Time ticked, days passed, Louie's sex drive waned and soared. Paul visited sometimes but not often, the other times she let the ache gnaw at her.

John was better, he went out of house for his diet of takeaway sex to which she was thankful and they settled into an uneven road of familiarity.

Louie didn't mind really.

It was much better than fighting with him.

Really...it was.

She cooked, cleaned, mended his shirts from girls ripping them and darned the holes in his socks that he insisted on wearing without shoes or slippers.

He would leave for a few days' worth of gigs then be back, arriving at the flat in the dead of the night.
She slept in his bed those nights he was far away, feeling safer. Even though he wasn't there for all those lonely dark hours. Somehow the maleness lingered gifting her some sense of safety.

On his return, for the rest of that night, she let him cuddle close to her body, spooning her as they settled back into sleep.

"One egg or two?" Louise tapped the egg to crack it open on the side of the frypan and let it slip into the ring watching the oil sizzle around it as it hit the heat.

"Oh two please, ta" He was the picture of relaxed man about the house, nothing to do but sit in his stripy pj's and dark navy blue dressing gown all day, with his sock covered feet on the other kitchen chair reading the daily paper. A cup of tea was set in front of him and a 'thanks luv' muttered but never did his eyes flicker upwards.

Louise liked it best when he was in no hurry, he would scuttle out the door with barely a ta-rah most days or evenings and even though he had said not more than ten words this morning, most of those in answer to a question about his breakfast, she enjoyed the moment immensely.

Like a window into another dimension she could imagine happy families... mother baking a cake or like right now frying the bacon and eggs. Children dashing about and love, loads of love of course in the house, in the home.

Last weekend she felt like the waitress, he ordered the breakfast and she cooked and served and cleared away. Today there was hardly any difference, but she let her mind wander dreamily to where it truly would like to be.

Setting down his bacon, eggs, beans and fried bread he grinned like a school boy, fresh faced and stupendously happy with the sight before him.

"Oooooh Louie, fried bread, haven't had that since forever" She was granted an enormous grin as he finally dragged his eyeballs away from the laden plate.

"Well it's not the most healthiest of foods, so I'm not cooking it often, we don't want a chubby Beatle, do we now" Louise laughed then pushed his socked feet off her chair and sank down. Her feet were sore already and it was only a bit past half nine in the morning!

John bit a huge chunk of oily, slightly crunchy toasty bread away and munched it in near glee, trying to say something in retort but only getting out a "Immmmnotfattmmm"

"I didn't say you were, I meant I'm not making it for you every time we have hot breakfast"

"Once a month then, Mimi" He grinned, a little oil smeared on his chin Lou swiped it with the tea-towel and slapped his arm for the Mimi name calling.

All day they sat around the house or in the back garden in the sun, soaking the few rays that flooded down when the sun shone from behind a fluffy white cloud that had been drifting lazily by.

Reading the newspaper or a book, listening to the records that John had received in his monthly mailing of new LPs and drinking loads and loads of tea.

Not so much an exciting day but pleasant, comfortable like a well-worn favourite pair of shoes.

And lunch, it went by forgotten, the big breakfast had them sated for the hours inbetween breakfast and dinner.

Louise had thoughts of a beef stew at two and stood to chop the vegetables she would need, John followed and without words they peeled, chopped, and tossed in what they wanted, bickering over the amount of salt and pepper to add.
As the stew softened and thickened with tasty gravy sauce, Louise secretly made dumplings while John showered. He loved them she knew and was sure to top off his day when he had dinner.

"You sit down there, I can ladle out a bit of stew out Louise" John charged off through the living room to the kitchen. He had been hankering for the meal for an hour or so, ever since the delicious aroma had invaded his nose.

With memories of scoffing a warm plateful down on the fly as he fled, scrambling off out of Mendips to the Grapes or Cavern, or wherever he was to meet his mates. It brought back pleasant feelings of hours of fun, home, a tasty belly full of grub for the nights escapades.

Lou again relaxed into the couch, her feet up on the coffee table, she silently thanked John for taking over the serving of dinner, her feet were killing her and she smiled in anticipation, waiting for the exclamation.

"Dumplings!!! Woohoo"

Louise grinned delighted, as she heard him clanging about, waiting for him to bring the two bowls of dinner through to their spot in the lounge. John kissed her cheek quickly, just a friendly peck, and handed her a bowl complete with red and white tea -towel for the heat then moved around the small table to sit on the floor then he was changing his mind, swiftly altering his position to lay flat on his stomach over a big cushion, bowl set on the floor under his nose, spoon at the ready.

He looked up and smiled, a comfortable smile, happy where he was. Lou was stirring the meal around, lips pursed blowing the heat away and John watched as the swirling steam lifted over her face as she broke a section of dumpling away, dabbing it in the gravy to eat.

He'd wondered if he could be happy like this, domestic and quiet.

Some days he wanted it, this, desperately and other's he just wanted noise, fans screaming and girls hanging off him. He couldn't make up his mind to which he preferred- the noise or the silence, today though it was all about the silence, Lou's presence and stability.

****

After dinner George, Rings and Paul turned up.

Monopoly tucked under one arm George grinned at his sister, the rivalry from childhood quickly washed over Lou as George knew it would. The Harrison sibling's famous rivalry took away any sleepiness she had felt.

George had the game spread all over the floor, colourful money everywhere, choosing his favourite token out of the drawstring bag, the dog, he placed it on 'GO.'

"Move it up here for Louise, son" John tapped George on the back of the head with a socked foot to wake him up to the fact Lou was in no shape to wallow on the floor. Well she could but it wouldn't be comfortable.
The location was quickly changed to the coffee table, and even though Louise was still a tad uncomfortable, John found a way to fix it.

"OK Lou and I are team Lennon" John announced making the other boys grumble that it was two against each one of them. "Stop your groaning, Lou can manage the finances and I'll drive the auto and spin sixes for us"

Sorted and decided the game went on and on, hours of tussles and nearly bankrupt players selling properties to live another day, Lou yawning every so often, leaning on John as she did so.

"Stop yawning sis" George muttered as he crawled to gather up the dice that Richard had flung across the room in a mini fit of annoyance at landing on
'Go To Jail- Do Not Pass Go!'.

Richy now languished in jail awaiting a double.

"I can't, I'm tired"

John kissed Louise's forehead as he spun their turn and pointedly hugged her for appearances sake, although his hand lingered on her knee. She tried not to think about, or place any more importance on his touch... as his hands warmth radiated through the material of her navy stockings.

Paul watched the proceedings from his perch on the arm of the chair, slightly back and above John on the sofa he saw all as it occurred and wished they would be doing all this, not for appearances sake but for real, two of his mates that he felt should be more.
He kicked himself a tad for stuffing around with Louise but her magnetism and obvious horniness and Johns ignoring the fact thereof, outweighed his small amount of guilt. John's loss made it his gain, had him bedding her with ease and they had both enjoyed one of lifes delightful pleasures.

"George pack up. Your bankrupt, no denying" Louise grinned at her brother as he grimaced, then in seconds, he was all toothy grumbly grin as he caught her eye. She tooted her own imaginary triumphant horn "Louise - winner again... oh and Johnny, my chauffeur".

"Rematch, one week, same time, same place" George raised an eyebrow in question "I lose- I babysit one month's worth. I win- you make me dinner every week for a year"

"You're on, oh and George....... keep two months from now free, you loser" Lou stretched and accidently on purpose kicked Georges thigh making him groan "Baby will be here by then and very, very loud I expect... I shall need a month's break thank-you very muchly!"

*****

After all the goodbyes and clean-ups of empty snack packets and beer bottles John escorted Lou down the hall laughing about George and his obviously silly wager.

They were getting along awfully well.

"Louise come in 'ere, let's keep warm luv" John spoke in his funny high pitched voice trying to deflect the real want he had for her to nestle with him, he missed the warmth and companionship as they chatted hours into the night. The way they would when he had been away for gigs.

Sleepy and not bothered at all by his request she changed in her room then returned and dropped onto, what had become her side of the bed.
The pink long nightgown flowing over her body tangled with her ankles as she shuffled into the sheets and John handed her pillows to make her comfortable, settling beside her when the light was off his body pressed against her's. They chatted for a little while til they both yawned more than talked. Goodnight's were offered up and the two fell asleep.

*****
xxxx....

She woke with him looking down upon her the next morning, the look in his eye not hiding the fact that he wanted her. Molten, darkened eyes drank her curves, touched upon her breasts and lingered on her lips.

She hesitated moments, she had forgotten the deal lately, just being.... contented, happy, existing in their bubble of domesticity.

No not today though.

She threw the proverbial paper deal away and wound her fingers in his hair, drawing him closer.

Once was ok.

They melded together and Paul must have told him things because he wouldn't have known otherwise, she queried his adeptness to the situation. "Paul?" She smiled calmly as she let him recover.

"He may have given me some pointers. Can't blame man for studying the form, can you?"

"No you can't..." she straddled him thinking he had had enough rest "But there's always a curve ball thrown in, makes for a little mystery doesn't it" She teased him as she wove carefully above, her tummy was a large distraction. He touched it gingerly like it was a balloon and would pop at any moment.

"I feel a bit funny, like is junior looking at my cocckkk?" John lost his sentence as she began taking him inside.

"Junior?" Lou found paradise and swept herself away ever so carefully, every move was exquisite.

Capturing his lips, when she could reach, she drank her fill. Every tingle, every touch exploding her senses and his it seemed, he was reaching a heady zenith faster than he had with other flings.

Her body so different than all the others, but just as or more erotically sensual. And the feelings as she surrounded him were closer, tighter and more distracting than he dared admit. He had to consciously hold himself back from tumbling too soon over the brink.

John went to move her on her side to take her from behind. He held her breasts carefully 'cause she would hiss with pain if he squeezed too hard. Studying her body he found curves where before was flatness. She had a nice arse now- she was leveller than the wall in that department prior. He took his time, unhurried and filled her with part of himself then lay back on the bed as she recovered.

Then it happened as it so often did with John, always thinking, always debating.

Johns brain started whirling out of control at a hundred miles an hour.

He wondered if her breasts would shrivel up when the baby finished feeding.

Would she be all jiggly?

And, ugh dare he imagine it, loose down below, too?

John tried not to shiver in disgust at the thought but didn't quite manage to hide the matter from his eyes.

He rolled over on his side then sat perched on the side of the bed backing off quickly before she had a chance to catch a breath. Looking back once more he moved her legs away from next to him.

She lay there staring at him and threatened him silently with her clouded, upset eyes, already knowing his mind. John was shuttering hastily, closing shop to her.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that" John stood and pulled his trousers on "Was a mistake"

"You didn't fucken slip John"

"When did your mouth get so nasty"

"When you decided to become a huge arse-wipe and decide to try a new type of sexual leaning - pregnant lady fucking- just for the experience. Get out"

"It's my room, Louise"

"Not today it isn't"

Sobbing into the lone pillow she hadn't thrown at him as he left the room, she found herself once again alone. Why John was so stupid was beyond her comprehension and she wondered if they would, or could ever, be on the same page.

Because his movements, at times, around her, held his truth. She could feel when he had positive feelings for her like last night and at first light this very morning then, just as easily he would make her mad, like right now, ignorant and horrid he turned and she hated it.

Lou felt betrayed by her heart because it wanted so much to be loved, that real true love, the once in a lifetime love that everyone in the world deserved. She wanted it for her, and the baby she would have oh so soon.

Lou was so very afraid she wouldn't have enough to give on her own.