Summary... After a chaotic doubleheader weekend, Lewis returns home ready to unwind. But when their son repeats a word from the paddock at school, it sparks a parenting clash that cuts deeper than expected.
✩ ⋆ ✩ ⋆ ✩ ⋆ ✩
The smell of dinner hits Lewis before he’s even stepped out of the car.
It’s been two races back-to-back; Imola and Monaco. He flew home straight from debrief, wearing the same Ferrari jacket he left the circuit in. There’s still engine grease under his nails and a faint scuff mark on his cheek from a chaotic media pen scrum.
He’s not even through the front door when Sofia barrels into his legs, arms wrapped around him, curls wild and still a little sticky with honey.
“Hi, Daddy!”
Lewis lifts her easily, pressing a kiss to her cheek as Y/N calls from the kitchen, “Wash your hands first! Dinner’s just about done!”
Leo and Mateo are already at the table, perched in their chairs with plates of rice, roasted chicken, and steamed veggies in front of them. Y/N is cutting up Sofia’s portion, still dressed in her tank and joggers, looking like home.
Everything feels right.
Until Leo opens his mouth.
“I don’t want any more fucking broccoli.”
Silence.
Y/N freezes mid-slice.
Lewis pauses, mid-hand-wash, eyes flicking to his son with disbelief. He almost laughs. Almost.
“Leo,” Y/N says, voice sharp, calm, but barely.
Leo shrugs, poking a carrot with his fork. “Uncle Toto said it when he dropped the sandwich.”
Lewis chokes on air.
Y/N’s eyes laser in on him like she’s about to start qualifying laps around his ass. “Uncle Toto said it?”
Lewis wipes his hands on a dish towel, walking toward the table slowly. “Babe, c’mon, Toto probably did say it. I’ve heard him swear in six languages.”
“I don’t care if he said it in Morse code. Our son just said it at the dinner table,” she snaps.
Lewis crouches down beside Leo, trying to keep his tone light. “Where’d you hear that, really, bud?”
Leo looks up at him, completely unbothered. “The garage. You said it when the rear jack didn’t lock.”
Y/N doesn’t say a word. She doesn’t need to.
Lewis sighs. “Okay. That one’s on me.”
“It’s always on you,” she mutters under her breath, gathering up the juice cups.
Leo starts chewing on a breadstick like it’s no big deal, but Mateo whispers, “You’re in trouble.”
Sofia nods solemnly beside him, eyes wide.
“We don’t say that word, baby,” Y/N says gently to Leo, crouching to his level. “Not at school, not at home, not anywhere. It’s not kind.”
“But Daddy says it all the time,” Leo says, frowning. “You do too when your computer crashes.”
Y/N blinks.
Lewis snorts and instantly masks it with a cough.
“Oh my God, don’t laugh,” she says, shooting him a glare. “You’re the reason he told his whole class the brake pedal was ‘fucking toast.’ Do you know how many calls I got?”
“It was toast,” Lewis defends. “I almost put the car into the wall at 305 KPH an hour because someone didn’t torque the—”
“Lewis.” Her voice is warning enough.
He stands, frustrated but biting his tongue. “It’s a word. He didn’t hit anyone. He didn’t steal anything. He just... he just repeated something I said. I’ll talk to him.”
“You’re not getting it.”
“No, babe, you’re not getting it.” His voice sharpens. “They already live in a world where everyone watches them because of me. I just want them to feel normal, not like they’re walking on eggshells every time they say something wrong.”
Y/N’s jaw tightens. “And you think letting them swear is normal?”
“I think letting them be kids is normal.”
“You want them to be kids, or you just want to feel better about the fact you barely see them two weekends a month during the season?”
It slips. She doesn’t mean for it to. But it cuts through him like a wing mirror shattering.
Lewis stiffens. Silence falls again.
Sofia stabs a carrot with her little fork. “Mummy’s mad.”
Leo nods. “Like when the blender exploded.”
Lewis just walks away, back into the hallway, jaw clenched. He doesn't slam the door. Doesn’t yell.
He just sits on the stairs for a second. Breathing.
Two minutes later, Y/N follows, guilt already rising in her throat like a lump of gravel.
“I didn’t mean that,” she says quietly, sitting beside him.
Lewis doesn’t look at her. “Maybe you did.”
She places her hand on his knee. “I get frustrated. But you’re a good dad, Lew. The best. I just want to raise them right. Not like we were.”
Lewis finally looks at her. His voice is quieter now. “I want that too.”
They sit like that for a moment. Side by side.
From the kitchen, a sudden giggle erupts.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
“Mateo!” Y/N yells.
Lewis sighs. “Oh, come on.”
“I will end you,” she says, already getting up.
He catches her hand before she storms off, and grins, sheepish. “Still want to kiss me later?”
She glares. “Wash your mouth out with soap first.”
-------
flashback
It was years ago.
Pre-kids. Pre-marriage. Pre-Ferrari red. Just a messy hotel room in Monaco, the scent of champagne in the air, and Lewis Hamilton flat on his back, one arm draped over his eyes.
Y/N stood by the open window, robe half-tied, eyes on the Riviera lights below.
“You ever think about kids?” she asked, barely above the hum of traffic and late-night waves.
Lewis didn’t answer right away. She turned and saw it in his face, tension. Not the kind he got before a race, but the kind that lived in the cracks of a past he never talked about much.
He lowered his arm. “Not really.”
She climbed into bed beside him, soft and slow, tracing a finger down the lion tattoo on his chest. “Why not?”
He looked at her then, eyes dark and serious. “Because I wouldn’t know how to be a dad. Not a real one.”
“You had one.”
“Exactly.”
Silence.
Then he added, quieter, “I don’t want to be the kind of father I had. Detached. Controlling. The guy who showed up to take credit but never stayed long enough to do the work.”
Y/N rested her head on his chest. “Then don’t be.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is. Love them more than you hate the way you were raised. That’s how you break it.”
He closed his eyes, breathing her in like she was the only real thing in the world. “I don’t want to mess up a kid.”
She kissed his chest. “Then maybe don’t have one with just anyone.”
Lewis huffed a laugh, eyes opening. “What, and have one with you?”
She smiled. “You’d be lucky.”
He wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her hair. “Don’t tempt me.”
---------
The house was quiet.
The kids were finally asleep. Mateo tucked in with his dinosaur nightlight, Sofia curled up with a plush lion, and Leo sprawled across his bed like he fought demons in his sleep.
Y/N padded into the ensuite bathroom, her hair pulled into a loose bun, a soft cotton robe tied around her waist. She was brushing her teeth when she felt Lewis’s presence before she saw him.
His reflection met hers in the mirror, shirtless, boxers riding low on his hips, tattoos stark in the dim bathroom lighting.
“You still mad?” he asked, voice low and rough.
She spit into the sink, rinsed her mouth, and turned. “A little.”
Lewis stepped closer, caging her in with one hand on the counter behind her. “Want me to make it up to you?”
She didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow.
“I mean,” he murmured, lips brushing her cheek, “I could wash my mouth out with soap… or I could use it on you.”
That did it.
Y/N shoved his chest, half-laughing, half-annoyed, but he caught her wrist mid-push, twisting it gently until her back hit the bathroom counter.
Lewis leaned in, lips grazing her jaw. “You love when I’m like this.”
“You’re a menace,” she whispered, but her thighs were already squeezing together.
“I’m your menace.”
He kissed her slow at first, maddeningly so. Then his hands were on her hips, sliding her robe open, parting the fabric until it slipped from her shoulders and pooled on the tile.
Lewis sank to his knees without a word, palms dragging down her sides until they gripped behind her thighs.
“Still want to punish me?” he asked, looking up at her from under those lashes.
She smirked. “Only if you beg.”
He grinned. “Bet.”
--------
The bathroom lights are still on, casting a soft glow into the bedroom where they’ve ended up, a trail of clothes and discarded thoughts leading from one room to the next.
Y/N is sprawled across Lewis’s chest, her cheek pressed to the lion ink she’s always loved, the one she used to trace when she was just his girlfriend sneaking into hotel rooms under fake names.
His fingers draw slow circles on her back, steady and grounding.
“Still mad at me?” he asks, voice low and rough with the edges of sleep.
Y/N hums. “Not really. You were right… kind of.”
“Kind of?” he repeats, smiling.
“You’re a good dad, Lew.”
He doesn’t respond right away. He just holds her tighter, like if he doesn’t, she might vanish. Then he speaks, quiet and real.
“I always thought I’d mess this up,” he says. “I used to tell myself I didn’t want a family because I couldn’t handle it. Because the paddock was my whole life, and anything outside of it felt… far.”
Y/N lifts her head to look at him, eyes soft. “And now?”
He gazes at her. “Now it feels like the rest of my life is the time between coming home to you.”
Something about the way he says it makes her chest ache.
Lewis continues, almost like he needs to get it out. “I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I still panic when they cry too hard. I still think I’ll say the wrong thing. But I love them. God, I love them.”
“They know,” she says. “Every time you hug them, every time you show up, even when you’re exhausted. They know.”
Lewis swallows hard. “Sometimes I think about that night in Monaco. You remember?”
“The one with the robe and the champagne?”
“Yeah,” he says, smiling. “I said I’d never be a dad. Said I’d ruin a kid.”
Y/N brushes her fingers along his cheek. “And now you’ve got three who think the sun rises because you told it to.”
His laugh is quiet. A little broken. Full of disbelief.
She kisses him gently, murmuring against his lips, “You didn’t ruin anything, Lew. You built this. You built us.”
They lie in silence for a while, nothing but the hum of the house and the softness between them.
Then he whispers, “You’re still a bitch, though.”
Y/N laughs, swats at his chest, and lets herself fall back into him with a sigh. “Yeah, well. You married one.”
summary: the light of your lives turns four... but Lewis never thought that seeing his baby girl growing up, would hit him so much.
author's note: ahhhhh I'm finally back and I had to bring dad!Lewis back with me ofc. I took this plot in a different direction rather than just a regular celebration party but anyway hope you still like it babes! It feels nice to be back 🥹
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wc: 3520 - English is not my first language! Feedback is always appreciated
Green flags, red flags, chequered flags, tires, red and yellow streamers, confetti, balloons, and a big, white banner that reads “Gracie’s 4th lap” in red lettering. Your fingers are carefully working so you and your husband can put all the decorations together neatly for your daughter’s fourth birthday.
Even though the little girl is obsessed with pink, princesses and tea parties with her daddy and her plushies, this year she insisted that she wanted to “match daddy”, and have a race themed party.
At first, you and Lewis furrowed your eyebrows at the idea, finding it strange that this year won’t be filled with the usual pink glitters that insist on gluing to your husband’s braids for almost weeks on end. But, seeing the way your little girl continued to demand to have a Ferrari party, made both of you give in to her pleas.
- Can’t believe this is what Miss Grace really wanted for her fourth birthday - Lewis chuckles, incredulous at the way he feels like he’s living a work day at home.
- Yeah - you smile to yourself. - But it really is what she wants for this year. Looks like our little girl is growing. - There’s a special softness in your voice, almost feeling emotional at the thought of the soul that grew inside of you, together with yours, is not as little as you think anymore. She’s only four, but Grace is a little body full of personality, and the more she develops her wishes and wills, the more you admire the little human she’s becoming.
It’s currently 8:32 am. Both you and Lewis wish you could sleep a little longer on one of the days you have off of work, but you two agreed on setting all the decorations for your daughter’s party before she wakes up.
Lewis can’t stop laughing and smiling the more he sets everything up, unable to not find it funny that his team is basically sponsoring his child’s party. Picking up the paper plates that Ferrari sent for their little fan, your husband sets them on the table, getting everything ready for breakfast - wanting Grace to feel like she’s inside her own race from the very first moment.
A few moments of focus pass by when you and your husband listen to the light sound of your baby tiptoeing her way downstairs to check what her mummy and daddy are up to on the morning of her special day.
Lewis lifts his eyebrow playfully as he catches a small shadow hiding and peaking through the door from time to time, trying to control her giggles, covering her mouth with her little hand as to prevent herself from letting everyone know her location.
- Who’s there? - your husband asks in a serious yet mocking tone, touching your leg as if to tell you to pay attention to your kid’s reaction.
There she is, your baby showing herself, carefully walking inside and standing in front of you to show her appearance, now showing her big smile as if there are emotions running inside her little body that she can’t control.
- Oh there she is, Ferrari’s new driver, Miss Grace Hamilton! - Lewis continues to play with her, announcing the toddler as if she’s walking inside the paddock ready to dominate every track, making you chant and clap at the little girl.
Her eyes shine from laughing and from the way her mummy and daddy always make her feel so special and seen. The little girl tried to be as sneaky as she possibly could, but the view in front of your eyes is too funny and adorable to be ignored. Little Grace tried her best to put on her Ferrari tracksuit before heading out of her room, wanting to surprise you two by showing how a big girl she already is - she can even prepare her birthday outfit by herself!
Roscoe slowly followed the toddler to the living room, leaning his head to the side a bit as to question the way she put on her clothes. Lewis’ eyes wrinkle at the way his girl accidentally put her leg through one of the arm sleeves - but you can’t blame her, it’s hard to put on a tracksuit right after waking up!
Grace’s curls are all over the place as she runs to your arms, wanting to be engulfed in mummy and daddy’s lap. You shower her features with kisses, while Lewis ruffles her messy hair a bit more, right before helping his little version putting on her tracksuit in the right way. Your daughter fixes her outfit after daddy helped her, wanting to make sure she looks her absolute best since the first hour of the day. She then beams at the sight of all the decorations you two had put together while she was still peacefully asleep. And that’s the moment when you and Lewis know that you did the right thing.
- Can we put more balloons, daddy? I can help! - the little girl says, pointing her finger to all the balloons that Lewis had already hung around the banner announcing his baby’s party.
- Hmmm - he pretends to think for a second, his index finger tapping on his chin. - How about we do that after breakfast? I heard mummy learned to cook some pancakes that have the shape of some tracks, just for your party! - Lewis whispers the last part in the little girl’s ear, making her gasp and giggle in his arms, giving your husband the perfect occasion to pick her up, pretending the girl is flying her way to the kitchen, in his strong arms.
The sound of their shared laughter is enough to make butterflies erupt from your stomach - all the happiness and love that lives inside of you due to the amazing family that you are blessed to have. A love so strong that you and Lewis share, so pure, one big enough to create another baby, maybe… a thought that has been stealing most of your attention lately, but you always try to brush it off. Maybe something’s off with you today, maybe the smell of the freshly cooked pancakes is just messing with you for some other reason, just like dinner messed with your stomach a few nights ago. Nothing else… right? Either way, today is Grace’s special day and that’s what you need to focus on.
After breakfast, your daughter puts her invisible bossy cape on, bossing Lewis around to make sure that every decoration was in the right place, and every little detail was absolutely perfect before her friends arrived. You can’t deny that it never stops being funny seeing such a little person bossing Lewis around, and it gets even funnier when you realize that you and Grace are the only ones that are able to boss the man in front of you, and he will always gladly comply with the requests of his girls. Either way, you and your husband agreed on controlling Grace’s bossing habits a bit more, so you make sure to call her out whenever she points her finger at her dad, or when you feel like her tone is growing rude a bit too much. That’s not how things get done in your household.
The little girl apologizes to her dad every time you call her out, and especially if Lewis looks at her in a disapproval way - never needing much words from the man, his eyes would always tell everything to his daughter, whether would it be good or bad, making her close her frame a bit, ashamed of her attitude that she makes sure not to repeat.
She then picks a chequered flag in her hand, running around the house with it, making Roscoe follow the little girl around, pretending they’re in a race and the dog keeps crossing the finish line effortlessly, winning every lap.
Grace doesn’t even realize that time is passing by so fast as she entertains herself with Roscoe and their running around the house, and the girl is taken out of her focus when the doorbell rings with the first guests to her party.
The toddler’s best friends, Lucy and Mario run inside the living room to hug the birthday girl, followed by a shy Matteo that slowly accompanies the group. You can’t help but notice how Grace blushes a little bit at the way the boy stretches his arms to hug her softly, handing her his birthday gift right next.
You told your daughter to wait so she could open every present in the middle of the party, when you would bring out the cake for her to blow out the candles, but it’s like the little girl forgot all about that and immediately torn the present open, revealing a beautiful bracelet with white butterflies in it, and a drawing done by Matteo - him and Grace playing in the park, while he ‘hands the girl some flowers he handpicked for her’, the little boy explained timidly.
Lewis has a hard time disguising the eye roll that leaves his body when he sees his daughter leaving an innocent kiss on Matteo’s cheek, thanking him for the present. You make sure to lightly tap your husband’s shoulder as to tell him to calm down, so he doesn’t make a scene in the middle of your daughter’s party.
Lewis closes his arms around you, hugging you from behind, giving you an opportunity to kiss the man’s cheek. “There’s always a kiss for you, don’t be jealous” - you whisper to him, noticing the way a small sigh leaves his body as he nods at your words with a shy smile, embarrassed by his own reaction.
Soon enough, Lewis’ colleagues arrive at your shared house, and the greetings from the group mixes with the laughter coming from the children running around the corridors, a group that has gotten bigger as the minutes passed by, with more friends of your little girl marking their presence at the celebration.
You make sure to call Grace’s name whenever a new guest arrives, so the girl can come greet them and say personally to them “thank you for coming to my birthday party!”, with her teethy smile that makes everyone melt.
The little girl never fails to flash everyone with her bubbly personality, making every person laugh as she spins every time a new guest shows up, saying “have you seen my outfit?! I am a Ferrari driver! And I win aaaallll the races!” - she points out with a somewhat of a competitive glance that she makes sure to throw at her daddy and Charles, letting them know that she would be the best addition to the team.
But the four year old never stops surprising you, when she confidently walks to Fred, standing in front of the man, their height difference being so evidently comical. The girl points to herself, keeping eye contact with the man, who’s fighting himself to suppress a laugh at her somewhat serious expression.
- See, uncle Fred? You have the future of your team here! You can hire me and Matteo!! We are super fast! And all the interviewers would loooove us! Maybe Ferrari would actually win something - she beams, teasing the old man in front of her while everyone around them laughs out loud.
Fred can’t help but nod at her words, agreeing with her statement.
- You have a point, kid. Maybe I do need to think about building a new team, but that would mean your dad would end up unemployed, huh? - he raised an eyebrow, testing how far the girl will go with her team plan.
- It’s okay, uncle Fred! My daddy is old already! He’s older than my mummy! So he needs time to rest as well and to play princesses with me while I have my days off of racing. But! - the girl puts her index finger up, as if to catch his entire attention. - If you want me on your team, I need a new, better car! A special car just for Gracie Hamilton! How are we supposed to Forza in these Ferraris?! - she states, throwing her hands in the air as if she’s defending her case in court, and definitely winning a lot of different reactions amongst the crowd. Some laugh, others clap, but everyone agrees with the toddler, even as a way to tease Fred the most.
Time passes by fast, and when you notice, your husband is already coming inside the living room with Grace’s birthday cake in hand, ready for his baby to blow out the candles.
The big cake has a Ferrari car in it, and a little girl beside it, representing little Grace with a helmet on her hand. And throughout the entire pastry, there are drawings of some of the things that represent her: Roscoe, princesses, flowers, pink crowns, magic wands, animals, and lots of glitter. The toddler’s eyes shine at the sight of her cake, of how big and beautiful it is and how it carries all of her favourite things.
Lewis picks her up carefully in his arms as the group sings happy birthday to your princess, making her the entire center of attention of her special day. You and your husband help the girl blowing out the candles, right before placing a kiss on each of her cheeks, almost not believing that your baby girl is turning four already, growing so much while still being so little in your eyes and heart.
Grace is engulfed in a bubble of love by her friends and family, but excitement starts running through her veins as the time to open up all the presents arrives.
Charles and Alexandra gifted her a huge set of art supplies so Grace can train her painting skills, the girl’s grandma gave her an entire Barbie collection, where the dolls have their own mansion. “They even have a pool to chill and a big closet to slay the day away!” - the little girl notices, leaving Lewis’ mum confused about what ‘slay’ actually means, but with a warm heart that her granddaughter loved her gift.
In the middle of amazing gifts, the last one is gifted by Isack and Franco, and it definitely is the biggest one. Grace slowly walks to it, not realizing what it is and why it had to stay outside on the patio, instead of inside the living room.
Lewis furrows his eyebrows as he follows his daughter, going to help her take out the ribbon from the gift, wanting to find out what it is as well. The two of them work as a team as they start to uncover the gift, and Lewis’ eyes widen at the same time that Grace starts screaming out of excitement. Your husband can’t believe his eyes as he uncovers a go-kart, something that your toddler has been asking for for so long now, but definitely something that Lewis made sure to never give in to her pleas.
The girl chants and claps, going to hug the boys and thanking them for ‘the bestest present ever!!’, that she wants to try right away! Your heart feels nervous, definitely matching your husband’s - everyone can read it in his face expression. He’s definitely not excited to see his kid driving around speeding at the mere age of four, so he can’t help but mentally curse the boys who just put a go kart inside his house as if it was nothing.
- Daddy, daddy! Can I please try it? Pleaseeeee, please help me go inside!! - the little girl gives him puppy eyes as she pulls on her dad’s pants, wanting all of his attention.
- Ehm... - Lewis thinks for a second, getting lost between his ruminating thoughts of fear and Gracie’s big eyes, and in this moment, it’s just the two of them. Not all the guests, not the party, not everyone that’s inside the house right now. A big sigh leaves his body, as he picks the girl in his arms and carefully places her inside the kart, so the girl can see and understand how it feels to be inside one of those, definitely something that she has been dreaming of for a while now.
Lewis knows all about it, the little girl makes sure to share all of her speeding dreams with her dada, and the man can’t help but feel guilty about it. If he didn’t bring Gracie along to the races, the paddock, the garage, maybe she wouldn’t have this hyper fixation with speeding at just the age of four. And he worries about it, he’s terrified that something might happen to his precious baby due to everything that he taught her about cars and races. And he can’t help but beat himself up about it.
You can feel the anxiety reaching his veins, and that’s when you walk to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, calming down his train of thoughts.
- That’s so cool, ain’t it love? - you ask Gracie, noticing how happy she looks as she plays with the steering wheel, pretending like she’s racing already, coincidentally wearing her tracksuit and all already.
You snap a picture of your baby looking so fulfilled inside the kart, and that’s what it takes for Lewis to secure his racing, worried heart. Sure, she can try it if she wants, even if he’s not really a fan of it right now. At the same time, he can’t help but remember the way he felt when he stepped on a kart for the first time, that priceless feeling still runs inside of him whenever his mind drifts back to those times. The times when he realized he was living a dream.
And on that night, when you two are putting a very tired Gracie to sleep - but a Gracie that insisted on not wanting to take off her tracksuit! - Lewis remembers all that his little four-year-old self wished for his future, and prayed for his entire life. A career in F1, the feeling of driving such a powerful car, the dream of writing history with his own name. And if Grace dreams of that, then so be it. Lewis will make sure to keep the promise he made to the little girl on the day she was born: no matter what, daddy will always, always, be by her side through it all. If she wants to drive and kart, Lewis will help her and teach her everything he knows, making sure he keeps her safe - even if he will be the one on the side of the track, now.
And even if this is just a silly obsession of the girl that will be over next week, it doesn’t matter. Mummy and daddy will be by her side to support her through the next thing she wants to try, because that’s something that Lewis firmly believes in, and wants his daughter to never forget: there are days when mountains move themselves, demons run away - they might bark but will never bite!, and dreaming are for those who dare to chase them. And as long as you believe in them, they will never fade away. And you make sure to teach Grace to never stop believing in her dreams, just like you never stopped believing that it was possible for you to have a loving and supportive family.
That thought alone is enough to make one of your hands to mindlessly snake through your body to land on your stomach, that thought tingling on the back of your brain again, and Lewis doesn’t even notice it, as the door of your room swings open.
Catching both of your attention, your daughter comes inside, walking straight to Lewis’ side of the bed, putting her arms up, asking daddy to put her on the bed as well.
- Can’t sleep, bubs? - your husband asks, placing the baby in the middle of your frames, allowing your body to immediately shape to welcome your little love in your arms.
Grace shakes her head softly. - Just wanted to sleep with the best mummy and daddy in the world. Thank you for giving me the best birthday party ever. - the sleepy toddler says, half closed eyes as she lies her head on your chest and opens her small arm, asking daddy to crawl closer to you two. It warms your heart to feel your girl’s tiny body so relaxed near you, knowing she can always count on her mum and dad to cuddle her close at every moment.
Kissing the top of her head, you welcome your husband in your frame, lovingly cuddling the loves of your life, trying to silence both of your and Lewis’ thoughts. Sometimes, life takes a lot with all the fears, worries and hesitation pooling on your brains, and no one really knows the weight each of you carries in silence. But then it also gives you so much, with such a devoted husband and kind daughter, and the great certainty that together, you can win the entire world. And there’s not a greater lesson that you would wish to teach your daughter on her fourth lap around the sun.
― Pairing: stepdad!lewis x kindergarten teacher!reader (she/her)
― Warning: mentions food and sickness (fever); single!mom reader; family issues; not been proofread yet; 3k words.
― Summary: When your kid found a new friend in his new school, you did not expect that would mean you would find yourself friends too. And sure enough, you weren't expecting to fall for his friend's uncle.
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preview
A lot of things were unexpected that day.
First, the fact that Lewis was late to pick up his niece, but when he got there she wasn’t throwing a tantrum, quite the opposite. When she saw him she saw him, she came running through the school’s entrance with the biggest smile on her face when just earlier that week she made a fuss to go to class every morning – before and after getting there.
The second was the smallest boy who was right behind her. His backpack swung from side to side, while Wendy ran up front turning every few seconds to giggle at him.
And just when Lewis thought those were the only two unexcepted things, you walked out of the door carrying a few books in your hands and a big bag on your shoulder, calling for Wendy and the smallest boy.
“Uncle Lew!!!” His niece screamed before barreling into his legs and hugging him. He chuckled, bending down to kiss her mop of curls. “Have you met Leo?”
“I don’t think so,” he shook his head just as the boy finally reached them.
The kid’s version of a black Jordan and the styled curly hair made Lewis smile, that boy appeared to be around five but was already starring a fashion sense that a few older people hadn’t.
“Leo, you’ll give me a heart attack one of these days. You can’t go out running like this, honey,” your voice carried a serious but sweet tone simultaneously.
Lewis’ eyes found you standing a few feet away, curly hair clipped away from your face by a few strands, a pencil skirt, and a cream blouse. The folder and books in your arms gave him a hint of what you were doing there, and his silent guess turned out to be true when Wendy turned with a toothless grin and introduced you: “This is Miss Yn, our new teacher!” She took a step to stand beside you looking up with a beaming face that reflected yours. “And this is Leonard, her son, my new classmate. They’re new here, can we introduce the city to them like we did with Jackie and Uncle Toto? Also, can we have playdates later? Can we go to the park? Can we–”
****
“Mamma, I don’t wanna eat,” Leo held his hands behind his back giving you his best puppy eyes and you chuckled.
“How about you try a few bites and then go play with Dee, huh?”
“Yeah, champ, you gotta make your body strong so you can run as fast as you can,” Lewis tried, already cutting a sandwich in half for Wendy. “Have you ever tried vegan sandwiches?” He asked and Leo shook his head.
“I don’t like lettuce, mamma does though,” he shared, pointing his small finger at you.
“What do you mean you don’t like lettuce? Lettuce is exactly what makes us run even faster, it gives us tons of energy!”
“It does?” the curly-haired boy asked, hands now on the side of his body and curious eyes watching the food in Lewis’ hands.
“Yeah, I eat it all the time so I can drive my car in endless circles.”
You smiled watching the interaction.
“How about you have a bite? You don’t have to eat it all, just a bite. But I bet you will want to finish it. This one has so many things that make us bigger and stronger.”
“Strong like you?” his big brown eyes now looking at Lewis’ biceps, and you chuckled at your kid's face when the driver curled his arms and flexed his muscles.
“Yeah, strong just like me!”
****
“They truly made a bond in a short time, huh?” You commented.
“Guess we’ll be seeing each other a lot more often,” Lewis bumped your shoulder with his and you smiled. You wouldn’t lie that the prospect of interacting with him more than you did the last week wasn’t a bad thing at all.
“I’m not opposed to that.”
“Neither am I.”
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Dad!Lewis for my sad hours , no thoughts just fluff 💙
The monitor's light blinked before the volume rose up as it picked up the sounds coming from the nursery . You carefully reached to the bedside table to switch down the volume minding your sleeping husband as he snuggled into the pillow beside you , While he's asleep his hand still held into yours , stirring slightly as you shift around but still not walking , so you carefully lifted his his arm to try to scoot out of the bed , but failed as he blinked at you with sleep clouding his eyes .
You gave him an apologetic smile then leaned down to peck his lips then his temple whispering softly "it's okay babe , go back to sleep " but he groaned instead asking in a horese voice "where are you going?" His hand now reaching for yours grabbing your fingers to pull you back to him , you complied with a hand on his cheek causing him to close his eyes momentarily but he fought against the lull of sleep as he looked up at you , so you gave him an assuring smile " booboo is up from his nap , I'll check on him and come back . You go back to sleep " he shook his head with a tired smile " it's okay love , I'll go check on him" attempting to roll out of bed but you caught him before he could , giving him a scolding look with raised eyebrows "don't you even think about getting up , you sir are not moving from this bed before you get enough rest " adding with a knowing look with your free hand on your hip " I know for sure you didn't get any proper sleep the past four days , and stayed up the whole way home . so now you're going to lay back and take your absolutely needed rest and relax and let me and booboo take care of you , understood?" Giving you a fond look then kissing your hand that still held in his , he answered with amused smile "Yes Mrs Hamilton" earning a beaming smile from you before he laid back on your pillow this time watching with half closed eyes as you pulled out of bed to stand and move quitely out of the room before trying to drift back to sleep.
Your bare feet Padded across the hall towards the second door to the left , coming to a stop as you pushed the door fully to step into the dimly lit room . The soft whining coming from the crib inside only ceased as the lights got switched on fully , causing the baby to squint his eyes closed before opening them curiously to take a look at who stood above the crib .
Letting out small gruggling sounds as he saw you smiling down at him , kicking his feet and stretching his arms with a gummy smile as you greeted softly with a wide smile "hi booboo , how was your nap baby?" he let a loud whine frowning with a scrunched up nose before babbling incoherent sounds as if to tell you how it was .
Nodding along encouraging him to babble on before you reached down to caress his cheek , boobing his nose causing him to let a full belly laugh at the action taking hold of your fingers and tugging on them as if to beacon you closer , so you picked him up prepping his face with kisses letting him hold your face with both hands as he let out gleeful giggles , attempting to give few kisses back but ending up giving you raspberries on the cheek.
You held him close as you made your way down the stairs , " guess what booboo ?, today we're going to have a fun day with your papa " his eyes lit up at the mention of his father kicking his feet and babbling a string of what sounds like "pa!" , you nod at him " yeah! ,and we'll give him all the cuddles that he needs , what do you think?" He gave another kick of excitement , settling just as they reached the kitchen .
Setting him down on his high chair , you then went to grab some fruits to snack on with some juice for baby booboo , leaving dinner plans aside , opting to order later instead so to spend more time cuddling and spending time with your boys .
You went on humming a tune as you moved around, taking note of your baby smiling as he followed your movement around , smiling wider with giggles slipping out as you moved towards him while singing aloud and popping your head along with him , both unaware of Lewis standing in the doorway, his smile as wide as theirs as he took in the scene before him . Taking it in before stepping towards them quietly .
He went up behind you , hands going around your waist to hold you to his chest , slowly swaying you as he sang softly from where you stopped when you felt his hands on you , both grinning at your boy who was looking at you with sparkling eyes a wide gummy smile with dimples on full display as he raised his hands high for you to pick him up , and Lewis didn't take time kissing you on the head before he moved to hoist him high igniting a happy scream before he brought him down prepping his face with kisses "there you are ! Didn't know you missed me that much! " Laughing as his boy clung to him wrapping his small chubby arms around his neck and buried his face in his shoulder whining a bit before turning it to look at you , stretching his hand to where you stood behind Lewis watching them fondly .
You took his much smaller hand in yours , watching how his hand barley wrapped around three of your fingers bringing his up to kiss it softly before planting one on his head turning to your husband who gave you a playful pout asking in a hurt voice "what about me ? Where's my kiss !?" Shaking your head you leaned up planting one on his cheek and another one on his lips leaning back down with a beaming smile " there , happy now?." , he gave you a cheeky beaming smile leaning to steal another kiss before nodding in approval " very happy , Mrs Hamilton" . You rolled your eyes at his antics ushering him to head upstairs before going to turn back to grab the food and drinks " alright now , com'on boys we've got a whole day of rest and cuddles to share, now up you go , I'll be right behind you " he stopped you with a hand on your waist giving you a quick kiss before moving towards the stairs listening to booboo as he kept babbling on while looking at his dad with big exited eyes .
Summary: In which Lewis and reader have been trying for a baby for the past year but, are unsuccessful every time so, they go to a doctor to get reader tested and the results aren’t what they had hoped for
TW: Topics such as infertility !
Lewis has been very public about their attempts for a baby, Y/n didn’t mind too much as it was the truth. Y/n and Lewis have been in a relationship for 2 and a half years already and you both decided that now was the time that you both wanted a little bundle of joy running around.
Y/n went into the bathroom and took a pregnancy test 3 weeks after they last attempted, even though they’ve basically been attempting every day since then. Lewis was waiting patiently in their bedroom with Y/n still in the bathroom.
After ten minutes of waiting, Lewis abruptly stood up as Y/n came out of the bathroom with a dejected expression on her face as she looked at her boyfriend with a big frown on her face.
“Negative? Again?” Lewis sighed shaking his head as he opened his arms towards her. She nodded slowly, hugging his waist as he wraps his arms around her.
“What are we doing wrong?” she mumbles against his chest as she looks up at him. He sighs shaking his head as he rubbed her back slowly.
“I don’t think we’re doing anything wrong, sweetheart. I’m gonna make a doctors appointment for us and we’ll find the problem, we just have to have hope” he spoke softly, kissing the top of her head as she nodded against him.
== TIME SKIP ==
Y/n and Lewis are in one of the patient rooms at the doctors office, the Doctor had taken some tests a week or two ago and today they were finally getting the results after an excruciating long week.
The doctor walked in greeting the couple as Lewis grasped her hand in his and gently rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand.
She took a deep breath as the Doctor sat down in front of them. “Miss L/n, Mr Hamilton, we’ve got the results back from the tests we took a little bit ago and i’m afraid i’ve got some bad news..”
Y/n gripped Lewis’s hand tighter as she mentally prepared herself for what the Doctor was about to tell them. “I’m sorry to say this Miss L/n but, it seems that you are unable to conceive children of your own”
Y/n’s heart stopped for a second as she tried to grasp what he had just told them. She gives a few glances towards Lewis, who had now dropped her hand and looking at the doctor in shock.
“What do you mean exactly?” Y/n asked quietly, her voice just barely above a whisper. The doctor sighs and gives her an apologetic look.
“It means that you’re infertile, Miss L/n. Once again, i’m really sorry to have to deliver this news to you.” The doctor spoke as he excused himself after telling them that they can leave whenever. Lewis shook his hand and as the Doctor left he turned towards his girlfriend, who’s face had dropped with sorrow.
“Hey, it’s gonna be alright, we’ll work something out. I promise” he soothed, pulling her into his chest as she tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes.
“You’re not upset?” Y/n mumbled against his chest as she looked up at him through teary eyes.
“I’m upset, yes. But, there’s nothing we can do to change it unfortunately. I think we need to have a serious talk about our future now though” he replied quietly as he watched her face go pale.
She had a thousand thoughts rushing through her head “is he going to break up with me?”. She was soon ripped from her thoughts as she heard her name being called a few times.
“Y/n, sweetheart? I-” He tried to start before his girlfriend abruptly cut him off. “I’m sorry i can’t give you children, Lewis. I understand if you want to find someone who can.” She sniffles, pulling away from him a little.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He chuckled at her response. “Well, you want to break up with me now, don’t you?” His heart dropped a little at her question as he shook his head quickly.
“No, you muppet. I was going to talk to you about adoption. Although i would love to have children of my own, as long as you’re the mother to any of my children, i’ll be happy” Lewis replied, making her eyes light up a little as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
== ANOTHER TIME SKIP ==
It had now been two years since the couple found out that Y/n was infertile. A few weeks after the pair had found out, they applied to adopt instead. The couple went through a few rough patches with the process of adoption but eventually it all worked out in the end.
They were now the proud parents of a five year old boy called Tyler and a two year old little girl called Amelie. Even though Tyler and Amelie weren’t genetically theirs, they still cherished them like any normal parent would regardless of genes.
Warnings: just a couple being cheesy and in love, dad!Lewis, super soft moments between lewis and his daughter, one little disagreement, all around tooth rotting fluff.
Word Count: 4.2k
Author’s Note: I saw Lewis’s Instagram post and I had to write dad!Lewis, I couldn’t help myself.
----
Your husband shouts from the bedroom, “have you seen my keys?”
“Which ones?” You shout back, typing on your laptop. “Car, obviously.” He says, his hoodie tossed over his arm as he walks into the kitchen. You paused your typing, admiring your husband.
The white lights on the kitchen reflected off his skin, outlining the tattoos he had along his back. “I can feel you staring,” he calls, his back turned to you.
You smiled, chin propped on the palm of your hand as you looked him up and down. “Not staring, admiring.” You call back.
“Well,” Lewis turns to face you, smiling at you. “Stop admiring and help me look for my keys.” He tosses the sweater at you. You ignore him, instead pulling on the sweater he was intending to wear, the pink fabric swallowing you whole.
“I was going to wear that,” he says to you as you slide off the stool.
“Looks better on me,” you do a spin for him, Lewis grabs your hand and pulls you to him. “I think so too.” He mumbles against your lips before giving you a kiss.
You lean on the counter as you watch him search the kitchen again. The keys were in the pocket of the sweater he tossed at you. He didn’t seem to remember that he wore it when he dropped Stella off at school that morning.
The two of you had been married for almost 12 years now and had an 8 year old daughter named Stella.
You had met Lewis for the first time in 2008 after he won his first championship with McLaren.
You’re a sports journalist and the weekend he won his first championship, you weren't even supposed to be there. You were filling in for a colleague whose wife went into labour. You were under strict instruction to get an interview with whoever won and you did; you two did quite a lengthy interview but at the end, after the cameras were done rolling and the recording was off, Lewis asked if he could take you to dinner. You turned around to face him and to be quite honest, you were a little confused so you asked why he would want to spend his afternoon with a sports journalist when he should and could be partying to celebrate his win.
Lewis told you that he wanted to take you to dinner and then he would take you out and show you a good time, which he did. The two of you kept in contact over the break and when the season picked back up, you found yourself at the races once again but this time, as Lewis's girlfriend.
Lewis proposed to you in 2010, got married in 2012, and in 2014, you welcomed a baby girl; Stella Rose Hamilton.
Stella was the apple of her father's eye.
From the day you found out you were pregnant, Lewis fell in love with her but the day that she was born was a completely different thing. You saw a whole new side of your husband that you didn't even know existed. He was so in love with this little girl and everything he did from that point on was for her.
You and Lewis tended to keep her out of public view as much as possible, other than a few photos you two post but with her father being a seven time Formula One world champion and her mother, a highly regarded sports journalist, it was a bit hard to do.
She had been to numerous races but she always hung out in the garage; if she wasn’t with you two, that meant her uncle Sebastian, who was also her godfather, had whisked her off over to the Aston Martin garage. You were almost certain the little girl had developed a slight crush on the Canadian driver, her cheeks all red when he bends down to hug her hello.
“Lew,” you call, reaching onto the pocket of the sweater. “Here,” you toss the keys to him, he catches them.
“Where’d you-” he glances at the sweater and smiles. “Pocket?”
You nod, “pocket.”
Lewis starts talking as he walks off towards the bedroom. “I’m going for a drive,” he disappears in the room, coming back out with a black hoodie. “Do you want to come?” He notices you’ve returned to your spot by the counter, already jumping back into your work.
“Wish I could baby, but I got this article to edit and then I have a few meetings this afternoon. Can you pick Stel up from school ?”
“Yeah,” he says, hugging you from behind, now resting his chin on your shoulder. “You got it, sweetheart.”
You smile, patting his hand before twisting his wedding ring back into place, your initials peeking out from under the silver band.
Lewis kisses your jaw, peppering kisses until he gets to your cheek. “Love you,” he whispers against your skin. “Love you,” you hum, hand patting his cheek before letting him go.
The clock on your laptop reads 11:23am, you’ve got about 20 minutes before you need to leave. There was time to fit in a quick shower and make yourself look decent before heading to the office for your meeting at noon.
-----
You had literally just finished your meeting when your phone starts to buzz in your pocket and it’s Stella’s school calling.
It was one of those automated voice messages and the recording starts to play; “A student from your household named Stella Hamilton has been marked absent for afternoon attendance.”
The message sends you into a slight panic, how could Stella not be there for afternoon attendance?
She was staying at school for lunch, Lewis wasn’t supposed to pick her up until 3:15 for dismissal.
Lewis.
Maybe her father picked her up for lunch and lost track of time. You dial his number as you walk to your office, already trying to remember what you need to take with you in case you need to leave.
“Hello?” He picks up after a few rings.
“Lew,” you sigh, glad he answered. “Did Stella’s school call you? She’s absent for afternoon attendance, did you pick-” “Yeah, sorry sweetheart!” Lewis chuckles, “forget to tell you.”
“You have her?” You ask, and the phone starts to ring by your ear; FaceTime from Lewis. You pick up and the man smiles at you, turning the phone so you can see your daughter sitting across from him.
“Hi mommy!” She grins, waving at the phone. You let out a sigh of relief, smiling at the girl. “Hi baby, what are you having for lunch ?”
Stella takes the phone from her dad, showing you the plate. You smile, telling her to have fun before asking to speak to her dad again. Lewis was holding the phone now. “Why didn’t you let me know you were taking her out of school? I nearly had a heart attack.” You tell him, sitting in your chair.
Lewis chuckles, “sorry, it slipped my mind honestly. I figured she’d rather spend the afternoon with me than in school.”
“Babe, you can’t just pull her out of school for no reason.”
“It’s not for no reason, we're gonna have a daddy daughter day. I miss her and I leave next Wednesday, just wanna start the weekend a little sooner with my girl.” He glances at his baby girl, smiling at her and reaches over the table, probably to wipe something off her face.
“I thought I was your girl?” You joke, propping the phone on your laptop. “You know you got booted the day she was born,” he smiles at you, winking.
You chuckle, “yeah okay, whatever. You two have fun, I'll see you both when I get home.”
“Sounds good, love you babe.”
“Love you both,” you smile at him before ending the call. You sink back into your chair, sighing; this man was going to be the death of you.
---
Lewis and Stella head down the road, the windows of his Mercedes rolled down with the little girl in the back. “Can I pick the song, daddy?” She calls to him when he stops at the traffic light.
“Sure,” he hands the phone back to her, letting her pick what she wants.
It’s a few moments before she picks, the first few notes into it and Lewis already knows what song it is. Your wedding song, the one you had your first dance too.
“You love this one,” he glances at her in the rear view mirror, and she nods happily.
Stella had walked in on you and Lewis cleaning out your bedroom, she found the box with your wedding stuff and found the CD that found your wedding video on it. She fell in love with the song after that day, dancing to it with her father any chance she got - it was adorable.
“What colour are you thinking of doing?” Lewis asks her, pulling into the parking lot of the nail salon. “Purple!” She smiles at him as he comes around to open the door for her.
He holds her hand, walking into the building with her. “That’s a good choice mama,” he says before turning to the lady at the desk. “Okay baby, go on.” He tells her, going to sit on one of the chairs by the door.
The little girl turns to face her father, a pout playing on her lips. The exact same pout Lewis gives you when he wants something and you won’t give in. “Aren't you coming too, daddy?”
“You want me too?”
“Yeah!” She grabs his hand, pulling him to sit beside her.
Stella and Lewis chat about her classmates while they get their nails done. Stella tells him all about this annoying girl in her class and how this girl keeps picking on her friend and she finally tells the annoying girl to leave her friend alone. Lewis smiles and nods, making comments as they chat but he can’t help but admire how much of you is in your little girl. Her feistiness and her ability to say what she wants, however she sees fit, were amongst the first things Lewis liked about you.
The nails were almost done, Stella opted for vibrant purple with little white flowers on her ring fingers. Lewis does a regular manicure with top coat but when Stella gives him a pout and puppy dog eyes, asking if he wants to match with her, he caves and gets matching little flowers on his ring fingers.
He pays and holds her little hand as they step out and walk back to the car.
She’s tall enough to sit in the front so he lets her sit in the passenger seat, making sure to buckle her in properly before sending you a picture of their matching nails.
From Lewis: *1 Image Attachment* Matching.
To Lewis: adorable.
Next up was shopping. Stella has her father wrapped around her finger and anything she wanted was hers; you always had to remind Lewis that as much as he wants to spoil her and is able too, it’s okay to tell her no sometimes.
He doesn’t listen to you.
The two of them are wandering through the store, Lewis showing her pieces he thinks she’d like but much like her father, she had her own eccentric fashion sense.
Bold colours, patterns, different fabrics and materials; she was her own little designer.
“I like this one,” she pulls the bright blue shirt off the rack, little sparkles across the back. “That’s pretty, do you wanna try it on, love?” He asks her, carrying the hanger for her.
Stella shrugs, wandering through the aisles, “can I see the shirt daddy?”
Lewis hands the hanger over to her, leaning on the rack as he watches her hold the shirt out towards the stacks of pants. He realizes what she’s doing, she's trying to find something that matches the shirt. “What about the black?” He suggests.
“I don't like this,” she points out the appliqué by the pockets. “Fair enough.” He hums, letting her take her time.
He loved when she did this, he liked to see her grow into her own sense of things. He could spend forever watching her grow up but he knows it won’t last forever no matter how much he wants it too.
That’s why Lewis liked to spend days like today with her; because she’ll always remember this and so will he.
Stella finally picks out two pairs of pants, telling her father she needs to try them to see what looks better so he lets her, asking her if she wants him to wait outside the room for her. She tells him no, she’s okay by herself.
He doesn't know where the time went, when did his baby girl get all grown up?
Lewis finds himself admiring the jewellery in the cases, the stone catches his eye before he can walk off.
Stella’s birthstone sitting on a gold band, Lewis can’t help himself and asks if they have it in your ring size.
Soon enough, Stella finds her dad again but this time with her arms full of clothes. “What’s all this?” Lewis bends down to take the stuff from her.
“I found more stuff,” she grins at him. “There’s a whole other section!” She tells him, her eyes widened with excitement.
“Did you try on all of this?” He asks, and she nods. “Look!” She shows her father the purple shirt with the race car on it, “this one’s my favourite.”
Lewis smiles, “how come?”
“Because it looks like my car!”
“You have a car, baby?” He chuckles, knowing she doesn’t.
“Not yet,” she shakes her head, “but when I start to race like you, daddy, I want mine to be purple!”
Lewis was going to start crying in the middle of the store. His little girl wanted to race like him, follow in his footsteps.
There’s nothing better than that, his heart was so full and he couldn't help but think about her future as they walked to the front of the store.
Another Hamilton, another legacy.
He’s carrying at least 6 bags out of the store, putting them in the trunk and Stella is waiting beside him. “Do you wanna drive?” He asks her and her brows furrow, looking at her dad.
“What?”
He asks again; “Do you want to drive?”
“I don't know how.” She tells him.
“I’ll show you, come on.” He unlocks the door, getting into the driver’s seat before lifting her to sit on his lap. Lewis pulls the door shut before turning on the car.
The parking lot was empty, his foot was on the pedal before reversing it out of the parking spot. “Okay, keep the wheel straight.” He tells her, moving her hands onto the two sides of the wheel, Lewis keeps his hand on the bottom of it just in case as he pressed the gas slowly.
“Turn it left, slowly.” Stella follows her father’s instructions, turning the wheel to the left. Lewis smiles, “okay, we’ll go a little faster. Don’t tell your mother we did this,” he chuckles, pressing the gas pedal a little more, the car picking up speed.
Speaking of her mother, your name pops up on the screen as Stella turns the wheel right. Lewis slows down a bit, hitting the answer and your voice comes through.
“Hey! Heading home in a bit, what are you two-” “Wrong way babe,” Lewis tells Stella, moving the wheel the other way before the car hit the curb.
“What are you two doing?” You ask your husband. Stella looks back at her dad as he puts the car in park.
“Nothing, heading home too.”
“Who are you telling it’s the wrong way?”
“Oh, Stel was playing a game on my phone and she’s going the wrong way.”
“Hm, okay. What are we doing for dinner?” He can hear shuffling on your end. You must be getting ready to head out but your office was closer to home than the store so he’d have to beat you home obviously.
“Stel, what do you want for dinner?” He looks over at the girl, it’s like they share the same thought. “Pizza,” they say at the same time, making you laugh.
“Okay, I'll pick it up on the way home. See you two soon. Love you both!”
“Love you!” Stella and Lewis say at the same time before you end the call. Lewis lifts Stella off his lap when he opens the door. “Into the back, missy. Daddy’s gonna drive a little fast.”
“Can we put the windows down?” She asks, her father buckling her in.
“Sure, baby.” He laughs; she was just like you.
Whenever Lewis takes you out, just the two of you because he would never dare to drive as fast as he could with her in the car, you’d put the windows down as he drove. You always told him how much you loved the sound and the feeling as he sped down the road.
Lewis gets back in, rolling the back windows down half way and the front two are down all the way before he pulls off. He’s home in record time, 15 minutes opposed to the 25 it usually took.
He’s a F1 driver before a father.
Had it been him alone, it would be less but Stella was precious cargo so of course, he used caution.
---
When you arrived home, the two of them were laying on the couch. Lewis’s arms wrapped around the little girl, their eyes fixed on the screen. Her favourite Disney movie playing in the background.
You set your keys on the counter, walking over to set the pizza on the counter. “I’m home,” you smile at the two of them, Stella getting up to run over and hug you.
“Hi baby!” You caught the little girl, hugging her tightly.
“Hi mommy!” she smiles; she had her father’s smile.
You pick her up as you walk back to the couch, sitting down next to your husband and setting Stella on your lap. “Did you have fun with daddy today?” Lewis’ arm is around your shoulder, pulling you into his side.
“Yeah!” She grins, “we got our nails done.” She pulls her dad’s hand to show you the matching flowers on their fingers. “Then daddy took me shopping and he let me drive!”
Lewis pressed his lips together, glancing away from you when you looked over at him. “Oh, did he?” You ask her, eyes fixed on your husband.
“It was so much fun!”
“That’s good baby, I'm glad you had fun.” You kiss her head, “go wash up. I’ll get dinner ready.” You let go of her, Stella running off to the bathroom.
You get up, leaving Lewis on the couch. “Sweetheart,” he calls. following you to the kitchen.
“Don’t sweetheart me, Lewis.”
“Don’t be mad,” he says, hugging you from behind as you reach for the plates in the cupboard. “I got you something,” he whispers to you.
You ignore him, pushing his hands away as you move to set the plates on the table. Lewis was tumbling through the drawers, looking for something as you poured some juice into a glass for Stella. Lewis leans on the counter, the little box in his hand. You glance at the box and walk off to set the glass on the table. You were passing back to get yourself something to drink from the fridge when he grabs your hand and pulls you to him.
“The parking lot was empty. She sat on my lap, it was perfectly safe.”
“She’s 8 years old, Lewis.”
“She’s my daughter too, I think you forget sometimes.” He tells you, his words bitter.
“How could I forget when she looks exactly like you? I hate when you do this shit,” you tell him. Stella had walked out at that moment, in her pjs. “Mommy?” She calls, her little stuffed bee tucked under her arm - a gift from uncle Seb.
“Yeah baby?”
“Are you and daddy fighting ?” She asks and you glance at your husband. “No, just having a chat, baby.” You tell her, walking her to the table to take some pizza out for her.
Lewis watched as you gave Stella her dinner, admiring the way you always could hold yourself together around her. You kiss the top of her head, whispering something to her that made her laugh before walking back over to him.
You look up at him, your arms folded across your chest. Lewis can’t help but smile. “You’re so pretty when you’re mad.”
“So I’m not pretty otherwise?” You ask, Lewis rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.
“Do I?” you quipped, the man ignores your words.
He opens the small box, revealing the ring. “Lew..” You glance between him and the ring before he sets the box on the counter, taking the ring out of the box and sliding it into your right ring finger; the perfect fit.
“It’s stunning,” you hold your hand out to admire it.
“It’s Stel’s birthstone,” he tells you, his arm around your shoulders as he pulls you into his side. “This doesn’t mean I'm not mad at you,” you tell him, turning to face him.
“Are you ever not mad at me?” He teases, earning him a light smack to the side before you kiss him. “C’mon, let’s eat.”
The 3 of you have dinner together; Stella filling you in on the gossip from school, the same bit she shared with her dad at the nail salon and then she told you all about her shopping trip, all the clothes she got and the shirt with the race car on it, which spiralled into her telling you about her driving lesson with her daddy.
After that, you left the two of them on the couch to finish up their movie as you went off to shower and get ready for bed but not before taking a picture of them on the couch, making a mental note to change the desktop picture on your laptop.
When you get out of the shower, you can hear Lewis speaking and Stella’s giggling which meant the little girl was in bed and he was reading her a story. You lean on the door frame, watching as your husband points to something in the book, doing a silly voice to match whatever character he was reading for.
Lewis shuts the book, setting it on the bookshelf near her bed. “Daddy does the voices better than I do,” you tell her, walking into the room. You say goodnight to her, kissing her cheek. Lewis smiles at his girls before leaning to kiss her head.
“Sleep well, darling.” He tells her, his hand cradling her cheek.
“Good night daddy,” she smiles at her dad, her little arms wrapped around his neck when he leans down to hug her.
You were already in bed when Lewis came in. “You can’t possibly have more work,” he says, taking the laptop from you.
“Lewis!”
He reads what you had open, “this can wait?”
“Yeah, but I don-” He ignores you and shuts the laptop, putting it on the other side of the room knowing that you’ll be too lazy to get up and go get it.
He drops down next to you, resting his head on your lap as you scratch along his jaw softly. “Today is one of the best days I've had with her in a long time.”
“I’m glad, just give me a heads up next time; you know, just so I don't have a heart attack when they tell me she’s not in school.”
Lewis laughs, kissing your hand. “I’ll tell you next time, I promise.” He looks up at you, “maybe next time, I’ll take you for a ride.”
You knew there was some hidden meaning behind your husband’s words but you were much too tired to take him on right now. “Alright baby, whatever you say.” You lean down to kiss him, nudging him from your lap so you can lay down.
The door to your bedroom gets pushed open, “mommy? Daddy?” Stella calls, her little bee tucked under her arm again.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Lewis is already out of bed to check on her.
“Can I sleep in here?” She asks, Lewis already picking her up. “You don’t have to ask, sweetie.” You tell her when they get back to the bed.
Lewis was in the middle, Stella on his right and you on the right. You lean over him to kiss her forehead before he pulls the blanket over the 3 of you.
All was right, his two girls next to him and everyone was happy. It was days like today that made being married and being a father worth it; the memorable days.
pls dad lewis hits me right in the feels. I think what I find most endearing is how whenever he gets asked he's always saying he wants to be a present father and have time for his kids so he'd probably hold off to have them after he's done with racing and I feel like that time would be so special because he's achieved so much in life but having his own would be like the greatest achievement
legit my day yesterday started having breakfast w my housemate talking about how i DO not want kids and i'm very Certain About That. And it finished me 3k deep about how. much. i. want. to. have. lewis'. babies.
and yes i know what ur talking about!! tbh it just makes me (hngngnnn) so much more like, he want to be there with u :( he wants to raise his kids Right and have them know he's Always There :(
i almost added a bit about baby at track in 'now i see the light'!!! but didn't feel right, i liked the atmosphere of their little home, just enjoying bubba together.
thank u so much for ur message!!! i could talk about this all dayyyy
summary: you wake up feeling sick, and your daughter makes sure to boss your husband around so he can take good care of you.
• masterlist
wc: 3776 - English is not my first language! Feedback is always appreciated
You wake up hating the fact that you opened your eyes, already. Your throat feels dry, your body is sore, your nose is clogged, making it impossible for you to breathe properly. Groaning, you can’t help but roll your eyes at the uncomfortable sensations erupting through you as you try to move your body, getting out of bed.
It’s still early, the clock reads 8:12 am. And while your husband is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, he hears your soft sniffles followed by the sound of you blowing your nose. Furrowing his eyebrows, the man soon leaves the restroom, only to find his wife sitting at the edge of your shared bed, taking some pills.
Lewis is already fully dressed, ready to leave the house to attend some work meetings when he steps inside the bedroom again, slowly walking to you. His hands land on your shoulders gently, carefully massaging them as you instinctively lean your head against his chest.
- Are you okay, love? - he asks you as his lips touch your neck, kissing your skin softly.
The man notices the dark bags under your eyes, how your lips look more pale, as if today has stolen from them the plump, cherry tone that your husband loves so much, alongside your red-ish eyes, that are still puffy and tired from the restless night you just had.
- Yeah, I’m fine - your hoarse voice replies, clearing your throat as your husband looks at you with a raised eyebrow, highly doubting your statement, that doesn’t match your face at all.
- Are you sure? - he insists, moving so he can take a better look at you, noticing that you don’t look as good as you try to convince him.
You slightly roll your eyes at him, pecking his cheek carefully - trying not to get him sick as well. Yes, you’re not feeling the greatest, but it’s just a cold, you will live through it. Yes, you would love for Lewis to spend the day with you, cuddling you or watching over Grace, so you could hide behind the covers and sleep this flu away.
However, you are aware of all his professional duties, and there’s no way that you will encourage him to call out of work. So, with an unconvincing smile, you insist: you are fine, and you can make it through the day with a cold.
Sighing softly, the man puts his arms up as if he is surrendering.
- Okay, okay. Call me if you need anything, yeah? I’ll be back in a blink of an eye - your husband lets you know, capturing your lips in a loving kiss as his arms wrap around your waist, holding you closer to him for a moment.
Nodding your head at his words, you allow the man to leave without feeling any remorse - it’s just a cold, after all. And you really try to keep your routine as normal as possible, going to wake Grace a little later than usual, allowing the little girl to sleep longer as you end up falling asleep in the middle of your covers as well.
Even with a sore body, a hurt throat, you try your best to keep your energy at an acceptable rate, so you can waste it all with your curious girl: the three-year-old that wants to explore this entire world, as well as the entire galaxy - all at the same time.
But you physically can’t. As the hours pass by, your figure grows colder, your limbs hurt more and more, you get caught in coughing fits more frequently, and it gets to a point when your daughter looks at you with her chocolate eyes full of pity, feeling bad from seeing her mummy so sick. And you notice the way Grace calms down as well, suggesting that you two would lay on the sofa, just watching her favourite cartoons as the toddler gently caresses your cheek with the back of her hand - making a genuine smile appear in your face as you hold your baby close.
You seem to relax a bit as you stop moving around to meet Grace and her activities. However, your daughter feels exasperated, waiting for her daddy to come home, her small eyebrows furrowing slightly while she puts her brain to work.
Mummy was already sick when she woke me up. And daddy had already been to work. Didn’t he see that mummy wasn’t feeling good?! Why is he not home yet? - the little girl thinks to herself, moving her hand gently to touch your hair softly, trying to shoo a bit of the pain away from her mummy’s figure.
You don’t even notice the hours passing by, feeling your eyes growing heavier and heavier, fighting the will to fall asleep on your child, trying your best to stay as awake as you can for her. And you manage to do it, even if at much cost for your body and rest.
But when you hear the keys turning on the front door, Grace immediately leaves her spot next to you, running to meet her daddy - something that it’s definitely not a surprise to you.
Lewis is also used to having the light of his life waiting for him when he comes home, but today, the light of his life looks at him more as a storm, ready to crash on him as the little girl crosses her arms in front of her chest, looking at him impatiently before speaking.
- Lewis Daddy Hamilton! Where have you been?! Mummy is so sick! - the toddler asks in an urgency, her tone reprimanding her dad for not being home all this time.
Your husband is taken aback as he walks inside your shared house, raising an eyebrow at his kid’s words.
- Well hello to you too, my love. Daddy was at work! Mummy isn’t feeling better? - the man asks, keeping his tone light and soft for his baby.
- No! She is not feeling better! Aren’t you her husband?! In sickness and health?! - Grace is agitated, feeling nervous as she puts emphasis on certain words, one hand on her hip and pointing a finger at her dad from time to time.
The three-year-old’s words make his heart clench in his chest as he realizes that the medicine you had earlier in the morning didn’t help much, and that you need some serious care from your husband and daughter. But still, Lewis can’t stop noticing Grace’s references.
- How on earth did you learn about wedding vows, miss? - the man questions curiously, only to be met with an impatient eye roll from his daughter, who just replies back ‘the telly’ in an obvious tone.
Chuckling slightly, Lewis fills a cup with water, handing it to the toddler.
- Alright, alright, miss. I’ll call out of work for the afternoon. Can you take this to mummy, please? Be careful - he advises, handing her the cup, making sure it’s secured in her little hands.
Grace nods, preparing her last words before she leaves the kitchen.
- Mummy needs medicine and a nice, warm soup. Get to work! - she says in a bossy tone before walking back to you, giving smaller steps so as not to spill the water on the floor.
You take the cup from her hands, thanking your little one as you finally get some water to slide down your dry throat, relieving the pain for a few seconds.
- Drink it all, mummy, so you can feel better - Grace’s tone when directed at you is as sweet as honey, wanting to help her mummy feeling better.
Kissing her cheek softly, you let her know that she is all that you need to feel better. The words make your baby blush a little, and they’re not a lie. But today, you’re afraid that Grace won’t be the remedy to the cold that continues to creep more and more on your body - definitely in need to mix her cuddles with some effective medicine.
As the girl joins your side again, you wrap her in the blanket that’s keeping your body warm, hugging her the way both of you enjoy so much. However, just a few seconds later, your husband comes into sight, seeing you for the first time since he left the house this morning. He gives you a gentle smile, seeing his two girls cuddled on the sofa, but immediately realizing that’s not the best place for you to rest your body in, now.
- You said you were fine, huh? - Lewis banters for a second, remembering the words that you gave him in the morning, kissing your hand softly as he sits on the edge of the couch for a few seconds.
- And I am - you reply, just in time to get caught in another coughing fit, noticing the look that the man gives you, not believing that you continue to insist that you are okay, when you are so visibly sick.
Shaking his head, the man gets up from his spot.
- How about we take you to bed, love? Your body will keep hurting if you lay here, all bent, for any longer - he suggests, and you know that he is right, groaning more as you feel every inch of your limbs hurting more and more when you try to move slightly, sitting down in your place so you can leave the sofa.
However, a surprised yelp escapes your lips when your husband’s arms wrap around your figure carefully, picking you up bridal style and carrying you to your bed - even earning a giggle from his daughter once he winks at her, showing her that he started complying to his ‘husbandly duties’ right away.
His arms lay you down on the sheets slowly and carefully, as if you were made of porcelain in his hands, gently wrapping your body with the warm covers. Once the man sees that you seem way more comfortable now, he lands a kiss on your forehead, noticing how hot your skin feels.
- Baby, you’re burning - he informs you, putting his mind to work as he remembers where you usually put the medicine that you need so much now.
Walking inside the bathroom, the man searches the counter, hearing Grace’s little feet running to meet her dad.
- I’ll take the medicine for mummy, daddy! I want to help too - the toddler says with big eyes, peeking through the door to check if you’re still lying down, as you are not authorized by your daughter to leave the bed!
- Here, love - Lewis catches her attention again, seeing how the girl cups her hands in a shell shape, so her daddy can place down two pills that the child makes sure to take safely to her mum.
Carefully walking over to you, your daughter hands you the medicine that you make sure to chug down with a water bottle, desperate to have something that will help you feel better once and for all.
- Bubs, how about you come downstairs and help daddy cook lunch? So we can let mummy get some rest, alright? - Lewis offers softly, smiling at you when he sees you smiling back at him, a silent ‘thank you’ for taking care of you, for giving you some time for yourself, so you can have some peace of mind and allow your body to finally relax.
Grace nods at her dad’s words, walking over to the edge of the bed to kiss your cheek lovingly.
- Don’t leave the bed, mummy! If you need anything, you call me and I come running immediately! Okay? I want you to get better - the toddler whispers softly to you, as if she is trying to not disturb your recovery.
- I’ll make sure to be right here when you’re back, my love. Thank you - you whisper back, hugging her as the little girl wraps her arms around your neck gently, before meeting her dad near the door.
Picking her up, Lewis goes back to the kitchen, getting everything ready to cook you a warm soup, that you so desperately need.
- Do you want to help me, princess? - he tries to catch the toddler’s attention, who is ready to reply to his question.
- No - Grace says unapologetically, while sitting on her chair. - I spent the entire morning cuddling with mummy when you should have been here, but you weren’t. - your daughter states her ground, with her small hands on her hips and all.
She is merciless with her words, still feeling frustrated by seeing her mummy sick. Mummy never gets sick, and when she does, daddy is not home to help her!
- I’m sorry Gracie, but mummy told me that she was fine this morning. I didn’t know she was this sick, baby - Lewis tries to explain his side, making up for his absence during the morning as he starts chopping vegetables for the soup.
Putting her hand up in a ‘stop’ movement, the little girl makes the man stop in his tracks, furrowing his eyebrows at her actions.
- Yeah yeah Lewis, excuses - she rolls her eyes at him again, losing all patience with her father and his words. - Do I have to be the one doing everything in this house?!
Lewis is dumbfounded, several question marks visible on his face as he stares at his kid, not enjoying her attitude at all.
- Miss, I advise you to watch that tone. I’m still your father - he says in a more stern way and a serious facial expression, going back to focus on the cooking as silence installs in the kitchen right after.
For some more minutes, the two of them cook your soup together. ‘Together’, meaning that your daughter was giving all the orders, making sure that your husband followed them.
Lewis sighs from time to time, his mind divided between you and your health state, and Grace and the unbearable attitude that she has today, but he decides to relativize it, focusing on feeding his two girls - hoping that both of you might feel better right after.
Your child gets tired of looking at her dad cooking, leaving her seat to go back to your room. However, before she leaves the kitchen, she gives Lewis another threatening look.
- I am going to check on your wife, don’t mess up her food! - she emphasises, pointing two fingers from her eyes to him, silently telling dad that she has her eyes on him.
Lewis doesn’t even reply to her, sighing loudly as he shakes his head at his daughter's antics, not really understanding how she can sustain so much attitude inside of her tiny figure.
Meeting you in bed again, Grace smiles at the sight of Roscoe lying at your feet, the poor dog also sensing that you aren’t feeling well. You open one of your arms to nestle your kid next to you, missing the warmth erupting from her loving cuddles already, smiling when she hugs you right back.
- Daddy will be right here with your food, mummy - the toddler informs you, earning a soft nod from you as you turn on the television so you two can entertain yourselves with some of your favourite shows.
Choosing Gravity Falls, you and Grace pay attention to the telly, feeling some more comfort erupting through you from this moment with your little one. And time passes by faster, not really noticing it, until your husband is walking inside the room with a tray filled with food in his hands.
- I hope my girls are hungry, because I cooked a very! delicious soup, may I say, and we also have some noodles and fruit - the man announces the menu for lunch, winning some claps from his mini-version.
- I am sooo hungry! - the toddler replies, crossing her arms again in a bossy way, even if her dad had already warned her about it.
Either way, your daughter calms down as soon as she starts eating, feeling her stomach more content with the nice food that Lewis had cooked for you, and you can totally relate to that sensation, feeling your body almost thanking you for the warm soup.
With the show still playing in the background, the three of you eat in peace, feeling the air lightening around your figures, as you finally feel the medicine kicking in, easing the pain that was being endured on your body for the past couple of hours.
- Did I redeem myself, miss Gracie? - your husband nudges your child slightly, allowing a teasing giggle to leave his lips.
You notice the way your daughter gets a bit shy at her dad’s provocation, hiding the blush on her cheeks with her small hand.
- Yes, BUT! - the three-year-old puts her finger up in the air - I think mummy should know how I had to boss you around for a bit.
Both you and Lewis chuckle in unison at your baby’s antics, and you can’t help but melt at the way the little girl immediately loses herself in her daddy’s arms, finally hugging him for the first time today.
- I was just worried, because I want mummy to be okay and happy - your little one says, looking at you while she’s still merged in her dad’s nestle as your husband softly kisses her temple.
You pout at her adorableness, welcoming her into your arms right next, thanking her for taking such good care of you when you are feeling so sick. You definitely wouldn’t feel better without your baby’s sweet cuddles.
Grace had a hint of sadness and concern inside of her tiny figure all day, worried about you - the strongest, most special mummy there is: Grace’s mummy, that takes care of her whenever the toddler is sick, sad, kissing away her tears and pain, nestling her to sleep, watching her favourite cartoons together, tickling her until her belly hurts from laughing so hard, sharing the most special moments between the two of you.
So, seeing her pillar frail, encouraged the little girl to stand up for you, even if that meant that she had to lose her way and boss her dad a bit, to make sure that he would take good care of you. And he did, as always. You knew that all you had to do was make a call to your husband’s number, and he would be home in a second if needed - but it’s best to blame your stubbornness for this one.
Apologising to her daddy for being bossy and even a bit rude sometimes, your husband immediately gives into the girl’s words, understanding how she was feeling insecure by seeing you sick - even if it’s just something as simple as a cold, hugging his mini-version once again.
Putting the tray now filled with dirty dishes to the side, you and Lewis lay down on your pillows, opening up space for Grace to lay in between the warmth of your bodies, where the toddler loves to be so much.
Sharing small giggles here and there, gentle touches erupt from your figures, as your husband’s fingers draw sweet patterns on your arm, since both you and your daughter are basically cuddled to his side, now - giving him the opportunity to land kisses on the top of your heads from time to time, as the three of you focus on the new episode of Gravity Falls that just started.
Out of nowhere, the three-year-old gets up from the space in between your figures, running out of the room, telling you how she forgot something in her bedroom. You imagine she would be back with her favourite plushie so she can hold him while watching the telly, but a surprised laugh escapes your lips when your child comes back into the room with a bar of chocolate in her hands.
- This is for you, mummy - Grace tells you, handing you the candy while looking at her dad with a compromised look and a giggle that she tries to suppress: she took it from Lewis’ “secret” stash of candy that he has in her room, and that you pretend not to know a thing about, even after your daughter telling you everything about it already.
The man looks at the little girl with an eyebrow raised, in a comical way, making the toddler laugh at the situation.
- Uhm… I’ll let this one slide because mummy is sick and she needs a sweet. But just so you know, I’m moving my candy from its place, so you won’t find them, little lady - Lewis jokes, his giggles mixing with Grace’s as he tickles her, obviously just messing around with his kid.
But Grace is still more witty than him, already ready to give her dad a piece of her sassiness, as she just ironizes:
- Uhmhm, we both know that’s not happening, daddy - looking at him with another hand to her hip in a very sassy, very Grace’s usual way, making you laugh so much that you get caught in another coughing fit.
And that’s the line that your family needs to calm down again, as your daughter gets back to her place in between her parents’ frames, her tiny fingers gently twirling some pieces of your hair while the child focuses on the cartoons again - something that she used to do when she was even smaller than she is now, and definitely a little action from her that’s enough to make your heart grow in your chest at the memories of something that she used to do repeatedly when she needed to calm down to sleep, and that she does so rarely now.
These are the moments that you live for, the fuel of your life and health, what immediately makes you feel better as you only need to have your daughter and your husband by your side, never forgetting about the loyal Roscoe as well - as if you could ever forget about him, this peaceful moment of cuddles in bed being punctuated by the dog’s loud snores that makes you and Lewis chuckle from time to time.
Some time after the cuddle session has started, Grace sneezes, sniffling a bit while never taking her eyes off the telly, making you and Lewis immediately look at each other with widened eyes - your conscience identifying the consequences of cuddling your daughter all day when you’re sick.
But even if tomorrow you’ll wake up to a chaotic household, sharing your cold with your toddler and making your husband call out of work to take care of you two, this is still where your gravity lays, the reason that makes you wish that everything stays still, longing forever in the warm, never ending love that strings your family together - something that you are so, so grateful for, in sickness and health.
