Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Andrea Herrera, who in the past has been against both engagement/wedding rings AND motherhood proudly boasts
an emerald cut diamond on her left ring finger and an 18-month-old toddler: Yarelis Andrea Sullivan Herrera on her
lap. At one point her primary focus was fighting fires and her very active social life...at least until Robert Sullivan's arrival.
From the instant they met SPARKS FLEW:--they clashed, to be sure--but as time goes on their initial attraction blossomed
and grew, culminating in their first sexual encounter (after they arrived back at the station after the California wildfire)...
due to SFD protocols at the time the two had no option except to keep their romance secret (he as a captain and she as
a lieutenant would have caused serious issues, particularly for Sullivan)...

Now that Chief Lucas Ripley's policy changes open up consensual relationships between persons of different ranks are now
a non-issue. Though the secrecy adds spice to their shenanigans, being 'out' has its benefits as well: they can openly indulge
in dancing salsa, dinner dates, and SFD events, best of all their friends can meet and celebrate YARELIS. Birthing her is both a
surprise and a delight to Andy; the main surprise is (as mentioned previously) that a woman dedicated to the 'single life' and
'fire-gasms' takes so readily to motherhood. She no longer fights fires--the risk is too great so she transitions to the academy.

///////////

Elena and Pruitt arrive in the late afternoon to see their granddaughter and inquire about the progress of the commitment
ceremony Andy and Robert are planning. Neither parent agrees with their decision; they'd much prefer that the couple go
the traditional route (marriage, as they have) yet to keep the peace they agree that the two adults can go about their lives as
they choose. "M'ija; es *tan grande la Nena*" [she's so big the baby], her daughter replies "*¡Pues, tiene diez y ocho meses,
Mami*!" {she's eighteen months, Mom!].

"Calm down, Andrea; I've forgotten how fast the little ones grow all RIGHT !"

"I know, I know--I'm joking with you, Mami. ¿*Esta bien usted?" [are you okay?].

"I am completely fine, now that I have the most BEAUTIFUL and CLEVER, babies in the world in my arms!"

Beaming, Andrea confirms that 'Yari' is indeed the 'most beautiful and most clever baby'. "Oooh!," she exclaims, "Your very
precious and wonderful *yerno* [son-in-law] will be here soon."

"You had better not be mean to mi Roberto, Andrea...*es muy londo y muy bonito el--¿verdad, Pruitt?*[he's a lovely man and beautiful]
right, Pruitt?]

Pruitt agrees that Sullivan is a fine man and physically beautiful; to his daughter, he remarks "You know, Andrea: I'm very surprised and
happily surprised about the...changes that you have made. We don't need to go into it now, just know that I never expected to have a
grandchild, or see YOU in a stable and loving relationship. You have done well. *Me allegro*. [I'm very pleased].

"It's true, Papi--thank you both for recognizing the progress I have made. The love that I feel for both Yari and Robert is SO DEEP that
it fills every crevice of my soul. Any positive changes are because of Sullivan."

///////
~tbc~

Chapter Text

//

We let the waters rise...We drifted to survive...I needed you to stay
But I let you drift away [drift away]...

My love, where are you? [My love, where are you?]

Whenever you're ready; Whenever you're ready...
Whenever you're ready; Whenever you're ready...
Can we?--Can we surrender?...
Can we?--Can we surrender?
I surrender...

//

~JULIA and NOAH~

Julia Santos is VERY NERVOUS approaching the front door of her close friend Noah Keiffer; she's never because she's not sure
how he'll react to the news of where she's coming from...and WHY...

She takes a deep breath for courage, then raps sharply on his apartment door. It opens, and tall, dread-locked, and beautiful Noah's
muscular frame fills the doorway, "Hey. What'chu want?"

"I know that you aren't too happy with me but in two minutes I promise that you will be...can I come in?"

"Remember this? : 'Just go back to Taylor'. 'Cause I remember."

"I was...I was mad. Don't you wanna hear my news?"

Inside, he stands stiffly, his muscled arms folded; 'He's keepin' me away ' Julia thinks to herself, yet she forges ahead. "OK...I went
to the prison--to see Louie Greco."

"WHY...Why in the fuck would you do that?" Noah asks. He's becoming agitated.

"It's part of the healin' process, accordin' to the moderator of my group. She says that you have to face your attacker before you
take your life back."

And did you?" The big man asks.

"Yeah. I have so much clarity now. About who I am and what I really want." She hesitates, then says "Before the prison, I passed
by Wildwind."

"OK."

"Noah; I saw Anton...he told that you’re goin’ away.”

“Maybe. That’s not a bad idea now that you mention it; there’s nothin’ keepin’ me around here.”

"I'M nothin', then?"

“Listen; you Can drop it, alright? You and the favorite son are gettin’ close again so do you.”

Jula shakes her head in exasperation. "NOAH...the clarity I mentioned is that I realized what was holdin' me back from lettin'
myself LOVE YOU. I took my power back from that low life. It's like I have...PERMISSION, if that makes sense. *Te amo, Noah*."

~tbc~

Chapter Text

Diane Lewis jots a note before raising her head to meet Maya Bishop's eyes. "The reasons you've listed for not becoming a mother are:

'I’m afraid of losing my partner because she wants kids, and I don’t know what I want. I think I don’t want them;'
'I’m afraid of losing my identity, freedom, and comfort if I have children. Afraid of regretting it if I don’t;'
'My wife is 38 years old; I'd probably have to carry the child and I don't wanna stunt my career projector;'
“I kinda pushed my wife into marriage and...don't I owe her at least ONE CHILD?'...have I missed anything?"

The fire lieutenant replies "I don’t think so."

Diane assures her "You aren't alone in your doubts. And society allows for little ambivalence around this topic. As you know we women--and MEN--have certain expectations we're expected to adhere to: only WE females can actually
birth a baby; then we're expected to care-give and nurture them, mostly. Have you always not felt a desire to one day be a mother?"

"Probably since...my freshman year of university. Possibly my crap childhood steered me away."

/////////

In a lifetime--Made of MEMORIES--I believe--IN DESTINY...
Every moment returns again in time--When I've got the future on my mind
Know that you'll be the only one

Meet me halfway--Across the sky--Out where the world belongs
To only you and I...

Meet me halfway--Across the sky--Make this a new beginning of another life...

/////////

A pot of pasta is boiling when Bishop walks through the front door of their condo; "Dinner is about twenty minutes before
we can eat," Carina says.

Maya hugs her from behind, kisses the nape of her neck, and replies "I took some lost time and spent a few hours with Diane;
she set me straight on the child issue. My position on that is...evolving"

Carina cranes her neck to catch sight of her wife's face, one of her brown eyes peers into Maya’s green orbs from behind a lock
of brown hair. "What are you saying--EXACTLY?"

"That I'm not 100% against a child or children at some point."

//////////
~TBC~

Chapter Text

“Spooner,” Calvin remarks one day after chasing their son around the living room around before attempting to wrestle the
the squirming, giggling Dell into a fresh diaper.

“Hmm.” Spooner has found that his life partner never—EVER!—just asks a direct question; she prefaces it with ‘Spooner’
or another qualifier.

“I sense that your…Nana prefers that we marry.”

“Aha. How you figure?”

“I overheard her speaking about me last week and I’ve graduated from ‘that bony scientist’ to ‘Del’s shack-up.’ Which reminds
s me: that is very much inaccurate as we do not reside in a shack.”

Susan doesn’t catch what he mutters. “Pardon?”

“I said a very valid point.”

“On the one hand, there are several benefits to marriage:
•Dell, for example, would be entitled to death benefits should the worst happen;•
•Doing so certainly ticks a box for Nana;
•Tax benefits…”

Del says “Those are all very practical reasons; on the ‘not so practical side’ are love and the sense of commitment marriage brings.”

"We're committed, you and I."

"Yes. We are. Are you suggesting that we marry, Calvin?"

Popping the baby into his playpen, Calvin answers "I'm not against it. I love you, and I love our baby and our life. It's a discussion; re
a separate discussion, if I'm going to provide our son with a sibling we should start trying soon."

///
~tbc~