#marinawintercheers

“The first time I met Dean, he was here in this room playing the piano,” Carina says, her gaze drifting to the piano stool that is currently occupied by Jack.

Maya lifts her head to look at her wife. “Really?”

Carina nods. “We hadn’t been dating long, a month maybe, and you left your watch at my house. I stopped by to give it back to you but you were out on a call. I think Dean was supposed to be on the front desk but there was no-one there. I was just going to leave it in your office and go, but I heard this beautiful music playing upstairs and so I came up here to see who it was.”

“I didn’t know that,” Maya says.

Carina’s hand rubs the top of Maya’s back, her fingers tickling the fine hairs on her neck. “Well, I didn’t want him to get into trouble,” she confesses. “You were more strict then.” She smiles at Maya’s affronted pout.

“My first shift, Captain got Dean to show me all the equipment,” Ben says. “He told me that the way to start a K12 was to push it, and I must’ve pushed that darn thing up and down the forecourt more than ten times before I finally got the joke.”

There is a small ripple of laughter around the room, except from Carina and Miranda, who don’t get it.

“A K12 is a power saw,” Maya explains. “It’s got a choke and a pull cord, but a lot of firefighters like to play a prank on the probies by getting them to try to push start it – mostly because they just look really stupid doing it!”

“Hey, how was I to know?” Ben objects, as Maya shakes her head, mocking him.

“He did that to me too,” Emmett says. “Except I probably did twenty laps before I realised he was winding me up.”

“God love that man,” Ben says, his voice choking. The room becomes quiet except for Pru’s giggles of delight as she plays with her new toys.

“You know what used to really annoy me about Dean?” Travis says out of the blue.

All eyes fall in him as they wait to hear what he is going to say next.

“He always called dibs on the damn puppies.”

His words hang in the silence for a moment. Vic is the first to laugh, the others taking their cue from her. It turns into a belly laugh, the kind that they haven’t enjoyed for so long.

“It’s so true,” Maya says.

“Every damn time,” Jack says, wiping away the tears that fall down his cheeks.

Even Pru laughs, caught up in the joy that surrounds her in that moment. Her little laugh is an echo of her daddy’s and it brightens the room, reminding them of all the stories that they will get to share with her one day, to keep them memory of her father alive.

“What’s so funny?” a voice interrupts them. They turn to see Andy at the door, brushing snow off her shoulders. She holds another present for Pru in her arms.

“Uh… Dean,” Vic says.

Andy smiles as she steps into the room, warmed by their happiness. She kneels down in front of Pru and places her gift in front of her. “Happy birthday, Pru.”

Pru grins at her. “Snow!” she says with delight at the snowflakes that are still on her sleeve.

“Your daddy loved the snow, did you know that?” Andy says to the birthday girl, who is more interested in opening her gift. She rips the wrapping paper to reveal a plush dog that she hugs tightly to her body. “The first snowfall of every year, he would be the first one here, always ready to throw snowballs at us when we got to work. It used to drive my father crazy!”

“I got him once,” Jack says. “He changed his hiding spot every time, but he was always out front somewhere. I snuck in the back entrance one year and caught him by surprise. He was so pis…”

“Gibson!” Bailey admonishes him, her eyes glancing towards Pru, who is playing innocently with her new stuffed animal.

Ben chuckles, running his hand over the little girl’s curls.

Carina stands, drawing the attention of the room. Maya frowns. “Where are you going?”

“Outside.”

“It’s snowing,” Maya says.

Carina smiles knowingly. “Exactly. Perfect for a snowball fight.” She grabs Maya’s hand and pulls her to standing.

The others glance at each other as they try to figure out if she is serious or not. It takes Maya to cajole them into following them outside. “Come on!”

No-one remembers who moved first, but one-by-one they jump up from their seats. Within a few minutes, they are bundled up in coats and hats and gloves, and throwing snowballs at each other in front of the fire station.

A snowball hits Travis direct in the chest and Vic whoops with joy, scooping up another snowball and throwing it at Emmett. Maya catches her unaware from behind, the snow hitting her butt and she spins on the spot, glaring playfully.

“I’ll get you back for that!”

Gallantly, Carina steps forwards, shielding Maya from the snowball that comes their way from Vic. Maya ducks behind her wife seeking a momentary reprieve, not noticing Jack creep up behind them, a snowball knocking her shoulder. Maya yelps, caught off-guard, and spins around. She picks up a snowball and throws it towards Jack at the same time as Carina. He shrieks as the ice-cold snow hits his neck and cheek, causing them both to laugh.

Sullivan and Andy, now at ease with each other, do battle on the other side of the forecourt, while Travis chases Emmett around the fire engine. Still laughing, Maya sidles up to Carina. “This was a lovely idea.”

Carina shrugs. “I remember what it was like after Andrea died. Sometimes you just need someone to push you into having a little bit of fun. And it doesn’t take away the sadness you feel but it reminds you that there’s still joy in the world.” She wraps her arms around Maya’s waist and pulls her close into her body. “You taught me that.”

She dips her head and catches Maya’s lips in a kiss, ignoring the calls and wolf whistles from the others, only parting when someone hits them with a snowball.

“Hey!” Maya calls incredulously.

Andy grins triumphantly at her, before ducking suddenly as a snowball flies through the air at her from Jack’s direction. She throws one back at him, then scoots behind Emmett, who ends up in the firing line as Jack retaliates.

Before Maya realises what is happening, Carina pulls away and leans down, scooping up an armful of snow and dumping it on her wife. Maya squeals as its drips down her neck, finding a gap between her coat and her skin, and trickling down her back.

“You’re supposed to be on my side!” Maya grumbles.

“There’s no such thing in a snowball fight,” Carina says. Her cocky smile falls when she sees a mischievous glint in Maya’s eyes. “Maya…”

“Two can play that game, you know.”

Carina spins and sets off in the opposite direction, running away from her wife who chases after her with a snowball in each hand. She catches Ben’s eye as she passes where he and Miranda are building a snowman with Pru, keeping her safe from the snowballs that fly through the air nearby.

It has not been the Christmas Day she had planned. Today was supposed to have been about celebrating what they have and looking forward to the future, while paying tribute to the empty seats around the table – Andrew, Dean, Pruitt, Ryan. Except life had different plans for them. A four alarm fire had taken Andy away mid-morning and it had only been a matter of time before the fifth alarm had called Maya to the station, just as Carina had pulled the ham from the oven. Leaving her wife with a brief, apologetic kiss, and with a wistful glance at the honey-glazed ham, Maya had rushed out of the apartment. Instead of a jovial Christmas dinner, Maya’s day had been spent tackling a blaze that was tearing apart a 30 story high apartment block on the east side of the city. It had been a difficult call, too many lives lost on what should have been a joyous day. Parents, siblings and friends succumbing to the flames, throwing in her face all that they have lost over the last couple of years.

As some of 19 had been ordered to go to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns, Maya – as lieutenant – had stayed behind at the station in case of any more emergencies.

With another “I’m sorry” text sent to Carina earlier, Maya checked her phone for what felt like the one hundredth time, only to be met with silence yet again. Carina is usually pretty forgiving about Maya’s job taking her away from their plans; after all, her own schedule is dictated by the babies who like to make their unexpected appearance.

Needing reassurance, Maya dials her number instead and is relieved when Carina answers after the second ring.

“Ciao bella.”

“Hey you,” Maya says. “I’m happy to hear your voice. And I’m really sorry I missed Christmas.”

“Maya, it’s okay,” Carina says. “How was your call?”

“Rough,” Maya admits. “Not the kind of fire we want to tackle on any day and especially today.” She knows that Carina will read between her words. “But it’s under control now. I’m back at the station. B shift are missing a few of their team so Beckett asked me to stay. I’m sorry, I couldn’t say no.”

“Of course not,” Carina says in her typical understanding way.

A helicopter overhead drowns out their conversation for a moment.

“Where are you?” Carina asks when the noise fades.

“On the roof. I needed minute.” There are some calls that get to Maya more than others, and some losses that are harder to take. The roof provides some much needed solitude and is often where Carina finds her on a tough day like today. “I wish you were here.”

“Hmm, you do? Well, if you close your eyes and wish really hard, maybe it’ll come true.”

Maya frowns at her cryptic words. “Huh?”

She hears a click behind her and turns around just as the door opens and Carina steps out onto the roof. Maya’s heart skips when she sees her, a happy smile spreading across her face. She hangs up the call.

“You’re here!”

“If you’re here on Christmas night, then so am I,” Carina says, smiling sweetly as she shoves her phone back in her pocket. She carries a small gift bag in her hand which she places on the picnic table, before she walks over to Maya and wraps her up in a strong hug.

Maya buries her head in Carina’s neck, breathing in the heady scent of her perfume. She doesn’t speak, doesn’t have the words to express how grateful she is to see her wife right now.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” Carina murmurs, one arm holding Maya close while her other hand rubs her back soothingly.

Maya stays in her embrace for as long as possible, until the alarm rings out beneath them. She pulls back and listens to the instruction that interrupts the moment.

“Aid car 19…”

“Is that you?” Carina asks.

Maya shakes her head. “No, I’m assigned to the ladder truck.” She looks up at Carina and smiles. “You know, you didn’t have to come but I’m happy to see you.”

Carina runs her thumb over Maya’s cheek, smiling as Maya leans into her touch.

“I told you, if you’re here, then so am I,” Carina says. “Besides, there’s one gift that you didn’t have time to open earlier.”

Maya follows her gaze towards the gift that waits patiently on the table. Curious, Maya walks over and retrieves the present from the gift bag. It is wrapped neatly in a deep blue paper decorated with tiny silver snowflakes. She knows what it is from its shape, and chuckles as she rips it open unceremoniously.

She pulls out a box containing her very own G.I. Joe.

“You remembered,” she says, still laughing as she opens the box and pulls out the figure.

“Of course,” Carina says, perching against the table and grinning triumphantly at Maya’s delighted face. “You should have everything you’ve always wanted.”

Maya looks up at her, her face shining despite the grief she carries. “I already do.” She reaches out her hand, which Carina takes in her own, pulling Maya towards her until their lips meeting in a soft kiss.

“Can you stay for a little bit?” Maya asks.

Carina nods. “The probie – Knowles? – invited me to stay for dinner.”

Maya’s stomach grumbles at the mention of food and she thinks of all the uneaten treats at home that they missed out on today – especially that honey-glazed ham. She tugs Carina’s hand until she stands and follows Maya across the roof.

“Well, don’t get too excited, Knowles isn’t the best cook. She managed to destroy a pan last week when all she was doing was boiling pasta.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Carina says casually, “I brought the ham to share.”

Maya swivels on the spot, her face aghast.