Love, Eternal

To Belgium

Over the last few months, the races seemed to speed by, Nola was here and there for work, and enjoying her summer break, but Pierre had repeatedly asked Nola to move in with him, and it was starting to make more sense, particularly now Nola's work was based in Milan, so she finally agreed.

Nola spent the couple of days unpacking and sorting some bits for them both, going shopping and for the first time in a long time, enjoying the silence and the alone time, she hadn't been on her own for most of the year. Travelling, now working, the ups and downs of her mental state, the peace was well needed. It was evening now, and Pierre was due to be back in the morning, one more evening of being on her own, she missed Pierre at this point, she couldn't wait for him to come home. The next race was round the corner as the break drew to a close, one she was not looking forward to.

Nola played the piano that sat in the large sitting room to herself, something she learnt as a child with Arthur, they were both skilled pianists and it was something she hadn't been able to do in a long time, she closed her eyes and let the music fill her ears from her playing, it was muscle memory, as soon as her fingers touched the keys, the time she hadn't played didn't matter, she knew what to do.

A kiss on Nola's shoulder was the only thing to break her away from her concentration. Nola jumped and turned round to see Pierre standing right behind her.

"I've been watching you for ten minutes, you play beautifully" Pierre smiled, his eyes full of adoration and love, he missed Nola too much

"What are you doing here? You're not meant to be back yet?" Nola practically jumped into his arms, Pierre wrapped his arms around her, his warmth burning into her, Pierre had this feeling of home, and Nola felt content as soon as she was hugging him.

"I got an earlier flight instead of staying another night, I wanted to come home" Pierre said, he kissed her forehead before leaning back "play again?" Pierre asked, Nola smiled. She had only ever played in front of brothers and her mum, but she was calm and relaxed, she sat down at the Piano again, Pierre beside her.

Pierre was glad to be home, and to be greeted by her sitting so comfortably playing the piano was beautiful, this is what he had waited for, being able to walk in his front door and see her sitting there, now he was sat next to her just watching her as she played, her fingers moving over the keys quickly but softly, she was completely lost in what she was playing and it was beautiful to watch.

"That was beautiful, I recognise that" Pierre said, slipping his arm around Nola's waist and pulling her to him.

"It was the first song Charles and I composed together" Nola smiled at the memory, it was the first thing she was able to do to make herself forget the trauma of three years ago. She sat at the piano and played the same bit that kept coming into her head, often she messed about playing things, Charles helped her and they composed it together. He wasn't as well rehearsed as Nola and Arthur, but it was special that they composed it

"What's it called?" Pierre asked

"AH19" Nola said quietly. Pierre was speechless, he turned Nola's head to face him and brushed her cheek with his thumb, before placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"It's beautiful, he would of loved it" Pierre spoke

"I know" Nola smiled.

Although she was still completely overwhelmed some days with sadness, it was times like these that she was grateful more than anything. Instead of being sad and distraught for the times she wouldn't have with Anthoine, she was grateful, happy and elated for the times they did share and the memories she would be able to hold onto of him. The coming weekend would be the hardest thing in the world, it would be horrible for her, and for Pierre, and for her brother. But she was determined to remember the good things and not the bad, she wasn't sure how successful she would be, but she would try.

"Sleepy?" Pierre asked, Nola had rested her head on his shoulder and cuddled into him, they were still sat at the piano but in comfortable silence. Nola nodded and Pierre smiled before standing up and taking her with him. "Let's go to bed then pea" he smiled and led her to their bedroom.

The flight to Belgium was a short one, and the plane Pierre and Nola were on landed directly after the plane pool going on for Charles, Charlotte, Lando, Daniel and Max. Charlotte laid eyes on Nola as soon as they were all in the airport and pulled her into a hug, Nola had her sunglasses on, Pierre had already text Charles and told them she wasn't okay, which Nola didn't know about. It was like as soon as she entered the country, this wave came over her. Everything seemed surreal, she didn't realise she was crying until Pierre hugged her, the same journey she made three years ago, in less luxury of course but it was all the same, but he wasn't here.

"Nols?" Lando called out. Nola was smiling, it was all fake, but she was aware of two things. First of all how strong she needed to be in the presence of so many people, and secondly, the cameras already on the high profile group. Nola herself had grown in popularity and she was often followed, but that as well being surrounded by the drivers she was with, including her brother, her boyfriend and her best friend, they were always watched.

"Yeah?" Nola replied, Pierre and Charles glanced at each other

"You okay?" Lando asked

"Yeah fine, why wouldn't I be?" Nola asked, she grabbed her suitcase and smiled at Pierre "are we going to stand here all day or?" Pierre shook his head and took his own suitcase eventually they made their way out to the cars.

"I know you know this, but she's building up a wall, the more she says she's fine, the worse it gets" Charles said to Pierre, not allowing Nola to hear, Pierre nodded

"Do you want to do dinner tonight?" Pierre asked him, Charles nodded this time, it was Wednesday so they had plenty of time.

"Let's, it'll be good for her" Charles knew how crap Nola was going to feel, he didn't want her to come but she insisted, although he was unsure how he would feel about her being alone anyway. She hadn't been back to that track since that day, she hadn't even stepped foot in Belgium so this was probably the most overwhelming thing for her.