rafael and maia spent their break in melbourne at her mother’s home, where her grandparents also live 

maia spends a lot of the plane ride to australia either crying or asleep, and when she’s not awake, rafael takes moments for himself to cry too 

they sleep away christmas eve day (jet lag, man), but they spend the following day with her mom and grandparents, celebrating the holiday the best they can

maia got rafa a canvas print of their first photo together from italy, cuff links, and a few sets of clothes to work out in 

maia spends the first few days sneaking into rafael’s room (her mother insisted they sleep in separate spaces), and cries herself to sleep. rafa holds her through the night each time 

her mother takes her out on their own to talk through what happened to cyrus, and it was that conversation that allowed her to start to come to terms with the loss 

up until this point, maia and rafa had never slept together, but after another emotional day during the beginning of their second week in australia, they both gave in and they had sex. it seemed to be something they both needed, to make them feel better but also to bring them closer 

it’s the day after that maia realizes she’s REALLY falling in love with rafa, but she won’t tell him until she’s sure he’s ready, because she can’t lose anyone else 

they spend the second half of their trip touring through melbourne. they went to the beach, visited her favorite places in the city, even visited the farmer’s market that maia had raved about to rafa back in berlin

they left to be back for the NYE event, as maia felt obligated to do so because she’s part of the PPC