What Is Life? - A George Harrison FanFic

Chapter 18

When I told George to take me home he knew exactly what I had meant. We had already planned on visiting America in late August for a couple weeks but we both knew that the sooner we visit the sooner we could get back so that we can have our Beatle baby here in England.

George had promised we would leave as soon as physically possible and we both got a few more hours sleep before getting up and starting to plan our trip. George of course had to run everything by Brian first and was granted permission to take off the time he needed. Paul too was going on a trip for a few weeks, and John and Cynthia would be returning to India for another retreat.

Upon our last trip to India, I was able to get over my fear of airplanes and I said silent prayers the entire time to Darry and hoped he'd watch over and protect me from his same fate.

My clothing lines were launched in New York and in Hollywood months ago and I was known well in the fashion world at this point but of course my celebrity status now hinged on being Lauren Harrison: Beatle wife.

It was the very next day that we finally were on an airplane that would take us to New York. We traveled with the Beatles road manager Mal for the trip so that we could have someone there to protect us at all times. We knew everywhere we went we would have people flocking to us. George couldn't take any chances now that I was "fragile."


Once we landed safely, our belongings were taken to Darry's second home in upstate New York about 30 minutes from the city. I was informed by a few lawyers last month involved in his legal affairs that before his death he had named me as a beneficiary to this particular estate and that I now had inherited it.

I had no idea why he would do such a thing without my knowledge and I knew that he never thought anything would happen to him. He had probably just wanted to gift me this home in the future and he never lived to do so.

"Does it feel good to be back?" My English husband asked me as my foot stepped down onto the tarmac at JFK airport.

"I should be asking you the same thing," I smiled sweetly at him. He, along with his bandmates, was a heartthrob over here in the states. Women and girls literally went crazy over them for years.

"This is nothing," he admitted, "there were thousands of people here screaming the first time I stepped foot off the plane here."

I thought back to that time, I vaguely knew who the Beatles were when they first came to America 2.5 years ago. I definitely wasn't one of those screaming fans and I couldn't even tell them all apart which seems crazy to me now.

"It sure does feel nice," Mal spoke, "to not have to deal with all the equipment or worry about the safety of 4 guys from mobs of people."

"Well, you're in charge of making sure my two guitars are safe, as well as 3 of us here."

George was referring to us both and then the unborn child beginning to grow inside of me. Mal understood the assignment. He was very protective over me with every step I took and opened every car door and offered his arm. It felt like we had our own personal assistant but times ten. George has obviously told him to make sure if I ever even stumble or trip that he'd better be there to catch me.

Before heading to the home we'd be staying in, we made a pit stop to my childhood home where my parents would be. I haven't seen them since the day after getting married all those many months ago and truly missed them. Our relationship had gone back to barely speaking and it was partly my fault. But we wanted to surprise them and tell them our happy news in person before someday soon when news gets out.

"This is lovely," George said as we pulled up to the gate and were buzzed in.

"Try being a kid and living in this home with 3 older siblings who all got married and left and ending up all alone with your parents like an only child."

"We are similar in so many ways," George admitted. I knew he had three older siblings as well that had left home before him. The difference with us was that he never resented his parents in any way.

The minute we walked into the foyer of the home my mother went absolutely crazy with excitement.

"I can't believe you are home!" She exclaimed and was hugging us and kissing our cheeks and trying to clean up for us, since she wasn't expecting company.

"Mom," I stopped her, "the home looks beautiful and you don't have to do anything on our account. We will be staying at a Davis estate while we are here visiting."

"But of course you are welcome to stay here if you would like!" She almost wanted us to do so and I felt bad.

"We would have if we had given you time to prepare," I lied, "but do not worry about it. Where is dad?"

I couldn't contain my excitement in telling them the news we had to share. My mom put some water in a kettle on the stove and began to bake some cookies. She wanted to have something to serve us and Mal.

Dad stepped down from his office and walked into the dining room where we were seated.

George stood up to shake his hand and then he came over and gave me a hug.

"It's a pleasure to have you guys here," dad spoke, "what brings you to the city?"

"Well, George's new album is out and we have some free time," I grabbed George's hand and squeezed it.

"Ah, yes," dad then spoke again, "it's quite interesting... the concept. It's in all the newspapers and headlines. There a lot of talk about how you inspired them. You should be proud."

I thought about how Paul had done that in his speech at the release party. He was supposed to say the inspiration for the album was becoming a studio band and taking a break from touring all over the world. Instead he said everything the band did they owed to me. It was quite a stretch but of course the papers had a field day with the sentiment.

Then with my parents sitting across from us and Mal excusing himself to make a phone call in the other room, we shared the news with them.

"We're having a baby," I said happily and they couldn't contain their excitement.

Everything in life was coming full circle. My life was currently nothing like what I thought it would be a year ago and I wouldn't ever change a thing.

....

The next morning George and Mal went to Bob Dylan's New York home. He was a good friend to George and so excited to have him in America to collaborate with and I was sure they'd be gone the whole day and well into the night.

I opted out of that meeting because I had a lot of people I wanted to see and it felt so good to be back where I once belonged.

I took a cab and walked into Darry's old office where Jenna and her team were now in charge.

"You're here!" Jenna exclaimed and soon I was surrounded my tons of people wanting to meet me. George Harrison was a big deal and I was his wife.

"I'm here," I repeated her. I was finally here. I had to remind myself that life was good and that being in this building should not make me stressed or emotional. I was getting used to my new life and didn't need to miss how things used to be.

Everyone there who had never met me came up and asked questions or told me they loved the new album, as if I was the 5th Beatle. I wanted to be out of the limelight sometimes but knew it would never be possible, not as long as my husband was in a successful band that was loved by millions.

"Have you guys decided how long you will be staying?" Jenna asked me once we were alone in her office.

"Well, we want to be back home by the end of July, so George can get back into the studio with the guys," I said and then looked at her with a smile brighter than ever on my face.

"What is it?" She says up straight and smiled right back as if I knew something she didn't.

"George and I are having a baby," I told her plainly.

She began jumping up and down and screaming as if she had won the lottery. Suddenly there was a flock of people surrounding us and I made her calm down so we didn't have to explain what was going on.

I didn't know how long our secret could be kept a secret and it was bound to come out sooner or later but currently we wanted to stay protected.

As everyone dispersed about and got back to working on their different projects, Jenna asked if I wanted to do an impromptu photo shoot and that she had a friend to introduce me to.

I jumped at the idea and followed her down to a makeshift studio where a young woman, probably about our age was taking photos of some objects and working with filtered light.

"Lauren this is Linda Eastman... Linda this is Lauren Woods," Jenna introduced us.

"Harrison," I corrected her politely and then nodded toward Linda.

"It's a pleasure," she reached out and shook my hand, "but you should be proud of who you are without being tied to your husband."

The truth was that I was very much proud of myself but I belong to the Harrison family and my little babe that will be born at the end of the year will be the child of George Harrison.

"You don't know my husband," I said in reply, "he's worth changing your last name for."

"I apologize," she responded, "Jenna here told me that you are a photographer?"

I was. I had been credited on the Beatles album for the work I did photographing. However, I didn't consider myself to be a professional.

"I wouldn't say that that's my main talent," I admitted to her.

She ended up telling me about her dreams as a photographer. How she was working with different techniques to be the best in the business and get the best shots. She wanted someone to photograph and Jenna knew I would be excited to let her test out her different styles on me now that I was here. She told me how envious she was that I had such a high profile job in photographing the Beatles.

For a few days in a row I came here to the studio and hung out with Linda, who I quickly grew a liking to, as George spent time with Bob day after day making music. We fell into a bit of a routine, until the end of the week when I decided one of us should compromise and spend time with the other.

George decided to come to my world for the day and see what the world of fashion and photography had to offer for him.