#dad!lewis

The smell of dinner hits Lewis before he’s even stepped out of the car.

It’s been two races back-to-back; Imola and Monaco. He flew home straight from debrief, wearing the same Ferrari jacket he left the circuit in. There’s still engine grease under his nails and a faint scuff mark on his cheek from a chaotic media pen scrum.

He’s not even through the front door when Sofia barrels into his legs, arms wrapped around him, curls wild and still a little sticky with honey.

“Hi, Daddy!”

Lewis lifts her easily, pressing a kiss to her cheek as Y/N calls from the kitchen, “Wash your hands first! Dinner’s just about done!”

Leo and Mateo are already at the table, perched in their chairs with plates of rice, roasted chicken, and steamed veggies in front of them. Y/N is cutting up Sofia’s portion, still dressed in her tank and joggers, looking like home.

Everything feels right.

Until Leo opens his mouth.

“I don’t want any more fucking broccoli.”

Silence.

Y/N freezes mid-slice.

Lewis pauses, mid-hand-wash, eyes flicking to his son with disbelief. He almost laughs. Almost.

“Leo,” Y/N says, voice sharp, calm, but barely.

Leo shrugs, poking a carrot with his fork. “Uncle Toto said it when he dropped the sandwich.”

Lewis chokes on air.

Y/N’s eyes laser in on him like she’s about to start qualifying laps around his ass. “Uncle Toto said it?”

Lewis wipes his hands on a dish towel, walking toward the table slowly. “Babe, c’mon, Toto probably did say it. I’ve heard him swear in six languages.”

“I don’t care if he said it in Morse code. Our son just said it at the dinner table,” she snaps.

Lewis crouches down beside Leo, trying to keep his tone light. “Where’d you hear that, really, bud?”

Leo looks up at him, completely unbothered. “The garage. You said it when the rear jack didn’t lock.”

Y/N doesn’t say a word. She doesn’t need to.

Lewis sighs. “Okay. That one’s on me.”

“It’s always on you,” she mutters under her breath, gathering up the juice cups.

Leo starts chewing on a breadstick like it’s no big deal, but Mateo whispers, “You’re in trouble.”

Sofia nods solemnly beside him, eyes wide.

“We don’t say that word, baby,” Y/N says gently to Leo, crouching to his level. “Not at school, not at home, not anywhere. It’s not kind.”

“But Daddy says it all the time,” Leo says, frowning. “You do too when your computer crashes.”

Y/N blinks.

Lewis snorts and instantly masks it with a cough.

“Oh my God, don’t laugh,” she says, shooting him a glare. “You’re the reason he told his whole class the brake pedal was ‘fucking toast.’ Do you know how many calls I got?”

“It was toast,” Lewis defends. “I almost put the car into the wall at 305 KPH an hour because someone didn’t torque the—”

“Lewis.” Her voice is warning enough.

He stands, frustrated but biting his tongue. “It’s a word. He didn’t hit anyone. He didn’t steal anything. He just... he just repeated something I said. I’ll talk to him.”

“You’re not getting it.”

“No, babe, you’re not getting it.” His voice sharpens. “They already live in a world where everyone watches them because of me. I just want them to feel normal, not like they’re walking on eggshells every time they say something wrong.”

Y/N’s jaw tightens. “And you think letting them swear is normal?”

“I think letting them be kids is normal.”

“You want them to be kids, or you just want to feel better about the fact you barely see them two weekends a month during the season?”

It slips. She doesn’t mean for it to. But it cuts through him like a wing mirror shattering.

Lewis stiffens. Silence falls again.

Sofia stabs a carrot with her little fork. “Mummy’s mad.”

Leo nods. “Like when the blender exploded.”

Lewis just walks away, back into the hallway, jaw clenched. He doesn't slam the door. Doesn’t yell.

He just sits on the stairs for a second. Breathing.

Two minutes later, Y/N follows, guilt already rising in her throat like a lump of gravel.

“I didn’t mean that,” she says quietly, sitting beside him.

Lewis doesn’t look at her. “Maybe you did.”

She places her hand on his knee. “I get frustrated. But you’re a good dad, Lew. The best. I just want to raise them right. Not like we were.”

Lewis finally looks at her. His voice is quieter now. “I want that too.”

They sit like that for a moment. Side by side.

From the kitchen, a sudden giggle erupts.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

“Mateo!” Y/N yells.

Lewis sighs. “Oh, come on.”

“I will end you,” she says, already getting up.

He catches her hand before she storms off, and grins, sheepish. “Still want to kiss me later?”

She glares. “Wash your mouth out with soap first.”

-------

flashback

It was years ago.

Pre-kids. Pre-marriage. Pre-Ferrari red. Just a messy hotel room in Monaco, the scent of champagne in the air, and Lewis Hamilton flat on his back, one arm draped over his eyes.

Y/N stood by the open window, robe half-tied, eyes on the Riviera lights below.

“You ever think about kids?” she asked, barely above the hum of traffic and late-night waves.

Lewis didn’t answer right away. She turned and saw it in his face, tension. Not the kind he got before a race, but the kind that lived in the cracks of a past he never talked about much.

He lowered his arm. “Not really.”

She climbed into bed beside him, soft and slow, tracing a finger down the lion tattoo on his chest. “Why not?”

He looked at her then, eyes dark and serious. “Because I wouldn’t know how to be a dad. Not a real one.”

“You had one.”

“Exactly.”

Silence.

Then he added, quieter, “I don’t want to be the kind of father I had. Detached. Controlling. The guy who showed up to take credit but never stayed long enough to do the work.”

Y/N rested her head on his chest. “Then don’t be.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is. Love them more than you hate the way you were raised. That’s how you break it.”

He closed his eyes, breathing her in like she was the only real thing in the world. “I don’t want to mess up a kid.”

She kissed his chest. “Then maybe don’t have one with just anyone.”

Lewis huffed a laugh, eyes opening. “What, and have one with you?”

She smiled. “You’d be lucky.”

He wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her hair. “Don’t tempt me.”

---------

The house was quiet.

The kids were finally asleep. Mateo tucked in with his dinosaur nightlight, Sofia curled up with a plush lion, and Leo sprawled across his bed like he fought demons in his sleep.

Y/N padded into the ensuite bathroom, her hair pulled into a loose bun, a soft cotton robe tied around her waist. She was brushing her teeth when she felt Lewis’s presence before she saw him.

His reflection met hers in the mirror, shirtless, boxers riding low on his hips, tattoos stark in the dim bathroom lighting.

“You still mad?” he asked, voice low and rough.

She spit into the sink, rinsed her mouth, and turned. “A little.”

Lewis stepped closer, caging her in with one hand on the counter behind her. “Want me to make it up to you?”

She didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow.

“I mean,” he murmured, lips brushing her cheek, “I could wash my mouth out with soap… or I could use it on you.”

That did it.

Y/N shoved his chest, half-laughing, half-annoyed, but he caught her wrist mid-push, twisting it gently until her back hit the bathroom counter.

Lewis leaned in, lips grazing her jaw. “You love when I’m like this.”

“You’re a menace,” she whispered, but her thighs were already squeezing together.

“I’m your menace.”

He kissed her slow at first, maddeningly so. Then his hands were on her hips, sliding her robe open, parting the fabric until it slipped from her shoulders and pooled on the tile.

Lewis sank to his knees without a word, palms dragging down her sides until they gripped behind her thighs.

“Still want to punish me?” he asked, looking up at her from under those lashes.

She smirked. “Only if you beg.”

He grinned. “Bet.”

--------

The bathroom lights are still on, casting a soft glow into the bedroom where they’ve ended up, a trail of clothes and discarded thoughts leading from one room to the next.

Y/N is sprawled across Lewis’s chest, her cheek pressed to the lion ink she’s always loved, the one she used to trace when she was just his girlfriend sneaking into hotel rooms under fake names.

His fingers draw slow circles on her back, steady and grounding.

“Still mad at me?” he asks, voice low and rough with the edges of sleep.

Y/N hums. “Not really. You were right… kind of.”

“Kind of?” he repeats, smiling.

“You’re a good dad, Lew.”

He doesn’t respond right away. He just holds her tighter, like if he doesn’t, she might vanish. Then he speaks, quiet and real.

“I always thought I’d mess this up,” he says. “I used to tell myself I didn’t want a family because I couldn’t handle it. Because the paddock was my whole life, and anything outside of it felt… far.”

Y/N lifts her head to look at him, eyes soft. “And now?”

He gazes at her. “Now it feels like the rest of my life is the time between coming home to you.”

Something about the way he says it makes her chest ache.

Lewis continues, almost like he needs to get it out. “I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I still panic when they cry too hard. I still think I’ll say the wrong thing. But I love them. God, I love them.”

“They know,” she says. “Every time you hug them, every time you show up, even when you’re exhausted. They know.”

Lewis swallows hard. “Sometimes I think about that night in Monaco. You remember?”

“The one with the robe and the champagne?”

“Yeah,” he says, smiling. “I said I’d never be a dad. Said I’d ruin a kid.”

Y/N brushes her fingers along his cheek. “And now you’ve got three who think the sun rises because you told it to.”

His laugh is quiet. A little broken. Full of disbelief.

She kisses him gently, murmuring against his lips, “You didn’t ruin anything, Lew. You built this. You built us.”

They lie in silence for a while, nothing but the hum of the house and the softness between them.

Then he whispers, “You’re still a bitch, though.”

Y/N laughs, swats at his chest, and lets herself fall back into him with a sigh. “Yeah, well. You married one.”

“And I’d do it again tomorrow.”

--------

Green flags, red flags, chequered flags, tires, red and yellow streamers, confetti, balloons, and a big, white banner that reads “Gracie’s 4th lap” in red lettering. Your fingers are carefully working so you and your husband can put all the decorations together neatly for your daughter’s fourth birthday. 

Even though the little girl is obsessed with pink, princesses and tea parties with her daddy and her plushies, this year she insisted that she wanted to “match daddy”, and have a race themed party. 

At first, you and Lewis furrowed your eyebrows at the idea, finding it strange that this year won’t be filled with the usual pink glitters that insist on gluing to your husband’s braids for almost weeks on end. But, seeing the way your little girl continued to demand to have a Ferrari party, made both of you give in to her pleas. 

- Can’t believe this is what Miss Grace really wanted for her fourth birthday - Lewis chuckles, incredulous at the way he feels like he’s living a work day at home.  - Yeah - you smile to yourself. - But it really is what she wants for this year. Looks like our little girl is growing. - There’s a special softness in your voice, almost feeling emotional at the thought of the soul that grew inside of you, together with yours, is not as little as you think anymore. She’s only four, but Grace is a little body full of personality, and the more she develops her wishes and wills, the more you admire the little human she’s becoming. 

It’s currently 8:32 am. Both you and Lewis wish you could sleep a little longer on one of the days you have off of work, but you two agreed on setting all the decorations for your daughter’s party before she wakes up. 

Lewis can’t stop laughing and smiling the more he sets everything up, unable to not find it funny that his team is basically sponsoring his child’s party. Picking up the paper plates that Ferrari sent for their little fan, your husband sets them on the table, getting everything ready for breakfast - wanting Grace to feel like she’s inside her own race from the very first moment. 

A few moments of focus pass by when you and your husband listen to the light sound of your baby tiptoeing her way downstairs to check what her mummy and daddy are up to on the morning of her special day.

Lewis lifts his eyebrow playfully as he catches a small shadow hiding and peaking through the door from time to time, trying to control her giggles, covering her mouth with her little hand as to prevent herself from letting everyone know her location.

- Who’s there? - your husband asks in a serious yet mocking tone, touching your leg as if to tell you to pay attention to your kid’s reaction.

There she is, your baby showing herself, carefully walking inside and standing in front of you to show her appearance, now showing her big smile as if there are emotions running inside her little body that she can’t control. 

- Oh there she is, Ferrari’s new driver, Miss Grace Hamilton! - Lewis continues to play with her, announcing the toddler as if she’s walking inside the paddock ready to dominate every track, making you chant and clap at the little girl.

Her eyes shine from laughing and from the way her mummy and daddy always make her feel so special and seen. The little girl tried to be as sneaky as she possibly could, but the view in front of your eyes is too funny and adorable to be ignored. Little Grace tried her best to put on her Ferrari tracksuit before heading out of her room, wanting to surprise you two by showing how a big girl she already is - she can even prepare her birthday outfit by herself! 

Roscoe slowly followed the toddler to the living room, leaning his head to the side a bit as to question the way she put on her clothes. Lewis’ eyes wrinkle at the way his girl accidentally put her leg through one of the arm sleeves - but you can’t blame her, it’s hard to put on a tracksuit right after waking up! 

Grace’s curls are all over the place as she runs to your arms, wanting to be engulfed in mummy and daddy’s lap. You shower her features with kisses, while Lewis ruffles her messy hair a bit more, right before helping his little version putting on her tracksuit in the right way. Your daughter fixes her outfit after daddy helped her, wanting to make sure she looks her absolute best since the first hour of the day. She then beams at the sight of all the decorations you two had put together while she was still peacefully asleep. And that’s the moment when you and Lewis know that you did the right thing. 

- Can we put more balloons, daddy? I can help! - the little girl says, pointing her finger to all the balloons that Lewis had already hung around the banner announcing his baby’s party.  - Hmmm - he pretends to think for a second, his index finger tapping on his chin. - How about we do that after breakfast? I heard mummy learned to cook some pancakes that have the shape of some tracks, just for your party! - Lewis whispers the last part in the little girl’s ear, making her gasp and giggle in his arms, giving your husband the perfect occasion to pick her up, pretending the girl is flying her way to the kitchen, in his strong arms. 

The sound of their shared laughter is enough to make butterflies erupt from your stomach - all the happiness and love that lives inside of you due to the amazing family that you are blessed to have. A love so strong that you and Lewis share, so pure, one big enough to create another baby, maybe… a thought that has been stealing most of your attention lately, but you always try to brush it off. Maybe something’s off with you today, maybe the smell of the freshly cooked pancakes is just messing with you for some other reason, just like dinner messed with your stomach a few nights ago. Nothing else… right? Either way, today is Grace’s special day and that’s what you need to focus on. 

After breakfast, your daughter puts her invisible bossy cape on, bossing Lewis around to make sure that every decoration was in the right place, and every little detail was absolutely perfect before her friends arrived. You can’t deny that it never stops being funny seeing such a little person bossing Lewis around, and it gets even funnier when you realize that you and Grace are the only ones that are able to boss the man in front of you, and he will always gladly comply with the requests of his girls. Either way, you and your husband agreed on controlling Grace’s bossing habits a bit more, so you make sure to call her out whenever she points her finger at her dad, or when you feel like her tone is growing rude a bit too much. That’s not how things get done in your household. 

The little girl apologizes to her dad every time you call her out, and especially if Lewis looks at her in a disapproval way - never needing much words from the man, his eyes would always tell everything to his daughter, whether would it be good or bad, making her close her frame a bit, ashamed of her attitude that she makes sure not to repeat. 

She then picks a chequered flag in her hand, running around the house with it, making Roscoe follow the little girl around, pretending they’re in a race and the dog keeps crossing the finish line effortlessly, winning every lap.

Grace doesn’t even realize that time is passing by so fast as she entertains herself with Roscoe and their running around the house, and the girl is taken out of her focus when the doorbell rings with the first guests to her party. 

The toddler’s best friends, Lucy and Mario run inside the living room to hug the birthday girl, followed by a shy Matteo that slowly accompanies the group. You can’t help but notice how Grace blushes a little bit at the way the boy stretches his arms to hug her softly, handing her his birthday gift right next. 

You told your daughter to wait so she could open every present in the middle of the party, when you would bring out the cake for her to blow out the candles, but it’s like the little girl forgot all about that and immediately torn the present open, revealing a beautiful bracelet with white butterflies in it, and a drawing done by Matteo - him and Grace playing in the park, while he ‘hands the girl some flowers he handpicked for her’, the little boy explained timidly. 

Lewis has a hard time disguising the eye roll that leaves his body when he sees his daughter leaving an innocent kiss on Matteo’s cheek, thanking him for the present. You make sure to lightly tap your husband’s shoulder as to tell him to calm down, so he doesn’t make a scene in the middle of your daughter’s party. 

Lewis closes his arms around you, hugging you from behind, giving you an opportunity to kiss the man’s cheek. “There’s always a kiss for you, don’t be jealous” - you whisper to him, noticing the way a small sigh leaves his body as he nods at your words with a shy smile, embarrassed by his own reaction. 

Soon enough, Lewis’ colleagues arrive at your shared house, and the greetings from the group mixes with the laughter coming from the children running around the corridors, a group that has gotten bigger as the minutes passed by, with more friends of your little girl marking their presence at the celebration. 

You make sure to call Grace’s name whenever a new guest arrives, so the girl can come greet them and say personally to them “thank you for coming to my birthday party!”, with her teethy smile that makes everyone melt. 

The little girl never fails to flash everyone with her bubbly personality, making every person laugh as she spins every time a new guest shows up, saying “have you seen my outfit?! I am a Ferrari driver! And I win aaaallll the races!” - she points out with a somewhat of a competitive glance that she makes sure to throw at her daddy and Charles, letting them know that she would be the best addition to the team. 

But the four year old never stops surprising you, when she confidently walks to Fred, standing in front of the man, their height difference being so evidently comical. The girl points to herself, keeping eye contact with the man, who’s fighting himself to suppress a laugh at her somewhat serious expression.

- See, uncle Fred? You have the future of your team here! You can hire me and Matteo!! We are super fast! And all the interviewers would loooove us! Maybe Ferrari would actually win something - she beams, teasing the old man in front of her while everyone around them laughs out loud.

Fred can’t help but nod at her words, agreeing with her statement.

- You have a point, kid. Maybe I do need to think about building a new team, but that would mean your dad would end up unemployed, huh? - he raised an eyebrow, testing how far the girl will go with her team plan. - It’s okay, uncle Fred! My daddy is old already! He’s older than my mummy! So he needs time to rest as well and to play princesses with me while I have my days off of racing. But! - the girl puts her index finger up, as if to catch his entire attention. - If you want me on your team, I need a new, better car! A special car just for Gracie Hamilton! How are we supposed to Forza in these Ferraris?! - she states, throwing her hands in the air as if she’s defending her case in court, and definitely winning a lot of different reactions amongst the crowd. Some laugh, others clap, but everyone agrees with the toddler, even as a way to tease Fred the most.

Time passes by fast, and when you notice, your husband is already coming inside the living room with Grace’s birthday cake in hand, ready for his baby to blow out the candles. 

The big cake has a Ferrari car in it, and a little girl beside it, representing little Grace with a helmet on her hand. And throughout the entire pastry, there are drawings of some of the things that represent her: Roscoe, princesses, flowers, pink crowns, magic wands, animals, and lots of glitter. The toddler’s eyes shine at the sight of her cake, of how big and beautiful it is and how it carries all of her favourite things.

Lewis picks her up carefully in his arms as the group sings happy birthday to your princess, making her the entire center of attention of her special day. You and your husband help the girl blowing out the candles, right before placing a kiss on each of her cheeks, almost not believing that your baby girl is turning four already, growing so much while still being so little in your eyes and heart.

Grace is engulfed in a bubble of love by her friends and family, but excitement starts running through her veins as the time to open up all the presents arrives. 

Charles and Alexandra gifted her a huge set of art supplies so Grace can train her painting skills, the girl’s grandma gave her an entire Barbie collection, where the dolls have their own mansion. “They even have a pool to chill and a big closet to slay the day away!” - the little girl notices, leaving Lewis’ mum confused about what ‘slay’ actually means, but with a warm heart that her granddaughter loved her gift. 

In the middle of amazing gifts, the last one is gifted by Isack and Franco, and it definitely is the biggest one. Grace slowly walks to it, not realizing what it is and why it had to stay outside on the patio, instead of inside the living room. 

Lewis furrows his eyebrows as he follows his daughter, going to help her take out the ribbon from the gift, wanting to find out what it is as well. The two of them work as a team as they start to uncover the gift, and Lewis’ eyes widen at the same time that Grace starts screaming out of excitement. Your husband can’t believe his eyes as he uncovers a go-kart, something that your toddler has been asking for for so long now, but definitely something that Lewis made sure to never give in to her pleas. 

The girl chants and claps, going to hug the boys and thanking them for ‘the bestest present ever!!’, that she wants to try right away! Your heart feels nervous, definitely matching your husband’s - everyone can read it in his face expression. He’s definitely not excited to see his kid driving around speeding at the mere age of four, so he can’t help but mentally curse the boys who just put a go kart inside his house as if it was nothing. 

- Daddy, daddy! Can I please try it? Pleaseeeee, please help me go inside!! - the little girl gives him puppy eyes as she pulls on her dad’s pants, wanting all of his attention.  - Ehm... - Lewis thinks for a second, getting lost between his ruminating thoughts of fear and Gracie’s big eyes, and in this moment, it’s just the two of them. Not all the guests, not the party, not everyone that’s inside the house right now. A big sigh leaves his body, as he picks the girl in his arms and carefully places her inside the kart, so the girl can see and understand how it feels to be inside one of those, definitely something that she has been dreaming of for a while now.

Lewis knows all about it, the little girl makes sure to share all of her speeding dreams with her dada, and the man can’t help but feel guilty about it. If he didn’t bring Gracie along to the races, the paddock, the garage, maybe she wouldn’t have this hyper fixation with speeding at just the age of four. And he worries about it, he’s terrified that something might happen to his precious baby due to everything that he taught her about cars and races. And he can’t help but beat himself up about it. 

You can feel the anxiety reaching his veins, and that’s when you walk to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, calming down his train of thoughts. 

- That’s so cool, ain’t it love? - you ask Gracie, noticing how happy she looks as she plays with the steering wheel, pretending like she’s racing already, coincidentally wearing her tracksuit and all already.

You snap a picture of your baby looking so fulfilled inside the kart, and that’s what it takes for Lewis to secure his racing, worried heart. Sure, she can try it if she wants, even if he’s not really a fan of it right now. At the same time, he can’t help but remember the way he felt when he stepped on a kart for the first time, that priceless feeling still runs inside of him whenever his mind drifts back to those times. The times when he realized he was living a dream. 

And on that night, when you two are putting a very tired Gracie to sleep - but a Gracie that insisted on not wanting to take off her tracksuit! - Lewis remembers all that his little four-year-old self wished for his future, and prayed for his entire life. A career in F1, the feeling of driving such a powerful car, the dream of writing history with his own name. And if Grace dreams of that, then so be it. Lewis will make sure to keep the promise he made to the little girl on the day she was born: no matter what, daddy will always, always, be by her side through it all. If she wants to drive and kart, Lewis will help her and teach her everything he knows, making sure he keeps her safe - even if he will be the one on the side of the track, now.

And even if this is just a silly obsession of the girl that will be over next week, it doesn’t matter. Mummy and daddy will be by her side to support her through the next thing she wants to try, because that’s something that Lewis firmly believes in, and wants his daughter to never forget: there are days when mountains move themselves, demons run away - they might bark but will never bite!, and dreaming are for those who dare to chase them. And as long as you believe in them, they will never fade away. And you make sure to teach Grace to never stop believing in her dreams, just like you never stopped believing that it was possible for you to have a loving and supportive family. 

That thought alone is enough to make one of your hands to mindlessly snake through your body to land on your stomach, that thought tingling on the back of your brain again, and Lewis doesn’t even notice it, as the door of your room swings open. 

Catching both of your attention, your daughter comes inside, walking straight to Lewis’ side of the bed, putting her arms up, asking daddy to put her on the bed as well.

- Can’t sleep, bubs? - your husband asks, placing the baby in the middle of your frames, allowing your body to immediately shape to welcome your little love in your arms. 

Grace shakes her head softly. - Just wanted to sleep with the best mummy and daddy in the world. Thank you for giving me the best birthday party ever. - the sleepy toddler says, half closed eyes as she lies her head on your chest and opens her small arm, asking daddy to crawl closer to you two. It warms your heart to feel your girl’s tiny body so relaxed near you, knowing she can always count on her mum and dad to cuddle her close at every moment. 

Kissing the top of her head, you welcome your husband in your frame, lovingly cuddling the loves of your life, trying to silence both of your and Lewis’ thoughts. Sometimes, life takes a lot with all the fears, worries and hesitation pooling on your brains, and no one really knows the weight each of you carries in silence. But then it also gives you so much, with such a devoted husband and kind daughter, and the great certainty that together, you can win the entire world. And there’s not a greater lesson that you would wish to teach your daughter on her fourth lap around the sun. 

The kid’s version of a black Jordan and the styled curly hair made Lewis smile, that boy appeared to be around five but was already starring a fashion sense that a few older people hadn’t.

“Leo, you’ll give me a heart attack one of these days. You can’t go out running like this, honey,” your voice carried a serious but sweet tone simultaneously. 

Lewis’ eyes found you standing a few feet away, curly hair clipped away from your face by a few strands, a pencil skirt, and a cream blouse. The folder and books in your arms gave him a hint of what you were doing there, and his silent guess turned out to be true when Wendy turned with a toothless grin and introduced you: “This is Miss Yn, our new teacher!” She took a step to stand beside you looking up with a beaming face that reflected yours. “And this is Leonard, her son, my new classmate. They’re new here, can we introduce the city to them like we did with Jackie and Uncle Toto? Also, can we have playdates later? Can we go to the park? Can we–”

****

“Mamma, I don’t wanna eat,” Leo held his hands behind his back giving you his best puppy eyes and you chuckled. 

“How about you try a few bites and then go play with Dee, huh?” 

“Yeah, champ, you gotta make your body strong so you can run as fast as you can,”  Lewis tried, already cutting a sandwich in half for Wendy. “Have you ever tried vegan sandwiches?” He asked and Leo shook his head.

“I don’t like lettuce, mamma does though,” he shared, pointing his small finger at you.

“What do you mean you don’t like lettuce? Lettuce is exactly what makes us run even faster, it gives us tons of energy!” 

“It does?” the curly-haired boy asked, hands now on the side of his body and curious eyes watching the food in Lewis’ hands. 

“Yeah, I eat it all the time so I can drive my car in endless circles.”

You smiled watching the interaction. 

“How about you have a bite? You don’t have to eat it all, just a bite. But I bet you will want to finish it. This one has so many things that make us bigger and stronger.”

“Strong like you?” his big brown eyes now looking at Lewis’ biceps, and you chuckled at your kid's face when the driver curled his arms and flexed his muscles. 

“Yeah, strong just like me!” 

****

“They truly made a bond in a short time, huh?” You commented.

“Guess we’ll be seeing each other a lot more often,” Lewis bumped your shoulder with his and you smiled. You wouldn’t lie that the prospect of interacting with him more than you did the last week wasn’t a bad thing at all.

“I’m not opposed to that.” 

“Neither am I.” 

────── ⋆🪩 VOICEMAIL: Hi! I hope you guys liked this lil sneak peek! Make sure to like and reblog if you did *mwah* and PLEASE, LET’S INDULGE IN THIS UNIVERSEEEE BECAUSE I'M ALMOST SURE THIS WILL BECOME A SERIES OF SOME SORT. I sorted a few ideas for "chapters" yet, but I won't be following the chapters format, but rather taking asks requests about them and publishing the blurbs and pieces <3

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The monitor's light blinked before the volume rose up as it picked up the sounds coming from the nursery . You carefully reached to the bedside table to switch down the volume minding your sleeping husband as he snuggled into the pillow beside you , While he's asleep his hand still held into yours , stirring slightly as you shift around but still not walking , so you carefully lifted his his arm to try to scoot out of the bed , but failed as he blinked at you with sleep clouding his eyes .

You gave him an apologetic smile then leaned down to peck his lips then his temple whispering softly "it's okay babe , go back to sleep " but he groaned instead asking in a horese voice "where are you going?" His hand now reaching for yours grabbing your fingers to pull you back to him , you complied with a hand on his cheek causing him to close his eyes momentarily but he fought against the lull of sleep as he looked up at you , so you gave him an assuring smile " booboo is up from his nap , I'll check on him and come back . You go back to sleep " he shook his head with a tired smile " it's okay love , I'll go check on him" attempting to roll out of bed but you caught him before he could , giving him a scolding look with raised eyebrows "don't you even think about getting up , you sir are not moving from this bed before you get enough rest " adding with a knowing look with your free hand on your hip " I know for sure you didn't get any proper sleep the past four days , and stayed up the whole way home . so now you're going to lay back and take your absolutely needed rest and relax and let me and booboo take care of you , understood?" Giving you a fond look then kissing your hand that still held in his , he answered with amused smile "Yes Mrs Hamilton" earning a beaming smile from you before he laid back on your pillow this time watching with half closed eyes as you pulled out of bed to stand and move quitely out of the room before trying to drift back to sleep.

Your bare feet Padded across the hall towards the second door to the left , coming to a stop as you pushed the door fully to step into the dimly lit room . The soft whining coming from the crib inside only ceased as the lights got switched on fully , causing the baby to squint his eyes closed before opening them curiously to take a look at who stood above the crib .

Letting out small gruggling sounds as he saw you smiling down at him , kicking his feet and stretching his arms with a gummy smile as you greeted softly with a wide smile "hi booboo , how was your nap baby?" he let a loud whine frowning with a scrunched up nose before babbling incoherent sounds as if to tell you how it was .

Nodding along encouraging him to babble on before you reached down to caress his cheek , boobing his nose causing him to let a full belly laugh at the action taking hold of your fingers and tugging on them as if to beacon you closer , so you picked him up prepping his face with kisses letting him hold your face with both hands as he let out gleeful giggles , attempting to give few kisses back but ending up giving you raspberries on the cheek.

You held him close as you made your way down the stairs , " guess what booboo ?, today we're going to have a fun day with your papa " his eyes lit up at the mention of his father kicking his feet and babbling a string of what sounds like "pa!" , you nod at him " yeah! ,and we'll give him all the cuddles that he needs , what do you think?" He gave another kick of excitement , settling just as they reached the kitchen .

Setting him down on his high chair , you then went to grab some fruits to snack on with some juice for baby booboo , leaving dinner plans aside , opting to order later instead so to spend more time cuddling and spending time with your boys .

You went on humming a tune as you moved around, taking note of your baby smiling as he followed your movement around , smiling wider with giggles slipping out as you moved towards him while singing aloud and popping your head along with him , both unaware of Lewis standing in the doorway, his smile as wide as theirs as he took in the scene before him . Taking it in before stepping towards them quietly .

He went up behind you , hands going around your waist to hold you to his chest , slowly swaying you as he sang softly from where you stopped when you felt his hands on you , both grinning at your boy who was looking at you with sparkling eyes a wide gummy smile with dimples on full display as he raised his hands high for you to pick him up , and Lewis didn't take time kissing you on the head before he moved to hoist him high igniting a happy scream before he brought him down prepping his face with kisses "there you are ! Didn't know you missed me that much! " Laughing as his boy clung to him wrapping his small chubby arms around his neck and buried his face in his shoulder whining a bit before turning it to look at you , stretching his hand to where you stood behind Lewis watching them fondly .

You wake up hating the fact that you opened your eyes, already. Your throat feels dry, your body is sore, your nose is clogged, making it impossible for you to breathe properly. Groaning, you can’t help but roll your eyes at the uncomfortable sensations erupting through you as you try to move your body, getting out of bed. 

It’s still early, the clock reads 8:12 am. And while your husband is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, he hears your soft sniffles followed by the sound of you blowing your nose. Furrowing his eyebrows, the man soon leaves the restroom, only to find his wife sitting at the edge of your shared bed, taking some pills. 

Lewis is already fully dressed, ready to leave the house to attend some work meetings when he steps inside the bedroom again, slowly walking to you. His hands land on your shoulders gently, carefully massaging them as you instinctively lean your head against his chest. 

- Are you okay, love? - he asks you as his lips touch your neck, kissing your skin softly. 

The man notices the dark bags under your eyes, how your lips look more pale, as if today has stolen from them the plump, cherry tone that your husband loves so much, alongside your red-ish eyes, that are still puffy and tired from the restless night you just had. 

- Yeah, I’m fine - your hoarse voice replies, clearing your throat as your husband looks at you with a raised eyebrow, highly doubting your statement, that doesn’t match your face at all. - Are you sure? - he insists, moving so he can take a better look at you, noticing that you don’t look as good as you try to convince him. 

You slightly roll your eyes at him, pecking his cheek carefully - trying not to get him sick as well. Yes, you’re not feeling the greatest, but it’s just a cold, you will live through it. Yes, you would love for Lewis to spend the day with you, cuddling you or watching over Grace, so you could hide behind the covers and sleep this flu away.

However, you are aware of all his professional duties, and there’s no way that you will encourage him to call out of work. So, with an unconvincing smile, you insist: you are fine, and you can make it through the day with a cold. 

Sighing softly, the man puts his arms up as if he is surrendering. 

- Okay, okay. Call me if you need anything, yeah? I’ll be back in a blink of an eye - your husband lets you know, capturing your lips in a loving kiss as his arms wrap around your waist, holding you closer to him for a moment. 

Nodding your head at his words, you allow the man to leave without feeling any remorse - it’s just a cold, after all. And you really try to keep your routine as normal as possible, going to wake Grace a little later than usual, allowing the little girl to sleep longer as you end up falling asleep in the middle of your covers as well. 

Even with a sore body, a hurt throat, you try your best to keep your energy at an acceptable rate, so you can waste it all with your curious girl: the three-year-old that wants to explore this entire world, as well as the entire galaxy - all at the same time. 

But you physically can’t. As the hours pass by, your figure grows colder, your limbs hurt more and more, you get caught in coughing fits more frequently, and it gets to a point when your daughter looks at you with her chocolate eyes full of pity, feeling bad from seeing her mummy so sick. And you notice the way Grace calms down as well, suggesting that you two would lay on the sofa, just watching her favourite cartoons as the toddler gently caresses your cheek with the back of her hand - making a genuine smile appear in your face as you hold your baby close. 

You seem to relax a bit as you stop moving around to meet Grace and her activities. However, your daughter feels exasperated, waiting for her daddy to come home, her small eyebrows furrowing slightly while she puts her brain to work. 

Mummy was already sick when she woke me up. And daddy had already been to work. Didn’t he see that mummy wasn’t feeling good?! Why is he not home yet? - the little girl thinks to herself, moving her hand gently to touch your hair softly, trying to shoo a bit of the pain away from her mummy’s figure. 

You don’t even notice the hours passing by, feeling your eyes growing heavier and heavier, fighting the will to fall asleep on your child, trying your best to stay as awake as you can for her. And you manage to do it, even if at much cost for your body and rest. 

But when you hear the keys turning on the front door, Grace immediately leaves her spot next to you, running to meet her daddy - something that it’s definitely not a surprise to you. 

Lewis is also used to having the light of his life waiting for him when he comes home, but today, the light of his life looks at him more as a storm, ready to crash on him as the little girl crosses her arms in front of her chest, looking at him impatiently before speaking. 

- Lewis Daddy Hamilton! Where have you been?! Mummy is so sick! - the toddler asks in an urgency, her tone reprimanding her dad for not being home all this time.

Your husband is taken aback as he walks inside your shared house, raising an eyebrow at his kid’s words. 

- Well hello to you too, my love. Daddy was at work! Mummy isn’t feeling better? - the man asks, keeping his tone light and soft for his baby.  - No! She is not feeling better! Aren’t you her husband?! In sickness and health?! - Grace is agitated, feeling nervous as she puts emphasis on certain words, one hand on her hip and pointing a finger at her dad from time to time. 

The three-year-old’s words make his heart clench in his chest as he realizes that the medicine you had earlier in the morning didn’t help much, and that you need some serious care from your husband and daughter. But still, Lewis can’t stop noticing Grace’s references.

- How on earth did you learn about wedding vows, miss? - the man questions curiously, only to be met with an impatient eye roll from his daughter, who just replies back ‘the telly’ in an obvious tone. 

Chuckling slightly, Lewis fills a cup with water, handing it to the toddler. 

- Alright, alright, miss. I’ll call out of work for the afternoon. Can you take this to mummy, please? Be careful - he advises, handing her the cup, making sure it’s secured in her little hands. 

Grace nods, preparing her last words before she leaves the kitchen. 

- Mummy needs medicine and a nice, warm soup. Get to work! - she says in a bossy tone before walking back to you, giving smaller steps so as not to spill the water on the floor. 

You take the cup from her hands, thanking your little one as you finally get some water to slide down your dry throat, relieving the pain for a few seconds. 

- Drink it all, mummy, so you can feel better - Grace’s tone when directed at you is as sweet as honey, wanting to help her mummy feeling better. 

Kissing her cheek softly, you let her know that she is all that you need to feel better. The words make your baby blush a little, and they’re not a lie. But today, you’re afraid that Grace won’t be the remedy to the cold that continues to creep more and more on your body - definitely in need to mix her cuddles with some effective medicine. 

As the girl joins your side again, you wrap her in the blanket that’s keeping your body warm, hugging her the way both of you enjoy so much. However, just a few seconds later, your husband comes into sight, seeing you for the first time since he left the house this morning. He gives you a gentle smile, seeing his two girls cuddled on the sofa, but immediately realizing that’s not the best place for you to rest your body in, now. 

- You said you were fine, huh? - Lewis banters for a second, remembering the words that you gave him in the morning, kissing your hand softly as he sits on the edge of the couch for a few seconds.  - And I am - you reply, just in time to get caught in another coughing fit, noticing the look that the man gives you, not believing that you continue to insist that you are okay, when you are so visibly sick. 

Shaking his head, the man gets up from his spot.

- How about we take you to bed, love? Your body will keep hurting if you lay here, all bent, for any longer - he suggests, and you know that he is right, groaning more as you feel every inch of your limbs hurting more and more when you try to move slightly, sitting down in your place so you can leave the sofa. 

However, a surprised yelp escapes your lips when your husband’s arms wrap around your figure carefully, picking you up bridal style and carrying you to your bed - even earning a giggle from his daughter once he winks at her, showing her that he started complying to his ‘husbandly duties’ right away.

His arms lay you down on the sheets slowly and carefully, as if you were made of porcelain in his hands, gently wrapping your body with the warm covers. Once the man sees that you seem way more comfortable now, he lands a kiss on your forehead, noticing how hot your skin feels. 

- Baby, you’re burning - he informs you, putting his mind to work as he remembers where you usually put the medicine that you need so much now. 

Walking inside the bathroom, the man searches the counter, hearing Grace’s little feet running to meet her dad. 

- I’ll take the medicine for mummy, daddy! I want to help too - the toddler says with big eyes, peeking through the door to check if you’re still lying down, as you are not authorized by your daughter to leave the bed! - Here, love - Lewis catches her attention again, seeing how the girl cups her hands in a shell shape, so her daddy can place down two pills that the child makes sure to take safely to her mum. 

Carefully walking over to you, your daughter hands you the medicine that you make sure to chug down with a water bottle, desperate to have something that will help you feel better once and for all. 

- Bubs, how about you come downstairs and help daddy cook lunch? So we can let mummy get some rest, alright? - Lewis offers softly, smiling at you when he sees you smiling back at him, a silent ‘thank you’ for taking care of you, for giving you some time for yourself, so you can have some peace of mind and allow your body to finally relax.

Grace nods at her dad’s words, walking over to the edge of the bed to kiss your cheek lovingly. 

- Don’t leave the bed, mummy! If you need anything, you call me and I come running immediately! Okay? I want you to get better - the toddler whispers softly to you, as if she is trying to not disturb your recovery.  - I’ll make sure to be right here when you’re back, my love. Thank you - you whisper back, hugging her as the little girl wraps her arms around your neck gently, before meeting her dad near the door. 

Picking her up, Lewis goes back to the kitchen, getting everything ready to cook you a warm soup, that you so desperately need. 

- Do you want to help me, princess? - he tries to catch the toddler’s attention, who is ready to reply to his question. - No - Grace says unapologetically, while sitting on her chair. - I spent the entire morning cuddling with mummy when you should have been here, but you weren’t. - your daughter states her ground, with her small hands on her hips and all.

She is merciless with her words, still feeling frustrated by seeing her mummy sick. Mummy never gets sick, and when she does, daddy is not home to help her!

- I’m sorry Gracie, but mummy told me that she was fine this morning. I didn’t know she was this sick, baby - Lewis tries to explain his side, making up for his absence during the morning as he starts chopping vegetables for the soup. 

Putting her hand up in a ‘stop’ movement, the little girl makes the man stop in his tracks, furrowing his eyebrows at her actions. 

- Yeah yeah Lewis, excuses - she rolls her eyes at him again, losing all patience with her father and his words. - Do I have to be the one doing everything in this house?! 

Lewis is dumbfounded, several question marks visible on his face as he stares at his kid, not enjoying her attitude at all.

- Miss, I advise you to watch that tone. I’m still your father - he says in a more stern way and a serious facial expression, going back to focus on the cooking as silence installs in the kitchen right after.

For some more minutes, the two of them cook your soup together. ‘Together’, meaning that your daughter was giving all the orders, making sure that your husband followed them. 

Lewis sighs from time to time, his mind divided between you and your health state, and Grace and the unbearable attitude that she has today, but he decides to relativize it, focusing on feeding his two girls - hoping that both of you might feel better right after. 

Your child gets tired of looking at her dad cooking, leaving her seat to go back to your room. However, before she leaves the kitchen, she gives Lewis another threatening look. 

- I am going to check on your wife, don’t mess up her food! - she emphasises, pointing two fingers from her eyes to him, silently telling dad that she has her eyes on him.

Lewis doesn’t even reply to her, sighing loudly as he shakes his head at his daughter's antics, not really understanding how she can sustain so much attitude inside of her tiny figure. Meeting you in bed again, Grace smiles at the sight of Roscoe lying at your feet, the poor dog also sensing that you aren’t feeling well. You open one of your arms to nestle your kid next to you, missing the warmth erupting from her loving cuddles already, smiling when she hugs you right back.

- Daddy will be right here with your food, mummy - the toddler informs you, earning a soft nod from you as you turn on the television so you two can entertain yourselves with some of your favourite shows. 

Choosing Gravity Falls, you and Grace pay attention to the telly, feeling some more comfort erupting through you from this moment with your little one. And time passes by faster, not really noticing it, until your husband is walking inside the room with a tray filled with food in his hands. 

- I hope my girls are hungry, because I cooked a very! delicious soup, may I say, and we also have some noodles and fruit - the man announces the menu for lunch, winning some claps from his mini-version.  - I am sooo hungry! - the toddler replies, crossing her arms again in a bossy way, even if her dad had already warned her about it.

Either way, your daughter calms down as soon as she starts eating, feeling her stomach more content with the nice food that Lewis had cooked for you, and you can totally relate to that sensation, feeling your body almost thanking you for the warm soup. 

With the show still playing in the background, the three of you eat in peace, feeling the air lightening around your figures, as you finally feel the medicine kicking in, easing the pain that was being endured on your body for the past couple of hours. 

- Did I redeem myself, miss Gracie? - your husband nudges your child slightly, allowing a teasing giggle to leave his lips. 

You notice the way your daughter gets a bit shy at her dad’s provocation, hiding the blush on her cheeks with her small hand. 

- Yes, BUT! - the three-year-old puts her finger up in the air - I think mummy should know how I had to boss you around for a bit. 

Both you and Lewis chuckle in unison at your baby’s antics, and you can’t help but melt at the way the little girl immediately loses herself in her daddy’s arms, finally hugging him for the first time today. 

- I was just worried, because I want mummy to be okay and happy - your little one says, looking at you while she’s still merged in her dad’s nestle as your husband softly kisses her temple.

You pout at her adorableness, welcoming her into your arms right next, thanking her for taking such good care of you when you are feeling so sick. You definitely wouldn’t feel better without your baby’s sweet cuddles.

Grace had a hint of sadness and concern inside of her tiny figure all day, worried about you - the strongest, most special mummy there is: Grace’s mummy, that takes care of her whenever the toddler is sick, sad, kissing away her tears and pain, nestling her to sleep, watching her favourite cartoons together, tickling her until her belly hurts from laughing so hard, sharing the most special moments between the two of you. 

So, seeing her pillar frail, encouraged the little girl to stand up for you, even if that meant that she had to lose her way and boss her dad a bit, to make sure that he would take good care of you. And he did, as always. You knew that all you had to do was make a call to your husband’s number, and he would be home in a second if needed - but it’s best to blame your stubbornness for this one. 

Apologising to her daddy for being bossy and even a bit rude sometimes, your husband immediately gives into the girl’s words, understanding how she was feeling insecure by seeing you sick - even if it’s just something as simple as a cold, hugging his mini-version once again. 

Putting the tray now filled with dirty dishes to the side, you and Lewis lay down on your pillows, opening up space for Grace to lay in between the warmth of your bodies, where the toddler loves to be so much. 

Sharing small giggles here and there, gentle touches erupt from your figures, as your husband’s fingers draw sweet patterns on your arm, since both you and your daughter are basically cuddled to his side, now - giving him the opportunity to land kisses on the top of your heads from time to time, as the three of you focus on the new episode of Gravity Falls that just started.

Out of nowhere, the three-year-old gets up from the space in between your figures, running out of the room, telling you how she forgot something in her bedroom. You imagine she would be back with her favourite plushie so she can hold him while watching the telly, but a surprised laugh escapes your lips when your child comes back into the room with a bar of chocolate in her hands. 

- This is for you, mummy - Grace tells you, handing you the candy while looking at her dad with a compromised look and a giggle that she tries to suppress: she took it from Lewis’ “secret” stash of candy that he has in her room, and that you pretend not to know a thing about, even after your daughter telling you everything about it already.

The man looks at the little girl with an eyebrow raised, in a comical way, making the toddler laugh at the situation. 

- Uhm… I’ll let this one slide because mummy is sick and she needs a sweet. But just so you know, I’m moving my candy from its place, so you won’t find them, little lady - Lewis jokes, his giggles mixing with Grace’s as he tickles her, obviously just messing around with his kid. 

But Grace is still more witty than him, already ready to give her dad a piece of her sassiness, as she just ironizes: 

- Uhmhm, we both know that’s not happening, daddy - looking at him with another hand to her hip in a very sassy, very Grace’s usual way, making you laugh so much that you get caught in another coughing fit. 

And that’s the line that your family needs to calm down again, as your daughter gets back to her place in between her parents’ frames, her tiny fingers gently twirling some pieces of your hair while the child focuses on the cartoons again - something that she used to do when she was even smaller than she is now, and definitely a little action from her that’s enough to make your heart grow in your chest at the memories of something that she used to do repeatedly when she needed to calm down to sleep, and that she does so rarely now. 

These are the moments that you live for, the fuel of your life and health, what immediately makes you feel better as you only need to have your daughter and your husband by your side, never forgetting about the loyal Roscoe as well - as if you could ever forget about him, this peaceful moment of cuddles in bed being punctuated by the dog’s loud snores that makes you and Lewis chuckle from time to time. 

Some time after the cuddle session has started, Grace sneezes, sniffling a bit while never taking her eyes off the telly, making you and Lewis immediately look at each other with widened eyes - your conscience identifying the consequences of cuddling your daughter all day when you’re sick.