You & Me & Our Little Family

Balance

"I'm suggesting that we incorporate the three person team since we have so many new recruits.  It'll allow for the seasoned firefighters to take two and expand our coverage at incidents."
"I agree with Maya chief.  Plus if we each take on four probie's, we can rotate them."
"And, Andy and I have talked about this, we'd like to be able to jump into the mix more."
Chief Ross sat in the captain's office and looked back and forth at Maya and Andy before smiling.
"Well, I can see you're both passionate about this, so I'll agree to it on a trial basis.  Have you both reviewed the recruits and agreed on who you're each taking?"
Maya looked at Andy and nodded as Andy began.
"I'm going to take Bobby Valez, Ashley Parks, Ryan Hunter and Marcus McCafferty."
"And I'm going to take Camille Ellis, Natalie Jones, Perry Barnes and Jake Cahill."
Natasha nodded.
"In looking at the progress for all of these recruits, I'd say you both chose well.  I'll work on the details and we can present to them on Monday when Captain Deluca-Bishop returns from maternity leave.  Speaking of, how's it going? Is Carina back from Italy yet?"
"Her flight gets in this afternoon and I've missed having her around.  Twins is a handful, but with Liam running everywhere it's...let's just say, it's like a five alarm with zero percent containment."
They all laughed easily as Maya's phone began to ring.  She picked it up from her desk and her face lit up.
"She must've known we were talking about her, excuse me."
Maya got up and walked out of the captain's office as she answered.
"Hi beautiful, I can't wait to see you."
"Bambina..."
The tone in her wife's voice instantly told Maya that she wasn't going to like what she heard next as Carina exhaled and continued.
"My flight landed late in New York and I missed the connector.  I don't think I'll be able to get onto another flight until tomorrow morning."
Maya rubbed her forehead but said nothing as Carina waited a moment before speaking again.
"Mi dispiace Bambina, believe me when I say all I want is to be back home with you and all our babies because I miss holding them...and you holding me."
"Yeah, me too."
"Maya...I love you."
"I love you too Carina.  Listen, I'm in a meeting with Andy and Chief Ross.  What hotel are you staying at tonight?"
"Actually, I called Arizona and I'm going to stay with her and Callie."
"Oh...ok."
"Bambina..."
"No, it's fine, really.  I just miss you and I was looking forward to picking you up in a few hours.  It's been a long week without you babe."
"For me too amore mio, but I am going to take the earliest direct flight I can so I can spend as much time as possible with you before we both go back to work."
"Ok, give my best to Callie and Arizona.  Tell Sophia that I can't wait to see her run again."
"I will. Ti amo Bella."
"Be safe my love."
The call went silent as Maya sat on the stairs staring at her phone.

"Mamma!"
Liam came toddling over as Maya shut the front door and took off her coat. She knelt down and scooped him up as Katherine came in from the kitchen.
"He's been asking for you sweetie, is his forehead still warm?"
Maya put the back of her hand against Liam's forehead and frowned.
"Yeah a little, how long has this been going on?"
"He woke up from his nap that way. I'm making some soup so I hope you can get him to eat a little."
Liam snuggled himself into Maya's shoulder as she kissed his forehead and rested her cheek against it.
"You feeling a little bit sick love bug? How about if we go sit on the couch?"
Maya settled into the couch and got comfortable, pulling her SFD blanket from the back and covering herself and Liam as he curled himself into a ball on her chest and stuck his thumb in his mouth. Maya smiled and rubbed his back as she started to hum softly.
"Ninna nanna Mamma."
Katherine had come in with Liam's sippy cup and sat down on the coffee table, facing them both.
"He's been saying that but I don't know what he means."
"It's Italian for lullaby. Carina always asks him if he wants a ninna nanna and then she sings that lullaby to him. I just always screw the words up so I hum it when he asks."
"Speaking of, what time do you have to be at the airport to pick Carina up?"
"I'm not. Her flight landed late in New York and she missed the connector so she's spending the night with friends. I've got to wait to hear from her when she gets her flight re-booked. Where are the girls?"
"Still napping. They fussed a little so they didn't get to sleep until quite a bit after Liam. Do you need anything honey? I'm going to go check on the soup before I check on the girls."
"No, I'm good for now, thanks Mom. I really do appreciate all the help you've been for both Carina and I. But tell me if you want a break because I can ask Peggy and Dayna if they are available."
"Are you kidding me Maya? I absolutely love all of this. Everything I couldn't do with you and Mason growing up I'm able to do now. I'm the one who needs to thank you and Carina, for everything."
"All we did was give you a place to stay when you needed it Mom. You've done all the work yourself, you and Mason."
"Because of you Maya. You believed in both of us, especially when we didn't believe in ourselves."
"I guess Dad was good for something, huh? Beating 'eyes forward' into me all those years...I don't know how to give up."
"You give him too much credit sweetie. He didn't have to be that way,"
"You're absolutely right, and it took me nearly losing everything to realize it."
Maya looked down and saw that Liam was fast asleep, his thumb had slipped out of his open mouth and was resting on Maya's chest. She smiled and kissed his head, pulling him just a bit closer to herself. Katherine stood up and leaned over, kissing the top of Maya's head as she made her way back into the kitchen while Maya leaned her head against the back of the couch and stared at her son.

Katherine made her way into the living room with her cup of tea and glanced at the clock, the '2:37a' light glaring back at her. She had just gotten the twins to sleep after they had woken each other up and she wanted to just sit and relax before heading back to bed. She heard a car door and got up to look out the bay window as a smile spread across her face and she moved to the front door, disarming the alarm and opening it just as Carina was fishing for her keys.
"Oh Katherine! I hope I didn't wake you?"
"No not at all dear, I was just having a cup of tea. But, Maya told me you wouldn't be home until sometime later."
"I was planing to stay in New York, but there was a last minute cancellation and I just wanted to come home. I've missed my babies, all of them."
Katherine chuckled.
"And they've all missed you, especially the tallest one who acts all strong and tough. I've missed you too sweetie, I'm glad you're home."
"Grazie Katherine. How is everyone doing?"
"Gianna and Andrea had a bit of a fuss and I just got them back down, but I think they picked up on Liam not feeling well so it threw their routine off."
"Liam's sick?"
"Not really, just more feeling under the weather. Maya got him to eat a good bowl of soup and she gave him some Benadryl. He's been attached to her since she got home and didn't want to sleep in his own room, so he's in your bed with her."
Carina let her shoulders drop as she tilted her head and smiled.
"Ok, I'm exhausted so I'm going to head to bed. Grazie for everything you've done for us Katherine. We can talk more in the morning."
Katherine nodded as Carina made her way to the twins room and peeked in on them before heading to her own room. Quietly slipping in, Carina took a quick look at the bed, catching a glimpse of the back of Maya's head before she stepped into the bathroom to wash her face and hands. Coming back out, she opened the drawer and grabbed a set of Maya's sweats, slipping her clothes off and putting them on as she made her way to the bed. Liam was fast asleep, his back curled up against Maya's chest with her arm protectively around him. Being careful, Carina slid under the covers, gently sliding her hand over Maya's arm as she laid her head on her pillow. Maya's eyes opened and then opened wide as she realized it was Carina, her face full of questions. Carina whispered as she smiled at her wife.
"I told you I wanted to be home. I love you."
Maya smiled.
"I can bring him to his room."
"No, let him stay. I've missed him so much."
"I love you, I'm glad you're home, baciami, amore mio."
Carina leaned over Liam as Maya lifted her head and their lips touched.