Butterfly Effect

36: Family

Maya's Pov

Rowan was sleeping in his bassinet, and Hailee was resting on the armchair while I was talking with my wife, trying to accommodate every need that she might have.
"Can you stop looking at me like that?" Carina asked and I stared at her with confusion. What was she talking about?
"Like what?" I asked.
"You're looking at me like I'm the most beautiful woman in the world, but I'm a mess right now... I'm tired, and sore, and I don't look like I used to..." she explained and I shook my head, walking toward her and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"You'll always be the most captivating and gorgeous woman in the entire universe, and nothing could ever change my mind about it. I don't care if you have messy hair, or bags under your eyes... You just gave birth to our son, and I'm mesmerized by your strength. I fell in love with you all over again and I will keep doing it forever" I answered her firmly, but with a voice full of love and admiration.
"I... I love you" she said with a quivering voice and tears in her wonderful tired eyes.
I held her in my arms, repeating over and over how strong and beautiful she was and how much I loved her.
I kept saying that, hoping that she would understand that behind my words there was nothing but the pure and utter truth.
She buried her face in my chest, sniffing in my scent that during the last few years has become one of the things that gave her more comfort. At that moment I couldn't really do much, but whispering sweet nothings in her ear and kissing from time to time the crown of her hair.
"Sorry to interrupt, we can come back later if you want some more time alone..." Andy said from the door, and when I turned around, I was surprised to see all of station nineteen there with gifts for Rowan and Carina.
"No, no... Come on in, guys" Carina invited them "Rowan is asleep right now, but I bet he can't wait to meet his family".
Vic and Travis immediately ran to see my son who was peacefully sleeping with a full tummy, while Andy and Jack came over to us, handing us a teddy bear.
"We keep these things at the station because we give them to the kids during the hardest calls, Maya already knows it... But after Pru's birth, every firehouse baby needs to have one. It's tradition. So, we got two of them... One is for Lia, and one is for the new little guy" they explained and I smiled at their gesture.
They were my family...
Carina, Hailee, Rowan and my team... I didn't have a relationship with my father or my brother, and my mother was finally living away after years of abuse. This was all I had, and I was more than happy with it.
They were all I needed...
"Is this... for me?" Hailee asked as Jack gave her one of the two teddy bears that they had brought from the station.
"Yeah, this is for you Mini-Bishop. As a member of our fire family, you need to have one" he answered with a small smile and her eyes sparkled with happiness, lit up by the bright light of the small hospital room.
It was Ben's turn to spend some time with Rowan, so Vic and Travis moved closer to me and Carina, both giving a warm hug to my wife.
"How are you feeling, Delukes?" Vic asked with her usual smile. That nickname wasn't familiar though. I heard that before, I was pretty sure of that, but never related to my Carina. My wife and Vic were really close friends though, so maybe that was something between the two of them...
"I'm tired and very happy... Wait, Delukes? That is something new..." Carina answered, just as confused as me about that nickname.
"Oh shit, I'm sorry" Vic exclaimed "It was how I used to call your brother when I got to know him. I'm sorry, it just slipped".
I looked at my wife in that exact moment, scared of the possible reaction that she might have at that, but on her face there was nothing but a bright smile, surely connected to all the positive memories that she had with her little brother. Maybe he wasn't physically there, but I was convinced that he was looking after his big sister, his niece and now his nephew.
"Victoria, it's okay..." she said in a whisper "I actually like it. So if you want to use it, it's fine with me".
"Are you sure? Because your brother actually hated it..." my friend commented, making all of us smile.
"Yeah, he definitely hated that!" Carina giggled, thinking with love about her little brother.

Hailee's Pov

I held the teddy bear in my hands, playing with his ears as I sat next to my girlfriend in a corner of my mamma's room. I was so happy about my little brother and aout the fact that the guys from the station were there, but I was starting to get overwhelmed by the number of people in the room.
"Lia, are you okay?" Manon asked in a whisper, trying not to get attention from other people.
"I need..." I tried "Silence".
I didn't say anything else, but she knew that I still wasn't comfortable around too many people for a long period of time, and even if I knew that they wouldn't do anything to me, they were still a lot.
"Hey Maya, Carina. Can we walk around for a bit? Hailee and I..." she asked my moms, and they looked at me, both understanding why I needed space.
Maya tried to get closer to me, but Carina stopped her with one hand on her forearm and a simple look on her face.
"Yes, it's fine. Don't leave the hospital alone, though" she responded with a knowing look.
We walked down the hallways for a while, holding hands in silence, but at one point we arrived in front of a room that was completely covered in plants.
"Do you want to sit in here? I think it's quiet enough..." Manon proposed, opening the door.
"Manon, we don't even know if we can go in there" I tried to argue, but she had already taken my hand, entering the small room with me right behind her.
We sat there, talking about summer programs and everything else that was going on in our minds. It was good to talk about everything and nothing at the same time...
"Thanks. For proposing this walk" I said, enjoying the peace of that room.
"I know you, Lia. I know that you really love your mom's family, but when they are all in a room they are kind of a mess. A good mess" Manon answered, giving me a quick peck on my lips. She was still very cautious with me and with a physical display of affection, but she was starting to be more open with quick moments like that kiss. I was getting more comfortable with them too...
I kissed her back, longer this time, holding her cheeks in my hands.
"Hey... Deluca-Bishop" Amelia called from the door and I tore myself away from Manon's lips, blushing hard.
"Hi Amelia" I answered "I'm sorry, I didn't know if we could stay here... I needed a moment to figure out all of my emotions about today".
"Yes, you can stay here. I'll be back later" she answered with a cheeky grin and a wink, closing the door behind her back.
I looked at Manon, giggling a bit.
"She's gonna tell my moms about this" I said "I bet I'll have the sex talk once we get back home".
"Carina talked about it with me while you were with Maya..." Manon started "She asked me to look after you and to be safe. Nothing more".
"Oh God! What did you say?".
"I said that I will always look after you because I... Because I love you Lia, and I always will'' she finished and my heart stopped.
"You what?" I asked in a whisper.
"I love you, Hailee" she said, taking one of my hands in hers.
"I-I-I love you too, Manon" I said back, giving her another sweet kiss, while my heart was beating fiercely against my ribs.