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Nico did not expect this to happen. He was exhausted after the birth but luckily his parents hung around for that, but now, six months later he's losing his mind over a sick baby. His baby. Liam.
The doctor said it was just the common cold, but Liam wasn't exactly quiet about it, which was worrying Nico. Despite the baby's symptoms having eased a little.
"Hey bub, oh your nose is running again. Let me wipe that,"
Nico mumbled, half-awake, and desperately trying to take care of his sick baby. He'd gently use some saline solution to get the mucus away from Liam's runny nose, then use a bulb syringe to get rid of the muck. His other hand quickly and carefully wiped the sick baby's face.
As Nico soon turned, figuring he'd try to feed Liam for now, the baby would whimper, his small hands grabbing upwards to Nico.
"Oh god, I'm trying to feed you, and you're upset I'm leaving?"
Nico muttered a mix of frustrated and just all round exhausted. He did not want to hear Liam crying for far too long again, so he'd scoop Liam up, sliding the sick baby into the sling around his body.
As Nico rounded into the kitchen in his home,
he'd pause at the knock at his door. He hadn't ordered anything, or invited anyone over, so he was a little confused. But his tired brain didn't keep up with his body that had already opened the door.
"Hi."
Nico looked down at the small voice, blinking at Max. Max Verstappen. The boy was in F3 currently, and he absolutely terrified Nico from that one time he appeared in a free practice during the season Nico won the championship in. But he wasn't exactly expecting well, a 16 year old in front of him.
"Wh- how did you get here?"
Nico blurted, his hand automatically coming up as he spoke to soothe the slightly disturbed Liam in the sling around his body. Max in response lightly scuffed his shoe against the paved step of Nico's home, looking down a little.
"M' pa told me t' make my way back to the hotel. I, got lost. Seb said you live 'round here."
Max mumbled out, his shoe still lightly scuffing against the ground. Nico blinked, he was aware of Max's father, and how well, not great the man was, but he didn't expect this. Nico was somewhat thankful he lived near the racetrack around here now.
"Max, that's," Nico paused, seeing Max tense. He realised Max probably knew this was all wrong. He'd sigh, stepping back from the front door. "Just be careful, my baby's a bit sick."
"You have a baby?"
Max said, turning to look at Nico in a mix of surprise and curiosity. Considering not many knew about Nico having a baby.
"Yeah. His name is Liam. Though I'd appreciate if you'd keep it quiet."
Nico replied, carefully setting a fussy Liam down in the crib he'd set up in the lounge area directly across from the kitchen. Nico would turn, moving to heat up a bottle for Liam.
"He's, round."
Max mumbled, making Nico chuckle in amusement. His back was turned while Max curiously stared at Liam, who, was staring back, despite being sick.
"Babies are usually round."
"I guess. I don't know if I was."
Nico would pause at Max's reply, but before he could act on it, Liam started fussing again, but Nico was mid heating the bottle up. He didn't know what to do, then Liam started crying.
"God fucking damnit."
Nico sighed out, resting his elbows on the kitchen island bench, his head in his hands. Though he'd pause as the crying stopped about thirty seconds later. As he pulled his hands away from his face, he was met with Max holding a sick Liam in his arms, rocking him easily as if he'd done this a million times before.
"I, I have younger siblings. I just, muscle memory kicked in. I only wanted to help."
Max muttered, looking down a little as if he maybe went to far, worrying Nico was mad that he'd calmed Liam down from crying.
"Hey Max, shit,"
Nico turned, quickly taking the now warm baby bottle before it got too hot, and making his way over to Max who was holding Liam. He'd sit next to the boy on the couch, carefully easing Liam in his arms.
"You didn't do anything wrong I just, you're a kid yourself. Don't feel you need to fix my grownup problem."
Nico explained, sure, he felt like an absolute error of a parent at the moment, but a random 16 year old who showed up at his house shouldn't have to shoulder that. He'd peer down at Liam, having taken the bottle away now, leaving a sleepy, and milk-filled baby in his arms. He'd ease Liam into the crib in front of the couch as he spoke.
"But, I know how to take care of a baby. At least I know how to stop crying."
Max muttered, somewhat awkwardly.
"Sure, but that's my job, Liam is my baby."
Nico explained, rather carefully ruffling Max's hair on his head. He didn't want the kid to freak out, but he also wanted to show Max he wasn't a threat. Max froze at first, before easing when he realised Nico wasn't, a threat.
"I know."
"How many times, have you looked after your younger siblings?"
Nico carefully asked after a few moments of silence. Sure, he was tired, but it didn't mean he'd disregard his current concern for Max. Liam was asleep, so all Nico had to do was watch him for now.
"I don't know. I mostly look after them when 'm at Dad's place."
Max quietly explained, somewhat reluctant to actually go in-depth. Nico understood that, considering Jos's reputation, he wasn't exactly surprised Max was hesitant around other men, other adults even.
"Well, I get you want to take care of your siblings. But," Nico paused, taking his eyes off of Liam just for a small moment, just a second, to look over at Max. The boy looked so tired under all that wound up and stiff body and eyes.
"You're allowed to make time for yourself. Don't take your childhood away Max."
Nico watched as Max looked up at him finally, almost confused at the logic, like he'd never heard of it before.
"I'm allowed to do that?"
"Well, yeah. Just do it when you feel safe."
Nico replied to Max, being careful not to mess up such a sensitive subject. He didn't want Max to put himself in danger, but he also didn't want the boy to not have some sort of positive childhood memories.
"Okay."
Max mumbled, though Nico would watch him pause, then stare down the crib Liam was in. Nico flicked his eyes over to the crib, to see Liam somehow, woke up, and had turned his head to stare at Max with his round blue eyes.
"He likes you at least."
"But he's staring."
Nico chuckled at that, Liam was a strange little baby, that's for sure.
"That's him liking someone. If he doesn't like you he'll simply huff and look grumpy in your presence."
Nico replied, a small noise leaving him as Liam began to wriggle a little in his crib, clearly wanting to get up. Nico shifted over to the crib, carefully scooping Liam up. He'd sit back down, the sick baby in his lap now.
"Oh your nose is runny again."
Nico mumbled, wiping Liam's nose once more. Liam would fuss at that, leaving Nico to gently rock the sick baby once more.
"Why is he sick?"
"I, honestly, no idea. But luckily it's just the common cold. I have no idea what I'd do if it was something worse."
Nico replied to Max, letting out a slight sigh of relief at the fact at the very least, Liam only had a small cold. And not some viral infection or something.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Max would ask, almost sounding worried. Nico looked over at Max, not expecting that. Then again, even if Max supposedly looked after his younger siblings there's a chance baby sickness wasn't really, explained to him.
"He'll be fine. I know a good doctor."
"So he'll live?"
Nico snorted at that. Leave it to the overly serious 16 year old to think Liam is dying.
"Yes he'll live."
Nico replied, still rocking Liam, who was now asleep again, but his tiny hands were firmly holding onto Nico's currently unwashed shirt.
"Good."
"Now, would you rather I call your mother to come pick you up? Because it'd be odd for you to stay the night."
Nico would eventually ask Max after a few moments of silence, still rocking Liam.
"Mhm, I'd rather Mama."
Nico would nod at Max's words, he'd luckily gotten Max's mother's number from a friend of a friend with his new job. So calling her should be easy enough even if he had a baby in his arms. He just needed to stand up.
"I can hold him."
"Max, I can hold him. I just have to be careful."
Nico said, as he slowly stood up. He didn't want to use Max, he wanted the boy to feel safe at least. He'd eventually reach the landline phone, dialing Max's mother's number.
After a few minutes Nico would sigh, putting the phone back into the receiver.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but, since your mother isn't around until tomorrow, you have to stay here."
Nico said to Max, who was still sat on the couch. Nico wasn't exactly pleased about it, having a kid he barely knew staying in his home, but Max's mother couldn't get ahold of Jos, and she wasn't going to be in Germany until tomorrow afternoon. So now Nico was stuck with Max and his sick baby, who was still fast asleep in his arms.
"Oh, okay. I don't have a change of clothes though. Or anything."
Max mumbled, he only had his helmet and a backpack with him, the backpack probably containing things to keep himself occupied. Nico would blink at Max's words, attempting to figure something out.
"I think I have some unused gifted clothes from sponsors if that works?"
Max would nod at Nico's words, leaving Nico to nod, then urge Max to follow him as he walked through his home, Liam still in his arms as he made his way into his office.
"Oh. That's a big trophy."
Max mumbled as he entered the room. Nico turned, noting the championship trophy in a shelf case to the side of the office. He'd slightly avert his eyes from it, using one hand to look through the clothes from sponsors.
"That's the championship trophy. Just a replica though, the real one is with the FIA."
Nico replied, pulling out a few clothing pieces. Max turned looking over at Nico as if the man had achieved something so much more.
"That's, it's a cool trophy. I hope to earn one, one day."
Max almost looked shy as he said it, it left Nico a little surprised. He knew most racers dreamt of being a world champion, but to see Max so, dedicated to it was surprising.
"You'll get there. Just, don't ruin your life over it. Here,"
Nico replied, weary of his own past with how he got his championship. He'd hand Max a navy blue and white HP branded jacket, some plain shirt, and trackpants.
"The guest room is on the right. Just, come out when you're ready, yeah?"
"Mhm."
Nico would watch Max nod, holding the clothes, his helmet, and his backpack, before walking out of Nico's office. Nico would sigh, before looking down at Liam, still asleep in his arms.
"Little sick bastard, getting more sleep after tormenting me."
Nico mumbled, not meaning his words really, as he exited his office, rounding back into the living area and placing Liam back into the crib. He'd quietly watch his baby sleep, the tiny fingers of his baby wrapped around his single finger. He couldn't get over how small Liam was. Though as he continued to watch Liam, slowly his blinks grew longer without realising. Then everything was quiet.
The noise of Liam babbling nonsense, followed by some dutch mumbling from the kitchen is what woke Nico up. He'd blink, noting Liam was sat up in his crib, and Max was, in the kitchen, glaring at a cookbook, a spatula in his hand.
"Max?"
Nico watched as Max's head turned suddenly, looking over at the now awake Nico. He'd then watch as Max looked away, in embarrassment.
"I was trying to make us dinner."
Max mumbled, a small pout formed on the 16 year old's face. Nico would get off the couch at that, making his way over to the kitchen.
"Max, I can make dinner. You could've just woke me up."
Nico said, carefully shutting the cookbook as he looked down at Max despite having just woken up.
"But you were tired."
"Max. I'm an adult, I'm supposed to be looking after you," Nico would get cut off by a babble from Liam. ",and Liam, who's still in his crib."
Nico said, gesturing one hand over to the crib, which was still in the lounge. At least Liam looked less sick than earlier today.
"I just wanted to help."
Max stubbornly replied, lightly tapping the top of his sock covered foot against the stone kitchen floor. Nico sighed, noting the streak of stubbornness seemed to run in Max's family.
"Again, you're a kid. Now, what do you want for dinner?"
Nico said, making it clear that his decision was final. He'd lean against the kitchen bench, waiting for an answer from Max.
"...bolognese."
"Okay good. Now could you keep an eye on Liam while I cook? Please."
Nico would ask Max, being careful to not be too demanding, but also asking a favour put of Max for a bit. Max nodded in reply, walking over to the lounge, and Nico would roll up his sleeves, getting started on dinner.
Eventually dinner was done and eaten, and now Nico was attempting (key word here), to get Max into bed.
"Max, it's 10pm. You should probably get some sleep at least."
Nico said, sitting on the edge of the guest room bed, while Max was sat under the covers, just, not shutting his eyes yet. Nico shifted his arms, currently holding the still somewhat active Liam who was fiddling with his favourite rabbit stuffed toy.
"But what if Dad or Mama come in the middle of the night?"
Max quietly mumbled, Nico could tell there was something more going on, but he wasn't sure if he should pry.
"Then I'll just wake you up then. But for now, your Mother isn't going to be here until tomorrow morning at the least."
Nico replied, at least assuring Max on where his mother was. He honestly had no idea where Jos was, nor did he care much to be honest.
"Promise?"
Nico blinked at Max's reply, briefly losing his grip on Liam, who crawled onto the guest room bed, now sat on it. So much for a sick baby.
"I promise. Now, will you try sleep?"
Nico said, scooping Liam back up making sure to grab his rabbit stuffy and put it back in his baby's arms to prevent a meltdown.
"I'll try."
"Okay,"
Nico would nod, carefully tucking Max in fully, before getting up at walking to the guest room's door.
"Open or shut door for tonight?"
Nico said, lingering at the door, his free hand on the handle.
"Shut, please."
"Alright then, good night Max."
Nico said, carefully shutting the door behind him, he'd hear a small 'goodnight' from Max in reply just before the door shut. He'd then reach his own room, Liam's crib next to Nico's side of the bed.
"Who knew I'd be dealing with a sick baby and a lost kid today huh bub?"
Nico mumbled to Liam, who sleepily babbled in reply, leaving Nico to chuckle.
He'd shut his own bedroom door, and then carefully ease Liam into his crib which the baby easily laid down in. At least Liam was easy to set down. Nico then laid down himself, the exhaustion of the day coming back once more.
He'd slowly blink, looking over at his now sleeping baby through the tight mesh walls of the crib, quietly thinking.
"At least you being sick wasn't all that bad. Got to help someone today, don't really feel like an error anymore."
Nico mumbled, before sinking into sleep himself.