Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from Grey's Anatomy. The characters are created and owned by Shonda Rhimes and ABC. The story is for entertainment only. I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.

Author's Note: This story picks right up where Let It Be ends. This short sequel (approximately 10 chapters) has some implied abuse. Though it's not graphic, it may be a trigger for some. Please don't read if it's an issue for you. In terms of the medical aspect, I know nothing but what Google tells me. My sincere thanks to Cycworker, she has read all the chapters – at least once and I appreciate her input.

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Let It Go

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Chapter 1

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Arizona begrudgingly woke from her deep, peaceful slumber. Her body whined having been unwillingly roused from its cozy state. Fatigued muscles reminded her that if the next forty-eight hours proved to be anything like the last, she'd need more rest.

Arizona spent every moment since her beloved brunette appeared at the door greedily drinking in everything Calliope. Initially, she was fearful if she shut her eyes she'd wake to find this was nothing but another pathetic dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was real. Calliope Torres was here, in her bed. Arizona hoped the last two days were a precursor of what was to come - a future she'd never dreamed possible with a woman whom she connected with on so many levels it seemed uncanny. She was sure every today, every tomorrow and every day after that could be shared with Callie.

Screaming jarred Arizona's body once more, "Stop!...Don't touch me!"

Arizona propped herself up onto her elbows, grogginess still fogging her senses. She squinted, forcing her eyes to adjust to the dark. Moonlight glistened through the bedroom window, allowing her to take in the room's contour. Still drunk with sleep, Arizona feebly gazed to her left, realizing the noise was Callie. Callie was yelling...at someone. Arizona watched for a moment as Callie's head thrashed on her pillow and her body flailed about. Callie was having a nightmare.

Resting on her left elbow, Arizona leaned over and with her right hand, she shook the brunette gently on her shoulder. "Callie...Calliope...Wake up. C'mon hon, wake up," she gently prodded the distressed woman.

"Get your hands off me," Callie roared. "I said don't touch me!"

Arizona tried to pull back, but she was too late. Before she could react, Callie's strong hands planted themselves on Arizona's upper arms, gripping each fiercely. The next thing Arizona knew, she was violently shaken and then shoved forcefully away.

Arizona frantically reached out in a desperate attempt to grab something, anything to hold on to as she tumbled backward. Something turned out to be the lamp on the nightstand. It loudly crashed to the floor, with Arizona toppling upon it a split second behind. She shrieked, "Calliope!" as her body collided with the lamp and floor.

Startled by the shrill sound, Callie abruptly woke, dazed and confused as her heart raced furiously. She looked to her right, discovering the empty space, and hazily queried, "Arizona?"

"I'm here," an invisible voice shakily replied.

Disregarding her own state of distress, Callie crawled across the mattress. The moon acted as a spotlight, showcasing a teary, naked Arizona sitting on the floor surrounded by shards of glass twinkling in the moonbeams. "Oh my God! Arizona."

Callie watched Arizona's hands run up and down her arms, as she tried to soothe herself. "Arizona, what happened?"

"You...err...I...aah...I don't know," Arizona softly answered, still trembling from the incident. In the dark room, Arizona stared at the profile of her arms, feeling pain radiate from where Callie's hands angrily handcuffed. "I think you were having a nightmare. Are you okay?" she worriedly asked.

"I'm fine," Callie blurted. It was a panicked response to being anything but. Taking note of the lamp and the displaced blonde, Callie pieced the scene together. "Did I knock that over, too?" she quizzed, pointing to the lamp.

"No, not exactly. You knocked me over and I knocked the lamp over. Domino effect," Arizona weakly explained.

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

"No," Arizona fibbed. Her arms throbbed with pain. "I'm okay."

Callie hopped out of bed, still disturbed with the knowledge she had a nightmare with repercussions. "Let me help you up. Then I'll get a broom and dustpan," she offered. She flicked the light switch on, then grabbed a robe she spied lying on a chair and threw it on as she circled around the bed.

"No, I got it," Arizona decided as she was about to push herself up.

"Don't move!" Callie yelped. "Seriously Arizona, one wrong move and I'll be pulling glass slivers out of your pretty little...bottom."

Arizona smiled, glad for the distracting humor. The moment was awkward and strange. Neither woman knew quite how to handle it because they were still so unfamiliar with each other.

Callie leaned over and unplugged the broken lamp, moving it to the side. She gingerly pulled Arizona up, dodging the shattered glass from the eclectic glass lampshade and lightbulb, helping Arizona back to the bed. After, Callie picked up what was left of the lamp and placed it on the nightstand, leaving the smaller glass pieces on the ground. Her frantic mind was desperately trying to recall details about the bad dream. Not remembering the specifics was unsettling. The only remnants were the frightened feelings stirring in the pit of her stomach. Once again, her stealthy nightmare eluded her and all she was left with was the residual feeling of panic and fear.

Still shaken, Arizona sat on the bed, with her legs pulled to her chest. Feeling exposed and confused, she wrapped the sheet around her. It was a weird moment. This was the first time she ended up on the butt end of a lover's nightmare, literally. She waited nervously for Callie to return.

They hadn't yet discussed the specifics of their newfound relationship. This was the first night that allowed for sleep in earnest. The previous evenings left little time for sleep. Tonight, fatigue easily took charge and the women found themselves perhaps not sated sexually, but certainly sated with contentment. They evolved to an unspoken understanding that there was no rush to get it all in, tomorrow they could just pick up where they left off, and time was no longer their enemy, but their ally. Sleep was welcomed and the two snuggled in easily, each soaking in the comfort of the other in the shared bed.

Callie returned a few minutes later with the broom and dustpan, sweeping up as much as she could. "I'll vacuum in the morning. Are you sure you're okay, Arizona?"

"I'm good. Let's get some sleep. We want to be ready for the big day, right?" Arizona teased.

In the morning, Callie was keeping her promise. Callie reserved a car so the two could drive a couple hours north and visit Arizona's parents for a few days. Arizona couldn't recall how many months it had been since she last saw her folks. Part of her was apprehensive; part of her was overjoyed. The trip felt less daunting now that Callie was joining her. Callie had been so patient about the whole thing. Arizona tried to convince Callie she could manage the trip...on her own...at some point...in the future. Callie responded to Arizona's overtures with raised eyebrows and skepticism. "Hmmm...," was her standard reply to the blonde.

Arizona marveled at how Callie handled her mother's incessant intrusions, never fazed by the inane questions. Did she have allergies? Did she like fish? Did she eat meat? Favorite vegetables? Arizona was excluded from the texting conversations. Once Barbara Robbins got hold of Callie's cell phone number, she never bothered to even contact Arizona. Or maybe she did, but Arizona had not bothered to even find her cell phone and charge it. The only person in the world who mattered to her at the moment was Calliope Torres and she was right here. No cell phone was necessary.

As she processed the events of the night, it occurred to Arizona perhaps the trip weighed more heavily on Callie than she let on, thus the nightmare. Callie gave no indications she was anxious about the pending visit. For some wild ass reason, Callie actually seemed to be looking forward to it.

Arizona looked at the clock. It was late or rather early, just a few hours until daylight. It was hard to make sense of anything at the moment. Arizona wanted to blame her mother for infusing anxiety into their trip, but she couldn't shake the niggling reminder of the last time she saw Callie in a senseless state. In Bata, she learned the fever did not create those haunting images; it merely opened the gate to what already existed. Had the bad memories returned?

"Get in," Arizona said as she patted the empty space beside her. Callie was still in the robe, standing beside the bed. Seeing Callie's hesitation, she added, "Please."

"I'm just going to get some water. I need a few minutes to clear my head." Callie leaned over and kissed a weary Arizona. "Return to your visit with Ms. Sandman without me. I'll catch up," she jested. "We do have a big day and you need your sleep."

"Okay," Arizona yawned. "Hurry up. You've spoiled me. I sleep better with you."

Callie glowed at Arizona's words. They held true for her as well. After adjusting the sheets and tucking Arizona in, Callie shut off the light and closed the bedroom door, making her way to kitchen where she poured a glass of cold water from the refrigerated pitcher. The only items in the fridge were the pitcher of water and white wine. They were so busy consuming each other, there was no time for shopping or cooking. Nights were spent strolling down the sidewalks after romantic dinners out. Breakfast was entirely neglected. Lazy mornings led to brunches at a nearby cafe.

Callie plunked herself down on the couch in the living room, still grappling with her nightmare. Why? She thought they stopped. Clearly, they didn't. After leaving Africa, she prayed once she resolved the unresolved and tracked Arizona down, her anxiety would depart and the bad memories frequently plaguing her nights after leaving Bata would peter out. They hadn't. Arizona could have been hurt. It was frightening. Callie tried to remember the specifics of the awful dream. All she recalled was fear. "Breathe, Callie. Just breathe," she said, trying not to hyperventilate.

Africa haunted her. Not Africa exactly. Rivas and the jail haunted her. The more she willed it to go away, the more fiercely the memories returned. It was always at night when she was least prepared to fend off the unwanted remembrances. The nightmares ceased once she arrived in Miami. She assumed they had stopped. That belief allowed her to make the trip to California. It was never Callie's intention to get involved with Arizona if she remained in this stranglehold. She specifically stayed in Miami a few extra nights to assure herself that she was okay. But she was not okay. Tonight, the dark memories returned with a vengeance. Callie glanced at the closed bedroom door. She knew it was unfair and even selfish to drag Arizona into her broken life. She wasn't sure what to do.

Sipping her water, she tried her best to oust the horrific thoughts from her brain. She was happy. She knew she was falling in love with Arizona. The blonde was everything she yearned for in a soulmate. Compassionate, fun, selfless were just the beginning of a litany of words that came to mind when she thought of Arizona. Yet, Callie was also swimming in fear. Staring out at the nebulous sky only reminded her mind of her dark times. She had been so caught up in the pleasure of the last few days, she forgot about the nightmares. Perhaps not forgot; she just was so preoccupied by the moments of happiness that she denied their existence. Denial - such a tricky place to navigate.

Unable to sleep, Callie turned on the TV. Muting the volume, she blankly stared at the screen, waiting for the sun to rise.

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It was a beautiful day for a drive. Sunlight filled the bedroom. Callie walked out of the bathroom, towel clad. She just showered. Though short on sleep, the water reinvigorated her. She gazed longingly at Arizona, who was still peacefully asleep. Callie sat down on the bed next to her. After kissing Arizona on the head, she cheerfully added, "Morning, sleepy head."

Arizona couldn't help but smile. She liked waking up like this. Stretching her arms to the ceiling, shaking the sleep from her body, she grinned, "Morning."

Arizona watched as Callie's face turned from happy to panicked. "What?" Arizona innocently asked.

Callie drew in a breath and reached out to take one of Arizona's arms in her hand, examining it closely. She placed her right hand over the handprint on Arizona's left arm, the two were identical. "I did this," Callie stated factually. She gently released the left arm and picked up the right. This time her left hand mirrored the bruise on her right arm. The black and blue marks matched her handprint perfectly. The sight was paralyzing.

Arizona looked down, surprised to see fresh bruises, finally remembering what transpired. She winced as she lightly pressed her own fingers against the contusion. "Look, Calliope, it's nothing. It's just a small mark. It doesn't mean anything. It was a freak accident." But the look on Callie's face begged to differ. It did mean something.

Callie shook her head, "I'm not sure I agree with you. And they're not small." She stood, taking a few steps backward, needing to create some distance between them.

In that moment something changed. Arizona sensed it. "Calliope, look at me. This changes nothing. It was a nightmare. You've been through so much. It's to be expected."

"Hurting you is not to be expected. I thought I only damaged the lamp. Why didn't you say anything? I hurt you! What if I broke your arm or did something even worse? We're visiting your parents. I'm sleeping under your parents' roof tonight. What are they going to think?" Callie challenged. "I hurt their daughter. No parent would find that okay."

"It won't matter. They'll understand. If it makes you feel better, they don't need to know. I'll just wear long sleeves," Arizona offered.

"Oh, right. Very inconspicuous. It's hot out, Arizona." Callie was beside herself, mumbling in what Arizona thought sounded like Spanish as the brunette paced about the room.

Arizona exited the bed and came up behind Callie, pulling her to a stop. She felt the tension in Callie's body. Wrapping her arms tightly around her, she could feel the woman relax. "Trust me. Trust us, please," Arizona begged.

Callie nodded in response. She didn't know how else to respond. She promised Arizona's mother they would visit today. She knew Arizona wouldn't go without her.

Arizona, not wanting to leave Callie with too much idle time, rushed through her shower. She changed and was ready in no time. Now she was glad to have the trip on the agenda for the next few days. They left the departure date open ended. Arizona wanted or rather needed some wiggle room. There were a few old family wounds still festering. She hoped this would be a healing trip. But if the cure was worse the ailment, Arizona had no issues hightailing out of there.

Callie believed Arizona was making a mountain out of a molehill with regard to the visit to her parents' home. She told Arizona that in all likelihood her fear of the unknown created a nonexistent problem, worrying deep down the real problem right now was her, not Arizona's fear of family-time.

As they walked down the street, their overnight bags slung over their shoulders, Arizona suggested, "Let's grab some coffee and muffins for the road. I'm hungry. I need breakfast."

Callie, who seemed less pensive than earlier - much to Arizona's relief, countered, "Would you do that? I want to pick up a hostess gift."

"Really, Calliope? You're bringing me. In my parents' eyes, there is no better gift. Believe me. My mother may already have written a letter to the Vatican, nominating you for sainthood."

"I don't think it works that way; I'd need to be beatified first and of course, already dead. But, I appreciate the thought," Callie joked. "I am not showing up empty-handed. Emily Post would be appalled. It won't take me long. I'll meet you at the rental place in twenty minutes."

"Fine," Arizona agreed, reluctant to leave Callie alone. But it was only for a few minutes. They said their goodbyes with a kiss and went off in different directions.

Callie returned with a Vera Bradley tote jam-packed with goodies. "Calliope, what did you do? This is not a simple gift. It's...too much. And you bought a fancy bag to boot." The bag was filled to the brim with expensive wine, elegant chocolates, gourmet cheeses, epicurean crackers and even decadent cookies. Logically, Callie knew she hadn't intentionally hurt Arizona, but she couldn't help feeling responsible. Though Callie only intended to purchase a couple items, her guilty conscience went on a shopping spree.

"Well, the chocolate chip cookies are for you," she said. "And I needed a more secure bag to carry all this in. It's not like I bought a Kate Spade or anything. Plus, it looks better in a real tote." Callie then second-guessed her selection, "Do you think your mother would rather have the Kate Spade?"

"Callie! Enough already. She'll love the Vera Bradley; it's more her style. But I guarantee you she'll try to give it back to you. She's going to tell you it's too much."

Feeling a burst of confidence, Callie grinned, "Let's go."