Tomorrow Never Knows - Chapter Fifteen
Authors: lovely_rita_mm, jenny_wren28, & pennylane_fic
Starring: The Beatles and Maggie Sue
Rating: M for language, implied sex (though none of it is explicit) & implied drug use. Characters used in this story are either our creation, or are historically-based (ie, The Beatles).
Disclaimer: We don't own any of the Beatles, this obviously never happened, and is a complete work of fiction.
October 18, 1967
11pm
Maggie stood looking into the blackness in front of her. She stepped forward, and then reaching behind her, pulled the door partially closed. The closet was nice and roomy, despite the large amount of clothes in it. Maggie sat down, arranged her skirt over her knees, and looked at her watch. It was 11pm now - how much time should she give John? Why had she felt so compelled to hide in Cilla Black's closet? Maggie sighed and decided she'd give it ten minutes and then she'd stop this ridiculousness.
Earlier that night. 6pm
"Smile for the cameras, luv!" John whispered to her.
"I can't, my cheeks hurt!" she whispered back. "How on Earth have you four managed this for so many years?"
"It was better than getting a real job?" he grinned at her. His smile was totally natural – hers felt plastered on.
Maggie Sue and John, along with the rest of the Beatles were at the premiere of John's movie, "How I Won the War." John was the star attraction, but as his fiancé, Maggie was getting a great deal of attention as well. Even after more than a year and a half with John, this still made her uncomfortable. She'd never have the easy way with reporters and photographers that the Beatles had – but she supposed that was part of what had made them famous in the first place.
No, she was no Beatle. But she was a Beatle fiancé, as well as the head of Apple Corps. Not only was there no way to avoid the press, but she needed them to like her. And so, as she and John strolled the red carpet, she smiled as best as she could, and posed for what seemed like a million pictures. John was decked out in his psychedelic best; actually both and he and George wore colorful jackets. Paul and Ringo were more conservatively dressed, though Maggie supposed that was relative. Maggie had never latched on to the Carnaby Street fashions the way the rest of the Beatles had, though she regularly surrendered herself into Mary Quant and Pattie Harrison's care and let them pick out outfits that would make her look fashionable. Pattie adored fashion, and she loved dressing Maggie up. Maggie was just as happy to let Pattie – it was one less thing for her to worry about. Maggie knew little about what was fashionable in the 60s, and she could count on Pattie to make sure she looked the part she had to play in public.
There were so many famous people at this premiere – she was introduced to Jimi Hendrix, who, as it turned out was rather shy. He warmed up when she asked him about how he developed his style of playing played left-handed with a right-handed guitar. As with Jim Morrison, getting to know Jimi left her with a sense of sadness, knowing that this talented, sweet man wouldn't have long left. But how could she possibly save them all?
Maggie also ran into Cass Elliot in the lounge attached to the ladies room in the theatre. Maggie was unable to help herself from bursting out with, "Oh my gosh, Cass Elliot? I'm such a big fan!" She was immediately mortified at the words that had left her mouth in such a rush. Cass, who had been rooting through her purse, looked up at her. "I'm so sorry," Maggie said, her face turning red. "I didn't mean to bother…"
"Oh, it's no bother," Cass said cheerfully. "You're John Lennon's fiancé, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm Maggie Sue," Maggie offered her hand. Cass shook it vigorously.
"It's nice to meet you," Cass said, temporarily shifting her attention back to her purse again. "Ah, found it!" She held up a lighter victoriously. She flashed Maggie a big smile. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, you were going to tell me how you managed to end up in charge of a big operation like Apple!" Maggie cleared her throat, unsure how to respond, but she didn't have to worry, because Cass rescued her. "A woman AND an American running the Beatles. Far out!"
Maggie smiled, and Cass seemed so genuinely friendly that she felt at ease. "Thanks! I guess I was just in the right place at the right time. Brian needed someone, and I had the qualifications."
"Well, I think it's great. Don't let them get you down."
Maggie knew Cass was referring to the people who'd implied she'd only gotten the job because she was sleeping with John, though sometimes they'd also had her sleeping with Brian, which was ridiculous given what Brian's proclivities had been, not that they were truly public knowledge. Maggie brushed it off as best as she could – she knew the 60s were sexist for one thing. Frankly, Maggie was sure she would have been subjected to far worse on the internet in her own time. There was also the fact that Maggie simply had come out of nowhere – there was no way to deny those claims publicly, though privately, she knew that being given Apple had more to do with her knowledge of the future and her sharp brain than it did her relationship to John.
"I won't."
"I know people can say shitty things, believe me." Cass gestured to her full-figure. "But fuck 'em, you know?"
"Yeah." Maggie agreed. "It's easier said than done sometimes, though." Even though she expected it, it was sometimes hard to take. She just kept reminding herself of how many people would kill to be in her position and to ignore the naysayers.
"Don't I know it. One crazy diet after another, and whose approval am I looking for?"
"Denny's?" Maggie was unable to stop the name from escaping her lips, despite herself. She'd felt sad for Cass, wished that Denny would have loved her more, seen past her outsides, that Cass wouldn't have tried so many crazy diets, which, mixed with drugs, would cause her heart to give out so young. "Sorry, that's none of my business," Maggie apologized, wishing she could drop through the floor.
Cass didn't seem the least bit bothered by what Maggie had said. She laughed wryly. "Am I that obvious about him? Well, I suppose there are no secrets when you're famous, right? Well, I don't think there's any hope there. I've thrown myself at him too many times in the past. I'm done with that. I'm just not enough for him. Or too much." Cass looked down at herself again.
Maggie thought about that, and felt that she understood it. She often felt she wasn't enough for John. Just by virtue of her presence, she'd forced him to change a lot about his lifestyle simply because she wasn't comfortable with it. She would never be the one to join him on LSD trips, or relax into the pot and alcohol fueled parties that were so frequent. Maggie bet she knew someone else that would probably be very happy to take her place by John's side, someone who was probably just waiting for Maggie to push John just a little too far. Could she really lose John that way? The doubts, which were never far off, invaded her mind once again.
Of course, Cass had never really had Denny, sadly, so it wasn't quite the same situation. "Well, I think he's an idiot." Maggie said to Cass loyally.
"He is. He is. But I love 'im anyway."
The two women were silent for a moment, but it was a comfortable silence.
"Does your band have an album coming out soon?" Maggie asked, genuinely curious. She loved The Mamas and the Papas, but had no more knowledge of their discography than she had of the Stones.
"I think in the spring? We've kind of been playing around with stuff. I actually kind of want us to do this old song "Dream a Little Dream", but I'm not sure about it."
"Oh, you have to!" Maggie exclaimed. Cass's version of this was one of her favorite songs.
"Yeah?"
Maggie backpedaled slightly. "I mean, I think if you sang it as a ballad, it would really suit your voice."
"I will have to try that."
"I should let you go…" Maggie said, not wanting to keep Cass from grabbing a smoke, or whatever she'd been about to do with the lighter she was still holding.
"Sure. I found my lighter, but I need to bum a cigarette. I don't suppose you have one?"
"No, sorry – but I'm sure someone else will."
"No worries!" Cass rummaged back through her bag and found a pen and paper. "I'm in town for a few more days. I'd love to grab lunch sometime if you're up for it. Here's where I'm staying." She wrote down her contact info and handed it to Maggie.
"Really? I'd love that!"
"Great!" Cass slung her bag back over her shoulder and Maggie followed her out of the room. "Later!" Cass waved at her and Maggie could hear her humming "Dream a Little Dream" as she made her way across the theater lobby.
Maggie looked around for John, excited to tell him about meeting Cass. Her heart sank as she saw John talking to a small, dark figure. That woman was everywhere! Maggie just hoped she wouldn't ask about the postcards she'd sent.
Maggie gritted her teeth and started to march across the room, ready to pull Yoko's hair out of her head, when the lights in the lobby flashed, signifying that the movie was going to start shortly and that the audience should seat itself.
John waved goodbye to Yoko and came to meet Maggie, a smile on his lips. Maggie had the urge to cut and run, to get out of here and hide somewhere that had no Yoko. But no, she was done with that. She'd promised no more running, no more letting Yoko get the best of her. Maggie closed her eyes, and then put a big smile on her face. John was walking towards her and away from Yoko. That was enough, wasn't it?
"Let's go see my movie, luv!" John put his arm around Maggie Sue's shoulders, and they started to walk into the theater together.
"Sounds good," Maggie smiled at him. "Guess who I ran into?"
"Who?"
"Cass Elliot!"
John smiled at her obvious excitement. "Guess who I ran into?"
"Looked like Yoko to me," Maggie said flatly, any excitement over Cass overshadowed by the appearance of her arch nemesis.
"Yes! She's planning a new exhibit," John said excitedly, either oblivious over Maggie's change of tone, or choosing to ignore it. John continued to talk about Yoko's plans for the exhibit, but Maggie couldn't bear to listen. She nodded and smiled in the right places, or what she hoped were the right places. She hardly wanted to encourage his involvement with this exhibit but was afraid to come down too hard on Yoko and her "art".
Maggie was grateful when the theater darkened and the movie began.
----
Later. 10:45 pm
After the movie, Cilla Black had invited everyone back to her house for a private party. Everyone who was anyone was there, and everyone wanted to congratulate John on his film. Maggie stood back and let him enjoy the attention – she had plenty of friends at the party, even outside of the Beatles circle, so she didn't mind being left on her own. At least Maggie was fairly certain that Yoko hadn't been invited, so she probably didn't have to worry about Yoko attaching herself to John. She hoped. She wouldn't put it past Yoko to gate crash.
This train of thought brought the conversation she'd had with Cass back to her. Was she enough for John? Cynthia hadn't been, and look at what had happened to her. Maggie remembered something she'd read in one of her books. In her original timeline, just before John and Cynthia's marriage had ended, Cyn had hid in Cilla's closet at a party, waiting to see how long it would take for John to miss her and come looking for her. He'd never come, of course.
Suddenly Maggie realized that this incident hadn't occurred at just any party at Cilla's – it had been this one. At least now that the timeline had changed, Cyn would be spared the sad indignity of being completely overlooked by John. No, this time it was Maggie in Cyn's place.
An idea possessed her. An idea that was as irresistible as it was foolish. No, she told herself. It is never a good idea to tempt fate. But still, that small, but persistent voice of doubt in her head suggested that maybe if Maggie did the same thing that Cynthia had once done, maybe if John missed her, then she would know for sure that it would be different for her and John. It is different, the logical side of brain insisted, you know it is. But it was hard to fight the compulsion to try this little experiment, even if she knew she was just setting herself up for failure. This is crazy, her brain insisted. But it was too late for logic now, Maggie realized, as she found herself already creeping up the stairs.
11:23 pm
Sitting on the closet floor, watching the minutes tick by, she felt absolutely ridiculous. Why was she testing John? She deserved what she'd get if she kept this up. She knew John loved her, didn't she? She'd been so sure of it, she'd stayed in the past to be with him. She hated that this thing with Yoko scared her so much, but the fact was, it frightened her to her very core. She loved John and though she knew he loved her too, ultimately what she needed was to know he loved her more than Yoko and the life that Yoko represented. She had come home from NY ready to fight for John, but she could hardly call hiding in Cilla Black's closet fighting, could she?
Just then, the door opened, and bright light hit her eyes, temporarily blinding her. Her hiding spot had been discovered. It was probably Cilla, and Maggie shuddered to imagine the pity in her eyes if she found out that Maggie had hid in her closet hoping John would leave the party to come find her.
Suddenly she was once again in darkness, the closet door now firmly shut.
"There you are, luv! I've been looking all over for you."
It was John. He had found her. Tears of relief flooded her eyes. He did love her. I told you so, her brain said smugly.
"I can't see a thing, luv – but that's okay, I'll just have to find you by feel." He settled down on the floor next to her, and she felt his hand brush her thigh and then her breast.
"Hey! You've found me, I'm right here. Now you're just taking advantage!" She laughed despite herself.
"Guilty as charged!" John said cheerfully, running his hand up her leg, and under her skirt.
"Don't you want to know what I'm doing in Cilla's closet?"
"Wardrobe, luv, it's a wardrobe." He was kissing her neck now.
"Fine, wardrobe." She was losing her concentration.
"What are you doing then?" John nibbled on her earlobe.
"I was waiting for you to find me."
"Well, it looks like I did!" John said. He didn't seem to require any further explanation of her odd behavior, and since her lips were now fully occupied by John's, Maggie was unable to speak anyway. It was okay, though. They no longer had any need for words. John's actions spoke volumes, and Maggie was able to silence the doubt in her head once again. She hoped those doubts would never reappear, but somehow she knew that she hadn't seen the last of them.
A/N: Thanks for reading! The next update will be next Sunday! We love comments, so please tell us what you think!