Unbroken Hopes|| Charles Leclerc X Max Verstappen(Lestappen)Wildest Dreams Book2 A short view back to the past

“I can’t believe it” Charles chuckles again with his back pressed against Max’s bare chest. Looking at the ring box between the Dutchman’s fingers. Tracing them with his own. As he turns to face a Max again. A big smile on his face. They kiss, soft and sweet, smiling. “Believe me, I can’t either” Max chuckles against his lips. Sending shivers through Charles. He sighes as he closes the ring box and places it on the nightstand. Before turning to Charles again, taking him in his arms as he kisses the top of his head. “The fact that I even asked your Mom, Arthur and Lorenzo for your hand while they…” Charles’s eyes went big as he heard Max’s admission before breaking in to a grin again. “You did that?”
Max looks at him questioning before braking out another grin. “Well yes of course, if I was going to do it, I was going to do it the right way” he laughs at Charles’s stunned face. “B-but how? When?!” He asks him, his eyes wide.
Max can’t stop smiling as he tells him.

Val-d’isére, a couple of weeks ago

Max walks back on to the terrace as he carries out the drinks for him and Pascale. She offered to stay with him now so her sons could go skiing this afternoon. It was the perfect moment. But god, Max was terrified.
He places the tray down with wobbly hands as he went to sit down next to his boyfriend’s mother. Who just smiles at him behind her sunglasses.

“It’s really nice to finally be able to go on a holiday with all of us” she tells him with a kind smile. “So you could come with us I mean.” She says as she squeezed his hand before she slightly frowns. “Are you okay Max?” She asked worriedly as she touches his clammy hand that is still slightly trembling, his face paler then normal.
“Yeah… yeah I’m fine” he tries to smile politely though to Pascale it looks more like a grimace.
“Max? We can go back to the cabin if you need to?” She stresses to him as she squeezed his hand once more. He takes his sunglasses of with his free hand as he turns his chair to face her properly as he sighed, trying to tame his nerves. “There is something I wanted to talk about with you” digging his nails of his free hand in his tigh.
“You are worrying me now love” she says as she also takes of her sunglasses.
“It-its nothing bad… I-I think” he stutters a bit as he curses himself. For fucks sake! Why is he so nervous?

“Tell me then” her voice is gentle and reassuring him with another gentle squeeze of his hand. Nodding at him to go on.
“I- I wanted to talk to you about… I wanted… I wanted to ask you something actually. You know how Charles and I have been together for a while and…” her eyes already brighting up, the smile returning quickly to her face.
“He makes me really happy, and I hope that I make him just as happy… we’ve been through so much together and what I wanted to ask you is…” he says looking up squeezing her hand back now. “I want- I want to ask him to marry me, if you will let me ofcourse?” He asks his voice still wavering.

She stands up taking his head between her palms “oh oui, mon cher garçon. tu rends mon fils si heureux! ça me fait très plaisir Max! tu es si douce et si bonne avec lui. bien sûr tu as ma bénédiction!” (oh yes, my dear boy. you make my son so happy! that makes me very happy Max! you are so sweet and good to him. of course you have my blessing!) as she kisses both of his cheeks.
“Yeah?” He asks still stunned by her sweet words.
“Yeah!” She smiles at him. “You would make me a really proud and happy mother in law” she smiles at him as he hugs her tight. “Thank you Pascale, it really means so much to me” he breathes.
As they finally went to sit down she can’t help but ask.
“Do you have planned when and where?” Al curiously.
He laughs back at her. “I might have an idea”

Present time

“Awww Maxy, that’s so sweet! You are the absolute sweetest” Charles says as he has listened intently to his boyfriend’s story and chuckles. “Though I absolutely understand your nerves” as Max looks at him quite surprised. “What?” Charles chuckles. “Go big or go home right?” He smiles pecking Max’s lips. “Though I must admit , I was shitting myself talking to your dad” he laughs as he thinks back to that evening.
“You talked to my dad?!” Max now sounds even more surprised. “Well yeah?” He cocks his eyebrow up. “Ofcourse I did”

St. Barths, the last day of last year

Charles was washing his hands in the bathroom, glancing himself up in the mirror, fixing his hair for the 3rd time now before gripping his hands on the faucet, pulling himself together. He did one more glance over before he walked out of the bathroom. Hoping to catch Jos alone.

As he enters the room he spots Jos typing away on his phone in the corner. Luckily for him he is actually seated alone. He just stays out for one more second before he takes a deep breath and makes his way to the older dutchman with every bit of courage that he has got. “Jos… do you have a moment?” The dutchman looks puzzled but follows him on to the balcony anyway.

As they step out on the balcony Charles takes a deep breath, hoping the fresh night air would help him with the tight feeling in his chest. His mind is racing from left to right. Ofcourse he knew Jos was fine with them being together now.  But what would he think about marriage? That would definitely be above and beyond. Would it push the envelope maybe a bit to much? God he hoped that he wouldn’t find it to girly. His son being proposed to instead of proposing himself.

He was awoken out of his stupor as Jos placed his hand on his shoulder. “Charles? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m okay” he tries to smile as he once again tries to gather his courage, pushing away the negative voice in the back of his head.
“There is something important I wanted to ask you” he says as Jos smiles and motions him to go on. Placing his glass on the edge of the balcony.
“I” he starts, taking one last breath before blabbering it all out almost incoherently.
“JosiwantedtoaskyouifyouwouldbeokaywithmeaskingMaxtomarryme” he says in one breath. It suprises Jos, but he did hear the monegasque just fine. Though he can’t help to ask again to make sure.
“Come again?” He ask with a smile. “I didn’t quite hear you the first time” he says patting Charles’s upper arm as the monegasque let’s out a shuddering breath.
“I wanted to ask you. As-as….I love Max very much, if you would… if you would give me your blessing” he gulps. “If you would give me your blessing to ask Max to marry me” he says staring up from the ground, now looking up at the older dutchman.

“Charles” Jos says and Charles gulps again. “Oui” he slips in to his native tongue as his nerves get the better of him. He didn’t expect to smile that’s stretched on Jos’s face. “Of course you have my blessing” he says as he takes the monegasque in his arms and pats his back happily. He’s standing still, before a nervous laughter escapes his throat. All the worry he had before hand, he certainly didn’t expect to get Jos’s approval so easily. As the dutchman senses this he adds. “I might have not always been your biggest fan and supporter Charles. So I understand you feel hesitant still. You two have shown me that you can be world champion and be in love. But above that you make Max happy Charles. And in the end that’s the most important” as Charles just silently nods smiling.

“So tell me, how are you planning to propose to my son?” The dutchman asks him to lighten the mood.
Charles now grins, he had been going over this idea in his head for like a thousand times before this moment. Everything has to be perfect. “Val d’argenton” is all he says and Jos frowns before he laughes with him. “You are a menace Leclerc!” He says while pinking away the tears in his eyes that had formed from laughing.
“A menace that could actually use your help” he says as he tells him about his plans.

Present

“So that’s why my dad was so happy that evening?!” Max laughes as Charles tells him the story in flying colours. “I had been wondering what he had been drinking till now. What made him dance with my sisters like that!” He says as he shakes his head still in disbelief. “Though, I still also find it hard to believe that he reacted like that at all!” He is stunned but so happy. Deep down it meant more to Max that his father gave them his blessing and even helped Charles organise everything. Something only a couple of years back he didn’t even dare to dream off. It meant more than he cared to admit.

As they finally get out of bed and ready for today they keep talking about all that went in front of this grand proposal. Lorenzo, in hindsight almost running his mouth about what Max had asked him. Or Charles faking his headache during the barbecue to set everything up and get their families in place in silence. His uncle let in on his plans and finding it so hard to not tell his nephew. But it was definitely all worth it.

They filled their day with a karting contest on their beloved track of memories. Max had cancelled whatever he made reservations for. They for once got  got their family’s together, so why not spend it with doing something that they all loved. It was a fun day. Fun but very competitive. But what else could you expect from a Verstappen-Leclerc family gathering. They were all wired like that.

Much later that day after they finally said their goodbyes they made their way back to the hotel. Max quickly cleaned and dressed so Charles could take a long and warm shower. He had been soaked to his boxers as Max couldn’t help but purposely push him and his kart in to a puddle. Claiming it was “meant to be” with a grin on his face. And if he ended up in that same puddle in his Boyfriend’s arms after the race. Well he would tell you it was all worth it. 

The monegasque took his sweet time. Letting the hot water glide over his cold and sore body before finally changing in to his sweats that had been warming on the heater in the bathroom. As he entered the en-suite he blinked a couple of times as he took the towel that was drying his hair of off his head.
“Max?” The blinds in the room are closed, only a warm hue tinting the room. The warm and rich smell off vanilla fills his nose before everything turns dark as he feels hands pressed against his eyes. “Here” he hears Max say with his warm and soft voice.
“Keep your eyes closed will you, yeah?” Max asks and Charles nods. “Charles?” He asks again and Charles chuckles. “Yes Maxy, I will”
“Good” Max says as he kisses his cheek so tenderly it sends shivers down the monegasque’s spine.
“Follow me” he whispers in his ear as he takes his hand. “No peaking” the dutchman chuckles.

He listens intently as he hears Max shuffle around a bit, trying to figure out what his boyfriend has planned. His boyfriend that never  lets go of his hand.
“Okay, you can open your eyes” Max says softly and Charles blinks open his eyes.
Right in front of him is Max on his knee, wearing his suit with that ridiculously big but adorable bow tie. They are enlightened with a circle of candles and rose petals on the floor.
“Charles” Max smiles up at him taking his hand.
“Though this was not the way I’ve planned it” he chuckles “and I’m now also already quite confident your answer will be yes” he winks as Charles can’t help but laugh at his boyfriend’s antics. The butterflies blooming in his chest.
“I didn’t want to just give it to you, but it kept staring at me from the nightstand” his eyes glimmer from the candles around them. “I love you Charles” as he sends him another sweet smile. “So would you please do me the honour and also marry me?”
Charles is around his neck in seconds. “YES! YES! Max of course you idiot” he exclaims fondly.
“I love you so much Max Verstappen”
And Max smiles at him so bright as he takes his hand and glides the ring around his finger.
“I love you too”