Paul couldn't sleep that night.  He kept feeling horribly cold, then warm and then cold again.  

Lucy knocked on the doorframe of Paul's bedroom door.  His younger brother Mike had let her in, without warning Paul in advance.  Out of surprise, he tossed the magazine he was reading over his shoulder and grabbed for his blankets.  "Lucy...I-I'm naked.  I'm very naked, so if you could wait for a moment."  His friend blushed horribly and shut the door behind her.  Paul got up and struggled to pull on something, anything.  He had managed to get his trousers on properly when he invited Lucy back in.  

"I'm sorry..." she said.  "When you called last night saying you were sick, I wanted to see you.  I should have called you back instead..."  Paul noticed that she couldn't keep her eyes off of him as he pulled on a sweater.  

"No, no.  It's alright." he said.  He wanted to kiss her cheek, but she wasn't his to kiss and he was ill.  But he liked to tease, for it was all in good fun, and said, "You were checking me out there, weren't you?"

"Actually, I was checking out your open window.  Your neighbors and their children just saw you get changed."  

Paul blushed.  "Oh, shi-"

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"Layla, I'm so scared."

"You'll be fine," she whispered into the phone.  It was late, and she was staying with her foster parents.  If they caught her on the phone that late, there would definitely be punishment.  But her George was scared.  It was bad enough he was far away, but even worse that this show was a big one.  Their manager had bought them suits, and new instruments, and all four of the boys, including the new one, the drummer, were scared to fail.  

"John will kick me out of the band if I fail.  Paul's a natural and Ringo's been doing this for awhile.  What if they don't like me?"

"They have to."

"I don't see-"

"George, how could they not like you?"

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In the morning, when he woke, Paul didn't know where he was for a moment.  But then he realized that he hadn't visited last night Lucy last night, so why was he in the cemetery?  

"Paul..." a small voice said.  "Are you there?"

He sat up.  Her voice sounded like she was actually right next to him.  But it frightened him terribly.  For he was sitting right next to her grave.  "Paul, please." her voice began to cry.  "Are you there?"

"Yes..." he said, looking up.  "Lucy, you have to go."

"Paul...no!  Please don't leave!"  He couldn't see her, but her voice came from all angles, as if she was spinning around him.  He got up, tears filling his eyes.  If he didn't stop crying, he thought he would die of dehydration.  But he also had a raging headache from the alcohol he had the previous night.  "Paul!" 

As he began to walk from her grave, the voice grew louder and sadder.  "No, please!  I need you!"  Paul looked around for his car, only to realize it wasn't there.  Had he walked all the way from his apartment, completely intoxicated?  He broke into a run to attempt to rid himself from her voice.  

"James Paul!" Lucy sobbed, unseen.  "It's me...it's your Lucy."

With a cry of anguish, he said, "You're not mine anymore."

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A light blinded the two girls.  They gasped.  They couldn't feel, or couldn't see anything, including each other.  If this is Heaven, one of them thought, then why does my heart ache so badly?  

Then a voice called to them.  "What is it you want most?"

The first girl cried out, feeling like she couldn't breathe.  "My family.  Paul, my Paul, and Layla. I just want them safe...and happy."  

Unable to hear or understand the first girl, the second of the pair heard the voice.  "My best friend, and George!  Why did you do this to us!"   The first girl was crying, meanwhile the other girl was angry with this unseen voice.  

However, the voice remained calm.  "You have a second chance.  Be mindful of your actions, and beware the dark temptations.  Good luck.  I love you."

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Instead of taking out his anger on his arms, Ringo got away from his girlfriend for one night and was able to sneak George out.  They went to a bar, and by the way that they were drinking, they were relying on a taxi to drive them home.   

However, George kept seeing shadows brush past him quickly before disappearing.  But for once in what seemed like ages, he stopped hearing her voice.  It was if she had just...left.  

But then Ringo said he had to use the washroom, and stumbled off of his bar stool.  Then a soft voice said from behind him, "So...what is a Beatle doing in a place like this?"  George would have been irritated that someone wouldn't leave him alone, but the girl's voice was slightly familiar.  She sat down next to him.  

George set down his glass.  The girl looked just like her.  With the exception of her hair.  It was white blonde, and Layla's was black.  And this girl's skin was lighter, as if she hadn't seen the sun in a few days, maybe even a month.  "What is a pretty girl like you doing here?" he countered.  He couldn't help but feel attracted to the girl.  

"Well...I'm assuming you might already know," she smirked at him.  "To see you."

The youngest Beatle took his jacket off of the counter.  "Would you like to go somewhere else?  I've got plenty of ideas."  

"But, George, you don't even know my name," she said.  Gently, she reached out and touched his cheek.  Then it hit him.  

"Layla."

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The girl was terribly cold, for it was raining out and she was wearing a thin, white dress.  And though it went down to her ankles, the wind blew right through it.  

Luckily, she remembered where she had to go.  Moving up the stairs slowly, she arrived at the door.  Afraid that this was her only chance, she knocked on the door three times, and stood back.  

When Paul answered the door, he stumbled a bit and had to clutch the doorframe.  She looked up at him excitedly, and wanted more than anything to reach out and touch him.  But she couldn't.  Not yet.  "Paul?" 

"Look," he was angry, and tired.  "I'm not in the mood to be interviewed, and I no longer do autographs.  I'm sorry, but I really want you to leave."  He went to shut the door, but the girl caught it.  "Wait," she said, "Paul...don't you recognize me?"

He opened the door a bit wider.  "No."

"Paul...it's me.  I'm back.  It's your Lucy."  She reached out to touch his hand, but he yanked it away from her reach.  The girl withdrew her hand, a frustrated tear falling down her cheek.  

The second youngest member of the band was thoroughly pissed-off.  "If this is a joke, it's not at all funny.  My girlfriend just passed away, and I'm sick of people trying to get my attention about it all the time.  Go away, or I'll call the police."  He went to shut the door, when she blurted, "The first thing you ever said to me was that you loved my cherry hair."  

Just before the door closed completely, he stopped it.  "It's...it's not red anymore, but it stills smells the same.  You always loved that.  And...and you liked it when I played with your hair, and when I kissed your neck.  You can't help but laugh if I tickle your sides, and...and...oh, Paul, I've just missed you so much..." she began to cry, and she fell to her knees on the floor, terrified that the love of her life wouldn't believe her and turn her away again.  And for a moment, he did shut the door, and she sobbed, her head in her hands.  "Paul...I love you." she whimpered.  

Then the door opened.  

George looked at Layla with wide eyes.  She still had her hand on his cheek, which was starting to get damp with his tears.  "Is...is it really y-you?"  

She nodded quickly.  "I've missed you so much.  But George...I'm...I don't have the...the baby." she said quietly, tears burning her own eyes.  Layla didn't remember much of the car crash, nor did Lucy, but there was an immediate feeling as soon as they were hit.  Before she died, there was a split second of complete despair.  Somehow, she could feel the child die inside her, and that was the worst feeling she ever had.  

But George didn't say a word.  He grabbed Layla, and kissed her passionately, not caring about all of the strange looks they were getting.  

"Lucy..." Paul bent down to meet her, and as he did, he inhaled some of that familiar cherry smell.  "I love you too."  He helped her up, and she threw her arms around him.  "Oh my God..." he sobbed.  "Don't...don't ever leave me again.  I swear...I won't let you get hurt.  I won't let you die."  And at the same time Paul pressed his lips to hers, George did the same to Layla.  

But the girls still had a bit of explaining to do.