"Oh god ..... he warned me but I never for the life of me thought he would do it" George dropped a cigarette in the ash tray pushing down upon it to extinguish the remains. Another pack opened near instantly and George lit up yet again. "You aren't going to sit around here all day are you. Not your place the studio... should be home with Eve and a load of washing"

"Stop being a male chauvinist pig, Georgie" Lou made a grab for the smoke teetering in between his lips but George was too quick off the mark and dashed behind Ringo to save himself and the fag. "Hi Rings, fetch us that cigarette please"

Ringo snatched the cigarette so fast George was wondering how it got between Lou's lips "Better?"

"Thanks sweets" Louise didn't smoke often, left it up to others to take her load of nicotine, what with Evie right there she didn't want to show the youngster mummy with bad habits, although John puffed away like a train. Eve seemed to instinctively know it was a nasty habit and was oft caught tossing daddy's fags in the trash basket along with his discarded lyric rejections that seemed to litter every piece of paper and empty envelope in the sunroom.

Lou passed the cigarette back as George stepped from behind the drum kit "There you go, only wanted a drag and to annoy you first up. Can't be mucking you musical geniuses about in the middle of some symphony or something, can I"

"I just thought he was having a pull of me leg, you know. Haven't seen you in a month of Sundays" George hugged Lou to him, he did miss her, he did.... Really, he did, oh come on they aren't that bad are they? He does love his sister you lot! Well he has to, doesn't he! She's his sister.

George was all bones and skin, Lou liked his hugs though. He always had that wonderful ability to engulf you, all encompass you in his embrace "Awww, miss me did you all?"

"Maybe a teeny tiny smidge. Maybe, I just miss your chocolate cake. Maybe..... I miss Eve and you're a part of her entourage and I have to miss you when I miss her" George swung Lou about, to and fro "You did bring choc cake for morning tea, didn't you sista?"

"Let me go you're squishing my boobs"

George pushed Lou away like she was fire.

Stumbling back she smacked into a wall beside the door to the control room then moved forward a tad to smile with mirth at making George shudder so easily. Lou walked off toward John waving then turned about mid stride "Cakes in the break room"

"Yes!!! Thanks Louise!"

"Well George is happy" Lou leaned over the piano, it was an upright piano and looked ancient but the sound John was making told her this piano was a beauty. It sounded colourful, poetic and rich.  Yes rich, like a smooth melted chocolate.

Teacups cast empty littered the top, a half pint of milk in a glass bottle, sat right on the very corner- Paul's, yes he had a liking for milk and Lou couldn't remember a time she hadn't seen him have at least a swig from a bottle in someone's fridge.

"Told him bout the cake then"

"Ahuh, Hey baby" Louise swung an arm round Paul's waist and she was gifted a peck on the cheek.

"Hey sugar"

"Bloody Nora, get a room"

"If you insist...." Holding hands at arm's length, Lou clicked her fingers "Paul, you heard the man"

"Your place or mine. Hang on mines just up the street, be there in under ten"

"Oh, nice one for a quickie Paulie, good thinking McReady"

"Gawd Lou, you do know how to make a man grin" Paul's indulgent grin was as sexy as it was teasing and as he smirked with Lou he realised he missed the girl with the razor tongue and equally annoying but endearing qualities. Them buying out of town was nice for the family but not so good for nipping round for a cup of OXO, chat or game of Monopoly.

"And grimace"

"Awww Johnny I'll bring him back to you, promise. You won't be without the love of your life for no more than ...." Lou shot a look at the clock above the door "four hours"

"Four hours!" John banged a hand down on the keys making a clang, no one blinked, it was just John making noise, nothing to be gawking at "She'll be done in 10"

"Hours!?" Paul grinned, playing their games.

"Minutes! Huh! no, no, no Johnny stop telling fibs" Lou tittered happily grabbing Paul's arm hugging him with both of hers.

"Seconds" John cackled and quickly protected himself as Lou launched at him in a fit of giggles "Ahhhh why have I not brought my girl in to the studio before Paulie?" John moved her hair aside, kissing her neck softly "you're like a breath of fresh air in here, making me smile" Lou sat on Johns lap as he wound his hands around her "Need to move to the mellotron for this intro but I better have a practice first"

"John, that art woman is at the front desk asking for you again" Neil shoved his hands in his pockets and walked off without waiting for a response. Lou turned slowly on Johns lap.

"Want me to go Johnny" Paul offered as John faced Lou forward again, resting his chin on her shoulder.

Tapping the keys he ignored Paul, Neil's message and now Lou's fidgeting. "She'll leave if I don't show up"

"The letter woman" Lou huffed out as she realised why John wasn't heading to reception "Does she do this lots then?" Lou was half turned about again, John was busy fingering the keys of the piano silently "John?"

"She comes by regularly" Paul brokered a response as Lou stood up, John took her hand, pulling Louise to make her sit back down "She'll shove off soon enough, no bother"

"Can I see her" Lou questioned quietly, John shook his head "John she's driving me mental with the letters"

"What letters?" Paul pulled a chair over towards the pair at the piano and leaned forward to dash ash off his cigarette to the big old tin on the floor left there for the job. John shook his head in the negative behind Lou trying to stop Paul opening a can of worms.

"She writes him daily. Prose, art stuff, thoughts on higher thinking, dreams" Louise wiggled about, but John wouldn't let her up "John, let me go speak to her. Tell her to bugger off"

"No luv, she'll.... She's .... She won't stop. I tried to placate her with the art sponsorship but it's like she thinks I'm open for business now"

"So, I tell her to bugger off" Lou stood up and Paul looked up at her determined face, chin set.

"You can't Louie" Paul tugged Lou's shirt tail to pull her back from heading to the door, momentarily pausing her "Bad publicity and all that"

Lou spun about, angry now, her eyes glaring into Paul then off to the side to John "I. don't. Care. About publicity... I care that she is hounding us. Not only here but at Kenwood too. Let go of me"

"Let her go Paul" John nodded while Paul looked on bewildered as Lou marched out of the studio "She'll see she has nothing to be worried about"

"You didn't tell her, did you"

" 'Course not"

"And when our crazy fan blabs that she has already met with you....."

"Fuck"

"You said you and Lou were ok though, right...." John picked up an empty teacup staring into the leaves left drying in the well "Lou's got nought to worry about, right?" Paul pushed the chair away and as John sat staring at the teacup perched on the piano keys Paul leaned over him with anger in his eyes, chin firmly set and eyes flashing "Cause if you hurt our Lou, I'll fucking clobber you"

Lou strode purposely down the linoleum hallways, a scarce few technicians darted in and out of various studios hauling cables, microphones and paperwork. John had been explaining that all of the boys now took part in what the technicians did now, especially the control room with Mister Martin. It seemed like only yesterday they were all minding their p's and q's with yes sirs, no sirs.... now they were masters of their domain.

It made Lou proud of the way they had grown, the body of music seemed to be travelling ever higher, expanding with more interest, depth and insight. And the words Lou had seen written on the napkin for Strawberry Fields well they were different but so John, so utterly delicious and telling. John was always able to write gobbledygook and make it expand your way of thinking

'Nothing is real, nothing to get hung about' that was one of the lines. His drug use had soared and tapered over the years and Lou held on. Held on to him when he was down, sat beside him and enjoyed him when he was up higher than a kite; talking fast, spinning like a top. She held him and hoped it wasn't too tight and that something of them was real.

*

Oh, Lou thought, surely not.

Mid stride Louise had spotted the woman. Oh, she was different alright. All dark and mysterious, so different to anyone Lou had ever seen. No fan looked like this woman and she was a woman definitely not a girl nor teen....

That, Lou could live with, understand.... Know how to put them in their place, placate them with an 'I Love The Beatles' sticker or an autograph she gifted them from the pile Brian had John sign for homework.

Desperately wanting to run away Lou pushed herself ever forward. Feeling small, feeling insignificant inside Louise needed all her mettle to outwardly shine, glisten and feel confident in knowing she was always, always Johns.

She had to:; it was the only way to face them, when all of these female forces pressed onto him while she watched on.

"Hello"

"Hello"

"I'm, I'm Louise. I'm John Lennon's wife. Would you be the lady who is writing us letters" Louise let her eyes roam over the lady, shorter but strongly built she had a white suit on with a floppy white hat, her hair thick, ever so dark, long an curly.

Everything opposite to Louise.
Louise was that quintessential pale English rose in complexion, her brunette locks now highlighted with streaks of golden blonde. Tall, willowy, long legs; her tan skirt dusted her thigh just above her knees and the pale lime shift top was cute; covered in daisies, lace edging the sleeves.

"Oh no I only write to John" giggling to herself the lady wandered about. Looking up the hallway for John, no doubt.

"He's not coming you know"

"Oh yes, he said he would" stopping to make the words stickle that little bit more, she continued and stared at Lou as she did so "He said he would the other night"

That bloody bastard, he's already had her. I'll murder him for not warning me. Bloody Lennon's pants. Lou masked her discomfort and let her face settle into a blank, and hopefully, non-emotional looking mess. Devoid of any nuance of pain or loathing.

"You need to leave"

"No"

"You need to leave before I turf you out down those damn stairs"

"John will come. We are the same"

"What the hell is that supposed to even mean. No don't answer that.... Look please leave or I will call the police"

"You will tell him I was here?"

"Oh, he will hear that you were here alright"

"Thank-you"

Walking the woman toward the front door slowly Louise caught a glimpse of herself and this woman in the windows reflection. So different they were. So opposite. Was she all he needed, was she not enough, was this person so different to steal him away.

"Louise! Wait, hang on" John was approaching at a pace, far too fast for inside a building, annoyance and guilt tumbling altogether over his features as his eyes shot from one woman to the other.

He needed to decide, he needed time but none would be given. Louise would not let him think or procrastinate or dally, she would want it straight and that's what he liked about her. No nonsense, no quibbling. Straight.

But the artist was so different, so bold
Ideas dropped she plucked from outer space it seemed and flowing seamlessly from her.

So different they were, one nurturer one engager. One a known entity, one an enigma.

"I told you he would come, I-"

"Shut up and keep walking out that door"

"Louise wait, bring her in this office here"

"What? No! She was just leaving!"

"I need to talk to her, to you. Us, I need.... Com'on, in the office, there's too many prying eyes out here" John grabbed Louise and followed the shorter woman into the office, the door closing on the staff and receptionist that had witnessed the Beatle and company tussling at the main entrance.

Louie smashed an open palm against Johns face and his eyes flew to hers. His hand caught hers, they glared at each other; one in the midst of pain and the other feeling addled confusion at his minds warring about these two woman.

Finally, breaking the spell, Louise wrestled herself out of his clutches and backed toward the desk.

John understood – the hurt, the embarrassment, the knowledge of one of the many women he had intercourse with was here, right here, right up in Lou's face.

Like a prime time commercial of his sexual promiscuity shoved in her face.

"I told you it was a mistake" John turned to his right looking at the smugness etched on the little woman's face.

She had opened his eyes that day. His mind was always craving for more...

More interesting ideas, more insights, more knowledge and she let her hands soothe him, tiny fingers walking across his skin unlike Louise- not better, just different and coupled with her tiny knowing voice whispering prose, noises, chants.  Almost flooding his brain, she lulled him, changed his direction.

He let her take the upper hand.

Unlike the norm, where John was king, this one manipulated him with words, then the sex...

The sex almost seemed like an inconsequential part of it all and that was the biggest issue with all of this. He was turned on and fucked by her mind.

Was Louise the past and this person now the future?

John found Lou's eyes and he saw sadness and love and the knowledge of them, their time, their history. He loved her still but wanted more, he should tell her, explain, give them both the chance to discover a new future before he slammed the door.

Tiny fingers wrapped around his wrist.

Staring at the fingers encircling his arm he heard her whispers, glancing at the woman that could be his destiny or his demise John breathed deeply. The fingers pressed, the whispers of 'yes' blew a fog of indecision across his mind.

Eyes closed. Whenever is living easy he thought... This was torture, and horrid for all involved with his insipid internal battles.

Money, that's what she appeared in his life for.

Paul had palmed her off to him because of his involvement with Indica taking up a chunk of his days. So, she had been dashed off to John. First off the song lyrics for someone's birthday, then the meetings for the art show, then finally, the actual show.

Was it all just money and fame she craved of him?

Truth be damned.

John had always had a hard time working out what a person new to them really wanted from them all. Was it fake- for money, fame, notoriety..... or real- honest to goodness friendship and connection.

It was all too much to trust anyone point blank nowadays, except Louise, she was his sounding board, his true north.

Stepping further into the room, the fingers kept hold.

And as he moved forward they grasped like vines.

Clinging, tangling, trying to snag onto anything to get a foothold,

John stepped closer to her and leaned in to warn her to let go and step back out of his space "Let. Go"

Fingers fell away and John was free to walk in any direction.

His cheek was red and inflamed, burning from her palm, the pain had been felt sharply.

But she was allowed to dose him with her medicine in whichever way she chose. She was allowed to.

For she was Louise.

He was indebted to her for his current life, his peace, his smiles, his daughter; and her's was the side of the room he stepped toward.