Mavis looked up when Dr. Fenity came back into the waiting room.

"Is it good news?" she asked.

Dr. Fenity sat beside her. There was no one else in the clinic so early in the morning, so they were all alone.  He took Mavis' hand, concern clouding his light blue eyes.

"That's up to you and John, I suppose," he told her. "All I know is that you're going to have a baby. Is it good news, Mavis?"

The girls eyes brimmed with sudden, hot tears and she flung herself into the old doctor’s arms. She wasn't sure how she felt about the news, but it was astonishing, seeing as how she'd been on the pill since shortly after her relationship with John had become physical, and she was not prepared for this at all.

Presently she drew back and sat up, and the old man offered her a handkerchief. Mavis accepted it, dabbed at her eyes, and smiled weakly.

"I don't know what John is going to say," she said after a moment, "But it's good news to me, I guess-- I mean, I do love him terribly, and he says he loves me, too. How do you think he'll react, Dr. Fenity?"

"Well, I don't really know the man," replied the old gentleman. "He's so damnably healthy that I've never had the occasion to so much as see him outside of a few words here and there at the pub, but he seems like a nice enough fellow and I daresay he'll do right by you, my dear child.  Where is he now?”

“He’s still asleep, God willing,” Mavis replied. “Hopefully, I’ll have time to shower and compose myself before I wake him and open for the day. Thank you so much for coming downstairs and opening the office so early for me, doctor. Come by tonight and I’ll give you a nice supper, on the house.”

“I’ll do that, my dear,” he said, and the girl got up to leave. The doctor held the door open for her and watched her cross the street to her own place. Once she had gone inside, he closed his shade and went back upstairs to have his breakfast.

***

Mavis let herself quietly into the pub and locked the door, then made a fire and went upstairs to have a shower. John was still asleep, and she watched him for a moment, sighed softly, and went into the bathroom.

As she stood in the stream of warm water and soaped her body, Mavis looked down at her flat belly and touched herself there gently. There's a baby growing in there, she thought, and found herself smiling a little. John's baby, and mine. Who are you, little one? Boy or girl? And what will your daddy say when he finds out about you?

Mavis finished her shower and once she had dried herself, she opened the medicine cabinet and took out her birth control pills. She stood looking at them for a few seconds, then dropped them into the waste basket and went back into the bedroom. It was nearly seven, and she decided to go down, make the coffee and start cooking breakfast before waking John. She would tell him during the afternoon lull; no one ever came in for a few hours after lunch.

***

"Ye've been awfully quiet all day, Mavis, izz’ere somethin' on yer mind?" asked John after the lunch crowd had departed and she stood washing the dishes in the kitchen.

Mavis stopped what she was doing, wiped her hands, and turned to look at him.  "As a matter of fact, there is," she replied. "Why don't we go out  front. We can sit by the fire and I'll tell you about it."

John followed her into the common room, an odd fluttering in his stomach. He sat down and looked at Mavis solemnly as she seated herself beside him in her rocking chair and reached for his hand.

"God's napkin, gurrl, I was half jokin' when I asked ye if there was a problem!" exclaimed John. He was alarmed by the way she'd suddenly gone so pale and looked so scared. "What the fuck is wrong?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, John, so I'm just going to go right ahead and say it," she replied. "I--that is, we-- are going to have a baby. I found out this morning."

"Jesus Christ, Mavis! Are ye sure? I thought ye were takin' the fuckin' pill! What in hell happened?" John shouted, jumping to his feet. "This is the last thing I expected to happen! What the fuck am I supposed to do now? I can't very well marry ye, I'm still married to Yoko, even though she doesn't know it, but it can't be done-- Jesus, gurrl, what were ye thinkin'?"

His heart was hammering, there was a roaring sound in his ears, and he found himself becoming suddenly dizzy. He dropped back into his chair and looked again at the girl. To his horror, she was weeping uncontrollably.

"Aw, Mavis, I'm that sorry," he apologized, reaching for her. She allowed herself to be pulled into his lap and huddled against him miserably, still sniffling. John felt terrible; he hadn't meant to yell at her, but the startling news had absolutely floored him.  "I'm such a bastard," he muttered, drawing her close and kissing her head. "We'll work it out somehow."

Mavis raised her tear streaked face to look into his eyes. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I was on the pill, and I didn't even miss one. I checked. I guess they're just not 100% foolproof, because I was sick this morning and I realized that I was late for my monthlies, then I went to see Dr. Fenity. He did a test, and it was positive. I didn't know what you were going to say or do when you found out."

John held her close and sighed. "Well," he said at last, "It's all right. We'll find a way to make it work. It's not yer fault, gurrl, any more than it's mine, and it certainly isn't the child's fault. I love ye, and I'll love the baby, too. I hope it's a gurrl, and I hope she looks just like you."

"You're not angry with me, then?" asked Mavis, tightening her arms about his neck.

"Naw, I was just gobsmacked is all. I'm startin' to get used to the idea now, and I feel better about it the more I think of it. It'll be all right. Like I said, we'll make it work. Come on into the kitchen and I'll help ye finish washin' up, then we'll go for a walk on the beach. It's practically warm today--spring is in the air."

***

The beach was deserted when John and Mavis arrived there, but the sun was shining and the bitter chill had retreated to be replaced by an almost balmy southern breeze. With a sweater, it was quite comfortable.

"It's kinda nice outside today, innit?" asked John, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Another couple months, and ye'll be runnin' around out here in yer bikini again."

"Well, maybe not this year," Mavis replied with a wry smile. "I don't think my body will be looking its best this summer."

"Yeah, well, about that," John began, taking both her hands in his and turning her to face him, "I want ye to know that I really am sorry about the way I reacted back there when ye told me about the baby. Like I said, I wasn't really angry with you, I was just gobsmacked. It was the last thing I ever expected ye to say...took me completely by surprise, like, and I kinda lost meself."

"I know," Mavis said, her eyes on his. He was wearing his blue contacts, and it was a bit disconcerting to her whenever she looked into his blue eyes, but it was still John, her John, and she shook the feeling off and continued. "It shocked the bloody hell out of me, too. I was taking those pills faithfully every day. I was amazed, sitting there on the floor of the loo, when I realized that I was...late. I called Dr. Fenity at once, even though it was only six o'clock in the morning. I was going to tell you right off, but the breakfast rush was about to begin and you were sleeping so peacefully, so I figured I'd tell you between lunch and supper, when the place was quiet."

John pulled her into his arms and held her close, looking over her head at the rolling, gray-green sea. The beach was still deserted, but a few seagulls were wheeling overhead, their harsh cries the only accompaniment to the roar of the ocean. John tightened his arms around the girl, then kissed the top of her head and spoke softly into her hair.

"We'll find a way to work this all out somehow," he said. "Don't worry about a thing, gurrl, it's gonna be all right. I promise. I'll be right here, and I'll take proper care of ye."

"I know you will," Mavis answered, her voice muffled by the woolen sweater he wore. she had knitted it herself a few months earlier, working on it evenings as they sat by the fire and John read. He would occasionally come across something in his book that he felt he had to share with her, and sometimes he would become so involved in what he was saying that he would lay his book aside and just talk to her for hours. Mavis stood now in the shelter of his warm, strong arms and thought about those nights, how she'd sat  listening to him as she worked on the sweater. She raised her head and looked up into his face.

"I never doubted that you would take care of me," she went on. "I was just worried because I wasn't sure that having a baby would be something you would want, and I just don't believe in--the alternative to having it."

"Are ye speakin' of an abortion, Mavis?" he asked, his face registering both shock and dismay. "Jesus, no, I would never want ye to do such as that. Like I said, we'll make it work. The more I think on it, the more I'm beginnin' to like the idea of bein' a father again. I --I really do miss me kids."

"I know, I've seen you looking at those pictures Paul and Ringo gave you. They're very handsome, your sons. Just like their Dad. I almost feel like it's my fault that you don't get to see them."

John sat down on a large piece of driftwood and pulled Mavis into his lap. "Whist, gurrl," he said softly. "It's not yer fault at all, but the fault of whoever it was who wanted me dead. The worst part is havin' to keep quiet about me still bein' alive, not lettin' anyone except the other lads and Linda knowin'. I trust me mates to keep it quiet, and Linda seems trustworthy enough, but ye know how kids are--I can't let them get wind of it. Maybe once they're grown I'll be able to contact them through one of the boys, but for now it just wouldn't be safe--for me or for them."

He kissed her cheek and hugged her close, and Mavis closed her eyes, leaning her head against his chest, feeling his heart beat against her cheek.  "Even if ye weren't in the picture at all, I wouldn't be able to go back," he continued. He sighed and they sat quietly for a few moments. When at last he broke his silence, John's voice was husky with emotion.

"I was real close to Sean," he said softly. "I was the one who stayed home with him and took care of him. We were together all of the time. It might be nice to have that sort of life again, havin' a baby around. I'm really beginnin' to look forward to it, truth be told."

Mavis hugged him tight.  "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that," she told him. "I'm so relieved...and I'm starting to look forward to it, too. What do you think it will be, a boy or a girl?"

"It doesn't matter. I've got two boys and no girls, so a girl might be nice for a change--but another boy would do just fine as well. You just concentrate on makin' sure that our baby is healthy, no matter what he or she might be. That'll be your job. Yer gonna need a lot of rest, so I'm gonna have to start doin' more around the pub--maybe take a lunch shift off yer hands now and then. Even I can make a fuckin' sarnie, and there's really no cookin' required past warmin' up the supper leftovers from the night before for those who are in the mood for an actual meal in the afternoon. I can handle that while you take a little kip in the middle of the day."

Mavis laughed and said, "I can just see you in a frilly apron, serving lunch to the shopkeepers and the farmers in the middle of the day. Are you sure you're going to want to do that?"

"For you," he replied, letting her go and hauling himself to his feet, "I would do anythin'--except wear yer frilly aprons. I'll either get one from the butcher or just let me clothes get all filthy, whichever ye prefer."

"I'll make you a plain white apron without any lace on it whatsoever," she promised, her eyes shining, "And I won't even ask you to take a breakfast shift. I know you like to get your beauty sleep."

"Ah, but I need it, me gurrl," he said seriously. He took her hand and they began walking back towards the village. The sound of children suddenly filled the air as the school let out.  "I'm that exhausted," he continued, "Ye keep me up too late at night makin' love to ye all hours."

"I'm going to get fat and you won't want to do that so much," she told him, kicking a stone ahead of her as she walked beside him, her hand still clasped firmly in his.

"Nothin' o' the sort," he replied. "Yer gonna be beautiful, and the bigger ye get, the more of ye there'll be for me to love. Besides, it's me that got ye that way, innit? I'll always wanna make love with ye, Mavis. Yer me life, and I love ye."

"I love you more," she said with a smile. "Now, let's hurry home. I have to get supper started."

John smiled as they passed Dr. Fenity's office. A group of children were coming out, each of them clutching a handful of cookies. Nurse Maggie was a childless widow, and every day she was waiting when the children got out of school with a big basket of homemade cookies or fudge to hand out to them. She knew all their birthdays, as she had attended all their births, and whenever one of the children were celebrating one, she had a decorated cake ready to slice for all of them. All of the children referred to her as Mummy Maggie, and she loved them all as though they were her own. John and Mavis crossed the street to the pub, sidestepping the herd of children as they ran, laughing, down the middle of the road.

"So, Maggie's made gingersnaps," John mused. "Maybe I should go over to the surgery to get a checkup--it's been a long time since a doctor's looked at me."

"You open the door and pull the drapes back, and I'll run back and get a few of Maggie's gingersnaps for you if there are any left," replied Mavis, kissing his cheek lightly. "I want to thank Dr. Fenity again anyhow. When I get back, I'll make some fresh coffee for you to have with them, just the way you like it."

"Yer too good to me, gurrl. See ye in a few minutes. Give Maggie a kiss for me!"

***

John let himself into the pub, turned the sign in the window from 'closed' to 'open', and pulled the heavy drapes open to let some sunshine into the room. He put some wood on the dying fire and poked it to life, then sat in his chair by the hearth and lit a cigarette. He watched the street as he smoked. Another group of children ran past, cookies in their hands, their shrill voices ringing with excited chatter and laughter. John smiled and tried to imagine what a child made half from him and half from Mavis would be like. He hoped that even if it was a boy born in his exact image, the child would be more like Mavis than like himself. He had been quite a handful to manage, and he wouldn't wish that on Mavis. She had her hands full as it was.

John had been what might have politely been referred to as a lively child, less politely as a bloody brat, which is the way his Uncle Charlie was wont to refer to him when asked by fans what the former Beatle had been like as a child. He had been, in fact, the sort of child that other parents did not want their children to be involved with-- a ringleader, always first to think of some terrible mischief to get into and always able to recruit plenty of co-conspirators. Other boys wanted to be around John, wanted to be his friend and be allowed to hang around with him. He was bright and funny, and he always had plenty of naughty jokes to share. He knew a lot more about the world than the other kids his age, and they were especially impressed with his knowledge of what went on between men and women after the sun went down.

Remembering all of this, John sincerely hoped that his child would take after his or her mother instead of him.

Mavis came out of the doctors office with the gingersnaps and crossed the street. She came into the pub and smiled at him before heading back to the kitchen. "Be right back!" she called as the door closed behind her.

When she came back into the common room, Mavis had a plate of cookies in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. She placed these on the table between her chair and John’s, then sat beside him.

"Just a short break," she told him, "Then I'm off to get supper started. There were hardly any boats in the harbor today, so there are bound to be a lot of fishermen in here tonight. Most of them will just be here for a pint or two before they go home to their own suppers, but it's going to be a busy night, all told. Would you be interested in manning the bar while I get things done in the kitchen? You do pretty well at pulling a pint. You hardly spill a drop now."

"I'll take care of it," he agreed. "I'll help ye serve supper, too. Anything I can do to help, I'll do."

"You're so good to me, John," said Mavis, jumping to her feet. "But right now, I have to get supper started. Come into the kitchen and sit with me while I work, why don't you, as soon as you finish that?"

"That I will," he promised. "I'll be there in half a mo."

***

That evening after supper was over and the pub had emptied of customers, John and Mavis finished cleaning the kitchen and went to sit by the fire as they usually did.

John was reading something about reincarnation and relationships, and he had come across something in his book that especially intrigued him.

"Listen to this, Mavis," he said, pushing his glasses up, holding the book in one hand and following the lines with the index finger of the other. "What this means is that these circles of souls are constant. Your parents, your siblings, your friends and lovers--even your enemies-- are always around you no matter how often you may be reborn. Throughout the ages, each person’s circle of souls remains constant. The life force, the soul, who was your mother in your last life may be your sister, your brother-- even your lover-- in this life or the next. In any case, the same people that you love and the same people that you hate in this life are those who held a similar position in every incarnation you have ever experienced. This never changes. That is why you will sometimes feel an immediate sense of dislike for someone you have just met, or why you feel immediately drawn to a certain individual. They are part of your circle, and they always have been."

"That's pretty cool," said Mavis when he'd finished reading and laid the book on the table beside his chair. "Do you think it's really true?"

"Well, it would sure explain a lot of things, wouldn't it?" replied John. He lit a cigarette and tossed his match into the fire, his expression thoughtful. "I mean, there've been plenty of times when I've met someone new and I either hated them or really liked them before they ever said word one-- maybe it was like the book says, maybe my soul recognized theirs right off because I knew them from another life."

"I wonder who we were to each other before, if it's true," mused the girl, resuming her work on the sock she was mending.

"Maybe ye used to be me grandmummy," John replied with a mischievous grin. "She used to knit and mend socks and such."

"How flattering," said Mavis. "It really makes you think, though. I wonder who our baby used to be before beginning again."

"Dunno, but whoever he or she was, it'll be someone we both loved," John told her.

He stretched and looked across the room at the big grandfather clock in the corner.

"Look at the time, it's well past nine," he remarked. "Probably be a good idea to get ourselves upstairs and to bed soon."

"When you first got here, you never went to bed until three or four o'clock in the morning at least," Mavis said, putting her work aside. "You've changed a lot since then."

"I never had to get up in the morning," he replied, pushing himself to his feet. "I could sleep until noon back then. Now I just can't do that. Besides, I still get up and come down here for a while at night sometimes, if I have to write or I need to think. Yer just too busy snoring to notice."

"You take that back--I do not snore!" exclaimed Mavis indignantly.

"No, of course ye don't," he said agreeably, pulling her up out of her chair. "No more than I do meself."

"You're such a brat," she told him, flouncing away.

He chuckled and banked the fire, then followed her up the stairs, still smiling.

***

Mavis was in the bathroom when John got to their bedroom. He undressed and got into bed, turning his head to watch her through the half open door.

She was standing naked in front of the sink as she performed her nightly ablutions; when she finished, she studied her face in the mirror briefly, then looked down at her belly and touched it gently, a smile curving her full lips as she caressed the place in which their child was growing.

John turned his attention to the ceiling and examined the herbs hanging in neat bunches from the center beam. Yarrow, coltsfoot, henbane, raspberry leaf, peppermint, pennyroyal-- he knew which was which and what each was good to use as medicine for which malady, something he had learned from Mavis. He was fascinated by her knowledge of the plants that grew on the island and the ways they could be used to treat illnesses. Modern medicines were brought in from the mainland for use in Dr. Fenity's surgery, but the cabinets of most of the local folk were well stocked with remedies of a far more ancient tradition. Whatever did not grow here was brought in from outside-- goldenseal, valerian, and ginseng for example--and he was learning a lot about natural healing. When he had a headache, Mavis made him tea from willow bark, and it worked as well as anything that could be bought. For an infected wound, there was goldenseal, the bright yellow root dried and ground to powder. Valerian for sleeplessness, peppermint tea for an upset stomach, wild cherry bark for diarrhea...he had learned a lot from her.

His reverie was broken when she turned out the light and slipped into bed beside him. "Where were you?" she asked, pressing herself against his warm skin as he gathered her into his arms. "You looked like you were far away from here. Were you thinking about the past?"

"Yeah, but not the way ye mean, I was thinkin' of all the stuff I've learned since I've been here-- stuff I've learned from you and some of the other people here in Harmony."

"Like what?"

"Well, like about medicine, and fire, and building...how to harness a horse, shear a sheep and even card wool; just stuff that most people where I come from don't ordinarily know much about."

"I guess if I were ever to leave here, I would have to learn a lot of new stuff, too," said Mavis. "I wouldn't know how to begin to use a lot of the newfangled things I see whenever I visit the mainland to buy supplies. We live here the same way our parents did, and I've been here since I was a little girl. This is the only way I know. We must seem kind of backward to you."

"No, it's the opposite, really. I'm beginnin' to think that yer way here is a lot better. There are fewer things to distract you from the things that are really important in life. I mean, just think about it. The papers in the so called civilized world are all full of shit about killin; and stealin', rape and assault-- when was the last time anything like that happened here? The worst thing that goes on here is kids swipin' apples or maybe a pie off a windowsill. There are good values here, and I think this is gonna be a great place to raise our child."

"But what if he swipes apples or steals pies off windowsills?"

"Fine with me, as long as he saves me some," John replied, hugging her tightly.

"I love you," she whispered, lifting her face to kiss his cheek.

"I love ye more," he told her softly, sliding a hand down across her breasts until he reached her belly. He pressed his warm palm against her skin. "I wonder who's in there," he mused. "I wonder whether it's a boy or a girl, and whether he or she knows we're out here waitin' to welcome him or her to the world and into our lives."

"I was wondering the same thing, just a few minutes ago," she replied. "I'm just glad you're okay with this. I was a little scared."

"Don't be. Don't ever be scared of me. I would never hurt ye, Mavis. I'd do an injury to anyone who ever did."

Mavis put her arms around his neck and toyed with his hair. He breathed into her ear, causing a delicious shiver to run down her spine.

"Mmmm, that feels good," she whispered, rubbing her cheek against his. She loved the roughness of his beard stubble against her skin; it made her think of how he looked in the morning, tousled and unshaven, incredibly sexy.

"If ye think that feels good, wait till ye feel this," he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. He turned his head to cover her mouth with his, kissing her deeply, running his hands slowly over her body.

Mavis could feel him throbbing against her thigh, and she pulled him closer still, pressing herself tightly against him. with a low moan, he slid a hand down further to caress her sex. She opened to him and he slid two fingers inside of her.

The girl moaned softly, responding to his touch with enthusiasm. He knew her body well, and it wasn't long before he could tell that she was very close. Without removing his fingers or slowing their movement, he bent his head to put his mouth on her there, just above her opening.

Mavis cried out his name and began to tremble, her hands spasmodically gripping the quilt, her legs shaking uncontrollably. John continued relentlessly, and in a moment she caught her breath and arched upwards involuntarily, an explosive orgasm wracking her body.

He withdrew his fingers and kissed her there, his own excitement now unable to be contained.  "C'mon, baby, my turn," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I want ye--now."

He mounted her and Mavis put her hands on his shoulders, loving the way it felt to have his muscles moving beneath his smooth, hot skin. He was achingly hard, and she did not hesitate when he nudged against her opening. He slid into her easily and buried himself deeply inside of her. The sensation made both of them catch their breath and moan with pleasure.

"So good," he whispered, holding himself still deep within her, his eyes flashing with passion. "So fuckin' good."

Mavis moved impatiently, needing him again even more badly than she had the first time.  "John," she whispered, her voice tight with desperation. "Now. Please. I need you!"

"Patience, lass, yer gonna get me," he told her. He was working to hold back, and his body was trembling with pent up need. "Yer gonna get me good."

He looked down at her, his eyes blazing into hers. It was all she could do to meet his gaze. He pulled his hips back slowly, teasing her, until he was almost out of her. With a tight smile, he then pushed into her, suddenly and hard, filling her completely once more. He did this several times, and she cried out softly with each powerful thrust.

When at last his need was too great to hold back any longer, he sped his pace, slamming into her body with smooth, rapid strokes. Mavis held onto him, her hips desperately keeping his rhythm, until his head was thrown back to reveal his long, graceful throat. The girl was close, and she knew that he was too, but he was waiting for her to signal her readiness.  His breath came in harsh, ragged gasps, and the sight of him caught in the grip of his imminent orgasm was enough to put Mavis over the edge.

"Now!" she cried, her arms tightening around him. "I'm ready, baby, give it to me now!"

Emitting a deep groan that sounded vaguely like her name, John gave up holding back and allowed himself to finish, both of them momentarily one creature, lost and being hurled through an intense wave of pure pleasure, all but unconscious until the feeling began to subside and they found themselves tangled up in one another’s arms, breathing heavily, gentle spasms still gripping and releasing them. Both of their faces were wet with tears, they were so deeply touched by the power of what they had shared.

John held her for a long time, and finally he said softly, "I hope I didn't hurt the baby. I wasn't too rough with ye, was I, love?"

"No, you were wonderful, and the baby is safe," she replied. "It was just perfect. I feel so relaxed and happy...hold me, baby, and let me fall asleep in your arms. I feel so warm, safe, and at home when you're holding me."

"That's 'cause it's where ye belong," he whispered, gathering her close. "I feel the same way. Goodnight, gurrl. I love ye."

Mavis put her cheek against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "I love you more," she said softly, relaxing against him.

John tightened his grip on the girl. "Don't bet on it," he whispered, kissing her softly.

Mavis sighed and shifted slightly in his arms. He could tell by the sound of her breathing that she had already fallen asleep. He rested his cheek against her hair and closed his eyes; he was pretty tired. Besides, tomorrow Mavis was going to teach him how to make the coffee properly, and from what he'd seen, it was a lot more complicated than a person might think without an electric coffeemaker.

"Simple life indeed," he muttered. "I'd like to know who the idiot who named it that was."

Part Five Coming Soon!

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