Author's Note: Someone asked me long ago to write a story based on the lyrics of Chasing Cars about Natalia and Maxine. This is the result. For her and for my friend B that loves the song.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: Miami and I don't own any money from it, and I don't own the lyrics of Chasing Cars.
Warning: Sex- Read at own risk.
Chasing Valera
"Natalia, what are you doing here?" Maxine Valera looked at her with confused eyes, saying her friend in the main lobby of her workplace.
"I…I had to see you, at once," Natalia said, she was looking flushed.
"Why, what is going on, sweetheart?" Valera asked worried, dragging her out of the building so her coworkers wouldn't hear.
"Aren't you feed up by this, you here, me there, everyone taking," Natalia asked.
"Did someone say something is that it?" Valera asked, she had some looks as well, but she chose to ignore it.
"No…I mean yes, I mean I just want to do it all with you, move in, have children, have a future. I'm fed up with us living in two places, feeling like I am missing out on thing, wanting to have you with me when you are here," Natalia said.
"You know I do feel the same way, Nattie, but what can really do, we both have to work to earn money, your house is there, my apartment is here," said Valera with a sigh.
"Come back with me, you can move your things, or we can go somewhere else and start a new," Natalia said, talking Valera's hands in her own, looking deep into her mocha colored eyes.
"You're right," Valera admitted and lifted her head to kiss Natalia in a very loving way. The other brunette at once returned the kiss, pulling her closer.
It was about a month later and Valera had fully moved in with Natalia, at the moment she was still trying to sort out some last things over mail and by phone. Natalia on the other hand was arguing to have Horatio hire her back, convincing her she wouldn't leave and so on.
"Fine!" her voice sounded sharp as a knife in the early morning's quietness. Annoyed and without thinking it through she threw her cellphone in her swimming pool and let out a huff. She removed her clothes and let herself sink into the pool, the water seeming being so nice and cool against her hot skin.
She closed her eyes and let herself just float, shutting the world out, listening to the birds quibble and Valera's voice in the distance.
Valera looked at Natalia that was lying in the pool only wearing her panties. She lay completely still; too still…She at once ended her phone conversation in a polite way, before she got undressed down to her underwear and dived in, swimming up next to her lower.
"Natalia," she whispered, her voice sounded scared.
"Yes," the older woman answered.
"Gosh, you scared me, I thought you were dead," said Valera, taking a sigh of relief.
"Not likely, my family tends to live long and then I would have been fully under water floating up instead of floating atop of it," said Natalia with a sigh.
"True I do suppose, are you okay?" Maxine asked worried.
"Just tired of all this shit and paperwork, all I want is to have you back with me at work. I don't want to think about it anymore, just close your eyes and lay with me," Natalia said with a sigh.
"I can do that, anywhere, anytime as long as you are there," said Maxine with a smile, letting herself float as she grabbed Natalia's hand, closing her eyes, forgetting the world around them, ignoring her phone and the house phone as she let herself drift alongside Natalia.
"Valera…I…"Natalia started one day the two of them was repainting a room in her house. They had already done the living room and the hallway, now came time for her bedroom. Her words seemed to get stuck every time she tried to put her emotions into it. She wanted to say those three words Valera had so often said to her, still she couldn't. She was afraid that once she said it all would break and be ruined like with Nick.
She however knew Valera knew it by now as they had been living together for about six months now, and been together for a year and a half before that. It was however not only those three words Natalia wanted to utter as she wanted to as the other woman to marry her. Afraid of another failed marriage perhaps, then again she was almost certain it wouldn't be, if she could only get her words out.
"Yes, Nattie," Valera said, looking away from the wall she was painting, and over at her better half, wondering what she was struggling to say.
"I've been trying to find a good way of telling you how I feel about you, but those three words doesn't seem like enough and…" Natalia took a deep breath, trying to gather herself.
"Natalia, you don't have to say anything, I already know how you feel, or else I wouldn't live with you," said Valera, laying the pencil on top of the paint bucket and coming over, her face and clothing as splattered with paint as Natalia's.
"Just let me finish, please," said Natalia, she knew she needed to get it out now or she never would.
"Easy," Valera said in a calm tone.
"I'm sorry, I just…I've been wanting to say this for some time, sweetheart," said Natalia and blushed even more.
"I'm listening, take all the time that you need," said Valera, mocha brown, meeting chocolate brown as so many times before.
"I always, I think long before we became a couple found you amazing and I somehow knew you are the right person for me. I know we both have some weird sides, but we seem to work well together still. So Maxi, do you want to marry me?" Natalia in the end managed to get out, her eyes going down a little, feeling a bit embarrassed that it was not well enough put.
Valera without warning threw her arms around her, and hugged her thighs whispering, "I do, and of course I do."
"Oh Maxi, I was afraid it would come to sudden, that you might say no," Natalia hugged her back, kissing her eagerly causing them both to lose balance and tople over, landing on the plastic covered floor.
Maxine giggled, reaching for another kiss, stoking away some hairs that had fallen down into Natalia's paint covered face, whispering, "I never would decline that offer, if it had come today, tomorrow or next year as you are the only one I can picture myself with."
"I'm so glad to hear that," Natalia said, tears of happiness starting to fall from her eyes.
"I love you so much Natalia Boa Vista," said Maxine and kissed her woman, yet again.
"And I you, we should probably continue this, and I'll take you to find a ring tomorrow after work," said Natalia and slowly tried to rise, when Valera pulled her back down, whispering, "Not now, Nattie, later, we have plenty of time to paint later, let us just lay here and enjoy the moment. And let us be late so we can shop for a ring tomorrow morning instead, let them wait for once."
Natalia bent to kiss her deeply, having no objections to either of these wishes. The room would be painted, but not after the two ladies had made love to each other on the plastic covered floor, causing them to have paint the weirdest places for some time after. Neither would care as the only thing that mattered that moment and until noon next day was them.
Maxine was diving into the swimming pool giggling happily; Natalia was diving right after her. She soon caught up and pulled her under the water, giving her an underwater kiss before going back up giggling happily.
"You know we really shouldn't have skipped work just to have fun in the pool, what if they get worried," said Valera, looking at Natalia with serious eyes.
"I'm sure they will manage just fine, Maxi, besides this was your idea due to the hot weather," said Natalia with a shrug.
"True it has been way too hot to work lately, can't you influence Horatio to get better air-condition at the lab," said Maxine.
"And how do you suppose I do that, beg him and if he doesn't listen sleep with him," said Natalia with a frown.
"That is so not funny, especially since we are getting married in not long," said Valera, looking at the ring on her finger, silver with an emeralds around it making it look like a tiny DNA chain went around the ring. The two had searched for a ring for some time, but as they didn't find anything to their liking Natalia had it special made.
"Relax, I wouldn't do that I'm too old for that kind of things, if I had been younger…" Natalia stopped on the thought, then shook her head.
"Natalia, Natalia, Natalia, how many times have I told you to not go after your coworkers, it will only lead in disaster and you can get fired," Maxine said, making the perfect interpolation of Natalia's mother Karen.
"Oh shut it," said Natalia, splashing some water on her, before pulling her under for the fun of it. When they came back up both burst into giggles.
They both startled when they heard Ryan's voice say, "If this is what you call being sick, I hate to see what you look like when you're not."
"Ryan…we…" Natalia stopped, turning flushing red.
"Relax, I won't tell on you, I understand that you want some time with each other," he said, sitting down on one of the sunbeds next to the pool.
"Thanks, you're a Saint," said Natalia, blowing him a kiss, which he captured.
"What are you doing her in the first place?" Valera wanted to know.
"Checking on the two loveliest women at the lab as they were sick, that and dodging another argument between Calleigh and Eric, those drive me nuts," he said, shaking his head.
"I can imagine. What was the happy couple arguing about this time?" asked Natalia, her voice filled with sarcasm. She swam over and leaning her head on the edge. Their friends had now been dating for almost two years, but they seemed to argue more for each day.
"He had forgotten they were invited to a party at her parents this weekend," said Ryan.
"Minding me, we have one to attend to this Saturday," said Maxine, they were going to her sister's birthday that always was held at her parents place.
"I remember who is driving this time?" asked Natalia as her parents lived about an hour away by car.
"I will, but we can always take a cab and get someone to drive us to get the car the next day," she said and looked at Ryan.
"I'll do it if it's not too early," he agreed.
"Thanks, you're the best, what's in the bag?" Natalia asked as he was holding a paper bag in his hand.
"Cinnamon rolls," he said with a smile, knowing both were crazy about that.
Both slowly got up of the pool and hugged him, not caring that he got wet, most likely it would dry before he got back to the lab in any case. All three sat down on the sunbed and started to eat while they talked.
It was Saturday, the same weekend that Maxine tried to get ready, but she couldn't seem to find a sight outfit. She sighed, looking in the mirror, not happy about the way she looked at all.
"What's wrong, Maxi?" Natalia asked, seeing her sad eyes.
"I don't have anything to wear," she said with a sigh.
"Then take some of mine," Natalia offered.
"I wouldn't look good in yours, don't have the body," Valera complained.
"You do, try this on," said Natalia handing her a black dress that would reach her to the knees.
"Okay," said Valera taking of the outfit she was wearing to try it on, it was a perfect fit, Natalia let her tongue slide over her lips, saying, "You look mighty hot in it."
"Easy tiger, we are late, later maybe," said Valera with a giggle, but she still gave Natalia some hot kisses. Then she dragged her towards the car after making sure she had remembered her sister's present and the flowers for her mother.
Valera ended up falling asleep in the car on the way there as it was a long drive and they both had a long week even with the day they had taken off. As the driveway was filled with cars already, Natalia had to park a little down the road. This however gave her a fine opportunity to wake Valera by giving her a very steamy kiss while her hand went under her dress to treat her downstairs area. The other woman was quickly woken from her sweet sleep and didn't mind being woken up like this. Natalia kissed her hard to keep down another moan as two fingers slid inside Maxine's dept. Stroking over her clit she let her lips go to her neck. Going in and out of her she sucked harder.
Maxine moaned, bending to suck on Natalia's lip as she sucked on her, tensing up, the letting go as the waves washed over her body. Shaking, the relaxing, holding on to Natalia, whispering, "Thank you."
"You are welcome, we better get inside," Natalia whispered, giving her another kiss, before she got out of the car.
Valera let out a sigh of satisfaction as she fixed her hair. It was in cases like these she truly loved Natalia. The hickey on her neck she didn't mind as they walked up to her parents front door.
As they slowly neared the door, Maxine could sense something was bothering Natalia and asked, "Sweetheart, what's the matter?"
"I know it's silly, but the last times I felt like they haven't been too happy about me being there. I just want them to like me," said Natalia.
"Will you just relax, it's just I've only brought boys home before, they need some getting used to that you're well not a boy, that's all. I mean I was taught that it's normal to marry a guy not…" she stopped as she rang the doorbell.
A moment later Joan Valera calm to open and let them inside. Both women greeted her with a handshake and a hug, Natalia's not as hard as Valera's before they went inside to the living room where it as always was more than lively.
"Auntie Val, auntie Val," two young boys yelled as they came running towards them. They hugged her before the youngest called Tristan said, "Did you bring us anything?"
"I didn't realize it was your birthday, I thought it was your mother's," said Valera with a smiling over at her sister that was engaged in a conversation with her father. Marianne Valera was the youngest of the Valera girls, she was also the mother of Ted and Tristan. Next in line was Maxine and the oldest was Marie, she was married to a man named Thomas, they never did have any children, Maxine never learned why. Marianne was married to a firefighter named Alan, but as Maxine could not see him there she took it he was working. Tom and Marie just came out from the kitchen moments after the two ladies arrived.
The boys looked disappointed as Valera always brought them a little something, usually a toy, a cartoon or a book as Valera didn't like to give away sweets. Natalia seemed to be amused as the two boys turned to go back to them to return to the card game they had been playing before they walked in.
"Boys," Natalia said, making them turn to look at her with shining hazel eyes. Valera nodded and Natalia dragged two presents up of her handbags and gave to them. The paper quickly fell off as they found a cartoon and book in each present. They both hugged and thank them before they sat down to read their cartoons.
"Life saver," Marianne said and gave Valera a hug.
"You are welcome, so how are you and Alan?" Maxine asked.
"We are okay I suppose, but I do wish he didn't have to work that often, what about you, what's new with two of you?" she asked, looking at them with curious eyes. A giggle escaped Natalia as the other woman at times reminded her of Calleigh.
"We're engaged or rather she asked about a month ago," said Valera, holding up her ring.
"Wow, that's gorgeous, congratulations," said Marianne and hugged them both; making the other four look at them.
"What is going on?" Valera's father Andrew asked.
"They're getting married," said Marianne and smiled at them. She figured she had never been so happy for her sister.
"What?" Joan asked as the cup she was holding dropped to the floor.
"You cannot be serious, Maxine," said her father in a serious tone.
"I am, pa can't you just be happy for me, I know she's not as expected, but she is really good to me and I love her dearly. I don't think I've been as happy before as I've been with Natalia," said Valera.
"Maxine, sweetheart, with all due respect I really don't think that is a good idea," her father said.
"Why, why is it not?" Maxine's eyes were slowly rising; she was clutching Natalia's hand. Natalia knew they were not too happy about them being together, but this.
"You know why, we have talked about this before," her mother spoke.
"I really hate you sometimes," said Valera before leaving the room, Natalia could hear she was running upstairs, most likely to her old room where they used to stay when she or they were there.
Natalia that was feeling all eyes were on her, sighed deeply saying, "For what it is worth I'm not playing around here, I really do love her and I have no intentions of letting her down. I care deeply about that woman and I know I am no man but I can provide and give her anything she wishes."
"Like children?" Andrew challenged her.
"If that is what she wishes I don't see it to be a problem, now if you will excuse me I need to check on my wife to be," said Natalia, leaving the room without another word.
"I still don't see why you have to be so hard on them, Natalia is a great woman, father," said Marianne.
"She always brings cool things," said Ted, his brother nodded.
"I think you should give them your blessings or you will lose her forever," said Marie. Everyone turned to look at her as it was the first time she opened her mouth regarding the matter.
"Marie…" her father started when she continued, "No, father, you will accept her like you did with Thomas and Alan. You will allow them to do what they wish and you will support it. If you don't you will as I said lose her and that would not be in this family's best inters," she said.
Andrew looked over at his wife that sighed; she knew their oldest daughter was right. Who were they to stand in the way of their daughter's happiness? Even if it was not what they have taught her and against their wishes. Andrew Valera sighed and nodded, his wife was about to speak but he lifted his hand to silence her. He soon would change the subject and his two remaining daughters would also leave the room wondering what would happen when Natalia and Valera did return.
Natalia knocked gently on Valera's door before entering. The younger woman was lying on her side in her old bed. Tears streaming from her eyes. For a short second Natalia an image of the young Valera flashed before her eyes. Her lying there with her heart broken by some guy that didn't even deserve her.
Suddenly Valera seemed so much younger. Natalia walked over, only to sit down beside her whispering, "It is going to be okay, sweetheart."
"How, you heard them," Valera whispered, before more sobs found their way past her lips.
"Yes, but your sister's seem to be standing up for you and us when I left to go upstairs, I think Maria is especially for us," said Natalia, letting her fingers slid into Valera's holding her hand tight.
"I don't get why, Maria has never spoken much to you or to us when we have been together, I thought she disapproved," said Maxine, her voice sounded surprised.
"I think she knows which battles to pick and she most likely know you are happy with me," said Natalia coming close enough to give her woman a soft kiss.
"Thank you for not walking out on me," Valera whispered, mastering a smile.
"I would never do that, no matter how though it gets," said Natalia in a very serious tone.
"I'm very glad for that," said Valera, kissing her ever so gently.
"So ready to go back down?" Natalia asked.
"No, I just want to stay here with you and forget the world," said Valera, snuggling closer, hiding her head in Natalia's soft bosom. Natalia just nodded, leaning her head on top of Valera's, after all she had all she needed right here, in her arms, wrapped around her. She smiled as she kissed the top of her head thinking, 'Yes, you are all I need and nothing will ever change that."
Natalia looked into Valera's mocha eyes, tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks. The other woman was wearing the most beautiful wedding dress and her hair that now had grown to be a little lower than her shoulders was held back by a diamond diadem that were also holding a wail.
In her hands she was holding a bouquet of white roses. In Natalia's eyes she looked just like a fairy tale princess. In fact she was dazed by how amazing she looked. As she came walking towards Natalia, the older brunette couldn't take her eyes of her. Her heart seemed to almost stop from happiness.
"Natalia, what's the matter?" Valera asked as she came closer, as her soon to be wife couldn't stop crying.
"You're just so beautiful and I'm so happy," Natalia managed to get out. She herself was wearing a white suit with a cream white blouse inside. Around her neck hand a set of white pearls that was given her by Valera as a morning present.
"Could this be any sappier," Eric mouthed to Calleigh, they were standing next to Natalia as Calleigh were her maid of honor. And he was her escort.
"Oh shut it, don't you dare ruin this," She whispered, giving him a warning glance.
"Oh stop it, this dress makes me look fat," said Valera, blushing shyly, a hand stroking over her belly, if you looked close you would see a tiny bump there.
"I do disagree, it is the perfect fit," said Natalia, bending to kiss her cheek.
"So that means you won't remove it later?" Valera whispered as she wiggled her brows.
"Dream on, it's coming of no matter how perfect," Natalia whispered back with a sly smile.
"Ehm," the heard the minister said and looked up, both blushing shyly as they listened to what he was saying. Hands entwined, no of them wanted to let go.
Natalia was standing, looking out at the view from the balcony of the hotel room they had rented for the night. The sun was slowly rising and Valera was still asleep. They had dance and joked around for most of the reception along with their friends.
Horatio had danced once with each of them, and Eric had danced with Natalia's sister Christine a couple of times. She and her husband were now divorced and had shared custody over their two girls. The two girls had gotten along well with Valera's nephews as they were almost the only ones of their age there.
Horatio had brought his Julia, and Kyle was there also as the two women had taken a liking to him. He seemed to talk a lot with Marianne and Ryan, Natalia had even seen them play a friendly game of blackjack at some point.
She had a bit later in the evening gone over to talk to Horatio. He had told her if she or Valera would ever need anything he would be more than happy to help them out. She thanked him for that saying that they at the moment had all they needed with a house, work and the little one on their way. He nodded saying he was happy to help with that as he had been their donor. They had thought about asking Ryan at first, but in the end landed on Horatio. No one else knew. Other than Julia of course as they had talked to her about the matter as well as she was no engaged to Horatio.
Horatio had asked what lay in the head in the future whereas Natalia had answered that she didn't know, but whatever it was she was glad she could share it with Maxine. Her Maxine.
The woman she had been in love with for so long and that was finally hers. A wave of happiness went through her body as she looked upon the woman in the bed that was still peacefully sleeping.
After they had left the others that were sleeping elsewhere in the hotel, she had carried Valera over the threshold to their room, both giggling with joy. She had put her down very gently and for a second there they had just stood looking at each other. It was like they were seeing each other in a brand new way. Then again they were now wife and wife.
Natalia had taken her into her arms and kissed her deeply, making her blush before leading her to their bed. As she slowly removed her lovely dress and put it aside she would see Valera was wearing new undergarments. The older woman hadn't taken long in throwing herself at her new wife and making love to her in nice and gentle and somewhat rougher and dirty ways.
They had kept it going until the very early morning until they fell asleep from exhaustion. Which would now explain why Valera was sleeping. A soft giggle of joy would escape Natalia's lips as she figured she didn't care where the future took them as long as they were together before she crawled back into the bed with her wife.
A soft scream filled quiet night waking up Natalia from her soft sleep. As she slowly got out of bed and walked towards the nursery which was in the room next to the master bedroom, she thought back on the little one being born two months later.
An angry scream the hospital room as a tired Valera was still panting. Thirteen hours it had taken her to give birth to her daughter. Thirteen hours and sweat, pain and tears, not to mention pleading for the pain to stop.
Natalia smiled proudly looking at the little perfect girl. The nurse was handing her over, and tears of joy were again finding their way down her cheeks, just like they had on their wedding day.
"Oh sweetheart, she's so beautiful," said Natalia, showing her wife the bloody bundle.
Maxine unable to speak at this point, nodded, happy it was over, the afterbirth now also removed. Thankful she didn't need stitching. Having regained for some more minutes she said, "I hope yours will go faster as I don't owe anyone to go through this pain."
"But isn't it worth it, look how perfect she is," Natalia, handing her over, so Valera could have a closer look.
"It is," Valera admitted before the nurses cleaned up both mother and child, then thrilled them into a private room.
It was a little later that Natalia returned to the master bedroom was rocking the baby and Valera was watching over her two ladies. The older woman's belly now more than visible. She had been ever so sick the first three months, more than herself, but Maxine assumed that had to do with her age.
Now as she was nearing the sixth month she seemed fine, except some minor back pain. Valera was more than happy to tend to that. Now she however seemed fine as she sat down next to Valera. The two ladies were about to celebrate their half month wedding anniversary in another month and this little one had been born about two months earlier.
As Natalia looked over at Valera she said, "Remember when she was born?"
"Of course I do, thirteen hours of pain," said Valera with a groan.
"Seems so long ago, and here we are two months later, did you ever think we could be this happy?" said Natalia with a smile.
"I honestly didn't, but I dared to hope," the other woman answered smiling at her.
Natalia yawned as she lay down next to her, still holding the baby that now had calmed down.
"Remember how it all began?" Valera said, coming a little closer.
"Yes, I was chasing after you, madly in love, which I still am," said Natalia with a sigh.
"I'm very glad you did, or we wouldn't have been married, or have her," she whispered, nuzzling her cheek.
"As am I," said Natalia as the alarm sounded, time to get to work. She groaned, but Valera reached to turn it off saying, "Let's just stay here for a few more hours and forget about them.
"Agreed, for once I can afford to be late," Natalia whispered, as she closed her eyes. She was still tired as little Ava Maria had woken them up about five times that night. Maxine just shook her head, smiling as she settled her head near Natalia's chest where they baby was resting also, happy to have her, and happy to have been chased down by her in the first place. She sighed, closing her eyes, thinking there was no place she would rather be than right her with her two favorite girls. Inside Natalia's belly a little one was moving around before settling with her mothers, neither seemed to notice for the time being, all that mattered was them wrapped up nicely in that bedroom where it long ago all began.
Thank you for reading, feedback is always much appreciated :o)