#george harrison love story

[harrisongslimited]

George Chapter of the Day

I Saw Her Standing There, Chapter 11

Trigger Warnings: adult situations, swearing, smoking, fluff, drinking, slow-burn romance, angst, confrontation, homosexuality, sexual tension.

**18+ only!!**

Chapter 11

Joie sat there a long time. She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to feel. She was tired and ached all over. But he kissed her; the scent of his aftershave still lingering in her senses, the feeling of his lips still present on her skin. What was that for? Gratitude? Something more?

What did she think about her relationship with George? He was definitely the "quiet one" unless he had something to say, and he frequently had something to say. He did just protect her from Ringo's rant in his quiet, authoritative way. And come to think of it, what was that all about? Ritchey never seemed to her to have a confrontational bone in his body. After all, wasn't she hired to help them when they needed her? Well, fuck that...this was her last tour. If it would be a matter of going back home to the states or keeping this shit up, well, she'd pack her bags and gladly go home.

Of that, she was steadfast and certain.

She got up from the sofa and went to her bed. Closing her eyes, only one thing was on her mind. The kiss from George.

..........

After closing Joie's hotel room door, George leaned against the wall and shut his eyes.

"Fucking unbelievable," he shook his head. "A bloody kiss on the forehead...what the bloody hell... She's going to think of me as her brother, not the impression I was going for."

His chin fell to his chest as he shook his head again. Should he knock on her door again and kiss her until her toes curl? He knew what moves pleased a woman. There were plenty of teachers in Hamburg, happy to show an enthusiastic 17 year old what goes where, when and he was an avid learner. The groupies and other entertainers knew the score. Fast, easy, usually no strings.

He took a long, deep breath.

That wasn't his lovely Joie. It was getting to be the time he needed to lay his cards on the table and while he was usually a confident lover, he worried about how to approach Joie. He would prefer if she would take the reins and give him a bit more encouragement...generally not a problem with other ladies.

He was going to approach her when the time was right. No need to rush. By his estimate, Joie had 3 months left on her visa. Visions of her lovely body, still tanned a light bronze, freely given by her would be a dream come true. Her breasts crushed against his chest as they kissed deeply and passionately, invaded his thoughts more than he liked to admit. Removing her clothes and touching her all over kept him up at night.

It was time to tell her before he needed to jack off in the shower to ease the pressure. There were always the ever available girls who just wanted to shag, but he was beginning to find the anonymity bothered him. He really wanted to belong to someone, to be loved by that one special girl and he was sure he could make that a reality.

..........

Desperate times call for desperate measures and he was ready to lay it on the line...but not today, as he headed down the hall to the suite.

Joie awoke to the sounds of birds chirping outside her window. She jumped out of bed, feeling that she was late. She usually brought tea and toast into the boys, although Mal usually woke them up with a shake of their beds. Brian was known to call them, ringing the phone over and over until someone answered. She threw a skirt and top on, and flew out of her door. Down at the end of the hall was the suite where the boys were, Brian's room, and Mal's room in between.

Joie tentatively knocked at the door, not sure what she would be greeted with, but Paul answered the door and let her in.

"Mornin' love," he greeted, bright and chipper. He was dressed and presentable. They all were. John looked a little worse for wear but was still dressed and ready.

"Am I late?" she croaked out.

"We decided you needed a Beatle-break," George told her gently as he handed her a cup of coffee.

They all surprised her, John handing her a blueberry muffin and Ritchey pulling out her chair from the table.

"A Beatle-break, huh?" she smiled at them, settling down at the breakfast table.

"And I'm sorry for being rude to you last night," Ringo offered, giving her a warm squeeze of her shoulders. "I was way out of line."

She looked at him as she took a sip of her coffee. "I love all of you, you know."

"We know," Paul offered. "That's why we give you such a hard time all the time."

..........

She was glad when they finally landed at Heathrow in the middle of the night. It was necessary to do things out in the real world when most people were asleep in their beds. There was less chance of running into thousands of fans and being mauled to death. Joie slept on the plane most of the ride and couldn't wait to close her eyes in her own bed at Freda's. She felt like sleeping for a week and eating everything in the fridge.

As Joie took a taxi to Freda's, she contemplated two choices...either getting her own place and staying in England for 3 more months or going back home. She missed her family but had talked to her father about letting her sister Jordan come out for a visit. That would mean she would need her own place. She shouldn't continue to be in Freda's way, although Freda never said a word.

Joie insisted on paying her own way and chipped in for rent, groceries and utilities. But she longed to get her own place. She just didn't know where. She also thought about dating. It had been a long dry spell since Charlie.

..........

Brian was in a sour mood the next day as he walked into the office. Joie was already there, as bright as she could be, considering she'd probably managed only 8 hours of sleep over the last 10 days. But she also had gotten to see Paris and Munich and Dublin. At least a little of it.

By noon, Brian had left the office for a "meeting" and both Freda and Joie took a deep breath of relief.

"Tell me about the tour..." Freda asked, excitedly. "It sounded wild."

"It was. It was just cars and hotel rooms and more cars and receptions and all the while, the girls screamed," Joie answered, shaking her head. "It's unbelievable."

The phone rang, interrupting her, but Joie answered it. It was George.

"Hi, love. Are you ok? Did you manage to get some well deserved sleep?"

"I'm fine. How about you?"

"The usual. Hey, could you come out to the house tomorrow? That decorator is coming out and I need your help."

"Sure" Joie answered, her heart beating faster. "Should I just come out in the morning?"

"That would be great. Thanks," George told her. "I'll see you in a couple hours. We have a meeting with Brian."

"What time?" Joie asked. "He left about 15 minutes ago."

"Oh, that's ok," George answered. "We don't have to meet him for a couple of hours. I'm heading for the studio now and then we'll be there later."

"Ok," Joie said. She was looking forward to seeing George. The feelings surprised her. "See you later. And be careful driving in."

"I will, thanks," he said.

Joie turned to Freda with a happy smile on her face.

Joie told Freda she was going out to George's the next day.

"Has it been fun decorating his house?"

"Yes, but I didn't do it alone. Cyn really helped, so did Maureen. I think Cyn has some interior decorator in her!"

"Well, she was an art student in the old days," Freda offered. "Very artistic."

The phone rang again and Joie answered it again. It was Brian. His speech was slurred.

"Come and get me," he mumbled. "You have a car courtesy of the Beatles. Come 'n get me, Miss Armagh."

Joie strained to understand him. "Where are you?"

"And don't tell anyone. Anyone. Got it?"

"I got it. But where are you?"

Brian gave her an address, told her to figure it out and hung up. Joie turned to look at Freda. "It was Brian. He asked me to go and pick him up. Maybe his car broke down? He hung up too fast for me to ask."

"He wants you to come and get him?" Freda asked. "Where is he?"

"I have no idea. He gave me an address and told me to figure it out. And he told me not to tell anyone."

"Why so secretive?"

Joie shrugged. She grabbed her purse and left the office with a wave to Freda. "I'll be back. And then we are gonna talk about my finding my own place. I really need to give you and Will some privacy."

"I like having a roommate...." Freda told her sincerely.

"Maybe Will can be your roommate!"

Freda laughed. "My parents would never go for that!"

..........

Joie checked the map in the car and realized she was going into some shady neighborhood. She got there relatively quickly, thanks mainly to George, who showed her how to drive in London. She inched the car along, looking for the address. It was a bar.

Leaning against a phone booth was Brian Epstein, raincoat pulled up close to his face. He spotted her and jumped into the car. He smelled like alcohol and cigarette smoke, and his lip and nose were bleeding.

"Brian...." Joie began, concerned. "What happened? Should we call the police? You look like you are hurt. Do you need a doctor?"

"Drive," he barked "and hurry up about it."

His head bobbed up and down with every bump. He was very drunk. She thought she would take him to the office and try to call Mal or George or someone. Maybe George would be there and he could help her.

"You are so naïve," he blurted. "you don't understand anything."

"What is it you want me to understand?" Joie asked him, realizing it was probably fruitless to have any kind of discussion with a drunk person.

He was silent. "You really are imperspectively stupid."

Joie wanted to laugh. He sounded ridiculous. "Right," she answered.

He seemed to sober up slightly, at least enough to keep his head up. He wiped the blood off his lip and tried to appear a gentleman by running his hand over his raincoat and smoothing his hair down.

"I don't like you," he said suddenly.

"Well," Joie answered calmly, "I don't particularly like you either. But that really isn't necessary. We just work together. That's all."

He turned his face towards her. "No, missy, you work for me. We don't work together....you work for me."

"I work for the Beatles," Joie responded. She was driving faster to get somewhere so she could get away from him. The smell of the alcohol and the smoke was overpowering in the little car. And Joie had the window open.

"And they work for me...." He said flatly. "If I tell them to get rid of you, they will."

"I don't care," Joie responded as coolly as she could. But she was getting nervous. She didn't like being with him in the car.

"For fuck's sake, open your window," she exclaimed, more to herself than anything. She had seen enough drunk men to last her a lifetime.

He seemed to slip back into sleep, but woke up with Joie parked at the office. He got out and slammed the door shut.

Joie sat in the car and burst into tears. She cried so hard that she thought she'd break. Her heart was racing and the car smelled terrible and she wanted to go home. Although she loved England, she felt like she hated everyone who lived there...except Freda.

She was done. Joie Armagh was throwing in the towel. She was beaten by 4 Liverpool boys and their posh manager. She was going to march up into the NEMS office and quit. She would book the next plane out. Joie had met her match and she was quitting. That was it. California, here I come.

When Joie entered the office, the boys were all present and Brian had washed his face, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and was presentable. The boys were in the middle of questioning Brian as to where Joie was. She heard him say he "bloody well didn't care."

"Come on Eppy," John cajoled. "Where is she? You took her for a ride didn't you?"

"I want her gone," he burst out. "She's a bloody American and we can get a fine English gentleman to help you on the road if we need to. Or you can hire one of your friends. I don't care. I want her gone."

Joie stood there. Paul noticed her first, her face red and puffy from crying. But she was standing straight and spoke clearly. "Thank you all very much for the opportunity you gave me. But I'm leaving. If you need 2 weeks, I'll do that. But I'm turning in notice."

"Thank bloody hell..."Brian said.

No one said a word for a moment. Joie stood there vulnerable, trying to stand her ground. Trying to maintain some dignity.

Paul was silent. John was silent. Ringo was silent. Uncharacteristically, it was George who put an arm around her and led her out of the office.

"You need to stay for a meeting," Brian called after him.

"Sod off," George responded. "Go clean yourself up. And then we'll talk."

George put Joie, who had started sobbing again, into his car. She was blubbering about her car and Brian and the smell in the car and going back to the States. He calmly picked up the phone in his glove box and called Mal.

"Mal, I need some help. Joie's blue mini is at NEMS. We need someone to take it over to get cleaned out. Brian had too much to drink and the smoky/alcohol smell is all over her car," he said. "Whatever it costs to clean up, charge it to Brian."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Just relax now, Joie. We're going home."

"Freda's?"

"No" George said gently. "My home."

Joie didn't argue. She put her head back against the head rest and took a deep breath. It was warm and relaxing in the car and soon she was asleep. When she woke, they were in Esher, at George's house.

They walked into the house in silence. Joie noticed that George had added his own personality to the house. It was warm and open. Joie felt very comfortable.

"I imagine you want to get this day behind you," he said. "Just go into my room, grab a shirt, take a shower and lay down if you want. There's a robe in the closet too. I'll sleep in another room. Or maybe you are hungry? How about some tea and sandwiches?"

"That would be nice," Joie said, smiling happy to be free from the office. "I'll go clean up and be right out."

Joie went into George's master bedroom that she knew so well from arranging the furniture. It was exactly as she had arranged it, only with more of his personal belongings. She grabbed a t-shirt and the robe and took a shower. She stayed in the shower a long time, letting the water run over her.

Her plan was to head back to California. To Santa Monica Pier. To shopping. To seeing her family and friends. To the Pacific Ocean. To even worse traffic and the lovely San Bernardino Mountains. To peace and quiet.

Toweling off, she put the t shirt on and wrapped the robe around her. She felt human again. And when she went into the kitchen, George was sitting at the table waiting for her with a cup of tea and cheese and tomato sandwiches.

"Hi," she said simply.

He had changed into jeans and an open white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He was barefoot and his hair was disheveled. Hot tea was steaming in front of his face. He looked wonderful. He smelled wonderful. Joie watched him and sat comfortably in his t-shirt and robe, her face scrubbed clean.

"Hi," he answered. "do you feel better?"

"Much," she told him. "Thank you for what you did."

He stood and passed the cup of tea to her. "You're welcome."

Joie sat at the table and cupped the tea in her hands, enjoying the warmth.

And the silence.

"What he did was wrong," George said barely over a whisper. "He never should have treated you that way or have done what he did."

"George, he never liked me so it really isn't all that surprising. He just never did. Not from day one," Joie told him. "I don't know what I did. We were just like oil and water."

"I wish you would've told me it was that bad. I would have done something...."

"Oh, there was nothing you could have done. It just needed to play itself out. It's ok. It just made me realize that I need to go back home."

George choked for a moment and seemed to be taken back. '"Don't give up on us so quick."

Joie's eyes opened wide. 'It's been 3 months, George..."

"Don't let what Brian did send you back home. Besides, I need your help with the house," he smiled. "Otherwise, my mother is going to handle it."

Joie smiled back and took a bite of her sandwich. "Would that be so bad?"

"You don't know my mother...." George responded lightly, sipping his tea. "besides, we'd all miss you."

Joie was silent for a moment. Truth be told, she'd miss them too.

"You know," he continued, "Brian is a mixed bag. He polished us up, got us noticed, but he's a troubled guy. He has......trouble with women. Especially strong women."

"His he married?" Joie asked.

George looked at her. "No," he answered. "Never will be either."

Joie turned her head slightly. "Why?"

"Joie...." George started. "Brian is....Brian...well, he's gay."

"Gay?" Joie asked and after a moment, the lightbulb went off in her head. "Oh."

"Yeah....'oh'," he answered. "He's very closeted about it, but he's a good guy. He's just...he's very protective of us."

"So I'm a threat?"

"In a way. He's very motherly...you know? And you've taken over that role in a way he never could."

Joie ran a hand through her hair. "So I should be more understanding?"

'I think you've been understanding enough when it comes to Brian. Especially after today."

"So what should I do?" Joie asked him.

"Let me handle that," George said to her. "Just let me handle it."

"George, you don't have to fight my battles," Joie told him, watching him carefully. She wanted him to kiss her...really kiss her madly. He was so adorable.

"I know that," he answered with a nod. "But just let me handle things for now. I promise you it will be ok. Just trust me."

Joie sipped her tea and looked into his deep brown eyes. "I trust you, George...."

George looked at her in silence for a long time, reaching across the table to take her hand gently in his. Joie blinked slowly and enjoyed the moment between them. It was the longest conversation she'd ever had with him.

"George..." Joie began. She wanted to ask him why he didn't run around with other women when they were out on tour, but stopped herself. Maybe he had and she just didn't know it. He seemed more private than the other 3, and Joie thought she would leave it alone and changed the subject. "I know we are supposed to go out on tour again in a couple days. What should I do? I don't want to go."

"We've got a couple of days," he answered. "Why don't you stay here and we'll figure it out."

Joie looked at him. "I can't stay here George. I couldn't impose on you like that."

"You can stay in the coach house. I'll be in the main house. Let's just do that for a couple of days..until I leave."

"It....I....are you sure?" Joie stammered a bit.

George brightened. "I'm sure Joie. And leave things to me...just for now. I don't want to run your life, but I want to take care of a couple of things. Don't want you buying your airplane ticket back to the states just yet."

[javelinbk]

George Harrison and Ringo Starr talking about filming Help! (1965) in The Beatles Anthology (1995)

George: We had fun in those days [...] It's difficult when four people all have to say lines, you know, one behind the other, and, you know, if one person forgets it, you've got to start again, and then the next person'd forget his lines, and we did some scenes... the scenes that were in Buckingham Palace, in Help... (laughs) we were doing that scene for days... you know, where they put some, there was some pipe with some red smoke comes through, you know, and we shove it out the window and all the guards fall over... that scene, it just went on forever, you know, and we were just in stitches, just in hysterics, laughing. And we pushed Dick Lester I think to the limit of his... because he was very, very easy-going, he was a pleasure to work with

Ringo: There's one scene in the film, where Victor Spinetti and whoever else was in the scene, and they're doing that curling... you know, those big stones they do... and one of them of course has a bomb in it! We find out about this, 'oh, it's gonna blow up', and we have to run, we have to run away... Well, Paul and I ran about seven miles... (laughing)... we just ran, and ran, so we could stop and have a joint, and come back. We were just off! You know, we'd run to Switzerland.

[franklyimissparis]

thinking about peter capaldi as george harrison in the 1985 made-for-television film john and yoko: a love story

[georgeharrisonsmiling]

[aimeedaisies]

Happy heavenly birthday George 💗🕉️🕊️

Life flows on within you and without you

Thank you for your music, your talent and your love. You were and are still such an inspiration to me and so many others.

[talulahsjusthere]

Me whenever Here Today or Now and Then play on my Spotify playlist

[harrisonsbabygirl]

The White Album

And Paul working on the picture collage with Richard Hamilton

[centalk]

You know what would be cool a forbidden love between the beatles and a poc reader set in the 60s at the height of their fame

[rhapsodynew]

#A rock suitcase forgotten in the basement

Nothing on earth goes unnoticed,

And the youth that is gone is still immortal.

How young we were,

How young we were,

How sincerely they loved,

How they believed in themselves.

[ringosmistress]

[beatleshalloween]

Updated story

It's late at night on John Lennon's birthday and he is listening to his answering machine recordings.

Updated 12/6/2024

[tweeterwilbury]

[javelinbk]

Olivia Harrison explains the story behind the clock on the read cover of Now And Then

[swaying--daisies]

Reminding myself of the existence of this ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE that came out around this time last year for absolutely no reason whatsoever 🙃 it just fills me with so much love and joy 🥰

[harrisongslimited]

George Chapter of the Day

Chapter 13

Trigger Warnings: adult situations, swearing, drinking, sexual situations, slow burn romance,

**18+ only** Please.

Chapter 13

It was 10am California time when Annie Magnum heard the phone ring. Although she was deeply invested in the letter she just received from her best friend, Joie, Annie jumped up to answer it.

They had been corresponding by letter, airmail with special paper to write on...blue and thin as tissue paper, but with her emotions in turmoil, Joie needed desperately to talk to her. No one knew Joie better than Annie.

"Oh my God...Joie!" Annie exclaimed. "you have no idea how happy I am to hear from you. It's been ages."

"I know. I just needed to hear your voice," Joie explained.

"I know what you mean and have I got a story for you! But I'm quite impressed by your travel schedule. Letters from all over the world....postcards from Paris and Germany. Girl, you've been everywhere. I've managed to get to work and the Santa Monica Promenade over the last couple of months. I've done nothing compared to you."

"Annie, I want to come home so badly. It's just been a nightmare." Joie proceeded to tell Annie about Brian and the incident where she picked him up from a bar. "He's been so rude. George told me that he's just protective of the boys, but it's more than that. He just hates me."

"Whoa, sweetie pie!" Annie announced. "What the fuck is all this about? Your letters are so perky...if it's been hell, you should have told me."

"I know. I know. It was just so hard to throw in the towel and give up. That's not my style. I actually haven't been in the office. I quit. That's what I called to tell you. For right now, I'm living in George's coach house on his property."

There was dead silence until Annie squeaked out, "What the fuck???"

"I know how it sounds, but the coach house is completely separate from his house. He can come and go and I'd never know it."

"Joie, does your dad know?"

"Yes. I talked to him the other day. I wanted to give you the address so you can write me here. George actually brought all my stuff from Freda's the other day after the Brian incident, as it will be known by from now on."

"Ok....almost living together. What gives? What, exactly, do you need to tell me? You and George? Come on, give it to me straight, you wonton hussy. Do not tell me that George Harrison popped your cherry??"

They both burst out in laughter.

"No, you dirty-minded, red-haired tart."

"All true. I'll admit it," Annie giggled. "Now give it to me straight, Batgirl, what the fuck is happening?"

Joie took a breath. "I don't know, Annie. George...he's been so good to me. He really looks after me, you know? I mean I know I was hired as an assistant to all of them, but..."

"But what?" Annie prodded.

"I don't know. Being here with George has been wonderful. He's just been wonderful." Joie admitted.

"What about Paul...John...Ringo?"

"It's just been different with George. I don't know how to explain it. Cyn, John's wife, says he's smitten."

"Well, use Charlie as a reference...."Annie offered. "Do you think he likes you?"

"Charlie was a nightmare. All he wanted to do was have sex. He couldn't have cared less if we had a conversation. George actually listens to me. We talked all night the night he left for this last tour. And he'll be gone for 3 weeks."

"And it doesn't hurt that he's hot as fuck, right?"

"Well...yeah."

"Could this just be your body wanting you to have sex?"

"You mean I'm sexually starving?" Joie asked, then burst into laughter. "What about you? We were rowing in the same boat, if I remember correctly. You have something to tell me, missy?"

There was silence for a moment, then Annie spoke softly. "I met someone..."

"Yay!" Joie cheered. "Do I know him? Tell me everything immediately..."

"I'll spill in a minute. I'm not done with you yet," Annie told her. "Now what are you going to be doing while he's gone? Going into the office?"

"I don't know. The Brian Incident has put the fear in me, you know? But the office is crazy. The mail is unbelievable. Thousands by the day. Thousands. So I help Freda and answer the phone and just sort the tons of mail. We have 2 other girls now to help and Freda has been talking to Brian about opening an office in New York to handle the mail from the states alone. We'd handle just the European/Asian mail and the NY office would handle the American mail."

"Sounds like a whole lotta work, if you ask me. Now I want to ask you one question," Annie said to her. "Just one question."

"What's that?"

"How do you feel? How do you feel about George?"

Joie was silent a long time. "I miss him. I miss him a lot."

"Joie Armagh...," Annie brightened. "you're in love. You are actually in love with George Harrison."

"Am not," she answered in a blustery voice.

"You are too."

"I can't be."

"Why not?"

"I'm American. He's British," Joie stated as if that was a reason.

"What...is this the 1800's? We're allies now, you know."

Joie laughed. "Well, shit. It's just he's so... FAMOUS. I'm a California girl. Hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill after a day of beach volleyball."

"Joie, you are crazy. People fall in love all the time...for all the right reasons and sometimes for the wrong reasons. What do you say, girlfriend?"

"Well, he's not in love with me."

"Sounds to me like he's doing an awful lot to show you how he feels."

Joie thought she would change the subject. "So tell me about you. What have you been doing? Tell me about your mystery man."

"You're avoiding my questions...."

"I know."

.........

Joie thought a long time about their conversation. No one knew her better than Annie. They had been friends since first grade. Was she falling in love with George? What would she do if she was? Well, perhaps a delightful heavy petting session...followed by...uh...what? Sex would be lovely but Joie knew she had literally no experience and George was more than likely a 5-Star General when it came to bedding a bird. Joie wouldn't be able to handle the humiliation of not knowing shit..

Well, it wouldn't matter anyway, because it takes 2.

.........

"Well?" John tapped George's feet as they hung off the bed.

"Well what?" He looked up from the letter he was writing.

"C'mon, you horse's arse. Joie?? Have you told her how you feel?"

"Working on it," George gave him a sly smile.

" She, Cyn and Mo are getting to be inseparable."

"I'm glad. Really."

"So what's your stupid as shit idea?" Paul chimed in. "Like what's the plan?"

"No plan. Flying by the seat of my pants, actually," George explained. "I'm letting Joie have the reins. She's fairly shy. So I'm going to be patient."

"And while you're being patient, some doctor or lawyer or banker will sweep her away."

George shook his head. "Not Joie."

"You're daft," John and Paul echoed and left George to his letter.

Rolling over on his back, the pen tapping his chin, George thought about the girl with the lovely auburn hair. Touching her, kissing her was all he could think about. Her eyes were incredible...dark with golden flecks in her irises. She probably has no clue what he wanted to do with her.

..........

As the days went by, Joie missed George more and more. One night she actually slept in his bed, the scent of his aftershave covering his pillowcase. She pulled the pillow to her body and began moving her fingers over her flushed body. She moved slowly, touching herself and envisioned George being there with her. It was all pretty simple to please yourself...but how the fuck do you please a guy?

Hand jobs, blow jobs, penetration and orgasm. She hoped there was more than just the mechanics. Maybe it comes naturally...she hoped so anyway.

.........

The house was big and empty. She missed living with Freda. The kittens kept her company, and by now she had named them. Kit and Mouse. It seemed to fit.

But more and more, she missed home. She missed California, her dad and Jordan. She missed sunshine and hamburgers. She missed the beach. She missed Annie. She missed baseball and ice hockey. She even missed school. She had decided that when her visa was up in another 2 months, she would go home. Joie would be appreciative of everything, but she decided that California is where she belonged.

..........

He was calling from somewhere in Sweden when he and Joie began discussing her going back home. George couldn't imagine losing her now. He wished she would stay on the basis of her feelings for him, but what those were, he couldn't tell. Was she just being a good assistant or was she attracted to him? He wasn't sure what else he could do to show her he wanted all of her and, as time went by, needed her too.

"I'm going to have to face Brian at some point and I want to be able to make him happy. I'll turn in my resignation," Joie told George. "I shouldn't even be telling you this. You are really the boss, after all!"

"I gave up being my own boss when I became a Beatle," he told her, fatigue evident in his voice. "I gave up a lot when I became a Beatle."

"But George, like John said, how long could it last?" Joie said. "Enjoy it for now and figure in 5 years you will more than likely have your life back."

"None of us will be doing this in 5 years," George answered. "It's making us old already. My nervous system is shot."

"I heard about the next movie...." Joie said softly. "That will give you a break."

"But who knows when that will happen?" George said. "I figure they want it started fairly quickly....strike while we're hot, so to speak."

"We just have to get through this now," Joie said. "And we will."

"Yes, we will," George answered. "So you won't run away before I get back?"

"No, of course not," Joie laughed. "Kit and Mouse need me."

.........

Later that afternoon, a tearful Cynthia called. "I'm coming over with a bottle of wine. Julian is with my mom and I need some girl talk. John is 500 miles away and we had to get into a fight on the phone. I'm so upset...."

"C'mon over," Joie said. "I'm here."

Cyn showed up with 2 bottles of wine and 2 red, puffy eyes. She had been crying for a long time.

"He doesn't mean it half the time," Cyn said. "But he can be very cruel. Then I talked to George and he calmed me down. How things have changed since the days George followed me and John around. We've watched him grow up since he was 15."

"I know. He told me he used to tag along not understanding you and John probably wanted to be alone."

Cyn finally laughed. "I love him with my whole heart. He understands things very deeply now."

Joie exhaled a breath and nodded.

"So what are your feelings?" Cyn blurted out. "I hope you are not leading him on. He's too important to me to let him get hurt."

Joie blinked several times and shifted from her position on the floor. "Cyn, what are you talking about? I'm staying in the coach house. Nothing has happened."

"Really? It seems to me that you aren't seeing things as they really are," Cynthia said pointedly. "George is clearly crazy about you. How can you not see that?"

"What? What do you mean?"

Cyn tapped her forehead. "Don't tell me the British are more open with their feelings than the American's are...."

"Cyn, what are you saying?" Joie asked, a funny urgency building inside her.

"I'm saying everyone and their brother can see George is crazy about you. The only one who doesn't see it is you." She answered taking another sip of wine. "I mean from what I see anyway."

"George has been very good to me. I don't think he's 'crazy' about me," Joie replied with a shrug. "He's been a perfect gentleman."

"So you are saying that if he was trying to grab a feel that would prove he's interested in you?"

Joie blinked at Cyn. Tears began to well in her eyes. "No...of course not. Oh my God....."

Cyn pulled up to her knees. "Oh, don't cry. Or I'll start crying and we will never stop."

Joie's emotions were all jammed up. She was crying and laughing at the same time.

"I don't get it, Cyn...."

"He's in love with you. Is that so hard to understand?"

"Yeah. It is. I guess I'm just used to fighting off boys who just want to get a hand on you....or want your hand on them."

"Americans...."Cyn joked. "I think the key word is 'boys'. George isn't a boy. He's been through a lot and learned from it. He's a man....a man who is love with you."

"I don't really think that's true. I mean how do you know?"

"Would it matter if I told you? I mean, how do you feel?"

Joie thought for a long time and took a drink from her wine glass. "I miss him, Cyn. I miss him. I know that for sure. Nothing would make me happier than seeing him walk through that front door."

Cyn smiled brightly. "That sounds just a little like love to me."

Joie leaned forward. "I don't know what love is. I've never been in love."

"I think you know what it is. You've just never experienced it."

"When did you know that you loved John?"

Cyn looked at Joie. "When I missed him."

..........

They sat on the floor and ate the meal Joie cooked for them. Cyn opened the other bottle of wine as they cleaned up the kitchen and talked about Julian and families and clothes....and George.

"I'm not as fashionable as some of these English birds," Joie told her. "California is pretty laid back when it comes to fashion. It's not like New York or London."

"I think George likes the fresh, clean look..." Cyn teased her.

Joie laughed. "He got that full in the face the night he brought me back from London after the incident with Brian. I took a shower and had no make up or anything. I must have looked like something the dog dragged in."

"I think George was very worried about you after that. None of us could believe Brian did that to you."

"Oh, it's ok now. George came to the rescue."

"My point exactly."

Joie looked at Cyn. "I think I'm beginning to understand...."

All of a sudden, the front door swung open and George stood there with Mal. "9 am Mal. Bright and early."

"George...." Joie exclaimed, running toward the door. "What are you doing here?"

He only smiled at her. He dropped a small bag on the floor and looked at Cyn. "You girls have a nice time?"

"Very nice," Cyn said collecting her things to leave. "My cue to go."

Joie looked from George to Cyn and back again. She didn't know what to think.

"Thanks, Cyn," George said to her, kissing her cheek as she exited.

"No problem," Cyn answered. "And I'll talk to you soon Joie..."

"Bye Cyn" Joie called after her.

George made sure Cyn got into her car safely and returned to Joie. They stood 10 feet apart, Joie just looking at him.

"But...but...you're on tour...." Joie said, confused. "How....why....? Did something go wrong?

"Yeah, something went beautifully wrong." he answered, watching her carefully. "I don't want you to go back to the states, Joie. I'd really love for you to stay."

Neither of them moved. Tears began to well in Joie's eyes. She blinked quickly. All of a sudden she ran to him and jumped into his open arms. Joie buried her face into his collar and held onto him. He smelled amazing. His arms held her tightly and his body seemed to curl into her somehow.

Neither of them could let go.

"Joie...." He said softly into her neck.

"George..." she responded. "What are you doing here?"

He shifted so he was able to frame her face in his hands. He kissed her on the lips very gently. Then held her again.

"Pack a bag," he whispered.

She leaned back to look at him. "Where are we going?"

"You're going. Not me. I've got to catch a plane back to Sweden before noon tomorrow."

Joie shook her head not understanding. "So what do I pack?"

"Enough clothes to last a week or so."

"Where am I going?"

"Just be ready in 15 minutes."

Joie reached up and kissed him back. "Ok."

And she raced off to the coach house to pack a bag.

.........

She felt warm in the car for the 30 minute drive to George's parents' house. He held her hand in his lap, unwilling to let her go now that he had her.

"But George, I just can't park myself at your parents' house until you come back. It's such an intrusion..."

George shook his head. "I always thought American's busted into their neighbors houses all the time. Loose. Free. You are more worried about appearances than I thought."

"It's just that I don't know your parents....and it seems like a lot to ask. 'Oh, can a stranger come and stay for a couple of weeks'?"

"You are not a stranger. Besides, I thought you said you trusted me."

"I do...."

"Ok then," George told her. "Sit back and relax. We'll be there soon."

"But what about the cats?" she asked suddenly. "We can't leave them."

"Cyn's going to stop by."

"You planned this all out, didn't you?" she said, tilting her head at him.

[lennon-gal]

y'know, i'm sure being screamed at and chased by fans trying to grab any piece of you doesn't feel WONDERFUL, but like, i really get them. i'm a 17 year old beatlemaniac. if you think for one second i could look at paul mccartney and not

a. faint

b. scream until my vocal chords were raw

or

c. sob uncontrollably

you are sorely mistaken