Ultimately, the day they all dreaded came, Hervé's heart stopped. Doctors say that he died peacefully in his sleep and that was all his family hoped for him, to go without suffering. Fortunately, they all got to say their goodbyes, leaving no regrets behind. Unfortunately, Charles had a race the week-end after his father's death, who died on a Tuesday, the 20th of June. He couldn't afford to miss it, not when he was doing so well in his F2 season. As he had promised his late father, he wanted to make him proud. So he packed his things, with of course Julie accompanying him, and they went to Baku for the fourth race week-end of the season.
Charles had never been so quiet in the paddock and everyone could see it. The couple wasn't really interacting with anyone, only doing so if other people needed to talk to them. The only moment where Charles went to talk to someone on his own free will, was when he saw Pierre who was here as a reserve driver for Toro Rosso in F1. Pierre automatically accepted to follow Charles to a more private area, not before hugging Julie to say hello. She gave him a sad smile which only added to his concern.
When Julie closed the door behind them, Charles's eyes watered almost instantly. Pierre grabbed his friend by his shoulders.
« Charles ? Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe ? »
"Charles ? What's wrong ?"
« C'est mon père... Il... »
"It's my father... He..."
Charles didn't have to say anything more as Pierre's eyes widen as he understood.
« Oh Charles... »
"Oh Charles..."
The best friends hugged as Charles started to cry, the emotions getting the better of him. Pierre knew about Hervé, he knew that his condition had worsened and truly hoped for him to overcome it, but sadly it wasn't enough. Pierre suddenly remembered about Julie behind here and gestured for her to come in the hug, which she gladly agreed to. Pierre then felt his shirt dampen as his two friends cried in his arms which made him tear up a little. The sight truly was heartbreaking.
« Mais pourquoi vous êtes venus ce week-end ? Vous auriez du restez auriez dû rester à Monaco. Tout le monde aurait compris si tu n'étais pas venu piloter Charles. »
"But why did you come this week-end ? You both should have stayed in Monaco. Everyone would have understood if you hadn't come to drive Charles."
Charles broke the hug and looked at Pierre with his redden eyes.
« Personne ne sait. On ne l'a pas encore annoncé. Je veux rendre Papa fier, et pour ça, peu importe ce qu'il se passe je dois faire de mon mieux et me surpasser. »
"No one knows. We haven't announced it yet. I want to make Papa proud, and in order to do so, whatever happens, I have to do my best and outdo myself."
Pierre gave him a dejected look while Charles only looked at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world at the moment. Julie decided to sit down on the couch in the small room of the Prema Racing motorhome, where Charles soon joined her. He put his arms on his legs, looking at the ground and Julie wiggled her hand around his arm to grab his and intertwine them.
« Tu sais Pierre, j'ai menti à Papa avant qu'il parte. Je lui a dit que j'avais un baquet pour l'an prochain, que j'avais reçu une offre de contrat. ... À la fois je me sens honteux de lui avoir menti, à la fois je me dis que je n'aurais jamais pu le rendre aussi fier qu'il l'a été ce jour là. »
"You know Pierre, I lied to Papa before he left. I told him I had a seat for next year, that I had been offered a contract. ... I feel ashamed of having lied to him, but at the same time I tell myself that I wouldn't have been able to make him as proud as he was that day."
Pierre sighed and sat down in front of Charles.
« Charles regarde moi. Certes je suis d'accord sur le fait que mentir est mal, mais là c'est un mensonge pieux. Tu l'as fait pour le rendre heureux. Il n'y a pas de conséquences graves à ce que tu as fait. Maintenant tout ce que tu dois faire c'est prouver que tu n'as pas eu tord de lui mentir, que tu vas l'avoir ce baquet. »
"Charles look at me. Of course I agree that lying is wrong, but this is a white lie. You did it to make him happy. There's no severe consequences to what you did. Now, all you have to do is prove you weren't wrong to lie to him, that you'll get your seat."
« C'est ce que je vais faire. Merci Pierre.»
"That's what I'll do. Thanks Pierre."
« De rien mec, c'est normal. »
"You're welcome mate, it's nothing."
He got up and went to the door.
« Je vais vous laisser les amoureux, je dois y aller. On se voit plus tard. Et souviens toi Charles, prouve lui que t'avais raison. »
"I'll leave you to it lovebirds, I have to go. We'll see each other later. And remember Charles, prove him right."
Charles smiled at him while Julie waved and when the door clicked, Julie engulfed Charles in a hug and they didn't say anything. They didn't need to. They just understood each other that well, having whole conversations with their eyes.
Then, after a long moment of silence, Charles talked.
« Je t'aime Julie, toujours. »
"I love you Julie, always.
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I love you, always | Charles Leclerc ✔
FanfictionFollow Julie's life through very lows and very highs. Julie is many things. She's Jules Bianchi's sister, Charles Leclerc's best friend and Pascale and Hervé Leclerc's favorite daughter at heart. "I love you mon amour, always." Mention of death, sex...
