We'll Get Through This

Part 4

Just then, there was a knock at the door, Carina making sure she had no more tears on her face before they both headed to the entryway where they found Andrew standing talking to Mason who had a toddler in each arm. "Andrea," Carina said, smiling as she walked over to him, giving him a hug.

"Hey Andrew," Maya said, also giving him a hug.

"Hey," he said, smiling, "Thanks for inviting me. I stopped at Rosa's and grabbed some pastries."

"Thank you," Carina said, taking the box from her brother, "Please come on in."

"'io Dre," Nora said, reaching for Andrew, the Italian taking the little girl from his brother-in-law.

Everyone went into the living room, Maya and Carina settling onto the couches as the twins played with their uncles on the floor. Maya took Carina's hand in hers, lacing their fingers together and rubbing her thumb slowly over her wife's knuckles, Carina squeezing her hand tightly.

The adults chatted a little in between when the twins needed Andrew and Mason's attention.

About thirty minutes after Andrew got there, they all heard the front door open and suddenly, Laila appeared with a very grumpy looking Josie in her arms.

"Hey," Maya said as she and Carina got up, "Thanks for coming."

"Of course," Laila said, giving Maya and Carina both hugs, "Sorry we were sitting in the car. This little peanut has been struggling with her teeth lately. Her gums are so swollen right now, but they just won't break through."

"Poor little bambina," Carina frowned, rubbing her finger over Josie's red cheek, "Nora was always a miserable teether too."

The nine-month-old looked around, seeing Mason sitting on the floor and immediately started fussing and reaching for him.

"Come here Princess," Mason said, getting up and taking the baby who's blonde hair was just barely starting to come in, "Do you want to come play with Nora and Rowan?"

"Baby," Rowan said, immediately abandoning what she was doing when she saw Mason sit down with Josie.

"We should probably order dinner," Carina said, looking at her wife, "The girls are going to be hungry soon."

"Ok," Maya nodded, seeing it was already after 5, "Anyone have any specific pizza requests? We are ordering from Tutta Bella."

"No mushrooms," Laila requested.

"Can you get the one with the ricotta?" Mason asked, "That you got last time I came for pizza?"

"You know what I like Carina," Andrew said before going back to playing.

"I'll go order," Carina said, knowing it was much easier to order from this place in Italian that English and every time Maya tried, it ended up with a lot of frustration.

"Ok," Maya nodded, "You can just have them deliver it, or I can go get it."

"I'll have it delivered," Carina said, not wanting her wife too far from her side tonight, her anxiety too high already.

"So, how have you been?" Maya asked, turning to Laila, "Are you still enjoying being home full time?"

"I am," Laila nodded, Mason's wife having decided to take a leave from her job as a nurse at Seattle Pres when she had had Josie nine months ago, "I am still thinking I will go back for one night shift a week once she turns one though. I don't want to get too out of practice. Plus, I do miss it and if I work nights, Jo will be asleep for most of it so I won't miss her as much. And Mason's first classes aren't until 9 so we won't have to sort out childcare."