Paul figured that he had really upset Barney quite a bit because Paul didn't see him for quite a few weeks. In fact, by the time Barney came around again Paul's "nineteenth" birthday had come and gone and George had graduated from school.

It was four in the morning, early in July, and Paul had now been on 1961 for six weeks. He was adjusting to his old life quite well, but he was beginning to wonder how this was all going to work out. After all, all of this could change his life tremendously - he could very well never meet Nancy! But on the other hand, he might be able to save Linda.

"Hello, Paulie," Barney said.

"Haven't seen you in a while," Paul said and looked at him pointedly.

Barney looked at him with tired eyes. He looked so worn down. "There was a battle. A big one. We were almost beaten, and we lost so many great men and women."

"Seriously?" Paul said.

"Yeah," Barney sighed. "Our people against those who are trying to tear the universe apart. They're starting to advance."

"Why now?" Paul asked.

"Because they know that if you fix this part of history, then that's a major victor for our side," Barney said.

"Are we in danger?" Paul asked. "John and George and me, I mean?"

"Not right now. The F.H.O. has you under such tight security, it's hard for most of our people to get near you without clear permission from the Head of the F.H.O.," Barney said.

"Oh," Paul nodded.

"Anything new around here?" Barney asked.

"Nothing," Paul shook his head. "This past month has been pretty uneventful."

Barney sighed and rubbed his hands over his face tiredly. He looked nothing like the fun and witty Barney who made ribs appear out of thin air to prove he had magic that Paul had met on his first day after being brought back to the sixties. "You really need to pay closer attention, Paul. Like, to everything. History cannot be fixed without this bit of information."

"I'm looking," Paul rolled his eyes.

"Well, look harder," Barney snapped, then sighed again. "You know what today is, don't you?"

"Like I could ever forget," Paul said. "I would never forget. Never have, never will."

Barney nodded. "Well, enjoy the big anniversary, and keep an eye out. I'll be in touch soon." Then he was gone.

~~~

"Happy anniversary, Johnny boy," Paul said when John entered the kitchen in the morning.

John laughed. "Happy anniversary, Macca. Has it really been four years?"

"Yeah," Paul nodded.

"Doesn't feel nearly that long," John sighed as he began to make his breakfast.

"I don't know," Paul shrugged and he watched John making breakfast. "I think it feels a lot longer."

"It's weird," John shook his head. "I feel like I've just met you, but I also feel like I've known you my whole life, you know?"

"Yeah," Paul said. "I feel like ice known you a whole lifetime long."

John turned and looked at Paul. "You alright, Paulie? You look a little down in the dumps."

Paul smiled snd shook his head. "I'm fine," he watched as John moved about the kitchen and he couldn't even begin to fathom how he had come to be so lucky as to have someone like John for a best friend, or how he had managed to lose him in every way possible, or how he'd managed to get him back. Paul just stood there in awe.

"So, what should we do for our four year friendship anniversary?" John said.

"Well, we're playing at the Cavern Club tonight," Paul said. "That's alway a celebration in itself."

"No, we should do something," John said. "Like, really do something."

"Like what?" Paul laughed.

"I don't know, I'll have to think about it," John shrugged.

They didn't end up doing anything for their four year friendship anniversary - at least, not on their four year friendship anniversary. They wouldn't end up doing anything to celebrate until a few months later while celebrating something else, but that, my friends, is a story for another time. Oh, and what a story it is.

~~~

The next day was Ringo's birthday and it was the first time in over fifty years that Paul didn't get to say happy birthday to him. It was upsetting, but he knew that it wouldn't be very long before he could say happy birthday every year once again.

On the eighth Paul had dinner with his father and his brother and when he came home he could hear John from their shared bedroom strumming his guitar and singing, "Last night I said these words to my girl,
I know you never even try, girl,"

Paul sighed. He really wasn't going to give up on that song which was all well and good but it wouldn't be released for another two years and if John finished it and wanted to play it in a live performance...Paul didn't think that was a very good idea. In fact, he thought that it was an extremely terrible idea and would surely have consequences.

"John! I'm home!" Paul called and John came out from the bedroom.

"Hey, Macca," John said and collapsed into a chair, beginning to strum his guitar once more. "How was dinner? Did your dad make you some tofu now that you're a vegetarian and all?" John laughed mockingly. He and George were seriously never going to let that one go. Like ever.

"No, actually, we had spaghetti," Paul said and sat down in the chair that faced John's. "And it was good. He says I need to take a break and that I've been overworking myself." Paul shrugged.

"I'm with him," John said. "You're far too skinny."

Paul frowned and looked down at his shirt that hung loosely from his body. John had a point and Paul knew exactly why; he was working himself just as hard as he had the first time around - if not harder! - but the difference about this time was that he was eating so much healthier, he didn't smoke now, and he didn't drink beer nearly as much as he had the first time he was nineteen years old. He hadn't weighed himself, but he was sure that he must've dropped several pounds.

John hadn't pointed out the smoking - how Paul no longer did it, that is. It was just another thing added to the list; he was a vegetarian, he quit smoking, and on top of all that, he hadn't gotten laid in months. John had approached him on that last matter, either. He was just plain worried.

John's worry for Paul grew every day. It was like Paul was a new person in some ways, but still his best mate. He was the same...but different. It was so strange.

"I worry about you sometimes," John admitted and looked Paul dead in the eyes. "Sometimes I wonder what would happen if you lived on your own. I wonder if you'd be able to take care of yourself."

"I'm fine, John," Paul smiled reassuringly and, for good measure, he rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Yeah, you keep saying that but I'm not quite sure I believe you," John sighed.

Paul crossed his arms. "John, you're really worried about me, are t you,"

"Of course I am," John said. "You're my best friend, Paul."

Paul looked into John's eyes and saw that same vulnerability that he'd seen when John woke from his nightmare, but something was different this time. This time he didn't just see the vulnerability, he felt it, too. He swallowed hard. "I'm - I'm going to bed now."

"Paul, I'm not messing with you or trying to make you feel bad, I am just genuinely worried about you,"

"Goodnight, John." Paul said then he stood and left the room. He hurried to the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him, then leaned back against the door. His breathing was labored and he didn't know why at first, but when he thought about it for a minute he realized what was wrong; John.

Paul was breaking out in sweats, breathing heavily, and his hands were shaking and he know why. John...wasn't John. Barney had said things would be different, but John wasn't supposed to be different! John was supposed to be the John that he always was.

John was acting so strange now. Like, sometimes he was fine. He was the same as he always was. Once in while Paul would see John as he truly was, deep down, but sometimes it was more than that. There were times like when John woke up from a nightmare and called for Paul, or when he talked about Paul's health and said he was worried about him... And he looked vulnerable and scared to reveal himself.

Paul really needed to find out what John had realized in Hamburg. Because, he decided, it probably had a lot to do with all of this.

~~~

A/N: How would you guys feel about me updating every day for the next few days? :)