The Beatles are at Heathrow so says the news anchor on the BBC.

Brian called as soon as he was off the plane, the lads were being interviewed- how many questions are there to answer, how many flashes of a camera to take the same picture can there be.

Hours pass and I have Jim back to bed after his supper, he will be asleep in minutes, the massages and stretching exercises take a toll on him and he is a mess of grumps and anger by dinner time.

I hear yelling in the front yard and suddenly there they are, four conquerors of the world, on the doorstep. The rain has dampened their hair in the short dash from the car.

I 'shush' them all and see the bags of Chinese takeaway in Georges outstretched hands proffering them to me.

He's hungry and I best get up quickly from my position on the sofa.

Paul's questioning eyes reach mine and I hug him welcome "He's just gone to bed. Creep up have a squiz see if he's still awake" A fleeting kiss on the cheek is my reward as he pushes past the mass of bodies now shaking a rain shower off jackets in the living room.

The kitchen door is shut to block the sounds and the hungry tired lads are spooning food straight from the containers before I can get all the crockery out, the kettle is simmering away and should be boiled soon, I have the copper coloured large teapot ready and waiting.

Barely a word is uttered as they gorge, I can see they are tired, bone weary, from the travel and the huge tour that they had completed. Finally a cheeky smirk is sent my way by George and I am finally offered a plate but I'm not hungry, I haven't been for weeks, tea being my lifeblood forever now.

"You look a bloody mess, you do" John talks around a mouthful of sweet and sour battered something or other.

"And so it begins. Hello John, nice flight?" I growl, he just gets to the point whether he hurts your feelings or not.

"He's right you know. Look like deaths door to be truthful luv, sit down 'ere and I'll make the tea" Richie offers his chair and I slump, now they are here I seem to be able to breath again.

"I, mmmthummmyou eatmoer" George coughed out his version of 'I think you need to eat more', John thumps George's back as he splutters through a mouthful of fried rice.

"I mmmmm think you mmmmm should have developed manners by now" I retort and stand again, Ringo can't find the sugar I had placed on the bench less than two inches from his right wrist. A guffaw and nod of thanks given, I return to the table for some more titillating remarks.

John has my chin now and I poke my tongue out which he misses catching yet again, studying me with unwavering eyes.

Mal ducks in and tosses me a wave, he is itching to talk, shifting from hoof to hoof.

"All ready? Bags?" Mal's presence in the kitchen is overwhelming. Where the boys just fill the kitchen he would have it overflowing with just himself in it. Richie shoves him aside to deliver my tea.

"Well we are eating as you can see, nothings been sorted yet" John's eyes never leave my face all the while he is chatting to Mal.

"Paul?" Mal keeps going, I cast my eyes to the upstairs and get a nod of understanding. "Well Brian says-"

"Brian should shove off and let us alone, I'm knackered and hungry" George smiles through some noodles being sucked up through his lips, slurping them into his mouth and licking the sauce away afterwards.

I go to pass him the napkin then change my mind and dab and swipe the leftover sauce from his left cheek and his ear. Don't ask....

"Thanks, mudda"

"Just go home" John finally releases and drops my chin and turns to face Mal " there's enough room in what is it" he clicks his fingers twice "arrr that's right Missi Mini" he laughs and looks at me smiling.

"I'll go with Mal, Maureen's expecting me" Richie pipes up, standing giving me a kiss on the cheek "George, weren't you due in court, no not court; the doctors, with Pattie- early?" Ringo taps George on the head.

George groans and shovels faster now, eyes scooting up to mine every now and then, trying to convey apology for the animal that is currently residing at the dinner table.

Tea is sculled, more goodbye kisses are administered to my cheeks. The kitchen is quiet as now there are only two. Mal having got Richie and George out to the motor minutes ago.

"You sure you ain't crook.... pregers?" John questioned. On one hand concerned, quickly teasing on the other.

"Oh I'm not crook, John" I sigh and rub my face hoping up to clear the table, joined seconds later, another pair of hands tugging the dish rag from my fingers, plates quickly scraped clean for the compost bin. The hot soapy water filling the sink, seems enthralling to John, now the domestic Johness.

"So pregers then" he teases, I whack him on the shoulder and he has me in a hug, kissing my forehead noisily a big wet kiss which I have to wipe away with my hand once his lips are extracted.

"Such a rotten kisser, Johnny" I start washing up, a sweet kiss is placed close beside my lips.

"Stop washing and start looking at muggings 'ere, please missy" He isn't going to let up, so I am now being studied. Milk coffee brown eyes checking mine, and my disposition, by the kitchen sink.

"I'm just tired, Doctor Lennon" I try to explain but then I can't, standing there lost in the kitchen, lost in myself "...Just tired"

"When did you last eat?"

He has me at that question. I search my mind for the answer. I'm not quick and he looks grouchily at me "I had toast on, what's today? ummm Friday?" I stumble on the days, today is Monday apparently, and John is horrified, rushing round making me toast and marmalade as George didn't leave any Chinese take-way.

He then is leading me into the living room, I curl up on one end and he laying the other, with his legs over mine serving as a lumpy table.

As I wasn't speaking he started, filling me on their trip and the small highlights they managed to have. Paul must have passed out upstairs, we left him to it.

John began his story and I nibbled the toast, if I stopped he would kick the plate a tad and I would oblige him and eat another tiny triangle "....So yea, tiny little plane, you know, like a Buddy Holly special"

I gave a horrified look, just recalling the news of Buddy's demise was scary.

"um just one little wing either side and two engines. The guy, a rancher or somthin', flew it himself! Dark as Hades it was, mountains all over, and this bloke with a map on his knee and little torch in his gob saying 'I don't know where I am'!" He laughed his laugh that made you feel so happy inside "rubbing the windscreen trying to get rid of the condensation. Finally, he found where we were and we landed in a field in a tiny place Walnut Ridge I think, ask Paul, anyway tin cans on fire for the runway lights."

So you got there alright then"

"Arrr, yes but another seven seater plane from there to the ranch, Missouri, Alton" John jumped up grabbing my plate, putting it on the dining table before slipping closely down beside me, an arm over my shoulders. I loved Johns storytelling- animated and energetic making me feel like I was there alongside them all. He went on, continuing the story "Abbs it was a beautiful wilderness, the Ozark Mountains... middle of nowhere, fishing, horses, swimming in streams, got to shoot a gun too! Oh they even had go-karts! Brian's birthday was on the way back so we all sung happy Birthday and gave him his presents at midnight"

I yawned and snuggled into John "Did you all ride horses"

"mmmhmmm, Paul especially liked riding. Went out a couple of times" John sat up straighter and looked down his nose at me, checking I was awake.

Silence surrounded us, it was nice that we were talking normally again like friends, no tension or wayward thoughts clouding my mind, he nudged me softly and I met his sincere face "..So as you know we're back" stating the bloody obvious, I nodded and he smiled "Paul's to stay here a few days; And you. You young lady are coming to town with me- tonight........" John glanced past me towards the doorway "Awww, Paul mate, all good?"

Paul appeared at the door, a suitcase in his hand, my suitcase, I raised an eyebrow at him "What he said Abbs, off with John back to town. I'll take over, you're to have a well-deserved break"

"I'm taking her to the doctors then out for a big steak, she's skin an bones our Abbs is" John stood and held out a hand. I took it grumbling and upset.

Paul appeared beside us and also grumbled as he looked me over "Abigail, please take some time. We don't need you sick, alright"

"Don't worry I've got her sorted. I'll call here tomorrow. Keys to Missi Mini?"

"But Jims-"

I was fighting a losing battle I knew it as I began talking.

"It's sorted- no arguments, I have someone here with me to help tomorrow- go! And only come back when you're properly rested" as John put his jacket on Paul hugged me, whispering "Thank-you my Abigail, I could not wish for a better person for our Dad" A kiss on the cheek and I was bundled in my woollen coat and then into the black and red mini with John..

Then we were driving away into the night.