A/N: Bit upset that my last chapter didn't get any reviews (it was probably the best one so far), but what can I do? I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do! Things are getting juicy…

Chapter 11

It was an ugly sight. Brian's apartment was a complete mess. Empty bottles were strewn everywhere, the beds were all ruffled and disorderly and don't get me started on how we looked. Adam was still asleep on the floor facedown, almost fully naked. There was a puddle of milk where Jenny had spilled it. Kylie's hair was going in all directions and Peter had Jenny's dress on. And then there was Ben and I.

"I leave you guys alone for one night…" Mal started, drinking in the environment.
"What on earth happened?" Brian asked again, "Did a hurricane come blasting through here?"
"It sure looks that way," Peter said, scratching the back of his neck.
"Well? Explain yourselves!"
His voice was shrill and high pitched and it managed to bring Adam out of his slumber. He woke up with a jump, pushing himself up into a crawling position. We all looked at him. He then noticed that we were all staring… and then noticed Brian in the doorway. That got him up into a standing position pretty quickly.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Adam asked groggily.
"That's what I'd like to know," Brian responded sternly.

I guess we were all to blame but it really was Adam's fault for buying the drinks in the first place. Brian continued to death stare each of us individually. When his eyes landed on Ethel I noticed his expression change slightly – he was surprised, just like we were. You'd never know that she was a party animal at heart.
"Even you, Ethel?" he said softly.
"I guess you don't know me that well," she responded in her thick Welsh accent, "For this was all my idea. I wanted a party."
Brian raised his eyebrows, as did Mal. In fact, so did I.
"No, no, it was all my fault," Adam chimed in.
"Now that's more believable," Brian said, glancing sideways at Ethel as he crossed his arms.
"I bought grog for everyone. I take full responsibility for this."
"You bought grog? Where did you get the money?"
Adam just looked at his feet. He'd really done it. Brian was going to kick him out, into the unknown.

"Did you steal it from me?" Brian asked accusingly.
No one met his eye, Adam especially.
"How dare you! I house you, eight stray strangers, I buy you everything you need, I feed you, and this is how you repay me? By vandalising my home and stealing from me? I can't believe you lot. What else did you get up to whilst I was away?"
This time he also looked at Mal for an answer.
"Well, uh," Mal fumbled.
"Just the same old, same old," I responded, "It was only last night that we did anything out of the ordinary, I promise."
"I have a good mind to throw you all out!" Brian bellowed.
"No, please, don't!" we all pled.
"I don't think that's necessary, Brian," Mal tried to reason.
"Please don't, Brian," little Jack pled. That seemed to calm Brian down slightly.
"You are all very lucky that I am not evicting you," he spoke over the hubbub, "But just keep in mind that I am in no way obliged to keep you here. I provided you with a home out of the goodness of my heart."
"Thank you," I thanked him sincerely.

There was a silence where we all looked ashamed of ourselves and Brian inspected the damage with a pained look on his face. He then got a proper look at Ben.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, pointing to his head.
Ben's hands flew to his head where he felt the wig.
"Oh, uh," he stumbled to answer, "I'm not quite sure."
I smirked, remembering his discovery of it.
"How much did you lot drink?" Mal asked, somewhat in awe and somewhat disgusted.
"To be honest," Adam started, "I bought over fifty pounds worth and it's all gone."
Brian had to sit down on the lounge to calm himself.
"I don't supposed there's any left?" he said, "I could use a stiff drink."
"Why are you home so early?" I asked him, "You weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow."
"To be honest, I came home to prepare a party for the boys," he revealed, "It was to be a welcome home party of sorts, and also a 'thank-you for not playing up' party for you lot. Now I'm seriously reconsidering it."
"Oh no, please don't!" we all called out our protests.
"If you can get this place cleaned up within the next hour I will consider still having it!" he called over the top of us.

There was no argument from me. Although I was still recovering from last night's party, I was up for another one, so long as Ben and I were not trapped in a room together. I could almost safely say that that was never going to happen again. We may be in a relationship, but it's definitely not that serious. Not to mention, we live in 1964 with seven other people. That would complicate things.

We all scurried around, cleaning up the mess we had made. I think we broke the record for the fastest clean up. We were really sorry we had upset Brian like that, and we were looking forward to another party. The whole time Ben and I never looked at each other. It was too awkward. We knew what we had done (taken each other's virginity) but we weren't prepared to face it. It never would have happened if alcohol wasn't involved – we weren't that far into our relationship yet. I don't think Kylie knew what happened. She was slightly oblivious, because everyone else picked up on it as soon as they saw us exit the bedroom together; at least, they suspected. Jenny came over to have a side word with me.
"You two didn't, did you?" she asked.
"Didn't what?" I feigned innocence.
The next second there was an exclamation from Brian's bedroom.
"What on earth happened in there?" he asked, emerging from the room and pointing inside it.
The others looked at Ben and I, and both of us looked away, pretending we didn't know.

"It's a disgusting sight," Brian continued, "I can only guess what happened in there, and I hope it's not true."
I was slightly confused. We didn't leave that much of a mess did we? Then again, we didn't check. We didn't want to fess up and no one dobbed us in. We left Brian to make his own assumptions about exactly who made the mess. I'm sure it wouldn't take him long to figure out it was Ben and me, the self-confessed couple. There weren't many other likely couple combinations. I'm sure the fact that Ben had the Beatle wig on (found in Brian's closet) was a dead giveaway.
"Right, that's it, my bedroom is now out of bounds unless I say so!" he decreed as he came out of his room with his rolled up sheets in his arms.
I certainly blushed. I also caught some crimson creeping up Ben's cheeks. Soon the entire apartment was cleaned up, most of the evidence of last night's party now gone.

The eight of us, plus Brian and Mal, set up the apartment for tomorrow night's party when the boys would be coming home from tour. Truthfully, I was nervous about seeing them again. It had been a while. Not to mention I was still in disbelief over the fact that I actually knew them, my favourite band. I cringed as I had flashbacks to the Beatles quiz we held. I beat them. If that's not a sign of obsession, I don't know what is. There was also George and his numerous attempts to crack on to me. Ben had saved me before but I didn't know if he would do it again. I was unsure if we were still a couple or not. After last night, it was a little awkward between us and we hadn't really talked since. This couldn't go on forever though. We lived together. There was no way to avoid each other.

We all went to bed pretty early that night. Little conversation took place. I didn't talk to Ben and he didn't talk to me. I desperately wanted to, despite the awkwardness, but I didn't want to make the first move. No one questioned us about what we had done (except for Jenny), for which I was grateful. I'm sure it would be just as uncomfortable for them, and they could make their own assumptions. Somehow Kylie still didn't know, and if she did she hadn't let on. It was clear as day what was going on. I couldn't believe she hadn't caught on. I got some much-needed sleep that night, surprisingly. All that worrying didn't keep me from my slumber. Not even Peter's horrendous snoring could keep me awake.

In the morning Brian woke us up cheerfully, telling us to prepare for their impending arrival… in seven hours.
"Brian, they won't be here until this afternoon!" I protested.
"Yes, but look at you lot!" he argued, "You're a sore sight. It'll take hours to get you all looking respectable."
"Brian, they don't care," I responded, "They will not give a damn about what we look like. They will probably be so tired they won't even be able to recognise us."
"Nonsense! When I was with them the other day they told me how much they missed you all."
"Oh, really?" I crossed my arms in doubt.
"Yes! I asked them to name you all – which I know, before you say anything – and all four of them could name all eight of you. Well, that's partially untrue, as John forgot about Ethel and Peter and Ringo forgot about Jack, but that's not the point. The point is, they miss you and I think it would be a lovely welcome back surprise to have you all here looking lovely and waiting for them with a surprise party, alright?"
No one argued.

We sat around with baited breath as the hour of their arrival was soon upon us. Mal had long left to go to the airport and pick them up. It was only a matter of time before they came through that front door. Surely, soon enough, we heard a loud ruckus outside and seconds later they had burst through the door. Seemingly loopy, they all trudged in to greet us. John gave me the biggest hug, Paul picked me up and swung me around, Ringo spent most of his time greeting Kylie and George made eyes at me that made me feel uncomfortable before planting a soft kiss on my cheek, making my spine tingle.

After the pleasantries were out of the way, the boys saw the drink bar and pounced. As I was collecting myself a fruit skewer, Jenny came up to me.
"I see George is being rather smarmy," she whispered.
"Ugh, yeah, it's nothing," I brushed off.
"Ben looked concerned."
"He did?" I whipped around to see him quickly look away as he stood in a corner talking to Paul.
"No doubt."
"He's saved me from George before," I told her.
"Saved you?" Jenny echoed in alarm.
"Yeah, once he, uh, he had me cornered in the hall, trying to make advances. Ben basically told him to go away."
"Oh, I didn't realise it was that bad."
"No! Really, it's not that big a deal, it's fine."
I didn't seem to have Jenny – one of my toughest critics, closest friends and motherly figures – convinced.

"How are ye?" Ringo asked, sidling up to me.
"I'm great," I replied, "You?"
"Ah, y'know, never better."
He handed me a bottle of beer. Usually I detested the taste but it was Ringo Starr offering it to me. I couldn't refuse.
"Thanks," I smiled. I gingerly took sips, pretending that I enjoyed the drink.
"You haven't seen Kylie around 'ere at all, have ya?" he asked, looking around.
"No, not in a while actually."
He took a swig of his beer, winked at me and sauntered off. That was an odd conversation, but that's liquored Ringo for you.

I had been standing by the nibbles for at least five minutes, two beers later, before someone came up to me. It was Jack.
"Sophie, I don't feel too good," he told me in his little American accent.
I immediately felt his forehead, where I couldn't feel a fever.
"Where does it hurt?" I asked.
"All over – my head and my tummy mainly."
"Did you have anything to eat or drink?"
"I had some fruit and some crackers. John gave me a drink too."
He handed me the plastic cup in his hand and I smelled it – wine. John was going to get it from me. I marched right up to him, furious, and Jack followed behind. When he saw me approaching, he looked fake scared.
"Ooh, oh no, what's up with the big bad wolf this time?" he asked.
"This is what's up," I replied forcefully, holding up Jack's cup.
"What?" he asked.
"You gave Jack alcohol!" I bellowed. Soon everyone was listening.
"John, you didn't," Brian asked incredulously, coming up to us.
"Eh, so what?" John nonchalantly responded.
"So what?!" Jenny stepped in, "So what?! He's only eight years old, for Christ's sake! I feel sorry for your son."

After we all yelled at him some more, Jenny and I rushed Jack off to Ethel's bed. We tucked him in.
"That drink did taste funny," Jack said to us and we chuckled. At his request we read his favourite book, "Green Eggs and Ham". Jenny left to get him some water and I stayed and stroked his hair. I soon got the feeling that there was another presence in the room and was startled when I saw George at the door.
"You're a natural," he purred.
"Geez, you scared me," I responded.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to."
I doubted that.

I got up to leave the room, awkwardly squeezing past George. He grabbed my arm on my way out.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Back to rejoin the party," I replied.
"Stay with me, please."
This was the weirdest thing to ever happen to me, even weirder than time travelling to Brian Epstein's apartment. George Harrison was hitting on me. He stroked my arm. I wanted to resist him but my two beers told me not to. Without warning, he had leant down and planted a kiss on my lips. He smelled of smoke and alcohol. We were soon in the dark hallway, making out against the wall. This was surreal. The music was conveniently turned up louder ("From Me to You" of course). George pushed me into the unoccupied bathroom and locked the door. I knew where this was going but I didn't have any will to resist my favourite Beatle. The process was quick. I had only lost my virginity two nights before, so it was even weirder. One thing's for sure – George is certainly not the quiet Beatle.