Crash

Someone has to come last

When Penelope's plane touched down in Monaco, the only thing she could think about was Charles. Seeing him waiting for her on the other side of the tarmac made her feel like the pieces of her heart had been stuck back together and were again beating as one. 

"I got you a present!" Penelope yelled as she ran to him, not even bothering to check if there were cameras around. She was so happy to see her boyfriend that she didn't care. 

The two of them collided as Charles hugged her, his arms so tight she felt like she couldn't breathe. He kissed her, lips soft against hers, tasting like the usual combination of berries and mint. When they finally parted, his eyes were bright as he regarded her, his hands resting against her neck. "You did?"

"Yeah! You wanna see?"

Charles nodded enthusiastically as Penelope grinned, handing him the small red gift bag she was carrying. He looked slightly sceptical, but kissed her in thanks anyway. "What is it?"

"Open it!" Penelope mused, trying to supress her giggles. She and Jane thought they were the funniest people in the world for this, and she was desperate to see his reaction. 

Slowly, Charles opened the bag, pulling out a small blue rosette that read: WORLD'S BEST DRIVER. He gave her a look, but her smile was so infectious that he couldn't help but laugh. 

"World's best driver? You are very funny."

"Wait, there's more. Look, inside the bag." 

Sure enough, when Charles looked inside he found a small stuffed animal. He frowned at it for a few seconds, turning it over as if maybe it would be more recognisable from a different angle. "What is it?" he asked her, one hand on her waist like touching her was just second nature now. 

"It's a kangaroo!" Penelope explained, taking it from him and making it hop across his arm. "For Australia! And look, in the pouch."

Charles obliged, opening the pouch of the kangaroo and finding a small polaroid picture. His eyes softened as he looked at it, recognising it as the picture Penelope's grandmother had taken at the last family dinner before he'd left for Australia. Charles had his arm around her waist, kissing her cheek as Penelope grinned at the camera, her hand cupping his cheek. It was one of her favourite pictures of them, so candid and yet they looked so enamoured with each other it hurt. 

"Now you can take your kangaroo to the races," she said with a smile, "and I'll always be with you, even if I can't be there in person."

Charles kissed her so hard she almost lost her footing. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Penelope beamed at him, taking the rosette and pinning it to his shirt. "There. You look very pretty."

"Pretty? Thank you," Charles said as he slung his arm around her shoulders, walking her towards his Ferrari. 

Penelope leant into him, almost closing her eyes. "I really missed you."

"I missed you too," he murmured in the soft voice that made the butterflies in her stomach flutter. They went into overdrive when he kissed her forehead, the motion so tender and sweet that he could have told her anything in that moment and she would have forgiven him. 

"Are we going home?" she asked, trying not to sound too suggestive even though she hoped the answer was yes. 

"Just to drop your things off. We have dinner with my mom before her party tomorrow, if you're up for it."

Penelope nodded, though she couldn't help but feel nervous. "Sure. Can't wait."

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

Penelope had been in stressful situations before, but walking towards the Leclerc family home had her nerves on a whole other level.