Daniella let out an irritated groan as she checked her phone. She was still in bed, right next to her boyfriend, hoping to get a little bit more sleep but the phone call from the marketing team woke her up.

She tried to talk in a low voice so Max didn't wake up but it was already too late. He slightly moved and put his arm around her as his eyes slowly opened.

"I hate marketing," Daniella ended the call and put away her phone.

"What happened?" Max asked in his morning voice.

"They asked me to come in early to film a few videos," Daniella replied as she buried her head in his chest, their legs now tangled and arms around each other. "Lewis refuses to take part in any of it so I end up doing extra work," She complained.

"Then leave Mercedes and come back to Red Bull," Max suggested, still only half awake. He knows Daniella is not going to rejoin Red Bull again but that doesn't mean he is going to stop suggesting it.

"Why don't you join Merc?"

"I would rather leave this sport," Max placed a kiss on her cheek, a small smile on his face.

Daniella ran her fingers through his messy hair, a gesture that she knows brings comfort to him.

Both stayed silent for a couple of minutes, a little peaceful moment before the day starts. Both are scheduled for a hectic day before and after free practice.

Daniella's phone rang again and she let out another groan.

"I can't wait for this season to be over."

***

Max slowly got out of bed and dragged his feet to the bathroom. Daniella only left a few minutes ago but he still has an hour or so in his hands till he has to reach the paddock.

He was halfway through his shower when he heard a faint knock on the door. He ignored it thinking whoever it was would go away but the knock didn't stop. He thought it was maybe Daniella, maybe she forgot something and came back for it.

He turned off the shower and only wrapped a towel around his waist before making his way to the door.

"Did you forget something..." He asked as he opened the door but his voice disappeared and his body froze once he realized it was not Daniella at the door, but instead it was her father.

"What are you doing in my daughter's room, Emilian?" David Michaels asked, sounding stern but confused.

"Ummm... David, Sir," Max stuttered. "What are you doing here?"

"The more important question is what are you doing in my daughter's room?" David glared at the state of Max. "And where is Dani?"

"She...she just left," Max nervously replied, trying to avoid answering the former question.

"Are you not going to invite me in?"

"Yeah..sorry," Max moved aside and David walked in. "I thought you were arriving tonight."

"You thought wrong," David replied as he looked around. There was no doubt it was Daniella's room with all the clothes around the room. "Are you going to the circuit now?"

"Umm..." Max was having trouble answering and his throat was also dry.

"Great," David responded, not giving the driver any chance to reply further. "I will go with you."

Max could only hope that David doesn't throw him out of a driving car.

***

"Dani, your dad is here and we are on our way to the circuit. Call me when you get this," Max quickly left Daniella a voicemail along with a bunch of texts. He is aware that she is busy with marketing and media work and won't see the messages immediately but hoping she somehow would and come to his rescue.

David was already inside the car, sitting in the passenger seat. Max was supposed to leave a little later but he didn't have the courage to inform that to David.

"Sorry about that," Max nervously apologized to the older Michaels as he took the driver's seat. "I just had to make an important call."

"She didn't pick up your call, did she?" David asked, completely aware that Max has been trying to contact Daniella.

"No," Max gave a guilty look before he started the car.

"You two are not fighting again, are you?" David sounded a bit concerned.

"No no," Max immediately replied. "She is just busy with some media stuff."

"Oh good, otherwise it would have been an awkward ride," David chuckled, lightening the mood. "Now tell me, are you two happy?"

"Umm..." Max was taken aback by the question. He was expecting some scary interrogation, but instead, it was the complete opposite. "Yeah... yeah, we are very happy. I am the happiest when I am with Dani."

"Good," David responded, satisfied with the answer. "So then you will have no problem celebrating Christmas with us, right?"

***

Daniella ran away from the marketing team as soon as she was done with filming. She was afraid that if she had spent any more time around the team they would have roped her in to film a new video.

"Your phone was blowing up like crazy," Myra gave the driver her phone as they both made their way to the hospitality.

"Oh no.." Daniella gasped as soon as she saw all the texts from Max.

"What?"

"Dad is here and Max is with him."

"RIP Max," Myra let out a chuckle, feeling bad for the Red Bull driver.

***

"Dad," Daniella called out like a little girl and ran to her father, not caring that everyone at the paddock was watching her.

She hugged her father tightly, at first not noticing Max.

"How is my favorite daughter?" David asked.

"Never been better," Daniella smiled.

"I see you haven't killed my boyfriend," She looked at Max who was standing a couple of steps behind David.

"Not yet," David joked. "But it's not even noon yet so..."

Max's eyes went wide and both Daniella and David noticed.

"Relax," David patted his shoulder. "I was just joking."

"That's... good to know," He gulped and forced a smile, a hint of fear still present on his face.

"Anyway, thanks for the ride here son," David patted Max's shoulder once again. "But I would like to spend some time with my daughter now," He put his other arm around Daniella's shoulder.

"Yeah, of course," Max nodded and genuinely smiled. He caught David calling him "son" and felt like their relationship has progressed a bit. "I will see you later."

"Bye," Daniella waved at her boyfriend as he walked away. She can see both fear and happiness on his face.

"Now can you get your old man a nice cup of iced coffee?" David asked his daughter. "And when can I meet Sebastian Vettel?"

"Come on," She led the way to the hospitality.

***

Daniella jumped out of the car as FP2 came to an end. The car was looking good and the pace was decent.

She took off her helmet and gloves before looking around the garage, trying to find her father but couldn't spot him.

"Where is dad?" She asked Myra.

"Oh..umm, He got invited to the Aston Martin garage," The PR manager replied.

"Invited?" The driver raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah. Apparently, everyone knows that he is a big fan of Sebastian so they invited him."

Daniella let out a deep breath and just shook her head.

"Great..let him be Seb's problem till I am done with the interviews."

**********

A/N: Nothing much happened in this chapter but we got papa Michaels and Max. Thoughts? 

I love how Max is scared of Dani's dad but also happy that there is slight progress in their relationship. I also love that David is a Seb fan. 

If you have read Fast and Future then you know what happens to papa Michaels...

 I think there will be 2-3 more chapters and then "the end" but I might do a couple of bonus chapters. 

Also I have been missing Toxic Heart...