JessicaLoons

"In 2007 the last driver won the world championship with Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen and in 2008 the last constructors title went to Maranello… since then, nothing. But Charles…"

"He gave them hope. Something to believe in?" Lauren looked at Pascale who only nodded.

She had no idea how important Charles was for Ferrari fans. Had no idea that a whole country and even more people around the world put their faith into him. But seeing the love and affection he was getting made Lauren smile. If anyone deserved it, then it was Charles. No doubt.

"They don’t call him Il Predestinato for no reason." Pascale smiled, looking down at Ava "Your daddy is destined to do something great… maybe not today, maybe not next year, but one day…"

"I’m sure he will…" Lauren again had no doubt "I’m just sorry that you miss the race this year…"

"We’re watching it now?" she looked up from her granddaughter, cocking an eyebrow "What do you mean?"

"I known that you’re in Monza for every race… just not today…" the nanny mumbled.

"Stop that, you hear me? It was my decision to stay here! It’s fine, okay?"

"Okay…" Lauren nodded "I just want him to have a good race… that‘s all."

"Don’t worry, he’ll have a good one, even when I’m not there! I have the best company to watch it anyways…"

Charles strode through the paddock, adrenaline still raging through this body. It’s been a long time since he enjoyed a race that much. He knew that not everyone would be happy, but he didn’t care. He was racing. Doing his job. And for once he didn’t care about anything else, just himself. He spotted Fred being interviewed by Sky, a big crowd around him and he just had to check in on him. Charles fought his way to his team principal, having the biggest smile on his face, while checking his pulse.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack! Or maybe even more than one!" Fred laughed, punching his drivers arm "But well done. Good fight!"

"Today was fun. Really fun!" it wasn’t often that Charles was happy after a fourth place, but today was different.

He knew that he gave his all. He knew that with one or two different calls from the pit wall he might’ve ended up on the podium. But despite not being on it, he enjoyed racing like he haven’t in quite some time now. When he spotted Mia waving him over he for once didn’t dread going to the media pen. He had fun answering the questions. Enjoyed letting everyone know that he was back. He promised an amazing race weekend in Singapore ahead. And when Charles finally made his way back to his drivers room, after celebrating some more with the Tifosi he clicked on the call button, a big smile on his face.

"Here he is! You were amazing today!" Lauren’s smile even bigger than his "I watched your interviews… you were so- so passionate! It was like a fire was burning inside of you! Your eyes… they were so full of life and love for what you’re doing!"

"It’s been quite some time since I enjoyed racing this much, I’m not gonna lie… today was different tho- for the first time in a while I just raced for myself. Just enjoyed being in the car, at one with it and the track. I kinda lost that love a little in the past weeks…" Charles admitted.

"I think it’s just normal to lose the fun of it all if it’s not going your way for a while…" Lauren looked at him sincerely "But you’re happy now. That’s the most important thing…"

"More than happy. Perfectly happy. Today really was something… I can’t wait for Singapore now… especially having you and Ava with me." his eyes sparkled with something the girl couldn’t quite place "It’s going to be an amazing weekend. I just know it."

"If you’re that sure, then I believe you, it’s going to be an amazing weekend!"

Charles sat in the back of the car, his right leg nervously bouncing. He hoped that Lauren and Ava made it into the jet without any complications, with no one bothering them and as soon as the car stopped, he already jumped out, grabbing his backpack.

"Go. I’ll take care of the bags." Joris nodded and Charles almost sprinted towards the jet and up the stairs.

There they were. He felt his heart skip a beat when he saw how natural it looked, Ava sleeping safe and sound in Lauren’s arms, the young girl smiling down at the baby girl in her arms.

"I kept her awake until maybe a minute ago, she’s out cold now… I think she’ll handle the flight like a real pro!" Lauren smiled, looking up at Charles.

"You want me to take her?" he asked quietly, sitting down in the seat opposite of the two girls.

"And risk that she’s waking up? No, thanks. She’s grumpy when she’s tired!”

"Sounds like her father…" Joris mumbled, plopping down next to them.

"That’s so not true…" Charles glared at him.

"Maybe a little grumpy?" Lauren intercepted with a soft smile on her lips and Charles sighed.

"Okay… maybe… but just a tiny, little bit."

"When she says it, it’s okay?" Joris raised an eyebrow but his best friend only shrugged his shoulders.

"She’s nicer. And prettier. A lot prettier." he laughed, missing how Lauren’s cheeks were turning red and how she looked out of the window immediately.

"Can’t argue with that…" Joris wiggled his eyebrows, looking at Charles who only shook his head, but before he could reply anything the flight attendant appeared and let them know that they were ready for take off.

"Singapore here we go!" he said, his eyes on Lauren and Ava.

"Relax. It got a little chaotic because some other drivers arrived together… they are upstairs in their room now." Mia explained, checking her phone "That’s why she couldn’t answer your call and messages…"

Charles nodded, his eyes trained on his phone when relieve washed over him, seeing the text from Lauren appear on the screen.

"See?" Joris chuckled.

"Yeah…" Charles sighed.

He didn’t like it one bit to send Lauren and Ava out into a city they’ve never been. With a guy they never met. Sure, he knew Francesco, knew that within Ferrari there wasn’t anyone as reliable as him. But it was his daughter, his Lauren, he had to look after now. His nanny. Not his Lauren. Shaking his head, he leaned back and tried to relax, tried to focus on the crowd that had formed in front of the hotel, making it hard for him to get out and walk towards the entry. He did his best to sign as many autographs, took as many selfies as possible and by the time he finally made it into the lobby he felt drained.

"Here’s your keycard. Go." Silvia handed Charles his keycard and he was already off to the elevator, making his way to Lauren and Ava.

"I’m sorry! I wanted to text you that we arrived safely but I couldn’t find my phone and when I found it Ava was having a litt-…" Lauren began when Charles stormed inside, his tense jaw relaxing, the concerned crease in between his eyes smoothing the moment he caught sight of them.

"I’m just glad you’re okay…" he whispered, pulling both girls into a hug "There was so much chaos at the airport… so many fans waiting and when I lost sight of you? And Mia told me you’re in the car to the hotel with Francesco but you didn’t answer my text?"

"We were fine! I promise you! Francesco was such a sweetheart. He brought us to the car, took all of our bags. And when we were in the car and I wanted to text you that everything’s fine I realised my phone was lost somewhere in my bag… and oh my god at the hotel! There were at least 5 other drivers and the crowd went crazy!"

"Did anyone see you? Like-… you know…" the driver exhaled slowly.

"Not a single person. They were paying attention to the drivers so Francesco, Ava and I could slip past the crowd without anyone looking… but even if so. They would’ve only see a family entering the hotel. Francesco wasn’t wearing any Ferrari clothes…" Lauren reassured Charles who only nodded and then took Ava in his arms.

"Alright. That’s good…" he replied cuddling his little girl closer to his chest "Umm-… if you want to, you can take a shower now and rest a little? I’ll take care of her… and tonight I have this sponsor thing I couldn’t talk Silvia out of…"

"Yeah, she told me about it already. It’s fine. Not like I wanted to go out and do something anyways, so don’t worry, okay?" Lauren replied "But I take your offer with the shower. It’s hot out there! And humid. I think Ava and I’ll stay mostly inside the next days… I don’t want her to be too hot…"

"That’s probably the best…" Charles sat down on the sofa "At least they have AC mostly everywhere here."

"Too bad your car doesn’t have AC…" Lauren laughed, walking into her bedroom.

"That would be a dream."

Charles gave his all. Tried everything. Had his set-up changed. Went over the telemetry of each of his laps meticulously. Tried to find that little something that was responsible for him being that 0.05 seconds slower than Carlos. But no matter what he did, he couldn’t grasp what’s missing and when Saturdays qualifying was over he sat in his drivers room. A cold towel over his head. P3. He was so focused on chasing Carlos that he not only didn’t catch him, he also lost his place in the first row to George Russell. A soft knock on his door made him look up, wiping his face with the towel.

"Come in." his voice void of any emotion.

"Hi… umm Silvia asked me to tell you that the team meeting will start in 30 minutes." Lauren. Her voice quiet. Calm. Soothing.

"Okay…" he replied, watching her sit down next to him.

"P3 is not too bad?"

"Could be worse… but could be better as well…" Charles sighed.

"I‘m sure you could still win, no?"

"I guess we’ll see." he replied and followed Lauren to the meeting room, the girls eyes glued to the screen of the baby monitor in her hand "She’s asleep?"

"Yep, the warmth here makes her even more tired… but she’s fine, don’t worry."

Lauren smiled at him and Charles couldn’t stop himself from smiling as well.

He opened the door and let Lauren step in first, then followed her. She squeezed his arm gently and then walked off to the side where Mia, Silvia and the rest of the media team were standing. Silvia already introduced her on Thursday to everyone and she immediately fitted in like she was always here. No one questioned her presence, or asked what her job exactly was, or why she stayed a lot inside her office. Whatever Silvia told the team seemed to be enough. Charles sat down at his usual spot and put his headphones on, waiting for the meeting to start. Strategy wise it was exactly what he expected, Carlos was favoured, he knew that it was always like this. The better positioned driver got the better strategy. The target was a Ferrari winning and hopefully another one on the podium, the best case szenario would be a P1-P2, but given the pace of the Mercedes the whole weekend it wasn’t an easy task. Charles knew that it would be tough for Carlos to stay up on top. A podium for him was definitely not that easy either, but he also knew what a win meant for the team. He looked around. All the faces full of hope. Hope for maybe a red win after an entire season so far with only dark blue ones. As much as he wished it was him being up front, fighting for that win, he knew what he had to do.

"I’m starting on softs…" Charles‘ words raised some eyebrows, eyes going wide.

Lauren stood at the end of the meeting room, her eyes darting between the baby monitor and Charles. She wasn’t an expert, but from what she learned so far, the soft tyres were the quickest ones for a race start, but also the one degrading faster than the other ones, meaning Charles would struggle earlier with the grip of the tyres than the rest.

"This could compromise your own race…" one of the head strategists noted and Charles nodded.

"I know. But if I manage to overtake George right at the start, I can keep him away from Carlos, so he can build a gap. Drive off…" he replied and Lauren understood why some of the team members didn’t look too happy.

He would throw away his own race just to help his team mate win? Instead of going for the win himself? Formula 1 was a way more complicated sport than expected.

"What are you thinking of?" Charles voice was soft, looking at Lauren sitting on the sofa, knees pulled up to her chin, lost in her thoughts.

"Hmm?" she looked at him confused, tilting her head, something that made him smile because that habit of hers was just too adorable.

"I can tell that something is going on in that pretty little mind of yours? So?"

Lauren cleared her throat, playing with a loose thread of the blanket next to her.

"Are you really throwing away your own race tomorrow?"

He expected a lot. But not this. Not her being concerned about his race. Not her who wasn’t really a fan of his sport.

"What makes you think that?" Charles sat down next to her.

"The reaction of your team when you said you wanted to start on softs. What was said after? I might not understand everything, but I’m not stupid either…"

"No. You’re definitely not."

"So?"

"I mean… it’s not like I defend Carlos and as soon as he’s far off enough I stop racing. But he’s on pole. He had the better weekend so far. He deserves the better strategy. And if that means that we could win this race? Then I have to do it. For the team." Charles explained and Lauren thought for a moment, contemplating to ask her next question or not "What? Come on… spit it out."

"Would he do the same? Carlos? If the roles would be reversed?"

Charles swallowed audibly, looking down at his hands, carefully thinking about his answer.

"I’d like to think so."

"That’s not a yes."

"No, it’s not. But it’s also not a no."

"True that." Lauren sighed, leaning back into the cushions.

"It’s going to be fine. You’ll see."

Lauren stood in the back of the garage. Headphones on. One eye on the screen, watching the race, the other on the screen of the baby monitor, watching Ava sleep. She knew that the infant was only a couple of steps away, safely tucked into her pram, sleeping sound in the only quiet room in the hectic garage. But still she didn’t like being away from her. Not in her close proximity.

"She’s fine!" Andrea startled the young girl, smiling at her.

"I know… it’s just… I don’t know." Lauren began but then shook her head eyes drifting to the screen where a slow motion was showed on how a car just barely made it around a corner, almost touching the wall "I’ve seen some clips from Singapore… but in real it looks even more terrifying… I mean to be honest most races look terrifying…"

"It is terrifying. Only mere centimetres between you and a concrete wall. Your car only a lightweight itself. It’s dangerous. But that’s what’s makes it so appealing. The risk. The thrill…" he replied.

"Maybe… but it’s still freaking dangerous… I don’t understand why someone would put their life at risk like that…" Lauren mumbled, thinking about the crash from yesterdays qualifying and how the driver, Stroll, wasn’t even able to race today. She was about to say something when the crowd began to scream and a crash was shown on the screens "You think he’s okay?"

"Wait a moment…" Andrea nodded to the screen again, tapping his headphones where she could hear a moment later that the driver, Logan Sargeant was okay.

Lauren sat down, grabbing a bottle of water. She didn’t expect to feel like this during a race. Watching some clips of races here and there over the past months, or even watching entire races with the Leclerc family was nothing compared to watch a race from beside the track. Hearing the engines roar just mere metres away. She began to nervously fiddle with the bottle cap, focusing more on the screen of the baby monitor.

"I think Singapore wasn’t the right choice for your first live race… it’s one of the most dangerous and thrilling races on the calendar…" Andrea sighed, squeezing her shoulder.

Maybe he was right. Maybe watching 20 cars navigate through narrow, concrete fenced streets wasn’t the best choice for her first race.

"I’m checking on Ava…" Lauren excused herself and left for the tucked away room, Ava still sleeping like an angel in her stroller "I wish I could just sleep this through as well…" she sat down, gently wiping a tiny strand of hair out of the little girls face "These guys… your dad… they’re crazy. Fearless. But crazy…"

After a while of watching the little girl sleep, Lauren decided to go back, she couldn’t hide in here forever.

"He’s in P5 now?" Lauren put the headphones on switching to Charles radio "What happened?"

"His engine is overheating and he had to reduce his speed…" Andrea shook his head "He also didn’t pit and get fresh tyres when others did during a VSC… both Mercedes passed him easily with their fresh tyres…"

"Why didn’t they pit him?"

"I don’t know… I‘m not aware of every strategy decision-…" Andrea began when for the second time today the screeching of tyres, the sound of metal scraping over the tarmac, was heard around the track, people screaming in horror. Lauren’s eyes widened the moment her eyes landed on the screen and she the wreckage of what was a car seconds before. Safety car. Medic car. Everything was deployed and Lauren’s head began to spin, flashes of the wrecked car around her, her mother next to her, came back to her in a blur. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t hear Andrea talking. Or Mia who appeared next to him. She shook her head and jumped off her stool, stumbling towards Ava’s room, Andrea holding her by his side, making sure she wouldn’t fall. He pushed her onto the chair next to Ava, handing her a glass of water, making sure she took a big gulp.

"And now deep breaths. In, in, in, in, in… out, out, out…" he began and Lauren breathed along, first her breathing was shaky, but after a while she calmed down, feeling a little embarrassed, which the Italian seemed to sense, shaking his head."It’s okay. Crashes are never easy to watch, especially not this one… just keep breathing, okay?"

Lauren nodded, her eyes trained down to the floor. She kept breathing with Andrea, pushing away the thoughts of all the injuries Russell could have sustained from a high speed crash like that. She saw herself what these forces could do to a human body. First hand when she and her mother had the car crash and later when she was stationed at the ER of the hospital during her training.

"Lauren?" Andrea squeezed her shoulder "I have to go now, the race is over. Charles needs me, but Mia stays with you for a little, okay?"

Lauren just nodded, not really listening and when 10 minutes later Silvia walked in to take her and Ava back to the hospitality, she just followed the red head who carried Ava, while Lauren trotted behind them.

"Here, drink a little something. Stay inside, calm down… Russell is fine. Everyone is fine. I know it looked scary, but that’s Formula 1… you‘ll get used to it eventually…" Silvia sat Ava down in her crib, then squeezed Lauren’s shoulder "Just relax now, Charles will be here soon."

"Okay…" was all she whispered and with a last smile Silvia left Lauren alone.

The second the door shut close Lauren felt tears streaming down her face. She didn’t think often about the car crash years ago. Too painful were the memories. But the sound of crash took her back in time and as much as she tried to fight it, it was a battle she couldn’t win. She leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes and tried her best to calm herself down. She had to get her shit together before Charles came back. She knew he would be in a bad mood himself and she wanted to be there for him, cheer him up. Her past was the past. She had to live in the now, do her job. Take care of Ava and Charles. That was all she had to do. Smile, listen and cheer him up. Something she learned years ago. But for some reason it wouldn’t work today.

"And that’s P4. Good job." Xavi’s voice in his ear, Charles only shook his head, sighing.

"Yeah…"

It started out a good job. But the safety car and his engine running too hot destroyed all hopes of a Ferrari P1-P2, even a podium for him. Charles knew he had done everything he could, knew he gave his all, but when he got out of his car, seeing his team celebrate Carlos, not one of them seemed to acknowledge the role he played today. And when Carlos stormed off to congratulate Norris before Charles could reach him, he felt something bittersweet between his teeth. He wasn’t jealous. Or mad. No, he was happy that it was Ferrari who broke Red Bulls winning streak. But the lack of appreciation for his own race, after helping Carlos to drive off, extending the gap to the ones behind, and then drag his overheated car after constant lifting and coasting in P4 over the finish line? Yeah. He thought someone from his team would’ve appreciate it. More than a little tap on the shoulder paired with a "we won". We won? We? It didn’t felt like it. It felt like he lost. And he hated losing.

"Where’s Lauren?" Charles asked Andrea, spotting the familiar shirt and baby monitor in the corner with his things.

"She’s with Ava…" Mia replied slowly, looking around.

"Is everything okay?" he didn’t like his PR assistants tone.

"Umm… Lauren… she’s a little shaken. The accident. She umm…" Mia rubbed her palms "Silvia brought her back to her office. Too calm down."

"What happened?" the driver already on his way back to the teams hospitality.

"She was just shocked and scared I guess. And I know you want to check in on her, but we have to go to the media pen… she’s fine." Mia steered him the other way "Charles. This is important. You need to go to the media pen…"

"Fine. But we’re making it quick. I want to check on her. I’m not in the mood for long chit chats, okay?"

"Deal. And now smile. Your teammate just won a race. You should be happy." Mia looked at him and he put on his fake smile.

"Yay. I’m so happy. Amazing." his smile widened.

"Stop that. Here. Sky UK. Let’s go." Mia pushed him in front of the reporter, starting her voice recording.

"Charles. Tough race out there. But how happy are you for the team that Carlos won tonight?" the first question in the media pen and he already wanted to leave. Leave and go find Lauren and Ava. Check in on her. Find comfort. But no. He had to smile. Be happy for his team. His team mate.

"Very happy. It was a good race. Well executed…" he began when the interviewer interrupted him.

"Wasn’t it brilliant how Carlos managed to keep Lando purposely in his DRS to keep George at bay? What a brilliant drive from him this whole weekend, right?"

"Yeah. You said it. Brilliant!" his voice sounded void. Not like him at all. But he still smiled and continued as if nothing was wrong. Never had Charles talk so little about his own race but his team mates instead in all his years in F1. It was like his own race didn’t exist. He couldn’t deny the sting in his heart while the interviews seemed to drag on forever. When he finally was done with his last interview and Mia gave him the all clear, he was already halfway out of the media pen, on his way to see his girls. His girls. A flutter in the pit of his stomach made him smile all of a sudden and he had no idea why.

"Hey bro, who got you smiling like that?" Pierre bumped into his shoulder, and Charles looked up "Don’t tell me it’s because of Carlos winning. I know you. I saw your fake smile in the media pen… so?"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just glad I can leave and forget this weekend…" Charles kept walking, only wanting to go back to the hospitality.

"Hmm… but come on, finally Red Bull got beaten and you were a big part of it." the Alpha Tauri driver tried to console his best friend in the paddock, but realised quickly that it was a lost cause.

"Yeah, and I’m happy that we beat Red Bull, finally… but-…" Charles stopped then sighed, shaking his head "Doesn’t matter. We won. The team is happy. The Tifosi are happy. And did you see Fred?"

"Everyone is happy but you… because let’s be honest, you wanted to be the one breaking Max‘ winning streak…"

"Maybe, but I wasn’t good enough for that." Charles didn’t want to sound bitter, but he couldn’t help it. He felt like he failed his team. He wasn’t good enough after all.

"Don’t be like that. You did good. Helped your team and team mate…" Pierre tried it again and Charles only nodded.

"I need to get back now. There’s probably a party going on and if I’m not there people will create some drama that’s not there…" he said his goodbyes and walked straight to the Ferrari hospitality. Not talking to anyone. Ignoring all the happy faces, all the cheers. He didn’t feel bad, it seemed like everyone ignored him as well. Everyone was looking for Carlos, everyone was praising Carlos. No one cared for him, so he only had one goal. Ava and Lauren "Silvia, have you seen Lauren?" he stopped, looking at the red head who put some bottles of champagne on the table.

"She’s in her room… but Charles… she’s a little shaken. That Russell crash really scared her…" Silvia replied and he was already on his way to the back.

The office was only dimly lit. Lauren sat on the sofa, knees pulled up to her chest, pale face, red eyes. Her breathing was ragged, her body shaken up by hiccups every now and then. She didn’t see the driver enter. Her eyes fixed on Ava, happily babbling in her crib, but the usual soft smile, the twinkle in her eyes when watching the little girl was gone.

"Lauren?" Charles said gently, startling the girl "It’s just me. Just me… it’s all good…" he held up his hands, slowly walking over, not making any rushed moves "Lauren?" he carefully sat down next to her.

"Charles…" her voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"Yeah. Just me. Just Charles…" he whispered back, watching fresh tears gather in the corner of her eyes "Come here…" without hesitation he pulled the girl into him, hugging her tightly, feeling her tremble in his hold.

Charles had no idea how long they sat there like this. Letting Lauren cry in his arms, waiting for her to calm down. Tell him what happened. What spooked her so much.

"I hate what you’re doing…" a faint whisper after a while made the driver look down.

"What I am doing?" he repeated and felt Lauren nod into his chest.

"I hate that you’re a racing driver. I hate that you risk your life like that. I hate this all. It’s dangerous. Stupid."

"I don’t kn-…"

"I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to sound so harsh… but… it’s scary. First that crash yesterday with Stroll, then Sargeant earlier today… and then the one of Russell? It felt so close. The screeching tyres, the sound of metal scraping over the tarmac, crashing into the concrete barriers? Why would you take such risks?" Lauren began to tremble again.

"Because it’s what I love. I always have. Since I was little. Racing was, is and always be my passion. The one thing I truly feel free and like myself. It’s what I love most…" Charles began but Lauren pulled away, looking at him.

"Ava. She’s what you should love the most. She’s your daughter. You’re responsible for her. How can you get in that car, knowing that you might not come back to her? Knowing that she has to grow up without you if something happens? That’s stupid!"

Her words weren’t said in malice. She sounded desperate. Almost devastated. And it dawned on him. Why she always grabbed onto the handlebars in the car. Why she was squirming in her seat. Always looking outside. Checking the mirrors. He never said anything about it. Not to Lauren. Not to anyone. He thought it was just something she did. A quirk. Nothing he ever thought much off. Nothing serious. But now he knew he was wrong.

"Who did you lose?" Charles asked gently and Lauren swallowed hard.

"My mom…" she whispered after a while, looking down at her hands.

"A car accident?"

"Yeah…" a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"What happened?" Charles took her hands in his.

"Umm-…" Lauren hesitated for a moment, looking at Charles, his eyes full of sincerity "Umm… a… a drunk driver… he was too fast… and when he wanted to pass us… he umm- he crashed into us… Mom couldn’t do anything. She lost control. And we spun. Then the car flipped over and came to a halt…"

Charles looked at her. His eyes wide. Shocked. His heart almost jumping out of his chest.

"Us? You were in the car as well?" his own voice trembling now.

"Yeah… it all happened so fast. And when I opened my eyes again, mom… she smiled at me, squeezed my hand… she told me she loved me and then everything turned black. That we’re here final words. She died right-…" Lauren’s voice gave in and Charles pulled her again into his arms.

He held her tight. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t know what to say. He knew that her parents were both dead. He just didn’t know how.

"I’m so sorry…" he whispered, drawing soothing circles on the girls back.

"I just… I know that this is what you love, it’s just… I don’t want anything to happen to you. I don’t want to… lose you…" Lauren‘s voice barely above whisper.

"Yeah? And why‘s that?" Charles looked into her eyes, saw how they widened, saw his own reflexion in the crystal blue. He watched her cheeks turning pink and how her breath got stuck in her throat. She was close. Too close. His head was spinning.

"Umm-… who’s going to pay my salary when you’re gone?" Lauren’s voice cracked, a little smile on her lip.

"What?" Charles replied perplexed "That’s it?"

"Umm-… what else do you want me to say?"

"Ouch…"

"I’m just kidding! Come on! Of course I don’t want Ava to lose her daddy!" Lauren laughed.

"Good point." he admitted, although he still wished for another answer, but before he could say something the door opened and Silvia walked in.

"Charles, we want to take the group picture now, can you come?" although it was a question, her tone of voice didn’t leave any room up for discussion.

"I’ll be right back…" Charles mumbled, getting up, following Silvia outside, but not without sparing one last glance at Lauren, who leaned back and closed her eyes "Let‘s make this quick." he looked at Silvia who only nodded.

Lauren took a deep breath, the last couple of hours had drained her. She was exhausted, tired. She didn’t want to tell Charles how much she despised his job, or at least not like she did it, almost screaming into his face. But her emotions were raw and she couldn’t control them any longer. His reaction surprised her. She didn’t expect him to be mad, but at least defensive. But instead he understood why she hated it. Telling Charles the truth about how her mother died, or at least mostly the truth, felt good. And how he held her afterwards? Lauren’s heart fluttered. A warmth growing inside of her. Her feelings for the Ferrari driver only intensified. She was glad that Silvia came by. She couldn’t trust herself around Charles at times. Lauren shook her head and got off the sofa, sitting down at her desk. She didn’t know if she should go outside as well. She was officially a part of Ferrari after all, she should show herself, celebrating the win of Sainz. But a part of her just didn’t want to. It was the way he didn’t even mention Charles help to win the race in his post race interview. He didn’t acknowledge the sacrifice his team mate made today. It made Lauren’s blood boil because without Charles he wouldn’t have won. And not him or anyone else here in Ferrari seemed to acknowledge that. She sighed and got up. She knew that it would look bad if she didn’t celebrate the first win of the team. After one last check on Ava and after she made sure that the baby monitor was working, Lauren put on a fake smile and walked outside, right into the arms of two of the media team, happily chanting Sainz‘ name. She laughed with them and pretended to be just as happy as them, although inside Lauren wished it would’ve been Charles win she would celebrate.

Chapter 15 - I‘m back! And I’m soooo sorry that it takes me literally ages to upload! I will try my best to upload as regularly as possible, but for some reason I have a little writers block for this story whereas for my other stories I could write whole chapters 🙈

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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Somewhere in the future of the story…

"Rachel?"

Lauren froze. She didn’t move. Nor flinch. She wasn’t even breathing. She knew that voice. She could recognise it everywhere. She sped up a little, making the redhead next to her look confused for a moment before she did the same.

"Are you okay, Lauren?" Silvia next to her asked, pulling out her phone "You look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

Lauren forced herself to smile, shaking her head a little, leaning down to coo at Ava, while walking faster towards the exit. But before she could lie how everything was alright, the voice called out for her again, closer this time, more firm.

"Rachel Lombardi?"

"I think I need to change Ava." Lauren straightened her back, pushing the stroller even faster towards the entrance where their car was waiting already.

"Oh- umm okay… I get why we’re running then… you can do it in the backseat I guess…" Silvia smiled timidly waving at their driver to help them with the stroller.

And when the driver closed the door behind her, Lauren could see him. Anthony. Standing right outside their car. Only the glass of the window separating them. He couldn’t see her. The tanned window hiding the girl from him. Lauren kept staring outside when the car started moving, kept staring at Anthony. Saw how he shook his head, saw how he talked to another guy, his hands wildly flying through the air.

Anthony’s eyes followed the car. He couldn’t see the girl up close. Too fast was she in the car. Too fast hidden behind the tinted windows. But he was sure. He could’ve sworn it was her. Rachel Lombardi. Miss Americana. The girl that went missing a couple of months ago without a trace. His girl.

That’s it for now.

Chapter 16 out on Sunday, 31.08.2025

Thanks for all the love and support ♥️

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"First off, it’s small buckets. More like containers… little tubs. And secondly, I want to create this kind of gradient effect, all the different colours blend into each other… trust me, it will look great! Together with the new furniture? And the new lamp? Oh and project flower wall! It’s going to be amazing! I have a good feeling." the girls excitement was contagious and Arthur nodded.

"Alright, alright, alright! Now, where do we start?" he asked and Lauren looked around, a plan already in the making inside her head.

"Old furniture out, someone will come and pick it up, then we’ll put everything in the middle of the room and cover it up and start prepping everything for painting… well and then let’s paint!"

"Sounds like a plan!"

"Let’s go then!"

"What did you do today?" Charles asked, using the tiny frame of himself as a mirror.

"Oh nothing, we read a lot of books, played with the insane amount of toys a certain someone bought his daughter…" Lauren winked at him and he chuckled "… and that was it actually… how was your day?"

"Sounds like you had a lot of fun… black or red?" he asked, sounding unsure and Lauren was confused for a moment, but then spotted the two ties he was holding up.

"Oh, tough question. Red is Ferrari’s colour but black is timeless and goes with everything…" she thought out loud and Charles nodded.

"Yeah, my thought exactly… so black it is?" he looked at her and Lauren smiled.

"Black it is. Looks like it’s a really fancy dinner you’re going to?"

"Just another sponsor dinner… maybe some potential new sponsors…" Charles sighed straightening his tie "Mostly boring dinners…"

"You’ll survive." Lauren chuckled.

"I guess I will… any plans for you two?"

"A ton! I don’t even know where to start!" she cocked an eyebrow and pretended to think, then she smiled "I’m going to feed Ava, then she’ll have a nice bath and that’s it."

"Sounds like a quiet night then…" he smiled back, when Lauren propped up the phone on the table so he could see Ava sitting in her lap "You’ll be good, little princess, right?"

"She’s always the sweetest girl, don’t worry…" Lauren gently stroked over the girls little tummy, making her giggle.

"Yeah, because of you…" Charles began and then looked up "Shoot… I gotta go. Good night, baby girl. I love you." he cooed at the screen, looking at his little girl "I miss you." his eyes now on Lauren, who looked down at Ava in her lap.

"Good night, daddy! I miss you too!" she gently held Ava’s arm up, waving with it.

"Good night, Lauren." his soft voice making her insides melt.

"Good night, Charles. Enjoy your evening." she smiled at him and ended the call "And now it’s time for you, little Miss Sunshine, to take a nice bath… and as soon as your asleep it’s time for me to prepare everything to torture your uncle Arthur a little more tomorrow…"

"We should’ve asked them to assemble the new furniture as well… not only picking up the old one…" Arthur mumbled, still trying to figure out the instructions for the new crib.

"Oh come on! You did good with the changing table and the shelf! We figure out the bed as well…" Lauren encouraged him and sat down next to him, Ava in her arm "Here, let’s switch…"

"Hi baby girl… enjoyed your little snack?" Arthur cooed at his niece, cuddling into his chest exhaling loudly "I know, Ava, I know… being 4 months old must be so tough!"

"It’s tough to always be this cute!" Lauren chuckled, looking up from the instructions "But not as tough as assembling this crib… I don’t get it."

"Maybe I can help?" Lorenzo said, making Arthur and Lauren turn around "Or at least I could try."

"Yes! Please!" Arthur let out a sigh of relief.

"Wow… Lauren… the walls look amazing…" Lorenzo looked around, impressed how the walls were painted before.

"I had this vision in my head and hoped it would turn out just like I imagined it…" she replied, looking around as well.

"It’s beautiful."

"Thanks…" the girl blushed a little and then handed him the instructions "Well, maybe you get it…"

Lorenzo read the instructions and Lauren checked her phone. Since she knew who Charles was and heard him and the rest of the family talk about Formula 1, she decided to follow some F1 accounts on Instagram, using the fake profile that came with her new identity. The way Charles talked about racing, with so much passion and excitement, made Lauren reconsider her opinion about 20 men driving in circles for 2 hours. And he was right. They all were. Formula 1 was more than that. The narrow tracks with the cars breezing past the walls, so close that only a sheet of paper would have space between the hard concrete of the walls and the strong carbon fibre of the cars. The qualifying sessions, where milliseconds decide who is starting from which position. She was all wrong about Formula 1.

"What’s a WAG?" Lauren asked a moment later, when she saw a reel of a girl with the caption new WAG alert.

"WAG?" Arthur chuckled and looked up from Ava "You don’t know what WAG stands for?"

Lauren shook her head and read another sentence she didn’t understand.

"No? And who’s the Heartbreak Prince?" Lauren looked at Arthur who then looked at Lorenzo, both seemingly uncomfortable "What?"

"Well… WAG is short for Wives and Girlfriends… that’s how the fans and media like to call the- well, wives and girlfriends of the drivers… or athletes in general..." Arthur explained and then looked at Lorenzo again, who nodded quietly "And the Heartbreak Prince… umm- that’s Charles."

"Charles? As in our Charles?" the moment she realised what she said, Lauren blushed "I mean, our Charles- as in umm- your brother Charles? As in my boss and Ava‘s dad Charles?" a desperate attempt to cover up her slip up.

"Yup, exactly… our Charles." Lorenzo replied only "New rumours?"

"Umm- they write did the Heartbreak Prince find his new princess of the season…" she began when both brothers sighed, rolling their eyes.

"Ignore those gossip accounts… they only want to stir up some drama… with DTS there’s already enough of that." Arthur said, tickling Ava’s tummy, making her giggle.

"What’s DTS?" Lauren knew she had read it before but she couldn’t quite place it.

"Drive to Survive. It’s a show on Netflix… they create more drama then there actually is." Lorenzo answered and then put the instructions down "I think I got it."

"Yeah? Perfect." Arthur smiled at Ava "We’re building your new crib now. You will love it! But I think before that, I need to check on your diaper…"

"I’ll do that, you two take care of the crib, I take care of Ava." Lauren, got up from the floor and held her arms out, taking the little girl from her uncle "It’s time for her nap as well, so I lay her down and then I’ll come and help."

"Alright." Lorenzo waved at Ava, who yawned, a sleepy smile on her lips "Sleep well, little one."

Lauren left Ava’s room and made it into hers next door, laying the little girl on the changing table.

"Let’s get you cleaned up and then off you go, taking a little nap, how about that?" she cooed at the baby, changing her diaper and clothes and not even 10 minutes later she fell asleep in her arms and Lauren gently put her down in her crib, sitting down on the stool next to her. She took out her phone again and scrolled through Instagram, finding the reel from earlier and this time she watched it, instead of only reading the caption. Charles, arm in arm with a beautiful blonde girl, smiling and laughing, posing for some pictures. And then another shot of them sitting at the table together, next to Carlos Sainz, Charles teammate and a girl who looked like she was his girlfriend. Lauren focused on Charles and the girl. They seemed to enjoy each other’s company. And now she knew for who Charles dressed up this chic. For the girl. The girl by his side, labelled as his new WAG. No, his new princess of the season. She didn’t know what that meant. But she didn’t like it. Something inside her began to boil while looking at the pictures. Something that surged through her veins, filling her with disdain for the blonde girl. And when Lauren saw a comment stating that they looked like a cute couple her heart clenched painfully. She knew what it was she was feeling. And she didn’t like that as well. Jealousy. She was jealous of the girl who went on a date with Charles. Her boss. Ava’s dad. The one who paid her. The one she shouldn’t feel jealous over. But she did. A lot. And she didn’t know what to do with that. She swiped through more pictures, some from today according to the caption and she hated the way her heart clenched. The way the jealousy was crawling under her skin.

"Lauren?" Lorenzos soft voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she turned around "We’re done with the crib, do you know where you want to put it?"

"Already? You’re fast! Give me a minute and I’ll come!" Lauren replied pocketing her phone and checking in on Ava one last time, switching the baby monitor on"Focus!" she mumbled to herself and followed Lorenzo.

"I don’t know where you want to put it?" Arthur said as soon as she walked in.

"I want the crib on the right wall, as soon as we’re finished with it…" Lauren replied, looking at the right, almost empty wall. Only the beautiful wood trimming filling it for now.

"Alright, so what’s next?"

"I think that’s it for today. Tomorrow someone is coming to install the new ceiling lamp and then… well then the big project starts." Lauren smiled, looking at the wall again.

"Sounds ominous…" Lorenzo chuckled.

"It does… do I have to be scared?" Arthur cocked and eyebrow but the girl just shrugged.

"That’s for me to know and you to find out…"

Lauren sat on her bed, zapping through the TV channels, when she came across the sports news, talking about the upcoming Formula 1 race in the Netherlands. A reporter walking through what looked like a little street, other news teams, team members and even drivers breezing past them. One of those drivers was Charles with the pretty blonde girl. She had to think back to her FaceTime call with Charles earlier and how she first thought the blonde, Sophia, was indeed his new girlfriend but how he was denying it. He was adamant in explaining her that the girl was only the daughter of a potential new sponsor and his team asked him to woo her a little. Make sure she has a good time. Unfortunately it was part of his job. Lauren believed him, felt how the tightness in her chest loosened up. And although she shouldn’t feel it, she felt relieved. Charles was still single. It made her calm down. She went to bed, watching another episode of Drive to Survive, because even if Arthur and Lorenzo told her not to, she thought this way she learned the most in a short amount of time about Formula 1. Maybe a more dramatic version. With lots and lots of fabricated drama, but it helped her understand more about Charles. What kind of person he was at his job, on track. And she liked it so far. The other drivers seem to respect him, he was good friends with some of them. Even the other team principals seemed to like him way more than his own in the last season. Something about Mattia Binotto, the way he spoke with Charles after the race in Silverstone, the way he didn’t see any fault in Ferrari at Charles messed up race, gave Lauren the ick. Big ick. She was glad that he was gone. Charles talked about his team principal. His name was Fred. Not Mattia. So probably Ferrari got rid of him. Good for them. She finished the episode and checked in on Ava one last time, before she climbed back in her bed, pulling the blanket over her head, ready to fall asleep and prepare for the next day. Lauren knew what she had planned would take a long time. Probably the whole day, but she knew that in the end it would be worth it. She only hoped that her little helper would feel the same way.

"The entire wall?" Arthur repeated sceptical.

"The entire wall..." Lauren smiled at him.

"That must be a thousand roses… if not more…" he looked around the room.

"More. Definitely more. Believe me.l I have this vision… it will look amazing!" she practically beamed at him.

"Youre the interior designer, not me..." he joked and Lauren shoved him a little.

"Come on, this will take ages, we have to start now to be ready until your brother comes back home!"

"Aye, aye Captain!" Arthur saluted and they began to glue every single rose to the wall.

Lauren had no idea how long it took, with breaks in between to feed Ava, change her diaper and make her take a nap. Playing with her every now and then, or just holding her while sticking the next who knows how many roses to the wall. The little girls eyes widening, seeing all the different colours and shapes of the roses. The sun already began to set when Arthur let out a triumphant scream, looking at Lauren.

"I think we’ve got it?" he said, taking a step away, taking in their hard days work "Wow…" he breathed out, his eyes big.

"Good wow or bad wow?" Lauren asked stepping next to him, Ava half asleep in her arms.

"The biggest and most amazingly wow… Lauren this looks… it looks incredible. So beautiful. Combined with the other walls? This room? I think she’ll never grow out of it. Even as a teenage girl she’ll love it!" Arthur was impressed.

"Oh stop it!" she gently nudged his shoulder but he shook his head, turning a little.

"No, seriously. Charles will be at a loss of words when he comes home and sees this…"

"Yeah… maybe…" Lauren scratched the back of her neck, looking at the last package "Can you help me with that? And then you’re officially done."

"Sure… what is it? I thought we have all the furniture now?" Arthur looked around.

"It’s a rocking chair… I’ve spent hours and hours to find one in the same or at least similar design to the rest of the furniture and thankfully I did. It arrived late last night…" she explained opening up the package.

"Let’s just hope we can assemble it…" he chuckled but Lauren shook her head.

"It’s really simple, l watched the video. We should be able to do it."

And she was right. 30 minutes later the rocking chair was assembled, matching the bed and the rest of the furniture.

"Wow… Lauren it really looks like it’s the same design… you really outdid yourself with the room." Arthur side hugged the girl, turning around with her, looking at what they had created over the past couple of days "You really deserve your day off tomorrow."

"About that… is it possible if I watch the race with you guys? I have nothing else to do and the only thing I would do tomorrow then would be finishing Ava’s nursery, putting all her stuff back in…" Lauren began.

"Yeah no. You’re right. You’re coming with us. We watch the race, I can explain everything for you and you leave this room alone. It’s not called day off for no reason…" Arthur looked at her intently and she smiled.

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"Your first Formula 1 race… you’ll love it."

Lauren woke up early, ready to finish up Ava’s room before Charles would return back home later in the evening. She wanted everything to be perfect for him after his race the day before. He looked devastated. Like the world was about to end when they filmed him taking off his helmet after retiring his car in lap 41. Lauren knew that racing was important for him, but seeing his fallen face, expressionless eyes, she knew just how important it was. How he blamed himself for the lap 1 incident with another driver, how he could’ve done better. His voice missing that excitement, that passion, his eyes that sparkle that made him him and that Lauren liked so much. She hoped seeing Ava’s room all new would cheer him up at least a little. So she started her mission. Little corrections here and there at the walls had to be made, the nursery needed new sheets and bedding. Ava’s clothes needed to be stored into the drawer and closet. All her toys and stuffed animals arranged around the room. Lauren didn’t look at the clock once, she cooed at Ava whenever she held her in her arms, or was extra quiet when the little girl slept. She washed out the remaining paint from the paintbrush, when she heard Ava waking up. Drying her hands and leaving the brush in the sink, Lauren walked into her own bedroom, where Ava was babbling, hands and legs moving around.

"Hi, little Miss Sunshine!" Lauren cooed and leaned down, Ava’s eyes immediately on her, her whole face lighting up "Did you sleep well? Yes? That’s good, because I’m almost done with your room and as soon as I’m ready, how about you and I go for a little stroll out in the sun until your dad gets back home? Yay, daddy!" Lauren smiled when Ava began to happily chortle at the sound of the word dad "You’re so clever! Already understanding words!"

The next minutes Lauren made the finishing touches in the room, put the decorations at their designated spots. Fluffed up the pillow in the rocking chair. All while holding Ava in one arm, singing softly to her.

"I think I’m done…" Lauren looked around.

Everything was the way she had imagined it. The walls. The furniture. The rug. She smiled at Ava, twirling around, happy the room was done when she stopped dead in her tracks flinching, spotting Charles standing in the door. His eyes wide open.

"Charles, you’re early!" Lauren breathed out, feeling herself blush while he took a cautious step inside "I thought you come home later tonight?"

"That was the plan, but… what is this?" Charles turned around, looked at everything "How- who? I mean when?"

He was at a loss of words, his hand smoothing over the painted walls. Touching the rocking chair with its fluffy pillows and then stopped in front of the wall covered in roses, carefully threading through them.

"Do you like it?" Lauren asked slowly when he didn’t say anything "If not we can-… umm we can change it again, make it more the way you like it?"

Charles still didn’t say anything and now Lauren was worried. Maybe it was too much. It was his daughter’s room after all. She crossed a line, went too far. He said he wanted to do it and she should’ve listened and waited. Not just take it in her own hands, not even asking for permission.

"I’m sorry, Charles. I shouldn’t have done it behind your back… I crossed a line… you wanted to do it on your own and I ruined it… I’m really, really so-…" Lauren rambled, her soft voice barely above a whisper, full of concern and that woke Charles up from his trance.

"Stop… what are you even saying…" he replied slowly, taking a step closer, his hands working on their own accords, carefully cupping her cheeks "This is beautiful… it’s perfect… it’s-… it’s everything I ever dreamed of and more…" he made her look at him, his eyes spotting how glassy hers were "How can I ever repay you for this? I can’t possibly thank you enough!"

"So you like it?" her voice so quiet, so unsure.

"No, I don’t like it. I love it. I really do Lauren. It’s perfect. I have no idea how you managed to do it and gosh! This must’ve cost you a fortune! How many people worked in here? Painter? Someone who build the furniture and took the old one with them? I need the receipts, you’re not paying for that!"

"I had help from Arthur and Lorenzo, we made it all ourselves… and after I received my first salary, which was more than generous, considering the fact that I don’t have any living costs and basically can throw out all that money? Yeah no. It’s fine. More than fine…" Lauren replied, a big smile on her face, her cheeks a gorgeous shade of pink, feeling Charles warm hands on them, his warm breath fanning over her face.

"But I have to thank you somehow… this is… Lauren, this is perfect."

"You know what you can do? If you’re up for it? Ava and I wanted to go for a little stroll outside… will you join us?" Lauren asked.

"There’s nothing I’d like more… we can take the car and drive a bit outside of town… it’s quieter…"

"And no one will recognise you…"

"And no one will recognise me…"

"Alright. Then let me change Ava and myself and then we’re ready to go." Lauren smiled up at Charles.

"Yeah… I take care of Ava…" he replied "You have a little paint on your face… just here…" he lifted his right hand from her cheek and gently stroked it along her forehead down her brow, making Lauren’s cheeks turn a shade darker.

"Thanks…" she whispered and Charles realised he was still cupping her cheeks, being way too close.

"I umm-… yeah I take Ava…" he mumbled, taking his daughter out of her nanny’s arms and taking a step back.

"Okay… umm- I go wash my face and change and then we can go." Lauren replied hastily and Charles nodded "Alright, then let’s go…" she walked past him outside the room into hers, closing the door and leaning against it, taking a deep breath.

The close proximity. His touch. The way he looked at her. Lauren’s cheeks were on fire. Her forehead and brow. Everywhere he touched was prickling. She had to calm down. It was the heat of the moment. He was just thanking her for doing Ava’s room. He was grateful. French people were more touchy than Americans. Monegasque. He was Monegasque. But weren’t they just like the French? Lauren’s mind was doing summersaults and she closed her eyes. Charles was her boss. Her boss. He paid her for being around and taking care of Ava. That was it. Another deep breath and she pushed herself off the door, slipping into a pair of jeans and a shirt. When she stepped into her bathroom she immediately spotted the paint on her face, rolling her eyes, washing it off. A faint knock on her door and she knew that Charles was ready.

"I’m coming…" she said, grabbing her purse and stuffing her phone in "Ready." she opened the door, Charles and Ava both looking at her.

"Let’s go then…" Charles smiled at her and they walked down the hall, not without him taking another look into Ava’s room "I owe you something…"

"No you don’t. I loved doing it…"

"If that’s the case… maybe we can talk about renovating the whole place… one room at the time…"

"What?" Lauren looked at him.

"Maman’s salon? Ava’s room? This is clearly your talent… and my place is boring. Nothing special. But with your help? It can be something more. Something amazing…" Charles looked at her, smiling his all dimply smile "I think you could transform this into a real home for us all."

Lauren smiled at him, her heart skipping a beat. A home for us all.

"We start from Singapore on. We drive in two separate cars to the airport. You’ll be there earlier, getting into the jet and while you’re safe inside, I’ll follow you then… that way no one sees us together at the airport…" Charles explained the plan for their upcoming trip to Singapore "You could come to Monza this weekend, but then we’d need a different disguise, because-…"

"No, no. Monza is wild. Crazy. Way too many people. Someone will spot them!" Pascale added and Lauren nodded.

"Yeah, I agree. Singapore is fine…"

"Alright, Singapore it is. Silvia changed my room into a suite with two bedrooms, I told her to not request a crib… I don’t know if we can trust the hotel employees… we take the travel cot with us. It’s a big bag I know. But I checked, it fits into my big suitcase…"

"You really thought this through, didn’t you?" Pascale looked at him impressed.

"I want this to work. So yeah, I had to think of everything… and I hope that I did."

"And what will Lauren’s role be exactly?" Pascale asked and Lauren turned to Charles.

"Officially you’ll be a media assistant for Ferrari. More in the analytics and stuff. You’ll have to wear Ferrari gear, to keep up the story. They always make sure you’ll get an office close to my drivers room and there will be everything provided you need for Ava and yourself. Also a desk and laptop just in case someone happens to stumble inside… you’ll get a personal driver, someone from the team who knows about you and Ava, and he’ll pick you up from the hotel and bring you to the back entrance of the paddock, that way you don’t have to walk through the whole paddock. He’ll get you back to the hotel in the evening as well."

"But wait… they’re locked up the whole day inside of the office?" Pascale cocked an eyebrow "That doesn’t sound pleasant…"

"It’s okay… really…" Lauren began.

"No, Maman is right. You’re not locked inside the whole day. You can walk around the Ferrari hospitality freely. You’ll be introduced to the team by Silvia anyway. That’s fine. But I guess if you want to go outside during the day, maybe it would be a good idea to have some spare clothes with you, so no one will associate you with Ferrari immediately. Just a pretty girl in the crowd…" Charles added.

"This could actually work…" Lauren replied, trying not to blush at his last comment, failing miserably.

"I sure hope it works. Having Ava with me, knowing that Maman can live her life again without changing plans all the time? I really hope it will work!"

"Don’t worry, Charles. It will work. You put so much thought in it…" Pascale smiled first at her son, then at Lauren "I have a feeling it will work out." a knowing smirk on her lips "More than a feeling. I just know it will be fine. Perfectly fine."

Chapter 15 - I have a feeling it will be more than just perfectly fine 🤭 let’s see what happens 🥰 also, sorry for the looong delay, life got in the way 🙄

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 @guaaafiiburg @giov13 @alittlebitofbooksandmagic @bravo-delta-eccho

I also made a little mood board for Ava’s nursery, I needed something visual to describe what I was writing about:

"Depends… is almost the whole team many people?"

"Damn…"

"But whatever it was that brought you down, it seems to be over?" Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn’t say it’s over, but I found a solution that is more than satisfying…" Charles smiled, thinking about Lauren getting settled in at his place back in Monaco.

"Yeah? That’s good. It was boring to win every C2 challenge…"

"You did NOT win every challenge…" the Monegasque driver rolled his eyes, laughing.

"But a lot of them…" Carlos pushed him a little when they walked to the car that was supposed to bring them back to their hotel.

The drive was short and when they arrived, Silvia already waited for them in the hotel lobby, typing away on her phone as always.

"Ahhh! There you are, perfect. The car will pick you up at 7. Please don’t be late. Please look presentable. The sponsor dinner is important. Carlos, your girlfriend accompanies you, right?"

"Yeah. She will…" he replied and the redhead nodded, her eyes landing on Charles.

"You’ll accompany Sofia Lores, she’s the daughter of the CEO of, what we hope to be, our new sponsor for next year. She’s here for this weekend and I want you to make her feel extra welcome and maybe e-…" Silvia began but Charles interrupted her immediately.

"Ok, no. Time-out. What? Why?" he asked.

"Because you don’t have a girlfriend and we want her to have an amazing weekend. Making her happy will makes her father happy." she answered without looking up from her phone "So you will be her company for tonight and the rest of the weekend. I want you to just show her-… I don’t know, the motorhomes. Your drivers room. The garage. Explain her how the car works. I don’t care. I just want her to tell her dad that she had fun and everyone was nice and friendly to her."

"Yeah but that doesn’t mean that I have to-…" Charles began but this time Silvia interrupted him.

"Charles. Please do this for me. For the team. I’m not asking much of you this season, but this is important. We want to leave a good impression on him." there was a finality in her voice and he sighed, then slowly nodded.

"Okay… but I’m not babysitting her the whole time. I accompany her tonight to the dinner, show her around the paddock and the garage and all that tomorrow, but that’s it. I’m going to be nice to her when I see her, but I’m not taking care of her from Friday on… I need to focus on racing." Charles looked at her and she smiled.

"Thank you…"

"Maybe she’s cute." Carlos winked at Charles when they got out of the car, helping his girlfriend.

"I don’t care about that…" Charles replied, sighing "I just do it because Silvia is right. She’s not bugging me as much as usually this season…"

"That is true." the Spaniard laughed "She’s bugging me."

"Sorry…" Charles held up his hands "It’s going to get better from now on. I prom-…"

"What’s going to get better from now on?" Silvia interrupted, a big fake smile on her lips.

"Oh- umm nothing." Carlos lied and then looked at the girl next to her.

"Right. Charles meet Sofia Lores." the redhead introduced the blonde girl to him.

"Hi, nice to meet you." he smiled at her, shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you, too. And you too, Carlos." Sofia turned to Carlos, shaking his hand as well "My father is talking about you guys all the time."

"Hopefully only good things, yeah?" Silvia chimed in but the girl just shrugged.

"Mostly about how valuable they are to the brand Ferrari. Based on popularity rather than performance…"

"Good to know." Charles grumbled, not really liking this kind of evaluation of his person.

"I mean, he’s a businessman after all. That’s his job. But I can reassure you, he’s also a fan of you as drivers and thinks you’re both doing well…" Sofia looked at him.

"Great." he replied, looking at Silvia "Shall we go inside?"

"Yes, definitely! Let’s go." she ushered the two couples inside, looking at Charles pointedly and he rolled his eyes, offering Sofia his arm, who accepted it "Wonderful."

"Absolutely." Carlos winked at Charles and they followed Silvia to a table in the middle of the room, set up on a little stage.

"These are your seats. Enjoy the evening. Later on you’re both asked some questions and that’s it. Mingle with the guests. Smile. Represent." she smiled and then rushed off, leaving the two couple alone.

"Mingle. Smile. Represent." Charles and Carlos said in unison, laughing and Sofia cocked an eyebrow.

"Not our first rodeo." Charles explained and they sat down.

"She couples you up with the daughters of every sponsor, future and present?" she asked curious.

"Umm-… no, I mean-… not always."

"Relax, I’m just messing with you. It’s not my first rodeo either. The amount of dinners I’ve been to where someone was trying to impress me just to get a deal with my father… it’s staggering."

"Well, I’m not like that. Silvia wants me to be, but I don’t care. I don’t even know who your father is… I have no clue who’s the new sponsor." Charles admitted and Sofia looked surprised.

"You don’t? No? Well that’s a first…"

But before Charles could say anything else Fred and John Elkann entered the stage, welcoming everyone to the dinner. The next minutes there were more speeches followed by the dinner arriving and a comforting small talk settled over the table. Charles checked his phone if Lauren texted and his face lit up when there was indeed a text from her. A picture of Ava, sleeping away in her nanny’s arms.

"Who got you smiling like that?" Carlos asked out of the blue and several heads at the table turned, looking at Charles.

"Oh- umm-… it’s my- my mum. She wasn’t feeling that good the past days and she texted me know that she feels better again." he lied but no one seemed to notice and asked any further questions.

The rest of the night Charles did his best to be his most charming, well mannered self. Talking with Sofia and other sponsors, always praising the team, highlighting how well everyone was doing their job. And when it was finally time for him to leave, Sofia kissed both his cheeks goodbye, saying how excited she was for the next day making Silvia look at him satisfied, giving him the thumbs up.

"And here is my little corner. All my stuff is here, my helmets and gloves. Phone and headphones and this…" Charles showed Sofia his notebook.

"A diary?"

"No! I mean… actually, kinda? Yeah? It’s my notebook. I write down my thoughts. Ideas. What I have to work on, or what worked out great…" he explained when Mia waved at him "Well yeah, that was our garage, I have to go now. Press conference. I drop you off at the Ferrari hospitality on the way."

"Yeah. Sure." she followed him outside where Mia was already waiting.

"Mia, that’s Sofia Lores. Sofia, Mia, my media assistant."

"Nice to meet you." Mia nodded at the girl who smiled "You’re in a group with Max, Lewis, Alex and Lance."

Charles nodded and then stopped at the hospitality.

"You can just go inside or stroll around the paddock, feel free to do whatever you want, a little tip from me, go to the tent with the stroopwaffles. You’ll love it. I could eat a whole bunch of them, but well I can’t…" Charles smiled at Sofia who tilted her head a little "Just ask someone around where you can get stroopwaffles and you’re good."

"I think I will do that… thanks Charles, have fun at your press con. I’ll see you later around." she waved him goodbye and stepped inside.

"She seems to be quite nice…" Mia said with a smug grin and Charles frowned.

"You look like Mia, but you sound like Silvia…"

"Oh take that back!" she boxed his upper arm laughing "I’m just saying, she seems to be nice, not like totally horrible ruining your weekend like."

"She is, but that’s all. She’s nice. End of story…"

"All right. End of story."

"Lukas Riva, ESPN Spain. Question for Charles. Last season during the summer break you and your girlfriend split. One of the reasons cited was that you wanted to focus more on your career. But last night you didn’t leave the sponsor dinner alone, that same girl is today now also in the paddock and you showed her around, is the Heartbreak Prince back?"

Charles was pissed. Annoyed. Exhausted. Questions like this were one of the reasons he hated media day. Journalists asking questions that had nothing to do with the sport, only his private life. Like a tacky gossip magazine just waiting for the next rumour to spread. He took a deep breath before he answered.

"I think it’s time you realise that not every girl I’m seen with is automatically my girlfriend." Charles answered, putting the microphone down. That was all the reporter would get.

"All right, that’s it, good luck to our drivers."

Charles jumped off, leaving the room as fast as possible so that Mia struggled to keep up with him.

"Ignore these kind of questions, Charles." she tried to calm him down as soon as they reached the Ferrari hospitality.

"It’s annoying." he just sighed and they stepped inside.

"I know. They’re idiots. Ignore it. Let’s focus on more important things. I talked to Silvia and Fred and we came up with a plan for Lauren."

"Okay?" Charles mood shifted immediately and he looked around, his heart pounding, not from excitement.

"She will be a media assistant. Her exact role no one will know, except Silvia, Fred and the board. That’s the official story. She will get her own pass and little office, always close to your drivers room. We will provide a bed for Ava and some stuff for them to fill their day. Of course Lauren will have to wear Ferrari gear and a work desk with laptop and all will be set up if someone happens to wander in there. To keep up her story." Mia explained and Charles nodded "She will be picked up in the hotel and brought back to the hotel from one of our staff. Using the back entrance so she doesn’t have to walk through the whole paddock with Ava."

"You really thought about everything!" he was impressed, but above all he was thankful "Thank you Mia, really. You outdid yourself."

"It was nothing, a little brain storming with Silvia and Fred and we came up with our plan. Let’s see in Singapore how it will work out and where we need to adjust it." she smiled and Charles leaned back in his chair.

It looked like his mother’s plan really would work. Ava by his side. His mum could focus again on her hair salon, without always taking care of Ava. The CPS could back off, because now he did what they wanted. Lauren was living in a real home, not a storage room. Everything seemed to work out just perfectly.

"I’m going to FaceTime them…" Charles got up and went upstairs to his room, plopping down on the sofa.

He was excited to tell Lauren the good news, how she would be here without anyone bothering. He waited for the call to connect and as soon as she picked up, his heart began to race.

"Hi…" she smiled at him, her eyes big "I didn’t expect you to call this early…"

"Oh you know, I had a little time to kill and thought I’d check in with you. What are you guys up to?"

"Oh umm-… nothing. Ava just woke up from her nap so I left her in her crib for a little while, as long as she doesn’t cry she can get used to be in there for a bit."

Something about her voice was different. She wasn’t her usual shy yet bubbly self. She was more timid. Closed off but before Charles could ask what was going on, he heard Ava’s faint whining.

"Oh wait…" she got up and he heard rustling in the back "Shhh little Miss Sunshine, look who’s here!"

Lauren stepped back into the picture a grumpy looking Ava in her arms, but the moment she spotted Charles her face lit up and she smiled at him.

"Hi, my little princess…" he cooed at her "I miss you…"

"And she misses you… she can’t wait for you to come back, isn’t that so, my little cutie pie?" Lauren whispered, tickling Ava’s tummy a little.

"Is everything okay? You’re settling in well?" he asked and Lauren nodded.

"Everything is perfect." she smiled.

"And what do y-…" Charles began when his door opened and Sofia stepped in, on the phone herself. He put his phone down, so that Sofia didn’t see his screen and then looked at her "Sofia, can I help you?"

"Oh shit, I’m so sorry! I asked someone if there is a quiet place where I could make a phone call and they said I could use your room…" she apologised.

"Oh, well, it’s occupied." Charles tried to joke and she nodded.

"Yeah- umm sorry again! I’m leaving!" Sofia walked out, closing the door and Charles took a deep breath before he turned his phone around, facing it again.

"I’m sorry-…" he began but he only saw the ceiling of his living room "Lauren?"

"One second…" he heard her voice from somewhere further away from the phone.

"Everything okay?"

"Yup. Ava had a little puke attack…" steps towards the phone "Well that was something."

"Everything okay?" Charles repeated and Lauren nodded.

"Now, yep."

"Okay… umm- sorry about that…" he began.

"She’s pretty. I saw some pictures of you from last night." again something in her voice that Charles couldn’t place, but didn’t like "And I have to say, the bag she carried today? She really has a good style… good choice Charles." she tried to sound funny, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes and Charles felt the urge to explain to her that he wasn’t dating Sofia.

"She’s the daughter of a potential new sponsor and Silvia asked me to accompany her last night to the dinner and show her around today. She seems nice but yeah, I’m pretty sure she’s bored being here…" Charles explained, hoping that Lauren believed him.

"Is that part of your job? Charming your sponsors daughters?" she asked and he nodded.

"Charming the sponsor, their wives, daughters, sons, everyone. Most of the time I don’t even know what sponsor it is I’m talking too, just like I don’t even know who Sofia’s father is, big according to Silvia it’s a big sponsor. That’s why she wants me to be on my best behaviour…"

"And are you?" Lauren laughed and he felt relieved that she sounded more like herself again.

"I’m always on my best behaviour. Always." Charles winked at her.

"Of course you are…"

"I am!" he pretended to be offended "Could these eyes lie?"

Lauren didn’t reply at first, looking him into his eyes, almost getting lost in them when she chucked.

"I’m not sure what these eyes can’t do… to be honest."

Charles didn’t know what to reply when he heard his doorbell ring through the phone.

"Oh! We gotta go! That’s Arthur and Carla, we’re driving a little further away to go for a little walk, get some fresh air!" Lauren said "Ava, say bye to daddy!" she held the little girl closer to the camera of her phone "Bye Daddy!"

"Bye my little princess, enjoy your walk!" he cooed at her and then looked at Lauren "Can I call you tonight? I want to say good night to her?"

"Of course… see you tonight." she smiled at him and then ended the call.

"See you tonight…"

"Box to retire the car."

Charles hated it. His bad qualifying yesterday brought him in the position to be in the middle of all the hectic battles with too little space at the race start which caused him and Piastri to crash into each other. He felt it the whole time that his floor was damaged. He lost time, lap after lap, position after position. When the final call came he felt relieved, but also frustrated.

"It’s not your fault, there’s noting you could do…" Andrea patted his back and he only shrugged.

After the media pen and later on the team meeting Charles returned to his hotel, packing up his bags, ready to take the jet first things first in the morning. He wanted to go home. See Ava. And a part of him craved to see Lauren as well. A small part. But a strong part. When he finally parked his car in the underground parking garage and got out he felt a sense of calm wash over him. Something he needed desperately. He got out of the elevator and unlocked the door, the apartment almost silent. Only the faint giggling of Ava and Lauren’s voice could be heard and he followed the sounds down the hall, stopping in the door frame to Ava’s room. But it wasn’t Ava’s room the way he left it. It was a beautiful nursery with soft blush and rosy colours, white furniture, a comfy looking rocking chair and a wall covered with beautiful roses, Ava’s name in the middle, right above her new crib. And right in the middle stood Lauren, Ava cradled to her chest, slowly dancing around, making his little girl giggle. The moment Lauren spun around and noticed Charles in the door, her cheeks blushed. His eyes fell to the white splash of colour at her brow, her messy bun, the beautiful smile on her lips. He swallowed hard. He never felt like this before. Never felt his heart beat outside of his chest like that. Never felt the warmth pooling in the pit of his stomach like that. He knew what it was. The one thing he always wanted but thought he’d never get. And it had to be the girl who was working for him. Just signed a contract. He was fucked.

Chapter 14 - Oh well, looks like *someone* has a little problem. But is it just Charles 👀 or does Lauren feel the same…

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She knocked on the door, not wanting to interrupt him or startle him in case he was in his room, but when there was no reply, she opened the door, the room behind empty. Lauren opened the drawer and got out some fresh clothes before she stepped into the bathroom, wetting a washcloth with slightly cool water to wipe Ava once over. She put the little girl on the big bed and began changing her diaper and dressing her up again, all while singing a lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was a little girl. She gently picked her up again, rubbing soothing circles on her back and by the time she reached the crib and laid the little girl down, she was already fast asleep.

"Good night, little Miss Sunshine…" Lauren cooed and then began to tidy up Ava’s belongings.

"I think I’ll never get over how fast you make her fall asleep…" Charles whispered and Lauren turned around to him standing in the door, leaning against the frame. He pushed himself off and walked over to the crib, watching his little girl sleep, before he looked aber at the girl tidying up his room "You don’t have to do that…" he began but she just waved him off and he smiled "Thanks for that… and watching her…"

"You don’t have to thank me…" Lauren smiled at him "Is everything okay though? It looked like a serious conversation you had with your mum?"

"Umm- yeah… it’s… I don’t know. A situation came up and I’m not so sure what to do… Maman, she has an idea, but I don’t know…" Charles rambled and Lauren stopped folding the towels and looked at him, worry etched on her beautiful face, something he didn’t like.

"Can I maybe help?" she asked, her voice so sincere, it almost made him feel like he couldn’t breathe.

"It’s funny that you ask…"

"But they must be crazy? Everyone with a set of working eyes can see what an amazing father you are?" Lauren couldn’t believe her ears "I swear the kind of fathers I’ve met at work? And they weren’t watched by the CPS!"

"They think dumping Ava off at her grandmother’s so that I can have fun and travel the world isn’t right. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. She’s too little and like this the natural bond between us can’t form or whatever…" Charles sighed and Lauren scoffed.

"It’s your job? You don’t travel around the world and party all around! You work!" she looked at him wide eyed "And yes, under normal circumstances I might agree that at this young stage, and with only one parent around, the bonding is important, but didn’t they see how much Ava adores you? The moment you enter a room her eyes are on you! And if she can’t see you but hear you? Her eyes lit up! She knows full well who her dad is and the bond you share is incredibly strong! Did they even take that into account?"

"They have already made their opinion and I’m not sure how to change it… they want to pay us a visit to see how a normal day in Ava’s life looks like and since I’m in Maranello, they’ll go to Maman’s place and this will only add more fuel to their belief, of me not taking care of Ava…"

"They want a solution. How Charles can take care of Ava although he’s travelling the world…" Pascale slowly added.

"Okay? And umm-… how do I fit in the equation? How can I help here?"

"Well, they want me to be with Ava. But that's not possible. So, Ava has to be with me instead..."

"But like this everyone will find out about her!" Lauren exclaimed, after Charles explained her the reason why he kept Ava a secret she understood him. He just wanted to protect his daughter from the scrutiny he was under constantly "Are they crazy?"

"Exactly... so we need someone to take care of Ava, someone no one knows and would be suspicious of. Someone who can be everywhere with a baby and without people noticing..."

"Someone who would travel with Charles everywhere, take care of Ava when he has to do his job, but doesn't have to stay inside all the time. If I travel with Charles to every race and walk around with a baby? People will notice... same goes for basically everyone who is close to Charles and known by his fans..." Pascale added and Lauren looked between her and Charles "Charles needs a fulltime nanny. Someone who lives with him, takes care of Ava, someone constant in her life..."

"The CPS thinks it's not good for Ava to be tossed around, their words not mine, without having like a regular daily routine..." Charles added.

Lauren looked at him, then at Pascale who had a big smile on her face.

"Wait... you want me? As Ava's nanny? Taking care of her? Live with you, travel with you?" she asked, nervous if she had put two and two right together.

"Yes." Charles and Pascale said in unison, and she got up from the sofa, pacing back and forth.

"Why me? I'm sure there are way more qualified real nannies out there?" she said and Charles got up from the sofa as well, gently grabbing her hand and making the girl stop her pacing.

"Why you? Because we- I trust you. Ava loves you. You took care of her, all of us, like it's the most normal thing for you. You're a paediatric nurse, who is more qualified than you to take care of Ava?" Charles looked at her intently "Look, you don't need to say anything now, I just want you to think about it, okay? I know you came to Monaco to work as a nurse and start a new life here, settle down, and being Ava's nanny would be hectic... but- just think about it, okay? That's all I'm asking."

Lauren swallowed hard. Charles scent invading her senses. The past days she felt like whenever he looked at her, he stole her breath away. His eyes always intense. That sly smirk on his lips. And the way he loved Ava. His family. He was a good person, a good father. And so much more. Someone she slowly but steady felt more than just attracted to. Was it crazy to start working for him? When she wasn't sure what she felt for him. Wouldn't it complicate everything? She knew the answer to that already, but also knew what she had to do.

"I'll do it." her voice barely above a whisper and Charles squeezed her hand.

"What?"

"I’ll do it." Lauren repeated and when she looked up Charles eyes were on hers already. Relieve and joy in them, but also something that almost looked like regret "If you really want it, then I’ll do it..."

"Of course I want it!" he exclaimed and engulfed her in a tight hug that made her heart skip a beat "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret it! I’ll pay you double, no triple, no fourthel… that's not the word... four times as much as you would earn at the hospital! Or even more!"

"You're crazy!" the girl chuckled but Charles gently pulled away, looking at her.

"No. I'm serious. You have no idea what youre doing with that for me. How much youre helping!" he said sincerely and Lauren felt herself blush, making Charles smile his most adorable, all dimply smile "This means so much to me!"

"I guess where you’re living after we return to Monaco is sorted then…" Arthur stood in the door, a big smile on his face "Didn’t I say we can find a solution for that here?"

Lauren chuckled. Pascale shook her head laughing. Charles rolled his eyes.

"Yeah. You did…"

"I’m nervous..." Lauren wiped her hands on her thighs, looking at the clock at the wall.

"Don't be, its going to be just fine.." Pascale squeezed her shoulder and smiled at her "They wanted Charles to find a solution, he did."

"Yeah, but what if they look into my past? What if they ask questions?"

"Then you'll tell them the same story you told Charles. All your documents are valid. Don't worry, its g-..." she got interrupted by the doorbell "It's showtime!"

Lauren took a deep breath and then got up from the sofa, she got this. She knew what she was getting herself into. Since they returned to Monaco 2 days ago and Charles left immediately for Maranello she stayed at Pascale’s place. Charles said she could already move into his place, but she refused, it didn’t feel right with him not being there. They talked a lot about how this whole arrangement should work. Charles as well as Pascale reassured her more than once that her being Ava’s nanny was the best thing that could’ve happen to them and that gave her a good dose of confidence. Confidence she now desperately needed, facing two CPS workers she had to convince that she indeed was the best choice. She was qualified to take care of a baby. She got along amazingly with not just Ava but the entire family. She got this. She forced herself to smile and then waited for Pascale and the guests to join her. Not long after, she walked in, followed by two women.

"Lauren dear, this is Madame Goulard…" she pointed to the red haired lady and Lauren shook her hand "… and this is Madame Bernoit…" she shook the blondes hand.

"Nice to meet you." she smiled at the the CPS workers.

"Likewise." was all Madame Goulard said and Lauren immediately didn’t like her. She was cold and stern, distant "And you are affiliated to the Leclerc‘s how?"

"I umm-… I am…" Lauren stumbled under her cold, hard gaze and Pascale stood next to her, gently brushing her shoulder.

"Lauren is a friend of ours. Her mother and I used to be good friends when we were a little younger."

"Friends from America?" Goulard raised and eyebrow.

"Yes, friends from the states." Pascale smiled, pointing at the sofa "Tea? Coffee?"

"Coffee, please." Madame Bernoit smiled and sat down "For both of us…"

Lauren poured both women a cup and then did the same for Pascale before she sat down.

"I won’t beat around the bush here, Madame Leclerc. You know why we’re here. Of course we wanted this appointment to happen with your son at his place, this is about him and Ava after all, but as we know you’re her caretaker, at least most of the time, which isn’t ideal, but yeah…"

"Why isn’t it ideal? Pascale is Ava‘s grandmother, forming a strong bond with her is not wrong?" Lauren interrupted the redhead.

"You are right, it’s of course not wrong…" the blonde said.

"But she’s not Ava‘s mother. Her parents, or in this case, parent, is her caretaker. He’s the one Ava should form a strong bond with, but how can she, if her father is always away?"

"Have you seen Charles with Ava? Like really? Not just the mess he was, the young first time father, when his daughter had a cold and was restless and he was panicked and brought her to the doctor? Have you spent time with him outside the hospital? Have seen how he is with her? How gentle and loving? How caring? How he reacts at the littlest sound of discomfort coming from her from across the room? How he feeds her in the middle of the night, although being tired, with the biggest smile on his face? His eyes shining with love and admiration? No? Then you don’t get to judge their relationship based on 10 minutes of him being emotional because of his sick daughter." Lauren looked at the redhead, every word she said was true and the way Madame Goulard was talking about Charles made her insides burn with rage.

"This might all be true. But it is a known fact that he prioritises his career above his daughter. And this is something I get to judge. He’s travelling the world, dumping his daughter, that he loves so dearly, at his mothers place and then doesn’t waste a single thou-…"

"Enough. You don’t get to say such nasty and vile things about my son. My son. You hear me? I’ve raised that boy right and you have no idea how much it tears him apart to be away from Ava all the time. How often he called me in the middle of the night just so that we can FaceTime and he can see his daughter sleep at least for a minute! He’s a good father. A first time father who is trying his best! Who loves his daughter with all his heart!" Pascale had glassy eyes, her voice trembling and Lauren took her hand, squeezing it.

"We have no doubt about this, Madame Leclerc!" the blonde said, shooting her co-worker an angry look "We are just here to make sure that Ava grows up in a safe and stable environment. That’s our main goal here. And with her father being away most of the time, we’re not so sure about the stability…"

"We know that and found a solution. From now on I’m Ava’s full time nanny. I accompany Charles to his races, taking care of Ava when he can’t and the rest of the time he’s with her. It will be like for any parent with a normal 9 to 5 job. When they are working, someone else is taking care of the kids, as soon as their home from work they take over…" Lauren’s voice was firm, she didn’t let the anger she dealt take over.

"Oh? Umm-… okay. That sounds like a good solution…" the blonde woman replied slowly, looking at her, then at Pascale.

"Are you a nanny?" the redhead cocked an eyebrow.

"No, but-…" Lauren began but got interrupted by her.

"And what qualifies you then as a nanny?"

"I’m not a nanny either? Neither is Charles? I don’t see the point here?" Pascale sounded confused.

"Well, you are blood relatives, that’s different, but someone who works as a nanny, get’s paid for it… certain qualifications are needed…"

"I’m a trained paediatric nurse and worked through college as a nanny. I’d say I’m qualified enough." Lauren exclaimed.

"A trained nurse? And you don’t want to work at the hospital?"

"I want to help out the family that welcomed me with open arms after I arrived here in Monaco. And have you met Ava? She’s adorable, enchanting. I’d take spending my days with her over every long night shift at the hospital."

"Why are you here in Monaco?"

"Why is that important?" Pascale asked.

"We just want to get to know Lauren a bit better…" Madame Bernoit smiled at the young girl.

"Is there a problem with that?" Madame Goulard added and Lauren shook her head.

"No, of course not… umm- my mother met Pascale on a trip to South France and Monaco when I was just a baby. They talked and became friends, staying in touch over the years. My dad passed away first, a couple of years ago, my mother just when I started college. I finished college and my nurse training. When I turned 21 I inherited all the savings of my parents. It was a decent amount and I thought about what to do with it. Use it as a down payment for a house? An apartment? But where? I had no other family other than my parents. I was alone. And when I went through my parents old belongings, I found a box with letters between my mum and Pascale. And I remembered how my mother always spoke of my aunt Pascale in Monaco, who would always be there for me if she or my dad would be gone one day… and well, here I am now." Lauren lied. Telling them the same story she told Charles and the rest of the family. The story she and Pascale came up with.

"Monaco isn’t a cheap place, your parents must have left you a lot of money then?" the redhead sounded suspicious.

"It was enough to come here and survive a couple of weeks, but ultimately I would’ve needed to work… and that was my plan… working here as a nurse as soon as my French would be better. But I decided I much rather want to help out Charles."

"And you’re okay with travelling to a different place of the world almost every other weekend? All while taking care of a 4 month old baby?"

"I’m aware it won’t be an easy and relaxing job. But travelling the world, while taking care of a gorgeous baby girl like Ava? I think it’s going to be good…" Lauren meant every word she said and her smile was genuine.

"What if you realise after a couple of weeks that this isn’t what you wanted? What happens then?"

"Then we can still look for a new nanny. But for now, you wanted my son to be more involved in his daughter’s life. You wanted my son to take care of her more and not dump her with me every weekend and he found a way to have his daughter with him at all times. He found a solution for the problem and I think that’s the most important thing right now?" Pascale retorted and Madame Benoit nodded.

"You are right. This is the best scenario that we could ask for, considering your son’s job. We will of course stay in touch… check in on Ava every now and then to make sure that this arrangement works." she said and got up "Thank you for your time, Madame Leclerc, Lauren." she shook their hands and then looked at her co-worker still sitting on the sofa "We can go now…"

"Sure… for now." the redhead slowly got up and looked at Lauren intently, about to say something when Ava started to cry in Charles’ old bedroom, the screen of the baby monitor lighting up, showing her squirm around in her bed.

"Excuse me." Lauren went straight to Ava, checking in on the little girl "Hi little Miss Sunshine…" she cooed at her and the crying almost stopped immediately "Did you have a bad dream?" she gently picked her up and tried to lull her back to sleep, after all she didn’t nap for longer than 20 minutes.

"She’s amazing with her…" Pascale commented, watching Lauren gently swaying back and forth, Ava cradled to her chest, on the screen "She’ll be asleep in no time… something about Lauren always calms Ava down…"

And as if on cue, Lauren gently laid the little girl back into her crib, carefully wiping a little strand of hair out of her face.

"That was quick indeed…" Madame Bernoit looked at Pascale.

"You see why we think she’s the best nanny Ava could have? She’ll be amazing, I have no doubt. After all she was it the last weeks already…"

"That’s all we want. A safe and stable environment for Ava."

"And that’s what she’ll have."

"That’s it?" Charles looked at the two suitcases, one cardboard box and Lauren’s backpack "That’s all your belongings?"

"I sold most stuff when I left home… I only took the most important things with me… and well yeah, that’s it…" Lauren said shyly, looking at the floor.

"Alright, better for us I guess, so we don’t have to carry around that much…" he winked at Arthur who shrugged his shoulders.

"You easily could’ve handled that alone…"

"More working, less talking." Charles quipped back, grabbing the two suitcases "You take the box." then he strut outside.

"Aye, aye captain!" Arthur saluted mockingly before he grabbed the box and followed his brother outside.

Lauren looked around. She liked the storage room. It gave her a sense of safety. Away in a dark room, no one knowing about her being there. The window too small to break in. She snatched her backpack from the bed and sighed. She could feel safe at Charles place as well. After all Ava was living there, he would’ve taken every safety measurement there is to keep her safe and protected. The car ride was short and when they finally managed to get everything in the elevator, Lauren and Charles pressed close to each other. When the elevator stopped abruptly she tried to steady herself to not trip and her hand landed on Charles chest, his heart beat quickening.

"I’m sorry!" Lauren mumbled immediately, her cheeks turning pink.

"No- umm it’s alright…" he responded quickly and stepped out of elevator when the door opened and he pulled Lauren’s suitcases out, next the cardboard box "Ready to see your new home?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed excitedly and followed Charles into his apartment.

The apartment was bright, old hardwood floors, high ceilings. The doors adorned with beautiful carvings.

"It’s beautiful…" Lauren whispered and Charles turned around, looking at her "I love old buildings… they have Charme, character… they feel lived in, not empty and soulless…"

"That’s what I’m always saying! I’ve been asked so many times why I haven’t bought a luxury apartment in one of the new buildings downtown and the answer is simple… they are too sterile. Cold."

"Yeah no. This is a true gem, you should keep it as long as possible…"

"I’m planning to." Charles responded, leading her into the kitchen "That’s the kitchen… you won’t find me here that often… I’m a mess in the kitchen." he chuckled and then walked through the hallway into the living room, Pascale and Ava on the sofa "Living room and dining room…" he nodded towards the left and Lauren followed his look, her eyes landing on the piano.

"Do you play?" she asked, looking at him.

"Umm- yeah… I kinda do. I’m not that great, but yeah." this time he blushed "Do you play?"

"I used to.. with my mum…" Lauren replied quietly.

"Maybe we can play one day together." Charles squeezed her shoulder gently.

"Yeah…"

A tense silence fell upon them, that got interrupted by Charles phone ringing.

"Oh- sorry I have to take this…" he walked out of the room and Lauren sat down next to Pascale, Ava excitedly chortling.

"Looks like someone wants to be held by you…" she laughed and Lauren opened her arms.

"Hi Ava…" she cooed at the little girl who started to play with her hair.

"I need to be in Zandvoort tomorrow morning…" Charles plopped down next to her 10 minutes later.

"I thought on Thursday? You just came back from Maranello this morning?" Pascale asked and he shrugged.

"There is a sponsor event that I have to attend…" he sighed.

"Lauren and Ava should stay here, Charles. You’ll be back on Monday, before you leave for Monza again. I’d say Lauren and Ava should join you starting with Singapore? So she can get settled in here and also we can work out a plan how the logistics and all will work…"

"Yeah… I think you’re right…" Charles looked at Ava, almost asleep in Lauren’s arms "But for now, I can still show you around the rest of the place…" he got up and Lauren wanted to hand over the little bundle in her arms to Pascale but Ava began to grumble and held onto the girls shirt and she laughed.

"Looks like Ava is joining us for the rest of the tour…"

"Yeah, she doesn’t want to let go of her new favourite person…" Charles smiled at her, leading her down the hallway to their left "This is Ava’s room…" he stepped into the nursery, looking at Lauren "I know. It’s not really a welcoming place… I have to take care of it still, but I just had no time for that… I want it to be warm and cozy. I want Ava to feel at home in here… I’m still adjusting to all the dad duties…" he scratched his neck.

"My mum used to say ‘What if home is not a place, but a person?’…" Lauren whispered and Charles turned, looking at her questioningly "Everywhere you are will be home for her… don’t doubt yourself too much. You’re an amazing dad."

"You think so?" he asked curiously, his voice sounder unsure and Lauren nodded.

"I know so." she smiled, gently squeezing his arm, making butterfly’s going crazy in his stomach.

"Thanks-… like- umm… really." Charles stammered, scolding himself for losing his cool yet again "And this would be your room…" he opened the door next to the nursery, revealing a clean and simple bedroom "We can buy new furniture! Paint the walls, a new rug? Some of these pillows for decoration? And blankets? Whatever you want. I never use this room. It’s a guest room and I never put any effort into it. Make it look clean and tidy, that’s it. Sorry! It’s just- this wasn’t- umm… yeah. Maybe some new curtains? Paintings?"

"Charles?" Lauren put her hand on his shoulder, smiling at him "It’s nice. Really. It’s clean. The bed looks comfy, I like the furniture. I slept the last weeks in your mums storage room, with only a tiny window. And before that I slept in a dorm… this is more than enough! I promise!"

"Okay… umm- if you’re sure?" the young father was still rambling "I just want you to feel at home… because it’s kinda your home now… I guess?"

"It is… but yeah, maybe one or two of these pillows for decoration would be nice." Lauren laughed, the sound making Charles heart skip a beat.

"I think I can do that. When I’m back from Zandvoort…" he laughed, scratching the back of his neck "And then I need to do Ava’s room. I should’ve done it earlier, I know. But there was never enough time and I honestly had no idea how a nursery has to look? Especially a nursery of a girl? I got lost in the internet and ended up just ignoring it. Letting her sleep in my room… but yeah, maybe you can make one of your mood boards for Ava’s nursery?"

The way he stood in the door. Looking almost shy in his own home, made Lauren’s chest tighten. He was such a good person, always trying his very best that he didn’t give himself enough credit for how amazing he truly was. In her mind she knew what she had to do and she needed the help of Arthur to accomplish it.

Chapter 13 - It’s official. Lauren will be Ava’s nanny ♥️ let’s see how that will play out, when feelings are growing stronger, tension boiling over… I can’t wait for it all to unfold 🤭

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Charles grabbed the pillow next to him and smashed it against his best friend’s face.

"I said stop it." he jumped up, leaving Joris behind who just chuckled.

Charles hastily walked inside, grabbing a cold water from the fridge and then left the kitchen again when Lauren called out his name.

"Are you okay?" her voice soft as he turned around.

"Sure, why you’re asking?"

"It sounded like you and Joris were arguing a little…"

"Wh-… no. No it’s fine, he’s just his normal annoying self…" Charles scratched the back of his neck, trying to look as comfortable and normal as possible.

"Oh. Okay… well, umm-… lunch is almost ready…" Lauren smiled at him and he nodded.

"Perfect, I’m starving! I just go and check on Ava, she was a little grumpy earlier." he walked off, straight into his bedroom.

The last days went by in a blur and with every new day he felt more and more drawn to Lauren. Everything felt natural with her. She fitted into his family like she always belonged to it. Everyone loved her. He understood why his mother was so full of praise for her. She was amazing. Funny and witty, bold but then again shy and sweet, always trying to make everyone feel good. Always trying to make everyone smile. And the way she took care of Ava made his heart almost burst. She was so loving and gentle with her. On the second day, after feeding her, Ava spit up all over her shoulder and back, but Lauren only laughed, cooing at her what a wonderful job she just did. She was always calm, making Ava no matter how fuzzy she was calm down as well. His mother called her a baby whisperer which Lauren only waved off but Charles agreed. She was a baby whisperer.

"Hey little princess… are you in a better mood now?" Charles leaned down, blowing raspberries at her and she began to happily babble "Yes you are… come on… let’s get you out of here… but first… new diaper… yep, definitely…"

10 minutes later he walked into the kitchen, a freshly changed Ava in his arms.

"Oh, hello little Miss Sunshine!" Lauren smiled at them and Ava began to wiggle in her father’s arms, chortling at her.

"Looks like she wants her favourite person to hold her…" Arthur joked when he grabbed the plates "And sadly it’s not me anymore…"

"You were never her favourite…" Charles rolled his eyes.

"Exactly that was me!" Pascale and Lorenzo said in unison and they laughed.

"Does anyone here consider me as her favourite?"

"You’ll always be her favourite… you’re her dad after all… there’s a special bond between you…" Lauren reassured him, washing her hands.

"Thank you, Lauren. Consider yourself my favourite person as well!" Charles said loudly, making his mother and brothers laugh, but when he looked at Lauren drying her hands he saw her cheeks being slightly flushed. He pretended like he didn’t notice and held Ava out to her and that beautiful smile made its way onto her face, lighting it up "Could you hold her for a moment? I have to go to the bathroom…"

"You don’t have to ask me twice!" she replied smiling at Ava who immediately snuggled into her, starting to play with Lauren’s necklace.

Charles walked back to his room, when he heard his phone ring. One quick glance and he already knew who called, making him groan. They couldn’t even let him have this family trip without bothering him. He picked up the phone, trying to stay calm.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Mr. Leclerc, and here I thought you lost your phone…" Cleo Bernoit.

"No, I haven’t. I’m just currently enjoying my summer break. Spending some well needed time with my daughter and family."

"That’s nice to hear. That’s exactly why I’m calling you. You and your daughter."

"What about me and my daughter?"

"Mr. Leclerc, we’ve talked about this. We just want what’s best for Ava. That’s what we told your lawyer as well, by the way…" she sounded annoyed.

"My lawyer only acts in my interest…"

"Making us sign NDA’s is in your interest? Why?"

"As you know, my life isn’t exactly quiet. Often I’m being followed by photographers and fans. I don’t want them to find out about Ava. Not yet when she’s this little. I have to protect her from the public’s eye. And with every person who knows about her, it’s more likely to come out that I have a daughter. So yes, letting you and everyone who has contact with me and therefore Ava sign a NDA is in my interest."

"That’s debatable but for now irrelevant. As soon as you’re back from your vacation, we’d like to visit you at home. We want to see how Ava’s days look like when you’re at home, or rather when you’re not at home…"

"When I’m coming back from my vacation the summer break is over and I have to work again…" Charles replied.

"Well, then I guess we pay your mother a visit… listen, Mr. Leclerc, you may not believe this, but as I explained to you already last week, we only want what’s best for Ava. We want her to grow up in a stable and safe environment. If you can provide that, you have nothing to worry about. Have a nice vacation." the CPS worker hung up, leaving Charles staring at his phone in silence for a while.

They already told him why they think his job isn’t the most suitable for a single father in the hospital and at last week’s call. He knew explaining it to them wouldn’t change their opinion. He had no idea what to do. He didn’t tell anyone about it besides his lawyer. Too scared to think much about it. What if they would decide he wasn’t a good enough father and took Ava away from him? What if he lost custody of her? All these thoughts were swirling inside his head, making him feel dizzy. His chest began to hurt, he felt his breathing constrict the more he thought about Ava being taken away from him. Her face that looked at him with her big eyes wide open, scared of the strange people taking her. Her cries and whimpers. Charles closed his eyes, trying to breathe but it didn’t work, it was like he forgot how to breathe in the last 30 seconds. He clutched his chest, right over his heart that was racing. His sight got foggy and he felt his knees buckling, touching the cold wood floor.

His ears were buzzing and he felt the bile rise up his throat when all of a sudden a warm and gentle hand on his shoulder woke him up from his frenzy.

"Charles?" a soft voice asked and he saw Lauren in his peripheral "Breathe with me, okay?"

She appeared in front of him, one hand still on his shoulder, the other one taking his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.

"Look at me, okay? Just follow my lead, deep breathe in… and out… in…. and out…"

Charles sight slowly sharpened again, the buzzing in his ears got quieter with each breath he took and his racing heart slowed down. His breathing was shaky, but he felt how his whole body slowly relaxed, the tightness and pain in his chest slowly ebbing away.

"You’re okay… everything will be fine… just breathe…" Lauren smiled at him and he swallowed hard.

Charles had no idea how long they sat like this. His eyes locked on Lauren’s. Breathing simultaneously with her.

"You feel better?" she whispered and he slowly nodded "Yeah? Okay, then come on, let’s get up…" she carefully pulled him up with her and then pushed him onto the edge of his bed before she turned away for a moment.

"Fuck…" Charles mumbled, ruffling his hair when Lauren handed him a glass of water "Thanks.."

She just smiled at him, squeezing his shoulder and then sat down next to him.

"Can I- can I ask what happened?" she whispered holding his gaze, her eyes sincere.

"I don’t know… honestly. One second I was fine and the next I couldn’t breathe, my chest hurt and everything was getting blurry…"

"You had a panic attack, Charles."

"What a fitting name…" he mumbled and closed his eyes.

"Was it the first time?"

"I think so… I mean I never felt like this before…"

"Did something happen?" her voice was soft and comforting and Charles could get lost in her eyes.

He wanted to tell her about the call he just received. His fears. But it wasn’t fair. He didn’t want to bother her with his problems and so he slowly shook his head.

"No… I was just thinking that next week I’ll be back in Maranello and the second half of the season starts…" Charles lied and Lauren nodded.

"Okay? And that’s scares you?" she asked.

"I’m not having the best season so far… and after the last weeks with you… with you guys here? Maybe not scared but it definitely doesn’t excite me as much as it used to…"

"Hmm… I understand. I honestly don’t know what to say… I’m not really into F1 to say much about it." Lauren replied shyly but Charles shook his head.

"It’s fine… you helped me, that’s enough!" he smiled, ruffling his hair "Can we please go now? I’m starving and the food you all prepared looked damn good!"

"Yeah! Sure! Let’s go!" she got up, giggling lightly, a sound that made Charles heart flutter.

"Lauren?" he called after her and she turned around "Can this- umm can what happened stay between us? I don’t want the others to be worried… I know I’m asking a lot…"

"No, it’s okay… I understand… your secret is safe with me…" she smiled and he sighed relieved. She stretched out her hand for him to take, wiggling it in front of him "And now come on! I’m starving too!"

Charles was lying on one of the sun loungers, his tired eyes softening as he watched Ava sleep on his chest. Her fluttering eyelids, plush lips, every gentle rise and fall of her tiny body with each of his breaths was like balm for his soul. Her adorable sounds like a melody to his ears, soothing him in a way nothing else could these days. He still felt the panic attack from 2 days before in his bones. The way his breathing constricted making him feel helpless. The upcoming visit of the CPS occupied his mind. He still had to tell his mother about it all, but he was too scared. Saying it out loud made it real. For now it was just like a dark cloud looming over Monaco for when he returned back home. The fear of losing Ava paired with the weight of the season, the failed upgrades, the race results that haven’t gone his way, it was all a lot to take in, but in a moment like this, where he watched his little girl sleep on his chest, they all seemed to fade into the background as he focused on the peaceful rhythm of Ava’s slumber. In the rare quiet moments Charles had with her, he could forget about it all. No fastest laps to race, no expectations to meet, no CPS to convince he was doing a good job as a father. Just the warmth of his little girl, her trust in him, and the overwhelming love he felt for her. In these moments, all the noise of the world seemed to disappear and he found comfort in her presence, like a shelter from the outside world. It made Charles realise that even when things weren’t going his way, he always had something to come home to that made all the blood, sweat and tears worthwhile. He knew he would do everything for her. He would give his life for her.

"Charles?" his mothers soft voice made him look up from his little girl "You should lay down inside… it’s quite hot out here and you’ve been laying here for quite a while now…"

"What time is it?" he mumbled, looking at her.

"It’s half past 3…"

"Oh yeah… I lost track of time. I was lost in my thoughts…" he sighed.

"Yeah, I could tell…" she sat down on the chair next to him "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yes… but not now. I need a day or two to sort it all out in my head." he sat up carefully, making sure to not wake up Ava "I didn’t even realise how hot it was?" he felt the sweat dripping down his face, wiping it away before he felt Ava’s skin "She feels a little warm…"

"It’s okay… just go inside and both have something to drink." Pascale smiled and he nodded, walking up the stairs of the terrace and then inside.

The fresh air gave him goosebumps and he cradled Ava closer to his chest when he walked towards the kitchen. He got greeted with the polished steel door of the fridge, hearing someone rummaging through it before closing it. Lauren turned and flinched and she looked for a moment like a deer caught in headlights.

"Oh hi… gosh you scared me!" her voice shaky.

"Sorry! I just wanted to grab something to drink for us." Charles replied and the girl nodded, already grabbing one of Ava’s bottles from the sink "You don’t have to, I can-…"

"It’s okay…" Lauren smiled and grabbed the formula, carefully measuring the scoops. While she watched the water warm up to the right temperature, she grabbed a glass from the cupboard over her and opened the fridge again "Just plain water is boring. I cut in some fruit or cucumber and mint. What would you like?"

"Umm-… I try the cucumber and mint one." Charles smiled at her and watched her fill his glass "Thanks." he took the glass from her and tried it "Pretty refreshing. And not boring."

"Right?" she smiled and prepared Ava’s formula, shaking the bottle before she squirted a little something on her wrist making Charles cock an eyebrow.

"You know that the water will heat up to the exact right temperature, that’s the whole point of this gadget…"

"I know… but I just don’t trust it. I don’t want it to be too hot and hurt Ava…" she shrugged and Charles felt his insides warm again.

"You’re too sweet…" the words were out before he could do anything against it and Lauren blushed immediately "I mean… the way how you look out for Ava, not even just Ava, for me? When Maman said you’re the sweetest girl, I didn’t know what she meant. Now I do."

"I owe your mum a lot… so yeah, that’s my way of thanking her…" she mumbled and handed him Ava’s bottle.

"And it’s a sweet way. A very caring way. Thank you…" Charles smiled and left the kitchen to sit down on the sofa, just right in time for Ava to squirm around, opening her eyes looking at him "Hey girlie… did you have a good sleep?"

As if she understood him she nodded slightly and then yawned, making an adorable sound. But it didn’t take long for her to start crying and he already grabbed the bottle, feeding her.

"There you go… already prepared, no need to cry, princess." he smiled at her leaning back into the cushions.

He watched her face, how her tiny nose scrunched up, her eyes half open, cheeks slightly pink from just waking up, when Lauren walked past him carrying two big plates outside. Everything she did, she did effortlessly. She always looked graceful. Always looked well put together. Even in the morning, after just waking up and she was just wearing shorts and a top, she still looked perfect. He couldn’t stop looking at her and his mother’s words about how she could’ve been a supermodel if she wanted to, were omnipresent in his mind because his mother was right. She really could be a supermodel. But a real one. Wearing beautiful gowns in the runways in Milan or Paris. Not these wannabe social media models.

"Charles?" this time he flinched, when Lauren stood in front of him "Sorry!"

"No, it’s okay, I was just umm- lost in my thoughts!" he said quickly, smiling at her.

"Oh, good thoughts?" she cocked and eyebrow, smirking.

"Umm-… yeah, I’d say so."

"Good. That’s really good… here, I made you a fruit plate as well…" she sat down a plate full of melon, pineapple and mango chunks, strawberry half’s and blueberries and he realised that the two big plates she carried outside must’ve been fruit plates for the rest of them by the pool "And some more water, you need to stay hydrated, you know."

"Thanks Lauren…" it was really like he said, she was the sweetest.

"Let’s trade, I get the little princess, and you can have your snack…" she held out her hands a moment later she was feeing Ava, looking at her lovingly.

"I honestly have no idea how we would’ve survived this vacation without you…" Charles said after a while and Lauren looked at him "It’s not just that you look out for Ava and me, but everyone! I’ve seen it. You make everyone around you feel good. Always prepare little snacks here and there. Make sure that everyone stays hydrated or puts on enough sunscreen…"

"I guess that’s just a part of me since I’m a nurse… I can’t help it but to make people feel good and look out for them… especially if it’s people I like a lot… and I do… like you all a lot…" she replied shyly, her cheeks again slightly red.

It was adorable how fast Lauren blushed. The tinniest of compliments or nice things about her being said already made her blush and she turned shy. Always deflecting and asking for them to stop. She wasn’t anything special or wasn’t doing anything special. But she was wrong. She was. She was something special.

"Oh good job, Ava! That was a good little burb!" Lauren cooed at the little girl who began to babble happily, playing with Lauren’s hair "You like hair, hmm? Maybe you’ll become a hairdresser just like your grandma when you’re older?"

Charles chuckled. Watching the two girls next to him have a kind of conversation, while happily snacking the fruits Lauren had prepared for him. It was easy with her around. Just watching her and Ava. Like it always was like this. Maybe it could be something, that always would be like this, too.

"And you’re staring again…" Joris chuckled and Charles groaned "It’s okay. You can just admit it."

"Why don’t you just shut up, hmm?" he said and looked away from Lauren, stretching out next to Carla with Ava in her lap, laughing at what she just said.

Joris was right, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. The way the red bikini clung to her skin seemed almost too perfect, catching the sunlight with every subtle movement. Every curve of her body seemed perfectly sculpted, the fabric hugging her in all the right places, and he could feel a deep heat rise within him. His heart raced, a mixture of desire and something deeper, but the attraction was undeniable. But again it wasn’t just her beauty that held him in place, rooted like he was in some trance. It was the way she interacted with Ava. Her tiny hands seemed to reach out for her every time she spoke softly to her. Every laugh, every tender word she whispered to his little girl, made his insides feel as though it was melting. There was something about the way she was with his daughter that stirred something deep within him. Over the past weeks he realised that he had never seen anyone make such a natural, effortless connection with Ava. And the longer he watched her, the more he realised that it wasn’t just Lauren’s physical beauty that enchanted him. It was her warmth, her kindness, the way she was able to make his daughter giggle, her big eyes sparkling.

"You know, it’s kinda obvious that you have a thing for her, that you’re more than attracted to her… so why not act on it?" Joris said after a while and Charles thought about his words.

He shifted uncomfortably, his pulse quickening as he tried to force his thoughts to calm down, but it was no use. Joris was right. His own body betrayed him with every lingering glance and he got up, groaning.

"Just shut up!" he hissed before he jumped into the pool, needing to cool down.

"Sure. That’s also an option…" Joris laughed but Charles ignored him, swimming a few lengths to get his mind out of the gutter.

For now he had other problems to focus on. With their vacation coming to an end in 3 days he knew that he had to talk to his mother about the CPS. And he dreaded it already. He needed a clear head for it. So he swallowed down whatever it was he felt for Lauren and prepared himself to tell his mother about what was to come as soon as she would return to Monaco with Ava.

"You’re kidding, right? Your job?" Pascale looked at Charles with big eyes.

"They are afraid that I can’t take care of her, because of my job and dropping her off at yours all the time can’t be the solution. They say as her father I have to be more present in her life. It’s important for- umm what did they say? Bonding? Form a bond? Well yeah I told them that it’s not so easy with my job and that taking her with me is not an option because how is that gonna work? But they were very clear that they will have an eye on me and also pay me or rather you a visit as soon as we’re back to see how Ava lives. How a normal day looks for her…"

"And that all just because you were responsible and went to the hospital with her when you weren’t sure what to do?"

"Apparently I should’ve known it myself… or better I should have a girlfriend or wife who should’ve known it…" Charles was exhausted, plopping down on the sofa.

"Now that’s just… that’s just stupid. Ava is your first child, it’s normal to not know everything! And she’s the happiest little girl, it’s not fair of them to make you feel like you’re a bad father when you’re doing everything that you can to be the best dad for her!" Pascale sat down on the coffee table, taking her son’s hands in his "Don’t let them make you believe you’re not a good father, okay? The sacrifices you make to keep Ava safe? To make sure she’s healthy and happy? Don’t believe for one second that what they are saying is the truth!"

"I’m trying to, I swear… but it’s hard. Because to some degree, they are not that wrong. Most of the time she’s with you instead of me…"

"Because you have a very demanding job! One that isn’t easy at all. But one that will provide your daughter with everything she’ll ever want and need!"

"I know. And that’s why I’m just so… gosh I don’t know…" he swallowed hard and his mother squeezed his hands.

"Don’t be so hard on yourself… you’ll find a solution. We’ll find one…"

"I don’t know, Maman. I mean, what am I supposed to do?" Charles got up, pacing back and forth "I can’t stop racing. It’s my job. My career. My life!"

Pascale thought for a moment. The thought she had for weeks now coming back to her mind and she got up as well.

"I have an idea…" she said slowly, a mischievous smile forming on her lips when she looked outside and Charles followed her look, his eyes landing on Lauren, Ava in her arms, swaying her slowly around.

"I’m listening?"

"Lauren." Pascale simply said.

"Lauren?" Charles repeated, cocking an eyebrow "That’s it. That’s your idea? Lauren?"

"You need a full time nanny. One who travels with you to your races and all…"

Chapter 12 - Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day ♥️ and what a way to celebrate it! Charles and Lauren are just the cutest! I really enjoy writing them and I hope you guys enjoy reading about them!

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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"That’s good to know, I’m glad." the girl smiled at him, watching Pascale gently picking up Ava from the stroller, giving her the chance to see the little girl from close up "She’s gorgeous."

"That she is…" Pascale cooed.

"Yeah, she really is…" Charles agreed, although his eyes weren’t on his daughter but on Lauren, who didn’t seem to notice.

"Are you done with everything? Ready to close the salon for the next 3 weeks?" Charles asked his mother and Lauren looked at Pascale with big eyes.

"Oh god. I totally forgot to tell you… I’m so sorry!" the hairdresser gasped.

"Oh… umm okay… well yeah, I mean, I was wondering why I couldn’t set up new appointments for the next weeks although the calendar seemed to be empty, but I thought you blocked them because of our little project." the young girl smiled at her boss who sighed.

"No, it’s not okay… you could’ve planned something beforehand for the next weeks and now I leave you behind and all alone just like that…" Pascale said sincerely.

"It’s really okay Pascale. I probably wouldn’t even have planned something. Just stayed here… also, I scheduled the delivery of the new sinks and some other supplies for tomorrow, so yeah, maybe it’s better when we’re closed!" Lauren tried to reassure her "You go and enjoy your holidays with your family. I take care of the delivery tomorrow and then I watch over the salon… maybe I start with the remodelling…"

"No! We’re closed due to holidays! I cannot let you work while I do nothing… and I can’t let you be here all alone when they deliver all this new stuff tomorrow!" Pascale shook her head.

"You can and you will. Please let me handle this, Pascale. After everything you did for me…" Lauren meant what she said, looking at the other woman hugging her granddaughter close to her chest.

Pascale sighed, looking at her young assistant, the girl that got so close to her heart over the last weeks. She didn’t want to leave her all alone. Especially not in her makeshift bedroom in the storage room. The thought of Lauren all alone in the dark room with only one tiny window made her heart clench and she shook her head.

"Charles, how about you come in tomorrow morning and help Lauren with the delivery? We’re not leaving before noon so there’s enough time for that…" she smiled mischievously at her son "I would feel bad if I’d let poor Lauren handle it alone…"

"That’s really not necessary!" the girl in question protested but was shut down by just one look of the older woman.

"You know how these delivery people are! They will drop the stuff right at the entrance and you have to carry around those heavy packages all by yourself! So no, Charles will help you, right?"

"Of course! Yeah… Maman is right, you shouldn’t carry all of that alone. That’s- umm no, I’m coming. Just tell me when I should be here…" Charles said hastily, looking at Lauren.

"Umm-… the mail said they’ll be here at around 8 am so… yeah at 8?" she replied shyly and Charles nodded.

"I’ll be here then."

"Perfect!" Pascale clapped her hands gently, making Ava giggle.

Lauren was tossing and turning, not able to fall asleep. No matter what she did, when she closed her eyes she saw Charles blueish-green eyes and his dimply smile in front of her. His loving eyes whenever he looked at his daughter. Ava. The most gorgeous baby girl she has ever seen. She had her father’s eyes and dimples. A cute little button nose, chubby cheeks and a bright smile that was giving her father’s a run for its money. Lauren was nervous meeting Charles all alone. No Pascale to bridge the awkward silence. Only the two of them. Alone. She didn’t even know why she was nervous. Just that she was. Which was weird. She never felt that way before and she didn’t know if she liked it or not.

"Get yourself together, Rachel." she mumbled into the dark room, sighing after a moment "Lauren. I’m Lauren."

She checked the time and groaned. 1 am already. She turned on her side. Closing her eyes taking a deep breath, Charles face in front of her immediately. But this time she ignored it. Yes, he was attractive. Yes, there were some weird feelings stirring inside of her. But it didn’t matter. He was Pascale’s son. He had a daughter which probably meant he had a beautiful girlfriend or wife as well. Out of her league. Not that she even thought about anything like that. She already had a long enough list of problems. A crush on an unavailable man who’s also the son of her boss wasn’t going to make it on that list. And still it was Charles face she saw when she fell asleep. Unfortunately it wasn’t his face that made her wake up. Sweaty and heavy breathing. Heart racing. She had a nightmare that her father and even worse Tony had found her. Taking her back home against her will. Threatening her life and everyone who was kind to her if she wouldn’t come back. Lauren felt sick. It wasn’t the first time she had a nightmare like this. The first one or two weeks after she ran away were filled with nightmares. But since she arrived in Europe, brought a whole ocean between her and her old life, the nightmares were gone. Or at least she thought so. Lauren sat up and grabbed her water bottle, gulping it almost down in one go. With one hand she was brushing her hair out of her sweaty face, with the other she was searching for her phone to check the time.

"Fuck!" Lauren let out, scrambling out of the bed. 7:58 am. "Why? Why last night? Out of all nights I had to have a nightmare last night!" she mumbled.

Lauren left the storage room, her heart sinking when she saw Charles waiting through the storefront, talking with what looked like the delivery guy.

"I’m so, so sorry! I didn’t hear my alarm!" Lauren unlocked the door, pulling both sides wide open "I hope you didn’t have to wait too long…"

"Oh no, it’s alright..." Charles began with a big smile "We didn’t even wait for…" his smile faded immediately and worry was etched on his features "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Lauren turned, looking at him.

"You’re awfully pale…" he replied and she just waved him off.

"Oh-… umm… of course. It was just a little stressful when I realised that I’m too late!" she tried to reassure him and then quickly turned to the delivery guy "But now I’m here and we can start…"

"Sure." he nodded and started to unload 3 big and heavy looking packages, dropping them off at the entrance, followed by a handful of smaller packages "That’s all, I need you to sign here… and here…"

"I didn’t even know that Maman planned on remodelling the salon…" Charles said after he sat down the last of the 3 big packages.

"We talked about it and well one thing lead to another…" Lauren shrugged, opening one of the smaller packages "We made a mood board, looked up some stuff online and then we already ordered it…"

"Wow, my mother usually isn’t the spontaneous type. She takes her time making decisions, thinking everything through. You must have made quite the impression on her."

"I told her that the salon looks amazing, there is nothing that needed to be changed!" Lauren quickly replied "I didn’t tell her that she should do it…"

"No! That’s not-… I didn’t mean it like that. Umm- like you talked her into it! I know her, talking her into something doesn’t work. I just meant that the ideas you had must’ve been amazing, otherwise she wouldn’t be on board that quickly!" Charles looked at her with wide eyes.

"Oh. Well, she knows what she wants. And I was just lucky enough ti find the perfect stuff online…"

"Can I see it?" he asked "The mood-board?"

"Oh? Sure…" she searched through her phone, handing it over to Charles "That was the vision…"

He didn’t reply immediately, looking at the design, the different textures and colours.

"Wow…" Charles let out, looking at her "I understand why my mother agreed. It looks amazing, Lauren."

The way he said her name made the girl shiver, taking her phone back.

"It’s nothing…"

"It is. Really. You have an eye for details."

"My mother and I, we used to watch HGTV all day long. The home renovation shows were our favourite. It was either nurse or interior designer for me…"

"Why did you choose being a nurse then?" Charles asked curiously.

Lauren was silent for a moment. Thinking about the best way to answer his question.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…" he added but she shook her head.

"I wanted to help people. People that got hurt or are sick. So yeah… nurse it was." Lauren replied, swallowing hard.

The truth was, she wanted to become a nurse because she saw what her father and his line of work did to people. A part of her was hoping she could get rid of the guilt she felt over the pain they’ve caused. Another part always had to think back at her mother and the night of their accident. How helpless she felt.

"Lauren?" Charles soft voice made her flinch "Are you okay?"

"Hmm?" she looked at him confused.

"You were a little- umm… absentminded…" he took a step closer, looking in her eyes, noticing the tears gathering.

"Yeah…" she replied, her voice hoarse.

"You sure?" Charles asked when a single tear rolled down the girls cheek and without thinking about it he gently wiped it away with his thumb, cupping her cheek.

"I was just thinking of something…" Lauren breathed out when the door to the salon opened and Pascale walked in, followed by a boy carrying Ava, making Lauren taking a step away from Charles, looking at her boss.

"Are we interrupting something?" the boy, who looked a lot like Charles just younger, asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Ferme-la, Arthur!" Charles hissed, making Arthur held up his hand.

"Lauren, this is Arthur, my youngest son… and you know little Ava by now…" Pascale introduced Lauren to Arthur.

"The famous Lauren. I’ve heard so much about you already!" he grinned at her.

"Hopefully good things?" Lauren said nervously.

"Only good things, no not even good, my mother was praising you. Basically everything about you… but saying you’re a really pretty girl was a total understatement…" he winked and Lauren felt herself blush.

"Stop it, Romeo!" Pascale rolled her eyes but had to smirk at the look Charles was giving his younger brother "I brought some breakfast for my little hard workers."

"I’m starving!" Arthur exclaimed.

"I wasn’t talking about you. What did you do besides carrying your niece around? Right. Nothing." Pascale put down a paper bag and two cups on the counter "This is for you two." she smiled at Charles and Lauren.

"That wasn’t necessary!" the girl mumbled.

"Don’t think I didn’t notice how little you eat! You really should’ve accepted my offer and move in with me instead of living in the storage room with no way to cook an-…"

"What? You sleep in the storage room?" Charles made big eyes, looking at Lauren "But-… that room is tiny! And dusty! Is there even a window?"

"It’s fine! There is a window. It’s not dusty. The bed is comfy. It’s just until I got my feet on the ground…" she replied hastily.

"Yeah and you could’ve done that at my place just as good…" Pascale sighed.

"Maman is right! This is just a salon! It’s not safe! Do you know how often there has been break-ins here in the shops?" Charles said, his voice laced with worry "It’s dangerous!"

"This is Monaco… not Nice!" Arthur laughed but stopped as soon as his brother looked at him "But still. Yeah. Dangerous. Living in a shop."

"It’s fine. Really. As soon as my French is better and I can do my qualification and start working as a nurse I’ll look for a flat! Until then, the store is just fine!"

"I don’t kn-…" Charles got interrupted by his phone and he pulled it out of his pocket "Hang on a minute, I gotta take that call…" he groaned groaned, stepping out of the shop.

"Arthur? I need your height!" Pascale voice came out of the storage room and he got up looking around.

"Could you hold her?" he looked at Lauren.

"Of course!" she smiled and took Ava out of Arthur’s hands "Hello, pretty girl." she cooed at her, making the little girl smile "Aren’t you adorable!"

Ava looked at Lauren with her big, bright eyes, cuddling into her chest, making adorable sounds that made Lauren’s heart swell. The little girl was grabbing the strings of her hoodie playing with it, happily chortling.

Outside of the salon Charles ended the call, sighing frustrated when he looked through the storefront, seeing his daughter smiling brightly at Lauren. His heart skipped a beat and his insides began to warm up. Holding Ava looked so natural to Lauren. Like she never did anything else in her life and Charles smiled. He quietly opened the door and walked inside, leaning against the wall, watching his daughter and Lauren. She cooed at Ava, gently caressing her cheek making the little girl snuggle up into her arm, happily giggling. Like in trance Charles watched the scene in front of him, not able to interrupt it.

"Oh wow, look at that, she loves you! Normally she’s super fuzzy with strangers! But with you? Charles, I think you have some competition…" Arthur laughed, walking back in and Lauren looked up, spotting Charles leaning against the wall.

"Yeah… I think so too, she seems to like you a lot…" he replied, looking at her with an intense gaze, making her blush slightly.

"She’s a perfect little girl. It’s easy with her…" Lauren smiled at Ava who yawned a little.

"A tired little girl. Come on sweet girl…" Arthur began, holding out his hands, but Ava turned her head away, snuggling even more into Laurens chest "Hey! You stole my niece from me!"

"I’m sorry." the girl chuckled and looked down at Ava.

"Don’t be… he’s just jealous. Ava has good taste in who she likes, that’s all…" Charles pushed off the wall, walking over to the two girls and his daughter lifted her head, hearing her fathers voice this close.

"But no one beats her dad…" Lauren smiled right as Ava held her hand out for Charles and she carefully handed the little girl over "Understandable…" she whispered underneath her breath.

After a few moments of silence, Pascale came back from the storage room, seeing Charles with Ava in his arms standing close to Lauren while Arthur sat on the counter, scrolling through his phone.

"Alright, I guess we’re done here…" she began "We just have to figure out where Lauren will stay…"

"Here! Like I said. I’ll be fine!" the girl in question protested again.

"No. I should’ve insisted when you moved here in the first place! You’re coming to my place!" Pascale said with a finality in her voice.

"But you won’t even be here for the next weeks! I can’t possibly just move into your apartment without you being there! That’s not right…"

"How about Lauren joins us at our holiday and you can figure out where she stays after? This way she’s not all alone for the next weeks. The house we’ve rented has enough rooms!" Arthur suggested and Lauren looked at him with big eyes.

"What? No-… that’s no… I can’t! This is family! I can’t intru-…" she stammered but stopped when Charles looked at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"You know what Arthur? I think that was the best idea you ever had!" he winked at his younger brother who shrugged his shoulders.

"Then it’s settled. You’re coming with us. No discussion… now come on… let’s pack!" Pascale excitedly clapped her hands together.

Lauren stood in front of the big yacht. Sedici. Sixteen. She turned to Charles, eyes big.

"How rich are you? Renting an entire yacht this size? That must cost a fortune!" she said shocked and he laughed.

"Now imagine how rich someone has to be to own it…" he winked and held out his hand for her to take.

"It’s yours?" she whispered shyly, carefully walking over the gangway.

"Yeah… I bought it last summer…" he nodded.

Lauren was at a loss of words, standing on board of the beautiful yacht. She knew that people in Monaco were richer than usually, it was Monaco after all. But she didn’t expect people to be that rich to have yachts like this. Or at least not normal people. Celebrities? Yeah. Millionaires? Of course. But Pascale had a hair salon. She knew that she wasn’t making a ton of money with it. So she didn’t think she was part of Monaco’s high society, so why would her son be?

"Lauren?" Charles gentle voice coaxed her out of her thoughts and she shook her head "You want me to give you a little tour?"

"Yeah. Sure…" she replied and followed him inside.

The yacht was beautiful. Simple, yet elegant. Everything shiny and sleek. The sofas looked soft and comfy. The beds in the cabins even more so. The upper deck with the steering wheel was her favourite place tho. It had a padded sundeck from where you could overlook the entire yacht.

"We’ll arrive in Ajaccio tonight and tomorrow in the morning we head to Olbia… or rather near Olbia…" Charles explained the route and Lauren looked at him "Don’t worry, I’m a pretty decent captain." he laughed.

"I’ve never been that long on the water…" she mumbled.

"Don’t worry, in the first aid kid we’ve got something against seasickness."

"That’s good to know." Lauren smiled when Arthur climbed up the stairs next to them.

"Everyone on board, we can take off." he said and Charles nodded.

"So, Lauren, will you be my co-captain for the day?" he asked her in a serious tone, too serious, and the girl laughed, a sound that made his heart flutter.

"It would be an honour, captain!" she replied and Charles smiled before he started to explain her the different buttons and displays on the dashboard.

Lauren watched Charles steer the yacht out of the marina onto the open sea with ease, a soft smile on his lips. It didn’t take long and the coastlines of Monaco and France were long gone behind them and after a while there was only the Mediterranean sea on the horizon. Lauren was fascinated with how at ease Charles was, almost as if he wouldn’t do anything else in his life then sailing the oceans. The light breeze in his hair, the dimples on his face, it made him all look even more handsome.

"Alright, we’re on the right course now…" Charles checked the displays and got up from his seat "Let’s go downstairs, meet the rest of the group."

"Yeah… sure…" Lauren nodded and followed him down the stairs.

She was nervous, meeting the rest of the family, Ava’s mother and Charles’ best friend, as he told her would be here as well, but she put on a brave smile and entered the cabin.

"Ahh there you are, we were just getting everything ready for a little lunch!" Pascale smiled at them "I was about to send Arthur up to come and get you…"

"I’m starving!" Charles said, kissing his mother’s cheek "Where’s Ava?"

"Charlotte is changing her diaper." Arthur replied when he walked in, a pretty girl following him "Lauren, this is Carla, my girlfriend. Carla meet Lauren."

"Hi, it’s nice to finally put a face to the name!" Carla smiled at her, pulling her into a light embrace "Pascale talked a lot about you!"

"Yeah, I heard about that…" Lauren replied, smiling at Carla.

"Oh don’t worry, she only said good things about you!"

"There are only good things to say about her!" Pascale added, smiling fondly at her young assistant, making her blush.

The door to the cabins downstairs opened and a breathtaking beautiful young woman walked out, cradling Ava to her chest. Lauren was sure that she must’ve been her mother. Ava didn’t look particularly like her, but just from how beautiful she was, her big smile, she was sure.

"All clean again!" she said in French "Oh, sorry! Hi, you must be Lauren! I’m Charlotte." she switched to English and smiled at her.

"Hi, nice to meet you." Lauren replied.

"Enzo will be out in a minute he had to change, this little one here peed on him…" she chuckled.

"Not funny!" a young man, Enzo probably, said, walking through the door "Hi Lauren! It feels like I already know you from how much Maman was talking about you! I’m Lorenzo, or Enzo, the older brother."

"The oldest. It’s just us…" Arthur whispered.

"Anyways. It’s nice to finally meet you in person!" Lorenzo smiled at Lauren.

"Nice to meet you too." she replied and watched how he gently slung his arm around Charlotte’s waist, pulling her to his side.

The movement felt intimate, lovingly, and Lauren wondered if her assumption, that Charlotte must be Ava’s mother and therefore Charles girlfriend, was right. As if Charlotte sensed her confusion she smiled at her.

"I’m Lorenzo’s girlfriend."

"Oh, okay… I thought that… umm- never mind…" Lauren said hastily when Ava turned her head a little and the moment she spotted Charles and Lauren she began to happily babble.

"Oh, sure, you see your dad and the rest of us is long forgotten…" Charlotte joked and walked over to Charles, but right when she wanted to hand him his daughter the little girl held her hand out to Lauren, chortling "Ohhh look at that…" Charlotte handed Ava over to Lauren and she immediately snuggled into her chest, sighing contently.

"Ouch… looks like you’re not her favourite any-…" Arthur laughed but stopped when Charles looked at him.

"It’s like I said… she has good taste in who she likes…" he smiled, gently brushing over Ava’s cheek "Really good taste."

"Sorry…" Lauren replied and he looked at her confused.

"For what?"

"I don’t know… she umm- she probably wanted to you… not me…" she said quietly and Charles began to laugh.

"Oh stop it, really." he smiled "She likes you, that’s not a bad thing!"

Lauren nodded slowly, feeling relieved and then looked down at Ava, half asleep.

"Oh wow, look! She’s almost asleep! This fast! Lauren, you’re a natural!" Arthur said impressed.

"Who’s a natural?" a dark haired boy walked inside, a plate of veggies and a basket full of bread in his hands "Ohhh the famous Lauren is here! I was wondering when Charles would finally come down and let us all meet you! He wanted you all to himself as it seemed…"

"Very funny, Joris…" Charles rolled his eyes "Lauren, this is my best friend, Joris. He thinks he’s funny… which he’s not…"

"You’re right… I’m not funny, I’m hilarious!" Joris wiggled his eyebrows and smiled at Lauren "It’s nice to meet you, Lauren… these boys went crazy about you, from all the things Pascale has told us about you!"

"Okay, okay, stop now! Leave her alone. That poor girl has to hear from all of you how much I talked about her all the time and feels uncomfortable if you people can’t tell!" Pascale stepped in and Lauren blushed a little "They are right, dear, I told them about you because I wanted you to meet them all. And now that that happened, let’s stop hogging at her like that, will you?"

Everyone mumbled in agreement and Lauren smiled shyly.

"It’s okay…" she said, looking down at Ava who made a little sound, but was still fast asleep.

"Here, you can put her down…" Charles lewd her to the side where a little crib stood and Lauren gently placed the little girl in the middle of it.

"She’s really gorgeous…" she whispered, loving the way Ava’s nose was scrunching up a little.

"She is…" Charles agreed and smiled at the way how Lauren looked at his daughter "Now come on, let’s eat…"

Lauren sat on the deck, stargazing when a shadow to her left caught her eye and she watched Charles making his way onto the deck.

"I guess I’m not the only one who couldn’t sleep then?" he said quietly and she nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I guess I first have to get used to the rocking of the boat while sleeping…"

"Oh. Yeah. That takes a few nights…" Charles chuckled looking at the girl next to him.

Lauren wore shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair a messy bun on top of her head, but to Charles she looked breathtaking and he had to force himself to look away, to not keep on staring at her.

"Can I ask you something?" her voice hesitant.

"Sure."

"It’s really private and you don’t have to answer if you’re uncomfortable."

"Ask me." he knew the question already.

"Umm-… where is Ava’s mum?" Lauren looked at him and he kept his eyes trained on the dark horizon.

Lauren knew that she went too far, Charles was too quiet and right when she wanted to apologise he sighed, tilting his head to look at her.

"She’s not in our life. She never was… she didn’t want to be a mum, didn’t want to keep Ava, so I decided to take care of her alone. As a single dad…" there was some bitterness in his voice "It was a one night stand. A stupid mistake I made and when Ava’s mother came to me for help we wanted to give her up for adoption right after she was born… my life… my job, it’s hectic, stressful. I’m never for long in one place. Always on the road… I had to focus on my career, being a father didn’t fit into my lifestyle. And she didn’t want to be a mother. Not to a child with me at least. She’s from a religious and conservative family, they would’ve disown her if she was pregnant unmarried. Not in a relationship with the child’s father… so yeah, we had a plan…"

"But then you saw Ava and couldn’t do it?"

"No… it was even earlier… I saw her heartbeat on the ultrasound screen and I knew this little thing was mine… and I would do everything for it… flash forward and I have this beautiful little girl…" his voice wavered a little when he held up his phone that showed Ava sleeping in her crib.

"I would say you made the right decision. Ava… she’s wonderful…" Lauren smiled at him.

"Yeah… I know I made the right decision, but it’s hard… being away so often… leaving her behind all the time…"

"Okay, I have to ask this, what do you do for a living?" Lauren looked at him and Charles made big eyes.

"You don’t know?"

"No? How?"

"You’re living in Monaco?"

"And?" she was confused.

"And? Maman? She didn’t say anything?"

"No…"

"Okay… umm- well I’m a Formula 1 driver… for Ferrari…"

"Oh. Wow. That’s cool… I guess?"

"You guess?" Charles snorted and Lauren looked at him sheepishly "I guess you’re not into Formula 1 then?"

"No- not really… some of my family were but I never cared for 20 guys driving in circles…" she shrugged and Charles looked offended.

"Driving in circles? We are not driving in circles!" he gently nudged her shoulder "Ouch. That really hurts!"

"I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!" Lauren chuckled, a sound Charles loved to hear.

"Yeah I can hear that! Unbelievable…" he shook his head laughing "Driving in circles… unbelievable… thank god you’re cute, otherwise I would’ve thrown you overboard!"

"Now you’re exaggerating!" Lauren laughed, although she felt her cheeks reddening.

"Absolutely not!" Charles shook his head.

"I’m very sorry for not knowing who you are, what you do and how big of a thing it is. Please accept my sincere apology." Lauren smiled at him.

"Apology accepted… but I’m coming back to this conversation and then-…" he began when Ava’s faint cries were heard from his phone "She saved you. For now…" he laughed and got up "You should also try to get some sleep…" he held out his hand and Lauren sighed, taking it.

"I guess I have to try and get used to the waves…"

"You definitely have to. We spent a lot of time on the water… and as part of the Leclerc clan, you will too." Charles smiled at her and when Lauren climbed into her bed, she couldn’t stop smiling, thinking about Charles words.

She was part of the Leclerc clan?

Lauren stepped off the dinghy onto the dock, looking at the big house in front of her and she gulped. Never before did she see a house, no mansion, like this before. It was huge. Beautiful. The pool alone was bigger than in some hotels she’s been before. The lawn looked so fresh, green and soft, she just wanted to lay down on it.

"What do you say?" Charles asked her and she tilted her head, looking at him with big eyes.

"I have no words…" Lauren replied and he laughed.

"I take it that’s something good?"

"It is… it really is…"

"Wait until you’ve seen the inside!" Carla took her hand and pulled Lauren with her "When Arthur showed me the pictures I was just… I was speechless!" the younger girl was excited and didn’t stop until they stood in the big living room and Lauren looked around.

It looked straight out of an interior design magazine. Everything was in warm shades of cream, beige and white. The huge windows let in the bright sunlight. The sofas looked like they were made out of the softest of fabrics. But what caught her eye was the big book shelf that spanned across the entire wall. It was like a library, from Shakespeare over Emily Brontë to The Lord of the Rings, a wide variety of different books were to find and she couldn’t stop herself from carefully pulling out a book here and there that piqued her interest. She completely forgot about where she was, or how long she was already looking through the books when Charles voice behind her made Lauren flinch and she turned around.

"What do you say?" he repeated his question from outside again.

"Wow…" was all she could say and he smiled.

"Wow indeed…"

"I was already saying to your mum that I need to find a bookstore so I could buy a book or two because… well this vacation was on such short notice that I didn’t have anything to read… but I guess that won’t be necessary anymore…"

"Nope, there are enough books for you to read…" Charles replied "Ready to see your room?"

Lauren only nodded and followed Charles through the house when he lead her to a hallway with 3 doors on each side. He opened the middle one on the right and walked inside, Lauren right on his heels.

"And this is your room…"

"Always when I think it can’t get any better this place surprises me even more…" she let out and walked over to the big French doors that lead onto the terrace with a beautiful view of the pool and the sea.

"My room is next to yours. I let you unpack and get settled… if you need anything, just let me know." Charles smiled and turned around, ready to leave the girl alone.

"Wait!" she went after him and when he turned around again Lauren hugged him "Thank you. Really."

"You don’t have to thank me!" Charles whispered, gently stroking her back.

"Yes I have to. You didn’t have to take me here with you…"

"I told you last night. You’re part of the Leclerc clan now…" he chuckled and Lauren pulled away a little, looking into his eyes.

"Well… then thank you for that…"

Lauren stood in front of the mirror, pulling the flimsy fabric into place. When she bought the bikinis a couple of weeks ago she didn’t think that she would spent a family vacation with her boss and her sons in Sardinia. But now that she looked in the big mirror in the bathroom she wasn’t sure if going out with what she was wearing was appropriate. She groaned frustrated and tried on the dark red bikini, that covered slightly more but still felt too exposed. She could hear some commotion outside at the pool and carefully pushed the curtain to the side, looking outside. She saw Charlotte sitting on a lounger and she wished she could see what she was wearing and if she was worried for nothing.

"Where’s Lauren?" she heard Carla’s voice from somewhere and stepped away from the window "Lauren?" she knocked on the French door.

"Come in…" Lauren replied.

"You’re missing out on all the fun!" she said when she stepped into the bathroom "Everything okay?" she was looking her up and down.

"It’s inappropriate, isn’t it?"

"What do you mean?" Carla asked confused.

"The bikini, I saw how you looked at it…"

"What? Oh god… no…" she laughed "It’s a bikini? What’s inappropriate about it? I was just thinking that I have the same one, but in a different colour."

"Isn’t it like a little too revealing?"

"And what am I wearing? Half of my ass is out!" she turned around showing Lauren the tight fit of her bikini bottoms "It’s a normal bikini. Were you hiding in here because of that?"

"I… Pascale is my boss… that’s her son’s out there… there’s a baby!" Lauren blushed and Carla gently patted her arm.

"It’s cute that you’re this considerate, but don’t worry. It’s all good! And now come on!" she pulled Lauren with her and together they stepped outside.

It was easy to fit into the group of people and it didn’t take long for Lauren to truly believe into Charles words, that she was a part of the Leclerc clan now.

As the sun was slowly starting to set over the horizon, Lauren stretched a little, soaking in the last rays of sunshine when she decided to have a quick shower before dinner. Only Arthur and Carla were still at the pool, the rest was already getting ready for dinner.

"See you later…" she smiled and got up, making her way over to the terrace, walking straight into, what she thought, was her bathroom. She didn’t notice the lack of her toiletries on the vanity, or the dark swim shorts that were hanging over the towel rack. She only wanted to wash the day off of her and pulled off her bikini top, then stepped out of her bottoms. She stepped inside the shower, starting the water stream and closed her eyes, relaxing. Her skin was hot and dry and she knew that she needed to moisturise her whole body after her shower but for now she just enjoyed the spray of the water. After a couple of minutes she grabbed the bottle of body wash that was provided, lathering her whole body up, it smelled masculine, pine wood and bergamot, but the scent was somehow familiar. She washed the last remaining bubbles off her body and grabbed one of the towels from the shelf, wrapping it around her, before she stepped outside of the bathroom, colliding with a warm, muscular body.

"Oh shit… shit… oh my god… I’m so sorry! I- I must’ve taken the wrong door outside… oh god…" Lauren’s face was flushed, her breathing ragged. She clutched the towel tight to her body, hoping that everything was covered "I’m- I’m so sorry!" she repeated.

"It’s okay… really! Umm- I- I didn’t even look, I didn’t see anything! I mean how? You’re wearing a towel! Do you say you’re wearing a towel? Sounds weird, no?" Charles rambled nervously, turning around and feeling all his blood rush down between his legs, just like when he saw Lauren stepping out in her bikini for the first time earlier today. That damn red bikini that made him feel like an aroused pre teen.

"I just grab my bikini and then I’m leaving! I’m so sorry, Charles…" he heard her walking back into the bathroom "I can’t believe it, this is so embarrassing…" she mumbled.

"Please, don’t be embarrassed! It’s okay, nothing happened…" Charles tried to reassure her but she didn’t reply, after a minute of silence he turned around, Lauren was gone "Damn…" he groaned and let himself fall into his bed, taking a deep breath.

It was only the first day and he was already wondering how he should manage to contain himself for the next two and a half weeks.

"This will be funny…" he sighed.

Chapter 11 - it’s summer break ☀️🕶️🏝️ and the family + Lauren need a little time to relax. They deserve it… and what can I say, Charles will have a hard time watching this gorgeous girl fitting into his life so effortlessly wearing nothing but cute bikinis… more next week 🤭

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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"Lauren! Are you even listening?" Arthur sighed frustrated, leaning against the steel wall of the elevator.

"Honestly? No. I don’t. Like I said, I have other things on my mind." the older Leclerc scratched his chin.

"Oh, whatever…"

"Why does this bother you so much?" Joris asked when they left the elevator, looking for their rooms "Since when are you this interested in your mother’s business?"

"I’m not! It’s just-… it was the way she said the name? The way she smiled? I don’t know, I’m just curious…" Arthur sighed and Charles patted his shoulder.

"Listen, whoever Leonore is, Maman will know what she’s doing. So can we now please focus on this weekend? Yeah? I need a good weekend, you as well… so stop thinking about some girl you’ve never even met and start focusing on your job…"

"FUCKING HELL, HER NAME IS LAUREN!" Arthur spat out, pushing his brother’s hand off his shoulder, entering his hotel room "You’re doing this on purpose!" and with that he slammed the door shut.

"That was childish…" Joris rolled his eyes and Charles nodded.

"It was…"

"Not him, you! Oh don’t look at me like that! You were riling him up on purpose!"

"I swear I didn’t. I just don’t have time to remember irrelevant things!" he unlocked the hotel room and put his stuff down "I’m in no position to think about other things then the race weekends ahead and how I can thank my mother to take care of Ava this much. And if Maman hires someone to help her out, I honestly shouldn’t question it. She’s the reason why I can still have my career while being a single father…"

"Maybe you should offer her to pay the-…" Joris began but Charles interrupted him.

"I should pay the salary of Lynette!"

"Oh now you’re messing with me as well!" his best friend threw a pillow at him and Charles caught it laughing.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about… can we focus now on Silverstone?"

"No water. No radio. No car that’s doing what I want. What a shit show…" Charles muttered underneath his breath when he got out of a van at the airport and grabbed his bags, waving at some fans at the fence.

He sighed, the weekend was a disaster with a mediocre qualifying and then a bad race with a 5 second penalty for speeding in the pit lane and a disappointing P7 at the end. He wanted to leave. He had to leave.

"It wasn’t the best of weekends, that’s for sure…" Joris nodded, taking his bags.

"The only good thing about this weekend was that it was the penultimate race before the summer break…"

"Yeah, I think you never needed it this badly…"

"I just want 3 weeks with Ava in the sun, far away from camera’s, fans and all of this." the driver nodded towards some screens that showed the race highlights.

The two men followed the airport hostess to their secluded terminal where another surprise waited for them.

"I know that look…" Charles began, looking at the red head in front of him.

"Charles, there is a problem…" Silvia said slowly, her eyes wary "There’s no easy way to say this, but your jet… it’s not here. You have to take a commercial flight… and the next one available is at 6:25 am."

Charles was too stunned to speak. Her words hit him like a freight train. 6:25 am?

"What?" was all he mustered to say, taking a deep breath.

"The jet is not here. You have to fly commercial."

"Are you serious? What do you mean the jet is not here? And isn’t there an earlier commercial flight? Like tonight maybe?" Charles looked at Silvia with wide eyes.

"The booking wasn’t confirmed… and now the jet is booked for a different flight…"

"I have to be at home tonight, Silvia. My mother is leaving early in the morning and I told her it’ll be just fine! I can’t miss this flight!"

"Well, technically you’re not missing your flight… also, you’re not the only one who has to go back ho-…"

"But no one else has to be at home because their mother can’t watch their daughter forever!" Charles whisper shouted frustrated, his mind racing. Always when he thought a weekend couldn’t end worse, life was showing him just how worse it really could be, now that he stood in the little terminal for private jets, with no way to fly back home "Fuck!" he let out frustrated, typing away on his phone.

"I don’t know what else-…" Silvia began when Charles shook his head, walking away to call Lorenzo.

"Charles?" a voice behind him made Charles flinch, turning around to look at Max "You okay, mate?"

"Of course, an amazing weekend with an amazing end, no?" he pressed out, not in the mood for more unnecessary conversation.

"Umm-… sure. I overheard-… well who didn’t? You weren’t speaking quietly. Anyways, if you have to be in Monaco this urgently, you could fly with us? I have two seats left?" the Red Bull driver offered and Charles cocked an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"I mean, yeah, it’s not the first time we share a jet, it’s been a while but… yeah you know, I don’t know why you have to be in Monaco, but your voice tells me it must be important…" Max replied, tilting his head.

"It really is. I- umm… I promised my mum to be at home tonight. She needs me…" the Monegasque driver said vaguely and Max nodded.

"Alright, then come on, you and Joris can join us."

"She’s amazing. She helps me so much… I can now fully divide my time between the salon and my gorgeous granddaughter… leaving for the convention tomorrow was also only possible because of her!" Pascale raved about her new assistant while feeding Ava "Best decision ever to hire her."

"I didn’t even know you were looking for an assistant and now you constantly talk about her?" Arthur asked, looking up from his tablet.

"Constantly? She’s here now for what? A month? A little more?" Pascale rolled her eyes "Also, I wasn’t looking for an assistant, it was more coincidental, you know? She got a haircut, we talked and et voila I hired her… and she’s doing such an amazing job! She manages the whole salon on her own! I just have to come and cut some hair and then I can leave already because she took care of the rest…"

"As long as she’s a help for you…" Arthur shrugged, right when Charles walked in, hair still damp from his shower.

"Who’s a help for who?" the older Leclerc brother asked, gently kissing his daughters fingers.

"My new assistant-…" his mother began but got interrupted by her youngest son.

"L-a-u-r-e-n… you remember? Maman is raving about her for the past weeks now…"

"You hired a new assistant?" Charles asked, ignoring his brothers eye rolling while sitting down next to her, watching her feed his daughter.

"Yes, it was all really spontaneous. I gave her a haircut, we talked, and then I hired her and believe me Charles, she’s amazing. A hard worker, sweet and charming to all my clients, always polite. She’s a quick learner, amazing with her hands… and don’t let me start on how beautiful she is! She could be a model for sure…"

"Oh yeah? I might have to visit you then in the salon…" Arthur wiggled his eyebrows, earning a slap on his upper arm from his mother "Ouch! What was that for?"

"You have a beautiful girlfriend yourself. Behave!" she replied and then turned slightly to her other son "You on the other hand…"

"Stop. No. Don’t do that, Maman!" Charles rolled his eyes, groaning. He was too exhausted for this. It was the middle of the night, he was tired, frustrated from the weekend and not in the mood for his mother’s attempts to meddle with his love life. He knew her all too well. How she always eyed up his girlfriends, saying him that she wasn’t the one and frankly she was right every single time, but it wasn’t something she had to know.

"Don’t do what?" his mother asked innocently.

"You’re not setting me up with your new assistant-…"

"I wasn’t! I just said that if someone wanted to come over and get to know her it should’ve been you. The single one." Pascale shrugged her shoulders, cooing at her granddaughter.

"Single father…" Charles replied, sighing.

"I don’t think that would be a problem for La-…"

"See! You want to set me up with her. No. Not happening. I have Ava and my career. That’s all I need."

"I didn’t say-…" Pascale began but then shook her head "Whatever, Charles. But just so you know, you would love her. You all would, I for sure am. That’s all I’m saying."

"Yeah, yeah…"

"Alright, now that you’re here, I can go home and have some sleep before I have to get up and leave." Pascale leaned over, laying Ava down in her father’s arms "I’m glad we didn’t have to stick to plan B…"

"I am able to take care of her!" Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Sure you can…" his mother patted his arm "Now come on, you have to drive me home."

"Fine." he got up as well, gently stroking his nieces arm "Good night, little Ava. Charles." he winked at his older brother who smiled lazily, watching his daughter fighting off the inevitable sleep.

As soon as his mother and brother left, Charles got up and laid Ava down in her bassinet, his own tiredness and exhaustion slightly taking over. He pulled the bassinet next to his bed and laid down, watching his daughters every little movement.

"Good night my pretty little princess. Daddy’s here now…" he whispered, before he fell asleep almost immediately.

Charles woke up from Ava’s crying and whimpering. Worse than anything he ever heard before. He was up in an instant, switching on the bedside lamp.

"Hey my little angel, what’s up?" he cooed at her, gently scooping her up, her tears dampen his shirt "Hey, hey, hey. What’s the matter baby girl, hmm?" he patted her back gently, rocking her in his arms "Are you hungry?" he got up and made his way to the kitchen, preparing a bottle, all while Ava cried and whimpered into his chest. He never heard her cry like this before, his heart braking with every new sound from his little girl and when he 10 minutes later sat down with her, trying to feed her he had to learn that it wasn’t the bottle she wanted "Fresh diaper then?" but again, not what was wrong. Charles sat in his bed, rocking Ava who got squirmier with every second, her little sobs making her tiny body shake, which made Charles heart clench "What is it, Ava? Hmm? You’re not hungry, your diaper is clean. What do you need baby girl?" he turned her a little, so he could look into her eyes, tears staining her face. She was pale. But her nose and cheeks were red. Her hair felt like it was a little damp. Charles gently stroked her cheeks and he thought they felt warmer than usual. But was it a fever? Or was it now from crying that much? Charles checked his phone. It was 5:46 am. Ava was awake over half an hour earlier than usual as well "We should try to sleep a little more baby girl… let’s put something on the TV and then try to sleep a little more…" Charles scooted into the middle of his bed, propped up a little against the headboard so that Ava could sleep on his chest, pillows on his left and right in case he fell asleep that Ava was safe. Then he put her down on his thighs and took off his shirt, remembering what the nurse told him the night Ava was born, and put her back on his chest, pulling the blanket over them "Look at that. A nice documentary narrated by David Attenborough… with his soothing voice, we’ll be sleeping in no time…" Charles cooed at Ava, gently rubbing circles on her back. And he was right it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep again. Not her peacefullest one, but she slept. And with her finally settling down, Charles followed shortly after. But not for too long. From the moment Ava woke up an hour later her crying got worse. Her tiny sobs sounded as if she was having a cold and Charles wondered what he should do. When he was having a cold he drank hot tea, took some medication and that was it. But what was he supposed to do with Ava? He grabbed his phone, already dialling his mother’s number when he hung up. His mother was already on her way to the convention and he knew she would turn around immediately. He had to figure it out himself. So he googled. But the results were all too different. Too many different opinions on what to do and he was confused. He was rocking Ava in his arms, pacing back and forth in his apartment, when he called Enzo, asking for help from Charlotte but his older brother told him that she wouldn’t be home for the next couple of hours.

"What’s wrong with her?" Enzo asked, sensing his brother’s distress "I can be at yours in 10 minutes?"

"She’s just not calming down. I tried to feed her, she’s not really eating much. She’s changed, so that shouldn’t be a problem, she can’t be tired because she doesn’t want to sleep. And… she feels a little warmer than normally? She’s a little sweaty… I don’t know what to do? I’m feeling like Maman would know what to do, but I can’t call her. Not when she finally, after years, does something for herself again!"

"Charles, maybe you should go and see a doctor?" Enzo suggested "I can drive you there?"

"I don’t even know who her doctor is…" Charles whispered "I have no idea… Maman took her to the doctor the last times…" he felt like the worst father on earth.

"It’s at the children ward at the hospital. Get ready I’ll pick you up in 10."

"It’s okay, baby girl, we’re going to see a doctor, you’ll be fine. Just fine…" Charles whispered, looking outside the car window, checking where they were "Just a little longer, Ava."

"Almost there." Lorenzo said, looking into the rearview mirror, seeing his brother’s pale face, jaw tightened "5 minutes…"

"You hear that? Almost there, little princess." Charles gently stroked Ava’s cheek, feeling her warm skin "Almost there…"

"I’ll drop you off and then I’ll head to the airport picking Charlotte up… and you let me know what’s up with Ava, okay? And when I have to pick you up…" Lorenzo said.

"Yeah…" Charles mumbled, unbuckling his seatbelt the moment his brother stopped in front of the hospital.

He got out of the car and opened the boot of the car, taking out Ava’s stroller.

"Here you go…" Enzo gently laid his niece down "It’s going to be alright, little Ava." he cooed at her, pulling the blanket over her "Call me, whatever it is, if you need me, don’t want to feel so alone, just call me, okay?" he then said to his brother, hugging him "It’s going to be okay, you hear me?"

"Okay… yeah…" Charles replied "And thanks for driving us… I’m not sure I would’ve been able to drive safely…"

"It’s okay. Now go inside…" Lorenzo patted his back and Charles nodded, pushing Ava’s stroller to the entrance, through the doors to the front desk.

"Hi, umm- I need a doctor, no, my daughter needs a doctor, she’s restless and she feels hot and sweaty and I don’t know what to do, the temperature is rising I think? My mum- she umm, she was here before with Ava, my daughter…" Charles stammered, looking at the nurse who smiled at him.

"Okay, so your daughter’s doctor is here at the children’s ward?" she asked and he nodded "Okay, do you know where the children’s ward is? No, okay… follow the rainbow coloured line on the floor, to your right…" she pointed at the different coloured lines on the floor and Charles nodded.

"Thank you." he replied and walked off, following the line through the hallways until he arrived at a glass door, children’s ward written in colourful letters on it "We did it, baby girl, just a moment… they will help you…" right when he wanted to push the door open it sprang open and an older looking nurse walked out, looking at him.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Umm yes-… this is Ava, my daughter, she umm- she needs a doctor, she’s sick I think…" Charles said and the nurse cocked an eyebrow, looking into the stroller.

"Ava? So you are Ava’s father, I was wondering when we would see you here…" she said, nodding towards the front desk inside the children’s ward "Go on in there…"

"Umm- okay." Charles was a little confused by the icy tone of the nurse but he couldn’t think too much about it, walking to the front desk "Hi, my daughter needs a doctor. She’s restless and cries a lot, she didn’t sleep much, doesn’t want to eat and she feels warmer than usual… I think she has a cold…" he explained to the nurse behind the desk and she got up immediately.

"Alright, please follow me…" she brought them into an examination room and helped Charles with getting Ava out of the stroller, taking off her jacket, right when the door opened again "Could you please fill out the paperwork with Mr. …?"

"Leclerc… I’m Charles and this is Ava…" Charles replied and the nurse nodded.

"Alright, can you please help Mr. Leclerc with the paperwork?"

"And Ava?" he asked, his eyes widened.

"Don’t worry, Mr. Leclerc, the doctor will be here shortly, I’ll take care of her, and as soon as you’re done with the papers you’ll be back with your daughter." the nurse smiled and he nodded "It won’t take long, don’t worry. And I’m here, taking care of Ava."

"Mr. Leclerc, would you please follow me?" the other nurse lead him outside and Charles followed her hesitantly "Don’t worry, she’s in really good hands. I just need you to fill out these documents, you can sit down there…" she pointed at some chairs lined up at the wall of the hallway and Charles took the clipboard and sat down, scribbling away.

Charles hands were a little shaky, he never liked hospitals, too many people did he lose in one. But for Ava he had to be strong, push the negative thoughts away and focus on her wellbeing. When he was done with the paperwork he looked up, but the nurse wasn’t sitting behind her desk and he looked to the left, where two women walked up to him.

"Mr. Leclerc? Hi, I’m Cleo Bernoit, this is Marianne Goulard, we’re from the CPS in Monaco…" the blonde woman began.

"CPS?" Charles interrupted, looking confused between the two women.

"Child protective services…"

"What? Are you kidding me? Why?" he was at a loss of words, confused and scared.

"Someone called us after the incident with your daughter… it’s a standard procedure. Mandatory." the red haired woman, Marianne, said "And since we have an office here in the hospital, we just want to check in quickly."

"You see, you’re a single father with a demanding job. We’re just here to make sure that everything is alright." Cleo added and Charles swallowed hard.

"Umm- okay… but it wasn’t really an incident? I just wasn’t sure what to do and couldn’t reach my mum, that’s why I brought her to the emergency room…" he mumbled, his hands gripping his thighs tightly, knuckles turning white "She was restless, cried and felt a little warmer then usually. I couldn’t calm her down. So yeah, I thought taking her here would be the best."

"I see. Does this happen more often?" the blond woman asked.

"That she’s restless and cries and I can’t calm her down? Or what? The slightly higher temperature?" Charles was confused.

"No, that you need to check in with your mother, regarding your daughter’s health." the redhead said.

"What?" he was taken aback "What do you mean?"

"Ava is your daughter. You’re the one responsible for her and-…"

"I know that she’s my daughter and I’m responsible for her. But she’s also my first child, I don’t know everything about babies yet and before I make a mistake I check in with my mother, who successfully raised three kids-…" Charles began, his voice wavering with emotions.

"We know that Mr. Leclerc. It’s just… we’ve been notified that for the last two check-ups, it was your mother who brought Ava in. Not you." the redhead said and Charles eyes widened "And when Ava got her second round of vaccines a month ago, it was also your mother who brought her in again…" she continued.

"Yes. Because I had to work. And while I’m being away working, my mother takes care of her granddaughter. Is there a problem with that?" he said.

"Mr. Leclerc. Ava is your daughter, she’s not even three months old but you are more interested in travelling the world then-…"

Charles had enough. He got up from his seat, his hands balled into fists, breathing heavy.

"I am not more interested in travelling the world than being with my daughter. It is my job. I am a Formula 1 driver. Travelling the world is my job. I am a single father who is more than grateful that his mum takes care of his daughter while he’s away, working. Excuse me, but I want to see my daughter now." his voice was dangerously low, his anger and frustration palpable.

He walked away towards the nurses station, already typing a message out for his mother.

"Hi, can I see my daughter now?" Charles asked the nurse who smiled at him, taking the clipboard from him, looking it over.

"Let me just check if you didn’t forget anything and then we-…" she began.

"No. I want to see her. Now." his voice louder than intended.

"No, of course not, Mr. Leclerc, follow me…" the nurse got up from her seat and gestured for Charles to follow her, down the hall.

"Thank you-… I didn’t want to get loud and be rude. I was just-… I’m just scared and frustrated… I shouldn’t have let it out at you…" he stammered but the nurse just smiled at him.

"It’s okay, it’s your first child, that’s normal." she patted his arm and stopped in front of a door, knocking gently "Dr. Richefort? I have Mr. Leclerc here, little Ava’s dad, can we-"

"Of course, of course, come on in, Mr. Leclerc!" an older man waved Charles inside and he hastily walked in, his eyes immediately on Ava in a little bassinet on the table, the other nurse holding out a teddy bear to her "Everything is alright with your little one. Just a little fever and stuffed nose, nothing out of the ordinary, that happens sometimes."

"She’s okay?" the young father whispered, his eyes rooted on his daughters face "Nothing serious?"

"Nothing serious. Nothing a warm bath in a little steamy bathroom can’t cure. Close all windows and doors, start the shower with hot water and let some steam build in the room, that’s perfect for her nose and lungs. I gave her some syrup to calm her down and reduce the fever, I wrote that one up for you to get as well as something for her stuffed nose." Dr. Richefort said and he was relieved, cupping Ava’s cheek who was smiling lazily, playing with the doctor’s stethoscope now.

"I can take her home?" Charles asked, looking up.

"Of course, I don’t see any reason why not. Just get her medicine and give her something of the syrup before bed and she should be perfectly fine in one or two days. You’re good to go." the doctor nodded to the nurse who grabbed Ava’s onesie from a stool helping Charles getting her ready.

His eyes didn’t leave Ava’s face for one second, his heart racing. As soon as his little one was safely in her stroller and the Doctor handed him the prescription for the pharmacy, the nurse showed him the way outside.

"Can I ask you something?" Charles had to know "Why did you call the CPS?"

"CPS? They were here?" she stopped, looking at him "Why?" she seemed genuinely confused opening the door for Charles and the stroller.

"Yeah… they said it’s mandatory, after all I wasn’t with Ava for her last check-ups and that because my mum was taking care more of her than I am…" he almost whispered and the blonde woman thought for a moment before she sighed, shaking her head.

"Angelique… the head nurse. She’s one of the older nurses here. Very settled in her way of thinking and how families are supposed to look like. Single parents? God no! Worse, a single father? Who works? I bet it was her. She’s the one who does the administrative stuff like that… I’m very sorry that she called them…"

"The older nurse who opened the doors when I arrived?"

"I didn’t see, but yeah, that could be…"

"Am I on their watchlist now?" Charles asked when they entered the foyer of the hospital "Now that they looked into my-no Ava’s file?"

"I wish I could say no… but the truth is, now that you got their attention, they will have an eye on you… I’m sorry. I’ve seen you with your little girl and I think you’re doing a good job…" she said genuinely and Charles mustered a tiny smile.

"Thanks… have a nice day." he walked out of the door, waving the nurse goodbye.

As soon as Charles was outside he put on his shades and a baseball cap, hoping that no one would recognise him. He made a mental note to call his lawyer later on, not sure if she could do anything about the CPS and also the fact that he was here today. Ava was sleeping in her stroller and he decided a nice little walk would do them some good. Some fresh air. He also knew that Ava slept the best in her stroller, the slightly bumpy sidewalks rocking her gently in her stroller, making it perfect for a nice long slumber. Like that he could also stop at the little pharmacy that was far off the usual busy streets of Monaco, getting Ava’s medicine.

Charles decided to make a little stop at the harbour, enjoying the sun, calming down his nerves. His mind was racing. The fact that someone called the CPS on him was bad enough, but to think that because of that, all the hard work to keep Ava safe and a secret were for nothing was worse. He tried his best to be at home with her as much as he could. Took it upon him to travel in between races back home where he usually would just straight fly to the next race. Even if it was only for a couple of hours, he didn’t miss a single chance to see her if possible. Was it ideal? No. He knew that. He felt it. He missed her. Every single minute he was gone, he missed her like crazy. But he couldn’t ask his mother to travel with him around the world so Ava could come with him. His mother had her own life and it wasn’t fair to ask that of her. She probably would agree, she would sacrifice everything for her children and now granddaughter. Charles leaned back, sighing.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" he mumbled when Ava stirred in her stroller, waking up crying "Hey, baby girl, it’s alright… all good…" he gently picked her up and held her close to his chest, rocking her slowly "It’s all good my little princess…"

But it wasn’t. Ava’s cries were getting louder, making Charles trying desperately to calm her down. He looked up in the sky once, sending a prayer out for anyone to help him.

"It’s the sunglasses, you know?" a gentle voice commented, making Charles flinch, he didn’t notice that someone was sitting on one of the other benches.

"Sorry?" he asked confused.

"Lose the sunglasses, yeah and maybe the cap too…" a pretty girl replied, her eyes shining "She wants to see you, but she can’t…" her beautiful smile almost made Charles heart skip a beat.

"Umm-… just… just take off the sunglasses and the cap? It’s that easy?" he cocked and eyebrow but did as told after he looked around for a moment, making sure that no one else was around.

"I mean, it could be… it’s worth a try, now she can look at her dad, sees that you’re looking at her too… that you’re here for her." the girl explained and Charles nodded slowly, looking down at Ava.

"I’m here, Ava. It’s all good…" he smiled at his daughter, kissing her forehead, when she seemed to calm down a little.

"Or she’s just hungry or needs new nappies…" the girl continued and Charles looked at her.

"So you’re just throwing out some guesses? You’re not some kind of a baby guru?" he chuckled a little and the girl shook her head "What a shame, I could’ve used one…" he mumbled and she looked at him "Sorry… it’s- it’s been a short night. And a way too long day…"

"No need to apologise. I know how you feel…"

"You have one as well?" the young man looked at her with big eyes, sounding surprised "Sorry! I shouldn’t have said it like that… it’s just you look quiet young? I mean not that it’s bad to be a young mother! It’s great, like you know… I think I better just shut up…" he groaned, shaking his head and the girl had to stifle a laugh.

"I mean I am young. But not too young… but no, I don’t have one… I worked with some tho…" she replied.

"You worked with babies?"

"I‘m a paediatric nurse…"

"Padric what?" Charles was confused, tilting his head a little.

"Paediatric nurse… kids… I was trained especially for kids and did some hours on the new born ward…" she explained.

"Oh! Wow! You’re more than qualified to give some advice then…" he looked at her "You’re here on vacation?"

"No… I moved here actually… just a couple of weeks ago, still trying to get used to everything…" the girl replied and he nodded.

"Don’t worry, not all Monegasques are as lost as me and need help from a pretty stranger…" Charles said and then blushed, the moment he realised what he just had said out loud.

"Oh- umm… it’s alright… don’t worry…" the girls cheeks were turning red.

"I- I should go… I have to put her down soon…" Charles carefully laid his daughter in the stroller next to them and put his cap and sunglasses back on "Thanks for umm- for the help…"

"Sure. If she’s still a little grumpy later on, you should try a warm bath…" the pretty girl got up as well "Umm-… bye."

"Yeah-… umm bye…" Charles turned around and pushed the stroller in front of him before he stopped again, turning a little "Oh and welcome to Monaco."

"Thanks." she smiled back at him, making Charles heart definitely skip a beat.

"I’m Charles, by the way. Maybe I’ll see you around some time, Monaco is almost like a little village." he chuckled and she nodded, turning around, walking away "Well now I need to see her again…" he mumbled, cooing at Ava "She didn’t tell me her name."

"Charles?"

"Hmm?" he blinked looking at his mother "What?"

"What happened then?" she asked and he was confused for a moment, the smile of the pretty stranger in the back of his mind "You left the hospital and then? Did you hear from the CPS again?"

"No. Not yet… I mean it’s just 2 days ago, no? I didn’t give them any reason…" Charles sighed.

"You must’ve been scared, after they jumped at you like that?" Pascale patted his arm and he sighed.

"Yeah… it was scary… but yeah I mean, it’s like this. I can’t change it, not now at least, I’m leaving for Spa in an hour…"

"The most important thing is that Ava is healthy. She’s all good, you took care of her just like a good dad would. The rest we’ll figure out." Charles’ mother smiled at him and he nodded slowly "Okay, there is something else? Since I’m back your thoughts seem to drift away every now and then? And you have this smile on your face? What happened? You’re going from worried to happy and dreamy in a heartbeat?"

"Hmm? What?" Charles looked at her, scratching his beard.

"You don’t even listen to me? What happened?" Pascale cocked an eyebrow and he averted his gaze immediately, looking at Ava "You can’t even look me in the eyes?"

"I don’t know what you mean…" he replied, a soft smile on his lips, when he thought back to the girl from the harbour "I’m just happy that Ava is all good… and now I should check that I packed everything…"

"No, I know you… there’s something else… it’s almost like…" Pascale began, when Joris plopped down next to her on the sofa.

"It’s almost like he has a crush on someone. I know that smile, almost a little dumb... and the fact he can’t look us in the eyes when we ask him what’s going on? How he changes the topic? Charles met someone…" he chuckled and his best friend groaned, although he began to blush slightly "And now look at his face! He’s blushing!"

"You really met someone! And that someone must’ve left quite the impression on you… I mean, look at you!" Pascale grinned, although she was a little disappointed that she couldn’t introduce Lauren earlier to her son "Who is she? Where did you meet her?"

"Okay, okay. Calm down. I met her once. After the hospital, I don’t know her name, or anything. She helped me with Ava. She was amazing. But that’s it. I don’t have a crush. Or anything like that, okay?" Charles said but his mother and best friend just exchanged glances and he knew that he shouldn’t have said anything "Can we please leave it be? I have one last race before the summer break. Let me focus on that and then after you can annoy me again?"

"Oh you can bet on it…" Joris laughed and Pascale nodded.

"I can’t wait to hear more of it…" she added.

"Alright, now let me enjoy the last minutes with my little princess before we have to leave."

Lauren swiped the floor clean, when the phone rang and Pascale answered the call, smiling while speaking in a soft voice. The young girl continued with cleaning the mirrors and wiped the console tables underneath, storing away the cleaning utilities as soon as she was done.

"La porte de derrière est ouverte... D’accord."

Lauren thought for a moment, trying to translate what Pascale had said.

"The backdoor is open." Pascale said, looking at the young girl "You tilt your head and poke out your tongue, when you’re trying to translate what was said…"

"Oh…" how embarrassing.

"You’ll finally meet one of my sons, Charles is coming over. " her voice was always filled with love and pride as soon as she mentioned one of her sons, it made Lauren’s heart swell, hearing her talk so fondly and adoringly of her sons.

But at the same time it also stung a little, making her miss her mother even more.

"Charles? He’s the youngest?"

"Middle."

"Oh, okay." Lauren nodded, storing away some bottles, when a breathtakingly handsome young man, stepped out of the hallway, a young man Lauren knew from somewhere.

"Charles, come in, come in. I want you to meet Lauren-…" Pascale switched to English, making her son cock an eyebrow.

"Your new assistant you can’t stop talking about?" he chuckled and Pascale nodded, he then followed his mothers look and as soon as his eyes landed on Lauren his whole face lit up, something his mother noticed, making her grin "It’s you! The girl from the park!"

"You two know ea-… wait? The girl from the park? OH! The girl from the park!" Pascale made big eyes, a big smile spreading on her face.

Charles blushed immediately, but he wasn’t alone, Laurens eyes widened and her cheeks were turning red, he was talking about her?

Chapter 10 - I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT! Life was messy, hectic and really a lot these last weeks and I didn’t want to post something only okayish. It finally happened. Lauren and Charles officially met ♥️ now the real party starts hehehe

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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"Your mother was one of a kind… not just that she was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, no she also was one of the most friendly ones. I’m so sorry that you lost her so early in your life, ma chérie… life must’ve been hard without her…" Pascale squeezed the young girls hand "I know how hard it can be for children to lose their parent… a couple of years ago I lost my husband… my sons lost their father, Arthur, my youngest he was 17 at the time… it wasn’t easy. But at least they had each other… they had-…"

"You. Yeah… I guess with a father who who’s there for me, it could’ve been bearable. But well… he had to deal with it himself…" Lauren mumbled and the older woman nodded slowly.

"I don’t know entirely what’s up with your father, but what I know is that he doesn’t work for the best kind of people, that it made your and your mothers life not the easiest… so I think that you’re here is for the best. Far away from home and all the problems lurking there…" 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 secret… being a hairdresser in Monaco has its perks, you’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 them…" she flipped through the pages, stopping from time to time to chuckle a little, telling Lauren a little anecdote about the famous person who’s hair she took care off "That’s David Coulthard, he was a Formula 1 driver, a pretty good one too, he’s Scottish and has this booming laugh… during the Monaco GP one day when I was in the paddock, I bumped into him. It was hilarious…" she continued looking through the pages until she finally had found what she was looking for "Ahhh… here it is! Susannah Lombardi, Miss USA from Woburn, Massachusetts and her gorgeous little girl Rachel…" she showed the picture of Lauren’s mother and herself as a toddler, sitting in her mothers lap, next to them stood Pascale, smiling "I’ve seen a lot of beautiful women in my life, but your mother… she was truly something else, and you look just like her…"

"Not even close… 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 warmth… she- she was amazing…" Lauren whispered, looking at the picture in Pascale’s notebook "What did you write about her?"

"Let me see…" the hairdresser took the book from Lauren’s trembling hands, putting on her glasses "Susannah wasn’t just the most beautiful, but also the loveliest lady I’ve ever met. She didn’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 she’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 "I’m so sorry you lost her, ma cherié. 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 Leclerc… I understand now why my mother talked about you so fondly." Lauren’s voice hoarse.

"Oh stop…" 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 hospital… if you could help me with that?" Lauren said shyly.

"The best way to learn French is to speak French… and I already have an idea…"

"Are you sure you want to stay here? I have a big apartment and I’m all alone, my sons all moved out…" Pascale said, looking around the little back room she and Lauren had cleaned and tidied up for the last hour "It’s really no problem!"

"Thank you Mrs. Lec-…"

"Pascale!"

"Right… thank you, Pascale, but I really can’t accept the offer! You’re doing already enough to let me stay here!" Lauren smiled and squeezed the older woman’s arm.

"I couldn’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 chérie. You already speak Italian, now we just need to get your French going a little and you’re good to go."

"Yeah… but French isn’t that easy, believe me, the last couple of days I was trying a lot…." Lauren chuckled "But I’ll get there."

"Can I leave you alone? My son, he umm-… he needs my help…" the hair dresser said, checking her phone.

"Of course! Go. I’ll be alright. I have everything that I need. And thank you again, Mrs. Le-… Pascale."

"Stop thanking me, Ra- Lauren. Looks like we both have to get used to our names…" 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 wasn’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 haven’t slept this good for weeks…" 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.

"What’s the idea you had in mind, helping me with my French?"

"Well, I could really use a new assistant here in the salon… one of my girls left, she moved to Milan with her fiancé, and now it’s only me and Claire, and it’s getting a little hectic at times. I can’t do both, taking care of the phone, the calendar, all the supply orders, welcoming new clients while I’m already cutting someone else’s hair…"

"Sounds like something I could do!" Lauren nodded making Pascale smile.

"Well, then I’d say let’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 couldn’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 didn’t want to do, too afraid to mess something up and the older woman was glad that she didn’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 it…" 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-… 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 better… or at least I think so?"

"It definitely is better! Just a few more weeks and you’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 it’s fine… it’s just… I know that the salon is in good hands with you and Claire when I go to the convention tomorrow… but my son… he’s going through something and I know I can’t always be there, he has to learn to handle it alone, but yeah… it’s not easy."

"I think it’s just understandable. You’re an amazing mum who cares for her sons! Nothing wrong with that." Lauren gently patted the older woman’s arm who smiled.

"And still. I have to learn to let go. He’ll be fine. He has to be."

"And I’m sure he’ll be just that. You don’t have to worry about him or your salon. It’s all going to be just fine!"

"You’re right! It will be! How couldn’t it be, with you being here!"

"Oh stop. I’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. You’re doing an amazing job."

"It’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 you… and I have to say, I agree."

"Oh stop, you’re making me blush… Estelle is lovely, I just hope she doesn’t follow through with her plan, bringing her grandson next time with her…" Lauren scowled a little and Pascale laughed.

"Jean-Luc is a nice young man, but no… you deserve someone special, not a guy whose hobby it is to compare his watches with his friends…" the hair dresser winked at her assistant, in her mind she was already thinking about introducing Lauren to her son Charles.

"Pascale? You sure you’re alright?"

"Oh yes, more than alright…" 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 don’t worry about the salon or your kids. It will be just fine, you’ll see." Lauren hugged the hair dresser who sighed contently, grabbing her bag and keys.

"I’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-… that’s really nice of you, but I want to enjoy the sun… so yeah, just the chicken pesto pa-…"

"…panini with a cup of our homemade lemonade. Coming right up for you…" he laughed and walked behind the counter, starting on the girls order "No Formula 1 fan?"

"No… not really… sorry." Lauren shook her head, smiling.

"It’s okay. You’ll be one in no time, living here in Monaco! I mean, it’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.

"He’ll bring back the title to Maranello. We all believe in Charles Le-…"

"LOGAN!" a young girl shouted and Lauren watched a blue car spin on the screen, almost crashing into the barriers, gravel flying around.

"Sargeant doing Sargeant things…" a man shook his head "After de Vries, he’s next." he sighed and took a sip of his wine.

"De Vries was at the junior Red Bull team… you can’t fuck up there! Sargeant is only driving for Williams… they are more… well they are nicer…" 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 Pascale’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 didn’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, Pascale’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 didn’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. Lauren’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 haven’t felt this free and happy for a long time. Closing her eyes, she couldn’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 haven’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.

"Shhh… please, my little angel…" the desperate voice of the seemingly young and really handsome man made her turn slightly "Shhh… it’s okay…"

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. Lauren’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 couldn’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 I’ve never seen you smile like that!"

She blushed and then smiled, wringing with her words.

"It’s nothing like that. It’s just-… I love Monaco, Matthieu. Seriously. It’s an amazing place to live and I’m just glad that I’m here.." she said and he nodded.

"It sure is. But not that beautiful to cast a smile like that on a young girls face…" he winked and Lauren laughed.

"Touché."

"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 Pascale’s hair salon, blueish-green eyes and dimples on her mind.

For days, Lauren couldn’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 didn’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 wasn’t longer than a couple of minutes, they somehow felt like a lifetime, something she couldn’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 hadn’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.

"What’s going on with you? Something’s different since I’m back? The past week you were smiling even more than before…" she began.

"I’m always smiling, I thought? You told me that!" Lauren shot quickly back.

"I know. And it’s nothing bad, but it’s different. You hum to yourself, lost in your thoughts… wouldn’t I know it better I’d say you’ve met someone, but for that you actually would have to leave the salon and go out…" the hairdresser smiled, looking at her assistant who paused, the edges of her smile tightening as she quickly tried to shift the focus.

"No, it’s just that- umm… you know I’m just settling into my new life here.” she said lightly, her voice betraying nothing of the true cause of her newfound joy. "It’s been a big change, but I’m really happy here."

"Hmm… if that’s it, then I’m happy… but Lauren? I hope you know you can talk to me about everything… I know it’s something you’re not used to, talking about boys with… well with a parent or parent like figure." Pascale patted the girls shoulder, smiling warmly at her and Lauren didn’t know what to say at first.

"Umm-… I did meet someone…" she began slowly "But it was nothing- I think. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything. But there was something about him… it makes me wonder…" she stopped, shaking her head "I don’t know. It’s confusing…" The words felt true, Lauren didn’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 didn’t even fully understand it herself, so how should she explain it to Pascale?

"Hey? It’s okay… we don’t need to talk about it now… just know that I’m always here for you, okay? And whoever that young gentleman was, he must be an amazing person, leaving an impression on you… but just so you know… 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.

Chapter 9 - And the unofficial first meeting happened… but don’t worry, you’ll get the full tea in the next chapter ☺️

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it! I'm dying to hear your thoughts!

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Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please excuse any mistakes I made!

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"Thanks Maman." he kissed his mother’s cheek, then his daughters before carefully handing her over into the arms of his mother "Bye little princess."

"Bye daddy!" Pascale gently held Ava’s hand up and waved "Have a good race weekend, daddy."

Charles hummed a little, leaving his apartment. He wasn’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 together’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.

"I’m sorry, Maman, I forgot how late it was. I just-… I wanted to see Ava." he mumbled and Pascale began to smile.

"Of course, well she’s sleeping but I guess there’s nothing wrong with having a look how she’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 needed…" he whispered and his mother nodded.

"You’ll do good tomorrow. Don’t worry."

"Yeah. Maybe…" Charles mumbled and sighed "For now, I just miss her…"

"You’ll see her in 2 days, Charles. Go to sleep now. You have a race to win tomorrow."

"Sure. Win. Good one…"

"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 I’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, she’s my daughter look at me, I’m adorable." the older Leclerc laughed and Arthur threw his head back, cackling.

"Yeah sure… you’re not even in the slightest as adorable as Ava, nice try. But I agree… she’s like a filter system for bad mood."

"Don’t you ever again call my daughter a filter system!"

"Mood cleanser?"

"Arthur!"

"Okay, okay! Jeez. Seems like her filter system isn’t working long range…" the younger Leclerc mumbled, still chuckling.

"You’re an idiot, I hope you know that…" Charles sighed sprawling out on the floor "I really don’t want to go to Canada tomorrow…"

"Totally understandable… I cuddle every night with her for you."

"Usually you would come with me… 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 me… but it’s just not possible…" 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. Don’t worry. You go to Canada and do your best. We take care of our little angel."

"She’s my angel."

"Our angel."

Montreal 2023:

"Hey Charles, sorry to see you this soon here. You couldn’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 didn’t feel too comfortable on the inters…"

"You were frustrated on the radio, saying after the session that the tyres weren’t ready."

"I’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 couldn’t set a fast time with them and when we finally changed onto the slicks I had not enough time to prepare them… 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 we’re always going to be disappointed so yeah…we need to improve now…" 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 wasn’t the best. Only one car in Q3.

"Carlos has to go to the stewards later…" Andrea said, and Charles cocked an eyebrow "He impeded Pierre…"

"Shit. What position?"

"P8, for-…"

"P8? When he gets a penalty…" Charles looked over at Fred talking to Carlos and Ricky, his race engineer.

"He’ll be in P11 and you’re in P10…" Andrea replied "Let’s wait and see…"

It didn’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.

"… alright, that’s it for tonight. Let’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, you’re exhausted… you can tell us, Charles, you have a special girl waiting at home for you…" he said, making the driver stop dead in his tracks, looking at him.

"What?" he was shocked, how did he know about Ava?

"You’re in love! Amore… it’s in your eyes.

I can see it." he chuckled and Charles let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding "So go, enjoy your time with your girl."

"Th-thanks…" the driver almost stuttered walking away as fast as possible.

"That was painful to watch…" Andrea appeared out of nowhere, making Charles flinch "You have to learn to hold it together a little…"

"I was just so freaking scared that they knew about A-…" he stopped, looking around and then continued with a quiet voice "I thought he knew about Ava. That’s- that’s like my worst nightmare right now. People finding out about her while I’m still adjusting to this new life…"

"You’re doing great, Charles, really. You should cut yourself some slack…" Andrea clapped his back.

"Yeah maybe, but I’m still not ready to be a single father under the scrutiny of everyone who knows who I am…" Charles sighed unlocking the car "Maybe one day, when I know how to manage everything, but for now, it’s like this… for now I hurry back home after the races to see my beautiful girl."

"Well I’d say then let’s get going. Let’s go home so you can see your little one."

"I can’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 it’s really okay! I will be fine. I still have Enzo and Arthur…" Charles smiled, gently stroking Ava’s back and Pascale chuckled, her eyes trained on the scene in front of her.

"…if Enzo and Arthur are your last resort…"

"Charlotte… I have Charlotte, okay? We’ll be fine. So please, go!"

"It’s just two days, I promise! I need to go to this convention. I haven’t been to one in a long time and now that Marie left…" Pascale began and Charles nodded.

"We’ll be fine. Until then I have it figured out, okay? It’s in the week of the Hungarian GP?"

"Yeah… it would be on Monday and Tuesday, I’d be back Tuesday evening…"

"So we still got time. It’s all good. Really. I’ll talk to Silvia and Fred that I would fly out Tuesday night. It’ll be fine." he reassured his mother, smiling at her.

"You’re right. You’ll manage. And it still gives me time to manage what to do with the salon these two days, Julie can’t manage the salon and take care of all the appointments…" she agreed after a moment and Charles sat down next to her.

"And you’ll manage that as well…" 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 wouldn’t stop asking questions whose daughter she is… and keeping her at a hotel room all the time? That’s not okay…" Charles sighed, smiling when Ava flinched a little, getting scared from her own adorable little sneeze.

"I know, Charles. But you’re doing the right thing I think… don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of you and what you’re doing, and how you act around your fans… you’re so down to earth and always make them smile. But it’s dangerous… they’re getting too close at times and with Ava with you? I would be scared for her safety…"

"No, you’re right. It’s too dangerous. For now this is the only way to ensure her safety, it’s what has to be done." Charles replied, getting up "I want her to be safe and happy. And if that means that she’s here with you while I’m away, then it’s okay…"

"It is, but you still don’t have to like it…" Pascale said quietly, watching her son laying down his precious little girl into the bassinet next to the sofa.

"Oh, believe me, I don’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? It’s all worth it at the end of the day… and only 4 races left and it’s summer break. I can’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 we’re renting it. It’s going to be perfect."

"It will do you some good to not constantly look over your shoulder when you’re outside with her… and when you don’t have to wear this atrocious clothes to hide who you are…" Pascale gently patted her sons arm who scowled a little.

"That’s my normal clothes… I like them actually…" he replied and his mother’s eyes widened.

"You wear this jeans that fit you thrice, that weird sweatshirts… you wear that voluntary?" she asked, the shock evident in her voice.

"Umm- yeah, I do actually…"

"Oh. Okay. Umm-. Wow. Okay."

"Ouch… that doesn’t hurt at all… I wear that stuff all the time? In the paddock?"

"I don’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-shades… sorry, I thought that’s some kind of disguise…" Pascale chuckled a little.

"Wow. Thanks Maman…" Charles rolled his eyes, plopping down next to her.

"I mean-… umm-… what do I know about fashion these days, you know? At the end of the day it’s just clothes." she shrugged her shoulders making her son laugh.

"Yeah… clothes you don’t like."

"Clothes I don’t like…"

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.

"I’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, you’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 Charles…" he said and Charles heart skipped a beat.

Alessia. His mouth went dry. His mind and heart started racing each other. No. It couldn’t be. She wouldn’t come here. She knew who he was. She wouldn’t do that. He didn’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 Alessia…" 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.

"Here…" 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 can…"

"Thanks." Charles nodded and clinked his glass with his team mates.

"Since when are there so many young girls attending these sponsor events? It’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 they’re doing? Make them passionate about racing? Wouldn’t be too bad if we get more girls into watching F1 or motorsports in general…" he shrugged, taking a sip from his drink as well, grimacing at the taste "What is that?"

"It’s whiskey… I just grabbed the first two glasses the bartender had prepared, probably some dudes in there waiting for their drinks still…" Carlos laughed "So. What’s going on with you?"

Charles looked at him, cocking an eyebrow but the Spaniard didn’t look away, holding his gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh come on mate, I’m not stupid! Somethings going on…" 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 doesn’t…"

"I-I don’t know what you mean… there is nothing we don’t- umm we don’t know anything you don’t know! Or I mean-… maybe they do but I don’t know either so they fool us both…" the Monegasque stuttered, making Carlos raise an eyebrow again.

"You’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 didn’t react, only looked at him wide eyed and confused, he sighed "Alright, I won’t ponder."

Charles felt bad. He liked Carlos, sure, they weren’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 didn’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. You’re right. There is something going on, but it has nothing to do with you, with the team, not even with racing. It’s a private issue and Fred and Silvia know about it. That’s all. I swear." Charles stated after a while, looking at Carlos.

"Is everything okay?" he wondered, looking relived when the younger driver nodded "Okay… you know- umm… if you need someone to talk, you can talk to me. I mean, we’re teammates after all…"

"Thanks Carlos, I appreciate it." Charles smiled a little and they both fell silent again.

He didn’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, it’s over. Go back to the hotel, relax, rest, the weekend starts tomorrow and we want you to deliver a good performance… at least on track, if you can’t keep our sponsors happy apart from it…" she said tight lipped and stormed off, leaving the two drivers alone, chuckling.

"Then I’d say let’s go and rest so we can deliver…" 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. You’ll start from P2. It’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 I’d be better tomorrow?" the driver finally plopped down on the sofa, head in his hands "This season is the worst I’ve ever had… even worse than at Sauber."

"Oh come on. Stop that. I bet my ass that you’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 too…"

"I’m trying. I really am but-…" he began but his best friend shook his head.

"No but. You’ll finish this race on the podium. Period." he stated and after a moment of silence Charles nodded.

"You’re right. I’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 ass…" 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 stupid…" 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 now…" the young father said after a quiet few minutes where he cradled his bundle of joy close to his heart "I don’t want to… but I have to…" he sighed, kissing Ava’s chubby cheek, smiling at the little yawn she let out "And you baby girl need to go to bed…"

"I’ll take care of that." Arthur jumped up from where he was sitting, happily taking his niece out of his brother’s arms when their mother got up, rolling her eyes.

"Arthur, you have to leave as well… so come on. No stalling…" the older Leclerc brother said, grabbing his phone.

"I’m not stalling… I just think- I don’t know…" Arthur sighed handing his niece over to his mother "I just much rather would stay here than race…" he mumbled, kissing Ava’s head.

"Well, same… but it’s our job, so…" 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 "Let’s go… 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 Monday…" 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, it’s after Hungary." Pascale replied, smiling when Ava grabbed onto her necklace, looking at the sparkling charm.

"Okay. And it’s all sorted with the salon? You can go and don’t have to close for the days?"

"Yes, I found a solution." Pascales smile got bigger.

"That’s good." Charles said and waved at his little girl, ready to leave.

"What solution?" Arthur asked, intrigued by his mother’s big smile that wasn’t solely based of his niece happily babbling away in his mother’s arms "Maman? What’s the solution?"

"Lauren. She’s the solution…" his mother whispered, but before Arthur could ask any further questions his brother already, pulled him towards the door.

"Joris is here, let’s go. Bye Maman, bye Ava."

"No, wait, I want to know-…"

"Whatever it is, it can wait, we’re late."

"I just want to know who Lauren is!"

"Lauren?" Charles cocked an eyebrow, stepping into the elevator.

"Yes, Maman said she’s the solution…"

"Who?"

"Lauren!"

"Who the hell is Lauren?"

Chapter 8 - I am back and I am sooo sorry it took me this long to upload this chapter! Long story short, here it is… enjoy it! Next chapter we might get the first meeting… or not… I guess you’ll have to wait and see 🤭

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:

Christmas 2027:

"Radiation?" Joris cocked an eyebrow.

"Radiation." I shrugged my shoulders and he chuckled "Don’t ask. It’s- it’s her newest ick…"

"You’re surrounded by radiation the entire day with having your phone with you? So where’s the difference at ni-…"

"That’s exactly the point. Your body is exposed to radiation all day long, so at night, when it resets, there shouldn’t be any radiation!" Lizzie’s voice rang out behind us, making Joris flinch "I’ve read it in various magazines! So it can’t be that wrong!"

I had to chuckle, looking at Joris’ petrified face when Lizzie glared at me, although I could see her eyes getting watery.

"It’s not funny!" her voice strained.

"It’s not, cara mia. You’re right. I’m sorry." I replied.

"I’m not crazy…" she sniffled a little and I felt bad.

"No, you’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 "You’re doing everything to protect our babies… so whatever you think is best we’ll do! You’re an amazing mum, okay?"

She only nodded slightly and turned away, her shoulders slumped.

"I lay down for a bit…" she whispered and waddled off, taking a short look into Emmie’s room, before she continued to our bedroom.

"I swear I didn’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 it’s been tough, she’s more emotional than usually…" I rubbed my temples, leaning back "One moment she’s happy and bubbly, the next moment she cries about how there’s only one apple left and that it might feel alone… and then she’s mad at herself for crying about such ridiculous things which makes her cry even more because she thinks I’m annoyed of her being an emotional mess… which is not true at all. I love it. I swear."

"You’re probably the only guy on earth who loves his pregnant wife’s mood swings." Joris laughed.

"It’s cute… when she’s this bubbly Lizzie, who turns over a jar she can’t open first super frustrated and then grumpy like never seen before and curses it like there’s no tomorrow, just to be sad the next moment that whatever’s in the jar is lost forever…"

"And then you chime in and save the day…" he wiggled with his eyebrows and I held up my hands.

"You know, not all heroes wear capes… but they still get a proper thank you… if you know what I mean…"

"Yeah. No. Gross…"

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?"

"She’s not sad, Emmie. Just a little emotional."

"Emonal?" she repeated and I smiled.

"Emotional…" I said slowly, while she quietly said the word again "That’s when you feel all sorts of emotions… that’s feelings. Sad, happy, tired, funny, moody… and you just don’t know what’s the real feeling. So you get a little overwhelmed with emotions… it’s nothing bad. It happens. Especially when someone carries a baby, or like mummy two, in their belly…"

"Mummy feel for baby one and baby two?" Emmies eyes widened and I had to chuckle.

"Yes, my little princess, that’s exactly what mummy’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 don’t you help me and Joris make some hot chocolate for mummy?"

Emmie’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.

"I’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.

"Let’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! We’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 Elijah… no Arthi!"

"No Arthi?" Emmie whispered and I nodded.

"Also no presents…"

"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 "I’m sorry…"

"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 emotional… and unreasonable…" she said and I sat up to switch on the lamp on the night stand.

"Hey, you’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 holes…"

"It was a nice pair of socks!"

"Charles…" Lizzie chuckled and I grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles "I’m serious! I feel like I’m way worse than when I was pregnant with Emmie!"

"Yeah of course! You’re carrying twins, cara mia! Double the trouble!"

"Is that why I could eat all the damn time? I’m always hungry…" she sighed and I laughed, looking at her pouting.

"And what does my pretty girl want right now?"

"Now? Oh… umm… I’m not hungry…" she looked away and I gently grabbed her chin, turning her head.

"Lizzie… I know you… it’s 1 am that’s your time… so, what can I get for you?" I stifled a yawn.

"I’m fine… you’re tired and we’ll be picked up early…" she mumbled but I shook my head.

"Pretty girl…" I scooted closer, cupping her cheek "What do you want? Fruits? Something salty? Ice cream? A burger?"

"Some sour gums and-… it’s weird, because usually I don’t like them… salt and vinegar crisps? Do we have that?"

"On it…" I pecked her lips and shuffled out of the bed, stretching as soon as I stood up "Anything else?"

"Umm… 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 somehow… I don’t know… get comfy I’ll be right back." I slipped on my pants and left our bedroom, down the hall to the kitchen I stopped at Emmie’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 must’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 “Ohhh big stretch! Good boy." I scratched his ears and got up "Go back to sleep…" 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 lemonade…" 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 kids…" I yawned.

"I’m so excited for Christmas, our last without the twins… next year we’re already a family of 6…" Lizzie whispered and I cocked an eyebrow.

"6?"

"6…"

"Of course… Arlo…"

"I told you he’s our first born." Lizzie’s happy giggling made me smile and I nodded.

"You’re right. He is. And he’s an amazing big brother, guarding his little sister."

"He’s a good boy." she happily munched and I smiled, yawning again "You can sleep… you don’t have to stay awake with me…"

"Yeah?" I mumbled, fighting to keep my eyes open.

"Yeah…" Lizzie replied and leaned down, kissing my cheek "Thank you…"

"You need anything else?" I asked but she shook her head.

"No. We’re all good now. Sleep, pretty boy."

I didn’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 wasn’t just inside my head didn’t seem to bother her.

"Dada… make it stop…" Emmie rubbed her eyes, stumbling to our bed, her hair her a hot mess "Head owie!"

"I know…" I picked her up and sat her next to Lizzie "I’ll go…" 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, everything’s alright? Why wouldn’t it be?" I was confused, looking around.

"There are two cars here to pick you up. They’ve been waiting for a while now and we tried to call you then-…"

"What?! But the cars should be here at 8?" I replied.

"Mr. Leclerc, it’s 8:30 am…"

"WHAT? What? How? I- what?" I checked the time at my phone and cursed "Oh shit… umm tell the drivers we’ll need a moment…"

"Can I send them up to get your bags?" Matthieu asked and I nodded.

"Yes. Everything is packed. All the bags are at the elevator…" I hastily walked back into our bedroom, pushing the buttons to open up the blinds.

"Alright. I’ll tell them." he hung up and I gently shook Lizzie.

"Cara mia? Wake up please… we need to get ready…"

"Hmm?" she mumbled, blinking a few times.

"The cars are already here… 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 don’t know. I didn’t hear the alarm. But that doesn’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?"

"Hmm…" Lizzie mumbled and waddled away to the bathroom, yawning "Did you not set the alarm?"

"I did. I don’t know what happened…" I mumbled and picked up Emmie "Come on girlie, let’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'… 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 let’s get dressed and then we’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-…"

"Christmas!" she clapped excitedly and I nodded.

"Exactly! But we’re a little late. So we need to hurry up a little!"

"Houwy up! Houwy up!"

"That we have to! So let’s have a look. You look adorable, now we just need to take care of your hair and-…" I began when I saw Lizzie waddling towards the kitchen, still in her pyjamas "Alright… wait a minute…" I sat her down "You pack your sleep plushies into your backpack and play a little with Arlo, okay? I’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 "I’m hungry. But there is nothing to eat. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Cara mia, we have breakfast in the jet, okay? It’s all prepared-…"

"But I’m hungry now!" she was grumpy "The babies and I are hungry now!"

"I understand, but we have nothing here, because we’re leaving now… we can stop at a bakery on the way?" I tried it again and she sighed.

"Okay… I go and take a shower…" she walked past me and I followed her.

"Cara mia, you don’t need to shower. We don’t have time. You can shower as soon as we arrive in the chalet…" I said carefully but she shook her head.

"I smell… I’m not arriving smelly for Christmas…"

"Technically it’s not Christmas yet, so… and also you don’t smell… you just had a bath last night and I can still smell your coconut butter on your skin, so please. Just get dressed and let’s go. The cars are waiting. For over half an hour now…"

"Then why didn’t you set the alarm?" she looked at me annoyed.

"I did! I don’t know why it didn’t went off! Stupid alarm clock…" I walked over to my night stand to find the alarm clock to be off, not plugged into the wall "What the… oh no… my sweatpants… fuck…" I mumbled, remembering the struggle I had at night with my pants "With my phone this wouldn’t have happen…" 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? It’s all good. Just-… please get ready. I feel bad for the drivers to wait this long because of me… and the jet and everything…" I whispered against the side of her head, kissing her temple.

"Okay. I’m almost done…" she breathed out "You need to get dressed yourself…"

"On it…"

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 something…" I mumbled, going over the list inside my head "I just don’t know what…"

"It can’t be important if you don’t remember it."

"I don’t know…" 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 Emmie’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 couldn’t grasp what was missing but still I felt like it.

"Charles?" Lizzie grabbed my hand, squeezing it "We’ve got everything. It’s fine, you’ll see…"

"Yeah… I hope so…" I mumbled watching the car in front with our baggage stopping on the tarmac "It’s too late now anyways I guess…" 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 delay… it got a little hectic this morning…"

"All good, Sir. Why don’t you take a seat and we’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. Lizzie’s suitcases, my suitcases, Emmie’s suitcases, the bags full off her and Arlo’s toys, the bags full of presents. The bag with Lizzie’s snacks and last but not least the 2 suitcases and backpack of…

"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-…"

"I can’t believe you forgot me at home…"

"I swear-…"

"Like seriously? What is this? Home alone? Your alarm doesn’t go off and you forget me in all the hectic?"

"I’m so sorry! I send the ca-…"

"Just be glad it’s more like Home Alone 2. I woke up by myself and-…" he hung up "And got in the car right in time… I just wanted to wait how long it would take you to figure out that I wasn’t with you…" Joris walked inside the jet, plopping down in the seat next to us.

"I’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 we’re all here… I say let’s go. Christmas is just right around the corner…"

"Christmas with pesents! Pesents for evyone!" Emmie said excited, clapping her hands "Mewwy Christmas evyone!"

🎄🎅🏻♥️🎄🎅🏻♥️🎄🎅🏻♥️🎄🎅🏻♥️🎄🎅🏻♥️🎄

I hope you enjoyed this (not so) little something and I hope you all had amazing Holidays!

Taglist: (If you don’t like to be tagged for this, let me know)

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