1984~ John Lennon wanders through life a shell of his former self. After the death of his wife he stagnates, aimless & uninspired; drinking himself into a stuppor often.
She's his sons future mother in law. On a whim Issy takes John out of his comfo...
The music played in his head, endless noise morphing into Hamburg chaos and creation. Eyeball to eyeball, sat close shuffling through meaningless words to make noteworthy lyrics with Paul, endless music, endless nights, dreams of yesteryear. Pale winter sunshine struggled through lace curtains of the cramped second floor bedroom.
That little room was littered with an assortment of life. 45's out of protective covers, dirty clothes flung in the corner and exercise books tossed on the dresser. John could smell it, feel it and even taste the drive to succeed. The music floated him to the banks of a black swirling Mersey, midnight and bitterly cold. Here he was young, the bones less brittle, the skin supple. Able to drink and cause mayhem with nary a thought to the worlds problems, any problem. Youth, vitality, freedom from restraint.
A lazy smile settled over him, the Mersey was calming but still as ugly as he recalled. He could feel his mother, feel the good days, feel the precious minutes. Those ones he spent sitting at her kitchen table with a sugary tea and her hair frizzy and wild. A clock ticking.........
He daren't move but subconscious musings were drifting toward wakefulness and that too was kinda ok. Because right now he was happy, settled and finally.... contentment felt good. Issy shifted somewhere close by. Arms surrounded him, his eyes seemed to be smiling too, the sunlight teasing his senses to wake, to be with her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mornin." His gravelly morning voice broached her thoughts as she lay watching him. "How long 'ave you been staring holes in me, darlin?"
"Since that beautiful smile kissed your lips and your limbs relaxed around me. That must have been one hell of a dream" Issy smiled and snuggled down the bed into Johns enveloping arms. He had been the picture of childhood innocence in his sleep. His eyes moving underneath lids told her he was enjoying a movie night without her.
"Mmmmhm. Dreamt of the Mersey and younger days, simpler times." Picking up his glasses from the nightstand, John shuffled about as was his usual routine. Up to the headboard he moved and happily watching Issy roll over, her head now lay pressing in his lap.
It didn't last long this morning wakeup ritual. Ten – fifteen minutes tops, then the harried rush to the loo beckoned.
But it was worth those few minutes. The quiet, the calm confidence of the need not to speak.
"Have you ever fancied moving back to the UK?"
John raised an eyebrow and Issy pressed her lips waiting for his retort. Because it was coming. She knew it, he knew it. And he didn't disappoint "What! Are you sick of me already missy!"
"Have we ever had a conversation straight up?" Issy picked at her fingernails as John began using his fingers to brush through her hair.
"Where's the fun in that? Shift off. Potty run time, lu-". Issy pounced up and off the bed before John could say 'Luv.' Scrambling from the bed she made the bathroom first. Smirking she closed the door on a frustrated and busting John.
He banged his way down the staircase, swearing profanities loudly.
"Will you come down to New York with me?" John passed a box of cereal over the table and reached for the sugar. "Have four bathrooms in the Dakota, even though I only have one ars-"
"John! I'm trying to eat my breakfast"
"Well don't come between a man and his prostate next time"
"Ugh that reminds me I need to go to the damn gyno, where does the year go. Seems I was only there the other month"
"Now that's a career, peering up-"
"Really.....?!?"
"Alright. I suppose you'd get some ugly twats"
"Oh. My. Goodness! I will never get used to this." Issy frowned and stared into her mug at the wretched Lennon tea leaves settling in the bottom.
"Kidding....luv" Issy shook her head trying to ignore his fingers teasing and lightly tickling her side "Come on where's me smile?" Standing up John rounded the table and grabbed Issy up and over his shoulder making her squeal, the mug clattered to the table spilling the remains of the tea and leaves over the crocheted, somewhat useless, tablecloth.
"Put me down! John I've just eaten. Come on I'll be sick!" Issy laughed and wiggled and yelped as a hand smacked on her bum "Ouch!"
Unceremoniously dumped on the couch he was on her in one movement straddling her hips, hands either side of her head, smiling, watching her recover from her journey. "Better?"
"Yes" Her fingers ran up and down his arms, then she was combing through his longer fringe, her knee rising to give just enough pleasant pressure to his groin. "You want me to come to the Dakota and stay.... Or go to Sall-"
"Dakota. I've had enough of our separations. Dakota or nothing, darlin" Gradually leaning in to her lips, John slowed his movements to almost stillness, a hair's breadth from her he was. Stopped waiting, patiently waiting, for her to breath in to take him with her inhale. Draw him to her, into her, for her to surround him like only she could.
Issy grinned and let her fingers drop from his fringe to his neck and led him forward to her, the kiss lingering, lazy and languishing in the moment.
She relaxed her hold and gazed up at this glorious being that seemed to be everywhere- her heart, her mind, her soul "Looks like I better pack my bags"
Smiling with amusement as John dropped on her, she relished how his weight felt. Good, steady, strong.
"Isabelle?" He mumbled with his face buried in the crook of her neck, he kissed her softly.
"mmmmhm?"
"You ok that there might be some attention on you? Being with me?"
"Will you be there?"
"Yes"
"Well.... I'll be perfect then won't I" Her statement was bliss to his ears, it would be hard at first for her.
To gauge the crowd, know when to push through, know when to pause and talk, know when to be polite and engaging, know when to grin and put up with it.
"Thank-you"
Issy pushed John a little to get him to lift up so she could take hold of his face, so he could see everything was going to be fine. His movements were slow but he came out of his hiding spot eventually and looked down at her again, with her palms holding each cheek she responded sincerely "We can be strong- together. You'll help me and I'll help you. Don't thank me for going, it's where I want be"
John grinned and gave her a big sloppy kiss, sending Iss into a fit of giggles. She smiled into his lips as he settled on the couch beside her, the two of them comfortable with the fact that whatever the other needed, they would give it.
Isn't this pic great. Gorgeous Lennon....
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