John spied Frank rush out of the sentry box to the right of the main entrance of the building.

The Dakota was a stamp of defiance on the New York skyline, the structure had the look of strength in its architecture and lines. Almost foreboding were the lengthening shadows as the sun fell toward the western skies.

The four-hour trip plus traffic jam chaos edged the travel time closer to the six hour mark and what was left of the late afternoon sunshine met John and Issy as the Lincoln had pulled around the corner of the block.

John lit another cigarette, counting to himself how many it had been today. Too many. When Sean was tiny he was down to a mere one or none a day then as Sean grew so did his need for the nicotine. With age Sean gained independence, didn't need his daddy for buttering his toast, or going to the bathroom for that matter, thus daddy got bored, fingers idle and lacking motivation, it also certainly didn't help with others in the household smoking like chimneys...

Number fourteen twirled in his fingertips as he clocked the number of fans stood about. It was a colourful melee that stood in the buildings long shadows. En mass, the tide of many moved as one into the forecourt, watching with interest as the buildings security comes alive and hightails it toward the lone car pulled up, warmed by the last of the afternoon sunshine. Johns hand lingered, hovering over the gear stick to instigate escape; to let him pull them both safely away from the kerb again, maybe go to Julian's, maybe just stuff it all and go back to the lake.

He hesitated though, watching as Frank burst through the crush and dart to the kerb.

It was all too late. The melee became people. People who mattered. People who loved the Beatles or maybe 'loved' him. Rightly or wrongly he was at the centre of their thoughts right now. It wasn't right to turn away. Like domino's one after another, guys hooted and woman squealed and the incoming tide rushed for the Lincoln.

Game on.

Issy counted the throng before the scream went up. Upwards of seventy maybe eighty stood about, idly talking, holding records, paper, books, cameras. Nothing other than apartments on this block so it was reasonable to say the group were all patiently waiting for the star resident, John Lennon.

Frank waved at John and cast an eye in Issy's direction, she guessed he was spotting her so he didn't accidentally lose her in the crowd later. John watched the watchers. Kids and women, more than a few older guys around his own age, and an elderly grandmotherly type all peered at him through the dust covered windows. His zoo, his cage. He flicked the ash into the centre tray of the console and turned about in his seat ignoring the noise behind him.

"Sorry. There's so many today. Forgot it's the weekend" John grinned with a pained expression, continuing "More on weekends, you know, trips into the city, folks off work ...ahhhh how about you stay here and when I get down further, toward the forecourt, you pop round the lot of em? What do you think- Sound ok?"

'I guess so ..." Issy watched all the watchers over Johns shoulder, peering and ogling in at her. No, at him. Although, a few were peering at her with interest with more than a few with questioning eyebrows raised "No, umm, I'll come with"

"You want to come into the crowd? You sure?"

"Definitely" Issy stuck on a grin that was hardly any better than Johns own. Her insides were clenching and her heart raced much like the first time she came to the Dakota, but for another reason entirely!

John nodded, trusting she knew what she was agreeing to and proceeded to climb out of the car jokingly hollering to his gathered audience "Hello. Hello there! Take a number, get in line, if you can't, I won't bloody sign" Laughter rang out all around and Issy smiled at his tension relieving words.

As John moved from street level and stood taller on the kerb the door closed, thrusting Issy into a muted kind of silence. No noise outside slightly subdued.

It's now or never. With a deep inhale she opened her door and alighted, grasping the door handle before shutting it, she watched John swallowed whole by the crowd then some-how he was back, placing his bum on the driver's side door of the car. The dark blue duco was covered in a thin veil of dust from the country roads and being stood forgotten in the driveway... John would have a dust print on himself with the way he was perched.

Issy skirted closely around the warm bonnet of the Lincoln toward where John stood pressed and pounding the flesh. Shaking hand after hand, he was still aware of Isabelles presence and his eyebrow raised encouragingly as she closed the distance between them. A few youngish woman leaned on the bonnet so Issy needed to politely ask them to move or she would lose her safety net of the cars metal exterior which held steady and strong under her hand.

Then she was there.

In the middle of his life.

People yelling happily as if they knew him personally, someone tossed an autograph book, John caught it in one hand while tugging Issy closer with the other.

"Ok?"

"Great" And she was, even with the ghost of his past skirting the edges of her brain she was great because he was, never did he flinch nor look stressed. Only welcoming, eager to have a laugh or pose for a picture with the lucky person basking in his undeniable warmth and attention at that moment.

Minutes turned rapidly into a quarter hour, then twenty five had flown by. Issy stood helping, with pens, holding the newly signed autograph or album ready to hand back when the ink had dried and a photograph had been taken. She must have taken a dozen photographs already .... with eleven different cameras.

An older lady hovered in the background. She was much older than the rest of the autograph hunters and looked on somewhat dismally as the flock of faces that stood between John and herself. The crowd seemed to surge and grow, like weeds, with every passing second.

John felt Issy slip her hand away from his side, she wasn't looking overly worried nor upset so instead of following or querying he let himself get back to the job, looking down at a copy of Meet The Beatles in his hand.

The gentleman in him kept an eye out for her as she floated in the very fringe of his vision. He lost her cherry red top once or twice but then he'd spot her, slowly drifting further from his side. Had she got spooked? She hadn't looked worried; her face was as relaxed as it could be with the crowd of people that pressed around them. A crowd that now numbered upwards of eigthy or more and she had smiled and directed him and the fans easily when she was taking those legions of photographs.

Oh there she is, her bright shirt reappearing as a couple of hippy types moved out of his line of sight. Isabelle was currently stood talking to a grandmotherly type and he raised a thumb up for her to respond in kind... to make sure all was well. Issy grinned back at him and waved, finally raising her own thumb to his silent questioning. She turned to continue chatting to the lady. John sighed wearily, then autographed yet another album cover.

*

".........so I came here today. It's my last day in new York then I fly back early tomorrow morning"

"So you're spending your last afternoon of your holiday waiting for John"

"Yup. Promised my daughter"

"Emma right?"

"Emma-Marie but Emmy mostly... That girl, she had every poster, teacup, bedsheet and handkerchief known to man with that boys face on it. Cost me an absolute fortune but it was worth it, she was never happier than when she was singing and dancing to the Beatles"

"What's Australia like?" Issy and Clare Summers sat on the bench to the left of the main entrance now, letting John find his own way through the slowly dissipating but happily sated fans. Clare held Issy's hand as they settled into easy conversation and Issy could see, even though Clare was fit for her advanced years, she was worn from all the waiting.

"Well there can be four seasons in a day in some parts. Beauty and bulldust. Pristine coral reefs and deserts. Snow down south even. Everything jam packed into a fairly tiny space really"

"Sounds awesome. You have loads of venomous snakes thought, right?"

"And spiders, just have to have open eyes and fast feet, luv" Clare laughed and caught her breathe as John approached "Oh Mister Lennon what a wonderful man you are. Taking your precious time for all the fans and now visiting me all the way over here"

"Well you are holding a friend of mines hand so I had to come and see who was beguiling her" Johns eyes crinkled attractively as he smiled down at the two women. 

'Don't you have something to ask John, Clare?" Issy nudged her new friend to jolt her out of her stunned silence.

"Would you be a darling and sign this hanky for my baby girl" Clare tinged a pretty pink, her cheeks blushing as much as the next lucky person that came under Johns gaze. John sat down with the small square with all four youthful Beatle faces on it and waved a few stragglers away, they were loaded with autographs already. "Do you want to sign theirs first luvy?"

"NO. God No! They're greedy, the buggers already have 3 or more things signed, probably sell them down the pub later" John smiled and relaxed back on the bench seat as Frank herded the stragglers further away.

"No, surely not! That's not nice at all! After all your time and smiles" Clare grumbled in Johns defense while Issy gazed on in interest, waiting for the response as well. She had never thought someone would be so ruthless with Johns amicable gesture.

"...Oh, this is lovely, thank you" Clare patted Johns hand, clutching the handkerchief emblazoned with four Beatles heads bobbing in each corner and Johns penmanship freshly inked "My Emmy will never let this out of her hand for a month of Sundays, she won't"

"...Some people see an easy sell. You get to know those folk just by looking at them. Usually pushy as hell and sarky when you tell them to back off" John took the second item Clare clutched in her hand, half in and half out of her bag as if she wasn't sure she should get John to sign two things. It was a tour program from the Australian tour of '64. He skimmed through it and laughed at the photos, pointing at all his hair, signing a few pages as he went. "I've not seen this book before. Look how young I was"

"Young but still handsome today" Clare paused, she sat between John and Issy, a head shorter than both of them "You two. Are you dating her? What's your name honey"

"Issy"

"Isabelle" John corrected frowning at Issy then smiling, they would have to converse about her calling herself Issy the gnat all the time.

"Well there's my answer then! You two keep each other happy, I can feel your connection. She's a lovely girl"

"I know, she's my rock"

"Clare, do you have a camera?" Issy glanced up checking with John seeking his ok, thinking he must be harried from the many people that had already accosted him. John smiled his warm lovely smile, nodding his head once, just for her.

"Ohhhh yes! I plum forgot... with all this hoopla going on"

Issy took the photo and waited while Clare carefully placed all the mementos back in her large handbag, handing back the small Brownie camera when she was sorted.

"Thank-you so, so much Mister Lennon, my girl will treasure these always" Clare tapped her bag, standing up and shaking Issy's, then Johns, hand "...and I'll remember your generosity too"

John hugged Clare close and kissed one cheek, then the other "Right that ones for you and the left cheek, is for your lass. Think you'll remember which sides which!?" Clare nodded, fanning herself with a half-feigned, half real swoon look about her. She couldn't help but blush. Just because her daughter was the 'big fan' didn't make her any less impressed to meet John Lennon.

"Bye luv"

"Bon voyage Clare" Issy leaned over and kissed Clare's cheek. Well away from John's carefully placed momento kisses, of course.

Clare patted Issy's hand and kissed her in return. "Thank-you darling. You two have a lovely day, won't you"

"You betcha!" John took Issy's hand, leading her a few steps toward the entrance of the Dakota then in unison they both took a moment to wave goodbye again to Clare, and any stragglers left. Issy felt comfortable waving to Clare because they had grown a small connection through their chat but her wave whittled away when she realised the other fans gave her an odd look, a 'why'd she wave- John's the star' look.

John placed a steady hand on the small of her back as they turned about and they then walked hand in hand toward the apartment, he wasn't bothered in the slightest.

In fact, he felt great.

Ten-foot-tall in fact.

His head seemed to almost swell from the attention. It wasn't as if he hadn't had fans rush him every day for decades. It seemed that Isabelle's presence around him made his position in life worth something more. That he was valued, not only as a Beatle or John Lennon but as a man.

And that night so long ago was a memory, tucked away, hidden. The new days of his current life edging it out of his vision.

Gone was all the pain, all the blame that weighed him down with heaviness and gloom. Closing the door of hurt and opening a budding and blooming garden of new beginnings and adventures to come. He would always remember and never forget completely but the layers of time now allowed him to climb back into life; to start living, start loving, start being...

With a bounce in his step he made a small salute toward the boys on the desk. The security able to stand down now that Johns time in the trenches was over.

Rubbing his thumb over the back of Issy's hand as it sat secure in his, John grinned happily at her. He could have run ten times around the block with the endorphins currently flooding his system but instead he touched her hand then tenderly rubbed the small of her back. His fingers couldn't keep still.

Like a beehive of activity he wanted everything sooner rather than later, the heady feeling woke in his body and the thought of Issy in his bed ran a stampede through his head as he tapped the elevator button impatiently.

"How'd I do? Did I pass muster?" Issy questioned as she stepped inside the timber and gold accented, elevator. As soon as the door closed John wound an arm around her middle and brought her closer, she leaned back into him his body tightly pressed behind her. He jiffled just a little to wake up the senses, although Issy hadn't woken up to exactly which senses John was working on waking "Clare was a sweetie. Australia sounds wonderful"

"You're wonderful" The mumble against her skin as his mouth set to work along the side her throat, his lips nipping playfully "You were perfect"

"Perfect huh?!" Leaning back Issy felt him hard against her. She smiled softly, leaning her head back on his shoulder, his fingers moved slowly up her side, her own hand sliding up and back,around his neck as he leaned over her.

John glanced up. The mirrored wall of the ornate space caught the both of them in it's reflection. Her innocent smile warming him "Yep"

In this light, this position, she looked claimable, yet vulnerable too.

Bum resting against him, her fingers tangling in his hair, the way she leaned back into him, her neck arched, exposing creamy, soft skin. The red sleeveless shirt pulled taut across her bust, a dusting of the freckles sprinkled right along the top of her shoulders for him to explore. The skirt deceiving, the look of denim but as light as air as it skimmed tantilising, above her knee.

"I felt so worried for you; and you... you looked so relaxed, untroubled. You're amazing" Issy sighed as she felt his fingers massage her waist and an index finger alone, grazed upwards under her shirt, then ducted along the lace of her bra. His tongue slid along her skin, just the point of it, just enough to tease and have her reeling under his touch.

"You were very chill, Isabelle. Maybe I need to heat you up again.... before you catch cold..." She could almost feel the wicked glint in his eye. Her eyes closed, she let her senses fire.

He could sell ice to eskimos and now he was flogging his radiator to her. Isabelle grinned happily at his attention. His fingers, his words, all playing a part in her smile.

"You do know how to work a crowd John.....but tell me.... how will you be when you're alone.... just one on one?"

John stared at her reflection, willing her to drop her chin, open those eyes and catch his gaze. Issy eventually did so, when she realised his lips had paused in pressing molten promises against her neck.

Greeting her was a stare so sizzling hot she openly tingled, his husky words taunting her "Oh I always work better one on one darlin"

Issy's skirt lightened as John worked it higher up a now bare thigh, his fingers threading dangerously. His other hand, by contrast, innocently splayed over her tummy. Warm lips worked with steady rhythm on her shoulder.

She sighed, wanting. And remarkably she thought, for her, willing him to delve ever higher in the confines of the elevator.

She worried her lip for maybe a milli second then clarity set her course, handing her a 'to hell with it' moment.

Turning in his arms she moved that previously splayed hand lower, and earned his left hands' reward; skimming fingers lazily gliding over her panties. Hot lips pressed, sucking on her neck.

"mmmhmmm"

Johns fingers ran teasing soft circles over her and all she wanted was to have him closer, on her, in her, all around her.

Their smouldering heat burned, he pushed her, tested her, dirty talked her, raising the temperature even higher. Husky low rumbling words filtered around her "I'm so hard for you..Feel me. There. So, sooo ready to be inside you" His fingers pressing and turning the tips under her panties as he pressed against her hand.

"Geezess John" she whined and shimmied to have his fingers apply more pressure. For him to flex them and move them quick, almost rough against her. Throwing her head back in anticipation and desire her eyes opened, she spotted the camera tucked high in the corner behind him "Fucking hell John!"

"God Isabelle, you're so wet"

"John!!!!!!!" Issy pulled away pointing to the ceiling. John glanced over his shoulder smirking.

The bell chimed.

The elevator doors opened.

His body propelled hers, not a second wasted, dragging her with him across the hall to the wall beside the glorious view of Central Park. Landing her on the smooth surface. She moaned at the soft collision between him, her and the wall.

"You knew!" Issy blew her hair out of her eyes as John unworried re-attached himself to her, fingers, lips, some teeth, his own thigh weighty between her own two.

Her kisses returned though, peppering his face. Her fingernails moved also, and ran over his back pressing him toward her, eradicating her previous upset. Conducting a swift U-turn ... telling him she wasn't overly bothered now.

Now, in sight of his front door....

Now, within metres, of his bed.

" 'Course I knew, focused on my back the whole time it was" The shrug was inconsequential as his lips brushed over her jaw. Issy groaned at his smug shrug of unworry then a moan of want swirled forth from within. The feelings he elicited, the maniac way he was devouring her. The minuscule pip of worry gave way, frolicking and bounding headlong and over into the boiling desires he stirred within her.

Issy pushed him in half-hearted defiance of the knowledge that he knew the cameras whereabouts, the unseen eyes that may have been watching. Yet even that push was nothing more than a fleeting shudder to the both of them "There's none here in the hall my darlin, relax"

"We're nearly to the door" Issy whined in an quiet protest. She really didn't want to whine, this was some powerful force at play here and the thought of the nice girl getting down and dirty in a hallway was certainly a thrill.

She giggled at her lyrical naughtiness.

This was the closest she had ever come to being so vulnerable, so public, so openly displayed.

And John... He was an absolute animal today. His eyes wild, the pressure of his body pushing onto her, the lips, the teeth that almost devoured her.

John lifted Isabelle a touch, wrapping one leg around his waist pinning her tighter against the wall, looking both ways before moving his body in simulated sync with hers.

He was fire sucking all the air from her lungs and his body was grinding, working hard to impress himself upon her.

"Does this happen every time?" Issy held his cheeks soft in the palm of her hands, the stubble growing back, beginning to brush the pads of her fingers. He slowed his hips grinding movements. Leaning forehead against forehead, breathing heavy not wanting the break but thinking she may be second guessing the location. He wanted her fiery and hot, not upset and cold.

"What?"

"You, being extremely horny after fan adulation" Issy smiled as she smoothed fingers over his cheeks, circling his ears, leaning round to bite softly on his earlobe.

"Everyone knows fan adulation is an aphrodisiac, Isabelle......" John teased, watching her eyes sparkle as she concentrated her attention on his lips "Whatcha going to do about it then, huh?" He taunted huskily.

Issy raised her eyes to his, her eyebrow arched and stated cheekily "...Stand you on a street corner from 9 til 2 daily"

Giggles then laughter bubbled from within and his hands lifted her, she wrapped both legs around his waist, his hands kneading as they cupped her bum. They burst through the door of Apartment 72 .... The Dakota.

The key never had to turn.

The door never groaned under the lock.

The slam, as it shut, was loud, ricocheting through the whole apartments' open space.

It was too far.
Miles too far to the bedroom.

Too much time would be wasted in the steps to make it there.

Maybe later, maybe round two, or perhaps three, he would eventually take her to, and in, his bed.

The entrance hallway lights lit them, flushed and ready. Isabelle, again pressed against a wall, and as John said before he was more than ready. 'Cocked and loaded' an apt term Issy decided as he pressed like hot steel against her.

In a melee of lightning fast fingers Issy had Johns fly dropped, his Tab-stained pants and jocks pressed  south to his knees and her touch, as she circled his rod, made his lungful of oxygen disappear. His nirvana was a-cometh. His pants fell lower. He pressed- Shrieking words had them pouncing... apart.

"Dad?....Dad!?!?!!! DADDDDDDD!!" Julian yelled from the opening of the kitchen, backlit by the western sun streaming through the double sized window that sat over the kitchen sink. His voice ratcheting through the jumble of bodies and sinful sounds of want. He covered his eyes with fingers, a boy never wants to see that.

"Jesus!!  What the fuckin' fuck" John turned himself toward the entrance, keeping Julian at his back and drew Issy in front of him protecting her from sight then swivelled his head to look over his shoulder and somehow regather his pants from round his ankles "Christ!!!! What are you bloody doing in here?!?"

A little voice piped up with a giggle "That's Instant Karma for you John" John turned back to give Issy a death stare of equal indignation and wonderment. She giggled harder, leaning on him for support.

"That'll be enough of that cheeky girl" With pants painfully zipped John held her chin and kissed her like Julian wasn't in the room. Pulling Issys skirt down to a more respectable level he reluctantly turned around... That's twice in two days he'd had a false start! Yester morn in the birch trees with a pink bra and now with a six-foot-ish interrupting son stood feet away. 'What are-"

"Is Sally here too?!" Issy squeaked around John, daring an embarrassed glance at an equally embarrassed and uncomfortable looking Julian.

Her mind was reeling from the near miss of being caught mid stride, well John's pants were already down around his ankles. They hadn't even bothered dropping her undies John had just pressed them aside and-

"No, but I am" A voice drift from the kitchen and the owner rounded the corner to have a gander over Julian's shoulder- Mark.

Issy surprised John, her fingers wiggled 'hello' comically over his shoulder at Mark. He had to turn back to look at her....

She. Was. Amazing.

She was also bright red and embarrassed out of her mind but still..... she was comically wiggling her fingers and had the pep to have a go at him. Calling 'Instant 'Karma' over his saying Jesus and Christ.

"You're amazing you know that" Whispering in her ear they were in another world as she hugged him round his waist, face pressed against his chest. "One in a mil"

"No you are" was whispered back and she lifted her face to capture his lips, fingers curling in his hair, heat rising again.

A throat cleared.

"Excuse me but we're still stood here" Julian shook his head, scrubbing his hand though his hair, down over his red face. They were hot and heavy and he was thankful Sally hadn't been here to witness it. One family members appointment to a shrink, for this, was enough!

"You need a haircut" Issy chided Julian as she tugged John toward somewhere past his son. She wasn't sure where she was going but it was much cleaner than it had been that first night.

"It's fashion Iss"

Issy turned with pursed lips ready to retort but he was right. Beatle cut, mullet cut, beehive. All fashion whether it was great or not. And Johns head of hair wasn't far off Julian's in length now, although it was longer on the top harking back to his younger days and an inch or so longer at the back, perhaps he was the one in need of the cut, not Jules.

"Did you get a cleaner in?"

"Yeah, had a lady coming in for a while now ever since..." John trailed off, and it dawned to Issy his 'ever since' was perhaps their 'ever since'.

"Tea!?"

*

One glance at Mark as she had strode past was enough to make Issy feel defensive.

He had been rude about her having a dalliance with John at their previous lunch and even had the audacity to assume it to be Julian. Her hackles rose dangerously at that lunch and she had dared him to ever say anything like it again. Was this the day he would say 'I told you so'? Was this the moment she would stay silent or the moment she would stand up and make him shut up.

Ever the wall flower she had been stepped on quite enough at this point in her life and the deep feelings she had developed for John were strong. She was also 99% certain, ok 90% certain, John felt something strong with her too. Although he never said, he still took the time for her and really listened, like no else ever had.

Mark was too fast, too slippery. 

The way he loaded her drinks that night had scared her, the way he pressured her, and she assumed he had had to always pull out all the stops in his romantic endeavours to lift his game to equal that of the league of stars he mingled with, but that being said, he didn't have to be cutting and caustic about it; mean, rude even.

She didn't know why but her jaw was set firm while John sat docile, watching her quietly.

Interested in what she was thinking about, John watched her pace with irritation around his living room. This was a different bird to the Isabelle he had gotten to know.

This bird was annoyed, angry even and John assumed it was him that had angered her. Perhaps the elevator was too much, his desires too direct and fast, and displays too public for Isabelle. She was one for staying out of the limelight, always on the fringe. The song recording was one such event where he realised her need for shade. Shade from the spotlights on her.

Shame though- she had a lot of talent with her writing and life in general. Hiding her writing, not wanting the recognition of being a top selling author, whatever the genre, was admirable, yet sad that others missed her diamond-like facets.

Maybe this was the crux of hers he was to help her with, he certainly had no qualms about self-promotion or making an arse out of himself in public, all in the name of good fun of course.

John wanted her strong, selfishly for himself, the strength she had when they were together fixed his broken ways, mended his will to live amongst his loved ones again.

Made him want again...

Want to write, create, explore, love.

With fast feet Isabelle made off toward the kitchen.

Staring after her with stifled wonderment, John mused on the dexterity of her hasty switch from frisky to angry. Then John did what John did best-

He settled in and waited patiently for the show to come to him.

With his knee up over the other and foot attached even higher, he reclined on the lounge pondering her rush, it was only Mark, no one to bother about. Yet it was Mark, the one that could take her for walks, give her normal, and John presumed, untroubled love. Rubbing a hand along the back of the couch, the white flocked material was smooth and finally clean.... Another thing she never knew she gave him. His respect for himself. Respect for his sons, granddaughter, Sally and of course her~ Isabelle.

*

Mark had stood waiting for his moment, third scotch in his hand, two tossed back while they waited for his lordship Lennon to arrive.

The heat coming off Lennon and Issy had been flaming and it pissed him off no end... Another bird conquered by Lennon, would it never end, would Lennon be old and grey and still hitting home runs with dolly birds and tarts that displayed their wares for him. Issy seemed tame that night in the studio, a quiet one, shy. She drank happily with him at bar then flipped at his lip work on Broadway.

Then at the lunch those few weeks later fire rose in her eyes and she deftly intrigued him once again. Was that her.... Was the thought of being Julian's in law so empowering and tantalising. Being forever ensconced in the Lennon camp, Julian her soon to be son in law and the grand prize.... a real-life Beatle to have in the wedding photo, bed, and at family picnics. Bitch.

"Mark"

"Issy... I don't have to ask how you are. Pretty self-explanatory with all that skin exposed in the hallway just now" The scotch in his hand, poured from Johns bottle, disappeared down his throat. "I did warn you.. but off you toddled to shag a Beatle"

"I didn't toddle off to shag a Beatle"

"So what do you call it then hmmmmm? Sure looked like you were about to have yourself stuffed full of a Lennon from my point of view" Mark crossed his arms, relaxing back against the countertop by the sink "I call it straight as I see it, darling. As soon as a bimbo spots Lennon, the legs spread wide open" The glass and his arms widening out either side of his body to back up the crassness of his words.

Mark grinned as she battled the emotions running rough-shot over her, it was entertaining to say the least. Her higher than thou attitude firstly, then she started the second guessing. All thoughts were front and centre as they hurriedly crossed her features. Her face running a gauntlet of emotions.

The 'Am I a slut jumping Lennon's bones' question he had posed obviously meddling and chasing about in her skull.

"Watch your mouth Mark..."

Issy was seething, her fists clenched by her sides showed her rising anger as clearly as an enemy flag waving atop a hill.

She was pissed. Mark grinned.

Issy straightened under his perusal her first thought was to shove the bloke down ten flights of stairs but 'what ifs' ran into view.

Did it seem that way to others?

That she was clawing into Julian's life and gathering Beatles in her net.

No! Fuck him, he was slime.

"Don't you purport to know me or understand Johns and my... friendship"

"Friendship. Yeah right. Fuckship more like it. John wouldn't ever have an innocent -what did you call it?- friendship, with a female"

Pouring another glass like he owned the bottle Issy snatched the tumbler from his hands and before he could regather his surprise Issy had slung it back herself. The burn to her throat only intensified the ire she was feeling for the man in front of her.

"Need to be inebriated to do it with him then?" He sneered.

The slap rang loud and clear throughout the kitchen, the swearing and yelling was heard all the way down the corridor to the occupants of the lounge room. "You fucking bastard! You arse!!!"

John and Jules stared at each other in bewilderment for a few seconds before they shook themselves free of the confusion. They then bolted toward the kitchen.

Issy was, for all intents and purposes, 'attached' to Mark, when the Lennon's entered the room.

Her fingernails caught Marks cheek, red lines marked his jaw, fists and fury driving Issy on and on "You're a bastard, mind your tongue or I swear, I'll ...I'll-!!!!!!!!!!!!!" John grabbed Issy around the middle, she struggled to free herself and grab anything, anything to throw at Mark; Hopefully something really sharp. John swiftly dragged her back as Issy wiggled to be free to launch at Mark again, her arms reaching to punch and maim him if she could "Let me go! I swear Mark you shut your gob or I'll geld the male right out of you"

"Isabelle, settle down luv, what the hell's wrong?" John struggled with both Isabelle and the addlement of 'what the hell' was going on between her and Mark.

"Right firecracker you got there Lennon. Good for a fuck, yeah?" Mark couldn't help himself, he'd been skating on thin ice in the studio the last few weeks with both his lordship Lennon and the executives. Now here she was, the woman that said all the right things, made him take interest in her and looked like she was worth fucking, letting him know, that she too, had run off with Lennon ... like all the other cows.

Issy clawed the air and pushed at Johns arms to try and break free to slap Mark black and blue.

"A cite older though, but still a tart like the other females that circle round you mate"

"Mark!" Julian and John responded in unison, Johns words were lost as Issy lost her bottle again. Her body struggling and writhing to escape. The ire she was feeling bubbled like a volcano, like some sort of fizzy bottle had opened and she couldn't shut the lid.

"Arrrrr! Shut your mouth you slimey bastard" Issy screamed as she attempt to wrestle her way out of Johns arms. Her mind latching on to the things Mark had called her, what he had implied.

Somehow John kept breathing.

In... and out.

The anger was there, but the worry for her was higher on his scale of things to do right now. He had to keep her from hurting herself, the fiery tornado of a woman in his arms was unbelievable. Nothing she had said or done before hinted at the hell cat beneath. He could just kiss her!

But first.

"Julian, escort our ex-employee from my apartment"

"With pleasure dad"

"Awwww John, come on mate, surely you're done with her man. Had your fun. Made your mark. Signed her tits" Mark spat the words across the room. John stood Issy to one side, pressing his hands on her arms trying to calm her, and now, himself. Breathing, mentally pressing the provacation back and away. Her eyes held his as she panted but her body wilfully pressed and writhed to be rid of his restraint.

John was also human and, of course, John was John.

Everyone knew of the famous Lennon temper, everyone.

Mark continued on, talking like a fool "Bit older and boring, but I suppose with that fire she's showing off currently.... Come on, must be fairly close to my turn for your castoffs-" Mark never saw Johns first fist or, for that matter, the second one. The kidney punch landed next, dropping Mark to his knees.

"That's assault Lennon, I'll sue the hell out of you" Limping toward the door, Julian on his tail, Issy was still in his sights "I warned you Issy. He'll have your panties around your ankles then have you on the street the next day" Julian kicked him in the backside and into the elevator Mark fell, lurching forward to his knees.

Jules pressed the ground floor button before John, or he, could land anymore blows.