Real Love: Chapter Two
Real Love
Title: Chapter Two
Authors: lovely_rita_mm & jenny_wren28
Starring: The Beatles (specifically John Lennon) and Maggie Sue
Rating: R for language, sex, & implied drug use.
Disclaimer: We don’t own any of the Beatles, this obviously never happened, and much to the real Maggie’s disappointment, is a complete work of fiction.
We're glad to see so many people still with us!
So, now that George knows about the baby, it's probably time for John to find out too, right?
Previous updates are located HERE.
Chapter 2
Maggie sank into her office chair. She leaned over and put her head in her hands. She was so relieved she could cry. Her baby truly was John’s. The knowledge that she and George hadn’t done anything more than kiss was like a weight off her shoulders. For almost two months she’d shoved the guilt from that night away. John had wanted a clean start for both of them, and she knew he meant it. But underneath it all, she still felt guilty, and the pregnancy had meant that she couldn’t hide from what happened that night after all.
But now that she knew the truth, she felt that she could put that night behind her. For the first time in what seemed like years, she felt she could breathe again, and the invisible vise that had been clenching her chest was suddenly gone. George was still her best friend, and John was the love of her life, and they were going to have a baby together.
“Miss, are you okay?”
A slender blond was standing in her doorway.
Maggie looked up, surprised. “Yes, I’m fine, thanks. It’s just been a long day.”
“It’s barely lunchtime...” The girl smiled. “Can I get you some coffee or something?”
“God, I’d love some…” Maggie started and then remembered she was pregnant. Damn. She kept forgetting she had to stay away from caffeine, at least for the first trimester. “Actually, I’m okay. But thank you. Wait, who are you? Are you new?”
Maggie made it her business to know the people that worked for her and she’d never seen this woman before.
“Sort of. I’m Chris O’Dell...a friend of Derek’s. We met in California, and he invited me out here, long story… anyway, I’m just helping out wherever I can. You’re not paying me or anything,” she was quick to add. “I mean, I’d love a job, but for now, I’d just like to be useful. Right now I’m subbing in for Derek’s secretary who’s out sick. I was actually dropping off something from Derek, but your secretary seems to be out. Should I just leave it on her desk, or…” Chris trailed off a little uncertainly, as if she’d just realized that she was talking to the head of Apple instead of chatting with a friend.
“Oh, it’s okay, I’ll take it.” Maggie held out her hand and Chris walked over to her desk and handed her the interoffice envelope. Maggie smiled at her. Chris seemed friendly, but not overly so. As the head of Apple, Maggie had gotten a feel for the kind of people who were only looking for handouts or favors. Chris didn’t strike her as one of them.
“So, are you a Beatles fan?” Maggie couldn’t help asking.
“Who isn’t?” Chris grinned. Actually Chris had just run into GEORGE HARRISON in the hallway and he’d actually talked to her. She could hardly believe this was her life, hanging out at Apple and talking to Beatles. But then Chris had always gone where the wind blew her and usually she ended up someplace interesting. “I think London is the most exciting place in the world right now. I can’t believe I get to experience it! I just couldn’t pass up the chance to see it all for myself.”
“I know what you mean,” Maggie smiled back. If only Chris knew just how unlikely Maggie’s own life here in 60s Swinging London actually was.
“Well, I guess I’d better get back.”
“All right. Well, it was nice to meet a fellow American expat,” Maggie said.
“Likewise! And if you need anything, you know where to find me.” She turned to go, only to find her way blocked by another Beatle.
“Well, hello Chris. How are you doing?” Paul said.
“Hi Paul, fine, thanks.” She grinned up at him, but not in a flirtatious manner, more in just a friendly and open way. Maggie found herself approving of this new girl.
“I see you’ve met Maggie Sue?”
“Just now.”
“Chris is helping Derek out,” Paul explained to Maggie.
“I heard,” Maggie said.
“I came to steal you away for lunch, Maggie. I’m meeting Linda, and she told me that you work too hard and to tell you she insists.”
“How can I refuse an offer like that? Okay, let me just grab my bag.”
Chris turned to go past Paul, but his friendly arm around her shoulder kept her in the room. “Chris, join us for lunch?”
“Uh, I’d love to, but I don’t want to intrude… Plus I’m supposed to fetch lunch for some of the other execs…”
“All right, then. Some other time,” Paul said smoothly. A little too smoothly for Maggie Sue’s taste. She knew Paul was devoted to Linda, but he was still a Beatle and she knew he could probably have any woman he wanted. Maggie wasn’t even quite sure how seduction-proof she herself was. Paul was a friend, and just a friend, and John was her soulmate - but the Beatles were all too charming. In any case, Maggie hoped Paul would behave around Chris.
Paul and Maggie walked into the pub, and recognizing them instantly, one of the waiters quickly showed them to a private booth in the back that couldn’t be seen from the door.
“Thanks,” Paul said. “Listen, my wife will be joining us - can you send her back here when she shows up?”
“Of course, Paul,” the waiter said. Maggie marveled once again at the odd experience of being famous. Paul had no need to describe his wife for the waiter. Everyone knew who Linda was.
“Are you coming to George’s later this week?” Paul asked once the waiter had gone off with their drink orders. “We’re recording some demos, you know.”
“I wouldn’t miss it! I can’t wait to hear all the songs you guys wrote in India become real Beatles tunes.”
“You know them all already, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but I’m sure there are bound to be some surprises - and getting to see the process - well, it’s just exciting is all!”
“You’re such a fan.” Paul smiled at her and shook his head.
“Shall I shriek and try to rip your clothes off next time I see you, then?”
“Anytime you want, luv.” Paul grinned.
At that, Maggie playfully smacked him on the arm. “You, sir, are a married man now! No more of that for you!”
“Married, old, and stodgy. Terrible.” Paul shook his head in mock sorrow.
“Whatever. You love it. You love being married and saying things like ‘My wife will be joining us.’”
“You know, you’re right - I do,” Paul mused.
“And I think she’s here.” Maggie gestured to the slim, blonde woman walking towards their table.
“Hello, Mrs. McCartney!” Paul said, getting up to give his wife a big hug and kiss.
“Guys, I’m right here,” Maggie said after the kiss became protracted. She rolled her eyes, but was secretly thrilled that Paul and Linda were so in love. Plus she knew Paul was partly doing it to get back at her for years of watching her and John carry on.
“Hello, Maggie!” Linda leaned over and gave her a hug as well, and then sat down next to Paul in the booth. “Where’s John?”
“Still in bed, the lazy bum. He’s been staying up late working on songs, and you know how often he bothers to show up at Apple.” Maggie smiled at Paul, knowing that he was the only one of the four of them that turned up every day without fail. Though none of them ever showed up much before noon.
“Well, we’d hoped to tell both of you at the same time,” Linda said, “But I just can’t wait anymore. We’re going to have a baby!”
Maggie’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant?!”
“Yes!” Linda glowed and Paul looked at her proudly.
“That’s wonderful! Congratulations, both of you!”
Maggie couldn’t believe it - she and Linda were going to have babies at the same time - or nearly. It was another deviation in the timeline - but Maggie couldn’t help but be thrilled over this one!
Linda and Paul beamed at Maggie, and it was all Maggie could do to keep from bursting with her own news. But John didn’t know yet, and he should be the first to know. Oops, rather the second. George had already been the first. As much as she was excited to tell Paul and Linda, she couldn’t wait to see the look on John’s face. She knew he wanted to have children with her. He was so much more comfortable with Julian than he used to be too. He would be a great father to their child. She could feel it.
* * *
Maggie walked in the door after work, and no sooner had she shut it then a familiar set of arms encircled her and pulled her back to his chest.
“I missed you.” Maggie felt John’s warm breath against her ear, before he left a soft kiss there.
“I’ve only been gone a few hours.” But Maggie smiled in spite of herself; she’d missed him too. A part of her, and she wasn’t willing to dwell on just how much, completely understood Yoko’s desire in that other timeline to constantly be with John. Mine. He’s all mine! Maggie’s hands tightened over John’s possessively, and she leaned back against him.
“But it’s felt like ages, luv.” His kisses left her ear and worked their way down her neck, while his hands worked their way steadily up.
“John!” she protested.
“Come to bed, luv.”
“Bed? Isn’t that where you’ve been all day?” she chided him gently.
“Please, I got up hours ago. Okay, an hour ago.” John gave her a slightly chagrined look. “I was up late writing songs, you know. BEATLE songs,” he emphasized, knowing how much his wife loved his band. It was what had brought them together, although the full story was much more complicated than that.
“Don’t you want to hear how my day was? I have news!”
“Let’s have it then, luv,” John said patiently, taking her by the hand and leading her slowly towards the stairs.
“Well...”
“And we’ll have that briefcase.” John deftly whisked it from her hands and placed it on the table in the foyer.
“I had lunch with Linda and Paul,” she began, deciding to leave her own pregnancy announcement for last.
“Oh yes?” John said, as he guided her up to the landing.
“Yes - they’re...John!” Somehow John already had her blouse undone and he was working on her skirt.
“I’m listening, go on!” He fiddled with the clasp on her belt.
“Paul and Linda are going to have a baby!”
“Really?” John looked up at that. “Shocking, that is. People will be counting the months!” He shook his finger in mock-disapproval.
“Oh, please!” Maggie laughed. “You Beatles are famous for knocking up your girlfriends. Let’s see, there’s Ringo...” she teased, knowing that she was possibly skirting dangerous territory, though John had a pretty good sense of humor about the fact that he’d done just that himself. Of course, he didn’t know that he’d essentially done it twice, since Maggie was pretty sure she’d gotten pregnant before the wedding.
“Don’t forget Paul and Dot,”John said.
“That Paul gets around, doesn’t he?”
“So do I, luv,” John said with a gleam in his eye.
“I know,” Maggie teased him. Should she tell him now? But it was too late - while they’d been talking John had maneuvered her into her bedroom, and he cut off any further words with his lips. His hands freed her from her slip, and he pushed her down on the bed, fumbling at his trousers. She decided her announcement could wait, and eagerly helped him take off the rest of his clothes.
* * *
“You are positively radiant, luv.” Calloused fingers traced her cheek. “Whatever it is you’ve been doing lately to bring on this glow, you need to keep doing it. Or me. Your preference.” John leered at her playfully making Maggie laugh.
Lying on their sides facing each other, emotionally and physically sated, Maggie couldn’t imagine anything that could make this moment in time any better than it already was. Except…
“Sure, just so long as you don’t mind the requisite hormone-induced mood swings that usually accompany a pregnancy.” Maggie smiled at him demurely and batted her eyes.
John leaned over to kiss her nose and then froze. Both eyebrows shot up in understanding. “Wait a tick… I thought you said it was Paul and Linda. Are you saying...?”
Maggie nodded her head and giggled into the pillow, somehow feeling shy, relieved, and excited all at once.
John let out a massive whoop and leapt out of bed, knocking all the covers off the bed in the process. “This is brilliant, Miss Margaret! Simply brilliant!” He ran into the closet and started looking through drawers and shoe boxes, occasionally mumbling “brilliant” and “going to have a baby” excitedly.
Maggie sat up, confused now. “John?” Shouldn’t he want to take her in his arms and make love to her? Again? “What are you doing in there?”
“Found it!” his voice echoed from the back of the wardrobe.
“Found what?”
“This!” Leaping from the closet John brought out the worst weapon Maggie Sue had ever seen in her life.
A Nikon camera.
And aimed it right at her sprawled naked form, shooting photos for all he was worth.
This would not end well.
“John!” Maggie shrieked, desperately grabbing for the sheets and blankets that were no longer there. “Stop! Stop! Stop! This isn’t funny!”
“It’s not supposed to be funny.” Snap! “It’s perfect.” Snap! “It’s brilliant!” Snap! “You, just like this, all glowing, and motherly and natural…” Snap! “Why it’s perfect for our next album cover!” Snap! Snap! Snap!
“You wouldn’t DARE!”
Snap! “Wouldn’t I?” Snap! “Luv, you’re so beautiful, and you completely capture the essence what I want for the album.” Snap! “All the natural spiritualism of India.” Snap! Snap! Snap!
Maggie tried stacking pillows in front of her in a vain effort to preserve her modesty. “John, I’m flattered really,” Snap! “But hell will have to freeze over before I over showed up on a Beatles album cover NAKED.” Snap!
“What if I posed with you?” Snap! Snap! Snap! “We’d be like two virgins, showing our pure and natural love for each other.” Snap!
Maggie’s eyes widened in horror, and she lunged off the bed at John. “Noooooo!”
He tried to dance away from her but she was too quick for him. Her slender fingers wrapped around the camera and with more force than he’d ever seen her exhibit, she hurled it against the wall. Her momentum carried her into him and they crashed to the floor in heap.
They lay there for a moment, limbs tangled, Maggie panting, and John with his eyebrows raised again and a sardonic smile on his lips.
“Luv.”
“I’m not sorry John! No way, never ever, not in a million years...”
“The camera was empty.”
“Huh?”
“It had no film in it.”
Maggie scrunched her eyes closed and rested her forehead on his collarbone, embarrassed again. She should have known better - John knew her well enough by now that there was no way he would have seriously used naked pictures of her for the album cover. It was just that once he’d suggested posing “naked as two virgins,” she’d freaked, because she knew he wouldn’t balk at that. He’d done it once before, hadn’t he?
“I’m sorry John. That was the camera Linda gave you for your birthday, wasn’t it?”
“Don’t worry about it, luv.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re the mother of our child. For the next nine months you can do no wrong.”
“Seven months.”
“Seven?” John looked as if he were counting backwards. “You mean...”
“Yep. That’s twice for you, Lennon!”
“I only hope it doesn’t affect my career as a Beatle!”
She chuckled, and could feel it reverberating in his chest. “But still, I really am sorry about your camera.”
His arms squeezed her tight to him. “Hush, let’s have no more of that. Though I can think of at least one way you can make it up to me…”
“Why Mr. Lennon, whatever do you mean?”
Preferring action to words, he buried one hand into her long loose tresses, and pulled her down into a kiss.
Maggie Sue didn’t mind in the least.
She was going to have a baby. And it was John’s.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N
If you don't know who Chris O' Dell is, she was an American who lucked into a job at Apple and ended up being BFF with Pattie, George and Mo. She was kind of like the Forrest Gump of Beatles fans - she witnessed so much stuff that no one else was there for. And she was no groupie - but she definitely had an amazing part in 60s and 70s rock. She wrote a book that I don't want to spoil by saying too much about what happens to her.
Go read it right now - you will thank us later! (Plus, it was impossible to resist putting her in the story since this is exactly the time period she was really there. She started at Apple not too long after the band got back from India.)
Miss O'Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton
See you next week!
Continue to Chapter Three
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