At long last!
The next day, George and Leo took a guy's day out while Matilda stayed home with Allie. Mat decided that it was time to bond with Allison who was laying in the living room watching Pepé Le Pew
"Allie, let's take Alphonse for a walk!" she offered. Allie rolled her eyes but hid it carefully.
"No, I'm sleepy, thank you very much." She clipped.
"Well maybe a walk will wake you up. We can stop for candy!"
"No. Thank. You." She clipped. Mat huffed.
"Well let's at least go outside and-,"
"No! Is it alright with you if I stay right where I am? I don't want to leave! I'm fine where I am!" Allie screeched.
"Now, you keep your voice down-,"
"Don't tell me what to do! You're not my mummy! You just want my Georgie! I hate you! Just leave and never come back!" Allison yelled. Mat stood strong and did not let the girl's insults faze her.
"You keep your voice down. I may not be your mother but I am in charge. I can assure you there will be none of this while I'm around. Do you understand me?" Matilda asked calmly. Allison's eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. "Do you understand me, Allison?" Mat repeated.
"Yes, sir." She answered with a smirk she'd picked up from John.
"Go to your room and don't come out."
"No. I don't want to!" Allie hollered. Mat barely flinched.
"I don't care. You'll do it because I said so." She said definitively. Allie shut her angry tear filled eyes tightly.
"I hate you! I hate you!" She screeched. She ran away to her room with Alphonse on her heels. Mat heard her door shut and sighed before collapsing onto the couch. She and Allison soon fell asleep.
About an hour later, the boys came into the house, laughing and talking loudly. Mat woke up and smiled sleepily at her son who ran over to show her the new things he had gotten. She listened as he sat on her lap, explaining each toy's aspects. She shot George a playfully mean look for spoiling Leo. He winked at her and walked to Allie's room.
She was curled up with her pony (now dubbed Gabriel) with Alphonse at her feet. George smiled softly and walked over to her to run a hand through her hair. Her eyes opened slowly and her face lit up with a hundred watt smile.
"Hi Georgie!" He smiled and picked her up.
"Hello love. Leo and I brought you some presents."
"Yay! I wanna play with them!"
"Well, let's go on!" He grinned and carried her out to where Mat and Leo were. Allie and Matilda chose to not look at each other, a mutual agreement now in effect. Leo smiled at Allison.
Look, Allie! I picked this out for you because you look alike!" Leo was right. She and the doll that he had picked out for her looked like a clone. With glowing, freckled pink cheeks, wide, ocean blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair, they looked like twins.
"She's so pretty!" Allison squealed, hugging the doll close. "I'll name her…Mary!"
"So you like her?" Leo asked excitedly.
"I love her!"
Three days later, George's alarm went off to wake him, Allie, Matilda, and Leo up to catch their flight. To his surprise and happiness, Allie had warmed up slightly to Matilda. The hostility from Allison to the older woman was lessened. She had even allowed Matilda to brush her hair the night before.
They were meeting the director that morning in Hamburg. They would receive their scripts and go over anymore details. Matilda slept in one of George's t-shirts (much like Allie) and lay with one arm across his chest. Leo and Allie slept in her room. George shook Matilda gently, chuckling at the tiredly confused look in her hazel eyes.
"Wake up, love." He whispered.
"What time is it?" she yawned, curling into his side.
"Eh, about six."
"In the morning?" She asked incredulously. Mat was obviously not a morning person.
"Yeh. We gotta get to the airport soon." He said, smoothing her hair. She stretched and got up.
"I should probably wake the kids. Be back soon." She smiled slyly and walked out of the room to get the children. About thirty seconds later, she came running quietly back into the room. "Come here, you've got to see this!" She took his hand and dragged him into Allie's room where the kids were still sleeping. His face broke into a wide smile. Allie's head was nestled onto Leo's shoulder, while he had his arms wrapped protectively around her. The covers were pulled mostly around her and their soft snores filled the room.
"I hate to wake them up." George smiled. Matilda nodded and leaned against his shoulder. The kids suddenly yawned in tandem and opened their eyes.
"I guess we don't have to," Mat giggled. The children got out of the bed and Allie stumbled and fell. Leo helped her up.
"I'm okay," she mumbled. George laughed and picked her up.
"Well, you'd better be! We're leaving soon." He smoothed down her ruffled hair. "Get dressed you three. I'll go load up the car." Mat bathed and dressed the two children, not commenting on the scars on Allie's back. Matilda dressed the Leo up in blue jeans and a turtleneck and Allie in a pink dress. The three of them sat in the living room watching cartoons and Allie was tired enough not to protest as Leo played with her long blonde hair.
"Alright team, let's hit it!" George exclaimed when he came back in. Leo hopped up and ran to pull his mother off the couch and Allie went to George. "You got everything, love? It'll be a while till we're back here at home." Allie looked around sadly, not wanting to leave her home.
"Yeah, I got it." She sighed, clutching Mary. "Does Alphonse have everything he needs at Grandmummy's house?"
"Yes, I dropped him off last night."
"Well, I know that, but does he have everything?" She fretted.
"Yes, love. He's fine. You can call tonight and make sure, alright? But right now, we've got to go!" He urged. He pushed her out of the door and locked the door behind him.
"Bye house!" Allie called as they walked away.
George, Mat, Leo and Allie arrived at the airport were mobs of fans were waiting for them. George held Leo and took Matilda's hand that held Allie's. Girls clawed at the family, some snagging Allie's hair and clothes.
"Ouch!" she cried. Mat's face twisted up and she picked up Allie.
"Stop that right now! She's just a little girl and now she's frightened! You should be ashamed of yourselves." She scolded. George smiled at her protectiveness of Allie and bravery toward the rabid fans. Allie sat pouting in Matilda's arms because George was not holding her.
The four stood in a circle of bodyguards waiting to escort them through the airport. Allie was tired enough to lay her head on Matilda's shoulder, deciding she was alright for now. The rest of the Beatles waited in a private room until their plane was ready. Allie's eyes brightened as she saw her favorite people she wiggled down from Mat's arms and ran to Ringo. He smiled and hugged her tightly.
"Hiya, short stuff!" He said. She grinned.
"Hi Ringo!" She kissed him on the cheek. The woman on George's arm attracted his attention along with John and Paul's.
"Just a second, sweetheart." He got up and introduced himself to Matilda, John and Paul quickly following his example. Paul, forever the charmer, gently took her hand and kissed the back of it. She blushed and George stepped in front of her.
"Back off, McCartney." He growled. Paul laughed.
"Ooh, I'm shaking in me boots!" John came around and offered each of them a cigarette. George accepted but Matilda declined. "You don't mind the smoke do you?" Paul asked, about to put the smoke down.
"Oh, no," She shook her head quickly. "I just used to do it and I'm not too fond of it anymore." The five of them laughed and chatted until a flight attendant came in to tell them their plane was ready.
They were once again escorted past the crowd of rabid fans and Allie felt an eerie feeling of déjà vu. Paul carried her onto the plane, as her steps were too lethargic. The group waved to the fans and got onto their plane.
"Allie, darling, where do you want to sit?" He asked her.
"I don't care." She yawned weakly. John looked over to her.
"Come sit by me!" He chirped. She shrugged and stumbled into his arms where she almost instantly fell asleep. John let her sleep against his side while he smoked a cigarette and read the paper. Leo played between Ringo and Paul while George sat with Matilda as she dozed against his chest. Allie wasn't even scared as the plane took off. Leo, Paul and Ringo were singing and dancing to the music that was played over the intercom of the plane. Allie woke up about an hour and a half through the four hour flight to play cards with Brian. He taught her how to play Go Fish and she won (with a little help from the other side).
Finally, the Beatles and company arrived in Hamburg, Germany. After passing through the fan filled airport, the group got to their hotel. Matilda walked by George's side with Allie in one hand and Leo in the other. All of a sudden, Paul hooted in exclamation.
"Lads! Look! Look there!" He pointed wildly to a short blonde woman. She did not notice the four familiar faces in the sea of people on the sidewalk.
"Entschuldigen sie," she said in absentminded German. She bumped into Paul who took hold of her. She looked up at her captor angrily before her eyes widened. A smile spread across her round face.
"Paul!" She shouted hugging him tightly. John and Ringo approached her.
"Astrid Kirchherr, you little imp! Where've you been all this time?" He teased. Her face brightened again.
"John! Richard!" She hugged them as well. "And George! Little George all grown up!" Her strong accent trilled excitedly. "Oh, boys! I've missed you! We must get together soon! How long will you be here for?" Brian cleared his throat.
"Just for the week, then we're leaving to shoot in London. The boys have told me all about you and if I may ask, Ms. Kirchherr, would you do us the honor of joining us?" Astrid gaped at him.
"Well, yes, I suppose if-," John interrupted her.
"Great! Great! Then you'll join us for dinner tonight, then finish up all of your Hamburg business, and we'll be off to film, yes?"
"Wait, what? Film?" She asked confusedly. George beamed.
"We got a movie deal, Astrid! Can you believe it?" He asked.
"Not really," she stated bluntly. They laughed and escorted her past the screaming fans to the hotel where dinner would be served.
Don't forget to review!