callmewrinkles3

[callmewrinkles3]

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart - DR3 X Fem!OC

Summary: Fighting takes it's toll on everyone, and eventually Dan's just too tired to do it anymore. And that's ok.

Words: 7.9k

Warnings: Mental health discussion, Singapore 2024 (it deserves it's own warning we don't care), VCARB bullshit.

AN: Surprise? I think? But yeah. If you knew how long we've wrestled with this, how much we've tried and failed and... This was our white whale. This entire damn moment. And we hope it lives up to hype. Dan and Em's story isn't over yet if people want to hear more. See u soon.��️

September 2024

In his heart and soul Dan always thought that Em would be the reason he decided to stop fighting for his seat. But he wasn't surprised that Lulu ended up being the straw that broke the camel's back. It wasn't the fact that Red Bull had all but told him he was getting thrown under the bus this weekend. It wasn't that he was fed up of the internal politics. It wasn't even that he didn't trust anyone anymore because they'd told him it was his seat and then ripped it away from him.

It was because his daughter needed her daddy. His family needed him, and on a hot and humid night in Singapore where his daughter just yelled for him it made him decide he wasn't fighting it. It wasn't worth fighting anymore. Luna was the happiest baby in the world, but teething and timezones was taking it out of her. It was putting Em through a toll he never wanted her to pay, exhaustion clear. Her idea of mostly parenting on her own was a good idea on paper, but it was hard. It wasn't just race weekends, it was the weeks before and a few days after too. Dan didn't want her to deal.

The last few weeks had been slow torture. Constant questions about his seat and his future and the lack of answers. He wanted to yell that he'd been promised he'd be in a different garage now, that it was all but confirmed. Instead he'd had that stupid ass meeting, Laurent and Peter genuinely sorry but their hands were tied. He knew they were. He'd seen it on his first merry-go-round in Faenza with Franz, this was the same.

He could take the jabs from the media, the constant "can he still drive?" questioning. He could ignore Jacques and his bullshit in Canada. He was used to it, his skin was thick by now. But it was hurting his wife and his daughter and that shouldn't happen. Emmy was back to being nervous and unsure. He could see the way his wife's confidence was eroding - slowly at first but it'd been faster and faster recently. Lu was unsettled in a way she'd never been before. When you added it all to the teething she was going through it was a mess.

Dan didn't blame his little girl who had no idea what was happening, who kept trying to grab onto him every day and he had to just kiss her head. He couldn't blame his poor wife who was exhausted dealing with Lu and life on the road and making sure Blake and Charlie were doing ok with their news. He blamed himself. He'd promised Lu when she was born that he'd be a present dad, that she'd come first, and he was breaking that promise.

He should be helping Em put Lulu to sleep, reading a story and crooning a lullaby to her against his chest. Instead he was in the comfy bed in their suite, Em and Lulu in the small attached living room. The second Lu had begun to stir with pain in her gums Emmy had gotten up, whisking Lu into the living room to try not disturb Dan. But he was too used to waking up to Lu's movements, to Em getting out of bed. Instead he lay there, part of his pillow over his ears, hating that he wasn't there helping. This time it was even worse, Lulu angrily yelling her favourite word.

"Papa! PAPA!" She yelled as Dan lay there with self loathing through his veins.

"I know you want him baby girl. I know you do, but Papa has to sleep, ok? He's gonna get in the car tomorrow. Just a couple of nights baby girl, I promise. You can have him in a little while, just have to take your medicine." He could barely make out Em's low voice through their daughter's sobs, but her crying never changed. "I know it bothers you baby, I know it does. I know you want Papa and not me, but Daddy needs to go fast tomorrow. We gotta let him get some sleep, baby. I've got you."

"PAAAAAAPPPPAAAAAA!"

Dan couldn't take it any longer. The third time he heard Luna yelling for him he got out of bed, opening the door to find Em standing in the middle of the room, rocking their baby against her chest. Lu's face was trained on the door and the moment she spotted him her tiny arm was out to grab onto him.

"I'm so sorry, babe. She just won't let me help. She doesn't want the painkillers and she won't let me put the gel on to calm her down. I'm trying, but it's a bad night." Em babbled her explanation, looking exhausted and sorry in every possible way. He knew his wife's makeup had been getting thicker and thicker to cover the dark circles that having a teething infant caused, but now her face was clean he could see it. Emmy was the most beautiful woman in the universe to him, but she was tired and he could see she was near breaking point. He didn't care about the deal they'd made, he was breaking it right then and there.

"I've got her, don't worry," Dan murmured as he grabbed under Lulu's arms to fully take her into his. "And don't be sorry, Wrinkles. This isn't your fault."

"You're supposed to be sleeping."

"Emmy, I'm fine. Go to bed, ok? I've got her. I'll be back when she's asleep."

It said everything to Dan that his wife didn't fight him on this. She was exhausted and worn out, kissing him quickly on the lips before putting another to Lu's forehead and whispering she loved them both before she went to bed. He watched her walk back inside and realisation was thick in his stomach that he was done. He wasn't fighting anymore.

Everyone said that the smallest Ricciardo was every inch her father, but it wasn't quite true. The biggest similarity she had to her mother was that when she was truly upset about something the only one who could calm her down was her dad. Lu was equally in love with both her parents, but the times when all she would do was cry? That was Dan's time to shine with her. It was one of those nights, finally taking the syringe into her mouth for the medication before Dan rubbed teething gel along her teeth. It took another ten minutes for the medication to take effect, her red cheeks lightening and Lu relaxing against his chest. It only took a cuddle and a very out of tune rendition of Pink Pony Club before his daughter was asleep peacefully and with that Dan's decision was made.

This was going to be his last race.

The meeting had been perfunctory. Him and Blake in the room. Emmy would have been too if she was still working with them, but she was being Supermum. Laurent and Peter apologising. That his "performance hadn't been where they wanted it". He knew the truth. Liam would get the two seats he'd been promised, and Optus wasn't as much money as they wanted. He got it, as much as he hated it.

And then getting sent out to the media where everyone fucking knew and he was stuck there laughing and joking. It wasn't even like Nat was there so he could have a friendly face. Of course it was one of the few races she didn't attend.

He'd broken his hand for this team. He'd given them everything. And now he was being sent away because they thought it was past it. It fucking sucked. He'd been a shit husband and an even shittier father for the last seven months for them, and instead he was getting turned out on his ass without so much as a by his leave.

But if this was it? If a humid ass Singapore was his final ever Formula 1 race? He was going to enjoy every moment of it and then get on a flight home to Perth with his wife and daughter. He hadn't told Em yet, hadn't known how to. Blake agreed to not say anything until he had. So he stood carefully from the couch holding the greatest achievement of his life in his arms before putting her back in her crib and getting back into bed.

Emmy was still awake, eyes half open as she looked across at him before Dan slid next to her and pressed his head to her collarbone.

"Lu asleep?"

"Fast asleep. She's had her meds and she's off to dreamland. Baby...I. Fuck. I need to tell you something." He could feel her stiffen, an arm wrapping around and holding him tightly as Dan tried to decide how to tell her, before deciding just to blurt it out. "Sunday's my last race."

"What?" The shock was clear and he looked up to see worry across her face.

"I can't keep fighting it. Got called into a meeting today and they said Sunday's my last one. I'm ready, Emmy. I'm just tired. I'm so tired of fighting and trying and being ignored. I just want you and Lu and to relax." A tear slid down his cheek before another joined it. Saying it out loud made it real. He was so fucking tired all the time. The summer break hadn't really been one because of stress. The only bright spot had been Blake and Charlie's wedding, watching their best friends get married and say their vows together was a joy. But now with Blake not able to travel as much because of Char and the baby it was too much. He didn't want to drive any longer. Driving and racing wasn't the most important thing for him, and that was fine.

"Want me to call everyone? Get your mum and dad out for a goodbye? It's a short flight, they can be on one in the morning."

"I can't." His voice cracked as he spoke, but he couldn't face disappointing his parents again. They'd been in Abu Dhabi for the shit weekend with McLaren and seen how he was. He just couldn't face his mum crying and his dad puffing out his chest and being proud when being fired was nothing to be proud of. None of it was worth it. He'd rather go home and see them. "The guys are here, they came out for the annual trip and to meet the potato princess properly. Having the lads who were there to say goodbye to me in the airport when I moved to Europe for this here at the end feels right, y'know?"

The only noise in the room was Lulu's breathing, Emmy holding him tightly and kissing the top of his head.

"You know if you want to keep going we can. We had a timeline and I'll support whatever decision you make. Don't do this just because of us, ok? I don't want you to regret it." Em's voice was low but Dan shook his head against her chest, feeling the tension drain from him.

"I don't want to. I remember when Seb told me he knew he was done. I'm done. I'm good."

"So we go home then? Try to be a normal family?"

"If that sounds good to you." He could hear the cautious optimism in Em's voice.

"We'll be as normal as a family can be with a go-kart and motocross track in the back garden. But it sounds good to me, Baby. I'm proud of you."

He didn't think he'd sleep that night but he did, feeling Em's arms around him while he slept. He woke up the opposite of refreshed, but ready for the weekend ahead. Keep a grin on his face, pretend it was fine, and then go home. He could do it.

The first job was to tell the guys. Blake got a text asking to come over with Charlie and Steve, and the lads got one to come over twenty minutes later. It felt impossible and tough but he had to do it. He had to tell them.

Watching his best mate and wife come into the suite with Steve right behind them just made it crystalise that it was the right decision. Charlie was showing, a little bump already visible that she kept a hand on at all times. He couldn't wait for them to have their baby, and he didn't want to make them travel with an infant. This he could fix at least.

"What's up? What's going on?" Charlie looked from him to Em and back again, red painted lips frowning. "I'm worried about you, is Lu ok?"

"Lulu's fine. She's asleep, I'm gonna get her up in a few minutes." Dan took Emmy's hand as she spoke, running his thumb along her knuckles. Taking a deep breath he just said it.

"Sunday is my last race. Laurent and Peter told me yesterday."

There was consternation, there were arguments, but Blake knew him too well and knew he was done. His best mate gave him a hug and promised that he was proud, Charlie following suit. Em kept a hold of his hand as he spoke, watching them all. It was really happening. He was retiring.

He'd never thought he'd be retired at 35. That sounded fucking insane, retired at 35 years old. His dad was twice his age and wasn't retired. But this was his chance to go enjoy being a dad and a husband. To finally give Emmy everything he'd promised her for their year off that she gave up.

Telling the guys was easier now he'd said it once. It was asking if he was sure and giving him and Em a hug. Lulu was awake by then and excited by everyone who was in the room, giggling and bubbly compared to how sore she was the night before. It felt like another sign of how this was right. He was making the right call.

On the way to the track he held Em's hand as he drove, Lu in her car seat in the back. He got this. It'd be fine.

---

Em watched her husband as he did what he always did, grinning and answering media questions as if their hearts weren't breaking. She kept to herself, only speaking to Pierre and the mechanics from the team. Peter had tried coming over to her, but one look made him stop, nod, and turn away. She wouldn't have held her tongue if he'd spoken to her.

At least Grace and Joe were on the way. Dan had said no, but she knew full well he'd want them there when he got out of the car. Blake had organised a charter to keep it hidden, Cal and Ryder getting on the plane too. They were due to land after FP2, meeting them in the hotel. Grace had promised that she was looking after Lulu even with the teething. Em couldn't be thankful enough for her parents in law who loved her with every fibre of their being.

She knew she'd lost weight. Her belts were pulled tighter, tshirts looser. It happened whenever she was stressed. She stopped eating and lost weight and she'd just hoped she could last until the end of the season. She was barely even breastfeeding Lu anymore, relying on formula and the purees and baby food her daughter had started eating so she didn't have to force herself to eat to feed their daughter. She knew the thoughts were bad and she should have said something, but she couldn't.

A horrible, bitter part of her was delighted that Dan wasn't racing after this weekend. She hated that piece of her so much. She truly wanted her husband to do what he loved and be happy but she couldn't deal with it any longer. Even a smaller series would be better. It wasn't not trusting Dan in the car - Em trusted every single inch of him - but it was the media. The world was invested in knowing everything about who she was and who their daughter was and she couldn't cope much longer with it. She was used to the media. Dan had inadvertently signed up for it. She sort of knew what she was getting into. Lulu didn't have a choice in any of this. She was born into it and that wasn't right.

All Emma wished for was that Dan had made the decision and it hadn't been forced on him.

Blake stood beside her for every session, Steve on the other side of her. Even when she'd sworn to never trust anyone the way she'd trusted Michael after how he'd hurt them, Steven had just wormed his way into her heart. She trusted him with all of her and her family and he understood how careful that was for her. So she stood for the final Friday with the blue earphones on her head as she listened to Dan and Pierre.

Keeping the secret from Dan that everyone was on their way felt impossible. Michelle and her family couldn't come but she'd promised Em they'd be at the airport to see them all home when they arrived in Perth. Instead Em focused on their daughter and making sure Lu took the baby painkillers which stopped her from sobbing as much.

When they arrived into the suite the lights were on, Joe and Grace sitting on the couch there. Em watched as Dan stopped still, staring at them for a moment.

"Mama? Dad?" He sounded like a child and it barely took a moment for him to reach out to clutch them. Em closed the door behind them and took Lu out of her carrier as Dan held his parents. A sob emerged from her husband and she watched as Grace somehow got him to the couch while Joe came over to take Lu.

"We'll head in the bedroom, yeah? Give them a minute." It was easy to follow her father in law into the other room and sit on the edge of the bed while he followed suit, waving at Lulu who smiled with a drooly grin. "She's teething?"

"Yeah. Had a meltdown last night with it. I don't even know how she's smiling with how she was."

"Cause she was probably picking up on Dan's tension. How are you doing with everything? It's a big change." Em sighed and twisted her wedding and engagement rings around on her finger.

"Part of me is happy? Just to be out of the circus. But he doesn't deserve this. They're not even giving him Austin, Joe. That kills me. We've the pop up ready to go and he won't be there." The unfairness of it all hurt. The Longhorns helmet ready to go for Austin, Dan already plotting his facial hair for it. Christian's smarmy looking after Dan. The as good as signed contract after Spa and the celebration. And then nothing. From getting the Red Bull seat to unemployed in three races. The idea of Max's reaction made her smile a little.

"Who knows?"

"The heads, Liam, Blake, Charlie, Steve, and the guys. Dan's telling his mechanics after the race. He doesn't want people to know it's his last race, he just wants to do it and we'll go home." Joe put a hand over Em's, stilling her anxious movements.

"Take a breath, Emmy. We've got you, Sweetheart. We've got you and Danny and Luna. I promise. You don't have to be the strong one here. Let us support you."

"I'm just so angry." Her anger dissolved into tears as she leaned against Joe and cried. Anger for their dreams. Anger for their plans. Anger that they didn't have the good grace to let him finish the year. Anger that they didn't just get rid of him in the summer. It hurt her heart in all the wrong places and she couldn't help but sob it out. Joe's arm went around her shoulders and rubbed her arm, and she could feel him whispering to her as she cried.

"It's my fault." The words were quiet as her sobs lessened, Em needing to get it out. "It's my fault the start of the season was so bad. How was he supposed to do a better job racing when he had a newborn daughter and a mess of a wife? I couldn't remember anything. I left our hotel keys behind us before. He had to fix all that, of course it made his work harder."

"Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped." The kind words made the guilt thicker in Em's throat, swallowing to get the words out.

"Cause I felt awful. I've always relied on my brain and it kept betraying me. It's better now, but when I was pregnant and after having Lu it was so so hard. I was a bad mum."

"Grace was like that after she had the kids. Especially Chelle. One day she called me from the neighbours in tears because she walked out without her keys while four month old Chelle was in her crib. It's not your fault Emmy. I promise. Everyone goes through it. It doesn't make you a bad mum, it makes you human. And if Danny didn't help you I'd kill him for not. I promise he doesn't blame you."

"I just want to go home, Dad." The guilt surged through her as she spoke. "I want to go home. I want to be at home on the farm and just be a mum and a wife and watch Lu there. I want her to grow up with family the way I never did."

"Then we're gonna go do that." Joe was soft, supporting Em as his words fixed in her mind. Going home. Home.

"What if Dan doesn't want to?" It was the biggest fear she had. Dan not wanting to go home, wanting to stay travelling the world.

"He wants you to be happy. We'll have the three of you back home, and Lu can have the time of her life with good parents and the family she's got. You're such a good mum to her, Emmy. She's so loved. And we're proud of you for it. I know how hard it's been and you're so good at it. Maybe we don't tell you enough."

"You do." Every phone call they said it. But her brain just hated the thought, didn't believe it often. She still struggled. "Just my ridiculous brain not believing you."

"You still in therapy?" Joe's voice was quiet as Lulu moved in her crib.

"Yeah. Twice a week on bad weeks." Mildred was truly a godsend for her.

"Still taking your medication?"

"Mmmhm." The tiny pills she took every morning with her multivitamin and the smoothie Dan made her. She hated them but they helped. It was worth it. "Psychiatrist every month. Plus blood tests every month too. We upped my dose last month. Plus he...he gave me a diagnosis. PTSD. I didn't think that happened to people who didn't deal with war."

"It happens to people who deal with hard things. You spent all that time trying to protect yourself, you didn't have anyone to help you. Now you do, kiddo. You're doing a good job, sweetheart. I promise. When we all head home how about you and Dan and Lu stay with us for a week? Let us look after you." The smile in his voice was clear and Em looked up at him, a watery smile spreading on her cheeks.

"I'd like that."

"Even parents need parents. C'mon and I'll tuck you in and send that husband of yours in. The two of you need sleep, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I don't remember the last time someone looked after me like this." She hugged her father in law tightly before Joe pulled the covers back on the bed, helping her in and covering her up. It was a kiss to her forehead and Em could feel sleep overtaking her, the stress weighing on her finally starting to disappear.

She woke up too early the next day to her husband wrapped around her, a noise from the end of their bed startling her slightly as she went to get up.

"Just me, Emmy. I can hear my smallest grandbaby mumbling, getting her some fresh teething gel. Go back to sleep, baby." Grace's hand ran over her arm as Em lay back against Dan, letting sleep come over her again.

Their alarm went off too early, Em stretching against Dan and kissing him before slipping from bed. The anguish and despair from the night before had turned back to anger at Laurent and Peter for what they'd done. At Marko and his bullshit. At Horner and his lies. So instead of getting comfy, Em prepared for war.

A hot shower and putting on clothes that made her feel good, mixed with the pair of patent leather wedge heels that came around the world with her as a just in case pair of shoes. Every single thing she wore - from the lavender underwear to the navy blue jeans - were gifts from her husband. Her jewellery was classy, understated, and gifts from him too. The world thought of her as his wife, and she was going to play the part in this meeting. And take VCARB for what she could get.

She changed from this armoured woman to a melt in a blink, Lu reaching over for a cuddle from her mum. Em's lipstick left a pink sheen against her cheeks, Lu grinning at the unusual feeling and grasping dark brown strands before Em untangled her hair from her daughter.

Dan raised an eyebrow at the makeup she wore, fully aware why she was doing it. Two hours before practice was the meeting that all three of them would be in - her, Dan, and Blake. Just Blake was doing the final meeting with Red Bull, but they both wanted her in there for this one.

Sitting in the small office as the F1Academy cars trundled around on track, Em sat straight up. Laurent looked at them, but before he could speak she opened her mouth.

"I get the realities of this sport. I've been around here for long enough, and I'm not a stupid woman. I also know Horner won't show his face in this meeting. But promising Daniel that seat and taking it away? It's disgraceful. And now you're kicking him out because you're too afraid to upset a billionaire and you're dragging my husband's name through the mud." Her heart was thundering as she spoke, Dan's hand on her thigh.

"Emma-" Peter began to speak, a cajoling tone as he said her name but she wouldn't take it.

"No. Don't you dare 'Emma' me. You know very well what you're doing and the things you're saying. And you know what you promised him, and you promised me. Last year in Silverstone, Peter. You looked at me and you told me you wouldn't treat him like McLaren, but you ended up being even worse than them." The words hit where she wanted them to and she could see the shock on his face.

"We're no-"

"For all the bullshit with Zak, he never said he was happy with his performance. Never. You did."

"We were." Laurent tried to cut in but Em wouldn't let him.

"Stop lying. I highly doubt you have any right now, but if you have any dignity at all please stop lying. Not only to my face, but to my husband's face." She could feel the way Blake stiffened beside her but he didn't cut her off, letting her keep her nerve. She knew if she stopped she wouldn't speak again.

"Emma we were. There were circumstances be-"

"Circumstances like what? A cracked chassis? Red Bull being worse than Alpine at contracts? I know the situation, and you want to get out of here with some reputation intact. No fuss. No big show, no announcement. Retirement announced on Wednesday so we can be at home and away from the bullshit."

"We were planning a-"

"No." Her voice was firm. If they were firing her husband she wasn't letting them use him as a show pony again.

"But we thought-"

"No. You don't get to decide my husband's career. It's over. Dan is making an Instagram post on Wednesday. You can do whatever you want, but we don't want any fuss, no nothing. If you had the decency to let him finish out the year then this would be a very different conversation, but now I don't want to hear those plans. We're doing this our way." She took a slow breath as she tried to hide her anxiety. That stupid feeling of anger and fear filled her as she breathed it out. This was for Dan. His hand squeezing her thigh slowly was a reminder that she was doing the right thing.

"Daniel, are you not going to speak?" She could tell as Dan took a breath before he responded.

"Em is saying exactly what I'd say, except a hell of a lot nicer than I would. Why the fuck would I want to do donuts in Singapore when there's six races left. I'm getting the helmet I had ready for Abu Dhabi flown in so I can use it." The conversation was going nowhere and she was done. This was pointless. Before she could speak Blake did and she was so happy he knew her so well.

"Since you clearly have no power here I'm discussing the buyout with Red Bull. But things are happening the way Emma said. Dan's right, you're lucky she's the one speaking in this meeting because she's being way nicer than you cunts deserve right now."

"Blake, we can-"

"Anything else you want to say Em?"

She took a deep breath, looking at the two men. For the first time she could see guilt in their eyes, but she couldn't care anymore.

"You made us a promise. And I know in F1 that promises aren't always kept, but you didn't have to lie to us. We're all fucking adults here. We won't speak badly about the team as long as you all keep Daniel's name out of your mouths. Including Helmut. And before you say you can't do it, that's what's going to happen. If he starts criticising we can talk."

When she finished speaking she stood, her husband and brother walking back with her. They made it back to Dan's driver room and the three of them hid in it. Quiet for just a moment was what they needed before Blake spoke.

"Most of the contract is organised. No ambassador role, no sponsorship. Full payout for two years. It's me and Horner, and I've enough fucking dirt on him to bury him. We promised no lawyers in the room. Anything else you want?"

"Silverstone replica." Em's voice was low but she swallowed and said it again. "His ninth win. Silverstone. He did that in that car. Dan. Same way we got the Monza one?"

"Got it covered, Timmy. Promise."

The silence was still with them before Dan's sigh broke it. "I was in his fucking wedding. I hate this. I hate all of it. It just hurts."

She turned on the small sofa to face him, legs hooking over Dan's lap. "We do this. You get through practice and quali and then we go hug our baby girl and be loved by our friends and family, ok? You've got this. I promise you can do it."

It hurt to watch Blake walk out the door, and it hurt for Em to have to leave the room to let Dan and Steve get him ready for practice. But she did what she had to do, standing up and going down to the garage. Em knew the cameras would be on her, and she had to pretend nothing was happening. So she did.

Qualifying was painful. She held her head up high and watched as Dan was barely caught out, Pierre turning his head and mouthing his apologies to her. It wasn't Pierre's fault. She wouldn't blame him. He'd been nothing but supportive and friendly to them, making Lulu grin when he came over to wave at her and treat her like his own niece. She knew she could rely on him.

That evening as the paddock emptied out the three of them snuck into the garage. It was just them, a couple of lights on in the garage. One of the first photos they had was of Lu sitting on the car, and she wanted one of the three of them with it. This was real. Her husband had driven in over 250 Formula One Grands Prix. He'd scored points. He'd run the Mercedes domination close in a car that shouldn't have. They'd travelled the world with their infant daughter and she needed proof that it was real.

As Dan went to set up the small tripod he'd brought with him, a movement startled Em. Stepping out from one of the aisles was Pierre, a frown on his face as he took in the sight in front of him.

"It's true, then? I didn't want to believe the rumours. It isn't right." She could see the dismay on his face, barely nodding while trying to keep her composure. Dan stood and nodded, the engineer walking over and wrapping Dan in a hug. When they separated, he came over and kissed Em's cheek, placing one on Lulu's forehead too.

"I'm sorry, Emma. I'm so sorry." It was the first apology she'd received from anyone in the entire team that actually felt sincere.

"Thank you. Pierre, can you do us a favour? We wanted a photo of the three of us. Could you?" He smiled and nodded, taking Dan's Leica from his hands and getting them to stand and smile. The flash went off and it healed a piece of her battered heart. Even in the bullshit, here was someone who had loved her husband and cared about her. That was special.

They thought the hotel suite would be quiet when they got back, but instead everyone was there. There was a takeout feast spread out across the table, Dan's arm keeping Em upright as she saw all of their loved ones there. Dan's family, their friends, Blake and Charlie, Charlie's brother Cal and his boyfriend. All there to support Dan because he was their Dan too. It was a room filled with love and she was so happy to have them even under such awful circumstances.

When they'd all finally sat down Charlie held her arm out, pulling Em into a side hug and kissing her temple. They'd barely spent time together this weekend, Em's world revolving around finalities. But her best friend was still there, holding her and that meant everything.

"Love you Ems." Charlie whispered, before lowering her ear to Lu. "And you too, Miss Lulu. Come here and let your parents eat. I've got her."

"Morning sickness bad?" Em asked as she watched her daughter settle easily.

"All day sickness. It's ok. But I've been eating all day I can't face a proper meal. I'll eat later, Blake will make me." She grinned wickedly before picking at some chips on the table, making Em smile back. God she was lucky.

The atmosphere started forced, but it lightened as conversations began. Dan kept his hand on Em's thigh and she could feel the pressure lighten as he relaxed too, chatting with Cal and introducing him to the rest of their friends. It was what she needed, just to be calm and unwind and feel the love that surrounded them. Nearly everyone at the table knew them before they were Dan and Em. Knew Dan before he was Daniel Ricciardo. They had all of this to look forward to as some of the guys played peekaboo with Lulu, making her grin and wave at them.

As everyone left the room hugs were exchanged, Em watching as Cal and Ryder hugged Dan. She could barely hear the words exchanged, but they filled her heart to overflowing as she strained to hear.

"Why the fuck did you two cunts come all the way here?" Dan asked, cursing hiding the nerves.

"Because I wanted to support you." Cal's honesty was quick and easy. "I told you when we met. You made me love racing. And now I get to call you my friend too. I want to be here to support my friend and my hero, I get to do both at the same time."

Tears were shed as his words sank in, Dan clutching the younger men in a hug before letting them go. It was heartbreaking and hopeful. He'd really, really changed lives. He'd inspired kids. That...that meant something. It really did.

Em watched her husband get into bed first, holding his arms out for a half asleep Luna. Lu stirred slightly as she got comfortable, watching Dan with curious brown eyes. She was growing into her face, a Ricciardo more and more every day. Once Em put her stretched out Race Service shirt on she crawled in beside Dan, her book in her hand. His arm wrapped around her as she got comfy and began to read out loud to her babes.

"Chapter One. In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole. And that meant comfort."

As she read her husband and daughter to sleep, even with the confusion around them, Em relaxed beside them. They were her comfort, and they'd get through it all.

If she was honest, Em barely remembered the race. She knew all of Dan's friends were around them, sandwiching her and holding her up when she just felt sick the entire time. She remembered the roars they let out when he had his pitstop, the confusion on that final lap stop and the realisation that it was to take fastest lap from Lando. Watching him do it to perfection, showing that even when he was down he wasn't out. And that final message the feed shared, Max saying he owed Dan a Christmas present.

It was done. Her husband's final Formula One race, coming last and hopefully helping Max win his fourth championship. He'd done it. Two hundred and fifty eight races. Nine race wins. Four pole positions. He'd won Monaco, Silverstone, and seven other tracks. She was forever proud of all he'd accomplished. She always would be. The way it was ending was undignified and heartbreaking, but he was her Danny. Her boy from the Perth suburbs had fought and had an eleven year career in the sport that chewed up and spat people out too easily. She couldn't be happier for him.

The walk back to hospitality was short, everyone there surrounding her and buoying her spirits. Em just let their words wash over her, delight in that even with what had happened, this was what mattered. That right here were people who loved her and Dan and their daughter. No matter what, they would always have that.

Seeing Charlie's brother made her want to cry, the younger man looking bittersweet. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling into a hug.

"I'm so glad you both made it. Seriously. It's wonderful." He smiled at her words, nodding and watching the scenes as people started packing up.

"You ok?"

"We will be." And it was the truth. Dan would come back after media, after having to deal with ridiculous tributes to a career that everyone knew was dead and buried but couldn't fully admit it yet. He'd arrive back and be loved by all of them, and they'd go back to the hotel. And in the morning they'd organised a plane for everyone to head back to Perth together. There'd be family waiting at the airport and then it was to Grace and Joe's for a few days to be looked after. Phones off, family time.

Finally back with everyone Grace handed her Luna, half awake and happy that her mama was there with her. Lulu just wanted a giant cuddle from her mother, held tightly and confused at being up so late, but loving all the new uncles she'd gotten to know. The guys had all talked about Lu meeting their kids, being part of the gang that now came to every formerly drunken barbecue that had kids toys and bottles of milk instead of vodka. It was a new life for them, but it'd be a good one. Em knew it would be.

"He's coming, c'mon!" It was Joe who nudged her out of her thoughts, pulling Em up with Lu in her arms as the group ran outside hospitality to welcome Dan back for the final time.

Em stood there cheering, Lulu against her not knowing what was going on but yelling just as loudly. The moment she realised it was for her dad she got extra excited, a kiss against their daughter's head the final thing Dan did before going inside. Instead of going in Em stood there in the Singapore heat, looking around. It was over. They were done.

"Pass her over to uncle Blake?" Em turned to where her affectionately nicknamed Tall Blake was, holding out his arms to take Lulu. She'd been passed around Dan's friends and their family all weekend, the men taking turns to tire her out. She didn't know what she'd have done without them there to help and make things easier.

"I think she's about ready for bed."

"Perfect. Charlie's tired too, so we were talking to her and Steve. The group of us are gonna leave with Lu and head back to the hotel. You and Dan and Blake stay here as long as you need, soak it in. He knows we're all so fucking proud of him, right?"

"He knows." Em blinked back her tears, grinning and kissing Lu's cheek. "We all know. Thanks for being here. We needed people."

"Any fucking time, you know that. We all adore him."

Em hugged everyone goodbye, waving to an already napping Lulu. They were so goddamn lucky that even on a day filled with sadness and awfulness that they were so loved. That somehow her little family was filled with all these people who adored them and took her in and let her just be. It meant the world.

It was a slow walk upstairs, nodding at Dan's mechanics. They and Pierre had always, always been on his side and she couldn't thank them enough. She couldn't be grateful enough that even with the bullshit they were there and supporting them. But she finally made it up, knocking on the door and going inside. The room felt empty, the photos on the wall gone. Just blank walls and Dan's backpack sitting on a table.

"Where's Lu?" Her husband's first words are as he reached out and pulled her into his lap.

"With Char and everyone. They've all gone back to the hotel, told me to tell you to soak everything in and they're proud of you. We love you."

"Love you too."

"It's over, Memy. It's actually over. I didn't think..." His voice trailed off and Em just leaned against him as she felt the tension leave Dan's body.

"Do I want to know how you feel?"

"Worn out. Won't sink in till the announcement I reckon. But I don't want to leave yet."

"Then we can stay."

She watched Dan get changed in near silence, his pink helmet from the race sitting on the small table. The little symbols that told their story - a lemon, water, the sun. A paper plane. A bow for Lu, a pair of glasses for Blake and Charlie's red lipstick immortalised. The tiniest pair of blue booties hidden in the design for their still cooking godson. There were so many tiny references in it that she loved as she'd watched Dan design it and get the references just right. He handed the still slightly damp one to her as she watched him pull the spare out, writing on the tearoff and turning it for her to see.

Pierre - what a damn run, eh? Sorry for breaking my hand and not getting a podium for us. Thank you for everything you've done for me and welcoming me, and merci for not punishing my awful French. Second best engineer I've ever had. Love - Daniel

The first tear fell as she read the message he'd left for Pierre, Em grinning through it. She wouldn't change it. Even with everything that had happened, even with the hardship and difficulty and pain and frustration. She couldn't change it because that would make it not what they'd lived. It'd make it fake.

It wasn't the only message she'd watched him write that weekend. One for Steve, one for Blake and Charlie. His race worn one was going on their helmet wall, the final piece of the design.

The door opened, Blake coming in with a smile on his face. It was the three of them together in the end. Standing in a tiny driver's room, looking at each other.

"Got it all. The Silverstone trophy's being delivered next week. All of it."

It was a hug for her big brother and a gasped thank you as Em forced all the love and thanks and grace she had left in her body to him, determined to make him feel it. He'd done it and gotten Dan what he deserved in the midst of a shit situation, and that was another silver lining. She could deal with all of this.

"Where is everything?" The words slipped out before she could stop them. "The photos, Lu's stuff? all your stuff?"

"I got Char to do it during the race. It's all packed away neatly to unpack at home. I couldn't do it, Emmy. I couldn't watch you do it." She held his hand as Dan pulled her back to him, the three of them sitting on a too small couch as they waited for everyone to be ready to leave. The paddock was emptying, getting quieter and quieter as they listened.

"I think I'm ready." Dan broke the silence, his bag in his hand. This was it. The final walk.

So Emma Ricciardo took her husband's hand and walked out of the Singapore Grand Prix paddock beside him. Just before they stepped outside she took one final look back at the lights, at the nearly empty area now most of the staff had gone home.

"Any regrets?" Blake asked the two of them. She knew Dan's - not staying at Red Bull to fight. Not winning a championship. Being too loyal and not moving to Mercedes. But her? She wouldn't have changed it. She paid the highest possible price, but she'd gotten everything she'd dreamed of.

"I got my husband, my daughter, and my brother from this. It's worth the trade."

And with a final beep as she scanned her pass, Em left the paddock.

Taglist

@dr3lover @sabrinaselina55 @majx00 @tall-tanned-tattoo @lovingdennishauger @lauehr @msolbesg @f1medlife @idkwtfimdoing2 @leclercsbae @hiphopdancer101universe @mehrmonga @lewispool @saintandrea-droidsmuggler @coldheartedmar @sugarbabygirlofdaddy @nonsensical-nonce @a-distantdreamer @tita010 @leslizzle @javden @mloyer @saintandrea-droidsmuggler @magical-imagination-kgp @danarysstormborn @kakorrhaphiphobia @g-l-o-b-e-w-h-o-r-e @elizanav @neiich @luckyladycreator2 @scotlynaurora @belledawnidk

[callmewrinkles3]

Come back 😭😭

Ugh I really want to, but i can’t promise you anything 😭💔

[callmewrinkles3]

happy birthday Lulu, we love you

[callmewrinkles3]

Life has been crazy. Sorry kiddos ♥️

Hi!! Is this page abandoned now as Danny is out of F1? 🥺

It's not! Just because Danny isn't racing doesn't mean Em and Dan's story is finished. Our babes have a full life that we'll keep writing about and talking about if people are interested

[callmewrinkles3]

Hi!! Is this page abandoned now as Danny is out of F1? 🥺

It's not! Just because Danny isn't racing doesn't mean Em and Dan's story is finished. Our babes have a full life that we'll keep writing about and talking about if people are interested

[callmewrinkles3]

please please keep writing! i miss this story sm 🥺

We're working on some stuff!

We actually just spent a weekend together and omg, the love I have for Alex folks. She's the best.

[callmewrinkles3]

This entire weekend has left such an emptiness and is giving “how did it end?” vibes. I just want to cry

Don't even mention it. Its been weird and sad. Emptiness is exactly the word to use. And yes, "How did it end?" its absolutely the vibe. Still in denial and still trying to process it. 💔

[callmewrinkles3]

September 2024

[callmewrinkles3]

We're not going anywhere folks, we're still gonna be here. Just taking some time to think and probably do a bunch of edits on stuff because yeah.

[callmewrinkles3]

I just keep thinking about how glad I am he’s always got Blake there with him, the photos of him leaving the paddock broke my heart knowing he’s not got his family with him for potentially his last race

Yes. Yes and Yes. In this house we love and support Blake as much as we love and support Dan.

[callmewrinkles3]

Hi kiddos. Alex here. I know nobody asked for this but goddamn, I just needed to get it out of my chest and out of my head because today has been bad.

Nobody wants another sad story but there it goes. I was never a sports person until my best friend made me sit in front of our TV to watch twenty guys go around in circles driving fast cars. She spent her childhood watching Fernando race, so I just sat there without understanding shit. We were in deep shit in every single possible way, so I didn't complain about it because she was happy to do it.

It was the worst summer of our lives for too many reasons, but we spent those weekends watching YouTube videos about F1 to cheer ourselves up. It was really really really bad, but for a while that made it better. I can even point to the exact two moments I fell in love with Dan during those days. The first episode of DTS when he says he is a mechanic and the McL*ren snacks video where he had the goddamn Let's fuck ring. It was instant love. That was the moment my brain yelled "Yup, that's my guy". I also remember the first time I saw him. It was during the Hungary GP red flag after Valtteri destroyed everything that moved. I saw Dan standing beside the car looking at the damage and I remember thinking “Goddamn” because it was a mess.

I went from not being a sports fan to absolutely getting obsessed with it and with him. I remember Monza weekend like it was yesterday, grabbing my bestie’s hand after the sprint and saying “NO BUT YOU DONT GET IT” because he wasn’t going to start P3 but P2. I used part of our savings to get that pink shirt because it meant the world that weekend. I used part of my salary to buy an old school yellow Renault Dan shirt with my first job after not working for months thanks to covid. We were the most irresponsible people ever and we spent all our savings buying tickets to the race here in Barcelona the next year because it became my dream to actually see Dan racing in front of me. It was worth every single cent because it was a privilege to see him racing not once but twice.

The thing is, that curly Aussie man brought me the biggest smile on the worst days. He put a smile on my face when probably nothing else could. He gave me some of my biggest happy moments and some of the worst headaches and heartbreaks of the last four years. He even got me the motivation to write again after centuries of not doing it even when I love it probably more than anything else. He gave me my friends because I would never have met them if it wasn’t for our mutual love for him.

Dan is magically was the reason why @honeybadgercomeback appeared at the exact time I needed them the most. Heaven knows this needs a special mention because holyshit I love Ciara so much it's ridiculous. They stood by my side and listened to me cry for hours and stayed there when anxiety kicked me in the ass. They decided to write a whole story with me and create an entire world out of it. It's my pride and joy to do it. They even opened the doors of her family and home when I was about to explode and there aren't enough words to thank you. They're really the Blake to my Dan and heaven knows nobody will ever do it like we do. We have planned the whole thing to watch Austin together at my place next month, and even today they stood by my side when I said I couldn't watch it if Dan's not there. If that's not love then I don't know, kids.

It breaks my heart. I can't explain how badly I cried today about all this mess. The way the press and his own teams have treated him over the last couple of years is unfair. To see him leave like this is unfair. I absolutely hate it, but this is so incredibly unfair and wrong that I just reached the point where I found myself actually saying to myself that I just hope he retires and gets home to his family. I just reached the point where I’m exhausted by the sport I love so much and goddamn I’m not even planning to watch the rest of the races if he is not there. To see him crying in the media pen broke my heart, and I can't. Even then I truly hope this is not the last one. I just want to see him in Austin again. I really want him to have the farewell he deserves.

All this to say goddamn, how I love Daniel. I'm thankful for the last four years of love I got from seeing that lanky man on my TV doing what he loves. He means more to me than I could ever say. I love him more than words can express. He'll always be my guy. He'll always be my baby. God, I would go to the end of the world and to war for that man. Whatever happens next I just hope he is at peace after all this mess, because after fourteen years he bloody deserves it.

[callmewrinkles3]

He deserved better 🥺 so much better than this and so does Blake 💔

Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. We saw someone saying at the end Blake was useless and nope. Not in this house.

[callmewrinkles3]

Im heartbroken 😔 💔

So are we, lovely. So are we.

[callmewrinkles3]

If I see any of you blaming Blake for this it is on absolute SIGHT

[callmewrinkles3]

Just another girl

August 2018

The moment he heard those words, he could not stay in that room anymore. There were no words to describe how he felt, but it was like he suddenly fell ill from the inside. There was an achy feeling in his stomach, an ache in his chest, and a tight feeling in his chest. Even the room felt like it was spinning a little bit, but Dan tried to convince himself that it was just alcohol in his body. He knew his friends probably didn’t want to be rude, it was just a way to say it, but he couldn’t deal with it. “She’s just another girl, mate”. Even though it was just a bunch of words, they cut him like a knife.

Emma wasn’t just a girl. She wasn’t just some girl he met one night out and never saw her again. It was ten months after they met. Three months after the magical first night he got to kiss and be with her. If that wasn’t enough, he spent the last month by her side. After that night in her bed where they decided to be friends with benefits -which he thought was the best birthday present in the world- Dan somehow kept coming back to her night after night. He would drive to Milton Keynes to work or do his things during the day, but at night he found himself driving back to Em. Daniel tried to go to his apartment but drove back to Wembley to see her. If he wasn’t away in Germany or Hungary he would be by her side.

The tiny home she lived in was much more comfortable than his apartment. As much as he hated to hide from Blake, he was more than willing to do it. Daniel knew that it was his fault for making it appear that nothing was going on between him and Em. According to him, they were just good friends, leaving the rest of what was going on in the dark. It was part of a desperate attempt to protect her, but also the fact that he didn’t want anyone mentioning she was his fuck-buddy or something like that. He knew that if he heard someone say something like that, he would snap at them. That was the last thing he wanted to do. It wasn’t a fair justification, but with the year he was having he just didn’t need to hear a word about his life. He couldn’t hear a word about his Emmy.

It was his fault, but he couldn’t make anyone understand how those fairy lights and books all around her place made it home. He couldn’t make anyone understand how he was in love with her before admitting it to himself. He felt hard and fast, and he was still falling every single day for simple things. There was something familiar about seeing her around doing her thing while wearing his clothes. It was like he was meant to be there. He just wasted years being somewhere else with someone else. Instead, he could have been there between kisses, Taylor Swift songs, old books and crime shows on TV. Dan knew he was meant to be there in her bed, sleeping right in the middle of it with Emmy resting her head on his chest, and not alone on the edge of a cold hotel bed.

He wanted to be with her. It was as simple as that. He couldn’t put into words how he hated the fact Em couldn’t travel with him to LA during his summer break. He understood she had work and a life, but he hated it. She already left everything behind for a few days in July to go to Philadelphia with him to see the Reputation tour. Dan couldn’t ask her again to fly across the world with him, so he sucked it up and promised to see her soon.

But “soon” wasn’t coming soon enough. “Soon” was too far away. He never expected to miss her the second he left the apartment to go to the airport. He always missed her when he was away working in another country. He already missed her when she left the night they met, not knowing when or if he would see her again.

Dan missed her every day. They texted when he was away racing and when he was home in Perth, but now he got to spend days and nights by her side. He hated not seeing her for such a long time. Two weeks away felt like a lifetime. Exactly fourteen days away and he had it planned for months, but regretted it when Em couldn't join him. He had been there for nine of those fourteen days, and Daniel knew that night the tenth day would be the last one there.

He had too many beers that night, but as soon as those words reached his ears he got up. The excuse was making a phone call and returning in a few minutes. There was no phone call. He wished he could call Em and hear her voice but in London, it was too early and there was no point in waking her up. If he did, she would get scared and it was useless. He pretended to look for a number on his phone as he walked to the bedroom, but there was no call at all. As soon as the door was closed he grabbed his laptop and booked a ticket to fly back to London the next day. He needed to hug her and there was no point in staying in LA when all he wanted was on another continent. He needed to invent an excuse to say why he was heading back but he didn’t really care. He had to lie to his friends, and then keep the secret from Em long enough to surprise her. Once he got the ticket confirmation email, he sent a good morning text to Emmy so she could see it when she woke up. If he could put a smile on her face as soon as she was awake, he would be more than content with himself. All he wanted was to see a smile on her face and it was a wonderful bonus if he could kiss it to make it bigger. Dan knew he was probably insane, but he needed to get back. What if he didn’t hug her enough? What if he didn’t kiss her enough? He knew for sure he didn’t tell her enough how gorgeous she looked in the morning when she was still sleeping and he had to get up to go to the gym. In his mind, she was more than beautiful. She was something else, and he couldn't find the right words to describe how he felt about her.

Em wasn’t just another girl. She was all the good things in one incredible British woman. She was love personified. She was everything he wanted and more. Seeing her was like seeing the moon. All he could do was stare at her and wonder how lucky he was to spend time with the woman he loved so much. Daniel didn't want to be away from her or in Los Angeles, so he decided that in a second. It was better to leave his house there and return to the tiny cozy corner of London he had started to call home, which was the same place where his heart also lived.

[callmewrinkles3]

August 2026

[callmewrinkles3]

Morning

April 2023

Crazy curls. Familiar snores. Warm skin against hers. Everything felt soft that morning. The sheets covering them, the noise from outside the bedroom windows, and even the light coming through the curtains. There was some sense of calmness filling her. Suddenly the world didn’t feel so heavy on her shoulders. There was some sort of relaxation inside her. Somehow it felt like freedom. Em knew the right word was 'Happiness'. She was happy.

The world finally knew Daniel was her husband. It was finally public that they were married, so there were no longer any doubts that they belonged to each other. They belonged to each other from the beginning. They had been married for months, but now it was official for everyone else. Now Em could yell it from the rooftops and wear her wedding ring without the fear of someone spotting it. She could wear it in her left hand proudly and not in her right one to make it look like it was just another random one in her large collection of rings. She didn’t have to hide in a chain around her neck, keeping it safe and close to her heart. After months and months and months of biting their tongues, keeping quiet and hiding away, they could finally say they were married. Em could finally say Dan was all hers.

She couldn't believe it was real. She was so sure those happy endings worthy of a Hallmark movie weren't for her. She was sure there was no such a thing as her better half. Emma was so convinced none of those things were made for her that she had to accept that she would spend most of her days alone in her tiny apartment surrounded by her books. It was almost impossible to believe how much things had changed. It was still difficult to comprehend how her tiny cold apartment in London was left behind and her new home was a spacious, cozy, lovely place that was perfect for her, her books and her husband.

Her husband.

It was almost impossible to believe that after everything that had happened, the beautiful man right beside her sleeping peacefully was her husband. He loved her so much that he married her not once, but twice. He was so crazy that he carried her in his skin forever, adding tattoos after tattoos in her honor. Some in their honor. Dan once said that if someone asked why he did such a silly thing like getting tattooed with his girlfriend, the answer would be simple. 'It's to honor the biggest and greatest love of my life. If someone has any doubts I'm all yours, then there they have it.'

Dan loved her so deeply that he was giving her everything she never thought she could have. A home, family, friends, love, safety. He made sure they had the wedding of their dreams, but especially Em's dreams. Lemon cake, wildflowers, fairy lights, friendship bracelets, and a playlist Dan created specifically for that day. The people they loved the most were there loving on them as Dan stood there in absolutely breathtaking his suit promised to love her for the rest of their days. He made her feel like the most special girl in the world tearing up as he looked at her wearing the dress that was a gift from Grace and Joe to not make her feel bad about the fact her parents weren’t there to do that little part of the tradition.

He was doing everything in his power to put the world at her feet, convinced Em didn't deserve less than that. He adored his wife so incredibly much he was trying to give her the one thing they wanted more than anything in the world. They were trying to have what the cruel world took from them. Her Danny loved her so much he was ready to put everything to a side if that meant they could have their own little family. In the silence of the night, Dan would hold her and whisper they would make it happen. He promised that sooner or later they would be holding their brunette baby that was half him and half Em.

Em couldn't wait to see that happen, but in the meantime she couldn't complain. From her spot in bed she could see her wedding dress neatly arranged on the back of a chair with Dan's suit jacket. She knew the rest of his clothes were somewhere around the room, spread around the floor. He didn't care about his clothes, but he took care not to ruin Emma's white dress. Not only was it her reception dress, but it was Blake's gift for her, so Dan was extra cautious about it. She would clean up the mess later, too distracted and happy to care.

When she looked at their clothes, she was drawn to the photo Dan had on his nightstand. It was 2019, Em's hair was way longer, Dan's curls were longer and wilder, and somehow they looked a lifetime younger. She was smiling at the camera as he kissed her cheek, his arms comfortably around her waist, exactly like he had them that morning. They had apartments and houses in different places around the world, and she loved them all, but at the end of the day, Dan's arms were her home. No matter where they were in the world, she was home as long as they were together. It was alright as long as her love held her hand. She knew it would be alright if his big brown eyes looked down at her.

The strange morning Em woke up before Dan, she would normally let him sleep. If she knew Dan didn't set his alarm to go for a run or to the gym, she simply let him rest. They promised the year off would be about them. They would rest, heal, recharge and enjoy. Letting Dan sleep was part of the process, but that morning she couldn't help it. They could cure the hangover with water, coffee and kisses. They could fight it with greasy food, but Em wanted her husband first. She wanted to see him smiling at her on their official first morning as a public newlywed couple. Em felt slightly guilty about ruining her husband's peaceful morning, but she knew he wouldn't be mad at her for waking him up with kisses. Her Danny was never able to be mad at her, especially not for such a thing. Soft kisses on his jaw and lips traveling down his neck were the perfect way to wake up. Her soft fingers running down his chest, outlining his abs and finally resting on his small waist were enough to bring a moan from his mouth.

"Morning, husband." Emmy whispered softly against his ear, returning to her job and marking his tanned skin. That was her husband, she was allowed to mark him, and if somebody didn't like that, it was their problem.

"Morning, baby girl. Sorry, I mean, morning, wife." A couple of words were more than enough to bring a moan from her. He never needed more than that.

Crazy curls. Soft kisses. Bedroom eyes. Loving moans. Raspy stubble. Chill air. Soft sheets. Familiar snores. Lavender curtains. Pokémon plushies. Polaroids stick around the mirror. Fairy lights. Warm golden sunlight. Farm noises. Scented candles. Messy clothes. Old books. Her husband's warm body against hers. Em couldn't believe that was her home. She couldn't believe that was her life.