A few days after their agreement, the ladies had informed their nominees of their intentions and their respective roles in the reuniting. Both Teddy and Meredith were happy to act as confidants and, like teenagers before the prom, they decided to ask the pair if they could help them get ready before their first date. Offer any pep talks, words of advice, complete the final outfit checks etc…

Callie had gone to the frat house, Teddy to Arizona's and Sofia would be enjoying a sleepover at Alex's. He'd been her preferred choice and, when not on-call, he secretly loved spending time with the kid. When Arizona asked if he would have her for the night he gruffed, but then remembered he bought her the new Scalextric set she wanted. Add that to the new friendship bracelet making kit and a soccer ball, he was excited for his one-on-one time with 'Little Miss Kick-Ass'. He still had all the friendship bracelets she'd made him previously hanging in his locker at the hospital, plus a really special navy blue (like his scrubs) and white one that she gave him when he was upset over a patient.

"So, this is your second first date? And this is the restaurant you went to the first time you knew you loved her?" Teddy was sitting on Arizona's bed, watching the blonde inspect the fifth outfit of the evening.

Offering the correction, "well, technically the night before I knew" she afforded a small smile to herself, truth be told it could have even been before that. "We've been back there since, but I thought this was a good place to start."

The cardio surgeon studied her friend, the look of concentration in her face, the brightness of her eyes, the content tone in her voice… it was like she was looking at a new woman, or certainly the one she knew many years ago. She couldn't be happier her friend had arrived to this peaceful place. "I must admit I haven't seen you this happy in years, how did it all come about?"

Arizona sighed; regretful it took a horrible incident to make them realise how they still felt, but alas, it was true. "When I saw her in the exam room, physically and emotionally broken, I lost it. Everything inside of me snapped. All I wanted to do was cradle her, look her in the eye, cover her with kisses and tell her I loved her. That I would look after her from now on. She would be safe with me because I would make sure no one ever hurt her again." The darker blonde was a bit taken aback by the strong assertion, there had been no doubt or faulter in the blonde's voice.

Already furnished with the knowledge of their reconciliation plan, "so how have these conversations been?"

After taking a moment or two, Arizona settled on the most appropriate emotion, "cathartic."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Holding the red dress she knew Callie loved against her body, she tried not to dwell on that part of their agreement, not tonight. "I will do, probably, but not now, tonight is just about me and Callie reconnecting." She dimpled, the red dress it was.

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm pleased you're giving it another go. None of us are blind Arizona, we all saw how Callie looked at you after the split, still looks at you, even when she was with Blake."

Arizona withdrew her focus from her outfit and turned to face Teddy, making eye contact face-to-face rather than via a reflection in the mirror. "What do you mean?"

"You were completely lost in Herman's fellowship, but she never stopped looking at you, admiring you, albeit from afar and with a somewhat detached gaze, but it was there. Ask anyone."

The peds surgeon looked away, trying to wrack her brain for any moment she saw affection from Callie post-divorce. She couldn't. She returned her focus and in an almost whispered voice, "I- I had no idea." Genuinely she didn't, she thought her person had been completely against the fellowship and resented her for it.

After noting Arizona's reaction, Teddy offered some final words of comfort, some home truths. "I genuinely believe she never stopped loving you Arizona, not from what I saw and what others have said. You didn't really let anyone in for a long time, and your patience wavered, but whenever interns or residents berated your attitude, she was there, telling them what a great doctor you were and how, if they wanted any success in general or paediatrics, they wouldn't get a better teacher than you." Teddy stumbled, wondering if she should continue with this next bit, Cristina had simply mentioned it in passing so she was sure it wasn't really a secret.

"Cristina tried to set her on a date before Blake arrived."

Arizona eyes narrowed, she didn't like that.

The darker blonde continued. "You know what Cristina said? That Callie refused to date, that it wouldn't be fair because she'd had her great love and didn't want to string anyone along, not at that time, anyway. I think she realised later on that she could love again, but just not have what you had experienced together." She gave a short smile, hoping that would settle the doubts she knew Arizona had about her being 'enough' for Callie since, well, forever.

Arizona pushed back tears she knew were about to form, adorned a super magic smile and shook her head. She let out a croaked, "thank you Teddy" before disappearing to get changed.

xxxxxxxxxx

'So, am I supposed to page you a fake 911 after five minutes so you can bail?"

"Meredith! No! Why would you say that?"

"I'm just checking-"

"Well don't, you're making me nervous." If you thought Arizona was nervous, Callie was on another level. She couldn't stop fidgeting and second guessing every decision she was trying to make. The dress, the hair, the shoes, the makeup, the perfume, the jewellery…

Noting the anxiety, the general made her way to the ortho's nervous form, placed firm hands on strong upper arms and stood her to attention. "You have no reason to be nervous Callie, you're going out with Arizona, you know her better than anyone", this was the pep talk she knew she'd need, "you're both in this together, it isn't one sided, you both love each other and have a wonderful daughter", she paused and looked her dead in the eye, "you just have to communicate this time." Her message was soft but firm, she tried to end on a lighter note, "so stop being nervous, spend your energy fighting the urge to jump each other."

The brunette laughed but the doubts were still there. "What if she isn't as in this as I am?"

Meredith sighed, Callie's confidence really had taken a knock after the affair, she decided to share the truth, even if it didn't make either surgeon feel particularly good. "I've seen her wandering the halls you know, I've spoken to her when she picked Sofia up, she changed after the crash sure, but she was bruised, after you guys split up, she was broken". Callie always assumed Arizona had moved on, she was spending so much time laughing and learning from Herman that it didn't appear their split had actually impacted the blonde at all. "I found her in the supply closet a couple of times, and I know April did too, she was crying, heartbroken."

Callie's voice was quiet, "She was? I- I- I never knew that."

"She went from having nurses queuing outside her door to having you, and she couldn't think of anyone else but you", she shrugged, "I think she may have just given up. But now? Now you have the chance to make each other whole again. She deserves happiness, you both do, but if you want her, you have to tell her. I know she's made the first moves so far but it's gone from innocent flirting to serious discussions, it's stepped up a notch. You have to remind her sometimes she's worthy of you, because she's always had those doubts." Noticing the atmosphere had darkened, the general surgeon gave some encouraging final words, "I love you Callie, but not as much as Arizona does, go and have fun tonight. Get your family back and spend time watching that god awful cooking show with her."

They embraced in a comforting hug. "When did you become the wise one Mer?"

"The wise one of the family is currently keeping Mark Sloan in check." She indicated above.

"Oh she totally has him wrapped round her little finger."

Feeling her confidence grow after those comforting, yet sad, words, Callie still had one lingering question for her friend, "Now what the hell am I supposed to wear?!"

xxxxxxxxxx

"So yeah, there were attendings roaming the hospital, high as a kite." Arizona took a bite of her salad, like stoned doctors at Grey Sloan was a non-event.

"No way! I've never heard any of this before, where was I?!"

"I think you were on your Harper Avery tour, my parents had Sof for that week. The cookies had been given to me as a thank you. The patient had accidentally used peanut-butter cannabis that her wife had got her when she was going through chemo. One thing led to another, and, um, I had given a lot of people weed cookies with an unknown and immeasurable amount of weed in them." Callie had unfortunately taken that moment to have a mouthful of soup and was struggling to contain it, much to Arizona's amusement. She continued, teasingly, hoping to test the brunette's ability to maintain her composure, "and I err, I kinda mentioned to Maggie that you were great in bed", she blushed at her admission.

Callie's eyes widened as she managed to growl out a very mouth-full-of-soup muffled, "what?!"

"Well I mean I wasn't lying, but it just came out. I was talking about an ex I had in med school and I just blurted your name out instead", she shrugged, "subconsciously or whatever, I said you were 'fun and funny, and the sex was really great'."

They shared a quiet amused smile and continued with their meals. They were enjoying the flirting, the shy smiles, the confident winks and trying to contain their laughter when the other had a mouth full of food. Both surgeons were attempting to say something shocking or funny each time the other had just taken a bite. The game left them both in hysterics, and at one point they were sure they were going to be asked to leave. After explaining more about the antics of Grey Sloan's surgeons, and how it all came about, Callie was curious for more, remembering when she became a Plantain when trying to expose her own dodgy hospital.

"So what happened?"

"Owen and I went there, I disguised myself as a patient and, well, you know the rest". She giggled, "for a brief moment, I was on file as Mrs Arizona Hunt."

Luckily Callie had just finished her mouthful after that comment. "You pretended to be Owen's wife?!"

Oh if only you knew Calliope…

After more laughter and a review of the dessert menu, Arizona patted down her dress and briefly picked her fingernails. Her next topic wasn't exactly first date material, but she was desperate answers. "Can I ask what happened with Blake? Or is it not my place?"

Callie silently nodded, there was nothing but respect between the head of ortho and the resident, but the relationship simple fizzled out. "It was comfortable, calm, she's a lovely person and is going to make a great attending one day, but I just think I was seeking some companionship. Instead of going out and getting laid, I tend to get into relationships. So we just decided to mutually end it and she went off to New York, no muss, no fuss."

Arizona took it in but wanted more. "So… did you love her?"

Callie took a bite and shrugged like it was a nothing question, "No, we didn't really get that far, I didn't anyway, and I don't think she did, not really", she looked at Arizona, she wanted to give her some reassurances regarding how Penny had been with their daughter, in case there were concerns. "She was great with Sofia by the way, so attentive, read her bedtime stories, kicked a soccer ball with her. It may not have worked out but she adored Sofia and treated her so well. I just need you to know that."

Arizona couldn't help but tense, that should have been her. Her vulnerability, mixed with jealousy, was on a role, "Have you been with anyone else?"

"I've been on some dates, I was on a dating website for a bit, but honestly, no. I've been inadvertently celibate." She laughed after helping herself to some of Arizona's dessert. Normally the blonde would swat her fork away, but she was so happy with that answer she let it slide, never before had the word 'celibate' brought so much glee.

It was Callie's turn to return the questions. "How many people have you been with?"

"It's erm, kinda embarrassing. I've literally only had one or two dates, both ended up being one-night stands", she cringed, "I had to do the walk of shame the next day."

The brunette laughed and the blonde saw her opportunity, she took a piece of her person's dessert in retaliation. "Although I am slightly jealous", Callie could only lightly taunt, "I have to admit that is kinda funny."

"Oh you have no idea, one saw me leave on the ring doorbell!"

Callie lost their food game. She had to spit out some cheesecake into her napkin before it went everywhere, much to the blonde's delight, she didn't like to lose. After the laughter had settled down, and not before Callie playfully went to hit the peds surgeon, she continued on the same theme, "so erm, what about this Michelle? I kinda feel bad for her."

"I tried to apologise, but she didn't want to listen. I get it, I ditched her without a care, I told her she wasn't important", she sighed, "I'm a horrible person."

"You're not a horrible person Arizona, you were in a state of shock, don't ever think that of yourself". They exchanged warm smiles; the words were both given and received with genuine sentiment. "Do you think you'll try and talk to her again?"

Arizona sighed. "I feel like I owe her a sit-down conversation, to explain myself more, despite the fact we hadn't even gone on a date."

Callie nodded and they fell back into comfortable silence, however Arizona did just want confirmation of one teeny tiny topic, especially after her outburst at the hospital. "Were you going to sleep with Simon that night?"

Zero hesitation, "No, I actually thought he was a bit pretentious and I wanted to gauge him better in a private setting", she scoffed, "guess I was right on that."

Arizona did suspect as much, but she still needed that reassurance and was relieved to get it. She was right about the pretentious stuff and without giving it a second thought, she went on to explain why she agreed. "Well, I mean, when you put yourself in a glass office like you're the big man on show, there is definitely something off with the ego".

Oh no.

"What?"

Oh no… Crap-frickin'-tastic.

The blonde feigned ignorance, "Hmm, what?"

"How do you know he works in a glass office?"

No point in lying, whilst she didn't want Callie to see her green-eyed monster side (again) so soon, she had to tell her. "I kinda… went down there… with Owen… and erm… err…"

Thaaat's it Robbins, you're articulating yourself well here, good job.

"Arizona! I can't believe you! When?"

"Remember Karev's consult a week or so ago? The one after the detectives called and told us Simon was out on bail?"

"Yes…"

"Well, erm, then. I didn't have a consult."

Callie was horrified, "Arizona! He could have attacked you!"

Like it was the most obvious thing in the world, Arizona explained her reasoning, "that's why I took Owen, after what happened at the hospital, as my business partner and erm, you know, husband." Her head was down, fully focused on the last pieces of her dessert. She was expecting a fight. And it did go quiet. Callie was seemingly speechless which, considering Arizona didn't want to say another word until she received a response, made it awkward. The blonde was sure her person was going to get angry, and that she'd messed up before they'd even started-

"Should I be jealous that in the past few months you've married Owen, twice?"

Wow. Not what she had been expecting at ALL and my god, she could not have been more relieved. After those words left the brunette's lips, followed by a dazzling smile she hoped only reserved for her, the blonde felt confident in returning the teasing comment. "Oh yes, he is totally my type, you know I'm all about that Y chromosome".

Talking about drugged up surgeons, ex's and what could amount to GBH, Callie changed tact. "How did the fellowship go?" She remembered her friend's advice that Arizona needed confidence in herself, to make it known she was good enough. "You know, I don't want to get into some of the stuff now, that's not what tonight is about, and you can doubt the next words from my mouth", she took a deep breath, "but I really want to say them, now in this setting. I am so proud of you Arizona, and everything you accomplished and continue to do for women's health. The centre is amazing, I can't wait to watch it grow and more centres open."

In a shy, hushed whisper, the blonde could only muster a "thank you Calliope." She needed that affirmation more than she realised.

After discussing the fellowship in more detail - the teaching, the surgeries, the textbooks, the banter (abuse) with Herman, they settled the bill and made their way back to Arizona's. They walked up the pathway, both clutching their purses, too nervous to hold each other's hand despite both aching to do so. The peds surgeon turned as they reached the front door, her breath taken away by Callie's reflection in the moonlight. "So this is the part where you usually drop off the date, wonder if you're going to get a good night kiss and then leave into the darkness. Problem is, I live here and we've already kissed, a lot, so I'm not sure of the etiquette."

Callie thought for a bit. "How about, you kiss me on the doorstep, see me inside, walk round the back and then I let you in from the garden door?"

Dimples. "I'd like that".

Slowly pulling the blonde in by her jacket, their lips met, they shared probably their most tender kiss since their reconciliation journey. It was soft, but deep, mouths granting access, eyes closed with the hope of their other senses heightening, it was just… them. After just about mutually pulling apart (Callie could have happily continued, not going to lie), Arizona posed a very important question before she turned to make her way to the side gate. "Do I get a second date?"

"It depends", Callie winked, "do I have to put up with your husband coming too?"