Then she walked in.... (cont'd)

"Surprise" spoken blandly with a smattering of heavy sarcasm dripping Louise stood leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. Paul was trying desperately to pull her away "It's ok Paul. I understand" Lou pushed off the door frame and circled her husband on the bed. The boner now long gone and the face of a cheater in place.

"I wasn't expecting you til tomorrow"

"Oh ok. I'll just nick off to my room then, shall I?" Louise was a mess inside but outwardly she smoked sarcasm, it was her fault however. She knew the score and knew John wasn't expecting her nor Richy til tomorrow.

Counting to ten.

"Come on Paulie, pour me a drink" Lou hooked Paul's tie and pulled him out the door, the look on his face as he caught John's eye apologetic and addled at her seeming indifference.

******

She had smiled and charmed as she circulated the room.

Putting the remaining teeny boppers to shame, her pull even after some twenty-two or more hours of flight, undeniable. Put together, makeup perfect, Evie sated and secure, tended to in another room. Louise Lennon captivated like no other.

The few members of the press that lingered in a corner with Brian all stood and shook her hand, no other female had had the pleasure of such a rise. They invited her to join them and she did, smiling, laughing, binding her time.

And she waited.

Paul mused... she knew everything. Knew he was up to his hips in female bits and she waited.

Paul poured another drink and took stock as he stood close. Her features clear and sure but the eyes. In those eyes he caught a tiny glimpse of a crack, a hint of fracturing façade- but still they were indelible.

He cracked a joke and she slipped a little, her face pinched and tired, Lou held his arm for support. Taking her out for air they leaned on the railing, Lou looking to the distance, over an unseen, unknown country, then letting her dark orbs stray back to the lad by her side every once in a while. Paul leaned back against the railing looking inward to the room, waiting, thinking of what to say. Should he speak or be mute.

Both knowing what the other had seen.

"He's been well then. Not mucking up, well..not any more than usual I mean" Louise held Paul in her gaze, he could never lie under her stare. She was too good to be lied to anyway.

"He's had fun..." He said carefully, taking her hand, holding it like friends do. They were and have been for a long time and nothing John said or did would change the fact. "but missed you" Lou broke the shared moment and scoffed quietly as she returned to see the skyline with a smattering of lights.

"Yeah clearly" Louise flatlined the reply as she watched a truck lumber down the street. It was so eerily quiet, not so many girls were below them tonight and she wondered idly if it wasn't as manic here, on the other side of the world.

Eyes met behind her as Paul and Richy had a silent conversation:

Yes she saw- sorry I couldn't stop her after dropping our bags- she's ok I guess- you sure? - yep.

Richy bobbed his head and took off to find Brian and sort that fella Jimmy out.

Transferring fingers from Paul's to John's hand was never going to be easy, she held him tight like an anchor.

Of course, she was scared, angry, worried, forlorn, mad, upset.

She didn't want Paul to disappear but then again, she did. She wanted John and all his faults to kneel and beg forgiveness, she wanted him to proclaim they all meant nothing and she was still the only one. After all she had witnessed before, heard about prior, seen with her own eyes tonight- she still wanted him to be her's.

Was she just a fool?

"I wasn't expecting you" John mumbled close to her ear, kissing her cheek carefully "I would have-"

"Been more diligent in concealment?" Lou found his tie and wondered how many others had fingered the silk, how many thought it soft, how many thought him hers...

...A fool such as I.

"Louise" more beg than annoyance in his voice, John struggled to contain his anger at himself, fury at Brian's lapse of foreclosure and even indignation at Paul's failed attempt at keeping Lou from the door.

"Go" Louise pushed him.

And he knew without being told...

Shower .... and scrub them all away.....

So he did.

A/N: slowly slowly..................... do you want them fighting or loving?