A/N: Well I was going to put a clip of Anytime At All up but you know the drill peps find one better and share share share!! Lots of clips here, snippets of songs too. Nice and clear vision from Feb 64 Ready Steady Go Entrance thru to July 64 stepping off a QANTAS, yes Aussie plane peps. QANTAS flight on their return from the best damn country in the world ~ Australia!! A funny highlight is the facial expressions of the lads watching the Maori Haka at 8.10 min mark in Auckland, NZ. Enjoy!

The bone jarring shaking just wouldn't stop. Whatever she did, whatever she thought about made no difference to her body. Shaking and shuddering he did everything to calm her. She felt his arms and heard his song.

If you need somebody to love,

Just look into my eyes,

I'll be there to make you feel right,

If you're feeling sorry and sad,

I'd really sympathize.

Don't be sad, just call me tonight.

With the apartment quiet, apart from her few tears, John managed to hug Isabelle to him on the huge shiny-new bed.

He'd placed a glass of water on the bedside, the box of Kleenex tissues close by and, at first, himself. His butt teetering on the edge of the table watching her hug the pillow and shake. It was the shock of shocking herself John idly thought, that was what was doing this. It was a shock to him to see her so upset too.

She was usually so composed and calm well except that one time Sally had come to stay... Isabelle had been pretty out of sorts then. But not to this extent. Nothing like this.

Now he wrapped her in secure arms and smoothed her hair down tenderly.

They hadn't spoken a word about the fight. John had bade Jules goodbye and told the lad to keep his trap shut with Sally, he shut the door after promising to look after Isabelle for his son. He didn't have to promise, that was the thing wasn't it, he respected and adored her. Looking after her now, well he didn't need orders or directions for that, although he'd probably stuff something up at some stage, he had her as she had him...This, he did for her freely.

Anytime at all,

Anytime at all,

Anytime at all,

All you gotta do is call, And I'll be there.....

If the sun has faded away, I'll try to make it shine.

There is nothing I won't do,

If you need a shoulder to cry on, I hope it will be mine,

Call me tonight, and I'll come home tonight.

Issy lay listening to John sing, it sounded so sweet and was definitely soothing to her soul. Just him, just his voice on it's lonesome. The lyrics so different with his lovely voice whispering them all over her and she clung to him, fingers wrapping, curled around his arm and he squeezed gently when she moved so she knew he was there, always there, for her.

And he sung on.

She was calming, he could feel her relaxing.... The breathing settled, the tears less, the shakes only here and there. Isabelle squirmed a little and John knew she was ready to talk; announced simply by a squirm.

And he wasn't mad. He wasn't angry with her, not in the slightest. Didn't feel annoyed as was his usual way, it didn't irritate him that she had collapsed into herself and shown weakness. Because he used to be that guy, that guy who goaded a person for being weak. When he should have held a hand out, he would walk away.

His mind was clear now, his heart open for emotion of himself and others; Isabella being a case in point. And that...well that right there was somewhat of a miracle, he felt.

But he had been practicing hadn't he. To be better. To be a little better everyday.

Getting better all the timeee

Better Better Beeeetter

"I'm so sorry" Issy whispered as she wiped her cheeks of moisture.

John wasn't sure what he heard but if it was her saying 'I'm sorry' he wondered why, she was sticking up for herself- brave and strong. Sticking up for me, she was. Geez it was nice to have someone on your side, in your corner, through thick and thin.

"Isabelle there's absolutely nothing to be sorry about" he whispered, kissing the top of her head as he squeezed her arm. She pulled her head from her hiding spot buried warm and deep in his chest and her eyes darted to his then pulled away with embarrassment. "Darlin you had every right to go off like that"

"You didn't"

"Because, my girl, you were gallantly saving my honour for me" John smoothed her hair down and took a tissue, wiping the tears she had missed.

"You. You didn't fly off the handle til right at the last moment. I, I thought you were supposed to have a temper"

"Well I did lay a few into him but I wanted you safe mainly, I wasn't bothered at first to flog him because you had done such a wonderful job and I needed to get you safe"

"Secured you mean"

"Safe and secure. Gee luv he said some nasty stuff.. Good on you for backing yourself!"

"It's not really me though, is it"

"And it's not me to not bash a bloke's 'ead in. You know some guy looked at me funny once and I knocked him clean off his feet but I have you now and you'll protect me won't you darlin'" John smiled at the sweet face that now scowled at him with a little twist of a grin loitering in the corner. She sighed and fled to the warmth of his chest again, dragging his arm up and over her shoulder, making him hug her.

"I just went off, you know. Like loco off ...He made me so....mad John!" Speaking into his chest she was muffled, softly spoken.

Issy sat up, Johns hand dropped, falling away to the bed linen. She picked his hand back up, threading his fingers with her's.

"How do you feel?... now you've stopped to think" John questioned interested in how she really thought of the ruckus now that the shock had worn away.

"Embarrassed"

"No Isabelle, you have no reason to be embarassed. You should be proud to have stuck up for yourself. That takes guts that does. You didn't come looking for me, you just stepped up and flogged the sucker" John smiled, kissing each of her fingers then kissing a slightly pink-tinged palm gently "You know I heard that slap all the way from the couch"

Issy cringed at the mention of that first slap, how had she hit him that hard and how was it heard so far. The lounge room was down the hall and around the corner.

"Do you think he'll sue?"

"Doubt it. Three against one and then what... have a cry and say some woman flogged the crapola outta him. I think not. Marks much too big headed for admitting that" Arms and legs went everywhere, silly John was back, breaking into her sad demure and making her giggle.

Suddenly sitting up he shuffled forward, inching his fingers spider like up from her toes, along her foot, round her ankle, stopping, glancing up with a Cheshire cat-like smile.

He wanted something, someone...He'd been interrupted numerous times and now, they were alone. Finally. He wanted her pronto. Greed and possession swirled deep in his veins. "You know........Miss Isabelle..... we were so rudely interrupted before..." His words hung in the air waiting. His flirty grin and wicked fingers making her smile. His silly adorable waggling eyebrows too. All the fixings of a good time grinning and singing to her, she good naturedly tried to push him away. Maybe have him beg perhaps....

With his greedy wants and needs John launched in mock attack, fingers touching and lips smacking millimetres from her face, she grinned up at him from the bed where he had pushed her back into the brand new feather down pillows.

"John"

"Hmmmmm"

"I never hit anyone before, not like that"

"That's ok"

"But I might start to hit instead of talk"

"I doubt it but I will try to keep on your good side so I don't get a floggin' "

Issy hit his arm.

"There she goes belting me up. Look at that.." John pointed to where her hand had softly slapped him. No malice whatsoever. "..Broke a freckle you did" Her lips spread in a beautiful grin, he had her smiling which was always a lovely scene to behold. "You know Isabelle... I quite like a bit of slap and tickle..."

"Do you now?" Issy questioned while stroking his cheek and taking his hair from his eyes, it dropped back of course but it was so intimate and made her happy she could be here, under him, touching him, loving him.

"Yep lots of slap and tickle, kissing, loving... all good for the ticker you know. Should be conducted daily... Like a prescription from the Quack... Given three times a-"

"Just kiss me John"

"Ohhhh so bossy now... I'll be havin' to watch me self"

"John"

"Oh, alright if you insist. One fleeting kiss coming straight up...... or perhaps one with a twist of Lennon would you prefer?"

"Perhaps we give that mouth of yours something to do" Issy put a warm hand over Johns mouth, giggling as he licked her to remove her hand so he could continue his momentum of asides and jokes.

"I've decided that I'm your muse......." John grinned then smirked as he rolled his hips over hers, making her arch hers in response.

"Oh yeah? How do you come to that conclusion?"

"Ahuh I am- Well as you know I am high quality, heady romantic lead hero material and I can just see this lot in your next novel - Slap and Tickle in Manhattan"

"Perhaps you should write this one then"

"Perhaps..." John let the word hang as he moved over her "Perhaps I should set the scene, darlin. Scene one John pleasures the heroine with many pleasures of the flesh ................"

"Perhaps you should get on with it then. Audition for me..."

"Where's the movie clapper!!!!!!" He clapped his hands over her head and launched.

Kissing, touching, lingering. Weaving his spell. Issy ever so eager to enjoy all his prowess and attention.

He tickled her making her giggle and wiggle beneath that hard body of his.

And the evening was savoured....

Leisurely....

A/N: Thanks for reading...