At the beginning of April, about three weeks after the events on Market Street, Maya and Carina were about to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Andrea and Mason had both offered to look after their niece for their respective sisters, but neither had accepted. At the moment, it was inconceivable for either of them not to have their daughter with them for a whole night, even for one evening, a night that could have been unforgettable.
As it was a Wednesday, the blonde had worked, but had insisted on leaving at four in the afternoon.
When she arrived home, their daughter was having a snack. The Italian woman was facing the highchair and feeding Jordan her compote, while she held a cake in her hand. Ford was patiently waiting for the cake to drop to the floor.
The blonde had come over to her, leaned over her wife and moved in for a kiss.
-"happy anniversary"
The captain whispered against her wife's lips after the kiss, before pulling out three red roses from her back.
"Three red roses for the three most beautiful years of my life... Three red roses that symbolize «I love you» and three eternal roses to signify that I'll love you until the end of time... And even afterwards."
Carina had put the spoon back into the jar of compote and had come to take her wife's collar in her hand.
-"Happy birthday my baby... I love you" whispered the brunette.
- "mama..." Maya and Carina had probably never been so quick to turn their heads, so quick that they'd looked at Jordan even before her cake bounced off Ford's head, to fall to the floor.
"Mama," she gestured, holding out her hand toward the blonde.
- "she... She said mamma! She, she said mamma to me" the captain snapped, her eyes filling with tears.
She had turned her head towards the brunette, whose eyes were in the same state.
"You, you, you taught her? You, you, you asked her to tell me that?"
- "bambina... She's... A baby, how do you expect me to ask her to do something on purpose?"
- "mama" the blonde had come closer and Jordan had put her hand on her cheek and she had kissed her on the bottom of her cheek, almost against her jaw, never mind the compote around her mouth. Never mind the wet cake crushed in her hand.
- "she called me «mamma»"
- "that's normal bambina... You're her mother".
- "Zita, who's that?" Maya asked, pointing at Carina. The little girl didn't seem to understand.
-"Baby, it doesn't matter. I'm glad she told you. It was her first... She'll say it again. I'm not worried, she knows I'm sa-"
- "mama!" Said the little girl, tapping the tray table of her highchair in the brunette's direction, as if to tell her to feed her."
- "cosà?"
The little one had made little mouth noises. As if she were sucking on her bottle, but as it wasn't in her mouth, her tongue was tapping on the roof of her mouth. Her way of saying she was hungry.
"Would you like this?"Asked the brunette, pointing to the compote with the spoon still inside.
- "mama" she said, reaching out to Carina and opening and closing her hand.
The brunette's eyes filled with tears and she looked at her wife with a huge smile. Eventually, she had taken the spoon back and brought it to her mouth, as she tinkled her tongue against the roof of her mouth again and the little one closed her mouth in a no. Maya had taken her in her arms, but they had stretched out towards Carina.
The brunette had taken her in her arms and the little girl had started biting the top of her breast, as she was in a tank top. The Italian had taken out her breast and Jordan had put it in her mouth, now watching as her little fingers scratched the Italian's skin.
The blonde looked at her wife. She was always so amazed when she saw her breastfeeding.
-"Do you think she's aware of having said «mamma» to us?"
-"I think so... Baby, you've got lots of cake on your cheek and applesauce" Carina added, smiling mockingly.
-"I'm going to take a shower anyway".
-"Don't you want to wash your face and have a bath for the three of us?"
- "naked, in a bath, without making love to you?"
- "I really want to be with my wife and our daughter... In a bath"
- "will you join me?"
- "coming right up"
Maya had gone to the bathroom and turned on the water to fill the tub. She knew she shouldn't overfill it. She had gone to the shared bathroom of the house and had taken some of Jordan's water toys. She'd come back and they'd put them in the tub before going to wash her face.
She had taken her phone and wanted to put on some music. She'd started by looking for a sexy playlist, being in a bath with her wife, she liked that idea a little too much, especially today, on their wedding anniversary. She'd turned her head and seen the toys floating around.
-"We'll forget the sexy music..." she said to herself.
She'd just put their shared playlist on random and the most beautiful woman in the world had appeared in the bathroom, their eyes meeting in the mirror.
"You've got to stop being so beautiful... It'll soon be twenty years since I've loved you and I still get so tachycardic when you walk into a room."
Carina had approached, despite Jordan in her arms, on her side, she'd stuck to her wife and slid her hand over her pounding heart.
-"Not while you're having the same effect on me", she replied, looking at her in the mirror. The Italian had come to kiss the nape of her wife's neck, whose hair had begun to grow again.
-"Mama", said Jordan, grabbing Maya's sleeve and tugging on it.
-"You have two brunettes who need your attention. Which one of us are you going to take care of first?"
- "If I take care of my daughter now... And my wife all night..."
- "all... All... All night?"
- "you don't think I can anymore?"
- "oh yes... Captain DeLuca-Bishop, your wife knows that you're good at a lot of things, and that you put your heart into everything you do... And your wife also knows that you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow, despite your undeniable stamina."
-"screw the station, it's my wedding anniversary and three years ago we made love..."
- "not all night... We slept... a little..."
- "the sun was rising when we switched off... then I'll look after my wife until she falls asleep from exhaustion due to the multiple orgasms on my naked body" replied Maya, looking at her in the mirror.
- "mamaaaaa"
- "Adesso Zita!" replied the blonde as she turned and came to hug her.
Carina had undressed and Maya had looked at her with round eyes to enjoy the show.
-"The purpose of a bath is to be... Naked"
- "and you do it so well..."
- "you literally see me naked every day"
- "and every day it has the same effect on me"
Carina had approached the bath to turn off the water. She'd glanced at her wife, who had her eyes on her bottom, and raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me! Yes! Right away."
She had undressed Jordan while her wife had raised her arms above her head to tie her hair in a bun and not get it wet in the bath.
Her eyes had fallen on her wife again and she'd swallowed; then for her sanity, Carina had gotten back into the tub. Maya had finished undressing Jordan and handed her to the Italian, who had sat the little girl in the bath doing her.
The captain had removed her clothes and it was the Italian's turn to stare.
-"sei così sexy..." [you're so sexy...]
Maya had smiled as if what she'd just said made no sense. She had then beckoned her wife forward a little and she had come to stand behind her.
"Do you think Jordan will agree... She wanted to be in your arms."
- "right now she looks like she's playing and I really want to have my wife in my arms." She sat behind her."Oh, and before I forget, you have Shay's regards."
- "we're naked in the good and you're thinking of Leslie?"
- "She was at the front desk on the way out... And then she's your style... Firefighter, blonde, blue eyes... Pretty... No ?"
- "My style is the woman who organized a surprise wedding for me three years ago and who made my day; apart from the birth of my two children; the happiest day of my life... You do realize, though, that your wedding gave inferiority complexes to a lot of people?"
-"Let them plan a wedding for over thirteen years and then we'll talk..."
Jordan had started to move around in the tub and she'd begun to climb on Carina, she'd climbed up her body to Maya's face.
The brunette had lifted her up and kissed her belly before turning and passing Jordan to her wife. She then turned completely around and faced her wife and daughter.
The little girl had made mouth noises, moving her lips as if to vocalize. The music that had started must have been to her liking, because while standing on Maya's haunches she had started to move, bending and unfolding her knees.
She had made her mothers laugh.
"Are you dancing Zita mia?"
Jordan had come to bite her mother's jaw.
"We've got to teach her that kissing isn't with teeth... She hurts..."
-"Do you think my breasts look like they've been attacked by a piranha for some reason? And then I understand her... I love your jaw too... So prominent... So sexy..."
Jordan then sat on Maya's thigh as if exhausted from dancing too much. Her little hand had come to rest on Maya's breast and she'd taken it into her mouth. The captain ran her hand over her cheek to get her to look at her.
-"I don't have anything to drink, baby. She always told her in a gentle way, because after a certain number of months, when Jordan had been more aware of her surroundings, she had been upset and had cried when she had taken her off her breast. So now she calmly explained. Jordan didn't understand a word of it, but in a way, with the way he spoke, she did.
She had stepped back and held out her small hand to Carina.
- "mama"
- "yes, if you're hungry, you have to go with mama" The Italian had held out her arms, but Jordan had stuck to Maya, laughing.
- "give her your finger"
The captain had put her little finger in Jordan's mouth and Jordan had sucked on her finger. But she quickly pushed the blonde's hand away and came to take her breast again.
-"I don't think she's hungry, she just wants to suckle".
-"She must be a little tired. She just wants a cuddly feed" Maya ran her hand over Jordan's cheek and Jordan looked at her.
-"Do you want to go with mamma baby?"
But Jordan had settled back firmly against Maya and she'd put her hand over her mouth and resumed her sucking.
- "Does it... Embarrassed you ?" Carina asked, seeing that her wife didn't know how to react.
- "no... I mean... It's not... Weird?"
-"I don't know... After all, she just wants to suckle, it's not about getting milk. I rather like the fact that she doesn't take the pacifier. But you mustn't let that be a problem for you."
-"I don't want you to think I'm trying to... Take... Your... Role"
- "so for one... You're also her mother and two... She can see you don't have milk. I think it's a way for her to be close to you. It's called «cuddle feeding» for a reason: the aim is to be close to you, she needs this sucking to soothe her. But if you don't like her taking your breast..."
-"No, I think it's okay."
-"She's too in love with you... Look at the way she looks at you..."
Maya had lowered her eyes to their daughter. She ran her fingers over her cheek.
- "the same look as you in blue..."
Carina had slumped slightly in the bathtub, she had breathed, resting her head on the ledge backwards and closing her eyes.
- "what's love?"
- "the mother in me is finding this version of the mother in you way too sexy. If you're amazed when you see me breastfeeding her, for me amazed isn't really the word... At least not amazed in the same sense." she said without even looking at her.
- "look at me"
- "no"
-"amore..." she said, stretching out her leg and stroking her inner thigh with her foot.
- "bambina..."
- "look at us". Carina had lifted her head and opened her eyes."If it upsets you. I'll stop."
- "if you don't mind the cuddly feeding, I'm not going to deprive my daughter because I want to make love to you when I see you like this with her."
- "want to how?"
- "really want to"
- "envy how?"
- "envy like on our wedding night on the couch in the hotel room... Envy like in your car in high school..."
- "baciami"
- "bambina..."
- "baciami... I didn't ask you to make love to me in the bathtub-"
- "believe me, if it weren't for Jordan, that's exactly what we'd be doing..."
- "baciami"
Carina had come up on all fours and embraced her wife.
- "as soon as we put Zita in bed..." the Italian whispered against her lips. Maya could feel in her kisses that she longed for her. Her mouth always became a little more insistent on the end of a kiss when she craved more, before starting another.
Carina had finally lain back against her wife and put her hand on her wife's free breast to watch their daughter suckle the blonde.
"She doesn't hurt you?"
- "She's fine. She's just sucking."
The three of them stayed like that for a few minutes.
After about ten minutes, Jordan had let go of Maya's breast. She had approached Carina, who had closed her eyes and whose hand was now on her wife's belly, and had come to take her visible breast into her mouth. She had then put her head between Maya's to continue feeding, and being comfortable.
The blonde had come to kiss the top of the Italian's head before tightening her arms a little more on them to cuddle.
A little later that evening, the Italian was in the kitchen and Maya was running around the house on all fours behind Jordan, who was now walking like this. The little girl was laughing out loud; she really thought her mommy couldn't catch up with her.
She turned around every now and then to laugh and look at her, a little out of breath from laughing so hard. Eventually, she went around the islet and grabbed Carina's leg to get up.
- "mama" she said, one hand on her leg and the other arm outstretched towards her.
The brunette bent down to take her in her arms and Jordan came to lay her head on her neck.
-"Mommy, has tired you, my love?" she said in a small voice.
Maya got up from the floor and went to wash her hands before coming to her wife's side.
-"Sit down, I'll continue."
- "sure?"
- "yes, at worst, if I have any doubts, or if I do something wrong, you tell me".
- "you doing something wrong?" Carina asked with a smile, bringing her lips to hers.
"Impossibile."
The Italian had then gone to sit on one of the stools on the island and watched her wife cooking, Jordan in her arms cuddling her, one hand holding her collar.
- "You're too beautiful" said Maya after a few minutes of silence, she didn't dare look at her wife and her cheeks were flushed at this confession.
-"and we're all yours".
As they had decided the previous year, on Sunday May thirteenth they had invited Katherine, Andrea, as well as Mason and Justine, so that Carina wouldn't spend the day depressed.
It had felt a little strange when she'd laid eyes on Jordan that day, but the smile, the look and the «mama» she'd given her as she held out those little hands towards her had lifted her spirits.
- "Are you okay, Mom?" the blonde asked her mother as she insisted on making dinner and was mechanically turning the wooden spoon in the saucepan.
-"hum?" she asked, snapping out of her trance.
-"I was wondering if you were all right, you seem lost in thought".
-"I was just thinking that I don't know how Carina can be so strong. I know she's not the first person in the world to lose a baby... But I don't know how I would have survived losing either of you... I love you both so much... And look, you're a mom and Mase is about to be a dad... I know I wasn't a good mother for a long time because of your father's abusive behavior... I know I let him act for too long..."
- "you were afraid, mom"
-"I should have protected you better".
- "I talked to Grandpa Jacob on the phone, and he told me that da-... Lane was coming back to Seattle..."
- "yes... He tried to call me. He left me a message... He told me he'd changed."
- "you're not getting back together with him?"
-"No, of course not, your father... Lane will never change. I know the timbre of his voice... It was the one he used to make me feel it was all my fault... He probably thinks I'll believe him and go back to him... But I could never do that to you... I could never do that to myself."
- "And you haven't met anyone?"
- "oh no! Unfortunately, I think your father inoculated me... I'm good alone."
- "that's what I thought and look-"
- "you didn't think you were good alone... You knew that Carina was the one, the only one".
- "Lucia has rebuilt her life and yet the father of-"
- "we're not all the same. Believe me, Maya, I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm happy. As long as you and Mase are happy, I'm fine... And then I changed jobs, I saw friends Lane didn't like again... I'm fine," she smiled, stroking her cheek.
-"I only want you to be happy, Mom."
-"The five of you, soon to be six, that's my happiness... And Ford too, of course."
A few days later, Maya was at the fire station when she overheard one of her firefighter answering a man.
-"Do you want to see Captain DeLuca-Bishop?"
- "yes that's right, I want to see my daughter Maya Bishop." She froze. Lane had moved in with Grandpa Jacob several months ago, after losing his job. But he'd had to find a job back in Seattle because Katherine had told her he'd been trying to reach her.
-"I'll... I'll see if she's available." Emmett had knocked on Maya's desk, whose door had been pushed fully open but not closed. "Excuse me, Captain... Your... Father's here." He'd said this defensively; he, too, knew what it was like to have a crappy father."
Maya had stood up.
-"Let him in" she said with a serious look on her face, the Maya way. He had come in and neither of them had known how to say hello. "Close the door please Dixon." She hated calling him that, but she couldn't differentiate from her other firefighters just because that last name gave her hives.
He'd closed the door and Maya leaned her butt on the desk, crossing her arms.
"What are you doing here... Lane?"
- "I came back to Seattle."
- "and?"
- "and I want my family back." Maya had had a slight chuckle. «His family.» "My father... Your grandfather Jacob showed me a picture of your daughter... My granddaughter."
- "because you consider my daughter your granddaughter? You know Carina carried her... She has no Bishop genes" her arms were still crossed in front of her body.
- "but she's your daughter... In your eyes?"
-"Yes, she's my daughter and Carina's my wife... And yet when Emmett asked you if you wanted to see Captain «DeLuca-Bishop»... You were quick to correct him by saying Maya Bishop."
-"I've changed. I'm trying to make an effort."
- "My daughter, Jordan, she has two mothers. Two mothers who are married. And as long as I hear comments like »Maya Bishop», when you know full well that three years ago you refused to acknowledge my right to marry her and yet I did, I won't see any change in your behavior."
- "I'm your father!"
- "you lost that privilege the day you decided not to accept Carina as my wife"
- "I want to see my granddaughter"
-"you only have to consider that you don't have one. You were able for a long time to act like if you don't have a son. You only have to do the same. My daughter doesn't need you in her life. Neither do we. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of work to do and I'd like to get home to my family at a decent hour."
- "Maya I-"
- "goodbye, Lane. You know where the exit is."
She had uncrossed her arms. Her face still impassive, she'd gone back behind her desk. He had looked at her for a few moments before finally exiting the office and the station.
At the beginning of June, Maya had just returned from interventions when she had seen the Fire Chief waiting for her in her office.
-"Captain Bishop", Natacha greeted her.
-"Chief Ross, hello, did I miss something? Did we have an appointment?"
- "No, I'm sorry, I came unannounced... Can you close the door?"
- "yes, of course"
Maya complied and Natacha spoke up.
-"I know you were disappointed a few months ago when Sean Beckett took over from the late Lucas Ripley. I had given you high hopes for this position and unfortunately I didn't receive the support I was expecting from the Union and the Mayor of Seattle. However, I did tell you about it, and I'm now laying the groundwork for McCallister's early retirement.
I still have a few details to work out, and if he accepts the financial compensation I'm going to offer him... Which will no doubt be hard to refuse, the position would be vacant at the beginning of July. That's less than a month away. I want to make him this proposal by next week, and if he accepts, a note will be sent to all the captains who will then be entitled to claim the position. But I stand by what I told you the first time, and I stand by what I told you when Ripley died. I know that the intervention in March was complicated for you, and I understand that it was the first time you'd given an order to let someone die deliberately. I know it's not an easy job, but you made the right decision that day. I would have made the same one. Your whole team went home and only one civilian died.
I think it's time for you to move on to the next stage. You've been a great captain for this station, and I need a Battalion Chief who will react with the same heart and composure as you did that day.
Are you still interested in the position?"
-"Yes, ma'am."
- "so does this mean that when you receive a notice in your mailbox that a Battalion Chief position has become available, your application will be the first to be sent?"
- "yes ma'am"
-"okay, perfect. Work on your cover letter for the job. It has to be perfect. This information won't be shared with every captain in Seattle like it is with you, but everyone will be eligible for the position. I don't want to get screwed like I did with Beckett."
-"I'll work on it, boss."
- "if you want, you can send me a first draft when you've written it and I'll give you my opinion."
- "That's very kind of you. Thank you, boss."
- "it's not disinterested. We need people like you, with your mentality. We need a woman to head this department. I'm doing it as much for you as for the cause of women in an environment over-represented by men".
-"I understand and appreciate your transparency with me".
- "by the way, are you aware that Ruiz has applied as a lieutenant at Station 23?"
- "yes, he asked me if there was any possibility of him becoming a lieutenant here, but I was honest with him, at the moment I don't have any vacancies for a new lieutenant."
- "okay, fine, I just wanted to make sure. As most generally make this request within their own barracks."
- "no, it's fine, I even spoke with Captain Akino this morning."
- "Perfect. I'll go and find Ruiz, I'll go and tell him that he'll be interviewing with me next week and that if the interview goes well, he can start preparing for the exam to make lieutenant."
-"No worries."
- "good day captain"
- "have a nice day chief"
When Maya had returned home that evening, she hadn't wanted to get too excited again about the soon-to-be-available position. She had spoken to Carina about it and they had agreed not to put the cart before the horse. The Italian had even offered to help her with her cover letter.
The day Ruiz interviewed Natacha, Maya received «the e-mail».
//
Dear Captains,
Our very own Battalion Chief McCallister is leaving us to finally enjoy his retirement after a long and successful career with the Seattle Fire Department.
You can now apply to become Battalion Chief of the Central Seattle area.
Applications will be accepted until June 21 at 6 p.m. Interviews for Presenting Captains will take place during the last week of June, from the twenty-fifth to the twenty-ninth at noon, with deliberation on the twenty-ninth in the afternoon. The interviews will be in three sessions, a thirty-minute interview with the mayor and the head of the SPD, a thirty-minute interview with the Union and a thirty-minute interview with me.
The position will open on Monday, June 2nd.
I look forward to receiving your applications.
Fire Chief Natacha Ross.
//
In no time at all, Maya had sent her application letter, which she had worked on with Carina and which had been validated by Natacha.
She already knew that she was going to be interviewed. She asked Robert Sullivan to help her prepare for the interviews, and he agreed. The e-mail was received on June thirteenth, which left her barely ten days to prepare. Ten days but barely, seven if you counted their days off and less if you counted their intervention time.
But Robert liked Maya. He'd accepted her application to the Seattle Fire Academy a few years ago without even interviewing her, and they'd always had a real respect for each other.
They had agreed to see each other for an hour on Fridays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before the fateful week.
The only downside was that Maya had put off Monday the twenty-fifth to be with her wife, and this had slightly upset Natacha. Indeed, she wanted the blonde to go first with the Union and the group with the mayor and Dixon, as she wanted them to remember her interview to compare with all the other candidates. The captain hadn't even mentioned this point to her wife. She knew that Carina would have urged her to agree to interview on Monday, despite the fact that this day was reserved for their family.
This was unthinkable for Maya. Carina and their family were far more important to her than any job.
It had already been three interviews with Sullivan. There was only Friday left before she and her wife went away for a three-day weekend. On Monday, the three of them would spend the day with Andrea, Mase and Justine, as well as Katherine, Andy and Ryan, Jack and Taryn and Mika, who would be coming for lunch. Lucia would have liked to be there, but she was already coming next month for Jordan's one-year anniversary and she wasn't off yet.
Jordan was in her room like ninety-nine percent of the time now and Maya and Carina in their room. It was half past two in the morning and they were asleep. The baby monitor had been activated in the little girl's room and the captain had opened one eye. She was always on the lookout for the slightest noise.
The green light had come on and so had the screen. She had looked and the activation had surely occurred because the little girl had moved or because Ford had stood up, activating the sound.
The screen went dark again and she went back to sleep. A few minutes had passed and the screen had lit up again. Maya took the baby monitor in her hand and looked at the screen. In the darkness she could see Jordan's eyes shining like two nuggets. The little girl had raised her arm and Maya had smiled.
-"Do you want to come with Grandpa?" asked a voice she'd recognize between a thousand and one through the baby monitor. She had jumped up in bed. Her heart was racing. How had her father, Lane, managed to get into the house. Why was he standing over her daughter's crib?
She was in a panic but didn't want to wake Carina. She turned down the baby monitor and brought it close to her ear. Maybe she'd been dreaming, maybe she'd overslept and thought she'd heard Lane in her daughter's room.
- "Will you come with Grandpa, my champion?"
- "aaaaaeuuuuhhh" said Jordan. Maya could visualize her little lips making that sound and the little bubbles that must have formed against her mouth.
Why hadn't Ford barked? Had he hurt Ford? She'd gotten up, and luckily she was in her pajamas. She'd gone without a sound to her daughter's room and there he was, holding Jordan in his arms. He was talking to her as if she were his own.
-"Put my daughter down back to her crib or give her to me!"
-"I have the right to see her. She's my little girl."
- "She's my daughter. That doesn't make her your granddaughter... How did you get in here in the first place? How did you find my address?"
- "I've been following you for weeks... I just had to wait for the day when you came home and made the mistake of not locking the door... You looked exhausted today."
-"I could feel that someone was following me... I thought I was getting paranoid"
- "mystery solved kiddo"
- "okay, you've seen it now... So rest there."
- "or what? You're going to have me believe that you warned your wife I was coming and that the police are coming?"
She'd thought about it. She should have done that.
- "Lane. Give me my daughter, will you?" she gestured as she approached.
- "No, I can do things right, now. I'll train her, it'll just be me and her..."
- "You're not going to train anyone. She's my daughter."
Lane had violently pushed Maya to the ground and she had, during her fall, had a flashback of the time he'd caught her kissing Carina on race day in front of her entire high school.
When her buttocks had hit Jordan's bedroom floor, Maya had woken up with a start in bed.
"Jordan!!!" She had sat up and her hands were clenched, one on the mattress and the other on the blanket. Her heart was racing and she was sweating. Tears were streaming down her face.
- "Baby, baby, baby" Carina said as she turned on the light and sat up, coming to place her hand on her shoulder. "You must have had a nightmare."
- "Jordan!"
- "Jordan's fine. She's in her room. She's asleep" Carina had retrieved the baby monitor from Maya's nightstand and activated it."Look she's asleep."
The blonde had rolled over in her wife's arms and burst into tears.
- "I was so scared..."
She must have been really scared. Carina could tell. Was even sweatier than the previous summer when it had been up to forty-two degrees. She was literally swimming.
-"Tell me, baby, what happened. What were you afraid of?"Maya had breathed for a few long seconds in her wife's arms, and the Italian had run her hand through her hair."Take your time... Tell me what's going on."
It had taken the captain a few minutes to manage to pull herself together.
-"I should start at the beginning... A few days ago... Several days, a few weeks ago, Lane came to see me at the Station. Emmett was at the front desk and I made him promise not to tell anyone... And I didn't tell you... You know my mom told me last month that he tried to call her....
Anyway, he came to the firehouse... He wanted to meet Jordan... Because even though he still can't say you're my wife... He told me he wanted to meet «his granddaughter»."
- "he's nothing to Jordan!"
-"Yes, and that's what I told him... But ever since he came, I'm always afraid of being followed... I always feel like I have his shadow behind my back... Before we had Jordan, after the wedding, before he moved out... He didn't care about us... But I'm afraid he sees in her a new way to make a second me... To start again where he failed with me..."
-"What he sees as failure is what I like best about you." Carina replied, putting her hand on her heart, which was still beating wildly.
-"And I think his coming is working on me a lot more than I'd imagined... I thought he'd managed to get into the house and that Jordan's baby monitor had woken me up and that I'd heard his voice... And that he had our daughter in his arms... I had a nightmare that he had come to take her away from us" she had started crying again."I can't lose her. It's with you, the dearest thing I have in the world."
- "baby, baby, baby, no one is going to take our daughter away from us. Don't be worry. He'll never be able to come home. Not without our consent. And Jordan will never have to go through what you went through when you were younger. She's safe here. She's safe in your arms."
-"We can... We, we, we can install an alarm on the front door?"
- "front door, window, whatever you want" Carina replied, running her hand over her cheek. "Why didn't you tell me?... We could have dealt with this anguish together instead of you eating your heart out"
- "because he has no right to taint our happiness. I didn't want you to worry about him. He's my father, he's my problem."
- "you're forgetting something. I'm your wife... All your problems are mine, as are all your joys. You'll never have to go through any obstacle without me bambina. Do you understand?"
- "I understand"
- "so no more secrets? If Lane comes around again, I want to know."
- "I promise," Maya replied, pressing her forehead to her wife's.
- "do you want me to get Zita for the rest of the night?"
- "if you don't mind..."
- "of course not."
Carina had risen and gone to fetch Jordan.This had awakened the little girl, but as soon as she was in bed and against Maya, who was in a tank top, she had fallen back asleep. Her little face resting on her chest.
The Italian got back into bed. She had removed her top, so that the little one would have access in case she woke up and wanted to suckle; and she had lain against their daughter's back, her hand on Maya's hip.
After a few hours, Jordan turned and came to take Carina's breast in her mouth to suckle. Their daughter's movement had dreamed the blonde. She lowered herself slightly into bed and lay a little lower, resting her lips on Jordan's upper back and her forehead against the back of her head, her nose in the small crease of her neck, and fell back to sleep like that until her alarm went off, waking all three of them.
On Tuesday of the following week, after a final pre-interview with Sullivan and three days with her wife and daughter, Maya went to her interview first thing in the morning, with Dixon and the Mayor of Seattle.
They had already seen four candidates the day before. Clearly the opportunity had been a success, and they had interviews all week.
Despite her preparation, Dixon and the mayor had not been kind to Maya. Asking her why they should take on a woman, as they too often relied on their «feelings» to make decisions; or why she was applying for a Battalion post when she hadn't been captain for ten years and other older captains had done their time and could finally enjoy a position of greater responsibility. Or asking her why they should make a woman who was still of child-bearing age Battalion Chief, when she could very well go on maternity leave in a few months' time.
None of the questions had really touched on her work as a Captain, and Maya had prepared herself for this eventuality, each time deflecting the question by including facts from her professional career, to counter their attacks.
Fortunately, the interview with the Union had gone more smoothly. The only snag had been the two practical cases they had chosen. For this interview, they had to review together two of the interventions she had had to manage; and instead of taking one of the many interventions she had had to manage in the absence of Battalion or in Acting Battalion, they had chosen the Relentless intervention and that of Market street. She knew that these interviews would not be easy, and that she would have to prove her worth. That this would be no easy task.
In her eyes, they had chosen two of her most complex interventions. The one in which she'd lost Ripley, and nearly lost her wife and daughter; and the one in which she'd had to decide to sacrifice the life of a civilian.
Between the first interview of the day and this one, Maya was washed out by the time she got to the one with Natacha Ross.
She'd interviewed the captain as if she weren't her favorite. She'd asked her about her skills, what would make her a good Battalion, her strengths and areas for improvement, and other such questions. The kind of questions any human being would expect to be asked in an interview.
Then, at the end of the interview, she asked Maya how she had felt about her two morning interviews.
-"Honestly, I don't know... From the Mayor and the head of the SPD I... I don't want to be a martyr or anything, but I felt like I was being attacked for being a woman. I didn't find their question appropriate for the job I was applying for. It was based on «and why should we take on a woman» or «you're young, you could leave the place» ... I even got comments about the fact that I might want to carry a child..."
-"I warned you to expect this kind of question".
-"Yes, I know... And we've been working on this with Sullivan, but I can't help feeling revolted."
- "they don't want a woman in the Battalion... But this position... You're made for it. Don't give up hope. With me your interview was perfect and I'm the Fire Chief, I'll make sure they understand that it's up to me to have the most weight in the balance when it comes to choosing my framing team... What about the Union?"
-"There were two cases I was afraid to pass over... And I came across them..."
- "really?"
- "yes... Relentless... Where I ran into a building to save my wife over protocol.... And the one in Market place..."
- "I had asked the Union to interview you about the fire in the tower, the one you handled with Ripley and the one in the accident on four hundred and five... I'm sorry Bishop, obviously my team would rather listen to Dixon than me... I have no doubt that it was he who changed that..."
-"I've been honest with them. I did the best I could."
-"keep smiling and holding your head high. I have no doubt in your abilities, and on top of that, these interviews are behind you. You don't have to think about them anymore. Leave the rest to me, and if all goes according to plan, in a few days we'll be celebrating a victory at Station 19."
-"Thank you, Ross."
Someone had knocked on the door.
-"Sorry, the next candidate is here. Good day Captain"
-"Good day to you. Thank you for everything."
She'd promised her wife she'd call her when the interview was over.
/Phone conversation/
-"I'm sure you were the best. You're beautiful, you're strong and Jordan and I are proud of you."
Maya had smiled.
- "thank you... Honestly, I don't know. They did everything they could to throw me off-"
-"That's the point, Bambina. When I recruit, it's the same thing. I don't do any favors... it goes with the role."
- "the mayor and Dixon tried to destabilize me about being a woman... Being a mother"
- "that on the other hand is sexist and misogynistic-"
-"Yes, but I knew in advance that I'd have to deal with this kind of behavior... Then, with the Union, I came across the two cases I'd have been happy to overlook-"
- "it proves to them that, even in difficult situations, you accept your areas for improvement and know how to question yourself".
- "they did ask me if I thought I'd done the right thing in wanting to get into that building at all costs «just» because my pregnant wife was there".
- "outch... Did you give them your Maya Bishop face?"
- "I do think a hint of Maya Bishop passed over my face, but I quickly tried to get my Maya DeLuca-Bishop face back on."
-"I'm proud of you, whatever the result. You fought fair. Your daughter is proud of you... and your wife even more so... and between us, they're both extremely grateful that you went into that building to save their lives"
- "Ross thinks I should keep the faith because she's the boss and she wants me..."
- "that's it!"
- "Yeah, well, we didn't see it coming with Beckett and I fell hard."
- "Bambina... I'm not saying you won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen... I'm just saying that Captain, Battalion, we'll always love you as much, we'll always be as proud of you and we'll always support you"
-"I don't care what they think of me. I know I'm a good captain and all I care about in life is never letting you and our children down."
-"Our?" Carina asked, smiling.
-"Of course there will be at least one more little DeLuca-Bishop on this earth. Have you seen how perfect Jordan is? We can't deprive the world of such perfection. The world has to know about our descendants."
-"ti amo per sempre amore mio... Per sempre, sempre, sempre"
-"per l'eternità e oltre" [for eternity and beyond].
/End of telephone conversation/
The rest of the week up to Friday had passed extremely slowly. Probably slower than ever.
Carina could see that her wife was stressing about the results of her Battalion Chief interviews, because even though she'd made up her mind that the die was cast and that no matter what the result she remained an excellent captain, Ross had built a solid foundation in her mind that this time it was her turn. She could pretend otherwise, but a part of «Lane's Maya» was still in her head and it resurfaced in this kind of situation. She wanted to win. She wanted to pass Battalion.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, she could see Chief Ross through her office door. She knocked directly on the office door and the blonde invited her in. Natacha stepped through the door before closing it behind her.
-"Chief Ross?" Maya asked, surprised to see her there, surprised that the deliberations were already over, given that the last candidate had had his final interview at noon.
She could see the Fire Chief was angry.
"Oh..."
-"I don't understand why they made me Fire Chief if I can't be progressive and hire the people I want! The mayor only hired me a few years ago to win over the voters, a woman, former Marine, Afro-Asian.... You know, I almost regret leaving my previous position. I'm sorry, I... It's not about me... But it is... They won't let you have the job you deserve, they won't let me manage my teams as I see fit... I can't wait for the next mayoral election. I'll support any candidate who isn't part of the elite Dixon clan...
Maya, I'm so sorry. Uh, sorry, Captain Bishop."
-"Maya is... That's fine too."
-"I'm sorry twice I've pushed you and twice I've pushed you into the void. I really want you as a Battalion. You deserve it and I deserve to have a team that doesn't have privileges because of their friendship..."
- "may I ask who gets the job?"
- "the captain of the seventy-two. One who used to be under McCallister's command when he was Captain.... He knows Dixon, the mayor, McCallister, Beckett.... They all golf together and play poker... He doesn't have any women in his barracks and when I asked him «why» he laughed and told me that he had a woman come in to clean the showers, scrub the toilets and cook the meals.
Sorry, I shouldn't have come. I think you're disappointed enough as it is without me adding a layer with my own problems... I just didn't want to tell you over the phone, I didn't want you to find out by e-mail... I'm... I don't even have the words, except to say that I'm sorry for the false hopes I've given you over the last year and a half... I offered him this early retirement so I could appoint you Battalion... Not a captain who can't even close his turnout and doesn't know the latest safety rules."
- "in any case... thanks for coming to tell me to my face"
- "Please, Maya. Don't let them walk all over you. This will be your Battalion, but you're not his secretary. If they overload you with work or assign you tasks that are not your responsibility. Let me know."
-"I will, boss."
Natacha had finally left Maya's office. The blonde had finished filling in the files she had to complete. It was already half past five, but she wanted to scream, to cry, to send the whole world to hell, but she didn't want to take it out on her wife. She couldn't take it out on her. Not after having been the most loving of wives.
Baby: I've got a little more reporting to do before I go home since I didn't work on Monday. I'll be back a little later.
Amore: your wife and daughter are waiting for you with open arms.
Amore: have you heard from Ross?
Baby: not this time. Shall we talk about it tonight?
Baby: I love you.
Baby: should I bring Chinese food?
Amore: I love you, my love. I'm sorry, baby.
Amore: I'm here if you need me.
Amore : your daughter and I want to give you a hug that will last until Monday morning.
Amore : with pleasure for the meal.
Amore : per sempre.
Baby : per sempre.
Maya had gone to her captain's room and changed for the gym.
Most of her firefighters were on call, but with her day off on Monday and her interviews on Wednesday she'd really spent her afternoon filling out reports. She'd finished but needed to run before going home.
As always, Carina had been more than perfect. She'd put on Maya's Class A suit and Jordan's little firefighter's outfit. Even Ford had a little firefighter's outfit. Initially it was his costume they'd bought for Halloween the year before, but he still fit into it.
- "What are you doing dressed like that?"
-"Tonight we're having a very, very special party. It's a night to award the best captain in Seattle, and Jordan and I have dressed accordingly." Maya's eyes had fallen on her wife's body.
- "It was quite something to see you in my high school running outfit, but do you know I could ruin my official uniform just from the sight of it?"
- "Why do you want to ruin it?" Carina asked, lowering her eyes to her body, not sure she understood.
- "because seeing you dressed like that fills my head with images... The way I'd like to take it off you".
- "ooooh..."
- "yes... Voilà"
- "mama" said Jordan, coming to Maya's feet on all fours and tugging at her pants to get up.
- "ciao Zita" said the blonde, taking her in her arms. "Baci?". Jordan had approached a little quickly and given her mother a kiss mixed with a headbutt. But it had obviously made her laugh. "You know you're the sweetest firefighter ever?"
- "sorry to contradict you bambina but that spot's already taken"
- "no, you're-"
- "I was talking about you ... You're so small and when you wear your uniform you look so cute".
- "I'm not «so little»."
Carina had approached her. She was six centimeters taller than Maya. She had lowered her eyes to look into hers, then lowered her gaze to her lips.
-"Certainly... But I really like being taller than you... Despite that, you manage to carry me, to pin me to the wall... And I love seeing your beautiful blue eyes rise up to look at me..." She paused for a moment before looking up into her eyes: "Ciao"
-"hi" Maya replied in a barely audible voice. Carina's eyes had looked at her wife's lips and she had come to kiss her. "Is there any particular way I should dress?"
- "surprise me"
Maya had left for their room and returned a few minutes later in a off-the-shoulder dress that was long but slit to the top of the thigh, she was on heels and the brunette's jaw dropped.
- "Did I overdo it?"
- "This evening is in your honor... So no... It's just that bambina... The sexy female version of you ... totally cracks me up... Maybe even more than all the others Maya"
- "maybe you're just saying that because it's rarer"
- "the value of this Maya lies in the rarity with which she presents herself to me and yet makes me fall even more in love with her every time". Carina had tapped on her phone."Let's dance... And we'll talk about it over dinner?"
- "if you like"
- "and then we'll dance some more... And then... I'll unwrap the wonderful gift that's under this wrapping... And you can undress me... And I'll show you how much I love seeing you dressed like a femme fatale."
Carina had tapped the screen one last time and their wedding song had echoed through the house. She had approached Maya and held out her hand. "Bambina?"
The blonde had slipped her hand into hers. One of Carina's hands went to her waist and Maya's to the back of her neck. They began to dance, looking at each other lovingly as always.
-"Mama" said Jordan.
They both looked away at the same time to see their daughter, who probably also wanted to dance with them. Jordan had let go of the edge of the sofa she was holding and, staggering a little, had walked for the first time to Maya and Carina.
They bent down and began to congratulate her. It had only been six or seven steps; but it was the first time.
-"Oh my God! Sweetheart, you're walking!" Maya said with tears in her eyes.
The little girl had laughed and, seeing the blonde's hand outstretched towards her, had gone into her arms.
-"You're growing up too fast amore mio" added Carina, who already had traces of tears under her eyes. She had moved over and held out her hands to Jordan. "Vieni qua Zita"
The little girl had watched her foot rise and she had taken a first step, then a second before falling backwards. Maya had caught her and told her it wasn't serious. She had put her back on her feet and encouraged her.
Jordan had taken the few steps towards Carina and once again she had been congratulated. She was probably enjoying it because she'd held out her finger to Maya.
- "mama" then she'd launched herself again and laughed when Maya caught up with her. Then she'd pushed the blonde's hands off her body. "Mama" and she was off towards Carina.
Arriving in the Italian's arms she had probably judged that she had walked enough for the moment, for she had lifted her leg and put her foot on her thigh so that she could take her in her arms.
They both stood up, the Italian carrying their daughters and Maya wrapping her arms around Carina's waist, enveloping both their bodies, while the brunette slipped her free hand into the nape of her wife's neck.
The three of them had continued to dance, Jordan's head in Carina's neck, her eyes on Maya's face.
-"You see... I learned today that I won't be passing Battalion... That a «Minions» of Dixon and the mayor was going to pass Battalion and that I was going to have another misogynist in chief.... But when I'm here with you two, when I'm in your arms, when I see Jordan looking at me the way she does, when I see that I wasn't well and preferred to spend an hour running on the carpet not to take it out on you because I was pissed and instead of telling you the truth I told you I had work to do.... That I'm going home... That you prepared this surprise for me... That Jordan has literally just taken her first steps... I tell myself it's no big deal. I could have gone straight home after that news, because seeing both your faces... All the pain and irritation would have disappeared. My greatest pride isn't being a captain, it's being your wife, being Jordan's mother. Today I may have lost a battle... But when I look at you, I already know that I've won the war."
Carina had come to place her lips on hers, then Maya had looked at Jordan.
"Sweetheart it's lovely of you to take your first steps to cheer me up and make me understand that you two are far more important than any job.... But if you can avoid growing up too fast. I'd like to. I want you to be my little baby forever," said the blonde, kissing Jordan's forehead.
-"You know bambina, even at eighteen, even at thirty, she'll always be your baby".
To Maya and Carina's dismay, July had flown by. They felt as if Jordan's first year had flown by.
The three of them had held a small celebration on the twenty-sixth for their daughter's birthday as it fell on a weekday, but they were going to have another pool party on Saturday the twenty-eighth with their nearest and dearest.
Pru was there, already almost two years old, as was Samuel, whose one-year birthday they had celebrated at the beginning of June, and Justine's well-rounded belly, as well as Maya and Carina's mothers. Lucia came with her husband, Winston and Maggie. But also their brother, and all their friends.
As they'd done for Maya's birthday the year before, they'd also had a barbecue/pool day with everyone. They had also taken the opportunity to celebrate Carina's birthday, which had taken place two weeks earlier.
The Italian had watched her wife chasing their daughter around the garden, the little girl laughing out loud. Her laugh was a little like Charlie's, and they were the two sweetest sounds she'd ever heard.
She knew Maya was disappointed about the Battalion job, but when she saw her like this with their daughter, she knew she, they were going to be okay.
The blonde had finally caught their daughter and blown on her belly to make farting noises, making her laugh out loud. Then she'd put the little girl back on the ground, they were both out of breath and the brunette couldn't help thinking that her wife had probably never looked so beautiful as she did at that moment. She was happy. She was happy and it showed on her face.
Maya's eyes had met her wife's and she had stopped laughing, as if to ask her why she was staring at her.
Carina had smiled at her before lowering her head and the captain had started to come towards her.
-"Mama" said Jordan, running after her.
-"I'm coming back, sweetheart... Play with ...Zio!" she said, seeing Andrea coming towards her niece.
He had taken her in his arms and started doing the helicopter, making her laugh out loud. Maya had reached her wife's level.
"What's wrong?" Maya asked with a smirk.
-"Nothing. You looked happy... Despite the events of the last two months and... And as soon as I look at you, I can't stop my heart from racing and loving you even more than the second before... And you two were probably more beautiful than ever and I'm all emotional because our baby is a year old today and ... That's all... You looked... Well."
-"I'm happy love. The Maya who didn't have you for thirteen years would probably have flipped out at not getting that promotion, Lane's Maya too.... But the Maya DeLuca-Bishop, she just wants to enjoy life with the two people she loves most in the world." Carina had taken her wife in her arms and kissed her.
A little later, as they finished their aperitif, Jordan came over and tapped Carina on the leg.
- "mama"
The Italian had taken her in her arms and the little girl had moved the triangle swimsuit from one of Carina's breasts to take it in her mouth. Maya's eyes opened wide. If there was one thing she didn't like about her wife's breastfeeding, it was that Jordan wanted to drink from the breast randomly over and over again, and since Carina was currently in her swimsuit, the little one could do that sort of thing no matter who was around.
Everyone, however, had had the decency not to look at the moment between the fabric leaving her body and her taking the breast into her mouth.
After the little one had drunk, Maya was more relaxed, but the moment when Carina had to take her breast out in public, that one she didn't like. Even if, when it was just the two of them, she found nothing more beautiful than her wife nursing their daughter. But those nipples were hers... And Jordan's, optionally, for a limited time only.
The Italian had laughed slightly at the amazement and fright that had crossed her wife's face when her breast had found itself delivered from its sheath and not yet in their daughter's mouth.Then she had looked at Jordan.
- "Vuoi una pentola?" [Do you want a pot?] Carina cooked everything herself, but she put everything in a pot for storage.
Jordan had looked at her, stopped her sucking but still held the Italian's nipple in her mouth. She'd nodded, keeping her nipple between her teeth. The sensation wasn't necessarily pleasant, but it was she who had decided to breastfeed, and she knew it wasn't going to be any fun. This was nothing new, she had breastfed Charlie.
"Vuoi solo il latte?" [You only want milk?]
Jordan had blinked hard once. It was her way of saying yes when she drank from the breast or when she didn't feel like making any more effort. She'd put her little hand close to her mouth over Carina's breast and continued suckling.
"I love you, you know," said the brunette, hypnotized by the blue eyes staring back at her, caressing her cheek with the backs of her fingers.
She had seen Jordan's eyes closing as she caressed her cheek. She had turned slightly to face Carina completely and closed her eyes without stopping the sucking on her mouth.
Maya had risen from her chair to kiss her daughter's head, and as her hair was hiding her, she took the opportunity to kiss the top of her wife's breast, right next to Jordan's hand, before kissing her on the lips.
-"You're so sexy when you give her your breast... I'd love a giant photo of you just in your boxers feeding our daughter" Maya whispered against her lips.
-"When I see your offended look because your daughter dared to show your wife's body to everyone... it makes me want to remind you whose body it is...". Maya's hand had slipped over her wife's jaw and she had come to kiss her.
- "here... Jordan drinks... But if she falls asleep... We'll put her to bed and you can refresh my memory". Carina had come to kiss her wife.
A few dozen minutes later, Jerry had gotten up with Dean to start the barbecue. Jordan had finally stopped suckling and fallen asleep against the brunette's breast.
-"We'll be right back and put the birthday girl to bed," said Carina.
-"Do you two do everything like this?" Jackson asked.
-"Of course. If we're both here, we try to do everything together."
-"see it's not weird !" April patted Jackson on the arm, making everyone laugh.
They had gone to Jordan's room and Carina had delicately taken her breast out of their daughter's mouth before laying her down in bed. Maya had turned on the baby monitor and when the little one was out of the brunette's arms, the blonde had come to take her waist. She was in a triangle swimsuit top, and for the moment she was still in jean shorts. One of her arms had encircled her waist and on the other side her hand had moved up to her breast previously in their daughter's mouth.
-"You're too beautiful", said the blonde as she came to kiss her wife. She had kissed her lips and her mouth had moved down her body to kiss her breast, previously in their daughter's mouth. She had kissed it delicately before taking it into her mouth and gently releasing her nipple. Carina's hand had rested on her cheek and the blonde had lifted her head. "Is it strange?"
- "No, and believe me, I'd rather have your mouth on my tits... Especially as when it's your lips on them, they take such good care of me, that I feel it... Much lower... But we're in Zita's room... And we've got lots of guests waiting for us."
Maya's tongue had passed over her lips and Carina had followed the action as if in slow motion. The blonde had placed the triangle of her swimsuit top back over her breast and taken the brunette's hand to leave.
Once outside the bedroom, the Italian had tugged on her wife's hand as she left in the direction of the terrace.
"The baby monitor is in our room". They'd gone to fetch it together, without letting go of each other's hands, and instead of leaving in the direction of their bedroom exit, Maya had pulled her wife's hand, through the dressing room, which led to their bathroom.
"Bambina...". Maya had tackled her wife's body to the vanity.
"Baby...". The blonde had come to release her wife's breast again, and she had come to kiss her gently for pampering, as Jordan was wont to do to them. Carina had clasped the baby monitor in her hand and slid the other against the nape of her wife's neck.
"Baby...". The blonde had come to undo the button on her wife's shorts and slipped her hand into her swimsuit bottoms.
"Baby... The door isn't even closed..."
- "then you're going to have to be quick and quiet.... Show me how much your body belongs to me..."
Carina had pulled on the back of Maya's neck to come and kiss her. When she'd felt the first moans that had been more than quick leave her lips she had, while still holding the nape of her wife's neck, pulled her face back to the captain and lowered her eyes between them to look at her hand in her bathing suit. She'd moved her hips and the sight was all too pleasurable. She'd been on the verge of her orgasm when she'd moved her gaze back up into the blonde's.
"Let's make a baby..." Carina's hand had let go of the baby monitor and had come to clamp down on Maya's buttock, while the other had clamped down on the back of her neck.
- "cosà?!" she tried to concentrate on her orgasm, and at the same time, on the words that had left her wife's lips.
- "amore... I want to be pregnant with you... I want another baby... Let's make a baby..." Maya replied, looking her straight in the eye.
-"sì,... Sì,... Sì..." Carina moaned as she welcomed her orgasm and came to embrace her wife.
The blonde had let Carina enjoy her orgasm and then removed her hand from her shorts.
- "all those «yeses»... That was... Your orgasm or..."
- "say it again..."
- "Carina... I thought I had to follow a plan, plans sometimes don't work. People die, families explode... Yes, I thought I had to pass Battalion Chief before I got pregnant... But... But if I wait all my life, and if I never pass Battalion... then I'll miss out on what I really want... Let's have another baby..."
- "really?"
- "let's make another baby"
- "sì bambina..." Carina said as tears welled up in both their eyes.
-----
Helloooo (Stefania way)
Okay... There's some disappointing stuff in this chapter but Jordan and her mothers... Or that last request... I admit to loving it despite everything I've written.
xx
-¥-