Playing with fire (Amelia Shepherd) ABANDONED

forty three

"Guys, we have an announcement to make," Maya said.

Everybody looked over at them, including Ben, Bailey, Travis, Emmett, Andy, Sullivan, Jack, Vic, Mallie, Amelia and the kids.

"Carina and I are having a baby," Maya said.

"Eventually! Eventually!" Carina quickly interjected.

"Alright!" Travis laughed, moving over to hug Maya.

Mallie grinned, leaning over the table to hug Carina.

"I'm very happy for you," Mallie said.

"Oh, please. You and Amelia are half of the reason Maya realised we could do this, too," Carina whispered.

"And you're the other half of the reason. She can do this because it's with you," Mallie whispered.

Carina squeezed her hand, Mallie moving to hug Maya so Amelia could congratulate Carina.

"You're growing up, Bishop," Mallie said, wrapping Maya into a tight hug.

"We both are, Cruz. Thank you," Maya chuckled.

"Whatever you need. I'm your person, remember?" Mallie said.

"Yeah, about that," Maya said. "Uh, this might sound insane, considering the fact you already have two kids and Pru is basically yours, too, but Carina and I were talking and we agreed that we want you and Amelia to be the godparents," Maya said.

"How did I go from hating kids to having tons of them in my family?" Mallie mumbled to herself. Maya laughed.

"I told Carina it was a lot, but she said Amelia would be fine with it and you do whatever Amelia wants because you're whipped," Maya said.

"True," Mallie muttered. "It's not a lot. It's a good thing. I'd love to be their godparent," Mallie said genuinely, hugging Maya again.

"Oh, thank god. You're the only one of us other than Ben that has kids and your kids will be closer in age to mine than Ben's teenagers. I'm slightly terrified that my kid won't have friends," Maya whispered.

"They will, and I'm happy to help however you guys need me to," Mallie said.

"Thank you. Seriously. You're my best friend," Maya said.

"You're my best friend, too, Bishop," Mallie grinned, bumping Maya's hip.

"So, Christmas this year. What's the plan?" Maya said.

"Well, we've got Pru on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, she's staying with Ifeya and Bill Christmas night, but she'll be back on Boxing Day," Mallie said.

"And court?" Maya said.

"Waiting for dates. We want to solve it out of court, if we can, but it's unlikely. The Millers are being difficult," Mallie said honestly.

"Nightmare," Maya grimaced. "You think you'll win?" she said.

"We gotta win. I promised Dean I'd raise his kid. I'm not breaking that promise," Mallie said.

"Agreed," Maya said. "We're behind you the whole way," she said.

"Thank you," Mallie said.

"Any time," Maya grinned at her.

On the 30th January, 2022, the Cruz family, Pru, and most of the Station 19 firefighters, Meredith, Maggie and Mer's kids were all gathered in the Cruz living room, a birthday cake on the coffee table with four candles burning in the middle, one side decorated with Elsa and Anna and the other decorated with firetrucks, at Scout and Myles' requests.