Work Text:
Humph!
Maya grunts, her tongue poking slightly out of her mouth as she deeply focuses on trying to lift the pile of books that had fallen to the floor in her hasty search for that one protocol manual that she had leant to Andy and never seen again.
She peers over at the closed captain’s bunk door, her heartbeat thundering in her ears as she strains to see if she had stirred Andy at all. The faint snores of a very knocked out Andy seep under the door providing al the confirmation she needed for her 3am super secret mission.
Grunting with effort as she squats down, balancing the pile of books against her chest with her good arm, she steadies one foot on the chair in front of her and psyches herself up to house herself up on top of it.
“ BISHOP!”
WAAaaaAAHH!!
Maya flails, throwing the pile of books out of her arms and stumbling off of the chair in an absolute cartoonish fashion, her cheeks blushing and heart thumping in her ears. “What is wrong with you-” Maya scowls, quickly recalling her scolding when she whips around to see none other than Chief Ross standing in her doorway with a less than enthused expression.
Natasha folds her arms across her chest, her signature eyebrow twitch enough to shoot fumbling fear straight through Maya’s stupid, stubborn soul. “What part of mandatory medical leave was difficult for you to understand?”
“Well-” Maya gulps, slowly bending over and picking up books, stopping as Natasha steps forward and stops her, forcefully squeezing her good arm until she drops the books. “I just had to do some studying, you know, stay fresh on protocols while I’m off. And I wanted to make sure Andy was-”
The Captain’s bunk door flies open with a gust of wind and a very cranky, disheveled Andy enters the chat.
“Oh save it, Bishop. No one is buying that crap.” Andy says, emerging from the captain’s bunk in her undies, hair shooting a million directions as she yawns, waving her hand in Maya’s face and shooing her away, stacking the books onto the shelf with a huff. “You can’t stay away, and you can’t relinquish control.” Andy chides, her tone grumpy and marred with sleep deprivation.
Maya’s cheeks spread with an even deeper blush as she stared at the floor, her shoes suddenly far more entertaining than the scolding she was currently receiving.
Natasha steps forward, shoving a few manuals into Maya’s backpack, turning her around by her shoulders and slipping the strap over her good shoulder, “Take your manuals, and your very broken collar bone and respectfully, get the hell out of this station.”
“But I-” Maya tries, her tuts of frustration mounting as she tries to resist while scrambling across the office, trying to grab everything she needs.
Ross waves a finger in Maya’s face, “If I see you in here again before your medical leave is up without a clearance slip from Diane and Dr. Lincoln, you’re benched for another month.” She says, shoving her out the captain’s office door and into the foyer, pointing at her menacingly.
“This is a prison!” Maya whisper-shouts, waving her sling covered arm in frustration as she exits the building.
Andy leans in the doorway, laughing and stretching slightly. “I thought when she married Carina she stopped the workaholic bullshit. Then I thought for sure when she had kids it would die off. Some things never change.” Andy chuckles, shaking her head.
“Well, she’s a newly appointed captain again. She’s stressing over the jitters of leadership, and goes and breaks her collarbone on her second call as Captain. You should know about the jitters, Battalion Chief Herrera. ” Ross beams, stepping up and playfully dusting off Andy’s shoulder.
Natasha bows respectfully and makes a turn for the door herself. “Thank you for filling in while she heals. I don’t know anyone else who can handle it. Ya’ll stress me out.”
Andy laughs more audibly this time, turning to close her own door and head back to sleep.
“G’night, chief.”
~
MMMMMMMWHYISITSOBRIGHTINHERE
Carina groans to herself, rolling over and flopping her arm on the Maya Bishop shaped divot opposite her in bed, finding the space both unoccupied, and cold. A common theme she had been rising to for the last three weeks. Maya left the blinds open when she slept, so she could rise when the sun hit her face and carefully close them before they disturbed Carina’s beauty rest, and so she could snake out of the house for her morning run undetected by children and her wife.
But, Maya wasn’t going for runs.
She couldn’t.
She was on extended medical leave, as her collarbone had broken quite severely and was in need for a longer recovery than initially promised. This was causing Maya and the entire DeLuca-Bishop household quite a large amount of fuss and frustration. Not that the kids didn’t love having non-stop 24/7 access to Mom for all of their why’s and what’s and adventures, but because it led to an exceptionally fussy and antsy Maya.
Every morning, Carina would wake up to an empty bed, to find Maya awake in the living room, obsessing about some new protocol, an all organic diet change, workout plan or even sometimes doing the kids’ school projects for them. On rare occasions, Maya would be asleep on the couch, but easily stirred awake by the smell of coffee as Carina started their morning.
As the days wore on, the energy was palpable, buzzing in the air as Maya would do body squats, ab workouts with the kids sitting on her feet, and using Andrea as a dumbbell for at-home physical therapy. She was restless, permanently short fused and run down by the lack of routine, and the lack of space and ability to burn off her excess frustrations.
The kids could sense it, both of them also having temperamental blowouts and refusing sleep, mirroring their mom in creepy fashion.
Carina saw the incoming restless Maya syndrome the second the words rest for three to five weeks flew out of Link’s mouth.
With a deepened sigh, Carina snakes a bathrobe over her frame and slides into her house slippers, yawning and stretching her way into the living room, wide awake by the glaring sunlight’s alarm clock at the ripe time of 5:25 am.
As soon as she pads into the living room, she could hear it, the soft tuts and grunts of a fitful, restless Maya kicking at the blankets wrapped around her ankles and huffing fussy little exhales as she fights her sleep. Carina walks as silently as possible up to the couch, poking her head over and sinking with a pang of sadness.
Maya’s face was twisted into a frown, her eyebrows knitted tight and her eyes squeezed shut. Her chest was heaving as she began to work herself up, her mouth moving in slight mumbles and moans of discomfort.
Carina stands still for a moment, watching over Maya’s figure witha concerned expression. Maya’s arduous and long struggle with sleep was not a breaking revelation, but it still brought Carina worry and concern, as Maya’s profession and being a mom already left her sleep deprived on the regular.
“NOOOOOOOOO! Stop!” Maya blurts out, half into the couch cushions and half out to the rest of the room, loudly straining her voice, the pain and agony evident in the fry of her tone.
A nightmare.
A bad one, at that. Maya got them occasionally, typically in times of high stress, or after bad calls. They weren’t as often anymore, after Maya had dug her heels into therapy with Diane and done a lot of rebuilding right before Carina gave birth to Andrea.
Still, Carina knew how bad they got, and suddenly, the pieces of Maya’s moody behavior had come to full light for Carina to put together.
The constant waking up alone, the bags under Maya’s eyes bigger than carry-on luggage, the short temper, the restricted calories and obsession with portions, and the refusal to talk. Maya had been brooding for weeks, closed off and insisting she was
Fine.
She hated the word, really. She had put a ban on it in their household when they moved out of the apartment, her and Maya both coming to the agreement that masks and covers had no place in their new home socially as they were going to be raising children, and talking one’s feelings out was a good mirror to place in front of their children.
Carina bites her lips as she watches Maya toss and turn, readjusting all of the couch cushions in her struggle. Maya never got just one nightmare; they didn’t strike at random. They often built and intensified, claiming her rest for weeks at a time until Maya could work through and process her pain.
Maya’s breathing quickened, then came the flailing arms, tossing a pillow across the living room as she tossed and turned a little faster, heavier. Carina quickly swoops into action, hopping over the edge of the couch and sliding in behind Maya as stealthily as possible. She wraps her long legs around Maya’s hips, and her arms around Maya’s chest, keeping her from striking anything in her path or falling off of the couch.
Carina’s chest compresses for a moment as Mya wiggles in her grasp, her heart aching for Maya, knowing how wrung out and raw she usually was after a long string of nightmares.
Leaning down, she presses a kiss to Maya’s hair and giving her a decent squeeze, rocking them slightly and leaning in toward Maya’s ear and beginning to sing lightly in Italian, praying she can lull Maya back into her slumber before she wakes up in a panic.
Quando sei qui con me
Questa stanza non ha più pareti
Ma alberi, alberi infiniti
Quando tu sei vicino a me
Questo soffitto viola, no, non esiste più
Io vedo il cielo sopra noi che restiamo qui
Abbandonati come se non ci fosse più
Niente, più niente al mondo
Her singing stops as soon as she feels Maya’s body relent, going limp in her arms and settling into her hold. She was still tutting and making small noises with her mouth, but her body was more relaxed, calm and less rigid.
Once the coast was clear, she slips out from behind Maya and silently begins her morning, making herself a piece of toast and a cup of coffee, settling back into the couch next to Maya with a book, reading the silent minutes away and stroking Maya’s hair with her head on her lap.
After a while, Maya begins fussing again, this time coming on in a twitch fit.
Before Carina could react, Maya’s arms were flailing, smacking Carina’s book out of her hand and launching it across the room, landing against her mug of espresso and dumping the scalding hot contents on Carina’s extended legs.
“Owwww!” Carina yelps, yanking her legs backward as they burned and jolting Maya awake, all in one go.
“Huh? What?” Maya bolts upward sitting upright, eyes darting all around and chest heaving with confusion as her head whips around violently.
“ Breathe, Maya. It’s okay.” Carina reassures as she adjusts on the couch.
Carina reaches a soothing hand out to Maya’s back, rubbing over it slightly while mopping up the spilled coffee with a stray throw blanket.
“S’okay, bambina. It’s just me.”
“Huh? When did I-” Maya says, whipping her head around and throwing the blankets off of her, growing frustrated that they were wrapped around her legs, trapping her inside the cocoon of hell and entanglement.
“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Carina coos still rubbing her back. She sighs, dropping the blanket and turning her full body on the couch to Maya, spinning her shoulders slightly to prevent Maya from hurting herself and grabbing Maya’s good hand, giving it a squeeze as she fights for Maya’s eye contact.
With her chest heaving, she slowly gains focus of Carina’s face in front of her, her ears registering that sweet lullaby pitch that she loved so much, calming over her racing and confused mind.
“You’re safe.” Carina repeats one last time, smiling brightly as Maya’s breathing calms down and she gives a nod, snaking her good hand out of Carina’s grasp and flattening it to her chest, relishing in the cold against her hot and clammy skin.
“I spilled your coffee? How long were you here? What time is it?” Maya groans sleepily, her voice settling to its normal morning raspiness.
Carina shifts, getting up to find an actual towel and cleaning solution to clean the coffee spill properly.
“Just after seven.” she calls over her shoulder.
She groans lightly as she bends all the way down, spraying the solution and mopping up the spill, giving Maya space to fully come to. They exist in silence for a bit, before Maya tries to tear off the couch, her face disgruntled with a seemingly too familiar scowl.
“How long have they been back, Maya?” Carina stops, reaching out and grabbing Maya’s arm while she puts the cleaning supplies down, searching Maya’s face for the answer she knew Maya would refuse to give verbally.
It didn’t matter how many bricks and walls and traps Maya’s conscious mind tried to throw out and hide her pain, Carina saw straight through them. Not only was Maya a shitty liar, but she was also the loudest, easily readable book for Carina. She could study the most muted expressions on Maya’s face and body and tell the story she needed to read.
It was also excellent practice for when the kids tried to lie. They were equally as expressive and shitty liars. Carina was a well seasoned expert.
Her favorite book, the best story, the happiest endings lie on Maya’s skin, in her eyes, her smile. Carina always gave a chuckle and an eye roll at how valiantly Maya would flail and kick and push to try and pretend Carina didn’t know what was burning in her over-busy mind, but eventually, without fail, Maya would relent and melt into the safety of Carina.
Every. Single. Time.
“I’m fine.” Maya spits, yanking her hand out of Carina’s grasp but refusing to leave the couch, knowing it was beyond worth fighting the conversations she was about to be pelted with. She had learned her lesson over the years.
Carina plops back on the couch next to her, folding her arms. “Wrong answer.”
Maya rolls her eyes, grumbling slightly, like a petulant teenager being told no for the hundredth time. She tries scooching her butt off the edge of the couch, huffing in frustration as she can’t use her other arm to aid her, and Carina yet again has a death grip on her wrist.
Carina cocks an eyebrow, growing impatient with Maya’s refusal. She sits quietly, waiting for Maya to give it up. She gazes over Maya’s frame as it melts back into the couch, her eyes averted, staring off toward the kitchen, the window, anywhere but Carina’s eyes.
“Since the injury.” Maya grumbles under her breath.
Sagging into the couch a little, satisfied with her efforts to break through Maya’s temperamental front, Carina really considers why. Why would Maya’s nightmares kick back in with an injury. There were a myriad of obvious answers.
Maya could be experiencing dream flashbacks to falling through the roof, the stark reality that her job was in fact dangerous, and she had a family to come home to now.
Or, she could be fixating on the mistakes made to land her injured. A new captain, rusty, as it had been years since her last go at the helm, and it reflects poorly on her to be injured and out so early.
Embarrassment that she got hurt in the first place.
But injuries happen all the time on the job. Nicks and scrapes, sprains and bruises. They were normal, and commonplace in Maya’s life.
As Carina reflects back, she thumbs over in the archives of her mind of all the injuries Maya had sustained in her career, and within their relationship. Her mind drifts to the dreaded ankle, the nagging injury that flared up now and again from Maya’s Olympic running days.
But Maya has never, ever missed time for an injury. She’s always been able to push through, to muscle up and continue working.
She’s always been able to keep her eyes forward…
Carina gasps slightly, the realization washing over her in a wave. She reaches out, scooting closer to Maya and tucking her in close. Maya protests at first, her body stiff and her gaze set forward, those stoic, steely blue eyes in a trance as Carina clutches her to her chest.
“His voice is getting loud, isn’t it?” Carina asks, tucking her head back slightly and looking down on Maya, who meekly nods and hangs her head.
“Oh, Bambina.” She tuts, her chest squeezing tight at the understanding.
Lane Bishop and all of his tortuous fury, still occasionally worked and wormed his way into Maya’s unconscious mind, sometimes affecting her day to day actions without cognizant notice.
His lasting impacts and scars on Maya’s rebuilt and well-therapied heart infuriated Carina, beyond belief. She would commit crimes against the Geneva convention should Lane grow a pair big enough to ever show his face around her family again.
But underneath the flaming and soaring rage that Carina harbored for Maya’s father, sat a heavy, cumbersome sadness. Like a gray and stormy cloud that hovered above, souring their love and dampening their light. She didn’t pity Maya, for she had observed her wife diligently work on herself, her traumas, blossoming into a beautiful and present version of herself. A healthy and beaming ray of light as a wife, friend, coworker, and especially a mother.
Lane had no position at their table. He was not welcome. And all of his shitty, monster-like mind games could be the first out the door, if Carina had a say.
She studies her wife, pulling back and giving Maya some space, watching as she tucks her legs under herself criss-cross and thumbing over a fray in the sling she wore. Maya’s head was bowed, disappointed, ashamed even. Her posture was small, and it was jarring to see. A woman who stood so broadly and bravely in all walks of life, reduced to a shriveled pile of exhaustion and sleep deprivation.
Maya shifts slightly, clearing her throat of the frog currently stuck in it. “I’ve never missed work before. For an injury. For the flu. Never. Except the 51-50...” Maya squeaks, her voice even tinier.
“I know, Bambina.”
Maya tips her head back, shaking it at the ceiling in grief, “He calls me lazy. And worthless. And fat and-” Maya pauses, pawing at her chest as it begins to constrict. “-he makes me feel invisible.” Maya says, a few tears pooling, unshed, in her deep blue eyes.
Carina shakes her head, finding herself full of a tumultuous mix of rage and heartbreak, tossed back and forth at nauseating speeds, giving her emotional whiplash.
“It’s scary when you start to believe him, isn’t it? And it's scary when a small part of you wants to let it be true,” Carina pauses.
She reaches over, wiping a small tear off Maya’s cleft chin.
“To be invisible.”
Maya’s head shoots up, her eyes widened in shock, as if Carina had shoved a knife directing in the already raw and gaping wound Maya was snarling and growling in front of, trying to protect from coming to light.
“I- I-. I don’t. I can’t-” Maya stutters.
“It’s okay to acknowledge that part of you. To give it space to be felt.” She reminds Maya, bowing her head to emphasize her point and find Maya’s eyes.
“But you need to also recognize and remind yourself, that is an unhealed part of you, and it is not the truth.” Carina says, thumbing over Maya’s chin lightly, bringing her eyes upward. “You are not the sum of all your unhealed parts.”
“You are the work, you are the effort. My Maya is the one who grows, and loves, and is visible.”
Carina leans in closer, her voice soft, but bold, and present.
“My Maya is here. ” She says through small tears, pointing to her chest, right above her heart.
Maya was full on crying now, Carina’s reassurance covering her in a blanket of repressed emotions, bursting from her seams and spilling over. It wasn’t drastic, but her tears were streaming down her rosy cheeks, coating the neckline of her shirt.
“You are hurt, and it is okay to take time to heal, and rest, and love on yourself until you’re fixed up.” She grins widely.
“And if you can’t do that right now, I know a few people who might be able to help.” Carina says, nodding toward the hallway where a sleepy Liam, covered in sleep lines and bed head, still in his jammies and rubbing his eyes, had appeared.
In tow behind him was his sister, beyond cranky and swaying back and forth with sleep, her hair equally disheveled and her eyes a permanent scowl; just like Carina. Forever pissed off at alarm clocks, and the sun, and noisy older brothers for waking her up and dragging her out of bed.
Maya spits out a small, snot-covered laugh at the sight of her sleepy babies, stood pushing their bellies out (just like their mommy does when she’s focused or relaxed) and rubbing their eyes.
“G’morning, my babies.” Maya says, motioning with her hand for them to join the couch cuddle puddle.
“Mommy, you hurt?” Liam says, running over to her and thumbing over Maya’s sling and looking at her blushed face with his big brimming and concerned eyes.
“No bubs, I’m okay. Why are you two awake?” Maya asks, ruffling his hair flat and looking from one to the other.
Still rubbing his eyes, he hops up on the couch and pushes Maya back, laying on her tummy and looking at Carina, putting his feet in her lap. “Cuz I heard you yellin’. Are you sure you’re not hurt?” he mumbles and tilts his head back, looking at Maya upside down as he chews lightly on his fingers.
“We’re sure, patatino.” Carina says, tickling his feet and making him giggle.
Carina eyes over to Andrea, still swaying and drunk with sleep, giggling at her forever grumpy pants anti-morning mini me.
“And you, my shadow, how are you Bambina?” Carina says, motioning her to join them.
Andrea huffs, dropping her blanket and walking over to join them. She pushes Liam to the side and grabs Maya’s good arm and tugs on it.
“What’s up, Drea?” Maya asks lightly through a chuckle at how Carina she could be, mute and fussy in the morning,
“Big bed.” She retorts firmly, stamping her foot a little.
Carina tips her head back in laughter. “Ohhhh you want to cuddle in the big bed? Well, we have a few hours before brunch with Gran. I suppose that could be arranged.”
Maya springs up off the couch as both kids squeal in delight. “Okay, loves. Hop on the ride and haaaaaang tight!” Maya calls, waiting for each kid to cling to a leg, sitting on her feet as she waddles them all toward the bedroom, hanging on for dear life as Maya roars and playfully grunts her way in.
Carina passes by quickly, stroking her hand on Maya’s lower back, tilting her head back and stealing a run by kiss on her way to make more coffee.
“Love you, stubborn butt.” Carina mumbles against Maya’s lips as she smacks Maya’s ass.
“I love you too, my heart. Sempre.”
~
Carina slips back into the room with two cups of coffee and some “green juice” for the kids in sippy cups. They had watched Maya make her morning smoothie for what felt like ever and begged Carina for their own versions every morning. Maya had brought up the genius idea to get children’s vitamin powder so Maya could make their morning green juice be a hidden way for them to take their necessary vitamins and feel included all in one go.
She hits the doorway threshold and gasps, her heart wrinkling into a ball of warmth and love at the sight.
“Bambini, juice please.” Carina beckons, her hands full as she steps quietly into the room.
“Shhhh Mama, we are in ‘errrgery.” Andrea chides, making a ‘shh’ motion on her lips.
Liam hops up off the bed, grabbing the cups from Carina, “Yeah, Mommy is our patient and we can’t wake her up. Not until she’s fixed.”
Carina’s heart swells even further, observing Maya laid completely dead asleep on the bed, the kids’ doctor toys sprawled about as Andrea works valiantly at ‘fixing’ Maya’s broken collarbone with her plastic tools.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll be extra quiet. Can I help?” Carina says, tucking herself crisscross under the blankets and setting her coffee aside.
Andrea pauses, deep in thought as she looks over Carina and Liam, deciding the plan. “Liam, you get bone saw,” she says, hanging him the fake saw. “And Mama, you can be the nurse and bring me tools.”
Carina salutes, rolling her shoulders back and getting serious. “Yes, Dr. DeLuca-Bishop.”
After an hour of intense, whisper filled surgery, Maya was out and into the ICU and recovering nicely after her arm amputation. The kids had settled against the headboard, quietly sipping their green juices and watching cartoons while Maya’s snores filled the room and Carina continued reading her book for the remaining bit of time before they needed to get ready for bunch with Katherine.
“Why Mommy snorin’ so loud? I can’t hear the cartoons.” Andrea says, jolting her head up and over Maya, staring at her while she sleeps, poking her in the nose and causing Maya to wiggle and snort.
Carina about spits her coffee out her nose, trying to collect her giggles before she loses her cool. “Well, Drea. Do you guys remember what it feels like to have a bad dream? When you wake up scared and come share the big bed?”
Liam sits up, nodding brightly. “Yeah! Sometimes my chest feels all tight and I get confused!”
Nodding, Carina continues, pulling Andrea off of Maya and preventing her from waking her up. “Right,” She laughs, wrestling Andrea into a bear hug. “And being next to us, makes you feel better right? It allows you to sleep?”
Both kids nod, staring up and listening intently, “Well sometimes, when Mommy is reaaallyyy tired, or stressed, or sick, she snores. It’s kind of funny,” Carina pauses, poking Maya’s nose again, “She’s really tired because she’s been having bad dreams. So, we need to give her extra careful snuggles and let her sleep so she feels safe and can snore all day long.”
Liam and Andrea share a serious look, taking in the offer and considering it.
“Okay! We can do that.” Liam nods, leaning over and tucking the blanket up to Maya’s chin, carefully adjusting it around her sling.
~
CLANK!
Both kids startle awake at the sound of the front door clicking shut and a figure shuffling through the living room.
“Bambini, there’s someone here to visit. Can you go help them, quietly? ”
Carina smiles brightly as both of her sleepy shadows toddle out into the living room, waking up from their unplanned nap and squealing loudly at the sight of Katherine entering the house.
“GRAN!” They echo in unison, throwing themselves not so quietly into her very full arms and about knocking her over.
Carina sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose “So much for quietly.” she grumbles, looking over at a sleepyheaded and confused Maya, who was sitting up and stretching, hair matted and her shirt twisted sideways and up, fully exposing her stomach and side-boob.
“What’s happening? What time is it? Why is everything so loud and bright?” Maya grumbles, deflating and slouching, pouting.
“C’mere, pouty.” Carina giggles, smoothing over Maya’s bedhead and tugging her shirt down, pausing to plant a kiss to her ribs and hum, “Hmm you’ve been working abs so much lately. Might need to inspect these a little more closely lately.” She flirts, poking Maya’s softer tummy playfully.
Maya immediately blushes, tugging her shirt down all the way and wagging her finger at Carina. “I am not a toy for your pleasure!”
Carina snaps Maya on the arm playfully with the hair band and cocks an eyebrow, ‘Well, yes, you are. But I also have other toys we can use for pleasure-”
“Ohmygod! My mom is here, will you quit it!” Maya calls incredulously, whacking Carina with the nearest pillow.
Chuckling and tipping her head back with her separated “Ha ha ha” laughs, Carina slides behind Maya and begins brushing her hair and tossing it in a braid for her so it was out of her face.
“For real, what time is it?”
Carina’s hands work lightly, “It’s noon.”
Maya wiggles her head quickly, stopping as Carina redirects it forward, refusing to let Maya move,
“Wait! Brunch was at 11! We slept through it!”
Maya tries snaking out of bed the second Carina finishes her braid, only to be shoved back down playfully. “ You slept through it. And I let you. I texted Katherine that you needed the sleep. She must have decided to bring us brunch anyways.” Carina says sweetly, straddling Maya softly and tucking her frizzy fly-aways behind her ear as Maya’s baby blues look up at her innocently.
“I guess I did need the sleep.” Maya grumbles, trailing off and her hand landing on Carina’s hip naturally. She listens for a sec, hearing the faint sounds of Liam and Andrea arguing over who got to sit next to Gran at the table.
“You also look like you need a kiss.” Carina teases, leaving down and delivering a deep kiss, breaking when they both needed air.
Carina leans back a little, her eyes dancing across Maya’s, her heart seemingly calmer, more content seeing a small smile lift to Maya’s lips, a smile that had been tucked anxiously away for weeks.
“I- uhm-” Maya starts, finding herself a little emotional in her sleepy state. She shakes her head, finding words rather difficult in her vulnerability. She buries her face in Carina’s chest and wraps an arm around her waist.
“ImsorryforhidingihaventhadmydadpopinmyheadlikethatsincehavingthekidsandIwasscarediloveyou.” Maya mumbles into the fabric shyly.
Carina chuckles, tucking her legs off the bed and lifting Maya up as well, directing them toward their awaiting brunch.
“I know. You can’t hide from me, Bambina. I always know.” Carina says as they walk holding hands into the living room.
Katherine walks up kindly, giving Maya’s arm a once over and a small glare before pulling her into a delicate hug, “And you’re a really crummy liar.” She teases, winking at Carina and squeezing her arm as she passes by.
“Am not!” Maya pouts, playfully huffing as she plops down next to Andrea and kissing her head as she chews on a piece of bacon.
Andrea doesn’t even look up before shoving her bacon right up to Maya’s mouth and absently grabbing another for herself. “Bacon will help Mommy. Getting in trouble with Mama is scary, but bacon can help.”
The entire group tips back in belly laughter at Andrea’s quick wits and un-ironic humor, settling in for their homemade brunch. They trade silly stories and roast Maya for snoring, and Katherine shares a few anecdotes of Maya snoring worse than a lumberjack as a kid.
As their meal concludes, Katherine takes Liam to the kitchen to help package leftovers and finish up the dishes and Andrea runs off to pick her outfit for their afternoon park date with Gran.
Carina had waltzed her way over to Maya’s lap, sitting gently at the table together. She reaches over for the can of whipped cream for waffles and tips her head back, squirting a dollop of it in her mouth and moaning at the sweetness.
Liam zooms by on his way to get dressed, mouth open and waiting for a drive by squeeze of whipped cream. He squeals with delight as some ends up all over his nose, cold against his skin.
“Grazie, Mama!” He beams, placing a hand to his whipped-cream covered lips and blowing a kiss as he sprints by to his room, forever a blur.
Turning back, Carina tips the can inquisitively to Maya, offering her a taste only to find Maya misty eyed and full on crying.
“Bambina, what’s wrong?” Carina tuts, putting the can down and turning to face her more fully.
Maya shakes her head, laughing slightly. She looks at her mom in the kitchen, finishing up dishes and the kids down the hall, picking out each other’s outfits. Or well, Liam picking both.
“It’s nothing. And it’s a good nothing.” Maya coughs, her voice thick with emotion.
“There was a time when my bed and sleep and meals and family time all made my chest hurt and ruined my day. And right now? I can’t think of a single other thing I want more than this.” Maya says, picking up the can of whipped cream to squirt some in her mouth, only to be robbed by a passing Andrea, stealing the can and running to Gran so she can squirt some in her mouth.
“Even if I’m surrounded by THIEVES .” Maya jokes, chuckling at her forever sneaky daughter.
She turns her eyes back to Carina, full of the warmth and soothing love of no conditions or precursors, requirements or unfairness. The love she doused herself in was free to roam within her, no expectations or labels or competitions.
Leaning in and placing a soft kiss to Carina’s lips as she blinks a small laughter tear away,
“You can steal my heart any time.”
~