Synopsis:: Lando doesn’t tell reader that he’s live with Keegan and she walks in the background of the live and Lando gets a bit too touchy for other people’s eyes.
Pairing:: Lando x fem!reader
“LAN” the woman shouted as she walked across the boat trying to find her boyfriend. As She walked across the deck and made her way to the kitchen where she heard the most ruckus. She was met with the sight of Keegan and lando apparently cosplaying as bartenders. She should’ve knew that something was up when Keegan kept talking to a phone and reading off of it. But no, she is never that lucky when lando is involved, like ever. “Hi pretty girl” Lando said as he walked across the deck to pull her into his arms. “Why’d you get out of bed so early this morning?” She asked him as she gets on her tippy toes to reach his lips for a kiss. Just as the kiss connects she hears Keegan call Lando back over to finish helping him mix cocktails.
WHEN Lando is helping Keegan mix cocktails he held a pina colada out to the woman and said “try this baby” Completely forgetting that he was infact on live. When she reached for the drink he pulled her into the him and also synonymously pulling her into the cameras view. As she was drinking the cocktail Lando made her she began to feel landos hands around her midriff. And his chin resting on her shoulder. “Baby you’re live” she spoke as she began to feel landos hands drift lower and lower. “I know that” he responded as he began answering the chats messages.
Summary: finding love was hard. Especially when you had a kid. Once they found out, they ran. But one person in particular decides to stay.
Second Person | w/c: 8.9K
Notes: will be hard to read as a standalone. Part thirteen of 'His One and Only'
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Main Masterlist
The days after that seemed to settle into something softer.
Not all at once, and not in some huge life-changing moment. It happened quietly, in pieces so small you almost didn't notice them at first.
Lily started reaching for Lando more without thinking about it. Sometimes it was just little things, asking him to open her juice because "he does it better," tugging on the sleeve of his shirt when she wanted to show him something, climbing into his lap during movies like it had slowly become the most natural thing in the world.
Other times, it caught you off guard.
Like hearing her call for him from the bathroom instead of you when she needed help brushing her teeth. Or the way she'd wander into the living room half-asleep in the mornings and immediately look around for him first if his shoes were by the door.
It had been nearly two weeks since she said "Love you."
Two weeks of slow mornings tangled in blankets and pancake breakfasts that somehow always turned into a mess. Two weeks of Lando showing up at the apartment more often than not, his overnight bag eventually staying by your bedroom dresser because carrying it back and forth became pointless.
And through all of it, Lily kept getting closer to him.
Not in loud ways.
For her, trust showed in the quiet things. The way she stopped hesitating before reaching for his hand when they crossed parking lots, or how she'd lean against his side without realizing she was doing it. Sometimes she'd sit beside him while he scrolled on his phone, completely content just existing there with him, her small shoulder pressed against his arm while cartoons played in the background.
Even Aiden noticed it.
"You know she likes you now, right?" He'd said one night from the couch while Lando helped Lily build some uneven block tower on the rug.
Lando had glanced up briefly. "What gave it away?"
"She stopped threatening to bite you."
Lily gasped dramatically from the floor. "I no bite."
Aiden looked at him flatly. "She absolutely bites."
"I bite you," she corrected.
"Exactly my point."
Lando had laughed quietly at that, shaking his head as Lily crawled closer to him with another block in her hand like the conversation had nothing to do with her.
And somehow, somewhere in the middle of all those ordinary little moments, things started feeling less temporary.
The whether starts warming up again.
Not enough for summer, but enough that the air doesn't sting your face anymore when you step outside. Most of the snow has melted into damp patches along sidewalks and grassy edges of parking lots, leaving everything looking washed out and sleepy in that strange in-between season.
Lily likes it anyway.
Mostly because it means playgrounds again.
The three of you fall into routines lately without really thinking about them. Saturday mornings at the apartment. Pancakes if Lily asks enough times. Grocery runs that somehow take twice as long with her sitting in the cart, pointing at things she absolutely does not need.
And now this.
The park a few blocks from your apartment, crowded enough now that the sound of children reaches you before you even make it through the gate. The air smells faintly like damp woodchips and cold pavement warming in the sun.
Lando sits beside you on the bench, sunglasses pushed up into his hair while one arm stretches loosely along the back of the bench behind you. You sit with your legs crossed, leaning slightly forward, your elbows resting against your knees as you watch Lily near the playground.
The park is busy today.
Kids run across the woodchips in loud, messy groups, jackets half-zipped and shoes kicking dirt everywhere, while parents call them from the benches and picnic tables. swings creak steadily back and forth nearby somewhere behind you, and somebody's speaker plays music low enough that it blends into the rest of the noise.
And right in the middle of all of it is Lily.
Not really playing.
Just... wandering.
She lingers near the slide for a moment, clutching the sleeve of her sweatshirt in one hand while she watches a group of girls around her age chase each other through the tunnel structure. Her body leans toward them slightly, almost without realizing it, like some part of her wants to follow.
But she doesn't.
Instead, her hands start fidgeting together in front of her, tiny fingers twisting nervously against each other before she tugs at the cuff of her sleeve again. One foot shifts against the woodchips, then the other, like she can't quite figure out where to place herself.
One of the girls glances at her briefly before running off again, disappearing around the other side of the playground. Lily shifts awkwardly where she stands after that, looking down at the woodchips before slowly wandering somewhere else instead.
Your chest tightens immediately.
Lando notices the shift beside you before he notices why.
"You alright?" He asks quietly, glancing toward you.
"Mmhm," you answer automatically.
Too fast.
Your eyes never leave Lily.
She crouches near one of the spring riders now, dragging her fingers absently across chipped paint while children climb and yell and laugh around her. Every few seconds, she looks toward another group of kids like she's trying to figure something out
A little boy runs past her suddenly, nearly clipping her shoulder.
Lily immediately steps out of the way.
Instinctive.
Your throat tightens.
Lando watches her for another second before looking back at you. "Hey," he says softer this time. "What is it?"
You shake your head once, rubbing your thumb lightly against your palm. "Nothing."
Beside you, Lando shifts slightly, turning more toward you now instead of the playground. His expression softens immediately the second he gets a better look at your face.
Your eyes are glossy.
Close enough to crying that he notices.
"Talk to me," he says gently, turning a little more toward you on the bench. The concern in his voice almost makes it worse.
You swallow once, hard enough that it hurts slightly, and look back toward Lily. For a second you think maybe you can shake it off, pretend it's nothing, but the feeling is sitting too heavy in your chest now.
Lily is standing near the climbing structure beside two little girls drawing shapes into the mulch with sticks. She hovers just outside of their space, small fingers twisting together nervously in front of her sweatshirt while she watches them.
For one tiny second, it looks like she might actually say something. She takes one hesitant little step closer, her shoulder lifting slightly like she's building up courage one breath at a time.
Your breath catches without you meaning it to.
But then on of the girls suddenly stands up laughing and runs off toward the swings before Lily can get there. The second girl follows right after her.
Not mean. Not cruel... just leaving.
And Lily just... stops.
The tiny bit of confidence drains out of her so fast it physically hurts to watch. Her shoulders curl inward slightly. Her eyes drop to the ground. One foot drags slowly through the woodchips before she turns away again like she was never about to try in the first place.
Like she's already learned how to make herself smaller before someone else can do it for her.
Your eyes sting immediately.
You blink quickly, looking down toward your lap as your hand comes up beneath your eye before anything can actually fall. You press your lips together hard, trying to steady yourself before Lando notices.
He notices anyway.
His expression shifts immediately, concern settling deeper across his face as he looks between you and Lily again. "Hey," he says quietly, softer this time. "What happened?"
You shake your head once automatically like it's nothing. But your voice betrays you the second you open your mouth. "She was friends so bad," you whisper.
The words crack around the edges.
Lando stays quiet beside you, giving you space to keep going instead of interrupting too soon.
You stare out toward Lily again. She's crouched near the edge of the playground now, distracted by a tiny yellow flower pushing through the mulch, but even from here you can see it in her face, that distant little look she gets when she's trying to pretend she isn't upset.
"She just..." you stop for a second, swallowing hard. "She doesn't know how."
Lando's eyes move back toward her again, really watching now instead of casually glancing. Watching the way she circles around groups of kids instead of through them. Watching how she pauses every time she gets close enough to say something. watching how quickly she pulls herself back out again the second she feels unsure.
Your fingers twist tightly together in your lap.
"She's always been nervous around other kids. She wants to play with them so badly, but when she gets close to them she just... freezes." A small, sad breath leaves you. "And the older she gets, the more she notices when she's left out."
Lando stays quiet, listening carefully.
"She's good one-on-one sometimes," you continue softly. "If another kid comes up to her first, she'll;; usually warm up. But she doesn't know how to start it herself." You shake your head slightly.
Out on the playground, Lily glances toward another group of children climbing across the monkey bars. She takes one tiny step toward them before immediately second-guessing herself, fingers twisting together again.
Your chest aches watching it.
"She gets so excited before we come to places like this," you whisper. "She talks all morning about making friends and playing with other kids... and then we get here and she just can't."
Lando exhales slowly beside you, elbows resting against his knees now while he watches her.
"She's trying though." He says quietly.
You can see it every few minutes in the way she inches closer to other children before stopping herself halfway there. Like she wants connection so badly but doesn't know how to reach for it without being afraid.
"She notices more now," you admit softly. "When kids don't answer her, or when they run off while she's trying to talk." Your eyes sting again immediately. "She acts like it doesn't bother her, but then she gets really clingy after."
Lando's expression softens even more at that.
"She's scared," you whisper finally.
The words hurt more once they're spoken aloud.
You shake your head slightly, frustrated at yourself now for getting emotional in the middle of a playground, but the heaviness doesn't leave your chest.
"She shouldn't even know what that feels like yet."
For a second, Lando doesn't answer right away. His eyes stay on Lily while she carefully picks the little flower from the ground, tiny fingers gentle with it like it's something important.
"She's getting better," she says softly.
You let out a tiny breath through your nose, almost laughing despite yourself. "I know everybody keeps saying that."
"I'm serious."
His voice is quiet but steady enough that it makes you look over at him properly.
"She's talking more," he says gently. "A few weeks ago, she was nervous to talk to me."
That pulls the faintest smile out of you. "Yeah,"
Lando glances back toward Lily again before speaking quieter this time.
"But she keeps trying anyway."
Your brows pull together slightly. "What do you mean?"
"She still walks over to them," he says softly, nodding toward the playground. "Even if she gets nervous. Even if it doesn't work." His expression softens as he watches her. "Most people stop trying after a while when something scares them."
Your chest tightens again. Because he's right.
Out near the mulch, Lily finally stands again with the tiny flower clutched carefully in her hand.
Then she turns, searching.
Her eyes scan across the park until they land on the two of you sitting there together. And the second she sees you both still watching her, something in her shoulders loosens just slightly.
For a moment she just stands there holding the flower in her fist, watching the two of you from across the playground while children race around her in every direction.
Then she starts walking back.
Slowly at first, her sneakers dragging a little through the woodchips before she steps off the playground onto the pavement leading toward the benches. Her head stays lowered most of the way there, flower still clenched in her hand while the sleeve of her sweatshirt slips halfway over her fingers.
By the time she reaches the bench, she doesn't stop in front of you like she normally would.
Instead, she walks directly to Lando. Her tiny arms lifting upward automatically toward him without a word.
It's instinctive now.
Lando's expression softens immediately.
"Hey, bug," he murmurs gently, leaning forward to scoop her up without hesitation.
She goes easily this time, like she already knows exactly where she fits. He lifts her onto his lap sideways, one arm settling securely around her as she curls into him.
Her face presses into his chest, one little hand still clutching the flower while the other bunches lightly into the fabric of his hoodie. Her body goes heavy in that tired, sad toddler way where they just want to be held for a minute.
Lando's hand moves automatically up and down her back slowly. "What's up?"
Lily doesn't answer right away. She just stays curled against him while the sounds of the playground continue around you. Swings creak steadily nearby. Children laugh somewhere behind the slide.
But Lily only presses herself closer.
"...go home," she mumbles eventually into his hoodie.
The words come out muffled and small, like she's not fully sure she's allowed to say them out loud.
Lando glances at you briefly, a quick check-in without breaking the moment, then looks down at her.
"Yeah?" He asks gently. "How come?"
Lily shifts slightly against him, still not lifting her face. Her voice is quieter now, more uncertain.
"N-no one talk to me."
It doesn't come out dramatic. It comes out confused. Like she still doesn't understand how she can try and still end up feeling invisible.
Your throat tightens immediately. You look down fast, blinking once, then again, trying to keep yourself steady enough to listen without breaking the moment.
Lando's hand pauses for half a second on her back before continuing again, even slower now. "They weren't very nice today?" He asks softly.
Lily shakes her head lightly against him. "I try."
"I know you did."
"I say hi," he adds after a second, voice catching just slightly at the end. "They go away."
That sentence hits harder than it should. Because it's not angry. It's not even upset in a loud way. It's just.. factual.
Like she's stating something she doesn't understand.
Your eyes sting again, and you look away quickly, catching yourself.
Lando exhales quietly through his nose, adjusting her slightly closer against him as his arm tightens just a fraction.
"Hey," he murmurs softer now. "That doesn't mean they didn't like you."
Lily doesn't respond. She just curls in tighter. Her fingers twist into his hoodie again, knuckles pressing into the fabric as if she needs something solid to keep herself from drifting too far into how that made her feel.
For a few seconds, Lando doesn't try to fix it. He just holds her. Lets her sit in it without rushing her out of it.
His chin dips slightly, resting near the top of her head while his thumb moves in slow, absent circles along her side, steady enough that it becomes its own kind of quiet reassurance.
The three of you stay like that for a moment, surrounded by the noise of other kids playing in a world she doesn't feel fully par of right now.
Then Lando speaks again, voice quieter.
"Can I tell you something?"
Lily gives him the small nod.
"If those kids don't wanna play," he says gently, "then they're missing out."
She lifts her head just a little at that, enough to look up at him properly now.
Her cheeks are slightly pink, eyes still glossy around the edges, flower still in her hand but forgotten for the moment as she focuses on his face.
"They are?" She asks quietly.
"Mmhm," he says. "Because you're very fun."
That lands differently. Not like instant happiness, but like something shifts inside her.
her mouth moves slightly like she's trying not to smile too quickly, like she's deciding whether she believes him or not.
Lando notices immediately.
And his expression softens into something lighter, deliberately giving her somewhere safer to land emotionally.
"You know what?"
Lily blinks up at him. "What?"
"How about I play with you instead?"
There's a pause. A real one. Like she needs to fully process it before it reaches her face. Then it hits. Her entire expression changes at once.
"Really?" she asks quickly, pulling back just enough to look at him properly now.
The sadness doesn't vanish completely, but excitement pushes through it fast, brightening her face in a way that feels almost immediate. Her grip loosens slightly on his hoodie as she sits up a little straighter in his lap.
"Yeah," Lando says simply. "Really."
"You play playground?" She asks again, like she needs confirmation it includes everything she hoping it does.
"I'm actually extremely qualified at playgrounds," he replies seriously.
That earns a tiny laugh from her.
Lily shifts more upright now, energy returning in small waves instead of all at once. "You go slide?" She asks quickly, already pointing vaguely toward the playground like she's mapping out the next hour.
"Oh, absolutely."
"And swing?"
"Definitely swing."
She gasps softly like the answer is exactly correct.
Lando adjusts her slightly on his lap before standing, lifting her easily against his side as she immediately wraps her arms loosely around his neck again, excitement building fast now as she starts pointing again.
"Alright, what are we doing first?" He asks.
"Swings," she says immediately, no hesitation now.
"Excellent choice."
He starts walking with her back toward the playground, her small hand now more animated as she points toward the swings repeatedly, already talking again in quick little bursts about going high and going fast and which swing she wants.
Halfway there, Lando glances back over his shoulder toward you. His expression softer now, lighter, but steady. Then he lifts a hand breifly and gives you a small thumbs up.
They play for a long time. Long enough for the sunlight to start shifting lower across the park, turning everything warmer and softer around the edges. The loud rush of the afternoon slowly begins fading into something quieter as the hours pass, the chaos of the playground mellowing little by little.
At first Lily sticks close to Lando almost constantly.
She drags him straight toward the swings the second they reach them again, practically bouncing with excitement now that the sadness from earlier has loosened its grip on her chest. Lando helps her into the swing with exaggerated seriousness, checking the chains dramatically like he's preparing a race car instead of a toddler swing.
"Safety inspection," he announces.
Lily watches him carefully. "Why?"
"Very important procedures," he says gravely.
She nods immediately like it makes perfect sense.
You watch from the bench, arms folded loosely across yourself now, unable to stop the small smile pulling at your mouth as he steps behind her and starts pushing the swing gently.
At first he keeps the pushes small. Easy.
Just enough to make her giggle quietly every time she swings back toward him.
Then slowly, higher. Not enough to scare her, but enough that her laughter starts carrying across the playground in bright little bursts that make something unclench softly inside your chest.
"Again!" She squeals.
"You are literally already going again," Lando points out.
"Higher!"
"Oh, now we're negotiating."
She laughs harder at that, legs kicking wildly while he shakes his head like she's completely unreasonable despite giving her exactly what she wants anyway.
Eventually, the swings turn into the slide. Then the climbing structures. Then some strange made-up game where Lily insists she's "running away" while Lando dramatically chases after her at the slowest possible speed imaginable.
"Oh no," he calls sarcastically while jogging after her. "She's too fast. Somebody stop her."
Lily shrieks with laughter. Not nervous laughter. Not uncertain. Just pure little-kid joy. She darts across the woodchips in crooked paths, sneakers kicking mulch behind her while Lando follows a few feet back, pretending he can't quite catch her. Every few seconds, he lunges dramatically just to miss her on purpose, making her laugh harder each time.
You stay on the bench, watching them, your chin resting lightly against your hand now as the knot in your chest slowly unwinds itself.
Because this is the version of her you miss sometimes. The version that forgets to be afraid for a little while.
As the afternoon drifts closer toward evening, the park slowly starts emptying around you. The playground now has just a handful of children scattered across it.
Lily doesn't seem to notice.
She's to busy running.
Her little sneakers kick up tiny sprays of woodchips as she darts across the playground, looking back over her shoulder every few seconds to make sure Lando is still following her.
He is.
"You never catch me!" She giggles, her laughter carrying across the nearly empty park.
Lando clutches dramatically at his chest. "Oh, I don't know..." he calls after her, purposely jogging much slower than he easily could. "I think I'm gaining on you."
"Nooo!" She squeals louder, pumping her little legs faster than before, diving around the climbing structures like she just escaped something terrifying.
Lando follows after her with determination. "Come back here!"
"You slow!"
"I am not slow!"
"You so slow!"
He stops in the middle of the playground, bending over with his hands on his knees like he's completely exhausted. "I don't think..." he says between fake heavy breaths," I've ever met... someone... this fast."
Lily stops several feet away, hand settling on her tiny hips. The grin on her face is impossible to miss. "I win."
"You cheated."
"I not!"
"You've got tiny legs. Those are aerodynamic."
She blinks. "...Aero..."
You laugh quietly from the bench, shaking your head. Lily looks at you. "Mommy! I not know... what dat mean."
"Neither do I." Lando admits.
That only makes you laugh harder.
Lily giggles simply because the two of you are laughing, even if she has no idea why, before suddenly pointing toward the swings. "Again!"
Lando looks over his shoulder toward you before glancing back at her. "Again?"
You shrug, unable to hide your smile. "Looks like you've been assigned another job." You tease, watching Lily tug impatiently on his hand. "I'd help, but apparently you're the fun one today."
He sighs dramatically, shoulders slumping. "This workplace has terrible hours," he complains, though he makes absolutely no effort to pull his hand away from Lily's. instead, he let's himself be led across the playground, looking back over his shoulder at you with an expectant look. "Well? You coming?"
You blink, pointing to yourself. "Me?"
"Yes you."
He nods toward the empty swing beside Lily's, giving a gentle nudge with his foot so i rocks lazily back and forth. "There's two swings for a reason."
A quiet laugh escapes you as you stand, brushing woodchips from the backs of your pants. "I think I've exceeded the age limit for the swings."
"I don't remember seeing a sign."
"You just made that up."
"I absolutely did."
Lily looks between the two of you with the utmost seriousness before nodding confidently. "Mommy swing."
You glance down at her determined little face before looking back at Lando who simply raises his brows as if he's saying she's got a point. Rolling your eyes playfully, you follow them over to the swings, lowering yourself carefully onto the seat beside Lily while she climbs onto hers with Lando's help.
He crouches in front of her first, making sure both of her tiny hands are wrapped securely around the chains. "You ready?"
She nods enthusiastically. "Mhm!"
He gives her a gentle push, just enough to send her gliding forward through the cool evening air. her giggle rings out almost immediately, bright enough to make the few families still scattered around the playground glance over with small smiles before returning to their own conversations.
"High!" She laughs, swinging back toward him.
"Already?" Lando asks with disbelief. "We're skipping straight to the dangerous requests?"
"Little high!"
"Now that's a negotiation."
He gives her another push, a little strong this time, and she squeals happily as she swings forward again. Watching her laugh so freely makes something warm settle in your chest, and before you even realize it, you're smiling just a widely as she is.
After another minute, Lando steps between the two swings and turns toward you with an almost suspiciously confident expression. "Your turn."
You glance over your shoulder at him. "Be nice."
"No promises."
You narrow your eyes playfully before lifting your feet off the ground. he place both hands lightly against your back, rocking the swing once as though testing it before letting out a thoughtful.
"Hm."
You look over your shoulder. "What?'
"Nothing."
"Lando."
"I'm just assessing the situation."
You squint at him, unconvinced, but before you can say anything else, he plants both feet dramatically into the woodchips like he's about to push a broken-down truck instead of a swing.
"Oh wow..."
A loud grunt escapes him as he gives the swign the tiniest shove imaginable.
"This one's... tougher."
You barely move.
He tries again, making an even bigger production out of it this time, pretending to strain so hard that he scrunches his face up dramatically.
"I don't know..." he groans. "This could take a while."
The swing finally creeps forward about six inches.
You slowly turn your head to look at him. "...So," you say flatly, "you're calling me fat?"
His eyes widen immediately. "What? No!"
"You literally acted like you couldn't push me."
"I acted like you're an adult."
"Oh, that's convenient."
"I never said the word fat."
"You... heavily implied it."
Before either of you can continue, another tiny voice cuts through the conversation. "Hey!"
Both of you turn at the exact same time to see that Lily has completely stopped swinging, her little hands still wrapped tightly around the chains as she frowns at Lando with all the seriousness a three year old can manage.
"No call my mommy fat!"
For a split second, complete silence hands between the three of you.
Lando stares at her, caught off guard, before quickly shaking his head. "I wasn't!"
"Yes you was!"
"I promise I wasn't."
"You mean to mommy!'
You press your lips together so tightly they almost hurt, desperately trying not to laugh as Lando turns toward you with an expression that practically begs for help.
Instead, you shrug.
"I don't know, Lando," you say, doing your best to sound thoughtful. "The evidence isn't looking great for you."
His jaw drops. "Oh, come on."
Lily crosses her arms, or as much as she can while still holding onto the swing chains.
"My mommy pretty."
The words come out so matter-of-factly that both you and Lando pause for just a moment.
His expression softens instantly, all the exaggerated dramatics melting away as he smiles at her. "I know she is."
She keeps looking at him for another second before adding one final condition. "No call her fat."
A quiet laugh slips from him as he crouches down in front of her. "I promise, bug. I wasn't calling your mommy fat."
She studies him carefully, like she's trying to decide if he's earned another chance. Finally, after what feels like the longest inspection in history, she gives a small nod.
"...Okay."
Lando lets out the biggest sigh of relief you've ever heard, pressing a hand dramatically against his forehead. "Thank goodness. I thought I was about to get kicked out of the playground."
That finally does it.
You burst into laughter so hard you have to grip the swing chians to steady yourself, and Lily starts laughing right along with you even thought she's forgotten exactly what was funny in the first place. Lando points dramatically between the two of you, shaking his head with a grin that refuses to leave his face.
"I've been framed," he declares. "I came over here to push two people on swings, and somehow I'm the villain."
You wipe the corners of your eyes as your laughter settles into quieter giggles, giving your swing a gentle push with your feet before drifting back toward him. "You know... for someone who claims to be innocent..."
He raises a brow.
"...you make a surprisingly convincing bad guy."
Lily nods enthusiastically beside you. "Bad guy."
Lando puts a hand over his heart in mock offense, looking between the two of you before letting out a last dramatic sigh. "I see how it is," he mutters. "It's two against one."
The three of you stay at the swings longer than any of you probably intended.
At first it's supposed to be just a few more minutes. That's what Lando says.
But every time Lily starts slowing down, she suddenly remembers something else she needs to tell him. A story about the playground. A question about the moon. A completely random thought about whether her bunny would like going on a swing too.
And every single time, Lando listens like it's the most important conversation he's ever had.
Eventually, Lily's feet drag slightly against the ground as she swings forward, her earlier excitement slowly being replaced by the tiredness she's been fighting all afternoon.
Lando notices before anyone says anything. He reaches out and gently catches the swing as she comes back toward him, stopping her carefully.
"Alright, I think someone's batter is getting low."
Lily immediately shakes her head. "No."
You and Lando watch as she holds the serious expression for a few seconds before letting out a huge yawn that comletely ruins her argument.
Lando raises his eyebrows, trying not to laugh. "Interesting."
Lily covers her mouth with her hand and looks away. "I just opening my mouth.""
"That explanation is so serious that you can't help but laugh quietly, and Lando looks over at you with an amused smile.
"She's got a point." He says, nodding like he's considering it. "Could've just been a very dramatic mouth stretch."
"You're encouraging her." You tease.
"I'm... supporting her defense."
Lily smiles proudly, clearly happy that Lando is on her side.
The three of you eventually make your way back toward the picnic bench, gathering the few thing you brought with you while the last bit of sunlight fades behind the trees. The park has become much quieter now, with only a few families scattered around the open areas and the occasional sound of children laughing in the distance.
Lily walks between you and Lando, holding both of your hands.
It's such a small thing that most people wouldn't even notice, but you do.
You notice because you remember how different things were before. You remember how carefully she watched him when he first came into her life, how she needed time before she would even sit close to him, how every little step forward felt huge.
Now she swings your joined hands between the two of you, completely comfortable, talking about what she wants to do next like she has never been afraid of him at all. Lando looks down at her every few seconds with a smile he doesn't even realize he's wearing.
when you reach the bench, he picks up the bag with the leftover things and looks around the empty park.
"Okay," he says after a moment, adjusting the strap over his shoulder. "I have an idea."
You glance at him suspiciously. "That usually means trouble."
He laughs softly. "I was actually going to suggest something nice."
"Sure you were." You tease.
"I was."
Lily looks back down at her before turning his attention to you again.
"How about you two come over for dinner?"
You blink slightly. "Tonight?"
He nods casually, though there's a small hopeful look behind his expression. "Yeah. I mean, if you want to. We can just order something or make something. Nothing complicated."
Before you can answer, Lily's head lifts. "Lando house?"
The excitement in her voice makes both of you look down at her.
Lando smiles. "My apartment."
Her eyes widen. "yes!"
You laugh softly because she answers so quickly she doesn't even let you think. "Wow, you didn't even ask what we're having."
Lily looks up at you like that is a ridiculous thing to worry about. "I wanna go."
Lando tries to hide how happy that makes him, but he fails completely. The little smile that pulls at the corner of his mouth gives him away before he even has the chance to look anywhere else, and you catch it immediately.
"Well," he says, looking over at you with that small grin still lingering, "I guess I have been outvoted."
You shake your head, smiling as Lily continues holding onto both of your hands, swinging them gently between the two of you as if the decision has already been made.
"Okay," you say, looking down at her. "Dinner at Lando's."
Lily immediately brightens, looking up at him with a serious expression. "You got food?"
The question catches him off guard, making him gasp dramatically, placing a hand against his chest as if she has deeply offended him. "That's your first question?"
Lily nods without hesitation. "Yes."
You laugh quietly beside them while Lando looks down at her, pretending to be wounded.
"I invited you into my home and immediately I'm questioned about my food supply."
Lily thinks about that for a moment, her little eyebrows pulling together as she tries to explain herself. "'Cause dinner."
For a second, Lando just stares at her, then he slowly nods. "That's fair."
-
By the time you arrive at Lando's apartment, Lily has somehow found a second wind. The same little girl who had been rubbing her eyes at the park and insisting she wasn't tired is now walking through the hallway with wide eyes, looking at everything around her while holding onto your hand. Lando unlocks the door and steps aside to let the two of you in first, watching quietly as Lily takes in the unfamiliar space.
His apartment feels different from yours, not because it feels less like home, but because it feels completely like him. There are little pieces of his life scattered around. The comfortable furniture, the racing memorabilia carefully displayed, the small details that show someone actually lives here instead of it just being in a place he comes back to after traveling.
Lily notices everything.
Her eyes move from one shelf to another, taking in the photos, the decorations, and the things she doesn't recognize. She walks slowly, almost like she's afraid she'll miss something, before stopping in front of one of the displays.
"What them?"
Lando follows her gaze and smiles when he realizes what she's looking at. "Those?" He walks closer, crouching slightly beside her. "Those are trophies."
Her eyes widen immediately. "You win?"
He laughs quietly at how surprised he sounds. "Yeah," he says. "I did."
She looks back at the trophies, then back at him, like she's trying to connect the person standing in front of her with the shiny objects sitting on the shelf.
"You really good?"
You cover a small smile from behind them.
He looks over his shoulder at you, pretending to be offended. "Really? That's the question?"
Lily just watches him, completely serious.
He lets out a quiet laugh. "I'm being evaluated."
"She's very tough." You tease.
"I can tell."
He turns back toward Lily and lowers himself closer to her height. "I try my best."
She seems to accept that answer, but she's still fascinate by the trophies. She reaches one small hand toward one of them before stopping herself and looking back at him.
"Can I touch?"
The question makes his expression soften.
"Yeah, of course you can."
He carefully lifts the trophy from the shelf and places it into her hands, making sure she has a good grip. It's a little heavier than she expects, and her eyes widen slightly as she holds it.
"Heavy."
Lando smiles. "Yeah, they're heavier than they look."
She turns it slightly, looking at every little detail. "You win?"
"I did."
"You?"
He nods. "-
"Me."
Her face lights up a little, and she looks at the trophy again like it suddenly became even more special. "That cool."
Lando smiles because, coming from her, it somehow feels like the biggest compliment he could get.
For a moment, the three of you stand there together, Lily still carefully holding the trophy while Lando steadies it with one hand underneath. She turns it back and forth, studying the little engraved plate near the bottom before eventually handing it back to him with both hands, making sure he has it before she lets go. He places it carefully back onto the shelf, giving it a small adjustment until it's sitting exactly where it was before, and when he looks back down, he catches Lily still staring up at the collection.
"This taller." She observes."
"It is."
"Why?"
"I won a different race."
She looks at another trophy. "This little."
"That was a smaller trophy."
She considers that for a second. "...Still shiny."
"It is shiny."
After a few more minutes of Lily asking questions about the different trophies, she finally looks around the room again, her attention shifting away from the shelves. Lando notices slightly. "I think we should probably handle another important thing." Lily tilts her head waiting for him to explain. "Food."
Her entire expression changes "Food?"
You laugh quietly because the excitement appears instantly. "There it is," you tease. "The most important part of the evening." Lily doesn't even deny it, simply nodding while grabbing onto your hand and looking at Lando like he has just announced the best news ever.
Lando puts a hand over his chest. "I invite you to my home, show you my trophies, tell you all my racing stories, and the thing that get the biggest reaction is food?"
Lily nods without hesitation. "Yes."
The answer if so immediate that you have to laugh, and Lando shakes his head while pretending to be offended. "Wow. Okay. I'll remember that."
Lily looks up at him seriously. "'Cause dinner."
He pauses for a second before slowly nodding. "You know what? That's actually fair." He looks over at you with an amused smile. "She's got a strong argument."
You shake your head, laughing as the three of you make your way toward the kitchen together.
The second Lando steps into the kitchen, he opens the fridge and starts looking through everything inside. You watch him quietly for a moment, expecting him to pull out something simple, but instead the starts gathering ingredients from different shelves. Chicken, vegetables, pasta, cheese, and a few other things begin appearing on the counter until you raise your eyebrows slightly.
"Okay," you say, looking at everything spread out. "I wasn't expecting that."
Lando glances over. "What were you expecting?"
You try to look innocent. "I don't know."
He narrows his eyes at you. "You thought I was going to order food."
"I thought there was a possibility."
"A possibility?"
You shrug. "A small one."
He places a hand over his heart like he's been personally attacked. "You have so little faith in me."
"I have faith in you."
He waits. "Just not necessarily in your cooking."
Lando shakes his head, but he's smiling. "That is unbelievable. I'm standing here, about to make you dinner, and this is the support I receive?"
Lily looks between the two of you, clearly following the tone even if she doesn't understand every word. "Lando cook?"
He turns toward her. "Yes. Lando cooks."
She studies him carefully for a minute. "Good?"
You cover your mouth, tyring not to laugh.
Lando looks back at you. "Why is everyone doubting me today?"
"I'm not... doubting you." You say, smiling. "I'm just curious."
"Curious." He repeats, voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah."
He shakes his head lightly. "That just sounds like doubt but with some extra steps."
You laugh as he turns back toward the counter, shaking his head. "Alright. Fine. Looks like I'll just prove myself."
Lily reaches toward him. "I help?"
The change in his expression is instant. The joking side disappears, replaced by that softer look he always gets with her now. "You want to help me cook?" He asks. Lily nods eagerly, a small smile forming on her face. "Okay," he says, grabbing a small stool from between the counter and the fridge. "But you have to be my assistant, alright?"
"I chef!" She says proudly.
He pauses slightly. "Assistant chef."
She thinks about it, hand going below her chin for a split second before nodding. "As- assis-tant... chef!"
"There you go!" He encourages.
You smile, watching as Lando places the stool beside the counter and helps her climb up carefully. The sight of her standing there beside him, watching every move he makes like she's learning something incredibly important, makes the entire apartment feel warmer.
Lando starts explaining what he's doing as he prepares the meal, going slow enough that she can follow along, letting her sprinkles some spices, stir ingredients, and hand him things from the counter while making sure she feels like she's actually part of it.
"This is called garlic," he tells her, holding up the jar. "It makes food taste better."
Lily wrinkles her nose, head backing up slightly. "Smells funny."
Lando laughs. "It does smell funny."
You lean against the counter, watching them both. "Are you sure you want her opinion on your cooking before you're even finished?" You tease, a small grin pulling at your lips.
Lando looks down at Lily, then back at you. "Absolutely. She's my toughest critic."
Lily nods proudly. "I critic.."
"See?" He says. "Very professional."
The three of you continue like that for the next while, the kitchen slowly filing with the smell of dinner cooking and the sound of Lily's little questions. She asks why pasta has different shapes, why cheese melts, why Lando has so many trophies, and somehow he answers every question like it's the most important thing in the world. You find yourself smiling more than you expect because it feels so natural, like this is something the three of you have done a hundred times before.
By the time the food is finally ready, Lily is proudly standing beside Lando like she helped create the entire meal herself. Lando looks down at her with a small grin. "Alright, assistant chef. Time for the official taste test."
She nods seriously. "Yes."
Lando brings the first plate over to the table with an exaggerated amount of concentration, carefully setting it down in front of Lily before looking at you like he's presenting something at a five-star restaurant. "There we are," he says, straightening up with a little nod. "Dinner made by Chef Norris, assisted by the world's smallest sous-chef."
Lily smiles immediately at the title, sitting up a little straighter in her chair while you laugh and sit down in your own chair. Once everyone is settled, the apartment grows pleasantly quiet except for the small sounds of forks scraping against the plates and the occasional little hum Lily makes whenever she likes something. She takes one bite of the chicken, pauses, and looks at Lando with an expression so serious that he immediately stops eating to wait for her verdict. "Good." She finally says.
Lando lets out a breath of relief while you laugh across the table. "Thank goodness," he says, reaching for his water. "I was getting worried there for a second." Lily shakes her head and takes another bite, clearly pleased with herself for making him nervous, and you catch the little smile she tries to hide behind her fork.
The food is really good, which makes teasing him harder than you expected. You take another bite of the pasta and glance over at him with a reluctant little smile. His eyes dart to you, eyebrows rising as though he's waiting for the compliment you've been avoiding.
"Don't." He warns, already laughing when he starts grinning.
"I haven't said anything."
"Your face did." He replies, leaning back in his chair with a smug little smile. You shake your head and take another bite just to avoid answering him, but he nudges his foot lightly against your beneath the table, clearly pleased with himself.
Lily watches the exchange for a moment, her eyes moving between the two of you while she chews. "Mommy like it." She announces matter-of-factly, and you nearly choke on your drink while Lando bursts into laughter.
"Thank you, Lily," you say, trying to compose yourself as she looks at you innocently.
Lando reaches across the table and points at her with his fork, grinning. "See? She's on my side."
"She's supposed to be on my side." You say, and lily shakes her head. "Both." Than answer makes all three of you laugh, and Lando reaches over to gently tape the edge of her plate with his fork. "Very diplomatic."
Dinner stretches out longer than it probably needs to because nobody seems particularly interested in rushing through it. Lily talks about the playground between bites, occasionally forgetting what she was saying halfway through because she notices something else she wants to tell you, and Lando listens just as carefully as he did earlier. When she gets a little sauce near the corner of her mouth, he quietly reaches over with a napkin and wipes it away, earning a tiny protest from her before she immediately goes back to eating as if nothing happened.
You watching him with an amused smile, and when he catches you looking, he raises an eyebrow as though silently asking what your staring at.
"You're getting good at that," you tease, resting your chin lihgtly against your hand. "At what?" He asks, curious. "The whole dad thing." His expression changes for half a second, his eyes flicking toward Lily before returning to you, and then gives you a small, playful smile. "Well, apparently I have a very demanding training program," he says, and Lily immediately pipes up from beside him. "I not demand." Making you laugh so hard you have to look away.
When dinner finally starts winding down, Lily leans back in her chair, looking comfortably full and slightly sleepy despite all the excitement of the evening.
Lando gathers the plates while you stand to help, but he gives you a look when you reach for them. "I've got it." He says, balancing two plates carefully in one hand.
You raise an eyebrow. "Oh, suddenly your Mr. Host?"
He grins as he carries them toward the kitchen. "I've been Mr. Host for the entire night."
"You've been Mr. Show-Off the entire night." You tease.
He looks over his shoulder at you, smiling. "Same thing."
While the two of you clean up, Lily wanders around the living room, stopping every so often to look at something new. She eventually comes back toward the kitchen doorway and peers inside, watching you dry a plate after Lando rinses it.
"Lando?" She asks, making him turn immediately.
"Yeah, bug?"
She points vaguely toward the rest of the apartment. "I see?"
He pauses, plate still in his hands before understanding what she means, and his face brightens. "You want to have a look around?"
Lily nods, and looks he toward you with a grin. "I think that's a yes."
You finish setting the last dish aside while Lando dries his hands, and the three of you head out of the kitchen together. Lily walks between you, holding onto your fingers for a few steps before letting go and wandering a little ahead, stopping whenever something catches her attention. Lando happily follows her pace instead of trying to hurry her along, answering every little question she asks about photographs, decorations, books, and whatever else she happens to notice.
Eventually, Lily spots another display farther down the hall, and stops so abruptly that Lando nearly walks into her. "Woah," he says, catching himself with a laugh before looking over her shoulder. Her eyes have landed on another collection of racing memorabilia, and she turns toward him with that familiar wide-eyed expression. "More?" She asks, sounding genuinely amazed, and Lando laughs softly. "Yeah, there's a bit more."
You lean your shoulder against the wall, watching as he explains things to her, occasionally adding a teasing comment whenever he gets proud of himself. "You know," you say when he starts explaining the difference between two pieces of equipment, "I think she has enough information now to start her own racing team."
Lando glances at you with a grin. "Don't give her any ideas."
Lily looks between you both. "I race?"
Lando's eyebrows lift, and he points toward you. "See what you've done?"
Eventually, Lando leads the both of you toward the gaming room, opening the door with a little flourish as though he's revealing something far more important than a room full of equipment.
Lily steps inside and immediately stops, her eyes moving from the large screens to the racing simulator and then toward the shelves lining one wall. The helmets catch her attention almost instantly, and she walks closer with slow, carefully steps as she stares at the rows of colorful designs.
"You got lots." She whispers, gaze moving slowly from the helmets to Lando.
Lando smiles and walks over to the shelves. "Yeah, I've collected a few." He reaches for the first helmet carefully, lifting it from its stand before bringing it down to her level. "This one was one of my earlier ones," he explains, turning it slightly so she can see that design from the front. "I wore this when I was racing in a different series, before things got as big as they are now."
Lily's fingers hover near it before she looks up at him for permission. "Touch?" She asks, and he nods. "Yeah, gently." She places her fingertips against the smooth surface, tracing one of the colored sections while Lando tells her about the little details painted onto it. He explains why certain colors are there, points out his name and tells her how the design changed over time, and she listens with complete concentration.
You watch them from a few feet away, smiling when Lily asks another question before he's even finished answering the first one. "Do you wear them?" She asks, looking along the shelf.
"Most of them." Lando says, picking up another helmet. "Some are from different years, some were used for different events, and some are just special ones I've kept."
Lily looks impressed by that, and when he places the second helmet in front of her, she immediately compares it to the first one. "This one different."
"Very different." He agrees, smiling as he points out the changes.
One by one, he goes through them with her, never seeming to get bored no matter how many questions she asks. He tells her about the colors, the designs, the races, the little memories attached toe ach helmet, and even the funny things that happened when some of them were being made. Whenever he reaches a story that he knows will make her laugh, he exaggerates his voice or makes a ridiculous expression, and Lily giggles so loudly that you find yourself laughing too.
At one point, he reaches for another helmet and looks at you with a mischievous little smile. "This one's my favorite."
You raise an eyebrow. "You say that about all of them."
He shakes his head, laughing as he carefully lifts it from the shelf. "No, this one actually is."
You walk closer and look at the helmet, then back at him. "Why?" You ask, and he gives you a little shrug before explaining the story behind it, his voice becoming quieter as he talks about what the race meant to him.
Lily sits down on the floor beside the shelf, completely captivated by the story. Every so often she looks up at Lando's face instead of the helmet, watching his expression while he talks, and you notice the way he keeps smiling whenever she does. When she finished, she reaches up and pats his knee with one little hand. "I like it," she says, and he looks down at her with a soft laugh. "Yeah?" He asks, and she nods before adding, "You like it."
That makes him pause for a second before his smile grows. "Yeah," he says quietly. "That's why I like it too." You watch the two of them from beside the doorway, and when Lando looks up and catches your eye, you give him a small smile. He smiles back, and then Lily suddenly points at another helmet and demands to know about that one too, breaking the moment and second all three of you into quiet laughter as Lando reaches for it.
"Alright," he says, settling onto the floor beside her with the helmet resting carefully in his lap. "Helmet number... I've actually lost count."
You laugh and sit down nearby, and Lily scoots closer to hi, ready for another story. The room fills with his quiet voice, her little questions, and your laughter whenever he gets too dramatic with his explanations, turning the collection of helmets into something much warmer than trophies and racing equipment, it becomes a room full of stories, and tonight Lily gets to hear every single one.
☆ lando norris is in love with his bestfriends gf Warnings- complicated feelings, violence, consumption of alcohol, emotional cheating [if u squint]
Chapter Five – You're Spending All Your Time in This Wrong Situation
__×__
Lando's phone rang just after eight.. He smiled when he saw her name.
"Hey."
There was a pause. "...Hi." Something in her voice made him sit up straighter.
"What's up?"
Another silence.
"...Do you know where Max is?"
Lando frowned. "No."
"He isn't answering?"
She let out a shaky laugh. "He stood me up."
His jaw clenched.
"I've been waiting outside the restaurant for almost an hour." Another sad laugh. This one sounded suspiciously like she was trying not to cry.
"I can't get a cab."
Lando was already grabbing his keys.
"Where are you?"
He spotted her immediately. Sitting on the curb outside the restaurant. Arms wrapped around herself.
Mascara slightly smudged. She'd definitely been crying. Lando didn't mention it. He simply pulled up beside her.
Got out. Opened the passenger door.
Handed her a bottle of water.
No questions. No pity. No "are you okay?"
Just... Presence.
She climbed in. The drive started in complete silence.
The only sound was the indicator clicking every few turns. Eventually—
"I've always felt like I wasn't deserving of love."
Lando looked at her for a second. "...What?"
She stared out the window. "I don't know."
She laughed bitterly. "I try to stay humble, right? But..."
She shrugged. "I know I'm... pretty enough. I know I'm kind. I know I've got a good heart. I try really hard to be a good person. So..."
She swallowed. "Why am I never the one?"
Lando said nothing.
She kept talking.
"It's not just Max. It's always been like this. When I was little, I was like the backup friend. The kid people invited because someone else cancelled."
She looked down at her hands.
"I wasn't my parents' favourite. I wasn't the smartest. I wasn't the prettiest. I've always just been..."
She searched for the word.
"...Average."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "I know I give people a lot of love. I think I'm really good at loving people."
She laughed quietly. "I just don't think I'm very good at receiving it."
Another pause. "I've been so deprived of it. That the second someone shows me the tiniest bit of affection..." She wiped at her face. "...I'm falling for them like some hopeless romantic."
She shook her head.
"Like some desperate dumb blonde."
Lando frowned immediately. "No."
She looked at him.
"No." He repeated it more firmly. "Don't do that."
"What?"
"Talk about yourself like that."
She blinked.
"It's not true."
She looked away.
"I wasn't saying I hate myself. I actually don't."
She gave a small shrug.
"I know I'm pretty. I know I'm kind. I know I'm smart. I know I mean well. I genuinely believe those things."
She sighed. "I just don't think other people do."
That... Hit him harder than he'd expected.
He nodded slowly.
"I do."
She looked over.
"And from everything I've seen..."
"So do your friends."
She frowned. "What?"
"Alexsis." He smiled.
"She talks about you like you're an actual angel."
Meckena laughed through her tears.
"I'm serious. She told me you helped her through the worst period of her life. She literally said she doesn't know where she'd be without you."
Lando glanced at her. "You give people a lot of love, Meckena. So much that people start expecting it. They stop noticing how generous you're being because you're generous all the time."
She listened quietly.
"But that doesn't mean you stop being generous." He shook his head. "It means you start giving that love to people who deserve it."
Silence. He could tell the words had landed. She smiled faintly.
"I love Alexsis." A tiny laugh escaped her. "She's my best friend."
Lando chuckled. "Fair enough."
She rolled her eyes. "I've had a whole emotional breakdown and now I'm embarrassed."
"I kind of want to pretend none of that happened."
"I gathered."
She laughed properly this time. "Thanks, Lando." Without thinking, she rested her hand lightly over his.
His heart nearly stopped. He hoped she couldn't hear it. After a moment, he spoke again.
"Can I tell you something?"
She nodded.
"You're wrong about one thing."
"Oh?"
"You're not average."
She looked at him questioningly.
"You remind me of a sun-kissed ocean."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Those blue eyes. The freckles. The way you somehow make every room feel lighter just by walking into it. You carry yourself with so much kindness. So much grace."
His voice softened. "Don't lose that. Not because of parents who didn't see your worth. Not because of mean girls from school. And definitely..." He smiled sadly. "...not because of Max."
She looked out the window again. "I really do like him."
"I know."
"But..." She took a slow breath. "I'm not going to stay with someone who doesn't respect me enough to at least tell me he isn't coming."
Lando nodded once. "Good."
For the first time that evening... She believed him.
Could you please make an Smau with Lando when you two have broken up after almost four years of dating with Landos official statement saying that you’re lives simply moved into different directions. When you’re seen two months later with Joe Burrow (Quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals) the fans online are freaking out especially when an gossip side posts that you been in Cincinnati six weeks before the break up and people can’t help but speculate what really happened some are convinced that you must have been emotionally done with the relationship with Lando before the official break up while others say that there is still an Chance that you and Joe simply are friends. Face claim Olivia Ponton (you will fastly figure out why) much love❤️
❝bad timing❞
where everyone feels like this breakup was never supposed to happen
face claim: olivia ponton & pinterest girls
pairing: lando norris x fem!reader
(a/n: i didn't even know who joe was😅. i hope you enjoy it.)
📆 may, 2026
f1gossip made a post
liked by user, user and 210K others
f1gossip BREAKING: lando norris has officially confirmed that he and longtime girlfriend y/n have ended their relationship after nearly four years together
view all the comments
user NOOOOOOOO 😭😭
user i can't believe it....
user no one talk to me
user almost four years...
user they were literally endgame in my head
user did he post that?? oh my god, i've never seen lando do that to any of his exes
↝ user y/n it's not like the others
user wishing them both nothing but happiness
user everyone better respect what he asked
landoynarchive made a post
liked by user, user and 56K others
landoynarchive nearly four years together, countless race weekends, celebrations, quiet moments and memories
thank you for letting us witness your story 🧡
view all the comments
user i'm going to miss seeing her in the garage
user thank you for every memory
user they genuinely looked so happy together
user sorry, but I can’t help laughing, the way some people are talking you’d think they’d died
↝ user 😂😂
user i'm choosing to remember the happy memories
user i'm a child of divorce now 🥲
user i don't think i'll ever delete my edits of them
🐦 twitter/x
lia⁴ @/gridgirlie
four years together and not a single public scandal. sometimes relationships just end. that's life.
💬 7.1K 🔁 15K ❤️ 670K 👁️ 10.8M
mari⁴ @/landosleftmirror
children of divorce… how are we doing?
💬 344 🔁 1K ❤️ 12K 👁️ 8M
📆 august, 2026
formulawags made a post
liked by user, user and 12K others
formulawags y/n was photographed spending time with cincinnati bengals quarterback joe burrow while out in new york city yesterday
it’s been two months since lando confirmed the break up 😐
view all the comments
user wait...
user is this a date?
user joe burrow?????
user i need more context
user the internet is about to become unbearable
user girllllll... already?
user omg nooo 😢😢
🐦 twitter/x
famous gossip @/celebritiesdaily
fans have noticed that y/n l/n attended a cincinnati bengals game approximately six weeks before her breakup with lando norris was publicly announced
→ photo from her sister’s instagram
there is no evidence that she and joe burrow interacted during the game, but the timeline has sparked speculation following yesterday's photos
🔁 1.2K ❤️ 2.1K 👁️ 1M
view all the comments
user HOLD ON
user six weeks before??
user relationships end emotionally before they end publicly
↝ user yeah... she must be fed up with lando anyway
user if this was a man nobody would care
user there's literally zero proof they knew each other
user we don't know this people we don't know this people we don't know this people we don't know this people
wagsspotlight made a post
liked by user, user and 21K others
wagsspotlight joe and y/n spotted together again
view all the comments
user okay... TWICE?
user she seems genuinely comfortable around him
user maybe they're dating
↝ user maybe they're just friends
↝ user all of you are just ridiculous
user if she's moved on that's okay
user i always knew she was no good
user lando deserves someone better
user i love how everyone is pretending they know these people
user y'all need to calm down
🐦 twitter/x
bea @/lightsoutgirl
she couldn't stand lando any longer, could she? he really is boring
💬 89 🔁 12 ❤️ 33 👁️ 1M
moon¹ ⁸¹ @/papayalover
they're just friends they're just friends they're just friends
💬 22 🔁 100 ❤️ 133 👁️ 11K
josy¹ @/norris4lando
lando is still following y/n and y/n is still following lando... no couple posts have been deleted. please stop coming up with crazy theories about their break up
💬 329 🔁 1K ❤️ 433K 👁️ 3M
yourusername made a post
liked by yourbestfriend, lando and 112K others
yourusername life is so good ✨✨
view all the comments
yourbestfriend pretty pretty pretty pretty 😍
↝ yourusername ily ❤
user HELLO?????
user LANDO LIKED???
user they're definitely okay and that's all i needed
user imagine having this level of maturity
user if he's okay with her, why aren't y'all?
user i still think they'll find each other one day
missnorrisyn made a post
liked by user, user and 34K others
missnorrisyn if life is kind enough, they'll find each other somewhere down the road again...
view all the comments
user i'm choosing to believe this isn't the end
user they loved each other. that's enough for me ♥︎ by missnorrisyn
user this chapter may be over... but i don't want to close the book ♥︎ by missnorrisyn
user this post ruined my day
user i'm keeping a little hope alive
user life takes people in different directions... sometimes those roads cross again
this is where i write about boys who drive too fast, make terrible decisions and somehow still end up stealing my sleep.
grab a snack, stay for a while and make yourself at home. ♡
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currently obsessed with:
🏁 lando norris
🏁 oscar piastri
genres:
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before you follow
mdni.
please don't repost, translate or upload my work anywhere else.
english isn't my first language, so please excuse any grammar mistakes.
feedback and reblogs are always appreciated. ♡
synopsis: yn, an intern doctor in monaco, decides to attend her first gp (on immense persuasion by her bsf alex) and meets the extraordinary….or should i say someone extraordinary.
warnings: none
author’s note: heyy! this is my first EVER smau. its gonna be bad ik 😭😭. but it is a multi part smau and a chance for me to improve in later chps. tell me what you think and if you wanna be a part of the taglist!! -cara 💗
⋆.ೃ࿔* :･
@ynln just posted:
liked by alexandramalenaleclerc, carmenmmundt and 187382 more
finals week or my final week 😭🙏🏽
comments
@user1 DIVA.
@user2 beauty with brains fr 😔
@alexandramalenaleclerc MARRY ME PLS 💍
@charles_leclerc 🤨
@ynln 😘
@carmenmmundt I BEG U TO USE UR DOCTOR-NESS TO HEAL MY HEART BEFORE IS COMBUSTS 😍
@ynln mwah 💗
DMS:
@alexandramalenaleclerc: babe listen
@ynln: yes ml 😍
@alexandramalenaleclerc: i know how hard youve been working for finals this week…
@ynln: and?
@alexandramalenaleclerc: AND you know how monaco gp is this weekend….
@ynln: no.
@alexandramalenaleclerc: i dint even ask the question yettt 😭😭
@ynln: i, under no circumstances, am coming to an f1 weekend 😤😤
@ynln: you know how stupid the sport is to me 🙂↕️
@alexandramalenaleclerc: you HAVE to. just this ONCE
@alexandramalenaleclerc: PUHLEASEE 🥺
@ynln: no
@alexandramalenaleclerc: 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
@alexandramalenaleclerc: bro neither of the wags are coming this weekend. ill be SO bored, its charles’ home race, so he’ll be like SUPER busy and i knwo how long its been since you met leo 😔
𐙚 . pairing ⎯⎯ crown's spy!lando norris x noble!fem reader.
𐙚 . summary ⎯⎯ when lando's future with the woman he loves is jeopardized by his decisions, he will be forced to do everything possible to win her heart back.
𐙚 . warnings ⎯⎯ fluff. drama. pining. angst with a happy ending (yay). suggestive content but completely sfw. this is heavily inspired by pride and prejudice btw. you need to read the first part to understand this one.
𐙚 . word count ⎯⎯ 9k
𐙚 . author's note ⎯⎯ @discopantsinpanic @fuckingsimp4azriel @desperatekingdomofalara @antrenna this is for you guys even tho is absolute trash. 💗
"Straighten up, Charlotte, you are slumping terribly," you whispered through gritted teeth to your younger sister.
The ballroom remained just as stifling even after a year of having vanished from high society. The principal difference from last time was that now, you not only had to contend with the sweltering heat of a crowded room, but you also had to hold your head high beneath the lingering gazes of practically the entire English gentry.
Charlotte’s debut had been flawless, considering the predicament in which your family now found itself. Or rather, what was left of it.
Following your father’s imprisonment on charges of high treason, you were left with nothing. The Crown had seized the property held in his name, forcing your mother to hastily seek shelter with one of her brothers. His standing was by no means as affluent as yours had once been, but as things stood, none of you were in any position to utter a single complaint.
Your mother had been fiercely proud about adhering to the plans laid out from the very beginning, even if you had failed to marry within the allotted time; Charlotte would make her debut right after you, and Mary would follow the next year upon coming of age. Now you had to share the season's activities with your younger sister and pray to whichever gods existed that she would not suffer the same fate as you.
Of Anthony, you knew nothing. He had vanished a little under a year ago, toward the end of the previous social season. Just as the gossip columns had gloated, he had dissolved into the summer wind without a word of warning, leaving you with your heart in pieces and your family in ruin.
Not only had he destroyed your reputation, but you had also hoped that, upon marrying, he would be gracious enough to allow your family to reside on the same estate where you lived, rescuing them from destitution. Yet you learned with great sorrow a week after the initial turmoil that his disappearance had not been due to pressing, honorable matters.
Anthony Wesbury had simply abandoned you.
"I am standing straight," Charlotte whispered back urgently. "I cannot breathe in this dreadful corset—how do you bear it?"
"You could breathe far better if you stood properly," you hissed back in a whisper.
Your mother stood just a few paces away, likely attempting to reconstruct a respectable reputation for her daughters. You adored her; the way she stood resolute before the masses for the sake of securing a future for her children was admirable, and you could only hope to measure up to her strength—if you were ever permitted to marry after the whole ordeal with Anthony.
Your chest still heavy with grief every time his memory crossed your mind.
"Would you care for a bit of sparkling wine? It will relax you," you whispered to Charlotte. She seemed to notice your slightly softened demeanor and nodded.
"Please."
You rested a reassuring hand upon her shoulder before weaving your way through the crowd, signaling your brief departure. You needed to locate a servant carrying refreshments to ease your sister’s frayed nerves.
You had not received a single proposal of marriage. It was only to be expected. At the very least, Charlotte had a gentleman or two casting admiring glances her way. It was a true relief.
"My lady," a voice called out, drawing your attention. Turning around, you found one of the chaperones standing tall before you with a polite smile. "Sir Norris requests your presence."
Sir Norris. The host of the ball, whom you had not yet had the pleasure of meeting. You furrowed your brow slightly. Why would he wish to see you specifically? And in private?
"Follow me, if you please."
Yet curiosity had always been your greatest flaw.
You followed the man in silence, gliding through the crowd into the foyer, where he guided you down a quiet, deserted corridor. He opened the door to a private chamber and gestured for you to step inside with a slight bow.
What met your eyes inside made your blood run cold.
There stood Anthony Wesbury himself, dressed in his customary fine attire. You felt your heart sink into your stomach. Every impulse within you urged you to lunge at him—to strike him, kick him, scream, weep, and then kiss him.
You were only snapped out of your daze by the sound of the door closing behind you.
"My lady," he greeted softly, bowing. He wore no smile; his expression was entirely grave. A light stubble had grown over his jaw, making him look unfairly handsome.
And you loathed yourself for still finding him handsome.
"What is the meaning of this?" you demanded, your voice utterly devoid of emotion, though you were certain the expression of horror on your face spoke far louder than any words could.
You had anticipated any number of ways for the evening to end, except this. Except finding yourself face-to-face with your former fiancé.
"My apologies," Anthony replied simply, eliciting a bitter, amused huff from you.
"How ought I to address you, Sir?" you asked with guarded coldness. "I was informed that Sir Norris required my presence."
"[Name]..." he began gently before letting out a sigh.
"It is at least a relief to know you are alive rather than lying dead in a ditch," you said, unable to bite your tongue any longer. "Which was precisely the impression your disappearance gave me last year."
"I regret leaving in such a manner," Anthony said carefully. "However, I had reasons... sound reasons."
"And would you care to explain those reasons?" you interrupted, holding your chin high. "I believe a former near-fiancée deserves to know. It is the least she is owed."
You watched him nod slowly and cast his gaze downward for a few seconds, undoubtedly bracing himself to speak the truth.
"My name is not Anthony Wesbury," your chest hollowed with anguish, yet you maintained your composure. "It is Lando Norris. And I am no viscount of any estate; I serve as a spy for the Crown."
His words left you utterly paralyzed for several seconds as you struggled to process what you had just heard.
"I beg your pardon?" You blinked, staring at Anthony—or Lando?—with a furrowed brow and eyes brimming with tears. Had it all been a lie?
"I was forced to conceal my identity to protect the integrity of the mission I was assigned," Lando explained hastily upon seeing the look on your face. "And I assure you, that is the only thing upon which I have deceived you, my lady."
"The only thing?" you repeated, your voice trembling. "Can you truly swear that your intentions toward me were genuine?"
You watched him hesitate for a fraction of a second and let out a humorless laugh, turning your face away to hide the stray tear that escaped your eye. You could not endure this. Not now, not after all this time. You were not prepared to see him again. You were not certain you ever would be.
"Your father was accused of high treason against the Crown," Lando said softly. "That was my doing."
You whipped your head back toward him, utterly stunned.
"Not only have you ruined my reputation, but you have also managed to leave my family in complete destitution," you gasped, breathless with indignation.
"[Name]," Lando called out sternly. "Your father was discovered using his fleet to forge illicit agreements with enemies of the Crown. He played both sides to elevate his financial standing, and there is no offense more severe. I uncovered the evidence within his library—"
"So you used me," you whispered, your voice shaking. Just when you thought nothing could further shatter your perception of him.
You watched him cross the room in two swift strides and carefully cup your face with both hands. His hands were broad, completely framing your cheeks, and you only allowed it because you had not reacted in time—and because you were weak. You were utterly weak for this man.
"I assure you that was never the case. I did not intend to fall in love with you," he murmured.
"How dare you speak of love?" you asked, deeply offended, in a trembling whisper.
"It is the truth." Lando gave you that look. That specific look. When his eyes grew soft, taking in every detail of your face, his pupils dilating from the sheer proximity. "That is why I returned. To offer you a solution. To repair the consequences of my actions."
"With all due respect, Sir," you snuffled softly. "I doubt you possess anything capable of repairing my family's ruin."
"Marry me," he cut in gently, sounding almost earnest. "Marry me as we agreed a year ago. Allow me to provide for your family. I shall place your mother and sisters on a fine estate and sustain them for the rest of their lives, if only you grant me your hand."
You let out a shaky breath, your mind reeling. This man had placed your father behind bars, condemned him under the highest crime in the land, destroyed your reputation, and plunged your family into misery. He had abandoned you when you needed him most, fashioning a false identity simply to gain access to your world.
And yet here he stood, offering a remedy. He was before you, offering apologies—the very man you had dreamed of for countless agonizing nights since his departure.
"Allow me to mend what I broke," Lando urged quietly. "And permit me to prove to you that I speak the truth. That I have been devoted to you since the moment I first saw you conversing with those dull gentlemen. That no other lady evokes such devotion in me as you do."
You furrowed your brow, quietly pulling your face away from his reach, forcing his hands to drop with a troubled, anxious expression.
"With all due respect, Sir, I no longer know who you are," you said, taking a step back.
"But you do," Lando persisted. "Only my name has changed. Everything else I ever shared with you remains true. All of it."
You shook your head, wiping away your tears.
"I can understand your sense of honor and your duty to the Crown. But it cost my father his freedom and robbed my family of their happiness and stability," you whispered, placing distance between the two of you once and for all, knowing you could not trust yourself with him so close. "Your actions speak far louder regarding where your allegiance lies. And I respect that," you nodded softly. "So I ask that you please stay away from me."
"[Name]—" Lando attempted to reach out, but you recoiled from his touch and fled the room immediately, leaving him behind in the dark.
That night, following the ball, sleep evaded you entirely. Nor did it come the nights that followed.
Your thoughts returned relentlessly to the same man—the one you had sworn you no longer desired. His offer refused to leave your mind; you became a mere shadow of your former self, your gaze distant during breakfast, barely present as you chaperoned Charlotte to various functions and assemblies, though you spent most of your days sequestered in your uncle’s estate tending to Mary.
Now more than ever, the scrutinizing eyes of society repulsed you, especially considering how easily your own gaze strayed, searching the crowd for the familiar silhouette of a certain gentleman.
Over the following week, you etched his true name into your mind. Lando Norris. You reminded yourself over and over that Anthony Wesbury did not exist—that the man you had once longed to marry was nothing more than a polished facade concealing an empty core. Who was Lando Norris? What did he do with his life when he was not adopting false identities across London to capture criminals?
Was the family he so fondly spoke of even real? His younger sisters, his elder brother. His parents. You wondered how much of what he had told you had contained any truth at all.
You also wondered whether you would have acted differently had you noticed his true intentions sooner. If you had connected the dots, if you had taken more notice of his uncanny ability to vanish so swiftly into a crowd, or how he casually lost his way inside your own home on both occasions he had been invited. Of course! It had all been a charade. But would you truly have done anything differently?
"What weighs so heavily upon your mind, my child?" You were abruptly roused from your reverie by your mother’s voice.
You looked dreadful, with dark circles beneath your eyes from the lack of rest and unkempt hair. Your eyes felt heavy and burned, a mere side effect of your sleepless nights.
"It is nothing," you chose to reply.
You did not wish to burden your mother. What would she do if she knew of Lando? She would undoubtedly be horrified, and she already had enough to bear managing household duties at your uncle's estate and navigating high society whenever Charlotte had an engagement.
It was high time you handled matters as an adult.
"You have slept very little," she said softly, caressing your cheek.
"I have found it difficult to sleep this past week," you admitted in an equally low voice, offering a slight shrug.
"I shall brew you some chamomile tea after dinner to help you rest," your mother offered. You nodded, forcing what you hoped resembled a smile.
Your uncle chose that precise moment to step into the main parlor. Both you and your mother rose from your seats; your uncle offered you a slight look of disdain owing to your unkempt appearance, though he said nothing. Instead, he simply extended a letter to your mother. It was already opened, sealed with red wax, and addressed to your mother by her full name.
"A letter?" She took it into her hands, unfolding the parchment to read its contents.
You watched her in silence, taking in the sudden look of astonishment on her face.
"What is it?" you broke the silence, unable to help yourself as you stepped closer.
"It is an invitation," your mother said in a trembling voice, "to a meeting to discuss a financial matter concerning Charlotte and Mary’s future."
You furrowed your brow.
"What does that mean?"
You took a seat in a corner of the drawing room, one leg carefully crossed over the other, an unread book resting idly on your lap. Your mother entered, followed by your uncle and a gentleman you did not know in the slightest, carrying a dark briefcase of expensive leather.
The reply arrived the following day after lunch. Your mother and uncle had sent a letter back, eager for the meeting to take place as soon as possible. You begged your mother to be part of it—wanting to finally understand firsthand what was happening financially—and your request was granted.
"Sir Vance, ma'am. I appreciate you receiving me on such short notice. I am aware that your family’s circumstances have been complex... to put it respectfully." The man took a seat on the sofa and placed the briefcase beside him.
"Let us get straight to the point, sir. You must understand we have no time to waste, least of all for debt collectors." Your uncle, ever so charming, cut him off swiftly.
"I assure you my intentions are not to collect."
You sat up straight in your chair while your mother clutched her handkerchief as the man opened his briefcase.
"I am aware that your position does not allow for a lawyer. That is why my firm has drafted these documents with the utmost clarity, so they require no expert interpretation," the man stated frankly, arranging the papers.
That was the moment you decided to intervene, standing up from the armchair to step forward.
"You will forgive me, but an attorney showing up with clandestine papers is the first sign of a scam. On whose behalf are you presenting yourself, Sir?" you demanded.
"[Name]," your mother said sternly.
The man blinked upon seeing you before his expression relaxed, as though he recognized you.
"Distrust is only natural in your position," he said carefully. "However, the law forbids me from disclosing the identity of my client." You frowned upon hearing this.
"And what law would that be?" you inquired.
"The law of trusts." Your mother covered her mouth, and you wished to ask what that meant without appearing foolish.
"A trust? No one gives anything away without a motive. On whose behalf do you come?" your uncle asked, far more aggressively.
"My client is a man of great standing. In the past, he incurred a profound debt of gratitude and business with your late father—an obligation he was never able to settle during his lifetime," he said with a touch of regret. "My client has no wish to meddle in matters of the Crown. Nevertheless, his conscience will not permit him to allow the consequences of those events to fall upon the ladies of this house. Therefore, he has established an irrevocable trust in favor of the two younger sisters."
"How much money are we talking about?" Your uncle stepped forward.
"The fund consists of an annuity of four hundred pounds per year."
You heard your mother sob at the man's words. You, on the other hand, were stunned—doubtless just as your uncle was, considering neither of the three spoke.
"It will be issued in the lady's name," the gentleman gestured respectfully toward your mother, "in order to cover the maintenance and wardrobe expenses of her recently debuted eldest daughter, as well as to serve for the court presentation of the younger daughter when the time comes," he spoke softly. "Upon the marriage of each sister, a sum of five thousand pounds will be released for each as a dowry."
"This is ridiculous," you said then. "Five thousand pounds is a fortune, not merely a debt of gratitude. What is this gentleman demanding from us in return?"
"The only legal requirement is Mr. Vance’s signature as head of the household, and your mother’s as a witness. With that, neither the benefactor himself nor the Crown will be able to withdraw a single penny from said account. From that moment on, the money belongs to your sisters."
"It is perfectly legal, niece," your uncle interrupted, the astonishment and conviction in his voice suddenly making you realize this was no scam after all. "Your father must have done many favors in the past."
"Oh, my daughters..." your mother sobbed from the sofa, and you hurried to place a hand on her shoulder to try to soothe her.
You could feel the relief in her sighs, in the way she tried to stop crying.
Four hundred pounds was a rather generous sum just for your sisters' debut; it was enough so your uncle would no longer be in misery trying to feed four extra mouths that his annual income could not afford. Even you felt a surge of relief.
Still, the timing of it all left you deeply suspicious. Why now? you asked yourself silently while your mother and uncle signed the necessary documents.
"I have been authorized to deliver an advance of fifty pounds in Bank of England notes for this week's urgent expenses," the man pulled a thick envelope from his briefcase and handed it to your mother alongside a set of papers. "The remainder of the quarterly allowance will be available at the main branch this Friday, provided you present a copy of the contract."
The following weeks felt like a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere in your uncle's small estate had changed drastically; you had even noticed how his demeanor toward you all was different now. You couldn’t blame him—after all, your mother had put him in a tight spot when she urgently sent him that letter after their previous home had been seized and confiscated over matters of the Crown.
Not only had she shown up at his door with little warning, but you had also eaten his food and depended on his money for nearly a year. You could understand that someone in his position would only relax upon knowing he would no longer have to manage details like his nieces' clothes and expenses, beyond putting food on their plates and a roof over their heads.
It seemed to you that your mother had begun to glow differently as well, returning to her cheerful, lighter disposition and regaining her confidence in crowded ballrooms. Charlotte was delighted with her new collection of dresses, and Mary was more than thrilled about the upcoming season and the new art supplies your mother had bought her as a gift.
"Mary, would you mind opening the window a little?" your mother asked, lounging on the sofa while fanning her face.
She was lying down, one leg resting over the armrest, the summer heat leaving a sheen of sweat on her face. Charlotte was embroidering in the small armchair while Mary practiced on your aunt's pianoforte. You were sitting on a small chair by the bookcase, reading silently, simply passing the time the four of you together.
Mary let go of the piano to stand up and open the window. As a slight breeze of warm air drifted in, everyone heard her gasp in surprise. Looking over at her was instinctual, but she remained standing by the window in silence, an unreadable expression on her face.
"What is it?" your mother asked, stopping her fanning.
"What did you see?" Charlotte managed to ask just as everyone realized Mary wasn't answering.
"Sir Wesbury..." she stammered with a strange smile, while Charlotte got up to look out the window beside her.
It was as though the room suddenly turned ice-cold. Your mother bolted up from the sofa.
"What?"
The movement caused you to snap your book shut instantly, without the time or presence of mind to memorize the page you were on. You stood up from your chair at the exact moment one of your uncle’s servants entered the room with a small bow.
"Sir Lando Norris." You felt your stomach churn, feeling as though you might throw up your lunch.
Nothing in you was prepared for the moment he walked through the door, nor had you been given enough time to make an escape. You could hear the expectant silence in the room; both your sisters and your mother were stunned with surprise. After all, standing before you was not only your former fiancé after a year of silence, but he had also had the audacity to introduce himself by another name.
His real name.
And he looked so handsome and broken at the same time. The corners of his eyes were red, his expression tired and solemn, almost ashamed.
"Ladies," he bowed his head, followed by a chorus of delayed curtsies from your family. Sir Norris looked nervous. "I beg you to forgive my informal arrival, given the pressing matters of our past," he looked down, nervously handling an old piece of paper in his hands. "But I felt compelled to deliver something that belongs to you."
"Sir Wesbury—" your mother began, only to be harshly cut off by you.
"Norris," you said, the high pitch of your voice drawing the attention of everyone present, slicing through the air like paper. "The gentleman’s name is Lando Norris, Mother. Sir Anthony Wesbury does not exist."
Lando lowered his gaze with a bashful smile before looking at your mother, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"The lady is quite right," he said carefully. "I apologize for my eagerness; it prevented me from introducing myself properly. My name is Lando Norris, and I hold in my hands the deed to your late husband’s house."
The air rushed out of your lungs all at once, and you were certain your mother and sisters were just as confused, if not more so. You looked at them; your mother was barely breathing as she stared at Lando as if he were a ghost. Mary and Charlotte remained frozen by the window, unable to move.
"I deemed it appropriate to return it to you," Lando continued softly.
"Did you also deem it appropriate to lie to my face and my family's?" you interrupted, the words tumbling out so quickly they nearly choked you. The heavy silence that settled over the room was intoxicating. You looked at your mother. "Mother, this man was behind Father's imprisonment."
"A job," Lando interjected, taking a step forward, "that had to be carried out, if I may add. However, I was not involved in deciding his fate, madame. My sole task was to investigate."
You let out a quiet breath. This man had to have immense nerve to show up at your home once more as if nothing had happened. He had to be... desperate.
Your mother was completely silent, unable to speak, while your sisters simply looked between the two of you as though watching a phantom.
"If you will grant me my honesty, I can assure you with all my heart that what I feel for your daughter was never untrue," Lando’s voice did not waver as he spoke. "Which is why... by way of an apology, I strove to recover the deeds to your former home."
You scoffed, looking away to hide the urge to cry. He always had to complicate everything; he always had to make it harder. Why couldn't Lando Norris just disappear, just as he had in the beginning?
"The house is yours if you wish to return to it," Lando spoke quietly, "and you may keep everything you had from the start. The deeds are in your name."
Your mother pressed a hand to her chest before carefully sitting back down on the sofa. You knew how deeply this affected her; she had lost her husband and her reputation, forced to live with her brother and abandon everything that had once been hers.
And here was Lando, offering her a solution, just as he had done with you the last time you saw him a few weeks ago. You watched him glance down for a few seconds, hesitating before continuing.
"In return, I would like..." he cleared his throat, "...to resume my courtship of your eldest daughter."
"No," you said immediately, automatically.
"[Name]," Lando tried, using that stupid tone of voice that always managed to break your resolve. He looked exhausted, on the verge of collapsing, even.
It was so hard to stay firm in your decision when he stood before you in such an unusually fragile state. When you first met him, he was so flirtatious and confident, and now he was reduced to half the man he used to be.
But this was your family. It was your father who had been condemned to death because of Lando; it was your reputation that had been questioned, abandoned before the engagement. Not his.
"I said no," you repeated more sternly before grabbing your things and leaving the room.
You didn't look back, not even when your mother called after you.
You didn't want to keep looking at Lando's face; you didn't want him to keep doing things to win back your affection.
Because deep down, you knew it was working.
By the time you returned, it was your mother who was losing hers. Lando was nowhere to be found.
You took a long walk around your uncle's lands until it began to darken. You knew it had been a bad idea to leave your mother and sisters entirely alone with Lando, but you needed to think. As if that wasn't what you had been doing for the past few weeks already. You spent so much time inside your own head that you felt if you processed one more thing, you would lose your mind.
"Don't you ever disappear like that again! I was worried about you; it's late," she said, a hand over her chest.
You brushed past her to head upstairs toward the bedchamber you shared with your two sisters. You said nothing, and neither did she. Even Mary and Charlotte left the room as soon as you arrived and threw yourself face down into the pillows.
There was a huge part of you that wanted to ask, wanted to know what had happened while you were away, wanted to know what your mother and sisters thought about it all. However, the part that wanted nothing to do with Lando weighed heavier, even if it was smaller than the rest.
"If you keep overthinking, you'll give yourself a migraine." You pulled your gaze from the wall to look at your mother, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.
For a moment, you had thought she was angry—perhaps over the whole business with Lando, or the fact that you had fled and left her to deal with a man who wasn't her responsibility, only to return hours later with your dress caked in mud and your hair a ruined mess.
But her voice was gentle. She looked at you as if she understood what you were going through, and you allowed her to sit on the edge of the bed while you turned over onto your stomach to stare at the ceiling.
"I can't stop thinking," you confessed in a whisper.
"What are you thinking about?" she questioned, and you let out a breathless chuckle, as if it weren't obvious.
"About Sir Norris," you sighed. Your mother said nothing for several seconds.
"Why didn't you let me know sooner that he had returned?" she asked carefully. "All that he had done."
You turned to look at her and shrugged.
"I suppose I didn't want you to have to deal with it." You frowned, unsure if that was the real reason you hadn't told her. "Sir Norris was my fiancé... I suppose I felt it was something I ought to face alone."
"The matter of Sir Norris is larger than you," your mother said softly. "You shouldn't bear that weight. Not alone, at least. You are still young, and you are still my daughter. You are under my care."
"But I shouldn't be," you sighed, looking away. "I should be under the care of my husband... had I made better choices. Had I wished to marry some other tedious lord or viscount of somewhere." You turned on your stomach once more, restless, hiding your face in your arms.
Your mother formed a faint, amused smile upon hearing you.
"But that is not what you want."
You raised your head to look at her, half-hidden, and it took you a few seconds to come out with the truth.
"No," you sighed again.
"You love him," your mother blurted out suddenly, and you rolled your eyes.
"Love is... a word that evokes far too strong a feeling," you said, evading the point.
You heard her huff with amusement.
"Very well," she conceded with a nod. "But at least you like him."
You pressed your lips together, lowering your gaze back to the embroidered details of the bed cover. You didn't answer; you didn't want to admit aloud what had been your greatest fear and the reason you had been in constant turmoil ever since Lando reappeared.
It would have been so much easier had you felt nothing for the man, or perhaps if he hadn't been so attractive and so charming. If he hadn't been precisely your type. Rejecting him would have taken far less effort; you would have moved on.
"Do you know how difficult it is to actually like your future husband?"
"Lando Norris is not my future husband," you answered almost instantly.
Your mother looked at you sternly for a few moments.
"But he was. And you liked him then, and you still like him now," she insisted, and you sighed, nodding. "I never liked your father."
You swallowed hard, feeling a small ache begin to hollow out your chest. That was... something you had suspected for a very long time. Your parents had always been cordial with one another, but you were no fool to think that in the society you lived in, a woman had the luxury of always choosing her partner. Most of the time, parents or wealth were factors that carried far more weight than true love—or even basic attraction.
Even so, hearing your mother openly state that even after years of marriage she had never learned to like your father was... difficult. Never as difficult as living through it, of course.
"I am not so sure he liked me very much either," your mother let out a soft laugh. It sounded sad to you, but even if you searched her face, she didn't look on the verge of tears. It was a reality she had accepted long ago. "We both thought we would grow accustomed to it as the years passed. But the only thing that kept us together was you girls."
You swallowed again, trying to push down the knot forming in your throat, your breathing turning uneven from the urge to cry right then.
You watched your mother hesitate for a few seconds before she looked you straight in the face.
"I have never wanted any of you to settle for a merely cordial marriage," she said softly. "I would not want your fate to be like Caroline's."
The memory of your eldest sister was painful and relieving all at once. Caroline had disappeared shortly after her wedding. Your mother had grown increasingly frantic as the months passed without receiving a word or a visit from her. Nearly seven months went by before she deigned to write back. It was short, concise. She rejoiced in her good standing, her happiness, and her health, but mentioned it was impossible for her to visit her family as she was far too busy with household duties.
Shortly after, you discovered it had been her husband writing the few letters you ever received.
"I do not want you to accept just any gentleman simply because he is not Lando," your mother shook her head gently, her brow furrowed. "I want you to accept Lando if that is what your heart truly desires."
"I don't know if it's what I truly desire," you lied half-heartedly, sitting up a bit so you could speak properly. "He lied to my face, Mother. He was planning things behind my back, used me coldly to get what he needed, and then left."
"And now he has returned," she replied. "And he is giving back everything he took from us because he wants us to be happy."
"Everything except my father," you said almost immediately. Your mother's face relaxed, looking at you with a touch of sternness.
"Do let me know when a man manages to find the cure for death," she teased softly, and you rolled your eyes.
"You know that's not what I mean," you muttered, hiding back in your arms.
"Your father made poor choices, [Name]," your mother said firmly yet gently. "If we ended up where we are, it is because of his actions, not those of any other gentleman."
"Are you truly defending him?" You raised your head again, frowning at her.
"Are you truly defending him?" she returned the question with raised eyebrows. "If we put them on equal footing, your father also lied to my face and used me to get what he wanted. He lied to you too; he lied to this family. And his actions condemned him to death."
You pressed your lips together as you listened, because you hadn't stopped to think about everything your mother had endured. You hadn't paused to ask her how she felt about the whole affair with your father; you had simply assumed she was... shattered.
"I do not want you deciding for me how I ought to feel," she murmured affectionately. "I learned to care for your father, but he always loved money more than his family. It was always enough for him that you girls married noblemen who could match the wealth he put over your heads."
"I am sorry," you muttered, before your mother reached out and tenderly stroked your cheek.
"It is quite all right if you do not wish to give Lando another chance. I am certain there will be some other brilliant gentleman whom you like just as much, if not more," she said. "But I also do not want you to feel shame for truly caring for him. If you wish to marry him, your reputation will be restored, and you will be with a man who moved heaven and earth to return to your mother the property that was rightfully hers."
You smiled faintly upon hearing her. That more or less summarized how things had settled regarding Lando on her end and with the rest of your family.
"So... will we return to London?" you asked.
"We will return to London," she confirmed. "Of course I desire the comfort of my own home. I detest living with my brother and spending his money."
You nodded, biting your lip softly.
"And what do I do if I don't know what to do?" you murmured.
"First, be honest with yourself," your mother said firmly. "Do you want him?"
You sighed, and it took you a few moments to say it out loud.
"I want him," you finally managed to say. "And I hate that I like him so much—that he has... everything I ever thought I wanted."
The expression on your mother's face softened with sympathy, and she ran her fingers through your messy, untamed hair.
"And I also hate what he did."
"That is entirely valid," your mother agreed with a nod, continuing to smooth your hair. "You and I both know it is no small thing."
You nodded as well.
"I was so hopeful about marrying him," you said in a thread of a voice, full of sorrow. "And now I feel as though, once again, I don't know who he is."
Your mother nodded in silence, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.
"You can get to know him again," she whispered, "and then decide whether he is worth it or not."
You nodded quietly, resting your cheek on your hands as you weighed your options.
"Though you will have to wait a bit for that. Sir Norris informed us he would be departing early tomorrow morning back to London."
"Oh," slipped from your lips unintentionally, a tinge of disappointment in your voice. "But we are returning to London as well."
"Not tomorrow, however," your mother said with a serious face. "We must pack our belongings once more and restock the house."
"Yes. You are right, I am sorry." You hid your face in your arms once more.
At least you would have enough time to think about how to speak to Lando again. Your mother looked at you with warmth and leaned in to kiss your forehead.
"Try to get some sleep, and stop torturing that little head of yours," she said before leaving your room.
Unlike the frantic manner in which you had left in the first place, you realized there was no real hurry to return this time. You were the only one rushing, eager to move time forward as quickly as possible so you could visit Lando and talk. It seemed that with each passing day, you felt a growing sense of urgency, even though you hadn't even wanted to see him at first.
The only thing you hadn't counted on was that moving back would take so long. It took nearly two whole weeks to settle back into the house.
The truth was, your mother had opened your eyes just enough for you to realize that you had to take action before it was too late—before Lando grew tired of persisting or waiting. And you realized with horror how deeply it terrified you to think he might have left Croydon because he had given up on you.
Not only had the journey been long and tedious, but your mother also kept you occupied for days, helping restock the house, scrubbing every corner, organizing the kitchen, rearranging the furniture, and helping cook at least two meals a day. Given the state of her reputation and finances, hiring servants again was out of the question, but that mattered least of all. Even in times like these, something as mundane as cleaning or cooking made you feel closer to your sisters than when you were fitting dresses and squabbling over them.
By the time you finally found a moment of free time, you remembered that the only place you knew of Lando was where he had been staying while still using the name Anthony Wesbury. Yet no matter how many letters you drafted and sent, you received nothing in return. Not a single letter, nor a visit.
As the weeks dragged on, you sank deeper and deeper into gloom. Paper began to grow scarce, you went out less frequently to balls and social gatherings, and it seemed as though the name Lando Norris had simply vanished into thin air. Once again, as usual.
"Please come with me today," Charlotte insisted yet again, throwing herself onto your bed with dramatic flair.
"I don't much feel like going out today, Charlotte," you said softly, playing with the quill between your fingers as you stared at the blank sheet on your small, makeshift desk.
"Mother is insufferable, all the balls are far more entertaining with you there, and you know Mary cannot attend yet," she continued. "Perhaps Sir Norris will be there."
"You have no way of knowing that," you said listlessly.
"It's Almack's. Everyone will be there, and Mother says attending is strategic for our reputation," your sister said, fiddling with the fabric of your bedspread.
"Your reputation is fine. If I go, I shall probably ruin everything."
"Which is precisely why you ought to go," she urged again, her voice growing increasingly desperate. "Besides, I tell you, you will have a chance to speak with Sir Norris if he shows up."
"We haven't seen him in months," you murmured, "and you truly believe he will go to just any ball simply because I am present?"
"You must at least try," Charlotte murmured back, finally rising from the bed to approach you. "If it becomes well known that you are attending balls and events once more, there is still a chance he might crawl out from under his rock as well."
You sighed, allowing her arms to encircle you, and rested your head against her shoulder. You truly had no desire to endure a ball at that moment; it was difficult to feign a calm, pleasant demeanor when you felt as though you were slowly rotting away inside. Day after day, you were consumed by the thought that you had arrived too late, that you had delayed making the decision you ought to have made long ago.
Yet, even though you eventually agreed to go that time, Lando did not appear at the ball. Nor at the next, or the one after that. It mattered not that you attended the most prestigious operas or the liveliest dances of the season—once more, there was no sign of him anywhere.
And it was a tragedy, for with each occasion you tried harder with your attire, driven by the mere possibility of running into him again.
You were likely at your seventh consecutive ball of the month when you felt yourself on the verge of collapsing once more.
"Are you all right?" Charlotte took your arm, looking at you with concern. Lately, that was the only look your sister ever gave you.
You surely looked the way you felt: eyes red and glistening with unshed tears, your brow tired and faintly furrowed. It was as though your own ghost from a year ago had returned—that version of you mired in depression, a hollow shell of who you used to be, forced to show up merely to keep up appearances. The version of you that only Lando Norris could evoke.
"Yes," you managed to reply. The music was a bit too loud for your liking, and even its cheerful rhythm failed to lift your spirits. "I think I shall step outside for some fresh air," you announced with a sigh.
Charlotte frowned, but gave a brief nod.
"I'll join you in a moment," she noted, her face still wearing its now familiar look of worry.
It wasn't that you wanted to worry your family on purpose; it was simply hard to envision a future without Lando. Not only out of longing and desire, but also at the thought that his might have been the last proposal of marriage you would ever receive.
The night air was crisp as you stepped outside the venue, allowing a few tears to slip past at the weight of it all and the thread of your thoughts. You wiped them away with your gloved hands and began walking through the small garden in silence. There were not many people about—only a couple here and there, or small groups of gentlemen smoking pipes as they conversed.
You lost yourself in a slow stroll around the gardens, your fingers idly playing with the fabric of your gloves. The wind chilled your collarbones and the neckline of your dress, but at that moment, anything was better than being inside, where judgmental gazes fell upon you and the air felt so thick you began to sweat. Every sip of sparkling wine was merely another reason for people to whisper behind your back, and every misstep was coldly criticized. You hadn't even been able to dance with a single gentleman all evening, and you had already spent three consecutive hours in the same shoes, standing in the same dead spot in the room.
You kept walking in silence until the steady murmur of distant chatter faded away completely, leading you to a gazebo with a perfect view of the small lake outside the property. You sighed as you looked out at the calm water and the reflection of the moon, leaning your arms against one of its supporting pillars.
"Do you mind some company?" You startled in place, spinning around quickly toward the voice.
That all-too-familiar voice—slightly raspy and melodious.
"I didn't mean to frighten you, forgive me." Lando carefully extended a hand in apology as he slowly climbed the steps of the gazebo.
You could tell he was treading carefully around you, as though fearing that at any moment you might scream at him to go away. Perhaps Charlotte was right all along...
"You," you said, suddenly breathless. "You returned," you barely managed to utter.
It was a pity, considering how many times you had rehearsed what you would say in this man's presence, only to completely forget every single word the moment you shared the same space. Lando looked at you with a touch of sorrow; he looked only slightly more rested. His hair remained unruly, and there were dark circles under his eyes, you were sure of it.
"I had matters of great importance that required my attention," he said carefully.
"It is always matters of great importance that require your attention," you shot back immediately, turning your back to him once more. Out of the corner of your eye, you watched him step up beside you with practiced ease.
"My sister," he began, catching your attention, "came to visit my parents' house and was taken ill in bed after giving birth to her first child."
"Oh," you stammered awkwardly. "I am so sorry. How is she?"
"Better," Lando nodded. "The birth caught us all by surprise, but her baby is just as healthy as she is now. We couldn't leave her side; my mother refuses to let the servants care for her grandson." You smiled fondly upon hearing this.
"It brings me relief to know she is well," you said gently, unsure of what else to say.
And it seemed Lando didn't know what else to say either, as both of you fell into a slightly awkward silence, side by side, taking in the view from the gazebo.
It took you a few seconds to gather the courage to speak.
"I hoped to see you sooner," you admitted, your heart hammering against your throat.
Lando seemed surprised by your words; he surely hadn't expected you to want to see him after everything.
"Did you?" He tilted his head slightly to look at you.
"I had no way of contacting you," you turned to look at him directly, a faint grimace on your face. "The place where I knew you were staying was vacant."
Lando turned his gaze away with a wry look.
"A residence under the Crown's name, lent for specific and important circumstances" a subtle way of saying the house was not his and that he had only used it for his mission.
You nodded, hesitating for a few seconds as you lowered your eyes to your dress.
"We moved back to London," you said carefully. "Thanks to you." You hated yourself a little for taking so long to say what you actually meant to say.
It was just that no matter if you had rehearsed it a thousand times, this man's imposing presence set your nerves on edge.
"You don't have to thank—"
"I do," you interrupted immediately. "And I should like to apologize as well. I have been nothing short of insolent toward you... I wish to acknowledge that we got off on the wrong foot," you pressed your lips together, "and I would like to reconsider our position."
Lando closed his mouth—which had remained slightly parted in surprise at your words—and stared at you in silence, waiting for you to finish, for he could tell from your posture just how much you had kept bottled up inside.
"I know you previously expressed your desire to resume the courtship. Is that still true?" you asked in a low, almost timid voice.
You could feel your ears burning and your face flush red. Lando lowered his gaze for a few seconds before reaching out and taking one of your hands in his. Then, beneath your feverish and startled gaze, he dropped to one knee.
"If you would permit it, right here and now I would express my fervent desire to be your husband." He took your breath away.
"None of that," you said instead, fully aware of Lando's pained expression. But before he could rise again in embarrassment, you added, "I believe there is still much we need to learn about each other." You held his hands tighter in yours. "I cannot promise to easily forget our shared past... but I can promise to try and get to know the real Lando Norris. Without any false identities between us."
You watched him nod; he looked broken. Exquisitely broken, even. There was nothing but surrender in his gaze, and an affection so profound it made your knees weak.
"Then I can promise never to lie to you again," he said.
"That would be quite fitting." You heard him let out a soft laugh that made you smile. Then he turned serious once more.
"All these months without you have been pure torment." Lando leaned in, kissing your gloved knuckles. You could even feel the stubble of a few days' growth prickling through the thin fabric. It was exquisite. "I beg of you to put an end to my misery."
You swallowed hard, blinking softly.
"Stand up, Sir," you murmured, watching him do exactly that. He didn't hesitate for a second before returning to his feet.
He was barely a head taller than you, but still noticeably taller.
You were unable to let go of his hands—or more precisely, he was unable to let go of yours as you cupped his face. His warmth continued to envelop you, even as you stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His mouth tasted of sparkling wine and hints of strawberries from the banquet, and he kissed you back like a man desperate and starved, like an addict who had been forced to stay away from his obsession for far too long.
"You are fortunate that my family approves of you," you growled against his mouth, and you felt him smile against you before pressing a chaste kiss to your lips.
"Was it Charlotte?" he asked.
"My mother."
"Even better," he smiled broadly, wrapping both arms around your waist and helping you turn as you clung to his neck. "It will make it easier to ask for your hand now that it's just her."
That made you turn instantly serious, and Lando consequently did the same, stopping and wiping the smile from his face.
"Too soon?"
"Far too soon. Do not make jokes about that again." You saw him make a bashful grimace.
"I am sorry."
"Behave yourself," you continued scolding him.
"I make no promises," he murmured against your mouth before kissing you once more.
Neither of you cared if there were other pairs of eyes watching.
