As Julian got his pajamas on (he insisted that he could do it himself), Lucy warned Paul, "No smoking weed around him. And I'm tucking the incense away; it's a fire hazard. Let's be a good example for him."

He dramatically rolled his eyes. "Fine." But then he whispered in her ear, "I'm still a little buzzed already from my time at the studio though."

"Naughty boy."

Lucy knocked on Julian's door, asking if he was dressed. Paul sneaked up behind her and grabbed her bum. She tried to be mad, but she was surprised more than anything. "None of that around him."

"You're no fun, love. You're forgetting that his father is indeed John Lennon and that I'm certain Julian has seen him do some interesting things-"

The door opened. Lucy thought they might have startled the boy by standing so close to the door.

"Mummy reads me a story before I go to sleep. Will you read to me? Like you used to?"

"Of course."

Lucy carefully tucked Julian under the covers. She would try to read quickly as it was getting late. Even Paul was stifling a yawn.

He watched her as she read, and watched Julian's eyes slowly struggle to stay open. He silently reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. And inside his wallet, in one of the pockets, was a picture of him and Lucy...and Julian's drawing of Lucy. He examined it silently as his girlfriend read to their guest. Even though to most it was merely a child's drawing, Paul thought it possessed a beauty unlike most. Maybe it was because of his fading high, but he found himself unable to look away from it.

He suddenly thought of kissing Lucy on his living room floor. It seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember when it happened. Perhaps he had only imagined it.

Lucy touched his shoulder.

"Let's get ready for bed," she whispered. Julian was already completely asleep. Paul felt like he hadn't been looking at the photo for long, but a half hour had passed.

Lucy was nearly asleep when Paul crawled into bed next to her. When he watched her read, he had smiled to himself. She was going to make a great mother someday, if she chose to have children. Paul could only hope that perhaps he'd be with her then too.

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Paul had just put on his pajamas and went out into the living room to hear Lucy playing his piano. He stood in silence, not wanting to interrupt. When she finished, he touched her shoulder. "That sounded lovely."

"Thanks."

She stood up. Her "nightgown" was a shirt he borrowed her that was too big for him. It went down to her mid-thigh. She blushed as he stared. "Should I change into something else?"

"No, it's fine."

Before they went to bed, she said, "Paul...I'm not comfortable with this...it's too revealing for me."

"I have boxer shorts you could wear underneath them, if that's what the problem is."

"Oh...I'll try them." Lucy thought it would be weird trying on that sort of clothing, but if anything he was just trying to make her feel better.

When he handed them to her, she asked, "They're clean, right?"

"Would I really give you a pair of dirty knickers?"

"I'm just making certain..."

He turned around to give her privacy. She was wearing underwear underneath this new underwear, and though it was slightly uncomfortable, she got used to it. "Thanks, Paul."

"Any time, love. I just want you to feel safe."

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Paul was surprised to find that he slept until almost midday. He hurried to get dressed, and was about to go into the bathroom when he heard Lucy running water in there and talking to someone.

"...just a little longer, Julian. Then you'll be fresh and clean."

Paul opened the door to find Lucy giving him a bath. He couldn't hear what Julian said in response but it made Lucy laugh. She shut the water off and Paul slipped out the door to not be noticed. Perhaps it would have been a better idea for Paul to give him a bath, but Lucy was more maternal. Unless Lucy knew something he didn't, there hadn't been word from Cynthia. He was starting to worry.

Several minutes later, Julian was dressed and ran out the door and Lucy nearly ran into Paul. "Good morning," she said, nearly nose-to-nose with him. "We went for a walk this morning and he fell into a mud puddle. I convinced him to have a bath if I gave him some sweets." She smiled. "I missed watching over him. He's still so sweet."

Paul watched her watch him, and found himself wanting this lifestyle.  Right then, he was just Paul McCartney.  He wasn't a Beatle.  To Julian, he was 'Uncle Paul'.  The idea of marrying Lucy and having a child was very appealing.  But he couldn't handle that lifestyle then.  He was a Beatle.  And according to Brian, the Beatles ought not to be married.  

John had been the exception to that rule.  

Lucy was engrossed in a Beatles interview, and Robert ran in to watch it with her.  It was his first time seeing Paul on television, and he was amazed.  The interviewer was directing questions to all of them, and she loved how Paul could answer them so naturally.  

"Mum, come look!  Paul's on the telly!"  

The doorbell rang, but she knew her mother would get it.  The Beatles were laughing on the television before the man asked Paul, "Now we know John is married, would you ever like to be married?"

Suddenly hands were placed on Lucy's shoulders and a kiss was placed on her cheek.  Both the Paul on television and the Paul sitting behind her said, "Yes, I'd love to."  Only the one behind her whispered it in her ear, and pulled her close so she was sitting between his legs.  

There was a knock on the door, and Paul opened it with a smile until John growled, "Where the hell is Julian?"

"He's here-"

"Cynthia decided to be a bitch and not tell me where he was-"

"Don't call your wife a bitch, John."

"Shut up, will you?  You must have told her it would be alright for him to come here.  Stay the hell away from my wife, or I'll-"

"Daddy!"  Julian ran for him and hugged his legs.  John shot a look at Paul before picking up his son.  "What makes you think you can do things like this without telling me, McCartney-"

Lucy stepped in.  "I told Cynthia that I could take Julian for the night; she said she was feeling stressed.  It was my fault, John.  I meant to call you and I forgot."  Lucy was well aware that if John said anything to her it would set Paul off, and the last thing he wanted to was cause a scene in front of his son.  So he simply gave a tense goodbye, and left with Julian.  

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"You didn't let me say goodbye to Uncle Paul," the little boy pouted.  

"You'll see him soon, I promise.  But today I took the day off so we could play, Jules.  What do you want to do?"

"I'm tired, Daddy.  I want to nap."

"Alright.  We'll have nap together."

Julian normally always wanted to play with his father, and it was usually his father who said he was too tired.  It broke John's heart to hear those words already coming from his son's mouth.  

I'm tired, Daddy.  

Tired of you not being the father I need.

"Do you want to get some ice cream, Julian?"

"I'm too tired."

When they arrived home, John set his son's suitcase in his room while the child ran to his parents' bedroom.  John was glad he chose that bed, as it was one he could fit in.  But what child wouldn't want to sleep in their parents' bed?  In his or her mind, it was always the safest.  

Julian had rolled himself up inside a blanket, and John began to tickle him.  He giggled for several minutes before yawning.  "Let's sleep, Jules."  

His son curled up next to him and was asleep within minutes.  He squirmed occasionally as he slumbered.  It took John longer to fall asleep.  He watched his son with caring eyes, and touched his hair.  

I'm so sorry.

I know you like Paul better than me.

He was glad his son didn't know what a high was.  John was emerging from one.  Though he knew it affected him negatively sometimes, he felt like the drug was the only thing that he had left most of the time.  

"I'm sorry, Julian...I don't blame you for not loving me."

Hello!  

I'd like to know, how many of you are Beach Boys fans or are interesting in knowing more about them?  Because a new movie called Love & Mercy came out this week about one of the members of the Beach Boys, and it's incredible.  I'm getting into more of their music.  I recommend it, and when I saw it, I wasn't even that big of a fan.  So please give it a thought :)

I'm sorry the ending was sad, and I promise I'll write more about Layla and George.

Peace, 

Luna <3