I Wanna Be Your Man

Love Me Tender

Chapter 11: Love Me Tender

Flashback...13 April 1962

Today we're all heading back to Hamburg for the lads third trip there, even Brian's going. This time Bri and I are coming along for a bit, mostly just to see Astrid and Stu. Stu's been really excited that we're all coming back and that they'll get to see us. Rory Storm and the band aren't coming up at the same time as the Beatles this time, so Ritchie's still back home. I was going to invite him to come, but I didn't want it to interfere with his band.

The plane was just about to land, John was practically jumping up and down with excitement. Stu is more or less John's best friend, other than my brother, of course. A few seconds later I could feel the plane decreasing in elevation and land safely on the runway. Brian then turned to all of us to start to give us one of his usual instructional lectures.

"Alright, now once we get off the plane we're going to get our luggage, then head over to Stu and Astrid. Do you all understand?"

We all nodded and started to load off the plane. Following what Brian told us we grabbed our luggage and John rushed over to find Astrid and Stu. He was far enough ahead of us that we almost lost him, but within a few seconds we spotted him standing there with Astrid, but where was Stu? Looking over at them she had a sad look on her face, so did John for that matter. Seeing that there was something wrong we all headed over to them. Both of them had tears in their eyes.

"Astrid, John, is everything okay? What's wrong?"

John looked at me then stormed off, Astrid came and hugged me.

"Stuart died a few nights ago, in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. It was a brain hemorrhage."

Those words hit us all like a brick wall. Stu's dead? Gone.

"Astrid, I-I'm so sorry."

She let go of me, wiping the tears from her eyes. "It's just so hard knowing he's not here anymore."

Bri looked over at me, then to Astrid. "It's going to be a hard adjustment, but we'll be here for you. How bout we head to the hotel so we can all have some privacy with this?"

She nodded as did the others. Paul went over to find John, bringing him over a few minutes later. We all hopped into two taxis and headed to the hotel. Brian had booked us three rooms; one for John and Paul, one for George and Pete, and one for Bri and I. Brian let us have some alone time to discuss everything. The seven of us just sat in Paul and John's room in silence for a bit, hearing the occasional sniffles from everyone's crying. Astrid was the first one to speak up.

"John, Stuart made you another painting he was going to give you, it's back at the apartment. And I just wanted to say how much he thought of you as a brother. You were always there for him."

We all looked over at John, he tried his hardest to stop crying, but couldn't. Bri lightly rubbed his back, handing him another tissue.

"He was me best mate. His paintings are all over me apartment, I can't wait to add that other one, it'll be the most special of 'em all." His voice was hushed as he said it, struggling to stay strong.

George then spoke up, "We still 'ave the one he painted for mum last year, it's her favorite."

My brother looked at me, I knew exactly what he was thinking and I completely agreed. "Astrid, if you need anythin' after all this let us know. If ya need to escape evrything here you can always come stay with Pam and I at our apartment."

She gave us a weak smile, "That means a lot, thank you. I may take you up on that, it'll be lonely with just me here. H-how am I going to live without him?"