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Heavy rains began to flood the streets of Seattle. Thunder and lightning echoing throughout. Maya was currently at the fire station, sitting up in a bunk bed waiting for Carina to answer her call.
The call was connected and a smile immediately spread across Maya’s features when Carina appeared on screen.
“Hi bella.” Carina greeted her.
“Hi. Were you busy?” Maya asked.
Carina was at work as well, sporting her signature pink scrubs in the attending lounge of the hospital.
“Never too busy for you.” Carina replied.
Maya glanced down, blushing softly. “I, uh, just wanted to see you…and hear your voice.”
Thunder rumbled loudly in the background during a beat of comfortable silence between the two. Maya attempted to maintain a neutral expression to conceal the fact that she was shaken up by it.
“That storm is getting pretty bad,” said Carina.
“Yeah. I’m fine though.” Maya replied, offering a small smile.
“Are you sure?” Carina inquired softly.
Maya nodded. “I’m sure. My shift is almost over anyways. I’ll be fine.”
Carina gazed softly at her wife. At this point, she knew her better than anyone and could read her face like a book. She was able to see things no one else could see, such as the fact that it was storming and Maya was stuck at work which terrified the firefighter, though she would never admit it aloud to anyone but her wife.
“Okay. My shift is almost over as well. So I’ll see you at home?”
“See you at home.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
And with that, the facetime call ended and Maya was once again left alone with her thoughts. She decided to shift those thoughts ahead to the next couple of hours, when she would be home and safe in Carina’s arms.
The next few hours rolled by and before Maya knew it, it was time to head home. She carefully drove home, braving the rain covered streets that led to their home. The entire time hoping that Carina had made it home before her.
Meanwhile, Carina had in fact made it home before Maya with enough time to spare. She remembered their conversation all those months ago about the forts she would build with her mom during thunderstorms when she was a child, and how it made her feel safe. And now, Carina wanted to make sure that Maya knew she would always be her safe haven from any storm.
So, she cleared out space on their living room floor and created a fort out of couch cushions, pillows and blankets. Carina even took out a few candles to light to create an even more peaceful ambience for the two of them.
Maya walked through the door shortly after and stopped upon seeing the set up in their living room. Tears threatened to build in her eyes once the realization of what Carina had done for her began to set in. The fact that she remembered the story she’d told her about her childhood and the fact that she took the time to do all this meant the absolute world to her.
“Hi, Bambina.” Carina greeted as she appeared from the hallway, a soft smile on her lips.
“You did all this for me?” Maya said, her smile growing wider as the two approached each other.
“Of course I did. I would do anything for you.” Carina replied as she closed in the gap between them, pulling Maya close by her waist.
There was a loud crash of thunder and a flash of lightning illuminated the living room. Maya leaned in closer to her wife, their foreheads resting against each other’s. The brunette pressed in closer in a subtle way that said “I’m here”.
Carina the. took Maya by the hand and led her into their makeshift fort where there were enough pillows for both of them to lay comfortably, as well as a small charcuterie board complete with two glasses and a bottle of wine.
“Okay this is hands down the fanciest pillow fort I have ever been in.” said Maya as she laid back against a pillow taking it all in.
Carina giggled softly and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you like it, bambina.”
Maya turned to lay on her side, reaching a hand out to slowly trace her fingertips against the bare skin of Carina’s arm.
“Can you tell me more stories about your life in Italy?” Maya requested.
Carina thought for a moment. “Ah, I don’t know. I feel like I’ve told you everything.” She said with a laugh.
“I’m sure you haven’t told me everything. There has to be something. Maybe a funny childhood story?” Maya inquired. She sat propped up by her elbow, eyes bright and expectant.
“Hmm, okay..well there is one. It’s a little embarrassing..” Carina teased.
“Tell me! Tell me!” Maya exclaimed.
“Okay, okay.” Carina sighed reluctantly with a smile. “When I was a little girl, no more than five years old, my nonna had this chicken as a pet. And this chicken..did not like me.”
Maya laughed at this. “What? Oh this is already gold. How did you know it didn’t like you?”
Carina laughed, hiding her face playfully. “Because every time I would come over and it was out of its cage, it would chase after me trying to peck me.”
“Oh you poor thing!” Maya laughed.
Carina tried to hide her smile, but it was impossible when she saw how amused Maya was. Her joy was contagious. “Yes, we can laugh now but it was very traumatic for me at the time. To this day I still cannot look at chickens the same way.”
“Carina Deluca Bishop, traumatized for life by a chicken. Who would’ve guessed?” Maya joked.
“I’m telling you those things are little demons in disguise.” said Carina.
The couple laughed some more, simply enjoying the company of one another as well as their snacks and wine. It wasn’t long before they forgot about the storm altogether.
Later on, Carina peeked outside of their fort. “I think the storm’s gone away.”
“Mmm that’s good but I’m so comfortable here.” said Maya.
Carina smiled as she laid next to her wife. “Me too.”
As Maya turned on her side, Carina laid behind her and wrapped both arms around her frame, holding her close.
The moment felt like it often did whenever they were together - as if they were in their own little bubble away from the stress and hardships of the world, where they safe and sound from any raging storm.