ONE SHOTS MARINA (ENGLISH)

22. Mommy

P.O.V. MAYA DELUCA-BISHOP

I was sitting in my narrow bed in my room at station 19, watching Liam as he moved in my arms. The clock on the wall was just after midnight, and I knew he should have been asleep for hours. But my little warrior was fighting sleep with all his strength, his eyes blinked slowly, almost as if he resisted each longer blink.

- You need to sleep, probie - I whispered softly, cradling him carefully, trying to calm him down.

He let out a small groan, moving again in my lap, his little hand gripping my uniform with force. I felt my heart to realize the reason.

He was missing Carina. It was understandable - he usually slept in her arms, always surrounded by the warmth and comfort that only Carina seemed to provide.

And that night, Carina was in Ruiz's room. Nine months pregnant, she needed space, and the only place that offered a decent double bed in the station was his room.

 All of us in the team had agreed that it was better for my wife to stay at the station with me on shifts, since the baby could be born at any time. We wanted to be prepared for any eventuality. But that meant that Liam, for the first time in a long time, was without her constant touch.

- I know you miss your mamma - I continued, gently passing my hand through her bald hair that now contained the first strands of hair - But I'm here, I promise I'm here.

He looked at me, his big tired eyes fixed on mine. And then suddenly he said something that made my heart stop for a second.

- Mommy!

I was completely still, the world around me silencing for a moment while those words, so small and innocent, echoed in my mind. Until then, he had always called Carina "mamma".

I knew that in his little head, I was probably a figure of protection and comfort, but I never imagined hearing that word coming out of his mouth. At least not so soon.

- What did you say, Lilo? - I asked, my voice coming out in a soft whisper, almost not believing what I had just heard.

He looked at me again, his eyes already half closed, and repeated, this time even more sure.

- Mommy!

A wave of emotion ran through my body. It was not just a word. It was an affirmation, an acknowledgement.

I was his "mommy". I was part of his life in a way that, until then, I didn't even know he understood. And hearing it, in that simple little word, filled me with a love so deep that I felt tears burst out of my eyes.

- Oh, my God, Liam... - I whispered, hugging him tighter, feeling the warmth of his little body against mine - You have no idea how happy that makes me!

He smiled, that little sleepy smile that only he knew how to give, and sank his head against my chest. Finally, fatigue overcame him, and he closed his eyes, breathing slowly and rhythmically.

For a moment, I stood there just holding him, feeling his soft breath against my body and the weight of it settling in my arms. A whirlwind of emotions was stirring inside me. I always knew that being a mother meant much more than biology.

Carina and I had decided together to build this family, and I knew our connection was special. But hearing Liam call me "mommy" for the first time... There was nothing that could prepare me for this.

I stood up carefully, still holding him in my arms, and walked to the makeshift crib we had set up in my station room. I put it gently inside, covering it with the soft blanket my wife had chosen for him.

He did not move, completely surrendered to sleep. For a moment, I just watched him.

The little body moving softly as he breathed, his chest up and down in a steady pace. I leaned over and kissed his forehead.

- Good night, little man.

Went to the bedroom window, looking out into the night sky. Seattle's lights reflected in the darkness, and a feeling of peace took hold of me.

In the midst of the chaos of our work, of emergencies that never stopped, there was this small space of stillness, of love. And at that moment, I realized how much our family was growing - not only in number but in depth, in love.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms, still thinking. I wanted to run to Theo's room and tell Carina, but she was resting, and I didn't want to disturb her.

The pregnancy fatigue was exhausting her, and the last thing she needed was to be woken up in the middle of the night. So I decided to wait until the next morning. But inside, I already knew that I would not be able to sleep.

Embraced that feeling, that moment of pure joy, knowing that everything was exactly as it should be. Life, with all its surprises and challenges, continued to provide us with small moments of happiness.

I looked once more at Liam, who was sleeping peacefully, and smiled at myself.

He called me "mommy".

And that changed everything.