the IT girl

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Lando walked through the front door, the sound of Gemma's giggles echoing from the living room. His heart lifted immediately, the weight of the long day dissolving. He set his bag down near the entrance and shrugged off his jacket, the faint aroma of Lily's cooking drawing him toward the kitchen.

"Daddy!" Gemma's excited voice rang out as she sprinted toward him.

"Hey, princess!" Lando scooped her up, spinning her around as she squealed with delight. He peppered her cheeks with kisses, eliciting more giggles. "Were you good for Mommy today?"

Gemma nodded enthusiastically. "I helped Mommy with Daniel! He's so funny."

Lando smiled, his heart full as he carried Gemma into the kitchen. There, Lily stood at the stove, her hair tied in a loose bun, wearing one of Lando's oversized hoodies and a pair of leggings. She turned, her face lighting up when she saw him.

"You're back," she said, her smile soft but warm.

"I'm back," Lando confirmed, setting Gemma down and walking over to Lily. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Missed you."

Lily leaned into his embrace, her voice playful. "How was your truth-or-dare game with the guys? Did you embarrass yourself?"

Lando chuckled. "I'll have you know, I was the star of the game. But Charles dared me to text you something sweet. He thought it would embarrass me."

Lily laughed, turning to face him. "He clearly doesn't know how much you text me already."

"Exactly," Lando said, pulling her in for a quick kiss.

"Eww, gross!" Gemma exclaimed, covering her eyes dramatically.

Lily and Lando broke apart, laughing. "Alright, alright," Lando said, ruffling Gemma's hair. "What's for dinner?"

"Spaghetti," Lily replied, turning back to the stove. "Your favorite."

After dinner, the family settled into their usual evening routine. Lando played with Gemma on the living room floor, building a tower of blocks while Daniel sat in his bouncer, babbling happily. Lily watched from the couch, a mug of tea in her hands, her heart swelling as she observed her little family.

Later, after Gemma and Daniel were tucked into bed, Lando and Lily finally had some quiet time to themselves. They curled up on the couch, the soft glow of a candle casting a warm light across the room.

"Long day?" Lily asked, running her fingers through Lando's curls.

"Yeah," he admitted, his eyes closing at her touch. "But it's worth it. I love coming home to you and the kids. Makes everything else seem small."

Lily smiled, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "We missed you today. Gemma kept asking when you'd be back."

"And Daniel?"

"He missed you too. But mostly, he drooled and napped."

Lando chuckled, pulling her closer. "I can't believe how lucky I am, you know? To have you, Gemma, Daniel... everything."

"You're pretty amazing yourself," Lily said, resting her head against his chest.

For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's presence.

Lando broke the quiet. "Tomorrow, let's take the kids out. Maybe the park? Gemma's been talking about wanting to go on the swings."

Lily nodded. "Sounds perfect."

As they drifted into their own thoughts, the warmth of their family life enveloped them. No matter how busy their lives became, moments like this reminded them of what truly mattered.

And as Lando closed his eyes that night, with Lily in his arms, he knew he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.