Valentina

"You let me oversleep?!" he gasps.

"I mean I try and shake you awake but you're a deep sleeper," she says, laughing.

"We listen and we don't judge."

"When I say 'Oh, I didn't see your text,' I just didn't feel like replying yet." "Oh, my...Charles!" she says, laughing.

"In my defense, I do it to everyone, not just you," he says, trying to save himself.

"We listen and we don't judge."

"When you're mad or frustrated, I ask if you're hungry to distract you."

Charles starts cackling.

"It works every time," he admits in realization.

"We listen and we don't judge."

“Sometimes, if we’re arguing and I realize you’re right, I’ll keep going just because I don’t want to lose.”

"Charles! That's kinda toxic," she gasps.

"I don't do it for the serious stuff! Just the silly, little fights," he tells her.

"We listen and we don't judge."

"If you ask me what I want to eat and I say ‘surprise me,’ I have a very specific meal in mind and will be disappointed if you guess wrong."

"Yeah, I think in the back of my head I always knew that," Charles says.

"We listen and we don't judge."

"Sometimes I use your little towels to dry my hands," he reveals.

"My face towels?" she shrieks. "Charles! That's disgusting, I wash my face with those."

"We listen and we don't judge," Charles says by himself this time.

"Remember that sim race a couple years ago against Max and a couple of your friends? Max paid me to unplug the rig if you were beating him." Charles' jaw drops dramatically, the smile gone from his face.

"You told me the power went out! Max still holds that over my head!"

He stands with his hands behind his head. Y/N moves the camera to capture his shock.

"I have to call him," he says, pulling out his phone. "That little shit."

The sound of the dial tone ringing and Y/N's giggles fill the room.

"Why would you listen to him?" he asks her, hysterically.

"Oop, gotta go guys," she ends the video.

She puts her phone down and covers her mouth to conceal her smile.

Charles stares at his phone, pacing back and forth as it rings. Y/N watches, biting her lip to keep from laughing.

"Max," Charles says the second the line connects. "Did you pay my girlfriend to sabotage me in that sim race?"

There’s a pause, then Max’s laughter crackles through the speaker. “Oh, she finally told you? I thought she’d take that secret to the grave.”

Y/N lets out a snort, which only fuels Charles' disbelief. “You think this is funny? I lost!"

"You were gonna lose anyway," Max says, smug.

"I was ahead!"

"For, like, five laps."

"I cannot believe this! You betrayed me," he says pointing to Y/N.

"And you," Charles turns back to his phone, voice rising in indignation, "are a dirty cheater, Verstappen."

Max just laughs. "Oh, come on, mate. It was harmless fun. Besides, Y/N was surprisingly easy to convince."

Charles turns to Y/N, eyes narrowing. "How much did he pay you?"

Y/N presses her lips together, hesitating. "...Enough."

Charles scoffs. "Enough?"

Max hums in approval. “See, she knows the value of a good business deal. I respect it.”

Y/N shrugs. "In my defense, I was young and impressionable."

"It was two years ago," Charles deadpans.

Y/N winces. "Yeah, but in relationship years, that’s, like...forever ago."

Charles groans, dropping onto the couch like he's just been stabbed. "I need new friends. And a new—"

Y/N cuts him off with a kiss to his cheek. “Careful, chéri, you don’t want me taking another offer.”

Charles' eyes widen. "Max."

Max cackles. "Relax, mate. But, uh…if she ever wants to switch teams, my DMs are open.”

Charles hangs up instantly, glaring at Y/N, who’s now doubled over in laughter.

“You’re both evil.”

She grins, poking his side. “But you love me.”

Day 1

The night before, you reminded Elodie that the morning would be the first day of December, marking Snowy’s first visit. You knew this would get her excited and probably cause her to wake up earlier than usual.

It was Sunday so Elodie usually would’ve slept an extra 30 or so minutes but, as predicted, she woke earlier than she would’ve even on a weekday. 

She knocked on your door, calling your names. 

“Maman! Papa! Wake up, we have to find Snowy!”

You have become quite the light sleeper, two kids and all. As soon as Elodie knocked the first time your eyes fluttered open. Soon, you and Charles got out of bed and greeted Elodie outside your door. 

“Good morning, baby!” you say to her. She was jumping around, impatient to see if Snowy had come back. “You’re up early. I don't even think Jules is awake yet.”

“We have to go find Snowy!”

“Should we let Jules sleep while we look for him?” Charles suggests. 

“Yes!” Elodie immediately agrees. 

“Okay, let’s go find her,” you say as she grabs your hand and leads you downstairs eagerly. Charles trailed behind you both.

“Where do you think Snowy is hiding this time?” Charles asked curiously. He genuinely had no idea where the elf was. 

You and Charles took turns placing the elf each night, so every morning was a surprise to you both as well. 

“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging her shoulders comically. “Maybe the playroom?”

Elodie led you all throughout your house before you made it to the kitchen where you saw the beloved elf sitting on the counter. 

Elodie gasped, pointing toward the counter. There, perched on the fruit bowl, was Snowy holding a tiny sign that read:

Hello, Elodie and Jules! I’m back!

A trail of mini marshmallows led from the bowl to the edge of the counter.

“She’s back!” Elodie giggled, her excitement infectious. She reached out as if to touch Snowy but stopped herself, remembering the golden rule.

“No touching!” she declared, turning to you and Charles with wide eyes. “Or she’ll lose her magic!”

Charles grinned and scooped her up. “That’s right. Snowy’s got a lot of work to do watching over you and Jules.”

“Snowy’s the best,” Elodie said happily as the three of you admired the elf’s clever setup.

“Look what she left us, Ellie!” you say, pointing to the 4 advent calenders left on the counter. 

“Can I open mine now?” Elodie asks, already knowing what was waiting for her inside door one. 

You and Charles laughed as he handed Elodie her chocolate calendar. 

Day 4

You and Elodie walked into Jules' room to get him before finding Snowy. 

“Good morning, Jules!” you say, beaming as you see him sitting in his crib. 

“Hi, Juju,” Elodie greets, reaching through the bars of his crib to tickle his sock covered foot. 

You reach and grab him, settling him on your hip and walking out with Elodie. Charles was now awake and waiting on the landing. 

“Where should we look first, hmm?”

Elodie led the search going straight into the playroom, where she found Snowy in the middle of a circle made up of all of Elodie’s dolls and stuffed animals. 

“She’s reading to them!” she exclaims.

You point to them, getting Jules to look at them. He breaks into a smile, looking at you and looking back at them again. 

“She’s reading to Juju’s toys too,” she says, pointing to the stuffed animals that belonged to her brother. 

“Look, Jules,” you say, placing him on the ground near his toys. 

He grabs the one closest to him and immediately snuggles into it. You coo at him and place a kiss on his head. 

“How did he get them all here?” Charles asks her. 

“He’s magic!” Elodie immediately replies. 

Day 10

By this point, you think Jules knew what the mornings consisted of. 

His eyes would dart around the room, as if looking for Snowy just as hard as Elodie was looking. 

You knew today’s would be a good one, Charles coming to bed later than usual.

Elodie led you all throughout the house, but had no luck finding Snowy. Charles decided to steer her in the right direction. 

“Do you think she could be in the bathroom?” he asked with a small, sly smile. 

She gasped and ran to the nearest bathroom. 

“What?” you mouthed to him with a curious look. 

He just gave you a funny look and walked to the bathroom. Charles was holding Jules, so you were the last one to enter the bathroom, but as soon as you saw Snowy you let out a loud cackle and laughed louder when you saw the look of disgust on Elodie’s face.

There, sat Snowy on Elodie’s old potty training toilet. In the bowl were many morsels of chocolate representing her poo. 

“She pooed in the toilet? I didn’t even know elves could poo,” said Charles. He was having fun with this one. “Look Jules.” Jules didn’t fully understand and just gave Charles a smile when he heard his name. 

He kneeled down with Jules and got a closer look. 

“His poo looks quite yummy, don’t you think?” he commented to Elodie. She gave him a look of disgust you both couldn’t help laughing at. “I think I might try some.” He reached into the bowl and grabbed a morsel popping it into his mouth. Elodie watched his face, waiting for his reaction. 

His face lit up as he said, “Mmm, chocolate! Here, try some.” He held one out for her to have, but she shook her head fast. He held one out for Jules, popping it into his mouth when he leaned forward. 

“Juju had one, you should try it,” he said, holding another one out for her. She took it and cautiously popped it into her mouth. 

Her look of worry changed into one of surprise when she tasted the same chocolate Charles did. She looked at you excitedly.

“Elves poo chocolate, Mommy!”

You let out a laugh and led the three out of the bathroom. “We should give Snowy some privacy. Let’s let her finish her business.”

Day 17

You were extra tired last night and decided to do something easy before heading to bed. 

As you were walking out of Jules' room, you stopped in front of the mirror. One of his favorite things to do was to look back and forth between whoever was holding him and their reflection in the mirror. It was something you loved doing because he always had a bright smile on his face the whole time, his four teeth proudly on display. 

“Who’s that?” you say, holding him up to the mirror. “That’s Jules!”

He gives you a bright smile and you bring him close to you, placing multiple kisses to his forehead. 

Your family of four trekked downstairs and eventually to the kitchen. 

Elodie spotted something amiss in the oven and rushed over. There, a small sign read ‘HELP ME!’ 

“He’s stuck in the oven!” she said to you and Charles. 

Charles lifted her up so she could get a better view. 

“Maybe he was trying to make cookies and he got stuck,” you said. 

“We have to get him out!” she said. 

“But we can’t touch him,” you reminded her. “Maybe if we just don’t turn on the oven today, he’ll be able to make it out when we’re asleep.” She reluctantly accepted it and raced to her advent calendar. 

Day 22

“Snowy, where are you?” Elodie quietly sang under her breath. 

It wasn’t long before she spotted her elf in a tricky situation. Snowy had managed to unwrap some of the lights from the tree and get herself tangled in them. 

Elodie got a kick from that and laughed at the situation Snowy managed to find herself in. 

“She was trying to redecorate our tree!”

“Maybe it's a good thing she wasn’t able to get too far then, huh? She would have messed up all of our hard work!”

You all made your way to the kitchen where your advent calendars were waiting for you. 

You all ate the chocolate of the day, enjoying one of the last pieces left. 

“How many chocolates are left, Ellie?’ you ask her. 

She counts quickly, “Two!”

“And then it’s Christmas?” “And then it’s Christmas,” she confirms. 

Day 24

You all met up on the landing before walking downstairs together. 

“This is our last time looking for the elf,” you told Elodie. 

“Yeah but she’ll be back next year!” she said, ever the optimist. 

You didn’t have to look for too long to spot her. 

“She left a note!” Elodie shouted. 

“What does it say?”

Dear Elodie and Jules,

It’s time for me to fly home for Christmas! It's been so fun coming everyday and seeing how much fun you have. You have both been very good during my time here and I will be sure to let Santa know. 

I made myself a sleigh to get myself home, I hope you don’t mind me borrowing your toys for the night. I will be sure to send them back right away!

I also left you some pajamas that I personally made!

See you next year,

Love, Snowy

Elodie read the note with the occasional help of Charles. She immediately ran to change into her pajamas and begged you to change into your sets. 

“Are you going to miss her?” you ask her as you all eat your last pieces of chocolate. 

“Yeah,” she says, sounding a little bit sad. But she perks up as she says her thoughts, “But that means tomorrow's Christmas and Santa is coming!”

“That’s right!” “I’m going to stay up and get a look at him!” she announces. 

This was nothing new to you or Charles. Every year she tries to wake up in the middle of the night to try and get a glimpse of him, but every year without fail she manages to stay asleep the whole night. It was something you and Charles were immensely grateful for. 

“You have to be asleep for him to come, ma cherie,” Charles reminds her. 

“I’ll just wake up when I hear the reindeer on the roof!” she exclaims. 

Later that night, right before bed time, you get Santa’s tray ready. 

You let Elodie pick out the cookies she wanted to leave for him—cookies you baked together earlier in the week. You also let her grab the biggest carrot for the reindeer. You placed a glass of milk on the tray and brought it over right next to the fireplace. 

You all went upstairs and into Jules’ bedroom to put him to sleep first. 

You each placed a kiss on his forehead and placed him into his crib. His eyes fluttered closed almost immediately and you all made your way out and into Elodie’s room. 

Charles read her her nightly story and tucked her in when he was done reading. 

“Okay, baby. Remember, you have to be asleep for Santa to come. He won’t come if he sees you’re awake right?”

She gently nods, tired from the evening’s activities. 

“Okay, sleep tight, I love you,” you say to her as you walk to her door. Charles says the same and walks out after you. 

You and Charles wait an hour before setting everything out. You try your best to make everything seem like Santa came and visited. Cookies were eaten and milk was drunk. Anything to make your children keep the magic alive. 

The balcony was quiet save for the occasional clinking of silverware and muted voices coming from the restaurant inside. Y/N leaned against the railing, a soft laugh escaping her lips as Quinn wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

“I swear they’ve been out there since we sat down,” she murmured, her head tilting slightly toward the group of paparazzi stationed across the street.

Quinn glanced over her shoulder, his sharp eyes catching the glint of camera flashes through the darkness.

“Think they’ve gotten enough yet?” he asked, his voice low and amused.

Y/N smirked, leaning into him. “Should I wave? Maybe blow them a kiss? Really give them their money’s worth?”

“That’ll just encourage them,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching up. “Besides, you’re the movie star here. I’m just collateral damage.”

“Please,” she teased, poking him lightly in the ribs. “You’re the captain of the Canucks. Pretty sure your face is on more billboards than mine in this city.”

Quinn chuckled, pulling her hand into his. “Well, if this is making the front page tomorrow, we might as well give them something to talk about.”

“Oh, really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before she could say more, Quinn turned her toward him, his hand brushing gently against her jaw as he leaned in. The kiss was soft and unhurried, as if the world around them didn’t exist. Y/N could hear the fast camera clicks in the distance, the flashes bright even with her eyes closed.

When they pulled apart, Y/N rested her forehead against his, a smile tugging at her lips. “Subtle,” she teased, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re the one who said we should give them something,” he shot back, his own grin breaking across his face.

“Yeah, I didn’t mean that.” She laughed softly, glancing back at the cameras over his shoulder. “No going back now. Guess the secret’s out.”

“Eight months was a good run,” he said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Longer than I thought we’d last without anyone figuring it out.”

“Oh, please. We’ve been ridiculously careful.”

“Careful?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone playful. “You almost posted that picture of us last week.”

She gasped in mock indignation. “That was an accident! And you were the one who liked my posts two seconds after I posted them.”

He laughed, his grip tightening around her. “Okay, fine. Maybe we were both a little reckless.”

They stood there for a moment, her fingers tracing absent patterns on his jacket as the world watched them from across the street.

“They’re going to spin this like we planned it,” she said finally, her voice quieter now.

“Let them,” Quinn said, his tone steady. “I don’t care what they say, as long as I’ve got you.”

Y/N looked up at him, her chest tightening at the sincerity in his eyes. “You’re going to be the trending topic tomorrow.”

“Only because of you,” he countered, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

She smiled, letting herself sink into his embrace. “Well,” she said, her voice light, “if this is our big debut, we look good doing it.”

“Damn right we do,” Quinn said, his laughter echoing softly into the night.

-

liked by _quinnhughes, tatemcrae, and 1,408,247 others

yourusername The best night with the best people.

view all 4,833 comments

user1 she posted 10 seconds ago and quinn is already in the likes 😭

user2 quinn looking awkward as ever in that 4th picture

tatemcrae MY winner

user3 can he fight tho 😏

user4 he made it to the instagram 💔💔

user5 was he her date?

user6 Yes, but he didn’t walk the red carpet.

The night had been a whirlwind of laughter and stolen moments away from the crowd. 

Y/N sighed as she finally sank into the couch, the faint ache in her feet a reminder of the heels she'd spent hours wearing. She still hadn’t changed out of her dress, the red fabric pooling around her, covering a majority of the couch. On the other end, Quinn loosened his bowtie, the jacket from his tux already discarded somewhere near the door.

"You survived," she teased, watching him stretch out like he’d just come off the ice.

“Barely,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know how you do this all the time.”

“It’s not that bad,” she said, leaning her head against the cushion. “You just have to learn to smile and nod through half the conversations.”

Quinn chuckled, shaking his head. “You make it look easy. Me? I spent twenty minutes listening to some guy explain why he thought hockey was just a violent version of chess.”

She laughed, imagining him standing there, trying to keep a polite face while someone overanalyzed his career. “You should’ve told him you prefer Monopoly.”

“Next time,” he said with a smirk, his gaze softening as it lingered on her. “You, though, you were incredible tonight. Everyone kept coming up to me just to tell me how lucky I was.”

“Did they?” she asked, her voice light but her smile growing.

“Yeah,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “Not that I needed them to tell me. I already know.”

Her cheeks warmed at his words, and she tried to brush it off with a laugh. “You’re just saying that because you’re tired and don’t want to admit you enjoyed yourself.”

Quinn rolled his eyes, his smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe I did. A little. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t serious.”

Y/N bit her lip, her heart fluttering at the earnestness in his tone. “Well, I think I’m the lucky one,” she said softly, her hand reaching out to rest on his. “Not many people would show up to something like this just for me.”

“For you, I’d show up to anything,” he said, his voice steady, his eyes never leaving hers. “Even if it means wearing this stupid bowtie.”

She laughed, reaching out to straighten it slightly. “I think you wear it pretty well.”

“Yeah?” he asked, a teasing edge to his voice. “Think I’ll keep it on, then. Just for you.”

“Good,” she said, leaning closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because I think it’s growing on me.”

Quinn smiled, closing the distance between them with a kiss, the stress of the night melting away until it was just the two of them lost in their own little world.

-

“So, it recently came out that you're in a relationship,” Lily said with a sly smile, clearly setting the stage. “You wanna talk about that?”

Y/N looked at her with a mock glare before breaking into a smile and softly laughing. “Um, sure. What do you want to know?”

“Well, for starters, how did you manage to keep it so under wraps? I mean, you’re Y/N L/N and he’s Quinn Hughes. That’s not exactly low-key,” Lily said, leaning forward with curiosity.

“It wasn’t easy, to be honest,” Y/N said, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “But we both agreed from the beginning that we wanted it to stay private for as long as possible. Our lives are already so public and everyone always has an opinion about everything we do. We just wanted something that was ours, without all the outside noise.”

“That makes sense,” Lily said, nodding. “But weren’t you ever worried someone would spot you together?”

“Absolutely,” Y/N said with a laugh. “We were super cautious. No obvious dates in public, no social media hints. There were times we felt a little paranoid, but it was worth it. Honestly, it became kind of fun in a weird way. Like, we’d see a rumor about him or me online and just laugh because no one had any idea.”

Lily smiled knowingly. “Okay, but why now? Why not just keep it private forever?”

“We just reached a point where it felt right,” Y/N said, her tone thoughtful. “We’ve been together for a while and we’re in such a good place. It wasn’t about hiding because we were ashamed or anything like that. We just wanted to protect something special until we were ready to share it. And when the news came out, we felt like, okay, this is fine. We can handle it.”

Lily’s grin widened. “Alright, I have to know. Did Quinn freak out when it went public?”

“No, not at all,” Y/N said, smiling fondly. “He’s super chill about stuff like that. If anything, I was the one freaking out and he was the calm one. He kept saying it was fine and that as long as we were happy, that’s all that mattered. And he’s right.”

“That’s so sweet,” Lily said, her voice softening. “What’s he like as a boyfriend? He seems so quiet and reserved in interviews. Is he like that with you too?”

“Not at all,” Y/N said, their expression lighting up. “He’s actually really thoughtful and attentive. He’s not the type to make grand gestures, but he shows he cares in the little ways. He’s always checking in, even when he’s on the road, and he just makes me feel really supported. He’s my calm in the chaos as cliche as it sounds.”

Lily smiled warmly. “How do you handle the long distance with his schedule? I feel like that would be tough.”

“It’s not easy,” Y/N admitted. “But we’ve figured out what works for us. We FaceTime a lot and text each other throughout the day, even if it’s just random pictures or quick updates. We’re both pretty independent, so that helps too. When we do get time together, we make the most of it. It’s more about quality than quantity for us.”

“That sounds really healthy,” Lily said. “What’s your dynamic like? Are you the clingy one or is he?”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “I am definitely not the clingy one. I like having my space, but Quinn is actually a lot more affectionate than people might expect. He’s not over the top, but he’s very consistent. He’s always there when I need him, no matter what.”

“Okay, that’s adorable,” Lily said, laughing. “What’s something about him that surprised you when you started dating?”

“How funny he is,” Y/N said immediately. “He has this dry sense of humor that catches me off guard all the time. He’s not cracking jokes constantly, but when he does, they’re so good. Also, he’s way more competitive than I expected. He absolutely hates losing at board games. It’s hilarious.”

Lily laughed along. “I love that. What’s one thing you love most about your relationship?”

Y/N paused for a moment, a soft smile spreading across their face. “I think it’s how easy it is. We’ve both got a lot going on, but being with him never feels like work. It’s just… comfortable. We really understand each other and it just feels like we’re a team.”

“And I know I’m jumping around a lot here, but how did you guys meet?” Lily asked. 

“So, a good friend of mine, Tate McRae, was a celebrity captain for the NHL All-Star game. Quinn and his brother Jack were co-captains for another team, so they all got to know each other. I was already planning to go see Tate do her thing, so she invited me to this party where they were all going to be.

“I knew who Quinn was but I didn’t know much of him, if you know what I mean. At the party, he seemed to know everyone in the room, so I figured he’d be too busy to even notice me. But somehow, we ended up in the same conversation circle. He actually came up to me first and made some joke about how Tate and I were stealing all the attention. It totally caught me off guard, but it broke the ice.

“We started talking, and I realized he was way more laid-back than I expected. He didn’t act like this big hockey star—which I didn’t expect him to—but he was just easygoing and funny. He asked for my number before we left, and the rest is history.” 

Lily nodded, clearly touched. “So Tate really came in clutch, huh? But seriously you two sound like such a great match. Thanks for sharing all of this. I know people are going to love hearing about it.”

“Of course,” Y/N said with a grin. “And guys, Quinn knows I’m saying all this. Just wanted to put it out there.”

Her excitement freezes for a moment as she catches sight of the baby. Her eyes widen, and she tilts her head in curiosity. “Is that my baby brother?”

“It is,” you say softly. “You wanna meet him?”

Elodie nods eagerly, her curls bouncing. She places the stuffed animal—a small, fluffy bunny—in your lap. “This is for him. I wanted him to have a friend.”

“That’s so sweet, Elodie. He’s going to love it,” you say, your heart melting.

Charles settles beside you on the bed, wrapping an arm around Elodie’s waist to keep her steady. You gently shift the baby in your arms so she can see him better.

“He’s so little,” she whispers, her voice filled with awe.

“He is,” Charles says, his tone soft. “Just like you were when you were born.”

Her eyes dart to Charles. “I was this little?”

“Even smaller,” he says with a smile, kissing her temple.

Elodie leans closer, studying her brother’s tiny features. “He has a funny nose,” she declares, giggling.

You and Charles exchange a laugh. 

“It’s not funny, just small,” you say, brushing a finger over the baby’s button nose.

“Do you want to hold him?” Charles asks.

Elodie gasps. “I can?”

“Of course. Papa will help you,” you reassure her.

Charles carefully lifts the baby from your arms, placing him in Elodie’s lap. She holds her arms out, her movements slow and deliberate as if she knows how important this moment is.

“He’s so warm,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. The baby stirs slightly, his tiny hand brushing against hers.

“He likes you already,” Charles says.

Elodie beams, her face lighting up with pride. “Hi, baby,” she says, leaning down to place a soft kiss on his forehead. “I’m your big sister. I’m going to teach you so many things.”

“Like what?” you ask, your voice full of warmth.

“Like coloring and riding bikes and...” She pauses, glancing up at Charles. “Papa, what else should I teach him?”

Charles chuckles. “You’ll think of lots of things, chérie. Just show him all the love you’ve got.”

She nods solemnly. “I will.”

The baby lets out a tiny coo, his eyes fluttering open for just a moment. Elodie gasps, her face full of wonder. “He looked at me!”

“He did,” you say softly, feeling a lump in your throat at the sight of your two children together.

Elodie glances back at you. “Maman, when can we take him home?”

“Very soon, love. He just needs a little more rest before he’s ready.”

“Okay,” she says, looking back at the baby. “But I think he’s going to like it at home. I’ll make sure he does.”

And in that moment, with Elodie holding her baby brother so gently, you feel your heart swell with more love than you thought possible. Charles leans over to kiss your cheek, his eyes just as misty as yours.

-

1 year later

The house is quiet in the early hours of the morning. You tiptoe into the living room, carefully carrying a plate with a single cupcake topped by a candle. Charles is just behind you, holding a sleepy Elodie in his arms.

“Why do we have to get up so early, Papa?” she whispers, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Because we need to surprise your brother before he wakes up,” Charles says softly, kissing the top of her head.

The living room is decorated with balloons and streamers in soft blues and yellows. A small pile of gifts sits on the coffee table, but the centerpiece is a tiny high chair adorned with a banner that reads “1st Birthday.”

You place the cupcake on the tray of the high chair and glance back at Charles and Elodie. “All set?”

Elodie yawns but nods, her eyes lighting up as she sees the setup. “Can I sing to him now?”

“Not yet, chérie,” Charles says with a smile, setting her down. “We have to wait until he’s awake.”

As if on cue, you hear soft babbling from the baby monitor. Elodie gasps, clasping her hands together. “He’s awake! Can I go get him?”

“Let’s all go together,” you say, taking her hand as the three of you walk down the hall to the nursery.

When you step into the room, the baby is sitting up in his crib, his hair sticking up in every direction and his eyes focused on the doorway. The moment he spots you, he breaks into a gummy smile, reaching his arms toward you.

“Happy birthday, baby boy,” you coo, lifting him into your arms.

Elodie bounces on her toes, her excitement bubbling over. “Can we sing now, Maman? Please?”

You laugh and nod, letting Charles take the baby while you guide Elodie back to the living room. Once everyone is gathered, Charles carefully places the baby in his high chair. Elodie stands right next to him, practically shaking with excitement.

“Ready?” Charles asks, holding the baby’s tiny hand as you light the candle on the cupcake.

Together, the three of you sing “Happy Birthday,” with Elodie’s voice the loudest and most enthusiastic. The baby claps along, giggling at the sound of your voices.

“Blow out the candle, bébé,” Charles says, leaning in close to help him. Before he can, Elodie puckers her lips and blows it out herself.

“I helped him!” she declares proudly.

Charles laughs. “Yes, you did. Good job, ma chérie.”

You hand the cupcake to the baby, who looks at it curiously before smashing it between his hands, giggling as he smears frosting all over his face.

“Looks like he likes it,” you say, laughing.

Elodie reaches over to gently swipe some frosting from his cheek and licks her finger. “Can we have cupcakes too?”

“After breakfast,” you promise.

As the morning unfolds, the baby happily plays with the wrapping paper while Elodie opens his presents for him, eagerly showing him each toy. Charles watches with a soft smile, his arm wrapped around your shoulders.

“He’s the luckiest little guy,” Charles murmurs, pressing a kiss to your temple.

Y/N hadn’t planned to see him that day. She was at a café, her favorite one, tucked away on a quiet street. It was a Sunday afternoon, and the place was warm and inviting, filled with the low hum of conversation and the smell of fresh coffee.

She had just placed her order and was waiting at the counter when she heard his voice.

“Y/N?”

She froze, her heart skipping a beat before turning toward him. There he was, standing only a few feet away. His hair was longer, a bit curlier at the edges, and his posture seemed more relaxed. But it wasn’t just his appearance that caught her off guard—it was the look on his face. A mix of surprise, warmth, and something else she couldn’t quite place.

“Lando,” she said softly, her lips curving into a smile. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. “Wow, it’s been a while.”

“It has,” she replied, her fingers tightening around her wallet. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good,” he said, nodding. “Really good, actually.” His gaze flicked over her, taking her in. “You look amazing, Y/N.”

“Thank you,” she said, a little shyly. “You do too.”

He smiled, but it wasn’t the same boyish grin she remembered. It was softer, more thoughtful, and it tugged at something deep inside her.

“Are you in a rush?” he asked, glancing at the small table by the window. “If you have time, I’d love to catch up. No pressure.”

Y/N hesitated. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself nodding. “Sure. I have a little time.”

They sat across from each other, their drinks between them, and for a moment, neither spoke. Y/N broke the silence first.

“So,” she said, swirling her spoon in her cup. “What’s new?”

Lando chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “A lot, actually. I’ve been working on myself, you know? Therapy, mostly. It’s been… a journey.”

“Therapy?” Y/N asked, surprised.

He nodded. “Yeah. After we broke up, I realized I had a lot of things I needed to figure out—about myself, about how I treated the people in my life. It wasn’t easy at first, but it’s helped me a lot.”

Y/N studied him, her expression unreadable. “That’s good, Lando. I’m glad you’re doing that for yourself.”

He smiled faintly. “It’s changed everything for me. I used to think I had to do everything on my own, you know? That being distant or shutting people out made me stronger. But I was wrong. I hurt a lot of people because of it. I hurt you.”

Y/N’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up so directly.

“Lando…”

“No, let me say this,” he interrupted gently. “I was selfish, Y/N. I didn’t prioritize you the way I should have. I got so caught up in my own world that I stopped seeing how much it was affecting you. And when you tried to talk to me, I didn’t listen. I’m sorry for that—for everything.”

She looked down at her cup, her emotions swirling. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “That means a lot to me.”

He hesitated before asking, “And you? How have you been?”

“I’m good,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “I’ve been working at a nonprofit, which has been amazing. And I’ve done a bit of traveling—nothing big, just places I’ve always wanted to see.”

“That’s incredible,” he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I’m really happy for you, Y/N.”

“Thank you,” she said, meeting his gaze.

Their conversation continued, slowly peeling back layers of the past two years. Lando told her about how therapy had taught him to be more present in his relationships, how he’d learned to open up to the people he cared about. He talked about his family, his friends, and how he was making an effort to be there for them in ways he hadn’t before.

Y/N, in turn, shared stories about her work, her personal growth, and the little joys she’d found in her independence.

At one point, he asked, “Do you ever think about us?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken feelings.

“Sometimes,” she admitted. “I think about how good we were in the beginning and how much we lost along the way.”

“Me too,” he said softly. “I think about it a lot. I’ve spent so much time wishing I could go back and fix things. But I know I can’t.”

“No, you can’t,” she agreed. “But it sounds like you’ve done a lot to grow since then.”

“I have,” he said. “And not just for you. For myself. But…” He hesitated, his voice dropping slightly. “I still care about you, Y/N. I don’t know if that means anything to you, but I wanted you to know.”

Her heart ached at his words. She believed him, but she wasn’t sure if she could open herself up to him again.

By the time their conversation came to an end, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the café.

“Thank you for sitting with me,” Lando said as they stood up. “It was really good to see you.”

“You too,” Y/N said, her voice warm but cautious.

As they walked toward the door, he turned to her, a hint of nervousness in his expression. “I know I don’t have any right to ask this and it might seem a little forward, but… would you ever consider going out with me again? Just one date. No expectations, no pressure. I just want to spend time with you, Y/N.”

She hesitated, her mind racing. She’d seen how much he’d changed, how much effort he’d put into becoming a better person. And a small part of her, the part that still remembered the boy she’d fallen in love with, wanted to give him a chance.

“Okay,” she said finally. “One date.”

His face lit up, a genuine, hopeful smile spreading across his lips. “Thank you. I promise, I’ll make it worth your time.”

Y/N couldn’t help but smile back. “We’ll see.”

-

Y/N wasn’t sure what to expect as she stepped outside her apartment, but Lando was there waiting for her, leaning casually against his car. The cool evening breeze rustled his jacket, and when he saw her, his expression brightened, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

“You look stunning,” he said, his voice warm, with just a hint of awe.

“Thank you,” she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

He chuckled, moving to open the passenger door for her. “Ready?”

She nodded, sliding into the seat.

The restaurant was tucked into a quiet side street, its warm glow visible from a distance. Small, cozy, and charmingly understated, it was a far cry from the flashy places she had once associated with Lando’s lifestyle.

“Why here?” she asked as they were seated at a corner table.

“I thought it might feel more... us,” he said with a shrug, his voice steady but hopeful. “Less about the place, more about the company.”

She tilted her head, surprised by the sentiment. “Good choice.”

A waiter appeared to take their orders, and soon, the table was set with fresh bread and small plates of olive oil. The atmosphere was intimate but not overwhelming, the quiet murmurs of other diners giving them space to talk without feeling too exposed.

“So,” she began, breaking a comfortable silence, “what have you been up to lately?”

“A bit of everything,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Racing, obviously. But also taking more time for things I’ve been putting off. Spending time with friends and family. Actually living life instead of just rushing through it.”

“That’s a shift,” she said, her tone light but curious.

“It is,” he admitted. “But it feels good, you know? Slowing down, appreciating things more.”

She nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass. “That’s… refreshing to hear.”

“And you?” he asked, his gaze steady. “How’s life treating you?”

“It’s been good,” she said, a smile breaking across her face. “Work keeps me busy, but in the best way. And like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been traveling when I can—just smaller trips to places I’ve always wanted to see.”

His face lit up. “That sounds amazing. Where was your favorite?”

“Probably Iceland,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “The landscapes there are unreal. It makes you feel so small but in the best way possible.”

“Sounds incredible,” he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Their food arrived, and as they ate, the conversation flowed naturally.

Lando shared stories from his travels with the team, including a particularly chaotic weekend in Japan that had her laughing into her glass of wine. Y/N countered with a story about getting lost in a tiny coastal town during a solo trip, only to stumble upon the best seafood she’d ever had.

“I wish I had that kind of sense of adventure,” he admitted, swirling a forkful of pasta. “I think I’ve always been too focused on the next thing to really enjoy the moment.”

“Well, you’re here now,” she said with a small smile.

“I am,” he replied, his tone soft but deliberate. “And I’m really glad.”

Her cheeks warmed under his gaze, but she didn’t look away.

As the meal wound down, Y/N noticed how different Lando seemed. There was a calmness about him, a grounded energy that hadn’t been there before. He wasn’t trying to fill every silence or impress her with grand gestures. He was just… present.

“Dessert?” he asked as the waiter returned.

She hesitated but ultimately shook her head. “I think I’m good. But thank you.”

“Would you mind a walk, then?” he asked.

“A walk sounds perfect,” she said.

The evening air was cool but pleasant as they strolled along a nearby park path. Fairy lights strung across the trees gave the scene a dreamlike quality, and Y/N felt herself relaxing more with each step.

“So,” she said, glancing at him, “what made you want to reach out again?”

Lando hesitated for a moment, his hands in his pockets. “Honestly? I didn’t plan to run into you that day, but when I did… I couldn’t walk away without at least saying something.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And asking me out?”

“That was a risk,” he admitted, grinning sheepishly. “But I meant what I said. I just wanted to spend time with you. No expectations.”

“And now?” she asked, stopping to lean against the railing overlooking the water.

“Now,” he said, turning to face her, “I’m just really glad you said yes.”

She looked at him, the sincerity in his expression catching her off guard. “You’re different,” she said after a pause.

“I hope so,” he replied. “I’ve been trying to be.”

She nodded, her gaze drifting to the river. “It’s nice. Seeing this side of you.”

They walked a little longer before eventually driving back to her apartment. As they reached her door, she turned to face him, her hands slipping into her coat pockets.

“Thank you for tonight,” she said, her voice warm but measured.

“Thank you,” he replied. “For giving me a chance.”

She hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment. “Lando, I… I don’t know where this is going, but I’m willing to see. I can see you’ve grown.”

“That’s all I could ask for,” he said softly.

He lingered for a moment as if waiting for her to say more, but when she simply smiled, he took a small step back. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Goodnight,” she said, watching as he walked away, his hands tucked into his pockets.

He goes next. 

“Sometimes when you make me bathe Copper (your adorable Cocker Spaniel), I use your conditioner,” he says with a guilty smile. 

“Lando! That shits expensive,” you say with a hand covering your mouth. 

“We listen and we don’t judge.”

You go again. 

“Remember when you thought Copper ate your shoe that one time? I hid it under the bed because you wouldn’t let me sleep in.”

He lets out a laugh at that one. 

“We listen and we don’t judge.”

“Sometimes, I tell you your outfit is cute so you won’t change again when we’re running late.”

“Wait, that’s so mean,” you say half joking, half not. 

“We listen and we don’t judge.”

“When we first met, I thought your name was Landon until I followed you on Instagram.”

“Wait, we knew each other for a long time before you followed me,” he says. 

“I know,” you say, trying to hold your laugh in. 

“We listen and we don’t judge.”

“Sometimes, when I see Copper wants to go out I’ll pretend I’m on the phone so you’ll take him.”

“Wait, I do the same thing,” you say laughing, throwing your head back. 

“We listen and we don’t judge.”

"Sometimes, when I see you after a bad race, I'll bring up something stupid like a funny TikTok just to distract you because I don't know how to make you feel better."

Lando softens, his smile turning a little shy.

"It works, though. You're good at making me forget."

"We listen and we don't judge."

“Whenever I’m flying somewhere and you’re not coming with me, I take one of your hoodies and spray it with like half the bottle of your perfume.”

“Wait, that’s kinda cute,” you say, turning to him and giving him a shy smile. 

"We listen and we don't judge,” you both say one last time as you stop the video. 

bonus ones you didn’t want on the internet:

"Whenever you're wearing those leggings I like, I find excuses to 'walk behind you' because I'm honestly just admiring the view."

You gasp, swatting at him. "Lando!"

He grins, unapologetic. "What? I'm only human."

"We listen and we don't judge."

“Remember when you thought the bed sheets had a weird tear in them? That was because you grabbed them too hard one night, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you.”

Lando bursts out laughing. “I thought it was Copper!”

“Yeah, no. That one’s on you.”

You could feel your pulse thrumming in your chest. Every so often, you snuck a look at Charles, who gave you a soft, reassuring squeeze, his expression a mix of calm and excitement. The room felt charged, heavy with the anticipation of what was about to be revealed.

Then, slowly, faint but unmistakable, a second line appeared on the test. Your breath caught. It was real.

“Oh my god,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath. You turned to him, eyes wide, the joy bubbling up but shadowed by the first hints of nervousness. “Charles, we’re having a baby.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and his eyes shone as he looked at you, a warm and grounding presence. 

“We’re really doing this,” he said softly, his hand finding yours. He stepped closer, his thumb tracing comforting circles on your hand. “And we’re going to be okay. Better than okay.” His voice was steady, and he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear with gentle fingers.

You let out a shaky laugh, caught between wonder and fear. “But… there’s so much we don’t know. What if we’re not ready? What if I’m not ready?”

Charles’s hands settled on your cheeks, his gaze unwavering as he spoke. “Look at me.” You met his eyes, drawn in by the warmth and reassurance in them. “We’re going to figure this out together, every single step. We’ve got each other, and we’ll be there for our baby just like we are for each other. We’re a team, remember? You won’t ever have to go through this alone.”

You felt the nervousness start to melt, replaced by a deep, steadying warmth. Resting your head against his chest, you let his arms wrap tightly around you, his steady heartbeat grounding you.

“I’m with you, always,” he murmured, his lips brushing the top of your head.

And standing there, in that bathroom, you both felt it—the beginning of something extraordinary.

-

Years later—six to be exact—the mornings in your home are far from quiet. Elodie is a vibrant whirlwind of energy, her laughter filling every corner of the house. Life as a family of three has become an easy, joyful rhythm.

But when you miss your period one month, a familiar feeling arises in your heart, unexpected but wonderful.

It’s early morning again, the house still silent with Charles and Elodie both fast asleep. You stand in the bathroom, a pregnancy test in hand, your heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and excitement. Part of you is certain, but you need to see it confirmed. 

You recall the feelings you felt the first time around, the nerves and anxiety that filled you. 

And as you wait for the results, you can’t help but imagine your life with one more person to love. 

Moments later, when the two lines appear, a wave of warmth washes over you. Tears spring to your eyes, the joy overwhelming you. 

You find yourself smiling, a soft, stunned joy as you picture telling Charles. 

This time, you want to surprise him in a way that reflects the beautiful family you’ve built together. 

You start brainstorming ways you could tell him. An idea forms in your mind, you start planning in your head everything you need to pull it off. 

Charles has a long workday ahead, giving you time to gather everything and get to work. 

“I think Ellie and I are gonna do some crafts today,” you mention offhandedly while eating breakfast. 

It was a normal activity for the 6 year old to do. She was very creative and their walls were proof of it. 

When Charles left, you gathered Elodie and made your way to the nearest craft store. You purchased a shirt Elodie’s size and all the materials to write out your message to Charles. Elodie, of course, just had to get a new coloring book. 

When you got home, you and Elodie get to work. You laid the shirt out and used your best handwriting to spell out a simple “Big Sister.” You then let Elodie go crazy with her drawings on the shirt, wanting her to be included in the creative process. 

During this time together you question her thoughts on having a younger sibling.

“Ellie, how would you feel if you got a little brother or sister?” you ask while she's on her stomach in front of the shirt, adding small doodles to it. 

“Um, maybe. Rosie said she has to share all her toys with her little sister so I don’t know if I want one. And Pamela says her little brother cries all the time,” she says after thinking about it. She goes back to coloring while you take a second to quietly laugh at her response.

“But you share so well with your friends. And babies cry because they don’t know how to tell their mommies and daddies how they’re feeling. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a little sibling to always play with?” you say, trying to convince her that having a little sibling will be wonderful..

“Hmm, maybe.”

“You can teach them how to play all your favorite games. You’ll have someone else to color with.”

Elodie pauses, her marker hovering over the shirt as she considers your words. She glances up, eyes thoughtful, her little brows furrowed.

“You mean I could teach them anything?” she asks, her voice laced with curiosity and a touch of pride.

You nod, smiling. “Exactly. You’d be the big sister. They’d look up to you and want to be just like you.”

She lights up at that, a grin spreading across her face as she pictures it. “I could show them how to play hopscotch and how to build the tallest tower with my blocks!”

“Definitely,” you say, watching her excitement grow. “And they’d think you’re the coolest because you’d know all the fun games.”

You were really laying it thick, saying anything to convince her being a big sister is the best thing ever. 

Elodie shifts closer to the shirt, a new gleam in her eye. “I could even teach them how to color inside the lines,” she adds, voice proud. “And, and I could read them my favorite bedtime story!”

You can’t help but laugh softly, the joy in her voice so pure and full of excitement. “See? You’d be an amazing big sister.”

Elodie looks at you, her face glowing. “Okay, Maman. I want a little brother or sister. I think it would be fun. Can I tell Papa when he comes home?”

You take a deep breath, your heart swelling. “Well, there’s something special I have to tell you.” You reach out, brushing a stray curl from her face. “You’re going to be a big sister, sweetheart. Mommy is going to have a baby.”

Her eyes widen, a gasp escaping her lips as she claps her hands. “Really? Right now?”

You laugh, pulling her into a hug. “Yes, really. The baby is still growing, so it’ll be a little while, but before you know it, you’ll have a little brother or sister to play with.”

She pulls back, looking at you with pure excitement. “I’m going to be the best big sister, Maman. I’ll teach them everything!”

“And guess what? You’re going to help me surprise Papa with this shirt.”

She gasps and looks down at the shirt in front of her. With that, she picks up her marker again, proudly adding even more colorful doodles to the “Big Sister” shirt, her face a picture of happiness.

When Charles comes home later that evening, Elodie is waiting in the living room, sporting her new shirt. She stands there, grinning with all the excitement her little heart can hold, clearly loving the idea of being part of a surprise for her dad.

Charles walks in giving you a kiss hello before going over to Elodie to do the same. 

“Hi, baby. What did you make today?” he asks walking over to her.

“I made a shirt Papa!” she said excitedly. 

His gaze lands on Elodie’s shirt, and his brows knit together in confusion for a split second before realization dawns. His head snaps up, eyes finding yours, wide with wonder and a growing smile.

“Wait… is this… are we…?” he stammers, his voice barely a whisper, as if speaking louder might shatter the moment.

You nod, the happiness welling up inside you. “We’re going to have another baby, Charles.”

He’s frozen for a second, just staring, before a laugh escapes him, full of surprise and joy. In an instant, he closes the distance between you, pulling you into his arms, holding you tightly like he did the first time. You can feel his heartbeat racing against yours, the warmth of his embrace so familiar and safe.

Just then, Elodie tugs on his sleeve, her wide eyes looking up at him with the innocent curiosity only a child can have. “Papa, I’m going to be a big sister!”

Charles laughs, lifting her up into his arms and peppering her with kisses. “Yes, ma chérie, you’re going to be the best big sister in the world.”

You watch the two of them together, your heart swelling as Charles glances over at you, his expression so full of love and excitement that you know, without a doubt, that everything will be perfect.

“Yes! I’m going to be a big girl!”

It was at that moment that Charles came in. He scooped her off her feet and cradled her like a baby. It was a bit difficult seeing as she hasn’t been that small in quite a while.

“What?! No, you’re still a baby. You’re my baby,” he declared. He started laying kisses all over her face, living for the giggles she let out.

“No, Papa! I’m a big girl,” she shouted back, still giggling.

“No, you’re always going to be my baby no matter how old you are,” he told her.

“She’s asleep,” you say, coming up behind Charles and wrapping your arms around him.

He had moved on from decorating and focused on tying a bow on Elodie’s final present: her first bike.

This was the first year that Elodie truly understood what a birthday was. Her past birthdays were mainly for you and Charles, creating memories that she most likely wouldn’t remember.

But this year she was filled with excitement every time she thought about the day she would turn 5. Her excitement mostly stemmed from the fact that it was the first year she made a birthday list. A bright pink bike being the top thing on it.

“She’s getting so big,” Charles says. Setting everything up made him truly realize just how fast time was going. “It feels like just yesterday she was standing for the first time and now she’s going to learn to ride a bike? Before we know it she is going to have her first boyfriend and then she’s going to marry him and then have kids of her own and then she won’t need us anymore and forget about us--”

“Charles,” you cut him off with a laugh. “Baby, relax. She’s turning 5, not 25.”

You move to stand in front of him, grabbing his hands.

“Where is this coming from, hmm?” you say, taking one of your hands and brushing some of his hair from his face.

“It just feels like I blinked and so much time has passed. She was just a baby. And now she’s turning 5? I just want her to stop growing up so quickly.”

“Oh, Charles,” you say, bringing him in closer. “Yes, she’s growing up but we still have so much time with her. And no matter what, she is always going to be our baby. Plus, her getting older just means we can do more stuff with her. Like when she learns to ride her bike you can take her with you on your rides around town.”

“I guess you’re right,” he says, wrapping his arms around you. His arms go around your waist and yours around his neck. He gives you a kiss only pulling away to put his head in the crook of your neck.

“And don’t get me wrong, I miss how little she was but I’d rather her talk to us to tell us what she wants rather than the screaming she would do every night.”

That gets Charles to laugh. Elodie was born with quite the set of lungs. You were never worried you would sleep through her cries when she was a newborn.

“We should go to sleep,” he says. “The birthday girl will wake up bright and early tomorrow.”

And bright and early it was.

Like every morning, you and Charles were awoken by small feet running to your bedroom door. When the door opened, you saw your now 5-year-old sporting a bed head one can only get after a good night's sleep.

“Maman! Papa! It’s my birthday!”

She climbed onto your bed, jumping a couple times before landing in the middle of you two.

You pull her into a tight hug, rocking her a couple of times.

“I can’t believe my baby is 5. You’re so big now, my love.”

After you let her go, Elodie turns to Charles and cuddles into his chest.

“Happy Birthday, ma chérie,” he says, giving her a kiss on her forehead and holding her tightly.

“Thank you,” she says shyly to you both.

“How has your morning as a 5-year-old been?”

“I don’t know, I only just woke up,” she says, not at all meaning it to be humorous. You and Charles laugh regardless.

“Oh, that’s right,” Charles says. “Should we go downstairs?”

At that, you all get up and head downstairs where all the decorations you worked so hard to set up were.

It was all worth it when you saw the look on Elodie’s face. It was filled with wonder and excitement at all the presents laid out for her.

She suddenly lets out a loud gasp and runs to the pink bike that sits front and center.

“My bike!”

She turns to the both of you, her mouth open in shock. You can’t help but laugh at the look on her face.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!”

She runs over to you and gives you a hug. She turns to her dad and gives him an equally big hug.

“Thank you! Can I go ride it right now?”

“How about we eat breakfast first, hmm? You’ll have plenty of time to try it out later.”

After breakfast, the three of you get ready for the day, preparing for the birthday party you and Charles planned. Soon enough, the house is filled with laughter, with Elodie’s uncles—some from the grid—arriving with arms full of gifts and birthday wishes. They’re greeted with Elodie’s excited squeals, each one met with a hug and enthusiastic thanks.

Elodie is surrounded by her friends and family, everyone doting on the birthday girl as she tries out her new bike, riding in small loops while everyone watches proudly. Charles stands beside you, his arm around your shoulders as you both watch her.

After a while, as Elodie laughs with her friends, Charles pulls you a little closer. You can feel his warmth and glance up to see a soft look in his eyes as he watches her.

“Hey,” he murmurs, turning to you with a playful but slightly vulnerable smile. “You think we might…have another one of these someday?”

You chuckle softly, nudging him. “Maybe. Let’s get through today first, yeah?”

Charles laughs and nods, squeezing your hand. “Yeah, you’re right. Just… seeing her like this. It makes me wonder what it’d be like, you know? A little more of all this love.”

You give him a warm smile, leaning into him. “Maybe one day, Charles,” you say, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

“So why am I always doing the cooking?” Y/N asks, faking a glare.

“Don’t you have to start your video?” he asks, trying to change the subject. The question makes Y/N roll her eyes but she starts it nonetheless. 

“Hey guys, welcome back to my channel. As you can see, today I am joined by my boyfriend Jack. Do you want to tell them what we’re doing?”

“We are going to attempt to do the Blind, Deaf, and Mute baking challenge,” Jack explains. “But since there are only two of us we’re going to be doing this blind and deaf.”

“Yes, so we are going to make cookies. We decided to get rid of mute because it is impossible for us not to talk,” she explains with a laugh. “I will be blind and Jack will be deaf. Okay, let’s go.”

“I found a recipe and I have it on my phone so Jack is in charge of that. Can you help me tie this real quick?” Y/N says.

Jack stands behind her and helps her wrap a bandana around her eyes. 

“Is that good? Not too tight?” he asks softly.

“Yeah, that’s perfect, thanks.”

Jack puts on his headphones, blasting a random playlist. 

“Okay, we need a bowl.”

Y/N starts gesturing to Jack to get a bowl. She starts making a circular motion with her arms, pretending she’s whisking something. He totally ignores her, getting lost in his music, but when he sees her gesturing for something he decides to start. 

“Okay, it says we need a bowl,” Jack says loudly. 

“Yes, Jack,” Y/N tells him with a laugh. 

“Here,” he gives Y/N a bowl. She feels it, determining the size.

“No, not this one. We need a bigger one.”

When he gives her the bowl she starts feeling around for the ingredients. 

“Okay, we need 2 and ½ cups of flour. Here, this is one cup,” he says, handing her a measuring spoon. “The flour is right in front of you.”

Y/N carefully tried scooping the flour and dumping it into the bowl. 

“Baby, you’re making a mess,” he says loudly. He guides her hands over the bowl letting her know she is good to dump the flour. 

“Okay, we need two teaspoons of baking powder.” 

Y/N uses both of her hands to search for the tin. 

Jack sees her searching for it and says, “I’ll do it.”

Y/N just stands there, lips pursed.

“I bet he’s not even doing it right,” she comments. 

While she was saying this, Jack was confident in his own little world, not having a clue that there was a difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. 

“Okay, now we’re supposed to add salt. ¾ teaspoon. Damn, that’s a lot of salt.”

“What? Just add a pinch,” she says, looking in his direction and doing a pinch motion with her fingers. 

Jack grabs a salt shaker and starts to shake some salt onto the tablespoon he thinks is a teaspoon. 

“We don’t have enough salt.”

“Huh? Jack, a teaspoon is only this much,” she says, pinching her fingers together. She was doubting letting him take charge. 

“I know! I have the thing in my hand,” he says, gesturing to the wrong spoon he held. “Baby, I’m telling you I measured it with the teaspoon thing and we ran out of salt. The thing is empty.”

“Okay, whatever. It’s fine,” she says, waving it off. “Can you get me a whisk?” 

“A whisk?” he asks, confirming.

Y/N nods her head, sending him a thumbs up. Jack goes to one of her drawers and isn’t able to find a whisk so he gets the next best thing: a silicone serving spoon. 

He hands the spoon to Y/N who starts feeling it, not recognizing the feel of the whisk. 

Jack, who sees her feeling it, says, “It’s like a whisk. Just use it.”

Y/N just drops her head and laughs. 

“Where’s the whisk?” she asks.

“It’s a big spoon, just use it. I think that will work better.”

She just goes with it and mixes everything. 

“Okay, now we beat the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. We need 2 sticks of butter—holy shit that’s so much butter. And 1 and ¼ cup of granulated sugar,” he reads out. 

“Okay, take the butter—” 

“Another bowl?” 

“The butter,” she repeats. She turns around and points at her butt, “the butter.”

“The butter,” he repeats. She doesn’t see that his eyes linger for a second longer than they need to. 

“And put it in the microwave,” she instructs while pointing to it. 

“Why? Should I put it in a bowl first?”

“Yeah. Yeah,” she says, exaggerating her head nods. 

Jack gets to work doing what he was told and Y/N just stands to the side. 

“You know how you see all those blind people just out and about living their lives? I don’t think I’d be able to do that. Like I think I’d be too scared to even go outside,” Y/N rambles. 

“I can’t hear you, babe,” Jack says when he sees her talking. 

“Ope, okay sorry.”

“Okay I’m putting the sugar in the thing,” Jack says while pouring it into a measuring cup. He then dumps it in with the butter. “It says to use an electric mixer, do we have one of those?”

Y/N goes to a drawer behind them and searches for the electric mixer. Jack sees her and intervenes. 

“It’s in here?” he asks her which she just nods in response to. “Okay, I found it. We have to beat it for 2 minutes.”

He plugs it in and goes to give it to her but decides against it. 

“Okay, let me do this part,” he says. He starts the mixer but it turns into one big clump. “Wait, it's not mixing. Maybe I should’ve put it in longer.”

“How long did you put it?” she asks. She taps her wrist and shrugs her shoulders trying to get him to understand. 

“Like 10 seconds. Can I put it back in with the sugar?”

“I think it’ll be fine,” she replies. 

As Jack works to get the butter out of the beaters, Y/N gently lays her head on his shoulder. He leans down to place a kiss on her forehead.

When Jack goes to put the butter back in the microwave, Y/N blurts out, “Wait can we switch?” 

She takes her blindfold off and fixes her hair when it falls slightly out of place. 

Jack turns around to see her with her blindfold off. 

“Oh, are we switching?” he asks, taking off his headphones. She nods her head in reply. 

“That’s all yours,” he says, handing her his headphones and phone. “I was doing so good.”

“Right,” she quipped. 

The pair put on their respective props and got back to work. 

Y/N took over and continued reading the instructions. 

“Okay, you’re going to add 1 large egg and 1 egg yolk,” she says to Jack rather loudly. 

“Wait, you don’t wanna do it?” he asks, pointing to her. 

“No, you got it. But you can’t mess this up.”

“Oh, great. Thanks.” 

“Crack it into this,” she says, handing him an empty bowl. 

He looks for the bowl with his hands and cracks it carefully. 

“Boom! How was that?” 

Y/N quickly takes the eggshells from him and shouts, “Nice!”

Y/N guides him to the sink and leaves him there while she does the egg yolk. After washing, he turns slowly and tries to make his way to her. She sees him slowly creeping up and helps him back. 

“Okay, mix this.”

Jack immediately starts mixing aggressively, which causes some of the batter to spill over the bowl. 

“Jack, relax,” she says, gasping. 

“Is it full?” he asks. 

Nothing.

“Is it full?”

“Okay, I think that’s good,” Y/N finally says. 

“Oh, my god. Guys, I don’t know why I keep trying,” he says to the camera. 

“Okay, now we need a teaspoon of vanilla.”

Y/N grabs the teaspoon but then lets out a gasp when she sees the tablespoon covered in a white powder.

“Jack, you used the tablespoon!” she exclaims. 

“Yeah,” he says nodding. “What’s wrong with that?” “You were supposed to use a teaspoon,” she says, slightly chuckling. 

Jack gasps and starts laughing.

“Oh my god. I was wondering why there was so much salt,” he says laughing, throwing his head back. “And I did it with the other thing too.” “Oh, my god,” she says, standing in shock. “Well, it's whatever now.”

She gets the two bowls and places them in front of him. 

“Okay, since the flour bowl is bigger, pour this small bowl into the bigger one,” she instructs him, giving him the bowl with the sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla. “Okay, the big bowl is right underneath, just dump it in there.” Jack does as he’s told. Y/N gives him the same spoon he gave her and tells him to mix everything together. She preheats the oven while he does this, also lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

“Okay, now we’re just gonna roll them into balls and put them on the baking sheet,” she says, letting him know where the baking sheet is. 

They work side by side, Jack occasionally asking her if the amount of dough he has is enough. 

“Don’t just drop it, Jack. Place it down,” she says when she sees him dropping the balls from what seems like a foot above the baking sheet.

“Babe, I can’t even see.” “Well then feel where you’re placing it!”

They finish rolling the rest of the dough and take their blindfold and headphones off. 

“Okay these look terrible,” she says, comically side-eyeing Jack, “But they're going in the oven and we’ll be back when they're done.” - 

“Okay, they’re done and we’ve let them cool,” Y/N says.

“They don’t look bad, actually,” Jack says behind the camera. He’s holding it closer to her face to get her reaction to the cookie. 

Y/N grabs a cookie and takes a small bite. She chews for a moment and then looks at Jack trying not to laugh. 

“They’re so salty,” she says, finally letting her laugh out. 

“Okay, my turn,” he says, giving her the camera. He takes a bite and immediately grimaces. “Ugh, that tastes, like, sour. Ew.” He goes to the sink and spits it out. Y/N laughs behind the camera. 

“Okay, the only thing we learned is that teaspoons should say ‘teaspoon’ and tablespoons should say ‘tablespoon,’” Jack comments.

“Jack they literally do. That was a user error; it was all your fault.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Y/N turns the camera towards the both of them, making sure they were in shot. “Thanks for watching everyone. Make sure to like and subscribe. And comment what you’d like me and Jack to do next. K Bye,” she outros her video, blowing a kiss to the camera.” “Bye,” Jack says, sending the camera a wave. 

“What should we wear today? You wanna wear red for Papa? Hmm?” 

Charles changed Elodie into a red dress. There was no way he was going to let her come to the race in anything but Ferrari red. 

“Come on, let’s go see maman.”

They walk to the kitchen where you were making breakfast. You see Charles walk in with your daughter and send them a beaming smile. 

“Hi baby. You look so gorgeous,” you say, walking towards them and giving Elodie’s cheeks multiple kisses. 

“We are ready for the day,” says Charles. 

“Good. Everyone will be here soon.” 

The plan was for the entire Leclerc family to walk in together. Charles wanted you and Elodie to have someone with them at all times. 

-

Charles held Elodie in one arm and held your hand in the other. You were making your way through the paddock and to the Ferrari garage.

Charles waved at all the fans that seemed to be waiting for him. You took Elodie from his arms so that he could go say hi and take pictures. 

Charles kept his eyes on you the entire time. He gave Lorenzo a look, telling him to stay close to you and Elodie. 

He joined you soon after not wanting to straw away from his family for too long. Before you knew it you were in the Ferrari garage saying hello to everyone. Charles had to attend a briefing, but he made sure his family was settled before he left. 

Elodie was enjoying all the attention she was receiving from everyone, laughing at those playing peek-a-boo with her. To her, barely any time passed before her dad came back, bringing back someone with him. 

Charles took Elodie from Arthur, bringing her over to Carlos. 

“Say hi, Uncle Carlos,” Charles says. 

She just gave them both a smile, not at all trying to do what her dad said. 

“Hi, Elodie,” greets Carlos. He gives her a smile, grabbing her hand and waving it around. “Can you say Carlos?”

She just stares at him and gives him one of her crazy giggles. That makes both Charles and Carlos laugh. 

“Don’t feel bad, she can’t even say papa yet,” comes from behind them, making Charles’ smile drop.

They both turn to see you with your eyes bright and a grin. 

Carlos goes to hug you, not having seen you today. 

“How are you?” he asks you. 

“I’m great. You? Feeling good about today?” “Yeah, definitely. I’m seeing a double podium in our future,” Carlos answers with a smile.

“Good, Elodie’s first race has to be a good one.”

And a good one it was. 

You had been waiting for this moment since Charles entered Formula 1. 

The moment Charles raced past the checkered flag was one you will never forget. The garage erupted in cheers and screams. You were grateful Elodie was perfectly fine with the ear covers she was wearing. You gave anyone and everyone around you a hug. You and Pascale shared a tight hug, both having tears streaming down your faces, insanely proud of what Charles accomplished this weekend. 

You were the first person Charles hugged when he got out of the car. 

He ran to you giving you a tight hug. He kissed you hard, putting every emotion he felt into it. 

“I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it,” you told him. He looked into your eyes seeing all the emotion in them. 

“It’s all for you. For you and Elodie.”

Charles hugged everyone, all his family and friends that came to support him. He saved his last hug for his favorite little girl. 

“Hi baby. Did you see me? Papa won the race. You were my good luck charm.”

Pascale offered to stay with Elodie in the garage while you went to see Charles during the podium ceremony. 

You couldn’t get your tears to stop as you saw him on that top step. Seeing him on that top step reminded you that all your sacrifices were worth it. All the nights you spent missing him, all the nights where it was just you and your baby. It was all to see him achieve his dream. And you would do it all a thousand times over.  

- 

That night Charles chose to stay in with his family instead of going out partying. He would rather an intimate night in than a loud, crowded club. 

After a long dinner with his entire family, you headed home. Elodie was exhausted after all of the day's events. She was in her dad’s arms, head resting on his shoulder. She was fighting sleep, forcing her eyes open every time they closed against her will.  

Charles was rubbing her back, trying to get her to listen to her body and just go to sleep. 

You weren’t that worried seeing as it was a short walk back to your home and knew that she would be knocked out in her bed in no time. 

When you got home, you changed Elodie and quickly got her to sleep. 

You met Charles in the living room and sat next to him on the couch. He immediately wrapped his arm around you. You sat quietly just enjoying each other's presence. 

“How was she today?” he asks, breaking the silence. 

“She was surprisingly good. I knew it was a good idea getting her used to the ear covers these past couple weeks. She didn’t know what was happening but she always got excited whenever we all got excited, clapping her hands and yelling.” “Yeah?”

“Yeah. We tried to tell her Papa was in the car but she just looked around for you everytime we told her. Don’t think she quite understands it yet,” you tell him with a grin. 

“Just her being there made it feel different. She really was my lucky charm. That just means she has to come to every race from now on,” he tells you with a cheeky grin. 

“We’ll see about that,” you tell him with a side eye. 

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