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So far Christmas has been super duper, topnotch, no complaints from one Daniel Ricciardo, it was all good tidings and good will to all et cetera, even if he had spent several days of the holiday season deleting certain people from his Instagram. Sometimes a person just gotta do what they gotta do to be free from toxic cunts. Barring that little blip in his life, the week has been great, flew home from the States, had gone straight to his parents and crashed, and had spent the past three days or so getting over jetlag, getting last minute Christmas shopping done, and catching up with friends. Now that was all done, he was still staying with his parents. Look, just because he was a grownass man, did not mean he didn’t need some time with his parents to feel like he was loved unconditionally. He has had a fucking year.
He had woken up obscenely early on Christmas morning and had gone for a run fully rugged up, because holy fuck it was cold and windy for a Perth Christmas morning. But the rising sun that had lit up the sky a beautiful orange had made it worth it. It felt like he was the only person in the world, running alone on the pavement, the trees changing colour as the sun had risen higher.
The only thing that had shattered the illusion of him being the only person in the world had been an old man walking his giant ass dog that had sent him running across the road to the safety of a pedestrian pathway without a pony sized dog in the way. Sure, the man had said with a giant smile that she was harmless but Daniel wasn't trusting any stranger's dog.
He had gotten back to his parents' place unaccosted by any other canine. Had a shower, and moved to the kitchen to empty the dishwasher and put all the plates and cutlery away in the correct cupboards. Then he made himself a coffee with his parents’ new shiny coffee machine, which took way too long to figure out how to use, especially for someone who had just learned how to use a full on cafe coffee machine less than a week ago. But he wasn’t gonna be telling anyone about how he was almost defeated by a damn coffee machine. He has got some dignity left, no matter what the fuck other people thought of him.
His mum had walked into the kitchen while he was finishing his coffee. She gave him a peck on the cheek and murmured, “Merry Christmas,” as she started getting things out for Christmas breakfast.
He helped his mum with breakfast. Well, he helped by getting the fancy Christmas breakfast plates, bowls and cutlery from the back of the higher cabinets, washed the fruits, and yapped at her as she went about making delicious cheesy chicken sandwiches and sliced fruits.
Once the prep work was done, Daniel made them both an espresso.
Grace' lips had quirked up at the corner when she took a sip and tasted the grappa. The two of them sat at the kitchen bench, drinking their nicely boozed up espresso as they looked out the sliding doors into the garden dusted by sunlight. These were the moments he had missed the most when he had been away, the quiet moments with his family, with his mum, just existing together with people that loved him without reservation, no matter how much he fucked up.
These were the perfect moments.
He looked at the small mug in his hands, and thought about telling his mum that he was sorry that he had never won a World Championship. He was never going to get another chance because he was done. But this, here in the quiet kitchen of his parents home, surrounded by childhood memorabilia and the love of his mother, he was at peace with it.
He let the thought go, there would be a better time for it later. He has all the time now.
His phone pinged, he looked at his phone and frowned at the message.
MAXMILLIAN ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Are you at your parents’?
Daniel gnawed his lips as he typed out a response. Barely noticing his mum standing up to check the sandwiches.
DR3: yeah…❓❓❓
MAXMILLIAN ⭐⭐⭐⭐: I have your present. Address?
DR3: better be a big one Maxy!
MAXMILLIAN ⭐⭐⭐⭐: It will be big.
“Anything important?” Grace asked.
Daniel blinked and smiled back, “All good. Just Max nailing out the details for my Christmas present.”
Grace raised a brow but didn't say anything else, just started to plate the cheesy deliciousness that Daniel couldn't wait to bite into. He sent a message back to Max with his parents’ address as he waited for the sandwiches to cool down.
…
Daniel hated the dumb wooden chairs for the outdoor dining, but they were having their Christmas lunch/dinner outside, and Daniel was the one that ended up with the job of getting them from the shed. Getting them wasn't the problem, the problem was having to dust off the damn cobwebs, and deal with the spiders and whatever else that had made their home on them. Urgh.
He should have swapped with his dad and started up the barbecue. Or gone to Michelle’s and helped her corral the kids while she got ready.
“Daniel.”
And oh look, now he was having auditory hallucinations, because that sure sounded like Max Verstappen calling his name. Which would be fucking ridiculous, the man would be at home at Christmas with his cookie cutter ready to go fa-
“Daniel.”
And fuck that was definitely Max's voice and his way of saying his name, ‘Danyul’. Daniel abandoned the stare off he had going with a spider, not like it mattered since the spider didn't even acknowledge his presence, and whipped around so fast he almost lost his balance. And standing on the steps of the his parents’ outdoor decking was Max fucking Verstappen in a short sleeved, oh my fucking god, Enchanté Parts & Services tee that Daniel had sent him but never thought he would wear, and and a pair of black shorts.
What in the name of his deeply buried sex dreams was happening?! (Okay, so most of them were honestly embarrassing soft fantasies about spending time together and doing super sappy things together, but that was not the point, Daniel). Oh, Max’s hair was looking good.
And oh yeah, speaking was required, “Max,” his voice sounded croaky, which he blamed on how dry his throat had gotten. “Hi!” And that wasn’t any better with how squeaky his voice had gotten.
“Hi Daniel,” Max said, voice soft and happy. A soft smile blooming across his face.
And Daniel felt his own face spreading with a giant smile in return. Max was here. Max was here! Max was here in his parents’ home on Christmas day!
They stood there looking at each other, smiles growing larger by the seconds. Before it could get awkward, his mum's cough broke the moment.
Daniel turned to look at her, eyes slowly blinking, he felt a bit dazed, must be the sunlight. His mum was looking at them with barely contained amusement, Daniel dimly noted that his dad was looking through the kitchen window. And oh yeah, there were other people around, and there were going to be more, over twenty people that were going to be invading the Ricciardo household for Christmas.
And oh my fucking god, Max was here at his parents' house on Christmas.
“Max, come in and have a gin and tonic. I got a nice brand I think you would love,” Grace said as she ushered Max into the house, throwing a pointed look at Daniel. And Daniel has no clue what that meant except to follow them back inside.
Daniel walked into the kitchen and noticed the giant fucking white box on the kitchen dining table. It had to have been half a metre tall and thirty centimetres wide. Standing next to it were two strangers, a man and a woman dressed in some sort of pale green uniform. They both had very polite customer service smiles on their faces.
His dad was standing on the other side of the table, looking at the box with a combination of suspicion and interest, Grace walked by without a glance and went straight to the liquor cabinet to grab the gin that she had promised Max.
Daniel looked at the box for several seconds before turning to look at Max. He waved at the thing with his hands, speechless.
Max's face was slightly pink as he rubbed the back of his head, and then looked up tentatively. Max was so cute.
“Daniel, you didn't tell me what you wanted for Christmas, and I naturally wanted to get you something special. So.” He gestured at whatever the fuck that was.
“Uh,” Daniel uttered.
“So I thought about it, and had this made. But I wanted it to be fresh so it had to be made yesterday, and then I flew here from Monaco with it. Oh, and that's James and Louise, I was worried of something going wrong so I naturally had them accompa-”
“Wait. What. What do you mean something going wrong?” Daniel interrupted. How dangerous could his present be?
“Excuse me,” Louise politely interjected. “Perhaps it would be best if we show you?”
Max smiled. “Yes. That would be of course excellent.”
Daniel just nodded his head.
Louise and James brought out a small container that had been hiding behind the giant whatever it was on the table. They opened it and retrieved a knife each, and before Daniel could panic they cut the strings tied around the bottom of the box.
Max had moved next to Daniel, his shoulder brushing Daniel's, and they had shared another smile before turning their attention to the unboxing. Grace had handed Max the promised gin and tonic, and moved next to Joe, the two of them sharing a bemused look as they looked upon the two strangers unboxing a large box on their dining table.
It took several minutes to remove the strings carefully, and James had to stand up on the kitchen chair to get to the strings at the top. The cardboard box came off slowly, and it took several seconds before Daniel realised what it was.
He distantly heard the soft gasp from his mum and exhale of, “fuck,” from his dad. And Daniel’s brain failed to comprehend anything for several seconds.
Because it looked like a giant sized replica of the World Championship trophy on his parents’ dining room table.
“Is that a cake?” Grace asked.
“Yes,” Max answered.
Daniel whipped his head around to stare at Max who was already looking at Daniel, waiting.
“It is a cheesecake,” Max said, ramping up to his full Max-explain mode, putting his gin and tonic down on the table before gesturing with his hands to emphasise his point. “The outside is a combination of white chocolate and buttercream, because of course fondant would be disgusting.” His nose scrunched up in disgust. “And Daniel, I did not wish to share a cheesecake with you and your loved ones with a bad tasting cake.”
And Daniel knew his face was doing something weird, he had always shown too much, unable to hide his emotions when it became too much. And this was too much. This was Max bringing him a piece of one of his best moments in life to share with Daniel and his loved ones. This was Max remembering a dumb present from years ago, played off as a joke even though the sentiment of sharing the cheesecake with Max was all too real. This was Max coming to Perth, to his parents' home on Christmas day. This was Max making a fucking a statement but still giving Daniel a way out if he didn't want to acknowledge whatever they had been dancing around with for years now.
And Daniel could be cautious, could be cowardly, could make a joke, and Max would blink and then smile, and move on with his perfect life without Daniel Ricciardo living it with him. But Daniel was tired of being afraid, Daniel was tired of denying what had been brewing between them, and Daniel didn't want Max to stand there and wait for Daniel to be brave.
He moved, stunned Max in the middle of explaining how he had wanted the cake to be bigger, grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled and leaned in. Daniel had thought about what it would have been like to kiss Max for years now, and he finally let himself have what he has wanted. His mouth met Max’s open mouth, and he kissed him deep. Max was only surprised for a second, and then had responded almost straight away, hands going around Daniel's waist, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. For a kiss years in the making it was incredibly soft and gentle. Both of them were aware how precious this was.
It was simply lovely.
When they finally pulled apart they were smiling like idiots at each other. They could have stood there looking at each forever if it wasn't interrupted.
“James and Louise, would you like to stay for lunch?” Grace asked from somewhere behind Daniel. “There’s enough food for everyone, and the cheesecake will feed a whole army.”
And fuck, Daniel’ eyes widened in horror as he realised he had just forgotten about his parents. Max’s eyes had also gone wide, mouth hanging open, and Daniel couldn't help it, Max truly did look like Sid the Sloth in this moment. He started cackling, had to lean heavily against Max and hold on or else he was going to fall over laughing.
Max pulled him in tighter and started giggling uncontrollably.
Best Christmas ever!
... FIN ...