Fangirl | Ringo Starr ✅

22

Ringo arrived at the crematorium, killing the engine of his car and looking around him. The car park was empty. "Ah shit," he said, not for the first time that day. "I've really cocked up." He got out of the car and went over to the floral tributes which were on the floor outside the memorial hall. They were all for Mrs Marx, and Ringo could see the purple and white tribute piece which had been sent from Mel and himself. It began to rain, picking up to heavy raindrops within a few seconds. He looked around, and saw a bench with one lone person sitting on it. "Please don't be her." He muttered to himself, hoping that his wife was at home with her two brothers, cups of hot chocolate in their hands.

But of course, it was her. Biting his lip, Ringo walked around the bench and sat down beside her. "Luv," he said, "I'm so sorry about missin' it - I've just been so busy lately, and time got away from me, I -" he cut himself off, taking his jacket from around his body and putting it over her shoulders. It did nothing to keep the rain from her body since it wasn't waterproof, but the thought was there. Mel didn't react to his act of kindness. "Yer not mad, are you?"

"No." She answered simply, still continuing to look ahead.

"Where're the boys?" Ringo looked around quickly as if he expected the two young children to appear out of thin air.

"Cyn took them." She replied nonchalantly, seemingly unaware of the rain which was drenching them to the bone.

"Are you alright?"

A moment's hesitation, and then she replied with three words. "I don't know."

"Are you sick?" Ringo asked, speaking slightly louder in an effort to be heard above the rain which was picking up speed and ferocity. "You've been up and down the last few weeks, baby. I know you've been stressed a lot, but it can't be good for you, I -"

"I'm pregnant, Ritchie." Melissa had spoken so quietly that he had hardly heard her, but when he looked down, he saw that she had both hands resting on a non-existent baby bump. He hadn't noticed that before. "Y-yer not 'appy 'bout that?"

"I am," she replied carefully, now looking at him for the first time since he had joined her on the bench, "but I don't know if now is the best time for a child - we've got Sam and Danny, and I'm trying to help them get through mum's death whilst also dealing with it myself -"

"And I haven't been around enough." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Ringo took one of her hand's in his own and smiled lovingly at her. "I know, baby, alright? I'm so sorry - but when I met you, we were in the middle of an album, and we're only just coming to the end of it now - but mark my words," he paused, "from today, I'm pulling out of the studio until the baby is born, at least. You need me, and I've been selfish up until now." He slowly put a hand on her stomach, just above her second hand, smiling as he imagined the life that he and his perfect wife were going to have together. "I'm here for you both now... and the boys, of course. The family."

Melissa broke down into tears, and Ringo held her. Each time she sobbed, a piece of his heart broke. He hated to see her so unhappy, and he hated her mother for doing it to her.