#JesusIHopeHeNeverEVERReadsThis

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

It took Daniel Ricciardo being an absolute fucking snack to bring me out of a five year fanfic writing hiatus!

Thanks big dog 😛

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

I wonder what else those hands could do....

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH23-We Should’ve Done That Sooner!

 A/N1:  Same warning as before, if you’re a minor go watch Blue’s Clues or somethng!

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Daniel made his way across the floor and into the bathroom that smelled faintly of something floral.  He found a bottle of cocoa butter lotion on the sink and grabbed it, returning to the bedroom to find Eadaoin laying on the bed her messy hair splayed out under her.

“This stuff explains why you always smell like chocolate,” he said sitting on the edge of the bed “can I give you a massage?”

Eadaoin sat up and pressed her lips to his.

“Only if I get a happy ending,” she whispered reaching down and grasping his length.

“That’ll happen much sooner than I’d like if you keep doing that,” Daniel replied “lay on your front....now.”

Turned on by his sudden assertiveness Eadaoin laid down on her front, propping her head up on her arms.  Daniel squeezed some of the lotion onto his hands and gently began applying it to her skin. She jumped slightly and the coldness but slowly relaxed as Daniel massaged it into her back.

“Your fingers are maaaaaaaaaaaagic,” Eadaoin moaned as his hands travelled lower and lower.

Daniel leaned down and placed a kiss between her shoulder blades.

“They-haven’t-even-done-their-best-work-yet,” he murmured kissing his way down her spine “now shut up, I only want to hear you moan.”

Eadaoin closed her eyes and relaxed into Daniel’s touch, she concentrated on every single touch, the feel, the pressure of his fingertips and the heels of his hands as he pushed, pulled and manipulated all her muscles as he rubbed the cocoa butter into her tingling skin.  Daniel could sense her mounting arousal and deliberately avoided the center of it, chuckling in amusement as she groaned in frustration when he rubbed the lotion into her legs, the tips of his fingers coming so very close to where she wanted them to go.

“Don’t be an arse,” she breathed “don’t tease me....”

“Oh but you like it, I know you do,” Daniel murmured in her ear reaching under her body and cupping and breast in his hand “now shut up or I’ll leave for Baku right this minute.”

Eadaoin jumped and yelped in surprise as he pinched her nipples.  Daniel took the opportunity to flip her over and settle between her legs.  Wordlessly she sank back onto the bed and allowed him to loom over her.  He leaned in and kissed her neck before moving lower down to her breasts upon which he laved attention.  She ran her fingers through his perpetually messy curls, scraping her nails along his scalp.  Daniel then hurriedly discarded her knickers and spread her legs, taking special notice of the intricate climbing rose tattoos that went from her thighs up her hips and to the bottom of her rib cage.

“Don’t be a-UGH!” she moaned as he kissed her everywhere except where she needed to be.

“Why not? You teased me,” Daniel replied cockily as he drew an index finger through her wetness.

“Fuck you Danny not this much!”

“Give it a few minutes and I’ll do just that,”

Daniel leaned down and worked his way lower and lower down Eadaoin’s writhing body, kissing every inch of her skin which was now slick with sweat, he then gently hooked her legs over his muscular shoulders and latched on to her soaked center.

As soon as his lips brushed against her arousal, Eadaoin launched off the bed with a loud squeal.

“SHIT!” she yelped bucking her hips against him “oh Jesus....oh please....”

With Eadaoin pulling at his hair and scraping his scalp with her nails Daniel licked, sucked, kissed and laved at her center, never relenting, consuming her as if she was his only sustenance.  She tried to escape the torturous pool of arousal, twisting and turning away from Daniel’s relentless pressure but he hooked an arm around her legs and pinned her pelvis down so she could do no more than wriggle beneath him, pull at his hair and twist up the sheets.  Eventually though his attention became too much and she fell apart with a scream of completion.

“FUUUUUUUUCK!” she screeched riding out the waves of release that coursed through her heaving body “oh Jesus CHRIST!”

Daniel allowed Eadaoin a moment to recover before climbing up the bed and leaning over her, the evidence of his arousal pressing against her abdomen.

“I told you back in Monaco one day I’d make you beg,” he whispered.

“I didn’t think you meant like that!” Eadaoin replied her chest rising and falling as she struggled to recover “oh god Dan I haven’t felt anything like that in ages!”

“I have three days before I have to leave for Baku,” Daniel said in a low voice “there’s plenty more where that came from.”

Eadaoin couldn’t help it and let out a breathy moan of desire.

“Did you bring any protection with you?” she asked running her fingers through his hair.

“Shit, no,” Daniel replied as a dawning realisation hit him “I kinda wasn’t thinki-”

“Mmmph side drawer,” Eadaoin said mi-kiss “I figured one day we might get there and well....y’know.”

Daniel moved up to the bed and reached over to the bedside table nearest to them, he opened the top draw and instantly snorted in amusement.  Aside from a hairbrush, the draw was filled with nothing but tubes of lubricant and a variety of condoms.

“Jesus are you looking to open a condom museum or something?” he asked in amusement reaching in a pulling out a box of ultra thin condoms “I don’t think we can have that much sex in three days!”

Outside the storm continued to rage and Eadaoin’s retort was drowned out by an enormous clap of thunder.

“If you’re not careful I’ll leave you high and dry and we don’t use any of them,” she said primly taking the box from him.

Daniel reached down and dragged his fingers through her wetness again.

“No we’ll use them,” he murmured in her ear “I have absolutely no plans for the next three days darling, apart from keeping you on your back and screaming my name all the time.”

Eadaoin squeaked as he began teasing her again.

“Let me,” she said retrieving a condom from the box.

Hurriedly the redhead ripped open the packet, then reached down and stroked Daniel a few times before sheathing him.  He groaned at her touch and bucked his hips against her touch several times.

“I don’t know how much longer I can hold on darling,” he said with a groan “I want you so goddamn bad!”

Eadaoin pulled him down ad pressed her lips to his.

“You’ve always had me,” she said hooking her leg around his hips “Just remember it’s been a while for me okay?”

Wordlessly Eadaoin grasped Daniel’s hardness and guided him into her.  His girth completely and utterly filled her and momentarily made her tense up. Daniel immediately noticed this and paused.

“Are you hurting?” he asked in concern.

“No you’re just hung like a damn elephant Dan and it’s been a while,” Eadaoin informed him “but god you feel gooooooood.”

“I’m going to quit F1 and spend all my time fucking you into oblivion,” Daniel growled into her ear as he started thrusting into her “oh god I’m not going to last long at all!”

Eadaoin propped herself up on her elbows and ran her fingers through his damp curls, pulling him down into a deep kiss.

“Fuck meeeeeee,” she whispered in his ear “Don’t hold back babe.”

The sensual purr in her voice washed over Daniel and any restraint he has evaporated. He loomed over Eadaoin and began fucking her in earnest causing the pillows to fall off the bed and the sheets to twist around their legs.  She hooked a slender leg around his narrow hips and dug the nails of one hand into his backside, drawing him into her with each thrust.

“I-I’m not goin-to’last long eithrrrrrrr,” she moaned.

Daniel reached down between their heaving bodies and pressed his fingers against her most sensitive spot.

“Scream for me,” he breathed as she collapsed under him with a long drawn out moan “come with me darling.”

As she neared her own moment of completion Eadaoin lost her ability to vocalise beyond random moans and whimpers, Daniel sensed this and on the brink of coming himself increased the pace and intensity of his thrusts.  Eventually neither could hold back, Eadaoin came first with a shrill scream, only just discernable over the raging storm outside and shortly after Daniel followed her with a roar.

“H-oly fuck!” he groaned, just catching himself on his elbows his lower half pressing Eadaoin into the mattress.

For several log moments Daniel and Eadaoin lay together both heaving for breath and utterly spent.  Eadaoin was the first one to speak however and reached up to run her fingers through his messy curls.

“Oh you’re goooooood.” She said “I want to do that again.”

The tension broke and Daniel laughed.

“Give me a minute to recover luv,” he said in amusement leaning down and placing a kiss between her breasts “I’m not Superman.”

“Hmm I’d disagree,” Eadaoin replied “we should've done that sooner, why didn't we?”

“Because I’m a fucking idiot,” Daniel replied, gently slipping from her and drawing her close “I didn’t even bring any protection with me, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.”

“Well take some to put in your kit bag,” Eadaoin told him “for y’know....when I come visit you on a race weekend.”

“Now that I know what that is like with you I’m half inclined to have you come to every race for the remainder of the year,” Daniel said with a grin “Jesus, I haven’t felt like that I in so long.”

“D’you mind me asking when you last....” Eadaoin asked letting her voice trail off

“Oh well over twelve months ago,” Daniel replied “that area of my life kinda dried up for obvious reasons.  Its not that I wasn’t keen she wasn’t.....not with me anyway.”

Eadaoin reached down between them and gently removed the condom, discarding it in the bin beside the bed.  She then sat up and began straightening the sheets that were still twisted around their bodies.  Daniel took the opportunity to look at her body and the many tattoos that adorned it.

“Tell me about your ink,” he said tracing the outline of a strawberry between her shoulder blades.

“That one was the first one I ever got,” Eadaoin replied shivering slightly at his touch “my nickname when I was a child was Strawbs because of the colour of my hair so as soon as I turned eighteen I went to my nearest tattoo studio paid fifty bucks and got that done.”

“And this one?” Daniel asked trailing his fingers up and down the thigh to ribs roses tattoo.

“It’s actually several,” Eadaoin replied “when I graduated uni I was twenty two-ish?  So I got some climbing roses on the underside of my ribcage then over the years I’ve added to it in the same design whenever I had enough money.  I last had work done on it just after I came to London nearly three years ago.  I did consider adding to it but I think any more on it would be too much, I have the Scorpio zodiac sign on my left calf which I got on my twenty seventh birthday, the Phoenix tattoo I told you about in Monaco and the treble clef, violin and sheet music which is the first six bars of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto I got at the beginning of November twenty nineteen in Austin after I went there to watch the US GP.”

Daniel lit up.

“Which studio?” he asked watching her as she slid off the bed to retrieve the pillows that had fallen off.

“Platinum Tattoo,” Eadaoin replied “it’s not far from the track.”

“No way! That’s where I got this done,” Daniel informed her pointing to the tatto on his left tricep “that’s insane.  D'you think you’ll ever get any more work done?”

“Mm maybe,” Eadaoin replied climbing back into bed with him “if I ever get married or have kids I’d get something small done to commemorate those occasions but I don’t have anything planned at the moment.  Most of the ink I have has had a moment in time or an occasion attached to it. Because tats are permanent I want to make sure what I get has some meaning behind it.  If I got ink done every time I was seized by the desire I would literally be the world’s most tattooed woman.”

“Mmm but you’d be the sexiest most tattooed woman,” Daniel informed her leaning in and kissing her neck.

“So who knows you’re here aside from Max?” Eadaoin asked.

“Well he told Kelly and I sent Blake and Michael a text whilst I was at the airport in Nice that I was ‘disappearing’ until Baku so just those guys,” Daniel replied “oh and Pippa because I left all my gear at the apartment and asked her to take it to Baku for me.”

“So you literally turned up with what you were wearing?” Eadaoin asked in amused exasperation.

“Well I have a few basics I my backpack which is still downstairs on the floor by the front door,” Daniel replied sheepishly “I didn’t really plan this trip you know.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“No shit Sherlock!” she said with a giggle “well clothing isn’t going to be hugely important the next few days so....”

“Oh isn’t it?” Daniel murmured in her ear as he reached down and cupped her “that’s awfully presumptive of you darling.”

“Mmm it is isn't it?”

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A/N2:  THEY HAD SEEEEEEEEEEEEX! 

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH19-'Meeting the Friends’

Soon enough Daniel and Eadaoin arrived back at the apartment and the preparations for that evening’s guests went into full swing.  Daniel kicked off his shoes and swung into chef mode.  Eadaoin changed into a more casual ankle length strapless summer dress of the palest yellow that immediately revealed an elaborate shoulder and upper arm tattoo something that immediately drew Daniel’s attention.

“You have ink?” he asked keenly.

“Yeah most of which isn’t visible in decent company” Eadaoin replied “this one on my shoulder is the most recent one, only finished it a month ago.”

“What’s the design of?”

Eadaoin pulled her hair to the side and pulled down the material just under her shoulder blade to reveal a brightly coloured gothic style phoenix tattoo with ‘Éirigh cosúil le feiniméan’ (Rise like a phoenix) written underneath it.

“The script says ‘rise like a phoenix’ she said allowing him to trace the outline of the intricate tattoo with an index finger.

“Whoever did that has mad skills,” Daniel said admiringly “how long did it take?”

“Far longer than I would have liked,” Eadaoin replied making a face “the outlining itself took three hours then fortnightly sessions of four hours each for another two months.  God next to breaking my ankle it’s the worst pain I’ve ever experienced “I’d never do something this elaborate again.”

“Yeah the long sessions can be painful,” Daniel admitted “where else do you have ink?”

Eadaoin grinned and winked at him. “That will be revealed in the fullness of time,” she informed him rubbing her nose against his “you’ll see them all eventually.”

Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips against hers. “I look forward to it,” he murmured mid-kiss.

Daniel and Eadaoin were totally consumed with each other and sharing a particularly heated kiss when the apartment intercom buzzed.  Daniel pulled back and let out a groan of frustration. “I swear every time we really snog something or someone interrupts us!” he exclaimed striding over to the intercom “if it’s Max I’m going to kick him in the nuts.....yeah?”

“Brother its Michael, Blake’s here too,” the voice of Daniel’s personal trainer said “and we have booze!”

“Come on up,” Daniel replied.

“Ahhh now I’m nervous,” Eadaoin confessed.

“You’ll be fine darling,” Daniel assured her “Michael and Blake don’t bite, and they’re really fun guys, Well Michael is a bit of an arse during on of our training sessions but I pay him to be like that so it’s kinda my fault.”

A few minutes later an enthusiastic knock came at the door a Daniel answered it whilst Eadaoin remained in the kitchen and let Michael his trainer and Blake his manager in.

“Hey dude, shit luck today,” Michael said sympathetically slapping his charge on the shoulder.

“Yeah but it happens, there’s always next week,” Daniel said philosophically knocking fists with Blake “good to see ya, come in there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Daniel led his friends further into the apartment to the kitchen where Eadaoin was bustling around the kitchen lining up shot glasses on the end of the bench.

“Guys?  This beautiful woman in my kitchen is Eadaoin, darling this is Michael my PT and this is Blake my manager.” He said.

Eadaoin walked around the bench and greeted Daniel’s friends with a smile that split her face in two. “Nice to meet you guys,” she said shaking each of their hands in turn.

“Likewise, we’ve been hearing about you for weeks and weeks and we-” Blake began.

“Yeah yeah shut up,” Daniel groused his face turning a distinct shade of rouge “that’s a lot of bulls-”

“No it isn’t,” Michael piped up putting a bag on the bench “in our session three days ago you literally didn’t talk about anything but Eadaoin, even when I made you do thirty burpees and a five minute wall sit back to back.  Wall sits usually shut you up.”

“Now you’re really embarrassing him,” Eadaoin joked reaching for Daniel’s hand and giving it a squeeze “That’s alright babe I talk a lot about you too.”

Within ten minutes the intercom buzzed again and the last three guests, Max, Kelly and Lando arrived.  Daniel led them out onto the balcony where the BBQ was sizzling away and Eadaoin was holding court with Michael and Blake.

“Darling, more intros,” Daniel said taking her hand and leading hr over to Max, Kelly and Lando “this is Lando, of course you know him....Lando this is Eadaoin.”

“Good to finally meet you,” Lando said to Eadaoin shaking her hand “Danny Ric’s been talking about you for weeks.”

“So I hear,” Eadaoin replied laughing at Daniel who rolled his eyes skyward “good to finally meet you too, was too busy at the track today.”

“And this is Max and his girlfriend Kelly,” Daniel said next introducing the Dutchman “and before he opens his mouth you ought to know he’s an insufferable clown.”

“Hoi Max, leuk je te ontmoeten, ik heb veel over je gehoord” (Hi Max, great to meet you, I've heard a lot about you) ” Eadaoin said in word perfect Dutch “ik heb veel over je gehoord, gefeliciteerd met de overwinning vandaag” (congrats on the win today)’

Daniel choked on his prosecco and erupted into hacking coughs and Kelly laughed out loud at his reaction.

“Jij spreekt Nederlands?” (You speak Dutch?) Max asked in amusement, shaking Eadaoin’s hand “En hij weet het niet, toch?” (and he doesn’t know does he?)

Eadaoin shook her head and grinned as Kelly gave the shocked Australian a tea towel that was on a nearby table. “Nee, ik wilde hem verrassen....nog een keer” (No, I wanted to surprise him....again)

“Dutch?” Daniel said weakly once he’d recovered “any other languages?”

Eadaoin slipped her arm around his waist and grinned. “I know how to say fuck in French, Italian, Japanese and Serbian but apart from that, just the ones you know of.” She said.

“It’s good to finally meet you,” Kelly said to Eadaoin “we’ve all heard a lot about you.”

“All good I hope.”

“Oh yeah definitely all good,” Max said accepting a glass of prosecco from Daniel.

“I’m going to steal Eadaoin for a bit,” Kelly announced taking Eadaoin’s arm after a sip of prosecco “we’re going to get drunk and talk about you guys and give you the opportunity to get drunk and talk about us.”

“Oooh that coud be dangerous brother!” Max informed Daniel.

Kelly and Eadaoin disappeared to the other end of the balcony and Daniel and Max made their way over to Michael, Blake and Lando who were gathered by the barbeque talking about that day’s race.

“Dude you are so punching about your weight with that one!” Blake teased “she’s gorgeous.”

“I know isn’t she?” Daniel replied with a huge grin “I’m a lucky sonofabitch.”

“So how did you meet her?” Michael asked in interest “despite the fact you’ve talked about her non-stop for weeks I don’t think any of us actually know how you two met.”

“These guys do,” Daniel replied gesturing to Max and Lando.

“But only because we busted him with a huge and I mean huge hickey on his neck whilst in Italy,” Lando piped up “seriously it looked like a tumor!”

Max let out a huge snort of laughter at the memory.

Daniel felt his face warm and chose to ignore his teammate’s teasing. “So back in mid-February I was still feeling pretty ordinary about what had happened in Bahrain and Andreas had just rung to tell me the race in Australia was off and the team was suspending season prep by two weeks,” he began “I decided to go for a run and ended up in Twickenham.  I had run so hard and long I had to stop because my chest hurt and I couldn’t breathe properly. I went to cross the road and head back home and I ran into her.  I ht the deck and head butted the towbar on a Land Rover splitting my forehead open and she fell down and broke and dislocated her ankle, we rode in the same ambulance to hospital and after I was treated and cleaned up I left my number with the triage nurse and asked her to pass it along to Eadaoin when she woke up and two days later I got a text.  I then visited her that day and every day for the following week whilst she was in hospital and we’ve kinda been keeping in touch ever since.”

“Kinda?” Lando exclaimed “bro you’ve had your nose in your phone constantly for the last four months!”

“Oh bullshit....” Daniel began.

“Well I don’t see you as often as he does but I wouldn’t disagree with that.” Max piped up laughing as Lando mimicked Daniel furiously texting “just about every time I’ve seen you lately you’ve been on your phone.”

“There are other people in my life you know!” Daniel exclaimed in amused exasperation “and they all get my attention too!”

“Yeah but none of them get attention like Eadaoin does I bet,” Michael said with a grin.

“I hope not, I love you brother but not like that.” Blake teased catching Daniel looking over at Eadaoin and flashing her a wink.

That comment made the group of men roar with laughter and Daniel blush a magnificent shade of scarlet.

“All jokes aside Dan you’ve been a different person these past few months,” Blake informed his friend “you’re more relaxed and don’t let the stress and frustration of your job get to you as much as you used to, you have a refreshed zest for life and it’s great to see.  After Bahrain I was really worried for you for a while.”

“Yeah we all were,” Max agreed “none of us would have blamed you if you spent the entire Winter break in an alcoholic stupor.”

“Weeell I almost was,” Daniel admitted picking up a pair of tongs and walking over to the barbeque “when I was in quarantine in Perth I was wasted every day.”

“I would have been too,” Michael said sympathetically “I don’t know Eadaoin that well yet but I can tell that she’s been good for you.  And it’s obvious as bollocks on a dog you’re into her.”

“Yup you’ve got it baaaaaad.” Lando added.

“Yeah I reckon I have,” Daniel said cheerfully flipping over a piece of steak.

“You introduced her to your folks yet?” Blake asked.

“Yeah last night,” Daniel replied “we talked to Mum and Dad for over an hour after we spoke to her parents and she intro’d me to them.  She greeted them in word perfect Italian too.”

“She speaks Italian too?” Max asked in surprise.

“Yeah but she’s still learning,” Daniel replied “she’s been taking twice weekly lessons for the last few months.”

“She learnt Italian for you?” Michael exclaimed “you lucky bastard Ricciardo, that’s a big thing to learn a language for someone you know.  She has it bad for you too.”

“Yeah I know,” Daniel replied looking up as together Eadaoin and Kelly laughed shrilly.

“So how did it go meeting her parents?” Lando asked.

“Better than expected,” Daniel confessed “Eadaoin said her Dad might be a bit gruff given what happened with her ex but he was actually far less intimidating than I was expecting.  He asked me if I cared for her and loosened up a lot when I said yes.  She also hadn’t let her parents know who I was either so when I appeared on screen I made him choke on his coffee.  Eadaoin had told me her family are big F1 fans so I figured her Dad wasn’t expecting her to be dating one of the drivers.”

“So the father in law is a fangirl?” Max asked with a snort of laughter haha!”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “He is not my father in law,” he said dryly “but kinda yeah, big fan of yours too apparently.”

“Well you’re sweet with her parents, that’s a good start,” Michael said “did you get bothered by the media at the track?”

“Not really,” Daniel confessed “a few photographers got nosey as we arrived and left the track both yesterday and today and a few of the guys at Sky F1 asked me a few questions off air but that’s the extent of it.  Eadaoin won’t be able to come to every race this year so I don’t really expect it to get too heavy.”

“It might do if word gets back to you know who that you’re off the market.” Blake informed his friend cautiously.

“Oh come on, Jem wouldn’t be like that would she?” Daniel said.

“Eh you never know bud, you knew Jem better than any of us and she was busted by you fucking another bloke and cornered people can do some weird shit,” Blake replied “my cousin’s ex went absolutely ape shit when he got a new partner after they divorced and made his life a living hell in court and out of it.  I’m not saying that’ll happen to you but just be careful eh?” 

“Will do.”

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After re-filling her glass of prosecco Eadaoin made her way back out to the balcony where Daniel was at the BBQ monitoring the food.  She slipped an arm around his waist and kissed him on the cheek in greeting.

“I’ve hardly talked to you all night,” he said “having fun?”

“I am,” Eadaoin replied “Kelly is great and we’ve already exchanged numbers and socials details and made plans to have lunch in London between the French and Styrian GP’s and you’re right Max is an insufferable clown.”

Daniel laughed heartily. “All my friends are,” he said with a chuckle “but they’re the best people to be around, I trust them with anything.”

“And I can see that,” Eadaoin said looking up at him “you know how fucking sexy it is to see you wielding a pair of tongs?”

“Just the tongs?” Daniel joked “what about my kiss the cook apron?”

“Both do it for me,” Eadaoin whispered in his ear “everything about you does it for meeee.” 

Daniel put down the tongs on the edge of the BBQ and drew Eadaoin close he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.  Eadaoin slid her hands up his chest and held his face in her hands and responded enthusiastically.

The loved up pair were interrupted a short time later by a shrill wolf whistle from Lando and cat calls and whoops from Blake, Max and Kelly.  Daniel grinned mid-kiss and dipped Eadaoin whilst she stuck out an arm and gave the group a middle finger.

“Jesus Christ Danny let her breathe man!” Blake called as the kiss continued “this is supposed to be a social barbeque not a CPR demonstration!”

The group roared with laughter as Danny pulled away from Eadaoin his face a magnificent shade of rouge. “Fuck you.” He told his friend.

“Let’s leave that sort of kissing til after everyone goes home huh?” Eadaoin suggested her cheeks a faint shade of pink “Blake’s right this isn’t a CPR demo.”

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“So what do you think?” Kelly asked Max, Blake and Michael as they watched Daniel and Eadaoin canoodle out on the balcony “you three have known Danny the longest is this the real deal for him?”

“Yes.” All three men chorused emphatically.

“I know its early days with Eadaoin but I never saw him act like this with Jem,” Blake said “and I knew them from Dan’s early days in the game.  I think they got used to each other, too used to each other and things went stale.  I don’t think things will go stale with those two, they put too much effort into each other for that to happen.”

“Yeah Eadaoin’s more like Danny in personality and has her own life outside of being the girlfriend of a F1 driver,” Michael added “Dan’s always says she doesn’t smother him and lets him be his own man, if that’s not a recipe for a successful long term relationship I don’t know what is.”

“Yeah, he’s a different guy,” Max chimed in with a chuckle “I mean he’s always been an insufferable ray of sunshine but now he’s just a nauseating insufferable ray of sunshine.”

“Well I like Eadaoin better than Jem,” Kelly declared “she’s more down to earth and less concerned with the trappings of being the partner of a millionaire than she was.  In fact I get the distinct impression Eadaoin doesn’t give a shit about Danny’s money, she told me she scolded him for paying her way over here.  I never heard Jem say that.”

“Well I’m just glad he’s happy,” Blake said draining the last mouthful of prosecco “alright who wants a refill?”

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

Hours later the party wound up when Max and Kelly made to leave.

“We better head home, it’s getting late,” Kelly said embracing Daniel then Eadaoin “great to meet you Eadaoin, hope we see you trackside again soon.”

“You will, France is a possibility,” Eadaoin replied returning the other woman’s embrace “maybe even lunch this week before I head back to London.”

“Definitely!”

“Gaan we nu de hele tijd Nederlands praten? (So are we going to speak Dutch all the time now?) Max asked Eadaoin with a grin as he kissed her on each cheek.

“Laten we natuurlijk iedereen in de war brengen” (Of course, let's confuse the hell out of everyone)  Eadaoin replied with a grin “Echt goed je te ontmoeten Max is geen fangirl of zo” (Really good to meet you Max not being a fangirl or anything)

“Are you two going to speak Dutch all the time we socialise now?” Daniel asked in amused exasperation.

“We could teach you, then you could understand us,” Max said in amusement.

“And more than just cuss words,” Eadaoin teased “I know Max has taught you or the rude words.”

“Maybe the off season.”

Max and Kelly soon left and were thereafter followed by Michael and Blake leaving Daniel and Eadaoin alone.

“That went great!” Daniel exclaimed picking Eadaoin up and swinging her in a circle “I knew everyone would love you!  Did you have a good night?”

“I did,” Eadaoin replied wrapping her arms around his waist and listening the reassuring thump thump thump of his heart “I’m absolutely knackered and more than a little drunk though.”

Daniel pressed a kiss to her head. “Go to bed and rest up,” he said “maybe tomorrow we’ll head out for lunch maybe go for a drive, I’ve seen how you drool over my GT and can see how much you want to drive it.” “It’s more the driver I want to drive,” Eadaoin said with a wink “nighty night Driver Man see you in the morning.”

And leaving Daniel open mouthed Eadaoin skipped out of the kitchen and returned to her own room.

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[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH14 'You're Full of Beans'

The first practice session for the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix was fairly ambiguous for Daniel so it was with some enthusiasm he rose early on the Saturday of final practice and qualifying ahead of Eadaoin’s arrival in the small principality.

“You’re full of beans,” Pippa commented as he let her into his apartment “I wonder why that could be hmmm?”

 The Australian blushed.

“It’s qualifying day,” he said simply “qualifying day is always good....well until it isn’t of course.”

Pippa rolled her eyes.

“You don’t give a shit about practice and qualifying do you?” she said dryly as she dumped her bag on the end of the dining table and headed over to the elaborate coffee machine in the kitchen.

“No not really,” Daniel replied with an enormous snort of laughter “not yet anyway.” 

“So today’s the day we all finally meet the woman who’s put you on planet happy huh?” Pippa said as she bustled around making coffee.

“Yep and I’m shitting bricks about it,” Daniel confessed “I’ve never had to introduce a girl to everyone before, Jem and I were together for so long even before I got into F1 I didn't need to.”

“Dan honey you’ll be fine,” Pippa said comfortingly “from what you’ve told me Eadaoin’s an easy going girl with a sunny personality, that’s literally you you-”

“I’m an easy going girl with a sunny personality?” Daniel asked with a snort of laughter.

Pippa threw a tea towel and Daniel’s head.

“Smartarse,” she said rolling her eyes “what I meant was is that from what you’ve told me about Eadaoin she’s basically the female version of you and everyone loves you so in theory everyone should love her. Don’t sweat the small stuff hon, she’ll be fine.  I’ll show her around and help her out when you’re off working.”

“You’re worth far more than I pay you you know?”  Daniel informed her gratefully.

“Well would never say no to a pay rise hon,” Pippa said in amusement as she extracted some coffee into Daniel’s favourite mug “but seriously you’ll be fine, what time do you need me to pick her up again?”

“Actually do you mind if I do it?” Daniel asked “I want to surprise her; I have more time spare than I thought I would.”

“No problemo,” Pippa replied cheerfully “her pit lane access pass is in my handbag make sure to grab it before you head off.”

“You know I think this weekend I going to be awesome!” Daniel declared cheerfully as he stretched and cracked his neck “even if I crash my car every time I get into it this weekend if going to be great.”

Pippa laughed

“You won’t crash your car every time you get in it,” she said in amusement, pushing a steaming mug of coffee across the bench to him “you’re a professional formula one driver with ten years in the game, not a junior karter.”

“I’m being silly,” Daniel said sheepishly after taking a sip from his mug “yum, thanks.”

“You’re just excited your girl is coming to town,” Pippa reasoned “and I get that, everyone that knows you knows that.  When do you introduce her to your folks?”

“Tonight when everything at the track is finished with we’re going to zoom Mum and Dad back home.  Then when that’s done she’s going to zoom her parents and introduce me to them.”

“Mmm meeting the parental units, how do you feel about that?” Pippa asked as she started making her own coffee.

“More nervous than I do about introducing her to everyone at the track,” Daniel confessed “especially seeing how things went down with her ex.  She’s told me after all that her family is particularly protective of her and that I might be in for some pointy questions.”

“That’s totally understandable,” Pippa said “but take it from someone who has been introduced to my kids other halves and has introduced a partner to parents. Just be yourself, tell them you’re not Eadaoin’s ex, and maybe even tell them how things went down with you and Jem. I suspect they might be less hard on you if they know you were a victim of adultery too.”

“That’s what Eadaoin suggested,” Daniel replied with a happy sigh “I can’t help but be nervous though.”

“Go for a bit of a box or a run on your treadmill in the gym room before you head off, get rid of a bit of nervous energy,” Pippa suggested “unless you’d rather keep that nervous energy for final practice and qualifying.”

“I’d rather the latter,” Daniel replied “I feel I do better with a bit of nervous energy constructive nervous energy.

************************************************************************

After a small breakfast Daniel showered and headed downstairs to the underground carpark that housed his McLaren road car.  He got in and headed out for the short journey to the airport from which Eadaoin would arrive.  Arriving shortly after 10am he parked in secure parking before making his way into the bustling arrivals lounge.  He found Eadaoin’s flight number on the arrivals screen then taking note of the gate number he made his way through the bustling hoards most of which carried team flags or wore team apparel so Daniel blended right in wearing his McLaren hoodie and face mask.

Shortly after ten thirty a fresh wave of arrivals poured into the Business Lounge arrivals area bringing with it an excited looking Eadaoin whose head was going from side to side.  Daniel waved to catch her attention and briefly pulled down his face mask so she would recognize him.  Her face lit up and she strode over to him happily.

“Hey,” she murmured, throwing her arms around him.

Daniel returned her hug then pulled down his mark and captured her lips with his.

“I’ll kiss you properly in the car when we have more privacy,” he murmured “God you look good.”

“I could say the same about you,” Eadaoin replied lacing her fingers with his.

“How was your flight?  Comfy?”

“It was seriously the poshest experience of my life!” Eadaoin exclaimed as they strode through the airport “I felt woefully underdressed.  I don’t think there was a woman on the flight who wasn’t wearing obnoxiously expensive diamond jewellery or a pair of Louboutin stilettos or a guy wearing YSL apparel or a tailored suit.  I mean I didn’t grow up in a broke household but the level of wealth I’ve seen in the last three hours is almost obscene.”

“Yeah this part of the world can be a bit like that,” Daniel admitted “the key is to surround yourself with people who don’t flaunt it and aren’t defined by their money. Once you do that life is pretty cruisy.”

“How long before you have to be at the track?” Eadaoin asked once they had made their way outside.

“Three hours,” Daniel replied giving her hand a squeeze “we’ve got enough time to head back to my place and for you to settle then we head off.  Pippa my P.A is already there organising my trailer. She’ll be looking after you whilst I’m busy with practice and qualifying.  You’ll spend most of the time in the pit lane garage but there is a spot above the garage where corporate ticket holders and their guests watch the action.”

“Ugh I wish I could have told Mum, Dad and Cahir I was here, this weekend,” Eadaoin exclaimed “they had a trip here for last year’s race but with COVID cancelling the race in its entirety they couldn’t come, and with there being doubt about being able to get back to Australia this year they couldn’t come either. Dad in particular would be envious as hell.”

“Well maybe next year they can come,” Daniel said “I have connections; I can get them some fairly decent trackside tickets.”

“Oh very funny.”

A moment later they arrived at Daniel’s car and Eadaoin’s jaw fell open.

“Holy shit that’s a 2020 McLaren GT!”  she exclaimed incredulously running her eyes over the dark metallic blue vehicle “and you have on-I mean I knew you had one but to see one in the flesh!”

Daniel laughed at her amazement.

“You nerd,” he teased popping the boot and hauling her suitcase into it “want to ride into town with the lid down?”

“Oh please can we?” Eadaoin asked.

“Sure, hop in.”

Eadaoin got into the car and Daniel soon followed.

“I would almost knock over my nanna to drive a car like this,” Eadaoin said admiringly as Daniel started the engine with a roar “have you ever taken it as fast as it can go?”

Daniel laughed heartily

“Yeah once,” he said “once it was announced I was going to McLaren I took it around Silverstone half a dozen times.  That was a buzz.”

“Can I get that proper kiss now?” Eadaoin asked as the roof of the GT began folding back.

“I reckon you can.” Daniel turned sideways in his seat and leaned down; pressing his lips to hers Eadaoin ran her fingers through his messy curls and kissed him back enthusiastically probing his mouth with her tongue.  Daniel ran his fingers up her left thigh and tickled her til she pulled away with a giggle.

“I’m ticklish you shit!” she exclaimed “do that again and I’ll punch you in the nutsack!”

“Is that a threat or a weird come on?” Daniel asked with a grin as he put the car into gear and carefully reversed.

“Both!”

Within minutes Daniel and Eadaoin were on the road and heading towards Monaco loud hip hop music playing from the GT’s sound system.  Eadaoin reached over the centre console and rested her hand on Daniel’s muscular thigh, tracing around the outline of the tattoo there.  He mirrored her movements with a smile only moving his hand from her leg to shift gears.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said as they paused at a red light near the main centre of Monte  Carlo.

“I’m glad to be here,” Eadaoin confessed playfully poking the cleft on his chin “how much longer?”

“Ten minutes-ish.”

Daniel took the scenic route back to his apartment watching Eadaoin look side to side as if watching a tennis rally out the corner of his eye in amusement,

“You’re going to get a crick in your neck if you keep swinging your head side to side,” he teased swinging his car left and driving into an underground garage “here we are.”

“I love it here!” Eadaoin exclaimed “it’s got a distinct vibe, or is that just because it’s grand prix week?”

“Mainly because it’s grand prix week,” Daniel replied pulling into his space “it’s less pronounced other times of the year.”

“I can see why you spend your time here,” Eadaoin said “have you always lived here?”

“Nah I lived in London til halfway through my contract with Red Bull when I started earning some serious coin,” he replied cutting the engine “then I bought a tiny but horrendously expensive two bedroom place further up the coast then when I joined Renault I got this place.”

“Shall we go up then?”

“Follow me.”

Daniel retrieved Eadaoin’s bag from the car then held out his hand and led her to the lift which took them up to the fourteenth floor.

“Welcome to my home away from home,” he said swinging the front door open.

Eadaoin waked in and immediately her mouth fell open

“Oh my god!” she exclaimed.

“That’s all you’ve got to say?” Daniel joked “been a while since I’ve heard those words pass a woman’s lips.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes and punched his arm.

“Har har,” she said dryly “Dan this place is beautiful.  And so fancy!”

“Naw this place isn’t fancy,” Daniel replied as he led her into the main part of the sprawling apartment “you should see Max and Lewis’s.  Those guys have apartments that take up entire floors.  Actually Lewis’ takes up two entire floors.  Apart from not being able to afford something that big I don’t need that much space.  This is enough for me.”

“Have you done it up recently?” Eadaoin asked “I can smell paint.”

“Yeah I pretty much gutted it and had it renovated after things went to shit with the ex,” Daniel replied leaving her bag by a door and leading her toward to the bi-fold doors that led out onto the balcony “after packing up and returning all her belongings I gutted this place and changed it all.  There was too much here that reminded me of the past and I wanted a fresh start, the paint job was only just finished recently after the Portugal race....come through here.”

Daniel pushed open the door and led Eadaoin outside onto the balcony that overlooked the coast.

“Oh woooooow,” Eadaoin said breathily “Oh Dan it’s beautiful!”

“A bit like you,” Dan murmured wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck “I’d rather look at you all day than the view.”

Eadaoin tipped her head to the side and shivered as Daniel kissed her on the neck.

“You have practice and quallies in less than three hours you can’t be doing that,” she said turning her head and kissing him on the lips.

“Trust you to be so sensible,” Daniel said dryly “maybe after the weekend?  Can I spend at least one whole day staring at you?”

Eadaoin laughed.

“If you really feel like that’s a productive use of your time,” she said “oh wow you have a spa?”

“Yeah that’s a new addition,” Daniel replied following her over to her brand new contraption at the end of the balcony “I thought we could test it out before you go home, did you bring a pair of swimmers?”

“I did as it happens,” Eadaoin replied “when do you have to leave for Baku?”

“Any time as long as I’m there by the second of June,” Daniel replied “I’ve allowed a whole week after the race to stay here with you but I’ll probably head over when you go back to London.”

“D’you you usually fly on your own or meet up with a few other drivers?” Eadaoin asked curiously.

“I don’t purposely organise to go with the other drivers but the ones that live in Monaco almost always end up on the same flight,” Daniel replied taking her by the hand and leading her back inside “a couple of years ago a few of the guys chipped in and got a private jet from Singapore to Russia and Lewis used to have his own plane so he’d fly private everywhere.  I’ve only been on a private plane twice my whole career, a couple of years ago and last year between Sochi and Nurburgring.  It was Max’s birthday and a few of the guys and I basically hired one as a party bus.  Jesus it’s the drunkest I’ve seen Verstappen in the whole time I’ve known him.....here’s your room.”

Daniel opened a door not far from the kitchen to reveal a white and blue themed room with a intricately designed four poster bed as the centerpiece.  Eadaoin let go of Daniel’s hand, took a running jump and landed on the linen with a gleeful snort.  Daniel watched her in amusement as all the pillows and cushions bounced to the floor.

“Don’t mind me I do this every time I come home or arrive at a hotel,” she said with a grin “Dan this place is beautiful, really it is.”

“You can stay as long as you like” Daniel replied with a smile “I’ll leave you to unpack your stuff and do anything you want to do to get ready to head to the track; I’ve got to finish putting my bag together for today alright?”

“You got it handsome.”

Daniel left Eadaoin to her own devices and returned to his room.  He finished packing his own back then made his way into the kitchen where he started fixing himself and Eadaoin a coffee, she emerged from her room a few minutes later, lure by the smell of roasting coffee beans and slipped her arms around his waist, resting her chin between his shoulder blades.

“I changed,” she said “how do I look?”

Daniel put the milk jug he was holding on the bench and turned around, Eadaoin was standing before him dressed in a floor length, white summer dress with a McLaren orange waistband, on her head was a wide brimmed summer hat with a matching band from beneath which her red hair fell in a mass of thick curls.

“Wow,” he said staring at her greedily “wo-just wow.”

“Cat got your tongue?” Eadaoin asked cheekily.

“Oh yeah,” Daniel replied “you’re going to attract attention on track looking like that.”

“It’s not too much?” she asked worriedly “I know for some of these fancy pants events there’s a dress code but I figured a ball gown and stilettos was too formal.”

“You’ll be fine,” Daniel replied flashing her a wink “you look stunning, everyone you’ll be around today will be in team apparel, basically polo shirts and trousers in the case of the pit crew helmets and fire retardant suits.”

“Oh good,” Eadaoin replied with a relieved sigh “you make coffee too?  You’re multi-talented.”

“It’s not as good at the coffee we’ve had at Paolo’s but I like to think its pretty close,” Daniel replied pushing a mug across the bench to her “have a sip.”

Eadaoin picked up the mug, blew a little on the contents then took a sip

“Your ability to make coffee matches your ability to haul ass around a racetrack,” she said “very nice.”

Daniel’s face flooded with relief

“Glad you like it,” he said.

After another sip, Eadaoin paused and placed the mug on the kitchen bench.

“I want to ask you something important to me,” she said her serious tone immediately catching Daniel’s attention.

“What’s up?” he asked in concern.

“I want to know how you feel about pet names.”

“In general or between us?” Daniel asked.

“Between us,” Eadaoin replied wrapping her arms around his waist.

“I mean, we don’t really have a pet name for each other,” Daniel went on in confusion “I mean I call you darling sometimes....I don’t know where you’re going with this.”

“Is there a name you don’t like?” Eadaoin asked “like did your ex have a name for you?”

“Well she mainly called me Danny but most often sweetie which I wasn’t a huge fan of if I’m being honest,” Daniel confessed “why do you ask?”

“Because I don’t want to call you something that you don’t like,” Eadaoin replied “calling you by your name all the time seems a bit stiff and formal and I want something that means us”

“Did you have anything in mind?” Daniel asked curiously “schnookums?”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“I’m trying to be serious you dag,” she said giving him a playful shove “never ever will I call you schnookums, or derivatives thereof.”

Daniel laughed heartily.

“I don’t mind what you call me,” he said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear “do whatever comes naturally.”

“So you’re happy with babe or luv o-”

“Any of the usuals,” Daniel replied happily “can I keep calling you darling?”

“Yeah I’d like that,” Eadaoin replied “it makes me feel special.”

************************************************************************  

An hour later Daniel and Eadaoin left the apartment and made their way back down to the garage.

“This is your pit lane access pass,” Daniel said giving her the all access pass “this will give you access to anything and everywhere McLaren, the staff cafeteria, corporate, my trailer, the garage itself except where the car actually goes, there’s actual physical safety issues there. Pippa will show you around while I’m busy doing prep for practice and quallies.”

“I’m actually really nervous about this you know,” Eadaoin confessed as she got into the GT and fastened her seatbelt.

“About going to the track?”

“Yeah, with you,”” Eadaoin said a slight panic creeping into her voice “Danny you’re one of the most well known sports personalities in Europe and I’m a joe average nobody.  I don’t know how I’m going to handle all the attention we’ll inevitably get.”

Daniel leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“Darling you’ll be fine,” he said “look I can’t pretend there won’t be a lot of gossip or talk once we arrive on track, photographers are always stationed at the entrance to where everyone parks their cars and around the track someone will inevitably snap your picture but Pippa and I will do our best to keep you away from any intrusion.  For the most part media aren’t allowed where you’ve got access to unless it’s a pre-arranged interview so you can keep out of the way for the most part and with your hat and face mask on your physical identity will be somewhat concealed.”

“I’m just being silly,” Eadaoin mumbled.

“No you’re not I understand the uncertainty you’re feeling,” Daniel informed her as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a McLaren branded face mask “and if it helps we can lay off the hand holding and kissing in public.”

“We can’t do that forever,” Eadaoin said putting on the mask as he started the engine “I wouldn’t want to do that forever either, none of the other driver’s wives or girlfriends do.”

“Let’s just wing it then,” Daniel suggested “you’ll be fine sweetheart; I’ve got your back.”

Chapter 15 can be found here:

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH12 'Fancy a Visitor?'

The Spanish Grand Prix was neither good nor bad for Daniel, after an ambiguous practice period he qualified seventh and finished the race itself in sixth.  It was an improvement on his performance in Portugal and put him in a positive mood ahead of the short break before the Monaco Grand Prix.  Deciding against returning to his Monaco apartment early he switched his ticket to fly into London and rang Eadaoin on the way to Barcelona Airport.

“Hey handsome!” she said in a surprised tone “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you til you got to Monaco.”

“I’m not going to Monaco,” Daniel replied “not straight away anyway, I missed you and wanted to come and see you so I’m on the way to Barcelona Airport, I switched my ticket from Monte Carlo to London, fancy a visitor?”

“Do I ever!” Eadaoin exclaimed happily “what airport are you flying into? Want me to pick you up?”

“No don’t I don’t want you to strain your ankle,” Daniel told her “plus I need to drop my stuff at my own place, can I visit you at your place or d’you want to meet in public?”

“Come to my place,” Eadaoin replied “I’m sure enough of where we’re going to tell you where I live now.”

Daniel’s heart swelled at Eadaoin’s confession.

“I wanted to ask where you lived but didn’t want to push you,” he said “d’you know how many times I’ve wanted to send you flowers?”

“I still have the ones you got me in hospital!” Eadaoin told him with a giggle “the thought is lovely but I don’t need to live in a florist shop.”

“A single red rose then,” Daniel countered “have you got a gig this Friday? I’d like to come watch if you do.”

“I do and you’re more than welcome to come,” Eadaoin said happily “the Whelan’s crowd have been asking me when they’ll see you again.  Ciara Sean’s wife thinks you’re a spunk rat.”

“What do you think?” Daniel asked in a low voice.

“Dan you know I think you’re a spunk rat don’t go fishing for compliments it’s unattractive,” Eadaoin said with a chuckle “When can I expect you around?”

“My plane’s due to land at Heathrow at five PM by the time I get back to my place and order a car it’ll be seven at least so say about eight?” Daniel replied “does that work?”

“I wouldn’t care if your plane landed at midnight,” Eadaoin replied “you’re always welcome at my place.”

“That’s good to hear, well I’m at the airport, text me your address and I’ll see you in a few hours okay?”

“Alright see you soon handsome.”

*******************************************************************************************

Several hours later after a delay in leaving Spain and a delay arriving in England Daniel’s plane touched down at Heathrow Airport.  He swiftly disembarked and made his way through customs and immigration before finding his ordered Uber car and returning to his flat in Chelsea.  Dispensing with his previous plans to unpack all his belongings he literally dumped his suitcase on his bed and headed for his ensuite bathroom.  He showered and changed packed a small bag of things for Eadaoin, ordered another Uber then skipped outside to the curb to wait.

Waiting for my Uber now’ he texted to Eadaoin ‘I can’t wait to see you darling girl, I’ve missed you xx

A second later Eadaoin replied with a singular heart emoji. Daniel grinned and pocketed his phone.

“I’m a lucky sonofabitch.” he said to himself.

A few minutes later his uber arrived and within fifteen minutes it pulled up in front of Eadaoin’s elegant terrace house in the heart of Twickenham. He bounced out of the car and up the steps knocking on the door.  He heard footsteps, then a pause and the door flung open to reveal Eadaoin barefoot clad in a pair of knee length yoga pants and one of his own apparel shirts that alluringly hung off one bare shoulder.  She let out an excited squeal and leapt into his arms.  Daniel caught her with a grunt and pressed his lips to hers. They proceeded to give each other a thoroughly non-verbal greeting before parting breathlessly.

“Fuck you’re a good kisser,” Eadaoin told him breathlessly pressing her forehead to his and rubbing her nose to his “but can we continue this line of entertainment inside?  I don’t want my neighbours to see you ravage me on the doorsteps.”

Without putting her down Daniel carried Eadaoin inside before kicking the door shut and seizing her lips with his again.

“Christ I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he murmured pressing her up against the back of the door “I wanted to come home every day even if it was just for a few hours, just so I could see you.”

“That badly huh?” Eadaoin teased running her fingers through his perpetually messy curls “you need a haircut.”

“You need to shut up,” Daniel growled playfully biting her neck “god you smell gooood.”

“Are you going to hold me up against the door all night?” Eadaoin breathed, tipping her head to he side and allowing him to suckle upon the skin there “and leave a hickey?”

“You left one on me,” Daniel whispered “you brand me and I’m going to brand you.”

Eadaoin couldn’t help it and let out a breathy moan of desire.

“Don’t do anything stupid Ricciardo,” she said in his ear.

“Or what?” he growled digging his fingers into the flesh of her backside.

“You won’t get a second date,” Eadaoin replied with a snort of amusement.

Daniel gave her a long sustained kiss then reluctantly set her down on the floor.

“That was fun,” he said with a grin “can we do that again?”

“Mmmm if you’re a good boy,” Eadaoin replied taking his hand and leading him down the hallway to the heart of the house “now that you’ve finished ravishing me I can show you my home....welcome.”

Daniel squeezed her hand back and followed her down the hallway toward the lounge room; the first thing that took his notice was a section of the wall near a door that was covered in family photos.  He stopped to inspect them.

“Your family?” he asked in interest.

“Yeah,” Eadaoin relied with a happy sigh “that’s Mum and Dad on their wedding day, then twelve months later with Cahir when he was born, this next one was them and me when I was christened and each photo is every Christmas and Birthday since we immigrated to Australia interspersed with pics of Cahir and I at our respective uni graduations.  The most recent pic is from my birthday two years ago; as I said to you when I was in hospital I haven’t been home since the shit with my ex went down.”

“You haven’t wanted to go home?” Daniel asked softly.

“Ehhh kinda?” Eadaoin replied “the first twelve months definitely not, Mum, Dad and Cahir would come and visit me then COVID hit and they haven’t been able to come and I haven’t been able to go back.  I miss them like crazy but it helps I talk to them every week.  I love being in the U.K.  I honestly don’t know if I’d ever want to go home to Australia, at least on a long term basis anyway. My life is here now, my friends, some family and you are here and that’ll do me.”

“Your brother’s built like a brick outhouse,” Daniel said observing a pic of Eadaoin’s redheaded brother.

“Yeah all the men in my family are,” Eadaoin replied tugging on his hand and taking him further into the house “have you eaten?  I made lasagna if you’d like some.”

“I haven’t” Daniel replied “not since the flight from Barcelona and even then it was just a few sandwiches.”

“Take a seat, you up for some wine?” Eadaoin asked as she bustled about the kitchen “or do you need to lay off the booze this week?”

“This week I can have a glass or two,” Daniel replied sitting down at the kitchen island “I tend to lay off the alcohol during race week and rarely have any on the weekends til after the race itself.”

Eadaoin reached under the bench and retrieved a bottle of Lambrusco, she corked it and set it to breathe before fetching two crystal glasses from an overhead rack.  Daniel watched her move, staring at her midriff greedily when her shirt rode up revealing her navel.

“Put your tongue back in your head Driver Boy,” Eadaoin told him dryly as she caught him staring at her “I saw you staring.”

Daniel turned a magnificent shade of scarlet and Eadaoin laughed.

“That’s alright, I don’t mid you staring,” she said picking up a pair of oven mitts “you’re cute when you blush.”

“Can I stare at your arse then?” Daniel asked with a snort of laughter watching her as she leaned down to retrieve a sizzling tray of lasagna from the oven.

“I know you’re going to anyway,” Eadaoin said with a grin “but seriously we’re dating I like you staring at me like that, it makes me feel wanted desired even.  It’s been so long since I’ve felt like that.”

“You didn’t get much of that with the ex?” Daniel asked sympathetically.

“Not really,” Eadaoin replied “if I really look back on things I was treated more like a trophy than a person.  And he wasn’t a particularly affectionate person we rarely hugged or just sat holding hands that sort of thing.  You’re totally different.  You want to hug me, you want to hold my hand and I love that.”

“I was brought up in an affectionate family,” Daniel informed her “Mum and Dad were always hugging us and even now Mum kisses me on the cheek or forehead whenever I see her or I say goodbye to her.  I’m always going to show physical affection.  I can be a bit reluctant to be romantic in public but that could change with you.”

It was Eadaoin’s turn to blush.

“Can we stick to kissing in private for now?” she asked “like proper kissing?  I don’t mind a peck on the lips or cheek but for the moment I want to keep us between us....for a bit?”

“We can, I’d prefer that if I’m honest,” Dan replied “though I did tell Mum and Dad about me kissing you for two hours straight at Paolo’s.”

Eadaoin laughed.

“What did they say?” she asked sliding a chunk of lasagna onto a plate.

“Dad went ‘that’s m’boy!’ and Mum swooned,” Daniel replied “they’re very keen to meet you but as Dad said they’d understand if I want to keep you to myself for a while.  I said I’d ask you to see what you’d feel comfortable getting online with me and saying hi?”

“Well is the invite for the Monaco race weekend sill on?” Eadaoin asked.

“Of course, come with me to every race!”

“I can’t do that, you don’t need me as a distraction,” Eadaoin replied “how about I meet you in Monaco and we zoom your parents together?  And maybe if you’re up to it we can zoom mine?”

“Sounds good to me,” Daniel replied happily “Have you told them much more about me?”

“Not since I last spoke with them,” Eadaoin confessed going to the fridge and retrieving a huge chunk of parmesan cheese “I mean they know there’s someone on the scene but they don’t know how serious it is or how serious I want it to be.  They’ve both pressed to know more but haven’t been pushy bout it, they know how hurt I was last time around and know that if I include someone in my life romantically it’s serious.  I can tell you one thing they will not expect you to turn up on screen.  So I would brace yourself for a little bit of fangirling.”

“Ah that’s alright,” Daniel replied cheerfully watching her peel some parmesan on top of his lasagne “I’m used to it, you fangirl every time I see you or talk to you.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“You’re lucky I have a chunk of parmesan in my hands or I’d whack you!” she said dryly “cheeky shit.”

Daniel roared with laughter

After a long and casual dinner Eadaoin led Daniel to the lounge room, he lit up when he saw the array of gaming consoles and games she owned.

“You’re a gamer?” he exclaimed gleefully “oh that is such a turn on!”

Eadaoin shrieked with laughter as Daniel grabbed her, swung her in a circle and dipped her

“I don’t know if you’d call me a gamer,” she said returning the kiss he bestowed upon her “I don’t play any of those zombie, end of days, military based shooty murdery games, I like Guitar Hero, Wii Sports, Mario Kart, Donkey Kong all the oldy worldy games.  Pick one and watch me beat your arse.”

“Mario Kart,” Daniel said at once “are you challenging me sweetheart?  Remember I drive cars for a living.”

Eadaoin grinned.

“And?” she said with a raised eyebrow “you’re in my territory now Driver Boy re-”

Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“Driver Boy?” he growled in her ear “I’m more than a boy.”

“Show me,” Eadaoin said pushing a controller into his chest “best of five rounds.  Winner gets a snog and the loser pays for the date on Friday night.”

“It seems this is a win win situation,” Daniel said with a grin “either way I get a kiss and a night out with a beautiful woman.  I don’t know how much effort I really should put in.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“You need to earn both,” she informed him primly “sit your butt down and play Driver Man.”

“You’re on sweetheart!”

*******************************************************************************************

Daniel and Eadaoin quickly lost track of time and by extension their bet it was only when they were both noticeably yawning did Eadaoin pause the game.

“I can’t play anymore, I’m exhausted,” she said tiredly snuggling into his bulk.

“Same’ Daniel replied with a happy sigh opening his arms and letting her snuggle “you know you’d have Norris jonesing for a date with you if he saw your set up he’d get a techie gamer boner and propose to you in five seconds flat.”

“I’m a one man woman you don’t have to worry,” Eadaoin told him “besides Lando’s too young for me.  You’re much more my vintage.”

“That doesn’t make me sound old at all,” Daniel replied retrieving his phone from his back pocket “I better order a car and hit the road.”

“Stay,” Eadaoin murmured entwining her legs with his.

“Darl-I-” Daniel began hesitatingly as he understood her innuendo.

“You’re not ready to go that far yet are you?” Eadaoin asked, her face falling a little.

“Would you think less of me if I said I’m not?” Daniel asked twisting a bit of her hair around his fingers “apart from the fact I’m too exhausted to enjoy that I want it to be right in the moment.”

“And it’s not I know,” Eadaoin replied sheepishly “to be honest I’m too tired to get busy now too.  I just want to snuggle.”

“We can do that,” Daniel replied pulling her closer “so I have to head off to Monaco the Monday after the one coming but I’ll organize for you to come over okay?  I have a few connections.”

“Will those connections get me an intro to meet Lewis and Max?” Eadaoin asked cheekily “because those two are my favourite drivers.”

Daniel rolled his eyes and Eadaoin squealed with laughter

“Har har,” he said dryly “veeeeeeeeeery funny.  Yes those connections can get an intro with those guys but you wouldn’t want to meet them, they prefer spending their time in front of the mirror preening like a peacock.”

“Really?”

“Nah Lewis and Max are really great guys, Max is one of my best mates in the game,” Daniel replied “we’ve been mates since my days at Red Bull.  He and Kelly his girlfriend really want to meet you but they both understand if you’re reluctant and want to keep things quiet for the time being.”

“Danny we can’t be quiet about things forever,” Eadaoin pointed out “I want to meet your friends some day, we’ve been together for a little while now, don’t you think it’s time I meet a few of them?”

Daniel grinned.

“Yeah I do,” he said happily “I’ll organise a night out or a barbeque at my apartment, when can you come over?  You have a gig on Friday night don’t you?”

“Yeah so the earliest I could come over is Saturday morning,” Eadaoin replied “but I can stay until you need to leave for Baku.”

Daniel lit up like a Christmas tree.

“That’s great” he said happily “this is going to be the greatest weekend.  I might be in with a chance of a podium with you there.”

“You’ll do well whether I’m there or not,” Eadaoin told him affectionately.

“Dunno, I’m still not getting it with this car,” Daniel replied with a sigh “Tom my engineer thinks I’m being an impatient worrywart, he told me last week it can take months to get used to a new car, Lando told me it took eighteen months to get used to his.”

“You’ll be fine,” Eadaoin said untangling her legs from his as his phone beeped “that’s probably your Uber driver, I’ll see you at Whelan’s Friday night?”

Daniel leaned forward and kissed her on the lips

 *******************************************************************************************

“See you then Sweetheart.”

Chapter 13 can be found here:

A/N1: This was very cathartic for me to publish because today I had to make the decision to euthanise my horse.  I love all the people who have reached out to me and continuing Daniel and Eadaoin's story will help me feel loads better.  Leave a comment if you liked this installment!

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH5 'Just Talking'

*******************************************************************************************

A couple of days later after the jogging incident Daniel had just returned from an appointment with a tradie he was employing to fix up his latest real estate purchase when his phone beeped with an incoming text message.

“I hear you feel super guilty, you can bring me the biggest bunch of flowers you can find and apologise in person from 2pm, level 6 room 24’ it read ‘extra brownie points if you bring chocolate too :P’

Daniel chuckled at the poky tongue, bouquet and chocolate emojis.  He sent back a thumbs up emoji, dumped the bag he was carrying on the hallstand swiftly ordered an Uber and went back outside.  Within ten minutes his ride had arrived and he was on the way to St Matthews with short pauses at a florist where he bought an enormous bouquet of daffodils and sunflowers and a confectionary shop where he bought the biggest box of poshest chocolates in the shop.  Struggling slightly with the load he was required to carry Daniel struggled to get out of the Uber and make his way into the lobby of the hospital.  Attracting a few amused giggles, the Australian made his way to the elevator bay and got in, making his way up to the sixth floor.

“What did you do wrong mate?” a middle aged man covered in old navy tattoos asked Danny in amusement as the doors slid open on the sixth floor “you’re in trouble haha!”

“Just doing some sucking up,” Daniel replied with a grin.

“Hope she forgives you!”

Tucking the box of chocolates under his arm Daniel made his way through the six floor til he came to room 24.  He knocked at the door and waited to be allowed in.

“Come in!”

Daniel made his way into the room and was greeted by an amused snort of laughter.

“You know when I said bring the biggest bunch of flowers you could find I didn’t mean it literally ya big dag” Eadaoin said in amusement as Daniel set the chocolates and flowers down on the end of her bed “where am I going to put those?”

Daniel grinned sheepishly

“I’m really really really super duper sorry,” he said hesitatingly standing awkwardly by her bed “I feel really bad for what happened and I just wanted to apologise properly.”

“Well apology accepted,” Eadaoin informed him in amusement “you can sit down you know, I don’t bite-well unless you ask and even then after a dinner and movie.”

The tension broke and Daniel grinned.

“S-so how are you?” he asked.

Eadaoin sighed.

“Well my ankle was broken and dislocated,” she replied pulling back the blanket on her bed and showing him the foot to knee cast on her right ankle “It took four hours for the orthopedic surgeon to fix up the damage and set everything in their correct position and I was so hopped up on ketamine, fentanyl and anesthetic I didn’t wake up for twelve hours after coming out of theatre.  It was only last night I started to feel like I had my wits about me.”

“So how long will you take to heal?” Daniel asked.

“Three to six months,” Eadaoin replied “that’s an over-estimation though; the surgeon said that with physio and rehab I should be off crutches by Easter.”

“And how long will you be in here?”

“Til the end of the week,” Eadaoin replied, screwing up her nose “which sucks because every Friday my band has a gig at the pub and I love every opportunity I get to perform.”

“The violin’s yours then?” Daniel inquired nodding toward the violin propped up in the corner of the room.

“Yeah, I’ve played since I was a kid,” Eadaoin replied brightly “when I came to London two years ago I answered an ad online looking for a violinist in an Irish folk band, and pretty much every Friday night since then I’ve had a gig at Whelan’s the pub you knocked me over in front of.”

“Had you just finished a gig or were you about to start one when we crashed together?” Daniel asked.

“Just about to start one,” Eadaoin replied “look don’t feel guilty, it was an accident, sure you weren’t paying attention to where you were going but I’m sure you didn’t flatten me on purpose.”

“I can’t help but feel guilty,” Daniel mumbled going bright red as he looked at his hands that were gathered in his lap “that’s kinda why I went overboard in the flowers and chocolates department.”

“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed you know that?” Eadaoin said teasing him “but seriously we’re all good, I’m not going to get the Irish Mafia onto you and I’m not going to get my colleagues from my last job to sue you into destitution.”

“You’re a lawyer?” Daniel asked in interest.

“Yeah but I’m between jobs at the moment,” Eadaoin replied cheerfully reaching forward for the box of chocolates he had brought “I really haven’t had a break of any consequence since I left uni, I went straight form uni into a big firm job back home then some personal stuff happened and I came over here and landed a big firm job over here, I was tired so I decided to take some time off and do the ‘discover who I am as a person’ thing.”

“Has it worked?” Daniel asked chuckling in amusement as she ripped the cellophane off the box with unbridled enthusiasm.

“I think so,” Eadaoin replied “well until you knocked me on my arse.  Up until that point my life was pretty peaceful.”

“Well it’ll resume its level of peacefulness will return, “Daniel declared “I promise I won’t knock you on your arse like that again.”

“That’s comforting,” Eadaoin told him in amusement as she wrested open the box of chocolates “because if you knocked me on my arse like that again you’d have to take me on a date.  And a proper one, dinner, and movie or West End show then an arm in arm moonlit walk home.”

“Hey we could still do that,” Dan said with a grin and a wink “I’m very single and ready to mingle.”

“Down boy,” Eadaoin said dryly “Let’s share a choccy first huh?  Hands off the peppermint ones.”

*******************************************************************************************

Daniel found Eadaoin so easy to talk to he lost complete track of time and was only made aware of what time it was when the nurses changed shift and one came around to take Eadaoin’s vitals.

“Your visitor’s still here!” she said in surprise “you certainly have a lot to talk about.”

Daniel couldn’t help it and blushed a magnificent shade of scarlet.

“This one likes to talk a lot apparently,” Eadaoin teased, sticking her arm out so the nurse could affix a blood pressure cuff to it “but it’s all good, I’ve had fun, add him to the list of allowed visitors.”

“So you’ll be back to visit then?” the nurse asked in amusement.

“Of course, I’ve had good fun today, and hospitals aren’t my preferred venue of entertainment,” Daniel replied with a grin as he got to his feet “I’ve spent too much time in them over the last few months.”

“Stay for a bit I’ll come see you to the lifts,” Eadaoin said sitting up.

“No you rest, maybe tomorrow we’ll go for a wander,” Daniel responded flashing her a brilliant smile “is the cafeteria food any good here or should I bring some obnoxiously expensive kebab from that place across the road?”

“Surprise me,” Eadaoin replied laying back in her bed “thanks for coming.”

“Any time”

And for every day for the next week Daniel returned to St Matthews inexplicably drawn to Eadaoin’s company.  He spent all day and the early evening of each day just talking to her and often just sitting in silence.

“You know in the whole week you’ve been visiting me I don’t think I’ve ever asked you anything about yourself!” Eadaoin said as they shared a coffee.

“I’ve never asked you anything about you either,” Daniel countered with a snort of laughter “we’ve talked about everything and everything but the really interesting stuff.”

“Yeah that sort of info should be shared on a date,” Eadaoin said with a wink.

“Look I’ll be honest, I’m not super duper looking to date anyone right now,” Daniel admitted “things went badly rather publicly with my ex and I’m kinda still getting over it.”

“Kinda same here,” Eadaoin said “but nothing wrong with a bit of flirting. What happened with you?  Lets share war stories.”

“So my last girlfriend and I were together for thirteen years,” Daniel revealed swirling the dregs of his coffee around its cup “we met in year ten in high school and were each other’s date to out year twelve formal “despite me moving overseas to pursue professional opportunities we remained together until last year when at a end of year party I caught her in the company garage being raw dogged by my boss.”

Eadaoin’s eyes widened.

“Hooley dooley!”she exclaimed “what happened next?”

“I punched my boss so hard I fractured my scaphoid bone,” Daniel replied flexing his now healed hand “I only got the cast off last month and I still have twice weekly physio sessions.  I also apparently started belting him up with a tyre iron and it took five of my colleagues to pull me off him.  I’ve never felt that level of rage about anything in my life.”

“Believe me I know exactly how you feel,” Eadaoin said sympathetically “what happened then?”

“One of my colleagues who’s a good mate of mine took me back to our hotel and made sure I got seen to medically.  The next day my now ex and I had a ‘discussion’ and I dumped her.  That was back at the end of November and I’ve been healing or trying to heal every since.”

“And how do you think you’re going in that regard?”

Daniel sighed heavily.

“I dunno really,” he admitted “I’ve just concentrated on work since, and that’s kept me really busy.”

“What do you do for a living?” Eadaoin asked in interest “I know with all the things we’ve talked about this week what we do for a living really hasn’t been discussed.”

“I work for McLaren for their race day formula one team “Daniel replied deciding at the last minute to not let on exactly what he did for a living.

A sudden look of dawning comprehension spread across Eadaoin’s face and her mouth fell open.

“Oh-my god!” she said incredulously her hands covering her mouth “you’re Daniel Ricciardo!”

Daniel grinned and held out his hand.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” he said with a snort of laughter.

Eadaoin slapped her forehead and covered her scarlet hued face.

“Oh my god I’ve been flirting with you all week!” she groaned “oh my god I am so embarrassed”

Daniel grinned

“That’s totally okay,” he replied “it’s actually kinda flattering, didn’t really get a lot of that toward the end with my ex.”

Eadaoin peeked out between her fingers.

“My entire family have been F1 devotees since before I was born!” she mumbled “holy shit my Dad thinks you and Max Verstappen are the greatest things since sliced bread. He has a bar at home that’s full of legit merchandise from when you drove with Toro Rosso right through to Red Bull and Renault and probably now its full of McLaren merch.  He would call me and absolute dill for taking a whole week to realise who you are....Jesus Christ!”

Daniel laughed heartily.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said “really, it’s been kinda refreshing meeting someone who doesn’t fawn over me like a fan girl or fan boy and treats me like an actual person. Its nice having a high profile but it can have its drawbacks.”

“Well I promise if we keep in touch I’ll refrain from being a fangirl,” Eadaoin promised her face still a magnificent shade of scarlet “I’m too embarrassed to be an arse kisser now.”

“I’d like to keep in touch,” Daniel confessed “and not because I feel guilty for putting you in your predicament, you’re good fun to talk to.”

Eadaoin smiled.

“Thanks,” she said “and I promise I’ll keep the fact I’ve met you on the down low unless you say I can say something.  Its kinda nice having a secret.”

“Okay I’ve spilled my guts about how shit my love life is, time for you to spill your guts on how and why your love life sucks so much,” Daniel said.

Eadaoin inhaled.

“Buckle up buttercup it’s a story and a half,” she said.

“I literally have all the time in the world,” Daniel replied.

“Okay so in law school I met this guy Eamon,” Eadaoin began “we shared several group projects and bonded over how much of a head fuck law school was.  He asked me out and for the rest of law school and our post graduation time we dated, we lived together, bought a house together did all the usual coupley things, then three years ago at Christmas in front of my entire family-now I’m in a huge Irish catholic family so there here dozens of people there-he proposed with a huge ass diamond ring.  Of course I accepted and in the New Year we began planning the wedding, aiming for a Spring September wedding.  I had the perfect dress, perfect venue, all the girls I was best friends with were my bridesmaids I was in fairy tale land.”

“Then shit hit the fan?” Daniel asked.

Oh big time” Eadaoin said rolling her eyes “everything was ready, everything was planned down to the last minute, all my relatives had flown in from Ireland and the U.K it was going to be the biggest Irish Catholic wedding ever.  Then on the morning of the ceremony literally six hours before I was to walk down the aisle and become Mrs Eamon Cleary I walked into the bedroom my best friend from high school was sleeping in and found her riding my fiancé and screaming ‘Fuck me you bad boy fuck me til....well you get the idea”

Daniel cringed in sympathy

“Oh Jesus-” he said.

“Yeah, now I remember everything like it happened yesterday, I screamed like a banshee and pulled my friend-Louise off my fiancé’s dick and began belting her up. My mum said I had flipped the psycho switch and I managed to slam her head into the wardrobe door twice before Mum and Dad managed to pull me off her.  Cahir my brother came to see what the ruckus was and he was the one that started belting Eamon up.  The rest of my bridal team pulled me out of the room and took me to the dressing room where I proceeded to destroy my gown.  Obviously the wedding was cancelled and I spent the next month in my room before selling all of my possessions, packing a bag and coming to England.  I haven’t been home since, not even for Christmas.”

There were several long moments of silence.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” Daniel said when he eventually spoke “its bad enough to be cheated on anyway, but for it to be done on your wedding day....Jesus.”

“Yeah so I’ve been single since that day,” Eadaoin went on “I was just hurt too much to let myself get hurt again.  If I venture into another relationship again I want it to be the real deal, for it to be the right person and to get married for the right reasons.  I’m even open to not getting married at all and just having everything else.”

“I can totally see why.”

“So yeah that’s how an Irish born Aussie came to be in London with a busted ankle caused by one of the most well known sportspeople in the world.”

Daniel chuckled.

“I wouldn’t quite say the latter is true,” he said “but thankyou for that assessment.”

“Ah you’re pretty well known in certain circles,” Eadaoin teased “Especially in the O'Siodhachain family, jeez Dad in particular loves you.”

“Give me his number I’ll send him a selfie,” Daniel joked “or a video saying hi.”

“Daniel Ricciardo you-will-NOT!” Eadaoin exclaimed going bright red as Daniel playfully reached for her phone “I would get a MI6 level interrogation if he knew we were mates. And I’d only cop that if we were dating.”

Daniel chuckled heartily

“You could take a selfie and I could stand in the background ‘pretending’ to be on my phone,” he suggested brightly “or I could borrow a set of scrubs and dress up as a doctor or-”

“You have a thing for dressing up do you?” Eadaoin countered with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m not telling you that yet,” Daniel countered “gotta leave something for the second or third dates don’t I?”

“You won’t get a FIRST date if you keep up with that shite,” Eadaoin grumbled “you presume a lot Ricciardo.”

“Hmm I do don’t I?” he replied wiggling his eyebrows cheekily.

“Let me get home and used to these damn things for a couple of weeks and then maybe we can talk about going for a pint,” Eadaoin said jerking her head toward the crutches that facilitated her mobility.

“I head off to Bahrain in ten days for pre-season testing,” Daniel revealed “and the team wants me to stay on for the first race of the season.  I will have a few days after Bahrain before I have to head off to Italy though.”

“You have my number, shoot me a text when you have free time,” Eadaoin instructed “”the doctors have instructed me to stay as quiet as possible so I can guarantee you I don’t be doing anything stupid.”

“So is this a real date?” Daniel asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No definitely not, neither of us is looking for dates remember?” Eadaoin replied “but I do need a friend, and I reckon you’ll fit the bill just nicely.”

Daniel winked.

“That’s good enough for me at the moment,” he said cheerfully “so....want another coffee?”

Chapter 6 can be found here:

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH15 'Arriving on Track'

Despite the frantic hubbub that consumed Monaco during Grand Prix week Daniel and Eadaoin arrived on course within half an hour of leaving the apartment.  Predictably there was a bunch of photographers and TV cameras stationed outside the driver’s access entrance and they followed the couple as they showed their access passes and were granted passage past the gates.

“So how d'you feel about that?” Daniel asked as they got out of the car.

“It was less unpleasant than I thought it was going to be,” Eadaoin confessed slipping her hand into his “where to now?”

“Where all the driver’s trailers are parked,” Daniel replied flashing her a smile as he squeezed her hand “it’s between the media centre and pit lane “so....what d'you think?”

“I’m trying so hard not to fan girl I really am,” Eadaoin confessed “my parents and brother would figuratively sell their soul to bet the sort of tour you’re giving me, especially Cahir.  His favourite race by far is Monaco.”

Daniel chuckled.

“Well when this COVID shit is over and done with I’ll fix it so your family can have a backstage pass like you have today,” he said as they made their way through the bustling back side.

“You’d do that?”

“Yeah of course, I’d load them up with merch too.”

Daniel was greeted by several people on his and Eadaoin’s walk through the back side the latter attracting several curious stares and whispers.

“I just heard a guy an Alpha Tauri polo hiss ‘who the hell’s that on Danny Ric’s arm?” Eadaoin said as they reached the drivers trailer park.

“Mmm I heard that too,” Daniel said cockily “one tends to attract a lot of attention when you have a smoking hot bird on your arm.  Wish we had more time and I would literally parade you around.  D'you have any idea how good you make me look?  My street cred would be going through the roof.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be an arse,” she scolded giving him a shove.

Daniel laughed heartily.

“You’re a beautiful woman and exude confidence, people find that attractive,” he reasoned “I can totally get that, and I’m the lucky bastard that get to hang off your arm too.”

Daniel led Eadaoin to his trailer and briefly let go of her hand to retrieve a key from his pocket, he poked it into the lock and with a click unlocked it.

“Ladies first,” he said swinging the door open.

Eadaoin entered the trailer first and her reaction was much like the one she had when she arrived at Daniel’s apartment.

“Holy shit you could live in this!” she exclaimed as he followed her in.

“Last year with the shrunk season I kinda did,” Daniel replied dumping his bag on a cream coloured seat near the corner “all the drivers were in the one bubble and we all lived in our trailers on track when we could.  It wasn’t ideal but we got by.”

“So you have a bedroom and bathroom?”

“Yeah through there,” Daniel responded pointing to a door on the other side of the trailer “that’s where Pippa would have put my helmet and race day kit bag.  I change in there and after free practice, quallies and the race itself I came back here and chill unless the garage team need me. Played several games of poker on that table last year with Max, Lewis and Valtteri.  Don’t ever play Texas Hold ‘em with Bottas he’ll fleece you, sonofabitch took a thousand euro off me in Portugal a couple of weeks ago.”

“Are you that bad at it?” Eadaoin asked in amusement.

“That day I was,” Daniel said dryly “take a seat, help yourself to anything in the fridge I need to go get changed, I’ll let Pippa know we’re here then I’ll put you in her capable hands.”

Daniel disappeared in his room and emerged fifteen minutes later clad in his race suit. Eadaoin immediately wolf whistled.

“Oh very funny,” he said blushing deeply and he adjusted the top half of the suit that was hanging around his waist “Pippa hasn’t arrived yet?”

As soon as he finished speaking a knock came at the trailer door.

“Danny you all set luv?” A familiar voice called “got a lot to do today can I come in?”

“Yeah I’m decent”

The trailer door swung open and Pippa skipped in, lighting up when she saw her charge and Eadaoin.  Danny immediately introduced the two women.

“Darling this is  my P.A Pippa Andrews, she’s the best in the biz,” he said “she can make anything happen and makes my life during the season infinitely easier, Pip this is Eadaoin the woman who’s made my life infinitely better off track.”

“Good to finally meet you honey,” Pippa said brightly grasping Eadaoin’s hands “Danny’s kept you to himself for entirely too long. Everyone’s been dying to meet the person that’s put our boy on planet happy”

“Oh look you made him blush,” Eadaoin teased watching Daniel blush scarlet “he’ll match one of the Ferrari cars in a minute.”

“Oh shut up,” Daniel muttered as he took his helmet out of its protective bag “what’s up first Pip?”

“First you’ve got to meet Charlotte at the garage to go over your media schedule for today. Then you’ve got a pre-practice briefing with Andreas, then you meet with Tom to talk tactics for practice then you’ve got an hour for lunch before straight into P3. Sky F1 and ESPN have got their claws into you first up after P3 and before qualifying but Charlotte will be able to go into more detail with you.”

“Okie dokie, that’ll keep me occupied for the next couple of hours”

“What d’you want to do for lunch?” Pippa asked ‘have lunch in comms with Lando like usual or in your trailer?”

“Can we make it in here this time?” Daniel asked “otherwise I’m not going to have any time to spend with Eadaoin til after quallies.”

“I can organise that,” Pippa said cheerfully “what d’you want to eat?”

“If Syd’s making those wanky little chicken things I’ll have those,” Daniel said at once.

“And you Eadaoin?” Pippa asked a pen poised over a notepad.

“I’m not fussed as long as it doesn’t have olives in it,” Eadaoin replied amiably “what the hell are ‘those wanky little chicken things? haha!”

Pippa rolled her eyes.

“They’re what this comedian calls spicy chicken col-au-vents,” she replied dryly “Syd, McLaren’s travelling head chef started making them last year after Turkey and Danny and Lando literally cleaned out the catering department out of all of them. I don’t know anyone outside of our CEO that managed to eat any aside from those two garbage gutses”

“Hey I’m a growing boy!” Daniel declared with a great snort of laughter “I can’t help that our chef makes a ham toastie taste good.”

“OH puh-leeeeze you stopped growing twenty five years ago,” Pippa informed him dryly “now go on and scoot or Charlotte and Andreas will get pissy about you being late again.  I’ll look after Eadaoin; see you back here for lunch.”

Daniel picked up his helmet and quickly embraced Pippa before leaning in and kissing Eadaoin on the lips.

“Apart from lunch I won’t get to see you much today so have fun,” he said flashing her a wink and his trademark smile “if you need or want anything ask Pip, she’s literally a lifesaver.  Makes my life easier every day.”

“Okay that’s enough arse kissing from you pal get going!” Pippa instructed giving Daniel a little shove toward the door.

“See ya ladies!”

And with helmet in hand Daniel disappeared.

“He’s a cheeky shit that one,” Pippa told Eadaoin “but you probably already know that.”

“Yup from the first day we met,” Eadaoin replied following the older woman out of the trailer “so what happens now?”

“I’m under strict instructions to take you to merchandise and ‘fit you out’” Pippa replied cheerfully “Danny’s reasoning is if you’re clad in his or McLaren’s merch you’re more likely to blend in with the crowd.”

“I keep telling him, he doesn’t need to spend so much money on me,” Eadaoin declared.

“I know and he told me you’d say that but he wants to spoil you,” Pippa informed the redhead “and he spoils those he cares about, though I suspect his soft spot for you does a bit deeper than for the rest of us.”

Eadaoin blushed.

“Has he told you much about me?” she asked.

“He’s not gone into a lot of detail,” Pippa admitted “you see he was so devastated with what happened with Jem his ex I think he was reluctant to tell anyone anything.  I think Danny wanted to make sure what you two have was solid before he started bringing you to the track and introducing you to his family in Australia and his F1 family in Europe.  He keeps those sorts of emotions close to his chest and his private life private even from his close friends most of the time so the fact you’re here means he’s legitimately serious about you.”

“Yeah well we are serious about each other,” Eadaoin informed Pippa “we’re introducing each other to our respective parents tonight.”

“Yeah Danny mentioned that to me this morning,” Pippa replied as they passed the enormous McLaren communications hub “I get the distinct impression he’s more nervous than he’s letting on.”

“Yeah I get that impression too,” Eadaoin admitted “I think we’ll just wing it.”

“Sometime that’s just the best way to go in life hon.” Pippa said cheerfully as they arrived at McLaren’s onsite headquarters “alright let’s get you looking like a local!”

******************************************************************** 

Three hours later Pippa took Eadaoin back to Danny’s trailer laden with McLaren and D3 merchandise.

“How am I supposed to get all this back to London?” Eadaoin asked the older woman in amused exasperation as a bag of t-shirts fell onto the floor “I only brought one suitcase with me and this could legitimately take up most of the jet’s luggage hold.”

“Leave it with me,” Pippa said helping Eadaoin place all the items in the far corner of the trailer “I’ll organise to have it all shipped to your place in London.”

“You really do-” Eadaoin began.

“I know I don’t but you’re going to need some help getting this back home and it may as well be me,” Pippa said as another knock came at the trailer door “and I really don’t mind.”

“Well if you’re sure...”

An enormous tray of food was delivered to the trailer and a few minutes after that Daniel arrived back.

“Okay time to make myself scarce,” Pippa said cheerfully “if either of you need anything send me a text!”

And with that she disappeared.

“That was subtle,” Daniel said dryly locking the door behind his P.A an striding over to embrace Eadaoin “I see you got a bit of merch then”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“A bit?” she exclaimed “a bit?  I literally have one of everything in the McLaren and D3 range.  You are a crazy man.”

Daniel grinned and kissed her on the lips.

“Crazy about you,” he growled against her neck “wait til later in the year, more stuff is coming out.”

“Can you bring out a dress range or maybe lingerie?” Eadaoin asked shivering as he kissed along the line of her left collarbone.

“Mmmm lingerie,” he murmured “I like the idea of that.”

“Wearing it yourself?” Eadaoin asked with a snort of laughter “because you don’t strike me as the wearing lingerie type, you’re a jeans and shirt type all day. 

“Oh ha ha” Daniel said dryly, patting her on the backside “way to go ruining a romantic moment.”

“We can be romantic later Driver Man, you need to keep your head in the game,” Eadaoin informed him as they sat on the sofa together “how did your morning go?”

“Busy as usual,” Daniel replied cheerfully “I’ve done all the morning media and strategy planning with Tom for P3 so now all the focus is on actual driving and formulating a plan for the race tomorrow based on how practice and qualifying goes.”

“Are you confident?” Eadaoin asked biting into a mini quiche.

“Cautiously so,” Daniel replied “I learned a long time ago not to get a big head until I have something to get a big head about.  Monaco is always a technical race and requires a bit more detail in the planning department.  Apart from my first two years I’ve always done well here, I’ve always finished in the points and been on the podium four times.  I’m confident of not doing shit at least.”

“That’s a growth mindset,” Eadaoin said “I’ve got a bit of news.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mmm I’ve been offered a job,” Eadaoin revealed.

“A good one?”

“Yeah actually my old one at the same firm I worked for when I first came to London,” Eadaoin went on holding out a quiche to him “one of my former colleagues made partner and is looking for a solicitor that specializes in Contract, Criminal and Tort law.  It’s a ten percent pay rise on what I was getting last time.”

“That’s a huge increase,” Daniel exclaimed biting into the quiche and tickling her knee “I mean I assume it is, I’ve never met a lawyer who lives on peanuts. Are you going to take the job?”

“I don’t know,” Eadaoin asked “honestly I don’t.  I kinda like being unemployed right now.  I can spend more time with you, take off and go wherever I like, not have to leave my home at six am every morning to get through the London bullshit.  But I’ll admit I miss law work and going balls deep into a case....I see the look on your face Daniel Joseph Ricciardo that was not a sexual euphemism!”

Daniel threw his head back and roared with laughter.

“What look?” he said innocently

Eadaoin playfully punched him in the chest.

“Don’t be an arse,” she said “you know I know what you’re up to.”

“And that is what exactly?” he asked snaking a hand around her waist and pulling her forward to their lips were only millimeters apart.

“Jonesing for a snog.”

“Rats, you got me,” Daniel said with a grin rubbing his nose against hers “so can I have one?  A good luck charm for p3 and qualifying?”

“I thought you weren’t into all that superstitious bullshit?” Eadaoin asked running her fingers through his messy curls.

“I’m not I just want a snog from my girl,” Daniel confessed “c’mon darling I’m running out of excuses.”

Eadaoin laughed and leaned in.

“Its-cute-hearing-you-beg” she murmured between kisses shifting her position and allowing him to hike up the skirt of her dress and run his thick fingers up and down her thigh “one day I’m going to make you do it properly.”

“Oh yeah?  How?”

Eadaoin winked

“Saying would ruin the surprise,” she said “but it’s not going to be in a trailer in public in one of the busiest places on earth when you’re literally working.  Daniel Joseph Ricciardo if you’re going to give me a hickey you better have something for me to cover it up with!”

“Mhmm in my kit bag,” Daniel murmured in her ear “you wriggle too much.”

“I’m ticklish there you bugger!” Eadaoin exclaimed with a shill giggle “you’re lucky you’re wearing a neck to foot race suit or I’d make the hickey I left on you before Italy look like a pinhead!”

“Hmm how payback sucks huh?” Daniel countered.

“Remember I’m supposed to be introducing you to Mum, Dad and Cahir tonight, what the hell d'you think they’re going to say when I log on and I look like I have leprosy because you can’t keep your mouth to yourself?”

“You can use the concealer Kelly Max’s girlfriend gave me,” Daniel murmured “there’s enough to cover up the leprosy look.”

“Oh brother.”

*****************************************************************************************

As usual when they were together Danny and Eadaoin lost track of time and it wasn’t until an alarm on Danny’s phone went off did they part.

“Ugh that means I’ve got ten minutes to be back in the garage,” he groused.

“Good that means I have ten minutes to cover up all the hickeys on my neck and you have time to straighten up,” Eadaoin informed him as she dropped a kiss on the bridge of his nose “you look like you haven’t brushed your hair in a week.”

“And whose fault is that?” Daniel said with a snort of laughter “thought you liked my hair?”

“I love your hair but don’t you want to make it less obvious we’ve been ravishing each other for the last forty five minutes?” Eadaoin reasoned as she got up and straightened her dress “if you go into the garage looking like that Lando will straight up tease you for the rest of the year.”

“You’re far too sensible for me Darling.”

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH9 'We Sell Coffee'

A/N:  This is the one chapter of this story I have been most keen to release and the one I had most fun writing.  It made me swoon and cringe and wish a million times over I was Eadaoin.  I hope you like it, please leave a review in the comments section if you liked it or have any suggestions for me.

Renee this chapter gave me ALL THE FUCKING FEELS and I wrote it! 

 *******************************************************************************************

After a silent ten minute ride the Uber carrying Daniel and Eadaoin arrived out of the front of a barely visible hole in the wall café named ‘We Sell Coffee’ Daniel grabbed her violin and helped her out of the car.

“We Sell Coffee’?” Eadaoin said as they made their way into the quaint little shop that was barely visible from the main thoroughfare.

“I know not the most imaginative name but it does a roaring trade,” Daniel replied “it’s the only twenty four hour café in the area and is popular with the posh nightclubbing set.”

“And you know this how?” Eadaoin asked with a snort of laughter “you don’t strike me as the posh nightclubbing type.”

Daniel was about to answer when a cheerful voice greeted them.

“Danny Boy!” a short fat man called in a thick Italian accent.

“Paolo ciao amico, come stai?” Daniel responded allowing the man to come around the counter to embrace and kiss him on each cheek.

“I good good, who this beautiful lady?”

“This is my friend Eadaoin,” Daniel replied introducing Eadaoin to the effusive Italian “we’ve just had a night out, can we have somewhere private to have a coffee?”

Paulo immediately understood Daniel’s tone.

“Of course of course!” he said cheerfully “the deck upstairs, your usual?”

“Of course-what would you like?” Daniel asked Eadaoin who was eying off the chocolate mud cake in the sweets cabinet.

“Skim Vanilla latte,” she replied “and a slice of that”

Daniel paid for their order and led Eadaoin through the semi-busy café to a small roped off staircase.  He took her violin case and helped her up the stairs to a small decked balcony with a burning chiminea in the corner, icicle fairy lights hanging front the balcony rail and several large leaved potted plants dotted about.  A well worn but cared for sofa sat in front of the chiminea small circular coffee table next to it.

“Oh wow,” Eadaoin breathed, hobbling over to the sofa, admiring the environment as she went “it’s so nice up here!”

“Yeah it is,” Daniel replied taking her crutches and helping her sit on the couch carefully “it’s only a recent addition.  You usually have to book this spot but I took my chances this space would be free.”.

“How do you know Paolo?” Eadaoin asked in interest.

“He was my first ever landlord when I came to Europe to race fourteen years ago” Daniel replied “he basically looked after me and put me to work when I wasn’t racing, helped me polish my Italian and taught me how to make a decent coffee at home. If it wasn’t for him I would have given up on my dreams of racing in the big league and returned home to Perth.  Whenever I’m in London I come and eat here at least twice a week.”

“So he’s a good friend then,” Eadaoin said leaning back and getting comfortable.

“Very.”

There was a long and very awkward silence but eventually Eadaoin spoke.

“D’you mind if I sit a bit closer?” she asked, her face going bright red..

“Of course!”

Eadaoin scooted over close to Daniel til their thighs were touching and leaned in, wordlessly granting him permission to put an arm around her.  She snuggled into his muscular form and sighed happily.

“This is nice,” she murmured “can we stay like this all night?”

“Don’t you think you might get tired?” Daniel asked resting his chin on her head.

“Mm maybe,” Eadaoin replied inhaling the scent of his cologne deeply “but I’m comfortable and could easily doze off in this position.”

“I had a really good time tonight,” Daniel said a few moments later absentmindedly tracing circles on her left upper arm “I’ve never danced with so many random strangers before.”

Eadaoin laughed heartily.

“They won’t be random strangers for much longer if you keep coming to my gigs,” she said “I’m glad you got to see that side of me.”

“I’ll come as often as I can,” Daniel promised “thought this is the only time til after Portugal and before Spain I’ll be able to come and see you. I always go back to my place in Monaco for a few days after a race if I get the chance, I can really unwind there.”

“We’ll make it work,” Eadaoin replied sitting up a bit to look at him in the eyes “as I’ve said before Dan, I really really like you and want to see where whatever this is goes.”

“God I’m finding it so hard not to kiss you right now,” Daniel said resting his forehead against hers.

“You only have to ask you know,” Eadaoin replied rubbing her nose against his.

“Really?”

“Uh huh.”

“Can I?”

She nodded so Daniel shifted his position and leaned down pressing his lips against Eadaoin’s, she responded enthusiastically sliding a palm across his chest and up the side of his neck.  They were really getting into it totally losing each other in the kiss and didn’t hear Paolo come up the stairs, it wasn’t til he swore in surprise “Oh merda!” (Oh shit!) that they jumped apart, both their faces bright red from embarrassment.

“I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed hurriedly placing a tray with their orders on the table in front of them “I go now”

As soon as the older man was out of ear shot both Daniel and Eadaoin burst into laughter.

“Oh my god that was so embarrassing!” Eadaoin groaned “Jesus fuck!  I’m never going to be able to look him in the face again!”

“Well if it’s any consolation, he’s probably not going to be able to look you in the face again” Daniel reasoned in amusement drawing her close for a hug “I quite enjoyed myself up to that point though.”

“Yeah I did too,” Eadaoin admitted her face the same colour as her hair.

Daniel reached forward and lifted up her chin with a singular finger.

“No I mean I really enjoyed myself,” he said “I’d really like to kiss you again.”

Eadaoin smiled and leaned forward allowing him to kiss her again.  This time it was slower and more exploratory in nature. Eadaoin rested one hand on his left thigh and the other on the side of his neck.  He in turn pulled her close and opened his mouth a little wider exploring her mouth a little with his tongue and running his right hand up her thigh just under the skirt of her dress.

It might have been seconds, minutes or several sunlit days, Daniel wasn’t sure but eventually he and Eadaoin parted, both slightly out of breath.

“Oh wow,” she said breathily “I haven’t been kissed like that in a long time, no scratch that ever.”

“That good am I?” Daniel asked cockily.

Eadaoin playfully punched his arm.

“I don’t want you to get a big head,” she informed him “but yes that was the best fun I’ve had kissing in a long time.”

“Can we do it some more?” Daniel asked hopefully.

“Let me have some coffee first,” Eadaoin told him “I ordered a hot latte not an iced coffee. And you need to cool your jets; I know where you were putting your hand, cheeky man.”

“I got a bit carried away,” Daniel said sheepishly as he reached for his own coffee “m’sorry.”

“That’s alright, I don’t want to go slow because I don’t enjoy stuff like that, I want to go slow so that we make sure we’re doing it for the right reasons,” Eadaoin told him “you’re quite a good kisser Daniel Ricciardo and I would quite like to kiss you again, maybe after a bit of cake?”

Daniel reached forward and picked up the fork next to the cake, He cut off a piece and offered it to Eadaoin waving it in front of her like a bait, a grin spread across his face.

“Is this how you’re going to tease me?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Mmhmm for now,” Daniel replied in amusement “I mean we’re taking it slow yeah?  Waving chocolate cake in your face seems to be the appropriate level of teasing at this point.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

Oh so it’s going to be like that huh?” she said dryly “I’m dealing with a forever smartarse huh?”

Daniel’s eyes lit up and the corners of his eyes crinkled.

“Definitely” he said in amusement “I expect you’ll get used to it in time.”

Oh brother,”

 *******************************************************************************************

For a full two hours Daniel and Eadaoin stayed on the decking of We Sell Coffee feeding each other cake and kissing, it was only when Eadaoin couldn’t stop yawning that Daniel decided to call it a night.  He ordered another car and they waited on the curb for it to come.

“This has been the best night I’ve had in a long time,” he told her; wrapping his arms around her “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“Let’s do it again next time you have a few days off” Eadaoin murmured, her warm breath against his muscular neck “I can travel too so if you can’t I will.”

“You would do that for me?” Daniel asked softly surprised by her revelation.

Eadaoin nodded.

“I would,” she said “look Dan I’m scared as hell about what we’re embarking on, I can’t help but think about what happened with my ex and apply that to all potential relationships but I know I can’t run anymore, you make me want to stop running and try and be happy again and part of that is doing what is necessary to foster a healthy relationship.  If you’re willing to give it a go so am I”

Daniel leaned down and captured her lips with his just as her ride home arrived.

“I am,” he said shivering slightly as a cold wind whipped up “but for now you head home, is starting to get a bit cold.  I’ll touch base when I get to Italy.”

Eadaoin reached into her pocket and retrieved her phone.

“Can I get a pic to remember tonight?” she asked “I need a contact image for you in my phonebook.”

Daniel wrapped his arms around her and she opened the camera                        

“A normal one or a racy one?” he whispered in her ear.

Eadaoin shivered.

“Slow down tiger,” she said “a normal one.  Taking it slow remember?”

Daniel posed for several selfies with Eadaoin then helped her into the car.

“Have a safe ride home,” he said.

“You too, I had a great time tonight Dan I really did.” Eadaoin told him “I’m not going to wish you luck for Italy because you don’t need it.  Just promise me you’ll drive safe.”

“Promise.”

Chapter 10 can be found here:

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U CH-41 'Austin’

Nothing much improved for either Daniel or Lando a week and a half later in Istanbul for the Turkish Grand Prix after qualifying in sixteenth position having only taken part in the first qualifying session Daniel could only improve three places finishing the race in thirteenth. Lando fared marginally better qualifying in eighth and finishing seventh.  It was a week after Turkey Eadaoin flew to the United States and met Daniel in New York where they spent a few days seeing the sights, going to a football match and seeing a couple of Broadway shows before boarding their early morning flight to Austin.

“You’re perky,” Eadaoin commented laughing as Daniel skipped down the first class aisle.

“I’m always perky race week,” he replied cheerfully as he found their seats “I absolutely love Austin, I’ve had some awesome times here.  Ugh the brisket is to die for!”

“There’s still nothing I can do to convince you to get rid of the trucker beard?” Eadaoin asked half heartedly as they sat down in their assigned seats.

“Nope,” Daniel replied with a grin “the cowboy beard is tradition, it stays.”

“The full beard is far sexier,” Eadaoin murmured in his ear “it feels better.”

“Where?” Daniel asked with a snort of laughter.

“I’m not answering that question out loud!” Eadaoin replied her face turning the same shade as her hair “not that I’ll get to feel it there anytime this week, once we land in Austin you’ll be busy with race stuff.”

“Not a hundred percent of the time,” Daniel said “I have made a point of having some time off for us and us alone during the week.”

“When?” Eadaoin asked in surprise.

“Tuesday night,” Daniel replied “somewhere special.”

“Is it private?” Eadaoin asked worriedly “after all this shit with Jem and the constant attention you get when we’re out we don’t get much alone time just to be us.”

“Its very private,” Daniel promised “I know you crave the privacy that a normal relationship has Darling and I know all this drama with Jem hurt you so I organised something special while we were in New York. It’s for your birthday.”

“That’s Sunday!” Eadaoin replied as the last of the passengers made their way to their seats.

“I know but that’s when we go out to dinner with Michael, Blake, Max, Pippa and Lando,” Daniel replied “I want to celebrate your birthday alone, just us.  Black tie good food a bit of music, maybe some dancing....”

“Okay now it makes sense why you wanted me to bring my LBD and heels,” Eadaoin replied as a dawning realisation “I thought maybe it was for some kinky reason.”

“Weeeeeeeeeeell,” Daniel began a huge smile spreading across his face “that’s not the primary reason, I asked you to bring them but I’ve always had a bit of a fantasy about you in heels.”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes

“Down boy,” she said in a low voice “you know if you ever have a fantasy tell me about it, I might be able to help you out a bit.”

Daniel lit up.

“Really? He asked in surprise.

“Yeah of course,” Eadaoin replied “babe you’re my partner we’re supposed to share things like that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 *******************************************************************************************

Four and a half hours later Daniel and Eadaoin’s plane arrived in Austin.  As soon as the wheel’s skidded along the tarmac Daniel sat up even straighter and lit up.

“We’re here,” he said excitedly “I can’t wait to show you around town darling, as much as I can anyway.”

“Don’t worry about it if you can’t I’ve been here before and can wander around town myself,” Eadaoin informed him, leaning back in her seat as the plane braked hard.

“Hopefully you won’t have to do that much.”

Being in the front of the plane Daniel and Eadaoin were one of the first to leave, they walked down the sky bridge and into the arrivals lounge where Pippa was waiting for them.

“Hey you two,” she said brightly “how was the Big Apple?”

“Relaxing,” Eadaoin replied “we had a few er...”

“Fangirl encounters,” Daniel volunteered.

“But for the most part we were left alone,” Eadaoin continued as they headed for luggage collection.

“Well hopefully you’ll encounter less of that here,” Pippa said “though someone on your flight saw you and has posted photos of you two snogging on Twitter.”

Daniel swore

“I knew that wouldn’t be welcome news but if it helps whoever posted it doesn’t think it’s Eadaoin,” Pippa said as they pushed through the crowd “Eadie you keep your identity hidden with face masks, hats, scarves and the like and have since Monaco and in these photos the peak of your cap is obscuring your face hence the debate about your identity.”

“Well I suppose a pic of us kissing isn’t as bad as someone accusing me of domestic violence like Jem has,” Daniel grumbled.

“Excuse me I need to make a pit stop,” Eadaoin said moments later as they neared some toilets “can you wait for me?”

“Sure.”

As soon as Eadaoin disappeared into the ladies restrooms Daniel turned to Pippa.

“Have you heard from Donnacha, Roisin and Cahir?” he asked.

“I have,” the older woman replied “they’ve settled into L.A and have been seeing all the sights.  They’re flying into Austin Wednesday morning and I booked you all plus Michael and Blake a table for dinner that night at Stubbs.”

Daniel embraced Pippa enthusiastically.

“You are a fair dinkum star!” he said gratefully “I’m going to buy you your own McLaren for Christmas, d'you want your own McLaren?”

Pippa laughed and gave her charge a playful shove.

“Buy Eadaoin her own McLaren first you doofus,” she said “I’ve got a very nice car anyway; she’s still got no idea her family are coming?”

“Nope I haven’t mentioned it in the slightest,” Daniel replied “all I’ve said is that we’ll make a point of zooming them after the race on Sunday but she has no idea that I’ve organised for them to some to town to celebrate in person with her.”

“You’re going to score million of brownie points when she finds out wheat you’ve been up to,” Pippa said “you go to a lot of effort for Eadaoin and its very sweet to witness.”

“Yeah, well you go to a lot of effort for those you love don’t you?” Daniel reasoned as Eadaoin emerged from the restroom “I’d go to the moon and back for her.”

*************************************************************************************

The following night Daniel and Eadaoin began getting ready for their night out.

“So you still won’t tell me where we’re going?” the redhead asked as she slipped into her favourite knee length little black dress.

“Nope but it’s a surprise and I promise you’ll love it,” Daniel relied as he did up his shirt “and it’s not far either.”

“You’re frustrating as hell you know that?”

“Yup!”

Daniel finished getting ready before Eadaoin and waited at the front of their suite as she slipped into a pair of nosebleed high stilettos.

“I’m ready to go,” she announced walking up behind him and tapping him on the shoulder.

Daniel turned around and his jaw fell open.  Eadaoin stood before him dressed in her knee length lace accented LBD, sheer stockings and her hair pulled back into a tight up do a few stray tendrils framing her face to which she had applied the lightest touch of makeup.

“Holy shit you’re gorgeous!” he exclaimed as she performed a little twirl “wow, I need a picture of you!”

Eadaoin rolled her eyes but consented to posing for him alone then for a selfie.

“Fucking hell I’m so lucky to have you you know that?” Daniel said holding her face and looking deep into her hazel eyes “every day we lounge on the couch or hit the gym together or go on a date night like this I honestly wonder why my life turned out the way it has and that you walked into my life....”

“Don’t you think it’s more you ran into my life?” Eadaoin pointed out “literally?”

“Semantics” Daniel replied rubbing his nose against hers “however we met I’m glad we did.”

Eadaoin lifted up her chin and Daniel leaned in and captured her lips with his, she ran her fingers through his carefully styled curls and returned the kiss with fervour.

“Can we stay in and do that all night?” she asked once they finally parted.

Daniel chuckled

“No I have a special night planned,” he replied taking her hand “you’ll love it I promise.”

“Lead the way.”

The loved up couple put on matching black face masks and left their room walking down the hallway to the lift but instead of pushing the down button, Eadaoin was surprised to see her boyfriend press the up button.

“Up?” she said “but there’s nothing up there but the roof.”

“Mm I know,” Daniel replied mysteriously.

“Danny what’s going on?”

“Date night!”

The lift arrived and they got in travelling up to the very topmost floor.  As soon as the door opened Eadaoin let out a gasp.  In the middle of the roof was an entertainment deck in the centre of which was a singular table set for two.  Surrounding the deck was several strongly scented flowers and ferns and icicle fairy lights hung from overhead.  Behind the table hung a huge ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’ sign and from somewhere played soft violin music.

“”Oh Dan,” she said.

“Sir, Ma’am may I offer you a champagne or a soda?” a voice asked.

Eadaoin turned her head and saw a young man in waiter’s attire carrying a tray with glasses of champagne and coke on it.

“Champagne, please,” Daniel said taking one of the flutes “darling?”

“Same thankyou,”

“If you’d like to make your way over to your table I’ll be by shortly with the menu,” the young man said.

“How did you even organise all this?” Eadaoin asked incredulously as they made their way over to the table.

“A lot of phone calls,” Daniel said putting his glass down on the table and moving to pull her chair put for her “I knew I wouldn’t be able to spend the actual day of your birthday with you til after the race and it’d likely be with other people so I rang management and asked them if they could do this.”

“It’s beautiful thankyou.”

The waiter returned a few minutes later, took their meal order and re-filled their glasses. Daniel then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small but elegantly wrapped box.

“Would you like your first present now?” he asked.

“My first present?” Eadaoin asked in surprise “you got me more than one?”

“Yeah, you’re getting another one Sunday night but this one is a bit more personal and I didn’t want to give it to you in front of a bunch of people,” Daniel replied softly “would you like it now?”

“Yes of course!”

“I thought long and hard about what to give you,” Daniel went on pushing the box across the table “I thought of giving you your own McLaren or an obnoxiously expensive piece of jewellery but I also know you’re not a superficial person and while those things are nice you’d prefer a gift with a bit of thought put into it....go on.”

“Maybe next birthday you can look at the McLaren or obnoxiously expensive piece of jewellery,” Eadaoin joked as she slipped a nail under the edge of the wrapping and broke the tape.

“Yeah maybe.”

Eadaoin carefully unwrapped the box and wiggled the top of it off.  Inside were three set of keys each attached to a Ric3 keyring.

“Keys?” she said in confusion.

“One set is for the apartment in Monaco, the second is for my apartment in Chelsea and the third is for the manor house in Twickenham when the renovations are done,” Daniel said in a shaky voice “I suppose what I’m saying is....”

“Take a deep breath,” Eadaoin instructed as his voice faltered.

Daniel followed her advice and his breathing evened out.

“These past nine months with you have been out of this world,” he said “after all the shit that went down with my ex I swore to remain forever single but meeting you had changed that, I don’t want to have to plan to see you between races.  I want to come home and have you there when you can’t come to the races with me.  I’ve decided to move back to London and make it my permanent base and I’d like you to come with me. Darling I’m asking if you’d like to move in with me, either to the Chelsea place or you can wait til the end of the year when the house in Twickenham is finished.”

Eadaoin’s jaw fell open.

“Are you serious?” she asked incredulously “you’re actually asking me to move in with you?”

“I am,” Daniel replied “your home is where your heart is and right now that’s you you’re in London.”

“But won’t you miss Monaco?” Eadaoin asked “most of your colleagues live there, Max lives there...”

“Yeah they do but I can always go there on the weekend or plan ahead to go there,” Daniel reasoned “and the last few months I’ve been spending more time in London seeing you between races than Monaco anyway so shifting back to London seems to be the obvious move, it’s easier for me to get to the MTC if I’m based in London anyway.”

“So your place in Monaco would be a holiday home-ish?” Eadaoin asked.

“Yeah that’s the plan.”

“Wow you really are serious,” Eadaoin said in amazement “I have to admit it would be nice to see you more often between races.”

“You don’t have to answer right now,” Daniel said “I know this is a big decision to move in with someone, especially after you’ve lived on your own for so long but I love you and I want to see if we can work living together.”

A lump formed in Eadaoin’s throat and a tear ran down her cheek.

“Well we pretty much do already don’t we?” she said “I mean I can’t remember the last time you went to Monaco or your Chelsea place without me there and at least since Monaco you’ve spent every break at my place and I wouldn’t be surprised if all your stuff is either at my place or your Chelsea place.”

“Yeah most of it is,” Daniel confessed “I was just thinking that, the manor house is due to be finished just after the Brazil race and that’s the place I really want to make my ba-”

“Yes,” Eadaoin answered.

“What?”

“I’ll move in with you.”

Daniel broke into one of his megawatt smiles then got up, leaned across the table and kissed her deeply on the lips.  Eadaoin returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm.

“Let’s tweak things a little though,” she said.

“I’m open to ideas.”

“Seeing as the Brazil race is only a few weeks away and that’s when you expect the manor house to be finished by how about until then you stay with me and we move there together?  New place, new start.”

“Sounds brilliant.”

“What about your GT?” Eadaoin asked “would you put it on a truck and transport it back to England or drive it over?”

“Probably put it on a truck,” Daniel replied “it’d take less time and give me more time to move actual stuff.”

Eadaoin sighed

“I honestly never thought I’d ever be in this position again,” she said “moving in with a guy, I’ve been quite happy being on my own but since we started being with you has become my preferred option.  Mum’s been asking me since Monza when we were going to dive in and get a place together.”

“Really?” Daniel asked in amusement.

“Oh yeah and I’ve always said if we ever got to that point it would happen when the time’s right, and well after tonight I suppose the time’s right.”

“I’ll admit Blake and Michael have been saying the same thing to me,” Daniel confessed “those two pricks are always giving me shit about you.”

“If I were them I’d be giving you shit about me too,” Eadaoin told him teasingly “you do tend to bang on about me quite a bit.”

Daniel blushed a magnificent shade of scarlet.

 ******************************************************************************************

After a long and leisurely evening meal Daniel stood up and held out his hand,

“Can I have this dance?” he asked with a soft smile.

Eadaoin smiled and took his hand.

“You can.” She said.

Daniel tapped the screen of his phone a few times and the music changed from miscellaneous orchestral background music to a slightly louder tune, something Eadaoin instantly recognized as the Sting version Fields of Gold.

You'll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we walk in fields of gold

“Oh I love this song!” Eadaoin murmured laying her head on Daniel’s chest and listening to his heart beat “the Eva Cassidy version was the song my parents danced to when they re-affirmed their vows four years ago.”

“Well this isn’t a wedding just a date night for us,” Daniel replied in a low voice as they swayed together “let’s do it again for the last race of the season, I’ll bring you over and we’ll do black tie.” So she took her love for to gaze awhile Upon the fields of barley In his arms she fell as her hair came down Among the fields of gold Eadaoin sighed

“That sounds lovely,” she said dreamily “if I can get away from work I’ll definitely come over.”

“I know I stay at your place or you stay at mine between races but I don’t really get to see you enough,” Daniel informed her, his nose screwing up in distaste “it’s the one thing that sucks about my job; I don’t get to see those I love enough.  I hope restrictions loosen enough this year that I can go home for Christmas.  I want to show you the farm, show you around Perth and Margaret River, introduce you to all my old school mates....”

“Whether that happens this year or next it’ll happen eventually,” Eadaoin said comfortingly as she reached up and flicked an errant curl of hair out of his eye “whatever happens we’ll spend Christmas together and it’ll be great.”

Will you stay with me? Will you be my love? Among the fields of barley We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold See the west wind move like a lover so Upon the fields of barley Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth Among the fields of gold

“Will I get to see you in some special Christmas lingerie, wherever we spend Christmas?” Daniel murmured in her ear.

Eadaoin flashed him a wink and leaned in to press her lips against his.

“That’s a surprise,” she murmured mid-kiss “if I told you what I’m getting you for Christmas there’d be no mystery in our relationship would there?”

I never made promises lightly And there have been some that I've broken But I swear in the days still left We'll walk in fields of gold We'll walk in fields of gold

Daniel sighed happily and stepped back to spin her in a lazy circle

“I suppose not,” he said placing a hand on the small of her back and pulling her close “I wish you could come to Mexico for the race there, it’s an awesome place to chill.”

“I know, I wish I could too,” Eadaoin replied, leaning into his touch “I had to beg and grovel for the two and a half weeks off to go to New York then Austin with you and I don’t like my chance of getting any more time off til Abu Dhabi at the earliest.  Even then it may only be the weekend.”

“I suppose the fact you won your firm a multi-million pound case last month helped your bargaining ability,” Daniel surmised.

“Hmm I suppose it did,” Eadaoin agreed.

Many years have passed since those summer days Among the fields of barley See the children run as the sun goes down Among the fields of gold

You'll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley You can tell the sun in his jealous sky When we walked in fields of gold When we walked in fields of gold When we walked in fields of gold

As the last notes of the song faded out Daniel grasped Eadaoin’s face in his hands and leaned in capturing her lips with his she in turn ran her hands up and down his sides, resting her hands on his hips before returning the kiss with fervour.

“How long can we stay up here?” she breathed once they parted several minutes later.

“Mmm couple’hours,” Daniel replied “d'you want to go back to our suite?”

“Eventually, not yet,” Eadaoin replied “I’m enjoying myself far too much.”

Daniel and Eadaoin spent another two hours up on the roof of their hotel, dancing, drinking and just sitting on their chairs watching the stars they then returned to their suite and spent the rest of the night entertaining each other in a more physical manner.

******************************************************************************************

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH38 “Practice and Qualifying”

A/N1:  Beware, so sweet you may develop diabetes :P

*******************************************************************************************

Eadaoin was so exhausted from her work day and late night flight into Milan that she stayed steadfastly asleep the following morning when Daniel rose early for a workout with Michael.  She only woke when he returned from the session and sat beside her on the bed and began carding his fingers through her mass of knotted curls.

“Morning sleepyhead,” he murmured leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Eadaoin stirred and cracked open an eye.

“Hey,” she said croakily “been up long?”

“Yeah, couple of hours,” Daniel replied “had a session with Michael and just got back, want to join me in the shower then have breakfast?  Have to leave for the track in a couple of hours. Its practice and qualifying day.”

Eadaoin took a deep breath and stretched luxuriously.

“You look good post workout,” she said sleepily “one of these days I’m going to fuck you in a gym.”

“A public one?” Daniel sked with a snort of laughter.

“Yeah why not?  Wouldn’t be any fun in your gym room at home would it?  The risk of being caught isn’t there.”

“I beg to differ darling,” Daniel replied pulling the sheets down and dragging the pad of his thumb over one of her nipples “sex with you anywhere is fun.  At least from my point of view.”

“Are you down for some post workout shenanigans one day though?” Eadaoin asked cheekily as she sat up.

“Of course, how about now?  We could save water and shower together.”

“You’re a horn bag Daniel Joseph Ricciardo,” Eadaoin said dryly throwing the covers aside and getting up “if you want to have sex why don’t you just say so?”

“I believe I just did sweetheart,” Daniel replied slapping her backside cheekily.

“Oh brother.”

Eadaoin wandered into the bathroom and Daniel eagerly followed stripping off as he went and leaving a trail of clothes son the floor.

“You must have been an irritating teenager to live with,” she said leaning into the shower recess and turning on the tap “leaving your clothes everywhere.”

“Dunno you’d have to ask Mum and Dad that,” Daniel replied wrapping his arms around her shoulders and molding his hips into hers “it’s good to have you here you know, I wish you could come more often.”

“Maybe next year I can,” Eadaoin replied stepping into the shower and pulling him with her “once I’m a bit more settled into my job ad have accrued enough clout to take whole weekends off I’ll follow you around the world”

“Then we can spend lazy mornings in the shower,” Daniel suggested leaning down and pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck “and some more time in Monaco between races if you’re up for it.”

“Definitely,” Eadaoin replied “and if the office are open to me working remotely we can stay there more often, I’d just need to go back to London for my gigs at Whelan’s.”

“You’d move countries for me?” Daniel asked in a soft voice.

Eadaoin turned around and held his face in her hands.

“You demonstrated willingness to do the same for me,” she said “and I love you therefore I want to do the same if we decide together that’s the right thing to do.  As I said to you that night at Paolo’s coffee shop I don’t know where we’ll end up but I know one thing for sure wherever it is an however we get there I want to do it with you.  We may have only been together for eight months but I know whatever I do I want to do it with you.”

Daniel grinned and picked Eadaoin up, pressing her against the tiled wall.

“You’re too good for me,” he said kissing her soundly on the lips “why couldn’t I have met you years ago?”

“Because it wasn’t the right time,” Eadaoin replied with a smile “and I know our paths to this point were pretty shitty but honestly coming out the other side and having you with me has been worth all the heartbreak.”

Daniel’s heart swelled in affection for the woman in his arms.

“It’s the same for me too,” he murmured against her neck.

*****************************************************************************************

“One of these days we’re going to be late to the track because you’re too busy fucking me up against the wall!”  Eadaoin scolded Daniel an hour later as they emerged from the bathroom “what has gotten into you lately?”

“You apparently,” Daniel said with a great snort of laughter.

“Oh very funny.”

“Darling you’re my girlfriend and I want to be with you,” Daniel went on as they both hurried to get dressed “in all ways.  I’m finally with someone who is as invested in me as I am with them and I can’t get enough of it.  I’m happy enough just falling asleep on the couch with you but often I’m just so into you I need all of you and I feel that most when we get busy.”

Eadaoin dropped what she was doing and strode over to him.

“You’re different this weekend,” she said pressing a kiss to his lips “what’s up?”

“I don’t know,” Daniel confessed “I really don’t, maybe it’s the universe finally giving me a fair go or I’m finally gelling with this car or my personal life is no longer a shit show so the feel good vibes I’m getting with that is bleeding through to the track. Whatever it is it’s not something I’m consciously doing.”

As soon as they were dressed and ready to go Eadaoin reached into her handbag and pulled out two shiny pieces of metal.

“I want to give you something before we go,” she said.

“Mmm?”

“I had these made,” Eadaoin went on putting one of the pieces of metal in his hand “and I’d like you to wear it if you’re allowed.”

Daniel looked down in his hand and saw a small hat pin type badge that simply said ‘Stronger together”.

“I’m going to wear one on the collar of my dress and I thought you could wear yours on the collar of your team shirt” Eadaoin explained “they’re small and unobtrusive and not immediately visible but they would be visible to the type of people who believe the bullshit in that Deux Moi article and who blow up pictures that appear on social media.  I want the world to know we are stronger together, I’m not going anywhere and Jem’s allegations are a load of shit.”

Immediately a lump formed in Daniel’s throat.

“Wow,” he said in a thick voice “of course I’ll wear it.”

And at once he affixed the pin top the collar of his McLaren polo shirt.

“How do I look?” he asked brightly.

“Spiffy AF.” Eadaoin replied with a grin “now let’s hit the track, I want to inhale some fumes!”

*******************************************************************************************

Half an hour later Daniel and Eadaoin arrived at the Monza track and immediately began attracting attention.  Michael greeted the pair just inside the paddock turnstiles and immediately began teasing them.

“You two are like F1’s Brangelina,” he joked taking Daniel’s race bags from him.

“Oh fuck off,” Daniel shot back.

“And Brangelina?” Eadaoin added “c’mon man that pairing was destined to end badly, I think Dan and I are a bit more solid than those two.”

“Yeah my bad,” Michael admitted “how about Gomez and Morticia Addams? They’ve been married for decades.”

“Oh come on man!” Daniel exclaimed as Eadaoin burst into a fit of giggles

“Gomez Ricciardo, that’d look awesome on the side of your car,” she said “McLaren could call it the Gomezmobile.”

“Okay I need to actually go and do some work,” Daniel exclaimed cutting across Michaels amused guffaws “see you after practice?”

Eadaoin leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

“Drive safe, haul ass,” she said carding her fingers through his messy curls “Gomez.”

*******************************************************************************************

Eadaoin wandered around the paddock taking in the trackside vibe for the rest of the afternoon, she watched practice from McLaren’s corporate stand above pit lane, sending pictures and videos home to her parents and Cahir then wandered down to the garage to watch qualifying itself.  Pippa and Michael were already there and greeted the redhead cheerfully.

“Hey, haven’t seen you around much today,” Pippa said embracing her “did you catch practice?  Danny went great.”

“Yeah I watched it from corporate,” Eadaoin replied “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but he’s been a different beast this weekend.  Totally different from how he sounded after Spa and Zandvoort, it’s like he’s finally fought through the funk he’s been in all season and broken out the other side.”

“Yeah we’ve noticed,” Michael replied “thought anyone that knows him has put that in part down to you, I think you underestimate the impact you’ve had on Danny Eadie, being utterly and stupidly in love with you had reset his mindset and put him on the path to a more positive mindset.”

“He wasn’t a negative Nancy before!” Eadaoin exclaimed “well I didn’t know him before; I’m only going off what you, Pip, Charlotte and his parents have said.”

“You’re right, he wasn’t,” Michael admitted “after what happened in Abu  Dhabi last year his whole team was worried about him, he was devastated.  I know you have an idea of what he felt is like but unless you saw how he was at the time you can’t comprehend it but the turn around he’s experienced since you came into his life is nothing short of amazing.  How he feels off the track has transferred to what he feels on track and I honestly think its next year we’ll see the true impact of it with a new car and all.”

“Imagine if they got married,” Pippa joked “Honey Badger world driver’s champion 2022.”

“He’ll end up better than Schumi and Lewis combined if kids come into the picture.”

“Oh come on!” Eadaoin exclaimed as the pair burst into laughter “Jesus Christ you’re as bad as Danny himself, we’ve only been together since February and you’re marrying us off with kids within twelve months?  You both need to stop drinking.”

“Eh maybe not within twelve months,” Pippa teased.

“Oh for fuck’s sake!”

******************************************************************************************

The first part of qualifying went fabulously for the McLaren team as a whole, Lando secured fourth position and Daniel was only four hundredths of a second behind him in fifth position.  The mood was buoyant and it was an upbeat driver that returned to Eadaoin in his motorhome after all his media and team commitments were met.

“Today was just the best day!” he exclaimed bouncing up the steps excitedly “before I wasn’t entirely sure but now I am that this weekend something special is going to happen I can almost guarantee it!”

“It’s good to see you so perky,” Eadaoin informed him “you all done for the day?”

“Yeah all good, the rest of the night is ours,” Daniel replied shucking off his race suit “I just need to clean up then I’m going to take you to my favourite pasta place.”

“This late?  It’s nearly eight thirty.” Eadaoin pointed out.

“Yeah this place stays open til midnight during race week,” Daniel replied “we can get takeaway back to the hotel if you’re not up to eating out.”

“Nah I’m all good, go change.”

Just before 9PM Daniel emerged from the bedroom of his motorhome this time clad in a variety of his own merch, the ‘stronger together’ pin attached to the collar of his shirt.

“Fancy driving?” he asked dangling the keys of the Spider in front of Eadaoin.

Her eyes widened.

“Are you for real?” she asked.

“Of course I am,” Daniel replied with a grin “and it’s not because of that offer you made at the airport, I know you have a deep admiration of the Prancing Horse and it’s on your bucket list to drive one so now is your opportunity.”

Eadaoin took the keys and seized his lips with hers.

“I meant what I said at the airport,” she murmured “maybe we can explore that line of entertainment back at the hotel?”

Daniel grinned.

“Sounds good,” he said cheekily smacking her backside “let’s go.”

*******************************************************************************************

A/N2:  A cute little filler chapter for you all today.  It’s Christmas Day here in Australia tomorrow so have a festive time whatever you celebrate!

[mysticalnightenthusiast]

S.N.A.F.U- A Daniel Ricciardo FanFic CH27- Le Castellet

A week later Daniel and Eadaoin left the apartment and headed to Gatwick airport ahead of their flight to France for that year’s French Grand Prix.

“So are we flying commercially or a pooncy private jet?” Eadaoin asked as she parked her car in the long term parking shed “you never tell me these things,”

“If I told you it would run the surprise,” Daniel replied with a grin as he unfastened his seatbelt “I know before Monaco you hadn’t been to a race since before Covid and I want to make the experience special for you.”

“You sweet man,” Eadaoin said with a happy sigh “babe what makes going to the races special is you, going with you not flying in fancy private jets or swanning around amongst the rich and famous.  I wouldn’t care if we were going in a bus.”

“Oh good because we are going in a bus,” Daniel replied with a grin.

Eadaoin rolled her eyes.

“You are an idiot,” she said dryly.

The pair retrieved their luggage from the backseat of the car and made their way into the airport, as she suspected Daniel led her past all the commercial check in desks to where the private jet check in desks were located.

“I knew it!” Eadaoin exclaimed as they headed toward a desk above which a ‘Peregrine Corporate Aviation’ sign hung “you’re crazy.”

“Yup, crazy for you sweetheart.”

“Arse kisser.”

Daniel helped her check in then took her to a nearby bistro for a coffee.

“Our flight isn’t direct to Le Castellet,” he said showing her his boarding pass “We’re flying here to Nice then Valtteri, Lewis, Charles, Pierre and Max get on and we head to Le Castellet. Lando should be getting on the plane here too.”

“Did all you guys chip in or something?” Eadaoin asked.

“Yeah we usually do for the French one,” Daniel replied as their coffees were delivered to their table “though I usually get on in Monaco, but I’ve been spending more and more time in London of late.”

“Having loads of sex,” Eadaoin murmured from behind her mug.

Daniel flashed her one of his trademark megawatt smiles

“Yup having loads of sex,” he said with a grin “I’m going to miss all of that once you go back to London and I head to Austria.”

“I doubt it’s going to shrivel up and drop off,” Eadaoin told him with a chuckle “when you get back after the Styrian GP we can properly celebrate your birthday then.”

“Oh yeah that’s coming up!” Daniel said “I forgot!”

“How do you forget your own birthday?”

“Well darling you may have noticed I’ve been occupied with more important matters of late,” Daniel replied letting the innuendo hung in the air.

“The fact you’re getting good pussy should not make you forget your birthday,” Eadaoin teased “I’ve been getting good dick and I haven’t forgotten my birthday.”

“You forgot my name, several times,” Daniel said with a snort “especially when I-.”

“Yeah yeah, quit while you’re ahead buddy,” Eadaoin said cutting him off “and I didn’t forget your name I couldn’t say it, there’s a big diff.”

“I hope we can indulge a little in that line of entertainment whilst we’re in France,” Daniel said in a low voice.

“Maaaaaybe,” Eadaoin replied “but not if it’s going to be a distraction.  You drive a car at over three hundred k’s an hour and I don’t want you thinking about bending me over the kitchen bench or you’ll end up in a wall.”

“You don’t have to worry, once my suit goes on my head’s in the game,” Daniel responded “it’s after that that it takes supreme effort not to think about dicking y-”

“Shhhhhhhh!” Eadaoin hissed pressing an index finger to his lips “and don’t be so crass.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

“That’s ripe coming from you,” he said in amusement “you’ve got a right potty mouth.”

“Yeah well that’s your fault isn’t?”

“Ha!”

An hour and a half later a boarding announcement came over the P.A system so Daniel and Eadaoin left their booth in the café and made their way back to the departure gate from which their jet would leave.  Lando was there, dressed in McLaren team merchandise head down and scrolling something on his phone.

“And you think I’m the one with my nose in my phone of late?” Daniel said playfully punching his teammate’s arm to grab his attention “are you turbo texting a giiiiirl?”

“Danny be nice!” Eadaoin said scolding her partner as he let out a snort of laughter “Lando ignore him, he’s being a dick.”

“No I am not ‘turbo texting’ a giiiiiirl,” Lando informed his teammate dryly “just a difficult level on Match 3D.”

“Well that’s boring,” Daniel responded as they all lined up to have their boarding passes scanned “what am I going to hang shit on you about now?”

“You’d make my life hell if I was turbo texting a girl wouldn’t you?” Lando asked dryly.

“Of course, its in my contract to give any team mate I have shit,” Daniel replied in amusement “since I started in the game it’s been in my contract, Vergne, Seb, Kvyat, Max, Hulkenberg and Ocon, they’ll all tell you.”

“Is he drunk?” Lando asked Eadaoin “or high?”

“I have no idea,” she replied with an eye roll holding out her hand and allowing Daniel to link fingers with hers “no idea at all.”

The trio left the departure lounge and headed across the tarmac to where a sleek and luxurious business jet stood waiting for them.

“That thing’s bigger than the one I flew on last time!” Eadaoin told Daniel, raising her voice as to be heard over the scream of a nearby jet’s engine.

“You like big things huh?” Daniel asked leaning in so only she could hear him.

“Oh brother.”

Lando boarded the plane first followed by Eadaoin and Daniel.  Lando took a seat at the front of the plane and Daniel led Eadaoin down the back on the left side.

“You can have the window seat,” he said.

“Thanks, so where are we staying?” Eadaoin asked edging past him and dropping down into the window seat.

“Hotel and Spa Du Castellet,” Daniel replied in a heavy French accent “I’ve not stayed there before but Max and Kelly have so I booked it for this week.  Max and Kelly are staying there too so you girls can hit the spa and pamper yourself whilst Max and I are off working then I can relax with you for a couple of days before heading off to Austria.”

“Wish I could come to the Austria races but I’m going to have to work,” Eadaoin said, screwing up her nose in distaste “and the second one’s right on your birthday too.  I really wanted to spend your birthday with you.”

Daniel shoved his backpack under his seat then leaned in and pecked her on the lips.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said “I’ll have other birthdays and we’ll celebrate them together.”

“Yeah but they’ll never be the first one together,” Eadaoin pointed out as the flight attendant closed the jet’s door “birthdays are a big thing for me, I like to celebrate them with the people I love.”

Daniel leaned in a pressed a kiss to her temple.

“We’ll figure things out,” he said as the jet’s engines roared to life.

Just over an hour later Daniel, Eadaoin and Lando’s jet touched down at Nice Airport, it quickly parked and within twenty minutes the new passengers began boarding.  The first one to board was Max, closely followed by Valtteri and Lewis.  Daniel waved and greeted his colleagues enthusiastically.

“Super Max!” he called fist bumping his friend as Kelly and Eadaoin greeted each other cheerfully “what’s doing brother?”

“Just come off a week long coke and hookers bender, you?” the young Dutchman replied with a snort.

“Vodka and coke, no hookers,” Daniel replied bursting into a fit of giggles as both Kelly and Eadaoin rolled their eyes at their partners “summer break I might branch out though.”

“Is it painful to be such an idiot?” Eadaoin asked dryly as Charles LeClerc and Pierre Gasly boarded the jet “because it is from my point of view.”

“Mine too,” Kelly added.

“You two have zero sense of humour!”  Max declared dropping down into the seat across the aisle from them.

“On the contrary Miúdo” (babe) Kelly said “both Eadaoin and I are hilarious; we can make jokes that don’t involve drugs and hookers.”

“Who’s got drugs and hookers?” Lando called from the front of the plane.

“I swear it’s a disease,” Eadaoin said to Kelly as the entire plane erupted into roars of laughter

 *******************************************************************************************

Barely more than half an hour later the jet touched down in Le Castellet everyone grabbed their hand luggage and made their way into the terminal.  Daniel and his fellow drivers were hailed by several fans for autograph and photo opportunities before making their way into the luggage collection are where Pippa was waiting for Daniel, Eadaoin and Lando.

“Bonjour à vous deux, bienvenue à La Castellet!” (Hello you two, welcome to Le Castellet )

“Er, enchante?” Daniel replied with a grin.

Pippa rolled her eyes.

“Danny I’ve been your P.A since you were with Toro Rosso and enchante is still the only French word you know?” she said in amused exasperation “you should at least know the conversational basics by now.”

“Well I know how to say fu-” the curly haired Australian began.

“Yeah well swear words aren’t unusually the said things in polite conversation are they?” Pippa responded dryly as Lando appeared looking harried.

“You alright kiddo?” Pippa asked in concern.

“Fangirls,” Lando managed to get out “how d'you deal with them Dan?  They’re mental.”

“Just got to be firm, polite and stuff some cotton balls in your ears if you come across the screamy ones,” Daniel replied.

“I just had one try and grope me, jesus!” Lando exclaimed “how’d they know what flight we were on?  Our flight isn’t on publicly listed manifestos.”

“In my experience they tend to hang around the airport all day til they recognize someone,” Daniel said sympathetically “next time we fly anywhere stick with us, Eadie can scare off anyone with her death glare.”

“I usually travel with John but he had some family stuff back home to deal with and can’t come til tomorrow morning,” Lando said as they all collected their luggage “let’s go I need some coffee!”

Within an hour Daniel and Eadaoin arrived at their accommodation and were settling into their suite.

“This place feels like its in the middle of nowhere!” Eadaoin exclaimed as she dumped her bag on the bed and made her way out onto the balcony overlooking a nearby vineyard and rose garden “I’ve only ever been to Paris and Calais and those parts of France are busy big cities.”

“I think we’ll be afforded a bit more privacy here too than Le Castellet itself,” Daniel said walking up behind her and wrapping his muscular arms around her “that’s why Max and Kelly are staying here, Max said he can come here and while people know who he and Kelly are they don’t bother him.  If Kelly wasn’t travelling with him we’d probably share a suite at the hotel the rest of the drivers usually stay at.  He suggested here because he knows you aren’t used to being in the public so much and this place is too far out of the main part of Le Castellet for the hardcore fans to come out here.”

“I’m not used to it yet but eventually I will be,” Eadaoin confessed “and really it’s not so much me I’m worried about I just respect you want to keep your private life private and if that means staying a little way out of town and not being affectionate in public than so be it.”

Daniel turned Eadaoin around and pulled her closer.

“I just want us to stay us for as long as possible,” he murmured, stroking her hair “I know the longer we are together the less likely it is your identity is going to stay on the down low and the less likely we’ll have as much privacy as we do now.”

“Talk to Kimi and Seb those guys are married they’ll be able to tell you how to navigate having a normal love life with your working life,” Eadaoin suggested “you’re good mates with Seb, or we could just wing it and deal with things as they come.”

“Hmm let’s see how things go for the time being.”

*******************************************************************************************

The 2021 French Grand Prix was a relatively good weekend for Daniel, after qualifying for the race in less than desirable tenth the Australian improved to finish sixth barely over a second behind Max who won his third race in a row. Lando finished immediately in front of Daniel in fifth and the team’s successful outing boosted morale ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix the following weekend. On the night of the race he celebrated by going to dinner with Max, Kelly and Eadaoin then hitting the local clubs before spending two more days in Le Castellet alone with Eadaoin.  Eventually though he had to leave for Austria and Eadaoin had to return to London to start her new job in the middle of the week.

“I really wish I could come to Austria with you,” Eadaoin told him as they waited at Nice airport to catch their respective flights “but I just can’t, not with the new job.  We’ll celebrate your birthday when you come home okay?”

Daniel held her face in his hands and kissed her deeply on the lips.

“Alright,” he said “I’ll ring every night okay?  Have a good start to your job, I hope you get a light case load and your colleagues aren’t a bunch of arseholes.”

Eadaoin laughed.

“Nah they’re all good, I’ve worked with them before,” she said returning his kiss with equal enthusiasm “text me your details of your flight home and I’ll pick you up.”

“Yeah alright s-”

“I’m really sorry to interrupt guys but that was our boarding call mate,” Michael informed Daniel awkwardly “we’ve got to go.”

“Look after him huh?” Eadaoin said to Michael embracing the personal trainer briefly.

“Always the priority luv,” Michael said cheerfully “”good luck at your new job huh?”

“Thanks, I’ll try and have fun, though it won’t be as fun as seeing you torture this one with burpees and wall sits.”

“Can you not mention burpees and wall sits in front of him please?” Daniel asked in mock anger.

“Oh don’t be a soft cock you do wall sits and burpees fine,” Eadaoin teased pecking him on the lips again “now go and catch your flight, I’ll see you after the Styrian GP, love you.”

Daniel grinned.

“Love you too darling.”

 *******************************************************************************************