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Maya ran into the ER. She’d legged it out of the station the moment Teddy had called her to say Carina was here, only pausing at the Captain’s office to frantically tell Andy she needed to go.
One of the nurses recognised her and pointed her in the right direction, and Maya ran into the room to find Carina lying back on the bed with her foot raised on a pillow.
“Carina? What happened? Are you okay? You’re hurt? Teddy said you fell in the OR?!”
She grabbed Carina’s hand, looking her over for injuries. Her foot was the only obvious one, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything else. To this day, Carina being hurt was her number one fear - along with her children being hurt, of course.
Carina squeezed Maya’s hand, stopping her. “Stupido intern spilled fluids behind me and didn’t say and I slipped,” she explained.
“What?! Where is he?!” Maya let go of her hand, immediately storming towards the door.
“Maya!” Carina’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Bambina, it was a mistake. He is feeling very sorry for himself after I shouted at him in multiple languages, and Miranda is currently going all Dr. Bailey on him, so he definitely does not need you to add to his problems. I need you here, per favore.”
She turned from where she had stopped by the door, “you’re hurt? Your ankle? Have they given you something for the pain?”
“Maya, calmati. I have had an x-ray, and pain relief. I will be okay, but you need to sit,” she reached her hand back out, and Maya walked back over, taking it.
She seated herself on the chair by the bed, pulling Carina’s hand to her lips and kissing the back of it. “I’m sorry, I hate seeing you hurt. When Teddy phoned…” she lowered her forehead to Carina’s hand, shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. “I know it’s stupid. She said you were okay, but I just needed to see it.”
“Bambina, I’m okay, I promise. It’s most likely just a bad sprain, and the rest of me is fine,” she explained, and Maya looked up. “I love that you care with all your heart,” she smiled.
Maya gave a sheepish smile in return, “sorry for overreacting. I still get to look after you though, right? You’ll have to rest.”
Carina chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Yes, you will. My favourite nurse.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” One of the nurses - Maya recognised her - she worked on Carina’s floor, came in holding her phone. “You left it in the OR, sorry it took so long to bring it.”
“That’s alright, thank you for bringing it Eileen. How is Mrs Moore?” Carina asked.
Maya tuned out a little as Eileen started to recount their patients’ condition. She looked down at Carina’s leg and started mentally planning things. The kids for a start - Carina was meant to take Andrea home from the daycare after shift and meet Liam from the school bus, so she’d need to get that covered. She hoped they wouldn’t be too upset - Liam especially, he was such a sweet, sensitive boy.
The biggest issue on her mind, however, was the fact it was Carina’s birthday in three days, and her current plans were definitely off the table. It was the first time in three years that neither her nor Carina were working on the day, and Maya had been determined to make the most of it. They were going to have the morning together with Andrea after Liam went to school, maybe go to the park. Then Jo was picking up their crazy little toddler for a playdate with the twins, while Carina and Maya went to the IcePlex for some skating. It wasn’t something they got to do very often, but Carina had fallen in love with ice skating a few years ago, and Maya really wanted them to go again. The day would end with a romantic dinner at Carina’s favourite restaurant, before they got home to take over from Vic and Andy (who were taking the evening shift with the kids), in time for bedtime - because Maya knew that her wife would want to do bedtime on her birthday.
Now she needed to think of a new plan. Fast. Because a sprained ankle was not ruining her wife’s birthday. Not on Maya’s watch.
Maya had gone out.
It had been 2 days since her accident, and Carina was going stir crazy. She was stuck either in bed or on the sofa, her foot needing to be up and resting as much as possible, and Maya was taking that very seriously.
Maya had gone out, but Carina was not alone.
She’d tried to tell Maya she’d be okay with the kids, but her wife had not had any of it, and instead called Amelia in to babysit - though Carina wasn’t sure how many of them that referred to.
Liam had just been picked up, however, as he was going to spend the afternoon with Auntie Vic, which just left Andrea - who was being quite the crazy 3-year-old today. Carina had tried to pin her down with her favourite movie - Moana - but that had lasted about 15 minutes before she’d been up again.
Realistically, she needed to leave the house. Maya had said she couldn’t take her - though Carina had no idea what she was actually doing that meant she couldn’t.
And that left Amelia chasing her trying to keep control. Which, to be fair, was hilarious most of the time.
“Mamma! Mamma! Posso volare!”
Carina’s eyes widened. She heard her daughter, but she could not see her. “Amelia?!”
“What did she say?” Amelia asked innocently, as Carina realised Andrea was appearing over the back of the other sofa.
“Guarda mamma!”
“She just told me she could fly! And now she is almost on top of the sofa!” Carina was close to just getting up herself.
There was a clang from the kitchen as Amelia rushed into the room and rushed to scoop up Andrea who then immediately started to fight her. “No! Vola! I fly!”
“I'm so sorry, I was just sorting food-”
Carina shook her head, “it's not your fault. Stellina, come and sit with me while Auntie Amelia makes us some lunch, per favore? Mamma needs some of your special cuddles.”
That caused Andrea to stop fighting and looked over at Carina. “Mamma triste? [sad]”
“Un po’, ma le tue coccole mi fanno sentire sempre meglio [A little, but your cuddles always help me feel better].”
Andrea immediately wiggled to get down from Amelia’s grasp. “Posso aiutare! [I can help]”
“Grazie stellina,” Carina smiled up at Amelia who nodded and then disappeared back to the kitchen.
Carina could breathe.
For a bit.
After lunch, Andrea had fallen asleep for her usual early afternoon nap. Carina was also frustratingly shattered, so between Amelia and her crutches they had made it to the bedroom.
Amelia also carried Andrea and placed her on the bed beside Carina, and the 3-year-old had automatically snuggled into her mamma’s side.
When Carina woke up, however, Andrea was no longer in the bed. She listened carefully, and quickly tuned into her daughters’ giggles as she presumably played with her Auntie Amelia. Unsurprisingly, Amelia was one of Andrea's favourite people - mostly because Auntie Amelia let her get away with a lot. Given the sounds currently coming from her daughter, Carina was glad she couldn't currently see what was going on out there.
She grabbed her phone from the side, smiling when there was a notification from Maya.
Bambina: Hope you're resting up. Still got a bit more to do, but I'll be back asap. Love you x
What on earth was her wife up to? Carina shook her head fondly before typing out a reply, deciding not to question her wife’s whereabouts.
Carina: Just had a nap. See you later. Ti amo x
No sooner had she sent the text, Amelia appeared at the door - Andrea hanging upside down and giggling from her arms.
“Amelia! What are you doing with my child?!”
“What? She loves it!” Amelia shrugged, pulling Andrea up and throwing her up before catching her the right way up, the 3-year-old laughing the whole time.
It was exactly the kind of thing Maya would do with her too, and Carina didn’t particularly like it then either.
Andrea was then placed down on the bed, scrambling over to her. “Mamma you sleep ages!”
Carina had sat herself up a little, and placed an arm around Andrea who had thrown her little arms around her mamma’s chest. “Mamma gets very tired at the moment, but you had fun with Auntie Amelia while I was asleep?”
“Yeah! I fly!”
Her eyes immediately shot up to Amelia who held her hands up. “She was safe the whole time, I promise.”
“You are lucky I cannot get up right now,” Carina tutted.
“Do you think I would dare try that if you were fully mobile?” Amelia pointed out, chuckling slightly to herself.
With a scowl, Carina shook her head and looked down at Andrea who was already wiggling to move again. “You’re here to help me, not cause me more stress, Amelia.”
“I never signed up to that agreement. I absolutely am using this as an excuse to safely wind you up.”
Carina rolled her eyes. “Jeez, if that’s your bedside manner, I’d rather take my chances on my own.”
“And face the wrath of your wife? No chance, I know you would never dare.”
She huffed, because Amelia was right. “Fine. But help me out to the sofa because I am sick of this bed, and then I will be able to see you much better.”
“Yes ma’am,” Amelia joked with a salute before helping her up.
Before Maya returned there were another two attempts of Andrea to ‘fly’, and 2 pieces of burnt toast setting off the fire alarm, and Carina was beyond relieved to see her wife walk into the house.
Maya had acted very nonchalant the rest of the evening, not really saying what she’d been up to. She’d taken care of bedtime for both kids, and then they’d spent a couple of hours watching a film together before heading to bed.
She had apologised for leaving Carina with Amelia for so long, though Carina wasn’t really sure how real the apology was.
Still, she’d fallen asleep in her wife’s arms, and woken up in them too. As she came to, she smiled at the feeling of warmth and peace. It also confused her a little, as it was rare for her to wake naturally with both of them in bed and no children invading. But she wasn’t going to argue.
“Happy birthday my love,” Maya spoke quietly, obviously having spotted she was now awake.
Carina tilted her head back, a smile on her face as they shared a kiss. “Is this wake up my present? Because it’s amazing.”
Maya chuckled, “I didn’t plan it, but our babies are still sleeping. Can I get you anything? Do you need painkillers?”
She hummed a no. Though her foot was indeed painful, she didn’t want Maya to move yet. “In a bit. This is nice.”
With a kiss to her head, Maya agreed. “It is.”
“M’sorry I ruined your plans for today,” Carina sighed a little, linking her fingers with Maya’s between them.
“Carina no, don’t apologise. I’m just sorry you’re hurt on your birthday. It’s okay, we’re still together, hm?”
Carina nodded. “We are. That’s all I ever want on my birthday. My wife and my babies.”
Suspiciously, Maya didn’t say anything to that, just hummed and kissed her head again.
The peace didn’t last long. Andrea and Liam came running in about 20 minutes later shouting ‘buon compleanno!’ and climbing onto the bed, so they had family cuddles for a while before getting up.
Maya made pancakes to start the day, complete with all Carina’s favourite toppings, before declaring they were going out.
She had briefly tried to argue, pointing out that she couldn’t walk far and they had 2 energetic children to control, but Maya was having none of it. Everyone was organised ready to go, and Maya was very specific on what everyone was wearing. She had a dress for Carina which she had apparently picked out the previous day, along with a matching one for Andrea, who was thrilled to be the same as her Mamma. Liam had an adorable shirt and trousers, and Maya… well she was in black trousers and a very attractive red sleeveless blouse.
Carina was even more pissed that she couldn’t stand unaided at that moment.
However when she’d questioned Maya on why they were dressed up, she wasn’t giving anything away. Instead they all bundled in the car and Maya started driving. It was around midday now, having taken a while to get everyone sorted, but Maya didn’t seem stressed about the time.
Before she knew it, they were outside Ben and Bailey’s house. Bailey came straight out to the car, as if she’d been waiting for them to arrive, opening the rear door where Andrea was sitting. “Deluca-Bishops! Good to see you. How’s are you holding up, Carina?”
“I’m dosed up on painkillers, a little angry at the world for ruining our plans, and I don’t have a clue what is going on right now.”
Maya got out of the car, coming around and opening Carina’s door. “The painkillers certainly make things interesting,” she commented, and Carina didn’t even bother to argue, because she was right.
There was a chuckle from Bailey, who was helping the kids out of the car, while Maya assisted Carina up with her crutches.
They made their way into the house, with both kids immediately running in shouting for Pru - who they adored. Carina was so focussed on moving successfully that it took her a moment to even notice the room was filled with many of their favourite people, and decorated.
“Wha-”
“Happy birthday!” came the cries from around the room.
Carina turned to Maya who smiled. “Happy birthday, my love.”
“This is what you were organising yesterday?” she asked.
Maya nodded, “with some help. I still wanted you to have a good birthday, and there are so many people that love you and want the same.”
She started to tear up as Maya helped her to sit down. “This is perfetto.”
“Just like you,” Maya kissed her cheek. “Ankle sprain or no ankle sprain, you are always perfect.”