lemon and mint | Charles Leclerc

🍋second lemon - bonus🍋

Italy, May 2023

The young Italian was tossing and turning in her bed. She was getting married tomorrow. She still couldn't believe it. When she turned around again, she could feel a hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, love," Charles asked her. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Pia sighed, her heart fluttering at the sound of his voice. "I can't sleep," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I keep thinking about tomorrow."

"All you have to remember is to say sì," the Ferrari driver smiled at her. He was so calm, so sure he had made the right decision. It wasn't that Pia wasn't sure, but rather those kinds of worries—what if she tripped, or it rained, or she didn't like her dress after all?

Pia couldn't help but smile at Charles' playful reassurance. "Sì," she repeated softly, her lips curving into a small smile. "That's the easy part. It's everything else that's keeping me up."

The older one chuckled softly, pulling her closer. "Everything else doesn't matter, P. Not really. The only thing that matters is that we'll be standing there together."

Pia took a deep breath, allowing his words to wash over her. "You always make it sound so simple," she murmured, burying her face in his chest.

"That's because it is," he replied, his voice gentle and reassuring.

Pia closed her eyes, finding comfort in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "I know," she whispered. "It's just... what if something goes wrong? What if I trip, or it rains, or the dress isn't right?"

Charles laughed softly, his chest vibrating against her cheek. "P, love, look, I just want to marry you. I don't care if it rains or if the priest speaks in Spanish instead of Italian. I would marry you in an oversized hoodie and shorts. I would marry you no matter what. And if you trip, I'll catch you."

Pia couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion at Charles' words. His voice was filled with sincerity, and she knew he meant every word. It was moments like this that made her realise just how lucky she was to have him in her life.

"I know you would," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"That's my job," Charles said with a soft smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "And besides, tomorrow is about us, not about the dress or the weather."

Pia nodded, her anxiety slowly fading. "You're right. It's about us."

Charles pressed another kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. "Exactly. And no matter what happens, it's going to be perfect because we're doing it together."

Pia finally felt a sense of calm wash over her. "Thank you, Char. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime, love," he whispered back. "Now, try to get some sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us, and I want you well-rested for our first dance as husband and wife."

She smiled, the thought of their wedding day filling her with warmth and excitement. "I can't wait to dance with you."

"And I can't wait to marry you," he said, his voice soft and full of love.

With that, Pia closed her eyes, feeling safe and secure in Charles' arms. The worries that had kept her awake faded away, replaced by the comforting knowledge that, no matter what happened tomorrow, they would face it together.

---

Gianna tied the corset of Pia's dress even tighter. She looked at her daughter again, her waist barely existing now. She looked so beautiful, enveloped in the white fabric of her wedding dress. The wedding dress that they were arguing about endlessly. Gianna didn't like them as much, but Pia fell in love with them the first time she saw them in Milano.