Work Text:
"Twins, we … I … how can... what do we--"
"Maya- “
"We are having twins, Carina! How can we have twins?! How are we supposed–What about Gianna, how do–Oh my god, I–”
“Maya!”
Maya was halfway through another lap around the living room when she stopped, wideeyed.
Carina pointed to the couch. “Sit.”
“But–”
“Sit. Now.”
After a quick glance at the carseat to confirm Gianna was still asleep, Maya trudged toward the couch. She sat down–barely, on the edge.
A few steps across the room and Carina tapped Maya’s legs. When Maya widened her stance, Carina lowered her knees to the floor.
“Carina, don’t–”
But that pointer finger went up in warning, silencing any protest Maya had.
Carina braced her hands on Maya’s legs and with a tilt of her chin, she encouraged Maya to settle further into the couch cushion. Maya obeyed, but she wasn’t entirely happy about it.
“Look at me.”
“But we–”
“Find my eyes.”
Uncertain and on the edge of full blown panic, Maya managed to focus on Carina’s gaze.
“Let’s breathe, yes?” Carina squeezed Maya’s thighs, then she lifted a hand to motion an inhale of breath.
Her brows narrowed, her stare suspicious, Maya did her best to follow along. She filled her lungs with air in the same beat Carina did. Then she held the oxygen in her body for a second, until Carina gave the cue to exhale.
“Now kiss me.”
Maya leaned forward. She touched her lips to Carina’s. And pulled back very quickly. Which made Carina laugh.
“Bella,” Carina tried to cajole while cupping Maya’s face and trying to smooth away the lines between her brows. “Tell me what is in your mind. Tell me what is worrying you.”
Maya’s frown only deepened. “We could be here all night if I do that.”
“Then it is good we live here.”
Maya’s gaze wandered around the room, to their snoozy baby still in her carseat from their appointment with Jo.
Carina followed Maya’s line of vision. She smiled.
“She will be a wonderful big sister.”
“I know she will, I’m not worried about that, I–” Maya huffed.
“Tell me,” Carina encouraged gently, her thumb going back and forth around Maya’s cheek.
Maya closed her eyes, leaning into Carina’s touch.
“Bambina,” Carina whispered.
Maya turned her lips, nudging Carina’s palm open to kiss warm skin.
“I was kinda… freaking out already… you know, another baby, it’s…” A kiss. “I mean, I want another baby, I want a little you, I want Gianna to be a big sister, but it’s…” A sigh. “And now two babies… how will I be present enough for all three? We’re going to be outnumbered.”
Carina smiled, watching Maya’s eyelids fall closed and her lips disappear in her palm.
“Do you think I don’t have the same worries?”
Maya peaked an eye open. “But you wanted three kids.”
“I did, and I do,” Carina agreed. “But two at once… and while Gianna is so young… I did not account for that.”
“We didn’t think you would get pregnant on the first try. But we didn’t want to wait too long either.”
“No, we didn’t. I am not so young anymore.”
“Hey, how come you can say you’re old, but I can't."
Carina narrowed her eyes, but she couldn’t wipe away her smile.
Maya left one more kiss to Carina’s life line. Then she gently nudged Carina up from the floor.
“Sit. I don’t want you on your knees.”
“You love me on my knees.”
Maya’s cheeks tinged pink.
Once Carina was seated on the couch, Maya put a pillow against the arm and helped her lie back. Then she gathered Carina’s legs in her lap and began massaging her feet and calves.
Carina tipped her chin to her chest, a soft smile playing on her lips as she tracked Maya’s hands working around her muscles. Her hands absentmindedly went across her tummy.
“I think you should go on bed rest during your last trimester.”
Carina raised her brows. “Oh?”
“I’ll talk to Jo about it.”
“Scusa?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”
Carina raised a leg to nudge Maya’s chest with her toes.
Maya caught her foot. “You’re having my twins, Carina… if you thought I was bad with Gianna–”
“You’re going to be even more ridiculous now.”
“There are two babies in there!”
Carina took her foot back, then opened her legs. “Come.” she pat her tummy. “Talk to your twins.”
Maya stretched out between Carina’s legs, then lifted her shirt and unzipped her jeans. She rested her cheek on Carina's belly while spreading her palm around the small bump.
“Hi, babies. Don’t fight in there, okay? And no wrestling.”
Carina tangled her hands in Maya’s hair.
“We’re going to take care of you. And give you everything you need. Just… give me a signal or something if I’m not doing a good job.”
“Maya…”
“And you have a big sister waiting for you. We can all run together.”
Carina’s smile grew at the thought of three babies and her wife racing around the house.
Maya closed her eyes. Blindly, she reached for Carina’s hand– who squeezed her fingers in return.
“I love you,” Maya whispered to her babies.