Chapter Text
“Mama again” Eleora clapped and squealed encouraging the Italian to keep singing and dancing with her
“Really Eleora” Carina asked laughing having already sang the Italian Christmas song 3 times
“Si” Eleora cheered wrapping her arms around Carinas neck in a hug
Maya came down smiling at the scene with a sleepy Andrea in her arms
“Emilia’s asleep” the blonde informed as she sat down on the sofa and twisted Andrea so she cradled him in her lap
“Mommy” Andrea spoke looking up at Maya
“Ye-ees” Maya replied
“Hi” Andrea smiled gaining his mothers attention and Maya let out a small giggle
“Hi”
Maya tickled her son as the downstairs of her home filled with the laughter of her twins. It wasn’t too late but it would soon be bedtime and both twins were fully aware it was Christmas Eve. It was the first Christmas Eve both women had been home in 3 years and it certainly made the twins smile
The giggles and music was interrupted by knocking on the front door. Neither Maya or Carina were expecting anyone having already agreed to Christmas dinner at the station, despite having Christmas Eve off Mayas shift started at noon the next day
“Is it Santa?” Andrea asked excitedly
“No he only comes after you’ve gone to sleep” Maya replied the furrow in her brow not disappearing as she watched her wife hold their daughter on her hip and answer the door
“Oh” Andrea sighed from where he lay on Maya
“…I’m asleep now” Andrea whispered burying himself in Mayas hoodie making the blonde laugh
Carina turned down the music and unlocked the front door. The Italian froze at the sight of the figure infront of her, only brought back to reality when she felt her daughter shift in her arms
“Buon Natale” Vincenzo greeted loudly on the doorstep
“Papa?“
“Nonno!” Eleora screamed jumping from Carinas arms into her grandfathers
“Ciao Eleora cara mia come va?” Vincenzo smiled pushing his way past his daughter and into her home
“Sono fantastico, mi mancata” Eleora replied kissing Vincenzo’s cheek
“Ah anche tu mi sei mancata cara mia” Vincenzo replied
“Cosa stai facendo qui?” Carina stuttered out shocked that her father had made it half way across the world without someone from her family informing her
“Carina please, we’re in America speak English” Vincenzo spoke “…Hello Maya” the taller Italian smiled seeing Maya just as stunned still with Andrea in her arms
“Vincenzo this is a surprise” Maya smiled back
“I wanted to see my family at Christmas” Vincenzo reasoned
“Nonno!” Andrea jumped up
“Andrea! Come come” Vincenzo beckoned the boy as he bent down to scoop up the boy
“Papa why- what?” Carina tried instantly seeking Mayas touch to ground her
“I told you Carina I want to see my family at Christmas, so I thought I’d come over and surprise you”
“Why didn’t you call” Carina asked
“That wouldn’t be a surprise would it Drea?” Vincenzo turned to his grandson
“Nah-ah!” Andrea shook his head laughing with his grandfather
“Can I get you a drink or anything to eat?” Maya asked
“Just some water Grazie” Vincenzo smiled instantly infatuated with the twins
Maya managed to pull Carina into the kitchen keeping Vincenzo and the twins in sight overhearing their bilingual conversations
“What’s he doing here?“ Maya asked looking for a glass
“I don’t know” Carina whispered
“Where’s he sleeping?” Maya continued to ask questions more to herself but in Carinas state of shock she hadn’t realised her wife wasn’t talking to her
“I don’t know”
“What about tomorrow I mean I’m sure there’s enough food at the station but does he plan on coming the station”
“I don’t know Maya, I don’t know” Carina whispered out loudly holding back scared tears
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, come here” Maya instantly wrapped her arms around Carina in a hug
“Why’s he here”
“Carina”
“What if somethings wrong, what if he’s manic. I don’t want him to scare the kids or ruin Christmas” Carina sobbed holding onto Maya
“He wont ruin Christmas, I won’t let him. Come on it’s getting late the twins need to go to bed and then we’ll have a proper conversation with your dad” Maya smiled
“Maya I want him to stay here. Not in a hotel I need to be able to see him, to see what he’s doing, to see how he’s doing”
“I know, he can stay in the guest room Carina. It’ll all be okay” Maya punctuated her statement with a kiss as she watched a small smile creep across her wife’s face
“I don’t deserve you” Carina sighed with her small smile
“Yes you do”
The two women returned to the living room seeing the twins had convinced Vincenzo to join them on the floor as they talked through all the pictures on the fireplace
“Here you go” Maya offered the glass of water as she was met with thanks as Carina moved to sit on the sofa her eyes fixed on her father
“Okay babies it’s bedtime” Maya announced as the twins grumbled
“Come on, Santa won’t come unless you go to sleep” Maya reasoned picking up Andrea
“I want to stay with Nonno” Eleora exclaimed
“You can see Nonno tomorrow, but right now it’s time for sleep” Maya added predicting it may be a fight to get the twins to bed
“Ti amo Nonno” Eleora added as she stood to hug Vincenzo’s neck
“Ah! Ti amo cara mia, now it’s time to sleep and when you wake up it’ll be Christmas Day” Vincenzo replied
“And you’ll be here?” Eleora asked
“Si, I’ll be right here. Prometto”
“Buona notte” Eleora yawned as she walked over to take Mayas hand
“Buona notte bambini” Vincenzo waved as Maya took the twins upstairs
“Aspettare!” Andrea shouted stopping Maya on the stairs “…mama” Andrea reached over Mayas shoulder towards Carina who stood up to meet them
“I’ll come see you in a moment I need to speak to Nonno” Carina smiled before kissing the boys cheek and sending Maya on her way
—
“Andrea he reminds me so much of your brother” Vincenzo commented as he watched Maya walk the twins upstairs
“I know” Carina agreed with a smile
“What’s going on Papa? Why are you here” Carina asked turning back to look at her father
“Can a grandfather not want to see his grand babies on Christmas?” Vincenzo asked
“But you’ve made it half way across the world, no one knows you’re here” Carina replied
“That’s not true, Gaida knows” Vincenzo added nonchalantly
“Zia Gaida knew you were coming and didn’t tell me?” Carina asked confused
“Si”
“How long are you staying? Where are you staying?” Carina asked noticing a lack of luggage
“I have a 3 months research visa, your boss Dr Miranda Bailey I have a meeting with her”
“You have a meeting with Bailey and she hasn’t mentioned it?” Carina asked more to herself
“Well I sent her an email requesting a meeting she hasn’t got back to me”
“So you’re just going to turn up?“
“Si, no one can resist the Italian charm” Vincenzo chuckled at his own joke, his daughter not as amused
“Where are you staying papa?” Carina asked again
“Here of course” Vincenzo replied gesturing rigorously
“Okay, good, that’s good” Carina spoke shocked that she wouldn’t have to put up a fight to get her father to stay in her house
“Si”
“Ah-ha okay” Carina stuttered feeling the panic rise within her
“…For the next two days and then I have a hotel” Vincenzo added slowly “…I want Christmas Day with la mia famiglia”
“Maya is err- she’s working tomorrow, we’re having dinner at the station there’ll be no one here and the children and I are spending the evening at Katherine’s” Carina informed the taller Italian
“Ah! La bella Caterina, how is she?” Vincenzo asked having met Mayas mother once or twice over the years “…I shall come to the station and to Katherine’s”
“She’s good, I don’t know if you could-“ Carina started still looking for the right words
“You’re not going to allow your elderly father to travel 21 hours across the ocean to spend Christmas alone in a foreign country” Vincenzo retorted cutting Carina off
“You didn’t tell me you were coming” Carina bit back
“That is the whole point of una sorpresa no” Vincenzo chuckled “…I’m going to go bed, where am I sleeping?”
“Dove dormi?” Carina asked
“Si”
“Third door on the left” Carina signalled up the stairs finished with the conversation
“Third door on the left” Vincenzo repeated earning a nod off his daughter “…Grazie Carina, Buon Natale” the Italian spoke as he made his way upstairs leaving his daughter in a shell shocked state in the living room
***************************************************
Maya went through the remainder of the twins bedtime routine, getting them to brush their teeth and reading them a story before they both settled in their beds
“Mommy, why’s Nonno here?” Andrea asked as he climbed into bed after returning the book to the bookshelf
“I don’t know bubs” Maya admitted sitting in the floor between the two beds
“I’ve missed him” Eleora added as she snuggled into the edge of the bed reaching to play with Mayas hair
“I know you have and I’m sure Mama has too” Maya smiled back
“Mama looked upset” Eleora said
“She’s not upset bambina I think she’s just a bit shocked that Nonno has made it all the way here without her knowing”
“But it was a good surprise” Andrea added
“Yeah?”
“Si” both twins smiled
“Will you send Mama up for cuddles please?” Andrea asked with his best puppy dog eyes
“Are my cuddles not enough?” Maya poured playfully
“They’re good but mamas are better” Andrea poked his tongue out playfully
“I will make sure she comes and gives you cuddles as soon as she’s finished talking to Nonno” Maya affirmed kissing his forehead
“Mommy” Eleora began
“Yeah baby” Maya turned to look at her daughter again
“Do you have to go to work tomorrow?”
“Yes unfortunately, but it’s only a short shift and your going to have dinner with us at the station and then Mama is going to take you to see Nana and uncle Mason” Maya explained with a smile
“I want you to come too” Andrea whispered a hint of sadness in his voice
“I wish I could bubs but people still need help on Christmas” Maya sighed
“Sometimes I wish you weren’t a superhero. But only sometimes” Andrea added
“I do too sometimes. But I’ll be home by the time you wake up on Sunday” Maya replied reaching up to stroke her sons hair
“Okay”
“Mom-my” Eleora whined playfully
“Ele-Ora” Maya matched her daughters tone smiling earning giggles off the twins
“Love you mommy”
“I love you too princess” Maya smiled kissing Eleora
“Is Nonno coming to the station and to Nanas?” Andrea asked
“I errr I don’t know. I’ll find out, ask me again in the morning” Maya replied honestly
“Got it”
“Okay, sleepy time! Goodnight my babies” Maya spoke as she pushed herself to stand up
“Goodnight mommy” the twins replied together
“Love you” Andrea added
“Ti amo bambini” Maya smiled back before she turned out the lamp by the door and left the room
***************************************************
“Where’s?” Maya asked with raised eyebrows as she walked back into the living room seeing her wife recoiled on the sofa
“Guest room” Carina whispered back the tears in her eyes stopping her from speaking any louder
“You know we could always put him in the basement, it’s fully furnished” Maya joked not realising the tears streaming down her wife’s face until she got closer to where she was sat
“Where exactly would he sleep” Carina bit back not picking up on the humour
“The bench press is pretty comfortable” Maya replied
“Maya” Carina tried to smile but her emotions failed him
“Are you okay?” Maya asked
“No”
“Do you need a hug?” Maya smile when she saw Carina look up at her with her own watery smile
“Always”
“It will be okay Carina, did he say anything, why he’s here?” Maya spoke as she sat next to Carina and pulled her in close
“He just said he wants to see his grandchildren” Carina replied
“I mean I don’t blame him they are pretty cute” Maya replied
“He said that my Zia Gaida knew but I spoke to her on Wednesday and she never mentioned it and she would be the first person to call out his manic episodes” Carina spoke concerned for her fathers health
“Okay but must he have an ulterior motive, what if he genuinely just missed the kids?” Maya reasoned
“Maybe. Why is family so complex?” Carina huffed as she sank deeper into Mayas embrace
“Did he say how long he’s staying?” Maya asked curious as to how long she may have to deal with her father-in-law in her house
“He says he has a 3 month research visa” Carina replied
“What?” Mayas eyes widened
“I don’t know Maya I’m too tired to question it” Carina replied as Maya felt her wife’s tears soaking through her shirt
“He’s also invited himself to the station and to your moms” Carina sighed
“O-kay?” Maya paused before continuing “…that’s a good thing, it means I can keep and eye on him during the afternoon and he gets on well with my mom, Mason teases her says she has a crush on him” Maya laughed
“Okay” was the only word Carina could muster up as she clung onto her wife
“Why don’t we get the living room set up for tomorrow morning and then call it a night and you can curl up wherever you want” Maya offered stroking Carinas hair
“And you’ll hold me?” Carina asked looking into Mayas eyes
“Always. But you need to go say goodnight to the twins, they said they’d wait up for your cuddles apparently your cuddles are better than mine” Maya pouted
“I’m not too sure I believe that Captain Bishop” Carina replied with a smile as she reached up to pull Maya into a thankful kiss