Saturday, Dec. 24th, 2016 - Monaco.

Nothing really surprises Nico anymore, well… nothing except his children.

Which is why he finds himself startled in the middle of flipping a pancake by a scream from the living room. High, sharp, and the source is unmistakably, his five-year-old son.

He looks back toward Lewis, who had been standing a foot away, leaning against the counter and quietly keeping him company while he made breakfast. They had both been peacefully content, relishing in the quiet before the kids woke up.

Needless to say, Lewis was also startled by what Nico can’t describe as anything but a horrified, panicked scream coming from Kimi.

Lewis’ eyebrows furrow in worry. “Kimi?” he starts, as he pushes away from the counter and moves toward the noise. “Are you okay, baby?”

Nico hesitates. “A little excited,” he admits. “But mostly scared. I don’t know who I am without racing.”

Lewis doesn’t hesitate at all.

“I do.”

Nico looks at him.

“You’re kind,” Lewis says softly. “You’re gentle. You get obsessed with one food at a time and eat it every day for weeks. You love braiding Ellie’s hair even when she asks for something impossible. You love holding Oscar when he lets you more than anything because he stopped wanting to be held a while ago. You adore how loud and chaotic Kimi is.”

Nico laughs, tears gathering up in his eyes.

“You like wearing gold jewelry,” Lewis continues. “You love throwing a football around anywhere you can, even when there’s no space at all. You love tennis. Water. Jet skis more than surfing. Snowboarding and Skiing. Reading. Music. Pistachio ice cream; which is good, but not that good, Nico.”

Nico breaks, laughing and crying at once.

“Your favorite color is dark blue. You love playing backgammon with your dad. You give the most thoughtful gifts. You take care of everyone around you.”

Lewis’ voice wavers now.

“You are the best parent our kids could have. And you’re the love of my life. You’re my favorite person in the world.”