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Arizona is dreaming when it happens - a nice, warm dream, the kind that simply walks you through a regular day. She’s in a haze of hospital rounds, surgeries and intimate moments with Callie, but it all comes crashing down when she’s awoken by a sharp pain in her side.
Arizona groans as she blinks her eyes open and waits for them to adjust to the darkness of Callie’s bedroom. She’s somehow managed to end up on the cold, hard floor while Mark and Callie are still soundly asleep in the bed. She rolls her eyes in aggravation - Arizona adores her girlfriend, really she does, but sharing a bed with Mark Sloan was not in the job description when she applied in that elevator.
Ever since Lexie and Mark broke up (which was entirely his fault in Arizona’s opinion), he’s been impossible to shake, clinging to Callie non-stop. Arizona understands that they have a ‘special bond’ but it’s like they’re allergic to boundaries or something. It’s not that she doesn’t trust Callie, well she really wants to trust Callie, it’s just that Arizona doesn’t trust Mark as far as she can throw him - he’s smug and creepy and looks at her like he’s seen her girlfriend naked (which he jumps at any chance to remind her that he has)
Arizona pulls herself up from the ground, wincing lightly from the pain and scoffing at the sight of Mark’s stupid manly arm wrapped around Callie’s torso. She checks the clock - 2:36 AM - and sighs before tip-toeing her way out of the room. She pours herself a glass of water and gulps it down, trying to calm herself from the irritation and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her.
She misses Lexie, which is silly because they weren’t even that close and she still sees her everyday at the hospital, but at least when Lexie was around, Mark left them alone. Plus, Arizona enjoys her energy, it’s fun and infectious and the two of them could always balance out Callie and Mark’s snark with their contrasting positivity.
It may be two in the morning and a stupid decision but for whatever reason, Arizona finds herself pulling out her phone and sending a text message.
Arizona: You up?
It takes about three minutes before a reply appears.
Lexie: Yes
Lexie: No
Lexie: Idk
Lexie: Why?
Arizona chuckles, she can practically hear the girl’s overthinking. Lexie is young and uncertain in the sweetest way possible - she’s sort of what people assume Arizona is like when they first meet her - that’s part of why Arizona likes her so much (and thinks she’s way too good for Mark, but that’s besides the point.) With one last exasperated glance at the monopolised bedroom, Arizona types out another message.
Arizona: Wanna get a drink?
Lexie: Seriously?
Arizona: If you’re up for it.
Arizona: Just you and me.
Lexie: Sure, why the hell not?
Lexie: Where?
Arizona: Meet me at the park in 20. I’ll bring beer.
Lexie: Sounds perfect
Lexie: See ya
Arizona sneaks her way back into the bedroom to fetch some proper clothes, throwing on her shorts and one of Callie’s hoodies. She grabs her pager and the six-pack of beer from the fridge (she’s pretty sure it’s Cristina’s but whatever) and pulls on her boots.
The cool winter air bites at her when she steps out into the street, but Arizona ignores the goosebumps erupting over her exposed skin and carries on her way to the park. When she arrives, she takes a seat on her favourite bench (her and Callie’s bench) and awaits Lexie’s arrival.
It doesn’t take long before Arizona hears the gentle pad of footsteps and turns to see a familiar figure coming towards her. Lexie’s dark hair is tied back, she’s bundled up in sweats and a thick jacket and her cheeks are slightly pink from the cold.
“Hey.” Lexie says quietly, but she may as well have screamed it considering how silent the night around them is.
“Hi.” Arizona replies, offering her best smile.
Lexie sits down beside her, leaving a fair amount of distance between them. Arizona takes a deep inhale of the crisp night air and opens herself a beer before silently offering one to Lexie who readily accepts. They sip in silence for a few moments before Lexie finally speaks up.
“Not that I’m complaining but, uh… is there a specific reason that you invited me here?” She asks nervously.
Arizona shrugs, trying to figure out how to properly articulate her thoughts. At a complete loss, the only words she manages to form are, “Mark Sloan is on my side of the bed.”
“What?” Lexie sputters, choking a little on her beer.
Arizona sighs, “Mark Sloan is on my side of the bed, cuddling my girlfriend and I… I miss you.”
Lexie’s eyes grow wide in surprise, “What? I- no offense, but I didn’t think you liked me that much. I mean, not that you’re not friendly, you are, I just- you seem to hate Mark and I’m not that great at paeds and I came up with that stupid surprise party idea that made you cry-“
“I think you’re great.” Arizona cuts her off honestly, leaning forward to ensure that Lexie can see the sincerity in her bright blue eyes, “You’re sweet and smart and far too good for Mark Sloan…Plus, you’d be good at paeds.”
Lexie laughs, taking a sip of beer. “Thanks. I think you’re great too.”
Arizona smiles softly in response. She shifts to look out over the view of the park, it’s like a show this time of night - the January wind makes the trees dance as the stars shine down on them like spotlights. She takes a sip of beer and thinks back on all the times she’s brought Callie here, when they eat lunch and cuddle up together to people-watch during their breaks. Arizona loves her, she really loves her.
“I love Callie.” She suddenly finds herself saying aloud, “She’s fantastic. I want to be with her for the rest of my life… but she comes with Mark, they’re a package deal and I thought I was okay with that, that I could get over it… but that was when you were there and now that you’re not, well… I’m not so sure.”
Lexie frowns, her wide brown eyes full of empathy, “I get it. I was pretty insecure before you came along. But then, it was like I finally had an ally, y’know? Like Derek and Hunt.”
“Right.” Arizona nods, “Except now you and Mark are over and I’ve lost my ally. So, I’m outnumbered and Mark Sloan is on my side of the bed, cuddling my girlfriend.”
Lexie chuckles bitterly, “It probably wouldn’t suck so much if they hadn’t slept together like a bajillion times.”
“Exactly!” Arizona exclaims, “And then they act like we’re irrational for being jealous. Which, I wasn’t nearly as much when he was with you, but now…”
Lexie smiles sympathetically, then her expression shifts to something a little more awkward before she mumbles, “I- um, I don't mean to make you feel worse, but uh… that- that’s kinda Mark’s hoodie.”
“Of course it is.” Arizona groans in frustration, anger and disbelief overwhelming her, the new knowledge making her skin itch and crawl under the suddenly uncomfortable fabric. It’s a very cold night at the end of January and Arizona is already shivering from the lack of coverage on her legs, yet she doesn’t hesitate for a second before pulling the hoodie off and dropping it on the ground, leaving herself in only a tank-top and shorts.
“Oh my God!” Lexie exclaims, “You’re gonna freeze to death!”
“It’s w-worth it.” Arizona insists, trying to sound as confident as possible but failing miserably due to her chattering teeth.
Lexie huffs a disbelieving laugh and shrugs off her coat, holding it out towards Arizona expectantly, “You’re supposed to be a doctor. We can’t have you getting sick and infecting all those cute kids.”
Arizona feels a rush of warmth and affection as she accepts the coat and wraps it around her shoulders, “Thanks… hey, how come you and I don’t hang out more?” She asks in genuine wonder.
Lexie chuckles, “Because I’m Mark Sloan’s twenty-five year-old girlfriend.” Her face suddenly falls, “I mean, I was. I was Mark Sloan’s twenty-five year-old girlfriend and now… now, I’m just some single, sad twenty-five year-old whore.”
Arizona’s brows furrow in confusion as she takes in Lexie’s nearly tearful state. “You’re not a whore. Who says you’re a whore?”
“Mark.” Lexie admits, taking a swig of beer, “I mean not in so many words but he may as well have marked me with a scarlet letter.”
Arizona scoffs in disgust, “He’s one to talk and you are not a whore. I mean you’re a lover, you mate for life. He’s the one in bed cuddling my girlfriend right now.”
Lexie wipes her eyes and clears her throat, sitting up straighter with an air of determination, “You’re right! They’re the whores!”
“Callie’s not a whore.” Arizona quickly corrects.
Lexie’s confident demeanour deflates instantly, “You’re right, I didn’t mean that. I love Callie, she’s great.”
Arizona laughs at the constantly scattered state of the girl beside her, “But Mark Sloan? Mark Sloan is totally a whore.”
Lexie holds up her beer to toast, “Yes, he is a huge whore!”
“Cheers to that!” Arizona agrees, clinking their bottles together.
The two of them erupt into giggles for a few seconds, genuinely enjoying one another’s company until suddenly, Lexie’s not laughing anymore but crying - aggressively, pathetically, full on sobbing.
“He’s a whore but I love him so much!” She wails in despair.
Arizona glances around in surprise as if the answer on how to react to this situation is hidden in the bushes. Eventually, she settles for placing a comforting hand on Lexie’s shoulder. “Sh… it’ll be okay.”
“How?” Lexie questions in despair, “How is it gonna be okay? He hates me and he’s gonna be a grandpa and he’s in bed cuddling your girlfriend right now and-“
Arizona shuffles closer to fully wrap an arm around Lexie, “Hey, just breathe. You are beautiful, smart and sweet. Not to mention, you’re young and full of life, you could get any man you want. Or woman for that matter, you’re hot to us too.”
“Really?” Lexie sniffles, “I’m hot to lesbians?”
Arizona all but cackles at the fact that that’s the detail Lexie chose to focus on, “Yes, Lexie, you are very hot to lesbians.”
“Thanks, Arizona.” She half-chuckles-half-sobs, resting her head on Arizona’s shoulder, “That actually makes me feel a lot better.”
“Glad to be of service.” Arizona replies simply, taking occasional sips of her beer as she patiently waits for Lexie to get the tears under control.
“Y-you’re, like, really pretty.” Lexie suddenly chokes out between ragged breaths, “I don’t think I’ve ever told you that before, b-but it’s true. Y’know, Callie is… she’s one lucky woman. You’re also a great doctor, like really good with the surgeries and the kids and stuff. And funny, you-you’re funny too. I-I have no idea why Mark hates you so much, I mean you guys are pretty similar all things considered and you’re… you’re really awesome, Arizona.”
Arizona barks out a shocked laugh, “Thank you, Lexie. I appreciate that.”
Lexie lifts her head from Arizona’s shoulder and wipes the tears from her pink cheeks. “Do you think I should fight for him? Mark, I mean. Do you think that I should go and beg for his forgiveness again?”
Arizona scoffs, “No. No.” Lexie looks genuinely dejected and confused, so Arizona elaborates, “For starters, I am of the belief that a woman should never beg a man for anything, but lesbian bias aside… you both slept with other people, he’s just as liable for that as you are, more so even because he slept with someone that he has real romantic history with. And the whole Sloan Sloan thing? Not wanting kids isn’t a crime and you shouldn’t have to apologise for that, especially at your age.”
Lexie nods frantically, “You’re right! I shouldn’t be sitting here crying over him when he’s the one that ruined our relationship. He’s the one that invited two children into our home, our lives, without consulting me.”
“He changed the game, so it’s his move.” Arizona adds supportively, downing the rest of her beer and pulling Lexie’s coat a little tighter around herself. “In the meantime, if you wanna screw Karev, then you screw Karev. He may not be boyfriend material, but there’s nothing wrong with a little fun and I think he’s a good guy deep down.”
“Oh no, I won’t be going there again.” Lexie chuckles, “He’s technically still married… to a woman with cancer. Oh my God, I’m evil.”
“You’re not evil.” Arizona argues, pushing Lexie’s head back down onto her shoulder in preparation for the oncoming spiral. “You’re twenty-five, we’ve all been there.”
“That’s easy for you to say!” Lexie scoffs, “You’re all loved-up and successful and blonde. I’m just some mousy, single first-year resident.”
Arizona opens her mouth to reply but comes up short so instead she opts for, “Do you mind if I smoke?”
She feels Lexie shrug against her, “I didn’t know you smoke.”
Arizona reaches down to pull the hidden pack and lighter from her left boot and explains, “Only when I’m super stressed or I know I’m gonna be in trouble. I’m a doctor, so I’m fully aware that it’s a nasty, vile habit and I’ve mostly kicked it, it’s just that sometimes there’s a specific itch that only a cigarette can scratch.”
“So… do you just, like, have a pack in every pair of shoes…?” Lexie asks, her voice small and curious, like a child in a fairytale.
“Pretty much. I buy all my shoes a size up so it won’t be uncomfortable.” Arizona confirms slightly ashamedly as she lights the cigarette and brings it to her lips. The first drag comes with an instant wave of comfort and serenity. She releases the smoke in a desperate sigh of relief. “Don’t tell Calliope.”
“I won’t.” Lexie announces in assent, “Now that I’m not with Mark, I don’t have any fixed allegiances. I can be on your team all I want.”
“Glad to have you on board.” Arizona mumbles between quick drags, desperate for the fuzzy warmth and clarity that only smoking or Callie can provide her.
Lexie lifts her head from Arizona’s shoulder and clears her throat anxiously, “Could… Could I maybe try one?”
Arizona raises an eyebrow, considering her for a moment, “Have you ever smoked before?”
Lexie shakes her head frantically, “No- Well, I shot-gunned with a guy once in college, but it was kinda gross to be honest and he tried to stick his tongue in my mouth afterwards.”
Arizona wrinkles her nose in disgust but holds out the pack in invitation. Lexie’s wide, brown, deer-in-headlights eyes flicker between it and the face of the woman offering it for a few moments before she finally, painfully awkwardly, pulls a cigarette out. Arizona can’t help the giggle that erupts from her throat as she witnesses Lexie’s obvious discomfort and uncertainty.
“C’mere.” She murmurs, leaning towards Lexie to light the cigarette for her.
Lexie takes a deep breath as if to prepare herself (which Arizona finds oddly adorable), then she lifts the cigarette to her lips and immediately becomes a coughing, hacking mess.
“Oh my God,” She wheezes, “That is disgusting!”
“I know.” Arizona says with a smirk, happily taking another drag of her own cigarette. “It’s awesome.”
“This seriously makes you feel better?” Lexie questions in horror, dropping the cigarette and aggressively stamping on it like it’s a bug or something.
Arizona laughs, “Yes, it does and you just wasted a perfectly good cigarette.”
Lexie scrunches her nose, "‘Perfectly good’ are not the words I’d use.”
Arizona raises an eyebrow as she takes another drag, “You dated Mark Sloan, your taste is not to be trusted.”
“Callie slept with him too!” Lexie points out defensively.
Arizona shrugs, “So? She has bad taste in men and great taste in women, it happens.”
Lexie opens and closes her mouth like she’s searching for a rebuttal but all that ends up coming out is, “I love him.”
Arizona looks over at the young woman beside her - she studies her sad eyes, her despondent frown, the soft features on her face - and smiles gently. “When I was fifteen, my family was living in Arizona (I got teased relentlessly that year) and I developed a huge crush on this girl, Joanne. She was a year older and super cool - think piercings, eye-liner, ripped band shirts - I was obsessed with her. I already kinda knew that I was gay, I’d never liked a boy and I spent a lot of time staring at the women on movie posters, but Joanne was the one to put the final nail in my heterosexual coffin. My mother was completely unaware and a little upset at first because she would never get to plan a ‘proper wedding’ or have ‘real grandchildren’ but she got over it after a quick conversation and a hug. My dad wasn’t exactly shocked, he just wanted to know that I was still who he raised me to be - a strong, loving, good man in a storm. My brother knew all along, he was the first one I told and he said that he was just glad he could stop pretending not to know and could finally start talking to me about cute girls.”
Lexie giggles lightly, “No offence, I’m glad you’re opening up to me or whatever, but… why are you telling me this?”
“The point is,” Arizona explains, “I blew my life up for Joanne. I could’ve been kicked out of my house, I could’ve lost everything but I didn’t and I’m so glad that I didn’t, because she dumped me after five weeks for a guy in the marching band. I risked everything for nothing. What I’m saying is… don’t lose yourself for Mark Sloan. People come and go. When Callie cut off contact with her family, I made sure that she was doing it for her and not for me because no matter how in love we are, nothing is worth that. Then when her dad showed up again, I talked him into coming around because that’s my job - to be there for Callie, not to be an extension of her. You are more than Mark Sloan’s twenty-five year-old girlfriend. He is your first love, but there will be others. I’ve been in love three times and that’s how I know that Calliope is the one, because it feels different, but you have nothing to compare Mark to, so you assume he’s the best you’ll ever get. Am I right?”
Lexie looks… well it’s hard to describe how she looks - wide-eyed, slack-jawed and furrow-browed - like she’s just been shown the secrets of the universe and had her brains fried to mush. Arizona worries for a moment that she may have broken her.
“Alexandra?” She asks nervously, snapping her fingers in front of Lexie’s face.
Lexie jumps out of her skin like she’s watching a horror movie and yelps, “Oh my gosh… why are we not best friends?”
Arizona blinks in surprise at this response before breaking into an amused grin, “I don’t know, you tell me.”
“You’re right. You’re so right.” Lexie rants excitedly, beaming from ear to ear, “Just because the feelings I have for Mark are super strong and I’m ridiculously attracted to him, doesn’t mean I’ll never feel like this again. It could just be the first love thing. He could be Joanne, not Callie.” She hastily swallows more beer before continuing on her swift-rambling, “I should do something for myself now, like sleep with a nurse or dye my hair or kiss a girl, I’ve never done that before. Hey, you’re an expert - what’s it like?”
Arizona freezes in her tracks, cigarette burning away in her hand, eyes wide in shock. “What?”
Lexie blushes, her already pink cheeks turning bright red. “I-I just was wondering, y’know? Ignore me, it’s fine. I’m just curious, or something. Sorry if that’s an awkward question to ask or like offensive, I’m not- I love the gays, like I support it completely, my cousin is gay and I have gay friends. I mean, you know that because you are one of my gay friends but I just meant… I didn’t do all that much partying in college- I mean more than the average surgeon because my photographic memory meant I didn’t need to study, but I really didn’t like college parties that much and I only had my tight group of friends, so I never did the experimenting thing. I know that you’re not experimenting, obviously, you’re like a totally 100% lesbian, which is super cool by the way and I know that Callie is only like 57% gay so maybe I should ask her because she’ll know how it compares to guys, but that’s not- my point is that I’m pretty sure I’m like 100% straight, but how can I know when I’ve never tried and if I’m gonna be expanding my horizons to get over Mark, then-“
Arizona drops her cigarette with a sigh, grabs the rapidly-chattering Lexie by the back of the neck and pulls her in for a kiss. Lexie is motionless for a few seconds, stunned mid-speech, but eventually she relaxes into the moment. It’s a chaste, cold, emotionless thing, not even close to Arizona’s best work, but it doesn’t need to be anything special because it’s merely for educational purposes. Lexie’s lips move tentatively and slowly, her uncertainty and unfamiliarity clear in her technique (or lack-there-of.) Arizona lets it continue for a few more seconds before pulling away, leaving Lexie wide-eyed and forever altered.
“So?” Arizona asks teasingly with a quirked eyebrow.
Lexie lets out a shuddering breath and when she finally responds, her voice is high-pitched and shaky, “I- I might be… like, 89% straight.”
Arizona giggles, “I tend to have that effect on women.”
Take that Mark Sloan! She thinks smugly - it’s petty and a little unethical, but if snuggling in bed with Mark doesn’t count as cheating, then assisting a straight woman’s journey of enlightenment surely doesn’t. Besides, the opportunity to shoot Mark back with his ‘I’ve kissed the woman you love’ smirk is just too good to pass up.
Arizona glances back over at Lexie only to find that she’s already staring at her - bouncing in her seat, biting at her nails - and Arizona smiles, feeling reminded of the anxious kids she sees everyday. “You okay? I didn’t break you, did I? I tend to have that effect on women too.”
Lexie huffs a laugh, “No, I just- it’s Valentines Day in like two weeks and-“
Arizona’s eyes widen in horror, “Look, Alexandra, I’m flattered but I’m in love with Calliope and even if I wasn’t, I am not some gateway-gay so-“
“Oh my God, no!” Lexie exclaims, her entire face practically crimson as she shakes her head haphazardly, “That’s not what I meant, is that how I sound? God, that’s so embarrassing. No, I just… Do you think I’d be a good blonde?”
Arizona all-but cackles, “That’s what you wanted to ask me? Should you go blonde?”
Lexie shrugs, looking down in embarrassment, “Well, you’re an expert on that too, right? Sorry, I just… I wanna make a change and I know hair is kinda cliche but I think it would be good for me. Thoughts?”
Arizona smiles genuinely at her, “I feel like you’d make a hot blonde, but you should do it for you, not for Mark or any other guy. Or me, for that matter.”
Lexie nods thoughtfully, taking a sip of her beer before replying, “I’m gonna think about it, see how depressed I get in the build-up to Valentine’s Day.”
“That’s fair.” Arizona nods supportively.
“Enough about me,” Lexie says, waving a dismissive hand in the air, “what are you getting Callie?”
Arizona wonders briefly if she should call out Lexie’s terrible attempt to shift the subject away from her own emotional struggles, but decides against it because they could use a more positive topic and talking about Callie happens to be one of Arizona’s favourite pass-times.
“Well, I figure that you can never go wrong with jewellery and there’s this local place that I love, so I’m gonna take her to pick something out.” She confesses, a giddy grin creeping onto her face at the thought.
Lexie gasps excitedly, “That’s adorable, I’m sure she’ll love that. I guess that’s a perk of dating girls. Ooh, maybe you should get matching ones, that’d be super cute!”
“Good idea.” Arizona agrees, her smile growing even wider.
Lexie sighs calmly, like she’s releasing all of her negative thoughts and feelings, “I should probably head home, I’ve gotta be at the hospital in like three hours.”
Arizona nods understandingly, though part of her desperately wants to stay in this nice bubble they’ve created. “You’re probably right, so does Callie and she’ll be worried if I’m not there when she wakes up. That is, if she’s not too focussed on Mark to notice.”
“Don’t be silly,” Lexie chastises as she moves to stand, “Callie loves you. She and Mark are just best friends. I promise.”
“Fine, I’m trusting your judgement.” Arizona says, following Lexie’s example in standing up, “But only because we’re friends.”
She watches the pleased smile flutter onto Lexie’s face, “We are?”
Arizona shrugs, “Sure, since we’re not allies anymore this seems like the natural progression.”
Lexie looks down to the ground, clearly a little embarrassed, then looks back up with her bottom lip caught between her teeth, “So, as my friend… hypothetically, if I did something really pathetic like picking up Mark’s hoodie off the muddy ground and taking it home, how much would you judge me?”
Arizona laughs hard, “Oh my God, as pathetic as that sounds, I promise not to judge you. In fact, I won’t even look.” She makes a show of covering her eyes and gestures for Lexie to get on with it, “Just take it and leave.”
Lexie giggles and Arizona hears some shuffling, “Bye, Arizona.”
“Bye, Lexie.” She says in return, only opening her eyes once the sound of Lexie’s footsteps fade.
It’s starting to get lighter, more morning than night. Arizona takes in a deep breath before beginning her trek back to Callie’s. When she arrives, she quietly unlocks the door with her key and slips her shoes off with the full intention of crawling back into the crowded bed and leaving its inhabitants none the wiser, but this doesn’t go to plan.
“Hey.” Callie’s voice says from the sofa. Arizona freezes like she’s been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. “Where have you been? I was worried.”
Arizona turns to face her and feels a rush of affection at the adorably concerned frown on Callie’s face. “Everything’s fine. I went out for a drink.”
Callie squints at her questioningly, “In the middle of the night? Why-“ she wrinkles her nose, then sighs, “Did you smoke?”
Arizona’s adoration is instantly replaced with irritation, “Is Mark still asleep?” She asks bitterly.
Callie scoffs, “Don’t change the subject-“ she pauses, the annoyance on her face twisting into something almost reminiscent of horror, “Whose jacket is that?”
Shit.
Arizona looks down at her own chest, seeing Lexie’s coat still wrapped around her. She looks back up at Callie with wide eyes, “It’s not what you think, I promise.”
Callie stands from the sofa and steps towards her, “Well you’d better explain because my mind is going to some dark places right now-“
“It’s Lexie’s!” Arizona explains quickly, wincing at her volume and hoping to God that she didn’t wake Mark or Cristina (is Owen here too?)
Callie stops in her tracks, “Lexie? Like Lexie Grey?”
“Do we know any other Lexies?” Arizona jokes, then sobers up at the unamused look on Callie’s face, “Yeah, we got a drink.”
Callie still seems confused which in turn confuses Arizona because she can’t really be much clearer. “You went out at three in the morning to get a drink with Lexie Grey?”
Arizona sighs, “Yeah, I did. We’re friends.”
Callie chuckles humourlessly, “Since when are you super close with Mark’s Lexie?”
“Okay, he doesn't own her.” Arizona scolds.
“That’s not what I meant.” Callie says defensively, “It’s just a little hard to believe. I mean she’s great and I knew you guys got along but I just never thought of you hanging out without me and Mark.”
“Well, we did.” Arizona responds coldly, “We understand each other.”
“What does that mean?” Callie asks, sounding genuinely dejected.
Arizona studies her, the woman she loves, and sighs - this argument can wait for another day. Maybe it’s not a healthy decision to make, keeping her jealousy and resentment bottled up, but she’s going to do it anyway because Callie is standing in front of her, eyes full of love and Lexie doesn’t get that anymore so Arizona isn’t about to let it go for anything.
“Nothing.” She mumbles decisively, leaning it to kiss Callie.
There it is, that unique sense of warmth and comfort that only comes from embracing the one you love. She inhales Callie’s scent, committing it to memory, along with the miraculous feeling of their lips pressed together, just in case she ever loses it like Lexie did. Joanne was nothing compared to this. This is it.
“What was that for?” Callie whispers as they pull away.
“I love you.” Arizona replies simply.
Callie smiles softly and kisses her again. When she pulls back, she raises an eyebrow, “So you’re besties with Little Grey now?”
Arizona chuckles, “We’re friends, yeah.” Then she shoots Callie a teasing smirk, “Don’t get jealous, Calliope. You have nothing to worry about, she’s like 89% straight.”
“Wait what?” Callie stammers, opening her mouth to ask what are probably an excessive amount of questions.
“I’ll fill you in later.” Arizona says, shutting her girlfriend up with yet another kiss.
Arizona returns Lexie’s jacket the next day at work and smirks to herself when she overhears Mark tearing apart the apartment in search of his hoodie. And when Lexie shows up to work with blonde hair on Valentines Day, Arizona is the first to let her know how hot she looks because a good alliance never dies.
One day, when Lexie Grey is nothing more than a distant memory and a sign hanging above a hospital, Arizona will name a chicken after her and think about the friendship that could have been.