"What are we having for lunch?" An excited Arizona turned the corner, now walking side by side with Callie. They started a new ritual this term, taking turns bringing lunch to share. It was Callie's turn today.

"Well..." She looked at the blonde with a timid smile, scratching the back of her neck. "How would you react if I said I kinda didn't bring anything?"

Arizona titled her head, giving her a look of disbelief. "Calliope Torres." She tried to look mad, but a smile started to appear as she looked at the dumbstruck look on the burnette's face as she tried to plead her case.

"I thought today was your day. Now, to be fair..." she licked her lips looking for a probable cause. "I- We- Remember we had to cut lunch short yesterday? Yeah! Because of that fight that was happening down the hall. Remember!?" it sounded like even she was trying to convince herself. "I'd say technically we had half a lunch yesterday."

With a squinted eyes and a furrowed brow she looked at her. "Uhuh... so what you're saying is I shouldve known you'd forget."

"No, I'm saying it was merely a mistake to which no one holds responsibility." there was that sheepish smile which always appeared from the burnette when she knew she had spun herself into a web.

"Good try Ms.Torres." Arizona said mockingly. "But we still need to find lunch." she looked at her watch. "We still have another forty-five minutes before fifth period, so maybe we could go down to that Italian place around the corner and get something quick."

"Yeah we can do that. My car or yours?"

"Mine is fine."

Back in the Teacher's Lunch Room

"The team has a basketball game tomorrow. It's a fundraising thing we do every year by the community park. It's a fun little thing. Most of the district usually come down to show their support. I'd like you to come... once you are free tomorrow".

"Yeah I should be able to make it. What time?"

"Well, usually some other events happen just before the game and there are lots of food stalls and stuff there so anytime around 4:00 works but the actually game starts at 6:30."

"Ok I'll be there." she said with a soft smile

"Ok great".

A Week Later

Things were going well. They were back in a groove. This weekend had been spent at Callie's apartment, it was their first official sleep over. Arizona was introduced to some of the burnette's favourite meals to cook, the blonde taught her to play dominoes.

The two days were filled with laughs. Enjoying getting to know more about the other. In some ways the passed few weeks really caused them to learn more about themselves as well. It made communication easier. Their relationship was heading in a new direction. Things were going well between the two, their conversation a few weeks ago definitely gave them some clarity.

*Flashback*

"I'm falling for you and I need to know you feel the same way."

A deep blue ocean was staring into her soul seeking an answer. They whispered hope.

"You make me so extremely happy. You came and filled the space I spent years trying to ignore. You aren't someone I could ever just forget about. I'm falling for you too Arizona. I promise not to ever take this... us for granted, I want to be here for the long run."

*End Flashback*

A ringing phone broke them out of their cuddle.

It was Callie's.

Seeing the caller ID, she questioned for a moment if she should answer.

It was Aria, but they weren't on great terms. Their last conversation ended in some hurtful words. Callie just turned the screen to face down.

"Who is it?" the blonde asked, realising the call had been ignored.

"Um, no one." she said plainly before adding a bit more to make it believeable. "It's just someone calling about a scam survey. They've called everyday this week, im hoping they get the message."

It didn't feel right lying, especially not when the two were just heading on the right path again, but she was terrified of not only having to explain everything to the blonde woman she was sure would become her girlfriend, but also having to face the feelings attached to family problems. The years of neglect, trauma and hurt definitely did affect her, but she has been doing a good job hiding it all these years. She refused to crumble, not when the person who she longed to comfort her never cared to look in her direction. It would be a waste.

The burnette had not realised it, but she had now spent the past five minutes just staring at a blank spot on the coffee table. The woman resting in her arms is what startled her out of her thoughts.

"You ok? You got quiet all of a sudden."

She shock her head trying to rid the thoughts. "Yeah... yeah I'm fine. I think I'm getting tired."

Arizona felt like there was something else, mainly because it was only 7:30 and they discussed finishing all of the Marvel movies tonight but she didn't push. "Ok well, I can leave so you can get some rest." It was Sunday, they both had work tomorrow.

"No I'll be ok. I'll just go wash my face. You still have a couple hours to spare. I'm gonna go to the bathroom and be right back. Do you wanna order a pizza in the mean time?" She was trying desperately not to address what had happened.

"Yeah, okay."

Monday

Callie flopped in the seat in front of Addison's desk with a big sigh.

"What's wrong with you?"

"It's Monday, isn't that reason enough?"

"Very fair. But uh, while you're here..." Addison winced before the next part of her sentence left her mouth, knowing the Latina might try to kill her. "... Do you think maybe you could call your aunt?" She saw a flash of rage cross her eyes and quickly added, "You don't have to if you don't want to, but Aria has been on my back this whole weekend, and I tried to get her to cut you some slack but she isn't letting go. And just a head's up, last time I heard your aunt, she said she was thinking about coming to Seattle for a little while in a couple weeks."

Callie didn't answer yet.

"Cal, I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to address it at some point." For the time Addison knew Callie, she had spent her life running from the life she left in Tacoma. Although she was definitely closer to the older of the two Latinas as they were growing up, Callie became like a younger sister to her as well.

"And that's where I leave." She got up, preparing to leave, although there was still fifteen minutes left till first period started.

"Your mom might be coming with her." Addison blurted it out quickly before she reached the door.

It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand. Slowly, she turned around, hoping she had heard the wrong thing, although she was quite certain she did hear correctly.

"Aria said not to say anything. She's been living with your Tía for a while now." All she gave in response was a small scoff of disbelief before opening the door and leaving.

Later That Day

"Hey! I missed you at lunch."

The blonde figured she had just left for her appointment already when she didn't see Callie at lunch, but here she was sitting on the bleachers in the empty school gym during her free period.

"I was just gonna use your room to finish marking some papers, I didn't think you were here. I went looking for you at lunch and you weren't anywhere." The blonde was looking at the P.E. teacher slightly confused. She had a stoic look. It wasn't quite angry or sad, but Arizona knew something was bothering her.

Callie's response came delayed. "I don't feel very well, I ate lunch in my car. My appointment isn't until this evening." She wasn't lying, but it definitely was an attempt to deflect from the whole truth.

"Oh..." There seemed to be more to it. The burnette's voice sounded detached. "Are you ok? Do you need to go home?" She placed a hand on Callie's forearm to offer a comforting hand.

"No, it's just a headache. I'll be ok." She took a breath while pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm just a little stressed."

"You wanna talk about it? I'm a good listener." Arizona nudged her, giving a small smile that produced a smile from the other woman.

"My aunt plans to come to Seattle, and apparently, she's been keeping my mom. I don't know how long it's been happening because I wouldn't return her calls." A scoff filled with irony came after the sentence. "You know... I don't really want to talk about it. This is the one place I come to get away from my crappy life." She got up and left, leaving the blonde whose heart ached because here was the woman she lo...

She shook her head ridding the unfinished word, "You've barely known her 6 months. You aren't there yet. Am I? Callie is just someone you care about... Alot." Now flustered by her own mind the blonde got up, leaving the gym too.

Arizona: Hey! I know you didn't want to talk at school but are you ok? How did your appointment go?

*ping*

By accident Callie pressed the notification right as it came through. "Shit!" Her fingers twiddled, not sure what to say.

After typing and erasing her responses for two minutes, she decided she wasn't going to be a burden.

Callie: Yeah, I'm good. And the appointment went well... I'm as healthy as a horse

*send*

The truth was, since she got home she had been glued to the spinning chair at the kitchen island, just staring into the abyss. She learnt that things hurt less when you pretend they don't affect you. It makes you a stronger person. Made you less of a burden. And her appointment actually did not go very well. Her blood glucose levels were high. She wasn't managing things very well, although she was trying so hard not to let it get to her.

A lone tear fell onto her cheek and she quickly wiped it before anymore had the chance to fall.

Arizona: Are you sure? I can come over.

Callie: No it's OK. I'm fine. Really

With that she set her phone on its face and headed to the bathroom

Two Weeks Later

*bang*

*bang*

*bang*

"Callie! Open the door! Why won't she open the door?!" She went back to her original approach.

bang*

bang*

bang*

"Calliope Iphegenia Torres!" Aria spent fives minutes at the door switching between shouting and banging in hopes that her sister would eventually become annoyed enough to open up. She knew her sister was inside. "I'm being nice, Callie! You have three seconds to open this door, or I swear I'll knock it down!" It was half a bluff, but she sure would try. "1 - 2 ..."

"Don't hurt yourself." The door opened just before Aria could charge at it.

"So you heard me." The older Latina welcomed herself into the apartment.

"Sure, come in. Why don't we welcome the rest of the neighbours too." Callie quipped sarcastically.

"I called you fifteen times this morning."

"I know, I saw. I was ignoring you. I thought you would take the hint." She replied dryly.

"Why are you acting so weird? You've been like this since we came over on Thursday."

The younger brunette tilted her head to the side in a way that said she could not believe it didn't appear obvious the reason for her demeanor. Now infuriated, she had enough and slammed down the glass full of water she had poured herself, in an initial attempt to remain calm.

"Why am I acting weird?!" Callie repeated the question almost mockingly. "How exactly am I supposed to react when the two of you turn up here uninvited after I constantly say I didn't want to see her?" She paused almost as if genuinely waiting for a response. If she was being honest with herself she wasn't exactly sure how she should feel about any of this. "The mother I haven't seen in years just shows up at your door and everyone just acts as if it makes up for her absence basically my entire life. How is that ok? So what exactly should my reaction have been? How am I supposed to feel, Aria?"

*Flashback*

"This is it. She lives up there." Aria said to the woman in the passenger seat who she seemed to be almost an exact replica of.

The butterflies in her stomach began to flutter.

Aria reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. "It's now or never Mami."

They got out of the car and began their walk up to Callie's apartment.

The two women hesitated before knocking. Aria silently prayed this would go well despite her better judgment.

Subconsciously the two held their breath as the door knob turned.

"I didn't know you were coming today, I would've..." the sentence was stopped short when the other woman came into frame as she opened the door completely.

"Calliope..." the first time she had said anything since arriving.

For a moment she thought she was dreaming, or her eyes were surely deceiving her. Suddenly Callie's mouth became dry, she couldn't find any words.

Trying to break the ice Aria said. "How about we talk properly inside."

They stepped into the living room where there was silence for a few minutes before anyone spoke.

"You've gotten so big Calliope. I'm sorry I couldn't watch you grow..."

Before she could get any further. "Don't. Don't do that." Finding her words again. "I haven't seen you in fifteen years! That is your fault. You can't just walk in and out of my life when you want." Her voice was raw with emotion although she tried to appear unfazed. "What makes you think you have any right to come here?"

"I only want to make things right Calliope. I can't change what I did but I am hoping that you can forgive me. I truly am sorry." Callie scoffed she refused to let go that easily. Years of hurt can't be healed with one apology.

"Calliope, please..." she tried again to speak before being cut off

"Stop calling me that."

The woman looked at her confused.

"Calliope. Don't call me that. It's Callie."

"Would you at least hear her out? You're being a child Callie." Aria interjected

"I heard her out! All those times she would call apologizing for missing my birthdays or my games or all I times I missed my appointments because she couldn't be bothered to remember. She left us at home by ourselves with barely anything to eat. All the times all the only thing we had for breakfast before school was the goldfish crackers you had to steal from school for us. She was never there! And when she was it was like we were invisible. I'm not that same eleven year old who just goes along with her lies or apologies anymore!"

She got up and opened the door. "I need you to leave."

"Cal..."

"Both of you." It was too much. She held the door open for them to walk out before shutting it firmly. She called out from work the next morning and hadn't been in contact with anyone. Not even Arizona.

*End Flashback*

"Cal, you have to give her a chance. Please." The older sister was begging.

It stayed silent for a while before a response came. "I'm not ready." Her voice cracked. She tried not to let the emotions of this whole thing wash over her but the dam was slowly breaking. "Could you leave, please? I need some space. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

She sat on the couch alone, with silent tears falling. It seemed this had become a routine for the past few evenings. She would come home and be consumed by her thoughts.

Her phone's vibration dragged her from her thoughts. Looking at the caller ID a wave of calm came over her. It read"Arizona".

She tried to clear her throat in an attempt to rid the rawness from her voice.

" Hey! How are you?" She tried to sound chipper but even she didn't believe the facade.

Arizona was taken aback by the rasp in her voice.

"Are you ok? You sound sick. I just wanted to hear your voice. I didn't see you yesterday so I thought I'd call to make sure you were ok." The blonde was a bit concerned. Callie has been acting strange for a while, she considered going over to her apartment but thought she should call first.

"No, I'm ok. I was just resting." She sniffled softly forgetting the woman on the other end could hear it.

Arizona's antennas were now up a bit, Callie's claims of being ok were becoming less believable . "I was thinking about coming over and we could watch a movie together if you wanted." This was something they did on weekends every few weeks. "I could bring pizza."

It was silent on the other end for a while. Callie was debating if that would be a good idea. She was sure anyone could see she had been crying, but if she was being honest she needed the company right now.

"Callie? Are you still there?"

"Hey, sorry I'm still here. I'd love if you came over."

"Ok, I'll see you there."

Callie tried to freshen up before she got here but her eyes still looked bloodshot. She hoped it wouldn't be too obvious.

knock*

knock*

She met bright blue eyes on the other side of the door that made her forget the mess of the past couple of days. The sight produced a small smile.

Arizona took in the brunette's appearance, and although noticing her slightly reddened eyes or dark ring around them, she decided against mentioning it.

"As promised, I come bearing the cheesy delight." The blonde said with a wide grin.

Seeing the blonde was enough to lighten her mood even if only a little.

The evening was quieter than their movie nights usually went. It was usually filled with laughs and a load of questions from Arizona about what was happening, almost always completely lost, they shared their love for thrillers and after the movie always spent a while rattling off about how they felt about it. But today they just lay cuddled on the couch nearing the end of the second movie, taking the comfort of being in the other's presence.

Callie she hadn't been paying attention to much of the what was going on. She retreated in and out of her thoughts, only catching small snippets of what was playing. Apart from muttering a few words occasionally to Arizona's reactions to some parts, she hadn't said much of anything.

"Well, that ending was disappointing." Arizona said picking up the remote to flip the tv off. "Do you want another slice of pizza? I thought you would've eaten more, I almost finished the whole thing on my own."

Looking up and realizing she hadn't answered when the piercing blue eyes were still on her anticipating a response, she lifted her head. "Hm?... oh. Yeah, I'm not very hungry. Do you want to watch something else?"

Arizona's gaze softened a little portraying a look of empathy. "Are you sure you're okay? You haven't said much since I got here and you keep zoning out. You don't seem your self." She had turned in the brunettes arms so she could see her better.

Callie nodded, "Yeah there's just a lot going on, I'll be ok. I've been a little tired recently that's all."

Arizona a bit frustrated with her concern being brushed off, knowing there was more, said, "You don't have to tell me everything Callie but this has been going on for weeks. I'm worried. You've hardly done much more than mutter three words to me since I got here and you barely touched the pizza on your plate. What's going on Calliope?"

She released a big sigh. "My mom is here. Aria brought her over on Thursday. It's safe to say that it didn't end well. Aria and my aunt have been badgering me for weeks to talk to her and I refused so I guess they decided to ambush me instead." She knew the blonde wouldn't be happy at the next part. "My glucose was high at my last appointment. I haven't been handling the stress very well."

"Calliope! Why did you lie?" Arizona said in a disapproving tone although concerned.

"I didn't want anyone to worry." She replied timidly.

"Hm." The blonde woman didn't hid her annoyance but she decided she would revisit it later. "So your mom and sister... How do you feel about that?"

Callie just released a long sigh. "I honestly don't know. I just feel betrayed. My Tía and Aria just won't let this go and I'm not ready to deal with that right now." She rubbed her temple trying to will away the oncoming headache and released another sigh. "I would rather not talk about it, ok?"

Arizona nodded.

"There's a really hot blonde in front of me and I plan to take full advantage of that." She said planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"Yeah? I bet she'll make tonight worth your while."

Soft pecks slowly turned into long passionate kisses. Hands wrestled with one another, fighting to quickly get rid themselves of their clothes.

Arizona soon straddled Callie's lap. Fingers nails dug into bare skin, soft moaned filled the otherwise silent apartment.

The steamy session had a climatic finish with the two ending the night asleep in one another's arms

Authour's Note

I know there have been constant delays between chapters. I am very sorry, I promise I'm trying to be consistent. There is soooooo much about Callie and Arizona's storylines to sort through and unwrap. I'm sure it would be no fun if I packed everything into one chapter, so I'm trying my best to write in proportion. This chapter was a bit loaded so I figured I would end it on a light note. I appreciate the feedback you all give so much. I'm hoping this story really flourishes in a way everyone can love