"FREDDIE, PLEASE. PAUL, explain it to him." John Reid commanded the band's helper, walking off to talk with some of the TV programmers.

     Valerie was standing, listening to a story Roger and Brian were telling about one of the shows they had the other day. Freddie was talking to Mary, the two whispering back and forth and laughing. And John was standing next to Roger as he added a few comments of his own about the story.

      "Freddie, boys, c'mere." Paul called, standing with one of the BBC camera operators and reporters. Freddie looked over and walked up. Roger and Brian halfheartedly abandoned their story and walked over as well.

       John looked at Valerie and the two smiled at each other before John walked off to joking the band. ".... it will be playback, so all you will have to do nothing but lip sync." The man said, and Roger scoffed.

      "We do know how to play our instruments!" He exclaimed, and Freddie huffed, moving up to the man. He was a few inches shorter than him, even in tall shoes.

       "You want me to lip sync?" He asked, as if the idea proposed was scandalous. Valerie had to try not to laugh at the slightly flustered look on the man's face.

"I'm sorry, but this is the BBC, and that's how things are done around here." The man said, promptly turning on his heels and walking off.

Freddie was going to follow after him, but Paul stopped him. "Freddie, relax. It'll be great." He reassured.

Freddie gave a defeated sigh, brushing a few strands of hair from his face as Mary walked up to him, and said something that made him smile.

"That's how things are done 'round here, old chap!" Roger said, imitating the man, causing Valerie to laugh. She and the boys, except for Freddie, were onstage.

"This is the BBC," Brian said in an uncanny imitation of the man, causing Valerie to laugh even more. John finally spoke up, his arms lightly draped over his bass.

"I'm relieved." He said, and Roger and Brian looked at him, Brian scoffing a bit. Valerie simply gave him a confused look.

"Ah, you would be." Brian said, his voice lilting a bit. John made a gesture as if to ask 'what?' before sighing.

"It'll be a perfect performance," John said, and Brian scoffed yet again.

"That scoff translates to 'if Roger doesn't fuck it up.' I have lived with this man for years. He practically invented a language comprised of scoffs and eye rolls." Valerie told John who laughed at her.

"Valerie, I would never!" Brian exclaimed, and Valerie rolled her eyes as Brian draped an arm around her shoulders, pinching her lightly on the arm. She smacked him away, making Roger laugh lightly at the two of them.

     "Okay, yes I would. But you know I would never say that about Rog."

      "Lies!" Roger exclaimed from where he was messing with the drums.

     "He's right. Now go rehearse," Valerie said, pushing Brian away.

      "What's there to rehearse? It's going to be a perfect performance." Brian teased John, and John's face went red. Brian patted his shoulder as he and Roger went off.

       "Oh,  don't let him bother you. That tree shouldn't embarrass you. Anyway, Brian, Rog, and I were planning on going out afterward. You should join us." Valerie said to John, who's face was still bright pink.

     "Sure, of course. What about Freddie?" John asked as he started to walk slowly toward the stage, leaning down slightly to listen to Valerie.

    "He and Mary are going back to his place because he promised he'd make her dinner." Valerie said, shrugging as if to say 'what can you do?'

John laughed quietly. "Mary, of all people, should know that Freddie isn't the best cook."

"He's borrowing one of my recipes," Valerie said, nodding, and John smiled.

"Oh, well that makes it all better," he replied a bit sarcastically, and Valerie slapped his arm lightly, causing him to giggle as he moved away from her.

"Go rehearse, Deacy." She told him, shooing him away as he tried to speak again, grinning at him.

He rolled his eyes at her and smiled as he walked off to where the rest of the band was.
******

Valerie had a lot of fun watching them perform. Roger had teasingly winked at her a few times while they were performing, and Valerie kept making faces at the band, mostly to try to get them to laugh.

Deacy had finally laughed at one point, and it's was the most adorable thing, because he immediately had to make it look like he was simply smiling.

Now, Valerie, John, Roger, and Brian were out at a restaurant. Payton had decided to join them, and they were all sitting at a booth near the back, all squished into the seats.

"So, I have some questions about the album." Valerie said, messing with her straw.

"Okay, what about?" Brian asked her as the waitress came over, asking them what they wanted to drink and flirting with Roger. And Roger shamelessly flirting back.

       "About John's song, 'Misfire'. I might've interpreted it wrong - I'd like coffee, please - but John! I didn't know you had it in you." Valerie said, pausing in between to order her drink.

Across the table from her, John was blushing a deep shade of pink. Brian looked at Valerie and then at John, laughing a bit. "To be honest, we didn't know he had it in him either. But I suppose that's what the song is about." Brian said, winking at John teasingly, who made an attempt to hide behind his menu.

       Valerie laughed, smiling at John, even though his face was hidden. "I'm only teasing, dear. Even so, the song was a bit unadulterated and chaotic for you, I must say."

"You treat John like a child, Val." Roger told her, looking directly at her from across the table as their drinks were brought back. Valerie flushed red at his comment.

"I don't! I just care for him." Valerie said a bit defensively, and Roger smirked at her over his beer bottle.

        "It's about premature ejaculation, just so you know." John said quietly, and Roger nearly spat out his beer at hearing John say so.

Valerie raised her eyebrows at John as he lowered the menu finally and looked at her. They made eye contact and he immediately looked away, blushing.

"Well, it's just something I'd expect Roger to write, you know? I still really like the song, but- " Valerie was saying, but was cut of by Brian.

        "It's still a great song." Brian said as he sipped his coffee, he and Valerie clinking their cups together as sort of a toast.

        "I agree. Now, does everyone know what they want to eat?" Valerie asked as the waitress came back over to take their orders.
*****

John, Roger, and Brian has all gone back to Valerie's apartment just to talk and play Scrabble. Valerie and Brian has elected to be together, so John was stuck with Roger on his team.

In the end, Valerie and Brian had - obviously - won. Roger had fallen asleep on the couch after a while, so Brian and John stayed up talking a bit while Valerie went into the kitchen and randomly made cookies.

      Brian eventually retired to his room. John and Valerie, however, had fallen asleep curled up on the floor together, his arm wrapped around her waist, her head lying on her chest.

     Once, she woke up and found herself startled to be in such close proximity to him, but it was also such a great feeling. And so she didn't move.

     She was, however, in for a lot of teasing the next morning.