If You Believe (George Harrison/Beatles FanFic)

Chapter 7

A/N -- Hi happy Beatlemaniacs! It's still Friday here and I'm getting an update out on time! Yay, right? This chapter is a bit for exposition--to find out more about Annie that she hasn't told George. So I'll be writing away, hoping to post a mid-week update, otherwise, I will see you next Friday. Thank you so much for stopping here to read about George and Annie! Happy, happy weekend! :-) Lara

Annie coughed out a little laugh. "Don't try to make me feel better, George. And I fell in love with your eyes. Okay?"

"Annie, Linda McCartney was a fan. Yoko Ono was a fan. Barbara Bach was a fan. We were hard to ignore back then. We were everywhere. It's okay. It would be hard not to have an opinion one way or another. At least yours was positive. There are people out there who hated us, you know."

"But George...my friends. They were all over you like flies on flypaper. It was horrifying."

"Maybe to you. You're not used to it. I am. At least they weren't dangerous. I've been in some pretty scary situations. This was a bit overwhelming at first because I wasn't expecting it and my guard was down. Then it was fine."

"You're not going to drag me out into the country and leave me for dead?" Annie sniffed.

George laughed. "No, Annie. You won't leave me drunk on the side of the road and I won't leave you for dead out in the country. Deal?"

He walked the few steps between them to take Annie in his arms, kissing the side of her head. Walking her to the bathroom, George took a washcloth and rinsed it with cool water, wiping Annie's tear streaked face.

"C'mon. We'll have a glass of wine and watch something stupid on the telly. Maybe we can finish that discussion about Abraham Lincoln's correspondence."

Annie let out a genuine laugh. "Why don't you see what's on and I'll start something for dinner?"

"You don't have to cook, Annie," he said gently.

"I want to. I like to cook. I just don't like cooking only for myself. Any special requests?"

"Nope. I'm leaving it all up to you. You seem to have very good instincts." He gave her a special smile, remembering the conversation in the limo. "Do you need help?"

"Nope. All under control."

Within 30 minutes, wonderful smells were coming from the kitchen and George had to go look in case a taste tester was called for. There was Spanish rice, and vegetarian tostadas with avocado, salsa and chips.

"I hope you like Mexican," Annie smiled, taking a spoonful of hot rice and blowing on it before depositing it in George's mouth.

"At first, it scared the shit out of me. Refried beans and spices and things I've never seen before but once I tried it, I really enjoyed it."

"Here's a plate. Fill it up," Annie smiled.

They sat in the living room with their plates on the coffee table, eating and sipping wine while watching an old movie on the television. They cuddled up together under a warm blanket and watched the entire movie, then went to clean up the kitchen.

"What did you think of the movie?" Annie asked him.

"I think it was great. It sort of proves we see what we want to see in ourselves and others. It also shows the power of love, Annie-girl. What was it called?"

"'The Enchanted Cottage'," Annie answered as she washed another dish and handed it to George to dry.

George reached over and moved Annie's hair from her neck and kissed her just below her ear. "I love you, Annie. I don't think I tell you that enough."