parents by accident ★ charles leclerc

⸻ part 3 , after hours

the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. as isabel slowly stirred, she realized she wasn't in her own apartment. confusion clouded her thoughts until the memories of the previous day came flooding back. she had spent the evening at charles' place, sharing stories and laughter long into the night.

a contented smile tugged at her lips as she glanced around the room, taking in the details of charles' space. a sense of comfort settled over her, amplified by the fact that she was wearing one of his oversized sweaters. its soft fabric wrapped her in a cocoon of warmth and familiarity.

just as isabel contemplated her surroundings, the door creaked open, revealing a familiar face.

"well, well, looks like someone's finally awake." carlos, charles' teammate who turned out to be a lifelong friend of isabel, walked in the room.

isabel chuckled, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "good morning, carlos. did i oversleep?"

"you could say that. charles and i are about to head out with charlène for a bit. hope you don't mind us raiding your closet."

isabel glanced down at the sweater she was wearing and smiled. "not at all. it's cozy."

"you make even my sweaters look good." carlos smiled

just as charles appeared in the doorway, holding a giggling charlène in his arms.

"i see you've already met the morning crew."

"oh, is this a regular occurrence?" isabel asked.

"seems like it. but i was actually thinking of asking a favor."

"favor?" isabel raised an eyebrow.

"we were planning to grab a bite to eat with charlène. how would you feel about babysitting her while we're out?"

"i'd love to. she's a sweetheart." isabel beamed

"thank you, isabel. it means a lot."

the day passed in a blur of giggles and games with charlène. isabel felt a deep sense of joy watching the little girl's eyes light up with every new discovery. as the sun began to set, charles and carlos returned, their laughter filling the air.

"i hope you two had a blast." carlos spoke.

"did you behave, charlène?" charles asked.

"mommy is fun!" charlène grinned.

"well, i'll go play with charlène downstairs, and leave you two alone." carlos stated, and left.

as the door closed behind them, a comfortable silence settled in. isabel glanced at charles, finding his gaze fixed on her. his expression was a mix of gratitude and something more.

"isabel, i have something i'd like to talk to you about."

"sure, what is it?"

"would you be up for dinner tonight? just the two of us?" charles said, nervous.

isabel's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of excitement and nervousness coursing through her.

"of course, i'd love to." she smiled.

"great. there's a place i've been wanting to take you."

as the evening sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, isabel felt a sense of anticipation building. this unexpected journey had brought her closer to charles, carlos, and above all, charlène. she couldn't help but wonder where this new chapter would lead, but one thing was certain – she was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead.

the day had a sense of anticipation in the air as isabel got ready for her dinner with charles. she chose an outfit that struck the balance between casual and elegant, reflecting the uncertainty of the evening. as she stood in front of the mirror, she took a deep breath, the gravity of the moment sinking in.

charles arrived promptly, a warm smile on his lips as he greeted her at the door. they exchanged a few words, but an underlying tension lingered between them, a mix of excitement and nerves.

"shall we?" charles states, offering his arm.

isabel nodded, linking her arm with his, and they set off for the restaurant he had chosen. the city's lights painted a picturesque scene around them, a backdrop to the emotions swirling within.

the restaurant was a cozy haven, the soft glow of candlelight casting a romantic ambiance. they settled into a corner booth, a sense of intimacy settling over them.

"there's something i want to talk to you about." isabel remarked.

confused, charles nodded. "im all ears."

"i don't want to say it was a mistake, but yesterday was a little spontaneous. it wasn't bad, i mean it was great. but don't you think it's a little too fast? i want to get to know you, charles. i think you're a fun person to get to know."

"i totally agree, we got a little crazy with the drinks and i can't blame anybody. and also, im looking forward to knowing you too."

they smiled at eachother and locked eyes for a moment.