[kathlare]

masterlist

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for reading and engaging with the story. Your support means the world to me! To avoid any confusion, I’ve compiled a masterlist of all the chapters in chronological order, with each year broken down into its own set of chapters. Each year represents a different phase in Amelie and Lando’s journey, with the chapters unfolding in order of events as they grow and evolve. Some years may have more chapters than others, as certain moments in their relationship take longer to develop, while others might overlap as I occasionally get new inspiration that will influence the storyline.

I’m also open to any requests or suggestions you may have—don’t hesitate to reach out!

Also, just so everyone knows and there’s no more cliffhanger panic 😅—from now on, new chapters will be posted on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM PST and Sundays at 12:00 PM PST. If for any reason I can’t post on those days, I’ll let you know, but otherwise everything will go up as planned.

Thank you all again for being a part of this journey. Love you all! 💕

request over here! // follow Amelie on instagram!

Amelie Dayman x Lando Norris - Singer DR

2020 - The One Where We Pretend the Spark Isn't There

2021 - The One Where We Let the Fire Burn Out

2022 - The One Where Time Turns Us Into Ghosts

2023 - The One Where We Find Ourselves Again

2024 - The One Where We Hit Reset

2025 - The One Where We Build Our Bridge

2026 - The One Where Home Became Us

[kathlare]

wonder

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Following the conclusion of an emotional family wedding, Lando is left grappling with deep-seated personal insecurities and anxiety about the future of his relationship.

Wordcount: 15.3 k

Warnings: none

full masterlist // request over here!

May 30th, 2026 - London, United Kingdom

The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the enormous windows of Max and Pietra's Monaco apartment, painting long golden rectangles across the hardwood floors while the sounds of a Formula One livestream echoed comfortably through the open-plan living room. Somewhere in the background, Rio was chewing on a toy that looked suspiciously expensive while Max's stream chat flew past at a speed that made reading individual messages nearly impossible. The setup had originally been intended as a way to kill time before dinner, but several hours later it had evolved into a surprisingly competitive poker game spread across the dining table, complete with fake chips, accusations of cheating, and Pietra repeatedly informing both drivers that neither of them possessed an actual poker face.

Lando was currently leaning back in his chair with the confidence of a man who was almost certainly bluffing, one arm draped over the backrest while he studied his cards with exaggerated seriousness. Across from him, Max looked deeply unimpressed by the entire performance, while Pietra sat between them stacking chips into neat towers whenever the boys inevitably knocked them over. The stream had shifted naturally from racing discussions into whatever happened to occupy their attention at any given moment, which currently meant football.

He glanced down at his cards again before tossing two chips into the center of the table, the movement confident enough to make Pietra immediately suspicious. The late afternoon light reflected against the glass walls of the apartment, turning the Mediterranean beyond into a sheet of gold while Max's chat continued flying past on the monitor beside them. Somewhere between discussing poker strategy and arguing about football, the stream had accumulated thousands of viewers, many of whom seemed significantly more interested in watching Formula One drivers insult each other than the actual game taking place on the table.

—Tomorrow's going to be painful,— Lando announced, leaning back in his chair as he folded one hand behind his head. —Champions League final and I won't even be able to watch it.—

Across from him, Max immediately snorted.

—That's because you're busy.—

The emphasis on busy carried enough meaning that Pietra had to hide a smile behind her cards.

Lando rolled his eyes immediately, though the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth made it obvious he knew exactly what Max meant. Tomorrow's schedule had been planned for weeks, every detail coordinated around Callum and Dua's civil wedding, and while none of them had any intention of discussing someone else's family event on a public stream, the reality remained that the Champions League final was happening at exactly the wrong time. The fact that he was going to miss one of the biggest football matches of the year was a tragedy he had already complained about to at least seven different people.

—Very funny,— Lando muttered, throwing another chip into the pot. —I'm making sacrifices.—

—You're attending something important,— Pietra corrected, trying and failing to hide her amusement as she reorganized one of her towers of chips after Max accidentally knocked part of it over with his elbow. —There are worse things than missing a football match.—

—Name one,— Lando replied immediately, earning an eye roll from both Max and Pietra at the exact same time.

The synchronized reaction made the stream chat explode.

Messages flew past faster than before, dozens of viewers apparently finding it significantly more entertaining that Pietra and Max had become united in their judgment of Lando than whatever poker game was currently unfolding on the table. Max barely glanced at the monitor before throwing another chip into the center pile, looking entirely too pleased with himself as he leaned back in his chair.

—You're acting like somebody forced you into hard labor,— Max said, glancing briefly toward the stream chat before looking back at his cards. The late afternoon sunlight had shifted enough that half the living room now glowed gold, reflecting off the glass walls and turning the apartment into something straight out of a luxury real estate advertisement. —You get free food, free drinks, and a reason to wear a suit. You'll survive.—

—That's easy for you to say. You'll be sitting on your sofa watching football like a civilized human being.—

—Civilized is not a word anyone has ever used to describe you.—

—Fair.—

Pietra laughed into her hand while collecting a small pile of chips from the center of the table, apparently the only person actually paying attention to the poker game anymore. The stream chat had completely abandoned any interest in cards twenty minutes ago and was now almost entirely debating football predictions, wedding guest outfit guesses, and whether Lando was bluffing. Considering he had spent the last ten minutes dramatically pretending to study a hand that was probably terrible, the answer was almost certainly yes.

—So who's winning then?— Pietra asked, resting her elbows on the table while looking between the two drivers. —Actual predictions.—

Lando immediately pointed toward himself with complete confidence, not even bothering to look down at his cards as he did so. The movement was dramatic enough that several poker chips slid across the table, earning a deeply unimpressed look from Pietra while the stream chat predictably exploded into arguments. The monitor beside them had become a blur of football opinions at this point, thousands of viewers apparently deciding that discussing the Champions League final was significantly more important than whatever game of poker was theoretically still taking place.

—PSG,— Lando announced firmly, leaning back in his chair. —I think they take it.—

Max immediately made a face that suggested he had just been personally insulted. The reaction arrived so quickly that even Pietra started laughing before he opened his mouth, because everyone in the apartment already knew exactly what was coming next. The stream chat seemed to know too, messages accelerating across the monitor as football fans prepared for the argument they could see approaching from miles away.

—Traitor,— Max informed him.

Max immediately made a face that suggested he had just been personally insulted. He tossed a chip into the center of the table with far more force than necessary before pointing accusingly across the cards at Lando, earning a laugh from Pietra in the process. The sunlight had shifted lower over London now, turning the apartment amber and gold while the sea glittered beyond the windows. On the monitor beside them, the stream chat was moving so quickly that entire arguments appeared and disappeared within seconds, thousands of viewers debating football predictions with the same intensity most people reserved for politics. Max glanced toward the screen briefly before shaking his head.

—I want Arsenal to win,— he declared. —English club. Good story. It would be nice. Besides, if I have to listen to football fans all summer, I'd rather the English ones be happy.—

Lando let out a laugh and immediately shook his head, pushing a small pile of chips absentmindedly between his fingers while looking down at his cards. The expression on his face carried just enough innocence to make it obvious he was about to lie, which only caused Pietra to groan before he had even opened his mouth. Across the table, Max was already smiling because he knew exactly where this conversation was heading, and more importantly, he knew exactly how much Lando hated when certain topics appeared on stream.

—You don't actually care about Arsenal winning,— Lando informed him confidently. —You just want an excuse to be annoying.—

—That's rich coming from you.—

—I'm serious.—

—You're never serious.—

The stream chat seemed delighted by the argument immediately. Messages flew by so quickly they were almost impossible to read, viewers already debating football, accusing both drivers of bias, and attempting to determine whether either of them actually understood poker anymore. Somewhere beneath the table Rio barked once in his sleep, entirely unaware that his owners were busy creating chaos for several thousand people online. The atmosphere inside the apartment remained comfortably relaxed, the kind that always developed when friends had been sitting around together for hours with nowhere else to be.

Max's grin widened immediately, the kind of grin that should have served as a warning to everyone involved. Unfortunately for Lando, he recognized that expression far too late. Pietra saw it too and immediately lowered her cards, already preparing herself for whatever nonsense was about to come out of her husband's mouth. The stream chat sensed danger at the exact same moment, messages accelerating even faster as thousands of viewers collectively realized Max was about to weaponize information he absolutely should not have.

—No,— Pietra said immediately, already pointing a warning finger at her boyfriend before he could speak. —Absolutely not.—

The fact that she reacted that quickly only encouraged Max further. His grin widened into something genuinely dangerous as he leaned back in his chair, completely ignoring the look of betrayal Lando was already sending across the poker table.

The stream chat immediately sensed blood in the water. Thousands of viewers were now spamming messages fast enough to turn the monitor into a blur of color and emotes while Max took his time, enjoying the moment far more than any reasonable person should have. Across from him, Lando already knew exactly where this was headed and hated every second of it. The problem wasn't that Max knew things. The problem was that Max enjoyed knowing things. There was a very important difference.

—I'm just saying,— Max began innocently, which was how everyone knew he was about to be the opposite of innocent, —for someone who's supposedly neutral, it's very interesting that you don't want Arsenal to win.—

Lando narrowed his eyes immediately, the reaction arriving so quickly that it only made Max look more pleased with himself. Across the table, Pietra physically covered her face with one hand while letting out a long sigh that suggested she had witnessed this exact chain of events enough times to know there was no stopping it now.

The poker game had been completely abandoned at this point, forgotten beneath stacks of chips and half-finished drinks while the stream chat accelerated into pure chaos. Thousands of viewers sensed that some piece of information existed just outside their reach, and unfortunately for Lando, Max Fewtrell possessed the exact personality type required to enjoy dangling that information in front of people without ever actually revealing anything useful.

—Don't,— Lando warned immediately, pointing a card at him across the table.

—I'm not saying anything,— Max replied, which was exactly what someone said before saying something.

—Max.—

—I'm just making an observation.—

—You're incapable of making observations.—

—That's fair.—

The fact that Max agreed so quickly somehow made the situation worse. Pietra was already laughing into her hand while Lando stared at his best friend with the expression of a man reconsidering every life choice that had led him to this dining table. Outside the apartment windows, the Mediterranean shimmered beneath the late afternoon sun while inside, several thousand viewers were now attempting to decode a conversation they lacked approximately ninety-eight percent of the context for.

Max leaned back further in his chair, entirely too comfortable.

The smug look on Max's face only grew wider as he prepared to continue whatever argument he had spent the last five minutes constructing, clearly delighted by the fact that Lando looked seconds away from launching a poker chip directly at his forehead. The stream chat had become completely unusable by now, thousands of viewers attempting to piece together a mystery they had absolutely no context for while Max enjoyed every second of their collective confusion. Across the table, Pietra glanced between the two men before opening her mouth to intervene, only for the sharp sound of the apartment's doorbell echoing through the living room to interrupt the conversation completely.

The timing was so perfect it almost felt staged.

Pietra immediately seized the opportunity like a hostage spotting an open escape route.

—Oh thank God,— she announced dramatically, dropping her cards onto the table before either driver could protest. —Someone's here.—

Max narrowed his eyes.

—Coward.—

—Absolutely,— Pietra agreed without hesitation while already pushing her chair back. —And proud of it.—

The stream chat exploded with accusations that she was abandoning them at the exact moment things had become interesting, but Pietra ignored every single one of them as she disappeared toward the entrance hallway. The moment she was gone, an awkward silence settled over the poker table. Not because either of them lacked things to say, but because Max was still visibly considering whether he should continue whatever train wreck he had been about to start.

Lando pointed a chip at him immediately, the warning arriving before Max could even open his mouth again.

The gesture only made Max look more entertained.

For several seconds neither of them said anything, both apparently aware that continuing the conversation would inevitably end with one of them regretting it. The stream chat, unfortunately, had no such self-preservation instincts. Messages flew past in a blur of theories, accusations, and increasingly ridiculous attempts to decode whatever secret they had just missed. Some viewers were convinced it involved football. Others were convinced it involved Formula One. A surprisingly large percentage seemed convinced it involved neither and were now inventing entirely new conspiracies from scratch.

Max glanced toward the monitor and immediately regretted it.

—These people are insane,— he muttered, shaking his head.

—You're the one who encouraged them,— Lando replied, gathering a small stack of chips into a neat pile. —You practically handed them a mystery and then walked away.—

—That's because your reaction was funny.—

—You have the emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old.—

—And yet I'm still beating you at poker.—

—You folded three rounds ago.—

—Details.—

The conversation drifted comfortably into nonsense after that, neither of them particularly invested in football anymore now that the argument had been interrupted. Max started talking about a golf trip someone was trying to organize, which naturally evolved into a debate about who was actually good at golf versus who simply owned expensive clubs. The stream chat immediately latched onto that instead, abandoning football theories in favor of insulting both drivers' handicaps.

From somewhere in the hallway came the muffled sound of voices.

Then laughter.

Then Charlie's unmistakable bark.

Lando's attention shifted toward the doorway almost instantly.

The reaction was automatic enough that Max noticed immediately.

—There he goes,— Max muttered.

—Shut up.—

—Didn't even try to deny it.—

—Because I'm tired of denying things that are objectively true.—

The sound of approaching footsteps carried down the hallway a few seconds later, accompanied by Charlie's increasingly excited panting and the rapid clicking of nails against hardwood floors. Whatever conversation Max had been about to continue died naturally as both drivers glanced toward the entrance, their attention shifting away from the abandoned poker game and toward the movement approaching from the other room. Even the stream chat seemed to collectively notice something was happening, messages accelerating even faster as viewers immediately began guessing who had arrived.

Lando didn't realize he was already smiling until Max looked at him and rolled his eyes so hard it looked physically painful.

The first thing to appear was Charlie.

The golden retriever came barreling into the living room like a dog who had spent the last ten minutes holding in enough excitement to power a small city. His tail wagged violently behind him while he pulled slightly against the lead, tongue hanging out and ears bouncing with every step. Rio lifted his head immediately from where he had been napping nearby, and within seconds both dogs were staring at each other with the intensity of two old friends about to commit several crimes together.

The conversation at the table died almost instantly when Amelie stepped into the living room behind him.

She had clearly come straight from one of the final wedding fittings. A long garment bag hung over her arm, the zipper fully closed to protect whatever dress was hidden inside, while Charlie practically vibrated beside her on the leash from the effort of containing his excitement. A few loose strands of blonde hair had escaped whatever clip she had thrown it into earlier, framing her face as she looked between the room and the people inside it with complete innocence.

The innocence lasted approximately three seconds.

Mostly because she hadn't realized they were streaming.

Amelie's eyebrows lifted slightly the second she noticed the cameras, the monitor, and the stream chat flying by at impossible speeds. For a brief moment she simply stood there holding Charlie's leash and the garment bag, looking between the setup and the three people at the table as if trying to determine whether she'd accidentally walked into a business meeting or an intervention. The realization settled across her face almost immediately, followed by a dramatic sigh that made Lando laugh before she had even said anything. Behind her, Charlie chose that exact moment to completely lose interest in behaving, his tail wagging hard enough to nearly knock into her legs while Rio was already scrambling to his feet across the room.

—Oh God, you're streaming,— she said, sounding personally betrayed by the discovery.

Pietra, who had followed her back into the room, immediately pointed toward the drivers.

—I tried to save you.—

—Clearly not very hard.—

The stream chat exploded the second her voice appeared. Messages accelerated so quickly they became impossible to read, viewers immediately abandoning poker, football, and golf in favor of whatever was happening now. Amelie looked at the monitor for approximately two seconds before deciding she wanted absolutely no part of that experience and walked further into the room instead. The garment bag remained draped over her arm while Charlie practically dragged her toward Rio, the two dogs already whining excitedly at each other from opposite sides of the living room.

Without thinking much about it, she carefully laid the garment bag across the empty section of the couch before crouching down to unclip Charlie's leash.

The second the lead came off, all remaining self-control disappeared.

Charlie launched himself toward Rio like a missile.

Rio immediately responded with equal enthusiasm.

Within seconds both dogs were racing around the living room in chaotic circles, nails clicking across hardwood floors while Pietra groaned at the destruction she could already see coming. Charlie's ears bounced wildly as he chased Rio behind the couch, only for Rio to immediately reverse directions and chase him back the other way. The entire apartment suddenly felt louder.

Lando's smile widened instinctively the moment he saw her, the reaction so immediate and automatic that Max physically gagged before Amelie had even finished unclipping Charlie's leash.

—Jesus Christ,— Max muttered, dropping back into his chair. —Look at him.—

—What?— Lando asked, already standing.

—Exactly.—

The stream chat immediately lost whatever remained of its collective sanity.

Amelie, blissfully ignoring all of them, straightened back up after freeing Charlie and brushed her hands against the sides of her jeans. The garment bag rested carefully across the couch cushions behind her, the dress inside protected beneath the cover while the two dogs continued tearing through the apartment like tiny furry tornadoes. Charlie was already trying to convince Rio to participate in something that looked suspiciously illegal.

Lando's attention had already locked onto her long before she reached him.

The smile that had appeared on his face the moment she stepped into the room hadn't disappeared once, which was precisely why Max looked increasingly disgusted every time he glanced in his direction. It wasn't even subtle anymore. Lando wasn't attempting to act normal. He wasn't pretending he hadn't immediately stopped paying attention to the poker game the second Amelie walked through the door. The poor chips he'd been organizing moments earlier had been completely abandoned on the table, forgotten in favor of watching her crouch down to free Charlie.

The stream chat, unfortunately, noticed absolutely everything.

Amelie barely had time to straighten fully before Lando crossed the remaining distance between them. The movement felt automatic, the kind that had long ago become second nature between them, and she smiled instinctively when his hand found her waist. A second later he leaned down and kissed her softly, earning an immediate chorus of exaggerated complaints from somewhere behind them.

—There it is,— Max groaned dramatically from the poker table. —I was wondering how long we'd make it before this happened.

—Thirty-seven seconds,— Pietra informed him.

—That's honestly better than usual.—

—Thank you,— Lando replied without looking at either of them.

—That wasn't a compliment.—

—Still taking it.—

Amelie laughed against his shoulder before stepping back slightly, immediately turning toward Max.

—Hi, Max.—

—Hello. Welcome to whatever this is.—

He gestured vaguely toward the poker table, the chips, the cameras, and the monitor currently displaying a stream chat moving faster than any human being could reasonably read.

—Looks tragic.—

—Thank you,— Max said.

Meanwhile Charlie and Rio had escalated from greeting each other into what appeared to be a full-contact wrestling match behind the couch. Every few seconds one of them would sprint across the living room while the other chased after them, creating enough noise to suggest there were approximately twelve dogs involved instead of two.

Amelie glanced toward the garment bag resting carefully on the couch and visibly relaxed once she confirmed neither dog had attempted to destroy it.

—Dress survived,— Pietra announced.

—For now.—

—Give them ten minutes.—

The two women watched Charlie narrowly miss crashing into a side table before disappearing behind an armchair.

—Five minutes,— Amelie corrected.

Lando laughed quietly before nodding toward the poker table.

—Want to play?—

Amelie looked at him like he'd personally offended her.

—Absolutely not.—

—Why not?—

—Because I'm twenty-four, not fifty.—

The reaction earned a laugh from Pietra while Max immediately pointed at her in approval.

—See? Finally, someone with common sense.—

—Thank you,— Amelie said, already moving around the table. —Poker is something people discover after they buy a vacation house and start saying things like "let's discuss property taxes."—

—That's incredibly specific,— Pietra laughed.

—Because it's true.—

Lando rolled his eyes, reaching for her hand as she passed behind his chair.

—You don't have to play. You can watch.—

—That's somehow worse.—

—We can team up.—

By now she'd fully noticed the stream monitor and the thousands of people currently witnessing this conversation.

—Oh, great. So not only am I watching poker, I'm helping you cheat in front of the internet.—

—It's not cheating if we're in love.—

Max physically recoiled.

—I need you both to stop talking immediately.—

Amelie laughed as she slid into the empty chair beside Lando, tucking one leg beneath herself while Charlie and Rio continued chasing each other through the apartment like tiny lunatics. The second she settled down, Lando leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head without even thinking about it.

Max made a sound that could only be described as exhausted disbelief, leaning back in his chair like he was personally suffering the consequences of other people’s affection.

—You’re actually unbelievable,— he said, pointing between the two of them. —There are people watching this stream trying to learn poker and instead they’re getting whatever this is.—

Amelie didn’t even look guilty. She just leaned slightly into Lando’s side like she had always belonged there, one hand idly resting on the edge of the table while she watched the chips being rearranged with zero real interest.

—They can multitask,— she replied simply.

—That’s not the point.—

—It feels like the point.—

Pietra laughed under her breath, collecting a few stray chips that had somehow ended up on her side of the table again. The stream chat, now fully derailed beyond recovery, was moving so fast it looked like static. Lando barely glanced at it anymore. He was too busy absently tracing his thumb over Amelie’s knuckles under the table, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Max noticed. Of course he did.

—Stop doing that,— he muttered.

—Doing what?— Lando asked without looking up.

—Existing like that.—

Amelie smiled into her hand, clearly entertained, and leaned her shoulder lightly against Lando’s arm. Charlie sprinted past in the background at full speed, Rio chasing him like his life depended on it, both of them nearly knocking over a floor lamp before disappearing again behind the couch.

The poker game continued in the loosest sense of the word. Chips were pushed forward, cards were half-heartedly checked, and Max occasionally declared someone was “obviously bluffing” with no evidence whatsoever. Amelie mostly observed, occasionally commenting in a tone that made it clear she was not emotionally invested in any of it.

The game had settled into that strange, chaotic rhythm where nobody was truly focused on poker anymore, yet everyone kept playing out of pure inertia, as if stopping would somehow make the situation worse. Chips were pushed forward without real strategy, cards were glanced at and immediately forgotten, and Max continued accusing people of bluffing with the confidence of someone who had long since abandoned any attachment to accuracy. The stream chat had evolved into a living organism of confusion and obsession, fixating less on the game itself and more on the dynamic unfolding around the table, particularly the way Lando seemed physically incapable of existing more than two feet away from Amelie without gravitating back like a magnet.

Amelie, meanwhile, had fully settled into the chair beside him, one leg tucked under her while her shoulder rested lightly against his arm in a way that looked effortless but felt entirely intentional. She was watching the game with mild amusement at best, occasionally commenting under her breath in a tone that suggested she was humoring everyone rather than participating in anything serious. Lando, on the other hand, had completely abandoned the idea of poker concentration. Every so often his hand would drift absentmindedly toward her knee or her fingers under the table, like physical contact was now just part of how he functioned. Max noticed this every single time without fail, each glance becoming progressively more tired and resigned, as though he was slowly losing faith in humanity one affectionate gesture at a time.

—If you two start holding hands under the table again, I’m leaving,— Max muttered without looking up from his cards.

—We are holding hands under the table,— Amelie replied casually, as if reporting weather conditions.

—Then I am emotionally leaving,— Max corrected.

Pietra laughed softly, leaning back in her chair while scrolling through the stream chat on her phone. —Chat is convinced this is not a poker stream anymore.—

—What do they think it is?— Lando asked lazily.

Pietra didn’t even hesitate. —Romantic content with occasional gambling interruptions.—

Amelie made a sound of pure disbelief. —That is insulting to poker.—

—It’s also accurate,— Pietra added.

Max sighed dramatically, leaning forward to collect his chips with exaggerated seriousness. —Can we at least pretend we’re professionals for five minutes?—

—We were never professionals,— Lando said calmly.

That earned a laugh from Amelie, who tilted her head up slightly to look at him, clearly entertained. The movement was small, almost automatic, but it immediately pulled his attention away from the table again, as if he had been physically interrupted mid-thought just by her expression. Max caught it instantly and leaned back with a groan, shaking his head like he was witnessing something deeply exhausting unfold in slow motion.

The hand ended shortly after in a way that nobody fully agreed on but everyone accepted anyway, mostly because arguing would require effort no one was willing to expend. Lando ended up collecting the chips regardless of technical accuracy, stacking them into a neat pile while Pietra leaned over to inspect the result with mild suspicion.

—Of course he wins,— Pietra said, narrowing her eyes at him.

—Skill,— Lando replied instantly.

—Luck,— Max corrected.

—Jealousy,— Amelie added without missing a beat.

That earned a brief pause in the room.

Max slowly turned his head toward her, expression flattening. —I’m sorry?—

Amelie shrugged lightly, completely unbothered. —Just feels like jealousy is involved somewhere in this ecosystem.—

Pietra snorted into her drink, immediately trying and failing to hide her laughter. Max stared at her for a long second before leaning back in his chair with a look of deep betrayal directed at the universe rather than any one person in particular.

—That is the most dangerous thing you’ve said all night,— Max muttered.

Lando, still sorting chips, barely looked up. —She’s not wrong.—

Max threw a card onto the table with unnecessary force. —Of course you agree.—

For a moment, the conversation lulled again into comfortable noise. Chips were rearranged, drinks were refilled, Charlie and Rio continued their increasingly chaotic tour of destruction around the apartment, and the stream chat continued spiraling into theories that made less sense with every passing minute. It was briefly almost normal, in a very loose definition of the word, until Pietra leaned forward slightly with the kind of expression that suggested she was about to say something she absolutely should have kept to herself.

—So, Lando Nowins— Pietra said lightly, dragging the nickname out with a teasing lilt that landed immediately like a grenade in still water.

The reaction was instant and visceral. Lando froze mid-motion, a chip suspended between his fingers, before slowly turning his head with the kind of controlled patience that suggested he was actively reconsidering every friendship he had ever maintained. Max physically exhaled through his nose like he had been waiting for this exact moment all night, while Amelie let out a small sound somewhere between a laugh and a wince, immediately realizing where this was going before anyone else fully caught up.

A thick silence settled over the table, heavy enough that even the stream chat seemed to slow for half a second before exploding again in curiosity.

Max tilted his head slightly, studying Lando’s expression with a warning kind of curiosity, like he was silently telling Pietra she had just stepped directly into dangerous territory. Pietra, however, looked entirely unbothered, clearly not remembering or not caring that the nickname she had just resurrected belonged to a version of Lando that he very much pretended no longer existed.

Lando set the chips down carefully, too carefully, the movement controlled in a way that made it obvious he was restraining something more dramatic beneath the surface. He leaned back in his chair slightly, eyes flicking briefly toward Amelie as if checking whether she was about to join in on the chaos or rescue him from it, but instead she just pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.

Max finally broke the silence with a slow, unimpressed stare toward Pietra.

—You didn’t just say that out loud—

Pietra blinked innocently. —What? It’s funny.—

—It’s not funny,— Lando said immediately, voice flat.

Max let out a slow breath, leaning back in his chair with the kind of exaggerated patience that usually came right before he made things worse on purpose.

—It was funny in 2020,— Max said carefully, glancing between Pietra and Lando like he was defusing a situation rather than commenting on a nickname. —Right now it feels like something you should’ve left buried in a group chat that nobody reads anymore.—

Pietra tilted her head, still completely unbothered, as if she had not just reopened a psychological scar with a single sentence. —I’m just saying, Amelie literally invented it. I’m not the villain here.—

That earned her a look from Amelie so immediate it could’ve stopped traffic.

—Do not drag me into this,— Amelie said quickly, raising both hands in surrender, though the smile on her face completely betrayed her attempt at innocence. —That was ancient history. I was like, what, nineteen? I didn’t understand consequences.—

Lando exhaled through his nose, staring at the table like it had personally betrayed him. The silence that followed was thick in a very specific way, the kind that only happens when everyone in the room collectively realizes someone has touched a nerve and is now deciding whether to apologize or double down.

Max slowly shifted his gaze toward Lando, clearly enjoying this more than he should have been allowed to.

—Mate,— Max started cautiously, —it’s not that deep.—

Lando didn’t look up. —It is, actually, that deep.—

Amelie leaned slightly into his side, still trying not to laugh, her shoulder brushing his arm as she spoke softer now, more careful. —I didn’t mean it in a bad way, you know that, right? It was just… a stupid nickname from when you used to miss every single shot under pressure and then act shocked about it.—

That finally got a reaction.

Lando turned his head toward her slowly, expression unreadable in that very specific way that meant he was deciding whether to be offended or entertained.

—That is not what happened.—

—It is exactly what happened,— Amelie replied immediately, far too pleased with herself.

Pietra, unfortunately, chose that exact moment to lean forward again, unable to resist poking the wound just one more time. —To be fair, Nowins did have a bit of a run for a while.—

The silence that followed was immediate and catastrophic.

Max made a low sound of warning. —Pietra.—

But it was too late.

Lando leaned back fully in his chair, arms folding across his chest, eyes fixed somewhere between offended and deeply tired. For a second, it genuinely looked like he was about to launch into a full defense of his entire career history just to correct a nickname from half a decade ago.

Then Amelie gently bumped her knee against his under the table.

It wasn’t dramatic.

It wasn’t even noticeable to anyone who wasn’t watching closely.

But it worked instantly.

Lando exhaled, the tension breaking just slightly in his shoulders as he looked at her instead of Pietra.

Amelie gave him a small, apologetic smile, softer now, like she was trying to steer the moment away from disaster without actually saying it out loud.

—You were never Nowins to me,— she said lightly, as if it was obvious.

That landed differently.

Not loud.

Not performative.

Just simple enough that it reset the entire energy in the room for a second.

Max immediately looked away like he had just witnessed something he was not supposed to comment on. Pietra suddenly found the edge of the table extremely interesting. Even the stream chat seemed to glitch for a moment, as if collectively recalibrating.

Lando stared at Amelie for a beat longer than necessary, the offended expression slowly fading into something quieter, more familiar. Then, without saying anything, he just shook his head once like he had given up on the entire argument.

—Yeah, yeah,— he muttered finally, pushing a few chips forward again. —Keep talking. Let’s see how funny you are when I actually win the next hand.—

Max immediately perked up again. —Oh no, he’s doing the competitive reset voice.—

Amelie smiled, leaning her head lightly against Lando’s shoulder now, completely unbothered by the chaos she had just helped diffuse.

—You’re going to lose again,— she said calmly.

Lando glanced down at her, one corner of his mouth twitching.

—We’ll see.—

--------------

liked by goldenhouramelie, lanmeliehub, and others

f1gossipdaily: Lando Norris spotted on Max Fewtrell’s stream tonight playing poker alongside Max and Pietra 🃏👀 casual chaos energy as always, no paddock in sight just cards, laughs and questionable poker faces

View all 1,005 comments

papayagirl: NOT “you were never Nowins to me” I JUST FELL TO MY KNEES 😭 → loveroflan: that line was PERSONAL → lanmeliehub: she just ended the argument with ONE sentence

ameliecore: pietra really said the forbidden nickname out loud like it’s nothing 😭 → goldenhouramelie: girl opened ancient lore → softamelie: she unleashed 2020 trauma for no reason

fanameliee: max immediately going “Pietra.” like a disappointed teacher 😭 → cherryvibes: he knew it was over the second she spoke

sunsetamelie: lando going SILENT after that nickname is insane 😭 → goldenhouramelie: bro got flashbacks → softclouds: bro left the group chat mentally

papayagirl: pietra calling him “nowins” on stream when she KNOWS he hates that is actually weird 😭 → loveroflan: yeah that crossed a line → lanmeliehub: some things are just not funny anymore

ameliecore: it felt a bit unnecessary ngl like why bring that up publicly 😬 → goldenhouramelie: especially in front of chat

papayadreams: am I crazy or did the whole room just reset after she spoke 😭

amelievibes: “you were never Nowins to me” IS CRAZY ACTUALLY 😭 → cherryvibes: that’s a wife statement idc → dreamygirlie: she said FIX YOURSELF GENTLY

fanpageamelie: pietra acting innocent after calling him that is sending me 😭 → goldenhouramelie: “what? it’s funny” GIRL BE SERIOUS → softamelie: she’s chaos incarnate

fanameliee: and the way she kept pushing it after max warned her… 😭 → cherryvibes: he literally said stop → dreamygirlie: ignored it completely

sunsetamelie: people saying she was flirting with lando are so weird 😭 → goldenhouramelie: that’s a stretch → softclouds: it was just awkward joking that went too far

papayadreams: idk it gave weird vibes when she leaned in laughing at him tbh 😬

lanfan44: max looking away like he just witnessed a private family argument 😭 → papayaprincess: he does NOT want involvement

softamelie: the way lando only calmed down when amelie bumped his knee 😭 → goldenhouramelie: she’s the reset button → sunsetamelie: emotional stabilizer girlfriend

ameliecentral: NOT HIM REVERTING TO COMPETITIVE MODE AFTER BEING FIXED 😭

amelievibes: y’all need to calm down it’s a STREAM not a courtroom 😭 → cherryvibes: still, respect matters → dreamygirlie: both things can be true

fanpageamelie: the nickname thing clearly hit a nerve with lando though, you could see it 😕 → goldenhouramelie: he went completely quiet

papayagirl: pietra saying “nowins did have a bit of a run” IS FOUL 😭 → loveroflan: that was unnecessary violence → lanmeliehub: she’s not surviving dinner

fanameliee: amelie just casually ending a whole 2020 nickname arc with one sentence 😭

papayadreams: the way lando looked at her after she said that… 😭 → loveroflan: yeah that’s love love → lanmeliehub: no poker table survives that energy

amelievibes: “you’re going to lose again” while cuddled into him is CRAZY 😭

lanfan44: pietra lowkey stirring the pot the whole stream and now people are defending her like what 😭 → papayaprincess: it wasn’t that serious → loveroflan: but it was unnecessary

softamelie: max literally tried to shut it down and she doubled down 😬 → goldenhouramelie: that’s what made it worse

fanpageamelie: pietra really became the villain of the stream in 0.2 seconds 😭 → cherryvibes: she didn’t even try → dreamygirlie: chaos queen behaviour

lanmeliehub: i need someone to clip the exact moment she said “not to me” IMMEDIATELY 😭 → papayaprincess: internet history → loveroflan: emotional highlight of the year

softclouds: lando pretending to be offended while secretly softening is SO obvious 😭

ameliecentral: people calling it flirting are just bored honestly 😭 → cherryvibes: exactly → dreamygirlie: it was awkward humor, not that

papayagirl: still feels like pietra overstepped with the “nowins” joke considering history 😬 → loveroflan: yeah context matters

ameliecore: max surviving this entire dynamic without leaving the stream is impressive 😭 → cherryvibes: he deserves a medal → dreamygirlie: long-suffering friend energy

fanameliee: chat turning everything into drama is also insane though 😭 → goldenhouramelie: internet gonna internet → softclouds: always

--------------

The car had been parked for several minutes before either of them moved.

It sat neatly in the designated spot directly in front of the venue, engine already off, the soft ticking of cooling metal the only sound inside the cabin. Outside, the building was glowing with warm, elegant lighting, soft gold spilling across the entrance where guests were already beginning to arrive in carefully curated waves of celebration. Laughter drifted faintly through the glass doors, mixed with the low hum of music and the occasional flash of cameras catching early arrivals on the red carpet line set up further down the street.

Lando kept both hands resting on the steering wheel for a moment longer than necessary, staring straight ahead like he was trying to mentally prepare himself for something that had nothing to do with tuxedos or weddings or even the evening itself. The knot in his chest wasn’t new anymore, but it had been sitting there more aggressively since the previous night, since the stupid nickname had been thrown across a poker table like it meant nothing. It wasn’t the words themselves that had stuck, it was everything they had quietly dragged back with them. The feeling of being younger, less certain, more replaceable in a world that now somehow treated him like he belonged beside her instead of underneath the weight of who she was.

Beside him, Amelie shifted slightly in her seat.

She had been quiet in the way she only ever got when she was finishing getting ready for something important, fully composed but observant in that effortless way of hers that made it impossible to hide anything for long. The mint-colored set she wore covered her elegantly, soft fabric structured enough to feel formal while still moving naturally with her body, and her blonde hair had been pinned up with delicate precision that left her neck and shoulders exposed in a way that looked both intentional and completely natural at the same time. She turned her head toward him slowly, watching him with calm curiosity rather than concern.

—Everything okay?— she asked softly.

The question was simple, almost routine, but it landed heavier than it should have.

Lando blinked once, forcing himself out of whatever spiral he had been sitting in, and immediately turned toward her. The expression he gave her was practiced enough to pass as normal, even if it didn’t quite reach the place where it needed to. He nodded, leaning across the console just enough to press a gentle kiss against her lips, slow and familiar in a way that was meant to ground him more than reassure her.

—Yeah,— he murmured against her mouth, lingering for half a second longer than necessary before pulling back. —Everything’s perfect.—

It wasn’t a lie in the literal sense.

It was just incomplete.

Amelie studied him for a fraction of a second longer, her eyes narrowing slightly in that way she did when she suspected there was something beneath the surface but chose not to push it in the moment. Then she smiled anyway, because she always did when he tried to reassure her, whether she believed it or not, and reached over to squeeze his hand once before unbuckling her seatbelt.

—Okay,— she said simply, trusting him in the way that always made things worse when he didn’t deserve it. —Come on then.—

Lando exhaled quietly, nodding once more as if that would settle whatever was happening inside him. He stepped out first, the sudden shift into outside noise hitting immediately as he rounded the front of the car. The air was warmer here, filled with distant music and voices and the unmistakable energy of an event already in motion. He moved quickly around to her side, opening the door with a small practiced gesture that felt automatic at this point, extending his hand without hesitation.

Amelie took it immediately, stepping out with ease, her heels touching the pavement with quiet confidence. The second she was fully upright, she leaned in without thinking and pressed another soft kiss to his lips, lighter this time, almost absentminded, like it was just part of how she moved through the world when he was near her.

—Thank you, handsome,— she whispered against his mouth, smiling as she pulled away.

The street outside the venue had already filled with controlled chaos by the time they reached the entrance.

Paparazzi lined the barriers at the end of the block in a dense, shifting wall of cameras and shouted questions, flashes already popping in uneven bursts as early arrivals stepped onto the carpet further down. The sound carried strangely in the warm night air, echoing between buildings in a way that made the whole scene feel louder than it actually was. Lando instinctively adjusted his posture as they approached, not because he needed to perform anything differently, but because his body still reacted automatically to the pressure of being perceived in moments like this.

Amelie, on the other hand, rolled her eyes the second she spotted them.

—Of course they’re already here,— she muttered under her breath, though there was no real frustration behind it, just tired familiarity.

Her hand stayed firmly in his as they walked, fingers interlaced without effort, the kind of grip that didn’t need adjusting or checking. Lando kept his other hand loosely at her back, guiding her forward through the short stretch between the car and the entrance where security had already formed a narrow corridor for guests. The moment they stepped into view, the noise from the paparazzi intensified, cameras lifting in unison like a reflex triggered by movement.

They didn’t stop.

Not fully.

Just enough for Lando to glance briefly toward the cameras while Amelie kept her gaze forward, already focused on the doors ahead. It was a shared understanding at this point between them, the kind built through years of learning when to acknowledge the noise and when to simply walk through it.

The interior of the venue swallowed them immediately.

Warm lighting, polished floors, the soft murmur of conversations layered over music that had already begun in the main hall. It was elegant in a way that didn’t feel forced, the kind of space designed for families rather than spectacle, even if spectacle inevitably followed them everywhere they went. The shift in atmosphere was immediate enough that Lando felt his shoulders drop slightly as the doors closed behind them.

Amelie softened instantly too, her expression shifting from external focus to something more personal as her eyes scanned the room.

The change was immediate and unmistakable. The second she spotted her family gathered near the far side of the room, something inside her visibly relaxed, the tension that always came from arriving at events dissolving into something warmer and infinitely more familiar. Lando followed her gaze across the venue, immediately picking out the cluster of Daymans occupying several rows of chairs near the front. Her father was already deep in conversation with one of her uncles, gesturing animatedly with one hand while trying and failing to appear composed. Victoria sat nearby looking effortlessly elegant, though her expression carried the unmistakable look of a mother trying to convince herself she wasn't emotional about her son getting married. Elysia was laughing at something beside her boyfriend, Joe Burrow, while Jack appeared halfway through stealing food from a tray carried by a passing waiter.

A smile spread across Amelie's face almost instantly.

—There they are,— she said softly.

They crossed the room together, weaving through arriving guests and extended family members who greeted Amelie the second they spotted her. The next several minutes disappeared into hugs, kisses on cheeks, introductions, congratulations, and the general chaos that accompanied any large family gathering. Someone's aunt immediately pulled Amelie into an embrace. One of her cousins loudly informed her she was late despite arriving early. Victoria squeezed her daughter's face between both hands and declared she looked beautiful before immediately asking if she had eaten anything.

Lando lingered beside her through most of it, smiling politely whenever conversations drifted his way, though his attention remained divided.

Partly on the family.

Partly on Amelie.

Partly on the increasingly uncomfortable thoughts that had refused to leave him alone for the last twelve hours.

The sight of Callum arriving cut through the noise almost immediately.

He stood near the front of the venue speaking with one of the wedding coordinators, already dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that made him look less like a groom and more like someone preparing to negotiate a corporate merger. The all-black look was sharp, expensive, and entirely Callum.

Amelie immediately noticed it too.

The grin that appeared on her face was dangerous.

Without hesitation, she slipped away from her mother's interrogation about breakfast and headed straight toward him.

—Wow,— she announced loudly enough for several relatives nearby to hear. —All black? Are we grieving your single life already?—

Callum didn't even hesitate.

The second the words left Amelie's mouth, he lifted his hand and flipped her off with complete confidence, the gesture so immediate and automatic that it was obvious he'd spent his entire life dealing with her.

Several relatives nearby immediately burst into laughter.

Victoria, however, looked horrified.

—Callum Alexander Dayman!— she snapped from across the room.

The reaction was so instinctively maternal that it would've made sense if Callum were twelve instead of thirty-three.

Callum slowly lowered his hand and looked entirely unapologetic.

In fact, if anything, the reprimand seemed to encourage him.

—Sorry, Mum,— he replied automatically, in the exact tone of voice that indicated he was not sorry in the slightest.

Victoria pointed a finger at him from halfway across the room.

—You're thirty-three years old.—

—I know.—

—Act like it.—

—It's my wedding day.—

—That's not an excuse.—

Several nearby relatives laughed while Callum simply shook his head and accepted his fate, clearly having learned years ago that arguing with his mother was a battle nobody won. Amelie looked delighted by the entire exchange, the grin on her face widening as she stepped closer to her brother.

—For the record, I think you're absolutely mourning your single life.—

—For the record, I think you're annoying.—

—That wasn't very groom of you.—

—Neither was your joke.—

Lando arrived beside them just in time to catch the tail end of the argument, and Callum immediately pulled him into a quick hug.

—You survived her this morning?— Callum asked.

Lando let out a quiet laugh, the sound automatic enough that it almost convinced everyone around him it was genuine.

—Barely,— he replied, glancing toward Amelie.

—Liar,— Amelie said immediately.

—See? This is what I deal with.—

Callum nodded solemnly as if he'd just received confirmation of a long-standing theory.

—Yeah, good luck with that.—

The comment earned a laugh from several nearby relatives, but before Lando could think too much about the phrasing, Callum's attention shifted back toward his sister. His eyes narrowed slightly, a look that Amelie recognized instantly because it usually meant he was about to become an older brother in the most annoying way possible.

—Ready to sign?— he asked.

Amelie groaned dramatically.

Amelie groaned dramatically, immediately dropping her head back toward the ceiling as though she had just received devastating news rather than a simple question.

—I knew this was coming,— she complained. —You've been threatening me with paperwork for weeks.—

—As I should,— Callum replied without missing a beat. —You're one of the witnesses. This is literally your only responsibility today.—

—I've been practicing my signature all night.—

Callum looked entirely unimpressed.

—Good,— he said. —As you should. Your handwriting looks like a doctor trying to escape a crime scene.—

A chorus of laughter immediately erupted from several relatives nearby. Even Victoria covered her mouth to hide a smile while Amelie stared at her brother in open offense.

—That is unbelievably rude.—

—It's unbelievably accurate.—

—I have beautiful handwriting.—

—You write the way a spider falls down a staircase.—

Lando let out a laugh before he could stop himself, and unfortunately that was all the encouragement Callum needed.

—See? He agrees.—

—Traitor,— Amelie informed Lando.

—In my defense, I have received birthday cards from you.—

—You survived them.—

—Barely.—

The conversation dissolved into overlapping laughter again, the easy kind that only happened around family. For a moment it was enough to distract Lando from the noise inside his own head. Enough to let him simply exist beside her while she argued with her brother, rolled her eyes at her mother, and immediately became twelve years old again the second she was surrounded by family.

Then Callum casually adjusted the cuffs of his jacket and looked back toward Amelie.

—Don't worry. I'll return the favor when it's your wedding.—

The joke landed lightly for everyone else.

For Lando, it felt like someone had reached inside his chest and squeezed.

The laughter around them continued immediately, relatives smiling, Amelie rolling her eyes as if she'd heard a thousand variations of the same joke from Callum before. Nobody seemed to notice the way Lando's smile froze for half a second before returning to his face. Nobody except Callum, who happened to be looking directly at him when it happened.

Callum's smile didn't disappear, but it shifted slightly, becoming more curious than amused as he watched the reaction flicker across Lando's face. It lasted less than a second. Most people wouldn't have noticed it at all. A tiny hesitation. A brief widening of the eyes. The sort of expression that vanished so quickly it could easily be dismissed as imagination.

Callum, unfortunately, had spent years reading people for a living.

More importantly, he'd spent years watching Lando around his sister.

The moment passed almost immediately. Amelie was already laughing and dramatically informing everyone within hearing distance that she would absolutely not be signing any legal documents without first having her lawyer review them. Several cousins joined the conversation. Victoria threatened to revoke her witness privileges. Somewhere behind them, one of the younger children started crying because someone had stolen a cupcake.

Callum's eyes lingered on Lando for a second longer than necessary.

Not long enough for anyone else to notice.

Just enough for something to settle uncomfortably in the back of his mind.

Because it hadn't looked like panic in the normal sense. It wasn't the expression of a man horrified by the idea of marriage. Callum knew what that looked like. He'd seen enough of his friends react that way over the years.

Callum knew what excitement looked like too.

He remembered seeing it in his own reflection before he proposed to Dua. Remembered the nervous energy, the anticipation, the strange combination of terror and certainty that came with deciding you wanted to spend the rest of your life with someone. A week ago, sitting in that tailor shop while discussing marriage, Lando had looked like that. Anxious, yes. Overthinking everything, absolutely. But underneath it all there had been something hopeful there.

This wasn't that.

The expression that had crossed his face a second ago had carried something heavier.

Something sad.

Before Callum could examine the thought any further, one of the wedding coordinators appeared beside him with the determined expression of someone trying to keep an event running on schedule.

—We're ready whenever you are,— she informed him.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate.

Conversations began winding down. Family members started moving toward their seats. The gentle chaos that had filled the room moments earlier slowly organized itself into something more structured as everyone realized the ceremony was actually about to begin.

Callum nodded once.

—Right. That's me apparently getting married then.—

—Terrifying,— Amelie informed him.

—Thank you for your support.—

—Anytime.—

Callum leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of his sister's head before stepping back. His eyes briefly landed on Lando one last time, curiosity still lingering somewhere in the back of his mind, but whatever question he had wasn't one he was going to ask now. The black suit somehow made him look even taller as he disappeared toward the front of the venue, moving with the calm confidence of someone who had already made peace with every decision that had brought him here.

Amelie watched him go for a second before turning back toward Lando.

The noise of the room had shifted now. Conversations were lowering into murmurs. Chairs scraped softly against polished floors as guests began taking their seats. Somewhere near the entrance another cluster of relatives arrived, bringing with them a fresh wave of greetings and laughter that briefly echoed through the hall before settling again.

She stepped closer and reached automatically for the front of his jacket, smoothing an invisible crease from the lapel.

The gesture was so absentmindedly affectionate that it made something ache in his chest.

—Guess this is it,— she said softly, glancing toward the front where Callum was now speaking with the officiant. —My brother is actually getting married.—

Amelie's fingers lingered briefly against his lapel after smoothing the imaginary crease, her attention already drifting toward the front of the room where staff members were quietly guiding guests into place.

The venue had settled into that strange calm that always arrived seconds before something important began, conversations lowering into murmurs, chairs filling one by one, relatives abandoning half-finished stories as they moved toward their assigned seats. Soft music drifted through hidden speakers overhead, elegant enough to fill the silence without overwhelming it, while sunlight spilled through the high windows and painted warm gold across polished floors.

Lando looked down at her and forced a small smile.

—Yeah,— he said quietly. —He actually is.—

The words sounded normal enough.

The feeling behind them didn't.

Because standing there watching Callum prepare to marry the woman he loved should have felt simple. Happy. Straightforward. Instead it seemed to be dragging every uncomfortable thought from the last week back into the light whether he wanted it to or not. The conversation in the tailor shop. The proposal discussion. The stupid nickname. The version of himself he thought he'd left behind years ago. Somehow all of it had become tangled together in a knot sitting stubbornly beneath his ribs.

Amelie smiled softly at him before leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, completely unaware of the war currently taking place inside his head.

—Don't go anywhere,— she said lightly. —I need you here when I inevitably commit signature fraud and ruin the entire marriage certificate.—

The joke earned a quiet laugh from him.

—I'll alert the authorities immediately.—

—Thank you. That's what partners are for.—

She squeezed his hand once before another coordinator appeared beside her, gently informing her that the witnesses needed to begin moving toward the signing table.

Amelie groaned dramatically.

—See? Already bossing me around.—

—Move, witness,— the coordinator replied without sympathy.

Lando watched her laugh before finally stepping away, gathering part of her outfit as she headed toward the front of the room. For a second she glanced back over her shoulder to find him again, smiling when she did.

Victoria's hand settled lightly against Lando's arm before he could disappear any further into his own head, her expression warm with the kind of effortless affection she had always shown him from the very beginning. Around them, guests continued filtering toward their seats while the atmosphere gradually shifted from lively conversation into the softer anticipation that always arrived before a ceremony.

The venue glowed beneath warm lighting, elegant floral arrangements decorating nearly every visible surface, and somewhere near the front a violinist was quietly testing a final note. To anyone looking from the outside, it was beautiful. Perfect, even. Yet Lando felt strangely detached from all of it, as though he were watching the evening happen through glass instead of actually participating in it.

—Come sit with us, sweetheart,— Victoria said, gently steering him toward the row where the rest of the family had gathered. —You look like you've been solving world hunger over there by yourself.—

A small laugh escaped him automatically, the response arriving from pure habit rather than genuine amusement. He allowed her to guide him toward the seats, nodding politely as relatives greeted him on the way.

The familiar warmth of the Dayman family surrounded him immediately, conversations overlapping into the kind of organized chaos that seemed to follow them everywhere. Someone was arguing about seating arrangements. One of Amelie's uncles was already telling a story nobody had asked for. Two cousins were debating whether Callum looked nervous despite overwhelming evidence that he clearly wasn't. The noise should have grounded him. Normally it would have. Tonight it only made him feel more aware of the thoughts he was trying and failing to ignore.

As he settled into the empty seat beside Victoria, another relative leaned forward and glanced toward the entrance. —Still no Stella?—

The question immediately earned several knowing reactions from nearby family members. Victoria let out a dramatic sigh while shaking her head, the gesture so practiced it was obvious this conversation had happened many times before.

—Of course not,— she replied. —At this point I'd be more concerned if she arrived early.—

Victoria's comment earned an immediate wave of agreement from the surrounding family members, several of whom began sharing stories about Stella's chronic inability to arrive anywhere on time. Someone mentioned a Christmas dinner she had missed entirely because she somehow ended up at the wrong restaurant. Another relative brought up a birthday party where she'd arrived forty-five minutes late carrying the wrong gift bag. The conversation drifted naturally into laughter, everyone speaking over one another while waiting for the ceremony to begin, and Lando smiled when appropriate, nodded when expected, and contributed the occasional quiet comment when someone addressed him directly.

None of it really reached him.

His gaze drifted toward the front of the room instead, where Amelie had already taken her place beside Callum. The distance wasn't far, yet it somehow felt enormous. Standing there beneath the warm lighting, surrounded by flowers and family and people who loved her, she looked so completely at home in the world that for a moment it almost hurt to look at her. She was smiling at something Callum had said, one hand resting lightly against the signing table while she listened, and the sight of it pulled something uncomfortable loose inside his chest.

The sight should have made him happy.

Maybe that was the part he hated most.

Because he was happy for Callum. Genuinely. Watching him stand there preparing to marry Dua after years together felt right in the way some things simply did. There was no doubt in it. No hesitation. No invisible voice whispering that he wasn't enough, that he would somehow ruin everything eventually. Callum looked exactly like a man who had arrived at the place he was always meant to reach. Steady. Certain. Loved. Watching it unfold only forced Lando to confront how different the inside of his own head felt. The conversation in the tailor shop replayed itself against his will. When did you know? The question had seemed so simple when he'd asked it. Now it felt embarrassingly naïve. Knowing he loved Amelie had never been the problem. He had known that for years. The problem was everything that came after.

Across the room, Amelie laughed again, her smile bright enough to draw the attention of half the people around her without even trying. Callum said something that earned an eye roll from her, and a second later she lightly bumped his shoulder with her own in retaliation. The interaction was so familiar, so effortlessly her, that it pulled another ache through Lando's chest. Because the truth was that every version of his future still had her in it. Every apartment. Every holiday. Every random Tuesday. Every race weekend. Every quiet morning. Whenever he pictured the years ahead, she was always there without exception, woven so deeply into the image that removing her felt impossible. Yet the closer his thoughts drifted toward marriage, toward rings and promises and forever, the more another voice kept appearing beside those dreams. A younger voice. A crueler one. The voice that remembered missed opportunities, bad seasons, headlines, mistakes, failures. The voice that still occasionally whispered Lando Nowins even when the rest of the world had long since stopped.

The championship should have killed that voice.

Winning should have been enough.

Yet somehow it wasn't.

Because sitting there surrounded by her family, watching them tease each other and celebrate and build entire lives together, Lando couldn't stop thinking about all the reasons Amelie deserved someone better than him. Someone steadier. Someone who didn't spend half his life on airplanes. Someone who didn't disappear for months chasing points around the world. Someone who didn't need constant reassurance that he was worth loving. The thoughts felt ridiculous even as they formed, because if Amelie were sitting beside him she would probably call him an idiot before listing fifty reasons why they weren't true. Unfortunately she wasn't sitting beside him. She was standing at the front of the room looking like she belonged in moments like this, and Lando was left alone with the version of himself that never quite learned how to believe good things could stay.

A burst of laughter pulled him briefly back to the present. Victoria was still speaking with relatives nearby while another aunt checked her watch and declared that Stella and Checo were now officially late enough to be considered a separate event. More laughter followed. Somebody joked that they should delay the ceremony just to preserve family tradition. Lando smiled automatically, the sound blending into the background while his gaze drifted back toward Amelie again. She had turned slightly now, scanning the room as if checking who had arrived, and for one brief second her eyes found his across the venue. The smile she gave him happened instantly. Effortlessly. Like there had never been any possibility she wouldn't look for him.

His chest tightened painfully.

Because she looked at him like he was already enough and somehow that was the one thing he still hadn't learned how to do himself.

--------------

liked by goldenpapaya, papayahours, and others

lanmelieupdates: Amelie Dayman and Lando Norris arriving together for Callum Dayman and Dua Lipa's wedding today

View all 843 comments

papayagirl: wait why do they both look like they're about to cry 😭 → loveroflan: okay glad it wasn't just me → lanmeliehub: definitely emotional vibes

ameliecore: to be fair it's her brother's wedding 😭 → goldenhouramelie: i'd be sobbing already

fanameliee: lando looks STRESSED 😭 → cherryvibes: maybe he's just nervous around the photographers → dreamygirlie: man has his serious face on today

sunsetamelie: not them looking like they're attending the season finale of a drama 😭 → goldenhouramelie: the lighting isn't helping either → softclouds: everyone's reading too much into one photo lmao

midnightamelie: am i the only one thinking they look a little off compared to usual? 😭 → velvetroses: i noticed it too → starrylan: could just be a bad photo though

f1teaaccount: okay don't hate me but after yesterday's stream drama this photo is making me side-eye a little 👀 → raceweekendd: HERE WE GO 😭 → moonlightvibes: one thing about this fandom... y'all will connect dots

goldenpapaya: people saying they fought over the pietra thing are actually insane 😭

papayadreams: i think they just look emotional tbh 🥹

amelievibes: am i the only one who thinks they look fine 😭 → cherryvibes: literally just walking → dreamygirlie: fandom sees one neutral expression and starts spiraling

fanpageamelie: if my brother was getting married i'd be crying before the ceremony even started 😭 → goldenhouramelie: exactly → softamelie: family weddings hit different

sunflowermelie: no because why does lando look like he hasn't slept 😭 → lovelane: probably because he's been traveling everywhere lately → dreamersclub: and it's a wedding day???

tracksidebabe: watch them post a cute photo in like two hours and make everyone look stupid 😭 → lovergirlie: as they always do

lanfan44: lando looks like he's deep in thought about something 😭

softamelie: the hand holding though 🥹🤍 → goldenhouramelie: never beating the soulmates allegations → sunsetamelie: attached at the hand as always

ameliecentral: i need people to remember candid photos exist 😭 → cherryvibes: not everyone is smiling 24/7

coastalgirlie: some of y'all have never attended a family wedding and it shows 😭 → velvetamelie: exactly

papayagirl: okay but the way he's holding her hand feels protective today 🥹 → loveroflan: i noticed that too → lanmeliehub: very sweet honestly

fanameliee: maybe they're emotional because it's Callum's wedding and not because of some conspiracy theory 😭 → goldenhouramelie: revolutionary idea

sunsetamelie: i know stella is probably already crying somewhere 😭 → cherryvibes: the entire dayman family probably is → dreamygirlie: emotional family confirmed

papayahours: twitter is already saying they argued after the stream 💀 → starrylan: twitter says the sky is green

papayadreams: watch them be laughing five minutes later and everyone here looks silly 😭 → loveroflan: guaranteed → lanmeliehub: happens every single time

amelievibes: people forget weddings are emotional events 😭

softpapaya: if they were fighting would they really arrive holding hands 😭 → dreamersclub: thank you → lovelane: common sense finally entered the chat

ameliehearts: i think amelie just looks emotional tbh 🥹 → coastallover: same → velvetroses: it's literally her brother's wedding

gridgirlypop: not people blaming pietra for THIS too 😭 → raceweekendd: she's become the fandom's sleep paralysis demon

coastallover: they have the exact expressions of people trying very hard not to cry before a ceremony 😭 → velvetroses: that's actually what i'm seeing too → midnightamelie: especially amelie's face 🥹

goldenhourlane: y'all remember when everyone thought they broke up because they weren't smiling in one airport picture 😭 → lovergirlie: and then they were on a date the next day → paddockangel: history repeats itself

sunsetdreamer: maybe they're serious because they're about to witness a wedding??? 😭 → cherrysoda: revolutionary theory

goldenpapaya: imagine being callum and seeing your sister and her boyfriend already emotional before you even walk down the aisle 😭 → cherrysoda: everyone's doomed once the vows start → lanmeliefever: tissues for the whole family please 🤍

lan4worldchamp: lando literally flew to another country for this wedding but apparently he's secretly fighting with her according to the internet 😭 → moonlightvibes: the logic never logics → raceweekendd: fandom olympics

midnightamelie: i do think it's funny how one candid photo has created 17 different theories already 😭 → velvetroses: we're bored

--------------

The night outside the venue had cooled into something softer, the kind of London air that felt quieter after hours of noise and celebration. The wedding had ended in a blur of laughter, speeches that ran too long, music that faded into late-night dancing, and goodbyes that stretched out far longer than anyone intended. Now, the city felt distant and hushed, streetlights reflecting off wet pavement as Lando guided Amelie carefully toward the car parked just outside the private exit. She was leaning heavily into him, one arm looped loosely around his neck, her steps unsteady in a way that made it obvious she had long since passed the point of pretending she was only “a little tipsy.”

Her dress caught the light with every uneven step, fabric shifting as she laughed softly at something only she seemed to find funny, her forehead brushing briefly against his jaw as he steadied her. Lando kept one arm firmly around her waist, guiding her with practiced patience toward the back door of the car while trying not to smile too much at the way she kept looking at him like he was the only stable thing left in the world. The driver had already opened the door, waiting silently as Lando helped her climb inside, carefully lowering her onto the seat before leaning in to grab the seatbelt.

The moment he reached across her, she immediately tilted her head and started pressing slow, uncoordinated kisses along his neck, smiling into his skin like it was the most natural thing in the world. Lando exhaled through his nose, half amused and half helpless, his hand pausing for a second as he tried to focus on the buckle instead of her entirely distracting affection.

—Amelie,— he murmured softly, not harsh, just gently grounding her. He finally managed to guide her back against the seat, fastening the belt properly while she let out a dramatic little sigh, still smiling at him like she hadn’t just lost every bit of coordination she had left.

Once the belt clicked into place, he leaned back slightly and gave her a look that was equal parts fond and resigned before pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. She immediately tried to follow him again, but he shook his head lightly, smiling as he gently closed the car door on her side to keep her from leaning out further. He circled the front of the vehicle, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled, the exhaustion of the night finally catching up in small, quiet waves. The driver started the engine, and within seconds they were moving through London streets, the city lights blurring past the windows as silence settled between them in the backseat.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Amelie eventually settled against the seat, her head tilted toward the window as she watched the passing lights with slow, unfocused attention, while Lando kept one hand resting near the gearshift, the other occasionally brushing his thumb against her knee out of habit. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy in the way long days often became once everything finally stopped moving. Lando’s mind drifted between exhaustion and thought, replaying fragments of the wedding, Callum’s face at the altar, Amelie laughing with her family, and the way she had clung to him earlier like she never fully wanted to let go

When they finally reached the building in central London, the car slowed to a stop along the curb. Lando turned off the engine and unfastened his seatbelt, glancing over at Amelie who was now blinking slowly at the window like she was trying to decide whether the world was supposed to be spinning that much.

—Do you want to come up?— he asked softly, already knowing the answer wasn’t going to be straightforward.

Amelie blinked slowly before turning her head toward him, clearly processing the question several seconds later than a sober person would have.

—No,— she said finally, dragging the word out slightly. —I think if I try walking right now, I'm gonna fall over and embarrass both of us.—

A smile tugged briefly at the corner of Lando's mouth despite himself.

—Fair enough.—

Amelie nodded several times as though she had just delivered a particularly brilliant solution to a complicated problem.

—Exactly. See? I'm thinking ahead.—

—Clearly.—

She pointed vaguely toward the backseat before letting her hand fall into her lap again.

—Just don't forget the cake.—

—I won't forget the cake.—

—My mum specifically said to give them some.—

—I heard her the first three times.—

Amelie seemed satisfied by that answer. Her eyes drifted half shut again while she settled deeper into the seat, looking seconds away from falling asleep.

Lando leaned across the center console and pressed a soft kiss against her lips. She smiled immediately into it, sleepy and warm and completely trusting, her fingers brushing briefly against his wrist before he pulled away.

—I'll be back in five minutes.—

—Okay,— she murmured.

—You sure you'll be alright?—

—Lan, I'm too drunk to go upstairs but not too drunk to sit in a car.—

Lando watched her for another second, making sure she was actually settled before finally reaching for the takeout container balanced carefully on the seat beside him. The faint smell of vanilla cake drifted through the cardboard box as he picked it up, Victoria's instructions still ringing in his ears from earlier. Amelie had already curled slightly toward the window again, her eyes half-closed, blonde hair falling messily across one shoulder. For a moment she looked impossibly peaceful despite the amount of champagne currently in her system. He smiled despite himself.

—Don't fall asleep completely,— he warned lightly.

—No promises,— she mumbled.

The answer made him laugh quietly before he pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool London night.

The lobby was nearly silent compared to the wedding chaos they had left behind. Soft lighting reflected across polished marble floors while a concierge looked up briefly from behind the desk before recognizing him and returning to whatever paperwork occupied the evening shift. Lando crossed toward the elevators at an unhurried pace, cake balanced against his side, exhaustion beginning to settle deeper into his shoulders now that adrenaline and celebration had finally worn off. The elevator ride felt longer than it actually was. Long enough for his thoughts to drift somewhere he didn't particularly want them to go.

The elevator climbed steadily through the building, floor numbers illuminating one after another above the doors while Lando stood alone in the mirrored cabin with Victoria's cake balanced against his side. The exhaustion settling into his bones should have been enough to quiet his thoughts, but instead it seemed to do the opposite.

The wedding kept replaying in fragments behind his eyes. Callum standing at the altar looking completely certain. Dua walking down the aisle. The look on Victoria's face when her son said his vows. Every piece of it felt strangely sharp, like his brain had decided to preserve the details against his will. By the time the elevator finally stopped, he already knew exactly where his thoughts were heading, and he hated it.

The hallway outside Max and Pietra's apartment was quiet. Most of the building had long since settled into late-night silence, the expensive carpeting muting his footsteps as he walked toward the familiar door. He adjusted his grip on the cake container, knocked twice, then waited. Somewhere behind the door came the muffled sound of movement, followed by what sounded suspiciously like Charlie barking before someone attempted and failed to shush him. A few seconds later the lock clicked.

The door swung open to reveal Max wearing sweatpants and a faded t-shirt, looking significantly more awake than any reasonable person should at this hour.

—There he is,— Max said, stepping aside immediately. —The wedding survivor.—

—Barely survived,— Lando replied, already walking inside.

Max pushed the door shut behind him, the lock clicking softly back into place while the familiar warmth of the apartment settled around them. The living room looked considerably calmer than it had the previous night. No cameras. No poker chips. No stream chat moving at the speed of light. Just a lamp glowing softly in the corner and the distant sound of a television playing somewhere low in the background.

The second Charlie spotted him, every ounce of remaining self-control disappeared.

The puppy came skidding around the corner at full speed, paws scrambling against the hardwood floor while his tail wagged so violently it looked physically impossible. Lando barely had enough time to set the cake container safely on the kitchen island before Charlie launched himself directly into his legs.

—Alright, alright,— Lando laughed, bending down immediately.

Charlie responded by attempting to climb him like a tree.

A second later Lando scooped him into his arms, earning an excited whine and approximately twelve enthusiastic licks to the face. Charlie's entire body seemed to vibrate with happiness while he twisted around trying to decide whether he wanted attention, freedom, or both simultaneously.

—Missed you too, mate,— Lando murmured, scratching behind his ears.

Max leaned against the kitchen counter watching the reunion unfold.

—He spent most of the day waiting by the door,— he said. —Every time the lift opened he thought it was you two.—

The comment earned a small smile from Lando as Charlie immediately wriggled in his arms, trying to lick his face again with the enthusiasm of someone who had personally survived a national tragedy. He adjusted his grip on the puppy and scratched beneath his collar while Charlie's tail continued beating against his forearm at dangerous speeds. The apartment felt warm after the cold London night outside, comfortable in a way that came from familiarity rather than luxury, and for a moment it was easy to focus entirely on the dog instead of everything else.

—Thanks for keeping him,— Lando said, finally looking up toward Max. —I know you two had enough going on already.—

Max shrugged lightly, grabbing two glasses from a cabinet before thinking better of it and putting one back.

—He's easy. Mostly. He only committed three crimes today, which is honestly progress.— His gaze drifted briefly toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms before settling back on Lando. —Wedding good?—

Lando nodded slowly, setting Charlie back onto the floor where the puppy immediately began orbiting around his legs again.

—Yeah. Really good, actually. Callum looked happy. Dua looked happy. Everyone cried at least once, which apparently means it was successful.— A faint smile crossed his face before fading slightly. —Amelie's downstairs. Completely gone. She drank enough champagne to personally bankrupt the venue.—

Max's expression softened slightly at that, some of the usual sarcasm fading as he pushed away from the counter. The mention of Amelie waiting downstairs seemed to reassure him more than anything else. For all the chaos of the last twenty-four hours, she was still with him. Still coming home with him. Still looking at him the way she always did. It was probably why Max didn't immediately notice the way Lando's smile had gone distant again.

—Honestly, she deserves it after dealing with her family all day,— Max said. —I've never seen so many people related to one another in my life.—

—You met them for five minutes.—

—Exactly. Terrifying.—

Lando laughed quietly, but the sound faded quickly. His eyes drifted toward the dark window overlooking the city skyline while Charlie continued weaving around his ankles. Somewhere down the hallway a floorboard creaked softly, and Max followed the sound instinctively.

The creak came again a second later, followed by the faint sound of a door opening somewhere down the hallway. Max glanced over his shoulder before looking back at Lando, already knowing what he was going to see before it happened.

—Pietra's awake,— he said quietly.

The words carried none of the usual teasing tone. Just exhaustion.

For a moment Max stayed leaning against the counter, running a hand through his hair before letting out a slow breath. The last twenty-four hours had clearly taken a toll on both of them. The stream had seemed funny enough at the time. A few jokes. A few comments. Thousands of people laughing along. Then the internet had done what the internet always did and transformed harmless moments into ammunition.

—She's been having a rough day,— Max admitted after a pause. —Didn't leave the bedroom much. Every time she opens her phone there's another hundred people telling her she's awful or obsessed or whatever they've decided this week.—

Lando's jaw tightened slightly.

The online hate had never felt real when viewed through a screen. Numbers. Usernames. Comments written by strangers who would forget about the entire situation in three days. But hearing it translated into actual consequences made it harder to dismiss. He glanced toward the hallway where the bedroom door remained partially open, a thin strip of warm light spilling across the floorboards.

—That's shit,— he said quietly.

—Yeah.— Max's expression flattened. —Especially because half of them are acting like she committed a federal crime for making a joke.—

The apartment settled into silence again after that. Charlie continued circling around Lando's feet, occasionally stopping to demand attention before resuming his patrol of the kitchen. Outside the windows, London glittered beneath the night sky, distant headlights moving through streets that felt impossibly far away from the quiet conversation happening inside.

The silence lingered for several seconds after Max spoke, stretching comfortably enough that neither of them felt the need to immediately fill it. Charlie had finally settled beside Lando's trainers, chewing enthusiastically on a toy he had apparently discovered during his stay, while the television continued murmuring quietly somewhere in the background. Max studied him for a moment from across the kitchen island, the kind of look that came from years of friendship and knowing exactly when something was wrong. Lando felt it before he even glanced up.

—You look miserable, by the way,— Max said eventually.

The comment was delivered so casually it almost sounded like an observation about the weather.

Lando let out a short laugh through his nose and looked away toward the window.

The comment hung in the air for a second before Lando looked away toward the window, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

Outside, London glittered beneath the darkness, headlights moving through distant streets while reflections danced across the glass. The city looked peaceful from up here. Detached. Like none of the people below were carrying around thoughts that refused to leave them alone.

—Bit dramatic,— Lando muttered eventually.

Max snorted immediately.

—I've known you for half my life. Don't do that thing where you pretend I'm blind.—

The answer arrived without hesitation, comfortable in the way only years of friendship allowed. Lando smiled faintly despite himself, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. Charlie abandoned his toy and wandered back over, pressing his head against Lando's shin in a shameless demand for attention. He automatically reached down to scratch behind the puppy's ears, grateful for the distraction.

Unfortunately, Max Fewtrell had never been especially easy to distract.

—Wedding stuff?— Max asked.

Max's question settled heavily between them.

For a moment, neither man spoke. The only sound came from Charlie's toy squeaking somewhere near the kitchen island and the faint hum of traffic far below the apartment windows. Lando kept his gaze fixed on the city outside, watching headlights move through the darkness while he searched for an answer that didn't make him sound completely ridiculous.

The problem was that every answer felt ridiculous.

—Maybe,— he admitted eventually, his voice quieter than before.

The admission sat between them longer than Lando would have liked.

Max didn't rush to fill the silence. He never did when something actually mattered. Instead, he reached for Charlie's abandoned toy and tossed it lightly across the kitchen, immediately sending the puppy scrambling after it with all the enthusiasm of someone whose biggest concern in life was a squeaky dinosaur. The distraction lasted exactly three seconds before Charlie returned again.

Lando watched him go, grateful for the brief interruption.

—Watching Callum today just...— he stopped, exhaling quietly before trying again. —I don't know. It got in my head.—

Max's expression didn't change.

—About marriage?—

—About everything.—

The answer came easier once he started.

His fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the kitchen island while his gaze drifted back toward the city lights beyond the glass. Somewhere downstairs, Amelie was asleep in the back of a car waiting for him without a second thought, trusting that he would come back exactly like he always did. The certainty of it should have comforted him. Instead, lately it seemed to magnify every insecurity he thought he'd buried years ago.

—Callum looked so sure,— Lando admitted quietly. —The whole day felt like everyone knew exactly where they were supposed to be. And then I just kept thinking about proposing and... I don't know. Every time I get close to actually imagining it, my brain starts reminding me of every stupid thing I've ever done.—

Max folded his arms.

—Such as?—

Lando laughed humorlessly.

—Take your pick.—

The answer earned an unimpressed look.

—No. Pick one.—

Lando looked down at the countertop for a second.

The memories arrived annoyingly fast. Losing seasons. Bad races. Headlines. Mistakes. Every version of himself that had ever fallen short seemed to line up eagerly the moment he gave them permission. Even now, after everything that had happened over the last few years, there was still a small, stubborn part of him that remembered being the guy who always seemed to finish second. The guy Amelie used to tease by calling Lando Nowins before the nickname eventually stopped being funny.

—What if she's supposed to end up with someone better than me?— he asked before he could stop himself.

The question sounded ridiculous the second it left his mouth.

Max stared at him.

Then stared some more.

Finally he let out a disbelieving laugh and rubbed both hands over his face.

—Christ alive.—

—See? I told you it sounded stupid.—

—No, it sounds insane.—

Lando rolled his eyes, but Max was already shaking his head.

—Mate, she's currently unconscious in a car downstairs because she drank half of London celebrating her brother's wedding and still refused to go home without you. She looks at you like you've personally invented happiness. Half her family already treats you like you're married. Charlie cries every time you leave a room. And somehow you've convinced yourself she's secretly waiting for a prince to rescue her from the horrible burden of being loved by you?—

Lando opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because unfortunately Max wasn't entirely wrong.

The apartment fell quiet again after that. Charlie finally returned carrying the toy in his mouth, dropping it triumphantly beside Lando's shoes before looking up expectantly. Somewhere down the hallway, a door clicked softly as Pietra moved around the bedroom, and outside the windows London continued glittering beneath the darkness, completely indifferent to the existential crisis taking place several floors above it.

Max let the silence sit for a while after that, long enough for Charlie to lose interest in both of them and wander off toward the living room. He didn't immediately jump in with another joke or try to dismiss what Lando had said. The apartment remained quiet around them, warm and familiar, the sort of silence that only existed between people who had known each other for years. Eventually Max leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms, studying him carefully.

—You know what the worst part is?— he said finally. —You still think this is about racing.—

Lando frowned slightly.

—It is about racing.—

—No, it isn't. That's just the language your brain uses because it's easier than admitting what you're actually scared of.—

The answer landed harder than Lando wanted it to. Max wasn't looking at him like someone listening to a driver complain about confidence. He was looking at him like someone watching a friend sabotage himself in real time. Outside the windows the city continued moving, distant and uncaring, while inside the apartment the conversation had somehow become far more uncomfortable than anything either of them had expected when Lando walked in carrying leftover wedding cake.

—You keep talking about championships and wins and mistakes and headlines,— Max continued. —But none of that is actually the problem. The problem is that for some reason you've convinced yourself that Amelie loves you conditionally. Like one day she's going to wake up and realize you've accidentally tricked her into dating you.—

Lando let out a quiet laugh.

It wasn't a happy sound.

Because hearing it out loud made it sound exactly as irrational as it probably was.

—I know that's not true.—

—Do you?—

The question arrived gently, but it still hit.

For a moment Lando didn't answer. His gaze drifted back toward the window again, toward the reflection staring back at him in the glass. The version of himself reflected there looked ridiculous. Twenty-six years old. World Champion. Surrounded by people who loved him. Dating the woman he'd spent years secretly wanting. And somehow still carrying around insecurities from versions of himself that barely existed anymore.

Max sighed.

—Mate, her entire family loves you. More importantly, she loves you. Not the version that wins races. Not the version on television. You.—

Lando swallowed.

The words should have helped.

Instead they made his chest tighten, because deep down he already knew all of that. The problem wasn't that he doubted Amelie. The problem was that he doubted himself.

—Then talk to her,— Max said simply.

Lando blinked.

—About what?—

Max looked genuinely offended by the question.

—About the fact you're standing in my kitchen having a crisis at midnight instead of sitting in your car with your girlfriend.—

A reluctant smile pulled briefly at the corner of Lando's mouth.

Max pointed at him immediately.

—I'm serious. Stop trying to solve this by yourself.—

His voice softened slightly then, losing some of the teasing edge.

—She can't help with something she doesn't know exists. And you're acting like telling her would somehow ruin everything when, realistically, she's probably going to call you an idiot and kiss your face for twenty minutes until you feel better.—

The image was so specific it was annoyingly believable.

Lando looked down at the countertop, shaking his head lightly. A small laugh escaped him despite everything.

—Yeah.—

—Yeah.—

Max pushed himself away from the counter and grabbed the cake container.

—Now go downstairs before she wakes up and decides you've abandoned her forever.—

Lando rolled his eyes automatically.

—She's not that dramatic.—

—She's a Dayman. They're all dramatic.—

That earned a genuine laugh this time.

The first one in hours, and as he reached for his jacket, preparing to head back downstairs, the knot in his chest hadn't disappeared completely. The doubts were still there. The fears were still there. But for the first time all day they felt slightly smaller.

Manageable.

Like something he could actually talk about instead of carrying alone.

[kathlare]

Maybe you could write on chapter again where Cameron is mentioned again and maybe she post about him?🥺🥺

hii 🥺🫶

I swear the moment I got this request I already had something similar in mind because his birthday was coming up, so it felt like the right moment to bring him back into the story again 🤍

I actually included a bit of Amelie’s grief and reflection about him in the last chapter 🥺 so in case you missed it, I’ll leave the link down below.

thank you so much for the request and for reading, it really means a lot 💌

Post by @kathlare · 3 images

💬 0  🔁 3  ❤️ 101 · angels like you · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: The chapter follows Lando as he reflects on love, commitment, an

[kathlare]

Girl, that Canada race was such a nightmarreeeee! The weekend started off so good with LN looking incredible (the goatee and curls are such a weakness 😂🥺), the special helmet and the sprint. Then just everything went downhill 😭

Can’t wait to se what’s you’ve been cooking for this race weekend! 💕 - maybe some weak/simp Amelie for Lando (and then maybeee just a little slight angry/frustrated smut🫣)

hii love 🫶😭

Canada was honestly such a rollercoaster, like the weekend started off SO good and then everything just went downhill so fast 😭💔 I felt the same way about Lando, the goatee and curls were actually illegal 🥺😂

I did read your request and actually added it into the Canadian Grand Prix chapter 👀✨ so in case you missed it, I’ll leave the link down below!!

also I know I haven’t been posting on Sundays lately because I’ve been a bit crazy busy, but to stay updated with everything I will be posting a chapter today at 6:00 PM PST 🫶 and then another one on Sunday, and then Wednesday we’re going into the Monaco Grand Prix 👀✨

thank you all so much for your patience and love, it truly means everything 🤍 and I swear Amelie will also be more active on Instagram soon too 😭📸

Post by @kathlare · 4 images

💬 0  🔁 2  ❤️ 156 · unsaid · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: After a busy and exhausting race weekend in Montreal, Amelie and Lando fi

[kathlare]

Just a suggestion: I think it will be cool to see a lando.jpg in Instagram as well, and it's just mostly pictures of Amelie. Thank you for your hard work!

hii 🫶 I actually really like this idea 😭 it would be so funny/cute to see a “lando.jpg” style Instagram and it just slowly turns into mostly Amelie pics anyway 💀✨

I’ll definitely consider it and try to bring that into the story 👀🤍

and I’d love to know if you’d follow that account too hehe 💌 thank you so much for reading and for the suggestion!!

[kathlare]

And what about one euphoria chapter?🥺❤️

hii love 🥺❤️

I’ve actually had a couple of requests about this! And in case you missed it, I included a little Euphoria premiere section in the last chapter 👀✨

I’ll leave the link down below in case you haven’t read it yet 🤍

I’m not sure if you wanted something more specific besides the premiere, like more behind-the-scenes stuff, interactions with the cast, or anything else, but if you do, definitely let me know!! 🫶

Thank you so much for the request and for reading, it truly means a lot 💌 and as always, my requests are open 🤍

Post by @kathlare · 3 images

💬 0  🔁 3  ❤️ 100 · angels like you · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: The chapter follows Lando as he reflects on love, commitment, an

[kathlare]

Hi💕 maybe you could write one euphoria part? Because she was an actress in the series if I remember correctly 🥺

hii love 💕

I’ve actually had a couple of requests about this! And in case you missed it, I included a little Euphoria premiere section in the last chapter 👀✨

I’ll leave the link down below in case you haven’t read it yet 🤍

I’m not sure if besides the premiere you wanted something more specific about Amelie in Euphoria, but if you do, definitely let me know!! I’d love to hear more about what you had in mind 🫶

Thank you so much for the request and for reading, it really means a lot 💌

Post by @kathlare · 3 images

💬 0  🔁 3  ❤️ 100 · angels like you · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: The chapter follows Lando as he reflects on love, commitment, an

[kathlare]

angels like you

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: The chapter follows Lando as he reflects on love, commitment, and his future with Amelie during a conversation with Callum before later spending a deeply emotional night with her.

Wordcount: 13.2 k

Warnings: none

full masterlist // request over here!

May 27th, 2026 - Los Angeles, CA

The tailor shop sat tucked between a luxury watch boutique and a café that smelled permanently of espresso and expensive pastries, the kind of place that looked understated until someone casually mentioned that half of Hollywood got fitted there before award season. Sunlight filtered through the front windows in long golden strips, catching against polished wooden floors and rows of perfectly tailored jackets that hung like artwork rather than clothing. Every mirror reflected some version of wealth, elegance, and impossible attention to detail.

Lando stood motionless on the small raised fitting stool in front of the three-panel mirror while an elderly tailor crouched beside him, adjusting the hem of his tuxedo trousers with a concentration that suggested he was performing surgery rather than pinning fabric.

Lando stood motionless on the fitting stool, arms slightly out from his sides as the elderly tailor worked with meticulous precision around the cuffs of his tuxedo trousers. The man hummed softly under his breath, pins held between his lips while he adjusted a fold of fabric that looked perfectly fine to everyone except him. The dark charcoal tux fit Lando almost unfairly well already, the sharp lines accentuating his shoulders and tapering perfectly through his waist, but the tailor seemed determined to eliminate imperfections invisible to the naked eye.

Callum stood several feet behind him with his arms crossed over his chest, studying the reflection in the mirror with the same seriousness most people reserved for reviewing business contracts. Unlike Lando, who looked mildly uncomfortable being treated like a mannequin, Callum appeared completely at home in the environment. Wedding planning had apparently transformed him into someone capable of discussing lapel widths, fabric weights, and cuff styles with alarming confidence. The cream-colored tuxedo he had been fitted for earlier hung nearby, protected inside a garment bag that probably cost more than some people's rent, ready for the wedding that was now less than two weeks away.

Every time Lando remembered how close the date actually was, he felt a small flash of disbelief. It still seemed impossible that Callum and Dua had somehow reached the point where invitations had been mailed, seating charts finalized, and family members were already booking flights.

The tailor finally stepped back, narrowing his eyes critically at his own work before giving a single satisfied nod. His expression softened into something almost proud as he brushed an invisible speck of lint from Lando's sleeve and patted the fabric once.

—Perfect,— he announced.

The man gathered his measuring tape, notebook, and handful of pins before disappearing toward the back of the shop, leaving the two of them alone among the mirrors and expensive silence.

Lando stepped carefully off the stool, immediately rolling his shoulders as though reclaiming control of his own body after standing still for nearly twenty minutes. He adjusted the front of the jacket, smoothing the lapels more out of habit than necessity while Callum circled him once like an inspector evaluating a luxury car.

Callum's eyes remained fixed on Lando's reflection for a few more seconds, evaluating something only he seemed capable of seeing, before a slow nod finally appeared.

—Yeah,— he said simply. —You don't look ridiculous.—

The approval was delivered with the same sincerity he might have used while discussing a business merger, which somehow made it funnier.

A quiet laugh escaped Lando as he adjusted one of the sleeves and glanced toward the mirrors again. Outside, Los Angeles continued moving beyond the glass storefront in a blur of expensive cars and afternoon sunlight. Somewhere across the city, Amelie was probably still trapped inside a salon chair preparing for the Euphoria premiere later that evening, surrounded by stylists and makeup artists and people whose entire jobs consisted of deciding whether a strand of hair sat two millimeters too far to the left.

Lando kept his eyes on the mirror.

Not because he was particularly interested in looking at himself. Not because he cared whether the jacket sat perfectly across his shoulders or whether the cuffs landed exactly where they should.

Mostly because looking at the mirror meant he didn't have to look directly at Callum.

The realization annoyed him almost immediately.

He was twenty-six years old. He drove Formula One cars for a living. He had spoken in front of thousands of journalists, stood on podiums with millions watching, survived race starts at three hundred kilometers per hour, and yet somehow asking a simple question felt significantly more terrifying than any of those things.

The silence stretched comfortably between them for a few moments, broken only by the muted sounds drifting from deeper inside the store. Somewhere in the back, the tailor spoke quietly with another employee. A steam press hissed. Fabric rustled. Outside, Los Angeles traffic moved lazily beneath the afternoon sun.

Lando cleared his throat, the sound a little too sharp in the quiet room. He adjusted his cuffs again—a completely unnecessary movement given the tailor's perfectionism—and tried to channel the exact level of casual indifference he usually reserved for pre-race media scrums.

—So,— Lando started, his voice a bit higher than he intended before he quickly brought it down an octave. He cleared his throat again. —Two weeks. Cutting it pretty close on the final fittings, mate.—

Callum snorted, leaning his hip against the edge of a heavy mahogany table laden with fabric swatches. —Don't look at me. Talk to Dua’s schedule. If it were up to my mom, we would’ve had these locked in a vault six months ago.—

—True,— Lando muttered, offering a weak smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He stuck his hands into the trouser pockets, then immediately pulled them out again, remembering the tailor’s silent, glaring warning about ruining the lines of the suit.

He cleared his throat one more time, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Callum was watching him now, the easy, amused expression on his face slowly transitioning into one of mild curiosity.

Lando looked back at the mirror, fixing his stare on the middle button of his jacket. He needed to just say it. If he could handle Monaco in the rain, he could handle a conversation with his girlfriend’s older brother.

—Hey, so...— Lando started, aiming for an casual, effortless tone that missed the mark by a mile. He shrugged one shoulder, pretending to inspect the silk lining of his lapel. —Random question. But, like... how did you know?—

Callum blinked, his eyebrows pulling together. —How did I know what? That midnight blue would look terrible on you? Because I told you, the charcoal—

—No, not the suits,— Lando interrupted, his voice dropping an octave as he glanced toward the back of the shop to ensure the old tailor wasn't returning yet. He took a breath and forced himself to look Callum in the eye through the glass. —With Dua. How did you know it was... the time? To propose. To do the whole thing.—

Callum didn’t answer right away. He didn't laugh either, which Lando counted as an immediate, massive victory. Instead, the older brother let out a slow, quiet breath and shifted his weight, his eyes dropping to the polished floorboards for a second before tracking back up to meet Lando’s reflection.

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, but it carried weight. The kind of weight that made Lando suddenly hyper-aware of the expensive fabric draped over his frame and the ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere deep in the boutique.

—Ah,— Callum said softly. A small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, though his eyes stayed entirely serious. —The big question.—

—Just curious,— Lando lied smoothly, though his heart was currently performing a decent impression of a revving V6 engine. He tried to lean casually against the edge of the fitting platform, realized it made him look like he was losing his balance, and quickly stood straight again. —Just wondering how the logistics of your brain worked back then. For science.—

—For science,— Callum repeated, nodding slowly. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze assessing. —Right. Well, if you’re looking for some grand, cinematic epiphany where lightning struck and a choir started singing, you’re asking the wrong guy. It wasn't like that at all.—

Lando frowned slightly, turning around on the platform so he was facing Callum directly now, abandoning the safety of the mirror. —Then what was it? Because everyone always says 'when you know, you know,' which is quite literally the least helpful phrase in the human language.—

—It is a rubbish phrase,— Callum agreed with a chuckle. He leaned back against the mahogany table, looking out the front window where a sleek black SUV was idling by the curb. —For me, it wasn't a sudden realization. It was more like... a quiet accumulation of things. Dua and I were coming out of a crazy busy patch, she was finishing a tour, I was traveling for work, and we finally had three days of absolute nothing. No events, no press, no phones. We were just sitting on the floor of our kitchen at two in the morning, eating leftover Thai food out of plastic containers and arguing over whether a movie we’d just watched actually made sense.—

He looked back at Lando, his expression incredibly grounded.

—And I just looked at her. Her hair was a mess, she was wearing my old hoodie, and I realized that out of all the places I’d been and all the things I wanted to achieve, sitting on that floor with her was the absolute peak. I realized that my future didn't make any sense if she wasn't the default setting in it. Planning a life without her felt like trying to build a house without a foundation. So, I went and bought the ring the next Tuesday.—

Callum's expression softened almost immediately, not with amusement, but with the kind of understanding that came from recognizing a conversation long before the other person admitted they were having it. The afternoon sunlight spilling through the front windows painted warm gold across the polished floorboards, catching the edges of the mirrors and throwing fractured reflections around the room.

The entire shop suddenly felt strangely insulated from the rest of Los Angeles, as if the city had been paused outside while the conversation settled between them. Callum studied Lando for several seconds without speaking, taking in the nervous shifting, the overcompensated casualness, the way his fingers kept finding excuses to straighten parts of a suit that had already been adjusted by professionals. It was the exact same look Callum remembered seeing on his own face years ago whenever someone got too close to a thought he wasn't ready to say out loud.

A quiet laugh escaped him, though there wasn't anything mocking about it. If anything, there was something almost fond in it.

—You know what's funny?— Callum said, tilting his head slightly. —Everyone thinks the proposal is the scary part. Buying the ring. Getting permission. Planning the whole thing. But none of that was actually difficult. Not compared to deciding whether I was ready for what came after. Because a proposal isn't really asking someone to marry you. It's asking them to build an entire future with you. Those are very different things.—

Lando remained silent, his eyes fixed somewhere near Callum's shoulder. The words settled heavily in the space between them.

Callum pushed himself away from the table and wandered toward one of the windows overlooking the street. A woman walked past carrying shopping bags nearly as large as herself while a black Mercedes crawled through afternoon traffic outside. The world continued moving normally, oblivious to the fact that somewhere inside a tailor shop an F1 driver was very clearly having an existential crisis.

—When I first started dating Dua, I thought long-term meant six months,— Callum admitted with a faint shake of his head. —Then a year. Then two. Every milestone felt massive because I'd never been there before. The first holiday together felt serious. Moving in together felt serious. Meeting each other's families felt serious. Then suddenly one day you're talking about where you might live in five years, and somehow that conversation doesn't feel hypothetical anymore.—

His gaze drifted toward the floor for a moment before returning to Lando.

—The weird thing is that nobody tells you marriage isn't one big decision. It's thousands of tiny ones that happen first. You decide to include them in your plans. You decide to call them first when something good happens. You decide they're who you want beside you when everything goes wrong. You make all those choices long before you ever get down on one knee. The proposal just catches up with a decision you've already been making every day.—

The words hit harder than Lando wanted them to.

Not visibly. Not dramatically. The motion was small enough that most people would have missed it entirely. Callum didn't.

The words lodged somewhere deep in his chest, uncomfortable in the way truths often were when someone else said them first. His gaze drifted toward the front windows again, toward the moving blur of Los Angeles beyond the glass, but he wasn't really seeing any of it. His mind had already betrayed him, pulling together memories with frustrating ease.

Amelie asleep beside him on flights neither of them remembered boarding. Amelie stealing fries off his plate despite ordering her own food. Amelie calling him at three in the morning because she'd had a nightmare and refusing to admit that was why she'd called. Amelie crying in hotel rooms when the internet decided to be cruel. Amelie laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. Amelie standing in his kitchen in Monaco wearing one of his hoodies and feeding Benny treats she swore the cat hadn't already had ten minutes earlier.

The memory surfaced so quickly it was almost irritating.

Not because Callum's words were particularly profound, but because every example seemed to slot neatly into places Lando had spent years pretending not to examine too closely. There had never been one singular moment with Amelie. No lightning strike. No dramatic revelation. No movie-worthy scene where the universe suddenly announced that this was the person he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with.

Instead there had been thousands of tiny moments spread across years, so ordinary individually that they never seemed important at the time, yet somehow impossible to separate now. The accumulation of them felt overwhelming when viewed all at once. Every airport pickup. Every late-night phone call. Every stupid argument that ended in laughter. Every race weekend where he searched for her in a crowd without consciously meaning to. Every version of his life somehow had her standing somewhere in the background of it.

Callum watched him quietly.

Years of being Amelie's older brother had made him exceptionally good at reading people who thought they were hiding something.

Lando was not hiding anything.

At least not successfully.

The younger man hadn't spoken in nearly a minute, yet somehow his silence was louder than anything he could have said. Callum recognized the expression immediately. It was the look of someone who had asked a question expecting an answer and instead found themselves staring directly at something they hadn't intended to examine quite so closely.

A faint smile pulled at the corner of Callum's mouth.

Not teasing.

Not judgmental.

Just understanding.

—You know,— he said eventually, breaking the silence before Lando could disappear entirely into his own head, —I spent months convincing myself I wasn't ready.—

Lando blinked, dragging himself back into the room.

Callum wandered back toward the mahogany table, absently running his fingertips across a stack of fabric books as he spoke.

—Not because I doubted Dua. That was never the issue. I knew exactly how I felt about her. The problem was me. I kept thinking there would be some magical point where I'd suddenly feel like a proper adult. Like I'd wake up one morning and become the kind of person who had everything figured out. Mortgage. Marriage. Kids. Future. All of it. I kept waiting for that version of myself to show up before I proposed.—

A dry laugh escaped him.

—Turns out that person doesn't exist.—

The admission earned the smallest smile from Lando.

Callum noticed.

—Seriously. Everybody acts like there's a finish line. Like one day you're officially qualified to make decisions that big. There isn't. You're still the same idiot you've always been. You just eventually realize that being scared doesn't actually mean you're making the wrong choice.—

The grandfather clock somewhere deeper in the boutique ticked softly through the silence that followed.

Outside, afternoon sunlight reflected off passing cars, sending flashes of gold across the glass storefront. The city continued moving around them, completely unaware that one conversation was quietly altering the course of another man's thoughts.

Lando dropped his gaze toward the polished floorboards.

—Were you scared?—

Callum laughed immediately.

—Terrified.—

The answer came so fast that Lando looked up.

—Really?

—Mate, I had the ring for nearly three weeks before I actually proposed. Three weeks. It was hidden in my office. Every day I'd wake up thinking today's the day, and every day I'd find a reason to wait until tomorrow.—

His grin widened at the memory.

—At one point I convinced myself the weather was wrong.—

Lando let out a surprised laugh.

—You're joking.—

—Wish I was. It was eighty degrees and sunny. Perfect weather. Somehow I still managed to decide it wasn't ideal.—

The laughter faded gradually, leaving something more thoughtful behind.

Callum folded his arms loosely across his chest.

—The fear wasn't about whether she'd say yes. I already knew the answer to that. The fear came from understanding how much it mattered. Because once you ask that question, you're admitting something out loud that you've probably known for a while. You're admitting that this person isn't temporary anymore.—

Lando swallowed.

His throat suddenly felt dry.

The words landed harder than he wanted them to.

Temporary.

There had never been anything temporary about Amelie.

Not really.

Not even back when they were insisting they were just friends.

Not during the years of late-night gaming sessions and video calls that stretched until sunrise. Not during the situationship they both pretended wasn't becoming something bigger. Not during the months they spent dancing around feelings everyone else seemed capable of recognizing except them. Not during the breakup that nearly tore them apart. Not during the endless cycle of finding their way back to each other over and over again despite every logistical reason it should have been impossible.

Temporary people didn't leave fingerprints on every part of your life.

Amelie had.

Without even trying.

His apartment in Monaco carried traces of her everywhere. His routines carried traces of her. His habits carried traces of her. Half the stories he told started with her name. Half the decisions he made involved considering where she was, what she was doing, whether she was okay.

The realization felt absurdly obvious.

Callum watched the entire thought process unfold behind his eyes.

Again, he said nothing.

No mention of Amelie.

No mention of proposals.

No mention of rings.

The temptation was certainly there.

Instead, he leaned back against the table and let Lando arrive wherever he was headed on his own.

—Can I ask you something?— Callum said.

Lando nodded cautiously.

—Sure.—

Callum studied him for a second.

—When something good happens, who's the first person you want to tell?—

The answer arrived before Lando could stop it.

—Amelie.—

No hesitation. No thinking. No debate.

Just Amelie.

Callum's smile widened slightly.

—When something terrible happens?—

Lando already knew.

—Still Amelie.—

—When you're exhausted?—

—Amelie.—

—When you're happy?—

—Amelie.—

—When you're scared?—

Lando exhaled.

A slow breath.

A defeated one.

—Amelie.—

Callum nodded once.

Not smug.

Not triumphant.

Simply acknowledging the answer that had already been sitting in front of them the entire time.

The room fell quiet again.

Somewhere near the back of the boutique, a steam press hissed softly.

The smell of fresh espresso drifted faintly through the front entrance every time someone stepped into the café next door.

Lando stared at the floor for several seconds before shaking his head and letting out a quiet laugh.

—You're annoying.—

Callum grinned.

—I've been told.—

—I asked for advice.—

—I gave advice.—

—You interrogated me.—

—Semantics.—

Another laugh escaped him despite himself.

The tension that had been sitting in his shoulders for the last twenty minutes eased slightly.

Not completely.

Just enough.

Callum's expression softened.

—Look, for what it's worth, I don't think there's a perfect moment.—

Lando looked up.

—No?—

—No. Life doesn't really work like that. There will always be another race. Another project. Another city. Another reason to wait. If you're looking for circumstances to become perfect before making a decision, you'll be waiting forever.—

His gaze drifted briefly toward the window before returning.

—The only thing that mattered for me was knowing that if I reached the end of my life and somebody offered me the chance to do everything over again, I'd still choose her.—

The words settled between them.

Heavy.

Simple.

Impossible to ignore.

For the first time since the conversation started, Lando didn't immediately look away.

Because the truth was he already knew his answer.

Had probably known it for years.

Across town, Amelie was sitting in a salon chair preparing for a red carpet premiere, completely unaware that her boyfriend was currently standing inside a tailor shop having a quiet existential crisis over a future that, no matter how many different ways he imagined it, somehow always ended in the same place.

Always with her.

--------------

liked by sunsetamelie, ameliecore, and others

hollywoodfix: Amelie Dayman spotted arriving at a hair salon in Los Angeles just hours before tonight's Euphoria premiere.

View all 1,005 comments

papayagirl: IF SHE COMES OUT BRUNETTE I'M NOT SURVIVING 😭 → loveroflan: maddy perez WE ARE READY → lanmeliehub: brunette amelie supremacy

ameliecore: everybody stay calm STAY CALM 😭 → goldenhouramelie: TOO LATE → softamelie: I'M PANICKING

fanameliee: imagine lando waking up and suddenly his girlfriend is brunette again 😭 → cherryvibes: jump scare → dreamygirlie: he'd still be obsessed let's be real

sunsetamelie: brunette amelie hits different i'm sorry 😭 → goldenhouramelie: maddy aura activated

papayadreams: what if she's just getting a trim and we're all embarrassing ourselves 😭

amelievibes: EUPHORIA PREMIERE DAY WE USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS 😭 → cherryvibes: WE ARE SO BACK → dreamygirlie: finallyyyy

fanpageamelie: maddy perez walking a red carpet again... society is healing 😭 → goldenhouramelie: genuinely emotional → softamelie: iconic character fr

lanfan44: if she walks out with dark hair twitter is going DOWN 😭 → papayaprincess: servers won't survive

softamelie: blonde popstar amelie and brunette actress amelie feel like two different people 😭 → goldenhouramelie: hannah montana effect → sunsetamelie: literally

ameliecentral: no because brunette amelie in couture tonight would EAT 😭 → cherryvibes: award season level slay → dreamygirlie: already seated

papayagirl: the fact we know she's attending the premiere makes this so much worse 😭 → loveroflan: suspense is killing me

fanameliee: somewhere zendaya is probably laughing at all of us 😭 → goldenhouramelie: they know exactly what they're doing → softamelie: publicity genius honestly

sunsetamelie: imagine if she posts nothing and just appears on the carpet brunette 😭 → cherryvibes: maximum chaos strategy

amelieupdates: i need brunette maddy, dramatic makeup and a revenge dress immediately 😭 → papayaprincess: asking for very little actually → loveroflan: bare minimum requirements

coastallover: not me refreshing every paparazzi account like my life depends on it 😭 → velvetroses: same unfortunately

tracksidebabe: the salon appointment being on premiere day is TOO suspicious 😭 → lovergirlie: exactly what i'm saying → paddockangel: connect the dots people

ameliezone: imagine if she walks out blonde and we're all clowns 😭 → coastallover: wouldn't be the first time

papayaprincesss: brunette maddy with old hollywood glam would feed families 😭

velvetamelie: not the salon worker holding the fate of the fandom in their hands 😭 → starrylan: most important job today → moonlightvibes: no pressure queen

gridgirlypop: i'm crying because half the comments are about euphoria and half are about lando's reaction 😭 → raceweekendd: two very important topics

softpapaya: she could literally just be getting her roots done 😭 → dreamersclub: let me have hope → lovelane: don't bring realism here

ameliehearts: brunette amelie wearing dior at the premiere... i'm seeing the vision 😭 → cherrysoda: cinematic

lan4worldchamp: somewhere lando is completely unaware of the hair color discourse 😭

f1fairytale: this feels exactly like when everyone tracked her flight before coachella 😭 → moonlightvibes: detective fandom returns → raceweekendd: we learned nothing

goldenhourlane: all i'm saying is maddy perez would absolutely come back brunette 😭

sunsetdreamer: watch her post a selfie from the salon chair with no explanation and disappear 😭 → lanmeliefever: chaos agent behavior → cherrysoda: exactly something she'd do 😭

--------------

The mansion had been in a constant state of controlled chaos for most of the afternoon.

Hair stylists had been arriving and leaving for hours. Makeup artists had occupied entire sections of the upstairs floor. Garment bags had appeared from seemingly nowhere. Assistants moved through the house carrying shoes, jewelry cases, and emergency beauty products with the urgency of people preparing for a royal coronation rather than a television premiere.

Lando had been banned from the second floor approximately three hours earlier.

Not officially.

Amelie had simply pointed at him, pointed downstairs, and informed him that if he tried to sneak a look before she was ready, she would personally make sure he suffered.

Since he knew she was entirely capable of following through on that threat, he'd listened.

Mostly.

Now he was stretched across one of the enormous cream-colored couches in the living room, dressed in black trousers and a fitted black shirt with the top button undone, lazily scrolling through Instagram while Benny occupied most of his chest like a particularly judgmental weighted blanket.

The cat was purring loud enough to vibrate through his ribs.

—You're getting fat,— Lando informed him absentmindedly without looking up from his phone.

A deeply offended look crossed Benny's face.

The cat lifted his head from Lando's chest immediately, green eyes narrowing with visible judgment before he settled his weight even more aggressively across Lando's torso, as if proving a point.

—Right. Sorry,— Lando muttered, scratching beneath his chin. —Big boned.—

Benny rewarded him by beginning to purr louder.

The living room sat bathed in warm late-afternoon sunlight, long golden shadows stretching across the marble floors and expensive furniture. For the first time all day, the house had gone relatively quiet. The constant parade of stylists, assistants, garment bags, and beauty products seemed confined upstairs, leaving the first floor surprisingly peaceful.

Lando continued scrolling absentmindedly through Instagram, though he hadn't actually processed a single post in the last ten minutes.

The post directly above the one he was staring at could have been a photo of an alien invasion and Lando genuinely would not have noticed.

His thumb continued moving automatically across the screen while his attention remained fixed somewhere between the second floor and the growing anticipation that had been building inside him for the last three hours. Every now and then he caught distant movement from upstairs, muffled voices drifting through the open spaces of the mansion, the occasional burst of laughter from what sounded like half of Hollywood's beauty industry occupying Amelie's bedroom. The waiting had become increasingly unbearable, especially because she had spent the entire day acting suspiciously pleased with herself every time he asked a question and received absolutely nothing in return.

Benny, sensing that his human had once again become useless, stretched dramatically across Lando's chest and let out a loud yawn that revealed every single one of his teeth. The cat then settled back down, apparently deciding that if Lando insisted on serving as furniture, he might as well do it properly. Sunlight filtered through the enormous windows overlooking the backyard, bathing the living room in warm gold while the distant sounds of Los Angeles drifted faintly through the glass.

The peaceful silence lasted exactly another thirty seconds.

A door opened somewhere upstairs.

Then another.

Then several voices drifted down through the open staircase, overlapping into an indistinct blur of conversation, laughter, instructions, and the unmistakable sound of multiple people finally packing up after occupying an entire floor of the house for most of the day. Lando's thumb immediately stopped moving across his phone screen. Benny, sensing the sudden shift in attention, lifted his head from Lando's chest and looked toward the staircase as well. The cat clearly understood that something important was happening because even he seemed mildly interested. Lando sat up slightly, his attention fixed completely on the second-floor landing while his pulse began picking up speed for reasons he absolutely refused to acknowledge.

The first person to appear at the top of the staircase was Carla, already carrying two phones and somehow still managing to hold a conversation with Meredith at the same time. The pair descended together while discussing arrival times, photographers, interview schedules, and at least six other things that sounded important enough to justify the increasingly exhausted expression on Carla's face. Charlie came trotting happily behind them, his golden tail wagging so aggressively that his entire back half moved with it, clearly delighted by the sudden increase in activity after spending most of the afternoon being repeatedly removed from whichever room the glam team happened to be working in. Lando barely registered any of them. The moment Amelie stepped into view behind them, every other detail in the room ceased to exist.

For a second, he genuinely forgot how to breathe.

The brunette hair was the first thing he noticed.

Not because it was dramatic.

Not because it was shocking.

Because it suited her so ridiculously well that his brain immediately short-circuited trying to process it. The dark hair framed her face beautifully, falling in soft waves around her shoulders and creating such a stark contrast against her skin that it almost felt unfair. Combined with the black-and-white striped dress that hugged her figure perfectly before flowing elegantly down her body, she looked less like someone attending a premiere and more like someone who belonged on every billboard in Los Angeles. The dress itself was stunning, sophisticated enough for the event while still feeling entirely like her, but Lando barely noticed the details because his attention kept returning to the hair. Three hours. He had been banished downstairs for three hours, and somehow the wait had been worth it.

A smile spread across his face before he could stop it, immediate and completely uncontrollable.

Amelie saw it happen.

The second her eyes landed on him standing from the couch, she smiled too.

Not the practiced smile she used for cameras.

Not the polished celebrity smile she gave photographers.

The real one.

The one that always seemed reserved for him.

His heart sped up embarrassingly fast.

Without thinking, he crossed the room toward her while Benny jumped off the couch with an annoyed flick of his tail and Charlie immediately abandoned Meredith to trot excitedly after Lando instead. Amelie barely had time to step fully into the living room before he reached her, taking her hand without hesitation and gently guiding her into a slow spin in the middle of the room. The movement pulled a laugh from her almost immediately as the skirt of her dress shifted around her legs and Charlie enthusiastically circled both of them, apparently convinced this was some kind of game.

—Wow,— Lando said the second she finished turning back toward him, his eyes moving over her again as though he needed to verify she was actually real. —Jesus Christ, you look hot.—

Amelie's smile widened immediately, a faint flush appearing beneath the flawless makeup as she watched the completely unfiltered reaction spread across his face. She had spent most of the afternoon pretending she wasn't curious about what he would think, repeatedly refusing to let him upstairs whenever he tried to negotiate his way past the glam team, but seeing him stare at her now as though she'd personally rearranged the stars made every second of secrecy worth it. Around them, Carla and Meredith exchanged the kind of knowing look that only came from witnessing this exact dynamic hundreds of times before, while Charlie continued weaving excitedly between their legs, entirely unaware that his parents were currently having a moment in the middle of the living room.

Lando's eyes remained fixed on her face, or more specifically, her hair. He looked genuinely distracted by it. His hand was still wrapped around hers while the other settled instinctively against her waist, pulling her a fraction closer as though proximity might somehow help him process what he was seeing. The dark waves fell over her shoulders perfectly, creating a version of Amelie that felt both completely different and entirely familiar at the same time. For years he had seen photographs of her brunette during earlier projects, had watched old interviews, old premieres, old red carpets, but seeing it in person was apparently a very different experience because his brain seemed to have stopped functioning altogether.

—Brunette?— he finally asked, sounding almost offended that she had somehow managed to keep this from him all day.

Amelie immediately rolled her eyes.

—There it is.—

—No, seriously. Brunette?—

—You're acting like I've committed a crime.—

—You can't just appear downstairs looking like that and expect me to react normally.—

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it, especially when his arm tightened slightly around her waist and he leaned forward, pressing a brief kiss against the side of her neck beneath her hairline. The gesture wasn't particularly subtle, earning an immediate groan from Carla somewhere behind them, but Amelie only laughed harder as she rested one hand against his chest to keep him from getting any ideas.

—Don't get too excited,— she warned. —It's a wig.—

Amelie laughed, shaking her head as she watched the visible disappointment flash across his face. The reaction was so immediate and dramatic that it only made her laugh harder. One of her hands settled against his chest while the other reached up to adjust a strand of dark hair that had fallen across her shoulder, the movement drawing Lando's attention straight back to the wig as though he physically couldn't stop looking at it.

Around them, the living room remained busy with people gathering bags, checking schedules, and preparing to leave, yet Lando seemed entirely incapable of focusing on anything except the fact that the woman standing in front of him currently looked exactly like the version of her that had first stolen his heart years ago. Back then she had been brunette, endlessly sarcastic, impossible to impress, and completely unaware of how thoroughly she had ruined him within a matter of months. Seeing that same dark hair now felt oddly nostalgic, like someone had reached into his memories and pulled out an older version of Amelie before placing her directly in front of him.

—A wig?— he repeated, sounding personally betrayed by the information. —You're telling me I've spent the last five minutes having a life-changing experience for absolutely nothing?

—For absolutely nothing,— Amelie confirmed with a grin. —My hair is finally healthy again. Do you know how much suffering it took to get it here? There is no universe where I'm dyeing it dark again. Not for a role. Not for a premiere. Not for you.—

—What if I ask really nicely?—

—Still no.—

—What if I beg?—

—Definitely no.—

—What if...—

—Lando.—

The warning in her voice only made him smile wider. His hands settled more comfortably around her waist as he looked down at her, completely unapologetic about how obviously distracted he was. The brunette wig wasn't the only reason she looked incredible, but it certainly wasn't helping his ability to form coherent thoughts. The black-and-white striped dress fit her beautifully, elegant and sophisticated while still somehow feeling entirely like her, and combined with the dark hair and flawless makeup, she looked like she'd stepped out of an old Hollywood photograph. It was unfair, honestly. He'd already spent years struggling to maintain basic composure around her. The brunette hair was simply making an already difficult situation significantly worse.

—I'm just saying,— he continued, refusing to let the argument go, —brunette Amelie is dangerous.—

—Blonde Amelie is standing right here listening to you insult her.—

—I would never insult blonde Amelie.—

—Good answer.—

—Blonde Amelie is gorgeous.—

—Better.—

—Brunette Amelie is also gorgeous.—

Amelie groaned dramatically.

—You're impossible.—

—I'm honest.—

Carla, who had been attempting to organize departure times while simultaneously answering messages, finally lowered her phone long enough to stare at them.

—You two realize we're supposed to be leaving soon?—

—We are leaving soon,— Lando answered without taking his eyes off Amelie.

—Then why are you looking at her like you've been stranded in the desert for six months?—

—Because look at her.—

Meredith immediately covered her face.

—God help us.—

Amelie's cheeks warmed despite herself, which only seemed to encourage him further. Years together had done absolutely nothing to lessen his ability to make her blush at the worst possible moments. If anything, it had gotten worse. Lando seemed to treat embarrassing her like a professional sport, and unfortunately he was exceptionally talented at it. Charlie chose that exact moment to squeeze himself between them, tail wagging furiously while demanding attention, forcing both of them to laugh as the golden retriever nearly knocked into Amelie's legs.

The brief interruption finally gave Lando enough self-control to step back long enough to retrieve the charcoal suit jacket he'd left draped over a nearby chair. He slipped one arm into the sleeve while continuing to glance toward Amelie every few seconds, the same ridiculous smile still firmly planted on his face. She noticed every single look. So did Carla. So did Meredith. So did anyone unfortunate enough to be standing within twenty feet of him. There was simply no hiding it. The man looked completely smitten, and years of trying to pretend otherwise had long since become pointless.

Amelie adjusted the small clutch in her hands while watching him finish putting on his jacket, amusement dancing in her eyes. —You know people are going to talk about the wig all night.—

—Good.—

—Good?—

—Maybe they'll keep talking about the wig and stop talking about how unfairly attractive you are.—

She rolled her eyes immediately.

—That's not how that works.—

—Worth a try.—

—You're ridiculous.—

—You're beautiful.—

The response came so automatically that it caught even him by surprise. For a brief second the teasing disappeared, replaced by something softer, more sincere, the kind of honesty that always seemed to slip through whenever he looked at her for too long. Amelie's expression softened almost immediately in response, her smile becoming smaller but infinitely warmer. Moments like that still happened between them, unexpected and effortless, little reminders hidden beneath years of jokes and flirting and shared history.

The spell lasted approximately three seconds before Lando's gaze drifted back toward the dress.

A dangerous look appeared on his face.

Amelie recognized it immediately.

—No.—

—What?—

—Whatever you're thinking.—

—I haven't said anything.—

—Yet.—

—I was simply making an observation.—

—Lando.—

He finished buttoning his jacket, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

—I'm just saying, I hope this premiere is quick.—

Carla immediately sighed.

—Here we go.—

—What does that mean?— Amelie asked, already suspicious.

—Nothing.—

—Lando.—

—I just think it would be lovely if everyone enjoyed the show, took their pictures, did their interviews, and then let us come home.—

Amelie narrowed her eyes.

—Why?—

His grin widened.

Dangerously.

—Because I'd really like to get my girlfriend back before midnight.—

Meredith physically turned away.

Carla looked ready to throw something at him.

Amelie pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

—Behave.—

—I am behaving.—

—Barely.—

—I've been behaving all day.—

—You've spent twenty minutes staring at my wig.—

—Because your wig is hot.—

A laugh escaped her despite every effort to remain annoyed. The sound immediately brightened his expression even further, which only proved he had achieved exactly what he wanted.

Outside, the waiting cars were already visible through the front windows, evening sunlight beginning to settle across Los Angeles as photographers and reporters gathered for the premiere. Inside the mansion, however, Lando found himself wishing for another ten minutes before they had to leave. Not because he cared about being late, but because every time he looked at Amelie standing there in the striped dress and brunette hair, laughing at him with that familiar smile, he felt the exact same thing he'd felt years ago when he first met her.

The details had changed.

The careers had changed.

The houses, the countries, the lives they lived had changed.

Yet somehow, every version of her still managed to completely wreck him, and judging by the amused look on Amelie's face as she reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers, she knew it too.

--------------

liked by goldenhourlane, lovergirlie, and others

amelieupdates: from season 1 in 2019 to season 3 in 2026 🤎✨ seven years, three premieres, three brunette looks, one iconic character. thank you maddy perez. what a beautiful chapter to close.

View all 491 comments

papayagirl: the fact that she wore a wig just to have brunette hair for the final premiere 😭 → loveroflan: that's CINEMA → lanmeliehub: the commitment is insane

ameliecore: "i wanted to end it the same way i started it" I'M UNWELL 😭 → goldenhouramelie: that interview destroyed me

fanameliee: she really said one last brunette maddy moment 🥹 → cherryvibes: and she looked stunning → dreamygirlie: full circle moment

sunsetamelie: not us spending hours debating if she dyed her hair 😭

papayadreams: seven years later and she still honored maddy like this 😭 → loveroflan: that's her baby fr → lanmeliehub: you can tell how much the character means to her

amelievibes: the brunette wig with the premiere dress was EVERYTHING 😭 → cherryvibes: she understood the assignment

fanpageamelie: imagine being 17 filming season 1 and now closing it at 24 😭 → goldenhouramelie: stopppp → softamelie: time is actually terrifying

lanfan44: the fact she thought about the symbolism of the hair color 😭 → papayaprincess: actress brain

softamelie: blonde amelie is current amelie but brunette will always feel like maddy 😭 → goldenhouramelie: exactly → sunsetamelie: they're separate people in my brain

ameliecentral: that interview where she explained it made me emotional immediately 😭

papayagirl: "one last time for her" SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING 😭 → loveroflan: straight to jail honestly → lanmeliehub: emotional manipulation

fanameliee: the side by side of all three premieres is actually beautiful 🥹

sunsetamelie: maddy perez ending with brunette hair feels correct somehow 😭 → cherryvibes: that's exactly it → dreamygirlie: poetic honestly

amelieupdates: she really closed a seven year chapter with a wig and somehow made me cry 😭 → papayaprincess: actress behavior → loveroflan: queen of symbolism

coastallover: no because the wig looked SO real too 😭

goldenpapaya: the way she smiled talking about maddy in interviews 🥹 → cherrysoda: you could tell she was emotional → lanmeliefever: proud mama energy

sunflowermelie: everyone say thank you to the wig stylist 😭

tracksidebabe: this feels like the end of an era in the most literal way possible 😭 → lovergirlie: genuinely → paddockangel: maddy perez forever though 🤎

midnightvibes: the fact she specifically said it was for closure 😭 → starrylane: she knew we'd be emotional → softfilms: mission accomplished

velvetamelie: maddy perez really changed her life forever 🥹 → moonlightvibes: and ours honestly

raceweekendd: not me getting emotional over a wig 😭 → paddocklove: same unfortunately → lovergirlie: we're all too attached

goldenhourlane: season 1 premiere: baby amelie season 3 premiere: global superstar amelie 😭

papayaworld: she looked exactly like older maddy and younger maddy at the same time somehow 😭 → lanmeliefever: THAT'S IT → cherrysoda: perfectly said

softclouds: imagine telling 17 year old amelie she'd still be talking about maddy seven years later 😭

ameliehearts: her saying goodbye to maddy while being blonde now feels symbolic in a weird way 😭 → starrylan: like she's grown beyond that chapter → papayahours: stop i'm gonna cry again

tracksideangel: the side by side photos genuinely look like a timeline of her growing up 😭 → lovergirlie: that's why it hurts → paddockangel: literally watched her become an adult

sunsetdreamer: not the wig having more emotional significance than some movie endings 😭 → cherrysoda: academy award for the wig

coastallover: i know the hairstylist was terrified of messing that wig up 😭 → velvetroses: carrying seven years of lore on their shoulders → midnightamelie: enormous responsibility

goldenpapaya: she could've shown up blonde and nobody would've cared but she wanted that final brunette moment 😭 → lanmeliefever: because she cared

sunflowermelie: "one last time for maddy" has been stuck in my head for hours 😭 → lovelane: same honestly → dreamersclub: devastating sentence

gridgirlypop: i feel like the cast was probably emotional seeing her brunette again too 😭

softpapaya: maddy perez really survived every trend, every season break and every internet era 😭 → dreamersclub: cultural icon → lovelane: genuinely legendary character

ameliezone: i need someone to make an edit of all three premiere looks immediately 😭 → coastallover: with sad music

lan4worldchamp: meanwhile lando probably just thought "oh brunette today cool" 😭

midnightamelie: the funniest part is the fandom spent all day analyzing salon pictures 😭 → velvetroses: detective work for NOTHING → starrylan: she outsmarted us all

f1fairytale: there are people who started watching euphoria in high school and are now graduating college 😭 → moonlightvibes: time is terrifying actually

goldenhourlane: not the brunette wig getting a better farewell than some actual tv characters 😭 → lovergirlie: deserved honestly → paddocklove: maddy perez the legend that you are 🤎

--------------

The after-party had long since reached that strange point where nobody was paying attention to the clock anymore.

Music pulsed through the private rooftop venue in steady waves, bass vibrating faintly beneath expensive shoes while conversations overlapped into a constant blur of laughter, clinking glasses, and familiar voices. The Los Angeles skyline glittered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, thousands of lights stretching endlessly into the darkness while celebrities, actors, producers, musicians, and friends drifted between clusters of people scattered throughout the venue. Some were dancing near the DJ booth. Others occupied lounge areas hidden beneath warm ambient lighting. Everywhere Lando looked, someone seemed to be celebrating.

The premiere had been a massive success.

Reviews were already flooding social media.

Photos from the carpet were everywhere.

Amelie had spent most of the evening being passed between interviews, cast members, photographers, executives, and friends she hadn't seen in months. Normally she handled events like this effortlessly. She floated through rooms with the ease of someone who had grown up in the industry, smiling at the right moments, remembering names, making everyone feel important.

What had caught Lando's attention wasn't that Amelie was drinking.

Amelie drank.

Everyone at events like this drank.

The unusual part was the pace.

Throughout the evening he'd watched her accept one drink after another with a smile that never quite reached her eyes. Nothing dramatic. Nothing obvious enough for anyone else to notice. She wasn't stumbling through conversations or slurring words. If anything, she looked perfectly normal to everyone around her. Years in Hollywood had taught her exactly how to function in rooms like these. But Lando knew her too well.

He knew how long she normally held onto a drink.

Knew when she was actually enjoying herself versus when she was trying to distract herself.

Knew the difference between celebration and avoidance.

Tonight felt like avoidance.

The realization had been lingering quietly in the back of his mind for nearly an hour as he watched her move through groups of cast members and friends. She'd laughed when she was supposed to laugh. Smiled for photos. Hugged people she hadn't seen in months. Congratulated crew members. Celebrated the success of the premiere.

Yet every time Lando's eyes found her across the room, there was something slightly off about the picture.

Nothing anyone else would have noticed.

Nothing dramatic enough to raise concern.

Just small things.

The way her gaze occasionally drifted somewhere far beyond the conversation she was currently having. The way she seemed determined to keep a drink in her hand at all times. The way her smile sometimes disappeared the second people looked away. The way she kept moving, never staying with one group for too long, as though standing still for more than a few minutes might force her to think about something she didn't want to think about.

Lando had spent enough years loving her to recognize avoidance when he saw it.

Which was exactly why he found himself standing at the bar a little after one in the morning instead of out on the dance floor where half the cast currently seemed determined to remain until sunrise.

The bartender nodded in recognition before he even reached the counter.

—Water?—

Lando laughed softly.

—That obvious?—

—You've ordered four for her tonight.—

—Five now.—

The bartender filled a glass while Lando glanced back toward the crowd. Somewhere near the dance floor, he could spot a group of actors dancing beneath flashing lights. Nearby, producers occupied a cluster of couches. A few tables away, someone was taking photos. The entire rooftop glittered beneath strings of warm lights suspended overhead, making the city beyond seem almost secondary to the celebration unfolding above it.

The bartender slid the glass across the polished counter a second later, condensation already forming against the outside from the contrast between the cold water and the warm California night. Lando wrapped his fingers around it just as a familiar pair of arms suddenly looped around his shoulders from behind, the scent of expensive perfume and champagne arriving a fraction of a second before the person herself did. He smiled immediately without needing to turn around. There were very few people in the world who would approach him like that, and only one who would somehow manage to make it feel both affectionate and completely normal.

Amelie rested her chin against his shoulder, pressing herself lightly against his back while he shifted one arm around her waist automatically. The brunette wig was gone now, replaced by her usual blonde hair, though a few loose strands had escaped whatever miracle of hairspray had kept everything perfect through hours of photographs, interviews, and dancing. Up close, he could see the slight flush coloring her cheeks and the softness in her eyes that appeared whenever she was tipsy. Not drunk. Just enough alcohol to lower her guard and make her a little more affectionate than usual. Her lips brushed briefly against the side of his neck, earning a quiet laugh from him.

—Hello to you too,— he murmured.

Instead of answering, she kissed his neck again.

—Amelie.—

Another kiss.

—Amelie.—

A third.

—You're distracting me.—

—Good,— she mumbled.

The bartender looked deeply entertained by the entire interaction.

Lando shook his head fondly before turning slightly and pressing the glass into her hands. The moment she saw the water, her expression transformed into one of mild betrayal, which only confirmed everything he'd been suspecting all evening. Normally she would have argued. Normally she would have complained about being treated like a child. Tonight, however, she simply stared at the glass for a moment before sighing dramatically.

—Drink it,— Lando ordered.

—You sound like my manager.—

—Drink the water.—

—You're both very annoying.—

—Water.—

Amelie narrowed her eyes at him for approximately two seconds before lifting the glass and obediently taking a sip.

Then another.

Then another.

Lando watched the entire thing suspiciously.

—All of it.—

—Bossy.—

—All of it.—

The fact that she complied without a real fight worried him more than he cared to admit. Amelie was stubborn by nature. Arguing was practically one of her hobbies. Seeing her quietly finish an entire glass of water while leaning against him made it impossible to ignore the feeling that something was off. Not dramatically wrong. Not enough to ruin the evening. Just enough to leave an uncomfortable weight sitting in the back of his mind.

The empty glass had barely left her hand before she was wrapping herself around him again, resting her forehead against his shoulder while the music continued thundering across the rooftop around them. Nearby, someone cheered at something happening on the dance floor. A burst of laughter erupted from one of the lounge areas. The city glittered endlessly beyond the edge of the building, unaware of the tiny shift occurring inside his chest as he looked down at her.

—Can we leave?— she asked softly.

The question immediately pulled a smile from him.

Not because it was unusual.

Quite the opposite.

At least three different times during every major event, one of them inevitably reached a point where the party stopped being worth the effort and escaping together became significantly more appealing. Usually it was Lando making the suggestion first. Sometimes it was Amelie. Tonight, considering the way she'd been glued to his side for the last ten minutes and the number of times she'd kissed his neck while pretending she wasn't trying to distract him, he assumed he knew exactly where her mind was.

His hand settled more securely against her lower back.

—Yeah?— he asked, lowering his voice slightly. —Ready to disappear?—

Amelie nodded against his shoulder.

—Please.—

There was something about the answer that should have registered immediately.

Something too quick.

Too eager.

Normally she'd spend another hour saying goodbye to people. Another hour stopping every ten feet because someone wanted a photo or a conversation or one last drink. Tonight she didn't even glance toward the dance floor.

That should have been the moment he realized something was wrong.

Instead, Lando simply smiled and pressed a quick kiss against the top of her head before reaching for his phone to send a message to security that they were leaving. The request seemed harmless enough on the surface. They'd both been working nonstop for weeks, the premiere had lasted hours, and Amelie looked exhausted beneath the carefully maintained smile she'd worn all evening. Wanting to escape early wasn't unusual. If anything, it was probably the most normal thing she'd done all night. The uneasy feeling lingering at the back of his mind remained there nevertheless, small and persistent, like a warning he couldn't quite hear clearly enough to understand.

By the time they reached the private exit, the city air felt cool against their skin after hours spent inside the crowded venue. The noise of the party faded behind them the moment the doors closed, replaced by the distant hum of Los Angeles at one in the morning. Security opened the rear door of the waiting SUV while the driver stepped out to greet them. Amelie slid into the back seat first, gathering the skirt of her dress carefully before settling against the leather upholstery. Lando followed a second later, automatically reaching for her hand once the door shut behind them.

The driver pulled away from the curb smoothly, merging into the nearly empty streets while skyscraper lights reflected against the dark windows. For several minutes neither of them spoke. Amelie leaned her head against his shoulder, fingers loosely intertwined with his, while Lando stared out at the city passing beyond the glass. Everything felt peaceful. Quiet. Comfortable. The exact kind of ending he would have expected after a successful premiere. It wasn't until nearly ten minutes later that he glanced outside again and felt confusion begin to creep in.

The uneasy feeling that had been lingering quietly at the back of his mind all evening finally sharpened when he noticed they weren't heading toward the mansion.

Los Angeles at one in the morning looked different than it did during the day. The traffic had thinned into scattered headlights. Storefronts sat dark and empty behind locked doors. Streetlights painted long stretches of pavement gold as the SUV moved steadily through neighborhoods Lando knew well enough to recognize.

He had spent enough time in the city over the years to understand where they should have been going, which was precisely why confusion began settling into his chest when the route continued changing. His arm remained wrapped securely around Amelie while she rested against him, her head tucked beneath his chin and one hand lazily tracing patterns against the fabric of his shirt, but his attention had shifted completely toward the window. The familiar skyline had disappeared behind them. Residential streets had given way to something quieter.

Lando frowned slightly as another unfamiliar turn carried them farther away from the route he had expected. His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around Amelie's hand while he glanced from the window to the driver and back again, mentally trying to place where exactly they were heading.

Beside him, Amelie remained curled against his side, unusually quiet now that they had left the noise of the party behind. Earlier she had spent most of the ride tucked beneath his arm, her cheek pressed against his shoulder while he absentmindedly played with strands of her blonde hair, the comfortable silence between them feeling perfectly normal after a long night. Looking back, he realized she had barely spoken since they left the venue. At the time he had assumed she was simply exhausted from the premiere, the interviews, and the endless hours spent smiling for cameras, but now that same silence felt different. Intentional. Like she had known exactly where they were going the entire time.

The SUV gradually slowed before coming to a stop along a quiet road lined with tall trees, their branches swaying gently beneath pools of pale yellow light cast by nearby lamps. The neighborhood was peaceful in a way Los Angeles rarely managed to be, removed from the noise of downtown and the endless movement that seemed to define the city. Lando looked through the window, confusion deepening immediately when his eyes landed on the wrought-iron gates standing several yards ahead. The realization hadn't fully formed yet. His mouth had already begun opening to ask where they were when Amelie suddenly sat upright beside him, slipping out from beneath his arm before he could say a word.

Without explanation, she pushed open the door and climbed out.

Lando blinked.

—Amelie—

She ignored the question entirely.

By the time he stepped out after her, she was already walking around the back of the SUV where the driver had opened the trunk. The cool California air carried the faint scent of freshly cut grass and flowers through the darkness. Under the dim lighting he watched her reach inside and pull out a small bouquet, carefully arranged with white flowers tied together by a simple ribbon. The sight made something in his chest tighten immediately. She held them gently, almost protectively, before looking over her shoulder toward him.

—You coming or what?— she asked.

Lando remained standing beside the open car door for a second longer, staring first at the bouquet in her hands and then at the iron gates a short distance ahead. The realization hadn't fully landed yet, but he could feel it approaching, slow and heavy and unavoidable, like a storm finally reaching the shoreline after hours sitting on the horizon. The confusion that had followed him throughout the drive suddenly began connecting itself into something that made far more sense than he wanted it to. The unusual drinking. The distant look in her eyes all evening. The way she had wanted to leave the party almost immediately. The route through Los Angeles. The flowers. His stomach tightened slightly as he pushed the door closed behind him and started after her, the gravel crunching softly beneath his shoes while the cool night air wrapped around them. Amelie was already walking toward the entrance, her heels clicking quietly against the pavement, bouquet held carefully against her chest.

—Are you gonna tell me where we're going?— Lando asked gently as he caught up beside her, his voice softer now than it had been all evening. There was no teasing in it anymore. No jokes. Just concern and confusion and the growing suspicion that he was finally beginning to understand what tonight had really been about.

For a moment Amelie didn't answer. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, toward the gates illuminated by soft pools of light. The flowers shifted slightly in her hands as she adjusted her grip on them. When she finally spoke, her voice came out quieter than he'd expected.

—It’s Cameron’s birthday,— she said simply, like the words had been sitting inside her all day waiting for this exact moment to be spoken out loud.

Lando stopped walking for half a second, the name landing in his chest with a quiet heaviness that immediately changed the shape of everything he thought he understood about the night. He looked at her properly for the first time since they’d left the SUV, really looked, and suddenly the earlier distance made sense in a way that made his stomach tighten with something close to guilt for not realizing sooner. Amelie didn’t look at him when she spoke, her eyes still fixed on the gates ahead, but her grip on the bouquet was steady, careful in a way that suggested this wasn’t something fragile to her but something sacred she had been carrying alone for a long time. The wind moved gently through the trees above them, brushing soft shadows across the pavement, while Lando stood there trying to recalibrate his entire understanding of the past few hours around a truth he should have noticed earlier but didn’t.

Amelie finally exhaled, a small breath that sounded like she had been holding it in since the moment they left the premiere, and started walking again toward the entrance without waiting to see if he would follow. Her voice stayed low as she continued, almost conversational, like she was trying to make something unbearably heavy feel normal just by the way she said it.

—If I’m in LA when it happens, I try to come here. Every year. I didn’t want to… I don’t know, make it a thing tonight, so I didn’t say anything earlier.—

Lando followed her immediately this time, closing the space between them as the gates came closer, the ironwork lit softly under the streetlights. He glanced at her profile as they walked, noticing the way her expression had changed completely from the girl who had been laughing with him in the SUV minutes ago. There was no performance here, no red carpet version of her, no carefully managed smile for cameras or interviews. This was quieter, more contained, like she had stepped into a part of herself she only let exist in very specific places. The security guard near the entrance noticed her approach and, without hesitation or question, stepped aside to unlock the gate, giving her a small nod that carried familiarity rather than surprise, as if this wasn’t the first time he had seen her arrive like this on a night like this.

Lando frowned slightly, following her through the entrance as the metal gate opened with a soft creak behind them. The path inside was dimly lit, lined with trees and carefully maintained grounds that stretched into the darkness ahead, and for the first time since leaving the mansion he had no idea where he was being taken. He stayed half a step behind her, instinctively letting her lead, while his mind tried to process the weight of what she had just said. Cameron. The name wasn’t new to him, but it carried a different shape now that it was standing in front of him in a place like this, attached to a ritual she clearly repeated when no one else was watching.

—You didn’t tell me,— Lando said quietly after a few steps, not accusatory, just trying to understand the space she had kept from him without meaning to.

Amelie kept walking, her gaze forward, her voice steady but softer than before.

—Because I didn’t want you to feel sorry for me,— she replied immediately, like she had answered this question in her head a hundred times before ever saying it out loud to anyone. —And because today was already going to be… a lot. I didn’t want to turn it into something heavy for you too.—

Lando’s chest tightened at that, the words landing in a way that made him briefly look away from her, out toward the dark shapes of trees moving gently in the night air. The idea that she had carried this alone while still smiling for cameras, still sitting beside him at an after-party, still kissing his neck and laughing and acting like everything was normal, made something uncomfortable twist inside him. He realized then that what he had interpreted earlier as avoidance at the rooftop hadn’t been avoidance at all. It had been containment. Control. The effort of holding something deeply personal inside a night that belonged to other people’s celebrations.

They turned onto a narrower path, and Lando could now see the faint outline of headstones ahead, spaced quietly across the grass under the soft glow of scattered lights. His steps slowed without him meaning to, instinctively adjusting to the shift in atmosphere, while Amelie continued forward without hesitation, still holding the bouquet close to her chest.

—Is that why we’re going to brunch with his parents tomorrow?— Lando asked after a moment, his voice lower now, careful not to break whatever quiet this place required.

Amelie nodded once without looking back.

—Yeah. They like doing something on his birthday when I’m in town. We’ve done it before. I just… didn’t say anything because it felt unnecessary to explain everything twice.—

They walked further in, the rows of stones becoming clearer now, each one catching faint light as they passed. A security light flickered somewhere in the distance, but otherwise the space felt almost suspended, like the city didn’t exist beyond the gates. Lando stayed close to her side now, no longer unsure about following but still unsure about everything else, especially the fact that this was the first time he was seeing this part of her life. The part she didn’t post about. The part she didn’t bring to premieres or interviews or even conversations between them in quiet moments at home.

Amelie finally slowed her steps, scanning the rows as if she already knew exactly where she was going. Her voice dropped further, almost blending into the night air as she spoke again, more to herself than to him.

—This is the first time I’ve ever come here with someone,— she admitted quietly.

Lando looked at her then, really looked, and for the first time that night he understood the weight of what she had actually brought him into. Not just a place. Not just a memory. But something she had never shared with anyone else before, not even him, until now.

Lando didn’t answer immediately, because there wasn’t anything in him that felt strong enough to become words without breaking the quiet that Amelie was clearly holding together with careful control. Instead, he simply stayed close beside her as she continued walking through the cemetery, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their steps feeling almost disrespectful in a place that seemed designed for silence rather than sound. The air here was different from the city outside the gates, heavier in a way he couldn’t quite describe, as if every movement automatically asked for permission. Amelie didn’t look at him as she spoke, but her voice stayed steady, guiding him through something that clearly wasn’t new to her even if it was new to him, and that realization alone made him more attentive than anything else had all night.

—He’s over there,— she said softly after a moment, finally slowing as she turned slightly between two rows of headstones, her eyes scanning until something in her posture shifted almost imperceptibly, like she had found what she was looking for without needing confirmation.

Lando followed her gaze, but he still couldn’t see clearly from where he stood, only the vague shapes of stone markers arranged in quiet rows beneath dim light. He stayed a step behind her as she began walking again, this time slower, more deliberate, the bouquet held closer to her chest as if it had suddenly become heavier the closer they got. The further they walked, the more Lando became aware of how Amelie’s entire energy had changed since stepping through the gates. There was no performance left in her now, no version of herself shaped for public spaces or crowded rooms. This was something else entirely, something private enough that even standing next to her felt like he was witnessing a memory instead of a moment.

When she finally stopped, Lando did too.

It took him a second to register the name engraved on the stone in front of them, not because he didn’t recognize it, but because seeing it like this made it real in a way conversations and stories never had. Cameron Boyce. The letters were clean and simple, carved into polished stone that reflected faint light from above, surrounded by small traces of life left behind by other visitors. Flowers. A few worn tokens. Things placed carefully over time by people who still came back. Lando felt something tighten in his chest as he looked at it properly for the first time, not as a name he had heard in passing, but as a person whose absence clearly still shaped the life of the girl standing beside him.

Amelie stepped forward before he could say anything, lowering herself into the space in front of the headstone with a familiarity that made it clear she had done this before, even if she had never done it with him there. She placed the bouquet gently down, adjusting the flowers with small, precise movements that felt almost ritualistic, like she was making sure everything looked exactly the way she wanted it to. Lando stayed where he was at first, unsure whether moving closer would feel intrusive, but Amelie didn’t seem bothered by his presence. If anything, she seemed quieter because of it, like having him there had changed something she had been carrying alone for years without making it heavier.

Amelie stayed kneeling for a few seconds longer than necessary, fingers lightly brushing over the ribbon of the bouquet as if grounding herself through something physical rather than emotional, and when she finally spoke again her voice came out smaller than anything Lando had ever heard from her. It didn’t break dramatically. It didn’t fall apart all at once. It just softened in a way that made it feel like she was carefully holding every word so it wouldn’t spill out too fast.

—Every time I come here, it makes it real again,— she admitted quietly, staring at the engraved name like she was afraid looking anywhere else would undo her control completely. —Not like I forget. I don’t. But when I’m here, it’s like… I don’t know. It stops being something that happened in the past and becomes something that’s still happening. Still missing. Still unfair.—

Her breath caught slightly on the last word, and she pressed her fingertips into the grass beneath her as if steadying herself. The city of Los Angeles felt impossibly far away now, like it belonged to a different version of her life entirely, one where she was still smiling under cameras and holding Lando’s hand and pretending the night had been nothing more than a celebration. Here, under the dim cemetery lights and the quiet weight of names carved into stone, none of that version existed in the same way anymore. Lando didn’t move closer yet, but he didn’t look away either, because something in her voice had shifted into a place that didn’t belong to performance or public life or anything he was used to seeing from her.

Amelie swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue even though her eyes had already started to shine in a way she clearly hated. —I know people think time makes it easier, but it doesn’t really. It just… teaches you how to carry it better. How to function around it. But then I come here and it’s like all of that disappears for a few minutes and I remember exactly how it felt when I got the call and I couldn’t breathe properly for days.—

Her voice cracked slightly on the word call, and that was the first time she paused long enough for silence to fully settle between them. The wind moved gently through the trees above, shifting the shadows across the headstone, and Lando finally took a step closer without really deciding to. He didn’t interrupt her. He didn’t try to fix anything. He just lowered himself slowly onto the grass beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, but not so close that it felt like he was intruding on something sacred.

Amelie kept her gaze forward, but her breathing had changed now, less controlled, more fragile around the edges.

—It breaks me a little every time I see his name,— she continued, quieter now, like admitting it out loud cost her something she couldn’t get back. —Because it feels wrong that it just… stays there. Like that’s the only place he gets to exist now. A stone. A date. A name people pass by and keep walking. And I hate that I can’t do anything about it. I hate that life just keeps moving and he doesn’t.—

The tears she had been holding back all evening finally won.

Not dramatically.

Not all at once.

One moment she was staring at the engraved letters, her voice trembling around the edges of every sentence, and the next a tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. Amelie closed her eyes immediately, almost annoyed by it, as though her own emotions had betrayed her at the worst possible moment. She lifted a hand to wipe it away, but another followed, and then another, each one arriving faster than the last despite her obvious determination not to cry.

Lando felt his chest tighten painfully at the sight.

Not because he had never seen her cry.

He had.

Life had given them both enough reasons over the years.

But there was something uniquely heartbreaking about this version of it. The way she was still trying to be composed. The way she kept looking at the headstone as if she owed it her attention despite how much it hurt. The way she seemed almost embarrassed by her grief even though there wasn't a single thing about it that required apology.

Amelie let out a shaky breath and laughed softly through the tears, the sound completely humorless.

—God, I hate this part,— she admitted quietly, shaking her head while staring down at the grass. —Every year I tell myself I'm not going to cry. Every single year. I spend weeks convincing myself I'm older now, that it's been long enough, that I'm okay, and then I come here and it's exactly the same.—

Her voice cracked again.

This time she didn't try to hide it.

The cemetery remained silent around them, the distant city lights barely visible through the trees. Somewhere in the darkness a breeze moved through the branches overhead, carrying the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass across the grounds.

Amelie swallowed hard.

—I know he's gone. Rationally, I know that. I know it every day. But seeing his name here... seeing the stone... it makes it impossible to pretend for even a second that this isn't real.—

Her gaze returned to the headstone.

The engraved letters.

The dates.

The undeniable permanence of it.

Fresh tears blurred her vision almost immediately.

—Because this is it,— she whispered. —Every movie, every photo, every memory, every joke, every stupid thing he ever said... it all ends here. And I hate that. I hate it so much.—

The words dissolved into a sob she clearly hadn't intended to let escape.

Lando moved without thinking.

One second he was sitting beside her.

The next his arm was around her shoulders, gently pulling her toward him.

Amelie resisted for approximately half a heartbeat before collapsing into his side.

The fight left her instantly.

She turned her face into his shoulder, one hand gripping the fabric of his shirt as years of carefully managed grief finally cracked open beneath the weight of the night.

Lando wrapped both arms around her immediately.

Holding her tighter.

Steadier.

One hand slid into her hair while the other rested against her back, rubbing slow circles between her shoulder blades as she cried.

He didn't tell her to stop.

Didn't tell her everything would be okay.

Didn't offer meaningless comfort for something that wasn't fixable.

Instead he simply held her.

The same way she had held him through losses and disappointments and fears that couldn't be solved.

The same way people hold someone when love is the only thing they have left to give.

Amelie cried quietly against him for several minutes.

The kind of crying that came from somewhere deep.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Just years of missing someone who should still have been here.

Years of birthdays that continued arriving without him.

Years of accomplishments she couldn't tell him about.

Years of carrying memories that refused to become lighter no matter how much time passed.

—He would've loved tonight,— she whispered eventually, her voice muffled against his shoulder. —That's the stupid part. He would've been making fun of me all day. He would've stolen food from the catering table. He would've embarrassed me in front of everyone on the carpet.—

A watery laugh escaped her.

—He would've hated the wig.—

Lando smiled sadly against the top of her head.

—Probably.—

—Definitely.—

Another tear slipped free.

—And every time something good happens, I still think about calling him.—

The admission shattered something inside him.

Because there was no performance left in her now.

No Hollywood star.

No actress.

No public figure.

Just a girl sitting beside her best friend's grave wishing she could share one more conversation with someone she loved.

Lando lowered his head and pressed a kiss into her hair.

His eyes drifted toward the stone a few feet away.

Toward the name that had shaped so much of the person he loved.

Toward the boy he'd never met but somehow felt grateful to.

Because parts of Cameron still existed.

In her stories.

In her laughter.

In the habits she'd picked up from him.

In the way she spoke about him years later as if love had simply changed shape instead of disappearing.

—He'd be really proud of you, you know,— Lando said quietly.

Amelie squeezed her eyes shut.

Fresh tears immediately appeared.

—You don't know that.—

—I do.—

She shook her head.

—Lando—

—Look at everything you've done.—

His voice remained soft.

Certain.

—Look at tonight. Look at your career. Look at your life. Look at the people who love you. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met, Amelie.—

She laughed weakly.

—I'm literally crying in a cemetery.—

—Yeah.—

His arm tightened around her shoulders.

—Because you loved someone.—

The simple truth of it settled between them.

Heavy.

Gentle.

Impossible to argue with.

Amelie stared at the headstone for a long time after that.

No longer trying to stop the tears.

No longer pretending she was okay.

Just sitting there in the quiet with Lando beside her and Cameron's name in front of her, allowing herself to feel the grief she'd spent the entire evening trying to outrun.

Eventually her head settled against Lando's shoulder again.

His hand found hers immediately.

Their fingers intertwined naturally.

The way they always did.

The cemetery remained silent around them, wrapped in darkness and memory, while somewhere far beyond the gates Los Angeles continued celebrating premieres and success and another ordinary night.

Here, however, time felt different.

Slower.

Softer.

For a while neither of them spoke.

They simply sat together beneath the trees, surrounded by flowers and silence, keeping company with someone who was gone but still deeply loved, and for the first time all day, Amelie stopped trying to carry the weight by herself.

[kathlare]

unsaid

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: After a busy and exhausting race weekend in Montreal, Amelie and Lando find comfort in each other amid the chaos of Formula 1.

Wordcount: 10.9 k

Warnings: smut

full masterlist // request over here!

May 23rd, 2026 - Montreal, CA

The hotel room had finally gone quiet sometime close to midnight.

Not the peaceful kind of quiet either, but the exhausted sort that only appeared after too many airports, too many cameras, too many conversations stretched across too many countries in too little time. Montreal lights glowed faintly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurred against the glass by the soft rain that had started sometime during dinner, while inside the suite warm yellow lamps cast long shadows across abandoned luggage and half-unpacked clothes scattered around the room.

Everything felt messy.

Lived in.

Temporary.

The bathroom door opened softly beneath the sound of the shower finally stopping, steam drifting lazily into the bedroom while Amelie stepped out wrapped in one of the hotel bathrobes, damp curls clinging against the back of her neck and shoulders. Her skin still carried warmth from the shower, cheeks slightly flushed beneath the low lighting while she rubbed one towel distractedly through the ends of her hair as she crossed slowly into the room.

The sight waiting for her on the bed made something ache quietly inside her chest.

Lando hadn’t moved.

He still lay diagonally across the mattress exactly where he had collapsed almost forty minutes earlier after arriving back from meetings downstairs, one arm thrown above his head while Charlie slept curled tightly against his side beneath the comforter. He remained half dressed in his McLaren team kit, orange performance shirt wrinkled now from exhaustion, the papaya detailing softened beneath the dim room lighting while his curls spread messily across the pillow like he hadn’t even managed finding the energy to properly settle into bed.

His eyes stayed closed.

For a second, she genuinely thought he had already fallen asleep.

The exhaustion sitting heavily across his face made him look younger somehow, softer around the edges without cameras or interviews or race pressure keeping him alert. Dark circles lingered faintly beneath his eyes now, subtle but there if you looked long enough, and Amelie suddenly became painfully aware of how little either of them had actually rested these past weeks.

Family trips squeezed between work obligations. Late flights. Public appearances. Trying to divide themselves between careers and each other and the people they loved without letting anyone feel neglected.

Neither of them had properly stopped moving in what felt like forever.

The realization sat heavily inside her chest now while she walked quietly toward the suitcase near the window, trying not to wake him.

The realization sat heavily inside her chest now while she walked quietly toward the suitcase near the window, trying not to wake him.

Rain tapped softly against the glass behind her in uneven rhythms while the city lights outside blurred gold and white across the wet windows, the entire room wrapped in that late-night stillness where exhaustion made everything feel slower and more intimate somehow. Charlie barely lifted his head when she crossed the carpet barefoot, only sighing softly in his sleep before curling closer against Lando’s side again.

Amelie carefully loosened the belt of the bathrobe once she reached the suitcase.

The fabric slipped slowly from her shoulders, falling soundlessly against the floor beside her feet while cool air brushed softly against her still-warm skin from the shower. She crouched slightly to dig through the half-unpacked suitcase searching for sleep clothes, curls still damp against her back while the oversized hotel room remained completely quiet behind her.

At least until Lando’s sleepy voice suddenly broke through the silence.

—If this is my reward for surviving this weekend with no sleep,— he muttered hoarsely from the bed, —I’m actually not complaining anymore.—

Amelie physically jumped.

Her hand flew immediately toward her chest while she spun halfway around in offense.

Lando hadn’t moved from the mattress.

One arm still rested behind his head while the corner of his mouth curved upward lazily against the pillow, clearly far too entertained with himself despite looking approximately five minutes away from passing out completely.

Amelie narrowed her eyes instantly before lifting her middle finger toward him without hesitation.

—You’re disgusting.—

His tired laugh rumbled softly through the quiet hotel room.

—You scared me,— she complained while bending toward the suitcase again to grab underwear and one of Lando’s old shirts she always stole to sleep in.

—Worth it.—

—You were literally pretending to sleep like a psychopath.—

—No, I was resting my eyes actually.—

—That’s the oldest lie ever invented.—

Lando only smiled wider against the pillow while she pulled the oversized shirt over her head, the fabric falling nearly to the middle of her thighs afterward. The familiar smell of his detergent and cologne still lingered faintly in the cotton, comforting enough now that wearing his clothes had long stopped feeling like borrowing something and had instead become second nature.

Exhaustion sat heavily inside her bones the second she finally climbed onto the bed beside him.

Not dramatic exhaustion.

Something deeper.

The kind that settled slowly after weeks of running on adrenaline and caffeine and excitement without ever properly stopping long enough to recover.

Amelie practically melted sideways into the mattress with a groan, phone still in one hand while Charlie immediately shifted positions to press sleepily against her leg now too.

—I’m so tired,— she muttered toward the ceiling.

Lando hummed softly in agreement without opening his eyes. —That all-nighter literally did nothing except ruin us further.—

—Mmhm.—

—Gabi lied to me.—

A sleepy laugh escaped her quietly.

The silence afterward stretched soft and comfortable around them, interrupted only by rain against the windows and the occasional vibration of Amelie’s phone while she answered leftover emails she’d ignored all evening. Lando remained sprawled beside her with his eyes still closed, breathing slower now beneath the dim bedside lamp while Charlie snored faintly between them.

She genuinely thought he had fallen asleep again.

His voice broke through the quiet several minutes later, softer now.

—Can you sing for me?—

Amelie turned her head slightly toward him immediately.

Lando still hadn’t opened his eyes.

One hand rested loosely over his stomach while exhaustion dragged visibly through every line of his face beneath the warm lighting, curls flattened messily against the pillow now from hours spent wearing headphones and caps and running his hands through them all day.

She stared at him for a second before laughing quietly beneath her breath.

—You’re going crazy actually.—

—Probably.—

—You should just sleep.—

—I’m trying.—

His voice sounded younger when he got this tired.

Less guarded somehow.

Amelie softened immediately at that.

Lando finally opened one eye slightly toward her from the pillow. —You’re writing again, right?—

She blinked once, surprised.

—How do you know that?—

—You get this weird face when you’re thinking about lyrics,— he murmured lazily. —Like you’re mentally somewhere else.—

A small smile pulled faintly at her mouth despite herself.

Because of course he noticed that too.

Lando shifted slightly against the pillows now, eyes heavier again already. —Show me something.—

Amelie groaned softly in immediate protest. —No.—

—Why?—

—Because it’s unfinished.—

—I don’t care.—

She looked at him for another second before sighing dramatically.

—Fine. But you need to change first because I refuse to emotionally perform while you’re dressed like a sponsored athlete.—

Lando let out the most exhausted sigh imaginable.

—That sounds like oppression actually.—

—Move, Norris.—

Another groan escaped him while he finally pushed himself upright from the mattress, movements slow and clumsy from exhaustion while Charlie watched the betrayal unfold with sleepy confusion. Lando pulled the black McLaren shirt over his head first, tossing it vaguely toward the chair near the window before standing just long enough to kick off the rest of the team kit until only his boxers remained.

He collapsed dramatically back onto the mattress immediately afterward.

—Happy?— he muttered into the pillow.

Amelie smiled softly now. —A little.—

The rain outside had started falling harder by then, streaking softly against the glass while the hotel room settled deeper into quiet warmth around them. She shifted slightly against the headboard afterward, phone resting loosely in her hands while Lando rolled onto his side facing her now, one arm tucked beneath the pillow and eyes already drifting closed again.

—Okay,— she murmured softly. —But if this sounds bad, blame sleep deprivation.—

Lando made a sleepy noise of agreement.

Her voice started quietly.

Soft enough at first that it blended almost seamlessly with the rain outside and the low hum of the hotel air conditioning, rough around the edges from exhaustion but warm in the way it always became whenever she sang something unfinished. No production. No microphones. No stage voice.

Just her.

The lyrics came slowly while she read from the notes app on her phone, unfinished melodies threading softly through the dark hotel room while Montreal glowed outside beneath the rain.

Lando relaxed almost immediately.

She could physically see it happening.

The tension that had been sitting across his shoulders all week slowly disappeared deeper into the mattress while his breathing evened out gradually beneath the sound of her voice. His eyes stayed closed now completely, one hand resting loosely near Charlie while the puppy had somehow migrated directly onto his chest at some point during the song.

Amelie kept singing quietly anyway.

Mostly because she knew he liked it.

Mostly because moments like this felt increasingly rare lately between flights and work and constantly trying to keep up with the speed of their lives.

The last few words left her mouth softly before fading back into the rain-filled silence of the room.

Lando never answered afterward.

He had fallen asleep somewhere near the middle of the second verse, breathing deep and steady now against the pillow while exhaustion finally won completely.

Amelie stared at him for a long moment afterward beneath the dim bedside light.

Then her expression softened impossibly.

Because even exhausted beyond reason, half asleep and barely functioning after weeks of chaos, he had still asked for her voice before anything else.

--------------

liked by cherrysoda, teamamelie, and others

lnfour: race day in montreal 🇨🇦👊 arriving at the track with the best company before lights out.

View all 1,004 comments

papayagirl: charlie being carried like a little baby pls 😭 → loveroflan: paddock prince → lanmeliehub: emotional support dog fr

ameliecore: “best company” STOPPP 😭 → goldenhouramelie: admin knew exactly what they were doing → softamelie: subtle but loud

fanameliee: race day with girlfriend + dog = immediate podium energy 😭 → cherryvibes: manifestation circle

sunsetamelie: the hand holding never gets old idc 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: especially on race days

papayadreams: charlie really travels more than me 😭 → loveroflan: little frequent flyer → lanmeliehub: honorary paddock member

teamamelie: wishing our favorite trio the best sunday 🇨🇦🤍 → lnfour: appreciated always 🤝

amelievibes: management teams interacting like divorced parents at a soccer game 😭 → cherryvibes: HELP → dreamygirlie: “good luck out there kids” energy

fanpageamelie: lando carrying charlie while holding amelie’s hand is taking me OUT 😭

lanfan44: race day posts hit different when amelie’s there 😭 → papayaprincess: lucky charm agenda → loveroflan: statistics don’t lie

softamelie: imagine casually arriving to work holding hands with a global popstar 😭 → goldenhouramelie: and carrying a dog

ameliecentral: they genuinely look so calm together before races 🥹 → cherryvibes: grounding presence fr → dreamygirlie: healthiest vibes ever

papayagirl: lnfour admin becoming a lanmelie account slowly 😭 → loveroflan: no resistance left

fanameliee: the paddock photographers must LOVE seeing them arrive 😭 → goldenhouramelie: instant content → softamelie: easiest engagement ever

sunsetamelie: canada race day + lanmelie + charlie content = perfect sunday 😭 → cherryvibes: we won already honestly

coastallover: the way charlie looks more locked in for race day than me 😭 → velvetroses: tiny strategist → midnightamelie: papaya puppy era

goldenpapaya: “best company” and it’s literally his whole little family 😭 → cherrysoda: crying in the club

sunflowermelie: they look SO domestic walking into the paddock together 🥹 → lovelane: sunday routine vibes → dreamersclub: married energy sorry

tracksidebabe: imagine seeing them walk past you at the circuit 😭 → lovergirlie: i’d forget where i am

ameliezone: charlie being included in race day arrivals is so important to me 😭 → coastallover: emotional support mascot → softclouds: honorary mclaren employee

papayaprincesss: management accounts interacting is taking me OUT 😭 → lanmeliefever: co-parenting the brands → midnightvibes: HELP 😭

velvetamelie: lando holding charlie while amelie holds lando 😭 → starrylan: chain of love

gridgirlypop: no because they genuinely look happy doing mundane things together 🥹 → raceweekendd: healthiest celebrity couple energy → paddocklove: best friends first fr

softpapaya: charlie really said “another race weekend? okay cool” 😭

ameliehearts: i know the crowd at the gates started screaming when they arrived 😭 → cherrysoda: instant chaos → papayahours: cameras EVERYWHERE

lan4worldchamp: the fact they still arrive hand in hand after all this time 🥹 → paddockangel: still obsessed with each other → softfilms: love to see it honestly

midnightamelie: this feels like one of those candid celebrity photos people remember forever 😭 → velvetroses: iconic already

f1fairytale: from hiding relationships in motorhomes to management posting them openly 😭 → moonlightvibes: the growth → raceweekendd: veterans remember the struggle

goldenhourlane: somebody get charlie his own paddock pass already 😭 → lovergirlie: employee badge incoming → paddocklove: team principal next season

--------------

Amelie handed the headset carefully back toward one of the McLaren engineers standing near the pit wall monitors, fingers tightening slightly around the foam padding before letting go.

—Thank you,— she murmured softly.

The smile she offered barely reached her eyes.

Around her, the garage still carried that strange atmosphere that always followed a DNF from a front-running car, where nobody raised their voice but disappointment somehow became louder anyway. Mechanics moved quickly through the space dismantling equipment with clipped efficiency while strategy screens still flashed timing data nobody wanted to look at anymore. The smell of overheated brakes and fuel lingered heavily beneath the bright fluorescent lighting, blending with the constant electronic buzzing from radios that refused to fully go quiet even after the race had already slipped away.

Lando’s car sat hidden deeper inside the garage now, partially surrounded by engineers already discussing the failure in low voices. Gearbox issue. Hydraulics maybe. Something internal. Something expensive and frustrating and entirely out of anyone’s control after the gamble on intermediates had already wrecked the race from the beginning.

She hadn’t seen him yet after the retirement.

Only glimpses.

The moment the car stopped. The helmet still inside the cockpit longer than usual. The tight movements afterward while climbing out.

Enough to know exactly what mood he would be in.

Jon appeared beside her near the back of the garage, tablet still tucked beneath one arm while he watched the mechanics moving around the car.

—You alright?— he asked gently.

Amelie nodded automatically despite not really thinking about the answer. —Yeah.— Her fingers tightened slightly around her phone. —I think I’m just gonna head back to hospitality for now.—

Jon gave a small understanding nod immediately. He had worked with Lando long enough to know there were moments where too many people around him after a bad race only made everything worse.

—Of course,— he answered calmly. —I’ll text you if he needs anything or if he heads back soon.—

Amelie offered another faint smile. —Thanks, Jon.—

The second she turned toward the garage exit, she could physically feel eyes following her.

Not malicious.

Just curious.

Pitying maybe.

People always watched more carefully after bad weekends. Cameras searching for reactions. Team members silently checking damage levels not related to the car.

She kept her expression neutral while walking out into the paddock anyway.

Montreal sunlight hit her immediately the second she stepped outside the garage, warm despite the grey clouds still lingering faintly over Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after the morning rain. The paddock remained crowded with movement and noise around her, team personnel hurrying between hospitality units while interviews already started forming outside several garages further down the lane.

Her phone vibrated again inside her hand.

Carla.

For maybe the sixth time in the last twenty minutes.

Amelie ignored it again.

A photographer called her name near Ferrari hospitality before she could fully escape the garage area, forcing her to slow down long enough for a few quick photos. Two fans stopped her another minute later asking nervously for selfies, one of them apologizing immediately for “bothering her during a bad race weekend,” which somehow made her chest ache even worse.

The apology from the fan lingered uncomfortably inside her chest long after she kept walking.

Bad race weekend.

Such a simple sentence.

Too simple for the amount of effort and pressure and hope currently collapsing inside the McLaren garage behind her.

Amelie kept her sunglasses firmly on while moving through the paddock, offering polite smiles every few meters whenever someone recognized her, though every expression started blending together after a while. Team members. Media people. Sponsors. Familiar faces from other garages stopping briefly to ask if Lando was okay. Her phone continued vibrating nonstop inside her hand the entire time, Carla’s name lighting up the screen over and over again until it almost became part of the background noise surrounding her.

She still didn’t answer.

Not yet.

Because right now her brain physically did not have space for anything else besides the image of Lando sitting motionless inside the stopped car while marshals moved around him.

The McLaren hospitality finally appeared ahead of her through the crowd, the papaya-colored structure looking quieter now compared to the chaos of pre-race hours earlier. Most guests still remained down near the paddock or the pit lane, leaving the common area inside strangely empty when she stepped through the entrance doors. Air conditioning immediately wrapped around her overheated skin while conversations echoed faintly from somewhere downstairs near the dining area.

Amelie barely slowed.

One of the hospitality girls greeted her softly near the coffee machines, but she only offered a tired smile before continuing toward the staircase leading upstairs to the private driver rooms.

The hallway up there remained almost completely silent.

Carpet softened her footsteps while she walked toward Lando’s room at the very end of the corridor, fingers tightening unconsciously around her phone again when Carla called for what had to be the seventh time now.

Her exhaustion deepened instantly.

Something about repeated calls from managers always made anxiety bloom automatically in her chest, no matter how successful things were going lately.

The door opened softly beneath her hand.

Charlie reacted first.

The puppy practically launched himself across the room the second he recognized her, tiny paws sliding slightly against the wooden floor while his tail wagged violently enough to shake his whole body. A laugh escaped her before she could stop it, quiet and tired but real for the first time since leaving the garage.

—Hi, bebé,— she murmured softly.

Charlie barked happily before immediately trying climbing into her arms.

Amelie bent down automatically, gathering the puppy against her chest while he covered her jaw with excited kisses, completely unaware of gearbox failures or strategy mistakes or miserable Sundays. The uncomplicated happiness of him somehow loosened the tight pressure sitting behind her ribs just enough for her to finally breathe properly again.

The room still smelled like Lando.

His hoodie rested abandoned across the back of the sofa near the window beside a pair of headphones and scattered telemetry printouts somebody had clearly dropped off earlier. Half-drunk water bottles sat near the coffee table while the television played silently in the background, forgotten completely.

Amelie settled carefully onto the couch with Charlie immediately curling into her lap like he belonged there, warm little body pressed against her stomach while she finally unlocked her phone.

Carla called again almost instantly.

This time she answered.

—Hi,— Amelie exhaled tiredly while rubbing gently behind Charlie’s ears.

Carla’s voice exploded through the speaker immediately.

—Finally! Jesus Christ, I was about to start calling McLaren.—

Amelie closed her eyes briefly. —Sorry. The race just ended.—

Her manager paused instantly, voice softening a little afterward. —I saw.—

The sympathy in the silence that followed made Amelie glance automatically toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the paddock outside.

Rain had started again lightly.

Tiny drops streaked against the glass while distant noise drifted upward from below.

—Is he okay?— Carla asked gently.

Amelie swallowed quietly. —Not really.—

Another pause settled between them.

Charlie shifted slightly in her lap before settling again, tiny heartbeat warm against her thighs.

Carla eventually exhaled softly through the phone. —Okay. Well… I have news.—

Something about her tone immediately made Amelie sit straighter.

Not bad news.

Too careful for that.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the phone. —What happened?—

A smile entered Carla’s voice now, obvious even through the speaker.

—Prime Video called twenty minutes ago.—

Amelie frowned slightly. —Okay…—

—You got it.—

Silence.

Complete silence.

Her brain physically stalled for a second trying to catch up.

Charlie lifted his head slightly at the sudden change in her breathing.

Amelie blinked once slowly. —Wait.— Her voice came out smaller now. —What?—

Carla laughed softly in disbelief herself. —You got the role, Ames. Officially. Contracts are already being finalized.—

The room around her suddenly felt distant.

Muted.

The rain against the windows. The television still flickering silently in the corner. The muffled sounds of hospitality staff moving downstairs.

Everything blurred beneath the sudden rush of adrenaline flooding violently through her chest.

—Oh my God,— she whispered.

Charlie’s tail started wagging again immediately from her tone alone.

Carla sounded equally overwhelmed now. —Filming starts June tenth in Vancouver. They want you there at least a week earlier for fittings and rehearsals and camera testing. Prime’s moving really fast with production because they want everything ready before fall announcements.—

Amelie pressed one hand against her forehead.

Vancouver.

June tenth.

The dates immediately started calculating themselves in her brain before she could stop them.

Silverstone.

Belgium.

Austria.

Lando.

Her stomach twisted almost painfully.

Because excitement arrived first.

Pure overwhelming excitement.

This was huge.

Career-changing huge.

A Prime Video lead project. Months of filming. International rollout. Everything she had been working toward since she was practically a teenager walking into auditions terrified out of her mind.

But the second emotion arrived almost immediately afterward too.

Dread.

Not because she didn’t want it.

Because she already knew exactly what this would mean.

More distance.

More flights.

More schedules pulling them apart again right after they had finally started building routines together that felt real and stable and domestic.

Amelie looked down toward Charlie sleeping peacefully against her lap while rain continued tapping softly against the windows.

—Ames?— Carla asked carefully after a second. —Say something.—

She swallowed hard before finally speaking again.

—I’m happy,— she admitted honestly, though her voice sounded quieter now. —I really am.—

—But?—

Amelie’s eyes drifted instinctively toward the closed door.

Toward the paddock below where Lando was probably still trapped inside debriefs and disappointment and frustration over a race that should have gone completely differently.

Her chest tightened painfully.

—But I have to tell him,— she whispered softly.

--------------

liked by lanmeliehub, paddocklove, and others

landonation: lando heading back to the paddock after today’s dnf ❤️‍🩹 still smiling through it.

View all 627 comments

papayagirl: him still smiling after a dnf hurts me MORE somehow 😭 → loveroflan: trying to stay positive king → lanmeliehub: my resilient little guy

ameliecore: you can tell he’s disappointed though 🥺 → goldenhouramelie: yeah the smile looks tired → softamelie: :(

fanameliee: probably saw amelie waiting for him and immediately softened 😭 → cherryvibes: stop i’ll cry

sunsetamelie: bad races happen ❤️‍🩹 onto the next one → goldenhouramelie: exactly → softclouds: champion mentality

papayadreams: the way he STILL stopped to smile at fans/photos 😭 → loveroflan: sweetest driver honestly

amelievibes: today sucked but he’ll bounce back 🥹 → cherryvibes: always does → dreamygirlie: mentally strong king

fanpageamelie: somewhere charlie and amelie are waiting in the paddock for hugs 😭 → goldenhouramelie: immediate emotional recovery team

lanfan44: i know he’s replaying everything in his head already :( → papayaprincess: drivers are so hard on themselves → loveroflan: exactly

softamelie: honestly proud of how mature he handles bad races now 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: growth over the years

ameliecentral: canada really said no happiness today 😭 → cherryvibes: cruel sport honestly → dreamygirlie: we move unfortunately

papayagirl: not him comforting US by smiling 😭 → loveroflan: meanwhile i’m devastated

fanameliee: the paddock walk after a dnf always makes me sad 😭 → goldenhouramelie: quietest walks ever → softamelie: heartbreak avenue

sunsetamelie: tomorrow he’ll already be locked in for the next race 🫶 → cherryvibes: mentality monster → dreamygirlie: exactly why he’s champion

amelieupdates: some of y’all acting like the season ended 😭 → papayaprincess: true honestly

coastallover: the smile after a horrible day actually makes me emotional 😭 → velvetroses: he tries so hard to stay upbeat → midnightamelie: sweetheart honestly

goldenpapaya: one bad race and i suddenly understand pain again 😭

sunflowermelie: you can always tell when he’s disappointed because he gets quieter :( → lovelane: yeah the soft smile says everything → dreamersclub: poor guy honestly

tracksidebabe: at least he had amelie and charlie there after 🥹 → lovergirlie: emotional support squad

ameliezone: him smiling at fans after a dnf is why people love him so much 😭 → coastallover: genuinely kind person → softclouds: never takes it out on others

papayaprincesss: i know twitter would’ve been unbearable if he looked upset 😭 → lanmeliefever: people are weird about emotions

velvetamelie: he probably just wanted to get back to the motorhome and cuddle charlie 😭 → starrylan: and decompress with amelie → moonlightvibes: healing immediately hopefully

gridgirlypop: not me feeling comforted by HIS smile 😭 → raceweekendd: meanwhile he’s the one who dnf’d

softpapaya: world champion mentality is smiling through the pain apparently 😭 → dreamersclub: mentally stronger than me → lovelane: i’d be throwing up actually

ameliehearts: the paddock after a dnf always feels so gloomy :( → cherrysoda: especially when the weekend started hopeful

lan4worldchamp: he’ll come back stronger like always 🫶 → paddockangel: every single time → softfilms: resilience king honestly

midnightamelie: somewhere amelie is definitely telling him she’s proud of him anyway 😭 → velvetroses: STOP I’M EMOTIONAL → starrylan: she absolutely is

f1fairytale: being an lando fan means experiencing every emotion possible in one weekend 😭 → moonlightvibes: no stability whatsoever

goldenhourlane: the smile feels very “it is what it is” 😭 → lovergirlie: acceptance stage → paddocklove: canadian suffering edition

--------------

The media pen had felt endless.

Every microphone shoved toward his face. Every carefully neutral question about strategy mistakes and tyre calls and “what happened out there today.” Every camera catching the exact second frustration slipped through his expression before he could smooth it back down again.

Lando wanted out.

Desperately.

By the time the final interview ended, his entire body buzzed with that dangerous mixture of adrenaline and exhaustion and humiliation that always followed races where absolutely nothing went right. His fireproofs clung damply against his skin beneath the racing suit while sweat cooled uncomfortably along the back of his neck, the smell of fuel and overheating brakes still stuck inside his lungs every time he breathed.

The worst part wasn’t even the DNF itself.

It was how avoidable the whole weekend suddenly looked in hindsight.

The gamble on intermediates.

The early stop.

The overheating.

The gearbox failure.

Every decision stacking itself together until the entire afternoon collapsed into a complete disaster in front of millions of people watching.

He could still feel the walk back from the stopped car burning underneath his skin.

Helmet in one hand while marshals pushed the car away behind him. Fans leaning over barriers asking for selfies while he physically tried processing the fact his race was over before lap forty.

The humiliation of it sat heavy inside his chest now while he moved quickly through the paddock corridor toward hospitality, sunglasses still covering his eyes despite the clouds overhead. His bodyguard stayed only a few steps behind him, close enough to keep people back whenever somebody recognized him and started drifting too close, though Lando barely registered any of it anymore.

Jon’s words repeated themselves inside his head instead.

She’s upstairs.

That alone had become enough to keep him moving.

Because right now his brain only wanted two things capable of shutting everything else off for a little while.

Crying or fucking Amelie.

Those were the only two thoughts his exhausted brain seemed capable of producing by the time he finally escaped the media pen.

One option involved spiraling alone inside his own head replaying every disastrous lap and every radio message until sunrise.

The other involved her hands in his hair and her mouth against his and enough distraction to finally silence the violent frustration still buzzing beneath his skin.

The second option sounded significantly better.

Lando barely slowed while cutting through the paddock toward McLaren hospitality, his body moving on pure adrenaline now more than conscious thought. Team personnel stepped aside automatically when they saw him coming, the expression on his face warning enough that this was not the moment for another conversation about race pace or strategy calls or “unfortunate circumstances.” His jaw remained tight beneath the sunglasses while he yanked the top half of the race suit lower around his waist mid-walk, desperate to breathe properly again after hours trapped inside heat and pressure and disappointment.

The humiliation still burned under his skin.

Not just losing.

Looking stupid while losing.

Leading the race for a few brief laps after that incredible launch only for everything to collapse afterward somehow made it worse. The cameras loved those stories. The rise before the fall. Every mistake replayed dramatically for millions of people before the race had even ended.

His bodyguard stayed close behind him through the crowded hospitality entrance, though Lando was already climbing the stairs before the door fully closed behind them.

—I wanna be alone for a bit,— he muttered quickly without turning around.

The bodyguard nodded immediately.

Lando kept moving.

Fast.

His pulse hammered violently behind his ribs while he climbed the final steps toward the driver rooms two at a time, exhaustion and frustration and adrenaline blending into something sharp and restless beneath his skin. All he wanted now was quiet. Her. A locked door between him and the rest of the world for at least twenty fucking minutes.

The hallway upstairs remained empty.

Thank God.

He reached his room seconds later, shoving the door open before immediately closing it hard behind himself with a sharp click that finally cut off the noise from the paddock outside.

Silence.

Real silence.

The room smelled faintly like coffee and Charlie and the hoodie Amelie had probably left somewhere earlier.

Lando exhaled harshly through his nose while dragging both hands through his curls before immediately reaching for the zipper of the race suit. The fireproof layer underneath clung uncomfortably against his damp skin while he tugged the suit lower around his hips aggressively, jaw clenched hard enough it hurt.

His phone appeared in his hand a second later almost automatically.

Amelie.

His thumb barely reached her contact before the door opened again behind him.

He turned immediately.

Amelie stepped inside softly, one hand still resting against the door handle while rain-grey Montreal light filtered faintly through the small windows behind her. The exhaustion on her face softened instantly the second she saw him standing there, though concern still lingered behind her eyes while she closed the door carefully behind herself.

—Hi,— she said gently.

Lando didn’t answer right away.

Because now that she stood in front of him, all the restraint he had barely maintained through interviews and cameras and polite media answers started slipping dangerously fast.

Amelie moved toward him slowly.

—I’m really sorry, baby,— she murmured softly. —That must’ve been such a shit feeling out there and the car looked completely—

Lando crossed the room before she could finish.

Fast enough that surprise flickered briefly across her face before his hands were suddenly on her waist and his mouth crashed against hers hard enough to cut the sentence off completely.

The kiss carried every ugly emotion still trapped inside him.

His fingers tightened instinctively against her waist while he kissed her again immediately, deeper this time, almost desperate in the way his body leaned into hers like he physically needed the contact to stay grounded. Amelie stumbled back half a step from the force of it before melting into him just as quickly, both hands sliding automatically upward against the sides of his neck.

Lando’s hands slid from her waist down to the undersides of her thighs in one swift, urgent motion. He gripped her securely and hoisted her off the ground, lifting her effortless weight into his chest. The sudden movement caused her short orange dress to bunch up, pulling all the way up to her waist and exposing her bare legs to the cool air of the hospitality suite.

Amelie let out a soft, surprised gasp against his mouth, her legs instinctively locking tightly around his hips to anchor herself. She didn't question the sudden desperation; instead, she wrapped her arms securely around his neck, her fingers tangling into his damp, sweat-ruined curls to pull him even deeper into the kiss.

Lando carried her backward a few steps until her back hit the solid wood of the hospitality wall with a muted thud. The impact didn’t break the kiss; if anything, it only fueled the frantic fire burning between them. Their mouths met in a bruising, reckless collision, the taste of post-race adrenaline and salt heavy on their lips.

The clock was ticking loudly in the back of his mind. They were supposed to head straight to the airport in less than an hour, taking a private flight straight to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 media rounds, but right now, the entire racing world could have burnt to the ground and Lando wouldn't have blinked.

He broke the kiss for just a fraction of a second, his forehead dropping heavily against hers. His breathing was a ragged, panicked wreck, his chest cording with tension against her body.

—Ames… please,— Lando begged, his voice a broken, desperate scrape against her ear, completely devoid of his usual playful confidence. —Just let me forget. Help me forget everything out there. Please, baby.—

Amelie didn't say a single word. She understood the raw, bleeding edge in his voice perfectly. She nodded frantically against his temple, her fingers digging deep into his shoulders as she arched her back against the wall, welcoming the weight of him as he pressed his body entirely flush against hers.

Lando didn't waste another second. His hands were shaking with a frantic, manic energy as he fumbled blindly with the zipper of his jeans, yanking the denim down just enough to free his thick, aching hardness. Amelie was already reaching down between them, her fingers hooking into the side of her underwear and pulling the fabric completely out of the way, exposing her slick, burning center to the cool air of the room.

Even through the blinding haze of his frustration, Lando’s hand darted instinctively toward his pocket. Amelie’s rule was absolute, and even in his most desperate moments, he knew better than to cross that boundary. His trembling fingers tore open the small foil packet with his teeth, rolling the condom on with a harsh, tight exhale that shuddered through his entire frame.

The second he was covered, he gripped the undersides of her thighs harder, hoisting her hips slightly higher against the wall to align them perfectly in the cramped space.

—Ames… god, please,— he groaned, his voice a gritty, broken prayer against her neck as he guided his tip against her core, finding her completely slick and ready for him.

He didn't make her wait. Lando pushed forward in one deep, unhurried, soul-stripping surge, burying himself entirely inside her.

Amelie’s head snapped back against the solid wood of the wall, a sharp, high-pitched cry ripping from her throat as her internal muscles immediately clamped around him in a tight, welcoming grip. The blunt reality of him filling her so completely washed away the lingering gray dampness of the Montreal afternoon, replacing it with a white-hot, suffocating heat. Her legs squeezed even tighter around his waist, her heels digging into his lower back to pull him as deep as the physical space would allow.

Lando let out a low, animalistic roar into her shoulder, his eyes rolling back as he held himself perfectly still for one agonizing heartbeat, trying to master the sheer intensity of how good she felt.

—Fuck, princess… you’re so tight,— he rasped, his jaw locking so hard the tendons in his neck stood out like cords. —You’re squeezing me so fucking good.—

—Lando… please, move,— she sobbed into his ear, her chest heaving against his damp fireproofs as the friction began to coil deep in her stomach. —Don’t stop. I’ve got you, baby. Just move.—

He didn’t need to be told twice. Lando began to move, a punishing, relentless rhythm that had her back sliding up and down against the solid hospitality wall with every heavy strike. There was nothing gentle about the way he fucked her; it was the raw, uncoordinated release of all the humiliation and frustration he’d been choking down in the media pen.

He loomed over her, his hands braced against the wall on either side of her head, his muscles cording and shaking from the effort of holding her up. His eyes were dark, dilated, and predatory in the gray Montreal light, locked completely onto hers as he watched her face shatter under the weight of the pleasure.

—That’s it, princess. Take it all for me,— Lando growled, his voice a gritty, dominant scrape that vibrated straight through her chest. —Show me how good you can take care of me. Tell me you’re mine, Ames.—

—I’m yours, Lan… always yours,— she sobbed out, the words completely broken by the relentless, bruising depth of his thrusts. Her fingers dug frantically into the fabric of his fireproof shirt, her knuckles white as she hung onto him, her entire world narrowing down to the friction between them and the heavy, demanding rhythm he was forcing on her body.

Lando let out a shattered, guttural sound at her confession, the possessive pride flaring in his eyes as he slammed into her even harder. He was completely deaf to the world outside the locked door; the looming flight to Indianapolis, the waiting sponsors, the media rounds—none of it existed. There was only the wet, suffocating heat of her wrapping around him and the desperate need to drown out the memory of the racetrack.

—So fucking good, baby,— he rasped, his breath hot and panicked against her jawline as he picked up the pace, his chest heaving violently against hers. —You’re destroying me, Ames. Seriously.—

Amelie’s head thrashed against the wooden wall, her blonde hair static-charged and sticking to her damp cheeks. The coil in her lower stomach tightened to an unbearable, white-hot point, her breathing reduced to short, panicked gasps as she felt him hitting the exact spot that threw her over the edge.

—Lando… fuck, I’m going to... I’m right there!— she cried out, her entire body stiffening against the wood as her climax ripped through her, her internal muscles pulsing frantically and clamping down around him in tight, rhythmic waves.

The intense, possessive grip of her release was the absolute breaking point for Lando’s fraying restraint. He let out a loud, pained roar against her neck, his knuckles turning white where they were braced against the wall as he drove into her one last, soul-stripping time. He completely lost himself, his body shaking violently as he finished inside the safety of the condom, the pure intensity of the release washing away every single trace of the disastrous afternoon.

They stayed frozen like that for a long, heavy minute, Lando’s forehead resting against her wet shoulder while his chest heaved violently against hers. The only sound in the small hospitality room was the ragged, overlapping gasps of their breathing and the low hum of the rain hitting the window.

Slowly, the dangerous adrenaline began to drain from his muscles. Lando let out a long, shuddering exhale, gently easing her down until her feet touched the floor, though his hands stayed firmly on her waist to keep her steady. Her knees were trembling so badly she had to lean her entire weight against his bare chest.

Amelie let out a weak, shaky laugh, reaching up to clumsily smooth down her bunched-up orange dress. She looked up at his messy curls, a breathless, teasing smile breaking through her flushed face.

Lando let out a long, shuddering exhale as he slowly pulled out, the physical relief washing away the last of the tense, heavy adrenaline that had been coiled in his chest. He carefully lowered her down until her feet touched the floor, though he kept his hands firmly on her waist to ensure her trembling legs didn't give out beneath her.

Once she was steady, he guided his hands upward, his large palms gently cupping her face. He tilted her head up slightly, his expression completely softened as he looked down at her, his eyes dark but full of a deep, unadulterated love that replaced all the frustration from earlier. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her softly, a sweet, lingering contrast to the bruising intensity of just moments before.

But just as the kiss began to deepen, a brutal, heavy knock shattered the quiet of the room.

—Lando! Amelie! Stop being absolutely disgusting in there!— Mark’s loud, exasperated voice cut cleanly through the door. —We literally have an hour before the car leaves for the airport, and I am not missing this flight because you two are making out. Wrap it up!—

The heavy thud of Mark’s footsteps followed immediately after, fading down the corridor as he walked away, leaving them in the sudden quiet.

Amelie pulled back slightly, a breathless smile breaking across her flushed face as she looked up at him. Lando let out a quiet, defeated laugh, burying his face into the crook of her neck as his shoulders shook. Of course they hadn't been silent enough; the hospitality walls were notoriously thin, and the entire team probably knew exactly why the driver's room door had been locked.

—You should probably go shower,— she murmured, her voice still a little thick and breathless as she stroked the back of his neck. —Before Mark actually breaks the door down and starts freaking out.—

Lando groaned softly against her skin, giving her neck one final, lingering kiss before reluctantly stepping back to fix his clothes. —Yeah, alright. He’s going to lecture me the whole way to the airport.—

—You deserve it,— she teased, her smile widening as she smoothed down her crumpled orange dress and shook out her messy blonde hair. —I’m going to go wait for you by the paddock exit anyway. I need to go get Charlie from Ed and Olivia before we head out. Pretty sure they’re babysitting him near the garage.—

Amelie leaned in, kissing him softly one last time. It was a gentle, grounding brush of her lips that seemed to seal away the chaotic intensity of the last hour. She pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes, her expression warm and entirely devoted.

—I love you, Lan,— she whispered, her voice a soft, comforting thread in the quiet room.

Lando’s gaze softened completely, his hands giving her waist a final, affectionate squeeze. —I love you too, Ames. More than anything.—

With a final, lingering smile, she turned and slipped out of the driver's room, closing the door softly behind her. The click of the lock signaled her exit, leaving Lando standing in the absolute silence of the suite.

Left alone, Lando let out a long, heavy breath that felt like the true end of the race weekend. He looked down and carefully stripped off the condom, wrapping it in a tissue before tossing it into the bin. Shaking his head to clear the final remnants of the post-race fog, he started walking toward the small attached bathroom, his bare feet padding softly against the floor.

As he stepped under the streaming water of the shower, letting the heat wash away the sweat and the lingering phantom touch of her hands, he stared at the tiles and thought about the weekend. The DNF still stung, and the upcoming media rounds in Indianapolis were going to be a brutal grind, but the crushing weight in his chest was gone.

He knew damn well that Amelie’s presence was the only thing that truly helped him survive these brutal weekends. Without her to anchor him, to pull him out of his own head, and to offer that fierce, unconditional escape, he would just be spiraling alone in the dark. She was his absolute reset button, and as he rinsed the shampoo from his curls, Lando couldn't help but smile, knowing that no matter how bad the track got, he’d already won the only thing that mattered.

--------------

liked by lan4worldchamp, midnightamelie, and others

amelieupdates: amelie was spotted walking around the paddock with charlie after the race in canada today 🥹🤍

View all 731 comments

papayagirl: the orange dress was STUNNING today omg 😭 → loveroflan: she never misses with race day outfits → lanmeliehub: canada look ate badly

ameliecore: her commitment to wearing papaya every race weekend needs to be studied 😭 → goldenhouramelie: honorary mclaren employee → softamelie: she’s dedicated fr

fanameliee: emotional support girlfriend carrying emotional support dog 😭 → cherryvibes: healing unit

sunsetamelie: the sleeves on that dress were so pretty 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: looked expensiveeee → softclouds: model off duty vibes

papayadreams: no because she genuinely always finds a DIFFERENT shade of orange 😭 → loveroflan: fashion talent honestly → lanmeliehub: papaya spectrum queen

amelievibes: charlie getting cuddled after the dnf too 😭 → cherryvibes: he knew the assignment

fanpageamelie: the fact she still walked around smiling after the race 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: trying to keep spirits up probably → softamelie: sweetheart honestly

lanfan44: that orange dress against the paddock backdrop looked INSANE 😭

softamelie: she really said “if my man drives for mclaren i WILL coordinate” 😭 → goldenhouramelie: commitment level 100 → sunsetamelie: supportive queen

ameliecentral: the long sleeves with the pattern details omg 😭 → cherryvibes: stylist deserves a raise

papayagirl: not her wearing orange even on a painful race day 🥹 → loveroflan: ride or die energy → lanmeliehub: through good weekends and bad

fanameliee: she and charlie doing post-race paddock walks together is my favorite genre now 😭 → goldenhouramelie: little family strolls → softamelie: cutest recovery routine ever

sunsetamelie: i just know mclaren fans love her 😭 → cherryvibes: she’s one of us now → dreamygirlie: fully adopted into papaya nation

amelieupdates: somewhere lando definitely noticed the orange dress immediately 😭 → papayaprincess: man probably smiled instantly

coastallover: her race day wardrobe being entirely orange now is actually adorable 😭 → velvetroses: full papaya princess transformation → midnightamelie: committed to the bit

goldenpapaya: the dress looked SO elegant walking through the paddock omg 😭 → cherrysoda: literally glowing

sunflowermelie: she dresses like she’s attending fashion week while everyone else is in team kits 😭 → lovelane: and somehow it works perfectly → dreamersclub: paddock fashion icon

tracksidebabe: not her coordinating with mclaren better than mclaren themselves 😭

ameliezone: charlie getting carried around in the orange outfit combo too 😭 → coastallover: matching the aesthetic unintentionally → softclouds: tiny papaya dog

papayaprincesss: i know the photographers LOVE when she shows up in orange 😭 → lanmeliefever: visuals every single time

velvetamelie: the fact she still walked around the paddock after a hard race day 🥹 → starrylan: supporting him till the end always → moonlightvibes: soft girlfriend agenda

gridgirlypop: she genuinely looks so natural in the paddock now 😭

softpapaya: the sleeve details on that dress were EVERYTHING 😭 → dreamersclub: so pretty in motion → lovelane: stylist cooked hard

ameliehearts: no because every race she finds a new fashionable way to wear orange 😭 → cherrysoda: innovative queen

lan4worldchamp: even after a dnf she stayed there walking around with him and charlie 🥹 → paddockangel: support system fr → softfilms: relationship goals honestly

midnightamelie: her carrying charlie around the paddock like a tiny baby always gets me 😭 → velvetroses: spoiled little prince

f1fairytale: the orange dress against the grey canada paddock backdrop looked cinematic 😭 → moonlightvibes: movie scene energy → raceweekendd: accidental editorial shoot

goldenhourlane: somewhere lando definitely saw her outfit and thought “yeah i won actually” 😭 → lovergirlie: despite the dnf → paddocklove: emotional victory weekend honestly

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The day had finally started collapsing into exhaustion by the time the paddock emptied enough for the air to feel breathable again.

The endless noise that followed Formula One weekends had softened now into distant engines, rolling equipment cases, muffled conversations somewhere further down the garages while the late Montreal sunlight slowly disappeared behind heavy grey clouds. The race had already become another headline somewhere online. Another disaster to dissect. Another weekend the media would replay frame by frame over the next few days while teams packed everything back into trucks like nothing had happened.

Mark had reached his limit almost an hour ago.

The poor man had already stormed toward the car muttering aggressively under his breath after Lando apparently took “the longest shower known to humanity,” leaving Amelie alone near the quieter section beside the paddock exit while mechanics and staff continued filtering slowly toward transport vans and hospitality units around them.

Boredom eventually became impossible to ignore.

Especially with Carla’s phone call still replaying endlessly inside her head.

So Amelie had wandered toward the small hockey setup one of the sponsor activations had left abandoned near the edge of the paddock, Charlie trotting loyally behind her while dragging his leash across the concrete every few seconds because he kept getting distracted by literally everything around him.

The little hockey ring sat mostly empty now beneath soft overhead lights, miniature plastic barriers surrounding the fake ice surface while scattered pucks rested near the goals from kids who had clearly abandoned the game earlier in the afternoon. Amelie picked one up absentmindedly before grabbing the stick leaning nearby, her oversized hoodie sleeves falling halfway over her hands while she pushed the puck clumsily across the surface.

The puck slammed uselessly against the plastic barrier again instead of the goal.

Amelie exhaled dramatically through her nose.

—This sport is stupid actually,— she muttered under her breath while Charlie sprinted after the runaway puck like his life depended on it, tiny paws skidding slightly across the smooth floor before he proudly trapped the puck beneath himself and looked up at her like he had personally saved the Stanley Cup final.

The tiny sponsor hockey setup sat almost completely abandoned now, tucked near one of the quieter exits of the paddock beneath fluorescent lights that buzzed softly overhead. Most teams had already disappeared toward airports or hotels by now, leaving only the occasional mechanic or staff member crossing the distance carrying backpacks and equipment cases while the evening air settled colder over Montreal.

The puck bounced uselessly off the plastic barrier again with a hollow clack before spinning sideways across the fake ice.

Charlie launched himself after it immediately, his tiny paws slid dramatically across the surface while he chased the puck like a professional athlete instead of a spoiled puppy currently wearing a tiny papaya-colored bandana someone from McLaren hospitality had unfortunately gifted him earlier in the week. He trapped the puck beneath himself proudly before looking up at Amelie with bright, expectant eyes, tail wagging hard enough his entire body moved with it.

Amelie stared down at Charlie with narrowed eyes while the puppy proudly guarded the puck beneath his tiny body like he had personally accomplished something heroic.

—You are literally no help whatsoever,— she informed him flatly.

The teasing little smile disappeared from Amelie’s face almost instantly after that, replaced instead by the same distracted expression she’d been wearing ever since leaving Lando’s driver room earlier.

The puck slid lazily away from Charlie’s paws while she adjusted the hockey stick in her hands again, trying to focus on literally anything other than the conversation waiting for her sooner or later.

The puck bounced uselessly off the edge of the goal for maybe the fifth consecutive time.

Charlie chased after it immediately.

—Traitor,— she muttered at the puppy while he proudly attacked the puck instead of returning it.

A familiar laugh reached her from behind before she could try another shot.

—You know the point is getting it inside the goal, right?—

Amelie turned her head immediately.

Lando stood a few feet away near the small entrance gate of the hockey setup, curls still damp from the shower while fresh McLaren team kit clung cleanly against his frame now instead of the wrinkled race suit from earlier. The exhaustion remained visible around his eyes despite the clean clothes and shower, softer now after finally escaping the paddock chaos, though the sight of her very obviously amused him enough to pull a real smile back onto his face for the first time all afternoon.

Amelie lifted her middle finger toward him immediately.

Lando grinned wider.

—Very mature.—

—Shut up,— she muttered while nudging the puck again far too aggressively this time.

Lando pushed the tiny gate open without waiting for permission, still smiling to himself while stepping onto the fake ice surface in clean trainers that definitely were not made for hockey.

Amelie watched him approach with narrowed eyes.

—You’re annoying,— she informed him flatly.

—And yet you’re still missing every shot somehow,— he answered immediately.

Charlie abandoned the puck the second Lando entered the little ring, sprinting toward him with full-body excitement while his leash dragged behind him dramatically. Lando barely had time to bend before the puppy launched himself upward against his legs, tiny paws scratching against the dark trousers while demanding attention.

—Hi mate,— Lando laughed softly, scooping Charlie briefly against his chest before setting him back down.

The exhaustion from the day still lingered visibly around him now that the adrenaline had finally faded properly. Damp curls curled softly around his forehead from the shower, the fresh papaya detailing across his team shirt clean now instead of sweat-stained and wrinkled, though none of it fully erased the tiredness sitting behind his eyes. The disastrous race still clung faintly to him somehow, hidden beneath the softer version of himself that only really appeared once the cameras disappeared.

Lando reached down without thinking, stealing the hockey stick smoothly out of her hands the second he got close enough.

—Alright, move,— he said lightly. —Clearly this requires actual athletic ability.—

Amelie looked deeply offended immediately. —You drive in circles for a living.—

—Fast circles,— he corrected smugly.

Charlie barked excitedly like he agreed.

Lando dropped the puck onto the fake ice with exaggerated confidence before taking a shot that immediately slammed into the plastic wall nowhere near the goal.

Amelie stared at him silently.

Lando blinked once.

—That didn’t count actually.—

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it, softer than before but real enough that something inside his chest loosened almost instantly at the sound. He noticed it immediately too, his expression softening as he leaned casually against the little barrier watching her reach down to grab another puck.

Lando reached down without thinking, stealing the hockey stick smoothly out of her hands the second he got close enough.

—Alright, move,— he said lightly. —Clearly this requires actual athletic ability.—

Amelie looked deeply offended immediately. —You drive in circles for a living.—

—Fast circles,— he corrected smugly.

Charlie barked excitedly like he agreed.

Lando dropped the puck onto the fake ice with exaggerated confidence before taking a shot that immediately slammed into the plastic wall nowhere near the goal.

Amelie stared at him silently.

Lando blinked once.

—That didn’t count actually.—

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it, softer than before but real enough that something inside his chest loosened almost instantly at the sound. He noticed it immediately too, his expression softening as he leaned casually against the little barrier watching her reach down to grab another puck.

The evening settled quietly around them after that. No cameras nearby. No media obligations. No engineers asking questions. Just fluorescent lights buzzing overhead while Charlie continued chasing pucks with alarming commitment across the fake ice surface.

Amelie pushed another puck forward.

Lando blocked it lazily with his shoe.

—Cheater,— she accused.

—Winner,— he corrected.

She narrowed her eyes before suddenly darting sideways around him with the puck, laughing when he immediately reached for her waist to stop her.

—Absolutely not,— Lando laughed, grabbing at the oversized hoodie hanging off her shoulder while she tried escaping around the edge of the rink.

Amelie squealed softly when he caught the back of her dress and pulled her toward him, nearly losing balance against the slippery surface while Charlie sprinted wildly around both of them thinking this had somehow become a group activity.

—Lando!—

—You started it.—

—I literally did nothing.—

—That sounds false.—

She twisted away from him again laughing harder now, curls flying messily around her face while she tried escaping toward the opposite side of the tiny rink. Exhaustion still sat inside both of them heavily, visible in slower reactions and tired eyes and the way neither really had energy for proper chaos anymore, but somehow that almost made the moment softer instead.

Lando caught her again a second later.

This time properly.

His arms wrapped firmly around her waist from behind before he lifted her cleanly off the fake ice with absolutely no warning, making a surprised laugh burst out of her immediately as her feet left the ground.

Lando barely gave her time to react before spinning her once across the fake ice surface, his laugh finally sounding real again instead of forced through frustration and exhaustion. Amelie’s hands grabbed instinctively at his shoulders while her head tipped back with another surprised burst of laughter, the oversized sleeves of the hoodie slipping down her arms as fluorescent lights reflected softly against the messy curls flying around her face. Charlie barked wildly beneath them like he thought they were all participating in some life-changing sporting event, sprinting frantic circles around their legs while the abandoned puck rolled forgotten toward the corner of the little rink.

—Put me down,— Amelie laughed breathlessly, though the protest carried absolutely no real conviction behind it.

—No,— Lando answered immediately, far too pleased with himself.

He finally lowered her carefully back onto the fake ice, though his hands stayed firmly planted on her waist afterward, keeping her trapped against him while both of them tried catching their breath from laughing. The world around them had gone strangely quiet now that most of the paddock had emptied completely, leaving only the distant sounds of equipment cases rolling across concrete somewhere further down the garages and the occasional voice echoing faintly through the corridor nearby.

Lando’s hands remained warm against her waist long after he lowered her back onto the fake ice, fingers absentmindedly rubbing small circles through the fabric of her oversized hoodie while both of them slowly caught their breath. The laughter faded softly between them afterward, dissolving into something quieter beneath the fluorescent lights humming overhead. Charlie had finally exhausted himself enough to flop dramatically beside the rink barrier with the puck trapped proudly between his paws, tongue hanging out while he looked between them like he expected applause for his contribution to the game.

Amelie smiled faintly at the sight before her gaze drifted back toward Lando.

The exhaustion around his eyes looked heavier up close now.

Not just from the race.

From everything.

The endless flights. Media. Family obligations. Trying to keep pieces of normal life alive between airports and racetracks and hotel rooms that never fully felt like home no matter how luxurious they were. Even now, freshly showered and finally calmer after the disaster of the afternoon, tiredness still sat visibly across his face in a way that made something ache quietly inside her chest.

Lando noticed the shift in her expression almost immediately.

His smile softened slightly. —What?—

Amelie shook her head too fast. —Nothing.—

—That’s literally the face you make before saying something stressful.—

A small breath escaped her nose at that, because unfortunately he knew her too well.

The playful warmth surrounding the moment dimmed just slightly while she looked down toward the fake ice beneath their feet instead of at him. Her fingers absentmindedly twisted the sleeve hanging over her hand, the same nervous habit she always fell into whenever her thoughts started spiraling faster than she wanted.

Lando’s brows pulled together instantly.

The shift was subtle but immediate, his grip on her waist loosening just enough for one hand to slide upward against her side instead, thumb brushing softly beneath the fabric near her ribs.

—Ames,— he said quieter now. —What’s wrong?—

For a second she considered lying.

Saying it was nothing. Saying she was tired. Saying they should just go to the airport and deal with everything later once the weekend finally ended.

But the problem with Lando had always been that he looked at her too carefully.

Even exhausted.

Even after the worst race weekend imaginable.

He still noticed everything.

Amelie exhaled slowly before finally lifting her eyes toward him again.

—Carla kept calling me earlier because…— Her voice faltered slightly before she pushed through it anyway. —Because Prime called.—

Lando blinked once.

The confusion barely lasted half a second before realization hit him.

His entire expression shifted instantly.

—Wait.— His hands tightened slightly on her waist again. —The Vancouver project?—

She nodded once.

The fluorescent lights reflected softly across the fake ice around them while distant noises from the paddock echoed faintly somewhere outside the sponsor area, but suddenly all of it felt very far away compared to the weight settling quietly between them now.

Amelie swallowed.

—They offered me the role.—

For half a second Lando just stared at her.

Not upset.

Not frustrated.

Just processing.

Because he knew how much this mattered.

How many nights she’d spent rereading scripts curled beside him in hotel beds. How often she pretended not to care whenever another project slipped away because schedules didn’t line up or because somebody decided she was “too famous already” or because suddenly people only saw her as his girlfriend instead of the actress who had built an entire career long before she ever started appearing in Formula One paddocks.

His face softened completely afterward.

—Baby… that’s amazing.—

Amelie laughed once quietly, though nerves still sat visibly beneath it. —Yeah. It’s just… filming starts June tenth. In Vancouver.—

The words landed heavier that time.

Because they both immediately understood what that meant.

Separate schedules again.

Different countries.

Another period of trying to love each other through time zones and airports and FaceTime calls squeezed between obligations.

Lando’s jaw shifted slightly.

Not because he was angry.

Because part of him hated it immediately.

He hated sleeping alone. Hated empty hotel rooms after bad races when she wasn’t there stealing his hoodies and stealing space in the bed and talking him down from spirals at two in the morning. He hated the idea of her being across the continent while his own schedule only got busier heading deeper into the season.

But even stronger than that was something else entirely.

Pride.

Real, overwhelming pride.

His hand slid higher against her side until his palm rested fully against her back, pulling her a little closer toward him.

—You thought I’d be upset,— he realized softly.

Amelie looked away guiltily.

Which honestly answered enough.

Lando let out the smallest disbelieving laugh beneath his breath before tipping his forehead gently against hers.

—Ames.— His voice came quieter now, steadier. —You know I’d never want you giving this up for me, right?—

Her throat tightened slightly.

—It’s not that simple.—

—No, it literally is.—

She shook her head immediately. —Lan, we barely see each other already sometimes and now it’s gonna be filming schedules and race weekends and different countries again and I just...—

—And we’ll make it work.—

The certainty in his voice cut through hers before she could keep spiraling.

Lando pulled back just enough to properly look at her, both hands resting warm against her waist while the fluorescent lights softened the exhaustion still lingering around his face.

—We’ve already done hard before,— he said gently. —We did secret relationship across continents while pretending we were “just friends” for like two years. I think we can survive Vancouver.—

A reluctant smile tugged faintly at the corner of her mouth despite herself.

Lando noticed immediately.

—There she is,— he murmured softly.

Amelie rolled her eyes weakly. —I just didn’t wanna tell you today because your race was already horrible and then you looked so upset after the DNF and...—

—Hey.—

Her eyes lifted back toward him.

Lando’s expression softened even more.

—You getting a role doesn’t suddenly become bad news because I had a shit Sunday.—

The words hit harder than she expected.

Especially because she knew he meant them completely.

He understood better than anyone what it felt like to want something so badly your entire life bent around it. The pressure. The sacrifices. The fear of losing yourself inside everybody else’s expectations.

He’d joked constantly this year about her becoming a full-time paddock girlfriend.

Begging her dramatically to “retire and just wear McLaren merch forever.”

But underneath the teasing, he had always known the truth.

Amelie needed her own life too.

Her own work.

Her own purpose outside of him.

Lando smiled faintly before leaning down enough to press a soft kiss against her forehead.

—I’m really proud of you, you know that?—

Her chest physically hurt a little at the sincerity in his voice.

Charlie suddenly barked loudly from beside the barrier like he felt excluded from the emotional conversation, making both of them glance downward at the exact same time.

The puppy stared back expectantly with the hockey puck still trapped beneath his paws.

Lando snorted softly.

—He definitely thinks he contributed somehow.—

Amelie laughed quietly beneath her breath, the tension finally easing slightly from her shoulders while Lando’s arms slipped fully around her again, pulling her close against his chest beneath the cold fluorescent lights and the distant noise of a paddock finally going to sleep around them.

[kathlare]

love love loooove your writing so much!!, can we have a chapter where amelie performs manchild?? or maybe lando and ames go live together?

love love loooove you for this 🥹🫶

I really liked the idea of Amelie performing “Manchild” and she actually already has 👀✨ but the second part of your request??? the live together idea??? the second I read it I knew I needed to write that chapter at some point 😭

so I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment and excuse for them to finally do it… and it’s finally here 🫣🤍 I really hope you like it as much as I liked writing it.

thank you so much for all the love and for reading 💌 and as always, if you have any other requests, I’d absolutely love to hear them 🫶

Post by @kathlare · 4 images

💬 0  🔁 2  ❤️ 159 · folded · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: This chapter follows Lando and Amelie during a sleepless night in their M

[kathlare]

folded

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: This chapter follows Lando and Amelie during a sleepless night in their Monaco apartment before flying to Canada.

Wordcount: 13.5 k

Warnings: smut

full masterlist // request over here!

May 18th, 2026 - Monte Carlo, Monaco

liked by dreamygirlie, ameliecore, and others

lanmelieupdates: lando and amelie arriving hand in hand at the formula e paddock in monaco today 🥹🏎️ after family vacations, canyon climbing and golf dates… we are officially back to paddock lanmelie

View all 635 comments

papayagirl: PADDOCK LANMELIE IS BACK 😭🏎️ → loveroflan: nature documentary over → lanmeliehub: we survived golf week

ameliecore: hand in hand like they own monaco 😭 → goldenhouramelie: because they basically do

fanameliee: the transition from canyon climbing to formula e paddock is insane 😭 → cherryvibes: versatile lifestyle → dreamygirlie: rangeeeee

sunsetamelie: monaco looks GOOD on them 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: their natural habitat honestly

papayadreams: i know the paddock photographers cheered internally when they arrived 😭 → loveroflan: content secured → lanmeliehub: payday for fan accounts

amelievibes: the hand holding never gets old idc 🥹 → cherryvibes: especially knowing where they started

fanpageamelie: somewhere formula e drivers are like ??? why is everyone screaming 😭

lanfan44: no because they genuinely look so comfortable publicly now 😭 → papayaprincess: growth → loveroflan: healthiest thing ever honestly

softamelie: i just know she missed the paddock atmosphere 😭 → goldenhouramelie: she fits there weirdly well now

ameliecentral: after all the soft vacation content we’re back to race weekends 🥹 → cherryvibes: circle of life → dreamygirlie: formula 1 ecosystem

papayagirl: they probably went straight from the airport to the paddock 😭 → loveroflan: no rest for celebrities

fanameliee: imagine casually seeing world champion lando norris walking into the paddock holding hands with amelie dayman 😭 → goldenhouramelie: i’d black out instantly → softamelie: genuinely

sunsetamelie: the way both of them smile more around each other 😭 → cherryvibes: visible happiness → dreamygirlie: love is real unfortunately

amelieupdates: i know the monaco locals see them together constantly and don’t even react anymore 😭 → papayaprincess: meanwhile the internet losing its mind

coastallover: from portugal canyon hikes to monaco paddocks in 24 hours 😭 → velvetroses: teleportation couple → midnightamelie: passport stamps going crazy

goldenpapaya: the way they walk hand in hand everywhere now 🥹 → cherrysoda: still not over it

sunflowermelie: i know the formula e paddock workers were like “oh they’re HERE here” 😭 → lovelane: main event arrived → dreamersclub: celebrity entrance fr

tracksidebabe: they genuinely look like they’re having fun together all the time 😭 → lovergirlie: healthiest vibes

ameliezone: not them turning every paddock into a romcom set 😭 → coastallover: impossible to act normal around them → softclouds: cinematic couple

papayaprincesss: the monaco air hit them immediately because they both look EXPENSIVE 😭

velvetamelie: remember when they used to avoid cameras and now they’re casually hand in hand 😭 → starrylan: character development → moonlightvibes: we survived the war

gridgirlypop: somewhere charles is sensing paddock chaos approaching 😭

softpapaya: i just know she loves being around racing now 🥹 → dreamersclub: honorary paddock princess → lovelane: she fits in so naturally

ameliehearts: monaco lanmelie hits DIFFERENT every time 😭 → cherrysoda: their city honestly → papayahours: power couple headquarters

lan4worldchamp: no because they look genuinely settled lately 🥹

midnightamelie: i know photographers get excited when they arrive together 😭 → velvetroses: easiest viral content ever → starrylan: guaranteed engagement

f1fairytale: the way their relationship exists equally in music world and racing world now 😭 → moonlightvibes: two universes colliding → raceweekendd: actually iconic when you think about it

goldenhourlane: waiting for cisca/flo crumbs from monaco now 😭 → lovergirlie: the sisters never fail us

--------------

The balcony overlooking the Monaco harbor buzzed softly with pre-race energy, the entire Formula E paddock carrying a completely different atmosphere than Formula One ever did. Everything felt slightly calmer here somehow, less suffocating, though the electric hum of cameras and team radios and conversations in twenty different accents still floated through the air beneath the late afternoon sun. Below them, the marina glittered beneath golden light while yachts stretched endlessly along the water, and somewhere further down the circuit the support races had already started warming up the crowd waiting for the main event.

Lando leaned casually against the glass railing with one ankle crossed over the other, sunglasses resting low against his nose while Amelie’s purse hung unceremoniously from his shoulder like he had completely forgotten it was there. The thin gold chain kept sliding slightly every time he moved, looking deeply ridiculous paired with the fitted white dress shirt he wore for the event, though he remained entirely unbothered by it.

Mostly because Amelie had handed it to him with a quick hold this and disappeared toward the bathroom before he could complain.

Gabriel Bortoleto stood beside him holding a water bottle loosely between his hands while both of them watched the activity below the balcony, conversations and music drifting upward from the hospitality areas beneath them.

—So when are you going to Canada?— Gabriel asked casually after a moment.

Lando pulled his eyes away from the harbor. —Tomorrow morning,— he answered. —I’ve got the pop-up store thing there this week before the race.—

Gabriel nodded immediately. —Ah, yeah.—

A breeze moved softly across the balcony, carrying warmth from the harbor mixed with the distant smell of sunscreen and expensive perfume from somewhere nearby. Lando adjusted the purse strap higher against his shoulder absentmindedly while checking a notification quickly on his phone before slipping it back into his pocket.

Gabriel tilted his head slightly. —I thought you were staying in America after Miami because of the jet lag and everything.—

Lando laughed softly beneath his breath. —That was the original plan.—

—What happened?—

His mouth curved faintly despite himself. —Portugal happened.—

Gabriel snorted immediately in understanding.

Lando shrugged lightly. —My family was there already. Amelie came after London. We ended up staying a few extra days in Comporta instead.—

The second he said her name, his expression softened automatically in a way that unfortunately did not go unnoticed.

Gabriel looked deeply entertained already.

—You’re gone,— he informed him flatly.

Lando rolled his eyes. —Shut up.—

—No seriously, every time you say her name you look like someone just played romantic music in your head.—

—That’s not true.—

Gabriel only stared at him.

Lando sighed dramatically. —Okay maybe a little bit.—

That made Gabriel laugh quietly before taking another sip of water. —Still sounds rough though. Portugal to Monaco to Canada in like four days.—

—Yeah, we’re completely screwed with the time difference now,— Lando admitted. —I have no idea how I’m supposed to trick my body into Canada time by tomorrow night.—

Gabriel hummed thoughtfully before nodding once like he had suddenly remembered something.

—Honestly? What I usually do is just stay awake all night.—

Lando frowned slightly. —Really?—

—Yeah,— Gabriel answered casually. —You basically force yourself to stay up until it’s nighttime in whatever timezone you’re going to. Makes it easier.—

Lando considered it for a second. —That sounds horrible.—

—It works though.—

—You’re Brazilian. I feel like you people naturally survive on two hours of sleep anyway.—

Gabriel laughed loudly.

The conversation dissolved comfortably again afterward while both of them looked back toward the harbor, the noise from the event growing slightly louder now that more guests had started arriving onto the balcony around them. Somewhere nearby champagne glasses clinked together while music drifted softly from the hospitality suites lining the paddock.

A familiar voice suddenly cut through the noise behind him.

—Lando Norris!—

His entire face lit up immediately before he even fully turned around.

Charlotte stood a few feet behind him smiling brightly already, sunglasses perched on top of her head while her Formula E credentials bounced lightly against the front of her shirt from how fast she had clearly walked over.

—Charlotte!— Lando laughed.

He crossed the space between them immediately, pulling her into a warm hug without hesitation while she squeezed him tightly in return.

Charlotte had always felt slightly separate from the normal PR people he dealt with during those first McLaren years. Less corporate. More protective. She had watched him grow from a chaotic teenager freshly entering Formula One into whatever version of adulthood he was attempting now, surviving rookie mistakes and media disasters and podiums and heartbreaks right beside him for years before eventually leaving for Formula E.

Seeing her still felt a little like seeing family.

—Look at you,— she laughed warmly while holding his shoulders afterward. —Still alive somehow.—

—Barely.—

Her eyes immediately drifted downward toward the purse hanging from his shoulder.

The smile on her face became dangerous instantly.

—Oh my God.—

Lando looked down once before groaning softly beneath his breath. —Don’t start.—

Gabriel had already started laughing beside them.

Charlotte turned politely toward him afterward, extending one hand. —Sorry, hi. Charlotte,— she introduced warmly. —I used to do PR for this disaster back at McLaren.—

Gabriel shook her hand politely while still visibly entertained. —Gabi.—

Charlotte shook his hand once before immediately glancing back toward Lando with the exact expression of someone who had just remembered years worth of embarrassing information.

Which instantly made Lando nervous.

Very nervous.

Her eyes narrowed slightly in amusement while she looked around the balcony behind him. —Where is she actually?—

Lando already knew where this was going.

—Bathroom,— he answered cautiously.

Charlotte’s smile widened immediately.

—God, I still cannot believe you finally pulled that off.—

Gabriel looked between both of them instantly interested now.

Lando groaned beneath his breath. —Please don’t do this.—

—No, because genuinely,— Charlotte continued, completely ignoring him while turning toward Gabriel again. —You have no idea how obsessed this man was for years.—

—Charlotte.—

—Years,— she repeated dramatically. —Do you understand how many conversations I had to sit through about Amelie Dayman between 2020 and 2022? An unbelievable amount.—

Gabriel burst into loud laughter immediately.

Lando pressed one hand against his forehead in visible suffering while Amelie’s tiny purse still hung mockingly from his shoulder.

—It wasn’t that bad,— he defended weakly.

Charlotte looked horrified by the statement.

—Lando. I literally watched you pretend to hate every man she interacted with for like two consecutive seasons.—

Gabriel physically leaned against the railing laughing harder now.

—No because this is making so much sense suddenly,— he managed between laughs.

Lando looked ready to throw himself directly into the Monaco harbor.

—You’re both terrible people actually.—

Charlotte paid him absolutely no attention now that she had an audience.

—One time,— she continued proudly toward Gabriel, —he spent an entire flight to Austin pretending he didn’t care that she was there filming something and then changed outfits three times before dinner because he thought he might “accidentally run into her.”—

Gabriel nearly choked on his water.

Lando pointed accusingly at Charlotte. —That literally did not happen.—

—It absolutely happened. You wore the black shirt in the end because you said it made your shoulders look better.—

The betrayal on Lando’s face made Gabriel laugh even harder.

—Jesus Christ,— Gabriel wheezed. —You were down horrendous.—

—I hate everyone here.—

Charlotte crossed her arms proudly. —The best part was him trying to act casual every time she was around while being physically incapable of looking at anyone else.—

—Okay, now you’re exaggerating.—

—No, she’s not actually,— Gabriel added immediately. —You still do that.—

Lando stared at him in offense now too. —Whose side are you on?—

—Not yours anymore.—

The sound of heels against the terrace floor pulled all three of their attention sideways a second later.

Amelie had just stepped back onto the balcony.

Her curls fell loosely over one shoulder beneath the Monaco sunlight, oversized sunglasses now pushed on top of her head while one hand still adjusted the rings on her fingers after washing them. The fitted denim set she wore moved softly with the breeze coming off the harbor, exposing sun-warmed skin along her shoulders and collarbones while she scanned the crowded balcony searching for them.

The second her eyes landed on Lando, her expression softened automatically.

Charlotte visibly noticed.

Which unfortunately only encouraged her further.

—Oh there she is,— she said brightly.

Amelie smiled immediately the second she recognized Charlotte standing beside him.

—Charlotte!—

She crossed the balcony quickly before pulling her into a warm hug without hesitation, laughing softly when Charlotte squeezed her tightly.

—Look at you two finally acting normal after like five years,— Charlotte muttered dramatically against her cheek.

Amelie pulled back laughing already. —Oh no. What has he told you?—

Charlotte looked personally delighted by the question.

—Oh, nothing,— she answered far too innocently while glancing toward Lando with the exact expression of someone seconds away from committing violence. —Just explaining to Gabriel how genuinely unbearable he was about you for years.—

Amelie blinked once before immediately turning toward Lando.

His expression alone told her everything.

One hand still held her purse strap against his shoulder while the other pointed accusingly at Charlotte in complete betrayal. —I trusted you with sensitive information in 2020.—

Charlotte gasped dramatically. —You lost the right to privacy after making me listen to thirty-seven conversations about whether Amelie liked your Instagram story fast enough.—

Gabriel physically bent over laughing beside the railing.

Amelie’s entire face had already started splitting into a grin.

—No,— she breathed out, visibly delighted now. —You were checking how fast I liked your stories?—

—Okay, that’s not what happened.—

Charlotte looked offended by the lie. —Lando Norris, you once asked me if eleven minutes was “too quick to seem casual but too long to mean she hated you.”—

Gabriel made a choking sound.

Amelie stared at him in disbelief before bursting into laughter so hard she had to grab Charlotte’s arm to steady herself.

Lando looked ready for death.

The Monaco sunlight reflected brightly across the harbor behind them while people continued moving around the balcony completely unaware one Formula One driver’s dignity was actively collapsing near the glass railing. Music drifted softly from the hospitality suites nearby, champagne glasses clinked somewhere behind them, but all Lando could focus on was Amelie laughing at him with tears literally forming in the corners of her eyes.

Which unfortunately made him love her even more.

—You’re all dead to me actually,— he muttered flatly.

Amelie finally managed to breathe again, still laughing while reaching automatically for her purse hanging from his shoulder. Lando let her take it without resistance, though his hand immediately settled against her waist afterward like muscle memory.

—This is genuinely the best information I’ve ever received,— she informed Charlotte proudly.

—You should’ve seen him during Austin 2019,— Charlotte continued mercilessly. —Absolutely tragic behavior.—

Lando groaned loudly. —Can we stop talking about Austin?—

—No because now I need details,— Amelie argued instantly.

Gabriel lifted one finger seriously. —Same actually.—

Charlotte looked thrilled by the audience she had gathered. —He spent an entire dinner pretending he didn’t care you were there while asking me every four minutes if his hair looked weird.—

Amelie physically turned toward him now in disbelief.

—Your hair?—

—It was humid in Texas!— he defended immediately.

Gabriel laughed louder. —Bro, you were fighting for your life.—

—He also changed tables halfway through dinner because you sat somewhere he “couldn’t accidentally talk to you naturally.”—

Amelie’s jaw dropped open.

Lando covered part of his face with one hand. —Charlotte, please.—

—No, because the best part was watching him get jealous every time another man breathed near her.—

—Okay, now that’s just inaccurate.—

Three people looked at him silently.

Lando sighed dramatically. —Fine. Slightly accurate.—

Amelie looked genuinely emotional now from laughing, one hand pressed against her chest while her other rested instinctively over Lando’s stomach where he stood beside her. The warmth from the Monaco sun glowed against her skin beneath the balcony lights, and for a second he found himself completely distracted again just watching her smile.

Charlotte noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

Her expression softened slightly beneath the amusement now while she looked between them, something fond flickering quietly across her face after witnessing years of whatever complicated disaster this had once been.

—Honestly though,— she admitted softer now, —I’m still very proud of you.—

Lando narrowed his eyes suspiciously. —That sounds threatening.—

Charlotte laughed warmly. —No, I mean it. You were so painfully gone over this girl for so long that at one point I genuinely thought you were gonna marry her before even kissing her.—

Amelie’s eyebrows lifted immediately.

Gabriel pointed aggressively. —That’s exactly what it feels like!—

—Can everyone stop psychoanalyzing me for five minutes?—

Nobody listened.

Amelie turned toward Charlotte with visible curiosity still glowing across her face. —Was he actually that bad?—

Charlotte blinked once.

—Amelie, sweetheart… he was horrific.—

Lando let out a sound of suffering beneath his breath while Gabriel laughed so hard he nearly dropped his water bottle again.

Charlotte continued proudly. —There were entire weekends where I knew his mood based exclusively on whether you answered his texts.—

Amelie slowly turned toward him now.

Lando immediately looked away toward the harbor like the yachts had suddenly become deeply fascinating.

Her smile softened instantly after that though, amusement slowly melting into something much warmer while she studied the faint pinkness rising along the back of his neck beneath the Monaco sunlight.

Because underneath all the embarrassment and teasing and public humiliation currently happening on this balcony, there was something stupidly endearing about hearing just how long he had loved her before either of them properly admitted it.

Amelie slid closer automatically until her shoulder brushed against his arm.

Lando finally glanced toward her again.

The teasing little smile on her face immediately made his chest tighten.

—You changed outfits for me?— she asked softly.

He looked offended immediately. —Allegedly.—

Charlotte burst out laughing again.

Amelie bit down on her smile before leaning upward slightly to kiss his cheek softly anyway, lips lingering there for half a second longer than necessary while her fingers curled gently against the front of his shirt.

Lando’s entire expression softened instantly.

Gabriel looked physically disgusted. —Oh my God, you guys are ridiculous.—

—You literally asked me for relationship advice last month,— Lando shot back immediately.

—That was different.—

Charlotte watched both of them with visible amusement before shaking her head softly to herself. —Honestly, seeing this after all those years feels a little insane.— Her eyes drifted toward Amelie warmly. —I don’t think you understand how much this man liked you.—

Amelie’s gaze lifted back toward Lando again, softer now.

The harbor glittered brightly behind them while the crowd below started growing louder as race preparations continued across the circuit, sunlight slowly beginning to turn gold across Monaco.

Lando looked down at her beneath the noise and chaos surrounding them, one hand still resting automatically against her waist while she leaned comfortably into his side like she had always belonged there.

—Yeah well,— he muttered quietly, eyes never leaving hers, —worth the wait though.—

The words hit her hard enough she visibly forgot how to answer for a second.

Which naturally made Charlotte emotional immediately.

—Okay no, that was actually disgusting,— she complained while pointing at both of them. —I need to leave before you start looking at each other romantically again.—

Gabriel nodded seriously. —Please. Save us all.—

Amelie laughed softly while hiding part of her face against Lando’s shoulder, and he only grinned shamelessly before kissing the top of her head beneath the warm Monaco sun.

--------------

liked by midnightamelie, cherryvibes, and others

fiaformulae: special guests on the monaco grid today ✨🏎️ world champion @lando and global superstar @ameliedayman taking in the action before lights out!

View all 1,405 comments

papayagirl: formula e admin calling amelie a global superstar iktr 😭 → loveroflan: as they should → lanmeliehub: accurate title only

ameliecore: them casually standing on the monaco grid together 😭 → goldenhouramelie: power couple final form

fanameliee: “world champion and global superstar” sounds like the intro to a movie 😭 → cherryvibes: literally → dreamygirlie: romcom leads

sunsetamelie: no because they look SO monaco 😭 → goldenhouramelie: they belong there somehow → softclouds: rich european energy

papayadreams: formula e admin definitely knew exactly what they were doing posting this 😭

amelievibes: imagine being a formula e driver and the crowd screams louder for lando and amelie 😭 → cherryvibes: collateral damage → dreamygirlie: unfortunate timing

fanpageamelie: the way every motorsport account is obsessed with them 😭 → goldenhouramelie: paddock sweethearts

papayaprincess: we’re being FED → loveroflan: blessed week honestly

softamelie: i just know lando was explaining random formula e things to her 😭 → goldenhouramelie: and she nodded politely → sunsetamelie: pretending to understand batteries 😭

ameliecentral: they genuinely look happier every time they’re seen together 🥹 → cherryvibes: peaceful energy lately

papayagirl: the transition from canyon hiking to monaco grid guests is crazy 😭 → loveroflan: multifaceted couple → lanmeliehub: range unmatched

fanameliee: no because “special guests” sounds too casual for THESE TWO 😭 → goldenhouramelie: main characters → softamelie: headline worthy honestly

sunsetamelie: somewhere charles is about to photobomb them probably 😭 → cherryvibes: monaco curse

amelieupdates: formula e admin joining the lanmelie fandom wasn’t on my bingo card 😭 → papayaprincess: everybody ships them now → loveroflan: impossible not to honestly

coastallover: the monaco grid genuinely looks like their backyard at this point 😭 → velvetroses: locals honestly → midnightamelie: residents behavior

goldenpapaya: formula e admin saying “global superstar” like they were introducing royalty 😭 → cherrysoda: and they were right

sunflowermelie: i know photographers started RUNNING when they arrived 😭 → lovelane: easiest headline ever → dreamersclub: instant engagement boost

tracksidebabe: the way they somehow fit both the music industry and motorsport world perfectly 😭

ameliezone: they look like the fashionable side characters in a racing movie 😭 → coastallover: no literally → softclouds: monaco aesthetic final boss

papayaprincesss: somewhere an f1 photographer is crying because this isn’t THEIR paddock today 😭 → lanmeliefever: formula e won today

velvetamelie: i still can’t get over how natural they look together publicly now 🥹 → starrylan: no awkwardness at all → moonlightvibes: they’re so settled lately

gridgirlypop: no because the formula e crowd probably got jumpscared by this level of celebrity 😭

softpapaya: i just know amelie’s outfit ate too 😭 → dreamersclub: always does → lovelane: paddock fashion queen

ameliehearts: lando genuinely looks so proud walking around with her every time 🥹 → cherrysoda: biggest fan alive → papayahours: permanently smiling around her

midnightamelie: from 500k crowds at the zocalo to formula e grids in monaco 😭 → velvetroses: insane life actually → starrylan: she lives ten different lives

f1fairytale: every sport account eventually becomes a lanmelie fan account 😭 → moonlightvibes: inevitable pipeline

goldenhourlane: waiting for the inevitable blurry yacht pictures tomorrow 😭 → lovergirlie: monaco weekend starter pack → paddocklove: manifestation circle starts NOW

--------------

The Monaco apartment carried that strange kind of exhaustion that only appeared after race weekends, where everything felt simultaneously overstimulating and deeply quiet at the same time. Outside the enormous windows, the harbor still glowed beneath the late-night lights of the city, yachts reflecting gold against black water while traffic moved lazily through the streets below, but inside the apartment the energy had already started fading into something softer. Shoes had been abandoned near the entrance. Half-open garment bags rested across one of the chairs in the living room from earlier. Somewhere in the kitchen sat the remains of room service neither of them had been hungry enough to finish after getting home from Formula E.

Lando lay completely spread across the middle of the bed like someone who had physically melted into the mattress the second they walked through the door, one arm thrown dramatically over his eyes while his legs hung halfway off the edge beneath the oversized hoodie and shorts he had changed into after showering. The mattress dipped slightly every few seconds whenever Charlie jumped up and down beside him carrying one of his toys in his mouth, entirely unaware of the emotional devastation jet lag conversations were currently causing.

Across the room, Amelie moved between the closet and the open suitcase resting on the bench near the bed, folding clothes with the slow concentration of someone already mentally exhausted from airports before the trip had even properly started. Soft music played quietly from her phone somewhere near the bathroom sink, blending with the distant Monaco traffic outside while warm yellow light filled the bedroom around them.

Benny and Björn’s absence felt noticeable too.

The apartment somehow felt calmer without them destroying things.

Almost suspiciously calm.

Charlie compensated for the silence by occasionally sprinting directly into furniture at full speed.

Lando groaned dramatically into his arm. —I’m genuinely dreading Canada tomorrow.—

Amelie barely looked up while tossing another bikini into the suitcase. —Mm?—

—The jet lag’s gonna kill me this time.— His voice sounded muffled beneath the sleeve covering half his face. —Portugal. Monaco. Canada. My body has absolutely no idea what continent we’re on anymore.—

Charlie climbed onto his stomach proudly before dropping the toy directly onto his chest.

Lando ignored him completely.

Amelie smiled faintly to herself while folding one of his shirts carefully. —Didn’t Gabi tell you some weird sleep trick earlier?—

Lando pulled his arm down slightly to look at her. —Yeah, but it sounds horrible.—

—What was it?—

—Staying awake all night so your body resets faster once you land.—

Amelie hummed thoughtfully while reaching for another stack of clothes near the chair beside her. —That doesn’t actually sound like a bad idea.—

Lando stared at her in complete betrayal.

Proper betrayal.

—Excuse me?—

She glanced toward him finally, shrugging lightly. —I mean… it kinda makes sense.—

—No, see, this is why I can’t trust you anymore,— he informed her seriously while sitting up slightly against the pillows. —You’re supposed to support my delusions, not agree with the Brazilian sleep torture methods.—

Amelie laughed softly beneath her breath while continuing to pack. —I’m just saying it could work.—

—You sound insane actually.—

—You race cars for a living.—

—Irrelevant.—

Charlie barked once loudly like he personally agreed with Amelie.

Lando looked down at the dog in offense. —Not you too.—

The apartment settled comfortably around them afterward, warm and lived-in beneath the late Monaco night while Amelie continued moving quietly around the room placing clothes into the suitcase with the familiar rhythm she always had before trips. Lando watched her lazily from the bed for a moment instead of checking his phone or answering messages or doing literally anything productive, his eyes following the soft movement of her curls down her back while she crossed between the closet and the suitcase barefoot.

Domesticity still hit him at random sometimes.

Not in a scary way anymore.

Something softer.

Something that made his chest ache pleasantly.

His gaze drifted toward the ceiling again before another thought hit him.

—Okay, but if we stay awake all night… what are we even supposed to do?—

Amelie zipped one side of the suitcase closed before looking over her shoulder at him. —We?—

Lando narrowed his eyes immediately.

She leaned lightly against the bench now, arms crossing over her chest while amusement flickered across her face. —Why exactly am I suddenly included in this horrible little plan?—

—Because if I suffer, you suffer too obviously,— he answered without hesitation.

Amelie looked deeply unimpressed. —That sounds toxic.—

—That sounds like love actually.—

She laughed quietly while shaking her head once. —You could literally just play video games all night.—

The sentence barely finished leaving her mouth before something visibly clicked inside his brain.

Amelie noticed immediately.

His entire face changed.

That dangerous look appeared behind his eyes, the exact one she recognized from years of him suddenly getting ideas that usually turned into chaos within minutes.

—What?— she asked cautiously.

Lando’s eyes widened slightly beneath the warm bedroom light like the idea had physically struck him mid-thought.

A slow grin immediately followed.

Amelie recognized that expression instantly.

The same one from years ago that usually ended with them causing problems online together at three in the morning while thousands of people spammed donations just to make him embarrass himself live.

Her eyebrows lifted cautiously. —Why are you looking at me like that?—

Lando pushed himself upright properly now, Charlie immediately sliding down his lap in betrayal as the mattress shifted beneath him. —What if I stream?—

Amelie blinked once. —Okay…—

—No, no,— he continued quickly, already getting more excited by the second. —What if we stream.—

That made her pause completely beside the suitcase.

The apartment suddenly felt quieter somehow beneath the distant Monaco traffic and the soft music still playing faintly from her phone near the bathroom. Charlie trotted distractedly toward one of the discarded hoodies on the floor while Amelie stared at Lando across the room, the words settling somewhere warm and strange inside her chest before she could stop them.

Because they hadn’t done that in a long time.

Not properly.

Back in 2020 streaming together had somehow become their thing before everything got messy and complicated and too real between them. Long chaotic nights playing games with George and Alex and Charles while thousands of people clipped every stupid interaction between them online afterward. It had been easier back then in some ways. Simpler. Before hiding feelings became exhausting. Before every glance started meaning too much.

Lando watched recognition slowly spread across her face.

His smile softened immediately.

—Come on,— he murmured now, almost persuasive. —It could be fun.—

Amelie looked down briefly toward the shirt still folded in her hands before glancing back at him again. —People are gonna lose their minds.—

—People lose their minds when you breathe near me already.—

—Fair point.—

He grinned proudly.

The excitement behind his expression had already started growing now, visible in the way he sat forward slightly against the bed like his body physically couldn’t stay still once the idea fully settled into his head. Amelie knew that look too. The hyper little spark he always got whenever something genuinely made him happy beneath all the exhaustion and schedules and constant pressure surrounding his life.

It made something warm curl painfully inside her chest.

Lando suddenly reached toward her without warning, one hand catching her gently by the waist the second she stepped close enough to the bed. Amelie laughed softly in surprise as he pulled her forward until the back of her knees hit the mattress, his hands settling naturally against her hips while he looked up at her from where he sat.

Charlie barked excitedly beside them like he wanted inclusion in the conversation too.

Lando ignored him completely.

—Imagine it though,— he said, already smiling. —One horrible sleep-deprived stream before Canada. It’s basically tradition at this point.—

Amelie’s fingers slid absentmindedly through his curls at the front of his hair while she looked down at him, warmth spreading slowly through her chest beneath the soft yellow light filling the bedroom. His hands stayed resting against her waist comfortably, thumbs rubbing lazy little circles against the fabric of her shorts while he waited for her answer with suspicious levels of optimism.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. —You just want an excuse to force me into playing Valorant again.—

—That’s not true,— he lied immediately.

Amelie snorted softly.

Lando tilted his head back slightly to keep looking at her, expression gentler now beneath the teasing. —I miss it a bit actually,— he admitted quieter.

The honesty in his voice caught her off guard enough that her fingers stilled briefly in his hair.

Not the games.

Them.

Those nights.

That version of them before life started moving too fast.

Her chest tightened softly.

—We were really annoying,— she murmured.

Lando laughed quietly beneath his breath. —People loved us.—

—People shipped us before we even knew what we were doing.—

—Yeah well… turns out they were right.—

The stupid warmth spreading across his face when he said it made her roll her eyes affectionately despite the smile pulling at her own mouth now.

His grip against her waist tightened slightly before he tugged her closer between his knees, forehead pressing lazily against her stomach through the oversized shirt she wore.

—Please,— he mumbled dramatically. —I need emotional support while I destroy my sleep schedule.—

—You are so dramatic.—

—And yet you still date me.—

Her hand slid slowly through his curls again while the city lights outside reflected softly across the bedroom windows behind them. Monaco glittered endlessly beyond the glass, beautiful and expensive and loud somewhere far below, but inside the apartment everything felt warm and sleepy and private in a way she still hadn’t fully gotten used to.

Lando looked up at her again after a second, chin resting lightly against her stomach now. —We could order food too.—

—Mm.—

—And make fun of your gaming skills.—

—Absolutely not.—

—And Charlie can sit in your lap like a little co-host.—

That finally made her laugh properly.

Lando’s entire face lit up at the sound instantly.

God.

She genuinely didn’t think anybody in the world looked happier than him whenever he managed making her laugh.

Amelie shook her head softly while looking down at him. —You’ve thought way too much about this already.—

—I think about everything with you too much actually.—

The answer came so naturally she physically paused.

Lando seemed to realize what he said about half a second later too, though instead of backtracking he only smiled softer now, fingers brushing gently against the bare skin at her waist while he held her there between his knees.

The room settled quieter around them for a moment.

Charlie eventually climbed onto the bed again with his toy, completely oblivious to the emotional damage occurring nearby.

Amelie looked down at Lando carefully beneath the warm light, something painfully affectionate twisting through her chest all over again because sometimes he said things so casually that still managed completely undoing her anyway.

—Fine,— she murmured eventually.

His eyebrows lifted immediately. —Fine?—

—Fine. I’ll stream with you.—

The grin that spread across his face happened instantly.

Bright and boyish and stupidly excited.

He pulled her down toward him immediately afterward, one hand sliding into her hair while the other stayed firm against her waist as he kissed her hard enough to make her laugh against his mouth.

—You’re the love of my life actually,— he informed her seriously between kisses.

Amelie smiled helplessly against his lips. —You say that every time I enable your bad decisions.—

—Exactly. That’s romance.—

--------------

liked by papayaprincesss, cherrysoda, and others

landonorrisupdates: LANDO IS LIVE STREAMING??? AFTER LIKE A YEAR??? 🚨😭 twitch chat moving so fast nobody can even read anything and half the fandom forgot his password before he did

View all 671 comments

papayagirl: THE TWITCH NOTIFICATION SCARED ME SO BAD 😭 → loveroflan: thought i hallucinated it → lanmeliehub: had to check 4 times

ameliecore: this man remembered twitch exists omg 😭 → goldenhouramelie: historic event honestly → softamelie: once a year appearance

fanameliee: twitch chat moving at light speed rn 😭 → cherryvibes: nobody reading ANYTHING

sunsetamelie: him trying to remember how streaming works is killing me 😭 → goldenhouramelie: grandpa gamer era → softclouds: technologically confused king

papayadreams: THE MIC ISSUES ARE TAKING ME OUT 😭 → loveroflan: nothing changes → lanmeliehub: same streamer same problems

amelievibes: no because half the viewers are only there hoping amelie walks behind him 😭 → cherryvibes: and we’re RIGHT

fanpageamelie: almost a year without streams and suddenly he returns randomly 😭 → goldenhouramelie: he missed us probably → softamelie: or got bullied into it by max fewtrell 😭

lanfan44: the amount of “HELLO???” in chat rn 😭 → papayaprincess: collective breakdown

ameliecentral: somewhere quadrant admins are crying tears of joy 😭 → cherryvibes: content FINALLY → dreamygirlie: drought ended

papayagirl: why does he genuinely look happier streaming again 🥹 → loveroflan: comfort zone honestly → lanmeliehub: feels nostalgic

fanameliee: the way the viewer count probably shocked him 😭 → goldenhouramelie: everyone came RUNNING

sunsetamelie: if amelie appears in the background twitter will literally explode 😭 → cherryvibes: servers down instantly → dreamygirlie: internet emergency

amelieupdates: this feels like 2020 again omg 😭 → papayaprincess: pandemic twitch era veterans RISE → loveroflan: we survived the trenches

coastallover: hearing “helloooo chat” again healed something in me 😭 → velvetroses: war flashbacks to 2020 → midnightamelie: comfort content honestly

goldenpapaya: the way everyone dropped EVERYTHING for this stream 😭

tracksidebabe: the amount of people screen recording every second just in case amelie appears 😭 → lovergirlie: FBI level surveillance → paddockangel: fandom instincts activated

ameliezone: why does he sound surprised people still watch him 😭 → coastallover: sir you’re a world champion now → softclouds: and internet boyfriend apparently

papayaprincesss: i KNOW max fewtrell spammed him for months to stream again 😭

velvetamelie: not chat immediately asking where charlie is 😭 → starrylan: priorities honestly → moonlightvibes: tiny celebrity

gridgirlypop: the nostalgia is hitting me so hard 😭 → raceweekendd: simpler times honestly

softpapaya: him reading chat and instantly regretting it 😭 → dreamersclub: everyone screaming → lovelane: no peace whatsoever

ameliehearts: i just know amelie can hear him yelling at games from another room 😭 → cherrysoda: “lando lower your voice”

lan4worldchamp: why is this more exciting than some race weekends 😭 → paddockangel: because we missed him → softfilms: twitch lando different breed

midnightamelie: the fact he streamed after spending wholesome family vacation week with amelie makes this funnier 😭 → velvetroses: soft boyfriend by day gamer by night → starrylan: duality of man

f1fairytale: if he streams consistently again the internet will heal 😭 → moonlightvibes: society restored

goldenhourlane: somewhere quadrant editors just sat up in bed like vampires 😭 → lovergirlie: CONTENT → paddocklove: job security restored

--------------

Hour 1 - 20:45 pm

The gaming room looked different now.

Not dramatically.

Not enough that strangers online would immediately understand why the space suddenly felt warmer and more lived in beneath the soft LED lights glowing behind the monitors and shelves. The same racing simulators still occupied one side of the room. Controllers and keyboards remained scattered across the enormous desk in organized chaos only Lando himself seemed capable of understanding. Old race helmets still lined the dark shelves mounted against the wall beside framed photos and miniature cars and random collectibles accumulated over years of traveling the world too young and too fast.

The difference existed in the smaller things.

The extra hoodie hanging over the back of the couch that definitely did not belong to him. The candle near the bookshelf that smelled vaguely like vanilla and expensive hotels. A stack of scripts abandoned near the window beside one of Amelie’s notebooks covered in messy handwriting. Her Grammy awards now sat carefully positioned near the shelf beside his gold helmet from las year, the polished gold reflecting softly beneath the room lighting every time he moved.

The room no longer looked like a bachelor cave built entirely around racing and gaming.

It looked shared.

Lived in by two people learning how to build a life inside the same walls.

Lando sat comfortably in front of the glowing monitors wearing a dark hoodie and loose shorts, headset resting around his neck while the live chat flew upward so quickly across the second monitor it almost looked broken. Tens of thousands of messages moved nonstop in colorful blurts of shock and excitement and pure disbelief after nearly a year without streaming.

His camera quality had improved since the last time too.

Unfortunately for him, that only made people notice the details around the room even more.

Lando laughed quietly beneath his breath while leaning back slightly in his chair, one hand rubbing over his jaw as donation sounds and notifications continued exploding every few seconds through his headset.

—Okay, okay, relax,— he laughed. —Why is everyone acting like I came back from war? It’s literally just a stream.—

The chat moved even faster.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??? IS THIS REAL HES ALIVE SHOW AMELIE LANDOOOOOO

The corner of his mouth twitched upward helplessly while he shook his head once toward the camera.

—I know, I know. I disappeared for ages.— He glanced briefly toward the second monitor again before smiling softer. —I actually missed this a lot though. Like genuinely. I forgot how fun streaming was when it’s not connected to race weekends and media stuff and schedules and… everything else.—

His fingers tapped lightly against the desk while he adjusted slightly in the gaming chair, warm LED lighting reflecting softly against the curls falling over his forehead.

Outside the gaming room, faint noises from the apartment drifted through the partially open door. Cabinets opening somewhere in the kitchen. The distant sound of Monaco traffic beyond the windows. Charlie barking faintly from another room before immediately being shushed by Amelie somewhere in the background.

The normal sounds of home.

Lando’s expression softened for half a second at the sound before he looked back toward the camera again.

—I do wanna stream more though,— he admitted honestly. —Obviously probably not like before-before because… life’s different now.— His mouth curved faintly at that. —But yeah. I miss talking to everyone and gaming and just hanging out for a few hours without it becoming some massive production.—

The chat immediately exploded again.

MORE COUPLE STREAMS WE MISSED YOU THIS FEELS LIKE 2020 ARE YOU LIVING TOGETHER???

Lando physically snorted at the last one.

His eyes drifted briefly toward the shelves behind him before he leaned sideways slightly in the chair.

—You lot are genuinely detectives for no reason.—

The chat spammed laughing emotes instantly.

Lando pointed lazily over his shoulder toward the shelf behind him where the Grammys sat beneath the soft lighting beside one of his helmets.

—Those weren’t there before obviously,— he admitted casually. —Her stuff’s kinda everywhere now because the spare room’s being remodeled a bit so she can actually have her own space here properly instead of invading mine every five minutes.—

A dramatic gasp left him immediately afterward.

—Actually, no. That’s a lie. She’ll still invade mine anyway.—

The chat completely lost it.

OH MY GOD THEY LIVE TOGETHER HARD LAUNCH OF DOMESTICITY HIS WIFE???

Lando rolled his eyes affectionately while laughing under his breath.

—Relax. You all figured that out like six months ago already.—

One donation alert popped loudly through the headset.

WHERE IS CHARLIE??

Lando smiled instantly.

—Charlie’s outside with his mum right now getting food,— he answered casually. —We ordered takeout because neither of us can be bothered cooking before Canada tomorrow.—

His expression immediately shifted into visible suffering afterward.

—Which by the way, I’m still not emotionally prepared for. Jet lag’s gonna absolutely destroy me.—

Another flood of messages flew upward.

SLEEP ON THE PLANE PULL AN ALL NIGHTER IS AMELIE STAYING UP TOO??

Lando grinned dangerously now.

—Unfortunately for her, yes.—

The gaming room door opened softly before he could elaborate further.

His eyes lifted automatically.

Amelie stepped halfway into the room carrying her phone in one hand, oversized hoodie sleeves covering most of her fingers while soft curls fell messily over one shoulder from where she had clearly rushed tying them up earlier. Warm light from the hallway spilled around her silhouette while Charlie trotted proudly beside her carrying absolutely nothing useful.

Amelie barely glanced toward the monitors at first, already used to the glow of streams and cameras and thousands of people existing somewhere on the other side of screens around him. Charlie wandered directly into the room ahead of her with the tiny confidence of someone who believed the apartment belonged entirely to him now, nails clicking softly against the wooden floors before he immediately launched himself onto the couch near the back wall.

—Your food’s here,— Amelie informed casually while leaning one shoulder against the doorway. —Do you want me to bring it in here?—

Lando turned slightly in his chair to look at her properly, the entire expression on his face softening automatically the second his attention fully landed on her.

The chat noticed immediately.

OH MY GOD LOOK AT HIM HE LOOKS SO IN LOVE THE FACE CHANGE???

He ignored every single message.

—Where are you eating?— he asked instead.

Amelie shrugged lightly beneath the oversized hoodie drowning half her frame. —Living room probably.—

Lando looked horrified.

—Without me?—

Her eyebrows lifted. —You’re literally streaming.—

—Yeah but I can stream from there.—

Amelie blinked once slowly. —Lan.—

The grin spreading across his face already told her he had made up his mind.

The chat absolutely exploded.

LIVING ROOM STREAM DOMESTIC STREAM WE WON GUYSSSS

Amelie immediately noticed the speed of the messages moving upward across the monitor now and narrowed her eyes slightly toward him in suspicion.

—Why are they screaming?—

—Nothing,— Lando answered way too quickly.

She looked deeply unconvinced.

Lando pushed his chair backward slightly before standing up, headset still hanging around his neck while he grabbed the iPad resting near one side of the desk. The stream camera angle shifted violently for a second as he disconnected things with absolutely no planning whatsoever, immediately making the chat start spamming motion sickness complaints.

—Professional streamer by the way,— Amelie muttered beneath her breath.

Lando gasped dramatically toward the camera. —Ignore her. She’s camera shy and hates fun.—

Amelie looked offended instantly. —I do not hate fun.—

—Come say hi then.—

—No.—

The answer came too fast.

Which unfortunately only encouraged him more.

Lando grinned with the exact expression of someone preparing to become annoying on purpose while Amelie immediately started shaking her head from the doorway already knowing where this was going.

—Lando.—

—Ames.—

—No.—

—Just say hi.—

—You’re literally broadcasting to like eighty thousand people right now.—

—Exactly. Be polite.—

She stared at him in betrayal while the chat completely lost their minds again.

AMELIEEEEE PLEASE SAY HI HER VOICE OMGGGG COUPLE STREAM ERA IS BACK

Lando reached one hand toward her dramatically from across the room. —Come here.—

Amelie groaned softly beneath her breath but eventually pushed herself away from the doorway anyway, padding barefoot across the gaming room while Charlie followed behind her excitedly like he also wanted participation. The oversized hoodie slipped slightly off one shoulder as she approached, exposing warm skin beneath the soft LED lighting while her curls bounced messily around her face from however quickly she had thrown them together earlier.

Lando smiled immediately the second she reached him.

Not even a teasing smile.

Something softer.

Something automatic.

Amelie rolled her eyes quietly at the expression before leaning down behind his chair anyway, arms sliding loosely around his shoulders while she rested her chin lightly against the top of one shoulder.

The chat moved so fast now it almost became unreadable.

Lando looked unbearably pleased with himself.

Amelie looked directly into the camera finally, visibly trying not to laugh at the absolute chaos happening across the monitors.

—Hi,— she said softly.

The reaction was immediate.

OH MY GOD SHES REAL MOTHER!!!! THEY LOOK SO DOMESTIC IM GONNA DIE

Lando physically laughed out loud reading the messages while one of his hands instinctively settled over her forearm draped across his chest.

—See? That wasn’t painful,— he informed her smugly.

Amelie narrowed her eyes slightly. —Debatable.—

Her face remained resting against his shoulder another second longer though, close enough that a few loose curls brushed lightly against his jaw while the warmth of her body pressed comfortably against his back. The familiarity of it all settled strangely soft inside his chest. Years ago this exact dynamic would have sent both of them spiraling internally for weeks afterward.

Now she just existed there naturally.

Like home.

Lando tilted his head slightly toward her. —Do you wanna eat in here?—

—Absolutely not.—

—Rude.—

She kissed the side of his head quickly before pulling away again. —Bring your stream to the living room if you want. I’m hungry.—

Lando immediately looked back toward the camera. —Okay, chat. You heard the boss.—

Amelie pointed threateningly at him while walking backward toward the hallway. —Do not call me that on stream.—

—Yes ma’am.—

She disappeared from the doorway muttering something about him being annoying while Charlie immediately sprinted after her.

Lando watched her leave for half a second too long before realizing the chat had noticed again.

The messages became unbearable instantly.

HEART EYES HES THE BOSS CONFIRMED MARRIED ENERGY LAN STAND UP

—You’re all genuinely insufferable,— he informed the stream while grabbing the iPad fully now.

The camera angle shifted wildly again as he started walking through the apartment, Monaco city lights glowing warmly through the enormous windows lining the hallway while the distant sounds of traffic floated faintly upward from the harbor below. The apartment lighting had dimmed softer for the night already, warm gold against pale walls and scattered clothes and suitcases still abandoned near the bedroom from packing earlier.

—Okay, don’t bully me if the setup looks horrible now,— Lando warned while carrying the iPad carefully through the hallway.

The chat spammed demands for apartment tours immediately.

—No. Absolutely not. You people are scary enough already.—

The living room came into view a second later.

Amelie already sat cross-legged near one end of the couch with takeout containers spread across the coffee table, Charlie curled dramatically beside her beneath one of the blankets while some random reality show played forgotten on mute across the television. Her glasses rested low against her nose now while she opened sauce packets with the kind of concentration that made Lando smile stupidly to himself again before he even realized it.

The chat definitely noticed that too.

BRO IS GONE LOOK HOW HE LOOKS AT HER THIS IS INSANE

Lando ignored them completely while setting the iPad carefully against the coffee table facing both of them.

—Okay,— he announced proudly while dropping onto the couch beside her. —New setup.—

Amelie glanced briefly toward the screen before immediately focusing back on her food. —Hi again.—

The chat spammed greetings back so aggressively it blurred together.

Lando stole one of her fries immediately.

Amelie smacked his hand without even looking.

—You ordered your own.—

—Yours tastes better.—

—It’s literally the same fries.—

—Emotionally different.—

She laughed quietly beneath her breath despite herself.

The stream settled into something calmer afterward. Less like a formal broadcast and more like thousands of people accidentally sitting in their apartment watching them exist together beneath the warm Monaco lights while eating takeout before a flight neither of them wanted tomorrow.

Lando leaned back comfortably into the couch while stealing food off her plate every few minutes despite constant complaints from Amelie, the iPad balanced against the table while chat questions continued flooding the screen faster than either of them could fully read.

One message caught Amelie’s attention eventually.

IS THE ALL NIGHTER ACTUALLY HAPPENING??

She physically snorted.

—Unfortunately yes,— she answered while opening her soda. —He listened to one Brazilian man for five minutes and suddenly decided sleep deprivation was a medical solution.—

Lando pointed accusingly beside her. —Gabi said it works.—

—Gabi also survives on caffeine and vibes.—

—That’s basically Formula One culture actually.—

Amelie looked directly toward the camera now with complete seriousness. —If he becomes unbearable at four in the morning, I need everyone here to know this was not my idea.—

The chat moved even faster after that.

WE’LL STAY UP WITH YOU ALL NIGHT STREAM PLEASE THIS IS THE BEST STREAM EVER

Lando glanced sideways toward her with a grin slowly pulling at his mouth while she continued eating beside him beneath the warm apartment lights, curls messy, oversized hoodie sleeves covering half her hands again, Charlie asleep against her thigh now like he had personally decided the evening was over.

Domestic.

Soft.

Normal.

The exact kind of moment younger versions of themselves probably would have ruined by overthinking it too much.

Now Lando only leaned closer against her side comfortably while reaching for another fry off her plate despite her immediate protests, smiling quietly to himself as Monaco glittered endlessly outside their windows and thousands of people watched them simply exist together for the first time in a very long while.

--------------

Hour 4 - 00:56 am

By midnight, the apartment had settled into that strange quiet that only existed in the middle of sleepless nights, when the entire city outside seemed suspended somewhere between exhaustion and insomnia. Monaco still glowed beyond the enormous windows lining the living room, headlights moving slowly through the streets below while yachts reflected gold and white against the black harbor water, but inside the apartment everything had softened into dim lamps, abandoned snack wrappers, and the low electronic hum still drifting faintly from the gaming room.

Lando had officially reached the point of complete boredom.

The initial excitement of streaming again had carried him through the first few hours easily enough. Playing games with Connor and Tom, catching up with chat, laughing at old stories and embarrassing clips people somehow still had saved from years ago had felt nostalgic in a way he hadn’t expected. Comfortable. Familiar. Like slipping back into an old version of himself that still existed somewhere beneath race weekends and interviews and adult responsibilities.

Unfortunately, somewhere around hour four of Counter-Strike, his brain had started melting.

Connor’s voice crackled loudly through the headset while gunfire echoed through his monitor for what genuinely felt like the nine-hundredth round of the night.

—Lando, what are you doing?!—

—I’m literally helping,— Lando defended immediately while missing another shot completely.

Tom burst into laughter through comms. —Mate, you’ve had the reaction time of a pensioner for the last twenty minutes.—

—That’s because I’m exhausted actually.—

—No, you’re distracted because your girlfriend’s in the other room.—

Lando rolled his eyes dramatically toward the camera while the chat immediately exploded again.

HE ADMITTED IT HE CANT FOCUS AROUND HER LMAOOO

—You lot are all annoying,— he muttered while leaning back in the chair. The exhaustion had finally started settling visibly into his body now, curls messier than before from repeatedly dragging his hands through them, hoodie sleeves pushed halfway up his forearms while the LED lights painted soft blue shadows across the room around him.

Another round loaded in.

Lando physically groaned.

—Okay no,— he decided suddenly. —I’m done. I can’t do another game or I’m actually gonna start hallucinating.—

Connor laughed immediately. —Weak mentality.—

—You’ve been saying that for the last hour,— Tom added.

—Yeah well now I mean it emotionally.—

The chat moved so quickly across the second monitor it almost blurred together entirely.

NOOOOOO STAY UP PULL THE ALL NIGHTER WHERE’S AMELIE??

Lando smiled tiredly beneath his breath while removing one side of the headset.

—Relax, I’m still streaming. I’m just abandoning these two because they’re bullying me.—

Connor sounded deeply offended. —That’s friendship.—

—That’s abuse actually.—

Tom laughed loudly again while saying goodbye to the chat, Connor following a second later before the Discord call finally disconnected, leaving the gaming room noticeably quieter afterward.

Lando stretched slowly in the chair with a groan, his back cracking slightly from sitting there for hours before he grabbed the iPad from beside the keyboard to keep the stream going while walking around the apartment.

—Right,— he muttered tiredly toward the camera. —We’re mobile now because I physically cannot sit in that chair anymore.—

The hallway lights remained dim as he stepped out of the gaming room, warm pools of yellow light stretching softly across the dark wooden floors while the apartment stayed almost completely silent around him.

The apartment opened quietly around him as he walked barefoot down the hallway, the iPad balanced loosely in one hand while the live chat continued flying upward across the screen so quickly it barely looked readable anymore. Warm light from the kitchen spilled softly across the wooden floors ahead, muted compared to the cooler blue glow still lingering behind him from the gaming room, and somewhere deeper inside the apartment he could hear the faint scratch of something dragging lightly across canvas.

Lando frowned slightly.

The living room came into view a second later, and just like that, every remaining thought about Counter-Strike disappeared completely from his brain.

Amelie sat sideways on one of the tall stools near the kitchen island wearing one of his old hoodies and tiny sleep shorts, one bare leg tucked beneath herself while soft music played quietly from her phone beside a scattered mess of paint tubes and brushes spread across the counter. Her curls had escaped completely from whatever messy bun she’d attempted earlier in the night, falling wildly over her shoulders while she leaned forward in concentration toward the small canvas propped against the island. Warm under-cabinet lighting painted gold across her skin and the oversized sleeves hanging over her hands, the entire scene so painfully domestic and peaceful it physically slowed him down in the hallway.

The chat immediately noticed his silence.

WHY DID HE STOP MOVEMENT DETECTED IS SHE THERE???

Lando completely forgot the stream existed.

His mouth softened helplessly before he walked toward her automatically, the iPad lowering absentmindedly against his side while Amelie remained focused on the brush moving slowly across the canvas in front of her.

He reached her quietly before wrapping both arms around her waist from behind, burying his face instantly against the side of her neck with a tired groan.

Amelie smiled immediately without even looking surprised.

—Hi,— she murmured softly.

Lando kissed the warm skin beneath her ear lazily while tightening his arms around her stomach. —What’re you doing?—

—Trying not to fall asleep,— she admitted while rinsing the brush carefully against a cup of water beside her. —Charlie got annoyed because I kept throwing his toy every thirty seconds and eventually abandoned me for the bedroom.—

That made him laugh quietly against her shoulder.

His chin rested there afterward while he finally looked properly toward the canvas.

Abstract shapes covered most of it so far, layered blues and creams and soft golds blending together beneath rough brushstrokes that vaguely resembled ocean waves beneath moonlight.

—That’s actually really pretty,— he murmured honestly.

Amelie shrugged slightly beneath his arms. —I’m literally just distracting myself.—

The exhaustion in her voice sat softer now, slower around the edges after midnight had fully settled over the apartment. He could feel it in the way her body leaned naturally backward into his chest, comfortable and warm and sleepy beneath the oversized hoodie.

Lando’s arms tightened slightly around her waist while he looked down at the canvas over her shoulder, his cheek still pressed lazily against the side of her head as the soft music from her phone drifted quietly through the apartment. Midnight exhaustion had started making everything feel slower now, softer around the edges, the warm kitchen lights blurring gently against the dark Monaco skyline beyond the windows while the smell of paint and leftover takeout still lingered faintly in the air.

The chat, unfortunately, remained very awake.

OH MY GOD THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER THIS IS TOO DOMESTIC PLEASE SHOW THE PAINTING

Lando blinked once like he had only just remembered thousands of people were technically still watching.

—Oh,— he muttered softly, finally lifting the iPad slightly again. —Right. Stream exists.—

Amelie laughed quietly beneath her breath while rinsing the brush again. —You’re really good at this streamer thing.—

—I got distracted actually.—

—Clearly.—

His mouth curved faintly before another idea visibly crossed his face. The tiredness still lingering in his expression somehow only made him look softer now beneath the warm kitchen lighting, curls falling messily into his eyes while he watched her clean paint from the brush.

—What if we build the Lego helmet?—

Amelie turned slightly toward him. —Right now?—

—We have to stay awake anyway,— he defended immediately. —Might as well do something productive.—

She stared at him flatly. —Building tiny plastic pieces at midnight is your definition of productive?—

—Absolutely.—

A dramatic sigh escaped her instantly, though the smile threatening the corner of her mouth betrayed her completely.

—Fine,— she muttered while setting the brush carefully down beside the paint palette.

Lando grinned immediately.

He kissed the side of her head once before finally letting go of her waist, already moving toward the shelves near the living room while she climbed down from the stool with sleepy reluctance, oversized hoodie slipping slightly off one shoulder as she stretched.

The unopened Lego box had arrived only a few days earlier, still sitting near the simulator setup where he had abandoned it after Monaco preparations took over his life. Lando grabbed it proudly beneath one arm before returning toward the living room while Amelie settled onto the floor beside the couch, back resting comfortably against the cushions while Charlie finally wandered sleepily out of the bedroom after hearing movement.

The puppy immediately claimed Amelie’s lap.

—Traitor,— Lando informed the dog while dropping onto the floor beside her.

Charlie ignored him completely.

The iPad remained forgotten beside the couch for approximately thirty more seconds before Lando suddenly froze halfway through opening the Lego box.

—Oh shit.—

Amelie blinked toward him tiredly. —What?—

—I forgot the stream again.—

Her laugh came softer this time, sleepier around the edges while he reached for the iPad and propped it carefully against the coffee table facing both of them sitting cross-legged on the floor. Warm lamp light illuminated the living room softly around them now, the massive Monaco windows reflecting the apartment back against the glass while the city glittered beneath the harbor outside.

The chat absolutely lost its mind the second both of them appeared properly together onscreen again.

Lando started opening the tiny plastic bags dramatically while Amelie leaned back against the couch with Charlie sprawled across her thighs, one hand absentmindedly scratching behind his ears.

—Okay,— Lando announced seriously toward the camera. —Hour four of staying awake. Morale is declining rapidly.—

—Speak for yourself,— Amelie murmured. —I’m thriving.—

She looked approximately two seconds away from falling asleep sitting up.

Lando snorted quietly before handing her one of the instruction booklets. —You literally just painted to stop yourself from passing out.—

—Art is healing.—

—You painted one blue blob.—

—It was emotional actually.—

The chat flooded upward again with questions immediately.

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST FIRST KISS STORY PLEASE THIS IS SO CUTE

Lando glanced toward the iPad before smirking slightly. —These are dangerous questions at midnight.—

Amelie rested her chin lazily against Charlie’s head. —That means yes, answer them.—

Lando looked personally betrayed by the lack of support.

His fingers continued separating Lego pieces while he read another message aloud. —Okay… “how did you meet?”— He looked sideways toward her immediately. —Do you wanna tell this one?—

Amelie smiled faintly to herself. —You tell it wrong every time.—

—That’s not true.—

—You make it sound way more romantic than it actually was.—

—Because it was romantic for me actually.—

The chat exploded again.

Amelie rolled her eyes affectionately before finally answering anyway. —We met through mutual friends during Covid basically. Gaming. Group calls. Everybody was bored and trapped inside.—

—She thought I was annoying at first,— Lando added immediately.

—I still think you’re annoying.—

—Yeah but now you’re obsessed with me, so.—

Amelie physically shoved his shoulder while laughing quietly, Charlie lifting his head briefly in visible offense before immediately falling back asleep across her lap.

Another question caught Lando’s eye.

—“First kiss?”—

His grin appeared instantly.

Amelie already knew that look.

—Hawaii,— he answered proudly.

Her face softened automatically at the memory despite herself.

The living room suddenly felt warmer somehow beneath the dim lamps and soft city lights outside while Lando leaned back against the couch beside her, Lego pieces forgotten briefly in his hands.

—2020,— he continued softer now. —We were both drunk.—

Amelie looked offended immediately. —I was not drunk.—

Lando stared at her. —Baby, you tried eating flowers that night.—

The chat moved so fast it became unreadable.

Amelie buried her face briefly into Charlie’s fur in visible suffering. —Why would you expose me like that?—

—Because it’s important context.—

—No, it’s not.—

Lando laughed quietly while nudging her knee gently with his own beneath the coffee table.

Another question popped upward.

WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST??

This time Amelie looked toward him first.

Lando smiled immediately, softer now. —Me.—

—Very aggressively too,— Amelie added.

—That’s not true.—

—You literally panicked afterward.—

—Okay yeah maybe a little bit.—

The memory visibly embarrassed him even now, years later.

His fingers scratched absentmindedly against the back of his neck while Amelie watched him with quiet amusement, the warmth in her eyes soft enough that the entire chat collectively seemed to lose emotional stability again.

Lando cleared his throat dramatically before reading another question. —“Who spends the most money?”—

Both of them answered immediately.

—Him.—

—Her.—

Silence followed.

Amelie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. —Excuse me?—

Lando looked horrified by her audacity. —You bought a vintage Dior suitcase because it “felt emotionally important.”—

—You own three simulators.—

—Those are investments.—

—In what?—

—Happiness.—

Her laughter echoed softly through the apartment while the chat spammed laughing emotes nonstop.

The Lego pieces slowly started becoming an actual helmet now spread across the carpet between them, though progress remained painfully slow because neither of them could stop getting distracted by questions every thirty seconds.

Who falls asleep first?

—Him,— Amelie answered instantly.

Lando gasped. —That’s character assassination.—

—You literally sleep like an ipad losing battery. One second talking, next second unconscious.—

—That’s efficient actually.—

Another question caught her attention this time.

FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL TOGETHER??

Amelie smiled immediately before even thinking about it. —Cabo.—

Lando nodded without hesitation. —Yeah. Cabo.—

The answer came too naturally to even debate.

Warm beaches. Slow mornings. Mérida nearby. No pressure to perform for anyone. Just sunlight and family and ocean and peace.

A softer smile lingered on both their faces afterward before Lando read the next question quietly.

Place you wanna visit again?

This time both of them answered together.

—Hawaii.—

Their eyes met immediately afterward.

The apartment fell quieter for a second around them, the soft hum of Monaco outside blending with Charlie’s sleepy breathing while the Lego pieces remained forgotten between their legs again.

Because Hawaii had changed everything.

Not officially.

Not loudly.

But enough.

The first kiss. The first moment things stopped feeling hypothetical between them. The beginning of something neither of them had fully understood yet at the time.

Lando’s expression softened while looking at her now, exhaustion making the honesty in his face even more obvious beneath the dim apartment lighting.

—We should go back sometime,— he murmured quietly.

Amelie smiled faintly. —Yeah.—

The chat continued racing upward endlessly in front of them, thousands of people watching two exhausted idiots build Lego on the floor at nearly one in the morning while trying to survive jet lag together, but the apartment somehow still felt private anyway.

Small.

Warm.

Like home.

--------------

Hour 8 - 04:15 am

By four fifteen in the morning, exhaustion had stopped feeling temporary and had instead evolved into something almost hallucinogenic.

The Monaco apartment existed in complete silence now beyond the soft murmur of Lando’s stream and the distant sound of the harbor outside the windows, the city still glittering beneath black skies while the first traces of dawn remained hours away. Empty brownie trays sat abandoned across the kitchen island surrounded by flour fingerprints and dirty bowls neither of them planned washing before Canada, the sweet smell still lingering warmly through the apartment after their desperate attempt at “productive staying awake activities” somewhere around hour six.

Charlie had officially surrendered nearly an hour ago.

The puppy slept sprawled dramatically across the couch cushions like he had personally worked a twelve-hour shift.

Lando remained seated on one of the kitchen stools in a hoodie and sleep shorts, curls completely destroyed now from exhaustion and repeatedly dragging his hands through them over the last eight hours. The stream lighting from the iPad propped nearby cast soft shadows across the kitchen while the chat continued flying upward at alarming speed despite the hour, thousands of people somehow still awake with them watching the slow mental deterioration unfold in real time.

—I’m telling you right now,— Lando muttered tiredly while rubbing one hand down his face, —if this sleep reset thing doesn’t work, I’m blaming Gabi personally.—

The chat immediately exploded again.

GABI CATCHING STRAYS LANDO YOU LOOK GONE BRO GO TO SLEEP

—No,— he answered dramatically while pointing lazily toward the screen. —We’ve committed now. We only have like… two hours before we leave for the airport anyway.—

Amelie sat beside him scrolling absently through her phone while half listening, one bare leg crossed over the other beneath one of his oversized shirts she had stolen earlier in the night. Sleepiness softened every movement now, slower and warmer beneath the dim apartment lighting while she leaned lightly against the kitchen counter beside his stool.

Lando continued rambling toward the stream with the exhausted confidence of someone who had passed the point of coherent thinking hours ago.

—The plan is basically to sleep during the flight once it’s nighttime in Canada,— he explained while gesturing vaguely with one hand. —Which sounds smart in theory but knowing us we’re probably just gonna end up watching movies and ruining our sleep schedules permanently.—

Amelie hummed softly without looking up from her phone.

The movement against his ankle barely registered at first.

A small nudge.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Lando’s sentence faltered for approximately half a second before he glanced downward carefully enough that the stream wouldn’t notice immediately.

Amelie’s bare foot rested lightly against his ankle beneath the counter.

His brows pulled together slightly.

She looked completely innocent still staring at her phone while slowly dragging her foot teasingly higher against his leg beneath the stool.

Lando blinked once slowly.

—What’re you doing?— he asked quietly without fully turning toward her, trying very hard to maintain whatever remained of his composure for the stream.

Amelie finally looked up.

The smile she gave him immediately made his entire brain short-circuit.

Small. Sleepy. Dangerous.

She said absolutely nothing.

The chat continued spamming messages completely unaware while Lando stared at her in growing suspicion, exhaustion suddenly disappearing frighteningly fast beneath his skin.

Amelie locked her phone calmly before hopping down from the stool.

Lando’s eyes followed her automatically.

Very unfortunately.

She walked slowly backward toward the hallway without breaking eye contact once, oversized shirt hanging loosely against her body beneath the soft kitchen lights while the apartment stayed almost painfully quiet around them except for the faint stream audio still drifting from the iPad.

Lando physically stopped talking.

The chat immediately noticed.

HELLO??? WHY IS HE QUIET LANDOOOOO

Amelie reached the hallway entrance before casually pulling the oversized shirt over her head in one smooth motion, revealing the warm bare skin of her back beneath the dim apartment lighting while soft curls spilled down her shoulders afterward.

Lando looked moments away from cardiac arrest.

She glanced back toward him over her shoulder.

That same teasing smile appeared again.

His sleep shorts hit the floor next.

Not dramatically.

Almost casually.

Which somehow made it significantly worse.

The stream chat exploded into complete chaos instantly while Lando snapped upright on the stool so fast he nearly kicked the counter.

—Okay!— he said abruptly.

Very abruptly.

His voice cracked slightly.

Amelie disappeared fully into the bedroom hallway without another word.

Lando stared after her for approximately one catastrophic second longer before grabbing the iPad almost violently off the counter.

—Right,— he announced breathlessly toward the stream. —We actually have to go pack now and… do airport things. Important airport things.—

The chat moved so fast it became unreadable.

Lando looked deeply offended by all of them.

—Goodnight! Or… good morning actually. Whatever. Bye.—

The stream ended immediately.

The screen of the iPad went black, and Lando didn’t even bother setting it down gently. He practically slammed it onto the marble surface of the island, his heart hammering against his ribs with a sudden, violent surge of adrenaline that completely erased the last eight hours of exhaustion.

He pushed off the kitchen stool so fast it scraped loudly against the floor, instantly moving toward the bedroom hallway. His hands were already working, yanking the oversized hoodie over his head while he walked, throwing it blindly over his shoulder into the dark living room. By the time his feet hit the hardwood of the hallway, he was tearing at the waistband of his sleep shorts, stepping out of them mid-stride and leaving them crumpled on the floor.

He was down to just his boxers, his skin hot and his chest cording with an excited, frantic need that had been building the exact second she pulled that shirt over her head.

Lando reached the master bedroom door and pushed it open, his breathing already heavy, expecting a tease—expecting her to be hiding under the covers.

Instead, the sight inside the room made his entire body lock up.

Amelie was right there on the center of the mattress, bathed in the soft, silver moonlight cutting through the Monaco windows. She was kneeling innocently in front of him, her hands resting flat on her thighs, wearing nothing but her tiny lace panties. Her bare breasts were completely exposed to him, her nipples peaked in the cool air of the room, and she was looking up at him through her lashes with that sleepy, dangerous smile that had driven him off the stream.

—Fuck, Ames,— Lando rasped, his voice a broken, gritty wreck as his eyes raked over her.

Amelie didn't even have time to answer before Lando closed the distance between them. He threw himself onto the mattress, his knees pinning her thighs as his bare chest slammed against hers, the sudden impact drawing a soft, needy gasp from her lips that he immediately swallowed with his mouth.

The kiss was a frantic, uncoordinated collision of teeth and tongue, completely fueled by the manic adrenaline of the all-nighter and the torturous tease in the kitchen. Lando’s hands flew to her waist, his thumbs digging into the soft skin of her hips with a possessive, heavy pressure that anchored her flat against the mattress as he shifted his weight, pushing her down beneath him.

—You’re so fucking bad,— Lando growled against her lips, his breathing ragged and hot against her face. —Doing that on stream? Knowing exactly what it would do to me?—

Amelie let out a sleep-heavy, wicked chuckle, her hands sliding up his bare biceps to link behind his neck. —You were boring your chat, Norris. I did you a favor.—

—Yeah? Well, now you have to pay for it,— he hissed.

Lando didn't waste another second on words. His hands moved with an impatient, desperate speed, hooking into the sides of her panties and stripping them down her legs in one fluid motion, kicking them off the edge of the bed until they both were completely bare. He took himself in his hand, his dick thick, angry, and slicking with his own need as he guided the tip directly against her core.

The sudden contact made Amelie’s breath hitch sharply, her hips hitching upward instinctively against him. But even through the haze of absolute desire, her mind cleared for a fraction of a second. As Lando shifted his weight to push inside, her hands immediately flew to his chest, pushing against his bare skin with a firm, unyielding pressure.

—Lando, wait,— she gasped, her voice raw but strict, her eyes locking onto his in the dim moonlight. —Protection. You’re not going anywhere near me without it.—

Lando let out a pained, torturous groan, his forehead dropping against her shoulder as his entire body tensed with frustration. He was so close, completely rock hard and aching, but he knew Amelie was absolutely non-negotiable when it came to this.

—Ames… please, I’m dying here,— he rasped, his voice a desperate, gravelly scrape against her skin.

—I don't care,— she murmured, though her own breathing was shallow and frantic, her body vibrating with the exact same need. —Drawer. Now, Lan.—

Hissing a curse through his teeth, Lando reluctantly pushed himself up just enough to reach blindly over the edge of the mattress. He yanked the nightstand drawer open with a loud clack, his fingers fumbling frantically through the contents until they finally wrapped around a small, square foil packet. He ripped it open with his teeth, his movements a blur of manic impatience, before rolling it on with a harsh, tight exhale.

The second he was done, he gripped her hips again, his thumbs digging into her skin with a heavy, possessive force that told her her time for stalling was officially over.

—Happy?— he growled, his eyes dark, dilated, and predatory as he loomed back over her.

—Very,— she breathed, her legs instantly wrapping tightly around his waist to pull him down.

Lando didn’t give her another syllable of a head start. He gripped her waist firmly, his knuckles white in the dim silver light, and drove straight down into her in one deep, unhurried, soul-stripping thrust.

Amelie’s head snapped back against the pillow, a shattered, high-pitched cry ripping from her throat as she took all of him at once. The contrast of the cool room against his scorching, protected heat made her entire body tremble, her internal muscles instinctively clamping down around him in a tight, welcoming grip that nearly had Lando losing his mind right then and there.

—Fuck, Ames,— Lando roared into the crook of her neck, his entire body stiffening as he held himself buried deep inside her, trying with everything he had to control the immediate rush of pleasure. —You’re so tight. God, you’re squeezing me so hard.—

Amelie was beyond forming coherent sentences, her hands flying to his back, her nails digging into the tense muscles of his shoulders as she arched her back off the mattress. —Lando… please, move,— she sobbed, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps against his ear.

He didn’t make her wait. He began to move, a heavy, punishing rhythm that filled the quiet Monaco bedroom with the rhythmic thud of the mattress and the frantic, overlapping sounds of their breathing. Because of the frantic rush from the kitchen to the bed, there was no build-up, no gentle transition—it was just raw, unadulterated friction, a frantic sprint driven by the madness of the all-nighter.

Lando loomed over her on his forearms, his bare chest slick with a light sheen of sweat that rubbed against her bare breasts with every single strike. His eyes were completely dark, his pupils so blown out they swallowed the blue of his irises as he watched her face shatter in the moonlight.

—Look at you, baby,— Lando rasped, his voice dropping into that dark, dominant register that made her knees weak even when she was flat on her back. —Such a good girl for me. Look how beautifully you’re taking it.—

Amelie let out a broken, high-pitched whimper at the pet name, her head thrashing against the pillow as he hit that one specific spot, sending white-hot sparks straight to her core.

—Lando… fuck, harder,— she begged, her legs tightening around his waist, her heels digging into his back to pull him even deeper. —Please, Lan, harder.—

Lando let out a low, animalistic growl at her command, his pace becoming a blurring, desperate friction. He reached down, his hands hooking under her glutes to hoist her hips off the mattress, angling her perfectly for the final, soul-stripping thrusts. He watched her face shatter in the silver light—eyes rolled back, mouth open in a silent cry as her climax completely tore through her.

The intense, rhythmic clenching of her muscles around him was the final straw for Lando’s restraint. He let out a pained, guttural roar of release, his entire body tensing as he drove into her one last time, completely losing himself to the white-hot pressure as he finished inside the safety of the condom.

He collapsed next to her a moment later, his heavy, sweat-slicked body sinking deep into the mattress. The only sound in the room was the sound of his lungs struggling for air and the frantic, overlapping gasps of their breath as they both stared blankly up at the ceiling.

A heavy, satisfied silence wrapped around them for a full minute, neither of them having the energy to move a single muscle. Slowly, the corner of Amelie’s mouth began to twitch. She turned her head slightly, looking at his completely destroyed curls and his chest still heaving.

—You know…— she wheezed, her voice a sleep-thickened, breathless rasp, —you can’t deny this was a much better way to spend our last hours before Canada than staring at your stream chat.—

Lando’s chest puffed as a silent, exhausted laugh bubbled up in his throat. He turned his head to face her, a slow, wicked smile breaking across his features.

—Yeah. Alright. You win,— he murmured, his voice gritty and thick with satisfaction. He blindly reached out, his fingers fumbling on the nightstand until his hand wrapped around his phone. He unlocked the screen, the bright light making them both wince in the darkness. He blinked at the numbers, and then his entire posture shifted, a sudden spark of pure mischief flaring in his eyes. —Wait. We actually have like… an hour left before the car comes for the airport.—

Amelie paused, her eyes widening slightly as she caught the sudden change in his tone. She turned fully onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow, a teasing, challenging gleam instantly matching his.

Lando tossed the phone back onto the nightstand and faced her completely, his eyes dark and dilated once again as he raked his gaze down her bare body.

—Round two, princess?— he whispered, his voice laced with a fresh, competitive hunger.

Amelie didn’t even bother answering with words. Before he could even move, she was already crawling over his lap, straddling his waist and pressing her lips fiercely against his in a bruising, breathless kiss. Her hands tangled in his curls, pulling him into her as she reached blindly down toward the nightstand drawer for another packet, both of them fully prepared to pull another legendary all-nighter all over again.

[kathlare]

we NEED to see more moments with Amelia and lando family

omggg I swear the second I saw Lando on vacation with his family this immediately came to my mind 😭🫶 and I ended up writing it!!

so in case you missed the chapter, I’ll leave the link down below 🤍 I really hope you like it because I loved writing all the little family moments so much 🥹

thank you for reading and for the request, it truly means a lot 💌

Post by @kathlare · 5 images

💬 0  🔁 5  ❤️ 139 · canyon moon · Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman Summary: It follows Lando and Amelie during a family trip in Comporta, Portug

[kathlare]

I can't stand seeing Lando suffering on the track, I need to see him suffering in fanfic too, but being comforted and loved by his wife! (yeah, put a ring on her finger)!

please talk about how he feels about the insecurities in the championship and about the mistakes McLaren is making in his races (for example, this is the sixth consecutive race that McLaren has made a mistake in his pit stop). Could Ames go to the race with him and watch everything, and react to the mistake while she's being recorded on TV and stuff? Like, don't mess with her boy.

Anyway, I wanted something really angsty, but with lando looking for a safe place with Amelie instead of excluding himself... sorry for any translation errors, I'm not fluent, but I love your writing and I need to see this couple happy (and no smut, please🙏🏻)

I know this request was written, like… almost a year ago 😭 and I had always planned to write it, but then Lando started doing really well, won the championship, and it felt almost sad to go back to that headspace again.

But now, after these first few races and the way McLaren keeps making the same mistakes over and over again, it brought me right back to this request 🥺 especially after the complete shit show Miami was… and the feeling of the championship pressure creeping back in again.

So I thought it was finally the right time to give your request the closure it deserved — with Lando actually letting himself lean on Amelie instead of shutting her out, with all the frustration, insecurities, pressure, and Ames being there watching everything happen and trying not to lose it while cameras are literally on her 😭🤍

And yes… maybe there’s a ring involved too 👀

In case you haven’t read it yet, I’ll leave the link down below 🫶 and thank you so much for such a thoughtful request and for all the love you give this story 💌

Post by @kathlare · 6 images

💬 12  🔁 8  ❤️ 232 · paper rings · Please write a chapter about Amelie goes to the Met Gala and maybe Lando goes with her?🥺💗 and they meet wi

[kathlare]

canyon moon

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: It follows Lando and Amelie during a family trip in Comporta, Portugal, where quiet conversations and small moments slowly deepen the emotional intimacy between them

Wordcount: 13.4 k

Warnings: none

full masterlist // request over here!

May 13th, 2025 - Comporta, Portugal

liked by amelieupdates, goldenhourlane, and others

lanmelieupdates: flo just posted lando posing in front of a giant amelie campaign at a store 😭🤍

View all 399 comments

papayagirl: posing in front of your girlfriend’s campaign is INSANE boyfriend behavior 😭 → loveroflan: proudest man alive → lanmeliehub: he’s obsessed bad

ameliecore: not flo exposing him immediately 😭 → goldenhouramelie: sisters never miss → softamelie: ever

fanameliee: wait this means he went from her family weekend straight to his family weekend 🥹 → cherryvibes: balance king

sunsetamelie: imagine walking through the mall and seeing world champion lando norris posing under amelie dayman’s face 😭 → goldenhouramelie: surreal experience → softclouds: i’d faint instantly

papayadreams: the way he probably asked flo to take the pic too 😭 → loveroflan: “wait take one of me here” → lanmeliehub: exactly 😭

amelievibes: this relationship feels so integrated into both families now 🥹 → cherryvibes: thisss

fanpageamelie: he looks SO proud every time anything about her pops up 😭 → goldenhouramelie: biggest fan first → softamelie: always

lanfan44: flo posting it means the family teases him about this constantly 😭 → papayaprincess: absolutely

softamelie: not him smiling harder in front of her ad than after winning races 😭 → goldenhouramelie: priorities → sunsetamelie: boyfriend championship

ameliecentral: i just know flo thought “oh twitter’s gonna love this” 😭 → cherryvibes: and she was right → dreamygirlie: thank you flo honestly

papayagirl: the way both families seem to genuinely love them together 🥹

amelieupdates: imagine flo saying “stand there” and him immediately agreeing 😭

fanameliee: he’s literally her fan account at this point 😭 → goldenhouramelie: landoupdates → softamelie: biggest shipper alive

sunsetamelie: this whole week has just been them being soft and domestic 😭 → cherryvibes: healing era

coastallover: the way he stopped to pose in front of HER ad specifically 😭 → velvetroses: proud boyfriendism → midnightamelie: terminal case honestly

goldenpapaya: flo posting this immediately is sending me 😭 → cherrysoda: sibling behavior

sunflowermelie: him grinning in front of her campaign like that 🥹 → lovelane: he admires her so much → dreamersclub: visibly proud every time

tracksidebabe: not him spending mother’s day weekend with HER family first 😭 → lovergirlie: and now with his own → paddockangel: healthiest couple ever

ameliezone: imagine dating someone and seeing their face on giant campaigns everywhere 😭

papayaprincesss: lando’s entire personality lately is just “have you guys met my girlfriend” 😭 → lanmeliefever: literally → midnightvibes: and i support him fully

velvetamelie: i know flo and cisca tease him SO badly 😭 → starrylan: absolutely nonstop → moonlightvibes: poor man never rests

gridgirlypop: he really looks happier lately idk 🥹

softpapaya: the fact he was probably shopping with his family and still stopped for this 😭 → dreamersclub: priorities → lovelane: boyfriend duties never end

ameliehearts: imagine his mom seeing the pic like “awww” 😭

lan4worldchamp: no because he could’ve just walked past but NO he needed the picture 😭 → paddockangel: needed documentation → softfilms: historical moment clearly

midnightamelie: flo casually giving the fandom crumbs again 😭 → velvetroses: she’s one of us honestly

f1fairytale: these two really went from secret situationship to this 😭 → moonlightvibes: growth → raceweekendd: we survived the trenches

goldenhourlane: someday there’s gonna be a whole album of lando posing next to amelie ads 😭 → lovergirlie: collector’s edition

--------------

The villa had finally gone quiet sometime after midnight.

Comporta nights carried a completely different kind of silence than Monaco ever did, softer somehow, stretched wide beneath salt air and distant waves and endless dark skies untouched by city lights. The ocean sat somewhere beyond the dunes surrounding the property, close enough that the breeze drifting through the open terrace doors carried the faint smell of salt and warm sand into every room, mixing with the scent of sunscreen still lingering from the day and the remains of dinner that had lasted far too long because nobody in his family knew how to end conversations quickly once wine got involved.

Most of the house had disappeared to bed already.

Oliver had finally managed to convince Mila and Athena to sleep nearly an hour ago after what sounded like a full hostage negotiation from upstairs. Sav had laughed herself breathless at dinner over one of Adam’s stories from Lando’s karting years. Flo had spent half the evening trying to teach Athena how to play cards despite the four-year-old changing the rules every six minutes. Even Adam had eventually surrendered and gone inside after insisting he was “absolutely not tired” barely twenty minutes earlier.

For the first time in a while, it had felt… normal.

Comfortable.

Like family before schedules and flights and championships turned everyone’s lives into calendars.

Lando sat alone on the terrace wrapped in one of his hoodies despite the warm night air, one ankle hooked lazily over the opposite knee while his iPad rested against his thigh. A half-finished cup of tea sat beside him on the low table, steam curling faintly upward into the darkness while unread emails blurred together across the screen in front of him. Sponsors. Flight confirmations. A message from Andrea. Another from Zak. Somewhere near the top sat three unanswered texts from Amelie sent during one of her audition breaks in London earlier.

One was just a blurry selfie of her looking miserable beneath fluorescent lighting.

The second read: i hate british casting directors.

The third: i miss u :(

He had smiled at that one longer than necessary.

The sound of the sliding door opening behind him pulled him gently from the screen.

Lando looked over his shoulder just in time to see his mum stepping onto the terrace, another mug cradled carefully between her hands while the warm lights from inside spilled softly around her.

—Hi sweetheart,— Cisca greeted quietly.

Lando immediately straightened slightly in his chair. —Hi.—

She lifted the mug slightly. —Mind if I join you?—

—Course not,— he said quickly, shifting automatically to give her more room beside him.

Cisca smiled softly before lowering herself into the chair next to his, tucking one leg beneath herself comfortably while the ocean breeze moved lightly through her hair. For a moment neither of them spoke, both simply looking out toward the dark dunes stretching endlessly beneath the moonlight while somewhere far away waves crashed softly against the shore.

The silence between them had always been easy.

Cisca wrapped both hands around her tea before exhaling softly through her nose. —I forgot how much I missed this,— she admitted quietly.

Lando glanced toward her. —What?—

Her smile deepened faintly. —All of us together like this.— Her gaze drifted toward the house behind them. —No races. No airports. No one leaving after breakfast because they’ve got somewhere else to be.—

Lando hummed softly in agreement, looking back out toward the dark coastline.

—It’s been forever since we did a proper family trip,— she continued. —A real one, not just everyone crashing into the same place for twenty-four hours before disappearing again.—

Cisca’s voice softened even more after that, the warmth in it carrying something emotional beneath the surface that immediately pulled Lando’s attention fully away from the emails forgotten on the screen beside him. The terrace lights painted everything gold around them, soft against the dark Portuguese night, while somewhere behind the villa one of the outdoor lanterns flickered quietly in the wind. He could hear the ocean more clearly now that the house had settled into sleep completely, rhythmic waves folding against the shore somewhere beyond the dunes like the entire coastline was breathing slowly around them.

His mum smiled faintly into her tea before shaking her head a little to herself. —Honestly, I don’t think I realized how much I missed having you around properly until this week,— she admitted quietly. —Not race weekends. Not quick dinners in Monaco where everybody’s checking flights halfway through dessert. Just… this.—

Lando’s expression softened immediately at that, something quiet settling behind his eyes while he looked back out toward the dunes again. The wind moved softly through the terrace curtains behind them, carrying warmth from inside the villa mixed with the cool salt air from the ocean, and for a second he let himself simply sit there beside her without speaking, listening to the distant waves and the occasional muffled creak of the old wooden house settling for the night.

Because she was right.

It had been forever since life had slowed down enough for this.

No cameras shoved in his face. No radio in his ear. No PR schedule timed down to the minute. Just his family spread through a beach house in Portugal, half asleep after too much wine and dinner and stories they had all heard a hundred times before.

Cisca turned slightly toward him after another quiet moment, studying his face carefully the same way mothers somehow always did, like they could read entire conversations hidden behind your eyes without you saying a word.

—I’m really happy you two are here,— she added softly. —Well… almost both here.—

That made him smile faintly.

—She’s miserable in London right now,— he muttered, glancing briefly toward the iPad still resting against his leg. —I got like six messages about British weather today.—

His mum laughed quietly. —Poor girl.—

—Apparently casting directors are also public enemy number one now.—

—Mm. That sounds more like Amelie.—

The smile stayed on his face a second longer before fading into something more thoughtful when he noticed his mum looking at him differently now. Softer. Almost hesitant.

Cisca lowered her tea carefully onto the table beside her.

—I’m glad this trip finally happened though,— she admitted quietly. —Especially after the golf tournament situation.—

Lando’s brows pulled together slightly. —What golf tournament situation?—

The second the question left his mouth, he watched realization hit her face almost immediately.

Cisca blinked once. —Oh.—

Lando straightened slightly in his chair now, confusion replacing the softness in his expression. —What situation?—

His mum hesitated.

Which immediately made him suspicious.

The ocean breeze moved through the terrace again, colder now somehow against the back of his neck while he watched her choose her words too carefully.

—Your dad talked to Amelie in Myrtle Beach,— Cisca admitted slowly.

Lando frowned deeper. —About what?—

The shift in Lando’s posture happened instantly.

Small.

Almost invisible if someone didn’t know him well.

But Cisca noticed it immediately anyway, the way his shoulders straightened subtly beneath the oversized hoodie, the easy softness from moments ago tightening just slightly around the edges as confusion gave way to something more alert. The iPad resting forgotten against his thigh dimmed into darkness while his full attention settled on her now, brows furrowed beneath messy curls still damp from his shower earlier.

—What do you mean he talked to her?— he asked again, slower this time.

Cisca let out the faintest sigh through her nose.

The warm ocean air moved softly around them, rustling the linen curtains behind the terrace doors while somewhere far below the dunes the tide crashed steadily against the shore. Inside the villa everything remained quiet, the entire family asleep upstairs completely unaware of the conversation unfolding out here beneath the dim terrace lights.

For a second she genuinely considered brushing past it.

But clearly that option had disappeared the moment she realized Amelie had never told him.

Cisca leaned back slightly into the chair, fingers wrapping tighter around the warm ceramic mug in her hands. —Your dad spoke to her during the golf tournament in South Carolina,— she explained carefully. —When you were playing.—

Lando stared at her.

Waiting.

His mum hesitated again, visibly annoyed now more with Adam than anything else. —He basically told her that we missed you sometimes. That maybe she should feel more comfortable spending time with us too, not only with her family all the time.—

Silence hit the terrace immediately afterward.

Heavy.

Lando blinked once like he genuinely needed a second to process the sentence properly.

—He said that to her?—

The disbelief in his voice came first.

The irritation followed immediately after.

Cisca sighed softly. —Your father meant well.—

—Why the fuck would he say that to Amelie instead of me?— Lando interrupted, not loudly but sharply enough that the frustration underneath became impossible to miss now.

The ocean seemed louder suddenly in the silence that followed.

Cisca watched him carefully while he dragged one hand through his curls, his jaw tightening slightly the more he replayed it in his head. Because of course now it made sense. The sudden conversations. The beach trip research. The way Amelie had randomly started talking about balancing families more while curled on his chest in Mérida like the thought had appeared out of nowhere.

Jesus Christ.

Guilt twisted uncomfortably somewhere low in his stomach almost immediately afterward.

Not toward his parents.

Toward her.

Because she had carried that entire conversation alone for days without throwing Adam under the bus once.

His eyes dropped briefly toward the dark terrace floor while he exhaled slowly through his nose, the frustration softening into something heavier now.

—She thought it was her fault, didn’t she,— he muttered more to himself than to Cisca.

His mum’s expression softened instantly.

—A little,— she admitted quietly. —Which is exactly why I was furious with your father when I found out.—

Lando laughed once beneath his breath, humorless and tired. His head tipped back briefly against the chair while he stared up toward the dark Portuguese sky, moonlight catching faintly across his face now. —Fuck.—

The word came out softer this time.

More exhausted than angry.

Because the worst part was that Adam hadn’t even entirely been wrong.

Lando knew it.

Somewhere along the line, following Amelie had become instinctive to him. Mérida. Family dinners. Last-minute weekends in Mexico. Holidays squeezed between race weekends. He had never once viewed it as sacrifice because being with her never felt like sacrifice at all. Her family had wrapped around him so naturally that sometimes he forgot there had ever been a version of his life where Stella’s children weren’t climbing onto his lap during breakfast or her mum wasn’t texting him reminders to eat properly during triple-header weekends.

It had become home and maybe in the middle of all that comfort, he really had let too much time slip by without properly giving the same part of himself back to his own family.

His chest tightened unpleasantly at the realization.

—That’s not her responsibility though,— he said quietly after a moment, more firmly now. —If I don’t spend enough time with you guys, that’s on me. Not her.—

Cisca nodded immediately. —I know that.—

Lando rubbed slowly at his face with one hand, exhaustion creeping back into him now in a completely different way than before. —No, but seriously, mum. She probably sat there thinking she’d somehow taken me away from everyone and that’s so unfair because she’s literally the opposite of that.— His voice softened more now, frustration turning almost protective. —She’s the reason I still feel normal half the time.—

The honesty in his tone made something emotional flicker briefly across Cisca’s face.

She had always known her son loved deeply.

Even before Amelie.

But there was something different about him now whenever he spoke about her, something quieter and more grounded beneath all the chaos of Formula One and fame and schedules. Like loving her had settled parts of him that used to constantly run restless.

Cisca reached over slowly, squeezing his arm gently. —Sweetheart, nobody thinks she’s taking you away from us.—

Lando looked toward her again.

Her expression stayed soft. —If anything, I think all of us understand she’s become your home in a lot of ways. That’s not something anyone resents.—

The wind shifted through the terrace again, cooler now against their skin while somewhere inside the villa pipes creaked softly through the walls.

Cisca smiled faintly after another second. —Your father just handled it badly. He should’ve spoken to you.—

Lando let out another quiet breath. —Yeah.—

—But I also think he got emotional seeing how naturally you fit into her family sometimes.— Her smile turned almost amused now. —Honestly, half the time it feels like you’ve been adopted by them already.—

That finally pulled the tiniest smile from him.

—Probably,— he admitted quietly.

Cisca tilted her head slightly while studying him. —You really love her, don’t you?—

The question should’ve felt ridiculous after everything.

After years.

After public relationships and private heartbreaks and quietly building entire lives around each other without fully realizing it.

Still, something about hearing it from his mum at nearly one in the morning beneath Portuguese moonlight made the answer settle differently in his chest.

Lando looked out toward the dunes again for a moment before smiling softly to himself.

—Yeah,— he said simply. —I really do.—

The tenderness in his voice made Cisca’s eyes soften immediately.

Not surprised.

Just emotional.

Because mothers knew.

She had known long before either of them admitted it out loud properly.

Knew from the way his face changed whenever Amelie walked into rooms. From how easily he rearranged his life around hers without complaint. From the fact that for the first time in years, his future sounded less like race calendars and contracts and more like something human whenever he talked about it.

Cisca rested her chin lightly against her hand. —You think about marrying her?—

A laugh escaped him instantly, quieter this time.

Not embarrassed.

More caught.

—Subtle,— he muttered.

—That’s not a no.—

Lando shook his head lightly beneath the moonlight, smiling despite himself now. —Of course I think about it.—

The answer came easier than expected.

Because he did.

Constantly, honestly.

Sometimes it hit him in stupid moments. Watching her steal his hoodies while brushing her teeth. Seeing her asleep with sunlight all over her face. Listening to her laugh downstairs with his nieces like she had always belonged there too.

Sometimes it terrified him how naturally forever attached itself to her in his brain.

His smile softened further. —I just… know I need to wait a bit.—

His mum laughed properly now, the sound warm and familiar against the quiet night air.

—Smart decision.—

Lando leaned back deeper into the chair afterward, eyes drifting once more toward the dark ocean beyond the dunes while a quieter expression settled over him now. Thoughtful. Certain.

—But I’ve been testing the territory a bit,— he admitted after a second.

Cisca’s brows lifted immediately with interest. —Oh?—

A sleepy grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. —Just seeing how she reacts whenever marriage comes up.—

His mum looked delighted by that information.

—And?—

Lando’s smile softened instantly at the thought of her. —She gets nervous at first. Overthinks everything for like twenty minutes.— He let out a tiny laugh beneath his breath. —But lately… I don’t know. Something changed a little.—

The ocean wind carried softly through the terrace around them again while he stared somewhere distant now, clearly replaying moments in his head only he could fully see.

—She’s starting to picture it too,— he admitted quietly.

Cisca watched him carefully for another second before reaching over once more to squeeze his hand gently.

—Good,— she murmured.

Because for the first time in a very long time, her son sounded less like someone chasing the next race and more like someone building a life.

--------------

liked by fanpageamelie, papayaprincess, and others

amelieupdates: amelie was spotted in portugal today after being in london literally yesterday 😭✈️

View all 482 comments

papayagirl: oh she absolutely went to portugal to see lando 😭 → loveroflan: nobody even pretend to be surprised → lanmeliehub: zero shock here

ameliecore: london yesterday portugal today??? girl moves FAST 😭 → goldenhouramelie: private jet final boss → softamelie: frequent flyer queen

fanameliee: and lando’s already in portugal with his family btw 👀 → cherryvibes: the math is mathing

sunsetamelie: this free week really turned into european boyfriend tour 😭 → goldenhouramelie: mexico → london → portugal → softclouds: romantic itinerary honestly

papayadreams: imagine landing in portugal and immediately going into vacation mode with the norris family 🥹 → loveroflan: sounds healing honestly

amelievibes: no because this means she was with HER family days ago and now probably with HIS 😭 → cherryvibes: integrated families everywhere → dreamygirlie: serious relationship things

fanpageamelie: she really said “tour ended time to follow my boyfriend around europe” 😭 → goldenhouramelie: as she should

lanfan44: flo definitely posted that picture of lando at the amelie ad as foreshadowing 😭 → papayaprincess: exactly → loveroflan: she knew too much

softamelie: i just know they’re somewhere by the beach eating seafood right now 😭

ameliecentral: these two are never in the same country for more than 12 hours 😭 → cherryvibes: constantly teleporting → dreamygirlie: genuinely

papayagirl: portugal with the norris family sounds SO cozy 🥹 → loveroflan: sunshine and golf probably → lanmeliehub: and charlie running around

fanameliee: she literally wrapped a stadium tour and immediately entered girlfriend era 😭 → goldenhouramelie: balance

sunsetamelie: not fans becoming flight trackers again 😭 → cherryvibes: detective era never ends → dreamygirlie: we learned from the trenches

amelieupdates: i know flo and cisca love having her around 😭 → papayaprincess: sisters coded

coastallover: she’s literally on an europe speedrun right now 😭 → velvetroses: london yesterday portugal today → midnightamelie: tomorrow who knows honestly

sunflowermelie: the way she finally has free time after tour and immediately spends it with him 🥹 → lovelane: priorities → dreamersclub: cutest thing ever honestly

tracksidebabe: i just know charlie is having the BEST week 😭 → lovergirlie: international dog era → paddockangel: passport stamps and everything

ameliezone: these two genuinely live in airports → coastallover: relationship maintained by boarding passes

papayaprincesss: imagine casually vacationing in portugal with the norris family 😭 → lanmeliefever: sounds fake → midnightvibes: dream scenario honestly

velvetamelie: no because this is probably the first time in MONTHS they actually get uninterrupted time together 🥹

gridgirlypop: somewhere flo is probably taking sneaky candids of them again 😭 → raceweekendd: and blessing the fandom → paddocklove: queen behavior

softpapaya: she really wrapped 500k attendance shows and said “now boyfriend time” 😭 → dreamersclub: balance queen → lovelane: exactly

ameliehearts: portugal in may with your boyfriend sounds so insanely romantic 😭 → cherrysoda: warm weather and beach dinners

midnightamelie: i love how both their families seem so involved now 🥹 → velvetroses: it feels really serious → starrylan: wholesome honestly

f1fairytale: from secret situationship to family trips in portugal 😭 → moonlightvibes: character development

goldenhourlane: imagine running into lando and amelie together at some random café in portugal 😭 → lovergirlie: i’d collapse instantly → paddocklove: never recovering from that

papayadreamss: the way they always find time for each other despite the insane schedules 🥹 → lanmeliehub: that interview was so real about it

--------------

The mornings in Comporta always arrived slowly.

Sunlight filtered through the enormous glass windows of the villa in soft golden layers, warming the pale wood floors and long linen curtains while the smell of coffee and toasted bread drifted lazily through the open terrace doors. Somewhere beyond the dunes, the ocean moved quietly beneath the breeze, close enough that every gust carried salt air into the house mixed with sunscreen and fresh fruit and the faint earthy scent of the golf course stretching beyond the resort. Costaterra had become one of Lando’s favorite places for exactly this reason. Privacy. Space. Silence. The kind of luxury that didn’t feel loud or performative, just calm enough that people forgot who they were supposed to be for a while.

Breakfast had dissolved into its usual family chaos nearly an hour ago.

Mila sat cross-legged on one of the terrace chairs aggressively explaining something about dolphins to Flo while Athena attempted to steal strawberries directly from Sav’s plate every time her mother looked away. Oliver and Adam had already shifted into discussing golf plans for later in the day, some conversation involving handicaps and clubs that made absolutely nobody else at the table care except them. Cisca had one leg tucked beneath herself while slowly drinking coffee and reading something on her phone, occasionally joining conversations only to immediately disappear back into whatever she was doing.

It all felt very Norris.

Relaxed. Athletic. Quietly competitive.

Completely different from Amelie’s family, where breakfast usually turned into someone screaming across the table while Stella threw fruit at Jack and Checo started arguments on purpose just to watch everyone react. The Daymans treated vacations like opportunities to become progressively louder every hour. The Norrises somehow managed to remain calm even while discussing who nearly fell off a paddleboard the day before.

Lando leaned back slightly in his chair beneath the terrace shade, sunglasses resting low on his nose while he scrolled absentmindedly through his phone with half his attention on the conversation around him. The past few days had actually been nice in a way he hadn’t expected. Simple. Beach mornings. Golf. Long dinners outside. His nieces dragging him into the pool against his will every afternoon. For the first time in months, his brain had finally started slowing down enough to properly breathe.

Still, the villa had felt noticeably emptier without her.

His phone suddenly buzzed against the table.

The notification appearing across the screen immediately pulled a grin onto his face before he could stop it.

Ames💛: arrived :)

Lando stood almost instantly.

—She’s here,— he announced casually while already stepping away from the table.

Flo smirked immediately over her coffee. —Jesus Christ, look at him go.—

—It’s been two days,— Oliver added dryly.

—The hardest two days of my life,— Lando answered without shame while walking backward toward the villa entrance.

Adam snorted into his coffee.

The warmth outside wrapped around him immediately the second he stepped away from the shaded terrace, sunlight reflecting brightly against the pale stone path leading toward the front of the villa. Somewhere nearby sprinklers clicked softly against the grass, the distant sound blending with waves crashing beyond the dunes and the occasional chirping of birds hidden somewhere in the olive trees surrounding the property.

The black SUV sat parked near the entrance with the trunk still open while the driver pulled luggage from the back.

Amelie climbed out from the opposite side at the exact same moment.

The sight of her after only forty-eight hours somehow still made something inside his chest loosen instantly.

She looked tired in that very specific London way, oversized sunglasses covering half her face, curls messy from travel, one of his shirts thrown over oversize jeans despite the heat. Charlie hit the ground beside her a second later and immediately started pulling excitedly against the leash after spotting him.

Lando smiled helplessly.

Amelie spotted him almost immediately afterward, her mouth curving upward beneath the sunglasses as she adjusted the strap of her bag against her shoulder.

—Hi,— she greeted warmly.

He reached her in seconds, one hand sliding automatically against her waist while he bent down to kiss her slowly beneath the warm Portuguese sun. The kiss tasted faintly like coffee and airport exhaustion and her lip balm, familiar enough that his entire body relaxed into it instinctively.

Amelie laughed softly against his mouth when he kissed her again immediately afterward.

—It’s literally been two days,— she murmured.

—Longest two days of my life actually,— he replied seriously.

She rolled her eyes affectionately.

Charlie barked loudly beneath them in visible outrage over being ignored.

—Oh my God, sorry,— Lando laughed before bending down to pick him up. —Hello to you too, mate.—

Charlie immediately attacked his face with kisses.

Amelie watched them with a soft smile while the driver handed her carry-on toward the entrance staff nearby, the entire scene feeling strangely domestic beneath the bright Comporta sunlight.

The walk back toward the villa happened slowly, Charlie eventually squirming free from Lando’s arms to trot ahead proudly like he owned the property already. Amelie slipped her sunglasses onto the top of her head while they walked side by side through the warm breeze, one of Lando’s hands resting lazily against the small of her back the entire time like he physically couldn’t stop touching her after not seeing her for two days.

—I need to change immediately,— she groaned softly. —I’m sweating to death.—

—You look beautiful actually.—

—That’s because you haven’t smelled Heathrow Airport yet.—

He laughed quietly beneath his breath.

Their bedroom sat on the upper floor facing the dunes and ocean, sunlight flooding the entire space through enormous windows left partially open to let the breeze inside. The bed remained completely unmade from that morning, pillows everywhere, Charlie immediately launching himself onto the mattress like he had returned home from war.

Amelie disappeared into the bathroom after grabbing clothes from her suitcase, leaving the door half open while the sound of hangers and zippers shuffled softly behind it.

Lando threw himself dramatically across the bed with a groan, Charlie climbing onto his chest immediately with one of his toys hanging from his mouth.

—You abandoned me,— Lando accused him.

Charlie dropped the toy directly onto his face.

From inside the bathroom, Amelie laughed quietly.

—How’s your family been?— she asked while changing. —I saw Mila sent me like fourteen voice notes yesterday.—

—She’s obsessed with some dolphin documentary now,— Lando answered lazily while tossing Charlie’s toy across the bed. —Athena cried because Oliver wouldn’t let her eat ice cream for breakfast. Dad’s become emotionally attached to golf again. Same usual stuff.—

Amelie hummed softly from the bathroom. —Sounds peaceful.—

—Mm. Weirdly peaceful.—

A few seconds passed before her voice floated out again.

—I think one of those auditions actually went well maybe,— she admitted carefully.

Lando turned his head slightly toward the bathroom door. —Yeah?—

—I don’t know. Maybe. The director hugged me after, which feels promising.—

—Or traumatic.—

—Also true.—

He heard her laugh softly before she sighed. —I genuinely need a job though. I’m getting bored.—

Lando gasped dramatically. —Excuse me? You already have a job.—

—Oh God.—

—You could literally be my wag full time.—

Amelie stepped partially out of the bathroom wearing only one earring with the most disgusted expression imaginable. —That is genuinely one of the worst things you’ve ever said to me.—

Lando burst out laughing immediately.

—You’d look hot doing it though.—

She pointed threateningly at him before disappearing back inside while his laughter echoed through the room.

A few minutes later she finally emerged properly dressed, the oversized hoodie replaced with a soft blue bikini beneath loose white beach pants that sat low against her hips, still barefoot, curls falling messily over her shoulders from where she had quickly redone them in the mirror. The tan from Miami and Mexico still lingered warmly against her skin beneath the sunlight pouring into the room, and for a second Lando genuinely forgot what they had been talking about entirely.

Amelie caught the expression on his face immediately.

—Stop it,— she muttered while grabbing sunscreen from her bag.

—I didn’t even say anything.—

—Your face did.—

He grinned shamelessly.

The nerves appeared more subtly once they started walking downstairs.

Not enough that anyone else would probably notice, but Lando knew her too well now. The way her fingers absentmindedly adjusted the waistband of her pants. The tiny inhale before they reached the terrace doors. The slight slowing of her steps the closer they got to everyone’s voices drifting inside from breakfast.

His hand found hers automatically before she could think too hard about it.

Amelie glanced toward him briefly.

Lando squeezed once gently. —Relax,— he murmured.

The terrace door slid open before she could overthink another second of it.

Warm ocean air wrapped immediately around her skin as Lando held the glass door open behind her, sunlight flooding across the long outdoor dining table where his entire family sat scattered beneath the shade of the villa terrace. The conversation happening moments earlier barely even had time to continue before attention shifted toward the movement near the entrance, heads turning almost in unison, and Amelie felt the familiar tiny burst of nerves tighten briefly in her stomach despite the fact she had known these people for years now.

She barely managed half a smile before Cisca was already standing.

—Finally!— Cisca exclaimed dramatically, crossing the terrace in seconds.

Amelie laughed softly just before the younger girl wrapped both arms around her tightly, nearly knocking her backward from the force of the hug. The smell of sunscreen and sea salt clung to her skin, warm from the sun already despite the morning hour, and the affection behind it settled something immediately inside Amelie’s chest.

—I was starting to think you hated us,— Cisca added against her shoulder.

—London almost killed me actually,— Amelie answered honestly, making her laugh.

Flo appeared immediately after, shaking her head fondly while pulling Amelie into another hug before she had properly escaped the first one.

—You look exhausted,— Flo murmured.

—I am exhausted.—

—Good. That means the auditions probably went well.—

Amelie snorted softly beneath her breath while Flo kissed her cheek quickly before finally letting her breathe again.

The terrace slowly returned to life around them afterward, everyone greeting her in that relaxed effortless way the Norris family always seemed to do things. No overwhelming attention. No dramatic scene. Just warmth woven naturally into the rhythm of the morning.

Sav smiled brightly from her chair while lifting her coffee mug slightly toward her in greeting. —Hi darling.—

—Hi,— Amelie greeted warmly.

Oliver leaned back in his chair afterward with the exact same amused expression Lando usually got whenever he was about to say something annoying.

—He’s been unbearable without you by the way,— he informed her casually.

—Oliver,— Lando groaned immediately behind her.

—No seriously,— Flo joined in instantly. —He stared at his phone like a divorced dad for forty-eight straight hours.—

—I hate all of you actually.—

Amelie laughed softly while slipping beside Lando automatically as his hand found the small of her back again, grounding and familiar beneath the loose fabric of her beach pants. The touch came so instinctively now neither of them even seemed to notice it anymore.

His mum smiled warmly from her seat near the end of the table, sunlight catching softly against the gold jewelry resting against her skin. —Hi sweetheart,— she greeted gently.

Something about the softness in Cisca’s expression immediately loosened the last tiny bit of tension still sitting inside Amelie’s shoulders.

—Hi,— she answered with a small smile.

The warmth between them lingered a second longer than usual, quiet but meaningful after everything from the past week, before Adam stood slightly from his chair to kiss Amelie quickly on the cheek in greeting too.

—How was London?— he asked.

Amelie made a face instantly. —Wet. Miserable. Emotionally violent.—

Adam laughed immediately while Lando pulled out the empty chair beside him for her.

Charlie trotted proudly onto the terrace a second later carrying one of his toys in his mouth, tail wagging furiously the second he spotted people. Mila gasped dramatically from her seat near Sav almost immediately.

—Charlie!—

The six-year-old launched herself from the chair before anyone could stop her, sneakers slapping loudly against the terrace floor while Athena followed behind much slower, hiding partially behind her sister the closer they got.

Charlie completely lost his mind from excitement.

Amelie smiled softly watching Mila drop directly onto the floor beside the puppy while he climbed halfway into her lap, licking her face aggressively while she laughed breathlessly into his fur. Athena hovered nearby uncertainly for a moment longer, curls messy from the ocean breeze while she studied Charlie with the seriousness only four-year-olds could somehow possess.

—He remembers you,— Amelie told her gently.

Athena looked immediately skeptical. —Really?—

—Mm-hm.—

The little girl hesitated another second before crouching carefully beside Mila, tiny fingers slowly reaching toward Charlie’s back. The puppy wagged harder instantly beneath the attention, nearly falling over himself trying to greet both girls at once.

Lando watched quietly beside Amelie, one arm draped lazily over the back of her chair while she sat beside him beneath the shade of the terrace. The sight alone pulled something warm through his chest he couldn’t properly explain.

Because this was exactly what he had wanted.

Not big dramatic moments.

Not forced family dinners or awkward obligations.

Just her here naturally amongst them. Laughing softly at Mila trying to convince Charlie to eat a strawberry. Flo asking about auditions. Sav passing Amelie coffee without even needing to ask how she took it anymore. The easy overlapping conversations slowly swallowing her into them without effort.

Amelie accepted the mug gratefully with both hands. —Thank you,— she murmured.

—You need caffeine desperately,— Sav informed her.

—I know.—

Lando leaned closer slightly, lips brushing near her temple while murmuring quietly enough only she could hear him. —You okay?—

Amelie turned toward him just enough that their noses nearly brushed.

The nervousness from earlier had softened now, melted slowly away beneath sunlight and coffee and familiar teasing voices surrounding her from every direction.

She nodded once softly. —Yeah.—

His thumb slid absentmindedly against the fabric resting over her hip beneath the table, subtle and affectionate and unconscious all at once.

Breakfast stretched lazily after that, conversations weaving in and out of each other while plates of fruit and pastries disappeared slowly beneath the growing heat of the morning. Adam and Oliver returned to discussing golf plans. Flo argued with Mila about whether dolphins could actually understand English. Cisca tried convincing everyone the hike near the cliffs later would be “fun and healing,” which immediately made Lando suspicious.

Amelie mostly listened at first.

Not because anyone excluded her.

Quite the opposite.

She simply liked watching them.

The Norris family moved differently than hers did, quieter somehow, less chaotic but deeply connected in ways that existed beneath small gestures instead of loud affection. Oliver constantly refilled Sav’s coffee before she asked. Flo rested her feet absentmindedly in her mum’s lap while scrolling through her phone. Adam argued with Lando about golf scores with the seriousness of international diplomacy while everyone else ignored them completely.

It felt peaceful.

Steady.

Real.

Mila eventually climbed directly into Amelie’s lap halfway through breakfast without warning, holding one of Charlie’s paws dramatically while explaining some incredibly complicated game she apparently planned forcing everyone to play later near the beach.

Amelie listened with complete seriousness.

Athena stayed closer to Sav initially, quieter than her sister, but every few minutes Amelie would catch the little girl looking toward her curiously from across the table before quickly glancing away again.

Lando noticed it too.

—She likes you,— he murmured quietly while reaching for his coffee.

Amelie smiled faintly watching Athena hide again behind Sav’s shoulder. —I think she’s deciding if I’m weird yet.—

—You are weird.—

She kicked his foot lightly beneath the table.

The breeze shifted softly through the terrace again, carrying the smell of the ocean stronger now while sunlight danced across the breakfast table in warm gold reflections. Charlie slept sprawled beneath Mila’s chair in complete exhaustion after all the attention, and somewhere behind them music drifted quietly from inside the villa.

For the first time since Myrtle Beach, since the late-night spirals and conversations and guilt she hadn’t known what to do with, Amelie finally felt something inside her settle.

Not because everything had magically become perfect.

Just because she was finally here.

Trying.

--------------

liked by midnightamelie, goldenhouramelie, and others

lanmelieupdates: flo just posted a photo with amelie and lando 😭🤍 family golf day in portugal continues!!!

View all 665 comments

papayagirl: him smiling in the background like 🧍🙂😭 → loveroflan: happiest man alive honestly → lanmeliehub: just vibing

ameliecore: flo and amelie golf cart selfie meanwhile lando’s lurking in the back 😭 → goldenhouramelie: boyfriend npc energy → softamelie: HELP 😭

fanameliee: the way flo keeps feeding us accidentally/on purpose 😭 → cherryvibes: she KNOWS

sunsetamelie: family golf day in portugal sounds so insanely rich 😭 → goldenhouramelie: dream life actually → softclouds: coastal elite behavior

papayadreams: he looks SO happy just watching them 😭

amelievibes: not amelie fully integrated into golf family weekends now 🥹 → cherryvibes: serious relationship things → dreamygirlie: exactly this

fanpageamelie: flo and amelie matching the vibes while lando sits behind smiling like 🙂 → goldenhouramelie: golden retriever boyfriend → softamelie: literally

lanfan44: why does this look like a family vacation ad 😭 → papayaprincess: “discover portugal”

softamelie: the candidness of this photo makes it 10x cuter 🥹

ameliecentral: somewhere charlie is probably riding in another golf cart 😭→ cherryvibes: tiny passenger prince → dreamygirlie: living his best life

papayagirl: i know flo is loving having amelie around 😭 → loveroflan: sister vibes strong → lanmeliehub: genuinely sweet to see

fanameliee: lando really spends every free week golfing 😭 → goldenhouramelie: it’s his natural habitat

sunsetamelie: these two went from secret to being on family golf outings posted by his sister 😭 → cherryvibes: evolution → dreamygirlie: character development everywhere

amelieupdates: the smile in the background is taking me OUT 😭 → papayaprincess: he looks so content

coastallover: the way he’s just sitting back there smiling at them 😭 → velvetroses: peaceful little boyfriend → midnightamelie: thriving honestly

goldenpapaya: flo posting these like she’s the fandom manager 😭 → cherrysoda: employee of the month → lanmeliefever: she understands the assignment

sunflowermelie: amelie on golf carts with the norris family was not on my bingo card years ago 😭 → lovelane: life comes at you fast

tracksidebabe: why does portugal always make everyone look happier 🥹 → lovergirlie: sunshine effect → paddockangel: vacation glow

ameliezone: the background smile is killing me because he looks so fond 😭 → coastallover: exactly

papayaprincesss: i just know flo and amelie gossip together 😭 → lanmeliefever: sister-in-law vibes already → midnightvibes: stopppp 😭

velvetamelie: this relationship feels so NORMAL in the sweetest way 🥹 → starrylan: family trips and golf carts

gridgirlypop: lando really found his ideal life huh 😭

softpapaya: somewhere max fewtrell is being ignored while lando lives his soft life 😭 → dreamersclub: abandoned best friend era → lovelane: HELP 😭

ameliehearts: i know they’re all having long dinners outside every night 😭 → cherrysoda: portugal vacation aesthetic → papayahours: candles and seafood everywhere

lan4worldchamp: no because him being in the background makes the picture 100x funnier 😭 → paddockangel: accidental photobomb

midnightamelie: the way both families seem so comfortable around each other now 🥹 → velvetroses: healthiest thing ever → starrylan: genuinely warms my heart

f1fairytale: they went from hiding in paddocks to family holidays posted publicly 😭 → moonlightvibes: we survived the secrecy era → raceweekendd: veterans honestly

goldenhourlane: flo probably took this thinking “twitter’s gonna eat this up” 😭 → lovergirlie: and she was RIGHT

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The villa had fallen into that lazy kind of afternoon quiet that always followed long mornings in the pool, where everyone moved slower from sun exhaustion and too much food and saltwater still drying against their skin. Warm light spilled softly through the enormous windows facing the dunes, painting gold across the pale couches and linen blankets abandoned everywhere from the girls building forts earlier. The air conditioning hummed faintly beneath the sound of the television while somewhere outside the ocean breeze moved through the tall grass surrounding the property, carrying the distant crash of waves into the house every few minutes.

Amelie lay sprawled across one end of the oversized couch half buried beneath cushions, her damp curls twisted messily on top of her head while one of Sav’s throw blankets rested over both their legs despite the heat outside. Sav sat beside her equally relaxed with one arm stretched along the back of the couch, absently scrolling through her phone between scenes of The Jungle Book playing softly across the massive television mounted against the wall.

Mila and Athena had stopped actually watching the movie at least twenty minutes ago.

Charlie had become significantly more entertaining.

The puppy sprinted wildly around the living room while both girls chased him dramatically across the carpet, Athena shrieking every time Charlie escaped with one of their stuffed animals in his mouth while Mila tried negotiating with him like he understood English.

—Charlie! That’s literally stealing!— Mila yelled in betrayal as the puppy darted beneath the coffee table again.

Sav didn’t even glance up anymore. —You created this behavior,— she informed her daughter calmly.

A burst of laughter echoed faintly from somewhere deeper inside the villa just as heavy footsteps approached across the wooden floors behind them, followed by the unmistakable sound of cabinets opening and backpacks shifting against countertops. Amelie barely paid attention at first, still half focused on the movie while Athena dramatically tackled Charlie onto the carpet in victory, the puppy rolling onto his back immediately in complete betrayal.

The movement behind the couch only properly caught her attention when she heard Cisca’s voice.

—Last chance,— she announced brightly. —Anybody changing their mind?—

Amelie lifted her head slightly from the cushion, eyes drifting toward the kitchen area just in time to see both Cisca and Flo already fully dressed in sporty clothes, hiking backpacks hanging from their shoulders while they filled reusable water bottles near the kitchen island. Flo had her sunglasses pushed into her hair already, skin still sun-kissed from the pool earlier, while Cisca moved around the kitchen with the terrifying efficiency of someone genuinely excited to voluntarily climb mountains for fun.

Amelie blinked slowly toward them from her place on the couch, still mentally somewhere between the movie and the heat-induced laziness currently melting through her body.

—Changing your mind about what?— she asked suspiciously.

Flo looked up from stuffing protein bars into her backpack. —The hike.—

Amelie frowned immediately. —What hike?—

A familiar laugh sounded from somewhere near the hallway before Lando appeared beside the kitchen island with Oliver walking behind him, both dressed in workout clothes already like this entire plan had apparently existed without anybody informing her. Lando wore a fitted white athletic shirt and dark shorts, sunglasses hanging loosely from the collar while one of his curls fell messily over his forehead from still being slightly damp after the pool. Oliver looked equally prepared, car keys spinning casually around one finger while he reached for another water bottle from the counter.

Amelie sat up straighter immediately.

—Where are you going?—

Lando barely glanced up at first while grabbing snacks from one of the cabinets. —Climbing,— he answered casually.

Her eyebrows lifted. —You didn’t tell me you were leaving.—

That finally made him look over toward her, amusement already pulling at the corner of his mouth when he saw the accusation written all over her face.

—I kinda assumed you’d rather stay here with Sav and the girls,— he admitted with a shrug. —Mum and Dad are staying too.—

Amelie stared at him for approximately two full seconds.

Lando barely looked concerned.

If anything, the tiny smile pulling at the corner of his mouth only grew slightly wider when he noticed the offended disbelief slowly spreading across her face from the couch.

—You assumed wrong,— she informed him flatly while throwing the blanket dramatically off her legs.

That finally caught everyone’s attention.

Sav looked up from her phone immediately. Flo froze halfway through zipping her backpack. Oliver glanced between both of them with visible amusement already flickering across his expression like he could physically sense incoming chaos.

Lando blinked once slowly. —You want to come?—

Amelie stood from the couch now, fully committed despite the fact her body still felt melted from poolside laziness and absolutely none of her personality naturally aligned with voluntary mountain climbing.

—Yes,— she answered with pride.

The confusion on Lando’s face deepened instantly.

Not mocking confusion.

Genuine confusion.

Because this was the same woman who considered walking through airports a form of cardio. The same woman who once complained about hiking for nearly three consecutive hours after he convinced her to do one trail in Lake Como because there were “too many nature sounds.”

Flo looked visibly delighted by this development.

—Wait, seriously?— Cisca asked excitedly.

Amelie lifted her chin slightly higher. —Seriously.—

Lando stopped moving entirely beside the kitchen island now, protein bar still in one hand while he stared at her with growing suspicion. A teasing reply already sat right there on the edge of his mouth, visible in the way his lips twitched slightly like he physically wanted to ask if she had a fever.

Her expression remained completely serious though.

Which only confused him more.

The room fell quiet for one beat too long before he finally nodded slowly.

—Okay…,— he answered carefully.

Amelie narrowed her eyes immediately. —Why do you sound scared?—

That made Oliver snort loudly near the counter.

—I’m not scared,— Lando defended himself instantly, though his grin betrayed him completely. —I’m just trying to understand who replaced my girlfriend with this outdoorsy stranger.—

—Shut up,— she muttered while already turning toward the hallway.

The second she disappeared down the hallway, chaos immediately followed behind her.

—No way she’s actually doing this voluntarily,— Oliver muttered while grabbing another bottle of water from the fridge.

Flo looked genuinely emotional. —I feel like I’m witnessing personal growth.—

—You’re all being so rude,— Sav called lazily from the couch without looking up from her phone.

—No, because last year she almost cried walking up stairs in Positano,— Cisca defended.

—That was humidity related!— Amelie yelled from somewhere upstairs.

Lando laughed quietly beneath his breath while shoving the last few snacks into his backpack, though the smile lingering on his face refused to disappear now. Because confusion aside, there was something stupidly endearing about this entire situation. Amelie Dayman willingly volunteering for a hike solely because she realized he was going somewhere without her somehow felt both deeply suspicious and incredibly on brand at the same time.

Charlie barked loudly near the stairs like he also planned joining the expedition.

—Absolutely not,— Sav informed the puppy immediately. —You nearly drowned yourself in the pool this morning.—

The living room settled back into soft afternoon noise afterward, television still playing forgotten in the background while Athena climbed onto the couch beside Sav and Mila continued throwing one of Charlie’s toys across the carpet despite the dog no longer paying attention. Warm sunlight stretched further through the villa now, golden against the pale floors and linen furniture, while somewhere upstairs drawers slammed open and closed in rapid succession.

Lando leaned lightly against the kitchen island waiting.

A few minutes later he heard footsteps approaching quickly down the hallway before Amelie finally reappeared.

And fuck.

The thought hit him instantly and with absolutely no shame whatsoever.

She had changed fast enough that her braid still looked slightly imperfect, loose curls escaping around her face from where she had clearly tied it together in a rush. A fitted pink workout set hugged her body beneath the afternoon sunlight pouring through the villa windows, the athletic top exposing the warm tan still lingering across her shoulders from Miami and Mexico while the matching shorts disappeared high against her thighs. White sneakers. No makeup except whatever remained from earlier. Slightly flushed skin from rushing around upstairs.

Lando physically stopped moving for a second.

Which unfortunately did not go unnoticed.

Amelie slowed slightly near the living room, immediately catching the expression on his face with dangerous precision.

Her eyes narrowed.

—Don’t start.—

He blinked once slowly like rebooting his brain. —I literally didn’t say anything.—

—Your face did again.—

Oliver looked between both of them with immediate amusement. —Oh my God, he’s malfunctioning.—

Flo burst out laughing.

Lando ignored them completely, still staring at Amelie while she adjusted the strap of the small backpack now hanging over one shoulder. The entire situation suddenly felt incredibly suspicious in retrospect.

The suspicion only deepened the longer he looked at her standing there beneath the golden afternoon light spilling through the villa.

Amelie crossed both arms immediately the second she caught the expression still sitting openly across his face, one brow lifting slowly in warning while the loose braid over her shoulder shifted against the dark athletic top hugging tightly against her skin. The tiny flush lingering across her cheeks from rushing upstairs somehow made everything worse for him, especially paired with the fact she looked so annoyingly comfortable in workout clothes despite pretending to hate physical activity with every fiber of her being.

Lando dragged a hand slowly across his mouth like he was physically trying to behave.

It failed instantly.

—You did this on purpose,— he accused quietly.

Amelie blinked once. —Did what?—

—This whole thing.— He gestured vaguely toward her entire body. —You know exactly what those shorts do to me.—

Flo made a loud disgusted noise from near the kitchen island immediately.

—Oh my God, stop talking.—

Cisca threw one of the protein bars directly at Lando’s chest. —Actually nobody wanted to hear that.—

He caught it without even looking away from Amelie. —I’m just being honest.—

—You’re being clinically irritating,— Flo corrected.

Amelie tried to look annoyed, she genuinely did, but the smile pulling uncontrollably at the corner of her mouth ruined the entire performance almost instantly. Lando noticed immediately too, which only made his expression worse somehow, smugness slowly creeping across his face while his eyes dragged shamelessly over her again.

The tiny shake of her head afterward carried absolutely no real irritation behind it.

Which was exactly the problem.

Oliver watched the entire interaction unfold beside the kitchen counter with the exhausted expression of an older brother who had suffered through far too much of this behavior already.

—I genuinely don’t know how any of us are supposed to survive the night in a canyon with you two acting like horny teenagers all the time,— he muttered while grabbing the car keys from the counter.

The second the words left his mouth, both Amelie and Lando looked at him at exactly the same time.

Smiling.

Matching confused smiles slowly beginning to fade.

Amelie blinked once.

—The what?—

Oliver froze.

Flo physically winced.

Lando’s expression changed so fast it was almost impressive.

—Oh no,— Cisca whispered immediately beneath her breath.

Amelie slowly turned her head toward Lando now, suspicion arriving in terrifying stages across her face while he suddenly became deeply interested in adjusting the straps of his backpack.

—Lando,— she said slowly.

He looked back at her with the most offensively innocent expression she had ever seen in her entire life.

The realization hit fully a second later.

Her eyes widened immediately. —We’re sleeping there?—

Nobody answered.

Which was answer enough.

Amelie stared at him in complete betrayal while Flo burst into laughter somewhere behind them.

—You absolute snake,— she breathed out.

Lando lifted both hands defensively already smiling. —Okay, in my defense...—

—You told me we were going for a hike!—

—We are going for a hike.—

—You left out the camping part!—

Oliver snorted loudly while walking toward the entrance hallway. —I told him this was manipulative by omission actually.—

—Thank you, Oliver!— Amelie pointed accusingly toward him.

Lando looked completely unashamed now.

If anything, he looked amused by her outrage.

Amelie narrowed her eyes dangerously at him while crossing both arms tighter over her chest. —You planned this.—

A tiny grin tugged harder at the corner of his mouth. —Maybe a little.—

—Oh my God.—

—Baby, relax,— he laughed softly while walking closer. —It’s literally one night.—

—One night in a canyon!—

—It’s glamping technically.—

—That is just camping for rich people, Lando.—

Cisca fully bent over laughing now while Flo leaned against the kitchen counter for support.

The terrifying part was that Lando genuinely didn’t look remotely sorry.

Not even slightly.

Because beneath the betrayal written all over her face, he could already see it—that tiny spark sitting underneath her annoyance, the one that meant she was absolutely still going. Complaining dramatically, yes. Threatening his life maybe. But going.

Which only made him more pleased with himself.

Amelie pointed at him again, fully scandalized now. —You manipulated me into wilderness.—

—That sounds dramatic.—

—It’s accurate!—

He finally stepped fully into her space then, hands settling automatically against her waist while her glare remained firmly locked onto his face. The contrast between the outrage in her expression and the fact she still let him pull her closer immediately made Flo groan loudly behind them.

—You’re both unbearable actually.—

Lando ignored her entirely, attention fixed only on Amelie now while the sunlight spilling through the villa windows painted gold across the irritated flush warming her cheeks.

—You’ll have fun,— he murmured softly.

Amelie squinted at him suspiciously. —If I get bitten by something weird, I’m suing you.—

His grin widened instantly. —I’ll kiss it better.—

Oliver physically gagged near the doorway.

—No seriously, this is horrific for everybody else.—

Amelie failed to hold back her laugh that time, the sound escaping her despite the glare she was still attempting to maintain. Lando looked absurdly pleased with himself the second her expression cracked, his hands tightening slightly against her waist before he leaned down to kiss her quickly.

She kissed him back for approximately half a second before pulling away again.

—I still hate you,— she informed him.

—No you don’t.—

Unfortunately, the stupid confidence in his voice made it impossible to deny.

A few minutes later the villa finally dissolved into movement, backpacks thrown over shoulders while Flo yelled about someone forgetting sunscreen and Oliver attempted organizing water bottles like they were preparing for a military operation instead of one luxury overnight hike. The warmth outside hit immediately once the front doors opened, late afternoon sunlight stretching long across the pale stone driveway while cicadas buzzed lazily somewhere hidden amongst the dunes surrounding the property.

The black SUV waited near the entrance already packed with supplies in the trunk.

Amelie slowed slightly beside Lando as everyone started climbing inside, still processing the fact she had somehow accidentally committed herself to sleeping in the middle of Portuguese nature because her boyfriend had strategically failed to mention crucial information.

—You’re evil actually,— she muttered quietly while walking beside him.

Lando looked down at her with absolutely no remorse whatsoever. —You still came though.—

She hated how true that was.

Oliver climbed into the passenger seat beside the driver first while Flo and Cisca disappeared into the middle row behind him still arguing over hiking playlists. Lando opened the back door for Amelie dramatically afterward with one hand pressed against his chest like a gentleman, which only made her narrow her eyes harder at him before climbing inside anyway.

The leather seats felt cool against her bare legs from the air conditioning blasting softly through the car, backpacks piled beside them while Lando slid into the seat next to her a second later. The second the door shut behind him, his entire attention shifted back toward her again immediately.

Amelie noticed instantly.

—Stop staring at me like that,— she warned without looking at him directly.

—Can’t help it honestly.—

Flo gagged loudly from the row in front of them.

—We can still hear you, by the way.—

Lando leaned slightly closer toward Amelie anyway, voice lowering just enough to brush warm against her ear. —You look really fucking hot in workout clothes.—

Cisca made an offended noise immediately. —Lando!—

Amelie felt heat rush straight into her face despite herself while Lando only smiled wider at the reaction he caused.

—See?— Oliver sighed dramatically from the passenger seat. —This is exactly what I meant. We’re gonna find them making out against a rock by midnight.—

—That’s disgusting,— Flo complained.

—Statistically probable though,— Oliver added.

Amelie buried her face briefly into her hands while laughing helplessly, already knowing none of this was helping the growing realization settling deeper into her brain the further they got from the villa.

Her head slowly lifted again before she turned toward Lando very carefully.

He immediately recognized the exact moment the panic fully clicked into place behind her eyes.

The innocent smile spreading across his face afterward made her want to physically fight him.

—You’re gonna kill me,— she informed him flatly.

Lando looked completely delighted by that conclusion.

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liked by lanmeliehub, softclouds, and others

lanmelieupdates: cisca just posted lando and amelie climbing a canyon together in portugal today 😭🥾🤍

View all 786 comments

papayagirl: AMELIE DAYMAN voluntarily hiking??? 😭 → loveroflan: love really changes people → lanmeliehub: canyon climbing of all things 😭

ameliecore: this is the same girl who gets tired walking through airports btw 😭 → goldenhouramelie: exactly → softamelie: athlete girlfriend era apparently

fanameliee: i just know she complained the whole way up 😭 → cherryvibes: lovingly though

sunsetamelie: her doing sporty activities for him is actually so cute 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: acts of love honestly → softclouds: relationship compromise 😭

papayadreams: somewhere cisca is laughing at amelie struggling up the canyon 😭 → loveroflan: sibling bonding experience

amelievibes: not the girl who lives in heels climbing rocks 😭 → cherryvibes: range queen → dreamygirlie: adaptable icon

fanpageamelie: lando really looked at her and said “let’s hike” 😭 → goldenhouramelie: and she somehow agreed → softamelie: shocking development honestly

lanfan44: i know she was asking every five minutes if they were almost done 😭

softamelie: charlie probably had an easier time climbing than her 😭 → goldenhouramelie: tiny athletic king → sunsetamelie: absolutely

ameliecentral: this relationship is just lando introducing her to every outdoor activity possible 😭 → cherryvibes: golf, hiking, next skiing probably

papayagirl: i just know lando was holding her hand the entire time 🥹 → loveroflan: helping her climb rocks → lanmeliehub: boyfriend duties

fanameliee: cisca posting this is so funny because she KNOWS the fandom knows amelie isn’t sporty 😭 → goldenhouramelie: she’s evil for this

sunsetamelie: honestly good for her though 😭 → cherryvibes: trying new things queen → dreamygirlie: character growth

amelieupdates: imagine headlining coachella and then immediately being forced to hike canyons in portugal 😭

coastallover: amelie probably thought canyon climbing meant taking pictures near rocks 😭 → velvetroses: not actual EXERCISE → midnightamelie: poor girl got tricked

goldenpapaya: i know her calves are fighting for their lives tonight 😭 → cherrysoda: immediate bed rest after this

sunflowermelie: the funniest part is her outfits are always so cute even for hiking 😭 → lovelane: sporty but make it fashionable → dreamersclub: probably matching set and jewelry still on

tracksidebabe: lando’s ideal date = physical activity amelie’s ideal date = laying horizontally somewhere

ameliezone: not cisca exposing their outdoorsy vacation agenda 😭 → coastallover: next post gonna be kayaking probably → softclouds: don’t manifest that for her 😭

papayaprincesss: i just know she said “i’m literally a singer why am i climbing this” 😭 → lanmeliefever: “this is not in my contract”

velvetamelie: she definitely made lando carry her water bottle halfway through 😭 → starrylan: and her jacket → moonlightvibes: boyfriend duties never end

gridgirlypop: charlie probably ran ahead while amelie was still at the first rock 😭 → raceweekendd: tiny athlete king → paddocklove: embarrassing honestly 😭

softpapaya: no because the image of her dramatically climbing a canyon is sending me 😭 → dreamersclub: actress first always

ameliehearts: somewhere there’s definitely a video of her saying “i can’t do this anymore” 😭 → cherrysoda: cisca PLEASE upload it

lan4worldchamp: i know lando was having the time of his LIFE 😭 → paddockangel: outdoorsy little man → softfilms: meanwhile amelie fighting for survival

midnightamelie: honestly it’s cute seeing her try things outside her comfort zone 🥹

f1fairytale: this is genuinely the most retired couple activity they’ve ever done 😭 → moonlightvibes: golf and canyon hikes in portugal

goldenhourlane: tomorrow she’s gonna post an iced coffee and stay in bed all day after this 😭 → lovergirlie: recovery day → paddocklove: deserved honestly

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Night had transformed the canyon into something almost unreal.

The cliffs that had looked intimidating and endless beneath the afternoon sun now disappeared into shadows beneath the enormous Portuguese sky, the entire world reduced to silver moonlight, dark stone, and the orange glow of the bonfire crackling softly near the center of their campsite. The air had turned colder hours ago, sharp enough now that everyone had slowly started layering hoodies over tired bodies after dinner, the warmth from the fire becoming the only thing keeping the night from feeling freezing this high above the coast.

From the edge of the canyon, the view stretched endlessly.

Far below them the ocean reflected faint strips of moonlight between the cliffs, waves crashing softly somewhere in the darkness while stars covered the sky so clearly it almost didn’t feel real anymore. No city lights. No noise. Just wind moving through the rocks and laughter occasionally echoing from somewhere near the tents where Flo and Cisca were currently trying to take pictures of the sky with Oliver loudly insisting none of their photos looked “cinematic enough.”

Amelie remained closer to the fire instead.

One of the large fallen tree trunks near the bonfire had become her temporary home nearly twenty minutes earlier, her legs tucked up beneath one of the oversized hoodies she had stolen from Lando after dinner while she held both hands toward the flames trying to recover feeling in her fingers. The climb had absolutely destroyed her body in ways she planned to complain about for at least another week, every muscle aching now after hours of hiking through uneven trails and climbing over rocks and narrow paths she still wasn’t entirely convinced were safe for normal people.

Unfortunately for her dignity, she had also secretly loved it.

Not that she planned admitting that out loud anytime soon.

The fire cracked softly in front of her while sparks drifted upward into the dark sky, disappearing somewhere among the stars. The warmth against her face contrasted sharply against the cold air brushing over her bare legs beneath the hoodie, and for a while she simply sat there quietly watching the flames while everyone else moved around the campsite behind her.

The sudden feeling of soft fabric landing over her shoulders pulled her gently from her thoughts.

Amelie turned just in time to see Lando climbing over the tree trunk beside her, one hand balancing himself lazily before he dropped down next to her with a quiet grunt, the blanket he had tossed over her shoulders moments earlier now wrapping warmly around her body.

His hoodie sleeves were pushed halfway up his forearms, curls slightly messy from the wind and the long day, cheeks flushed from the cold and the firelight painting gold against his skin. He looked unfairly attractive in this environment too, which honestly felt deeply disrespectful considering she had nearly died climbing here.

Lando leaned sideways immediately after sitting down, pressing a soft kiss against the top of her head before settling beside her comfortably.

—You have to admit,— he murmured smugly against her hair, —the climbing wasn’t actually that bad.—

Amelie slowly turned her head toward him with the flattest stare she could physically manage.

Lando lasted approximately two seconds before laughing quietly beneath his breath.

Her own expression cracked immediately afterward anyway, a reluctant smile pulling at her mouth despite herself while she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

—My legs are literally shaking still,— she muttered.

—But you survived.—

—Barely.—

—You loved it.—

—Okay, now don’t get crazy.—

His grin widened immediately.

The wind shifted softly around them, moving through the canyon while the bonfire continued crackling in front of their feet. Somewhere behind them Flo yelled at Oliver for ruining another picture while Cisca laughed loud enough for the sound to echo slightly against the rocks surrounding the campsite.

Amelie rested lightly against Lando’s shoulder after a moment, both of them falling into comfortable silence while they looked up toward the stars stretched endlessly above them.

The sky looked impossibly clear out here.

Monaco never looked like this.

Neither did London. Or New York. Or race weekends filled with artificial lights and noise and cameras and schedules. Out here the stars felt close enough to touch, scattered endlessly across the darkness while cold air brushed softly against their skin and the fire warmed the front of their bodies.

Lando’s fingers absentmindedly traced slowly up and down her thigh beneath the blanket while she rested against him quietly, exhaustion from the day finally settling properly into her bones now that everything had slowed down.

His voice eventually broke the silence softer than before.

—Why didn’t you tell me?—

Amelie frowned slightly without looking away from the fire. —Tell you what?—

Lando glanced down toward her briefly. —About the conversation with my dad.—

The words made her body tense almost imperceptibly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Enough for him to feel it immediately beneath his arm.

Amelie lifted her head slowly toward him now, surprise flickering across her face. —Your mum told you?—

Lando nodded once.

The firelight reflected softly in his eyes while he looked back toward the flames again, his expression calmer than she expected considering the first reaction she imagined him having to finding out.

Amelie swallowed quietly before looking back toward the fire too. —I didn’t want you getting upset with him,— she admitted softly after a second. —Because he wasn’t mean, Lan. He really wasn’t.—

—I know,— Lando answered quietly. —Mum explained.—

The canyon fell quiet around them again for another few seconds, the sound of wind moving through the cliffs blending softly with the fire crackling near their feet.

Amelie pulled the blanket slightly higher around herself before speaking again. —He just made me realize some things maybe.—

Lando’s hand slid slowly from her thigh toward her waist beneath the blanket, fingers resting there gently while he listened.

—You spend so much time with my family,— she continued softly. —You always make the effort with everyone. Holidays. Random weekends. Dinner with Stella and Checo. Trips to Mérida. You became part of everything so naturally and I just… I don’t know. I started thinking maybe I haven’t done the same enough with yours.—

Lando looked down at her immediately.

The guilt still lingering quietly beneath her voice made something ache painfully inside his chest.

He leaned closer instinctively, one hand sliding up to cup the side of her face gently, thumb brushing slowly against her cheekbone while the firelight flickered warmly around them.

—Baby,— he murmured softly. —None of that is your responsibility alone.—

Amelie looked at him quietly.

Lando exhaled slowly through his nose before continuing. —You didn’t pull me away from anyone. I made my own choices.— His fingers moved gently through a loose strand of hair near her face. —You became my favorite place to be. That’s not something you did wrong.—

Her chest tightened slightly at the words.

The honesty in his voice always affected her more than she knew how to explain.

Lando leaned closer again, forehead brushing lightly against hers now while the rest of the world faded softly into background noise around them.

—People have to understand something too,— he admitted quieter now. —We’re trying to build our own life. Our own family in some way.—

The word settled warmly between them.

Family.

Not hypothetical.

Not distant.

Something real enough now that neither of them even questioned saying it anymore.

Lando’s thumb brushed slowly across her cheek again. —Of course I miss them sometimes. I wanna see them more. But you’re my priority now, Ames.— His mouth curved faintly against hers before kissing her softly once. —Especially because we don’t get normal time together like most people do. Half our lives happen in airports and hotel rooms and race weekends. So yeah… when I get free time, I wanna spend it with you.—

Amelie kissed him back slowly, one hand sliding gently against the side of his neck beneath the hoodie while the fire warmed their skin.

The kiss lingered there softly between them for several seconds, slow and warm and familiar beneath the cold canyon air, the kind of kiss that felt less about urgency and more about reassurance. Amelie’s fingers curled gently against the back of his neck while Lando leaned into her instinctively, his hand still cupping her cheek as the bonfire crackled quietly a few feet away, orange light flickering across both their faces every time the wind shifted through the campsite. Somewhere behind them Flo burst into loud laughter over something Oliver said, the sound echoing faintly against the cliffs before disappearing back into the night, but neither of them looked away from each other.

Lando kissed her again after a second, softer this time, barely brushing his mouth against hers before pulling back just enough for their foreheads to rest together. His nose nudged lightly against hers while his thumb continued moving absentmindedly along her cheekbone in slow motions that made her chest ache painfully with affection.

—You know what the funniest part is?— he murmured quietly.

Amelie blinked up at him beneath the firelight. —What?—

A tiny smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. —You’ve spent like three days spiraling over this while my family’s been obsessed with you the entire trip.—

That made her snort softly despite herself.

—That’s literally not true.—

—Baby, my mum has shown Sav three different pictures of you and Charlie already.—

Amelie laughed quietly now, shaking her head once against his hand. —Okay, that’s mostly because Charlie’s cute.—

—No, trust me. They unfortunately like you too.—

Her smile softened immediately afterward though, something more vulnerable settling behind her eyes now while she looked at him beneath the glow of the fire. The cold air had turned the tip of her nose slightly pink, curls escaping messily around her face beneath the hood of his sweatshirt, and Lando genuinely didn’t think he had ever loved someone this much in his entire life.

Not in the overwhelming dramatic way movies always portrayed it.

Something quieter.

More permanent.

Like his body had stopped knowing how to exist comfortably anywhere she wasn’t.

Amelie looked down briefly toward the fire before speaking again, her voice smaller now. —I just don’t ever want your family feeling like I took you away from them.—

Lando’s expression softened instantly.

His hand slid from her cheek into her hair, fingers slipping gently beneath loose curls while he leaned closer again until their noses brushed lightly together.

—Ames,— he murmured quietly. —Nobody took me anywhere. I went because I wanted to.—

Her eyes lifted back toward his.

The honesty in his face made her chest tighten all over again.

Lando exhaled softly through his nose before continuing, his voice calm and steady in the way it always became whenever he talked about things that actually mattered to him. —I love my family. That’s never gonna change. But loving them doesn’t somehow mean I love you less or that I have to split myself into percentages between people.— His fingers brushed slowly through her hair again. —You’re my partner. You’re the person I wanna come home to. That’s different.—

The fire popped loudly beside them, sparks drifting upward into the dark sky before disappearing somewhere among the stars.

Amelie stayed quiet, listening carefully while his words settled somewhere deep inside her chest.

Lando tilted his head slightly, studying her face. —Communication matters though,— he admitted softer now. —If you start worrying about something like this again, tell me. Don’t sit there suffering silently while planning secret family vacations to compensate.—

Amelie’s eyes narrowed immediately despite the warmth still lingering between them, though the corner of her mouth betrayed her almost instantly.

—Secret family vacations?— she repeated softly.

Lando grinned against her forehead. —You literally researched half of southern Europe in one afternoon.—

A quiet laugh escaped her before she hid part of her face against the collar of his hoodie, embarrassed he somehow always noticed everything. The firelight flickered softly across the canyon walls around them while the cold wind continued brushing through the campsite, carrying the scent of smoke and ocean salt through the night air.

—I was trying to be thoughtful,— she defended weakly.

—You were trying to emotionally organize everyone’s schedules because my dad made one comment during golf.—

Her head lifted immediately. —Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds insane.—

—Because it is a little insane.—

Amelie gasped quietly in offense.

Lando burst into soft laughter before leaning forward to kiss her again, quick this time, smiling directly against her mouth while she tried failing very hard not to smile too.

The warmth between them settled back comfortably afterward, both of them leaning into each other while the bonfire crackled lower beside the fallen tree trunk.

Amelie watched the flames quietly for another second before mumbling against his shoulder, —Your nieces scare me a little.—

Lando snorted softly. —Why?—

—Mila looked me dead in the eyes earlier and asked if I was gonna marry you one day.—

The grin on his face appeared instantly.

—And what did you say?—

Amelie pointed accusingly at him. —I panicked.—

His laughter warmed her cheek where she rested against him. —Baby, she’s six.—

—Exactly. Six-year-olds are terrifying because they ask things with zero shame.—

Lando shook his head affectionately before kissing the top of her hair again, his fingers slipping beneath the blanket to rub slowly against her thigh while the fire reflected gold in his eyes.

—Imagine how bad I’m gonna be when we have kids then,— he joked lazily.

The words slipped out so naturally neither of them reacted immediately.

Amelie blinked once before slowly tilting her head upward toward him, amusement beginning to spread across her face. —Oh? So now we’re having kids?—

Lando looked completely unbothered.

Actually, worse.

He looked like he had already considered it.

—Two,— he answered casually.

Amelie stared at him.

—You answered that way too fast.—

—Because I already know.—

Her eyebrows lifted higher immediately. —You already know?—

The smug little smile pulling at the corner of his mouth only widened now beneath the firelight. —Yeah.—

Amelie let out a quiet disbelieving laugh, shifting slightly so she could look at him properly now beneath the stars. —Okay then. Apparently we’ve skipped several life steps while I wasn’t paying attention.—

Lando shrugged lazily. —I’m efficient.—

—That’s actually concerning.—

—No, listen,— he continued completely serious now, like this conversation made perfect sense to him in the middle of a canyon at one in the morning. —Two kids. One girl first because I know for a fact she’d destroy me emotionally.—

Amelie laughed softly immediately.

—You’d cry the first time she called you dad.—

—I absolutely would,— he admitted shamelessly. —Then probably another one after because I refuse to be outnumbered by you two permanently.—

Her chest tightened stupidly at how easy he said it.

Not joking entirely.

Not hypothetical in the distant impossible sense either.

Just… natural.

Like somewhere in his brain, a future with her already existed so clearly he spoke about it without hesitation.

The fire cracked softly between them while Lando continued absently tracing circles against her thigh beneath the blanket, his voice quieter now.

—Charlie’s still gonna be alive obviously,— he added thoughtfully. —Probably old and dramatic by then.—

Amelie snorted. —Benny’s definitely gonna hate the children.—

—Björn’s gonna teach them crime.—

—That cat already commits emotional terrorism daily.—

Lando laughed quietly beneath his breath, his forehead falling lightly against hers again while the stars stretched endlessly above them.

—Big house somewhere warm,— he continued softer now, eyes drifting toward the canyon view in front of them like he could already picture it. —Near the ocean maybe. Enough space for dogs and cats and your ridiculous amount of plants you forget to water.—

—I do not forget to water them.—

—Ames, one literally died last month.—

—That was heatstroke.—

His grin widened immediately.

Amelie watched him carefully now, the firelight dancing softly across his face while he spoke so casually about things most people would probably be terrified to even mention out loud. Future house. Kids. Pets. Family.

Like loving her had already settled into permanence somewhere inside him.

—Seems like you’ve thought about this a lot,— she murmured softly.

Lando looked back toward her then.

Really looked at her.

The teasing softened slowly out of his face afterward, something steadier replacing it beneath the glow of the fire. The noise around the campsite faded strangely in that moment, reduced to distant laughter and wind and the ocean somewhere far below the cliffs while his hand moved gently upward beneath the blanket until his fingers rested against her jaw.

His expression turned almost painfully sincere.

—With you?— he said quietly.

Amelie’s breath caught slightly.

Lando brushed his thumb slowly across her cheek, eyes never leaving hers.

—I’ll always have everything planned.—

The honesty in his voice hit harder than the words themselves.

Not overwhelming.

Not dramatic.

Certain.

Like somewhere inside himself he had already built entire years around her existence without even realizing he’d done it.

Amelie stared at him for a second longer beneath the stars, chest aching so badly with love it almost hurt, before she leaned forward and kissed him softly again.

Lando kissed her back immediately, one hand slipping deeper into her hair while the other stayed warm against her face, the fire crackling beside them and the canyon stretching endlessly beneath the moonlight around them.

Somewhere behind them, Oliver’s exhausted voice suddenly echoed through the campsite.

—If you two start making out properly, I’m pushing both of you off the cliff.—

Amelie burst into laughter directly against Lando’s mouth while he groaned dramatically into the kiss, not even bothering looking back toward the tents.

—You’re ruining a very important emotional moment,— Lando yelled back flatly.

—Nobody wants emotional moments from horny rich people at one in the morning,— Oliver answered immediately.

Flo’s laughter echoed loudly through the canyon a second later.

Amelie hid her face against Lando’s shoulder still laughing softly while he muttered something deeply offended beneath his breath, though the smile refusing to leave his face gave him away completely.

[kathlare]

don't forget where you belong

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: This chapter follows Amelie begins realizing how much Lando has woven himself into her family’s life, while she hasn’t fully done the same with his.

Wordcount: 12.1 k

Warnings: none

full masterlist // request over here!

May 9th, 2026 - Myrtle Beach, SC

The South Carolina sun sat warm and golden across the golf course, the late afternoon light stretching lazily over the endless green hills and perfectly trimmed fairways of the golf course, everything carrying that strange calmness golf tournaments always seemed to have despite the constant murmur of people following behind players. The air smelled faintly like fresh grass and sunscreen, mixed with the distant salty breeze drifting in from somewhere beyond the course, and the entire atmosphere felt painfully different from the chaos both she and Lando normally lived inside. No engines screaming through radios. No flashing paddock lights. No frantic schedules stitched together minute by minute. Just the soft clapping of spectators every few minutes, the occasional polite cheer echoing over the course, and the rhythmic sound of golf shoes moving against grass while players disappeared into the distance beneath bright Carolina skies.

Amelie sat sideways in one of the golf carts parked near the edge of the fairway, one leg tucked beneath her comfortably while Charlie rested sprawled dramatically across her lap like a child being personally victimized by the fact he wasn’t allowed to sprint freely through the grass. The front of the cart still displayed Lando’s name in bold lettering from the event, though he himself stood several yards away now with a club in hand, cap low over his eyes while he lined up another shot with the concentration of someone pretending golf wasn’t consuming his entire personality lately.

She honestly still didn’t understand how he had managed to become so obsessed with this sport.

Mostly because she hated it.

Not in a dramatic way.

Just deeply and sincerely.

The entire thing felt painfully slow to her, every hole somehow lasting the length of a small war despite the fact nothing seemed to happen except rich men applauding softly at grass. Her attention span lasted approximately six minutes before disappearing entirely, which was exactly why she had spent most of the afternoon talking to Charlie instead of watching the actual tournament.

Charlie, unfortunately, was also beginning to lose patience.

The second another golf cart rolled somewhere nearby, his ears perked immediately before his entire body shifted excitedly in her lap, tail wagging hard enough to shake against her stomach as if the sight of new people was the greatest event of his life.

—You traitor,— Amelie muttered softly under her breath, scratching behind his ears while trying to stop him from climbing fully out of her arms.

A soft knock echoed lightly against the roof of the cart above her head before a familiar voice followed it.

—Knock knock.—

Amelie turned immediately, looking up to find Adam Norris standing beside the cart with an amused smile already pulling at his mouth beneath the brim of his cap, sunglasses pushed slightly down his nose as he looked between her and the dog currently trying to launch himself toward him.

—Hi,— she greeted warmly, immediately shifting slightly to the side. —Please, sit.—

—You sure?— Adam asked politely, though he was already moving closer.

—Of course,— she nodded quickly.

The second he climbed into the seat beside her, Charlie practically lost his mind with excitement, wriggling violently in her lap while trying to climb toward him. Amelie laughed immediately, tightening her hold around the dog before carefully lowering him closer instead so he could sniff Adam’s hand properly.

—Sorry,— she said through another laugh, shaking her head while Charlie enthusiastically licked Adam’s fingers like he had never known love before. —He gets really excited around literally anyone that isn’t me or Lando.—

Adam laughed warmly, scratching Charlie beneath the chin while the dog nearly vibrated from happiness. —Honestly? Fair enough. I’d probably get sick of you two as well if I lived with you permanently.—

Amelie gasped softly in fake offense, one hand moving dramatically against her chest. —That’s actually so rude.—

Their attention shifted automatically toward the course a second later as applause rippled across the spectators nearby, a louder cheer rising softly through the air. Both of them looked up in time to see Lando straighten from his swing several yards away, his body relaxing with immediate satisfaction as the ball disappeared cleanly across the fairway.

Even from this far away, the smugness radiating off him was visible.

Adam shook his head lightly beneath his breath. —He’s been insufferable all week because of this,— he murmured.

Amelie laughed quietly, watching Lando adjust his glove while a few people nearby congratulated the shot. The sunlight caught against the pale cream golf polo stretched across his shoulders, the fitted clothes somehow making him look annoyingly attractive while doing the most boring sport imaginable.

Adam glanced toward her after a second, amusement flickering across his face. —Lando told me you’ve been joining him a lot lately. Didn’t know you liked golf.—

The laugh that escaped her this time came immediately.

—Oh no,— she corrected quickly, grinning as she shook her head. —I hate golf actually.—

Adam blinked once before laughing louder.

—Seriously?—

—Completely serious,— she admitted shamelessly. —I think it’s one of the most painfully slow things I’ve ever experienced in my life.—

Adam looked genuinely delighted by that confession.

Amelie smiled helplessly before glancing back toward Lando again, watching him laugh with another player while slinging the club casually over his shoulder. —But he asked me to come,— she added softer now, almost embarrassed by how simple the explanation sounded once spoken out loud. —And apparently I’m very weak when it comes to him, so… here I am.—

Adam’s expression softened almost immediately into something quieter, more knowing.

—Trust me,— he said with a small laugh. —He’s exactly the same with you.—

The words settled somewhere warm inside her chest.

Her eyes drifted back toward Lando automatically after that, lingering there a second longer than necessary while he walked further down the fairway beneath the heavy afternoon sun. The actual truth—the embarrassing truth—was that she would probably follow him almost anywhere if he asked her with that stupid smile on his face. The fact he looked unfairly attractive in golf clothes certainly didn’t help either. Neither did the way he always came back from these tournaments flushed and competitive and worked up with leftover adrenaline still humming beneath his skin.

Absolutely none of which she was about to explain to his father.

The silence between her and Adam afterward settled comfortably instead of awkwardly, both of them simply watching the course while Charlie finally relaxed enough to rest his head heavily against her arm again. Somewhere nearby another crowd applauded politely. Birds drifted lazily above the trees bordering the course. The entire afternoon felt strangely peaceful in a way her life rarely allowed anymore.

Adam eventually spoke again, quieter this time.

—Lando told me you two are flying back to Mexico tonight.—

Amelie turned toward him slightly before nodding. —Yeah. Mother’s Day tomorrow,— she explained softly. —I wanted to get there in time to see my mum. Spend some time with everyone before everything gets busy again.—

Adam nodded immediately, understanding flickering across his face. —Of course. Family’s important.—

There was something slightly heavier beneath his tone now though, subtle enough that she noticed it immediately.

Amelie noticed it immediately.

Not enough for someone else to catch it, probably. Adam’s voice stayed warm, calm, easy in the way it always was around people, but there was a slight shift underneath it now, something more thoughtful settling behind the casualness of the conversation. His eyes stayed on the course for another second, following Lando as he disappeared further down the fairway with the small crowd trailing behind him, before he exhaled softly through his nose and leaned back a little more comfortably against the seat.

—I’m glad he goes with you there so much lately,— Adam admitted after a moment, his tone quieter now. —Honestly… I think it’s good for him.—

Amelie turned slightly toward him, listening carefully.

The breeze moved softly through the course around them, carrying distant applause from another hole further away while Charlie shifted sleepily against her lap, finally exhausted from all the excitement. Somewhere nearby another golf cart rolled slowly past. The sunlight had started softening into late afternoon gold now, warming everything in long shadows across the grass.

Adam smiled faintly to himself before continuing. —He’s always loved your family a lot,— he said. —You can tell he feels comfortable there. Relaxed in a way he usually doesn’t let himself be anymore.—

Amelie’s expression softened almost immediately at that, her fingers absentmindedly scratching slowly through Charlie’s fur while she watched Lando in the distance. He had stopped beside the next cart now, laughing at something another player said while balancing the club across his shoulders carelessly, the bright South Carolina sunlight catching against the gold edges of his hair beneath the cap. Even from here she could tell he was happier today than he had been all week, lighter somehow after Miami, after New York, after the nonstop pressure both of them had been drowning under lately.

—He loves being there,— she admitted quietly. —My family treats him like he’s been there his whole life already.—

Adam smiled softly at that, though the expression carried something almost emotional beneath it now, something quieter than amusement. His gaze stayed fixed ahead instead of on her, like it made the conversation easier somehow.

—I know,— he murmured. —And I’m grateful for that, genuinely. You and your family have given him a place where he can breathe a bit. That matters more than you probably realize.—

The words settled heavily between them, not uncomfortable but serious in a way the conversation hadn’t been before. Amelie turned slightly more toward him now, paying closer attention, sensing there was something else sitting beneath everything he was saying.

Adam exhaled softly through his nose before finally looking at her properly.

—I hope you know we want the same thing too though,— he admitted carefully.

Her brows pulled together faintly.

He gave her a small, almost apologetic smile immediately afterward, like he already worried he was overstepping before he had even fully said what he meant.

—I don’t really know how to explain this without sounding dramatic,— he said with a quiet laugh beneath his breath. —But… sometimes it feels like because Lando loves being with your family so much, everyone naturally goes there. Holidays, free weekends, birthdays, little breaks between races. Which makes complete sense, obviously. You miss your family. They’re important to you. Nobody blames you for that.—

Amelie stayed quiet, listening carefully now.

Adam’s fingers tapped lightly once against his knee before he continued more slowly, choosing his words with obvious care.

—But we miss him too sometimes,— he admitted softly.

Something in her chest tightened immediately.

Not because his words were cruel.

Quite the opposite.

Because they were gentle.

Because he was trying so hard not to make her feel guilty while still being honest.

The breeze shifted warmly around them again, carrying the distant sound of applause from somewhere further down the course while Lando disappeared briefly behind a slope of bright green hills, completely unaware of the conversation unfolding back here.

Adam smiled faintly to himself before continuing. —I think… for him, you became his person so naturally that now wherever you go becomes home automatically to him. And honestly, I love that. I love seeing him loved the way you love him.— His expression softened more as he looked at her. —But I also don’t ever want you to feel like you’re visiting us. Or like we’re just his side of life.—

Amelie swallowed quietly.

—Because you’re family too,— Adam said simply.

The honesty in his voice hit harder than she expected.

Not accusatory.

Not possessive.

Just painfully sincere in the way only parents could be when talking about their child.

Amelie looked down briefly at Charlie resting across her lap, her fingers slowing against the dog’s fur while Adam’s words settled carefully somewhere deep in her chest. Guilt wasn’t exactly the right emotion for it, because nobody had ever made her feel unwelcome around Lando’s family. Quite the opposite, actually. They had embraced her so naturally from the beginning that sometimes she forgot there had once been a version of her life where they weren’t part of it. Still, hearing it said out loud like this forced her to realize something she maybe hadn’t fully noticed before—that somewhere along the line, she had unconsciously built their life around her own family simply because it felt easier. Familiar. Safe.

Adam noticed the slight shift in her expression immediately and smiled softly, almost reassuringly, before she could spiral too far into overthinking it.

—I’m not trying to make you feel bad,— he added gently. —God, that’s the last thing I want.—

—I know,— she answered quickly, looking back at him. —I know you’re not.—

The sincerity in her voice softened him instantly.

The afternoon sunlight filtered warmly across the cart around them, catching softly against the edges of Charlie’s fur and the gold bracelets around her wrist while another polite burst of applause echoed from somewhere down the course. The entire conversation felt strangely intimate in a way she hadn’t expected from a random golf afternoon in South Carolina.

Adam nodded once before continuing more carefully now, like he was trying to explain something difficult without making it heavier than necessary.

—I think sometimes with Lando… people forget how much he gives of himself to the people he loves,— he admitted quietly. —He’ll rearrange everything around them without even realizing he’s doing it. He always has.—

Amelie’s chest tightened immediately because she knew exactly what he meant.

She had lived inside that love for years now.

The kind that bent instinctively toward her without asking for anything in return.

The kind that boarded flights half-asleep just to spend twelve hours in Mexico between races because she missed home.

The kind that memorized her family’s birthdays and favorite foods and learned enough Spanish to joke with her cousins at dinner tables.

The kind that made her mother coffee every morning when they stayed in Mérida because he knew she liked it before church.

Adam smiled faintly when he saw recognition flicker across her face.

—He doesn’t do things halfway,— he said simply.

The words lingered there softly between them while both of them watched Lando in the distance preparing another shot, completely unaware that he himself had become the center of such a quiet conversation. The crowd nearby shifted around him slowly, cameras following while he laughed at something another golfer said, relaxed in a way Formula One rarely allowed him to be.

Amelie swallowed softly before finally speaking again.

—I never want you guys feeling like I’m taking him away from you,— she admitted honestly, her voice quieter now. —I think maybe sometimes I just… default to my family because my life’s been built around them for so long. Especially with my schedules. But I don’t want your family feeling like they’re separate from ours either.—

Adam’s expression softened almost immediately at that.

He nodded slowly once, thoughtful.

—I know that,— he said gently. —And honestly, this probably isn’t even something I should’ve brought up today. It’s just… when your kids grow up and suddenly belong to someone else too, it’s an adjustment sometimes.— A soft laugh escaped him beneath his breath. —Not a bad one. Just different.—

The honesty of it made something ache inside her.

Because she could hear how much love sat underneath every word.

Not just love for Lando.

Love for her too.

For the life they were building together whether they fully realized it yet or not.

Amelie’s eyes drifted back toward the course again, lingering on Lando while he finally took the shot, the ball flying cleanly across the fairway before another ripple of applause followed behind it. The immediate grin that broke across his face afterward was boyish in the most unfair way, smug and bright and completely unaware that both his girlfriend and father were currently emotional over him from a golf cart several yards away.

A small smile pulled at her mouth helplessly.

—I think sometimes I forget he’s not only mine now too,— she admitted quietly before she could stop herself.

The words slipped out softer than intended.

Adam looked at her immediately after that, something warm and almost emotional flickering across his face at the confession. Not because she sounded possessive, but because she sounded young suddenly. Young and deeply in love and trying to navigate what it meant to share a life with someone whose heart existed in a hundred places at once.

His smile softened.

—That’s probably because to him, you are home now,— he said simply.

Her throat tightened embarrassingly fast.

Silence settled between them again after that, though it no longer felt heavy. Just thoughtful. Warm. The kind of quiet that existed between people who understood each other a little better now than they had an hour ago.

Charlie shifted sleepily against her lap while the late afternoon breeze moved softly through the trees bordering the course, carrying distant laughter and applause over the endless green hills. Somewhere nearby another golf cart passed slowly. The entire afternoon glowed golden beneath the lowering sun, peaceful in a way that almost felt unreal compared to the constant movement of the lives they normally lived.

The sound of approaching footsteps across the grass eventually pulled both their attention forward again.

Lando.

He was walking back toward the cart now with his cap turned backward, one hand carrying the club loosely while the other adjusted his glove distractedly. Sweat darkened slightly at the collar of his polo beneath the heat, sunglasses hanging lazily from the neckline while the flushed color still sitting across his cheeks made him look unfairly attractive in a way Amelie absolutely hated acknowledging this often.

The second he got close enough, his attention landed immediately on them sitting together.

His brows lifted slightly.

—Why do you both look like you just discussed state secrets?— he asked suspiciously, slowing beside the cart.

Amelie immediately looked away to hide the smile threatening at her mouth.

Adam, somehow even calmer than before, simply shrugged lightly. —Maybe we did.—

Lando narrowed his eyes instantly. —That’s concerning.—

Charlie perked up excitedly at the sight of him and immediately started wriggling again, practically launching himself from Amelie’s lap this time before she finally gave up and let him go. The dog bounded toward Lando happily while he bent automatically to catch him with one arm, laughing softly when Charlie nearly smacked him directly in the face with affection.

The sight alone softened something immediately inside her chest again.

Lando glanced between both of them once more while scratching Charlie behind the ears suspiciously. —Seriously. What were you talking about?—

Amelie and Adam shared the briefest glance.

A silent agreement.

Neither of them said a word.

Which only made Lando more suspicious as he looked between them with narrowed eyes while both of them fought smiles now.

—Oh my God,— he muttered slowly. —You definitely talked about me.—

--------------

liked by schecoperez, ciscanorris1, and others

lando: good week, bad golf ⛳️🏌🏻‍♂️

thanks @oneflightinternational for having us at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic

View all 902 comments

maxfewtrell: “bad golf” is being generous mate → lando: still beat you → quadrant: fact check pending

ciscanorris1: charlie stole every photo 🥹 → lando: as always

ameliedayman: charlie carried the whole team honestly → lando: moral support is important → fanameliee: THEIR CHILD 😭

oscarpiastri: didn’t mention the amount of balls lost → lando: unnecessary comment → alex_albon: no no let him speak

ameliecore: charlie at the golf course 😭⛳️ → cherryvibes: little gentleman

alex_albon: golf outfit was strong though → lando: finally someone appreciates me → lilymhe: the bar is low

carlossainz55: we should keep you away from golf courses → lando: jealous of my swing → fanpageamelie: this friendship 😭

sunsetamelie: the golf bag with his logo omg → goldenhouramelie: athlete final boss → softamelie: so cool actually

lanfan44: he posted amelie first btw 😭 → papayaprincess: priorities → loveroflan: as he should

fanpageamelie: the way these two somehow make golf look romantic 😭 → cherryvibes: impossible talent

georgerussell63: impressive commitment to mediocrity → lando: thanks george

flo_norris_showjumping: who let you near a golf club → lando: oneflight apparently → fanameliee: screaming

pierregasly: future golf champion → lando: absolutely not → estebanocon: self awareness is important

amelievibes: he’s living his retired dad dreams already

rebeccadonaldson: cutest little family outing 💚 → ameliedayman: charlie says thank you → softamelie: STOPPP

fanameliee: the first pic looks like an album cover 😭 → goldenhouramelie: soft launch family vibes → softclouds: painfully cute

papayagirl: “good week bad golf” meanwhile he looks happy as hell 😭 → loveroflan: because amelie and charlie were there

papayadreams: “thanks for having us” THE US 😭 → loveroflan: i noticed that immediately → lanmeliehub: same braincell

quadrant: athlete. golfer. father. icon. → lando: father 😭 → maxfewtrell: yes

softamelie: charlie probably had a better score than lando → goldenhouramelie: honestly likely

mclaren: we’ll stick to racing 🧡 → lando: probably for the best → oscarpiastri: agreed

zbrownceo: next step: pro golf tour → lando: let’s not get ahead of ourselves → fanameliee: zak enabling him 😭

martingarrix: looks like a good day to me mate → lando: very good day → papayaprincess: aw 🥹

schecoperez: golf suits you hermano → ameliedayman: don’t encourage him → lando: thank you checo

ameliecore: the way he casually posted domestic soft life content 😭 → cherryvibes: retired dad aesthetic → dreamygirlie: elite lifestyle

papayagirl: no because the first pic looks SO intimate and cozy 🥹 → loveroflan: you can feel the happiness

stelladayman: charlie was clearly the professional there → lando: carried us honestly → fanpageamelie: the family comments 😭

elysiadayman: the first pic is too cute stop → ameliedayman: 🥹🤍

kikagomes: not bad not bad 👏 → lando: finally recognition → pierregasly: from one bad golfer to another

sunsetamelie: i just know amelie bullied his golf skills all day 😭 → goldenhouramelie: lovingly though → softamelie: obviously

lanfan44: imagine being at the golf course and seeing world champion lando norris walking around with amelie and charlie 😭

danielricciardo: nearly invited you to my team after that swing → lando: biggest compliment ever → papayagirl: DANNY 😭

fanameliee: “thanks for having us” they’re a UNIT your honor → goldenhouramelie: exactly

fanpageamelie: he posted golfing but somehow the entire post is just “i love my girlfriend” 😭 → cherryvibes: exactly → dreamygirlie: loud and clear

amelievibes: this man is in every possible era at once → goldenhouramelie: golfer era → softclouds: boyfriend era → sunsetamelie: photographer era

papayadreams: charlie’s honestly becoming the most famous dog in motorsport → loveroflan: tiny celebrity

softamelie: the vibes of this post are INSANELY comforting → goldenhouramelie: sunshine and happiness

--------------

The house had gone completely quiet hours ago.

Not the artificial quietness of hotels or planes or paddocks where silence never really existed because there was always something humming behind the walls, but the heavy, deep stillness of home after everyone had fallen asleep. Mérida nights carried their own sounds if you listened carefully enough—the distant buzzing of insects outside the gardens, the occasional rustling of palm leaves moving with the warm midnight wind, pipes creaking softly somewhere inside the old family house that had existed long before any of them had grown into it. The air still smelled faintly like rain drifting through the open balcony doors mixed with the lingering scent of sunscreen and laundry detergent and the familiar warmth of the place she had spent her entire life returning to.

Amelie stared at the ceiling for what had to be the hundredth time that night.

Sleep simply refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes, her mind circled right back to the conversation on the golf course, Adam’s careful voice replaying itself over and over again in a way that made her stomach twist tighter the longer she thought about it. Not because he had been cruel. God, he had been the complete opposite. Gentle. Kind. Thoughtful enough to choose every single word carefully so she wouldn’t feel cornered. Somehow that made it worse.

We miss him too sometimes.

The sentence had lodged itself somewhere beneath her ribs hours ago and refused to leave.

Beside her, Lando slept deeply for once, one arm stretched lazily across the mattress where she had been curled against him earlier, his breathing slow and even now after the long day. The moonlight slipping through the curtains painted pale silver lines across his bare shoulders and messy curls, softening every sharp edge of him until he looked younger somehow. Peaceful. Completely unaware that her brain had decided to spiral itself into exhaustion at nearly three in the morning.

Amelie let out a tiny breath through her nose before finally giving up.

The sheets slid quietly off her bare skin as she sat up slowly, careful not to wake him, the humid warmth of the room immediately wrapping around her body. Her muscles still ached pleasantly from earlier, the lazy exhaustion after sex lingering beneath her skin, but her mind remained painfully awake. She leaned over the edge of the bed to grab the first thing she could find on the floor—one of Lando’s shirts discarded somewhere beside the bed hours ago—and pulled it over her head, the soft fabric falling halfway down her thighs. A pair of panties disappeared from the open suitcase near the chair next, quickly tugged on before she padded silently toward the bedroom door.

Charlie somehow woke the second her hand touched the handle.

The puppy lifted his head immediately from his bed near the balcony with the dramatic alertness of someone convinced he had an important night shift to complete, tail thumping once against the floor before he stood and stretched lazily.

—You’re unbelievable,— she whispered softly at him.

Charlie only blinked at her before trotting after her anyway.

The downstairs lights remained off except for the soft glow above the stove in the kitchen, enough illumination to paint the marble counters gold against the darkness. The house felt enormous at this hour, empty hallways stretching quietly around her while she opened cabinets one after another searching for something sweet. Eventually her fingers closed around a package of Oreos shoved behind a cereal box, and she grabbed them with the quiet satisfaction of someone discovering treasure.

A few minutes later she had thrown herself dramatically across the living room couch, one leg tucked beneath her while Charlie climbed beside her immediately, proudly carrying one of his toys in his mouth like he was contributing emotionally to the situation.

Amelie absentmindedly scratched behind his ears while staring toward the dark windows.

Her thoughts kept moving in circles.

Had she really done that?

Had she unintentionally made Lando drift further from his family simply because he always followed her wherever she went?

The more she thought about it, the more examples appeared without permission. Holidays in Mexico. Random weekends in Mérida. Family dinners with Stella and Checo. Last-minute trips to see her mum. Lando almost never complained. If anything, he usually suggested staying longer. She had always taken it as love, as comfort, as him genuinely wanting to be there.

Maybe she had never stopped to think what his family felt watching him slowly build a second home somewhere else.

The front door suddenly opening downstairs made her jump so violently she nearly dropped the Oreos.

A startled yell echoed immediately afterward.

—Jesus Christ!—

Amelie blinked toward the hallway just as Jack appeared in the doorway looking equally terrified, one hand pressed dramatically against his chest while the other still held his car keys.

—You scared the shit out of me,— he breathed out.

—Sorry,— she murmured automatically.

Jack froze.

The apology alone clearly alarmed him more than the scare had.

His brows pulled together immediately as he slowly walked further into the living room, studying her carefully now beneath the dim lights. Charlie abandoned her without hesitation the second he saw him, jumping off the couch to greet Jack enthusiastically instead.

—Oh, okay. Cool,— Amelie muttered dryly at the dog. —Go betray me then.—

Jack barely reacted, still staring at her suspiciously while lowering himself beside her on the couch. Charlie immediately climbed halfway into his lap like he had found his true parent.

—What’s wrong?— Jack asked quietly.

—Nothing,— she answered too fast.

Jack reached into the Oreo package without breaking eye contact, taking one casually before shaking his head. —It’s definitely not nothing if you’re sitting here at three in the morning half naked eating Oreos like you just got divorced.—

Amelie snorted softly despite herself.

—Maybe I was just hungry,— she muttered while grabbing another cookie.

Jack only looked at her harder.

The silence stretched long enough that she finally sighed heavily through her nose, shoulders sinking slightly as the exhaustion she had been fighting all night started settling properly into her bones.

—Adam talked to me today,— she admitted quietly.

Jack stayed silent, waiting.

Her fingers turned the Oreo slowly between them while she stared somewhere toward the dark kitchen instead of at him. —Not in a bad way,— she clarified immediately. —He was actually really sweet about it. That’s kinda the problem.—

Jack frowned slightly.

Amelie swallowed once before continuing. —He basically told me that… they miss Lando sometimes. Like his family.— Her voice softened more with every word. —And that they don’t want me feeling like they’re just his side of life while we became his actual home.—

Jack leaned back slightly against the couch, listening carefully now.

Amelie let out another tired sigh. —I don’t know. It just made me realize maybe I’ve accidentally made him distance himself from everyone without noticing.—

The words hurt more once spoken out loud.

Jack stayed quiet for a few seconds before answering carefully. —Amelie… Lando’s a grown man.—

Jack’s voice stayed calm, grounded in the way older brothers somehow mastered without trying, his hand absentmindedly scratching behind Charlie’s ears while the puppy practically melted against him. The kitchen light cast soft shadows across the living room, painting everything gold and sleepy, and outside the open terrace doors the humid Mérida night carried the distant sound of cicadas somewhere deep in the gardens.

—He makes his own decisions,— Jack repeated more gently this time when she didn’t answer immediately. —You didn’t kidnap him and force him into moving countries or something dramatic like that.—

Amelie let out a tiny breathless laugh through her nose, though it faded almost instantly again.

Her fingers kept pulling apart the Oreo without really eating it, cream sticking slightly against her thumb while she stared down at it instead of at him. The oversized McLaren shirt swallowed most of her frame where she sat curled into the corner of the couch, hair messy from sleep and sex and anxiety, her entire posture carrying the kind of heaviness Jack recognized immediately.

Because for all the chaos Amelie usually carried around her like glitter and noise and movement, she only got this quiet when something was genuinely eating her alive.

—Maybe not,— she murmured softly. —But I think maybe I made it easy for him to stop noticing it too.—

Jack stayed quiet.

The silence invited honesty out of her in slow pieces.

—He follows me everywhere,— she admitted after another moment, her voice quieter now. —And I never really questioned it because… I don’t know. I loved having him there. It just felt natural. Like obviously he’d come spend holidays here or random weekends or stay extra days with us because he wanted to.— Her throat tightened slightly around the words. —But Adam made me realize maybe everyone else is watching him slowly disappear a little from their side too.—

Charlie shifted lazily against Jack’s chest while the older boy leaned back deeper into the couch cushions, thoughtful rather than dismissive.

—I mean… maybe a little,— he admitted honestly.

Amelie’s eyes finally lifted toward him.

Jack sighed softly before continuing carefully. —Not in some evil manipulative way, Meels. Relax.— His mouth twitched faintly. —But relationships do that sometimes. People start building their own little world and suddenly all their time goes there without them realizing it.—

Her chest tightened.

Because that sounded dangerously true.

Jack reached for another Oreo before speaking again, more serious now. —But it’s also not entirely your responsibility to manage his relationship with his family for him. He’s not sixteen. If he missed them that badly, he’d go more often.—

Amelie nodded slowly, though uncertainty still sat heavily behind her eyes.

The living room fell quiet again for a moment, the old ceiling fan spinning lazily above them while warm air drifted through the house. Somewhere upstairs a pipe creaked softly. Charlie let out a dramatic sleepy sigh like he personally carried the emotional burden of the conversation.

Jack glanced sideways toward her eventually, expression softer now. —I think maybe the important part is just… effort.—

She looked at him properly then.

He shrugged one shoulder lightly. —Lando’s made a huge effort with us. With mum. With Stella and the kids. With literally everybody here. He shows up. He stays involved. He tries.— Jack paused briefly. —Maybe Adam just wants to feel like you want the same thing with them too. Not because anyone’s angry at you. Just because they love him and they wanna feel like they matter in your life the same way your family matters in his.—

The words settled differently than Adam’s had earlier.

Softer somehow.

Simpler.

Amelie leaned her head back slowly against the couch cushions, staring up toward the ceiling while her mind turned over everything again. Because the worst part was that Adam had been right about one thing—she had unconsciously started separating the two worlds. Mexico was comfort. Home. Safety. The Norris family existed in another category in her brain entirely, tied to race weekends and quick visits and occasional holidays instead of permanence.

Meanwhile Lando had blended himself into her life so completely it felt impossible now to imagine her family without him sitting somewhere in the middle of it.

Her stomach twisted faintly.

—I love them,— she admitted quietly after a while. —That’s the thing. I actually really love his family.—

Jack smiled softly at that like he already knew.

—Then maybe show them that a little more,— he said simply.

Amelie stayed quiet.

Not because she disagreed.

Because she knew he was right.

The realization sat strangely inside her chest, tangled somewhere between guilt and something softer she didn’t quite know how to name yet. Because maybe part of her had unconsciously kept a slight distance out of fear too. Loving Lando’s family too much somehow made everything feel more permanent, more serious in a way that terrified her if she looked at it too directly.

Jack studied her for another second before nudging her lightly with his shoulder. —You know they already basically think you’re married into the family anyway, right?—

A startled laugh escaped her immediately.

—Please don’t start.—

—I’m serious,— he snorted. —Mum literally calls him her other son. You think the Norris family doesn’t already see you the same way?—

Amelie rolled her eyes, though warmth spread reluctantly through her chest anyway.

Jack smirked slightly before stealing another Oreo. —Honestly, the real issue here is that both of you are so obsessed with each other you forget other people exist sometimes.—

—That’s dramatic.—

Jack gave her a look.

Amelie opened her mouth to argue before immediately closing it again because… okay. Slightly true.

A quiet laugh finally escaped her, softer this time, genuine enough that some of the tension in her shoulders loosened for the first time all night. Charlie immediately abandoned Jack at the sound, climbing clumsily back across the couch toward her like emotional support had been reassigned again.

—Oh, now you come back,— she muttered, scratching behind his ears while he curled dramatically into her side.

Jack watched her carefully for another moment before his expression softened properly now. —You love him, Meels. Nobody doubts that. His family doesn’t either.— His voice lowered slightly. —But loving someone long term also means loving the people who made them sometimes. Even when life gets busy.—

The sentence settled heavily into the quiet room.

Not painful this time.

Just true.

Amelie stared down at Charlie while his tiny chest rose steadily against her stomach, her fingers moving absently through his fur while thoughts kept shifting slowly into place inside her head. The fear hadn’t disappeared completely, but it felt different now. Less like guilt clawing at her ribs and more like realization.

Maybe this wasn’t about choosing one family over another.

Maybe it was about finally letting herself believe she belonged to both.

Upstairs, faint footsteps creaked softly somewhere above them.

Jack’s brows lifted immediately. —That’s your boyfriend realizing his human heater disappeared,— he murmured dryly.

Right on cue, Lando’s sleepy voice echoed faintly from the second floor.

—Ames?—

Amelie closed her eyes briefly, unable to stop the smile pulling at her mouth.

Jack snorted under his breath while standing slowly from the couch. —Yeah. He sounds devastated.—

Another quieter call drifted downstairs.

—Baby?—

The exhaustion still sat heavy in her bones, but something inside her chest had softened now, loosened enough to breathe properly again. She pushed herself up slowly from the couch with Charlie immediately jumping down beside her, and Jack leaned down to kiss the top of her head quickly before heading toward the kitchen.

—Go save your man before he starts crying dramatically,— he teased lightly.

Amelie rolled her eyes affectionately before starting toward the stairs, Charlie trotting faithfully beside her this time.

Halfway up, Lando appeared at the top landing wearing nothing except sweatpants hanging low on his hips, curls sleep-messed and eyes barely open beneath the dim hallway lights. The second he spotted her, relief crossed his face so instantly it almost made her laugh.

—There you are,— he mumbled sleepily.

Her chest ached.

Because Adam had been right about one thing too.

Wherever she was had become home to him.

--------------

liked by moonlightvibes, dreamygirlie, and others

amelieupdates: spotted today 🤍🛍️ amelie out shopping in her hometown looking so happy and relaxed 😭 locals saying she was super sweet to everyone who came up to her

View all 248 comments

papayagirl: mother’s day and she’s home with her family 😭🤍 → loveroflan: actually so sweet → lanmeliehub: full circle moment

ameliecore: “super sweet to everyone” yeah that’s literally every fan encounter ever 😭 → goldenhouramelie: nobody says a bad thing about her

fanameliee: imagine casually seeing amelie dayman at the mall 😭 → cherryvibes: i’d forget how to breathe → dreamygirlie: instantly

sunsetamelie: she always looks happiest in mexico 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: home home → softclouds: comfort place fr

papayadreams: not me wondering if lando’s somewhere carrying shopping bags behind her 😭 → loveroflan: hidden boyfriend duties

amelievibes: hometown amelie content feels different idk → cherryvibes: softer somehow → dreamygirlie: exactly

fanpageamelie: locals saying she was sweet to everyone 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: famous AND kind

lanfan44: the way she went from met gala to random hometown shopping trip 😭 → papayaprincess: range queen → loveroflan: versatile icon

softamelie: i just know she bought flowers for her mom today 😭 → goldenhouramelie: STOP

ameliecentral: she really seems so grounded every time she goes home → cherryvibes: you can tell it means a lot to her → dreamygirlie: definitely

papayagirl: imagine asking her for a picture while buying shampoo 😭 → loveroflan: surreal experience → lanmeliehub: life changing

fanameliee: “looked happy and relaxed” WE LOVE TO SEE IT

sunsetamelie: not me zooming into every reflection for lando 😭 → cherryvibes: detective work never ends → dreamygirlie: literally never

coastallover: no because seeing celebrities in their hometown always humanizes them so much 😭 → velvetroses: exactly → midnightamelie: she looks so at peace there

goldenpapaya: “super sweet to everyone” meanwhile some celebs can’t even make eye contact 😭 → cherrysoda: amelie always beating the allegations

sunflowermelie: i know the aunties in mexico LOVE her 😭 → lovelane: absolutely obsessed with her probably → dreamersclub: national treasure fr

tracksidebabe: mother’s day shopping trip with the family sounds so wholesome 🥹

ameliezone: she really switches from met gala couture to hometown girl immediately 😭 → coastallover: range unmatched → softclouds: adaptable queen

papayaprincesss: i just know somebody’s mom asked for a picture 😭 → lanmeliefever: and she definitely said yes

velvetamelie: i need to know what she bought so bad 😭 → starrylan: candles probably → moonlightvibes: and iced coffee

gridgirlypop: somewhere in that mall lando is standing outside a fitting room holding bags 😭 → raceweekendd: boyfriend simulator

softpapaya: her being home for mother’s day makes me emotional idk → dreamersclub: family girl forever → lovelane: you can tell it matters to her

ameliehearts: imagine going to buy makeup and seeing amelie dayman casually walking around 😭

lan4worldchamp: i know locals were texting everybody after seeing her 😭 → paddockangel: “YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHO I JUST SAW” → softfilms: exactly 😭

midnightamelie: she really has this warmth about her lately 🥹 → velvetroses: happiness looks good on her → starrylan: genuinely glowing

f1fairytale: the way she always goes back home after huge career moments 😭 → moonlightvibes: keeps her grounded probably

--------------

The kitchen had slowly become the center of the house as the afternoon stretched lazily toward evening, sunlight pouring through the wide windows in warm golden rectangles that reflected softly against the pale marble counters and terracotta floors. Somewhere outside in the gardens, music drifted faintly from a speaker Elysia had forgotten to turn off earlier, blending with the distant sound of birds and the occasional laughter echoing from another part of the house. The entire place carried that comfortable chaos family homes always seemed to settle into during celebrations—half-finished flower arrangements on the dining table, someone’s sweater abandoned over a chair, the faint smell of spices and fresh tortillas lingering in the air from preparations already starting for dinner later that night.

Amelie sat cross-legged on one of the kitchen island stools with her laptop open in front of her, completely consumed by the twenty-seven tabs currently threatening to destroy her computer’s battery life. Greece. Southern Portugal. Mallorca. Ibiza. Sardinia. The Amalfi Coast. Every few minutes another beach appeared on her screen looking impossibly blue and offensively peaceful, and every time she thought she had decided, another villa or coastal town pulled her attention somewhere else entirely.

Benny sprawled dramatically beside the laptop like a furry paperweight, his massive British Shorthair body taking up nearly half the island counter while he repeatedly stretched one paw toward her keyboard in protest over being ignored. Every few minutes he would let out a tiny offended chirp when she failed to immediately acknowledge him, only to receive absolutely nothing in return besides absentminded scratches that lasted less than two seconds before her attention disappeared back into researching beachfront houses in Portugal.

Björn, meanwhile, had chosen violence.

The other cat sat beside her stool staring directly at the bowl of grapes in her hand with the intensity of someone plotting a robbery, letting out loud demanding meows every time she grabbed another one for herself without sharing. His tail flicked sharply against the floor in visible irritation, and every few seconds he would stand halfway up against her leg like persistence alone would somehow convince her grapes were an acceptable feline snack.

—You literally cannot eat grapes,— Amelie muttered distractedly without even looking down from the screen. —You’re being dramatic for no reason.—

Björn meowed louder immediately.

Benny finally lost patience entirely and shoved his entire head against her forearm with the force of a small truck.

Amelie barely reacted.

Her brows remained furrowed at the laptop screen while she clicked through another resort in southern Spain, chewing thoughtfully on another grape as she compared flight times between Monaco and different coastal towns. The entire thing had started as a vague idea sometime after her conversation with Jack at three in the morning, but somewhere between waking up and breakfast it had turned into something more solid. More intentional.

If she genuinely wanted to make an effort with Lando’s family, she couldn’t just think about it quietly and expect things to magically change on their own.

She had to actually show up.

The sound of footsteps entering the kitchen barely registered to her until a familiar voice cut through the room in immediate disapproval.

—Amelie Dayman, that cat is on the kitchen island again. Qué asco.—

Her attention finally snapped upward.

Her mother stood near the doorway holding an empty vase from somewhere else in the house, already walking toward the island with the exact expression mothers mastered after years of silently judging household behavior. Before Amelie could even answer, her mum had already scooped Benny up effortlessly into her arms like an oversized baby, the cat immediately melting against her chest with a smugness that felt deeply personal.

—Traitor,— Amelie muttered toward him.

Benny only blinked slowly, entirely unbothered.

—You encourage him too much,— her mother scolded lightly while scratching beneath Benny’s chin. —One day guests are going to come over and find cat hair inside the guacamole.—

—That sounds dramatic.—

—That sounds possible,— her mother corrected immediately.

Amelie snorted softly under her breath before returning her attention toward the laptop again, clicking absentmindedly through another rental listing while Björn continued his vocal campaign for grape rights beside her stool.

Her mother’s gaze drifted toward the screen after a second, curiosity softening her expression slightly as she adjusted Benny higher against her shoulder.

—Why are you looking at beaches in Europe?—

Amelie shrugged casually at first. —Just looking.—

Her mum hummed thoughtfully, eyes narrowing slightly the longer she looked at the collection of tabs open across the screen. Greece. Algarve. Marbella. Saint-Tropez.

A tiny knowing smile slowly appeared at the corner of her mouth.

—Does this have anything to do with you wanting to be more involved with Lando’s family?—

The question hit so directly Amelie physically turned toward her in surprise.

—How do you know about that?—

Her mother’s expression shifted immediately.

Just slightly.

But enough.

The tiny widening of her eyes lasted less than a second before she looked back down at Benny in her arms with sudden exaggerated focus, adjusting the cat against her chest while pretending she hadn’t accidentally exposed herself.

Amelie narrowed her eyes instantly.

—Mamá.—

—What?— her mother answered too quickly.

The suspicion on Amelie’s face only deepened. —You knew way too specifically what I was doing.—

Her mother pressed her lips together, already failing at hiding the amusement tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The realization hit almost immediately afterward.

Amelie groaned dramatically, dropping her head back toward the ceiling. —Oh my God. Jack cannot keep his mouth shut for more than six minutes.—

That finally made her mother laugh properly, warm and unapologetic while Benny purred loudly in complete betrayal against her chest.

—In his defense,— her mum started through a smile, —he was concerned about you.—

—He’s a snitch,— Amelie corrected flatly while closing the laptop halfway with a sigh. —This is exactly why I tell him nothing.—

—You tell him everything actually.—

—Unfortunately, yes.—

Her mother’s laughter softened into something more affectionate as she moved around the kitchen island slowly, still carrying Benny like a toddler while Björn immediately redirected his attention toward her instead, meowing loudly in hopes she would prove more generous with snacks.

She ignored him completely.

—Poor thing,— her mother murmured toward the cat. —No one feeds you in this house.—

Björn blinked slowly like a war veteran being finally understood.

Amelie rested both elbows against the marble counter before dragging one hand down her face tiredly. The tabs still glowed faintly across the laptop screen beside her, little pieces of Europe scattered everywhere in bright beaches and white villas and turquoise water, but now that someone else had noticed what she was doing, the entire thing suddenly felt strangely vulnerable.

Too intentional.

Too revealing.

Her mother leaned lightly against the opposite side of the island, studying her carefully now beneath the softness of the afternoon sunlight pouring through the kitchen windows. Years of motherhood had made her frighteningly observant, especially with Amelie, who somehow remained completely readable to her no matter how old she got or how carefully she tried hiding things.

—You’ve been thinking about it a lot?— she asked gently.

Amelie sighed softly through her nose before nodding once. —Adam talked to me yesterday at the golf tournament.—

Understanding immediately flickered across her mother’s face.

Not surprise.

Just understanding.

—Jack mentioned that too,— she admitted carefully.

Amelie groaned again. —Of course he did.—

Her mother’s smile softened immediately at the sound of her frustration, the kind of fond amusement only mothers seemed capable of carrying even while completely exposing family secrets. Benny remained fully relaxed in her arms, one paw dangling dramatically over her forearm while he purred loud enough to vibrate through the quiet kitchen.

—He worries about you,— she repeated gently, like that somehow excused betrayal.

Amelie narrowed her eyes. —You all gossip about me behind my back like old women in a bakery.—

—That is exactly what families do,— her mother replied without shame, reaching down absently to nudge Björn away from trying to climb her leg in search of grapes. —And honestly, if you’re going to walk around the house at three in the morning looking heartbroken, people are going to ask questions.—

Amelie let out a dramatic sigh, dropping her forehead briefly against the cool marble counter before turning her head slightly to look toward the windows. Outside, the late afternoon sun painted the gardens gold, palm leaves moving lazily in the heat while somewhere in the distance she could hear Stella’s children yelling over something near the pool. The house still smelled like lunch and flowers and home, warm and familiar in a way that usually settled her immediately.

Today her brain refused to fully relax.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the laptop while her mother continued studying her quietly from across the island.

—What exactly did Adam say?— her mum asked softly after a moment.

Amelie hesitated briefly before answering, not because she wanted to hide it anymore, but because saying it out loud again somehow made the entire thing feel heavier.

—Basically that they miss him sometimes,— she admitted quietly. —That he spends so much time with us now that maybe they feel a little… left behind, I guess.—

Her mother nodded slowly, thoughtful rather than defensive.

—And that upset you.—

It wasn’t really a question.

Amelie exhaled softly through her nose before nodding once. —Because I didn’t realize it was happening.— Her fingers curled loosely around one another atop the counter. —I think I just got used to him always being here. Like… he genuinely loves coming here and spending time with everyone and I never stopped to think maybe his family wanted that same version of him too.—

The honesty in her voice made something in her mother’s expression soften further.

She shifted Benny slightly higher against her chest before walking slowly around the island, stopping beside Amelie instead of across from her now. The marble remained cool beneath Amelie’s bare legs where she sat perched on the stool, sunlight warming one side of her face while the kitchen slowly filled with the softer orange tones of approaching evening.

—Amelie,— her mother murmured gently, one hand brushing slowly through her hair the way she had done since childhood. —You are not stealing him away from anyone.—

Amelie looked down at the counter quietly.

—But,— her mum continued carefully, choosing her words with the same softness Adam had used yesterday, —I do think maybe you got comfortable letting him come into your world without fully stepping into his.—

The words landed with uncomfortable accuracy.

Not cruel.

Just true.

Amelie swallowed softly.

Her mother leaned lightly against the counter beside her, gaze drifting toward the half-closed laptop screen where tiny pictures of European coastlines still glowed between browser tabs.

—Honestly, I think this is a good idea,— she admitted after a moment. —Making more effort with his family. Spending time with them outside race weekends and events and chaos.— A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. —Especially because Lando has made such a huge effort with ours from the beginning.—

Amelie let out the tiniest laugh through her nose. —Yeah. He basically lives here at this point.—

Her mother snorted softly. —That boy knows where everything is in this house better than your brothers do.—

Which was unfortunately true.

Lando moved around the Mérida house with the casual comfort of someone who belonged there entirely now. He knew where her mother kept coffee mugs. Which cabinet held extra towels. Which bedroom light flickered occasionally if you turned it on too quickly. He sat through loud family dinners without hesitation, helped her father with random projects around the house, carried Stella’s children around like they were permanently attached to him, and somehow blended himself into the rhythm of their family so naturally that everyone had stopped noticing when exactly it happened.

The realization made guilt twist faintly inside her chest again.

Because she loved his family too.

Genuinely.

But there was a difference between loving them and building herself into their lives the same way he had built himself into hers.

Her mother watched the thoughts move visibly across her face before speaking again, quieter this time.

—You know what I think?—

Amelie glanced toward her.

—I think you’ve spent a long time being scared of how serious this really is.—

The sentence hit directly enough that Amelie blinked.

Her mother smiled softly at her reaction, not mocking, only understanding.

—Not because you don’t love him. God, that part has been obvious for years now,— she said gently. —But because letting yourself become fully part of his life also means accepting he’s fully part of yours. And that’s terrifying when your lives are so chaotic all the time.—

Amelie looked away immediately toward the windows again because the accuracy of it made her chest ache.

The kitchen stayed quiet for a moment except for Benny purring lazily and Björn continuing his campaign of emotional manipulation beside the stools.

Eventually Amelie spoke more quietly. —I don’t want his family thinking I don’t care about them.—

Her mother’s expression softened instantly. —I promise you they don’t think that.—

—But Adam clearly feels something enough to bring it up.—

—Because he loves his son,— her mother replied gently. —And because families miss people when they become adults and start building lives somewhere else. That’s normal. One day I’ll probably complain about you disappearing too.—

Amelie laughed softly despite herself. —You already do that.—

—Exactly.—

The warmth of the conversation slowly eased some of the tightness sitting beneath her ribs, not erasing the worry completely but reshaping it into something more manageable. Something she could actually do something about instead of simply spiraling over at three in the morning.

Her mother glanced again toward the laptop before smiling slightly. —So. Which beach are we apparently relocating the Norris family to?—

Amelie groaned softly. —I can’t decide.—

That finally earned a full laugh from her mother as she carefully set Benny back onto the floor where he immediately strutted away with offended dignity after being removed from his throne.

—Well, if you’re going to kidnap your boyfriend’s family for bonding time, at least pick somewhere with good food,— she teased lightly.

Amelie smiled properly for the first time all afternoon before reopening the laptop slowly. Greece glowed back onto the screen first, white buildings against bright blue water, followed by another tab of the Algarve coastline.

Her mother leaned closer curiously.

—Portugal is nice,— she commented thoughtfully. —Closer for everyone too.—

Amelie nodded absentmindedly before hesitating briefly. —Do you think I should tell him? Like… about all this? About Adam talking to me and me wanting to make more effort?—

Her mother looked at her immediately like the answer should’ve been obvious.

—Of course you should tell him,— she said gently. —He’s your partner, mi amor. Don’t turn it into something secret living only inside your head.—

The statement felt painfully aimed considering that was exactly what she tended to do.

Amelie sighed softly. —I just don’t want him thinking his dad made me feel guilty or something.—

—Then explain it properly,— her mother replied simply. —Tell him the truth. That you love him. That you love his family too. That maybe you realized there’s room for you to show that more clearly.—

Outside the front gate, distant laughter and car doors suddenly echoed faintly through the afternoon air.

The boys were back from the store.

Almost immediately afterward Charlie’s barking exploded somewhere near the entrance of the house, followed by Lando’s voice loudly greeting someone in terrible Spanish while Jack laughed at him.

Amelie felt herself smile automatically before she could stop it.

Her mother noticed instantly.

—See?— she murmured softly. —That boy already belongs here. Maybe now it’s your turn to let yourself belong there too.—

--------------

liked by fanpageamelie, lovergirlie, and others

amelieupdates: victoria dayman just posted this family photo for mother’s day tonight 😭🤍 amelie back home in mexico with her parents and siblings, everyone say thank you victoria for feeding us!!!

View all 1,395 comments

papayagirl: THE WHOLE DAYMAN FAMILY 😭🤍 → loveroflan: victoria fed us well today → lanmeliehub: national holiday honestly

ameliecore: they genuinely look like the prettiest family ever 😭 → goldenhouramelie: genetics went crazy → softamelie: unreal

fanameliee: seeing amelie at home with her siblings makes me emotional idk 🥹 → cherryvibes: she looks so happy there

sunsetamelie: victoria posting family pics like a proud mom 😭 → goldenhouramelie: as she should → softclouds: sweetest thing ever

papayadreams: stella and amelie literally have the same smile 😭 → loveroflan: family genes STRONG

amelievibes: callum staying mysterious as always 😭 → cherryvibes: lowkey king → dreamygirlie: private legend

fanpageamelie: no because this is the same girl who was at the met gala days ago 😭 → goldenhouramelie: now she’s in family photos at home → softamelie: range

lanfan44: somewhere lando is definitely taking this photo 😭 → papayaprincess: WAIT 😭

softamelie: they genuinely look so close as a family 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: you can tell → sunsetamelie: warm vibes everywhere

ameliecentral: victoria said “here damn” and posted the whole family 😭 → cherryvibes: mother behavior

papayagirl: i know mexican moms LOVE posting family pics on mother’s day 😭 → loveroflan: universal experience → lanmeliehub: so real

fanameliee: jack looks exactly like their dad omg 😭

sunsetamelie: amelie always seems softer and calmer when she’s home 🥹 → goldenhouramelie: grounded queen → softclouds: hometown healing

amelieupdates: not me zooming in looking for lando in reflections again 😭 → papayaprincess: same → loveroflan: we never rest

coastallover: this family photo feels so nostalgic for some reason 🥹

goldenpapaya: victoria posting this like every proud mexican mom ever 😭 → cherrysoda: “my children 🤍” energy → lanmeliefever: i love it so much

sunflowermelie: the way amelie always comes back home after huge events 😭 → lovelane: keeps her grounded probably

tracksidebabe: all her siblings are gorgeous what the hell 😭 → lovergirlie: elite genetics → paddockangel: unfair honestly

ameliezone: no because you can SEE where amelie gets her smile from 🥹

papayaprincesss: family dinner at the dayman house must be so chaotic 😭 → lanmeliefever: imagine the stories → midnightvibes: i wanna witness it once

velvetamelie: stella and amelie together always heal me idk → starrylan: sister energy 🥹 → moonlightvibes: they seem so close

gridgirlypop: callum avoiding fame while having one of the most famous sisters alive 😭

softpapaya: victoria really said happy mother’s day to US too 😭 → dreamersclub: she knows what she’s doing → lovelane: absolutely

ameliehearts: i just know that house smells like good food and candles 😭 → cherrysoda: and coffee → papayahours: ultimate comfort home

lan4worldchamp: somewhere lando’s getting interrogated by the whole family 😭

midnightamelie: the fact she can go from global superstar to just being somebody’s daughter at home 🥹 → velvetroses: this one hurt → starrylan: beautifully said

f1fairytale: family photos on mother’s day will always make me emotional 😭

goldenhourlane: not me hoping victoria accidentally posts lando next 😭 → lovergirlie: manifestation circle → paddocklove: patience everyone

--------------

The bedroom had settled into that soft, heavy quiet that only seemed to exist after midnight, after exhaustion and intimacy had finally wrung the last bit of noise out of the world. The balcony doors remained cracked open just enough for the warm air to drift lazily inside, carrying the distant sound of insects and rustling trees from the gardens below, the entire family house wrapped in darkness now except for the faint amber light glowing from the bedside lamp neither of them had bothered turning off. The sheets lay tangled low around their waists, twisted carelessly from earlier, the air still warm with the lingering heat of skin against skin and slow breaths and the aftermath of each other.

Amelie rested sprawled across Lando’s chest with one leg tangled loosely between his, her cheek pressed just above his heartbeat while his fingers moved absentmindedly through her hair in slow repetitive motions that had become almost unconscious by now. Every few seconds his hand would catch slightly on the ends before smoothing through again, nails scratching lightly against her scalp in a way that made her eyelids feel heavy despite the fact her brain still refused to properly settle. Beneath her, his breathing remained calm and deep now, chest rising steadily underneath her body while the occasional movement of his thumb traced lazy circles against her shoulder.

Neither of them had spoken for several minutes.

Not because anything was wrong.

Quite the opposite.

The silence between them had become one of the safest places she knew.

Charlie slept somewhere near the balcony in complete dramatic exhaustion after spending most of the evening running through the gardens with Callum and Jack, his tiny snores occasionally blending into the soft night sounds outside. The entire room smelled faintly like clean sheets and the remnants of Lando’s cologne still lingering against his skin, comforting in a way that made her chest ache slightly the longer she stayed there listening to his heartbeat.

Amelie stared quietly toward the ceiling for another minute before finally speaking, her voice softer than the darkness around them.

—Do you miss your family?—

Lando’s fingers slowed slightly in her hair.

Not stopping.

Just slowing enough that she felt the small flicker of confusion move through him beneath her.

—What?— he asked quietly, his voice rough with sleep and relaxation.

Amelie lifted her chin slightly from his chest just enough to look vaguely toward him without fully moving. —Your family,— she repeated softer now, suddenly feeling strangely shy about the question the second it left her mouth. —Do you miss them?—

A tiny crease appeared between Lando’s brows as he looked down at her properly now, confusion mixing with amusement like he was trying to understand where this had possibly come from in the middle of post-sex silence.

—Well… yeah,— he answered slowly. —Of course I do.—

The response came naturally.

Without hesitation.

Like the answer was obvious.

Amelie nodded once against his chest.

Silence slipped back over them afterward, though it felt different now. Fuller somehow. Lando’s hand continued drifting through her hair while his eyes stayed fixed on the top of her head, his confusion growing quietly the longer she remained silent afterward.

Outside, the wind shifted softly through the palm trees.

Somewhere downstairs, pipes creaked faintly inside the old house.

Lando eventually let out the tiniest breath through his nose before tilting his head slightly against the pillow beneath him. —Why?— he asked gently.

Amelie swallowed once.

Her fingers curled absentmindedly against his stomach beneath the sheets while she searched for the right way to say it without sounding strange, without exposing the spiral that had lived inside her head for nearly two days now.

—No reason,— she started automatically.

Lando immediately snorted softly.

The sound made her smile despite herself.

—That’s definitely a lie.—

She groaned quietly into his chest. —Okay, fine.—

His hand slipped lower through her hair now, fingertips brushing slowly against the back of her neck while he waited patiently.

Amelie stayed quiet another second before finally lifting herself slightly onto her forearms so she could look at him properly. The warm bedside light softened every feature of his face beneath her, curls messy against the pillows, lips still pink from kissing her, eyes heavy with sleep but focused completely on her now in that attentive way he always did when he realized something mattered to her more than she was pretending.

Her chest tightened slightly at the sight of him.

—We spend a lot of time with my family,— she admitted carefully.

Lando blinked once. —Okay…—

—No, like… a lot,— she continued softer now. —We’re always here or with Stella and Checo or doing something with everyone and... I don’t know. I just started thinking maybe we don’t really do the same with yours.—

His expression shifted subtly.

The confusion faded first.

Something gentler replaced it instead.

Amelie looked briefly down at his chest before continuing. —I feel like you’re always the one coming into my world all the time. My house. My family. My traditions. My chaos.— A tiny embarrassed laugh escaped her quietly. —And you never complain about it. You always make the effort. But I don’t know if I do the same enough for you sometimes.—

Lando’s hand stilled completely in her hair now.

Not tense.

Just attentive.

Amelie rushed slightly to keep talking before she lost the nerve entirely. —I was looking at places in Europe earlier today,— she admitted. —Maybe we could do something with your family next week or whenever everyone’s free. Somewhere by the beach or something. Portugal maybe. Or Greece. I don’t know.— Her fingers traced nervously against his chest now. —I just think maybe we should do that more. Be around them more. Not only mine.—

The room stayed quiet after she finished.

Not empty.

Just still.

Lando looked up at her for several seconds without speaking, something unreadable flickering softly behind his eyes while he processed every word. His thumb eventually brushed lightly against the back of her neck again before he let out the smallest breath through his nose, almost disbelieving.

—Baby,— he murmured quietly.

The softness in his voice alone made her stomach twist.

Amelie immediately looked defensive despite herself. —What?—

Lando’s mouth curved immediately at the way she said it, soft and defensive all at once, like she was already preparing herself for him to tell her she was overthinking something again. His hand slid slowly from the back of her neck into her hair once more, fingers combing lazily through the strands while he looked up at her with an expression that only made her feel more exposed somehow, too warm and too affectionate for the hour of the night they were in.

—Nothing,— he murmured quietly. —You’re just… very cute when you spiral yourself into guilt over things that literally don’t exist.—

Amelie frowned instantly. —I’m not spiraling.—

Lando’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

She narrowed her eyes at him. —Don’t do that face.—

—What face?—

—That face where you act like I’m being dramatic when I’m actually making valid points.—

A quiet laugh escaped him beneath his breath, his chest moving underneath her where she rested against him. The sound carried no mockery in it, only softness, only the familiar amusement he always seemed to have whenever she started trying to carry emotional responsibility for the entire world on her shoulders.

Lando’s laugh faded slowly into the quiet room, softer now, his fingers still moving through her hair with the kind of absent tenderness that made it impossible for her to stay properly annoyed at him for long. The warm light beside the bed painted lazy shadows across his face, catching against the curve of his mouth while he looked at her like she had just said something impossibly precious instead of exposing one of the newest anxieties currently eating holes through her brain.

Amelie narrowed her eyes at him for another second before finally sighing dramatically and letting her forehead fall back against his chest. —You’re annoying,— she muttered.

His hand immediately slid lower along her spine beneath the sheets, slow and soothing. —And you’re overthinking again.—

—I’m literally not.—

—Baby, you researched entire countries today.—

That made her lift her head immediately again. —Okay first of all, Greece was actually very valid research.—

Lando grinned properly now, sleepy amusement brightening his face. —Mmhm.—

—And Portugal too,— she continued defensively. —You like Portugal.—

—I do like Portugal.—

—Exactly.—

His smile only softened further watching her argue her own point so seriously, curls messy against the pillows while she hovered half on top of him beneath the tangled sheets. God, she was beautiful like this. Barefaced. Hair ruined from his hands. Lips swollen from kissing him. Looking deeply offended because he had correctly identified she was spiraling emotionally again.

The realization that she had spent her entire afternoon planning ways to be closer to his family hit him all over again somewhere deep in his chest.

Not because he expected it from her.

Because he didn’t.

That was the thing.

Everything she gave people always came naturally. Fiercely. Completely. She loved with her whole body. His family had adored her almost immediately because of it, because she walked into rooms like warmth itself, because she made people feel chosen without even realizing she was doing it. The fact she was now sitting here worried she somehow wasn’t doing enough almost made him emotional in a way he would absolutely deny later.

His thumb brushed softly against the curve of her waist beneath the sheets. —You know my family loves you, right?—

Amelie’s expression softened slightly. —I know.—

—Like… genuinely loves you.—

A tiny smile pulled at her mouth. —I love them too.—

The answer came so quietly and honestly it made something ache inside him.

Lando tilted his head slightly against the pillow while looking up at her, his hand drifting slowly up and down her back now. —You don’t have to prove anything to them,— he murmured. —Or to me.—

Her gaze dropped briefly to his chest again, fingers tracing absentminded little shapes against his skin. —I know that too.—

Silence settled softly between them once more, comfortable and warm beneath the distant sound of wind outside the balcony doors. Somewhere beyond the room the old house creaked quietly in its sleep, the entire world reduced down to amber light and tangled sheets and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek.

Amelie swallowed softly before speaking again, quieter this time. —I just don’t want you waking up one day realizing your whole life became mine by accident.—

The words hit him harder than she probably intended.

Lando’s brows pulled together faintly, not in irritation but confusion almost, genuine disbelief that she could think that way at all. His hand slipped gently into her hair again, fingertips curling softly at the nape of her neck until she looked back up at him.

—Amelie,— he murmured carefully. —My life didn’t become yours by accident.—

Her chest tightened immediately.

His eyes stayed fixed on hers, open and honest in that terrifying way only he could manage when he meant something completely.

—You became my life because I wanted you to,— he said softly.

The room suddenly felt smaller somehow.

Warmer.

Amelie’s breath caught embarrassingly for a second while she looked at him.

Lando gave the tiniest shrug afterward, like the statement was the most obvious thing in the world. —I come here all the time because I love being here. I love your family. I love your home. I love seeing you happy when you’re around them.— His thumb brushed gently beneath her jaw now. —Nobody’s forcing me to do any of that.—

She felt her throat tighten slightly.

—But,— he continued softer, —if you wanna spend more time with my family too… I’d love that.—

A tiny smile finally tugged properly at her mouth now.

—Yeah?—

—Yeah.— His own smile widened slightly. —Although fair warning, my family is significantly less chaotic than yours. You might get bored.—

Amelie gasped softly in offense. —Excuse you, my family is charming.—

—Your brother once tried to cook bacon shirtless at two in the morning and almost set the kitchen on fire.—

—Okay but in his defense he was drunk.—

Lando snorted quietly. —Exactly my point.—

She laughed then, the sound softer now than before, less tense, her body finally relaxing properly against him again. Lando watched her carefully while she settled back onto his chest, one of her legs tangling more fully between his beneath the sheets as his arms wrapped automatically around her waist.

His mouth pressed absentmindedly against the top of her head.

—Portugal could be nice though,— he murmured into her hair after a minute.

Amelie smiled against his skin immediately. —I knew you’d say Portugal.—

—Because it’s nice.—

—Because you wanna golf there.—

He looked mildly offended. —That’s not true.—

She lifted her head just enough to give him a look.

Lando paused. —Okay maybe slightly true.—

Amelie rolled her eyes fondly before leaning down to kiss him softly, slow and warm and lingering in the quiet room. He kissed her back immediately, one hand sliding higher along her spine while the other cradled lazily behind her neck, both of them smiling faintly into it by the end.

The kiss broke slowly, neither moving far.

Their noses still brushed together when he spoke again.

[kathlare]

hiii!!! I luv ur stories/fics so much! Can I do a request where Amelie goes to the 2026 met gala 🫶 (since Sabrina went and was absolutely beautiful)

hiii!! 🫶 i actually got a couple requests about the met gala episode and it was published on monday already!! so in case you missed it, i’ll leave the chapter link down below 🤍 thank you so much for the request and for reading my storie, it genuinely means a lot to me 😭

Post by @kathlare · 6 images

💬 8  🔁 7  ❤️ 178 · paper rings · Please write a chapter about Amelie goes to the Met Gala and maybe Lando goes with her?🥺💗 and they meet wit

[kathlare]

hope to be accepted in Amelie's instagram account soon🤭

girl i hope by this time i’ve already accepted you 🤭 but if anyone missed it, you can follow Amelie’s instagram account here to keep up with little extras and content that sometimes don’t make it into the chapters!! the account is private, but i accept everyone so don’t worry 💋