John slept out in the living room that night and the next morning when Paul came out into the kitchen for breakfast, they didn't talk about their conversation from the night before. They proceeded as normal, pretending it never happened.
Barney came by that night after John had gone to sleep and he wasn't at all happy. "The two of you are ridiculous! You need to talk through your problems, you need to talk and actually say things! Oh my god, you're terrible! Both of you!"
"Why do we need to talk about it?" Paul crossed his arms. "There's no reason to talk about that and just stir things up between us."
"Because you need to resolve your problems," Barney huffed. "I swear, the two of you are the reason the Beatles broke up!"
Paul glared at him. "Shut your mouth,"
"You need to resolve the problems between you if you want to save John!" Barney shouted. "There is something huge that needs to happen between you and John if you want to save him and in order for that thing to happen you need to resolve any issues between you."
"Well why is it an issue if he cares about my health all of a sudden?" Paul huffed. "Friends care about each other! I care about John and he cares about me because we're friends, okay? I don't really see the problem here!"
"Yes, you do," Barney said. "I know you do because you're on edge and you're avoiding talking about it. John was never this open and now he is and that worries you."
"Yeah, well, I think I've figured it out...partially," Paul said. "This has all got something to do with whatever the hell John realized in Hamburg that you keep going on about. You know, it would be so much easier for me to help you if you'd just tell me what he realized in Hamburg!"
"I can't, it's just too big," Barney shook his head. "This is something that you have to figure out on your own because when John tells you or when John finds out you know, it had to all be natural or the plan won't work."
"Yeah, about that," Paul said. "What is the plan anyway?"
"I'll tell you when you're older," Barney laughed. "And when you're a Beatle."
"I'm seventy three!" Paul huffed. "And I'm already a Beatle!"
Barney patted the top of his head then ruffled his hair like one would do to a child. "No, you're nineteen, Paulie. And you're not a Beatle yet."
Paul narrowed his eyes at Barney.
"Aw, look how cute you are when you get angry!" Barney gushed mockingly.
Paul felt his anger ebbing away until it was a dull irritation. He rolled his eyes and sighed once more, then he got over it and moved on. "So what do I do next?"
"Well, it's looking like the next ideal opportunity for you to find out about John's realization from Hamburg is October of this year," Barney said. "We're going to try and give him a little push but we want to be as natural as possible."
"Wait, October?" Paul said and Barney nodded. "Oh my god. I think I know when you mean... Paris!"
"Exactly," Barney smiled and patted Paul's shoulder. "Good job. I'd better run - trouble in the office."
"Wait, you have, like, an actual office that you go to for work?" Paul said, confused.
"Yeah," Barney said. "What, do you think that I just run around chasing after you all the time? I've got other very important things to do?"
"So I'm not your only case right now?" Paul raised one eyebrow.
Barney opened his mouth, then closed his mouth and sighed. "Well, actually you are. But that's just because the person who was supposed get this job had a freak accident the day before the plan was supposed to go into motion. The guy below him refused to take it though, because he would only have two days to prepare, so they asked for volunteers. I was up against this woman, and I got the job. I had to learn a hell of a lot in two days, but here I am and I think I'm doing a pretty good job."
Paul considered this. "Yeah, you are,"
Barney smiled. "Thanks," he said. "You've got no idea how much it means to hear that from you of all people."
Paul wanted to ask about how Barney came to have the job that he did, but he figured he should save it for another time. "So. Paris. October. Big reveal."
"With perfect execution of my plan and a whole lot of luck, yeah." Barney nodded.
"Great," Paul sighed, but in all honesty he felt pretty confident that they could pull it off. "Anyway, how who - "
"No!"
Barney looked toward the small hallway that led to the bedroom and bathroom. "Is that John?"
"Yeah," Paul said, looking worried.
"Nightmare?" Barney raised an eyebrow.
Paul nodded slowly, not looking back at Barney at first. He kept his attention on the hallway with a worried expression for a few moments before turning his gaze back to Barney - the worried look didn't leave his face.
"NO! PLEASE!"
"How many times have you been awake for something like this?" Barney asked.
"This is the second time," Paul sighed.
"Hm," Barney said. "I though John Lennon would be better at suppressing his emotions, even in in his sleep. Although, under the circumstances, it actually makes quite a lot of sense! Anyway, I think - "
"Paul!"
Just like that, Paul was running as fast as he could to the bedroom and he dropped to his knees on John's mattress. He took a deep breath, then shook John urgently. "John, wake up! JOHN!"
John's eyes flew open and he sighed in relief. His breathing was labored and he threw his arms around Paul. "You're okay, you're okay... You're alive. Thank god. Thank god."
"I - I'm fine, John," is all Paul could think - or even manage, for that matter - to say.
"Sorry I woke you," John whispered.
Again. There it was, that vulnerability. It doesn't suit John, Paul thought to himself as he sat back on his heels. "Don't worry, I couldn't sleep anyway. You didn't wake me.. Go back to sleep, Johnny. Rest."
John nodded and let his eyes slide shut and he dozed off again.
That was weird, Paul thought. So not like John at all... And the way he looked at me! It was almost like..like...
Paul didn't finish that thought. He couldn't! But he was on his feet in seconds, running back to the kitchen where Barney was patiently waiting. "Barney," Paul growled. "What the fuck did John realize in Hamburg?"
"Paul, no need to get angry," Barney said. "You know that that's something you have to figure out on your own!"
"Wait, does your spell keep John asleep no matter how loud we are?" Paul asked, suddenly very calm.
"Yes it does," Barney said proudly. "I'm amazing, you know."
"Oh, good," Paul nodded. "Yeah, that's good... Because I'm going to YELL AT YOU! I DON'T FUCKING CARE WHAT YOU PEOPLE SAY, I NEED TO NOW! THIS IS BIG!"
Barney smiled. "Sorry. I've got to go. But here, to show how sorry I am," he disappeared into thin air and behind where he had been standing, on the counter, was a huge plate of ribs.
~~~
Paul sat up all night that night, not getting an ounce of sleep. He was freaking out. This could not be happening, no way. There had to be some mistake. John could not be...
Paul couldn't even finish the thought. He wouldn't. He couldn't put himself through that.... And he couldn't admit that it made sense, and that it would explain a lot of things that had happened since he was sent back to the sixties.
But John wasn't...gay.
Paul stopped to think about all of this; for starters, having now lived into the twenty first century, he had a much deeper understanding of homosexuality. The first time that lived through the sixties he hadn't completely cared, but he hadn't understood everything. And he had never thought about making same-sex marriage a thing, never mind legal. But now...it was normal.
But it wasn't in the sixties and while it did happen, John just wasn't gay.
Paul's head was spinning and he couldn't think straight for even a second.
If John was gay, that was fine. It didn't change anything. But if John was...
He didn't want to think about it!
But if John was by some crazy chance...in love with Paul...then that did change everything. How were they supposed to work together? It would be awkward, and their friendship could easily be shattered that way.
The stupid F.H.O. wanted all of this and Paul hugged aloud, thinking to himself that they were playing with fire.....
If they wanted the Beatles to stay together then this was certainly not the way to keep them together.
Paul was pissed off, to say the least. If John was in love with him, he didn't want to know because he was damn well sure that he was not in love with John Lennon.