DontEatBlue Fics

Title: The Seventh Wife (Chapter Thirteen) Author: DontEatBlue Beta: @priea01 Fic Pre-Readers: @priea01​ & @2damnpretty2die​ & @dozer99​ Cover Artist: @2damnpretty2die Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy Pairing: Callie/Arizona Rating: M

Masterlist Link

Summary:

At age fifteen, Callie found herself forced into a loveless marriage, a simple number among many, with no hope for a future. It wasn’t until more than her own future was at stake that Callie was fleeing for their lives only to find herself in the arms of the person she least expected. She was living hell on earth and was willing to risk complete spiritual damnation for a chance at so much more.

At age fifteen, Arizona left without ever looking back. She was going to be no man’s wife, not number one nor number twenty-five. Ever. For the next thirteen years she made a life for herself traveling the country saving others, but she could never forgot the one she couldn’t save. It wasn’t until she had to face the demons of her past that she could truly move forward but will the one she left behind be her savior or her downfall?

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

Noted: Thanks to all of those mentioned above and @shokoshik because without you, I’d never have the faith to continue. As always, I write for you. All mistakes and shit are mine.

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

As the 7 o’clock news wrapped up, Mark, Callie, and Arizona sat around on Bailey’s couch. The news was muted in the background while Callie not-so-patiently waited for the season finale of her newest addiction, her favorite show, The Bachelor. Although Mark and Arizona weren’t exactly fans, they humored Callie, who hadn’t the opportunity to watch reality television destroy the fabric of real acting, writing, and television in general. To her, this was new and amazing, and she easily could get lost and forget her own problems for a short time. So because of that, once a week, they would sit through the program and listen to Callie rant and rave and laugh and enjoy herself. They couldn’t deny that they too enjoyed themselves because Callie was having such a great time and it was always so great to hear her laugh.

With about ten minutes until Callie’s show, the three sat around poking fun at each other. Callie had come so far and could now handle being the center of attention for teasing purposes. “Remember that time that you two threw my pistol in the Pacific Ocean?” Mark sent Callie a teasing grin. Like usual when this particular scenario was brought up, Callie’s face painted in a deep rouge.

Mark kept telling himself that he wasn’t waiting up for them.

They were fine.

They unknowingly had Alex following them.

Granted, at first, Alex had lost them, but William keyed him into their location as he searched the boardwalk in desperation. Mark was going to kill him if something happened to them and Alex was relieved William figured it out without Alex having to disclose any information on Callie in such a public arena. As Alex looked up, he couldn’t help but grin as he saw both Callie and Arizona. Well, he figured it was both of them because all he really saw was Callie’s hair with pale hands tangled into the dark brown tresses. He didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what they were doing. He also didn’t tell Mark. He figured it would come out eventually. For now, Alex would stay out of sight and do what he was there to do, keep a close eye on them.

But even with Alex there, Mark couldn’t shake the need to make sure they both arrived home safely. It was more than being a mother-hen. It was also just in case one or both of them needed a friendly shoulder to cry on. He wanted to be completely alert. Not that he was assuming their night wouldn’t be great and everything they both wanted and needed, but he wasn’t entirely certain that Arizona knew they were on a date. She didn’t act as if going out with Callie was anything but trying to reacclimate Callie into society. But then again, Arizona also didn’t wear her emotions on her sleeve and could very well have been trying to play it cool. He wanted to tell her before they left, but then he worried that he’d have two panicking women on his hands and that he could not handle. She was a smart woman; Mark didn’t doubt that she’d eventually figure it out if she hadn’t already.

At almost half past two in the morning, Callie and Arizona waltzed through the door, hand in hand with matching giddy grins. Mark had never seen a more perfect picture and their happiness brought him great joy. His own love life might have been in uncertain limbo, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t truly be happy for his friends. Their lives might not have started out in the best of circumstances, but they all were the lucky ones who had been given second chances. It was obvious that Callie and Arizona were finally taking advantage of theirs.

As they sat on the couch and looked at Mark with the same serious expression, a somber silence fell over the room.

“What happened?” He asked, reading the change of mood.

“The Prophet and Callie’s dad showed up tonight at the pier.” Arizona stated as if it were no big deal.

Mark jumped up from his chair in preparation to pack up Callie and flee, but Arizona reached out, grabbing his arm, pulling him back down.

“It’s fine.” Arizona tried to explain, but as Mark eyed her unbelievingly and suspiciously, she continued before she could give him a heart attack. “It’s good, actually, Mark. They won’t be coming back. Ever again.” Arizona elaborated as Callie let her have the floor.

Looking dumbfounded by their lackadaisical response, Mark sat there completely quiet.

“The good news is that we were banned to hell.” Callie smirked, knowing that Mark knew exactly what was meant by that. “We’re free!” She couldn’t help the smile which formed across her face.

“What happened?” Mark repeated as if it were the only thing he could say.

“In short, they cornered us on the pier and Callie stood up to them and they left.” Arizona grinned as she recalled Callie’s brilliance. “You should have seen her, Mark. She was so brave.” She squeezed Callie’s hand and sent her a big, proud smile.

“So it was just you two?” His face reddened in anger. “Where the hell was Alex? And why the hell were you at the pier instead of the Boardwalk?” Mark growled angrily.

Arizona bowed her head. “Um, yeah, about that…” the look on her face spoke volumes to her guilt. “I kinda knew he was following us so I might have purposely lost him.” Arizona admitted. Before Mark could begin his lecture, she continued. “It’s better this way, Mark. They saw Callie wasn’t the same submissive girl who they could push around or scare and they realized it wasn’t worth it, that we weren’t worth it. If Alex had swooped in to save us, we’d already be three hours from here and Callie would probably spend the rest of her life, running.”

Trying to remain calm, Mark asked how they were found this time. After Callie recalled the ordeal about the prescription drugs, Mark was overtaken with guilt and shame. He felt completely responsible. Granted, he couldn’t know there would be a mix-up and that Pho’s staff would call the doctor’s office, but he was still so angry with himself.

“So, what’s the bad news?” He treaded cautiously.

Both Callie and Arizona averted their eyes unable to make contact with Mark’s drilling glare. Callie bit her lip and Arizona was focusing all of her energy trying not to laugh.

“Callie?” He decided to go for the weak link.

“Arizona threw your gun into the Pacific Ocean.” Callie blurted out without even a pause to consider the consequences of her admission.

“Arizona!” Mark hollered at the same time Arizona yelled. “Calliope!”

“I didn’t bring it! Callie did!” Arizona shifted the blame, trying to get out of her own trouble.

“And it saved our lives!” Callie argued righteously.

“Someone tell me how my very expensive gun, which I hid in a very good spot, ended up on the ocean floor. Please.” Mark demanded through clenched teeth.

Callie scoffed and rolled her eyes. “You hid it under the guest towels above the sink in the bathroom, Mark. The only person in the house who couldn’t find it is two years old and two and a half feet tall. And that is the only reason I didn’t blow up when I found it. You could have and should have done better.” She lectured before grinning. “But now it’s not a problem, is it?”

“Still, it was out of Sofia’s reach,” he grumbled, “and that didn’t answer my question.” Mark sent them both deadly glares.

“After they left, it was all so confusing and when I took it from Callie, I wasn’t thinking. She was in shock and I was in shock. It just happened.” Arizona shrugged. While it was a big deal, in the vast picture of things, it really wasn’t, and she hoped Mark would see that, too.

As they were laughing over Mark mimicking their actions, faux guilty faces and all, Callie’s face fell, the color draining completely. She was staring at the television, her chest rising and falling at a rapid pace, an anxiety attack already in full swing within a matter of seconds.

Neither Mark nor Arizona understood Callie’s complete one-eighty when she had been laughing at Mark and joining in with the jest. It wasn’t until Arizona turned to look at Mark that she had a glance at the muted television and saw what had turned Callie ghost-white.

Grabbing for the remote, Callie struggled with button after button until she managed to unmute the television.

The Badlands Compound was raided today after an anonymous tip to authorities. Weapons by the thousands were seized and hundreds of men were arrested on charges of rape, false imprisonment, child abuse, tax fraud, tax evasion, and polygamy. And over 1,000 women and children were rescued in the raid, prompting several emergency shelters to be put into place throughout the state. Unfortunately, cult leader of the compound known as The Order, self-proclaimed Prophet Owen Hunt, slipped through authorities’ fingers and now is being labeled as a dangerous fugitive on the run. With several contacts throughout Mexico and Canada, Border Patrols are on high alert. There is a very large monetary reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Owen Hunt.

The three sat silently on Bailey’s couch as the news bulletin drew to a close. They watched as police escorted the men into waiting vans, their hands bound behind their backs with zip-ties. As they saw Callie’s father amongst the crowds, while Mark and Arizona simultaneously stiffened, Callie only felt a sense of relief.

Sorrowfully, it didn’t last long as in the distance Callie watched a woman tear herself away from the crowds of wives and children, racing in the direction of the men, screaming and pleading for her husband’s freedom. The television station was nice enough to blur out the faces of the women and children, but Callie clearly recognized her mother’s cries.

She didn’t get it. Her mom was finally free, but she still chose that monster.

Finally, Arizona could handle no more and turned off the television. This was supposed to be the beginning of the end, but now with the Prophet on the run, it might never be over.

Nobody said a thing; not a word uttered, not a sound heard, not even an intake of air. It wasn’t a battle of wills, who would break first; nobody knew what to say, where to begin. There were no words to make anything better, no comforting gesture either physical or verbal which could take away the haunting sedation which now hung heavy in the room. They could read each other’s minds without trying. It was the same thoughts going through their own anyway. Mark wasn’t a crying man, but the tears filling his eyes were as real as they came. Arizona wouldn’t let on to her own fears knowing Callie’s were probably exponential in comparison, so averting her eyes from any chance of truly being seen, she focused on a cobweb having formed in the corner of the room and refused to look at anything or anyone else. And then there was Callie. Her lips moved as if they were trying to form a thought, put something into a complete sentence, but nothing came out. The glassy look in her eyes spoke volumes to the fear in her heart.

As if the interruption was a godsend, out of nowhere, Arizona’s phone rang. Without speaking, Callie took the opportunity to slip out and get some fresh air. She wasn’t stupid. She knew very well that phone call was orders for them to move her and her daughter once again. Probably alone this time, too, because they couldn’t continue to risk Mark, Arizona, and Bailey. Not with all of the work the crew had on their hands in the foreseeable future as a result of the raid.

She would still testify against her father, and George as well, but with the Prophet in the wind, Callie feared she would eventually have to take the government up on their offer to put her and Sofia into witness protection. That meant a future without Arizona or Mark or Bailey. Forever. Callie finally had a family and she was going to lose them just as fast as she found them.

Quietly slipping through the sliding glass door leading to the patio, Arizona joined Callie. “That was Bailey. She, um, she wants you to return to Mark’s until the trial. She, of course, won’t go, but she did agree to go stay with Ben until things calm down.”

“I’m tired of running.” Callie admitted, followed by a sigh as she wiped at the fresh falling tears, the main reason she walked outside for fresh air.

“They’ll catch him, Callie.” She said encouragingly, but neither really believed it. “But for now, Alex is on his way to pick you and Sofia up.”

Callie spun, a surprised look on her face. “What about you?”

“Alex was about to go on a pick up, so I’m going to go in his place. It’s better you have both of them with you, anyway.” Arizona rationalized.

“No, I don’t want to go without you.” Callie argued. “I just got you back!”

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven

Summary:

At age fifteen, Callie found herself forced into a loveless marriage, a simple number among many, with no hope for a future. It wasn’t until more than her own future was at stake that Callie was fleeing for their lives only to find herself in the arms of the person she least expected. She was living hell on earth and was willing to risk complete spiritual damnation for a chance at so much more.

At age fifteen, Arizona left without ever looking back. She was going to be no man’s wife, not number one nor number twenty-five. Ever. For the next thirteen years she made a life for herself traveling the country saving others, but she could never forgot the one she couldn’t save. It wasn’t until she had to face the demons of her past that she could truly move forward but will the one she left behind be her savior or her downfall?

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

AN: If I could get away with writing just for my friends, I would. And if it weren’t for them, I’d never post. They are so great and encouraging and spelling it out for me when something isn’t good enough or completely sucks (which happens a lot) and they help me make it better. @priea01​ had to beta this twice because of the drastic changes I made between drafts. @shokoshik​ had to put up with my insecurities and having the unlucky job of pointing out my failures in this chapter. I just hope I did her suggestions justice. And @2damnpretty2die​ had to read it while on her family vacation because I have no faith in myself. So without them, this wouldn’t happen and I’m eternally grateful. All mistakes and shit are mine.

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Previously on The Seventh Wife:

The few blocks to the Boardwalk were walked hand in hand in peaceful silence. Both women were lost in their own thoughts, neither daring to talk about what had happened on the pier and risk ruining any more of their time together. With their new freedom came a new chapter, one that was going to be absent of the Order or the Prophet. They’d of course have to tell Mark what happened, especially since he was now out a gun, but repeating it once was enough and it could wait. 

Being the first night of the Boardwalk’s seasonal re-opening, all locals had the opportunity to buy a discounted wristband of unlimited rides, which was admission for the entire season. Proof of residency was required for that luxury, so before Callie could buy a book of 100 tickets, Arizona produced a driver's license for the wristbands. After Callie paid the bill, while Arizona was distracted being too busy arguing that she should have paid, Callie easily lifted the driver's license from Arizona’s hand.

With a glance down, Callie burst out laughing into almost a fit of uncontrollable giggles. Arizona tried grabbing for it once she became aware what had transpired while she was distracted. “Give it back, Callie,” she whined as Callie danced just out of reach.

“Phoenix Bailey?” After she was done laughing at Arizona's less than stellar photo (embarrassing didn’t even begin to describe it), she read the name on the license.

Arizona grew quiet. “Yeah, it was to protect me.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “When Miranda adopted me, she was given the option to change my name and considering the circumstances, it was really the only option. She gave me the choice and so I picked Phoenix …” she trailed off with mixed emotions brewing over the conversation at hand.

“Because of Tim and Nick,” Callie stated solemnly as childhood memories of Tim, Nick, and Arizona flooded her mind. They used to tease Arizona by calling her Phoenix and other city names from the state of Arizona. She pretended that it bothered her, but really, Arizona loved it. Her brother and Nick were best friends and always let her hang around them as a kid. The last time Callie remembered anybody calling Arizona, Phoenix, was the day that Nick lost his battle to cancer. The Prophet refused Nick any outside treatment until it was too late and the only thing doctors could do was make him comfortable as he lived out his final days. That was probably also the day that Arizona started planning her escape. She was well aware that Tim's days on the compound were numbered, as most of the talented and handsome boys' days were, and so she was going to get them out, herself and Callie.

Realizing that they were both stuck in the memories of their depressing past, Arizona finished explaining, “Bailey was, you know, appropriate since she was giving me a second chance at life. And it felt good to be wanted.” Arizona shrugged. “When Mark bought this place, I changed my address over to here just for extra protection after I started The Lost Boys. I didn't want to risk anybody from any of the cults showing up at Bailey's house and Mark has his place wired up like Fort Knox. And even though William keeps reminding Mark that he's now an adult who doesn’t need the 24-hour security, Mark can't cut the umbilical cord.”

“How did Bailey adopt you without getting your parents and The Order involved?” Callie asked in selfish curiosity. She wanted Sofia free of that world and if Arizona could do it, maybe Sofia had a chance, too. She’d ask about this William person whom Arizona mentioned later.

“I was an at-risk youth and since the compound was and is under investigation from the FBI, ATF, and CPS, they were able to skip steps as long as I promised to testify on their behalf when the time came,” Arizona explained.

“Arizona, it's been over ten years! What investigation takes that long?”

Arizona cringed at the high-pitched emotional charge of Callie’s disbelief. “Every time they got close and would plan a raid of the compound, somebody would tip them off so the government would find nothing.”

Callie remembered the raids. They were all forced into the main church building while the government searched the compound. Little did the swat teams realize the pews that looked to be anciently screwed into the floorboards were just a ploy leading to unidentifiable trapdoors where underneath the church floor was a cellar arsenal full of weapons. It was also where all of the married girls under eighteen years of age were hidden. Those raids always gave Callie such hope for her, her sister, and her mom, but sadly, nothing ever came of them. The only people aware of the hiding place were the girls hidden, herself included, and the church elders.  And even then the girls had no real concept of what was happening during or after the fact. That was probably why they were never found because most people, especially those on the outside, had no idea.

Callie's face fell and Arizona knew she was thinking of how many times, how close her mom and sister had come to being freed. Being freed and deprogrammed.

“They haven't given up, Callie.” Arizona tried to comfort her with what she knew were empty words.

Handing back the license, Callie gave Arizona an odd look before she found the courage to speak the words floating around in her head. “I … I want to testify. I want to talk to the FBI,” she said seriously.

“Callie…” The way Arizona spoke her name felt condescending to Callie, but it was because Arizona knew Callie wasn't strong enough yet, because she knew the details that Callie would have to disclose to the entire world. Arizona wasn't even sure if she was ready to hear them. “It's not like having a gun and standing up to the Prophet or your dad. There will be no guns, Callie, and it will be televised and they will tear you apart.”

“No!” Callie’s voice exploded with passion. “I know where they hide the guns and child brides, Arizona. I spent three years of raids hiding there. They'd drug us so we would keep quiet and not remember anything but I learned to fake it and I stopped drinking that damn Kool-Aid.” Callie watched pain on Arizona's face. “Arizona, I need to do this.” She spoke with confident certainty. It wasn’t only about the guns and the drugging and the child-brides, not for Callie. One violent memory she carried around with her, it haunted her every moment, and she would do anything to make the individual responsible for her pain, for all of their pain, suffer. Being married to George would have been enough to convince Callie to testify, but what came before her marriage, the night before to be exact, was the sole reason she wanted to take them all down. Nobody spoke about it, not before, and sure as hell, never after. It was a dirty little secret that nobody dared question. The night before her sealing to George, her back still raw, her wounds still easily broken, Callie’s innocence was taken. A gift, the ultimate gift, to her leader is how he put it, but it didn’t change the fact that he took it, without her permission, as he did to ALL the girls before their sealings. Nobody spoke of it, nobody warned you about it, and you sure as hell had no choice. She couldn’t imagine what would have happened had she fought back, had she had any energy or strength to do such a thing. He was already rough and unforgiving; fighting would have made that horrible experience at least one hundred times worse.

Arizona watched turmoil cross Callie’s face, complete sadness with what looked like a suppressed rage just under the surface and she wanted it to end. This was not the time nor the place for such a conversation and to be honest, Arizona didn’t want to have it at all. “Okay.” Arizona nodded. “We'll worry about that later.” She looked down at her watch, taking a moment to blink away the threatening tears. “But why don't we head over to the Ferris Wheel? The fireworks will start soon and that's the best vantage point and while the fireworks are going off, the Ferris Wheel doesn't stop. You get the entire show before you have to get off.”

It wasn’t a conversation Callie thought could wait. She knew Arizona’s stalling tactics very well and that they’d probably never return to the subject at hand, but at the same time, Arizona looked beyond distressed and uncomfortable and that wasn’t something Callie wanted to be responsible for causing. Realizing their time was limited, she forced a smile and grabbed Arizona's hand before excitedly pulling her in the direction of the ride.

As they entered the caged car, just the two of them, Callie's eyes grew wide as lights began exploding across the beach and high into the air. She was mesmerized. When their car faced the fireworks head on, Callie sat on the outside bench backwards, watching closely that direction, and as the Ferris Wheel moved them around, Callie would scramble to the other side for a better view. Arizona sat stationary in her own excitement and watched Callie. The bigger Callie's grin grew, the more Arizona's heart would soar in a dangerous direction, one she wasn’t ready to give the proper attention to for fear of what it truly meant.

“God, Arizona. This is amazing. And how did we manage to get a car all to ourselves when every other car on this ride is full to capacity?”

Arizona smiled. “The guy who loaded us is one of my Lost Boys,” she said proudly.

“They're everywhere!” Callie commented in surprise.

“Well, that was William,” Arizona waited until Callie recognized the name, “Mark adopted him at thirteen years old and he lives in the beach house. Your room, actually.”.

“Mark!” Callie said still in shock. “Wow. But how come I haven't seen him at the house?”

“He's staying with friends. He cleared out while you were on route to the house.” Arizona explained. “He's been in your shoes and felt it best to give you and Sofia some space to recover without some stranger walking around the house.”

Callie was still stuck on Mark. “He really adopted him? I just … I never saw him as the dad type. Or at least the dad of a teenage kid type.”

“It's a long story really, but at first, I brought him out here until I could find him a permanent home. He was really deep into the seedy prostitution world and then after bringing him out here, we were made aware of his HIV status following a check-up. That was when Mark decided he wanted him. There was no other option in Mark’s mind. Placing an HIV positive kid was going to be a challenge on a good day, but the therapy, both drug and mental, that he was going to require scares off a lot of people,” Arizona explained.

Returning herself next to Arizona, Callie sat there with a huge grin. “You guys do amazing work, Arizona,” she said full of pride.

Arizona blushed, but didn't respond under Callie's watchful eye. It was then that Callie leaned over. She hovered just a bit, nervous tremors vibrating off of her body, pausing just momentarily, an act which spoke volumes to both of them, and then ever so gently, she kissed Arizona on the cheek. It was sweet and tender, barely the slightest brushing of Callie’s lips against her skin, but both women’s cheeks painted with a pink blush climbing up their faces.

She froze, trying hard not to tremble as the feeling of Callie’s lips against her cheek, while quick and almost comparable to a slight, fleeting breeze caressing against her flesh, burned deep into the depths of her cognitive memory.

“Callie…,” Arizona whispered her name in the most intimate of ways. She turned, now facing Callie. She wasn’t certain what she was going to say, probably that things weren’t so innocent between them and Arizona thought it best for them to slow down.

It wasn’t a simple nor innocent kiss, not for Arizona, and by the surprising look of passion brewing in Callie’s eyes, not for her either. Normally, that would have been enough to encourage Arizona to continue with the passionate scenario her mind had already played out for them, but the unexpected eagerness Callie was showing, her body practically vibrating in unresolved fervor, threw Arizona off. Callie was not ready for this and Arizona wasn’t sure Callie knew what this was even. And if this was something Callie would even accept once her brain kicked into gear and took over whatever other body part she was probably thinking with. They weren’t raised this way. Homosexuality was the sin of the beast, the mark of the devil’s ownership, and you just didn’t do such a thing without rewarding yourself with a permanent residence in hell. But as Arizona opened her mouth to speak, moving them barely inches apart, she couldn’t help staring deep into Callie’s eyes, completely losing herself in the excited glow. With her heart racing, her palms sweaty, and hands shaking, she realized that maybe this wasn’t just about Callie’s possible reservations. Arizona was scared. Scared of her feelings for Callie. Scared Callie didn’t reciprocate them. And beyond terrified Callie might.

Her mouth opened again to speak, to find the right words to bring this to a halt, to ask the questions buzzing around in both of their minds, but as she began to form the right words, Arizona caught the glint in Callie’s eyes and found herself a comforting confidence in Callie’s loving gaze. The look was more than comforting. It held its own confident identity, compelling Arizona forward without uttering a single word. Callie’s eyes were screaming at Arizona, words of encouragement that Arizona was certain were in unison with her own brain, “do it.” Without a second thought, no time to question any longer, Arizona’s head dipped. She took a deep breath, leaning in until her lips were just barely hovering over Callie’s. She counted out in her head, one, two, three, four … which in reality was barely a second of passing time, even though to Arizona it felt like a lifetime. Maybe because in theory, it had been a lifetime of waiting. She was giving Callie the chance to back out, but without any sign of objections and instead the deep inhale of readiness, she pressed her lips against Callie’s. Immediately, both were completely filled with a warmth, a memory of so long ago, and it threw them off. At first, neither mouth moved, but as the finale of the fireworks began their continuous musical explosions through the air, Arizona took that opportunity and deepened the kiss.

As her lips moved against Callie’s, causing a small gasp of excitement, she found the perfect moment to move. In no time, their tongues tangled in heated passion, both women fully engaged in the kiss. It was sweet and soft and completely charged. Encouragingly so, because Callie, full of confidence, laced her fingers through Arizona's curls, pulling her in deeper. That was enough for all timidness to evaporate and Arizona cupped Callie's face. It felt right. It felt perfect. For both of them. While the fireworks exploded in the sky around them, they continued exploring each other's mouths.

The kiss made Callie both dizzy and grounded at the same time. Nothing but holding her newborn daughter ever felt so right and she knew that she wanted to spend forever doing just this. She wasn’t questioning anything because it all just fell into place.

Capturing Arizona’s lips in equal passion, a smile that spread across her face, and her cheeks were burning hot, but it wasn’t the only heat radiating from her body. She wondered if this was what was meant by perfection and if it wasn’t anywhere near close, she couldn't help but imagine what was to come.

While it wasn’t the first time she’d kissed Arizona, it certainly felt like the first time. Everything fell into place, as if for the first time in her entire life, things were how they were supposed to be. Her world, so long barely spinning on its axis, finally righted itself, finally made sense. All of her fears from not only years of false programming, but also of Arizona, everything about Arizona, melted out with the embrace of their lips. A chill filled the air as she realized there was no longer the warmth of Arizona’s lips against her own. Feeling empty, she released a sigh of discontent.

“I think we missed the fireworks' finale,” Arizona commented when she pulled back.

Callie smiled with a twinkle in her eyes that Arizona hadn't seen, ever. “I think we made our own, don't you?” She couldn't help but giggle as Arizona shot her the biggest smile.

“That's so cliché,” she teased.

“It's only cliché if you know what cliché is and I'm pretty sure none of the books we read on the compound ever talked about how good it feels to kiss you.”

Now Arizona laughed, hard. “If there are books that talk about how good it feels to kiss me, I think there might be more of a problem.”

“More of a problem as in there's a little one?” Callie asked in concern.

“Yeah, the problem is that I don't want to stop kissing you.” She leaned forward to recapture Callie's lips, but Callie shifted her head until her mouth was right outside of Arizona's ear.

“I don't mind that. We have a lot of lost time to make up.” Callie's tongue peeked out, licking the exposed lobe before she pulled it deep into her mouth and as she sucked and nibbled the soft flesh, a thrilling pulse between her legs picked up and she had to slow down before she jumped Arizona and took her right there. Although she wasn’t entirely certain what that entailed, even with the extensive research she’d done on the internet. At least not yet anyway. Seeing was one thing, doing was entirely a different beast altogether. But regardless, she did know that it would surely get them both arrested.

Summary:

At age fifteen, Callie found herself forced into a loveless marriage, a simple number among many, with no hope for a future. It wasn’t until more than her own future was at stake that Callie was fleeing for their lives only to find herself in the arms of the person she least expected. She was living hell on earth and was willing to risk complete spiritual damnation for a chance at so much more.

At age fifteen, Arizona left without ever looking back. She was going to be no man’s wife, not number one nor number twenty-five. Ever. For the next thirteen years she made a life for herself traveling the country saving others, but she could never forgot the one she couldn’t save. It wasn’t until she had to face the demons of her past that she could truly move forward but will the one she left behind be her savior or her downfall?

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

AN: This story is brought to you by the letters A and F. A for awesome, F for friend, both being Alida (@priea01) who made this possible and if it weren’t for her, I’d be waiting for quite a while for a new laptop to replace the one who met her untimely death during Wednesday’s quick and ridiculous storm. So thank you for your help and for beta’ing my crap. Also thanks goes to @2damnpretty2die​ and @dozer99​ for pre-reading and making certain this was postable material and not crap.

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

“Looks like we have hit two birds with one stone, Brother. Doesn't it?” The Prophet spoke with his voice dripping with venom and excitement.

“What did I tell you? Calliope never could resist a sunset,” Callie’s father gloated.

Arizona was pretty sure that she had planned and prepared for this day every which way to Sunday.

Never be too far from large crowds.

And yet they were completely alone and those “fishermen” they saw on arrival, God Squad.

Never be anywhere you could be cornered and alone.

That one deserved a double check in the royally screwed that one up column.

Never compromise an escapee.

And yet here Arizona was with Callie, The Order’s Most Wanted fugitive. She’d practically delivered Callie right on the doorsteps of The Order. Theoretically.

Always be prepared.

Arizona had to laugh because they definitely were not. No weapons. No help. No hope.

And always be vigilant in every situation.

Ha! She should have questioned herself when she saw how crowded the pier was on the Boardwalk’s opening night, but she was so engrossed with her own wants and needs that she ignored that nagging voice in the back of her mind.

“Sister Arizona, you have aged well.” The Prophet spoke as his face broke out into an evil grin.

Arizona ignored him and squeezed Callie’s hand, hard.

“Calliope, you have disappointed me and worried your mother sick. But it is so lovely to finally find you. Our blessed Lord has answered our prayers and even better, delivered both of these fallen angels right into our laps.” The genuineness in her father’s voice was sickeningly fake and instead of instilling the fear of God into Callie as was his goal, it only seemed to recharge her.

“How did you find me?” Callie spat out with an angry growl. You didn’t address your father in such a manner, but more importantly, you didn’t address the Prophet at all without permission, but Callie didn’t care.

“It doesn’t matter, Child, because what’s important is that we found you and we’re here to take you home. Both of you.” Her father replied joyfully.

“How?” She repeated demandingly.

“It seems you, Sister, did not trust in my ability to heal your ails and reached out for the false prophets of secular medicine. If you don’t believe in your own worth, God certainly will not grace your healing.” The Prophet’s wicked grin was disarming.

Callie rolled her eyes, making the Prophet sneer in angry disgust at her disobedience.

“You think you’re smart, Sister, but you’re not. Just another stupid girl who needs to learn her place. You didn’t think we’d find you, but here we are because you’re a sloppy fool. Didn’t you think when a pharmacy in another state called your doctor to confirm the medication prescription for Lexie Grey, your sister-wife, that we wouldn’t put two and two together? Thank God Sister Leah works reception there and immediately contacted us so that we could be on our way. It was only a matter of time. Your father, my dear Brother, knew you couldn’t pass up a good sunset, so your faithful Brothers have kept a vigilant watch for you all over town. Who knew my beloved betrothed would also be here with you?”

“No!” Callie dropped Arizona’s hand and took a step out in front of her, blocking Arizona from her father and the Prophet.

“Excuse me, Child? Do not dare address your Prophet with such disrespect. Now you and Arizona come quietly. There are of course repercussions for your defiance, but your return to submission will come with time and our loving patience.” Callie’s father ordered.

Callie cringed. Loving patience was code for thrashings with the Genesis Cane. According to The Order, loving God with full submission was painful. And the patience part? That was how long they could stand the whippings. Not stand as in handling the agonizing physical abuse, but literally standing. How long their legs would actually hold them up before they succumbed to the pain.

“My dear, beloved, Sister Arizona, you will ride alone with me. We have a lot of catching up to do. And we must plan our sealing. By noontime light, we will be man and wife in the eyes of our Lord.” The Prophet informed her.

As the men reached out for the women, Callie braced herself, taking a step forward, completely blocking them from reaching Arizona. Behind her, Callie heard Arizona’s breath catch before it turned into quiet weeping. Arizona was still unmoving, petrified in fear. It didn’t matter how much Arizona had planned for this day, because now face to face with the monster of her nightmares, she was a helpless fifteen-year-old all over again. With despair radiating from Arizona, Callie found strength for both of them. It was Callie’s time to do what was asked of her.

“Nobody is going anywhere with you, Father. Either of you. So … so … so go back to the compound. Without us.” Callie stuttered, but her confidence was stronger than her fears. She just got Arizona back, she wasn’t losing her again, and that was all she needed for courage.

“You’re in no position to make demands.” The Prophet argued.

Dropping her shaking hand into her bag, Callie took a deep and calming breath. “Nobody is going anywhere except you two, back to the compound.” Her arm moved quickly and Mark’s gun was now aimed squarely in the men’s direction.

They both laughed and Arizona gasped.

“Callie, no,” she whispered.

“You aren’t going to use that, Child, and you don’t have the knowhow, skill, or the brains to do so anyway.” Callie’s father taunted her. “You don’t have the brains, Calliope. If only you were more like your sister, Aria. Devout. Submissive. She knows her place.”

A long time ago, Callie would have been wounded by the verbal blows, with the comparison to her sister, but she’d come a long way and they could no longer tear her down. She’d also made peace with Aria’s decisions a long time ago and no longer did it bother her because Aria was not her responsibility. Aria was not her failure. “I can and I will,” Callie shouted. “Don’t push me, Father. Just leave.”

Both men laughed again. Their evil sneers echoed throughout the pier.

“Calliope, please.” Arizona begged. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You might want to listen to Sister Arizona; she obviously knows what’s best.” The Prophet warned.

“NO!” Callie screamed. “You need to leave, now.” Her body was shaking, but her hand was still as a surgeon with her finger secure on the trigger.

The Prophet didn’t seem fazed, only irritated. “Not without my bride.”

That was it. Callie was at the end of her rope. Once Arizona started crying behind her, Callie couldn’t take anything else.

“We are not going anywhere with you. Ever. This is your last warning.” Callie growled.

“Sister Arizona, your Prophet demands you to join him.” He then turned to address his daughter. “You, however, are worthless. Never have you been worthy of our Prophet, our God, or my love. Not of your sealing to Brother George. Of being my kin. Brother George will be informed of your disobedience and we will be dissolving your marriage first thing upon return. You will forever be floating in the darkness, never to be with our God or reunited with your family in the Kingdom of Heaven. Your daughter will suffer for your transgressions and every generation to come.” He turned back toward Arizona. “Now Sister Arizona, you are coming with us.”

With the gun pointed at the two men, Callie fired off a perfectly and precisely aimed shot between them into the floorboards of the pier. They jumped apart, landing flat against the pier floor. “Go.” She shot another warning, this time toward the darkened waters. “Arizona is going nowhere but with me. I love her.” Callie froze with truthful realization as the words fell from her lips. “I love her.” She repeated, this time with conviction.

“Tim Robbins taught me to shoot, Father. To protect myself and to protect Arizona. I promised him that I would. And guess what? I’m a pretty damn good shot, too. Even when we started training, when he was teaching me, I never missed a target. It’s been a while, but do you really want to put that to the test?” She spoke clearly and confidently and there was a defiant venom in her voice.

Scurrying backwards, the men scrambled to their feet. “You will burn in hell for this. For all eternity. Both of you.” They yelled as they fled down the length of the pier.

“Hell was with you on that compound and I’m finally free.” She screamed after them.

Callie waited until she watched all of the men scatter and she was positive she heard car doors slam shut and the telltale sound of retreating engines before she turned around.

Behind her stood Arizona, who was paralyzed in shock and fear. Her mind was racing, her heart beating fast, her entire body shaking violently, but there was also a huge grin on her face.

So much was said and Callie fired a gun. She fired a gun. Twice. For her. And it was because of Tim. Like he knew this day would come and he wouldn’t be there to protect them, so he made sure they would be fine.

“We’re free.” Arizona broke the silence. “Calliope, we’re free!”

There was such glee in her voice that Callie couldn’t help but smile with her.

“Calliope, they banished us. They … they washed their hands of us.”

The price of freedom, running for so long, always looking over her shoulder. Living in fear every second of every day. It was now all so worth it. She was so overcome with joy that she threw her arms around Callie’s body, squishing her in a huge hug. “We’re free.”

Pulling back as Callie’s body stiffened, it became obvious that shock had finally taken over and Arizona realized in that moment, that Callie was still holding the gun, finger still on the trigger. Her body was shaking as adrenaline drained out.

“Here.” Arizona reached down, securing the safety on the gun and then tried to take it, but Callie still held tight. “Callie, let go and give it to me. Okay?” Arizona gave Callie a warm smile and nodded encouragingly until Callie let go of the weapon. Once it was in her hands, she carelessly tossed it into the ocean below.

Callie could still say nothing. She stood there stiff as a board just staring off into the direction of where the sun had already set. Arizona kept repeating that they were free, but is this what freedom felt like? And God, she told Arizona that she loved her. Was that her freedom? To love Arizona? To really love Arizona? Was she now free to show Arizona that she was worthy of Arizona’s love? Was she worthy of it? Damn it, she didn’t know a lot about dating or courting, but saying I love you before the date even started, the first date of all dates, that was not how it was done, that much she was sure of.

Finally bringing herself out of silence, Callie laughed out loud. “What a way to ruin a first date before it even begins.” She meant her unintentional and then very intentional slip of the tongue, but Arizona figured she meant their untimely visitors.

But even more importantly, Callie said date.

“We’re on a date?” Her smile was beaming. “You just said we’re on a date. So, Calliope, is this a date?” She asked, hopeful.

Now Callie’s face spread into a brilliant grin. “Yeah.” She chewed her lip nervously. “Yeah, we are.”

“Okay.” Arizona nodded. “We’re on a date. Good. This is a date.” Arizona was smiling so big that her cheeks hurt.

Reaching her hand out, Arizona waited for Callie, but she didn’t have to wait long. “How about we go see what all of the Boardwalk fuss is about?” She offered.

Summary:

At age fifteen, Callie found herself forced into a loveless marriage, a simple number among many, with no hope for a future. It wasn’t until more than her own future was at stake that Callie was fleeing for their lives only to find herself in the arms of the person she least expected. She was living hell on earth and was willing to risk complete spiritual damnation for a chance at so much more.

At age fifteen, Arizona left without ever looking back. She was going to be no man’s wife, not number one nor number twenty-five. Ever. For the next thirteen years she made a life for herself traveling the country saving others, but she could never forgot the one she couldn’t save. It wasn’t until she had to face the demons of her past that she could truly move forward but will the one she left behind be her savior or her downfall?

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

AN: Enjoy

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten

The magic smile on Arizona’s face instantly calmed Callie's nerves. “So, I was thinking, the Boardwalk opens tomorrow for the locals and I've never been before or even on an amusement park ride and I was wondering if maybe you would like to go?” Her voice raised in hope.

“Sofia would love that,” Arizona cheerfully agreed.

Momentarily, Callie's face fell and she averted her eyes from Arizona’s in an attempt to shield her disappointment. When she looked back up, there in the kitchen, directly behind Arizona, stood Mark. She wasn't sure how she hadn't seen him before, but maybe she saw him now was because he had started silently jumping up and down like her own personal cheerleader. With a grin that Callie swore mirrored the one Arizona was sporting, Mark was making what Callie assumed to be encouraging hand gestures, some Callie didn't understand, but she got the gist behind them.

Inhaling deeply, Callie was already grinning by the time her nostrils flared on exhale. Mark was insane. but he kept tossing his hands in the air, encouraging her to proceed. “I was thinking maybe just you and me.” There, she said it.

Arizona's eyebrows knit together in contemplation, trying to understand if Callie had really just said that, but the pause scared Callie. Even though Mark was silently cheering her on from several feet away, she felt panic take over.

“I mean, you know with the first night and all, it will be really crowded. And Sof isn't really experienced with large groups of people like that. And I wouldn't want to frighten her. It wouldn't be fun for her. She wouldn't leave our sides which you know wouldn't work on the kiddie rides that are solely for kid-sized kids. Not kid-sized adults. I mean, there aren't kid-sized adults. Well, you know I know there are, but that's not what I meant ...” Callie's rambling was out of control and she couldn't stop, which in turn caused Mark to slap his hand to his forehead. Tears were starting to fill in her eyes and Mark started jumping up and down in silence to stop Callie's babbling.

“No-no. That makes sense, a lot, really.” Arizona couldn't stand to watch Callie nervously ramble any longer and interrupted it, more than glad because she came to a complete stop. “We can take her during the day some other time,” Arizona agreed quickly before Callie could give herself an aneurysm.

“So … is that a yes?” Callie asked in uncertainty, trying to ignore Mark rolling his eyes and enthusiastically nodding his head.

“Yes. Yes, Calliope, I'd love to go to the Boardwalk with you.”

Callie blushed, especially as Mark's miming grew to excessive. He did a little jig and flashed Callie a huge, megawatt grin, and then two thumbs up. When his hands moved from encouraging to raunchy, making two scissors with his fingers before he squashed them together, Callie's mouth dropped, forming a shocked O along with widened eyes of disbelief.

Callie might be naïve and completely undereducated when it came to all things sex and dating, but Mark did have a computer and the internet and Callie's first foray into looking up sex online was far from innocent. It was definitely on par with Mark's level of maturity. So, Callie knew exactly what he meant by his little hand signs.

Seeing Callie looking strangely over her shoulder, Arizona's head spun around behind, but Mark was faster and when they made eye contact, Mark grinned wickedly, sending Arizona a friendly, little wave that was far from innocent.

Arizona wasn't sure why Mark did everything in his power to get her out of the house for a few hours and at first, she only dilly dallied because she found great pleasure in tormenting him. But instead of his usual playful banter in return, Mark looked genuinely distressed by Arizona's refusal to help him out. Worry crossed her mind, thinking maybe something was wrong with Callie, but seeing her playing with Sofia on the beach from the window quickly put those fears to rest. She'd be damned, but Arizona had nothing. She was clueless to Mark's intentions but finally giving up the game, she agreed and left.

“Is she gone?” Callie peeked her head inside after hearing Mark's truck engine start up and then slowly fade until completely disappearing.

“The coast is clear.” Mark opened the closet door and pulled out a shopping bag, holding it out for Callie. With Sofia in tow, Callie danced inside, grabbing the bag from Mark and disappeared into her room. Sofia only followed her partway, stopping when the toys she'd left out grabbed her attention.

She was nervous. Beyond nervous, if there were such a thing. But for as nervous as she was, excitement was more overpowering. And both had the palms of her hand sweating.

Callie was planning on wearing the new dress that she had seen in a storefront display the last time they were in town. Mark had graciously picked it up for her, even offering to run the errand before she could ask him the favor. Sadly, after trying it on, even though Callie actually felt pretty for the first time in her entire life, she also felt a little too exposed. It fell just above her knees and the neckline was very generous with its view and she knew she'd feel uncomfortable the entire evening. She already felt uncomfortable.

Now feeling overwhelmed, Callie contemplated not wearing the dress that Mark had gone out of his way to secretly buy for her. She was beating herself up over the thought that she had ruined the date before it had a chance to start. And with that on the forefront of her mind, she threw herself onto the bed and almost started crying. She was actually seconds away from breaking down when Mark knocked on the door.

“Can I come in?” He asked patiently through the closed door. Callie had been in there for way too long and if she didn’t hurry up, Arizona would be home before she was even ready.

“No.” She said, her voice full of emotions.

Recognizing that tone in Callie’s voice, Mark carefully opened the door anyway. “I’m coming in,” he announced so he wouldn’t startle her. Seeing her camped out on the bed, he grew concerned. “What’s wrong?”

She looked up at him with wet eyes. “I ruined it. I can’t wear this.” Callie motioned up and down her ensemble.  

“No you didn’t. Maybe it was me. Maybe I got you the wrong size.” Mark gave Callie a once-over, three times. It definitely fit and fit great, but he also knew Callie was not used to tight clothing and she might have been thinking she needed a larger, baggier size. “I can call Arizona and stall her some more and go run to get you another size,” he offered.

Shaking her head, she motioned to her knees and arms. “No, you didn’t. It’s not the size, Mark. You did great. I … I … I can’t wear it.” She took a deep breath, trying hard not to ruin the makeup that she’d worked on for most of the time she’d been in her bedroom. “I put it on and I liked it. I liked it a lot, but then I just felt so naked. I’ve never shown my legs, Mark. And … and …” Callie, unable to verbalize anymore, gestured down her body in a vague attempt to get him to understand. As he continued to stare dumbfounded, she gestured once more, making certain to hover her hands over her very exposed breast area.

“Oh.” He tried hard to avoid the chuckle that was stuck in his throat. “Okay.”

For a brief moment, Mark was grateful he wasn’t the one who screwed up this date. It was way too long in the making for him to be responsible for that catastrophe.

“You are going to the Boardwalk anyway, Cal, and it’s not really dress-friendly.” He tried to reason, except she still looked heartbroken.

“Think of it this way: in a dress you won’t be able to participate in things like the Fun House, which requires climbing and being tossed around. And there’s no way you’ll be able to ride any coaster where your legs hang off. One swift drop and hello, Callie’s underwear. Oh, and there's no way you’ll feel comfortable on the tumble Ferris Wheel either. If it were me wearing the dress, I’d panic that the people in the cars under me and across from me and those on the ground could see up my dress.” Mark mimicked a small girl pulling their dress embarrassingly over their knees, facial expressions included. “Actually, you might want to stick with the enclosed carriage Ferris Wheel no matter what you wear.”

Callie carefully wiped at her eyes as she heartily laughed at Mark’s antics. As always, he knew exactly what to say and when to say it and she felt a lot better.

“I don't look gay enough, anyway.” Callie said out loud to herself while trying to rationalize with herself that it was really okay not to wear the dress.

“What?” Mark laughed so hard he started choking coughs. “Gay enough?”

“Yeah, gay enough, you know, like looking like I’m gay,” she explained poorly.

“Callie, I'm not following you, at all.”

Huffing, Callie gave him an odd look. She didn't understand how he didn't get it.

“Okay, so when I was on the internet, all the gay sites I went to showed this type very specific type of gay woman. They all looked … looked not like me,” she said discouragingly. “Unless it was on the pay sites and …” Callie cut herself off as she remembered very clearly every moment she spent on those pay sites and she was only in the free sections.

Mark laughed again and had this urge to pat Callie on the head.

“Cal, there is no one way to look, gay or straight. Who you love does not mean you need to dress a certain way. You dress whatever way makes you happy and comfortable. So what if somebody can't tell if you're gay or straight or bisexual from the way you dress, that shouldn't matter. Especially since you already have the girl, so you don't need to send out any bat signals to your bat cave.” Mark chuckled at his own joke.

She looked at him, contemplative again. Callie opened her mouth and shut it. A few times.

“It was a joke, Cal. Ha-ha, laugh?”

“What's bisexual?” She blurted out as a deep shade of embarrassment crawled up her cheeks.

“If you like both men and women, you're bisexual.” He explained matter-of-factually.

Callie chewed her lip and cast her eyes away from Mark. “So let's say I had a crush on you growing up, but I had a crush on Arizona, too. More on Arizona. Would that mean I'm bisexual?” She mumbled her question as she grew even darker shades redder.

“Callie Torres, you had a crush on me?” He teased.

“Mark!”

Realizing it might not be the time for teasing, he went serious. “Fine, yes. You don't have to be fifty-fifty in your crushes. You can like one gender more than the other. You can like them both equally. It doesn't have a solid definition and you don't need to have a solid label either. Just be Callie Torres. Arizona already loves her.”

Callie let out a breath and relaxed a bit.

“So, did you want to be sealed to me when we were younger?” He couldn't help but tease her again.

“Mark!” Callie yelled, but both laughed anyway.

After the teasing was over, Mark excused himself for a moment, just enough time for Callie to start feeling sorry for herself again. Now without the dress to wear, she felt hopeless all over again. She didn’t want to wear something Arizona had bought for her. It was the principle of it. She asked Arizona out. She wanted to prove something. But here she was with bare minimum to wear and Arizona was going to be back anytime soon. Just as she had decided to cancel, even though it was disappointing and she feared Arizona would be upset with her, Mark returned with more bags in his hands.

“Here.” He threw them onto the bed and waited until Callie moved closer to open them. “They’re not from any of my previous … friends. I figured you might end up a little uncomfortable, so I had the sales clerk pick out a few things for you that might be less … revealing.”

A huge grin crossed Callie’s face and as she opened her mouth to thank him, Mark shook his head and shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

It was a big deal and Callie was more than grateful for it. For it and for Mark. Nodding, Callie sent him an appreciative look, sharing a silent moment of understanding between them. Now Mark’s face grew red with something, not embarrassment per se, but she couldn’t pin the emotion down either. He felt his face grow hot and shot Callie an awkward smile and let himself out without another word.

Another thirty minutes went by before Callie exited the bedroom again.

“Wow,” he said, almost speechless.

Feeling self-conscious, Callie frowned. “Is it too much? It's too much, isn't it?”

“No, Cal.” He continued staring. “You look, you look really great!”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Really.”

“Do you think Arizona will like it?” She asked nervously.

“She'd have to be blind not to. You clean up well,” he noted.

“Thank you.” Callie blushed.

“Holy Cow.” Arizona froze coming through the doorway, staring straight at Callie, who smiled widely in response.

Everything about her screamed confident, beautiful, and holy cow. Arizona was rendered speechless as she took in the sight before her.

Callie's hair, which was always in a tight braid down her back, was now loose, falling over her shoulders in gorgeous waves. And her shoulders, damn Callie had sexy shoulders, and Arizona knew this because they were actually bare. She wore a deep purple tank top, the neck adorned with intricate bead work that accentuated two very … two … damn, God really gifted Callie in certain departments. Since for the first time, Callie wasn't wearing a cardigan to cover up her arms, Arizona caught sight of a red bra strap peeking out from under the tank top. She couldn't help but smile knowing exactly what Callie was wearing underneath because she was the one who purchased it. She also couldn't help but imagine Callie wearing just that.

Once Arizona got past the top of Callie's ensemble, her mouth went dry. Callie was wearing tight, dark blue jeans which hugged her in all the right places. She didn't remember Callie's legs being so … long. And she wasn't even wearing heels. Callie finished her outfit with a pair of strappy flat sandals. And she even painted her toes.

Suddenly, Arizona felt underdressed in a pair of simple jeans and a black tank top, but she didn't want to point that out and risk bringing any attention to Callie that would cause her to feel vulnerable and cover herself up in any way.

Arizona was staring and Callie found herself blushing, but also under Arizona's eager eyes, she felt really confident. Nobody ever looked at Callie with so much smoldering passion or any passion for that matter.

“So don't worry about this monkey,” he pointed at Sofia, who looked up from her toys when she heard her pet name. “Bailey sent a care package and we have a date with seven dwarves and a poisoned apple.” Mark feigned excitement because Sofia was listening.

“Go. Go. Go. Go. GO.” Sofia cheered gleefully. “Mama, go,” she ordered sternly. “I haveta watch my movie.”

Her movie! Sofia acted like she'd seen it before or even heard of it, but Callie knew it was something new. She thought she'd overheard Mark talking about a poisoned apple and silly-named dwarves, but she had no idea what on God's green earth he was going on about. It was shortly after Sofia broke down because Callie was leaving her alone for the entire night, so Mark must have figured on a bribe for the young girl so that Callie could go out. And for that, she was grateful.

All three adults laughed at the almost three year old. It was a relief for all of them to see Sofia acclimating so well. Her speech, once limited, or more regulated than limited, depending on who was present, now came freely and often. She managed to even pick up some of Mark's mannerisms, something Callie would never admit to being adorable, but it was.

“Mama, GO!” Sofia repeated. “Please.”

“You heard the boss, so go have fun.” Mark motioned toward the door.

“Oh, I need my bag.” Callie stepped back into her room, taking longer than they expected.

Both Mark and Arizona shared a look of concern that maybe she'd lost the courage, except she returned with the same smile on her face.

Callie didn't know the area, but Arizona did, so once again, she drove. It didn't really bother Callie except for the lack-of-control thing. She was just nervous and without anything to do with her hands, she felt a little helpless.

Arizona avoided the main streets leading into the more populated part of town and opted for taking the backroads only known to locals. True, traffic would have been a bear, but that wasn't the entirety of her reasoning behind it. Besides her ulterior motive, this route was quieter and the scenery was prettier and it gave them a chance to chat. The Boardwalk would be loud and jam packed and completely void of the ability to have an intimate conversation once they arrived.

As she told Callie about the ridiculous errands that Mark had her running earlier in the day, Callie laughed. She threw her head back, tipping her face toward the setting sun, and the most gorgeous, carefree sound spilled from her open mouth. It wasn't even that funny, but damn, Arizona didn't care because Callie's uninhibited laughter was the best thing she'd ever witnessed.

“Hey, do you mind parking over by the pier near the wharf?” Callie asked as she stared absently out the passenger window.

“But the Boardwalk is a few blocks from that.”

“We'll walk it,” Callie concluded.

Figuring this night was about Callie, Arizona agreed, pulling off and parking where instructed.

The sun was setting behind the water and as Arizona started to walk in the direction of the Boardwalk, Callie reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her in the opposite direction.

“Let's watch the sun set first.”

Letting herself be pulled with Callie, neither said anything as the hand originally holding onto Arizona's wrist was now intertwined with her own fingers. The feel of intimacy sent a thrilling chill down Arizona's body, straight to her gut.

Trying not to get too excited, Arizona tried to rationalize this development. Women in the compound often were extra physical toward each other and hand holding was pretty commonplace. Even she and Callie had done this hundreds of thousands of time before throughout their youth. The only real difference, Arizona concluded, was the feelings it now exacted in her.

The pier was unusually busy for the opening day of the Boardwalk only a few blocks away. Being the weekend before the kick off of tourist season, most locals took advantage of it before it was taken over by the seasonals who only came to town in the summer months. Ignoring everyone else around them, Arizona wrote the strangers off as fishermen from the recently docked fishing boats.

Callie on the other hand was now set on edge with the amount of people around. She even went so far as to try to pull her hand out of Arizona's except the other woman held on tight and sent her a warm smile.

“I love watching the setting sun,” Callie commented.

“I know. I think you climbed up onto the barn almost every night of every summer so you could be closer to God to watch the sun set.” Arizona recalled. “It wasn't until your dad took down the ladder and had it destroyed that you stopped risking your neck for something that never changed, ever.”

Callie frowned in memory. She knew her dad didn't do it because he was worried about her safety. He did it because girls shouldn't be doing stuff like that, but she let Arizona's comment go. Maybe it was better to remember it that way anyway.

“It's really pretty here.” She tried to change the subject from her dad or any part of their youth. She didn't want to live in the past any longer.

“I like it, too.” Arizona remembered their pact that Alex had reminded her of almost two weeks prior. “I'd like to live someplace like this. Maybe not so crowded, just a little more privacy. What about you?”

Callie smiled because she now had a choice. She could live anywhere in the world. Anywhere Arizona was going to be. “We always said we'd move to the beach.” Callie remembered the pact, too.

“We did.” Arizona joined Callie's smile. “You could maybe grow some vegetables and sell them at a farmer's market and I could run The Lost Boys from anywhere, really.”

The way Arizona spoke, including Callie in her future, made Callie's heart swoon.

“And we could put up a swing set in the backyard for Sofia. Unless we lived on the beach and then we'll have one of those plastic play sets for her.” Arizona continued. “What do you think?”

Before Callie had a chance to comment, a shadow fell over them from behind. Both annoyed at the interruption from what they most likely figured was a nighttime fisherman, one of the ones they passed on the way in, they separated and started to turn around.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

Arizona had been gone for a very long time, but even she recognized that voice. Trying not to freeze as they faced the man, Callie's reached out, re-grabbing Arizona’s hand and painfully squeezing. Before them stood both the Prophet, himself, and Callie's father.

“Looks like we have hit two birds with one stone, Brother. Doesn't it?” The Prophet spoke with his voice dripping with venom and excitement.

“What did I tell you? Calliope never could resist a sunset.” Callie’s father gloated.

Summary:

At age fifteen, Callie found herself forced into a loveless marriage, a simple number among many, with no hope for a future. It wasn’t until more than her own future was at stake that Callie was fleeing for their lives only to find herself in the arms of the person she least expected. She was living hell on earth and was willing to risk complete spiritual damnation for a chance at so much more.

At age fifteen, Arizona left without ever looking back. She was going to be no man’s wife, not number one nor number twenty-five. Ever. For the next thirteen years she made a life for herself traveling the country saving others, but she could never forgot the one she couldn’t save. It wasn’t until she had to face the demons of her past that she could truly move forward but will the one she left behind be her savior or her downfall?

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

AN: So I know I’ve sucked at updating but in my defense, I grew very tired of the cruel people thinking they had a right to demand updates at their leisure and those who felt the need that they could write this story better. I hadn’t realized how much I had written until I went into my saved document and was like, holy crap! So now that I have control over this stuff a little better, I’m way less afraid to update so they should come more often depending on my ability to get to a computer with time on my hands. Hope you enjoy.

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Mark was glad that Arizona had been able to convince Callie to get out of the house again and go into town. While it seemed as if he were alone night after night in the house, it was okay because that meant things were changing for the better. The week after Arizona returned, Callie spent any free time she had, when she wasn’t trying to make the house a home, on the beach, watching Sofia build sandcastles and play in the surf. She never ventured past where the ocean met the sands and never ever did she wear appropriate beach attire. Callie wore light pants and always a cover-up even though she had been offered one of many swimsuits that Mark seemed to have collected over the years. Even after Arizona, beyond disgusted by the idea of Callie wearing one of Mark's sleazy girls' swimwear, bought Callie a new one, she still refused. On occasion, Arizona would join Callie and her daughter and she would take the toddler into the waters past the shoreline. Sofia had the time of her life and Callie stood the entire time at full alert, almost on the verge of an anxiety attack. Nobody had told Arizona what took place on the night nobody dared speak about. Mark didn't feel it was his place and Callie feared once again alienating Arizona or worse, another fight. It wasn't important anyway because lessons were learned, the air was cleared, and everyone was moving forward into the future.

This week was a better week and things were looking up. With the house empty, Mark could get some work done. As he stripped Callie's bed sheets, a job he usually detested, but in this case, he didn't mind, an empty pill bottle rolled onto the floor from where it was safely tucked under the mattress. Curiosity got the better of him and he read the label. Mark let out a chuckle as he recognized the generic name of the medication printed on the bottle. They'd all been there, each prescribed some form of the medication in the months that followed leaving The Order. It was for stomach ulcers. The fear of getting caught and being made to return or worse was on everyone's mind after leaving, which caused stress, which caused acid buildup, which caused ulcers. It didn't surprise him that she was on the medication and it made sense. Callie hadn't eaten much in days, was unusually pale for her skin tone, and often looked to be in agony. It made him sad that she didn't feel safe enough to tell him that she needed more so that they could get it refilled.

Mark pocketed the bottle and finished changing the sheets. For a few minutes, he grumbled how Alex always disappeared at night when things needed to be done around the house, but he figured the kid needed a break. Well, he wasn’t a kid, but he’d always be one to Mark. Alex wasn’t used to being around a house full of women and especially not around a toddler who needed constant attention. Still, it bugged him because while Alex was a guest, he wasn’t really. He’d been to the house enough times and knew his way around and that made him part of the family. And family pulled their share.

Now done changing all of the bed sheets and doing the rest of the chores, including his important phone call, Mark decided to find out exactly where Alex Karev had been spending his nights to avoid helping Mark out with the house chores. He signed into the computer and when he brought up his browser, he almost fell out of his chair as it loaded. Quickly, he scrambled to shut the tab except in his hurry, Mark turned on the computer’s sound. And it was at full volume with some of the fakest sex sounds that he’d ever heard screaming at him and Mark had his share of women, so he knew what fake sounded like. The visuals going along with the sounds were just as awful.

Mark cursed Alex for so many reasons. Firstly, Alex had balls looking at porn on his computer. Secondly, for Alex touching his balls while looking at porn on Mark’s computer. And thirdly, for leaving it up for just anybody to find. God forbid Callie find Alex’s little video of fake lesbian porn, it would traumatize her years to come.

Finally he was able to shut the tab and calm himself down. He’d deal with Alex, that was for sure, but first he had to find Alex.

Opening the program Arizona used to track her staff of mentors when they were out in the field looking for the Lost Boys, Mark typed in the zip code for the area because he didn’t remember Alex’s phone number off of the top of his head. As the screen loaded, three cell phones popped up onto screen, all labeled with their owner’s name. He looked at the screen unsure of what he was seeing at first. Callie and Arizona were at the ice cream shop, but less than a block away Alex stood stationary. There wasn’t anything, not even a bar where Mark assumed Alex would be in that vicinity. Then as Callie and Arizona started moving again, toward the beaches where he figured they’d sit down to enjoy their ice cream, Alex’s little dot started moving in that direction as well. When the women’s dots stopped, at the beach like Mark knew they’d be headed, Alex’s dot stopped as well.

Alex was following Callie and Arizona. That’s why he always left right after or right before they did, because he was keeping an eye on them.

With this new information, Mark could no longer stay mad that Alex had watched porn on his computer and that he had been skipping house work. Alex was trying to keep them safe and that mattered a lot to Mark. Right now, he’d put a box of tissues next to the computer and hand sanitizer and hope that Alex would at least keep things clean. He also kinda hoped Alex might mistake the hand sanitizer for lube. That would teach him a lesson.

Callie had a great night. An amazing night. She couldn't remember laughing so much in her entire life. And while they still didn't talk about the kiss ... kisses, or Arizona's feelings regarding either kiss, Callie was enjoying their budding friendship. A mature friendship as opposed to what they had as children. Of course she wanted more, and of course that greatly confused her, but she'd also barely left her husband and honestly, she felt unworthy of Arizona. Some things died hard. It didn't matter though because Callie realized why Mark and Arizona weren't an item. Alex and Arizona were one. The way he hovered over her, tending to her every need. His constant watching of Arizona when she wasn’t looking. The way Arizona would seek him out, make sure he was okay. How unless Callie was with her, Alex and Arizona weren’t ever apart. It was all so obvious and Callie found it funny, not their relationship, but how Mark explained he wasn't Arizona's type when Alex was a younger version of him, almost an exact replica. Still, it really didn't matter because Callie needed Arizona in her life even if it was only in the form of a platonic friendship.

Coming into her bedroom, Callie froze as she quickly noticed the new sheets on her bed. Racing to the far side, she panickingly searched under the mattress for her pill bottle. Almost in tears, she came up empty.

“You didn't have to hide your meds or go without, Cal. We could have called you in a prescription refill and a lot sooner.” Mark stood in her doorway holding up the pill bottle.

Overcome with shame, Callie tripped over her feet in an attempt to retrieve the bottle from Mark. “It's not mine,” she argued. “They're Lexie's. She must have accidentally packed them.”

“And then what, used them up from hours away and mysteriously hid them under your mattress?” He chuckled at the absurdity of it all. “Look, Kid, you don't have to lie to me. I'm smart enough to know that Lexie's name is on this because George let her get away with everything, even this kind of evil, so she probably got them for you. You're allowed medicine. That's why it exists.”

“Only those worthy of God's grace can be healed by the righteous,” Callie repeated verbatim from the book of rules.

Now Mark was laughing so hard that he was bent over at the waist. Tears were flooding from his eyes as a result. “Oh, Callie.” He tried to stop laughing. “Callie...” Mark started choking and Callie couldn't help but smile smugly. “Of all the things that they taught you in that shithole, you can't honestly tell me you believed that one?”

When she said nothing, only stared dumbfoundedly at her feet, Mark finally stopped laughing.

“I went to the Prophet and he blessed the elixir for me, but it didn't work. I just got sicker until Lexie got these for me,” she recalled sadly. “I was always told I was never worthy and they were ...”

Before she could finish, Mark interrupted her. “Stop right there, Cal. That fucker pulled a bait and switch on you. It's how he manipulated us to stay in line. You know why that shit he doled out tasted so awful?” He asked.

Callie shook her head.

“He would dissolve the real medication that you needed in a homemade cough syrup. Sometimes he would only give you the cough syrup without actual medication. He used an unlikely victim to make an example out of them. That stuff probably only made you sicker by making the hole bigger, but it has absolutely nothing to do with being worthy. You are worthy, Cal. Everyone, even that asshole, deserves real healthcare.”

“I'm sorry,” she whispered.

“Don't be sorry. I called you in a refill to my pharmacy. Pho is a good guy and he knows the business we came from. He won't ask questions and he'll be very discreet. No insurance needed, but he recommends you see a real doctor as soon as you can, okay?”

“Thank you, Mark.” She looked up from under her wet lashes with gratitude on her face. As he opened his mouth to respond, Callie flung herself into his arms. Their hug was brief, but to Mark, it was the best hug he'd ever been on the receiving end of, ever.

She wasn't ready to get out of bed even though she was wide awake. It was comfy and felt like she was sleeping on clouds and since Sofia was still asleep, Callie stayed those few extra minutes enjoying the cocoon of blankets. Her door was cracked from her latest nighttime trip to the bathroom and she could hear people buzzing outside. Nobody bothered her so she lay there in peace without a single care in the world.

“Do you even remember the last time Arizona was dating somebody or interested in them?” Alex asked and his comment perked Callie up immediately.

Mark laughed. “You can't call what Arizona did, dating. I don't think a single woman lasted more than a week.” He commented on Alex's question.

Callie lifted from the pillow and shook her head. She just heard Mark incorrectly, that was all.

Alex joined in Mark's laughter before he made a shushing sound.

“Callie's not awake and Arizona went for a run.” Mark explained when Alex tried to quiet them.

“Remember that married woman from the LDS church who was in Bailey's Bible study at the house and tried to seduce Arizona in secret? I swear she came over just to try to get Arizona in bed.” Alex reminisced.

Callie sat straight up in bed. There was no way she'd misunderstood that. Once maybe, but not twice.

Mark laughed again. “It would have worked had she not called Arizona's life's choices an abomination and then pushed her onto the bed, climbing on top, and tried to take her right there.” He remembered Arizona hollering for help and when he found them with Arizona trying to crawl out from under her and the woman was saying how God would punish them in the afterlife but it would be worth it. Bailey quickly followed Mark and threw her out on her face. Told her that as long as she thought that way and threw herself on a kid, that she wasn't welcomed in her house ever again.

For a brief moment, Callie felt so envious of a woman she didn't know, but she also felt uncontrolled rage toward this woman, too. How dare that sleaze try to take advantage of her Arizona. Callie was so lost in her own emotions it never occurred to her that was the exact intimate way she felt about Arizona.

Alex and Mark both laughed remembering Bailey calling Arizona a kid, because she was nineteen at the time. But a naive and young nineteen because it was Arizona who started the flirting, even though she knew better.

“God, I think that was the first time Bailey realized Arizona was gay.” Alex cringed, remembering very clearly that he thought Bailey was going to throw her out on her face.

And there it was confirmed. Arizona was gay. The grin crossing Callie's face was immeasurable. Both of those times that Callie kissed Arizona, she did kiss Callie back, it wasn't just her imagination. But if Arizona was gay, was Callie gay, too? It wasn't as if the thought hadn't crossed her mind, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't just gay. But right now, it didn't matter because Arizona was and Callie didn't have any rushing need to label herself. She had feelings for Arizona, she always had.

“No, Bailey always knew. It was just confirmed that day. Not sure what happened when Bailey grabbed Arizona by the ear and marched her out back onto the deck to talk. Neither will tell me, but whatever transpired, it finally gave Arizona some peace, that much was obvious. It took a bit for Bailey to ask Arizona about girls and dating after that, but she came completely around. That woman loves Arizona more than she ever loved any of us. They have a bond. Can't say it didn't make me jealous, but Arizona needed somebody to love her, unconditionally, for the first time in her life. Well … you know.” Mark shrugged.

“You mean aside from Callie and Tim?” Alex knew what Mark meant by his shrug.

And now Callie felt tears stinging her eyes as she continued to pay close attention to the conversation she knew she shouldn't have been listening to in the first place. Guilt was eating her up, but not enough to stop eavesdropping. And then there was unbelievable sadness at the thought that Arizona had gone for so long without knowing true love. Callie didn't have much experience with that either but at least she had Lexie and Sofia.

“I think that day changed them both. What do you think?” Mark smiled at the memory.

Alex looked down at the floor, scrubbing at his arms as if trying to erase the physical reminders of a time in his life he hated almost as much as when he was inside The Order. His voice was full of sadness, regret, and embarrassment. “I wasn’t around a lot after that. Was dealing with my own demons.”

“Hey, those track marks show how strong you are, Karev.” It was a sore subject for both of them. One, because he had gone after Alex quite a few times only to come home empty handed with scars on his heart matching the ones on Alex’s arms. They’d both done things in their past they weren’t proud of, but they were here now, doing great things, being great. Surrounded by great people.  

Alex looked down again, feeling awkward and out of his element. This was uncharacteristic for both of the men. They hadn’t ever talked about those years and never once had Mark made Alex feel any less for what he did during those years. But he hadn’t thanked the man either. They were both just screwed up kids looking out for each other. “Yeah well, thanks for keeping them from marking my grave, too.” He mumbled, embarrassment again fresh on his face.

Mark nodded and knew nothing else could or should be said. Instead, he continued with gushing over Arizona, something they both had in common. “So, Arizona finished college even though as you know, that was never her plan. It was always Bailey's plan, but Arizona was patiently waiting until she was twenty and planned to take off for good. Obviously that never happened. After she finished college, she incorporated The Lost Boys, as you know. The federal funding helps her a lot. I guess none of this would be without Bailey. She really made the difference in all of our lives,” Mark said sadly. His feelings toward Bailey had always been one of gratitude except now, thinking back, he realized he loved her, too. After being thrown out on his ass from The Order, without his mother making a peep to stop his father from doing it, Mark promised to never love another person, ever. He thought Lexie broke those walls down for him, but it was Bailey who really started the work so that he could accept his love for Lexie. Mark had never realized that before and he made a mental note to give Bailey a call later.

Callie continued crying as she realized that whatever love offered to Arizona was turned down because of the damage from The Order. Even Callie loved Bailey from just the short time she spent with her and she couldn't imagine just how lost and confused and hurt Arizona was to turn away from Bailey's offered love. It was then that Callie stopped listening to the conversation and buried her head under the pillow to get a good cry in before she had to get up. Nothing was going to stop the tears, so she might as well give in to them now that she had a reason to let them go.

“Dude, imagine where I'd be if Ben hadn't taken me in? And Ben wouldn't be in our lives if it hadn't been for Bailey. I thank that woman every day for raising you and Arizona the right way because when I got kicked out, I'd have turned out like my father for good. That asshole makes crystal meth in the basement of the Worship School building. Every time he ran out, the fucker would beat me senseless. And then I was stupid enough to try it when I got out. Try that and everything else I could get my hands on. I figured I was his spawn, I would amount to nothing anyway. But between you and Arizona, you guys found me and got me into rehab and now ya know...” Alex felt his face blush a little bit as he realized he gave away more information than he intended on spilling. He didn't talk about his life in The Order, before Ben, and it made him uncomfortable now that of all people, he was talking to Mark like they were best friends or something. Or girls.

“Yeah so next time Callie and Arizona go out, maybe I’ll stick around. Do you want to grab a few beers and watch a game or something?” He strengthened his voice into something masculine and pretended the conversation they'd had never took place.

Mark rolled his eyes in amusement but agreed nonetheless.

The news from earlier in the day excited Callie beyond belief. She was giddy and every time she thought about it, Callie found herself giggling. With this new revelation in mind, she also found herself growing brazen. Extremely brazen.

“Hey, Arizona?” She called out timidly as she walked out of Mark's office and down the stairs.

At the sound of Callie's voice, a huge grin spread over Arizona's face. “Yes, Calliope?”

“I'm not interrupting you, am I?”

Arizona didn't think her smile could grow any larger, but listening to the trepidation in Callie's voice was so cute and she couldn't help her cheeks rising. She wasn't sure what was behind Callie's obvious nervousness, but it was definitely cute. “Never.” She put her book down and gave Callie her full attention.

The magic smile on Arizona’s face instantly calmed Callie's nerves. “So, I was thinking, the Boardwalk opens tomorrow for the locals and I've never been before or even on an amusement park ride and I was wondering if maybe you would like to go?” Her voice raised in hope.

“I don’t want to marry you, Calliope.”

Opening and shutting her mouth a few times, Callie couldn’t focus on one single thought. Maybe it was the shattering of her heart or her stomach dropping to the floor that had her undivided attention, but the emotional rollercoaster of tears mixed with angry words of pain, that was clearly parked in the station.

At first, as the tears filled her eyes, threatening to spill over, Callie’s response formed on her lips. Her rage was overpowering and all she could think was fuck you, Arizona. Except as she looked at the woman standing before her, Callie refused to fall victim to her old ways of being overly emotional and sometimes immature about it. Not when so much was at stake. The epic blow up she was trying hard to contain would risk any type of future civil relationship with the mother of her daughter.

Her palms were sweaty as she just stared back at Arizona, silence hanging in the air. She nodded a few times, a small pout forming before her lips thinned out into nothing. Not a single emotion was readable across her face, deep into the depths of her usually expressive brown eyes, nor in her voice as she finally spoke.

“Okay. Okay.” She just kept nodding. “Okay.” What was she supposed to say? ‘Thank you for your answer?’ ‘If that’s what you really want?’ ‘Goodbye?’ All of those were better thoughts than her original vindictive nature of response but still, nothing seemed … appropriate.

“Callie, wait …” Arizona reached out for Callie as she turned and walked away. Her fingers grazed Callie’s shoulder and the taller woman, instead of fleeing, leaned momentarily into the touch. As Arizona’s fingers wrapped over her shoulder, Callie cupped her hand over it and squeezed. Truthfully, Callie expected such an answer, felt even deserving of it. Even with her emotions ranging from anger to despair, she wouldn’t blame Arizona. She couldn’t.

“Callie, please let me explain,” Arizona whispered in an attempt to avoid any attention their way.

“Mama, Mommy …” Sofia raced up to them at full speed, almost tackling Arizona as she launched herself against her mama’s legs.

“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Arizona asked as she let go of Callie to pick their daughter up.

For a brief moment as Callie turned around to face her family, Arizona caught a flash of devastation behind her eyes before she put on a brave face.

“Uncle Mark is here!” She rattled off breathlessly.

“Oh, is he?” Callie teased, adding a tummy tickle for good measure. “Are you sure?”

Sofia laughed in glee, nodding enthusiastically. “Can he sleep in my room? And we can eat ice cream and watch scary movies when it’s super dark?”

“Ice cream AND scary movies when it’s super dark, huh? Sounds like Uncle Mark spoils you.” With Sofia on her hip, Arizona tried to reach out, to touch Callie, but the other woman skirted just out of reach.

Sofia’s excitement momentarily waned as she finally felt the tension between her moms. “Are you two fighting again?” She asked with child-like innocence that lacked discretion.

A fake laugh spilled from Callie’s lips. “No, Sof. Mama asked me if the guest room was cleaned up for Uncle Mark and I remembered after some little miss spilled glitter glue and puffy paint all over the only set of sheets that fit that bed, I forgot to replace them. So Uncle Mark will need to stay in a hotel tonight.”

Arizona gave Callie a strange look. She had not only replaced the sheets, but bought two sets this time around in preparation for another Sofia art disaster.

“Why don’t you ask Uncle Mark if his favorite girl can join him for a slumber party tonight?” Callie suggested, knowing both Mark and Sofia would eat up that idea.

Before Arizona could add in her  two cents, Sofia was off and running. As she turned her attention toward her daughter’s exit, Callie used that moment to take a quick leave herself. It was no more than ten seconds that her attention was on Sofia’s departure when Arizona realized Callie had given her the slip. It was the last interaction she was able to find with Callie the rest of the evening.

The few times Arizona was able to catch sight of Callie during the remainder of the meeting, they were both always surrounded. She’d hear Callie’s loud, boisterous fake laugh on occasion or feel sad eyes boring holes through her, but that was it. She at least had a child-free car ride and night to explain and she held tight to that. She was well aware that Callie had been a passenger in Noah’s vehicle and would need a ride home. With Mark going to the hotel and taking their daughter, what choice did Callie have but to concede to a ride with Arizona? Except when she returned from gathering Sofia’s JIC bag from the car for her night with Mark, Arizona scanned the small remaining crowds for Callie, but she was nowhere in sight and sadly, neither was Noah.

Refusing to show panic, she put on her own brave face. One Mark saw through immediately.

“Noah took her home.” He mouthed to her as she stared hopelessly in his direction over Sofia’s shoulder as she hugged her daughter goodnight.

“Be good,” She reminded her daughter.

Dramatically rolling her eyes, Sofia huffed. “Mommy said the same thing.”

“Cuz Mommy’s smart. Now get going and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Arizona leaned in for one more quick kiss before pushing her daughter’s bottom in Mark’s direction.

The car ride home, alone, was hell. Hell was actually an understatement because it was complete torture not knowing what she would arrive home to find. If she’d arrive home to find anything or anybody.

Slowly, she let herself into the apartment, her eyes closing as she took a deep breath and tried desperately to contain her already well rooted dread. She had to expect this, to expect that at the very least, Callie would need time. Arizona knew she had royally screwed up. It wasn’t how it was supposed to go and she understood that Callie would be far from receptive to any explanation at this point. Hell, she might have actually slapped Callie had roles been reversed. But even at minimum, she knew Callie would need some space and time. In an extreme circumstance, which this one might just be, well … she didn’t want to think about that.

Sucking in a deep breath through her nose, she held it in as she peeked opened her eyes. Relief cut through the tension as she noted Callie’s purse sitting on the dining room table, a clear indication that Callie was home. But with the silence in the apartment, she still feared worst case scenario. Shedding her coat and shoes, she made her way toward their bedroom only to find it empty of Callie’s presence. Taking a quick survey, Callie’s iPod remained on her nightstand, which ruled out her being at the building’s gym. Her nightshirt, usually folded neatly on top of her pillow, was gone which meant she was in the apartment, somewhere. It was late. Later than Arizona would have liked because she got roped into an impromptu planning session, but not so late that Callie would be somewhere asleep … right?

With their ensuite bathroom empty, too, Sofia’s room and her bathroom, Arizona cautiously stood outside of their combo office-guest room. It was an understandable reaction and probably a lot nicer of one than she would have had if roles were reversed.

Gathering up her nerves, Arizona lightly knocked on the wooden door.

No response, not even movement within the room.

“Callie?” Arizona spoke softly followed by another louder knock.

Nothing.

Knocking a lot harder this time, Arizona also turned the doorknob. Or attempted to, except it didn’t move.

Locked.

“Damn it, Calliope.” Arizona cursed before slamming her fist against the door several times. When silence continued to follow, not even the light sounds of movement, Arizona shook her head. This was going to be harder than she expected.

Callie woke up to dim light spilling from a cracked open bathroom door. She must have been sleeping restlessly hard because her eye mask was down around her neck and she had no memory of leaving the bathroom light turned on. Turning over and rearranging her ear plugs, she started to right her mask when she caught a dark and distorted shadow across the room. Looking for the subject of said shadow, she desperately scanned the partial darkness, her foggy, sleepy mind telling her it was the boogeyman.

As her vision cleared, out of the corner of her eye, she swore she saw the shadow move toward her bed. Fear immediately took over, causing her to scream so loudly she slammed her elbow into the nightstand. Screaming loudly, now pain included in that equation, she tore her ear plugs out before cradling her arm.

“You’re in your forties, Calliope. Don’t you think by now you would be over your fear of the closet monster?”

Her racing heart slowed at the sound of Arizona’s voice and the fear in her face melted into a pout. “I wasn’t scared of the boogey man.”

Chuckling, Arizona shook her head. “Yeah. Sure.”

Feeling slightly attacked, a little more embarrassed, and completely vulnerable, Callie copped an attitude. “What are you doing here, Arizona? What do you want?” she snapped.

It was simple. “To explain.”

Arizona heard the hitch in Callie’s breath in the longer than normal pause before she responded. “You don’t have to explain, Arizona. Really. It’s fine. I get it.” There was no anger in her voice because she really did understand, but she sounded completely defeated.

“Callie …”

Callie shrugged in the darkness. “The window closed. It’s my fault and I have nobody else to blame but myself. I’m not angry.” She didn’t want Arizona feeling guilty over her own mistakes and she sure as hell wasn’t going to guilt Arizona into more when it was apparent that wasn’t what she wanted. She’d unintentionally done that once before and look how that turned out.

“Which is why you’re sleeping in here?” Arizona countered.

When Callie said nothing, Arizona kept badgering her. She wanted an answer. No, she needed an answer. An elaborate answer. One where she knew what the future held for them.

“Because I don’t want to look at you right now. I can’t look at you, okay?” Callie barked. “Because when I look at you, all I see is how you must see me. I don’t look in the mirror for a reason, ya know?” Her voice so harsh quelled into a whisper.

“Callie…”

“Can we just talk tomorrow? Or better yet, how about we just never bring this up again? I think that might be best for both of us.”

Shaking her head, Arizona tried again. “Calliope…”

“Sofia already suspects something is awry between us. We should just drop it, save her some much unnecessary grief.”

As Arizona went to speak, she clearly heard Callie open her mouth again. Oh hell no! “Callie Torres, stop interrupting me and let me complete a thought,” Arizona snapped.

Getting up from her spot on the floor, Arizona pushed on the small lamp on the adjacent desk. Turning around, she finally could see the damage clear as day, illuminated by the dimmed light, across Callie’s face.

“Oh, Callie,” Arizona sighed. So much for Callie’s facade. She knew, deep down that this would be the result, but she had really hoped Callie would wait for them to talk before jumping to such extreme conclusions. Callie’s eyes were red and puffy from what Arizona could only conclude was hours of crying. Her brown eyes were crystal clear with devastation, possibly the clearest Arizona had ever seen them. They were broken and empty. Her long brown locks were matted to her forehead and cheeks as if she had been running a fever, although Arizona knew it was from the storm of tears plastering against her face.

Silently, Arizona crawled into the bed, nudging Callie over until they both sat side by side. More than anything, she wanted to take Callie into her arms, but Callie’s defenses were up, an impenetrable wall. It was enough that Callie actually let her into the bed, so instead of asking for more, she took the hand closest to her in both of her own. “Calliope.” She waited and waited for Callie to look up at her, but with such sadness weighing her down, Callie couldn’t raise her head hung in shame.

“I love you, so much. You are my rock, my salvation, and my world.”

Tears ran down Callie’s cheeks, painting her face in wetness.

“We might not have a stellar history together, but that’s okay because our present and our future have perfection written all over them.”

At the word future, Callie lifted her head, making eye contact with Arizona for the first time.

“And what we label our future won’t change the fact that I plan to spend forever with you.”

“But you said…” Callie stopped cold in her sentence, realizing she couldn’t say those words. They hurt enough to think them, but to say them aloud meant such finality.

“I said I can’t marry you because I won’t make you do something you don’t want to make me happy. I can be happy with what we are, our family like it is, perfect, if it means I still have you at the end of the day, every day.”

Callie looked at Arizona in absolute confusion as if she had grown two heads. “Where did you get the idea that I don’t want to marry you?” Because more than anything, Callie did want exactly that. She’s always wanted exactly that, even going as far back as Africa.

“With the baby talks and our future, I guess, I mean…” Arizona shrugged. “What other explanation could there be?” She asked.

“Arizona Robbins, no! I … I never said such a thing. I was scared, hell I probably always will be scared, but never in that equation was a future without you. I explained my fears about bringing another child into our life. My genes and the fallout from shaking up Sofia’s foundation, but never …” Callie’s entire face went from devastation to genuine concern.

“Callie…”

“No, let me talk now,” Callie demanded, a bit of anger in her voice. “So I can’t give you children. That doesn’t mean I can’t give you a cemented future with me. A future, our future, it’s unwritten and obviously certain details are up in the air, but I love you, Arizona. I love you so much I would let you go in order for you to be truly happy. It’s not what I want, but I would have done it.” She was concerned that Arizona couldn’t see that, but also angry with herself for not showing her partner that’s how she felt.

Arizona now looked as if she was going to cry. “If that’s not what you want, what do you want, Calliope?”

“I want the next time you call me your wife for it to be real. So many people use that term loosely. They take it for granted and sometimes they take it without the vows and commitment that come with it. You and me, we’ve earned it. We’ve had the ups and downs, the problems that would break a lesser couple, and we deserve it, Arizona. We have proven our love can last through the good times and the god awful ones, too. How much more do we need to go through before we are sure?” Because Callie was sure. One hundred percent certain. Without a doubt. That she wanted Arizona Robbins as her wife, as her future. It was Callie who was terrified Arizona didn’t want what she could offer because it was just that, Callie could love Arizona indefinitely, forever, but she couldn’t give her everything she wanted and what Callie feared, everything she needed.

“Can I be honest with you without you overreacting?” Arizona asked with trepidation in her voice.

Callie looked at Arizona with fear in her eyes. She nodded, unable to speak for worry of her voice betraying her.

“I’m not sure where this leaves us. We keep doing this, thinking we know what’s best for each other…”

“But…” Callie tried to interrupt.

“Shh!” Arizona sent her a stern glare in warning. “We have to stop that. It’s going to destroy us. It almost has, several times.”

“I’m sorry,” Callie answered guiltily.

“No more apologies, Calliope. We’re past that. We need to stop it,” Arizona pleaded.

“I know. I agree.”

“This is not how I wanted this to go,” Arizona grumbled.

Callie misunderstood Arizona’s thoughts and immediately fear became apparent across her face. Arizona must have realized her words and quickly backtracked.

“This. Our talk of marriage.” Arizona motioned between the two of them. “It was supposed to be romantic and memorable. Well, this will be memorable,” she grimaced, “but I had all these big plans. Amazing plans. Awesome plans. I was going to woo you and sweep you off your feet.”

“Arizona.” Callie shook her head. “I don’t need a big declaration from you to prove you’re in this. Don’t you think coming here to DC after your daughter, without killing or maiming me for my deception, but instead embracing us, both of us, giving me a second chance at not only friendship but love with you, is declaration enough?” Callie asked with more seriousness than Arizona had ever heard.

“You deserve more, Callie.”

“All I ever wanted was you and I have you. That’s enough for me.” Callie cupped Arizona’s cheek, the first time she reached out for Arizona since they started. She turned Arizona’s face to look deep into her eyes. “I have you.” she repeated.

Arizona nodded while leaning into the gesture.

“So no horrible engagement story we have to lie about to our grandkids because nobody wants to hear how depressing the truth really is?” Arizona asked with a little jest mixed with disappointment in the final outcome.

“We’ll know when the time is right. Today is not that day.”

“But…” Callie’s hand swiftly moved from Arizona’s cheek to cover her mouth.

“But I’m promising myself to you for forever, no matter what we end up labeling it.” She finished.

“I love you.” Arizona mumbled through Callie’s hand.

“What?” Callie’s question turned into a loud squeal as Arizona’s tongue came out and licked the entire length of Callie’s hand. “Ew, Arizona! What, are you five years old?”

A huge grin spread on Arizona’s face when Callie finally pulled back her hand. “I said I love you.”

A calm and loving smile graced Callie’s face. She leaned in, their lips connecting in a chaste kiss followed up by several more before she leaned back. “I love you.”

It took some time, but Arizona liked Penny. A lot, in fact. She’d met Callie’s girlfriend several times through various get togethers with mutual friends they all shared as well as a few times Penny was present at Sofia’s school functions and Arizona found herself fond of the woman. She was happy for her ex-wife. Genuinely. At two years after their divorce, they could finally call each other a friend. They worked very hard at finding a place where the bitterness of the past no longer haunted their every step toward the future. Callie and Arizona were in a very good place. Penny seemed to fit well with her ex-wife and after everything with Meredith settled down, even their circle of friends. But that was on an adult level. At work, things were just as pleasant. Penny was a better resident than expected and Arizona had to admit, the way Penny treated patients showed a caring, almost motherly instinct in the other woman. She never felt Penny was a danger and she actually enjoyed teaching her and working alongside Penny. But that was on a professional level.

But today, Arizona wasn’t just Callie’s ex-wife or Penny’s superior at work. She was solely here as Sofia’s mom. The most important of all titles Arizona would hold in Penny’s life. After almost a year together with Callie, things were serious or at least getting there and they were talking about moving things along. Moving things along as in the moving in together talk. Making the last step before a real permanent one. The permanent one with white dresses and commitments and possibly an entire lifetime together. And that meant Penny’s role in Sofia’s life became her business because Sofia wasn’t just her daughter but her entire world.

Penny would be a permanent fixture in her daughter’s life. It was a huge step and Arizona needed to make 100% certain Penny was all in. Her daughter was not getting hurt, not on her watch.

This had been Callie’s idea and it was pretty well received by both women. Meet at a neutral but private-ish place, air any grievances or concerns with the other being open and receptive, and find some common ground. Callie wanted everyone to be a big, happy family and neither Arizona nor Penny would deny her that.

They had decided on a small coffee shop downtown. The seating was arranged so that they could have an intimate conversation without being interrupted but also, just in case one of them got emotional, it was public enough nobody would cause a scene. Over two hot chais, they had a lengthy chat. Of course it started off sharing silly Callie stories. Their mutual appreciation of Callie in their lives was a good foundation to work on. Both had a common love of Callie’s sleeping antics and both had a common dislike of Callie brushing her teeth in the shower and spitting into the tub while doing it. It grossed them both out even if it did save time when they were running late. It gave them time to grow a respect of the other before Arizona not so subtly grilled Penny every which way to Sunday. It wasn’t as if Penny didn’t know it was coming, because she did, but it gave them a little friendliness to go on. Which was needed because Arizona’s grilling included extensive information about Penny’s childhood and life up till then. Where she went to school. Did she always want to be a doctor? Where did she see herself several years down the road? How she felt about step-parenting. If she wanted her own kids with Callie, too. And if so, how she would make certain Sofia never felt left out or less than unconditionally loved at all times.

All of Penny’s answers were as Arizona suspected they would be and she was pleased. Well, as pleased as anyone in her position could be considering the circumstances that she was basically interviewing her daughter a new mother. A few times, she even caught herself asking direct questions regarding Penny and Callie, too. Callie’s inability to carry a child was no secret, but Arizona had a nagging need to make certain Penny would help Callie through any emotional distress a pregnancy, either Penny’s or a surrogate’s, would bring about because it wasn’t Callie carrying their child. Arizona was very aware Callie felt like a failure in that department and needed to know Penny was going to step up to the plate. It honestly scared her how sympathetic Penny was to that situation and because instead of telling Arizona to mind her own business, Penny made Arizona promises she didn’t even know she needed to hear.

She was remarkable, Penny, and that made Arizona both happy and a little jealous. She even told Penny as much, that she was jealous Callie found her first. Which she kinda was. In a, you wouldn’t be about to move in with my ex-wife sort of way. And also because Penny was great. And then there was the jealousy that she was even here, asking Callie’s girlfriend questions in the first place because Callie shouldn’t have a damn girlfriend.

As they were parting, Arizona realized they were friends, as close of friends as they’d ever be. She trusted the woman with both Callie and Sofia and she was going to put aside any other feelings and go with that. Hugging Penny goodbye, Arizona joked, “Now, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that if you hurt my wife, I’ll murder you myself? This is my family we’re talking about.” Arizona kept grinning. Even with truth behind it, she really wasn’t worried about Penny. She was certain after the transition, Sofia would be fine.

Penny froze mid-hug, her heart skipping a few beats with Arizona’s carefully chosen words. But Arizona was acting completely normal, even laughing at her own joke, which confused the hell out of Penny because honestly, it wasn’t exactly funny. Staring at Arizona, who had no look of malicious on her face, Penny figured Arizona thought she said daughter. Not wife. Daughter. Except it fell so easily from her lips that Penny didn’t miss the seriousness behind it. Just like she caught that same tone and seriousness when earlier in the day Meredith asked if they wanted to come over with Sofia and Callie told her, “Penny’s meeting with my wife today for the talk.”

Nobody corrected Callie on that slip up either, but Meredith sent Penny a sad, knowing look.

Penny loved Callie and she genuinely liked Arizona. Sofia was just a bonus in everything. And it was killing her. Deciding to skip the cab back to Callie’s, her own soon-to-be home, Penny took the long route and walked. She needed to think and work things out and she did that best alone. Her time with Arizona was lovely. Nothing was too personal, not that there was a too personal in this situation, because Sofia is Arizona’s daughter and she had a right to know whatever she wanted. But she respected Arizona not just professionally but as Callie’s ex-wife and Sofia’s mother. Arizona showed genuine concern for both of their welfare and Penny understood that. To a point. Penny had watched Arizona and Callie’s friendship grow over the course of the past year. They went from co-parenting, sometimes begrudgingly, to two people who enjoyed the other’s friendship. Many times over the past several months, Arizona shared in many invitations to join Callie for this, that, and the other. She had never been worried but instead she found a bit of comfort in watching them care about each other because it showed her what a loving woman she was in love with, even considering Callie and Arizona’s bumpy history. They could move past things. It was honorable in Penny’s eyes. It gave Penny a glance at what to expect in her own relationship with such a caring woman. And that’s exactly why she had come to this decision. To a lesser person, it would have never been an issue, but she wasn’t a lesser person and there was no other way around this. It was time and best to end things now, going no further. Callie and Arizona weren’t over each other. Granted, she did know this getting involved with Callie because she was honest and shared with Penny her trust issues. She was well aware Callie didn’t leave her wife because she fell out of love with her. It was an understanding on Penny’s part that it might never happen. And time did not heal all wounds, not here at least. They would forever be drawn to each other. To love each other unconditionally. To always be a part, too much a part of each other’s lives. And at one point, Penny believed she could handle that. Except after today, she knew that she would always come in third in Callie’s life. She wasn’t going to stand in the way of happiness even if it meant walking away from her own. Hopefully time would heal her wounds.

Callie stood outside of Arizona’s door teetering back and forth between her left and right foot trying to figure out her next step. Who showed up at their ex-wife’s house when they were dumped? Because they were dumped? And she wasn’t certain why she was even here. What was the point of her showing up at Arizona’s house in the middle of the evening because her own heart was shattered? What was her ex-wife even supposed to do?

“I love you, so much.” Penny kept reiterating, trying to make certain Callie understood this had nothing to do with a lack of love.

Callie nodded, tears running down her cheeks as Penny grasped her hands.

“I want you to be happy, Calliope. I know I make you happy, but Arizona, she makes you happier. She will always make you happier.” Penny said in such a pained sentence that it hurt even Callie to hear it.

“Penny, I love you.”

Now, Penny nodded. She had no doubts that Callie loved her, except she knew deep down that Callie loved Arizona just a bit more. And she understood that and accepted that and even if she wanted to ignore that, it wasn’t fair to anybody involved. She genuinely wanted Callie to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her.

Penny stilled her beating heart and tried hard to keep her tears at bay. “I know, Callie. I know.” She nodded.

“But why?” She finally had the nerve to ask the question that could possibly destroy her. What did she do wrong? Why did everybody she ever loved, not love her enough? Callie stood there trying so hard not to sob, but they escaped nonetheless and it hurt. The saddening sounds of heartbreak hurt them both. She felt like a full failure at life, at love. She was a terrible wife. Obviously a horrible girlfriend because here she was being dumped. She was probably a terrible mom whom Sofia would grow up to hate as well. Callie wasn’t even about to delve into what a disappointment of a daughter she was either, but she knew she rated right up there with Miley Cyrus. Granted, she didn’t feel like it was her fault, but her entire family sans her dad made her feel that way. Callie felt like the worst person in every way.

“I love you so much that I will not stand in the way of your happiness.”

Shaking her head, Callie wiped frantically at the tears streaming down her face. “But you’re still leaving me? But you’re leaving me anyway!” Callie snapped. Her emotions were all over the place and anger couldn’t help but rear its ugly head.

“Because I’m not who makes you completely happy, Calliope, and that’s all I want for you even knowing I won’t be part of it.”

And then Penny kissed her with everything she had. Passion exploded as Callie held tight to Penny’s arms, trying to keep her in place. Except the passion was only one-sided and both of them felt it. A sadness grew in the pit of Callie’s stomach as Penny pulled away and she realized Penny was right. And it broke her heart. Penny sent her a sad smile as she untangled herself from Callie.

She stood there for a long time after Penny walked out of her door, unsure, no, unable to understand what had just gone down. The last words Penny uttered were simple, “go after her, but be prepared to wait for her, too,” and Callie kept replaying them over and over in her head.

It wasn’t a secret, her feelings for Arizona. The woman was her ex-wife after all. They shared a child together, a history. They’d planned a future together. Those feelings weren’t going to go away overnight nor two years later and possibly, never. She’d already accepted that. Callie had thought Penny accepted that, too.

But here she was standing outside of Arizona’s front door anyway. And she had no idea why she was here. “Go after her but be prepared to wait for her, too.” Callie took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock. It was shaking, her hand, and she realized her entire body was vibrating from shaking.

Arizona saw Callie pull into her driveway. Ten minutes ago. After five, she started getting worried. When she went to her front door, through the peephole, she saw Callie standing there, waiting. She looked worried and freaked out and that both worried and freaked Arizona out. Her ex-wife looked as if she’d been crying and Arizona felt a pang of regret. Had she been too rough with Penny? Callie didn’t look angry, but her ex-wife’s emotions weren’t always on par with what they should be so the tears might not be out of proportion for Callie.

Finally she could no longer deal with the anticipation of what was to come and Arizona opened the door. She sent Callie a half smile, prepared to apologize for whatever it was she had done, specifically upsetting Penny, except before she got the words out, Callie burst into a storm of sobs. Panicking, she quickly pulled Callie through the door, kicking it shut behind them as she pushed Callie toward the couch. Apparently she had dug a little too much at Penny. She didn’t mean to, but at the same time, this was about Sofia and she’d take down God himself in order to make sure Sofia would be loved and cared for.

“I’m sorry, Callie. So sorry. I’m not sure what I’m sorry for, but if I upset Penny by being too forward, I didn’t mean to do that. Please tell her she’s a great person. I really like her!” Arizona tried to explain, but at the mention of Penny’s name, Callie just seemed to cry harder.

“I love her.” Callie sobbed, throwing herself into Arizona’s arms.

It should have been awkward, Arizona’s ex crying over her girlfriend in her arms, but it wasn’t. It was oddly comforting to be able to comfort Callie.

“I do, but … but it wasn’t enough. It isn’t enough.” Callie’s voice was muffled by Arizona’s shoulder and she wasn’t sure exactly what Callie had said. Or she was sure she had heard it, but she was confused because less than three hours ago, Penny had been gushing over just how much she loved Callie. This was a definite change of scenery from the happy couple.

“Callie, what’s going on?” Arizona asked, knowing before she would get answers, Callie would need to calm down. Waiting was the game and she soothingly rubbed circles on Callie’s back while the other woman continued to cry.

Pulling back from Arizona’s shoulder, Callie felt herself fill with embarrassment and shame. If it weren’t for the tears, she knew her face would be glowing red from that. “Penny left me,” she whispered.

Nodding, Arizona’s mind raced to catch up. How did things go from moving in together to completely separating in the span of less than a day? Thinking back, she couldn’t pinpoint anything she might have said that would have provoked such a response.

“What happened? Is this because I got too personal? I can talk to Penny, explain, apologize, whatever you need.” Arizona rambled on in a guilty tone.

“No. This isn’t about your coffee date. Well it is, but it isn’t. You were fine. She adores you. Thinks you’re great even.” Callie said with bitterness lacing her voice. Maybe if Penny didn’t think so highly of Arizona, they wouldn’t be in this predicament. If she felt Arizona was anything less than perfect for Callie, Penny would have stayed because she wanted perfection for Callie. But she also realized she’d never quite be on par with Arizona, always just a few steps behind.

“You love her. She loves you. She loves Sofia. Things were going so great.” Arizona felt silly stating such obvious facts when there was something under the surface she was ignorant to.

“I do. She does.” Callie barked, anger finally rearing its ugly head. “I DO love, Penny.”

“I don’t get it.”

“But I don’t love her enough, okay?” Callie said honestly. “I don’t love her … the most.”

Arizona didn’t get it or she wasn’t trying hard to get it because she wasn’t sure she could handle it.

“If this is about Sofia, I’m not sure someone who hasn’t been a parent can understand that a child comes first, Callie. It’s a learned trait for everybody else.” Arizona tried to explain. “You both, all three of you actually, need time to adjust.”

Callie was so angry. At Penny. At herself. At Arizona. Everything Penny said made sense. It didn’t just make sense, but Callie could finally see what was right in front of her eyes and she was so angry. And to top it off, it was Penny who encouraged Callie find common ground, a true friendship with Arizona. She wanted Callie and Arizona to move on from their past. To grow toward their future. She held Penny just as accountable as both of them for being here, in this place.

“This isn’t about Sofia. God, Arizona, how can we both be this blind?” She yelled, pushing off the couch to start pacing the length of the room. She had to get distance from Arizona. “We’re both highly educated women. Top in our fields. We both can’t be this stupid!”

“What the hell are you talking about, Callie?” Arizona snapped, feeding off of Callie’s rage.

Callie’s patience snapped and even from the short distance, Arizona could see her fuming as she turned and braced her body in her usual fighting stance. “Damn it, Arizona. Penny dumped me because I’m still in love with you. I still love you and if it hasn’t waned by this point, it’s never going to. I’m never going to be truly happy with anybody else because they’re not you!”

Unprepared for that truth, Arizona was taken back in shock. She now stood, facing Callie as her thoughts started going at a crazy speed through her head. When Arizona didn’t immediately answer, Callie felt the fool, threw her arms in the air in defeat, and started for the door. Callie’s movement broke Arizona from her shock.

“You think this is easy for me?” Arizona screamed back, stopping Callie cold in her tracks. “I can’t get past the second date with anybody because ALL I DO IS TALK ABOUT YOU. And when I’m not talking about you, I’m thinking about you or comparing them to you. God, I still love you, Callie. You’d think asking for a divorce would get it through my thick skull that you don’t want me. Even your sickeningly sweet, loving relationship with Penny isn’t enough, wasn’t enough to deter me because no, here I am, still waiting for YOU.”

Callie’s mouth flapped open to say something, to respond, but as she wasn’t prepared for this, she stood flabbergasted and fish mouthed.

“So you think it’s easy for me still being in love with you? Because it’s not!” Arizona said more calmly.

Callie’s movement toward the door cut the several feet distance between them, leaving them now less than a foot apart. They stood there, staring hard at each other, unsure what to say, unable to do anything but heavy breathing from their go around. As Arizona took herself a step closer, Callie took one backwards, shaking her head. More than anything she wanted to reach out, to pull Arizona into her arms, but she couldn’t. And she couldn’t risk Arizona being any closer and attempting the same because her response would only end up hurting them both.

Catching onto Callie’s reluctance, Arizona broke the silence in the most vulnerable voice Callie had ever heard from her ex-wife. “Where does this leave us?” She asked trepidatiously.

“I can’t right now. For now. I can’t trivialize what I had with Penny by jumping into something with you no matter how much I want to figure this out. I need time,” Callie answered honestly.

Arizona laughed, the tension in the room going out with the sound. “Yeah, I guess jumping into bed with me right now wouldn’t look so great. And I don’t think I could handle being that type of rebound. Not with you.”

It was a joke, of sorts, and while Callie could hear the humor in it, she could also see the smoldering look in Arizona’s eye. It was enough to set her body ablaze with want.

“How about this? You take all the time you need to mourn your relationship with Penny. I know that’s what you need and it would be selfish of me to ask anything less of you. And when you’re done, however long you take, I’ll be here waiting for you.” Arizona offered.

Callie nodded and Penny’s words once again echoed through her head, “go after her, but be prepared to wait for her, too.” Looking at the fear now present on Arizona’s face, she finally understood the rest of those words. It wasn’t only she who was terrified of this finally accepted development between them. “And I’ll wait for you for however long it takes for you to trust me. I will do my best to never hurt you again. I’ll try with everything I am, everything in me. I’ll wait forever until you aren’t scared anymore. At the very least, I owe you that.”

“Thank you,” Arizona answered in an emotional whisper.

It was now Callie’s turn to laugh. “You know you are so much more than a rebound, right? Because I want you to know, I’m all in. I’m always all in with you.”

The taste of blood wasn’t one of those memories that made a lasting impression. Maybe partially because there had been enough of it in her early teen years that it became second nature. An outspoken gay kid on a military base with a high ranking official for a father -- yeah, that always went over really well. More than once, she was found defending herself, or her family name, or a member of her family, and even sometimes another gay kid or just that unlucky kid who was on the receiving end of homophobic taunting.

A metallic tasting thickness dripped from her bloody lip into her mouth and it shouldn’t have come as such a surprise, but as she sat with the bloody rag to her face, it did.

Maybe it wasn’t the taste of blood or the sharp and throbbing pain shooting through both her hand and face but instead the reason behind both that was truly the cause for surprise. Or maybe it was the silent woman sitting beside her. The silence and the presence of the woman, both.

Her heart was beating erratically and her hand, surgeon’s hands which were always steady, shook as she pulled the bloody rag away from her face.

Neither had said anything since, well, since Arizona’s playground brawling met with her knight in shining armor routine when Callie’s dance partner took her genuine disinterest as playing hard to get and became too aggressive. Aggressive enough to make Callie cry out as the woman’s grip became painful.

Callie wanted to tell Arizona she didn’t need saving, that she was going to handle it herself, but she also couldn’t help think back in a twisted kind of fondness at how everything played out. She remembered telling the woman she wanted some water, which was the honest truth, but she asked if Callie was going to return and didn’t like the answer at all. Grabbing onto Callie’s bicep, she let her dislike known, squeezing tightly and growling something under her breath before pulling Callie back into another dance. Before Callie had a chance to respond or walk away, Arizona tried to cut in, but Callie’s dance partner wouldn’t have any of it. Except Arizona was also not having any of it and like a dog marking his territory, Arizona peed right on Callie’s leg. Figuratively, of course. Arizona calmly explained to the woman that her wife … Arizona’s wife … Callie ... had enough out on the dance floor and it was time to call it a night. She didn’t wait for a response and hooking her arm through Callie’s, she escorted her away from the woman.

Three feet, maybe four, from her and Arizona clearly heard what was muttered. Callie did as well.

“Slutty Tease Bitch.”

“Arizona, don’t,” Callie begged and pulled on her hand as Arizona turned. “You don’t have to …” she tried to dissuade her from doing something stupid. Arizona squeezed her hand before pulling away and Callie knew there was nothing to stop her.

Arizona was now a woman on a mission. Untangling her hand from Callie’s, she flipped around and marched back.

“Excuse me?” From her spot near the speaker, Callie could clearly hear the rage in Arizona’s voice.

Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was that the woman was just brazen, but either way, she repeated herself directly to Arizona’s face.

Callie turned back just as Arizona’s hand pulled back. Before she could blink, Arizona’s fist connected with the woman square on the nose. Callie gasped in shock as blood began pouring out of the woman’s face but she didn’t recoil as one usually would and with murder in her eyes, she instead retaliated.

Callie screamed to warn Arizona, but it was too late. Arizona went flying backward from the power of the punch, her leg twisting awkwardly and snapping from the position and pressure of her fall. As Callie ran to her side, tears streaming down her cheeks, security arrived and escorted the other woman from the bar.

Callie had crutches in her trunk. Of course she did, she was an orthopedic surgeon. Except Arizona recognized that particular pair. Not just any pair but one of her own. There were stickers left over from Sofia’s desire to give Mama more style. Callie kept a pair of her crutches in the car.

For her?

They weren’t even married anymore, for a long time now, and they rarely were found together outside of Sofia switches or for work-related reasons. But Arizona skeptically believed, with all facts pointing in that direction, that Callie was still prepared and not just in that orthopedic surgeon way, but a on a much deeper level.

Before Arizona could delve deeper into the meaning of it, Callie’s friend, who had been hovering over them only minutes before, returned with said crutches before disappearing completely.

She tried to argue that her spare leg was in her car, but Callie only shook her head and motioned to Arizona’s already swelling injury. In the end, Arizona was grateful she hadn’t tried to put another leg on, but she also had a spare pair of crutches in the trunk which Callie knew about. Hell, Callie had insisted she carry them almost immediately after her amputation. And knowing this, Callie still insisted on taking care of it herself.

And now, here they were.

They had waited until the bar emptied out before making their own way outside. After handing the valet her ticket and name, Arizona maneuvered her way down to sit on the curb with Callie following suit. She still didn’t know what to say, but it was obvious Callie didn’t either.

“Here you go, Mrs. Robbins.” The valet returned with Arizona’s car and handed the key to Callie.

Before Arizona could protest and correct the man, Callie stood up, holding Arizona’s crutches out, and waited for her to right herself. Using the remote button on the key fob, Callie popped the trunk and as she got Arizona settled into the passenger side, the young man loaded Arizona’s broken leg into the car.

They were miles down the road before it dawned on Arizona that Callie was A) driving her home and B) she’d taken care of everything, tipping the valet included.

“What about your car?” Arizona finally broke the painful silence.

“Carolyn took it home.” Callie’s response was barely a whisper. “I’ll get it tomorrow.”

That answered Arizona’s next question about the whereabouts of Callie’s friend.

“How’s the lip?” Her question was just as quiet and full of trepidation.

Arizona’s tongue peeked out, tracing the fattened flesh of her lip. She hissed before her tongue retreated to count her teeth. All in one piece and accounted for. “It’ll heal.”

“And your hip?” Called asked with genuine concern. She saw the way Arizona landed and it didn’t take an orthopedic surgeon to know how much pain Arizona was feeling.

Arizona didn’t dare twist to estimate the damage. She was well aware that she had torn some muscle and there was probably already a great deal of bruising.

“You aren’t taking me in for x-rays, are you?” Arizona joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Callie was in no mood for jokes, but the thought of stopping by work hadn’t crossed her mind until Arizona mentioned it.

As she sat there now contemplating doing just that, Arizona mentally kicked herself for giving Callie the idea in the first place.

“I’m taking you home. We’ll do x-rays tomorrow.” Callie finally decided.

Trying to ignore the pain, Arizona fell asleep as Callie drove them out of the city. It wasn’t until the car’s parking brake was initiated that Arizona woke up. Except instead of being home as she expected, she opened her eyes to Callie’s house.

As she fought to free herself from the fog of her nap, Callie was already at the passenger door, crutches waiting for Arizona. Feeling the awkward tension, Callie tried to make a joke.

“I figured since I was referred to not once, but twice as your wife, I might as well take you home with me.” But there was no air of jest to her voice and Arizona clearly caught the sad tone.

Since Callie’s failed attempt at a joke, neither spoke anything other than questions and directions as to where Arizona would be sleeping. Following Callie down the hall, Arizona realized she’d never been this far into her ex-wife’s house. Any other time she would have taken time to observe, but with Callie’s quick gait, Arizona struggled to keep up on crutches. Even then she didn’t realize where she was as she sat on the bed where Callie motioned. Not until Callie moved to the dresser, pulling out a pair of spandex shorts and t-shirt did it occur to her she was in Callie’s own bedroom.

She went to argue that the couch would be fine, but as Callie turned back toward her, Arizona caught the look of fire in Callie’s eyes and knew now was not the time.

Shaking her head, Callie handed Arizona the clothes before disappearing from the room completely. Taking the offered privacy, Arizona slowly changed before settling with her back against the headboard. She wasn’t sure Callie was going to return tonight and honestly she was okay waiting to talk until morning. It wasn’t like she knew why she interfered. They had seen each other early in the night yet barely exchanged even a small smile between them. Both of them danced with other women, nursed one lone drink, and even stood feet apart at the bar in silence. It was awkward watching their ex out, picking up women and being picked up by other women. And Callie could have handled herself out there with that woman, she always could, but Arizona just saw red and reacted.

When a look of pain registered across Callie’s face from the grip the woman had on her arm, every feeling for Callie that Arizona had been repressing for years now boiled to the surface and that was that.

It was embarrassing because Arizona knew she’d have to explain herself and she wasn’t so sure Callie would be at all receptive.

Thinking about what she definitely shouldn’t be thinking about but she was thinking about, Arizona didn’t realize Callie had returned until she was handed two pills Arizona was certain were leftover Percocet from her fender bender last month and a glass of water. Without saying a word, Callie reached over Arizona, her hand disappearing under her pillow and pulling out her own night clothes. She gave Arizona a short nod and disappeared into the adjacent bathroom.

Once in the sanctity of the bathroom, Callie leaned back against the door before sliding to the floor, hugging tightly to the clothes in her arms. It had been a long night and she was drained. Not including the fight and everything that took place afterward, just seeing Arizona dancing with other women was enough to set her on edge.

And then with Arizona’s gallant rescue and subsequent injury, Callie wasn’t sure she could hold it together much longer.

Thank God Sofia was at a slumber party and she didn’t have to explain any of this, her mama’s fat lip included, to their seven year old daughter. Now the only thing left to explain was Arizona’s actions.

Her wife?

What the hell was that about? And when could she not hold her own and needed saving, ever?

This was not how she saw this night going. At all.

Dormant feelings were now taking complete hold of Callie’s sanity. What was she doing? She had no idea.

Getting up from the floor, Callie quickly dressed. She was a thread’s width away from losing it and needed to get out of her room to the couch. To safety.

Realizing she’d been a good twenty minutes and Arizona should be knocked out on drugs, she silently slipped out of the bathroom to realize that she was correct.

Arizona was now under the covers, turned on her side, her chest rising easily in sleep. Tiptoeing to the lamp, she quietly turned off the light before making it almost to the bedroom door.

“Stay, please,” Arizona mumbled.

Callie stopped cold in her tracks, teetering back and forth on the balls of her feet.

So close was all she could think until another weak plea came from the darkness.

“Calliope.”

And Callie immediately recognized the tone of that request. It was one heard many times during the worst of Arizona’s night terrors or one of Arizona’s early tough days where she went to bed in pain from hours upon hours on her new prosthetic.

Callie swallowed the emotions lodged in her throat before answering, “I’m going to get some ice. I’ll be right back.” She slipped through the door and didn’t stop until she reached the kitchen.

Cold air slapped her directly in the face as she reached into the freezer to retrieve the ice packs. It was at that moment she realized she was crying, cold tears dripping down her cheeks. Shaking her head to clear her mind, Callie refused to examine the whys. It had been a long and tumultuous night and she was writing it off as just that.

“It’s cold.” Arizona grumbled as Callie arranged the ice on her hip.

She had barely situated her own self on the bed when Arizona scooted closer, cuddling into Callie’s warmth. She wasn’t even under the covers when Arizona reached out, her arm draping easily over Callie’s body in an all too familiar hold.

Callie didn’t want to wake the other woman, for many reasons, even though she told herself it was purely because Arizona was in pain and needed sleep. Not because waking Arizona so Callie could get settled might mean they had to talk. And not because waking her in a drugged state could cause Arizona to say something she’d ultimately regret--they’d ultimately regret in the morning because pain meds always gave Arizona loose lips. And definitely not because Callie was comfortable. This was all about Arizona.

So she resigned herself to their current position for the remainder of the night. One Callie easily melted into. As she settled herself, she grabbed for the knit throw at her feet and covered her body.

“I love you.” Arizona’s voice was muffled by Callie’s t-shirt, but Callie’s heart registered the words aching so deep within her own soul.

Callie responded without a second thought, “I love you, too.”

She had been half asleep when the words fell out of her mouth, but what startled Arizona fully awake was the response she heard echoed back. Her hand fisted in Callie’s night shirt tensed as the body under her did the same. Neither moved, both holding their collective breaths, hoping to fool the other into believing they were asleep.

Even in a drugged haze, Arizona knew Callie was alert and wide awake. She also knew she, herself, wasn’t fooling anyone. Anyone being Callie. Just as she worked up the courage to address the elephant sleeping between them, Callie spoke up first, her voice uncharacteristically timid.

“I think we need to …” her voice cracked under pressure, “we should talk.”

Nodding her agreement into Callie’s chest, Arizona let out an audible sigh. Releasing Callie’s shirt, she positioned her hand on the ice bag on her hip and rolled over onto her back before she sat up and scooted herself backwards against the headboard. Callie immediately followed suit, turning slightly to reach for the lamp on her nightstand. Once light filled the room, neither of them dared look at the other for fear of what they might or might not see. For fear of what their own faces might unintentionally show the other.

“I know I was out of line tonight.” Arizona decided it was best to start there and skip over the obvious.

“Why?”

Arizona chuckled, as if there were some other answer Callie expected. “Because I hit someone.”

Shaking her head, she let out an exasperated sigh. “No, I mean why did you?” Callie asked, but didn’t bother waiting for an answer. “I mean, I appreciate you defending my honor and even before that, you saving me from her, but you didn't have to hit her. So she called me a slutty tease bitch, so what? She’s a nobody. Her words meant nothing, Arizona.”

“You’re not a slutty tease bitch,” Arizona lashed out, obviously deeply hurt by those words. She had no idea why they bothered her so much, but they did.

Now Callie chuckled. “Oh, we both know I have my tease moments and I’ve definitely been considered, in the past, slutty. Besides,” Callie shrugged, “I clearly remember you calling me a bitch on more than one occasion.” She smiled brightly, trying to make light of the situation. The ridiculous and juvenile name calling didn’t matter to her at all, but she could tell Arizona was truly upset.

“Calliope.” The tone of Arizona’s voice edged again on rage. “You’re not a slut and just because you rejected this woman’s advances does not make you a tease or a bitch.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” As Arizona glared at her, Callie felt duly chastised and threw her arms up in retreat as she whispered in response.

“Look, I know I shouldn’t have hit her.”

“But you did … why?” Callie asked with genuine interest in Arizona’s response except when none came, Callie pressed on. “We’re not married, Arizona. You don’t have to defend my honor. Hell, most days I wouldn’t even consider us friends. We barely speak outside of work and Sofia. And I can’t even remember the last time we exchanged even pleasantries just because. And then you not only saved me but then you stood up for me. You hit someone! Why?”

“Why do you carry my spare crutches around in the trunk of your car?” Arizona shot back.

“Because I care, Arizona...” Callie trailed off, unsure how to proceed without ... without giving too much of herself.

“So do I, but why, Callie?”

She shrugged and cleared her throat in a weak cough that fooled nobody. “Because I care about you and I have hope that one day we -- you might consider me a friend again. You’ll call me when you’re in a jam because you’ll know you can count on me. I’ll be prepared.”

“Callie, of course we’re friends. We have a daughter together. “Arizona tried, but she knew that her argument was weak and sadly, untrue.

“That means nothing.” The words left Callie’s lips before she knew what she was saying, when the sadness on Arizona’s face registered with her she quickly reached for her arm. “Not what I meant. Just because we have a daughter doesn’t mean we are friends.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Arizona answered defeatedly. “Even friends love each other,” she mumbled what she thought was under her breath but she didn’t miss the painful look quickly flashing across Callie’s face.

“Arizona, do you think I asked you for a divorce because I didn’t love you anymore?”

That was not a question Arizona wanted to answer, let alone even think about. Ever. Instead she looked down at her hands, her fingers playing with a loose thread in Callie’s comforter.

“Arizona, look at me,” Callie begged, waiting until glazed over blue eyes connected with her. She truly wanted to reach out and cup those soft, flushed cheeks, to bring their faces a breath apart. To breathe in Arizona’s life. To give Arizona life. But they’d both already overstepped so much tonight and Callie knew it wasn’t a wise choice.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t love you, but because I loved you too much, Arizona. We’d become toxic for each other. Codependent to the extreme, but not out of love and desire, but selfishly out of necessity to exist at all. We lost what made us Callie and Arizona and no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t find it again.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Arizona tried hard to stop her emotions from taking control. She sucked air in and out through her nose in a desperate attempt at centering herself, but when she opened them again, wet eyelashes gave her away.

“We were both so bitter and angry and honestly before I lost you completely, I asked for a divorce in hopes that one day we’d find our way back to each other. And not because we were obligated to, but because we wanted to. In whatever capacity we could learn to coexist. I was willing to lose you in hopes to one day find you again. Because I love you so much.”

Her body shook just slightly as she took it all in. She had no idea, of any of it, but she also never bothered to ask either. As Callie said, she was so bitter, not only before they ended in divorce, but also over everything from the way it all fell apart and then on and it was just easier to not look at the bigger picture. It was a lot easier to stay in the blame game than admit those truths Callie had just revealed, even if they were things deep down, she truly did know, just refused to consciously acknowledge.

But even buried under layers of anger, betrayal, and bitterness, Arizona’s love for Callie still beat strong. Tonight when that woman dared put her hands on Callie, something snapped for Arizona and she wasn’t talking about the end result of her prosthetic.

Calling Callie a slutty tease bitch was just the icing on Arizona’s cake. In the moment she went to free Callie, Arizona realized that deeply buried love for Callie still existed. Between fear and anger boiling over, she exploded. Rightfully so in this case, but with very little push. It was easier in that moment to lash out at that woman than accept her feelings. Immature, but still easier.

“I meant what I said,” Arizona whispered in a raspy voice.

“I know and you’re lucky she didn’t press charges, but lesson learned.” Callie wasn’t so upset after exposing her heart that Arizona didn’t return the sentiment. She knew her ex-wife needed time to process and she was also on 30 mg of Percocet which probably slowed down her thoughts anyway. But Callie wanted to clear the air and she did and that’s what mattered.

“No, Callie … well, yeah, that, too.” Arizona sounded flustered, trying to explain. “But before that,” she took a deep breath. “I do love you.” Because she did and Callie had bared her heart, so it was time for Arizona to step up to the plate, too.

Callie said nothing in response, giving Arizona the floor. She felt a ‘but’ coming on and took a deep breath to rein in any response.

“But …” and there it was, “I guess I didn’t realize it.” Callie released her breath in a shudder. “I didn’t want to.” Arizona shrugged. “It felt useless, still being in love with my ex-wife.”

Callie laughed in agreement. “I get it.” Because she did. “How’s the hip?” She asked when Arizona’s own laughter caused her to hiss out in pain from her body shaking in response.

“About as good as the lip.” Arizona knew Callie would ask that question next and beat her to the punch.

“You hit her pretty hard. I don’t think you broke anything, but she’s definitely going to be sporting if not one, two black eyes.” Callie smiled proudly at the memory of Arizona’s fist coming into contact with that smug woman.

Arizona shrugged. She really couldn’t care less. “Maybe it’ll teach her to have some respect for the word ‘no’.”

She waited a beat before finally asking the question. “So where does this leave us?” The hopeful edge to Arizona’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by Callie.

“Well, Sofia is due home around noon and so we should probably get some sleep.”

Arizona’s shoulders sagged, not expecting that to be Callie’s response.

“Because I should probably get up early. I’m making breakfast for a friend.” Callie watched Arizona’s face now fall in defeat, mirroring her body language. “I mean, she did punch a woman in the face for me.” Callie smiled brightly.

Nodding with her own grin, Arizona accepted the offer on the table. It was about time for both of them.

They both nodded at each other with matching smiles before Callie leaned over to shut off the light and this time, slipped under the covers. Settling down, she scooted closer to the center before gently rolling Arizona’s body toward her with the ice still situated on her hip. As Callie’s arm slid under her head, Arizona melted into the causal embrace. It was a start and neither of them knew where it would head or if they’d ever be truly ready to go anywhere again, but they could do friends. They could be friends. And if something more came of it, they would at least have a firm foundation to build upon.

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

A/N: This is a sequel to I Can See You Talking. That link is for chapter ten which will give you the links to all of the other chapters if you didn’t read that to catch up before you read this. I was told you are able to read this piece separately but be warned you will miss some of the important backstory. Enjoy.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

As Noah and Callie entered the hall, her nerves were in full gear. All eyes were on her and it wasn’t even her imagination. Callie hadn’t been to support group in so long and with the million different excuses Arizona was always making for her absence, many people there believed the two were on their way to divorce court.

Arizona, the star of the show wasn’t seen with any support of her own and since she never spoke of the very obvious stresses in her life, the assumptions were always negative. So when Callie felt all eyes on her, old and new, they really were all staring at her. But before she had any time to react, to panic and flee, Sofia excitedly ran up to her and pulled her away in the opposite direction of such freedom.

Looking back over her shoulder, Callie sent Noah a terrified look which he returned with a warm smile of his own. He nodded in encouragement as she was pulled further and further away.

Mark watched Callie enter the room, hand-in-hand with another man and the look on her face was one of terror. The man squeezed her hand, leaned in, and whispered something into her ear which brought the brightest smile to her face. The pit that was in the bottom of his stomach with his impromptu trip out there, grew exponentially. Quickly, he realized that was Noah. He’d heard about Noah from both his daughter and Arizona. Part of him was grateful for the man. Mark was happy Callie had someone because he worried constantly over the years after her departure for her well-being. He could no longer protect her and Noah did just that. And then the other part of Mark hated Noah. It was pure jealousy. Mark missed Callie, a lot. Their friendship was irreplaceable and while he loved Arizona, she didn’t fill the hole in his heart Callie left behind. Nobody did.

Seeing Noah, he was torn and for a few minutes, stood back out of Callie’s line of sight. It wasn’t until she was pulled away by Sofia and a few of her friends that Mark’s feet moved at their own accord and he found himself extending his hand in greeting to the other man before his brain registered what had happened.

Sofia’s excitement was intoxicating and soon Callie’s anxieties vanished into thin air. While her daughter rambled on a hundred miles per minute about her new friends, specifically the three new toddlers to the group, Callie found herself quickly surrounded by a few of the new parents and some old friends. They were all sharing in Sofia’s glee over the new game she’d just taught them when the play corner of the hall turned into toddler cries in stereo. Before Callie could grab her daughter and tell Sofia to let their parents handle it, her daughter was off and running to their aide.

Frozen to her spot in fear of this provoking a meltdown, all Callie could do was watch and pray.

“She’s really amazing.” One mother commented as she stood watching Sofia rein in the crying toddlers. “For the past month she’s handled them like a pro.”

“A month?” Callie asked in shocked curiosity.

“Since the day we started.” Not realizing who Callie was, another woman responded and joined them.

The group surrounded Callie and now the four parents began chatting, their attention no longer on the children as the cries had ceased.

One dad laughed. “Sofia told me last week that she needed practice for her new baby brother. She sent me on my way to have adult time.”

“She even asked me if she could babysit sometime. She’d bring her own babysitter with her but she wanted to practice, too. I just thought it was the cutest thing ever. She even promised that she’d work really hard on being on her best behavior but sometimes it wasn’t easy because she couldn’t always control it but she’d be really good.”

Callie listened to each person tell their story about her daughter. And while she knew her daughter was great and amazing and everything these parents were saying, it helped, a lot, to hear that she’d done something right along the way. That maybe she hadn’t screwed up her daughter like she’d feared.

Finally, brought out of her own thoughts, the first mom of the group directed a question toward Callie. “She’s yours, right? Yours and Arizona?”

Before Callie could respond, Stacy stepped up and responded. “Callie raised Sofia alone for almost four years before Arizona came into the family. I know it’s hard to believe now but she used to communicate only through ASL for years.”

The dad let out a small gasp. “That was no small feat, I know, I do it on my own. But damn. You did a great job with her. She’s a fabulous kid. I’m Jim by the way.” He introduced himself.

“Callie.” She responded in almost a whisper. She was truly blown away by what she was hearing and funnily enough, support group was working. Callie felt at ease and that weight almost drowning her for the past several months was almost completely lifted.

“So, you’re expecting? A boy, right? Which one of you is carrying because you both look fabulous not that being pregnant doesn’t make you any less fabulous but seriously, neither of you are showing and what, you can’t tell if it’s a boy or girl until the twentieth week, right?”

For a moment, Callie just looked at the woman with pure horror on her face. She tried to swallow, tried to answer but her eyes grew wider as her voice stalled out. It wasn’t fear of the subject at hand as it had been for so long now but that Sofia was going around telling people she was getting a sibling and that people thought they were pregnant. It was horrifying. As she started stuttering, a friendly and familiar chuckling came from next to her.

“Nobody’s pregnant, Sofia’s just pushing for a sibling and she thinks that if she asks enough times, she’ll wake up and find a baby brother under the Christmas tree.” Stacy explained with a laugh, saving Callie from an awkward explanation. It wasn’t their business and she didn’t want Callie to get upset over having to explain. “Everybody keeps telling her that’s not how it happens but she’s persistent, even tried to get Noah to help even though she had no idea what she was asking. Took him weeks to be able to look any of them in the eye.”

As the group continued to chat, Stacy put her arm around Callie for support. “Thank you.” Callie whispered quietly.

“Don’t thank me yet, I think we have a problem.” She angled her head in the opposite direction until Callie caught on.

“Crap.”

Stacy chuckled again. “Yeah, crap! Do you want to handle this or should I?”

Rolling her eyes, Callie shook her head. “I have it.”

Noah grinned at Mark, extending his own hand. Normally men looked at Mark and recoiled in insecurity at his well managed and what some men would dare say, sexy appeal. But Noah, if in competition with Mark on looks alone, was on equal footing.

“So, how’d you convince her to come?” Mark asked making small talk. He knew from his conversation earlier that Arizona was trying a different tactic, one where she wasn’t going to be the bad guy if things went wrong.

Noah shrugged not knowing this man well enough to tell him in the end, Callie only agreed to come to get Noah to stop playing with her sex-time toy drawer contents. “I have a way with Callie.”

Mark wasn’t buying it. “Arizona has a way with Callie and the sex incentive but she couldn’t convince Callie here.”

Noah shrugged again. “Where Arizona’s emotionally invested, I’m not and can approach Callie with a calm and clear head.

“I call BS. Nobody is friends with Callie if they aren’t emotionally invested.” Mark argued.

“Callie just needed some nudging without being emotionally blackmailed.”

He scoffed at Noah and couldn’t believe what he’d just said. “You’re saying Arizona is emotionally abusive?”

Noah paused and rolled his eyes. In the process he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and changed tactics. “No, I’m saying there are friends who care enough to push and help a friend out and care about them wholeheartedly and there are people who call themselves friends ... when it’s convenient to them.”

“Are you saying this is my fault?” Mark growled, preparing for a fight with this man. It wasn’t until he felt all eyes on him that he calmed down just a bit.

Noah chuckled. “I don’t see Callie living in Seattle. I see Callie living here and not because we have much better weather.”

“Callie was my best friend!”

“Keyword there is, was. Was your best friend who ran into my arms. Who comes crying to me when she has a broken heart. Who knows I’ll never break her heart.” Noah shot back.

“I would never intentionally hurt Callie.”

“Only fuck her when she needed a friend.”

It was apparent by the look on Mark’s face that he was ready to pound Noah. He grew silent, taking a step forward before Arizona saw what was about to happen and marched over there before they could do damage. To the group. Not to each other. She didn’t care if they pounded each other into pulp but not on her watch and not in her meeting. Stepping between the two men, Arizona pushed them apart.

“What the hell is going on here?” The scowl on her face said she meant business.

Neither spoke, but the look of guilt on their faces spoke volumes.

“Mark Sloan? Noah Dawson?”

Finally Mark broke the silence knowing better than to fuck with Arizona. “He started it.”

“Started what?” She growled.

Noah smirked. “I was explaining to Mark how I was ...”

Mark cut him off before the words could leave his mouth. It was hard to maintain a straight face. “You’re not the better friend. You don’t know what’s best for Callie.”

Noah didn’t have to hold in his grin because with the way he was throwing verbal punches at Mark, he was allowed to feel confident and smile. “Arizona called me, not you.”

“Arizona didn’t even know I was coming. Or I’m sure she’d have called me. She knows I know what’s best ...”

Noah scoffed. “Yeah, sex and booze. Excuse me if I don’t agree.”

Watching the ping pong game between them made her dizzy. “Will you two cut it out? I think I know what’s best for my wife, not you two fools.”

There was a gasp from a few feet where they stood. Arizona’s head whipped around coming shocked eye to shocked eye with Callie.

The men both ignored the two women, a huge smiling playing on both of their faces.

“What’d she just say, Sloan?”

Mark’s grin was so big that it hurt his cheeks. “That she knows what’s best for her wife.”

“Arizona’s married? Does Callie know this?” The two men kept up their conversation as the two women continued to stare at each other, neither saying a word.

“I think she’s about to find out.” Mark reached out putting his hand on Arizona’s shoulder, squeezing before he shoved her forward, toward Callie.

“Calliope...”

Was the last thing they both heard as they walked away.

“How’d you know that was going to work?” Mark asked as he took one last glance over his shoulder, content as the two women were now within arm’s reach of each other.

Noah shrugged. “I know my girls best.” He teased. “How’d you know what I was doing?”

“I saw Callie show up out of the corner of my eye and you aren’t that great an actor so I caught on quickly enough.”

“Callie and Arizona bought it.”

“They’re easy and right now their minds are a little scatterbrained.” A little? How about a lot. He knew what was on  their plate and hoped this was enough to get them to face it.

“Want some coffee?” Noah asked.

“Yeah, I do.” Mark followed him toward the snacks table, keeping an eye on them, and Sofia.

“Calliope.” Arizona whispered again, taking another step forward, into Callie’s bubble.

She said nothing, only continuing to stare with glassy eyes. What could she say? Arizona just referred to her using the term wife. They hadn’t talked marriage in ages and … and … and Callie had no idea what to think.

“They’re idiots, they didn’t mean to say that stuff. You knew when Noah and Mark met it would be a disaster. Ignore them, I’ll handle it.” Arizona was really making small talk while she figured out her next move.

Callie laughed, bitterly. She shook her head, tears now slowly tracking down her cheeks. “No, I’m the idiot.” Another bitter laugh came out. “I can’t believe, I mean, I heard you Arizona. I heard what you said. I heard you. And now you’re going to ignore it? Do you think I’m stupid?” Her voice hitched in volume the more upset she grew. “God, I am an idiot. I always wondered why you hadn’t asked … or I tried not to wonder because I always came to the same conclusion but then you just called me your wife and then ignored it. So Arizona, I’ll only ask once and never again…” Callie wiped at the tears.

"Do you want to marry me?" It wasn't a proposal, it wasn't something she wanted to act on in the heat of the moment, it was just a question which needed an answer. For them to move forward she needed that answer because this limbo wasn't working, for either of them. Callie was only asking if marriage would be part of their future.

Disclaimer: Callie is Red. Arizona is Blue. Shonda hates purple so what else but fanfiction can we do.

AN: So this is mostly so late because between vacations and treatments and taking time to recover from everything, I’ve been really exhausted. It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth and while I won’t apologize for it, I will thank those of you who have been extremely patient and amazing about it. So thank you! Very much! Hope you enjoy, I actually really like this chapter and I hope you do too.

MINOR TRIGGER WARNING: This story touches on abusive situations and relationships, touchy religious beliefs, and while it insinuates other horrific tragedies that go on in abusive marriages/relationship, there will be no further details other than mentioning it.

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Arizona took the direct route toward the compound. It was a no-no in Bailey’s book in case The Order had watchers out on the road. The Order should never be prepared for your arrival. But with devastation running throughout her entire system, Arizona didn’t care. She took into consideration the darkness of night covering her and that was enough. Once she hit the city limits, there was only one route in and out so she’d be on foot anyway or else risk putting herself right into their hands.

After pulling her car off of the road and out of sight, she finally worked up enough nerve to open the case. She hadn’t held a gun in over a decade, but even then she was an expert marksman. Tim made certain to teach her everything he knew and then they practiced as often as they could up until the time that he was banished. No matter what was about to happen, she was going to make him proud. Taking the gun from the case, she checked it for ammunition before grabbing a second magazine and slipping both of them into her coat. She took a deep breath, exhaling sharply. It was now or never. Those monsters were never going to be the cause of another Lost Boy death. They would never ever break another young girl’s spirit or anybody for that matter.

After taking out the fuse that controlled the car’s inside lights, Arizona slipped out into the darkness. She took the path she knew all too well toward the compound. More times than she could count, she’d walked this exact way hoping Callie would be on it, too. The last prayer she ever prayed was as she climbed this hill and it was for Callie to be waiting on the other side. Between losing both Tim and Callie, Arizona lost all faith in God.

Approaching the exterior of the compound, Arizona crouched down next to the air conditioning unit of the white cement building that housed school worship. It would do for cover until the guards walked the perimeter one last time for the night.

Hearing footsteps, Arizona braced herself and pulled in tight behind the unit, holding her breath. Instead of the footsteps retreating around the building, they drew closer.

Shit.

Realizing her predicament, Arizona inched her hand inside her coat until she came into contact with the gun. The feel of cold metal in the palm of her hand was enough for her body to break out in a sweat. As each finger curled around the grip, her heart picked up speed, pounding so loudly she worried that it might give her away. Taking another deep breath, she slipped the pad of her fingertip across the patterned metal to release the safety in preparation of worse case scenario.

Slowly, Arizona pulled the gun from its hiding place inside her jacket, her finger twitching slightly over the tripper pull as she aimed the barrel into the darkness in the direction of the sound of footsteps.

Holding her breath, she had an urge to squeeze her eyes shut and let go but she also knew better. You aimed with full realization that you were playing God. Or at least standing in for him. It was respect for the life you were about to take or at the very least, maim.

As the shadow closed in on, her hand stopped shaking as the seconds counted down.

“Do you have a death wish?”

The question startled her.

“What the hell are you doing here? I almost shot you, you fool.” She sneered in a whisper.

He ignored the anger in her voice. “They changed the routine. They already came by an hour ago.” He informed her.

Arizona stood, intent to keep going when Alex put his hand on her arm. “If they don’t kill you, you’ll be running the rest of your life, always having to look over your shoulder.” He warned her.

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” She replied with her voice lacking any emotion.

“And Callie? What about her?” He asked.

“What about her?” She snapped. Her anger at Callie was still pretty fresh.

“Is that any life for her and her daughter? Because you’ll have marked them for death, too, if you go through with this. Probably all of us, Arizona.”

His words didn’t seem to faze her as she tried to remove herself from his grip.

Alex tried a different avenue. He was more than concerned that using Callie and her kid to talk Arizona out of it did nothing to change her mind. “Arizona, this isn’t what Tim would have wanted for you. What you’re doing, for all the Lost Boys, for Callie, that’s what he’d want to come from his death. Not this. Not your own death certificate. Not your blood on his hands.”

Arizona laughed. “He’s the one who taught me to shoot.” She reminded Alex.

“For protection, Arizona!” He snapped. “But you’re out. Callie’s out, and eventually they’ll just write her off like the rest of us and she’ll be safe. She and her daughter will be safe. Why did you bother springing her if she was just going to have to run the rest of her life? What kind of life is that? She’d be better off having never left, being stuck there, being abused … daily. At least she’d have a face to her boogy man instead of having to question every person she ever meets, wondering if this is going to be the one to take her life or worse, take her daughter back there.”

He expected her to argue, to put up another fight. Except she turned to face him, tears tracking down her cheeks. She opened her mouth to reply, but the words were stuck in her throat. Grief took over and she flung herself into his arms.

“Let’s get you outta here.” He whispered into her hair, kissing her temple before pulling back completely.

Wiping at her eyes, Arizona sadly commented. “I drove myself here.”

“I know but I didn’t. Mark gave me your ETA so I had a friend drop me off outside of town. I figured I had time and that you would need me.” He explained.

Arizona didn’t argue because he was right, she needed him. But she also didn’t acknowledge such because it meant she was weak and Arizona Robbins didn’t do weak. And she didn’t ever admit to needing anybody because that only got you hurt. When you needed somebody, you loved them, and when you loved them and they were so carelessly taken from your life, it hurt. And she’d been destroyed too many times to ever put herself in that situation.

“Give me the keys. I’ll drive you home.” He stuck his hand out and waited.

She paused at his words. Home. Where was that even? When was the last time she really had a home? Of course she lived with Bailey when she was in town, but that was a rare occasion and she did consider Bailey herself, wherever she was, to be home, Yes, she felt safe there and loved, but Arizona knew there would come a day when Bailey was gone and she would be alone and then she’d be an orphan once again. Maybe it was time for her to truly find a place to settle down. Maybe it was time to find someone to settle down with, too. No, she wasn’t about to give up on her Lost Boys, but it would be nice to be able to go home somewhere safe and … somewhere with somebody waiting for her. Somebody who wanted her there as much as she wanted to be there.

Alex watched in concern as Arizona got lost in thought. She was a mess, to say the least, but he understood what was going on with her. Mark had called him back after talking more with Callie and explained the entire situation to him, kissing drunk Callie and all. It was no surprise to him that Arizona was so torn up because for years she’d waited for Callie to get out. Arizona had affair after affair, never anything serious, and everyone, Bailey included, knew that nobody would ever stick because nobody was Callie.

One night, the only night Alex had ever seen Arizona drunk, or really, drink at all, it was the kick off of The Lost Boys and in respect to Arizona, they only had champagne and only for celebrating. Bailey somehow convinced Arizona to have a glass. It was her baby after all, but somewhere, without realizing it, one glass turned into two and halfway through the third, Arizona was sloshed. That’s what happens when you don’t drink or understand how easy it is to get drunk when you have no tolerance. Alex somehow was roped into babysitting Arizona after the celebration died down. He wasn’t sure how he of all people was supposed to do anything, but Arizona became his responsibility none the less. At first, she was a funny drunk and Alex was well amused but quickly that changed as Arizona came to realize that she was drunk and she turned into a sloppy one. First there were tears over being drunk. Alex kept reassuring her that this did not make her an alcoholic or bad person and eventually he got through to her. But next Arizona started crying because she’d been lying to him, one of her dearest friends, and she felt badly about it.

“Alex, you need to know something about me.” She slurred through the storm of tears.

Realizing Arizona was about to drunkenly divulge a secret, he tried to stop her. “How about you tell me in the morning.” He offered.

“Nope!” She shushed him with her finger over his mouth. “Nope. Now.” She hiccuped and fell over sideways onto the couch.

When she said nothing for a few minutes, he let out the breath he’d been holding figuring that she’d fallen asleep.

“I’m gay, Alex.” Her words cut through the silence.

He said nothing, too shocked and definitely not what he’d been expecting.

“Do you hate me? God, you hate me, don’t you? I know we were taught it’s a big bad evil, but I don’t care.” She paused to look up at him but was unable to read his expression. “Do you hate me?” Arizona repeated.

“Dude, you know I don’t buy that crap. The only evils are the assholes running that freak show.” He replied with humor on his tongue.

He wanted to ask her if there was anything else. Now he was interested, but he refused to take emotional advantage of Arizona while she was drunk.

“And I kissed Callie.” She whispered and he couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “When we were younger. Well, she kissed me.” Arizona was talking fast and Alex found great amusement in her drunkenness. “She kissed me.” Arizona repeated and then giggled.

Alex witnessed it. Arizona Robbins giggled. He couldn’t care less about Arizona’s sexuality or Callie’s, but the giggle, he was filing that away for later.

“I’m going to marry her one day, Alex.” She mumbled into the couch cushion. “I’m waiting for her because I’m going to marry her.”

He didn’t doubt it. Patting Arizona’s leg, he smiled down at his drunk friend before another quick laugh left his lips. This explained everything.

The first fifty miles of the return trip was in absolute silence. Arizona sat motionless, staring out of the window at the passing scenery. It wasn’t until they passed the exit to town that she spoke.

“Where are we going? I thought you were taking me home.”

“I am.” Was his reply as he turned the car onto the coastal highway.

“Remember when we were kids and I got caught trying to look up Meredith Grey’s skirt and I had the crap whipped out of me?” He asked.

“Callie and I cleaned you up.” Arizona replied absently.

“We made a pact that day. We’d all get out and get really rich. We’d buy a house on the beach somewhere and never look back.”

“We were just kids, Alex.” She said sadly.

“You have a chance now to make that happen, Arizona. For real. Maybe you won’t be rich with money, but there are other things that make a person rich.” Alex knew they all understood this, very well. Alex had his job which was more than that, it was so much more than that, and he lived and died for it. Arizona, too, had the Lost Boys and she was rich in a sense, but they all knew she craved so much more. And Mark, he had the money but without the one he loved, money meant nothing. They each understood what made a person rich.

“Alex,” Arizona sighed because she wanted to be angry with him for pushing, but she knew he cared. “We have the Lost Boys.”

“I have the Lost Boys. I am one of them. I lived that life before you saved me. It’s my life and it’s always going to be, but Arizona, it doesn’t have to be yours. You don’t need to sleep in cars and bribe pimps for information and buy drugs just to ransom a kid free. You’ve got all of us to do the hard part. You just keep us going, but for you, it’s time you found your happiness, too. She’s here.”

“Alex…” She warned him to stop.

“Callie’s here.”

Feeling trapped and emotionally drained, Arizona snapped. “This is my life’s work. I feel for every single one of those boys. I don’t sleep until I know they’re safe. I cry for them. I suffer with them.”

“And now maybe it’s time to stop punishing yourself for Tim’s death. Maybe it’s time for you to be happy.” He returned the attitude, figuring that if Arizona was giving one herself, the only way through to her was to have one as well.

Arizona said nothing else and Alex changed the subject. Well, away from Callie. He spent the remainder of the trip telling Arizona stories about the saved Lost Boys. Without saying as much, he showed her all of the happy endings that she was responsible for over the years. How grateful they were for her, how grateful he was for her.

By the time they pulled into Mark’s, Arizona got the point. Alex was a sly asshole but she appreciated that he cared so much.

Trying one more time, he wanted to make certain to drill the point home. “You deserve someone who makes you giggle, Robbins.”

Arizona scoffed. “I do not giggle.”

“Callie Torres makes you giggle. I heard it from your mouth with my own two ears.” He teased, finally able to pull that out of his arsenal.

She looked at him with wide eyes.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” He crossed his heart.

Both tired from the drive and exhausted from their high running emotions, they silently made their way to the house.

“Hand it over.” He stuck his hand out in physical demand.

“What?” Arizona feigned ignorance.

“The gun.”

“Alex, I’m fine. I am not going to do anything stupid.” She promised, but it wasn’t enough for him. He was not risking it.

“Hand it over.” He repeated.

She finally did as was instructed but not without mumbling and huffing and puffing all the way into the house about him being over protective.

“Where are you sleeping?” She asked. “I think Sofia probably has your room. It’s where Mark keeps the pack-n-play.” Except Arizona knew that wasn’t why Sofia would be upstairs and not with Callie. Mark wasn’t a fool and if he knew Callie was drunk, he’d keep Sofia close to him. Not that he didn’t trust Callie with her own kid, but it was her first time drunk and she was definitely not prepared for what came next.

“I’ll take the fold out in the office.” He didn’t offer it to her because he knew she wouldn’t be sleeping upstairs tonight.

She waited for him to disappear before she tiptoed over to the spare guest room. The door was already ajar and she stood there watching Callie sleep. Her heart sank as the moonlight reflected off of the dried tears on Callie’s cheeks. Still tiptoeing, Arizona shed her jeans and jacket on the floor and as she reached the bed, carefully she crawled under the covers, wrapping her arms tightly around Callie’s body.

She knew Callie was out cold because she didn’t stir at all and a light, drunken snore was coming from her along with a nice puddle of drool on the pillow. Nuzzling into her hair, Arizona whispered. “Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. Me included.”

Part Five of The Preacher’s Wife

George called her to give her the news. It was the least he could do considering everything. Until Arizona had taken over her aunt’s care, Callie had done Arizona’s job. She brought Winnie to church, took her grocery shopping, and helped her around the house during the days when her niece was at work. She often took care of the church’s elderly members and George knew Callie needed to be apprised of Winnie’s passing.

All in all, it was for the best. Winnie wasn’t in pain anymore and she hated every minute she had to stay in the nursing home. She was ready to move onto the afterlife, to join her loves lost, her God in heaven. Although she was leaving her great niece all alone, Winnie was certain Arizona would be okay. She was as positive about that notion as one could be.

Although it had only been a matter of a few weeks since Callie had seen Winnie on her last return trip, the older woman had telephoned the night before George’s call came in to speak with Callie. The call was how Callie knew Arizona had been by earlier in the day to visit which brought her great relief Arizona was able to say her goodbyes in person. Callie believed she should have seen it coming, her conversation with Winnie had been different. Callie realized in her own way, Winnie was saying goodbye. The older woman thanked Callie for being such a blessing in her life. She gave Callie advice on love and starting over and reminded her to step back and look at the big picture. To think and then act but to never just emotionally react. She stressed to Callie to remember nobody was judging her decisions in life or at least nobody who mattered. She mattered and not to forget.

Callie shouldn’t have been so blindsided by Winnie’s death. The last thing she asked of Callie was to watch out for Arizona. Her heart was fragile but her love was strong. Arizona would need a reminder to share her love again.

Callie couldn’t help but make the promise. Winnie asked so little of her but gave so much and Callie would walk through fire for the woman. Even if the fire’s name was Arizona.

She told herself she was there to say goodbye. The woman had been more of a mother to her than her own and she wanted to send her off. It was for Winnie that Callie was even back in town. And stepping foot in church again. It was a gossip mill and Callie wasn’t strong enough to handle the staring and whispering. The rumors. That’s why she waited until she heard the organ music before she quietly slipped into the church and sat in the very last pew, completely out of sight.

A few people who Callie didn’t recognize glanced in her direction but for the most part, she was unseen as had been her hope. The large brimmed hat and wide, dark sunglasses helped. George nodded in her direction but respectfully he didn’t seek or point her out and for that she was grateful. Being married to him hadn’t been all bad and even with the way and why their marriage ended, she held no ill will for him. They parted not as friends but still friendly. Friendly enough he didn’t draw attention her way.

The ceremony was lovely and there was not a dry eye in the entire church. Winnie’s wishes were to have no headstone, no grave. No memorial whatsoever. She was cremated with instructions on how to scatter her ashes and Arizona kept true to her promise. Not that Callie had any doubts she would. Arizona was a woman of her word. Before Winnie fell ill, even though Callie did a lot for her, Arizona was still very involved in her life. Then after she reluctantly put Winnie in a nursing home, Arizona did everything for her. It wasn’t familial obligation or because they were the only family either had, but because Arizona was a genuinely good person.

Callie thought she had no more tears left but thoughts of Arizona had her tearing up all over again. God she’d royally screwed that one up. That’s where Winnie’s advice on taking a step back, thinking and acting and not emotionally reacting would come in handy.

As people gathered around the front, Callie stood back, completely out of sight and watched Arizona greet and comfort her guests. She felt jealous of these people receiving attention from Arizona and those thoughts filled her with an overwhelming sadness. Arizona looked heartbroken and Callie had an uncontrollable urge to take Arizona into her arms and protect her from the world. But it wasn’t her place because Callie had royally fucked that up. Feeling completely overwhelmed, Callie needed to get out of there. She couldn’t handle it anymore; seeing Arizona, being so close but feeling never farther away. Winnie, her only tie to Arizona, was now gone and Callie took it as a sign it was time to move on once and for all.

With tears now falling at an alarming rate, Callie returned her sunglasses to hide her face and turned to slip out unnoticed. She knew she had a promise to keep and didn’t know how but today of all days Arizona did not need Callie in her life. That much she certain.

“She’s been miserable over her loss. I’m surprised she held it together so well today.”

The voice startled her and she almost dropped her handbag. Without turning around, she responded. “She’s been preparing for this for a while now. She knew Winnie’s health was fading quickly and it was only a matter of time. It doesn’t make it easier, I know, but it does at the same time.”

“I’m not talking about her aunt. It’s YOU.” He waited until she turned to look at him. “She had her chance to say goodbye to Winifred but you left her and broke her heart.”

Callie said nothing, she was unsure what George was getting at or at least she was ignoring the obvious.

“She could use a friend, Calliope.”

A sad chuckle left her. “Not me. She’s better off without me as a friend,” Callie said, truly believing it.

“I beg to differ. You’re exactly who she needs and dare I say ... wants?” He gave her a knowing look Callie tried desperately to ignore.

“Yeah well the last time we parted, I said some awful things,” Callie admitted guiltily.

He gently shook his head. “That’s unlike you.”

“Arizona seems to bring out the worst in me,” she admitted.

“I was going to say she brings out the best in you.” His knowing look now sported a grin, too.

Callie couldn’t help but scoff.

“I’d dare even say she ignites a passion in you I’ve never seen before. Ever.”

She knew he was right but refused to admit such a truth to her soon to be ex-husband.

“Callie, it’s okay, ya know?” His voice took on a serious tone.

“What?”

“She makes you happy or she could if you let her,” he said with sincerity.

Even with the dark glasses obscuring most of her face, George could see the shock.

“Callie, since Arizona walked into our life, all you did was talk about her. Even when she was driving you crazy, you were happy again. It was obvious she was behind it because I know it’s been a very long time since I was the reason for your happiness. You’re here today and I know from personal experience just how hard it was for you to walk through those doors. You hate funerals and even Miss Winnie’s alone wouldn’t have brought you back.” He pointed out the truth that Callie refused to acknowledge.

They stood in silent understanding watching people chat, sharing Winnie stories. Callie wasn’t sure what to say and George had said all he needed to say. As Callie took a step closer toward the door, they both saw Arizona’s resolve break. Her face flushed and her cheeks glistened wet before she excused herself and took off toward the choir room.

George silently watched Callie’s internal battle teetering between leaving and staying,

“You know the day I came back from the mission trip, I ran into Arizona at the store. She was buying breakfast foods and looked so happy. I asked her if she’d seen you or knew where you were. I already knew from talking to her aunt bright and early in the morning that you were with her niece. But Arizona denied everything. Too many of your belongings had disappeared from the house and I knew you had figured it out, my affair. But Arizona would not give you up, she protected you from me. She cares a lot about you.”

Taking a moment to process the new information she didn’t respond right away. Arizona hadn’t been ignoring her or evading her or running as fast as she could from her? That … that made a big difference. It meant when Callie called her, Arizona was probably talking with George which made so much sense. It was a big misunderstanding.

The night at the bar with the woman who called Arizona, Honey, probably was another misunderstanding, too. Looking back clear headed, Arizona seemed annoyed by the woman’s interruption, and didn’t return the cutesy gestures when she addressed her. It made sense now as she thought about it. Just because Callie didn’t use pet names with her friends or even her husband, much of the population did, her own best friend included in that equation. She was a little iffy on that being a possible explanation but was still willing to see it as a possibility.

Turning to look back at George, Callie found herself all alone. He had returned to the front of the church, leaving her to figure things out. She didn’t know why it mattered, having his blessing but Callie felt oddly at ease with everything. It made her next decision easier.

Steeling her nerves, Callie followed Arizona’s exit. She was a woman on a mission.

Without pausing to knock, Callie slipped quietly into the room and closed the door behind her. Arizona didn’t look up, she was crying so hard she didn’t even hear she was no longer alone.

The sight before Callie broke her heart. The one lone comfy couch in the room held Arizona who was sobbing into her knees. She looked beyond devastated and it was not something Callie could stand idly by and bear.

Going to her side, she immediately took Arizona into her arms. There was no fight, no arguing, only pure submission. Weak arms circled Callie’s neck and before long, tears saturated the collar of her shirt. Callie didn’t placate Arizona with useless words of comfort, she didn’t promise her the pain would subside, she simply held on tight and let Arizona grieve. It’s what she needed. It’s what they both needed.

Enough time had passed that the late afternoon sun had begun to fade but neither woman had moved. Tears had stopped long before but Arizona couldn’t bear to leave the comfort of Callie’s arms. She knew they had to talk, they needed to clear the air but she knew it couldn’t be put it off any longer, even today of all days.

Maybe it was poetic to do this now. Winnie would want them to at least be civil with each other. She made Arizona promise exactly that before she passed. The day Winnie died they had a very deep conversation. She wanted Arizona to find love and happiness and told her to get her head out of her ass and go after Callie. Winnie told her, reminded her love was supposed to hurt at times and be hard but the reward was greater than the pain. And Arizona couldn’t hide from pain forever. Winnie swore she couldn’t rest in peace until Arizona promised to try. Looking back, Arizona realized her aunt was tying up loose ends, saying goodbye. Shortly after Arizona left, Winnie died peacefully in her sleep, the most honorable end of an honorable life.

Finally separating, the two women began to talk at the same time.

“You came.”

“I’m so sorry about Winnie.”

“You first,” Callie offered.

“You came. I didn’t think you would,” Arizona said truthfully.

“I wasn’t going to …” she paused before revealing the truth. “But I couldn’t let you do this alone.”

“Thank you,” Arizona replied.

“Arizona, I need to say something and I know you just lost your aunt but I’m afraid if I don’t do this now, I’ll lose my nerve,” Callie rambled.

“First I need to apologize, I handled things so poorly and I understand how you could misunderstand things, it’s not like I gave you any inclination we’d ever work out,” Arizona explained.

They both cringed as they recalled the conversation that took place shortly after Callie was released from the hospital. Because Arizona had no idea Callie was preparing to leave George or he had been cheating on her either, when she apologized for kissing Callie at the bar and explained if she hadn’t been so drunk or stupidly forward, she wouldn’t ever have kissed a married woman. She made certain to make it clear to Callie anything that had happened between them was nothing but a grave mistake and she was sorry. Arizona explained that around Callie she had very little self control but she would make certain nothing ever happened again.

“Callie, we both know that whatever we did can’t happen again. You are the pastor’s wife and we both know what that means. Can we move past this?” Callie agreed, well, she nodded as she bit her tongue trying to keep herself from crying. Arizona was clear, they had no future no matter what.

It didn’t play out as harshly as Arizona’s memory made it to be but Callie received the point, loud and clear.

“It’s not your fault, Arizona. I could have handled things differently, maturely, too. I flew off the handle, said horrible things I didn’t mean. Hell, long before that I was a bitch to you,” Callie admitted.

Arizona laughed, a smile finally graced her face. “It wasn’t as if you didn’t have cause, I did forget kissing you,” she teased.

“That’s still not an excuse for my actions,” Callie countered.

Sighing, Arizona offered Callie an olive branch. “But it makes it understandable.”

“I’m really sorry, for everything,” Callie said softly.

“Me, too. Can we be friends?” She asked hopeful.

Callie nodded and they both sat back saying nothing as the tension between them waxed instead of waned.

It was Arizona’s turn to be brash and fully honest. “Calliope?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to be just friends.” Arizona admitted.

Callie smiled and relief filled her entire being. “Neither do I…”

Arizona woke up feeling on top of the world with Callie in her arms and she couldn’t help but imagine doing this every day for the rest of their lives. Wanting to keep the momentum going, lasting for as long as they had the time, Arizona slowly freed herself from their embrace and snuck out of bed. While there was no real need for a morning after shower since they didn’t have sex, Arizona was so ungodly wet it was as if they had done more. Callie’s hands on her, her mouth wreaking havoc on Arizona’s entire body with the simplest and most innocent touches, Callie pressed intimately under her own body, all of it stirred feelings inside of her that sex never had.

After her shower, Arizona danced through her house, opening windows to let the early morning breeze in, the brilliant sunrays to filter in with her joy. It was a windy morning and she was loving every second of it. She left Callie a note as to her whereabouts pinned under a magnet on the fridge and Arizona was positive she’d get it when she, as usual first thing after waking, poured herself a cup of coffee. With a stupid smile pasted on her face, one she was sure she’d never lose, Arizona left to shop for a romantic breakfast.

Gathering cliche items: chocolate, strawberries, pancake mix, whipped cream that may or may not have had an alternate use, and bananas in case Callie wasn’t a fan of strawberries, Arizona was flying high. As she danced through the grocery store completely unaware of her surroundings from cloud nine, her cart ran head first into another. Opening her mouth to apologize, her voice caught in her throat and she sputtered.

“Oh, Arizona. Good morning!” George sent her a friendly smile.

“P...p...Pastor George,” she said with surprise, “you’re back!”

“Did you miss me?”

“Um, how was your trip?” She asked ignoring his question.

“The group did great work but sadly I caught a wicked stomach virus and was stuck in bed for most of it. Couldn’t even stay at the church with the rest of the team, had to get a hotel room in order to keep from spreading it. Poor Izzie Stevens was also down with it.”

Arizona bit her tongue. Her first instinct was to scoff and call him out on his bullshit adultery. Yeah, Izzie Stevens probably did go down on something! But calling him on it would out Callie, too, and Arizona wouldn’t dare risk it. “Such a shame.” Was all she could come up with in response.

“Have you seen my Calliope?” He asked randomly.

Swallowing hard, Arizona felt her skin crawl as he called Callie his Calliope. She felt an overwhelming jealousy. “No,” she paused, “I mean, I haven’t spoken to her lately.“ As in today. Since waking up. So in theory, Arizona wasn’t lying.

“I guess she figured not to bother me on the trip and is out of town visiting with her parents or maybe Addison. I’ll give them a call later. Callie isn’t answering when I call but you know how often she is losing her silly phone.”

The very second as George mentioned Callie’s phone, Arizona’s rang. Looking at the caller-id, she saw it was Callie and almost dropped the phone. She sent it to voicemail and returned to her conversation.

“I’m sure you’ll eventually hear from her.” Arizona refrained from the grin she could feel her cheeks rising into at the thought of him hearing from Callie by way of divorce papers.

Her phone ringer sang out again and without looking down, she immediately turned it off.

“Popular lady for such an early morning,” he commented. “Does Miss Robbins have herself a suitor?”

The way he said it made her skin crawl and a deep blush rise over her cheeks.

“You tell her to treat you well. We’re very fond of you and don't want to see you hurt.” He sent her a sincere looking smile and Arizona wanted to hit him and his false prophesying. It was okay for him to hurt Callie but not the other way around? Bullshit.

She was a living cliche but if you asked her, Arizona would tell you she was on Cloud-Nine. Arizona wasn’t looking for a relationship, especially with the pastor’s wife but here she was anyway. Of course it wasn’t going to be easy, especially since there would of course be rumors flying around that it was Arizona who broke up their marriage but they’d figure it out.

As she floated through the front door and called out for Callie, she was filled with an unsettling feeling at the silence.

“Callie?”

Figuring maybe she was in the shower, Arizona made her way toward the bedroom. No shower was running and no Callie was in sight. Arizona’s heart sank and she searched her house only to find it empty. As had been her recurring nightmare for days now, she was terrified there was some complication from the complications and she would again find Callie in a pool of her own blood. Searching room by room Arizona’s heart was racing until she entered the room where Callie had been occupying.

Her belongings weren't anywhere to be found. The bed was made up. There wasn’t even any sign the room had been used.

Callie was gone. Not a sign of her at all except for the number of the local cab company scribbled on a piece of paper in her kitchen.

Confused and heart broken, Arizona started to call Callie’s phone, to ask her what went wrong, but as her thumb hovered over the send button, she saw the note she had left for Callie. It was all the way across the room from its original place and upside down where it would be easily missed as anything but trash. Scattered around it were the coupons which had been sitting on the countertop next to the coffee maker.

The damn wind.

Realizing what had happened, her thumb connected with the button only for Callie’s voicemail message to be already playing as she placed the phone next to her ear.

Tears fell from her eyes as she left a sobbing message for Callie, begging for her to return. She pleaded over and over again for Callie to call her back, that it was a misunderstanding. She cried so much the voicemail cut her off. Eventually her numerous phone calls filled Callie’s voicemail limit and Arizona was out of options.

With her heart broken, especially after finding the trashcan in her guest room filled with Callie’s tear stained tissues, all Arizona could do was wait. Hope and wait.

The longest month of her life had passed. It had been thirty-two days since Callie left town without so much as a goodbye. She’d already contacted her husband to start divorce proceedings and since it was uncontested, there was no need for her to return except to gather the rest of her possessions. In order to avoid any confrontations, even pleasant ones, Callie waited until she knew George was out of town again before her return. He was scheduled to be at the regional annual charge conference of church pastors in their denomination and it was then she made plans to return home to retrieve her belongings.

Callie also knew Arizona was out of town from the conversation she’d had with Arizona’s aunt earlier in the day. She had called Winnie to make time for a quick visit on her return. It wasn’t like she’d gone out of her way to stalk Arizona because Callie still called the elder members of the church just to check up on them. It was Winnie who freely gave that information away. Just because Callie had no intention of ever returning after this was over didn’t mean she stopped worrying or caring about the senior citizens she’d taken care of for so many years.

It had been a super long day of packing and even though Callie was exhausted, staying in the house by herself was not an option. It was empty and lonely and just held too many memories and too many demons. Needing a break and a stiff drink, Callie dared to return to the lone lesbian bar in the area. It was safe without Arizona in town even if it also held demons, ready or not, she was about to face.

“Tonic and lime?” The bartender asked recognizing Callie as she sat down. It had been a couple of months since Callie had returned to the bar but prior to that, she’d been a regular a few times a week for a couple consecutive weeks. Actually, she hadn’t gone to the bar since Arizona walked into the church several months before because Callie was terrified of the risk of Arizona seeing here there.

“Tequila and lime!” She changed up her usual now she didn’t have any reason to refrain from drinking.

The bartender looked pleased at Callie’s new choice of beverage. “First one’s on me.” She grabbed for the top shelf tequila and poured Callie a generous glass. The bartender figured the woman looked as if she needed it. “Bad day?”

“Thanks.” Callie laughed. “Bad year.”

“It’ll get better.” The bartender promised as if she knew something Callie didn’t.

Callie nursed the tequila as she took a hard look around. For a Thursday evening it was pretty crowded and Callie wondered what the hell her next step should be. She wasn’t divorced, yet. She wasn’t over Arizona either, yet. But she really wanted to dance and forget everything for a while. Except Callie hadn’t dated in over a decade and never a woman, and she had no idea what was proper and what wasn’t.

It wasn’t as if she had purposely been avoiding a relationship with a woman. It just so happened she was married when she finally came to the realization she also had a sexual and emotional attraction to women. Being as she was married and faithful, it’s not as if she had the ability to act on it. Granted, had she stayed in town there was probably very little chance she would have dated a woman. Or at least now with things having blown up between her and Arizona, there wasn’t much of a chance.

It’s not like she was embarrassed by it or ashamed by her same-sex attraction but there was already enough controversy surrounding her with George’s affair being outed and Callie wasn’t sure she could handle anymore if people from the church found out she was in a same-sex relationship. It had little to do with any fear of judgement and more to do with Callie hating being the subject of gossip.

But things were now different and though she was leaving again come morning, Callie’s reservations became a thing of the past. As she contemplated what the hell she was going to do next, Callie didn’t have long to think when she was approached by a woman. Before she could bat an eye, Callie found herself being pulled out onto the dance floor.

It felt good to have someone’s hands on her. At least someone who wanted their hands on her. It also felt good to dance, something George refused to do even on their wedding day. The freedom Callie was feeling was intoxicating and she found it was something she was looking forward to doing more often.

A little more than halfway through the second song Callie heard an unmistakable voice behind her asking to cut in. Before she could object Arizona’s hands circled her waist from behind. Her body immediately broke out in a cold sweat as she turned around to face her new partner.

“I thought you were out of town.” It was not a question but instead a statement.

Arizona eyed her suspiciously. How did Callie know she was supposed to be out of town?

With her eyebrows arched and a look of disdain on her face, Callie waited for an answer.

“And I thought you had disappeared from the face of the earth since you can’t return a damn phone call,” Arizona countered.

When the song ended almost immediately after Arizona cut in, Callie tried to take her leave back to the bar but instead she found herself being pulled outside.

“Care to explain why you took off without even so much as a goodbye?” Arizona demanded once she was certain they were alone.

“The same could be said of you.” Callie snapped.

Realizing Callie did deserve an explanation, Arizona pushed aside her own anger and hurt. “It’s not what you think ...”

“I don’t care, Arizona. You made it perfectly clear how you feel,” Callie interrupted.

“I left you a note!” Arizona tried to explain. “The wind blew it off of the refrigerator.”

Callie laughed and rolled her eyes. “Tell me another one.”

“I would tell you everything if you stopped interrupting me and let me freaking finish,” Arizona snapped.

“You know, just because my husband cheated on me doesn’t mean I’m some weak pushover.”

A look of absolute shock covered Arizona’s face. “I never said you were and I have never treated you like you were,” she argued.

“And I’m not some confused newborn trying to figure out her sexuality. I’ve been well aware I’m bisexual for a long time.”

“Okay?” Arizona was now confused and had no idea what Callie was getting at.

“I went to bed with you because I wanted to go to bed with you. And I touched you because I wanted to touch you. I wanted you to touch me. You knew I wanted your hands on me and it wasn’t some passing phase. You knew I had feelings for you!” Callie’s emotions were all over the place but she needed to get it out.

“Callie, please, it’s not what you think,” Arizona begged. “Please, let me explain.”

Callie spoke her piece and having nothing else to say, she nodded, giving Arizona the floor to say hers.

“Arizona-Honey.” The bar door swung open. “We’re ordering another round, are you in?” The drunk woman rudely interrupted.

“What?” Arizona turned from Callie toward her friend.

In a perfect Southern drawl, she repeated herself. “Another drink, Honey?”

Arizona could feel the anger vibrating from Callie.

“No, I’m fine but thanks.” Arizona tried to dismiss her.

Looking between the two women, she could feel the tension. “Everything okay here?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Dandy!” Callie replied sarcastically.

“Okay, I’ll be inside waiting for you,” she purred and disappeared inside with a wink.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Callie growled. “You move on quickly. I should have figured I was just another notch in your belt. Does she know she’s one too?” Her words were meant to hurt and they hit their intended target head on.

Tearing up Arizona tried hard to convince Callie to listen to her. “Calliope…”

“I should have figured any woman who kisses random strangers in dirty bars has a revolving bedroom door policy.” Callie bitterly laughed.

That stung. A lot. Arizona hadn’t had a relationship in years because she was scared of getting hurt and then Callie came along and all she wanted was the married woman even when Callie was being less than nice. Something about Callie challenged Arizona. And then Callie left her husband and Arizona thought they might have a chance. She was ready to risk her heart again. For Callie. But now here she was, heart broken all over again and with nothing to show for it.

Arizona understood where Callie was coming from. She really did. It had been one misunderstanding after another and from Callie’s shoes it really did look bad. But right now, Arizona didn’t feel like explaining and she didn’t care what it looked like. Right now all she wanted to do was go home to her bed and cry. She didn’t need relationships or stupid women who broke her heart. She sure as hell didn’t need Callie Torres. Arizona had her great aunt and Winnie was all the family she’d ever need.

Without giving Callie another word or glance, she dug into her pocket for her keys and left the woman standing alone in the parking lot.