Hi :) I can't promise that I'll update regularly, but when I can get around to it...I will.

Enjoy.

One

Arizona held a tight grip on the handle of her luggage. This day had teased in her mind repeatedly for as long as she could remember, but she never imagined it playing out this way. Sofia was by her side, the sun shone high up in the sky, while the incredible roar of the traffic of New York drowned out her every worry, her every hesitation.

This shouldn't have ever been the way she ended up here. Callie in one state. Arizona, at one time, in another. No, nothing that had gone before this moment should have happened. Disbelief swirled around in Arizona's belly, her hands tingling as she looked up at the apartment block in front of her. The heat from the glass warmed the skin of her face, the sheer height of it quite breathtaking.

Arizona steeled herself, releasing a long, slow breath.

This was it.

The moment she'd dreamed about for as long as she could remember.

This was it.

The day her life hopefully changed for the better. She'd had her fun, pain and her turmoil ultimately prevailing, and now it was time to do the right thing. The only sane conclusion she ever came to when she thought about this day.

"Mommy, why are we standing here?" Sofia tugged Arizona's hand, her sweet smile beaming back at Arizona when their eyes met. "Don't you want to come inside?"

Arizona offered her daughter a sympathetic smile. "Of course, I do."

"Can we go now?"

Sofia was growing tired. Understandable, it had been a busy few days preparing for their departure from Seattle. The least Arizona could do was take her inside where she belonged.

With her other mother.

With Callie.

That would be easy if Arizona could put one foot in front of the other. Trouble was, she couldn't. Her pulse thrummed in her ears, her heart tightening with each second that passed, but she couldn't stand here forever. Sooner or later, someone would come and move the crazy lady and her kid off the sidewalk.

"Come on, Sof. Let's get inside." Arizona trembled as she moved towards the block door. Callie had given her the code beforehand, but was it really appropriate to use it? Should she buzz up?

"Mommyyyyy," Sofia whined. "I'm cold."

"Sorry, big girl." Arizona released the handle on her luggage, rummaging in her coat pocket for the scrap of paper holding the code. The code which would change everything. "Got it." She punched it into the keypad, swallowing hard when the lock released.

"Okay, so..." Arizona puffed out her cheeks, dragging the heavy door open. "What's the plan here, kiddo?"

Sofia frowned, her little forehead creasing.

Arizona shook her head; she couldn't rely on her daughter for all the answers.

The elevator came to life, whooshing when Sofia reached forward and pressed the call button. With a few seconds to spare, Arizona took her phone from her pocket, pulling up Callie's last message to her.

I can't wait to see you.

The elevator doors opened, and Arizona settled immediately. There was nothing to worry about here. Callie had made it clear that she wanted to see Arizona in New York, what more did she need to panic about? Panic led to anxiety…and anxiety led to Arizona believing she couldn't do this. But she could, she'd told herself that time and time again.

Stepping inside the carriage, Sofia bounced up and down on her heels with excitement. If Arizona could take just an ounce of her daughters' enthusiasm, this elevator ride wouldn't be half as distressing as it currently was. She really needed to snap out of this.

But it was Callie. The woman she'd kissed in a bar bathroom. The woman who'd turned her world upside down in more ways than one. The woman who lay dying on the hood of their car, preserving the tiny life inside of her with the little strength she had left.

It was Callie.

Her Callie.

"You know," Arizona started. "You'll have to show me the way, Sof. I haven't been here before…"

"That's okay. I know the way."

"Are you excited to see mama?"

Sofia sighed, pouting. "I am. But I'll miss you again."

"Baby, I'm right here next to you. You have no reason to miss me."

Sofia lifted one of her tiny shoulders. "When you go home again."

"New York is going to be my home. I'm not leaving you."

Sofia registered what Arizona was saying. Her beautiful brown eyes lit up as her smile widened. "You're staying here with me and mama?"

"Well, not quite." Arizona had tried a million different ways of imagining this conversation. Sofia wouldn't understand. She just wanted her mom's together. "But I'll be in New York."

"So," Sofia paused, confusion etched on her face. "Who will I live with?"

"Mama. For now, at least. Because mommy has to find a place to live. Should I look for a house or an apartment?"

"A house." Sofia nodded, the elevator coming to a sudden stop, the doors opening. "Because we don't have a yard."

"Okay. House it is." Arizona laughed. Sofia certainly knew what she wanted. "Right, I want you to have the biggest hug ready for mama."

"Bigger than yours?" Sofia rushed from the elevator, dragging her kiddie luggage along with her.

Arizona remained silent. This was all too much. Could she hug Callie?

God, she was a mess.

Callie may have told her she was looking forward to seeing her, but that didn't mean she felt anything more. It didn't mean they were getting back together. Callie could be expecting nothing more than a friendship.

Deep down, that would finish Arizona off one final time.

Friends weren't an option. Her heart told her that.

Her hands told her that…itching to reach out and touch Callie Torres.

"Mommy?" Sofia yelled down the corridor. "Come. On."

"Right, yes." Arizona steadied her breathing and her emotions. "Coming."

Before she had time to think, Callie was opening the door, scooping Sofia up into her arms.

"Mija!" Callie cried, squeezing Sofia to within an inch of her life.

Arizona could only stand back and watch it all unfold. There was nothing greater in life than seeing your child and your one true love happy. Even if Arizona was no longer a part of that. Maybe, at some point in the future, she could be a bigger part of Callie's New York life. Right now, Arizona would settle for her daughter's happiness, it always took precedence over her own.

Arizona cleared her throat, her palm sweating as she gripped her luggage.

"Arizona," Callie paused, her million-dollar smile enveloping Arizona's entire world. "It's so good to see you."

"Hi, Calliope." Every vein in Arizona's body throbbed, her blood rushing around, her head dizzy.

Arizona made no attempt to move. She wasn't sure she could. Callie was looking at her with those eyes. Eyes that melted her entire body. Eyes that lit up the world.

"How was the flight?" Callie moved closer, the close proximity of their bodies causing Arizona's eyes to close. She needed a moment to fully understand that she was here, in New York.

"Fine. Usual, you know."

Callie reached around Arizona, taking her luggage and wheeling it into her apartment. "Can I get you some coffee?" She checked the clock. "Maybe something stronger? It's five o'clock somewhere in the world, right?"

Arizona heard the nervousness in Callie's voice. It mirrored exactly how she was feeling inside.

"I have that white wine you used to buy, or whatever. Water? Tea?"

"Tea?"

"No, I know," Callie barked a laugh. "You don't drink tea. Neither do I."

"So…that's a definite no to tea." Arizona breathed deeply, taking the decision to walk inside Callie's apartment and close the door. "Maybe coffee would be best right now. I have to find a hotel and I really don't need to be intoxicated when doing so."

"Right, yeah. Coffee." Callie turned around to face Arizona, tilting her head and smiling softly. "I can't believe you're here, Arizona."

Arizona couldn't believe it either.

"And you." Callie lifted Sofia again, holding her close. "I'm so happy I can snuggle you again."

"Are you mad at me, mama?"

Callie frowned. Arizona did the same. Why would anyone be mad at Sofia?

"No, baby girl. Mama isn't mad at you." Callie looked between her daughter and Arizona. "Right?"

Arizona shrugged. "I've no idea where that came from."

"Because Mommy brought me home…"

"Sweetie," Arizona said, braving the short walk to the couch. She hoped her legs would comply. "Mommy wants you to be happy, and if that is here in New York," Arizona paused, tucking Sofia's hair behind her ear. "Then that is where I will be, okay?"

Sofia cast her eyes on the floor. "Okay."

"Why don't you go and take your things to your room, Sof. And then we can all decide what we're doing for dinner," Callie spoke, breaking the tension in the room.

Arizona was thankful.

Arizona wrung her hands in her lap, it had been a long time since her and Callie had shared a space alone. Though she felt unsure, Callie's attention felt good.

As she looked up and their eyes locked, electricity surged through her body. Callie still had the ability to make her feel something nobody else ever had. They'd shared the hardest of times with one another, but Callie still had that look of love and admiration in her eyes.

"You've left Seattle for good?" Callie asked, sitting down beside Arizona. "This isn't just a trip for you?"

"No, I'm done. Packed everything up, it's in storage. I just need to find something suitable to live in. Sofia wants a house."

"Oh, does she now?" Callie quirked an eyebrow. "I don't think Sofia cares so long as we're both close by."

"Maybe, I don't know."

"I know how hard it must have been for you to leave Seattle, Arizona." Callie's hand landed on Arizona's; their fingers entwined. "What you've done, it took a lot of guts."

"Not really. Sofia is my priority, she always was."

Callie squeezed Arizona's hand. "I know."

"Anyway," Arizona said, clearing her throat. "I'm here now. And I took the job with Herman, so I have plenty to get on with."

"You're going to be amazing. I mean, you're already amazing, but you know…"

"Callie?"

"Mm?"

Arizona looked up to find Callie staring into her soul.

"What exactly is going on here?"

Callie reluctantly let go of Arizona's hand, wiping her palms down her jeans. "Honestly, I don't know."

"Because I kinda feel like something has changed for us. And I'm just as clueless as you are, I've no idea what I'm feeling. But I know I am feeling something."

Callie smiled faintly. "Me too."

"And I know you left, you wanted to be here, but now that I'm here and we're both single…does it mean anything to you?"

"It means everything to me," Callie said, the honesty in her voice startling. "And I know you probably don't believe that for one second, but this is all happening for a reason, right?"

"Mm." Arizona chewed her lip.

And then she fell silent.

Did she want to date Callie again? Absolutely. Did Callie feel the same way? Did she want Arizona back in her life fully? Intimately? She had no idea.

"I thought maybe once Sofia has settled again, maybe I could take you out to dinner?" Callie studied Arizona's face; she gave nothing away. "I know a few nice places around here. Some you'd love…"

"That sounds…nice." Arizona wasn't often lost for words, but nothing felt certain in her life right now. Sofia, yes, but that's where it all ended.

Here she was, sitting with her ex-wife, being offered dinner. Potentially something more. How that had come about, Arizona couldn't fathom, but she wasn't sure diving right in was the best idea in the world. They'd spent their entire relationship diving headfirst into basically everything, perhaps a change was good for them both.

Maybe, getting to know one another again was the way to start.

"Callie, I'm really glad I'm here, but this isn't some kind of obligation to you, is it?"

"Obligation?" Callie's forehead creased.

"For bringing Sofia back," Arizona explained. "And I completely get it if that's what this is—"

Callie lifted her hand, cutting Arizona off. "This is nothing like that. I just," Callie paused. "I've come to realise what's important to me. What matters most. And deep down, you and I both know that you were always what mattered most to me."

Arizona's heart slammed against her rib cage.

"And I know in the past I haven't always shown you that, but I want us to try again. For the final time. Because we were so good together, Arizona. We were just…" Callie looked up to the ceiling, smiling as a tear slid down her face. "God, I don't know how we got to this point. Separated, divorced. Just, not together."

"I think we both know how we got to this point, Cal."

"But does it really matter anymore? I mean, look at us. Look at you. You look really good, by the way."

Arizona flushed, her cheeks heating with every word Callie spoke. "Thank you."

"You've hurt me, and I've hurt you. If we can both accept our mistakes, see past where we went wrong, I'd really like to try again."

"I-I." Arizona was truly lost for words. Nobody in the world had ever compared to Callie Torres. Nobody would ever come close in terms of what they'd shared, what they'd been through. But it wasn't only that. It was how Callie made Arizona feel when life was good. The not so good times came with all relationships, but to survive what they had, both mentally and physically, it had to show their resolve. It had to mean something more than living separate lives, and, at one time, hating one another. There had to be so much more to their relationship than all of their past mistakes.

Because when all was said and done…Callie Torres was the only woman Arizona had ever regretted hurting.

That hurt was long gone, Arizona believed Callie felt the same way. Words had been said, actions had caused turmoil within their relationship, but they were entirely different people now. Life was too short to hold grudges. Life was too short, period…something they both understood more than most.

"Say something, Arizona." Callie had that pleading look in her eyes. A look Arizona had seen many times in the past. Only this time, the look wasn't because one of them had hurt the other. "Please?"

Arizona calmed her breathing, her emotions, and looked Callie straight in the eye. "I want to try again."

Callie breathed a deep sigh of relief, gripping Arizona's hands tighter and pulling her closer. "Yeah? You do?"

"We've been through so much, Cal. More than any couple should face. And that was before I monumentally fucked up. But here we are, sitting together, and I'm not sure I can lose you again." They had a long way to go, Arizona understood that fully, but Callie was saying everything she'd wanted to hear for as long as she could remember. "Can you sit here right now and tell me that you truly forgive me for the past. Everything and anything?"

"I forgive you." Callie slid closer, her forehead pressing against Arizona's. "Can you say the same? Can you forgive me, too?"

"I can. I do." Arizona's eyes closed. The longer she looked into Callie's deep, brown eyes, the more she wanted to devour her. In every sense of the word. "Callie…"

"Tell me what's on your mind…"

Arizona choked back a sob, her emotions were not only heightened today, but they were all over the place. It would take her some time to piece them back into the positions they should be in. Leaving Arizona sane and on top of everything. "God, I've missed you."

Callie's breath washed over Arizona's lips, every ounce of control she held crumbling into thin air. Her soft, full lips pressed against Arizona's, a smile forming on Callie's mouth as Arizona welcomed their long-overdue kiss. Callie swept her tongue across Arizona's bottom lip, both hands gripping Arizona's face. Her touch was light, welcoming, but most of all…like coming home.

Callie drew back, the tips of their noses touching. "I don't want you sleeping alone in a hotel room."

"I'll be okay."

Callie cast her eyes on the sliver of space between them. "At least take the guest room. I really don't want you at a hotel."

Arizona really didn't have the energy to walk around the city. "Just for tonight."

"Whatever you need to do," Callie said, nodding ever so slightly before drawing Arizona back into a heated kiss. Her fingertips tingled, her blood rushed south, everything within Arizona screaming that she needed more. She wanted more.

"Eww!" Sofia interrupted the moment, Callie and Arizona pulling away and laughing.

Arizona allowed every ounce of tension to dissipate, tension really wasn't required here today.

With their hands tangled together, Callie faced Sofia. "Right, what are we doing for dinner?"

"Uh, pizza." Sofia rolled her eyes. "Right, Mommy?"

Arizona relaxed back against the couch, sighing with a contentment she hadn't possessed for some time. "Whatever your heart desires…"