Debbie Doll | Ringo Starr ✅

34

Ritchie sped to John and Cynthia's flat with one of his hands on the wheel and the other on my nonexistent stomach the entire way, removing his hand from me only when he had to change gears. The two of us had wide smiles on our faces, unable to believe how lucky we were.

He pulled up outside and got out of the car. Before I could even put one foot on the ground, Ritchie was there with his hand out. He helped me out of the car. I giggled at him.

"Are you okay, my love?" He asked, putting an arm around my hips as he supported my weight up the stairs to John and Cyn's flat.

"I'm fine, Ritchie," I promised him, "you don't have to do this, y'know. I can walk."

"You're pregnant!" He reminded me.

"I know, I know," I replied, "but I can walk up a flight of stairs without your help."

"I want to make sure you don't fall. You and the baby might hurt yourselves."

I removed his arm from around my hips, instead lacing our hands together. I beamed at him, and he at me. From the outside, we must have looked like a lovesick couple - well, we were.

"I just want you to be careful."

"I will be," I assured him, "you can help me up stairs and out of the car when I'm about six months, okay?" I had no idea how big I would be, then, but I was sure that I could cope with him helping me at that point.

We had reached John and Cyn's front door. I knocked on it, stepping forward briefly to do so but then stepping back to stand in line with my darling.

Cynthia opened it, and she took one look at us and then grinned. "No way!" She practically jumped up and down, squealing as I caught her movements and began to do the same.

"Yes!" She hugged me tightly.

"I'm so happy for you both!"

"Cynthia!" John called out for her from inside the flat, "who is it!?"

"It's Ringo and Debbie!" She called back over her shoulder.

"Well let them in!" John shouted, "you're letting the heat out!"

Her big grin faded and she sighed, "come in. They're in the front room."

"They?" I echoed, letting Ritchie lead me into the flat.

"George and Paul are here, too." We went into the living room, clutching each other tightly. Ritchie went over to the only spare seat in the room and then pulled me into his lap, knotting his arms around my middle.

The three lads were watching us, curious looks on their faces.

Cynthia wasn't in the room - she'd probably gone to make us some tea. She was very good at playing hostess, even when it wasn't her house!

"We have some news." Ritchie said, looking at the three lads.

"Well don't leave us hanging, lad." John practically snapped, "we're waiting."

Ritchie nudged me subtly, a silent gesture for me to tell them.

I opened my mouth, but John got in there first, "Cyn!"

"Yeah?" She called from the kitchen.

"Make 'us some beans on toast!" He looked at the rest of us, "anyone want anything?"

We all shook our heads, too in shock at how John spoke to the fair Cynthia, who would never deny him anything because of how much she loved him... but he didn't even seem to like her. He spoke to her like she was nothing more than his own personal maid.

Is that how husbands are supposed to talk to their wives? I wondered. Had I gotten off lucky with Ritchie?

I would never ask Cynthia in case I offended her. I knew that despite his imperfections and initial reluctance to marry her, she was happy with John - though I wasn't sure if I could say the same for him.

"Anyway..." Ritchie brought all of our attentions back into the room, "we have some news." He waited for me to tell them, but I shook my head slightly at him, insisting that he did it. Our eyes locked and we beamed at each other as he said it out loud again, "I'm going to be a dad."

"My dad?" Paul asked.

We all turned to look at Paul, confused looks on our faces and furrowed eyebrows.

"No...?" Ritchie answered slowly.

I laughed, because Paul's reaction had been adorable, and Ritchie's confusion had been so purely him that it was perfect.

"So you're up the duff, then?" John asked in a slightly teasing tone. He looked at Ritchie, "well done, lad, I knew it wouldn't take you long."

"I thought that you got married because you were pregnant." George said.

"Yes," I bit my lip, "you've said. Thank you for that, George."

"Is that why you haven't been eating?" He asked.

I nodded, "the doctor said that it was just a symptom. He gave me a prescription for some medicine that should help with that."

"That's good." George grinned, his fangs sliding past his top lip. "I'm going to have to move out now, aren't I? You're going to need my room for the baby." He was teasing us, of course, but there was a hint of worry behind his tone.

We all laughed, "of course not, Georgie," I cooed at him, "you're our baby, too."

John snorted.

Ritch chuckled, "we've parented you -"

"For three days." George finished, "and you haven't parented me -"

"Relax, George!" I laughed, "we were joking!"

"Oh..." he breathed out in relief, "right -"

"Our babies are going to be about three months apart, Deb." Cynthia said as she came into the room with a tray. She bent over for us and Ritchie and I took our mugs of tea, still steaming - obviously freshly brewed. She then went over to John and gave him the plate of beans on toast which was still on the tray.

He took it and the cutlery - and didn't even thank his wife.

We were all stunned but didn't say anything.

She sat on the floor at John's feet like a pet. He even stroked her shoulder a few times.

We all sat with our jaws wide open, but Cynthia didn't seem to notice - or if she did, she didn't mention it.

"I can help you through everything because I'll be going through it first." Cynthia talked like there was nothing wrong with the familial set up of her and John - to her, there probably wasn't - but to us - Ritch and I especially because we were married ourselves.

"Thanks, Cyn." I replied, genuinely grateful, but still shocked because of their sitting arrangements. "I can't wait."

"Little Starkey'll be here soon." Ritch put a hand on my belly. I smiled adoringly at his hand and then at his face. He was watching me like I was his everything - but I wasn't anymore - the baby was.

"You've got about nine months to wait, mate." Paul pointed out, "plenty of time to get everything ready."

"Everything doesn't have to be ready." I told Paul, "because with Ritchie as its dad, our baby is going to have everything it needs already."

Cynthia smiled.

"You two are such a lovely couple." She said, causing Ritchie and I to smile even more. I wondered if we'd ever stop. "Your baby really will be the luckiest."

"And it'll have the best friend ever." Cynthia caught on immediately, "baby Lennon and baby Starkey will be inseparable."

She smiled again, "of course they will."