As Carina walked into the station, she felt happy. A happy she hadn’t felt in a while. Her and Maya were getting back to the love filled ecstasy they once had. Something which she never would imagined many weeks ago. When her Maya was unrecognizable. Things were different now, she knew that. And she still felt scared of letting Maya back in but she had to obey the laws of gravity. And gravity was pulling her back to her blonde.
She walked in to the Beanery, unconsciously searching for Maya only not to find her. Slightly disappointed she made her way towards Travis and Vic who were setting up the polling stations.
‘Hello hello’ she greeted them and they began working on placing everything in order, whilst catching up, telling her about how weirdly Becket had been acting since his return. Wondering about where Maya was.
A while later the klaxon sounded and Andy, Sullivan, Theo and Ross all ran toward the engine.
‘Why isn’t everyone going?’ Carina asked confused.
‘Oh Beckett doesn’t want his captaincy back so Ross is considering the lieutenants. She wants to see them all in action before she makes a decision’
Vic informed her.
‘And Maya wasn’t considered?’ The Italian asked wanting elaboration.
‘She didn’t want it.’ Travis responded.
‘What? Maya wants her job back’ Carina said wanting elaboration.
‘Ross, this morning, asked all the lieutenants who wanted to be considered for captain to come forward. Maya didn’t move. She stood there and then the chief left.’ Vic answered.
Carina was stunned. Maya had expressed her desires to get her captaincy back this whole year, leading her to her downward spiral and hospitalization and leaving Carina in just as much pain. But yet, when given the opportunity to gain it back she declined.
‘Carina, you good?’ Vic asked since the Italian had frozen since hearing the news.
‘Si si. im good.’ She replied ‘im just gonna go get some water’ and the others nodded
She in fact didn’t go and get water, but went on a search for her wife. She looked everywhere. Mayas bunk, the kitchen and even the dreaded gym which normally Maya would have been glued to after such a big decision,being filled with memories from their relationship as she searched. So many good but in recent times the sadder ones. During her reminiscing she realized there was one more place to go to which she hadn’t checked. The roof. The last time she as up their was their fight. A anger and hurt filled fight. Needless to say when she was at the station she avoided it. But she needed to find Maya.
So she climbed the stairs. Took a deep breath and opened the door.
It was a beautiful sight. Blonde hair blowing in the subtle breeze, with the Seattle skyline in the background.
She slowly walked towards Maya, like she was a magnet she couldn’t help being drawn to. Maya to focused out toward the city, didn’t see Carina come and stand next to her. Her wife looked calm and relaxed, something Carina wasn’t expecting.
As a gust of wind blew Maya turned and saw her wife standing next to her. She smiled. The giddy smile that was attached to her face whenever the Italian graced her mind. Carina smiled the same smile back. There were no words. The two just stood there, lasting in each other’s company which they both had missed a lot of recently.
‘It’s beautiful isn’t it?’ Maya said breaking their comfortable silence momentarily.
‘Yes, it really is.’ Carina said smiling looking at both the sight in front of them and the sight in front of her. ‘Why are you out here, everyone’s downstairs’
‘I just needed a minute or two. It’s so calming.’ Maya responded eyes still on the sight in front of her.
Carina watched her wife for a minute. Maya looked soothed. At peace. Which only concerned her more.
She shuffled closer to her wife. Lightly tilting Mayas chin with her hand so she was looking directly at her.
‘What’s going on bambina? Vic mentioned how you didn’t put yourself up for captain.’
Carina asked, eyes never leaving Mayas.
Maya nearly shed a tear at hearing the nickname again. At one point she never thought she’d hear carinas voice let alone a nickname. Maya sighed ‘I didn’t want it’ staring back into carinas lovingly
‘What do you mean Bella? This is what you’ve wanted and you have the chance to win it back’
‘I don’t want to win it back just yet.’ Maya started. ‘Sure I’d like it, but I’m not ready. It’s taken up so much out of me. Of us. And I don’t need it. I should’ve realized that before. You are what I need and what. I lost sight of what should’ve always been my priority and that’s you. I nearly lost you. And I hate that it took me almost losing you to realize that you and our family are always going to be my priority. So that’s my main focus at the minute. I’m more than happy to loose a chance at a title over loosing us. You are it for me. Better than any job or rank. Getting to be your wife and love you every day is the best thing I’ll get to do.’
Carina was openly sobbing. Maya took Carina into her arms and held her,pushing her lips against her hair. Cherishing every moment the Italian was back In her arms.
‘I, im so proud of you bambina. So proud.’ Carina said looking back into Mayas eyes, moving their foreheads to touch. ‘I love you’ she whispered.
Tears began falling from Mayas eyes at that as they stood as two parts of one whole.
‘Forever?’ Maya asked lightly chuckling.
‘per sempre’ Carina answered, finally allowing the gravity which she had been trying to resist, to pull her back to her home.