Heirs To Queen

Big Changes

January 1975

In October of 1974, Queen appeared on Top of the Pops with their new single Killer Queen and in November, they went back on tour just a few days before the release of their third studio album Sheer Heart Attack.

Queen were back in the UK after their first leg of the tour on the 14th of December, as Christmas day grew closer it became a startling realisation hit Veronica head-on. She'd missed two cycles, was struggling to keep food down and her moods were all over the place.

Lilliana hadn't a clue what was going on but John did, he'd seen it before and been in this situation with Lilliana's mum, Katie. After seeing the doctor, they confirmed Veronica is pregnant and due in July 1975.

On Christmas day with Lilliana's help, John proposed to Veronica. Like with Katie he was determined to do right by her, only it was easier this time. While he'd loved Katie, he'd never imagined a future with her and they'd only been together a few months when she got pregnant. With Veronica, he could picture a future with her, they've talked about children and they've been together for years.

On the 18th of January, everyone is at the registry office for John and Veronica's wedding, it's not what the pair had imaged for their wedding day but they want to be married before telling people about Veronica's pregnancy. Most won't care if there's a baby out of wedlock but Veronica's parents have very transnational views due to their religious beliefs so getting married quickly is something Veronica does to keep her parents happy.

In the end, John and Veronica don't care as long as they are together. They have a small ceremony with only their friends, John's mum and sister and Veronica's parents. Lilliana is there as Veronica's flower girl, but she hasn't been told about her coming sibling yet either.

A week following their wedding after the happy couple returned from a weekend away as their honeymoon, they agree it's time to tell Lilliana.

"Lily!" John calls Lilliana from her bedroom, "Can you come here please?"

She enters the living room a few moments later and he gets her to sit on the sofa. Veronica hands her a wrapped gift, "It's not my birthday," Lilliana frowns.

"No, we brought it for you while we were away," Veronica informs her, nervous for her reaction. She loves Lilliana as her own and she hopes that the young girl will take the news of being a big sister well.

No other objection to stop her, Lilliana opens the gift revealing a t-shirt with the words 'Big sister' on the front. Lilliana's frown deepens, "I don't get it."

"You're going to be a big sister, Lil. You're going to have a little brother or sister," John explains, he's just as anxious for a good reaction.

She doesn't react thinking about what they've said, "Do I have to move out?"

"No," John answers immediately, frowning, "Why would you need to move out?"

"The flat is only big enough for three and I'm only their half-sister."

The flat thing John is well aware of and is one of the causes of Queen's strained relationship with Trident Studios, he asked to borrow money for the deposit on a house, which he would have paid back, but they refused to give him the money. Despite the success of the band, they're barely seeing any payback from their hard work due to the contract and living on ends meat because of it. Their lawyer, Jim Beach, is trying to find them a way out of the contract.

"You let us worry about the size of the flat. He or she will sleep in our room for the first few months anyway. But you are their sister, you are as much a part of this family as they will be. If you want them to know when they're older then it's your choose to whether you tell them but we're not going to tell them because it doesn't matter and we're both happy for them to grow up not knowing."