Love Me Anyway

Chapter Thirty-Three

Maya

Eight Months Later

The triplets were nine and a half months old. How had time flown by that fast? Cat turned nine last week, but due to our work schedules, we had the party yesterday.

"Bambina?"
I shook myself out of my daze, and turned to see my wife looking at me with concern.
"Sorry. I was in my own world." I rubbed my eyes and sat down my cup of coffee.
"Bambina, I'm worried about you. You haven't gotten much sleep the past couple months."
"I'm okay, my love. It's the cost of being a parent and having a crazy job."
"We're having a date night tonight." Carina said with a smile.

"Okay, what do you want to order? The triplets have been eating a lot here lately so I was thinking a pizza-"
"No. We're having a date night." Carina wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me close.

"Okay, but we still have to feed the tiny humans." I chuckled.
"Ben and Miranda offered to babysit the triplets overnight. And Kai and Amelia are watching Cat for the night."
"Are they sure? I mean, the triplets still aren't sleeping through the night and Pru-"
"Ben and Miranda said they would take turns sleeping. Pru is with her Grandparents this weekend. We haven't had sex in three months and I'm very grouchy." Carina chuckled.
"If you're sure..." I trailed off.
"I'm sure. They offered, I said yes. Ben said you've been very cranky too and he figured we were exhausted from the banbini."
"I really am." I laid my head on my wife's shoulder with a sigh.

"Ben, Miranda, Kai and Amelia will be here in thirty minuets to get the bambini. I have their bags packed. And as soon as they're out of the house, I'm having my way with you." Carina said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Oh, are you?" I smirked.

"I am going to make you forget your name, Maya DeLuca-Bishop."
"I can't wait." I whispered as I pecked her cheek.
"I actually wanted to talk to you tonight." Carina said as she started making my coffee.
"About? Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I think. I just... we don't have a lot of help with the triplets. The team, and our friends at the hospital can only help so much. And watching the triplets is hard on your Mom and-"

"You want to quit your job." I questioned.
"Yes. I mean no. Not exactly. They'll only be allowed to call me for extreme cases, and I'd work three days a month at the hospital outside of those extreme cases. I'd be able to work at the Clinic at the Station one or two days every two weeks."
"Okay. That sounds good." I shrugged with a smile.

"You don't have a problem with it?"
"It's your job, your choice. We have plenty of money saved up from when I was Captain, and I make enough money alone to cover bills, and extra stuff. It'll be good for Cat and the triplets to have one Mamma around 24/7."
"Oh my God I love you." Carina laughed as she kissed me.
"And I love you, my love. When are you going to tell Miranda? She'll be upset to lose her best OBGYN."
"I guess when she gets here? I'll ask to speak to her when they get here."

Carina

"I-what?!" Bailey squeaked.
"Miranda, I need to spend more time with the bambini. I know you understand wanting to spend more time with your kids."
"I know, I know. I'm just... surprised."
"I can stay until you find a replacement. I can give you a month to find one?"
"I could always try to convince Addison to come back. Even for a little bit."

"Ben, Miranda, are you sure about watching the triplets?" Maya asked as she carried two of the car seats in each hand, Ben following with the third.
"Of course. Pru is with her grandparents, Tuck and Joey are old enough to watch themselves. Now, what are their bedtimes and what do they eat for dinner?" Bailey asked as she took the three diaper bags.
"We've been doing baby led weaning, so whatever you all choose to eat, they'll eat. The only thing they can't eat is honey, but I'm sure you know that. Bed time is at 8:30, they usually get a bath and I read them a story. I packed their sound machine in case you didn't have one. I gave Ben the pack and plays yesterday." I told her.

"Got it. Give your Mamma and Mommy kisses babies, Aunt Bailey and Uncle Ben are taking you to our house!" Bailey said excitedly.

We gave the triplets plenty of kisses and waved as they left in the car.

"Three down, one to go." Maya chuckled.

"Mamma, Mommy I have my bag ready." Caterina said as she walked into the hallway.
"Good job Bambina. Are you ready for your sleepover with Zia and ZiZi?"
"Yep! ZiZi Kai is going to bake cookies with me. Zia Amelia said we could order pizza."
"I'm sure you'll have lots of fun." Maya kissed the top of her head.

"Mamma? Can I ask a question?"
"Si Bambina. What's your question?"
"Some kid at school was saying that I shouldn't have two Mommies. And that ZiZi was a boy or a girl. I told him that it's okay to have two mommies, and that ZiZi wasn't a boy or a girl. But I couldn't remember the word for what ZiZi feels like they are."
"ZiZi is non-binary. Maybe you should ask ZiZi to explain how they feel about it, since that's part of their identity. But it's also okay to have two Mommies. You chose us, and we chose you. And it's also okay to have two Daddies."

"But why do I have two Mommies when everyone else at my school has a Mommy and a Daddy?"
"Um..." Maya sat down on a chair in the kitchen to get to Caterina's level. "Well, when two people love each other, it doesn't matter about their gender. I fell in love with your Mamma, and your Mamma fell in love with me. And we love each other so much, that it doesn't matter that we're both girls."
"Oh... okay!" Cat smiled happily. "I'm glad I have two Mommies."
"Us too kiddo." Maya chuckled as the doorbell rang.

"That should be Zia and ZiZi." I ruffled Caterina's hair as she ran by.
"Zia! ZiZi!" Caterina ran into their arms hugging them both.

"We missed you too kid." Kai laughed.
"Okay you three. Be good. Don't stay up too late." Maya laughed as she handed Amelia Caterina's bag.
"Also, Caterina has a question for you Kai. We thought it would be better if you explained it."

"What's up kid?" Kai knelt down on Caterina's level.
"A kid at school said you were either a boy or a girl. I told them you were neither, but I didn't know why..." Caterina asked shyly.
"Well... ever since I was little, I didn't feel like a boy or a girl. It's not that I didn't like playing with boy or girl toys, I did. But I felt weird when people would call me a boy or a girl. So when I grew up, I found out there was a word for it."
"Non-binary?"
"You got it." Kai tapped Caterina's nose. "So I told everyone that I would be going by they/them pronouns, because that's what I felt in my heart."

"Now I know what to say when that mean boy says something again!"
"And remember, you can't start fights but..." Kai trailed off.
"But I can finish them!" Caterina finished.

"Good job Bambina. Good job listening too."
"Now, let's get out of here so your Mamma and Mommy can have some alone time." Amelia laughed with a wink.

"Thank you two again. We'll see you tomorrow Bambina!"
"We love you!" Maya waved as I shut the door.
"We're alone for the first time in eight months." I laughed.
"And I know exactly what I want to do with all the time we have." Maya grinned and quickly bent down, picking me up and throwing me over her shoulder.
"Maya!" I laughed.

An: Sorry I haven't posted in forever! My life has been so hectic and busy. Remember to like, and comment to let me know how you like the story, and to let me know what you'd like to see in future chapters.