Gabriella Anderson
Name: Gabriella Anderson Nicknames: Gabby, Gabs, Ella, Elle Age: 34 Gender: Cisfem Pronouns: She/her Sexuality: Queer Occupation: Personal Trainer Neighborhood: Ocean Crest Apartments Family: Wilder (son), Maia Anderson (ex-wife) Faceclaim: Melissa O'Neil
TW: miscarriage, child-loss, car accident
Gabriella Tran grew up in a typical middle class neighborhood in Chicago, the only child of reasonable parents. They worked hard, provided her with what they could, but she grew up pretty independent all the same.
At eighteen, she applied for community college, but only survived one semester before deciding that sitting through more years of formal schooling just wasn't for her. Instead, she applied to the firefighter's academy. It was a gruelling intake process and the first few months almost killed her, but Gabriella was made of tough stuff and didn't let it get the better of her. She found herself a place within the Chicago Fire Department and thrived in the role. The fast-paced action gave her the adrenaline hits she didn't know she needed.
While dealing with people having the worst days of their lives was emotionally taxing, Gabby eased those frayed nerves by continually throwing herself at the danger, giving herself something blazing to focus on.
Gabriella was getting her third tattoo when she met Maia. The pair quickly hit it off, and while Gabriella had always held a distant dream of maybe settling down with a special someone, she didn't ever let herself believe that such a thing would happen to her. It seemed like just something that happened to lucky people. Turns out that she was one of those lucky ones.
Life with Maia was a blessing. But it wasn't all perfect. When it came to having kids, Gabriella had never wanted to be pregnant, and so when Maia expressed that she would love to carry a child for them, Gabby jumped at the idea. It was not an easy path though, rounds of failed IVF, endless negative pregnancy tests. When it became clear that Maia couldn't get pregnant, Gabriella offered to do it, having seen how much Maia wanted to start a family. So she started being more responsible on the job, properly taking care of herself, doing everything to help the process. Two second trimester miscarriages later, the second of which left Gabby in the hospital for over a week, the pair decided that they needed to stop the IVF.
After some emotional recovery, they filed for adoption, and were graced with the gift that Wilder, a whirlwind of a boy after Gabriella's own heart. She took to being a parent like a duck to water, even though she'd doubted that she'd be any good at it. It seemed their little family was perfect.
Until it wasn't. Gabriella had never felt such heart-stopping panic as she had the day she got the call that Maia had been in a car accident and was in critical condition. It was so hard seeing the woman she loved in such shape, struggling. However, Gabriella was there for every doctor's appointment, PT session, every follow-up. As well as doing everything she could to support Maia at home. Despite everything she did though, she could see her wife slipping further and further away.
Sure, this hurt Gabby, and if it were just her, she would have stayed, but she saw what it was doing to Wilder. His mother showed no interest in him, he would come home from preschool so excited to Maia his work, for her to barely glance at it. The hurt and disappointment in his little face broke Gabby's heart. And Gabby couldn't take it any more, confronting her wife about how withdrawn she was, how it wasn't just affecting her any more. Gabriella knew Maia was struggling, but she had to at least try to make an effort for their family, for their son.
That effort wasn't made, however, and Gabby had to put Wilder first. They'd chosen to give him a home, a family, and if they couldn't be that together, then Gabby had to do something. Filing for divorce was one of the hardest things she'd ever done, especially when she petitioned for full custody. But she was praying that it served as a wake-up call for Maia.
As a suddenly single parent, she removed herself from active duty, working the front desk instead as to not put herself in danger. It was hard, not going after the adrenaline high she'd always craved, instead keeping herself safe for the sake of her son.
Maia's sudden move was a surprise, leaving Gabby entirely unsure of what to do. However, Wilder never stopped asking for his mother, unable to understand why she had just disappeared. So...Gabriella moved them to Aurora Bay. She isn't sure exactly what the plan is-- there isn't a plan. Except to see where Maia is at, and if she is in any state to be a part of Wilder's life.
While she could have taken another fire-fighting job, Gabriella decided that this move was a fresh start, and she just couldn’t continue to put herself at risk like that. She’s opened herself up as a personal trainer, knowing more than a thing or two about fitness, and the flexible hours allow her to be there for Wilder.
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