Great Expectations. - Now Complete

Chapter 9

It was just three weeks after this that Alice had finally moved into George's flat to live with him. She still felt unsure about herself at times but George was really pleased to see how she was becoming much livelier and happier now that she was safe. Alice remained surprised but relieved, that she had not recieved a visit from either Tom or her brothers.

The couple had been away for a few days. George had taken Alice up to Liverpool to meet his parents. For Alice, it had been nerve wracking. George's parents had welcomed her and shown a lot of interest in the forthcoming baby. She knew George had explained that the child wasn't his but they were still pleased for George. Alice hoped that one day they might let her child call them Nana and Gramps as she had heard their other grandchildren do. A few days after their return from Liverpool, George dropped another surprise on her. He wanted her to meet the rest of the band properly.  Alice was still very reluctant to be seen in public with George. Firstly, she didn't want Tom to know where she was and secondly, she was worried about how the press would react once it emerged George Harrison had a very pregnant girlfriend. So, despite this fear, at date was agreed and the chosen location was John's house. George explained how everyone would be there with wives, children and girlfriends.

The day before, Alice was in the bedroom, rifling through her wardrobe in despair. George, returning from a studio session, found her there.

"It's me!" he called as he came through the door. He knew her experiences with Tom meant she was nervous when the door opened and she was alone.

"In here!" she called back.

He walked through to their room. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to decide what to wear for the weekend." she sat on the bed looking gloomy, "I'm getting so fat that nothing fits and I look a mess!"

He smiled at her and joined her on the bed. "You," he scolded playfully, "are NOT fat. You are beautifully pregnant. Every bit of you is gorgeous! Lie down with me."

They shuffled them both further onto the bed and just held each other. He inhaled the sweet smell of her shampoo, feeling her stomach now blocking their closeness. He wanted her so very badly. He dreamed of making love to her but he knew she wasn't ready for that step in their relationship..

"What's wrong with your clothes?"

"Most of them I've made myself. I'll look dowdy and frumpy next to the other women there. I don't want to show you up."

He laughed. "You would never do that Alice baby." He sat up and looked at some of the clothes on the bed. "Where's that red dress with the little white collar?  You look absolutely stunning in that. Does that still fit?"

He helped Alice to her feet and passed her the dress.

"Possibly, it might still do."

She slipped the dress on then stood by the mirror, eyeing herself critically. "Well?"

He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "You look amazing in that dress Alice Matthews. I've loved that dress since that first meal we shared in your flat." He kissed her neck.

"So you would be happy if I wore this to meet your friends?" she looked anxious again.

"More than happy. Are you happy with it?"

"It doesn't hide my bump much does it?"

George started laughing and slid hid hands over her now very obviously pregnant stomach. "You can't hide this Alice. Not any more. Anyway, it's gorgeous....as are you. I want people to see that you're pregnant. I can't wait to be a dad." They stood like that for a moment. "Hey, baby moved. I felt it move!" Alice had never seen him so excited. "Wow! That was amazing. I can't wait to tell Ritchie in the morning. He was talking about feeling his baby move himself the other day. Can I feel again?"