The Right Time (Lestappen)

I now pronounce you....

Snapshot: Wedding day

Charles stood in front of the mirror fixing his bow tie. He had been up since before sunrise, mostly because he found it harder to settle when he was sleeping by himself. It was the first time in over a year he had woken up alone. Normally Max would be laid out next to him, sometimes bundled up in the blankets looking adorable and sometimes with his mouth parted and drooling into the pillow looking less adorable but just as loveable. Charles would normally press a light kiss to the Dutchman's forehead before leaving him to sleep a little longer. If there was one thing that he had learnt about Max over the course of their relationship it was that Max was not a morning person.

"So handsome" Charles' mum, Pascale, clasped her hands on either side of his face as she pulled him in for a kiss.

"Mum, it's a happy day you don't need to cry again" Charles teased.

Pascale had burst into tears as soon as she first laid eyes on her son all dressed up in his suit. She had been a complete emotional wreck ever since. All she ever wanted for her kids was for them to be healthy, happy and loved. She was sure, from the way Max looked at Charles, that he was the right man to provide all the love and protection her son deserved. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at the thought that Charles had managed to find the pure happiness that she had enjoyed during her marriage.

"I wish dad could have been here too" Charles said wistfully.

"I know honey, but he would be so pleased for you, he really would. Look at you all grown up" Pascale hugged her son tightly, trying to convey the love of both of his parents in one hug.

"Is it too early for champagne?" Lorenzo popped his head around the door, champagne bottle and flute glasses already in hand.

As the Leclerc family toasted to Charles' future, the Ferrari driver started to feel the butterflies in his stomach, after a year of planning the most important day of his life had finally arrived.

Back in Max and Charles' apartment, Max's mum was busy fussing over her son's suit, making sure he looked just perfect. The Dutchman was already feeling the nerves. He had been waiting for this day all year and now it was here, in only a few hours time he would have a husband. If someone would have told him a few years ago that he would be married to another F1 driver, let alone Charles, he would have thought they were crazy but now it was all he wanted more than anything.

He had been up early, very early which was not like him at all but he was surprisingly still full of energy, a mixture of excitement and red bull keeping him going.

"I can't wait to see him" Max smiled as his mum straightened up his bow tie.

"Not long now. I am so proud of you, you know that don't you?" Sophie asked as she took another look at her son all dressed up and with a smile on his face wider than she had ever seen before. She had thus far managed not to cry but all that changed when she was stood in the venue waiting to walk her son down the aisle.

"Mum if you don't stop crying you're not going to be able to see where you're going" Max laughed as his mum dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

On the other side of the door they could hear the excited chatter from the guests as they waited for both of the grooms to make their appearance. As the gentle piano music started to play the chatter faded until all that was left was the silky sound of the keys and the excited anticipation of the guests.

Max took one last deep breath to steady his nerves and then linked arms with his mum as they made their way down the aisle. He felt his heart racing as he got closer and closer to the front. The gentle music playing in the background had been composed by Charles and Max remembered clearly the first time he had heard it. They had been tucked away in the south of France, Max having gone through one of the most traumatic ordeals of his life. At the time he wondered if he was ever going to get over his experience but that music had spoken to him in a way that words never could, it was like a part of Charles brought to life through melody.

As Max stood waiting for Charles he felt his heart beating louder and louder. In a room full of people his attention was fixed firmly on the door ahead of him, waiting for his fiance to arrive. When Charles entered, Max greeted him with a huge grin, his face practically glowing as Charles got closer.

"You look amazing" Charles whispered to Max as the music faded and the guests took their seat.

The ceremony seemed to fly by in an instant until it came time to say their self-written vows. Charles had made sure to learn his off by heart, repeating them every day for the last month. He wanted to make sure he got it perfect. He wasn't necessarily the most confident when it came to public speaking but this was important, he wanted everyone to know how he felt about his future husband.

'Max. When we first met I don't think either of us would have imagined we would be standing here today and yet right now I couldn't wish for anything more. For a long time I was not comfortable with who I was, I felt that something was missing but now I realise that I have found my missing part. You make me feel confident, you make me feel proud to be myself and you make me feel loved. I want you to know that I love so much about you. The way your eyes sparkle when you smile, the way you always manage to make me laugh, the way you have always been so selfless but what I love most of all is that you are just you and to me you are perfect. I promise that I will be there for you no matter what and I would say that I will love you more and more each day but I don't know if it is even possible to love someone more than I love you now. I don't know where this journey is going to take us next but I know that I am just so excited that we are going to be taking it together."

As Charles finished his vows he noticed Max's hands shaking as he wiped away a few tears. Max had no idea how he was going to get through his own vows because he already felt choked up, his voice wavering as he started to talk.

"Charles. You know I am not the best at this type of thing and what you just said is so beautiful and it means everything to me. I want you to know that ever since the day we met you were always at the forefront of my mind. Back then it was because I was trying to work out how I was going to pass you on track and now it is because I am trying to work out how I got lucky enough to have you by my side. I don't know what I would have done without you over the past couple years. I know it hasn't always been easy but you have always been there for me. I love that you are so loyal and so loving.  You really are so special to me and I hope that I can be just as special for you. People who know me may say I sometimes make questionable decisions but spending the rest of my life by your side is the best decision I have ever made. I know I will never regret it, not for one second. When life gives you something so wonderful you have to grab it with both hands and hold on to it tight and I intent to hold you tight and keep you safe for the rest of my life. I love you more than is possible to put into words so I will just say that you mean everything to me"

Max just about managed to hold his voice steady as he completed his vows. Charles could feel himself start tearing up as he took in what Max had said, the best bit was that he knew the Dutchman truly meant every word. He reached out and took Max's hand as they turned to face the officiant.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss the groom."

Max grinned as he gently placed his hands either side of Charles' face and pulled him in. Their lips meeting softly as Charles wrapped his arm around Max's waist. As the guests cheered out, the two men's attention was firmly fixed on each other as they enjoyed their first kiss as a married couple. 

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So I know these chapters are very cutesy and not drama filled but they are just little bonus chapters to show what happened after my story ended! I think maybe I have another couple bonus moments to share. 

Thanks everyone who has been reading, voting and commenting <3 <3