Legends → Pitstop series

V| Romono and Ricciardo

⭑*•̩̩͙⊱••••✩🇮🇹🇦🇺✩••••̩̩͙⊰•*⭑

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Down Under

"Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover, yeah"

The Ricciardo's had always been a care-free and non-serious family. They rarely had a serious face for anything they did and it was clearly their genes.

Marissa Romono was the daughter of an Italian wealthy family and she had always been looked after. She'd witnessed her parents break away and divorce but it had never really fazed her. She stayed with her mother but kept in touch with her father.

Her mother had been the boss of many places and eventually rose to the ranks of Lamborghini F1 Team Principal and Marissa found herself in more spotlight than ever. She'd always been in the spotlight for being the PA of Daniel Ricciardo but this was a whole other level.

Especially when the world had found out she'd been dating Daniel Ricciardo shortly after being employed to assist him. It was been an accident...a wonderful accident and despite their differences, they never failed to make it work. 

Daniel Ricciardo had been going through a struggle in his Formula 1 career when Lucia Romono offered him a new start at Lamborghini and he knew he was in safe hands. While Marissa's mother never treated him as anything but an employee while in the paddock, she was a wonderful mother-in-law at home.

Donte Ricciardo had been born on May 6th 2024. Daniel had always wanted a family and he was glad to have his first son and have someone as caring at Marissa to help raise him. Marissa and Daniel had agreed early on that they wanted Italian names for their children.

Matteo Ricciardo was born on June 18th 2028. Donte had been thrilled to have a younger brother and the two of them got together like two pees in a pod, causing havoc up and down the household until Donte hit 16. Their relationship faded a little bit but the two of them still were great brothers and friends.

Donte and Matteo had never been interested in racing cars and part of that came from them being too young to even remember their dad racing. Donte had only been two when Daniel stepped back from it and Matteo wasn't born. Daniel still took them to the occasional race but they had little interest in cars.

Donte was interested in the mechanics behind it and by the time he turned twenty-one, he'd graduated and already secured his internship with Lamborghini with the help of his grandmother. If they liked him, they'd keep him. Daniel had been thrilled that he had gotten into the sport on his own accord and Marissa was just glad her son was happy.

Matteo was still had school but he was showing more of an interest in architecture so far. There were plenty of days that one of his parents would catch him doodling pictures of buildings and houses, some with full measurements too.

"Renée is so angry at you," Matteo teased his brother. "Jules said that she'd mad you haven't visited her."

"Stop talking to Jules about me," Donte claimed, hitting his brother's head lightly. "Renée isn't mad at me! She can't be mad at me."

"Why not?"

"Because...just because!"

"Stop arguing," Marissa demanded, entering the hotel room. "We need to leave or we'll be late to dinner."

"We weren't arguing, I was just telling Donte that Renée is mad at him," said Matteo smugly.

"She's not! ReRe doesn't get mad at anyone!"

"You've not seen her in two years, how would you know?"

"Stop! Now!" Marissa scolded. "Matt, leave your brother alone. Donte, for heaven's sake, brush your hair."

"What's going on?" Daniel questioned, leaning in the doorway. "The taxi is waiting."

"Your sons are 'what's going on'," Marissa huffed, pushing her sons towards the door. "Let's go."

Marissa knew that Donte held a soft spot for Renée Leclerc. When they were small children and in the paddock together, Donte used to keep Renée company whenever she got scared of all the people or when Aari was getting on her nerves. Marissa always found it sweet.

"Renée is only a little mad at you," Daniel whispered in his son's ear. "She just missed you, I think. You used to be good friends."

"I couldn't help the fact I went to University, dad," Donte frowned. "I'm three years older, we live different lives...I'm just sad I lost my friend."

"You'll get her back," Daniel winked. "She doesn't said mad for more than a minute, you'll be fine. Theo, on the other hand—"

"Don't worry, he doesn't care,"  Donte snorted. "I promised I'd go watch his next match if I wasn't working."

Daniel nodded as Marissa glanced back at them. While they were a care-free family, Marissa always played the bad cop when she needed to; Daniel just didn't have the heart for it.

"I hope people don't think I got my job just because of nana because I finished my degree with the best grade in my year!" Donte exclaimed as they got into the taxi.

"I'm sure they'll see what an amazing engineer you are, Donte," Marissa assured.

"Yeah! You got the brains!" Matteo grinned, slapping his brother on the shoulder. "Shame, you didn't get the looks!"

"Oi!"

"No fighting!" Marissa interrupted. "I miss when you two were adorable."

Perhaps somethings were not care-free but that didn't mean the family didn't enjoy life. They enjoyed it more than anyone and Daniel always made sure there was never a dull moment in their household.

"Max and Neli's dads are both here this weekend, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Audi garage," Daniel snorted as he read Max's text. "They still don't speak to each other."

"Do you blame them?" Marissa muttered. "Not everyone is like our parents. Then again, my dad's refused to meet your parents...he only met you because I forced him too."

"Your dad doesn't like me," Daniel added. "But your mum loves me so it makes up for it."

"So that's why grandpa gives you glares," Matteo concluded in amusement.

"Yes, yes it is."

Clearly, the Ricciardo's had a little bit of chaos in their lives but they liked it that way. Things had changed overtime but Daniel never lost his humour and Marissa never lost her joy.