The Ultimate Gentleman (Part 2)

Sixty Two

"Happy Christmas!!!!" Lottie said bundling into her parent's bedroom after a very brief knock that luckily Holly heard and managed to nudge Johnny awake. "Merry Christmas my angels!!!" He said scooping Pippa up who was stood at his side of the bed. Boisterous Lottie had already bundled onto the middle of the bed, her overflowing stocking in tow. "Now.. you know the rules young lady." Holly said as she slowly got out the bed and pulled her robe over silk negligee. "Not until everyone is here!! You're missing two brothers and a sister by my count." Johnny smirked. "Okayyyyy!! Pip come on. You can wake sissy, I'll get Jacky!!" Lottie was already off the bed running back onto the large landing before either of her parents could stop her. "Girls.. it's 6am!!" Johnny called after them. Holly smiled before wandering out to Teddy's nursery. The little boy was wide awake chatting to himself.

"Ok.. pipe down." Johnny said shuffling against the headboard. It was a far cry from his peaceful Christmas gatherings with just two children. They always celebrated on Christmas Eve with Vanessa, that was the French way. However since Holly had come into their lives, and with the number of children growing rapidly, Christmas morning had fast become a chaotic start to the festivities. Holly had always grown up with stockings too, so therefore it was a tradition she passed on in their blended family. She adored picking things throughout the year that she knew the elder pickles would love, and that the two little ones would be in awe that Santa delivered such great gifts. Another thing about being a blended family was, sometimes the man himself was Father Christmas, sometimes he was Santa, and on occasions like this whilst they resided in Paris and all were French speaking he was Pére Noel, Papa Noel, or Saint Nicholas. "Mummy!!! Pleaseeeee" Lottie said almost combusting with excitement much to the amusement of her two eldest siblings who were perched on the end of the bed. Lottie and Pippa were bundled in the middle with Johnny and Holly sat up against the headboard, 7 month old Teddy between them sitting up. "You may begin... Merry Christmas pickles." The mother giggled making Johnny smirk who immediately turned to help Ted with his. The joy of being Johnny, was that his wife was so super organised although he tried his best to be as involved as possible in the gift buying the little trinkets sometimes escaped his memory, of course with 5 children to keep track off that was never easy.

"Oh wow!!!! Look!!" Jack said happily. "What did you get Jacky?" Pippa asked. "Personalised guitar picks." He said smiling looking up at his father and step mother. The eldest Depp boy knowing the origins of the present and who more than likely paid for it. "Wow!!! Look what I've got!!" Lottie interrupted. "Oh yay.. more colouring for us to do!" Lily squealed helping her sister pull off the last of the paper on that particular gift. "Ted.. what did you get... what even is this?" Johnny said holding up the apron style item of clothing. "It's for when he's old enough to use the easel. You know the children love painting with you." Holly said with a gentle smile. "Or at least, I guess that's what Santa was thinking?" She added with a giggle. "Oh wow! That's so kind... thank you." Lily said unwrapping a bottle of rather chic expensive perfume. Holly winked at the girl knowing they had discussed said perfume only weeks prior.

Soon, the Depp family were downstairs in the living room, accompanied by the extended family. It really was chaos, presents filled the main floor area, and the young children were beyond elated that Father Christmas deemed them "good" enough throughout the year. Holly lent under the tree and pulled out a rather large box before sliding Teddy out the way. "J..." she said quietly who was busy looking at what his eldest son had unwrapped from his adopted grandparents. The proud husband turned to look at his wife from the edge of the couch "Yes my darling." "Merry Christmas to the best husband and father ever." She whispered before kneeling and kissing him softly. "Woahh... what is it?" "You'll have to open it silly." She gushed before Johnny tore into the elegant wrapping. He opened a large box and saw a guitar, it wasn't just any guitar it was a vintage one but on it, was the most amazing artwork detail, some of his own artwork, some of his best loved film quotes. His graffiti style writing of his children's nicknames, and as he lifted it out the box, he saw on the back of the neck "My one and only Rockstar, love your biggest groupie x" engraved on the back. "My word, Darling, this is beyond amazing. How? When? God, it's perfect." He said admiring every single little detail. "I had a little help." She blushed. "Do you really like it?" "Yes my god I love it." He said wrapping his arms around her careful not to bash her head with the new instrument. "They said they could do it on your acoustic too if you wanted." She added before Jack lent over and admired it too.

"Mummy!!" Lottie said rushing through piles of ripped wrapping paper. "Yes my darling?" "Granny and Grandpa got me the pram for my new dolly!!" She said super proud.  "Oh wow, aren't you a lucky girl? Did you thank them?" "Yes!! I promise." She said before rushing off. "Pip, how you doing?" Johnny asked looking at the quieter little girl. "Daddy!! I got books for my piano!!!!" She said happily. Pippa was super creative like Johnny and Jack, and the child had received a small piano for Christmas, to see whether she actually enjoyed playing or just spending time with her father and brother.

"Thank you so so much Dad, Hols." "You're welcome my sweet." Johnny said kissing his eldest's head. "Now comes the responsibility ok? Don't make us regret it." Johnny added as Lily held the keys to an apartment in downtown LA. The pair had purchased it as investment a few years prior, and since Lily had been making noises all year about moving out, the father decided he would furnish the property and give her some independence. "Your mother, Samuel, Holly and I will see to the rent for a year then we will review ok?" He said before she wrapped her arms round her step mother. "That's amazing!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!" "I sure will miss you but it makes sense, make sure you always come home when you're hungry ok?" Holly said emotionally before looking up at Jack. "And you Jacky..." "are you serious?" He asked holding a piece of official paperwork. "Yes deadly. However, if I see one hair on your head harmed, you'll wish for the days I insisted security drove you everywhere, got it?" Johnny said as he handed Jack the box that held the keys to his brand new motorbike. "This is INSANE." The boy replied to his father. "Thank you so so much."