Work Text:
The 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters habitat stood proudly in front of Maya, a seascape that still momentarily took her breath away regardless of how many times she’d seen it. A rhythmic hum filled the air, replacing the cacophony of noise that still drifted in from the outside world. Maya’s eyes followed the bubbles as they traced invisible patterns on their way up to rejoin the air, the light dancing playfully across the water’s surface. Hundreds of fish glided effortlessly through the tank, coordinated in a dance only they knew the rhythm of, as the gentle current encouraged the kelp forest to join in too. It was a canvas that had come to life.
“Which aminal is it today, Auntie Maya?” A tiny voice broke Maya from her reverie.
“Let me see.” Maya looked at the activity information booklet that she had been handed by an enthusiastic aquarium worker. “It looks like today’s stars of the show are the sea otters.”
“Those are all the way over on that way in a bit of the zoo called Pier 60.” A small hand tugged at Maya’s sleeve, eager to navigate them to where they needed to be. “This way, Auntie Maya.”
Maya giggled as the little girl navigated her way through the building like a pro. She barely cast an eye at the main viewing window, seemingly uninterested in the immersive glimpse it offered to the surface of Washington’s outer coast.
Leading them perfectly from the entrance desk at Pier 59, the youngster had them marching across the covered breezeway to Pier 60 in no time at all. Her tiny blonde pigtails bounced with the determination with which she was walking. The 360-degree view offered by the underwater dome did little to distract her, as she continued to weave through the crowds of people who were stunned by the underwater world.
When a row of glass windows came into sight, slightly obscured by the small forming crowd, the little one gasped before picking up speed and practically dragging Maya over. “They’re right here, Auntie Maya, see! And I think the keeper person is there to do the talk on the sea otters, which is today's aminal!”
“Expert navigation skills there, Adventurer Quinn.” Maya playfully bowed. “I told you we’d be here on time, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but we’re still a little later than I would have liked to be, if I'm honest, Auntie Maya,” Quinn sighed, sounding far too adult-like for Maya’s liking as she led them to a space that had freed up beside the ledge and farthest window.
Maya smoothed Quinn’s wild pigtails down. “At least we’ve still got a good spot.”
Quinn nodded before her attention was drawn to the sound of a microphone connecting to a speaker system. Her tiny frame instantly straightened as she prepared to learn the facts needed to fill out her booklet and claim her sticker and prize.
“Good Afternoon, everybody. My name is Carina, and I’m in charge of looking after the sea otters here at Seattle Aquarium.” A brunette keeper smiled out at the crowd of excited faces as she made her way to the ledge of the habitat, bucket and whistle in hand. “We currently have three female otters in our care at the moment. We have Mishka, who joined us in January 2025 after being caught in a fishing net as a young pup. She was rescued and rehabilitated by the Alaska SeaLife Center, and when she was deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she found her home here.”
Carina tossed a few herring to the otter who had been perfectly positioned for the crowd to see, almost as if she knew she was being talked about. With a quick blow of Carina’s whistle, Mishka moved away from the ledge before another otter was quick to take her place.
“Next, we have Sekiu.” Carina laughed lightly as she threw some more herring for the otter who was eagerly awaiting food. “She was the 11th pup to successfully be born at the aquarium, and arrived on January 14th, 2012. Sekiu was the last sea otter ever to be born in a zoological facility in the United States. She had a brief visit to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in 2017 to be a companion for their sole female at the time, before she was returned to us in 2021.”
With another throw of herring and a whistle blow, Seiku moved aside for the final otter to make her appearance.
“And finally, we have Ruby.” Carina gently blew her whistle to encourage the otter to come closer. “Ruby is our only southern sea otter, and she was stranded as a newborn pup back in September 2015. She weighed just 1.9 pounds and was one of the smallest pups that her rescuers had ever seen. Ruby was rehabilitated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and after being deemed non-releasable, she came to live with us in 2025.”
Ruby was more than happy to swim back out into the pool once she’d had her fair share of herring, and Carina made her way closer to the crowd to give the rest of her talk.
“In the wild, most sea otters live in rocky coastal habitats near points of land where they can find areas that are protected from wind and waves. They are very happy if they can find a kelp bed nearby.” Carina winked while pointing suggestively at the fact sheet she could see in Quinn’s hand, her heart warming as she saw Maya helping her answer the relevant question. “There used to be hundreds of thousands of sea otters that lived along the coastal Pacific, but fur traders started hunting them in the late 1700s for their thick, luxurious pelts. They were nearly extinct by the early 1900s, with less than 2,000 remaining, but thanks to the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 and the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, their numbers are slowly on the rise again.”
Carina continued walking across the ledge as she reeled off more facts about the animals.
“Many of you have probably seen pictures of sea otters holding paws while they sleep, and this is done so they don’t drift away from their raft, which is what a group of resting sea otters is called.” Carina paused to motion towards the fact sheet again with a kind smile. “It doesn’t actually happen as often as most people think, and large rafts of wild sea otters stay together by watching each other and listening out for one another. Paw holding is actually believed to be a learned behaviour which is specific to certain individual sea otters who may find it comforting.”
Quinn gasped as the rest of the crowd let out an ‘aww.’ “That is so super cute, Auntie Maya.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Maya giggled at the clear excitement radiating from Quinn’s body.
Carina found herself momentarily mesmerised by the pair, almost forgetting what else she had to say when Maya made eye contact, waiting to hear the rest of the talk.
“Sea otters spend around 15 percent of their days grooming their fur, which they do by rolling about in the water to remove scraps of food and debris. They use their forepaws to comb their fur, and they have coarse tongues which they use to lick themselves with. They aren’t just doing it to look good, though.” Carina dared to glance at Maya again as she spoke, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips when she saw she had Maya’s full attention. “Sea otters are the only marine mammals who don’t have a blubber layer, and while their fur is the densest of any animal on Earth, it helps them to stay warm in the cold North Pacific waters. Their fur helps to insulate them by trapping tiny air bubbles, which keeps a layer of air between the outer surface and their skin, so it’s super important that they keep their fur clean or it loses its insulating qualities, and means that water can soak all the way to their skin.”
Carina moved so she was kneeling in front of Quinn, the little girl looking on in awe as she leaned back against Maya’s legs.
“Can you remember how many southern sea otters we have?” Carina asked Quinn gently, smiling when she saw Quinn look at Maya for reassurance.
“One,” Quinn spoke quietly, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Ruby.”
“Esattamente! That’s right!” Carina exclaimed, grinning widely at Quinn before standing back up to address the rest of the crowd.
“I was right, Auntie Maya!” Quinn whisper-shouted, looking up at Maya.
“I am so proud of you, Quinn; I didn't even know that!”
“It can be quite hard to tell the difference between the northern and southern sea otters just by looking, but they are considered distinct populations. Northern sea otters are typically bigger in size and, as the name suggests, they are usually found in the north. While they don’t share the same habitats in the wild, their diets and care needs are the same, so they are able to live happily together, as you can see.” Carina pointed at the trio of sea otters who all seemed to be lazing around quite contentedly in the middle of the pool.
Carina felt a peaceful gratitude overtake her as she looked out at the animals; this job would never get old for her. “Here at Seattle Aquarium, we play a pivotal role in sea otter conservation. We work alongside other facilities to ensure they are being looked after in the best way possible. The decision to stop breeding them in 2010 was made so that more space would be available for sea otters who were rescued, rehabilitated, and eventually deemed non-releasable back to the wild, just like Mishka and Ruby.”
Carina threw the remaining herring into the pool, basking in the delight of the crowd when the otters rushed their way over for the food. “I hope you’ve enjoyed learning all about the sea otters, and make sure to come and say hello whenever you visit again. Thank you!”
Applause rippled through the crowd as Carina made her way out of the habitat, a small blush painting her cheeks when she realised the loudest cheer was coming from Maya.
Maya had been prepared for them to move on quite quickly, Quinn’s attention span meaning that when her booklet had been completed, she’d want to go and claim her sticker and prize immediately. Today was different though.
Even with the talk finished, and the crowd slowly dissipating, Quinn’s attention remained fully on the trio of otters frolicking in the water with the enrichment toys they had grabbed from the ledge.
“MayaMayaMayaMaya,” Quinn tugged at Maya’s sleeve. “Did you see her rubbing her face with her paws? Did you? It’s so cute!”
“I did, Pickle.” Maya nodded. “They are super cute, huh?”
Carina stood slightly to the side of the exhibit, captivated by the duo in front of her. The little girl was the spitting image of the woman in front of her, with the same blonde locks that looked golden in the sunlight, and the adorable little dimpled chin. Aside from her otters, Carina wasn’t sure she’d ever seen anything cuter.
Raking her hands through the pockets of her cargo trousers, Carina smiled brightly when she felt the sticker sheet she had quickly stashed away earlier. It provided the perfect reason for her to approach the curious humans in front of her.
“Hi.” Carina’s voice was gentle as she approached the pair.
Both Maya and Quinn turned to look at Carina, their matching blue eyes staring back at her with interest.
“You’re the otter lady,” Quinn whispered, awe laced in every word.
Maya giggled at the starstruck look that had taken over Quinn, and Carina joined in too.
“I am,” Carina said, smiling. “My name is Carina.”
“I’m Maya.” Maya held out her hand to offer a handshake.
“I’m Quinn.” Quinn waved shyly from where she was now resting against Maya’s leg.
“It’s lovely to meet you both.” Carina beamed. “You did such a good job of answering the question earlier, Quinn, so I was wondering if you might like a sea otter sticker?”
Quinn wriggled excitedly on the spot as she looked over the sticker sheet that Carina had held up. “Oh, yes, please! Yessy! Can I? Please?”
“Woah, Pickle,” Maya laughed, slightly concerned at just how red Quinn’s face was turning. “Let’s take a minute to breathe first, huh?”
Quinn stopped still, placing her little hands on her belly and taking some exaggerated deep breaths.
Carina watched silently in awe at the emotional intelligence she was displaying at such a young age.
“Those were some excellent deep breaths,” Maya commended. “You certainly can have a sticker, if that’s okay with Carina.”
“Certo! Of course!” Carina nodded, handing the sheet over to Quinn so she could decide which one she wanted, a very important task in the world of such a tiny human.
Maya reached down to rub the crease that had appeared in Quinn’s brow, a trait Maya wished she hadn’t seemed to pick up from her.
“Do you come here often, or is this your first time?” Carina asked Maya politely; there was something about this woman that just drew her in.
“Definitely not our first time,” Maya chuckled. “We come every week so this little adventurer can do the animal of the week activity.”
Quinn looked up from where she had carefully peeled her chosen sticker from the sheet. “I’m going to be a deep-in-the-sea ‘splorerer when I grow up.”
“You are?” Carina gasped in amazement. “Maybe you could come and work with us here for a bit when you’re older, before you go on those adventures.”
“Are you a deep-in-the-sea ‘splorerer, C'rina?”
“Kind of, I'm both a Marine Biologist and a Zoologist.”
“I don't know what that means, but you're pretty cool, and I actually already know my way around,” Quinn nodded affirmatively. “So, I think I could work that into my plan, definitely.”
“I think we’d be lucky to have you,” Carina encouraged.
“You would,” Quinn deadpanned, with a serious nod.
Maya and Carina shared a fleeting glance before they both chuckled at the confident tone radiating from Quinn’s tiny frame.
“It's Ruby!” Quinn ran back over to the tank, pressing her face against the glass. “Hi Ruby!”
“I hope you enjoyed the talk.” Carina directed her attention back to Maya while Quinn was captivated by the otters again.
“I did,” Maya said a little too quickly. “You were great up there. Very informative. You looked like you were having a great time.”
“I love talking about them, and it’s always more enjoyable when I have such a… supportive audience,” Carina teased.
Maya felt a blush rising up her neck and settling on her cheeks. “It’s easy to support something so cute.”
“Otters are the cutest,” Quinn interrupted, having no idea that there was a double meaning to Maya’s words.
Maya and Carina shared a look between them, chuckling lightly.
“I won’t keep you any longer because I’m sure you have a lot more adventures to go on, but make sure to come and say ‘hi’ during one of your next visits, okay?” Carina spoke directly to Quinn, but cast a gentle smile in Maya’s direction.
“Okay, C’rina!” Quinn exclaimed. “Thank you for my sticker too.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Carina smiled, waving at the pair before they headed in their respective directions.
The following weeks passed much in the same way. Maya and Quinn would visit the highlighted animal of the week, but then Quinn would always make sure that they visited the sea otters too. The fur seals, tufted puffins, seahorses, and sharks all had her attention for the required time, but the second the talks were over and her last box was checked, it was off to the sea otters they went. Something about them had the little one truly captivated, and Maya could never say no to her puppy dog eyes. Not that she’d want to when it meant that she got to see Carina every week too.
Maya had been intrigued by Carina from the first time she’d seen her giving her talk about the sea otters so passionately, but over the last few weeks, she’d noticed the intrigue transforming into something else. A desire. A pull. A need to see the other woman. To learn more about her. To be in her presence.
It had been two weeks after their initial encounter before Maya had seen Carina again, and she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been a little disappointed not to see her the previous week. When Carina had noticed Maya and Quinn standing at the glass giggling at the otters chasing each other through the water, she’d approached to offer Quinn another sticker from her newly purchased glitter pack that she knew the little one would undoubtedly love. The next week, she’d asked if they wanted a picture taken with the otters, a keepsake for Quinn’s adventure scrapbook.
A similar pattern unfolded over the following weeks. Carina would always be at the habitat, even if she wasn’t giving a talk, and she’d always make sure to at least offer a warm smile and wave in Maya and Quinn’s direction if she wasn’t able to speak to them.
Another Wednesday had rolled around, and Maya was being guided through the aquarium once again.
“It’s the Giant Pacific Octopus this week,” Maya relayed to Quinn, knowing she already knew which direction to take them in.
“Okay, but after the optopus, then we gotta go and see the sea otters, kay?” Quinn asked the question with the most serious look she could muster.
“Oh, we do, huh?” Maya teased. “Even though we’ve seen them every trip for the last two months?”
“Uh-huh,” Quinn nodded. “It’s a necessity.”
After they had visited the octopus, and Quinn had dutifully filled out her activity book, the pair found themselves back at the sea otter habitat.
“I know I said you should come and say ‘hi’ during another one of your visits, but you do know I didn’t mean every visit, right?” Carina’s voice seemed to startle Maya, who almost tripped over her own two feet as she turned to see who had spoken to her.
“Huh?” Maya stuttered, not exactly the greeting she was going for, but she supposed it would work.
Carina chuckled lightly. “You’ve both come by here every Wednesday for the last six weeks. You probably know as much about them as I do at this point.”
“We gotta say ‘hi’, like you said,” Quinn interrupted. “These are my favourite amin- no, wait. I have to say it rightly. Animals. I did it!”
Maya smiled, brow raised; it should come as no surprise to her, really, given recent events, but the last she’d heard, they were still very much in the phase of unicorns being Quinn’s favourite animals.
“They’re quite special, aren’t they?” Carina spoke gently as she knelt down next to Quinn. “Would you like to get a bit closer to them?”
“Really? I can do that?” Quinn’s eyes widened, and Maya was convinced they’d have fallen out of her head if they weren’t so perfectly attached.
Carina nodded, grinning at the excitement radiating from the little girl. “Certo. You’ve filled out so many of those fact booklets that you deserve a bigger prize.”
“Oh my goodness,” Quinn squealed, unable to contain her wiggles of excitement.
“Are you sure that’s okay?” Maya asked, not wanting Carina to get into trouble at their expense.
Carina turned and smiled at Maya. “Although it’s not an invite I often extend, I promise that it’s more than okay.”
“This is the best day ever!” Quinn exclaimed. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You’re more than welcome.” Carina knelt down in front of Quinn. “Before we go and see them, do you think you could show me how to do some of those deep breaths again?”
Quinn immediately stopped wiggling, placed her hands on her belly in the way she had done the last time Carina saw her do this, and took an exaggerated breath in through her nose before releasing it slowly through her mouth.
“You’re so good at those,” Carina praised. “When we go and see the sea otters, we have to be nice and calm, okay?”
“I can be calm,” Quinn nodded. “I’ve been practising how to be quiet like a tiny mouse.”
Carina smiled as she stood up, reaching for Quinn’s hand to take her through the gate that led into the otter habitat, motioning with her head for Maya to follow them. “Perfetto!”
“C’rina?” Quinn’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why do you say those funny words?”
Carina chuckled lightly as Maya gasped at Quinn’s abruptness. “I’m from a country called Italy, so I speak Italian as well as English.”
“Can we speak ‘talian too?” Quinn turned to look at Maya, determination set in her brow.
“I don’t speak Italian, Pickle.” Maya blushed. “I’m sure we could find you some books or something to help you learn, though.”
Carina swore she could feel her heart literally warming as she watched the exchange between the two. “I can teach you a few words when you come to visit too.”
“Oh, that’s fun!” Quinn clenched her free hand tightly into a fist to stop from squealing and wiggling around, remembering what Carina had said about being calm and quiet. “Thank you, C’rina.”
“How about I teach you the Italian name for sea otters today?” Carina crouched down in front of Quinn again.
Quinn nodded excitedly, completely focusing on Carina. “Yes, please!”
“Okay, so to say sea otter, we would say lontra marina.” Carina made sure to enunciate each syllable and talk a bit slower so that Quinn could follow along.
“L-Lontra mar-rina.” Quinn stumbled slightly over the letters, a nervous smile on her face.
“Brava! Well done!” Carina clapped quietly, beaming at Quinn, before turning to look at Maya, whom she was sure she’d seen whispering along. “Now, are we ready to go and see them? I think it’s time to give them some new toys.”
Quinn squeezed Carina’s hand, taking a few more deep breaths before she followed her through the gate onto the ledge where Carina had stood to give her talk.
Maya followed the pair, a smile etched on her face as she watched Quinn follow Carina’s every word. She wasn’t exactly a shy kid, but it took a lot for Quinn to trust people, and it was clear that Carina had been successful in winning her over.
Carina pulled a bucket of toys over to stand in front of Quinn, explaining which ones were usually a hit with the trio. She let the little one select a few before leading her further onto the ledge where she’d be able to safely interact with the otters.
Maya stood back slightly, phone in hand to capture the pure amazement and joy that was radiating from Quinn. She caught Carina’s gaze and offered an appreciative nod, knowing that this wasn’t something Carina had needed to do.
After sprinkling a few herring into the water and across the ledge, Carina helped Quinn to sit on a stool where she could soak every moment up, while also being safe. She made sure she was close enough to keep an eye on her and intervene if needed before turning to Maya.
“She’s a great kid,” Carina commented, nodding her head in Quinn’s direction.
“She most definitely is,” Maya agreed. “You have definitely just made her list of top three favourite people too.”
Carina felt a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “You think so?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Maya affirmed. “You’re in great company too. Me and the café owner, who always sneaks extra marshmallows onto her hot chocolate, are honoured to welcome you.”
A giggle erupted from Carina as Maya held her hand out for Carina to shake. “Oh, what an excellent group to be part of.”
“It really is.” Maya smiled. “I think you might be number one at the minute though, and I’m not sure I’m ready to lose the top spot yet.”
“You think you can outdo an up-close and personal encounter with sea otters?” Carina lifted her brow in challenge.
“I’m a firefighter and a gold medal-winning-Olympian,” Maya said. “I don’t like to lose, so I’ll have to think of something.”
“You’re a gold medal-winning-Olympian?” Carina tilted her head slightly, unable to hide the awe that flashed across her face.
Maya smirked. “10,000 metres. London 2012. Won on a sprained ankle.”
Quinn chose that exact moment to walk back over to the pair, the otters having taken their new toys to a part of the enclosure she couldn’t see.
“C’rina, they liked their new toys, but they didn’t want to show me anymore.” Quinn’s lip jutted out a little, clearly sad that her personal encounter with the otters was over for the day.
Carina knelt down so she could look at Quinn. “Sometimes they like to go and hide away from the noise or find somewhere safe to keep their toys, so that they can play with them again later.”
“So, they’re still my friends?” Quinn asked innocently.
“Assolutamente.” Carina nodded. “You’ll be one of their best friends for bringing them new toys. And you gave them herring too!”
Quinn grinned at that news and turned towards Maya. “I have six favourite people now.”
“You do?” Maya asked.
“Uh-huh.” Quinn nodded. “C’rina, You, Mr Rogers, Ruby, Mishka, and Sekiu.”
Maya knowingly looked at Carina, who had stood from where she’d been crouched, lifting her brows as if to say ‘I told you so.’ “That’s a great list, Pickle. What do you say to Carina for letting you do this?”
“Thank you, C’rina.” Quinn wrapped her small arms around Carina’s waist. “This was so extremely awesome!”
Carina swallowed down the lump that appeared in her throat. “You’re welcome, Quinn. I’m glad you had fun.”
“Can we come and see the otters again next week?” Quinn asked, eyes wide as she stared up at Carina.
“I’m sure they’d love nothing more.” Carina smiled at Quinn before sharing a similar smile with Maya, happy at the prospect of seeing her again.
“Well, if it isn’t my favourite people,” Carina grinned as she saw Maya and Quinn approaching the sea otter habitat right on schedule. “I wonder who you might be here to see.”
“We’re here for the otters, C’rina!” Quinn beamed, wrapping her arms around Carina’s legs.
“Well, she is,” Maya smirked. “I much prefer their keeper.”
A blush crept onto Carina’s cheeks, and she looked back towards the windows of the enclosure, hoping to hide the true effect the words had had on her.
“Quinn, did you see what Ruby is playing with?” Carina pointed to where the otter was swimming around.
“The toy I gave her last week!” Quinn gasped.
Carina nodded, smiling at Quinn’s joy. “She hasn’t let it out of her sight. I think it might be her favourite.”
Quinn was in awe, her face pressed against the glass as she continued to watch Ruby play.
“I’m not sure you’re going to be leaving here anytime soon,” Carina said as she turned to look at Maya.
“I don’t mind.” Maya smiled. “I’m starting to like it around here.”
Carina raised her brow playfully. “The otters are growing on you too?”
“I much prefer the human company on offer,” Maya smirked.
“Really?” Carina tilted her head, her own smile pulling at the corner of her lips.
“Absolutely,” Maya affirmed.
Quinn walked away from the window, Ruby having disappeared from her view. “C’rina, did you know that jellies have been around for hundreds of millions of years before even dinosaurs existed?”
“I did!” Carina crouched down to Quinn’s height. “Are they the animal of the week?”
“Uh-huh,” Quinn nodded. “I got a jelly-squish sticker for completing my activity book!”
“That’s very cool!” Carina remarked. “Did you know that jellies have something called radial symmetry?”
Quinn tilted her head to the side. “No, I don’t think that was in my book.”
“It means that if a jelly were divided through the centre and across the bell in any direction, the two halves would look exactly the same,” Carina explained.
“Exactly the same?” Quinn asked in awe.
Carina nodded. “Exactly.”
“That’s awesome!” Quinn grinned, turning to Maya. “Can you write that down so I don’t forget?”
“Of course.” Maya took out her phone to make a note, knowing Quinn wouldn’t stop looking at her until she did. “What do you say to Carina?”
Quinn turned back to Carina, a huge toothy smile on display. “Thank you, C’rina!”
“You’re welcome, Quinn,” Carina replied.
“Right, let’s continue on with our adventure and leave Carina to look after the otters.” Maya placed a hand on Quinn’s shoulder, ready to follow wherever Quinn went next.
Carina tried to hide the disappointment she could feel rising in her chest at the thought of the pair leaving so soon. “Will I see you again next week?”
“Absolutely,” Maya confirmed, Quinn nodding in agreement.
“Perfetto.”
The weeks continued to pass with more visits to the sea otter enclosure, and the flirting between Maya and Carina only increased. They’d often tuck themselves into a cove at the side of the windows where they could still keep an eye on Quinn while sharing teasing remarks with one another.
“Can I take you on a date?” Carina whispered, not wanting little ears to hear what she had to say, but unable to hold off from asking the question any longer.
Maya shuddered, suddenly aware of just how close Carina was standing to her. “Yes.”
Carina tried to fight the grin threatening to break out on her face. “Can I pay for the babysitter?”
“Why would I need a babysitter?” Maya frowned, turning to look at Carina while Quinn gasped as the otters rolled over in the water.
“Is Quinn not going to need looking after?” Carina quirked her brow and gestured towards the little girl.
Realisation washed over Maya, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. “I’m sure her parents are more than capable of looking after her for the night.”
“She’s…” Carina sighed, realising just how wrong she’d got things. “She’s not your kid?”
“Nope. She’s my niece.” Maya chuckled. “You’re very cute for offering to pay for a babysitter, though.”
“I wouldn’t have minded; she is my favourite after all,” Carina joked, reaching out to grab Maya’s hand as inconspicuously as possible, offering a gentle squeeze.
Maya squeezed back, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “I can’t believe you’ve thought she’s mine this entire time.”
“Maya,” Carina said, pulling her hand away playfully. “She’s literally a mini you.”
Maya looked over at Quinn, a warmth radiating through her. She’d always known how similar they were, and it wasn’t the first time that someone had mistaken her for being Quinn’s Mom. It warmed her heart that people looked at the relationship that they had and decided that she was good enough to be a mother.
“I’m glad I don’t have to worry about us having a tagalong though,” Carina whispered teasingly.
“Oh, really?” Maya raised a brow in question.
Carina hummed. “Let's just say that the aquarium tour I have in mind isn’t necessarily suitable for little people.”
“Is that right?” Maya gulped, trying desperately to hide just how flustered she was.
“I thought you might like to come to one of the after-hours events we do, and see what we do here without a little person deciding where you go,” Carina continued to speak in a hushed tone, quietly delighting in the effect that it was having on Maya. “There may be a glass or two of wine involved, and then we could see where the night takes us?”
Maya swallowed hard, desperately trying to keep her cool. “That sounds great. It would be nice to see more than just the animal of the week.”
Carina leant even closer to Maya to whisper into her ear teasingly, “I can definitely make that happen.”
Maya had agreed to meet Carina at the aquarium for their date, not wanting her to have to leave work just to come back. She’d finally settled on an outfit of black jeans, a white shirt, and her letterman-style jacket after hours of scouring through her wardrobe for something that felt appropriate. Now, she was standing outside the entrance at Pier 59, her palms sweating, and her heart feeling like it was about to beat out of her chest.
Before she could get too lost in her thoughts about whether Carina would find her anywhere near as endearing without Quinn around, Maya noticed the brunette approaching from the corner of her eye. Maya’s breath caught in her throat; Carina was in a deep red dress, a slit in the left side stopping mid-thigh, and black heels, which Maya was certain she’d seen red soles on. Carina was breathtaking.
“Hi, bella.” Carina’s voice broke through the silence.
“H-Hi,” Maya stuttered. “You look… Wow.”
“You look pretty wow yourself,” Carina chuckled. “Shall we head inside?”
Maya nodded, following Carina as she began to lead them through the door. “I’m pretty sure I could walk around here with my eyes closed, and still not get lost.”
“I thought Quinn always took the lead,” Carina teased.
“Oh, she does,” Maya laughed. “But before she was old enough to have opinions, I used to carry her around this place.”
“She does seem to have many opinions… Is that something she also gets from you?” Carina asked cheekily.
Maya feigned hurt. “Me? Too many opinions? Never.”
“I’m sorry if you think it’s weird having a date at the place I work, and somewhere you already spend so much time.” Carina looked at the floor, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.
“It’s not weird at all,” Maya asserted. “I’m excited to see the aquarium from your perspective, and understand what it means to you. Can I ask what made you decide to work with sea otters?”
“I went to a natural sciences convention back when I was planning on being a biologist, and there was a talk about Karl Kenyon and Bob Krear, who made the first completed documentary about them,” Carina explained. “The Sea Otters of Amchitka captured the largest concentration of sea otters in the North Pacific on film. Not only did it popularise them for the first time, but it inspired early conservation and translocation efforts. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the U.S. government began using Amchitka Island for underground nuclear testing, and over 600 otters had to be relocated across America. I remember hearing about everything that the otters faced, and realising how much still threatened them, and I decided that I wanted to be part of the solution. When I heard about the work that the aquarium did, I decided to get the right qualifications and came to be part of the solution.”
Maya found herself captivated by the way Carina spoke with such passion. “That’s incredible, Carina. It’s so clear to see that you’re making such a difference here.”
“Thank you, Maya” Carina smiled. “Now, I want to show you another one of my favourite spots that doesn’t include the otters.
Carina led them over to the Window on Washington Waters habitat, her hand brushing against Maya’s as they walked.
“I know you’ve probably seen this countless times already-” Carina began.
“It’s actually been a while since I’ve been able to stop and just admire it.” Maya interrupted. “Quinn always likes to get to the animal of the week right on time, and so we don’t have much time to take in anything else on the way.”
“She’s one determined explorer.” Carina chuckled.
Maya was captivated by what was unfolding before her eyes. “This place is full of beautiful things.”
“It’s pretty remarkable.” Carina agreed.
Carina continued to show Maya the parts of the aquarium that she didn’t often get to marvel at, sharing interesting tidbits of information along the way.
A steady stream of people moved around them, but it felt like they were the only two people in the world. There was barely any space between them, and somewhere along the way they’d started holding hands.
“I can’t believe there’s so much of this place that you’ve never actually seen,” Carina commented as she led Maya through the Coral Triangle. “This area has been called ‘the Amazon of the ocean,’ and you’d have had no idea.”
“I’m sorry, have you met the little hurricane that I bring with me every time I visit? She has a plan of action from the minute we step through the door, and I’m not allowed to deviate under any circumstances,” Maya huffed lightly.
Carina couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. “She is very determined.”
“That’s one word for it,” Maya remarked. “I am a fan of her latest plan stipulations though, so there’s no complaints from me.”
“You are?” Carina raised an eyebrow in question.
“All her current aquarium plans end with seeing you and the otters; that’s always my favourite part,” Maya smirked at the blush that made its way across Carina’s cheeks. “You’re one of the most beautiful things here, Carina.”
Carina could feel her heart beating in her chest at Maya’s words. “Well, you’re one of my favourite visitors, and I’m always happy to see you.”
“Maybe I could come and see you on my own sometime,” Maya shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Or maybe we could see each other outside of the aquarium.”
“Maybe.” Carina smiled, leaning forward to place a quick kiss on Maya’s cheek.
As their adventure through the aquarium came to an end, Carina decided that it was only right that they finished up with the otters.
“I’m not sure if you’ve met these otters yet,” Carina began. “This is Molalla and Zweigle, and they are our resident river otters.”
Maya couldn’t help but smile as she watched the pair rolling around in the water. “Does the aquarium have a policy that everyone who lives and works here has to be cute?”
“I think that’s subjective,” Carina chuckled as she shook her head.
“If you say so,” Maya smirked.
Carina continued to lead them past the river otters to the exhibit that Maya has become all too familiar with over the previous weeks. “And here’s my favourite part.”
“I feel like you’re slightly biased.” Maya raised a brow, smiling at the obvious joy on Carina’s face.
“Maybe a little,” Carina smirked, putting her thumb and forefinger together to show a tiny gap.
Maya couldn’t help but laugh at the antics. “What’s the difference between a river otter and a sea otter anyway… other than the obvious?”
“Are you being serious?” Carina gasped.
“Uh…” Maya hesitated. “Yeah?”
“Maya,” Carina’s voice trailed off in disbelief. “First of all, sea otters are two to three times bigger than river otters. Sea otters float on their backs, and river otters swim on their bellies, and don’t even get me started on their tails.”
“Their tails?” Maya questioned.
“Did you not notice that the river otters’ tails were long and pointed, but the girls have short and flattened tails?” Carina pointed out at the trio, almost as if to emphasise her point.
“I can’t say their tails were my main focus.” Maya smiled sheepishly.
Carina rolled her eyes playfully. “Sea otters also spend the majority of their lives in the water. They breed, give birth, hunt for food, and sleep there. The river otters spend most of their lives on solid ground, and only use the water to travel and find food.”
“Oh, there are a lot of differences then.” Maya nodded.
“And,” Carina pointed her finger in the air, suddenly remembering another point. “My girls can only give birth to one pup at a time, but those river otters can have several cubs in a litter.”
“Your girls, huh?” Maya smirked.
“Ma-ya!” Carina playfully swatted at Maya’s shoulder. “I’m trying to teach you something here.”
Maya giggled at the feigned offence on Carina’s face. “I’m listening, I promise. I love how passionate you are about them.”
“It’s hard not to be,” Carina said. “They mean a lot to me, and even on the very rare occasions I’m not here, I always check in with them on the live cam.”
“There’s a live cam?” Maya asked, baffled that she’d never found out this information in all her times of visiting.
Carina nodded and pointed over to a camera situated with an outlook on the enclosure. “Over there. You can watch the live stream 24/7 on the aquarium’s YouTube channel.”
“Quinn is going to freak out when I tell her.” Maya laughed.
“I can’t believe I forgot to tell you guys.” Carina shook her head slightly.
“I’m sure you can find a way to make it up to us,” Maya smirked.
Carina grabbed Maya’s hand, pulling her forward so they were standing directly in front of each other. “I can make it up to you right now.”
“Oh, really?” Maya took a step closer, raising a teasing eyebrow.
“Certo.” Carina smiled as she lifted a hand to cradle Maya’s cheek, tilting her head slightly in question.
After a small nod from Maya, Carina closed the tiny gap that had remained between them, bringing their lips together in a kiss that took both of their breaths away.
“Am I forgiven?” Carina smirked, thumbing the dimple in Maya’s chin.
“Maybe,” Maya whispered. “But… if you wanted to convince me more-“
Carina interrupted Maya’s sentence, bringing their lips back together in an equally heated kiss.
Maya knew that the second she told Quinn about the live cam, she’d want to watch it straight away, and she was right. The little one had practically screamed with joy when Maya had told her they’d be able to watch the otters anytime she’d like.
And that was how she found herself sitting on the couch with her laptop set up in front of her, the livestream broadcasting for the pair of them to watch. While Quinn was obsessed with the otters, Maya found herself following Carina’s movements across the screen. It was clear to see how dedicated Carina was to her job, even when there wasn’t a crowd of people watching.
Maya: That bobble hat is cute.
Carina frowned at her phone in confusion, looking around to see if she could spot Maya. Before she could reply, another text came through.
Maya: One image attached.
Carina opened the message, smiling at the screenshot of the aquarium’s live cam feed that Maya had up on her laptop.
Maya: I never get tired of seeing you feed them.
Carina: Maya, you’ve seen me feed them once.
Maya: That you know of…
“There’s Ruby with my toy, Auntie Maya.” Quinn’s voice pulled Maya’s attention from her text thread.
“She really seems to like it, huh, Pickle?” Maya brushed some hair back from where it had fallen into the little one’s eyes.
Quinn nodded. “Uh-oh.”
“What’s wrong?” Maya furrowed her brow, unsure what had suddenly troubled Quinn.
“It’s starting to rain.” Quinn pointed at where the raindrops were causing ripples in the water. “I hope C’rina has her raincoat.”
Maya chuckled before thumbing another message to Carina.
Maya: Quinn says don’t forget your raincoat when you go to feed your girls.
Carina: You’ve got Quinn watching now too?
Maya: She’s down with a cold, and I thought watching four of her favourite people while in the company of her fifth might help.
Carina: Is it working?
Maya: One voice note attached.
Carina clicked the voice note, not entirely sure what to expect, but smiling when Quinn’s little voice sounded out.
“Hi, C’rina. I have the snuffles, but watching the otters is helping. I just wanted to say, don’t forget your raincoat… because it’s raining, not because you’ll fall in… but don’t fall in either. Actulally, C’rina, have you ever actly falled in?"
Carina couldn’t help but grin at the sweet message. She decided that it was cute enough to warrant a voice note in reply.
“Hi, Quinn. I’m sorry that you have the snuffles. I hope your Auntie Maya is giving you lots of cuddles, and I’m glad the girls are working their otter magic and making you feel better. I’m going to grab my raincoat now, thank you for reminding me, and no, I haven’t ever fallen in.”
Carina clicked send, barely watching it deliver before her phone rang with a call from Maya. She accepted the call with a smile.
“Can I come swim with the otters, C’rina? Please. Please. Please.” Quinn’s congested voice sounded through the phone.
“Maybe say ‘hello’ first, Pickle,” Maya chided lightly.
“Oh, yeah,” Quinn said. “Hi, C’rina! So, can I come swim with them? Please. Please. Please.”
Carina chuckled as she imagined Maya’s expression on the other side of the phone. “Hi, Quinn. I’m not sure that would be the best idea because they have germs.”
“I don’t actulally care,” Quinn deadpanned. “Technically, we all have germs, and I have lots of them at the minute. I got naughty nose germs.”
Carina found herself impressed by Quinn’s logic. “Unfortunately, you can’t swim with them, but maybe we can arrange for you to bring them some toys again, okay, bella?”
“Yes, please.” Quinn practically screamed. “But, C’rina, I’m not Bella. I’m Quinn!”
Carina couldn’t hold back the laugh that escaped her. “I know your name, Quinn. Bella means beautiful in Italian.”
“Oh! A new Italian word,” Quinn delightedly squealed. “Wait… You sometimes call Auntie Maya bella too. When you’re hiding at the corner and think I can’t hear you.”
Carina heard Maya groan in the background. “I do! I think your Auntie Maya is very beautiful.”
“Auntie Maya thinks you’re beautiful too,” Quinn replied nonchalantly.
“She does?” Carina asked, intrigued by what the little one knew.
“Uh-huh. She told me.” Quinn replied.
Carina turned to smile at the camera, knowing the pair were still watching. “Well, that’s very kind of her.”
“It is. Now can you move to the side so I can watch the otters again, please, C’rina, but we’ll see you on Wednesday, ‘kay?” Quinn reeled off.
Carina moved out of the view of the camera after sending the pair a wave. “I can’t wait to see you both.”
“Buh-bye.” Quinn hung up before Maya could even attempt to take the phone, so Carina sent her a message.
Carina: So, you think I’m beautiful, huh?
Maya: Very. I think I might need to be more careful with what I say around little ears, though. I can’t have Quinn sharing all my secrets.
Carina: I’m glad to have her on my side.
Maya: She adores you.
Maya: I can’t blame her.
Carina: How would you feel if I took you both on an adventure outside of the aquarium? I promise it’ll be just as exciting, and she’ll have a great time.
Carina’s phone lit up, signalling that another call from Maya was coming through.
“Hello?” Carina answered.
“You’re on speakerphone,” Maya began. “I asked Quinn if she wanted to join you on an adventure-“
“And I said yes… a lot!” Quinn cheered. “But C’rina?”
“Yes, Quinn?” Carina replied.
“Can we still see the otters afterwards?”
Carina could almost hear the pout that she knew Quinn was sporting.
“I couldn’t confirm over text before she’d got an answer to that question,” Maya explained.
“I see,” Carina said. “Well, I think that we can definitely stop by to see the otters afterwards.”
“Really?” Quinn gasped.
“Absolutely,” Carina confirmed. “I have a feeling we will always end up back here.”