Title: When It Don't Come Easy

Author: HandsThatHeal

Pairing: Callie/Arizona

Rating: NC-17

Summary: After watching Arizona struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the plane crash, Callie decides to take matters into her own hands by embarking on a cross country adventure with Arizona and Sofia. During their trip, will they be able to reaffirm their love? Or will they ultimately decide that they don't have what it takes to carry on as a family?

Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, songs, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

AN: Thank you all so much for taking the time for reading and for taking the time to review. Last update for this story!

Epilogue Two

Five Months Later. . .

"Are you sure she's ready?" Miranda asked from where she stood next to Callie while scrubbing out from their final surgery of the day.

"She says she is," Callie replied, shaking the excess water from her hands and, leaning back against the lip of the sink as she dried her hands on a blue surgical towel, she worriedly shrugged her shoulders. "She wasn't ready to go last year when the other three went, but she wants to try it now. She says it's something she needs to do."

Drying her own hands, Miranda took a moment to consider the unease on her friend's face. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Callie sighed, considering her words. "I don't honestly know. I want to be there for her. I mean, I am here for her. I'll do whatever she needs," she spoke, her thoughts short and nearly rambled and, with a shake of her head, she tried again to answer Miranda's question with nothing but the truth. "I guess. . .I'm just afraid. We've certainly had our ups and downs, Bailey. None of this has been easy."

Miranda carefully studied Callie for a moment longer. "Nothing worth doing is ever easy," she matter-of-factly stated before moving to exit the scrub room.

Callie smiled slightly, knowing her friend was right. "It's just - I don't ever want to go back to the way we were immediately following the crash," she reluctantly admitted as she followed Miranda out the door. "We barely survived that."

Pausing in the surgical hallway, Miranda turned back toward her friend, her eyes sincere as she spoke. "But you did survive it. More than survived it, if you ask me," the shorter surgeon replied. "You grew. You blossomed. You're better together now than you ever were before. . .and even then you two were about as much happy as any person could bear," she added before briskly turning on her heel.

Callie chuckled at that and, taking a few quick steps to catch up with her friend, she once again settled in at her side, now walking at the same pace. "I'm so glad you don't do personal stuff," she teased, nudging her friend with her elbow.

"You can't fault me for that, Torres," Miranda huffed with a roll of her eyes. "I've been working with all you scandalous fools for way too long."

Later that evening, Callie sat against the headboard of their king sized bed with five month old Aiden facing her, his chubby fingers tightly grasping her thumbs as he attempted to sit up unassisted.

"Did you pack Aiden's diapers?" Arizona absentmindedly asked from across the room, bras, underwear, and socks flying from the chest of drawers as she anxiously moved around the master bedroom. "Where's Little Miss?"

"I did," Callie offhandedly drawled. ". . .and Sofia is downstairs doing evening PT with your dad," she continued, her attention never leaving the happy little bundle of joy in front of her. Leaning in closer to loudly blow against his cherubic cheek, she quickly pulled back, surprise evident on her face. "Oh! I think he's getting a tooth! Arizona! Come look!" she excitedly exclaimed with a huge smile as she closely examined the baby's drool filled mouth.

Arizona immediately dropped a handful of clothes into the open suitcase at the foot of the bed and, quickly scooting up to sit next to her wife, she gently squeezed Aiden's chubby cheeks with one hand as she peered into his mouth. "What are we going to do with you?" she then teasingly asked as she pulled him into her lap. "You're already getting to be such a big boy!"

Callie pensively watched her wife as she cheerfully played with their son and, after enjoying the sight of the two of them together for several long moments, she then leaned into Arizona's side, placing a firm kiss against her temple. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Arizona didn't immediately respond, her shoulders becoming slightly rigid, as the carefree smile slowly began to vacate her face. But, turning toward her wife, she blew out a cleansing breath, adamantly refusing to give in to the doubts she was currently experiencing. "I'm sure," she finally stated with a resolute nod of her head. "It's been three years, Calliope. I'm ready. I want - no, I need to do this."

Callie briefly regarded the steadfast set of her wife's features and, leaning in, she lovingly caressed Arizona's lips with her own. "Okay," she agreed once she'd pulled away and, after once again pecking at perfect pink lips she then stood from the bed. "While you play with McDrooly, I'll help you pack."

The following day, as she stood at their departure gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Arizona gulped for air, her mind racing as she settled herself into a hard plastic seat, her hands clenched into fists against her furrowed brow. "They can't g-g-go, Callie," she stammered, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I-I don't want them to go. I thought it would be okay, but it's not. Sofia and Aiden. They can't go. It's not safe."

Quickly handing Aiden to Barbara Robbins, Callie knelt in front of her distraught wife as she glanced sidelong towards her in-laws and children. "Just take a minute, Arizona. It's okay, sweetie. Breathe. . .just breathe," she tried to soothe as she took clammy hands into her own, her forehead gently coming to rest against that of her wife. "Listen to me, Arizona," she firmly stated, though the love and adoration she felt for this woman was still evident in her tone and, pulling back just enough to meet watery blue eyes, she continued on through. "It's okay. We're all okay. None of us have to go anywhere. We don't have to fly to Boise. We can drive. We can all go back home. Or, just you and I can go. Your parents can stay here in Seattle with Sofia and Aiden. It's okay, sweetie. We'll do whatever you need. Our babies are safe, Arizona. We're all safe."

Arizona leaned back from her wife, her eyes falling shut as a staggering breath forced itself from deep within her chest.

She could do this. She had to do this.

Slowly opening her eyes, Arizona swallowed thickly, her gaze momentarily flicking around the airport in embarrassment before ultimately landing on those magical brown depths that were filled with nothing by abiding loyalty, heartfelt concern, and unconditional love.

"Are you scared, momma?"

Shaking her head at the sound of her daughter's voice, Arizona once again closed her eyes, unremitting fear coursing through her veins.

With confusion registering on her face, Sofia released her grandfather's hand and, stepping closer to her mothers, her brown eyes curiously gazed at Arizona as she pressed her front into the side of the blonde's bent leg. "Are you scared, momma?" she again questioned.

Arizona slowly opened her eyes at the sound of the four-year-old's adorable little voice and, quickly wiping stray tears from her cheeks, she valiantly plastered a smile onto her face. "Yeah, big girl. Momma's a little scared."

Smoothing dark hair from Sofia's face, Callie then placed a gentle kiss against her forehead. "You should give momma a big hug, Sof," she whispered into the little girl's ear. "Just like she does when you're scared. Maybe that will help."

With a smile, Sofia turned toward Arizona, wrapping her arms around her neck as she climbed onto her lap. "Don't be scared, momma. It's okay," she simply stated and, leaning away from her mother's embrace, she began to move her hands in a circular motion in front of Arizona's face. "Bad dreams, bad dreams, go away. Good dreams, good dreams, here to stay. Bad dreams, bad dreams, go away. . ."

"Good dreams, good dreams, here to stay," Callie tearfully repeated along with the child as she lifted herself from the floor to sit next to her wife.

"Bad dreams, bad dreams, go away. Good dreams, good dreams, here to stay."

"You have to say it three times, or it doesn't work," Sofia innocently added at the end.

Arizona let out a breathy chuckle through a wave of tears. "I know, baby. Thank you."

"That always helps when I'm scared, momma. You always help me when I have a bad dream."

Callie stood from her seat, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her after witnessing the sensitivity pour from Sofia's small form and, squeezing the sides of her eyes with her thumb and middle finger in an attempt to stave off the torrent of memories that filled her mind, she momentarily turned her back on the group, quickly wiping her face free of moisture. Then clearing her throat in an attempt to strengthen her resolve, she slowly turned back around to regard her in-laws. "Would you mind staying at the house with the kids while Arizona and I go to Boise?" she carefully asked, taking Aiden from Barbara's loving embrace.

"Of course we wouldn't mind," Barbara softly replied, her concerned attention focused intently on the struggling form of her daughter. "Whatever you two need."

Cautiously stepping toward Arizona, Daniel took the seat next to her and, placing his hand on her shoulder blade, he hesitated, considering his words. "You have to make your own decisions, Arizona, but I want you to listen to me for just one moment," he began, pausing briefly until he was sure he had her full attention. "You should never regret or be fearful of decisions you've already made. Never be sorry for what you did yesterday; it was what you wanted, what you chose. Accept that fact, and move forward. Never doubt yourself. Your mother and I raised you to be a good man in a storm, Arizona, and to protect the things you love. You are honorable and strong, and I know you can do this."

Arizona raised her chin from Sofia's shoulder, surprised by her usually stoic father's admission and, as silence overwhelmed them, not one person in their group was sure of what to say.

"Thanks, dad," Arizona finally whispered in reply and, with a confident nod of her head, she then kissed Sofia's cheek. "You'll be a good girl for Pop-Pop and Grammy, right? I want you to help them with your baby brother, okay?"

"Okay, momma," Sofia replied, quickly jumping from her lap.

Arizona briefly hugged her father before slowly standing on slightly tremulous legs. "Thank you," she stated when she then embraced her mother and, then turning toward her wife and son, a genuine smile graced her face. "I love you, baby boy," she said as she kissed his chubby cheek.

"Okay. . ." Callie stated after settling the baby back into Barbara's arms and saying her own goodbyes. "We're going to do this together, Arizona," she insisted as she faced her wife, tightly grasping her hands. "We can do this, because you and I are capable of anything as long as we do it together. And, grabbing the handle of their carry-on luggage in one hand, she pulled Arizona toward her with the other. "You ready?"

Arizona nodded her agreement, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"I'm ready."

"Do you want the window or the aisle?" Callie asked when they reached their seats aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2140. When Arizona had decided that she was ready to take this journey, Callie had immediately started researching flights, fear of flying, coping mechanisms, and anything else that she thought could help make this voyage as successful as possible. They had even periodically spoken with Dr. Wyatt concerning their upcoming trip and its potential fallout. The logistics of this trip had been discussed time and time again over the past couple months; Callie and Arizona had discussed everything from their seating arrangement to the time of the flight and type of plane, carry-on luggage versus stowaway, sober versus completely intoxicated. Obviously, they had decided that a daytime flight would be best, with Arizona and Callie both agreeing that abstaining from alcohol would probably be the most advantageous because they knew that the real trick to making this fully effective was to completely throw themselves into the experience. They both did agree, however, that didn't necessarily mean they wouldn't most likely need to partake of multiple alcoholic beverages once the plane had landed safely on the ground.

The only issue Arizona had been unable to fully decide on was her seat on the plane. She knew she wanted to sit over the wing because she had read that that position on the plane provided the most stability, but she was wholly noncommittal on window versus aisle. One moment she felt that she would rather be in the window seat because, in her mind, she thought if she could see out the window at all times if she could see the wing - then the sheer power of her own mind could keep the plane flying. On the other hand, she thought maybe the aisle seat would be better because it was less restrictive and for the simple fact that she wouldn't be able to see the cold hard ground below.

"Arizona? Did you hear me?" Callie gently asked as she forced their carry-on into the overhead compartment. "Window or aisle, sweetie?" she repeated, tightly grasping her wife's trembling hand.

Arizona swallowed against the lump that was forming in her throat. "Umm. . .window. I think, window."

"Okay," Callie nodded, her concerned eyes never leaving her wife's unsettled features.

Taking her seat once Arizona was comfortably situated into her own, Callie protectively held two sweaty ivory hands in the safety of her own. "I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere," she earnestly insisted. "The flight is less than an hour and a half, and you and I are totally going to kick its ass."

Smiling only slightly, Arizona reached down to buckle her seatbelt. "Thank you for doing this with me, Callie. Thank you for being here."

Callie lovingly regarded her wife, concerned brown eyes never leaving Arizona's face. "I promised you I'd go wherever you go, Arizona, and there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be right now than right here with you," she stated as she leaned over to lay claim on moist pink lips.

"Oh," Callie cried in recollection as she quickly pulled away. "I have something for you," she excitedly exclaimed as she began digging through her purse.

Arizona curiously watched her wife as she searched further into her bag. "This is for you to listen to in case you get tired of hearing my voice," Callie teased as she handed Arizona her iPod and earbuds. "It has a brand new My Arizona playlist on it that I made specifically for this trip, and this. . ." she said as she handed her wife a large leather bound photo album, ". . .is all the pictures from our road trip. I thought we could look through them during the flight."

Flicking up from the album she now held in her hands, Arizona coyly regarded her wife. "When did you have time to make this?" she asked in surprise.

Callie smiled as she watched her wife quickly flip to the first page of pictures. "We've been so bad about printing pictures from the camera so, while I was on maternity leave, I uploaded everything from our computers and iPads and anywhere else I could think of and had them printed. We have tons of pictures that still need organized, but I decided to start with this album first."

Arizona tenderly gazed at Callie before looking back down toward the photo on the first page. "Oh my goodness," she said with a laugh. "Look how little Sofia was."

With more than half of the flight behind them, Arizona begrudgingly closed the final page of the album; she could look at these pictures forever. "Thanks for that," she said with a smile. "It was. . ."

Arizona quickly trailed off when her body suddenly felt slightly altered bumps and movements of the plane, different from the smooth ride they had experienced thus far. "Callie. . ."

Immediately noticing the change in her wife's demeanor as expressive blue eyes began to glaze over with fear, Callie quickly kneeled in her seat facing the blonde, bringing her lips close to her ear. "Just stay with me, Arizona," she patiently whispered. "Just a little bit of turbulence. But, we're okay. I'm going to keep you safe. Nothing is going to happen to you."

Arizona could only stare straight ahead, beads of sweat beginning to form on her brow, her breaths quickening in pace and her knuckles turning white from their grasp on the armrests.

"We've been through this. You know all about the sights and sounds and movements of a plane," Callie softly continued as she reached up to adjust the cool air valve, opening the nozzle full blast and directing it onto the blonde's face. "You're safe. You're going to be okay."

Arizona harshly swallowed, quickly nodding her head.

"Breathe with me. Take a deep breath - in through your nose and blow it out through your mouth - just like you're blowing Sofia and Aiden a kiss."

Arizona did as Callie instructed, the rush of cool air from above, helping to calm her heavy breathing and racing heart.

"Close your eyes," Callie urged. "Let's imagine that. . .we're on a bus."

"A Greyhound Bus?"

"Sure, a Greyhound Bus or, even better, our RV," Callie replied, her palms lovingly resting on Arizona's shoulders. "The turbulence is just like driving over a bumpy road. That's all it is."

Arizona nodded, her shoulders beginning to relax from their tensed position as Callie soothingly caressed her arms up and down.

"Good, sweetie. You're doing awesome. Now, talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking."

Arizona's gaze finally flicked from the back of the seat in front of her to look in Callie's direction. "I-I'm taking control," she haltingly began.

"Good, sweetie. That's good. What else?"

"I'm releasing my fear - my panic. I'm letting go of my tension a-a-and my fear and my panic. I'm taking control."

Callie smiled; they had practiced this so many times before with the help of Dr. Wyatt, and she was glad that it seemed to indeed be working. "Go on."

"I-I'm releasing my tension. I feel more relaxed. Arizona gulped for air. "Can I have some water?"

Grabbing a plastic water bottle from her purse, Callie quickly twisted the cap before handing it to her wife.

After taking a sip, Arizona let out a deep cleansing breath. "I'm okay," she stated, taking another long drag from the bottle. "I'm okay."

Callie looked around the cabin of the plane, a smile gracing her face. "That's great, sweetie," she proudly stated. "Because, we just landed."

"From the map Derek gave us, it seems like this is the spot," Callie said from the driver's seat of their rented Jeep Wrangler. "We can't drive any further. We'll have to hike."

Arizona only nodded as she opened the door, stepping from the vehicle and, grabbing a backpack from the floor of the Jeep, she threaded her arms through it and pulling it onto her shoulders.

Curiously watching her wife, Callie grabbed her own pack from the vehicle. "I can just as easily call that helicopter charter company and schedule an appointment for tomorrow if you want. I mean, are you sure we should hike it?" she cautiously asked, apprehensively glancing toward the mountainous wilderness terrain.

"Why wouldn't we hike it, Calliope? Because I only have one leg?" Arizona retorted, her tone sounding more annoyed than she had intended.

"Of course not, Arizona," Callie insisted, her tone even. "It has nothing to do with you. But, I - on the other hand - am still carrying around like twelve extra pounds of baby weight and might die before we make it to the top, and because I'm afraid you'll leave me in the dust with that new $50,000.00 recreational leg of yours."

"Ha!" Arizona barked laughter and, reaching out to take Callie's hand, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Never in my life did I think I'd have a closet full of different legs. Different shoes, obviously. Different purses, of course. But legs? Seriously?"

"It is a pretty sweet leg, though, babe," Callie contended with a smile.

"It is," Arizona admitted, returning her grin. "It really is."

Watching as Callie once again nervously glanced toward the mountain, Arizona tugged on her hand, pulling her in for a quick kiss. "You'll be fine, Calliope. We'll be fine. We're going to make it."

"Callie, hold on," Arizona called for her wife who was a few steps ahead of her.

"Oh, thank God!" Callie breathed out, leaning forward with her hands resting on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

Recovering slightly, Callie then looked toward Arizona who silently stood taking in her surroundings. "I-is this the place?" Callie asked as she cautiously stepped closer to her wife.

Arizona didn't speak, only silently nodding her head as she reached for Callie's arm in an attempt to steady herself.

Stepping closer to support her wife's weight, Callie was certain that all aspects of time and space came to a grinding halt when her concerned brown eyes locked on frightened and emotional bright blue.

"Here. . .let's sit down," Callie gently urged as she pulled the sweatshirt that was knotted around her waist from her body to spread it out onto the forest floor.

With an obedient nod, Arizona slowly sat before Callie settled in behind her, wrapping long arms around a slip waist, their legs outstretched.

Sitting in silence for several long moments, Callie could feel the quickened pulse at Arizona's neck, her breathing slightly irregular and, gently kissing an ivory cheek, she pulled her impossibly closer, her chin now resting on Arizona's shoulder. And, as she looked out on the landscape surrounding them, Callie couldn't help the conflicting emotions that surged through her.

This place - the place that had taken so much from them - how could it possibly be so. . .beautiful? How could the breeze blow so gently through her hair? How could the sun's rays warm her skin so perfectly? How could the birds in the trees still sing? And, feeling her own heart rate speed up, Callie realized that this - this was not even close to what she had expected.

"Over there," Arizona finally said, breaking the tranquil silence and, raising her arm, she pointed in the direction of a clearing surrounded by trees. "Th-that's where I woke up."

Callie's gaze followed her wife's outstretched hand.

"They found Derek somewhere down that way."

Following her wife's every move, Callie remained sitting when Arizona suddenly stood from her seat.

"The front part of the fuselage was here," Arizona pointed to her left. "The middle was over there," she pointed in the opposite direction. "I have no idea what happened to the wings."

"It's all so. . .inconceivable," Callie remarked as she stood to follow her wife, though she purposely kept her distance. "This place is so beautiful. I just can't even fathom that something so terrible happened here."

"You know, I had that thought," Arizona admitted with a sad smile. "Especially in the mornings. The sun would rise from right over there."

Arizona pointed off to her right.

"It was breathtaking, and every single morning, I wondered how I could find this place so beautiful when I was literally sitting in the middle of so much death and destruction."

Taking Callie's hand, Arizona led her over a fallen tree, up a small embankment, and down a grassy slope.

"I'm pretty sure that's where the back of the plane ended up. That's where Lexie was. . .trapped."

Arizona squeezed her eyes shut, fending off the memories from those harrowing four days. "That's where she died," she continued once she had reopened her tear moistened eyes.

Pulling Arizona into her body and hugging her from behind, Callie then pressed a gentle kiss below her wife's right ear. "Sometimes terribly horrible things have to happen before good things can," she whispered, trying to make some sort of sense out of this awful tragedy. "You and I were made for each other, Arizona. Mark and Lexie were soul mates, too, but unlike you and me, they weren't destined to work out. Not on this earth, at least," she clarified. "They had too many things working against them, so they had to move on to another place so they have the chance to be happy together."

Arizona sighed, momentarily leaning back into Callie's embrace and, gently patting the hands resting around her waist, she then stepped from her wife's arms, carefully scrutinizing her surroundings. "Sometimes I wake up at night thinking about all the things that could have gone wrong or what could have happened," she said to no one in particular as she meandered about the crash site. "I could have died while Mark and Lexie lived. I could be paralyzed like Jerry."

Arizona paused, looking up to the sky, the afternoon sun warming her face. "We all suffered from this. Five of us narrowly escaped death, and we've had to mourn unfathomable losses."

Leaning back against a tree, Callie protectively watching her wife as she continued to process the environment around her.

"Someone should have gone for help. Someone should have searched for water. I remember hearing a stream flowing from somewhere over that way."

Arizona raised her arm, pointing to the left.

"But, I couldn't do a damn thing, Callie. I could hardly move. They were barely able to drag Mark and me under the covering of part of the plane," Arizona stated.

Shaking her head in frustration at not just her own misgivings, but at the entire situation, she then moved to the exact spot where she had sat for four long days. "All I could do was wait. So, that's exactly what I did. I waited. . .and while I waited, I thought about you and Sofia. I kept seeing your faces."

Callie took a couple steps closer to her wife, but stopped short when the blonde once again changed direction, now pacing to her left.

"At some point, I started to lose faith, and I remember hoping that someone would at least find our bodies before we could be eaten by wolves or coyotes or pecked by birds."

Callie swallowed thickly, tears beginning to well in her eyes not just at the harrowing words that she was hearing, but also because of the shear strength and determination that was currently emanating from her beautiful wife.

"I thought that if rescuers recovered our bodies - you could have a burial and then maybe some closure."

"If I had lost you, Arizona. . ." Callie softly spoke, shaking her head. "I may have buried your body, but I never would have had closure. You're it for me, Arizona Robbins. I would have carried on for Sofia, and Sofia alone."

Once again glancing around the scenic area, Arizona then focused solely on her wife and, coming to stand directly in front of her, she took her hands into hers. "There's no logic to why I lived and others didn't. No science explains why I didn't throw a clot and die. No medicine explains why I suddenly stopped coughing up blood or why I didn't slip into unconsciousness and die in silence. I'm not stronger or-or smarter or better than those who died. Why. . ."

"I don't have the answers to why you were spared, Arizona, and maybe that makes me selfish, but I really don't care," Callie interrupted, unwilling to listen to her wife's defeatist words as she tucked a strand of windblown hair behind Arizona's ear.

Arizona appeared shocked by her words and, realizing she should probably clarify her momentary outburst, Callie sighed as she looked around her. "All I know is - there was a reason. Maybe it was for Sofia or-or me. Maybe it was for Aiden or the hundreds of kids you've saved since the crash. Maybe it just wasn't your time. I don't know, sweetie. No one does," Callie earnestly stated as tears began to brim in her eyes. "But, one thing I do know is - you are alive, Arizona, and you're beautiful," she continued, reaching one hand out to gently cup her wife's flawless cheek. "Life's too short to concern yourself with things you can't control. And, that's what I want for us, Arizona. I want to be able to cry when we need to, then let go when it's time. I want us to - just live, honey and let go of all the horrible things in our lives, so that one day, when we're old and wrinkly, we can look back with no regrets."

Arizona offered Callie a watery smile as a single tear trickled down her face, rendered completely speechless.

Taking her wife's silence as a sign that she had somehow gotten through to her, Callie tightly grasped Arizona's hand before slowly guiding her toward the area she had described as Lexie's place of death.

Pulling her backpack off her body, Callie placed it on the ground before kneeling to rummage through it and, then looking up into Arizona's crestfallen eyes, she smiled. "I-I brought a couple things. Umm. . .for Mark and Lexie."

Arizona curiously regarded her wife and, placing her left hand on Callie's strong shoulder, she supported herself as she too lowered herself to the ground.

Staring down at the items in her wife's hand, Arizona pressed her lips tightly together. "I think they'll love them," she softly replied.

Brushing a tear from her eye with the back of her hand, Callie set about dusting off the forest floor with her palm. Then arranging several rocks into a circle, she handed a picture frame to her wife.

Momentarily studying it, Arizona reverently ran her fingertip over the faces behind the glass.

On one side, the double matte frame held a photo of herself, Callie, Mark, and Lexie from their first Thanksgiving together, the other side displaying a photo of herself, Callie, Mark, and Sofia from their daughter's first birthday.

"I found these when I printed all of our pictures," Callie explained.

Carefully placing the photos inside the makeshift memorial they had just created as Callie delicately draped Mark and Lexie's stethoscopes over the frame, Arizona then leaned her head against Callie's shoulder.

Clearing her throat, Callie grasped Arizona's hand. "Shepherd me, O God. . .beyond my wants, beyond my fears. From death into life," she respectfully quoted with the sign of the cross before wrapping her arm tightly around the blonde's waist.

Lost in their own thoughts and emotions, both women remained silent, taking everything in.

"It's so unbelievable that I'm actually here," Arizona finally spoke, breaking the silence as she motioned to the terrain around them.

Callie lovingly studied her wife, the double meaning of her statement causing a single tear to trickle down her cheek. "All I can say is that I'm glad that you are. No matter what the reason," she said as she pulled Arizona into a tight, comforting embrace.

They stayed on the side of the mountain for a while longer, Arizona continuing to point out sites surrounding them and their significance. "It's getting late, sweetie," Callie informed a half hour later. "We need to get back to the Jeep before it gets dark."

Nodding her understanding, Arizona thankfully retrieved Callie's proffered hand.

Turning around, Callie stepped forward, leading her wife over the uneven terrain but, when they reached the spot that Arizona had described as the place where she woke up and ultimately spent most of those four days, Callie heard a hearty sob emanate from deep within her wife as the blonde released her grip on her hand.

Turning back toward her wife, Callie was saddened to see tears sliding down her cheeks, obvious distress pouring from her every feature. "Arizona. . ." she quietly said, taking a step closer to her.

Callie watched as Arizona held up her hand, halting her forward progression.

"I-I. . .I'm okay. I just. . .need a minute," Arizona insisted when she stepped away and, looking around, she sighed, feeling the sensation of the breeze blowing through her hair, the setting sun warming her upturned face.

Observing Arizona's every move with concern, but steadfast adoration, Callie fought with the compulsion to comfort her but, understanding Arizona's need to process her emotions on her own, she stood quietly for several moments as she observed the struggle present in her wife's every feature. It was a strangely amalgamated vision, for as fearful and tremulous as Arizona currently appeared, she looked almost angelic as blonde hair whipped around her head, the setting sun casting a glow upon the skin of her flawless face.

As Arizona stood motionless in the middle of the place where she had nearly died, unabashed tears slid down her face as horrific memories flashed through her mind, profoundly consuming each of her senses.

Sight - she could see Mark lying unconscious on her lap.

Sound - she could hear the strangled cries for help by her colleagues and the vicious snarls of wild animals as they consumed the youngest of their group.

Taste - she could still taste the metallic flavor of blood in her parched mouth as she coughed uncontrollably.

Smell - she could smell the fuel from the engine of the plane as it mixed with the pungent scent of the infection emanating from the open wound in her leg.

Touch - the pain in her leg and entire body was so severe it set every single nerve ending on fire.

As quickly as her reverie began, a feeling of calm serenity soon overtook Arizona's troubled mind, forcing her fears and memories from her grasp.

And, closing her eyes, more tears fell as she inhaled deeply through her nose before slowly letting it out. Wiping at her moist cheeks, Arizona resigned herself to the fact that those four days would never be forgotten and that her heart would always be heavy when she thought of that time. Standing here now, though, finally living after struggling for so long, she smiled slightly when the terrible images of her past left her mind and were replaced by thoughts and visions on her future - of her children and of her wife.

Stepping back into Callie's space, Arizona nuzzled her nose into the crook of her wife's neck and, holding Callie securely to her as she glanced around the forest, she watched as the wind stirred up fallen leaves, sweeping over the limbs of bending pine trees. Glancing up to the sky, she then smiled as she took a deep cleansing breath.

For the first time in three years, she felt that she was now truly able to put the terrible events of that harrowing time behind her. She was now able to fully comprehend and wholly appreciate her life, her family, and each day she had been given. While others had died, she could now truly say that she felt more than ever that she was ready to live.

"Oh God. That feels so good," Callie moaned as the warmth of the water in the large garden tub of their hotel room permeated her aching muscles. Resting comfortably against Arizona's front, she ran her fingers over the bare arms wrapped tightly around her middle, reveling in the feel of the goose bumps that arose at her touch.

Leaning her head forward, Arizona kissed her wife's temple, then brushed her lips gently along her jawline before nipping at the sensitive skin below her earlobe. "Thank you for today. I really needed it. More than I knew."

Callie turned her head, capturing soft, pink lips with her own. "I think we both needed it," she simply stated when she pulled away. "I can't say Boise is on my top ten list of vacation spots - probably doesn't even make the top fifty," she jokingly teased. "But, I'm glad we came."

Arizona chuckled softly, her fingertips lightly grazing over turgid nipples before cupping both breasts in her hands. "Babies make these even more spectacular than they were before," she sensuously commented, completely changing the subject as she kissed her wife's neck, pinching each hardened bud, her hands delicately holding their weight.

Callie shivered at her wife's pleasing touch. "Our babies make everything spectacular," she replied, her head falling backward onto Arizona's shoulder as her wife continued the ministrations of her tongue and mouth against her neck, one ivory hand trailing down caramel flesh to cup the soft mound of her sex.

Pulling her wife even closer to her, Arizona pressed her own aching breasts firmly against the long muscles of her wife's back, aroused nipples caressing taut shoulder blades.

"Only a couple more months, though," Callie husked, her hips lifting to press her center firmly against Arizona's hand. "Then they'll be back to normal, but at least you won't have to share them with Aiden."

Arizona seductively smirked as she ran the middle finger of her right hand gently along Callie's slit and, wrapping her right leg over that of her wife, she then pressed her own hips forward, seeking the erotic friction she so desperately desired.

"No more talking about our children, Calliope. It's not really appropriate in our current situation," Arizona provocatively teased as she laced the fingers of her left hand through the caramel one of her lover, bringing their joined hands to rest beneath magnificent breasts.

Callie nodded in acknowledgment, spreading her legs as wide as the tub would allow when Arizona began rubbing two fingers in exaggerated circles over her eager clit, her eyes closed but her mouth slightly agape.

"You're so hot, baby," Arizona husked into her ear. "I can't stop touching you."

"I-I don't mind," Callie stammered, her hips rocking with the rhythm of her wife's deliberate strokes. "In fact, please don't ever stop touching me."

Arizona chuckled against the soft skin of Callie's arched neck as she pressed her fingers more firmly against a heated clit. And, as loud, sharp gasps of pure bliss began rushing from Callie's mouth, she then moved her attention from her engorged nub, plunging two fingers deep inside her wife, her motions slow at first, but soon becoming faster and more urgent. "I'm going to make you scream so hard, baby," she seductively promised, her pelvis rocking against Callie's ass.

Callie's hand tightened its grip on the fingers interlaced with her own, her breathing becoming heavier as Arizona nipped and sucked at her pulse point, her talented fingers continuing their agonizing work. "Fuck! Don't stop!" she groaned. "You feel so good inside me. Please don't stop!"

Callie panted harshly as beads of sweat, mixed with bath water, started to drip down the side of her face and, catching a droplet of moisture with her tongue, Arizona's body thrust against Callie's as she torturously slid her fingers out from within slick depths to caress swollen folds.

The tip of Arizona's middle finger then grazed over Callie's erect clit before briefly rubbing furious circles over it.

"Please, Arizona. Please," Callie begged in a husky whisper as she neared her breaking point. "Make me come."

"Dirty mouth. . ."

"No kids here," Callie managed in a breathy exhalation.

Sensing her lover's need, Arizona plunged in deeper, burying her fingers inside Callie's slick opening before pausing momentarily, slowly withdrawing and immediately thrusting them back in again. She stimulated her wife deeper and deeper as Callie's hips bucked and writhed in a frenzied rush and, curling her fingers to deliberately massage the spot deep within, Arizona tipped her head forward, forcing Callie to turn toward her so she could claim her lips, her tongue stroking the recesses of her mouth.

In a wild eruption of ecstasy, Callie's back arched, a low guttural moan coming from deep in her chest as her body shuddered, her core contracting with uncontrollable spasms as unadulterated pleasure surged through her. "Arizona!" she screamed in uninhibited satisfaction, her left hand clutching that of her wife, her right hooking behind her to grasp at the hair at the back of the blonde's head.

Nuzzling her nose against Callie's neck as her body continued to tremble, Arizona stilled her fingers when the Latina's orgasm subsided. "I told you I'd make you scream," she breathed before tirelessly moving her fingers once more.

After a few more well placed strokes, Callie's eyes rolled into the back of her head as she again cried out, her body stiffening as a second earth shattering climax consumed her.

Arizona gently caressed Callie's thighs and abdomen with one hand, the other continuing to hold her tightly and, whispering hushed promises and I love yous into her ear, she lovingly coaxed her down from her orgasmic high.

Taken completely by surprise, Arizona could only comply when Callie quickly turned in her arms, water sloshing up over the side of the tub and splashing to the floor as she pushed her body upward to sit on the wide ledge of the tub.

Slowly kissing down her stomach, Callie pressed her legs open as she nudged her nose against the delectable clit she could see peeking out from under its hood. Resting her tongue against it, she looked up at her wife, her tongue never straying from its motionless position. "I can feel you throbbing against my tongue," Callie husked before languidly swirling it through slippery wet folds.

Arizona grasped at her own flushed breasts, her head falling back against the tiles of the bath as her hips arched with abandon, longing to feel her own blinding, pulsing moment of release.

Smirking against the velvety smooth skin of her wife's core, Callie's hot mouth soon strayed from its moist depths to worship Arizona's inner thighs with insistent bites and sucks.

"Don't be a tease," Arizona demanded as she laced her hands through thick brunette tresses, harshly tugging her wife's head toward her pulsating core to unceremoniously force her face deeper into her tight womanhood. "Now. I need you to make me come right now," she insisted, her grasp on her wife's head unrelenting. "Make me come, Calliope. Fuck me and make me come!"

Despite Arizona's desperation, and beyond the fact that Callie thought her wife's lusty words sounded hot as hell as they fell from her lips, Callie didn't rush - she didn't immediately acquiesce to her wife's demands. This was the most uninhibited the brunette had seen her wife in way too long and, as sexy as that was, she wanted to take her time – to make the most of Arizona's new found freedom. So, instead of heeding Arizona's insistence, Callie gently spread damp folds with her thumb and index finger, teasing her wife's clit with light flicks of her tongue.

Watching as her lover's center visibly clenched, Callie then ran her tongue from her entrance all the way up to her bundle of nerves. But, instead of focusing on that aching nub as she knew Arizona needed her to do, Callie instead sucked at both outer lips before burying her pointed tongue deep inside her.

"Oh God, Callie!" Arizona moaned, sharply pulling at dark hair as her hips began bucking and writhing in a perfect rhythm with Callie as she fucked her with her tongue.

With Arizona's hips writhing with abandon, Callie had to pin her down with her arms to keep her in place and, when she felt tight internal muscles begin to pulsate around her tongue, Callie quickly withdrew before immediately entering her with a singular driving thrust of two fingers as she simultaneously sucked an engorged clit into her mouth.

"Oh my God! Yes, Callie! Fuck me, baby!" Arizona screamed as she violently ground her hips against the Latina's face.

And, with one final groan, Arizona's eyes slammed shut, her thighs clamping tightly around Callie's head as her world exploded with a blood-rushing climax.

Callie lapped at the slippery essence that continued poured from her wife's hot core as Arizona rode the waves of sheer ecstasy, goosebumps covering her wet body and she shuddered with each pulsating wave of pleasure.

"Oh my God," Arizona hoarsely breathed when Callie looked up at her, smirking sexily as she pulled her back into the now tepid water with a splash.

Now kneeling in front of her wife with their tender breasts thrust together, Callie urgently slipped her hot tongue into her Arizona's mouth.

Moaning at the intoxicating flavor of herself on Callie's lips, Arizona sucked her wife's tongue, reveling in her own heady essence that lingered there.

When they finally pulled away for air, Callie arched a perfectly manicured eyebrow, giggling at the pleasantly dazed look on the blonde's face. "Talk about a dirty mouth. . ." she teased before stepping from the bath and wrapping herself in a plush terrycloth robe.

Then moving to assist her wife into standing, Callie wrapped a second robe around Arizona's damp form and, after helping her from the tub, she then firmly pressed her against a wall of the bathroom.

"I think we need to take advantage of this one night we have away," Callie husked into Arizona's ear before once again capturing her mouth with hungry urgency.

Finally returning to her senses, Arizona offered her wife a sexy smile. "What?" Peck. "Did?" Peck. "You have?" Peck. "In mind?"

Callie chuckled as her hand slid beneath the material of the blonde's robe to possessively caress the silky ivory skin of Arizona's abdomen. "I'm about to show you."

A week later, Arizona navigated their BMW X5 up the driveway and into the garage, groaning softly when she looked at the digital clock on the console.

1:37am.

Her uneventful twelve hour shift had gone terribly wrong when a half hour before its end a busload of high school baseball players collided with an eighteen wheeler. She and Karev had worked feverishly on the six injured athletes and now seven hours and zero casualties later, she dragged her exhausted body from the vehicle.

Grabbing her bag from the back seat of the car, Arizona trudged through the garage and into the house, the faint smell of chocolate assaulting her senses as she recalled that they had agreed to take brownies to daycare the following day.

Smiling at the thought of Sofia helping in the endeavor, she pictured the four year old licking excess chocolate from a wooden spoon, her face covered with the sweet dessert as Aiden sat happily banging spoons and spatulas against the tray of his high chair.

Arizona sighed, saddened by the fact that she had not only missed out on some baking with her family, but also that she had missed out on dinner time - bath time, story time, and bedtime, as well.

Using the light over the kitchen sink to safely guide her way toward the winding staircase, she sighed when she reached the top of the stairs. First peeking into the Jungle Safari themed nursery, expecting to see Aiden resting peacefully in his crib, she only found an empty room and, assuming Callie had the baby with her in the master bedroom, she tiredly meandered further down the hallway to check on Sofia. Surprised to find her bed empty as well, Arizona finally pushed open the door to the master bedroom, her breath hitching at the vision before her.

In the center of the king size bed, Callie slept propped up against the headboard, Aiden's tiny body protectively secured against her chest with one arm, the other wrapped round Sofia as the little girl snuggled into her side.

Stepping further into the room, Arizona smiled at the sight before toeing off her shoes and guiding her jeans down her legs. Then settling her exhausted body into her wheelchair, she pulled off her prosthesis, deliberately massaging the aching limb before propelling herself to the dresser to gather her pajamas on her way to the en suite bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, Arizona re-emerged to find her family in the exact position as before and, quietly wheeling to her side of the bed, she gingerly transferred herself to the edge of the mattress before settling herself comfortably under the plush duvet.

Feeling the bed move under her, Callie reflexively held Aiden closer to her, protectively running her hand up and down his back. And, blinking several times, her eyes finally opened as she looked to her right to make sure Sofia was safe beside her.

The weary, but sparkling blue eyes Callie then found watching her as an ivory hand stroked their daughter's belly caused a genuine smile to tug at her lips. "Hey," she whispered through a fog of sleep.

"Hey," Arizona replied as she leaned up on her elbow to kiss her cheek.

"We missed you," Callie stated as she glanced between their children. "What happened with the baseball players?"

"I missed you, too." Arizona replied with a sigh. ". . .they all made it. Every single one of them, she proudly stated. "Did you have a rough night?"

Callie chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. "There was sugar and flour all over the kitchen, and Sofia literally had chocolate from head to toe when I finally got her into the bath."

"You made the brownies from scratch?" Arizona asked in surprise. "I would have just made them from the box."

Callie scoffed. "So not my style, babe," she teasingly replied with a laugh. "And besides, Little Miss insisted on calling Grammy for her recipe."

Arizona chuckled at the thought of her mother assisting Sofia with the baking. "How was Aiden?" she asked as she ran her hand along the soft dark hair at the back of his head.

"Perfect, of course," Callie remarked as she looked down at his sleeping form. Then sitting up, she started to scoot toward the edge of the bed. "I'll take him to the nursery."

Arizona bit her bottom lip, momentarily fighting with herself before giving in to her thoughts. "No, wait," she hesitantly urged. "I didn't get to spend any time with them today. Can they stay here? Just for a little while?"

Callie turned around, smiling at the request. "Sure," she said with a shrug as she carefully handed the sleeping baby to his momma. Settling him onto the mattress between herself and his sister, Arizona snuggled into her pillow, her hand resting protectively against his chest.

Flicking off the bedside lamp, their room now dimly lit by the silvery glow of the moon and the street lights below, Callie then reached across Sofia with her left arm to gently rest her palm against the back of Arizona's hand. And, drawing random patterns over a wrist with her thumb, brown eyes soon locked with the gorgeous cerulean ones of the woman she loved.

"Goodnight, sweetie," Callie whispered.

"Goodnight, Calliope," Arizona replied in a hushed whisper. "I love you."

A smile tugged at the corners of full lips. "I love you, too."

AN2: Thanks so much for your support of this story. I hope you enjoyed it and thanks for sticking around from start to finish!