Title: Probability
Author: gabs88
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary: What was a one shot in the 'If/Then' universe
Rating: T
Disclaimer: All characters belong to ABC/Shonda Rhimes. The story is mine.
Note: This started as a one shot in my 'Please' series. Then I wrote a second part to it. And a third is in the mix and going to go up eventually. So I've decided to ship this on to its own little spot (as prompted). And also, because it no longer fits the 'one shot' theme. This 'If/Then' concept has been done brilliantly by other writers, and I never intended to continue my one shot. It just kind of happened. I hope I don't step on toes. This is not going to be as fleshed out as I could make it: it's going to probably move a little quicker than I would normally write. But it's fun this way. I have no idea where I'm going to take it or what my plan for the story is haha. I'll update as I become inspired :)

Probability

She smelt like apricot.

Callie swore she could still smell it. The hug had been spontaneous, bedside of their shared patient. The mother had hugged her, something Callie was used to. Especially parents of young kids: they were filled with hugs, the relief washing over them like water.

Then Doctor Arizona Robbins had hugged her and Callie was flooded with the smell of apricots. She had no idea why the smell still lingered all over her. Or why she cared.

She didn't care. How stupid. And she was only interested in who Doctor Robbins had spoken to at lunch because she thought she recognise the woman from Ortho, which she'd been right about. And she'd always had a lingering interest in orthopaedics. There was nothing like feeling a heart beating in her hands; but in her residency, Callie had loved the feeling of a drill in her palm, piecing bone back together like a puzzle. Mapping out how to reconnect tendon and muscle so not only was the limb whole, but the patient moved like their body was designed to.

Yet now, she was standing outside their patients room with the smell of apricots surrounding her once more, and it was making her light headed.

"Two weeks on your little thing and his lungs have actually improved." Callie turned to face a delighted Doctor Robbins, Callie giving a slight laugh.

They looked at each other for a second, smiles plastered on their faces.

"Well, good work." Callie put her hand forward to shake the blondes.

"Amazing work! And I didn't even wanna do it!" They shook hands, Callie laughed softly again, "It was amazing. You're amazing."

They both smiled widely, hands still clasped between them, no longer really moving them.

"Well, um, we should ah-celebrate, sometime?"

Why was she nervous?

"Yeah we should, we should go get drinks. Because this is one to celebrate."

Callie felt her mouth go dry, her stomach flipped slightly, "Yeah.

"Doctor Tores, here are your kids."

"Mummy!" She felt Allegra collide with her leg. She tore her eyes from Arizona's.

"Hi baby girl!" She lifted her into her arms, "Hi." Her eyes were back to Arizona's face already.

Arizona mouthed a happy "Hi!" to the girl.

Callie started backing away, pram in one hand and tiny girl in her other arm, "Okay, well, sometime." Callie nodded.

"Yeah." Arizona nodded in return, "Yeah, sometime."

"Alright, hear we go!" Callie walked off with her kids, turning back once to drop a smile in Arizona's direction, mouthing "Bye.".

Callie wheeled the kids out towards the ER to find Owen, her heart hammering in her chest.

####

The bar was warm and bustling, inviting. Arizona smiled as she stepped through, holding the door open for the red head to follow her in.

She had hoped her and Doctor Tores could have those celebratory drinks that evening, and thought the woman might be interested, too. Then her daughter had ran up, reminding Arizona of several points.

One, that she had children and people with children couldn't just drop everything and go for drinks.

Two, she had kids because she was married, to a man Arizona worked with and actually respected-when he wasn't punching interns. Or glass, like she'd heard he'd done today.

And three, related to point one and two, Callie was involved and didn't need the gay paeds attending drooling over her while they had drinks.

Because, damn, that woman had the most amazing smile.

So Arizona had agreed to drink with Sam, the attractive Ortho Attending who had been hinting that she'd like a date for weeks now. She was pretty and seemed funny, nice. Arizona had always found ortho surgeons hot. They had amazingly strong arms; it made for a lot of fun in the bedroom.

But Arizona had held off. She'd gotten herself into a bit of trouble a few months back and had sworn to stop sleeping with women at work. During the two years she'd been at Seattle Grace Mercy West she'd managed to see the women around the hospital she wanted to see, dating one's from various departments, avoiding commitment and complications. That, coupled with women she met out with her friends, kept her life simple.

Who was she kidding? She was kind of a whore.

She just liked things simple.

Then, a couple of months ago, she'd gone out with a radiology technician, Tina. Who, it turned out, was dating Sally from derm. She'd slept with Sally the week before. She found this out after sleeping with Tina. She suddenly found herself in a love triangle; basically, her worst nightmare.

Arizona had had no idea either were in a relationship. The fallout and drama from that fiasco still popped up occasionally. Just last week she was rolling down the hall on her wheelies, hands in her pockets and having a kick ass day, when Sally had turned the corner, eyes narrowing when she caught sight of Arizona, pulling her phone out and raising it to her ear. The woman had started marching towards her.

Arizona has screeched to a halt, her eyes wide and ducked into the nearest room, thankfully a treatment room, and ducking out the door on the opposite side. She'd popped out, slightly wild eyed, into a hall to run smack bang into an orderly.

She'd only just managed to avoid the woman.

The two had decided to blame Arizona for all their relationship problems. Apparently they were now engaged.

Good luck to them.

So, Arizona had been avoiding lesbi-drama at work. Clichéd lines like 'you shouldn't dip your pen in the company ink' suddenly had some wisdom to it. However, Sam was nice, and Arizona was tired of lesbian bars.

And she was in the mood to celebrate, to forget the smile of a certain Cardio Attending.

They slid into a booth, and Sam raised her glass, "Congratulations on an amazing save."

Arizona grinned, clinking her wine glass against the other womans, "Thank you." She took a sip, "I wish I could claim credit for this one, the praise belongs squarely with Doctor Tores."

Sam smiled, "Don't sell yourself short."

Arizona shook her head, "Really, it was all her. I fought the idea tooth and nail."

Sam scrunched her eyebrows together, a thoughtful look on her face, "Tores?" She sipped her drink, "She's Cardio, married to Hunt? Has the adorable four year old girl and terror twins?"

Arizona laughed, "Yeah, that's Tores."

"Hear Hunt punched one of the windows in the ER today?"

Arizona frowned, sipping her wine, "Yeah, I heard."

"That man is messed up."

Arizona nodded, suddenly desperate to change the subject, "So, what made you get into Ortho?"

Sam's face lit up as she signalled for a new round of drinks, "You'll love this story." She winked at Arizona, leaning forward to rest her hand on her forearm.

Arizona smiled as the woman talked.

This would be easy, if she let it.

####

Callie sat in her car, her breathing ragged. She'd gotten in the vehicle in a huge rush, thankful she at least remembered to grab her bag.

She'd driven a block away then pulled up on the verge, thinking she needed to burst into tears but finding she felt more numb than anything.

She had never walked out like that.

Fingers shaking, she searched through her bag and dug out her phone. Dialling a number, she leant her head heavily back against the head rest.

It almost rung to voicemail, the line connecting at the last minute.

The voice that answered sounded as exhausted as she felt.

"Callie?"

"Addison."

"What's wrong?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"You go first."

"I was wrong today. We aren't better."

A beat of silence.

"I know."

"Tonight was it."

"More information, Callie."

"I was lying, it's been worse between us. W-we sleep with pillows between us so he can't swing out in his sleep and hit me. We haven't had sex in months. I can't remember the last time I got a hug. A hug, Addison. Not one that didn't leave me covered in food that was smeared on one of my kids faces. I mean an adult hug, adult type affection."

"Callie." Addison's voice was soothing, her name said in comfort.

"And today, he punched a window in the ER. He lied to me, at first. Which he's done so many times I've lost count. But tonight, after we put the kids to bed, he sat me down and admitted it."

"What did you say?"

"I got angry." Callie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the burning behind her lids, "I've never done that. I've always tried to be sympathetic. B-but I'm tired, Addy. I'm tired of being lied to, of anger constantly being a part of my life. I'm not just worried for me. That would be okay." Her voice became strained, "But what if he hurts the kids?"

"Are you at home with him now?"

Callie shook her head, "No. I walked out."

"He's with the kids?"

Callie laughed, bitterly, "No. Not alone. I told him I was done, he needed help. I told him he needed to get out. But it's late, and he looked so lost." She sighed, "And I realised that I needed to get out. So I called his mother and she came over to be with the kids and I told him to pack, while I was gone. And that he needed to be out by tomorrow."

Silence swirled around them.

"Where are you?"

"Parked in a street." Callie swallowed, "I need a drink."

"So do I." Addison laughed over the phone.

"At least I can have one. In your condition? Not so much." Callie sat up straighter, "Okay, your turn."

"Today's apparently a day about confessing lies."

"More information, Addy."

"The babies Marks, not Dereks."

Callie felt her mouth drop open. Silence.

"Yeah. Exactly."

"Mark? Dereks best friend from New York?"

Addison sighed heavily, "Yeah. That Mark."

"Wh-how long?"

"Too long. Years."

"Jesus, Addison."

She could hear Addison taking in a shaky breath over the phone.

"Do you want me to come over? Both our marriages are...something. Done? On hold? Anyway, I'll drink and you can eat chocolate?"

"Would I be a terrible friend if I said can we do it tomorrow? If you need me, then come. I know you're alone right now."

"Marks there, huh?"

"Yeah. We're talking some stuff over."

"Tomorrow night sounds great. I'll have the kids though-my place?"

"I'll be there. I can give you a hug, you know? No food smearing."

Callie half sobbed, half laughed, "That sounds amazing."

"Good luck."

"You too."

Callie hung up, dropping her phone back into her bag. Taking a deep breath, she started the engine, driving forward and letting her mind go blank as she drove through the streets, no idea where she was going.

She had no clue what to do. She didn't want her marriage to be over. She just knew she didn't want to go home, to tip toe past Owen on the couch, past the spare room where his mother would be sleeping and into her cold, lonely bed. To try not to wake her kids, who's worlds would fall apart tomorrow when Daddy didn't come home for dinner.

But she was aching for something familiar.

And a drink.

####

Arizona widened her eyes over her wine glass in faux interest as Sam kept talking.

It would be easy, yes. But wow, this woman was boring her.

Arizona let her eyes drift around the room, widening in genuine surprise at the two residents she spotted seated at the bar. Sam stopped mid-boring sentence to look at what Arizona was looking at. Her own eyebrows rose up, "Don't those two hate each other?"

Arizona whipped her head back, aware she got caught out in her lack of attention, "Yang and Webber? Apparently."

"And now they're doing tequila shots. Interesting. I wonder if they'll sleep together?"

Arizona looked amused, "Those two? They're the straightest women I know."

She shrugged, "Bummer," Her head turned towards the door and she nodded in the direction of whoever had just walked in. "Kinda like her. Bummer."

Arizona followed Sam's line of sight and raised her eyebrows. Doctor Tores had just walked in. The woman raised her own eyebrows at the two residents seated at the bar, walking past them and to the opposite end, receiving a shot and a beer. She threw the shot back, chasing it with her beer before seating herself and gesturing for another one. Arizona stared for a second. She looked pale, exhausted. When she had last seen her, she'd been radiant, riding her success.

Arizona turned back to Sam. So much for getting Tores out of her mind.

Sam drained the last of her drink, looking Arizona up and down, "Walk me out?"

Arizona paused a second, then nodded, smiling, "Sure."

She got up, leaving her money on the table. Picking up her jacket and pulling it on, she walked behind Sam, habit in this situation and the several wines causing her to rest her hands on her hips as she guided them both out.

Callie watched Doctor Robbins walking out behind the red head from the lunch table that morning, her hand resting lightly on her hip, comfortably. She had no idea why, but the image made her throw back the last of beer and follow it with her second shot.

Outside, the taxi pulled up to the curb. Sam opened the door, turning so her back was to the cab, her arm resting on the open door. She looked up at Arizona from under her eyelashes, reaching forward with her free hand to hook a finger into Arizona's belt loop.

"Wanna come over for a night cap?"

Arizona breathed out slowly from between her lips, tempted to say yes.

It would be so easy. It all played out in her mind: the taxi ride home, the fumbling at the door as their hands explored and the kissing turned intense. Sex on the couch, anywhere in the loungeroom, really , before ending up in the bed. Creeping out in the early hours of the morning.

But something stopped her.

Smiling, she shook her head, taking a step back, "Maybe next time?"

####

Callie finished her second beer. She looked up the bar, amused at the site of Yang and Webber doing shots and giggling like teenagers. She'd honestly thought they'd kill each other in her OR today-her money was on Yang coming out on top. And now here they were, acting like College kids. Callie thanked Joe as he put another shot down in front of her, followed by a third beer.

She'd heard about Karev and Kepner. Merideth's shiny little world had fallen around her ears that day. If shooting tequila with her enemy helped, Callie would personally buy her a shot.

She threw the third shot back, shuddering as it settled in her stomach. Merideths world had fallen around her, and so had Callies.

Callie had done it to herself, turned her own, and her kids, worlds upside down. Owen was an amazing father, but as a husband they'd been struggling for years, if she was honest with her self. The last twelve months it hadn't even felt like a marriage.

He scared her.

She had never said it out loud, but she thought he knew. People thought it had been punching the intern that had spurred him to go to therapy, and they let them think that.

It was throwing her into their glass display cabinet that had been what spurred it.

The twins had, thankfully, been fast asleep. Allegra had been standing in the door way, though. She had only been three and a half, but Callie was more concerned about the effect on her little girl than herself. Owen had snapped, she couldn't even remember what over, and the next second she was on the floor surrounded by glass and Allegra was screaming.

She'd been lucky, just a few stitches and steri strips. The physical damage was minimal. The rift in her marriage? That was phenomenal. Owen didn't mean to, she knew that. He'd stayed at his mothers for a few months, gone to therapy. Then she let him back in. She felt like she owed it to him, to the kids. Hell, even to her self and her marriage; he had honestly seemed to be doing better. Kind of.

But now? This was just the last straw. She needed to protect her children, and herself. This was not the kind of relationship she wanted to try and model for them. He was not better.

Sighing heavily, she got up.

Arizona walked through the door, just as Callie stood from the bar and made her way to the bathroom. Pausing for a moment in the doorway, she hesitated.

Screw it.

Walking forward, she walked into the bathroom, taking in the site of Tores bent over the sink, the water running and paper towel wiping at her eyes.

Arizona hovered just in the entrance, the door swinging shut behind her. Tores stood, turning around to lean against the sink, arms crossed over her chest, slightly defensive.

Arizona spoke first, "Hey."

The brunette quirked an eyebrow at her, "Hey. Thought I saw you leave."

"I-uh, I saw you. You looked, sad. I thought I'd see how you were."

She nodded, "I'm fine."

Arziona's eye brows shot into her hairline, taking in the smudged mascara and red eyes, "Oh, of course, I'm obviously reading too much into the situation." Her tone was light; she winked.

Callie couldn't stop the small grin, "Clearly."

"Did you want to get that drink? I'm an excellent listener. Or we could just stick to the celebrating, if you don't feel like talking." Yes, Arizona was clearly forgetting her whole getting Doctor Tores out of her mind thing.

Callie appraised her for a second, before smiling again, "That sounds great."

Arizona walked forward, Callie feeling her breathing hitch as she stood toe to toe with her. Leaning forward, body pressing against Callie gently, Arizona turned the faucet off. Leaning back, her eyes on Callies the whole time, she stood again.

Callie felt her eyes widen. Apricots.

"Come on." Arizona took her hand and pulled her forward.

They took a seat at the bar where Callie had previously been sitting. Arizona ordered another glass of white and Callie got another beer. The silence was almost awkward for a second.

"Doctor Robbins, I-"

"Call me Arizona."

Callie nodded, smiling again, "Only if you call me Callie."

"Deal."

Callie took a sip of her beer.

"Do you know, when you first started, I thought your name was Dakota?"

Arizona snorted into her wine, choking as she laughed. Recovering slightly, "I don't know if that's better or worse."

"I like Arizona." Callie fiddled with the label on her beer, "It suits you."

Arizona quirked an eyebrow, "I took quite a bit of teasing in school."

"I bet I got teased more."

Arizona's eyebrows rose again, looking challengingly at Callie, "You really think you can beat being called 'Arizona'?"

Callie nodded, taking a sip of her beer. "Don't you get all 'I had it worse' on me." Callie grinned as Arizona gave a laugh, "I went to an all girls Catholic School in Miami. With the name Calliope."

Instead of getting the laugh she expected, meaning Callie would get to be triumphant, Arizona cocked her head slightly, looking at Callie intently.

"Calliope." Callie actually swallowed heavily at the way the name came out of Arizona's mouth, "I really like that."

Callie broke eye contact, confused about the reaction her stomach was having. Taking a quick sip of her beer, she laughed nervously, "Yeah, well, kids didn't. Especially when they heard my middle name."

Arizona sipped her wine, "Mm, tell me?"

"Iphigenia."

Arizona was mid swallow of the wine and had to cover a cough.

"Yeah. I win now, don't I?"

The blondes eyes were wide, "What? No. It-it's a pretty middle name."

"Mmhm."

Arizona relaxed her face, laughing, "Well, at least we both know how it feels to be tortured by children for having a weird name."

"I tried to name my kids something they couldn't get teased for. But the way I see it, if kids want to tease, they'll find something to do it over, weird name or not."

Arizona nodded, her wine glass in her hand, elbow leant on the bar as they chatted, "Working with kids, it amazes me how cruel they can be, and then, miraculously, so incredibly kind."

Callie nodded, "I see it in my kids all the time. One second Allegra is sitting on Jack, drawing on his face, the next she's breaking her cookie in three even pieces, because it was the last one and she doesn't want them to miss out."

"She draws on his face?"

"He has some light freckles, so she played dot to dot."

Arizona tried to hide her smile.

"Yeah, that was my reaction. And when I told her she couldn't do that to him, the next day I came across Danny with permanent marker all over his face. Her defence was that I said she couldn't do it on Jack."

Arizona couldn't help but laugh, "They sound a handful."

Callie nodded, "They are. But they're worth it." She looked down at her beer, taking another sip.

Arizona watched the thoughtful look cross her face, not sure if she should comment. Biting the bullet, she went for it, "The offer to talk is still there."

Callie looked up from her drink quickly, "Really, I barely know you, I don't need to unload on you."

Arizona shrugged, "Why not? Instant friend, just add life drama."

Callie laughed, "Like those two?" She nodded down the bar towards Webber and Yang, both now looking too inebriated to stand. Webber had her head resting on folded arms on the bar, looking blurrily up at Yang. One eye was closed, presumably to see her better.

"God, nothing like those two. That hair? Hell no." Arizona shuddered, taking a sip of her wine.

Callie quirked an eyebrow at her, "Which one's hair?"

She shook her head, "Does it matter?"

Callie appraised both of them, "No,"

Arizona nodded.

Silent hung for a second, less awkward this time around. Both women got a second drink.

Callie swallowed, staring down at her beer, "I think I just left my husband."

Arizona widened her eyes, then quickly tried to adjust her face into a more suitable expression. She had not been expecting that.

"Oh?"

Callie nodded, "There's a lot. Going on, I mean. And he can't help it, mostly. But I-I told him he had to pack, while I was gone. And that tonight would be his last night at home."

Arizona nodded, taking a long sip of her wine. She was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. She leant forward, resting a hand on Callie's thigh.

"Do you regret telling him that?"

She tried to ignore the fact that this could possibly take point two out of the equation. Potentially changing point three.

Callie took a shuddering breath, her leg warm where Arizona's rested her hand, "I think what scares me is I don't regret it. I'm terrified. " She looked Arizona in the eye then, her eyes wide, "But it feels like the right choice. For a lot of reasons."

"That doesn't make this any easier for you though."

Callie nodded, thankful the blonde seemed to understand, "Yeah. It doesn't." Callies eyes got wider. She was starting to feel drunk, and a hideous thought had just occurred to her, "Oh, God!"

Arizona looked alarmed, turning to peer behind her, half expecting Hunt to be storming in to sweep Callie off her feet, "What!?"

"I'm going to have to start dating again!" Her face mortified, she dropped her head into her arms dramatically, burying her face in the crook of her elbow.

Arizona giggled, "Wow. Dramatic much? It's not that terrible being single."

Callie made a 'humph' noise, "I haven't had to date in...five years. Five years!"

She groaned loudly.

Arizona stared at her, her expression amused. She leant forward, resting her hand between Callie's shoulder blades.

"It's not that bad. You'll be fine."

Callie 'hmphed' again. She turned her head in her arms so she was mimicking Webbers position, surprised to find bright blue eye's inches from her own.

"How do you know?"

Arizona smiled, trying to ignore the impulse to close the gap between them, "You're a kick ass Cardio Attending. You'll have no problems in the dating world."

Callie returned the smile. Arizona was so close to her, she could smell her again. Her eye's were incredibly blue, how had she not noticed how amazingly blue they were?

"What makes you so sure of that?"

Arizona rested her own head on her arm on the bar, keeping them inches apart. She bit her bottom lip, "People at work? They say a lot of nice things about you. They-they respect you. When you're ready, you'll have people lining up for you."

Callie gave a small laugh. Arizona's hand was rubbing circles on her back, "You wanna give me some names?"

Arizona quirked an eyebrow at her. Callie's eyes darted down to look at her lips and back up to Arizona's eyes.

Arizona swallowed. She really needed to reign herself in.

Smiling, Arizona shifted. She sat up, dropping her hand from Callie's back, "Calliope, that would be cheating. Where's the fun in knowing?"

Callie rolled her eyes, burying her head back in the crook of her arms again.

"My beer is empty."

Arizona smirked, signalling at Joe for another round. Callie sat up as he placed them in front of them, nodding as he turned back to stacking glasses.

Callie sat up and took a long drink. Why was she feeling like this? Like there were butterflies in her stomach? She gave a sideways look at Arizona, eyes darting forward again like she didn't want to be caught staring at the blonde. What was wrong with her?

Arizona sipped her wine. Taking a deep breath in through her nose, she mentally kicked herself. No flirting. She was still married, for all Arizona knew they did this all the time and they'd be back to married bliss tomorrow.

"So," Callie turned to face her again, beer in hand, "Nice sucking up today."

Arizona looked puzzled, "What?"

Callie was smirking, she raised her voice to a mimicking tone, "'Soon they'll re-name the Whipple the Grey."

Arizona poked her tongue out, not something she'd normally do, but the wine was making her feel a lot more juvenile, "It was not that bad."

Callie raised her eyebrows, her expression playful, "The Whipple the Grey? Really?"

"Shoosh, you. Don't try and make yourself feel better about your failing marriage by teasing my brown nosing."

"Oh, so now you're admitting it was that bad?"

"I have authority issues. Leave me alone."

"Authority issues? So you suck up to the extreme?"

Arizona sighed heavily, drinking her wine, "I have major authority issues. I blame my Dad."

Callie looked at her questioningly.

"He was a Colonel. Anyone with authority makes me feel like I'm ten. Normally it's just with men, but apparently Chief Grey has the same effect."

Callie snorted, "Yes, well, she is pretty masculine."

Arizona laughed, "She is. So, I um-I cried. My first day. She came in all fierce and said things about 'not to expect special treatment just because I was in a soft specialty'."

Callie's eyebrows shot up into her hairline, "Ouch."

"Yeah. So I cried. Not from being upset-it's a reaction. And I'm fairly certain she lost all respect. So now I suck up. Which I don't think get's me more respect." Arizona cursed her mouth when she was drunk. She opened up too much.

Callie snickered into her beer.

Arizona rolled her eyes and drank her wine, "Shut up."

####

They stood dazedly in the street. Arizona looked at her watch. After staring for a minute she pulled it closer to her face, hoping it would help her focus. It worked, slightly. Two am.

Callie leant heavily against her side, not quite swaying but as close as. Arizona hailed the taxi that turned the corner, grateful when it slowed down for them.

"Callie?"

"Mm?" She didn't move her head from her shoulder.

Arizona squeezed the side her arm was wrapped around, "Taxi's here."

Callie stood up, "Oh. That was quick."

Arizona laughed. They'd been standing there chatting idly for fifteen minutes waiting for a cab.

"You sure you want to go home?" Arizona knew she herself wouldn't want to go home to her soon to be divorced husband. She also didn't know if she should offer her place; she only had so much restraint. But her drunk brain was winning, and she was about to offer for Callie to go back to her's. Just the couch, of course. Sex on the couch had been on the agenda earlier-no! Mind out of the gutter, Arizona.

Callie shook her head adamantly, losing her balance slightly as she did so, "I don't want to go home. But, the kids. I need to be there when they wake up."

Arizona nodded. Of course. Kids.

Point one returns to remind her to behave,

She looked at Callie with concern; the woman was barely holding it together after tequila shots and far too many beers. They'd chatted for hours after their brief talk about her marriage, not returning to the subject, dancing around it occasionally. Her face, however, went dark every now and again if a topic hit too close to home.

Naughty thoughts aside, she really didn't want to leave her alone.

"Want to share a cab?"

Callie nodded emphatically. They both slid in the car, Callie giving her address.

It was a short trip, twenty minutes if anything. A ew minutes in, and Callies head was resting on her shoulder. Arizona resisted the urge to nuzzle her hair with her cheek. They pulled up smoothly in front of the house, Arizona giving herself silent congratulations on not man handling the woman on the back seat. Looking down, she went to let Callie know they were there.

The woman was out cold, mouth parted slightly. Arizona was almost surprised she wasn't snoring. There may have been drool on her shoulder, but she was too drunk to notice.

"Callie?"

No response.

"Calliope!" Said with an arm shake.

Callie sat bolt up, years of having a pager and kids meaning she was instantly alert, even while inebriated.

"What?!"

Arizona smirked, "We're at your place."

Callie nodded, "Right." She threw some money over to the driver, muttering a quick "thanks". She started to get out of the car, her movements slow.

Arizona rolled her eyes, asked the driver to wait, and slid out her side. Walking around, she opened Callie's door and helped her out.

"Wanna walk me?"

Arizona nodded, walking Callie up the path towards her front door, one hand on the small of her back to guide her.

"You were in this same position just a few hours ago. I coulda sworn you were getting lucky."

Arizona was confused for a minute, then realised who she meant. Laughing, she wasn't sure what to say.

"Guess I was caught out. It's a move that usually works."

Callie smirked as she tackled the porch steps, "Like you'd need extra help."

Arizona grinned to herself and chose to remain silent. It'd be easy, crossed her mind. Again.

They paused at the doorway, Callie already with her key out. She unlocked the door and half opened it, turning back to Arizona.

They stood for a minute, the night surrounding them, eye's locked.

"I'll see you at work, Calliope."

Arizona went to turn to go.

"Arizona-"

She turned back, "Mm?"

"I, uh, just wanted to say thanks. For the company tonight. I needed it."

Callies face was soft, fragile. Arizona stepped towards her. Reaching forward, she rest her hand on her forearm.

"Anytime."

Callie nodded.

Acting on a whim, Arizona curled her fingers around her wrist and pulled her forward. She wrapped her arms around Callie, pulling her into a hug.

Callie was stiff for a second before relaxing into the blonde woman. She was soft, and warm, and God, it felt amazing to have arms around her. She dropped her head into Arizona's neck, realising she was crossing the friend affection line, and probably making the blonde uncomfortable by her enthusiastic response to what was probably meant to be a brief good-bye hug. She brought her arms up and wrapped them around Arizona's waist.

Arizona let out a slow breath, letting her cheek rest against Callies where it was buried in her neck. She ran her hand up and down the womans back as she felt Callie's arms wrap around her.

They stood for a few minutes, Callie feeling a lump in her throat. It would have been easy to stay like that all night.

Pulling back slowly, realising she had probably pushed it to far, Callie felt her cheek brush gently against the blondes as she extracted herself from the embrace.

Her skin was so soft.

They hovered there a moment, cheek to cheek, corners of their lips barely brushing. Callie's hand had somehow ended up on Arizonas neck, the other resting on her hip. Arizona's mirrored Callies.

Their breaths, warm, blew against skin.

Callie shuddered slightly.

She pulled back all the way, moving a foot back. Their hands, however, stayed in place, fingertips pressed into skin.

Callie looked searchingly into Arizona's eyes, "I-I should get inside."

Arizona nodded. She swallowed, once, and stepped back, allowing her hand to brush slowly against Callie's neck before letting it drop.

"You should. I need to go get some sleep. I'm meant to be at work in a scarily few amount of hours."

Callie licked her lips, stepping backwards into the house, "Thanks again, Arizona."

She knew she had a stupid, confused grin on her face, but her fuzzy mind just didn't care.

"Good night, Calliope."

Arizona turned and walked back down to the waiting taxi.

Callie slipped inside, pushing the door shut quietly and leaning with her back against it. She smiled into the dark, silent hall.

Well, that was new.

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