moment, despite the apocalyptic world surrounding them, despite all of the unknowns, despite the danger around each corner... this moment... was heaven.

Opening her eyes quickly at the sound of a single bark, Arizona groaned as Callie practically on autopilot raised from the bed and stumbled towards to door before unlocking it and letting the pooch outside, a few moments later she heard a grumpy "bloody dog" and smirked as she looked and saw Axel scratching at Callie's once perfectly manicured lawn. Once dog and mistress were back inside, they made their way in tandem towards the food station and Callie fed the dog, once Axel had started eating, unaware of her audience, Callie stumbled back to the bed, crawled into Arizona and fell asleep with her head on Arizona's stomach.

The blonde had to stifle her laughter at the domesticity of it all, it was like they had been doing this routine their entire life. Without even being cognizant of her actions, Callie moved around her as naturally as a moon orbiting around planet Earth.

Arizona sat lost in her own thoughts until another sound disturbed her, she had been so busy watching Callie sleep that she had neglected to see Axel re-join them on the bed, nor had she witnessed the gradual lightening of the day as the Sun rose. But Alex Karev entering the kitchen in wearing only a pair of shorts caught her attention. No, not in that way, Alex Karev had nothing that she was interested in, but the guy had obviously not noticed that she was awake as he quietly, much more quietly than Mark or Derek, made his way around the kitchen. She watched as he set about putting two kettles full of water on the gas stove. He opened the fridge before closing it and instead opening some cupboards and removing several boxes of cereal. He opened the fridge again out of habit to fetch the milk but instead scratched at the back of his neck almost in confusion.

"We ran out of fresh milk last week" Arizona announced, stifling a giggle as the macho man jumped and let out a girlish squeal.

"Can we maybe... you know, not tell the others about that sound I just made?" Alex asked as he raised his eyebrows at the blonde.

"It can be our little secret" Arizona winked.

"So... there's no milk for cereal... not much in the fridge to cook for breakfast... what do you suggest I make?" Alex asked.

"You don't need to make anything... dry cereal is fine, were starting to run low on fresh produce so will be eating from the freezers and canned goods for the foreseeable" Arizona admitted "What kind of stuff did you eat at the grocery store?"

"I wasn't joking about cold beans. Three times a day, sometimes four. I tried the soup cold but that was worse" Alex shrugged.

"Right well, lets get some hot coffee in you and wait for the others to wake up" Arizona ordered as the kettle's began to whistle.

"I have to admit, the hot coffee is going to be almost as good as the cold beer" Alex said to break the silence as he watched the blonde pour three cups of the hot liquid.

"Better... trust me, Callie is a bit of a coffee snob and only has the good stuff... try it" Arizona said as she pushed the cup of steaming coffee towards him. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply, his eyes slamming shut as the aroma overtook his senses. Next, he moved the cups to his lips where he blew on it for several seconds before taking a sip and moaning in satisfaction.

"Ok your right, this is so good" Alex grinned.

"Let me go and start waking the others and we will decide what we are going to do today" Arizona chirped happy that Alex appreciated the hot java as much as the others did.

She carried the two cups towards the mattress and sat them down on the floor, she stroked Callie's face tenderly until she felt the brunette begin to stir. "Wake up pretty lady, I brought you coffee"

"I think I could fall in love with you" Callie moaned still half asleep and not realising the words that were escaping her mouth until her mind caught up with her and her eyes opened wide in shock as she stared at Arizona's reaction to see if she had actually just said those words out loud.

"Thats the hope" Arizona giggled softly as she grabbed Callie's cup and handed it to her as the brunette shuffled up the bed so that her back was sat against the couch.

"Sorry I don't know where that came from" Callie admitted with pink cheeks.

"Please don't ever apologise for saying things like that to me" Arizona said with a smile. "I was only just thinking how perfect it felt to be laid in your arms... being surrounded by your warmth and comfort... it felt..." Arizona trailed off unsure of whether to finish her thought. "It felt like home"

"It did?" Callie asked.

"It does" Arizona reassured. "Enjoy your coffee, I'm going to go rally the troops then its dry cereal for breakfast"

"Urgh, way to spoil the mood" Callie scoffed, only noticing Alex for the first time, she smiled at the newcomer who was stood sipping his coffee quietly and trying not to encroach on their moment. "Morning Alex"

"Morning Callie, good coffee by the way" Alex offered.

"I know, nothing but the best coffee in this house" Callie grinned at the compliment.

Suddenly the room was a blur of commotion as everyone appeared all at once in various stages of sleepiness.

"Oh Coffee" Addison perked up instantly.

Once everyone was sat around the kitchen table with three of the four bar stools being utilised, they all began eating their dry cereal with various faces of disgust.

"I'm sorry it's not something more, we're out of the perishable goods, milk has ran out and the shops are shut to get more" Callie apologised to Alex who shrugged his shoulders as his mouth was full.

"It's better than cold beans" Alex finally mumbled causing the adults around the table to laugh.

"So you keep saying" Arizona giggled.

"So, I was thinking, the cupboards around here won't stay full for long, not with all of us eating. Maybe we could make our way to the grocery store and pick up some more food before someone else beats us to it. We locked the place up before we left so we know it's safe to enter... but the longer we leave it the less that becomes a given" Alex offered as he glanced around the table at the quiet faces looking at him.

"I don't think we are there yet, there are plenty of houses to forage in still" Addison said worriedly.

"He's got a point..." Mark said and raised his hands in defence as Addie glared at him. "Hear me out ok, right now that mall is a lifeline. There is food, more weapons, tools, clothes, everything we could need for the immediate future until the fruit and vegetables are ready to pick and right now, we know the area is safe... well as safe as it can be out there. If we work it right... we take a few people out, find a few vans and bring back a big haul that will last us a long time"

"I think it's a good idea" Derek added, much to Addison's annoyance. "No one is asking you to go out there Addie, you can stay here with Millie and Ben"

"Thats not the point, I don't want anyone going out there. It's not safe" Addison snapped.

"What so you would rather, we wait until we run out of food then we are forced to go out into a hostile environment that we know nothing about... come on Addie, see sense" Derek sighed, Addison rose from the table and stormed away. Mark made to get up and follow her but sat back down at Dereks intense glare. "Addie will come around, until then I suggest we think this through"

By the time Addie reappeared freshly showered and dressed for the day, she could tell everyone's minds were made up.

"Fine, but I'm staying here with Ben and Millie and if you don't come back, I will come out there and hunt you down and hurt you all" Addie growled.

"We will all be back Addie" Callie said adamantly.

"So, what's the plan then?" Addie asked as she poured herself another cup of coffee, more to do something than actually needing the caffeine fix.

"We are all going, everyone apart from you, and Jim and Arizona who are going to work on the solar farm whilst its dry" Callie announced much to Arizona's annoyance, she was about as happy as Addison was about this little excursion. but it was pointless arguing, the decision was already made.

-oOo-

Once everyone was ready to go, they congregated on Callie's driveway with Mark, Derek and Alex sitting in Callie's now empty crew cab waiting for the Latina to get in.

"Promise you will come back" Arizona said with tears stinging her eyes, just hours ago she had basked in the feeling of finding her home only for Callie to now be putting herself in danger again.

"You know I can't make that promise, not in this world. But I can promise that I will do everything within my power to come back, to come back to you. We have a whole story ahead of us. This thing between us... it's a blank book just waiting to be written, and there are so many pages in the book to fill. So I promise, I will be as safe as I can be, I promise that I won't take any unnecessary risks, I promise that I will do everything I can to come back so that we can start writing that book" Callie took Arizona's face in her hands and smiled sweetly at the blonde.

"Wow, that was some speech" Arizona smiled dreamily as she leant up and kissed Callie's cheek tenderly.

"I thought we talked about this" Callie smiled bashfully and scoffed when Arizona looked confused. Taking a pale face back into her caramel hands, Callie pulled Arizona carefully up to her height as she ducked her head down slightly, rubbed her nose gently against the blondes before capturing her lips in a tender kiss. They broke apart as the group wolf whistled behind them and both women had the grace to blush furiously.

"Bye Callie" Arizona whispered.

"Hey, this isn't goodbye. It's an 'I will see you later'" Callie grinned sweetly.

"You are so cheesy" Arizona giggled.

"You like it" Callie's smile grew.

"Torres come on, break it up" Mark called out, his voice holding an edge to it that told Callie that he didn't want to break them up, but they needed to move while they had daylight.