L O C K -U P | c. leclerc

EPILOGUE

December 08, 2025

A. Devereaux

I was standing at this very podium last season except this time, I won.  I was handed the trophy and I lifted it in the air, proud of the achievement I have accomplished.

I promised myself I wouldn't cry. But I did. All the bad days and good days, it all summed up to this. All the breakdowns and the mistakes, it was all worth it. I took the bottle of champagne and popped it, spraying it at the Ferrari mechanics.

From down below, I could see Jasmine cheering her heart out and right next to her was Kika and Pierre who I could hear yell, "WE LOVE YOU ARTEMIS! LAUDA! LAUDA! LAUDA!"

I smiled, they knew I wanted to hear my grandfather's last name. But then the crowd started to shout the same thing.

Lauda!

Lauda!

Lauda!

Lauda!

I was getting so lost in the praise. It felt like the great Niki Lauda was just beside me, spraying champagne and holding the trophy with me.

I hadn't realised that I was getting so lost in the praise that I had to hear Lando yell, "Hey Artemis, LOOK OVER HERE!"

Immediately, I searched for Lando in the crowd. Then I finally saw him with a big sign saying.

Look to your right!

Suddenly the crowd was so quiet, a gasp echoing through the sea of people. I looked to my right and I nearly dropped to the floor with what I saw.

Charles was on his knee, his whole body soaked in the champagne and he was holding out the ring. The first thing I asked was, "How long have you had that on you?"

"Quite some time, I kept it in my racing suit tonight," he mentioned, gesturing to where he kept it. I laughed and commented, "The ring must be laced with sweat then."

He just shrugged then asked, "Would you do me the honour of allowing me to be your husband?"

"Allowing?! Ha ha, you are so silly," I teased and I could see he was starting to sweat because I gave him no answer. I laughed and stepped off of my podium to join him in his. I gestured for him to stand up then I kissed him, hearing all the cameras flash aggressively.

"Why are you sweating?," I teased further but then he said so nervously, "You still haven't given me an answer...do you not-."

"Oh god, you really are stupid," I teased, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, "My answer is yes, a thousand times YES!"

Immediately, Charles slipped the ring on my finger then picked me up and spun me around, yelling, "YES!"

The crowd cheered and all I could think about was Charles and how I'd been blessed to have met him. If someone had asked me at the beginning of my career with Ferrari whether I'd even want to share a room with him? I'd throw a fit about the question being brought up.

But now, we've grown. We love the sport together and we race together.

As teammates.

As partners in life.

Everything was just right. God, I wish my grandfather were here to see this. He would've joked about how he calculated in his head that there was a 99% chance I'd end up a hermit.

Turns out I got to be in the very rare 1%.

And it's good. Very good.

I looked at Charles again, bringing myself out of my thoughts then asked, "So, where are we getting married?"

He laughed and just kissed me then replied, "Wherever you want princess."

___

Author's note:

Hi guys, I had so much fun writing this fanfic. I was so surprised I even got reads. Thank you for the votes and thank you for the reads.

I know it's a bit sad that Carlos didn't quite get a happy ending since Artemis chose Charles but don't worry, his happy ending is on the works for the sequel of this fanfic. So obviously we'll see more of Charles and Artemis hehe.

Alsoooo, amazing win for Carlos at the Singapore GP! Had me sobbing at 2 am when I watched hahaha. And Lando got 2nd too! Carlando is just so 😭❤️.

Again, thank you for everything guys. Mwah 😘