Be my Starr (Ringo Starr)

Chapter 25 part 1: Oh

Gently opening her eyes, Susan was welcomed with a peacefully sleeping Ringo beside her, his adorable face only inches apart from her own. She took a second to admire him before slowly reaching out a hand to caress his cheek. Unfortunately, her fingers barely had a chance to explore when Ringo's eyes fluttered open. Susan smiled guiltily, her cheeks flushing red.

"Hey..."

"Hey." He said tiredly. Susan glanced down shyly. "What?"

Susan looked up, a nervous laugh escaping her. "Nothing." She half-whispered, her eyes meeting his. "I just can't believe we're really here."

Ringo leaned in, creating an electrifying atmosphere between them as his lips touched hers; and kissing her gently and passionately, a feeling of wholeness inside both of their hearts.

When they pulled away, Susan's cheeks were warm and full of life, the way Ringo liked them best. Her eyes were still his unhealthy obsession though and the most enchanting pair he had ever seen.

"I love you." He said out loud, although only meaning to say it internally. He felt no regret though. It was the truth after all.

Susan's lips curled into a small smile. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world and was probably the luckiest too. But, she still had her fears. And Ringo picked up on this instantly.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"You say that a lot." He laughed. The laugh caught no attention of Susan's or alarmed her in any way but in secret, it was a worried, fearful laugh. Somehow just one unnerving look from Susan terrified the man. Did she not like him saying he loved her? Did she really feel the same way? She could just be tired.

"I know." Susan laughed, snapping Ringo out of his 2-second worry fit. "It's just..." She looked at him, the man she was so in love with. His desirable lips, his serotonin-inducing eyes. Was it possible to love someone too much? "You're famous. Girls love you." She averted eye contact. "It's not as if I'm anything special."

"Eh? Nothing special?" The Beatle laughed. "Susie, you're just tired."

"But when they find out." Susan continued. "And see me with you." She closed her eyes thinking about it. "Won't you be..." A pause. Ringo stared.

"Say it."

"Embarrassed." Susan could tell Ringo didn't like the end of her sentence. She didn't either.

"Don't be daft. They'll love you just as much as I do." Ringo's smile was everything, but reassuring? Right now, not so much.

"I'm not so sure."  

"Susan." She looked at him. "I want the world to see us together. And I don't care what the papers or anyone have to say. I just want you." He kissed her again, giving her the reassurance she needed.

Just as things were heating up, a loud snore interrupted them. Susan jumped and turned her head. There, in the other bed across slept Barbara and Linda, both cuddled together like children. Linda's eyes popped open and landed on Susan and Ringo, staring back at her. She looked down at Barbara, the cause of the sound, and sighed tiredly.

~~~

"How are you finding America?" A reporter asked the four boys sitting at a long table with microphones and filled cups of water. The camera's filmed and clicked away as Paul opened his mouth to answer.

"It's nice, y'know. Very different to England." The boys nodded, all of them would have answered the same. Except maybe John.

In the crowd of reporters and journalists, sat the girls who were once again tagging along for the ride. A very bumpy, stressful one. Barbara yawned, her eyes fighting the urge to close. Linda turned a page. Clearly, Susan was the only one paying attention though even she was wearing thin.

Then, Ringo caught her sights and winked discretely. Susan smiled back, holding her head low to avoid anyone noticing. No one would have seen anyway but she felt better on the safe side. The cameras would have definitely seen Ringo's gesture, however.

"How did you feel performing on the Ed Sullivan show last night?" Another reporter shouted out.

The boys looked at each other. Who's answering this one then?

"Alright," George replied calmly. "Scary like, but we like performing so."

"The crowd was amazing," Paul added.

A young blonde woman squeezed her way past some reporters, sorrying her way through the herd and sat down next to Susan. She smiled widely. "Hi. Hope I'm not too late." She laughed nervously.

"No, fine." Susan smiled back.

"I'd turn back if I were you, love," Barbara said dryly. "This place is a yawn-fest."

The woman smiled and looked back at Susan, her eyes suddenly popping. "You must be Susan!" She exclaimed quietly. "I'm Cynthia, John's wife." Susan's mouth dropped, Barbara's mouth dropped. Linda froze, unable to turn her page.

"Oh."

"Yeah, 2 years now. He told me about you and Rings. So cute." She said cheerily.

"You're John's wife?" Barbara asked. Cynthia nodded. "Wow." She blinked erratically. "I mean- you're so pretty." Cynthia blushed. "He's just never... I'm sorry you weren't here, a while ago."

"No, Julian and I left later on, y'know to keep away from press and all that."

"Julian? Is that your brother?" Barbara asked, hoping it was going to be a yes.

"No." Cynthia laughed. "Julian's my son." Barbara's face dropped, although, to Cynthia, it came off as a happy surprise. "Yeah, almost 1 year now."

Barbara looked at Susan. "Wow..."

"That's fantastic, congratulations." Susan chirped.

"Never know, you might have a bundle of joy yourself in a while." Cynthia joked. Susan laughed, feeling the awkward tension hit her like a train.

She glanced at Barbara who was still glitching beside her. She couldn't tell why Barbara was so triggered by Cynthia's existence but she was. Extremely. There had to be more to the story.