Beautiful Boys

Chapter 1

John Lennon awoke with a start, hearing screaming from down the hallway. He scrambled to find his glasses, put them on, and figure out which of his sons were crying. Richie, Paul, and George had lived with him for two months, but still had nightmares at least twice a week.

John checked all of the rooms, but knew by the shrill screaming that it was George. "Daddy, daddy, help!" John heard George yell.

He ran down the hallway and into George's room. He scooped up the small child and comforted him. "What's wrong, love?" John asked.

"Bad dream, daddy", George replied. "Bad dream, bad man took us away. Daddy, don't let 'im take us away."

"No one's going to take you away Georgie", John whispered. "No one will ever, ever hurt you."

George was still crying, which woke up Paul and Richie. "Daddy, what's wrong with Georgie?" Paul asked.

"He had a bad dream, Pauly. It's alright, go back to bed", John replied. He kissed Paul's forehead and then Richie's. The boys just stood there. "Boys, head to my room. We're having a sleepover."

John led his sons into his bedroom, flicking on the lights and placing George on the bed. He pulled back the covers and helped the boys into the bed. "Daddy, story?" George asked.

"Geo, it's much too late for a story, little one. I'll read you one in the morning", John replied sleepily, yawning. He flicked off the lights and climbed into the bed in between his children. "Goodnight boys. Daddy loves you."

John chuckled once he deplored that the boys were all asleep. He wrapped his arms around them and soon joined them into their now peaceful sleep.

A few hours later, John woke up to the sun shining in the window. "Come on, boys. Wakey, wakey", John whispered, gently waking his sons up. "Good morning, kiddos."

"Morning, daddy", Paul replied. He sat up and wrapped his arms around John. John held him while waking up the other two boys.

A few minutes later, Richie and George woke up. "Good morning, boys", John whispered. Neither of the boys answered, just sat up and yawned.

The family sat that for at least ten minutes, giving themselves time to fully wake up. John led them to the bathroom, washed their faces, brushed their teeth, and kissed their foreheads.

"Daddy, I can do it myself", Richie whined, jerking his head away from John's hand angrily, and hitting John on the cheek.

"Richard Lennon", John warned. He gave Richie the parental glare he had learned over the past two months and pointed his finger in the little boy's face. "Richard, we do not hit. Do you understand?"

"Yeah", Richie mumbled.

"Rich, go take a time out for a few minutes", John suggested. Richie just stood there, angrily staring at the floor. What had gotten him so angry this morning?

"Richard, you will go to time out whether you like it or not, so I suggest you go by yourself before I have to carry you up there."

Richie angrily stormed out of the bathroom and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him. John carried Paul and George out of the bathroom, placed them on his bed, and went to go talk to Richie.