Timeless Care || Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso had always carried himself with the confidence of a man who knew his place in the world—a two-time World Champion, a legend in motorsport. Yet, as he sat across from her at a quiet café in Monaco, his hands carefully wrapping her chilled ones around a warm cup of coffee, he couldn’t ignore the thoughts swirling in his head.
She was younger, bright-eyed, and full of energy. Her laughter rang out like wind chimes in the summer breeze, and her optimism was infectious. It reminded him of when he was just starting in Formula 1, wide-eyed and hungry for life. But those years felt like a distant memory now.
He had always been aware of the gap between them—not just in age, but in the way they experienced the world. She was the kind of person who didn’t think twice before dancing in the rain, while he was the one to hold out an umbrella and warn her not to catch a cold. It wasn’t that he minded; he loved taking care of her, even if it made him feel old in the process.
“Fernando,” she teased, her lips quirking into a playful smile. “You do realize I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own, right?”
He had instinctively placed a steadying hand on the small of her back as they left the café, as though the short walk to the car might present some unseen danger. He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “I know,” he replied, his accent coloring his words, “but I like knowing you’re safe.”
She reached for his hand as they continued walking, squeezing it gently. “You know, you always say you feel old when you do things like that, but I love it. No one’s ever cared about me like you do.”
Fernando glanced at her, his hazel eyes softening. She always had a way of cutting through his insecurities without even realizing it. “You deserve someone who cares,” he said simply.
“But you care in the way only you can,” she said, stopping to face him. “You think opening doors for me or reminding me to bring a jacket makes you old, but it’s thoughtful. It makes me feel... safe, loved.”
His heart swelled at her words. She had an uncanny ability to remind him that love wasn’t about matching each other step for step, year for year. It was about meeting each other exactly where they were—his steady hand to her free spirit.
“I just don’t want to hold you back,” he admitted quietly. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for him.
“You’re not holding me back, Fernando,” she said, her tone firm yet gentle. “You’re grounding me. You remind me to slow down, to take care of myself. And I remind you that it’s okay to dance in the rain sometimes.”
He laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made her grin. “Fine,” he conceded, pulling her close. “But if you catch a cold, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Deal,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.
In that moment, Fernando didn’t feel old or out of place. He felt timeless, like their love.
