All of Me (Sebastian Vettel)

67. Silent Night

A/N: So, this is the penultimate chapter of All of Me. I've absolutely loved writing this one. Thank you all for reading, for your comments and votes. They mean a lot to me. Hope you enjoy it ❤️

Christmas Eve 2022

Alyssa looked out of the taxi window at the snow covered streets of Heppenheim.   It had been so long since that August day when she and Joel had fled with their father.  It hadn't changed at all.  They passed the school, the park, the house where they'd used to live.

"Do you ever wonder about Mum?" she asked Joel, who was sat next to her.   "Where she is? What she's doing?"

"No, as far as I'm concerned she's dead."   Alyssa didn't blame him for feeling like that.  To tell the truth she felt the same,  but coming back here to Heppenheim had brought back memories.  

"I can't wait to see Heike and Norbert. They were always so nice to us as kids and they were really pleased to see us when they came to Monza."

"Yeah,  they're lovely people," Alyssa agreed. They fell into silence for a minute.

"Do you think you're doing the right thing? It's not going to be easy spending time around him and Sienna at the same time."

"Well, it's too late now. Besides, I promised him. He kept his end of the deal. I haven't seen or heard from him since Abu Dhabi."

"And have you decided on what you're going to do?"

"No," she laughed sheepishly. "I think I know, then I change my mind again. I'm hoping I will know when I see him again."

"I know I was angry with him, and I still am, don't get me wrong. But that man adores you. He made a mistake, but at the end of the day it's your decision.  Only you know whether you can trust him again."

"He really hurt me Joel.  I was willing to sacrifice my dreams of a family for him.  I don't know if I can do that now.  What if I did and then he cheated again?"

"Do you love him?"

"More than anything."

"And how does the thought of life without him make you feel?"

"Heartbroken."

The taxi pulled up outside a large old fashioned house.  It wasn't the house the Vettels had lived in before.   Seb had bought them a new one when he'd won his first world championship.  

Joel handed the driver the fare,  plus a generous tip.  

Alyssa climbed out and looked towards the house.   The door opened and Seb stood on the doorstep.   They stared at each other for a minute,  then he headed towards the car and helped Joel with the cases. 

"Aunt Alyssa!"  Naomi ran out of the door and launched herself into Alyssa's arms.   Alyssa hugged her tightly.  She'd missed these girls so much.  

"Naomi, oh you've grown."

"I'm going to be nine next month!"

Nine? Wow."

"Naomi, get back in out of the cold!"

"But Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Joel are here Grandma!"

Heike appeared at the doorstep.  

"Alyssa," she said warmly, wrapping her arms around her as she reached the door.  "Come on in!  Leave the cases to the men.  You should have let Sebastian pick you up from the airport."

"We didn't want to drag him away from the family. It was easy enough to get a taxi."

"I suppose so.  Now would you like a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa?"