What Is Life? - A George Harrison FanFic

Chapter 9

A couple more weeks passed and we had fallen into a routine together at home. George spent a lot of time in his home recording studio and some days he would meet with the guys at John's or in London.

At first, I spent time working on the guys outfits and putting finishing touches on them as George relayed to me all of Paul's newest thoughts on the album they were creating revolving around this costume idea. It was so early in the process but I knew it would turn out great once it was finished.

It was a few days into ignoring my own life that I finally decided I would need to face reality. It turned out that after his memorial service, Jenna had taken on everything Darry had been working on prior to his death. She wanted to keep herself busy and she was making all the phone calls and setting everything up for me in London from New York.

She still wasn't ready to fly and I didn't blame her but I thanked her deeply and then told her I was ready to take on my own business affairs. I didn't want her to be doing all the work that Darry had done for me and I also didn't want to replace him just yet. It was too fresh and I knew that I was perfectly capable and that George was willing to help if I needed him.

Jenna and I spent hours talking about George and the direction we were moving in. She was so happy for us and wished she had been stuck here with me so she could see how happy I was with him.

"Have you told your family?" She had asked me, knowing they wouldn't be happy that I was pursuing a modeling career and in love with a man from England who happens to be in a rock band.

"No," I had responded, "it is almost too good to be true and they wouldn't understand."

This was the truth.

My family never believed in my dreams. My father is a doctor and my mother a nurse, they wanted me to go into the healthcare field and have a practical job. I didn't want to be tied down and when I turned 18 I took my designs and I took my camera and I left home to move to New York, where I met Darry and my life completely changed.

I told George all about this later on that evening over a dinner that I made for us and he told me he was sorry that that my relationship with them was shattered but encouraged me to try and repair it in time, at whatever pace I wanted.

He had then told me how his parents were in support of his dreams and he spoke of them as though they were just so proud of who he was. I remembered he had just visited with them a couple weeks ago now and he must have been very close with them.

Over the course of the next few days after beginning to work on my own career, I went to meeting after meeting in London to help plan and get everything right for the Gala. However, when we were home in the evening we visited with George's parents who stayed for a few days. We ended up telling them we planned on getting engaged soon and they thought it was wonderful news. I could tell that they trusted him with his decisions.

It was after a long day when George and I were settled in and having some relaxing time to ourselves that I remembered to ask George to call Cynthia Lennon and invite her and her son Julian over. It had been two weeks since she had offered and I wanted to meet him.

"In the morning," he said smiling at me and then kissed my forehead.

"What?" I smiled back. He looked as though he wanted to absolutely run away with me and never look back.

"It's almost been a month since I've known you," he said "we're starting to slow down and let life catch up to us, huh?" He winked.

"Well, yeah I suppose," I laughed at the thought, "this is a little more normal now."

"I am just very happy that you're doing what you love again, and working so hard for the event at the end of the week."

"Have you had a meeting with Brian to discuss the set list?" I asked him. I had not heard anything about their plans.

"We have some ideas," he nodded, "you'll have to be surprised."

"That's the only surprise that's allowed," I scolded him, "I'm in charge of things and I need to know what to expect that night."

"There are so many people taking care of things, all you need to do is show up," he pointed out. That may have been true but I wanted to be in control of things and he knew that about me.

The Beatles were going to be playing a handful of songs for the invited guests at the show. It was going to be all The who's who of the fashion world and I was going to be the nights honored guest. With the unveiling of the billboard of my fashion line and photography by world renowned fashion and celebrity photographer Irwin Parker, who I owe so much to for introducing me to my future husband, I was going to be instantly recognized and my designs would be sold across London.

I thought for a second how George still hasn't asked me to officially marry him. Somehow I knew that he might do it in front of everyone at the party and I grew concerned. I wanted to tell him we didn't need that type of attention and that we'd no longer have the privacy we've been living in for weeks now.

He had started to doze off as we laid there in silence and I decided not to interrupt to bring up the proposal. This was something he was planning and he didn't need me freaking out about it and ruining anything.

When we woke up the next morning he called John first thing and he brought Cynthia and Julian over. I was just in awe at their little boy, he was 4 years old and oh so cute and John and Cynthia knew it. They spoiled him very much.

I imagined that they allowed him to get away with anything being the child of a celebrity and having his father and mother gone a lot. George had told me that there's a nanny there to watch him most days.

I enjoyed spending time with Cynthia and watching Julian run around while John and George played around in the studio. Soon Paul and Ringo joined the party and they spent hours in there as we talked about the Gala and I began cooking enough supper for all of the men and Cynthia.

When dinner was ready I walked in there with Cynthia and she set Julian down to run to his Daddy and George grabbed me and pulled me in for a kiss.

"What was that for?" I asked him.

"We have a record! We just were writing the last two songs and now we've finished," he said excitedly.

I knew he had passion in his heart for the project. When I met him he was losing focus and now with this new album and our love blossoming, he feels alive again. It's a good look on him and I was honored to be his.

"Well I knew you guys were quick writers but literally 3 weeks?" I asked Paul and John.

"Georgie boy over here is beginning to become a great writer himself," John stood up and changed the subject, "what do you have cooking, Lauren? It smells amazing!"

They all jumped up and walked up to the kitchen where I had a huge spread of food to be able to feed them all.

As if it was a buffet, everyone grabbed plates and loaded them with food in the kitchen and then went to the dining room. George just held me and we swayed alone to his humming in the aftermath of the destruction.

"I'm glad you guys finished the album," I said looking up at him as proud as I could be.

He told me then that it was now a matter of sitting down after the Gala and recording them all as a band with their producers, and recording technicians, one after the other and then designing the cover with my designs. Then there were tour dates they needed to come up with to promote the album and music videos would need to be made.

He made my head spin with all that goes into it and I remembered the Gala, there was still so much to get done and at the end of today we would only have 4 days.

"Come, eat something," he said "then we can clean up and you can get some rest so you can work out the final details of the Gala tomorrow."

I did just as he said, as I usually do and we had a nice time with our friends before they all left. Each one thanked me for my hospitality and the amazing dinner I made. I said goodbye to Cynthia and Julian and then we cleaned up.

.....

I had George drive me to a few meetings in London over the next few days while he and the guys practiced for the event and it wasn't until the night before the Gala and my clothing launch that I felt completely sick to my stomach. I didn't feel ready. So much planning had gone into this and I didn't think I was worthy.

Tomorrow evening my life changes, our lives change. I was going to be everywhere across London and I was possibly going to be engaged to George Harrison for real.

I ran to the bathroom and threw up. George heard me and came running.

"Is it nerves?" He asked, "tonight should be the best night sleep of your life and all the nerves could come tomorrow."

"I don't deserve this," I said curling up into a ball on the bathroom floor, "I should just be a stay at home wife and just make you happy."

"We both know that isn't you," he said before thinking and correcting his words, "don't get me wrong you will be a great wife and make me very happy but you were born for this career. You are absolutely stunning and very talented."

"George," I finally got the courage to ask and ruin whatever he was planning, "you're not going to ask me to marry you in front of all of London, are you?"

"Is that what has you feeling this way?" He sat down beside me, he looked as though me bringing this up was ruining a surprise. That's what has me worried.

It wasn't necessarily why, but I knew deep down it was a part of why I was feeling sick. I was afraid for what would happen after everyone finds out I'm engaged to a Beatle. Cynthia has told me stories of how much hate mail she received when fans found out John was married.

"To be honest," he said "I thought about it, but came to the same conclusion as you. We wouldn't be able to hide it forever but being more private about it is our best bet."

That made me feel better.

"Is it also a little bit of heart break over Darry not being here?" He pulled me in for a hug to console me as I began to cry.

He was right. That was the worst of it. I missed my friend more than I missed my manager but he was supposed to be here.

I just stayed silent.

"Lo," he spoke softly, in almost a whisper, "you have to realize that things happen for a reason and we cannot control them. You have to celebrate who he was and not be caught up on who he no longer is."

I nodded and straightened up.

"I love you, George," I said as he stood me up and grabbed my hand to lead me out of the bathroom. I quickly let go in order to rinse out my mouth at the sink. I needed his lips to be touching mine and he understood and waited for me outside the door.

Next, he walked me down to be studio and played some music and we swayed and danced.

That's when he pulled out a little ring box and took a few steps back to look into my eyes.