When Worlds Collide

Confronting Willy

Maya brushed her fingers up and down Carina's back as she kissed her head, inhaling the smell of her shampoo and smiling contently. Carina's breath against Maya's neck was soft and warm and Maya knew she was fast asleep, her body weight pressed against Maya as closely as she could be.
The sex had released much of the tension Maya had been feeling since waking up after the attack in the driveway. She knew Carina had wanted to wait a bit longer, but after the confrontation with Mason, Maya had needed to reconnect with her wife in the way that only she had the ability to calm Maya's anxiety. Kissing Carina's head again, Maya tightened her arms around her wife and let the tears silently roll down her cheeks. It was such a different experience to confront challenges now that 'Eyes Forward' didn't dictate Maya's attitude. Diane had told Maya in therapy that even though she would always be able to tap into it, that was no longer her sole driving force. She congratulated Maya on being brave enough to step off the track and live in the here and now.
Carina and Liam were Maya's focus now, their happiness and safety had become more important than anything else.
But Maya still felt a pull to succeed. She loved being a firefighter and her confession to Carina about dying had been weighing on her more so now since the nightmares had started. Diane had explained to Maya that her subconscious was attempting to refocus and as such, Maya was experiencing the challenges of undoing an entire lifetime of manipulative abuse while navigating how to manage what living in the glow of love and family was truly about.
Her phone vibrated on the nightstand and Maya slowly reached for it, careful not to disturb Carina. The notification said 'New Mail: SFD Training & Special Investigation Units-New Job Postings.' Maya stared at the screen before putting the phone back down and burying her face in Carina's hair once again. She would have two weeks at the desk to contemplate her career going forward. Maya loved being a hands on firefighter, but like Andrew had said to her, she was a wife and a mother now-that meant she needed to consider more than just herself when it came to making decisions.
Maya's eyes were just about closed when Liam's baby monitor went off.  Carina stirred at the sound and Maya lifted her off her chest as she slid out of bed.
"Shhh, stay asleep.  I've got him."
Carina mumbled and buried her face into the warmth of Maya's pillow as Maya made her way out and down the hall.  Liam was fussing as Maya reached in and picked him up.
"Hey Probie, what's going on?"
Liam started crying slightly so Maya began rocking him and circling his room.  He calmed back down as Maya laid him on the changing table and undid his onesie. 
"Oooh wow, I see what happened here.  Phew that is really a stinker."
Maya moved quickly to change the diaper and get Liam cleaned up.  Back in his onesie and done fussing, Maya moved to toss the diaper in the trash when she noticed it was full.  Dropping it in, she grabbed the handles of the trash bag and pulled it out. 
"Come on, let's get this out of here, hmm?"
Liam was still half asleep as Maya carried him in one arm and the trash on the other out to the slider.  Unlocking it, she opened it and walked over to the trash bin.  She was closing the lid back down when she heard a car door close from the front yard.  It was still a bit dark, but the pre-dawn light had begun to shine.  Maya walked over to the fence and looked out.  She saw the same car parked across the street from her house that she'd seen on the cameras but couldn't make out if there was anybody inside.  As she moved further down the fence line, Maya spotted the shadow of a figure on her front lawn.  Cursing herself for not having her phone on her, Maya struggled to keep Liam against her body and quiet while she tried to make out who it could be. 
Maya jumped when the neighbors dog began barking, startling Liam and causing him to wake up crying. 
"Shhhh, shhhh...it's ok, it's ok."
Maya saw the darkened figure sprint back to the car, get in and take off.  'Dammit' she thought to herself as she and Liam made their way back inside.  Maya locked the slider and moved to place Liam in his rocker so she could get his bottle ready.  Once she tested it, Maya picked Liam up and made her way over to the desk, opening the laptop as she sat down and cued up the security camera feed.  Situating Liam so he could drink, Maya went back and started looking at the footage.  Whoever it was, there wasn't enough light to make out a face, but judging by the build, it didn't look like it was her brother.  Maya grabbed one of the USB thumb drives, plugged it into the laptop and downloaded the footage.  Liam was just about finished with his bottle as Maya was unplugging it and closing the laptop.  She left the USB on the desk and stood up to head toward the recliner. 
"You all set my little man? That was some good eating you did.  Let's get you burped, hmm?"
It didn't take long before he accommodated and settled into Maya's embrace before drifting off to sleep again.  She just stared at his sweet little face and counted her blessings, imagining what it would be like when she and Carina had more than one child.  Maya was determined to protect and nurture their children and show them that a life of growing up surrounded by love instead of fear was possible.  She did still indulge in her silent dream of being the mother of an Olympian and building a dynasty, but she also knew that no matter what their children chose, she and Carina would always be supportive without pressuring them into success.
Carrying Liam back into his room, Maya kissed his head and laid him back in his crib.  Once back in her own room, Maya looked at Carina, still curled up on her pillow and smiled.  Her wife's vulnerability and sexiness was the most addictive drug Maya could ever imagine and she found herself wanting to make love to her right then and there.  But she knew that they had a busy last day together before returning to work, so Maya decided she'd go for a run to expel some energy.  She dressed quickly and silently in her running clothes before heading to the kitchen and scribbling off a note.  A quick five mile run would only take Maya a little over a half an hour, but that was enough to get the day started.  She'd only been doing light jogs on the treadmill, but she really wanted to get back outside and this was the perfect time of day since the sun had come up.  Maya stretched quickly and headed out the door, grabbing her keys from the bowl before she left. 

The freedom of an outdoor run had felt invigorating and without even realizing it, Maya had been gone for nearly an hour and a half.  As she rounded the corner and slowed down, Maya abruptly halted at seeing the car across the street from her house again.  Setting her jaw, Maya jogged easily over to it and stopped in the middle of the street.
"Seriously who the fuck are you and why the fuck are you stalking my house?"
The man in the driver seat had been looking down at his phone and the moment he lifted his head Maya felt her stomach drop.  It was the guy who'd assaulted her in the driveway. 
"Miss me?"
"Are you insane? Get the hell out of my yard!"
"I'm not in your yard dyke, I'm in my car on the street you dumb blonde bitch."
Maya went to reach for her phone and inwardly cursed herself for forgetting it on the nightstand.
"What is your fucking hang up with me asshole?"
"I saw you creeping around my place yesterday.  I'm here returning the visit."
"Did Mason send you?  Tell him that I have nothing left to say to him.  And as for you, if you don't cut this stalker shit out I'm going to file a report and have you arrested."
"Oooo I'm sooo scared.  Get the fuck away from me before I drop you like I did the last time."
"You caught me off guard, you won't get that chance again. NOW GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"
Willy stared at Maya for a long minute before turning the car on, putting it in drive and flipping her the middle finger as he screeched the tires and took off.  Maya stayed in the middle of the road and watched him as he turned the corner.  She heard the engine rev and grow distant before she walked up her driveway, pulled her keys out and unlocked the front door.  She could hear Carina in the laundry room with Liam but she didn't even know where to begin.  Instead she headed into their bedroom where she stripped her clothes off, entered the bathroom and turned on the shower.  The hot water felt good against her skin but Maya could feel herself shaking with rage.  She washed quickly and stepped out, wrapping a towel around herself, exiting the bathroom and crossing the floor toward the dresser. 
Maya was combing her hair when Carina and Liam walked into their bedroom.
"Bambina, when do you get back? I've been worried about you!"
"Sorry, I lost track of time on my run.  And I forgot my phone.  Is everything ok?"
Carina eyed her wife knowingly before responding.
"Maya, what's going on?  What aren't you telling me?  Did you re-injure yourself?  I knew we should have waited-"
"No, it's not that at all and besides, I needed that-WE needed that, just like I needed the run I took.  I'm pissed about something else entirely that just happened this morning."
"Talk to me Bambina."
Maya sucked her breath in before exhaling.  She knew Carina was going to flip, but she needed to know what was going on.
"The guy who punched me in the driveway...I just had a confrontation with him out on the street."
"Sei fottutamente serio?"  Maya!"
"It's ok babe. He took off.  But I want to stop by and file a report, I saw him sneaking around the front yard before dawn this morning too when Liam and I brought the trash outside."
"Oh my GOD MAYA!"
"Carina, it's ok.  We are going to be fine.  I've got to ask Andy what that detective's name is again and I'll file a report.  I downloaded the camera footage and I'll give it to them."
Carina stared at Maya in silence until Maya walked over to her and kissed her.
"My love, I will move heaven and earth to keep you and Liam safe, that is my promise."
"As long as you keep yourself safe also.  Don't make me call one of my uncles in Italy."
Maya laughed out loud until she looked at Carina's face and realized she was dead ass serious.