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Ever since Lando returned to Monaco with Oscar and Lukas, their winter break commencing with lots of cuddles in bed, the three of them, he’s been looking for a ring. The perfect ring. Not too flashy, not too subtle. Something Oscar would love.
Lando had known, the minute he could admit how he felt, that he wanted to marry Oscar.
He had previous relationships, long, and short, but he never, not once, imagined himself marrying them. Not until Oscar. Everyone pales in comparison to his Osc.
Which is how he finds himself scouring the entire world for an engagement ring that would fit his boyfriend. Lando has never been more thankful for how dense and oblivious Oscar is.
After spending their first month of winter break, completely devoid of any sense of time, the two of them basking in their shared time off, the search for the perfect ring commences. Come January and February, they’d have commitments, meetings, and work, pulling them out of their bubble.
So Lando had to think quickly, he wanted to look at all his options, without his boyfriend knowing, of course.
He came up with an excuse, asking Oscar to stay home with Lukas while he went grocery shopping, claiming the weather outside was too nasty for them to venture out in, wanting them to stay safe.
Oscar made a confused face, Lukas running his toy McLaren into his foot, pouting and huffing about his da da’s obstruction. He had pointed out, with a smile on his lips, fighting back a laugh, that the weather was nice out, the temperature being only 58° degrees.
Lando had immediately started stammering, desperately trying to come up with a rebuttal to that.
Oscar had laughed loudly, abandoning his attempts at holding it back, and asked Lando to bring back something for dinner.
And as Lando watched their son play, Oscar letting himself be lapped in his Mercedes, a long pitstop he explains to Lukas, he feels his heart grow impossibly bigger.
Most of his other partners would have immediately jumped to the conclusion that he was cheating, sneaking off to meet someone else. When in reality, he was just trying to do something nice for them.
But Oscar isn’t like anyone he’s ever dated.
He’s kind and sweet and considerate. Even though, at this point, they had only been together for a month, he makes it his job to regularly surprise Lando, whether that be with flowers, homemade love notes, or breakfast in bed.
And Lando has done his own fair share of spoiling and pampering, quickly learning that Oscar didn’t care if he gave him a cardboard box with a heart drawn on it, he’d appreciate anything that came from Lando’s heart.
Which is how he finds himself in a Monaco-based jewelry store, Charles, Max, and Arthur with him.
Charles obviously grew up in Monaco, so he’d know the best spots for jewelry. Lando had asked Charles to invite Arthur, wanting someone who knows Oscar just as well as him to help pick out his ring. And, of course, as Lando had found out quite quickly since he had been made aware of the two’s relationship, Max followed. The man was never too far behind Arthur.
As they look for an engagement ring for Oscar, Lando tries not to notice how Max’s gaze lingers on quite a few. He spots him as they’re leaving talking in hushed voices with the owner. Lando decides to not spoil his friend’s not-so-secret plan, hoping one day he’ll pay back the favor.
(Arthur and Oscar are truly two peas in a pod, both as oblivious as a rock)
He returns home, his arms full of groceries, flowers tucked under his arms. Lando finds the two cuddled up on the couch, Lukas pointing excitedly at the TV, a rerun of Miami ’24 playing.
He dumps the groceries, gently taking the flowers over to Oscar. He watches the smile stretch across the other’s face, Lukas immediately trying to snatch the flowers.
“Thanks, Lan.” He says, craning his neck slightly to press a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s lips, Lando eagerly dips his head to meet Oscar.
“Love you,” Lando says, pulling away to run a hand through Oscar’s hair, pressing another kiss to his forehead.
He smiles, sniffing the flowers, his eyes closing as Lando drops the kiss on his forehead.
“I love you more,” He says, reaching up to kiss Lando once more, making sure to keep it short. They both have learned from past experiences that Lukas gets sad when they kiss, the almost one-year-old wants to be showered with love as well.
When January rolls around, the two of them make the consecutive decision to rent an apartment for the entire month in London, both expecting to be needed at the factory.
Lando takes this time to inconspicuously meet up with Logan, requesting the other’s help as he had with Arthur.
The two of them argue more than they actually agree. Logan glaring and making snide comments most of the time and Lando defending himself, the American still not hundred percent forgiving Lando for what happened in Las Vegas.
Until the jeweler helping them makes a rude comment, saying Lando doesn’t know jewelry, which is probably true, but still.
And Lando is about to tell the prick off, this guy getting on his last nerve when Logan immediately is spinning on the guy, ripping him a new one and firmly stating that only he could tear into Lando, not some random guy who had no idea who he was.
They left after that, Logan stubbornly mumbling that if he needed more help, he’d be happy to clear his schedule. The American refuses to look at him as he says it, ignoring the feeling of Lando’s smug smile burning into the side of his face.
He goes back to the apartment and is met with Oscar and Lukas watching the snowfall, both of their faces pressed against the frosted glass.
He’s quickly hustling over, dropping his backpack by the door, and squishing his face in between the two of them. Lukas smooshes his lips against his pa’s, mumbling excitedly.
Oscar presses a chaste kiss to Lando’s other cheek, leaning against the older man’s shoulder as he pulls his face away from the glass.
They pass the night like that, Lukas saying the few words he knows, mixed with a bunch of other, indecipherable words as they watch the snow.
Oscar and Lukas both fall asleep on him, both snoring so gently and softly that you’d only hear it if you were listening.
Lando snaps a picture and closes his eyes, basking in the quiet, content feeling of the family they’ve made
They head back to Monaco in the first week of February, with strict instructions to try and enjoy their last month off before March rolls around and they have testing and the first two races of the season.
Lando had specifically asked all his friends who lived in Monaco if they would take turns babysitting Lukas, wanting to take Oscar out on real dates, considering they haven’t really ‘dated’ yet.
He plans on taking this entire month to properly woo Oscar. And when he tells the Aussie, he gets a syrupy sweet smile, love dripping from his lips. Oscar is quick to inform him that he doesn’t need to ‘woo’ him, they’re already dating, and he already loves Lando, so much.
(They had spent the entire month of January just the three of them, celebrating their son’s first birthday together. They planned a party for the first week they returned to Monaco. Max and Arthur bring a cake four times the size of Lukas. George and Lewis gift him at least twenty presents, the gifts ranging from clothes to toddler-safe jewelry to stuffed animals. Oscar’s eyes had bugged slightly when he saw the price tag on the Tommy Hilfiger puffer jacket they bought him. Lewis was quick to assure that it was nothing, this was how he showed his love.
Logan had given the boy his very own custom-made F1 car set, twenty cars detailed after the 2024 grid. Alex and Lily show up with multiple crocheted onesies, the slightly wonky one clearly having been made by Alex and not Lily.
Their parents show up as well, Lando’s mother and father gifting their grandson a custom McLaren kart. It was electronic, so Lukas couldn’t actually control it, Lando or Oscar would have to steer it, sort of like a toy car.
Oscar’s parents bring a baby book full of their son’s baby pictures, to Oscar’s embarrassment, and everything Lukas will need for an Aussie summer, flip flops, swim shorts, a tiny surfboard with his name engraved on it.
Max had gotten custom Quadrant merch made, the bright neon colors catching Lukas’s attention immediately.
Safe to say, everyone had spoiled Lukas beyond belief, their apartment overflowing with gifts and cards.)
Lando explains to him that he knows he doesn’t have to but that he wants to.
And so, finding the perfect ring gets put on hold for a little, Lando pouring everything into planning their dates.
The first date that he plans, is a day in Nice. The ride is only thirty minutes, give or take, and the city has a huge tulip field. He thought they could spend the day there picking flowers and then head to a nice dinner.
They drop off Lukas at Arthur and Max’s, the two always eager to babysit. It helps that Lukas is always ecstatic to see the both of them, cheering loudly when he sees Max, “Oom!”
Max has been not so secretly teaching the one-year-old Dutch, his face splitting into a grin when he hears the boy call him uncle.
Oscar is adamant that Lukas loves all his aunts and uncles the same.
Max is adamant that Lukas likes him the most.
The two of them spend hours in the tulip fields, picking as many as they can hold and then bringing them to the florist at the front, who arranges them into bouquets.
Lando almost cries with how hard he laughs when Oscar’s allergies kick in, the younger sneezing for a good five minutes straight before a kind, old lady offers him an antihistamine. Oscar glares at him the entire time, shoving his boyfriend for laughing at his suffering.
But he gets his payback later when he finds a spider on Lando’s neck, the little bugger must have jumped from the flowers onto him.
It’s his turn to double over in laughter as Lando freaks out, spinning around in circles for a whole minute, ready to yank his shirt off before Oscar can stop him. He calmly plucks the tiny spider off his boyfriend’s neck and deposits it onto the nearest tulip.
Lando refuses to let go of Oscar’s hand the rest of the day, telling him with red cheeks that he’ll need backup if another spider crawls on him. Oscar can see through him but lets him get away with it, not wanting to embarrass Lando by saying he knows he wants to be as close as possible to him.
Oscar feels the same way.
One thing about Lando though, his hands tend to stray, refusing to stay in one spot for too long. It’s how he ends up settling a hand on the small of Oscar’s back whenever he bends over to pick a tulip, Oscar’s eyes snapping to Lando’s when his fingers dip into the waistband of his shorts.
But Lando is just fiddling with the fabric, looking for the next flower he’s going to pick. Oscar had learned very quickly that Lando loved physical touch, all the time. Whether that be sexual or not, totally depends on the mood he’s in. Plenty of times, such as this one, an action that may seem like he’s trying to (metaphorically and physically) get into Oscar’s pants, is just him seeking comfort.
So, Oscar lets him continue to hold onto him, straightening back up and adding another tulip to their fourth bouquet. Lando smiles and withdraws his hand, settling it back on his lower back, ushering his boyfriend to the front where they can drop off the last of the flowers they picked.
It doesn’t take long for their flowers to be ready, Lando chatting up the florist, showing her pictures of Lukas and Oscar. The younger man blushes, not used to being shown off like he was something special.
Lando has made it his mission to show him off to anyone who would listen, always making sure to mention his boyfriend and their son.
He insists on holding all of the bouquets, juggling them as they walk back to the car.
Lando sets them in the back gently, making sure they won’t topple, and opens Oscar’s door for him.
He rolls his eyes but gets in, grabbing Lando’s hand when the other climbs into the driver’s seat, squeezing it tightly, whispering a quiet ‘thank you’. Which, obviously, causes Lando to light up like a Christmas tree. The Brit feeds off praise, especially from Oscar.
They talk the entire ride to the restaurant, Lando plays with the hem of Oscar’s shorts, dipping his fingers underneath and playing with the soft hair on his thigh.
He dozes off as Lando chats, the soft touch of his fingers lulling him into a sense of comfort. He nods and hums when necessary, letting his boyfriend know that he is indeed listening, but also closing his eyes.
When they pull up to the restaurant, Oscar is pleased to see the tiny sign on the front window with a fish and an ‘X’ over it.
He had been very clear with Lando that there was to be no fish within their vicinity, not wanting a repeat of their last excursion.
Oscar’s head lolls to the side, smiling lazily at Lando, intertwining his hand with the one Lando has resting on his thigh.
“No fish?” He asks, double-checking.
Lando cracks a smile, bringing their clasped hands to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of Oscar’s hand.
“No fish.” He says, pulling away to open the car door, quickly exiting and opening Oscar’s.
Their dinner is perfect, no fish, no snobby, rude waiters, and amazing food.
Oscar isn’t drunk, one glass of wine (no matter how expensive and fancy) wouldn’t get him drunk. But it does make him more open, and touchier. He’s the one who is talking the entire car ride home, their roles reversed from earlier.
Which is how they end up an hour late to pick up Lukas, Arthur, and Max glaring at the both of them as Lukas reaches forward, excitedly calling out to his parents.
Oscar is apologizing profusely, smothering Lukas in hugs and kisses, Lando looking annoyingly smug behind him.
Neither Arthur nor Max mentions the state the two show up in, Lando’s shirt inside out, the seams sticking out, his hair rumpled, a suspicious-looking mark sitting high on his throat.
Oscar doesn’t fare much better, the Aussie’s lips swollen and red, more than one suspicious mark dotting his neck and shoulder, where his shirt has slid slightly to the side, the collar stretched out in a way it wasn’t earlier when they dropped Lukas off.
Lando is quick to take Lukas from Oscar’s arms, peppering his own barrage of kisses on their son’s face, the little boy squealing and reaching out for his da da to save him.
They leave one of the bouquets they made with their friends, Max cocking his head when Oscar stumbles getting into the elevator, slightly limping, Lando catching him and smirking.
Realization dawns on his face as Lukas waves goodbye, Oscar hiding his face in Lando’s shoulder. He’s immediately turning to Arthur the second the elevator door closes, the three of them out of sight.
Arthur’s face is slightly green as he holds back what Max could only guess would be vomit.
“Don’t even say anything, Max. I already know way fucking more about their sex life than I’d like.” Arthur mutters, closing the door and placing the flowers on the table, rummaging around in their cabinets for a glass vase.
(Oscar texts them both the next morning, apologizing profusely for being late last night, thanking them for taking such good care of Lukas. Max doesn’t say anything back, just sends back a link for a special cream he got Arthur, that helps with some of the soreness, you know, down there afterward, and a thumbs up.
Neither Lando nor Oscar recovers from that fun text for a while.)
Their next date night is the week after, Arthur and Max are on vacation which leaves Lukas in Logan’s care.
He had moved to Monaco after Oscar had moved in with Lando, Arthur moving not too long after, wanting to be with Max and his family. Logan realized that there wasn’t anything in London for him anymore, his two best friends/ family moved and someone else, who shall not be named, also lives in Monaco (Fernando).
This time they stay in Monaco, Lando intent on taking him to his favorite overlook, planning on cooking them dinner so they can eat in the car and relax (they will definitely not have car sex, nope).
Logan had double-checked with them if it was okay to take Lukas out, the American wants to explore his new home with his nephew.
Their night goes smoothly, the couple relaxing and watching the stars while they laugh and eat, Lando feeding Oscar every chance he gets. Until he accidentally bites him in his excitement to eat the homemade chocolate-covered strawberries.
Oscar pouts at him, apologizing meekly.
Lando still feeds his boyfriend, with his fingers, albeit this time more hesitantly. A soft smile spreads across his face as Oscar moans in delight at the taste, Lando feeding off the unsaid praise.
When they finally get back to Logan’s, on time this time around, (Arthur having warned him to expect them late and disheveled when they had all hung out a couple of days prior, Oscar turning a bright shade of red) Lukas is mildly crabby.
The twelve-month-old missed his parents. He almost burst into tears at the sight of them. Until they go to leave, both thanking Logan when Lukas starts making grabby hands at his uncle, a sad, little pout on his face.
He cries the entire ride home, cranky and crabby and angry.
It’s not until they bathe him and settle him in his crib that he finally stops crying, his wails turning to quiet sniffles. Safe to say, Lukas sleeps like a rock that night. As do Lando and Oscar, entangled in their bed.
Lando is plastered against Oscar’s back, spooning the young Aussie. His quiet, barely there snores lull him to sleep.
Lando remembers explaining to Oscar that he had never slept as well as when they were together. The weeks they were apart, he’d be up all night, pacing the halls. He’d sit on the couch, staring at the baby monitor, replaying their fight over and over and over again, analyzing everything that went wrong.
The only time he’d sleep was when one of his friends came over, the promise of Lukas being safe allowing him to crash. And even then, he never felt actually rested, just like he closed his eyes and opened them a second later, and somehow hours had passed.
Once Oscar had come back to Monaco, sleeping in Lando’s, now theirs, bed, he ended up sleeping for thirteen hours straight. Oscar had eventually woken him up, worried that something was seriously wrong.
Lando remembers yanking Oscar down, burying his face in his boyfriend’s hair, and taking a deep breath. He had never felt so rested.
The last date they go on, before pre-season testing and the first grand prix, is a jewelry-making class. Lando had thought the idea of making each other personalized necklaces would be fun and cute.
Little did he know that it was actually very difficult, his necklace for Oscar looking more like pieces of metal welded together.
Lewis and George both had been eagerly asking when they could babysit Lukas, so they had dropped their son off at their apartment earlier.
Before they could leave, Lewis had demanded they stay so Lukas could put on a mini fashion show for his parents. The one-year-old excitedly clapped his hands.
They wait for Lewis to bring Lukas out, their son decked out in designer baby clothes, smiling and trying to pull the shirt over his head.
George immediately starts gushing over him, standing up and rushing over to the two, smooshing Lukas’s face in pure joy.
Neither of them knows where he got it from, but their son loves to be the center of attention. He basks in George and Lewis gushing over him, a huge grin on his face. Lando rolls his eyes at his butterball of a son, the little devil cooing, making George and Lewis almost cry.
Oscar shoves him, asking him where he thinks their son learned that little routine, causing Lando to launch into a very detailed description of how he must have learned it from Fernando.
The older man had taken to unexpectedly dropping by their apartment, always bearing gifts for Lukas, the Spaniard having always been close to Lando, and now, his son.
That Spanish monster could literally commit war crimes, and he’d flash his big hazel eyes, and everyone would forgive him.
Oscar mulls it over, nodding his head with a contemplating look on his face like Lando actually made sense.
They leave quickly after, Lando firmly instructing them not to spoil him too much, their son’s dresser and closet still overflowing from the gift they had given him for his birthday.
When they get there, they quickly spot Max and Arthur, the two waving them over. Oscar looks at Lando, a shy smile on his face, one that reads ‘For me?’. He had been telling his boyfriend how he felt like he didn’t see his friends anymore, the fact bothering him because they no longer live across the world but down the street from each other.
And he had listened, had planned a double date for them. Once they sit down, he explains that he did try to invite Logan, but the American was adamant about not wanting to be a fifth wheel. Arthur huffs, knocking his shoulder into Oscar’s, muttering about how that sounds like their friend.
They watch the instructor. The older, Italian man teaches them how to craft beautiful, hand-made jewelry. Max is taking literal notes, a little notepad in his hand, and Arthur periodically helping him spell tricky words.
Of course, Max is the best of the four of them. The Dutchman crafted a necklace so flawless and perfect that it could rival some famous brands. Meanwhile, Arthur’s head is cocked to the side, glaring at the bundle of gold in his hands, trying to untangle the mess.
When Lando looks at Oscar, he feels a smile tugging on his lips, an overwhelming feeling of love washing over him. His boyfriend’s tongue is poking out, a look of complete and utter concentration on his pretty face.
His hands worked so slowly and gently on the delicate chain, the three letters on the chain catching his eye. The letters, funnily enough, spell out ‘LOL’. Lando understands immediately what the letters stand for, how could he not? Lando, Oscar, Lukas.
Lando looks down at the jumble of chains in front of him, an idea finally striking him. It’s cheesy, he’s very aware of that, but he thinks Oscar will like it and that’s all that matters.
He grabs the tiny heart pendant, stands up, and makes his way over to the instructor, asking if he could engrave something on it for him. The Italian man takes the heart happily, smiling when Lando tells him what he wants engraved on it.
He looks back to the table where they’re all sitting, Oscar’s gaze meeting his immediately. He waves at Lando, a tiny, shy smile on his face. He holds up his necklace, his eyes going wide while looking between the necklace and Lando, flashing a thumbs up then thumbs down, clearly wanting his opinion.
Lando smiles, his bright, white teeth on display, and holds both of his thumbs up, mouthing ‘good job baby’, causing Oscar’s smile to grow, his cheeks turning a pretty pink.
The man hands him back the pendant, smiling softly, knowingly, like he can tell exactly how smitten Lando really is.
When he sits back down, he hides the charm from Oscar’s eyes, the little brat trying to peek.
It takes him twice as long as the rest of them to finish, the jewelry-making process never quite making sense to him.
He watches as Max and Arthur exchange their necklaces. Arthur reaches behind his boyfriend’s neck to clasp the necklace, adjusting the chain along with the tiny lion pendant, an ‘M’ and ‘A’ resting on either side of it.
Max is smiling the biggest, and most sincere smile Lando has ever seen from him, love and affection oozing off him.
Max gives Arthur the necklace he made next, the thin, dainty, gold chain is deposited in his hands, a gasp flying from his mouth.
Oscar turns around, confusion on his face.
Arthur holds the necklace up, a tiny, almost pink pearl resting in the middle of the chain. He’s flinging his arms around Max, the Dutchman smiling shyly, wrapping his boyfriend up in a tight embrace.
Lando shoots his boyfriend a questioning glance, Oscar quickly explains that Arthur has always been fond of the sea, and the fact that there weren’t any pearls available for them to use at the shop, means Max most likely brought his own, perhaps even found it himself.
A silent ‘ahh’ escapes Lando’s mouth, nodding his head in understanding.
“Do you want to see yours now, babe? Or later, when it’s just us two?” Oscar asks, reaching to grasp Lando’s hand, their thighs touching where they sat.
And as much as Lando wants to show Oscar the necklace he made him right now, he also sort of wants the moment to be private. He knows that, if they’re in the privacy of their own home, he’ll feel more comfortable flaying himself open, letting Oscar see all the tender, sensitive parts of him.
He knows Oscar will feel the same.
“Can we wait till we put Lukas to bed? I-. You know how I am.” He says quietly, the tiniest hint of self-deprecation edging into his voice. Oscar nods, bringing their intertwined hands up to his cheek, nuzzling Lando’s hand.
“I know how you are,” He says, closing his eyes as he presses a soft kiss to Lando’s hand, “Absolutely perfect.”.
Lando rolls his eyes playfully, blushing at his boyfriend’s sweet words. He twists around in his chair, facing Oscar, trapping the younger’s legs in between his.
Oscar opens his eyes, his hazel orbs finding Lando’s green ones.
“I think you’re confused, Osc. You’re the perfect one.” Lando says, detangling their hands and bringing both of his to cup Oscar’s cheeks. He swipes his thumbs under the other man’s eyes, Oscar closing them once again.
Oscar is about to speak up again, that Lando is the perfect one, not him when Arthur and Max appear in his field of vision. They’re holding each other’s hands, the young Monégasque looking exasperated, his eyebrows raised.
“Please, enough with the sappy ‘you’re perfect, no you’re perfect’. You’re going to make me sick.” Arthur says, staring pointedly at the two of them.
Neither Lando nor Oscar take any offense, knowing how syrupy sweet Arthur and Max can be.
They’re quick to leave after that, the two couples bidding each other goodbye.
When they get back to George and Lewis’s apartment they’re met with glitter and glue stuck everywhere. Lewis is covered almost head to toe in red glitter, his braids crunchy with glue. George covered less with glitter and more with stickers, red splotches on his face where some were forcibly ripped off by Lukas.
They both look as happy as can be, with no care in the world that it’ll take months to get all this glitter vacuumed up and hours to wash the mess off them.
Lukas excitedly shows his da da and pa his masterpieces. Miraculously, Lukas is somehow free from any glitter or glue. He’s got a few sparkles here and there but he’s overall, not as big a mess as the other two.
Lukas accepts both of his uncle’s kisses as they hug him bye. Oscar and Lando bid them both goodbye, Lukas screeching happily as he waves to both Lewis and George.
It takes them record time that night to put Lukas to bed, the boy absolutely exhausted. He makes a mental note to ask Lewis and George to watch him more, their son babbling the entire ride home about how much fun he had.
Oscar makes sure to grab the baby monitor, reminding Lando as they brush their teeth together that they need to give Lukas a bath tomorrow. He nods, turning the faucet on for Oscar to spit and rinse, his boyfriend pressing a minty kiss to his cheek in thanks afterward.
Lando exits their en suite bathroom a couple of minutes after Oscar, the other sitting against the headboard, a tiny box in his lap as he watches him.
He knows exactly what is in the box, snagging his own on his way to bed. Lando sits in front of Oscar, dragging both of his feet into his lap, and digging his thumb into the soft part of his boyfriend’s foot.
Oscar lets out a breathy moan, clamping his mouth shut quickly and kicking Lando playfully.
“Don’t try anything funny, mister.” He says, eyes narrowing as he glares at Lando.
Lando withdraws his hands, holding them up in mock innocence. When Oscar seems satisfied that Lando won’t try anything again, he nods his head, signaling that he can put his hands down. He drops his hands, circling his hands around Oscar’s dainty ankles, holding tightly as his boyfriend presents the box to him.
“Open it for me?” Lando asks, bringing his puppy dog eyes out in full force. Oscar rolls his eyes fondly, muttering something along the lines of ‘You’re lucky I love you’.
He opens the box carefully, setting the lid aside as he takes the necklace out. Lando had seen it earlier when Oscar had shown him, but it seems the design had changed slightly. The ‘LOL’ is still there, but now another charm has been added, one resembling a Formula One car.
His gaze trails over the necklace, the thin, gold chain wrapping around Oscar’s dainty fingers, and up to his boyfriend’s pretty face. His cheeks are slightly pink, his shirt gaping slightly at the neck (his favorite sleep shirt, the one he had stolen from Lando all those nights ago), and his moles paint a constellation that Lando is desperate to run his lips over. He looks stunning.
And shy.
“It’s cheesy but, I thought you’d like having everything you love on one chain, close to your heart.” He says, holding the necklace toward Lando, smiling shyly.
Lando removes his hand from his boyfriend’s ankle, reaching out to take the gold chain. He inspects the charms, tracing his fingers over the ‘O’ and ‘L’s. Oscar knows him, truly knows him. He knows that he struggles with loving himself, that’s why he put the second ‘L’ on there.
An ‘L’ for Lukas, an ‘O’ for Oscar, and another ‘L’ for Lando.
They’ve been working on it, Oscar always lending an ear and a shoulder whenever his boyfriend needs it. He had also suggested that Lando see a therapist, not wanting the other to suffer without help.
Oscar had been forthcoming with all the good seeing a therapist did him, telling Lando that he’d support him no matter what.
Lando can feel his throat becoming tight as he admires the jewelry.
“Lan?” Oscar says, concern and worry coloring his voice. His brows are furrowed, a tiny pout on his lips.
Lando shakes his head quickly, clearing his throat as he quickly wraps the necklace around his neck, closing the clasp behind him. He feels the gold chain rest on his chest, the charms sitting above his heart perfectly. They’re heavy enough to feel, the weight calming him.
“It’s perfect, baby. I love it. I love you.” He says, bending down and pressing a kiss to Oscar’s thigh, right above his knee. He feels a slight shiver run through him, his lips grazing over his soft skin.
“I love you, too, Lan,” Oscar says, threading his fingers through Lando’s curls. He takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Oscar’s body wash, the underlying scent of simply him. He rests his forehead against his thigh, brushing his nose over his inner thigh.
He takes another deep breath and then pulls back, Oscar’s hand falling from where it was buried in his curls.
He finds the box he had stashed next to him, handing the box over to Oscar. He goes back to resting his forehead on Oscar’s thigh.
He hears the slight shuffle of his boyfriend opening the box. He hears the tiny gasp Oscar lets out as he lifts the lid, his fingers pausing where they were twirling a curl.
“Babe, this is-. I-. I love it, so much.” Oscar says, his words getting stuck in his throat.
The gold chain had only one pendant on it, a heart. Engraved on one side an ‘L’, another ‘L’ on the other side. Underneath the ‘L’ on the front is Lukas’s birthday, 01-16-2024 in tiny font.
Below the other ‘L’ is another date, this one just a couple of days after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2024. Oscar knows it was the day that Lando showed up at his door, Lukas bundled tightly against his chest.
It was the day they started dating.
“Lando, can you look at me? Please?” Oscar asks, scratching at the soft hairs at the base of Lando’s neck. He wants to shake his head, burrow into Oscar’s skin and hide forever. But this is what they’ve been working on, talking.
He lifts his head, Oscar immediately scooting forward, his legs going on either side of Lando’s waist. He lifts himself up so that he’s sitting in Lando’s lap, the other’s legs crossed underneath him.
The second Oscar sits in his lap, Lando is wrapping his hands around his waist, holding onto him tightly.
He tightens his legs around his boyfriend’s back, tangling his fingers back in his hair, pressing a soft, needy kiss to his lips.
Lando sighs into the kiss, his body relaxing.
When Oscar pulls back, resting his forehead against Lando’s, he speaks up.
“Talk to me, please.” He says, his lips ghosting over Lando’s.
And Lando takes a deep breath.
“Sometimes it’s overwhelming, how much I love you,” Lando says, closing his eyes as he speaks.
“I wanted you to have Lukas and me wherever you went. I never want you to be alone.” He says, his hands shaking slightly.
Oscar nods before he remembers that his forehead is pressed against his.
“Thank you, for explaining, Lan. I want you two with me wherever I go as well.” He says brushing his nose against Lando’s.
They sit there for a while, neither of them saying anything. It’s quiet as they soak in each other’s presence.
Lando presses another chaste kiss to his boyfriend’s lips before he pulls back, licking his lips, tasting Oscar.
“Let me,” He says, taking the chain from his hands and putting it on Oscar, the clasp clicking as he secures it around his neck.
Lando leans back, admiring the necklace he made as it hangs around Oscar’s delicate neck, his collar bones popping against the gold.
“You look gorgeous, love,” Lando says, smiling brightly at him. Oscar huffs, his cheeks turning even pinker than before.
“Cheeseball,” He mutters, tugging Lando toward him, the two falling backward. His boyfriend brackets himself on top of him, not wanting to crush Oscar. They stare at each other, the two of them having a silent staring contest.
Until Oscar blinks and starts laughing, throwing his head back as he giggles.
Lando collapses on top of the younger and lets out his own laugh, his fingers quickly finding Oscar’s sides.
That’s how the two fall asleep, giggling and laughing and breathless. Happy. In love.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Testing goes well.
The car is fast, definitely better than where they were starting last year. The realization sets in that Lando could win the driver’s championship. So could Max or Daniel or Charles or Lewis but finally so could Lando.
Once the season started, Lando resumed his search for the perfect ring for Oscar.
It’s not until the first race, Melbourne, that he finally finds it.
Oscar had been ecstatic that the first race this season was in Australia, the young Aussie bursting at the seams with excitement at being able to show his little family around.
He hadn’t gotten around to flying back home, his parents and sisters opting to meet Lukas and Lando in Monaco.
But now, he finally can show them around his hometown.
They end up staying with Oscar’s parents, Lukas soaking up all their attention like a sponge. Oscar’s sisters had been playing with Lukas all day every day, the trio flying in a week before to spend time with them.
They’re out in the backyard, Oscar sitting on the swing next to Lukas, their son being pushed by his aunts in a baby swing. His boyfriend is sitting there, watching them carefully, smiling at all of them giggling.
Lando is sitting on the patio nursing a cold drink, trying and failing not to stare at his boyfriend’s very very very pretty thighs in his swim trunks that he’s still wearing from their earlier excursion to the beach.
He’s shaken out of his thoughts when Oscar’s mum sits down next to him, smiling at him gently.
He smiles back, about to say something when he sees her reach behind her back, procuring a tiny black, velvet box. She looks over at her children and grandson, making sure their focus is not on them.
“Though this might interest you,” Nicole says, gently handing over the box. Lando takes the tiny box and inspects it, confusion coloring his face. He thumbs the clasp open, biting his lip to hold back the gasp.
It’s a ring. A gorgeous one, antique and stunning.
“Is this-?” He asks, trailing off as he runs the pad of his thumb over the gold band, grazing the engraved letters, his gaze slowly trailing to Nicole’s.
“My mother’s ring, Oscar’s grandmother’s. The two were attached at the hip when he was young. He loved playing with her ring. He used to play with it whenever she was around. I thought, maybe you could take it, use it to make him a new one.” She says, her eyes drifting over to her children, her smile growing even bigger as she watches Oscar double over in laughter at something Hattie said.
“Although, I’m pretty sure my son would be happy with a ring pop as long as it came from you.” Nicole huffs, laughing at the mental image of Oscar with a ring pop on his finger.
Lando nods, listening to his boyfriend’s mother, his gaze wandering back to the ring.
“I have to thank you, Lando. I didn’t know it was possible for Oscar to be this happy after everything that happened. So, thank you.” She says, looking back over at the Brit, her smile open and loving.
Lando draws his gaze away from the ring, his eyes finding Oscar’s. His boyfriend’s brows are furrowed, a slight look of confusion dancing across his face. Lando is quick to lower the ring box in between his legs stealthily, not wanting Osc to see.
He smiles at him, lifting a hand to wave to him.
Oscar’s face loses all its tension, a wide smile spreading over his face. He quickly turns back to Lukas when the boy starts trying to stand up in the baby swing.
Lando looks at Nicole and then back to the ring box, a small smile on his face as he speaks.
“I’m not the person you have to thank. He’s the one who did all the hard work, he’s the one who never gave up.” He takes a deep breath, feeling once again overwhelmed with the love he feels for Oscar.
And it’s never a bad feeling, this staggeringly strong emotion. It makes him feel warm and gooey, like he’s finally home after months away, like he’s finally found his home, with Oscar and Lukas.
“I’m the one who owes you a thank you, for raising him, for loving him, for supporting him. He saved me, in ways I didn’t know I needed. He’s everything to me. Lukas and him, they’re my life.” Lando says, his voice tight.
He sees Nicole stand up, his head lifting as he follows the movement.
“Perhaps, you both saved each other.” She says her smile that looks so much like Oscar’s directed toward him.
She presses a soft kiss to the crown of Lando’s head, ruffling his curls as she motions to the circus on the playset.
“Come on, I think our family is waiting for us,” Nicole says, a laugh escaping her as Lukas calls excitedly for his pa, wriggling around in the sandbox and flinging sand at his da da.
Lando finally has the perfect ring, now all he has to do is make it into Oscar’s perfect ring and propose to him, all without his boyfriend catching on.
Easier said than done.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take him long to figure out the design he wants for the ring. When they fly back home to Monaco, the ring tucked away in his backpack, Lando silently praying Oscar doesn’t snag any snacks and see the ring.
Thankfully, Lukas keeps them both occupied the entire flight, their son trying to escape his father’s hold and run down the aisles.
He meets with Logan and Arthur when they get back, Lukas screaming excitedly when he sees them. Oscar had a meeting with Daniel and Zak, they had to discuss an issue with the car setup. Lando took that as the perfect excuse to run out and head to the jeweler.
He needed someone who knew a good jeweler who would do custom work, who could melt down Oscar’s grandmother’s ring and split the diamond into tinier pieces, or something like that, Lando isn’t really sure how it all works. Which is why he invited Arthur, Charles is sort of hopeless with anything that takes more than one brain cell.
And when Lando had asked Arthur, Logan was with him and had stated that he also should come, in case he got verbally abused by another jeweler.
So that’s how they end up in a woman’s tiny studio apartment in Monaco. The old lady was a close friend of the Leclercs. When Arthur had shown him her work, Lando knew right then and there that he wanted her to create the ring.
Arthur had to pull some favors, the lady being incredibly busy, her schedule jam-packed, but after the promise that her grandkids could meet Max at this year’s Monaco grand prix, she agreed to meet with Lando.
And Lando is no artist, far from it, but he had sketched out the design he had come up with, hoping that she would understand his ideas well.
He had shown her Oscar’s grandmother’s gorgeous ring, the detailing similar to what Lando had come up with for his boyfriend’s ring.
It was a simple gold band, taking the original gold from the ring and melting it down, resizing the ring to fit Oscar’s finger (thank fuck Oscar is a heavy sleeper, it made measuring his left ring finger quite easy).
He had requested adding some new gold, the symbolism of mixing both the past and the future.
He wanted the band to have flowers engraved onto it, tiny, six-petal flowers, pieces of the main diamond on Oscar’s grandmother’s ring at the center of each.
The drawing was subpar at best, but the kind lady, Agathé, seemed to understand, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the design.
She had muttered something to herself in French and then grabbed Lando’s hand, squeezing gently.
When she spoke, her accent curled around the words, “I will rush this, for you lover.” She shoots him a wink, pinching his cheek lovingly and yanking it slightly.
Lando smiles, or well tries to, thankful that she was willing to not only see him but also willing to make it as well.
Arthur bids her goodbye, a soft kiss on both of her cheeks as she ushers them out, Logan pushing Lukas in his stroller, demanding that she has work to do and that she’ll get in touch in three weeks, give or take.
That’s how the next three races pass. China, Japan, and Bahrain fly by as Lando constantly checks his phone whenever he has a crumb of downtime, trying not to act suspicious, not wanting Oscar to suspect anything.
Melbourne had gone well, Lando placing P2, Charles snagging P1 by barely three-tenths.
Red Bull had taken a step backward this year, with Max and Checo both barely finishing in the top five in the first few races. The fight seems to be between Lando and Charles currently, with George not too far behind.
Lando leads the driver’s championship currently, three points ahead of Charles, and ten ahead of George.
It’s the week before they leave for Saudi Arabia when he gets the call from Agathé telling him the ring is done, and that he can pick it up whenever he’s available.
The only problem is that Oscar is definitely becoming slightly suspicious. Not like ‘Are you cheating on me?’ suspicious, more like ‘What are you up to?’ suspicious. There are only so many excuses he can come with up.
Especially now that Lukas is going through a glued-to-Oscar’s-side phase, one that Lando is also in.
The two of them have been connected at Oscar’s hips, hanging off him at any given chance.
Oscar hadn’t questioned Lando, the young Aussie used to his boyfriend’s physical affection.
But now that Lukas refuses to leave his da da’s side, screaming whenever Lando tries to pry him away for a snuggle or a kiss, it makes it impossible to use him as an excuse to get out of the house.
When Lando was still looking for a ring for Osc, he had usually offered to take Lukas for a walk while he napped, his boyfriend taking any offer to sleep.
The little boy had started talking even more, his favorite words being ‘no’, ‘da da’, ‘pa’, ‘want more’, and ‘Lu angry’, the last one being his go-to.
So, when Lando gets the call, he has to scramble to figure out how to sneak out of the apartment, not wanting Oscar to catch on or to be yelled at by his son for even showing his face.
(When he had told Oscar that he was worried that Lukas hated him, that their son didn’t want anything to do with him, his boyfriend was quick to reassure him. He had told him that when he wasn’t around, Lukas always asked about his ‘pa’, where he was, why he wasn’t home, why his car was orange.)
Lando slowly creeps into the living room, not wanting either of the two gremlins to see him. He’s going for stealth this time, hoping that he can slip out without either of them noticing. And when he slips around the corner and into the living room, he realizes pretty quickly that that won’t be a problem.
The two of them are sprawled out on the floor, legs and arms spread, flopped on the fuzzy rug like a pair of starfish. There’s a blanket in between them, both having kicked it off in their sleep.
Lukas may look like Lando’s literal twin, but he acts like Oscar’s mini-me. He has to fight back a laugh as he looks at the two, both of their noses twitching at the same time. The two were always in sync, whether they were asleep or awake.
He finds a stray piece of paper, one of Lukas’s drawings in the corner, and scribbles a quick note.
‘Went to pick up your favorite, be back soon.
P.S. I love you
<3 Lando’
As he leaves, he snaps a picture of the two of them, smiling to himself as quietly opens the door.
He orders ramen for Oscar from his favorite Japanese restaurant, buying plain fried rice for himself.
It’s a short ride to Agathé’s apartment, the kind, old lady ushering him inside the second he buzzes.
When Lando sees the ring, his breath catches. It’s exactly how he pictured it, how he drew it. She took his design and brought it to life. He doesn’t know how to thank her.
The gold swirls beautifully, the two elements flowing together perfectly, no evidence that the gold they used for the band wasn’t all the same.
The flowers are delicate, the diamond in the centers of each popping.
It’s perfect.
The box is simple, black with gold stitching, with their initials engraved on the top in matt black.
“It’s perfect. I can’t thank you enough.” Lando says, thumbing the clasp close, looking up at the lady.
She smiles at him, reaching out to pinch his cheek.
“I am glad you like it, gentil garçon, but I simply melted two things together. You were the one who made it. Your l’amoureux will love it.” She says, patting his cheek. Lando nods, his fingers fiddling with the box.
Lando goes to pay her, his eyes going wide when she tries to lowball her the price of her work. He insists that she takes triple what she asked of him. She rolls her eyes and mutters something in French.
“Têtu comme un taureau.”
She agrees to double, nothing more. Lando huffs but agrees, attempting to slip in a few extra bills. Of course, Agathé counts the money, narrowing her eyes as she counts the overage. She plucks the bills out and shoves them into Lando’s hand.
Lando is about to argue when she starts pushing him toward the front door. She tells him that she expects a wedding invitation soon and winks at him, the door closing in his face as he hears her snickering on the other side.
He smiles as he walks toward the stairs, opening the box once more to gaze at the ring.
He has the perfect ring (and the perfect boyfriend), now he just needs to find a way to propose, preferably perfectly.
Easier said than done.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The first time Lando tries (and fails) proposing is when they’re in Miami. He had the ring for Jeddah, but he hadn’t been able to put anything together in time for the race weekend. The last thing he wanted was Oscar to not get the proposal he deserved.
So, he had left the ring at home, hidden in one of their closets with Lukas’s baby things.
He arranges everything for Miami. He asks Logan if it is somehow possible to rent a boat and go to a private, tiny island not too far offshore, planning on setting up a special area on the beach, flowers, candles, pillows, snacks, and the ring of course.
Logan had rolled his eyes and called him cheesy but was quick to start calling around, letting Lando know that it was possible and that he’d help him, just so Oscar gets the proposal he deserves, not because the Brit is growing on him or anything.
And it starts well. Lukas is with Lando’s mom, the surprise visit from his grandma had the toddler launching off the sofa and running into her arms. At the opportunity to babysit her grandson, his mom was taking the first flight out.
She makes sure to tell him how proud she is, and how happy she is that he found someone as good and kind as Oscar.
The problem starts with Lando assuring Oscar that he does know how to drive a boat and that they don’t need a professional. His boyfriend had looked at him skeptically but had sat down on the seat, motioning for Lando to show him what he’s got.
Which leads to Lando running into a sandbar and absolutely tearing the bottom of the boat up. Oscar doesn’t say anything, just stares at Lando with a blank expression on his face. Any other day, he’d be happy to wait for Oscar to speak up first but there is water coming in so he should probably say something.
“Teensy, tiny problem,” He says, pursing his lips as he tries to avoid eye contact with Oscar.
And his boyfriend is eerily silent until a laugh bubbles out, the younger man bending over clutching his stomach. Lando feels the tension leak out of him.
He still expects Oscar to get mad at him like everyone else, yet his boyfriend never has. He laughs even harder when he sees the water slowly flooding the boat, standing up and crossing the distance to Lando.
“Boating is overrated anyways.” He says, his cheeks pink from the sun, his smile so wide it looks like it hurts. God, he’s gorgeous. How did Lando get so lucky?
He nods, finally letting his own laugh out. They quickly call for help using the radio, the boat that comes to pick them up funnily enough has Arthur, Max, Logan, and Charles on it. Lando immediately clocks the binoculars hanging around their necks, knowing his friends were going to try to spy on them.
Oscar is pleasantly surprised when he sees familiar faces, Lando sending them each a small glare as they make their way past, his hand fixed on the small of his boyfriend’s back as he ushers him to the couch, making sure he’s fine.
Oscar smiles at him, his cheeks turning even pinker, and assures Lando that he’s fine. He presses a gentle kiss to Oscar’s neck, right underneath his jaw, nipping slightly at the soft skin. He pulls back, smiling at Osc.
Later, when Lando is watching Oscar and Arthur play charades with Max and Charles, Logan asks him if he’d want them to drop the two of them off at the island, empathy coloring his face.
It takes one look toward his boyfriend for Lando to quickly turn down the offer, smiling as Oscar tries to mimic something that looks like a dying fish, groaning loudly when Arthur doesn’t guess it, laughing immediately after when he guesses a loaf of bread of all things.
He’ll try again another day. For now, watching Oscar smile and laugh was more than enough.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
He doesn’t try anything in Italy, still trying to figure out how to not make another colossal fuck up like Miami. He forgoes proposing in Monaco, both of their families flying in for the grand prix. Both of them wanted as much time with both of their families together as they could get, the opportunity rare.
Which is how they end up in Barcelona.
Lando still leads the championship, the gap bigger than it was before.
They get there a few days early, Lando saying he wanted to sight-see with Oscar and Lukas.
He rents out an entire restaurant in the heart of Barcelona, the view overlooking the city absolutely stunning.
They’re both getting ready to go, planning on dropping off Lukas with his oom. Max had planned a movie night for them both to enjoy, Cars most likely the pick. He had assured Lando and Oscar that he wouldn’t give Lukas any sugar.
Their son was bolting around the room, zig-zagging and running into Lando’s legs, the toddler overflowing with anxious energy at the thought of being apart from his parents.
He’s babbling to Lando about ‘da da’ and ‘play’ and so on, Lando nodding as he speaks, pretending he understands their son’s limited vocabulary when he hears a knock on their hotel door.
It can’t be Max; they had planned to drop Lukas off with him when they left. He looks through the peephole, Carlos’s smiling face coming into view.
Lando tries not to let the confusion show on his face when he opens the door for his friend, smiling at him as he pulls him into a tight hug.
Before either of them can even get a ‘hello’ out, Lukas is barreling into Carlos, reaching up toward him.
He quickly scoops him up, hugging the toddler to his chest.
“Hola mi pequeño mocoso,” Carlos says, pinching Lukas’s cheek. The little boy squirms but starts chatting him up about anything and everything.
Lando speaks up finally, “Hey mate. Not that it isn’t great to see you but, what’re you doing here?”. He can hear the water running in the bathroom, Oscar most likely trying to tame his unruly bedhead.
Carlos scoffs playfully, jostling Lukas in his arms, the little boy screeching excitedly.
“I’m here to take my wonderful sobrino around my home!” He exclaims, smiling brightly at Lando.
He’s not sure how to subtly tell Carlos that Lukas is going to be spending the evening with Max because he planned on proposing to his beautiful boyfriend. Before he can even formulate a response, Carlos is speaking up again.
“I thought I could also take him for the night, a little sleepover.” He said, looking at Lando expectantly.
And that is a hard no.
Only their families have watched Lukas overnight, both of them agreeing that was what they were comfortable with. Also, no offense to Carlos, he’s great with Lukas, but if any of their friends were going to watch Lukas overnight, it’d be the three people who babysit him the most, Arthur, Max, or Logan.
He smiles awkwardly, not wanting to hurt Carlos’s feelings by blatantly saying no.
So instead, he says, “I’d have to talk with Oscar about any potential sleepovers. We sort of already planned on dropping him off with Max tonight.”.
Carlos’s face quickly hardens, any and all hints of a smile disappearing. Lando wants to roll his eyes, his friend was so obvious when he was upset about something.
“Why must you ask Oscar? He’s not his real father, no?” Carlos asks, faux confusion written on his face.
Lando feels his blood quickly start to boil, the water in the bathroom turning off. The clench of Lando’s jaw is obvious.
The bathroom door creaks open, the smile on Oscar’s face slowly dropping as he senses the tension in the room. When Lukas sees him, he’s immediately leaning toward him, tears welling up in their son’s eyes. Lukas having sensed the shift in atmosphere.
“Babe?” Oscar asks, smiling politely at Carlos and taking Lukas from his arms, the toddler burying his face into his da da’s neck. He runs a hand up and down his back, soothing him and pressing a soft kiss to his curls.
“Lan? What is going on? Why’s Lukas upset?” He questions, his gaze flickering between the two friends. Lukas’s tiny hands are balled up in Oscar’s shirt, clutching the fabric tightly.
Lando feels like he needs to hit something, preferably Carlos, the anger rolling over him in waves. But he can’t say anything, every single word stuck in his throat.
Carlos huffs, looking annoyed.
“Are you serious, cabrón? All I said was the truth. Don’t like it?” He says, taunting Lando. His smile cruel, his tone mocking.
Lando is really going to fucking lose it.
“Don’t even fucking start,” He says, taking a step closer to his friend, the Spaniard backing up. Lando can feel his entire body shaking with the anger filling him.
“Oscar is just as much Lukas’s father as I am. He raised him with me. Oscar was the one who got up in the middle of the night to change his diaper. Oscar is the one who Lukas took his first steps toward. Oscar has sacrificed everything for Lukas, for me,” Lando heaves, his chest rising with anger.
“Oscar loves Lukas. What would make him more qualified, hm? Tell me, Carlos. Is family only blood? If you think that, truly think that, then I don’t want you anywhere near me or my family.” He says, brushing past him and opening the door, motioning for him to get the fuck out.
“Lando, mate, come on-” Carlos says, looking baffled that Lando had said all that to him. But Lando just shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Get. Out.” Lando says, his voice dropping an octave lower, demanding he leave. Carlos stands there, disbelief written over his face. He huffs, rolling his eyes as he brushes past him, muttering something in Spanish as he walks out the door.
As much as he’d like to slam the door closed, he knows that would just upset Oscar and Lukas.
He stares at the front door, taking a deep breath, letting the anger seep out of him.
Lando turns around, his eyes immediately finding Oscar. His boyfriend isn’t looking at him, his eyes fixed firmly on the wall to the right, his jaw quivering, his eyes glossy. Lukas is trying to press himself further into his dad’s neck, cooing to himself.
“Baby,” He says, making his way to him, his hands settling on his waist, squeezing gently. Oscar just shakes his head and bites his lip, shifting Lukas in his arms so one hand can come and rub at his cheek, a stray tear falling away.
“Osc, hey. It’s okay- It’s okay- Shh,” Lando says, enveloping him in a hug, Lukas happily squished between the two of them. Oscar wraps the arms not supporting their son around Lando, gripping him tightly, burying his face in his shoulder.
“Shh- I’m here, sweetheart. Right here. I’m not going anywhere.” Lando says, assuring Oscar. His boyfriend is silent in his hold, no loud cries or debilitating wails. But he can feel his body shaking with the force of his feelings, the overwhelming, drowning feeling of anguish flooding him.
They stand there for a couple of minutes, Lukas completely content. When Oscar pulls away from Lando, releasing the death grip he has on him, sliding his fingers through the curls at the base of his neck, he has dried tears on his cheeks.
Lando doesn’t know what to do, doesn’t know how to fix this. Fuck. This was supposed to be the best night of their lives, until their wedding, until their honeymoon, until they got to spend every day of their lives married to each other.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t know he was going to fucking say that. If I knew, I’d have never let him in, I promise-,” Lando says, forgetting briefly that Lukas has taken to parroting every single word they say lately.
Oscar shakes his head, tugging on Lando’s curls and pressing his lips to Lando’s in a bruising kiss.
He pulls away, cutting the kiss short.
“Lan, you can’t control what people say or think. I knew people thought that but neither of us can change their minds. What he said, hurt like hell, yes, but I still have you and Lukas, yeah?” He asks like he’s not sure of himself. Fuck, Lando feels some of the anger seep back in, the urge to track down Carlos and fucking hit him creeps under his skin.
No one should ever make Oscar doubt himself, or his place in their little family.
“Of course. Always. We can’t change their minds, fine, but don’t let them change ours, okay? I can’t live without you; Lukas can’t live without you. We’re a family, no matter what that dick says.” Lando says, his hands still firmly on his boyfriend’s waist, his thumbs rubbing soothingly over his shirt.
He takes in Oscar’s appearance. His boyfriend had been in the bathroom until Carlos showed up, insisting Lando not see him till he was finished getting ready. He’s wearing a pair of black, looser-fitting, dress pants, that looked sinfully good on him. His feet are bare, save for the white Hanes socks that he owns about forty pairs of, claiming they’re the only ones that don’t have an irritating seam.
He has on one of Lando’s sweaters, the light, avocado, green knitwear hugging his throat deliciously. The sweater hangs off him slightly, Lando’s shoulders broader than his. The sleeves are rolled up, his pale forearms on display. The watch and bracelet that Lando had gifted him for Christmas were on display, his mouth physically watering at the sight of his boyfriend.
His hair is as time as it usually is, even though he can see that he’s wet it multiple times to try and tame his cowlick.
He looks gorgeous, fucking delectable.
He voices such thoughts.
“Fuck, you look good,” Lando says, Oscar immediately flushing a bright shade of red the second he says those words. He’s about to respond, and probably tell Lando off for being crude even though he loves it, when Lukas speaks up.
“Fuck!” He shouts excitedly, repeating it over and over again when he sees both of his father’s shocked faces.
They both look at each other, a smile breaking out on Oscar’s lips, Lando muttering a quiet, “Fuck.”. He watches Oscar giggle as he tickles Lukas, the two mirroring each other’s happiness.
A little later, when things settle down, Lando calls the restaurant, canceling the reservation and offering to pay double for the late change. He calls Max next, letting the Dutchman know that they don’t need a babysitter tonight anymore, the other sensing the tension in his voice.
Lando promises to tell him what happened later, wanting to spend right now with his family.
He wants nothing more than to call Oscar his fiancé, his husband, but right now, Oscar needs him to just be there.
And what Lando truly wants, is to be by Oscar’s side, every day, through the good and the bad.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
It’s not until summer break, that he finally, finally proposes to Oscar. It’s not a picnic on a private beach or an expensive dinner in Barcelona. Lando doesn’t plan it out, not as he had the other attempts. Maybe that’s why they failed.
Silverstone had passed by with tears and cheers and a lot of champagne. Getting first in his home grand prix had been something, he couldn’t even put the feeling into words. He remembers crawling into bed that night, Oscar lying sprawled out on the bed, a dopey, sleepy smile on his face as he waited for Lando to shower.
(Lando had learned early on that Oscar was big on textures and sticky champagne was not one he particularly liked, especially in their bed)
He remembers dropping onto the bed, the events of the day playing behind his eyelids when he closes them. He turns toward his boyfriend, curling up as he does. Oscar draws his limbs inward, curling up into a tiny ball mirroring Lando, the two facing each other.
They don’t speak, Oscar had already told Lando how proud he was of him, how brilliant he is, as a driver and person. And when he feels the tears slowly drop onto the crisp, white hotel bedsheets, Oscar reaches out and intertwines their fingers, whispering into the quiet of the night, “I love you.”.
Lando had demanded a vacation after the first half of the season, desperate to escape any and all thoughts of racing.
Oscar tells him he can pick, he’s the one currently leading the world driver’s championship, and because he doesn’t really know any good vacation spots.
He knows his boyfriend misses his family and his home, knows he calls his sisters every night, letting them catch him up on their lives. The decision is an easy one.
Lando doesn’t tell him where they’re flying, just tells Osc to pack for warm weather and assures him that he’ll pack Lukas’s suitcase. The younger man looks slightly skeptical, but he can’t hide the curious and excited glint in his eyes.
When they get to the airport and Oscar sees their gate, his mouth drops open, his eyes going wide.
“Really?” He asks, disbelief coloring his voice as he looks at Lando, Lukas trying to climb on top of his suitcase. Lando nods.
“Surprise, baby.” He says, smiling, quickly snatching Lukas up by the back of his shirt. Lando fishes the tickets out of his pocket, Lukas having scribbled all over them with hearts and stars and a drawing of the three of them on the beach.
(Lando always used digital tickets, he just thought he’d be cute if he could give Oscar a paper one showing their destination, made even cuter by Lukas’s drawings)
Oscar throws his arms around Lando, muttering a quiet ‘thank you’ into his ear. He’s smiling brightly as he pulls back from the embrace.
That’s how they find themselves laying on a blanket, in Oscar’s mom’s backyard, the stars shining brightly overhead. Nowadays, Lando carries the ring with him everywhere, hence why it’s sitting in his sweatpants pocket right now.
Oscar’s mom had offered to watch Lukas for the night, telling them both that it’s important for a healthy relationship to have alone time. Oscar had blushed seven shades of red and grabbed Lando’s hand along with a blanket, dragging him into the backyard away from his mother’s laughter.
Oscar is tracing the constellations that fill the sky, looking over at Lando periodically and smiling, pointing out ones that remind him of Lando and Lukas.
He watches him carefully. The feeling that if he doesn’t tell Oscar how much he loves him, how much he wants to spend the rest of their lives together, he’ll die. He digs the ring out of his pocket, his gaze firmly fixed on his boyfriend’s gorgeous profile, the smile on his face breathtaking.
“Marry me,” Lando says, fumbling with the ring box. He’s sitting up, opening the box, and turning it toward Oscar. He doesn’t know how to do this.
So, he does what he knows how to. He loves Oscar.
“I love you, Oscar, more than anything in life. I want today and tomorrow and the rest of our lives together. I want you, in every single way, in every single lifetime, with every single fiber of my being. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. Will you marry me?” Lando asks, his hands trembling slightly as he holds the black box.
Oscar’s still lying down, his eyes wide as he stares at him. Lando feels like he’s about to start panicking, the blank look on Oscar’s face not giving him any idea on what he’s thinking or feeling.
“Baby-,” Lando starts before he’s cut off by Oscar sitting up quickly, the younger eyes growing even wider.
And then all of a sudden, Oscar’s face is no longer blank but is filled with a smile so big it looks like it hurts, the apples of his cheeks pink, his eyes quickly becoming misty. He brings his left hand up shakily, the other pressing to his mouth as he tries to hide his excited laugh.
“You have to put it on,” He says, smiling as a tear rolls down his face. Lando is quick to reach out with his thumb to wipe it away, his own laugh escaping him.
“And you have to say yes, Osc,” Lando says, smiling at how excited Oscar is.
Oscar’s face drops for a second, another smile taking over quickly.
“Shit, yes. Yes! Yes, Lando!” Oscar exclaims, tackling him to the ground, winding his arms around Lando’s neck as presses his face into his neck, mumbling ‘yes’ over and over again.
Lando presses his face to Oscar’s hair, breathing in the younger’s shampoo before he adjusts them both, moving them back into a sitting position. Oscar’s in his lap now, the younger smiling brightly.
“I love you, Lando. So much.” Oscar says, dropping his hands from around Lando’s neck.
Lando’s hands are still shaking as he takes the ring from the box.
“I love you, Oscar. Your mom gave me your grandmother’s ring. I melted down the gold to create the band. I also used her diamond as well for the flowers.” He says, trying to talk away his nerves even though Oscar has already said yes. It’s like his body has yet to get the memo that he doesn’t need to be nervous.
“That time in Miami, when the boat crashed? I had a whole special picnic planned on a private beach to propose. And in Barcelona, I was planning on taking you to a private restaurant with a view of the city. Unfortunately, Carlos ruined it. I’m sorry this isn’t some big-,” Lando starts, slipping the ring on Oscar’s left ring finger, the fit perfect.
Oscar shakes his head, grabbing Lando’s face gently, his engagement ring glinting under the moonlight.
“I didn’t need all that, I just need you. And the ring is-,” Oscar says, looking at the ring on his finger as he holds Lando’s face like he’s something precious (he is to Oscar), “It’s perfect, Lando. Thank you. I love you, every part of you. Nothing would make me happier than marrying you.”
Lando feels the relief flood his body, the nerves and tension spilling out of him as he grabs Oscar’s wrists, holding tightly to ground himself. Lando basks in the comforting weight of his fiancé in his lap, his hands slowly drifting from his wrists to his waist to his thighs, squeezing the softness between his fingers.
They’re smiling dopily at each other, both head over heels in love, when Lando leans forward whispering in Oscar’s ear.
“I think we should go practice for our wedding night, you know, practice makes perfect,” Lando says, grazing his teeth over the shell of Oscar’s ear. When he pulls back, Oscar’s pupils are blown wide. His cheeks are red as he bites the inside of his cheek.
“Yes. Definitely yes.” Oscar says as he brings his hands up to his face in an attempt to cool the raging blush. When Lando sees the engagement ring that he had just slid on Oscar's finger, it makes him lightheaded, his blood rushing to other, more important places.
He grasps Oscar’s smaller hand in his, pressing a delicate kiss to the pads of his fingers, smiling when he hears the hitch in Oscar’s breath.
“Anything for my fiancé.”
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
(They get married that winter, after the season finishes and Lando wins the world driver’s championship. Oscar had been nervous about planning a wedding in six months, but Arthur and Logan had been more than happy to help. And of course, his biggest help came from Lando himself. The Brit was so involved in their wedding, so excited about the flower arrangements and the color scheme. Max had jokingly called him a bridezilla.
Arthur and Logan are his best men, Max and Max both being Lando’s. Oscar encourages his fiancé to reach out to Carlos, to clear the air before their wedding. And they do, the Spaniard apologizing to both Oscar and Lando.
The ceremony itself is small, only their closest friends and family are invited. Their reception, however, is huge. The tables are overflowing with gifts, and the venue is filled to the brim with people celebrating them.
Of course, Lukas gets spoiled all night. Everyone coos over how handsome he looks in his little tux. Their son had been their ring bearer, Lando’s dad walking behind him to make sure he didn’t drop them.
And at the end of the night, when they go home, they are officially Mister and Mister Norris.)