George was off deep-sea fishing and John had his nose stuck in another book, lazing back on green grass up in the shade beside a gorgeous waterfall. They had discovered the idiylic spot while walking on one of the first few days after they had arrived in the paradise. 

It was something of a novelty to see John so enamoured with books, he just never seemed to bother at home. He was more interested in the telly, going nose to nose with Paul over another tune, feasting his eyes all over the newspapers- even the stuff covering the fish and 'chups' or trying to get into my pants, Lou grinned he was so good at that, she sighed as she fixed her hair and slipped into her dress. 

Guess he just didn't have the time to actually finish a book these days, so why start one....

So soon it will be ....... hopefully he will be ever so pleased, I can't wait to see him smile so wide again.

"Oh gorgeous!" Pattie did a twirl in her pink shift and they grinned at each other "Everything looks smashing Louise" Pattie started helping Lou with her makeup, dabbing softly, making everything good about Louise, look ravishingly so.

"Thanks for all the help Pattie I couldn't have done it without you. Do you think John will listen to you when you go to get him? He can be a lazybones sometimes" Lou smiled at her reflection not too much makeup just enough to help the light tan she had, glitter and glow to perfection.

"I'll just tell him they need him for Evie if he doesn't move" Pattie smiled at Lou in the mirror from her position behind Lou "Don't worry, George is back and ready although he hasn't a clue! I am so excited I could scream .... John is going to freak!"

***

The waters of the lagoon were smooth, glittery and covered in a mass of blooms, colours shimmering as the orchids and hibiscus drift about by the waters edge.

The beach cleared of clutter of the winds damage the night before.

The archway was adorned with palms fronds and more gorgeous orchids and hibiscus beauty. The greenery making the flowers even more vibrant. A path of blooms led from the rain forest track, that meandered through the palms, to the arch at the shore oceaned in the golden sand.

The sun was at that point in the day where the sky was aflame with colour so alive with natures beauty you wanted to touch it and keep it in the palm of your hand forever.

"Heaven" Lou breathed "so beautiful". 

The chief was here to conduct the ceremony a donation to his clan all the motivation needed to join the assembled staff, tribe's men and women and Lou on the beach. 

All she needed now was George, Pattie and of course, John.

Lou took Evie and stood under the arch way, this was it.

This was real love, on her terms.

A young boy, barely ten years of age, appeared waving his arms frantically as he scooted across the warm sand toward Louise, they were on their way. He smiled and held Lou's hand for a few moments. He was gorgeous and Lou wanted to take him home, he was so cute.

She gulped a little.

John was shy.

Underneath it all he was fundamentally shy, with all the bravado and ruckus that surrounded the Beatles John coped. He would develop butterflies before massive shows or feel ill going deathly white on occasion struggling  to hide it from the reporters that tailed them. But mostly, he got on with it. Just thinking the entire Beatles circus as just a job. That's how he managed the worst days and every single time... he made it all look effortless and easy.

Lou looked around, most of the group assembled had been around him all week, it should be ok, he won't be too put out by the happens on the beach.

George broke out onto the beach first and his mouth fell open then a grin emerged as he cottoned onto what was in front of him.

Pattie had somehow stopped John, spun him round at the last minute and was pinning a hibiscus in his shirt as they broached the tree line. She let him go and he strolled onto the beach still unawares. His glasses were perched on his nose and his fingers pushing them up as he took in the islanders stood waiting for him.

The hibiscus path took his eyes toward the lagoon then he spotted them, his girls stood under an arch structure that wasn't there yesterday or even this morning. Louise smiles and held out her hand for him to come to her.

"What's all this then" John asked in the moments they had alone as the chief was ferried from the shade of the large palm tree up the beach. Pattie and George stood close as John looked over Louise in a thin white cotton shift dress, it didn't hug the curves, it didn't have to, he knew where they were.

I'm marrying you" Lou handed Evie off to Pattie in a rehearsed move and sank down in the sand. If John wasn't embarrassed about the whole shebang before, he certainly was now what with Louise on her knees in front of him.

She took his hand in hers.

"John" Lou waited a moment to make him draw his eyes off the lagoon and the blooms bobbing around to her "John, will you marry me- again .... properly this time, for real"

John watched Louise pull at that lip of her's, so beautiful she was. Giving him a home and a bub, Evie smiled at him and his heart melted a little more. "A thousand times yes, Louise"

"Thank Christ, my leg was going to sleep" Lou teased, recalling what had happened when Lou had made John wait so long, the first time outside the green grocers that night in Liverpool. John helped Lou up and everybody turned toward the chief stood waiting with the sea on his shoulders and sand at his feet.

Johns mind screamed. What in blazers is going on here, I've been kidnapped and dropped in the middle of a wedding, apparently my wedding.

And I want to be here.

That was the biggest revelation. 

From that first-time fiasco to this here in the sand, the revelation that I want to stand here, not run, not drink to oblivion. John gazed into Lou's eyes ..... God, she's everything.

Lou took Evie back and the two girls stood holding hands with John, a circle, their circle of life.

With the sketchy English that the chief knew and the small bits of Polynesian Lou, Pattie and the boys had picked up, they understood the words. Like in a normal ceremony the chief spoke of love and binding and caring and holding each other safe in life. Louise let a tear edge down her face as she met Johns eyes over Evie's head he was here and smiling and holding her hand, so handsome and smart and witty if she got a tenth of him that would be enough.

His eyes right now though, promised everything.

Lou smiled and watched him carefully take her tears she had shed in happiness away.

It was Lou's turn, she wanted to thank some people before everyone scattered to the hungi dinner that had been prepared, all day it was baking under the sand, fire to cook covering it on top.

"Ok, firstly thank-you chief for all your words and kindness for letting us on your island. Ummm my dashing tribesmen thank-you for all this on the beach and the waters. All the staff for the past week and the night to come, thank-you" Lou nodded to them all and many began drifting away to their duties as was planned now Lou stood straight and turned to George "Georgie can I have a word"

Louise took George by the hand and John watched them walk up the beach, George strolling the lapping shore and Lou trying to stay dry, Lou stopped and hugged George to her. Causing George to look at Lou like she was going balmy in the sun.

"George, I love you I just wanted to thank-you properly for forgiving me and John and organising everything with Evie"

"What for? This is your day. Bloody awesome job by the way had no idea!"

"Georgie, you really came through for Evie, however upset you were with me you battled on and came through for John and me, especially for Evie she's so lucky to have her Uncle George"

"Louise I'd do anything for that little angel and her annoying troublesome mother too. You're two of my favourite girls in the world"

"Now I'm gonna cry"

"Don't Louise, look over there. John and Evie, Pattie too, come on time to have a party I say! Race you back hairy legs" George fled down the beach spinning around to poke a childish but happy tongue out at Lou then nearly falling head first into the waves as he lost his bearings in the spin.

"Heyyyy! Cheeky!" Lou let the water cover her feet as she meandered back along the shore line John watching her every step. The way her hair escaped and floated about her face like a halo.

Pattie and George gathered up Evie and Louise found herself face to face with the man she had said I do to, twice! John rescued a few hibiscus from the sand and pushed them behind Lou's ears.

"You are the sneakiest, cleverest cutest wife I have every had" John kissed Lou's cheek then lips softly as he hugged her close. Letting the sunset's decadent vista envelope them on the lonely beach as it swiftly deepened, drifting quickly to scarlet and ochre hues, then as evening fell, it darkened close around them.

"Whatever happens I have this right now. I'll hold it as tight as I can near my heart" Lou let a tear slip as John brushed her lips with his then caught the tear as it rolled slowly down her cheek.

"Hey no tears"

"They're happy ones, Winnie. For us. I just can't believe we are at this point ..... here today, come together as one and we are happy, aren't we"?

"Ecstatically so, baby"

"And tomorrow?"

"Every day in everyway"

"You're such a softy Lennon. Come on husband, let's feast on food cooked in leaves that's sat 6 foot under the ground all day!" Lou began to drag John down the beach but it was no good he wanted these moments to last as long as possible.

For it wasn't forever this place, this utopia of happiness

It was a fleeting and fragile fragment of time.

The next pause in the mayhem of mania, he didn't know when it would be.

Would it be a month, days, weeks and even then, would the world stop and pause, let them get on with the job of being a family without a police escort to the supermarket or fans trying to break in.

But they had today ......... and that was a good start to all of the tomorrows to come.