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The following days after Maya’s demotion were hard on the newlyweds. Maya was not used to fail and adding the guilt of getting Andy transferred didn’t make it any easier but after many and many comforting words from Carina plus the support of all their friends and Andy never blaming her for what had happened, by the end of their first week as a married couple, Maya was not as broken as she had been on the day that was supposed to be the happiest of her life.
The blonde had arranged for a week off work after the wedding to spend their ‘honeymoon’ at home –preferably naked, in bed– but after what had happened, that week became three thanks to the added two weeks of suspension due to her insubordination. So, on top of being angry and sad and troubled with so many more emotions because of the unfairness of what had happened, Maya was also going a little stir crazy but, thankfully, Carina was doing everything in her power to keep her wife distracted, with things such as going on walks, eating at restaurants –with all the precautions, of course–, visiting the state parks, and other more fun activities.
On the night before Maya’s first day back at work, the Italian had decided to do something special for the blonde, cook a nice meal, drink a good wine, and just relax because, even if Maya hadn’t said so, the brunette could tell she was anxious to and about going back to the station.
“I know I say this every time you make lasagna but it was so delicious, babe.” Maya said after finishing her second serving of the Italian dish, leaning back on the chair as she patted her belly. “You’re an amazing cook.”
The brunette smiled at the compliment, standing up from her seat only to lean over Maya, cup her cheeks and press a soft kiss on her lips. “Thank you, bambina.” She whispered and backed away a little. Her smile grew bigger when she spotted a bit of sauce on the firefighter’s chin, quickly brushing it away with her thumb and licking it, giving her wife a playful wink as she did so.
Then, Carina walked a few steps into the kitchen to cover the rest of the lasagna with aluminium foil and put it away as Maya got up from her seat to take the dirty dishes and wine glasses to the sink, starting to wash them.
They fell into comfortable silence as they completed their tasks, although Carina wanted to ask how Maya was feeling about going back to work but she didn’t want to break their bubble for now. Before the doctor could think about something else to say, though, the blonde spoke first.
“So…” Maya started as she dried her hands with a kitchen rag, leaning on the counter. “I have something for you.”
The OB arched a brow at the other woman, slowly walking towards her. “You do?” She asked as she trapped the firefighter between her arms and the counter.
“Mhmm.” The shorter woman hummed in confirmation, one corner of her mouth quirking up as she left the rag and crossed her arms over her chest.
“It’s not even our one month anniversary yet, bella.” Carina brushed the tip of her nose on Maya’s and pulled back.
“I know.” The firefighter said, nodding slowly. “But I want you to have it before I go back to work tomorrow.”
The Italian tilted her head to the side and stared at Maya, trying to get a read on her. She didn’t look tense per se, only a little anxious but the soft smile on her lips told Carina it wasn’t about something bad. “What is it?” She finally asked.
The blonde took a deep breath and lowered her gaze as she unfolded her arms and started fidgeting with her wedding band in the small space between her body and Carina’s.
The Italian followed her gaze and her brows furrowed when Maya finally slid the ring off her finger. “What…?”
“It’s not that.” Maya interrupted her wife, making her look at her eyes again. “I don’t want to give you back this ring.”
“Then, why…? Carina trailed off, her features softening.
Maya gazed into Carina’s chocolate eyes for a few seconds before her own drifted to the ring between her thumb and index. “I love this ring so much. I love the way it shines when light hits it a certain way, I love the weight of it on my finger even if I’ve been wearing it for less than a month…” She rolled the ring on her fingers until she spotted the inscription inside. “I love what it means, what it represents.” The blonde returned her eyes to Carina, her heart almost melting by the sight of her soft smile. “I love you, Carina. I love you and this ring means that you love me too.”
Maya couldn’t say anything else as a pair of lips landed on her own. She immediately reciprocate, parting her lips and letting Carina’s intruding tongue inside. She almost dropped her ring when her hands automatically went to grab Carina by the neck but managed to secure it, half sliding it into her index.
“I love you so, so much, bambina.” The Italian said once she pulled back when air became a necessity –even if Maya didn’t need to pull away just yet, her training as a firefighter helping in that department–, resting her forehead on her wife’s. They were still so close that she could feel Maya’s lips stretch into a smile right below her own lips.
“… and because I love you and this ring so much…” The younger woman continued, tilting her head back a little so she could look at Carina’s face, beaming at how breathtaking she was. “… I can’t lose or damage it.” An adorable crinkle appeared on the Italian’s nose, making Maya chuckle. “You see, there’s no official rule at SFD that says we can’t wear rings but it’s recommend we don’t, to prevent accidents such as the ring getting caught on something or overheating even with the gloves on.” She explained.
“Oh.” Carina’s expression softened again in understanding. “Okay… that makes sense.” She agreed, lifting one of her hands –which previously was at Maya’s hip– and pushed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.
The firefighter smiled at the caress. She loved when Carina played with her hair. “I want you to keep my ring safe.” Licking her lips, she looked down at her hand again, where the ring was, and offered it to the brunette. “I want to give it to you for safekeeping before I go on every shift and you can give it back when I return home.”
The OB took a step back, eyes locked with Maya’s blue ones in that way that nade the blonde feel like Carina stared into her soul. “I promise I will keep it safe…” She grabbed the ring from Maya’s fingers, holding it between both thumbs and index fingers, looking at it for a moment before lifting her face again. “… but you have to promise to come back to me every day.”
It was Maya who closed the distance between them again, cupping Carina’s cheek and the back of her neck but this time, there was no rush to deepen the kiss, the mere contact was enough to transmit their feelings.
“I promise I’ll come back.” The blonde pressed her lips against her wife’s in a quick peck again. “Always.”
When the firefighter opened her eyes, she saw a rebel tear roll down Carina’s cheek. She swiftly wiped it away and kissed the spot once, then she kissed her other cheek too. Carina’s mouth curved into a smile at the soft gesture.
“There’s one other thing.” Maya said, lowering a hand and looking for something on her jeans’ pocket, earning another confused look from Carina. She finally pulled her hand out, turned it palm up and opened her fist, revealing a thin dark circle. “I don’t want to go around with a bare finger so…”
The doctor grabbed the object from her wife’s hand and inspected it. “A silicone ring?”
“Yeah.” Maya nodded. “This way, I still have something that represents our love,” she could feel her cheeks getting flushed by how corny that had sounded, “without the risks of wearing a regular ring. It doesn’t get hot, it can snap if it gets caught on something, no risk of cutting circulation to my finger if my hand gets swollen…”
“Your fingers are very important to me, bambina.” Carina teased with a lopsided grin.
The firefighter chuckled, trying to hide her faint blush. “I know,” she tried to play along, “and that’s why the silicone ring is perfect except for one thing.”
“And what is that?” The Italian asked even when she already had some idea of where this was all going. Maya could be a sentimental person even if she hid that part of herself often, not wanting to appear weak in front of others but she didn’t have that problem with her wife.
The blonde drew her bottom lip between her teeth before she spoke. “That you didn’t put it on my finger… yet.”
Carina’s warm smile turned into a grin. Maya was such a romantic at times. “That can be easily fixed.” She said, gently grabbing Maya’s left hand, slowly sliding the black ring all the way down. When it was in place, she brought the blonde’s hands to her lips and pressed a kiss right on the ring. “Now, beautiful wife of mine…” she leaned in to whisper her next words directly into Maya’s ear, “… shall we go consummate our marriage?”
The blonde felt shivers running down her spine. Carina always had that effect on her, no matter how many times they had had sex already. “Lead the way.”
Carina kissed Maya’s neck before pulling away and grabbing her hand, starting to walk towards the hallway leading to their bedroom but she was met with resistance as the blonde didn’t follow her immediately. She turned to see her with an arched eyebrow. “Are you coming or…?”
“I am… but first…” Maya extended her hand, palm up, as if expecting Carina to give her something. “I’d like my ring back for now. I don’t work untill morning.”
The Italian rolled her eyes but complied, pulling the wedding band from her pocket, turning Maya’s hand and sliding the ring in it’s place, almost covering the silicone one. “Now are you coming?”
Maya’s response was grabbing Carina her by the back of her thighs and making her jump, holding her weight as the Italian wrapped her legs around her mid section and her arms around her neck with a delighted laugh. “Let’s go, my wife.”