Following the Stars

Chapter Seventy Seven

"Happy Birthday Lexie!!" Kate squealed placing a cocktail down in front of her. "Thank you!!" Lexie gushed. "33. How on earth do we have a 33 year old daughter?" Tom said to Lizzie from across the table. The Donnington's had flown in and surprised Lexie for her birthday, and alongside Kate and Johnny they had planned an elaborate birthday bash for her in a private room at The Beverley Wilshire. So many people had turned out for Lexie, her Co stars, Josh, Jesse, Zara, Kate, Johnny, his children, his sisters and father, Stephen and Gina who were in town to work with Johnny, and some of his band members and their wives. "Open our gift next!!" Lily said excitedly, "Sweetie, you guys didn't need to get me anything!!" Lexie said gushing as she reached into the gift bag. She pulled out a beautiful wrapped square gift and opened it carefully. Once she did, she turned it over, and it was a beautiful glass frame with a picture in it, the picture was of Lexie, Johnny and the children in France. It was such a fun, natural, happy photo. Lexie remembered it as the day after they had told the children she was pregnant. She slowly used one hand to cover her mouth. "Oh darlings it's beautiful, thank you!!!" "Now when you miss us, you can just take us anywhere with you!" Jack piped up smiling. Lexie leaned from her chair to wrap them in a big hug, her arms just about reached round the pair of them as she squeezed them tightly. "I love it. I'll treasure it forever." She said sincerely. "Now open the next one!" Jack said excitedly. Lexie reached into the bag and removed the elegant tissue paper before pulling out a gorgeous black vintage Chanel bag. "Wow!!!" Lexie exclaimed. "I can't accept this." She said looking firstly at Lily and then to Johnny was who next to her, he smiled and said nothing. "This is way too much." "No it's not. You've said for ages you've always wanted one of the classic Karl's well this is an original. Mum helped me source it." "Oh my goodness. Lily. This is crazy!" Lexie again hugged both children and thanked them profusely before moving on to more presents. Her birthday wasn't until the next day, and so her parents and Johnny were saving gifts and cards until then but Lily and Jack had plans with their mother for the weekend and would be heading to Vanessa's after the dinner.

Later, sat in the back of the car with Johnny heading back to Sweetzer, Lexie said "Goodness, I feel so spoilt. Your family went crazy, they shouldn't have bought me gifts." "Darling they wanted to, they love you like I do, and wanted to spoil you." Lexie smiled leaning her head on Johnny's shoulder. "Besides you haven't seen the gifts I've got you yet..." Lexie rolled her eyes. Johnny would spend all his money on other people if he could, she never wanted or expected anything from him but that never stopped him buying her things.

She woke up to kisses all over her cheeks and neck before a rather passionate one on her lips. "Happy Birthday my darling." He whispered against them. "Thank you." She said sitting up as he moved back to his side of the bed. There was a large elaborate bouquet of pink roses on the bedside table and gift bags and luxurious looking wrapped gifts all over the bed. Johnny handed his girl a mimosa before raising his own glass. "Here's to you, my Angel. Happy birthday." Lexie smiled and took a sip. "Thank you, but what's all this?" She said pointing to the gifts. "They are birthday gifts for you." Johnny said coyly. "Wow, thank you, you really shouldn't have." She said placing her glass on the bedside table. "Here open this one first." He handed her a small box, she untied the black ribbon wrapped round it and opened it. Inside was a key with a tag attached, the tag was handwritten and said:

You have the key to my heart. Here's the key to my home, come and go whenever you please, no matter the circumstance. I love you x

Lexie looked up and smiled, "Are you asking me to move in with you?" She said seriously. "Well it's up to you. I know you'll say it's too soon and the kids etc but I've pretty much lived at yours since February and I want you to know the feeling is mutual. I like having you around. You don't have to move stuff in if you don't want but I would like you to, really nothing has to change though. We just carry on doing what we are doing." Lexie smiled and lent in to kiss Johnny passionately. As they pulled back he handed over another gift. She opened it and found a beautiful tweed Chanel Coat and dress. It was white with a hint of black, "Johnny this is exquisite! It's beautiful!" "Well good, I'm glad you like it. Lily told me you liked it, and she told me you wouldn't order it as you didn't think it would suit you.. well I think it will look sublime on you." "Oh Johnny I love it. Thank you." She said holding it up against herself, He was glad he could spoil his girl, she deserved it, and was so humble. The next gift was a bottle of Chanel perfume, his now traditional present to her after her birthday last year. The last present he held in his hand. "This one has a story, but open it, see if you like it and we will go from there." "Johnny.." she said smiling as she opened the beautiful gift. She pulled the paper off and saw it was a red Cartier box. "Johnny.." she said quietly as she slowly opened it. In the box was a simple pendent necklace, it had a diamond pendent and it was truly stunning. He slowly lent in and flipped the pendent. A small piece of gold that matched the delicate chain had been placed on the back of the diamond pendent and it had a small star engraved on it. Johnny then took one of Lexie's hands as he unbuttoned his shirt and used her finger to point to the exact same star now tattooed on his chest, just above the Lily-Rose ink. It was the exact same style, as if he had drawn it himself. Lexie looked up into his eyes. "Our little star." He said quietly, and she instantly knew what he was referring too. Tears pooled in her eyes. "I wanted to hold our star very close to my heart, always, and I thought you might want to do the same." Lexie smiled and wiped a tear, "Thank you Johnny." She whispered making him smile, "Do you like it?" She nodded smiling. "It's beautiful. Thank you." "I'm glad, I kinda rushed into it and then panicked. It's not quite healed yet but it should be in a few days." Lexie smiled and kissed just to the side of the fresh tattoo. "It's perfect."

After showering together, and sharing many passionate kisses, the pair were finally almost ready to meet Lexie's parents and Kate at The Four Seasons for brunch, Lexie chose to wear her new Chanel outfit courtesy of Johnny and as she stood in front of the mirror, she gasped. She loved the whole look and felt like a real princess, never had anyone got her such thoughtful kind gifts. She made her way to the bed where the Cartier box still was and got the necklace out. Johnny spotted her and wandered up behind her, he held his hands out "Allow me?" He said making her smile. He gently placed it round her neck as she lifted her hair. As he clasped it, he left a small kiss on her neck. "Our little star, close to our hearts and looking over us always." He whispered making Lexie smile, she touched her necklace as she looked in the mirror and bit her lip, she didn't want to cry. It was such a thoughtful gift she didn't want him to doubt it.

The couple arrived at brunch hand in hand looking completely smitten. It seemed the paparazzi were following them more and more and snapped photos from every angle as they headed in to the hotel. Travis and Sean did their best to keep the press away but they couldn't help what they shouted at Lexie. Hurling abuse and accusations until she was well into the lobby. Johnny squeezed her hand as they headed to where they needed to be. A private conservatory. "Happy birthday darling." Lizzie said wrapping her daughter in a hug. As she pulled back she said "My god, you look incredible, so chic. I love it." "Thanks Mum, Johnny got it for me. Remember that shoot I saw that I loved, Lily found out and told him." "Well you've got exceptional taste Johnny." Lizzie said kissing him on the cheek. "Happy birthday sweetie." Tom said hugging his daughter. "You look AMAZING." Kate squealed wrapping her best friend in a huge hug. "Thanks!!" The group sat down together and began to check out the menu. Lexie's phone was going mad with birthday notifications and it shocked her a little so she put it on silent and vowed to enjoy the rest of the day.

Later that evening, after a romantic meal at Sweetzer where Johnny had arranged private chefs for a candlelit dinner to celebrate, the pair found themselves heading to bed without the intention of sleeping. It had been 8, nearly 9 long weeks since the miscarriage and Lexie had finally built up the courage to be intimate with Johnny again. Her body had healed and was doing what it was supposed to, and now more than ever she wanted to feel close to him.