Chapter Text
“Mom! Look!”
Maya was in her office, surrounded by piles of paperwork swallowing nearly every inch of her desk. Dealing with the most recent mess of admin work was particularly overwhelming. Maya was falling behind. Maya never fell behind. But there were two major incidents, back to back, leaving her no time to take care of the first ordeal before she was bogged down by the slew of red tape that followed the second ordeal.
What a way to be welcomed back to the Captain’s seat.
“Mom!”
This time Liam’s voice managed to grab Maya’s attention. She was standing over her desk, a pen tucked behind her ear and a stack of papers in her hand when she looked up.
“Liam, please, I’m—” But the sight of him rerouted her thoughts. Her face relaxed. Her eyes crinkled with a smile. “Oh, Probie… look at you.”
Her ten year old was standing in her office doorway, his body practically swallowed by her old turnout gear. When he lifted his arms to adjust the helmet that fell over his eyes, Maya laughed at how the way too long sleeves flopped around.
Liam gripped both hands around the helmet to hold it high enough so it didn’t fall back over his eyes.
“Can I wear this at fire school?”
Maya put the stack of paper’s down and walked around her desk as her smile softened. Her oldest had been talking about fire trucks since he could talk. Maya often wondered if it was just something he wanted to do because it was what his mom did. Because he was growing up around the fire house and firefighters. But she and Carina were very careful about teaching him the reality of being a firefighter. It wasn’t just driving big fire trucks and living in what was often a fraternity like environment. It was a very serious thing. There were very real dangers.
Still, Maya wondered if Liam would follow in her footsteps. A part of her hoped he would. But Carina on the other hand… Well, she wasn’t entirely thrilled with the idea.
“Fratello! Fraaattteellloooo!”
Maya grinned at her son as he took the helmet off.
“Why is she so loud,” Liam whined.
Maya raised her brows. “She gets it from your Mama.”
“Fratello! Where are you!?" Gianna sang. "I want cookies!”
“Yeah me too! Cookies!”
When Maya looked up, she spotted her daughter with Andrew’s hand in hers, leading him from the barn and toward her office.
Andrew looked from Liam to Maya.
“Well, if it isn’t the second best DeLuca firefighter in all of Seattle.”
“Well, if it isn’t the second best DeLuca doctor in all of Seattle.”
Andrew laughed. “Touche, Captain.”
With her firefighter teddy bear curled to her chest, Gianna yanked on her uncle’s hand while tipping her face up to show a pout. She spoke in Italian, explaining that they needed to go home now because her Mama was making cookies.
“Mama’s making cookies, huh?”
Gianna turned to Maya, wide eyed and nodding like it was the most serious matter in the world.
“You better save me some, Novellina.”
“I will, Mommy.”
“Do I get a hug before you go?”
Gianna sprouted a toothy grin as she bolted past Liam and rammed into her mother’s waiting arms.
“Ti amo, baby.”
“Ti amo, Mommy!”
Maya gave one last squeeze then a kiss on her cheek before releasing Gianna who turned and ran back to her uncle while grabbing Liam’s hand on the way.
“Hey, hey, wait, you can’t go home in turn outs. Mama will flip out.”
“Do I get a vote?” Andrew said.
“No.” Maya looked to her son. “Take the gear off and put it in my bunk please,” she said, tilting her chin at the adjacent room.
“But I’m in training!”
Maya tried to hide her smile. But she was failing miserably.
“You can keep the helmet. Deal?”
“Deal.”
oxoxo
“It’s her 45th birthday, Andrea. And she has never been there. Neither have we."
Andrew rolled his eyes at his sister’s haughty tone.
“Oh, I’m very aware of how old your wife will be. I’ve been teasing her about it for months.”
Carina wanted to admonish her silly little brother but she couldn’t help throwing a smirk over her shoulder.
Andrew matched the curve of her lips, mischief in his eyes.
“Disneyland for her 45th,” Andrew murmured thoughtfully. “But how will you top that for her 50th? That’s the big money maker birthday afterall.”
Carina’s smile grew. “I will think of something… something that involves you taking your niece and nephew for a night or two… or maybe three.”
Andrew made a gagging sound while flipping his sister the bird.
Carina laughed while bending to the oven. When she opened the door, the sweet smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafted through the room.
“I pick them up from school, take them to McDonalds for dinner, then the toy store and now they’re getting cookies before bed? Your kids are spoiled, Carina.”
She raised her brows in challenge. “Yes, they are. Because their Zio Andrea spoils them.”
Andrew scoffed. “I’m not the one who wants to take them to Disneyland. The place where all spoiled children roam free and wild.”
“Oh, so you don’t want to come with us?”
With his elbow anchored on the counter, Andrew lifted his index finger and pointed at her. “If you go to Disneyland without me, I will never forgive you.”
“How can I go to Disney without you? Who will watch my children while I take my wife on a date for her birthday?”
Andrew followed the plate of cookies with his eyes as Carina set it down on the counter in front of him.
“Ah, so I’ll be going to the happiest place on earth to babysit?”
Carina shrugged, a glint in her eyes before she turned toward the hallway, calling for her kids that the cookies are ready.
“I’m guessing no Mickey and Minnie talk in front of the kids?” Andrew ventured between a bite of cookies.
“No. It is a surprise,” Carina warned.
Andrew grinned.
“I’ll keep it quiet if you pay for my ticket.”
“Pay for your ticket? You are a doctor at the same hospital as me and you need me to pay for your ticket?”
“Need? No. But if you want me to watch my two favorite kids in the world while you wine and dine your wife for her birthday all night– then, yes. You will pay for my ticket.”
Before Carina could respond, the sound of little feet barreling down the stairs cautioned her to drop her voice.
But she raised a finger in warning. “This discussion is not over.”