Whilst Brian and Lillie were on their way to Roger's flat,  the three other members of Queen were already there waiting. Freddie, Roger and John were all sat around waiting for the two others, Roger laid out on the sofa lazily, Freddie leaning against the wall singing quietly to warm his voice up, John sat on a window sill looking out at the street below. The three were in a comfortable silence, until Roger sat up, flicking his sunglasses off and shooting a grin towards John. The bassist frowned, knowing nothing good ever came from that expression on Roger's face.

"What do you think you would do, John?" Roger asked, failing to hide his grin. "You know, if Brian asked Lillie out?"

Freddie let out an excited gasp and ran over to the sofa, sitting on the arm, looking between the two, suddenly interested in the topic at hand. Who could blame him really, since Brian's interest in Lillie left them all wondering what he would do. Not just because they weren't used to Brian showing an interest in women, but because it was John's best friend, someone he described as his sister. The prospect of Brian having a crush on someone John referred to as his sister had left Freddie and Roger placing bets on how the whole thing would play out.

They'd instantly picked up on how Brian was acting around her. Sure, she had been absolutely stunning that night at her gig, and she was electric to watch perform, but Freddie had seen Brian act the exact same way the day after in the shop. Lillie had left a lasting impression on her best friend's band, but especially on Brian. To him, she was something special, and Freddie and Roger couldn't help but tease him about it.

Except they thought they would be teasing Brian from afar, not expecting John to outright suggest inviting her along. However, John's suggestion of inviting Lillie was met with the enthusiasm of the whole band, and none of them were more excited than Brian. John found it quite sweet the way Brian had instantly taken a shine to Lillie, and it wasn't like he couldn't see why. Lillie was lovely, and John knew she struggled to make friends, so to see his band instantly bond to her was almost liberating for him. Except it wasn't just a friendship he could see forming between Lillie and Brian, even if they'd only met twice before, and even if Brian didn't know it yet completely, John could tell he was absolutely smitten.

"None of my business, really," John shrugged, spinning round on the desk chair he was sat on to face Roger.

"Yes, we know that, but you always say she's like your little sister," Freddie pointed out.

"Yeah, and can't you remember how Fred acted the last time I flirted with his sister?" Roger laughed as Freddie narrowed his eyes at the drummer almost angrily before laughing himself.

"Exactly! Except that was Roger, I'm sure Brian would never dare flirt with Kash," Freddie spoke.

"He never flirts with anyone!" Roger pointed out. "Then all of a sudden, Deacy introduces us to Lillie and she's all he can talk about, it's a bit ridiculous to be honest, he never shows this much interest in anyone, doesn't that bother you, John?"

"Not really, Lillie can make up her own mind, it's not like I don't trust Brian either," John spoke casually, and he was telling the truth.

John knew Lillie. He knew her far better than any of the other boys could even hope to, even Brian. He knew all the pain she'd felt, all the sad times she'd been through. Sure, his memories were full of the happy times, but he could also remember the times when she'd cry into his chest as if she was well and truly broken, and those memories hurt John. He never wanted her to ever feel that way again, and he was protective over her to ensure her feelings were never hurt. However, he understood she was her own person that could make up her own mind but also know John would be there for her regardless. To him, it didn't matter who she liked, who she fell in love with, as long as she was happy and the other person loved her as much as she loved them. Lillie's happiness meant more to John than any other protective, big brother-like emotion.

"So if Brian took her out on a date? Kissed her? Even shagged her? You'd be alright with that?" Roger asked again. John cringed ever so slightly at his choice of words.

"As long as she says yes and is happy," he said, making Roger laugh.

"I mean, I can't really see Brian getting the courage together to do any of that," Freddie shook his head. "If he does though, I can't believe you'd be that calm,"

"No I would be," John nodded. "I mean, I'd threaten Brian's like if he ever hurt her, but I think Lee can look after herself, and Brian's not that sort of guy, really, is he?"

It was true. Brian could be stupid when it came to love a lot of the time, but he would never intentionally hurt anyone, especially not someone he cared about. And the way John was looking at it, both Brian and Lillie seemed right for each other. Lillie often appeared quiet and thoughtful, almost shy, before you really got to know her, much like John, but as soon as she got over her nerves and began to feel comfortable, she was wild. She was funny, witty, and enthusiastic, and all of it seemed to collide into her magnetic personality, making her unforgettable to those who got to know her. It had drawn John to her when they were younger, but now it was drawing Brian in, Brian who was just as quietly passionate as Lillie.

"No, you're absolutely right, Deacy, he's not that kind of guy and he'd be lucky to end up with Lillie," Freddie nodded in agreement, making Roger scoff.

"Oh, yeah? Alright, I bet you that by the end of the month they're together!" Roger called, jumping up from the sofa.

"Rog, there's only two weeks left of the month," John pointed out, gesturing over to the calendar hung up on the wall, flicked to August of 1974. Roger merely shrugged, not even breaking eye contact with Freddie, smirking at him.

"Oh, go on then!" Freddie cried, shaking Roger's hand on the bet.

It was that exact moment that the door opened an in walked Brian and Lillie, the two of them both carrying their guitar cases. At the sight of Lillie, who was evidently nervous at the situation, John got up with a grin and pulled her into a hug. With the heeled shoes she was wearing Lillie was almost as tall as him, so she reached up and ruffled the man's long hair with a grin. He ducked out of her reach, mumbling something about her being a pain, but the grin on his face told them all she was anything but. Brian's own expression was matching John's, and upon seeing the small smile on the guitarist's face, Roger lent back over towards Freddie.

"End of the month, I'm telling you," he hissed, making Freddie let out a laugh, hitting Roger's arm.

The two newcomers spotted this exchange, making Lillie shoot them a questioning look, whilst Brian merely glared at the two, knowing what they were laughing at. Freddie got up from the seat he'd been lounged in, hitting Roger's arm again, the drummer still sniggering.

"Hi Freddie, hi Roger," Lillie smiled, John's arm still wrapped around her shoulder, and she was glad for his moral support.

"Hello, Lillie, dear," he greeted, pulling the girl into a hug. "I hope Brian wasn't a nuisance on the drive over,"

"Thanks, Fred," Brian muttered, rolling his eyes with a small smirk as he went over to where Roger's drums were placed in the corner of the room, taking his beloved guitar out of its case, beginning to tune it.

Roger noticed the small smile on his friend's face and the urge to tease him was almost overwhelming. Roger was expecting him to be defensive or nervous when it came to hanging out with the band and Lillie, though in that moment he seemed almost calm, occasionally looking up from his guitar to glance up at the woman. Brian hadn't been in that many long term relationships since knowing Roger, but when he had, he was normally overwhelmed by it all. He didn't seem too overwhelmed at that point, mostly just serene.

As the person who'd known Brian the longest, that left Roger thinking one thing; only a few days into knowing Lillie Sparrow, Brian May was falling hard. He wasn't acting overwhelmed, not even jealous. His calmness was, if anything, nerves, and Roger didn't blame him. It had been a long time since Brian had interacted with a woman, especially one he seemed so fond of so quickly. It would be weird for him not to be nervous.

Either way, Roger was still going to rip into him for it.

"How was the drive?" Roger teased as he wandered over to his drums.

"It was fine," Brian muttered, slinging the guitar strap over his shoulder. Although he was trying to avert his focus, he caught sight of Lillie and John sat on the sofa Roger had previously been laid on, Lillie tuning her own guitar whilst Freddie sat by the two.

"Bri..." Roger muttered to him, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "You having a crush on Deacy's best mate, huh? That's kinda hot,"

"Oh, leave it out, Rog, would you? I don't have a crush on Lillie," Brian muttered under his breath, his tone drawing their short conversation to an end.

The smirk on Brian's face told Roger the exact opposite, however, and his denial made it official: not only did he have a crush, but it was also making him nervous. Why else would he dismiss it so quickly with Roger? Brian had experience with women, sure, but that didn't stop him being nervous, especially since he cared so much. Not that it mattered, Roger knew when to leave him alone, especially when it came to things like that. With a sigh, Roger rolled his eyes and turned to look at the other three, though not before hitting Brian's shoulder supportively.

"I didn't know you wore glasses, Lillie," Roger spoke up, pointing out the big difference in her appearance from the last time he'd seen her. His voice made her hit the string on her guitar badly, letting out a rather ugly note. She grimaced slightly before laughing nervously.

"Yeah, she's so blind," John nodded as Lillie hit his arm.

Lillie flushed bright red, subconsciously pushing the large, round frames further up her face. It was always something she was self-conscious about, after getting bullied in school for them for so long, that and her bad skin back as a teenager. Though her skin had cleared up, her vision hadn't improved, to the extent the bad experience of her youth made her vow she'd try to not be seen without makeup or contact lenses. It wasn't too bad when she was at work, though maybe it was one of the things that added to her self-esteem issues when she wasn't performing. She'd not minded at first, but now she was there, stood in front of Queen who'd only seen her so far looking her best, she wanted to curl in a ball.

Except that wasn't entirely true. Sure, they'd all seen her at her best on Saturday night at her gig, but god knows John had seen her at her worst, and Brian and Freddie had seen her at work the day before. Lillie knew that she shouldn't feel so worried about herself constantly, but it was like her default setting, even though she was telling herself she was good enough.

"Bugger off, John," Lillie rolled her eyes, hiding her confidence issues behind a laugh and a small smile, like she always did. John knew, and he nudged her arm against his supportively. "But he is right, my vision is really bad. I don't normally go out without contact lenses, but my prescription has run out and I'd rather not go completely blind even if these make me look a mess,"

A mess? Though he was trying to stay out of things, attempting to focus on tuning is guitar, the words rang through Brian's mind like a gong, leaving him in disbelief. He thought Lillie looked nice, better than nice, actually, and he couldn't ever imagine describing her as anything less. He'd felt the exact same emotions when seeing her at work the day before, thinking she was just as beautiful as she was when playing at the pub gig. As sensational as she had looked then, there was something special about the way she looked in just a shirt and trousers, hair tied up, minimal makeup and glasses. It was as if he was seeing a whole new person with just as much beauty but looked different slightly.

And the glasses... Brian loved them. He'd loved them as much as he'd loved the stars on her dress she'd worn the first time he'd seen her. He thought they were unique, quirky, just like her. Lillie was so different from everyone else he'd ever met, different in her music, different in her personality, and different in the way she made him feel. If anything, Lillie's glasses highlighted that uniqueness that drew him to her.

"I like your glasses," Brian called quietly, taking his eyes off his Red Special. His voice made Lillie look up from her guitar, a small smile of disbelief crossing his face.

Lillie frowned at him ever so slightly, despite the smile she couldn't stop from growing. She'd noticed the slight change in his mood since getting to Roger's flat, becoming more reserved, and she hadn't been entirely sure why. However, as soon as he spoke up, Lillie realised he was nervous. He seemed content around her in the car, but now they were there he had grown quiet. She wasn't sure why he was nervous because of her, but all she knew was that she understood, because she felt the exact same way.

"I love them," Freddie complimented, though he couldn't help but wink at Roger, who was also grinning at their bandmate's comments. "They make you look smart, and we need a smart friend, don't we, Roger, dear?"

"Watch it, mate, what's that supposed to mean?" Roger shot at Freddie as he got up, moving to sit behind his drums.

"You have your moments," John shrugged, his mind full of the many bad decisions Roger had made, most of them being when he was drunk.

"You're one to talk, Deaks," Lillie rolled her eyes slightly. "Or have you forgotten the last time we went out drinking? You know, the time you dropped me off in a taxi but realised that you'd lost the key to your flat and decided instead of knocking on my door, you know, like a normal person would do, you snuck in through the kitchen window. Didn't help you set my house alarm off, and made my parents panic and ring the police,"

"And I wonder why they don't like me," John shrugged again, though he too was grinning at the story. He wasn't the only one, as Freddie was howling with laughter, Roger and Brian laughing too.

"I love drunk Deacy!" Freddie exclaimed. "Oh, Lillie, you are definitely hanging around with us more often if you'll tell us stories like that! Roger, maybe you're not the most hopeless member of the band after all!"

"Are we doing this then or what?" Roger called, irritated by the way the conversation was slowly turning into taking digs out of him. He flourished his drumsticks, banging them against the two drums nearest to him, and though this gesture was to test out the tuning, it also worked perfectly to signal his impatience to get playing.

Knowing he was right, Freddie and John moved towards the other two, John picking up his bass from where he'd left it at the side of Roger's tiny television set whilst Freddie picked up his broken microphone as he hopped up from his seat. They may have only been in Roger's tiny living room, but Lillie couldn't help but note how they still managed to have an illusion of production, what with the amps Brian and John were plugging their instruments into, and the microphone Freddie was flourishing.

"We thought we'd play a little for you, and then you could maybe play for us again, and see where it goes?" John told her as he picked up his bass from the rack, slinging the strap over his shoulder.

Lillie nodded along, sitting back on the sofa as she watched the band get ready. As John plugged his bass into the amp, Lillie couldn't help but smirk, recognising it as the one John had designed and made; he'd shown her the plans for it years back. A sense of excitement built within her, realising that she was about to get her first taste of Queen live. Just watching them prepare brought her a thrill, as she realised that they were living her dream. She wanted to call herself a musician so badly, and they were on the brink of success, on the cusp of greatness.

Here was her favourite band, her best friend's band, playing for just her. If anything, it made her want her dream even more. Lillie was enraptured, especially as Freddie began to sing out the first few notes of Liar and she was so caught up that she didn't even notice that Brian was looking at her whilst he played. He was watching her as if it was her performing, as if she was the spectacle, looking at her as if nothing else mattered, not even the music.

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Word count: 3034

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