the IT girl

Charles's Birthday Bash

Lily adjusted Gemma's tiny white headband as she secured her safely in the car seat. The three-month-old was cooing happily, her big blue eyes blinking up at her mother. Lily smiled, smoothing Gemma's soft onesie patterned with little stars. "You're going to meet all of Daddy's crazy friends today," she said softly, her voice laced with affection.

Lando grabbed the baby bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "Let's hope Uncle Charles doesn't start teaching her bad habits already," he teased as he leaned down to kiss Gemma's forehead.

"Charles is probably going to spoil her," Lily replied with a grin, closing the car door after making sure Gemma was snug. She turned to Lando. "You know she's the star guest today, not you, right?"

Lando pretended to pout, feigning offense. "I'm still one of Charles's favorite people!"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, maybe second now that Gemma's here."

The couple shared a laugh before climbing into the car, and soon they were on their way to Charles Leclerc's birthday celebration.

The party was being held at Charles's villa in Monaco, a beautiful setting that overlooked the azure waters of the Mediterranean. The backyard was buzzing with laughter and chatter as drivers, team members, and a few close friends mingled. Tables were decorated with balloons and streamers in Ferrari red, with a massive birthday cake shaped like a Formula 1 car displayed as the centerpiece.

As soon as Lily, Lando, and Gemma arrived, Charles greeted them enthusiastically. He wore a wide smile, looking sharp in a casual yet stylish ensemble. "Ah, finally! The Norris family is here!" Charles exclaimed, his arms open.

"Happy birthday, mate," Lando said, giving Charles a firm handshake before pulling him into a quick hug.

Lily smiled warmly, holding Gemma in her arms. "Happy birthday, Charles. This place looks amazing."

Charles's eyes lit up when he noticed Gemma. "And who is this beautiful little guest?" he said, leaning down to look at her.

"This is Gemma," Lily said, smiling as Charles gently touched the baby's tiny hand.

"She's perfect," Charles said, his voice softening. Then, with a playful grin, he added, "And already much cuter than her father."

"Hey!" Lando protested, though he couldn't help but chuckle.

The trio moved further into the party, where several of the drivers were already gathered. Carlos Sainz approached them next, immediately fawning over Gemma. "Oh, look at her! She's so tiny," Carlos said, his eyes wide with adoration.

"Do you want to hold her?" Lily offered, smiling at Carlos's enthusiasm.

"Can I?" he asked eagerly, holding out his arms.

Lily carefully handed Gemma over, and Carlos held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. "I'm going to teach her to say 'smooth operator' first," he joked, making everyone laugh.

"She's going to say 'Daddy' first," Lando declared confidently, crossing his arms.

Carlos smirked. "We'll see about that."

As the afternoon unfolded, Lily found herself chatting with a few of the other drivers' partners, including Alexandra Saint Meulx, Charles's girlfriend. Alexandra was effortlessly elegant, her laughter light and melodic as she shared stories about Charles's recent attempts at cooking.

"You're lucky Lando can cook," Alexandra said, laughing. "Charles tried making risotto last week, and the rice was still crunchy."

Lily chuckled. "Lando does make a mean pasta, but we've had our fair share of kitchen disasters too. It's all part of the fun."

Meanwhile, Lando was with Charles, Daniel Ricciardo, and a few others, recounting the chaos of their last race weekend. "And then, out of nowhere, Carlos comes on the radio like, 'Why is my drink not working?'" Lando said, imitating Carlos's voice perfectly.

The group erupted into laughter as Carlos, overhearing, threw a balled-up napkin at Lando. "Not funny, Norris!"

As the sun began to set, Charles stood up to give a quick speech. "Thank you all for being here," he said, raising a glass. "It means so much to celebrate with the people I care about the most. And a special shoutout to Gemma, who has officially stolen the spotlight today."

Everyone cheered, raising their glasses.

Lily looked at Lando, who had Gemma nestled in his arms now. She smiled, feeling a surge of love for her little family. This was the kind of moment she cherished—being surrounded by friends, laughter, and love.

As the night wound down, Lando leaned close to Lily, whispering, "We should probably head home soon. Someone's getting a bit cranky." He glanced at Gemma, who was starting to fuss.

"Sounds like a plan," Lily agreed.

They said their goodbyes, with Charles and Carlos insisting they visit again soon. As they drove home, the peaceful quiet of the car ride was a welcome change from the lively party.

"Today was fun," Lily said softly, looking at Lando.

"It was," Lando replied, smiling as he glanced at her. "But my favorite part is always coming home with you two."

Lily reached over to squeeze his hand, her heart full. This was everything she'd ever dreamed of—a life filled with love, laughter, and the people who mattered most.