Driven By You

6. "I Do, Forever" 🧡

"And the best part? You let me catch you."

"I promise to love you through every race, every season, every single moment of our lives together. I promise to be your biggest fan, your loudest supporter, and the one person who will always, always be by your side. Even when you're being annoyingly good at everything."

A tear slipped down Oscar's cheek.

Lando wiped it away before he even realized what he was doing.

The guests were silent—completely caught in the moment.

Then, quietly, Max sniffed.

Daniel elbowed him. "Mate, are you crying?"

Max scowled, rubbing at his face. "No I have something in my eye."

Lando let out a breathless laugh.

Oscar just shook his head, grinning like Lando had just given him the world.

The officiant held out the rings. Daniel handed Lando's ring to Oscar, who took it gently, his thumb brushing over the smooth, cool surface before slipping it onto Lando's finger. It was a sleek platinum band, simple but meaningful—inside, engraved with the words "Forever P2"—a reminder of their journey, their racing history, and their place in each other's lives.

Oscar's ring was slipped onto his finger next—a solid black band, perfect for him, with the words "You & Me, Always" engraved inside. The words were small, but they carried all the weight of their shared promises, of a love that had only just begun, but would continue to grow.

Oscar's lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something—or maybe kiss him right then and there.

But the officiant smiled knowingly. "Not yet."

The guests chuckled softly.

Oscar bit his lip.

Lando swore he saw fire in his eyes.

As the officiant smiled, the quiet murmur of the guests faded into an anticipatory silence.

"Lando and Oscar have chosen a unity ceremony that reflects their shared love for racing and the journey they've embarked on together," the officiant began. "In racing, the checkered flag signals the end of the race, the culmination of every turn, every push, every obstacle overcome. Today, this checkered flag will represent not the end, but the beginning of their shared journey—a lifetime of victories, challenges, and moments of pure joy together."

Lando and Oscar looked at each other, their eyes soft, filled with a deep and quiet understanding of what this moment meant.

On a small table beside them was a checkered flag, held in place by two simple stands. It was perfectly unassuming, the black-and-white squares folded neatly, but to them, it represented everything they had been through, everything they would continue to face, and everything they had yet to experience.

The officiant continued. "As Lando and Oscar are united today, they will each take a piece of this flag, each one holding onto their individual pasts, their identities as drivers, as people who have fought so hard for everything they've achieved. But as they pull this flag apart, they will also be creating something entirely new—a partnership, a life together where both of their dreams, their strengths, and their hopes are woven into something greater than themselves."

Lando's hand reached out first.

He took one end of the flag, holding it gently, as if it were a delicate thing. The black-and-white squares shimmered faintly in the soft light as he tugged it, his fingers brushing over the fabric like he was holding onto something precious.