MV3 🦁 CL16 Formula 1 & NH🎶

(And when Max heard this? Oh our sweet Omega has never had anyone love him so deeply, no boyfriend had ever shown Max even a fraction of the love and devotion Charles lavishes him. He bursts into tears, burying his face in Charles's chest and telling him he can't wait for them to be mated and for their baby to be born because Max just wants to spend the rest of his life with Charles and their little family 🥹)

Of course, when Charles hears this he's over the moon. He's radiant, glowing with joy and looking even more handsome than he already does 😭 but that's when a few mouthy F1 "fans" come out of the woodwork. They start commenting on how "sad" and "pathetic" it is that Max Verstappen had to settle for some "50 year old guy" who's been divorced twice and is already "so old." They keep tagging drivers like George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for Max to date despite the fact the Omega had already made a public statement that he and his boyfriend, Charles Leclerc, were expecting their first child together.

Max doesn't even notice these comments because he's too busy ordering baby furniture and getting spoiled rotten by Charles 🥰 but our emerald-eyed Alpha? Oh he knows what's going on. He has a whole Communications team and there's a subdivision dedicated to monitoring the public sentiment toward his and Max's relationship (Charles would never, ever do anything jeopardize his boyfriend's reputation).

And for the first time in his life, the confident, successful, and ridiculously gorgeous Alpha feels...inadequate.

He's 17 years older than Max. Fuck, that's old enough to be his father. The gossip pages weren't wrong: Charles has been twice divorced and in his youth, he had been a bit of a playboy.

But more than that, Max is so young still. He's only 28 years old, he has his whole future ahead of him while Charles is approaching middle age. Would it be fair to saddle Max with a decrepit old mate who'll soon need a walking cane? Would it be fair for Max to wake up every day looking at his aging husband with wrinkles all over his face and liver spots on his hands?

Fuck, Charles had been so caught up in Max and their future that he didn't stop to think if it was fair to Max. His young and beautiful Max who shouldn't have to play caretaker to an old man—he should be out there, partying and having fun. Chasing new experiences and meeting new people.

Not cooped up in Charles's penthouse every evening.

It gets to a point where Charles's very scent is distressed and that's when his attentive and observant boyfriend pounces—literally. Max (with his large baby bump) manages to straddle Charles while they're in bed together, the blond Omega placing both hands on Charles's shoulders for balance (and also because he adores his boyfriend's strong, muscled physique) and gazing down at his love with a worried expression.

Because Alpha hasn't smelt the same in days and Max is so scared—is he okay? Does he need a doctor? Please just talk to me, schatje. How can I help?

And that's when Charles feels his heart crack.

Already his amazing, loving Omega has to take care of him.

And that's when the words spill out. It's a hesitant, shy—almost awkward—confession but Charles forces every word past his lips. Because Max deserves to know what he's getting into.

And the second Charles is finished speaking?

Max glares at him with something akin to fury. "I love you." He says with the sort of passion and ardor that makes Charles's heart sing. "Do you really think I would leave you in 20 years because you dared to age? Mijn liefje, I look forward to growing old and wrinkly with you every day. I want to every moment of my life to be spent with you. I hope I get lots of crows feet and wrinkles around my mouth from laughing too much because I know every day with you and our family will be a blessing. And—that part about you losing your looks? Are you blind, Charles Leclerc? You're so gorgeous I routinely get Omegas glaring at me whenever we walk down the street because they can't believe someone like me got the most handsome Alpha in the world to be mine. And don't you dare deny it! You're my wonderful, amazing, beautiful Alpha and I won't let you talk badly about yourself!" Max declares fiercely. "I don't want anyone else but you, Charlie. You make me happy, our family makes me happy. Fuck everyone else, I just want us."

And Charles? Charles can feel his eyes stinging, can feel that mistiness roll down his cheeks as he cries—for the first time in years—because his body can't contain all the love and adoration he feels for the Omega in his arms.

For his Max.

"I love you, mon cœur," his voice is thick with tears, "and I love our baby so much. Thank you, mon ange, thank you for loving me."

And Max takes both of Charles's hands, placing those large palms on his belly, and smiles, eyes crinkling with joy when Charles's eyes widen.

"Max—Max mon amour, she's kicking!"