Chapter Text
It was a chill autumn night the first time it happened. The park near the hospital was empty, and the street lamps cast a soft orange glow over everything it touched. A stone pathway curved it's way through the park. A large fountain was at the center of the park. The stone was worn from the passage of time, but the water still flowed out of the top. The water itself was crystal clear.
She had been sitting on a wooden bench staring at the way the water flowed down the stone. It created little rivers that slide along the gray, cutting it's own path to the bottom where the main pool of water was. Water always fascinated her. Maybe it was the navy family she came from, or maybe it was the time she spent in a country where rain truly was a gift. The reason didn't really matter, not to her at least.
Things had changed when she finally came back to Seattle. It didn't take long for her to realize the monumental mistake that had been made. The kids there needed her, but she needed Callie. Her absence was just long enough for her former love to move on, and now she watched as Callie and Mark lived happily. It had been weeks since she had first got the news, but Arizona still came to this park most nights.
Tonight was different though, she could almost feel it in the air. The trees themselves seemed to almost be alive, and the breeze carried the smell of salt water.
"Hey, are you okay?"
The soft voice startled Arizona, and she jumped slightly. It was a voice she heard often at the hospital, but didn't pay much attention too. She turned to face Lexie Grey, and tried to smile.
It must've been more of a grimace, because the other woman frowned.
"That's a no."
Arizona chuckled and looked towards the sky. The city lights prevented to stars from being seen, but she knew they were there. "Yeah, it is," she said.
She felt the air shift and knew the younger Grey sister was moving to sit down on the wooden bench. Arizona didn't have much fight left in her, so she scooted over.
"So...do you come here often?"
Her laugh sounded loud and clear. It was almost impossible to stop. It was obvious that Lexie was honestly asking, but it sounded like a line Mark would use on a quick fling. The look on the younger women's face made Arizona laugh even harder. Her eyebrows were crunched together, and her lips had parted slightly.
After a minute, Arizona managed to calm down. She wiped a small tear from eye and really smiled at Lexie.
"I come here most nights, actually. It's empty and quiet, which is what I need after work."
Lexie nodded at her explanation. The brunette was watching the fountain, and then began to speak.
"It seems like a nice place to think."
Arizona sucked in a quick breathe. That's the main reason she came to the old park. Even though it wasn't likely, it felt like Lexie knew that already. It felt like Lexie understood the reason she was here.
Lexie was with Mark for a time, and Arizona remembered the game her and Mark played. Both constantly stole glances at eachother like the whole hospital wasn't watching the drama unfold, very similar to her and Callie's relationship. Lexie was hurting just like she was.
Arizona reached over for the other woman's hand. Lexie's was smaller then hers, and Arizona held it softly. She didn't turn to look, so she didn't see the smile that lit up Lexie's face.