When Amelia moved to Seattle after a lifetime of heartache in the 4 years she'd been in LA it was like falling seamlessly into her brothers position in life. Just another poor substitute for Derek Neuro God Shepherd. But Amelia had known that when she abandoned her fiancée it was to be in the same city as her spoken-for ex from 10 years ago. She loved James, she really did, and she had loved Ryan, truly, but 8 months with Arizona a decade earlier, Amelia was convinced was her great love in life. But Arizona was with Callie Torres, and then complicated with Callie Torres, then divorced from Callie Torres.
There had been a while, whilst the two were conspiring over Nicole Herman's tumour, that Amelia had felt she was 25 and an intern dating the gorgeous blonde 4th year, but then every time she'd realise she was 10 years late.
Derek had died and Meredith left and Arizona had been there. Arizona had stayed. Arizona had held her when she cried and slept over when she was lonely and had known what it was like to lose a brother.
And then Arizona had left, right before Amelia was working up the courage to maybe confess her undying love - not to be dramatic or anything - and Amelia understood, she did, she would do anything for 1 more minute with her beautiful unicorn baby boy, so Arizona moving across the country to be with her daughter? Amelia understood.
So Amelia had tried to move on from her favourite battleship. Again. For the 3rd time. And the great thing about Amelia was she would fall in love with anybody who showed her any attention so there had been Owen and Link and she would never regret Link for giving her Scout, and Kai. God, Kai felt like she may have stood a chance at a Soulmate that wasn't Arizona. Except Kai only loved the part of her that wasn't Scout, and Scout was her everything, so as amazing as loving and being loved by Kai Bartley was, their move to London had at least come before she was consumed by her love. Except Amelia had found herself alone, no Meredith or Maggie, no Kai, Scout only with her 3 nights a week, even Lucas wanting nothing to do with her outside of Attending and Intern.
Seeing Arizona Robbins was like breathing again after being underwater. Just when Amelia thought she might be suffocating from the loneliness and the cravings - god the cravings - she could breathe again. And she knew it wasn't forever, it wasn't even for long, just barely a week, but it eased an ache in her chest she hadn't realised was weighing her down until it was gone.
Because an 8 month fling 19 years ago at Hopkins was her greatest love - other than her sons - and biggest regret and her saving grace when Arizona smiled at her.
Amelia knew Arizona had tried to be with Callie again in New York, had even visited them for a bit when her and Link had the kyphoscoliosis case and they'd been living together like a functional normal family. But then she'd heard from Richard who was one of the few people to know about her history with Arizona, that they'd broken up just months after Amelia and Link had been in New York.
Now Arizona was in Seattle and she was single, and Amelia was single, and they were working impossibly intertwined for this inutero galen malformation surgery.
Arizona had been swarmed by adoring friends and colleagues as soon as they were out of surgery so Amelia took the chance to slip away, finding herself in her office that she had spent so long going over scans and plans with Arizona years ago. "Hey, Melia." As if summoned by just her thoughts the blonde was there.
"Hey Battleship." Even nearly 20 years later, the prettiest battleship she'd ever laid eyes on.
"You were amazing in there." Arizona murmured, quietly clicking the door shut behind her. "Never any doubt, you're always amazing."
"Thanks." Amelia ducked her head a little, not noticing Arizonas eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"Richard told me you and neuroscientist broke up." Arizona is leaning against her desk, about a foot and a half away at this point.
"Can't keep his mouth shut, can he?" Amelia half smirks, "he told me you and Callie broke up." It's out there, it's open, they're both single.
Arizona shift a little, seeming closer than before. "You know, he used to wingman for me after the divorce."
"Really?" It makes Amelia choke a little on her laugh and Arizona laughs too. "Wingman Webber?"
"He's gotten better at it recently." Now it's definitely not Amelia's imagination that Arizona is closer now. "I told him I was thinking of moving back here with Sofia, and he said there was this amazing woman that was single." Arizona moving back to Seattle? "I said I'd fucked that opportunity up years ago." Amelia licked her lips, this couldn't be real, could it? "He said if I didn't make my intentions clear someone else may just swoop in and woo my girl."
"Woo?" Amelia couldn't help it, even with her heart beating a million times a second.
"Couldn't let that happen without a fight." Arizona nodded, an amused smile, Richard was old fashioned and used words like woo and intentions. It was part of his charm. "So I got on a plane and-"
"What about Callie?" Amelia could feel herself panicking. That Arizona would stay? That she'd go? Arizona cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowed a little in confusion. "I-I mean you moved to New York so Sofia should have both her parents, why now?" It was also why Amelia hadn't jumped on a plane to New York to chase Arizona down, because Scout deserved both his parents.
Arizona let out a sigh, sad and understanding at the same time. "We talked. A lot." She admitted, one hand moved to rest on the desk, near Amelia but not touching. "There's an open position with the Mariners for an orthopaedist that pays a lot more and is more flexible that she's going to apply for."
"Oh." Amelia could remember Link saying something about that.
"And Nicole and I decided the west coast could benefit from a foetal surgeon." Arizona added, her hand inched a little closer. "And, Melia?" Blue eyes were drawn to blue. "I fucked up 19 years ago, we both did, but I just really want to fucking be with you."
A gasp, a touch of hands, a flurry of movement, a kiss…