If there's one adjective I had to describe getting back on the bus that following day, it was awkward.

George and I made only brief exchanges though I knew he longed for more, but I just hadn't the strength in me, especially because when I saw the sight of Maureen, I felt nauseous, going beyond just the pregnancy nausea.

"Is this spot taken?" Cynthia looked down to the spot beside me hesitantly, with a sorrowful and somewhat sympathetic grin.

"No," I paused standing up and sliding out into the aisle, "take it." I spoke knowing well that she had been concealing her knowledge of George and Maureen's kiss since she'd been aware.

"Poppy." She nearly pleaded.

"I'm going to get some fresh air before we go." I looked farther up to the front of the bus feeling suffocated with the abundance of people everywhere.

She let me pass and I began to make my way to the front of the bus, through the sea of extras and crew, and I felt a migraine beginning to invade my head with little warning.

As I stepped outside my eyes met Paul's, whose grin was exceptionally large this morning.

"Pop Star." He said with delight, trying out once again the nickname that failed to catch so long ago, and I couldn't help but giggle at it.

"The cute one." I mimicked what the papers had always called him and he scowled playfully as I brought him into a hug, to which he rubbed his hands up and down my back comfortingly. I smiled to myself nuzzling into his chest slightly, Paul always knew how to make me feel better almost instantaneously, and I was thankful for that right now.

"How are you and your plus one?" He looked so gleeful as he looked down to my tummy as he pulled away from the hug, as if waiting for a bump to show immediately.

"We're good. Doctor says it was only a scare what happened, but we do have another checkup coming up soon. I just hope that George and I are able to go together." I let a sigh slip from my mouth accidentally.

"Is everything okay?" Paul looked concerned

I wanted to tell him that it was, but I couldn't, I couldn't resist the urge to tell someone of what had happened the night before, and how it only seemed to bring back out the difficulty I had in trusting George once again and George with trusting me.

"Eric was out of line." He shook his head in distaste after I had finished recounting yesterday's events.

"I want to be okay with George, it just shouldn't be this hard." I rubbed my neck with my hand in thought.

I could tell Paul resonated with my words though he tried to conceal it the best he could. The American photographer popped into my mind for a brief moment, knowing how they'd bonded when she had first met him. I admired that immediate attraction to one another on instinct. It's what I had with George, and it was the type of attraction that kept me by his side even in hard times.

From a distance I could see John carrying Julian in his arms and my mood brightened as I noticed how hard of a time he was giving John in a playful mood, squirming and laughing in his fathers arms as John struggled not to let him fall.

Paul noticed too and had a childish grin illuminating his face.

"You're late." Paul laughed knowing exactly why.

"He wouldn't get dressed." John stared at Julian blank faced in a playful annoyance, beginning to tickle Julian's sides when he begun to grow intimidated by his father's stare.

"Auntie P!" Julian cried as he saw me, trying desperately now to escape his fathers grip.

John let him go, assuming now that it was safe that he wouldn't run off.

I crouched down and was almost knocked over by Julian who has bulldozed his way toward me to give me a big hug.

"Jules, be careful, she's got a baby in there." John warned protectively.

"Just like me?" Julian looked down to my tummy remembering with a wide grin.

"You, but smaller." Paul chimed in crouching down catching Julian's attention and causing him to receive the same sort of greeting I had just previously received.

"Lord help her if she pops out a baby your size." John said slightly out of breath from having carried the growing Julian from the. car.

"All aboard." Ringo peaked his head from the bus door in attempt to tell us to hurry up.

"Coming Ritch." I grinned over at him as I stood up again.

For a moment I glimpsed a small white envelope peaking out from John's trouser pocket with his name written in a delicate cursive handwriting and felt my heart skip a beat. If I didn't ask, I didn't know, a selfish voice reminded me in my head.

For now I would give into it, as the migraine was winning over my good judgement. John had gotten into his own mess, and that wasn't my problem to solve.

I suppose I had to realize Cynthia must've thought in the same way, after all it wasn't her mess to clean up, and I knew I would just have to swallow my foolish pride and forgive her, because none of this was her fault.

As I was going back to my seat at the back of the bus, George stood up from his seat and took my appearance in with a thoughtful look on his face.

"I love you." He said quietly.

I stared at him for a moment and forced myself to reply.

"I love you too." I ran my thumb over his cheek with my palm at the side of his head to show him I wasn't as angry as I actually was, much for his benefit for filming.

He smiled and placed a small peck on my lips, his moustache hair tickling my lip causing me to even wear a light grin. I had at first protested the facial hair, but I think it quite suited him, he looked so much more grown up, I suppose he was going to be a father after all.

He looked me in the eyes with a small smile and nod before allowing me to walk back to where Cynthia had Julian on her lap, yet her expression so distressed.

"Poppy," she began with such a look of sorrow it made me feel guilty.

"Cyn, I'm sorry, it's not your fault." I smiled sitting down next to her, putting my hand on hers, her shoulders relaxed.

She grinned more at ease and nodded understandingly as I sat down.

From the corner of my eye I noticed Maureen trying not to be caught as she observed me, my anger beginning to win the best of me as I wanted to do nothing more that yell at the top how much she'd made things harder in the mess of my life.  As if it weren't hard enough to grieve Brian who had been for so long a father figure to me, I had to deal with the grievance of my untainted relationship with George, which though we had spats, we'd never been through such a strain.
                       __________________

I had been able to distract myself through the morning filming by talking with Cynthia and keeping Julian occupied, though he'd decided on a small nap halfway through the morning.

We had soon stopped in for lunch, and George came straight for the back, eyes fixed on me as if determined not to let his eyes wander.

I stood myself up with a bit of difficulty short of breath, George grabbing my arm to steady me though I didn't need it, to which I mumbled a small thank you, uncomfortable that Maureen was close in proximity to them as everyone began to get off the bus.

"Hungry?" He smiled in good spirits.

"Always." I offered a grin, surprising myself with how much I sounded like George.

"Right, well let's get something before the both of ye' hate me for holding you up." He winked as he lead me off the bus.

I appreciated his effort he was so clearly making, but every time I looked at him all I could imagine was him kissing Maureen. I didn't dare ask if he had feelings for her, for I quite simply didn't think I wanted to know.

"If there's one thing I don't think I'm capable of Harrison," I began as I hopped of the bus steps onto the paved sidewalk in front of the mom and pop shop we stopped in at, "it's hating you." I assured him as he grabbed onto my hand to walk inside.

And it was true, I really couldn't hate him, though sometimes I wanted to so badly. A curse and blessing I suppose, but one thing was for certain, I wanted to work on us.