"For the last time Aria, I am not doing it. If you want to fine, but don't include me." This phone call had gone on fifteen minutes longer than it should have, trying to explain why she wasn't comfortable with the proposal.

"Will it really kill you if come Tacoma for a week? You haven't been been here in almost five years, you don't miss it at all?"

Callie let go a sigh, "I do miss it but I'm not ready to go back, okay? Tell Tía i miss her, I'll try to give her a call soon."

"Is that Calliope?" She heard the distant voice ask.

"Shit. Aria do not give her that phone." There was a strong urge to end the call before the phone could be handed off to her aunt. "I swear to God if-"

"My sweet girasol. When will you be visiting? I miss you."

She would be lying if she said a feeling of warmth didn't course through her body hearing her aunt's voice.

"I'm not sure I can come there for a while, I have to start preparing for the new school year and stuff pretty soon so things are gonna get hectic again in a couple weeks." Though true, it was only an excuse.

"Well I miss you, I hope I see you soon. "

"I miss you too, so much." She really did but she couldn't bring herself to visit the city that held so many old memories she wished not to relive. "I'll see what I can do, ok?"

"Did you ever call your mother?" The conversation with her aunt she had been avoiding for months.

Callie released a shaky breath knowing the dreaded topic would go down a path that would only lead to a disagreement. "No, I didn't call her."

Her mother had been trying to make contact for a while now. Based on the circumstances of the situation Callie would've thought at least her aunt and sister would understand but they still pushed. No matter the explanation she gave for her stance when it came to her "mother" it seemed to fly right over their heads, the thought of even referring to her as a mother nauseated the burnette.

"When do you think you'll give her a call?"

The question caused rage to rush through her body. "I'm not calling her." Callie said matter-of-factly. She planned to stay true to that.

"I think you should give her a chance Callita."

"She had chance after chance." Callie tried not to raise her voice. "How many times did you tell us she'd be coming to visit and she never came? I waited at the door wearing that stupid pink hat because I thought it would make her happy to see me wearing the only thing she ever got for me, and you know what? She never showed up. I fell asleep in that hat waiting. Remember that?" She felt water filling her eyes, she hated that it still made her emotional. "Don't you dare tell me about giving her another chance."

There was silence on the other end. What could they even say?

"I have to go." She ended the call not waiting to get a response.

Callie tried giving her the space she said she needed but it was killing her. Since Arizona started therapy she has been a little distant. They still talked and had their phone calls often but the dates had definitely calm down, they hadn't been spending very much time together recently. Arizona promised the therapy was helping and she was getting better but there was definitely a part of Callie hoping she would open up to her.

Flashback *

"Hey, you need help with that?" They were helping Tim with moving the last of his stuff out of Arizona's apartment.

"No I'm good it's okay?" The box was almost twice Arizona's size and her fingers were barely gripped around it's corners enough to lift it.

"You sure? I can take the bigger ones if you're more comfortable." Callie offered.

"I got it." She continued walking out of the door.

Shortly after, a tumbling box was heard not too far from the apartment door Arizona had just walked through. Callie rushed out in a hurry hoping the blonde hadn't fallen.

"Are you okay?" Arizona was standing at the top of the staircase with a frustrated look.

"It just slipped right out of my hand." It was clear she was a bit embarrassed, she refused to look the burnette in her eyes. Though she knew it was probably a better idea to let Callie take the bigger box, she was determined to move it.

"I'll take it." This time Callie didn't wait for her rebuttal she just started placing the scattered items back inside of the box to be takenthe rest of the way. " There's nothing wrong with asking for help." It was as if the blonde made a point out trying to prove her independence.

End of Flashback *

When ever they got to being vulnerable Arizona seemed to pull back. Even when it felt like the blonde might have been coming close to pulling back one of the layers she seemed to have sealed so tightly, she made sure the information she gave was vague enough to keep you intrigued without of sharing much.

Just the her phone pinged.

Arizona - Hey, if you aren't too busy this week I'd like if you came with me to start getting my supplies for school.

Callie did a silent celebration before replying to the message.

Callie - Hey! Of course I could come, just let me know what day you're looking at and I'll be there.

Saturday

"Okay." She stopped to take a look at her list. "One more stop."

They'd been out the entire day, going from store to store trying to gather all of the things on her list.

"Could we maybe sit for a minute first"

Arizona noticed her grimace a little. "You alright?"

"Yeah just a little headache, we've been going for a while."

"Okay, yeah we can stop to get some food."

Once being situated at a table with their food, it was quiet for a bit, neither knowing what to say.

"I remember you saying Aria went to Tacoma to visit your aunt for a bit, how's she doing?"

"She's doing good, she'll be back on Tuesday." Not wanting to be reminded of their last conversation she changed the topic. "How's Tim? Is he liking the new apartment?"

"Yeah, he's good. He said the neighbours are friendly, its a good area he's in."

An awkward silence they weren't used to was present. They weren't sure what questions they were allowed to ask or what was off limits to say. They were probing for one another's reaction, walking on eggshells, not sure where they currently stood with one another.

Arizona first to break the silence. "I have anxiety." It came out rushed, as if the words burned her tongue, the words barely registering to Callie. "I'm on meds." She search deep brown eyes hoping to see some understanding in them that would tell her she had her support, that would say it didn't change a thing.

The one reaction she hadn't anticipated was the broad smile the shone across the burnette's face. "Could you maybe slow down a little so I can catch up to you. And full sentences. Please."

The normalcy of their interactions started to reappear. Stiffened shoulders started to relax. The blonde felt at ease, like a brick was taken off her chest. She took a breath before beginning again. More coherently this time.

They could breathe easily again.

"I need you to understand something." They were now sitting on the park bench that they adopted as "their spot", opting for somewhere more private.

"I come with alot of baggage." she let go a small laugh filled with irony. "...more than I realised I had." she muttered silently. "I need you to be completely honest. If you want to run for the hills before you get to deep, I won't stop you. But I need you to you to be fully committed if you choose to stay. I can't take a heartbreak right now and im afraid of falling for someone you sees this as a fling. You can't throw me to the side when you're done, I cant handle that Calliope. I'm falling for you and i need to know you feel the same way."

A deep blue ocean felt like it was staring into her soul they sought an answer. They whispered hope, longing for an answer.

*Authour's Note *

It has been a long while, I know. I have been having a rough couple of months and honestly I'm still in the mist of a really hard time so please bear with me. I plan to be a little more consistent in the future and hopefully I follow through on that.

Ill end this my saying, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope everyone has a great day, even those of you who may find Christmas hard. Im giving you my love.