“What the fuck is wrong with you” John laughed
“Oh, nothing, something in my eye” shrugged Stu
Paul turned a few different shades of red and purple while Gabrielle froze and Astrid laughed.
Besides that nothing else had happened that was note worthy. They all carried about with their lives. The Beatles played the Kaiserkeller, got drunk, shagged birds and popped prellies. Astrid and Stuart were arty and went to classes at the Hamburg Art College. Gabrielle just sort of floated between the lot of them. She wrote a letter to her parents, letting them know she was ok and getting into photography and things. Oh, and mum, please don’t worry I’m not going to become one of those silly Beatnik people.
One morning (afternoon, really) she woke up and decided to ask Astrid if she could call home. Gabrielle was a good daughter and she loved her parents despite what she might sometimes say. It’s a Liverpool thing. George was much closer to his parents though. Maybe cause he had siblings. His mum was terrific.
She rolled over and looked at him. He finally gave into the temptation. He let Astrid cut his hair. And all it took was wheedling by Astrid, Gabrielle and Tam. Tam was a ‘friend’ of John’s. She seemed to be hanging around the Kaiserkeller quite a bit lately. Gabrielle knew she should feel guilty for liking her because she was also friends with Cynthia. But when you’re pissed off your arse, morals don’t seem to really matter all that much. Anyway, Tam thought Stu was dead sexy and attributed it his hair. So naturally, she helped persuade the Beautiful baby get his hair cut that way too.
Gabrielle giggled and pushed her hand to her mouth. George stirred and opened his eyes to see her chewing her lips and grinning maliciously.
“what’ve you done now” he yawned
She laughed and shook her head “Nothing you just look funny”
“Funny, hah hah, or funny peculiar?” he asked, reaching up and pushing the hair off his face.
“erm… funny different?” she shrugged “No, you can’t do that” she slapped his hand away and raked his hair back down over his face “Like that” she said
“But now I can’t see” George lamented “That’s a problem because I do things like run into walls and such”
“Oh shut up” she laughed and sat up “You aren’t going to run into any-” Gabby trailed off as she spotted John laying on the floor next to her bed with Tam draped over him. Oh god.
“John!” she groaned
George crawled over her hips and planted his elbows on the edge of the bed, letting his feet hang over the other side “Tam, luv, you awake?” he asked
She lifted her head a bit and grinned at them “Guatn Morgen George, and you Gabrielle”
“hey” she mumbled waving vaguely
John moaned, “No, noise” he said “Stop making sounds. Shut up or fuck off”
“You’re in my room Lennon!” she exclaimed
He opened one eye and then the other and then looked at Tam “Ooooh Yeah” he said slowly, a grin spreading out over his face. “Morning Tam” he said, she planted a kiss on his lips.
“What’re you doing in my room?” Gabrielle insisted. Damn it. This was one of those times where you *really* wish you hadn’t had that last tequila slammer.
“We were, ah. How d’you say Johnny?” asked Tam, snuggling John closer “Sagging?”
“Sagging?” Gabrielle repeated
George looked up at her “Shagging” he said with a grin
“Shagging!” she exclaimed “On my floor! What the fuck is wrong with you Lennon!”
“Oh, no. We didn’t do it on your floor” John laughed “We did it in you bed”
“What!”
George busted up laughing
“Yeah, when you and George were still down stairs with Astrid and everyone,” John grinned “I figured you would have noticed us but I guess you were to far gone”
Gabrielle groaned “Every one out” she sighed.
George was still laughing but stopped abruptly “Hey, I didn’t do anything. I’m still sleeping”
“Just fuck off. I need to get ready anyhow”
George stood up and shot John a death glare on the floor “Nice going you guys” he sneered.
John shrugged and helped Tam to her feet “Come on luv,” he said “Let’s go have sex in other parts of Gabby’s house. Just to get up her nose”
Gabrielle sat up quickly as if she was going to beat the living day lights out of John. He jumped a bit and the laughed when she didn’t get past sitting up. “Bye Gabby, see you later”
She sighed and waved.
Tam popped her head back in the door as the party left “Good by Gabrielle. See you at the Kaiserkeller?”
“See you” she waved back and slumped down into her bed for some more sleep.
* * * * * * * *
A few hours later George, John and Tam were still hanging about, not wanting to go back to the Reeperbahn, but very much looking for some reason to stay. Tam struck up a conversation with Astrid about the local art college (which the both attended) and Astrid seemed to happy to have found some else to talk to in German besides her mother, which is really quite funny, considering they were all in Germany.
Gabrielle emerged from her room then in search of coffee and prellies which were readily given to her.
“Hey Astrid?” Gabrielle asked as she popped the little pills and plopped down at the table next to she and Tam.
“Ja?” her friend asked, turning around
“D’you think I could ring Liverpool again? I’ll pay you, of course, for the charges”
“OH Ja!” Astrid nodded eagerly “You must miss them terribly. I couldn’t imagine it”
“Nor could I” added Tam “I miss my family just being in Hamburg. For the week days”
Gabrielle shrugged “I’ve got me mates so it isn’t so bad, I guess”
George came up behind her and poked her in the ribs “What’s goin on Gabs?” he asked
“I’m gonna ring home.” she smiled at him “Shall I have me dad run next door for you?”
George got a wistful look on his face “That’d be nice I think”
She nodded and pulled his wrist up to her face to check the time. “It’s about one in the after noon there”
“Oh great” George nodded “Mum’s probably just starting dinner now”
Astrid stood and strode over to her phone punching in the country and post codes and then handed the phone to Gabrielle “It’s ringing”
“Hallo, this is the Gallagher residence”
Gabrielle felt her eyebrows shoot up “Mrs. Harrison?” she asked “It’s Gabrielle. How are you?”
“Gabrielle! Darling it’s so wonderful to hear your voice” she exclaimed.
“You too Mrs. Harrison.” She caught George’s eye, a huge grin spread out over his face
“You must be dying to speak with your mum or dad luv, let me put them on”
“Okay”
There was fumbling and then her dad’s voice “Gabby? How are you my love?” he chortled
“I’m fine”
“Eating well?”
“Yes”
“Getting enough sleep?”
“Loads” total lies of course but it didn’t matter. “What’s Mrs. Harrison doing over there”
She heard her father take a shaky breath “Oh Gabrielle, yer mum’s a bit under the weather”
“Is she going to be ok?” She looked up and George stepped over to her and dropped his chin on her shoulder so he could pick up some of the conversation.
“Oh, yes. I think so” he gauffed “Old Doc McGee came round. Said she was exerting herself when she should be in bed” He snorted “The woman never did know when to stop and take care of herself”
Gabrielle‘s forehead creased with concern and John came around and stood on her other side. He jokingly put his ear to her other one as if her could hear the conversation that way. “What’d the doctor say?”
“Oh you know” He sighed “Yer Mum had a cold, didn’t take any notice till it got worse. Turned into bronchitis. A week in bed will do her good. She does too much you know. That’s why Louise is over here. Being a darling as usual and fussing over yer mother. I couldn’t cook if me life depended on it you know. So dear old Louise…”
“I am not *old*!” could be heard from the background
“But yer getting there old girl!” Harold Harrison could be heard laughing. George grinned and John prodded him for what had been said
“Naw, she’s not old. We’re the ones getting over the hill Harry” there as chuckling and laughter “When are you coming home sweets?”
“Um” She looked at John and then at George “I dunno” she mumbled
“We miss you terribly”
“I know dad, I miss you as well. And mum. And George misses his mum and dad too. In fact he’s standing right here can he say hello?”
“why sure! Gabrielle, you better not be costing that wonderful young lass you’re staying with a pretty penny for this. Here’s Louise”
“Gabby?”
“Yes, hello Mrs. Harrison”
“Darling are you eating well?”
“Yes. Would you like to speak with George he’s right here”
George jerked his head up and if possible his smile got even broader. You could tell John was holding back a comment about George being a mummy’s boy. Then again Louise Harrison was one of the few adults in the world who thought there was more to John Lennon then a teddy boy with a guitar.
“Hi mum”
Gabrielle couldn’t’ hear what was said next but George was nodding and ‘uh huh’ ing.
“Watching out for Gabrielle?” she asked
“Oh yeah. She doesn’t need looking after. She’s all grown up you know.” George winked at Gabrielle and they all giggled
“That’s right she had a birthday”
“Yup”
“When are you coming home, my boy?”
“I don’t know mum. This is working out for the moment, and when we come home I suppose we’ll do some work at the Jacaranda and things. But right now this is really working”
His mother sighed “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself, George”
“Yes Mum”
“I love you, and so does your father and we love Gabrielle as well. And we’re taking care of Eleanor too.”
“I love you too mum”
“Sweetie, can I speak with John please?”
George hesitated and looked at John “Why?” he asked
“Don’t you ‘why’ me, George“ Louise tutted. “The poor lad hasn’t got a proper home and he’s probably missing what he doesn’t even know”
“How’d you know he was here?” George asked. John pointed to his chest and mouthed ‘me?” George nodded.
“I would know that accent anywhere George. Now I’ll see you soon. Take care of yourself. Eat and sleep properly and I love you”
“I love you too mum” George said and handed the phone to John looking baffled. “Wants to say hello” he mumbled
Gabrielle put her arm about George’s shoulders, which was quite awkward due to her lack of height so he slung his around hers instead.
“Um. Hello?” John said uncertainly
“John Lennon?”
“Yes Mrs. Harrison?” George and Gabrielle giggled at the way he said in such a non-John manner. Almost squeaky.
“How are you dear?” she asked
“I’m quite well” John mumbled, trying not to sound baffled
“That’s good. Your Cynthia keeps popping round you know”
“Oh really?” A truly happy smile graced his face as he tried to block out his current Mistress in the background. Gabrielle winked at Tam and Tam winked back.
“How’s Cyn, then?” John asked, out of guilt probably.
“She was fine. Such a pretty young girl. And so in love with you too. Your Auntie Mimi is quite well too”
“Hasn’t kicked the bucket yet?” John laughed, oh jeez. The real Lennon.
Louise laughed too “No, not yet. I was talking to Mona Best you know”
“Oh god”
“And since I know the Beatles are *your* group John, did you know *she* intends to manage you”
“Mrs. Harrison is there anyway you think you could deter Mrs. *Best*” he looked at George and rolled his eyes. George groaned “from thinking that”
“Well, I don’t know.” Louise sighed “If you want my opinion I think you lot are better off with out Alan or Mrs. Best. You need someone from the industry if you want to get to…” she paused “What is it you always say? The topper most of the popper most!”
John laughed “That’s right. And that’s where we’re goin too!”
“Oh here he goes” Stu muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll have words with Pete” John continued
“Of course John. Just remember to take good care of yourself and don’t get into too much trouble”
“I’ll try my hardest but I can’t promise anything” John laughed
“That’s a good lad. See you soon.”
“Bye Mrs. Harrison. And see you soon” John hung up and looked at George “Mate, yer Mother is fucking gear”