Might as Well Face it, You're Addicted to Love (Joe Perry/Nikki Sixx)

Chapter 72: A Family Reunited Part 2

I thank God every day, every day to THIS day that Josephine was found by family friend, or he'd become a family friend AND of course a Hollywood Vampire. Johnny would also find love with Alice, Alice Cooper at some point.... I won't say when yet, but I WILL tell you Johnny and Nikki have a lot in common what with their abusive childhoods (still want to kill Deana for that and what she put my oldest daughter thru) as well as abusive relationships, which I also had the abusive partnerships in common. Anyway, the ultimate point here is of course Nikki and I were greatly relieved to say the least that Josephine was found but it KILLED Nikki and I, still does to think about what Deana did to our daughter. Deana kidnapping her and abusing her and then the aftermath.... Josephine's injuries, her mental recovery and GOD that was heartbreaking. It was so damn heartbreaking, I can never forget seeing our daughter lying there in the hospital bed, looking SO small.... covered in bruises, bandages, her being dehydrated and scared, so scared even in sleep.... having bad nightmares and then her awakening, God.... well, the point is it killed me.... Nikki and I barely managed to keep upright and where you will find us next is our daughter once again falling asleep and Nikki and I breaking down....

Josephine has fallen asleep; she really needs it. And I know she is in so much pain, physically and mentally and it's all I can do, to remotely keep it together.... Nikki and I clinging to one another, and we are breaking down, down and poor Josephine seems to be already having another nightmare....and Nikki and I, are close to Josephine where we can reach her......

"Shh, Josephine we're here..." Josephine murmurs about 'the mean lady' and I whisper, "You tell the mean lady daddy is gonna come in there and she is NOT going to like it. We've got you honey; I promise.... I promise." I gently brush her untamable hair so like my husband's back and kiss her forehead and after some moments she relaxes, but now she's crying in her sleep and if that don't fucking break my heart before I can do anything else....

Nikki takes her hand, laying mine over his and hers and whispers to our daughter, "Don't cry sweet girl, that makes me cry. I know it hurts baby, God do I know....and its scary, but I am SO proud of you.... You've been so brave and strong. I am proud, PROUD to be your mommy and never doubt that you're loved. Daddy and I love you so much, so does your sister. It wont hurt so much one day, but in the meantime, you are never alone, never will be."

Eventually she settles, looking a little more peaceful but still SO tired even in sleep and Nikki, Nikki and I cling to one another his face buried in the crook of my neck sobbing as I wrap my arms around him, despite my shaking.

"Nikki...God.... I mean, this kills me. I am so beyond relieved, happy to have her back but.... what she's going thru, I NEVER imagined it would happen to her...to OUR child and I am angry, I am angry at DEANA. She hurt YOU, she still does and now, our daughter. I mean..." I trail off unable to continue, but Nikki I KNOW gets my meaning loud and clear.

"I know, God do I know Joe. I can never forgive her, not NOW. I don't ever see how, I thank GOD I have you, and our daughters and family. but...I feel like I am falling apart too. And I...." A nurse interrupts and tells us Johnny Depp is waiting, asking after Josephine and Nikki looks to me eyes dark from tears and says, "I wanna meet him, thank him in person."

"I couldn't agree more Nikki." I turn to the nurse and tell her we'd like to see Johnny who moments later it seems enters the room, looking to Josephine his eyes filled with pain and tears before finding a seat and looking to Nikki and me, us still holding to one another eyes on our daughter.

"I just...." Nikki begins looking at Johnny, I squeeze Nikki gently to give him strength as he continues, "---I and my husband can never begin to express our thanks, mere words don't feel like they are enough. Still, THANK YOU for bringing Josephine back to us, finding her.... getting her help and I am sorry it took us so long to get back to you......"

"Doesn't matter how long I'd have to wait. And you and your husband have so much on your minds, so don't worry about that and all the thanks I need is that little girl of yours safe and back with you and her family. God, I well imagine...well hell I know what it's like when...."

Nikki cuts him off apologetically, "---When your so called 'parents' abuse you, a child and keep doing so your whole life?" Nikki finishes for him.

"Yeah." Quietly, "and not just 'parents'" Johnny shudders.

"One day karma will come for them Johnny, ALL of them and it will be a MAJOR bitch." I tell him and he looks grateful and surprised at once, uttering a quiet 'thank you' before the subject is again back on Josephine but first....

"Is there anything I can do for you both? For her? It's no trouble at all." Johnny asks.

"Man, you've done more than enough for Joe and I." Nikki says, sniffling.

"Seriously, its no trouble." He counters.

Nikki and I share a look, trusting him and I slowly say, "I can see that it means a lot to you, if you could contact our family and give them an update it would be greatly appreciated." He promises to do so, Nikki and I give him the number and soon he promises to return later, telling Nikki and I to try and get some rest and then it's just Nikki, myself and Josephine.

Nikki once more takes our daughters hand in his, mine laying carefully over both and whispers to Josephine, "Johnny came to see you, we wanted to thank him. We can never thank him enough. I feel he will become a family friend.... but sweet bee, the family.... OUR family will be here as soon as they can, I know they wanna see you so bad. You've been so missed; it was like missing a part of ourselves. Never doubt Josephine how very loved you are. I love you, so much....so much, Daddy and I both do. Amara will give you lots of hugs and kisses, we all will, and I PROMISE you will be safe and be home for Christmas."

I promise too....my brave little angel......

Johnny kept his word calling our family and he took it upon himself to get things that Nikki and I would need and things for Josephine and to our surprise and pleasure things for Amara. God, that floored us in a good way. Anyway, it turns out the family (Johnny included) would come the next day to give us time with our oldest daughter and too so we could try and rest, which we did get some, but I remember that night of our reunion constantly waking up to make sure Josephine was ok. Poor girl had nightmares all night or most of it. That broke my heart, and still does. Nikki and I were of course right there by her side to love her through it all.

Course the first night we got home, I will tell you she had a night terror, and it is THAT, that would lead to Nikki opening about his past to Josephine as well as mine and our first night too, Amara would comfort her older sister before she finally went back to sleep.

But where you next find the Perry family, is a reunion with our extended family.

A/N: Part 2 is now done. I promise in time, Josephine will get better. She has so many who love and care for her, her parents especially love her through it. Stay tuned for more to come.