George had been doing his best to keep her off her feet as the doctor recommended. She felt awful watching him do everything for her, and hated sitting around all day. After several hours of playing guitar, she got up when George was in the kitchen and therefore unable to see her.

He heard rummaging in his spare room and immediately went to help her, especially because she was standing on a stool. "Layla, get down from there. Here, let me help you-" She dropped a hefty box into his outstretched arms before carefully getting off the stool. "I wanted to show you something."

They sat down on the couch and Layla opened the box. It was filled with clippings, photographs and ticket stubs. "They're all of you...and some of us. Look at this one," she pointed, "it's from a show of yours in Hamburg...and this is from Paris." Then she pulled out her favorite. "I managed to find every newspaper that was advertising your shows in America."

George occasionally glanced down at the things she kept pulling out, but he had seen too much of himself in magazines. He was watching his lovely girlfriend talk and smile. It was a different side of her that he hadn't seen before. A gentle, nostalgic side. "...I got this idea from Lucy. I'm normally not so sentimental." She then found a stack of pictures at the bottom. "Perhaps we shouldn't look at those-"

He smiled. "What are you trying to hide from me, love?" He flipped through them, unable to find anything too embarrassing. Most of them were pictures of each other, taken by each other. Some of them were the two together. Others contained Lucy and occasionally Paul. Ringo made several appearances too.

But then he pulled out a group of eleven photos that had been pushed to the bottom of the box. Layla looked down in her lap.

It was of her, and someone else must have taken the pictures as she was holding pieces of paper, present a letter to her lover. George read them aloud, quietly.

Hello George,

I wanted to tell you something important. Her facial expression was serious.

You know already that before I met you...I had made some mistakes.

I was depressed; I did not like myself.

When I saw you, I assumed things would be the same.

But you got to know me instead of asking to take me home.

Now I feel so much better and safer,

And I feel safe around myself,

Because you've made me a better person, and I'll always be thankful for that.

I love you so much,

Layla.

He set them down, and looked over at her. "There's no need to be embarrassed. Oh, are you crying?"

"It's this silly pregnancy...I always get like this over little things."

He embraced her from the side, and she held one of his arms. "I was going to give those to you for your birthday a year or so ago...but I thought it would be a bit sad for a celebration. And then I decided not to at all because I thought you preferred me loud and...unsentimental."

George kissed her cheek. "I like you in any emotional state, Layla. However, I do prefer you to be happy." he smiled. "Would you mind if I kept these photos?"

"No, they're yours. Happy belated Birthday."

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

"Lucy, I'm home! I brought you a surprise!"

The girl wondered whether she should be worried or not. He kissed her cheek and placed the grocery bag where her hands were resting. She opened it, and pulled out a mango. She didn't understand.

"That's part one of a little experiment I would like to try. This is the other," he pulled a smaller package out of his coat pocket. She knew immediately what it was by the smell. "Absolutely not."

"You liked science in school, so let's try to form a hypothesis. If you try this mango sober and then try it again high, it will taste even more amazing." Paul said. She was beginning to question whether he was high himself. Without saying a word, she shook her head.

He kissed her neck for a moment. "It will be fine. It can't hurt you...it's not like a cigarette."

"How will it affect me? Will it make me do what Eric did to Layla-"

"No...I promise. That's a different drug. This will give you an entirely new outlook on everything."

Lucy debated long and hard with herself. She finally took off her apron. "Why do you do this to me, Paul..."

They sat on the living room floor and Paul had cut the mango and several other pieces of food into slices to try. Lucy changed into more casual clothes as Paul prepared everything. She couldn't look at herself in the mirror; she felt like she couldn't back out of her decision.

Paul was already smoking when she came out. "Well...you look beautiful." he patted the floor right next to him. She sat there and he had her try a small piece of the mango. "It's delicious."

The man smiled wide as if he was about to laugh hysterically. "Now, try some, love..." he held the lit one he had out to her. She watched it for a moment before pressing it between her lips.

Two hits later.

She began to see colors associated with the sounds she heard. She felt certain sensations even when she wasn't being touched. The food tasted about ten times better, and Paul's laugh sounded so much more beautiful. Everything seemed more beautiful.

Her words that would make no sense to most spoke to the equally high Paul. Suddenly he pushed her down on the floor and kissed her. His mind was a blur of colors, shapes and sensations and then he saw something clearly. Something he had been given several months ago.

Julian drew this. He made me promise not to look at it.

Lights seemed to dance around Paul's lovely Lucy. He held her hands.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds...

What a beautiful thought.