Catch Me - Charles Leclerc ✓

XXI

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╰┈➤ November of 2019,
in Austria 🇦🇹

"So how are you feeling Char?" Val asks me as I stare into the mountains of Austria. I look at her and smile trying to reassure her, but probably it was more like an attempt to reassure myself "No need to lie to me." she puts her hand on mine that was laying on my lap and gives it a squeeze. God how I love her. Valentina can even make the most nerve racking moments become so bright so effortlessly.

"I'm a bit nervous, after all I'm basically meeting my girlfriend's family for the first time." I chuckle and then look at her. She had a sad smile on her face, shit... her mom... "I- I mean-"

"It's fine Char, really. But I'm sure they'll love you. My siblings have always liked you and my dad well, he knows you for years. My step mom is pretty cool, she is very sweet and supportive of me, so you don't have to worry." I kiss her hand that was now locked in mine.

"Thank you. For making me feel better."

"That's what I'm here for. Now rest a bit more, we still got a couple more minutes until we arrive." Val forced me not to drive so I could get some rest because of racing and all the traveling in between. Also she knows this place better than me, so it makes more since to be her driving. I lay my head back and let myself rest for the left minutes of the drive.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
later ꕤ on

I wake up slowly with the feeling of someone brushing my hair.

"You awake?" I nod and smile hearing her voice. I'll never get tired of seeing her first thing when I wake up "I was about to wake you up, but since we still had a little bit of time I hold myself back."

"It's fine Darling, I already told you I'm doing ok. I'm used to this much traveling between races, so you don't need to worry." we get out of the car and made our way to her house, well her father's house.

"Valentina! We were waiting for you two!" that must be her stepmother. She does indeed seem sweet "Come inside it's very cold out there! I'll call Bernard to help you with your suitcases." she quickly rushed inside and quickly both her and Bernard appear. I haven't seen Bernard since he and Rosa moved away, which was right after their mother's death.

"Hello mate!" we hug each other, we used to get along well when we were younger, tho he was closer to Lorenzo and Arthur "It's been a while since I last saw you."

"Indeed. Yet you're still smaller than me." we both laugh at his statement "I see that you're still trying to live up to your promise all those years ago."

"Promise? What promise?" Val asks confused.

"It smells really good." I change the subject "Let's not wait any longer!" we get to the dining room and I see Rosa, I assume, finishing to place the food on the table. Toto was also coming inside with food on his hands "Good evening."

"Charlessssss!!!!" Rosa runs to me and hugs me "I'm so happy that you and Val are still together! Now I don't have to hear her talk about how much she misses you anymore." I look at Val with a smirk plastered on my face, while she turns red and argues with her sister.

"Welcome to Austria Charles."

"Oh- thank you Toto. You really have a nice house. And family."

"Yeah, they are still as crazy as ever." we chuckle "Reminds me of back when we moved to Monaco and all the kids from the two families got together. It was a like a hurricane everywhere we went. Good days..."

"Indeed they were..."

"I'm not going to tell you any of that dad stuff of don't you dare to hurt my daughter, cause I know you and I know you'll never do that. You also know what would happen if you did, so there's no need for that." I do know, it almost happened when I bumped into him in the paddock for the first time after the separation. I nearly turned into tires for my own car "I also won't tell you to make her happy, cause I know that you do just that. I'll only tell you this, when we are at the paddock we can still talk, but not in a comfortable way like when outside of it. I don't mind you guys going public, but we are still from rival teams, so if people see us too close, there will be rumors."

"Yes I understand and agree."

"Now now, enough business talking. Let's eat before it gets cold!" we all sit in the chairs and dine. The food was very light and delicious. The conversation flowed in a very comfortable way, which made me relieved. We joked and shared part of our current lives, but also reminded the old times back in Monaco. I had a wonderful time.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
after ꕤ dinner

"So what did you think?"

"I think we can do this more times if everyone agrees." I smile.

"Yeah next time we should invite your brothers and your mom. Just like old times." I nod as I brushed my teeth "I can't believe you're in my room..."

"It's not like I never been to your room." I affirm getting inside of the sheets.

"True, but you never been in my room here in Austria. It's weird in someway. Austria was where I ran to after leaving you, so it was like a place I never imagined to be with you. But I'm glad you are." she snuggled into my chest and after talking a bit more we ended up drifting to sleep.