Chapter Text
Maya and Andy began to walk away from the bonfire and went along the shore line, the cold sea just touching their feet, although it was a nice contrast from the heat they’d been in front of just moments ago.
“So, what’s up?” Andy asked, wondering why her friend had pulled her aside.
“I need to talk to you about something,” Maya said, tuning to face her friend.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine,” Maya smiled seeing the concern on Andy’s face. “So - next week is mine and Carina’s one year anniversary, and I have a plan but I need your help. Well, I need the team’s help but Carina can’t know anything….” Maya trailed off.
“I still can’t believe it’s been a year - it’s gone by so quickly,” Andy said. She knew it was their anniversary but actually hearing it out loud made her realise how much had happened this year.
“I know - it’s crazy. One of the best years of my life. So can you help?” Maya asked.
“You don’t even need to ask Bishop - what’s the plan?”
“Well…”
Morning of their anniversary….
Maya kept a watchful eye on the omelette that was currently cooking in the pan as she busied herself with slicing up a collection of fruits, melon, oranges, strawberries and such. The coffee was just about finished and everything else was set and ready to go.
In a few swift movements she had the omelette on a plate, the fruit nicely presented in a bowl and the coffee all placed on a tray, a beautiful red carnation also accompanying the breakfast.
Today was the day. The day that marked one of the best days of Maya’s life. The day she married the love of her life, her soulmate, her forever person. She thought about that day often, when she was bored at work, when she was showering, when she was eating - she thought about it so much it as if it would suddenly disappear. But she knew no matter what, she could never forget. She wouldn’t forget the words Alberto had said to her, she wouldn’t forget the way that Carina had looked when she’d walked down the aisle, she wouldn’t forget their vows that they had promised each other, she wouldn’t forget their first dance and she wouldn’t ever forget their first kiss shared as wives.
With Enzo at her heels they both slowly climbed the stairs, Maya being careful not to spill anything on her way. She nudged the door open with her foot, Enzo running in ahead of her head jumping on the bed, licking at Carina’s face.
“Hm - Enzo, boungiorno my love,” Carina chuckled, rolling around onto her back to hug their not so puppy-sized dog.
“Glad I’m more interesting than the dog,” Maya joked, seeing as her presence still hadn’t been acknowledged.
“Sorry bambina- what’s all this?” Carina asked, seeing the blonde with a tray of breakfast.
“Anniversary breakfast in bed,” Maya smiled, walking over to her side of the bed and slipping under the covers.
“Smells incredible,” Carina said, the heavenly smell of fresh coffee, fruit and her favourite omelette already filling up the room.
“I know right - what are you having?” Maya asked, attempting to keep a straight face as she watched her wife’s grin vanish.
“You’re an idiot,” Carina replied, flicking Maya on her arm.
“Kidding,” Maya laughed, always taking the chance to wind her wife up - even on their anniversary. She slid over the tray and settled it on the brunette’s lap, taking the flower so she could give it to her properly. “For you.”
“My favourite,” Carina smiled, bringing it to her nose. “Do you remember the first time you ever bought me these?” She asked, toiling the stem around her fingers.
“I do,” Maya nodded. “The night I asked you to be my girlfriend. Oh how far we have come.”
“How far indeed,” Carina agreed. “I love you,” She added, leaning over to kiss the blonde.
“I love you too, mia moglie,” Maya returned, a dopey smile on her face as she kissed her wife, her hand supporting her jaw as she did so.
Eventually they pulled away from each other, Carina going to eat her breakfast while Maya just admired the beauty that the brunette exuded, even in the early hours of the morning.
“So what are we doing today Bella?” Carina asked, taking a bite of her omelette and sighing in happiness - Maya really did make the best breakfast food.
“Ah my beautiful wife, that is for me to know and for you to find out. All in good time,” Maya teased. All she had asked of her wife was that she make no plans for the day. Carina had of course refused at first, wanting to do something for Maya for their anniversary but when Maya had all but begged she’d given in - those damn blue eyes.
Carina just huffed in annoyance. “Can I least give you your present?” She asked.
“You sure can,” Maya grinned, settling back into the bed, her arms crossed behind her head.
Carina just pushed herself forward and reached underneath the bed dragging out two neatly wrapped gifts.
“They were under the bed the whole time?!” Maya exclaimed.
“You don’t clean under the bed so I figured it was a safe bet,” Carina shrugged, knowing she, too, could wind the blonde up.
“Yes I do!” She protested.
“Well clearly you don’t - because you missed two presents and I know what you are like with presents - you would have just opened them then and there,” Carina laughed - in actual fact the presents hadn’t been there at all - they’d been in the top shelf of their wardrobe, stuffed in the back and hidden behind some shoe boxes but it never hurt to tease the blonde here and there.
Maya just sighed but reached the for the gifts anyway.
She opened up the first, tearing away the paper in typical Maya fashion, and was met with a picture frame. Inside was two sets of writing….their vows printed out. A forever reminder.
“Carina these are beautiful,” Maya said, running her finger over the glass as she read the promises they had made to one another a year ago.
“You’ve always talked about getting them printed and I figured today was a good a day as any,” She replied.
“Thank you my love,” Maya smiled, giving her a kiss. “I love it.”
She then opened up the second one and gasped as she saw the contents. Throughout their relationship they had always taken photos. It was the reason why Maya had made Carina a photo album as her present - a reminder of what her mama had made for the siblings when they’d been growing up before her passing.
That album was of photos from before their wedding - but Carina wanted something to remind them of their first year as wives. So, just as Maya had one a year ago she’d made a photo album full of pictures: from their BBQ after their honeymoon, random candids she had of Maya and Enzo, a few selfies of the couple, Maya’s birthday, pictures of her on her bike as well as some with the blonde and Andrea all geared up, pictures of them from Travis and Emmett’s wedding, their day the beach - each captioned with either a joke or a funny moment that had happened on that day. A permeant reminder of one of the best years of their lives.
“Carina this is incredible,” Maya smiled as she flickered through the pages, laughing as she came across a picture of Carina and Enzo - one that the brunette had actually sent to her while she’d been at the Captain’s conference. It was captioned: come home soon x.
“I’m glad you like it bambina,” Carina said, snuggling up to her side.
“Do you want your gift?” Maya asked.
Carina nodded.
Maya reached into her bedside table and pulled out a squarish box and placed it on her wife’s lap.
“Before you open it - I want you to know you will get the rest of your present later today.”
Carina happily opened up her gift and smiled when she saw the contents. Her favourite perfume. And it seemed Maya had the same idea about getting gifts similar to on on their wedding day because it was the exact same one she had bought her a year ago.
The one she had to import from Italy and the one that had an expensive price tag.
“My mama’s perfume,” Carina whispered, looking down at the label.
“I know it’s your favourite,” Maya replied. “Now, come on we have a busy day ahead of us!”
“Maya why are we at the station?” Carina asked as she watched them pull up outside the firehouse.
“Good thing come to those that wait,” Maya replied, before hopping out the car and rounding to open up Carina’s as they walked into the building.
“Morning cutler,” Maya waved, seeing the man walk into the barn - he gave her a small smile and a knowing look. Everyone had been told to stay out of the lobby while the Captain and Dr DeLuca were there.
“Bella?” Carina said, getting the blonde’s attention again.
“Hm - oh sorry. Yes. Right. Well as you know today is a very special day, because today marks the day that I got to marry the most incredible woman I have ever met. You have given me so many things throughout our entire relationship and we have had so many incredible memories in our journey - so I decided I wanted to honour those memories by taking us a little reminder of them all,” Maya finished, her arms wrapped around Carina’s torso as she looked right up into her eyes.
“You. Are. Amazing,” Carina said, punctuating each word with a kiss. “Sì, let’s do it!”
“Good - because this is where it all started,” Maya said, pushing open her office door. “I remember seeing you first time and being absolute stunned, I think I forgot English for a few moments just by the sight of you,” she revealed making Carina blush.
“Are you Captain Bishop?” The woman asked, looking at her inquisitively.
“Yes, yes that’s me,” Maya managed to say. “Please come in,” she widened the door and finally let out the breath she’d been holding as the woman walked past her to sit down on one of the chairs opposite the desk. Maya returned back to her own seat, recollecting herself as she did so.
“You are early,” Maya observed seeing the clock read 1.25.
“I always believe that punctuality is the first step to success,” the woman said with a smile.
“Me too,” Maya agreed, she’d instantly picked up on the Italian accent as soon as the woman had opened her mouth and for some reason it was causing her brain to go fuzzy as well as the smell of the woman’s perfume, how could one smell cause someone to lose so much focus so quickly - it was intoxicating. Maybe these next 20 minutes wouldn’t be so bad after all..
“I remember being quite nervous actually,” Carina said, thinking back to when she’d had her interview all those years ago.
“You were nervous?!” Maya exclaimed. “How? You were so collected and confident. You made me nervous and that doesn’t happen.”
“It was my first job in the states - it was in a totally different environment that what I had been used to, plus when I saw those beautiful eyes of yours I knew I was in trouble.”
“You certainly were,” Maya teased. “So much so you married me,” She added, making Carina laugh.
“I sure did - best decision I ever made,” Carina said, pressing her lips against the blonde’s.
“Enzo won’t be happy about that when I tell him.”
“You wouldn’t,” Carina gasped.
“Oh I would. We have lots of chats about you actually.”
“Oh you do huh?” Carina smiled, the image of Maya and Enzo having small conversations by themselves making her heart warm.
“Oh yeah - loads. He is the keeper of all secrets. But, I have something for you,” Maya whispered, pulling out of their embrace and rounding to her side of the desk and taking out a red carnation from the drawers. “For you.” She said, repeating the same words from this morning.
Carina smiled as she took the flower - once again bringing it to her nose and inhaling the scent, but as she pulled away she noticed a small piece of paper gently placed between the petals. With a curious look she took it out and out of the corner of her eye she saw Maya sat on her desk a proud smile on her face.
She unravelled it and read it aloud: “It was from here that we found beauty in the darkness up above. It was from here that I began to fall in love, and where I saw the world in a whole new light with you by my side.”
“What the-“ Carina said, after reading the note.
“It’s a clue,” Maya provided. “To where we go next.”
“Oh right. Hold on - let me think.” Carina said….beauty in the darkness - so it had been at night. But from up above - which meant someone higher up….just like a….
“The Ferris-wheel?” Carina guessed. “On our first date you took me to the fair.”
“I did indeed,” Maya smiled.
“I can’t believe we haven’t been back here!” Carina said, her eyes cast upwards as she stared at all the rides and game booths.
“I know - it’s definitely been a while,” Maya replied, her hand wrapped in Carina’s as they made their way through the fairground.
“You were so nervous on our first date,” Carina chuckled remembering that evening.
“How could I not - I was next to you and I needed to impress,” Maya said, a smile on her face.
5 years ago…
“So you’ve never been to the fair?” Maya asked, her hands stuffed in her pockets - the colourful flickering lights of the fairground bouncing off her face.
“Nope - but it’s so amazing here. What do we do first?”
“Well I would say that is 100% up to you - although I would highly suggest some candy floss,” Maya said, her head nodding over to the stall. “But if you don’t like it of course then I’m sure there are other things. I should have checked if you like this sort of thing-“
“Bambina. I love candy floss,” She chuckled, her heart pulling as she watched the blonde ramble her words.
Right now she wasn’t the confident and collected Captain Maya Bishop. She was just Maya. Sweet, adorable, first-date nervous Maya and she loved it. She loved the small twinkle she saw in her eyes as soon as they entered the park, the way she could see Maya itching to go on every single ride there was.
There was this childlike excitement about her and it was endearing - the funny thing was, she realised that being here felt right. Being with Maya felt right, regardless of their relationship at work, it felt right.
“Candy floss it is then,” Maya smiled, taking a deep breath and regathering her thoughts.
She was usually so good at doing this, she was a smooth-talker, charming, funny - she knew all of this. But when she was with Carina it felt like all of that disappeared. She was intoxicated by the woman, there was this undeniable pull that she never wanted to stop. There was just something about her that was so different…and she loved that.
After collecting two large sticks of candy floss they both decided to make their way to the Ferris wheel.
“So how’s the sink doing?” Maya asked.
“Better know that you fixed it - thank you for that again.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How’s your back?” Carina asked, the image of Maya jumping on top of her to save her from the explosion still very fresh in her mind.
“It’s fine - a bit bruised in a few places but nothing I haven’t had before. I’m just glad you are safe,” Maya admitted.
“Me too,” Carina smiled. “Even if I do have to be on desk duty,” she said, making Maya laugh.
“How high does this thing go?” Carina asked looking up at the large contraction in front of her.
“Not too far - it looks higher from the ground,” Maya said.
Carina still looked skeptical but as they were now at the front fo the queue she didn’t have much choice.
Maya paid the man a few dollars and he signalled for them to go on through to cart number four.
“After you,” Maya said, opening up the small door.
Carina shot her a smile and stepped inside the cart and took a seat, Maya following her, making sure she’d bolted the lock to avoid the door suddenly opening at any point.
They were stationary for a while, happily eating their candy-floss when they jolted forward, Carina clutching on to Maya’s bicep as the blonde chuckled.
“You alright there?” Maya grinned.
“Perfectly fine,” Carina replied, not moving her arm as they ascended higher and higher, her hold get tighter and tighter as they did so. “You told me we wouldn’t go very high!”
“This isn’t very high?”
“We are like seventy feet in the air!”
“One hundred actually - give or take,” Maya corrected.
“Maya!” Carina squealed, burying her head in the blonde’s shoulder, the smell of lemon and sandalwood instantly calming her. Oh how she could get used to that smell and being in Maya’s arms.
When they slowly came to a stop, Maya nudged Carina with her shoulder. “Hey look - this is the best part.”
Carina reluctantly pulled away from Maya’s body, a gasp leaving her lips. Out before her was the skyline of Seattle, a blanket of darkness above them and the sprinkle of stars shining down. The moon was just visible amid a forest of tress and the lights of the city were breathtaking. She could see everything from up here. It was beautiful, she couldn’t look away.
When she noticed Maya’s eyes on herself she slowly turned, a blush creeping on her cheeks. “You’re the missing the view.”
“I’m not missing anything,” Maya whispered, her arm now round the back of Carina’s back. They were impossibly close, their noses mere centimetres away from one another.
“Maybe it’s not so bad up here after all.”
“Maybe not,” Maya replied, before their lips all but collide with each other. It was soft yet passionate, gentle yet full of desire. And it was then that Maya knew, she couldn’t live another day without this woman by her side.
Now all these years later they were sat in cart number four, riding to the top. From their first date to their first anniversary they had certainly come a long way.
“This was the moment I knew you were the one,” Maya said, taking Carina by surprise.
“It was?”
“Mhm - right here. On our first date,” she revealed, Carina cuddling into her side. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite like their first date given it was the daytime but they had a long day ahead of them and in order for them to go in ‘chronological’ order Maya had to make a few exceptions.
“Do tell.”
“There was just something different. The way I felt with you - I’d never felt that before. You made me this nervous, rambling mess and I knew that this was where I was meant to be,” Maya said, looking right into brown eyes - the sun high above them as they continued moving around the Ferris wheel.
“I did too. When we were going up and we just kept getting higher - even though you told me it wasn’t high,” at this point she glared at the blonde who had a smile on her face. “But I remember feeling….safe. Cared for. Loved. You gave me all that Maya from the very beginning. We were up there and just looking out at the view, the sky, the stars, it was perfect and you were by my side and just like you said on your note. It was from here that I began to fall in love, and where I saw the world in a whole new light with you by my side. I love you Maya, so much,” Carina said, all of her love for her wife being expressed in this very moment.
“I love you too,” Maya smiled, pulling Carina in for a kiss. “So so much, and I’m so lucky to have you be mine,” She added.
When they stopped at the top Maya pulled out another flower - from where Carina wasn’t too sure but seeing another red carnation made her beam.
“For you.”
She added it to the other one she had in her hands and returned to Maya’s side.
“Thank you,” she whispered, giving the Maya a kiss. And she meant it for more than just the flower, she meant it for the years of happiness she had got to experience with her, their beautiful dog that she couldn’t imagine a life without, a home full of love and joy, a life full of memories surrounded by the people she loved. She was so thankful she had Maya, she was so thankful that she stepped into that interview room - because it had changed her life, in so many ways.
Once again, Carina took a look in the petals of the flower and found another note. She unravelled it and read it out, excited to see where she would be taken next.
“The place where secrets were revealed and the place where we discovered a connection that went beyond the English language.”
Carina had a thoughtful look on her face as she tried to solve Maya’s riddle.
“Why is this one so hard?” She complained, not able to immediately figure it out. Maya just laughed.
“Come on - you’re the smart one in this relationship,” Maya encouraged.
Carina just stared down at the paper. Where had they found a connection beyond the English language…that could be Alberto and Gianna’s shop but that didn’t feel like the answer.
“You might have to go back a bit,” Maya supplied, still watching as her wife tried to figure her clue out.
“Huh?” Go back where? She thought.
“In our relationship - we went here before our first date but I felt like coming here first was a bit more appropriate.”
Carina went silent again as she tried to think until a memory sprung to mind. How could she have ever forgotten? The place where they found a connection that went beyond the English language, one may think that connection would be in the form of a physical connection but of course Maya and Carina shared something special. While not the English language, the Italian one.
The bar.
“Joe’s!” Carina cried out triumphantly.
“Took you long enough,” Maya teased, receiving an eye roll from Carina.
They made their way off the ferris wheel once it had stopped and returned back to the car. But not before Maya insisted on winning Carina a toy panda from the carnival games, it may have cost her twenty dollars but she refused to let some game beat the better of her, and it was satisfying to watch the owner give over their prize when he clearly underestimated Maya’s abilities.
A chime sounded above them as they walked into the bar, a few patrons sat on barstools, others in a few of the booths - but it was fairly quiet, which was understandable given it was only two o’clock. The majority of the foot traffic would come in around 7 or eight when most of either the doctors or firefighters finished their shifts.
“Hey Joe!” Maya greeted, giving the man a wave. Since the car accident at the bar the place had been refurbished and done up again. The wall fixed and unless you knew of the incident you never would have known any different. Maya and the team had pitched in on several occasions given how much this place meant to them and Joe had been more than thankful for all their efforts.
“Hey you two!” He smiled. “It’s all ready,” he added, giving Maya a knowing look.
Carina looked at Maya but she just held her hand and dragged her through the floor to the pool table. A staple game in the course of their relationship. It was here that Carina as well as the team learnt about Maya speaking Italian. It was here where they’d shared countless nights talking about everything and anything, and here where they’d made so many memories with the team - laughing over the happy moments, and drinking over the sad ones.
“I thought I would give you another opportunity to win a game of pool, given you’ve only ever beat me once - I figured as it’s a special day it was worth a shot.”
“Fine by me,” Carina said, the look on her face shifting into one that Maya knew she meant business. However, she looked like that whenever they played any form of competitive game so she wasn’t too threatened. She only ever been beaten once and she will still claim it was because she’d had too much to drink and was coaxed into a losing battle.
Maya just gave an amused smiled as they both went to collect their cues. Maya had asked Joe to reserve the pool table while they were there as a favour for the blonde - the last thing she would have needed was for it to be in use.
“Ready to lose?” Maya teased.
“Ready to win,” Carina corrected.
One and half years ago…
“Maya you are losing here,” Vic pointed out as she watched the two women play.
“Well aware of that Hughes,” Maya replied bluntly, her eyes solely focused on that white ball and the red one that was beyond it.
She may have had one too many drinks tonight and her fiancé had clearly taken advantage of that by asking her to play a game of pool, knowing she wouldn’t back down - and here she was losing, and she wasn’t happy about it.
She tried her best to make her mind focus on the target but when she stuck the cue forward the red ball went wide of the pocket by a few centimetres making her throw her head back in frustration.
“I don’t think this is going to end well,” Miller whispered to Warren. Most of the team had gathered around the table at this point, intensely watching as they witnessed the showdown between the fiancées take place.
“I can’t look away,” Warren replied, eating a bowl of popcorn from the bar.
They were near the end of the game, with Carina having only two more balls to pot - that being one yellow and then the black, with Maya still left with three reds and the black. It was safe to say this was not the Captain’s best performance, although no one but Carina was brave enough to point that out.
Carina set up to pot another ball doing it with ease, which only Maya sulk even more. She did a dance in front of the blonde to wind her up, one she had deemed as her victory dance. Something she wasn’t able to do often given who she was in a relationship with. A fact Maya would usually make a big deal out of, claiming she would always win everything - which was true.
So Carina took her moment to enjoy her dance, spinning around and dancing to the music that as playing.
Travis, Vic and Andy all cheered for her as she did so. “You’ve got this Carina!”
She then set herself up to hit the final black ball into the front left pocket. She lined the cue up, steadied her aim and jabbed the cue, hitting the white ball perfectly. Everyone watched with a held breath as the ball travelled, when it seamlessly dropped into the pocket everyone cheered, well nearly everyone except a very annoyed blonde.
“I won!” Carina said smugly as she walked up her fiancé.
“Hmm,” Maya huffed.
“I. Won.” She repeated, punctuating her words with a kiss to Maya’s lips who didn’t reciprocate which just made Carina laugh. “You are such a bad loser!”
“Whatever - you agreed to marry me,” Maya pointed out.
“True,” Carina replied, standing between Maya’s legs as the blonde finally wrapped her arms around the brunette.
“You won’t hold this win over me for long though,” Maya declared. And she didn’t, a week later Maya re-claimed her title and this time she made a victory dance of her own much to her own amusement and much to Carina’s chagrin.
“Better luck next time, my love,” Maya grinned as they re-stacked their cues. Maya taking home another win.
“I swear you cheat,” Carina cried.
“Nope - it’s just a matter of skill,” she replied, giving her a short kiss.
“Just a matter of skill,” Carina imitated, making Maya laugh.
“And you call me a bad loser.”
“You are!” Carina exclaimed.
“So are you!” Maya returned.
“Hm - both as bad as each other?” She proposed.
“Both a bad as each other,” Maya confirmed. She’d just finished re-stacking the balls for who ever wanted to play next when Joe came over with two beers and a red carnation in his hands.
“Ladies,” he greeted. “For you,” he smiled, giving Carina the flower as she blushed.
“Thank you Joe,” Carina smiled, taking the drink from him while looking at the flower in her hands.
“You’re welcome. Happy Anniversary to you both,” he said, clapping Maya on the back and giving her a wink as she gave him a thankful smile.
“Remember the first time you ever had one of these?” Maya asked, nodding to the Heineken in her wife’s hands and they retreated to a small table in the corner of the bar.
Carina nodded. “After my first shift at the station. We came here and you introduced me to it - can’t say it was my favourite though.”
Maya laughed. “Yeah I know you prefer the local one - I thought it would be reminiscent though. From where we started, all those years ago - arguing about whether we would call you a probie or not.”
“The infamous salt and pepper ruling - I remember,” Carina smiled.
“So where are heading next my beautiful wife?” Maya asked, her hand resting on the brunette’s thigh as she watched her unravel the next clue from the flower.
This one was simple. Five words. One idiom.
“A home away from home.”
Carina knew this one straight away, how could she not. Gianna and Alberto’s shop.
It would always be Gianna and Alberto’s shop - even though he was no longer with them, he would always be there in spirit.
Carina put her hand atop of Maya’s and squeezed. She knew how hard it was for Maya to be in the shop without her heart feeling somewhat heavy - the memories of the man who became her father figure incredibly present. But, she was determined to replace those feelings with ones of happiness. Starting with today.
“Ready?” Maya asked.
“Let’s go!” Carina said.
“Buon Anniversario!” Gianna cried as the couple walked into the shop, immediately pulling them both in for a warm hug.
“Grazie,” they both replied.
“So how’s your day been so far?” She asked, a wide smile on her face as she looked at her two favourite people.
“So amazing,” Carina sighed. “Maya is taking me on a trip down memory lane to all the places that have a significant meaning in our relationship.”
“Oh bambina that is so adorable!” Gianna said, clutching her hands in front her face.
“We went to the station which was of course where we first met, the fairground where we had our first date, Joe’s which has always been a staple and we played pool-“
“Which I won,” Maya interjected, a smirk on her face.
“Now we are here - plus I keep getting little riddles to where we are headed next. Such a romantic,” Carina teased giving the blonde a kiss on the cheek.
“Only for you,” Maya replied.
“Speaking of riddles,” Gianna said, a coy smile on her face. She walk back behind the counter and pulled out a red carnation. “For you, my dear.” She said, handing over the flower. Carina added it to the small, and growing bunch she held in her hands.
“A twisted sweet mess - you discovered something new. A crime if you will - which I may excuse because all I was doing was looking at you. It was here I took a leap and attempted to sweep you off you feet.”
“Oh it rhymes,” Carina chuckled while Maya sat back, looking quite proud of herself coming up with the wording.
‘A twisted sweet mess’ - she had no clue what that meant. But the second half made slightly more sense - where she took a leap and attempted to sweep her off her feet. Taking a leap, to Carina signified something big - and given they seemed to be going somewhat in chronological order of their relationship…
“The park! When you asked me to be your girlfriend? You took a leap and asked the question!” Carina guessed, receiving a nod from Maya.
“I still remember the day you came in a told me that she’d said yes,” Giana chucked.
4 years and 3 months ago…
“She said yes! She said yes! She said yes!” Maya cried as she burst into the shop following her incredible evening with her, now, girlfriend.
Her news made both Alberto and Gianna throw their hands up in celebration.
“I’m so happy for you tesoro,” Alberto said, pulling the blonde in for a hug.
“Me too,” Maya smiled.
“I won’t say I told you so, but I did.” Gianna smiled with a proud smile. “Tell us everything,” she demanded - always one to want to know about Maya’s love life, which had been very limited before Carina had arrived.
Maya told the story of the last night’s events - the flowers she brought, the pasta that she‘d made, while thanking them for the recipe. The movie and the wine - the way everything had perfectly fallen into place. She left out some details about the things she’d said, wanting to keep some of the moments for just her and Carina but gave them enough that Gianna looked like she was about to cry.
“Oh young love is just so beautiful,” she cried, sniffling.
“Then we went and got some churros, something she’d never had before which I think is a food crime but it was all just so amazing. It was perfect. She was perfect, and now I can officially call her mine,” Maya said, a loved up look on her face.
“Now the question is tesoro,” Alberto started. “When are you going to marry the girl?”
“He talked about you two all the time,” Gianna reminisced. “When you finally told us you were engaged he cried for nearly an hour. He was just so overwhelmed with joy. He would have loved to see you now - celebrating your first year of marriage,” Gianna said, her eyes slightly watery.
“He’s watching down on us,” Maya replied, giving the woman’s hand a comforting squeeze. “He knows.”
“I actually have something for you,” Gianna said, disappearing into the back of the shop and returning with a bag.
“Gianna - you didn’t have to,” Carina said, giving the woman a hug as she handed over the bag.
“Oh hush you,” Gianna scolded in her motherly tone. “Of course I had to get you both a gift. Now open it.”
They both opened up the bag and pulled out a bottle of wine, specifically one from the region of Emilia-Romagna.
“One of my favourites,” Carina cried, running her hand over the label.
“That was the first thing you ever bought in this shop,” Gianna said. “After you left me and Alberto knew you two were something special. Even though you weren’t together we knew. So, we took one from the same year that you bought and kept it. It’s been out the back for around five years. We decided together that we would only give it you on your wedding anniversary,” She revealed.
“You knew all that time ago we would be married!” Maya exclaimed - of course she’d always dreamed of marrying Carina but the fact that Alberto and Gianna had known from the minute they stepped foot into the shop for the first time was incredible.
“We did. We’d known you a long time Maya and you’d never brought anyone into the shop before. We knew Carina was special to you. Alberto reminded me before he passed about the wine - told me to make sure I gave it you.”
“That’s amazing,” Carina whispered, equally as shocked by the woman’s admission as her wife was.
“Now you two come here and give me a hug,” Gianna said, standing up from her chair. “I know you two still have a busy day,” she smiled knowingly. She gave Carina a hug first, telling her congratulations once more, while cupping her face in her hands and telling her how much she loved her. Then pulled Maya in for one after.
“He’d be so proud of you tesoro,” Gianna whispered as she held Maya in her arms.
Maya took a shaky breath and nodded, her hand finding Carina’s as she pulled away.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
“Now you kids go and have fun - enjoy your anniversary. I love you both,” She smiled, ushering them out of the shop with a laugh.
“Here we are,” Maya said, pulling the car into the car park.
“I still remember this day like it was yesterday,” Carina smiled, getting out of the car and taking Maya’s hand as they walked.
“So do I. I was so nervous and was just praying everything would work out,” she admitted.
“Why were you nervous?”
“I was scared you would say no.”
“Why would I say no?!”
Maya just shrugged with a smile on her face, it was crazy to now think Carina would have said no to her asking to be her girlfriend given where they were now. But in that moment she had been.
“I’m glad you said yes though. It would have been very awkward if you’d rejected me,” Maya said which made Carina tip her head back with a laugh.
“It would have been. Lucky for you - I sort of liked you.”
“Only sort of?” Maya teased with raised eyebrows.
“Yeah. I mean I tolerate you now so…”
Maya gave Carina a small shove with her shoulder. “I hate you.”
“Hm no you don’t,” Carina replied knowingly turning Maya to give her a kiss.
“Maybe I don’t.” Maya relented with smile, pulling her in for another one.
The sun was beginning to set as they continued to walk around the park. Some of the street lamps turning on as the sky dimmed - a fusion of pinks, blues and oranges painting the sky.
It was almost an exact replica of that night all those years ago.
Maya discreetly checked her phone and when she saw the message she’d been waiting for she lead them down a path.
“Where are we going now?” Carina asked.
“To the first part of my clue,” Maya replied.
They kept walking, enjoy the scenery around them, the blooming trees just finishing off their spring cycle as the summer months began to come in. All the flowers were beautiful, different colours forming a perfect pairing.
“CHURROS!” A call went out.
At the familiar sounding voice Carina’s head snapped up, laughing as she saw both Vic and Travis standing by a churros cart.
“We hear it’s your anniversary,” Travis said in a theatrical voice.
“I wonder where you got that information from,” Carina said shaking head while looking at Maya who looked just as amused.
Maya had only given the pair instructions on making sure there was a churro cart in the park what she hasn’t expected was for them to actually be manning it themselves.
“What do you say? Fancy a churro?”
“I can’t say no to you,” Carina laughed as they approached their friends.
“Two churros please - one with chocolate, one with cinnamon,” Maya ordered - their exact orders from that night.
“Coming right on up,” Vic smiled as the two began preparing the churros.
The thought of: Did these two actually know what they were doing, did cross Maya’s mind but she ignored it and just enjoyed the fun and effort her friends had gone to to make this part of their evening.
“Here we are!” Vic said, handing over their treats.
“Happy anniversary,” Travis smiled. Before they both dropped their acts and circled the cart to give them a bone crushing hug.
“Congrats guys!” They both said.
“Thank you,” Maya smiled. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome Cap!” Vic waved off.
“Before we forget,” Travis remembered, pulling away from the hug. “On a special occasion such as this a woman deserves some flowers. Lucky for you we have one left.” He retrieved a red carnation from the cart and handed it over.
“For you,” he said handing it over. “Enjoy your night ladies.”
They both tipped their red baseball caps - of course having to be in full uniforms to play their roles in a typical Travis and Vic way - as they bid Maya and Carina goodbye.
As they were leaving Maya gave both of them a small fist bump in gratitude for helping her out, which they once again just nodded in understanding. They would do anything for their friends. They were family.
Carina held the churro up in front of her face “A twisted sweet mess,” she laughed to herself, now understanding what Maya’s riddle meant.
“Yep,” Maya nodded - confirming Carina’s thoughts.
“Do you remember the first time you tried one?” Maya asked, taking a bite.
“How could I forget that?”
4 years and 3 months ago…
“Churro truck!” Maya suddenly cried, spotting one not too far away.
“I’v never had one,” Carina replied, not knowing what they were, she’d heard of them briefly but never seen nor had one.
“You are a woman of the world and you’ve never tried one before?” Maya asked, shocked.
“I haven’t tried everything in the world you know.”
“Well then my first official act as your girlfriend is to buy you a churro! You must experience the many joys in this life and it is a crime that you have not had one,” Maya declared, dragging Carina over to the small cart, her excitement meaning she didn’t catch the brunette’s grin at her calling her her girlfriend.
“Okay what do you want on it? Sugar, cinnamon, chocolate?” Maya asked as they looked at the menu.
Carina looked thoughtfully before deciding on a cinnamon one as Maya chose chocolate which was to no surprise to either of them as Carina often teased Maya about her chocolate addiction. One that went beyond the limits of normalacy and that the doctor found incredibly amusing.
Maya paid for the churros, handed one to Carina and watched as she took a bite.
Carina moaned at the tase, it was sweet and somewhat gooey, still warm and melted in her mouth. “This is amazing!”
“Told you, joys of the world,” Maya said, satisfied Carina liked it and took a bit of her own, dipping it in the chocolate and bringing it to her mouth.
Carina laughed at her as she swallowed, “What?” She chuckled nervously.
"You’ve chocolate all over you,” Carina moved to wipe it off, but as she did sneakily dipped her churro in Maya’s chocolate.
“Hey! That’s mine” Maya protested, although she really wasn’t too fussed.
“Too slow,” Carina replied with a wink, taking a bite of her now chocolate dipped treat.
“They were so good - I can’t believe I’d never had one before. But I’m glad I got to try them with you though.”
“Me too,” Maya smiled giving her a kiss. “Mhm cinnamon,” Maya chuckled, tasting it on the brunette’s lips. “My favourite.”
“You’ve chocolate all over you,” Carina laughed, stopping to wipe it off but just as she’d done before, she sneakily dipped her churro in Maya’s chocolate.
“Some things never change,” Maya said, shaking her head.
“Too slow,” Carina replied with a wink.
Once they were finished with their churros they returned to the car.
“So - what now?” Maya asked, resting up against the door.
Carina took the flower from the bunch and unravelled the note.
“Pizza out of a box is fine - pizza on a box is a little different. But when you have no tables or chairs - where else do you go?”
Carina just laughed at this one. “Seriously?” She asked.
“Seriously.” Maya confirmed with a grin.
They jumped back in the car and Maya went down a very familiar route. One she had made hundreds of times, only this time it had a whole new meaning.
“This place looks so different yet exactly the same…” Carina whispered as they walked through the door of their old apartment. It was Maya’s but 6 months after asking her to be her girlfriend they had officially moved in together. They’d opted for Maya’s mainly down to spacial reasons. Maya had two bedroom and more than enough room for all Carina’s things - something Carina’s lacked.
When Maya had had this crazy idea of taking her wife on a journey of their relationship one of the first things she’d thought of was one night in particular. They had been packing up ready to move into their new home, one that had taken seven months of labour and love.
They had one more night until they moved, but with all their furniture either sold or packed away they realised they didn’t exactly have much left for them to use for the evening ahead…so they’d had to improvise….
3 years ago….
“Honey I’m home!” Maya called, shutting the apartment door behind her, a box of pizza in hand.
“Hey!” Carina replied. “We have a slight issue.”
“What’s that?” Maya asked shrugging off her jacket and draping it over a stack of boxes. That was their entire apartment really, just boxes upon boxes. Their bed was now just a mattress on the floor and every available counter top space was also full of boxes.
“We have nowhere to eat.”
“Ah,” Maya said, seeing the problem. “We could eat on the bed?” She suggested.
“Ew - no.” Carina protested.
“Okay…” Maya thought aloud. “Here take this,” She said, handing Carina the pizza box as she quickly grabbed an empty cardboard box from the living room, assembled it and then placed it down on the ground where their dining table used to stand. “Care to join me for dinner Dr DeLuca?” Maya asked, bowing her head and holding out her hand
“Sure Bella,” Carina chuckled.
So that’s what they did, they ate their pizza on top of a cardboard box on the floor of their empty apartment.
“Do you ever wonder about what our lives will turn out to be?” Maya asked, taking another slice.
“I do, quite often actually. Why, do you?”
Maya nodded. “I think building the house has made me think a lot more. Well, more than I already had about everything.” She said, remembering and still standing by what she’d told Carina the day she’d taken her to see the house or ‘scrapyard’ as her girlfriend had called it.
“I think I was looking at the bigger things - but I think about the smaller things too. Like how I am going to make you coffee every single morning and make you breakfast. How we will know when we step into our new home, it will be the one we live in forever. The way we can spend our evenings by the fire pit drinking hot chocolate,” she continued, her eyes gazing into space as she expressed all her thoughts.
“Sounds like you have everything figured out,” Carina laughed. “I agree though. I think about how one day we will be married and we be living our lives as wives - married forever and hopelessly in love. Lazy mornings and having everyone over for dinners and BBQs.”
At the mention of marriage, Maya tried to keep a neutral face. Maybe that part of Carina’s dreams would come sooner than she thought…
“Are you sure you’re okay sorting everything out tomorrow?” Carina asked - Maya having requested to move the majority of the boxes from their apartment into the new house alone.
“Yep - plus you know me. I have a very detailed list of what is going where and I will have the rest of the team’s help. Go and help your brother in the morning and then do your video conference and then you can come back to your new home without any of the stress involved,” Maya said, really hoping Carina would just agree and not attempt to help out.
“Sure?”
“100%.” Maya promised.
“Okay - but you call me if you need help,” she said pointedly.
“Got it boss,” Maya saluted, getting an eye roll from her girlfriend.
As they took a tour through their old apartment they were reminded of so many moments, waking up after long shifts, having a nerf gun war simply because they were bored one afternoon, the endless number of pranks they would pull on each other, the birthdays, the celebrations, the parties, the planning of their new house - their next milestone. It had all happened within these four walls.
It was one of the reasons Maya had wanted to take them back here - to put them in the place where so much had happened in the early stages of their relationship.
She had been lucky that when she’d reached out to the landlord, the unit had actually been empty. They’d always gotten on well and given Maya would regularly do fire safety checks on the building he’d been more than happy to let her into the apartment for the evening.
Just as Carina had walked into what used to be their old bedroom there was a knock at the door.
“Who is that?” Carina asked popping her head out.
Maya just shrugged, Carina coming back to the blonde’s side as she opened the front door.
“Delivery for the Bishop-DeLucas?” Dean said, holding up a pizza box. Warren stood beside him.
Maya just stood there with a smile as she watched the shocked look on Carina’s face.
“Thank you,” Maya said, taking the pizza.
“Happy Anniversary,” they both said, giving them a hug. “Finally,” Warren said, retrieving a flower behind his back. “For you.”
Carina took the flower with a smile. ‘Thank you,” she said, to him.
“Enjoy your evening,” Dean grinned, before the pair walked off back down the corridor.
As they closed the door, Carina watched as Maya disappeared to where the TV used to be and returned with a cardboard box.
“For old times sake?” She asked with a cheeky grin.
“For old times sake,” Carina agreed, smiling as she sat on the floor - the incredible smell of their favourite pizza filling the air.
“This is so good!” They both moaned.
“We should get takeout more often,” Carina said, taking another piece.
“My cooking not good enough for you?” Maya replied offended.
“Meh,” Carina sighed, shrugging shoulders - a napkin thrown in her face moments later. “Kidding,” Carina laughed, looking at her wife who had a scowl on her face.
“Whatever,” Maya laughed. “No more nice meals for you then,” she declared.
“I’ll just cook then,” Carina replied, teasing her.
“You’re exhausting,” Maya said. “How am I ever supposed to win?”
“Can’t win at everything bambina,” Carina chuckled.
“Hm,” Maya huffed.
Once their were finished with their pizza, Maya set aside the boxes ready to put in the bin outside and the pair just laid on the ground, Carina wrapped around the blonde’s body, her head on her chest just listening to steady beat of her heart.
“Thank you for today,” she said, resting her chin on Maya’s chest. “Thank you for doing all this - all the effort you’ve gone to. I love you and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to spend the rest of my life with.”
“You’re welcome - you’re worth it. You always are. I love you so much and I’d do anything for you, now and forever,” Maya replied, her eyes shinning under the streams of moonlight breaking in through the naked windows.
They laid in silence, Maya’s hand making laps up and down the brunette’s spine as Carina twirled blonde strands between her fingers. Both were thinking about the journey that they’d taken to get here. All the ups, all the downs, the fights, the squabbles, the moments of uninterrupted joy, the undeniable love they shared, the moments of softness, the moments of loss and heartbreak, the moments of passion and desire - they’d been through it all, and through everything they’d always been together. Even in their toughest of moments they had loved one another, one could argue that they fought because of just how much they loved each other.
When Carina has stepped into that interview room almost five years ago she’d never expected her life to turn out the way it had. But damn, she was so happy it did.
“One last stop,” Maya whispered, placing a soft kiss on the brunette’s temple.
Carina reached behind her, not moving from her position on Maya’s chest, and retrieved the carnation. She took out the note and read it aloud:
“One milestone after the other - we created a new chapter together. We’ve read many books together, but my favourite by far is the one where we fell in love. This is where our story truly began…”
Carina just stared at the words she’d read out. But instead of letting her guess Maya shifted out from under Carina.
“I think I’ll surprise you with this one,” Maya winked.
Carina collected up her, now, bunch of red carnations and followed Maya out of their apartment - the blonde holding onto the cardboard box and the pizza box before she locked up the door.
When they got back in the car for the final time that night Maya switched on the radio, a wide grin forming on both their faces as they listened to the song on the radio.
Champagne Supernova.
It was like the world was really playing in Maya’s favour today.
“I love this song!” Carina cried, as if Maya wasn’t already aware.
“I know you do,” she laughed.
“This played when we were on our way home from our first date,” she remembered.
“And when I was on my way to pick you up on the date I asked you to be my girlfriend,” Maya added. “Guess the world has a crazy world of working.”
They both burst into song, singing the lyrics that they both knew off by heart - which was mainly down to Carina who would constantly play the music of all her favourite British rock bands. She played them so much that even Enzo was now a fan of the music, always barking and wagging his tail, jumping in circles whenever it was on.
As they continued to drive Carina began to notice the familiar route, even in the dark she knew were they were. She said nothing, but shot Maya a confused look. Maya just ignored it and hid a smile - the nerves beginning to set in, the whole day had been leading up to this. The whole day had been about re-living their first part of their relationship, but tonight it would end with how they started their next chapter…she just hoped it would all go to plan.
‘Home?” Carina questioned as they pulled up outside their house.
“Home,” Maya confirmed.
They both got out of the car, Maya leading the way as she held the the brunette’s hand, walking up the path towards their front door, Carina not seeing the small glow that was coming through their living room windows.
Maya unlocked the door, took a deep breath and pushed it open.
When she did, she saw Carina gasp from behind her. A bunch of red carnations in hand looking out at a pathway of red petals and candles lining their hall, she was cast back to a year and a half ago when she was faced with this exact scene.
A year and a half ago…
This was it. The day everything had been leading up to…
She’d managed to keep Carina out of the new house all day long - which had taken some substantial effort and if she was honest with herself was quite proud of that fact. Everyone from 19 had pitched in to get everything ready - all the new furniture had been delivered, any boxes from Maya and Carina’s old apartment had been moved and unpacked. Plus with Maya’s very detailed oriented mindset she had of course made a list of where everything needed to go, and even colour coded zones which would correspond to the relevant boxes. It was a very simple process but made defficult by people not following along, however an hour to two into the move everyone had gotten the hang of it and within hours they were mostly unpacked. They of course had some things to hang up, various pictures and small decorations but the big things were all set up and ready to go.
Now, the hard part of her day began. Once everyone had left she got to work. She sprinkled rose petals across the hallway, leading from the front door to the stairs then lit a bunch of candles to make a path. In normal circumstances she would be highly against lighting candles on the ground but she figured she was more than qualified if anything went astray.
She’d changed out of her workout clothes from unpacking, had showered - making sure the bathroom was left in immaculate condition given they’d only moved in today and she was not going to make a mess already - and then changed into a white shirt and some black trousers, she curled her hair and added a small amount of mascara before running back downstairs. Carina due to be home any minute.
She walked into the dining room and picked up the bunch of red carnations she bought before laying them down on the step outside so the brunette would see them as she walked up the path. She dimmed the lights, leaving only the soft ones on, letting the candles fill the light in the room. Then she waited…
Five minutes later, she heard the engine of Carina’s car stop, followed by the shutting of the door and then the click of heels walking up, getting closer and closer to the front door. Then they stopped. Maya held her breath - any second now. She heard the crinkling of the cellophane plastic around the flowers followed by the door being pushed open.
This was it.
Maya held her hands behind her back and tried to stop herself before she just blurted everything out.
“Bambina - what? What is all this?” Carina asked, too shocked to really think straight.
Maya took a step forward, the small weight in her pocket giving her the confidence and the courage to finally ask the question she’d been wanting to ask since the day she’d met her.
“Carina you changed my life. When I met you, the world shifted. I remember immediately being blown away by your intelligence, your candidness, your beauty - you were unlike anyone I had ever met before. Building our lives together and experiencing new challenges has given me a happiness that I don’t think I could ever truly express into words. You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me feel like everything will be okay when I am in your arms.
I love when you sing your British rock music wherever we go, I love how you will crawl into my bunk at night after we have a tough shift, I love how you will always hug me until you know I am ready to let go, I love how you get mad when you don’t win things and I love that you gave me a chance to be in your life. You make everything make sense and I can’t wait for us to explore this crazy world together.
But before we do all that - I want to make you someone more in my life. I want to be yours forever and for you to be mine. Forever until the end.” After her speech, she took the final jump forward and got down on one knee and pulled out the box from her pocket. ”So Carina DeLuca will you marry me?”
A beat of silence fell between them.
“Sì, oh my god, yes! Yes!” Carina cried, tears streaming down her face not only at Maya’s declaration at love, but at the fact she was now engaged to the love her life in their new home.
Carina pulled Maya up from the ground and brought her in for a passionate kiss, her arms wrapped around her shoulders, the carnations still in hand as Maya’s hand went to her waist. Their kiss was soft yet passionate full of love and emotions - a culmination of everything they had been through that had led them to this moment. When air became a problem they pulled away and rested their foreheads against one another. “I love you so much,” Carina said, tears still in her eyes, not quite able to believe what had just happened.
“I love you too, my fiancee,” Maya grinned. She took the ring from its place in the square shaped box and held Carina’s finger in her hand, before slowly and gently pushing up.
Perfect,” Carina smiled, looking down. “We’re going to get married.”
“We’re going to get married,” Maya confirmed with a grin, before bringing her in for another kiss.
Maya had arranged for Andy and Jack to set the house up - paired with a detailed diagram as well as annotations they had pulled through her request. For their final stop in their ‘day of memories’ Maya had wanted to recreate her proposal. The day where she officially asked Carina to be hers. When she’d planed it a year and a half ago she knew that she wanted them to celebrate one milestone in tune with another. She wanted their first memory of living in this house to be this one. Of her being down on one knee asking for Carina’s hand in marriage.
“Maya…” Carina was still shocked as she watched Maya move to where she stood before. She watched as the blonde moved to grab something off the stairs. A red carnation.
“For you.” Maya whispered taking a step forward. Carina took the flower, already feeling tears fill her eyes. She unravelled the final note and smiled.
“Marry me.” It wasn’t a question, or a riddle, just two simple words that made Carina want to just kiss her right then and there. Maya smiled as she took a stepped backwards.
“Today marks one year of marriage to you. One of the best years of my life. I couldn’t have done any of this without you - you are my rock, you are the love of my life, my soulmate, my person…you are my everything. I won’t lie, this year hasn’t been easy. We’ve been through some rough patches but we’ve come out of them together, we’ve come back better and we’ve come back stronger.
A year ago today I made the promise to always love you, no matter what and I will stand by that for the rest of my life. I love you like I love nothing else. You are an incredible doctor, an incredible friend, an incredible mama to Enzo and you are an incredible wife and I don’t know what the future will bring but I am sure you will be an incredible mother too….Thank you for coming into my life all those years ago and making me feel complete, for showing me that true love exists.
In last book we read together there was a quote that stuck. “Just in case you ever foolishly forget; I’m never not thinking of you.” You are on my mind 24/7 and I love it. I will never not be in love with you - even when we are celebrating our 50th year of marriage. I will always be irrevocably and undeniably in love with you Carina.
Now while I can’t exactly marry you twice, as much as I would like to. I figured there is something I can do twice - and that is to ask you to dance with me. So, if you would, Carina Bishop-DeLuca my I have this dance?” Maya held her hand out, which was quickly taken by Carina.
The brunette placed the flowers on the side table and allowed Maya to pull her into the living room where more petals lay. Music began to float through the house as the melody played out Carina instantly recognised what was playing, their wedding song.
With Carina’s hand over Maya’s shoulder, Maya’s on her waist and their other hands joined together they danced.
It took Carina back to the moment where she’d been crying over her papa’s refusal to come to the wedding. Where Maya had put on this very song and danced with her until she’d stopped crying, until she realised she was better than what her father made her out to be. Maya had made her feel safe and loved and cared for and understood more than anyone else in the world had.
Now here they were - except Carina’s tears weren’t from a place of sadness and rejection but a place of happiness and overwhelming joy. From a place of love.
“I love you so much,” Carina said, her lips meeting Maya’s. Her lips were soft, just like they always had been but there was something more between them. Somehow their love had gone even deeper than either had thought possible. They were lost in their own bubble of love and desire, the world around them inexistent as they became one.
“I love you too. Forever and always.” Maya smiled, some of her own tears present.
The lyrics of John Legend’s ‘Conversations in the dark” played around them as they danced, gently swaying as the flames flickered around them - a soft glow bouncing off their cheeks, their foreheads resting against one another as they did so.
They’d found a love that only a few ever got the chance of having and they were grateful every single day that they were one of the few. Because without each other they wondered if they would have ever found their person, their soulmate…luckily they would never have to find out.
They’d been through so much and they had so much more ahead of them. New challenges and new obstacles but with those would come new memories, new milestones, new experiences and new reasons to love each other.
Carina opened her eyes and was met with ocean blue, the same ones she had fallen in love with all those years ago. “One year down,” she whispered.
A soft smile graced Maya’s face, “And a million more to go.”
THE END