Work Text:
.
.
.
It was one of those rare but quiet mornings when they didn’t have to rush out. Where Maya woke up to the scent of cucumber shampoo invading her nostrils and the comforting weight of Carina on her chest. Having Carina in her arms like this always caused a sense of comfort and safety and love to flow in Maya’s veins.
The only word she could use to describe the past few days was… bliss. They spent every moment together before Carina was to set to back to Italy. She was booked on a flight in a couple of days and all Maya wanted to do was live in the present and spend as much time together as possible. Bask in the moment and moments she got to share with Carina physically by her side. She knew Carina was coming back, even though the exact date was to be determined, she knew Carina would be back in arms as soon as it was possible. This sense of security and certainty was something she had never truly felt in her life before Carina bulldozed her way into her heart.
Despite this euphoria, Maya did everything possible to quell that small nagging sensation of sadness that tried to creep in. She was adamant that she would enjoy her time with Carina now. Because later, later when Carina would be on a plane and on the other side of the world, she would miss the brunette so deeply she would feel it in her every breath. But right now? Right now, was bliss.
She slowly trailed her hands up and down Carina’s bare back. The unblemished and tantalizing tanned skin soft under her fingertips. This was another new feeling for Maya. Calm. She was lying in bed, conscious but with her eyes closed, just taking in the moment. She wasn’t in any rush to go running. Or to get dressed so she could make it to the station on time. Another aspect of her life that has changed for the better thanks to the beauty wrapped in her arms.
She could only sigh in contentment.
“I can hear you thinking.” Came a muffled voice from the face buried into her neck and Maya couldn’t help but smile. This was an idiom that Carina learned early in their relationship, especially with Maya’s tendency to retreat into herself.
“My apologies. I’ll turn the volume down.” She fired back. This was another reason she loved to stay in bed with Carina these past few days. It would result in one of two things; they would joke and laugh and trade soft kisses. Or they would be silent and make love until it was time to get something to eat. And if Maya was lucky – it would be both.
“I’m just wondering if we can quit our jobs and retire in the Maldives so we can wake up like this every day. Just with the sound of the ocean as an alarm clock.” Maya added.
“Mmmm. That sounds nice. You can scuba dive and I can read while I tan-“
“And then we can have all the sex.” Maya made sure to add to the dream scenario Carina was painting.
Carina laughed, that beautiful laugh that Maya loved so much, as she rested her chin on her hands which were now on Maya’s chest. Carina loved when Maya was like this: soft and relaxed.
“And all the sex,” Carina added, “I’m sure we can make that happen.”
Carina was making that face, that face that made it so hard for Maya not to kiss her, so she did just that. She kissed Carina for all the words that she couldn’t vocalize. For all the love she had for her. Using the kiss as the reassurance she needed that Carina felt the exact same way.
Maya slowly eased Carina onto her back, and slid herself in between the brunette’s legs, the sheet slipping down to her hips allowing Carina to run her own hands down Maya’s bare back. Pulling away for some much needed oxygen, dark blue eyes starred into deep brown ones.
“Marry me.”
Maya blinked.
She so did not mean to say that. Well, she did. She’s been wanting to say it for a while now. But she was worried it was too soon. That Carina wouldn’t be ready, or worse, that Carina didn’t want this at all. If she honest with herself, it’s only recently that she’s realized she has been wanting this. This being them, forever after walking down the aisle in white. Then everything with Carina’s visa happened and she didn’t think it was the right time without making it seem like she was using it as a reason for Carina to stay. And not the fact that Maya really wanted to marry Carina for real and to start a long life with her.
“… what?”
“I… marry me.” Fuck it. She thought. This was Carina. And if she’s sure of one thing in this life of hers, it’s that she’s meant to spend it with Carina by her side.
“This isn’t about the visa,” Maya rushed out. Propping herself up on one elbow so she can really look at her girlfriend. “This isn’t something that I’m asking as a preventative measure so you don’t have to leave. You should go. You should go help and spread Andrew’s ashes just like you’ve wanted to. And you know I would come with you if I could. But….” She took a deep breath, “marry me. Marry me because I love you. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re already my family. My home. Let’s make it official?”
Carina is still silent, just staring at Maya, and it’s making Maya absolutely panic. “I know we haven’t been together for that long. But I know. I’m sure. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. You’re my greatest source of strength and my deepest vulnerability.” She takes Carina’s left hand and places it above her rapidly beating heart.
“I love you so much, Carina. You’ve changed my life completely. You are everything I never knew I’ve always wanted. We don’t have to do it now… we can wait… but I couldn’t. I couldn’t wait any longer to show you how much I love you. So… marry me? Please.”
The silence in the room is deafening. Maya swears she could hear a pin drop. And then she sees a tear escape Carina’s eyes and her heart stops.
“I’m sorry,” she tries to get up, “we don’t have to. I don’t need to. We haven’t really talked about it and-”
“Si.” Carina puts her hands on Maya’s cheeks preventing any further movement by the blonde. “Yes.” Definitive. Sure.
Maya is too shell shocked to breath let alone move or kiss back when Carian fuses their lips together.
“Yes?”
“Si, Maya. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
“I don’t have a ring.” Maya blurts out and it makes Carina laugh.
“You’re crying.” She adds, more of a statement than a question, as she wipes away the tears rolling down Carina’s face. “Happy tears. Shocked tears.” Carina lets out in a breathy laugh.
“I know… to be honest I didn’t plan to say that here and now. Otherwise, I probably would have had a ring and maybe I would be less naked.”
“The naked part was my favourite actually.” Carina cheekily replies.
Maya buries one of her hands in Carina’s wild sleep hair and kisses her with every ounce of love she can.
“I mean it. This isn’t about you leaving. I was going to wait until you got back to show you that. But looking at you just now, I couldn’t help it. I want this Carina. I want to wake up to you like this for the rest of our lives. I didn’t realize how amazing it could feel to be loved by you. And I want to give you that feeling forever.” Maya desperately wants Carina to know that while this wasn’t exactly planned, it doesn’t mean it isn’t what she absolutely wants.
“I know, bambina. My answer is still yes. Whether you ask me now or when I come back home to you.”
.
.
.