Chapter Text
Oscar eyed the baby in Lando’s arms warily. She looked like him, tanned skin and dark curly hair. Her little eyes shone bright, light reflecting in them and giving them a hint of mischief. Lando smiled down at her, rocking side to side and making her giggle.
“So, explain to me again what happened?” Oscar asked, still trying to grasp the situation – trying to understand why Lando was standing in the middle of his living room with a baby in his arms.
Lando huffed, “so I hooked up with this girl a couple of months ago and I accidentally knocked her up. She was distraught so I said that I’d help her with the pregnancy, financially and whatever, and then when she gave birth I’d take half custody.” He stopped, took a deep breath. “And I think I forgot that one day she would actually give birth, so it has been smooth sailing up until now. I set my bank account up to give her like $1000 a month so I didn’t even have to think about it. Anyway, she called me two days ago and said she was going into labour. Obviously, I went straight to the hospital and I was there when she was giving birth.”
Oscar snorted, earning a frown from Lando. “Didn’t faint, did you?” Oscar inquired, smirking at Lando.
“No, childbirth is a beautiful thing you know. Anyway, you’re distracting me. So, the baby got born, named, and now she’s here and I have no idea what to do.” Lando finished, with a distraught huff and puff. Oscar leaned back into the cushions of the couch he was sitting on, going through options in his head.
1. Let Lando take care of the baby himself – the baby might die so, not that one
2. Tell Lando to put her up for adoption – morally and/or ethically incorrect
3. Co parent the baby with Lando – risk falling in love with Lando
He’s out of options unfortunately.
“I don’t know what you want me to do about it, Lando. I’m no better than you.” Oscar pointed out.
Lando groaned. “Yeah but you’re you. You’re calm and good under pressure. I’m not.” Lando counteracted, widening his eyes all big. The baby in his arms cooed, Lando looked down and smiled at her with a big grin that showed all his teeth. Oscar felt his heart palpitate.
“Fine, I’ll help.” Oscar begrudgingly agreed.
Lando breathed a sigh of relief. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”
“What’s her name?” Oscar asks, “the baby.”
“Isla,” Lando answers with a sheepish grin. He reaches a hand up to play with Isla’s nose. She giggles.
🐣🐣🐣
Oscar and Lando had migrated towards Oscar’s kitchen table since the initial baby conversation. Oscar had a piece of paper and a pen, making a shopping list for Isla. Lando still had her wrapped up in his arms, protecting her neck with a hand. So far the shopping list was:
- Formula
- Nappies (sizes???)
- Clothes
- Cot
- Stroller
- Car seat
“Also what are the logistics of this? What happens when we go racing?”
“Well that’s when I’ll give her to Bec,” Bec was the name of the mother, “that’s the deal.” Lando said, before immediately going back to playing as best he could with one of Isla’s tiny hands.
“That’s not really half custody, Lando. And not very fair when we have triple headers.” Oscar pointed out, scrubbing his face with his hand.
Lando hummed, “I’ll hire a nanny or something then. Don’t worry, Osc, I’ve got this.”
Oscar grunted and went back to the list.
What else do you buy for a new born baby??
“Dummy, toys, baby monitor, baby wipes.” Lando answered, as if Oscar had said that out loud. Oscar nodded before jotting them down.
“Can I fit a car seat in the McLaren, do you reckon?” He asked, still not looking up from the baby.
Oscar’s jaw dropped slightly, “Lando if you think you’re driving the McLaren with a baby in it you’re so wrong.” Lando tilted his head, confused.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Lando. C’mon, mate. That car of yours is 0 to 60 in like 2 seconds. Absolutely not. You can get a safer car or something.” Oscar said, final.
“No way! She’s my kid, I’ll choose what car to put her in, thanks very much.” He defiantly tipped his chin up. Oscar scoffed but said nothing else, just continued to put things on the shopping list.
After a little bit of silence, Oscar heard some babbling. He expected a high pitched noise. Instead it came from Lando. He looked up to see Lando grinning at the baby again, rocking side to side slowly in an attempt to entertain. Oscar continued to watch as Lando played peekaboo with one hand, listening as the baby mumbled quietly. His heart clenched.
This was going to be the hardest summer shutdown of his life.