22. CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 22
Maya and Ginny were enjoying a quiet early afternoon playing with Ginny’s toys in the living room when a very loud rumble came from the little brunette. Maya couldn’t help but start to laugh hysterically at the little rumble that so sounded identically to her mama’s hungry rumble.
The blonde scooped up the little girl off the floor and brought her into the kitchen where she placed her in the high chair with some apple slices to keep her busy while she unthawed and prepared chicken and dumpling soup from the freezer. Ginny had a lot of funny gumming up and eating the apple slices until her attention was brought to delicious noodles being placed on her tray.
Maya goes back to the soup but when she glances back at the baby she sees her smiling and eating her noodles happily. She can’t help but giggle as she grabs a carrot from the bag on the counter…content in watching her little Italian gobbling up her noodles.
“Do you like your noodles?” Maya asks as she takes a bite of her carrot.
Ginny nods her head and keeps chomping. “Uh.”
“Can you say….mmm?” Maya asks her daughter.
“Mmm.” Ginny giggles.
Maya breaks out in laughter and runs her hand down Ginny’s brown hair. “Good job Babe!”
Ginny smiles at her mommy and bangs her plastic spoon on her now empty tray. Maya sees this and places a playful distraught look on her face.
“Uh-oh!” Maya huffs dramatically with her mouth wide open. “All gone!”
Ginny looks at her empty tray and sticks her fingers in her mouth before holding up her other hand in the air. Maya rolls her eyes a little and gently pries the little girls’ fingers out of her mouth.
“Don’t eat your fingers Jelly Bean; Mommy will get you some more noodles.” Maya giggles as she walks back over to the counter to grab Ginny another handful of soft noodles. When Maya walks back over and places them on the tray a big smile takes over the baby’s face.
“Mmm.” Ginny smiles through a spit bubble before gumming up another noodle. Nobody could possibly deny this child’s Italian DNA. She continues to eat and glance up at her mommy but starts to get frustrated when all she can see is Maya’s back as she finishes up with the soup for her and Carina. Ginny scrunches her nose and flings her little hand towards her spoon causing it to fly off the tray and crash on the ground.
Maya turns around at the noise and quickly picks up the spoon, wipes it off with a paper towel before placing it in front of Ginny on the tray. Ginny looks as the spoon and a smile escapes through her lips at the new game. She makes quick work of flinging the soon on the floor for the second time. Maya’s mouth drops opens at the move…the little goober.
“Hey.” Maya says to Ginny before grabbing the spoon and putting it back on the tray.
She stands back and has to bite her lip to keep from laughing when she sees a little wandering hand move slowly back over to the spoon.
“Ginny.” Maya warns as she points her finger at the little girl. “Don’t do it Kid.”
The baby girl looks at the spoon and lets out another giggle through a spit bubble on her face. Maya watches Ginny and squints her eyes.
Maya shakes her head. “Don’t do it.”
But before Maya can even finish her sentence Ginny slaps the spoon off the tray and watches as it hits the ground for the third time. Her eyes go wide and she looks up at her mommy.
Ginny’s mouth drops opens. “Ohh.”
“Uh-oh is right.” Maya says before she picks up the spoon and places it on the counter.
Ginny’s bottom lip starts to tremble, getting frustrated at her spoon finally being taken away. She looks to her mommy and tries to get her attention. “Mmm.”
“No more throwing.” Maya tells her daughter firmly before pushing her leftover apple slices towards her on the chair. “Here…eat your apples.”
Ginny begrudgingly reaches for an apple and starts to eat it as the door opens and Carina walks in from the apartment hallway. She left her girls earlier in the day to go run some errands and she arrived back home just in time for her stomach to start rumbling…ready for lunch.
“I have diapers and coffee.” Carina says as she walks into the apartment.
Maya rolls her eyes at the stubborn Italian. “I made coffee this morning.”
“Do we have to go through this again?” Carina asks the blonde as she sets the plastic bag down before making a beeline to her daughter in the high chair. “I know I said for better or worse but…come on.”
Maya squints her eyes and points the wooden spoon at her witty wife. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“Hi Mimma!” Carina greets the little brunette happily before Ginny tries to feed her mama some noodles from her tray. “Mmmm…thank you.”
Maya’s heart bursts at the sight and a smile graces her face. “Lunch should be ready soon.”
Carina walks over to the pot and looks down at the soup. “It looks great.”
“What?” Maya asks…sensing a tone.
Carina licks her lips once and smiles to her wife. “It’s good.”
“Carina.” Maya deadpans.
The brunette doctor tilts her head back and forth before sucking in a sharp breath. “Needs a little more salt and garlic…and pepper.”
“There it is.” Maya chuckles under her breath as she watches Carina put in the various seasonings into the pot on the stove.
Carina shrugs her shoulders innocently. “Just a little spice.”
“I got it…I got it.” Maya says still chuckling as her wife places a kiss on her lips before tasting the soup once again.
Carina smiles at her wife before her attention is brought to her ringing cell phone. She pulls out her phone and her mood immediately shifts when she sees who it is. Carina lets out a sigh and her wife looks on sympathetically.
Maya clears her throat before looking sympathetically to her now anxious wife. “Again?”
“Yes.” Carina answers simply before she starts to look around nervously before Maya reaches over and places a comforting hand on her arm.
“Can you grab the bowls?” Maya asks with a soft smile.
Carina returns the smile and nods her head. “Yes.”
This is something that Carina could have never dreamed of growing up…or even in her adult life. She gets to share her life with somebody who has the capability of making her feel calm when everything is telling her to go to a frantic place. She walks over and grabs two bowls before bringing them back to her wife to fill with soup.
“This looks really good.” Carina says, looking down at their delicious lunch.
“I had a craving for dumplings.” Maya explains as she fills up the two bowls with her soup.
“It smells amazing.” Carina says with a smile as she reaches for the two bowls. “I’ll take these to the table.”
“And I’ll grab the little jelly bean.” Maya says as she claps her hands together before walking over to her daughter her giggles when she sees her mommy looking silly.Ginny still giggling reaches her little hand up at Maya. “Mm--ah.”
“Hey! That was close.” Carina says happily from the table.
Maya smiles and kisses Ginny on top of the head before unlocking the brakes at the bottom and pushing the high chair towards the table. “I know…I think she was getting frustrated earlier when you were at the store.”
“She wants to be good at things…kinda like her mommy.” Carina says with a smirk.
“We are a very goal-oriented family.” Maya says seriously as he takes a seat next to her wife at the table.
Carina snorts in her soup. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Before Maya can reply with a cheeky response her wife’s phone starts going off…again. Carina takes out her phone and immediately rolls her eyes when she sees that it is her father…again.
“Carina.” Maya sighs softly.
The OB/GYN shakes her head and lets out a sigh. “I don’t want to talk to him right now…his whole thing the other night was a lot.”
“I know.” Maya huffs sympathetically.
“He needs to realize that he cannot call in the middle of the night and start raising hell.” Carina mutters out before concentrating on her soup. “When it was just me…whatever.”
Maya’s bottom lip sticks out sadly. “Babe.”
“But I have a family now…and he needs to respect that.” Carina finishes firmly.
Maya reaches over and places her hand on top of her wife’s. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.” Carina says seriously before squeezing the gentle hand in hers. “But thank you.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Maya asks.
“Bambina.” Carina sighs before tilting her head. “You held me while I cried for an hour…you have done more than enough.”
Maya shrugs her shoulders and smiles back softly. “I like holding you.”
“Me too.” Carina says as she raises her eyebrows up and down flirtatiously. “It’s your arms.”
Maya’s mouth drops open at the revelation before she erupts in laughter. “What?”
“Maya you know how turned on I get by your arms.” Carina says as she reaches over and drags her finger down the sculptured arm. “All toned and muscle.”
The blonde fire fighter bites her bottom lip. “Spending my twenties rolling fire hoses did pay off.”
“I’d say.” Carina chuckles softly before her phone goes off again in her pocket. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Maya feeling more and more lost with every phone ring winces. “Honey.”
“And we are turning off the phone.” Carina says as she finally takes out the phone and turns it off before placing it back on the table. “I want to concentrate on happier things.”
Maya nods her head and raises an eyebrow. “Like Ginny’s first birthday party?”
“Yes.” Carina says getting excited at the thought. “Like Ginny’s first birthday part.”
“A first birthday is kind of a big deal.” Maya says as she takes a bite from her bowl.
Carina nods her head before taking her own bite. “The biggest.”
“Do you think we can get a venue for 300 hundred people this soon to the date?” Maya teases.
Carina holds back a laugh before pointing her spoon at the blonde. “302...Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just sent back their RSVP.”
“Awesome.” Maya huffs into her soup.
Carina breaks out in laughter and smiles brightly at their daughter. “Are you excited Mimma?!”
“Actually…speaking of her birthday…” Maya says as she gets up from the table to walk over to her backpack sitting by the front door.
Carina looks to her wife confused. “Where are you going?”
“One second!” Maya calls back.
Meanwhile Ginny looks to the soup on the table that is out of her reach. “Mm-ahh!”
“Huh?” Carina answers the little girl before seeing her eyeing the bowl in front of her. “It’s hot.”
Ginny nods her head “Ah.”
“Hot.” Carina repeats with an emphasis on the ‘h’ sound before taking a small spoonful and blowing on it softly.
“Ha--a.” Ginny stumbles out.
“Hot.” Carina repeats again before placing the small spoonful up to Ginny’s lips. The baby quickly slurps down the broth and cooked carrot before a gummy smile appears. “Is that yummy?”
“Alright.” Maya says as she walks back over from the entryway.
Carina looks up and sees the clipboard in her wife’s hand before closing her eyes. “Oh no...it’s back.”
“Yes it is.” Maya says as she quickly looks through the first page.
“Oh boy.” Carina sighs as she feeds Ginny another spoonful of soup.
Maya smiles and holds up the clipboard for favorite girls to see. “I present to you…the birthday clipboard.”
“What is that?” Carina asks as she squints her eyes to get a better look at the white label on the back of the clipboard that says birthday clipboard in black print. “Is that from the label maker you took from the station…I thought I hid that.”
Maya scrunches her nose. “Ha ha.”
Carina takes another bite of her lunch before waving at the blonde to begin. “Okay Captain Bishop what should we start with first?”
“Appetizers…the list is alphabetized.” Maya says before flipping to the second page to get started.
Carina should have known...the doctor sighs and smiles at her crazy wife. “Of course it is.”
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Meanwhile over at Gibson’s apartment, Miller and Jack are hanging out enjoying their day off shift. When Ben suggested a guy’s day complete with beer and a Mariner’s game…Jack and Dean were in. They just didn’t expect the plot twist when Jack would open up the door to see Ben standing in Dodger blue in the hallway.
Jack scoffs and covers his eyes with his hand. “Oh my God.”
“Okay.” Ben drawls.
“Hey! Yo!” Dean yells out angrily at the site of the enemy’s jersey. “Are you kidding me?”
Ben rolls his eyes and walks into the apartment. “You guys know I’m from Los Angeles…of course I’m a Dodgers fan.”
Jack closes the door and walks back towards the kitchen. “We hate the Dodgers.”
Dean nods his head before taking another swig. “People are gonna throw things.”
“We’ll see where we’re at after the 3rd inning.” Ben says smugly before pointing to one of the beers on the kitchen table. “Can I have one of those?”
Dean begrudgingly slides him over a beer before glancing over to Jack. “You’re sitting next to him at the game.”
“Come on!” Jack yells out dramatically.
Dean shakes his head and motions to his crisp mariner’s jersey. “This jersey is new…I don’t want to have to worry about flying ketchup and relish.”
“It’ll be fine.” Ben deadpans with another eye roll before taking a seat at the table. “Joey and Tuck are excited.”
“Will they be wearing Dodger gear?” Jack asks sarcastically as he sits down at the table before grabbing his beer to take a drink.
Ben squints his eyes at Gibson. “No.”
“Good.” Jack says into his beer.
“Where’s Travis?” Ben asks.
Dean lets out a laugh and squints his eyes in amusement. “Travis...has been delayed.”
“What?” Ben laughs.
Jack tilts his head back and forth. “Let’s just say Travis had a good night that turned into a good morning...and also afternoon.”
“It’s a sex-a-thon.” Dean says as goes back to his beer before leaning back in his chair. “Are we picking up Joey and Tuck after school?”
Ben nods his head excitedly. He’s been looking forward to taking his boys out for a guy’s night for a long time. “I thought we could then take them out for a bite to eat before the game.”
“That bar by the field has those stuffed burgers with the jalapenos.” Jack says before licking his lips at the thought.
Dean snaps his fingers and points at his best friend. “Yes.”
“You want to take my kids to a bar?” Ben asks slowly.
Jack shrugs his shoulders confused. “They got the little ked menus with the crayons….it’ll be fine.”
“Joey and Tuck will be thrilled.” Ben bites back with a chuckle.
Dean lets out a long sigh as his stomach starts to grumble. “When does school end?”
“3:30.” Ben answers.
“That’s like four hours away.” Jack grumbles as he too starts to feel the hunger pains.
“Bro, I can’t wait that long.” Dean complains before placing his hand on his stomach. “My stomach is contracting.”
Ben squints his eyes at Jack and motions to the fridge and cupboards. “You don’t have any food?”
“He has a box of stale Cheeze-Its and two expired eggs.” Dean says annoyed.
Jack glares at his best friend before taking another swig of his beer. “Marsha’s visiting a friend in Oregon….we usually go grocery shopping together.”
“I’m so hungry.” Dean whines pathetically.
Jack waves off his friend before an idea pops into his head. “I know.”
“What?” Dean asks confused.
“Spicy meats.” Jack says with a big grin on his face.
Dean’s face lights up. “Spicy meats.”
“Spicy meats.” Jack says with a smile as he grabs his cell phone from his jeans pocket and starts to send out a text. “I’m texting right now.”
Ben looks back and forth between the guys…utterly confused. “Who are you texting?”
“Carina.” Jack answers as he continues to text.
Ben nods his head…the spicy meats comment now making sense. “Ahh.”
“Ask if she’s got that cheese I like with the green peppers.” Dean says as he points his beer at Gibson.
“Got it.” Jack says back.
Dean smiles into his beer at the thought of all the food in their grasp. “They probably have lasagna in the freezer.”
“I thought Maya was having a family day with Carina and Ginny.” Ben says knowing that the last thing they would want was people invading their kitchen.
Jack tilts his head and shrugs his shoulders. “So…we’ll just take the lasagna and run.”
“And the bread…if she has that bread with the garlic crust like last time.” Dean adds.
“So good.” Jack hums happily.
Ben laughs at Jack before pointing his beer at Dean. “What you do last night?”
“He had a date.” Jack says with a smirk.
“Really?” Ben sings with a raise of his eyebrow.
Dean rolls his eyes at his friends. “Yes really.”
Ben waits for Dean to continue but when he doesn’t Ben tries to help him along. “So….”
“So…?” Dean grumbles.
Ben shrugs his shoulders before stuttering out. “You haven’t really dated…in a while.”
“Well…I am trying to get a grip on my feelings.” Dean grumbles again.
“That’s good.” Ben says hesitantly.
Jack sucks a harsh breath through his clenched teeth. “Or you could just tell Hughes.”
Dean glares back at his best friend. “Why don’t you tell Wilson?”
“Because there is nothing to tell Wilson.” Jack says as he glares back.
“You like Wilson?” Ben questions through a big laugh, not being able to contain himself. “Oh my god!”
“What?” Jack asks not amused.
Ben still laughing shakes his head. “I thought my wife was just kidding!”
Jack just shakes his head and holds up his hands. “Jo is cool…but I don’t know what it is.”
“You should just tell her man.” Dean says…glad to get himself out of the hot seat.
Jack looks over at his confused. “Tell Jo what?”
“That you like her.” Dean says with a roll of his eyes.
“I did.” Jack says coolly before taking a sip of his beer.
“You did?” Dean asks shocked.
“Yea.” Jack says nonchalantly before smiling slightly. “She likes me too.”
Dean’s mouth drops open. “She just…told you that.”
Ben snorts and nods his head. “Jo is very direct.”
“I’m confused.” Dean mumbles out.
“I’m good just seeing where this goes...naturally.” Jack says tells his two friends. “And…it might not go anywhere, who knows.”
“That’s…unexpected.” Ben says not being able to his surprise at the cool attitude.
“Why do you say that?” Jack asks.
Ben bites his bottom lip. “I mean…you rush.”
“I rush?” Jack asks with raised eyebrows.
Dean nods his head. “You rush.”
“Things with Andy went very quickly and you got engaged.” Ben says as he starts to go on about Gibson’s dating pattern. “Things with Maya were fast and furious and then you were practically living with Inara.”
“Okay, thanks guys.” Jack bites back dramatically as he waves around his hand. “But I got it.”
Ben snorts in his beer. “You rush.”
But before Jack can say something back his phone starts to go off on the table. He looks at the incoming text and his eyes go wide. “Uh-oh.”
“What?” Ben asks confused.
“Speak of the devil.” Jack drawls.
“Who is it?” Ben asks before remembering they were talking about Jack’s exes. “Herrera?”
Jack shakes his head. “Bishop.”
“Uh-oh.” Dean says with wide eyes.
Jack starts to go over the text. “Maya says that if we go to her house she’s transferring us all to Station 63.”
Ben not recognizing the station number scrunches his face in confusion. “Where’s Station 63?”
“Anchorage.” Jack answers.
“Damn it.” Dean mutters bitterly under his breath before motioning from the crumple red box on the counter. “Hand me the Cheeze-Its.”
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Later on in the day Carina and Maya are walking around in the park a few blocks from their apartment enjoying the spring day. When Maya suggested putting Ginny in the stroller and going out to enjoy the day Carina was extremely thankful. She was thankful for the distraction from thinking of her father and his…whole thing.
Carina closes her eyes for a brief second and enjoys the warmth coming from the sky. “The sun feels amazing.”
“I love spring.” Maya sighs happily.
“It is so beautiful here.” Carina gushes as she takes a deep breath of the fresh air before glancing down and noticing the baby doing the same thing. “Ginny seems to like it too…look at her little smile.”
Maya nods her head and looks down at the baby in the stroller. “She likes it down here…We sometimes go running around this path.”
“I see.” Carina murmurs under her breath.
Maya laughs at her wife’s reaction and gently bumps hips. “You know…you could always tag along.”
“Can I sit in the stroller with Ginny?” Carina asks with a raised eyebrow.
Maya chuckles out loud. “No.”
“Then…probably not.” Carina says as she continues to push the stroller down the path.
“You know with the changing of the seasons…I can’t help but think about our winter.” Maya says.
Carina nods her head. “Our winter was kind of nuts.”
“What could you possibly be referring to?” Maya teases as she looks down at Ginny who is smiling up at her.
“Ma!” Ginny laughs.
“Oh…I don’t know.” Carina teases back with a big grin as Ginny holds up a goldfish cracker for her mama to see. “Are those yummy?”
Ginny nods her head before gumming up the fishy cracker. “Ma.”
Carina still smiling leans down and runs her fingers gently through her daughter’s soft brown locks. “We became mommies this winter.”
“We did…definitely the best thing to happen.” Maya says as she again glances down lovingly at the little girl in the stroller.
“And the worst?” Carina questions.
“You know it’s a tossup between my favorite pair up boots ripping on a call and my wife getting hit by a truck.” Maya deadpans making fun of the obvious question.
Carina snaps her fingers in victory and points at her wife. “So you admit I was hit by the truck!”
“Carina.” Maya hums as she scrunches her nose.
“The accident was very, very difficult.” The brunette admits before smiling lovingly over at the love of her life. “But we made it through.”
Maya smiles and reaches around to wrap her arm around Carina’s waist. “Ginny and I did a good job making sure you didn’t exert yourself.”
“Again…very comical coming from you Captain Bishop.” Carina says with an eye roll as her phone starts to go off in her back pocket.
“Is it the guys again?” Maya asks annoyed as she watches her wife pull out her phone. “I was not kidding…I will send them to Alaska.”
Carina sighs and sends the phone call to straight to voicemail before slipping the phone back into her back jeans pocket. “Nope…not the guys.”
“I’m sorry.” Maya huffs.
“It’s okay….or it will be.” Carina says through a long breath before shrugging her shoulders slightly. “My aunt is keeping an eye on him.”
“That’s good, right?” Maya ventures softly.
“Yes.” Carina says with a warm smile towards the blonde…seeing the worry expressed all over her face. “I’m okay Bambina…really.”
Maya nods her head and leans over to kiss Carina briefly on the cheek. “It is a beautiful day.”
“This was a great idea.” Carina repeats.
“Ginny is sure enjoying herself.” Maya murmurs playfully again noticing her daughter lounging back in her stroller like she is sprawled out on a beach chair in the sand. “I feel like we should get her a tropical drink to enjoy.”
Carina laughs heartily and looks adoringly at her wife. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Maya replies as they walk over by the pond with the little birds swimming around.
“Mimma!” Carina exclaims as she kneels down by the stroller and points over to the pond by the with little ducks swimming. “L’anatra!”
Ginny looks to where her mama is pointing and repeats what she said. “La!”
“L’anatra.” Carina repeats slowly for her daughter before looking back to the pond. “Guarda tutte le anatre che sguazzano nell'acqua.” (Look at all the ducks splashing in the water.)
Maya shakes her head and lets out a grumble. “You two are going to end up ganging up on me in Italian aren’t you?”
Carina looks up and squints at her wife. “Bambina.”
“Maybe there is a translator app I can get on my phone.” Maya says mostly to herself.
The brunette clicks her teeth against the roof of her mouth before again squinting up. “Or…you could finally put a real effort into learning Italian.”
“Honey…I tried.” Maya defends before waving her hand around. “Your language is a mystery.”
Carina rolls her eyes and stands back up so they can continue their walk. “It wasn’t exactly easy for me to learn English Maya…but I did it.”
“There’s an easy explanation for that.” Maya says simply.
Carina has got to hear this. “Oh yea, what’s that?”
“You are far more intelligent than I am.” Maya adds.
“Bambina.” Carina murmurs.
“You are super smart and super hot...I did good.” Maya cheekily says with a smirk.
“What?!” Carina shrieks out through a loud laugh before pointing at the smug fire fighter walking next to her. “You did good?”
Maya raises her eyebrows and again wraps her arm around the brunette’s waist. “Mmmm.”
“Oh my god.” Carina say with an eye roll as her wife pats her butt playfully before they continue down the path.
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Back at Carina and Maya’s apartment that night…the family of three sits in their living room surrounded by toys and books. Carina is looking awfully smug with herself as May sits in front of her with the little girl in her lap looking…not as smug.
“Are we ready?” Carina asks with a big smile…full of amusement.
“You are enjoying this far too much Dr. DeLuca.” Maya says before kissing the top of Ginny’s head.
“Are you ready Mimma?” Carina gushes as she grabs the book next to her on the floor.
Maya represses the urge to roll her eyes and waves down to their little girl in her lap. “We’re ready.”
“Okay….A is for albero.” Carina says as she starts to read the first page of the book. “Albero is a tree.”
“This is so embarrassing.” Maya mumbles as she looks at the toddler book her wife picked up when they were out to help Ginny…and Maya learn Italian.
Carina chuckles and shakes her head still thoroughly amused. “Maya.”
“Albero.” Maya repeats before giving her wife a sarcastic smile. “Happy.”
“Ecstatic.” Carina says with a smirk before flipping to the next page and holding it up for her girls to see. “B is for barca.”
“Barca.” Maya whispers under her breath.
Carina continues to read. “Barca is boat.”
“Barca.” Maya repeats with more confidence.
Carina nods her head at her wife before leaning closer to Ginny. “Barca.”
“Ba!” Ginny exclaims out.
“Good job!” Maya cheers as she holds out a hand for Ginny to high five.
Carina smiles as she watches Ginny slap her little hand down on Maya’s. “What a smart girl.”
“We are both…crushing this.” Maya says as she watches her wife flip to the third page.
“C is for casa.” Carina says as she continues to read. “Casa is--”
“House!” Maya yells out triumphantly…finally recognizing one of the words. “It’s a house!”
Carina bites her bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Cute.”
“I knew that one…I think we deserve the prize.” Maya says before pointing to the snacks on the coffee table.
Carina shakes her head. “We just started.”
“Popcorn puffs are a good incentive for us to keep going!” Maya exclaims through a hearty laugh.
“First.” Carina says as she grabs the container from up on the coffee table. “Tree and boat….go.”
“Albero and barca.” Maya repeats easily with a very smug look on her face.
Carina rolls her eyes and holds the container of puff towards her wife. “Fine…here you go.”
“Thank you.” Maya says as she takes a popcorn puff before handing a couple to Ginny to munch on happily in her lap. “I actually like this one book we got from the store.”
Carina looks to the book her wife is looking at and nods her head. “That’s a good one.”
“Jokes aside…I’m serious about learning Italian.” Maya says seriously. She knows that her wife misses speaking Italian on a regular basis and truly wants to learn to communicate with her more in her first language.
Carina smiles at the sincerity in her wife’s eyes. “I know…and I love you for it.”
“Mmm--a!” Ginny cheers before she takes her little hand and wipes at her face.
“Yes, I'm Mama.” Carina laughs as she presses a sweet kiss on Ginny's forehead before smiling getting a great idea. “I know! Should we try walking?”
“Oh boy.” Maya says as she briefly as she flips a page in the book. Her wife has been trying to teach Ginny to walk for weeks and has had no luck.
“Oh shush.” Carina says to Maya before she takes Ginny over to the open area in the living room.
Maya just watches her wife and shakes her head before going back to the book she’s been glancing at.
“Okay Ginny.” Carina says as she sets Ginny down on the ground holding her up in a standing position. She holds her for a second making sure she is able to stand on her own before taking a few steps back. “Here we go.”
Ginny slightly annoyed that her mother is no longer holding her begins to pout. “Mmm.”
“Come on, Ginny, you can do it!” Carina says as she gently claps her hands together in front of her before holding her arms out, hoping her daughter would walk over for a hug. “Walk to Mama.”
Ginny looks down at her feet for a few seconds before trying to take a tiny step. Carina and Maya have been walking her around by the hands for weeks and she has had no problem. The second either one of them lets go of her little hands…game over. She tries to take a step but becomes unbalanced with her tiny legs giving out, and her plump bottom hitting the floor quickly. Startled and scared at the fall Ginny's eyes begin to pool with tears and her bottom lip starts to tremble as she looks up at her Mama.
“Mmmm-aa.” Ginny cries.
“Oh baby, you're okay Ginny.” Carina coos with a slight laugh as she goes over and picks up the crying the girl. She stands them up once again and holds her tight as Ginny's cries begin to subside. “That's my girl.”
Maya concerned looks up over the book at her wife and daughter. “She okay?”
Carina nods her head and gently wipes at the drying tears on little Ginny's face. “Yeah just a little spooked, I think.”
“You’re okay Gin.” Maya coos to the baby before going back to the baby book in her hand to recite another word in Italian. “Car…”
“We've been working on walking for a month now, I can't figure out the problem.” Carina says stumped as she places a kiss on top of Ginny's head before looking down at her little chubby legs. “Maybe something is wrong with her cute little legs.”
“Carina.” Maya breathes as she looks up over the book once again knowing where is wife is going with this.
“What if something is wrong with her legs?!” Carina exclaims going into a panic.
“Nothing is wrong with her legs.” Maya says trying to bite his lip from laughing at her wife's antics. “You were the one that calmed me down when I was worried about her speech…you said some kids develop faster than others.”
“And it is not a cause of concern.” Carina mumbles out as she repeats the exact words before rolling her eyes. “I know, I know.”
Maya laughs and points at her wife. “You told me not to worry Dr. DeLuca.”
“I lied.” Carina mutters as she continues to sway with Ginny in her arms.
Maya continues to laugh and shakes her head at her usually level headed wife. “She has been bear crawling around here nonstop and when she is holding onto something…she’s golden.”
“Then what's the problem?” Carina asks her wife before turning back to face Ginny. “Huh? Are you scared to walk Mimma?”
“I can tell you what the problem is.” Maya mumbles under her breath as she flips through another page.
“What's that Bambina?” Carina asks hearing Maya mumble something under her breath.
“Our little jelly bean is as stubborn as her mama.” Maya says realizing she's been caught and might as well fess up. “Ginny will walk when she wants to.”
“I am not stubborn.” Carina argues back offended.
Maya snorts immediately. “Please.”
“What?!” Carina asks through a heavy laugh.
Maya shakes her head again and raises an eyebrow at the Italian. “I had to beg you to marry me.”
Carina squints her eyes and bites her bottom lip. “That’s not…exactly true.”
“You said that marriage was meant to keep women as property.” Maya adds playfully.
“Okay, okay…I have never been gladder to be wrong, happy?” Carina says looking down at her wedding ring before putting her hand back on Ginny to help support her in her arms.
Maya gives her wife a smirk. “Ecstatic…you know how much I love to be right.”
“Oh brother.” Carina mutters under her breath before pointing at the blonde on the couch. “You are just as stubborn as I am Captain Bishop.”
“I know, I know.” Maya laughs before holding her hands up in surrender. “What I am saying is that Ginny will walk when she wants to, probably when no one is looking.”
“Well that will never happen because I can't take my eyes off of this cute little angel.” Carina says in her cute little baby voice before placing a big kiss on Ginny's cheek causing the little girl to giggle. “Right! Are you Mama's little angel?”
Ginny keeps giggling in her mama’s arms until she spots her toys on the ground. She leans into her mama before starting to wiggle to get back down on the ground where her toys are.
“Okay, okay…” Carina says giving in as she places her daughter back on the ground. “Maybe you are Mama’s little wiggly worm.”
Maya watches Ginny bear crawl away before turning to her wife and calling her over with her finger. “I would never wiggle away from you Dr. DeLuca.”
Carina giggles and walks back over to her wife. The brunette leans down and is happily met with a kiss from her wife.
Ginny crawls around on the ground for a moment until she sees the toy she has been looking for over by the leg of the dining room table. The little girl smiles and places her hands on the ground before pushing herself up to stand on her feet. Ginny reaches for the chair to help her stand straight before again setting her sight on her favorite toy. Once she is standing she looks at her parents and tentatively takes a first step...and then another.
Maya and Carina finish their kiss and pull away smiling; Carina places a second quick kiss on the side of Maya’s head and before noticing a flash of brown hair heading to the dining room table. “Ginny!”
Maya looks over a bit worried that something has happened and sees Ginny walking towards the table. “Oh my God.”
“She's doing it, she's doing it.” Carina says with the hugest smile on her face as she and her wife watch Ginny toddle over to her singing hedgehog toy that she got from Sullivan around the time of her adoption. Ginny pats the toy to get it to start playing music before plopping down happily right next to it.
Maya chuckles quietly before standing up to stand by her wife. “Stubborn…what did I tell you.”
Carina beams down at her daughter before placing her hands on her hips. “She won’t walk to me….but she’ll walk to that stupid singing raccoon.”
“Sorry Honey…she loves it.” Maya says as her smile completely takes over her face…smiling proudly at her little girl.”
Carina shakes her head and goes over to grab the little girl and toy in her arms. She walks back over and smiles brightly when the little girl giggles at her mommy who has now started clapping in delight.
“Good job Ginny!” Maya cheers as she claps even more.
Carina still smiling sways with the baby in her arms before raising an eye brow at her wife in warning. “Nobody tells Sullivan.”
“Got it.” Maya laughs before looking at their little girl. “Did you hear that Ginny?”
“Our secret.” Carina says as she points to the three of them. “Rimane in famiglia.” (It stays in the family.)
Maya bites her lips and scrunches her nose to try to figure out if she recognized any of those words. “That sounded very mafia-esque.”
Carina chuckles through her lips before waving her hand around. “Il tradimento non viene mai dai tuoi nemici, solo dai tuoi amici e dalla tua famiglia.” (Betrayal never comes from your enemies, only your friends and family.)
Maya now completely lost shakes her head. “Carina…none of those words were in the book.”
“Maya can we focus here.” Carina urges her wife playfully before pointing to the middle of the room. “Go stand over there.”
Maya catching on walks over and bends her knees to get to the floor. “Right.”
“Can you do it again Mimma?!” Carina says to the little girl as she bends down to set Ginny down on the ground. “Ready?”
“Oooh.” Ginny grumbles out as Carina helps her steady herself on her feet.
“Look there’s Mommy.” Carina says in Ginny’s ear as she points to Maya in front of them, trying to get Ginny to look over there. “Can you walk to Mommy?”
“Come here Gin!” Maya cheers as she opens up her arms. “Come to Mommy, come on!”
“You can do it Mimma!” Carina cheers on Ginny as the baby starts to take small steps towards her mommy in the middle of the living room.
Ginny smiles at her mommy but gets distracted and falls down. “Oooh.”
“You're okay Baby, come to Mommy!” Maya says urging Ginny to get back up and try again.
Ginny with a look of baby determination pushes herself back up and starts to toddle towards her mommy once again where she falls into Maya's waiting arms.
“You did it!” Maya cheers as he gently rubs the back of Ginny's head.
Ginny leans back and smiles at her mommy with a proud smile on her face. “Dii!”
“You did it!” Maya laughs repeating herself before kissing Ginny on the nose.
“She walked, she walked.” Carina says quietly as walks over and kisses her little girl on top of the head.
“Yeah Ginny!” Maya says still smiling which results in another giggle coming from the little girl and her mommy’s goofy face.
Carina laughs and rubs Ginny’s back with her hand. “Good job Mimma!”
Maya laughs too and kisses Ginny on the cheek before she starts to wiggle in her arms to get down. Maya quickly obliges and sets her down before watching Ginny take off towards her other toys...now moving just a little bit faster on her new feet.
“And she’s off.” Maya drawls dramatically. “See…nothing to worry about.”
“There she goes.” Carina says before laughing mostly to herself. “She’ll be running around here soon.”
“You’re right.” Maya mutters as her face drops in worry. “Should we talk about the changes we should make to the house?”
Carina huffs and rolls her eyes. “Maya you have already baby proofed literally everything.”
“But what about--”
Carina shakes her head and holds up her hand. “I draw the line at bubble wrapped furniture.”
“Cute.” Maya mumbles to her wife sarcastically before trying to get her daughter’s attention from over by the hallway again. “Ginny! Come here Babe!”
“Here she comes!” Carina cheers as Ginny toddles back over to her mommies. When Ginny finally arrives at her mommies legs.
Ginny looks up and holds up her hands. “Mmmm-aa”
“Yea!” Carina cheers as she scoops up the child in her arms and giving her a kiss on her cheek.
Maya studies her curious daughter before glancing around their apartment. “Maybe a little bubble wrap wouldn’t be the--”
“Maya!” Carina exclaims through a laugh.
But before Maya can says anything else about the possible hazards in their apartment the doorbell rings causing both women to look up confused.
Maya scrunches her nose before smiling over at her wife. “Please tell me you butt dialed Capizzi’s again and they just brought over our usual.”
Carina laughs and hands the baby over to her wife. “Mmmm…that would be a pizza miracle.”
“With extra cheese!” Maya exclaims as she uses her fingers to tickle Ginny’s belly getting a big laugh in return.
Carina smiles at the sounds of her wife and daughter before she walks to the door and opens it. Her eyes immediately spot the designer Italian shoes and the smell of the familiar aftershave hits her senses. The air is immediately sucked out of her lungs when she looks up and sees Vincenzo DeLuca standing in front of her.
“Papà.” Carina says before swallowing the lump in her throat.
Vincenzo nods his head and smiles at his daughter. “Saluti Tesoro.”