Chapter Text
“Shhh, just breathe through it Bambina,” Carina said, rubbing her wife’s back as she threw up into the toilet.
The nap they had tried to take had been short, Maya’s stomach waking her up within fifteen minutes of falling asleep, Carina helping her into the bathroom to throw up which is where they still were three hours later.
It had been exhausting for poor Maya. She could barely move since getting into the bathroom, only actually moving to sit on the toilet when her stomach got desperately sick the other way. During these episodes, Carina would leave her wife with her privacy.
During Maya’s last bout on the toilet, Carina had called down to room service ordering up some crackers and a mug of chicken broth that she planned to put in the mini fridge for when her wife was feeling less sick, along with a chicken sandwich for herself, realizing she hadn’t eaten since before they left Seattle and knowing that she was going to need something in her despite the fact that she wasn’t really hungry.
When all that was done, Carina headed over to the bathroom, hoping that her wife’s stomach had somehow calmed down.
“Bambina, can I come in?” Carina called gently.
“Hang on,” Maya called back, Carina hearing some rustling and then the toilet flush before, “Come in.”
Carina walked into the bathroom, sighing when she saw Maya lowering herself back down to the floor.
“Tummy still hurting?” Carina asked, sitting down next to her, Maya moving her head into her lap.
“So bad,” Maya nodded, shivering a little bit, “I don’t know how I have anything left and yet, it just keeps coming.”
“Poor Bambina,” Carina sighed, “Do you want to try to go back to bed?”
“Not yet,” Maya said, “I don’t want to have to keep running back in here and while the bucket will work for the vomit, we both know this is not just a vomiting bug.”
“Lo so,” Carina said, rubbing Maya’s back, “I hate that you are so sick right now.”
“I hate that I am ruining our first time away as a couple in years with my disgusting stomach issues,” Maya said, curling her legs up more as her belly cramped, “I was serious before when I said you could go do things without me.”
“And I was serious that I don’t want to,” Carina said, kissing Maya’s forehead, sighing at how hot she was, “I just want to be with you on this trip. Do you think you can handle maybe trying a bath or shower? You are really warm and maybe cooling you off will help with the nausea. I know fevers tend to make your nausea worse.”
“Maybe a shower,” Maya said, making no attempt to move, “I want to be able to relax if we take a bath and I just can’t do that right now.”
Carina got up, turning on the rather large shower which had multiple different shower heads before looking at her wife, still curled up on the ground.
“Shall we try Bambina?” Carina offered, reaching out her hand.
“I guess,” Maya said, allowing Carina to help her stand, resting her head on her wife’s shoulder for a minute to let her head catch up, “I don’t feel good.”
“Lo so,” Carina said gently, rubbing Maya’s back, “Let’s see if the shower helps at all.”
“I feel so bloated,” Maya complained as Carina helped get her t-shit off, “Worse than during the egg retrieval.”
“Your tummy is for sure not looking very happy,” Carina agreed, resting a hand there gently, “Let’s shower and then you can rest. Come on.”
They got in the shower, Carina making sure the temperature was warm but not too hot in an attempt to lower Maya’s fever a bit.
“Are you still feeling ok?” Maya asked as Carina held her under the water.
“Si,” Carina said, “No fever, no pain in my stomach. I’m just worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine,” Maya mumbled, “Just tired and achy.”
“Hopefully your tummy will be empty soon and let you get some sleep,” Carina said as she grabbed some body wash, lathering up her wife’s fevered skin.
“Oh no,” Maya said, eyes snapping open as she looked panicked.
“If you are going to be sick, it’s ok,” Carina said, moving to the side to allow Maya some space, “And if you need the toilet, just get out or if that’s too much, the shower is ok too…”
“No,” Maya said, “No, not me. What if Liam or Andrea get sick and we aren’t there with them? Carina, we should go home. They need us if they are sick and…”
“Hey,” Carina said, “Take a deep breath. Peggy and Dayna haven’t said the bambini are sick. Last time they updated, everyone was healthy and fine. Let’s not panic about something that hasn’t happened, ok? Let’s just focus on you and your illness?”
“I…ok,” Maya sighed, not taking much convincing as her energy was draining fast, letting her body relax into Carina again, “But you’ll check on them when we get done in the shower?”
“Of course,” Carina said, “Now, relax. Let me finish getting you cleaned up and then maybe we can try curling up in bed again?”
“Okay,” Maya said, letting Carina just hold her before looking up at her, “Did you really tell me if I needed to, I could have the poops in the shower?”
“I mean, if you were really feeling that sick and couldn’t make it to the toilet, why not?” Carina said, “It is better than the floor of the bathroom, no?”
“I guess,” Maya said, leaning back against Carina’s body, “I don’t think I am that sick though.”
“Good,” Carina said, kissing the top of her head, “Now, just relax. Let the water cool you down. I am not going to wash your hair now because it’s been pulled up all day if that’s ok?”
“It’s fine,” Maya said, “I will wash it when I am less sick.”
They stayed in the shower for a good twenty minutes before Maya was too tired and ready to get out. Carina helped Maya slip into clean boxers and a t-shirt before they went to get in bed, Carina tucking the trash can next to Maya’s side of the bed, just in case.
“Drink some of this, and then sleep Bambina,” Carina said, holding the water bottle with electrolytes in it to her lips.
“I don’t know if this will stay down long,” Maya said, taking a sip of the drink, “I am already feeling nauseous again.”
“You know if it stays down for at least thirty minutes, it is enough to do something,” Carina said, kissing Maya’s too hot forehead, “Hopefully when you sleep, your tummy will calm down a little bit.”
“Text Peggy and Dayna and make sure the kids are ok,” Maya said as she curled up under the blankets, shivering from her fever.
“I am going to FaceTime,” Carina said, sitting down in the bed next to her wife, “That way we can say goodnight. Or I can. You can just sleep Bambina.”
“I want to see them,” Maya said, moving closer to her wife, settling her head on her chest, Carina immediately stroking her damp hair as she called Peggy.
“Hello,” the blonde said, answering the FaceTime, “Look who it is Andrea?”
“Ciao Fagiolina,” Carina said, smiling as she saw Andrea’s happy face on the screen, “Are you having fun?”
“She is,” Peggy said, “We just finished getting our pajamas on. Dayna is helping Liam right now and then we were all going to pile on the couch for some books before bed. Are you guys having fun? Where is Maya?”
“She is here,” Carina said, panning the phone down a little bit, her wife waving.
“Hi Drea Bean,” Maya said, voice raspy as she saw her little girl.
“Is everything ok?” Peggy asked, seeing Maya’s pale complexion on the screen.
“Maya came down with a stomach bug on the plane on the way here,” Carina said, “That is part of why we called, to make sure the bambini were not also sick.”
“Oh no,” Peggy said, shifting Andrea a little on her hip, “No, everyone here had been fine. Sorry you’re not feeling well Maya.”
“Maya’s sick?” Dayna said, appearing behind her wife with Liam in her arms.
“Mamma,” the little boy exclaimed, seeing Carina.
“Ciao Pulcino,” Carina said, smiling at him, “Are you having fun?”
“We pway,” Liam said, “Go pawk.”
“You went to the park?” Carina said, Liam nodding enthusiastically, “That is so fun.”
“Where Mommy?” the little boy asked.
“Mommy is here,” Carina said, panning the phone down again only to realize Maya was sound asleep on her chest, “She is sleeping. She isn’t feeling very good tonight.”
“Yiam Mommy hud?” Liam asked.
“You can’t give her a hug right now,” Carina said, her heart melting a little bit at how adorable and caring their son was, “But I will give her extra hugs from you ok? Her tummy has been hurting all day.”
“Stomach bug?” Dayna asked.
“Si,” Carina said, rubbing her wife’s back, “Or at least that’s what we think happened. Her stomach had not been happy since we took off and she had a fever. Hopefully it's a short lived thing. How have the bambini been?”
“They have been great,” Peggy said, “Ate all their lunch and dinner, they both took a nap this afternoon for us. Nothing too crazy to report.”
“Good,” Carina said, “Well, I don’t want to hold up bed time so I can say goodbye. We just wanted to check in and see how they were and Maya was worried they were also sick.”
“No signs of sickness here,” Dayna said, tickling Liam, “Right?”
“Mamma,” Liam said, laughing.
“Va bene,” Carina said smiling, “Well, I will say goodnight. We will try to call again tomorrow and hopefully Maya will be awake and feeling better then.”
“I hope she does,” Peggy said, “You guys deserve a nice vacation away. I hope you both get to enjoy it and that she feels better soon.”
“Grazie,” Carina said, “Thank you again for taking care of them for us.”
“Of course,” Dayna said, “Besides, it’s good practice. Our foster care license is almost done processing so before too long, hopefully we will have another kiddo running around here. We heard today that it should only be another week.”
“Congratulations,” Carina said, smiling, “I am excited for you both.”
“Mommy, Mama,” Rose called, coming into the room, “I got my jamas on. Can we read now with Liam and Andrea?”
“In just a minute, ok?” Peggy said, “Carina and Maya called to say goodnight to Liam and Andrea. We are almost done ok?”
“Hi Rose,” Carina said, waving at the little girl, “Thank you for sharing your mamas with my bambini for the next few days.”
“Hi Dr. Tarina,” Rose said, waving, “Where is Maya?”
“She is sleeping,” Carina said, “Her stomach isn’t feeling very well tonight and she needs to rest.”
“Did she frow up and poop a lot?” Rose asked.
“Rosie, we don’t need to ask questions like that,” Peggy said.
“It’s ok,” Carina said, “She did. And now she is very tired so she is sleeping.”
“I frowed up one time in Mommy and Mama’s bed,” Rose said, “It was so yucky.”
“Si,” Carina said, “It is not nice when your stomach is sick like that.”
“I hope Maya’s tummy feels better soon,” Rose said.
“Me too,” Carina agreed, glancing down when she felt Maya shifting a little on her chest, rubbing her back as the blonde settled again, “I am going to tell Liam and Andrea goodnight so you all can go read. Goodnight Andrea. Ti voglio bene Andrea. Buona notte.”
Andrea smiled her drooly grin, clearly a bit confused by her mamma being on a screen and not in front of her but happy to hear her voice.
“Buona notte Liam,” Carina said, “Ti voglio bene.”
“Notte Mamma,” Liam said, blowing her a kiss, “Love bene.”
Carina smiled listening to Liam mix his Italian and English together. For the most part, they tried to do one parent one language with the kids, but sometimes, she would speak to them in English when they were around other people just to make it a bit easier. However, she was determined that both kids would learn Italian so hearing Liam speak it always made her so happy.
“Please let us know if either of the kids end up sick,” Carina said.
“Of course,” Dayna said, “I hope Maya feels better soon and that you both get to enjoy the real purpose of your vacation.”
“Grazie,” Carina said, “Good luck with the bambini tonight. I hope they sleep for you.”
“They are always angels for us,” Peggy said, “Now, go, baby your wife and get some rest. We will talk to you tomorrow.”
“Ciao,” Carina said as she hung up, looking down at Maya who was curled up on her chest, sound asleep.
It made Carina happy to finally see the blonde getting some sleep after how completely miserable the last four hours had been. The Italian heard a grumble coming from her wife’s stomach, knowing that likely, whatever was ailing her wife was not done yet.
Expecting they would be in for a long night, Carina decided to let her own eyes slip shut for a little while, hoping that maybe she could get a little sleep too. It didn’t last long before she felt movement in the bed, Maya leaning over the side of the bed to be sick into the trash can that was there.
“It’s ok Bambina,” Carina said, rubbing her back as she retched hard, “Just let it all out. Your poor tummy.”
“I am going to need the bathroom again soon,” Maya said, panting as she leaned back, “I really don’t feel well.”
“Come on,” Carina said, helping her up, “Just go slow, ok?”
Carina got Maya into the bathroom, helping her sit down on the toilet before leaving her.
Realizing that they were probably going to be spending at least part of the night on the bathroom floor, Carina started gathering things to make it more comfortable. She pulled out her iPad so they could watch movies, grabbing the decorative pillows off the couch along with the extra blankets she had ordered up to help make a little bed on the floor for them. Just as she was grabbing her sweatshirt to help keep Maya warm if she needed it, she heard the toilet flush.
She knocked gently, hearing a faint “Come in,” before opening the door armed with some of the things she had gotten together.
“What is all of this?” Maya asked as Carina set the items down on the floor.
“We are going to camp out in here until your panica is feeling a little less sick,” Carina said, going back into the bedroom, appearing a moment later with the trash can which she quickly cleaned out before setting it down and going to get the rest of the items.
“You really don’t have to do this Car,” Maya said as the Italian brought in more blankets, pillows, and her iPad, “I would have been fine on my own with the towels.”
“This is our anniversary trip,” Carina said, shaking her head, “I want to spend time with you and make you comfortable. Now, give me a few minutes and then we can watch whatever you want, ok?”
“Even Elf?” Maya asked, knees drawn to her chest as she leaned against the wall.
“Only because you are sick because you know how I feel about Christmas movies in the summer,” Carina said.
“We don’t have to,” Maya said, closing her eyes as she leaned against the wall, “I don’t really care.”
“No, Bambina, we can watch Elf,” Carina said as she laid out the blankets on the ground, “I know you love that movie.”
“How long do you think this is going to last?” Maya asked, eyes still closed as she held her stomach.
“I don’t know Bambina,” Carina said, setting down the pillows, “Sometimes, these kind of viruses only last 12 hours and sometimes they can last three days. You know that.”
“I hope it’s only 12 hours,” Maya said, “I don’t want to ruin half of our trip.”
“Nothing is ruined,” Carina said, “I keep telling you that. We are spending time together and eventually, your tummy will feel better and we can do some of the things we had planned. But I am more than happy to just be here taking care of you. Now, are you ready to lay down?”
Maya nodded, letting Carina help her over to the little pile of blankets and pillows on the floor, the blonde closer to the toilet.
“Now, let’s put on Elf,” Carina said, grabbing their iPad and putting on the Christmas movie before setting it up where they could both see it, “And do you want me to rub your stomach or back or play with your hair? What will make you feel better?”
Before Maya could answer, she pushed herself up, leaning over the toilet and vomiting again.
“Ok,” Carina said, quickly moving to rub her back, “It’s ok. I’m here. Get everything up.”
“I hate this,” Maya groaned as Carina gently wiped her mouth with a tissue.
“I know,” Carina said, “Let’s lay back down. It will get better.”
“I am going to get you sick,” Maya said as Carina reached over to flush the toilet.
“Then I get sick,” Carina said, “It wouldn’t be the first time. And I have gotten you sick plenty of times too. Now, rest. And just like before, I am here for you, but also if you need privacy, let me know.”
“That is coming next I think,” Maya said, “I can feel my intestines gurgling.”
“Just relax for now,” Carina said, running her fingers up and down Maya’s back, “We will deal with it when it comes.”
The night was anything but restful for the two of them. Maya’s body was clearly unhappy with whatever had invaded it, not satisfied with simply emptying out Maya’s system, but forcing her to have dry heaves long the contents were out of her stomach.
Around 4 am, things had gotten so bad that Carina was googling the closest ER to them because she thought they would be taking a trip there. Luckily, however, Maya’s stomach calmed some, allowing her to take a little bit of electrolyte drink before she fell asleep around 5:30, Carina following not too long after. They got a good three hours of sleep before Maya’s stomach woke them up again.
“Carina, I need the toilet,” the blonde groaned as she shook her wife awake.
“Ok,” Carina said, moving to get up, noticing how slow her wife was moving, “Need help?”
“I think...oh...oh no,” Maya said as gas left her sick tummy, “Carina, I…”
“Bambina, it is ok, accidents happen,” Carina said, helping Maya up, “Especially when you are sick. I am going to go get you some clean underwear. There is nothing to be embarrassed by.”
“Carina, go,” Maya said, feeling sicker by the second.
“Ok,” Carina said, making sure Maya was steady before quickly turning and leaving the bathroom.
She walked into the hotel room, stretching her sore back, taking stock of how she was feeling. Her back ached from the night on the floor and her head hurt, probably from the lack of proper sleep.
She put her hand on her stomach, trying to decide if the unsettled feeling there was from lack of sleep or the start of something more sinister. She rubbed it gently as she walked over to Maya’s suitcase, pulling out a clean pair of boxers. She noticed she was a little bit bloated, groaning when she realized that likely, this was the beginnings of whatever bug her wife was fighting, though it also could have just been left over bloating from flying the day before which did often happen to her.
She grabbed her phone, seeing a message from Peggy which made her stomach churn more as she opened it, relaxing when she saw it was a photo of Liam helping make pancakes for breakfast while Andrea played with Rose and a report of a good night all around. Carina texted back, thanking her friend for the update and updating her on Maya because she had asked.
Once Carina finished with her phone, she turned her attention back to her own stomach. She was debating what she should do. She was hoping that after this round in the bathroom, Maya might be ready to get back into bed and try to sleep. She really didn’t want to keep Maya up any longer, and she knew that telling her that her own stomach didn’t feel totally normal would for sure have her wife worrying.
Carina grabbed her water bottle, deciding to try to get down some hydration in case this was a stomach bug and not just some residual bloating from flying, though the ominous gurgle her stomach let out was not very comforting.
“Carina,” she heard Maya call from the bathroom, quickly heading to help her wife.
“How are you doing?” Carina asked, walking in and handing Maya the new underwear.
“That was embarrassing,” Maya said, shivering a little as she pulled on the new underwear.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about Bambina,” Carina said, brushing a piece of hair off her face, “It happens to everyone. You were there when it happened to me while I was pregnant and you even helped me get cleaned up when I couldn’t. Now, are you ready to go to bed?”
“I think so,” Maya said, “I still don’t feel well, but I think bed is better than the floor. How are you doing?”
“The floor is not the best mattress,” Carina said truthfully, “But that’s ok. I would rather be there with you than in the bed without you.”
“Well, maybe tomorrow if my stomach is better, we can go get massages to help fix that,” Maya said before grabbing her toothbrush.
The more she was up, the less well Carina’s stomach was feeling, bubbling uncomfortably as she helped Maya back to bed.
“I am going to go to the bathroom before we get in bed,” Carina said as she got Maya comfortable.
“Are you feeling ok?” the blonde asked, looking at her wife, seeing she looked a touch pale though she wasn’t sure if that was just from lack of sleep or something else.
“Si,” Carina lied through her teeth, “Just need the bathroom before sleep.”
Maya didn’t totally buy it as her wife ran off to the bathroom. Once there, Carina quickly pulled down her pants, her stomach making it clear quickly that it was not happy at the moment.
“Maybe it’s just from traveling,” Carina tried to reason as everything cramped, “Maybe it’s just some traveler’s diarrhea. A little bit of a sensitive stomach. I’m fine.”
She tried to be quick in the bathroom, not wanting Maya to suspect anything, but her stomach was not helping and she ended up stuck in the bathroom for over ten minutes. Finally, things tapered off, Carina cleaning herself up before washing her hands.
Just as she was about to leave the bathroom, she felt a surge of nausea, throwing the toilet open and leaning over it, heaving as quietly as she could. Nothing came up and withing a minute, the nausea left. Carina quickly closed the toilet and headed back for the bedroom, feeling pretty unwell.
“Are you ok?” Maya asked sleepily as the Italian climbed into bed, “That was a long time in the bathroom. Is your tummy ok? Did you throw up?”
“I did not throw up,” Carina said, avoiding the other questions.
“Was your tummy sick?” Maya asked, looking at her wife more closely, “Or are you having issues with constipation? I know sometimes traveling makes that happen to you.”
“It is not constipation,” Carina said, shaking her head, “It is the exact opposite.”
“Oh no,” Maya said, frowning, “You’ve got it too?”
“It could just be unhappy from traveling,” Carina said, though she knew that was likely not the case.
“Babe, come on,” Maya said, “I have had the pukes and the shits for almost 24 hours at this point. It’s probably not a coincidence you are also having the runs. I am so sorry you are sick.”
“I also almost vomited,” Carina mumbled, “I had the dry heaves, but nothing came up.”
“I’m so sorry I got you sick,” Maya said, rubbing her wife’s back, “What do you need?”
“Non lo so,” Carina said, feeling her stomach cramping again, “I might go back to the bathroom and sit by the toilet. But you can stay here. You need sleep.”
“I will come with you,” Maya said, shaking her head, “You were there with me the entire time, and I want to be here for you.”
Just then, Carina let out a sick sounding burp, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Do you need the trashcan?” Maya asked, looking for it.
“No, not yet,” Carina said, “But I am going into the bathroom before it’s too late.”
Carina got out of bed, running into the bathroom, grabbing a hair tie off her wrist, getting her hair up as her stomach heaved again. Again, nothing happened, leaving her feeling somehow worse as Maya walked in.
“Oh babe,” Maya said, her own body achy from her fever and being so sick but she quickly dropped down next to her wife.
“Nothing is coming up,” Carina said, tears in her eyes.
“Just relax,” Maya said, rubbing her wife’s back, “It will happen eventually.”
Carina put her face back in the toilet, dry heaving again.
“Your poor tummy,” Maya said, her own stomach not thriving as she listen to her wife almost be sick, but she pushed it out of her mind as she rubbed Carina’s back. Suddenly, Carina tensed, burping before she finally vomited.
“There you go,” Maya said, looking on the side of the toilet, seeing the trash can which she quickly grabbed as Carina threw up again, “Get it all…” before Maya could finish, she was also dry heaving over the trash can, somehow managing to still rub her wife’s back.
A minute later, they both were finished, leaning back.
“Are you ok Bambina?” Carina asked as she leaned forward to flush the toilet, shivering a bit.
“Yeah,” Maya said, “Are you?”
“I will be,” Carina said, leaning her head on Maya’s shoulder, “I feel pretty terrible right now though.”
“I’m sorry,” Maya said, kissing the top of Carina’s head, “I’m sorry I got you sick. Should we just lay back down here? At least the floor bed is still here.”
“You should go lay in the actual bed,” Carina said, “I’ll be ok by myself. You need sleep to get better.”
“Absolutely not,” Maya said, shaking her head, “I’m staying here with you.”
“Fine,” Carina said, pushing herself up.
“What are you doing?” Maya asked, confused.
“Going to get you electrolytes,” Carina said, stumbling a little bit, “You need to hydrate or you are going to end up in the hospital.”
“I’m fine,” Maya said, though she could feel her body shaking just as she was sitting there.
Carina disappeared and came back a minute later with their phones, drinks, and an extra pillow.
“I was really hoping by our official anniversary tomorrow that we would be able to do something outside of this bathroom,” Maya said, taking a tiny sip of the drink Carina gave her as the Italian sat down, “But that is not looking very promising.”
“Lo so,” Carina said, hand on her stomach as it cramped and churned painfully, “Oh, this hurts. I am sorry you were feeling like this on the plane yesterday. This is terrible.”
“Cramps?” Maya asked as her wife laid down on the floor, her head in the blonde’s lap.
“Si,” Carina said, “Painful ones.”
“I’m sorry,” Maya said, rubbing Carina’s back, “You just let me know when you need me to leave so you can deal with what happens from those cramps ok?”
The rest of that day and into the night was miserable, mostly for Carina, but also at times for Maya. The Italian was incredibly sick, vomiting a lot and kicking Maya out at least every hour and a half due to how upset her belly was. Maya was also still having a rough time with her upset stomach, though luckily, she only threw up one more time.
They had talked to the kids between bouts of sickness, happy to hear that at least the bambini were not sick.
Around 1 am, after a rough bout on the toilet for both of them, they decided to get back into bed and try to get some real rest.
“Hey,” Maya said as they climbed into bed.
“Cosa?” a very sleepy and still very sick Carina mumbled.
“It’s officially our anniversary,” Maya said, smiling at her wife.
“Happy Anniversary Bambina,” Carina said, managing to open her eyes, “Sorry it is probably going to be spent in bed...and not even the fun kind of in bed.”
“It’s my fault,” Maya said, leaning her forehead to touch Carina’s, happy the both brushed their teeth before getting into bed, “I’m sorry I got you sick for our anniversary.”
“It’s ok,” Carina said, shifting a little as her stomach gurgled again, “I know we didn’t do traditional vows..or any vows, but they were implied and in sickness and in health is in there.”
“That is true,” Maya said, moving a piece of hair off her wife’s hot forehead, “Well, if I am going to spend our anniversary with a stomach virus from hell, I am at least glad I get to do it with you.”
“Si,” Carina said, eyes getting heavy, “There is no one I would rather have rubbing my back while we both vomit than you.”
Maya chuckled a little bit, giving her wife a small kiss before they fell asleep, knowing they were likely not all the way through this bug but grateful they were together through it.