Lets have a baby- Marina Fanfiction

by calzonaendgame

My take on Marina's future as they decided to add a member to their family. Written in time jumps as it is meant to be a one shot- though, I am open to writing a part two per requests.

"Let's have a baby..."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

May 8th 2023

It had been over a year and a half of the couple trying and trying to get pregnant. They wanted to do an at home insemination, and so far had not tried anything else. Carina had made a lot of life style changes to try and make their chances higher.

They tried every other month, and this month, they were trying, as she never got a positive test from last time. She was supposed to ovulate this week, so she had been taking ovulation tests like nothing. She was beyond anxious.

The Italian tied her robe around her waist gently after getting out of the shower. It was around 6 pm, she knew Maya would be home any minute. She got comfy, snuggling up under their covers and scrolling through her phone.

Maya had a pretty crappy day at work, but the second she walked into her home all of that disappeared. Carina had the day off today, and she could tell just by the fumes in the house. The Italian had spent the day cooking, and Maya absolutely could not wait to see what had been made. Carina's food was amazing.

The blonde hung up her coat and set her bags down, she had stopped at the pharmacy on her way home. She knew they just needed some things around the house, and she picked up some dark chocolate for Carina. Because, why not?

"Hey Beautiful. I'm back..." Maya felt her body relaxing as she entered the kitchen, the source of those wonderful smells. But, her wife wasn't there. "Carina?"

"I'm in here Bella" Carina called from their bedroom.

Maya smiled at the sound of Carina's voice, heading down the hallway and to their room. She let out a relaxed sigh when she saw her beautiful wife, laying on their bed in her robe with her wet, wavy hair framing her face perfectly.

"Come here Bambina" The Italian held her arms out.

Maya took no time in fulfilling that request, climbing into their bed and wrapping her arms around her wife.

"How was your day?" Maya asked, leaving a soft kiss on the corner of Carinas lips, keeping their faces close- almost touching, but not quite.

"Mm it was good. I made your favorites."

"I can tell. It smells amazing in here."

Carina smiled, kissing Maya softly. "And your day, Bella?"

Maya tilted her head back in frustration. "Captain duties. Dealing with the dick men who run SFD." Maya's anger about the station had been fueled back up.

"I'm sorry Bambina."

"No I'm... it's not your fault. It's just, infuriating." Maya didn't like to bring this anger home, usually she wasn't ever this mad about work. But everything was just catching up to her, and it was overwhelming.

"I know... it's okay to be frustrated." Carina tucked a piece of blonde hair behind a pale ear, stroking Maya's cheek.

Maya couldn't help but smile. She couldn't be angry around her wife, the woman always made her feel better instantly. She was so calming, and she made Maya feel like someone was listening to her. "I love you." The blonde whispered.

Carina smiled. "I love you too Maya."

The two just sat there for a while in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable at all. Carina was running her hands all through Maya's hair- giving her wife some time to cool off after a hard day at work. Maya sighed contently, just enjoying the soft touch of her lover.

"Are you hungry?" Carina whispered after a few minutes. If she didn't stop, she knew she would put her wife right to sleep, and they still hadn't eaten.

Maya nodded slowly.

Carina laughed softly and started to sit up. "Come on Bella, I can't have you falling asleep on me yet."

The two got up, Carina leading her wife towards the kitchen, stopping at the mess of reusable bags in their doorway. "What is this?" She asked.

"Oh!" Maya had totally forgotten to tell Carina about her pit-stop. "I stopped at the pharmacy... you know, we needed some tests, and I heard you say you were running out of shampoo." Maya bent down to one of the bags, pulling something out. "And I got you..." She held out the chocolate bar.

Carina smiled at her wife's thoughtfulness. "Thank you Bambina." She kissed Maya softly. She couldn't help it. Maya was too cute. "Let's take these into the kitchen."

Maya nodded and the two carried the bags to the kitchen, setting them on the counter. Carina started looking through the bags. "You really got it all." She said with a laugh.

Maya smiled as she took things out of the bags, loading up her arms with things that belonged in their bathroom to go put everything away.

As Maya did that, Carina reheated some of the food she made earlier for dinner.

The couple ate their dinner, talking mostly about Maya's work and what had happened that day. Carina always managed to get it out of Maya, and Maya always felt better afterwards.

A little bit later, Maya was getting changed after her shower while Carina stood in the bathroom mirror, brushing her hair and putting in her products. The blonde soon came up behind her wife, gently wrapping her arms around her torso.

"Hi my love." She said with a smile, looking into Carina's eyes through the mirror.

Carina smiled and turned around, pecking her wife's lips before continuing with her routine.

"You took the tests today, right?" Maya whispered, her chin resting on Carina's shoulder.

The brunette nodded softly. "I did."

"And?" Maya looked hopeful.

Carina shook her head. They couldn't start trying yet.

"Mm okay. Soon beautiful." Maya kissed Carina's shoulder softly and left her to finish up.

After a few minutes, Carina came into their bedroom, and Maya stood up, wrapping Carina in her arms. "You're amazing. For doing this... for us, for our family." She whispered, holding the woman close.

Carina smiled. "One day... we're going to have the sweetest little baby all to ourselves..." That was what kept Carina going. Through all the negative tests. She would be raising a baby. With the love of her life. That made her happier than ever.

Maya's eyes lit up. "I love you more... every day. And I never think it's possible, but somehow I always do..."

"I love you too, Bambina. There's no one else in this world I'd want to go through this with besides you." Carina whispered back.

Maya held her wife close, rubbing the soft skin of her back, just taking in that moment with her.

May 9th 2023

C: Maya, when will you be home;)

Carina texted her wife. She had just gotten home from her shift at the hospital- it was the next day. She knew when Maya was coming, but she had exciting news, and needed to see her wife immediately.

M: Leaving in a few. Are you ok?

Carina giggled excitedly at the text she received.

C: I'm great. I can't wait to see you!

M: I can't wait to see you either.

Carina smiled, grabbing a cup of water while she stood in the kitchen waiting.

M: Pulling out of the parking lot now.

C: Yay!! Drive safely.

Carina heard Maya's car pull into the driveway. She set down her glass of water and bounced over to the front door.

"Maya Maya Maya!!" She cheered the second her wife opened the door, pulling her into a hug before she even got the chance to take off her coat and shoes.

"Oh! Hi beautiful. How are you?" Maya was taken aback by Carina's behavior. Of course, it was adorable. But, this was not normal of Carina. Nonetheless, Maya's arms wrapped around her lover and she kissed her softly.

Carina started whispering Italian word vomit into Maya's ear after they kissed. Maya still struggled to understand fully, so she was somewhat lost. However, the sound of Carina whispering Italian into her ear never failed to make her shiver with desire.

After this continued for quite some time, Maya carefully pulled out of the hug to at least take off her shoes and coat. "While you sound incredibly sexy, Carina, I would love to know what exactly you're saying." She said with a laugh.

Carina smiled at her wife. "Come here!!" Once Maya had removed her shoes and coat, Carina pulled her wife further in their house, down the hall, through their bedroom, and into their bathroom.

She let go of Maya's hand, holding up one of her ovulation testing strips. "I'm ovulating! Possiamo avere un bambino! I pray!" Carina started rambling.

"Woah. Wait... really?" Maya took the strip from her wife's hands.

"Si! Si, Bella!" Carina had the biggest smile on her face, she had been waiting for this all week.

"Oh my god. This is... oh my god." Maya's smile grew to match Carina's and she pulled her wife into a big hug. "I love you." Maya whispered. Her day had already been much better than yesterday, but now it just got even better. Tonight, they were going to be able to try again for a baby. This would always be a big deal to them, no matter how many times they had tried before. Because, tonight could be the night that they finally got pregnant.

"I love you, Maya" The two stood there, hugging each other. Neither of them wanted to let go. They were so, so happy. It felt so good.

Though, after soaking up this moment, Maya started to get anxious. She wanted this to all go perfectly. She had everything she had to do memorized. She had done it many times before, she's done her research. But of course she still was nervous. Tonight could completely change their future.

"Okay... ok. You should... Um.." Maya was still in shock. She sighed, pulling away and running her hands up and down her wife's sides.

Carina relaxed at her wife's touch, waiting for Maya to collect herself.

Maya leaned up for another kiss, she couldn't resist. Then, she spoke, "Alright. You sit down, and I'll... I'll get everything ready for you... I have... so much to do, oh God."

Carina giggled at Maya's nervousness. "Bambina," She called after her wife. "Bambina look at me," Maya turned around. "No need to freak out. We got this." She said soothingly. Maya needed to breathe. The woman was always so stuck to her plans, sometimes she forgot to do things as simple as just taking a deep breath.

Maya paused, taking a few breaths, she smiled at her wife before disappearing into the hallway, going to their guest bedroom, which they prayed would one day be a nursery. That's where they kept what they needed- the sperm, syringes. Maya sat on the bed, closing her eyes.

She took a few minutes to pull herself together. "Carina?"

Carina appeared in the doorway of the guest room, watching her wife with a smile on her face. "Si, Bella?"

"Are we gonna do this now? Should I... should I take it out?" Maya opened her eyes after hearing Carina's voice so close. She motioned for Carina to sit next to her, and she did. The blonde wrapped her arm around the brunette.

"Why don't you shower, relax a little bit, you just got home." Carina leaned her head on Maya's shoulder.

Maya nodded, "Okay, yeah. That... that's a good idea. Ok." She was starting to calm down, but she was excited, so her words came out in jumbles.

Carina smiled, seeing Maya stand up, carrying the stuff they would need into their room, just so it was easier later. She found Maya's excitement- and slight nervousness- adorable.

Once they were back in their bedroom, Maya looked at Carina. "I'm gonna..." She pointed to the bathroom.

Carina laughed. "Go ahead Bambina."

June 23rd 2023

Carina was nervously pacing around the bathroom in the OB wing at the hospital, praying no one would come in. Maya was at home, but Carina had been stuck at work for over 12 hours now, she had a patient in labor and didn't want to leave until the baby was delivered.

It had been 6 weeks since they had injected the sperm. That meant Carina should have had her period, if it didn't work. And, she still hadn't even had any signs of her period coming. She didn't want to get Maya's hopes up, though. So she hadn't really talked about it with her wife.

She knew Maya wouldn't be upset with her if it came back negative, but she still felt like she was disappointing the blonde. And, that feeling ate her up. So, she figured taking the test at work would prevent this all, she wouldn't have to tell Maya that she thought she was pregnant and risk letting her down.

So, Carina had found herself peeing on a stick in a hospital bathroom, and now, she was pacing, waiting the time needed for accurate results.

She was lucky no one ever used this bathroom. She didn't want to explain why she was waiting for her pregnancy test results alone, at work.

When the brunette felt she had waited long enough, she stopped her pacing and walked over to the counter, where the test was lying, it's little screen facing away from her.

"Okay, this is it." She said to herself softly. She turned over the test, squinting through the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

'Pregnant' was written on the screen.

"Oh my..." Carina couldn't believe her eyes. "Stiamo per avere un bambino!" She whispered to herself. They were having a baby- her and Maya. She was carrying her and Maya's baby.

Carina had millions of thoughts racing through her mind. She had to go home and tell Maya. She couldn't wait- Maya would be so happy. They were finally pregnant, after all that time trying. It did pay off. They had done it, all by themselves.

Just then, Carina's pager went off. Urgent to her patients room. She was most likely ready to deliver. The brunette sighed happily and wiped her tears, shoving the test into a pocket of her lab coat, washing her hands and rushing down the hall.

"Dr. DeLuca?" Jo asked as the pair of OB's walked out of the patients room.

"Si?"

"Is everything alright? You look like you have been crying."

Carina's smile grew- she had news to tell her wife. "Si, Si I am fine. Thank you, I have to get home to my wife, I've already worked over time. You'll be fine?"

Jo nodded, "Of course, Goodnight Dr. Deluca"

"Goodnight Jo." Carina rushed off to get her things and head home. This was going to be an amazing night.

When Carina got home, Maya was relaxing on the couch.

"Theres my beautiful wife." Maya said as the door opened.

Carina smiled, dropping her things as she ran into the living room. "Hi Bella!"

Maya sat up as Carina took her shoes off, kissing her gently. "Mmm, I missed you. What's got you all excited?"

"I... have something I need to talk to you about." Carina had the biggest smile on her face as she sat criss-crossed on the couch, facing her wife. She still was in her pink scrubs and lab coat, her hair in a much messier version of the braid she put it in this morning.

Maya was happy to see Carina so excited, plus she was just too cute. "Hm what might that be?" Maya paused the tv, turning to her wife.

Carina dug through the right side pocket of her lab coat, pulling out pens and syringes and a bunch of other crap. "Oops. Wrong pocket." She giggled and reached into the left side pocket, "Look Bambina" She whispered as she held up the pregnancy test.

Maya's eyes went huge and she took the test from her wife. "This... this is yours?"

Carina laughed. "Yes Maya."

"You're serious?!"

Carina nodded. "We're gonna be mammas Bella!"

"Oh my god!" Maya reached over and pulled her wife on top of her, falling back so she was laying on the couch, holding Carina tightly against her. "I love you, I love you, I love you" She kissed Carina passionately, starting to cry from just how excited she was.

Carina laughed happily, kissing Maya back. "I love you too." She whispered as they pulled away, just staring at eachother.

"You're pregnant!" Maya said after a few minutes of silence.

Carina nodded softly. "I... I hadn't got my period so I thought... maybe... because, it has been six weeks. I was nervous it wouldn't come out positive... but I did it because I- I wanted to be sure and... We're having a baby, Maya."

Maya was smiling like an idiot. "We're having a baby!" She kissed her wife again before sitting up, laying the Italian on her back. She hovered over her wife, looking into her eyes before she moved down so her face was over her stomach. She left a soft kiss on Carina's lower stomach. "Hi my sweet baby." She rubbed Carina's stomach with one hand, holding herself up with the other.

Carina giggled and squirmed, getting ticklish.

"I'm your Mommy, your Mamma and I love you so much already. We can't wait to meet you." She whispered.

Carina giggled more. "Stupida, come here."

Maya smiled, moving back up so her face was close to her wife's.

Carina held Maya's face, "I love you." Seeing Maya being so happy and talking to her stomach just made her fall in love all over again. Though the baby could not understand, Carina thought it was adorable. She knew her wife was going to be an amazing mother. She couldn't wait for this next chapter of their lives.

"I love you too...This is one of the best days of my life." Maya whispered.

Carina smiled. "Mine too, Bella, mine too."

September 7th 2023

The couples life as of lately felt like magic. Carina was 17 weeks pregnant with their little bundle of happiness. She had the prettiest baby belly anyone had ever seen, according to Maya.

The only thing Maya hated was that Carina had to work. She knew Carina's job wasn't dangerous, that working was perfectly healthy, but she just wanted to protect her wife and baby from everything. And she didn't like seeing how tired and swollen her wife was after a long day of standing. It worried Maya every day, and all she would wait for was the call from Carina saying she was home safe and relaxing.

Relaxing- that's all she wanted Carina to be doing. If she was relaxing, Maya knew she was safe. That the baby was safe.

Maya was sifting through paperwork at the station when her phone rang. It was Jo, which was surprising. She only had Jo's number because she was a close friend of Carina's, as well as their obgyn, but they didn't have an appointment for another few weeks, and as far as she knew they were both working. So, she was confused why Jo would be calling her.

"Hey, Jo? What's up?"

"Thank god. Are you busy?"

"Um... I'm at work, but just doing paper work. Why?" Maya leaned back in her seat.

"It's Carina-"

Maya cut her off and immediately stood up, panicking. "What about Carina?! Is she okay? Where is she?!"

"She's okay now, but maybe you should come by the hospital."

Maya grabbed her car keys when Jo said that. "Jo, what happened?! I'm leaving the station now."

"I'll talk to you when you get here. She's okay, though." Was all Jo said before hanging up.

Maya rushed out to her car, not even telling anyone she was leaving. She didn't have time. She was worried her worst fear had come true- had Carina had a miscarriage? She shook her head, not wanting to think about that. Jo said Carina was fine. Maybe it wasn't even about the baby. Maya couldn't think the worst.

When she got up to the OB floor, she was out of breath from running. She found Jo, who pointed to the door across the hallway, which she assumed was where her wife was.

Maya took a deep breath and opened the door. "Carina?" She scanned the room- her wife was in a hospital bed, with an IV in her arm. Maya looked at her wife's face, she had been crying, but she wasn't anymore. After a few seconds, it registered that the sound filling the room was the baby's heartbeat. She knew that sound like the back of her hand. She sighed in relief. If she could hear the heart beat, her baby was alive. "What happened my love?" Maya closed the door and walked over to her wife.

"I thought... aren't you supposed to be at work?" Carina whispered.

"I was supposed to be at work until Jo called and said to come see you, now, I'm supposed to be here. What happened?"

"I'm sorry Bambina..." Carina felt bad that Maya had to leave work.

"Carina. What happened?"

"I passed out-"

"You what?!" Maya cut her wife off, cupping Carina's face in her hands as she sat on the bed, her anxiety rising. "Are you hurt?!"

Carina shook her head softly. "I was with Jo. We were walking down the hallway... she caught me, I didn't hit the ground. And I woke up quick, it's okay. The baby is fine."

"I'm glad the baby is fine but are you okay? Why did you pass out? Do they know?"

"Our Bambino doesn't like it when I eat Bella, I can't keep anything down. But it's okay, they gave me an IV." Carina held up her arm. "I'm fine, I just needed some fuel."

Maya calmed down a little. "Okay... so they give you the IV and then what?"

"They send me home for the day." Carina shrugged.

"Okay, I'll call out of work now" Maya reached for her phone.

"Bella it's fine, I'll be okay at home by myself."

"Um, absolutely not. Carina you just passed out. I'm never letting you out of my sight again." Maya was always protective, but ever since Carina got pregnant, that protectiveness grew like crazy. Carina knew there was no point in fighting it, so she just let Maya call out of work. It was only one day, it would be fine.

After Maya's phone call, Jo came in.

"Thank you so much for calling me Jo. And for making sure she didn't fall. You're an angel." Maya said immediately, still sat on the side of Carina's hospital bed, holding her wife's hand in her lap and stroking her arm lovingly.

Jo smiled. "Of course." She studied the machines. "You know, your little girl has a very strong heartbeat."

"Girl?" Maya asked, confused. "What do you... Wait, you can tell already?"

Jo nodded softly. She knew the couple was eager to find out the baby's sex, which was why she checked when she had been making sure the baby was okay earlier.

"We have a daughter..." Maya looked at her wife, who was smiling like crazy.

"We do, Bella." Carina pulled Maya closer to her for a kiss. Which, Maya happily kissed her wife.

"She's... she's okay?" Maya asked Jo after they pulled away.

"She's perfect, and getting so big." Jo said with a smile. "I got you two some pictures, I know how much you love them." She reached into her pocket and handed the strip to Maya. "After this IV line is done, you guys are free to go. Bailey said you're not allowed to work today, or tomorrow. But that if you can't keep food down come in so we can make sure you have the nutrients you need." Jo informed Carina.

The Italian nodded, "Thank you Jo." She said as she looked at the pictures, hearing Maya whisper-gushing over their daughter.

Jo left, and the couple spent the rest of the time it took for Carina's IV to finish talking about how excited they were. They couldn't believe that they would be having a baby girl. And, she was insanely adorable, as they saw via the newest photos they had.

When the couple got back to their house, Maya set Carina up with everything she could possibly need. She collected all the pillows and blankets she could find and got her wife cozy in their bed. And, once Carina was settled, Maya crawled onto their bed, laying between her wife's legs and resting her chin right below her small bump. She kissed the bump softly.

"Hi, little princess. You and Mamma gave me a little scare today..."

Carina closed her eyes and relaxed, listening to her wife.

"I'm so glad you both are okay now. But, you gotta let Mamma eat. We gotta make sure that you both stay healthy and strong, I don't want anything to happen to my girls." Maya smiled. She was already so in love with her daughter, and she hadn't even seen her yet. She couldn't wait for that day to come. "I promise Mamma's cooking is realllyyy yummy. I bet you'll like it a lot" Maya continued.

Carina started laughing. "Idiota." She shook her head.

Maya left another kiss on Carina's stomach before she lifted herself back up, resting her body next to her wife's, letting her leg fall over Carina's. "And you... my love. Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" She whispered, resting her head on the pillow, next to Carina's head.

The brunette let out a sigh. "You were working, Bella. I thought I could make it through the day." She kept her eyes closed. She knew Maya would stop whatever she was doing-no matter how important- if Carina needed her. Carina didn't want her wife risking her role as captain for her.

"Carina. I don't care if you even just feel the smallest bit off. I want to know." Maya was serious about this. She looked Carina in the eyes as she spoke, "I need you to promise me that you'll tell me whenever you're not feeling well. I don't care if that means calling me at work or waking me up when I'm fast asleep at three in the morning. You're not doing this alone, babe. This is us."

"But..." Carina started.

"There's no buts. I need you to promise me."

"Okay."

"You promise?" Maya ran her hand down Carina's body to hold her hand.

"I promise, Bella." Carina squeezed Maya's hand.

"Okay. Thank you. Now, can I get you anything? Water? Do you want to try to eat?"

Carina shook her head. "Just stay here."

Maya looked at Carina, who just smiled softly and nudged her head closer to Maya's.

Maya smiled back, kissing Carina's temple and leaving their faces close. "I'm not going anywhere baby."

December 19th 2023

Carina was 32 weeks pregnant with their baby girl. They had two more months before they became a family of 3, and the couple could not wait.

Maya was working, and Carina had some work to do at the station, so she headed in around lunch time, hoping her wife would be there too, just so they could see each other. Even if it was only for a few minutes.

When Carina walked into the station, she was greeted by Ben. "Hey Carina, is everything okay?"

Carina smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm actually here to talk with Jack about our project. But, is my wife here?"

Ben nodded. "She should be in her office."

"Thank you." Carina headed in the direction of her wife's office, knocking softly.

Maya knew that knock. "Come in!" She looked up from her paperwork to see her beautiful wife coming into her office. "Hi my love. How are you feeling?"

"Very good, neonata is very active today. And she loved my french toast." Carina walked toward her wife.

Maya pulled Carina into her lap and kissed her, running her hands all over her belly. "Who doesn't love your french toast?"

Carina laughed. "Not many people." She said, leaning into her wife.

Maya sighed contently. "I love getting to feel her move." She whispered thoughtfully.

Carina smiled at that, "She knows who you are Bella, every time you touch my belly she gets so excited."

That made Maya smile like crazy. "Mm I love my princess. 8 more weeks."

"8 more weeks" Carina repeated.

Maya left a soft trail of kisses from Carina's cheek to her shoulder. "What are you doing here?" She whispered. Of course, she didn't mind at all. But she was still curious.

"Last minute meeting with Jack. And I wanted to see my wife." Carina grabbed the collar of Maya's uniform, pulling her in for yet another kiss.

Maya kissed back, keeping one of her hands rested on Carina's stomach. When they pulled away, she whispered, "You're feeling okay?"

"Si Bambina, I would tell you if I wasn't. Remember our promise?" Carina reminded Maya.

The blonde nodded. Of course, their promise. It had actually worked quite well, as far as Maya knew. Carina had called her while she was at work, or woken her up at night, or just randomly expressed that she wasn't feeling the best. Maya would always do anything in her power to help Carina. Maya was grateful that Carina was communicating this well with her. She never wanted her wife to feel like she was doing this alone. While they were having very different experiences, they were in this together.

"I should probably go meet Jack." Carina whispered.

Maya shook her head and pulled Carina closer. "Not yet." Maya just wanted a few more minutes with her wife- she wasn't busy anyway, and Jack could wait.

Carina laughed. "I have to go Bambina."

"Just a few more minutes?" Maya looked up at her wife, her arms tight around Carina, who was still comfortably on Maya's lap.

Carina sighed dramatically, but her smile never left her face. "Qualsiasi cosa per te Bella." She whispered.

Maya didn't know what Carina said, but she shrugged it off, spending a couple more minutes just holding her wife close to her.

Eventually, Carina peeled herself from Maya's embrace, and the two exited her office.

"Ooh Captain softie." Travis teased as Maya let go of her wife's hand so she could go find Jack.

"Call me Captain softie one more time and you'll be cleaning the toilets until you retire, Montgomery" Maya snapped. Her only soft spot was Carina- her co workers would never get that side of her, and she wouldn't let them tease her about it.

Travis held up his hands in defense.

Maya rose her eyebrows, daring him to test her.

"Sorry, Captain, I'm gonna..." Travis walked away before he got himself into any more trouble.

"Maya" Carina gave her wife a look, as she heard what had happened.

"What?" Maya asked sheepishly.

"Be nice" Carina flashed her a smile before she disappeared off to find Jack.

Maya sighed. She wasn't used to being soft, or submissive in any way. But, somehow in her relationship, her wife was totally the dominant one, and she found herself enjoying it. Though, she would never let that shift into her work life. She liked control, which was why her position as Captain had always been the perfect fit. She was glad she had gotten the position back.

When Carina and Jack finished their meeting, Carina decided to stop into her wife's office again. The door was open, so she walked right in, but her wife wasn't there.

"They're coming back from a call now." Vic said as she walked by, already knowing who Carina was looking for.

"Ah, thank you Victoria."Carina nodded. She didn't have anything else to do, so she decided to wait for her wife. Plus, Maya would be upset if Carina left without saying goodbye- even though they would see each other once Maya's shift ended.

The brunette sat down in her wife's chair, behind her desk, sighing softly, happy to be off her feet. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, patiently waiting for her wife.

Suddenly, Carina jumped as her wife slammed the door shut and broke down in tears, not yet noticing that she wasn't alone.

"Maya? What's wrong?" Carina stood up.

Maya wiped her tears and looked up, but she still was crying, she couldn't stop herself. "You're... I thought you were meeting with Jack." She said shakily.

"We finished a while ago. I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. What's wrong Bella?" Carina walked over to her wife, pulling her into a hug. That did it, and Maya just completely broke down, her arms weakly wrapped around Carina as she cried into her neck.

"These... these teenagers" Maya sniffed. "They spun off the road in the ice and hit a tree and... one of them, this girl... Chloe was her name... and she... I was talking to her the whole time because she was stuck... bad. And then when we got her out... we couldn't save her she, she was gone..." Maya cried and cried. She couldn't hold herself together. Of course usually she would be upset over losing someone, but this was different. In a few months, Maya would have a daughter. And who's to say something similar wouldn't happen to her own daughter? Maya was scared of anything that could possibly hurt her baby girl. All she wanted was to keep her safe, and it seemed like every day she was faced with a new fear of something that could happen to her little girl. It all was just piling up, and Maya was at her breaking point.

"Oh Bambina, I'm so sorry." Carina comforted, softly rubbing Maya's back.

Maya took a shaky breath. "I just... can't stop thinking. How can I make sure that never happens to our baby? That she never gets hurt and... and she never... gets in a car accident with her friends or... I don't know, gets stuck in a fire and... I just want to protect her."

Carina listened to Maya, realizing what her wife was feeling was a lot deeper than just losing someone today. This was a long time building up. How had she not noticed before? "Maya" The brunette sighed.

Maya pulled away slightly, wiping her tears and walking across the room, pacing, somewhat. "Just... how can I keep her safe from every little thing? From the horrible, horrible people in the world, from a fire or... hell an explosion! Car accidents... I mean... she could... she could go to the playground and get hurt or kidnapped or-"

"Maya. Maya. You need to breathe." Carina grabbed Maya by the waist and spun her around, then grabbed her shoulders. "Come on, follow me. Big breath. In..." Carina took a visible, deep breath, "...Out," she loudly exhaled. "Good, again." Carina continued this, trying to calm Maya down. The blonde had herself all worked up, and Carina wished she had known Maya was feeling this way, before it got to this point.

Maya had tears streaming down her face as she followed her wife's breathing.

"Okay... good job." Carina encouraged, now holding the blonde's face and wiping her cheeks, despite the fact that tears would instantly replace the ones she just wiped off. "Bella, we won't be able to protect her from everything. But, we will do the best we can to make sure she knows what to do in dangerous situations. All we can do is try our hardest."

"No! That's- that's not enough." Maya pulled away from Carina again. "That's not enough we can't just... no!"

"Maya. Maya. You need to calm down Bambina." Carina was worried now- she didn't know what to do.

Maya leaned against her desk, looking at Carina. "What if I can't do it?"

"Do what, Maya?" Carina stood next to her wife, wondering what she was talking about.

"Protect her. Keep her safe. Be a good mother." Maya whispered shakily.

"Maya, you'll be an amazing mother, I know it."

Maya shook her head. "Right now she's... she's safe she's with you and she's safe... but in- in two months she'll be out here and... anything could go wrong. What if I can't protect her from it all?"

"That's the thing- you can't protect her from it all. Things happen sometimes, Maya, but if you protect her from every little thing she'll never learn how to stand up for herself. And whenever she needs, she'll always have you-and me- to be right behind her." Carina reached for Maya's hand.

Maya gently took it, squeezing it softly. She nodded a little. Carina was right- but Maya was also just completely terrified. She had so many fears, and they just got worse as they got closer to Carina's due date.

"It's okay to be scared, Maya. It means you love her." Carina smiled at her wife.

"Of course I love her." Maya smiled a little, thinking about the intense feeling of love she had for her baby girl.

"She knows that, I know she does. And she always will. You'll be the most amazing Mommy she could ever dream of." Carina kissed Maya's cheek.

"I love you" Maya whispered, grateful Carina had been there to help her calm down.

"I love you too, Bambina. I love you too."

February 20th 2024

Carina was eight days past her due date, and still working- yet it was very, very occasional. Miranda had of course told her she didn't have to, but she didn't want to sit at home alone all day, as Maya still had to work.

Maya, of course, did not like the fact that Carina was working. At all.

The blonde had her cell phone on her every second of the day- she knew any minute she could get the call that Carina was in active labor. She needed to be there the second she could. She wouldn't let anything stop her from that.

Maya was still anxious about being a mother- she just didn't want to mess up. But, Carina had made sure to validate her feelings, and continued to be there to reassure Maya that she would be an amazing mom. It hadn't fixed anything, but it did help a lot to have that support from Carina.

Over anything, though, the two were excited. They would get to meet their baby girl. And, they were curious as to what she would look like. The couple used a blonde-haired blue-eyed donor, in slight hopes of some of those genes showing up in their baby, so just maybe she would look similar to Maya. But, Italian genes were strong, so who knew what their baby would look like. Of course, that didn't really matter to either of them. No matter what she looked like, she was their daughter.

Maya was in the gym when her phone started ringing. She had been using the gym as a distraction a lot. If she wasn't working out, she would be panicking over how her wife was doing, and she didn't want to bother Carina while she was at work. Today, to Maya's advantage, her wife was at home.

Maya jumped to her phone, almost tripping in the process.

"Hey Beautiful, are you okay?" She asked after answering Carina's facetime call.

"Hi Bella." Carina shifted in their bed. "When do you get off work?"

"Do you need me to come home?" Maya grabbed a towel, as she was all sweaty.

"I don't know, maybe" Carina admitted. She just had been having a lot of pains. And, despite her constantly studying pregnancy and delivery, she wasn't really sure if this was it or not. It seemed so different now that it was her own body.

"Okay... Um. What's wrong?" Maya took a deep breath. Carina had been the one to keep her calm a lot of the time, but now it was her turn to do that for her wife.

"It hurts, my back, my lower stomach. It's not too bad though. I don't think I need to go to the hospital but... I just want you to be here. Just incase." Carina sighed, but then quickly added on, "It's- It's okay if you can't though." She understood that Maya had a job- and she couldn't just drop everything.

However, Maya didn't care. Her career had become second, which she never thought she would say. But, Carina and their baby were constantly her number one concern. "Give me 15 minutes to let everyone know. I'll be home in a half hour." She said.

"Bambina are you sure?"

"Yes, I love you. Call me if anything happens." Of course Maya was sure.

"I love you too."

When Maya finally made it through the front door, she wasn't greeted by Carina jumping on her. Instead, Carina was still in their bed. Just by that small detail, she knew within the next few hours they would be in the hospital. If the pain was only a little bit, Carina would have gotten up. This proved that it was more than just a pregnancy pain.

"I'm home beautiful!" Maya called to her wife, taking off her shoes and jacket before heading into their bedroom. "Sorry I took a little longer than I expected. Traffic."

"It's okay. Come here. Can you lay with me?" Carina whispered. She just wanted Mayas comfort, so she was glad she was home.

"Of course." Maya smiled, she climbed into their bed, pulling Carina into her arms and kissing her softly. "How are you doing my love?"

Carina cuddled up against Maya, closing her eyes and trying to relax. She was starting to get nervous now. She prayed everything would go smoothly- she was scared. "Could be better." She whispered, giggling a little.

Maya hugged her tighter. She wished Carina having their baby didn't come with all this pain- but she knew it was only temporary, and soon enough they would have the most beautiful baby anyone had ever seen. Despite that, she still wished she could take away the pain her wife was feeling.

"Can I get you anything?" Maya asked.

"Just stay here. You make it better." Carina mumbled, resting her head on Maya's chest.

Maya rubbed Carinas stomach softly. "Do you think... is today the day?"

"Maybe, Bambina. It could be."

Mayas eyes lit up. "I can't wait..."

"Me either, Bella. Me either."

Maya and Carina laid like that for quite some time, and every once in a while Maya heard Carina's breath hitch, and her whole body would tense up for a few seconds. After a little bit, Maya looked down at her wife. "Should we be keeping track of this? Didn't Jo say to time it?" Maya didn't really know much more than what Jo and Carina had told her. This was all new to her.

"Mm yes Bambina" Carina mumbled against Maya's chest. She hadn't moved at all, she just wanted Mayas comfort, and she was glad her wife had been able to come home.

With that answer, Maya started keeping track of the contractions, and the two laid there for at least three hours before Maya started to get hungry, she knew Carina was probably hungry too. She started to sit up a little, Carina not letting go.

"Baby are you hungry?" Maya asked, looking down at her.

Carina shook her head. She was in more pain now- she knew it wasn't time for the hospital, but it still hurt nonetheless, and she didn't feel like she could eat.

"Are you sure?"

Carina nodded.

"Ok. I'm gonna make myself something to eat, and I think I'm gonna put all of our stuff in the car." Maya knew they probably had a little bit more time, but she wanted to be prepared. While they had their hospital bags ready, the car seat wasn't in the car, and neither were the bags. "Is that okay?" Maya whispered, kissing Carina's forehead.

The brunette nodded, "Be quick?" She whispered.

"Of course" Maya replied, gently laying her wife back down and getting up. She was all sweaty from the woman's body heat, as Carina had been in the same exact spot for three hours. She didn't really care, though. Carina needed her, and she wanted to be there in every way possible.

Maya made sure they had everything they could possibly need, and loaded it all into their car, strapping the seat in the back row like a professional- she had been practicing.

When she got back inside, she made herself a sandwich in record time, and sliced up some cucumbers on the side incase Carina had changed her mind and wanted a little snack. She also grabbed some chips and some of Carinas chocolate, just to cover the healthy, sweet and salty categories. She hoped Carina would eat a little something, even though she understood her wife was probably in a lot of pain, which she figured would take away from any hunger.

She set her plate on her night stand. "Car's all packed up. And I brought you some snacks, just incase." Maya climbed back into bed and Carina immediately resumed her position. "Or you can have my sandwich if you want, I don't mind." Maya grabbed her plate after kissing her wife's head.

"Thank you Bella. You eat your sandwich." Carina whispered, smiling at how sweet her wife was.

"How are you feeling?"

"The same." Carina whispered, sitting up a little more- she thought she hadn't wanted food, but Maya's sandwich did look good. "Can I have a bite?" She asked softly.

Maya laughed and nodded, holding her sandwich to her wife's mouth. Carina took a little bite, chewing and swallowing as her wife continued her meal.

"Do you want more?" Maya asked with a mouth full of bread.

Carina shook her head, she felt another contraction coming, and she laid her head on her wife's shoulder.

Maya looked at the time, setting down her food to comfort her wife as well as mark it down in her phone.

She held Carina close to her afterwards, and Carina enjoyed the comfort.

"Maybe we should go to the hospital." She whispered.

"Not yet Bambina." Carina shook her head at Maya. She knew Maya just wanted to see her feel better, but Carina knew she hadn't progressed enough yet.

"But..."

"Maya, I'll tell you when we need to go. I promise."

"I know. But, can't they do something to help you already?"

"Not yet, Bambina" Carina repeated.

Maya sighed. She knew Carina knew when she had to go to the hospital, but she still just wished they could do something now to help her.

"Then... what can I do?" Maya whispered.

"Just cuddle. And give me another bite of your sandwich" Carina winked.

Maya smiled again, "I knew you wanted more." She laughed as she grabbed her plate, holding the sandwich up to Carina's mouth again before taking another bite for herself. The two happily shared the plate of food in between Carina's occasional yet painful contractions.

By the time they finished eating, Carinas contractions had gotten much closer, and with that, Maya's anxiety had gotten much worse. Carina constantly reminded her that they weren't yet five minutes apart, but Maya didn't care. Her wife was in pain and she just wanted to bring her to the hospital already: where, if anything happened, they would be able to help her immediately.

The next time Maya left Carina's side was when she got hungry for dinner. Carina was still in pain, but not much had changed time-wise about the contractions. So, Maya heated both of them up some lasagna and crawled back into bed, hoping Carina would be able to eat a little something again.

"Mm smells yummy" Carina smiled.

"Yeah, and best part: some really sexy Italian cooked it up." Maya winked.

Carina giggled "Stupida," She whispered, taking her plate from her wife. "Thank you Bella."

"Of course. Hopefully you can eat it," Maya pulled Carina back against her. "If not, though, I don't mind having seconds" She teased.

Carina giggled again, "Oh I know you don't." Maya loved Carina's lasagna- it was amazing. She said that about all of Carina's cooking. She was probably a little biased, but in her opinion, her wife was the best cook.

"But seriously, try to eat." Maya smiled at the fact that Carina was laughing, and began to eat her dinner, her wife leaning against her.

Maya was woken up at nearly 3 AM by her wife shaking her.

"Maya... Maya? Wake up, Maya" Carina spoke breathlessly.

Maya opened her eyes slowly, not even remembering falling asleep. In fact, she was trying not to- she knew Carina wouldn't be able to sleep and she felt it was only fair. Apparently she had lost her battle to sleep. "Hm?"

"Are you awake?"

"Yes baby I'm awake" Maya rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking down at Carina, who was leaning on the bed, but standing. It looked like she had just gotten up.

"I think we have to go to the hospital."

"What? Really?" Maya was still totally half asleep- but she was shocked nonetheless.

"My water broke, Maya." Carina said simply.

That woke Maya right up. This was actually happening. They were having a baby. At three in the morning. "Oh, god. Okay... are you... do you need to change into different clothes? Everything is in the car. I mean as long as you're ready, let's leave!" Maya had gotten out of bed now, and at Carina's nodding she got her wife a change of clothes.

Once Carina had gotten changed, the couple was out the door.

"I don't think Jo is on shift." Carina said softly as Maya drove them to the hospital.

"Well, we'll see if she's there. If not they'll call her in. It'll be alright." Maya held Carina's hand soothingly. Usually she would be the one to freak out, but Carina needed her to stay calm. She knew her wife was scared, and of course she was too. But, she could push those feelings aside to make sure her wife was okay, first. Carina was her number one priority, especially in that moment.

"Dr. Deluca? What are you doing here it's three in the..." Jo was in fact working, and she was shocked to see Carina and Maya walking into the hospital, until she remembered Carina was way over due. "Wait... is it time?!" She smiled excitedly.

Maya answered the OB as she caught up, their bags over her shoulder. "Yeah she's been... having contractions all day and I tried to keep track of them but I guess I fell asleep and I-" Maya started to ramble.

"My water broke." Carina interrupted her, stopping her wife's rambles. "It's okay, Bambina." Carina whispered to Maya. They got checked into the hospital, and then placed in a room. Maya set their bags in the corner and helped Carina get comfortable in the bed before she got hooked up to all the machines.

Maya stepped back once some nurses came in to get Carina all hooked up, and smiled excitedly as their baby girls heartbeat became audible on one of the monitors. This was really happening. And, she couldn't believe it. Her and Carina were going to be mothers.

Once the nurses left, Maya pulled over a chair to sit near her side.

"No." Carina said firmly.

"No what?" Maya was confused.

"No chair." Carina patted the mattress. "Hold me." She whispered in a much more vulnerable, less demanding voice.

Maya smiled and gently sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning back and wrapping Carina in her arms.

Carina closed her eyes, pleased. She enjoyed Maya's soft hands rubbing her back or her stomach. Although it didn't take away the pain, it helped her relax, and she always felt okay in Maya's arms. She just needed that extra comfort in the moment.

Only a few minutes passed by until Jo came in to check Carina. Maya started to stand up, but Carina pulled her back.

"Oh you can stay there, Maya, it's fine." Jo said with a smile. "I just need to see how dilated you are, Carina." Jo started to put on gloves.

Carina nodded, and Maya looked down at her wife, confused. She didn't know what that meant, clearly.

After no response from her wife, Maya looked towards the OB, who had pulled Carina's blankets up and had one hand underneath them, the other rested on Carina's knee. Oh. Maya was pretty sure she had a good idea of what that meant now.

"Hm. We're at about a seven." Jo said, pulling Carina's blankets back in place. "Are we doing an epidural?"

Carina had her head buried in Maya, but she shook it softly.

"Wait what... no epidural?" Maya asked, leaning back to look at her wife.

"No epidural, Bella" Carina confirmed.

Jo got back to just checking standard things, making sure Carina and the baby were doing ok during contractions.

Maya however, didn't drop it. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't want it..." Carina was confused about why Maya was so shocked.

This information was sending Maya into a panic. She didn't know too much about pregnancy and labor, but one thing she did know was that it was painful. She had been under the impression that giving birth in a hospital meant medications that would help Carina. And now, Carina was refusing them.

"But..." Maya didn't know what to say. She was scared- beyond the point of hiding it now.

"Maya. I know my body, I will be okay. There's no buts. I don't want it." Carina reassured her wife quietly. Jo was still in there, and she didn't want to make her coworker and OB uncomfortable.

Maya nodded, but that didn't stop her from being worried. She knew Carina would accept the medications if she needed to, but she was still scared for her. She didn't want her wife to be in pain. This wasn't panicking out of lack of control, it was more of a worry. A fear, anxiety. Maya trusted Carina, of course, but she wished Carina would have taken the epidural.

However, within roughly an hour there was absolutely no turning back from that decision. Maya was still in the same spot, holding Carina as she had long, painful, frequent contractions.

Now, as Jo checked Carina for the third time, she smiled and said "We are at ten!"

Maya's eyes widened. "Wait. That means..."

"Once we get set up, we will start trying to get this baby out."

Maya smiled like an idiot, looking down at her wife.

Carina smiled back, leaning in for a soft kiss.

"I love you." Maya whispered.

"I love you too."

"We're about to be mothers!"

"Si, Bella, Si." Carina was exhausted, but still beyond excited. Their baby girl could be here within a matter of minutes.

Jo and a few nurses bustled around the room to get everything prepared, and Carina looked up at Maya, who was still smiling huge.

"Don't get up, please." Carina whispered.

"Huh? Are you sure I can sit here? I don't wanna be in the way baby."

Carina nodded. "I want you next to me. Please?"

Maya squeezed Carina softly. "Well, since you asked nicely." She teased before kissing her wife's head. "Of course beautiful. Anything for you." She whispered.

Carina smiled. "Thank you Bella."

Maya just nodded. Of course. Anything Carina needed, she would do. Especially right now.

"Alright, Carina." Jo walked back over to the couple. She pulled her chair to the end of the bed and lifted the blankets. She then looked at Maya. "I need you to scoot down a little bit, can you help her Maya?"

Maya nodded and gently slid Carina down on the bed until Jo nodded her approval, then she quickly wrapped her arms back around her wife just like before, knowing that's what Carina wanted.

"Are you ready?" Jo asked.

Carina let out a breath. "Will I ever be?" She joked.

Jo laughed, "You know the drill. But, on the next contraction, I want you to push. As hard as you can. Let's get this little girl out into the world."

Carina followed instructions, squeezing Maya's hands hard as she pushed.

"You're doing so good baby. I love you so much" Maya whispered, trying to reassure her wife.

Maya let Carina squeeze her hands, and lean her body against hers as she continues to push during contractions. After maybe 20 minutes, Carina fell limp against Maya, and their crying, gooey daughter was held up for them to see

"There we go, oh look at her." Jo said as she stood up and placed the baby on Carina's chest.

Carina and Maya were both crying, looking down at the baby. A nurse had come over and started wiping her down as she cried.

"Ciao piccola mia. Stai bene. Sei così bella." Carina whispered to the small baby.

"Oh, hi princess! You're just too perfect." Maya followed, holding both of her girls close to her.

"Does Mom want to cut the umbilical cord?" A nurse asked Maya.

Maya nodded quickly, her goofy smile never leaving her face. She was a mom. Her and Carina now had a baby. She watched as the nurse clamped both ends and then handed her the scissors.

She took them, cutting it and then giving them back to the nurse, who walked away as a second nurse approached.

"Alright, let's take this beautiful girl over to be checked." She said before taking their sweet baby away.

Maya looked down at Carina, who was still fully depending on Maya to be holding her up. "I'm in awe of you." Maya whispered.

Carina's head fell against Maya's shoulder. She was exhausted. Which, wasn't surprising. She had just given birth.

"Alright Carina, you have a little tear. I'm gonna throw a stitch in there to stop the bleeding and then we're all done." Jo informed the woman.

Carina nodded and so did Maya.

"We have a daughter, Carina."

"We do, Bella. And she's beautiful."

"She takes after her Mamma." Maya smiled.

Carina smiled too, feeling Maya get her comfortable against the pillows after Jo had finished. "Thank you Bambina."

"No. Thank you." Maya said softly, kissing her wife's lips. "Thank you for having our baby. You're perfect. She's perfect. Thank you." She whispered after they pulled away, their faces close.

"You two have got a nine pound seven ouncer. She's a big girl. Does Mom wanna hold her?" The nurse came back over with their little girl wrapped in a blanket with a purple hat on her head, still crying.

Maya quickly nodded when realizing they were asking her. She gently took her daughter from the nurses arms. "Hi baby girl. You're okay. It's Mommy." The baby had calmed down almost instantly, which made Carina cry- it was precious, and she was insanely hormonal. Practically anything would make her cry in that moment. "Yeah, that's right. You can go to sleep, I know you're tired. Oh but don't you have the prettiest blue eyes." Maya smiled, rocking the baby slowly. She peaked under her hat. A head full of brown hair- adorable. Maya kissed the baby's nose. "Mamma and I love you so much, don't we Mamma?" Maya looked at Carina.

"Si, Si." Carina nodded, trying to compose herself. She couldn't stop smiling at how sweet Maya was. Carina always knew her wife would be the most amazing mother, and she was proving that to be true.

Maya looked back down at the baby. "I think she fell asleep already" Maya laughed.

Carina smiled. "That's okay. I might fall asleep too, Bella. You should take a nap also."

Maya shook her head. "I'm not tired. You need some rest though." Maya shifted the baby and sat back down on Carina's bed, holding her wife close, happy to be alone with her little family.

Carina yawned. "She needs a name."

"She already has a name." Maya answered. The two had picked out a name months ago, but never told anyone, and it wasn't really 100%. They wanted to wait until they met her. But, Maya thought their name idea fit her perfectly.

"You like that one?"

"I love it. And I think she will too. What do you think?"

Carina nodded, "I love it too Bella."

Angelina Deluca-Bishop. Daughter of Maya Deluca-Bishop and Carina Deluca-Bishop. Born February 21st, 2024 at 4:38 am.

Maya and Carina looked at each other before signing the birth certificate, Carina immediately leaning in for a kiss.

The brunette felt much better rested after a couple hours of sleep, and baby Angelina was happily snuggled into her Mamma's chest, still half asleep.

After the birth certificate was signed, they were left alone again, and Angelina started to cry.

"Oh piccola mia, what's wrong?" Carina whispered to the baby.

"Maybe she's hungry?" Maya suggested. She knew her daughter hadn't yet eaten, and it was now 7:00 am. She would be hungry too.

"I think you're right Bambina." Carina smiled.

"Should I call in a nurse?"

Carina shook her head. "I can do it." She handed Maya the crying baby.

"Hey princess. I know you want to eat. I'm sorry, I can't help you with that one. Mamma's got it, though." Maya laughed at her own statement as Carina unbuttoned the hospital gown and pulled it over her chest.

"Are you sure you don't need some help Carina?" Obviously, Carina had never done this before.

"Bella I teach moms how to breast feed, I'm okay. Come here Angelina." Carina reminded her wife as she took their baby back.

Maya nodded, often times she forgot that this was what Carina specialized in. Carina was not at all as clueless as Maya towards these things.

Obviously, Carina was right, and she was able to start feeding Angelina with ease.

Maya watched in awe. She found everything about pregnancy and birth and motherhood amazing. Especially when her wife was the one doing it. Carina had been using her body to keep their baby alive for nine months, and now, she was born, and she was still doing it. It was beautiful.

"Stop staring at my boobs like a pervert" Carina teased.

Maya rolled her eyes. "Shush." She mumbled, the two laughing as Jo walked in.

"Oh! I was just coming in to see if you needed help... I figured you wouldn't... I'll stop back in in a little while. Congratulations, by the way." Jo said with a smile.

"Thank you Jo" Carina smiled back before the woman left, closing the door behind her.

Maya leaned over and kissed Carina's cheek. "You're the most amazing woman in the world." She whispered. Though scary, this experience-having a child- made her fall in love with Carina all over again. She felt an insane amount of love for the woman, and for their child. She felt so happy.

"Mm" Carina mumbled.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me Bambina. This was us, not just me."

Maya nodded. "It's just... I'm so proud of you. And amazed by you."

"Seeing how she was crying earlier, and then you held her... and she fell asleep within minutes..." Carina sighed lovingly. "That made every single painful, sad, or scary moment worth it. To see the bond you already have with her."

Maya's pale skin turned a soft pink.

"I can't wait to see how your relationship grows. She's so lucky to call you her Mother. And I'm so, so incredibly lucky to call you my wife, Maya."

"I'm the lucky one." Maya responded softly.

"Well aren't we all just blessed, then."

Maya nodded in agreement. Blessed wasn't even strong enough of a word.

March 6th 2024

Maya had managed to wiggle two weeks of absolutely no work without risk of getting fired to allow for her wife's recovery. Now, she had to occasionally be in work, and today was her first day back. She had some small calls, but was now spending time in the kitchen with her coworkers. She missed her girls like crazy, but she knew they were okay. They had gotten in a slight routine, and Maya took comfort in knowing roughly what they were doing at that moment in time.

Though, suddenly all of her teammates were staring at the door. Maya turned around, confused when they started gushing and making baby noises.

Mayas eyes lit up when she saw her wife and her baby girl standing in the doorway, now surrounded by her teammates.

Maya quickly pushed through them, kissing Carina softly. "What are you doing here?"

"Angelina didn't want to take her nap without Mommy snuggles. Because her Mommy spoiled her for the past two weeks" Carina answered, causing Maya to giggle. Carina was right. Maya had allowed Angelina to take naps on her every day for the past two weeks.

Maya went over to Andy, who was holding the small baby. "Give me my baby girllll" Maya said in a soft voice, lifting a wide awake Angelina from Andy's arms.

"Oh hi my little princess. Aren't you just a little fashionista in your cute little green dress" Maya kissed all over the baby's face.

Her teammates watched, surprised by Maya's personality change. Maya was never one to gush over babies.

"Mamma dressed you all fancy, huh?" Maya held Angelina back to her chest. "I heard you were giving Mamma trouble for nap time." Maya whispered, rubbing the baby's back. "Mamma thinks I spoil you, so you gotta prove her wrong now princess. I know you don't like it when I can't be home with you. I don't like to leave you either. But I gotta work. So when I'm at work you need to sleep with Mamma. But I promise you whenever I don't have work you can cuddle me all you want. Yeah? How does that sound? I think it's a pretty good deal." Maya looked down at the baby, whose blue eyes were already shut. Maya smiled. "You're so beautiful, just like your Mamma... yeah." She spoke soothingly.

After a few minutes, she looked up at everyone, who immediately started pretending they were doing something. Besides Carina, who just stared at her wife and baby with a happy smile.

Maya rolled her eyes at her teammates. "You're all idiots."

"What? I didn't say anything!" Vic held her hands up in defense.

"It's nice to know you're not all cold and icey on the inside too, Bishop" Travis joked.

"You're lucky my daughter is here, Montgomery." Maya said.

"I think it's sweet. I'm happy for you, Maya." Andy cut in, smiling at her best friend. She was proud to see how far her best friend had come, and now she was married, with a baby. This was a big deal for Maya, and Andy knew that.

Maya smiled back, looking back down at her daughter.

Now, her teammates actually went back to doing what they had been doing, until they got an alert that they all needed to get to an accident scene. If all of them had to go, it couldn't have been good.

Maya stood up, shifting Angelina in her arms. "I gotta go" She told Carina, who nodded in understanding.

"I love you princess" She kissed Angelina's head before placing her back in Carina's arms. "And I love you" She kissed Carina quickly. "I'll see you at home beautiful."

"We love you. Be safe Bambina." Carina called after her wife as she watched the team of firefighters load into their trucks and leave.

The brunette sighed and looked down at her daughter. "Hey, now when they all have to go I'm not alone." She said with a laugh. Her daughter was absolutely passed out, though. "God, you are such a Mommy girl" Carina whispered as she headed out to her car. She was happy she had stopped by, despite them all having to leave. Of course she had really come because it was the only way Angelina would sleep, but she also knew it had been good for Maya. She knew Maya was stressing since it was their first day without her. They were fine, but Carina knew her wife needed that reassurance. Though, now Carina was slightly bothered by the fact that they had all been called. She could have gone without that information. She knew that meant it was bad.

Carina found herself having an insane amount of anxiety for the rest of the day. Her wife was a fire fighter. She walked into the dangers that people had nightmares about. Carina started to think of all the horrible things that could happen to her wife at work. Her anxiety just escalated the whole day. She couldn't calm herself down, and Angelina was sensing that.

By the time Maya got home that night, Angelina was crying and crying, and Carina was too worked up herself to be able to calm her daughter down. It was a mess.

When Maya walked through the door, Carina broke down in tears.

"Woah, what's going on in here?" Maya's face scrunched in concern as she rushed over to her girls.

"Please take her she won't stop I can't do it..." Carina cried.

"Okay... okay. Come here princess. You're okay." Maya held Angelina to her chest and rocked her. "Carina, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Carina shook her head, sitting down on the couch.

Angelina had calmed down with Maya- she had just been scared because Carina was so worked up, and Maya assumed that was the issue, which worried her.

"Baby, talk to me. What is it?"

Carina sighed. "You're a firefighter... you. You fight fires for a living. You see a burning building and you have to run into it. You- you risk your life. Every day at work you could... die."

Maya bit her lip. She knew it was probably scary for Carina, she understood that. She sat down next to her wife, pulling her closer.

"You could... die... and Angelina wouldn't have her Mommy and I wouldn't have my... the love of my life I- Maya, I'm scared." Carina cried, resting her head in Maya's neck.

"Baby, I'm not gonna leave you two. Ever. I promise, you both... you're always gonna have me." Maya rubbed Carina's back with the hand that wasn't holding her daughter.

"You don't know that, Maya."

"I know that I will do everything in my power to keep that promise to you. I will always try my hardest." Maya promised.

"I... It's so scary to think. One night, you may not come home and I-"

"Carina. You can't think like that. What can I do to help you?" Maya felt horrible. She had to go to work, but she hated seeing her wife feel this way.

"I don't know... I just.. I didn't hear from you after you had to leave for the call and I... I got scared every time a car drove by that it was... Andy or Vic or one of your friends coming to tell me that something had happened."

"I'm sorry baby. I got so busy. I should've called or texted."

Carina stayed quiet.

"So will it help you if I tell you when I'm back from calls?"

"I don't want to bother you at work."

"Carina, that's not bothering me, I promise."

"It would help... a little." Carina answered.

"Okay. So, that's what I'll do. But, tomorrow you and our princess have me all to yourselves... all day."

"Really?" Carina started to smile. She didn't have to worry about this all again tomorrow.

"Yes. Cuddles alllll day!"

Carina looked at their daughter, who was completely content on Maya's chest. "She loves your cuddles. Like her Mamma" Carina whispered.

Maya smiled. "And I love cuddling my girls." Maya laid down, keeping Angelina laid on one side of her body, pulling Carina on top of the other. "What did you girls do today?"

"Angelina woke up bright and early, so we cuddled in bed while she ate, and then I changed her and put her in her pretty little dress." Carina tugged on the green puffy dress the two-week-old was in.

Maya smiled. "This dress is adorable!"

"Angelina likes it too" Carina giggled, and Maya laughed at her wife's cuteness. "After that I made myself some breakfast and we went on a walk."

"Did you go far? I told you not to go without me..." Maya got worried.

"Bambina I'm fine, I promise." Carina kissed her wife's cheek.

"I know... I'm just worried about you" Maya whispered, knowing she was being over protective.

"I'm grateful for that." Carina said sweetly before she continued: "After the walk, I tried to put Angelina down for her nap, but she cried and cried and even talking in Italian didn't soothe her. So, I went to the station. Because, like I said, her Mommy spoils her."

Maya smiled. "That's what Mommies are for. What can I say? She's my baby girl."

Carina rolled her eyes playfully. "Look at her, asleep on her Mommy." Angelina had fallen asleep again, which wasn't surprising. Of course Carina found it precious that Maya could always put Angelina to sleep. She just liked teasing her wife.

"Hm someone's a sleepy baby. I've barely gotten to see those beautiful blue eyes all day" Maya whispered.

Carina giggled, running her finger along the back of one of Angelina's small hands. "Lei è perfetta." Carina whispered after a few moments.

"I have to agree" Maya said with a smile. She looked down at her wife. "While she's napping why don't you take a break? Get a nice shower?"

"Are you calling me stinky?"

Maya laughed. "Of course not babe. But you deserve a little break."

Carina smiled. "Si, Si. Prima dammi un bacio."

Maya leaned in for a kiss, immediately knowing what that meant.

After their kiss, Carina headed off to the shower. Maya stayed on the couch, whispering to their sleeping baby about how much she loved her family.

October 23rd 2024

M: Going on a call baby. I love you.

Carina looked down at her phone. She smiled at her wife's sweet text. Maya had been so considerate ever since Carina expressed her worries about her wife's job. There wasn't a day that went by where Maya didn't text Carina, and the brunette found comfort in that.

C: Be safe. I love you too Bambina.

Today, Carina was lucky enough to be able to stay home with their sweet eight-month-old baby girl. Usually, Angelina had to go to a day care for about 4 days out of the week, because both of her mothers worked full time jobs. However, whenever Maya or Carina- or both of them- had a day off, Angelina would stay home with them.

Carina loved that extra time she got with her daughter, who was practically growing by the minute. Their little girl was long- or tall- and had the sweetest little chubby cheeks anyone had ever seen. So far, her eyes had stayed a bright blue, like her Mommy's, and her hair was wavy and brown. She was beautiful. And adorable. And those words barely did her justice. She was always a happy baby, especially when she was with her Mommy and her Mamma. She still was overly attached to Maya- but that was Maya's own doing. Maya spoiled her baby girl like there was no tomorrow.

The Italian mother picked Angelina up from off the floor, where she had been crawling around. "Your Mommy is gonna go save some people. Isn't she amazing?" She said, bouncing around with the baby on her hip.

Angelina just giggled, resting her head on her Mamma's shoulder contently. She loved her cuddles, and so did her mothers.

Carina laid down on the couch, cuddling and whispering to Angelina, making the baby giggle and clap her hands- her new party trick, as Maya called it.

Though, after a while, Carina started to check her phone a little more often. It had been quite some time, usually Maya would be back by now, but Carina had yet to see a text from her wife. She decided that rather than panicking she would go lay Angelina down, since it was her nap time. So, the brunette left her phone in the living room and headed into Angelina's nursery.

"Oh mia bambina stanca" Carina cooed as Angelina rubbed her eyes. "È ora di fare un pisolino." Carina left kisses all over her little girls head, laying her gently in her crib.

Angelina gripped on to her Mamma's shirt sleeve. The baby never let them leave until she was asleep. And of course, both of her mothers always gave in. They didn't want to hear their sweet baby cry. Carina leaned over the crib and rubbed Angelina's stomach softly.

"Ti amo piccola" She whispered, standing there for a few minutes as the baby relaxed, easily drifting off to sleep. Carina knew she had tired Angelina out with all the giggles and crawling, so getting her to nap was rather easy this afternoon. "Sogni d'oro Tesoro" She pulled her hand away slowly, making sure Angelina didn't wake up before she reached to turn on the baby monitor. After that was all set up, the brunette left the nursery, closing the door behind her.

She sighed, going back to the living room and checking her phone. No messages. It had been almost three hours since Maya last texted. Now, she was getting worried.

She decided to turn on the TV, figuring maybe she could find a distraction. However, Maya had been the last one to use the TV, and she had been watching the news. So, when Carina turned the TV on, she was met with possibly her worst fear.

Carina watched, slowly figuring out the situation- and that multiple fire fighters had been taken to the hospital. She immediately started to call everyone on Maya's team, freaking out. She needed to hear from someone. When absolutely no one answered, she started to call people at the hospital, starting with Miranda Bailey. Her husband worked at 19. She had to know something.

"Hello?" Miranda picked up quickly.

"Miranda! Oh thank goodness. Have you heart anything from Ben? Or anyone at the station?"

Miranda let out a sigh, and as that happened, the doorbell to Carina and Maya's home rang. "I'm sorry, give me one second." Carina got up, going to answer the door. Andy was standing there, still in her suit, and Carina hung up the phone. Carina's eyes filled with tears- something had happened to Maya.

"No! No honey, don't cry. It's going to be okay" Andy stepped inside and hugged Carina gently. "She's in the hospital. She's alive." Andy started, just trying to get the Italian to calm down a little bit.

Carina took a deep breath. "What happened?"

"It was a drug lab in a really old and run down apartment building- turned into a fire, but before that a few of us passed out in there, and Maya was one of the ones who came in to try and help. It was all hands on deck- it wasn't the easiest situation. We didn't think it was gonna explode like it did but Maya was right at the door. And right after the explosion there were little fires around it was just a mess. We all got her and everyone out- but her, Vic and Travis were all closest and are in the hospital." Andy explained, rambling slightly, she was still in shock. She had to watch exactly what had happened.

Carina didn't say anything else, she was just crying, leaned against the wall near the front door of their home.

"I came to come get you, we were all in the waiting room. I didn't want to tell you over the phone, I didn't want you to have to drive over there. Do you wanna come with me?" Andy asked.

Carina nodded. "Angelina is asleep... I need to get her car seat and her bags and..." Carina started freaking out. What if something went wrong and Maya didn't make it? She was scared out of her mind.

Andy interrupted the Italian- "I'll go get Angelina and get her into her car seat, you get what you need."

Andy walked into the home and quietly entered the sleeping baby's room. "Shh Shh it's your favorite tia, go back to sleep." She whispered as Angelina stirred when she lifted her up. The woman carried the baby out of her room, as Carina headed in to get what she needed for Angelina.

Andy found the little girls car seat and buckled her in, managing to keep her asleep the whole time, and easily strapped the car seat into the back seat of her car. As she waited for Carina, she checked her phone to see if anyone had sent an update- they hadn't. That could be good or bad. She needed to get back to the hospital.

"Did she need surgery?" Carina whispered as Andy started driving them to the hospital.

"No, luckily. They are just monitoring her. She had a small internal bleed but they said it would go away itself." Andy answered.

"Is that all?"

"Pretty much. Obviously she's very sore, she was sleeping when I left, they had just gotten her to a room. She told them her head felt like it was going to explode. Probably the drugs. Or maybe the impact. I don't know."

Carina nodded and stayed silent the rest of the car ride. Luckily, it wasn't far. When they got there, Angelina was still fast asleep, so Carina unbuckled her car seat and carried it into the hospital. When she got to the waiting room almost all the fire fighters were there, and many doctors she knew as well.

Andy stuck by Carina's side. She was Maya's best friend, she felt she had to look out for Maya's family right now. Maya couldn't do so herself.

"Can I show Carina where Maya is?" Andy asked when they found Bailey.

"Oh of course!" Bailey responded, "She's still doing okay, I think Gibson is in there with her right now."

Andy nodded and led Carina past all the people, leading her to Maya's hospital room. When they got there, Andy knocked before opening the door. She pointed behind her, telling Jack to leave.

She smiled when she saw Maya was awake. "I've brought you some visitors, Bishop." Andy said softly as Carina walked into the room, baby carrier in hand.

"Maya..." Carina set down the baby carrier and rushed over to her wife, crying again, but this time out of relief. Jack and Andy left the family alone, letting them have their time.

"Baby don't cry, I'm perfectly fine." Maya reassured Carina. The blonde felt horrible. Of course, she couldn't control what had happened, but she knew this had to have been scary for her wife, and she wished she could have changed what had happened.

"An explosion, Maya?!" Carina cried, hugging her wife gently.

"Baby I'm okay, look." Maya pulled Carina's face out of her neck, gently stroking her cheek and looking into her eyes. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere my love."

"I... I love you, Maya" Carina couldn't stop crying. The shock of it all was hitting her hard.

"I love you too beautiful. Now, is that our sweet princess over there?" Maya asked, trying to cheer her wife up.

"Si" Carina nodded, wiping some of her tears as Maya kissed her head softly.

"Can you bring her over here? I missed my girls today, and I'm so happy I get to see you both right now." Maya wanted to hold both her wife and her daughter. When she had been in that building, all she had wondered was if she was ever going to see them again. It was terrifying to think that way. But she was scared, and wasn't sure she would make it out. She was beyond grateful she was alive right now, and that her wife and baby were with her. It was a blessing.

Carina nodded and went over to the carrier. "She's still sleeping Bambina."

"That's okay. I won't wake her up" Maya whispered, and watched as her wife carried their sleeping baby over to her hospital bed.

"Hi my sweet princess" Maya spoke softly as Carina passed Maya the sleeping baby. She stroked Angelina's hair softly.

"I'm so happy to see you both." Maya repeated what she had said earlier, pulling Carina against her.

"I'm happy to see you Bella." Carina rested her head on her wife's shoulder. "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine."

Carina looked up at Maya, a questioning look on her face.

"I'm serious babe."

"Andy said you told the doctors you felt like your head was gonna... explode?" Carina questioned.

Maya laughed.

"Maya I am serious."

"I had a really bad headache. And I think I was a little high." Maya admitted.

"No more headache?"

"Nope. I have a nasty bruise on my back though."

"What? Let me see." Carina sat up so Maya could turn on her side.

"Carina-"

Carina gave her wife a look, and Maya turned over. Carina untied her gown.

"Oh Bambina" She whispered, seeing a bruise covering nearly her whole back.

"I'm okay though!!" Maya reassured as Carina gently retied the gown. "It's just a bruise, it'll go away!"

Carina sighed as Maya turned back around.

"I don't know about this cut, though" Maya pointed to a gash that was stitched up on her collar bone.

"Oh my God, Maya" Carina looked at it. "Who the hell stitched it up like that?"

Maya shrugged. "Someone did it at the scene. It must've been deep. I'm sure I'll have a scar."

"Yeah a horribly uneven one!" Carina ran her finger along the stitches. "I bet Angelina could stitch better than this!"

Maya laughed. "I'm sure it's fine, I'm alive, that's all I care about."

Carina nodded and kissed her wife. "You're right. That's all I care about too Bella."

Maya kissed back, glancing down at Angelina. "What time did you put her down babe?" Maya wanted to see her baby girl.

"Uhhh... an hour and a half ago." Carina said after looking at the clock.

Maya looked from her baby to her wife.

"You can wake her up Bella." Carina knew what her wife was going to ask. "But if she's cranky, it's Mommy's fault. Mamma is innocent" Carina help up her hands playfully.

Maya smiled at her wife before she looked down at her baby girl again, rubbing her back softly. "Angelina.." She whispered, kissing the girls head and playing with her hair. "Wake up baby girl. Good morning."

Angelina started to stir, whining a little. Usually they never woke her up, but this was different. Maya wanted to see her baby after spending a good amount of time not knowing if she ever would be able to see her again. One time wouldn't hurt.

"Hi princess. I know... new place, huh? It's okay..." Maya whispered.

Carina had started to rub up and down one of the baby's arms with her thumb, unable to resist.

"Oooh big stretches." Maya narrated as the baby stretched out on her Mommy's chest, her blue eyes opening and looking around the room.

Once she was done stretching, Maya lifted Angelina up so she was facing her.

"Hi beautiful girl! I haven't seen you since this morning!"

Angelina started to babble, which made Maya smile.

"Ooh I missed you so much. I'm so happy I get to see you" Maya hugged her daughter back to her chest, a few tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Bambina? What's wrong?" Carina immediately noticed that Maya was crying.

Maya kissed Angelina's head, the baby just content being held as she was still waking up fully. "I just... I wasn't sure I was gonna make it out. I thought I was dying" Maya whispered. "I'm just... so happy... I never wanna leave my babies." Maya pulled Carina back against her, so both her brunette girls had their heads on her chest. "I love you both so much."

Angelina was giggling as she stared at her Mamma, whose face was now right in front of hers.

"We love you too Bambina. I'm so happy you're okay. So is Angelina." Carina said, making faces at her daughter afterwards, causing more precious giggles from the baby.

Maya smiled at the sound of her sweet baby girl, watching her wife make silly faces. Everything was okay. She had her girls with her. That was all that mattered.