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Maya’s never been a great gift giver. It's not in her DNA. Blame it on her parents or her, it's just that it doesn't come easily. It’s not that she doesn’t put any thought behind the gift it’s just something she doesn't know how to do well. Growing up, receiving gifts from her parents was never anything she asked for but rather what her father thought would be necessary for her running career. A new pair of sneakers, running socks, a health watch – never the camera, the G.I Joe doll, and never the set of coloring pencils.
It’s already bad I have a son who spends all his time drawing.
You’re meant for greatness.
You don’t need any of these toys.
Time for training, Lane would say.
Now in her career, any time there was a birthday party or a get-together she would just appear with a bottle of liquor. It was easy and she knew the crew would appreciate the extra bottle that was going to be added to their arsenal.
Satisfying the crew was easy and that was all Maya cared about. No one had been in her personal life long enough to celebrate Valentine’s, Christmas and all the other yearly anniversary’s that couples did – till Carina.
Being with Carina is fantastico.
There was intrigue, there was coyness, playfulness and so much understanding in the relationship. It was something Maya had never experienced before and to be truthfully honest, it scared the living crap out of her.
They had just begun dating when Christmas came around and with that came new traditions.
Carina begging Maya to take her to one of those Christmas tree farms that she’d seen in American movies and then dragging Maya to the stores to buy lights and ornaments. Dragging the tree to their apartment, Maya’s hands getting all sticky from the sap and then complaining that the soap didn’t take it off. They spent the whole month watching Christmas movies, trying out new cookie recipes – none were ever as good as Carina’s nonna. They exchanged gifts quickly in the morning before heading out to work and with the promise of having dinner. There were no expectations on the gifts – they were still getting to know each other.
Valentine's came and went away. No gifts, just a night of eating and exploring each others bodies.
Fast forward three months and Maya was more in love than ever and if Maya was gifting more than usual, then sue her.
It had started small. Maya was at the checkout line and had seen the box of lens wipes. It drove Maya insane to see Carina wipe her glasses on her shirt, her pants, anything that resembled a cloth. It didn’t even clean them properly! If anything, it made them worse. She grabbed a small box to see if Carina would even give them a chance.
“Hey babe, something smells delicious” Maya said as she entered the apartment. Carina spun around from where she was standing by the stove, wide smile on her face.
“Bambina, you’re back. Dinner should be ready in about half an hour.”
Maya headed towards the dining table and set the bag on top, taking out the stuff she had just bought.
“I got the cleaning supplies you asked for.”
“Grazie, grazie”
Maya took out the rest of the stuff and with the box of lens wipes in her hands she walked towards Carina. Placing a hand on Carina’s hip, she rested her head on her shoulder.
“Look what I got” Maya said.
Carina turned around and faced Maya with a raised brow, making grabby motions towards the box. Maya had a little grin and pushed the box towards her hands.
“I saw it in the store, and I thought of you, you keep cleaning your glasses with anything but the correct thing and I don’t know how you can see when the glasses are all streaky.”
Carina turned the box around in her hands raising it to her face and reading the sides of the box.
“Maya” Carina said with an exasperated tone “you didn’t have to do this, I’m fine with cleaning them with my shirt.”
“Yeah, I know, I know but I saw them and thought they were good idea”.
Maya was now looking down at the floor, brows scrunched together thinking that maybe this was a bad idea. So stupid, she thought. Of course she doesn’t need stupid little wipes to clean her glasses.
“Bambina, look at me.”
Maya looked up and met Carina’s gaze.
“Grazie Maya, no one’s ever bought me something just because it reminded them of me.”
Maya grabbed Carina’s face and with a soft squeeze to her cheeks told her “Everything I see reminds me of you. You are everything to me and you deserve to be treated as such.”
Carina’s eyes watered and her chin trembled and before any tears could fall, she leaned in and gave Maya a kiss.
“Ok, ok no more being sentimental.”
Maya stepped back from her and with a chuckle headed towards the bedroom.
“Now where are those glasses.”
Which brought Maya to her predicament. It was her day off and with Carina working till later she was just on her laptop re-reading the fire protocol manual when a popup ad on the site caught her attention.
Eyes opening wide she clicked on the link and was surprised at the different options there were – different sizes, colors, you could even customize it.
Scrolling through the site she found what she was looking for and without a second thought placed the order. Now to wait.
A week later and there was a package at the door addressed to Maya Bishop. When Maya opened it, she couldn’t stop the grin that formed on her face. It looked so good, and she hoped Carina liked it.
With the package in hand, she headed down the stairs, out the door and onto Grey-Sloan.
Stepping onto the OB ward, she asked the nurse at the desk if Carina was in her office and the nurse replied with a yes.
With a knock on the door and a muffled “Come in”, Maya opened the door and saw Carina typing away on her laptop, glasses on, no visible streaks on the lenses.
“Hey babe.” At that Carina looked up and smiled.
“Bambina, what are you doing here?” she said as she stood up and gave Maya a quick peck.
With a confident, boyish grin Maya said, “Do I need a reason to visit my very beautiful girlfriend?”
Maya grabbed Carina’s hand and led her to the sofa where they both just stared at each other with goofy grins on their faces.
With a forehead raise motioning towards the box Carina asked “Bene, what’s in the box?”
“Oh, this?” Maya shook the box aggressively and all you could hear was a thumping of something hitting the box as it was shaken up. Carina with a huff grabbed the box from Maya and set it on her lap.
“It’s a gift.”
“For me?”
“No, for Amelia.”
“Che cosa?”
“No silly, of course it’s for you. I saw it and I thought of you. Tell me if it’s stupid or even presumptuous, I can return it and we can never talk about it again.” Maya was now fidgeting with her hands and looking everywhere else except for Carina. What could have Maya so nervous, Carina thought.
“I can assure you anything you got me I’ll love it.” Carina said while grabbing Maya’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Carina let go of her hand and started opening the box. With curious eyes, she got to the smaller box and started lifting the box top off. Now that the top was off, she let out a gasp.
“Maya” she whispered. Tentative hands lifted the item and held it up. There in her hands was a crisp black scrub cap decorated with red firetrucks all over.
Watery brown eyes met ocean blue eyes filled with love and admiration.
With rosy cheeks Maya started speaking, “I just wanted you to have a little piece of me every day at work. With our schedules I know it can get a little crazy seeing each other and I know how nervous you get when I go out on calls and if this can bring you a little peace then yeah.”
At that, Carina pushed the box to the floor and leaned in to give Maya a slow kiss. There was no rush, it was just the two of them in the office knowing that this meant something more.
A step forward.
A commitment.
With one last peck, they pulled apart. Maya wiped the stray tear off Carina’s cheek with her thumb.
“I guess you like it then?”
“Idiota, of course I do. I love it.”
“Good, good. That would have been so embarrassing if you didn’t like it.”
Carina grabbed the scrub cap and tied it around her head.
“How do I look?” Carina moved her head from side to side, showing Maya all the angles.
“Beautiful.”
The black scrub complimented Carina’s black scrubs and the red from the firetrucks stood out. Not too harsh on the Italians skin tone.
“Flatterer.”
“It’s true, you look good in anything, and you know it.” Maya said with a teasing grin.
With another pose showing off the cap and a certain smile Carina responded, “Lo so.”
And with that, Carina’s pager buzzed and with a sigh they both got up from the couch.
“I have to go” Carina said with a pout. She looked so beautiful. Truly a picturesque moment.
With a quick peck to the pouty lips and a light slap to her butt, Maya softly pushed her towards the door. “Go, the babies need you, I’ll clean up here and meet you at home.”
“Fine” she said with a huff.
Door now open, Carina turned around and with a wink said, “I’ll have to properly thank you later bambina.” And with that she basically skipped out the door leaving Maya all flustered in her office, gulping at the thoughts of later tonight.