"Help, I need somebody." - Help! - The Beatles.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul was on his way to meet the band. Well, George, Pete and Stuart. He had to tell the band the shocking news he had just received, even if he hadn't come to terms with it himself. He had had a night to think it over, but it was constantly playing on his mind. He needed to know their reaction and find out if it would really effect the band's progress now that he was going to become a dad. However, he couldn't tell John. No way. Not yet. John will blow up in rage, he just knew it. If the band didn't make it now or missed their slot of a chance, Paul would be forever to blame. He needed to find the right time and place.

"Afternoon." Paul smiled casually as he made his way into the pub, taking a seat with the rest of them.

"Fashionably late, as usual." George rolled his eyes playfully with a soft chuckle.

"It couldn't happen any other way!" Paul teased back, resting his hands on the table, "Right, fellas, I have to be really honest with you here... I need to tell you something."

"Shouldn't we wait for John first?" Pete asked, looking around.

"John's not been invited." Paul spoke bluntly, nervously chewing his bottom lip.

"What?" Stuart scowled.

"It's just us. John will know, I will tell him, but, for now, this is something I only want to keep between us. You'll understand when I tell you." Paul shrugged, looking at them all.

"Jesus Christ, Paul, what the bloody hell have you done?!" George widened his eyes, sighing deeply.

"I'm not sure if you guys are aware, but... When we played that gig for Pete's relative's birthday the other week, me and Daisy ended up going back to her house and fooling around..." Paul spoke uneasily, swallowing hard.

"Hang on, you and Daisy aren't even together, are you? I thought things were a little frosty between you two, to say the least." Stuart scowled, watching Paul as he nodded.

"Yes.. Exactly.. I was just as thrown off as you are, except, for me, it's a slightly different outcome." Paul raised his eyebrows.

"Sorry?" Pete took a drink from his beer glass before setting it down.

"She's pregnant..." Paul said quietly, blinking hard.

"You're messing with us, Macca, aren't you?!" Pete laughed loudly along with the others for several moments until the laughter settled down with Paul's blunt, serious expression.

"I... I cannot believe these words are coming out of my mouth, but... Me and Daisy are having a baby. We're going to be parents." His breathing became heavier, just like it did every time the reality hit him.

"Bloody hell..." George widened his eyes, barely even able to look anywhere but directly at Paul.

"Didn't you, uh... Weren't you careful?" Pete cringed, taking his beer back into his grip.

"Obviously not careful enough!" Paul raised his eyebrows with a loud sigh, shaking his head.

"I thought you always kept a rubber in your back pocket!" Stuart laughed.

"I honestly can't remember, we were both very drunk, one thing lead to another and... It all just happened so fast." Paul shrugged, reaching into his jacket pocket for his cigarettes and matches.

"It all happened so fast? Yeah, that definitely sounds like you, Paul." Pete teased, nudging Paul's side.

"Piss off." Paul rolled his eyes, shoving him back. He lit up his cigarette and took a drag from it, looking down at the ash tray.

"I'll get some more drinks in." Stuart stood up and collected the empty glasses, "What would you like, Paul?"

"A fucking big one." Paul rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath. Stuart laughed and walked toward the bar, placing the empty glasses down before ordering some more.

"So, are we the only ones you've told?" George asked.

"No, actually.. I told Mike last night. But that's it. That's why we need to keep it quiet." Paul responded in a quiet voice.

"You haven't told your dad?" George raised a brow, leaning against the table with his elbows.

"Nope... I can't bring myself to do it. My dad or John." Paul shook his head.

"Why those two?" Pete scowled.

"Because... Surely my dad doesn't want a crying baby in the house, and surely John doesn't want a father in his rock n roll band!" Paul cringed, sighing deeply.

"Ah, shit. You actually have a point there." Pete cringed, nodding at Stuart as he came back to the table with drinks.

"Precisely. I'm bloody terrified." Paul reached for his glass and took a drink from it, swallowing it hard.

"But, surely its best to tell them than not, right?" George arched a brow.

"Oh, yeah, definitely. I think I'm going to tell my dad tonight. I don't like keeping things from him." Paul chewed his bottom lip nervously, taking a deep breath, "I've majorly messed up here. God, this could cost us the band." He shook his head, folding his arms on the table before resting his forehead against them.

"Don't say that, mate..." Pete shook his head, patting Paul's back and frowning.

"But I have. Who is going to want to sign a band with a member that has to keep travelling back and forth to visit his child?" Paul mumbled into the table, keeping his head down, "I should've been safe. God, it was so bloody stupid."

"I think they'll actually respect that a young man like yourself is willing to be a part of this child's life, go out and earn a living, and then come back and give it the best life it could have." Stuart spoke softly, raising his eyebrows. Paul slowly lifted his head and nodded, looking over at Stuart.

"Thanks, mate." Paul smiled softly, reaching for his glass to take a drink from it. "I hope my father and John feel the same way."

"Please don't take this as me getting at you, Paul, but.. How are you and Daisy going to go about this?" George asked, raising his eyebrows, "I mean.. You're not together, right?"

"N-No... We're not. But we're meeting tomorrow and we're going to discuss /everything/." Paul spoke after taking a big drink from his glass.

"Well, that's a good idea, mate. I think you two are due a good chat." George nodded, lightly patting Paul's shoulder.

"Thanks, guys. Thanks for reacting the way you did, I certainly will keep you within the loop of things." Paul spoke softly.

"We didn't really have a choice!" Pete laughed out his words, teasing. "Paul McCharmly." He winked.

"Super sperm." Stuart joined in, widening his eyes.

"Piss off." Paul shook his head, narrowing his eyes at them.

"I'm joking! You know we've got your back, Paul." Pete smiled kindly.

"Thank you." Paul smiled back, staring down at his drink for several moments before drinking the rest of it, rubbing his forehead with his thumb. "I think I better go and speak to my dad before I talk myself out of it again."

"Good luck." Stuart nodded.

"You can always crash at mine if you don't like your dad's reaction." George chuckled, lightly rubbing Paul's back before he stood up.

"Cheers!" Paul laughed, pulling his jacket further around him to try and shield him from the icy wind that was waiting for him outside.

"Keep us updated, I'll see you down at mum's tomorrow. She said we can have The Casbah to practice our set for the gig." Pete grinned, looking up at him from the table.

"Oh, bloody hell, I forgot we had that gig." Paul widened his eyes, taking a deep breath before making his way over to the door, "I'll see you then, fellas! If I'm still part of the band by then."

"Oh, stop being so negative, Macca! We'll see you then!" George rolled his eyes and shook his head, waving him off along with the others.

As Paul walked back toward the bus station, thoughts went through his mind about what Stuart said. Maybe it wasn't all bad. Maybe he will be seen and respected as a great father figure, like he said, going out to earn this child the best life they could possibly have. His father was a family man, so surely he would take Paul's thoughts into account and accept this new life into the family. He would be very shocked if his father was totally against the idea, possibly even throwing him out of the family home, but the fear was still there that he wouldn't approve.
———————————————————————————

"Where's dad?" Paul asked Mike as he met him at the door.

"In the living room, in his chair." Mike replied, "Why?"

"It's time to... Break the news." Paul whispered, widening his eyes as he looked down at Mike.

"You're going to tell him..." Mike rubbed his hands back and forth over his stomach, trying to make himself look pregnant.

"Yes." Paul squinted his eyes at him, hitting his side, "Who's that?" He scowled, hearing another voice from inside the room.

"Auntie Gin." Mike shrugged, "She came over to help dad with the housework."

"Ah, shit, I need dad on his own." Paul sighed.

"Why? You might as well tell them both now, kill two birds with one stone. At some point the whole family is going to find out that you're incapable of keeping it in your pants." Mike tried not to laugh as he spoke.

"You're really not bloody helping! Piss off upstairs and leave me to it." Paul scolded Mike, shoving his side before walking into the living room.

"Paul! I thought I heard you!" Jim smiled, looking up from his chair.

"Hello." Paul smiled back, then looking over at his aunt, "Hello, Auntie Gin."

"Hello, Paul! Your father was telling me about your time in Hamburg! You must be very happy getting yourself out there." She crinkled her nose.

"O-Oh, yes! It's brilliant... Especially when we get to actually sleep between gigs!" Paul laughed out his words, shaking his head, "And I get to wear my leathers without dad getting angry." He teased, chuckling as his dad playfully shook a fist at him.

"They're dreadful!" Jim scowled with a soft laugh.

"Anyway, I must be off. I came to help your father with a few things and stayed for a cup of tea, but I should be getting back home." She announced, standing up.

"Alright!" Paul nodded and leaned in for a hug, quite relieved from her words, "I'll see you soon, I'm sure."

"You will!" She beamed, hugging him back before turning to Jim, pulling him in for a hug.

"Bye, bye, Gin! Call around any time." Jim smiled kindly, walking her to the door and waving her off once she walked outside, "She's been a bloody godsend has that woman since your mother passed. She has helped me so much." He sighed softly.

"Dad.." Paul called in a nervous tone, now sat down in the living room.

"Yes, son?" Jim smiled as he walked back into the room, sitting back down into his chair.

"I... Uh.. I've got something to tell you." He spoke quietly, blinking hard as his eyes met his father's.

"You do?" Jim arched a brow.

"Y-Yeah... Christ, I have no idea how to put this into a sentence.." He swallowed hard, playing with his fingers awkwardly. Jim remained silent, keeping his eyes focused on Paul. "M-Me, uh... Me and Daisy are... Having a baby." His voice was almost frail, immediately looking down into his lap to avoid making eye contact or even witnessing his father's reaction.

"A baby, Paul?!" Jim raised his voice, widening his eyes.

"Yes, I know! God, I know we shouldn't have been so stupid, but.. It happened." Paul took a long, deep breath, shaking his head.

"Bloody hell, Paul! Have you any idea of how much responsibility raising a child is?!" He exclaimed, "All the time, effort, money... Everything that goes into making sure that child has everything that it needs."

"I know! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm already doing what I can to ensure that. Making money while we do our gigs is all going to go toward this child, well, my share is, and then when we get somewhere and get known, I will guarantee to give that child everything they need." Paul narrowed his eyebrows.

"Paul, you can't rely on a gig here and a gig there to support a child. You need something that is reliable. Something that will pay your way toward raising this child." Jim spoke sternly.

"Are you saying I need to give up music because I'm going to be a dad?" Paul scowled, "Music is the only thing I can do to ensure I earn money! I can't give that up, especially since we're getting so close to actually making it."

"I'm not saying you have to give up your hobby, Paul, I'm saying that now you need to start taking things a little more seriously. You need to lead this child with example, raise the child well and to the best of your ability. You can't be hopping back and forth between Liverpool and Hamburg when you have a child back here that needs the love and support of their father." Jim shook his head.

"It's not a hobby, dad! This is my career, my life. I promise I can keep both that going and be a dad. Just please give me a chance of proving this to you..." Paul narrowed his eyebrows. His dad didn't say a word, "Please don't throw me out, dad. Please don't make me get my own place... Please."

"Oh, no," Jim shook his head, waving his hand, "Don't you worry about that. This is still your home, Paul. But you need to understand that all of this is your own doing and accept the responsibility that you now hold, and you can start by doing the right thing."

"The right thing?" Paul scowled.

"Marriage. It may have been... Conceived out of wedlock, but it can certainly be born into wedlock." Jim raised his eyebrows.

"Marriage?!" Paul blurted out, widening his eyes, "Dad, we're not even together!" He quickly pursed his lips together, immediately regretting his words.

"Oh, god..." Jim covered his face with his hands, letting out a heavy sigh. Paul watched him closely, almost feeling like he was about to cry. Jim remained with his head in his hands, staying completely still.

"I'm so sorry, dad... I know I've disappointed you." Paul spoke quietly, chewing the inside of his cheek, "I understand if you don't want me here anymore, this is all my own fault."

"Come here." Jim breathed out his words and stood up, gesturing for Paul to stand. As soon as he did, Jim threw his arms around him, holding him closely, "You're not going anywhere... I'm just very shocked, that's all. You're so young, Paul." He pulled back, placing his hands on Paul's shoulders as he looked down into his eyes. "I lost you mother, there's no way on earth I'm going to lose what she left behind; our boys, my boys. I could never have the heart to watch you pack your bags and leave. You're all I have left of her. I love you boys more than anything on earth, I hate how quickly you're both growing up. I just want you to realise the result in your actions and promise me you will do all you can for this child, alright?"

"Y-Yes.. I'll make it work, dad," Paul swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling his eyes filling up from his dad's words and mumbling into his shirt collar as he hugged him tightly again, "I'll make it work. I promise."

——————————-

Thank you for reading! What do you think of their reactions? And what do you think John's reaction will be? 😁