BACK
She saw the door closing in front of her and a million possibilities flashed through her mind. Should she throw herself through the door frame and onto Callie’s arms? Declare her undying, eternal love on the spot? Drop to her knees and beg Callie to listen to her? Propose? She knew she had to do something yet somehow she couldn’t. She was frozen to the spot watching the love of her life slam the door in her face. She stared at the blue door willing herself to do something. Anything. But she couldn’t even move. She just stood there, waiting.
On the other side of the blue door, Callie was pacing. Back and forth she strode across her best friend’s living room wondering what the hell was happening. Arizona was at her door. Standing there in front of her telling her that she was back. And that she looked pretty. “What the hell?” Callie asked out loud to no one in particular.
She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t used to this. She didn’t know how to deal with it. Arizona was BACK. No one had ever come back before. The leaving part she was used to. She knew how to cope with that. She had been hurt by people leaving her so many times that dealing with it was practically second nature. Sure, it had been harder this time because she loved Arizona more than she had anyone before but she was coping now. She had gotten used to the dull ache in her chest and she had finally managed to get through the day without crying.
But THIS? Someone coming back? This was a whole new territory that she had no idea how to navigate. She’d panicked when she saw Arizona standing there. She hadn’t even listened to a word the blonde had said. All she could hear was her own heart thumping. Her instinct had been to do whatever it took to stop the panic. So she just shut the door. It seemed to be working at first. Her heart rate slowed slightly and she was able to think properly. Unfortunately the thinking made her realise that closing the door didn’t make the problem go away and that Arizona was still out there somewhere. That’s when she started with the pacing.
Arizona wasn’t sure how long she had been standing in exactly the same spot. It felt like it had only been minutes, yet she wouldn’t have been all that surprised if she found out hours had passed. She took a deep breath, promising herself that she was going to move. “Okay Robbins.” She muttered quietly “Pull yourself together. Either knock again or leave. Just do SOMETHING.” She tried to turn and leave but she couldn’t do it. That blue door had an almost hypnotic hold over her.
“Robbins?” The voice interrupted her thoughts and finally drew her out of the trance. She turned quickly to see Mark Sloan approaching. “What are you doing?”
Arizona opened her mouth to explain. To tell him that she was home because Callie was the love of her life and she could stand to be away from her any longer. But what came out was a guttural sob. She took two steps towards Mark and without thinking collapsed against him. She felt Mark’s strong arms holding her up as she sobbed into his chest. “She just shut the door in my face.”She gasped between sobs. “I knew she’d by angry but...” She gave up trying to speak until the sobbing had subsided.
“Or course she’s angry. You left her alone at the airport.”
“She didn’t want to come.”
“Isn’t that for her to decide?”
“She was miserable.”
“I know she was. But she was going anyway. For you.”
“She would have hated it. And then she would have hated me.”
“You should give her more credit.”
“I had to do it.” Arizona felt tears brimming again, thinking about that day. About walking away from Calliope.
“I know.”
“What?”
“You’re right. If she’d gone with you it would have been a disaster.”
“Then why..?” Arizona demanded. “Why are you arguing with me?”
Mark grinned ruefully. “She’s my best friend. I’m on her side. Even if she’s wrong. I’m still on her side.”
Arizona smiled. For the first time in - she couldn’t remember how long. “She’s lucky to have you.” She breathed deeply and stepped away from Mark, wiping the tear stains from her face. “If you ever tell anyone about this I will cut you.”
Mark laughed. “That’s the Robbins I know.”
As Arizona glared at him, he gave her a playful punch on the arm. “So what now?”
She looked back at the door sadly. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Oh for God’s sake.” Mark rolled his eyes and pushed her gently towards the door. He unlocked and the door swung open to reveal Callie pacing back and forth across the room frantically. She turned immediately as he door banged against the wall.
“Mark, you won’t believe...” She stopped abruptly on seeing Arizona behind him. She turned back to Mark. “What are you doing?”
“You!” he gestured emphatically towards Callie. “Talk to her. I’m... going to bed.”
Callie crossed her arms defensively across her chess and waited. She stared at Arizona expectantly, her eyebrows raised and even though despite everything Arizona couldn’t help but think how hot Callie was when angry. She shook the thought from her mind and focussed.
“I’m sorry.” Arizona began slowly, determined to get everything out without breaking down again. “I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I left... the way I did. I’m sorry I left you at the airport. I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t know what else to do. You didn’t want to go.” She saw Callie open her mouth to argue and continued quickly before she got the chance. “You know that you didn’t want to go and I couldn’t be the one who made you miserable. I thought you would hate it. And I couldn’t take the thought that you would end up hating me.” Arizona observed the brunette in front of her staring back at her defiantly and couldn’t help but think that she had wound up hating her anyway. “On reflection I see that there may have been a flaw in my plan.”
She watched Callie’s face soften ever so slightly and it encouraged her to go on. “I wasn’t exaggerating before. I literally cried all the time. I couldn’t stop. It was pathetic really. The kids there, you wouldn’t believe their lives, what they go through and yet I’m the one weeping.” Crying? Thought Callie, when did she mention crying? I should probably have paid attention earlier. “When someone finally asked me what was wrong I said that I missed my girlfriend so much I couldn’t think about anything else. Actually I didn’t say ‘girlfriend’ because it’s illegal to be gay in Malawi and I didn’t want to get, like, executed or something but I said that I missed the love of my life and yes I wanted to come home. And then I stopped crying. All I had to do was think about seeing your face and I wasn’t crying anymore. Well except for five minutes ago in the hallway with Mark. Damn, I wasn’t going to tell anyone about that.” Arizona finally took a breath and stopped rambling.
Callie bit her lip to keep from smiling. She couldn’t forgive Arizona just like that, she was still too angry, but damn she was cute when she rambled.
“Are you going to say something?” Arizona asked, scared and hopeful at the same time.
“I slept with Mark.” She blurted the words out before she even had a chance stop herself. She didn’t know why she said it. Actually, she did. She wanted to hurt the woman standing in front of her. She wanted to hurt her as much as she had been hurt. She wanted her to feel something close to how it felt to be left standing devastated and alone in an airport terminal, with no understanding of what just happened. She wanted Arizona to feel that.
“What?”
“I slept with Mark.” She repeated calmly.
“Mark Sloan?” Arizona stared blankly at her former girlfriend,
“No, Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder of Facebook. I met him at Joe’s one night.”
Arizona continued to stare blankly, refusing to believe what she had just heard.
“Of course Mark Sloan.” Callie retorted with frustration.
“And... and... you slept with him. With Mark?” Arizona was slowly letting the announcement sink in and as it did an ache began to form in her gut.
“Actually, I have been sleeping with Mark. It happened more than once.”
“Oh.” The look on Arizona’s face told Callie that she had gotten what she wanted. The tears forming over those blue eyes told her she had succeeded in hurting Arizona. But as the tears threatened to spill over, Callie didn’t want it anymore. Seeing the woman she still loved hurt didn’t make her feel any better. In fact it hurt her just as much.
She tried to explain. “You were gone and I was... and he was there...” She said it quietly, knowing there wasn’t really an explanation. Even to her it sounded cold.
“Oh. Okay. Oh.” Arizona looked around with an almost frantic energy. She suddenly just wanted to leave. This was the only place she had waned to be for the last three months, standing in front of the woman she loved more than anyone else, but now all she wanted was to be anywhere but here. She began to reach for her suitcase which she had dropped at her feet, having come straight from the airport.
“That’s all you have to say?” Callie demanded.
Arizona looked up at Callie and shook her head gently. “I don’t know what to say.”
Silence fell between them and both struggled with what to say. How to make this better.
“So you two are a couple now?” Arizona finally asked.
Callie’s eyes grew wide. Of all the reactions she had anticipated, that thought had never even entered her mind. She didn’t know how to respond. She opened her mouth and closed it again twice. The third time she unexpectedly gave way to laughter. An amazed snort escaped her.
“Are you laughing?” Arizona blinked twice, hard. One tear escaping despite her best efforts to remain stoic. “Are you seriously...?” her voice cracked before she could finish the sentence.
“No.” Callie replied solemnly, pulling herself together. “No, I’m not laughing. And no, I’m not...” She took a deep breath, avoiding Arizona’s gaze. “I’m not...” A giggle escaped her. She took another breath, trying to swallow the laughter. “I’m not...” Callie dissolved into a fit of giggles, unable to control herself any longer. She didn’t know what was happening to her. It was as if she just couldn’t take any more. No more drama or heartache. Her body was reacting involuntarily.
“Calliope! What the hell?”
The confusion on the blonde’s face set Callie off again. She clutched her stomach, doubled over and struggling to breath. As Callie continued to laugh, Arizona lost the battle with her tears. She stood there hurt and humiliated as Callie convulsed with laughter. She grabbed her bags and turned quickly, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m not with Mark.” Callie finally exclaimed, her laughter halting abruptly. “We’re not a couple. I can’t believe you asked that.”
Arizona stopped and turned back angrily. “Well I don’t know what to think. I’ve been in Africa bawling like an idiot and you’ve been having a great time screwing Mark Sloan.”
“Hey!” Callie shouted back. “You left me! In an airport! You have no right to judge me on how I tried to deal with that.”
Arizona voice rose as she continued. “How long had I been gone? Did you even wait until I arrived in Africa before you jumped into his bed?”
“Look, I was sad and lonely and... why the hell am I explaining myself to you? You left me! I don’t owe you anything.”
“Mark Sloan! Of all people, you slept with Mark Sloan! I mean the thought of you with anyone is bad enough, but him? It makes me...” Arizona trailed off, unable to explain just how the thought of Mark Sloan and Callie made her feel. Together. Naked. Her hands balled into fists by her sides to the point where her finger nails were digging into her palms. She thought about Mark Sloan’s hands all over Callie, then she thought about them on her. Just ten minutes earlier she had been in Mark’s arms, him comforting her. “Gah!” She suddenly yelped. “I can’t believe I let him hug me.” She shivered slightly at the thought, her face wrinkling with disgust. “I need a shower or something.” The thought of showering brought her back to nakedness and fury started bubbling inside her again.
“Where is he? Mark, get out here!” Arizona demanded. “I’m going to hit him with a brick. In the face!”
“You don’t have a brick.”
“I’ll find something!” She marched towards hid bedroom door only one thought on her mind.
“Arizona stop!” Callie shouted. She threw herself between Arizona and the door to her friend’s bedroom. “You can’t be mad at Mark.”
“Let me check. No, I’m pretty sure I can!”
“He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He had sex with my girlfriend!”
“Oh my God! How many times do I have to say this?” Callie ran her fingers through her hair with exasperation and Arizona noticed for the first time just how short it was. Grabbing the smaller woman by the shoulders, Callie looked her directly in the eyes. “YOU LEFT ME!” The contact of Callie’s hands on her, the touch she had missed so much, drew her out of the blind rage.
She sighed sadly. “I left because I won the Carter Madison grant! To help dying children in Africa! It doesn’t mean I stopped loving you.”
“Well I slept with Mark because I just wanted to feel something, anything other than miserable. It doesn’t mean I stopped loving you.”
A few moments of silence passed between them as they gazed at each other sadly, wondering how this had happened. How, when they loved each other this much, had they created such a mess.
“I love you, Calliope.” Arizona spoke slowly, willing Callie to believe it. She didn’t care about Mark Sloan anymore. She just wanted Callie.
She watched as the brunette turned away from her, refusing to meet her gaze, and her heart slowly started to sink. She couldn’t even look at her. It wasn’t enough. Coming back, it wasn’t enough to make Callie trust her again.
When Callie finally looked her face was serious. She steadied her gaze on Arizona’s face. “Are you really back? For good?”
Arizona nodded vigorously. “This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I gave it up. Because it's not worth it without you. I promise, I'm here to stay.”
“You’re not going back?” Callie clarified again, reluctant to believe.
“I’ll never leave you again.”
Arizona bit her lip, waiting for woman she loved to speak. Her heart was thumping in her chest as she tried not to get her hopes up. Callie opened mouth to speak when there was a loud thump and a groan from the bedroom.
“Ouch.” They heard Mark murmur.
Callie rolled her eyes. “Crap.” she muttered. Arizona watched in confusion and despair as her girlfriend turned away from her and headed to where the noise had come from.
Callie pushed door open only to have it slammed back against her. “What the hell? Open the door Mark.”
“No thanks. I’m good in here.”
“You’re really not. Get out here.”
“Are you crazy? She’s going to kill me.”
Callie exhaled loudly, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “Man up, and get out here.”
“Just a minute.” Callie heard scuffling behind the door and eventually Mark appeared. It took her a few moments to figure out what was different about him.
“Are you wearing three sweaters?”
“Just a little extra padding.”
“Whatever. Get out.” Callie announced decisively.
“What?”
“Get out. We need to talk and you need to not be here.”
“You do realise this is my apartment?”
“Get out. Go find Derek or Little Grey or something.” Callie waited expectantly. “Go or I’ll set Arizona on you.”
Mark glanced over Callie’s shoulder to see the small blonde woman smirking at him. She waved sweetly.
“Fine.” Mark grabbed Callie by the shoulder and turned her around. Gently propelling her forward he entered the living room, hiding behind Callie. They moved slowly through the room before Mark bolted suddenly for the door. “Bye Robbins! Glad your back!” he called as he fled hurriedly.
They both laughed as the door shut behind him. The sight of Callie smiling made Arizona grin even more. They were both quiet for a moment.
“I guess we have a lot to talk about.” Arizona said finally.
Callie nodded her agreement. “You’re right. You can’t just show up here and expect things just to go back to the way they were. I can’t just forget all this happened. We need to figure out how to trust each other again, IF we can trust each other again. We need to know how to fit into each other’s lives again. There’s so much to talk about and it’s going to take time.”Callie stopped to take a breath and Arizona nodded dutifully. “But I swear to God Arizona, if I don’t you don’t kiss me right now I’ll...” She didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence as Arizona practically lunged towards her. She could feel those familiar soft hands gently gripping either side of her face and couldn’t help but grin as Arizona kissed her again and again. She wound her hands into those blonde locks she had missed so much and sighed. Arizona was BACK.
On the other side of the blue door, Callie was pacing. Back and forth she strode across her best friend’s living room wondering what the hell was happening. Arizona was at her door. Standing there in front of her telling her that she was back. And that she looked pretty. “What the hell?” Callie asked out loud to no one in particular.
She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t used to this. She didn’t know how to deal with it. Arizona was BACK. No one had ever come back before. The leaving part she was used to. She knew how to cope with that. She had been hurt by people leaving her so many times that dealing with it was practically second nature. Sure, it had been harder this time because she loved Arizona more than she had anyone before but she was coping now. She had gotten used to the dull ache in her chest and she had finally managed to get through the day without crying.
But THIS? Someone coming back? This was a whole new territory that she had no idea how to navigate. She’d panicked when she saw Arizona standing there. She hadn’t even listened to a word the blonde had said. All she could hear was her own heart thumping. Her instinct had been to do whatever it took to stop the panic. So she just shut the door. It seemed to be working at first. Her heart rate slowed slightly and she was able to think properly. Unfortunately the thinking made her realise that closing the door didn’t make the problem go away and that Arizona was still out there somewhere. That’s when she started with the pacing.
Arizona wasn’t sure how long she had been standing in exactly the same spot. It felt like it had only been minutes, yet she wouldn’t have been all that surprised if she found out hours had passed. She took a deep breath, promising herself that she was going to move. “Okay Robbins.” She muttered quietly “Pull yourself together. Either knock again or leave. Just do SOMETHING.” She tried to turn and leave but she couldn’t do it. That blue door had an almost hypnotic hold over her.
“Robbins?” The voice interrupted her thoughts and finally drew her out of the trance. She turned quickly to see Mark Sloan approaching. “What are you doing?”
Arizona opened her mouth to explain. To tell him that she was home because Callie was the love of her life and she could stand to be away from her any longer. But what came out was a guttural sob. She took two steps towards Mark and without thinking collapsed against him. She felt Mark’s strong arms holding her up as she sobbed into his chest. “She just shut the door in my face.”She gasped between sobs. “I knew she’d by angry but...” She gave up trying to speak until the sobbing had subsided.
“Or course she’s angry. You left her alone at the airport.”
“She didn’t want to come.”
“Isn’t that for her to decide?”
“She was miserable.”
“I know she was. But she was going anyway. For you.”
“She would have hated it. And then she would have hated me.”
“You should give her more credit.”
“I had to do it.” Arizona felt tears brimming again, thinking about that day. About walking away from Calliope.
“I know.”
“What?”
“You’re right. If she’d gone with you it would have been a disaster.”
“Then why..?” Arizona demanded. “Why are you arguing with me?”
Mark grinned ruefully. “She’s my best friend. I’m on her side. Even if she’s wrong. I’m still on her side.”
Arizona smiled. For the first time in - she couldn’t remember how long. “She’s lucky to have you.” She breathed deeply and stepped away from Mark, wiping the tear stains from her face. “If you ever tell anyone about this I will cut you.”
Mark laughed. “That’s the Robbins I know.”
As Arizona glared at him, he gave her a playful punch on the arm. “So what now?”
She looked back at the door sadly. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Oh for God’s sake.” Mark rolled his eyes and pushed her gently towards the door. He unlocked and the door swung open to reveal Callie pacing back and forth across the room frantically. She turned immediately as he door banged against the wall.
“Mark, you won’t believe...” She stopped abruptly on seeing Arizona behind him. She turned back to Mark. “What are you doing?”
“You!” he gestured emphatically towards Callie. “Talk to her. I’m... going to bed.”
Callie crossed her arms defensively across her chess and waited. She stared at Arizona expectantly, her eyebrows raised and even though despite everything Arizona couldn’t help but think how hot Callie was when angry. She shook the thought from her mind and focussed.
“I’m sorry.” Arizona began slowly, determined to get everything out without breaking down again. “I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I left... the way I did. I’m sorry I left you at the airport. I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t know what else to do. You didn’t want to go.” She saw Callie open her mouth to argue and continued quickly before she got the chance. “You know that you didn’t want to go and I couldn’t be the one who made you miserable. I thought you would hate it. And I couldn’t take the thought that you would end up hating me.” Arizona observed the brunette in front of her staring back at her defiantly and couldn’t help but think that she had wound up hating her anyway. “On reflection I see that there may have been a flaw in my plan.”
She watched Callie’s face soften ever so slightly and it encouraged her to go on. “I wasn’t exaggerating before. I literally cried all the time. I couldn’t stop. It was pathetic really. The kids there, you wouldn’t believe their lives, what they go through and yet I’m the one weeping.” Crying? Thought Callie, when did she mention crying? I should probably have paid attention earlier. “When someone finally asked me what was wrong I said that I missed my girlfriend so much I couldn’t think about anything else. Actually I didn’t say ‘girlfriend’ because it’s illegal to be gay in Malawi and I didn’t want to get, like, executed or something but I said that I missed the love of my life and yes I wanted to come home. And then I stopped crying. All I had to do was think about seeing your face and I wasn’t crying anymore. Well except for five minutes ago in the hallway with Mark. Damn, I wasn’t going to tell anyone about that.” Arizona finally took a breath and stopped rambling.
Callie bit her lip to keep from smiling. She couldn’t forgive Arizona just like that, she was still too angry, but damn she was cute when she rambled.
“Are you going to say something?” Arizona asked, scared and hopeful at the same time.
“I slept with Mark.” She blurted the words out before she even had a chance stop herself. She didn’t know why she said it. Actually, she did. She wanted to hurt the woman standing in front of her. She wanted to hurt her as much as she had been hurt. She wanted her to feel something close to how it felt to be left standing devastated and alone in an airport terminal, with no understanding of what just happened. She wanted Arizona to feel that.
“What?”
“I slept with Mark.” She repeated calmly.
“Mark Sloan?” Arizona stared blankly at her former girlfriend,
“No, Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder of Facebook. I met him at Joe’s one night.”
Arizona continued to stare blankly, refusing to believe what she had just heard.
“Of course Mark Sloan.” Callie retorted with frustration.
“And... and... you slept with him. With Mark?” Arizona was slowly letting the announcement sink in and as it did an ache began to form in her gut.
“Actually, I have been sleeping with Mark. It happened more than once.”
“Oh.” The look on Arizona’s face told Callie that she had gotten what she wanted. The tears forming over those blue eyes told her she had succeeded in hurting Arizona. But as the tears threatened to spill over, Callie didn’t want it anymore. Seeing the woman she still loved hurt didn’t make her feel any better. In fact it hurt her just as much.
She tried to explain. “You were gone and I was... and he was there...” She said it quietly, knowing there wasn’t really an explanation. Even to her it sounded cold.
“Oh. Okay. Oh.” Arizona looked around with an almost frantic energy. She suddenly just wanted to leave. This was the only place she had waned to be for the last three months, standing in front of the woman she loved more than anyone else, but now all she wanted was to be anywhere but here. She began to reach for her suitcase which she had dropped at her feet, having come straight from the airport.
“That’s all you have to say?” Callie demanded.
Arizona looked up at Callie and shook her head gently. “I don’t know what to say.”
Silence fell between them and both struggled with what to say. How to make this better.
“So you two are a couple now?” Arizona finally asked.
Callie’s eyes grew wide. Of all the reactions she had anticipated, that thought had never even entered her mind. She didn’t know how to respond. She opened her mouth and closed it again twice. The third time she unexpectedly gave way to laughter. An amazed snort escaped her.
“Are you laughing?” Arizona blinked twice, hard. One tear escaping despite her best efforts to remain stoic. “Are you seriously...?” her voice cracked before she could finish the sentence.
“No.” Callie replied solemnly, pulling herself together. “No, I’m not laughing. And no, I’m not...” She took a deep breath, avoiding Arizona’s gaze. “I’m not...” A giggle escaped her. She took another breath, trying to swallow the laughter. “I’m not...” Callie dissolved into a fit of giggles, unable to control herself any longer. She didn’t know what was happening to her. It was as if she just couldn’t take any more. No more drama or heartache. Her body was reacting involuntarily.
“Calliope! What the hell?”
The confusion on the blonde’s face set Callie off again. She clutched her stomach, doubled over and struggling to breath. As Callie continued to laugh, Arizona lost the battle with her tears. She stood there hurt and humiliated as Callie convulsed with laughter. She grabbed her bags and turned quickly, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m not with Mark.” Callie finally exclaimed, her laughter halting abruptly. “We’re not a couple. I can’t believe you asked that.”
Arizona stopped and turned back angrily. “Well I don’t know what to think. I’ve been in Africa bawling like an idiot and you’ve been having a great time screwing Mark Sloan.”
“Hey!” Callie shouted back. “You left me! In an airport! You have no right to judge me on how I tried to deal with that.”
Arizona voice rose as she continued. “How long had I been gone? Did you even wait until I arrived in Africa before you jumped into his bed?”
“Look, I was sad and lonely and... why the hell am I explaining myself to you? You left me! I don’t owe you anything.”
“Mark Sloan! Of all people, you slept with Mark Sloan! I mean the thought of you with anyone is bad enough, but him? It makes me...” Arizona trailed off, unable to explain just how the thought of Mark Sloan and Callie made her feel. Together. Naked. Her hands balled into fists by her sides to the point where her finger nails were digging into her palms. She thought about Mark Sloan’s hands all over Callie, then she thought about them on her. Just ten minutes earlier she had been in Mark’s arms, him comforting her. “Gah!” She suddenly yelped. “I can’t believe I let him hug me.” She shivered slightly at the thought, her face wrinkling with disgust. “I need a shower or something.” The thought of showering brought her back to nakedness and fury started bubbling inside her again.
“Where is he? Mark, get out here!” Arizona demanded. “I’m going to hit him with a brick. In the face!”
“You don’t have a brick.”
“I’ll find something!” She marched towards hid bedroom door only one thought on her mind.
“Arizona stop!” Callie shouted. She threw herself between Arizona and the door to her friend’s bedroom. “You can’t be mad at Mark.”
“Let me check. No, I’m pretty sure I can!”
“He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He had sex with my girlfriend!”
“Oh my God! How many times do I have to say this?” Callie ran her fingers through her hair with exasperation and Arizona noticed for the first time just how short it was. Grabbing the smaller woman by the shoulders, Callie looked her directly in the eyes. “YOU LEFT ME!” The contact of Callie’s hands on her, the touch she had missed so much, drew her out of the blind rage.
She sighed sadly. “I left because I won the Carter Madison grant! To help dying children in Africa! It doesn’t mean I stopped loving you.”
“Well I slept with Mark because I just wanted to feel something, anything other than miserable. It doesn’t mean I stopped loving you.”
A few moments of silence passed between them as they gazed at each other sadly, wondering how this had happened. How, when they loved each other this much, had they created such a mess.
“I love you, Calliope.” Arizona spoke slowly, willing Callie to believe it. She didn’t care about Mark Sloan anymore. She just wanted Callie.
She watched as the brunette turned away from her, refusing to meet her gaze, and her heart slowly started to sink. She couldn’t even look at her. It wasn’t enough. Coming back, it wasn’t enough to make Callie trust her again.
When Callie finally looked her face was serious. She steadied her gaze on Arizona’s face. “Are you really back? For good?”
Arizona nodded vigorously. “This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I gave it up. Because it's not worth it without you. I promise, I'm here to stay.”
“You’re not going back?” Callie clarified again, reluctant to believe.
“I’ll never leave you again.”
Arizona bit her lip, waiting for woman she loved to speak. Her heart was thumping in her chest as she tried not to get her hopes up. Callie opened mouth to speak when there was a loud thump and a groan from the bedroom.
“Ouch.” They heard Mark murmur.
Callie rolled her eyes. “Crap.” she muttered. Arizona watched in confusion and despair as her girlfriend turned away from her and headed to where the noise had come from.
Callie pushed door open only to have it slammed back against her. “What the hell? Open the door Mark.”
“No thanks. I’m good in here.”
“You’re really not. Get out here.”
“Are you crazy? She’s going to kill me.”
Callie exhaled loudly, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “Man up, and get out here.”
“Just a minute.” Callie heard scuffling behind the door and eventually Mark appeared. It took her a few moments to figure out what was different about him.
“Are you wearing three sweaters?”
“Just a little extra padding.”
“Whatever. Get out.” Callie announced decisively.
“What?”
“Get out. We need to talk and you need to not be here.”
“You do realise this is my apartment?”
“Get out. Go find Derek or Little Grey or something.” Callie waited expectantly. “Go or I’ll set Arizona on you.”
Mark glanced over Callie’s shoulder to see the small blonde woman smirking at him. She waved sweetly.
“Fine.” Mark grabbed Callie by the shoulder and turned her around. Gently propelling her forward he entered the living room, hiding behind Callie. They moved slowly through the room before Mark bolted suddenly for the door. “Bye Robbins! Glad your back!” he called as he fled hurriedly.
They both laughed as the door shut behind him. The sight of Callie smiling made Arizona grin even more. They were both quiet for a moment.
“I guess we have a lot to talk about.” Arizona said finally.
Callie nodded her agreement. “You’re right. You can’t just show up here and expect things just to go back to the way they were. I can’t just forget all this happened. We need to figure out how to trust each other again, IF we can trust each other again. We need to know how to fit into each other’s lives again. There’s so much to talk about and it’s going to take time.”Callie stopped to take a breath and Arizona nodded dutifully. “But I swear to God Arizona, if I don’t you don’t kiss me right now I’ll...” She didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence as Arizona practically lunged towards her. She could feel those familiar soft hands gently gripping either side of her face and couldn’t help but grin as Arizona kissed her again and again. She wound her hands into those blonde locks she had missed so much and sighed. Arizona was BACK.