Love Me Do

~ 99 ~

Kaylee's POV

George's hand touched mine and he smiled gently.

"You 'kay?" He asked, and I nodded determinedly.

Although I didn't want to admit it, I wanted this.

I was going on a hosted interview show, ready to answer any questions as truthfully as I could.

Ever since Brian announced the tour, the one thing John wasn't prepared for, he had bubbled up this whole idea to reveal ourselves, as the couple we were, to the public.

George had willingly driven me, as John obviously didn't want to be there, so it was just the two of us backstage, minus Pattie who was at yet another photo-shoot.

"I'm going to get so much hate-mail," I groaned, but as George opened his mouth to comfort me, the show's theme song began to play, and he was cut off.

"Hello!" Came a man's voice from on stage, and I felt my knees tremble at the sound of cheering.

A live audience.

"Welcome back to Sammy's Stories!" He continued, and I felt sick with nerves.

Did I seriously want to do this?

"Today we've got a very mysterious guest. Someone you all probably know very well, from papers and the people she's been with.."

Murmurs rumbled through the audience and George squeezed my hand, sensing my unease, but it didn't help much, because Sammy soon continued.

".. We have Kaylee Sykes!"

My heart beat hard in my chest and my legs turned to liquid as I floated away from George and on stage, eyes burning into me as I made my way towards Sammy. Beatlmaniacs hissed and shouted, but I was surprised to hear some cheering me on.

"H- hello." I greeted, my voice crushed by the weight of cries.

Sammy, the obvious host, extended his hand and I clasped it, taking note of how warm his eyes were.

Maybe he wouldn't humiliate me, like I thought.

"Good evening, Kaylee," Sammy began, gesturing for me to sit down in the yellow couch beside him.

Although the TV show was in black-and-white, it was nice to know they took some thought in making the colours on stage comforting.

"How are you?"

My tongue was caught between my teeth; my throat became dry.

How was I? How was I? How was I supposed to feel?

"I- uh, I'm fine, thanks," I answered, hoping I could keep my answers short. My hands twisted together anxiously in my lap, but I couldn't be blamed.

"That's great!" Sammy enthused, and I cringed at the eagerness in his voice. "And how's our girl Jane?"

There we go. I knew the conversation would gradually spin towards The Beatles, one thread at a time.

"Jane Asher?" I questioned, gathering tiny shattered pieces of confidence as Sammy nodded. "She's- she's fine too, I guess."

Sammy's eyes glazed over, and I knew that I handy given him exactly what he wanted. He wanted the gossip - He wanted to know about Paul too.

"Oh, come on." He groaned playfully, giving me a smile that I didn't mirror. "How's her love life going? She's a good friend, yeah?"

My hands pulled apart in defeat. How I wanted to hit him across the head...

"We've only been out once," I explained, the audience hushed, waiting on my words. "And I honestly don't really think we should again. I mean, she gets so much publicity, and she-"

"Can't hold her tongue?"

I froze. Did he really just say that?

"What?" I replied, playing the dumb card. No matter what, I wasn't going to let him get it out of me until I said it myself.

I wanted to declare my love for John, that we had a son and a history, but I didn't want him to worm it out of me.

"Little Miss Asher let slip something you wanted to keep hidden," Sammy raved, and I shivered. "What was it again? Kaylee Lennon?"

Now. It's too late. Do it now, Kaylee.

"I don't know what you're talking about." What? Wrong words!

Before Sammy could open his mouth once again and taunt me, breaking my trust, the audience erupted in squeals. My head turned to face them, confused, but then I saw it.

"John?"

My breath was wasted. I knew he could nothing over the screams of his dedicated fans, but he seemed to know, because his eyes found mine, and he grinned despite being filmed.

His arms were held behind his back, and curiosity burnt at my chest.

What was he doing here?

"Ah, John Lennon himself!" Sammy exclaimed, rising from his seat to glide past me, and onto the more famous guest. "What an honour."

Whatever John had behind his back was soon slipped into his pocket as he returned Sammy's hand, and I felt my stomach twist.

Why would he be here? Did George try and stop him back stage?

"Hello, Sam-Storm." John smiled, watching Sammy's eyes darken at the stupid nickname.

"John, what a pleasure." Sam declared, lapping up to the Beatle. "Come to clear your name?"

At those words, John's eyes met mine, and his smile faded. The audience continued to cheer, oblivious to the words being said, but it was just white noise to me.

"Clear my name?" John echoed, disgust laced in his tone. Sammy began to pull back, apologising, but it was too late. "Do you want to know why I'm here, Sam?"

Suddenly, the audience died down, and I felt my heart begin to race even faster than when I first stepped onto the stage of this bloody show.

Sam back-tracked to his ugly yellow seat, behind his desk, gawking as John strode towards me. He wasn't expecting this, but neither was I. Was he hoping that 'Kaylee Lennon' was a hoax? Was he hoping John was still a pure Beatle?

I hoped not, because he wasn't. Whatever the hell a 'Pure Beatle' meant, none of them surely were. They all had women, if I could even count as one, but if every other Beatle could have a girlfriend, why couldn't John?

"Kaylee," John breathed, but I was sure everyone in the audience heard it. I gazed up at him, unaware of what he was doing. What did he think he was doing? "Kaylee, I'm so sorry."

Sorry? No- he wasn't going to..

"I'm so sorry I dragged you into this mess," He continued, and I didn't know what to think. What mess? This mess? Was he leaving me?

So many thoughts rushed through my head, all negative, but I didn't know which one to focus on.

"I'm sorry you have to put up with shitty TV hosts, and newspapers, and even babies." John rambled, and I felt my cheeks heat up at the last part, even though I was scared of what he was about to say. His eyes were still glued to mine, and I knew that if I looked away, I'd ruin everything. "I just want to tell you something.."

Oh no, here it comes. Here comes the single-teenage-parent life for me, forever being harassed by young girls. Here comes the heartbreak. Here comes the memories of Jimmy Page and how better off I was with him..

John breathed in, and so did Sammy and audience. I wish they hadn't, because I knew that if they could hear everything, they would also see my tears.

"Kaylee Sykes, I want you to be my wife."