Grid Uncles Ⓢ
SUMMARY: Max brings his first daughter to the grid for the first time and it doesn't go exactly as he imagined. Part of the Verstappen Family Verse
WARNINGS: None? Too much fluff.
A/N: This was requested over to me on Wattpad and it's a series I've expanded on over there which I thought to bring over to tumblr since I love it so much ;)
"But what about this one? You love wearing this one because it looks like Papa right?" Max held up the tiny Red Bull shirt in his hands.
You laughed watching your daughter giggle laughing at her dad too adamant about wearing her orange McLaren shirt gifted to her by her uncle Wando as she called him still having trouble pronouncing her Ls.
"What even is this? My own daughter cheering for the rival team?" Max turned to you.
You shrugged. "You made her a fan, she picked a team, now deal with the consequences."
"Papa up." Your daughter giggled making grabby hands at her dad too oblivious to how offended he was with her choice of attire.
Max had been waiting for this day for the longest time, the day he'd finally be able to take his first daughter to work with him. When Lea was born you'd agreed that you would wait until she was at least 2 to take her to a race and since she turned 2 just before the Monaco GP Max thought it was the best race to take her being home. If she got too overwhelmed you'd agreed that you'd walk her back home and have her watch the race from your balcony like you'd done the year before.
Cherishing every moment Max had with her Lea hadn't yet met the other drivers except for Daniel (Lea's godfather), Lando, and Checo who had been amazing at helping Max navigate the nerves of being a first-time parent.
But practically from the day Lea was born, Max had put on races for her, despite the fact she couldn't physically watch them yet he put them on and you'd noticed that when Max was away for races Lea would find comfort in watching races stopping her from crying when she was having rough days.
So Lea was beyond excited even though you were almost sure she hadn't quite grasped this sport's magnitude. Yes, Lea would watch Max on TV putting on his helmet and driving around and shouting Papa whenever he or his car would appear on screen but besides that, she truly had no idea about the other aspects of it, the loud noises and the crowds you were extremely nervous about.
"Ready to go, love?" Max walked to you holding your daughter in his arms.
"Ye-"
"Yes, papa go." Lea interrupted answering the question as if it was meant for her.
"I'm papa's love Lea." You spoke to your daughter.
"No mama! My papa." Lea furrowed her brows wrapping her tiny arms around Max's neck possesively.
Max laughed and your jaw dropped 'offended' at your daughter's attitude. This had been a problem for the last couple of weeks Lea suddenly became incredibly possessive of Max, not liking when you would hug or kiss and she would get jealous and upset when she caught you doing anything of the sort.
"She's a daddy's girl just like her mom." Max joked.
"MAX!" you slapped his shoulder gasping loudly.
"NO MAMA!" Lea shouted at you upset for hurting her papa. "No hit papa." She started sniffling.
"Lea I'm sorry Papa said something naughty but I shouldn't have hit him." You tried to comfort your daughter.
"Papa okay?" Lea cupped Max's cheeks in her tiny hands.
Max faked a pout. "Papa's okay baby," Max reassured his daughter who turned to glare at you with a pout just like her dad's.
"Okay, big babies why don't we go before I make anyone else upset." You rolled your eyes at the antics.
____________
"You ready?" Max asked you, looking back at you sitting at the back with Lea through the rearview mirror.
You sighed. "Ready as I'll ever be." despite it being a short way for your and Lea's protection Max had decided to drive into the track. You unstrapped Lea from her seat and waited for Max to come around and open the door for you.
As soon as he walked out there were already multiple screams and camera flashes calling for his attention. Max opened the car door and took Lea into his arms extending his other arm to help you out and shut the door behind you.
Max kept a tight grip on you and Lea as you walked into the paddock, luckily Max had asked for extra security and they were closely around you preventing fans and cameramen from getting close to your family.
"Papa." Lea got upset at all the camera flashes and screams for her dad's name burying her face into her dad's neck.
"It's okay baby we're almost there." Max started questioning himself, was it a bad idea to bring Lea into a race already?
You made it into the paddock fairly quickly and you could see Lea's head perk up. "PAPA Unco WANDO!" Lea screamed in joy recognizing the logo from the McLaren building further ahead.
"We'll see him later Lea." Max laughed cheering up at his daughter's joy.
She was about to get upset again as you walked into the Redbull motorhome but lucky for you someone came to save the day before Lea could start throwing a tantrum.
"Oh my god!" Even if he wasn't right around the corner that loud laughter could be heard from a mile away. "Is that my favorite goddaughter?" Daniel asked loudly getting Lea's attention.
"DANNNYYY!" Lea screamed squirming in her dad's arms as she tugged to get down.
Max winced at the sharp scream in his ear before placing her down and letting her wobble the rest of the way to her godfather.
"She's your only goddaughter Daniel." Max reminded his best friend.
"That's why she's my favorite." Dani's smile looked wider than usual as Lea wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"Yeah well, you're not her favorite." Max was still offended by her choice of attire.
"Uh, Lea what's this?" Daniel took in her attire.
"Unco Wando." She clapped excitedly.
Daniel turned to look at you both disappointed. "You guys obviously didn't meet her expectations she had to be a fan of someone else." You joked.
"AHHHH PAPA CAR!" Lea screamed excitedly once more as she noticed the 2 cars sitting in the garage.
"Hello, princess." Checo walked over after hearing Lea's loud personality.
"Unco Cheto!" Lea smiled high-fiving Checo who held his hand up high for her, he then greeted you and Max.
"Has she had the tour yet?" Checo asked.
"Not quite yet, just got her but am planning to do so now." Max smiled excitedly.
"Lea why don't we go explore?" You asked your daughter still in Dani's arms looking around at everything, her mind must have been working overtime trying to make sense of all the screens, people, and noises.
She nodded extending her arms and letting herself fall forward into your arms. "We'll see you guys later." You waved goodbye to Dani and Checo for now as you stepped into pitlane to walk along the garages which were still closed for fans and there were only a few cameramen around.
You started walking down and Charles was the first to spot you. "Oh hello!" Charles walked over greeting Max before greeting you with a kiss on each cheek and finally pinching Lea's cheeks who suddenly got all shy and flustered, her face growing red.
"Lea say hi." you laughed at her shy personality coming out which was rare in her.
"hi." She giggled before burying herself in your neck. I guess she wasn't immune to Charles Leclerc's charm either.
"Lea this is Charles." Max tried to get his daughter to interact.
"I'm Wea." She finally pried herself away from your body but still avoided Charles's eyes.
"Wow, what a beautiful name." Charles complimented her which caused her to go into another fit of giggles, you thought it was hilarious but you could see Max didn't find it quite as amusing. Before he could say anything Carlos had appeared.
"Is this Lea?" Carlos asked excitedly.
"Yes, it is." You smiled proudly.
"Wow, hi darling I'm Carlos." He extended his hand.
"Hello." She extended her tiny hand letting him shake it.
Carlos wasn't able to say much else before her absolute favorite person appeared a few seconds later.
Everyone was startled covering their ears as Lea let out yet another even louder screech at watching Lando come out of his garage. "UNCO WANDOOOOO" She squirmed in your arms.
You couldn't let go of her here because of all the cables and machinery around but as soon as Lando heard her yells he didn't hesitate to run over.
"Wow, that explains the shirt." Carlos laughed.
As soon as Lando was closer you finally put Lea down who ran with all her might up to her uncle. "My baby." Lando scooped Lea up into his arms.
"Unco wando," Lea said in the most love-filled tone hugging Lando before laying her head down over his shoulder making everyone aww at the action.
"I missed you so much." He whispered to her as he walked closer to the group that had formed.
"wook!" Lea showed him her shirt proudly.
"Wow, who got you that?" He gasped surprised.
"You." She laughed at her uncle's antics.
"Lea, do you want one like this?" Charles asked her pointing at his own shirt.
"Lea's face went red again this time she hid in Lando's neck. She still nodded fiddling with her shirt nervously.
"What's this about?" Lando asked unamused too.
"I think someone has a little crush on Charles." You laughed.
"No one's allowed to give Lea their team shirt, she won't even wear mine." Max crossed his arms annoyed. "And you stay away from my daughter." Max pointed at Charles who put his hands up in surrender laughing as he walked back into his garage with Carlos.
Lea wouldn't leave Lando's arms now so you continued touring the garage with him, Lea met a few more drivers who all were happy to meet her, Lea especially liked meeting George and Alex but not for them but for their girlfriends who happily played with Lea. Alex and George knew they were in trouble as now their girlfriend's baby fever was high.
"You have a beautiful family." Daniel patted Max on the back as they watched you placing Lea inside Max's car.
Max nodded proudly, looking at his wife and daughter with so much love. "Might get a little bigger in a few months." Max broke the news.
Daniel's head snapped over to his best friend. "No way," Daniel whispered excitedly.
Max's eyes beamed proudly just about making out the bump you hid with your puffy dress, watching as you subconsciously placed a hand on your stomach as you leaned down to your daughter's eye level. "Lea's gonna be a big sister," Max confirmed.
"Congratulations man, you both are amazing parents." Daniel hugged his friend tightly.
Once Max turned his attention back to you he saw your gaze was meeting his again. You blinked 3 times shutting your eyes a little tighter, a little sign you and Max had made years ago, a way to say I love you when he couldn't hear you over all the noise. Max repeated the action to you, but mouthing those three words to you anyway.
Everyone might have thought winning a championship was the best feeling in the world for a man so dedicated to motorsports but being able to watch his daughter grow up with the love of his life...he'd give up his entire career just to see that every day.
