Tim came into the kitchen one morning in December 1980 to find Evie crying and Julie in tears. He tried to find out what was wrong, but she couldn't speak. He couldn't console her when he didn't know what was wrong.

He picked up Evie and poured poor bewildered Marianne some Corn Flakes. It seemed unlikely that she was having a bout with the baby blues, Evie was nine months already.

The phone rang and Angela was on the other end sounding quite upset. She was asking to speak to Julie.

Tim said, "She can't speak. There's something wrong with her and I'm concerned!"

"Tim," Angela cried, "It's John! He's dead!"

Tim was at a loss thinking of who they knew named, John. "John?"

"John Lennon, he's been killed!"

"Oh no! My poor girl!" Tim hung up and gathered his wife in his arms and held her until she couldn't cry anymore.

Tim couldn't imagine how she would react if it were Paul. She always claimed to love Paul best. Eventually, she was calmer and as he left for the surgery, he said, "I'll send Dad to come see the girls."

##

Julie didn't know why she was out of control. It was a shock to wake and turn on the radio to the news that a legend was gunned down. Growing up the Beatles were a ray of sunshine in her dismal life.

She was an adult — a wife and a mother, but she felt like that lonely aged fifteen girl again.

Dad came and didn't say anything, but told her to go rest. She heard him and Marianne playing and started counting her blessings. She was very lucky.

By the time, Tim came home she felt sad, but was functioning. She had a record on and was dancing with fussy Evie.

Our life together
Is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Although our love still is special
Let's take a chance and fly away somewhere
Starting over (over and over and over)

###

Julie felt Evie's forehead. It was still warm. She'd had a fever for two days. Marianne's fever had broken the day before. Evie had been clinging to her and cried whenever Julie left the room. It was an ordeal to go to the loo, nevermind make dinner.

When she had called the surgery to ask Tim to bring home take-away, he wasn't there. She needed a break, but was afraid that he'd been called out.

She sat and let both girls lie on her. At two and four they were no longer babies. Still she thought a newborn might be easier than the two of them sick. Julie had hardly slept for four days.

Little Evie was falling asleep, when Tim finally came home.

"How are our little patients?" he asked, as he felt each forehead.

"Evie still has a fever. She hasn't let me leave her all day. I haven't any dinner."

"I'm only a little hungry. Let me put her to bed," he said as he lifted her off Julie's lap.

Julie was able to leave Marianne on the sofa and go into the kitchen. She wondered why Tim wasn't hungry. When he returned her eye caught a spot on his tie. She walked to him to get a closer look.

"Tim, I can't believe you! I've been at my wits end with sick children and you've been eating cake. You went to see Angela's bloke! We promised we'd stay away."

"I had to. It's my job as her older brother. Besides he's not a bloke, he's a Yank!"

"As long as she's happy who cares if she loves an American," Julie said impatiently.

"Loves!"

Julie laughed, "Of course, haven't you noticed how lost she's been since she returned from Boston. Any time she spoke to me, she'd mention Michael over and over. My guess is if he came all this way, then he loves her too."

"Jules, you're not helping!"

"Serves you right! Whilst I've been caring for your sick children, you were an uninvited guest eating cake."

"I'm sorry."

Tim looked contrite and when Marianne cried, "Mummy."

Julie called, "Daddy's coming darling."

Then she made herself a toastie and sat alone and ate it. When Tim came in carrying Marianne, he said, "Kiss mummy goodnight."

When he returned, he looked around and said, "I suppose I'm meant to make my own dinner."

Julie didn't answer, he had already sorted that she was upset with him.

When she got up to pour her tea, he captured her and pulled her close. She knew she wouldn't stay angry with him long — just enough so he learnt a lesson.

He sat down to eat and she couldn't resist any longer. She asked, "What's he like?"

Tim smiled, "Scared. He was scared."

"Was he nice?"

"He seemed nice enough."

"Was he handsome?"

"Jules!"

"Come on Tim, you owe me…"

"He didn't have anything odd protruding from his face," Tim joked.

"Come on, if you want me to forgive you, you'll have to do better than that."

"Alright, he's handsome. Not like a movie star, but he has a nice face although he wears glasses."

"Glasses can be sexy!"

"Julie, you are not supposed to find another man sexy! Only me!"

Julie laughed, "Timothy are you jealous?"

"It's bad enough you tell me this Yank loves my sister and now you're talking about glasses. I already share you with Teddy!"

"You don't share me with Teddy and I only love you."

"Do you really think she loves him?" Tim asked.

"Yes, but Tim, it'll be alright. If you are this bothered over your sister, I hate to see you when our girls grow up and fall in love."

"One thing that I can guarantee, neither will fall in love with a Yank."

Julie yawned and said, "I'm going to bed, before one of our girls starts crying."

"Can I come too?" he asked like a naughty child.

Julie said, "Yes, but no funny business. I'm tired."

Epilogue

When Tim finally came home, he was tired, but one look at Julie and he knew she was too.

"They went on to bed a half hour ago. Evie prepared a show for you. I watched it twice."

"Our star, she really is something," Tim said lovingly.

"Meanwhile Marianne was reading The Lancet again."

"A chip off the old block," Tim said proudly.

"I stopped by Mum and Dad's, Michael was visiting with Andrew. He really is a sweet boy."

"If it hadn't been so hard for poor Ange to have a baby, I might be jealous, but I'm just happy for her. Michael is a really gem."

"He and your Dad are thicker than thieves."

"I don't like that Melissa girl that Ted's going with. I wish he'd settle down."

"Tim, let him figure it out on his own."

"He can't find the perfect girl, because she's mine, but he needs to find someone who will support him and be a good mother and…"

"I might volunteer!"

"Don't you dare," Tim said as he grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Jules, do you know what day it is?"

It's the twenty-fourth…"

Tim walked over to the piano and said, "Yes, of February."

When he began to play, Julie smiled as the tune for the Roberta Flack song filled the air.

"It's the anniversary of the day that changed my life. 'The first time, ever I saw your face'."

"Timothy Turner, you're a romantic and I love you."

Julie sat down beside him and together they played Heart and Soul. Then they walked to their bedroom hand in hand.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. Your views and comments have kept me going.

Julie will forever be one of my favorite characters. I took you full circle past the Prologue to a time when Patrick was still with them and Teddy first started dating Melissa. We all know how the story continued.

Just like I rewrote Unexpected into an edgier original story (published on Wattpad) I am contemplating doing the same for Evie, Jack, Marianne and Tony. I need to finish my current project first.

I plan to continue one shots as CtM inspires me. In the meanwhile if you'd like to read more of my writing go to Pseudoannie on

Thank you my dear Readers.