THE NEXT FEW weeks went by in a blur. Valerie had managed to finish her thesis, and all the while visit Payton's store at least three times a day. Oh, and she had quit her job as a waitress and moved on to become one of the managers at a local bookshop.

Halloween was a holiday that didn't go uncelebrated. She and Tim has always gone out and celebrated in costumes, but Freddie really ramped it up. There was always a theme to their costumes. This year, the band had unanimously agree to go as characters from I Love Lucy.

     John kept laughing and calling them 'old', which always sparked a playful petty fight between him and Valerie.

    Roger had insisted on dressing up drag as Ethel so he and Valerie could go together as Ethel and Lucy. Freddie was absolutely ecstatic about the idea, and he didn't waste a second agreeing.

    Freddie went as Ricky, and John went as Fred. It was quite hilarious. Brian and Payton went as literary characters; Freddie kept calling them boring old sods.

The boys had spent hours before the Halloween party raiding her makeup supply, and Roger had ended up stabbing himself in the eye one of her brushes. Everyone except John had ended up super drunk that night.

    Valerie had just gotten back from Newcastle, and was on the phone with the band. They were talking about how they were offered a tour in the spring, after the release of their second album.

     "That's amazing! An American tour!"

     "Opening for Mott the Hopple," Freddie said, a tad venomous, before he sighed, "but it's a tour nonetheless. Even if we are an opening band." Freddie relented, and Valerie nodded, though Freddie couldn't see her.

There was a moment of silence, then bickering on the other line before the phone was passed to someone else.

"Val," John's voice rang through the other line, "did you get home okay?" He asked. Valerie smiled.

    " Yes, I did. Thank you for checking in." Valerie said as she settled gently onto a chair.

"Of course. How awesome is this? An American tour!" John exclaimed, obviously elated.

"Have you ever been to America?"

"I visited New York a lot when I was younger, but that's because I have an Aunt there," John said, and paused before asking "have you been?"

"Just one time. To Colorado. We went Skiing." Valerie said, and John laughed a bit, the two easing into a conversation until Valerie heard a glamour of what sounded like Brian, Roger, and Freddie arguing.

     "Are you hearing this? Roger is too short, so he's actually standing on a chair to be taller than Brian." John said with a sigh, and there was more yelling.

      "What are they even arguing about?" Valerie asked, not even surprised that they were arguing.

      "They were first arguing about whether Roger would sing during Stone Cold Crazy, but now they're arguing about the safety of standing on a chair. When I imagined being in a band with these people, this never came to mind." John sighed, causing Valerie to giggle.

"No, of course not. You expected a functioning band, one that you didn't get." Valerie said with a laugh. There was a knock at her door and she set the phone down to open it.

"That's Payton. Say hi, Payton." Valerie said, and she said a loud hello before asking to talk to Brian.

"Yeah, sure. We're about to start sound checking, so he can only talk for a bit. I'll call you later, Val. I'll tell you how the chair situation was resolved." John said, handing the phone to Brian.

"Of course. Talk to you later. Love you, Bri! Don't murder Roger!" Valerie called into the phone when she heard John move it for him to hold it. Brian gave a quiet laugh before she handed the phone to Payton and got up to put on a record.
*****

"And how was the chair situation resolved?" Valerie asked John in a whisper. She and Payton were curled up in her bed, having fallen asleep together and then being too lazy to move.

      It was about three in the morning, but Valerie didn't mind talking to John. She couldn't sleep anyway.

"Roger almost fell. Brian caught him, and Freddie laughed and called them gay, which sparked another argument." John told her, and Valerie burst out in laughter before she remembered Payton was right next to her.

        "And now Roger and I are sharing a room; we're roommates." John whispered, and Valerie gave a quiet laugh.

"Let me guess: he's drunk."

"Oh, God yes he is. And Periwinkle, she showed up. Said it was to surprise us for the album release. I'll admit that I did have a bit to drink, but only one beer." John said, and there was talking in the background.

       "John Deacon, you drank and didn't check with me, your authorized adult, first? I am ashamed in you." Valerie teased him, and he gave a bit of a nervous chuckle.

      "Sorry, Val. There wasn't a phone around!" John said, a bit too loudly, causing Valerie to giggle.

      "Oh, 's Val! Tell her I said hello." She heard Roger exclaim loudly in the background, and a quiet groan from John.

      "Tell Rog I said hello. I'm going to have a three am tea because I can't sleep." Valerie said as she padded across the floor in just her socks.

"Sorry 'bout that, Val. Didn't mean to wake you," John said sincerely.

"'S okay. Also, Rog mentioned how you're playing the BBC in a few days?"

  "How could I have forgotten! Yes, you are invited to watch us perform." John said, as if that had been her question.

      Valerie shrugged and grinned, elated it had been John that immediately asked her along. "Oh, I suppose I will. That will be fun." Valerie said, going back to whispering after she realized that she had probably been talking too loud.

"Of course it will. Roger will be there." John teased, and Valerie gave a quiet laugh as she rolled her eyes, making John smile radiantly on the other end because he could practically hear the action.

"Ah, fuck Roger."

"Valerie! Watch your profanity."

"I'm older than you!"

"Still. Anyway, I'm straight. But I'm not opposed to that. However-" John was saying, but he was cut off with a loud laugh from Valerie's end. She had abandoned all attempts at being quiet, and she burst out laughing.

"Oh, Johnathan, I didn't mean that." She said in between gasps for air because she was laughing so much.

"Oh, shush and go have your tea, lovey. I'll call you later, yeah?" John said, and she could hear him smiling.

"Fine. Later, as in not tomorrow at three am?"

"Promise, Val. Bye." John said with a laugh, and she hung up.