After the Hate Has Gone (Sebastian Vettel)

41. White Christmas

Lottie opened the curtains and peered out. A blanket of snow had covered as far as the eye could see. It was Christmas in Heppenheim. The first white Christmas Lottie had seen.

She bounced on the bed like a small child, waking Seb up from his slumber.

"Liebling, what time is it? We did the presents last night, there's no need to wake up at the crack of dawn."

"But Seb, it's snowing! I love the snow. Please can we go and build a snowman?"

"A snowman? How old are you liebling?" he laughed, amused by her excited, childlike behaviour.

"Don't be boring! Come on Seb."

"I'm not getting out of this bed for at least another hour. Now come on back. I need to wish you a happy Christmas."  She pouted at him.

"Sebby, please, " she begged. He looked at her. She gave him that look. The look where he couldn't refuse her.

"OK," he said, begrudgingly. "But please,  can I just get my Christmas cuddle first?"  She grinned at him and dove back under the covers into his open arms.  He dropped a kiss on her forehead.  "Merry Christmas Liebling."

"Our first together."

"The first of many."  There was a knock on the door. Seb groaned, knowing exactly who it was.

"Ja Fabian?"  The door flung open and Seb's younger brother all but skipped into the room. He was already dressed, complete with winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves.

"Come on Seb. It's been snowing. We have to build a snowman."

"See Seb, I've been telling you this! Now here is a Vettel who knows how it works."

"Yes," said Fabian, punching the air.

"Hell, now there's two of them, " Seb groaned.   "There you go Lottie. You two go and build your snowman. And I get to stay in this nice warm bed." Lottie hopped out of bed.

"I'll be down as soon as possible Fabian."  Fabian gave her a thumbs up and went back downstairs, closing the door behind him.

"You sure you want to go out in the cold? You could stay in a nice warm bed, snuggled up with yours truly."

"Time for that later. I will need help warming up after."

"I volunteer."

"Thought you might." She rummaged through her suitcase, grabbing her clothes before heading into the bathroom.  Seb closed his eyes. Another half hour wouldn't hurt. After all it was Christmas.

***

Seb and his mother stood in the kitchen, drinking hot chocolate. They were watching out of the window at the overexcited big kids. Fabian and Lottie were running  around in the snow laughing and throwing snow balls at each other. Norbert stood to the side, finishing off their forgotten snowman.

"Seb, she's the one. I can see how happy you make each other. I am so happy for your both."

"Thank you Mother. Yes, she makes me happy. The happiest I've ever been."

"I'm glad.  You're glowing. You never glowed with Celestine."

"It's different. Lottie is the other half of me. With Celestine it was like everyone expected us to be together so we just ended up together.  I just regret the many wasted years. We could have been together a long time ago."

"These things happen for a reason son. What matters is that you found your way to each other eventually."

"Thank you Mother. I'm glad you like her. I know you were close to Celestine."

"My loyalty is to you Sebastian. What Celestine did was very wrong. Alas I feel that she is unhappy in her life and when she saw you moving on she reacted badly. I hope for her sake that she moves on with  her life now and finds the happiness that you have.    I don't think she realised the profound affect it would have on you. How are you feeling now Sebastian?"

"Honestly Mother, it's hard work but I am getting there.  On track I feel like it's all come together. I know I'm worthy. I know I can get back in the Championship fight.  I still worry my self sick sometimes that I'm going to lose Lottie. That she will realise I'm not good enough for her."

"Sebastian. You are good enough. That girl worships you. A fool can see that. You must see that.  I understand your fear. You lost her before. Your marriage failed. But you have a second chance here. That girl loves you. " 

Seb knew that his mother was right. He was getting there. He was on the right path. It would just take time.

***

Lottie screamed as Fabian caught her on the bottom with a huge snowball.

"I've got a wet bum now you git!"  Fabian ran off laughing, avoiding the snowball she pelted at him in return. Norbert leant on the side of the house, watching in amusement.

"Father, are the kids misbehaving?" Seb said, exiting the house.

"They're having fun. It's good to see. They get on well, don't they?"

"They do. I'm glad. Saved me from being dragged out to build a snowman at the crack of dawn."  Norbert laughed. Fabian shouted as Lottie's latest snowball splattered on the back of his head.  Seb grinned. Fabian had met his match at last.

Lottie hid around the corner of the house waiting for  Fabian to appear.  She was so focused on watching for him that she didn't hear Seb creep up behind her. All of a sudden she felt a handful of snow shoved down her back, inside her clothes. She screamed and whirled round to find Seb doubled over with laughter.

"Right Vettel, this is war. You know me. I won't give up till get you."  She picked up a handful of snow. Seb took to his heels and legged it across the garden, Lottie in hot pursuit. He dodged her first few attempts but then she finally caught him with a snowball.

Unfortunately it caught him in a very sensitive place. He fell to the floor, groaning in pain. Lottie immediately ran to him, dropping to her knees at his side.

"Seb baby, I am so sorry. Are you ok?" He grimaced at her.

"I dont know. There may be damage done. You may need to kiss it better later," he whispered in her ear, a twinkle in his eye.

Too late she realised he was faking his pain. He grabbed her and pulled her down into the snow with him. They began rolling around trying to shove snow down each others clothing. Heike Vettel watched out of the kitchen window with a warm smile on her face. Sebastian would be ok. He would come through. He had his Lottie.  Heike knew that they had something special.  And that made her the happiest mother in the world.