They walked into the McCartney household, which was mostly quiet, except for the low sound of classical music coming from the radio. John followed Paul into the sitting room, where Mike was sat on the sofa, doing some school work.
"Hey, Mike, do you know where da' is?" Paul asked quietly. Mike looked up from his homework, surprised to see his brother home....finally.
"Where the hell have you been?" he asked, setting the papers in front of him down on the table. "What 'appened?"
"Nothing. Me and da' just got in an argument, so I stayed with John for a while." Paul sighed and looked around for any sign of Jim.
"A little argument?! You haven't been 'ome for weeks!"
"I know. Look, do ye know where he is or not?" Paul asked once again. He was beginning to get impatient...and a little anxious. He wanted to have this talk and all, but would his dad really listen? Of course he would, he had to. Right?
"'E's in the dining room."
Paul nodded and led John to the said room. There, his dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper silently. The two lads stood there awkwardly, contemplating whether they should disturb the man or let him be. Of course, they weren't just going to come back another time, so they silently decided to get this whole thing over with. Unfortunately.
"Dad?" Paul said in a small, nervous voice. Jim looked up from the article he was reading, to see the couple standing there, rather apprehensively.
"Yes?"
"Uhm, can we talk? Me, you and John, I mean."
Jim hesitated for a moment, but nodded his head and pointed to the seats in front of him. Paul was a bit caught off guard at how quickly his father agreed to talk. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad?
They all sat there in awkward silence for a good 2 minutes; Jim waiting for one of the lads to start talking, John waiting for Paul to say something, and Paul trying to find the right words to start it off. Finally, though, John got the whole thing started.
"We'd like to talk about what 'appened a few weeks ago." Paul nodded his head in approval and waited for his dad to say something.
"Ah, yes. What about it?"
"Well, y'see da'," Paul began, "I really love John. I really do. But, it's illegal, and I was hoping that you wouldn't mind since, y'know, your me dad and you said you'd always be there for me."
"But that wasn't the case the other week, when you threatened to beat him to a bloody pulp," John added, earning a glare from the other men sitting at the table. "Sorry. Go on Paul," John said and slumped back in his seat.
"Anyway, about three weeks ago, we accidentally told you about...us, and you didn't take it so well. And it hurt me, so I kind of moved in with John, but I want to talk it all out now. So, if you don't have anything to do..." Paul trailed off.
"No, we can talk."
"Great." Paul offered a small smile and looked over at John, who seemed to be playing with the buttons on his coat. He elbowed him, making him sit up and plaster a fake smile on his face.
They sat there in another awkward minute of silence. Paul had wished he'd planned this out more. He had no clue what exactly he was going to talk about.
"Why exactly do you like John so much?" Jim questioned. Paul was taken aback by this question, but quickly recovered and began to talk.
"Well, for one, he's extremely handsome-"
"I don't mean like that. What I mean is that you're a good kid, Paul, and I would never have thought that you would go for the troublemaker types,"Jim explained.
"He's not as bad as you think, da'. Sure he does get in trouble sometimes, but that part of life, isn't it? You can't be Mister Goodie Goodie forever, y'know."
Paul waited for his dad to say something else about John being a "bad influence" and how "he's a horrible person", but he didn't open his mouth. Instead he just sat back, never breaking eye contact with him. So he went on,
"He's actually very sweet, anyway. To me at least," Paul paused and grabbed Johns hand and held it in his.
"When I would get bullied in school, he would always step in and stop it. He would hurt the bullies if he had to. Just for me. Also, when I was staying with him for these past two or three weeks, he brought me to a store to let me get some clothes. He knew I needed clothes, so he bought me some with the money he was saving up for a new guitar. And just the other week, we went to a pub. I drank a bit too much beer, and I got drunk. He didn't take advantage of me or any of that stuff. He just took me home and made me go to sleep. So, if that makes him a bad influence, then I don't care. I'll love him either way."
Paul as watched as Jim nodded slowly, taking all of this information in. John smiled and squeezed his boyfriends hand tighter. That whole rant Paul just went on about how "sweet" he was made him feel overjoyed with happiness. Paul really did love him.
"And how do you feel about my son, Lennon?"
"I love him more than anything." Paul smiled widely at John and then looked back at his dad who seemed to be considering that statement. What would he do, now? Kick John out?
"Alright."
'Alright?'
"Alright?!" Paul and John said in unison. Was he serious?
Jim nodded his head and got up to get some coffee.
"Would anyone like some tea or coffee?" he asked politely. Paul ignored his question and jumped up to follow him into the kitchen.
"What do you mean 'alright'?"
"I mean that's fine."
"Are you saying you don't mind that we're dating?" Paul inquired. He couldn't be serious. This had to be a joke.
"Exactly." Jim took a sip from his mug and looked over at his son, who looked both confused and happy.
"Wait, wait, wait. So you put me through hell for weeks because I was in love with another boy, and then you say it's okay?!"
"I suppose so. I'm sorry for that." Jim laughed slightly at how flustered Paul was.
"What the f- could you please explain?"
"These past weeks you were at Johns house, I was thinking. I figured it was utterly ridiculous to be shouting at you for loving someone. And, I am sorry if I hurt you, Paul. I know things have been difficult since...Mary died, and I don't want to make them even worse." Paul smiled sadly at his father and walked up to hug him.
"Thank you," he whispered.
They wandered back into the dining room where Mike and John sat at the table, doing nothing in particular. Paul had forgotten about Mike.
"Tommy here heard our conversation," John informed. He knew his name was Mike, but he liked to make him mad.
"It's mike," Paul's younger brother mumbled. "Anyway, you're gay?"
"Did you finish your homework yet?" Jim asked.
"Don't change the subject. Is Paul gay or not?" Mike tried once again to get some information out of someone.
"Yes, he's very happy. Now go finish your school work, okay Martin?" John smirked, satisfied with his comment. Mike huffed in defeat and reluctantly went back into the sitting room.
"John, would you like to stay for dinner? I'd like to get to know you this time."
John looked at Paul, not sure if Jim was being serious or not. Paul nodded slightly, smiling.
"I'd love to."
Today was a new start for both John and Paul. It could only get better from here. Right?
-----------------
I could have ended this story right here, but I don't feel like it.
Tuesday is Johnny's death day. Rest in paradise John ♡
ALSO LAST SUNDAY WAS GEORGES DEATH DAY AND I FORGOT TO SAY SOMETHING OMG I LOVE YOU GEORGES I'M SORRY REST IN PEACE ♡♡♡♡