**It's amazing how much time you have when there's a pandemic! I know, I suck. I did kind of abandon this story, and I apologize to everyone for that. But now that the world is paused, let's see where this story takes us again.

Chapter 12

Dearest Calliope,

I'm writing you a letter because…honestly I'm not really sure why. My dad used to send us letters when he was away, and it always made me feel close to him. Something tangible that I could hold…that he also had held. I'm babbling.

How are you? Please tell me you're taking care of yourself. I know we talk and text as much as we can, but sometimes there's just not enough time to really…talk. The coffee shop has been super busy. Customers coming in hoping to see either you or me…let's just say I've been doing a lot of office work ;) I'm just kidding, I love interacting with the customers and talking about the race with them, and how amazing you are. On another note, I haven't seen or heard a peep from Kate since our confrontation a few weeks ago. So that's a plus! Reporters are still here, following me and occasionally approaching me about our relationship. I don't let it bother me because I know you're experiencing the same thing. If you can handle it, then so can I. We're in this together :D

I wish you were here. Even though we text when we can, and Skype it's just not the same. How is it possible to miss someone so much that you've only known a few weeks? It's weird for me to be in this position because I'm so used to being on my own. Well, not on my own my own, but…you know what I mean.

The gang here is doing great. They told me to tell you hey when I spoke to you. I probably already told you on Skype, but I'm including it in the snail mail ;) We've all been following your races and your travels. It sounds exhausting. I don't know how you do it, Calliope. You amaze me. I know you're working your hardest and you still always find time for me. Even if it's just a short text that you're thinking about me…it means a lot. Especially when we're so far apart.

Mama's been following you, as well. I went over to her and Daddy's house the other day and she had clippings from the newspaper from when you were in town. Most were from the race, but there were a few that were about us. I think she's a little worried about me…dealing with having to be in the public eye. She calls me everyday to check on me and asks how you're doing. I can't wait for you to meet them, Calliope! I know you'll love them! Mama said she's gonna make you a blueberry cobbler when you visit ;) She's also very big into scrap booking, so be prepared…HA!

We all can't wait to see you again, Calliope. Especially me ;) Please be careful and know that I'm always thinking about you.

Yours,

Arizona

P.s. Brody sends you a kiss as well!

Callie folded the letter and held it to her chest as she lied in her hotel bed. God, I miss her. It was the middle of the night, she had spoken to Arizona countless times between her mailing the letter and Callie receiving it, knew everything in the letter, and she still couldn't stop reading it. The blonde was definitely right. There is just something about getting a letter.

Callie and her crew were in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had been so slammed with press conferences and training that she hadn't had as much time to talk to her beautiful blonde. She tried to find time. And many times when she did call, Arizona was busy at the coffee shop. It had been three weeks since she left Seattle, and it just wasn't sitting well with her. She felt homesick.

"Have a late night out, Torres? You look like shit," Mark said, as he scooted into the bench across from her. There was a diner next to their hotel, and it had been Callie's spot ever since they had arrived.

Callie rolled her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping much and knew she had bags under her eyes. "Look who's talking, Sloan," Callie shot back. Mark was wearing the same clothes he had on last night, bags under his eyes, and a smug smirk on his face. "I miss Arizona. I'm worried about her," Callie said, taking a slow sip of her coffee as she waited on her bacon and eggs. She wasn't in the mood to talk about Mark's sexcapades.

"Worried? What for? Seems like she's doing fine to me. According to the press…seems to be pretty boring there."

Callie sighed and looked up at her friend. "That's what I'm saying Mark…according to the press? That's not normal to be checking on someone through the press. It's gotta be getting to her…she didn't ask for that." Callie sighed again and slouched in her corner booth.

"You need to get out, Torres. You're bumming me out," Mark smirked, trying to joke with his friend. Callie needed to stay busy. She was fine when she was moving and being distracted, but as soon as she was able to be still, she moped around like a depressed old lady. "Quit worrying about your girl! She's not a weakling. She can handle a few annoying guys taking the occasional picture. She's got you, right?" Mark winked at her and flagged down the waiter to bring him a cup of coffee.

"I don't think I'm worth being hassled the rest of your life, but thanks for the pick me up," she laughed, flicking a left over crumb from the table in Mark's direction.

"Torres, you're worth dealing with a million paparazzi. The blonde can handle it. She's too smitten with you not to," he joked.

Callie laughed, shaking her head at her friend as he browsed the menu. "Shut up, Mark."

Mark chuckled, liking the smile that was now on his friends face. "What's your blonde up to anyway?"

"TEDDY! Where the hell is my shoe?!" Arizona yelled, stomping around the house with one shoe on.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?! What would I do with one shoe?!" Teddy yelled back, turning back over in bed. Her shift didn't start for another couple of hours, and she didn't need this crap this early in the morning. "Ask Brody!" she yelled, covering her head with a pillow.

"Damn dog always stealing my shoe," Arizona grumbled, walking towards Brody's bed in the corner of the living room. "Aha!" she yelled, holding up her partly chewed red Chuck in triumph. "You have so many toys, Brody! We play with you, we take you on rides and walks…why the hell do you have to chew on MY shoe? Tim has a whole closet full of smelly sneakers you can sink your teeth into," she scolded, sitting down on the couch and putting her shoe on as she watched Brody peak out at her behind the kitchen counter. "Yeah, you better hide you shoe murderer," Arizona continued to grumble.

"Hey, sis! You're here early," Tim said, turning around in his chair when he heard the office door open. It was 5am and he had gotten there at 4 to meet the delivery guys and get caught up on the books. "Zone, you're not on until 10…you're closing tonight."

Arizona collapsed into her office chair and threw her feet up onto her desk, linking her fingers behind her head like she was lounging in a hammock. "I had to get out of that house, Tim. I need a distraction," she admitted, staring up at the ceiling.

"A distraction at 5 o'clock in the morning? Wow, Zona…..sounds to me like you need to get laid."

Arizona's eyes shot daggers at her brother as she nearly fell out of her chair. Tim was already diving behind his desk as a paperweight, in the shape of a sandwich that was given to them by one of their vendors, breezed over his left shoulder, bounced off the wood paneled wall and landed in his trash can in the corner.

Tim got out from behind his desk and went to fish out the silver paperweight. "Two points!" he laughed, as he dug it out of the bottom of the trash. He wasn't about to give it back to her yet. He was eyeing the stapler on her desk in case she got a second wind and decided to chuck that at his head. He slowly sat down back in his chair as his sister eyed him from hers. "I was only kidding," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. But I wasn't wrong. She REALLY does need to get laid.

"I don't need to get laid, Timmy. I just miss Callie," she admitted, leaning back in her chair again. She took a deep breath calming herself back down. She could hear the front door unlocking and April coming in to start setting up the shop.

"You guys talk all the time! Almost every time I see you you're messaging her, or talking to her or FaceTiming her. I would drive Lexie insane if I was constantly texting her. When do you have time to miss her?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Arizona chuckled, rolling her mouse around to get her computer to wake up. "Oh Timmy Timmy Timmy….you really are clueless. For one, Callie and I rarely have time to just talk. Like deep down, really get to know one another conversations. So we take what we can get with the few minutes we have free in between our busy lives. And second...poor poor Lexie," she said, grinning and biting her lip. Trying to hold back her chuckle. She really did like to fuck with Tim.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" he said, eyeing his sister.

Arizona got out of her seat and walked towards the office door, grin still on her face. "Let's just say if you think you're giving Lexie what she needs, you are sorely mistaken, brother. You need to step up your game." Arizona tucked out of the office, heading downstairs to help April set up, letting her brother stew on that last bit of advice. She had no idea if Lexie was starving for attention from Tim. She just wanted to fuck with him. Should probably give Lexie the heads up….

Callie gripped the steering wheel tight as she roared around the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This was her domain. She reveled in the feeling of just her and the car, no one else to bother her. "Yo, Fuse," an annoying voice echoed in her helmet. Damn.

"What's up, Cristina?" Callie asked. She had gotten to the track early, hoping to get a few laps in before everyone else from her team got there. It may sound crazy, but the track was a peaceful place to Callie. She could tune everything out and just…be. She got the same feeling when speeding down the back roads in one of her muscle cars, but it still couldn't compare to speeding down the track in a racecar at almost 200 miles per hour.

"You're early. Want me to join?" She asked.

Callie whipped past Cristina and saw the brunette standing by her car on the other side of the wall, ready to slide through the window and start her engine. She was always game to take on Cristina. "What are you waiting on? Christmas? Get your ass out here," she grinned, as she pushed the gas pedal down to the floor.

"Fucking cocky ass," Cristina grumbled out a laugh as she slid through the window, strapped on her helmet and tore onto the track. "Fifty bucks I beat you by a car length," she offered, as Callie came back around the track and was now even with her. She looked over at the Latina driver and shot her the bird as she floored it, speeding away from Callie's car.

"Oh, you're on Yang! And I want a crisp fifty. Not the fucking nickels and dimes you paid me in last time!"

Cristina chuckled as she remembered tossing a heavy bag of change into the brunette's lap after a practice race. Was totally worth losing to see her face. "Take it or leave it, Torres! Money is money. Can't all be made of gold like you," she laughed.

"Hey pretty lady! How was your day?" Arizona cheerfully asked, as she walked up the steps to her office holding her phone.

Callie smiled as she watched blonde curls bounce on her screen. "Pretty good. Cristina beat me in practice today."

Arizona sat down in her office chair, finally alone and able to look at her phone properly. She saw a slightly annoyed pout on the brunette's face and held back a chuckle. "Really? How much did you lose?" she poked, knowing they liked to occasionally gamble on their races.

"Fifty bucks…but I think something's up with my car. Wasn't accelerating like it should towards the end. Mer and Karev are looking it over now."

"Don't let her give you that load of crap, Blondie. I won fair and square," Cristina bragged, pushing her face into the screen and snapping the crisp fifty-dollar bill in front of Callie's face.

Callie elbowed Cristina in the ribs, pushing her away from her phone. "Get out Cristina! Where the hell did you come from anyway?" she asked. She was in her trailer and she was pretty sure she had locked the door.

"What? Mi casa es su casa. That's what you always say," Cristina chortled, shrugging her shoulders and turning around to grab a water out of the fridge. "And I had to pee. You have the most spacious bathroom." She stared at Callie like it was obvious. Callie just stared back, eyes wide, not saying a word. Cristina slowly screwed the cap back on her water, not really caring that she was interrupting something. "Why are you staring at me? Are you guys about to have phone sex?"

"Get out, Yang!" Callie bellowed, tossing her phone on the desk and stomping towards the door to throw it open.

Arizona giggled, listening to the two banter back and forth.

Cristina leaned over Callie's phone. "Later, Blondie. Remind me to tell you the story about the time we tied an angel…"

"GET OUT NOW!" Callie yelled, grabbing the back of Cristina's shirt and tossing her out of her trailer.

Cristina practically landed on Shane and George as they were walking by the trailer on their way to their cars. "Damn, Yang. Torres still bitter about the fifty bucks?" Shane asked, as Cristina rolled her eyes at both of them.

Callie slammed the door shut. Is it possible to get any time alone with these buffoons around? She locked the latch on her door and heard a noise coming from her desk. Shit! Arizona!

"Hello?...Anyone there…." Arizona said, not hearing anymore talking and only seeing the ceiling of Callie's trailer on her screen. She finally heard the beautiful Latina grumbling as she was walking back towards her phone. Arizona had a huge grin on her face as Callie picked the phone back up. "So? Do tell…what's this about an angel?" she asked, biting her lip.

Callie groaned as Arizona looked at her, with the most beautiful, inquisitive expression she had ever seen in her life. I'm going to kill you, Yang... "Ummm let's save that story for another time. Like when we're both in the same state, in the same place. Preferably with booze," she joked, leaning back in her chair.

"I'll hold you to that Ms. Torres," she said, beaming at the camera. "So what else have you been up to besides losing to Cristina?" she joked, smiling as she noticed the brunette had propped her cellphone up against something and was now taking down the loose braid in her hair and combing through it with her fingers. God, I just want to jump through the phone and…and I don't even know…touch her! I just miss being close to her…

Callie shifted in her seat as she pulled her hair away from her shoulders, "Haha, very funny. I only lost because my car was acting up at the end. Yang got lucky," she said, smiling at the blonde who was obviously in a daze looking at her. "Nothing else really. Just races, and fans and paparazzi…you know, the usual." She laughed. "Totally normal, everyday things that occur to everyone. "

Arizona snorted when she heard that. "Yeah, totally normal. You're out of style if you don't have at least 3 reporters and paparazzi hounding you at any given moment. Although, I think I'm down to two now, so maybe I'm not as hip." She laughed, winking at Callie as she laughed at her comment.

Callie sighed as she enjoyed the easiness with Arizona. "In all seriousness, how are you? Please be honest with me. Are you okay? Are they leaving you alone? No one's harassing you, are they?! I'm so sorry, Arizona. Mark told me they were still writing about you in the papers…I figured most of this would have died down by now, but…"

"Hey hey, calm down Calliope. I'm totally fine. Yeah, at first it was hard to deal with, but we figured it out. I already told you I was ok…numerous times. Please trust me when I tell you that. You don't have to keep worrying about me."

Callie took a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming herself back down. She had this bad habit of getting in her own head and thinking the worst…especially when it came to Arizona. "I know…I'm sorry I keep bringing it up. I just want to know that you're ok. That's all. You didn't ask for this life…"

"Callie, quit being a negative Nancy about this! I know what I've gotten myself into. And I keep telling you I'M OK. Please believe me!"

Callie put her hands up in surrender. "Yes ma'am, it will never be brought up again. You have those paparazzi wrapped around your little finger," she joked, smiling at the blonde. "Especially when they snap sexy photos of you in your torn robe, and beautifully disheveled hair, grabbing your paper in the morning. You tell those paparazzi, Zona." She laughed, unable to stop herself from poking fun that the gorgeous blonde staring back at her, mouth open.

Arizona was in shock. She had been avoiding reading any of the tabloids just to keep her sanity. Those bastards! "Seriously?! It was before the ass crack of dawn and they still got a photo of me?! When do these fuckers sleep?!" Arizona ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. Nope, don't let this get to you. This is exactly what Callie is talking about and exactly what she is worried about. "Well, at least they didn't catch me on the morning I went out without pants to get the paper. We're doing good!" She laughed, and smiled when the brunette barked out a laugh with her.

A quiet moment settled between them as they smiled at each other through the phone. "I miss you, Zona." Callie said softly.

Arizona loved that Callie had started calling her Zona. Her heart melted every time she heard it. Only the people, her family, called her that. And it just felt right. "I miss you too, Calliope. When do you think we'll see each other…" she asked, afraid to hear the answer.

Callie sighed, a little frustrated that she hadn't had any free days to see her girl properly. "Baby, I'd be there in a blink of an eye if I didn't have this race tomorrow. Hopefully things will start to slow down. We have a break coming up and I very much plan on taking advantage of those days," she grinned, wagging her eyebrows at the blue-eyed blonde.

"Well I'd hope so, Calliope…it's been awful lonesome up here since you left…long, hard, cold nights," she joked, trying to keep it light.

They had been keeping things very innocent. Still getting to know each other. Their friends kept joking that all they were doing was having phone sex, or sexting all the time, but there had actually been none of that. Yeah, a few innuendos here and there, but nothing major. They weren't nuns, after all. They both wanted more, and knew this could be more. They had time and why rush it? Yes, they were both horny as hell and had probably burned out a few vibrators in the past few weeks, but hey, they were only human.

"So what are we looking at for your break? Right after the race? Two days? A week? A month? You've gotta give me something, Calliope!" she groaned. She just needed something concrete! She missed the gorgeous goddess too much and this distance thing could suck it for all she cared.

Callie smiled, an idea coming to her. "I've got a few press gigs I have to do and promotional things for Pepsi, but after that, I'm all yours," she grinned, her megawatt smile practically causing the blonde to melt. All yours, Arizona. All yours.

Hopefully you like it! I was feeling a bit rusty, but hopefully I'm not too out of practice ;)