Torn

The last one

Seb protectively stuck close to Neev's side as they left the security gates behind them to enter the paddock. With the world being given their first look at the new Vettel family, they'd attracted more attention than even someone like Lewis Hamilton would usually have. It was still something of a 'pinch me' moment for Seb, at the start of the season he'd never imagined for one second that he'd end the year by walking in with Neev by his side and having a family of his own was something that had felt almost impossible to achieve without the woman of his dreams. He glanced at her, letting a satisfied smile curl his lips while Neev walked along, carrying Anaya on her hip who didn't much care for all the people swirling around them taking far too many photos and so had hidden her face against her mum's neck. Smart move Kleiner!

Walking just behind them, Britta smiled proudly. Having worked for Seb for much of his career, he was like a younger brother to her - not that she was too many years older than her driver. The difference in him now was quite startling; gone was the man who'd been left heartbroken by his wife's sudden departure, gone was the man who'd never wanted his wife with him when he'd travelled throughout the season, the man who'd taken her for granted and never had time for her until it was too late. In his place was a man who'd never been so content, happy and in love as he was now. In the years he'd been apart from his beloved Neev, he'd matured and learnt the hard way what was really important to him. Now his greatest role in life wasn't as a racing driver, it was as a father and he'd taken to it like a complete natural. Now they'd reached the last media day of the season, the final race weekend of the calendar and she knew that they were all more than ready for a break.

"Nando!!!"

Anaya's excited cry meant just one thing, she'd seen the man who meant so much to her. Britta leant to the side a little, peering around Neev in front of her, to see Fernando heading their way. Seb wouldn't be happy about his daughter having such a public reunion with the man who'd nearly married her mother and who'd wanted so badly to be the little girls father.

Anaya wriggled in her mother's arms until poor Neev felt like she was going to drop her.

Beside her, Seb bit his tongue to stop himself from swearing out loud and then muttered a terse, "Let her go to him." It would only look bad if they tried to stop Anaya going to him with so many people around to witness it.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea." Neev mumbled before putting Anaya down to the ground and watching as she dashed towards Fer.

Although he hadn't been out here purposely looking to see Neev arrive (he hadn't wanted a public, emotional reunion either), he was thrilled to now have his little girl running towards him with a big smile on her face. He lowered himself down to kneel on the ground, his arms open and ready to give her a big hug.

"Nando!" She jumped into his arms and threw her little arms around his neck.

"Mi pequeño angel." He held her tightly as his paternal instincts came surging to the fore. He'd missed Anaya so much that at times it had felt like physical torture. "You have no idea how much I've missed you, have you missed me?"

Anaya leant back for long enough to enthusiastically nod her head and then hugged him again.

Aware of her parents getting closer, he stood up, lifting her with him. "I'm sorry, I only came out here to do an Instagram live and she just came running over." He felt like he owed them an apology, Seb in particular looked really annoyed.

"It's fine, she's missed you, she was so excited when we told her that she'd be seeing you this weekend." Neev smiled and subtly tugged on Seb's hand, sensing his darkening mood.

Seb said nothing, he just didn't like seeing his daughter with the man who'd she been close to calling 'daddy'.

"I know you didn't want it to happen out here, in full view of everyone." Fer admitted, feeling like everyone was looking at them.