⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Thirty: Hamburg Bound (No Sooner, No Later)

October 10, 1961

"You're sure you've got everything?" yelled Brian to me Monday afternoon. It had taken some serious persuading, but Brian had finally caved into letting me go back to Hamburg with the Beatles for a few days. The band had been delighted with the news.

Like she'd promised Paul, a promise no one but me and my dirty secrets knew about, Dot was coming along to watch him. No one had been told why exactly she had decided to tag along as well. Their explanation was because I was traveling along too.

"Yes, I've got absolutely everything," I moaned, having responded to that question a million times already this morning.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed."

"Don't worry, Dot will be with me and we'll stay in a hotel away from the boys." I rolled my eyes.

He gave a small smile and a nod. "Yes, yes, I know, I'm just worried," he said with a laugh.

"Oh, c'mon, Bri, if anyone should be worried, it's me. I am the one with the anxiety after all," I joked with a laugh.

He shook his head with a smile. "I know you'll be fine, Donna, I trust ye, I just—."

"Yes, I know, you're just worried about John. Don't worry about him, as long as he's around, I'll be fine. He won't let anyone near me."

Brian nodded. "I'm sure he won't. He's a good kid, just—."

I shook my head. "You're not backing me out right now."

"No, I'm not." He paused. "I better send you off before I change my mind." He placed a fatherly kiss on my head and gave me a hug. "I'll see you Friday, then?"

I nodded. "No sooner, no later."

His hands lingered on my shoulders a moment before he gave me a pat and sent me out the door after John. "Have fun, kiddo!" he called.

"I will, love you!" I responded.

"Love ye too," he said with a smile, watching us until we were out of sight.

"Ready to go to the most unclean city on the planet?" John asked enthusiastically, shaking my shoulders teasingly.

I laughed. "I guess I am."

He stopped. "You guess?"

I laughed. "You'll have to give me the grand tour," I mused.

"Of?" He gave a mischievous smile and it took me a minute to pick up on what he meant.

"Oh my God, John. The city!" I fell back in a fit of laughter.

John looked half-let-down. "Aw, fine."

I gagged jokingly. "You're disgusting."

"Oh, sod off and get on that train, will ye?" I rolled my eyes and we flashed our tickets to the man requesting it, stepping through the door. We found a compartment with Paul, George, and Dot. I didn't even care to ask where Pete went. He'd been distant with the band lately and seemingly would be for quite some time afterward.