.......Hands up in surrender he looked up at the shadows that now swayed over them.

Four lads

"Alright Paulie, G, Rings! Hey Rings met Lily" John put a hand by his mouth as if to keep a secret from her "Just don't call the girl luv she'll have your tackle"

"Hello Lu- arrr nearly said it didn't I!... Lily- Richard" Richy grinned, holding out his hand which she shook gingerly. He'd been hearing about this bird for the full train ride, ever since they stood metres from her at Liddypool's Lime Street station. Metres between them they nudged and told him bout her but they acted like strangers, even her, he never would have guessed that they all had met, however terrible, previously. Now, here she was in the flesh. Very pretty, and the grin she'd gifted John was sad but wonderful for evoking pleasant thoughts. "Ummm the lads and I decided you needed security guards so here we are. Ta- da! The fabulous Beatley security detail ready to serve and protect pretty solo travellers... at your service"

"Gee cut it out Casanova" Paul smirked, clipping Ringo behind the ear "What do you say Lil, room for some raggedy musicians? Shift over Lennon"

Paul hustled the fastest, knocking Richy aside, to sit by Lily. So Lily now had Paul one side and John the other. "English rose between two thorns, eh" Paul nodded to their seating arrangement with a wink directed at Lily.

"Is he always so...." Lily squirmed, this was much too close to be sitting like this, the seats were made for two not three. George and Richard sat opposite. George lit Richys fag that sat perched between the drummers lips.

"Flirty? Yeah lu- Lil, it's a very bad problem actually. Flirted with the ticketing officer last week and the bloke near booted him off the train" George cackled, first looking at her shoes, then darting his eyes up to see if she got the joke "You see the tic-"

"Was a man I get it, I'm not thick George just loose" Lily retorted sarcastically, it was quite uncomfortable for them to see her laughing off her trade, if you could call it that, but it was better than bogging herself down in it they all supposed to themselves.

"You're not loose, is she lads. Nice straight girl this" Paul lifted an arm and slung it over her shoulder, Lily squirmed a little more. Only one thing desired when a mans arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Did they want something from her... Were they now wanting payment for services rendered...

Lily glanced carefully at them all. John with his head cast up but still eyeing her carefully, she watched him back unnerving him, he was measuring her so she measured him, and all of them. George sank a bottle of Pepsi- Cola in under a minute and was spluttering and coughing with 'excuse me's' thrown her way.

Richard, Rings? Oh Rings he has rings on. Lily lent forward a touch to look a little closer at them, Rings wiggled his fingers making her hiccup a laugh and lean back from her close inspection of his hand.

"That's there's a present from me Ma. That one's me granddads, that one's a pressy for me birthday just past"

"You sure do like rings" Lily smiled with a small amount of ease this time. Rings' blue eyes, the bluest she had ever seen, stared steadily back at her sombrely, warm though, like a friend or someone you could trust.

"Lily"

"Yes Rings" she whispered, but they had heard her call him Rings, they all cackled with laughter, John hooted then nudged her.

"His name isn't Rings its Ringo with an 'o' like cheerio or dumb-di-o, Lils"

"Dumb di Lennono mate, watch your tongue or I'll make a run for it with me bloody drum kit I will. Dragging me back to that humpy of a town. Bloody Hamburg I'm over that dive" Rings oops Ringo countered smartly. John scoffed, lighting a cigarette making Lily waft her hand about, they were all lit up now.

"Want a drag lu- /lol/ Lil-. Christ why can't I just call you luv" John huffed then blew a smoke ring toward the ceiling, Lily pinched his leg gently. "Ouch, heathen"

Lily looked at the quiet ones. Paul and George had been nattering amongst themselves but now it was quiet, almost too quiet, Lily turned her head first to Paul.

"Paul!" She smacked two cigarette dangling precariously from his nostrils away "Really!?!" He nodded over toward the other seat and Lily spied George with two sticking out of his ears "George Guitarist!" Smacking them both down she then pinched his cheeks and smiled "Child"

"Sorry Mother"

"So, you should be. Being on public transportation you should be found polite, well manner and couth" Lily primly lectured with a nod of authority.

"Couth?"

"Yea well he was being uncouth therefore he should be couth"

"You're ok Lils" John patted her head.

"Thanks for the pass of judgement, your honour"

"Welcome" He returned with a noble nod.

"She's right you know that's old English that, doesn't get used much though, does it" Paul flicked ash on the floor and decided to turn in his seat so he faced Lily and John.

John started talking in a voice over like a newsreader on the BBC radio "And that, ladies and gents, was dictionary time from Professor McFudgely formerly McFlabby but he lost a little puppy fat in the last six mont—Hey! don't smack like a sheila, you arse" John rubbed his shoulder, then moved his hands in flops and waves, apparently mimicking Paul "Just like a girl mate. Flapping your limbs around all wobbly and indirect like"

"Ignore him, he hasn't been potty today, a bit constipated you see" Paul tooted back with a smirky snarl making Lily cover her mouth to stop the spurt of laughter that erupted.

"All right Laurel and Hardy" George threatened darkly "Stop the show. We were supposed to be sussing out Lily's plans"

"Way to go Sherlock, don't think sussing will be a viable option now, will it" Paul shook his head, the soft dark mop of hair settling quite neatly where it lay, he scrubbed it with his fingers flat then shook it again gaining a laugh from Lil, his aim. "Lil?"

"Yes Watson"

"Who?"

"You know Doctor Watson to Sherlock, never mind. Yes Paul, what can I do for you?" Lily sat back and wiggled her toes, it was a long journey and they wouldn't be in London til nearly dawn.

"Lil, Lily...."

"Geezus spit it out Watson! ...Look Lils, what Paul and Inspector Gadget are trying to find out for the rest of us nosy geezers is - Are you ok with London, you know... got someone to kip with?" John leaned back again, long legs stretched as best he could in the cramped seating, toward, and poking in between Ringos, who sat on the seat opposite.

Lily quietened, well she had been quieter than them anyhow but now the lights went dim and her quick wit that they had found under her silence fell away. She fidgeted then scratched the palm of her hand, the one closest to John.

Everyone was looking at her expectantly, they could hardly smuggle her into Germany but that didn't mean they didn't want to. Germany wasn't the best place either for her to escape and start anew.

The longer they looked, the more she dug her nails into her hand and the longer she dug her nails in, the more John felt he should stop her, so he did.

He just held her hand steady and it was no more than that. Holding her hand, friendly, caring, helpful and not wanting her to do that things she was doing to herself, Lily looked down at her hand lost in his.

So small compared to my mitts, John watched Lil watch his hand, he felt her tense, he felt her questions and finally he felt her relax. And she moved her hand to hold his properly, John looked up and the others had averted their eyes- north, south, east. Lil and he were west. "Soooo place in London lu-lil?" John slipped again but caught it quicker this time as he continued he conversation like it had never stopped.

She bit her lip as they glanced back at her for an answer.

And they all fell a little more in love with her.

Which was terrible really. She had been used for sex in all its physical forms, she didn't need love right now, she needed safety. The love or look they showed, that could be unintentionally construed to mean they wanted more from her. She needed friends. But she was gorgeous and innocent and smart and lost.

The feelings butted and smashed together. They had to be her friends and they would, they would try their hardest to support and not use her.

John felt her tension, winding through her arm into him, he squeezed and she sought his eyes to gift him a small appreciative smile.

"I know a place. A friend, an acquaintance from Liverpool" whispered quietly they leaned toward her, all of them. Pauls hand squeezing her shoulder. They must all look a sight, she mused, four strapping boys and a lone single girl. She felt comfortable though and that was wonderful. "She, Ophelia, hightailed it out of Liverpool about six months ago but I couldn't, I was, ummm..."

Johns finger rolled over her wrist and the vision it sparked made her flinch in his gentle grip.

"I was ummm, he... he'd not let me leave the house" Lily closed her eyes and Johns fingers caressed the welts he found there, she never pulled on the chains anymore cause father would beat her about her head if she looked like she would have chain marks stamped across her skin. The players would pay less if she was looking abused, less than virginal. She flicked her arm, just enough and Johns movements ceased mapping figures of eight in the shape of chain links. The old welts that seemed to stay hidden just under her skin, he had found.

"Ophelia the dicky-bird from Wallasey?" Paul enquired. Course they knew her, everyone did, she had a reputation that girl. Much too knowing and business like for an innocent like Lil he thought "I thought she died"

"No, she was in hospital though, cause one of the punters didn't take kindly to her saying no one evening because he wanted a two for one- freebie" Lily ducked her head in shame whispering "Never say no....." Lil stared out the window by John into the night and smiled just a tiny bit, happy someone had escaped, was she escaping too? "I took some of her clothes to the hospital, they, my da and her's, said I was more likely to be allowed to see her than them. She came to London straight from the hospital, she escaped"

The silence surrounded them, George slept leaning into Ringo's shoulder, Paul chewed his thumb nail periodically and John was off prowling the train for the tea lady.

"Lily" Paul stuck his thumb under his arm, obviously trying to stop biting it to pieces "Lil"

"Hmmmm" She dozed and woke, dozed and woke, the shuffle and sway of the train rolling the tracks leaving her fighting sleep off. She wanted sleep, she wanted the last twenty-four hours to be gone, a new day emerge and some sort of answers to all her questions, all her worries solved.

"You're really going to Ophelia's then"

"I know she was in West End someplace and worked some of the clubs. I'll go by them and find her" Lily watched Paul take his thumb back out from under his other arm to chew again. She caught his fingers and held them soft in her lap, checking how much he had ruined the wicks and nails. "You play the guitar too?"

Lily had curiously watched them load up onto the train square electric boxes and guitar shaped cases, bags of luggage and many crates carted in by poor Ringo, which must have been his drum parts. Paul nodded his head, and closed his eyes half, she had hold of his hand so gently looking over his fingernails and, in the half view he had of her, he could well imagine his mother tutting and grumbling about his nails. Lily tutted and he grinned up at the ceiling. "The boxes the electric things, what were they?"

"Amps and speaker" Paul wiggled his fingers and made her giggle. "Lily I want you to write to me, I'll be in Hamburg but if you write to me dads addy... well I'll get it and we can catch up on how you're going. Maybe visit even, we're trying to get a record made you see, need to get into London town for that" Paul brought his gaze to hers then bopped her nose with his middle finger of his free hand "Maybeee we can come camp on the floor of your flat or other fine establishment"

"Maybe. Hopefully. That would be nice, you're so nice" She squeaked out, making Paul grin widely "I mean you're all nice"

"Some more than others" John returned and was stood at the end of the pew, grasping hold of his jacket like he was Napoleon "Move your spaghetti legs George, bugger off with the knees son. Paul what's your hand doing in that there young lady's lap" John eventually managed to clamber over all and sundry and back to his seat. Lily giggled to herself because he'd called her 'lady'.

"Why didn't we all just shove over one for him?" Lily whispered the aside to Paul in puzzlement. John being blessed with big ears heard her little remark.

"Because Lu-Lily, bugger did it again! Because Lil I get the window, cause I'm the leader of this raggedy motley crew and the windows mine" John grinned and offered a half-drunk cup of tea to her.

"I thought it was because you were like a dog and needed to stick your head out periodically" Lily retorted smartly, immediately offering the cup back whilst covering the laugh wanting to escape her mouth... she snorted instead, covering John with tea.

"Bloody hell, leave you alone with this lot for five minutes and you've turned against me. Wasn't I the one to give you jam sandies .... wasn't I the one to enforce the no luv- Ouch – stop smacking me you heathen! Rule ... wasn't I the one to bring you back a half a paper cup of cold sweet tea?! This in an outrage, where's the conductor I need a non-bias person's opinion to fix this insanity!"

"Shut up John, some of us are trying to sleep and all you're doing is howling the train down" George grumbled making Paul and Lily high five about the dog howling connection.

"Traitors"

Lily turned about in her seat to face John, Paul shrugged, a little miffed that he was now forgotten, though he did indeed have the audacity to lean closer over her shoulder, laying his head along the seat to continue watching her and John.

"Bloody 'ell don't smile" John groaned as Lily smiled a little tiny bit more "No, oh come on, not fair. Much too good a smile that one to waste on me I'd think"

"Yeah turn about and smile at me instead" Paul teased both John and Lil.

"No she stays like this and I will grin.." John grinned like an idiot.. "and bear it. Such is the battle to conquer thy smile"

"Oh crikey, is John citing bloody Beethoven now?" Richy moaned then rolled his shoulder to lean further away from Georges body, which by now was flush with Richy's.

"Shakespeare perhaps" George shrugged , what did he know.

Lily was bubbling happy, they were such fun.

So wonderfully engaging and so nice.

She thought her lips and cheeks should be hurting from smiling so much. She pressed her palms against the warm pink cheeks to try to get them to behave, settle down from all the good things they made her feel.

"Lils going to penpal me" Paul tooted over her head.

"Pen what!?!? Oh write to you"

"Not just to you, all of you.... That would be ok wouldn't it? Richy, George, you and Paul?"

John took the cup away and sobered up a pinch, frowning at the thought "Maybe writings not for the best" She was a dead mans daughter should they be corresponding?

It was all right this, now, dead of the night, no one knowing what had happened but tomorrow come sun up, and the week after that. It would get out and people might talk and work out the culprits.

His eyes fell on her and she was watching him, that cupids bow attacking her bottom lip with worry. She could see him trying to say no, saw him wanting to ban corresponding ".... Just Paul and the others then perhaps?" Lily questioned slowly. Johns brow furrowed further still ".... No one? Is that what you're not saying and frowning about. No one at all" Her face dropped. Lil had been so elated. She should have known nothing lasts.

"Lily Lu- Lil look at me" John's frown cleared, he was trying really hard to be strong and have the answers, not upset the apple cart, not have the whole of the Liverpool constabulary breathing down their necks. Lily was withdrawing right under his nose and he hated that she was. She hunched over staring in her lap.

He'd felt the welts, heard the words she hadn't spoken, the ones that fell between the lines she had whispered. She had been abused and made to work like a whore for others gains and he hated it. He kicked the seat across from him, the anger felt over her abuse wanting to escape again and thump something.

"Lil..." She dared look up into those hardened eyes "Awww Lil" He embraced her and she was shocked. Her body tense against his and muddled thoughts swirled, his hands dropped and squeezed her fingers then John pulled back and held her shoulders carefully, grinning rather shyly at his overt display of warmth "Sorry got a bit carried away then .... Now..... how many times a week will you write me!?"

Launching into his arms she held him close and kissed his cheek five times all while John and Paul shared a smile over her shoulder.