Kevin Magnussen X Nico Hülkenberg - Tiny Miracles

seperation anxiety

Kevin's belly had grown significantly over the past few months, round and prominent, leaving no doubt that their baby was on the way. His hand constantly cradled it, and Nico would find himself doing the same, especially in quiet moments when they were alone. Nico seemed to have an instinctual need to touch it whenever Kevin was near, as if by holding the curve of Kevin's belly, he was protecting them both.

Kevin, though, had developed his own habit that went beyond just cradling his bump. He had grown incredibly touchy, needing to be close to Nico at all times. Whether they were alone or surrounded by friends and colleagues, Kevin's hands would find their way under Nico's shirt, hugging his waist, pressing their bodies together. Kevin kissed Nico at random moments, rested his head on Nico's shoulder when they sat down, and clung to his hand as if afraid to let go. It was as though every touch anchored him.

Nico found it incredibly sweet, most of the time. He loved how Kevin sought his comfort, how their bond had deepened so naturally. But during particularly busy weekends-like race weekends-it became a bit overwhelming. He found himself needing to pull away, needing to focus, which only made Kevin pout or tear up.

It was midweek during a race when Nico finally had to address it.

They were in the paddock, and Nico had just finished a long session of media interviews. He turned around to find Kevin, of course, waiting for him in the corner. His hands were outstretched, looking for that familiar embrace.

Nico sighed with a gentle smile, walking over to him. "Kev, you know I love this..." he started, placing his hands on Kevin's hips, "but you're going to have to give me a break for a minute. Let me finish talking to the engineers first, okay?"

Kevin's lips twitched into a smile, but his eyes still shimmered with that raw emotion that had been bubbling closer to the surface in recent weeks. "Sorry," he whispered, stepping back reluctantly, even though his hand still clung to Nico's.

"I'll be back in five minutes," Nico assured him, leaning down to kiss the top of Kevin's head before disappearing into the garage.

Kevin sighed, resting his hand on his belly again. The round shape was unmistakable, and as much as he loved the attention from Nico, he sometimes forgot just how intense his need to be close had gotten. His friends often joked about how clingy he'd become, but it didn't bother him. Not until Nico needed space.

A few days later, at their next doctor's appointment, they got the news. Kevin would no longer be able to travel by plane soon. The doctor mentioned the potential risks for both Kevin and the baby, and it hit Kevin harder than he expected. He froze, eyes wide, and the next moment, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"No... no, I can't..." Kevin stammered, his voice breaking, sending Nico into immediate panic.

"Hey, hey," Nico's voice softened as he leaned in close, wrapping his arms around Kevin. "It's okay, Kev. We'll figure it out."

But Kevin sobbed into his chest, overcome by the idea of being stuck in one place while Nico continued to race. The thought of not being able to travel with him, to be by his side, made Kevin feel like everything was unraveling.

Nico stroked his hair, murmuring soft reassurances, but the moment they got home, they knew they needed to have a real conversation about the birth and how they would navigate the next few months.

"I don't want to miss a single moment," Nico started, sitting across from Kevin later that night, their hands intertwined. Kevin was still sniffling but had calmed down, the reality of the situation settling in. "We're lucky with the schedule. Most of the last part of the season is in Europe. I'll always be a few hours away. We can use a jet if we need to get me back quickly."

Kevin looked at him with watery eyes. "But what if the baby comes early? What if you're still racing? I need you there, Nico."

"I will be," Nico promised, his voice firm but filled with emotion. "We'll make sure I'm there. We'll plan everything, and if anything changes, I'll drop everything and come back."

Kevin nodded slowly, wiping at his face. "I just... I'm scared. I don't want to do this without you."

Nico leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Kevin's. "You won't have to. We're going to do this together. I'm not going anywhere."

They sat like that for a long moment, the room filled with the quiet sound of their breathing. Slowly, Kevin's tears subsided, and the comfort of Nico's words sank in.

The next day, they looked over the race calendar again, matching the races with Kevin's expected due date. Luckily for them, most of the last month of Kevin's pregnancy fell during the European leg of the season, so there was no need for plane travel. It was reassuring, but they still had to be cautious, as anything could happen with the baby.

"I'll talk to the team, see if we can make special arrangements for that last month," Nico said, determined. "We'll be ready."

Kevin smiled faintly, finally feeling a sense of relief. He wasn't alone in this, and he knew that Nico was fully committed to being there, no matter what.

They were going to figure it out-together.