A Saviour

Three

"You really didn't need to send a car Johnny, and the plane too, we could have flown commercially and met you in Copenhagen." "Oh please. A 12 hour commercial flight with a toddler? No way. At least on the jet she will have the run of the place." "Oh no I'll keep her entertained, I don't want her bothering you or your friends." "Katie it will be fine I promise, everyone plans to muck in and help anyway." The woman smiled as she unbuckled the toddler out the car and carried her to the private jet that was waiting. This was a huge moment, how she had got into this situation puzzled her but after many a motivational conversation with her best friend Jessie she knew this was an adventure and she planned to try and enjoy it. She slowly climbed the steps to the plane, Johnny was close behind her carrying a large holdall. The woman entered the jet and a smiling Gina stood to greet her. "Hi again!" The Raven haired woman said "Hi, nice to see you again!" Katie said cheerfully as she made her way to two vacant seats. She sat Belle down in the one nearest the window and attempted to buckle her up, this would be the child's first ever plane ride, and what a start it was. The toddler wriggled and climbed up to the window, her chubby hands resting on the glass as she peered out. "Belle, sit down." Katie said in a hushed tone. "She's ok, they haven't even finished loading the luggage yet." Johnny said sitting opposite the pair. Katie smiled and continued to attempt to get her child sitting.

Apart from a few tears at take off where Belle didn't like being strapped in, the first hour of the flight had gone rather well. Johnny had taken to being the child's entertainer and was pulling faces and hiding behind his hands from the seat opposite resulting in Belle giggling like mad.

"Would you look at him! He's like a born again child." Gina nudged her husband. "Yes I know but he loves kids you know that." "I know but it's somebody's else's kid.." "G, he's being friendly, he explained her situation and by the sounds of it she's a single mum with not much family." "I know, I think it's nice he's included her in everything." "Exactly. If he's happy that's all that matters."

Much later on, Belle had fallen asleep in her seat, which Kate had fully reclined, it made a huge bed for the tiny toddler who was now wrapped up in a blanket with her trusty teddy bear. "She really is a great kid Kate." "Thank you," "Her father must be proud." Johnny said. "Ummm, her father doesn't know her." "Doesn't know her?" "No." Johnny could tell Kate looked uneasy talking about it but was too nosey for his own good. "Does he know about her?" "What, you think I'm one of those women who would intentionally keep their child away from its father?" "God no, I'm sorry I just know that if she were mine I would move the earth to spend time with her, she's amazing." Katie smiled and although she felt the same about her little girl, her father was a whole different story. She didn't want to get in too deep with Johnny so feigned a yawn and he left her be as he went back to his book that had been resting on the side table.

After the long flight, they made it to Copenhagen city centre and into a plush looking hotel. Belle was completely out of sorts and although it was the afternoon and she should be napping, she was wide awake twirling her hair as she held onto her mother's hand. "We've moved all your reservations to suites, that way little one will have more room to play and you will have more space when or if you need to work." Johnny said as he entered the elevator. "And we will all be close by in case you need anything." He continued. Katie smiled but secretly wondered how she would get that expense through work, it was one thing putting hotel charges on her work card but elaborate suites were a bit much, "Gina cleared it with Spankey Taylor don't panic." Stephen said from the back of the elevator. It was at that moment that she spotted her daughter fiddling with the long red scarf hanging from Johnny's belt loop, "Oh darling, leave that, Mummy's friend doesn't want you annoying him." She said as she bent down to her little girl. "Oh it's fine. My dress sense obviously intrigues her. Leave her be." Johnny said as the doors opened to the penthouse floor. "Right here we are. Room allocation. We'll take the suite to the left of Johnny's, the Deuters are having the interconnecting one and Miss Baxter can take suite 3007." The man Katie knew as Sean Betts, Johnny's head of security said handing out hotel key cards. "Your luggage will be up shortly Miss Baxter." Kate nodded as she silently entered the suite. It was huge and far bigger than she had ever stayed in prior. She couldn't believe she would only be there two nights before they moved onto their next location. Belle ran riot and it was a tough job keeping her entertained until a knock on the door came. It was a bell boy with their luggage, she tipped the man and set to unpack. Belle soon occupied herself with various toys on the floor as Katie did what she needed to do. She hung up some clothes before deciding that she needed to keep her little girl awake as long as possible to try and adapt to the European timezone.

As she finished doing up Belle's yellow flowery play suit, a knock on the door sounded. Katie opened the door and was shocked to see Johnny stood there. "I just wanted to see if you were settling in?" "Yes we are all ok thank you, are you settled?" "Yes just a little antsy. The press conference tomorrow is on my mind." "Oh any particular reason why?" "No it's just stuff. A lot of the questions that came up in Cannes might be asked again." "Well let's hope not. I'll brief the journalists." Johnny smiled sweetly, spotting her handbag over her body. "Going somewhere?" Johnny asked, "I thought I would go explore a little, now it's cooler, I need to keep her awake until an acceptable time to give her dinner then hopefully she will sleep through tonight and beat the jet lag." Katie explained whilst placing a hat on Belle's head. "May I join?" "Join?" "Yes, May I join you on the walk? I could do with clearing my head." "Umm sure." "Let's go then." "Belle... come on." Katie said closing her suite door behind her. The toddler skipped down the hallway as Sean exited a suite opposite. "Sir?" "We are going to explore a little and go for a walk. If you're coming, keep your distance." "Sure thing Sir." Sean followed silently as the pair made their way to the elevator where the toddler was desperately stood trying to reach the button. She was up on her tip toes and her chubby little arm was reaching with all its might until Johnny scooped her up to the button and let her push it. The beaming smile she gave him made his heart melt. "There we go sweetness." He said as he gently put her back on the floor and patted her head. The little girl looked up at Johnny still smiling as Katie ruffled her hair.

They walked for some time before Belle started lagging behind, she was almost being dragged by Kate who kept telling her she couldn't carry her forever. After a few pouts and toddler strops the 32 year old picked her daughter up and carried her, resulting in the little blonde resting her head on her mother's shoulder and sucking her thumb. "Uh uh uh.. no sleeping yet. We've got to have dinner. Come on stay awake missy." Katie said to her girl in a sweet voice. Johnny chuckled "How can we keep her awake?" "Umm loud noises? I'll keep jiggling her around." Kate smirked. "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND." Johnny began yelling resulting in both Kate and Sean giving him an odd look. The latter approached "Sir we've done well so far to not be spotted. Outbursts like that won't help us." He whispered but loud enough so Katie could hear. "Let's head back." She said smiling as she adjusted Belle on her hip. "Allow me?" Johnny said reaching out. "No honest it's ok, I can do it." "You don't have to do everything by yourself you know?" "I know, but I've not relied on anyone or anything for so long, I'm not gonna start now." "Ok well at least let me escort you back, perhaps we can grab some room service for little one?" "Johnny it's not that I don't appreciate your time, it's just you don't have to hang out with me and Belle, I know you've bent over backwards to make this easy on me don't feel you have to give up your rockstar life for us." "I'm not giving up anything, I enjoy the company. If you would rather keep things more professional I get it but I would love to grab some room service with this little one and make sure you get back ok?" He said sweetly. "Ok, I'm sorry I guess I'm just tired." "Don't be. It's nothing."