A Saviour

Twenty Three

Ten days later Kate was rushing round Sweetzer like a mad woman. The lawyers had agreed that this Sunny Saturday afternoon would be the perfect time to introduce Belle to her father. Scott had been very stern, that the visit was entirely supervised by a professional, that Malcolm would be in the room at all times and that if Kate wanted to be present then she could. Ryan's legal team had agreed to all of the terms and would be arriving within the hour. Thankfully, Lily-Rose and Jack were spending the weekend with their mother. The last thing Kate wanted was Ryan near anyone else that she cared about. Johnny seemed to be having as hard time as Kate dealing with it all. He had spoken at great length with his security detail who were more than just employees, but close confidants too. "Sir, if you can't handle yourself and end up doing something you regret it won't help Katie's case. But if she was my girl I wouldn't want her there with him." Johnny nodded taking a drag of his cigarette. "She won't be alone sir, neither of them will be. I'll ensure of that." Malcolm said. "And erh, I would like to stick around after my shift too sir, you know just keep an eye." "Travis, you don't have to do that, we'll be ok." "Sir I insist." Johnny nodded before slowly standing. "I need to go make sure she's ok, she's probably in a right state." He nodded before stubbing out his cigarette. The security detail left the room before Johnny went off to find his girlfriend. She was upstairs in the room that was now essentially Belle's, Kate was dressing her in cute pink dungarees. "Now it's all going to be ok darling. We just have to get through two hours, we can do that right? God I so wish I didn't have to put you through this. My poor little Angel." Kate hugged her daughter as Johnny knocked on the door, "How are my two favourite Baxter girls?" He said trying to cheer the mood up.

Belle was playing on the sitting room floor whilst Kate was attempting to not throw up from nerves sat on the couch besides Johnny. Sean entered "Sir, they've arrived." Johnny nodded and stood. "Look I think it will only cause issues if I'm around so I'll get out your hair ok? I'll be in the studio working on music but you've got everyone you need. Travis will be lingering in the house, Malcolm will be in the garden with you, and Sean will be in the office on the cameras ok?" Kate swallowed visibly and nodded. Johnny kissed her before bending down to Belle "I love you Princess. Be a good girl for your Mumma ok?" He headed out the room before Sean opened the front door. "Hello It's good to see you again Miss Baxter." Kate smiled shaking hands with Rosie. "May we come in?" The latter asked and Kate nodded "Please do. I thought it would be ok to play in the garden with Belle, she loves it out there with so much space to run around in." Kate avoided eye contact with Ryan completely as he followed Rosie into the foyer. "That sounds like a good plan doesn't it Mr Campbell?" Rosie said with a smile. "Yes that's fine." Ryan said calmly. "Follow me then." Kate said taking Belle's hand and leading the group out to the garden.

A few minutes later, Hilda approached Kate and whispered to her and the latter nodded "Can I get anyone a drink?" Kate asked. "Oh that would be wonderful. I'll take a water if possible?" Rosie asked. "A coffee would be great please." Ryan asked and Kate took a deep breath. This was the first main interaction they had shared. She nodded and Hilda wandered off. Belle had run off to grab a ball to play with and Kate crouched down "Belle.. can you come here darling?" The little girl ran up to her mother squealing "Mumma" as Kate took hold of her hand. "Yes darling.. remember what Mumma told you earlier. Do you remember Mumma's friend Rosie, can you say hi? And this, this is.." Kate took a deep breath. "This is Ryan." Rosie knelt down "Hey little one. It's good to see you again!" Belle smiled, she was a friendly toddler and enjoyed attention. Ryan knelt down beside the two women and toddler "Hi Belle. I'm your Dad. Can you say Daddy?" He asked making Kate stare at him. As if he deserved that title and if he really expected a two year old to learn a new word on the spot. "Her speech is coming along, she picks up words here and there but it still takes time." Kate said before picking up the ball for Belle. "So Rosie and Ryan are going to play with us for a little while ok?" Kate said to the child. Belle ran off and grabbed one of her dolls from a nearby pile of toys that her mother prepared earlier. "That's your favourite doll isn't it Belle?" The little girl nodded before showing Rosie the doll and then Ryan. Kate stood and took a step back, she was anxious but she knew Belle would be ok. She had to be. "It's a beautiful doll Belle, you must love it very much." Ryan said as he tried to move closer to the child. Belle took a step back and her eyes went wide. Rosie made a few notes before standing next to Kate, the latter made conversation "She isn't used to being around men, besides Johnny, the only man she ever saw was her godfather and he's just a big kid really. That's why she's sizing him up probably." Rosie nodded and smiled "Miss Baxter, she's a perfectly well adapted child, it's to be expected when somebody new enters her home." Kate nodded biting her lip, Hilda returned with a tray of drinks and handed them out, taking special care to ruffle Belle's curls when she passed her the sippy cup with water. "And this woman has lots to do with Belle's care?" Rosie asked. "Oh no, she's Johnny's housekeeper she's not a Nanny or anything." Ryan rolled his eyes and from his position on the floor Kate saw it clearly.

Belle wandered over to her mother and grabbed her hand dragging her to the rug where she had been sitting with Ryan playing with her dolls. Kate reluctantly gave in and wandered over. Her daughter passed her one of the rag-dolls and yanked on the hair. "You want me to plait her hair like mummy does yours sometimes?" Belle nodded smiling as Ryan watched on, the mother tried her best to avoid eye contact with him as she plaited the doll's hair. "She seems healthy." Ryan muttered. "She is, she's rarely poorly which is good." He looked at her shocked at the fact she was replying to him. "What? Did you expect her to be unwell and malnourished?" Kate said spitefully. "Well with how erratic you can be I didn't know what to expect. At least she has Depp's money being spent on her. Nice one there." He said hoping to get a rise out of her. "I pay our way completely, he only showers her with love and kindness." "Oh so you don't need me in the picture is that what you mean?" Kate went to answer when she saw Johnny come out the house. He was watching her intently before he shouted over "Katie.. it's Brandon on your cell, he says it's urgent." The woman nodded before standing, she was torn, she didn't want to leave her child but she should go take the call. She slowly approached Johnny, and he offered a comforting smile before Belle must have spotted him and ran towards them. She squealed, she couldn't quite say his name yet but was excited to see him and held her hands up in the air wanting to be picked up. She made quite the fuss stomping her little foot until he picked her up. It pained him seeing her so desperate but he knew her father would not like his actions, "Hi Princess. Are you having fun with your dolls?" Ryan had slowly stood and approached. Belle began playing with Johnny's bandana and then his nose. "Look, I need to go finish some tracks but you stay here and play with Rosie, and your mother and umm Ryan, and I'll see you later ok?" Belle pouted as she was placed on the floor. "Excuse me I need to take this work call." Kate said before nodding to Malcolm who moved closer to the child. Johnny followed his girlfriend into the house a moment after. "Doll.. are you ok? I saw him talking to you out the window and thought you might need a minute. Brandon isn't on the phone, in fact I don't even know where your cell is." Kate smiled how did this man know exactly what she needed all the time? She cuddled him as he kissed her head. "You're doing amazing, well done." He muttered before she whispered "I should get back she needs me." "I know darling. I love you." "I love you too."

As Kate headed back into the garden Ryan approached and in hushed tones said "How come she's so comfortable with him? She practically begged him to pick her up and she looked so content in his arms. She won't let me anywhere near her." "She spends a lot of time with him. He's known her since she was 18 months old. You can't buy that relationship, he's been there for her, her birthday, Christmas, when she's not felt ok, he's comforted her when she cries, you did not." "I could have done." "Yes well you didn't, so that's why she likes him." "Sounds to me like you're an even more unfit mother than I thought if he does everything. What did he do fuck up his own kids so much with abusing his ex wife that he's trying again with mine?" "Don't even go there Ryan. You know damn well, she abused him, and that you abused me, you of all people have no right to be pointing the finger at Johnny." Rosie approached with Belle "I think we will call it a day here, Katie thank you for your kind hospitality. I'll pass my notes to the judge, and the legal counsel will be in touch to discuss the next dates for visitation ok?" Both adults nodded as Kate scooped Belle up. "Say goodbye Belle." The toddler waved before nuzzling into her mother.