Chapter Text
Max is standing on the podium in Hungary. He spots his team but not Brad or Esteban with the boys. He’s confused. Lando is standing next to him as he scans the crowd trophy in hand. “Did you see Esteban or my boys?”, Max asks. Lando’s smile falls, “they didn’t tell you?”. Max frowns, “what?”. Lando bites his lip, “that crash. It was Esteban”. Max blinks a few times, “shit”. He drops the trophy and champagne bottle in his hands and sprints off.
“where the fuck is Esteban?”, he asks his rep shakily. “Med centre, I think”, she answers hesitantly. Max runs in the direction, “Brad where are my boys?”. Max doesn’t stop running so Brad follows him, “with Esteban”.
Max reaches the door to the med centre just as Christian and GP catch up to him. “Why the fuck did you not tell me!”, he shouts. Christian and GP look at little stunned and Max shakes his head and walks in. “I need to see my boyfriend now”, he says to the first person he sees. She guides him to a small room. Max sighs, tears falling down his cheeks when he sees Esteban on the hospital bed with the boys snuggling close, “baby”.
Esteban holds out one arm, “I’m okay, chèri”. Max sits on the edge of the bed and takes his hand, “they didn’t tell me. I’m sorry”. Esteban squeezes his hand. EJ looks up at Max, “I made Brad take us to papa, is okay daddy”. Max strokes his cheek, “good, papa needs lots cuddles and kisses today okay?”. EJ nods, “kay”.
The doctor comes back in and smiles at Max, “hi, can I leave him in your care?”. Max nods, “of course. Just tell me what he needs”. The doctor smiles and explains that apart from a few bruises his x-rays are clear. Esteban needs rest and no heavy lifting, “that includes the kids, I know that might be difficult but for at least a week”. Max nods, “I will make sure he doesn’t. Thank you”.
Max takes Esteban back to his hotel and settles him on the bed. “I’m going to get the kids ready for bed and then I will draw you a bath”, Max kisses his cheek. Esteban nods, “I can help”. Max shakes his head, “no, you need rest”. Max changes the twins and tucks them into the small cot. Then he gets EJ ready. One of the twins fusses just as EJ is rinsing his mouth. Max peaks and raises and eyebrow at Este reaching into the cot, “bed, you, now”. He scoops Jackie up and waits for Esteban to lay back down before placing him on Esteban’s chest.
EJ climbs on the bed, a little frown on his face. Max strokes his cheek, “papa is okay, but you can’t let him get up okay?”. EJ nods and snuggles close to Esteban. Max pecks Esteban’s lips, “love you”. Esteban smiles softly, “love you”. Max kisses EJ’s forehead and then walks back into the bathroom.
He draws Esteban a hot bath and tidies up the bathroom, doing his best to make it look romantic. When he comes back the boys are asleep. “you broke your trophy”, Esteban whisper softly. Max bites his lip, “I was trying to get to you”. Esteban smiles, “I am okay love”. Max nods, “I know that, now”. He tucks Jackie back in besides his twin and Esteban tucks EJ into the big bed gently, under Max’s watchful eye.
Max gently guides Esteban to the bathroom. Esteban gasps softly, “Max”. Max strokes his cheek, “let me take care of you?”. Esteban nods, “thank you”. Max gently helps Esteban out of his clothes, before quickly undressing himself. He steps into the bath and helps Esteban get in and sit down. Max sits down behind him and wraps his arms around Esteban’s waist.
Esteban leans against him and lets out a deep sigh. Max kisses his cheek, holding him close. He can just see the twins and EJ sleeping soundly from here. He takes a deep breath, “Marry me?”. Esteban turns his head to looks at him, “yes, a million times yes”. Max kisses him softly and Esteban melts against him.
Max makes a few calls the next morning and before the plane takes of he has a date for him and Esteban to get married and Esteban to officially adopt the boys. “We’re all set”, he grins at Esteban as he hangs up and sits down in one of the seats. Esteban grins, “We’re getting married”. Max smirks, “Inevitable”.
They don’t do anything special, just signing the papers in the courthouse. EJ is bouncing around the room, making everyone laugh. They go out for a nice lunch after and run into Daniel on their walk back. EJ grins at him, “uncle Danny!”. He runs ahead and Daniel scoops him up. Max and Esteban catch up with the twins in the stroller. “papa daddy married and am dopted!”, EJ squeals. He doesn’t really know what it means, but he knows it’s a happy thing.
Max laughs softly, “yeah, we got married, and Esteban adopted the boys officially”. Esteban grins, “I am the luckiest guy in the world”. Daniel grins, “congrats! who proposed? let me see those rings?”. Max and Esteban look at each other and burst out laughing. At first Daniel thinks maybe they were joking. “We forgot rings”, Max chokes out still laughing. Esteban leans on the stroller doubled over not able to contain his laughter, “oh god, we forgot rings”.
Max takes a deep breath, “to be honest, it was an in the moment, I can’t live without him decision when I asked”. Esteban grins and pulls Max into a hug, “aw, it was very sweet. We were in bath together after Hungary and he asked”.
Daniel laughs, “well if you were naked I can excuse forgetting rings, but you should get rings”. Max laughs, “okay, let’s go get rings”. Esteban smiles, “right now?”. Max nods, “I just don’t know where?”. Daniel grins, “can I come? That place where I bought you the Cartier bracelets for the boys has wedding ring collections”. Max grins, “it’s okay with me”. Esteban nods, “yeah great. I like your taste”.
They walk into the shop Daniel guides them too, “okay you go pick some, I’ll entertain my godson and his baby brothers”. Max squeezes Esteban’s hand in his. They are greeted by a clerk, “how can I help you?”. Esteban smiles brightly, “we are picking out wedding rings”. The clerk smiles more, “congrats! When is the wedding?”. Max laughs, “this morning? We kind of forgot about rings. It was more about us and him adopting the boys. We just forgot”. The clerk smiles, “not a problem. I can show you what we have in our current collection and we can do small resizes in store, if needed”.
She shows them the collection and Max and Esteban narrow it down to 4 options. They ask Daniel’s opinion and he points out the most simple but elegant option. EJ shakes his head and points to one that was not in their options with a big shiny diamond. Max laughs, “I think we’ll go with that one”. He points to the one Daniel liked best and Esteban nods, “yes, I like it too”.
EJ pouts a little. Daniel scoops him up and kisses his cheek, taking him over to the kids’ collection while Max and Esteban finalise the purchase and decide on the engraving. “You can pick something out”, Daniel whispers. EJ giggles and picks a Cartier bracelet with small stones. It’s similar to Max’s. Daniel pays too.
Max walks over, “what did you do?”. Daniel grins, “Spoiling my godson on a special day”. Max laughs, “of course you are. They well text us when the rings are ready for pick up. We thought it might be nice to have a drink by the harbour in the meantime?”. EJ giggles, “boats please?”. Max nods, “yes we will go see the boats”.
Esteban takes the stroller and Max takes EJ. Daniel carries the small bag with EJ’s bracelet. About two hours later Max and Esteban go to pick up the rings while Daniel waits outside. They say thanks bye to Daniel at his apartment and go home. Max sets the twins in their play pen and EJ climbs on the sofa to cuddle the cats.
Esteban wraps his arm around Max from behind, “hi husband, show me your ring”. Max laughs softly and holds his hand up next to Esteban’s. Esteban kisses his cheek. Max turns around his arms, “love you so much”. Esteban kisses him deeply, “forever and always”.
before Spa, they visit Max’s family. Max’s sister and mother are only a little mad they weren’t there for the wedding, but they are mostly happy for Max. Vic grins softly as she sees Esteban play with EJ and her sons, “He’s great, Max. I am so proud of you”. Max smiles at her, “thank you”. Mickey and Jackie are waking up and Max sets them on the floor of the living allowing them to crawl around. “they grow up so fast”, he sighs softly. Vic laughs, “well, if you and Esteban ever want another baby, I am happy to be your surrogate”. Max smiles at her, “thank you, Vic. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for that, but thank you. It means a lot”.
They spend summer break taking long walks past the harbour and just enjoying each other. Max appreciates the little quiet moments the most. Max tears up when Mickey pulls himself into a standing position for the first time. Esteban catches it on video.
In the week leading up to Zandvoort, the weather is very hot and working out in their private gym is even hotter. The kids are napping. Max is just doing his neck exercises. Esteban takes a break and watches him. “you’re gorgeous, Max”. Max laughs and falls out of his pose. Esteban grins softly and winks at him.
Max stretches up his arms as he lays on the floor, “come here”. Esteban laugh but gets into a push up over him, “I could use kisses as motivation”. He pecks Max’s lips and pushes himself up again.
Max pulls him back down, “too hot to work out”. He kisses Esteban deeply. Esteban grins at him panting lightly. Max smiles, “we should take a shower”. Esteban nods, “good plan”. They make it to the shower eventually but they make to the bed first, where they finally sleep together for the first time.
Max hadn’t really thought about that since forever, but he is now as the water of the shower patters around them. He looks up at Esteban. “That was our first time”. Esteban pecks Max’s lips, “and it was perfect”. Max takes a deep breath, “you’re perfect”. Esteban laughs softly, “thank you love”. Max takes a deep breath, “you don’t mind it took me this long to be ready”. Esteban smiles, “of course not, I know what happened in the past and the kids are a priority Max”. Max nods, “this is why I married you”. Esteban grins, “I am so glad I married you”. Max just kisses him deeply.
Zandvoort is a messy race but Max wins it anyway. Esteban likes the picture of the alpine driving through the rain and an idea forms in his mind. He makes a post casually supporting Max but also claiming him.
The Press conference in Monza is a whole new experience. Max learns that not everyone was aware he’s bi, which baffles him. He keeps shutting down more questions about his personal life quickly. He’s never answered them and he isn’t going to start now. He’s happy and he loves his family, that’s all the media needs to know.
In Japan, Seb brings his family and bee houses to the track. There is one for each team and one for the kids. Mickey and Jackie can’t do more then leave a few messy fingerprints. EJ and the Vettel-Räikkönen kids get really into it. Seb keeps a close eye on them as they paint. Kimi walks closer and quickly counts the kids, “uhm Seb?”. Seb smiles softly at his husband, “hmm, yes?”. Kimi wraps an arm around his waist, “when did we get another one?”. Seb laughs, “just watching EJ for Max, while he cleans his twins. They helped too, see”. He points the hand prints on one side. Kimi kisses Seb’s cheek and smiles.
Mickey is wriggling in Max’s arms wanting to crawl after his brother, who is already clean. Max quickly cleans his hands and sets him down. Esteban smiles, “they are growing so quickly”. Max smiles watching the pups, “yeah, I am already starting to miss the squirmy tiny baby months and they are barely 1”. Esteban smiles softly, “but this is exciting too”.
Max smiles, “my sister, she uh… she said, if we’re ever ready for another baby. She’s be happy to be our surrogate”. Esteban smiles at him, “That’s so sweet of her, but Max you and the boys are enough. I want what you want. It’s your decision”. Max smiles more, “I think I want another baby, Esteban”. Esteban grins softly, “okay, yes, I’d love that”. Max kisses him softly, “let’s call Vic on Monday”. Esteban smiles, “okay and Max I need to say this. It will not change how I feel about our boys. They mean the world to me”. Max nods, “I know”.
EJ interrupts their moment and drops Mickey into Max’s lap, “almost crawl on road!”. Max laughs, “oh no thank you EJ, go back to painting”. Esteban quickly scoops Jackie up too, “you’re growing so big me and daddy decided we want another baby”. Jackie squeals in his arms, grinning wide. “Jackie thinks it’s a great idea”, Esteban smirks at Max. Max laughs softly.