End Game (Charles Leclerc x Max Verstappen)

Seven

Charles Leclerc

The last two months have been pure bliss. Max, Pen and I have been living in our apartment, which used to be Max's though I have since moved it. We had flown back after many celebrations with Mira, Pen, Dani, Pierre, Carlos and Lando on Max's private jet before heading off to team meetings for a week. I cannot believe Max and I have almost been together for seven months. The concept of time is truly wild when you think about it, but I could not imagine my life without him, or Pen for that matter. The latter is currently playing quietly with her stuffed animals on the floor while I mess around on the piano that Max bought and moved into his, now our, apartment for Christmas. 

"Play the fairy song Charlie!" Pen's voice drags me away from the piece I have been working on for the last three while Max has been in the Netherlands. He really wanted both Pen and I to go with him but Pen's passport accidentally expired and we are having to jump through hoops getting it renewed since Max is her adoptive father and documents somehow got misplaced. I obviously could not go because his father, who insisted he spend 'quality' time with his son would become way too suspicious. So I guess that is how I have ended up staying with Pen for a week. I do not mind though, she has become my family as much as Max.

"Charlie!" Pen's dramatic sigh has me laughing. "The fairy songgg."

She clambers up beside me on the piano bench, scooting over with her teddy clutched under her arm. It took me about two days to figure out what said fairy song was but eventually, after a lot of barbie movies and cartons of those grocery store cookies that people either hate or love, I discovered that she meant the theme song from the twelve dancing princesses. 

I let the music float over me, dancing around the room as I stare at the adorable princess on the bench beside me. How did I get so lucky? I have always wanted kids and even though legally I am precisely nothing to Pen, I love her more than almost anything in the world. 

When I finish the song she makes me repeat it four times, which I happily oblige, before hoping of the bench and running to her room to play dress up. 

I study the half full piece in front of me, the notes sound pretty, soft and melodic and perfect but it is missing something. I want it to be perfect. I want him to feel my love.

My mind flashes back to the moment on Christmas Eve, the moment he finally said I love you.

*Flashback*

Max's face is scrunched in concentration as he carefully pours powdered sugar around the outline of his boot, claiming that it was necessary to create the magical Christmas that Pen loves so much. Something about creating a trail of Father Christmas' foot prints since we have no chimney. He is precious.

"I hope you know that I will not be the one to clean this up," I tease, poking him on the shoulder. 

"You'd probably do a terrible job anyway. I've seen you try to wipe up water P spilled... I think it would have been less painful to lose the championship."

I roll my eyes, dramatically sighing for a moment before meeting his eyes and laughing quietly. "Max, this is why I love you. Pen is so lucky to have you, mon amour. We both are."

He smiles gently, finally rising from the floor to admire his work. "Hmm." The sound vibrates in his chest as he turns slowly. "I think I am the lucky one... I mean, look at those abs." 

I cannot stop the blush that explodes over my body, clearly displaying how much he affects me. I roll my eyes again, a common occurrence it seems, and flick him on the nose gently. 

"Yes." I say, the breathlessness of my voice betraying any sort of composure I thought I could fake. "You are so very lucky." 

"Humble to, you are." He smiles before tilting my chin up and kissing me gently. I melt in his arms, a puddle of love and jittery excitement that I do not think will ever disappear. He just has this effect on me.