Chapter Text
“Home sweet home” Maya spoke quietly as she pulled into their driveway
“Carina” Maya spoke again when she didn’t receive a response
“Hmmm”
“We’re home” Maya smiled placing her hand on Carinas thigh giving it a soft squeeze
“Oh”
Maya got out her side and rounded the car opening the door for Carina. When she still didn’t make a move Maya reached over to unbuckle her seatbelt and brought her hand up the Carinas face to make her look at her
“Car, come on” Maya urged Carina to move catching a tear that fell from her eye
“I don’t think I remember how to walk” the feeling of total exhaustion falling over the Italian
“Okay, wait there” Maya left the side of the car to unlock the front door to their house before returning to Carinas side and scooping her back up in her arms kicking the door closed and locking the car
“Sofa?” Maya asked as she moved to put Carina down slightly taken aback when Carina tightened her grip again and shook her head
“Il letto, per favore” Carina whispered against Mayas chest and the blonde happily obliged, carrying Carina up the stairs and placing the doctor in the middle of the bed before moving to remove Carinas shoes
“Come back” Carina grabbed at Mayas shirt to make her stay
“You said no shoes on the bed, I still have my turnouts on” Maya replied with a coy smile
“Maya I don’t care I just want you to hold me” Carina admitted wiping at her tears as Maya quickly lay down and pulled Carina onto her chest
The two lay there in a comfortable silence, Carina content in being held and Maya ecstatic for the close connection. The closest they’d felt in months, they both knew that another conversation needed to be had but for now they just needed to hold each other and know it was all going to be okay
“Carina are you awake?” Maya asked as she undid the tight French braid in Carinas hair
“Yeah, I’m too tired to sleep” Carina replied
“You’re too tired to sleep” Maya giggled back
“Yeah” Carina confirmed giggling herself at the oxymoron
“I need to talk to Eleora” Maya sighed
“I know” Carina replied slightly lifting her head
“She hates me” Maya replied feeling tears prick at her eyes
“Probably” Carina agreed
“Car” Maya whined with a slight laugh not expecting her wife to agree
“Bambina, I know what you meant when you said it and I know you didn’t mean for it to sound the way it did” Carina began to draw patterns up and down Mayas arm in comfort “…But I know it because I lived it with you. Eleora didn’t and it’s going to be hard and confusing for her to understand fully what you meant and she may never get it and you’re just going to have to accept that” Carina looked up to see the tearful expression on her wife’s face
“You’re right” Maya smiled weakly
“I usually am” Carina grinned back
“You’re infuriating you know that” Maya replied
“Yeah, I do. But you still love me” Carina smiled
“With all my heart” Maya gave her wife a tearful smile before leaning forward to kiss her
“How are you feeling?” Maya asked when they pulled away
“I don’t know how to answer that” Carina admitted
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to just know if you do want to, I’m here” Maya answered honestly
“Grazie bambina”
The two women returned to holding each other stealing kisses every now and then. Each women felt the breakthrough, there was still so much left unsaid but for the first time in a long time they felt like them again
The serene environment was broken by the sound of the front door slamming and multiple calls for Carina. Maya had driven the Porsche home from the hospital so it was logical for Emilia to call out after Carina unaware that both her parents were home
“Mama” Emilia screamed once as she slammed the front door, receiving no response
“Mama” the youngest DeLuca-Bishop called again entering the kitchen
“Carina” Emilia called out walking up the stairs as both women giggled at the demand for Carina to show herself
“I’m in bed bellina” Carina shouted back
Soon enough Emilia came flying through the door in search of her mother. The younger brunette stopped in the doorway when she saw her parents cuddled up in bed. Carina was still in her scrubs and Maya was still in her turnouts and Seattle FD shirt
“Hey I thought we weren’t allowed shoes on the bed” Emilia screeched pointing to Mayas feet earning a laugh off both parents
“Come here Meals” Maya held her arm open to welcome her youngest into a hug laughing as she watched her daughter kick off her sneakers and jump in her arms
“I thought you’d left me” Emilia admitted holding onto Maya
“Only for work” Maya smiled
“That’s not what I mean” Emilia mumbled back enjoying the hug
“I know my baby, I know” Maya kissed the top of Emilia’s head
“So you’re not leaving? You love Mama again?” Emilia asked looking up
“I never stopped loving her Melee, not for a single second” Maya looked at her daughter before staring deeply in her wife’s eyes “…not for a single second” Maya repeated looking back at Carina before finding herself caught off guard by a kiss being placed on her lips
“And Mama you don’t hate Mom anymore” Emilia asked needing as much confirmation as possible
“No bellina! I never hated her, never have, never will” Carina smiled back holding her wife’s gaze whilst simultaneously bringing her hand up to caress her daughters cheek “…you have nothing to worry about”
“But Els said you’re moving back to Italia and she’s going with you because mom doesn’t want us” Emilia whispered out the last bit but continued to hold onto Maya
“I’m not moving anywhere” Carina confirmed “I don’t even want to leave your moms hug right now” Carina smiled earning a wide smile back off her daughter
“…and I do want you Emilia, what Eleora said is confusing and complicated and I’m going to talk to her about it. But I do want you, I want every single one of you. You’re my family and my home” Maya added reassuring her daughter
“And you always come home” Emilia repeated the words she’d heard Maya say so many times before
“Exactly, I’ll always come home” Maya smiled before placing another kiss on her daughters forehead
They lay in bed for a little while longer listening to Emilia talk about her day when Carinas phone started ringing, she reluctantly freed herself from Mayas embrace to pull her phone out the pocket she was lay on to a phone call from Andrea
“Andrea needs a lift home from practice” the Italian sighed as she moved to push herself up even though her tired body protested
“I’ll go, I need to take my turnouts back and get the stuff I’ve left at the station anyway” Maya replied
“Mom what about your car?” Emilia asked
“What about it?” Maya replied freeing herself from her daughters hug whilst encouraging Carina to lay back down
“It’s at the station” Emilia continued
“Correct” Maya smiled at Carina as she lay her down
“You can’t drive two cars at once” Emilia added
“Also correct” Maya spoke again losing herself briefly in Carinas eyes
“So you’re just gonna leave it there?” Emilia asked as she threw herself forward so she was in her mothers eye sight startling both women slightly
“Yes Meals, I’m going to take Mamas car, I can get my car tomorrow” Maya replied now looking at Emilia
“Ah! Okay” Emilia smiled
“I’ll be quick, don’t move, try and sleep” Maya pointed to Carina
“Make sure Mama doesn’t move and gets some sleep and if she needs anything you have to get it okay, like water or food or painkillers, you’re in charge” Maya pointed at Emilia
“Yes Chief” Emilia chimed back with a salute making both Maya and Carina break out in a fit of giggles
“I love you” Maya bent over to kiss Carina “…and I love you” Maya was quick to place a kiss on her daughters cheek before she made her way to the car to pick up her son
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“Mom?” Andrea questioned when he climbed in Carinas car to see Maya behind the drivers seat
“Hi to you too” Maya smiled
“You’re smiling” Andrea pointed at his mother
“I’m happy” Maya replied putting the car into drive and pulling out of the parking bay
“Is Mama happy?” Andrea asked
“Yeah I think she is” Maya replied
“So no more arguing, and no divorce, and no Mama moving to Italia?” Andrea confirmed as he received nods off Maya at every point
“We’re going to be okay Bubs, I promise” Maya smiled
“Grazie dio!” Andrea sighed with a smile
The rest of the car journey was filled with Maya asking questions about practice. If she was honest she still didn’t fully understand every rule in football but she did understand calling it soccer was a cardinal sin. She was happy to hear all about her sons practice and how excited he was for the upcoming match where he’s expected to be in the starting line up
Maya pulled into the drive and made her way back to into the house heading straight for her bedroom leaving her son to raid the kitchen in search of a post work out snack
“Is Els home?” Maya asked coming back into her bedroom finding her wife in the same position she left her in, however now Carina was a lot more comfortable in Mayas station hoodie and a pair of sweats as her pink scrubs took up residence in a pile on the floor by the wash basket
“Yeah she’s in her room” Carina replied
“I’m gonna go talk to her” Maya spoke again after she emptied her backpack and returned the keys to her wife’s night stand
“Wait” Carina grabbed her wrist
“What’s wrong?” Maya asked suddenly concerned
“Dammi un baci” Carina smiled as she pulled Maya closer
The two broke apart and Maya pressed an extra kiss to Carinas forehead before making her way to her teenage daughters room
“Hi” Maya popped her head around Eleora’s door frame to see her daughter sat on her bed phone in hand
“Ciao” Eleora replied looking up from the screen continuing to type away
“Can we talk” Maya smiled
“About?”
“Els… I love you you do know that right” Maya said as she walked over to sit on the end of Eleora’s bed
“You love me out of obligation” Eleora bit back ready for an argument
“That’s not true. I love you unconditionally. I always have and I always will” Maya placed a hand on her daughters leg but Eleora quickly pulled her knees to her chest
“Whatever”
“Look at me Eleora… look at me… I love you so so much you’re my little princess. I wanted you Eleora. I’ve always wanted you, and your brother and your sister” Maya spoke softly not wanting an argument
“So why did you say you didn’t want us?” Eleora asked
“Okay, let me start at the very beginning” Maya smiled
“a very good place to start” Eleora replied
“The sound of music?” Maya smiled
“Hmmhmm” Eleora smiled back briefly
“I used to be goal orientated, always looking for something more. It was the main mentality that led me to my gold medal. My dad had me thinking that I needed to keep my eyes forward at all times…” Maya started but was quickly interrupted
“What does that even mean?” Eleora huffed
“It means there’s no time for distractions, that there is a linear order to do things and it will lead to the end goal…” Maya explained herself
“…that’s how I was brought up, that’s how I trained, that’s how I ran. When I joined the fire academy I followed the same train for thought, I had goals to reach…” Maya paused to look at her daughter who returned with a look that asked her mother to continue
“…first it was graduating the academy, then it was lieutenant, then it was captain. My dad made me believe that it was normal to focus on me, myself and I and have no concern for anyone else and that’s how I lived. And then I met your Mama” Maya smiled at the memories of Carina showing her how to love
“And your goals changed?” Eleora questioned watching as Maya got lost in a memory
“No, not quite. But, you know your Mama’s a great teacher. She helped me unlearn the ‘toxic behaviour’” Maya let out a exacerbated laugh
“…she showed me how to love and be loved, and when we got married the world was a different place. And I mean a different place, it was the middle of a pandemic times were hard, you could barely stand next to someone for 18 months and then your Uncle Andrew died and things were tough. Mama faced deportation and…” Maya was interrupted again both by her daughter and the tears she suddenly needed to wipe away
“So you got married for a green card” Eleora commented
“No we got married because we love eachother” Maya let out a small giggle at the comment “…and when I looked at your Mama I could see an entire life time of love and warmth and happiness. And yes after we got married and I was demoted-“
“You were demoted” Eleora interrupted again still learning new information about her parents life before her and her siblings
“Right yeah I forget what you do and don’t know, long story short, I was demoted from captain for making a decision that saved a child’s life but I was re promoted by the time you were born” Maya added quickly
“You saved a kids life?” Eleora furrowed her brow un confusion once again wondering what needed to be done knowing that her mom fought everyday to save lives
“I save lives everyday EllyBelly, I’m a superhero” Maya smiled
“I miss when you call me EllyBelly” Eleora smiled through a sigh inching slightly closer to Maya as Mayas heart melted
“As I was saying, when your Mama first brought up children, it scared me because I never thought I could do it, my career had just been derailed, I had no linear way of getting back on track and it scared me, I was scared…” Maya paused again looking for the right words
“…but I learnt that life happens, no one can plan for everything, people die and families fall apart and I knew we had so much love to give. Not everything needs a plan, and life doesn’t need to be eyes forward at all times. I wanted you from the first time we made the decision to have a baby, I wanted you the day we found out Mama was pregnant, I wanted you the first time we heard your little heart beat on the foetal monitor, well heart beats when I found out their were two heartbeats I thought Jo meant the baby and your Mamas, never in a million years did I think twins and again I was-“
“Scared” Eleora interrupted again repeating the word Maya was looking for
“Yep, absolutely terrified!” Maya laughed out “…But the first time I held you, you were screaming crying, and about 30 seconds old but the first moment you settled in my arms and you stopped crying immediately and cuddled right here into my chest right against my heart and I was-“ Maya pointed to her heart as Eleora tried to finish her sentence again
“Scared” Eleora laughed
“Stop interrupting me” Maya pointed her finger at her daughter laughing
“Mi dispiace” Eleora smiled coyly as she pouted her bottom lip
“What I was saying was…” Maya smiled at the look on her daughters face that reminded her so much of her wife
“…I wasn’t scared, you stopped crying and looked up at me with those big blue eyes… my big blue eyes” Maya pointed at her daughter again
“…and I knew I could do it, and you were all I ever wanted! More than I could have ever imagined and dreamed for. I love you Eleora, so so much”
“I love you too Mom, I’m sorry for how I spoke to you” Eleora apologised
“I’m sorry too, I over reacted because I was angry and stressed and all I needed to do was have a conversation with you” Maya replied honestly with a smile
“Mom” Eleora posed the name as a question
“Yeah EllyBelly” Maya smiled making a conscious note to start reusing the pet name
“Can I have a hug?” Eleora asked timidly
“Of course you can princess, come here” Maya held out her arms wide and Eleora wrapped her arms tight around Mayas neck holding on
“I love you mom” Eleora whispered
“I love you too” Maya smiled as she caught her wife standing in the doorway watching them
“It’s rude to spy Dr DeLuca” Maya commented causing Eleora to snap her head towards the door
“How long have you been stood there?” Eleora asked
“Oh only since ‘you married Mama for a greencard’” Carina smiled “…which isn’t true by the way” Carina pointed as she sat down next to her daughter and wrapped her arms around Eleora and Maya
“…and Eleora, bambina, stop telling your brother and sister that I’m moving back to Italy” Carina scolded her slightly “…I’m not going anywhere” Maya and Carina shared another smile and an I love you in their secret language that only the two of them understood