F1 Fics 🏁

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One-Shots//Requests-❣️

Unrequited love, painful as it was, somehow they made it look beautiful. They were tied, even before they met in that garden they were connected. Little moments and circumstances led them to cross paths and now she might’ve been regretting it.

On her way to work she used to pass a cute Japanese garden and she never stopped, not because she didn’t want to but because she was always running late. One particular morning she decided to go take a look. She used her free day to explore the unfamiliar streets of all Monaco. 

She worked at a new museum, it wasn’t really new, there were certain new exhibitions that required more personnel but she greeted and organized guides for the visitors. 

It would be a beautiful day to meet the love of her life, she joked, yet she always believed that the garden had that power. It was just beautiful to look at, but it was another string tying him to her. 

The garden was empty, right at nine she entered and there only seemed to be one other person sitting on a bench in the tea house. He decided to use his charm to get a few hours of peace with no other wandering eyes. 

She was wearing a red dress, his new favorite color. She was by far the most captivating presence in the whole garden. It wasn’t because she blended right into the red bridge, but because he could see her smile. 

Even more beautiful when the smile was directed at him, a little greeting to not bother his meditation. The sun was nice and toasty and the sky was blue with only a few clouds, and she liked to believe that everything from that day was beautiful.

He overcame the fear of getting recognized and he went to talk to her. She was inviting him with practically her smile, she curiously looked at him when he sat next to her, there was familiarity with every look. 

“Hello” he could assume that she spoke English, that language had never failed him. 

“Hi-” he was right.

“-Do I know you?” 

“Depends, I’m practically all over the place” because she had seen him, on a piece of paper that flew directly to her a few days ago, promoting some kind of ice cream that apparently would only be available in Italy. She believed that the people in Monaco had the means necessary to travel just for some ice cream. 

“Do you happen to sell ice cream?” 

“Yes?” He was a bit confused, his head turned to the side trying to figure out where she saw him.

“A piece of paper landed on my feet, it had your face eating ice cream. I’m curious now, is it even good?” he laughed softly, only a few advertisements were given in Monaco, he didn’t see the point because it wouldn’t be sold there, but he couldn’t argue with his team. 

“I’m well known here, you could say that” that made sense, she was a new resident, who barely knew her way around. 

“I’m not from here, I just came from London. I work in art exhibitions, so travel comes with the job”

“What’s the new exhibition about?”

“Modern Japanese art, very traditional but still modern” 

“You came here to get some inspiration?” 

“Yes and no, it just looked beautiful. What about you?”

“It’s peaceful and if I come early enough no tourists will be here, you want to walk with me?” A few other people had entered and he wanted to escape but not before taking her with him.

“Yes, that will be lovely. It seems like you’ve been here plenty of times to show me around” 

“I have, the zen garden is beautiful for meditation…” 

She was completely in awe of everything that Charles did and said. He was funny and a bit clumsy, but he was well aware of his intelligence and privilege. Not a lot of people complimented his intelligence, and when she applauded all of his random facts, she kept trusting him, never questioning or even trying to fact check. 

“So are you like the people’s prince?” He laughed at her blatant honesty. 

“We have an actual prince here, but I figure I shouldn’t correct them…” and she giggled, she didn’t pretend to know him but she listened attentively to his profession, she looked interested and engaged, asking very simple but important questions, which was the bare minimum but to him genuinity was rare.  

That day, after the garden she went home with his number, a tub of his ice cream and a smile on her face. She didn’t find the love of her life, she found something better, a best friend. 

She actually saw the extent of his influence in Monaco, there were a lot of brands that promoted his face and in comparison to her, he was very important, but that didn’t stop their friendship from blooming.

Four years later and they were still friends, his lifestyle was extravagant and although she preferred little outings to parks and quaint restaurants, he was recognized everywhere, so it was no use, instead she embraced his love for his home and his supporters.

If people asked for pictures she jumped in to take them, she didn’t care that they were interrupted. She only went to his home race and never went to more than two trips with him. Why? Because they weren’t together.

Everyone thought they were, but in reality she was just his best friend. He had dated and she had dated, going as far as double dates and then that’s when people started to love her and follow her because she wasn’t a threat, not that she would ever be. 

She had followers and for the first time she could promote her art, because being a guide in museums was not better than actually selling art pieces that she had crafted. She knew that it was thanks to Charles's influence and there was no use denying it, but she had to give herself a break because she was the one creating art. 

Another thing to note about their friendship was that he would drop everything to reach her. She was so important that he valued her safety above anything else. Going beyond forgetting about his girlfriend on their one year anniversary to rescue her. 

He met Karina in one of her quaint art show; she had finished an art piece inspired by the first day they met. Karina was also an artist, but her art was photography and there she introduced the pair who instantly clicked.

The butterflies in her tummy were from either jealousy or happiness for them, it could’ve been an in between but now recalling that day, it was just happiness. It was another string of memories and hardships that connected them even more.

His time was now even more divided, but he was glowing with Karina. Their little walks were still present, and a few coffee dates to catch up, but she was also getting busy. The painting and drawing finally got to her, and her fainting on their anniversary wasn’t the plan. 

He had left Karina alone in the restaurant, she cried for their relationship because she couldn’t get in between them. 

“You’re also important” he was walking back and forth in pure frustration. 

“I know I am Charles, but go ahead and talk to her. Apologize” 

“It was an emergency-”

“I heard your conversation, you weren’t really trying to be subtle. She makes you happy, but it is true what she said. This isn’t the first time you leave her to come and rescue me” he suddenly stopped, walking to her side. 

“She’s jealous, but we’re only friends. She knows this, I would never betray her” she closed her eyes in pain, jealousy was horrible and now that he knew it made her guilt worse. 

“Charles- jealousy is an important part of relationships. The part where if you don’t solve and reassure her then the beginning of your end is near. I don’t want to see you or her heartbroken. So go and kiss her silly, love her for the rest of the night and tomorrow you sent me a text asking how I am. I’ll be honest and tell you that I’m happy and safe because you’re with the love of your life” but would he really be with the love of his life? If he stayed in the hospital room, then he would be with his true love.

“What if she isn’t the love of my life?” He looked lost, the grimace of his eyes, told her that he was confused.

“We can’t be sure if you don’t fight for her” 

“What if it’s you?” She grabbed his hands bringing them close to her lips for a sweet kiss. 

“Charles. You’re my best friend and I love you as such, and yes, I can’t help it when I think we could’ve been more. But we made it clear- Best friends nothing More and nothing less. So please don’t say anything that you will regret” an almost kiss about two years ago, started an awkward conversation of not wanting to ruin a beautiful friendship.

“You’re right, I’ll go and solve my mistake and please text me tomorrow” he gave her a sweet kiss on her forehead and he left to go chase who they believed was the love of his life. 

She had to find a way to make it all ok, she had to leave. She was always holding him back, she didn’t want to make Karina uncomfortable, she would rather die than ever come between a beautiful relationship like theirs. 

So she got better, she knew that Charles wouldn’t come back the very next day, so she looked for a new beginning. She made sure to text him, letting him know that she was ok. In return he sent a picture of him and Karina, she had clearly made the right call, they looked beautiful. 

Italy was calling her name, Milan would be the perfect mix between hectic and peaceful. So she asked for a transfer to Milan, and surprisingly they had an opening. It took her one week to get everything sorted, she took the essentials and she drove. For ten hours she thought about leaving Charles without a goodbye, what would be the repercussions of her sudden and tragic departure. 

She was collecting dust in Monaco, there was nothing there for her and he had to understand that. A simple letter that she left in the apartment was her goodbye, an apartment that belonged to him, so he could easily find it.

He didn’t know why she was avoiding him, he knew she was busy, but he also had a race to go to. So he clearly couldn’t run to her, he promised he wouldn’t  and that was her escape. 

In her own loneliness she thought about him, she didn’t give herself the satisfaction of searching for him, he had to be left alone. She wasn’t selfish, selflessness comes with self control and she had to stand her ground and let him go. 

But everywhere she went, he followed. In her mind, but he was still there. A love that could’ve been if she wouldn’t have insisted on his presence the night he met Karina. It was a good thing that she was never her friend or she would’ve felt even more guilty. She was just a coworker and nothing else, but she knew that she was a great person, one that deserved Charles. 

The same Charles that was plastered on another advertisement, he was always with her, tormenting her. He gave her everything and she returned his love with her absence because even after two years she believed that it was the right call. 

They were both too stubborn, social media was right there, but they waited for that strong string that always pulled them together. Two years without him were two years that he searched like crazy trying to find her. 

He recalled what she deemed the perfect destination, a place filled with art for her. Italy, she loved Italy but where in Italy was hard for him to find. He visited almost every museum, going to special exhibitions and seeing who the tour guide would be and that’s where he saw her name in The Pinacoteca di Brera, a museum filled with Italian masterpieces.

He picked the earliest booking for a tour, blending in with tourists that would hopefully not pay attention to him. Would she even recognize him? It was too early for any interest. There she was, cheeks a bit more fuller and a wonderful smile, bringing more light to her already beautiful face. 

She didn’t look like she missed him, was his presence never desired? Did she also fake the love she voiced to him? But paying more attention to her, she looked less confident, like she was looking for something more, something that would fulfill her curiosity and desires. 

She lazily counted their heads, and she lazily faked enthusiasm. One that he was able to pick very quickly. The older people were quick to ask questions and the more they asked, her enthusiasm became genuine. 

She flooded when talking about Madonna’s, saints, and even portraits of people that he had never heard of, but to her every brush stroke was alluring, just the simple art was majestic. 

But there she saw him, she was sure that she was making him up, that her creative mind had made him a perfect statue. 

She stumbled, grabbing onto the closest bars that were there to stop visitors from getting too close to the paintings. She regained control of her mind and she continued, she put on a show like usual and it wasn’t until the end of her first tour that he approached her. 

“Charles?” She swallowed the emotion of saying his name in person, not in her dreams or in their pictures. 

“Hello” his voice was different, strained and angry yet he didn’t look any different, he was still composed. 

“What brings you here?” 

“Very stupid question, don't you think?” She shut her eyes, trying to get rid of his dismissive attitude, but that’s what she deserved and she knew it. 

“You came to see the exhibitions?” She cringed at her own nonchalant tone, it wasn’t natural, she was dying of nerves. 

“Please don’t, don’t act like you didn’t do any harm by leaving me” 

“Charles me leaving- the note was for your own good, for your relationship and for my reality…” 

“I was in Monaco…” the bewilderment was written all over her face “…You said that there was nothing there, no future for you, but I was there. That letter you left me made me angry, I felt Like you took advantage of me. Karina, we separated right after. She always knew I was in love with you and she respected that you left, she ended up hating me and applauding what you did, because regardless I wouldn’t find you, you made that very hard to do” 

“I loved what we had, what you gave me. It was appreciated but I believed that Karina was it for you, Charles you were so happy…”

“You didn’t see what happened to me when you left, how quickly that happiness disappeared, I needed to find you so you could realize how much pain you caused me, yet I don’t want to hurt you and I feel so stupid for that. That no matter what I still miss you, still love you…By talking to me you would’ve understood me, talking fixes…” 

“I didn’t want to understand you because I already knew you, I didn’t want to hear you out…”

“Well you clearly didn’t know me…” 

“Charles, I have to get back to work…” 

“It was beautiful thinking that there were invisible signs that led me to you, you haunted my favorite places and I will never forget how you made me feel before and after…I came here to return the letter, I don’t want a reminder that you were selfish enough to not let me know.”

“Selfish? I didn’t want to get in the way of you and Karina, my absence was my love for you” 

“Well now I will return my love with a goodbye…” his fingers brushed against her arms as the letter was gently placed on her shaky hands. Just like that he had walked away, slowly and painfully. 

She thought of everything, her life with and without him, and she realized that she wasn’t happy even with him. She held on to her feelings of not ruining the friendship, she feared that she would slip and that made her miserable, she was never free to love and be loved. 

Slowly, he walked so that she would get the hint that he wanted her to catch him. To run after him because he didn’t want to be like her, he didn’t want to just leave a letter and break her heart. 

But she listened to his heavy steps, to his heavy and shattered heart. His flailing arm was suddenly surrounded by her delicate hands, he almost collapsed, a lingering touch was nothing compared to the intensity in her soft and full graze. 

“I wanted to be considered selfless, never selfish. I wanted you to keep her, because I thought that’s what you wanted. That you wanted her because she truly was perfect.” 

“I loved her, but I realized-even she did, that we weren’t in love. She loved my sense of humor and my friends, but she didn’t stand my presence alone. She always wanted to be in exposed gatherings so that we wouldn’t interact. However you thrived in my bubble, outside and inside…” she didn’t want to believe that Karina was bad for him, because she truly was a sweetheart. 

“She was good for you…”

“I never said she wasn’t, she wanted nothing from me, not my love or my lifestyle; she just wanted temporary support, because we were both heartbroken. She got her dream job…”

“In the Louvre?” Her eyes sparkled, happy for Karina. 

“Yes, and she decided for a more calm lifestyle away from me, but like I said she respected you from leaving, but she never intended for you to break my heart, she broke up with me, and it had nothing to do with you” 

“We will never work out”

“How do you know?” 

“Everyone will make up horrible stories about me…”

“It’s been two years since my break up, everyone is happy that I’m single, but they all loved you…if everyone did, imagine how I felt? I was proud and happy to be surrounded by all of you…give me a chance to be loved by you…” his eyes were shut closed, waiting for her dismissal, yet all he felt was a tiny breeze of her lips, so small and insignificant, but it meant everything to him. 

When he opened his eyes, she was so close to him and there he got to see her foreign eyes, hidden marks, the real color of her lips and the same smile from that beautiful and perfect day in the Garden. He got to finally close that short distance, tasting her for the very first time. 

A kiss filled with years of tension between two confused friends, all the sadness and anger were displayed in a beautiful and bittersweet scene. The tears blended in with their relieved murmurs. 

“I really want to love you with all that I possess, I love you Charles…” 

“Thank you…” she knew that he wasn’t directly speaking to her, maybe to another outside force that finally made the path clear for them.

“…I love you” The garden, the color of her dress, the gelato advertisement- were signs of the universe. The way she finally picked that morning to see the garden, the way she wore that captivating dress, which happened to be his favorite color, and just the way she already knew who he was from his face being plastered all over Monaco…those were their invisible strings that finally tied them together. 

The End…

a/n: I know the requests took me a bit of time, but I did lose some inspiration from Charles, the F1 world just seems very detached, so out of touch in a way. However I had to post these requests because I made them wait for so long…so I’m sorry. Lots of love- Nat ❤️

Requests:

She remembers their first holiday together, the one that they were hesitant about because Daisy was in a horrible stage of being afraid of everything, and if Daisy was afraid so was Charles. That was their last peaceful vacation, Daisy would start school and he would become even more busy with his career, but that holiday became something that she played back when she felt like giving up- a reminder that she was once happy. 

“Amour just get in the pool” 

“No, what if we both drown?” 

“It’s not deep Charles, she’s four and she can’t go her whole life without learning to swim” 

“Didn’t I have to teach you?” She smacked his sunburnt chest, as he shrieked in pain. 

“That’s besides the point, It’s even worse when you’re older” 

“Ok, but you get in” 

“Fine baby, just take Daisy” their loud screams turned heads, but as soon as she splashed water on them, they started to giggle. 

“Come on Daisy, your papa is holding you” 

“No!” She had a cute angry pout, but she was becoming sassy and that was never a good thing. 

“If you swim baby, we will take you to see some fishies” she gave Charles a frustrated look, but regardless they both got over the fear of swimming. 

“Ok!” And that was the end of her swimming lessons, in no time she was diving straight into Charles’s hold, and of course they went to see the aquarium that the hotel had in the lobby, she clearly didn’t know the difference. 

“Ow! Please don’t lay on me baby” 

“I can’t fall asleep if you don’t cuddle me”

“I know bébé but I look like a tomato” 

“I told you constantly…”

“ to wear sunscreen, I know but I simply forgot” 

“And if it wasn’t for me applying some on your back you would be in more pain and look at your cheeks” she gently poked his irritated nose.

“I know but I’m sorry, after you got us in the pool, we didn’t want to leave” she chuckled at his childish voice, but sometimes she had to take care of two children, and that really made her feel helpless. 

“Cuddle me and I’ll forgive you” he hissed in pain once she laid her head on his chest, but they were finally able to get some rest. She wondered what happened after that week in paradise, she couldn’t understand what changed. 

Maybe that’s when she realized that her dreams were never fulfilled, that she paused what she loved doing to take care of a family that was rarely together. She had Daisy and of course Charles was still as hands on as he could be, but almost all the responsibility was on her shoulders. 

She always felt like she messed up in every aspect of her routine and everything she did started to upset everyone around her. Maybe her issue was staying silent, not asking for help, but he made it clear that he was busy, that he had maybe a few years left to fulfill all his dreams, but what about the dreams that they talked about?

She used to be their everything and now she was a burden in their perfect world, it was simple, they pushed her away, resulting in her never feeling included. 

They were like a tag team against one person, the strongest one that could take anything until she exploded. They laughed if she did something wrong and then she would have to walk away to not cry. “Silly ma” the nickname that was given by Daisy. All the buildup of rage and sadness was eventually going to burst, she just didn’t know when. 

She also felt undesirable, they were rarely intimate and when they were it was quick, the passion went missing. Another thing to add to her long list of problems. It didn’t help that Daisy was only behaving badly when Charles was home, she was a saint when it was just the two of them.

She went back to the time when Daisy punched a sweet boy and bit a little girl, and who did Charles blame? Her. He rewarded her behavior by taking her to get ice cream because apparently she had scared Daisy with her stern voice. Maybe she shouldn’t have raised her voice, but her kid was not going to become a bully.

She was the one to solve the issue, Charles left a very sassy girl and an angry wife. Not to mention the indignant parents that still demanded an apology, because Charles refused to accept his daughter’s horrible behavior, even though the teacher was adamant that it wasn’t the first time. She was quick to apologize and volunteer in her classroom to monitor her behavior and there she noticed her daughter squinting at the board.

She would see Daisy’s frustrated punches to her own eyes and the angry murmurs after scribbling nonsense on her paper. So she quickly took her to the optometrist, where two pairs of beautiful glittery glasses were given, and guess what? Daisy went back to normal, no more violent behavior.

But maybe she didn’t realize that she was hurting her mother the moment she giggled at whatever Charles had said, but she wasn’t one to make her feel guilty over things that she didn’t do. Charles was teaching her to be mean to her mother, it was that simple.

Was she replaceable in her own family? Five years ago when she became pregnant, she wouldn’t even fathom an unhappy life, but here she was miserable. There she was, being afraid to take up space in her own home, someone who rarely gave herself the chance to relax. If she found a moment of peace she felt guilty, then she apologized to whoever was home because according to her she had to earn every moment of peace.

She used to prioritize her happiness, pleasure, dreams but most importantly her rest. She was no longer that beautiful woman that was filled with creative ideas for her home designs, that interior designer who was successful had vanished, just like the love that once surrounded her home. 

Moments of peace for her were the rare minutes when she was still alone in bed and the sun had started to cast its glow into her room. That’s when she felt alive, a new day forgetting that Charles was not in the bed with her. That he had spent the night at his mother’s along with Daisy. 

She knew that motherhood was all about making sacrifices, putting someone’s needs and happiness ahead of your own self love. She just couldn’t forgive herself for thinking about a break. How did Charles feel? Probably relaxed and happy, never minding that he had a wife, that he had other responsibilities in their relationship.

He was always like that though, she knew who she married. The whole pregnancy was him worrying about the baby and very rarely about her wishes, about how she wanted her family, it wasn’t controlling, it was the opposite of that, freedom, for everyone to be happy. 

Yet he was the first one to make decisions for Daisy and it was comical that he was very rarely with them. Two days out of seven and he believed that he was helping. 

So what could she do? She knew that Daisy would be an only child, he made that very clear one week after that holiday, maybe that was the start of their downfall? It was definitely that. They were washing dishes when a dream of hers mindlessly escaped from her lips, after all, it had been a lovely day.

“I can’t wait for her to be a big sister, I wonder what she’ll be like?” Daisy was now peacefully sleeping after a nice dinner and a long day in her first week of kindergarten. Charles had cried so much that whole day, and even more so when he had to help her draw their family. 

 “I guess we’ll never experience Daisy with a sibling” her eyebrows furrowed. 

“Why not?” She breathlessly laughed, while she gathered the scattered dirty dishes.

“Because Daisy is the perfect baby, we don’t need another one” 

“Oh? We haven’t discussed this?” He drew his face back, perplexed by her confusion, but he quickly recovered by giving her a nonchalant look while he broke her.

“It’s pretty much impossible now?” He shook his head while he laughed.

“We’re still young? mid thirties isn’t that bad” was he really laughing at her age.

“About two months ago, before our holiday I had a few days off, I guess I told you that I went with my brothers on holiday before the Spain Grand Prix, but I got a vasectomy…” she gasped, covering her mouth to control her betrayed expression. “…It’s my decision? And it can be reversed…”

“I-I know, but not only did you not tell me but I’m still shoving those stupid birth control pills. I’m not sure how to feel Charles, you should’ve told me” her hand had moved onto her chest, a reminder to breathe.

“We don’t need another baby, Daisy should be enough. I know that she prefers me but you can’t have another child just to fill the void…”

“What void? When you’re not home, which is most days, Daisy and I have a great and loving relationship. She needs me Charles, you could always be the fun dad and yes you’re right about it being your body, but don’t ever tell me that I’m jealous of the relationship that you have with Daisy. That’s just justifying how you decided for myself as well. I wanted more kids, but I could’ve given up that idea if you would’ve just told me about your plans, but you went behind my back. Your family and friends probably know this huh, but not me?” 

“Yes, they know…I don’t regret my decision and I‘ll forgive you for your hurtful words. I guess I’ll continue being the fun dad and you the miserable m-” a finger poked his chest and for weeks after, that was the only contact that he received from her, eventually that fight was kept hushed but very much alive in her broken heart.

“You're mistaken, I won’t be a miserable mother, I’ll be a miserable wife, because from now on you decide for our marriage, you made that clear. Leave the kitchen, I’ll finish here…” she slightly shoved him, turning away from him- she heard the patter of his footsteps walking away and there in the dirty sink she silently held herself together, her facade began.  

So that’s where her sadness started, she couldn’t forgive him since his lack of self awareness became more evident. She was having a beautiful morning in bed, when quiet giggles and shrieks were heard. She also heard the patter of tiny steps making their way into her room, but she also heard a desperate Charles. “Daisy, don’t go in just yet, I don’t want maman to see yo…” but it was too late. A very smiley but still different girl walked in. 

“Your hair! What happened?” Daisy giggled, of course she thought it was funny, her mother’s face was appalled. 

“Mamie, cut it-” Charles instantly saw his wife’s tears and he ushered Daisy out of the room, promising that her maman had loved the haircut. 

“You could’ve at least told her she looked beautiful-” confronting her, he loved doing that recently. Regardless of her tears. 

“I was waiting to cut it, that was her first hair cut, did you at least keep a bit of hair?” She always found excuses to not get as angry with him.

“Yes, my ma has it…”

“It was her idea huh?”

“Her hair kept getting in the way…” of course it was, everyone including his mother had started to question everything she did. “…so my mom gave me the idea to cut it, I took pictures and a video” well how kind of him…

“I was going to wait Charles, it had to get to a certain length so I could donate it. You also took that moment away from me and you knew that it was wrong, because you didn’t want me to know”

“Oh relax-”

“Relax! That’s something that I never get to do-”

“Really what about Friday night and Saturday? I went with my mom and here you were doing I don’t know what. Definitely not having fun…” 

“That’s because I’m not wanted there, also why would I take your free weekend?”

“You could go, yet you’ve never liked my mother” she loved his mother, until her parenting was always questioned. 

“I’ve done everything for Daisy to have strong relationships with both our families. You do the bare minimum with me, while I lie to my parents about you, about us. But seeing as you take care of her some weekends, custody won’t be so hard-” her lips were trembling, there was fear and the look on his face, the flash of pain told her everything- he was also afraid.

“Take that back” 

“What?” 

“The custody part” his eyes were blown and his pale skin was haunting her.

“You decide for me all the time, you barely kiss me, hold me, love me. So why would I want to stay in a one sided relationship? I’m afraid of my life without you, I am. I know that I’m no one, that I have nothing. I barely have Daisy’s comprehension, but I just don’t have yours. It’s non-existent, I know I’m replaceable, but currently I’m just a mother and that’s painful because I was also your wife. I was yours and Daisy’s all, I shouldn’t be just a mother-Charles breathe…” his breathing increased, he tried to grab onto something but that sound of his body hitting the floor from lack of oxygen finally got him. 

The cotton with alcohol hitting his nostrils finally got him out of the trance, a distraught Daisy was holding tightly to her mother’s leg, while she murmured reassurances for her confused tiny ears. The moment his eyes fluttered open she exhaled all of the fear.

“Papa!” She physically had to hold her, she couldn’t cuddle him just yet. 

“Daisy my love, just give your pa a big kiss and wait outside baby please-” Daisy nodded, as she obeyed her mother, running out of the door as fast as she came in when she heard the sound of Charles hitting the floor.

“What hurts Charles?” She kept rubbing his chest with alcohol trying to sooth him a bit. It’s funny how in just one brawl between them, his heart and mind gave up, when in reality she had been suffering for about five months without his love. 

“I-I don’t know, my head, chest- my heart?” 

“I think it was a panic attack-” he tried sitting up, but he quickly complained about his head.

“What do you need? What do I need to do for you to take back what you said?” He was in tears again and she really didn’t know what to say or even do. 

“Your head made a horrible sound, so we have to go to the hospital, just please don’t cry. We’re okay…” they weren’t, but she wanted to reassure him and her stupid kind heart. 

She didn’t call anyone, she took Charles and Daisy to the hospital and they waited for his diagnosis. The nurses were nice enough to give Daisy some coloring books and she was at peace knowing that he was alright. Nothing major, just a bump on his head. 

Night caught up to them, Daisy was snuggled up on the sofa and she was on a chair holding his hand. “I’m sorry baby, I don’t know where I went wrong? I certainly don't want to lose you” a weak squeeze to her hand was given.

“Charles just please rest-”

“I can’t knowing that you’re mad at me”

“I’m not mad but I’ve been disappointed” for months she wanted to hear an apology and now it just felt bittersweet. 

“I’m sorry for being a bad husband”

“You’ve been the worst husband ever, so mean to me…” his throat suddenly became dry, no words could justify his horrid behavior. 

“…you also need to stop turning our daughter against me. She’s the sweetest girl when you’re not here and then she becomes a sassy and spoiled girl, you promised you would say no, I try to raise her with normalcy and you know it, but you like going against my rules. She only needs our love but teaming up on me makes me feel unappreciated. Yes, you’re her father and you can decide for her, but not when you’re hurting me with those decisions. What happened to the Charles that would do anything to keep both his girls happy? Is this the best version of you?”

“If I’m a bad husband, then I must be a terrible father as well…” again there wasn’t much he could do, but he would admit his wrongs, he had to be honest with himself, because despite their lack of understanding, she knew him better than anyone else. 

“…I took a desperate step to stop any possibility of us expanding our family. I spend weekends away with Daisy, instead of ensuring your involvement in fun activities, you’re stuck here in a constant loop of mundane tasks. I reduced you to a housewife and please believe me when I say that it wasn’t my intention, I’m practically babysitting her when I should be here sharing the responsibility with you. I allow my mother to judge and make you feel undeserving of your role as a mother and wife. I simply stripped you of every freedom and dream that you had, there’s a lack of desire, respect and compassion on my part and I’m sorry. But I do love you more than anything, it would be so stupid of me to let you go. You’re not just a mother, you're the center of my world, and I’m just realizing that without you I would crumble, one tiny confession and I was close to breaking- I’m sorry.”

She was hurt still but he took accountability, he went on about his lack of respect for her. But she was still angry…he knew all along that his actions were making her spiral out of control. He brought more insecurities than love and she knew that finding her worth wouldn’t  be as easy. 

“Ok, I’ll go on a little break Charles…” it looked like he wanted to interrupt but her hand stopped him- “…you’re practically admitting that you knew about our downfall, yet you did nothing. Yes, you’re taking accountability but you knew what was hurting me and you didn’t stop my pain. You didn’t hold me or kiss me, just hazy nights of “passion” that I’m starting to realize weren’t worth any of my desires. I’m going on a holiday, just a peaceful time where the sun will shine with no sadness. Coming back we will go straight to couples therapy, non negotiable for our marriage. Then I will find a new job, find my purpose again. After resuming my career, I will speak with your mother about how she was hurting me… and Hopefully we will be fine” that strong wrestler had finally exploded, no more tag teams and no more built up rage from her, for the first time in months she was free. 

“You’re irreplaceable amour, I would never be happy if you left. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you. So go have fun, relax and think of your dreams and when you get back share them with me. I would love to hear everything, I want to listen again. I just don’t know when I stopped…” he kept tugging his hair in frustration, yelping from the pain. 

“…allow me to be your miserable husband again, I don’t deserve you mon amour, I know. I will never diminish everything you do for this family- this marriage will work again because I’ll work on it. You will come back with beautiful skin and I’ll be here gluing what I broke, what is mine to fix. I love you baby”she caressed his slight stubble as he sunk into her touch. She had that power to make him remember their love with the simplicity of her lingering fingertips. 

“We’ve made mistakes Charles, ever since she was born there were some things we were new to, but we lost ourselves in parenthood…”

“But it was more you, I still get to drive and go out, you lost your spark because of me. I’ve seen how you are with Daisy, you’re always happy. I know I’m the problem because you would involuntarily roll your eyes every time I came home. I just didn’t want to bother you, I needed to take her away so that you could find yourself again. I know that it’s stupid now that I’m admitting it, but just please allow me back into your life. Allow me to touch you and speak with you without me making you feel uncomfortable” 

She knew he wasn’t lying, the last few months she was rolling her eyes and making her disdain noticeable, but it was done so he could move towards her and just give her some comfort. Now she realized that it made everything worse, she looked unapproachable, she should’ve just spoken with him- their inability to communicate caused endless suffering and blame. 

“You don’t make me uncomfortable, I just wanted you to get past my hostile attitude and just hug me. Even just a silly joke Charles- God I miss you making me laugh” he sadly smiled, he hated seeing her so confused and insecure about his intentions- about his love.

“I love you bébé, I guess the bump on my head made me realize just how stupid I’ve been-” instead of a laugh like he was expecting, she winced. So he tickled her side slightly, emitting a breathy laugh from her. 

“-I’m ok, just after I’m discharged will you leave?”

“I’ll make sure that you’re comfortable at home and I’ll plan where I’ll go, probably will visit my family and go somewhere with a beach” 

“Maybe somewhere in Italy?” He was starting to slowly flutter his eyes, trying to keep himself awake, but her insignificant touch was lulling him to a deep sleep, again a simple touch meant everything to him. 

“I do miss the weather ther…” he had fallen asleep, now it was her turn to get some rest, he was safe and for the most part they were ok. More things had to be solved but he apologized and she stood her ground and for that she was very proud. 

————

Her trip went better than expected, she still communicated daily with Daisy and Charles. She talked more with her daughter, they were unfortunately still too awkward. The moment he tried to kiss her goodbye, he butted his head against her forehead. They cringed because they had forgotten the simple act of kissing. 

So for about a month, she became content with the fact that their lips touched for a few seconds and that they haven’t touched ever since. He had been respectful, and very involved with tasks that she was used to doing. School drop off, meals, house chores, the shopping, but most importantly the loneliness he felt. 

Not having your partner was painful, for five months he was gone, and now that he wore her shoes he could feel just how much responsibility she had in their home.

The rooms felt vacant and during nights it was even worse. The mornings were peaceful, but her sleepy eyes weren’t looking at him first thing in the morning. He also realized that his perfect angel was not so perfect. The tantrums were something that he wasn’t used to, sure he did experience them, but he always did reward her behavior. 

For a month he felt guilty and sad, after those tantrums the house was eerie and he honestly felt like a villain. Even in the silence he had to apologize for the peace he was feeling. He didn’t offer anything but cuddles and for the first time Daisy was mad at him.

Yet he felt bad and proud at the same time, his eye bags and teary eyes were a sign that a few days with her didn’t amount to a whole routine with her. He wasn’t used to this, and now that he thought about it, no wonder his wife became dull as well.

So he did what he thought was necessary and he reversed one of his mistakes- the vasectomy. Seven months ago he did what he thought was best, but now he knew that he betrayed her.

 A new baby wouldn’t solve anything and it’s not like they would try right away, he wasn’t even sure if that’s what she wanted still, but he went ahead and did it anyway.

In a few years he would be retired and expanding the family would be beautiful. They enjoyed Daisy for so many years, but he didn’t really experience her being a mother. One because he was gone, two because he cared what everyone had to say about their parenting and three because he was simply selfish.

Now he understood that his wife’s needs and feelings were appropriate, that she didn’t want his mother butting in. Her parents never got involved, so why should he let his mother get in between his relationship? 

He also understood that her way of raising Daisy was beautiful, that she had a routine of organized chaos instead of the lifestyle that he threw her in for a few weekends. 

He also felt that his disruptions to Daisy’s week, made his wife feel betrayed that he was going against her wishes and advice, to total bad habits. 

So of course she lost control of her life, he took that away from her, and now as they sat in the therapy session, he was able to abide by her rules, while also keeping some of his good habits in hand. 

His mother was told of her role, she apologized and she really was sincere. Since Charles was not stopping her controlling actions, she thought that she was actually benefiting the family, but in reality she was pushing and hurting her daughter in law. From that moment forward Charles defended his wife.

Therapy was relaxing, they each got to talk, no interruptions. There was comprehension, respect, accountability and love. 

Their therapist had never seen a couple so involved and desperate to fix their distance, but she could see that they weren’t as separated. Their level of commitment and vulnerability allowed for them to admit everything.

Sure there was pain and frustration, even some accusations in the first sessions, but there was progress and more importantly a deep awareness of their love. They started to be more intimate and more confident with actual silly banter and delicate gestures, such as kissing, hugging, and going beyond that. 

The talk of his secret vasectomy opened her wound again, but he reassured her that it was also his decision to reverse his mistake. He did want another baby, but he also wanted to experience the pregnancy all over again, the worry and confusion he sometimes felt, but he would do it all over again, because he had her, his wife, not just a mother but the love of his life.

“I was afraid-” she hummed, clearly too preoccupied with not burning the chicken she was making.

“-when you were gone I was afraid of failing Daisy, but also you. I underestimated just how hard your routine actually is, when I’m gone I just know you feel alone and I’m sorry” 

“You’re working Charles, I will never hold you back-”

“I know, but I’m sorry that I did. My distance shattered all your goals, but you don’t even know just how happy I feel when I see you working on new designs. Your spark is back, and the best thing is that you still manage to keep everything together. We're not perfect because I don’t want to give us unrealistic expectations but I really believe you’re perfect. You’re the best mother, wife and human being, I love you so much”

“I love you too Charles, and you’re also not so bad” he slightly bumped his hip against hers, resulting in quiet giggles and silly pecks. The mundane tasks were back but most importantly his involvement. 

She needed Charles just as much as he needed his everything. Daisy now had the best of one world, instead of a divided one where her mother felt lonely and his father felt too important. She wasn’t just a mother, she became a whole new person because she changed and it was sad that Charles couldn’t keep up. 

Eventually Charles and Daisy both realized that they needed her, because her love was limitless and timeless. They were all connected with the ups and downs of being a family and they just needed a reminder of following their journey with zero guilt and a lot of love. Charles also had to remember that he was lucky to have two beautiful girls that he would do anything for and this time he would never forget the best version of himself. 

The End…

a/n: I know there was little dad content, but I couldn’t just make Charles a perfect father, because there’s no such thing. Not saying that there aren’t involved fathers but in most cases there’s always the ‘fun’ one and the ‘crazy’ one. So I just wanted to bring more context to the story and of course I’ll keep expanding their little universe, as per usual, feel free to share ideas that you might have for this series and thank you!!!- lots of love, Nat ❤️

*The next story will be a combination of some requests that I haven’t done that I’ve answered, they are both friends to lovers so I just decided to bring them together and form a bigger story. 

Charles knew that he loved her more than anything, that despite all his chaos he found serenity in the most energetic girl. She was lively, always so positive and comforting, just what he needed when coming home.

She didn’t expect anything from him and that allowed him to give more. To be a good boyfriend and an even better human being. She knew that he was sensitive, that outside stressors would get to him, not to mention his horrible mentally of failing but she was right there encouraging him, believing that no one else was better than him. 

“What else should I be doing? I can’t do more” his tears were threatening to spill, his light eyes were now dark due to the horrible insecurities that plagued his mind. 

“You’ll be fine my love, you’ve done everything you could” 

“I was so close, that turn messed me up- I could’ve done more…” She was quick to comfort him, humming his favorite song to calm him down and that's how he found himself running home to her after every win and every loss. 

However he never imagined that she would lose the spark she carried. That she would get lost in a sea of negative comments about him and her. Now she was the one that expected him to put a stop to her endless list of self-improvements that everyone else wanted for her. 

One year together and they were a quiet couple, only because she had to be elegant. The moment she showed just how hyper she was she was deemed childish. According to many she had to be mysterious and intimidating, but somehow still have a calm aura. 

It just couldn’t be done, so she walked away from his public lifestyle, and he understood. He just didn’t know that she was planning to change, a full three-sixty to her brightness. She was with Charles, she couldn’t be lively, she could maintain pure intentions but never a sense of humor. 

His fans decided for her, as if they knew him better than she did. But of course she started to believe them, because repetition is harmful to the heart. The constant pressure of not being enough for such a prominent figure in the F1 world. She wasn’t even a model, just a normal girl. 

Charles had a track record of finding normal girls and somehow they always fit in, but of course they also started to spiral into what people wanted them to be. They found ways to break the spirits of those beautiful girls and now it was her turn. 

They were always up to something, creating new rumors about them, and sometimes they were so absurd. He was right next to her and she believed that he was tired of her, even if he was clinging to her like a monkey. “Do we have to break up for them to finally leave me alone or even worse love me? There’s nothing else I can do” 

“Huh? What’s wrong?” He scrambled out of her hold to get a good look at her teary eyes. 

“They hate on us when we’re together but the moment we break up they will call me an it girl or something else, but the harm will be done because I wouldn’t have you” 

“Who cares what they think amour, you’re someone that they don’t really know. They don’t know that you’re the person that cares without hesitation, you give me your love. I finally feel like the softness within me is not a weakness because you’ve shown me that there is still good in the world, that being sensitive isn’t harmful to me. Don’t turn into a hard human baby, remain soft with me.”

“I’m trying but it’s too much, I have worry and I used to be so focused on only us, but it was inevitable- the stressors finally came to me” 

“Do you think I haven’t noticed how you started to quiet down, how you don’t jump on me the moment I’m home, how you don’t hum to comfort me, I’m the one that is doing all of that and I don’t mind. I’ll get you out of that darkness, because you deserve my love and I deserve my happy girl” 

“Have I at least been making you happy?…” he scoffed, completely offended with her question. 

“You encouraged me to stop paying attention to the people that push me to be someone that I’m not. I’ve won a lot with you, and I’m not talking about podiums. I’m secure and happy with you, I’m so happy with you” 

“They don’t see that, they see a lackluster relationship…”

“How would they know? The videos that you are barely in or the few races that you do go to? You don’t give them anything to talk about and that’s why they assume. They are lies amour, they can say everything about me because I’m a public figure, but you are a private person that is losing her shine all to please people that have no say”

“I’m with you so I have to be poised, somehow I have to show them that I’m mature but that I’m also not a sad case, I have to be composed, yet somehow defend you and look proud with an alluring little smile, but even all of that is too much, I still offend them. I know that you’re trying to change the ending of all your fairytales with me, that you want to be better for me, but what if…”

“No what ifs amour, I’m hearing all your worries and I’m not trying to be better, I am better just for you. There was a lot of adjusting to my lifestyle, but I’m giving you full control of this relationship, I want you to decide what’s best for you and for me. I want your smiles and your laughs, even your cheesy jokes and silly pranks. I need that because you can’t pretend in the comfort of our home…” 

His wonderful exes failed to leave their public persona out of his home, the spontaneity went missing because they grew afraid and he wanted her to not go through that, yes he was changing his ending and that was to not experience another one. 

“…I don’t want to experience another ending, it’s all a new beginning with you. Everyday you give me something to absolutely go crazy about and I’ll never grow tired of being with you, because I love you more than anything and everyone” 

“Even more than racing?” Her eyes were hopeful instead of clear and that hurt him that she didn’t know just how much she meant to him, how far he would go to always have her love. 

“Way more, at the end of the day, racing is not there to comfort me, sure it makes me happy but sometimes it lets me down and you haven’t. You’re the love of my life and I’m sorry if I don’t know how to comfort you and I’m also sorry that you have to deal with so much negativity…I don’t know if I’m showing you all that I could give…”  

“You’re joking right? Poof, all my doubts suddenly vanished…” she finally smiled, her silliness was back. 

“…I know just how much you love me. Preferring me over anyone else just proves that we’re enough for each other. That we’re worthy of this love, I’m happy that you bring me back with your voice, that our sweet nothings give us a comfort and clarity, but more importantly closure for our doubts” 

“They’re always hoping for my demise, you know? And that includes you in there. But I will never give them the satisfaction of seeing me miserable, I haven’t been in a long time, ever since you showed up in my life”

“Then I must be better, I’ll just focus on us all over again. I want us to bounce off each other, you’re happy I’m happy, you’re sad I’m sad and so on. We’re sensitive and that’s ok, remember?”

“It will be fine, I understand that you want to step away from the public. I prefer for our love to be private, but let’s not be afraid anymore ok”

“Ok, I’ll become their it girl” he chuckled as she tried to flip her hair. 

“Your style is already perfect, I don’t understand what they complain about?”

“They just want you”a smug look always looked good on him, but she smacked his chest, too much confidence develops into arrogance. 

“And they have me, not physically obviously. But I do try to bring happiness to their life and that should be enough”

“It is enough, like those vlogs, you post even have me giggling” he smiled happy that he brought even more happiness into her life. 

“And I’m giving them lots of podiums”

“You have, and hopefully a world championship”

“Let’s hope yeah, I have to add another accomplishment to my life, but it will be impossible to get anything else better than you, I won when I found you”

“I love you” 

“I love you more…” and with a relieved kiss they sealed their hearts with sweet nothings. Even nothing with him was blissful, having no choice but to appreciate the sweetness of everything, something and nothing in his world. 

The End…

a/n: I have a few requests that I need to go through and if I don’t write them, I do apologize but I don’t want to get overwhelmed again. I hope you understand. Lots of love and I’m sorry again for my absence. Nat ❤️

Do people really fall in love with the wrong person? Because if you would’ve asked her that question two months ago, she would’ve told you no. Charles was the right person for her, she found him at the right place and time.

They had a stable and loving relationship, for two years he was the most supportive and caring boyfriend. He was calm and charming, never toxic or disrespectful. Jealousy wasn’t present and neither unnecessary or unexpected arguments.

She never wanted to attack him with a fight, or make him feel guilty about something that was clearly not his fault. So if there was ever a misunderstanding he would calmly talk to her, comforting her if she was upset and she would do the same for him. 

Their misunderstandings often had to do with the distance, she lived alone, all because of her busy job in the city. So to solve the issue, not only did he propose but that meant moving in with him. 

He bought a bigger home, new furniture and ensured that her same lifestyle would follow her. Never the one to make her seem less than him because she had to work a lot more for less money. 

The idea sounded so dreamy and perfect, but soon their relationship started to crumble. The arrival of the new furniture started thousands of arguments. A couple was tested building a bed frame and a few dressers.

“No just let me do it Charles” did that hurt his manly feelings, probably but he wasn’t being useful with the tools. 

“No, I'm stronger…” if it was the Charles before her move he would probably tell her that he knew she was capable of doing it, but that he wanted to help, not diminish her abilities.

“That has nothing to do with our predicament, you just can’t seem to read, and if we don’t have a stable bed what then?” 

“It’s not like we will break it…” however when they were confident enough to finish the bed they moved on to a dresser, after dozens of whispered comments, that weren’t at all nice.

Night time quickly caught up to them, and after a nice shared shower and some dinner they laid on the bed, which quickly swallowed them. It broke down, their scared shrieks were quickly masked by angry rants to each other. 

“See I told you” 

“No I told you that you were getting in my way, I knew the support beam was loose and you told me it was perfect” 

“But if you would’ve left me alone, none of this would’ve happened” 

“Just admit that you suck at building furniture” 

“I’m not admitting to that…” they night continued with malicious comments, until they simply fell asleep on the mattress. The next morning she hired professional help to build all the rest of the furniture. 

Of course he breathed a sigh of relief, but as soon as the helpers came and went, he started another argument. She thought that it would be their last after they both apologized, but she was wrong.

“Did you really hire help, I’m capable…”

“Charles please” she was begging now.

“No amour, you can’t possibly think that I’m not manly…” the way she spoke next only made Charles more angry, she lowered her voice, just like she would do when she was tired or disappointed, and maybe this time it was both. 

“Charles baby, we both know that you’re not good at building things, but that has nothing to do with your masculinity, so stop pretending that this is hurting your feelings” 

“No, because it is…I wanted you to come to a furnished and finished home, but you decided to come early…”

“You told me to” a desperate sigh left her lips, frustration evident in the way she tilted her head to the ceiling. 

“Look, next time please allow me to build everything…I’m sorry ok” and that little apology apparently made everything better at the moment, because she slowly walked into his embrace and a few soft kisses and that was it, but after that first resolution, no more apologies followed the dozens of arguments that they would have. 

A nice relaxing shower was just what Charles needed, he allowed the water to flow down his back, chest… was there a ball of hair by the drain…scratch that, all over the tile? 

Because his vision was not deceiving him, swirly fallen hair was on the tile wall, her hair. The same hair that he now had to rinse off from his body because of course it had made its way to his skin. 

At first he felt a bit bad that she was losing hair, the stress of job hunting was getting to her, but the fact that she would carelessly leave it all over the wall was driving him insane. 

So he gathered the ball of hair, and he threw it at her, her scared shriek could’ve been a little bit funny, but he was seeing red. There was no disgust because it was just hair, but that habit had to stop because it was her hair that was making a mess. 

“Seriously, all over the wall and clogging the drain, it’s just disrespectful that your hair is everywhere, I have to find it in places that are not meant for your hair to be in”

“Sorry it won’t happen again, It’s just instinct I always do it just this time I forgot to clean it up” her sheepish smile almost made him break but it didn’t. 

“No but seriously don't be so careless next time…” but was she really that careless that a week later, his hair was all over the sink, he had shaved and now the little black hairs were invading the sink. 

He was smiling that morning, he looked very handsome and fresh, but her anger made her snap. The breakfast that he prepared was forgotten when she pulled him out of the kitchen. 

“Hey you shaved huh?” 

“Yeah why? Do I look handsome” he started to wiggle his eyebrows, but he soon stopped when he saw her serious face, she was not amused.

“Come with me” she demanded, and she very quickly pulled him. 

“You see this…” she pointed at the sink, and apology was ready to leave his lips, but “…you gave me so much shit for my hair and you do the same thing” 

“Hold on, that’s not fair…It’s not even much, it’s scattered bits” 

“Then you are blind Charles, that’s clearly so many” 

“Just please stop” usually he would remain silent, and let the scolding happen, but walking out of the bathroom was not in his best interest, because he didn’t apologize, plus spending the whole rest of the day gaming while it was his turn to wash dishes was not fair and that’s how their new domestic lives changed for the worst. 

His actions were disappointing her, but the fact that he  was reducing her to a housewife was the worst thing he could’ve done. She was cleaning every corner of the house, washing his clothes, dishes, even his sweaty clothes because if not there would be a pile of clothes stinking up her home, her home because she was the only one taking care of it. 

But she guesses that he would reiterate that he pays for everything, so in reality it wasn’t her home. He did have a good time reminding her that he was busy with work to clean.

“Hey, have you seen my phone?” 

“No, I could try calling it?” He nodded, looking at her to hurry.

“Why do you need your phone so badly?” 

“I have a meeting…so anything?”

“Nope, I’m sorry”

“Are you hearing that noise, like a banging?”

“Oh yes, it’s the washing machine…”

“Did you wash my clothes that I just took off?” He sounded angry to the brink of yelling.

“Yes, saves me more trouble…” she hurried off to catch him, because she was so confused.

“My phone, you washed my phone!” The sudden stop of the machine and the mess he was making taking out all the wet clothes, was just making her sad. She knew that she would be yelled at and probably be left to clean all the mess. 

“I’m sorry Charles, I swear I usually check but…” 

“Is that all you know how to say? ‘I usually check’, huh? to me it just makes you careless and stupid…”

“Don’t call me that Charles, if you would wash your own clothes, we wouldn’t be here…”

“But didn’t you feel the pockets?”

“Yes ok, but I had to load three today, counting bed sheets, my clothes, your clothes, so I’m sorry if I didn’t have time to check, I’m just so overwhelmed…”

“I again didn’t tell you to do that for me…”

“I know, but there’s too much mess in here…”

“I will hire someone, I told you I could if it’s too much for you, but since you’re not doing much the least you could do is clean” if he would’ve taken a  good look at her, if only, but he didn’t, he just shrugged his shoulders. 

“You’re right, so I’ll stop complaining, here take my phone and don’t you dare hire someone, that will be another thing to hold against me” the phone was roughly slapped on his chest, was he startled? Yes, but the ghostly touch of her hands left no room for any more discussion or apologies, not that he would apologize. 

For whatever reason he started to clean here and there, just his stuff, he never did her laundry or pick up after her. She didn’t care because he was doing his own chores, one less thing to worry about. 

Job hunting in Monaco was horrible, maybe she would have to find a job in Nice where she lived before, maybe she should’ve never left, but that’s one mistake she won’t ever make again. 

Charles would spend half of his free time in his game room, while she begged for his attention, one simple peck every day and that was their intimacy. 

She was tired and overwhelmed by the pressure of living with Charles, she wasn’t comfortable in her own home. She tiptoed around every room, she couldn’t even watch tv, afraid that she would disturb him. 

She no longer asked about his career, and he never mentioned it. She was never encouraged to go travel with him and it seemed like he didn’t want her to be around. 

Not to mention the endless dinners and parties with friends, tipsy Charles was annoying and mean. Once again she wasn’t invited, so overall she was alone with no purpose. 

So even going to ask him if he wanted to see a film with her, was a bit awkward. Two years and she was scared of his sudden reactions, she didn’t know him. 

“Hey Charles, do you want to watch a film with me…”

“I can’t I have a stream soon”

“Oh, I-um thought that you didn’t want to stream anymore?” 

“Yes but I have a few days off, so I can relax” 

“If you’re done early, could you join me?…” but he turned his back on her, there was no point in continuing the conversation if he was uninterested. 

She went back to the living room, but only to turn off the tv, no movie could possibly make her happy. She could organize the closet, she did need to donate a few things, getting rid of the clutter will allow her mind to clear up.

The hours caught up to her, she was folding and packing things in bags. Her back was turned to the door, so she had no clue when a very freaked out Charles came in. 

“What’s going on?” There was a hint of worry.

“What? I can’t clean the closet now ", condescending and a bit frustrated with his question, she turned to look at him. 

“No amour…it’s not that, but could I join you?” 

“I rather you not, you will mess up my cleaning system” 

“You wanted to spend time with me, so I stopped the stream early…” She looked at the time on her phone, five hours ago she asked him to watch the movie with her, so he certainly was in no rush to be with her.

“That was exactly five hours ago, right now I’m cleaning”

“Cleaning, is that all you know how to do?” He had the audacity to hold that against her.

“Spending time with your friends, is that all you know how to do?”

“I’m having fun, I need a break from my job, because I do work, I don’t spend my whole weeks cleaning” her eyes filled with fresh tears because if he would’ve looked a bit harder, he could’ve seen the dry tears from her previous crying session. 

“Don’t worry, next week I start my job again” 

“What do you mean again? The same company hired you”

She cleared her throat, avoiding the sound of weakness that was threatening to come out. “Yes, I will be making a short commute, I couldn’t find anything here, so the train will take me there…” 

“Why did you leave in the first place, if that was your whole plan….”

“That wasn’t the plan Charles, you know that I needed to find a job here, and it’s simply impossible”

“Why didn’t you discuss this with me?” She scoffed, saving the urge to not let out a loud cackle. 

“Not like you would’ve listened to me, besides I need to start contributing” 

“I never told you that you had to…”

“Are you playing a sick joke on me?”

“Wha-What, of course not?”

“Just go back to your friends ok, I can’t really talk to you right” she turned around again, looking for the pairs of the single socks. 

“And why not?”

“Because I’ll end up more disappointed” the silence was haunting her brain, was he processing everything or did he really have nothing else to say? 

However as she looked in his direction he was no longer in the closet. That was her time to let the tears fall once again, she was so tired. There she questioned if she really wanted to live the rest of her life with a selfish man.

Because he was selfish, and he never was. Maybe it was the drastic changes or maybe it was the real Charles that was deciding to show up, he was no longer hiding his true intentions or his real identity, he had changed, maybe he didn’t even love her anymore. 

Her bright red suitcase was there, so she packed. She wanted to have something ready in case she needed to leave in a hurry and maybe it was for the best. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Packing- leaving if that’s what you’re wondering” her sniffles and stained cheeks finally created the reaction that she was looking for, he saw her pain but he also grew anxious and scared, she was going to leave. 

He was next to her in no time, taking all of the stuff she was putting in, and throwing them on the floor. He was just slowing her down- her mind was made. 

“Charles, I will need to clean that up… and it won’t change the fact that I’m leaving”

“Stop! For one second please” she flinched as she backed away, she hated being yelled at, it was a tiny raise of his voice, but it was enough for her to be wary of him. 

“Amour, just listen to me…” She needed to leave his presence, a raise of his voice was the breaking point, scaring her was their ending. No amount of apologies would make her stay, not after all the pain and loneliness she felt. 

“No Charles, what I was hoping for was a simple apology, to tell me that you’re sorry about picking fights and making me feel unwelcome here. I thought that moving in together would solve the issue of distance but you seem to want to spend more time with your friends than me. I thought that moving in together would mean a domestic bliss, but you hate doing things with me, the mundane stuff…” 

“Yeah but that was before I knew how unbearable it would become to have you here every day…and don’t walk away because I’m not done, it’s unbearable because all you want to do is clean, and I’m not saying that it’s bad, however I want to cuddle or cook together, but you like to point out everything that I’m doing wrong, it’s like I’m constantly failing at being a good fiancée, so how will I be a good husband? If now you’re leaving me?” 

“I was blindsided, do you know that? This move and the responsibilities, obligations, the stress and the fights, have come out of nowhere, bringing me down…I was unprepared for this attack of selfishness and fear of losing you…but I’m not afraid anymore, I lost you Charles, our relationship has failed, all because you find me unbearable. You’ve lost me Charles and you won’t make me stay” 

“What do you want me to do?” Easy thing to ask for her help, for her to solve everything and his begging was not enough, it wouldn't make her feel any better.

So she found comfort in knowing that apologies were simple excuses that would never be enough. So why wait for them, when instead of delaying your healing you could be thriving away from the people who hurt you.

“Please I will do anything, you can’t leave me. We were going to get married soon” 

“Yet you treated me like a someone who meant nothing to you” 

“You mean everything to me, please believe me, I just lost myself”

“No you felt suffocated, we enjoyed our freedom too much, the only difference was that you still had that freedom, while I was a prisoner in this stupid fancy cellar. So I don’t believe you because you still haven’t apologized…”

“I’m sorry amour, I love you so much…”

“Please don’t call me that and allow me to pack, just let me do this thing for myself” 

“What if we rushed this moving process? What if we just go back to our old lives and move slower?” It wasn’t a bad idea, but her self-love was nonexistent and to regain some control she had to leave and stand her ground. 

“It’s not a bad idea Charles, I still love you but I can’t” 

“Why not?” Tears were now spilling freely, burning and blinding their minds. 

“Because you really hurt me and I can’t hate myself” he kept shaking his head in pure denial. 

“I’m sorry that I was the cause of all your pain, I wasn’t doing it intentionally- you have to know that I never meant to hurt you” he looked guilty and she would have forgiven him, but she felt alone, she was deeply hurting.

“It was meant to be a wonderful experience, you were the one for me Charles, I had no doubt about it, but this ring was the only reminder that I had you. You were physically and mentally separated from me and I can’t justify your apologies and forget about my loneliness and pain.” 

She started to slide that beautiful ring from her hand, as he looked. He hoped that the ring would get stuck, becoming his only chance for her to keep a part of him, but of course it was smoothly placed on his open palm. 

“You mean everything to me and I do love you so much, I’m very sorry for hurting you and if being away from me is the only way for you to be happy again, then I won’t stop you. Find joy in your heart again” 

“Thank you Charles, I’m sorry for…” he shook his head, not wanting her to continue an apology that shouldn’t exist. He didn’t want her to lie or try to make him feel better, he wanted to hurt during his closure to feel all the pain she felt. 

“Don’t apologize ok? You have nothing to apologize for. I already lost you and I know that it was my fault, so allow me to hurt, it’s my turn now” she took a step forward and so did he, and their lips met for one last time, in a horrible kiss because he realized that her lips were already unfamiliar, he had forgotten how they felt and tasted like. 

So he kissed more desperately, to try and memorize everything they shared together… to never forget the feeling of being loved by her. One last murmured “I love you” and he stepped back, allowing her to pack and move on to another chapter- one without him as her happy ending. 

So, do people really fall in love with the wrong person? No…she liked to believe that time wasn’t right for them, she couldn’t imagine never loving Charles or being loved by him. He did love her deeply and purely- he was a great partner for her, until they grew scared of a settled relationship. 

She suffered trying to gain back her freedom, she felt alone in every aspect of her life, so maybe she just had to learn to live without him. 

The apologies that she yearned for were uttered too late- she had waited long enough to hear them, that eventually she decided to leave to find inner peace. 

She had the strength to continue a life without him, the same routine and lifestyle; although her days were dark and bitter she continued, until he was a distant but sweet memory. 

She did miss him, but not like she missed him when she had him. Leaving her to often wonder if she would ever be loved again. 

Honestly he never stopped loving her, but all in  distance because he didn’t appreciate her when he had her…he couldn't complain. It Was better to see her thrive and grow without him.

She lived securely in his heart and mind, and she would often visit him in his wildest of dreams, only there he could remember what she was like- how they loved. 

Charles did hope that someday they would meet again and fall in love all over again. Maybe not in this lifetime but in one where they weren’t attacked by uncertainty. One thing he did know was that she would be loved again. She didn’t have to worry about that because she was always the right person to fall in love with. 

The end…

a/n: Thank you so much for the request, I hope you liked the other version…. I love writing for Charles, but it does get busy sometimes, that’s why I leave for a bit, but expect two fics for him every month, from now on. One request (if I have any) and another one from me. If I limit writing here that will keep me more on track and less worried about keeping this blog alive. I hope you understand amores. Lots of love and stay safe- Nat ❤️

Request:

How do you know if he is proposing? Well you don’t, it must be kept a secret. However that would require good luck and well Charles was not known for being lucky. 

Yes he was clumsy and a bit of a nervous wreck, but he was a true romantic, going to great extents to make their night magical…and after all he was her mess. 

That same mess that was pacing back and forth during Christmas Eve dinner, whispering to his mother like a sneaky child that wants to do something bad, but in his case he wanted to do something right for the first time in ages…he wanted to marry her. 

He knew that he was giving away too much and frankly he didn’t care because her amused face was a great sign that she will stick with him forever, even if his hand was shaking.

Even if the “dinner” made him so sick that he had his head deep in the toilet and even if he still didn’t know how to propose to her. A magical night and a hopeless romantic that had no clue when to pop the question. 

Everything else was nicely planned out, they would hug and wish everyone in their tiny family a merry Christmas, everyone would go to sleep in their respective homes and there he would have her alone, but what then? How could he make it less obvious? 

She loved the holiday, loved the cheer and the magic it brought…a night where everyone pretends to believe for the sake of children, but she believed in a greater gift and that was love. There is nothing better than to be surrounded by people who love you.

She spent multiple holidays alone, her spark diminished as she realized that her magic was gone…but he took her in, made her a part of his family and now as she hugged everyone around her she realized that she was lucky to be surrounded by that blissful joy. 

She was a bit confused why everyone started to slowly excuse themselves to sleep, last Christmas everyone stayed up so late, their tipsy laughter created a fun atmosphere. 

“Why is everyone going to bed Charles?” 

“My brothers have to go to their partners Christmas in the morning… and my mother has brunch with her best friend” he wasn’t lying, but the random pauses were questionable. 

“Oh-what do we have planned for tomorrow?” Hopefully a nice romantic morning, but yet again a little white lie wouldn’t hurt…

“A calm morning, opening some presents, a nice breakfast made by me…” 

“Will it be a nice breakfast though?”

“Probably not, but the Christmasy spirit will hopefully help” 

“Or food poisoning?” He laughed at her tiny dig, their first date where he had to cook, they both ended up in the hospital with severe pain. 

She kept advancing to the doorway where his plan would begin, and the nerves grew stronger. He was so afraid of messing up, but it was inevitable. 

“Look up”

“Wh-what…oh a mistletoe” he pulled her flush into him, a soft yet hungry kiss that left her a bit dizzy. Usually kisses like those were reserved for more intimate moments, but he had no shame.

The little hums of pure pleasure were getting to him, but he had to stick to his plan…confuse her a bit and bang pop the question. 

Foreheads touching she reminisced about all their other holidays that they had spent together, but what was that shine from the tree? 

It wasn’t the lights and it wasn’t the nice decorations, it had a bright and blinding shine, almost like a diamond. So with sure steps to the tree she was about to ask him if he was seeing it. 

But he was freaking out, having no choice but to improvise and as she turned around to ask him, he was already on his knee. 

She tried to contain her gasps and tears but it was no use because she was already a crying mess. At any moment she would just say yes without hearing his proposal, but she still waited. 

“I always knew that you were the one, that I wanted to love you for the rest of my life…I know that I’m known to not have a lot of luck in my life, but I am lucky-simply because I have you. I had this whole thing planned from beginning to end, I of course messed up…” they both shared a soft unfortunate laugh. 

“…But I picked this day because I know the meaning that it holds for us, there’s magic everywhere, so much contagious joy and love. You’re my family bébé, it’s small now but with your wish it will expand. I want us old and gray and I know that it will happen because you love like no one else, with so much patience and determination and just know that it’s mutual…so because I always knew that you were my one and only love, allow me to marry you…so amour will you marry me?” 

They were both sniffling messes, so many unshed tears that were clogging their vision, but he did see the rigorous nods.

“Yes Charles I’ll marry you” it was a mere whisper, but she had to let everything sink in and besides the ring was still not on her finger. 

He jumped to his feet hugging and kissing her with so much pride and love. “I love you so much Charles, it was exactly like how I imagined, we share a vision baby…winging it with pure chaos” 

“I like that amour, but you had to see the shimmer huh?” He slightly leaned towards the tree, picking the beautiful silver ring from a flimsy branch. There he fondly repeated the words and finally the ring was a perfect match for her.

“It’s beautiful Char, perfect for me…how did you know?” She observed the ring with so much emotion, it was more than jewelry, it was a promise. 

“I always observed amour and besides it’s a simple-elegant ring” but she was still a bit curious about his original plan. 

“How were you going to propose?”

“Does it matter now? Because I actually liked how it turned out, more natural and genuine…all the pressure that I felt for weeks disappeared because I was afraid” 

“Did you think I would say no…”

“Oh no, I was afraid that I would make a fool of myself, but surprisingly everything that I felt throughout the years just made its way to your ears and hopefully your heart” 

“It did baby, so perfect and just so you know I’m lucky as well, because I have a thoughtful and loving fiancé, that has promised and delivered pure magic to me, so thank you” 

“Thank you for accepting my flaws and giving them love as well, I can’t promise perfection, but we’re close to it which is all that matters, I love you” a passionate kiss led to a beautiful romantic night and morning for the soon to be married couple and she was lucky that he stayed out of the kitchen. 

So how do you really know if your partner is proposing? Well you hope that he doesn’t back down, that he continues to try even if he fails, because despite all of his attempts and efforts he will deliver only a true declaration of devotion and that is promising a life filled with magic but most importantly love. 

The End…

a/n: Short, sweet, and simple but I loved writing it- Thank you so much for the request, please be safe- Lots of love, Nat ❤️

Request:

Do people really fall in love with the wrong person? Because if you would’ve asked her that question two months ago, she would’ve told you no. Charles was the right person for her, she found him at the right place and time.

They had a stable and loving relationship, for two years he was the most supportive and caring boyfriend. He was calm and charming, never toxic or disrespectful. Jealousy wasn’t present and neither unnecessary or unexpected arguments.

She never wanted to attack him with a fight, or make him feel guilty about something that was clearly not his fault. So if there was ever a misunderstanding he would calmly talk to her, comforting her if she was upset and she would do the same for him. 

Their misunderstandings often had to do with the distance, she lived alone, all because of her busy job in the city. So to solve the issue, not only did he propose but that meant moving in with him. 

He bought a bigger home, new furniture and ensured that her same lifestyle would follow her. Never the one to make her seem less than him because she had to work a lot more for less money. 

The idea sounded so dreamy and perfect, but soon their relationship started to crumble. The arrival of the new furniture started thousands of arguments. A couple was tested building a bed frame and a few dressers.

“No just let me do it Charles” did that hurt his manly feelings, probably but he wasn’t being useful with the tools. 

“No, I'm stronger…” if it was the Charles before her move he would probably tell her that he knew she was capable of doing it, but that he wanted to help, not diminish her abilities.

“That has nothing to do with our predicament, you just can’t seem to read, and if we don’t have a stable bed what then?” 

“It’s not like we will break it…” however when they were confident enough to finish the bed they moved on to a dresser, after dozens of whispered comments, that weren’t at all nice.

Night time quickly caught up to them, and after a nice shared shower and some dinner they laid on the bed, which quickly swallowed them. It broke down, their scared shrieks were quickly masked by angry rants to each other. 

“See I told you” 

“No I told you that you were getting in my way, I knew the support beam was loose and you told me it was perfect” 

“But if you would’ve left me alone, none of this would’ve happened” 

“Just admit that you suck at building furniture” 

“I’m not admitting to that…” they night continued with malicious comments, until they simply fell asleep on the mattress. The next morning she hired professional help to build all the rest of the furniture. 

Of course he breathed a sigh of relief, but as soon as the helpers came and went, he started another argument. She thought that it would be their last after they both apologized, but she was wrong.

“Did you really hire help, I’m capable…”

“Charles please” she was begging now.

“No amour, you can’t possibly think that I’m not manly…” the way she spoke next only made Charles more angry, she lowered her voice, just like she would do when she was tired or disappointed, and maybe this time it was both. 

“Charles baby, we both know that you’re not good at building things, but that has nothing to do with your masculinity, so stop pretending that this is hurting your feelings” 

“No, because it is…I wanted you to come to a furnished and finished home, but you decided to come early…”

“You told me to” a desperate sigh left her lips, frustration evident in the way she tilted her head to the ceiling. 

“Look, next time please allow me to build everything…I’m sorry ok” and that little apology apparently made everything better at the moment, because she slowly walked into his embrace and a few soft kisses and that was it, but after that first resolution, no more apologies followed the dozens of arguments that they would have. 

A nice relaxing shower was just what Charles needed, he allowed the water to flow down his back, chest… was there a ball of hair by the drain…scratch that, all over the tile? 

Because his vision was not deceiving him, swirly fallen hair was on the tile wall, her hair. The same hair that he now had to rinse off from his body because of course it had made its way to his skin. 

At first he felt a bit bad that she was losing hair, the stress of job hunting was getting to her, but the fact that she would carelessly leave it all over the wall was driving him insane. 

So he gathered the ball of hair, and he threw it at her, her scared shriek could’ve been a little bit funny, but he was seeing red. There was no disgust because it was just hair, but that habit had to stop because it was her hair that was making a mess. 

“Seriously, all over the wall and clogging the drain, it’s just disrespectful that your hair is everywhere, I have to find it in places that are not meant for your hair to be in”

“Sorry it won’t happen again, It’s just instinct I always do it just this time I forgot to clean it up” her sheepish smile almost made him break but it didn’t. 

“No but seriously don't be so careless next time…” but was she really that careless that a week later, his hair was all over the sink, he had shaved and now the little black hairs were invading the sink. 

He was smiling that morning, he looked very handsome and fresh, but her anger made her snap. The breakfast that he prepared was forgotten when she pulled him out of the kitchen. 

“Hey you shaved huh?” 

“Yeah why? Do I look handsome” he started to wiggle his eyebrows, but he soon stopped when he saw her serious face, she was not amused.

“Come with me” she demanded, and she very quickly pulled him. 

“You see this…” she pointed at the sink, and apology was ready to leave his lips, but “…you gave me so much shit for my hair and you do the same thing” 

“Hold on, that’s not fair…It’s not even much, it’s scattered bits” 

“Then you are blind Charles, that’s clearly so many” 

“Just please stop” usually he would remain silent, and let the scolding happen, but walking out of the bathroom was not in his best interest, because he didn’t apologize, plus spending the whole rest of the day gaming while it was his turn to wash dishes was not fair and that’s how their new domestic lives changed for the worst. 

His actions were disappointing her, but the fact that he  was reducing her to a housewife was the worst thing he could’ve done. She was cleaning every corner of the house, washing his clothes, dishes, even his sweaty clothes because if not there would be a pile of clothes stinking up her home, her home because she was the only one taking care of it. 

But she guesses that he would reiterate that he pays for everything, so in reality it wasn’t her home. He did have a good time reminding her that he was busy with work to clean.

“Hey, have you seen my phone?” 

“No, I could try calling it?” He nodded, looking at her to hurry.

“Why do you need your phone so badly?” 

“I have a meeting…so anything?”

“Nope, I’m sorry”

“Are you hearing that noise, like a banging?”

“Oh yes, it’s the washing machine…”

“Did you wash my clothes that I just took off?” He sounded angry to the brink of yelling.

“Yes, saves me more trouble…” she hurried off to catch him, because she was so confused.

“My phone, you washed my phone!” The sudden stop of the machine and the mess he was making taking out all the wet clothes, was just making her sad. She knew that she would be yelled at and probably be left to clean all the mess. 

“I’m sorry Charles, I swear I usually check but…” 

“Is that all you know how to say? ‘I usually check’, huh? to me it just makes you careless and stupid…”

“Don’t call me that Charles, if you would wash your own clothes, we wouldn’t be here…”

“But didn’t you feel the pockets?”

“Yes ok, but I had to load three today, counting bed sheets, my clothes, your clothes, so I’m sorry if I didn’t have time to check, I’m just so overwhelmed…”

“I again didn’t tell you to do that for me…”

“I know, but there’s too much mess in here…”

“I will hire someone, I told you I could if it’s too much for you, but since you’re not doing much the least you could do is clean” if he would’ve taken a  good look at her, if only, but he didn’t, he just shrugged his shoulders. 

“You’re right, so I’ll stop complaining, here take my phone and don’t you dare hire someone, that will be another thing to hold against me” the phone was roughly slapped on his chest, was he startled? Yes, but the ghostly touch of her hands left no room for any more discussion or apologies, not that he would apologize. 

For whatever reason he started to clean here and there, just his stuff, he never did her laundry or pick up after her. She didn’t care because he was doing his own chores, one less thing to worry about. 

Job hunting in Monaco was horrible, maybe she would have to find a job in Nice where she lived before, maybe she should’ve never left, but that’s one mistake she won’t ever make again. 

Charles would spend half of his free time in his game room, while she begged for his attention, one simple peck every day and that was their intimacy. 

She was tired and overwhelmed by the pressure of living with Charles, she wasn’t comfortable in her own home. She tiptoed around every room, she couldn’t even watch tv, afraid that she would disturb him. 

She no longer asked about his career, and he never mentioned it. She was never encouraged to go travel with him and it seemed like he didn’t want her to be around. 

Not to mention the endless dinners and parties with friends, tipsy Charles was annoying and mean. Once again she wasn’t invited, so overall she was alone with no purpose. 

So even going to ask him if he wanted to see a film with her, was a bit awkward. Two years and she was scared of his sudden reactions, she didn’t know him. 

“Hey Charles, do you want to watch a film with me…”

“I can’t I have a stream soon”

“Oh, I-um thought that you didn’t want to stream anymore?” 

“Yes but I have a few days off, so I can relax” 

“If you’re done early, could you join me?…” but he turned his back on her, there was no point in continuing the conversation if he was uninterested. 

She went back to the living room, but only to turn off the tv, no movie could possibly make her happy. She could organize the closet, she did need to donate a few things, getting rid of the clutter will allow her mind to clear up.

The hours caught up to her, she was folding and packing things in bags. Her back was turned to the door, so she had no clue when a very freaked out Charles came in. 

“What’s going on?” There was a hint of worry.

“What? I can’t clean the closet now ", condescending and a bit frustrated with his question, she turned to look at him. 

“No amour…it’s not that, but could I join you?” 

“I rather you not, you will mess up my cleaning system” 

“You wanted to spend time with me, so I stopped the stream early…” She looked at the time on her phone, five hours ago she asked him to watch the movie with her, so he certainly was in no rush to be with her.

“That was exactly five hours ago, right now I’m cleaning”

“Cleaning, is that all you know how to do?” He had the audacity to hold that against her.

“Spending time with your friends, is that all you know how to do?”

“I’m having fun, I need a break from my job, because I do work, I don’t spend my whole weeks cleaning” her eyes filled with fresh tears because if he would’ve looked a bit harder, he could’ve seen the dry tears from her previous crying session. 

“Don’t worry, next week I start my job again” 

“What do you mean again? The same company hired you”

She cleared her throat, avoiding the sound of weakness that was threatening to come out. “Yes, I will be making a short commute, I couldn’t find anything here, so the train will take me there…” 

“Why did you leave in the first place, if that was your whole plan….”

“That wasn’t the plan Charles, you know that I needed to find a job here, and it’s simply impossible”

“Why didn’t you discuss this with me?” She scoffed, saving the urge to not let out a loud cackle. 

“Not like you would’ve listened to me, besides I need to start contributing” 

“I never told you that you had to…”

“Are you playing a sick joke on me?”

“Wha-What, of course not?”

“Just go back to your friends ok, I can’t really talk to you right” she turned around again, looking for the pairs of the single socks. 

“And why not?”

“Because I’ll end up more disappointed” the silence was haunting her brain, was he processing everything or did he really have nothing else to say? 

However as she looked in his direction he was no longer in the closet. That was her time to let the tears fall once again, she was so tired. There she questioned if she really wanted to live the rest of her life with a selfish man.

Because he was selfish, and he never was. Maybe it was the drastic changes or maybe it was the real Charles that was deciding to show up, he was no longer hiding his true intentions or his real identity, he had changed, maybe he didn’t even love her anymore. 

Her bright red suitcase was there, so she packed. She wanted to have something ready in case she needed to leave in a hurry. 

“What are you doing?” 

“I’m not leaving if that’s what you’re worried about” her sniffles and stained cheeks finally created the reaction that she was looking for, he saw her pain.

“So why are you packing?”

“In case I do decide to leave, maybe Tomorrow, maybe next week, or it could be a year from now, but at least I will be ready to face reality” he was next to her in no time, taking all of the stuff she was putting in, and throwing them on the floor. 

“Charles, I will need to clean that up…”

“Stop! For one second please” she flinched as she backed away, she hated being yelled at, it was a tiny raise of his voice, but it was enough for her to be wary of him. 

“Amour, just listen to me…” 

She needed to leave his presence, so a nice relaxing bath would be the solution. She locked the door and although she heard the door knob jiggle a bit, he didn’t insist much. 

However he was feeling guilty, so much so that he cleaned what was left of the closet, picking up her scattered clothes and lifting the suitcase far from her reach, there he started to realize what he was doing, yet he couldn’t stop arguing with her. 

There was so much frustration, he just felt overwhelmed with all the changes, and he just didn’t set boundaries, they both didn’t. They set chores pretty quickly but nothing else was discussed.

“Oh-you’re in here?” She walked in expecting the mess on the floor but everything was clean, which made her browse through her underwear drawer more easily. 

“Yeah, had to put everything back” 

“Thanks…” 

“You don’t have to thank me, this is my home as well, besides I made the mess” 

“What mess are we referring to?” However he was quick to communicate, to navigate those horrible decisions that he had made, he wanted to fix everything, because he was now uncertain of her love. 

“You could leave tomorrow, next week, or even in a year, but the fact is that you’re thinking about leaving me, it’s like a prenup, do you know that? it’s like you’re wishing for the demise of our relationship, hoping for failure, you’re hoping for our love to fail”

“No Charles what I’m hoping is for you to finally apologize to me, to tell me that you’re sorry about picking fights and making me feel unwelcome here, I thought that moving in together would solve the issue of distance but you seem to want to spend more time with your friends than me, I thought that moving in together would mean a domestic bliss, but you hate doing things with me, the mundane stuff…” 

“Yeah but that was before I knew how unbearable it would become to have you here every day…and don’t walk away because I’m not done, it’s unbearable because all you want to do is clean, and I’m not saying that it’s bad, however I want to cuddle or cook together, but you like to point out everything that I’m doing wrong, it’s like I’m constantly failing at being a good fiancée, so how will I be a good husband? When I saw that red suitcase, I thought that I had lost you” 

“I was blindsided, do you know that? This move and the responsibilities, obligations, the stress and the fights, have come out of nowhere, bringing me down…I was unprepared for this attack of selfishness and fear of losing you…I’m afraid that our relationship is failing…so I’m sorry if I’m unbearable, but you haven’t lost me yet, so what will you do to make me stay?”

“What do you want me to do?” Easy thing to ask for her help, for her to solve everything, but she was still waiting for an apology. 

“I have no clue Charles, figure it out, you said it yourself, I’m constantly nitpicking everything you do, so think without me interrupting” roughly grabbing her change of clothes, she walked out of the closet. 

Sleeping with Charles was different, especially when he was sulking and thinking aloud. They were miles away, sure she could hug him, but then she would lose all her progress, she needed to be tough on him. 

“I love you amour, have done so for many years, but I’m afraid as well, it all started because we couldn’t build our furniture together or at least that’s what I think started all of this, but I remember you being hesitant about moving in with me, I saw your face, you were worried, and maybe I proved you right, I was a nightmare to live with, day and night. So I’m sorry, I will follow the schedule, I will not go out with friends, and I will dedicate my time to you…”

“You don’t have to completely change your routine for me, I just want us to not argue Charles. Before we bickered, and we apologized, but it’s been weeks since that stupid incident with the bed and our apologies were superficial. I don’t want our love to turn shallow, I want us to go deeper, reach new milestones together as a married couple. I don’t want to brush intense feelings away, I need your pain, fears, anger, and love. All of it because yes I was worried about moving in together because I liked my own space to think, but maybe we need to think together because we couldn't seem to focus on the positives” 

They both turned to their sides, both in sync anxiously waiting to talk everything out, so they laughed softly when their noses bumped into each other’s, he slightly poked her nose, making her sink further into the pillow, in a dreamy state-she had missed him. 

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile in a long time, and I’m sorry for taking that beautiful smile away. I want you to know just how beautiful you truly are, that’s one positive, the other one was how easily you created a schedule for us, another positive is that you’re closer to me, I get to feel you everyday, mentally and physically, I know that I took that for granted and we became comfortable with just our crazy versions…”

“The neat freak version of us”

“…yes exactly, but I think that a bit of chaos will serve us right, so take a sock off right now”

“Why?” She chuckled, but she still took it off, while he took off his shirt. 

“….and throw it across the room” she mirrored his throw. They were giggling at his throw which probably knocked something out. However the way she found his arms was magical, she slipped right into his warm embrace. His chest was heavenly with the wonderful traces of his cologne. While he could smell her fruity shampoo and indulge in kissing her temple with no fear of rejection. 

“Let’s be messy, let’s not live in a ruled world, I know that it’s important for our structure, we have to figure out our imperfections first and then establish new and better ways to do mundane tasks together ok, but for now let’s be messy” 

“I’m sorry as well amour, I could’ve been less serious about the move, but I was so stressed” 

“You don’t have to apologize, you were trying to make this place feel like our home, and I turned it into a messy place, but not anymore” she gave him an appreciative grin. 

“ I love you”

“I love you more, don’t forget we have to start planning a wedding” 

“I was waiting for you to help me”

“I’m all in, but please don’t make the theme red, it’s already hunting enough” her soft laugh emitted a tiny tickle to his neck.

“Don’t worry I was thinking a nice sage color, I want an intimate wedding with few guests and just lots of food and sweets” 

“I like the color, will make my eyes pop more and as for a small wedding I like it, if I could it would just be us”

“Your mother would kill us” 

“I know, but it’s exciting this new stage and I will embrace it with you, I promise no more fights or streams…”

“I promise no more hair and impromptu cleaning, but I will need the suitcase” he tensed up, his hold got firmer, but his breathing hitched. 

“I can’t believe that I was pushing you away, you were thinking of leaving me that’s how horrible I was behaving”

“I don’t think I was being dramatic either, I was feeling to deeply, I just felt alone, please don’t ever make me feel like that, I had no purpose” 

“I won’t bébé, smack my head if I’m being stupid, your feelings were understandable, none of it was your fault, but I wasn’t hurting you intentionally, I just felt like I was in an unknown territory. I just want to enjoy the house with you, want to enjoy the bed, the kitchen, even the toilet without fear” 

“Are you also having trouble using the bathroom? Because I also feel awkward” A breathy and timid laugh, 

“Honestly yes, but we will learn, that's the beauty of our relationship, we will work to get better, because we love each other” she hooked her pinky with his, in a nice gesture of promising a healthy relationship. 

“To a stable and loving relationship, for the rest of our lives” 

A soft kiss was placed on her lips, starting off very gentle, but it turned messy, he felt hunger for her taste. He had missed having her, touching her and loving her. The breath of relief after their reconciliation was beautiful, his cheeks were flushed and finally he looked like her old Charles, that was the man that she fell in love with at the right place and time. 

The End….

a/n: Thank you so much for reading, requests will take me a bit of time, but I will write them, so don’t worry I’m not ignoring them, just keeping them safe. Lots of love and kisses- Nat ❤️