"It's how much for th' dress?" cried John, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

"Two thousand pounds, but John, it's just beautiful, and we can afford it," Mary told him. "Besides, Julia just loves it; she has her heart set on it."

"But, Mary, whether or not we c'n afford it isn't th' point at all--it's a ridiculous sum, an' I'd feel as though I'm bein' taken advantage of, payin' that much for summat she's gonna wear just once!"

"Well, look at it this way, darling," Mary replied, seating herself in John's lap and twining her arms about his neck, "Someday, our granddaughter will wear it when she gets married."

"Yeright," John muttered, "Women always say that; why isn't she wearin' yer dress, then?"

"She's larger than I am, and taller, too," Mary said. "It wouldn't fit her. Maybe Emily will wear it when she gets married."

"Sure she will," John said, making it clear by his tone that he didn't believe that for a single minute. "Anyroad, let's not get ahead of ourselves...I'm gonna hang onto Emily for as long as I possibly can." He looked into Mary's face and sighed. "Right," he added, "I could never resist that sweet face o' yers, me gurrl...of course, Julia will have th' dress she wants. How about all those bridesmaid's dresses?"

"Paul's Stella is seeing to that," she answered. "She's designing all the dresses--she's got a talent for that and plans to make it her career--and Paul is having them made up as a wedding gift for the kids. He's getting the tuxes for the men, too. Isn't that sweet of him?"

"Yeah, it is," John replied. "Paul's a good skin. Who are the bridesmaids, by th' way?"

"Mary and Stella, of course, and Francine and Kimberly from Julia's school. Lee is going to be a flower girl, and of course so will Emily."

"And the best man?"

"That'd be Ritchie and Mo's Zak," Mary replied. "I have to order the cake, too. I've been pricing them."

"An' how much is that gonna cost me?" John wanted to know.

"Well..."

"How much?"

"A hundred and thirty five pounds, for the least costly one that is big enough for all the guests, but if it works out like our wedding did, there will be a lot more people at the reception than that."

John sighed. "How much for th' big one ye've actually decided upon?" he asked.

"Two hundred and forty," she replied. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah, s'okay. I'll feel like an absolute idiot if anyone learns what I paid for this weddin', I'm sure, but since it's for Julia, I'll go along with it. At least th' music'll be free."

"Thank you, baby, you're a good father," said Mary, kissing him before going off to find Julia and tell her the good news.

John looked at the dress in the picture; it was beautiful, but the cost was more than twice what he'd paid for Mary's. That's the way things are these days, he thought. Everything's twice as costly as it used to be. He could hardly wait to tell the prices to George; the guitarist would probably have a stroke.

***

The dress arrived the following week; the cake was to be assembled in the reception hall the night before the wedding as it was simply too large to transport in one piece. The bridesmaid's dresses were made and the flowers arranged for. John had been particularly outraged by the price of the hundreds of white roses which would decorate the little church. The entire bill came to…

"Fifteen thousand pounds?" cried John in horror. "Ye must be jokin'."

"Well, it's a lot of food and liquor," Mary explained, "For the reception. Of course, that total amount doesn't include the honeymoon trip..."

"I should've known," he said. "Where does she wanna go?"

"Bermuda," Mary replied. "It's all arranged, do you want to know how much that cost?"

"No," John said, lighting a cigarette. "I don't think I do. Just write 'em a check an' be done with it." He stood up and wandered out into the living room to sit at the piano, muttering as he went, "Gotta pay Christ knows how much for him t' lie about on th' fuckin' beach shaggin' me baby..."

***

At last the night before the wedding arrived. Bobby and Julia were in the van, just having gotten home from dinner.

"Let's go lie down in the back," said Julia.

Bobby followed her into the rear of the vehicle, stretching himself out beside her and taking her into his arms.

"Mmmm, this is nice," whispered Julia. "Just think, tomorrow night, we'll get to spend the whole night together in the same bed. Won't it be wonderful, Bobby?"

"Yeah, I can still hardly believe it's finally gonna happen. I've waited so long for you, Julia."

"Me,too. I'm a little nervous, though. I'm worried that I won't measure up to the girls you've been with before. Mummy explained to me what it would be like, but it still scares me a little," she said, winding her arms around his neck. "I guess it's a good thing you have some experience, but I still wish that I could have been your first. I'm glad you'll be my first, though."

"You'll be my first in every way that's important," he assured her. "You're the only woman I've ever loved, Julia." He drew her close and kissed her deeply. God, how he wanted her! Still, he was glad that they had waited. He had to admit, however, that he was even more glad that by the following night, his long wait would finally be over.

He continued to kiss her, his hands moving possessively over her body. He was almost painfully hard, and he pressed himself against her firmly.

"You're so hard," she whispered. "Can I touch you?"

He moaned softly when her hand closed around him; it was almost enough to make him go off when she did that, even through his jeans.

"You feel so big," she said. "Kind of scares me."

"That's enough o' that...we'd better go inside," he told her, reluctantly moving away. "As soon as I have a cigarette. I need to give myself a few minutes to calm myself and let this throbber you've produced go down. I don't want your dad to see me all stiff like this. He'll wonder what we've been up to."

"I'm sure he knows," she replied. "He also knows that we haven't gone the whole way yet. I think he loves you for that, Bobby. I heard him tell Mummy that he was impressed with the 'remarkable restraint' you've shown. My father isn't easy to impress, love."

"I think he enjoys knowing how I've suffered, waitin' for you," Bobby told her. "He doesn't like the idea of my makin' love to you tomorrow night, you know."

Julia giggled. "I'm surprised he didn't want to spend our wedding night in the room with us," she said.

"If he thought your mum would let him, he probably would," Bobby replied, lighting his cigarette. "He wanted to stay in the room next to ours over the pub, but your mum insisted that they stay with your uncle instead."

***

John was anxiously watching the van from the livingroom window.

"They climbed inta th' back o' th' fuckin' van," he said worriedly. "Whattayer s'pose they're doin' in there?"

"Kissing, most likely," said Mary, "And probably talking about tomorrow night, when their long wait is finally over."

"Yeah, well, I hope they're just talkin'," John said, reluctantly leaving the window. "Got everything all packed for tomorrow?"

"All set to go. It's going to be so nice to see everybody again! I spoke to Mrs. O'Donnell on the phone this afternoon, and she says that everything has arrived and is all set up. All that's needed now is us and the guests--she says that Father O'Casey has spoken of little else since I asked him to perform the ceremony," Mary replied. "Here come the children," she added. "They're coming up the stairs."

"About bloody time," said John. "I only hope she's still got th' right t' wear that white dress I spent such a fuckin' fortune on."

"Oh, hush, Daddy, your little girl's virtue is safe until tomorrow night," Mary laughed.

"Don't remind me," he said.

***

Julia looked out of the window as the plane left the ground, holding fast to Bobby's hand.

"The next time I come home, I'll be Mrs. Robert Warren," she said a bit wistfully.

"You sound a little sad," Bobby told her. "Are you havin' second thoughts?"

"It's still not too late to change your mind," interjected John hopefully, leaning forward in his seat and resting his chin on the back of Julia's seat.

"Hush, John," Mary told him.

"Oh, no, I'm sure I want to marry you," Julia explained. "I just was thinking that when I come back, I'll be a different person. I'll be a wife, not just a daughter." She lifted herself in her seat and kissed her father's cheek. "Although of course I'll always be a daughter as well," she amended.

"I remember when your father and I made this trip for the first time," Mary said softly. "You were just a few months old, back then."

John settled back in his seat and put his arm around his wife, drawing her close.

"Yer every bit as beautiful now as ye were then," he told her.

She smiled at him happily. "Who ever thought back then that we'd be coming back someday to see our baby be married?" she asked. "It seems so strange...but it's wonderful, too."

***

At last, they all stood before Father O'Casey; all but John and Julia, who were waiting anxiously just outside the door of the sanctuary. Bobby asked Zak for the fourth time if he'd remembered to bring the rings with him.

"I've got 'em right here," he replied, patting his breast pocket. "Stop worryin', mate. It's gonna go just fine."

Bobby looked at the people assembled behind him; Mary smiled at him encouragingly from her seat in the front row.

Suddenly the organist began to play the opening strains of the bridal march, and the doors at the rear of the sanctuary opened to reveal Julia on her father's arm.

"Are ye sure about what yer doin', Puss?" he asked. "Cos if yer not, I'll turn ye right around now, an' take ye home."

"I'm sure, Daddy," she replied gently. "I'm every bit as sure as you and Mummy were the last time we were all here in this church."

"All right, then," he whispered. "Let's go."

They walked slowly down the center aisle. The church was filled with all the people Julia had grown up loving. She felt the warmth and pressure on her father's arm linked with hers, and she looked up at him for support. He smiled down at her as they approached the altar.

"Be happy, Puss," he whispered as they reached her assigned place. He gave her a gentle kiss and looked at Bobby, whose heart was in his eyes.

"Treat her right, lad," cautioned John, "or there'll be no place on earth where ye'll be safe from me." With that, he released Julia to stand beside Bobby and turned to take his seat beside Mary.

The ceremony began, and John continued to watch his daughter's face for the least sign of doubt.

There was none.

Mary nudged John, and he snapped out of his reverie.

"Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?" Father O'Casey repeated.

John got to his feet. "Her mother and I do," he replied, then he sat again and surreptitiously wiped a tear from his eye. Mary squeezed his hand.

"Julia Marie Lennon," the priest went on, "Do you consent to take Robert James Warren as your lawfully wedded husband..."

***

John did not hear most of the ceremony; his mind was careening across the years since the last time he'd been in this room. Images of his daughter from throughout the years filled his mind, and he watched her grow up all over again.

***

"...Robert James Warren and Julia Marie Lennon, inasmuch as you have both consented to join with one another within the bonds of holy matrimony, I pronounce that you are husband and wife forever," said Father O'Casey. "You may now kiss the bride."

Bobby took Julia into his arms as John had taken Mary almost eighteen years earlier for a long, lingering kiss.

When he broke the kiss at last, Bobby looked over at John, half expecting him to voice some objection. To his surprise, his new father-in-law was smiling.

"Ladies and gentlemen," announced the old priest, "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Robert Warren."

***

"Go ahead, Padre," John said good naturedly, "Let 'em in." Just as they had when John and Mary had been married here so long ago, nearly the entire town was congregated outside, taking turns peering through the windows of the reception hall.

Father O'Casey asked Zak to invite the townspeople in to join the party, and John searched his daughter out from among the many already assembled in the hall.

"We're nearly set up to begin playin'," he told her, "But I'll be sittin' the second number out. Ye owe me that dance, Puss."

"I'm looking forward to it," she answered. "If it wouldn't defy tradition, I'd give you the first."

He nodded, climbed up onto the stage with the other former Beatles, took his position, and counted them into the first number, In My Life.

"Time for our first dance as husband and wife," Julia said, taking her new husband by the hand.

John sang and watched his daughter as she moved across the small dance floor in the arms of her new husband. He looked for Mary and found her standing to the side. She was looking at John, her eyes shining softly. The song ended and John descended to collect his dance with his daughter.

"My turn t' dance with Mrs. Warren," he said, tapping Bobby on the shoulder. "Go dance with yer mother-in-law, whydontcher. If not for her, this all would probably never have happened; ye owe her a lot, I hope ye know."

Bobby grinned, handed Julia over to her father, and went to find Mary.

"So, Puss," John said as he took his daughter into his arms, "Are ye happy?"

"So happy," she told him, laying her head upon his shoulder as they danced. "Thank you for letting me do this, Daddy."

"Well, if it was up t' me, it wouldn't have ever happened, I must admit," he told her, "But yer happiness means everythin' t' me. This romance o' yers has given me some gray hair an' cost me a bleedin' fortune on bottles o' antacid, but as long as yer happy, I feel as if I've done th' correct thing. I think he'll treat ye right. He seems t' be a good skin." He paused; he was actually surprised by his next thought, and hesitated briefly before actually voicing it. "I reckon I could've done worse, if I had t' have a son-in-law," he admitted.

Julia drew her head back and looked into her father's face in astonishment.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed. "Did you really just say that?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I did, but let's just keep it between us, please, Miss Julia."

"I promise I won't tell a soul," she said, and John tightened his arms around her just a little more.

***

"Thank you so much for eveythin' you've done for me, Mrs. Lennon," said Bobby as he danced with her. "I know that you're mostly responsible for this day happening, and you gave me a home when I lost everythin' I'd ever had...I hope you know how much that's all meant to me. You've been more of a mother to me than my own ever was."

"Well, then," Mary said, smiling up at him, "Don't you think it's about time you started calling me Mum?"

"I do," he told her, "And from now on, that's just what I will do...Mum."

"Good," she replied. "Welcome to our family, Bobby, although you've been my son in my heart for quite a while already."

***

"Whattayer think th' kids're doin' right now, Mary?" asked John as they sat in front of the fireplace that evening in the little farmhouse in which Mary had been conceived and born.

"You know very well what they're doing," she replied with a gentle smile, "So stop torturing yourself, baby. It's all right; they're married now. Just try to relax."

"I'm gonna miss her, Mary. It'll be strange, havin' her room empty. We should keep it just th' way it is, though, in case she ever wants t' move back into it, like."

"It's going to be a sewing room, John, and you know it. Besides, she'll only be a few meters away from the house. She'll be around all the time."

"It still won't be the same," he said, pulling her close.

***

In their room above the pub, Bobby and Julia were sitting on the bed, still wearing their wedding clothes.

"It seems strange, knowing that your dad isn't lurking somewhere nearby waiting to interrupt us if he thinks we've been alone too long," said Bobby. "Are you nervous?"

"I'm terrified," Julia admitted, "But I'm excited, too. It seems like we've been waiting for years for this night. Why do I feel so shy, Bobby? It's like I've never been alone with you at all."

"I guess it's because you know that there's nothing to stop us tonight," he told her. "If you don't feel ready, we can just hold one another," he added.

"I'm ready," she replied. "I'm more than ready. Help me get out of this dress, Bobby."

His fingers trembled as Bobby undid the long line of tiny buttons on the back of her dress. He could feel that she was shaking, too. When he finally had all of the buttons unfastened, he slid the dress forward off her shoulders, moved her masses of hair aside and kissed the nape of her neck tenderly. She shivered and turned to let him take her into his arms. He took her mouth hesitantly at first, but she slipped her tongue gently between his lips and he let out a low moan and kissed her hungrily.

Julia felt lightheaded as Bobby pushed her dress down to her waist and caressed her shoulders and breasts with hot, eager hands, his mouth still on hers. He had waited a long time for her; he made a conscious effort to slow down. He wanted to make sure that her first time was just perfect, and he hoped that he would be able to make it as wonderful as she deserved.

Julia was working at removing his clothing; once she had his shirt unbuttoned, he shed it quickly. She pushed her dress down the rest of the way and removed her bra Bobby caught his breath at the sight of her; his previous experience with her had been limited to touching her under her clothes. He had never seen her naked before. Julia fumbled with his belt, and he unfastened it for her and stripped his trousers off quickly. Julia removed her pantyhose and each of them paused, drinking in the sight of one another's bodies for the first time.

"You're beautiful," breathed Bobby. "I never knew you would be so perfect."

"So are you," she whispered. "Bobby, I want you so badly. I'm ready for you."

He kissed her again, pushing her gently back into the pillows. She wrapped her arms around his neck and answered the kiss with equal fervor. Bobby was more than ready; Julia could feel him throbbing insistently against her belly as he explored her mouth as though it were the first time he had ever really kissed her.

"God, Julia, I need you," he whispered when he finally broke the kiss. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes," she said breathlessly, "Oh, yes."

He mounted her eagerly and positioned himself to enter her. There was a slight resistance, and Julia caught her breath at the brief, sharp pain when he slowly and carefully began to push into her body. He paused.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked.

"Yes, but it's all right; Mummy said it would, but only for a moment. Don't stop. It has to be done," she replied. "It will be worth it. Go on, Bobby."

He took a deep breath and pushed forward, feeling as though he might faint from the pleasure of finally being entirely enclosed by her. He pulled back cautiously, then slid his full length into her again. He moved within her carefully, hesitantly, for a few moments, forcing himself to go slowly. Suddenly, Julia caught her breath again.

"Oh," she whispered. "Oh, Bobby, it didn't hurt that time. That felt really good. Please, don't stop."

"I love you," he said softly, and he began to move a little more rapidly, settling into a steady rhythm. Julia let out a small moan and moved with him, catching his rhythm and meeting him stroke for stroke. It was better than anything she could ever have imagined. Soon she felt as though she would not be able to stand it if it didn't stop getting better and better.

"It feels so good," she breathed. "Oh, God, Bobby--" she could not say any more; she was beyond speech.

Bobby groaned and began thrusting harder, increasing his speed, looking down into her face. The look of pleasure and astonishment he saw there was almost more than he could bear.

Suddenly she gasped and arched against him with a soft cry. Bobby growled her name and allowed himself to finish at last. He collapsed upon her and covered her face and neck with gentle, fervent kisses.

"Oh, Bobby," she said softly into his hair, "Mummy told me it would be nice, but I never expected it to be that good. You were wonderful. I am glad we waited, though; it made tonight so much more special."

"I'm glad, too," he told her softly. "Now, would you like to do that again?"

***

The next day, John and Mary prepared to go back home, and Bobby and Julia were going on their honeymoon. They met at the pub and drove to the airport together. John kept sneaking peeks at his daughter in the rear view mirror.

"Did ye get enough sleep last night?" he asked with exaggerated casualness.

"Stop, Daddy. I'm sure we got as much sleep as you and Mummy did on your wedding night. We can sleep on the plane."

"Hmph," said John.

"Are you really gonna live in the flat over the garage now, Julia?" asked Emily. "Don't you like your room anymore?"

"Don't be soft," said George. "Bobby an' Julia are married now, so they've gotta live in the same place.When you get married, you'll move out of the house, too."

"Will not," Emily told him firmly. "I'm never getting married and I'm gonna stay with Daddy forever. He said so just this morning at breakfast, didn't you, Daddy?"

"I did," he said, "And I sincerely hope you will."

***

"Are ye sure ye've got enough cash?" asked John worriedly as Bobby and Julia prepared to board their plane.

"Daddy, we have plenty, and besides, you gave me your credit card."

"Yeah, well that's just for emergencies," he reminded her. "Here, take a little more--don't keep it all in one pocket--and be careful. Call us tonight."

"We will, don't worry, Daddy." Julia kissed him and he seized her, hugging her close.

"Have fun, Puss," he said softly. "Come home safe."

He shook Bobby's hand, and the boy hugged him impulsively.

"Mind she takes 'er pill every mornin', lad," John said under his breath as Julia was hugging her mother. Both women were in tears.

"Don't worry, I will--Dad," said Bobby.

"Huh," said John. "Seems t' me I asked ye t' call me 'John'." He pulled back from Bobby's embrace and added, "I s'pose that'll do just as well for now. Take care of me gurrl. I'm trustin' ye t' be good to her. Bring her home safe; I'm relyin' on ye."

***

John and Mary stood by the large window and watched the plane take off. Their flight was announced and they collected their remaining children and headed for home.

***

As soon as the children were put to bed, John took Mary into his arms and kissed her, his tongue searching her mouth as though he was kissing her for the first time. He lifted her and carried her to their bedroom, laying her on the bed and stretching himself out next to her. He all but tore her dress off, then quickly shed his own clothes.

"I've been wantin' t' do this all day," he told her before claiming her mouth again. Mary moaned softly and held him tightly, pushing herself against him, reveling in the feeling of his skin against hers and his hot, throbbing readiness. He excited her as much as ever, and she shivered as he ran his hands over her body, caressing her knowingly in all the places he knew would drive her wild. He touched her slowly and deliberately for as long as he could, until he knew that she was aching for him.

"John," she whispered, "Baby, take me now, please--"

"Oh, I'll take ye," he said quietly. "And I'm gonna please th' fuckin' hell outta ye, gurrl, never fear."

He covered her body with his own and took her roughly, entering her in one swift, practiced motion. Mary cried out when he penetrated her, wrapping her legs around his waist to pull him deeper still.

"Ye like that, dontcher," he whispered, beginning to move within her. "Tell me that ye want me, gurrl."

"I want you," she breathed. "God, baby, I want you!"

He smiled down at her, his eyes seeming to look right down into the depths of her soul.

"Yer gonna get me, love," he promised her. "Yer gonna get me good."

Mary held onto him, matching his increasing speed, the feeling building within her until it was all she could do not to scream. She pressed her face against his shoulder and he continued pounding into her relentlessly, his breath warm and loud in her ear.

"Are ye ready, gurrl?" he growled, "Cos I am." He was thrusting madly, deeply, and tirelessly, driving her over the edge and out of her mind. With every downstroke, he uttered one word.

"Are--ye--ready--gurrl?--Tell--me!"

"Yes!" cried Mary. "Yes, baby, I need you--so much, please--"

"Here ye go," he growled, and that was all she needed to hear. She cried out and let herself be released, coming up hard against him as her back arched involuntarily. She seemed to leave her body behind and become one with him, soul to soul. He groaned loudly and let himself go as well, burying himself in her heat and warmth, allowing her gentle contractions to pull from him every bit of what he had to give.

When at last the world came back into focus, John moved away slightly to find himself a cigarette. He smoked quietly for a while before speaking again.

"I feel as though I've lost her, Mary," he said quietly.

"She'll be home next week, baby," Mary reminded him. "I'm sure she's having a wonderful time."

"Did ye think she looked any different this mornin'? Less innocent, like?"

"Is that what you kept looking at her for?" asked Mary. "I was wondering about that."

"Whattayer mean? When?"

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, love. I saw you in the car. You kept looking at her in the mirror. I thought you'd drive onto the runway at the airport. You nearly went off the lane when we were leaving town."

"Well, I was wonderin' how much it'd changed her. You looked different the next mornin' after we--after the first night ye spent with me." He took a deep drag off his cigarette." Ye dint answer me question, Mary," he reminded her. "Did ye notice any change in her face?"

"She looked very happy," Mary replied. "I think she had a wonderful night, just as I did my first time with you."

"Yeah," he said, "Well, I'll bet she dint have quite as good a time as all that."

"I'm sure no one ever has," she agreed, laying her head on his chest and putting her arms around him. "You are indisputably the best, my love."

***

The buzzer sounded, signaling someone at the gate. Mary looked out the window. Perhaps John was home early and had forgotten his key. To her horror, it was a police car. She buzzed it in and ran outside, hoping that nothing had happened to her husband.

Mary reached the car just in time to see her son being taken out of the back. He would not look at his mother.

"George!" cried Mary. "What happened?"

"Ah, he does belong to you, then, does he?" asked the constable. "I was a bit surprised when the lad gave this address and said his name was Lennon, although there's certainly a resemblance."

"Yes, he's our son--what's he done?" asked Mary. She reached for George, but he drew away.

"C'n I go inside, then?" he asked the constable.

"Yeah, go on, lad. I'll just have a little talk with your mum. And don't let me see you in trouble again, mind!"

"Yessir," muttered George, heading for the house.

"Please," Mary said, "Tell me what he's done."

"Is your husband home?"

"No, he's at the Abbey Road studios...must I call him from his work?" asked Mary. "Surely it can't be as bad as all that!"

"Well, no, it's not, not this time. He was caught with some other boys throwing things off a bridge onto the cars going underneath. He wasn't actually seen to throw anything himself, so there are technically no charges against him, but you'll want to be mindful of the company he keeps, Mrs. Lennon. That was a right bad bunch he was with; we have them in and out of the lockup all the time."

"I'm sure my husband will set him straight, Constable; thank you for bringing him home."

***

Mary went back into the house and buzzed the police car back out of the gate. Taking a deep breath, she went to George's room.

"Care to talk to me about what happened before your father gets home?" she asked him.

"I didn't do anything," said George. "'Twas th' others done it. I was just there, is all."

"I doubt that your father will be any more sympathetic than I am, George," said Mary. "You must have known that those were the wrong sort of boys for you to be hanging around with."

"They're not so bad," the boy argued. "Besides, they're cool."

"Well," Mary said before leaving the room, "I very much doubt that your backside will be very cool by the time your father is through with you."

She actually didn't believe that John would spank the boy; he was too big for that now, but she was sure that he would think of some appropriate punishment. Just the same, it would do the lad good to think that his father might administer a spanking.

***

"Th' police! D'ye mean t' tell me, Mary, that our son was brought home in a police car? Christ on a crutch, woman, what th' fuck is next?" cried John when she told him the news. He sat at the table and lit a cigarette. "All right," he went on, "Out with it. What's he done?"

"Well," Mary began, "He wasn't actually doing anything, but he was with a bunch of boys who were throwing things off a bridge at the cars going by underneath. The policeman just felt that we should know what sort of boys he's been hanging around with."

John sighed. "What th' fuck is next?" he asked again. "What did he have t' say for himself?"

"He says that these boys are 'cool'," Mary told him. "He says he didn't do anything wrong."

"He does, does he? Well, maybe that's true, but it'll be a matter o' time before he's in real trouble if he doesn't get some new friends. As a lad none o' the parents in th' area wanted their kids hanging about with, I know he's headed for some serious trouble...if I hadn't become interested in music, I probably would've ended up in jail meself." He lit a cigarette and sat back, smoking reflectively. "I think th' lad needs an interest o' some sort," he said. "Maybe I'll take him down t' th' studio with me. Julia always enjoyed that." He stood and headed for his son's bedroom. "I'll have a talk with him," he told Mary.

***

"So, I hear ye had a bit o' trouble today," John said, sitting on the edge of his son's bed.

The boy regarded him sullenly. "What're ya gonna do about it?" he asked.

"Oh, I could do summat," John told him, "I could do a lot about it. I could make sure ye come right home after school every day an' go nowhere, for one thing. What're ye doin', hangin' about with that sort?"

"Save it, Dad. I've read all about ya, when you were young...you did a lot worse. Pissin' on nuns from a window ring any bells?" replied George, "Shopliftin', drinkin'--want me to go on? All I did was be with a few lads who might as well have been you. I don't see where you have the right to give me any lectures."

"Ye read all that, did ye? Well, I dint have th' advantages ye've got, me lad. I had it a lot tougher...yer life is dead easy, by comparison," John told him, lighting a cigarette.

George stared at his father for a moment, then uttered a short, humorless laugh.

"Is that what you really think?" he asked incredulously. "Ya oughta talk to Julian about it--ask Zak, or Jason...ask James! It'll be the same for Dhani, too, when he's older. It's all right for the girls, I'm sure, but for us lads, well, let's just say it's no bed o' roses bein' the son of a legend. Julian isn't taken seriously as a musician at all. It's like people are saying, 'isn't that cute, he's playin' at bein' 'is dad'. On top of it all, we all look just like the fuckin' Beatles. People expect things, and I for one resent it." He hesitated, then asked, "Mind if I have one o' those?" indicating John's cigarette.

"Yerwhat?" exclaimed his father. "Yer smokin', then? Yer barely fourteen!"

"Only when I c'n cadge 'em," said George. John gave him one and lit it for him.

"I s'pose it's all right," he said. "Try not to let it become a habit, an' I wouldn't let yer mum see ye doin' it. It'd upset 'er."

"Understood," he agreed.

"This been botherin' ye for a while, has it?" asked John thoughtfully.

"I've had to live with it since I was about ten," George said, taking a drag off his cigarette with what looked to John like a pretty casual familiarity. "It starts with the schoolmasters...they're usually fans and they like the idea of shapin' a baby Beatle, I guess. Only I'm not a Beatle, Dad. You're not even one of them anymore, for Christ's sake. Why can't I just be me? That's all I want."

"Well, then p'raps ye should do the opposite o' me," suggested John. "Belt down in school an' apply yerself, like."

"Nice try, Dad. No, I'm afraid I am like you in that way; I fuckin' hate it. I can't see the use of any o' the crap they're teachin' us. Physics? What th' fuck do I need that for? I know that if I drop somethin', it's gonna fall. What the hell else do I hafta know?"

"Be that as it may, I want ye t' stay clear o' those boys, George. They'll bring ye down with 'em, make no mistake. I want more than that for ye. Tell me, d'ye have any interest in music--any at all?" asked John, going to the window and tossing his cigarette butt outside after crushing it on the ledge. "There's a docker for ye for later," he said with a grin.

"I like music, an' I'd love to learn guitar, but I feel as if I'd be doin' what's expected of me if I take it up."

"Can't have that," John said with a chuckle. "Tell ye what; I'll teach ye, an' we won't either of us say a thing t' anyone. How would that be?"

"That'd be mint, Dad," George replied. "I guess that'd be 'gear' to you--or maybe 'groovy'?"

"Wisearse," said John, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately. "Chip off th' old block, ye are. C'mon down inta th' studio, an' I'll get ye started."

***

John looked out the kitchen window and saw Julia in the back garden with Mary. The two women were hanging laundry on the clothesline and seemed to be deep in conversation. He wondered what they were discussing so earnestly. Mary looked up towards the house. Noticing him, she waved to him to come outside.

"Daddy!" called Julia as he approached, "Guess what?"

"Tell me," John said, smiling, "an' then we'll both know. Looks like it's good news."

"The Savages are auditioning tonight for New Wave Records--they might get a recording contract!"

"Zarrafact," said her father. "Good on 'em." He wasn't really sure exactly what he did think of this news. Although he'd still been playing with the band on weekends, lately Bobby had been earning most of his money working for a local cabinetmaker as an apprentice. Mary handed him her empty clothes basket and he trailed behind his wife and daughter as they went into the hose, still chattering excitedly. John set the basket down beside the bench under the apple tree and sat down to have a cigarette.

It worried John that his son-in-law's band was as good as they were. He was afraid that if they did meet with any great success, touring would take Bobby away from Julia and he would succumb to the temptations of life on the road. Only lately had John begun to relax; the boy had seemed to be warming to his apprenticeship and the Savages had appeared in the local clubs only on Friday and Saturday nights. He knew what it was like, being in a strange city with any number of attractive girls literally throwing themselves into his arms, the alternative to spending the night with them being a lonely night drinking and smoking cigarette after cigarette in front of a flickering television. John had never chosen the latter, and it had cost him much. He had lost his first wife and missed his eldest son's entire babyhood. He could not stand the idea of his precious daughter being hurt the way he had hurt Cynthia.

He got to his feet with a sigh. Picking the laundry basket up once again, he carried it into the house. He knew that Julia's young husband would not intentionally hurt her, but he was not at all sure that the young man would be able to resist the trappings of fame.

***

"So," said John conversationally, "I hear ye've gorra big audition tonight. A record company, an' a big one, too...are ye nervous about it?"

"I've been goin' out of my mind all afternoon," Bobby replied. "This is the biggest thing that ever happened to us. I tried not thinking about it, but of course that's only made it ten times worse."

"I don't mind tellin' ye that it's got me worried," John told him. "If ye make th' grade it could change everythin' for ye. I just wanna be sure it doesn't change anythin' for Julia."

"I don't follow you...why should it?" Bobby sat on the van's rear bumper and lit a cigarette. "What's it got to do with her?"

"Everythin'," said John. "What happens tonight c'n change her life forever. Yer th' most important thing in her life; how could it not affect her?" He sat beside his son-in-law and pointed his cigarette at him. "Yer job is t' make sure that she's not hurt by yer success, if ye do make th' cut." He watched a group of children outside of the gate, skipping rope on the sidewalk. "I dint do that," he added, "When it happened t' me. I just got on that runaway train me life'd become an' held on for dear life. I never checked back over me shoulder t' see that me wife an' son were still there with me. It was too late by th' time I realized that they'd fallen off so far behind me that I could never hope to retrieve 'em. Once I saw that they were gone, I still hung on, an' I never loosened me grip in th' slightest bit until Mary woke me up an' made me see what I'd been missin'."

"Did you let go when that happened?" Bobby asked. John was looking at him in that way he had which made the person he was looking at hang on to his every word, sure that whatever the enigmatic man said next was going to be the most vital piece of information that he could ever hear.

John shook his head. "Nah," he said. "I didn't. But I kept watch over me shoulder an' I only held on with one hand...I wasn't gonna lose her, nor Julia, an' later on, George an' Emily. She made me see that it wasn't too late for me t' salvage me relationship with Julian, too, an' I think we've made amends."

Emily came out of the house with her jump rope in her hand and ran to the gate. It rattled open to let her out, then closed slowly behind her. The other girls stopped playing for long enough to greet her, and the entire group of twelve year olds broke into a gale of musical laughter at something his daughter said. Their jumping resumed, and John turned his attention back to Bobby.

"Ye can't let yer success take ye away from Julia, lad," he said. This was not the John Lennon Bobby was accustomed to. The brusque manner was gone for the moment, and there was naked pleading in his eyes. "Ye've gotta protect her," he went on. "I can't protect her from th' sort o' pain she could suffer if ye don't keep a hand free t' hang onto her. She'll be countin' on ye, an' so will I. Bobby, there's a lot o' stuff that goes along with success in th' music business."
"What kind of stuff?" the boy asked.

John sighed and dropped his cigarette butt in the driveway. He ground it out under his heel and looked again into his son-in-law's face. The boy had no idea of how much was riding on this audition, that much was clear to him.

"If yer signed an' ye make a record, yer gonna hafta promote it. That means leavin' for a while t' do th' talk show circuit. If yer record goes international, that means doin' th' same in other countries, as well. From there ye move to concert tours...that's where yer real trouble's gonna start," John said softly. "Ye've got th' power t' hurt her in a way I could never protect her from, Bobby Warren, an' as much as I hate th' fuckin' idea, I've gotta leave it in yer hands."

Bobby could see the agony in John's soul pouring out of his eyes, usually so fathomless. It was as though a storm was brewing behind them, and he could not look away, however hard it was to hold his gaze.

"Tell me how to make sure she's not hurt," Bobby said quietly. "I'll do my best to make sure she never suffers."

"See, that's just it--ye need t' do more than that, son," John told him. "Ye need t' do better than yer best...better than any man's best. Say ye succeed, and ye get famous. Everyone knows yer name, everyone wants a piece o' ye. After every show, there's a party, an' at every party, there'll be gurrls."

"Is that what this is all about? Girls? C'mon, Dad, you know I have plenty of self-control. I was able to wait for Julia when I didn't have anyone else...now that she's mine, I can certainly control myself on the road, knowin' she'll be waitin' for me when I come back."

"That's what ye say now," John replied, "An ye believe it, I know. But ye don't know what it's like, bein' alone in a strange place an' yer woman thousands o' miles away. Ye meet a gurrl, an' maybe she reminds ye of her. Maybe ye think that makes it all right, somehow, an' besides, what're th' chances she's gonna find out? Who's gonna tell her? An' as long as she's never gonna know, what harm's it gonna do? So ye give in an' take a bit o' comfort in this gurrl's arms for th' night. No one's th' wiser, an' ye figure it was a one night stand, nothin' important. It's not like yer havin' a relationship with this gurrl...she's just a means to an end, glorified masturbation, better than bein' alone, a little diversion an' relief from th' boredom an' th' loneliness o' th' fuckin' road. That happens over an' over, an' it gets easier t' rationalize it every time till it's like second nature to ye."

He paused and looked back at the house. Mary had come outside and was watering her flowerbeds beside the steps. "When ye come home, she asks ye if ye had a good time. What she's really askin' is, 'was there another woman in yer bed'. O' course, ye say no an' maybe ye get defensive about it. Maybe not, but odds are, she knows. Women c'n tell about these things, even if ye've taken a dozen showers since ye had yer hands on that woman. She c'n fuckin' smell it on ye. She may not say anythin', but she'll know. She'll know, an' she'll be hurt. Ye can't let it happen, Bobby. Ye just can't. Promise me that ye won't."

Bobby looked into John's eyes and nodded slowly. "I appreciate your talkin' to me about this," he said quietly, "And I give you my word; Julia will never suffer because of anythin' I've done."

"All right," John said gruffly, coming back to himself as though he'd never let his guard down at all. "Yer word's good with me. See that ye keep it, or I'll do ye an injury, lad, make no mistake."

***

"Good luck, Bobby," Mary said, giving him an extra hug. "I know you can do it. John says you boys are really good, and I trust his instincts. I think he's a little afraid that success will change you, though."

"He spoke to me about it this afternoon," Bobby told her, kissing her cheek. "I think we understand one another." He seized Julia and gave her a lingering kiss. "I'll come home as soon as we finish," he promised her. "But I don't know how long this is gonna take, so if it runs late, don't wait up for me. I'll wake you if you're asleep when I get home."

John looked up from his work as Bobby passed him at the piano. "Break a leg, son," he said, then returned to what he was writing.

***

"Julia, wake up! I'm home," whispered Bobby, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. She sat up at once.

"How'd it go, love?" she asked sleepily.

"It was a blinder, as your dad says," Bobby told her. "We were fuckin' on fire--Julia, we got the contract! We left the rest of 'em in the dust! Look, the lights are still on next door, and I saw your dad sittin' at the piano yet. I'm gonna go tell him. Wanna come with me?"

***

John was waiting to hear how the audition had gone, sitting at the piano without really paying attention to what he was doing. When the van pulled in and Bobby got out and ran to the garage, he didn't know how to feel. He was happy for the boy, of course, and he even felt a pang of jealousy, remembering when the same thing had happened to him--had it really been so long ago?  But he was torn between that and his dislike of change. Everything is about to be turned upside down now, he thought, and that's bound to cause some problems. Still, I'll be supportive. I'll just have to keep an eye on things.

The kids came out of the garage, running towards the house. John sighed and went to open the door, making sure that he was smiling when he did.

Julia threw her arms around her father's neck.

"He did it, Daddy! He really did it! The Savages are going to make a record! Isn't that great?" she cried.

Mary came in from the kitchen, and Julia embraced her as well. "Did you hear, Mummy? He did it! He's going back tomorrow! He finally did it!" she said.

"Good on ye, lad," John said, giving Bobby a warm hug. "C'mon inta th' kitchen, an' I'll get us a bottle o' champagne outta th' cellar. Seems like a good reason t' open one."

***

The Savages slowly gained popularity until, after another year had passed, they were at the top.

Once again, John found himself living in a house with teenaged girls clustered outside, held at bay by the imposing iron gate. They chattered excitedly whenever Bobby was outside, clamoring for an autograph. They were impressed to know that both the former Beatle and his now famous son-in-law were so close, and they never gave up their eternal vigil, hoping for a glimpse of one of their heroes.

"Christ, Mary, I thought this was all behind me," John complained, "But now Bobby's brought 'em all back again."

"Does it bother you that they came back because of Bobby's success?" she asked.

"What? No, of course not. I just thought I'd got past it, is all," he replied. "It's never stopped for Paul, since he keeps up his tourin'. Every time I go t' his house, they're all camped about like they're on some sort of pilgrimage...I think he likes it that way, though."

"I think you like it too, at least a little," Mary told him with a smile.

"Well, they'll go daft tomorrow," John predicted, "when all th' other lads show up for Emily's birthday party."

Mary closed the blinds and pulled his head down for a kiss. "Our last baby, a teenager," she said. "It's hard to believe. "It seems like it was such a short time ago, when she was born."

"It does, doesn't it," he agreed. "Th' time's just flown by, an' here I'm fifty now...and yer not far behind me, though ye'd never know it t' look at ye. Yer just as beautiful as ye were th' day ye came t' work for me. I hired ye cos ye were th' prettiest, ye know."

"Oh, stop, love. I'm getting all gray--"

"Silver," he corrected her.

"And my waist is huge. I must've grown six inches around since back then," she complained.

"More o' ye t' love," he said, drawing her close for another, longer kiss. "Yer still lovely."

Julia came into the room; she'd been using the laundry, and she was now on her way home with her basket of clothes. John's mind flashed on the day he'd watched her fold towels in this very room...had it really been over thirteen years ago?

"Look at the two of you," she laughed, "Carrying on like teenagers. I think you spend more kissing than Bobby and I do."

"I wouldn't talk about other people's sexual activities while yer in such a condition, me gurrl," replied John. "How are ye feelin' today?"

"Fine, Daddy. Oh, come feel--he's moving a lot today. I think he's going to be a rocker, just like his father and his granddad."

John placed his hand on her abdomen and smiled. "A drummer, maybe," he said. "An' watch that 'granddad' talk--I still have three months before I hafta endure bein' called that. Funny, knowin' ahead o' time that it's a boy...kinda takes some o' th' fun outta it, like."

"Well, I'm glad to know," said Julia. "I know what color clothes to buy. Do you think the nursery will be finished in time?"

"I told th' builder I'd cripple 'im if it wasn't," her father replied. "An' he assured me it would be."

"See you later, Daddy," Julia said, heading for the front door. She went outside and the group of girls at the gate squealed excitedly at the sight of a member of the famous family.

"Alone at last," whispered Mary. "How about a nap, Granddad?"

"Hmph," said John, lifting her off her feet and carrying her towards their bedroom. "I'll show ye fuckin' 'granddad'."

***

"Yer th' sexiest grandmum I've ever laid me eyes upon," he whispered, helping her out of her dress. He dropped his own clothes on the floor and lay down, pulling her with him. He held her close and kissed her thoroughly, his tongue searching every corner of her warm, familiar mouth.

Mary sighed with contentment and melted against him, loving the feel of his hands wandering lazily over her body. He knew just where and how to touch her, and in a very few moments, he had her shivering with anticipation. He was hungry for her as always; he had not slowed down at all. His desire for her was as strong as it had ever been. He was throbbing against her belly, hot and ready, and she pushed against him impatiently.

"Can't wait, can ye," he chuckled. "All right, love, neither c'n I...let's go for it."

Mary moaned as he entered her, loving the feeling of being possessed by him. He began to move then, taking her with him effortlessly. He moved slowly, teasing her as he often did so that he could watch her face as she looked up at him, her heart in her eyes. She kept his steady, even pace for as long as she could, meeting the hypnotic gaze of his deep, mysterious eyes.

"I'm ready for you," she breathed, and his face changed, taking on a look of intensity which never failed to throw her over the edge. "I need you, baby," she whispered. "Take me with you."

He gave it up then, doubling his speed, hammering into her relentlessly, making her tremble uncontrollably. She clutched him, the muscles in his arms and shoulders moving beneath her hot, eager hands, and held on as he closed his eyes and threw his head back, signaling his imminent release. She was there with him, and her own eyes closed as she arched tightly against him, neither of them able to wait for another moment. Her joyful cry blended with his deep, satisfied groan, and as the still amazing rush of pleasure slowly receded, he kissed her again and told her that he loved her and would forever.

***

True to John's prediction, the girls at the gate were mightily impressed by the arrival of the other three former Beatles the next day. Paul was standing outside, signing autographs and chatting with some of them through the fence, for half an hour after his arrival. Emily's school friends were the envy of the throng of teenagers.

"We're gettin' old, John," said Ringo, standing off to one side with his friends as Emily cut her cake.

"Speak for yourselves," said Paul. "I'm still in my forties."

"Ye'll be forty nine in a few months," John reminded him.

"He'll probably be forty nine for the next few years," replied Ringo.

"He would if he could get away with it," George agreed, "Unfortunately, everyone in the world knows how old we actually are. I kind of like bein' the age I am, though, and I think I'm gonna enjoy becomin' an old fart. I think I'll make a good one...like you, John. Or should I say 'Granddad'."

"Yeah, I'll show ye granddad," John told him. "I c'n still pin yer ears back, son."

"They c'n do wonders now with plastic surgery," suggested Ringo. "You could get a little nip an' tuck round the eyes, like."

"Ye could get me foot surgically removed from yer arse," replied John. "I think I look pretty fuckin' good for me age."

"Are you guys picking on my daddy?" asked Julia, taking John's arm in hers. "He's still got teenage girls swooning over him whenever he goes out to get the papers. They all think he is dead sexy; he has as many young admirers as Bobby has." She kissed John's cheek affectionately. "He's still a very handsome man."

"Thank ye, darlin'," he said. "How're ye feelin'?"

"The same as I was the last time you asked me," Julia said. "About ten minutes ago. I'm just fine, Daddy."

"Ah, good. Where's yer mum, sweetheart?"

"She and Auntie Linda are up in the kitchen making some more sandwiches," she told him. She'll be down in a few minutes."

***

"Daddy...Mummy, wake up! I think the baby's coming!" cried Julia, coming into her parents bedroom in the middle of the night two and a half months later.

Mary sat up. "John," she said, shaking his shoulder, wake up, baby. Julia's gone into labor!"

"What? It can't be--you've two weeks to go," said John, sitting up in bed. "Bobby's in Edinburgh--he's not due back for a week yet! Ye can't have th' baby now, love."

"Daddy, I'd rather wait, believe me, but it's happening now! Please, call the hospital and make sure they're ready for me. I don't fancy having this baby in the loo the way Mummy had Emily; this is my first time, and I want doctors there!"

"Are ye sure it's not just cramps?" asked John.

"Oh!" cried Julia, and there was the sound of water dripping on the floor.  "I am now, Daddy," she said in a small, frightened voice. "My water just broke."

"Jesus," said John. "I'll get dressed an' warm up th' car. Mary, call th' hospital an' wake th' other kids."

John was calm; he was an old hand at this baby business now that he'd actually delivered Emily on his own. He fervently hoped that it would never be necessary for him to do so again, but at least he knew he could do it if he needed to.

Fifteen minutes later, the whole family was in the station wagon, headed for the hospital.

"Where is Bobby?" asked Emily. "Do you know, Julia?"

"He had a show in Edinburgh tonight," she replied, "So I suppose he's in his hotel room there. I was going to call him after the show, but I fell asleep. Will you call him for me from the hospital, Daddy?"

"I will," he promised. "Now, try to relax, Puss. How is it?"

"I'm okay, Daddy. It's getting worse, but it's nothing I can't stand."

"That's me gurrl," he said. "Hang on; we're nearly there."

Once Julia had been settled in her room, John stood outside the hospital on the phone, trying to get through to Bobby at his hotel..

At last, the phone in the room was ringing. Bobby answered sleepily. "Yeah," he said.

"Bobby, it's John here. Can you get home right away? Julia's havin' th' baby early. She's in a lot o' pain just now, an' she's cryin' for ye."

"Christ, Dad, I have a show in about twelve hours...I suppose I could jump home then leave again as soon as the baby's born. How long do they think it's gonna take from where she's at right now?"

"Doctor says she's got about three or four hours t' go. Come home, Bobby. She needs ye."

"I'll grab a private jet," he promised. "It could be worse. I'm not that far from home. Are you with her now?"

"Nah, they made me call from outside...summat about sensitive medical equipment, who th' fuck knows. Damn technology's nobbut a headache, sometimes. I'm goin' t' her as soon as I hang up. Come back quick, lad." John pushed the antenna into his phone and went back into the hospital.

***

An hour later, Bobby was looking anxiously out of the window of the plane watching the lights on the runway go flashing by. Once they were in the air, he settled back to wait for the trip to be over. He was beside himself with worry. So many things could go wrong, and in Bobby's mind, it was becoming more and more likely that each and every one of those things was happening to his wife as he sat in the plane unable to do anything but fret. He looked at his watch and sighed. He hoped that he would reach London before his son was born.

***

"Mummy, is it supposed to hurt this much?" gasped Julia. "Feels as though I'm being torn in two."

"Don't worry, darling," Mary said gently, giving her daughter another spoonful of ice chips, "As soon as you're holding your new baby, the pain will all have been worth it."

"Where's Daddy?" she asked.

"He's looking for Dr. Laborteaux," her mother replied. "Probably to remind him of how much money he contributes to this hospital and demand that he come see to you."

"That sounds like Daddy," said Julia, then she doubled over in pain again with a hoarse cry.

"Breathe, Julia, remember? That's supposed to lessen the pain," said George from his seat across the room. Emily looked terrified; Mary thought that her youngest daughter was probably promising herself that she was never going to have a baby. She remembered being in this hospital fifteen years earlier, giving birth to her own son. The doctor had attempted to put John out of the room and had failed miserably. He had been determined to remain by her side and had done so, but it was not the usual way, back then. Nowadays, the entire family could be present if they chose, as long as there were no complications.

"I got him," announced John as he came back into the room. "He'll be here directly. How is it now, Puss?"

"It's getting worse and worse," she told him. "right now I wish I'd listened to you, Daddy. If I'd never had sex in the first place I wouldn't be going through this now."
"There ye go," said John. He turned to his other children. "Hear that, did ye, Emmy? Don't ever have sex, an' ye c'n avoid all this pain yer poor sister's in right now."

"Daddy, I've never wanted to have sex with anyone, but if I did want to, I would just make sure I was on the Pill so that I wouldn't get pregnant," said Emily. "When the time comes, I'm going to do exactly as I please." She looked at her mother and added, "Tell him, Mummy. A girl doesn't have to get pregnant if she doesn't want to, these days."

"I don't think I like the turn this conversation's takin'," said John, looking uncertainly at his youngest. "Emmy, d'ye mean t' tell me--"

"Daddy! This is the worst one yet," groaned Julia. "Get the doctor, please--"

John turned to leave the room, and the doctor came in.

"About bloody time," growled John. "Me daughter's in terrible pain here!"

"Well, Mr. Lennon, that's to be expected," replied Dr. Laborteaux, pulling the curtain shut around himself, Julia, and her parents. "Why don't you go stand near her head there, while I have a little look at the business end of things?"

John retreated to the head of the bed and took Julia's hand. "S'all right, baby," he said gently. "I'm right here, an' yer young man's on th' way. He should be here soon."

"He'd better be," said the doctor, "Because she'll be having this baby within the hour. I'll be back to check on her again in fifteen minutes."

***

"Push, Mrs. Warren, work with the pain," said Dr. Laborteaux. "You're nearly through it. I can see your baby's head. Push!"

Julia tried to sit up, and John and Mary supported her, one on each side of her. John could feel her muscles tensing beneath his hands as she pushed with all her power.

"That's me gurrl," he said quietly. He hated that there was nothing he could do to relieve his daughter's suffering. Julia's hair was damp with sweat and she continued to push, a deep, agonized groan bursting from her throat and escalating to a scream.

"Just a couple more good pushes like that ought to do it," said the doctor, "But stop pushing for a moment, now."

"I can't," moaned Julia, "I need to."

"Breathe, baby," said Mary, demonstrating the correct method. Julia kept her eyes on her mother's face and did as she was told, gradually beginning to relax as she concentrated on the rhythm of her breathing.

"All right," the doctor said, "Next time you feel a need to push, young lady, I want you to give me everything you've got."

"Oh, God--Daddy, hold me up again," cried Julia. He supported her shoulders and she bore down with all her power, emitting something between a moan and a scream.

"Good girl," the doctor said. "Very good. His head's out. Keep going, Mrs. Warren, you've got it now."

She pushed with all her might and screamed again; the door burst open and Bobby flew to her side. Julia leaned into John's hands and gave a final push; her face was brick red with the effort.

"There--good job, Mrs. Warren," said Dr. Laborteaux. "You have a baby son. Congratulations."

"Ye nearly missed it, lad," John said to Bobby, "But ye didn't. Congratulations."

Bobby gathered Julia into his arms as best he could, kissing her hard. She put her arms around him and kissed back, half sobbing with relief. "You're here," she whispered. "You made it, you're here."

"I can't stay long," he told her, "Only a few hours--but yeah, I wouldn't've missed it, darlin'."

"Oh," whispered Mary as the nurse handed Julia her baby, "John, look at him; he's beautiful."

"That he is," he agreed. "Good job, Puss."

George and Emily joined them at Julia's bedside to look at their new nephew.

"Great job, Jule," said George. "Nice to see who's dragged me outta bed in the middle o' the night. Congratulations, Bobby," he added.

"Oh, look at him," Emily whispered. "He's lovely. Does it still hurt?"

"No," replied Julia. "I've never felt better in my life. Mummy was right, like always. He's entirely worth it." She looked up at her father. "Would you like to hold your first grandson?" she asked.

"I would," replied John, "But let his dad have him first. Th' lad went through hell t' get here, I'm sure."

Julia handed the baby to Bobby, who accepted him with a mixture of reverence and trepidation.

"Put one hand under his bottom and th' other under his head. That's it. There ye go," offered John.

"I can't believe it, babe," said Bobby to Julia. "Look at him--we made a person."

He handed the baby gently to John.

"Happy birthday," he whispered. "What're ye gonna call him?" he asked Julia.

"Robert Lennon Warren," she replied. "I've known for a while, but I didn't want to say it out loud until he was actually here."

"It suits him," said John. "Here ye go, Grandmum, care t' take a turn?"

Mary took the baby in her arms and leaned against John. "Thank you, Granddad," she said.

"I guess I might as well get used to that now," he sighed. "I'll be back in a bit; I'm gonna go call yer uncles an' aunties, Puss."

"All right, Daddy. Tell them hello for me. And Daddy, thanks for being here with me. It meant a lot to me."

"I'll always be here for ye, baby," he promised. "See ye in a bit."

***

Julia stayed with her parents until Bobby came back from his tour the following week. On the day she was preparing to move back into her flat, John was moody.

"I don't see why ye can't just stay on," he complained. "It's been nice, havin' ye back. I'm gonna miss ye."

"Daddy, I'm here all the time anyway. You never really get a chance to miss me. I think you’re going to miss your middle of the night visits with your grandson,” said Julia. “Let me have him; it’s time for his lunch.”

John grunted noncommittally and handed her the baby. She put a towel over her shoulder and opened her blouse to feed him. John looked away until she had him situated and then said, “Think ye know me pretty well, don’t ye.”

“I’ve known you my whole life, Daddy,” she replied. “Besides, I don’t fall right to sleep again after I feed him, and I can hear you out here discussing things with him.”

“Well, don’t mention it t’ anyone,” he told her. “That stuff’s just between me an’ him.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy, your secret’s safe with me. Tell you what; whenever Bobby’s not at home, I’ll stay here and you can have your talks with him. Did you talk to me that way when I was a baby?”

“I did, an’ your brother an’ sister, too. After ye finish feedin’ th’ little lad, maybe I’ll take him down and show him me studio...it’s soundproof, ye know. Ye c’n buzz me when yer ready t’ leave,” said John. “I’m just gonna nip outside for a minute, have a smoke, like. Let me know when you’ve finished with him.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she replied. “Should be about ten minutes or so.”

***

John went out into the back garden and sat on the bench under the apple tree. He lit a cigarette and sighed. Julia was right; he was going to miss his nighttime visits with his grandson. It had been a long time since there had been a baby in the house and he hadn't realized how much he'd missed that until Julia had come to stay. He looked forward to his nocturnal talks with the baby. No one was ever awake in the middle of the night to talk to him, and John liked to talk. He was often awake in the middle of the night, and he found having a child to talk to enjoyable and comforting. He finished his cigarette and went back into the house.

***

"Where are th' kids?" asked John that evening.

"Emily's out with a group of her friends, and George had a date," replied Mary. "We have the house to ourselves for the next few hours. Julia and Bobby have company for dinner, so they won't be coming over. Does that give you any ideas?"

"It gives me a great many ideas," he said, pulling her down into his lap. "Where should I begin?"

"How about with this?" Mary asked, kissing him gently.

"That's a nice idea," he replied, "But what about this?" He kissed her aggressively, his hot, insistent tongue searching her mouth thoroughly. He released her reluctantly. She was breathing hard, her eyes were luminous and she looked more beautiful to him than she ever had before.

"Do ye have any idea," he said softly, "How beautiful ye are t' me, Miss Mary?" He leaned in for another kiss, savoring the taste of her, caressing her tongue with his own in languid circles. She moaned softly and pressed against him, reaching down to touch him through his very snug jeans.

"I want you," she whispered when he let her go again. Her breath against his ear made him shiver, and he got to his feet and seized her with a possessive growl, lifting her and carrying her quickly to their bedroom. Mary's heart was beating fast; she was sure that if she were to try to stand, her legs would not be able to support her. John lay with her on the bed, stretched out beside her, stripping her of every stitch she wore with practiced ease. She tugged at his jeans, got them open, and pushed them down. He kicked them off and she unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it back off his shoulders eagerly. He shrugged the rest of the way out of it and let it drop carelessly to the floor. Mary moved against him and he let out a soft groan, running hot, frantic hands over her body as he claimed her mouth again. While he was kissing her, Mary closed her hand around him, loving how he felt; hard, warm and throbbing with readiness.

"I want you," she whispered again, giving him a firm squeeze.

"Gurrl, yer about t' get me," he said in a harsh whisper.

She opened herself to him and he slid his full length into her in one smooth, fluid motion, catching his breath at the always amazing sensation of being enclosed by her. He did not move right away, but kept still until she pushed against him hungrily.

"Tell me ye need me, woman," he demanded, his eyes blazing down at her.

"Baby, I need you so much!" she cried. She felt that if he did not take her quickly she would die.

"Good gurrl," he purred, beginning at last to move inside of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her feverish hands across his back and shoulders, moving with him, keeping his pace exactly, meeting him stroke for stroke. After a few moments, the feeling beginning to grow and change into something much more insistent and demanding.

"Are ye close at all, gurrl?" he asked. His breath was coming hard and he was struggling to keep control. He needed release as badly as she did, and she made herself look into his desperately burning eyes.

"Yes, love--I'm ready," she breathed, and he gave himself up to her. He could no longer wait. He doubled his speed and gave her all he had, both of them crying out joyfully when the wave crashed over them and carried them with it to lie panting and exhausted, tangled together and covering one another's faces with tiny, desperate kisses. They fell asleep in one another's arms, warm and thoroughly satisfied.

***

Mary awoke a couple of hours later. John was snoring softly, his face in her hair, his arms encircling her possessively. She turned her head to look at the clock on the bedside table;

it was nearly eleven. She gently disengaged herself from her sleeping husband and got dressed. She went into the living room to find George sitting at the piano looking at the notes his father had been working on earlier that day.

“This is nice,” he told her. “There are some great images in this,” he commented. “It’s real poetry. I like it. Has he played it for you yet?”

“No,” she said, “Not really, but I heard a few little snatches of it while he was working out the melody. I think it will be lovely. Where’s your sister?”

“She’s gone to bed already. Is Dad feeling all right?” he asked casually.

“He’s fine; he’ll probably wake up soon. Is there something on your mind, honey?” asked Mary. She stood behind him and stroked his shoulder length hair gently. He looked up at her and gave her a bemused smile so like his father’s that she had to smile back. “You look more like him every day,” she told him.

“Yeah, everybody says that,” he sighed. “I guess it’s all right, though; it does get the girls. Yeah, there’s something I need to talk about, but I’d rather speak to Dad concernin’ it if it’s all the same to you,” he said. “I’m gonna go play some video games in my room. Ask him to come see me when he wakes up, okay, Mum?”

“I’ll do that, sweetheart,” she promised him. “Did you have enough to eat tonight? I’m going to fix something for myself and your father. I’ll make enough for you, too, if you’d like.”

“I’m not really hungry,” he said, heading for his room.

***

Once she had made them a late supper, Mary went back to the bedroom to wake John.

She sat on the bed beside him and shook his shoulder gently. "Baby," she said softly, "Wake up."

"Summat wrong?" he asked groggily.

"No, I don't think so," she replied, stroking his hair back gently. "George is home, and he was asking to talk with you about something that's troubling him. I offered to help him, but he was definite about wanting to discuss it with you. Man talk, I suppose."

John yawned. "All right, I'll get dressed an' see to it," he replied. "Where is he?"

"He's in his room," she replied. "As soon as you're finished, I have a late supper for you. You must be hungry."

"Mmmm, yeah," he said with a leer, "But food sounds good as well."

"Pervert," she said with a smile. "Go talk to your son."

***

John knocked on his son's door gently.

"Yeah?" he called, "Zat you, Mum?"

"It's me," said John. "I heard from yer mum ye wanted t' talk t' me about summat."

"C'mon in, Dad, I'm just finishin' up," he called.

The room was semi dark; George was playing Mario Brothers; John recognized the music. He'd heard it often enough.

"Damn, that was my last life," said George. He switched his equipment off and changed the television station to an old horror movie. He said nothing for a few minutes, and John waited patiently.

Must be serious, he thought nervously, he doesn't know how to begin. He cleared his throat.  "Care t' tell me what's up, lad?" he asked at last.

"It's Jenna," he said quietly.

"Dump ye, did she?" asked his father.

"No, Dad...she's late."

John felt his stomach turn over inside of him, and there was a humming noise in his head. This can't be happening; I'm still asleep, he thought.

Aloud, he said, "Jesus, lad, why dintcher tell me you were shaggin' 'er?"

"Dad, yer not s'posed t' go around tellin'," replied his son. He paused, then added, "I didn't want Mum t' know."

"Ah, now that I understand. She tell ye this tonight, did she?"

"Yeah...it was a pretty bad date. What'm I gonna do, Dad? I like her a lot, but I don't love her. Besides, I’m too young to be a father.”

“Well, now, hold on. This isn’t for sure, is it? Has she taken a test?”

“No, she just said she was late.” The boy’s eyes pleaded for his father’s help.

“Were ye usin’ any protection?” asked John. He had mentioned condoms to his son a few times, mostly when they discussed AIDS. The thought of such a disease horrified John; back when he was young, he’d had his share of penicillin shots to knock out a slight case of the clap, but this thing would kill a person. He wondered how the new bands dealt with their groupies...each one was a potential walking time bomb.

“Dad, ‘course I did,” he replied. “I’m not a bleedin’ idiot.”

John relaxed a bit. “Good,” he said. “I’m glad t’ hear it. Well, let’s not jump th’ gun...I’ll get ye one o’ them home pregnancy tests and ye have ‘er take it tomorra.”

“Ya think it’s gonna be okay, Dad?” asked George anxiously.

“I hope so,” said John. “Let’s just not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll have the gurrl take th’ test, then we’ll take it from there. Don’t mention it t’ yer mum, though. No use t’ worry ‘er in case it’s a false alarm.”
”Thanks, Dad. I feel better,” George said. “I knew you’d know what t’ do.”

“Yer mum says she’s got a late supper ready. Feel like a bite?”

“I guess I could eat,” said George. “Promise, Dad—not a word?”

“It’s between us,” replied John, “C’mon, yer mother’s waitin’.”

***

The next afternoon when George came home from school, he found a small package on the desk in his bedroom containing a home pregnancy test. He dropped it into his rucksack and went off to find Jenna Mitchell.

Later that night when John returned from the recording studio, he stuck his head into George's open bedroom door.

"Work out in yer favor, son?" he asked.

In return he received a big smile and an enthusiastic thumbs up.

That's a bullet well dodged, he thought with relief.

***

"John," said Mary a few days later, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Not that I can think of, love, not a thing. Why'd ye ask?"

"Oh, no real reason," she said casually. "It's just that Mr. Stevens in the chemist's shop asked me how the pregnancy test you picked up for me worked out. I thought maybe you would know why he would ask me that...why on earth did you buy a pregnancy test? Please tell me it wasn't for Emily, not that I can imagine her having the nerve to approach you about such a thing," Mary went on. "I just don't know what to think, John."

"Well, actually, I bought the test for our son," he explained.

"What on earth for?" she asked

"For Jenna--Jenna Mitchell, ye know, his gurrl. She turned up late, an' th' lad was a bit nervous, like, so I got th' test for him to give her."

"Are you telling me, John Lennon, that my little boy has been--that he--that he's no longer--John, he's not even sixteen yet! And what kind of girl would be doing such things at fifteen? Corrupting young boys! John, what are we going to do?"

"What? Why, nothin'--th' test was negative, he's off th' hook, Mary. I gave him a box o' condoms, an' he's promised t' use 'em." John was surprised to see that she was so upset by a situation that had turned out fine, in his opinion.

"John, our son is having sex, and he's only fifteen! Doesn't that seem wrong to you?" asked Mary. Her voice held an edge of hysteria.

"What? No! He's luckier than I was, I was a full year older than he is now when I finally got some, but there's nothin' wrong with it. He's a lad, Mary. That's what lads do--they make a career out of tryin' t' get inta th' gurrls. Th' good gurrls make ye wait a bit, an' those're th' ones ye marry someday. Th' bad ones, well, ye enjoy 'em while yer too young t' be serious. That's just th' way things are, Mary. It's th' way they've always been." He was confused by her attitude; why wasn't she proud of the boy? "Ye shouldn't be upset, Mary," he added, "It only means he's normal...even a bit ahead o' schedule."

Mary stared at her husband; she was at a loss for words, but only for a few moments.

"John Lennon, you are such a hypocrite!" she cried. "You were beside yourself when Julia was doing no more than kissing with Bobby. You weren't even happy she was having sex with him on their wedding night! You'd be the same way if it was Emily. Just because George is a boy, you think it's great that he's out there taking advantage of other men's daughters. Don't you see where that's wrong?"

"No," he replied. "I can't say as I do. Like I told ye, love, it's just th' way things are. A lad spends two or three years gettin' familiar with how his equipment works, then he tries it out on a willin' bird. Gets a man prepared for marriage an' all, teaches him how to please a woman when he does settle down with one. In a way, we do it for our wives. Ye said when we got together that ye were glad I had th' experience I had, an' Bobby tells me Julia said th' same t' him."

"Oh!" cried Mary, stamping her foot in frustration. "Honestly, John, you are just too much! Bobby is a boy, and you told him he had to give up his party girl and stay away from Julia as well. Yes," she added, seeing his look of surprise, "Bobby and I talk, too. I know all about that girl Bobby was seeing while he was going out with Julia--a Miss Jeannie Talbot, as I recall--and how you told Bobby to drop that girl and get better acquainted with his right hand so that he wouldn't hurt Julia."
"God's pancakes, Mary! He actually told ye about that?" asked John, incredulous.

"Yes, he did, and I think maybe you should give your son similar advice. It's only fair, John."

"I'm not tellin' 'im that," John said stubbornly. "He's taken a big step towards manhood, an' I'll not ask him t' take a step back. This is good for him, Mary, as long as he's careful an' keeps himself outta trouble."

Mary stared at him.

"All right, John," she said at last. "If you won't talk to him, then I will! What's more, I'll thank you not to speak to me, either!" With that, she turned and flounced off to the laundry.

John wandered away and sat in the back garden on the bench. He did not know what to think, or how it had come to this. He honestly could not understand how Mary was unable to see that things were different for a boy than they were for a girl. It had always been that way, and he had grown up believing that it was right. It was the natural order of things, and it had never been called into question before that he knew of. He was torn between wanting to do the right thing by his son and wanting to soothe Mary's ruffled feathers.

"Must be th' fuckin' menopause," he muttered, lighting a cigarette. "I'll be glad when this shit is over." He smoked moodily for a while, wondering what he could say to his wife to make things all right between them again without having to go against his own principles in regard to his son.

***

Mary filled the washer and went out into the kitchen to wash the breakfast dishes. She could see John sitting outside, seemingly lost in thought. She loved him so, and part of her wanted to run to him and make everything all right again, but she was held back partly by her own convictions and partly out of pure stubbornness. She felt that he was wrong, and if the whole world agreed with him, well, in her heart the whole world was wrong.

She could not bear to think of her son's lost innocence. To Mary, it was something to mourn, yet to John it seemed to be a cause for celebration. She wondered what she would say to the boy when he came home that afternoon, and she wished that she had words for her husband that would make everything all right between them again. She wished that she had never learned what she had that morning. It had started out as a beautiful day, and now the storm clouds had gathered and refused to disperse.

***

"Mary," said John quietly when he came back into the house, "I don't want ye talkin' t' th' boy about what we discussed. I'll have a talk with him meself. I think there's merit in what ye say, but I don't believe yer entirely right. I'm askin' ye t' let me handle it. I feel it's my place an' not his mother's."

"What are you going to say to him?" she asked.

"I haven't quite got it reckoned out yet," he confessed, "I need t' think on it a bit more...I'll promise ye I'll make sure he knows how ye feel, though."

"All right, John," Mary replied. "I'll trust you with it, but please don't let him think it's all up to the girl to show some restraint. Make him see that he has responsibility as well."

Mary looked past John at the back door. "Oh," she said, "Here's Julia with the baby. Open the door for her, John, she's loaded down with his things."

***

John met his son when he got out of the car after school.

"C'mon down t' th' cellar with me, lad," he said. "I wanna have a talk with ye."

"About what?" asked George doubtfully.

"Th' same thing we talked about last night," John replied. "It seems there's a few more things ye need t' know. Go on inta th' house, Emmy, an' see if yer mum needs ye for anythin'," he added. "This is just between yer brother an' me. Tell her George an' I went downstairs t' have a talk, willya?"

"Sure, Daddy," said Emily. "I have some homework I need her help with anyway."

***

"What's on your mind, Dad?" asked George, sitting beside his father at the bar. John handed him a Coke and poured himself a shot of bourbon.

"Yer mum found out about th' pregnancy test," he admitted. "Th' chemist mentioned to her that I'd bought it, an' I had t' tell her why...I couldn't have her thinkin' I'd bought it for some purpose o' me own. D'ye understand?"

"What reason would you have to--ohhh, yeah...that'd make Mum pretty mad, all right."

"That's an understatement," said his father. "I stepped out on her once, when Julia was small, an' I nearly lost her. She said then that if it ever happened again she'd leave me for good, and I believe her. Besides, when ye love a gurrl, ye don't wanna see that look o' pain in her eyes over anythin' ye might've done. Most women don't understand how it's possible t' separate sex from love, an' that causes a lot o' problems sometimes between men an' women. Every once in a while, ye'll run across th' type o' gurrl who does think as a man does about such things, an' those are th' gurrls ye c'n be comfortable about bein' with when yer single. If yer in a relationship with a gurrl ye love, ye don't wanna mess it up by shaggin' someone who gives it up easy like, cos yer gonna end up at least hurtin' yer gurrl, an' at most, losin' her altogether." He paused to light a cigarette and he gave one to his son. "D'ye get what I'm sayin' t' ye, lad?" he asked, searching the boy's face. His own eyes seemed to look back at him; it gave him the strange sensation of looking into a mirror thirty-five years earlier.

"Yeah, Dad, I getcha," said the boy. "There's girls for fun, and there's girls for love, but you're not supposed to mix them. Is that it?"

"Pretty much," said John, nodding in agreement. "And then there's a third kind o' woman...she's good for both. She's th' best thing ye'll ever get inta yer arms or inta yer bed, and she gets so deep under yer skin ye can't see straight. That's yer mum, for me. That's the gurrl ye marry, an' th' rest'll never be able t' draw ye away from her, although they c'n tempt ye at times."

George snickered. "It's hard t' think o' Mum bein' like that," he said. "She seems...I dunno, above all that, to me."

"Don't sell her short, son," said his father with a wistful smile. "Yer mum was all that an' more...an' she still is. Ye'll find one like that, someday, if yer lucky. like I was. When it happens, she'll knock ye for a loop an' ye'll never recover. Best part is, ye'll never want to."

"Dad, did you and Mum ever--you know--before you were married?" asked George.

"We did," replied John, "But not before we were in love."

He stood up and gave his son a brief, hard hug. "One other thing," he added. "Use them condoms. Ye gotta protect yerself against a lot more than unwanted babies these days."

"I will, Dad. And thanks. I hope you don't think it's soft for me to say this, but I love you."

"Not a bit of it," said his father. "I love ye, too. Now get rid o' that ciggie an' let's go see if yer Mum needs any help with anythin'. It's been a difficult day for her, findin' out her baby boy's not a virgin anymore."

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