That night in Monaco

Chapter 31

"She had the happiest Christmas."

It was now December and this weekend the last race of the season would take place in Abu Dhabi. I was now in my third month of pregnancy and I have to say that it wasn't the best experience. I still had nausea and sometimes I would faint. Thankfully Charles was there for me when he could and I was thankful for that. I don't know what I would do without him. He was very helpful but I really missed him when he went to work. Of course I wasn't complaining but I wish I could go with him in the last Grand Prix. However as much as I wanted to go to Abu Dhabi with him, I couldn't. I wouldn't bring myself to travel anywhere and I also didn't want to burden Charles. I was sure that I would need something and I couldn't bother him.

"Anna, where are you?" Charles said when he got home. "In bed." I said and after a minute I saw him enter. "How are you?" "I decided to lie in bed because I felt tired. How are you? How things are for the last race?" "Good, I would say but not the best. I know there is no chance to win the Championship but I still want the car to perform well." "When are you going to leave?" "Tomorrow morning, mon amour." "We are going to miss you" "I will miss both of you more. Anyways, do want you to order something to eat?" "Yess! I want pizza." "It's settled then."

After we ate we decided to watch a movie but I fell asleep halfway through. When I woke up again I was on our bed and Charles was sleeping peacefully next to me.  How much I loved to see him sleeping. He was absolutely beautiful and I could just stare at him for hours. At that moment, I felt complete. The love of my life was sleeping next to me and I was expecting our baby. I couldn't ask for more. After some minutes I finally fell asleep again. 

I woke up at the sound of Charles packing his things. "Good morning Charles." "Good morning mon amour. How did you sleep?" "With you next to me I always sleep well. Have you finished packing?" "Yes I am ready to leave for the airport." "I wish I could come with you." "I wish that too but someone needs you more than me so you need to stay here and rest until I come back. I want you to be well for our Christmas holidays." "Only just because you said it." "I love you mon amour." "I love you Charles Leclerc. I can't wait for you to come back." "Bye Anna. I will see you on Monday. Until then take care of our little bean." "I will. Please be careful." I said and he then closed the door and left.

The days passed pretty quickly. Charles started 3rd on Sunday and finished 2nd. He had an amazing pace and he gave his best. Although Max Verstappen won the Championship Charles ended the season by being second in the Drivers Championship. Ferrari also finished at the same position behind Red Bull. I was very happy about Charles and I knew he would win the 2022 World Championship. Today was Monday, 15th of December and Charles was coming back from Abu Dahbi. I was waiting for him while watching Netflix when he got home.

I ran up to him and hugged him tight. "Congratulations, love! I know that P2 isn't what you wanted but you did everything you could do given the car that you had. I am sure that you will be the 2022 champion. I believe in you." "I don't know what I would have done without you Anna. You are the best fiance I could ask for." "I love you Charles." "I love you too, Anna" "What would you say if I told you to go out to celebrate now that your daughter is quiet and doesn't kick?" "I would love that. Same place as always?" "You know me too well. Let's go get ready"

After 20 minutes we were ready. I wore a red long-sleeve dress that was also showing my little belly and Charles wore a pair of navy blue trousers and a white shirt. We left the house and we went to our favourite restaurant here in Monaco. That restaurant we went to our first date. When we arrived we ordered our food and while we waited we started talking about the celebration in Abu Dhabi. After a couple of minutes the food came and we ate in silence. When we finished we paid and left pretty quick as Charles was tired and he wanted to rest. 

We returned home and we decided to go to bed immediately. We put on our pijamas, did our night routine and went to sleep in his arms, my safe and favourite place in the whole world. I couldn't wait for our daughter to meet Charles. She was going to love him as much I did.

2 weeks later

Today was our first Christmas together. I woke up around 10 a.m. as I smelled freshly cooked pancakes. I went to the children only to see Charles making a huge breakfast for both him and I. I was standing at the door frame admiring him. How did I get this lucky. There were times like this when I remembered where we started. Even though he was the best person I could ask for to spend my life with, sometimes I missed my parents. I didn't forgive them and we basically haven't spoken for a long time. They didn't even know I was pregnant but I think it was for the best.

"Good morning Anna!" "Good morning Charles." I said going to him and hugging him. "Merry Christmas!" "Merry Christmas Anna. I can't wait to meet our daughter." "Me too Charles". After we ate our delicious breakfast we decided to stay home and watch Christmas movies. We had so much fun and we couldn't stop laughing.

In the afternoon as we were drinking our hot chocolate we realised that it was snowing. It has been ages since I had seen snow. In Greece it was too difficult to snow so I had never really enjoyed the snow. "Oh my God, Charles it is snowing." "It's perfect. Would you like to go out and play with the snow?" "Yes yes I would love that. I haven't played with snow since I was 19 years old." "Wow why is that?" "Because in Greece it doesn't snow every year and we rarely have snow" "Let's go then" he said and we got ready.

When we got out everything was covered in snow. We arrived in a park near Charles' apartment and we stayed there. After a minute I felt something cold in my back. "What did you just do?" "Snow fight baby and I just won." "You are so done Mr Leclerc." I said and started playing. It was amazing and when we finished we were both out of breath. "Did you enjoy it ?" Charles asked. "Yes a lot." "Good because it is starting to get cold so we should get back home." "I agree." And just like that we got home after a long and tiring fight.

When we returned we put on our pijamas and it was time for our gifts. We sat under the tree and I gave Charles' gift first. It was a racing helmet with our most important moments around it and on the top the number 16. It was so beautiful and Charles loved it as well. "I love it Anna. It's amazing. I wish I could race one day with that. Maybe when I finally win the Championship. I will have both you and our daughter with me." "I am glad you liked it."

"Of course and now it is time for your gift." He handed me a black leather box. Inside it was a pair of black suede ankle boots with a small heel. I loved them immediately. How did he know that I wanted these shoes for years? "Charles they are amazing. I have wanted them for years!" "Really?" "Yes thank you so much." "I love you Anna" "I love you too Mr Charles Leclerc." "Now should we eat dinner and watch the final movie?" "Absolutely"

After we enjoyed our dinner we sat on the couch with popcorn and we saw Home Alone 2. We loved this movie so much and we laughed all the time. After the movie ended we finally went to sleep cuddling. It was my favourite time of the day when I would be in his strong arms. "Goodnight Charles." "Goodnight mon amour."

"She could not ask for anything more."