that august night - c.l.

"Hey wake up little man, I made French fries and pancakes." - She softly woke up Ashton. Elena saw on his face that he recognized the smell of the food once he opened his eyes. "I love pancakes!" - Were his first words of the day. Elena smiled at him, telling him to go and brush his teeth until she prepares everything on the table.

"These are delicious, thank you Aunt Elena." - She was surprised by the nickname but she loved it regardless. Elena was happy he thought of her so closely already as they continued with their meal.

An hour before the race, Elena texted Charles wishing him good luck and safe race. They talked to each other this morning when she was preparing breakfast, but not for too long as he had duties early in the morning. Within minutes he replied to her message, thanking her and saying how he loved to have her and little boy together, supporting him.

"And it's light out and away we go, Verstappen gets away really well, but Charles Leclerc has a decent start as well as he is breathing behind Sergio's rear wing into turn one!" - Elena and Ashton watched closely first few turns of the race before sitting back with a bit of relaxation. They both had their Ferrari caps, patiently watching the race with ice teas in front of them on the table.

"Charles Leclerc is in Perez's DRS zone as Sergio sees him breeze past, and oh! Sergio Perez makes a mistakes, this will cost him a lot of time as Charles Leclerc gets away and Carlos Sainz closes the gap towards him. Perez can't seem to stay away from these mistakes in past few races, now can he?" - Elena and Ashton cheered as they saw a red car with number sixteen make it up to a second place with 6 seconds gap to the leader and around thirty laps left of the race.

Elena calculated in her head a bit and figured if Charles finishes P2 he will be leading in the championship by only 2 points and not have much space for mistakes in the next few races.

"Charles Leclerc is putting pressure on Verstappen, breathing behind his rear wing and almost in his DRS zone. Max sees him getting closer and closer in his mirrors, and right now Charles Leclerc has the opportunity to attack as they go towards- oh no! Verstappen knocked the wall of champions but he is still going!" - Elena and Ashton cheered but realized Verstappen is still going but with some damage for sure.

"Oh fuck guys, I hit the wall on the exit." - Verstappen's radio came in. "Max we'll have to box, box now box." - His engineer told him as he got into pits as Charles Leclerc went to the lead of Canadian GP and Elena and Ashton could hear the cheers over TV.

"That's it! We are leading!" - Ashton cheered, jumping on the couch as Elena filmed him while he sang happily. "Charles Leclerc crosses the finish line in the first place, as Max Verstappen retires from the race losing good amount of points. Great start of the season for Red Bull but as it goes, Ferrari has made up their mind." - Commentator finished as Elena filmed how Ashton cheered in front of TV, dancing and jumping all around chanting Charles' name.

She sent the video to Charles and went into celebration with Ashton while they watched interviews and podium. Elena sent Charles congratulation message before having a conversation with Ashton as he talked so dreamily of this race and Charles' performance in the first place.

...

"Hey honey, did you have fun?" - Ashley asked on the door as he came running towards her and giving her a hug. "Can I come over for the next weekend so we watch the race together again?" - Ashton asked his mother rather than Elena. "Oh sweetheart, we don't want to bother Elena so much-"

"I would love that. He won't bother me at all. You can come over as well." - Elena suggested, cutting off Ashley. "You sure we won't bother you?" - Ashley had to confirm. "Of course."

"Great, my husband is going on a month work trip and it would be nice to spend weekend with someone. We already paid a babysitter for work days." - Ashley smiled as Elena returned the gesture. "Oh and by the way I wanted to ask you something." - Elena spoke up before Ashley could walk away. "Sure." - Ashley turned to her with Ashton by her side. "I have three paddock passes for Belgium GP in few weeks. Ashton said how it is one of his favorite races and I though why not bring you both there." - Elena suggested as she saw a smile form up on Ashton's face.

"Mom, please can we go?" - He started jumping around as Ashley looked at Elena with questionable look. "Where did you get three of them, they are really expensive?" - She asked. "A friend of mine gave me." - Elena simply replied. "Oh please mommy, can we go?" - Ashton continued to beg his mother to go, as it would be the dream come true for the kid.

"I don't know honey, the flight must be expensive too." - Elena felt like this one was coming but she already had everything sorted out. Charles said how he could rent out a plane he usually goes with, to the races. When Elena asked him why he didn't go with that plane the day he was getting back to Monaco he said how there was some issue with it, but usually he takes that plane all the time. And now it's in Nice and will be there when they go to the Belgium.

"Oh that is already sorted out. We will have plane waiting for us in Nice after Friday work, we'll be there late that night. I will have two hotel rooms sorted out. For you is just to say if you want to go or not, I have everything we need." - Elena explained as Ashley was looking at her thinking about it. Elena put on her smile as Ashton continued to beg his mom to go.

"Alright then, we'll go. But I'll need more details later on." - Ashley finished as Elena nodded saying goodbye to them. Later in the night she got a call from Charles as she congratulated him and he talked how cute the video she sent him was. And how he couldn't wait to meet him in Belgium.

...

"And Max Verstappen wins the Silverstone GP, but still behind Charles Leclerc in the championship." – The commentator finished off as the race ended. Charles was second, due to error during a pit stop, he dropped back a lot of places before making it up the gird. Ashley and Elena had a glass of wine in front of TV as Ashton drank his ice tea in peace. "Good race, he drove amazingly!" - Ashton was still happy because of Charles and how he came up the gird to finish in third place after fighting many drivers in between that, and still managing to stay in the lead of the championship.

But Elena knew he was going to be harsh on himself even when he shouldn't be. As Ashton said, he had an amazing drive and kept it up until the end. Everyone believed that if he had few more laps he would've been in a fight for a win. But Max Verstappen takes this one home along with DNF from last race as Charles comes home with two podiums, one of them being a race win in Canada.

Elena texted Charles, giving him words of encouragement. He saw the same messages but didn't reply and Elena knew he was pissed off so she left him to gather his thoughts before trying to contact him again, tonight. Ashley and her son went home soon after the race finished.

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These chapters are a but boring, I know but I promise in few chapters it will get mofe interesting, this is just build up.

Also, WE ARE ON 1ST AND 3RD PLACE FOR MONZA!!!! I can not express how happy I feel right now, my hear literally came up to my throat and went back when Carlos claimed the pole.

The prayres of tifosi have been heard, now we just have to keep praying.