Lucy woke up the next morning alone and naked in bed. She smiled as she thought about the passionate night her and John spent together. She had never felt such love before, even during the first time she had willingly done that with her ex. She was slightly disappointed that John wasn't there when she awoke, but it was better that way. Lucy saw a note on the bedside table next to her. She grabbed her nightshirt and black stockings, changing into them before reading the note. It read, 'My darling Lucy, I just had to let you know that last night was the best night of my life! Everything was wonderful and you are the most remarkable woman in the world! I love you dearly and I want you to know that I will try not to take too long to make a decision. I really don't want to hurt Paul or Cyn, but I want you more than you know. I'll try my best to decide soon. Till then, all my love, John.' Lucy smiled and grabbed her diary from her bag. She had occasional written in her diary since living with Paul, but it was more to remind her of why she left her ex-boyfriend. She stuck the note inside and put it back in her bag. Then Lucy put on her slippers and put her hair into a ponytail. Then she went downstairs and started making breakfast as her thoughts wandered to her parents again. She really hoped that they would just let her go and go home, but she knew that they were going to try everything in their power to get Lucy to go back with them.
Paul had gone to sleep the night before worrying about Lucy. He knew she said she was fine, but it couldn't have been easy to hear her parents try to force her into marriage. He had fallen asleep with the hope that he could talk to Brian in the morning about the situation. Maybe her employer would be able to convince her parents. When Paul woke up, he smelled syrup. He smiled knowing Lucy was making hotcakes. He got up and went downstairs and found Lucy in the kitchen, deep in thought with a look of worry on her face. He gave a half smile and said, "Lucy… you know I hate it when you don't tell me that you're not alright…" She turned with surprise written all over her face. She blushed and said, "I just hate it when people worry about me… I'm not that important and it's not that big of a deal anyway…" Paul hugged her from behind and kissed her hair, "You're very important to me… and it is a big deal! Your parents basically threatened you yesterday… I can only imagine how scared you must be…" She sighed and replied, "I'm only scared because of what they might try to do to you and the others… They know I'm not going to budge, but what if they threaten to hurt you boys if I don't comply? I can honestly tell you that I will do anything to keep you and the others from harm…" Paul hugged her tighter and said, "We'll talk to Eppy about this then… he can get us extra protection which we'll need anyway with how popular the Beatles are getting now… remember what those birds did to George the other night?" Lucy remembered well. Two girls started fighting over George and fought each other while they were trying to kiss him. They managed to scratch his face so bad that he was bleeding. Lucy had been the one to pull him away and bandage him up. Some of those girls were starting to get even crazier. Lucy didn't even go to the Beatles performances anymore unless she was with Maureen and really only went because she didn't want Maureen getting into trouble. Lucy just nodded in response to Paul's comment and served up a big plate of hotcakes. He sighed, knowing she didn't want to continue talking about this.
They sat down to breakfast in silence. Paul just watched Lucy, trying to figure out what he could do to make her happy, when the doorbell rang. Paul sighed and mumbled, "I really should just break that bell." Lucy giggled as he gave her a cheeky smile. He answered it and all of a sudden the other three Beatles walked into the kitchen. They immediately grabbed plates and were serving up breakfast for themselves. Lucy just gave a half-heartfelt laugh and said, "Don't you boys have kitchens at your houses?" They all looked at Lucy and gave cheeky smiles. A few minutes later Maureen walked into the kitchen with Paul. She had a disgusted look on her face as she grabbed Lucy by the arm and gently dragged her to the living room. The other three looked at Paul questioningly and Paul sighed. He sat down and said, "Lucy's parents showed up last night and basically threatened that if she didn't go back to America to marry the son of their company's rival, then they were going to force 'er out." Paul watched as John got that angry look in his eye, but remained silent. The other two looked at Paul expecting an explanation of what he was going to do. Ringo finally spoke up, "So what are we gonna do? We're not letting 'er leave right?" Paul replied, "No we're not letting 'er leave! I'm going to talk to Eppy about this… she's more afraid of what they might try to do to get 'er separated from us… we're not going to let anyone take 'er from us." George continued eating his hotcakes as Ringo and Paul discussed options to keeping Lucy safe. John remained ominously silent during the conversation, but Paul could see that John was seething.
Meanwhile in the living room, Maureen was talking to Lucy about the situation that Paul had told her about. "Lucy what are ya going to do?! You're not leaving! I won't let you!" Lucy just took her friend's hands and replied, "Of course I'm not going to leave. At least… not because of my parents… They're trying to force me to marry a man that I grew up with, but I haven't spoken to him in years! And I don't care about what they have to say at all! I want to stay here. With you and Paul and everyone!" Maureen gave her a look and said, "Especially John." Lucy blushed and exclaimed, "Mo!" She giggled and replied, "Lu… Ringo told me everything and it's more than obvious to both of us that you two have feelings for each other. John gets fire in his eyes when anyone talks about that party incident, and when someone talks about John around you, you get all flustered." Lucy just sighed and replied, "Can we please just get to the more pressing matter at hand? What am I going to do about my parents?" Maureen was quiet for a moment but then shrugged and replied, "Well I'm sure the boys will come up with something… has John kissed you yet? Ringo refuses to ask John!" Lucy just shouted, "Mo! Stop it! I'm not talking about this!" All of a sudden Ringo came in and said, "You two ok? We heard shouting." Lucy blushed and replied, "We're fine… Mo's just pushing a conversation too far is all…" Ringo just laughed and replied in a hushed tone, "Bout you and John I suppose?" Lucy gave Ringo an angry look. He put his hands up in defense and said quietly, "Oi it's no big deal Lucy. Paul doesn't know and I don't think he'd want to know. He likes staying in denial." Lucy just sighed and said, "Yeah well… it's neither of your business and I need to go get ready for work." She stood and walked upstairs to shower. Maureen looked at Ringo and said, "They must have had a row." Ringo just smiled at Maureen's ability to gossip and replied, "Come on then… Lucy made a lot of hotcakes, come have some breakfast!" And off they went into the kitchen.
Lucy had finished getting ready and came down to find John sitting on the couch with no one else around. She gave him a confused look and said, "And where did everybody go?" John looked up and replied, "They all left early to talk to Brian… I stayed to drive you to work." She smiled and said, "Well thank you John. I appreciate it!" He just nodded and started walking to the door. Lucy put her shoes on and followed him to the car. She was concerned because John looked rather angry. They got into the car and John started the car. She looked at him and said, "Are you angry?" He nodded slightly and kept driving. Lucy continued, "Are you angry with me?" He just kept driving. She looked at her shoes and said, "Is it about last night?" John just pulled over and put the car in park. He looked at Lucy and said, "Why didn't you tell me your parents are trying to force you into marriage?!" She looked up at him with a neutral face and replied, "Because it doesn't matter. I'm not going with them so nothing is going to happen." He just seethed and said, "It does matter though… They have no right to force you into marriage! I won't let anyone take you away from me!" She just smiled and said, "John… no one is going to take me away… I won't leave you alright?" John just hit the steering wheel and drove off towards Brian's office. Lucy just sat in silence and let John's anger simmer down. When they pulled up to the office, John looked at Lucy and said, "I'm sorry Lucy… I shouldn't get so angry." She shushed him with a smile and replied, "It's fine John. I understand why you're upset; believe me I am upset about my parents being here too… I'm just happy that you're being honest with me." John smiled and kissed Lucy on the head. Knowing that Lucy understood him so well made him feel relieved and terrified at the same time. If her parents took her away, he didn't know what he'd do.
Lucy and John walked into Brian's office as Paul and the others came out. Paul smiled at seeing Lucy and gave her a kiss. Ringo caught the jealous look in John's eyes. Paul said to Lucy, "Brian has agreed to talk with your parents about you staying here." Lucy half smiled and said, "Really? Is he sure?" Brian walked out and replied, "Yes I'm sure. I'm not about to let my wonderful secretary be forced back to America!" Lucy smiled and said, "Just know Brian… My parents are strictly business people and they're like snakes when it comes to their company." Brian smiled and said, "I can be as well Lucy." Lucy gave Brian a hug and then she said, "Now off with all of you! I have a lot of work to do today." Paul looked at Lucy and said, "Will you be alright?" Lucy just hugged him and said, "Off with you! I'll be fine." And they left. John looked back at Lucy as he walked out and gave her a look to ask if she was sure she'd be alright. She just nodded and smiled as John left. Then Lucy got to work on the files and contracts that needed to be written up.
