My Best Mates Sister

25.

Rosie

I arrive at Charles' door around 10pm as I left the gang to keep having fun and drinking. My heart is racing as I know I need to tell him that I can't be with him right now. I need time to get over Lando and wrap my head around becoming a mum. I knock gently just in case he is asleep. A few seconds later the door swings open revealing the man who has complete owner ship of my heart "Mon Amour" he wraps me in his arms and it feels like coming home "Hey Charles" he releases me and gestures for me to walk into his room. He has always surprised me with how tidy he is "how was drinks?" He asks as I take a seat on the sofa at the end of his bed "they were good, I'm really going to miss everyone" he smiles sadly "it's going to feel very strange not having you at races" he locks eyes with me "so what exactly happened with Lando?" He blurts out and I know he has been wanting to ask me since we spoke earlier "we decided being apart was for the best, but he is refusing to be Jules father if I'm not with him" Charles frowns "well that is childish" I shrug "we both are still young I suppose" he nods "but you are stepping up and he isn't" him confirming this makes my heart hurt "I know, so that's our decision" he nods "where are you going to stay?" I've given this a lot of thought "I'm going to stay with George and Alex as I need to be at Williams every week" his face falls "oh I hadn't considered that, I was hoping you would come home to Monaco" if only he knew how much I wanted to do that! "We can't Charles" he looks confused "can't what?" I feel the tears start to fall "we can't be together right now" the confusion turns to a crestfallen look "why?" I take full responsibility "I need time to figure myself out, so much is happening and I need time to process Lando and Jules before I can give me to you" his face softens "I'm sorry Mon Amour, I hadn't given it much thought, I was just excited to be with you" I nod "I know, and I do love you" he nods "I know you do, take all the time you need" I smile softly "I should get to George's before it's too late" he grabs my hand "please stay" and I can't resist "okay" his whole expression lights up.

We settle in bed as exhaustion is washing over me in waves. I stifle a small yawn "you can sleep mon amour" Charles tells me and I snuggle into his arms "I need you Rosie, more than I think I ever realised" suddenly I'm wide awake "I know and I'm sorry that it can't be now" he runs his fingers through my hair "when I lay my head to rest I hope it's always next to you, when you run, when you are gone, I will be waiting for you dear" he sings softly to me and I hold back tears as he is singing me one of my favourite songs "both of you" he tells me placing his hand on my ever growing bump "I don't deserve the love you give me" I mumble and he silences me by placing his lips on the side of my head.

TUESDAY

I pull up to Lando's to get my belongings, this feels horrible. I knock softly on the door secretly hoping that he had an emergency meeting at McLaren but no such luck. He swings the door open and he looks exhausted "Hi Rosie" I take a deep breath "Hey Lando" he gestures inside and I see that he has placed all of my belongings into boxes and bags but it's the taken apart cot that causes me to cry "this should be everything" he says huskily "okay thanks, could you help me carry it to the car?" I ask and he nods "of course" In silence we place all of my belongings into the back of my Golf "so back to Monaco?" I shake my head "I'm staying with George and Alex" he seems confused "what about Leclerc?" I shrug "what about him?" His confusion lingers "I just thought you two would have got together" I shake my head "it's none of your business Lando" I say resting my hand on my bump "okay well I shall see you around" he says and I nod "bye Lando" I climb into the car and pull out of his driveway before parking just round the corner and letting out all of the tears I refused to shed in front of him.

I drive to George's with my break up playlist blasting from the speakers. Once I arrive back and pull up on the drive I spot George immediately in the doorway, he walks over to my car as I climb out "Hey Rose, where have you been?" He asks and I open the boot in way of explanation "Lando's? You didn't need to go alone" he tells me wrapping a protective arm round my shoulders "I need to be independent George" I tell him pulling one of the boxes out of the car "let me do this Rose, go get Alex to help" I fight all of my urges to argue with him and walk into the house "ALEX" I shout "HANG ON" he replies practically falling down the stairs at the speed he is going "Rosie!" He wraps his arms around me "Hey Albono, George needs a hand with my stuff" I didn't think there would be room for me here anymore but George has cleared out the dining room and got me a bed and wardrobes for in there. I was really touched when he said we would make it work, both of them want to look after me!

Once I've sorted through the boxes of my stuff and some of the boxes that George still had from before I'm shattered. I check the time and see it's 6pm I need to sort dinner as Charles said he would call around 7. I wander into the kitchen and see Alex concentrating on his laptop at the island "Hey Albono" he waves as I walk over to the fridge. Now living with F1 drivers has the issue that all of the meals need to be approved by their trainers "Nut crusted Katsu chicken with brown rice and veggies" I mumble to myself looking at the meal plan "sounds good Rosie" Alex comments and I look over to see that he has closed his laptop and instead is watching me struggle with the fridge. Once I find all of the ingredients I start getting to work making dinner.

"This is amazing Rosie, thanks" Alex tells me and George grins with a mouthful of chicken "well it's your trainers recipe" I can't take all of the credit. It's been really lovely to be back in the house that I called home for so long. It seems like my life fell apart once I moved out and I kind of regret it now. Jules cot is in the garage along with the few baby items I bought on the trip with Lando. My heart aches at the fact that he isn't even going to give himself a chance to know her. "How's things with Charles?" George asks pushing is plate to the side "well we aren't together if that is what you are fishing for" he frowns "why not?" I shrug "I'm not ready, I'm not over Lando and I need to get my head around the fact that Jules will be here in 10 weeks" he nods in understanding "I get that Rose I really do but that boy is completely besotted with you and I think having him by your side through all of this might be good for you" he explains and I know everything he is saying is true but I can't let him in.

FRIDAY

It's been lonely in the house without the boys around, they flew out to Sochi on Wednesday. Charles calls me every evening and it's quickly become the highlight of my day. It's been an adjustment settling back in tot factory life. I am in mission control today to watch Free practise and send my analysis to Marcus who has been promoted to George's race engineer. He has already messaged to tell me how much he misses having me in the garage.

Charles

It's always busy in Sochi, one of my least favourite tracks on the calendar. It's been strange because I instinctively went to Williams to find Rosie last night before I realised she isn't here. I'm walking through the paddock towards the garage when I see Lando and Carlos ahead. I decide to skip the pleasantries today and just bypass them completely "Oi Leclerc" Lando shouts and I instinctively make eye contact with him. He doesn't look impressed as he storms over "who do you think you are?" He asks and Carlos positions himself between us both "what do you mean Lando?" He scowls "if you hadn't interfered Rosie wouldn't have ended things" i scoff "sure it was my support that caused her to end things not at all the fact you cheated on her and then last weekend told her the baby isn't yours" he frowns "look I know you are both together so you have clearly been in her head for a while" it's my turn to scowl "together? We aren't together, she is still dealing with everything and I'm not going to push her. She has been through enough because of you" Carlos looks concerned "you aren't together?" Lando asks with a smirk forming on his face "not yet, but we will be, we are giving it time" he rolls his eyes "good luck Leclerc" I turn to walk away before I say something I regret.