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jessicaloons Ā· 1 day ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 9
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
Miss Americana
July 2023:
"ā€¦ so yeahā€¦ I remembered how my mother spoke about you and Monacoā€¦ that itā€™s a wonderful place to start over. Well and here I am." Lauren finished the short and very cut version of why she was sitting now in front of the Monegasque hairdresser, a steaming mug of coffee in her hand.
"Your mother was one of a kindā€¦ not just that she was one of the most beautiful women Iā€™ve ever seen, no she also was one of the most friendly ones. Iā€™m so sorry that you lost her so early in your life, ma chĆ©rieā€¦ life mustā€™ve been hard without herā€¦" Pascale squeezed the young girls hand "I know how hard it can be for children to lose their parentā€¦ a couple of years ago I lost my husbandā€¦ my sons lost their father, Arthur, my youngest he was 17 at the timeā€¦ it wasnā€™t easy. But at least they had each otherā€¦ they had-ā€¦"
"You. Yeahā€¦ I guess with a father who whoā€™s there for me, it couldā€™ve been bearable. But wellā€¦ he had to deal with it himselfā€¦" Lauren mumbled and the older woman nodded slowly.
"I donā€™t know entirely whatā€™s up with your father, but what I know is that he doesnā€™t work for the best kind of people, that it made your and your mothers life not the easiestā€¦ so I think that youā€™re here is for the best. Far away from home and all the problems lurking thereā€¦" an empathetic smile on her lips, she got up and walked behind the counter, rummaging through one of the drawers, returning shortly with a little notebook.
"I let you in on a little secretā€¦ being a hairdresser in Monaco has its perks, youā€™ll end up cutting and styling a celebrities hair every once in a while and I always made sure to take a picture with them, then I noted down the date and what I thought about themā€¦" she flipped through the pages, stopping from time to time to chuckle a little, telling Lauren a little anecdote about the famous person whoā€™s hair she took care off "Thatā€™s David Coulthard, he was a Formula 1 driver, a pretty good one too, heā€™s Scottish and has this booming laughā€¦ during the Monaco GP one day when I was in the paddock, I bumped into him. It was hilariousā€¦" she continued looking through the pages until she finally had found what she was looking for "Ahhhā€¦ here it is! Susannah Lombardi, Miss USA from Woburn, Massachusetts and her gorgeous little girl Rachelā€¦" she showed the picture of Laurenā€™s mother and herself as a toddler, sitting in her mothers lap, next to them stood Pascale, smiling "Iā€™ve seen a lot of beautiful women in my life, but your motherā€¦ she was truly something else, and you look just like herā€¦"
"Not even closeā€¦ she had this natural aura around her. Every room she walked into, she instantly brightened it up. Everyone around her was smiling. She had this warmthā€¦ she- she was amazingā€¦" Lauren whispered, looking at the picture in Pascaleā€™s notebook "What did you write about her?"
"Let me seeā€¦" the hairdresser took the book from Laurenā€™s trembling hands, putting on her glasses "Susannah wasnā€™t just the most beautiful, but also the loveliest lady Iā€™ve ever met. She didnā€™t just look like a queen, she had the grace, the aura, of one as well. A kind and strong woman, a loving mother, who would do everything for her precious little Rachel. But underneath there lies something dark. A sadness in her eyes when talking about her home. I hope sheā€™ll find true happiness one day for her and her daughter. Not many people are that deserving of it." Pascale looked up and pulled Lauren in a tight embrace, seeing the tears streaming down the young girls face "Iā€™m so sorry you lost her, ma cheriĆ©. So, so sorry." she gently traced circles on the crying girls back, trying to soothe her.
After a while Lauren wiped her face, slowly sitting up and Pascale let her go, smiling at her.
"Thank you, Madame Leclercā€¦ I understand now why my mother talked about you so fondly." Laurenā€™s voice hoarse.
"Oh stopā€¦" the older woman chuckled, wiping some stray tears from the girls face "Tell me, how can I help you?"
"I- I just need to improve my French, so I can work as a nurse here in the hospitalā€¦ if you could help me with that?" Lauren said shyly.
"The best way to learn French is to speak Frenchā€¦ and I already have an ideaā€¦"
"Are you sure you want to stay here? I have a big apartment and Iā€™m all alone, my sons all moved outā€¦" Pascale said, looking around the little back room she and Lauren had cleaned and tidied up for the last hour "Itā€™s really no problem!"
"Thank you Mrs. Lec-ā€¦"
"Pascale!"
"Rightā€¦ thank you, Pascale, but I really canā€™t accept the offer! Youā€™re doing already enough to let me stay here!" Lauren smiled and squeezed the older womanā€™s arm.
"I couldnā€™t let you stay in a hotel! Wasting all your money! Mais no!"
"And I really, really appreciate it. This is enough until I get fully settled here in Monaco."
"You will have no problem with that, ma chĆ©rie. You already speak Italian, now we just need to get your French going a little and youā€™re good to go."
"Yeahā€¦ but French isnā€™t that easy, believe me, the last couple of days I was trying a lotā€¦." Lauren chuckled "But Iā€™ll get there."
"Can I leave you alone? My son, he umm-ā€¦ he needs my helpā€¦" the hair dresser said, checking her phone.
"Of course! Go. Iā€™ll be alright. I have everything that I need. And thank you again, Mrs. Le-ā€¦ Pascale."
"Stop thanking me, Ra- Lauren. Looks like we both have to get used to our namesā€¦" she smiled and grabbed her purse "I see you tomorrow. If you need anything, just call or text me. Have a good night."
"You too. See you tomorrow."
Lauren sat down, taking in her surroundings. The storage room turned into a nice little place for her to stay. The day bed was cosy, the drawer next to it full with her personal belongings and clothes. It wasnā€™t much, but it felt safe. Almost homely. After a quick shower in the bathroom and a sandwich Pascale had prepared her earlier, she cuddled into her bed, falling asleep almost immediately.
"Did you sleep well?" Pascale smiled at Lauren, the smell of the fresh coffee she brought her waking up the girls senses.
"To be honest? I think I havenā€™t slept this good for weeksā€¦" Lauren nodded, taking a big sip of the dark liquid "And this coffee was just what I needed to wake up fully, thank you."
"No worries, dear." the hair dresser replied, looking through her notebook.
"Whatā€™s the idea you had in mind, helping me with my French?"
"Well, I could really use a new assistant here in the salonā€¦ one of my girls left, she moved to Milan with her fiancĆ©, and now itā€™s only me and Claire, and itā€™s getting a little hectic at times. I canā€™t do both, taking care of the phone, the calendar, all the supply orders, welcoming new clients while Iā€™m already cutting someone elseā€™s hairā€¦"
"Sounds like something I could do!" Lauren nodded making Pascale smile.
"Well, then Iā€™d say letā€™s set up a contract and welcome to the team!"
Lauren was excited. Working for Pascale was just what she needed to get a footing in Monaco. Getting her French going. Getting used to work and live in the little principality. She couldnā€™t wait to start her new work. For the next weeks Lauren assisted Pascale with everything she could do, besides actually cutting hair. That was something she didnā€™t want to do, too afraid to mess something up and the older woman was glad that she didnā€™t have to say it to her young assistant herself. Lauren ran errands, washed hair, cleaned the salon, handled the appointments and took care of ordering new supplies.
"Looks good, you can send itā€¦" Pascale smiled at her, handing over the clipboard "I have to say, since you are here, everything is way easier. Since Marie left 2 months ago and now with Charles and the ba-ā€¦ well it was all getting a little too much. But with you here, everything goes smoothly."
"I really enjoy working here, my French already got betterā€¦ or at least I think so?"
"It definitely is better! Just a few more weeks and youā€™re fluent!" Pascale replied when she got a notification, checking her phone, frowning.
"Everything okay?" Lauren asked concerned but the hair dresser only sighed and put her phone away.
"Yeah yeah itā€™s fineā€¦ itā€™s justā€¦ I know that the salon is in good hands with you and Claire when I go to the convention tomorrowā€¦ but my sonā€¦ heā€™s going through something and I know I canā€™t always be there, he has to learn to handle it alone, but yeahā€¦ itā€™s not easy."
"I think itā€™s just understandable. Youā€™re an amazing mum who cares for her sons! Nothing wrong with that." Lauren gently patted the older womanā€™s arm who smiled.
"And still. I have to learn to let go. Heā€™ll be fine. He has to be."
"And Iā€™m sure heā€™ll be just that. You donā€™t have to worry about him or your salon. Itā€™s all going to be just fine!"
"Youā€™re right! It will be! How couldnā€™t it be, with you being here!"
"Oh stop. Iā€™m just helping out a bit." Lauren blushed a little, turning away to fill up the hand towels at the sink.
"Yeah, but that helping out is just what I needed. Youā€™re doing an amazing job."
"Itā€™s like I said, I really enjoy working here. Everyone is so friendly, helping me out with my French, especially all the adorable older ladies." Lauren smiled, thinking about Marianne, who came in twice a week to get her hair done.
"They all love you. Estelle told me that she never met a sweeter girl than youā€¦ and I have to say, I agree."
"Oh stop, youā€™re making me blushā€¦ Estelle is lovely, I just hope she doesnā€™t follow through with her plan, bringing her grandson next time with herā€¦" Lauren scowled a little and Pascale laughed.
"Jean-Luc is a nice young man, but noā€¦ you deserve someone special, not a guy whose hobby it is to compare his watches with his friendsā€¦" the hair dresser winked at her assistant, in her mind she was already thinking about introducing Lauren to her son Charles.
"Pascale? You sure youā€™re alright?"
"Oh yes, more than alrightā€¦" she chuckled, thinking about how Charles would be completely enamoured by the lovely, young girl in front of her "Were done for today. I showed you everything you need to know for the next two days!"
"Are you sure?"
"I am. I have to go home and pack now. You enjoy the rest of the day!"
"Have fun at the convention! And donā€™t worry about the salon or your kids. It will be just fine, youā€™ll see." Lauren hugged the hair dresser who sighed contently, grabbing her bag and keys.
"Iā€™ll see you on Wednesday!" and with that she left the salon.
After a quick check if all doors and windows were closed and locked, Lauren took a quick shower and headed into the city centre, strolling through the quieter than usual streets. As soon as she entered her favourite bistro she knew why, a Formula 1 race was on.
"Ah! Lauren. Come on in!" Matthieu, the owner of the bistro, waved her over "You want to sit with us and watch the race?"
"Oh, umm-ā€¦ thatā€™s really nice of you, but I want to enjoy the sunā€¦ so yeah, just the chicken pesto pa-ā€¦"
"ā€¦panini with a cup of our homemade lemonade. Coming right up for youā€¦" he laughed and walked behind the counter, starting on the girls order "No Formula 1 fan?"
"Noā€¦ not reallyā€¦ sorry." Lauren shook her head, smiling.
"Itā€™s okay. Youā€™ll be one in no time, living here in Monaco! I mean, itā€™s been a while since there was a Monegasque F1 driver! And with Il Predestinato, we have a future world champion racing for our country."
"The predestined one? Okay?" Lauren cocked an eyebrow at the nickname.
"Heā€™ll bring back the title to Maranello. We all believe in Charles Le-ā€¦"
"LOGAN!" a young girl shouted and Rachel watched a blue car spin on the screen, almost crashing into the barriers, gravel flying around.
"Sargeant doing Sargeant thingsā€¦" a man shook his head "After de Vries, heā€™s next." he sighed and took a sip of his wine.
"De Vries was at the junior Red Bull teamā€¦ you canā€™t fuck up there! Sargeant is only driving for Williamsā€¦ they are moreā€¦ well they are nicerā€¦" another man replied, when the driver of the blue car climbed out of it and walked away, shaking his head, a man in a red tracksuit and helmet by his side.
Lauren listened to the discussion of the bistro guest about some drivers, not understanding anything.
"Lauren?" Matthieu smiled at her, handing her a bag with the panini and a plastic cup with her lemonade.
"Oh, thanks." she handed Matthieu the money and waved him off when he wanted to give her back the change "See you next time!"
"Until next time!"
"That will be faster than you expect it, your panini is the best!"
And with her dinner in one hand and her drink in the other, Lauren walked back to Pascaleā€™s hair salon, making herself comfortable in her makeshift home, thinking about how her life turned out after leaving Boston and she had to smile. It was risky to put all her eggs in one basket, coming to Monaco looking for Pascale. Someone she never spoke to and didnā€™t know her. But the good feeling she had in her guts was right. She was in Monaco. She worked for Pascale. No one knew who she was. No one back home knew where she was. She was safe. And she was happy. Life was looking good for her.
After closing the salon for the day, the first day without Pascale, Lauren said goodbye to Claire, Pascaleā€™s other employee, she strolled through Monaco. It was early in the afternoon, the sun bathed the busy streets in a warm light, highlighting the beauty of her new home. With the warm sea breeze in her hairs, it didnā€™t take long and the she found herself at the harbour, where she observed the traffic on the water. Living in Boston for the past 4 years, she spend a lot of time with Gabriel at the harbour, the little boy loved boats and ships of all kinds. The yachts although were different from the boats she knew from her home. More elegant, more luxurious, way more expensive. Laurenā€™s feet carried her all the way to the end of the marina to a little park with a set of swings and a few benches. She sat down, leaning back and enjoyed the sun for a while, thinking about how much her life had changed over the past few weeks. Her life in Monaco was so much different then her life in Woburn, she havenā€™t felt this free and happy for a long time. Closing her eyes, she couldnā€™t stop the smile spreading across her face. The sunbeams warming her skin, the peace and quiet of the park, the smell of the sea. Would she need one word to describe it, it would be content. A feeling she havenā€™t felt since her mother died. She leaned back, enjoying the sun when after a while a man with a stroller joined Lauren, sitting down on the bench on her left.
"Shhhā€¦ please, my little angelā€¦" the desperate voice of the seemingly young and really handsome man made her turn slightly "Shhhā€¦ itā€™s okayā€¦"
He was desperate, exhausted, Lauren could tell and she asked herself is she should offer her help to the young father, or at least try, hoping her French would be enough. When she spoke up, he turned towards her, and as he did, he reached up to pull off his sunglasses. Laurenā€™s breath caught in her throat as his eyes met hers, bright, warm, a shade of blueish-green. The smile that followed, shy yet endearing, made her almost stumble over her next words. Not to mention the dimples. Two small indentations that deepened as he smiled, and suddenly the entire world seemed to stop turning around her. Her heart skipped a beat when he laughed after her little advice and Lauren smiled shyly. The young father was thankful for her input, secretly impressed by her knowledge and when it was time for him to leave, it was reluctantly. When he turned away to walk off and then stopped abruptly, turning around introducing himself as Charles and that they might see each other again, after all Monaco was only a little village Lauren nodded, hoping his words would be true. She shook her head and started walking back, her mind still spinning, his voice like a soft melody she couldnā€™t forget in her head.
By the time she reached the little bistro at the corner ordering her favourite panini, her mind was still occupied by the strangers beautiful eyes.
"Who made you smile like that?" Matthieu, the owner of the bistro, asked her, while typing in her order, making Lauren cock an eyebrow "You come her now for weeks, and Iā€™ve never seen you smile like that!"
She blushed and then smiled, wringing with her words.
"Itā€™s nothing like that. Itā€™s just-ā€¦ I love Monaco, Matthieu. Seriously. Itā€™s an amazing place to live and Iā€™m just glad that Iā€™m here.." she said and he nodded.
"It sure is. But not that beautiful to cast a smile like that on a young girls faceā€¦" he winked and Lauren laughed.
"TouchƩ."
"Ah! She speaks French!"
"Oh stop!" the girl laughed even more, grabbing her food and then left, waving goodbye to the bistro owner, making her way yet again back to Pascaleā€™s hair salon, blueish-green eyes and dimples on her mind.
For days, Lauren couldnā€™t stop thinking about Charles. The young father, with his easy smile and the dimples that always seemed to appear just as effortlessly. There was something in the way he held his baby girl, his tender gaze and the softness in his voice when he whispered to her. The slight panic when she didnā€™t stop crying. Every moment was etched into her mind, his shy laugh, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, and the deep, warm blue-green of his eyes that reminded her of the sea. Lauren found herself replaying every single moment of their encounter, every little exchange, every little smile and word that was said, over and over in her head. And although the moment wasnā€™t longer than a couple of minutes, they somehow felt like a lifetime, something she couldnā€™t explain. She never meant to think about him all the time, but she couldn't help it. His handsome face, his smile, his eyes, the way he dotted on his daughter, it all stirred something inside of Lauren, something she hadnā€™t expected to feel. She tried to keep this newfound obsession over a guy she only met once for a couple of minutes to herself, but Pascale started to notice that her young assistant behaved differently. Her eyes seemed brighter now, and her usual smile that was always plastered on her lips was just a little too wide, a little too soft, as if she were keeping a secret. She daydreamed, often lost in her thoughts and Pascale, curious but hesitant, finally decided to figure out what or who made Lauren smile like that.
"Whatā€™s going on with you? Somethingā€™s different since Iā€™m back? The past week you were smiling even more than beforeā€¦" she began.
"Iā€™m always smiling, I thought? You told me that!" Lauren shot quickly back.
"I know. And itā€™s nothing bad, but itā€™s different. You hum to yourself, lost in your thoughtsā€¦ wouldnā€™t I know it better Iā€™d say youā€™ve met someone, but for that you actually would have to leave the salon and go outā€¦" the hairdresser smiled, looking at her assistant who paused, the edges of her smile tightening as she quickly tried to shift the focus.
"No, itā€™s just that- ummā€¦ you know Iā€™m just settling into my new life here.ā€ she said lightly, her voice betraying nothing of the true cause of her newfound joy. "Itā€™s been a big change, but Iā€™m really happy here."
"Hmmā€¦ if thatā€™s it, then Iā€™m happyā€¦ but Lauren? I hope you know you can talk to me about everythingā€¦ I know itā€™s something youā€™re not used to, talking about boys withā€¦ well with a parent or parent like figure." Pascale patted the girls shoulder, smiling warmly at her and Lauren didnā€™t know what to say at first.
"Umm-ā€¦ I did meet someoneā€¦" she began slowly "But it was nothing- I think. We didnā€™t exchange numbers or anything. But there was something about himā€¦ it makes me wonderā€¦" she stopped, shaking her head "I donā€™t know. Itā€™s confusingā€¦" The words felt true, Lauren didnā€™t know what to think or feel. For now it was just that her mind was occupied by the memory of the young father and the spark of something that felt almost like hope. She didnā€™t even fully understand it herself, so how should she explain it to Pascale?
"Hey? Itā€™s okayā€¦ we donā€™t need to talk about it nowā€¦ just know that Iā€™m always here for you, okay? And whoever that young gentleman was, he must be an amazing person, leaving an impression on youā€¦ but just so you knowā€¦ Monaco is almost like a small village. You might see him faster again than you expect." Pascale smiled satisfied, but there was still a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. She would love to know who the young man was who Lauren met, her own hope of introducing Charles to her drifting away a little.
"Thank you, Pascale. Really." the young girl smiled and then quickly turned back to her work, pushing the thoughts of the father and his little girl to the back of her mind, although she had to think about what Pascale said about Monaco being just like a small village, and she might be seeing Charles faster again than expected. The same thing he already told her.
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Chapter 6 - And the unofficial first meeting happenedā€¦ but donā€™t worry, youā€™ll get the full tea in the next chapter ā˜ŗļø
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jessicaloons Ā· 15 days ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 8
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
The Heartbreak Prince
Barcelona 2023:
"Iā€™ll be back soon, my little princess. Iā€™m going to miss you so much." Charles whispered, cradling his daughter gently to his chest "Donā€™t grow too much, you hear me?" he kissed her forehead, his heart aching when he heard the sounds she made "Youā€™ll call me after the check-up?"
"Charles, itā€™s just a standard check-up. Itā€™s mandatory. They just check if she develops and grows the way sheā€™s supposed to and look at her, sheā€™s perfect and there is nothing wrong with her." his mother chuckled "But yes, Iā€™ll call you right after."
"Thanks Maman." he kissed his motherā€™s cheek, then his daughters before carefully handing her over into the arms of his mother "Bye little princess."
"Bye daddy!" Pascale gently held Avaā€™s hand up and waved "Have a good race weekend, daddy."
Charles hummed a little, leaving his apartment. He wasnā€™t sure if he would have a good race weekend and when Saturdays qualifying was his worst session of the season so far he left the track frustrated in the evening. Back in his hotel room he felt alone, missing the sweet sounds of Ava she made when sleeping. He took out his phone and scrolled through his pictures. What used to be bright mix of race weekends, trips with his friends, parties and dinner get togetherā€™s was now a gallery of Ava. Little clips of her smiling for the first time, grabbing his finger tightly, turning her head. Pictures of her while sleeping, or looking at whoever held her with her big orbs. He missed his little girl. More than he ever thought it was possible. He forgot about the time when he FaceTimed his mother, hoping to see his little one after the day he had.
"Charles? Everything okay?" his mother looked as if she just woke up, that was when Charles realised how late it was.
"Iā€™m sorry, Maman, I forgot how late it was. I just-ā€¦ I wanted to see Ava." he mumbled and Pascale began to smile.
"Of course, well sheā€™s sleeping but I guess thereā€™s nothing wrong with having a look how sheā€™s doing, no?" she said and the next moment Charles looked at his daughter, happily slumbering, making the most adorable noises, the ones he missed dearly next to him at night, and he felt his eyes stinging a little.
"Thanks Maman, that was what I neededā€¦" he whispered and his mother nodded.
"Youā€™ll do good tomorrow. Donā€™t worry."
"Yeah. Maybeā€¦" Charles mumbled and sighed "For now, I just miss herā€¦"
"Youā€™ll see her in 2 days, Charles. Go to sleep now. You have a race to win tomorrow."
"Sure. Win. Good oneā€¦"
"How is she doing that?" Arthur mumbled and Charles looked up from his book.
"Doing what?" he tilted his head a little, looking at his brother and daughter.
"I was in a really, really bad mood. I hold her for not even a minute and Iā€™m in the best mood ever. Like look at her squishy face! Her chubby cheeks? How can someone be this adorable?" Arthur cooed at the little girl lying on his thighs, stroking her tiny tummy.
"Well first off, I think she absorbs any bad energy around her and turns it into positive energy. And secondly, sheā€™s my daughter look at me, Iā€™m adorable." the older Leclerc laughed and Arthur threw his head back, cackling.
"Yeah sureā€¦ youā€™re not even in the slightest as adorable as Ava, nice try. But I agreeā€¦ sheā€™s like a filter system for bad mood."
"Donā€™t you ever again call my daughter a filter system!"
"Mood cleanser?"
"Arthur!"
"Okay, okay! Jeez. Seems like her filter system isnā€™t working long rangeā€¦" the younger Leclerc mumbled, still chuckling.
"Youā€™re an idiot, I hope you know thatā€¦" Charles sighed sprawling out on the floor "I really donā€™t want to go to Canada tomorrowā€¦"
"Totally understandableā€¦ I cuddle every night with her for you."
"Usually you would come with meā€¦ I see that your priorities have changed."
"I can watch you race from here as well, just with the bonus that I can cuddle with my gorgeous niece." Arthur shrugged playing peek-a-boo with Ava, loving the excited sounds she made.
"I wish I could take her with meā€¦ but itā€™s just not possibleā€¦" Charles sat up, watching his daughter looking at her uncle with her big blue orbs "At least I know that you guys take good care of her."
"Yeah. Donā€™t worry. You go to Canada and do your best. We take care of our little angel."
"Sheā€™s my angel."
"Our angel."
Montreal 2023:
"Hey Charles, sorry to see you this soon here. You couldnā€™t quite set a good time with intermediates, were the tyres the problem?"
Charles sighed and took a sip out of his water bottle, shaking his head.
"I think they were partly the problem. I asked for slicks, the track was a mix of wet and dry at that point and I didnā€™t feel too comfortable on the intersā€¦"
"You were frustrated on the radio, saying after the session that the tyres werenā€™t ready."
"Iā€™m very frustrated with the qualifying in general. Not everything is about the tyres obviously, some others did exactly the same thing and still went through into Q3 on inters. But I couldnā€™t set a fast time with them and when we finally changed onto the slicks I had not enough time to prepare themā€¦ we are just making our lives so much more difficult like this." the Ferrari driver said, trying to not show how frustrated he truly was.
"What do you think about tomorrow, starting from P11?"
"We need to improve and do a step forward otherwise weā€™re always going to be disappointed so yeahā€¦we need to improve nowā€¦" Charles said with finality in his voice, hoping the reporter would have enough and thankfully he nodded.
"Thank you Charles and good luck for the race tomorrow."
"Thanks." the driver followed Mia to the next interview, going over the same questions, again and again and when he finally made it back to the Ferrari hospitality the mood all around wasnā€™t the best. Only one car in Q3.
"Carlos has to go to the stewards laterā€¦" Andrea said, and Charles cocked an eyebrow "He impeded Pierreā€¦"
"Shit. What position?"
"P8, for-ā€¦"
"P8? When he gets a penaltyā€¦" Charles looked over at Fred talking to Carlos and Ricky, his race engineer.
"Heā€™ll be in P11 and youā€™re in P10ā€¦" Andrea replied "Letā€™s wait and seeā€¦"
It didnā€™t take long for the confirmation that he was indeed starting in front of Carlos and the mood in the garage had shifted. Charles never liked being in front of his teammate because he benefitted from a penalty, but he knew better than anyone else that there are races like this, Monaco was the best example for it. He knew that strategy wise he was now in a better position and had to deliver to maximise the teams points this weekend and when he sat down in the race debrief, with 22 points, 12 by him and 10 by Carlos, he felt like they did the best they could do with the situation they were given.
"ā€¦ alright, thatā€™s it for tonight. Letā€™s work hard to get you guys on the podium in Spielberg!" Fred dismissed the meeting and Charles got up immediately, ready to leave as fast as possible.
On his way out some of the mechanics asked if he would join them for a couple of beers but he declined, stating he was exhausted when Mario began to laugh.
"Sure, youā€™re exhaustedā€¦ you can tell us, Charles, you have a special girl waiting at home for youā€¦" he said, making the driver stop dead in his tracks, looking at him.
"What?" he was shocked, how did he know about Ava?
"Youā€™re in love! Amoreā€¦ itā€™s in your eyes.
I can see it." he chuckled and Charles let out a breath he didnā€™t know he was holding "So go, enjoy your time with your girl."
"Th-thanksā€¦" the driver almost stuttered walking away as fast as possible.
"That was painful to watchā€¦" Andrea appeared out of nowhere, making Charles flinch "You have to learn to hold it together a littleā€¦"
"I was just so freaking scared that they knew about A-ā€¦" he stopped, looking around and then continued with a quiet voice "I thought he knew about Ava. Thatā€™s- thatā€™s like my worst nightmare right now. People finding out about her while Iā€™m still adjusting to this new lifeā€¦"
"Youā€™re doing great, Charles, really. You should cut yourself some slackā€¦" Andrea clapped his back.
"Yeah maybe, but Iā€™m still not ready to be a single father under the scrutiny of everyone who knows who I amā€¦" Charles sighed unlocking the car "Maybe one day, when I know how to manage everything, but for now, itā€™s like thisā€¦ for now I hurry back home after the races to see my beautiful girl."
"Well Iā€™d say then letā€™s get going. Letā€™s go home so you can see your little one."
"I canā€™t wait."
Charles walked through his living room, carefully rocking Ava to sleep, trying his best not to melt away when he looked at her. His mother sitting on the sofa with teary eyes, her heart so full of love for her son and granddaughter that she almost forget why she was here in the first place.
"Maman itā€™s really okay! I will be fine. I still have Enzo and Arthurā€¦" Charles smiled, gently stroking Avaā€™s back and Pascale chuckled, her eyes trained on the scene in front of her.
"ā€¦if Enzo and Arthur are your last resortā€¦"
"Charlotteā€¦ I have Charlotte, okay? Weā€™ll be fine. So please, go!"
"Itā€™s just two days, I promise! I need to go to this convention. I havenā€™t been to one in a long time and now that Marie leftā€¦" Pascale began and Charles nodded.
"Weā€™ll be fine. Until then I have it figured out, okay? Itā€™s in the week of the Hungarian GP?"
"Yeahā€¦ it would be on Monday and Tuesday, Iā€™d be back Tuesday eveningā€¦"
"So we still got time. Itā€™s all good. Really. Iā€™ll talk to Silvia and Fred that I would fly out Tuesday night. Itā€™ll be fine." he reassured his mother, smiling at her.
"Youā€™re right. Youā€™ll manage. And it still gives me time to manage what to do with the salon these two days, Julie canā€™t manage the salon and take care of all the appointmentsā€¦" she agreed after a moment and Charles sat down next to her.
"And youā€™ll manage that as wellā€¦" he said, smiling at his mother "I wish I could take Ava with me from time to time, you know? But even if no one would see me with her, the moment someone sees her with you? Arthur? Or anyone else close to me? People wouldnā€™t stop asking questions whose daughter she isā€¦ and keeping her at a hotel room all the time? Thatā€™s not okayā€¦" Charles sighed, smiling when Ava flinched a little, getting scared from her own adorable little sneeze.
"I know, Charles. But youā€™re doing the right thing I thinkā€¦ donā€™t get me wrong, Iā€™m proud of you and what youā€™re doing, and how you act around your fansā€¦ youā€™re so down to earth and always make them smile. But itā€™s dangerousā€¦ theyā€™re getting too close at times and with Ava with you? I would be scared for her safetyā€¦"
"No, youā€™re right. Itā€™s too dangerous. For now this is the only way to ensure her safety, itā€™s what has to be done." Charles replied, getting up "I want her to be safe and happy. And if that means that sheā€™s here with you while Iā€™m away, then itā€™s okayā€¦"
"It is, but you still donā€™t have to like itā€¦" Pascale said quietly, watching her son laying down his precious little girl into the bassinet next to the sofa.
"Oh, believe me, I donā€™t like it. Not at all. I hate it. I hate it to leave her behind all the time, I hate it to have so little time for her between the races. I hate it all. But then again, coming home seeing her? Itā€™s all worth it at the end of the dayā€¦ and only 4 races left and itā€™s summer break. I canā€™t wait. 3 weeks without interruption." Charles smiled, stepping carefully away to not wake up his little one "3 weeks of not having to watch out for people seeing us. The house is private, high walls and fences. No one knows that weā€™re renting it. Itā€™s going to be perfect."
"It will do you some good to not constantly look over your shoulder when youā€™re outside with herā€¦ and when you donā€™t have to wear this atrocious clothes to hide who you areā€¦" Pascale gently patted her sons arm who scowled a little.
"Thatā€™s my normal clothesā€¦ I like them actuallyā€¦" he replied and his motherā€™s eyes widened.
"You wear this jeans that fit you thrice, that weird sweatshirtsā€¦ you wear that voluntary?" she asked, the shock evident in her voice.
"Umm- yeah, I do actuallyā€¦"
"Oh. Okay. Umm-. Wow. Okay."
"Ouchā€¦ that doesnā€™t hurt at allā€¦ I wear that stuff all the time? In the paddock?"
"I donā€™t look at pictures of you online? Or in magazines or whatever. I see you these days mostly in sweatpants or shorts. Or with these oversized, weird clothes when you go out for a walk with Ava, always putting on caps and XXL-shadesā€¦ sorry, I thought thatā€™s some kind of disguiseā€¦" Pascale chuckled a little.
"Wow. Thanks Mamanā€¦" Charles rolled his eyes, plopping down next to her.
"I mean-ā€¦ umm-ā€¦ what do I know about fashion these days, you know? At the end of the day itā€™s just clothes." she shrugged her shoulders making her son laugh.
"Yeahā€¦ clothes you donā€™t like."
"Clothes I donā€™t likeā€¦"
Austria 2023:
Spielberg was always a track Charles liked a lot. A track he already won and stood on the podium before. Maybe if he worked hard enough, he finally could celebrate a win with his little girl. The first of many more to come hopefully. When he said goodbye on Tuesday evening, he held her close to his chest, kissing the crown of her head.
"Iā€™ll be back soon, mon amour, I love you my baby girl." he whispered, then handed Ava over to his mother "Have a nice weekend together." he kissed his mothers cheek and then grabbed his bag, waving goodbye once last time, meeting up with Joris who waited outside for him.
"Ready?" he asked and Charles nodded, getting in the car, trying to focus on the weekend ahead.
Media day came and go, as always, the same questions, the same people. Fan events here, sponsor events there, Silvia parading him around like a puppy for everyone to fawn over, introducing him to business men and their guests, small talk left and right. Charles hated it. Every single minute of it. But it was part of his job. So he smiled, laughed, listened.
"I have to say Charles, youā€™re displaying a tremendous amount of strength, the way you pull through although our car this year is anything near the Red Bull." one man in a dark navy suit said, waving over a young girl "Alessia, I want you to meet Charlesā€¦" he said and Charles heart skipped a beat.
Alessia. His mouth went dry. His mind and heart started racing each other. No. It couldnā€™t be. She wouldnā€™t come here. She knew who he was. She wouldnā€™t do that. He didnā€™t listen to what the man in front of him said, he just tried to regain control over his body again, when the girl stopped in front of him and he looked at her face. He let out a sigh of relieve, carding nervously with his hand through his hair, chuckling.
"Charles, this is my daughter Alessiaā€¦" the businessman began big Charles interrupted him.
"It was nice to meet you, the both of you, but I need to make a call. Please excuse me." he said and stormed off, out of the room down the hallway to a little terrace, where he sat down, taking a deep breath, closing his eyes.
"Hereā€¦" a voice startled Charles and he looked up at Carlos, handing him a glass with a dark drink in it "I thought you could need one, I for sure canā€¦"
"Thanks." Charles nodded and clinked his glass with his team mates.
"Since when are there so many young girls attending these sponsor events? Itā€™s usually just old men and some business women? But now it seems like every guy is bringing their daughters along." Carlos shook his head, taking a sip of his drink.
Charles thought for a moment and had to admit that he was right, the last 2 events he attended were also packed with a lot of girls.
"Maybe the fathers want their daughters to get more involved in what theyā€™re doing? Make them passionate about racing? Wouldnā€™t be too bad if we get more girls into watching F1 or motorsports in generalā€¦" he shrugged, taking a sip from his drink as well, grimacing at the taste "What is that?"
"Itā€™s whiskeyā€¦ I just grabbed the first two glasses the bartender had prepared, probably some dudes in there waiting for their drinks stillā€¦" Carlos laughed "So. Whatā€™s going on with you?"
Charles looked at him, cocking an eyebrow but the Spaniard didnā€™t look away, holding his gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on mate, Iā€™m not stupid! Somethings going onā€¦" he insisted and Charles heart was pounding "You, Fred, Silvia, you all act a little weird here and there, like you know something the rest of us doesnā€™tā€¦"
"I-I donā€™t know what you meanā€¦ there is nothing we donā€™t- umm we donā€™t know anything you donā€™t know! Or I mean-ā€¦ maybe they do but I donā€™t know either so they fool us bothā€¦" the Monegasque stuttered, making Carlos raise an eyebrow again.
"Youā€™re the worst liar. You need to work on that. Like seriously." the older driver chuckled, taking another sip before he continued, his voice more serious "Is it about our contracts?" he asked, mustering his team mate, but when Charles didnā€™t react, only looked at him wide eyed and confused, he sighed "Alright, I wonā€™t ponder."
Charles felt bad. He liked Carlos, sure, they werenā€™t the best of friends, as teammates it was almost impossible, but there was a mutual respect, on and off track and lying to him was something he didnā€™t like. Especially when Carlos thought it was about such an important topic like their contract extensions.
"I have no idea about our contract situation, I swear. Youā€™re right. There is something going on, but it has nothing to do with you, with the team, not even with racing. Itā€™s a private issue and Fred and Silvia know about it. Thatā€™s all. I swear." Charles stated after a while, looking at Carlos.
"Is everything okay?" he wondered, looking relived when the younger driver nodded "Okayā€¦ you know- ummā€¦ if you need someone to talk, you can talk to me. I mean, weā€™re teammates after allā€¦"
"Thanks Carlos, I appreciate it." Charles smiled a little and they both fell silent again.
He didnā€™t know how long they sat there, but when they finally made their way back inside, the event was almost over, Silvia looking more than annoyed.
"You can go now, itā€™s over. Go back to the hotel, relax, rest, the weekend starts tomorrow and we want you to deliver a good performanceā€¦ at least on track, if you canā€™t keep our sponsors happy apart from itā€¦" she said tight lipped and stormed off, leaving the two drivers alone, chuckling.
"Then Iā€™d say letā€™s go and rest so we can deliverā€¦" Carlos said winking, following the redhead and Charles tagged along.
The weekend started out well for Charles and when he FaceTimed with his mother and daughter after the qualifying he felt confident, although that confidence faded after the sprint shootout and later the sprint race itself.
"P12. Fucking P12. What the fuck." he was pacing back and forth in his hotel room, too agitated to sit down.
"The real race is tomorrow. Youā€™ll start from P2. Itā€™ll be fine." Joris tried to calm his best friend down who just scoffed.
"Did you see how bad I was driving today? What makes you think Iā€™d be better tomorrow?" the driver finally plopped down on the sofa, head in his hands "This season is the worst Iā€™ve ever hadā€¦ even worse than at Sauber."
"Oh come on. Stop that. I bet my ass that youā€™ll do just fine tomorrow. You know what? I say, you make it onto the podium." Joris sounded determined, confident and Charles had to chuckle "If I can believe in you, you can tooā€¦"
"Iā€™m trying. I really am but-ā€¦" he began but his best friend shook his head.
"No but. Youā€™ll finish this race on the podium. Period." he stated and after a moment of silence Charles nodded.
"Youā€™re right. Iā€™ll finish on the podium." he said, knowing that no matter what he would say, Joris would diminish it anyway and when he waved at him from the podium, claiming a P2 he could see the big grin of his best friend, knowing he would get a big I told you so as soon as he would be back in the garage.
"Little stop over at home and then Silverstone my assā€¦" Charles groaned, hating to leave Ava after not even 24 hours again.
"You sure you have everything? I saw a lot of stuff on your bed?" Pascale asked him and he shrugged.
"It was stupid to unpack. For a day..." he mumbled going back to his bedroom, returning a minute later with a bunch of clothes and toiletries in his arms "So stupidā€¦" he dropped everything haphazardly into his suitcase, closing it "Come here little princess." Charles walked towards his mother who handed her granddaughter to her father and then sat down, watching her son cooing at his little girl "I guess I have to go nowā€¦" the young father said after a quiet few minutes where he cradled his bundle of joy close to his heart "I donā€™t want toā€¦ but I have toā€¦" he sighed, kissing Avaā€™s chubby cheek, smiling at the little yawn she let out "And you baby girl need to go to bedā€¦"
"Iā€™ll take care of that." Arthur jumped up from where he was sitting, happily taking his niece out of his brotherā€™s arms when their mother got up, rolling her eyes.
"Arthur, you have to leave as wellā€¦ so come on. No stallingā€¦" the older Leclerc brother said, grabbing his phone.
"Iā€™m not stallingā€¦ I just think- I donā€™t knowā€¦" Arthur sighed handing his niece over to his mother "I just much rather would stay here than raceā€¦" he mumbled, kissing Avaā€™s head.
"Well, sameā€¦ but itā€™s our job, soā€¦" Charles shrugged, slipping on his shoes.
"I know, I know." the youngest Leclerc brother held up his hands and slipped on his shoes as well "Letā€™s goā€¦ goodbye, little princess. Goodbye, Maman." he kissed both of their cheeks and then stepped aside for his brother to do the same.
"I see you on Mondayā€¦" Charles whispered to his daughter before he looked up at his mother "Thanks for taking care of her, Maman. See you on Monday. Or wait, is the convention next week?"
"No, itā€™s after Hungary." Pascale replied, smiling when Ava grabbed onto her necklace, looking at the sparkling charm.
"Okay. And itā€™s all sorted with the salon? You can go and donā€™t have to close for the days?"
"Yes, I found a solution." Pascales smile got bigger.
"Thatā€™s good." Charles said and waved at his little girl, ready to leave.
"What solution?" Arthur asked, intrigued by his motherā€™s big smile that wasnā€™t solely based of his niece happily babbling away in his motherā€™s arms "Maman? Whatā€™s the solution?"
"Lauren. Sheā€™s the solutionā€¦" his mother whispered, but before Arthur could ask any further questions his brother already, pulled him towards the door.
"Joris is here, letā€™s go. Bye Maman, bye Ava."
"No, wait, I want to know-ā€¦"
"Whatever it is, it can wait, weā€™re late."
"I just want to know who Lauren is!"
"Lauren?" Charles cocked an eyebrow, stepping into the elevator.
"Yes, Maman said sheā€™s the solutionā€¦"
"Who?"
"Lauren!"
"Who the hell is Lauren?"
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Chapter 8 - I am back and I am sooo sorry it took me this long to upload this chapter! Long story short, here it isā€¦ enjoy it! Next chapter we might get the first meetingā€¦ or notā€¦ I guess youā€™ll have to wait and see šŸ¤­
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
@glitterquadricorn @lottalove4evelyn @janeh22 @itsjustkhaos @mariclerc @fangirlforever2000
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jessicaloons Ā· 18 days ago
Text
INVISIBLE STRING: FROM THE VAULT
Part 3: A Christmassy storyā€¦
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Merry Christmas everyone šŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļø
Better late than never! As it is during Christmas, it all gets a little hectic and what I wanted to post last night had to be postponed to todayā€¦ itā€™s a little something I started to write a year ago, at Christmas, while watching one of my all time favourite Christmas movies.
And now no more talking, here it isā€¦
Christmas 2027:
"Radiation?" Joris cocked an eyebrow.
"Radiation." I shrugged my shoulders and he chuckled "Donā€™t ask. Itā€™s- itā€™s her newest ickā€¦"
"Youā€™re surrounded by radiation the entire day with having your phone with you? So whereā€™s the difference at ni-ā€¦"
"Thatā€™s exactly the point. Your body is exposed to radiation all day long, so at night, when it resets, there shouldnā€™t be any radiation!" Lizzieļæ½ļæ½ļæ½s voice rang out behind us, making Joris flinch "Iā€™ve read it in various magazines! So it canā€™t be that wrong!"
I had to chuckle, looking at Jorisā€™ petrified face when Lizzie glared at me, although I could see her eyes getting watery.
"Itā€™s not funny!" her voice strained.
"Itā€™s not, cara mia. Youā€™re right. Iā€™m sorry." I replied.
"Iā€™m not crazyā€¦" she sniffled a little and I felt bad.
"No, youā€™re not! I know that, okay?" I said immediately and got up from my seat, cupping her cheek and gently stroked the side of her bump "Youā€™re doing everything to protect our babiesā€¦ so whatever you think is best weā€™ll do! Youā€™re an amazing mum, okay?"
She only nodded slightly and turned away, her shoulders slumped.
"I lay down for a bitā€¦" she whispered and waddled off, taking a short look into Emmieā€™s room, before she continued to our bedroom.
"I swear I didnā€™t want to upset her!" Joris looked at me with big eyes and I sighed, sitting back down.
"Believe me, same. The last 2 or 3 days itā€™s been tough, sheā€™s more emotional than usuallyā€¦" I rubbed my temples, leaning back "One moment sheā€™s happy and bubbly, the next moment she cries about how thereā€™s only one apple left and that it might feel aloneā€¦ and then sheā€™s mad at herself for crying about such ridiculous things which makes her cry even more because she thinks Iā€™m annoyed of her being an emotional messā€¦ which is not true at all. I love it. I swear."
"Youā€™re probably the only guy on earth who loves his pregnant wifeā€™s mood swings." Joris laughed.
"Itā€™s cuteā€¦ when sheā€™s this bubbly Lizzie, who turns over a jar she canā€™t open first super frustrated and then grumpy like never seen before and curses it like thereā€™s no tomorrow, just to be sad the next moment that whateverā€™s in the jar is lost foreverā€¦"
"And then you chime in and save the dayā€¦" he wiggled with his eyebrows and I held up my hands.
"You know, not all heroes wear capesā€¦ but they still get a proper thank youā€¦ if you know what I meanā€¦"
"Yeah. No. Grossā€¦"
Right when I wanted to reply I heard the soft steps of Emmie and Arlo approaching and when I turned a little I saw them both walk around the corner.
"Dada? Mummy look sad?" her sweet little voice sounded truly concerned and I opened my arms, hoisting her up into my lap "Why mummy sad?"
"Sheā€™s not sad, Emmie. Just a little emotional."
"Emonal?" she repeated and I smiled.
"Emotionalā€¦" I said slowly, while she quietly said the word again "Thatā€™s when you feel all sorts of emotionsā€¦ thatā€™s feelings. Sad, happy, tired, funny, moodyā€¦ and you just donā€™t know whatā€™s the real feeling. So you get a little overwhelmed with emotionsā€¦ itā€™s nothing bad. It happens. Especially when someone carries a baby, or like mummy two, in their bellyā€¦"
"Mummy feel for baby one and baby two?" Emmies eyes widened and I had to chuckle.
"Yes, my little princess, thatā€™s exactly what mummyā€™s feeling. Her feelings and baby one and twos feelings."
"Lot of feelings!"
"Oh yes! A lot of feelings!" I nodded and she sighed, cuddling into my chest "You know what? Why donā€™t you help me and Joris make some hot chocolate for mummy?"
Emmieā€™s eyes lit up and she jumped off my lap, already pulling me up on my feet before she grabbed onto Joris hand, doing the same.
"Comes on, Jojo! Hot chotlat for mummy!" she chirped and pulled him with her.
"Iā€™m coming, Emmie-bug." he laughed and picked her up, following me into the kitchen, where he sat her down on the kitchen island.
"Emmie hot chotlat, too!" she looked first at me and then at Joris with her big puppy eyes and I could melt away on the spot.
"Letā€™s make hot chocolate for us all, okay? And then we can watch a movie before bedtime, how does that sound?"
"No bedtime."
"Emmie, we have to get up early tomorrow! Weā€™re leaving for Christmas!" I reminded her but she shook her head.
"No bedtime." she repeated, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"No bedtime means no Christmas, and no Christmas means no pops and grams, no granny, no Liam or Elijahā€¦ no Arthi!"
"No Arthi?" Emmie whispered and I nodded.
"Also no presentsā€¦"
"Emmie like bedtime."
"Yeah?" I asked and she nodded.
"Bedtime comfy. Jojo read story?" she turned and looked at him "Pwease?"
"Of course, Emmie-bug. Every story you want!" he cooed at her and she clapped happily.
"Now chotlat for mummy!"
"Now chocolate for mummy."
"Charles?" Lizzie whispered and I turned a little, trying to make her out in the dark "Iā€™m sorryā€¦"
"What do you mean?" I asked, voice still hoarse from sleeping. I looked around, my eyes trying to adjust to the darkness and saw her perched against the headboard.
"For being over emotionalā€¦ and unreasonableā€¦" she said and I sat up to switch on the lamp on the night stand.
"Hey, youā€™re not over emotional or unreasonable!" I replied, rubbing my eyes, facing her.
"I am. The other day I cried because of a pair of socks I had to throw away since one of them had holesā€¦"
"It was a nice pair of socks!"
"Charlesā€¦" Lizzie chuckled and I grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles "Iā€™m serious! I feel like Iā€™m way worse than when I was pregnant with Emmie!"
"Yeah of course! Youā€™re carrying twins, cara mia! Double the trouble!"
"Is that why I could eat all the damn time? Iā€™m always hungryā€¦" she sighed and I laughed, looking at her pouting.
"And what does my pretty girl want right now?"
"Now? Ohā€¦ ummā€¦ Iā€™m not hungryā€¦" she looked away and I gently grabbed her chin, turning her head.
"Lizzieā€¦ I know youā€¦ itā€™s 1 am thatā€™s your timeā€¦ so, what can I get for you?" I stifled a yawn.
"Iā€™m fineā€¦ youā€™re tired and weā€™ll be picked up earlyā€¦" she mumbled but I shook my head.
"Pretty girlā€¦" I scooted closer, cupping her cheek "What do you want? Fruits? Something salty? Ice cream? A burger?"
"Some sour gums and-ā€¦ itā€™s weird, because usually I donā€™t like themā€¦ salt and vinegar crisps? Do we have that?"
"On itā€¦" I pecked her lips and shuffled out of the bed, stretching as soon as I stood up "Anything else?"
"Ummā€¦ one of these strawberry lemonades maybe?"
"Anything my pretty girl wants." I said, grabbing my sweatpants that got stuck somehow and I pulled harder almost tripping over when I finally freed it.
"Are you okay?" Lizzie looked at me and I nodded.
"It got stuck somehowā€¦ I donā€™t knowā€¦ get comfy Iā€™ll be right back." I slipped on my pants and left our bedroom, down the hall to the kitchen I stopped at Emmieā€™s bedroom and took a look inside.
Our little girl tucked in under her blankets, Arlo guarding her, sleeping right in front of her bed. He mustā€™ve felt my presence, lifting his head looking at me. He got up, yawned and then trotted over, tilting his head.
"All good, Arlo. Just me." I whispered, kneeling down "Go watch our little princess." I stroked his fluffy fur, scratched his ears before he stretched ā€œOhhh big stretch! Good boy." I scratched his ears and got up "Go back to sleepā€¦" he turned around and walked away, plopping down back at his old spot.
I rummaged through the pantry, grabbing everything Lizzie graved and trotted back to our bedroom, where a big smile spread over her face as soon as she saw me walk in.
"I can already taste the lemonadeā€¦" she made grabby hands and I laughed, handing her the can of lemonade and the crisps and sour gums.
I climbed in bed next to her, lying down and watching how she happily scrunched up her nose as soon as she ate the first sour gum, closing her eyes savouring the taste.
"Remind me to pack strawberry lemonade, salt and vinegar crisps and sour patch kidsā€¦" I yawned.
"Iā€™m so excited for Christmas, our last without the twinsā€¦ next year weā€™re already a family of 6ā€¦" Lizzie whispered and I cocked an eyebrow.
"6?"
"6ā€¦"
"Of courseā€¦ Arloā€¦"
"I told you heā€™s our first born." Lizzieā€™s happy giggling made me smile and I nodded.
"Youā€™re right. He is. And heā€™s an amazing big brother, guarding his little sister."
"Heā€™s a good boy." she happily munched and I smiled, yawning again "You can sleepā€¦ you donā€™t have to stay awake with meā€¦"
"Yeah?" I mumbled, fighting to keep my eyes open.
"Yeahā€¦" Lizzie replied and leaned down, kissing my cheek "Thank youā€¦"
"You need anything else?" I asked but she shook her head.
"No. Weā€™re all good now. Sleep, pretty boy."
I didnā€™t know if I replied or not, I fell asleep almost immediately.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
An annoying ringing inside my head. But was it inside my head? I groaned and turned around, Lizzie next to me fast asleep, the ringing that definitely wasnā€™t just inside my head didnā€™t seem to bother her.
"Dadaā€¦ make it stopā€¦" Emmie rubbed her eyes, stumbling to our bed, her hair her a hot mess "Head owie!"
"I knowā€¦" I picked her up and sat her next to Lizzie "Iā€™ll goā€¦" I kissed her cheek and scrambled out of bed, looking for the source of the horrific sound. The door bell. And the landline phone. Both ringing at the same time. Just like my phone "What the hell?" I grabbed my phone and picked up "Hello?"
"Ah, Mr. Leclerc! Finally! I wanted to come up myself and look if everything is alright!" Matthieu, our concierge, said and the landline phone and door bell stopped ringing.
"Of course, everythingā€™s alright? Why wouldnā€™t it be?" I was confused, looking around.
"There are two cars here to pick you up. Theyā€™ve been waiting for a while now and we tried to call you then-ā€¦"
"What?! But the cars should be here at 8?" I replied.
"Mr. Leclerc, itā€™s 8:30 amā€¦"
"WHAT? What? How? I- what?" I checked the time at my phone and cursed "Oh shitā€¦ umm tell the drivers weā€™ll need a momentā€¦"
"Can I send them up to get your bags?" Matthieu asked and I nodded.
"Yes. Everything is packed. All the bags are at the elevatorā€¦" I hastily walked back into our bedroom, pushing the buttons to open up the blinds.
"Alright. Iā€™ll tell them." he hung up and I gently shook Lizzie.
"Cara mia? Wake up pleaseā€¦ we need to get readyā€¦"
"Hmm?" she mumbled, blinking a few times.
"The cars are already hereā€¦ we need to get ready." I said again and her eyes shot open.
"What? But you set your alarm? What?" she scrambled up looking at Emmie next to her "Did we oversleep?"
"I donā€™t know. I didnā€™t hear the alarm. But that doesnā€™t matter. We need to get ready. Now. Come on." I pulled her gently off the bed and she sighed "I take care of Emmie, okay?"
"Hmmā€¦" Lizzie mumbled and waddled away to the bathroom, yawning "Did you not set the alarm?"
"I did. I donā€™t know what happenedā€¦" I mumbled and picked up Emmie "Come on girlie, letā€™s get ready."
"Ready for Crimas!" she clapped her hands and I chuckled.
"Christmas. And no. Not quite yet. We have to get there first."
"To Christ-as?" she tried again.
"Almost, Christmas, with an 'm'ā€¦ Christ- mas."
"Christ-mas." she repeated and I smiled.
"You got it right, Emmie! Good girl!" I sat her down on her bed and grabbed the clothes Lizzie had put out already "Now letā€™s get dressed and then weā€™ll have a little snack in the car, how does that sound?"
"Car?" she tilted her head, scrunching her nose.
"Yeah, we have to drive to the airport. And then we get into the jet to fly to Switzerland. To this big chalet in the mountains where all our family is waiting! To celebrate-ā€¦"
"Christmas!" she clapped excitedly and I nodded.
"Exactly! But weā€™re a little late. So we need to hurry up a little!"
"Houwy up! Houwy up!"
"That we have to! So letā€™s have a look. You look adorable, now we just need to take care of your hair and-ā€¦" I began when I saw Lizzie waddling towards the kitchen, still in her pyjamas "Alrightā€¦ wait a minuteā€¦" I sat her down "You pack your sleep plushies into your backpack and play a little with Arlo, okay? Iā€™ll be right back and make your hair." Emmie nodded and I followed Lizzie into the kitchen, finding her rummaging through the fridge "Lizzie?"
"Why is there no food?" she sniffled, turning around "Iā€™m hungry. But there is nothing to eat. What am I supposed to do now?"
"Cara mia, we have breakfast in the jet, okay? Itā€™s all prepared-ā€¦"
"But Iā€™m hungry now!" she was grumpy "The babies and I are hungry now!"
"I understand, but we have nothing here, because weā€™re leaving nowā€¦ we can stop at a bakery on the way?" I tried it again and she sighed.
"Okayā€¦ I go and take a showerā€¦" she walked past me and I followed her.
"Cara mia, you donā€™t need to shower. We donā€™t have time. You can shower as soon as we arrive in the chaletā€¦" I said carefully but she shook her head.
"I smellā€¦ Iā€™m not arriving smelly for Christmasā€¦"
"Technically itā€™s not Christmas yet, soā€¦ and also you donā€™t smellā€¦ you just had a bath last night and I can still smell your coconut butter on your skin, so please. Just get dressed and letā€™s go. The cars are waiting. For over half an hour nowā€¦"
"Then why didnā€™t you set the alarm?" she looked at me annoyed.
"I did! I donā€™t know why it didnā€™t went off! Stupid alarm clockā€¦" I walked over to my night stand to find the alarm clock to be off, not plugged into the wall "What theā€¦ oh noā€¦ my sweatpantsā€¦ fuckā€¦" I mumbled, remembering the struggle I had at night with my pants "With my phone this wouldnā€™t have happenā€¦" I groaned more to myself when a half naked Lizzie stepped out of the closet.
"What did you say?" she cocked an eyebrow and I held my hands up "Is it my fault now for protecting our babies? Last night you said I was the best mum because of it!" her bottom lip began to wobble and I hastily pulled her into me.
"And I meant it! Okay? Itā€™s all good. Just-ā€¦ please get ready. I feel bad for the drivers to wait this long because of meā€¦ and the jet and everythingā€¦" I whispered against the side of her head, kissing her temple.
"Okay. Iā€™m almost doneā€¦" she breathed out "You need to get dressed yourselfā€¦"
"On itā€¦"
15 minutes later I strapped Emmie into her seat and gave the driver the all clear to drive, although I had a feeling like we forgot something at home. I was nervously fidgeting with my phone next to Lizzie who happily munched on the croissant I got her from the bakery.
"What is it?" she asked after another minute of me nervously tapping my foot.
"I feel like we forgot somethingā€¦" I mumbled, going over the list inside my head "I just donā€™t know whatā€¦"
"It canā€™t be important if you donā€™t remember it."
"I donā€™t knowā€¦" I looked outside the window, the car approaching the little private airport.
We had all of the bags, there was nothing left when we left the penthouse. I checked Emmieā€™s backpack and she had packed all her night plushies. Arlo laid on the floor in front of me, his bag with his toys and leashes in the back. Lizzie packer her bag with her books and computer last night herself and it rested now next to her on the seat. The bag with her snacks on the floor next to my feet. I couldnā€™t grasp what was missing but still I felt like it.
"Charles?" Lizzie grabbed my hand, squeezing it "Weā€™ve got everything. Itā€™s fine, youā€™ll seeā€¦"
"Yeahā€¦ I hope soā€¦" I mumbled watching the car in front with our baggage stopping on the tarmac "Itā€™s too late now anyways I guessā€¦" I unbuckled Emmie and got out of the car, taking her with me. I helped Lizzie out of the car and she took Emmie from me, walking with Arlo towards the jet while I helped loading our baggage onto the cart, before I walked up the stairs of the jet myself.
"Welcome on board, Mr. Leclerc." the pilot shook my hand and I smiled.
"Thank you, and sorry for the delayā€¦ it got a little hectic this morningā€¦"
"All good, Sir. Why donā€™t you take a seat and weā€™re preparing for take off."
"Thank you." I took off my jacket, handing it to the flight attendant who stored it away.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" she smiled and I shook my head, sitting down on front off Lizzie, Emmie next to her on the seat, looking outside the window.
I leaned my head back. Closing my eyes. One last time going over the list in my head. One last time going over every piece of baggage we just unloaded from the car. Lizzieā€™s suitcases, my suitcases, Emmieā€™s suitcases, the bags full off her and Arloā€™s toys, the bags full of presents. The bag with Lizzieā€™s snacks and last but not least the 2 suitcases and backpack ofā€¦
"JORIS!" I shouted, Lizzie and Emmie both looking at me "WE FORGOT JORIS!" I took my phone out, about to call him when he already did the same.
"Jo-ā€¦"
"I canā€™t believe you forgot me at homeā€¦"
"I swear-ā€¦"
"Like seriously? What is this? Home alone? Your alarm doesnā€™t go off and you forget me in all the hectic?"
"Iā€™m so sorry! I send the ca-ā€¦"
"Just be glad itā€™s more like Home Alone 2. I woke up by myself and-ā€¦" he hung up "And got in the car right in timeā€¦ I just wanted to wait how long it would take you to figure out that I wasnā€™t with youā€¦" Joris walked inside the jet, plopping down in the seat next to us.
"Iā€™m so so sorry!" I looked at him sheepishly and Emmie climbed off her seat, walking over to Joris who picked her up, sitting her down in his lap.
"Jojo made Emmie hair look nice." she smiled and I looked at her, then at him.
"What?" I said and looked at Lizzie "I thought you did that?"
"I thought you did?" she replied and Joris laughed.
"Nope, I did, right Emmie bug?" he cooed at her and she smiled "And now that weā€™re all hereā€¦ I say letā€™s go. Christmas is just right around the cornerā€¦"
"Christmas with pesents! Pesents for evyone!" Emmie said excited, clapping her hands "Mewwy Christmas evyone!"
šŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļøšŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļøšŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļøšŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļøšŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»ā™„ļøšŸŽ„
I hope you enjoyed this (not so) little something and I hope you all had amazing Holidays!
Taglist: (If you donā€™t like to be tagged for this, let me know)
@itsjustkhaos @eugene-emt-roe @sunny44 @silkenthusiasts @glitterquadricorn @aundercover @kakorrhaphiphobia @alittlebitofbooksandmagic @ru-kru @shimmermotorsport @janeh22 @kahhorri @18754389 @chiliwhore @hellowgoodbye @queensassybitchsworld @harrysdimple05 @skynel09 @fangirlforever2000
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jessicaloons Ā· 22 days ago
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I AM ALIVE. I AM WELL (kinda).
Hello lovely people,
Iā€™m sorry for not posting any updates or answering your anons asking when Iā€™ll upload the next chapter or if Iā€™m okay.
I can reassure you, I am okay. The last weeks were a little challenging, my health wasnā€™t at its best, physically and mentally, work was crazy (still is), with Christmas right around the corner a lot of stuff had to be organised and prepared. It was all getting a little too much and writing wasnā€™t my number 1 priority. The few times I wrote something, I wasnā€™t really liking the outcome anyways so yeah, thatā€™s that.
But today Iā€™m coming back with a little update of whatā€™s to come the next daysā€¦
At Christmas Lizzie and Charles return for a cute little Christmas story šŸŽ„šŸŽ…šŸ»šŸŽ
Next Sunday Lauren and Charles return with Chapter 8 šŸ©·šŸ’œ
Thatā€™s it for now! Thank you all for reading!
Love, Jess ā™„ļø
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jessicaloons Ā· 29 days ago
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They are back šŸ„¹ā™„ļø and oh so cute šŸ„°
And when I'm feeling alone, you remind me of home
Chapter soundtrack : Christmas Tree farm - Taylor Swift
If you wanna read Gold Rush
GR Taglist:
@herondalism @aundercover @musingsbyshreya @karmabyfernando @reengard @mycenterfold @smoooothoperator
I know I haven't been the most present around here. Life has been a good mix of ecctic and chaotic lately. I didn't have a lot of time to write anymore. But if you are waiting for a new chapter of KOMH, I promise you it will happen. I'm working on it. Not as fast as I would like but it will be released. Meanwhile, and because I missed Julia and Ethan, I leave you with a little blurb about them and the little family they created. I hope you will like it.
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Julia Leclerc - Verstappen couldn't help but smile as she watched her husband Ethan Verstappen fussing around the Christmas tree. Him, the world champion F1 driver, always striving for perfection, was completely out of his element with the simple task of decorating a Christmas tree. But this was Emily's first Christmas, and for Ethan, everything had to be grand. At this point, it was starting to look like a contest of "who can spend the most money on decorations."
"You're seriously buying everything that sparkles?" Julia laughed as she watched him fix a final crystal ornament onto the tree. "I mean, you know, it's not about the shine. It's about the Christmas spirit."
Ethan, perched precariously on a step ladder, turned to her with a look of mock indignation. "Donā€™t even start, Julia. Itā€™s Emily's first Christmas! Can you believe that? She deserves the best." He shot her a playful challenge. "And anyway, this is a Christmas tree, not a souvenir shop."
Julia rolled her eyes. "She's one, Ethan. She won't even remember this tree in two months."
Ethan paused, staring at her as if she had just announced she wanted a divorce. "How dare you say such things? Unforgettable! Iā€™m unforgettable. Iā€™m the best dad in the world. She'll remember me, even if itā€™s just the feeling of me feeding her her bottle."
Julia playfully sipped her hot chocolate, raising an eyebrow. "You? Best dad? Thatā€™s a bold claim. I mean, youā€™ve got no competition. I only have you to judge against."
Ethan placed the star ornament down carefully, then rolled up his sleeves, slowly walking toward Julia. He reached down, taking her mug from her hands and placing it gently on the coffee table. Julia's breath caught in her throat as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his touch soft yet deliberate. Without a word, he bent down, pressing a kiss to her cheek, then her jaw, and finally her lips.
Julia sighed contentedly, but before she could fully respond, she reached up, pulling him closer, her fingers gripping the collar of his shirt, urging him to stay. Ethan, always eager for her touch, settled above her, resting comfortably as she leaned back against the cushion. The moment felt perfect, until a faint cry from the other side of the house shattered the atmosphere.
Julia pulled away reluctantly, her heart pounding as the sound of Emily's cries reached them again. "I guess Iā€™m not the only one who needs attention in this house," she muttered, glancing at Ethan.
Ethan, still hovering near her, gave her a teasing smirk. "Let me guess, my presence wasnā€™t enough to calm the little princess down?"
Julia raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, it looks like you're going to have to put your 'best dad' skills to the test."
Without hesitation, Ethan strode toward the bedroom where Emilyā€™s cries had become more insistent. Julia followed him with her eyes as he went to the nursery.. It wasnā€™t just the holidays that made everything feel so magicalā€”it was the way their little family had come together, the way Ethan had changed in subtle ways for their daughter. She still couldnā€™t believe that the arrogant, world-class racer had turned into a doting father, ready to make everything right in the world for Emily.
Ethan leaned over the crib, his voice low and soothing. "Hey, hey, little champion. Whatā€™s wrong?"
Emily's eyes were wide and full of tears, but when she saw her dad, she calmed instantly, her tiny hands reaching out toward him. Ethan picked her up with a softness that could rival any other, cradling her in his arms.
Julia smiled as Ethan returned to the living room, Emily cradled gently in his arms. Sheā€™d already heard the soft whimpering from the nursery, so it wasnā€™t exactly a surprise. What was surprising, though, was the look of sheer exhaustion on Ethanā€™s face.
"She's hungry again," Ethan said with a sigh, clearly not thrilled by the idea of another bottle-feeding session. He flopped down onto the couch next to Julia, the little bundle of joy now wide awake and wriggling in his arms. "Honestly, how do you do this all day long?"
Julia let out a small laugh, adjusting her blanket as she sat up. "Well, I donā€™t exactly have a choice, do I? Plus, sheā€™s pretty cute when sheā€™s all snuggled up, so itā€™s worth it."
Ethan made a face as Emily began to wriggle in his arms, stretching her tiny hands toward her mom. "I donā€™t know how you make it look so easy," he said, carefully handing Emily over to Julia. "I feel like Iā€™m going to break her every time."
Julia took Emily from him, her smile softening as she cradled their daughter. "Sheā€™s a lot tougher than she looks," she reassured him. "Trust me, she can handle you."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I think Iā€™m still traumatized from the first time I tried to change her diaper. I had no idea those things could be that complicated." He shuddered at the memory.
Julia chuckled, settling Emily in her lap as she prepared the bottle. "You mean the time you nearly broke the changing table?"
Ethan groaned dramatically. "Donā€™t remind me. I swear, I thought I was going to end up in the ER. Sheā€™s like a tiny, squirming ninja. I donā€™t know how you stay so calm with her."
"Because Iā€™ve had practice," Julia said with a smirk, teasing him as she started to feed Emily. "And maybe it helps that Iā€™m not trying to feed her while balancing on one foot in a wrestling match with a diaper."
Ethan grinned, leaning back on the couch with his arms behind his head, clearly proud of his parenting skills. "Hey, at least I tried. Iā€™m a champion in everything, even in diaper warfare."
Julia rolled her eyes, shaking her head affectionately. "You know, I think you might be a little bit delusional when it comes to your skills as a dad."
Ethan let out a playful sigh, resting his head back against the couch as he watched her feed Emily. "Iā€™m just saying, Iā€™m doing my best. Being a world champion doesnā€™t exactly prepare you for bottle-feeding duty."
Julia couldnā€™t help but laugh, shaking her head as she looked at Ethan. "You should try being on the receiving end of one of your bottles next time. I promise you, itā€™ll be the most challenging race of your life."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What do you mean? You think I canā€™t handle it?"
Julia shot him a teasing look. "Well, letā€™s just say that after a few hours of sleep deprivation and a few dozen bottles later, weā€™ll see how much of a ā€˜championā€™ you feel like then."
Ethan dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Julia. Iā€™m already losing sleep because of you and your overwhelming Christmas tree obsession. Now youā€™re telling me Iā€™m not even a good dad?"
Julia snickered, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "No, no, I didnā€™t say that. Iā€™m just saying, I donā€™t think being the world champion of F1 makes you a world champion of parenting. Thatā€™s a whole other race."
Ethan leaned over, gently kissing her cheek. "Fine. I may not be quite as skilled at baby duties as I am at driving, but Iā€™m doing my best. That has to count for something, right?"
Julia smiled warmly, kissing him back. "It absolutely counts for something. Youā€™re better than you think, Ethan. Trust me, Emilyā€™s already got a pretty amazing dad."
Ethanā€™s expression softened, and for a brief moment, there was a quiet silence between them as they both watched their daughter drink from the bottle, her little hands grasping the edge of the nipple in an attempt to steady it.
"Maybe youā€™re right," Ethan said after a beat, his voice a little quieter. "Sheā€™s got the best mom and dad she could ask for."
Julia smiled softly, the words settling in her heart like a sweet lullaby. "And sheā€™s going to grow up knowing how loved she is."
Ethan chuckled, leaning in to kiss Juliaā€™s forehead. "She might grow up spoiled, though, thanks to that tree you insisted on decorating."
"Hey," Julia shot back with a grin, "itā€™s her first Christmas. Youā€™re the one who made us go overboard with the sparkly ornaments. If anything, Iā€™m just supporting you in your quest for a ridiculously grand holiday."
Ethan put on a mock-serious face. "Ah, yes. The best Christmas tree in the world. The only thing that matters this season."
Emily let out a soft coo, and both of them turned their attention back to her as she finished her bottle, her eyes fluttering closed in contentment.
"Guess thatā€™s it for the bottle-feeding championship," Ethan said with a dramatic sigh, wiping his hands on his jeans as he stood up. "Iā€™m pretty sure I lost, but Iā€™m willing to accept my P2 trophy."
Julia couldnā€™t help but laugh, her heart filled with joy. "Youā€™re a good sport, Ethan. Now letā€™s just hope she sleeps through the night."
Ethan grinned, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Weā€™ve been through worse, right? You and me, weā€™ve survived worse than this."
Julia smiled at Ethanā€™s lighthearted comment, but deep down, she knew how important this moment was for both of them. They had come a long way from their fake relationship and tumultuous beginnings. Now, as parents, they had their little family, their own traditions, and their own quirksā€”like Ethanā€™s questionable attempts at decorating a Christmas tree.
"Yeah, I think weā€™ve survived worse," Julia said with a teasing grin. "Like the time you tried to assemble the crib and nearly crushed the baby monitor under the weight of your ā€˜expert engineering skills.ā€™"
Ethan shot her a mock glare, crossing his arms. "Hey, that was a perfectly reasonable assumption. The instructions might as well have been written in ancient Greek."
Julia chuckled, shaking her head. "You could have at least read them before starting the ā€˜build-a-cribā€™ challenge. You know, instead of ending up with a half-assembled monstrosity that looked more like modern art than a crib."
"Modern art," Ethan scoffed with a smirk. "That thing had character."
"Iā€™m pretty sure it had a death wish," Julia teased, nudging him playfully with her elbow.
Ethan grinned. "Okay, okay, I admit I might have taken a few... creative liberties. But hey, we made it through. Look at us now. Weā€™ve got a tree, weā€™ve got Emily, and weā€™ve got... well, me, still the best dad around."
Julia raised an eyebrow, her playful smile still lingering. "You keep saying that, but Iā€™m not sure Emily would agree after her last ā€˜wrestling matchā€™ with you and the diaper change."
Ethan sighed, slumping dramatically. "Canā€™t believe youā€™re bringing that up again. I swear, changing a diaper should come with a training manual, or at least a referee. That was a fight to the finish. I think I lost more dignity than pride in that one."
"I told you she could be a little ninja," Julia reminded him, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she glanced down at Emily, now peacefully asleep in her arms.
"Yeah, well," Ethan grinned, "at least I didnā€™t panic and call for backup."
Julia looked at him, raising a teasing eyebrow. "Who would you have called? A pit crew?"
"Exactly," Ethan said with an exaggerated nod. "A pit crew of diaper-changing professionals. Iā€™m telling you, thereā€™s no shame in needing a little assistance from the best in the business."
Julia let out a genuine laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know, you really are something else."
Ethan leaned in closer, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I know. But Iā€™m your something else."
Julia smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest as she looked at the little family they had created. The house was filled with the scent of pine from the overly-decorated tree, soft Christmas music playing in the background, and the soft glow of fairy lights twinkling all around them.
The night was quiet, save for the occasional coo from Emily, who had fallen into a peaceful sleep in Juliaā€™s arms. Ethan, his arm draped around Juliaā€™s shoulder, stared at the tree, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and amusement.
"You know, Iā€™m pretty sure weā€™ve gone overboard," Ethan said softly, his voice almost thoughtful.
Julia raised an eyebrow, her gaze moving to the tree. "You mean you went overboard. I was just here for moral support."
"Okay, okay," he said with a playful grin, "I might have gotten carried away. But look at it! This is the Christmas tree of champions."
Julia couldnā€™t help but laugh. "The Christmas tree of champions, huh? Whatā€™s next? A world championship trophy hanging on the tree next to the star?"
Ethan leaned back, his head against the couch, his face breaking into a grin. "I mean, that wouldnā€™t be out of the question."
"Sure, because nothing says ā€˜holiday spiritā€™ like a trophy on a Christmas tree," Julia said with a wink. "Maybe next year youā€™ll add a Ferrari flag as the tree skirt."
"Now youā€™re talking!" Ethan exclaimed, looking excited at the thought. "We could even have a whole racing-themed Christmas. Emily would love it!"
Julia shook her head, still smiling. "You really are a big kid, arenā€™t you?"
"Hey, Iā€™ve got to make sure our little champion has the best Christmas memories," Ethan said with a wink. "And that includes a tree that can win any decoration competition."
Julia rolled her eyes but couldnā€™t contain the smile that tugged at her lips. "Youā€™re impossible."
As the evening wore on, the three of them settled into a cozy routineā€”Emily asleep in Juliaā€™s arms, the quiet hum of Christmas carols in the background, and Ethanā€™s arm around Julia as they both sat by the fire, gazing at their sparkling masterpiece of a tree.
"She's going to have the best memories," Julia said softly, glancing at Ethan. "Even if she canā€™t remember any of this Christmas, Iā€™m sure sheā€™ll feel the love weā€™re giving her now."
Ethan nodded, his voice softer than usual. "Yeah, you're right. I donā€™t think I ever understood what ā€˜homeā€™ really meant until now. But thisā€”this is it. This is everything Iā€™ve ever wanted."
Julia looked at him, her heart full as she leaned in to kiss him gently. "Youā€™re doing great, Ethan. You really are."
Ethan smiled, leaning back against the couch, content for the first time in what felt like forever. "Yeah. I guess I am."
And as the Christmas tree lights flickered softly in the corner of the room, the three of them nestled together, everything felt perfect. Perfect in its own messy, chaotic, and beautifully unique way.
"Best Christmas ever," Ethan whispered, his eyes fluttering closed as he rested his head on Juliaā€™s shoulder.
Julia smiled, glancing down at their peaceful daughter, the holiday magic wrapping them in warmth and love. "Best Christmas ever," she echoed, holding Ethan just a little bit tighter.
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 7
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
Miss Americana
June 2023:
Nice was beautiful. And warm. And bright. Romantic little alleyways everywhere. The people a bright mix of residents and tourists. But what surprised Rachel the most was that so many people spoke Italian. She didnā€™t expect it but it gave her hope that she might get along way better than she thought. She checked into a small hotel close to the promenade, enjoying the southern French sun that streamed through her windows.
Rachel sat on her little balcony, watching the happy buzzing beneath her, the busy street, googling for Madame Leclercā€™s hair salon. It took her a while to find it, for some reason a handsome young man, who she thought she saw somewhere before, was the search result most of the times. But when she finally found the hair salon, she wrote down the address, before she googled a hotel in Monaco. The prices went through the roof and she chose the cheapest one she could find. Wasting all her money for hotel rooms wasnā€™t planned and she hoped she would find a job quickly. It was early afternoon when she felt the tiredness overthrowing her. She checked her phone, counting what time it was in Montreal, realising that she was awake for over 24 hours at this point. She had tried to sleep on the flight, preventing herself from a jet leg, but she was too nervous, too excited, to sleep. The young woman decided to take a quick shower and then head straight to bed. But before, she locked her hotel room door twice, put the door chain on, and then looked around, spotting the metal cup filled with sticks full of sugar and wood sticks to stir some coffee or tea. She emptied out the cup and then carefully put it on the door handle, to be alarmed if anyone would try to come into her room, giving her time to escape out of the balcony. Rachel looked at her work and sighed, feeling way too paranoid as she stubbed her toe against her backpack, next to the bed. It was packed with all her documents, money, phone charger and some clothes, including her sneakers, ready to grab and leave in case she had to flee. Having an escape plan at all times was mandatory, according to Stuart and although Rachel was more than sure that no one had followed her, she agreed with him and wanted to be prepared for everything. She decided to stay for a couple of days in Nice. Making sure that she was really safe. And alone. Thoughts of her old life, her old identity, crossed her mind. She had to think back at how she met Stuartā€˜s 'friend' Isabella. She was an odd person, mysterious, a little scary maybe. She had brown hair and besides a 'hello' and 'whereā€™s your stuff' she didnā€™t say much, only starting to change into some of Rachelā€™s clothes from her open suitcase on the bed, before she closed it. A look through the room and she stepped in front of the mirror, putting a blonde wig on, she had just pulled out of her bag, followed by Rachelā€™s large shades she had grabbed from the drawer. She handed Rachel a keycard to a different room and told her to go there, then grabbed the suitcase and her handbag and left as fast as she had appeared, leaving behind a confused Rachel, who grabbed her stuff and left the room to enter the new one three doors down the hallway. Just like Isabella said.
Rachel laid in bed for a while, thinking about all kinds of abstruse ends of her old life. What Isabella had done to her belongings. Maybe they would end up in a burned out car, or thrown out at some landfill where maybe one of the workers would find it. Maybe they would inform her father, and he would assume that his daughter was kidnapped, murdered, gone. She shook her had, biting her lips. She knew that it would break his heart, but it was the only way to escape her fate. But thinking back how lost and devastated he was when the doctors told him that her mother didnā€™t make it off the table, the pained scream he let out, so bone chilling that Rachel got goosebumps just thinking about it. It made her feel sick to her stomach and she had to urge herself to think about something else. Her new life ahead. A clean cut. Besides Stuart, no one knew she was gone. No one knew she had a new identity. And until tomorrow evening or rather late at night it would stay this way. When Don Romanoā€™s men would come to pick her up from college and wouldnā€™t find her. Finding out that she graduated a week earlier, that she was gone. Then it would be time for her to stay alert, watch her surroundings. Hope that no one showed up for her. Hope that their plan had worked out and she was free. With the thoughts of a better life ahead, she drifted into a dreamless sleep, finally succumbing to her bodies need for rest.
4 days. 96 hours. 5760 minutes. That was the time it took for her father and the men he worked for to trace Rachelā€™s steps all the way to Montreal. The hotel she had chosen back there was small, no high quality security cameras, only a grainy tape of a blonde girl checking into the hotel under the name of Rachel Lombardi and then 4 days later checking out of the hotel. That was it, that was the trail of traces she had left, buying a ticket to Montreal with her credit card, checking into the hotel with her credit card, renting a car with her credit card. And that was where the trail ended. Another grainy video of the blonde girl at the car rental, loading her suitcase into the trunk of the car. A car that had disappeared since then.
"Everything is going according to our planā€¦ you disappeared into the Canadian wildernessā€¦" Stuart said and Rachel took a deep breath.
"They stopped looking for me?" she almost whispered.
"Well, there are still two men here, I donā€™t know what they are doing right now, but the other two men left. They tried to ping your phone, but the last signal it sent was on the highway out of town and since then itā€™s gone completely off the radar."
"So it worked? Iā€™m gone? They canā€™t find meā€¦" she felt tears stinging in her eyes.
"I think so, yes. I will check in on whatā€™s going on here for the next couple of days and what these two guys that stayed behind do, but yeah for now, Iā€™d say Rachel Lombardi is gone."
Rachel stayed quiet, thinking about his words before she let out a sigh.
"I would feel better if Iā€™d knew what these two guys were doingā€¦"
"Donā€™t worry, okay? Iā€™ve got someone looking for them. We figure out whatā€™s going on, but youā€™re far away, you shouldnā€™t be too worried okay? Itā€™s fine. Youā€™re fine." Stuart tried to reassure her and after another moment of silence Rachel nodded.
"Youā€™re right. Your plan worked out so far, I have no doubt it wonā€™t work out anymore out of the blue." she replied laying back in her bed, switching off the nightstand lamp "Itā€™s going to be fine."
"Exactly. Stop worrying and start living la dolce vita!"
"Iā€™m trying, I promise."
"Thatā€™s the spirit. Iā€™ll give you a call as soon as I found out whatā€™s going on with the two who stayed behindā€¦ until then, enjoy the sun, the gelato, the vine."
"I willā€¦"
"Alright. And now good night, relax, stop worrying, okay?" Stuart urged again and Rachel chuckled a little.
"Good night, Stuartā€¦"
The little bookstore right by the sea made Rachel swoon. It looked so cozy and dreamy that she knew she could spend hours if not days in there, but she came with her mind set on a goal.
"Hi- ummā€¦ Iā€™m looking for books to learn French better, please?" she stammered in the worst kind of French and the older lady at the counter smiled at her.
"Oh dear, here, let me show you!" she replied in English, her French accent sounding almost melodic. She waddled away, the young girl in tow, and pointed to a section of dictionaries and other language learning books. "Here we have everything for you. Take your timeā€¦" she smiled and walked off, scratching a black catā€™s head that was resting between two piles of books "Iā€™ll get you a treat Rico." Italian.
"Do you think itā€™s easier to learn French from Italian or from English?" the young girl asked.
"Oh, you speak Italian? Then I would recommend you the Italian ones."
"Alrightā€¦" Rachel grabbed one of the books and sat down in one of the armchairs, Rico getting up from his spot, walking over to the young girl "Hi Rico." she smiled, scratching his head a little.
"That never happened beforeā€¦" the book shop owner said "He doesnā€™t like strangers at all!"
"This cuddly one?" Rachel laughed, when Rico literally clung to her legs, circling them.
"Yeahā€¦ that must mean he thinks youā€™re a good person. Trustworthy." the older lady smiled, crouching down a little to give her cat a treat "You know, cats have a sixth sense for thatā€¦"
"Yeah, maybeā€¦" the girl swallowed thickly, thinking about how she wasnā€™t that trustworthy after all, hiding her true identity.
"Have you found a book?"
"Umm- yes. I think Iā€™ll go with this one. Itā€™s for startersā€¦"
"You should also get a book in Frenchā€¦ read it, try to use youā€™re Italian to translate it, and if you donā€™t know a word or two you can have a look in a dictionaryā€¦ that way youā€™ll learn even faster!"
"Sounds like a good plan, thank you!" Rachel smiled, patting the catā€™s head.
"What kind of books are you into? Romance? Fantasy? Thriller? Dark romance? Weā€™ve got a whole collection of Mafia romance books, itā€™s the newest trend I guessā€¦" the elder lady pointed at some books displayed on a table but Rachel shook her head.
"I donā€™t get how anyone can think that itā€™s romantic being in the Mafiaā€¦" she mumbled.
"Itā€™s always a dark, broody and mysterious guy fighting and protecting his girlā€¦ lots of young woman seem to like itā€¦ they are also- umm letā€™s say they are spicyā€¦" the bookshop owner wiggled her eyebrows.
"Yeah no thanksā€¦"
"Are you into Formula 1? We have some romance books in the Formula 1 world? Theyā€™re not really authentic when it comes to racing but oh wellā€¦"
"Umm- no. Not into Formula 1. Watching a bunch of guys driving in circles for hours is not really my thingā€¦" Rachel rolled her eyes a little.
"Oh dear this isnā€™t Nascar. Formula 1 tracks are no circles. Weā€™re close to Monaco, everyone here is crazy about Formula 1." the older lady laughed "Why donā€™t you have a look around for some books you like and I make us a coffee?"
Rachel wasnā€™t used to people being this nice and open minded to strangers so she just nodded, confused. But she did what the bookshop owner, she introduced herself as Clarisse, suggested and walked around, searching through the different isles, trying to find the perfect book for her.
"So, where are you from?" Clarisse asked half an hour later, when they both sat down in the plush armchairs, both with a mug full of steaming coffee in hand.
"Iā€™m fromā€¦ umm-ā€¦" Rachel had to think for a moment where here new persona was from, not familiar with the new details "Pennsylvaniaā€¦"
"Pennsylvania?" the bookshop owner cocked an eyebrow, looking at the girl.
"Yeah, I wasnā€™t sure if you knew Harrisburgā€¦" she faked a smile, taking a large sip from her coffee "On the other hand, Europeans are way better in geography than us Americansā€¦ soā€¦"
"Well, I wouldnā€™t put it that wayā€¦ but yeah, you might be onto something there." Clarisse laughed "And what brings you here to Nice? A young, pretty girl like you?"
"Umm-ā€¦ Iā€™m on a trip through Europe. So I couldnā€™t miss Nice obviouslyā€¦" Rachel lied and was happy that Rico decided that now was the perfect time for some more head scratches so he jumped into the girls lap, purring.
"If youā€™re here, you should also make a stop in Monaco. The rich and the famous living there all together in one little spot. And a lot of Formula 1 driversā€¦ young and handsome, some are singleā€¦ good catches for a little summer romance." the older lady wiggled her eyebrows and Rachel laughed.
"Iā€™m not interested in a summer romance. I want to see the cities, landmarks, get to know the culture, all the beautiful beaches! Oh and of course the foodā€¦" Rachel smiled, she always dreamed of a trip through Europe one day to do exactly that, but she never thought she would get the chance to.
"Well, I canā€™t argue with that. It sounds like an amazing plan." Clarisse nodded, sipping at her coffee "But Iā€™ll warn you, a beautiful girl like you? Foreign? You will have admirers left and rightā€¦ men from the south of Europe are all little heartbreakers you know, always here for them pretty girls. Take good care of your heart, or youā€™ll lose it to one of themā€¦"
"Iā€™ll watch out for heartbreakersā€¦ I promise." Rachel laughed.
"Good, very good. So? Did you find some books?" the bookshop owner looked at the little stack of books on the table next to the girl.
"Yeah. I went with books my mother used to read to me like Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit and some classics like Wuthering Heights and Great Expectationsā€¦ I guess that should be enough for now. A dictionary, a book to learn French and some French booksā€¦ I hope it works out." Rachel looked at the books she chose and Clarisse smiled.
"Donā€™t worry, ma fille, it will. And if not, you could still come here again and we try another book that might help you betterā€¦" she sat down her coffee cup and Rachel nodded.
"Yeah. I think Iā€™ll do that. I mean, I will be here for some daysā€¦ itā€™s a beautiful city after allā€¦" she replied, looking out of the window, the busy street almost hiding the beautiful Mediterranean Sea behind it.
Rachel spent the next 2 days mostly at the beach, reading her books, trying to learn French and although it was easier with her being fluent in Italian, it still was a lot of work and she knew she had to improve a lot to be able to work as a nurse. She sat on her beach towel, watching the sun slowly set over the horizon when her phone rang and Stuart called her. Taking one last deep breath she answered the call.
"Hiā€¦"
"Heyā€¦ well umm- Rachel, Iā€™m almost 100 % sure that the coast is clear. Like completely. The two guys who stayed behind, they left the city on the same highway that you took, probably following more of the CCTV footage that showed Isabellaā€¦ but that trail ended at a truck stop. The car abandoned, at the end of the parking lot, the CCTV footage only showing you going into the diner and leaving it an hour later, but there is no camera at the parking lot, your suitcase is still in the car, your passport as well, only your wallet and phone gone. They took the suitcase with them and left Montreal this morningā€¦" Stuart explained and Rachel let out a breath she didnā€™t know she was holding in.
"Theyā€™re not looking for me anymore?" she asked quietly "They left?"
"They left, yeahā€¦"
"Okayā€¦" Rachel mumbled closing her eyes but kept silent, the one thing on her mind that she kept thinking off the last days.
"What? Whatā€™s going on?" Stuart asked, knowing the girl too well.
"Did they- ummā€¦ did they report me as missing?" her voice barely above a whisper and the line went silent, before he cleared his throat.
"No, they didnā€™t. I mean, they canā€™t just file a police report that youā€™re missingā€¦ we both know they canā€™t ask the police for help."
"Noā€¦ youā€™re right, they canā€™tā€¦ and the Romanoā€™s only have some people at the customs control at the Boston harbour, some lower ranked police officers and detectives in Woburn and Winchester on their payrollā€¦ I donā€™t think that any of them would be of service to find a missing girl in the Canadian wildernessā€¦" Rachel said quietly, leaning back into her pillows "Do you think they keep looking for me themselves? Or-ā€¦" will they just accept that she was gone, not caring what happened to her.
"I guess they will keep looking for you, from time to time, maybe find new traces although there arenā€™t anyā€¦ but Iā€™m sure they wonā€™t look for you in Europe and most definitely not in Monacoā€¦"
Rachel thought for a moment, closing her eyes and then began to chuckle.
"What?" Stuart asked but the girl laughed even more "Are you okay?"
"Yeah-ā€¦ sureā€¦" she breathed out, wiping away a stray tear, not knowing what came over her "I was just imaginingā€¦ what if they declare me dead. I mean, it looks like some crazy trucker mightā€™ve taken me with him to do what not and then just got rid of meā€¦ what if my dad wants a funeral? Or something like that? To say goodbye? What if my dad for once remembers how to be a dad and Iā€™m not even there to witness itā€¦"
"Rach, stop watching these true crime documentaries, your mind is already too dark and twis-ā€¦" Stuart began.
"No, Iā€™m serious! I mean, what did I think what would happen? They find my stuff in an abandoned car, no trace of me for daysā€¦ what would you think? They know how easily you can let someone disappear, they do it all the time. Itā€™s just logical that my dad thinks Iā€™m dead and maybe to make himself feel better he wants a funeral or somethingā€¦"
"But you donā€™t have to care about that anymore, okay? Rach youā€™re safe. Gone. There is nothing that could lead them to you. You are free. Finally. You can live the life you always wanted to. Donā€™t think about whatā€™s happening back home. Itā€™s over okay? You start your new life in Monaco and find the happiness you deserveā€¦" Stuart tried to calm Rachel down and after a moment of silence he heard the girl taking a deep breath.
"Do you think there will be a coffin? Filled with some of my stuff from my old room?" she then asked.
"Rach!"
"Sorry-ā€¦ itā€™s justā€¦ you know in movies or tv shows they do it all the time and-ā€¦"
"Stop, okay? Stop thinking about that. Itā€™s over now. You live your life in Monaco. They will do whatever they want. But it doesnā€™t matter anymore, okay? You are free." Stuartā€™s voice firm "Donā€™t think about your past. Focus on the now, focus on your future."
"I-ā€¦" Rachel stopped, not knowing what to say "I think a part of me still needs to process this allā€¦ like let it fully sink inā€¦"
"Understandable. It takes timeā€¦" his voice wavered a little.
"I canā€™t even imagine how hard it mustā€™ve been for youā€¦ you were younger. And all alone, no one helped you like you helped meā€¦"
Stuart was silent and Rachel thought she mightā€™ve said something wrong when she heard him chuckle bitterly.
"I wasnā€™t alone. Someone helped meā€¦ but thatā€™s in the past. He is in the past. I got out of my old life, just like you did. Youā€™ll live your new life now in Monaco, Iā€™ll go to LA. Weā€™ll be fine, you and I." he replied, sounding confident.
"Will you be safe in LA? They wonā€™t look for you?" Rachel asked, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest.
"For what itā€™s worth, we never really interacted on campus, no one knows that weā€™re friends. And if they would find and ask me, thatā€™s the answer I would be giving. We were classmates, we worked on projects together sometimes, but thatā€™s it. You were not really open minded, most of the time you sat alone in the library studying. So yeah, we didnā€™t know each other that well."
"That sounded really convincingā€¦ ouchā€¦"
"Maybe I should try become an actor, once Iā€™m In LA." Stuart thought out loud and Rachel laughed.
"One thing is for sure, I would be your biggest fan from day oneā€¦" she said.
"Oh stopā€¦" he chuckled.
"No, Iā€™m serious, you would be the next big thing without a doubt, but to me you will always be the guy that saved my life. Thanks for that."
"Bit dramatic, but okay."
"Iā€™m seriousā€¦ you saved my life, Stuart."
"I would do it in a heartbeat again and-ā€¦ oh shit. That was my flightā€¦" he said hurriedly "I really donā€™t want to end this call now, but that was the last call for my flightā€¦"
"Itā€™s alright. Call or text as soon as you arrive." Rachel said "Take care. Have a safe flight."
"I text you. For the last time, bye Rach."
Rachel Lombardi was gone.
Disappeared. Missing. Gone. Dead.
She didnā€™t sleep that night. Her mind trying to grasp the fact that her old life really was over. She really was free. She knew that this was happening. This was what they had planned after all. But having the confirmation that her father, the familia, were looking for her and only find that she had disappeared, not a single trace left. She didnā€™t know how to feel. Relieved? Sad? Happy? Hopeful? Devastated? It was getting too much in her head and she felt dizzy. She got out of bed, opened the balcony doors and sat down in the chair outside, a clear night sky above. Stars shining brightly. The soft ocean waves crashing down onto the shore ahead of her. With the salty sea breeze in her hair, she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She could start a whole new life, now that her old one ended. After a couple of minutes, Rachel went back inside, sinking into the pillows, her head clear. She would book a hotel in Monaco in the next days, then buy some more clothes, appropriate for the warm and sunny days ahead, and then she would take the train to Monaco, finding Madame Leclerc.
If Rachel thought Nice was beautiful, she wasnā€™t prepared for Monaco. The little alleys between the beautiful houses, the happy mix of French, Italian and English spoken on the streets. Luxurious cars chasing after another in the narrow streets, making people look up at their sound. She followed the directions on her phone, leading her right in front of the hair salon her mother told her all about. The girl pocketed her phone and looked through the window, taking a deep breath before she opened the door, hoping that it wasnā€™t a mistake to come here. The hairdresser swiped the last remaining hair off of the ground when the door bell rang and she looked up. A young girl stood in the door. A pretty girl. For some reason the Monegasque woman thought she knew the girl from somewhere.
"Sorry? Umm hi. Iā€™m looking for someone." the girl asked shyly. Not from around. Her French sounded foreign "Iā€™m looking forā€¦ Mm-ā€¦ Leclercā€¦"
The older woman rolled her eyes. Of course. Another fangirl of her son. Looking for him in her salon.
"Listen, you girls need to stop. This is my salon. Charles is barely here! Why would he be! So tell your little friends to stop this nonsense, okay?" Pascale said bluntly and Lauren looked at her in confusion.
"Umm? I- I donā€™t know who Charles is? Iā€™m looking for Madame-ā€¦ umm-ā€¦ Pascale Leclerc? She umm- she helped my mum years ago. And they kinda stayed in touch for a whileā€¦ and Madame Leclerc told my mum if she ever needs anything she can always contact herā€¦" the young girl explained and the hairdresser looked at her for a moment when her eyes widened.
"Susannah Lombardi? Is that your mother?" she asked and Lauren nodded "Rachel? Youā€™re Rachel?"
Rachel nodded, realising that it was a mistake. She wasnā€™t Rachel. Not anymore.
"Ummā€¦ yeahā€¦ but no- I meanā€¦ I changed my name. Iā€™m Lauren. Lauren Millner."
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Chapter 7 - and here it is, the official name change. Bye Rachel, hello Lauren. We are this šŸ¤ close to the first meeting of Charles and Lauren šŸ™ˆ for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Also, congrats to Max on his 4th title, well deserved!
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
@glitterquadricorn @lottalove4evelyn @janeh22 @itsjustkhaos @mariclerc @fangirlforever2000
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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new chapter after Las Vegasā“
I think we deserve one, no? It will be up in the next minutes!
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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will we get a new chapter today? please? I want Charles and Rachel to meet finally!
Iā€™m editing as we talk(?!) so yup! Iā€™ll upload it any minute!
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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no new chapter tonight? šŸ˜”
Sooooorry! I didnā€™t see your ask last week šŸ˜­ no, last weekend there was no upload because Iā€™m now at a point where the chapters arenā€™t fully done and I have to fill in the blanks and well itā€™s not so easy with work, private life and so on šŸ™ˆ
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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Damn, you actually make me want to watch it now just to root for all of that to happen šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚
predictions for the f1 2025 car launch in london:
someone forgets to send out the dress code. george russell turns up in an immaculately pressed suit, lando norris turns up in black sweatpants.
the british drivers are raised onto the stage like theyā€™re in the eras tour
the non-british drivers have to come in through the crowd entrance and buy their own tickets
christian horner still hasnā€™t decided whoā€™s filling that second red bull seat. as a result max is accompanied on stage by what seems to be three untrained rookies in a trenchcoat
speaking of max, he doesnā€™t speak a word the entire night preferring instead to communicate short answers in sign language.
the hosts keep trying to awkwardly fill time Ć  la eurovision song contest
there are at least two fistfights
and one dogfight (leo and roscoe)
pierre and esteban stand next to each other at first before they have to awkwardly be reminded that theyā€™re not teammates anymore
someone makes a thinly veiled reference to the mclaren 2024 rear wing
kimi antonelli gets booed (british crowd) and about half the grid has to be physically restrained from jumping on the audience
toto wolff tries to seduce max yet again.
max audibly laughs at him. this is the only time we hear his voice all night.
oscar piastri gets visibly teary at the sight of drs since itā€™s the last time itā€™ll be used in f1
fred vasseur makes an insane prediction on how many races ferrari will win. everyone laughs at him.
he ends up being absolutely right
fernando turns up in another teamā€™s colours
itā€™s later revealed that one team paid the sound engineers to play thunderous applause when their car was revealed
one livery will merit audible laughter
it will be alpineā€™s.
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 6
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
The Heartbreak Prince
23 April 2023:
"Sheā€™s gorgeous. Look at this beautiful girl." Pascale Leclerc cooed at her granddaughter, eyes full of love.
"She really is. And sheā€™s so smallā€¦ like a little doll." Charles smiled, watching his mother cradling his daughter to her chest, when his phone rang "Thatā€™s Fred. I have to take it."
"Itā€™s okay, donā€™t worry, Iā€™ll stay here with my beautiful, little girl." his mother said, not looking up from the bundle of joy in her arms.
Charles walked outside, accepting the call.
"Fredā€¦"
"I got your text earlier. Congrats Charles, mother and daughter both okay?" his team principal asked.
"Yeah. Both healthy."
"Thatā€™s good. Really good. And the rest- ummā€¦ everything arranged?"
"Yeah. Itā€™s been taken care of." Charles sighed.
"Good, goodā€¦ I really donā€™t like to do this Charles- but I have to ask. Will
you race in Baku? I would understand if you didnā€™t want toā€¦ but- well itā€™s Baku. You always been quite good there, so I thinkā€¦ maybeā€¦" Fred stuttered a little, as a father himself, he knew what he asked of his young driver.
"No. I have toā€¦ I said I would do everything in my power to be able to do both. Race and be a good fatherā€¦" Charles replied, although he honestly didnā€™t want to leave his precious girl behind.
"You donā€™t have to come with everyone else, be here on the 27th, for media day, thatā€™s fineā€¦" his Team Principal suggested and he nodded slowly.
"Thanks Fred, see you in Baku."
"See you in Bakuā€¦"
Charles pocketed his phone, leaning against the wall when the door to the hospital room opened, his mother looking outside.
"You need to feed her, come on inā€¦" she smiled at her son and Charles pushed himself off the wall, following her back in.
The gorgeous baby girl scrambled in the little crib, soft cries leaving her.
"Here, itā€™s warm. Take her and sit downā€¦" his mother instructed him and he did as told.
After a couple of minutes a comfortable silence fell over the room. Only the newbornā€™s tiny sounds while eagerly suckling on the bottle were to be heard.
Charles eyes were full of love and adoration for the tiny human being in his arms, to think he would only have 4 days until he had to leave his little girl for the first time hurt him beyond belief. But he knew that he made a promise. He would do everything to give his daughter the best life possible.
"Itā€™s just you and me, mon angeā€¦ just you and me, but I promise you, I will do everything to keep you safe, keep you happy." Charles leaned down to gently kiss his little girls forehead "I love you, my beautiful Ava."
"And this will be your room, I mean, when youā€™re a little older of course. I know, itā€™s nothing special. It needs colour, decoration, maybe even different furnitureā€¦ but I wanted to have the nursery ready before you were bornā€¦ we change that, donā€™t worry, pretty girl." Charles cradled his daughter to his chest, standing in the middle of the plain, white nursery. It looked sterile. Cold. He knew it. He just didnā€™t have the time to change it until now "Youā€™ll sleep in my bedroom for now anywaysā€¦ here, I show youā€¦" he walked outside the nursery, down the hallway, through the door at the end "This is where we sleep, how do you like it?" he looked down at the sleepy baby girl, chuckling "Itā€™s not like youā€™re going to answer, right? I guess your silence means you love itā€¦"
"I hate it, I want my own bedroom, daddy!" Joris' high pitched voice behind him made Charles roll his eyes "I thought youā€™re a millionaire, why do we have to share a room?"
"Ha-ha, very funnyā€¦" the Ferrari driver turned around, glaring at his best friend "Before sheā€™ll move into her nursery, I need to make it homely first. Worthy of my little princess." his eyes softened as soon as he looked back down into the babyā€™s face.
"You still got time, donā€™t worry. For now, you should enjoy the next couple of days with her, before leaving for Bakuā€¦"
"I canā€™t believe that Iā€™m saying that, but I donā€™t want to race, I want to stay here with her, I donā€™t want to miss anything sheā€™s learning, or doing for the first time!" the new father sighed.
"I know. But letā€™s face it, Ava is only 3 days old, she wonā€™t do much besides sleeping and poopingā€¦" Joris shrugged his shoulders.
"Watch it, Trouche, or Iā€™m rethinking my choice of making you her godfather." Charles turned slightly, smiling at his best friend.
"Wha-ā€¦ are you-ā€¦ are you serious? M- me? Godfather?" he stumbled over his own words, eyes wide as he stared at the young father with his daughter in front of him.
"Iā€™m serious, yeahā€¦ I mean, obviously only if you wa-ā€¦"
"Yes! YES! Of course! I justā€¦ I didnā€™t think you would choose me? Lorenzo? Or Arthurā€¦ butā€¦ wow. WOW!" Joris stepped closer, looking at the little angel in her fatherā€™s arms, his goddaughter "My beautiful Ava. I will try to be the best godfather, I promise!"
"And you know what? One of your first duties is to help me change her diaperā€¦ I did it the last days with mamanā€™s or a nurses helpā€¦ but nowā€¦ Iā€™m scaredā€¦"
"I mean, how hard can it be?" Joris chuckled and followed Charles to the changing table, where he gently laid down his little bundle of joy.
"Yeah, shouldnā€™t be that big of a problem." the new dad shrugged.
It was a problem. A big problem. And when ten minutes later the little girl was all fresh and dressed up, both young men slid down on the floor, leaning against the bed and drawer.
"I will have nightmares of this- this experienceā€¦" Joris mumbled and Charles nodded slowly.
"How can this precious, sweet little thing create such an atrocity?" he looked down at his daughter, who dozed off already, letting out the sweetest sounds.
"And now look at her! All cute and adorable!" Joris smiled and his best friend scooted over a little.
"Do you want to hold her?" he asked and looked at him.
"Umm-ā€¦ sure. But you have to show me, I never held a baby that little!"
"Iā€™ll show you, donā€™t worryā€¦" Charles replied and showed Joris exactly how to held his little baby girl.
"Oh wowā€¦ oh wowā€¦ sheā€™s so tinyā€¦" Joris mumbled, looking at his goddaughter "Sheā€™s so cuteā€¦"
"She is perfectā€¦ I know that it wonā€™t be easy, being here for her, taking care of her. My career. Keeping her safe from my crazy life. The media. My fans. I know the next months, maybe years will be pretty toughā€¦ but when I look at her? I just know it all will be worth it." Charles almost whispered, his gaze softening.
"I think youā€™re rightā€¦ I mean, just look at herā€¦" Joris replied, gently taking Avaā€™s hand in his much bigger one, inspecting her tiny fingers.
"I know this all was unusual. A drunk one night stand. Hiding her mother away from everyone. Keeping her a secret? But I would do it all over again, just to have herā€¦"
Joris looked up at Charles, smiling at the way how his best friendā€™s soft gaze lingered on his baby girl. A content smile on his lips. His eyes full of love. He always knew that Charles would be an amazing father one day, the way he treated his little fans a clear indicator, but seeing it happening before his eyes made his own heart double in size.
"Sheā€™s your little girl."
"My little girl. My princess." Charles whispered, gently kissing his daughterā€™s tiny hand "My everything."
Baku 2023:
"Question for Charles, you only arrived today, everything okay? Iā€™ve, and Iā€™m sure Iā€™m not the only one, noticed that youā€™re a little pale?" a reporter asked at the press conference and Charles picked up the microphone, clearing his throat.
"Iā€™m good, thanks. I had to sort out something back at home, nothing bad, donā€™t worry, just a family- a private matter. Itā€™s all good and Iā€™m here, ready to race." he said it with a big smile on his face.
A smile he kept for the rest of the press conference. A fake smile. Leaving Ava behind after not even a full week hurt. It didnā€™t sit right with him. But he promised his team he would race. He promised him being a father now wouldnā€™t affect his career and he planned on keeping that promise.
"Youā€™re alright mate?" Max asked when they left the press conference and Charles nodded "Everything alright at home?"
"Yeah, sureā€¦ it was just-ā€¦ my mum. She was sick, nothing serious, but there were some things we had to take care off. Her hair salon. Stuff, you know?" the Monegasque was a horrible liar and he knew he had to improve in order to keep his secret under wraps.
"Okay-ā€¦ well, Iā€™m glad sheā€™s good again?" Max replied.
"Hmm. Yeah. All goodā€¦"
"Alright. What do you think? Another pole this year here?"
"I much rather would start in P2 but actually win the raceā€¦ but honestly? Iā€™m not having much hope." Charles sighed, thinking about the weekend ahead, hoping for a decent outcome at least. And when Sunday came and he sat in the plane back home late at night, the smile on his face wasnā€™t just from being happy to see his daughter again, but also from a second place in the sprint race and a third place in the main race. His mood was only dampened by the fact that he would have too little time with his baby girl, considering he had to catch his flight on Thursday to Miami, but even if it would only be for 10 minutes, Charles would take the detour. Every single second with his daughter was precious.
"Hey my little princessā€¦" Charles cooed at his little one, inhaling the unique newborn smell, sighing contently when he finally made his way back home "Iā€™m back baby girl and this time Iā€™m staying for longer than just a day!"
He thought back to last week when he made a quick stop over in between Baku and Miami, hating to leave her after only a day already.
"She was a perfect little angel." Pascale smiled, packing her granddaughters bag "Are you sure you want to drive home? You could stay here?"
"No, I really should go home. I have to get used to taking care of her aloneā€¦" Charles replied.
"Okay, here, Iā€™ve got her a car seat." Pascale sat down the Maxi-Cosi and helped her son buckling in the little baby girl "If you need anything, call me, okay?"
"Will do. Thanks Maman, for taking care of her." Charles kissed his motherā€™s cheek, who gently squeezed his arm.
"I told you, weā€™re all helping you. Itā€™s going to be fine. And now off you go. It looks like itā€™s about to rain soonā€¦"
And Pascale was right, the moment Charles left the underground parking garage in his car the first drops fell and by the time he reached his own home it was already raining cats and dogs. But it was good like this. Not many people out in the streets. No one walking up to his car to take a picture. When he took Ava out of the carrier and laid her down in her crib he dialled his brotherā€™s number.
"Hey Charles, howā€™s Ava?" Lorenzo asked and Charles rolled his eyes a little.
"What about me?" he pouted, gently stroking Avaā€™s cheek.
"Youā€™re right, sorry! How are you? How is Ava?" his older brother chuckled.
"We are both doing fine. But I realised something todayā€¦"
"Yeah? And thatā€™s what?"
"I need a new car. A bigger one. A safer one. With tinted windows. I canā€™t risk someone recognising me and then coming closer, taking pictures and spotting Ava. Chasing usā€¦" Charles quietly left his bedroom, leaving the door a crack wide open.
"Okay, yeah that shouldnā€™t be a problem."
"Goodā€¦ and now I have a week with my little one before I have to leave her yet againā€¦" the young father sighed.
"Although I donā€™t know how you must feel, but let me tell you this. Formula 1 is your job, itā€™s been your life the past few years and youā€™re on a good way of finally making one of your biggest dreams come trueā€¦ donā€™t be too hard on yourself. Youā€™re doing your job, so itā€™s okay. And itā€™s not like you leave Ava all alone! You leave her with Maman who adores her!" Lorenzo said and Charles nodded slightly.
"Youā€™re rightā€¦ I know thatā€¦ it justā€¦ it sucks a littleā€¦"
"Enjoy your week off with her for now, okay? The rest weā€™ll figure out! In the meantime Iā€™ll check some cars out for you!"
"Thanks Enzoā€¦"
"No worries little broā€¦"
Charles sat in his bed, Ava comfortably snuggled into his chest, watching the news about the weather in Italy.
"Looks terrifying, no?" Arthur said quietly, walking inside "Iā€™m not even sure if weā€™re racingā€¦"
"Yeahā€¦ and look at all the damage. Those poor peopleā€¦" Charles sighed.
"Isnā€™t umm-ā€¦ Alessia and her family arenā€™t they living in the Emilia Romagna region?" Arthur said hesitantly and by the way his brotherā€™s head snapped up, looking at him he held up his hands "Sorryā€¦ I shouldnā€™t have said thatā€¦"
"Youā€™re right. You shouldnā€™t have. I donā€™t know where they are. I donā€™t care where they are. I hope theyā€™re safe, like everyone affected, but thatā€™s it. I donā€™t know these people. I donā€™t want to know these people."
"I have food for you, from Mamanā€¦" Arthur tried to change the topic and Charles was more than happy about it.
"Iā€™m starvingā€¦" he replied and his little brother nodded.
"Iā€™ll go and fix a plate for you and then you can eat and I snuggle with my little bumblebeeā€¦" he left the bedroom and Charles looked down at Ava again.
She slowly opened her eyes, yawning and squirming a little.
"Hi my little princessā€¦" Charles whispered, leaning down, kissing his daughterā€™s cheek "Did you have a nice nap, baby girl?"
He had to chuckle. He used to shake his head at people who exaggerate using a baby voice when tending to their babies. But now he was just like that, cooing at his little girl with a high pitched voice, waiting for a reply that wouldnā€™t come.
"Here you goā€¦ and now I want my little bumblebeeā€¦" Arthur sat down a plate on his older brothers night stand, looking at his niece, smiling when Charles gently laid her down in his arms "Sheā€™s so fu-ā€¦"
"Arthur!"
"- freaking cute! So incredibly, incredibly cute!" he cooed at the little girl in his arms.
"That she isā€¦" Charles replied "I donā€™t want to leave on Mondayā€¦ but itā€™s Imola, there is a ton of events Silvia couldnā€™t pull me out off, so I have to goā€¦"
"I donā€™t want to leave either, staying here would mean no fu- messed up race weekendā€¦" Arthur mumbled and Charles looked up from his plate.
"Donā€™t be too hard on yourself, Arthurā€¦" he began but Arthur shook his head.
"4 race weekends, 8 races and only one P3ā€¦ no win, no pole position, mostly finished out of the points, crashes here and thereā€¦ I guess Iā€™m just not good enoughā€¦" he sighed.
"Hey! Stop that! Itā€™s only the beginning of the season, you need time to get used to an F2 car!" Charles sat down his plate, looking at his little brother "You wouldnā€™t have made it into F2 if you werenā€™t good enough!"
"Everyone is saying I only made it because of youā€¦"
"What? Whoā€™s saying that?" Charles was confused.
"Everyone. Itā€™s everywhere, experts, journalists, they all say it. Or write it." Arthur replied, smiling at Ava holding onto his finger with a tight grip.
The older Leclerc brother grabbed his phone, opening Google typing in his brotherā€™s name and to his shock, his little brother was right. He clicked on the first YouTube video, not wanting to believe that people would say things like that.
"ā€¦ now letā€™s talk about his team mate, Arthur Leclercā€¦" the blonde woman said, looking at her two male co-hosts.
"Leclerc didnā€™t have the best start of the season and some people start wondering if he deserves a seat in F2 and of course how much his brother had to do with him having a seat." the dark haired reporter said, while the blonde haired guy next to him nodded.
"Donā€™t get me wrong. Racing is in the Leclerc brotherā€™s blood. But I guess you can say, when back in the day their parents had to decide which brother could continue and which had to stop, they made the right choice."
Furiously he exited the app, locking his phone.
"Are you watching that?" he looked at his little brother who only shrugged his shoulders "If they canā€™t talk shit, theyā€™re not satisfied."
"But theyā€™re right, no? Iā€™m not having a good season. I am not good enoughā€¦" Arthur mumbled "So yeahā€¦ I guess it really made sense that mum and dad put all their money on you instead of meā€¦"
"It had nothing to do with who was better, Arthur! I was older, already further into my racing career. That was it. Nothing else." Charles said and Arthur sighed.
"If you say so." he shrugged.
Charles got off from his bed and sat down on the stool in front of his brother.
"This all, racing, itā€™s already tough enough without all that bullshit coming from so called experts and you know it! It had nothing to do with me, that you got your seat, Arthur! You had an amazing season in F3. You won the Formula Regional Asian Championship. Thatā€™s what got you your seat. You have proven that youā€™re good enough. Got it?" he said, looking at his younger brother intently who just nodded after a while, his eyes still trained on his niece "And now come on. I want to go for a little walk with her, and now that Enzo brought my new car, we can drive a little out of town to somewhere quiet. Letā€™s worry about racing and that all tomorrow again, okay?"
"Okayā€¦ but just so you know, Iā€™ll sit next to her in the car, I just love looking at herā€¦" Arthur smiled a little and Charles chuckled.
"Same, Arthur, same."
"Itā€™s cancelled. You can go home." Mia said and Charles cocked an eyebrow.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeahā€¦ I know you just arrived early this morningā€¦ but itā€™s official. You wonā€™t race. You can go home." she smiled at him and it didnā€™t take Charles longer than 5 minutes to pack his bag and leave.
"Hey! Youā€™re leaving?" Carlos.
Charles stopped dead in his tracks and turned around slowly "I thought we had this dinner with some sponsors later on? Discuss what we can do to help? Or at least thatā€™s what Silvia said?"
He was right. Silvia told him about it, but also said that if the race got cancelled she would make Carlos attend alone.
"Yeah-ā€¦ umm. I knowā€¦ itā€™s just- there is a family emergency back home. I have to go." Charles lied and his team mate looked at him empathically.
"Oh shit, mate. I hope nothing too serious?"
"No. Itā€™s, itā€™s not too bad, but I have to check in and make sure it stays that way."
"Alright. Do that. And take care, the streets are flooded at some parts and the re-routing isnā€™t working at all timesā€¦" the Spaniard clapped his back and Charles smiled at him.
"Will do, thanks. And sorry for leaving you alone with Silvia and the wolvesā€¦" he felt bad.
"Donā€™t worry, cabrĆ³n."
Charles slipped into his car, starting the engine, his mind already at home with his little one. He drove off the Ferrari premises and quickly made his way to the motorway, thankfully without any serious delays or issues. When he finally arrived back home in Monaco and parked his car he leaned back in his seat. Closing his eyes for a minute. He flinched when his phone beeped and he saw a text from his manager, Nicolas, coming through. A new brand collaboration. He sighed, closing the message and getting out of the car. Another gig would mean more time away from his daughter. Something he didnā€™t like.
Charles quietly closed the door behind him, slipping of his shoes, when he heard the soft voice of his mother, cooing at her. He stood in the doorway of his bedroom, watching his mother sitting in the rocking chair, his beautiful baby girl in her arms and his heart almost bursted.
"Look, little Ava, your papa is hereā€¦" Pascale cooed to the little girl and got up, walking over to her son.
"Hi my little princessā€¦" he smiled at her and then kissed his motherā€™s cheek "Let me take a quick shower and then Iā€™ll take her and you can go."
"Take all the time that you need." she replied, sitting back down in the chair "We are just fineā€¦"
"I can see that." Charles chuckled and grabbed some fresh clothes, making his way into the bathroom, where he took a quick shower before joining his mother and daughter again.
"You look tired, Charlesā€¦" Pascale looked worriedly at her son, dark circles under his eyes.
"Driving late last night to Maranello, just an hour or two of sleep in the morning and then driving straight back home around noon? Yeahā€¦ Iā€™m tired. But itā€™s okay. I would do everything for herā€¦" Charles yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Why donā€™t you eat something and I make Ava bed ready? Change her, feed her, take her to bed and then you can go to bed as well and take over from then on?" his mother gently rubbed his arm "There are some leftovers in the fridge."
"Sounds like a plan. A good planā€¦" he mumbled, walking out of the room to warm up the leftovers, eating in silence before returning to his bedroom where Ava was already sleeping in her crib.
"Look at this little angel." Pascal whispered.
"She is perfect." Charles replied quietly, disappearing in his bathroom, getting bed ready himself "You should stay here Maman, itā€™s late."
"Iā€™ll be fine, donā€™t worry. You sleep now!" she kissed his cheek "Good night, Charles."
"Good night, Mamanā€¦ and thank you."
"Not for thatā€¦"
The next days Charles spent in pure bliss with his little girl. He felt like he learnt every other moment something new about her, saw a new expression in her face, a new movement of her head.
"Look! Itā€™s like she understands what Iā€™m saying!" he exclaimed "Youā€™re so clever, Ava! So, so clever!"
"She doesnā€™t understand you. She just recognises your voice!" Lorenzo chuckled but his younger brother didnā€™t listen "So- umm have you thought about what to do during the Monaco GP?"
"What do you mean?" Charles looked up from his daughter, cocking an eyebrow.
"Charles, you cross the street on any normal day and at least a dozen of people swarm you here. But this week? Itā€™s going to be crazy! Your fans will even follow Maman around, as soon as they spot her somewhere, imagine how they would stalk her if they saw her with a strollerā€¦ and she canā€™t stay inside the entire week with Ava! Also, everyone knows that sheā€™s always in the paddock in Monaco. If sheā€™s not here this year, people will start talking, and when they talk, they will look even more for herā€¦"
"Fu-ā€¦ damn. I havenā€™t even thought about thatā€¦ but youā€™re right. Oh god what am I supposed to do? I donā€™t want people to assume that something is wrong with Maman, first Baku and the mysterious family matter why I arrived late, then the dinner in Imola that I didnā€™t attend because of a family emergencyā€¦ if sheā€™s not here this weekendā€¦ some people would start looking for her..." Charles leaned back, ruffling his hair.
"So umm we- no Charlotte had an ideaā€¦ when I talked to her about it. We werenā€™t really spotted together by anyone, so sheā€™s kinda unknown, no one would connect her in any way to youā€¦ she could take care of Ava? Go for a walk here and there with her? Watch her at least enough for Maman to be at qualifying and the race?"
"And she would be okay with that? Didnā€™t you ask her to join you this weekend?"
"She wouldnā€™t offer it if it wasnā€™t okay, Iā€™ll ask her to join me next weekend then." Lorenzo replied and Charles nodded.
"If itā€™s okay for her? She would definitely help me out big time."
"Iā€™ll text her thenā€¦" he said and typed away in his phone, a reply coming through almost immediately "'I canā€™t wait to spend some time with the precious little princess'"
"Sheā€™s an angel, tell her that. Thank you! Like seriously. Next weekend in Barcelona, you book the nicest, most luxurious hotel for you two, take her to dinner to the best restaurant. My treat."
"Stop that. She loves to help out. Also, she loves Ava, I think weā€™re doing her a bigger favourā€¦" Lorenzo laughed but Charles shook his head.
"Doesnā€™t matter. My treat next weekend."
"Sheā€™ll be delighted."
"Itā€™s like this." Charles mumbled, shaking his head while leaving the garage with Andrea.
"You can still get up on topā€¦" he replied but Charles scoffed "Itā€™s not impossible! Just waitā€¦ and even if not, then you drive home and cuddle your little girl."
"Yeah. Holding her is better than lifting any trophy out there." the driver smiled.
"See? Thatā€™s the spirit." his athletic trainer bumped his shoulder.
"Yeah, Iā€™m trying toā€¦"
"Now come on. Letā€™s get home, eat something and relax, tomorrow is a new day."
And although Charles gave his best, he wasnā€™t able to make up any positions. He climbed out of his car, frustrated and congratulated Max on his win.
"Well done mate, congrats."
"Thanks man." Max clapped his back and smiled "Maybe next year youā€™ll beat the curse."
"There is no curse. Just me or my team not delivering." Charles mumbled and walked off.
He knew how everyone talked about his Monaco curse, but looking at it, it was always just a mistake by himself or, like last year, his team. After his weighing he made his way back to the Ferrari garage and prepared for the media pen.
"Hey Charles. Another year, another disappointing result for you. What went wrong?"
"I didnā€™t qualify good enough. In Monaco your starting position is crucial for the race outcome. And with the penalty, starting in P6, in the middle of the DRS train in Monaco? Yeah you will most likely finish in P6, like I did." Charles sighed.
"You complained about the stiffness of the car, do you think that will be an issue next week in Barcelona as well?"
"I donā€™t know. We will see I guess. If the car is like this next weekā€¦ we have to wait and seeā€¦"
"Itā€™s your home GP so now you go home, have a little time with your family and then off to Barcelona?"
"Yeah. Weekend debrief with the team now and then back home where my da-ā€¦" Charles stopped abruptly, eyes wide, thinking about what to say "Where my dance partners in crime wait for me." he scolded himself.
"Dance partners in crime?" the reporter cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah after a race like today I need to dance it out, you know?"
"Okayā€¦ umm- then have fun and see you next weekend."
Charles could kick himself. He had to be more careful from now on.
"You covered that up quite wellā€¦" Mia whispered, seeing how tense Charles was "Sure it was a littleā€¦ well it was different. Nothing people are used to from you but itā€™s okayā€¦"
"Dance partners in crime? Dance it out?" he sighed.
"Yeah, I mean, after this weekend? Who wouldnā€™t want to dance it out." she squeezed his shoulder "Now come on, letā€™s make this quick and then you can go home, to your dance partner in crime."
"Very funny." Charles groaned and when he finally slipped of his shoes back at home, he couldnā€™t wait to see his daughter, knowing that she would make him forget the whole weekend with just one little smile.
"She was just a perfect little angel." Charlotte smiled at him when he walked into his living room "She watched her daddy race and then she fell asleep, just like a good little girl."
"There wasnā€™t much to watch today, no?" Charles mumbled, picking his daughter up from the sofa "But itā€™s okayā€¦ Iā€™m here nowā€¦"
"Youā€™ll come back stronger next week."
"I guess weā€™ll see."
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Chapter 6 - Ladies and Gentlemen, baby Ava has arrived and sheā€™s already wrapping EVERYONE around her tiny little fingers. Writing Charles as a dad is one of my favourite things and I canā€™t wait for you all to read more about him and his little girl.
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
@glitterquadricorn @lottalove4evelyn @janeh22 @itsjustkhaos @mariclerc @fangirlforever2000 @queensassybitchsworld
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jessicaloons Ā· 2 months ago
Text
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 5
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
Miss Americana
June 2023:
Rachel stood in front of the antique store, double checking the address before she took a deep breath, pushing the door open. It was dusty, the air smelled musty and the store was only dimly lit. She looked around for a counter and when her eyes made it out in the far right corner, she walked up to it, right when an older man stepped in front of her, making her flinch.
"Jeez! You scared the shit out of me!" Rachel squeaked, taking a step back, looking at the man.
"Iā€™m sorry, dear, I didnā€™t mean to. Now, how can I help you? What brings you into Harryā€™s Attic today?" the manā€™s soft voice was soothing Rachelā€™s still pounding heart "I see. I give you a minute to gather yourself, again Iā€™m really sorryā€¦ my wife always said that I should wear a bell around my neck, to announce where Iā€™m coming from." he chuckled and Rachel laughed.
"A bell wouldā€™ve saved me from an almost heart attack." she said.
"Yeahā€¦ clever woman that was, my Winnieā€¦" he smiled a little but then clapped his hands together "So? What can I do for you?"
"Oh- ummā€¦ Iā€™m looking for Carl. Max Anderson sent me." Rachel repeated the words she got from Stuart.
"And what can I do for a friend of Max Anderson?" the old man, probably Carl, asked, looking around.
"I- ummā€¦ I need a new-ā€¦" Rachel paused, making sure as well that they were alone before she continued "I need a new identity, with everything that comes with it. New birth certificate, new drivers license, new passport, new social security number, new bank accounts. Oh and my college degreeā€¦ I need that as well with my new identity."
"The whole package thenā€¦ I see."
"Yeahā€¦ umm-the whole package." Rachel confirmed, nodding.
"Alright, I can do that. I need time until tomorrow to prepare everythingā€¦"
"Okayā€¦" that was fast.
"Here, this is my price for everything." Carl shoved his business card over. Rachel looked at it, nodding, Stuart already told her how much it would cost roughly "Fill out these documentsā€¦" he shoved a clipboard her way and walked into the backroom.
Rachel looked at it and saw that it was basic things like her age, hair and eye colour, her height. But also about her school, when she graduated from what Highschool, what degree from what university. Rachel filled in the last question when Carl returned.
"I need pictures for your new documentsā€¦you want a make over? Change your hair colour as well?" he asked.
Rachel looked at herself in the mirror behind Carl, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, down to her lower back. She dyed her hair since she was 13, hearing from one too many judges that with blonde hair she wouldā€™ve won way more pageants by now.
"Yeah. I think Iā€™ll do thatā€¦" the, for now blonde girl, said, changing her hair colour on the documents she just filled out.
"Alrightā€¦ I need your necklaceā€¦" he said, looking through the documents, checking that Rachel answered every question.
"My necklace? Why?" she stuttered, it belonged to her mother and she never took it off.
"If someone followed you, they would want to know why you were here, give me the necklace and youā€™ll get a receipt that you want to sell it to me, for now Iā€™m only estimating its valueā€¦ and if someone were to ask I would give them this exact answerā€¦"
"Why do you assume someone could follow me?"
"Darling, you asked me for a whole new identity. A whole new life. Now why would you need that, if someone wasnā€™t looking for you? I donā€™t judge. I just do whatever you ask me to, but I also have to protect my businessā€¦ protect meā€¦" Carl began when the doorbell rang and a man walked in, looking at the girl and the man at the counter "Alright, now give me some time to research and estimate the value of it and then come back tomorrow to discuss the price I could give you for it. And then weā€™ll see, okay? Maybe sleep on it before you make your final decision if you want to sell it or notā€¦" he said in a professional tone "Iā€™m right with you, Sir." he nodded towards the man who looked through the shelves "So, whatā€™s it going to be?"
"Yeahā€¦ here- ummā€¦ I come back tomorrow then." Rachel took off her necklace, handing it over.
"Sign here please, with your nameā€¦" he emphasised the word name, tapping the line on the last page of the documents on the counter and the girl understood, Stuart told her that she could choose her own name if she wanted to.
She had thought about it for a while and always circled back to her motherā€™s middle name. Having her mother with her, would be giving her strength, wouldnā€™t make her feel so alone. She took the pen Carl offered and wrote the name. She didnā€™t care what surname he would pick, only her first name was important .
"Alright, here is your receipt, Iā€™ll see you tomorrow then." he handed the girl the receipt who mustered a smile.
"Thank you, Sir."
Rachel left the store as fast as she could, pocketing the receipt. She didnā€™t question how Carl would get her new documents and papers ready in this short amount of time, if Stuart said she could trust him, than she would do it, but she felt weird. Almost empty inside, knowing that her time as Rachel Lombardi was limited.
On the way back to her hotel, Rachel stopped at a drugstore, buying some hair dye and scissors, as well as something to eat. She didnā€™t want to leave her hotel room too often, still hoping and praying that no one was following her. Back at her hotel she dialled Stuartā€™s number with the landline phone, sighing happily when he picked up after the third ring.
"Howā€™s Montreal?"
"Busy. Didnā€™t expect it to be this busy to be honest, but thatā€™s good." Rachel replied, sitting down on her bed "I met Carl todayā€¦"
"Yeah? He can handle everything?" Stuart asked quietly.
"Yeah- umm heā€™s a little creepy, mixed with quirky, cute old man? Hard to explainā€¦"
"Sounds like him. So everything is good then?"
"Yeah. Iā€™m going to dye my hair, cut itā€¦ change my appearanceā€¦"
"Good idea."
"Yeah. Back to the rootsā€¦" Rachel chuckled bitterly, shaking her head "So whatā€™s next? After I have my new identity? Whatā€™s happening to Rachel?"
A part of her still didnā€™t want to know what was happening, but then again, it was her life.
"A- umm letā€™s say friend of mine, weā€™ll call herā€¦ Isabella- Isabella will come to the hotel, and take care of itā€¦"
"How?" curiosity got the better of her.
"You donā€™t want to and need to know."
"But itā€™s- itā€™s not something illegal?"
"Rachā€¦ you think getting a whole new identity is legal?" Stuart chuckled and was met with silence "Exactly. Donā€™t worry that pretty head of yours. Itā€™s all being handled. And as soon as you have your new passport you can book a flight and get the hell out of hereā€¦ have you decided on a destination yet?"
"Noā€¦ I honestly donā€™t know. Somewhere where they speak my language would be a good start-ā€¦"
"So maybe England? Italy? You speak Italian fluently?" Stuart suggested.
"I donā€™t knowā€¦ maybe. Iā€™ll think about it." Rachel nodded slightly.
"Alright. Well for now just try to relax, itā€™ll be okay."
"Yeah. Thanks Stu. I feel like thanking you isnā€™t even enoughā€¦"
"It is Rach, okay? You think now where youā€™re heading off to. Have a good sleep and all will be good, youā€™ll see. Good night Rachel."
"Good night Stu."
Rachel read her motherā€™s letter, cradling it to her chest. The letter, her necklace and one photo album was everything she had left of her. She looked at the neat handwriting of her mother, one sentence catching her eye.
Itā€™s enough for a fresh start, if you know what I mean.
She repeated the sentence over and over again in her head. Her mother wanted to tell her something with it. A fresh start. It was scratching something in the back of her mind, but she couldnā€™t puzzle it together, frustrated she switched on the tv, hoping to get her mind off it. The news came on, talking about how Montreal will be busier than usually in the next week, because of the upcoming Formula 1 Grand Prix, she rolled her eyes, not interested in a bunch of men racing in circles, when one of the news anchors mentioned the Monaco Grand Prix and it all made sense all of a sudden. A fresh start. In Monaco. Rachelā€™s mother told her years ago that if she ever had to choose a new home for them, it would be Monaco. After attending the Miss World pageant in 2003 there, befriending a local hairdresser, her mother loved the little principality. She always told Rachel that if she would ever need help and her mother wasnā€™t there anymore, she should contact Madame Leclerc. Rachel never understood why her mother would say something like that, she was too young to understand the dangers of the life she was living. She didnā€™t understand why she ever would contact a stranger if her mother wasnā€™t there anymore. Where would her mother be, if not with her? But with every year Rachel got older she understood. And now she would listen to her mother, who never guided her wrong. She might not just be safe in Monaco, she might also be able to start a new life. Start over from scratch. With a newfound motivation, the young girl got off her bed, grabbing her laptop, checking for flights and accommodations. She was ready for her new adventure, that would start in Monaco. Out of all places in the world where she could hide, at a place like Monaco, she thought her father and the Romanos wouldnā€™t look for her. How could someone like her afford a life in Monaco, home of the rich and the famous.
Rachel looked at her reflection in the mirror, her long, chocolate brown locks cascading down her shoulders. It was almost her natural colour, or what used to be her natural colour years ago, but now it looked foreign. Like the person who looked at her in the mirror was a stranger. She picked up the scissors and cut off a good amount of hair, watching in satisfaction as they were falling on the floor. It wasnā€™t really a haircut, nothing stylish, just shorter. It had to be enough for now. Putting on a white blouse, Rachel checked the time, realising that she had to be at the antique store in 15 minutes. She put her hair into a neat, high ponytail, slipped into her sneakers and grabbed her bag. On the way downstairs she fished her sunglasses out of her bag and put them on, leaving the little hotel in a hurry.
"Hello young Miss, what can I do for you?" Carl asked 15 minutes later when Rachel walked through the door of the antique store.
"My necklaceā€¦" she pressed out, a little out of breath and Carl cocked his eyebrow.
Rachel took off her sunglasses, putting the receipt down and then saw the penny drop as the manā€™s expression changed.
"Ahh! Of course, of course! Please come into my back office, I show you what I could find out about your necklace!" Carl waved her behind the counter and she followed him through a short hallway into a little room, the walls were full with ceiling high shelves, full with boxes, stacks of papers, figurines, books and what not "Have a seat." he pointed to a chair at the desk and Rachel sat down "Where do I have itā€¦" Carl mumbled, opening a file cabinet, pulling out a manila folder "Here." he pulled out the chair opposite from Rachel and put the folder down, opening it "Birth certificate, social security number, high school and college diploma, bachelors degree. Also a new bank account, all your money transferred onto it, well not all your money. My payment excluded obviously..."
"How did you do that? Transferring money leaves a trailā€¦ someone could find the new account under the new name andā€¦" Rachel interrupted but Carl chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"My dear, Iā€™ve been doing this for longer than youā€™re on this earth, I know how to not leave a trailā€¦" he said reassuringly but seeing the worry on the girls face he sighed "I transferred youā€™re money in tiny little chunks onto offshore accounts all across the world. Then I transferred from other accounts, accounts that have no connection to your money, the amount of money that was left, after my payment, back onto your new account. You see? Youā€™re safe. Who ever will follow your money will only be able to find hundreds of transactions to a bunch of different accounts and thatā€™s it. I know how to do my job, dear." Carl winked, patting Rachaelā€™s hand who slowly nodded.
"Sorryā€¦ I- I just needed to be sure that-ā€¦" she began but got interrupted.
"That youā€™re safe and no one can find you or follow you, I know. And please believe me when I say that you areā€¦ alright?" he looked at her questioningly and when she nodded again he clapped his hands "Alrightā€¦ then letā€™s proceed, Iā€™d say. I need to take a picture for the ID, drivers license and passport and youā€™re good to go, Miss Lauren Millner, born May, 26th 2001 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Parents Walter and Caroline Millner, deceased. No siblings or other living relatives. Graduated from Harrisburg High School with a high school diploma and later graduated from the University of Pittsburghā€™s School of Nursing, with a bachelors degree in nursing. Specialised in paediatrics."
Rachel scooted closer to the table, looking at the documents in front of her, hesitantly picking up the birth certificate, inspecting it. Next the high school diploma.
"It looks so-ā€¦ it looks so real?" she whispered, putting the two documents down, reaching for the passport, for now without a picture but still so realistic, that Rachel thought she had a real one in her hands.
"Well, thatā€™s because they are real. Donā€™t ask questions, accept it. Now come on. Letā€™s take your picture and then I can finish up the rest."
Her new, smaller suitcase on the bed, filled with some new clothes. Her personal keepsakes, like her photo album, a big folder with her new documents and a notebook next to it. Ready to be packed into the small backpack. Rachelā€™s entire life in front of her. 22 years fitted in one small suitcase and a backpack. Even less than when she left Boston. A numbness spread through her body, something she couldnā€™t quite pinpoint, but she didnā€™t have the time to figure it out, when the phone rang and she hastily picked it up, the receptionist telling her that her taxi was waiting.
"Iā€™m coming down." she hung up, finished packing and closed her suitcase and backpack.
One last look through the room to make sure she didnā€™t forget anything and Rachel put on her jacket, a thin scarf and new sunglasses, before leaving the room. Her whole insides were churning all the way to the airport and when she got out of the car and walked inside, she realised what it was that was making her feel this way. This was it. Her old life ended here. Her new one began. She took a deep breath, making her way through the crowd, irritated by the amount of young girls, screaming hysterically for the attention of some celebrity. The profile of the young man looked like he was a model, or maybe a singer? A member of the newest boy band maybe? She shook her head, not caring one bit and stopped in front of the check-in queue. When it was her turn she handed over her new passport with slightly shaky hands, something the lady at the desk noticed immediately.
"You alright Miss?" she asked and Rachel nodded "First time flying?"
"Kind of, at least for that long." Rachel replied nervously.
"And then all alone to Europe? Youā€™re visiting someone?"
"Yeahā€¦ and old family friendā€¦"
"Lovely. Have a safe trip then dear!"
"I will."
"First things first, youā€™ll need to buy a new phone when you arrive and then send me a text immediately. I need to know that youā€™re safe." Stuart urged "Donā€™t roll your eyes at meā€¦"
"I didnā€™t-ā€¦ how did you know?" Rachel replied, hearing her friend chuckle through the receiver of the pay phone at the airport.
"I know you now long enough. Soā€¦ Monaco. I mean. Itā€™s crazy to think that someone on the run, nonetheless a post grad nurse, would settle down in Monaco of all places. To survive there you have to be loadedā€¦ so yeah. Good idea! But then again, how will you survive Rach? I know your mom left you some money and you saved a fortune from your scholarship and working for Pete. But I know how expensive Carl wasā€¦ you canā€™t have that much leftā€¦"
"Donā€™t you worry, Stu. Itā€™s still enough, believe me. I can stay in Monaco for a while without worrying too much. And with Madame Leclercs help I hopefully get a job real soon and-ā€¦" Rachel began when she heard Stuart sigh a little "What?"
"Arenā€™t you a little-ā€¦ umm arenā€™t you a little too optimistic? Rach your mum met this person once and wrote some letters over the yearsā€¦ but thatā€™s it? Who says that she still works in that hair salon? I mean- did you check?" he asked but was met with silence "So you didnā€™t? Do you even know the name of the salon? Where it is? No? Nothing? Rach thatā€™s risky-ā€¦"
"It will be fine. I have a good feeling about this, trust me, okay?" Rachel said reassuringly when her flight was announced to be ready for boarding "Oh, thatā€™s meā€¦"
"Alright. Then go. And remember, new phone, send me a text!" Stuart chided "And stop rolling your eyes, they might get stuck!"
"You and I both know that thatā€™s just a lie we tell kids to not do it anymoreā€¦" the girl laughed "But I will get a new phone as soon as Iā€™m in Nice. Iā€™ll shoot you a text and then I go radio silent for a while. Iā€™ll hide out in Nice, making sure that really no one followed me before I make my way to Monacoā€¦"
"Sounds like a plan. Take care, Rach."
"I willā€¦" she replied quietly, ending the call.
Rachel looked up at the screens above, in search for her gate. Finally spotting her flight to Nice. With every step she took closer to her gate, she felt the pit in her stomach grow. This was it. She left everything behind. No more fear of being dragged into a lifestyle she never wanted to be a part of. The moment she would board the plane her old life would end. The life of Rachel Lombardi would end. Once and for all.
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Chapter 5 - no idea if getting a new identity is that easy? But I guess when you know someone who knows someone šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø anyways, weā€™re getting closer and closer to our two characters to meet šŸ¤­ also: what a crazy race weekend šŸ™ˆ congrats Max! Amazing race! Also congrats Alpine! Damn!
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
@glitterquadricorn @lottalove4evelyn @janeh22 @itsjustkhaos @mariclerc @fangirlforever2000
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jessicaloons Ā· 3 months ago
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T H I S šŸ™Œ
2022 Silverstone - Max: Damaged Car = Loss of Pace, Charles: Left out on Old Hards after safety car, finish P4
2023 Singapore - Max: Rocky's weakness Qualified P15, Finished P5, Charles: Team orders to open a gap for Carlos, finished P4 after George ends in wall
2024 Australia - Max: Brake Failure DNF, Charles: Team Orders protect for Carlos, finished P2
2024 Mexico - Max: rb20, 20 seconds in penalty, finish P6, Charles: LICO most of race after Carlos complained he was to close, literally told he's driving too fast, finish P3
Carlos literally can not win a race if Max doesn't have mechanical issues/penalties and Charles does not get team orders or Ferrari distasterclass for getting a 1-2. It's just fucking embarrassing.
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jessicaloons Ā· 3 months ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Chapter 4
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
The Heartbreak Prince
November 2022:
"So itā€™s possible?" Charles asked his lawyer who nodded.
"Itā€™s a lot of paperwork, but thatā€™s what you pay me for, right?" she laughed and Charles looked at the ultrasound in his hand "I can start to set up all the documents as soon as possible or you want to take some time to think about it? Let it all go through your head once more? Or twice? More? You still have timeā€¦ the baby wonā€™t be born until April next year, so we can wait with the final decisionā€¦"
"No. Prepare everythingā€¦ can you maybe talk to her? If she has a lawyer, and if not, maybe recommend one? I donā€™t want her to feelā€¦ I donā€™t want her to feel like itā€™s me against her and she is defenseless. If she has a lawyer of her own by her side, sheā€™s not aloneā€¦"
"Of course Charles. Iā€™ll talk to her, explain everything to her and then we figure things out. One step at the time."
"Thank youā€¦" Charles smiled and got up, guiding his lawyer to the door "Let me know if you need anything from me."
"Will do, Iā€™ll stay in touch. Have a nice day, Charles. And good luck for your race." she left his apartment and he sighed, leaning against the door.
His mind was racing, he had to leave for the airport in not even 2 hours, but he knew he first had to talk to someone. He couldnā€™t keep it a secret, the guilt would eat away at him. Back in his bedroom he threw everything haphazardly into his suitcase, calling Joris.
"Hey Joris, pick me up at my mums placeā€¦" Charles slipped on his shoes, checking that he had everything important in his backpack.
"Okay? Everything alright?"
"Yeahā€¦ I just-ā€¦ Iā€™m keeping the baby and have to tell my mum nowā€¦" Charles blurted out and the line went silent "Jo?" he asked after a minute of silence "Are you still there?"
"Yeah-ā€¦ I justā€¦ umm-ā€¦ I have to wrap my head around what you just said? You and Alessia are keeping the baby?" Joris asked cautiously.
"No. I am. She wants nothing to do with the babyā€¦ or me. She made that clearā€¦" the Ferrari driver sighed, slipping into his sneakers.
"And what prompted this change of heart?"
"I saw it, Jo. And its heartbeatā€¦ in that moment I realised I would never forgive myself if I would give away my child. My firstborn. I canā€™t do itā€¦ thatā€™s a piece of me. And Iā€™m going to take care of itā€¦" he left his apartment, waiting for the elevator.
"Okay. So Alessia will have the baby and then leave it with you and sheā€™ll disappear? Not be a part in its life like you planned to? And you keep it? Take care of it, while travelling the whole world, racing in F1?"
"Thatā€™s exactly whatā€™s happening, I meanā€¦ if Maman wonā€™t kill me if I tell her nowā€¦" Charles put his suitcase in his car and got in, starting the engine.
"Good luck with thatā€¦ maybe youā€™ll die today so thinking about the future wonā€™t be necessaryā€¦" his best friend chuckled and under different circumstances Charles wouldā€™ve laughed too, but he knew that there was some truth in Jorisā€™ words and when he stood in front of his childhood home 10 minutes later, ringing the doorbell with shaky hands, he wished he couldā€™ve been anywhere else in the world but here.
"Charles! I didnā€™t think Iā€™d see you before you leave. What a lovely surprise." his mother kissed his cheeks, pulling him inside "Arthur and Lorenzo are here as wellā€¦"
"They are?" Charles swallowed hard.
Maybe it was easier to say it only once, then 3 times to each one individually he thought, when he stepped into the living room where his brothers already sat.
"I thought we meet at the airport?" Lorenzo, his older brother asked, looking slightly confused.
"Umm- yeah, I just- I had to talk to mum firstā€¦ and I guess now that youā€™re here, Iā€™ll tell you as wellā€¦" Charles voice wavered and his brothers shared some glances before they looked at him.
"Is everything alright?" Arthur, his youngest brother asked right as their mother came back with some coffee and biscuits on a tray, putting it on the coffee table, already on her way back to the kitchen.
"Maman? Can you umm-ā€¦ can you sit down, please? I need to talk to youā€¦ all of you." Charles voice was raspy and he cleared his throat, looking at his mother "Please. There is somethingā€¦ there is something you all need to know."
His mother looked worried, and as soon as she sat down between his brothers he pulled out the ultrasound picture, taking a deep breath. He felt his anxiety reaching its peek. The guilt settling in, in what a mess he had catapulted not only himself, but also everyone who was close to him. But he made his decision and now he had to own up to it. He took a deep breath, calming himself down.
"A couple of weeks ago I made a mistake. I did something stupid, reckless. But after crashing out at Paul Ricard I just wanted to forget. I drank a lot. And ended up in a girls bedā€¦ Charlotte and I werenā€™t dating anymore, we broke up almost a month earlier, we just kept it private, I asked her too, because I wanted to focus on driving and not on the gossip accounts speculating about my private lifeā€¦ that girl- sheā€™s pregnant. With my child. And we had a deal, that she would get the baby and then we give it up for adoption to find it a good homeā€¦ But I saw it. I saw my child. I heard its heartbeat and I canā€™t do it anymore. I canā€™t give it away. So I decided to keep it. Alessia, the mother, she wants nothing to do with it. Us. She doesnā€™t want a child. And thatā€™s okay. But I have to do this. This is my child. My responsibility." he didnā€™t make any breaks, let it all out in one go and then put down the ultrasound picture in front of his family, all 3 looking at it wide eyed "This is a part of meā€¦"
Silence. Complete silence. He couldnā€™t even hear them breathe. Charles looked at his brothers, the shock evident in their faces, then at his mother, an unreadable expression on her face. She picked up the picture, looking at it closely.
"Maman?" Charles almost whispered as his mother looked up from the picture in her hand "Iā€™m so sorry! I swear it was an accident but I have to do this. I canā€™t just abandon my childā€¦ please understand me. Pleaseā€¦ please donā€™t be mad at meā€¦"
"Youā€™re going to be a father?" was all she said and Charles nodded slowly, watching her getting off the sofa, slowly approaching him.
"Donā€™t be mad at meā€¦" Charles breathed out again, feeling the tears stinging in his eyes, he held his breath when his mother stopped in front of him, looking him in the eyes.
When she raised her hand he almost expected her to slap him, closing his eyes, preparing for the impact. But the slap never came, instead he flinched slightly when she cupped his cheek, wiping away the tears that had escaped.
"I raised you rightā€¦" she whispered and Charles opened his eyes looking at her "Taking responsibility. Youā€™re a good manā€¦" she kissed his cheek, pulling him into a tight hug, her own heart almost shattering, hearing her sonā€™s relieved sob "Seems like Iā€™m becoming a grandmother thenā€¦"
"Yeahā€¦ you areā€¦" Charles replied, feeling the tension and pressure falling off his shoulders. Relief flooding him.
"Itā€™s going to be okay. Weā€™re all here for you. We are all on your side." his mother whispered and Charles knew that with his motherā€™s love and support, he could do this right.
He could become the father his child deserved. A father like he had.
December 2022:
Annoyed. Indifferent. Disinterested. That would be the words Charles would use to describe the girl in front of him. The past weeks he tried to reason with her. Tried to talk her into co-parenthood. He wasnā€™t trying to force her, he just wanted to give her all the options. But as soon as he mentioned that he talked to his lawyer she asked for one herself. She made it clear that she didnā€™t want to have their child. Time and time again. Until Charles didnā€™t ask anymore. He accepted it. But what he didnā€™t have to accept was that the young girl sat at home. Alone. At all times. Only going out for short walks. Only texting with her best friend and brother. Talking to her parents from time to time. She needed to get out. Be around other people. And so he made a decision. It was a couple of days before Christmas when the driver sat in his second apartment in Monaco. The mother of his child on the sofa, he in the arm chair next to it.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Alessia rolled her eyes, not even looking at him.
"But why? It would do you some good, getting out of here, being surrounded by people, have a little Christmas dinner?"
"No. I donā€™t want to be surrounded by people. What do you even mean? We had a deal. No one knows about this. Who did you tell about it?"
"My mother and brothers, thatā€™s who I meant. Joris could come as well. It will be f-ā€¦"
"I donā€™t want to play family, donā€™t you get it? I donā€™t want to meet your family, who all probably have the same stupid puppy eyes, looking at me, trying to make me rethink my choiceā€¦ I donā€™t need that. As soon as I pressed this baby out itā€™s yours. Yours alone. I still donā€™t get why you would do that, itā€™s stupid. All alone. A demanding career. Having a child is just stupid for you, but thatā€™s your decision. Your problem. I wonā€™t be here to see the outcome of it all. I wonā€™t see what happens to that child." her voice was cold.
Annoyed. Indifferent. Disinterested. Always the same.
"I just donā€™t want you to be all aloneā€¦ itā€™s Christmas for fucks sake!" Charles groaned and for the first time in weeks there was a tiny hint of a smile on the girls face.
"Listen Charles. I really appreciate it. I do. All the little snack bags you leave on the doormat, all the delicious food you send over. You treat me right. You do, really. And now this. Itā€™s really thoughtful. But I donā€™t want to meet your family. I want to be alone. Here. Itā€™s my first Christmas without my parents. Let me have it the way I want it. Okay?" her voice was softer and Charles slowly nodded.
"But can I at least bring you some of the food? My mum is an amazing cook and youā€™ll love it. And you need to eat for twoā€¦ soā€¦"
"I would love to have some Christmas foodā€¦" Alessia smiled.
"Alright. I get you some plates fetched thenā€¦" Charles got up and made his way to the door, and when he passed the sofa the brunette grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently.
"Thank you. And-ā€¦ merry Christmasā€¦" she whispered and Charles took her hand in his, smiling at her.
"Merry Christmas to you tooā€¦"
Bahrain 2023:
Charles was nervously fidgeting with the many bracelets on his wrist, more than usually and his media assistant, Mia, put her hand on his.
"Okay, whatā€™s going on?" she looked at him intently "The last weeks youā€™ve been more nervous than ever? Even at the end of last season you were super fidgetyā€¦ whatā€™s going on?"
He ran his hand through his hair, looking everywhere but the blonde woman in from of him. He had prepared a speech, thought long about how to explain what was going on, but he wasnā€™t sure if he had the courage to say it, so he shook his head, swallowing hard.
"Charles! I know you for more than 6 years now! I know that somethingā€™s going on, so come on. What did you do?"
"Why do you think that I did something?" he sounded offended and Mia chuckled a little.
"Because you look guilty. As if you have to confess somethingā€¦ so, confessā€¦"
"Can you- umm is it possible to have Fred and Silvia here as well?" Charles almost whispered, saying it once would be hard enough, he didnā€™t want to repeat it a second time.
"Yeah? Sureā€¦ I text Silviaā€¦. but now Iā€™m really getting nervousā€¦" Mia took out her phone, typing away, her eyes darting between her screen and the driver in front of her. After a few minutes of texting back and forth she nodded slowly, looking at Charles "They wait for us at Fredā€™s officeā€¦"
"Now?" Charles eyes widened.
"Of course now? Come onā€¦" Mia got up and Charles followed her.
With every step they got closer to Fredā€™s office the young drivers anxiety got worse. Right in front of the door he stopped, taking a long, deep breath. Then he looked at the blonde and nodded. Mia knocked on the door and after a moment she opened it, Fred and Silvia looking at them, confusion written all over their faces.
"Charles. Mia. Come on in." the team principal got up, pointing to the sofa in the corner "So, Charles, Mia said you wanted to talk to us. To us all." he continued as soon as the driver and his media assistant both sat on the sofa, Silvia and himself on the armchairs in front.
"Yeahā€¦ umm-ā€¦ there is something I have to tell you. Itā€™s- itā€™s complicated. Something happened and I had to make a decisionā€¦ andā€¦ well that decision, that umm-ā€¦ it wasnā€™t easy, you know? Then again, it kinda was? I had to do it I guess?" Charles rambled, the speech he had so thoroughly planned out gone the moment he had opened his mouth.
"He really did it? He really approached you?" Fred mumbled, making the driver look at him confused "I mean- I do understand you, last year was crucial and Mattia missed out on establishing you as the clear number one when it was needed, when you were leading so clearly. But I hoped you would give me a chance, you know? Show you that I have a clear vision of your future in the teamā€¦"
"What?" Charles had no idea what he was talking about, he looked at Silvia, her usual scowl and pointed look gone, replaced by genuine sadness, then he looked at Mia, eyes wide.
"Christian approached you and Iā€™m sure whatever he offered was more than generous, after all, he wants you in his team next to Max for years nowā€¦ Iā€™m really sorry that you lost all trust in our team after last season, but I understand. You want to be world champion and after being let down far too many times, you had to do what feels right for youā€¦ you signed for Red Bull next season." Fredā€™s voice was laced with pain, guilt. The sadness in his face visible, but when Charles looked at him and started laughing, it turned into confusion with a hint of anger "I donā€™t know whatā€™s so funny about thatā€¦"
"Iā€™m sorry. Reallyā€¦ justā€¦ give me a momentā€¦" he wiped away a tear, taking a few deep breaths to compose himself, a grin still on his lips when he cleared his throat "I didnā€™t sign with Red Bull. And no one officially approached me. Was I asked, more in a joking way, yeah, but nothing seriousā€¦"
"You- you didnā€™t sign with Red Bull?" Fred repeated and Charles nodded "Oh- wellā€¦ umm okayā€¦ good. Really goodā€¦ then, well, say what you wanted to say."
"Yeahā€¦" Charles sighed and closed his eyes for a brief moment, then he took a deep breath "Iā€™m going to be a fatherā€¦ in around two monthsā€¦ it wasnā€™t planned. Iā€™m not in a relationship with the mother and as soon as the child is born, Iā€™ll have the sole custody and the mother is out of the picture. Forever."
Silence.
Big eyes.
Confusion.
"That wasnā€™t what I expectedā€¦" Silvia the first to break the silence.
"Now you wish I wouldā€™ve signed for Red Bullā€¦" Charles halfheartedly joked, making Silviaā€™s eyes shot up at him "That wouldnā€™t be as much of a PR-nightmare for-ā€¦"
"Is it really your child? Did you make a paternity test?" she asked.
"We didā€¦ itā€™s mine. That night was a mistake, but the outcome is not. Itā€™s my child."
"This conversation will never leave this roomā€¦" Silvia shook her head "You would be swarmed by the media. The Heartbreak Prince a single dad? Which of his short term lovers did he knock up? No. You and your child would never have any kind of peace for a long time. Thatā€™s not how a child should grow up! No one else in the team must know it as well. They are all too talkative. Someone would spill the beans accidentally. This is our secret. Understood?"
"Silvia, I think thatā€™s Charles decision-ā€¦" Mia began but he shook his head.
"No. Sheā€™s right. Itā€™s the best for us. The best for my childā€¦"
"Okay. Umm- thenā€¦ congratulations, I guess?" Fred got up, pulling Charles out of his seat, hugging him.
"Thanks." he mumbled and when his team principal let go of him, the two women did the same.
"You donā€™t want to know why Iā€™ll be raising my child alone? Why the mother-ā€¦"
"No. You have your reasons. Thatā€™s all we need to know." Fred replied and Charles nodded slowly "So in 2 months? Aroundā€¦ Baku?"
"Will you take a break? Or whatā€™s your plan?" Mia asked.
"I continue, like before. My mum and brothers will help me. I will spend as much time as possible at home during the races, so please, donā€™t make me attend too many sponsor events. Just the really important and necessary ones." Charles looked at Silvia who nodded.
"That can be arranged, Carlos can take over. And for the restā€¦ weā€™ll figure it out. One step at the time." she said writing something down in her notebook, Mia and Fred nodding in agreement.
"We find a way to make this work."
"Thanks, I really appreciate it." Charles meant what he said.
He felt relieved that his team was taking the news so well and were keen to help him with his new task at hand. Maybe he could make it. Have it all. His career and his child. Become a world champion and a father.
22 April 2023:
A new life began at 3:27 in the morning at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco. As Charles saw his daughter for the very first time he knew, he would do everything to protect her, no matter what.
"Weā€™ll take her, clean her up and check her through. You can stay with your girlfriend." the nurse told him and he pressed out a smile.
Girlfriend. No, she wasnā€™t his girlfriend. She was the mother of his daughter. Not more. Not less. The mother who wished to leave the hospital as soon as possible. Leave her daughter behind and never look back although Charles had tried everything to make her change her mind. He took one last deep breath before he knocked on the door.
"Come in." after he heard the faint voice he opened the door and walked inside.
"Sheā€™s healthy. Theyā€™re cleaning her up and checking her through and then bringing her back downā€¦" Charles said, looking at the exhausted girl "Itā€™s not too late, Alessia. You can still-ā€¦"
"No. I told you I donā€™t want to see it. I donā€™t want to hold it. I donā€™t want it, Charles." Alessia groaned and he nodded "Are the lawyers here?"
"Theyā€™re outside."
"Bring them in. I want this to be over. Once and for all." she said and Charles nodded again, walking outside.
"You can come in." he said to the awaiting lawyers who followed him back into the room.
"Letā€™s get this over with." the new mother said looking expectantly at her lawyer.
"Right, as discussed, Miss Bonetti will hand over the sole custody of the child to Mr. Leclerc. He will be recorded as father on the birth certificate. The child will have Mr. Leclercā€™s last name." the lawyer said, looking at his client who nodded.
"Further, as Miss Bonetti stated she wants nothing to do with the child, weā€™ve prepared a NDA for your client to sign." Charles lawyer said, looking at the girl and her lawyer "My client will sign one as well, agreeing to never contact or mention Miss Bonetti. No one will know that the child is hers."
"Whatā€™s a NDA?" Alessia asked.
"A nondisclosure agreement. With signing it, youā€™re not allowed to talk about this whole situation with anyone. You canā€™t mention that you had a child." her lawyer explained.
"Weā€™ve gone a step further with our demands."
"A step further? This wasnā€™t discussed beforehand!"
"Your client asked for a compensation. Mr. Leclerc paid for all medical bills, accommodation over the past 7 months, living expenses, maternity clothing, everything. Your client still demands a compensation for her inconvenience of being pregnant. Therefore my client agreed to pay the compensation, but on our terms."
"What terms?" the girl asked and looked at the Ferrari driver.
"You said you donā€™t want her. You want nothing to do with her. You want to be out of here and never look back. You want me to keep quiet about you being her mother. I gave you many chances to change your mind, you declined. You want to walk out of her life. Fine. But then you walk out forever. I want you to agree that you also never contact me, us, mention me or her and most importantly never tell anybody about our night together. It never happened. You donā€™t want this. Then it never happened. You were never pregnant. You and I. We donā€™t know each other. Not in the past. Not now. Never in the future. Today will be the last time we ever see each other." Charles said, his voice wavering.
"This means, if you ever change your mind, you canā€™t reach out. You sign away your right to see your daughter ever again." her lawyer said looking at her "You might want to think about that again, youā€™re exhausted? Maybe too vulnerable to make this decision just yet."
The young mother sat up and leaned forward, taking the NDA together with the declaration of custody out of her lawyers hands and took the pen from the side table.
"Where do I sign?" she asked.
"Here. And here. And here. And on the last page." her lawyer showed her the dotted lines in the documents, all pre signed by Charles, who took the NDA from the girls lawyer looking at it.
"The notary will be here any minute. He will certify the documents and from then on, this all never happened."
Charles got up and looked outside, when it knocked, expecting the notary. But there stood the nurse from earlier, holding his little bundle of joy.
"Howā€™s Mummy? She wants to hold her little sunshine?" she asked as Charles stepped out onto the hallway, closing the door behind him.
"No, sheā€™sā€¦ sheā€™s not her mother." he took the little girl in his arms, cradling her to his chest "I mean-ā€¦ umm she is butā€¦ no. She has only me."
"Oh. Okay. Well, we ummā€¦ weā€™ll talk then to her, she needs to be fed in the next hourā€¦" the nurse said and Charles looked at her.
"I have formula? She- she wonā€™t breastfeed her."
"I talk to the moth-ā€¦ I talk to Miss Alessia. She can pump the-ā€¦ Iā€™ll talk to her. Here. You can rest with your little one in here." she opened up the door across the hallway, switching the light on.
Charles followed her inside, sitting down in the armchair.
"One last thing. Newborn babys love skin to skin contact. Sheā€™s a little squirming around, thatā€™ll help."
"Take my shirt off?" Charles asked and the nurse nodded, taking the little girl out of his arms and he did as told, before the nurse opened up the blanket, wrapped around the newborn.
"Here. Hold her like before, just on your bare skin. Lean back. And let her hear your heartbeat. Iā€™ll be back with some milk. And something to eat and drink for the new dad, you look exhausted. My name is Claudia, if you need anything, push the button." Claudia smiled and left the room.
He closed his eyes for a moment, his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He was a father now. A 25 year old single father, whose job it was to race around the world.
"Charles? Itā€™s done. All documents are signed, the notary certified it all. They will bring Alessia to a different ward, sheā€™ll stay here for 2 more days, so she can pump some more milk, then sheā€™ll be discharged." his lawyer said, walking inside the quiet room.
"She will be gone? Forever? She has no right to ever contact me? Us? Sheā€™s only mine?" he asked.
"Yes. She signed away all her rights."
"Howā€™s that even possible? She gave birth to her? Sheā€™s her child? How can she sign away everything?"
"I explained it to you. It works like at an adoptionā€¦ she is her birth mother. Not more. Not less. By signing the NDA itā€™s like she never existed in your life. And vice versa."
"Itā€™s just me and her?" Charles whispered, looking down at his most prized possession.
"Itā€™s just you and herā€¦" his lawyer nodded "In the coming days Iā€™ll also take care of the hospital staff. It was only Claudia, the nurse, one of the doctors and the lady from administration, who filled out the birth certificate, who know that youā€™re involved in this. Iā€™ll make them sign a NDA as well. No one will know about this unless you want to."
"Thank you, really. You thought of everythingā€¦" Charles mumbled, eyes trained on his daughterā€™s beautiful face.
"Yeah well, thatā€™s my jobā€¦ do you want me to call your mum? Iā€™m sure she canā€™t wait to meet her granddaughter."
"Yeahā€¦ that would be good. Thanks." he still didnā€™t look up from his little angels face.
"Alright. The nurse will be back soon with a bottle for her." his lawyer was about to leave when Charles finally looked up at her.
"Is it enough? What I offered her? Will she be okay?" he almost felt guilty asking this question, like he paid the mother of his child to leave their life.
"You were more than generous, Charles. The amount of money you paid her is more than enough. Sheā€™ll be just fine." she smiled as she left.
He sighed and leaned back. In the quiet room, his precious daughter sleeping on his chest, he thought about his life almost a year ago, when he and his girlfriend of one year Charlotte broke up. It wasnā€™t like he didnā€™t love her. It was more like he didnā€™t love her enough, the way she deserved to be loved. She was a great girl. A good friend. But it wasnā€™t enough. He wanted an all consuming love. A love that made his heart beat faster, whenever he saw that special person. A love that made him crave for more and more. A love that would make him go crazy, in a good way. A love he knew would be his to hold dear and cherish for the rest of his days. That wasnā€™t Charlotte. And before her it wasnā€™t Marie. And before her it wasnā€™t Juliette. And before her it wasnā€™t Giada. The media didnā€™t call him the Heartbreak Prince for nothing. The Formula 1 driver who went through relationships like others went through their underwear. A messed up race and a drunk one night stand later, Charles knew they were right. But he also knew one thing for sure. This cycle was ending now. He had a daughter now. She would be his all consuming love. She would be the one he would hold dear and cherish for the rest of his days.
No more Heartbreak Prince.
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Chapter 4 - Welcome on this planet, baby girl! Charles strikes me as the cutest girl dad šŸ‘‰šŸ‘ˆ I just had to make him one again šŸ™ˆ
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
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jessicaloons Ā· 3 months ago
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Iā€™m reading invisible string and itā€™s so funny to me that you wrote that Charles won Baku and Oscar won Austin and then in reality they switched the races šŸ˜†
Hahahaha I had to check because I didnā€™t remember but yep. Youā€™re right šŸ˜‚
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jessicaloons Ā· 3 months ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 3
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
Miss Americana
October 2022:
"ā€¦ and then Miss Larimer said that we can pet the puppiesā€¦" Gabriel said excitedly, jumping up and down "They are so cute, Rach, I swear! I want one! Do you help me to convince dad to get me one? Pleeeaseee?"
Rachel only listened half-heartedly, reading the text on her phone while unlocking the car.
"Rachel! Please! I swear Iā€™ll always eat my veggies, brush my teeth and go to bed when you tell me to, for the rest of my life! Please!" the little boy kept going but his nanny still didnā€™t react, her eyes still trained on her phone "RACHEL!"
She flinched looking into the rear view mirror at Gabriel who rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, what did you say?" she stuttered, trying to calm herself down.
"I said that Miss Larimer brought her puppies to school today and we could pet them and they were so cute and I want one! Can you help me to convince dad?" she saw her own set of puppy eyes in the mirror and laughed.
"Your dad is allergic to dogs, Gabe. You know thatā€¦ are you buckled in?" Rachel started the car, driving off the parking lot, after Gabe nodded.
"That sucksā€¦" the boy puffed out, looking out of the window, watching the boats and yachts in the harbour "One day I want to be a vet and then I can hang out with animals all day long."
"A vet? Thatā€™s an amazing idea, Gabe!" Rachel smiled and he nodded "And Iā€™m sure youā€™d be an amazing vet!"
"You think so?" the blonde boy asked, making big eyes.
"Are you kidding me? Do you remember when we were at the zoo and you werenā€™t afraid to hold the snakes? Or touch the tarantulas! You even held up this definitely not cute looking lizard and cooed at it like itā€™s a sweet, fluffy puppy." the nanny recalled and Gabe smiled, thinking back to their trip to the zoo a couple of weeks ago.
"All animals are cute somehow." he shrugged and Rachel chuckled.
"See? You would be a perfect vet."
"Youā€™re taking care of people and Iā€™m taking care of animals. Weā€™re both lifesavers!"
"Oh well, Iā€™m not there yet. I only started my practical studies 6 months agoā€¦ as of now Iā€™m not a lifesaverā€¦"
"Yet. Youā€™ll get there." Gabe chimed in and Rachel nodded.
"I will."
The rest of the car ride was spent in silence and when they arrived at home Gabe sat down at the kitchen island, starting with his homework.
"Iā€™m back in a minute and then I make you a snack before we leaveā€¦" she said more to herself and walked out the back door, hastily making her way into her little studio.
She closed the door, pulling out her phone. With trembling hands she opened up the messages she got earlier.
I was at your university today.
According to your schedule you sent us you shouldā€™ve been there.
Where were you?
Also, isnā€™t it interesting that in the dormitory youā€™re supposed to live no one knows you?
Where the fuck are you, Rachel.
Tony. He was here. With trembling fingers Rachel dialled Stuartā€™s number.
"Hey Rachā€¦"
"The app thatā€™s blocking others from tracing my phone works, right?" Rachel cut him off and there was silence, the girl thinking her friends mightā€™ve hung up on her "Stuart?"
"Yes. Of course? Whatā€™s going on?" her friend sounded concerned "Where are you?"
"At home. But-ā€¦ theyā€™re here. They checked in on me. But I wasnā€™t at university, because I didnā€™t update them on my new scheduleā€¦ they wonā€™t like that I specialised on paediatricā€¦ they were at my dormitory-ā€¦"
"Your dormitory? You donā€™t live here?"
"Yeah, but I didnā€™t tell themā€¦ I said that I was living at St. Julie Hall, they shouldnā€™t know that I saved a shit ton of money because I work and live outside of campusā€¦" Rachel breathed out.
"Ignore it. You were at the hospital today. Answer tonight. Say that you moved to a different dorm and thought that you told them but mustā€™ve forgotā€¦" Stuart suggested.
"And what if they decide to come back?" her voice barely above a whisper.
"Weā€™ll figure it out."
"They canā€™t find out about Gabe and Peterā€¦"
"They wonā€™t. Rach, they canā€™t track your phone. The only location they will get is the campus or the hospital, Marcus took care of it. You have a good excuse. Itā€™s going to be fine, okay?" Stuart reassured Rachel, who took a deep breath.
"I have to take Gabe to his soccer practice now." she got up, checking herself in the mirror.
"Okayā€¦ take care Rach, and if you need anything, call, text, whateverā€¦"
"Thanks Stu."
Rachel was tense and on alert the whole afternoon, looking around, searching the park and parking lot for someone from home, but thankfully she didnā€™t spot anything out of the ordinary. When she stood in the kitchen, preparing dinner, her phone rang and she took a deep breath, before she answered the call.
"Rachel?" her father.
"Whatā€™s up dad?"
"Donā€™t whatā€™s up dad me! Where have you been? Why didnā€™t you answer your phone?" he was mad.
"What are you talking about? I just left the hospital when you called? I had a training shift today." Rachel lied, trying to sound confused and annoyed at the same time.
"You were at the hospital? Not on the campus?"
"No. I have more and more training shifts now, Iā€™m getting my practical hours in now and I swear I love it." fake excitement.
"Thatā€™s good to hear, Rachā€¦ but Tony said it was weird that no one knew you in your dormā€¦"
"What? Why was Tony at my dorm?"
"He wanted to check in on you-ā€¦"
"Why? We had a deal! Iā€™m allowed to finish my studies and not be bothered!"
"I donā€™t know, okay? He came over and told me that he visited youā€¦ something about checking in on their investmentā€¦-"
"Their investment? Iā€™m here on a scholarship! None of you is investing anything in my education! I have a deal with his father. And I have no problem in calling him and telling him the deal is off the table if you lot donā€™t hold your end of the bargain!" Rachel was furious and didnā€™t even had to fake it.
"I donā€™t think his father knew that he was visiting youā€¦ Tony just stormed in here and told me that you werenā€™t at the campus and no one knew you at your dorm-ā€¦"
"Because I moved! When I came back after the summer a fellow student told me that there is an open spot at Fennell Hall, the dormitory right on campus. She knows the RA and so I got the spot. Itā€™s a little more expensive but I only need 5 minutes to classes now. I told you that!"
"You did?" her fathers voice faltered.
"Yeah, right after my first week back. Itā€™s a new term and when I came back I didnā€™t know most of the students in my old dormitory anyway, so I thought a change would be nice." Rachel said casually, when she saw Gabe getting off the sofa "Listen dad, itā€™s been a damn long day, Iā€™ve been awake since 5 am. I just want to drive home, take a shower and sleep. Are we done here?" she fake yawned, hoping her father would believe her.
"Yeahā€¦ sure. Take care, Rachel." he said and Rachel thanked the universe for making him believe her.
"Will do. Good night dad." she hung up, right when Gabe sat down at the kitchen island, sniffling the air. She calmed herself down, smiling at the young boy.
"Smells good, what is it?" he asked.
"Itā€™s a beef stew, here, have a taste." she scooped up some of the stew and blew cold air on it while Gabe walked around the island "Careful, it might be still a little hot."
The young boy chewed his food, making big eyes, swallowing his bite down.
"Thatā€™s good!" he exclaimed and his nanny smiled "Will dad be here to eat with us?"
"He said he will."
"Good. I want to tell him that I want to be a vet when I grow up."
"A vet? Where did that come from?" Peter walked into the kitchen, loosening his tie "What happened to rocket scientist?"
"As a vet I can hang out with animals all day longā€¦" Gabe shrugged taking the plates from Rachel, setting the table.
"Well thatā€™s true." his father laughed, squeezing his nannyā€™s arm "Are you okay, Rach? Youā€™re a little pale?"
"Iā€™m fine, itā€™s just a lot right now, everyone is starting to prepare for the examsā€¦"
"Already? Wait? When are the exams?" he looked confused.
"We still got time, but yeah. Preparation is key, thatā€™s what our professors love to say." Rachel rolled her eyes and Pete laughed, getting himself a beer.
"I canā€™t believe that in not even 8 months youā€™re done. God where do I find another amazing nanny just like you again?" he pouted, sitting down on a stool "A nanny that can cook like you!"
"Why donā€™t you stay with us forever?" Gabe looked at his nanny "I donā€™t want you to go."
"Believe me, Gabe, I donā€™t want to either, but when Iā€™m done, Iā€™m a nurse, Iā€™ll have to take over so many shifts and I just wouldnā€™t have enough time for you." Rachel ruffled his hair a little.
"But you come visit us? Right?" he asked and she swallowed hard, nodding.
"Of course, little one." Rachel lied, feeling sick doing so.
The girl was quiet during dinner, listening to Gabe and his father, enjoying the family time. She knew that as soon as she graduated she would be gone. Telling Peter a half truth why she had to leave so fast, promising to stay in touch, knowing it would all be nothing but lies. She dreaded that day, over the past years she really grew close to the father son duo, loved them wholeheartedly. But she couldnā€™t risk them getting into harms way. And she wouldnā€™t do it. But she knew that leaving them behind would break her heart. And when she sat down with Gabe after dinner, all cuddled up on the sofa, watching cartoons, the first crack in her heart already formed.
"Iā€™m going to miss you so muchā€¦ youā€™re my best friend." Gabe whispered, making Rachel close her eyes, trying her best to not cry.
"Iā€™ll miss you too, buddy, so damn much."
June 2023:
With her diploma in hand, Rachel walked off the stage, waving at Peter and Gabriel, the only ones to attend her graduation. After shaking some more hands and joining her fellow graduates for the hat toss, she walked over to Peter and Gabriel. The boy running up to his nanny, hugging her tight.
"Weā€™re so proud of you Rachel!" Peter said, hugging her as well "Valedictorian. Wow. Amazing."
"Thank you for coming." the young girl blushed a little, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Are you kidding me? We would never miss this opportunity!" Peter smiled "And now, Iā€™d love to take you out for dinner, if you havenā€™t planned anything yet? You didnā€™t say that you would celebrate afterwards so I reserved a table at La Chabelle just in case."
"Oh wow, Peter! You didnā€™t have to." Rachel blushed even more.
"You worked so hard over the last four years. You deserve a treat!"
"Okayā€¦" Rachel began when she felt her phone vibrate "I umm- I just want to say goodbye to a few of my classmates and then we can leave."
"Okay, weā€™re waiting by the car." Peter and Gabriel walked off and Rachel took out her phone, reading the text.
"Rach-ā€¦" Stuart grabbed her shoulder, making her flinch "Hey, itā€™s me. Sorry! I didnā€™t want to scare you."
"I need to leave as soon as possible." she just said and Stuart looked confused "Hereā€¦" she shoved him her phone in his hands and he read the text.
"Next Friday? Didnā€™t you say that your graduation is on Friday?"
"They want me to come back immediately after. Theyā€™re sending someone to help me with my stuffā€¦ I have to play my part to make them believe Iā€™m still here. They canā€™t know that Iā€™m gone. They would send someone after me immediately. I should leave now. Yes. Iā€™m leaving now."
"Okay, take a deep breath for me. Look at me Rach. I call my contact person and tell them youā€™re coming earlier than planned. But for tonight youā€™re going with Peter and Gabriel to La Chabelle, youā€™re enjoying your last night here. Iā€™ll go to your place and start packing your stuff, weā€™ll figure it out okay?"
"But what will I tell Peter and Gabe? I have to tell Peter the truth. I planned it all out. Fuck this is ruining everything! But he has to know that Iā€™m leaving. I canā€™t just disappearā€¦"
"You will tell him tonight. Itā€™s fine."
"Okay-ā€¦ I- I have to go now, theyā€™re waiting for me." Rachel looked towards the parking lot and Stuart nodded.
"You go, I take care of the rest. Itā€™s going to be fine, youā€™ll see." he reassured the blonde girl and she nodded, then she pulled him in a tight hug.
"Thank you Stu, for everything. Youā€™re a true friendā€¦"
"Itā€™s okay Rach, really. Now go."
With one last look she walked off, towards the sleek, black Mercedes of her boss, getting in as soon as she reached it.
"Ready?" Peter asked and Rachel nodded.
"Ready."
"Me too!" Gabe said from the backseat and they laughed.
"Then letā€™s go." Peter steered the car onto the busy road, driving across town and stopped in front of La Chabelle.
"Good night, buddy." Rachel kissed the young boys forehead, ruffling his hair while getting up.
"Good nightā€¦" Gabe mumbled, almost drifting off to sleep immediately.
The nanny carefully walked over to the door, quietly opening it before turning around once more, looking at the boy she took care of for the last 4 years. All the memories of the past years came to her mind. She felt her heart ache, not ready to say her final goodbye, although deep down she knew she had to. In order to keep Gabe and his dad safe, Rachel had to disappear. She took a deep breath and quietly closed the door, gathering herself for the conversation she would now have with her boss of the last 4 years. Peter was amazing. He paid Rachel more than well, took her and Gabe on little trips here and there. Always treated her like a part of the family, rather than a subordinate. She would miss him as well.
"Rach? Can we talk?" the girl flinched when her boss appeared out of nowhere in front of her, stopping her train of thoughts.
"Umm-ā€¦ sure, I actually wanted to talk to you as wellā€¦" she gulped, following him downstairs.
"Yeah?" Peter replied and pointed to the sofa "You want a drink? Because I sure as hell need oneā€¦" he poured himself a glass of scotch, before looking at his nanny "Oh I forgot, scotch tastes like washing detergent, was it?"
"Yeahā€¦" Rachel chuckled, accepting the can of coke her boss handed her "So- ummā€¦ about what did you want to talk to me?"
"Gabe and Iā€¦ weā€™ll leave next weekā€¦" he blurted out, rubbing his neck, and Rachel tilted her head a little "Of course youā€™re free to stay until the end of the month in the studio, as we agreed on. But Gabe and I, we wonā€™t be here until thenā€¦"
"Youā€™re going on vacation?" the girl asked, although she was sure that she wouldā€™ve known if her boss had planned something.
"No. Not on vacation. Rachel, Gabe and I, weā€™re moving to Austin. I got a new job thereā€¦"
"Wow! Thatā€™s amazing!" a big smile spread on Rachelā€™s face, in Austin they would be safe "You didnā€™t tell me that you were looking for a new job? But Iā€™m so happy for you!"
"Yeah, it wasā€¦ well my boss contacted me out of the blue last week and offered me the jobā€¦ they need me there as soon as possibleā€¦ but this job, itā€™s the opportunity of a lifetime, you know?"
"Sounds amazing and I think Gabe will love it, he can become a real cowboy thenā€¦" the girl laughed, looking at the man in front of her, a serious look on his face "Itā€™s going to be fine, just donā€™t let him alone with a horse for too long or you have to buy it!"
"Yeahā€¦ probably." Peter smiled, but it didnā€™t reach his eyes.
"Okay, whatā€™s wrong?" Rachel asked, looking at him intently.
"Is it too rushed? I donā€™t know how Gabe will take it? All his friends are here? Tearing him away from everything familiar?"
"You know your son, he can deal with everything. He will find new friends in no time, donā€™t worry!"
"Yeah, youā€™re rightā€¦" he sighed a little, scratching his chin "And what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Oh- ummā€¦ I wanted to say that some friends asked me if I wanted to join them on a little tripā€¦ we would leave in the next days, I donā€™t know when exactly. I know, itā€™s a little spontaneous, but yeahā€¦" Rachel lied, smiling innocently.
"Sounds wonderful! You should go, Gabe and I will be fineā€¦ we need to get used to a life without you now anyways! Unless you want to join us in Austin?" he smiled, a tinge of hope in his voice.
"As much as I appreciate the offer, I already have some job interviews lined up here, soā€¦"
"Understandable, but you know that youā€™re always more than welcome!" Peter said and the girl nodded.
"I know Pete, and I really appreciate itā€¦" she got up "I guess itā€™s time for me to pack my stuff then, maybe Stu can come in tomorrow and help me with it, so I donā€™t have to worry about it after I come back and youā€™re long goneā€¦"
"Right, yeahā€¦ will you help me tell Gabe tomorrow?"
"Of course!" she smiled and kissed his cheek "Good night, Pete. Best boss in the worldā€¦"
"Night Rach, best nanny in the worldā€¦"
She chuckled and left the living room, through the kitchen and out into the backyard, the light in her studio already switched on.
"Please tell me that everything is arranged?" Rachel asked as soon as she closed the door behind her.
"Everything done." Stuart replied and she looked around her room.
Her life fitted into 2 cardboard boxes, a suitcase and a backpack.
"Thatā€™s all?" she mumbled and her friend nodded "I canā€™t take the boxes with meā€¦"
"I knowā€¦ I put all your personal belongings, pictures, books and stuff like that in your suitcaseā€¦ the boxes is stuff you wonā€™t need anymore, also some clothes I donā€™t want to see you ever in againā€¦"
"Ouch, thanksā€¦" Rachel chuckled "When am I leaving?"
"Sunday morning."
Rachel looked out of the window, as the plane slowly made its way higher up into the sky. She looked back one last time at her home. She knew, would she ever return, it wouldnā€™t be by her free will, she would be forced. It meant they found her and she had to make sure that that would never happen. She leaned back, closing her eyes. She still felt her heart ache, thinking at Gabeā€™s tear stricken face, but she knew that what she did was right. In two days they would be gone as well. Far away from Boston. Gone. No one would know she ever worked for Peter Hastings. No one would ever bother them. No one would know sheā€™s gone until next Friday.
And when they would try to figure out where she was, when they followed her trace, sheā€™ll be long gone. All planned out by Stuart. Rachel didnā€™t know what would happen to her old life, she didnā€™t ask. She didnā€™t want to know. But one thing was for sure, as soon as she would land in Montreal the life of Rachel Lombardi would end.
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Chapter 3 - Goodbye Rachelā€™s old life, this looks like the start of something newā€¦ I know Iā€™m rushing a little through the timeline here with big time jumps, but this is all just backstory to prepare you and our characters for the main plot, so please, bear with me šŸ˜…
Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!
If you want to be added to the taglist, drop a comment!
Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!
Taglist:
@glitterquadricorn @lottalove4evelyn @janeh22 @itsjustkhaos
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jessicaloons Ā· 3 months ago
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Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince:
Chapter 2
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Masterlist - Previous - Next
The Heartbreak Prince
September 2022:
Back on the podium in Monza. Finally. The Tifosi were screaming for Charles as he lifted his trophy into the sky, slapping the Ferrari logo above his heart. He soaked in the atmosphere, waving at the fans. A second place was usually nothing he would be happy with, but after the last weeks and the development of his car stagnating, he was happy to be back on the podium.
Back to back to be precise after last weekā€™s P3 in Zandvoort. He chatted with Max and George, before he left towards his garage, where his mechanics celebrated him. Charles was surprised seeing Joris nowhere, but he couldnā€™t think too much of it when Mia, his PR manager, dragged him towards the media pen and then the post race press conference. He was still buzzing and giddy when he returned to his team, ready to celebrate his podium a little when he finally spotted his best friend. By the look on his face, Charlesā€™ good mood was gone in an instant and he walked over, pulling his childhood friend into a quiet corner.
"What happened? Is everyone okay?" the Ferrari driver asked, feeling his heart almost beating out of his chest.
"Please tell me you use a condom when you have a one night stand." Joris said and Charles took a step back.
"What the fuck did you just ask?"
"I asked you, if you use fucking protection when you have sex with a random girlā€¦" Joris whisper shouted.
"Okay first off, youā€™re my best friend, yes, but there are boundaries to what weā€™re talking about still. And second, I donā€™t have one night stands, does that answer your question?"
"Okay, let me rephrase that. Did you use protection when you dropped off that cute girl from the club couple of weeks ago and then had sex with her roommate after the French GP?"
"What? Why? Of course I did? I mean-ā€¦ I was drunk but yeahā€¦ I think I didā€¦" Charles stuttered, trying his best to think back to the night 6 weeks ago.
"I sure hope so because that girl, Alessia is her name by the way, she contacted you, and when you didnā€™t reply, me, on Instagramā€¦-"
"Why? What does she want? Does she have a STD?" the Monegasque driver panicked, ruffling his hair, looking around to make sure no one listens to their conversation.
"Well noā€¦ unless you want to call a pregnancy a STD a-ā€¦"
"WHAT?" Charles almost shouted and some heads turned his way "Sheā€™s lying, right? It canā€™t be? I meanā€¦ no. No! Itā€™s impossible!"
"Well, I donā€™t know. She said she wants to talk to you. She needs your helpā€¦"
"How do we even know thatā€™s the girl I had sex with? She could be just some random girl who saw me leaving the club with the roommate and now pretends to be her?" Charles was grasping any straw he could find.
"That was my first thought but she told me the story how you brought home her friend and then well you and herā€¦ I donā€™t want to go into detail hereā€¦ itā€™s her Charlesā€¦ and she wants to see you."
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
"Fuck. This is bad Joris. So freaking bad. This canā€™t be happeningā€¦ I mean, why does she think that Iā€™m the father? She saw me taking home her friend and still flirted with me and kissed me, had sex with me? What kind of friend does that? Whoā€™s saying sheā€™s not having a different guy every night?" he began to ramble, ruffling his hair only further.
"Charlesā€¦" Joris sighed.
"I know. I shouldnā€™t have said thatā€¦ itā€™s not fairā€¦ but- fuck. This could destroy everything."
"Iā€™d say you talk to her first, then weā€™ll see?"
"I need you to come with me, Joris, I canā€™t do this alone. Please. Please come with meā€¦"
"Okay, I set up a meeting with her. Itā€™s going to be fine. Youā€™ll see."
"I hope youā€™re right."
It only took five minutes to turn total euphoria into total devastation.
Charles nervously tapped his foot on the floor, looking at the door of the little cafļæ½ļæ½ in downtown Milan, his coffee ice cold by now.
"Stop it." Joris put his hand on his best friendā€™s thigh of his bouncing leg "Youā€™ll make me lose my mind."
"Sorryā€¦" Charles mumbled, fiddling with his cuticles, his eyes wandering between the door and his hands.
"And stop that too! How old are you?" Joris rolled his eyes and Charles groaned, putting his hands on the table, grabbing his mug.
"What if sheā€™s not coming? What if that all was just a stupid joke?"
"Then weā€™ll leave, for now sheā€™s only 3 minutes late, so relaxā€¦"
"Relax? Relax? How the hell am I supposed to relax Joris?" Charles hissed.
"Okay, maybe relax wasnā€™t the right wordā€¦ calm down a little, okay? Weā€™ll figure it all out." Joris tried to reassure him.
"Yeah? I honestly donā€™t see how. This is going to ruin my career. My life." the driver leaned back into his chair, closing my eyes "How could I be so stupid? I swear Iā€™ll never drink alcohol againā€¦"
"Are you done now? Because I think sheā€™s comingā€¦"
Charles sat up in an instant, looking out of the big windows of the cafƩ, the memories in his mind starting to replay like a film clip when he spotted the girl.
"Fuckā€¦ itā€™s really her." he mumbled and Joris looked at the door, when the bell rang and the girl walked in.
"Itā€™s going to be okay, just breatheā€¦" Joris squeezed his shoulder and got up, walking over to the girl.
Charles felt his heart beat outside of his chest, his breathing ragged and he felt the bile rise up his throat. With sweaty hands he grabbed the glass in front of him, gulping it down, hoping the cold water would fight down the urge to vomit. He could already see the headlines, the disapproving look of Silvia. But above all he could see his motherā€™s disappointed face. He felt hot, short breathed, the buzzing inside his head getting louder and louder. With one last look at Joris, who talked to the girl, he got up, almost running to the bathroom. He didnā€™t even lock the door, he just flung open the toilet lid, ignoring the clattering sound it made, when it smashed into the wall, and emptied his stomachā€™s content into the toilet bowl. He got up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and flushed the toilet, when there was a knock on the door.
"Charles? Are you okay?" Joris.
Charles shook his head, leaning against the wall, no, he wasnā€™t okay.
"Charles?"
"I canā€™t do itā€¦ I just-ā€¦ can you talk to her? I canā€™t do itā€¦" he mumbled, looking into the mirror, his pale self staring at him. Sweat beads on his forehead, dark circles around his eyes. Deep down he knew that he had to talk to her. It was his problem. He had to own up to it.
"Charles this is a conversation I canā€™t have for youā€¦"
"I knowā€¦" Charles mumbled, taking a deep breath, rinsing his mouth, splashing cold water in his face "I messed upā€¦ I have to take responsibilityā€¦" he dried his face with a paper towel and opened the door "Iā€™ll talk to her." he swallowed hard, following his best friend back to their table.
After confirming that she was indeed the girl he had slept with, they decided to do the talking somewhere more private. Out of earshot. This was nothing he wanted to be heard by anyone and then plastered around gossip pages. Back at his apartment he offered the girl something to drink and then sat down in front of her, Joris to his right. Charles listened to the girl, how she found out she was pregnant and how she immediately knew that it mustā€™ve been his child she carried. How she was scared and alone because of her conservative, traditional family who would disown her if they found out about the pregnancy.
"Youā€™re the only option that I haveā€¦" she whispered, looking down in her lap and Charles swallowed hard.
He almost felt numb, as if his mind was trying to disassociate from the situation. He didnā€™t know what to do, how he could help the girl, what she expected from him.
"Do you need money?" he asked after a moment of complete silence and for the first time she looked him straight in the eyes "To umm-ā€¦ to get rid of it?"
"An abortion?" her eyes widened in shock "I canā€™t do that. I just-ā€¦ my beliefā€¦ I canā€™t do that. I canā€™t kill an innocent soul."
Cells. At this time there was nothing but a clump of cells in her stomach. No innocent soul. No baby. Just cells.
"So what? You want to have the baby? What about your family? I thought they would disown you if they found out?" Charles knew he was too harsh, too straight forward, but deep down he still hoped this was all just a bad joke. Or a nightmare from that he woke up any moment.
"I know. They will do it. Definitely. But-ā€¦ I canā€™t terminate the pregnancyā€¦ but maybe-ā€¦"
Maybe what? You want me to marry you? Say weā€™re happy and in love and you carry the fruit of that love? Play pretend for your family to think that you did not have premarital sex? He wanted to blurt it out, thinking that this was, what was ending his career.
"Maybe you can help me? I just need a place to stay. Away from my parents, Iā€™ll have the baby and then we can give it up for adoption. Itā€™s gone. Forever. And then I can go back to my life and you can go back to yours?" her voice was thin, laced with emotion and Charles looked at her.
"How old are you?" he asked out of the blue, wondering about the girls age.
She looked younger than he remembered and for a moment he was scared of the answer.
"23? Why?" she replied and Charles let out a breath he didnā€™t know he was holding in "Do you agree with my plan?"
"You think itā€™s that easy? Giving away a child you carried for 9 months?" he asked and she nodded.
"I donā€™t want a baby. Not now. And not with someone-ā€¦ someone like you! I know who you are. I know that you have a new girl by your side every other week. That you are always away. Always rushing from one country to the next. You are not someone I would want to have as a partner and father of my childā€¦" she let out.
"Didnā€™t stop you from having sex with me. After I dropped off your drunk friend." what she said had stung for some reason and he was feeling his hands start to tremble.
"Yeah well, you didnā€™t have to sleep with me either!" she spat out.
"Why not? You just said that I have a new girl every other week. Maybe it was time for the new one right then!"
"Okay stop. Both of you. Enough." Joris said loudly and they both looked at him "Look. It is what it is. You guys slept with each other. There is a baby. You Charles, you donā€™t want the media and basically everyone find out. You Alessia, you donā€™t want your family and well yeah also basically everyone you know find out. You both have the same goal. I say letā€™s work toward it. Together."
He looked at his best friend and then the girl his best friend knocked up, hoping he could knock some sense in them.
"I have an extra apartment in Monaco. Itā€™s empty, you can live thereā€¦ and when itā€™s possible and safe, I want a paternity test." Charles said after thinking about it for a moment and Alessia nodded slowly.
"If you insist and donā€™t trust my wordsā€¦" she said, her voice almost malicious.
"I have to protect myselfā€¦" he began.
"Whatever. As soon as they can do one, Iā€™m doing it." the girl rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her, leaning back.
"See? Baby stepsā€¦" Joris smiled and then bit his lip, holding up his hand at the glares the other two just shot him "Sorry. Wrong wordingā€¦ but we can figure this out. As long as you both are on the same sideā€¦"
"Okayā€¦" Charles mumbled, looking at the girl.
"Yeahā€¦ okayā€¦" she replied and he nodded.
"Then letā€™s figure out the rest."
October 2022:
Charles grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white. He looked around, checking every mirror constantly.
"No one is here, relax." Alessia groaned, opening the door.
"Wait! What am I supposed to do now?"
"Stay? Leave? I donā€™t know? Iā€™ll text you when Iā€™m doneā€¦" she slammed the door shut and Charles looked around one last time before he put on the baseball cap and the way too big sunglasses.
He got out of the car, following the girl into the doctor's office.
"Whoa! What are you doing?" she stopped, looking at him.
"I donā€™t want to wait in the car like a sitting duck!"
"Then go for a walk?" the girl was annoyed.
"And run into someone who recognises me? Yeah no thanks. Donā€™t worry, Iā€™ll just sit in the waiting areaā€¦" Charles shrugged his shoulders, making his way towards the door, holding it up expectantly.
"Unbelievable." the girl muttered underneath her breath, following the driver into the doctorā€™s office.
Charles looked around. Everything looked sterile and clean, but still comfy. Tame colours, nothing too intimidating. It was bright and open and under different circumstances Charles wouldā€™ve liked it here. He sat down in the waiting area, watching the other people who were waiting. A young mother to be, sporting a prominent baby bump, reading in the newest gossip magazine. A slightly older woman, smaller baby bump and a toddler next to her, talking about his day at the elementary school, while his mother smiled at him lovingly. And a young couple, the man cradling a baby, not older than a couple of weeks, to his chest. The way he looked at his little bundle of joy, full of love and adoration, kissing his wifeā€™s temple, whispering some sweet nothings into her ear, making her blush. Watching this young couple, obviously on cloud 9, made his heart ache. He always wanted to be a young father, to make sure he would be able to spend as much time as possible with his children. He always wanted to have his own little family, a loving wife or girlfriend who would support him as much as he would support her in anything that she would do. A bunch of kids, products of their love, running around. He always imagined how he would hold his first born child for the very first time in his arms, swearing to the little wonder that he would do everything to protect it from any harm coming its way. But none of that happened so far and now his first child would be born and given away, growing up without him, not even knowing that he existed. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind when he realised that Alessia walked towards one of the examine rooms and he sighed, as the girl shut the door behind her. Charles looked around, his eyes always returning to the little family. He would never even hold his first child in his arms. He got up, deciding to wait in the car, being in here made him sick, when the door opened and he froze. Valentine, his ex-girlfriend Charlotteā€™s sister, walked through the door, talking loudly with a friend, not noticing him for now and if it were for Charles, it could stay that way. Before even thinking what he was doing he followed Alessia through the door she had vanished through, closing it behind him.
"Ahh, Daddy made it in time, sit down and letā€™s have a look at your little one, shall we?" the doctor said and Charles turned around, watching how she looked at the screen searching for a trace of the baby.
Alessia looked at him with wide eyes, a mix of annoyance and something he couldnā€™t quite place when the doctor cheered a little.
"There it is. Look at this healthy, tiny human. And what a steady heartbeat, here, Iā€™ll turn up the volume for youā€¦" she began and Charles followed her look, watching on the screen where the doctor was pointing at his unborn child.
Charles stared at the ultrasound screen, his eyes widened at the rhythmic flicker of the tiny but strong heartbeat. Despite his initial reluctance of having this baby, his demanding job, constant travel, his fear of what the public would say, his team or his family. Something inside him shifted, his eyes darting between the screen and the young girl. She might carry his child, but that was it, there was no love, no feelings between them, nothing. He didnā€™t know what was happening, thoughts about how he pictured becoming a father for the very first time, and the steady, rapid pulse on the screen stirred something deep within him. This very moment changed everything. Right in this instant, he felt a profound, overwhelming love for the life growing inside the girl in front of him. It was as if the heartbeat echoed a promise of his new purpose. With his heart now full and resolute, he vowed to embrace the new challenge and be the best father he could possibly be for his precious child. He wiped away a stray tear, emotions threatening to boil over when he looked at Alessia. But what he saw in her face was the exact opposite of what he felt. She looked almost disgusted, hateful, at the screen. Her lips pressed into a thin line, hands gripping tightly onto the sides of the stretcher she was lying on.
"Alright. Iā€™m going to print out your first picture of your baby and then you can go back to the reception and ask for an appointment to draw some blood samples to check that everything is alright with Maman and child." the doctor wiped the stomach clean, while the machine in the back rattled, printing the pictures of the little wonder. As soon as she was done, the girl sat up, pulling her blouse down, looking at her feet.
"Here you go." the doctor handed her the pictures and she took them, not even looking at them "Take your time." she left and the girl threw the pictures on the stretcher next to her.
Charles got up, picking them up with shaking hands, looking at his unborn child.
"We need to talkā€¦" he began and the girl looked up.
"About what?"
"This-ā€¦ this changes everythingā€¦ I donā€™t want to-ā€¦ I want to keep it. I want to keep the baby." his voice more steady with every word "I know how it happened, itā€™s all unconventionalā€¦ but I donā€™t want-ā€¦ no I canā€™t give away my child, knowing that it will grow up somewhere without me?"
"We had a deal, Charles. Iā€™ll have the baby, we give it up for adoption. Weā€™ll never talk about it ever again. Weā€™ll never see each other again. What happened between usā€¦ it never happened!" she jumped off the stretcher, looking at him "I donā€™t want to be a mother. I donā€™t want to fake a relationship for the childā€™s sakeā€¦ no. I donā€™t want it."
"Then Iā€™ll keep it. You follow through with our planā€¦"
"What? Are you even listening to yourself? Youā€™re crazy!"
"No. I just-ā€¦ I canā€™t explain, okay? But to think that I wonā€™t be a part in my own childā€™s life? I canā€™t do it, Alessia."
"Yeah well then good luck as a single father, because Iā€™m not staying out of guilt or whatever. I donā€™t want this child. You want to keep it? Let it ruin your life? Do it. But without me." and without another word she walked out, leaving Charles behind.
He looked at the ultrasound pictures in his hand, feeling almost overwhelmed with the utter love he already harboured for the little creature.
"I wonā€™t give up on you, little one. Youā€™re mine."
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Chapter 2 - ā€¦ and that was Charles first chapter šŸ™ˆ the catā€™s out of the bag, there is a little one coming soon. Dad Charles for the win šŸ¤— I would love to hear from you how you liked it.
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