As my schedule becomes clearer when the season hits the end of October, the away games that I need to attend are solidified. With that in mind I find out that mine and Dan's schedules have a period in which I can go to one of his races in person. We plan the details the two weeks leading up to the weekend of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the race I will be able to attend.

The morning of my flight comes around with me double checking that I took everything needed. As I do one last sweep of my room, my gaze locks with the piece of paper on the cork board above my desk. I bite my lip my hand reaching up going to the photo of me and Dan first before touching the sketch right next to it. "Come on Cal!" Lexi's voice makes me blink and impulsively grab the paper before placing it into my bag, not knowing if it will get any use while I'm in Texas.

"Okay so he's picking you up from the airport?" I nod at my friends who are standing in front of me outside of the car. "You'll be back Monday night" Jill confirms, "yeah, hopefully you won't forget" my friends scoff, "we would never" I smile and pull them into a hug, "I know you won't I'm just kidding" they let go and I grab the handle of my bag. "Have fun, don't do anything we wouldn't do" I roll my eyes, "okay noted" Jill blows me a kiss and I pretend to catch it before turning around to walk into the airport. The smile on my face widens as I think about seeing Dan, my feet automatically taking me to the check in desk for my flight.

——

"We will be arriving in Austin in five minutes, the current temperature is 15 degrees celsius, on behalf of the flight crew and myself thank you for flying Air Canada we hope to see you again soon" I grin at the announcement sitting up straighter as I buckle my seatbelt for landing. I make sure that I have everything before leaning back into my seat excited for who's going to be waiting at the airport for me.

I speed walk off of the plane my carry-on slung over my shoulder as I enter the busy airport. My gaze travels through the crowd as I stand on my toes to get a better view. When I spot Dan's curly hair and wide grin I squeal before weaving through other travellers to get to him. The Australian brings me in for a hug once I'm close enough, my arms wrap around his torso tightly, "finally" I say into him, he kisses my head making me look up, "I'm so happy that you're here Cal" I smile and he presses a quick kiss to my lips before letting go of me, taking my hand instead. "It's been so hard to focus when all I was thinking about was this weekend" I tell him as we walk to the luggage pick up area, "I understand completely gorgeous, off the track I was only thinking about you" I blush and he squeezes my hand bringing it up to kiss my knuckles.

Once I've grabbed my bag Dan leads me out of the airport and into the Texas warmth, "are we sure it's about to be November?" He laughs and tugs me towards one of the parking lots. I relax into the passenger seat of Dan's rental car a smile coming to my face my eyes closing, "you good there?" I turn my head opening one eye to look at him, "I'm perfect" he smiles and takes my hand placing our interlaced fingers over the centre console, "you sure are" he adds and turns on the car driving out of the lot, hopefully not noticing that my cheeks are as red as a tomato because of his comment.

——

"This is it, our room for the weekend" I smile as I follow Dan into the hotel room. "I guess it'll do" I joke even though I'm kind of in awe of the view that greets us, "what not fancy enough for you gorgeous" the Australian responds as he comes over to wrap his arms around me from behind. I shrug and he presses some kisses to my neck, I tilt my head to give him more access, he tightens his hold around me as he places a gently kiss behind my ear making me shiver. "It doesn't matter where we stay as long as I get to be with you Dan" he turns me around moving his hands to my hips, "that was straight out of a cheesy romance movie" I blush bringing my hands to his chest, "but it's true" I say quietly my gaze on my hands now, "I'm not saying that's a bad thing Cal, I completely agree with you" he tells me, I look up to see him biting my lip.

The Australian brings a hand up tucking some of the hair that left my bun behind my ear, his palm resting on my cheek as he strokes my skin, "never shy away from me Cal, I may not be serious all the time but I would never make fun of you or hurt you in any way" my hand slides over his and I nod, "I know but easier said than done" he kisses my forehead gently making me smile, "I love you gorgeous" my gaze locks with his when he pulls away, "love you hotshot".

A few minutes later Dan helps me unpack some of my things. "What's this Cal?" I turn from where I'm putting a shirt in the dresser to see him holding the scrap of paper that I took off of my bulletin board earlier. "Oh nothing, just a doodle" I explain not wanting to tell him what it's meant to be for, he lifts an eyebrow, "you took a doodle to Austin?" I nod giving him my most convincing smile. The Australian walks over placing his hands on either side of my face, his brown eyes looking into mine, "what aren't you telling me gorgeous?" I bite my lip shaking my head, "nothing Danny" I mumble, he sighs and kisses my forehead, "I don't believe you but I'm not gonna push you to tell me" he says as he backs away from me, leaving the scrap of paper in my hand as he does so.

My eyebrows furrow as I look down at the dark lines I remember drawing while in Germany with the Australian who is currently across the room his back to me. My hand tightens around the paper as I walk over to Dan. I wind my arms around his waist from behind resting my head on his shoulder, "I drew this when I was in Germany" I say opening up my palm for him to see the rough sketch, "it's been on my cork board at home next to a picture of us this whole time" I add as his thumb moves along the skin of my wrist, "I brought it because I want to get it made into a tattoo, but I wanted you to be there with me when I get it done since I drew it to symbolize us" I finish.

He unwinds my arms from his waist and turns around so that he can look at me, "I know that it doesn't seem like something that I would want but Germany changed things - fuck you've changed things too Dan" he smiles lowering his head to press his lips to mine, my hands curl into his shirt the paper crumpled in my hand as my eyes close, his fingers tangle into my hair keeping me close. After a few seconds he pulls away, my eyes opening as he does, Dan rests his forehead against mine our noses touching, "I love you so much Cal" I smile, "but that doesn't mean that you need to get a tattoo" I bring a hand up to his cheek moving my thumb along his skin, "I want this so much and I want you to add something to it for me" he smiles, "okay tell me what and where" I drop a quick kiss to his lips before stepping away so that I can flatten the paper on a hard surface.

——

When the evening falls on Austin, I'm sitting in our hotel room waiting for Dan to get back from the track where he was getting his practice sessions done. I'm laying on the bed, my head where my feet would usually be as I hold my phone above me watching some old YouTube videos of Dan to pass the time. I'm giggling at the antics when I hear the hotel room door open and shut, I pause the video lowering my phone as I tilt my head back. I grin at Dan who swiftly takes out his phone pointing it at me, "no don't" he smiles but doesn't put his phone down as I try to cover my face.

His hands come to my mine pulling them away, "I will keep taking pictures of my beautiful girlfriend" he tells me, "only if I get to take pictures of my handsome boyfriend" I reply with a grin. "What were you giggling about when I came in?" I sit up rotating so that I'm facing him, "oh nothing just old YouTube videos of you" he groans, "no why?" I laugh, "because they're there for my enjoyment" he huffs and I pull him to sit scooting over to wrap my arms around his neck, "don't he like that Danny, I got sucked in and we both know how YouTube can be" he nods and I kiss his cheek.

"Ready to go?" he asks once he's done taking a shower later, I take a deep breath remembering the paper tucked into my back pocket, "yes" I reply as I grab my phone and wallet sliding on my shoes before meeting the Australian at the door. "Do you know where we're going?" I ask as we step out onto the sidewalk a few minutes later, he nods and brings my hand up kissing my knuckles, "I know a guy that does really good work" I smile up at him as we start walking. Once we're outside the tattoo studio I bite my lip, "you sure about this Cal?" I look over at my boyfriend who is watching me concern on his face, "yes, definitely" I reply the doubts leaving my mind when I see the love in his eyes. I pull Dan into the studio getting a laugh from him as I walk up to the main desk using my free hand to pull the sketch out of my pocket. When I put the paper down onto the counter my eyes run along the intricate heart I drew, elements of Dan's world and mine within it, the word love written in his handwriting to the right of it. "Cal?" I look up at the Australian's voice, "he's ready for you" I smile taking the paper as Dan takes my hand leading me through the studio.

Minutes later I'm sitting on the chair designated to me, my right wrist facing the tattoo artist. I watch him make the stencil for my tattoo smiling when he presses it onto my skin. Dan squeezes my left hand gently, I look over to see him smiling as he lifts it to kiss my knuckles. "Ready Callie?" I look back at the artist and nod watching him start up the tattoo gun. I suck in a breath when it touches the skin on my wrist, Dan squeezes my hand reassuringly, my eyes watch the sketch I made those weeks ago come to life on my pale skin.

"I love you" I look up from my completed tattoo smiling at the Australian, "to the moon and back" I add as we walk back to the hotel hand-in-hand. We walk into the room twenty minutes later, I kick off my shoes before dropping my wallet and phone on the nearest table. I go to let go of Dan's hand but he pulls me to his chest before I can, his other hand lands on my lower back. I'm smiling at the race car driver who pulls me in for a kiss, my arm resting on his shoulder as he walks me over to the bed. I let him push me back onto the duvet, I giggle and he grins before climbing over me lowering his head to start kissing my neck. I let him explore my body, the occasional sigh of satisfaction coming from my mouth as evening turns to night, our only focus on each other.