A/N: I really didn't want to be one of those people, but here I am again, apologising at the start of a chapter. I'm really sorry for the prolonged wait for this chapter - I have legitimate reasons, such as finishing off my postgraduate degree and life just generally getting in the way. I have a busy couple of weeks but I should be able to make time to write my next chapter ASAP. Thanks for baring with me :)
PS, this chapter starts off where chapter 14 finished...
Chapter Fifteen – Look At Me
Arizona clenched her thighs together tightly, desperate for some form of friction against the moisture pooling between her legs. She watched as Callie's pearl white teeth sunk aggressively into her plump bottom lip in a failed attempt to suppress the moans escaping from her throat. Her head was tipped back, allowing a smooth, caramel neck to reveal itself fully, whilst her eyes stayed scrunch§ed shut in pleasure. She hadn't exactly intended on having her ex wife pinned against her front door tonight, but hearing Callie telling her she couldn't live without her was enough to send sparks… explosions…. fireworks, all setting off simultaneously inside of her. And now, the sight of the woman before her was driving her crazy with want.
Arizona drew her tongue away from Callie's jawline, slowly making her way down the expanse of exposed neck, smiling as she felt goose bumps erupt against the fingertips that she had wrapped gently around the woman's neckline.
"Bedroom."
She couldn't help but shudder as Callie husked into her ear, a statement instead of a question, a desperation instead of a desire; the woman's grip against her hips tightening with anticipation.
When she failed to move, the Latina took control, pushing the blonde from their position and dragging her up the stairs, both women somehow remembering the fact that they weren't alone and managing to step as quietly as they could despite the urgency of their movements.
Arizona's eyebrow raised in confusion as they came to a halt at the top of the stairs, the incessant pounding in her chest and the throbbing between her legs begging for a bed or a wall or a floor; anywhere behind closed doors and far away from their sleeping child.
"Umm, which way?" Callie mumbled, nibbling against her lip awkwardly as she glanced up and down the hallway.
She smiled sheepishly back at her for a moment, a sadness washing over her as she realised this woman… the love of her life… had never even been in her bedroom before. The only time Callie had ever been upstairs in her home was when they'd tucked Sofia into bed a few weeks back.
She shook her head as she lead the other woman into her bedroom, the pair of them chuckling at how strange this whole situation was. Sometimes, when they were together, it was like they almost forgot the time they'd spent apart.
A whimper escaped from Arizona's throat as strong arms threw her down against the bed and closed the door behind them, the Latina now taking control as she raked her dark eyes up and down her body, eyeing her hungrily.
She wanted this so badly. She wanted to spend the rest of the evening letting Callie set her nerve ends on fire, like she so expertly knew how to do. Then she wanted to spend the next few hours, until the early hours, devouring the smooth curves and folds of the other woman, repaying the favour, making love to one another until the birds came out and the streets were full and everything was awake again in the world.
But, she also wanted to wait. She'd spoken about this with April and Teddy. Her friends were genuinely so happy for her, at the prospect of she and Callie rekindling, but they were realistic and sensible and they'd made the blonde promise to wait until the third date before they slept together… again.
She clenched her thighs together firmly as Callie began to stalk towards her, dragging her feet painfully slowly with each step, her caramel skin contrasting beautifully against the beige carpet.
Her inner monologue was battling fiercely. Did their confession of love change things? Surely it did. Surely Callie telling her that she wasn't going anywhere, that she was here and she loved her; surely that changed the weird limbo Arizona had been struggling with for the past few weeks.
Still, she wanted to wait. She wanted to turn up at Callie Torres' door with a bunch of her favourite flowers and take her out to dinner. She wanted to show her how much she loved her, how much she meant to her, before they affirmed that love with a night of passion. She wanted to stick to her three-date rule.
But, fuck… looking at the woman who was now standing at the foot of the bed, her chest rising and falling as her tongue subconsciously ran against her bottom lip… waiting was seeming impossibly hard.
"Calliope," she choked out, somehow managing to drag her eyes from those gloriously full lips and latch onto deep brown eyes, eyes that made her feel like she was the only person who mattered in the world.
If the Latina had heard her speak, she didn't react.
Arizona's breath hitched in her throat as caramel fingers reached forward, pulling her pyjama shorts from her legs in one painstakingly slow movement; dark eyes turning impossibly darker as she realised the blonde hadn't been wearing anything underneath.
"Good God," the brunette husked as she used her hands to spread Arizona's thighs apart, a shaky breath escaping as she dragged her fingers down the exposed flesh and lifted her leg up in the air, forcing Arizona to lean back on her elbows and watch her, "you're so, so wet."
"Calliope," the blonde choked out once more, her voice now even less audible than the last time. Her resolve was diminishing by the second and when the other woman dragged her tongue across the side of her foot and began to place open-mouthed, wet kisses up the span of her calve, she couldn't help but let out a moan, bunching up her light grey bed sheets amongst her hands.
Just when the Latina had made her way to the top of a toned thigh, she switched her mouth to the bottom of her other thigh, forcing a frustrated moan to spill from Arizona's throat.
She could feel the liquid seeping from her arousal now, and she knew Callie would be able to see exactly what she doing to her. But, still, she was determined to dig deep in her resolve and stop before they rushed things.
"Calliope." She forced the name out with more determination this time, sitting up slightly and grabbing hold of the other woman's wrists to still her movements.
She focused her gaze on the dark eyes in front of her, using every bit of strength she had to resist the jean-clad thighs and exposed cleavage hovering before her, determined not to let herself glance down at the other woman's lips.
"I… fuck," she panted, her heart still racing from the anticipation, "I- this is… I want to, but… wait, I want to wait," she shook her head as she spoke, trying to convince herself, before nodding in finality, pleased that she'd finally managed to get her words out.
The brunette nibbled against her lip, her eyebrows rising as she pondered her next words, "Really?"
Arizona hesitated before she answered, her internal scales weighing up how much she wanted to wait and how desperate she was to have this gorgeous woman thrusting in and out of her.
She took a deep breath before momentarily tipping her head back in frustration, hating her friends for convincing her that this was the right thing to do.
"I want to, believe me, I do. But… I want to stick to what I said last night."
Arizona frowned as she watched a sly smirk spread across the Latina's features. The woman stood from her position on the bed and began to pull her blouse over her shoulders, never breaking their gaze the whole time.
"W-what are you-" the blonde breathed out as she watched the other woman bend down to slide her jeans off, revealing a perfect view of cleavage spilling over a black laced bra as she did so, "What are you doing?"
Callie stood before her for a moment, her chest and her centre hidden by nothing but thin lace, the stunning, smooth curves of her body completely exposed, her thick black curls falling wonderfully over her shoulders and resting on either side of her chest.
Instead of answering, the Latina stepped forward and lifted herself onto the bed, her calves coming to rest on either side of the blonde as she knelt, the brushing contact of tanned and fair skin causing Arizona to shiver.
"Last night," the brunette began; drawing out her words purposefully slowly, "you said that we should wait until the third date to have sex… Am I right?"
Every ounce of moisture disappeared from the blonde's mouth as she watched caramel fingers reach around her own back, "M- Mhmm," she just about managed with a nod, swallowing the lump in her throat as she watched the bra fall from Callie's chest and into the space between them. "Calliope," she groaned out as she stared at the breasts in front of her… so close to her… close enough to- "Oh god," she groaned as the brunette began to chuckle, causing those perfect mounds to shake.
"So, technically," she drawled, bringing two fingers to her mouth and licking them teasingly slowly, "if I were to touch myself," she removed her fingers and ran them down her neck, stopping when she reached her breasts and twisting her rigid nipples in her fingers, "and you were to touch yourself," she tilted her head, pushing her hair to one side and revealing her neck to Arizona, playing on every one of her weaknesses, "we wouldn't actually be having sex."
Arizona smirked, pursing her lips in an attempt to think about the woman's suggestion; when all she could really focus on was the way Callie's fingers were tracing and twisting her nipples. The sight was enough to send a fresh wave of arousal seeping from her own centre and she shuddered as she felt it dripping out, the Latina's suggestion setting her nerve ends on fire.
The brunette crawled forward, hovering above her so that their lips were just mere inches apart. Arizona opened her mouth to say something, but any sounds she made were silenced when the other woman leant down and ran her tongue across the length of her bottom lip. A whimper escaped her, urging the other woman on, and soon whimpers were falling from her throat as Callie continued to drag her wet tongue across her lips, occasionally placing open mouthed kisses there instead.
Soon, Arizona was writhing beneath the taller woman, her centre dripping wet and pleading for friction. A throaty grunt escaped her throat as she felt the other woman's nipples grazing across the fabric that was preventing their skin from touching and she suddenly couldn't hold out any longer. She arched her back as she ran her hands down her own t-shirt clad stomach, a strangled cry escaping her throat as she swiped her finger across her already soaking wet nerve.
Callie stopped her movements against her mouth and sat back slightly, raking her eyes down the length of her torso and glancing at the circles Arizona was drawing against her clit.
"Nuh-uh," she snapped, stilling Arizona's hand with her own, "I can't touch you, but I get to tell you how to touch yourself," a ghost of smirk found its way over her lips, "and I don't remember telling you to start."
"Fuck, Cal- please," Arizona choked out, her chest rising and falling with anticipation, her legs now practically trembling with desire.
Callie's mouth spread into a grin before she leant down to claim her lips, drawing out a final slow lick of her lower lip and tugging it softly with her teeth. A frustrated grunt escaped from the blonde as she prepared for the brunette to drag this out even longer, but suddenly the grasp against her wrist was released.
Callie sat back, bringing Arizona up with her as she did so. Within seconds, the one remaining piece of clothing had been pulled over Arizona's head, leaving the blonde wearing nothing but the material barely covering her breasts.
Arizona swallowed as Callie sat back on her knees. Quivers shot through her as dark brown eyes ate her up as though she was the first meal she'd eaten in months.
"Take it off."
She did as the woman told her and unclasped the restraint, throwing the dark blue lace to the ground and looking back up at her instructor expectantly.
A few moments passed and a silence filled the room as Callie's gaze travelled the expanse of her body. Arizona was lying back on her elbows; legs spread open, her curves, her breasts, her centre, everything completely exposed to Callie's exploring eyes.
"You're beautiful."
Arizona's breath caught in her throat as their eyes latched onto one another's, a jolt shooting through her body as she was sure she felt deep brown eyes connect straight with her soul.
She opened her mouth to tell Callie that she felt exactly the same… that she was beautiful, unbelievably so. She wanted to tell her that she was without doubt the most stunning woman she had ever laid her eyes on. But before she had a chance, Callie cut her off, beating her to it.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Arizona."
Her expression was serious and her eyes were swimming with affection, and it didn't change as she shuffled to slip out of her own panties, leaving the two of them now completely naked; their breathing ragged, the air now thick with desire.
The blonde watched as Callie's expression shifted to something more merciless than mere seconds before, "You do what I do, and nothing else, okay?"
Arizona's eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head at the Latina's words. Tonight was about love, yes. But tonight was also about Callie finally admitting how she felt, finally claiming back the blonde's body in ways only she had the power to do.
The blonde nodded in response, unable to form any words as she watched Callie's fingers snake down her caramel stomach and hover just above her arousal for a few painful moments.
Finally, Callie's hand dipped against her centre and she gathered her wetness on her hand, waiting a second or two before she slid back up and rubbed her moisture over her clit.
Arizona didn't hesitate to do the same. Her hips jumped out at the contact as she moved her fingers lightly over the nub, fighting her instincts to apply more pressure, knowing that Callie was going to tease her for a painful amount of time until she finally allowed her a release.
The brunette's spare hand stretched out to touch her, and her nails dug almost painfully into her fair thigh. A strangled gasp ripped from the back of Arizona's throat at the sensations and her eyes went wide, her mouth set open in pleasure.
She couldn't help but whimper at the loss of contact as Callie removed her hand and switched the attention to her own breast, a quirk of her eyebrow signalling for Arizona to do the same to her own breast.
The two of them slipped into a steady rhythm, their left hands tweaking and rubbing against their hard nipples, whilst their right hand pressed circles against their clits.
Before long, the circles they were rubbing against themselves started to increase in speed. Arizona's mind was spinning from the sensations she was inflicting upon herself, but she somehow managed to choke out "I need more."
Callie didn't hesitate in dipping two fingers inside her own slit, giving Arizona permission to do the same.
"Fuck," they moaned at the same time, both sets of eyes locked on the other's arousal, watching each other's every move.
Callie started at a leisurely pace, not using her hips to thrust just yet. Arizona's fingers copied her exactly, pulling out slowly and then driving back in, resisting the urge to curl against that spot.
Arizona groaned in frustration as the Latina pulled her fingers out from herself completely, "Callie, I can't-". Her words were silenced as she watched the other woman suck the moisture from her fingers, a throaty moan escaping Callie as she tasted herself and then hastily returned her fingers back down.
The blonde did the same, grinning slyly as she took an extra long time in tasting herself, sucking every ounce of her arousal from her damp fingers as the gorgeous woman in front of her squirmed at the sight.
Suddenly, Callie began to pick up her pace inside herself, Arizona's actions clearly having their desired effect.
When she was sure her fingers were clean, she returned to her own slit and began to match the other woman thrust by thrust, moans spilling freely from the back of her throat as the pleasure between her legs grew tenfold.
Callie surged forward, their mouths swallowing each other's moans, as they tasted one another on each other's tongues. Callie began to use the force of her hip to make her thrusts deeper, their moans becoming deeper as well, their sounds growing louder in between wet kisses and ragged breaths.
"I am going to come so fucking hard. All. Over. My. Fingers," Callie panted as she dragged her kisses from Arizona's lips and across the length of her jawline, "are you going to come?" she whispered, "Are you going to come for me, Arizona?"
"Jesus, C-Calliope. I can't- I can't hold on… I'm gon-" Arizona began to scream out, digging the nails of her free hand into the other woman's shoulders.
"Nuh-uh," Callie panted as she ripped her lips from her jawline and hovered over her mouth, "you aren't going to come until I say you can. Is that clear?"
An animalistic moan tore from the back of Arizona's throat at her words. She was pretty sure she was dreaming right now, or she was dead. Surely she'd died and gone to heaven. The sight of this glorious woman hovering above her, thrusting in and out of her dripping wet slit and telling her when she could or couldn't explode all over her own fingers… Yep. She was in heaven.
She gasped as Callie bit down hard against her neck, eliciting a sharp sting across her flesh, "I said, is that clear?"
"Yes," Arizona hissed in response, her orgasm crashing closer and closer as she continued her movements inside herself.
"Yes, what?" Callie husked, her eyes somehow turning even darker as she continued to remind her exactly who was in control.
"Y- Yes, Doctor Torres."
The long, deep, moan that tore from the Latina's throat was almost enough to send the blonde over the edge entirely. She threw her head back as a jolt of pleasure shot through her core, digging her teeth into her bottom lip to stifle the whimpers of pleasure she was struggling to silence.
"Look at me," Callie purred, the words intended as an order but coming out with more desperation, her own release clearly imminent.
The blonde latched her eyes onto the gorgeous brown orbs above her, a breathless cry slipping from her mouth as they connected, an electric shot jolting through every fibre of her being.
The sensations in her core were suddenly overwhelming and her trembling body silently begged for Callie to allow her the release she was frantic for.
"I love you," Callie whispered, leaning down to capture her lips in a furious kiss, not removing her mouth from Arizona's as she finally uttered the words she'd been waiting to hear, "Come for me."
The blonde curled her fingers just once against that magic spot and that was all it took to send her over the edge.
"Coming- I- I'm coming," she cried out as her walls begin to tighten around her fingers, "Fuck, I- I- oh my god. I love you."
Shocks of pleasure shot through her entire body as her orgasm came hurtling over her, but she refused to remove her eyes from the woman hovering over her as her own body juddered and quaked. She watched transfixed, the sight, sound and smell of the woman above her increasing the intensity of the orgasm that was somehow still vibrating through her.
It still took her breath away entirely; just how indescribable Calliope Torres looked in the midst of passion. The way her raven hair tousled wildly around her shoulders, framing her face with dark, seductive waves. The way her magnificent breasts bounced and shook, hypnotising every one of Arizona's neurological processes, meaning no other thoughts or decisions were even remotely possible. The way her plump lips were swollen from hungry kisses and the pressure of her own teeth sinking into them again and again. The way her eyes darkened from deep brown to midnight black, sucking in every ounce of Arizona's pertness and transforming her to a raring, sex-crazed, Satan.
"A- Arizona, yes, yes- Arizona."
The blonde whimpered as Callie began to shudder and buck against her herself, crying out her name as she collapsed down on top of her. The pressure of the Latina on top of her forced her own fingers to dig impossibly deeper inside herself, sending a final jolt of pleasure through her veins before she finally came down.
They lay there for a few seconds before Callie rolled herself from on top of her, pulling Arizona over so that their positions had switched.
Arizona had no idea how long it had been, one minute, five minutes, ten minutes had passed, both women intent on listening to the ragged breaths and pounding heart beats of the other as they gradually began to slow.
She smiled sleepily at the sensation as Callie twisted and twirled blonde strands between her fingers, her other hand tracing patterns against her shoulder blades, her nails occasionally scraping against her skin and causing goose bumps to form in their wake.
Eventually, Arizona propped herself up, resting her elbows on either side of Callie's head so that her face was perched just above her.
"You," she whispered as she kissed her left cheek, "are," she switched her lips to her right cheek and placed another peck, "outstanding." She placed a soft kiss against her nose, "I love you, Calliope."
She smiled, mirroring the beam that had spread across the Latina's evidently sleepy features. Her eyes were heavy and hooded and her lips were just slightly opened, perfect and full and quivering just slightly with the deep, content breaths she was breathing.
Arizona couldn't resist but to bend her head down and kiss those lips. There was a softness that had been absent from their earlier kisses, a gentleness that made them both sigh. Despite the incredible orgasm that she'd only just recovered from, the desire to be with Callie properly was still very much clouding her senses and when Callie brought her hand up and around the back of her neck to deepen the kiss, she couldn't help but to press her weight into the thigh that was between Callie's. The kiss started to deepen, Callie's lips and teeth now increasing their exploration, plucking at Arizona's lips. The blonde expelled a throaty moan as Callie nibbled at her bottom lip rather roughly, before sucking it and releasing it with a loud pop.
Callie's other hand came up to rest against her cheek, cupping her softly as she slowed the kiss down again. Arizona reluctantly let the other woman keep control of the pace, fighting the urge to grind herself down into the other woman.
"I love you too, Arizona," Callie murmured almost inaudibly against her lips. But Arizona had been desperately waiting for so long to hear those words, she'd probably hear them if Callie had whispered them from halfway across the world at this point.
It was late now, probably some time into the early hours of the morning. Tomorrow, Arizona had to drop Sofia at school early and then she was working at the hospital all day. The Latina was working the next day too, but she had an extra hour or so in bed until her shift.
She sighed in total content, somehow managing to remove her lips from the other woman's and shuffle herself so that she was lying by her side, her leg draped over full caramel thighs, her arm tracing shapes across a taught stomach, her cheek nuzzled against the top of her naked chest.
Within seconds, Callie's soft snores were filling the room. Arizona couldn't help but roll her eyes at the déjà vu of the situation. Lying here, naked and entwined with Calliope Torres, wetness between her legs, snores and deep breaths soothing her senses. It was all so familiar. Everything felt normal, almost as though no time had passed since the days when everything was perfect.
She knew she should probably wake the sleeping woman, to avoid the prospect of their daughter rushing in in the morning and seeing a sight she most definitely would not be expecting. But there was no way she was waking Callie and asking her to leave now. No way.
Arizona reached over to her bedside table as gentle and carefully as she could, making sure not to rouse the other woman from her slumber. The clock read just after one in the morning and she internally groaned as she set an alarm for 6:30, knowing this way she could wake before their daughter and avoid any awkward and confusing situations for them all.
The thought of things with her and Callie moving forward and the time coming for them to share their relationship with Sofia made her unbelievably excited. But equally, that thought terrified her. Her daughter meant more to her than anything in the entire world and the prospect of their relationship hurting her again, like it had in the past… no, they needed to be completely, totally, sure about everything before they got their daughters hopes up and included her in their relationship.
She shuffled back into her previous position and tilted her head upwards, placing a soft kiss against Callie's cheek, smiling as the other woman's breath briefly hitched. Knowing she still had the ability to take Callie's breath away was a reassurance she hadn't known she needed until recently.
Arizona closed her eyes and gave the woman next to her a final kiss against her soft skin; the smell of Callie's post-sex sheen intoxicating her senses and suddenly blanketing her with a drowsiness that had been absent before.
She breathed out a blissful sigh and snuggled herself deeper into the other woman; she wasn't even asleep yet and she already knew that tonight was going to be the best she'd slept in a long time.
"Yesss," she hissed, her hands flattening against the mattress as she desperately tried to grab onto something. "Fuck – yes - right there baby," she gasped as long, talented fingers pumped in and out of her relentlessly.
Her eyes were practically rolling into the back of her head at the sight of the woman above her. Callie's deliciously curved, tanned body was rocking back and forth, her teeth buried firmly into her plump bottom lip as she grunted with each thrust, her eyes as black as night as they locked onto Arizona's breasts that were bouncing up and down with their movements.
Her hips continued to frantically ride the hand between her legs at a rapid pace and her own fingers were tangled between raven locks, gripping roughly as Callie dipped her head to lap against her nipple.
As Callie's name tore from her throat, she was thrust into consciousness by a strange blurring sound ringing in her ears.
She snapped open her eyes and instinctively shut off her alarm, her heavy breathing sounds now the only noise filling the silence of the room.
No, that wasn't quite right. There was something else, another sound, coming from beside her. Callie was still here, in her bed, her dark hair spilling over Arizona's pillow, her breathing deep and even, obviously undisturbed by the ringing of her alarm tone.
Last night had actually happened.
She lay there for a few moments, staring at the sleeping figure next to her, recovering from the very real effects of her dream and trying to replay every second of last night over again in her head.
Callie Torres was in love with her.
She couldn't help but let out a content sigh, a smile spreading over her lips as she began to trace her fingertips slowly across Callie's naked skin. She was sleeping exactly how she always had; lying on her stomach, hands by her head, facing Arizona, her lips slightly open, her hair wild and tousled across the pillow. It was a sight Arizona had known she'd missed, but she hadn't realised just how much she'd missed it until now.
Her smile widened as Callie stirred a little and mumbled something in her unconscious state. Despite her rousing, Arizona knew Callie would be out for the rest of the morning unless she was physically woken up. That gave her time to sneak out and take Sofia to school before she came back and woke the other woman up for work.
She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Callie's temple, sighing as she inhaled the faint scent of honey that was somehow still lingering in her hair, disguised only slightly by the lingering sheen of post-sex sweat. That was a smell she had definitely missed waking up to.
A very hectic hour later and Arizona was driving back home after dropping Sofia off at the breakfast club her school ran. That club had been a lifesaver over the past years. Being a paediatric surgeon and a Mom was hard work, but being a paediatric surgeon and a single Mom felt almost impossible at times.
She grinned as one of her favourite songs began to stream out of her car radio. She leant forward to turn it up, her open windows meaning she was probably waking up half the residents of the street she was driving past.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
She could barely hear Dolly Parton's voice over the sound of her own voice bellowing out the words. Arizona loved to sing. She loved singing along to the radio, or singing in the shower, or she even used to attempt to sing Sofia to sleep when she was younger. But, Callie - Callie could really sing. Her singing voice was mesmerising; soft and smooth at times, husky and strong at others. The kind of singing voice that made people turn their heads in surprise.
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
She pouted to herself as she turned into her street, not wanting to turn off the song.
It was just after eight now, meaning she had little under an hour until she was due at the hospital. Callie had mentioned her shift started at ten, but she didn't have her car at Arizona's, so she would probably need dropping home before work.
The blonde reluctantly turned off her engine and headed back inside, immediately moving to brew a fresh pot of coffee for the pair. Getting Callie out of bed would require at least one large mug and probably a croissant or two. And still, Calliope Torres in the morning could go one or two ways.
She muttered to herself as she moved around the kitchen, tidying away the breakfast things she and Sofia had used earlier. Keeping Sof out of her bedroom this morning had been a surprisingly difficult task. Usually, they would have cuddle time in bed, or at the very least her daughter would be in and out of her room whilst the pair got ready for the day. At one point she'd turned the bedroom door handle and Arizona had actually screamed for her not to go in there. She'd then turned bright red and made up some story about how messy her bedroom was. Sofia looked a little bit confused but luckily she had no reason not to believe her and she did as she was told.
She had no idea what was going to happen with she and Callie going forward. But whatever was going to happen, it was far too soon for Sofia to find her other mother sleeping in her Mom's bed.
She pushed open her bedroom door quietly and was surprised to see Callie sat up against the headboard and flicking through her phone.
"Hey," she frowned, "you're awake?"
Callie chuckled, putting her phone back on the bedside table and rubbing her eyes sleepily, "Arizona, you're entire street is awake. I could hear Jolene blasting from a mile away."
"Oh shut up, you could not!" She giggled, walking around the bed and handing the Latina a mug of hot coffee and placing a plate with a freshly buttered croissant on the table next to her, "I don't know how you managed to sleep through my alarm if some light radio music could wake you up," she half joked.
Before she could step away, Callie used her free hand to tug her towards her, pulling her in for a kiss. It was soft and chaste, Arizona using her hand to prop herself upwards and Callie squeezing against her arm in the gentlest way.
"Good morning, Arizona," Callie grinned as they broke apart, "and thank you for breakfast."
Arizona mirrored the other woman's smile and placed a quick kiss on her forehead before she perched herself on the bed besides Callie.
She let her eyes trace over the woman sitting in her bed. She really was absolutely beautiful. Seeing her in the morning was one of her favourite ways to see Callie; half asleep and looking completely innocent, her features free of makeup but still incredibly striking. Instinctively, she reached up her hand and ran her fingers through the other woman's hair, smiling as dark eyelids fluttered closed at the contact.
She knew they needed to talk, but she also didn't have very long before she needed to leave.
As though Callie could read her mind she spoke first, "We'll talk tomorrow, okay? After work?"
Arizona nodded, her eyes flickering to the clock and her hand reluctantly returning to her lap, "I need to leave in twenty. Do you need a ride home?"
Callie shook her head, covering her mouth as she chomped down a mouthful of her croissant, "Ugh, this is amazing," she moaned in satisfaction, luckily not noticing the way Arizona had to clench her legs together at the sounds of appreciation, "No, no. I'll just grab a ride with you, if that's okay? There's no point in me going home. I have things at the hospital."
"Sure," she smiled, standing to grab her guest a towel, "I'll leave you to get a quick shower." Callie rolled her eyes as she emphasised the word quick. Arizona knew how long the Latina tended to take in the shower. She'd nearly been late for work on several occasions because she'd physically had to drag her out of a thirty-minute shower.
Callie grinned mischievously, "I swear I'll be downstairs before you can sing Jolene."
"Morning."
Arizona smiled at Owen Hunt as she slammed her car door shut, "Morning."
"Morning."
She cringed a little as he repeated himself, this time directed to the Latina who was shutting the passenger door, "Morning."
"You guys carpool?" He questioned suspiciously as the trio began to walk towards the hospital, "Nice."
"Yeah it's nice…" Arizona replied, a blush spreading across her cheeks, "for the trees." She looked over to see Owen smirking, his face telling her he knew exactly why the pair had shared a lift to work.
It wasn't that she was embarrassed about Callie or particularly interested in keeping things between them a secret, but she couldn't deny she was worried about things going too fast and hospital gossip getting in the way of any natural progress they were going to make. She still didn't completely understand what was going on herself, so to have other people asking questions would just complicate things.
She chuckled a little to herself as they entered the hospital doors and Owen headed in the opposite direction with a wink. There was no point in pretending she could keep things between she and Callie as a secret. Hospital gossip spread even faster than syphilis had spread that time, and that was fast.
Callie chuckled as they headed towards the lift, "I give it ten seconds until Amelia knows. Twenty until Meredith knows. And thirty until the entire hospital knows."
Arizona shook her head and laughed in agreement, "Yep."
They stepped into the empty lift side by side, Arizona letting her eyes travel to the other woman's firm backside as she leant forward to press the button to their floor. It was ridiculous how much Callie turned her on, just by doing absolutely nothing but standing there. And beyond her fantastic exterior, she just so happened to be the most beautiful person on the inside as well. Despite whatever the pair had been through, Callie was still the one person that could make even the worst of days a little brighter.
She smiled as Callie stood back beside her, her fingertips dangling beside her to graze softly against her own. Her stomach fluttered at the contact, her mind spinning at the thought of everything that was possibly to come between the pair of them.
How she could have ever slept with somebody else whilst she had Callie at home was beyond her. It was the second biggest regret of her life. Second only to letting rage get the better of her and taking Alex Karev's place on that plane.
She'd never really explained things properly to Callie. Everything had been so messy. Her emotions and rage around everything that had happened to her had completely overcome her for a while and everything else… everyone else in her life had taken a back seat. That was what she'd found so difficult about marriage, the concept of for better and for worse. It was impossibly hard having to consider the emotions of another person when you were at your worst. Even if they accepted you, how were things supposed to work if you couldn't accept yourself? It was too hard to love someone else and let them love you back, if you didn't love yourself first.
She let her mind wander back to one of her confessions to April after things had happened…
Callie is trying so hard to forgive me and to take care of me and it's driving me crazy... I love her and I want her back and I broke us and I want to fix it… but… she wants to fix me… The reason that I cheated that night - someone was attracted to me and she never knew me before… she only knew me after and I, I was enough for her… And Callie knew me before and she loved me before and now I feel like I'm not…. It's not fair… It's not her fault and I hate feeling this way and Callie's trying to fix everything and I'm finally feeling I the way that I am.
She shuddered at the memory. She'd known all along how hard Callie was trying. How desperate she was to fix things. How much Arizona's coldness was hurting her. But, they'd been in such different places. Losing Arizona's leg had affected them both so much. But they'd had to deal with those losses in completely different ways. Callie seemed to forget that sometimes. And then when Lauren had come along and she hadn't known Arizona before she'd lost her leg… it was a comfort, an attraction Arizona hadn't known she'd needed.
There was no excuse.
She had regretted it every single day since it happened. She couldn't actually believe she'd let it happen… but she knew why she had. She'd been in such a dark place.
It had all just been one huge mess.
"What are you thinking about?" Callie interrupted her, clearly noticing that she was deep in thought.
"Everything." She whispered in response, a sad smile haunting her lips.
Callie's eyebrow quirked downwards, her face wearing the worried expression Arizona had seen many times before.
Just then, the lift door opened a stop below their floor and Erica Hahn stepped in holding a coffee and a handful of papers. She had a ghost of a smirk across her lips and Arizona couldn't help but notice as the other blonde eyed Callie up and down.
Arizona shifted uncomfortably as she watched the way Callie's ex looked at her. Clearly nothing had happened between the two of them last night considering Callie had turned up at her door, but still, the fact Erica had asked her out in the first place rang alarm bells. If Arizona hadn't have been around would she have planned on winning the Latina back?
"Same clothes as last night, Torres?"
"Shut it, Hahn," Callie blushed a little.
"Arizona," Erica offered her a smile, "I'm glad to see you've both come to your senses," she momentarily flickered her gaze over to the Latina, "She's quite a catch isn't she?"
"Erica," Callie retorted with a warning glare.
Arizona wasn't sure she liked how self-satisfied this woman seemed, considering she hadn't exactly treated Callie with much love or respect herself. She eyed her up and down, making sure to accentuate her slow gaze so the other woman knew she wasn't someone to mess around with. She knew she shouldn't feel the need to even compete with this woman but there was something unsettling about seeing not only one of Callie's exes, but the only other woman Callie had slept with before her.
The way Callie and Erica spoke with each other was unsettling as well. They bounced off of one another in a way only certain people could. There was no denying the connection there.
She couldn't help but clench her fists a little. Now she knew how horrible it must have been for Callie seeing all of her exes walking around the hospital so frequently. She felt herself stepping slightly closer to Callie, feeling a comfort as she felt their hands brushing against one another's again.
Erica acknowledged the movement and smirked more obviously than the last time.
"Sorry, ignore me, I'm just playing," her smirk changed into a more genuine smile and Arizona nodded back at her, a reflexive smile clouding her own features as Callie entwined their fingers and gave her a gentle squeeze.
They all stepped out of the lift as they reached the fourth floor and Arizona quickly racked her brain to think of a way to make conversation with the other blonde.
"So, Erica… you're staying in Seattle, or just visiting?"
"It depends on whether Webber offers the cardio position to me or Altman."
Arizona couldn't hide the look on her face at the news. The fact that this woman could get the position over Teddy was disconcerting. Not only did she not particularly fancy seeing Erica Hahn in the hospital everyday, but the thought of losing Teddy again was even worse. It seemed like she'd only just gotten her back.
She opened her mouth but the noise of one of the nurses shouting her to an emergency in paeds interrupted her response.
"I've got to go," she impulsively leaned over to kiss Callie on her cheek, "we'll talk tomorrow, right?"
"Right," Callie responded with a sheepish smile.
"Bye, Erica," she mumbled as she darted off towards her ward.
She chanced a glance back as she turned the corner, her stomach filling with a weird jealous sensation as she saw the two exes in conversation.
She knew Callie loved her, and she knew what they'd shared over the recent weeks was special and genuine. But, still, she knew more than anyone that things could change in an instant.
The next few days, weeks, months, would be about gaining back one another's whole trust. They needed more conversation than they'd managed so far; real, actual conversations that were more than love and lust filled declarations. She needed to explain the things she'd failed to explain in the past and she needed to hear answers from Callie, too.
Hopefully tomorrow's conversation would be the start of something she'd almost, almost lost hope of happening.
Hopefully tomorrow's conversation would bring the start of the rest of their lives.