One Shots - Capt. Maya Bishop and Dr. Carina DeLuca

Part III:It's Ours. Just Ours

August 2023

Maya is holding her babygirl. She looks up at Carina for a minute to take in her wife. She's so lucky, Carina is exhausted but she's still so beautiful. Their baby is 2 weeks old and she's perfect. She's an exact replica of baby Carina. The olive skin, the nose, she'll probably have her mama's long thick hair and her mama's smile. Maya wouldn't want it any other way. She walks out of their room to let Carina sleep.

She can't put her daughter down. She just wants to hold her in her arms and make sure she feels loved. She gives Elena a gentle kiss on her head "you know before you were born, it was just me and mama. I don't know how to be a good parent, but mama, she raised Zio Andrea and she knew more than being a doctor she wanted to be a mama. Now she's your mama. You are the luckiest kid in the world because Carina Deluca is your mama. She will love you no matter what, she will support you in all your decisions, she will be your guide and I get to watch her be your mom. I never had the best role models for parents, but I will protect you with everything that I have. Before I met mama, I didn't even think about having a baby because I didn't want to become like my dad. You changed me, my little Italian princess. You changed me, the moment I knew you were real. We went through such a hard time in the beginning, if I didn't have mama I don't think I would have made it. Mama hasn't left my side and I know that it doesn't matter what we are going through, mama will never leave my side. She loves so much, I used to think she wasn't real, because there is no way mama could love someone like me, but she does and I had a hard time understanding and accepting it and let me tell you being loved by mama, there is no feeling in the world like it. We're lucky because only we get to feel it and experience it" she kisses Elena again "you're so cute" she smiles at her baby.

"You forgot to take the baby monitor with you" Carina says startling Maya. Being a good parent meant everything to Maya, she was determined not to be her father. She wanted her children to know that they are loved, so she might have gone a little overboard with the baby minitors in every room so she could hear Elena all the time "you know you can put her in the baby carrier we got from Bailey" Carina tells her even though she secretly enjoys watching Maya hold Elena.

"I know, but I feel better when she's in my arms"

"You're going to spoil her, Maya. We won't be able to put her down because the minute she makes a sound, you run to her"

"I know, Carina. She's my baby though" Maya looks at Carina "she's so perfect".

Carina rolls her eyes "so much for being the strict parent. She knows who we are, Maya. You spent my entire pregnancy reading fire protocols to her I think her first word may be engine" Carina laughs "she's safe Maya, put her in the crib and let her sleep. She will call you when she needs you".

Maya comes back in the living room and sits next to Carina "are you feeling okay"

"Yes. I feel fine. I'm healthy. Elena is healthy" she kisses Maya on the cheek "are you" she questions.

"It's been a long and difficult road. It's been challenging, I've had to adjust but I've had you by my side the entire time and it's been worth it. Leaving 19 was something I never thought I would do, but for our family Carina I would do anything. Nothing is more important than our family. Running into Chief Frankel that day was a blessing. She had it hard coming up, she had to be tougher, I had to work hard to prove I deserved the spot over a legacy. You know how hesitant I was about transferring but I knew I didn't need 19 to be a great Captain. I could do it anywhere. After all the time research I put into reading through SFD cases, those weeks of rehab really gave me something to fight for. It was one step closer to staying out of a fire. There was another way, Carina and even though it took a while to realise it, I had to hit rock bottom" she tells Carina.

"Are you sure you don't want 19 to come see her" Carina asks. Once Maya started working with her physiotherapist and she had the time to research the protocols and read through every fire manual she had, she had slowly cut herself off from 19. When she ran into Frankel, it was what she needed for a fresh start. Frankel had offered her a place where she felt safe, she felt part of a family that trusted her and she trusted them. Everyone knew that she injured her ankle and she needed time off. Her and Carina talked about transferring Stations and Carina had supported her with every step and decision she had to make.

"I know you want me to reach out to them, but I can't. Not yet. Ben was the only one that always checked in with me. Even when I denied that I needed help. He never stopped. I was never part of their family. That was okay for me because I was used to being alone, working for what I want without distraction. People change though, I changed when I met you and yes I slipped but they never saw who I became, they still saw me as the person that stepped over her friend to become Captain. Even though, I proved I was a great Captain"

"Bambina, we will deal with it however you feel comfortable. Ben, Miranda and Pru are going to be here soon. She's excited to see her cousin.