Everyone settled down after the American tour stopped and they were all back home. That tour was exhausting; every little part of it. Playing, traveling, fighting... The whole 9 yards. For Paul and John it wasn't easy. They didn't make up 'till after they all got home and actually talked. George and Ringo were closer than ever before with this image in their head that together they would be unstoppable. Ringo of course doubted that because he was so pessimistic and sad. Yet he still had an amazing smile and sense of humor.

Ringo was tapping his toes under the table at the diner they went to back in Liverpool. George air guitared and hummed the parts he had.

"Well I talk about boys now. What a bottle of joy. Alright George!"

Just Ringo saying his name like that sent shivers down his spine. Gosh George loved Ringo. In every way possible. He loved his smile. Laugh. Eyes. Arms. The way they made love. Their kisses. His personality. The way he runs how fingers through his hair. His hands. How his heart flutters whenever they talked, despite how long they had known each other.

On a napkin he wrote out a 'love you' and drew a heart with 'G+R' in it. The little silly gesture made Ringo blush madly and kick George's shin playfully under the table.

"Oh George you're too much for me." Ringo let a goofy smile play on his lips. George couldn't help but smile back and drew another heart in the air. "And you're cheesy."

"But c'mon you love me!"

"I do," Ringo said as a matter-of-factly. "But you love your sandwhiches more than me and it makes me frustrated."

"Oh, go off. That's not true, darling." But he still dug into the egg sandwich that he ordered.

"There's my evidence!"

"Its only a joke. Lighten up, Richie." George smirked, flashing his teeth.

"You're lucky you're cute, my vampire." Ringo faked a little 'rawr' and then started cackling like a school boy.

"I do love you though, a lot. I need you." George whispered, more Seriously, reaching for his hand. He took it in his and laced their fingers for a few seconds before someone walked by and he pulled away. George couldn't put into words how much Ringo meant to him. He was one in the million, an actual love. A true love. One that everyone searched for... He didn't care what anyone though about them. He loved him and wasn't ashamed, but knew it made Ringo uncomfortable in public.

"George, that was a close one..."

"Richard. It doesn't matter... I love you. Isn't that what matters?"

"I love you too George, but we have to be more careful." He excused himself and got up. He left the diner and stood outside, smoking a cig.

George cursed himself. He sat there and finished his food. "Why can't I keep him happy?" George whispered to himself, mentally beating himself. All he did was mess up. He loved Richard so much, but he didn't feel like he got the love back.

Ringo was outside... Talking to the one and only Barbra... The diners walls were glass and George saw it. Barbra was Ringo's ex girlfriend and it made George uncomfortable. Why would Ringo laughing and talking to Barbra after he left George alone? It would've been a lie if George said he wasn't angry. He paid their bill and went outside, wrapping an arm around Ringo's waist, but Ringo pulled away.

"Hey George... Mind if I hang out with her? We see each other all the time, mate. Love you man." Before George could even answer the question, he was off, an arm around Barbra's shoulders. They were talking. Talking gossip and stuff, just like they were friends. Best friends. Like Ringo was just another one of Barbra's girl-friends.

George almost started crying. "B-bye."

~•~

George went home, alone. Maybe Ringo just wanted to be seen with a girl so people wouldn't be suspicious? Maybe he just wanted to be with a friend? Maybe George pissed him off or made him upset? George didnt know, he didnt want to think about it. He started drinking and writing, his guitar in hand as he did so.

His voice was shaky as he sung to himself. "You don't realize how much I need you." He wrote down the words and rhythms that he thought of, but paused. The next line, he kept saying in his head, but kept branching off into other things. "Love you all the time and never leave you... F**king hell! A$$hole! Why'd he just leave!?" George had to stop his rant and threw his guitar pick. He couldn't keep his mind in the right place. He didn't know what just happened. Ringo just went off to hang out with his ex, while he was on a date... What? What happened? Why'd he go? What did this mean?

"Please come on back to me... I'm lonely as can be...I need you." George sighed. He put the paper down.

Ringo went home later on, he just wanted a break. The pressure of the relationship was too much for him. So he wanted a 'girls day' with Barbra just to clear his mind. Even if he was rude about it, it helped. He planned on apologizing, he knew it would work. George was too in love with him not to. Ringo loved him too, a lot... But he didn't know if he was as in love with him. It was sad to admit, but it was the truth. He couldn't tell George that, he didnt want to break him.

He didn't even go to George's place, he went straight home, but at least had the decency to call. Of course, George picked up.

"Hello..." He sounded really out of it.

"Hey Geo... I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? I get it. You dont want me. I'll stop trying." George sighed.

"No," Ringo protested. "I should've just told you I wanted a break. People are suspicious. I get that you don't want to hide. I do though, and I want you to respect that."

"That's not even why I'm upset. I understand that part... I'm upset because whatever I do, you just act like you don't care. I dont feel loved... I love you, so much, Richard..."

"Okay, George, I love you too. Okay?"

"Don't j-just say it." His voice broke.

"Do you want me to mean it? George, I can't. I love you, but its complicated... I have to think about it. Its better if..." He decided to just get it off his chest right then and there. "If we do take a break. But George I promise I never faked it. I love you, a lot! But I need some time to myself. I don't want anything to get awkward though."

"Alright Ringo." He sighed and hung up before he could say anything else. He just collapsed where he was, crying, asking himself what he did wrong. He wasn't going to pressure Ringo. He was going to finish that song though. He loved Richard Starkey, no matter what, and he was sure he couldn't stop.

How did it go from something to perfect to this in just a days time?