#f1 fans

The days after that seemed to settle into something softer.

Not all at once, and not in some huge life-changing moment. It happened quietly, in pieces so small you almost didn't notice them at first.

Lily started reaching for Lando more without thinking about it. Sometimes it was just little things, asking him to open her juice because "he does it better," tugging on the sleeve of his shirt when she wanted to show him something, climbing into his lap during movies like it had slowly become the most natural thing in the world.

Other times, it caught you off guard.

Like hearing her call for him from the bathroom instead of you when she needed help brushing her teeth. Or the way she'd wander into the living room half-asleep in the mornings and immediately look around for him first if his shoes were by the door.

It had been nearly two weeks since she said "Love you."

Two weeks of slow mornings tangled in blankets and pancake breakfasts that somehow always turned into a mess. Two weeks of Lando showing up at the apartment more often than not, his overnight bag eventually staying by your bedroom dresser because carrying it back and forth became pointless.

And through all of it, Lily kept getting closer to him.

Not in loud ways.

For her, trust showed in the quiet things. The way she stopped hesitating before reaching for his hand when they crossed parking lots, or how she'd lean against his side without realizing she was doing it. Sometimes she'd sit beside him while he scrolled on his phone, completely content just existing there with him, her small shoulder pressed against his arm while cartoons played in the background.

Even Aiden noticed it.

"You know she likes you now, right?" He'd said one night from the couch while Lando helped Lily build some uneven block tower on the rug.

Lando had glanced up briefly. "What gave it away?"

"She stopped threatening to bite you."

Lily gasped dramatically from the floor. "I no bite."

Aiden looked at him flatly. "She absolutely bites."

"I bite you," she corrected.

"Exactly my point."

Lando had laughed quietly at that, shaking his head as Lily crawled closer to him with another block in her hand like the conversation had nothing to do with her.

And somehow, somewhere in the middle of all those ordinary little moments, things started feeling less temporary.

The whether starts warming up again.

Not enough for summer, but enough that the air doesn't sting your face anymore when you step outside. Most of the snow has melted into damp patches along sidewalks and grassy edges of parking lots, leaving everything looking washed out and sleepy in that strange in-between season.

Lily likes it anyway.

Mostly because it means playgrounds again.

The three of you fall into routines lately without really thinking about them. Saturday mornings at the apartment. Pancakes if Lily asks enough times. Grocery runs that somehow take twice as long with her sitting in the cart, pointing at things she absolutely does not need.

And now this.

The park a few blocks from your apartment, crowded enough now that the sound of children reaches you before you even make it through the gate. The air smells faintly like damp woodchips and cold pavement warming in the sun.

Lando sits beside you on the bench, sunglasses pushed up into his hair while one arm stretches loosely along the back of the bench behind you. You sit with your legs crossed, leaning slightly forward, your elbows resting against your knees as you watch Lily near the playground.

The park is busy today.

Kids run across the woodchips in loud, messy groups, jackets half-zipped and shoes kicking dirt everywhere, while parents call them from the benches and picnic tables. swings creak steadily back and forth nearby somewhere behind you, and somebody's speaker plays music low enough that it blends into the rest of the noise.

And right in the middle of all of it is Lily.

Not really playing.

Just... wandering.

She lingers near the slide for a moment, clutching the sleeve of her sweatshirt in one hand while she watches a group of girls around her age chase each other through the tunnel structure. Her body leans toward them slightly, almost without realizing it, like some part of her wants to follow.

But she doesn't.

Instead, her hands start fidgeting together in front of her, tiny fingers twisting nervously against each other before she tugs at the cuff of her sleeve again. One foot shifts against the woodchips, then the other, like she can't quite figure out where to place herself.

One of the girls glances at her briefly before running off again, disappearing around the other side of the playground. Lily shifts awkwardly where she stands after that, looking down at the woodchips before slowly wandering somewhere else instead.

Your chest tightens immediately.

Lando notices the shift beside you before he notices why.

"You alright?" He asks quietly, glancing toward you.

"Mmhm," you answer automatically.

Too fast.

Your eyes never leave Lily.

She crouches near one of the spring riders now, dragging her fingers absently across chipped paint while children climb and yell and laugh around her. Every few seconds, she looks toward another group of kids like she's trying to figure something out

A little boy runs past her suddenly, nearly clipping her shoulder.

Lily immediately steps out of the way.

Instinctive.

Your throat tightens.

Lando watches her for another second before looking back at you. "Hey," he says softer this time. "What is it?"

You shake your head once, rubbing your thumb lightly against your palm. "Nothing."

Beside you, Lando shifts slightly, turning more toward you now instead of the playground. His expression softens immediately the second he gets a better look at your face.

Your eyes are glossy.

Close enough to crying that he notices.

"Talk to me," he says gently, turning a little more toward you on the bench. The concern in his voice almost makes it worse.

You swallow once, hard enough that it hurts slightly, and look back toward Lily. For a second you think maybe you can shake it off, pretend it's nothing, but the feeling is sitting too heavy in your chest now.

Lily is standing near the climbing structure beside two little girls drawing shapes into the mulch with sticks. She hovers just outside of their space, small fingers twisting together nervously in front of her sweatshirt while she watches them.

For one tiny second, it looks like she might actually say something. She takes one hesitant little step closer, her shoulder lifting slightly like she's building up courage one breath at a time.

Your breath catches without you meaning it to.

But then on of the girls suddenly stands up laughing and runs off toward the swings before Lily can get there. The second girl follows right after her.

Not mean. Not cruel... just leaving.

And Lily just... stops.

The tiny bit of confidence drains out of her so fast it physically hurts to watch. Her shoulders curl inward slightly. Her eyes drop to the ground. One foot drags slowly through the woodchips before she turns away again like she was never about to try in the first place.

Like she's already learned how to make herself smaller before someone else can do it for her.

Your eyes sting immediately.

You blink quickly, looking down toward your lap as your hand comes up beneath your eye before anything can actually fall. You press your lips together hard, trying to steady yourself before Lando notices.

He notices anyway.

His expression shifts immediately, concern settling deeper across his face as he looks between you and Lily again. "Hey," he says quietly, softer this time. "What happened?"

You shake your head once automatically like it's nothing. But your voice betrays you the second you open your mouth. "She was friends so bad," you whisper.

The words crack around the edges.

Lando stays quiet beside you, giving you space to keep going instead of interrupting too soon.

You stare out toward Lily again. She's crouched near the edge of the playground now, distracted by a tiny yellow flower pushing through the mulch, but even from here you can see it in her face, that distant little look she gets when she's trying to pretend she isn't upset.

"She just..." you stop for a second, swallowing hard. "She doesn't know how."

Lando's eyes move back toward her again, really watching now instead of casually glancing. Watching the way she circles around groups of kids instead of through them. Watching how she pauses every time she gets close enough to say something. watching how quickly she pulls herself back out again the second she feels unsure.

Your fingers twist tightly together in your lap.

"She's always been nervous around other kids. She wants to play with them so badly, but when she gets close to them she just... freezes." A small, sad breath leaves you. "And the older she gets, the more she notices when she's left out."

Lando stays quiet, listening carefully.

"She's good one-on-one sometimes," you continue softly. "If another kid comes up to her first, she'll;; usually warm up. But she doesn't know how to start it herself." You shake your head slightly.

Out on the playground, Lily glances toward another group of children climbing across the monkey bars. She takes one tiny step toward them before immediately second-guessing herself, fingers twisting together again.

Your chest aches watching it.

"She gets so excited before we come to places like this," you whisper. "She talks all morning about making friends and playing with other kids... and then we get here and she just can't."

Lando exhales slowly beside you, elbows resting against his knees now while he watches her.

"She's trying though." He says quietly.

You can see it every few minutes in the way she inches closer to other children before stopping herself halfway there. Like she wants connection so badly but doesn't know how to reach for it without being afraid.

"She notices more now," you admit softly. "When kids don't answer her, or when they run off while she's trying to talk." Your eyes sting again immediately. "She acts like it doesn't bother her, but then she gets really clingy after."

Lando's expression softens even more at that.

"She's scared," you whisper finally.

The words hurt more once they're spoken aloud.

You shake your head slightly, frustrated at yourself now for getting emotional in the middle of a playground, but the heaviness doesn't leave your chest.

"She shouldn't even know what that feels like yet."

For a second, Lando doesn't answer right away. His eyes stay on Lily while she carefully picks the little flower from the ground, tiny fingers gentle with it like it's something important.

"She's getting better," she says softly.

You let out a tiny breath through your nose, almost laughing despite yourself. "I know everybody keeps saying that."

"I'm serious."

His voice is quiet but steady enough that it makes you look over at him properly.

"She's talking more," he says gently. "A few weeks ago, she was nervous to talk to me."

That pulls the faintest smile out of you. "Yeah,"

Lando glances back toward Lily again before speaking quieter this time.

"But she keeps trying anyway."

Your brows pull together slightly. "What do you mean?"

"She still walks over to them," he says softly, nodding toward the playground. "Even if she gets nervous. Even if it doesn't work." His expression softens as he watches her. "Most people stop trying after a while when something scares them."

Your chest tightens again. Because he's right.

Out near the mulch, Lily finally stands again with the tiny flower clutched carefully in her hand.

Then she turns, searching.

Her eyes scan across the park until they land on the two of you sitting there together. And the second she sees you both still watching her, something in her shoulders loosens just slightly.

For a moment she just stands there holding the flower in her fist, watching the two of you from across the playground while children race around her in every direction.

Then she starts walking back.

Slowly at first, her sneakers dragging a little through the woodchips before she steps off the playground onto the pavement leading toward the benches. Her head stays lowered most of the way there, flower still clenched in her hand while the sleeve of her sweatshirt slips halfway over her fingers.

By the time she reaches the bench, she doesn't stop in front of you like she normally would.

Instead, she walks directly to Lando. Her tiny arms lifting upward automatically toward him without a word.

It's instinctive now.

Lando's expression softens immediately.

"Hey, bug," he murmurs gently, leaning forward to scoop her up without hesitation.

She goes easily this time, like she already knows exactly where she fits. He lifts her onto his lap sideways, one arm settling securely around her as she curls into him.

Her face presses into his chest, one little hand still clutching the flower while the other bunches lightly into the fabric of his hoodie. Her body goes heavy in that tired, sad toddler way where they just want to be held for a minute.

Lando's hand moves automatically up and down her back slowly. "What's up?"

Lily doesn't answer right away. She just stays curled against him while the sounds of the playground continue around you. Swings creak steadily nearby. Children laugh somewhere behind the slide.

But Lily only presses herself closer.

"...go home," she mumbles eventually into his hoodie.

The words come out muffled and small, like she's not fully sure she's allowed to say them out loud.

Lando glances at you briefly, a quick check-in without breaking the moment, then looks down at her.

"Yeah?" He asks gently. "How come?"

Lily shifts slightly against him, still not lifting her face. Her voice is quieter now, more uncertain.

"N-no one talk to me."

It doesn't come out dramatic. It comes out confused. Like she still doesn't understand how she can try and still end up feeling invisible.

Your throat tightens immediately. You look down fast, blinking once, then again, trying to keep yourself steady enough to listen without breaking the moment.

Lando's hand pauses for half a second on her back before continuing again, even slower now. "They weren't very nice today?" He asks softly.

Lily shakes her head lightly against him. "I try."

"I know you did."

"I say hi," he adds after a second, voice catching just slightly at the end. "They go away."

That sentence hits harder than it should. Because it's not angry. It's not even upset in a loud way. It's just.. factual.

Like she's stating something she doesn't understand.

Your eyes sting again, and you look away quickly, catching yourself.

Lando exhales quietly through his nose, adjusting her slightly closer against him as his arm tightens just a fraction.

"Hey," he murmurs softer now. "That doesn't mean they didn't like you."

Lily doesn't respond. She just curls in tighter. Her fingers twist into his hoodie again, knuckles pressing into the fabric as if she needs something solid to keep herself from drifting too far into how that made her feel.

For a few seconds, Lando doesn't try to fix it. He just holds her. Lets her sit in it without rushing her out of it.

His chin dips slightly, resting near the top of her head while his thumb moves in slow, absent circles along her side, steady enough that it becomes its own kind of quiet reassurance.

The three of you stay like that for a moment, surrounded by the noise of other kids playing in a world she doesn't feel fully par of right now.

Then Lando speaks again, voice quieter.

"Can I tell you something?"

Lily gives him the small nod.

"If those kids don't wanna play," he says gently, "then they're missing out."

She lifts her head just a little at that, enough to look up at him properly now.

Her cheeks are slightly pink, eyes still glossy around the edges, flower still in her hand but forgotten for the moment as she focuses on his face.

"They are?" She asks quietly.

"Mmhm," he says. "Because you're very fun."

That lands differently. Not like instant happiness, but like something shifts inside her.

her mouth moves slightly like she's trying not to smile too quickly, like she's deciding whether she believes him or not.

Lando notices immediately.

And his expression softens into something lighter, deliberately giving her somewhere safer to land emotionally.

"You know what?"

Lily blinks up at him. "What?"

"How about I play with you instead?"

There's a pause. A real one. Like she needs to fully process it before it reaches her face. Then it hits. Her entire expression changes at once.

"Really?" she asks quickly, pulling back just enough to look at him properly now.

The sadness doesn't vanish completely, but excitement pushes through it fast, brightening her face in a way that feels almost immediate. Her grip loosens slightly on his hoodie as she sits up a little straighter in his lap.

"Yeah," Lando says simply. "Really."

"You play playground?" She asks again, like she needs confirmation it includes everything she hoping it does.

"I'm actually extremely qualified at playgrounds," he replies seriously.

That earns a tiny laugh from her.

Lily shifts more upright now, energy returning in small waves instead of all at once. "You go slide?" She asks quickly, already pointing vaguely toward the playground like she's mapping out the next hour.

"Oh, absolutely."

"And swing?"

"Definitely swing."

She gasps softly like the answer is exactly correct.

Lando adjusts her slightly on his lap before standing, lifting her easily against his side as she immediately wraps her arms loosely around his neck again, excitement building fast now as she starts pointing again.

"Alright, what are we doing first?" He asks.

"Swings," she says immediately, no hesitation now.

"Excellent choice."

He starts walking with her back toward the playground, her small hand now more animated as she points toward the swings repeatedly, already talking again in quick little bursts about going high and going fast and which swing she wants.

Halfway there, Lando glances back over his shoulder toward you. His expression softer now, lighter, but steady. Then he lifts a hand breifly and gives you a small thumbs up.

They play for a long time. Long enough for the sunlight to start shifting lower across the park, turning everything warmer and softer around the edges. The loud rush of the afternoon slowly begins fading into something quieter as the hours pass, the chaos of the playground mellowing little by little.

At first Lily sticks close to Lando almost constantly.

She drags him straight toward the swings the second they reach them again, practically bouncing with excitement now that the sadness from earlier has loosened its grip on her chest. Lando helps her into the swing with exaggerated seriousness, checking the chains dramatically like he's preparing a race car instead of a toddler swing.

"Safety inspection," he announces.

Lily watches him carefully. "Why?"

"Very important procedures," he says gravely.

She nods immediately like it makes perfect sense.

You watch from the bench, arms folded loosely across yourself now, unable to stop the small smile pulling at your mouth as he steps behind her and starts pushing the swing gently.

At first he keeps the pushes small. Easy.

Just enough to make her giggle quietly every time she swings back toward him.

Then slowly, higher. Not enough to scare her, but enough that her laughter starts carrying across the playground in bright little bursts that make something unclench softly inside your chest.

"Again!" She squeals.

"You are literally already going again," Lando points out.

"Higher!"

"Oh, now we're negotiating."

She laughs harder at that, legs kicking wildly while he shakes his head like she's completely unreasonable despite giving her exactly what she wants anyway.

Eventually, the swings turn into the slide. Then the climbing structures. Then some strange made-up game where Lily insists she's "running away" while Lando dramatically chases after her at the slowest possible speed imaginable.

"Oh no," he calls sarcastically while jogging after her. "She's too fast. Somebody stop her."

Lily shrieks with laughter. Not nervous laughter. Not uncertain. Just pure little-kid joy. She darts across the woodchips in crooked paths, sneakers kicking mulch behind her while Lando follows a few feet back, pretending he can't quite catch her. Every few seconds, he lunges dramatically just to miss her on purpose, making her laugh harder each time.

You stay on the bench, watching them, your chin resting lightly against your hand now as the knot in your chest slowly unwinds itself.

Because this is the version of her you miss sometimes. The version that forgets to be afraid for a little while.

As the afternoon drifts closer toward evening, the park slowly starts emptying around you. The playground now has just a handful of children scattered across it.

Lily doesn't seem to notice.

She's to busy running.

Her little sneakers kick up tiny sprays of woodchips as she darts across the playground, looking back over her shoulder every few seconds to make sure Lando is still following her.

He is.

"You never catch me!" She giggles, her laughter carrying across the nearly empty park.

Lando clutches dramatically at his chest. "Oh, I don't know..." he calls after her, purposely jogging much slower than he easily could. "I think I'm gaining on you."

"Nooo!" She squeals louder, pumping her little legs faster than before, diving around the climbing structures like she just escaped something terrifying.

Lando follows after her with determination. "Come back here!"

"You slow!"

"I am not slow!"

"You so slow!"

He stops in the middle of the playground, bending over with his hands on his knees like he's completely exhausted. "I don't think..." he says between fake heavy breaths," I've ever met... someone... this fast."

Lily stops several feet away, hand settling on her tiny hips. The grin on her face is impossible to miss. "I win."

"You cheated."

"I not!"

"You've got tiny legs. Those are aerodynamic."

She blinks. "...Aero..."

You laugh quietly from the bench, shaking your head. Lily looks at you. "Mommy! I not know... what dat mean."

"Neither do I." Lando admits.

That only makes you laugh harder.

Lily giggles simply because the two of you are laughing, even if she has no idea why, before suddenly pointing toward the swings. "Again!"

Lando looks over his shoulder toward you before glancing back at her. "Again?"

You shrug, unable to hide your smile. "Looks like you've been assigned another job." You tease, watching Lily tug impatiently on his hand. "I'd help, but apparently you're the fun one today."

He sighs dramatically, shoulders slumping. "This workplace has terrible hours," he complains, though he makes absolutely no effort to pull his hand away from Lily's. instead, he let's himself be led across the playground, looking back over his shoulder at you with an expectant look. "Well? You coming?"

You blink, pointing to yourself. "Me?"

"Yes you."

He nods toward the empty swing beside Lily's, giving a gentle nudge with his foot so i rocks lazily back and forth. "There's two swings for a reason."

A quiet laugh escapes you as you stand, brushing woodchips from the backs of your pants. "I think I've exceeded the age limit for the swings."

"I don't remember seeing a sign."

"You just made that up."

"I absolutely did."

Lily looks between the two of you with the utmost seriousness before nodding confidently. "Mommy swing."

You glance down at her determined little face before looking back at Lando who simply raises his brows as if he's saying she's got a point. Rolling your eyes playfully, you follow them over to the swings, lowering yourself carefully onto the seat beside Lily while she climbs onto hers with Lando's help.

He crouches in front of her first, making sure both of her tiny hands are wrapped securely around the chains. "You ready?"

She nods enthusiastically. "Mhm!"

He gives her a gentle push, just enough to send her gliding forward through the cool evening air. her giggle rings out almost immediately, bright enough to make the few families still scattered around the playground glance over with small smiles before returning to their own conversations.

"High!" She laughs, swinging back toward him.

"Already?" Lando asks with disbelief. "We're skipping straight to the dangerous requests?"

"Little high!"

"Now that's a negotiation."

He gives her another push, a little strong this time, and she squeals happily as she swings forward again. Watching her laugh so freely makes something warm settle in your chest, and before you even realize it, you're smiling just a widely as she is.

After another minute, Lando steps between the two swings and turns toward you with an almost suspiciously confident expression. "Your turn."

You glance over your shoulder at him. "Be nice."

"No promises."

You narrow your eyes playfully before lifting your feet off the ground. he place both hands lightly against your back, rocking the swing once as though testing it before letting out a thoughtful.

"Hm."

You look over your shoulder. "What?'

"Nothing."

"Lando."

"I'm just assessing the situation."

You squint at him, unconvinced, but before you can say anything else, he plants both feet dramatically into the woodchips like he's about to push a broken-down truck instead of a swing.

"Oh wow..."

A loud grunt escapes him as he gives the swign the tiniest shove imaginable.

"This one's... tougher."

You barely move.

He tries again, making an even bigger production out of it this time, pretending to strain so hard that he scrunches his face up dramatically.

"I don't know..." he groans. "This could take a while."

The swing finally creeps forward about six inches.

You slowly turn your head to look at him. "...So," you say flatly, "you're calling me fat?"

His eyes widen immediately. "What? No!"

"You literally acted like you couldn't push me."

"I acted like you're an adult."

"Oh, that's convenient."

"I never said the word fat."

"You... heavily implied it."

Before either of you can continue, another tiny voice cuts through the conversation. "Hey!"

Both of you turn at the exact same time to see that Lily has completely stopped swinging, her little hands still wrapped tightly around the chains as she frowns at Lando with all the seriousness a three year old can manage.

"No call my mommy fat!"

For a split second, complete silence hands between the three of you.

Lando stares at her, caught off guard, before quickly shaking his head. "I wasn't!"

"Yes you was!"

"I promise I wasn't."

"You mean to mommy!'

You press your lips together so tightly they almost hurt, desperately trying not to laugh as Lando turns toward you with an expression that practically begs for help.

Instead, you shrug.

"I don't know, Lando," you say, doing your best to sound thoughtful. "The evidence isn't looking great for you."

His jaw drops. "Oh, come on."

Lily crosses her arms, or as much as she can while still holding onto the swing chains.

"My mommy pretty."

The words come out so matter-of-factly that both you and Lando pause for just a moment.

His expression softens instantly, all the exaggerated dramatics melting away as he smiles at her. "I know she is."

She keeps looking at him for another second before adding one final condition. "No call her fat."

A quiet laugh slips from him as he crouches down in front of her. "I promise, bug. I wasn't calling your mommy fat."

She studies him carefully, like she's trying to decide if he's earned another chance. Finally, after what feels like the longest inspection in history, she gives a small nod.

"...Okay."

Lando lets out the biggest sigh of relief you've ever heard, pressing a hand dramatically against his forehead. "Thank goodness. I thought I was about to get kicked out of the playground."

That finally does it.

You burst into laughter so hard you have to grip the swing chians to steady yourself, and Lily starts laughing right along with you even thought she's forgotten exactly what was funny in the first place. Lando points dramatically between the two of you, shaking his head with a grin that refuses to leave his face.

"I've been framed," he declares. "I came over here to push two people on swings, and somehow I'm the villain."

You wipe the corners of your eyes as your laughter settles into quieter giggles, giving your swing a gentle push with your feet before drifting back toward him. "You know... for someone who claims to be innocent..."

He raises a brow.

"...you make a surprisingly convincing bad guy."

Lily nods enthusiastically beside you. "Bad guy."

Lando puts a hand over his heart in mock offense, looking between the two of you before letting out a last dramatic sigh. "I see how it is," he mutters. "It's two against one."

The three of you stay at the swings longer than any of you probably intended.

At first it's supposed to be just a few more minutes. That's what Lando says.

But every time Lily starts slowing down, she suddenly remembers something else she needs to tell him. A story about the playground. A question about the moon. A completely random thought about whether her bunny would like going on a swing too.

And every single time, Lando listens like it's the most important conversation he's ever had.

Eventually, Lily's feet drag slightly against the ground as she swings forward, her earlier excitement slowly being replaced by the tiredness she's been fighting all afternoon.

Lando notices before anyone says anything. He reaches out and gently catches the swing as she comes back toward him, stopping her carefully.

"Alright, I think someone's batter is getting low."

Lily immediately shakes her head. "No."

You and Lando watch as she holds the serious expression for a few seconds before letting out a huge yawn that comletely ruins her argument.

Lando raises his eyebrows, trying not to laugh. "Interesting."

Lily covers her mouth with her hand and looks away. "I just opening my mouth.""

"That explanation is so serious that you can't help but laugh quietly, and Lando looks over at you with an amused smile.

"She's got a point." He says, nodding like he's considering it. "Could've just been a very dramatic mouth stretch."

"You're encouraging her." You tease.

"I'm... supporting her defense."

Lily smiles proudly, clearly happy that Lando is on her side.

The three of you eventually make your way back toward the picnic bench, gathering the few thing you brought with you while the last bit of sunlight fades behind the trees. The park has become much quieter now, with only a few families scattered around the open areas and the occasional sound of children laughing in the distance.

Lily walks between you and Lando, holding both of your hands.

It's such a small thing that most people wouldn't even notice, but you do.

You notice because you remember how different things were before. You remember how carefully she watched him when he first came into her life, how she needed time before she would even sit close to him, how every little step forward felt huge.

Now she swings your joined hands between the two of you, completely comfortable, talking about what she wants to do next like she has never been afraid of him at all. Lando looks down at her every few seconds with a smile he doesn't even realize he's wearing.

when you reach the bench, he picks up the bag with the leftover things and looks around the empty park.

"Okay," he says after a moment, adjusting the strap over his shoulder. "I have an idea."

You glance at him suspiciously. "That usually means trouble."

He laughs softly. "I was actually going to suggest something nice."

"Sure you were." You tease.

"I was."

Lily looks back down at her before turning his attention to you again.

"How about you two come over for dinner?"

You blink slightly. "Tonight?"

He nods casually, though there's a small hopeful look behind his expression. "Yeah. I mean, if you want to. We can just order something or make something. Nothing complicated."

Before you can answer, Lily's head lifts. "Lando house?"

The excitement in her voice makes both of you look down at her.

Lando smiles. "My apartment."

Her eyes widen. "yes!"

You laugh softly because she answers so quickly she doesn't even let you think. "Wow, you didn't even ask what we're having."

Lily looks up at you like that is a ridiculous thing to worry about. "I wanna go."

Lando tries to hide how happy that makes him, but he fails completely. The little smile that pulls at the corner of his mouth gives him away before he even has the chance to look anywhere else, and you catch it immediately.

"Well," he says, looking over at you with that small grin still lingering, "I guess I have been outvoted."

You shake your head, smiling as Lily continues holding onto both of your hands, swinging them gently between the two of you as if the decision has already been made.

"Okay," you say, looking down at her. "Dinner at Lando's."

Lily immediately brightens, looking up at him with a serious expression. "You got food?"

The question catches him off guard, making him gasp dramatically, placing a hand against his chest as if she has deeply offended him. "That's your first question?"

Lily nods without hesitation. "Yes."

You laugh quietly beside them while Lando looks down at her, pretending to be wounded.

"I invited you into my home and immediately I'm questioned about my food supply."

Lily thinks about that for a moment, her little eyebrows pulling together as she tries to explain herself. "'Cause dinner."

For a second, Lando just stares at her, then he slowly nods. "That's fair."

-

By the time you arrive at Lando's apartment, Lily has somehow found a second wind. The same little girl who had been rubbing her eyes at the park and insisting she wasn't tired is now walking through the hallway with wide eyes, looking at everything around her while holding onto your hand. Lando unlocks the door and steps aside to let the two of you in first, watching quietly as Lily takes in the unfamiliar space.

His apartment feels different from yours, not because it feels less like home, but because it feels completely like him. There are little pieces of his life scattered around. The comfortable furniture, the racing memorabilia carefully displayed, the small details that show someone actually lives here instead of it just being in a place he comes back to after traveling.

Lily notices everything.

Her eyes move from one shelf to another, taking in the photos, the decorations, and the things she doesn't recognize. She walks slowly, almost like she's afraid she'll miss something, before stopping in front of one of the displays.

"What them?"

Lando follows her gaze and smiles when he realizes what she's looking at. "Those?" He walks closer, crouching slightly beside her. "Those are trophies."

Her eyes widen immediately. "You win?"

He laughs quietly at how surprised he sounds. "Yeah," he says. "I did."

She looks back at the trophies, then back at him, like she's trying to connect the person standing in front of her with the shiny objects sitting on the shelf.

"You really good?"

You cover a small smile from behind them.

He looks over his shoulder at you, pretending to be offended. "Really? That's the question?"

Lily just watches him, completely serious.

He lets out a quiet laugh. "I'm being evaluated."

"She's very tough." You tease.

"I can tell."

He turns back toward Lily and lowers himself closer to her height. "I try my best."

She seems to accept that answer, but she's still fascinate by the trophies. She reaches one small hand toward one of them before stopping herself and looking back at him.

"Can I touch?"

The question makes his expression soften.

"Yeah, of course you can."

He carefully lifts the trophy from the shelf and places it into her hands, making sure she has a good grip. It's a little heavier than she expects, and her eyes widen slightly as she holds it.

"Heavy."

Lando smiles. "Yeah, they're heavier than they look."

She turns it slightly, looking at every little detail. "You win?"

"I did."

"You?"

He nods. "-

"Me."

Her face lights up a little, and she looks at the trophy again like it suddenly became even more special. "That cool."

Lando smiles because, coming from her, it somehow feels like the biggest compliment he could get.

For a moment, the three of you stand there together, Lily still carefully holding the trophy while Lando steadies it with one hand underneath. She turns it back and forth, studying the little engraved plate near the bottom before eventually handing it back to him with both hands, making sure he has it before she lets go. He places it carefully back onto the shelf, giving it a small adjustment until it's sitting exactly where it was before, and when he looks back down, he catches Lily still staring up at the collection.

"This taller." She observes."

"It is."

"Why?"

"I won a different race."

She looks at another trophy. "This little."

"That was a smaller trophy."

She considers that for a second. "...Still shiny."

"It is shiny."

After a few more minutes of Lily asking questions about the different trophies, she finally looks around the room again, her attention shifting away from the shelves. Lando notices slightly. "I think we should probably handle another important thing." Lily tilts her head waiting for him to explain. "Food."

Her entire expression changes "Food?"

You laugh quietly because the excitement appears instantly. "There it is," you tease. "The most important part of the evening." Lily doesn't even deny it, simply nodding while grabbing onto your hand and looking at Lando like he has just announced the best news ever.

Lando puts a hand over his chest. "I invite you to my home, show you my trophies, tell you all my racing stories, and the thing that get the biggest reaction is food?"

Lily nods without hesitation. "Yes."

The answer if so immediate that you have to laugh, and Lando shakes his head while pretending to be offended. "Wow. Okay. I'll remember that."

Lily looks up at him seriously. "'Cause dinner."

He pauses for a second before slowly nodding. "You know what? That's actually fair." He looks over at you with an amused smile. "She's got a strong argument."

You shake your head, laughing as the three of you make your way toward the kitchen together.

The second Lando steps into the kitchen, he opens the fridge and starts looking through everything inside. You watch him quietly for a moment, expecting him to pull out something simple, but instead the starts gathering ingredients from different shelves. Chicken, vegetables, pasta, cheese, and a few other things begin appearing on the counter until you raise your eyebrows slightly.

"Okay," you say, looking at everything spread out. "I wasn't expecting that."

Lando glances over. "What were you expecting?"

You try to look innocent. "I don't know."

He narrows his eyes at you. "You thought I was going to order food."

"I thought there was a possibility."

"A possibility?"

You shrug. "A small one."

He places a hand over his heart like he's been personally attacked. "You have so little faith in me."

"I have faith in you."

He waits. "Just not necessarily in your cooking."

Lando shakes his head, but he's smiling. "That is unbelievable. I'm standing here, about to make you dinner, and this is the support I receive?"

Lily looks between the two of you, clearly following the tone even if she doesn't understand every word. "Lando cook?"

He turns toward her. "Yes. Lando cooks."

She studies him carefully for a minute. "Good?"

You cover your mouth, tyring not to laugh.

Lando looks back at you. "Why is everyone doubting me today?"

"I'm not... doubting you." You say, smiling. "I'm just curious."

"Curious." He repeats, voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah."

He shakes his head lightly. "That just sounds like doubt but with some extra steps."

You laugh as he turns back toward the counter, shaking his head. "Alright. Fine. Looks like I'll just prove myself."

Lily reaches toward him. "I help?"

The change in his expression is instant. The joking side disappears, replaced by that softer look he always gets with her now. "You want to help me cook?" He asks. Lily nods eagerly, a small smile forming on her face. "Okay," he says, grabbing a small stool from between the counter and the fridge. "But you have to be my assistant, alright?"

"I chef!" She says proudly.

He pauses slightly. "Assistant chef."

She thinks about it, hand going below her chin for a split second before nodding. "As- assis-tant... chef!"

"There you go!" He encourages.

You smile, watching as Lando places the stool beside the counter and helps her climb up carefully. The sight of her standing there beside him, watching every move he makes like she's learning something incredibly important, makes the entire apartment feel warmer.

Lando starts explaining what he's doing as he prepares the meal, going slow enough that she can follow along, letting her sprinkles some spices, stir ingredients, and hand him things from the counter while making sure she feels like she's actually part of it.

"This is called garlic," he tells her, holding up the jar. "It makes food taste better."

Lily wrinkles her nose, head backing up slightly. "Smells funny."

Lando laughs. "It does smell funny."

You lean against the counter, watching them both. "Are you sure you want her opinion on your cooking before you're even finished?" You tease, a small grin pulling at your lips.

Lando looks down at Lily, then back at you. "Absolutely. She's my toughest critic."

Lily nods proudly. "I critic.."

"See?" He says. "Very professional."

The three of you continue like that for the next while, the kitchen slowly filing with the smell of dinner cooking and the sound of Lily's little questions. She asks why pasta has different shapes, why cheese melts, why Lando has so many trophies, and somehow he answers every question like it's the most important thing in the world. You find yourself smiling more than you expect because it feels so natural, like this is something the three of you have done a hundred times before.

By the time the food is finally ready, Lily is proudly standing beside Lando like she helped create the entire meal herself. Lando looks down at her with a small grin. "Alright, assistant chef. Time for the official taste test."

She nods seriously. "Yes."

Lando brings the first plate over to the table with an exaggerated amount of concentration, carefully setting it down in front of Lily before looking at you like he's presenting something at a five-star restaurant. "There we are," he says, straightening up with a little nod. "Dinner made by Chef Norris, assisted by the world's smallest sous-chef."

Lily smiles immediately at the title, sitting up a little straighter in her chair while you laugh and sit down in your own chair. Once everyone is settled, the apartment grows pleasantly quiet except for the small sounds of forks scraping against the plates and the occasional little hum Lily makes whenever she likes something. She takes one bite of the chicken, pauses, and looks at Lando with an expression so serious that he immediately stops eating to wait for her verdict. "Good." She finally says.

Lando lets out a breath of relief while you laugh across the table. "Thank goodness," he says, reaching for his water. "I was getting worried there for a second." Lily shakes her head and takes another bite, clearly pleased with herself for making him nervous, and you catch the little smile she tries to hide behind her fork.

The food is really good, which makes teasing him harder than you expected. You take another bite of the pasta and glance over at him with a reluctant little smile. His eyes dart to you, eyebrows rising as though he's waiting for the compliment you've been avoiding.

"Don't." He warns, already laughing when he starts grinning.

"I haven't said anything."

"Your face did." He replies, leaning back in his chair with a smug little smile. You shake your head and take another bite just to avoid answering him, but he nudges his foot lightly against your beneath the table, clearly pleased with himself.

Lily watches the exchange for a moment, her eyes moving between the two of you while she chews. "Mommy like it." She announces matter-of-factly, and you nearly choke on your drink while Lando bursts into laughter.

"Thank you, Lily," you say, trying to compose yourself as she looks at you innocently.

Lando reaches across the table and points at her with his fork, grinning. "See? She's on my side."

"She's supposed to be on my side." You say, and lily shakes her head. "Both." Than answer makes all three of you laugh, and Lando reaches over to gently tape the edge of her plate with his fork. "Very diplomatic."

Dinner stretches out longer than it probably needs to because nobody seems particularly interested in rushing through it. Lily talks about the playground between bites, occasionally forgetting what she was saying halfway through because she notices something else she wants to tell you, and Lando listens just as carefully as he did earlier. When she gets a little sauce near the corner of her mouth, he quietly reaches over with a napkin and wipes it away, earning a tiny protest from her before she immediately goes back to eating as if nothing happened.

You watching him with an amused smile, and when he catches you looking, he raises an eyebrow as though silently asking what your staring at.

"You're getting good at that," you tease, resting your chin lihgtly against your hand. "At what?" He asks, curious. "The whole dad thing." His expression changes for half a second, his eyes flicking toward Lily before returning to you, and then gives you a small, playful smile. "Well, apparently I have a very demanding training program," he says, and Lily immediately pipes up from beside him. "I not demand." Making you laugh so hard you have to look away.

When dinner finally starts winding down, Lily leans back in her chair, looking comfortably full and slightly sleepy despite all the excitement of the evening.

Lando gathers the plates while you stand to help, but he gives you a look when you reach for them. "I've got it." He says, balancing two plates carefully in one hand.

You raise an eyebrow. "Oh, suddenly your Mr. Host?"

He grins as he carries them toward the kitchen. "I've been Mr. Host for the entire night."

"You've been Mr. Show-Off the entire night." You tease.

He looks over his shoulder at you, smiling. "Same thing."

While the two of you clean up, Lily wanders around the living room, stopping every so often to look at something new. She eventually comes back toward the kitchen doorway and peers inside, watching you dry a plate after Lando rinses it.

"Lando?" She asks, making him turn immediately.

"Yeah, bug?"

She points vaguely toward the rest of the apartment. "I see?"

He pauses, plate still in his hands before understanding what she means, and his face brightens. "You want to have a look around?"

Lily nods, and looks he toward you with a grin. "I think that's a yes."

You finish setting the last dish aside while Lando dries his hands, and the three of you head out of the kitchen together. Lily walks between you, holding onto your fingers for a few steps before letting go and wandering a little ahead, stopping whenever something catches her attention. Lando happily follows her pace instead of trying to hurry her along, answering every little question she asks about photographs, decorations, books, and whatever else she happens to notice.

Eventually, Lily spots another display farther down the hall, and stops so abruptly that Lando nearly walks into her. "Woah," he says, catching himself with a laugh before looking over her shoulder. Her eyes have landed on another collection of racing memorabilia, and she turns toward him with that familiar wide-eyed expression. "More?" She asks, sounding genuinely amazed, and Lando laughs softly. "Yeah, there's a bit more."

You lean your shoulder against the wall, watching as he explains things to her, occasionally adding a teasing comment whenever he gets proud of himself. "You know," you say when he starts explaining the difference between two pieces of equipment, "I think she has enough information now to start her own racing team."

Lando glances at you with a grin. "Don't give her any ideas."

Lily looks between you both. "I race?"

Lando's eyebrows lift, and he points toward you. "See what you've done?"

Eventually, Lando leads the both of you toward the gaming room, opening the door with a little flourish as though he's revealing something far more important than a room full of equipment.

Lily steps inside and immediately stops, her eyes moving from the large screens to the racing simulator and then toward the shelves lining one wall. The helmets catch her attention almost instantly, and she walks closer with slow, carefully steps as she stares at the rows of colorful designs.

"You got lots." She whispers, gaze moving slowly from the helmets to Lando.

Lando smiles and walks over to the shelves. "Yeah, I've collected a few." He reaches for the first helmet carefully, lifting it from its stand before bringing it down to her level. "This one was one of my earlier ones," he explains, turning it slightly so she can see that design from the front. "I wore this when I was racing in a different series, before things got as big as they are now."

Lily's fingers hover near it before she looks up at him for permission. "Touch?" She asks, and he nods. "Yeah, gently." She places her fingertips against the smooth surface, tracing one of the colored sections while Lando tells her about the little details painted onto it. He explains why certain colors are there, points out his name and tells her how the design changed over time, and she listens with complete concentration.

You watch them from a few feet away, smiling when Lily asks another question before he's even finished answering the first one. "Do you wear them?" She asks, looking along the shelf.

"Most of them." Lando says, picking up another helmet. "Some are from different years, some were used for different events, and some are just special ones I've kept."

Lily looks impressed by that, and when he places the second helmet in front of her, she immediately compares it to the first one. "This one different."

"Very different." He agrees, smiling as he points out the changes.

One by one, he goes through them with her, never seeming to get bored no matter how many questions she asks. He tells her about the colors, the designs, the races, the little memories attached toe ach helmet, and even the funny things that happened when some of them were being made. Whenever he reaches a story that he knows will make her laugh, he exaggerates his voice or makes a ridiculous expression, and Lily giggles so loudly that you find yourself laughing too.

At one point, he reaches for another helmet and looks at you with a mischievous little smile. "This one's my favorite."

You raise an eyebrow. "You say that about all of them."

He shakes his head, laughing as he carefully lifts it from the shelf. "No, this one actually is."

You walk closer and look at the helmet, then back at him. "Why?" You ask, and he gives you a little shrug before explaining the story behind it, his voice becoming quieter as he talks about what the race meant to him.

Lily sits down on the floor beside the shelf, completely captivated by the story. Every so often she looks up at Lando's face instead of the helmet, watching his expression while he talks, and you notice the way he keeps smiling whenever she does. When she finished, she reaches up and pats his knee with one little hand. "I like it," she says, and he looks down at her with a soft laugh. "Yeah?" He asks, and she nods before adding, "You like it."

That makes him pause for a second before his smile grows. "Yeah," he says quietly. "That's why I like it too." You watch the two of them from beside the doorway, and when Lando looks up and catches your eye, you give him a small smile. He smiles back, and then Lily suddenly points at another helmet and demands to know about that one too, breaking the moment and second all three of you into quiet laughter as Lando reaches for it.

"Alright," he says, settling onto the floor beside her with the helmet resting carefully in his lap. "Helmet number... I've actually lost count."

You laugh and sit down nearby, and Lily scoots closer to hi, ready for another story. The room fills with his quiet voice, her little questions, and your laughter whenever he gets too dramatic with his explanations, turning the collection of helmets into something much warmer than trophies and racing equipment, it becomes a room full of stories, and tonight Lily gets to hear every single one.

© 2026 sydwritess. All rights reserved.

Hi my loves! Sorry its been such a while since another chapter of this has come out! But part 13 is finally here!! Hope y'all enjoy!!