The protector.. A Lando Norris story

5

Lexie
Standing on the tarmac. I can barely believe I'm doing this. It's crazy. I get to be in the post summer break photo. I grab Maddie back off of Daniels girlfriend Heidi.
I'm not going for work, but they still give me a tee and allow me in the photos. It's been a little over 36 hours since my attack. My more noticeable bruises have turned yellow, my ribs ache with every breath and every time I hold Maddie.
Lando speaks a lot to Jon. But then pulls me into his row of seats. "It's got the best window for her." He smiles at Maddie. I went back to the house to grab clothes and our passports. "I'm glad you came.. it would be boring without you. Stay for the full triple header." Lando tells me.
"Maybe. I have work to do back home.. a house to sort out." I tell him and he pouts at me. I quickly text him. "Stooop pouting. I want to kiss you so badly. ❤️" I'm glad we haven't taken off yet as I can text him. Maddie sits beside him at the window. I was worried she would make a lot of noise. But she doesn't. She sits and behaves like a little Angel on the couple hours flight. I get to watch a film, sort out emails.
"Remember your off this weekend. You just need to enjoy Belgium." Lando whispers into me. I nod my head. "I know. But they needed done. I have a blanket over my legs. Lando cheekily squeezes my thigh under it, gazing at me. I've never seen him look at me like it. Even whilst getting my head around what had happened. Pushing the blame on myself again. He was there but didn't really gaze at me or hold eye contact.
I'm sure he was over the situation of me already. But this has confused me.
"We need to chat.." I whisper to him. He nods his head. "Yeah. Why? You bored of me already?" He teases me. I shake my head. "No. I think you are bored already. Maybe you've realised what I said to you." He pulls a face at me.
"No. I've not. I'm sure you've gave me gray hairs but I'm not bored of you. Or realised anything. Other than I don't want to keep it a secret." He whispers to me. "Lex.. if you never wanted to go home I'd be okay with that. But also if you wanted to go home I'd be the first person to visit you." He tells me.
I take his hand under the blanket. "Thank you." Instead of hiding, he nuzzles into my cheek. Just like how I usually do it to Maddie.
"Anytime baby. I'm here for you. Oh I resigned. I'm doing a fourth year." He tells me. I look at him. "Lando in the normal world resigned means you've left or leaving. But that's amazing. Another year of your face at work then Huh." I tease him.
He nods his head. "Yeah. Another year of me. Hopefully a year of us." He pushes a kiss onto my lips.
I smile but I'm shocked. "Lando. Work.." He grins at me. "I know. I know. But what happens when you fall in love with me. Like I am with you."
I sit staring out the little window. I had no clue he felt this way. It's been kisses and hanging out. He's not even 22 yet and professing his love to me. I look at him. He's right. I don't know what to do when I tell him how I feel or admit them to myself. But I know, I need to speak to Zak. He's been like my guardian Angel this summer. I can't repay him with not telling him what's happening.

I expect to be an afternoon meeting as I'm not as important as say one of the sponsors. But here I am. Sitting in his office at the spa track. "Thought i was here as a weekend off?" I joke. He smiles but beckons me to sit down.
"How are you? I heard about the situation. Is Paul still in custody?" I nod my head. "I feel like shit. Honestly. I don't know how to feel about it all. But I'm just grateful for the support everyone has gave me." I tell him.
He smiles at me. "Everyone or a certain driver? Jon has spoken to me about Lando's growing feelings towards you. I don't Know why he just didn't speak to you or Lando about them. It's not like either of you are kids. Please tell me you were aware that Lando has feelings for you." I nod my head. "Yeah he mentioned them. On the plane." I tell him. Still unsure about everything.
"Okay. How do you feel? Has anything happened?" I look at my boss. "Apart from a few kisses no. With everything that's happened now I keep trying to tell him to go spend time with other people. But he won't." Zak smiles at me.
"It's okay. Don't stop anything from happening, he's a good guy. Just make sure you follow your heart with him. Even after everything with Paul. Maybe you deserve a little bit of happiness even if it's with Lando. He's a special one." I stand and think about what Zak has said. He's a special one.
Ever since he started to come and hang out in the house, he has said that it's more like home than his own house.
But it's hard when all I can see is the things people will pick on. Age.. different stages in life... I'm not a model. Or even close to it. But he always makes me feel good. So maybe I should just give it a go. See where it goes. "Remember you and Maddie get out and explore rather than being stuck to the hotel or track." Zak tells me. I nod my head.
I head back to the hotel where Lando is with Maddie.
"I need to go do a workout with Jon... see you both after." Lando pushes a kiss into my temple.
We end up wandering around the hotel and the surrounding area. Just a walk and getting lost in the beautiful nature. "Lando's parents are here.. Lex did you know?" Charlotte has text the group chat.
"Eh no. Why would I?" I ask innocently. Knowing he's obviously told everyone before me, about his feelings.
"Erm. Yous are friends I thought? No. He also kind of said other things to us. Have you spoken to him? About his ah feelings and wishes." I get another text.
"Yeah. We have kinda spoken about it. But nope didn't know his family were going to come. Should I be nervous?"
Ugh.
I head back to the hotel where I can see someone that I think could be Lando's dad but scared to find out without Lando actually saying and introducing me to everyone.
I end up around the pool with Maddie splashing in the baby pool. My wrist bruises have turned a horrid shade of yellow. I even fake tanned to hide the bruises. But I'm not sure it's worked well. Or if being in the pool is the best idea.
Helen and Luce are at the pool bar, so I grab Maddie and head over to join them. "So have you met them yet?" They start to quiz me.
"Wait have you even told him how you feel?" I shake my head. "It's hard. I know he means well. But I don't want to get too close. Or worse be like him." They roll their eyes at me. "No. Your not allowed to be scared with him." Lucinda squeals. "Just to warn you Adam is heading over."
I try and act not awkward. Which is hard when your mind is saying one thing, your body looks completely different to how I would prefer to look meeting the potential in law. "Helen.. Lucinda. How are you both..." he asks. I'm debating dropping Maddie in the water so I need to jump in with her.
Lucinda looks at me. "Oh Adam have you met the newest recruit to the team. Lexie.. meet Adam Lando's dad." I glare off into the pool. "Oh so this is Lexie. So this must be Maddie. Lando has spoken a lot about you two." Maddie smiles up at him, at the sound of her own name.  So I do the same. "All good I hope. How you doing?" I put on my work face smile. Rather than it's potentially more.
"Of course. He seems fond of you both. Do you mind if I call Cisca she is desperate to meet you." I nod my head at him. "Sure. Is she here?"
Adam nods his head. "Just up in the bar, with the kids. I like coming down here to say hi to the team and making sure those looking after Lando have a personal hi from me."
He goes away for the call with Cisca, then comes back. "They are ordering food, would you all like to join us for lunch."
I'm glad when the Helen says yeah. So I do too.
Cisca fusses over Maddie, which I can tell Maddie is loving. She even sits nicely and doesn't throw her food around like she has a tendency to do right now. Lando has text me to stress out.
"Just heading to the bar, my family have shown up. Honestly didn't know they'd be here this weekend. Sorry... you don't have to meet them. I'll come see you after. ❤️❤️"

Helen nudges me, trying to hold in her giggle. As Lando and Jon walk in. Lando's little face lights up, as he sits down beside me. I smile at him and he brushes my leg with his. He keeps watching his mum with Maddie, as Maddie is squealing with laughter. I'm sure he's making it obvious with his little looks and his affectionate arm rubbing. Im sure everyone notices how Lando is being.
But it's nice to see he doesn't change how he is with me around different people. I like how Lando is being. He even takes Maddie off of Cisca when Maddie is tired.
But obviously that's when his mum asks to speak to me alone. So I follow her so we can go talk.
Cisca smiles at me. "Ah this is harder than usual. I've never had to speak to anyone for Lando before..." I look at her. Biting my lip as I can only imagine what she is going to say. "Lando has expressed to me, that he has growing feelings towards you and I don't think it's just the infatuation that I thought it was. Or hoping it was. But I can see the looks the tenderness between you both and I know the feelings mutual. I can see it, as much as you are trying to hide it from everyone."
Damn I've been caught. Of course all it takes is his mum to notice.
"How do you feel about him? Honestly. I know you've not admitted your feelings to him. As he would've told me by now."
"I uh. It's hard. I've not had the best past relationships and recently had a swift reminder of why I'm probably not the best match for Lando." Cisca furrows her brows at me, before shaking her head.
"No darling. Lando is all in with you. He's told me he doesn't see his future without you in it and I'll warn you, he's going mad over maddies first birthday. He loves you both a lot." 
I look at her, even I've not planned maddies birthday yet. "I know does. He tells her all the time." I sigh at her. But I can feel my own emotions start to bubble up.
"Oh sweetheart. Come here." She pulls me into her arms, as I try and control my emotions from spilling out. "So what's stopping you being official with him? Apart from you being stuck in the past and not seeing that you deserve to be loved and treated well. I know about what happened a little while ago and he just wants to look after you. Protect you from it. I've never seen him like this. Honestly just forget about his age and the fact that you will have two kids, him being one, every so often. As he is all yours."
I pause and think deeply about it. Glancing in to see him and Maddie together. How he looks so natural with her. How much Maddie obviously loves him back.

"How about I look after Maddie tonight? Might as well use Adam and I, whilst you can. I know Lando would love to take you out properly for a date." I nod my head. A date night with Lando could be all that I need with him.