Archive of Our Own

The annual First Responders Masquerade Ball had always sounded like something that belonged in a film rather than Seattle.

For weeks Maya had listened to the firefighters at Station 19 talking about it between calls, swapping stories from previous years over cups of coffee and half eaten takeout. 

There were debates over who had worn the most ridiculous mask, laughter about the detective who had somehow failed to recognise his own captain for nearly an hour, and countless reminders that the entire evening was supposed to be about leaving ranks and uniforms at the door.

“No names, no job titles, no introductions unless you want to.”

It was the one night of the year where firefighters danced with police officers they’d usually only pass at emergency scenes. Doctors shared drinks with paramedics, and dispatchers finally put faces to the voices they’d spent the year hearing through headsets.

Everyone wore a mask. Some chose simple designs that hid only the area around their eyes, making them instantly recognisable to friends and colleagues despite the tradition. Others embraced the mystery completely, arriving in ornate Venetian masks decorated with feathers, crystals and gold leaf, disguising enough of themselves that even close friends struggled to identify them.

Maya had spent far too long deciding which kind she wanted. In the end, she’d chosen somewhere in between. The silver mask curved elegantly across the top half of her face; it concealed enough that strangers wouldn’t recognise her at a first glance, yet left her mouth and jaw uncovered. She combined it with a simple plum suit tailored just well enough to make her feel a little more confident than she actually was.

She stood just inside the ballroom entrance, fingers smoothing a crease from the sleeve of her jacket as she took everything in. It was unlike anywhere Maya had ever been. She suddenly became acutely aware of how out of place she actually felt, how she’d almost turned around three separate times in the lobby before finally forcing herself inside.

Maybe this had been a mistake. She was a twenty two years old rookie firefighter who still felt like she had something to prove at every shift she worked. Most of the people here had years of experience behind them. 

They all knew each other, they recognised each other’s voices, laughed at inside jokes, greeted like old friends with hugs, but as Maya stood at the entrance, she realised she recognised no one at a first glance.

Normally, that thought would have made her feel out of place, but she also realised that now, no one had any expectation of her. If she made a fool of herself, there would be no whispered conversations in the station kitchen on Monday morning, she wouldn’t do anything that caused teasing from the crew or needed any awkward explanations. She could simply be another woman in a mask.

Maybe, for just one evening, she could pretend to be someone fearless. She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, more for something to hold than because she actually wanted it, allowing out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.

As Maya wandered further into the room, she admired the extravagant masks people had chosen. Smiling to herself as she watched groups of firefighters trying and failing to identify police officers they’d worked alongside for years. More than once she’d overheard someone confidently call out the wrong name, only to be met with laughter from everyone around them.

She sipped from the champagne she’d been nursing for longer than necessary, she leaned casually against one of the marble columns that surrounded the ballroom. It gave her somewhere to stand without looking like she was lingering and from there, she could see almost everything.

She recognised a detective she’d met at a scene in an emerald mask, he was attempting to convince two paramedics to join him on the dance floor.

Across the room, a group of nurses she'd seen in the ER surrounded the silent auction, seemingly debating whether one of the holiday packages was worth bidding on.

Near the orchestra, several firefighters were already laughing loudly enough that Maya wondered how anyone who worked with them hadn’t recognised their voices because she was sure she could name each of them. 

Maya began to relax, the evening wasn’t about proving herself or trying to fit in. Nobody cared that she was one of the youngest firefighters in attendance. 

She lifted the champagne flute to her lips just as movement near the entrance caught her attention. At first, Maya only noticed flashes of gold. The fabric caught the light with every graceful step its wearer took, before disappearing amongst the darker colours surrounding it.

Suddenly the crowd shifted and Maya saw her for the first time. She attempted to look away, to remind herself there were hundreds of people in the ballroom, that staring was rude, that she’d never even met this woman but everything else simply blurred into the background.

The woman moved with an effortless confidence, Maya could see it in the way she walked, in the way she greeted those around her. Maya didn’t recognise her, but it was clear others did. 

She wore an elegant gold gown that flowed around her with every step, it was paired with a black Venetian mask edged delicately with gold filigree. It should have concealed her, but Maya found herself thinking she’d never seen anyone more beautiful.

The stranger accepted a glass of champagne from a waiter with a warm smile and thanked him before continuing further into the room, stopping every few steps as someone greeted her.

Maya frowned slightly. Whoever she was, she clearly wasn’t a stranger to many of the guests, people gravitated towards her naturally. She listened more than she spoke, tilting her head slightly whenever someone addressed her, laughing openly at jokes Maya couldn’t hear from across the room. There was something magnetic about her. It wasn’t just physical attraction, there was no doubt she was beautiful, but she seemed kind.

She looked down into her champagne, willing herself to regain some composure. It was ridiculous. She didn’t know the first thing about this woman, she didn’t know her name or what she did. Yet her gaze drifted back across the room almost involuntarily.

The woman was smiling again, and the sight of it stirred something in Maya she had been working to push down deep within her. If she was honest with herself, she’d felt it before, once while walking through the city, another time standing in line for coffee. Many times when passing women on the street whose smiles had stayed with her for far longer than they probably should have.

She’d never allowed herself to examine it too closely because there had always been a simple explanation close at hand.

You just think she’s pretty.

Everyone notices beautiful women.

It doesn’t mean anything.

Those thoughts had become second nature over the years, repeated so often they surfaced automatically whenever she caught herself looking for a little too long. It had always been easier not to question them.

Maya looked around the ballroom and noticed nobody was paying her any attention. Why would they? She was just another guest dressed in formal clothes, with half of her face hidden behind a silver mask.

The handful of people she did recognise from Station 19 were scattered around the room, talking amongst themselves. None of them had recognised her since she’d arrived meaning nobody here knew who she was.

That also meant that nobody would know if she walked across the ballroom and introduced herself to another woman. She had spent years wondering, years of looking away before she’d lingered too long, of convincing herself that curiosity was all it was.

But maybe a masquerade ball was the perfect place to stop wondering. If she made a complete fool of herself, the only person who would ever have to know was her. 

She let out a nervous laugh beneath her breath, shaking her head at herself. “You run into burning buildings for a living,” she murmured quietly to herself. Surely saying hello to a beautiful woman couldn’t be harder than that.

Maya glanced back across the ballroom noticing she had made her way towards the bar. Maya watched her for another second, then before she could give herself time to change her mind, she started walking. She kept her gaze ahead, resisting every urge to turn around and retreat before she’d even made it halfway across the room. 

Her boots had carried her into burning apartment buildings, she’d climbed ladders onto unstable roofs, sprinted towards emergencies while everyone else was running away. This should have been easy.

Except it wasn’t, because she wasn’t in boots and unlike a fire, there wasn’t a protocol for this. No academy instructor had ever taught her how to approach a beautiful woman she’d never met. No one had explained how to tell the difference between confidence and arrogance, or whether there even was a right way to say hello.

By the time she reached the edge of the crowd surrounding the bar, her palm had begun to grow warm inside her jacket pocket.

The woman was only a few feet away, standing with one elbow resting lightly against the polished wood of the bar, patiently waiting while the bartender finished serving another guest. Up close, Maya noticed details she’d missed from across the room.

The gold of her dress wasn’t plain satin as she’d first thought. Tiny beads had been sewn delicately into the fabric, catching the light whenever she moved, it was exquisite. 

The bartender finally made his way over.

“What can I get for you?”

“A glass of red wine, please.” The woman smiled warmly.

There was the unmistakable hint of an Italian accent, it was unexpected but Maya couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t even considered the possibility that hearing the woman speak might somehow make her more attractive, but apparently it could.

The bartender disappeared to retrieve the wine, leaving the woman standing alone once more. This was it, there was nobody else waiting beside her. There was no conversation she was already part of and no reason not to simply walk the final few steps.

Hi.

Too boring.

Can I buy you a drink?

She already had one.

You look…

No, definitely not that one. 

Her brain seemed determined to abandon her at precisely the wrong moment. She was close enough now that if she reached out, she could probably brush against the woman’s sleeve. She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Before Maya could gather enough courage to try again…

“There you are!”

The enthusiastic voice cut cleanly through the surrounding conversations. A woman in a deep red gown appeared seemingly out of nowhere, slipping effortlessly into the space beside the stranger.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

The brunette turned, surprise quickly melting into recognition.

“Oh!” She smiled, leaning in as the other woman kissed her cheek.

“I didn’t realise you’d arrived already.”

“We’ve been here twenty minutes.”

Maya stopped, she didn’t take the final two steps she’d intended to take. 

“What can I get you?”

She looked down at the empty champagne flute still balanced between her fingers. Right, a drink. That had been why she’d come over to the bar. It had absolutely nothing to do with the woman just inches away from her. 

“Whiskey, please,” the words came out steadier than she felt.

“Neat?”

She nodded.

The beautiful stranger was completely absorbed in conversation now, listening with the same attentive smile Maya had noticed from across the room. Every now and then she’d smile, resting her fingertips lightly around the stem of her wine glass before taking another sip.

She hadn’t noticed Maya at all, why would she? To her, Maya was simply another guest ordering a drink.

The bartender slid the whiskey towards her.

“Enjoy your evening.”

“You too.”

She wrapped her hand around the glass, thanking him with a small smile before turning away. She took a slow sip of the whiskey, wincing slightly as it burned down her throat, and wandered back into the crowd as though she’d achieved exactly what she’d intended all along.

Only once she was a safe distance away did she let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Well…” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head with a sheepish smile. “That could’ve gone better.”

She considered, briefly, that she’d completely failed. Then she reminded herself that no, she hadn’t failed. She had actually walked over in a way she couldn’t have imagined doing twenty minutes earlier. Maybe she hadn’t spoken, or introduced herself in a way she would have intended to do, but at least she’d tried, for the first time in her life, she had allowed herself to try. 

Maya spent the next fifteen minutes convincing herself she wasn’t waiting to try again. She wandered through the ballroom, pausing at the silent auction long enough to study a weekend getaway she had absolutely no intention of bidding on. She stopped to admire a display of photographs for sale, all taken by first responders throughout the year consisting of sunrises over Seattle’s skyline, search and rescue dogs at work, and crews gathered after difficult calls.

She even exchanged a brief conversation with a firefighter from another station who mistook her for someone he’d met during academy training. The masks, it seemed, were doing exactly what they were designed to do.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” Maya had admitted with an apologetic smile.

The man laughed, lifting his hands in surrender.

“I’ve seen plenty of people do that tonight.” Maya reassured him. 

“It makes me feel better that it isn’t just me.”

“It definitely isn’t.”

He offered a friendly nod before disappearing back into the crowd. Maya watched him go, smiling to herself, maybe there really was something freeing about this. People weren’t introducing themselves by rank or reputation, they were simply talking.

She found herself relaxing slightly, at least for a little while until her eyes started wandering again. Instinctively seeking out that gold dress, or maybe just the woman wearing it. 

Maya found her strolling slowly towards the dessert tables that stretched almost the entire length of one wall. She was alone once again, she stopped in front of the display, studying the rows of miniature pastries with an expression of genuine concentration, as though selecting dessert was an incredibly important decision. Maya couldn’t help smiling, it was unexpectedly adorable.

Maya looked away but immediately found herself looking back. She watched as the woman leaned in slightly, reading the tiny handwritten labels beside each dessert before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod to herself.

Important decision, apparently.

The thought made Maya chuckle quietly into her whiskey. She realised that she was smiling, not because anything particularly exciting had happened. It was simply because she’d caught sight of a stranger trying to decide between tiramisu and chocolate mousse.

Maya knew she probably shouldn’t approach her, that one failed attempt was embarrassing enough and there was no rule saying she had to keep trying. Except, if she left now, she’d spend the rest of the evening wondering what might have happened if she’d simply walked over.

Before she could overthink herself into another missed opportunity, Maya turned towards the dessert tables. The crowd was thinner here, with people drifting in and out, selecting something sweet before returning to conversations elsewhere in the ballroom. As she approached, she noticed the brunette still hadn’t made a decision, her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

Maya reached for a small chocolate tart simply to give herself something to do. She could do this, it was just a conversation. She wasn’t asking for anything, it wasn't like she was proposing marriage.

She was simply going to say… her mind immediately emptied. Seriously? She almost laughed aloud at the irony. How could she not think of one single thing to say?

There was a huge selection of desserts in front of them, lemon tarts, macarons, cheesecakes and chocolate eclairs, yet Maya couldn’t think of one thing to start a conversation. 

Beside her, the brunette finally reached for a tiramisu. At exactly the same moment, Maya found herself turning slightly in her direction. This was it, she was close enough now that all she had to do was speak.

The words barely formed in her mind before another voice beat her to it.

“I thought it was you!”

Maya stopped when a woman wearing a navy dress approached with a smile, balancing two champagne flutes in one hand.

The brunette looked up, recognition immediately softening her features.

“Oh, hello, I haven’t seen you since the fundraiser.”

“I know,” she replied warmly, “How have you been?”

Maya remained standing exactly where she was for a heartbeat too long before realising she was now awkwardly pretending to be fascinated by a chocolate tart.

Abort mission.

She picked up the dessert she’d already reached for, along with a second one entirely at random, and gave a small nod to the server.

“Excellent choice,” he said cheerfully.

Maya glanced down, she had absolutely no idea what she’d picked.

“I’m sure it is.”

The server smiled. She balanced the tiny dessert plate in one hand and her whiskey in the other, Maya offered one final glance towards the brunette. She was laughing as she listened to whatever story the woman was telling her.

She still hadn’t managed to say a single word to her but this time she’d come close enough to hear her laugh. Somehow, that felt like progress.

With a quiet shake of her head, Maya turned away once more, disappearing back into the flow of masked guests before the brunette ever realised she’d been there.

The server had been right, the desserts had been excellent, but now she began to notice the change in atmosphere. The dance floor was almost full now, as couples danced beneath the chandeliers as music played on. Sound seemed to echo from every corner of the room, the laughter of people failing to recognise those they see everyday mixed with the several hundred conversations Maya wasn’t a part of. 

She paused near one of the tall windows overlooking the gardens, it was the type of garden that looked almost too good to be real. A water fountain in the centre surrounded by flower beds and perfectly trimmed hedges. Strings of fairy lights wrapped around the trees and Maya found herself wishing she was out there instead, it seemed to offer a calm that wasn’t available in here.

She drew in a slow breath, letting the calmness of the gardens settle the fluttering in her chest. She told herself to stop looking, that she had already embarrassed herself twice and that was twice more than she had planned to.

The announcement that the silent auction would be closing soon drew her attention back to the ballroom. Guests quickly gathered around the display tables, comparing bids and admiring the prizes on offer. The prizes ranged from extravagant holidays to theatre tickets, private dining experiences and signed memorabilia donated by local sports teams.

One item, however, immediately caught her attention, a private helicopter tour over Mount Rainier. She stepped closer, reading the accompanying information card with genuine interest, it was way above the amount she could offer but there was no harm in looking.

“I’ve always wondered what that would be like,” The words escaped before Maya realised she’d spoken them aloud.

“It’s beautiful.”

Maya knew that voice, it was the voice she’d been listening to all evening. Slowly, almost cautiously, she turned her head. The brunette was now standing beside her, Maya hadn’t even heard her approach. Her gaze remained on the photograph of the mountain.

“I went once,” she continued, almost conversationally. “Years ago.”

Maya stared for perhaps half a second too long before remembering she was supposed to be capable of speaking.

“Oh.”

Oh? This incredible and gorgeous woman strikes up a conversation with her and all she has to say is ‘oh’.

She resisted the overwhelming urge to close her eyes and bury her face in her hands.

“I mean…” Maya cleared her throat, suddenly finding words again, “I’ve never been. It looks…”

She glanced back at the photograph.

“…worth seeing.”

“It is.”

The silence returned but Maya couldn’t help but smile because she’d actually done it, she had spoken to the most beautiful girl in the room.

“My brother always says seeing the city from above changes your perspective.”

Maya smiled back.

“I imagine he’s right.”

She could do this, she was doing this. Her pulse still raced, but it no longer felt impossible. All she had to do was ask another question. Anything.

“Have you lived in Seattle long?”

“Do you come to this every year?”

“I’m Maya.”

No, not that one. No names, that was part of the fun tonight.

She opened her mouth.

“There you are,” A voice came from behind them and both women turned simultaneously. A man dressed in formal blue attire approached with an apologetic smile.

“I’m beginning to think everyone in Seattle has decided to find me tonight,” the brunette laughed softly.

“I’m afraid so.”

He gestured towards another part of the ballroom.

“They’re asking for you.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently someone wants to thank you personally for helping his wife.”

Understanding softened her expression immediately.

“I’ll only be a moment.”

She turned back towards Maya.

“I’m sorry,” there was genuine regret in her smile. Maya returned it quickly.

“It’s okay.”

The brunette gave a small nod before following the man through the crowd, Maya watched her disappear. Only when the gold dress vanished amongst the sea of masks did she let out the breath she’d been holding. She laughed quietly to herself.

“So close.”

Carina glanced back over her shoulder just before disappearing around the corner of the display. The young woman was still standing exactly where she’d left her wearing the plum suit and silver mask.

There was something familiar about her. Not familiar in the sense that Carina recognised her. Rather she’d seen her before. First at the bar and then near the dessert table. Now here, granted it was Carina who had approached her, but Carina couldn’t help but wonder. It could have been coincidence, perhaps but the ballroom was only so large.

Still as she continued following the man towards another group of guests, Carina found herself looking back one more time. The conversation she’d been called away to lasted longer than Carina had anticipated. The gentleman introduced her to his wife, who immediately wrapped her into a grateful embrace before Carina had the chance to protest.

“You probably don’t remember me,” the woman said warmly, “but you delivered our daughter three years ago.”

Recognition slowly dawned as the little girl peeking shyly from behind her father’s leg had once fit comfortably into the palms of Carina’s hands.

“Oh…” Her smile softened instantly “I do remember now.”

They spoke for several minutes, the couple eager to tell her how much their lives had changed since that day. The little girl, initially hesitant around the stranger in the elaborate mask, eventually accepted one of the miniature chocolates being offered from a passing tray before proudly showing Carina the tiny bracelet she insisted had to match her dress.

It was impossible not to smile when moments like these reminded Carina why she loved her work. Eventually, after promising to stop by and say goodbye before she left for the evening, she excused herself and drifted back into the ballroom.

She accepted another glass of wine from a passing waiter before instinctively letting her eyes wander across the room. It wasn’t intentional, at least she didn’t think it was.

Her eyes stopped when she landed on the woman wearing the plum suit. She was standing near one of the marble columns, a whiskey glass cradled in one hand. The silver mask caught the light whenever she turned her head, drawing attention to what looked like blue eyes beneath it that seemed to be searching for something, or someone. Coincidence was beginning to feel less convincing.

Across the room, the young woman glanced in her direction and their eyes met, only for a second but almost immediately, the blonde looked away, lifting her whiskey to her lips with an expression that was carefully neutral.

Carina smiled into her glass.

You’re trying very hard not to look like you’re looking.

She’d seen that expression before, usually from nervous fathers waiting outside delivery rooms, trying desperately to appear calm for their partners while betraying every emotion in their eyes.

But this seemed different, not so much anxious, just unsure. As though every time she considered doing something, she talked herself out of it before she’d taken the first step and Carina found herself watching without meaning to.

Carina continued wandering but every few minutes, she found her attention drifting across the room. Carina wondered how old she was. Young, she decided, younger than herself, certainly.

The woman was fascinating and not because she was trying to be. In fact it was quite the opposite, there was something that seemed genuine about her, which in this world seemed rare. She wasn’t the loudest person in the room, nor did she seem to be the most confident. She didn’t move through conversations, she observed. She smiled quietly at snippets of conversations she overheard.

Carina watched as she thanked every waiter who offered her another drink. She watched her step aside whenever someone needed to pass, always with a polite apology even when it hadn’t been her fault. It was the little things, the sort of things most people overlooked but Carina found herself noticing every one of them.

As Carina looked up again, a server carrying a tray of champagne almost lost his balance as someone backed into him near the dance floor. Before anyone else reacted, the blonde reached out steadying the tray with one hand while gently catching the older gentleman who had accidentally caused the collision with the other.

It lasted barely thirty seconds before the woman had already disappeared back into the crowd as though she’d done nothing worth acknowledging. Kind was the first word that came to Carina’s mind, yes she was beautiful, she seemed quiet and nervous but definitely kind.

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

“There you are.”

Carina turned to find one of the emergency department consultants approaching with two champagne flutes balanced expertly between his fingers.

“I’ve been looking everywhere,” he laughed, handing her one of the glasses, “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”

“I would never.”

“Liar.”

“I am deeply offended,” She placed a hand dramatically over her chest.

They spoke for a few minutes about work, mutual colleagues and the increasingly competitive bidding war happening at the silent auction. Carina listened, contributed where she could, laughed at the appropriate moments. But every now and then her attention drifted. Without meaning to, she looked over the consultant’s shoulder.

The woman in the plum suit had stopped near one of the floral displays, appearing to admire the arrangement of sunflowers and white roses decorating the room. Except Carina was almost certain she wasn’t looking at the flowers. The blonde’s gaze lifted straight towards her. For the briefest moment, neither of them looked away. Carina held her eye contact deliberately this time.

The blonde froze, a faint flush crept across the portion of her cheeks visible beneath the silver mask. Then she glanced away towards the flowers as though they’d suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the ballroom.

Carina bit back a smile.

Oh…

Now she was sure that blonde had been looking at her. 

The consultant followed her line of sight.

“What are you looking at?”

Carina blinked, quickly returning her attention to the conversation.

“Hm?”

“You were looking at something?”

She looked back at him with practiced innocence.

“Oh the flowers, they’re beautiful.”

He gave her a puzzled look before shrugging.

“If you say so.”

Eventually, he was called away by another colleague, leaving Carina alone once more. Her eyes automatically wandered back to the floral display, but she was no longer there. Nor was she at the bar, or the dessert table or on the dance floor.

Carina’s eyes continued scanning the room until she found her at the auction table. She was standing with a group of who Carina recognised to be firefighters, did that mean she was a firefighter too?

She’d always enjoyed people watching, there was something fascinating about the way people carried themselves when they believed no one was paying attention. But tonight, Carina found herself watching one person in particular. 

She watched a firefighter stumble over his own feet before both he and his partner dissolved into laughter, and an older couple danced together with the effortless grace of people who had spent decades learning one another’s rhythm.

But no one else seemed to hold her attention, as her eyes wandered again, the woman was already looking back at her from across the dance floor. Unlike the previous times, the woman didn’t immediately look away, she hesitated briefly, but she didn’t look away. 

Even from across the room, Carina could see the silent conversation she was having with herself. The way she was convincing herself to approach her again, the subtle straightening of her shoulders and the tiny nod of her head as if she was talking herself into it.

Carina lifted and then lowered her wine glass, taking a sip without ever looking away. Silently trying to encourage her to walk forward, to close the gap between them. 

And she did, she took one step forward and Carina smiled, she took another and then another, drifting through the crowd in her direction.

Carina remained exactly where she was, she didn’t want to risk moving.

She’s coming here.

For reasons she couldn’t begin to explain, that simple realisation made her pulse quicken. She watched the young woman weave carefully between guests, offering polite smiles whenever someone moved into her path before continuing onwards.

She looked nervous, Carina could see how every so often she’d tighten her grip around her whiskey glass before consciously relaxing her fingers again. It was such a small gesture, but it made Carina’s heart ache because she was trying, she was really trying. 

Most people, particularly at events like this, approached with an almost rehearsed confidence. Compliments often came too easily and flirtation even more so, there was usually very little mystery, but this was different. Someone was trying, maybe it was more trying, failing, retreating but then she gathered the courage to try all over again.

But Carina admired that and she found herself wondering what would happen if she simply waited. If she stayed exactly where she was long enough, would the woman in the plum suit finally reach her?

Carina watched the distance grow smaller, and she couldn’t help the smile that came with it. Carina had already decided what she was going to say.

“I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to come over.”

The thought amused her. The woman was only a few steps away now, close enough that Carina could make out the blue of her eyes beneath the silver mask.

“Carina!”

The voice came from somewhere beside her. Before either of them could react, a tall man stepped neatly between them, smiling broadly as he approached.

“There you are.”

Carina blinked, instinctively shifting her attention to him.

“I wondered if you would be here tonight, I just wanted to introduce you to my wife before she disappeared onto the dance floor.”

He stepped slightly to one side, gesturing towards the woman waiting beside him.

“It is lovely to meet you.”

“You too, Dr DeLuca.”

The conversation lasted no more than a minute, it was just long enough for introductions and to exchange pleasantries. Just long enough for the moment with the woman in the plum suit to disappear.

As soon as the couple moved away, Carina’s eyes searched for her but the space in front of her was empty. She found herself searching the ballroom once again, she wasn’t at the bar, or at the auction tables, or on the dance floor. 

Her smile faltered, she hadn’t realised quite how much she’d been looking forward to those final few steps and to hearing the woman’s voice. To discover whether what she’d admired from across the room matched the kindness she’d already witnessed.

Carina spent the next several minutes looking for someone who no longer seemed to exist, it should have been easy. The ballroom wasn’t small, but neither was it large enough for someone in a tailored plum suit to simply vanish. Yet every time her gaze swept across the room, she found everyone except the person she was searching for.

Where did you go?

The thought surprised her. She’d never asked herself that question about a complete stranger before. She knew nothing about the woman, not her name or where she worked. Not even whether she’d attended the ball alone.

All Carina knew was that she had kind blue eyes, an easy smile and a habit of disappearing just before they reached one another, and somehow that had become enough to occupy her thoughts.

Carina glanced towards the French doors leading out into the hotel gardens. She could do with a few moments away from the music, just to gather her thoughts. Cradling her wine glass in one hand, she made her way through the crowd, smiling politely as guests stepped aside to let her pass.

The closer she came to the doors, the quieter everything seemed to become, the orchestra faded into the background and conversations blurred into background noise. She rested her hand against the brass handle, ready to step outside, 

“Carina!”

Before she could turn, someone caught her arm gently before pulling her into a warm embrace.

“There you are.”

Carina laughed, instinctively returning the hug.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.”

“I’m serious. You’ve disappeared all evening.”

The woman pulled back just enough to look at her.

“I was beginning to think you’d gone home.”

Carina smiled apologetically.

“I’ve simply been…”

She paused, her eyes lifted over the woman’s shoulder and there she was. The woman in the plum suit, walking directly towards the French doors, towards her.

She’d seen Carina heading towards the gardens and she’d followed. The blonde slowed as she approached, blue eyes lifting hopefully towards her. For one beautiful, fleeting second, Carina allowed herself to imagine how the conversation might begin.

Then she watched it happen, the way the younger woman’s gaze landed on the embrace, on the woman still standing between them.

Carina saw the exact moment hope dissolved into resignation. The blonde’s shoulders fell ever so slightly with a small, almost embarrassed smile directed entirely at herself. As though she couldn’t quite believe she’d managed to get the timing wrong again.

Carina wanted to shake her head.

No wait.

The blonde took a single step backwards, then another.

Carina gently released the woman’s hand that was still on her own. 

“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, already turning, “I’ve just seen someone I need to…”

The space was empty once again, the woman in the plum suit had gone.

“No.”

The word escaped quietly.

“What?” her colleague asked, following her gaze.

Carina barely heard her, she stepped around the woman and for what had to be the twentieth time that evening, she searched for the mysterious blonde who had somehow occupied every spare corner of her thoughts. The woman whose name she didn’t know and whose smile she’d only seen from across crowded rooms.

Then she saw her, walking away, not wandering as she had done throughout the evening or pausing to admire another display or exchange polite conversation with another guest.

She never looked back as she walked towards the grand double doors at the front of the ballroom. Those doors didn’t lead anywhere else, they weren’t on the way to the toilets, or the gardens or even to another reception room. They led to the exit, she was leaving.

A part of her wanted to tell herself to let the woman go, that they were strangers, simply two anonymous guests at a masquerade ball and perhaps this was simply where their story ended. But the thought lasted all of two seconds.

She wasn’t ready for it to end, not when they’d come so close. Not when she’d finally realised the younger woman had been making her way towards her all evening, and then watched the hope disappear from those blue eyes only moments ago. 

Before she had time to question herself, Carina was already walking. Politely weaving around couples, sidestepping a waiter balancing a tray of champagne, murmuring quiet apologies whenever she passed a little closer than etiquette demanded.

Her eyes never left the plum suit ahead of her. For one terrifying moment, another group crossed between them and Carina lost sight of her completely. She altered her path slightly, stepping around the edge of the dance floor instead and then she saw her again.

The blonde had reached the doors, she paused only long enough to push it open before disappearing through it, the door swung shut behind her. Carina reached it only a few seconds later, her fingers curled around the same handle. 

A smile found its way onto her face despite the nerves fluttering unexpectedly in her stomach. She couldn’t quite believe she was doing this, following a complete stranger she’d spent the entire evening accidentally avoiding.

The cool evening air hit Carina as soon as she stepped onto the stone terrace. 

“Leaving already?”

Maya froze at the sound of Carina’s voice. For a moment she didn’t move, then slowly she turned to face her, quickly realising they were finally alone. 

“Maybe,” a smile tugged at the corner of Maya’s mouth.

“I was beginning to think you would leave without ever actually speaking to me.”

Maya let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

“I tried.”

“I know.”

“No…” Maya smiled, almost embarrassed, “I don’t think you do.”

Carina took a few slow steps closer, “I think I know more than you realise.” 

Maya shook her head, and went to explain how Carina had no idea,

“You came to the bar.”

“You noticed?” Maya’s eyes widened. 

“You stood beside me while I ordered my wine.”

A reluctant smile spread across Maya’s face.

“I did.”

“And you came to the dessert table.”

“I did that too.”

“You stood beside me at the auction.”

“I definitely remember the auction, you spoke to me.”

Carina laughed softly, she had spoken to her at the auction table, but nowhere near as much as she had wanted too. 

“I tried five times,” Maya looked back up.

“I think that’s some kind of record,” Carina laughed. “I’ve certainly never had anyone almost introduce themselves five separate times.”

“I was beginning to think the universe was against me.”

“I was beginning to think everyone in Seattle knew me.”

That earned a genuine laugh from Maya.

Carina looked back at the blonde.

“Will you sit with me?”

There was something almost hesitant in the question, as though she wasn’t entirely certain the younger woman would accept..

Maya followed her gaze before looking back at Carina, a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

“I’d like that.”

Together they crossed the short distance, neither of them rushed ahead of the other, they fell naturally into step as though they’d been doing it all evening instead of accidentally missing one another.

They settled onto the bench, leaving a respectful distance between them. Not close enough to feel awkward, but far enough that neither had to question whether they were sitting too close.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Instead, they listened to the sounds of the gardens, both stealing the occasional glance towards the other before quickly looking away again whenever their eyes met.

“I almost gave up after the first attempt.”

The confession escaped before she’d really thought about saying it. Carina turned towards her, curiosity written plainly across her face.

“The first one?”

Maya nodded, letting out a quiet, self-conscious laugh.

“The bar.”

She rubbed the back of her neck.

“I made it all the way over there… and then my brain completely stopped working.”

Carina’s smile grew.

“I noticed.”

“Oh, great,” Maya let out an exaggerated sigh, “so it wasn’t just painfully obvious to me.”

“It was rather endearing.”

Maya looked down, shaking her head with an embarrassed smile.

“I don’t think anyone has ever described me as endearing.”

“I just did.”

The warmth in Carina’s voice made Maya’s cheeks flush beneath the silver mask.

“What made you keep trying?”

She thought about pretending she’d simply been wandering the ballroom, pretending it had all been coincidence. Instead, she found herself looking back towards the ballroom doors, remembering every failed attempt she’d made to reach the woman now sitting beside her.

A soft smile found its way onto her face.

“You.”

The single word was barely above a whisper, yet somehow it seemed louder than anything else that had been said all evening.

“So…” she said softly, unable to stop smiling, “why leave now?”

Maya let out a quiet breath, lifting one shoulder in an almost helpless shrug.

“I figured five failed attempts was probably the universe trying to tell me something.” Her smile became more amused than sad. “It started to feel almost comical.”

She glanced sideways at Carina.

“Every single time I got close to you someone else got there first.”

Carina nodded knowingly.

“I know.”

Maya frowned.

“No, I don’t think you do.”

“I do.”

Carina shifted slightly on the bench so she was facing Maya more fully.

“I watched it happen every time.”

Maya blinked.

“You did?” Maya stared at her. 

“And every time I hoped you’d try again,” Carina smiled, it was true, she really did want Maya to try again. 

“You…” she said, letting out a disbelieving laugh, “you were waiting for me?”

“I was.”

“And you never came over?”

Carina tilted her head, a mischievous sparkle appearing in her dark brown eyes, “I was enjoying the chase.”

Maya stared at her for a beat before letting out a dramatic groan, tipping her head back towards the night sky.

“You’re terrible.”

“I’ve been told.”

“I practically spent the whole evening giving myself motivational speeches.”

“I know.”

“I rehearsed conversations.”

“I could tell.”

“I nearly walked into a waiter because I was looking at you.”

That earned a genuine laugh from Carina, rich and impossible to hold back, Maya laughed too.

A breeze drifted through the gardens, Maya barely noticed it but Carina drew in a quiet breath, lifting her shoulders slightly. It was subtle in a way most people wouldn’t notice but Maya did.

“You’re cold.”

Carina looked over, almost surprised she’d been caught.

“No, I’m okay.”

Maya raised an eyebrow.

Carina opened her mouth to argue before another breeze swept through the gardens. This time she couldn’t stop the tiny shiver that followed.

Without another word, Maya stood. Carina watched with quiet curiosity as the younger woman slipped her arms out of her tailored plum jacket. The white shirt beneath was neatly pressed, the sleeves rolled just enough to reveal her forearms.

For the first time all evening, Carina realised just how broad Maya’s shoulders actually were. The jacket had hidden them well.

Maya turned back towards her.

“Here.”

“Oh…” Carina immediately shook her head, “No, you’ll be cold.”

“But I want to.”

She gently settled the jacket around Carina’s shoulders before stepping back. The fabric was still warm and carrying the faintest trace of vanilla. 

“It suits you.”

Carina looked down at the deep plum fabric wrapped around her before looking back up.

“So this…” she smoothed one hand over the sleeve “…is what it feels like.”

“What?” Maya frowned playfully. 

“I’ve spent the entire evening admiring this jacket.”

Maya laughed.

“The jacket?”

“It caught my attention,” Carina looked up through her lashes. “But…” She smiled,“I think I admired the woman wearing it even more.”

Maya blushed, Carina could only see half of it but she enjoyed the idea of being the reason behind it. Every compliment seemed to catch her completely off guard.

“I think…” Carina began gently, “…I’d quite like to know your name.”

Maya looked at her for a long moment before the corner of her mouth lifted. There was that playful expression again.

“You can.”

“Really?” Carina’s face brightened. 

Maya nodded once. “But…” she lifted one finger between them, “I’d quite like to see your face first.”

Carina smiled.

“That’s a fair trade.”

Without hesitation, she reached behind her head. Her fingers found the ribbon securing the black Venetian mask. Slowly she loosened the knot letting the ribbon slip free.

The moment she lifted the mask away, Maya forgot to breathe. She was beautiful and even the word beautiful didn’t seem enough at that moment.

And not beautiful because every feature seemed perfectly placed or because of the elegant dress or the effortless way she carried herself. She was beautiful because she smiled with her whole face, because her eyes softened before her lips did and everything about her invited trust. Maya couldn’t find a single word so she simply looked.

Carina waited patiently, the black mask resting loosely in one hand. After a few moments, the corners of her mouth lifted into a shy smile.

“You’re very quiet.”

Maya blinked, as though returning to herself.

“I…” The word caught in her throat, “I wasn’t expecting you to be quite this beautiful.”

Carina let out the gentlest laugh, warmth colouring her cheeks beneath Maya’s unwavering stare.

“I hope that’s a good thing.”

Maya’s eyes never left hers.

“It is.”

Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

“I just…” She shook her head slowly, “I’ve never seen anyone quite like you.” The words were spoken so simply.

A faint blush spread across Carina’s cheeks, impossible to hide now that the mask was gone. She looked down for only a second before meeting Maya’s eyes again, smiling with quiet affection.

“Thank you.”

After a long moment, Carina lifted one hand. Not quite touching but simply hovering near the silver ribbon tied neatly behind Maya’s head. Her eyes searched Maya’s face.

“May I?”

The question was careful, she would happily leave the mask exactly where it was if the answer was no but she too wanted to see the woman behind it. 

Maya held her gaze for several seconds, then gave the smallest nod.

“You may.”

Carina moved a little closer, her fingertips brushed lightly against Maya’s hair as she searched for the ribbon. Carefully, Carina lifted the silver mask away.

She hadn’t thought it possible, yet somehow the woman before her was even more beautiful than the mysterious stranger she’d spent all evening watching from across crowded rooms.

She had golden hair that framed her striking blue eyes that seemed brighter without anything hiding them. A light scattering of freckles crossed the bridge of her nose, disappearing beneath the blush that had settled across her cheeks.

“Wow.”

The single word escaped on little more than a breath. Maya lowered her eyes instinctively, suddenly aware of nowhere to hide.

“There you are.”

Maya looked up again.

“What do you mean?”

“The woman who’s been brave enough to cross an entire ballroom five different times.” Her smile deepened, “I was hoping I’d get to meet her.”

Maya’s lips curved into the smallest smile.

“I was here the whole time.”

“I know,” Carina’s voice was gentle, “but now I get to see all of you.”

Maya wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked at her quite like that before, as though there was nowhere else in the world they’d rather be. Carina reached out slowly, tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind Maya’s ear.

“You’re beautiful,” Carina said quietly.

She looked down for a moment, smiling to herself before letting out the smallest, almost disbelieving laugh.

“You’re not used to women complimenting you?” Carina asked softly.

Maya shook her head.

“No,” she paused, searching for the right words. “I’m not…” another small smile appeared, “I’m not really used to women at all.”

There was no embarrassment in the admission, it was the truth, she’d never allowed herself to explore how she felt about women until now, until her. Carina’s expression softened even further as she thought back to every moment Maya had hesitated. Then she remembered every interrupted attempt, every disappointed smile and every time she’d found the courage to try again despite believing she might fail.

Knowing that, knowing how much courage it had taken for Maya simply to walk across that ballroom made Carina admire her even more.

Slowly, she stood and Maya looked up at her. Carina slipped one hand into the pocket of the plum jacket still resting around her shoulders before extending the other towards Maya.

“Come with me.”

Maya looked at the offered hand, then back at Carina. Only a few hours earlier, she’d stood on the opposite side of a crowded ballroom convincing herself she wasn’t brave enough to walk a few steps towards a stranger. But now the woman she’d spent the entire evening chasing was the one reaching for her.

A smile spread slowly across Maya’s face.

“You know,” she said softly, looking back up at Carina, “this isn’t how I imagined tonight ending.”

Carina’s dark eyes sparkled.

“No?”

“I thought I’d leave wondering what would’ve happened if I’d been just a little braver.”

“And instead?”

Maya glanced at the hand still waiting for hers. Instead of answering, she slipped her fingers into Carina’s.

“I get to know the woman behind the mask.”