Chapter Text
Year One
“Now, let’s talk about fire safety,” Maya began as she gazed down at the small bundle in her arms.
She rattled off facts about fire protocols and smoke detectors as a pair of wide, brown eyes stared up at her, blinking slowly. Maya paced as she talked, finding it hard to sit still during her maternity leave. Not being able to run into fires made Maya antsy but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The past two months had been a whirlwind of sleepless nights and little wonders. Like the day their daughter had first lifted a tiny hand to grasp at the ends of Maya’s hair. Maya hadn’t been prepared for the flood of tears that had pooled in her eyes as the tiny human in her arms looked up at her as if she knew Maya was her mother. As if she were saying hi.
The morning light peeked through the patio window, casting a soft glow on the little girl’s face. As Maya gazed down at her daughter, so tiny and perfect, she knew she would spend the rest of her life doing everything in her power to protect the little bundle in her arms. So she did what she knew best, and told her all about fire safety.
“It’s very important that you never place any flammable objects within three feet of a stove, fireplace, or heater,” Maya explained, her voice soft but serious. Maya wasn’t a fan of baby-talk but her voice became lighter, gentler, when she was talking to their daughter. Carina had noticed this too and it never failed to make her smile.
“You might be wondering, what objects are flammable? And that’s a great question little one, I’ll tell you…”
Unbeknownst to Maya, Carina was silently watching the pair from the bedroom door, leaning against the frame in one of Maya’s old sweatshirts and a pair of sleep shorts. A blissful smile settled on Carina’s face as she watched the love of her life talk to their daughter in that soft, melodic voice that was reserved only for her and their bambina.
After a few minutes Carina couldn’t wait any longer. She pressed off the door frame and walked over to window where Maya stood.
“Buongiorno bella,” She sang as she wrapped her arms around Maya’s waist and rested her chin upon her wife’s shoulder.
She felt Maya’s muscles instantly relax into her touch and the blonde turned her head to smile at her.
“Good morning beautiful,” Maya beamed, before remembering the early hour causing a crease to form between her brows. “You’re up early. Did you sleep okay? Are you feeling alright?”
Maya had been worrying over Carina ever since the delivery. Ever since the start of the pregnancy, really.
“Si Maya, I’m fine,” Carina assured her wife, “Perfect actually,” She added as her eyes danced from the woman in her arms to the small infant gazing up at the two of them with curious, alert eyes.
“Buongiorno to you too stellina,” Carina cooed as she moved from behind Maya to place a gentle kiss on their daughter’s head.
The little girl’s face broke into a smile as her eyes settled on Carina and it melted her heart. The smiling was new. She’d only started doing it a few days ago. Carina swore their daughter learned something new every day, she was changing so fast. As a doctor, Carina knew all the milestones, she knew exactly what to expect and at what time, and yet she was filled with wonder each time their daughter did something she had never done before.
“Mama’s kisses make me smile too,” Maya whispered to the little girl, like she was sharing a secret.
“Is that so?” Carina laughed.
“Always,” Maya spoke sincerely, pulling her gaze away from their daughter to look at her wife with adoration.
Carina’s hand drifted up to cup Maya’s face and she kissed her slowly. As they broke apart Carina took in the way Maya’s eye’s shone and her lips curved into a satisfied smile. It made her heart glow.
“I love you,” Carina sighed.
“I love you,” Maya replied without hesitation, connecting their foreheads and letting her eyes fall closed for a second to savor the closeness, the simple intimacy of the moment.
The women were soon broken apart by a quiet cooing sound and a wriggling in Maya’s arms. As if their daughter was reminding them of her presence and demanding the return of their attention.
“And I love you, piccola,” Carina sang, brushing her fingers against a small, rosy cheek. Unlike Maya, Carina had no oppositions to using a baby voice for their daughter. Maya found it adorable.
“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” Maya stated sweetly, eyes full of love for the little one in her arms. “She looks so much like you.”
Carina hummed and let her head fall back to her wife’s shoulder, both women gazing down at their child in awe of the small human they brought into this world.
She had the same warm brown eyes and tiny, sloped nose as Carina. A small tuft of dark hair on her little head. Maya had meant it when she said she wanted a little version of her wife to count her blessings on, she just hadn’t been prepared for how striking the similarities would be, even at such a young age. It was incredible.
“Natalia Lucia DeLuca-Bishop, you look just like your mama, did you know that?” Maya informed the little girl. “Your mama is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen so that’s a good thing.”
Carina shook her head and laughed, though there was a slight blush on her cheeks. “And you wake up way too early just like your mommy, did you know that?” Carina mimicked earning a scoff from Maya.
“Natalia and I like to get an early start to our days, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Maya defended, turning away from Carina and clutching their daughter to her chest as if to shield her from her wife’s judgments.
Carina only laughed at Maya’s antics. “I know, bella, I know. Come back.”
Maya was easily pulled back into Carina’s embrace, finding it hard to ever resist the charms of her wife.
“You also have my entire heart, just like your mommy,” Carina added softly, kissing Natalia on the head and then Maya on the cheek.
“Did you hear that, little one?” Maya asked their daughter, a large grin on her face, “Mama loves us, we’re so lucky.”
Her gaze drifted from the girl in her arms to the woman beside her and Maya couldn’t quite believe this was her life. That she got the privilege to love these two perfect humans and they loved her back. Ten years ago, she could have never imaged a life like this for herself. That she would be worthy of a life so good, so full of love, that it took her breath away every day.
“So lucky,” Maya repeated, her voice just above a whisper. She was so, incredibly lucky.