Apologies for the long chapter!

I added the Brisbane leg on the end of this chapter.

Warning 18+ (yea I know many will be younger but I will do the warning bit!) 

Warning: badly written love making ahead.

No Laughing Matter xxxx

********

I splashed water on my face again, that darn bird, whats- its- name, oh yea, kookaburra, sitting outside my window on the balcony railing going off it's nut. A funny laughing sound it made- beautiful and annoying at the same time, a sound like no other 'ooooo ah ah ah oooo AHAHAHA OOOOO ahahah'

Brought me a frog yesterday, set it on the little table on the balcony then took it again. A friend is with him today. 

It was early, the sun was yet to rise over the horizon but I could see a slight glow which lit the room gently. Looking in the mirror I could see the effects of the night before mascara and tears left rivers of black smudged marks down my cheeks I scrub and wash it all away. 

As I woke I could just see John's face partially hidden under his arm which was flung over his eyes probably shutting out the lamplight beside him- I turned it off silently as I went to the bathroom. 

What was I doing, wasting my time looking in the mirror at the sad girl, shouldn't she be gone? 

The kookaburra let out another laugh joined by his friend this time, how did John sleep through the noise?

This bird was telling me something- wake up it's a new day- it's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday, it's today. 

Now. 

The present. 

I quietly thanked the noisy bird, took off my dress from the night before and studied my reflection for a millisecond more. 

I knew what I needed. 

A new dawn. 

A new day.

I opened the bathroom door and padded back to the bed, settled into the sheets, lent up on one elbow looking at him, his face. 

He had my back, I knew it from that night so long ago. His arm was above his head now, his hair a mess framing his face, his mouth relaxed and innocently pursed.

I leaned over to his cheek hovering near his skin and begin to feather a few kisses there, and there, and there. "Winks" I whispered as I pecked his lips and cheek.

"Mmmmmm, what?" John mumbles tiredly not registering the kisses at all.

"Winks" I continued, littering his face, a couple more on his nose which finally got me a response. Eyes flashed open as he shuffled up the bed away from me.

"Roxy? Ummm" John was rubbing his sleepy eyes, eyeing me like I was mad as he did so. Worried for my fluctuating mindset of the last 12 hours I suppose. I just lean into his collarbone and suck and kiss on his skin. Oops, that one's gonna bruise!.. then run a line of kisses up to his chin.

"Rox I can't believe I am going to say this but... argh, stop. Huny, stop a minute" John had every right to want to pause my behaviour but I wasn't going to be put off, I needed this.

Needed him.

Now.

I settled back down the bed as he realised something else, my lace underwear must have touched his skin. John lifted the sheet and dropped it down quickly.

"Geez Rox you're going to kill me here in a minute. Please..."

I kissed him softly again "John it's a new day" I sat up a little but didn't stop pecking his lips.

"Ahhh. I can see THAT luv" He caught my chin. The sunlight was just filtering through the curtains, playing off the walls and over my face. "Hmmmmm I am enjoying" he pecks my lips then continues "this" he kisses my lips again "but I'm worried love. Pray- tell, your intentions of me?"

I smile, hoping my eyes are conveying my thoughts but I need to explain "My intentions ?! hmmm? I wonder..." He smiled and kissed my cheek. 

"John, I just realised we are here together, today; whatever that entails tomorrow I don't know, but today I know I want and need you. I want to be with you, hold your hand, snuggle with you, love you. I want you to be the one that shows me that.....that... That shows me what it's meant to be like, what it's all about. The beauty that we should have, that we deserve. My intentions are: you, me, now.... Right now" My word's peeter out and I drop my gaze to his shirt, embarrassed that he might decline because of my erratic behaviour.

"Well that's never going to happen!" He slowly lift my chin so my eyes could meet his.

"What?"

"I would never decline an invitation to love you!" He grinned broadly.

"How do you do that?"

"What? smile its easy you just.." He is pulling a funny face and using his fingers to pull my face into a smile too.

"No, I thought you would decline me and you answered.... my thoughts" He relaxes my 'grin' he 'made' on my face with his fingers, and kisses my nose.

"Cause we're in sync. Yin and yang and all that jazz. Come here" I lay on his chest his fingers combing through my hair. "You're sure? You're really sure?" I nod and prop myself up on his chest, he looks down his nose seeing my bra. Lace covered breasts and his chest touching ".......Arghhhhh. Killing me!"

He springs into action not needing another reason to stop.

"Well we don't need this..." his t- shirt comes off in one fluid motion, his trousers still on for the time being. His lips meet mine then slide down to my chest, his arms lifting me over his body so I'm hanging, dangling like a rag doll over him. My breasts are contained in the bra but he doesn't seem to care, nibbling over the thin material, licking my skin lightly along the edges of lace. John pauses, murmuring into my skin "Did I tell you? You taste like Sydney harbour"

"Is that a weird roundabout sort of compliment meaning I'm still Salty?! Like seawater?"

"mmmhmmm"

"do you want me to wash or somethi..."

"NO. You are not going anywhere!"

"I might taste like that elephant on my arm...." I giggle down at him.

He rolls me over onto my back, and continues to kiss my body, lower ever lower. As I look at the top of his head I run my fingers through his gorgeous hair. I suck in a breathe as he places his hand on my panties touching lightly around the top of them lacing a finger round and under the seams, running his fingers round and round. My head is flung back into the pillow my belly flips and turns, a tingling I haven't felt before, delicious, wonderful filling my stomach with warmth. 

He is so gentle, his fingers running so soft and smooth making their way across my body, I can feel the connection both physical and emotional that flows through them as they travel.

Without leaving me he has somehow undone my bra AND removed his trousers flinging both across the room, his boxers and need rest against my leg, hard and hot.

Kissing my lips with an unbridled passion that I haven't felt from him before, another facet of emotions overcomes his face. He frames my face with his hands then he's kissing me deeply, his tongue finding mine. Devouring us. My hands grasped the back of his head and bring him back when he tries to escape south of my lips again. I give him up and let him descend; my chest calling him, my breathing forcing my body up to meet his mouth "mmmmmmmmm" He travels again lower, his fingers have careful wrapped round each side of my panties near my hips, he draws them down slowly placing kisses on my inner thighs as he tosses them off.

I'm squirming under his touch as his fingers draw invisible trails of heat down from my neck through the valley of my breasts around my navel and down to my...oh... my. My own hands wander nomadically, finding his back, nails scratching lightly as I call him back to me with my fingers. As my hand rounds to his chest he is back with me, kissing my neck, my shoulders, my eyes.

My hand trails over his chest needing the touch, caressing, travelling low, to the waistband of his boxers. His sharp intake of breath and his laboured breathing impelling me to continue my voyage to his manhood that is trying to escape its fabric cage.

I'm not scared, I'm out of my mind in a good way but I still falter as I let my hand slip a touch to the waistband of those boxers.

He catches my hand in his, there... "OK?"
I shake free to answer, capturing him under his boxers, touching him, smoothing my hand over his throbbing heat, palming him. "Oh Goood God Roxy"

I'm kissed so deep for my first touch to his heated skin.

I pause my exploration a moment, and lighten the mood "Is he here too? I wanted to ask him a question- meaning of life and such"

"Rox I am hanging by a thread here"

I have a glance down between us and look back at his face his mouth open a little, laboured sighs escaping. As I stroke him softly up then down, causing him to shudder under my hand. "It's a bit bigger than a thread I do believe"

"Funny that" John recovers his mettle and kisses me again taking my breath with it "Ready?" But he doesn't wait for my answer just manoeuvres me over onto my back, lifting himself up over me. The boxers disappearing in the process...

His lips meet mine as he enters in one easy thrust... like it was meant to be.

Him and I.

One. 

"OK?"

"mmmMmmm .... oh" John pushed and moved, ever so slightly, to start the climb to heaven. As he moves his fringe hangs over my face and I hold it back to see him. See his eyes. I want no mistakes, no other eyes to be holding mine in this moment "J....ohn" He hits a spot I didn't know was there and I beg with my body, arching my back so that he is finding it again, and again...and again.

My legs move and wrap around him, holding him to me. He shifts, drops to one elbow and the other hand cupping my shoulder gently, always gently squeezes my flesh.

He pushes deep, into me again and again, thrusting harder and longer helping me, and him, find nirvana.

His sounds, and mine, mingling.

The sensations...

Oh, the sensations...

No pain just pleasure.

No pain...
No pain...

My insides furl and tighten and feel like I'm curling around him more than even moments before. He watches as I quake, about to spill over the edge of infinity. Kissing me deeply, he meets me again and we ascend into the bliss together.

Dropping on top of me in a tangle of sheets, and sweat soaked bodies, we lay spent and as one. 

This is how it's meant to feel always!

Beautiful and wonderful!

I smile wildly into his shaggy head, he raises up slowly, kissing me as if I'm spun sugar... then he's dropping down on to my chest again.

Lazily running my fingers along his back, up and down- we lay spent, in a wonderful dream for an age. Not wanting us, or this moment, to part.

~♡~♡~

... On to BrisVegas

Brisbane

As for a lull in our lives to consider John and my new relationship don't you bet on it. 

More ear splitting concerts, planes, screaming adoring wanting fans, pompous civil receptions with keys to most cities handed over and always more hotel room walls to encage them.

We all grew weary of the fuss and noise. 

However much someone loves something, having it stuffed in your face all hours of the day causes more hate than love, more arguments and hurtful words than you should have.

Brisbane was a glitter of sparkly lights as the plane descended through the clouds, predawn not even making an appearance, the Qantas airliner was cloaked in darkness throughout the journey.

So obscure was the night arrival time for arrival at Brisbane airport, it caused a flutter of anticipation throughout the aircraft that maybe, just maybe not so many fans would be pushing, screaming and crying at the fences.. baying for a piece of the Beatles. 

We were wrong. 

The early morning light wasn't even thinking of rising on the 29th June, but that hadn't stopped over 200 policemen lining the tarmac and 20 or so detectives mingling amongst the crowd of 5000 plus fans, at least they were trying to contain the early hour chaos.

As the fencing around the VIP area groaned and started buckling under the combined weight of the fans' pressure the normal occurrences were seen from the plane....Ambulance officers tending slips of girls who had obviously fainted from all the hysteria that they experienced and or cuts, breaks or  bruises. Utter unfettered chaos.

As usual all the background people- me, Freda, the non-essentials to a Beatle airport reception, stayed back.  Peeking through the round windows, watching the crush and the ever rising crescendo of fan adoration for (in order of appearance)  Paul, John, Richie and finally George as they disembarked the plane. George giving his 'blah' face to us just before turning and stepping into the wall of sound, he was never impressed at all the hoo-ha.

As we watched the lads start off down the road, each standing a metre or so apart on a flatbed truck Freda pointed to them ducking and weaving about, we rushed to the doorway of the plane for a better vantage point,  fearing the worst.

"Why are they all ducking and diving" Freda yelled at Brian, who was a few steps in front adjusting his tie and watching the scene unfolding too, shrugging to the question that was barely heard over the girls screams, we all stood stock still as they wiped their arms and hid their heads.

"There, see. White" I pointed to the flying object and as Freda and I looked at each other in realisation, we at first giggled, then thought better of it. No, we really should wait til the boys laugh at the misfortune themselves, to save us being berated.

"Eggs!!!!!!" We yelled in unison

"Was that a tomatoe too? Ugh yuck" Apart from the above items we saw thrown:

A newspaper

Orange peel or some other rubbish

And a cushion!

"Your fella will be a salad by the time we catch up!" Freda laughed and I giggled too.

"Perhaps we should stop for some lettuce and dressing before we get to the hotel?" I replied jokingly.

Freda paused, looking at me for a millisecond before replying. "I'll ask Mal to get it later!!" Freda was galloping after Brian before I could stop her and say no.

It was no good yelling, my only hope was to catch her before she ordered lunch.

I stood alone, a party of one, at the bottom of the stairs and watched the boys fade into the distance and hopefully sanctuary, they wouldn't like this one bit and our plans to escape the hotel would definitely be lessened or perhaps even scrapped completely, mores the pity.

******************

It felt like forever and a day before Freda and I even caught sight of the hotel which was situated in the heart of Brisbane on the corner of Queen and George Street. Traffic jams had us tapping our feet and watching the world of pedestrians walk faster than the cab at times, our noses pressed against the windows. As we approached the hotel the whole schnozzle of traffic and people stopped, gridlocked and caught.

****

We were crashed, tired and buggered, on the mustard coloured bedspread of our shared 4th floor room for bare moments before Paul and John stormed in, dragging us into the main lounge area. 

Serenity flew out the window with their loud voices and stomping Beatle boots.

By the cross looks on their faces I hoped it wasn't Freda and I that were the cause. We ended up in the middle of the boys main lounge room and didn't have to wait long for the problem to appear in front of us, my words from hours before sat silently mocking me on the table right before my eyes.

"What's this then!!" George cast a hand over the items on the table before us, one grocery bag full of items- cornflakes and milk peeking out of the bag. But another bag was empty and the cause of the lads mood was evidently lying all over the coffee table.

"I'll show you both shall I" John stalked over to the table and Ritchie hovered close behind my shoulder.

"He's all mouth, don't be too bothered, Rox" Whispered Richie, then he was gone as I turned back a head of lettuce was shoved in my face.

"Here hold that RoXan" John pushed the lettuce into my chest "Now Freda love, pray tell why there is bottle of mayonnaise and another of french dressing here" The two bottles were plonked into Fredas hands as she tried to shrink away from Johns wrath, it was quite scary and I was worried for myself when John turned round again.

"Now girls" Paul grumbled "This is unbelievable. We had thought you had our backs" Paul stood close in front of us then marched up and down, his slight height advantage making us feel even shorter under his mad disposition. He waggled a finger "I am upset. NO, I am dismayed! that you two, trusted members of our entourage, would feel the need to make us even more embarrassed and angry"

As Paul spoke, Freda and I continued to cower before the boys but I was also mighty baffled. They all had a good and wacky sense of humour, they all almost constantly pulled pranks and silly nonsense, as to why they were so incited about this, a mere joke? I was bemused for sure.

Mal, Neil, even Brian stood solemnly across the room, behind the boys, leaning on furniture and chairs watching. No assistance there either.

"That's it!!" John yelled close beside my ear, I admit I was shaking "No more unscheduled public appearances, we've had enough of eggs! As long as we're in Brisbane it's just here and the venue for us! Now every time we go out in public, some idiot's going to try to do us harm with salad"

"But John..." I pouted, we had planned to go to Tamborine Mountain with Paul and George, to escape. "Mount Tamborine?" I whined sadly.

"No Rox, nothing, nowhere. Eggs! They threw eggs and now this" John took the lettuce from my arms and held it high, as he did so Paul nodded but not in agreement as I thought. Oh no, not in agreement.

Eggs, Tomatoes and the dressing got dropped, squished and poured over Freda and I from behind. 

While Paul had us distracted George and Rich had grabbed the items and, creeping up from behind, they let loose! John helped of course- eggs for John, Tomatoes for George and Richie, the traitor, the two bottles of condiments.

"Ladies" George came around in front of us after depositing the foodstuffs all over our heads "Dinner... is served"

Every one of those men in the room started hooting and hollering, cackling and laughing even impeccably posh Brian smiled broadly at Freda's, and my, new look.

Egg yolk dripped down our faces, the tomatoe seeds and liquid dribbled in my ear. On our shoulder's was a mess of oily dressing and mayonnaise which slipped and dripped down over our clothes top to bottom, hitting the floor below. And, as if that was not enough, it splashed back up our legs which were relatively clean prior!

I made a move to grab John and Freda launched at George, they were the closest but Brian stopped us in our tracks.

"Stop ladies!" Brian ordered and we halted our retaliation. "Carpet, upholstery, furniture. No, you will not chase these boys around this hotel room. You will stand there til the rest of us have had our showers, and then, only then, can you walk to the showers, over towels of course, to rinse yourselves"

"But!" Freda pleaded, hands turned toward Brian, showing off mayo and egg swirls on her wrist.

"Freda" I whispered "No. There are too many to overthrow. Let's just stand and glare daggers instead. Just think about the nice conditioning treatment our hair is getting!"

She giggled.

"Anyhow" I spoke louder to the asssembled rats "We will get them back, all together.... or alone." I stared John down, hoping he would quake in his Beatle boots, he didn't, he just smiled dazzlingly, madly even "We will repay them someday, somehow. And repay them we will"

As the fiasco died down and Freda and I finally got our showers, John made sure I knew who's hotel we were staying in- his. NO, not really his but the name of the establishment was indeed, Lennon's Hotel so he squeezed all the jokes it was worth out of it.

"I could snap my fingers and you two- Gone!" John smiled over his teacup. "This 'ere being MY hotel"

"John, you can chuck us out anytime anyway" Freda replied sticking a tissue in her ear to retrieve some mayonnaise still hidden there.

"Oh yea he could" Paul sat on a chair, backwards of course. Not too close beside me as I tapped my tilted head to the side, I swear there was tomatoes growing in my ear. "But he won't"

"No?" I brightened a little.

"Nah" John smiled sweetly "Whatever would I do when I go to take you to that flaming mountain you have been carrying on about and you're not there. Be right miserable I would, wouldn't I"

I launched myself at John, Paul rescuing the teacup at the last moment. Kissing the bugger to death- I was forgiven!

That very afternoon Queensland came to the Beatles.

First three lovely aboringinal girls told us about their culture and how they lived in the outback, although they were now living in a large town called Warwick, they always went back to their communities far out west often. They shared food of their local culture but we weren't happy about eating witchety grubs!....

Also, a gentlemen by the name of Darby McCarthy who was a famous horse racing jockey visited us later that night after the first concert, he regaled us with interesting facts and stories about aboriginal dreamtimes and corrobborees.

During the afternoon after the girls had gone a nice lady ranger from Fleay Wildlife Park, brought a baby possum, a joey, a baby dingo and a koala to the suite! They even named the baby dingo after Ringo, so it became Ringo the Dingo. Ringo, I hope, will live a long and happy life- both of them!

The boys played for five thousand delighted fans that night at Festival Hall.

"I think the roof is lucky to still be intact" I screamed in Neil's ear, him not bothering to respond just nodding profusely over the din.

As the other support acts, Johnny Delvin, The Phantoms and Sounds Incorporated, gathered round the edge of the stage with us, out of sight of the audience, we watched on. I smiled with them at the reception, Brisbane was indeed conquered by a mere thirty minutes of music.

Teens ran through the streets after our cars, desperate for a glimpse, a wave, an invitation up to the room..... Screaming went on day and night in those fifty odd hours we were in Brisbane. Shop windows were overflowing with Memorabilia but again it was only Neil and Mal managing the trips to the shops reporting back with food and newspapers daily. If Freda and I had left there was that ever-present fear of never surfacing again in the crowd of fans. Who would believe us? That we were part of the boys entourage, not many if any at all.

Four packed out, unreal shows played in Brisbane those few days we were there. Sold out and loud. Successful.

And even the nine male uni students that had thrown those damn eggs on that fateful morning ended up having a chat with the boys, all was forgiven after John threatened a duff up and they ended up chatting for hours about life in Australia.

I stood watching the crowds early the next morning a cup of tea steaming and sweet, just how I liked it, John always said he was sweet enough but he still needed three teaspoons compared to my standard two. 

I wore a navy pencil skirt and white blouse that morning and was ready for the day ahead.

Finally, it was time, our trip to Tamborine Mountain. We all assembled at the lifts, boarded; and as they descended to the foyer we nattered about what we would like to see on our rare day out. 

"Ready?" George popped his new sunnies on as he hoped in the cute red and white MG convertible, he would drive, he loved driving, Neil the unlucky passenger. George raced his cars and Neil was in for the flight of his life. 

The 30th of June 1964 had dawned clear and warm, it was going to be a wonderful day of exploring Queensland's Great South East. Richie was hanging back resting, he still wasn't one hundred percent and tired easily.

Paul was next to bag a motor. A bright orange and white identical model MG, he drove with Mal quashed in the passenger seat.

John and I took a smart baby blue auto matching the others, this was a time before I realised John was a terribly 'loose' driver. 'Loose' as in too busy shouting out the window or pointing to semi interesting things miles in the distance, not paying one bit of attention to the important things... like the road. 

I shuddered many a time that day til George, who had seen John with his head out the window one too many times, signaled for us all to pull over at Tamborine Village at the bottom of the inevitable climb up Tamborine Mountains goat track of a road.

(A/N: where I live!!)

"John, may I have a quiet word?" George poked his head in the window smiling his toothy grin, then gestured for John to walk with him to the back of the car, which was directly in front of Paul's orange one.

"Oh certainly good chap" John replied poshly, squeezing out the window, as if the car had no doors at all.

As I sat catching my breath on the edge of the seat, feet firmly planted on the grass verge, Paul and Mal went round all our cars and took the tops down.

"Ahh, hi Rox" Paul hunched down at my feet, a piece of long grass sticking from his mouth much like a cowboy on the range. "You've got your licence now have you not?" I nodded yes as I watched George marching up and down and John basically stomping his feet in protest. "You see, George thinks you might be best to drive up"

"Up the mountain..." I grinned, oh goody! My eyes lit up as they took in the next section of road and mountain just beyond. Glancing over at John I groaned. John would be livid but it was already quite unnerving to be a passenger with him on, basically, a straight stretch of road. How we would have fared with Johns attention span on a steep slope with sharp bends, I never wanted to find out. 

"George says your good an' safe an' that. He's a good teacher our George." Paul tapped my shoulder bringing my attention back to him, John was throwing gravel at Georges feet by this stage "Now we wouldn't want an accident this afternoon with a concert tonight an' all, would we?"

It had been hard learning to drive. John had grumbled when George had offered to teach me but he relented in the end because he knew, he himself, was not so good a teacher, or driver. We also realised, seeing how we were fighting over who was going to be the teacher John or George,  we would just end up bickering and I, possibly, would end up crying, or boxing his ear; what with the way John carried on!

George was the logical choice. Although a speedster, he was precise and exact in his motoring. As I was now somewhat Georges' protégé, he was pushing John for me to take over the wheel.

John walked back toward the car...

"So........If you'd like to know, I've just been royally neutered" John stalked up to the passenger seat, kicking gravel as he approached. I stood up and kissed him, giving him a hug for good measure too "Say's I'll kill the both of us, the little twerp" John spun, waved and smiled overly sweetly at George, then gave him the finger.

"I also saw that smooth talking traitor Macca giving you the heads up so I guess I should just get moving and sit in the gelding's spot" John took another kiss and slammed down hard in the passanger seat that was recently vacated by my own derriere. 

I grimaced as Johns deflated ego progressed downhill. Paul picked that exact moment to give me the double thumbs up which sent my eyes rolling skyward.

I chose to walk around the rear of the car; walking round the front, in full view of John, would have made him even more annoyed.

"I'm not impotent, only neutered you know" John yelled over the windscreen at George and again back at Paul "Neutered!!!" and then once more at me."Neutered!" I slid his captains hat on his head and pulled it down hard.

I then chose to do the only thing that would possibly make Johns grumpy bum attitude tone down.... 

I took off before George even had his seat belt buckled! Throwing John back in the seat! He started cheering and yelling as I accidentally (of course) hit Georges car with small bits of gravel as our car spun tyres on the loose rocks and launched back onto the pavement first.

"Go Roxan, babe!" John yelled bouncing up and down in his seat spinning round to look at George in my dust. "He took you to Silverstone didn't he. Bloody hell, you can't race the mountain can you? ...Can you?!"

Ahh Silverstone circuit. George had phoned some friends and the next minute I was puttering about on Silverstone race track (not on a race day!) only about an hour or two after he first took me driving! That then became our bi weekly ritual.

Out to the track, George would hoon around for an hour then finally remember I was sat beside him and not at the wheel learning.

After a few weeks of learning he let me go out with some of the actual race car drivers, only the lads never the main drivers, but wow did we get some speed up. Any frustrations would be windswept away! Jackie Stewart an up and comer, one of Georges best mates, had me cornering in the wet at high speed, zig zagging in and out of bright orange cones and emergency stopping was par for the course.

At the end of my training/ learning, for a reward, I was sat in an old formula one car running on much less than half the cylinders perhaps even one! Jackie had sprung it all on George on the day, he had me do a 'slow' lap but it was heaps faster than motorway speed with all the gear-  helmet on, fire retardant overalls too. George shaking his head that 'he was dead if I hurt one bone in me head'  But all was well; I went out, and returned, in one piece, grinning from ear to ear may I add too!

I pulled up suddenly.

The two cars following behind stopping too, wondering what was the matter. Picking up my camera which was currently resting under Johns feet, I handed him a black marker pen, I then got out of the car and pointed to what had my attention.

They were all crawling up the side of the hill in seconds.

While reading the brochure about Tamborine I saw there was a large rock that, having a favourable shape, was painted black and white or should I say, more aptly, ebony and ivory.
It was painted, sat there sticking out of the side of the hill, like a piano.

A/N: this rock has been here a long time painted like a piano not sure if it was painted in '64 though :)

Mal and I got loads of photos of the
boys pretending to play, autographing their names and generally being idiots, standing on the stone. A bus load of school kids went past, down the mountain, all screamed out the back window when they had realised what they were seeing. That was our cue to leave.

John snuck back to the MG "Rox run! Let's beat the buggers again"

George and I looked at each other for a moment.

I was at an advantage still being on the pavement but he was a bloody monkey and jumped down from the four foot he was above me. We ran back to the cars, neck and neck. George's only problem being Neil. He was still moving across the road, I was already gunning the engine to leave. 

I left.

Now I was leading the charge up the next straight but that meant George caught up. We then began the winding section of road and sped round hairpin bends and narrow, tight single lane corners, George was close behind flashing his headlights, Paul a half mile or so back. John put a hand on my thigh and I missed a gear almost ending up with George in the backseat.

"Don't" I hissed as my determination to win took over. I slapped his hand away, found the gears and returned my mind fully to the task at hand "You want to diss George, let me diss him" I growled out.

"Wow Rox, what the hell did he teach you?!... At least I know you two weren't holed up in some crummy hotel every driving lesson day" John laughed but all I saw was red.

Dropping a gear, this time intentionally, I ploughed through three hairy corners, a tad too fast but all without incident, then proceeded to bless John the one finger salute, they all loved to use, on a small straight section of road.

I then pretended to checked my lipstick in the mirror before diving into the next lot of the narrow bends, all the while making John grimace in trepidation.
George flashed me again with his high beams but I was gone... two bends ahead.

The rainforest grew denser and denser, a dark and tropical canopy of palms looming over the road, it was also a cooler temperature and bellbirds were singing with a ding- ding bell sounding tune.

"I'm sorry Roxan luv, truly" John pleaded hands in a prayer "You and George never... you know'd" He looked back over his shoulder and saw no George. Johns face when he looked over at me; hilarious to say the least. 

Just as quick as we were to go, we were as quick to slow. I dropped down through the gears hastily, indicated and slid into a parking spot at the Eagle Heights Hotel, confidently checking my watch as I waited.

As George pulled up I lifted my watch and tapped "One minute, two seconds George" Neil groaned and George looked skyward and swore something I won't repeat.

"Roxan don't you ever, ever do that again. I'll tell Jackie to burn you through a lap and scare the living daylights out of ya!" George smiled a gigantic grin though, he was looking quite proud of himself actually "You were studying that map this morning weren't you, I thought you took too long looking at the markets section"

The place was deserted and when Paul pulled up a sheepishly long two and a half minutes after George, we all piled into the bar for a quick bevvy and chatted with the couple that ran the pub.

"We were looking at the rainforest!" Paul countered but George and I stared him down til he melted into the pavement "Ok, ok. I stalled it" we snickered at that.

It was ok to laugh at Paul. He was quick to recover his perpetual happiness and went off to pick on John instead. 

As we finished the drinks and stepped away from the bar,  I walked backwards out the door asking "So down the moutain to the beach now yea?" I was hoping for a quick dip, sunscreen and towel already tucked away in the tiny boot.

"Neil, you drive John, I'll take Roxan and have a word if you please" George gave me a pleading look.

George was a party pooper but it would be nice to spend some time with him, have a laugh on the way to the beach and also get to actually look at the surrounding mountainside as we drove.

The other side of the mountain, the beach side, turned into rolling hills then another quaint village which had us back in traffic to finally arrive at a glorious white sandy beach.

"Roxan, you scared the crap out of me and Neil, and probably Paul too. You were going great but please don't be daff and take chances" George spoke softly, even shyly as we descended the mountain, this side was not such dense rainforest as the other side which was a pity, but still interesting as I saw birds and a few kangaroos grazing near the road.

"George, I didn't do anything stupid. Well, I missed a gear and nearly invited you in for tea and toast but that was Johns fault, he put a hand on my thigh!" I laughed as George grimaced recalling the moment he had to brake hard to miss the bumper of our car.

"I wondered what that was" He grinned like a cheeky school boy and we fell into an easy silence.

As I splashed in the waves the boys drank coca- colas and ate hot chips in the shade, laughing that I would be burnt silly in the hot sun, then eventually they all joined me in the shallows splashing water everywhere.

 We were free.... 

Of noise. Of fans, and walls for a few precious hours. I was in heaven  and they were too.

Freedom now, show tonight and catching a plane back to London tomorrow.

Goodbye Australia, it was a blast.

A/N: When in Brisbane only Paul and George went up to Tamborine Mountain, they went to the hotel mentioned and I have seen one photograph a lucky lass took of them, the hotel burnt down later that year and was rebuilt.

I also realise George probably didn't know Jackie Stewart yet or that Silverstone would allow learner drivers! but he was indeed a car enthusiast, as you all know, having been interested from the age of 12.