"That was as always incredible baby, thank you" Maya moaned happily as she finished the last of the lasagne her wife had made them for dinner. Carinaâs authentic Italian lasagne never ever failed to hit the spot. It was so delicious and had quickly became a firm favourite of Mayaâs. Carina grinned happily back at her wife satisfied with her efforts as she too had enjoyed the meal. âPrego (youâre welcome)â Carina gave Maya a kiss on the cheek as she stood to collect their empty plates.
It was New Yearâs Eve and instead of partying and seeing in the New Year with their friends Maya and Carina had opted for a night together at home. The DeLuca-Bishop apartment on New Year's Eve felt cosy and relaxed. Both women had finished work late in the afternoon and in all honesty both DeLuca-Bishops were exhausted after the gruelling run of shifts in the run up to and after Christmas. Thankfully they had the next 3 days off shift to reconnect and make up for lost time.
Christmas this year had been snatches of what had felt like not enough time in between opposing shifts. Weirdly though it had felt more special as both Maya and Carina had been determined to make the most of any precious time they had managed to spend together. There was no denying though how much both women had missed each other but tonight was an opportunity to spend some quality time together.
Tree and present buying and apartment decorating had been crammed in between day and night shifts and while it wasn't ideal they had made it work. The apartment looked so festive and despite not having much time together to enjoy it until now they were determined to make up for it this New Year's Eve.
The Christmas tree looked beautiful again this year thanks to Carina mainly. Last Christmas Maya had bought new baubles for the tree to represent their brothers and this year they had carried on the tradition of buying a new bauble for the tree. A beautiful love heart shaped one with the words âOur First Married Christmas 2021â held pride of place on their tree this year. It was a tradition Carina especially loved and hoped to add more special, sentimental baubles for years to come.
Maya smiled as she watched her wife walk so gracefully into the kitchen. Her beauty never ever failing to render Maya lost for words. Carina felt her gaze on her and turned to smile at Maya as she asked âaltro vino? (more wine?)â. Maya nodded eagerly as she replied âsi, per favore amore mio (yes please my love)â.
Since the wedding in March they had spent more and more time conversing in Italian at home. Carina loved how dedicated Maya had been to becoming more and more fluent. Maya felt more and more comfortable too speaking it and she didnât need any excuse to hear Carina speak in her native tongue. It was one of Mayaâs favourite things to hear.
New Year's Eve was going to be their time. On Christmas Day both Maya and Carina had worked opposite shifts however Carina had managed to make it to Station 19 for a few hours so they could celebrate together with 'A' team. This year was their second Christmas together but the very first as a married couple and despite the shift gods conspiring against them they had made the most of their time together with the firefighters of Station 19. Stolen kisses under the strategically placed mistletoe around the station and exchanging gifts in Maya's office hadn't been Plan A but they had adapted and had thoroughly enjoyed every single minute.
Maya and Carina had both worked the previous New Year's Eve and had celebrated together on the roof of Station 19. They had finally decided on a date for their wedding wrapped up in blankets as they looked across the city. Now, a year later they were blissfully married and had never been more in love with each other.
"Bambina I still feel a little guilty about ditching the New Year's Party at Travis and Victoria's" Carina said a hint of guilt in her voice. She was standing in the kitchen pouring both herself and Maya another glass of white wine. "It's not too late to get ready, if we move now we....". Carina's train of thought was completely lost though as Maya made her way over to her and the second her wife was in her personal space she couldn't remember what she was saying. 18 months down the line and Maya still had such an effect on her, she literally could alter the chemistry in her brain with a look, touch or like now by just being in close proximity to her.
Maya's hands were on Carinaâs hips now and her lips were tantalisingly close to Carina's, each of them biding their time before the inevitable kiss happened. The electricity in the air was crackling. Maya whispered against Carina's lips, her blue eyes never once breaking contact with Carina's brown ones. "They'll survive without us, tonight is just for us. Plus this is more than likely going to be our last year here in this apartment so we owe it to the apartment to celebrate here, naked".
Carina swallowed thickly, the desire for her wife's touch never left her but as their bodies were flush against each other Carinaâs arousal was building quickly. Maya closed the now almost non-existent gap between their lips and the second their lips connected Carina forgot all about the party they had both agreed to ditch. The warm sensation that flooded Carina's body left no doubt in her mind that they would have a far more enjoyable night at home, just the two of them, very, very naked.
"Happy New Year to us" Maya joked as she lay naked in bed beside Carina, their bodies gleaming with the sheen of sweat that covered them. The kiss had very quickly became heated and Maya hadn't hesitated in steering Carina towards their bedroom for what had became an hour of mindblowing sex.
"I've missed you" Carina said, her tone suddenly serious "we barely saw each other the last 10 days and a shower quickie as I was coming home and you were leaving wasn't quite cutting it". Maya looked over at her wife and the pout on her face was exactly what she had been expecting to see. Maya had missed her wife too. So much that some night in work her body had physically ached for her. Both of their love languages heavily leaned towards physical touch and Maya had desperately missed the touch of her wife at times. However, they had adapted and coped with missing each other as a team. Plenty of dirty texts and Facetime calls had helped them through.
Maya wrapped a reassuring arm across Carina's stomach as she spoke back to her. "The shifts for the next few months are much kinder, that was the worst weâve had to cope with but itâs over now. You have no idea how much I missed you too my love".
Carina smirked and said "I think you just showed me how much my love, that was fantastico!". Maya nose scrunched smiled back at her before dropping the tone of her voice and saying "I think you need one more reminder". The rest of their evening was spent immersed in a high of their naked bodies making up for lost time. One intense orgasm after another. All the wanting, yearning, needing of each other finally being met.
Before either of them realised it was almost midnight, almost the start of 2022. 2021 had been a magical year for the most part. 2021 would always have a special place in their hearts as it was the year they officially committed the rest of their lives to each other. The birth of the DeLuca-Bishops. Maya and Carina both loved hearing people use their new surname, it cemented their new roles as wives and as each others family. The DeLuca-Bishop family.
They were now sat up in bed waiting for midnight to arrive. Maya was resting her body against Carina's. "Are you making any New Year's resolutions bambina?" Carina asked breaking the comfortable silence between them. Maya thought for a second or two before replying. "I don't think I really believe in them if I'm honest. I think I'd rather just carry on the dream from this year". Carina sighed against Maya's head and Maya could feel her nod in agreement. "Si amore mio (yes my love) I like that, this year has been a beautiful dream no?"
Maya smiled softly as she thought about how beautiful the dream had been this year. Getting married had quite simply been the best thing she had ever done. It eclipsed Olympic gold medals, it blew Fire Captaincy out of the water, it was everything to her. "It has been the best dream ever Carina DeLuca-Bishop" she said as she moved position so she could face Carina. Carina was grinning from ear to ear at her, the dimples in her cheeks so deep. The smile she saved just for Maya.
Carina intertwined their fingers together and looked a little daydreamy before she spoke to Maya. "Ok no resolutions then but tell me one dream you hope for 2022. It can be big or small but something that's realistic". Maya raised her eyebrows at her wife but she knew her answer already. She gazed lovingly into her wife's eyes, eyes she could look into forever and squeezed her hand.
"My dream for next year is that I want us to be pregnant with the baby we are about to try and conceive, I want you to have a baby bump I can stroke and talk to and I want us to be decorating the nursery all excited to meet them". Maya's body reacted to her words with goosebumps appearing all over her skin. It was the next step for them. It was a step they were just about to take. Carina had the first IVF appointment in early January and the possibility of a baby in their near future was exhilarating and terrifying in equal quantities. But the next chapter of their story was one they were both ready to take.
Carina's eyes were misty now as the weight of Maya's words hit home. "What a dream that is bambina, I love itâ she said with a soft smile. "What about you?" Maya asked her back. She knew Carina shared the exact same dream for the following year as she did but she wanted to hear it come from her wife's lips. She needed to hear them being spoken into the world, into reality by her wife too.
Carina reached up and caressed Maya's cheek. "I want the same dream as you bambina of course. I want that nursery to be in our new house though. I want a house with a back yard where the bambino can grow and play in. You can work out and i'll plant all sorts of herbs for our dinner". Maya sighed happily hearing her wife talk about her dreams for the following year. They had started to look around for a new house but hadnât quite found the one. Yet.
The apartment had been amazing for them and over the last year or so living together they had made many, many happy memories. They had a wall in the hall crammed full of photographs to prove it but it was time to move on. Their dreams required something bigger and better going forward.
This chapter in their lives was the biggest yet. They had crazy, big dreams and plans and while it was a lot to undertake IVF and move house at the same time it was now or never. And, never wasn't an option. This was most definitely going to be their last festive period in the apartment and both women were praying that next year a baby bump would be present.
âLetâs open a bottle of champagne!â Carina suddenly said her arms gesticulating as she spoke. âStart the New Year in style bambina!â she added but Maya needed no convincing. She was already out of bed and throwing a robe on.
âBoo to clothesâ Carina joked with a pout as she too grabbed her satin robe and put it on.
âOh Iâm not planning on having it on for longâ Maya shot her wife a look that made Carina blush a little.
âBellaâ was all Carina could say back to her wife.
As midnight approached and they counted down from 10 to 1, both Maya and Carina were full of hope for the year ahead, their dreams were ambitious and big but they were real and achievable.
At the stroke of midnight as they clinked their champagne flutes together and they kissed each other full of hope as they they both knew 2022 had the potential to be the greatest year yet. The feeling was incredible.
Carina smiled as she broke apart from their kiss and whispered âHappy New Year Maya DeLuca-Bishopâ and Maya smiled back as she said âHappy New Year Carina DeLuca-Bishopâ.
âNow letâs get that robe off youâŠ.â
2022 was already off to a great start.