A Saviour

Chapter Thirty Three

Kate arrived home after a long day at the office and kicked off her heels. She saw the two elder children lounging in the front room and Belle made a bee line for them both straight away. She loved how they embraced her into their lives and never seemed to tire of her. "Hey guys, how was school?" "So dull. Glad it's the weekend though!" "Yes thank god.. although you go to your mother's tomorrow for a few days don't you?" "Yes but we are back Wednesday. She's flying to Paris for a shoot." "Ah yes I remember now, is your father home?" "I'm here." Johnny said emerging from his studio. "Hey darling. How was your day?" He asked kissing her softly. "Long. Hard. Boring paperwork. You?" "Yeah fine. Nothing to report. Got a few dates in the diary for post edit for the movie in January but that's it." "Any news?" Kate asked nervously. "Nothing. He's not used his bank cards, or left the country it would seem. The PI is doing all they can." "Well maybe he will just disappear forever!" Kate said hopefully. "Yeah I wouldn't hold your breath doll!" Johnny turned to look into the sitting room where the children were and saw Belle climbing off his daughter's lap. "Hi munchkin!! Did you have fun at daycare??" He asked squatting down as Belle turned to run towards him. "Dadaaaa" she said in a high pitched voice making everyone stop and stare. Johnny looked up at Kate, he was not sure how to handle this new change of title. Belle didn't seem to notice the change in atmosphere so continued her journey towards Johnny squealing "Da da da da da" she said repeatedly in a cheery voice. Johnny didn't have much of a choice but to scoop her up as he had initially planned to do. "Did she?" Kate said looking at him. "I think so but we don't need to make it a thing if you don't want to." He said, his heart was breaking, there was nothing he wanted more than to make them a family officially and he had to admit it made his heart burst at the thought of Belle calling him anything remotely close to Daddy. "No it's fine. You're the one that's there for her everyday, you're the one who picks her up when she falls, cuddles her when she's poorly. Hell some days she prefers you over me anyway." Kate said smiling, genuinely happy. She looked towards Lily and Jack next. "I mean.. only if it's ok with you guys. I know it's bad enough you have to share your father with me already. Let alone Belle too." "Kate!! Please. We love you and we love Belle! Besides with all the whinging Lily does to Dad it's no surprise Belle has picked up on it.. DAAAAADDD" Jack mimicked his sister making the elder roll her eyes. "That's so cute that she's calling him Dada though!" Lily added before joyfully nudging her brother. Kate turned to Belle and ruffled her hair, she was happy in Johnny's arms when her mother asked calmly "Belle... who is Dada?" Belle thought for a second and then turned to Johnny, she gave him a skeptical look before wrapping her chubby arms round his neck. "Dada!!!" She announced proudly. "Who's Mama?" Kate asked and Belle pointed to her. "And Who is Lily?" Again the little girl pointed making the teenager smile and kiss her head. "And where is Jack?" Belle furrowed her eyebrows before turning and facing Jack and pointing towards him. "And where's Belle?" Johnny chuckled and Belle placed her hands on her face. "Good girl!!" They all praised the toddler before Kate kissed her head. "I better crack on with dinner. It's getting late." Johnny shook his head. "Let's get takeout. Fuck it.." "Johnny, she's already picking up words!!" He apologised before putting the child down on the floor and following his girlfriend out the room.

"Darling are you sure you're ok with this?" "Yeah of course. Are you not? I'm sorry I can teach her to call you Johnny if you're not?" "God don't be sorry. It's the greatest honour to be a father, and it's a privilege to be chosen by her to fulfil that role. I'm sorry her biological one is such a failure." "From here on in.. let's not mention him. You are her father in every way that counts." Johnny kissed his girlfriend passionately before they heard "can we get pizza?!" Jack had just aimlessly walked in the kitchen without a care in the world, "Son if you go occupy Belle for 5 minutes we can get whatever you want." "Johnny!" Kate scolded giggling.

Three weeks later...

After many intense and long discussions with his children, Johnny felt ready to ask the question he had been burning to ask. Lily had come into her own with planning the finer details. She had picked flowers, and even worked with Johnny on his speech. The latter knew that the children were as important in this as both him and Kate so he planned to include them as much as possible with his proposal.

Lily was sat in one of the seats in front of his desk reading from a list on her iPad whilst Johnny sat the opposite side. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Is that it? Are we done?" He asked and the teen nodded. "Now I just need to pick new dresses for Belle and I.." "New dresses?" Johnny asked skeptically. "Durrr Dad. We have to look the part!" "Ok well make sure you choose something for your brother too. I can't have him looking homeless against you two beauties can I?" Lily smirked before locking her iPad. "Lucie is taking us shopping tomorrow! Dad.. if you adopt Belle, do Jack and I have to as well?" "How do you mean?" "Well like do we have to sign papers to say yes she can be our sister?" "Oh darling, no you don't have to but if you want to make something out of it I'm sure we can. That's if Kate says yes.." "She will do Daddy, she will be mad to not want to be a Depp." Johnny smiled before thanking his daughter and they both headed out to the living room where Kate was sat with the toddler. "And where's your nose?" "That's right! You clever girl!" Kate said gushing over her daughter. "So darling, my meetings have cancelled tomorrow so how about leaving Belle here rather than daycare? I know you've got that big meeting but then that's it until after the holiday right?" Johnny said to his hopefully soon to be fiancé. "Are you sure? She's quite a terror at the moment." "She's no such thing, besides I'll be here to help!" Lily said smirking knowing the real plan. "Well if you're sure." "Course I am sure darling."