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thegarden-ofeden · 13 days

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𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 | 𝐜𝐥𝟏𝟔

SUMMARY: a careful girl with a fear of falling finds herself with a certain monegasque determined to prove to her he's here to stay. PAIRING: single mom!reader x charles leclerc WARNING: none, pure fluff. not proofread at all WORD COUNT: 4.8k

NOTE: based off taylor swift's song by the same title!

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Love, you thought, is far more trouble than it’s worth. You and love never had a good relationship, your only example of it growing up being your parents’ marriage. With a cheating father and an emotionally abusive mother, love, you thought, isn't really all that. From what you’ve seen of it, it’s ugly and painful and full of tears. If this is love, then you want absolutely nothing to do with it.

But not even you is exempted from cupid's cruel arrow, falling for a guy who doesn’t have the courage to catch you, who walked out at the first sign of hardship, leaving you with a baby you don’t know how to care for and a broken heart to nurse. You decided then that love is not worth it. Love is not worth the pain it comes with and you will never subject your daughter to the same broken childhood as you, hiding under the bed with your hands on your ears to try and block out the screaming and the sound of broken glasses downstairs as your parents show you exactly what love is.

Your daughter will never know pain as you did. She will never know abandonment as you did. She will grow up loved and cared for, not walking on eggshells in his own home like you did. Love will never break Sofia’s heart like it did yours.

The first time you met Charles, you were waiting tables, having taken another extra shift for Sofia’s upcoming birthday. He smiled at you so brightly that you had to look away, believing that surely no one can be that happy. There’s far too much ugly in life for anyone to smile that big and that assured. A pretty smile and a pretty face, an expensive watch probably worth triple your paycheck and clothes that fits him too perfectly. You already know the likes of him and you’re quick to stay clear away.

Charles Leclerc is love. You knew that the first time you met him. He is the type of love that makes you feel as though you’re floating on a cloud of happiness only to come crashing down in even smaller broken pieces. You know it all too well and you decided then and there that you will not be love’s next victim. For this one, you’re more than happy to sit it out.

But you’re only human after all. After weeks and weeks of him coming in everyday with you avoiding him, you figured you might as well get it over with now. Is he here for you? You aren’t sure. Do you want him to be here for you? No, you told yourself repeatedly. But are you entirely too curious for your own good, unable to let something be without wanting to put a microscope on it and observe every nook and cranny? Absolutely. It’s a problem.

So when he entered after the third week, you finally caved and approached his table, armored with your usual neutral smile. You hadn’t missed the way his eyes seemed to widen in surprise as you stood before him. It’s almost adorable if only you hadn’t felt that telltale roar in your chest. You’re quick to school your features, plastering the polite, nearly emotionless smile on your face.

“Hello,” you greet softly, bring out your pad and paper. “What can I get you?”

His cheeks colored pink, realizing he had been staring and he swiftly switched his gaze from your face to the menu in his hands despite already knowing every meal on it. You’re way too pretty, it feels almost suffocating to be this near with you standing over him, your floral perfume attacking his senses. Charles was more than happy to watch you across the room. He doesn’t mind that you never took notice of him or that you never even looked in his direction. It’s a crush, nothing more and nothing less. He was more than ready to just let it pass. But now that you’re standing over him, he can barely breathe.

“How about coffee,” you offered with a small, knowing smile. He’s been staring at the menu for what felt like hours. “Then let me know what you want to get.”

“Okay.” Charles hates coffee. He loves the small, teasing grin forming on your lips though.

He can feel his breath returning to his lungs once you step away, giving him an opportunity to take a deep breath as the scent of her perfume lingered. Charles has raced hundreds of miles per hour, he’s experienced breathless pressure but he’s never experienced the way his heart seemingly wanting to beat out of his chest from the mere smile of a woman. He realized he doesn’t mind it all. There’s a certain kind of adrenaline with being near you, one that he finds himself beginning to get addicted to.

When you return, he’s finally figured out what he wants to order – pancakes with bacon. “I’m Charles, by the way,” he says suddenly, voice thick with a french accent as you jot down his order on your small notepad before he realized that you hadn’t asked nor did you ever indicate that you wanted to know but somehow he wants you to know just so it’d be a little harder for you to forget about him.

The small smile that you gave him was suddenly worth the sudden heat in his cheeks. “I’ll have your pancakes in a few minutes, Charles.”

“Oh – um – yeah, sure. Take your time.” God, he’s absolutely hopeless.

Charles doesn’t ask you out that night nor does he the night after that or any night within that week. You try to convince yourself that you’re relieved, thankful you aren’t being put in an awkward position. You ignore the flutter in your stomach everytime he stutters over his English while talking to you or his cheeks color red everytime you tease him. You ignore that you’ve been giving him the bigger bacon pieces or that you can’t help but glance at him whenever he’s in.

But on a specific Saturday night, what should have been your day off, your defenses crumble. You’re exhausted. You didn’t do as well in your uni finals as you wanted to, your babysitter just quit after she found a much stable job and Sofia had been sick the night before, a bug you’ve obviously caught if your migraine and runny nose is anything to go by. After buying medicine and a few cheap toys to cheer her up along with finding a much more expensive babysitter than your old one, you’re severely lacking on money for this month so you took an extra shift despite your body begging at you not to and it feels as though the entire world is toppling on you.

When Charles came in, you couldn’t even find it in yourself to give him your usual smile – much genuine now, like an old friend greeting another. Instead, your eyes are squinted, attempting to get them to focus on his figure and your body sagging in exhaustion.

“Are you okay?” He asked as soon as you reached his usual table, genuine concern in his eyes and sincerity lacing his voice.

You wanted to cry on the spot. It’s been a while since anyone genuinely asked, not just as a passing question. Sofia is far too young, only three, to notice whenever you feel like everything is too much. You moved away from the small town where your parents reside the moment you were able to and you don’t exactly have time to make friends between balancing your uni work, two side jobs and raising your daughter. All you have are friendly acquaintances and coworkers.

“Y/N?” He asked again, sounding more worried. You hadn’t even realized that tears had begun falling to your cheeks. You felt pathetic as you stood before him, crying like a teenager and looking like a mess. If he was ever interested in you before, he’s surely not anymore. You’re a complete mess.

But Charles only looks worried as he stands up, immediately wrapping you in his arms as your silent tears begin to get louder, turning into full on sobs as you break apart, all of your exhaustion and worries finally pushing you over. Thankfully, no one else is at the restaurant, only two tables filled with uni students who don't seem to care about your current breakdown.

Charles took notice of your feverish skin, but he doesn’t say anything as he allows you to sob to his chest. Your arms, which were previously tucked to your sides, reach to wrap around his torso till you’re clutching at him, allowing him to keep you grounded. For the first time since the start of the day, you don’t feel as though you’re about to fall over as you leaned onto him.

“You’re sick,” he says as you finally calm down. “I’ll take you home.”

You’re quick to shake your head, however. You’re both sitting in the booth now, you by the window and him next to you. You’re still leaning against him and his arms are still around you as you try your best to stop crying. “My shift doesn’t end till seven. I can’t leave yet.”

You really really want to though, but you also don’t want Charles to remove his arms from around you. And even then, you have your other job to get to – delivering for a small pizzeria till midnight.

Silence enveloped the two of you again till Charles spoke up. Checking his watch, he realized it’s only five in the afternoon, only two more hours till your shift ends. Gently removing his arms from around you, he stood up. “You just take orders, right?”

“Yes.”

“You stay here and rest, I’ll do it and then I’ll take you home.” He grabbed the pen and notepad you placed on the table.

You want to start crying again. It’s been so long since you felt taken care of that it feels foreign to you. “Charles, I can’t let you do that.”

“I’m offering,” he says with a smile. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Despite yourself, you managed a small smirk. “Are you telling me I look bad?”

“Never.” He said it as though he can’t believe you even asked. “You are Aphrodite.”

And with that, he turned away, leaving you with your heart beating against your chest and a flutter of butterflies in your stomach. And when he turned to you, that smile on his face and that look in his eyes, you cursed yourself. He is friendship, definitely. He might be love, if you let him be. But he is not nothing. He will never be nothing.

Charles wasn’t the best at taking orders, but he did try and it’s obvious barely anyone can resist his charming smile despite the often confusion in his voice. Eventually though, your coworker must have felt bad, saying that you can go early and she’d cover your shift, a small friendly smile on her face as Charles lit up.

You try to keep your eyes on the drive as he drives you to your apartment, trying to ignore the flutter in your stomach whenever he’d throw a glance at you. You thought it’s unfair for him to look so beautiful bathed in darkness, nothing but the streetlights lighting his face. You try not to think about how he smiled at the customers as he did your job and the way he kept checking at you. You try to forget the feeling inside his car as he insisted on taking you home, watching the way his hands gripped the steering wheel in an attempt to stop yourself from watching him.

When you arrived in front of your building, you expected him to drop you off and leave but Charles insisted on walking you to your door. After everything he’s done for you, you decide against arguing.

Your door flew open before you could even insert the key, your daughter’s smiling face greeting you. You try not to get self conscious over the clear surprise in Charles’ face, the child before him’s features uncannily similar to yours.

“Maman!” Sofia called happily, barreling against your legs. “You’re home early.”

You try not to get self conscious over the clear surprise in Charles’ face as you kneel before your daughter to return her hug, the child before him’s features uncannily similar to yours.

“You are Aphrodite,” he told you earlier. Will he still think so knowing you have a daughter?

“Hi, angel. This is my friend Charles.”

At the mention of his name, Charles did as you did and kneeled before Sofia, the little girl’s bright smile removing the confusion on his face and replacing it with a smile of his own as he offered his hand for her to shake. “Nice to meet you, pretty little lady.”

“Heureux de vous rencontrer aussi.” your daughter said proudly, her small hand holding Charles’. Her French is definitely much much better than yours, practically as good as her english. Unlike you, who moved to Monaco already as an adult, Sofia was born and raised here. “Je m'appelle Sofia.” Nice to meet you too…My name is Sofia.

Charles’ smile widens from her perfect French. “Vous avez un beau nom, Sofia.” You have a beautiful name, Sofia.

Your daughter practically preens over his praise, her smile widening, showcasing her toothless grin.

“Vos yeux sont vraiment jolis,” she says shyly, making the monegasque let out a small laugh. Your eyes are really pretty.

“Yours are prettier I think.”

You can see him practically falling in love with your daughter, his eyes shining under her bright smile. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nearly everyone Sofia meets, she manages to charm, having them wrapped around her little finger without them even realizing it.

Your daughter blushes, now completely beaming at Charles. “Do you want to play with me, Cha?”

“Honey, it’s pretty late,” you interrupt, joining in on their conversation. You don’t want to bother Charles more than you already have. “I’m sure Charles has somewhere to be.”

“I actually don’t have plans for tonight,” the monegasque interrupts and the smile he gives your daughter is enough to melt your heart. “I’d love to play with you, Sofia. Only if your mum is okay with it, of course.”

At that, Sofia turns to you with her best puppy eyes, lips a little pouty as she presses her hands together. “Maman, s'il te plaît, s'il te plaît. Cha peut jouer avec moi ?” Mum, please, please. Can Cha play with me?

You were torn. The thought of letting Charles in more than you’ve already had terrifies you along with your daughter growing attached to him only for him to be a temporary thing. Love, you realize, terrifies you and love is in his eyes as he awaits your answer. Love is in his smile for your daughter. Love is in the way he’s looking at you.

But with the two of them looking at you like that, how can you ever say no? As you hesitantly nod your head, you try to convince yourself that this will lead to nothing, just an odd night that won’t become anything more.

And as the two of them shared a victorious smile, sharing a small high five in celebration, you know you’re lying to yourself.

“Only for a while though,” you say slowly. “I have work tomorrow and I’m sure Charles does too.”

The conditions don't matter as Sofia nods her head, still grinning as she pulls Charles into her room, barely giving you or Charles to say anything else. Heaving a sigh, you continue inside. Your head is still spinning and your vision hazy as you send home the babysitter.

You can hear Sofia’s excited voice from her room along with Charles’ voice and you wonder since when you’ve become so trusting that you’ve let your daughter be alone with a man. Wondering if you should follow them, you decide against it. Instead, you open her bedroom door, smiling at the two of them, so you can see inside from your place on the cough. They both sat on the floor, Sofia introducing Charles to her dolls and Charles nodding along as though all of it made sense.

Somewhere along watching them have a tea party, your exhaustion won against you as you fell asleep on the couch, Sofia and Charles’ laughter being the last thing you remembered. You dream of boys with french accents and light green eyes smiling at you.

It must have been a few hours when you woke up, Charles gently shaking your shoulder. Immediately, with a little rest, you already feel much better than you had a few hours ago, your head still spinning but significantly less.

“Sofia’s asleep,” he tells you as you sit up, him sitting next to you.

“Thank you so much for everything and I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you today–” you start but Charles places a hand on your arm, a soft smile on his face.

“You didn’t cause me any trouble at all, ma belle. And I enjoyed spending time with your daughter,” he assures you.

You nod your head, nervously chewing on your bottom lip and not knowing what else to say as a silence falls between the two of you.

“So there’s her,” you can’t help but explain even though you know you shouldn’t. “I got pregnant at 19. Her father is out of the picture. I know what it looks like. A young, single mum working two jobs just to keep a roof–”

Charles leaned in, pressing his lips on yours. And for a moment, you sat still, eyes open with your lips pressed against his, frozen as everything about him – his scent, his touch, his lips – attacks your senses. For the first time in a while, your brain shuts down, the million things always running in your mind disappearing.

It was when Charles hesitated, beginning to pull back, that you returned to yourself, hand reaching forward to clutch at his shirt and pull him towards you as you kissed him back with the same vigor, the same softness. A careful girl with a fear of falling but in that moment, you’ve never feared anything more than him letting you go.

He pulls back just enough, barely half an inch between the two of you as your foreheads touch. “I’m in, my Aphrodite. I’m all in.”

But of course, you revert to your fear now that his lips aren't on yours. Charles is love but before him, you knew a different kind of love, one that was ugly and angry and sad. “For now.”

“For as long as you want me,” he promised.

—

Your relationship with Charles is like breathing, it came effortlessly. Sometimes, it feels as though he can look into your soul and know exactly what you need. He’s patient and kind and whenever he smiles at you, it feels as though you can take on anything.

On the other hand, Charles and Sofia seem to hit it off better than the two of you, becoming inseparable whenever Charles isn’t away at his races. And even then, Sofia would be begging you to call him. She watches every race, celebrating every wins and every loses as though it’s wins, congratulating Charles so enthusiastically you’d think he won a world championship. In Sofia’s eyes, Charles is a superhero who can do no wrong.

And selfishly, it makes life so much easier for you. With Charles around and Sofia always tailing him, you get more chances to study for your exams and focus on work. You have more time to focus on uni and actually learning something rather than just passing.

“Tu es sûr que tu ne veux pas mettre quelqu'un d'autre ?” You hear Charles ask Sofia from the living room. “You can put someone famous.” Are you sure you don't want to put anyone else?

“You are famous,” you hear your daughter’s voice.

Shutting your textbook, you found the two of them sat on the floor. Charles crossed legged and Sofia on his lap, the small coffee table filled with crayons and paper. You walk over to them, planting a kiss on Sofia’s forehead and sharing a small one with Charles. “What’s going on here?”

“Mummy, who’s your favorite hero?” Your daughter asked excitedly, making you think.

“I don’t know, baby,” you admit. “Spiderman maybe. Who’s yours?”

“Charles!” Sofia didn’t even hesitate as she proudly said it and you can immediately see the way Charles’s cheeks tinted red.

“I told her to choose someone else,” Your boyfriend immediately explains. “But she refuses.”

You’re quiet for a moment. Sofia adores Charles more than anything and deep in your heart, you know Charles adores her just as much and try as you did, your fears and doubts always follow you. Questions often fill your head whenever you see them like this. What if this doesn’t work out? What if Charles leaves? What if he decides he’s had enough of you? You wouldn’t just be breaking your heart, but Sofia’s as well.

As a mother, you always question if you’re doing the right thing. Was it right to immediately introduce Charles to Sofia as your boyfriend? Was it right to let your daughter be as attached to him as she is now? Had you moved too fast?

You force a smile on your face as you face Charles. “It’s okay.”

But Charles knows you well and that night, with Sofia tucked in bed and snoring the night away, as he slipped onto the bed beside you, his arm wrapping around yours and your back hitting his chest, he knows something is wrong.

“Talk to me,” he says. “Please.”

You lay motionless for a while, trying to articulate your thoughts without offending him. “My parents never loved each other. They fought and screamed and threw things at each other. It was horrible and I hated every moment of it. Their hatred for each other was more important than I ever was. Sofia’s father and I never loved each other and at the first sign of trouble, he fled. I know what it’s like to be darned by love. I know what it’s like to be unloved and abandoned. I don’t want Sofia to know that, Charles.”

He was quick to catch on to what you were trying to say.

“I’m not leaving,” he said. “I love Sofia and I love you. I’m here till you want me here. We’ll never make your parents’ mistakes.”

You feel tears pricking your eyes as you shift to face him. “You’re the best thing that’s ever been mine, Charles Leclerc.”

—

The first time you appeared on the paddock, it was the first race of the 2022 season in Bahrain. You’ve been dating Charles for a year by then with him already having posted pictures of the two of you. You’ve moved in together and have met his family whom you deeply adore.

Sofia especially adores Arthur. The first time you met, you’re sure your daughter had developed a crush of sorts on the youngest Leclerc, her usual boisterous charm becoming more timid as she practically blushes at everything Arthur says. Charles absolutely despised having to share her attention, giving the rest of you entertainment as he spent the entire weekend of your family vacation convincing Sofia that she loves him most.

And though Charles has asked, you requested that he doesn’t post pictures of her, terrified of what his rabid fans would say about your daughter. What they say about you, you can handle but you’re not quite sure you’ll be able to handle. Charles was respectful of your wishes but of course, upon searching you up, people found out about Sofia anyways. Thankfully, there’s very very few bad things said about her from Charles’ fans and you don’t particularly go around searching for them.

For Sofia’s 4th birthday though, her wish was clear and simple; to be able to go with Charles to a grand prix. And quite frankly, neither of you had the heart to tell her no and so you decide it’s as good a time as ever.

And so with that, the three of you step into the paddock, Sofia wearing a Ferrari shirt Charles had made especially for her as she walks between the two of you, holding both your hands. The clicks of the many many cameras can be heard as you three walk towards the Ferrari motorhome. A few fans stop you to take a picture with Charles with the monegasque easily agreeing though never letting go of Sofia’s hand.

Halfway through your walk to the motorhome however, Sofia tagged lightly on Charles’ shirt, asking to be picked up to which he easily agrees to, his hand now clasping yours.

“Where’s uncle Arthur?” Your daughter asks.

You smile at her, pushing her hair back. “I’m sure he’s busy with his own race, mon amour.”

Many more rounds of pictures were taken with Charles now having your daughter on his hip that you’re sure will be spread all over the internet. Most fans even greeted her, making Sofia smile widely.

Eventually though, you reach his drivers room after being introduced to the entire team, all of them fist bumping your daughter as Charles introduces every mechanic one by one.

Charles places Sofia down once the door closes behind you, needing to get ready for some press and the drivers parade. He plants a kiss on her forehead. “Be good for mummy, okay?”

At that, Sofia’s eyebrows creased together, realizing he’s going to be leaving as her hand immediately clutched at his shirt. “I thought I’ll be with you?”

“You will be,” Charles calmly explained, tucking a strand of hair that fell from her braid behind her ear. “But I’ve got work to do first and then I’ll come back to you immediately.”

But your daughter only shakes her head. “No, I wanna go with you.”

“Sofi,” you start, trying to gently pull her away from him. “Charles is at work right now. We’re just here to support him but he needs to focus on his work. Kind of like when you need to focus when doing your homeworks.”

But still, she adamantly shakes her head, shaking your touch away as she all but runs into his arms. “No, I wanna go with daddy.”

You practically choke on air as you heard her words, Charles’ eyes immediately widening and as he turned to you in panic. The entire year you’ve been dating, this would be the first time she ever outright called him her dad. Of course, the sentiment has always been there. He stepped up as a father figure in her life and she’s always treated him as one but she’s only ever called him either by his name or ‘Cha’.

You and Charles have talked about it though as he expressed to you how much he wants her to. You can see the happiness in his eyes now as he hugs her to his chest, practically melting at her little declaration.

You think he might cry as he clears his throat and you can’t help the way your heart bursts in happiness at the sight. “Alright, pretty little lady. You can stay with me but you have to behave as daddy works, alright?”

Immediately, a big smile breaks across her face as she eagerly nods her head. Charles faces you, his own smile big and tears pooling at his eyes as he wraps you up in a hug, discreetly wiping his tears away. Neither of you say anything, only sharing a small kiss.

“We’ll be back,” he tells you and you only nod your head as Sofia plants her own kiss on your cheek. You smile as they exit his drivers room.

A TV shows the media pen outside and you watched as Charles walked out with Sofia in his arms, his media manager directing him towards an interviewer.

“Charles Leclerc, first race of the season, how are you feeling?” The interviewer asked, making your boyfriend smile.

“I’m feeling very very good,” your boyfriend answered with no hesitation. “The car is good, the team worked hard and I believe we really have a chance at the championship this year.”

“And of course, it must be nice to have the support of your family today.”

Charles’ smile widens. “Yes, especially with this one around.” He plants a kiss on Sofia’s temple, making her smile at him. “She gives me a lot of motivation to win.”

“How do you think he’ll do today, little lady?”

Sofia immediately perks up as the mic is turned to her. “Daddy is going to win!”

Despite the obvious surprise from drivers, interviewers and staff alike at her statement, nearly everyone laughs.

“There you have it,” Charles says with a chuckle.

As it turns out, Sofia was right because that day, Ferrari won with a 1-2 with Charles getting P1, making you, Sofia and everyone else in the garage cheer. When Charles greets you both after exiting his car, he claims the two of you are his good luck charms and for the first time in your life, love no longer terrifies you.

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