Archive of Our Own

It was late, they’d just gotten back from a 2-Alarm and everyone just wanted to collapse into their beds and hope no more calls came in. Maya had never been good at sleeping when on shift, and after being cleared from the investigation still as Captain but on probation Maya had a renewed sense of duty when it came to paperwork and reports.

So when she heard the front door open and then very quickly close again. Walk ins weren’t uncommon but she didn’t see anyone through the window. That was never a good sign. Stepping out of her office Maya stopped short. 

Laying on the tile floor on a thin blanket was a baby. A very new baby. Pulling her phone out Maya texted Andy to have her come down. Kneeling down Maya hesitated to pick up the baby for only a second.

“Everything okay Cap?” Andy rushed down the main staircase upon receiving Maya’s text. She’d looked like she had been just on the verge of sleep when she had gotten Maya’s text.

“Safe surrender.” Maya said adjusting the infant in her arms. It looked okay, had the right coloring but it was so tiny. Tiny, and definitely slimy. And very cold.

“Oh god. We haven’t had one of those for a while..” She came up to Maya and the infant. “Hi beautiful..” She stroked the baby’s cheek.

“Looks like it’s maybe an hour old? Maybe two? Think you could give me a lift to Grey Sloan? I can have them check her out while we sort things with CPS.”

Maya could have given the infant to Andy and had Andy do it. But the baby was already settled in her arms.

“Absolutely. Let me go grab the keys for the aid car and we’ll head there now.”

While Andy did that Maya quietly radioed to dispatch putting 19 in a Still Alarm so they wouldn’t get called out. 

“I don’t think we need sirens just lights.” Maya said climbing into the passenger seat and adjusting the baby to get comfortable in her arms.

“Got it Cap.” She nodded, driving them out of the station and to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Maya managed to get her phone out of her pocket and texted Carina to meet them in the ambulance bay. Grateful for once that her wife was on call.

———

Carina and Jo waited in the ambulance bay. Both suffering trying to stay warm while they waited. These calls were never easy and the gravity of it was not lost on either of them.

“Maya said it was a safe surrender at the fire station. Her and Andy are bringing her in now.”

“Who would do that to a baby?” Jo asked. She couldn’t imagine leaving a baby at a fire station.

“There are many reasons a mother might do that.” Carina was mindful that Jo herself had been abandoned in a similar way after birth.

“At least it was at a station and not in a dumpster.” Jo said bitterly. Watching as the ambulance pulled into the bay and came to a stop. 

Maya cradled the baby close to her as she slid out of the passenger seat. Afraid she might drop the infant. She’d been holding her hand over it’s abdomen counting how many breaths she had been able to feel.

“Dropped off maybe 20 minutes ago. It hasn’t cried.” Maya commented looking at Carina worried.

“You did the right thing bringing her straight here bella.” She knew there wasn’t time to greet her wife properly, needing to prioritize the care of the baby. “Follow me, we have a room set up ready for her..”

“Andy, can you keep an eye on the station while I deal with this? I put 19 in Still Alarm with dispatch.” Maya didn’t think they both needed to be here for this.

“Of course. Just call me when you need me to come get you okay?”

“Thanks.” Maya wouldn’t. She’d probably walk. No point getting picked up for a 3 block walk.

“Can you go lay her down on the bed in room 3? Dr Wilson is going to take the lead on this one.” She told the interns already waiting in the room.

Maya waited for one of the interns to take the baby from her. She was both terrified and relieved when the baby started crying as soon as she was taken from Maya. it was no secret to anyone who knew her that babies made her uncomfortable.

“Technically we’re supposed to stay until the handoff with social services happens.” Maya told Carina.

“Okay, that’s no problem.” Carina nodded, seeing that Jo was taking charge with the baby.  

“Are you okay to head to the nurses station and start getting the paperwork sorted while I check things are okay here?”

“Yeah. I’ll check in before I leave.” Maya said following her wife’s instructions. As much as she would love to watch Carina work, they were both officially on the clock.

The woman who was sat on a chair in the waiting room saw the blonde fire fighter approach the nurse’s station. She headed over gingerly, clearly in pain as she stopped beside her.

“Ma’am? Excuse me...the baby? Is she okay?”

Maya took in the woman’s appearance and scanned the ER for someone who might be able to help. The woman couldn’t be more than 18 years old, her hoodie baggy, hands shoved into her pockets but sweat covered her skin.

“She’s in the best hands right now. Are you okay?”

“Mhm, just..just the stomach flu.” Her skin was pale and sweaty as she bend over, clearly in pain. “Is the baby okay?” She asked again.

“You need to let the doctors check you out.” Maya said reaching out and helping support the woman. “Did you drop the baby off at the fire station?”

“What? No..no. I told you, it’s the stomach flu.”

“Okay, I’m going to have one of the doctors check you out okay?” Maya said now practically holding the woman up. Looking at the nurse who has been watching the exchange. “Page Dr. DeLuca. Now.”

“Who’s Dr. DeLuca?” She asked, her breathing a little labored.

“She’s one of the best doctors here. She’ll just make sure you’re okay.” Maya explained feeling like explaining that Carina was an OB might not go over so well. 

“I was paged?” Carina asked seeing Maya holding up a young woman. 

“She’s having some stomach flu symptoms.” Maya reported hoping Carina understood what she meant.

“It’s just the stomach flu.” She gripped her stomach, sweat now dripping from her brow. “Can you give me a shot or something? And then I can go.”

“Let’s make sure that you’re okay before that. Come lay down.” Carina said gesturing to an open bed. Maya practically carried the woman to the bed and helped her lay down. 

“I’m going to go back to the paperwork. Let me know if you need anything.” Maya said softly.

“I am okay.” She managed to get out between labored breaths.“I don’t need to lay down.” She tried to get up.

“You do. It’s okay. I’m not going to judge I just want to make sure you’re okay. I’m going to examine your stomach I just need to know if anything hurts okay?” Carina said, lifting the woman’s shirt and seeing the swell of it. 

It was unmistakable.

The woman tugged her shirt back down as quickly as she could. “I...I don’t need you to examine my stomach.”

“If you don’t let me look you could get worse. I have to know if the placenta came out after the baby.”

“Baby? I..I” She stammered, gripping her stomach as another pain hit her.

“You gave birth recently. Please let me help you. You’re not in trouble, I am not judging I just want to make sure you are okay. What is your name?” Carina tried to sooth the terrified woman, but the longer they waited, the worse it was going to get.

“It’s Jessica..” she admitted, looking up at the doctor but not confirming what she had said. She wondered how the doctor knew.

“Jessica, I’m Dr. DeLuca. I’m an OB/GYN.” Carina explained.

“Is that why the blonde fire lady asked for you?”

“Yes. Captain Bishop brought in a baby that was left at her station. Beautiful baby girl.”

“Is the baby okay?” She asked in a small voice.

“She’s being examined right now. But yes, it looks like she is healthy and strong.” Carina continued her exam.

“Jessica, I have to know if the placenta came out after the baby.”

“Some did. But it looked a bit funny, not like the pictures I googled.” She told the doctor, her cheeks flushing red.

“Okay, let’s get you to a room and I’ll do my exam.” Waving over one of the interns Carina instructed Jessica to be taken to one of the exam rooms. She hoped they didn’t need to do surgery.

“Okay.” She nodded, feeling anxious.

———

Maya had just finished the paperwork and was waiting for the social worker to come down before she could go back to the station. She’d watched Carina calm the woman down and let her take her for an exam. Her wife truly was a remarkable woman.

“Captain Bishop?” An intern approached her. “Dr Wilson asked if you’d like an update on the baby?”

“Uh sure?” Maya hadn’t even thought about it. Their training has them learn how to disengage quickly. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine.” The intern nodded as Maya followed her into the room.

“Captain Bishop.” Jo smiled. “I just thought you might like to know that this little lady is doing really well thanks to your quick thinking.”

“She looks better now. Less…slimy?” Maya knew that wasn’t the right term but it was the best one she had.

“Her core body temperature is still lower than we’d like right now.”

“Don’t you guys have incubators for that?” Maya had visited Carina one day and she was in the NICU.

“We do, but they quickest was to get baby’s body temp regulated is skin to skin contact.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Maya asked finally seeing that Jo was the only one in the room able to actually meet her eyes. Everyone else was looking everywhere but at Maya.

“We wondered if you might be able to help us out? I know you have to stay here until social services come for the hand off and thought this would be a good at to pass the time?”

“No. I don’t…babies and I don’t get along.” Maya backed away as if the infant was now somehow dangerous.

“She seemed very settled with you when you brought her in. I’d say you and babies get on very well.”

“Ugh fine. What do I need to do?” Maya asked. She wasn’t going to be able to say no. Carina would want her to do this.

“We’ll give you some privacy so you can remove your top. Then make yourself comfy in that chair I’ll bring baby over with a blanket for you both.”

Maya wasn’t shy. She’d changed in front of everyone at the station. She was already pulling her shirt off before Jo had a chance to leave the room.

“Wow, okay.” Jo was a little surprised. “Let me just get this little one and we’ll get you all set up.”

“You get over modesty real quick as a firefighter.” Maya explained.

“I can imagine.” Jo nodded, placing the baby on Maya’s chest.

Maya looked down at the baby in her arms, eyes open and staring at her. Jo had changed the baby into a new diaper but nothing else. 

“Now what?”

“You hold her and cuddle her. That’s all she needs.”

“Fantastic.” Maya said sitting down on chair the intern has brought in.

“I’m sure your wife will be really pleased to know that you’re helping out her best fellow.” Jo teased.

“Yes that is exactly why I’m doing this.” Maya smiled.

“I’ll make sure she knows about it” Jo promised.

“You’re lucky you’re her favorite.” Maya said looking down as the baby shifted.

“I am?” Jo raised an eyebrow. “She tell you that?”

“She did.” Maya remembered back to all the nights she had spent listening to Carina telling her all about Jo. If she were less secure Maya might be jealous.

“Well I’m honored. Dr DeLuca is not easy to please.”

“Try being married to her.” Maya offered feeling a little hand start to pull at her hair drawing her attention down.

“Oh I’m sure you’re able to keep her satisfied and easily pleased in many ways Captain.”

“She been telling stories again? We talked about boundaries.” Maya said blushing. Carina, who saw no issue with sharing details of their sex life saw nothing wrong with that. If she weren’t so flattered Maya might be more firm in her insistence of not discussing it.

“You two are the couple everyone aspires to be like. The ultimate couple goals.”

“That’s not something I’d ever thought I’d be described as.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it awkward” she blushed. “I’ll shut up now.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Maya said turning her attention back to the infant. So far holding the kid wasn’t so terrible.

—————

“Okay Jessica, so what happened is the placenta only partially expelled from the body. We have to get the rest of it out otherwise you could develop an infection and more serious complications.” Carina explained once she had concluded her exam.

“That’s why I’ve been in so much pain..” she guessed, gripping her stomach again. “How do you..what do you do to get it out?”

“We have a few options. There is a medication I can give you that will relax your cervix and we can remove it through the vagina. Or, we can remove it surgically.”

“Surgery?” She felt panicked by that. “I don’t..I can’t have surgery. Can I have the medication instead?”

“I’ll get you setup for that. It will take some time so I also want to give you something for the pain.”

“Will that be a lot more expensive?” She mumbled, her face ashen. She really was in a lot of pain.

“Don’t worry about money right now. Let’s just get you taken care of.” Carina reassured. She’d fight with Bailey about it later.

“But that’s..that’s not how it works. That’s why I had to give birth at home.” she mumbled, tears in her eyes.

“We have a budget for cases such as yours. And I am doing this pro bono. So I do not want you worrying about this okay?” Carina insisted. She hated the health care system for this. Too many women died because they didn’t think they could afford care.

“Okay...I..I won’t.” She half imagined she was imagining the doctor saying all this. Maybe she was delirious because of the pain.

“Just try and relax. I will come back and check on you soon.” Carina said removing her gloves.

“Will I be able to see my baby?” She didn’t know what was allowed.

“Have you thought about what you want to do? There are many options, adoption being one of them.”

“I haven’t, not really.” Everything was so messed up. She didn’t know what to do.

“That’s okay. Nothing needs to be decided now. When you’re feeling better I’ll bring your little girl in so you can see her. Right now she’s in the best care to make sure she’s okay.”

“Thank you.” She sniffled. She felt very alone in all this.

“Do you have anyone you want me to call? You should not be alone right now.” Carina knew this woman’s hormones were probably flooding her system and making her feel very vulnerable.

The woman shook her head. “There isn’t anyone.”

“How about I stay with you for a while?”

“Don’t you have lots of other patients to go see?” She couldn’t stop this wonderful doctor doing her job for her. She wasn’t worth that.

“No. You’re my only one.” Carina said casually as if it wasn’t a big deal. Sending a quick text to Jo telling her where she was if there was anything that her Fellow didn’t know how handle.

“I am? Really?” She wondered if you she was just saying that to be nice.

“You are.” Carina didn’t normally like lying to patients but there wasn’t anything pressing so she didn’t see the harm in spending some time with this girl who had no one.

“Thank you.” She couldn’t help sniffling again, her emotions all over the place.

“Your hormones will probably be a bit of a roller coaster for a while I’m afraid. How is your pain?” Carina asked looking at the IV.

“It’s feeling better now you’ve given me something.” She signaled to the cannula in her hand.

“Good. I’m going to check your cervix now and see how you are progressing but as I said before it might take a while.” Carina cautioned.

“I understand. I don’t have anywhere else to be right now so I’m in no rush.”

“Good.” Carina knew how long it could take but she was grateful she wasn’t going to need to try and fight Jessica to stay.

———

“Maya” Amelia grinned, coming to stand at the entrance to the room in which Maya was sat. “How is my favorite fire captain today?”

“Fire captain? You mean baby warmer.” Maya said looking down at the dozing baby in her chest.

“Mhm. It suits you, you know that?”

“What? Sitting topless?” Maya asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Holding a baby.” Amelia sat down beside her. “Is that something you and Carina have ever talked about?”

“Not since before we got married. She told me she wanted kids. I was surprised after what she sees all day.” Maya felt the baby shift and looked down to make sure she hadn’t woken.

“And what are your thoughts on all that?”

“Did she send you in here to spy?” Maya asked. She’d spent a long time avoiding the question. Changing the subject every time it has come up with Carina.

“No, she doesn’t know I’m here.” Amelia reassured her. “And it’s just us. So come on...tell me how you feel about it.”

“You just wanted to see me topless.” Maya deflected.

“Maya...talk to me..” she could see Maya was deflecting.

“I know she wants kids. She wants this.” Maya nodded towards the baby. “But I never wanted this. Kids are terrifying.”

“What terrifies you about it?”

“I didn’t have the best parents growing up. I don’t think I’d be good at it, and the control freak in me wouldn’t let me consider it.”

“But now you’ve met the love of your life and you know how important kids are to her...does that change things at all?”

“I’d have kids if she wanted.” Maya stated. She’d do anything for Carina.

“I think you’ll be a wonderful mom Maya..”

“Thanks. At least this one likes me.” Maya said with a laugh.

“As would your own. They’d adore you.”

“Yeah I don’t know about that.” Maya said looking at the neurosurgeon. She knew that Amelia was Carina’s best friend but didn’t know how much she knew about Maya’s past.

“They would. You’ll be an amazing parent. You and Carina together will be a powerhouse. And I know you’ll both be very mindful that your child never feels like either of you did growing up.”

“I think I’m just selfish. Carina is my world. She’s everything. I don’t want to share. Which makes me a terrible person.”

“It doesn’t. Not at all. But having a child and the love you get from that, it’s like your heart expands, there’s room for both. You’ll still be you and still have that special time with Carina.”

“I can’t lose her.” Maya confessed. Childbirth was a lot safer and natural but being married to Carina she had also seen how it could go so wrong. Everything could be just fine and then suddenly not be.

“Why would you lose her.” Amelia furrowed her brow.

“If something went wrong. I’ve heard her stories. Being married to an OB/GYN is not always the best at putting prospective parents at ease. I know more about maternal mortality rates than I should.” Maya explained.

“I get that, it can be hard to not think of that sometimes. What about adoption?”

“She wants to be pregnant. She wants the whole experience. I can be brave and put aside my fear if it makes her happy.” Maya said more to herself than to Amelia.

“You’re a wonderful wife Maya.”

“Just in love. Completely and madly in love.”

“When did you first know that you were in love with her?”

“Earlier than she thinks.” Maya said with a smile.

“How soon do you think it’s possible to know that they’re more than just romantic feelings?”

“I knew she was different that first night we met. Did she tell you?”

“I know she felt something with you right from day one. Something she’d never felt with anyone else.”

“We didn’t sleep together. We just talked and I couldn’t get enough. I thought about her all the time, I was a walking cliche I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t stop this feeling in my chest whenever I thought about her. I knew then she’d be more than a self-care Wednesday.” Maya remembered how insane she’d felt in those early days.

“How soon did you know you loved her? I know you said sooner than she thinks. But how soon was soon?”

“When she brought me lunch and I was so terrible to her. Told her I didn’t need a girlfriend. And she turned to leave and…I couldn’t let her go. Then thought of her leaving was…worse than anything I could imagine.”

“Very early on then. I never thought it was possibly to fall in love so quickly, but turns out it is. How long did you wait before you told her? I guess it’s hard to judge that line between, wanting them to know and it being too soon for them and freaking them out, especially if they’re not there yet themselves?”

“I didn’t tell her until I almost messed it all up with Jack. I’m sure she told you.”

“Yeah. So if someone felt that strongly about someone, how do you know when is the right time to tell them? I mean, you can feel it yourself but not tell me so you don’t scare them off right?”

“I guess I just knew if I had any hope of getting her to take me back I had to be vulnerable. I needed her to know I was all in. I expected her to tell me to get lost.”

“So you were brave and took the jump?”

“I guess. Yeah. I can’t live without her. Can’t imagine life without her. She needed to know that. Even if she didn’t feel the same. If she hadn’t, it would have sucked. A lot. But at least I’d know.” Maya felt a tightness in her chest at the thought. If Carina had said no that day. How her life would be different. How empty it would be.

“Thanks.” Amelia mulled over Maya’s words, then giving her more than a little something to think about in her own life.

“Things okay with you and Link?” Maya asked seeing the cloud over Amelia’s face.

“Mhm” she nodded absently. “Just thinking, you know?”

“Yeah.” Maya felt the baby start to stir and started gently rocking her. Cooing at the baby until her eyes closed again. “Anything you want to talk about? I’m not an expert but Jo said Carina and I were couples goals so…”

“Oh you are. It feels..” she searched for the right word. “Complicated? There was Owen, and the brain tumor, and then Link. We’d barely done more than slept together when I got pregnant with his baby. Then COVID threw us together and we just sort of got by? But I don’t know if I ever loved him. Hearing the way you talk about Carina and love. I never felt that with Link.”

“Yeah COVID threw a wrench in everything. Carina and I were quarantining apart and…it was torture. Being without her was like being without my other half. I was living but not alive if that makes sense? You’ll find your person Amelia, and it’s okay if it’s not Link.”

“I hope so. Life is too lonely to live without love.”

“True. Any idea how much longer I need to be a baby space heater?” Maya really needed to kiss Carina. Even just a short one.

“How about I go check?” She stood up. “I’ll be back.”

“Thanks. And Amelia?”

“Hmm?” She turned back to look at Maya.

“You’re an amazing woman who deserves someone who will give her the world. Don’t settle for less.”

“Thank you.” Amelia have her a sad smile. Maya had certainly given her a lot to think about.

“Bonus points if you bring back my wife.” Maya called after the neurosurgeon.

———

“How we doing in here?” Amelia asked, standing by the door where Carina was sat with a patient.

“We are almost done here. What are you doing here?” Carina asked surprised to see the neurosurgeon. Jessica had just fallen asleep when they had finished. Carina wanted to keep her overnight to make sure they treated any infection.

“Maya has been warming up the little girl with some skin on skin. She was quite keen to see you actually.”

“Maya is doing that?” Carina asked both surprised and not. Maya was wonderful.

“She is. A baby suits her.” She said, grinning widely at Carina.

“Good luck convincing her of that.” Carina said resigned. Taking her gloves off she led Amelia back into the hallways.

“She knows how much you want a baby Carina. She’d do it for you.”

“It can’t just be what I want. I’ve seen that tear apart plenty of couples.” Carina insisted following Amelia to where she assumed Maya was. She wanted to see her wife with a baby. Even if she knew it was a cruel tease for something she may never get.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily that she doesn’t want one. I think it might be more to do with her thinking she wouldn’t be a good parent after her childhood. Don’t write it off.”

“She would be an amazing parent. There is no one who loves more fiercely than Maya.”

“I agree with that.” She nodded.

“Are you hitting on my wife?” Carina asked with a raised eyebrow. She has never been able to stop teasing Amelia for the innocent crush the other woman had.

“Absolutely not.” She chuckled.

“Don’t know why not. She’s very attractive.” Carina said seeing her friend blush slightly. “She’s in there?” Carina asked pointing at the exam room.

“Mhm. Enjoy.” She pushed her lightly into the room with a wink.

“…so you see, if there is a tangle in the hose it can cause all sorts of problems. That’s why we spend so much time on hose drills.” Maya paused when she heard the door open. She’d started telling the baby about drills in an attempt to lull the baby back to sleep. It wasn’t working. She had the girls undivided attention. “Hey.” She greeted seeing her wife in the doorway.

“Hi bella” Carina whispered, creeping into the dimly lit room and sitting down near her wife.

“I was hoping Amelia would bring you back. How’s the mom?” Maya asked laughing when the baby tugged on her hair. “Hey, none of that.” She scolded lightly.

“She’s okay.” Carina started hesitantly. “Her body hadn’t delivered all of the placenta so we’ve had to give that a helping hand. She’s very emotional too about it everything.”

“That sucks. I’m glad she’s okay. How are you?”

“Enjoying the view right now.” She couldn’t help but smile at her wife. “You look very at home like that bambina.”

“She was just learning about hose drills.” Maya said with a matching smile.

“Is that right?” Carina couldn’t help the butterflies in her stomach at the sight before her.

“She doesn’t seem to want to sleep. And as much fun as a staring contest is with a new born I figured she could learn something too.” Maya explained. She saw the way Carina was looking at her and didn’t know what to say.

“You’re never too young to start learning” Carina agreed.

“I had an interesting talk with Amelia before she came to get you.”

“Oh you did? What about?”

“Parenthood.” Maya stated. “Specifically becoming a parent.”

“What did she say?” Carina was intrigued.

“She says we’d be good parents. Specifically that I’d be a good mom.” Maya said still doubtful.

“And what do you think about that bella?”

“I know you want kids.” Maya deflected.

“Mhm. But what you want matters to me Maya...”

“I know. I think I could want this with you.” Maya said after a long pause. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking of Carina pregnant and them having a little one with Carina’s feisty spirit and kind eyes.

“I know something like this is so, so big. But having children with you would literally be a dream come true for me. Watching you parent them.”

“I know you’ll be a great mom. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I think we can definitely start talking about it?” Maya really wished she wasn’t holding a baby right now so she could be holding her wife instead.

“I’d love us to start talking about it.” Carina nodded, unable to hide the tears that welled in her eyes.

“Hey, no tears when I can’t hold you and make them go away.” Maya said shifting the baby in her arms to try and reach for Carina.

“If we check her temp and she’s back to normal, we could let her sleep for a bit.” She didn’t know if she was just being selfish though, wanting her wife’s arms around her.

“How do we do that?” Maya asked her eyes wide. She knew nothing of taking baby temperatures.

“Just...like..this..” she scanned a small hand held device over the baby’s forehead, it immediately beeping with a result. “She’s all good.” She confirmed.

“Sorry little one. No more stealing my body heat.” Maya said handing the infant to Carina and stretching her arms.

Carina laid the little girl in the hospital crib, checking she was settled before walking over to her wife.

Maya wrapped her arms around Carina pulling her close. Ignoring the fact that she was still only in her sports bra and work pants. All the tension left her body as she inhaled Carina’s familiar scent.

“You okay?” Carina kissed the side of her head as she hugged her, loving the feel of Maya in her arms.

“I’m good. I just really missed you.”

“Well you’ve got me now and I’m not going anywhere okay?”

“I love you. Even if you have made me soft.” Maya laughed.

“I love you too. And there’s nothing wrong with being soft!” She chuckled.

“When Jo Wilson notices that I’ve gone soft that’s a problem.” Maya teased pulling away slightly from Carina so she could look at her but kept her arms loosely around her waist.

“She just needs to see how hard ass you are at work if you want her to change her mind.”

“Bad ass. And any time you want to send her to 19 I’ll run her through some drills. Call it advanced training.” Maya loved when her wife got idioms wrong, it was one of the many endearing things about her wife.

“Bad ass, hard ass. They’re the same si?”

“Close enough. Hard ass is usually not a good thing to be. A bad ass, that is what every firefighter wants to be.”

“Well then you are definitely a bad ass.”

“Thanks beautiful. Though I should put my shirt on before we get in trouble.”

“I happen to quite like you like this” she grinned.

“Do you? Well, I’d definitely not complain if you wanted to have some skin to skin contact. Maybe if your office.” Maya suggested running her fingers under Carina’s scrub top.

“Mhm, I’d like that very much. But we can’t leave the baby alone.” She wondered if she could get an intern to come sit with The baby.

“And you want to have one of these? Think of all the sex we’d miss out on.” Maya said making sure she kept her tone light so Carina knew she was mostly joking.

“I have a feeling we’d still be able to have all the sex you wanted us to have bambina.”

“Until the baby is crying in the middle of the night.”

“I happen to be an expert with crying babies.” She reminded her. “We can handle it and we’ll learn together” she promised.

“Hey, I think I did okay with that one.” Maya insisted, the baby hadn’t cried once when she’d been holding her.

“You did more than okay, you were wonderful. She was very calm and settled with you.”

“She was easy. Not all babies are like that.”

“They’re not, but it’s something we could handle together. We could handle anything bella.”