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Toto never would’ve imagined this. Never dreamt it in the deepest recess of his brain. Never thought that maybe in some distant reality would be possible.
But here he is.
In a bed he’d spent an exorbitant amount on (a truly astonishing amount of money that most would deem unnecessary and foolish) with his arms wrapped around his whole world – Lewis and the baby growing in his womb.
His hand is lightly caressing Lewis’s belly. There’s only a slight swell, a slight indicator of their baby, but he’s hopelessly in love with caressing the emerging bump already.
It’s in these moments that he finds himself completely at peace. When the struggles of the 2022 season fade away and all he can think about is the family they’re building together.
“What’s on your mind?” Lewis questions, turning around to face Toto. Lewis, in his opinion, has taken to pregnancy like a fish takes to water. It suits him. Toto has half a mind to keep Lewis in this state always. Glowing and pregnant.
“You, always you,” Toto replies. Lewis hasn’t left his mind since 2013. In one capacity or another, Toto’s thoughts have been filled by Lewis.
“Good,” Lewis says, preening at that bit of information he’d been told many times over the years. “I’m always thinking of you too,” he adds, snuggling in closer.
This is peace he’s never known before.
The peace lasts only within the confines of their home.
Mercedes is a finely tuned machine built around Lewis. A team reliant on Lewis to keep them in the fight. Even with their lackluster season, it’s Lewis who had been doing all the testing to help improve the car for this year and the next.
So while all is shining and perfect in his personal life, Toto’s professional life is in shambles as the team tries to find a replacement for Lewis for the season.
Christian is almost smug when it’s announced Lewis won’t be racing for the rest of the year. As is Mattia. And just about every other team principal. All of them happy to see the decline of Mercedes after years of them dominating.
“Is your boy scared of losing so much?” Christian tries to joke. He doesn’t see how Daniel could ever find him so funny, but each to their own.
“Has your boy told you the news?” Toto questions, finally able to catch his fellow team principal by surprise this season. McLaren used a Mercedes engine and getting them to contract Daniel to Mercedes was much easier than any of them had expected. It had also started a game of musical chairs with McLaren bringing in Oscar Piastri from Alpine’s reserves somehow. “I always did think Daniel would look wonderful in a Mercedes. Glad to know I wasn’t wrong,” Toto says before he walks off, leaving a sputtering Christian behind.
France is the first race without Lewis driving. While he isn’t driving, Lewis does come to France for the weekend. “I want everyone to know,” Lewis states, putting on his most form-fitting clothes. Some time between Austria and France, his belly had popped. The slight swell more noticeable and undeniable.
“People will talk,” Toto replies, hugging him from behind. If it were up to him, they’d remain like this forever. Toto behind Lewis to protect him from whatever came their way.
“Let them, they talk anyway. Might as well show them how much you love me, how much I love you, and how happy we are,” Lewis retorts.
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The French Grand Prix goes off without a hitch for the Mercedes garage. Daniel and George had qualified fifth and sixth, respectively on Saturday. And on Sunday they’d seen a Daniel masterclass in late breaking overtakes that led him to getting P2 with George in P3.
“Let’s go home,” Lewis says when the race is over and the celebrations are done.
He likes that. Home.
Their house is hundreds of kilometers away in Monaco, but home is together. Home is the family they’re building together. It’s Lewis and their baby.
The stresses of being a Formula One team principal fade away when they’re back in their hotel room and in bed.
All he knows is peace when it’s the two of them. “Let’s get married,” Toto says. They’re in the bath tub, Lewis is situated between his legs, lavender scented bubbles surround them.
“Do you mean it?” Lewis asks, turning around quickly to look at him. Some of the bath water spills out of the tub, but he doesn’t care about that. Not when Lewis is looking at him with love in his eyes.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” Toto replies. The only other thing he’s been as sure about was taking Lewis out for a date years ago. “I don’t have a ring right now, but will you marry me, Lewis?”
“I don’t need a ring. I’ll marry you today, tomorrow, anytime,” Lewis says. “But preferably now or after I give birth. I won’t waddle down the aisle,” he states.
“We can spend the rest of your pregnancy planning the wedding. I would never make you waddle down the aisle.”
“Good,” Lewis says, leaning forward to kiss him. “Carry me to bed? We have to celebrate,” he asks.
Peace is Lewis wrapped around him. Peace is the baby growing in Lewis's womb, a blend of them, a symbol of their love for one another.