It had been about two months since Paul and I had our little, not so necessary split.  And the good news was, I was over three months pregnant and everything was fine and healthy…the bad news however, was that things at the studio according to Paul were only getting worse.  Yoko and John even put out their new solo album, in which the two of them were butt naked on the cover.  Paul shook his head as we looked at it in a record store down the street one day.

            “Can you bloody believe this?” he asked me as I walked over to take a look.  I turned away immediately disgusted.

            “That’s pretty sad,” I replied looking through the stack on records in front of me. 

            “Tell me about it—he’s acting like a bloody porn star or something,” Paul commented putting the record back behind the pile and shaking his head.  He continued to flip through and from the corner of my eye I could see him looking at me.  I laughed.

            “Yes?” I asked him and he smiled.

            “How’d you know I was going to say something?” he asked me amused.

            “Because I could see you staring at me,” I said.  He smiled and put his arm around me bringing me close.

            “Maybe I look at ya because you’re beautiful, ever think of that?” he asked me.

            “I don’t count it out, but that’s not the way you were looking at me this time,” I laughed.  He leaned his head on my shoulder and I leaned back against him.

            “Wanna go to Paris?” he asked.  Shocked I turned around.

            “Paris?  As in Paris, France?” Paul laughed.

            “Yes darling, Paris, France would be the one,”

            “What for?” I asked and Paul shrugged.

            “To get away—to be with you alone,” he smiled pulling me against him again.

            “Well, I think that would be absolutely fabulous, but—are you sure it’s okay, you know, as far as your recording and stuff?”

            “Oh yeah, we’re not doing much now anyway, with The White Album just being finished and all,” Paul replied.

            “Then yes, let’s go,” I said turning around to face him. 

            “Yeah?” he asked eyebrows up.

            “Yeah, when are we leaving?” I asked as Paul and I left the record store.

            “How about, December 11?” Paul said picking a random date.

            “Sounds great to me!” I smiled taking his hand, “Gosh, Paris…it’s going to be gorgeous…”  I said as Paul paid for a record and we left.  The days went by so fast, and soon we were on our way to Paris….and it was beautiful…..

            Because our decision to go to Paris was sort of last moment, we weren’t able to get a commercial flight, so we flew on Paul’s private jet.  We arrived in Paris late in the afternoon, and the city was more beautiful than I had imagined it to be.

            “This is wonderful…” I said looking around as the plane landed.  Paul laughed.

            “Yes, it is really…only thing is,” he said lowering his voice to a whisper, “There are a lot of bloody queers here,” I laughed.

            “Don’t worry, I’ll let them know who you belong to,” I smiled kissing him.  He laughed and returned the kiss.  A car met us at the airport and drove us to a friend of Paul’s named Hunter Davies.  I had heard of his name previously, and on occasion had seen a postcard from him addressed to Paul.  He was a very nice man and his place was wonderful.

            “Thanks for letting us stay here, Hunter,” Paul said setting our stuff down.  Hunter smiled.

            “Ah, don’t mention it Paul,” Hunter smiled, “Make yourselves at home, I’ve got to run out and do a bit of business but I’ll be back later on tonight,”

            “Sounds fine man thanks again,” Paul smiled and Hunter left.  Paul walked over to the window overlooking Paris.  I followed him and he smiled putting his arm around me, “Gorgeous girl in a gorgeous city,”

            “Oh you’re too kind,” I said smiling as he kissed my forehead.  We sat and just looked at the lights in the streets beginning to turn on for the evening. London was beautiful at night, but this was amazing.

            “I suppose I should call the others, give them the number in case they need anything,” Paul said rolling his eyes.  As he walked away he continued to hold my hand leaving me no choice but to follow him to the phone.  He dialed a number and within a few moments he was talking to John.  The conversation was rather short before they hung up.  Paul yawned.

            “You tired?” I asked him as we sat on Hunter’s couch.  He shrugged.

            “Physically no, emotionally yes,” he said smiling and kissing my forehead, “But this is going to be a wonderful trip because I’m with you and I love you,” I smiled and kissed him in return.  Whoever said Paris was the city of romance was correct.  There was something about the atmosphere that just seemed to bring out the love in anybody anywhere—as Paul mentioned even the boys to boys.  Paul and I kissed a few moments on the couch before Paul stood up pulling me with him, his lips still on mine.  Without wanting to detach from his warm and loving embrace I let him push me in the direction of wherever he was going.  Not paying attention to where he was leading me, I suddenly hit something hard behind me.  I pulled from Paul for only a moment to see what it was.  Paul smiled,

            “It was only the door love,” he breathed and he kissed me again.  I wrapped my arms around him and figured he had it under control as he opened the door.  He eventually led me to the bed and pushed me backwards laying atop me.  I held him close as our kisses got deeper.  Outside we heard a faint sound of music and Paul pulled his head away from me and smiled, “Perfect,” he smiled kissing my nose, cheeks, and neck.   I smiled feeling the warmth of his body on me and the shivers I got the minute he took my shirt and skirt off.  He touched me softly as he watched me remove his shirt and unzip his pants.  He lifted the satin red sheets slowly and the two of us crawled inside, Paul moving atop me once again, kissing me all over.  Things we just heating up, and well, just as Paul started doing his thing, the bed beneath us crashed down to the floor making a very loud BANG!, “Shit!’ Paul yelled, more scared because he wasn’t expecting it.  Seeing the look of terror on his face and the feeling of my heart racing a million miles an hour, because it had also scared the living daylights outta me, made me laugh out hysterically. Paul just looked at me, then looked around at the broken bed now lying flush with the floor and began laughing himself.

            “Paul we broke his bed,” I laughed, pulling my head into Paul’s bare chest feeling horrible, but funny at the same time. Paul laughed a little harder this time,

            “Imagine that!!  And we weren’t even full throttle!” he said and I looked up at him.

            “That scared the crap out of me,” I said putting my hand up to my chest. 

            “Me too love,” Paul laughed again.  He scooted off of me and sat up half way, looking around at the wooden headboard and frame pieces lying on the floor around the bed.  He ran his hand through his hair, “Shit, what are we going to tell Hunter?”

            “Well, it’s pretty obvious, we broke his bed,” I said.  Paul glared at me with a kidding look.  He squeezed my cheeks together with his left thumb and pointer making my lips stick out. I laughed pushing him away, “don’t be a smart ass,” he said squinting his eyes.

            “Well it’s the truth,” I smiled.

            “Yes it may be, but would you like me to tell him that we broke his bed because we were going at it?” Paul asked me and I nodded once.

            “Right….let’s not,” I said slightly embarrassed.  Paul laughed again.

            “That’s what I thought,” he said kissing my forehead, “Hell, I bloody can’t believe this,” he said and the fit of giggles came back to be as I leaned back and laughed some more.  Paul looked down at me, and my laughter must’ve had started him up again, because he began as well.  Still laughing he moved on top of me again and gave me fast kisses all over making me laugh even more.  He stopped suddenly.

            “What?  What is it?” I asked him.

            “What’s this?” he asked me picking up a little slip of paper on the floor taped to a piece of the bed boards.

            “What does it say?” I asked as Paul shook his head and laughed.

            “It says, ‘Paul and Olivia- In case I don’t have a chance to tell you, this bed is a little old and there ifsa possibility that it might bust under heavy movement….so be careful you two—you know what I’m talking about….’,” Paul laughed as he finished reading.

            “Hmm, maybe we should’ve looked around first huh?” I asked him smiling, “We really didn’t even know if this was our room!”

            “Nah, it made it more fun this way—you know, cuz we weren’t expecting it,” Paul said crumpling the paper and throwing it across the room.  He turned back to me, “Though, I believe it would be alright if we continued now, don’t you?”

            “I believe so,” I smiled, “unless this floor is old too,”

            “Oh Lord I hope not!” Paul laughed, “Wouldn’t that be a sight?  Sitting in your family room, watching the tele, family and all, when from the sky comes two people making love right there on your floor!”  I laughed at the sight of it.

            “Let’s pray that doesn’t happen,” I said smiling and Paul looked devilish.

            “Ah, love, it’ll be fine—I’m not that rough,” he said winking.  I opened my mouth.

            “Paul McCartney you have a dirty mouth,” I said but laughing because I couldn’t help it.  He smiled.

            “I know that love,” he grinned leaning in to kiss me.  We were able to do what we wanted in the first place and afterwards I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  I was a bit tired from earlier and well, Paul had completely worn me out physically.  Awake, but with my eyes closed, I just laid against Paul thinking about the night and anticipating the rest of this trip.  Paul slowly caressed my bare back and I think he was humming softly, making it all the harder to stay awake.  I was about asleep with I head continuous screaming from outside.  It wasn’t like a ‘help me’ scream, it was more of a scream, or two, chanting ‘Paul we love you’.  I lifted my head up and opened my eyes, so see Paul’s face glowing from the moonlight.  He turned he head to face me and smiled.

            “Are there fans our there?” I asked looking at the clock…it was 2am.  Paul nodded.

            “Yeah,” he answered breathing out a heavy sigh.  I leaned my head back down on Paul’s chest.

            “You should tell them that you are your wife, who’s pregnant by the way, are trying to sleep,” I said and Paul’s chest shook as he laughed slightly.

            “I wish that would work,” he said, “I’ll talk to them though—I’m bloody sick of it,” he said.  I moved unwillingly away from him, feeling a wave of cold air as he body heat was taken from me.  He slipped on his pants and got up from the bed.  He laughed as he almost fell over trying to get up, “Damn bed,” I giggled.

            “Maybe you’re just getting old,” I kidded him. He laughed.

            “Could be, I am 26 you know,” he said approaching the window and they must’ve seen him because the screaming was a bit louder.

            “How many are out there?” I asked from the bed.  He stared down in the street.

            “About four I think,” he answer and opened the window. 

            “Paul!  Oh Paul, let us come up!” I heard one girl shout.  Paul laughed to himself.

            “It’s a bit late out here for you girls don’t you think?” he called out.

            “No, we want to see you!” came the answer.

            “That’s very nice, and I’m flattered, but the thing is, me and Olivia are trying to sleep, you know?  And it’s rather hard when you are chanting and screaming out here,”

            “Can we come up?” they asked and I laughed to myself shaking my head.

            “No, ladies, I’m sorry you can’t,” Paul yelled out and I heard disappointed groans.

            “Please Paul!  Please Olivia!” I heard them yell.  Paul snickered and turned to me.

            “You hear that?  They’re asking you if they can come up,”

            “Tell them sorry, but no.  I’m bloody tired,” I said my stomach now feeling a bit upset.  The Morning Sickness wasn’t too bad the last week comparatively to the previous, but every once and a while it was just hit. 

            “I’ll tell you what, let’s make a deal shall we?” Paul asked them.

            “What?  What?” they asked eagerly.

            “I just happen to have me guitar here, so if I sing you a song will you let us sleep?” Paul called out.

            “Oh yes!  Yes!” they shouted in glee. Paul nodded and left the window digging in our stuff by the closet.  I watched him sleepily and smiled because I was so in love with him and couldn’t dream of anywhere else I’d rather be.  I continued to watch him as he carefully removed his acoustic out of his case, and with his shirt lying right next to him, he dusted it off.  I laughed a little.

            “You are so adorable,” I said and he looked up not noticing I was looking at him.  He smiled and walked over to me, sitting down.  With one hand he held his guitar and with the other he softly caressed my cheek, neck, and bare shoulder.

            “You’re beautiful,” he whispered leaning down to kiss me softly as I closed my eyes.  I felt him get up and heard him talking to the girls once more.

            “What song would you like to hear?” he asked them.

            “‘Blackbird’!” one girl shouted.

            “No, ‘I Will’!” another yelled.  Paul laughed.

            “Bought our new album have you?”

            “Oh yes!  It’s wonderful!”

            “Well, just for the compliment how bout I play them both for you?” he offered.  They cheered happily and I smiled.  The wonderful finger-picking style of my husband filled the air accompanied by his soothing voice, ‘Blackbird singing in the dead of night.  Take these broken wings and learn to fly, all your life.  You were only waiting for this moment to arise,” he finished the song gracefully and the girls cheered, “Thanks girls, ready for the next?”

            “Oh yes!”

            “As you know I wrote this for me gorgeous wife whom I love more then anything in the world, and who is having my baby.  I couldn’t dream of anyone better or who would love me more than her,” I heard Paul say.  I turned and opened my eyes looking at him lovingly.  He smiled and I blew him a kiss as I mouthed ‘I love you’.  He caught it and put it to his lips.

            “Oh that’s so sweet!” A girl said making me smile again.  The strumming began again as for the last time I closed my eyes.

            “Who knows how long I’ve loved you.  You know I love you still.  Will I wait a lonely lifetime?  If you want me to I will,”  I was awake long enough for the song to end and Paul saying goodnight to the girls below, who actually left us alone like they promised.  Paul moved in carefully next to me, wrapping his arms around my stomach underneath the blanket.  He kissed the back of my neck and whispered, “I love you,”

            The next morning I woke up to the sound of soft music.  I knew it had to be Paul and as I wasn’t facing him, I decided to just sit and listen as he strummed on his guitar and lyrics fled his lips.

“Baby I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time.  And maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you,” he paused, “Baby I’m amazed at the way you pulled me out of time, hung me on a line, and baby I’m amazed at the way I really need you,” Paul’s chords grew a bit heavier and he continued with the song, pausing only a minute as I could here him jotting something down on paper.  He continued, in his voice that screams out ‘I’m Down’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’ (thought quiet because I’m sure he didn’t want to wake me,) “Maybe I’m a man, maybe I’m a lonely man, who’s in the middle of something that he doesn’t really understand.  Baby I’m a man, and maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me, baby won’t you help me to understand. Oooooo,” I swallowed hard as tears flooded my eyes just listening to him sing those lyrics.  He fiddled around with a few octaves before continuing, and I continued to listen not wanting to interrupt, “Baby I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time.  And maybe I’m afraid of the way I leave you. Baby I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song, right me when I’m wrong, baby I’m amazed at the way I really need you,” he ended the song with mostly fiddling around on the guitar and making noises with his voice.  I slowly moved my hand up to wipe away the tear that fell from my eye.  I turned around slowly and Paul looked up from his paper, smiling

            “Morning my love,” Paul said smiling.  He came and sat next to me giving me a morning kiss and handing me his tea cup, “Wanna a sip?” he asked.  I was a bit chilly so I obliged.

            “Thanks sweetheart,” I said kissing his cheek and touching him softly, “That was a really beautiful song,” I told him.  He looked surprised.

            “You were awake?” he asked.  I nodded.

            “Yes, and I’m glad.  That was amazing,” I said again, “I know you don’t like me hearing your songs before you are finished, but that was…” I ran out of words.  He leaned towards me and kissed me firmly and softly at the same time.

            “I love you so much Olivia,” he said to me looking in my eyes.  Tears welled up again and I had to laugh as he wiped them away.  He smiled as I opened my eyes,

            “I’m sorry,” I said wiping my tears away myself now.  He shook his head.

            “Sorry?  For what?” he asked.  I shrugged looking down at my hands and noticing my more round stomach beneath the blanket.

            “For crying and being so emotional—it’s probably the pregnancy but,” I replied laughing at myself slightly again before looking up at Paul, tears coming again.  He moved the hair away from my face, “I just—I’m so thankful Paul,”

            “For what?” he asked me.

            “You,” I said sniffing and looking into his loving eyes, “I’m so in love with you Paul, and I have never, ever, been more happy than I am now and have been in the last five years of my life.  I thought I had my life all planned out before I met you, and now, I don’t even remember what I wanted because everything now is now perfect.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.  I have you, we’re going to have a family in a few months, I just—I’m just so lucky,” I said.   Paul immediately pulled me towards him and held me close, “I never want to lose you Paul.  I don’t know what I would do without you, you’re everything to me,” I cried into his neck.  He ran his hands through my hair and pulled me away to look at me, that wonderful smile on his face.  He places his hands on either side of my head and kissed me deeply.

            “Love, you are never, never, never, going to lose me, I’m always going to be here for you, no matter what. I love you too damn much to even think about what would happen if you weren’t with me anymore—there’s no way I could live with out you…I know that for a fact.  You, love, are my inspiration for everything.  Me songs, my love, my whole life,” he said kissing me again and pulling me into an embrace.

            “I love you,” I whispered again.

            “I love you too baby,” Paul said in return just as the phone rang out in the other room.  Paul crawled under the covers with me and we just cuddled with each other enjoying our love and company.  We heard Hunter call from the outer room.

            “Paul, it’s for you!” 

            “Ah shit,” Paul said laying next to me.  I laughed.

            “That was romantic,” he laughed.

            “Sorry love, it just came out,” I smiled.

            “Go answer the phone Mr. Beatle,” I said rolling my eyes.  He laughed and poked my stomach making me giggle.  He kissed me quickly and got out of bed leaving the room.  I laid there in silence so happy and lucky to have such a wonderful husband and a wonderful life.  Paul was gone for about 10 minutes and he entered the room so quiet I almost didn’t know he was back.  I opened my eyes and my smiled faded away.  I sat up and Paul sat down slowly on the bed.

            “Hey, sweetheart, are you alright?” I asked him rubbing his back gently and holding his hand.  He scratched his head in confusion.

            “That was Mike,” he told me.  I was puzzled.

            “You’re brother?”

“Yeah,”

“How did he get this number?”

            “He called John looking for me,” he said and continued to stare at the ground.

            “Why?  What happened?  Is everything alright?” I asked getting nervous.  He snapped out of his trance and turned to look at me, and then he smiled.  He gave me a kiss and I continued to look at him concerned.

            “Uh, he was looking for me because dad’s in the hospital,” Paul said, smile slowly fading.  I gasped silently.

            “In the hospital?  Why, what happened?”

            “I don’t really know exactly,” Paul said scratching his brow again, “He said dad’s been ill for a while, but nothing too serious until yesterday night—well early this morning actually.  He said he hasn’t eaten in days, continuously is passing out, and this morning apparently was having some sort of attack,” Paul explained and he voice seemed to choke up at the end.  I moved the blanket fully around me and positioned my body in a place where I could just hold Paul—and I did just that.  He buried his head in my chest and held onto me as he cried softly, “I don’t think I can lose him too ‘Liv…me mum was bad enough,’ Paul said muffled then looking up at me, eyes getting red from holding back tears.

            “Oh sweetie,” I said kissing him feeling so much pain because he was, “I’m sure everything is going to be alright.  He’s probably just got a bad flu or something,”

            “You’re right,” he said laughing softly at himself, “I’m probably making a much bigger deal out of this than it needs to be….it’s just hard you know?  Losing your mum at such a young age and not really being able to say goodbye, and feeling like it was your fault for so long,” he said shaking his head.

            “Paul, your mom’s death was not your fault—she had cancer, there’s nothing you could’ve done,” I told him.  He half smiled.

            “I wasn’t there for her ‘Liv, I was off playing in some band when she was dying….”

            “Sweetheart it’s not your fault,” I said again pulling him close.

            “I know it’s not, I’ve learned that—but I can’t help but feel terrible for not being there.  I don’t want that to happen with me dad too,” he said.

            “It won’t,”

            “I’m so sorry love, but I’d like to leave tonight, you know, go visit him as soon as I can, make sure everything is alright,” he said looking at me sadly.

            “Of course it’s alright Paul, I’ll get packing and we’ll leave as soon as we can,” I replied and he kissed me yet again, holding me close.

            “You amaze me and make me fall in love with you all over again everyday,” Paul said looking at me.  I kissed him.

            “I love you,” I replied.  We packed our stuff, told Hunter the news about the early departure as well as the broken bed.  Paul gave him some money which he wouldn’t take (so Paul hid it somewhere he was bound to find later) and we thanked him for letting us stay the night.  He offered us to come back whenever we wanted, because we’d always have a place to stay.  We said our goodbyes and headed to the jet.  We flew home, mostly in silence, Paul sleeping a lot of the way.  When we arrived home we didn’t even unpack our bags but went straight to the hospital to visit Jim.  He was doing much better and was incredible happy to see Paul.  The doctors told us that there was nothing ‘specifically’ wrong with him, but do to certain aspects such as his age and the weather, he was experiencing a bit more ‘sickness’ then your average 23 yr old.  We stayed for about an hour and a half, because Jim was falling asleep and my stomach was giving me problems.  I didn’t feel wall at all that night so just sleeping was nice.  Paul went back to work the next day and the routine fell nicely back into place.  Jim was in and out of the hospital the whole month of December, but things were looking better as the month neared an end.  As far as Christmas goes, Paul and I actually flew my family up for a week and we had and Newton and McCartney Christmas, which went extremely well.  Our families got along perfectly—surprisingly enough.   It was here that Paul and I announced my second pregnancy, and that I was due the 25^th of June—the baby looking healthier than ever this time (Paul even made sure he was never in the same room as me when he smoked).  They were extremely excited for us as parents usually are.  There was also a Christmas party held at Apple for all the employees including a visit from George’s friends, Hells Angels.  John and Yoko dressed up as Father and Mother Christmas and they gave our presents to all the little children attending.  That year for Christmas, Paul and I also stopped over to Cyn’s place and stayed to the evening.  Paul and I bought her and Julian gifts and we all just had a very lovely time.  As far as Pattie and George goes, she decided that to stay with George was the best idea, and laid off of Eric for the time being, though when she told me she didn’t seem convinced.  At least it’ll be for now.  So another busy year here and gone—farewell to 1968---hello 1969…what will you bring us?