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Lewis didn't know that this one grand prix would change his life. But it did.
It's 2015. The British Grand prix is awash with cheers from the crowd and flags as far as the eye could see. Lewis feels at home. This was what he lived for. He looks out over the grandstands from the garage and just soaks it in. Everything was perfect.
"Lewis?"
Well. Almost.
Lewis turns to see Sebastian approaching him. The garnish red of Ferrari looking odd on him after all the years at Red Bull. The German looks nervous, motioning for Lewis to follow him.
Lewis frowns and moves over to him, head tilted as he follows. "What is it?"
Sebastian starts to jog and Lewis matches him, keeping pace as they move into the paddock. Sebastian was secretive, but never this secretive. It makes Lewis’ stomach drop. Just what on earth could be wrong?
Sebastian leads him towards the Ferrari motorhome and, despite Lewis' protests that he couldn't go inside, takes the Brit's hand in his and leads him inside.
Sebastian walks swiftly to his room and opens the door, making a motion for Lewis to be quiet as they enter. What Lewis sees makes his heart stop.
Britta is inside the room. She looks up at their entry, silently rocking a bundle in her arms. A bundle that turns to look at them in curiosity.
"Is...is that..." Lewis's eyes widen at the sight of the little baby in Britta's arms.
"She's not Britta's." Sebastian's face looks grim. "I found her abandoned outside a train station this morning."
"We really ought to call the police." Britta looks at Sebastian.
"I know but..." Sebastian sighs. "I saw her and just couldn't let her go."
Britta shakes her head. "Lewis? Can you talk sense into him, please?"
Lewis looks gobsmacked at Sebastian. "Seb, child services need to be told!"
Sebastian opens his mouth to protest, glancing at the little baby. "But...she'll be all alone in an unfamiliar place..."
"The paddock is no place for a vulnerable baby. Call the police." Lewis tells him softly, putting a hand on his arm. "I know social services aren't the greatest...but you surely know you cannot keep this baby, yeah? She's not yours and she needs to be looked at."
Sebastian swallows hard and nods once, glancing at the baby. "She had a note with her. Asking whoever found her would take care of her.."
Lewis nods, squeezing his shoulder. "You're doing the right thing by her. I'll be with you when you call them."
Sebastian has a sad smile on his face. "Her name is Grace."
Lewis looks to the baby. "Pretty name."
Sebastian take a deep breathe and sits down on the sofa, taking out his phone. He stares at the screen for a moment before dialing for the police.
Lewis stays at his side the entire time. Feeling his hurt and pain.
Grace is taken from them only an hour later and Lewis can feel guilt twisting inside him when he sees how low and sad Sebastian is. Of course he understood he hadn't wanted to give her up. But what else could he have done?
The police had taken Sebastian's details and his statement and had then gone on their way with little Grace. It was the saddest thing in the world to witness.
It was even worse when he had to pick up the pieces of his best friend after. Somehow Sebastian had gotten attached to the baby.
Lewis though was sure after a day or two things would be back to normal. They had to be right?
Oh how wrong he was.
"So the police called me a few days ago. The judge overseeing the case wishes to meet with me and see if I'm suitable to take Grace in while they find her a foster family." Sebastian beams at Lewis as they eat breakfast at a small cafe in Hungary.
Lewis chokes on his coffee, staring at Sebastian. "Uh....you what now?"
"I'm going to temporarily give Grace a home." Sebastian tells him, a dreamy smile on his face. "I have so many things to get for her..."
"Wait, you said yes?!" Lewis blinks at him, stunned. "Do you have any idea how hard it's going to be? You have no idea how to raise a baby! Never mind raising one alone!"
Sebastian shoots him a look. "I didn't enter this lightly. I spoke in length to social services and accepted the meeting with the judge because I'm serious. I want her Lewis. Even if it's temporary. I want her."
"But on your own?!" Lewis looks incredulous. "While also competing in F1?"
"I can do it." Sebastian looks determined. "I have to do this."
"But...." Lewis shakes his head. "Seb...are you sure?"
Sebastian looks into his eyes, a fiery passion in them. "I am doing this. I can handle it on my own."
Lewis swallows and shakes his head again. "Seb, I admire you but I'm afraid this will cause you too much stress..."
Sebastian snorts and looks at him. "Ferrari is stress, but not this baby girl. If you're that worried about me raising a child on my own then you can come and help me."
"Fine I will." Lewis says without thinking and Sebastian looks shocked.
"Wait...what?"
Lewis blinks and then takes a deep breath. There was no taking back his next words. "I will help you raise Grace."
Sebastian stares at him. "This won't be like having a pet. Are you sure about this? You're being serious? You want to raise Grace with me?"
Lewis looks into his eyes and, despite his reservations, there is no tremble in his voice when he replies. "Yes."
The smile Sebastian sends his way is warmer than the sun itself and Sebastian gently takes his hand. "Well then Lewis. We have work to do before we see this judge."
Lewis can feel his heart hammering in his chest. This had to be a dream, right?
It's not a dream.
The meeting with the judge goes well and she agrees Sebastian can take on Grace for now.
Sebastian gets everything ready for Grace’s arrival. A new cot, toys, clothes. The whole lot. He and Lewis spend a weekend painting the spare room in Sebastian’s house, making it bright and colourful. The yellow on the walls catches the sun and Sebastian adds stencilled flowers. It’s a lot for a child they wouldn’t be keeping, but Sebastian was a man on a mission.
Grace’s arrival happens during the summer break. Which is a blessing for both drivers. The baby is brought to the house by her social worker and after a brief house inspection, Grace is handed to her temporary parents.
Sebastian holds the little baby close, softly talking to her as he feeds her her bottle. Lewis is enthralled by how comfortable Sebastian is with this, not frightened by the idea of taking care of a baby.
“She’s perfect.” Sebastian says quietly after he has burped her and rocked her to sleep. Lewis looks over and notices how her little hand is clutching his shirt and something in him melts.
“She is.” Lewis agrees softly, and he knows in that moment Grace has him under her spell too.
The first time Lewis gets to hold her is the first time Grace smiles at him. The tiny baby is being rocked in his arms as he sings to her. Usually Sebastian would tend to Grace before bed but she had, of course, thrown up on him and he had gone to change his shirt, but not before asking Lewis to take care of her for a moment.
Holding her in his arms is surreal. She looks up at him curiously, her little hands reaching for his shirt like she always does with Sebastian.
Lewis gives her a soft smile and slowly rocks her, softly singing sky full of stars to her, which earns him something magical. A smile.
Lewis feels his heart flip and despite how bad of an idea it is, he realises he loves her as well. He rocks her tenderly, pressing a kiss to her forehead as her eyelids flutter closed.
There’s a soft cough from behind him and Lewis turns to see Sebastian watching them from the doorway, with a soft smile on his face.
Lewis feels warmed under the smile and shyly ducks his head, looking at Grace who has softly fallen asleep. Carefully he moves with her over to her crib and lowers her into it, softly wishing her goodnight as he pulls the blanket up over her tenderly.
“There you go.” Sebastian moves over and places Grace’s teddy near her, which she latches onto instantly. He looks up at Lewis with sparkling warm eyes. “You’re a natural at this.”
Lewis meets his gaze and cracks a little smile, nodding. Maybe he was.
Upon looking into Sebastian’s blue eyes, Lewis has an epiphany.
Grace had managed to get into his heart and somehow she had pulled Sebastian with her.
He found he really didn’t mind. Not at all.
Grace stays with them for the rest of the summer break and it is a whirlwind of emotion for both drivers as well as new experiences. Sleepless nights. Taking her to the park. Taking her for her doctor's appointments. Spending the evenings playing with her. The mountain of nappies she goes through. They both find that they don’t mind and they end up in a routine with her. They start to feel like a family.
Family. Lewis tries not to think about it. Over the past three weeks he has grown closer to Sebastian and loves Grace dearly. It’s dangerous. Nothing good could come of this. Grace would go to her foster family and Sebastian and himself would have nothing to keep them together. The thought hurt his heart. He had fallen hard for the German driver.
He could tell Sebastian had similar thoughts. When they put Grace to bed, most nights they would end up drinking beer and watching TV together. Sebastian would be quiet for a bit until he felt brave enough to voice about what would happen when Grace leaves them. Lewis finds he never has the answers to soothe him on these nights, preferring to ignore the inevitable. But he knows one day the social worker will call and tear down the little family they had made.
So Lewis lives in denial and by the end of the summer break they decide to take her to the next race.
Britta and Angela take care of Grace while they go racing, but that weekend things don’t go well for Sebastian. His tire decides to explode just before the end, and the incident shakes the German to the core.
After the race, Sebastian goes straight to Grace, picking her up and rocking her in his arms. He’s clearly freaked out and Lewis silently takes both of them to his own motorhome, knowing Toto wouldn’t mind.
Sebastian sits on the sofa, silently watching the little girl. “If it was up Eau Rouge…”
“Don’t even think of it.” Lewis warns softly, sitting at his side on the sofa. “You’re safe. Grace’s safe. You just need to breathe.”
Sebastian nods quietly, but doesn’t seem soothed. “I thought of a lot of things on that lap….”
Lewis silently rubs his back, looking at him as a silent signal to continue.
“I thought of us. Me, you and Grace. How happy this little family has made me.” He huffs a soft breath. “I never imagined I’d have a family, especially not like this. But it feels perfect…”
Lewis nods quietly, taking some courage. “I feel the same way.”
Sebastian looks over at him, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “You do?”
“We are a family, maybe not a conventional one, but we are and I’ve loved it. I’ve fallen for Grace….” And you. His brain adds silently.
Sebastian nods, seeming almost a little disappointed. “We all love Grace….” He looks down at the baby. “This won’t last Lew…”
Lewis takes a shaky deep breath. “I don’t want it to end.”
Sebastian leans into him, shaking his head. “It cannot last…”
“Don’t say that.” Lewis takes his hand quietly. “If this is what you want, it can become real. We can petition to adopt Grace for real.”
Sebastian looks at him again. “You’d really trap yourself with me and a baby?”
Lewis feels his heart beat faster and he knows he cannot hide, not from this. Not anymore. “I’m not going to be trapped with you and a baby. I’m in love with you and Grace almost feels like my own. I would happily adopt her with you.”
Sebastian feels the breath leave him in a rush and he takes a deep breath. “You’re in love with me?”
Lewis gives him a warm smile. “How could I not be? You’re smart, funny, beautiful...so kind and caring and you love Grace with everything you have. The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster for me, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I want you and Grace, if you will have me.”
Sebastian’s eyes become impossibly soft. He moves closer to Lewis and presses the softest of kisses on his lips.
Lewis hums and melts into the kiss, cupping his cheek as he returns the kiss. Sebastian lets out a soft happy sigh and deepens the kiss, his emotions rushing out of him dizzily.
When they part, Lewis rests their foreheads together, a gentle smile on his lips. “When we go home we should call the social worker.”
Sebastian nods, his eyes sparkling with tears. “She needs to become ours now. She just has to….”
Lewis nods in agreement, leaning in for yet another kiss. Yes, this was what he wanted. Forever.
“When did she say she would call?”
Sebastian asks the question for what feels like the thousandth time. It’s a few weeks later and after many phone calls and home visits, today would be the day they’d find out if they were going to officially adopt Grace.
“Seb, calm.” Lewis takes his hand, glancing up from where the German was pacing in front of him by the sofa. “She’ll call when she can.”
Sebastian nods, rocking a sleeping Grace. “I just need to know…”
“I know, Baby, I know. But please. Sit down and breathe.” Lewis says soothingly.
Sebastian nods, moving to sit next to him, but his knee bounces nervously and Lewis sighs quietly, turning his boyfriend’s head to softly kiss his lips. The effect is instant. Sebastian melts into his kiss, giving a soft quiet hum.
When they part Lewis looks into his eyes. “I know you’re scared. But the judge knows us, the social worker knows us. The ruling can only go in our favour….”
“But what if it doesn’t?” Sebastian cannot help but ask. He seems to almost hug Grace tighter to him.
“It will. You’ve got to have faith.” Lewis squeezes his hand. “I have faith this will go right for us, now breathe.”
Sebastian takes a deep breath, rubbing Grace’s back. He tries to calm himself down. Lewis gives him an encouraging smile just as the phone rings.
Sebastian pales and glances at Lewis before picking up the phone. “Hello?”
2020
Lewis shakily gets down from the podium in Turkey, the champagne still stinging his eyes. The only thing he is aware of is Sebastian’s warm hand on his back, gently guiding him down the stairs so he doesn’t trip.
Seven times Formula One World Champion.
The words don’t seem remotely real. But they are.
And he won his title with his Husband at his side.
Sebastian flashes him a warm smile, carefully leading him down to where Britta awaits with someone almost bouncing next to her.
Five year old Grace Hamilton beams at her Dads as she runs towards them, hugging Lewis’ legs tightly. “Daddy you’re a hero!”
Lewis grins and kneels down to hug his Daughter. “So is Papa.” He murmurs to her softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Mr Clown doesn’t look happy.” She announces. “I want to hit him.”
Sebastian snorts and kneels down next to his Daughter, amused that she’s wearing all Mercedes stuff and not a hint of Ferrari. She had adopted Lewis’ dislike of the team after he had found out just what they had been doing to Sebastian.
“Grace, what did I say?” Sebastian looks into his Daughter’s eyes and she sighs deeply.
“I am not allowed to hit.” She mumbles.
“Good girl.” He tells her before whispering in her ear, “but you are allowed to help me put a whoopie cushion on his chair later.” This earns him a disapproving look from Lewis and a giggle from Grace.
“So what did you think of your Dads?” Lewis asks as he lifts Grace up into his arms, kissing her cheek.
“Fast! You’re a goat Auntie Britta says, but I said you were a person.” Grace tells him, making Sebastian snort and ruffle her hair.
“I don’t think that’s what she means.” Lewis grins, pulling Sebastian into his side. He’s still in shock that he’s equaled Michael, but right now his family came first.
Grace hugs Lewis hard, babbling to him about the race while Sebastian flashes him the warmest, proudest smile imaginable. Out of the two of them Lewis had always believed that Sebastian would equal Michael first, of course bad luck and Ferrari had meant it never happened. He was glad Sebastian seemed happy. He had been worried it would cause some tension between them like the times they had fought on track for the title. But Sebastian seemed to have matured, especially since they both had Grace in their lives.
Of course the judge had agreed on Grace being permanently adopted by Lewis and Sebastian. It was a no brainer. Having Grace had been the best surprise of Lewis’ life. Not only did he get a loving child from it, but he also fell for the love of his life.
Sebastian had married him at last in 2019. It was a private ceremony with just close friends and family, and Grace had become their flower girl. It had been special and magical.
“So how are we celebrating tonight?” Sebastian asks, bringing Lewis’ thoughts back to the present.
Lewis meets Sebastian’s eyes and gives him a little grin. “Oh I can think of a thing or two…”
Sebastian smirks at him and gives a little wink, nodding in agreement. “So can I…”
Lewis laughs and presses a kiss to Sebastian’s head, feeling his heart swell with love for his Husband.
Later that night with Grace asleep in her room in their hotel room, Sebastian decides to woo Lewis.
Lewis comes out of the bathroom to find the bed covered in rose petals and candles. Sebastian stands besides the bed, a soft grin on his face. “There’s my Champion…”
Lewis beams and moves over to him, pulling him in for a soft kiss, shivering when Sebastian’s hands move over his lower back. “So this is how we are celebrating hm?”
“Oh yes.” Sebastian gently bites on his lower lip, making Lewis gasp. “I’m going to treat you like a king.”
“Don’t you always?” Lewis asks, his breathing stuttering when Sebastian begins to bite and kiss at his throat.
“I do, but this is going to be extra special.” Sebastian’s voice drops low, making Lewis let out a soft moan.
“God, Baby, do you have any idea what you do to me?” Lewis asks, his hands finding Sebastian’s hips and the German laughs against his neck.
“Oh I think I have a good idea.” He pushes against him, making Lewis groan softly.
It doesn’t take long for them to remove each other’s clothes and soon Lewis finds himself pinned beneath Sebastian as the German kisses down the length of his body, adding soft gentle bites against his skin. Lewis squirms and whimpers under him, giving him soft moans which only adds to Sebastian’s eagerness. Their hands are linked and Lewis feels a soft thrill at feeling their rings together. They were married. They had a child. He was Champion Of The World. Life couldn’t get better than this.
Sebastian looks up at Lewis, his eyes dark, a cheeky grin on his lips and Lewis is a goner. His brain seems to switch off as Sebastian trails lower, kissing down his stomach and thighs, making Lewis groan and throw his head back, letting himself go and letting Sebastian worship him.
Later that night, Lewis lies tangled with Sebastian in his arms. The rain is steadily falling outside and it’s soothing and peaceful.
Lewis looks down at Sebastian and presses a gentle kiss to his forehead, watching his Husband sleep peacefully. Life had not turned out how he had imagined it, but it had become something he had never ever imagined himself having.
He was happy. He was at peace. He’d not change a single moment of it for anything.
Lewis closes his eyes and lets himself drift off with his nose in Sebastian’s hair.
He had everything he could ever need.