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Chapter Text

Max and Charles had been dating for a number of years when Max came to the decision that he wanted to be with Charles forever and he wanted to propose to him. He had been debating about it for a while but he finally decided that it was the right time. He had then taken forever to pick a ring that would be perfect for Charles. After going to many jewellery stores and dragging various people to look at many rings, he found the one that was perfect for his boyfriend. He then had to decide on how he was actually going to propose. After a million phone calls with his mum and Victoria, he decided that like the ring, he was going to keep things plain and simple. He would have dinner and a movie night with Charles before he would then propose at the end of the night.

Initially, Max kept on putting it off because he was so nervous and he couldn’t propose as he couldn’t find the words. When it came to the day where they eventually had time off together for a change and no other plans, Max decided that he would propose that night because if he didn’t propose then, it would never happen. He didn’t think that he could just wait around for Charles to propose so he had decided that he would do it himself.

Charles was concerned about Max during the night because his boyfriend appeared to be nervous and he wasn’t sure why. He was stumbling around when he was preparing dinner and he nearly dropped Charles’ plate onto his lap. He also kept on fidgeting when they were watching movies on the couch. After the second film had finished, Charles decided to speak to Max. Max stood up to grab the remote.

“Right, what do you want to watch now?”

Charles gently took a hold of Max’s hand and forced him to sit down again. Max frowned but Charles just looked concerned.

“What?” Asked Max.

“Is everything okay? You’ve been acting funny all night.”

Max sighed and nervously ran a hand through his hair.

“I’ve been really nervous.” He said, quietly.

It was now Charles’ turn to frown.

“Why?”

Max shifted around and then he pulled out the ring box from his back pocket. Charles gasped and stared at Max for a moment before his gaze fell onto the ring box.

“I had a whole speech planned and everything but I can’t do it so I’ll just ask.” Said Max.

The Dutchman opened up the box to reveal a silver ring.

“Charles Leclerc, will you marry me?”

Silence filled the room and as the period of time stretched where Charles said nothing, Max began to feel sick.

“Charles?”

The Monegasque’s mouth opened and closed on a couple of occasions but nothing came out.

A realisation hit Max, Charles didn’t want to marry him. He had ruined things and now it was over.

Without another word, Max let out a sob and then rushed out of the apartment. He didn’t hear Charles calling out his name as he ran out.

Max ended up running down to the harbour and he sat on the bench on his own and cried as he clutched the ring box in his hands.

Daniel and Jev had been out at the gym and had gone out for coffee before they decided to go for a walk down by the harbour. It was whilst they were out walking that Daniel spotted Max. He frowned and stopped walking for a moment and Jev stopped when he realised that Daniel wasn’t alongside him.

“Max?”

The Aussie then walked ahead of Jev so he could reach Max. It wasn’t until he was close that he realised that Max was crying and distressed.

“Max! What’s wrong?”

The Dutchman looked up as he was startled and he sniffed then wiped at his face as he was embarrassed. As Daniel was standing in front of Max, Jev eventually caught up and stood at Daniel’s side.

“Are you okay, Max?” Asked Jev.

Max sniffed again.

“No.”

He let out another sob.

Daniel sat down next to him whilst Jev sat down at the other side of the Dutchman.

“What’s happened?” Asked Daniel.

Jev then spotted the box in Max’s hands.

“What’s that?”

Max huffed.

“I proposed to Charles but he didn’t say anything.”

“You proposed to Charles?”

“Well, I tried to and then I got upset so I ran out.”

“Maybe there’s a reason he didn’t say anything, maybe he was stunned and overwhelmed.” Said Jev.

Max shrugged.

“Maybe you’ve let your head and your thoughts get the better of you and you’ve been overthinking it.” Said Daniel.

“Fuck, I’m such an idiot.”

“I think Charles probably just needed a minute to process. It’s not like he said no.” Said Daniel.

“I didn’t give him the chance to say no, I just left.”

“You should go home, Max, I bet Charles is worried about you.”

Max pulled out his phone and he could see that he had a few missed calls from Charles. Jev caught sight of the missed calls and he smiled.

“See, he’s worried about you.”

“I need to go home.” Insisted Max.

He jumped off and then ran back down the harbour in the direction he had been in not so long ago.

Daniel and Jev turned and smiled at one another.

“I hope that Charles will say yes.” Said Jev.

“Me too, otherwise, I’ll kill him.”

Jev rolled his eyes but he smiled as Daniel began to laugh. They could only hope that they were right and there had been a valid reason as to why Charles hadn’t said yes right away.

Chapter Text

Although Max had started running when he left the harbour, it soon slowed down to a run when the apartment was in sight. He took in a deep breath before he made his way towards the apartment. Eventually, his legs moved and he walked towards the apartment complex. The Dutchman quickly realised that he didn't have his keys to get into the building. He then chose to ring his neighbour to let him into the complex. Thankfully, his neighbour let him in so Max didn't have to answer any awkward questions or explain why he'd run out without his keys.

Once Max was in the building, he took a slow walk to his apartment. He could only hope that Charles hadn't left and he was still there. He then reached his front door and he rang the doorbell. Eventually, the door opened to reveal Charles. The Monegasque let out a sigh of relief before he grabbed Max's arm and pulled him towards him to hug him.

“Oh my god, Max! You just ran out on me! What the hell were you thinking? I've been so worried!”

Max wrapped his own arms around Charles and sighed.

“I'm sorry, I thought you were rejecting me.”

Charles chose that moment to pull away slightly so he could look Max in the eye.

“You didn't really give me the time to react.” Said Charles, softly.

Max lifted a hand and stroked Charles' cheek.

“I'm sorry I ran out, I was scared you were saying no by not answering me.”

“You didn't give me the chance to say no but I have an answer for you so can you do it again?”

Max stared at his boyfriend.

“What?”

Charles smiled.

“Can you do it again?”

Max smiled as tears filled his eyes. He then pulled out the ring box and went down on one knee.

“Charles, will you marry me?”

Tears filled the Monegasque’s eyes.

“Of course I will.” He whispered.

Max sniffed and then placed the ring on Charles' finger before he was hauled to his feet so that Charles could kiss him.

Some time later, Charles and Max were cuddled up on the couch together. Max had his arm around Charles as the Monegasque placed his hand on Max's chest as he admired his ring.

Max had told Charles about bumping into Daniel and Jev. Charles then encouraged Max to call Daniel to tell him that everything was fine.

“Can I tell him that we're engaged?” Asked Max.

Charles just smiled up at the Dutchman.

Max pulled out his phone and called Daniel.

“Max, thank god, did you go back to Charles?”

The Dutchman smiled.

“I did.”

“So, what happened?”

“I proposed again and Charles said yes!”

Daniel screamed down the phone so loud that Max winced and pulled the phone away from his ear. The Aussie was so excited that Max allowed himself to smile. Charles couldn't stop smiling as he cuddled further into Max. It might not have been the perfect reaction to a proposal but they had got there eventually.