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Charles looks at himself in the mirror. His hands rest delicately on either side of his waist. Max is sprawled on the bed, alternating his attention between the original version of The Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales—a gift from Kimi and Seb—and his omega dressed in nothing but his shirt and socks.
"What are you looking for?" Max eventually asks when he notices Charles so focused on examining his neck. - "Does the bite hurt?"
"No," Charles mutters without moving his hand away from the scar. It feels sensitive. Swollen. Like in the first days after mating. -"I think you need to scent me again."
"Are you feeling neglected?" Max asks, worried. The book is immediately forgotten as he gets off the bed and joins Charles in front of the mirror. Gently, he tilts the omega's chin up and leans in to the sensitive patch of skin, sniffing and scenting him. It smells sweet. Sweeter than ever. Sweet vanilla. - "Better?" he asks, his face still pressed against Charles' neck.
Charles sighs. He's been shivering ever since he felt the first flick of his alpha's tongue. He tries to nod, but his legs are trembling. Another heat? Andrea has his schedule and would have informed him if another heat was approaching. Seb would know too—Seb had a calendar tracking both his and Lando's heats from the start. - "I think the pups aren’t the only ones affected by the recent upheavals," he jokes.
"You smell amazing," Max comments, squeezing Charles' waist. Charles gasps at the pressure.
"I'm not ready to go again, Alpha. I'm… still sore from yesterday," he whispers, his cheeks tinged pink. Max stops peppering kisses along his shoulder and grins like the Joker. - "Jackass," Charles mutters.
"That’s not what you called me when I was between—"
"Dam! Sire!" Charles squeals, shoving Max away just in time for Ollie to burst in with Kimi in tow. Max rubs his forehead, growling in frustration, and flops face-down onto the bed, ignoring the pups’ and his omega's stares. - "Did we interrupt something?"
"No, my love," Charles forces a smile. Max growls into the pillow. Kimi laughs at how grumpy Max looks. George was always saying his older brother resembled a bear. - "What do you need?"
"Help with biology homework," Ollie mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. Max growls louder.
"Stop that, Sire!" Ollie pouts, stomping his foot.
Charles rubs his temples.
"Max, enough!" he scolds his fiancé, cupping the pup’s cheeks in his hands. "Go with Kimi to the living room. Sire and I will get dressed and help you in a minute," he promises. The pups waste no time, dashing out and slamming the door behind them.
"Seriously, Max? You didn’t lock the damn door?"
"Me? You’re the one who came down in the middle of the night for blueberries!"
"And you didn’t think to check?" Charles shouts back, throwing his shirt at the alpha’s face. Max doesn’t even respond.
"You damn pervert!" Charles grumbles when he realizes why the alpha has gone silent. A groan escapes the omega as he adjusts the bracelet. -"Did Georgie leave a bottle for Kimi? I might need to nurse Ollie soon."
"Mm-hmm," Max hums, licking his lips and nodding. The alpha’s eyebrow arches. "But you've been… more sensitive than usual lately, haven’t you?"
"Huh?" Charles finishes pulling on a cashmere nursing top with a low neckline. He frowns at Max. - "What are you saying?"
"The frequency of your complaints about breast pain has increased," Max explains mechanically. Charles rolls his eyes.-"Are you sure it’s not better to move up your monthly check-up?"
"What on earth do you think, Max? I do self-exams twice a month," Charles hisses. "I’m a lactating omega. It’s normal for my chest to hurt." Max bites his tongue but nods. He won’t argue—not when his stubborn omega is the one with the final say and a mind already made up. - "I’m done with exams. I’m sick of them."
Max shrinks back.
The negative test. Charles had told him about it the morning they arrived in Monaco, right after throwing up all his breakfast and demanding fresh blueberries. Max had joked that the omega might be pregnant, and Charles had snapped. Max doesn’t want to think about what his inner alpha felt.
"Where’s Oscar?" Charles asks as he greets all the pups scattered around the living room table. Max wonders where all these kids came from when his brother had only dropped off Kimi.
"He went to play padel with Logie, Liam, and Franco," Ollie replies calmly. Charles nods, kneeling beside him to check the homework.
"Sire? Aren’t you going to sit?"
"Sit here, Maxie!" Kimi calls excitedly, pointing to the empty seat beside him. Max huffs but sits down. - "Here!" Kimi shoves a stack of papers into the alpha’s lap.
"Hey, hey!" Max warns, placing the papers on the table and catching everyone’s attention. "Don’t think Charles and I are going to do your homework for you. I want to see everyone working here. We’re only here to help with specific questions."
"But Sire…"
"Oliver James."
Ollie shrinks and whines. Charles coos softly. The pressure in the omega’s chest makes him wince and fiddle with his bracelet straps. Maybe he should follow George’s example and just accept corsets to keep everything in place. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices the other pups’ backpacks and insulated bags.
"Did you all put your bottles in the fridge?" he asks, concerned. The still-nursed pups glance at each other and shake their heads, looking a little ashamed. Max huffs.
"Alright, let’s take care of that first," Charles says, rising swiftly.
"Can we have a snack first, Mr. Leclerc?" a voice Charles isn’t used to hearing speaks from his left. For two seconds, he swears he’s looking at a younger version of his teammate.
"Mr. Leclerc?"
"Sorry, sorry," Charles apologizes, flustered. "You look a lot like Carlos. I got distracted," he admits, prompting Ollie to laugh and Max to tease.
"I think it’s a good idea. Full stomachs make for better study sessions."
"But Dam always says full stomachs make you sleepy!" Kimi protests. Max huffs and picks up his nephew like a sack of potatoes.
"Maxie!"
"Your Dam is just lazy. He only says that because all it took was for our Dam to nurse him, and he’d fall asleep," Max accuses. Kimi soaks up the information like a sponge.
"You’re just like him."
"No, I’m not," Kimi retorts with a pout. "And I’m going to tell my Dam you’re talking about him again."
"Are you?" Max teases.
"No," the pup admits, deflating his scowl and settling in the Dutchman’s arms. "But only if I can have chocolate cookies later."
"You’re a mini Georgie," Max concludes, adjusting his nephew on his hip and turning on the bottle warmer. "How many of you are still using sippy cups?" Charles gives Max a disbelieving look and grabs a baking tray.
"What are you going to do with that?"
"Heat the bottles in a water bath in the oven, genius," Charles grumbles, arranging the five bottles in order. "50°C," he instructs. Max obeys.
"I swear, you alphas don’t think."
"Dam says that about Sire all the time," Jack quips, perching on the counter. Charles shoos him away with a quick tap.
"Can we watch a movie?"
"After homework, if there’s time," the omega negotiates. Ollie approaches Charles, hugging his Dam’s waist and resting his head on his shoulder. Charles coos, kissing his forehead. The other pups exchange glances.
"When is this homework due, anyway?"
"Three days from now," Ollie whispers, nuzzling his Dam tenderly. "You smell so sweet… like Oscie said," he murmurs reflexively. Charles smiles, running his fingers through the pup’s curls.
"You’re developing a sharper sense of smell, mon bébé. It’s normal for scents to feel more intense."
"Mm-hmm." Ollie agrees without letting go.
"Charlie…" Paul calls timidly, approaching his pseudo-parent’s brother with hesitation. Charles looks at him kindly.
"Can I have hugs too?"
"Of course, petit," the omega says, pulling the blond boy into a hug. Ollie grumbles softly but agrees to share his Dam’s embrace.
"Dam sent a message reminding us that this week’s pack dinner is at our house," Paul adds.
"And your Dam is panicking because he doesn’t know what to cook, isn’t he?"
"Mm-hmm," the Estonian agrees, burying his nose on the other side of the omega’s neck and inhaling his sweet scent with satisfaction. All the tension of the day—classes, training—melts away. Besides his Dam’s scent, Charles’ is one of the best he’s ever smelled. It smells like comfort.
"You’re going to get both of them scent-drunk like this," Max teases, watching the pups nearly dozing off while being swayed gently in place by the Monegasque. Charles smiles proudly and shrugs.
"I thought you two were too grown-up for naps, pups," he teases gently.
"Not napping," Ollie mumbles with no energy. Paul agrees with a soft huff.
"I’m hungry," Isack whines, rocking in his chair.
"You’re always hungry, mate," Pepe retorts with a quiet laugh. Isack kicks him in response.
Max clears his throat pointedly. Isack shrinks back, while Kimi grumbles because his uncle stopped rocking him and pulls on his ear lightly.
"You’re just as spoiled as your Dam, you little rascal," the Dutchman mutters, shifting his weight between his feet again. A pout forms on little Kimi’s face when he’s placed on the floor. Max opens the oven door. "Is it ready, Charles?"
"Take out the tray and test it," the omega replies. Max obeys, though he grimaces.
"And?"
"Seems fine to me."
"Let me check. Bring it here," Charles instructs. A shiver runs through him, and a slight grimace crosses his face as he tests the temperature. "It’s good. Alright, let’s head to the living room. Isack, petit, there are sesame biscuits in the second drawer, and we have oat milk in the fridge," he points out in French to the older pup.
"Thanks, Charlie," the French-speaking pup says, jumping up to gather the items. "Can I eat in the living room while the pups drink their bottles?"
"You’re a pup too."
"I’m a future alpha."
"Or beta, or omega. You can’t predict your designation," Pepe retorts weakly. "Thank you, Mr. Leclerc."
"Just Charles, Pepe," Charles insists. He sits on the couch, and his pup immediately climbs into his lap, tugging at his shirt.
"Hold on a second, Ollie," he says, settling Paul on his other side. Lando's pup wrinkles his nose at the bottle handed to him. - "Come on, Paul. I know it’s not the same as having your Dam, but it’s just for now," Charles coos, holding the bottle to the pup’s lips.
Paul sniffles but nestles against the "uncle" and begins drinking quietly. Ollie chirps softly, demanding attention.
"Dam. Ollie now!" he insists.
Charles sighs but adjusts him until his shirt sleeve slides down. Ollie coos happily and quickly undoes his Dam’s bracelet. Max chuckles softly as he watches. A full laugh escapes the alpha when he sees his pup snatch the scented cloth from behind the pillow where Charles had been leaning.
"This is why we never know where those cloths end up," the blonde comments quietly so as not to disturb the peaceful moment.
"I’m sure he has about four of them stashed under the bed mattress," Charles replies in the same tone.
"We’ll lift the mattress tonight, then," Max proposes. In his lap, Kimi chokes and coughs.
"Hey… easy, hungry boy," Max teases gently. Kimi sniffs imperiously, not stopping his feeding, and huffs when Max nudges the bottle at his lips to make him slow down.
"You need to learn to listen, little Kimi," Max scolds before turning to Pepe, who’s curled up next to Isack. "Are you sure you don’t want us to prepare a bottle for you, little one?"
"I’m not that small of a pup," Pepe mutters, blushing and breaking his sesame biscuit in his hand. Max and Charles exchange glances. Jack is alternating between his bottle and the biscuits. Isack has sweet syrup smudged on his cheeks, and Fred drinks his bottle peacefully, simply enjoying the company.
"Jack, buddy, focus on finishing your bottle before it gets cold," Max warns. Jack blatantly ignores him. - "Don’t make me call Yuki."
"Sorry, Maxie." The pup’s attitude shifts instantly. Charles shakes his head affectionately. Ollie pats his chest in annoyance. The omega sighs and shifts him to the other side. Max doesn’t miss the jealous glance the Franco-Japonese pup throws.
"Come here," the alpha commands, patting the empty space beside him. Without hesitation, Jack obeys.
"Now be a good pup," Max says paternally, guiding the bottle to the pup’s lips. Jack doesn’t respond, too happy to cuddle up against the blonde.
"He’s so much like Yuki…"
"And Pierre is just as stubborn," Charles points out gently. Paul whines, tapping his hand for more milk.
"Easy, easy, mon chéri," Charles coos.
"I think we should wrap this up and get them down for a nap. What do you think, Charles?" Max suggests, noticing how one by one, the pups are getting drowsy.
"Our pup’s been asleep for ages," Charles chuckles softly. Carefully, he removes the bottle from Paul, whose head slumps onto his shoulder.
"And this one too."
Max can’t help but think the sweet vanilla scent wafting from Charles is a major factor in everyone’s relaxed state—so much so that even Max feels at ease.
"Off the floor, pups," Charles coos at Isack, Fred, and Pepe, who are sprawled across the coffee table whispering. Isack’s eyes glint with defiance, but it’s a losing battle against sleep. Once they curl up on the massive sofa in the Leclerc-Verstappen mansion, nestled between Paul and Jack, they’re all asleep. -"Alpha? Oh Max, you too?" Charles remarks, exasperated.
"Damn, you’re hot," Charles chuckled at the wolf whistle his brother let out from the top of the stairs. "Your boobs got bigger, didn’t they? Did you get implants?" he teased lightly, poking at his brother’s swollen neckline. Max laughed and kissed his brother-in-law’s temple before heading off to find Carlos.
"My hormones are all over the place," Charles said with a grimace. "Ollie only nurses at most three times a day now, but my body acts like it’s every three hours," he complained, adjusting his bracelet again.
"Dam bought me lactation tea," Lando murmured softly as they walked toward the kitchen. Charles raised an eyebrow in surprise. Lando’s lips turned downward at the corners, and his scent wilted. "I can’t produce enough milk without stimulants."
"Lando, a lot of omegas need supplementation—"
"The suppressors partially damaged Paul’s digestive system. The doctors think we should limit his solid intake for at least a few months," he sighed, scratching the back of his neck and gazing at the ceiling. "The pup went a whole week hungry, Cha. A week. He lost five kilos! And it took Dam telling me to pump and check how much I was producing…" He rubbed his eyes angrily. Charles pulled him into a hug. "I feel like a failure."
"If you’re mean to yourself again, I’ll warm your backside," Charles warned with all the authority of an older brother. Lando let out a strangled sob and buried his nose in his brother’s chest.
"I’ll freeze my milk and bring it over for you to give your pup… Lando, hey!" he said, cupping the face of his teary brother. "I’m your brother—that’s what brothers do."
"You always save me."
"You’re my Lala," Charles replied softly. "Until the anise tea starts working, I’ll help you feed your pup," he promised.
"How do you know it’s anise tea?"
"You’re not the first Dam with these issues, Lando."
"You?"
"Our Dam, when he started nursing me."
"Really?"
"Oui."
"Wow, but he never told me that," Lando muttered, opening the kitchen door and letting the Monegasque in. "Alpha? What are you doing?" he asked curiously.
"Love," Carlos tensed. Charles read the guilt on his alpha’s face before even approaching him.
"What do you have there, Carlos Sainz?" Lando hissed, stepping forward quickly. Carlos flinched. Lando’s eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the can. "Is that formula?"
"Love—"
"Throw that out right now!" Lando yelled angrily. Charles could feel his brother’s outrage and completely understood it. After all, he had flown across countries to nurse his own pup. "Where the hell is your brilliant alpha brain?"
"The pup is always hungry, Lando!" Carlos yelled back. Charles whistled sharply. Lando stepped back, looking terribly hurt. Max slapped his forehead and wrapped an arm around his omega’s waist, holding him in place. "He needs to eat, and if formula is the only way to make sure he’s nourished and healthy, then I’ll buy it."
"The only way…" Lando repeated, heartbroken. His eyes shone with unshed tears. Charles whistled again. Max growled softly to silence his omega. Charles bristled but couldn’t override the alpha’s command. Lando blinked.
"You know what? Take that crap and shove it up your big alpha ass!" he shouted. "And if I find out you’ve been giving that to my pup… I’ll pour the whole thing into your Golf’s gas tank!"
"Easy, schat!" Max pleaded, worried as he watched his omega sway unsteadily when released from his arms. Charles ignored him, chasing after Lando.
"Do you think he’d actually do it?"
"I wouldn’t test him," Max advised. "Charles broke the keys to all my cars while I was in Holland as revenge."
"They scare me."
"They’re Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen’s pups."
Lando sighed as Paul nursed peacefully in Charles’s lap. The pup’s face was covered by a blanket scented with his Dam’s fragrance, and his hand clung tightly to Lando’s despite his iron grip on Charles’s shirt.
"You’re amazing," Lando murmured.
"This little one is," Charles replied, smiling down at Paul. The Estonian pup timidly returned the smile but didn’t let go. Charles felt a pang of sympathy. He could sense how desperate the pup was for more milk. "It’s okay, honey. Take as much as you need."
"Charlie’s got plenty of milk, huh?" Lando teased, leaning over to kiss Paul’s flushed cheek. Paul babbled, and a thin stream of milk dribbled down, making the omegas coo.
"Do you remember Dam when it was us?"
"I remember Sire had to burp you, or no one would sleep," Charles chuckled softly. Lando nodded, blushing.
"And you used to throw the worst tantrums anytime Dam ate fish because you swore the milk would taste fishy."
"You weren’t much better," Lando shot back, still blushing. "You were a possessive little idiot with Dam… you even bit him once."
"You were stealing the attention that used to be just mine."
"Silly," Lando teased.
"Bwoah… your scent is sweet."
"You’re the umpteenth person to point that out today, Sire," Charles sighed, pulling away from the Finnish alpha’s hug. Kimi scrutinized him suspiciously.
"Yes? Do you want my jacket?" Kimi asked, his face entirely serious. Charles blinked in confusion. - "Smell it," Kimi instructed, offering the sleeve. A purring sound of appreciation escaped Charles as he felt the soft wool texture. -"Go on, wear it," Kimi insisted, shedding the jacket and wrapping it around his pup.
"Thank you, Sire," Charles purred, grinning widely. Kimi kissed his forehead affectionately before Charles joined a circle of other packmates. The Prime Alpha walked over to his omega, wrapping an arm around his waist. He didn’t even flinch when Fernando teased him.
"Mein Liebling?" Seb called, puzzled. His alpha wasn’t usually this affectionate in public, let alone sniffing him in front of the entire pack. "What’s going on?"
"Have you smelled our Charlie?"
"Huh?" Seb blinked in confusion. "What about his scent?"
"It’s sweet."
"Well, obviously, Alpha. He smells like vanilla," Seb chuckled. Kimi didn’t laugh. Fernando’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Kimi." Seb’s laughter stopped abruptly. "He took the test, didn’t he?"
"You can’t mistake the scent, Omega," Kimi replied seriously. "Our pup is carrying a puppy. I can smell it clearly."
"It could just be his hormones acting up, Kimi. He told us they’ve been out of balance."
"Bwoah, no," Kimi huffed petulantly. "Look at him. He’s glowing, and that idiot Verstappen hasn’t even covered him with his scent. Stupid alpha pup."