Stop Crying Your Heart Out - McLennon AU

14.

16th April, 1963

The next morning, John woke up in a good mood. And apart from the fact that it was 6:45 am, he was feeling great.

Julian didn't even wake him up with his cries that morning, John just woke up himself.

Relief washed through him again, noticing the baby still sleeping next to him in his Moses basket. The baby looked so peaceful, and the house was so quiet that John could hear his little snores.

The man couldn't help but smile.

He lay back down, placing his head on the pillow and staring up at the ceiling, like he had done millions of times since he moved into the house.

But the first thought that came into his mind this time wasn't Cynthia, it was Paul. He couldn't help but wonder why Paul was so good with Julian. And the baby seemed to love him.

After a few more minutes of staring at the ceiling and thinking, he heard Julian begin to cry, making it known to his father that he was now awake, and wanted to be picked up.

"Hey, shh..." John shushed, picking him up and rocking him in his arms until the baby felt at peace. "No need to cry... Is there?"

The conversation he had with Paul kept going through his head, more memories of when they were children making him reminisce those days.

And when John said it had been 3 weeks since he'd seen George, he wasn't exaggerating. The last time he'd seen the younger boy was when he bumped into him at the shop, which wasn't even on purpose.

It had technically been 2 months since he'd seen George properly, when he was round at his flat with Cyn. George hadn't gotten to see Julian yet, and John had only called him once up to tell him about her passing.

It was hard to get a hold of George most of the time, as he worked at the betting shop on the high street, and was constantly working. He and Ringo were both always busy with their jobs.

But today was a Tuesday, and he swore he remembered George telling him something about not working until 12 on a Tuesday. He thought he may aswell check.

When he got downstairs, he went to place Julian in his Moses basket, so that he could walk to the phone alone, but when he was placed down and began to walk away, the baby began to cry for his dad.

"Oh Julian..." John sighed, picking him back up. "Can I not just leave you for a minute?" He spoke to the baby, putting him securely over his shoulder and stroking his head, calmingly.

When the baby eventually stopped crying, he made his way over to the telephone, only just managing to dial his number with one hand.

"Hello?" A man on the other end yawned, as if he'd just been woken up.

"Oh... I'm sorry for waking you up George." John frowned.

Of course he'll still be asleep! It's 7am on a Tuesday morning.

"No. No it's fine." The man's voice now sounded a lot more awake, and surprised too. "Is that you, John?"

"Y-Yeah. Me and Jules." He told the man, referencing the baby who lay calmly on his shoulder.

"You okay then bud?"

"Yeah, I uh... I was just wondering if you wanted to come round today? Julian hasn't met you yet. And I've missed seeing my younger pal."

"Yeah. Yeah of course I'll come round! It's been ages since we talked. I've missed it."

"Yeah, me too."

"I've even missed the little arguments we used to have." John could hear his smirk. "Yeah look I'll come round now. Let me just tell Pattie."

"Pattie? Who's she?"

"My girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" John asked, a smile breaking out on his face.

"Yeah mate. I'll explain more when I get there." And with that, he hung up. Leaving a confused yet also happy inside boy behind.

"Girlfriend..." John smiled to himself.

"Ay Jules..." The man spoke to the baby, sitting down on the couch and laying the baby back in his arms. "Your uncle Georgie's got himself a bird. Can you believe that?" John almost laughed.

He placed his finger lightly underneath the baby's chin, dragging it up to his nose, tapping it gently. He did this a few times, until he saw the baby smile.

"There we go. Daddy's got another smile!" He cheered, tapping the baby's cheek. "Did you really give uncle Paulie a smile? Or was he lyin'? Hey...?" He smiled.

John thought back to a week ago, and how low he'd felt. It was as if the only thing getting him through the days was Julian. He felt sort of betrayed. Not by the woman, but by God.

Why did God want John to suffer that bad?Why did he take away his wife? When things were just starting to get real.

Their life was just beginning.

But when Julian smiled at John's touches once again, the depressing thoughts were put aside.

"C'mon then, let's feed you up before uncle Georgie gets here." John sighed, slowly standing up and heading to the kitchen.