Marie Racing Team

"i'm in my mum's car. vroom vroom"

[marieracingteam]

Lancey and his Lilybug – The Series

stepdad!Lance Stroll

Lance's life changes drastically when he finds love, even more when he falls in love with a really special Lilybug too.

Part 1 | Lancey and his Lilybug (2990 words)

Part 2 | A Flower to a Lilybug (1612 words)

Part 3 | How Lance became Lancey (1289 words)

Part 4 | The home of a Lilybug (1597 words)

Part 5 | The fear of a Lilybug (2763 words)

[marieracingteam]

Have you heard Lawrence is going to be grandfather soon. I was watching TikTok when I found out Chloe is pregnant and I suddenly remember your story where the part of Lawrence considered Lily as his granddaughter and the part where she took care of lily because lance And y/n went to the hospital.

The adventures a Lilybug has with a flower – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 2450

summary: Lily learns she will always have her flower.

There was something bothering Lily and everyone could see it.

She wasn’t crying or throwing a fit or nothing like that. Like always, she was well behaved and very obedient.

However, there was something about her that screamed she was troubled.

She was sad and completely unmotivated. Whereas before she would have been running around the garage or playing with Lawrence or some mechanic, now the little girl was sitting next to her mother coloring a picture book she had found without much interest.

The car was colored red indicating that the problem that was bothering her so much probably had to do with the team whose color had been the only one she had left inside the box of colored pencils.

“All good, princess?” Lawrence asked her for what felt like the tenth time in the last half hour that they had been sitting together. Again, the girl just nodded and continued coloring without minding the lines.

The very much perfectionist Lily coloring over the lines. Her mother couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

And everything had started that morning when she arrived at the paddock hand in hand with her mother and Lance.

She had been excited to be back on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, insisting on carrying her own green backpack that matched her new dress in the team colors. She had even let Lance put some green bows in her hair, despite her recent rejection of all her old hair accessories, claiming she was too big for them.

However, something must have happened at some point in the morning to upset her so much. She had not left their side at any time, so no one knew what it could be and it was not for lack of insistence.

Lance had had to get into his car with the worry of not knowing what was happening and his sister kept asking her father if they had already found out what had bothered the girl so much from the Paddock Club where she took refuge from the smell of gasoline that made her pregnant stomach nauseous.

The six year old, on the other hand, was not bulging. She had been practically mute since they entered the garage and had not moved once from the spot beside her mum.

Everyone was so focused on the girl that no one was even paying attention to Lance in Free Practice. Even some of the employees were sending them curious looks.

“Lily, baby, we are worried. Can you tell mum what is wrong?” the woman tried again. Murmuring close to her ear to see if she would confess it in a secret between the two of them.

But, again, the girl only answered with her head, this time shaking it.

If they hadn't been so attentive to her, her mother probably wouldn't have noticed the strength with which the girl was gripping her backpack that was next to her with her free hand.

“Did you bring your blanket again? You know it's okay, we're not going to scold you. If Lance told you to leave it at home it's because we don't want it to get dirty or lost” the woman insisted, remembering the last time the girl had done something like that and how guilty she had felt afterwards.

At that, Lily threw herself on top of the green backpack, probably so that no one would try to open it. And before anyone could react, tears were already falling from her eyes.

“Ok, babygirl. No one is going to take it! Nothing's wrong” the woman tried to console her.

“Princess, you are such a good girl, no one is mad at you!” Lawrence said, touching her hand.

When she felt the touch a big wail came out of her mouth, making the man quickly move away.

“Lily! What is wrong?” her mum said loudly this time. Obviously worried about the girl's strange reaction, which had nothing to do with the attitude she had had a few hours ago.

She was so excited to go to Lance's garage that she had even begged to go on Friday instead of going to school. She had spent the entire afternoon making drawings for everyone.

"The drawings," she whispered, suddenly realizing what the problem could be. "Lily, did someone say something about your drawings?"

"Who?" Lawrence asked, suddenly getting up from the couch, ready to make whatever dismissals were necessary.

Lily just hugged her backpack tighter.

No one remembered having seen the girl take any of her drawings out of her backpack, but that would make sense.

Like many children her age, Lily was going through a big change since she started going to school. She was no longer a toddler and she wanted to show it at all costs, for example by stopping using her bows and colored rubber bands.

In addition, she had started to be very embarrassed by things that didn't make her shy before, such as her drawings. Her teacher had told her it was very normal, so no one had worried much.

That, however, did not seem normal.

In the midst of all that drama, Chloe decided to get off the Paddock Club, worried about her father's lack of answers.

"What's wrong?" the woman asked, watching the scene.

Upon hearing her, Lily began to cry harder.

"Hello Chloe," Lily's mother greeted. "You wouldn't happen to have told Lily anything about her drawing, would you?"

"What drawing?" she asked back, bending down to Lily's height to caress her back. "Did you draw me a picture, Lily-girl?" she whispered to the girl, ignoring the smell of gasoline that surrounded the entire garage.

The girl timidly looked at her, nodding this time amidst all her tears.

"Can I see it?" she asked in an animated voice, this time getting a shake of her head. "Why?"

"Lily, you made a beautiful drawing, I'm sure it will make Chloe very happy. You really wanted to show it to her, why don't you want to give it to her?" asked her mother.

As expected, Lily didn't answer and instead buried her head next to her backpack.

With no other ideas, Chloe looked around. It was obvious that something was upsetting her greatly and all those questions only made her more upset.

Seeing how upset the little girl was, the whole family decided to remain silent for a few seconds to give her some space to relax. This time Lily accepted Lawrence's caresses on her back, having checked that the man was not trying to take her backpack.

However, shortly after, Lance was out of the car and his reaction to seeing that scene was not very different from the rest of the family.

"Lilybug?" he asked when he saw them. The girl didn't even give him a glance. "Okay, that's it. Lily, you're under arrest," said the driver, taking the girl's arms and carefully placing them on her back.

That joke that always worked seemed to have a more difficult audience that day because Lance didn't receive even a small smile from the girl.

"You're about to be sentenced to a hundred tickles, anything to say in your favor?" he insisted a little more, turning her around. However, nothing came out of her mouth and the tears that kept falling from her eyes made Lance put off his joke for later. "Can you whisper in my ear what happened? I promise not to say anything and punish these three very harshly" he tried another method, picking up the girl in his arms without caring about being sweaty.

She grabbed the backpack again, carrying it with her.

And when everyone thought the tears would return, Lily approached Lance's ear and began to whisper for what felt like the longest seconds of the day.

"Tell us, who's going to get tickled? I remind you that I'm a very pregnant woman" her sister pressed, curious to know the reason for the girl's displeasure.

"Okay, the jury is still out" Lance replied, but everyone could see that his smile was fake. "Why don't we do something, Lilybug? How about we look at those drawings and let Chloe and Lawrence decide for themselves what they think?"

So her mother was right. It all had to do with the drawings.

But she had seen them herself! There was nothing new or wrong with them, nothing that could provoke a reaction like that in her daughter.

"Yes, Lily-girl. I'm sure we'll love them," the blonde encouraged her when she saw the girl hesitate.

Slowly and without looking at anyone, Lily got out of Lance's arms and opened her backpack.

In the middle of a day of big storms and action on the track, the three adults were completely focused on that zipper that was being opened painfully slowly.

A stack of drawings was the first thing they could see. Most of them were a little wrinkled after being crushed by the little girl, but none of them were damaged.

With their eyes wide open, the three of them waited to see which one of them had caused all this. Her mother even bit her nails.

Had she drawn something inappropriate without realizing it? Had she written something she shouldn't and now regretted it?

However, between the girls’ trembling hands only a very colorful family portrait appeared.

It wasn't just a mother's love when she said Lily was quite an artist. She loves to draw and was very good at it for her age. Nothing prodigious, but certainly talented.

"Lily! It's beautiful!" Chloe exclaimed, trying to grab the drawing to see it better before the girl quickly hid it away.

"Have you drawn Chloe's baby?" asked Lawrence, who hadn't been able to see it properly.

Lance nodded having known that even before the girl confessed it to him. He himself had helped her by coloring the sky while her mother was showering. "We still don't know if it's a boy or a girl, so it's still a sketch, right, Lilybug?"

The little girl nodded shyly, avoiding looking at any of the adults.

"Can I see it better?" Chloe asked, excited.

Again slowly, Lily picked up the drawing. This time covering her face with the paper so she wouldn't have to see them looking at it.

"Lily!" Chloe exclaimed, bursting into tears. "I love it! It's the baby's first drawing, did you know that?"

"Why did you think we wouldn't like it, Lily?" Lawrence asked, still too worried about the little girl's crying to really appreciate the drawing.

Lily just looked at Lance, silently asking for his help.

"When we arrived, Lily heard something that made her a little sad," Lance explained, sitting on the coffee table that was placed in front of the sofas and sitting Lily on his lap. "When she heard it, she thought that maybe you wouldn't like the drawing."

"And what did you hear, Lily?" asked her mother, not remembering anything remarkable.

When the girl remained silent, it was Lance who spoke again. "Lily heard a friend of my father's say that he was finally going to be a grandfather. She thought that maybe he wouldn't like what she had written."

Since she had learned to write, Lily had insisted on giving a title to all her drawings like the ones at the museum, substituting them even if she felt inspired enough.

Approaching the drawing, Lawrence read the footer.

On the sheet, Lily had drawn a free interpretation of the circuit. Lance's car was in the center of what seemed to be the track. Just to his left was the Paddock Club, where Lance, her mother, Chloe and Scott were standing. On the other side of the car, a very tall Lawrence was holding hands with Lily and a very small baby who curiously was standing straight.

In the right corner was a blank rectangle with the information of the drawing:

“Chloe's baby and the car - Lily (2024)

The baby and Lily see Lancey's car with Grandpa Flower.”

Lawrence recalled the first time he showed Lily Lance's car, leading her by the hand to where it stood in the pit lane. It had been their secret adventure giving no one was supposed to be there.

The drawing was very similar to that moment and the man assumed that it was probably an interpretation of the baby's turn to see the car for the first time as Lily's had done. A new adventure, he supposed, this time with the baby too.

“Well. He was wrong, Lily, and so were you. I love it, very much if I am honest. It is probably my favorite drawing of yours” he said, moving the paper away from the girl's face so he could see her properly.

She had been so happy when she found out she was going to have a cousin. Just a few weeks ago she had spent all day wearing the t-shirt Chloe made for her with the words “Big cousin” to let everyone know. It broke Lawrence's heart seeing how something so special had been clouded by a comment from someone who knew nothing about them.

Brushing Lily's hair with his hands, Lawrence hugged the girl in his arms, being careful with the paper.

“Nothing in this world makes me happier than our adventures. Even more now knowing soon we will have a new companion. Nothing in this world makes me happier than being your Flower, your grandpa” he whispered to the girl, knowing everyone could hear him too but not minding “I know I look too young to be a grandfather but it is my biggest accomplishment in life, princess. I now have two grandchildren and can’t wait to have more. Please let your mum know”.

For the first time since she arrived, Lily laughed with that belly laugh that made Lawrence remember the little girl he first met all those years ago.

Chloe grabbed Lily’s mother's hand at those words, completely emotional by the situation. She understood those hormones and those tears well, even though she hadn’t been pregnant for a few years.

“Lily, you are going to be the best big cousin ever. Don't listen to what people have to say about what they don't know. Now, can I have that drawing, please? I really want to put it in the nursery” Chloe said, making the girl smile and happily nod.

“Wait, I am grandpa Flower, I am in the title, I should be the one who gets the drawing?” Lawrence complained.

“Ok, ok. I know Lily’s drawing is that cool, but can we not fight about that one when her backpack is still full” Lance said, raising said backpack before two pairs of hands came attacking.

note.

thanks for the messages and for reading my little stories. i appreciate it with all my heart.

i'm sorry I've been missing for a while, but I'm trying to come back little by little.

looooove

[marieracingteam]

The fear of a Lilybug – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 2763

summary: The story behind Lance's bike accident.

Vacations are for relaxing and sunbathing and being at home with the family. Vacations should never be for being scare and alone in a hospital. Lucky for her, she was never those things for a long time when her family was there.

Right now, nevertheless, Lily was scare and alone, she was inconsolable. Sobs so strong that left her shaking and aching.

One nurse was holding her as they waited for someone to come get her and her kind words were falling on deaf ears.

“I want to go with my mom! I want to see Lancey!” she screamed again. 

The waiting room was almost completely empty as they waited for her mom to come out again. However, her little screams filled all the space. The echo of the silence that followed making her scream louder.

Her mom had been going in and out of the emergency room, her heart torn between her daughter and her injured fiancee. While she was inside, a nurse had been kind enough to stay outside with the little girl. But Lily wasn't happy with that arrangement anymore.

“I am right here, baby” her mom said, running out of the emergency room, probably having heard her cries from inside.

“I want to see Lancey!” she cried again, even if she was in her mom's arms now.

She had been scared and nervous since the moment of the accident that afternoon, even more so when Lance started bleeding and complaining of severe pain.

And if that were not enough, since they arrived at the hospital she could no longer see the man and barely see her mother either.

“Lancey is inside, baby. The doctor is taking good care of him” her mom explained as best as she could. 

Her little legs trashed around at that answer. Her mother then stopped stroking the girl's hair to hug her tighter, preventing her from escaping from her arms.

They still did not know much about the extent of the man's damage, and although it was not dangerous, it was damage that he could not afford so soon before the start of the season.

It was obvious that his wrists were bad, but they still didn't know if he would need surgery on them. Furthermore, the man was in so much pain that they had to put him on a lot of medication. Between all that and the people who kept coming in and out of the room, the woman thought that the best thing for the girl was not to have to see any of that.

Now, seeing her, she didn’t know if that was the right thing to do. 

Neither one of them expected that day, a day that should have been one of relaxation before they went back home from their vacation, to ended up like it had, as a terrible, horrible, long day.

Stupid bike, she thought, and maybe even stupid Lance for wanting to teach Lily how to ride one in the sloping and bumpy street instead of on their patio, where grass would have save their fall.

“I have to go inside for a bit again, baby. But I will come back very soon” the woman said seeing her phone ring. “Lawrence is flying here and in a little while you will be able to see Lance. It's all right, baby, we just have to wait a little longer. Why don’t you sleep for a little?”.

The girl tried not to fall asleep. Even if she was completely exhausted. If it weren't for her nerves, Lily would have already fallen asleep hours ago.

It had been a long day. They had spent the entire morning at the beach and Lance had tired her out by constantly throwing her into the water whenever she asked. Then, when they were supposed to lay down to rest, she asked her mother to help her read her new book. Finally, when they should have been getting ready for an early dinner, Lance had suggested renting some bikes and teaching the girl a little on her last day of vacation.

However, no matter how much she fought against sleep, it finally overtook her, making her fall asleep in a hard, cold plastic chair.

When Lily next woke up, she was sleeping in a very well known arms. She didn't even have to open her eyes to know who he was. She could recognize him by the strong smell of his cologne and the always gentle touch of his hands in her hair.

“Good morning, princess Lily” the man said before she opened her eyes.

“Good morning, king Flower” she said back snuggling in the man's arms.

However, the happy feeling blossoming in her tummy died when she finally saw where she was. Still in the waiting room of a hospital in a country she barely knew.

“Lancey!” she cried sadly. Tears quickly coming back to her eyes when she remembered the man she loved deeply falling just before her eyes.

“Sh, Lily, don't cry” Lawrence said, hugging her closer to his chest.

When she really looked at him, Lily found out her Flower didn't look like the king he always was. His suit was wrinkled and half put and his hair was disheveled. He had dark shadows under his eyes and looked a little tired and a little sad.

Just like Lily felt.

“Lance is fine, Lily. He just needed a little fixing, but now it is done. We will see him very soon” he promised.

Just beside them, her mom slept in a ugly chair like hers with her head resting on Lawrence's shoulder. Even while sleepy, Lily could see her frowning as she held her fiance's phone in her hand.

When Lawrence moved to hold Lily's body better, she unconsciously touched the phone's screen, letting Lily see the picture Lance had as a screensaver. She had seen it before a lot of times on his phone and she could remember that day vividly. It was taken on her last day of kindergarten while she was wearing a costume like her teacher had asked them.

Lance has found it and bought it last minute –even if she already has a few ready to be worn. It was a complete winner when Lily saw the red fabric with black dots.

He had insisted on taking a lot of pictures of that day as her mom did. Her on the stage, her with her new diploma, her doing her little dance… His favorite, however, was the one they had taken at home before they left, with her in her mom's arms wearing her Lilybug’s costume before becoming a “big girl ready for school” like she had claimed.

Lance had made that picture his screensaver that day and it hadn't changed since then.

“Baby” her mom called her as soon as she woke up, opening her arms for her when she saw the girl awake too.

Since her seventh birthday, Lily had seen that it started to took her mom more effort to pick her up. She was a big girl now anyway, so she understood it. Her mom, however, not so much. She tried holding her still anyway she could, just to convince herself that her baby was still a baby.

“Where is Lancey?” she asked when Lawrence help her into her mom's lap.

“He is with the doctor” her mother explained, stopping to yawn behind her hand “The doctor took him to fix his hands. He will have to wear casts for a few and we will have to help him around the house, but he is very well. He is now waking up, but he was looking forward to seeing you.”

“I am sorry” she said for what could be the thousand time “I am so sorry, mommy”

“It wasn't your fault, baby. And Lance is fine. That street was very steep. We should have gotten off the bikes earlier. It wasn't your fault Lance fell.”

If there was any fault in all that, it was Lance's and the driver knew it. He shouldn't have insisted on wanting to teach the girl so suddenly, much less on streets they didn't know. When Lily finally was able to stay on the bike without the training wheels, the straight street they were practicing on turned into a downhill without the girl knowing how to stop. Lance had obviously lunged to stop her, succeeding before realizing he couldn't stop them both.

Before the medicine kicked in, Lance had been blaming himself for the fall the entire time. He had been lucky to be able to release the girl's bike in time, thus stopping her without having to take the girl to the ground with him.

Now he had not only jeopardized his season, but he had ruined the experience for the girl, scaring her and putting her in danger, like he had sworn never to do.

“Can I see him now?” she begged her mother.

“Very soon, baby. Any minute the doctor will come out for us and we will go and see him” she explained before looking at her father in law.

Lawrence had flown as soon as she called him, leaving everything behind. His mother was doing the same, but her flight would take longer to arrive

 Luckily, the operation had been simple. The best surgeon in the country had performed an initial reconstruction operation and in a few days an athlete specialist would see him again to see what else they could do to ensure the best and quickest recovery.

His return to Formula 1, however, was not a concern for any of them. Although they understood that it was for Lance.

The doctor didn't come for them until almost half an hour later. The anesthesia had worn off enough for the driver to be awake and asking about his family. Still, Lawrence went through first to make sure nothing in the room would frighten the girl, including the man resting inside her.

“Lancey!” the girl shouts, running to the bed when she finally saw him, stopping just before she could touch it. Her mother had warned her that she should not touch the man until he told her to and that she had to be very careful not to hurt him, since he had hurt himself a lot.

Lily already knew the hospitals after her accident and she had always been very good at following what her mother told her, so it was not difficult for her to be obedient.

“My Lily” the man murmured. He still felt tired from the anesthesia and his mouth was so dry that it was difficult for him to speak, even so, none of that stopped him from calling the girl.

He wanted to open his arms to hug her, but his remaining anesthesia prevented him from lifting them.

“How are you, love?” asked her mother when they reached the man's bed.

“Sleepy,” he confessed “but so happy to see my girls”.

“I missed you” Lily whispered.

“So did I, Lilybug. So did I.” he mumbured back, his head falling again in his pillowcase “I'm so sorry I scared you, I'm sorry I didn't…”.

“Shh. It’s ok” her mom stopped him “Do not worry, love. Rest a little longer, we'll be here when you wake up”.

Lance tried to nod, but at that point his eyes closed. “Sleep well, Lancey”.

Lawrence stroked the girl's hair from behind her back, but his gaze was fixed on his son.

“Do you want to sleep a little longer too, baby?” her mother asked.

“Can I draw a picture for when Lancey wakes up?” the girl proposed instead.

“Sure. I'm going to get you something to paint” the man said running out of the room.

The girl's mother stared at the door with a frown still on her face. Lily could immediately see that she was worried like when Lance got into the fast car.

Nevertheless, she shoke the emotion out and send a half smile to the girl before sitting on the couch next to Lance's bed, helping the girl onto her lap.

When Lawrence returned with everything he could find in the gift shop, the girl's mother was asleep again, tired from all the hours spent waiting for the doctors.

Without waking her up, the man helped the girl draw something next to Lance's bed, although he wasn't as focused as he always was. His gaze kept turning to the man.

“Flower, Lancey is fine. My mom says he just needs a little love and some medicine to get well” the girl tried to console him when she saw the sad look on his eyes.

“I know, sweet girl. Sometimes we parents can't help but worry, even when we know everything will be okay.”

“Like when Lancey was so worried when mom and I had the car accident?” the girl asked without taking her eyes off her drawing.

“Yeah, the same. We parents are overprotective of our children like that" the man explained.

When Lily looked up from her drawing, she saw Lawrence looking at Lance again. He was brushing his hair away from his forehead with his fingers just to kiss that place a few times before continuing the combing of his hair.

Lance used to do that to her too when she pretended to be asleep on the couch so he would carry her to bed.

However, he never looked so sad doing so.

Lily asked herself if maybe her Flower was sad because he neither could pick Lance up, like it happened to her mommy.

When she was sick, her mother always wanted to hold her in her arms, even when she could infect her. However, Lance was already too big for his father to be able to hold him in his arms, although that didn't stop him from wanting to do it anyway.

Looking at him, Lily wondered if the day would come when she, too, would be too big for her mother or her Lancey to hold her. It was already starting to cost her mother.

Growing up wasn't so cool, she guessed.

Lance woke up a few hours later. His mother had already arrived and she kept tucking the man in, inevitably waking him up.

“Hello,” the driver murmured when he woke up. All eyes in the room were on him. “You were right, honey, I should have shaved.”

With a smile, the woman helped Lily onto the couch so she could see the man better. “You're very handsome still” she replied, stroking the small beard he had grown while on vacation.

“Yes, you should shave. It is prickly” Lily said.

Lance laughed, immediately complaining about the pain it caused him.

“Then I guess you don't want to kiss me, right? Because I'm very sick and I would really like it” the man pleaded jokingly. His mother scolded him right away, but he had already performed his little trick and the girl was filling his cheeks with kisses.

“You shouldn't have come, I'm fine.” Lance said smiling now at his parents.

“How could we not come, my boy?” his mother answered, tucking him in again. “Your sister is waiting to find out if you have to stay a little longer or not to see if she comes directly here or to Canada.”

“I don't know. With the beginning of the season so close… The surgeon told me that if everything went well I could start recovery…”

“Don't think about the season now, Lance” his father pleaded. “No one but you cares. And you have nothing to worry about. The important thing is that you are well.”

“And you will be. The doctor said so. And I made you a drawing so that you can get better faster” said the girl, interrupting the adults from a very boring conversation.

“Then I'm sure I'll be ready for the season” Lance said, raising his cheek as much as he could so that the girl could kiss it again.

And when the first race of the season arrived and Lance crossed the finish line, before getting out of the car he touched his chest lovingly, where he had hidden the drawing Lily had made in that hospital room. He didn't know if the drawing had brought him luck or not, but knowing that he had so many people supporting him had certainly helped, especially when the finish line seemed further and further away at times.

His father was right, he had nothing to worry about, especially as long as he had them with him.

[marieracingteam]

If you do request. I have a idea of lance stroll stepping up to be a father of Esteban kid. Esteban doesn't know he has a kid. After reading Lance stepping up to be a father.

Lancey and the word mine – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 1630

summary: Being away from home is hard for Lance. Esteban, however, is determined to do everything he can to distract his friend from thinking about how much he misses his girlfriend and his little girl, luckily for him, his plan also benefits him a lot.

Lance thought he was still dreaming when he woke up to the cries of a baby. 

Lily rarely cried anymore. She had been through a rough patch when her baby teeth started to fall out and it was common for her to wake them up crying when she couldn't sleep in fear of waking up without teeth. However, the little girl had grown out of that fear and now, luckily, it had been a long time since Lance had last heard the little girl cry.

In any case, that cry wasn't Lily's. Lance could recognise his girl's cry in a million and that, without a doubt, was the cry of another baby, one much smaller than Lily was anyway.

Still disoriented from sleep, Lance sat up in bed trying to find where the crying was coming from. That floor of the hotel was filled with his crew and none of them had hidden a baby in the room, as far as he knew. So where was that noise coming from?

Luckily, Lance didn't have to wonder for long before someone knocked on his door.

On the other side, the driver found his friend Esteban. And the culprit of his crying? The baby in his arms.

“What…?” before Lance could ask anything, Esteban was barging in his hotel room and closing the door behind him.

That baby’s wails becoming even louder in the close space.

“He is sick! I guess? I don’t know what is wrong with him!” Esteban exclaimed handing the baby to his friend.

“Who is this?” asked Lance grabbing the baby.

He couldn't have been more than three years old, despite being tall. Lance hadn't met Lily at that age, but he had memorized enough of all the photos her mother had to recognize the details.

The boy's cheeks were very red and wet from the tears that kept falling. Lance didn't even have to touch his forehead to know that the boy probably had a fever.

“Is that your...?” he tried to confirm.

“I don't know! I guess. His mother left him with me last week, she says he's my son and that I have to take care of him. I'm on the verge of losing my mind, man.” Esteban was pacing the room while covering his ears with his hands.

Lance knew that feeling of desperation when the cries of a child entered your eardrum after a few hours of non-stop wails.

“Ok, don’t panic. He just has a fever. Did he had a runny nose or complained about his ears?” Lance asked checking the baby, who continued his cries.

“I don’t know! I don’t know mate! His mother was at my door after the last Grand Prix, she said she'd come back for him when she was ready. I don't know what to do. I haven’t told anyone else. But I need your help, Lance. He's been eating mashed potatoes, vegetables, or fruit for a week now. And he's got teeth! And now he is sick! Is it because of the flight? They said he is not too young to fly!” Esteban continued rambling for some time.

In the meanwhile, Lance sat down to rock the boy, gently speaking to him in a calming voice. His ear was red and he kept grabbing it, so Lance guessed there was the problem.

Lily also had an ear infection recently after summer vacation. She had been inconsolable and writhing in pain until the children's medicine kicked in. Lance didn't want to even think about the pain the boy had to be going through without treatment.

“Just an ear infection, Esteban. It's okay. Let me get dressed and we'll take him to the ER. He'll be fine soon when he takes something for the pain,” Lance said. And maybe he lied a little when he assured him that everything would pass quickly, but he knew that was what his friend needed to hear. “But you need to call his mother and yours. Probably your lawyer too” he interjected.

“This is too much, man. Too much. I'm not ready to be a father.” Esteban cried. “And what I am going to say to the doctor? I just know is name is Bruno!”

“Ok, relax. Why don’t we call your team’s doctor? They can help you. And you need to tell them anyway. Or what are you going to do with him tomorrow during press? Or while in the car?” Lance questioned while getting dress, the boy still in his arms.

“They are going to fire me!”

“They are goint to fire you anyway if you crash with Pierre one more time! Who cares? Right now you need to think about your son!” Lance exclaimed, making the boy cry harder.

“I don’t even know if he is my son!” Esteban shouted.

“Well, maybe you should start there! Esteban, I know you are terrified right now but you need to put him first while you decide what you are going to do! You need to call your team, first the doctor and next the lawyer.” 

While they waited for the team to arrive at Lance’s room, he couldn’t help but think about how he himself became a father. Unlinke Esteban, he couldn’t point the exact moment he realise he had someone under his care. He had not found Lily one day at his door, instead, Lily had found him one night at her door.

He had never had to make that decision to love and protect her. He had never had to wonder if she was his or not. That had never mattered to him. But he understood why it did matter to Esteban. He understood why he felt the world shif under him and how scary that could be. Lance had been ready for that change but he could blame Esteban if he wasn’t. 

“That was his mother…” Esteban said after he left the room to take a call “She is coming for him”

“What did she said?”

“I texter her to tell her he was sick. She said… She said that he is mine… although she freaked out when I told her I was going to do a paternity test. She probably thought that I would get sick of him and not ask any questions as long as she took him back... in exchange for a good sum of money, obviously. She's on her way and won't bother me again if I don't call the authorities.”

“That's fucked up, man. What kind of mother abandons her son for money without knowing if he's okay? He's just a kid and she's only known you a few nights before he was even bron…” Lance whispered, careful not to wake the little boy that had finally fallen asleep.

“Well yes, but it's not my problem,” Esteban answered, plopping down on the couch in the hotel room. Suddenly much more relaxed and rejuvenated.

“He may not be your son, but it's not right!” 

"So what do you want me to do, Lance? I don’t it is fucked up but it is what it is. I know this all may seem easy for you, man, but you just help raise your girl’s baby, that’s not the same of having a baby or raising one on your own”

Lance knew Esteban was on edge, he knew. Lance knew Esteban was stress and scared, he knew he need to be gentle and understanding with him… but how could Lance be fair when he was the one being questioned about his parenting?

“Why not? Why it is not the same?” 

“Because she is not yours! I know you love her, you know I like her too! But it's not the same as her being your responsibility” Esteban tried to explain.

And Lance did his best not to scream in his face. Esteban was his friend, a good one. He was just stressed and going through some deep issues. But those words were so untrue that it made him see red.

Since when was he entitled to speak about being a father? He had certainly not wanted to be one half an hour ago! Why did no one seem to understand that Lance wanted to be a father to a child who might not be of his own blood, but was so understanding when another man put his lifestyle before raising a child that was his!?

“Lily is mine, Esteban” he said and he realized in that moment that there wasn’t an inch of doubt in him. “She is my baby girl, my responsibility, my duty and my pleasure to care for. When you have a kid for real you would understand. Blood doesn't mean shit when you look at their face and you just know”.

At that, Esteban just nodded even if he didn't quite understand. But it was fine, Lance accepted while caressing Bruno's back when he whimpered. One day Esteban would tell him he was right. Lance himself wouldn't have understood it either before meeting his girls. Life is just crazy like that, taking you to where you belong without expecting it.

And Lance couldn’t be happier with where life had taken him. He just couldn't wait to go back home. To his girls. And he just hoped maybe some day Esteban found something like that too. Bruno too.

Because if there was one thing he would never have doubted, it was that Lily deserved to be loved unconditionally by all the people in her life, her parents above all. Her father hadn't been up to the task, but he would be. Bruno also deserved a family that loved him that way and Lance was not going to let that child go with someone who was not willing to do everything possible to deserve him.

I went a little different with this one, hope you like it!

[marieracingteam]

part 4 for lance and lilybug please?? i love this series!!

Thank you soooo much!!

Part 4 is here. Hope you like it!!

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 10. Spanish Grand Prix

Part 10 | masterlist

Closeness can give courage to do what the heart desires, but it may not be what reason prefers. Yes or no? You never know what the right answer is until the consequences arrive.

Spoiler, there is always a third option: run away without looking back.

[translation]

Lola: I am still wainting for yesterday’s gossip

Cala: Can I call you now?

Lola: Just one second

Lola: I am leaving the conservatory now

Lola: Just one thing!! Was there a kiss?

Cala: ??

Lola: It was a date!!

Cala: Well I don’t kiss till the second date

Lola: It is going to be one!?

Cala: You will have to call me to find out

Lola: You b*tch!

[translation]

@cotilleosfilarmonica Calamidad Martinez was seen at the Barcelona Grand Prix. Is this the return of the promising young cello player?

[translation]

Saturday night

Lola: Girl, your parents keep calling me

Lola: Your mother has gone to my mother's house and everything

Lola: They've seen you on Twitter

Cala: I knew I shouldn't have come

Lola: Don't say that

Lola: You can do whatever you want, you are free

Today

Lola: Where are you?

Cala: In London, sorry

Lola: NO!!!!!

Lola: And Max?

Lola: Please don't lock yourself up again

Lola: Don't leave us out

[marieracingteam]

The home of a Lilybug – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 1597

summary: After seeing her dad for the first time in a while, Lily can’t wait to come back home.

“No! I don’t want to go” Lily shouted running from her room.

Luckily for her mom, Lance had quick reflexes and was able to intercept the girl as she fled.

“Where are you going, bug?” he asked throwing her on his shoulder.

She was half dress and with half her hair brushed, but that had never stopped her from walking around the house. And Lance was happy she fell so comfortable and free in their new home. Even if she still called it Lance’s home.

“Not going!” she shouted again when she saw where Lance was taking her.

“Lily, baby. I know you'd rather stay at home or with Lawrence, but your father has come to see you and you have to go with him. It'll just be a little while and then Lance and I will go find you” her mom explained when they entered the room and Lance was painfully reminded of today date.

He had been sick to his stomach since the man called a few days ago letting them know that he will be picking Lily up on Saturday.

In the two years Lance had been officially dating his girlfriend, the man had only seen his daughter two times, both a few hours before he got tired of the five years old girl. However, it was the first time Lance had been there to see it happen.

The couple had argued the night before about it. Lance didn't understand why the girl had to go if she clearly didn't want to and his girlfriend didn't know how to make him understand that keeping the peace was the only way for the man not to threaten them again with asking for joint custody just to annoy them.

It sucked, clearly, and Lance couldn't wait for the day to end.

“But I don't want to go!” the girl protested again, still kicking on Lance's shoulder. “Tell him I don't want to go, Lancey.”

“I'm sorry, little bug. I promise we'll be there soon and you can call us whenever you want,” the driver reminded her, touching her little wrist.

Shortly after the move, Lance had found on one of his trips a trendy bracelet with which couples could send messages and had immediately bought some for themselves. It was perfect so that Lily would always know that Lance was there for her, even if he was away on the other hemisphere of the world.

However, hell broke loose when the doorbell rang, awakening the girl's tears and inconsolable crying.

“You open it,” Lance asked, taking Lily in his arms to calm her, knowing that if he was the one who opened the door, the day would not end as well.

“Lancey!” the girl begged in a pitiful cry.

“I'm sorry, little bug. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll come right away for you. I'm sorry,” he murmured over and over again as he rocked her, hating every second of that day too “But you're going to have a great time, I'm sure. Are you going to tell me later what you did?”

Before the girl could answer her mom came to pick her up, dressing her up in a minute and a second later she was out and gone.

However, the tears were not gone as her mother started crying once the door was closed.

“You don't know how much I hate myself for the father I gave her” the woman confessed once Lance hugged her.

“Lily is lucky to have you. It's not your fault that man doesn't know or want to be a good father. You've done what you had to do for her” Lance confirmed. “You are the best mother, love”.

Under other circumstances, the couple would have already found something to do without the girl, as they sometimes did when Lily stayed with Lawrence or Lance's mother. But that day no one did or proposed anything special. Much less seeing how their bracelet didn't stop lighting up with Lily's messages and the ones they send back.

“Tomorrow we can go to the beach,” Lance said while they had lunch. “Take advantage of what's left of the heat.”

“Yes. We could go to the restaurant you wanted on the way back,” the woman answered, but without any real emotion in her words.

It was only two hours into the girl's departure when the woman's phone rang. Regardless of the food on their plates, both ran to the driver's car.

“I bet he only took a photo with her for his mother and he's already tired of playing dad” the woman complained, clearly furious.

And she was more or less right. She had been right in thinking that everything was a little act for the man's mother, but she had not thought that everything could be a surprise for the birthday of the woman, who had only seen the girl once before the couple separated when the man decided he didn't really want to be a father.

As if Lily was a gift that the woman could open and then forget with the rest of her handkerchiefs and bags.

“Stay outside” asked the woman.

“I can’t, love. I’m sorry but this is me too. That’s my girl inside” Lance answered stepping inside the restaurant.

“Mom!” they heard as soon as they entered and soon enough a small body came crashing into the woman's legs, climbing her desperately. 

“She was bored,” the man explained, coming to where the couple had stopped. “She said she'd rather go home”.

“You said you were going for a walk!” the woman reproached him.

“It was my mother's birthday, what did you want me to do? She hasn't seen her in a long time,” he explained, pointing to the group of older women who they obviously had wanted to impress with their happy family.

Lance knew little about the man, but he knew enough to know he hated him. He was a snob and a scumbag in his opinion. He had coaxed the woman with pretty but empty words. He had promised her the moon in exchange for a magazine family that he only wanted to show off in front of his co-workers, but that had quickly bored him behind closed doors.

A few months after Lily's birth, the man already had other new toys and his past life packed in boxes. Boxes that couldn't fit a woman he had promised to spend his entire life with or a girl he had only given a last name to.

Years latter, that girl only came to his mind when people asked about her or when his conscience knocked on his door again, which happened rarely.

Lance had put out with that for long enough. He knew that his girlfriend could take care of the man, he knew that she was the one who should do it, but how could he sit idly by when it was his girls who paid the price for a man as small and ridiculous as that? Lance had come across many men like him in his social circle and his father had taught him how to swallow them without even having to chew them.

Money and values did not always go hand in hand and for some that was the right choice. However Lance knew that that was the only way one could truly succeed. He was the clear example of that, since he would be the one to return home with them, wallet and heart full.

“The next time you want to see her will be at our house” Lance said finally. “Under her mother's supervision. You can call whenever you want, but it will be under her mother's supervision. I know you are a very good lawyer, but I can hire a hundred like you, so choose your battle well the next time you want to play the happy family. Understood?”

“Who are you to decide about my daughter?” the man said, facing the driver.

“The man she calls when you screw up. And the man who can ruin your life if you screw up again.” Without sparing him another glance, Lance took the girl from his mother's arms, needing her weight in his arms, and grabbing the woman's hand, he headed back to the car.

He could apologize to her later for butting in, but from the way she was looking at him, Lance didn't think he had to.

“I want to go home, Lancey!” Lily called from his arms.

At that, Lance stopped abruptly in the middle of the street. The girl had buried her face in the driver's chest and she was clutching his shirt with both hands, as if she was afraid that he might leave at any moment.

Lance's heart stopped every time she called him that, but this time it had been something else that had made him stop in his tracks.

The driver forced himself to forget everything that had happened minutes before with that man in order to appreciate that moment purely.

“What did you say, Lilybug?” he asked with the sole intent of hearing it again.

“I want to go home, Lancey.”

“To our home?” He asked again, looking at his girlfriend too.

That was the first time Lily had referred to that place as her home and not just Lance's home.

If Lance hadn't had his hands full he would have recorded that moment a thousand times so he could play it back every night before going to sleep.

“Home” the girl murmured.

“We're going home, Lilybug” Lance promised, kissing the girl's head.

note. sorry i've been missing for a while. i've been suuuuper busy. but i'm back now!

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 9. Monaco Grand Prix

Part 9 | masterlist

The season continues, however, fans are beginning to see a change in the results. A change that many of them prayed for. Will Max prove them wrong or does he have his mind elsewhere?

[translation]

Lola: So… are you going out tonight again?

Cala: You also think I shouldn’t?

Lola: I think you should do what you want to do

Lola: No one is bossing you around anymore, love

Cala: Then yes, I think I am going out tonight

Lola: Let’s go!! Have fun with prince charming

Lola: Outfit photo plz

[marieracingteam]

How Lance became Lancey – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 1305

summary: Lily’s first time at the paddock could be something challenging but, luckly for everyone, Lance had everything undercontroll. Will he win the race or will he win a tittle even more important than that?

Since Lance had asked Lily for permission to date her mother, the girl's life had changed a lot and not that much at the same time. The change had largely been for the better, except for the noise of the mixer early in the morning, which was usually offset by pancakes waiting for her when she woke up.

The biggest change, however, had been Lance's constant presence at her house. It wasn't that Lily was complaining, obviously she liked the Canadian and always having him near her, but it was a little confusing having him within reach for a few days and then going other days without seeing him.

Without meaning to, every time Lance left, Lily couldn't help but think about her father, whom she hadn't seen in months and about whom she didn't know anything most of the time.

The main problem was that, as happened when Lance left or when she saw her father on a rare afternoon, her life continued as if nothing had happened after that. She barely had any memories that it had even happened to hold onto. Or even a hope that it would happen again.

Her mom had explained to her that Lance was just travelling for work and she could see him every night through her mother's cell phone. But it wasn’t the same.

And Lance had quickly realized this when he saw how the girl behaved when he left and when he returned.

The couple had promised not to run for Lily's sake, but Lance lived for speed, so it was hard for him not to ask them to move in with him as soon as they started dating. However, now he didn't see a better option to make the girl see that he was always going to come back for her and her mother.

He had thought a lot about how to ask his girlfriend. He was aware of how crazy his life was, but they had both already seen traces of it and had not run away, so he thought he had nothing to fear.

He just needed one last test to show them it could work. And that test was going to be the Canadian Grand Prix. His home race.

His father had even helped him prepare everything for their visit. They had decorated a small part of his side of the garage and had brought different things to keep the girl entertained during the race.

Everything had to be perfect for his two girls.

His father had even had a small racing suit made especially for the girl. Green decorated with white flowers, obviously. And of course a matching hat for her mom.

And when the weekend started, half the garage was more worried and excited about Lily and her mother's first race than about the improvements they brought to the drivers' cars.

What Lance hadn't taken into account was that his weekend duties would keep him so busy that he wouldn't be able to spend all the time he wanted with them.

On Friday he had only been able to spend a little time with them before starting the weekend. He had only had time to give them a quick tour and put the little girl in his car –and take too many photos of her there with her little outfit.

“Lilybug!” Lawrence exclaimed as the girl jumped into his arms. “What's this I have heard about you becoming a driver? Do I have to sign you on my team?”

“I did! I got into Lance’s car! Right mommy?” said the girl bouncing in the man’s arms. “Want to draw with me, flower?” she asked once she calmed down.

“Sure! That's why I came to work today.”

At the end of Saturday, Lily was already exhausted from those days of action. So tired that she hadn't even realized how poorly Lance had classified on the qualy.

“It's okay, Lance. You'll bounce back tomorrow, I'm sure. You've had a very good weekend. Lily was delighted watching you run on the screens.” his girlfriend said as they headed to the driver's car.

Lily was asleep in his arms, her head on his shoulder leaving a small wet spot on his team shirt. His father had drained her while they waited for qualifying to start by playing outside, which Lance was very grateful for.

“I wanted this weekend to be perfect. I guess I forgot to plan that I would have to drive well” he confessed when he made sure little ears were not going to hear and be disappointed.

“Don't be so hard on yourself. We are so proud of you,” she whispered, giving him a quick kiss when they got to the car. “And you have nothing to worry about, this is being the best weekend, so close to our first getaway to the beach”.

“At least I haven't been attacked by any crabs here” Lance joked, causing his girlfriend to laugh as they buckled Lily into her seat.

“Don't claim victory, there is still tomorrow.”

And like every time she said something, his girlfriend was always right. After a difficult start, Lance had come back with precision, ready to show his audience today that they had not chosen wrong by choosing him.

And when Lance crossed the finish line in fifth position, climbing more than ten positions, it almost tasted like a podium.

Arriving at park fermé, Lance was welcomed by his girl, his dad and his little bug in his dad’s arms.

“You were sooo fast, Lance!” Lily said excited after shouting at him.

“Did you see, baby?” he asked grabbing her in his arms “I wanted to do it right for you and mom”.

“And flower” the girl reminded him pointing at his dad, whose suit was covered in white flowers stickers much like her little racing suit.

“Yeah, and flower too” Lance corrected himself. “But I wanted to do it super well so that mom and you would want to come with me more times”.

“Are you going to invite us more times?” Lily asked with hope filling her eyes.

“More than that. If you want and mom says yes, I would like to invite you all of the time. And when you can't come, I would like you to be waiting for me at home. In our house, wherever it may be” he finally ask.

Despite all the planning, Lance still wasn't sure how he was going to ask them to live together. He had doubts, but having Lily in his arms and his girlfriend hugging his side cleared them up.

And the smile of his girlfriend said it all “You want us to move together?”

“I want it all together, love”

With a laught, the woman looked at her daughter “What do you say, Lily? Will you want Lance living with us all the time”

"Will he always come back then?" she asked shyly. Suddenly all her energy was contained. She shrank into Lance's chest and avoided eye contact.

Lance's heart broke at her doubt and uncertainty about him, even if it wasn't really about him.

"I will always come back to you and mom, bug" Lance promised.

He wanted to tell her more, to tell her that he wasn't like her dad, to promise her that he would never leave like he did. But that wasn't the place and he knew actions spoke louder than words.

"I love you, Lancey" she murmured hugging his neck tightly.

“Lancey?” her mom asked surprised by the affectionate nickname.

“Yeah, my mommy and my Lancey” the girl explained, hugging her mom too from the arms of the driver, who only hugged them tighter while trying to stop the tears of happiness from falling from his eyes.

That sounded right, he thought. That sounded a lot like a family.

[marieracingteam]

Part 3 for Lance and Lilybug please 🥺❤️🥺❤️ I love reading lance , Lawrence and lily together than you. 🥺

Hi !! Thank you !! I am so happy you liked it !!

I am working on part 3 right now !

💗💗

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 8. Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Part 8 | masterlist

The thin line between coworkers and friends is tested. The problem? No one can know.

[translation]

Lola: Have you arrived safely?

Cala: Yes, I'm arriving at the hotel now.

Cala: Thank you very much for letting me stay with you this week, I needed to see you

Lola: And me. I'm so glad you're ruling your life!

[marieracingteam]

A Flower to a Lilybug – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 1612

summary: The story of how Lance finally met Lily, or the story of how Lawrence became a flower before he became a grandpa.

Lily was just two years old when Lance met her mom, which meant that Lily wasn't really aware of all that was happening in her life.

She knew she had a mum and she knew, somewhere, she had a dad. Dad, however, was never around so she didn't really think much of him or his family, whom Lily had barely met. She also knew that mum had a mum and a dad who lived far away and she only saw once or twice a year and a few more times over the phone.

But that was pretty much all. For Lily, mum was her everything –and for the most part her only thing– for her whole short life.

That was until Lance came through.

Her mum and he had been talking for a whole year before she agreed to start calling their dates dates, but not before he met her daughter and she gave them their blessings.

Lance of course had accepted her pace, how could he not when he knew she was just protecting her daughter and herself after being betrayed by her last partner?

And because he knew how much she needed everything to be perfect, he tried extra hard to make everything perfect on that first day.

Maybe a little too hard.

He had spent long hours thinking about every single detail. He had even asked his father for help like he tended to do.

Maybe that is why he was so nervous when he first met Lily. The now three years old, in response, got also shy, probably sensing the grown-ups expectations.

“Hello Lily. I am Lance, mom’s friend. Mom has told me a lot about you and I wanted to meet you” he said while offering the girl his hand.

“Hi you!” she squealed before running back into the living room where she was playing with some dolls.

However, the dinner had gone more smoothly. At least at first. Lance had relaxed enough to make conversation with the little girl and Lily had quickly forgotten that she didn't know him when he started to ask her about the things she loved.

He had thought about gifting something to the little girl, but his father had told him to not buy the girl with expensive gifts. So instead he had learned to do paper dolls like Lily's mum had told him she loved to do.

Lily was so close to liking him when her mum started to breathe strangely.

“Peanuts” she screamed, grabbing her neck and making Lance run to where she always kept an EpiPen in her bag.

If he hadn't been so worried about the woman swelling up in his backseat, he would have probably been stressed about the crying little girl he had left with his father at home.

Because he loved his father, he truly loved the old men, but he could be scary and he knew he was bringing down his chances of winning the little girl’s heart by the second.

“Sorry, love. The bakery must have mix up the cakes. I don't know how that happened. I am so sorry. I told the man a thousand times to not put any nuts” Lance said again and again while he ran to the hospital.

The woman just laughed at the situation and when Lance looked at her through the rearview she was smiling. He didn't know then, but that was the first time someone had cared so much about her and her daughter.

And Lance didn't have anything to worry about, because back at home his father was doing all the hard work with Lily.

“So…” Lawrence said looking at the little girl who was sitting on the sofa eating ice cream “I heard you like doing paper dolls”

“Yeah” she answered, licking the spoon clean “And you?”

“Not my expertise, but I can see the charm in it”

Lily just looked up at him. When she had calmed down after the old man explained to her that her mom was fine but she needed a bandaid to be perfect, the girl had started to analyze the man.

Her mum had told her beforehand all about her friend and the get-together they were going to have that night, but she didn't expect any of that. Her mother had forgotten to tell her that after dessert they would run out and leave her alone at home with an unknown man.

Lily knew she was just a little girl, but wasn't that what her mother had told her not to do?

“You are weird, Flower” the girl finally said after deciding that she could trust the strange man with the funny name. If her mother trusted him enough to leave her in his care, who was she to not do it?

“Why is that?” Lawrence asked sitting beside her on the couch. 

The girl just shrugged her shoulders. Her mother had taught her that it was wrong to say those things to people, especially older ones. The previous comment had slipped out of her mouth.

In her defense, Lily would say that Lance's dad was strange indeed. Lance too. Her mother's friend had sweaty hands and had dropped his spoon more times than she had. Plus, mom's friend's face turned red all the time. All the times her mom spoke at least.

But Lance's dad was even weirder. All his hair was white, all. Plus he was the oldest person Lily had ever seen, even older than Mom's friend from work who had just turned 40 recently and invited them to her party. The man was tall and was wearing a suit like on TV. Lily had never seen anyone on the streets of her town in Canada wearing one of those outfits beyond the movies.

Plus, Lance's dad had let her eat the ice cream straight out of the container to stop her from crying, which was weird, because her mom never let her do that. But she wasn't going to complain.

“And what is that Flower thing?” Lawrence asked finally.

“Your name, duh” Lily responded with the spoon still in her mouth.

See? Weird. The man had just said that was his name.

“My name is Lawrence” the man corrected.

“Florence,” she said back before making the connection “flower”.

The man laughed a deep laugh that reminded Lily of movie villains. And he looked like one. If he didn't have such a funny name, Lily probably would have been scared of him. “I am not a flower”

“You look like one” the girl responded, sure of her opinion.

“Why is that?” the man pressed, amused at the conversation.

“The white petals” she said pointing at his hair “Do you know how to braid?”

Lawrence laughed again. Lance had told him a lot about the woman he was meeting and had told him some things he was discovering about her daughter, but Lawrence did not expect the pleasant surprise that was meeting first the mother at a gala and then the girl, even if it was under those circumstances.

The mother was polite and affectionate with his son. Lawrence had been doubtful of her at first, as he always used to be when someone new came into their lifes. But at no time had she shown interest or asked for anything in exchange of her company like other used to do. If Lawrence was right, and he usually was, the only reason she was still with Lance was because she was really interested in his son.

And the girl. The girl had been a breath of fresh air.

It had been a long time since Lawrence last was around small children. His children were already grown and despite his insistence, his daughter had not yet made him a grandfather.

Even if the girl wasn't exactly Lance's, if everything went as his son expected that night, this wouldn't be the last time Lawrence would see the girl.

And, at that moment, he felt like it was in his power to help make everything happen that way, even if he himself had shown him his reluctance when he found out that the woman his son was with already had a daughter from a previous relationship.

“Yeah, I do. Do you want one braid?” he offered.

“No” she said still licking the empty spoon.

“Lance also knows how to braid. He is very good at it” lied the man. He didn't truly know why he was doing it but he guessed that he will need the extra help impressing the little girl after almost poisining her mom.

While waiting for her mom to come back, Lily decided the man wasn’t that bad anymore. And he was a flower after all. A flower who had ended up braiding her hair into smalls braids and had cut the paper dolls Lance had brought for her. 

He was still a little weird and a little scary looking but he wasn't that bad.

And he was comfy. She had found that when she laid her braided head in his chest while playing with the dolls. 

And! When her mom asks her tomorrow when she wakeds up on her own bed surrounded by all her plushies, she will say that the flower was a magician. Which was a pretty impressive story.

Even when she had swore she wasn't going to fall asleep until her mom came back, the flower had charm her into sleeping while rubbing her belly, like she did with her mom's friend's puppy.

She may not know a lot about old people or grandparents but the flower wasn't that bad himself. And maybe his son wasn't so bad either.

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 7. Miami Grand Prix

Part 7 | masterlist

Calamity tries to find herself outside of work hours. Max is desperate to do it while she's on work hours, at least while she's still there.

[translation]

Cala: I'm sorry, Lola. You were right, I can't keep letting others tell me what to do.

Lola: :)

Lola: Call me as soon as you can

Lola: and you want!

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 6. Chinese Grand Prix

Part 6 | masterlist

Big word of the weekend: WORK! Calamidad is here to do one thing and one thing only: work. Her editor couldn't agree more with the decision, but what do the drivers think about the change of dynamics?

[translation]

Lola: I waited all afternoon yesterday for your call, is everything okay?

Today.

Cala: I'm sorry. Aurore has recommended that I focus on work and try to leave the past behind.

Lola: Are you serious? That's why we only talk once a week! Why are you letting her control you?

Cala: I'm so sorry.

Lola: Cali, please

[marieracingteam]

Till then I will forever miss you – sv5

Sebastian Vettel x reader

word count: 1588

summary: In which Sebastian Vettel knew he couldn’t be friends with his ex-partner until he got his priorities straight.

The news about Sebastian Vettel’s retirement was out and everywhere. His video has already been shared more than a million times in the few days it has been out. So he guessed anyone with a minor interest in the sport knew who he was and what the future looked like to him now.

Or at least what they imagine his future would look like.

The reality is that not even Sebastian knew what life had in store for him.

He was a divorced thirty-something, with three daughters who lived away from him most of the year and an apartment that made him feel like a caged animal. He had 4 world championships and a full passport, but he also had 35 years behind him in which he felt that he had achieved nothing in his personal life.

He could try and blame his fast-paced professional life for his half-hearted personal life, but he couldn't deny that he was mostly to blame for his failed marriage to a wonderful woman, his poor parenting of wonderful daughters who adored him, and his too-modern home in a city he hated.

Since his divorce, he had dedicated all his energy to racing and fast cars, but he quickly discovered that his heart wasn't in it either. So he obviously knew that he should retire and leave that seat free for someone whose heart was at the wheel.

The worst thing was that Sebastian knew where his heart was, he just didn't know how to get to it. It just had been lost since 2015.

Without it, he had been floundering ever since. He had moved, he had pursued a different lifestyle, he had gotten married, he had even changed teams trying to find it, but he always knocked on the wrong doors only. The truth was that the closest he had been to happiness had been when his daughters were born, but by then he was no longer the man he wanted his daughters to learn from.

But now, he thought. Now he was free of the chains to which he had bound himself. Now he was finally starting to realize his mistakes and taking the right steps to correct them. Now he was ready to be the man he wanted to be, for himself and, most importantly, for his daughters.

After the last race of the season, Sebastian took the first flight to his native Germany and completely left behind his past life and the mistakes he had carried in it.

He bought a house in the country as he had always dreamed of and painted rooms with children's motifs for small beds and toys. He adopted a dog as his psychologist had recommended. And he dusted off the old cell phone that he always carried with him.

It was a long shot and he knew it, but it was the only thing he could think of to find peace and happiness.

In those long eight years, there was a good chance that she had changed her number or blocked him. Maybe she too had gotten married and had a life away from him, probably better than the one he could offer her.

Maybe she had forgotten him. Maybe he should have forgotten her.

But there was no chance, however remote, that he could live in a world in which she did not occupy his thoughts at all hours. He'd been a stupid kid when he'd let her get away thinking he could do it.

He had promised her father that he would do right by her and that is what he had tried to do all his life since he met her in school. His problem had been thinking that he was doing it when he let her go so that she could find happiness away from his chaotic life when she wanted to start a family and he could only think about lifting the championship cup with the red team.

He had been a fool thinking a trophy could give him more than a life with her and even more so for believing that she could be happier away from him.

And all for what? To end up forming a family far from hers? To have his heart searching for something that he knew he would only find with her? He was a fool and he had paid for it by being miserable for the next few years, thinking that his repentance was not enough to deserve her back.

Now, something about him had changed, although he wasn't sure what at the moment. He knew now. It had been the robbery he suffered during one of the Grand Prix he raced in which he lost the photo he kept of her in her wallet. He had hundreds more hidden in his house, but that one was special. That had been a gift from her after graduating from school, a photo that her parents had taken of them to remember their last day as classmates, and that she had wanted him to have to remember her if they were not classmates at high school.

Losing that photo had been the last blow he needed to get her life back in order. When he retrieved the empty wallet he could only kneel on the ground and cry for the life he had lost. And when he found it after hours looking for it in all the garbage containers in the city he knew to do something, even if it was for nothing.

Less than a year later he was a different man. What remained to be known is whether she was also a different woman. And what that meant to them.

After breaking up their relationship, they both accepted that they couldn’t be friends. Not when they knew what it felt like to be more. Not when they had never been friends.

Since they were six years old they had been best friends, lovers, confidants, each other's other half... but never friends. Now they were nothing, not even acquaintances who follow each other’s lives on social media. Despite having let her be free to find happiness elsewhere, Sebastian knew that he couldn't bear to see her happy away from him.

He thought he was sacrificing himself for her when in reality he had just condemned them both.

However, now he wanted to change it and his only asset was that old phone that he had kept as his most precious possession.

The only number still saved there was the one he used to call at all hours and that he still had memorized.

By the fourth ring, Sebastian was convinced he had lost his last hope. But she had always told him that a fifth championship awaited her. And there was no better victory in his eyes than that fifth tone that she cut to make way for the voice that always accompanied him.

“Hello?” she whispered in German.

“Hello” he whispered back and he felt like coming finally home “I didn't know if you had changed your phone number”

“I did” she confessed “but I kept the phone in case you ever called”.

Sebastian completely forgot the paper he held tremblingly in his hand with everything he wanted to say written down when he heard her.

“You did?” he dared to ask.

“Of course,” she said “who could I not?”

“I didn’t hope you would wait” It was difficult to hear her with her racing heartbeat in his ears, but Sebastian did his best to memorize every one of her words.

“I have always waited for your love, Sebastian”

At that he couldn’t hold any longer the tears that begged to break free from his eyes. A sob left his mouth. What had he condemned them to when he chose for her?

“Everything's fine. We have a lot to tell each other, it's fine. It was difficult for me, but I understood why you did it. It wasn't our time, we didn't know how to align our dreams. But I felt your love in your sacrifice. Everything is alright.”

Sebastian could only nod even if he knew she couldn't see him. Words could not come out of his mouth with his body paralyzed in the only chair he had for now in his new living room. That photo that she almost lost on her knee staring at him.

“I’m back” he gathered the strength to say.

“I know” he answered.

“I came back for you” was his time to confess.

She laughed timidly at that and more tears escaped his eyes. “I know”.

“Can I see you?” he begged.

There was a lot he hadn't asked. He didn't know anything about what his life had been like in those eight years, so he didn't even know if he could ask that question. But he had to do it now that he had worked up the courage to do it.

“Sebastian... I also tried to look for you elsewhere” she whispered again, probably afraid of what those words could mean for both of them.

“I don’t care, liebe. There's nothing you can say that will make me love you less”.

“I have my two boys with me till next month” she said.

“I have my daughters with me next week for a month too”.

She laughed again and he knew she also felt it. He knew that she felt that everything was fine now, that everything was finally falling into place.

They will be fine.

[marieracingteam]

Lancey and his Lilybug – ls.18

stepdad!Lance Stroll | series

word count: 2990

summary: The day Lance realised he will never be dad to his baby.

Lance knew Lily wasn’t his. He knew. He reminded himself of it every day to see if, by force of repetition, he would memorize it.

But nothing seemed to work when he came back home to her steps running down the stairs.

So he forgot. Or maybe he ignored the truth.

He forgot while he was playing dolls with her. He forgot during bathtime when the whole bathroom was covered in bubbles and marks of the Bathroom Crayons they had just bought. He forgot when the food her mother had cooked for them was her least favorite –even if it was her favorite last week– and they had to play flights with it so she would eat it. He forgot while he was driving and could only think about home. And he forgot when she would wake them up at night time so she could sleep between them, even if he had an early morning waiting for him.

He forgot most of the time.

However, he couldn’t forget it this time. At that moment, Lance couldn’t pretend to ignore the truth any longer.

Lily wasn’t his daughter, she would never be.

Even with his ring on her mom’s finger and their names in the housing registry he bought.

Even if he was the one she called when she was sick.

Lance wasn’t her real dad. His name wasn’t on the list. And nothing will change it. Not even his father's last name.

“I am really sorry Mr. Stroll, but only the immediate family can enter the intensive care unit. I understand your frustration, but there is nothing I can about about it” said the nurse again.

“Listen, if this is about money…” his father kept going but Lance was no longer listening.

The corridor that separated them, which became increasingly endless, was now his only breathing space. As he walked through it he could only think that Lily was not his. Which was curious when he thought about how much time he had spent ignoring that detail.

Lily was in there and he could only be out there.

When only a door separated them, Lance stood in front of the small glass. Through it, he could only see another white hallway and a doctor passing by, but he still didn't dare to look away.

He knew if father was calling him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the crystal. The nurse had allowed him to stand them as long as he didn’t try trespassing and he was going to take advantage of that piece of mercy as much as he could.

“Son”, his father tried again.

And that word made Lance want to fall to the ground and stay there till it all stopped.

Son. He was someone’s one. Just like Lily was someone's daughter.

But not his. Never his.

She was the daughter of someone who wasn’t even going to come see her. And he was the son of someone who would have to live with the knowledge that his granddaughter would never have his last name.

“She will be alright. You heard your fiancée. She will be fine.”

But his father hadn’t seen the state the car was in.

He had not had to drive faster than the legal speed to reach a car that was destroyed and from which his family was being taken.

He had not been separated from his family at the door of a hospital because they were nothing of his.

His father had always been there with him. He had always been at the foot of his children's beds. He had always held their hands when they needed him most. Even when it was just a chipped tooth.

Lance couldn’t even see her through a window.

He could just stare at an empty hallway and wait.

And wait he did. He waited for hours standing there. Just moving once to let a doctor open the door and enter the area he could never pass into. He waited until his father had to sit and he waited until the nurse clocked out and a new one came by. He waited while his father tried again without any result. He waited while his cell phone didn't ring.

And when he thought he couldn’t wait any more a door opened in the hallway and a nurse appeared pushing a bed.

A bed too big for such a small body.

And he knew like he supposed any father would. He knew that was his baby.

His fiancée was the first to see him as she walked out of the room. Her head and one of her arms had been bandaged and a slight limp made him realize that one of her legs must have also been injured, but she had not been the one who had received the biggest blow from the drunk driver.

She slightly smiled at him with a sorry expression and she silently turned to the nurse, who also gave him a look before turning the bed and directing it towards the door so that he could see the little girl.

He tried calling his father, but nothing came out of him when he saw her there.

She had a few scratches on her face and arms –the only parts of her that weren’t covered by the sheet– but she seemed to be healthy despite everything.

The ambulance had taken her directly to the intensive care unit of the emergency room after removing her from the back of the car, which had been completely destroyed. Everything had happened so fast that he hadn't been able to see her for even a moment when he arrived. Afterward, Lance had only had a second to talk to his fiancée before she could come in to see her daughter.

When Lily saw him, Lance could have sworn his heart stopped completely. He damned the door when he couldn’t hear her little voice saying his name or reach her and touch her like he had been praying to.

She waved her small hands as she hadn’t expected him to be there. And he couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

His fiancée grabbed her phone –which was cracked and didn’t function completely fine– and he copied her almost knocking it to the ground.

“Lancey!” shouted Lily as soon as the call connected. The video didn't work, but he didn’t need it to see them through a screen when he had them in the flesh before his eyes.

“Baby!” he cried back almost colliding with the glass.

“Lancey! I missed you!”.

“So did I baby, so did I. Are you ok? Does anything hurt?” he asked her without taking his eyes off the small window.

“A little. They are going to put a bandaid on, but they don’t have the dinosaurs ones” she explained like nothing had really happened, as if a car driving at more than 100km on a conventional road had not crashed into her door at a red light.

“They said she is fine. The car seat you bought her stopped most of the blow. She only has some injuries from the flying glass. They still have to do an MRI, but they believe that everything will be fine. Now they are going to do the test and if everything goes well they will move us to a room to spend the night under surveillance.” His fiancée explained with tears in her eyes, still in shock from the crash.

Lance could only nod at that while trying to process everything. He didn’t even feel his father's presence behind him.

“You may not be in here but you saved her” she whispered while her daughter threw kisses at him from her bed. He nodded again, remembering the car seat he always made them carry when they visited him. It was crazy expensive and a hulk to carry, but a traffic safety expert had told him it was the best on the market and Lance had refused to drive any car with Lily that didn't have it. He had even bought one for his father’s and sister’s car and another one for Lily's biological father for a car she had never been in Still, he would have preferred never to need it.

His father pressed his head to his son's so he could see the little girl through the window, who immediately began calling him on the phone.

While they spoke, Lance's fiancée moved closer to the window and put her hand in the crystal. Her ring crashed in the process, making the glass vibrate. Lance quickly followed her.

“I’m sorry. I love you” she muttered the words making him repeat them instantly.

Before this, they knew how things worked. Of course they did. It took a while for Lance to be able to pick up Lily from daycare because of the paperwork both parents had to sign. They knew that the relationship they had did not magically make Lance a legal guardian of the little girl. Even so, the hospital's refusal to let Lance in despite the couple's requests had been like a bucket of cold water for both of them.

“We love you” she repeated and he just nodded in tears watching them leave again.

However, this time the wait seemed shorter.

Even though his fiancée's phone had completely died, Lance knew that they were both safe and well and that he would soon be able to see them and hold them in his arms when they were taken to one of the hospital rooms.

So he tried not to focus too much on what had happened. He tried again to ignore the fact that he was still behind a door and think about how soon everything would return to normal.

He tried hard enough, but the door was still there and when the nurse told him he could visit them in their room, she referred to him as a visitor and not a family member.

His father didn’t seem to mind, but he knew he did. Of course, he did. He was just trying to keep his composure for the sake of his son.

But how could he not mind? How could he be okay with his son having to see his family secretly while the girl's real father hadn't even bothered to call?

How could he be okay when his son had called him desperate because his fiancée and his little girl had had an accident on the way to the paddock? No matter what last name they had, they were his family.

When Lance arrived at the room he felt like he was going to pass out. The wait had been long and exasperating. The not knowing had been almost worse than receiving the news in the first place.

But now nothing mattered anymore. Now he was there and so were they.

“Lancey!” the girl shouted from the bed when she saw the driver at the door.

His fiancée turned around immediately and when she smiled letting him know that everything was fine they both breathed for the first time since the accident.

He almost felt dizzy when he started to breathe normally and his muscles relaxed for the first time in the last two hours. But he walked anyway to the bed, almost running, and to the little girl in there.

He didn’t mind he was still in the team wear, he didn’t care about anything else as he held Lily in his arms.

“Are you ok, baby girl?” he whispered in her hair “Are you ok?” he said as he checked her again and again without letting go of her as he had done with his fiancée before.

“Yeah! They gave me candy because they said I was very brave. But look! They did hurt a lot before” Lily explained while showing Lance the scratches the doctor had already disinfected.

“I am sure you were, baby. That was scary, right?”

“A little. But mommy was with me and she said you were coming to save us”

At that, Lance’s fiancée finally approached them again, letting Lance have his moment with the little girl.

“And he was,” she confirmed while stroking Lance’s back “Lancey was there the whole time”.

But Lily wasn’t happy with that answer. Even if she was well-behaved for an almost six-year-old, she still was a child who didn’t fully understand the grown-up's problems.

“The doctor said you couldn't be with me because you are not my daddy. Is it because I don't call you dad?” Lily asked while she hugged him tighter.

Lance pulled away a little to see her face while they were talking and, from the corner of his eye, he saw how his father moved away from the foot of the bed to let them talk more privately.

“No baby, this isn't your fault. At all.” Lance let her know, firm but loving “You are my good girl, aren’t you?”.

They had already spoken about the “dad” thing before. Her biological father had told her that only he could be dad the last time he saw her a year ago when the girl innocently told him that her mother was going to marry the driver. And Lance hadn't pushed her when his fiancée told him what had happened.

He wanted to, obviously. He dreamed about it most nights. But he understood. And then he forgot he wasn't really her dad. Even when she called him Lancey and he heard her call dad someone she only spoke to once a month over the phone if she was lucky.

Lily left his embrace completely and immediately started crying “I lied” she confessed between tears and whines “I told the doctor I would call you dad but I don't want you to be my dad. I just wanted you with me”.

She cried so hard that a nurse had to come in. Not even her mother could calm him as she cried the same again and again. “Please don't be my dad. Please”.

Lance felt stuck there. He felt like he was again before that door. Useless. Unable to do anything to change the situation over which he had no control.

Lily was high on meds. He could see some still being pumped into her through an IV. That's what he said again and again to himself as he heard his girl begging him to not be her dad.

Lily loved him deeply, almost as much as he did. He knew, he felt her love every day. He knew her love was real even if he didn’t see her some weekends because he was working. He knew she trusted him enough to wake him up when she had a nightmare. He knew she would sleep with them every night if her mom let her. He knew.

However, her cries were there, rejecting him again and again, almost knocking him down with each tear.

“I won't be your dad, Lily. I promise, baby” he said as tears also streamed down his cheeks.

She was holding his hand tightly and used it to wipe her face before speaking again. “I don't want you to be my dad. I want Lancey!” she cried stronger if that was possible.

Her mom got into bed with her as her last effort to calm her down. She was looking at him as he imagined he was looking at her.

However, this was not the time to think about himself. Nothing about that day had anything to do with him. Now he had to think about Lily and her fiancée. He would have time to lick his wounds later.

When the nurse came back again he knew he had to leave before they showed him the door. He may not know how, but he was the cause of her distress. Which was a little bit funny considering he always was her protector before.

“Everything will be alright, Lily. I will let you rest now, baby. I love you” he said kissing her temple and letting go of her hand.

Nevertheless, that didn’t work as he hoped.

“Lancey!” she screamed as she watched him leave.

Even though her mother was holding her, Lily tried to get out of her arms to get out of bed, pulling on the IV and causing the nurse to have to hold it to prevent her from accidentally tearing it out.

“You are not my daddy!” she cried one last time. A scream so heartbreaking that Lance was holding her before he was even aware was going to do it. “Please, don't leave like my dad. I want you to be Lancey forever. My Lancey.”

With that, his fiancée silently cried as she made space for him in the small hospital bed, finally understanding everything. So did Lance’s father, who always knew she was his granddaughter without needing a last name or a title.

Lance didn’t say a word as he lay in bed holding Lily in his chest minding the IV and grabbing his fiancée's hand.

“I will always be your Lancey, Lilybug” he whispered as she finally relaxed in his arms.

“We are going to be alright, love” his fiancée said as she caressed his hand “We don’t need titles to be perfect”.

He just nodded, forgetting everything that didn’t really matter. He forgot the door and the wait too when Lily fell asleep in his chest, safe and sound.

He only let go of them when he remembered the thing he always carried in his wallet close to the picture of the three of them they had taken last year.

Without waking her up, Lance put the dinosaur bandaid on her arm on the tape that held the IV.

His fiancee hugged tighter as he did and he forgot the rest of the day and the fact that Lily wasn't his daughter.

Because he was her Lancey and she will always be her baby. And that was more than many fathers could say.

[marieracingteam]

Weekend 5. Japanese Grand Prix.

Part 5 | masterlist

Not everything can be about working, can it? Sometimes drivers just wanna have fun (and network maybe).