The ringing of the telephone was incessant and Issy groaned at the intrusion to her fitful sleep. Carefully touching her shoulder to see how painful it was in the morning light, she then moved her fingers to beside her.

John was gone.

Issy listened intently as John finally answered the telephone and began to talk.

" 'Ello? ........... course it's me. How many other Liverpudlian smartarse's does Isabelle entertain- don't answer that..... What no! ..... Shush Sal she's still asleep....... Oh yeah, I suppose she can't hear you but you are yelling loudly luv .... Look, we meant to call yesterday. Your mum had a bit of an accident............ No all good, she's fine! .......really Sally she's fine luv- promise. Just hurt her shoulder and her ankle a bit............... I am looking out for her- Nurse Lennon at your service!............... Hahahaha. I'll get her to call you after she wakes up....................... Yes, I will look after her top to toe, for sure............... OK bye luv, give Smurfette a kiss for me, kick Jules in the-......... oh ok.... kiss him too then. Partypooper.... Cheerio luv."

Issy relaxed down into the soft sheets, stretching. Thinking back over their escapades, she'd done it again, giving the game away. ......

................... 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free'

"What are you giggling to yourself about Isabelle?"

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free" Issy gazed lazily up at John, biting her lip, then her teeth let it go ever so slowly.

"Fucking hell do that again" John sat on the edge of the bed leaning over her then quickly changed his mind. Dropped his trousers, he slipped in beside her as she repeated her devilish lip service "Give me that lower lip"

Giggles erupted and she was so sure she could die of happiness in that moment. Johns fingers brushing over her lips, tracing her eyebrows, her jaw, the line of her throat, she sighed all the while looking up at him, into him, his eyes curious and open, his fingers gentle and tender.

Making out, enjoying the moment it was so wonderful and Issy though the whole 'give it away' bit was ok- she would settle for a piece of him, she needed to convince herself she could do it, she did want to do it. To be able to enjoy his touch and lips, the wandering hands... and when he focused solely on her, she soared.

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free hey?" John enjoyed combing fingers through her hair as he breathed in her scent, nuzzling her, feeling her heat up beside him, the way she squirmed with want when he tipped her ever so slightly to fall under him..... "I want the cow" John breathed over her cheek, Issy's eyes darted up capturing his with a slightly bemused raised eyebrow "Christ, I didn't mean it like that Isabelle! Gee sorry luv"

Issy laid John's hand on her chest, in the vicinity of her heart and, lucky for him, in the vicinity of a couple of not too badly sized local delicacies too.

The most wonderful peaks and valleys in the world to explore.

"I want YOU, you're definitely not a cow! I just want-" Issy let her hands roam downwards and John couldn't think straight anymore "Fuck, you are a nomad lass. O.......K... Oh darling, sweet Jesus, mother of-"

John was off and racing ahead; her fingers pure magic. He ceded, rolled over and laid back and let her do her best. Just when he was thinking that he might spontaneously destruct he swept her up and over onto her back careful to avoid hurting her but still knocking the wind from her in his lightning bolt movement.

His body or mind couldn't take it anymore, the coiling sweet agony, the ecstasy that built so quickly. His breathing was laboured, his mind spinning. She moaned and writhed;

Her little wriggly squirm, a trademark all of her own, edging him further still, his movements sharp and fast, he was away, gone beyond, lingering in heaven and just plain happy to full on fuck her as she let the fingers of her single good hand travel his torso ... his shoulders .... his neck... his arse. Nails clawing when he was particularly intense.

Bliss.

His turn to bite his lip.

"I love all your shit and hassles, I love- Aaaaa, I don't care if it's wrong or not easy... just know I'll always be hereea"

"I. ahhh. Me..... Urrrr. Fucking hell, how do you speak coherently girl!?"

Isabelle rose up to meet him, hips straining, it had to of hurt her aching limbs but she increased the arc of her body to meet him, reaching the zenith of all the gorgeous feelings, giving him permission to pound his way home.

She collapsed down into the mattress as John fell a little more carefully on top of her- still one, still together he slowly took stock of her outpouring of lovely words as he enjoyed her fingers kneading his back, touching his hair. His lips touching her neck, hot breathe blasting against her skin- face hidden. She didn't know the crap that went on all around him, the hanger-oner's, everyone wanting their piece of the pie, never satisfied fans, media running gauntlet. The safety, huh yeah right- what safety. No, there is no safety, he thought sarcastically.

"John, please stop thinking of all the bad things, think of some good.." Issy keep her fingers working over him lulling his senses as his breathing calmed.

"I don't want to hurt you"

"You won't"

"I might Isabelle. I might hurt you"

"I won't let you"

"I'm a prick and people shoot at me Isabelle I can't have anything happen to you. I wasn't in love with her anymore at the time it happened but it still tore me to shreds when she was shot. I still felt the pain of losing her. I still feel I should be the one that's gone" John lifted up and eased off her chest and looked down on her as he pushed his hands into the mattress either side of her shoulders. Touching the sore one gingerly "I don't want to lose anything, anyone ... so precious..."

He said she was precious, Issy beamed up at him and John thought she was even more beautiful- here, right now and he matched her smile, ducking in to kiss her quickly once, then, because it wasn't enough, again- deeper, in a cherished wonderful kiss.

Issy felt her heart explode, she was showered in happiness and her face lit with the feelings that welled to the surface. "I'm precious.....?"

"Like a diamond, more than a cow!" John smirked as Issy smacked his arm. "Precious and wonderful and gorgeous... mine"

"Yours?" Issys smile was serene in that moment. It was like a wonderful dream, did she dare pinch herself to find out? She pinched John instead.

"Ouch what was that for!?" John rubbed his arm, watching her tongue toy with her lips.

"I was making sure this wasn't all a dream" Issy shrugged as she ran a hand over where she had pinched him, she hadn't done it hard, he was obviously a baby.

John sank back into the linen, the pillows, the spot they now called his side. Leaning on an elbow watching her "And is it a dream?"

Issy's eyes raised to the ceiling. She was off thinking again ingraining this moment. Smiling, grinning like an idiot. "No. No I don't think s-"

John ducked his head and kissed her so deeply she gasped. His lips teasing, playing chase with hers, he moved with gentle nips then moaned as she parted them open for him.

The days were fun and the nights hot. Both John, and Issy, felt loved, safe; and their easy rapport meant no ill words were spoken. But it didn't mean thoughts were halted.

No, when you want to just be .... the mind has other plans. keeping you constantly busy; thinking, struggling with maybes, struggling with what-ifs.

*

John stared into the distance;  lightning flashed and lit the sky, there was a storm coming. Right now, far away, it was more beauty then tempest but still, the lightning and sunset was going to clash; inevitably.

The clouds hurrying, trying to wipe out the sunsets glory and push grey heaviness to the fore. He shook his head, the metaphor's his brain was conjuring were painful and they were attempting to wipe him out. Like a mop crossing the floor.

Here it was safe, but out there, out there in the wilderness....... The wilderness of New York, the thick jungles of media, the many, oh so many cliffs, with snapping sharks wanting him; wanting any sort of contact with him.

Could he really ask Issy to give up this... for a life of that?

Was it fair?

Even with himself being basically born to the life, well that's how it  seemed..

So long they, The band, then himself solo,  had stood on the peak, basked in the glory, wallowed in the heavy claustrophobic price of fame. 

He'd been in the limelight for so long, so many years...

So being used to it, still didn't automatically stamp the passport to knowing how to grapple with it, or indeed, transform it or hogtie it to be what you needed, and wanted, it to be- safe- happy- private.

Issy dropped the last piece of folded laundry on the kitchen table and let her eyes travel outside, wandering and eye over him as he stood unmoving. He had been staring out into the distance for a while now and she wondered if he regretted...

No.

No, she wasn't ready for him to shut her out, not just yet. Not when she had only just opened the door a smidge, discovered what his shop was selling.

Issy opened the screen door, and, as it closed with a quiet thud behind her, he turned smiling, yet he was pensive.

Wry eyes held her own, summing her up almost; yet questioning too. Issy smiled back, trying to look outwardly brighter than she felt, he was thinking too hard and she didn't like it. Her lips lifted at the corners to encourage his own to grin back. Slipping under his arm, he held her near.

John kissed the top of her head.

Today was enough, tomorrow too.

They'd take it like that, he guessed.

One day at a time, and if she baulked at the life he led, he'd have to cop it, deal with it. Bear fame's toll, yet again.

Spotted this today. I just had to add: