John Imagine:

"Please sign here, Mrs. Lennon."

You stared down at the papers before you, hands clasped together as your husband - soon to be ex - blankly watched you, his mistress seated next to him with his hand in hers. Your throat felt tight, restricting your ability to breathe normally. You slowly glanced up at John, trying like hell not to look at his and Yoko's held hands.

"John," you said quietly. "Are you sure... this is what you want?"

John blinked. He opened his mouth to speak, but Yoko placed her free hand on his shoulder.

"Of course it is," she said sharply. "Y/N, you must accept that he has moved on. We're happy together. And if you care about him, you should be happy for him."

"No disrespect, Yoko, but I don't recall asking you," you said coldly. You turned back to John. "John... she shouldn't have to speak for you. Tell me what you really want."

John avoided both yours and Yoko's eyes, gazing at the wall ahead of him deep in thought. He appeared to be at war with himself, grappling with the possibilities and repercussions of what he was about to do. Finally, closing his eyes, he sighed through his nose.

"Sign the papers, Y/N," he said monotonously.

You willed yourself not to cry as Yoko grinned at him. If you so wish... You took the pen from the attorney's hand, pulled the files towards you, and scribbled in your signature in the blank section, struggling to keep your hand steady as you inked the paper.

"Congratulations," you croaked, standing up from your seat. "I'm no longer your wife."

***

"I'm coming!" you called as the doorbell chimed throughout the house. You quickly turned off the tap in the kitchen and wiped your damp hands on your jeans.

The doorbell sounded again, bringing out a sigh from you. "Just a minute!" you yelled.

"Y/N, open the damn door already! I'm freezing my balls off!" a familiar voice shouted behind the door.

You froze, your blood running cold as the figure behind the door resorted to knocking vigorously with his fist. You stood in the midst of the kitchen for several seconds more before finally forcing your legs to move towards the entrance to your home. Slowly and reluctantly, you opened the door, revealing your unexpected visitor.

He looked thinner than usual. His cheeks were sunken in, accenting his cheek bones. The auburn hair you used to love tangling your fingers through was slightly longer than you remembered, just blanketing the back of his neck. His complexion was rather pale, nearly blending with the snow. The cheer and mischief in his almond eyes were now gone, replaced with heavy bags and exhaustion. He looked really... really tired.

"John?" you said numbly, gazing at your ex-husband in shock. "What're you... doing here?"

"I... wanted to see you," he mumbled, shifting his eyes away from yours in what you could only perceive as shame.

You opened your mouth to question him, but halted when you realized he was shivering. You stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. He obediently stepped inside, sweeping off flecks of snow off his shoulders and closing in on himself, taking in the warmth of your home.

"You came all the way from New York?" you said incredulously, closing the door behind you.

"Sure did."

"What for?"

John didn't answer right away. He scanned the hallway absentmindedly, looking everywhere but at you. "Where's Julian?" he asked.

You sighed. "At a friend's house for dinner," you replied. "John, does Yoko know you're here?"

"She does," he said.

"And she's... she's fine with it?"

It was John's turn to sigh. "Don't worry about Yoko, okay?"

You watched him suspiciously. "You haven't answered my first question yet, you know. Why'd you come here?"

He blinked slowly, as though remembering where he was and why he was there. Finally, his eyes met yours.

"I'm an idiot," he croaked.

"Well, I figured that out when I first met you..."

"Will you listen to me for a moment?" he said impatiently. You remained silent, gesturing for him to continue. "I am... the biggest idiot in the world. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, but this... leaving you... was the most idiotic thing I've ever done."

You stared at him, your mouth half open. "I... what're you saying?"

"I'm saying I miss you, damn it," John buried his face in one hand. "I love you, okay? I never stopped loving you. I didn't love Yoko, and I still don't. I... I left her."

"You ended things with her?" you gasped. "John... what about Sean?"

"That's been sorted," he said quickly. "Yoko thinks I'd be able to have him on the weekends. She said she'd make the arrangements." He took in a sharp breath, taking a hesitant step towards you. He reached for your hand slowly. You let him. "Y/N... I'm so sorry. I should never have left you... I let Yoko manipulate me into thinking that I loved her. She... she threatened to hurt herself if I didn't acknowledge her. I let it happen. I made myself think that I loved her. But I never did. It's you, Y/N. You're it for me. There isn't anyone else I want to be with accept you."

"John," you said quietly. "When you told me... that you wanted a divorce..." Your vision blurred as tears clouded over your eyes. "You r-really hurt me. I thought... You made me think I wasn't good enough for you."

John shook his head. "No, Y/N. I'm the one who's not good enough. I was a complete dick to you. You deserved... so much better. And I... I'll leave if you can't forgive me. Believe me, I wouldn't blame you."

You rubbed your eyes with your fingers. "John, we were young and stupid. We got pregnant and married before we even reached our twenties. We moved too fast."

"So," John said with a small grin. "Let's move slower."

"Slower?"

"Sure! I'm not asking for a marriage right now, Y/N. That's too much to ask for after such a long time, and far too fast. At least let me take you out to dinner so we can catch up. My treat."

You eyed the man you fell so madly in love with so long ago, thinking hard. You smiled slightly.

"Dinner it is."

***

That dinner was a new beginning for you and John. It had been a year since then. Julian was ecstatic to have his father back where he belonged. Every weekend, Sean would come in to visit and have a blast with his father, his step-brother and step-mother. Things were slowly focusing back into everything you and John wanted to be.

One weekend in June, you rushed to the door, Julian trailing behind you as you opened it, revealing little Sean standing by the entrance. This time, however, he was accompanied by Yoko. She would usually wait in the car when she dropped him off. This was your first time in a year truly seeing her face-to-face.

"Hi Sean!" you said brightly. "Hello Yoko."

"Hi!" Sean giggled, Yoko nodding in greeting.

"You're late!" Julian scrunched up his nose at his younger brother. "Come on! I want to show you something."

You watched the two boys race up the staircase towards Julian's bedroom. Once they were out of sight, you turned back to Yoko with a kind smile.

"It's been awhile. How are you?" you asked.

"Fine," she said briskly. "Where's John?"

"In the yard, mowing the lawn," you replied. "Would you like to come in? I have the kettle on the stove."

"No, thank you," Yoko said coldly. "I just wanted to drop off Sean. I'll be..." Her voice trailed off as she watched you. You inclined your head quizzically. She huffed. "You stole him from me," she hissed. "We were happy and in love, and you just... took him away."

"Yoko-"

"No, no. You don't get to defend yourself. You lost that right after you took a father away from his son and wife."

You stared at her in disbelief. "Yoko," you said, forcing your voice to remain calm. "I really wouldn't say anymore if I were you."

"Excuse me?" Yoko snapped. "I will say whatever I want! I have every right to be angry at a poor excuse for a woman who stole my husband and the father of my child away!"

"Well then," you said quietly. "By your logic, that would mean that I should be quite angry with you too, wouldn't you think?" You glanced up at her, hardening your gaze. "Before you came along, I was his wife. He was the father of my child. It seems we have a lot in common, Yoko." When Yoko didn't say anything, you continued, "There's really only one big difference between us. I never stole him from you. He left you and came back to me of his own will. You, on the other hand... According to John, you manipulated him into forming a relationship with you. So really, Yoko, you're the one who stole him from me."

Yoko gawked at you incredulously. "You... You can't..."

"And even when you did, I never flew to New York to attack you," you said quietly. "Yet you come to my house and accuse me of something that I never did. The nerve of you... it's quite appalling."

"We were happy!" Yoko yelled angrily. "We were just fine before! I may not be a saint, Y/N, but you aren't either!"

"I wasn't happy."

You jumped, startled, as John appeared in the hallway, approaching you and Yoko. You stepped aside for him to join, clasping your hands behind your back as he spoke.

"Maybe you were happy, but I wasn't," John said silently. "I'm sorry, Yoko. But what we had... it wasn't love. It was toxic. The time I spent with you... I kept thinking about Y/N." Yoko gazed at him, astonished. You remained silent. "Did you really want to stay in a one-sided relationship? It wouldn't have been fair to you. And it wasn't fair for me either. I'm sorry if I hurt you, Yoko, but don't take it out on Y/N. She did nothing wrong. She didn't steal me or anything like that. I came to her on my own because I... I love her. What her and I have is real and pure love. I don't mean to hurt you, but... you really can't do this anymore. You can't always have it your way, and you can't attack the love of my life when none of this was her fault."

"But John-"

"You should really go," John said firmly. "I don't want there to be trouble, especially in front of the kids. I'll drop off Sean Sunday evening. If you want to talk and be civil by then without attacking anyone, then I'd be happy to listen."

Yoko looked between you and John in disbelief. Finally, without another word, she spun on her heel and left.

Shutting the door, you blew out a long, relieved sigh. Turning to John, you offered a smile.

"I hope this... whatever this is with Yoko gets resolved," you said.

"It will," John grinned. "Now come here, gorgeous..."

He wrapped his arms around you, kissing you softly on your lips, cheeks, and jaw.

"John," you giggled as he peppered your face and neck with kisses. "The kids are upstairs!"

"Hm," he hummed. "Guess we'll have to wait until tonight, when they're asleep." He winked at you as you playfully rolled your eyes at him. He chuckled quietly and pecked your nose. "I'm so happy I came back."

You smiled. "Me too."

Requested by @Jujubb8!