Love Me Anyway

Chapter Twenty

Maya
One month later

"Yeah. At twelve o'clock. I'll see you then bub. Love you." I hung up the phone and slid my shirt over my head.
"Good morning wifey." I felt Carina's arms slide around my waist.
"Good morning beautiful. Are you ready for today?" I turned in her arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"I'm very ready. Are Victoria and Andy still watching Caterina today?"
"They had to work. Amelia is going to keep an eye on her while we're in our appointment."
"Thank goodness for our family." Carina kissed my cheek and pulled away.
"Mason is meeting us at the hospital. Is Jo doing the uh, the thing?"
"The insemination, bambina. And no, Amelia called in a friend of her's. She said she wanted the best for us."

At the hospital

"Okay Cat! You ready to hang out with Auntie Amelia for a bit?" I asked as we walked through the hospital.
"Yes! She always takes me to see the babies!" She hopped up and down.
"Hey squiggle!" Amelia opened her arms as we walked up to her.
"Auntie Amelia!" Cat ran up to her and jumped into her arms.
"Thank you for watching her for us. We really appreciate it." I handed her the small backpack I had packed Cat.
"It's no problem. You know I'll take her anytime. I need to introduce you to the Doctor performing the insemination." Amelia motioned for us to follow her, and she led us to an exam room where a tall red head was waiting for us.
"Carina, Maya, this is Doctor Addison Montgomery. Addison, this is Doctor Carina and Captain Maya DeLuca-Bishop, and their daughter Caterina." Amelia introduced.
"It's so nice to meet you three. Amelia has told me so much about you." Addison smiled as she shook our hands.
"I've read so many of your studies! You're really a huge inspiration to everyone in the OBGYN field." Carina complimented.
"Thank you."
"Okay you three. You have fun. Me and Squiggle here are going to go look at babies!" Amelia waved as the two of them walked out of the room.

"Hey! Amelia told me where you were." Mason said as he walked in.
"Addison, this is my brother Mason. Mase, this is Doctor Montgomery."
"Nice to meet you. I assume you'll be donating?" Addison asked as she shook his hand.
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright. I just need you and Carina to sign some papers, and then we'll get started." Addison handed them two clipboards and handed Mason a cup.
"We prefer that you fill it to the line, but if not that's fine."
"Uh, okay." Mason's face turned red and I stifled a laugh.
"Okay, and you've already started the treatment and done the ovarian stimulation correct?"
"Sì."
"Can I ask a question?" I raised my hand.
"Of course."
"How exactly does this procedure work?"
"Mature eggs have been collected from your wife's ovaries and fertilized by sperm in the lab here. We're just asking Mason to provide more just in case. Then, the fertilized eggs are transferred to a uterus. We're transferring four today, because of your wife's age and complications that may come with it."

"And are there any risks?" To say I was nervous was an understatement.
"Bambina, everything is going to be okay." Carina reached over and took my hand.
"I'm just nervous, okay? I don't understand this stuff like you do."
"It's okay Maya. There are a few risks, just like any other procedure. Mild to moderate pelvic and abdominal pain, during or after the procedure. In most cases, the pain disappears within a day or two and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. Rarely, injury to organs near the ovaries, such as the bladder, bowel, or blood vessels. Very rarely, bowel or blood vessel injury can require emergency surgery and, occasionally, blood transfusions. Pelvic infections following egg retrieval or embryo transfer are now uncommon because antibiotic medicines are usually given at the time of egg collection, which I will give Carina. Rarely, to manage a severe infection, surgery may be required to remove one or both of the ovaries and tubes and/or uterus. Women who have had pelvic infections or endometriosis involving the ovaries are more likely to get IVF-related infections."
"Oh... that's-that's a lot." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Doctor Montgomery, can we have a few minuets?" Carina asked.
"Of course. Let me know when you're ready." She nodded as she walked out.

"Bambina, talk to me." Carina took my hands in her's and pulled me closer.
"It's just a lot of complications and that terrifies me."
"There's complications with any and every procedure. Are you... are you having second thoughts?"
"What? No!" My head snapped up. "Absolutely not. I want to add another tiny human to our family. I want this."
"Everything will be okay. I promise. Okay? Doctor Montgomery is the best of the best. I've read her studies. I've followed her cases. Amelia trusts her. I trust her." Carina cupped my face and gently pressed a kiss to my lips.
"Okay. Okay. I trust her." I rested my forehead against her's.
"Okay. Now go get Doctor Montgomery so we can make a baby."

Carina

"Okay. Let's get you settled down." Maya gently sat me down on the couch.
"I'm fine, bambina. It's just a little cramping. It's normal."
"Do you need anything? Do you want some soup? Coffee? Wait, can you drink coffee? Do you-"
"Amore mio. I'm okay. Come here." I took her hand and sat her down next to me.
"I just love you so much." Maya smiled softly at me.
"I love you too amore mio." I chuckled.

Maya shifted to where she was laying on my lap facing my belly.
"Hi there baby. It's mommy."
"Bella, it can't hear you yet. And we don't even know if it worked." I laughed.
"Oh it worked. I know it. And I'm gonna talk to my little bean every day. It's gotta know Mommy's voice."
She turned back and pressed a few kisses to my belly.

Maya
Three weeks later

"Good job nineteen! Go get cleaned up. Herrera and Herrera, you're on dinner."
"Copy Captain!" Andy and Vic echoed.
I made my way to my office and closed the door behind me.
"Fuck." I groaned as I rubbed the back of my neck. It was a stressful call. Three babies and a mom stuck in a house. Thankfully we got them all out.

I jumped slightly when I felt arms around me from behind.
"Ciao bella." My wife whispered in my ear.
"Carina! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at work." I smiled as I turned in her arms.
"I wanted to surprise my beautiful, amazing wife." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my lips.
"I love your surprises. Are you staying for dinner?" I pulled away and went to my desk.
"I think so. Amelia is keeping Caterina." Carina sat on the edge of my desk.
"Awe was she missing her favorite cousin Scout?" I laughed.
I opened my drawer to pull my notebook out, and froze when I saw what was in there.
"I- Carina?" I looked up at my wife.
"See something important?" She glanced down in the desk.
"Are you serious? Is this a prank?" I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
"I'm serious bella!" She laughed.
"Oh my God!" I screamed as I pulled out the positive pregnancy test and jumped out of my chair.
"Oh my God, oh my God!" I picked my wife up and spun her in a circle.
"Maya!" She laughed.
"We're having a baby." I whispered as my hands made my way to her belly.
"Sì, bambina. We're having a baby." Carina rested her forehead against mine.
"I love you so much."
"And I love you, amore mio. Now, are you going to be able to keep this a secret? Or are we telling everyone?"
"Oh I can't keep this a secret. I wanna shout it to the world." I laughed.
"Come on Maya." Carina took my hand and led me out of my office, and up the stairs.
"Hey Cap! Hey Carina!" Travis waved as we walked in.
"Carina's pregnant!" I blurted out.

Everyone stopped and stared at us for a moment before they all broke out in cheers.
"You're freaking kidding me! Oh my God!" Andy ran over and hugged us both.
"Congratulations." Ben smiled as he hugged us both.
"How far along are you?" Vic asked as she gently rubbed Carina's belly.
"Three weeks. I know it's still early, but I knew miss blabber mouth wouldn't be able to keep a secret." Carina nudged me with a smile.
"Hush. I'm just excited." I went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.
"You know what Dean would say if he was here?" Jack asked with a small smile.
"Fire house baby." I nodded.
"Fire house baby!" Everyone echoed.