As if on the contrary to happiness that recently happened to George, work and duties weren’t giving him any moment of rest now and inquisitive Party’s eyed seemed to stalk his life even more than in common. Maybe it was related to the incoming Week of Hate and solid preparations — volunteers were decorating streets, spontaneous demonstrations now were happening every day and employees had to stay late in works. The entire city lived in a feverish atmosphere.

Harrison was already tired of this, sleepless for another night. The worst part, however, was not seeing Richard since more than a week — seemed like an eternity for him.

He feared more and more those days. He couldn’t explain this rationally, but he felt intense stares of the squealers on his back all the time, burning him, staring into his sinful soul, and it made him nervous. Did he appear too happy? Or maybe anyone could see he’s in love? It would be his doom.

More and more people disappeared, vaporized, even some of George’s co—workers. He could see the Police at every turn. The fear surrounded him, clutching him in a powerful grasp, making him slowly lose his sanity and self-confidence. The man’s face was a mask, as always, but deep down inside he panicked. Betraying the Party was insane. More and more crimes he committed, more limit he exceeded, he wondered when will they finally get him?

It couldn’t last forever — nothing beautiful lasts forever.

That still was the thing he disagreed with Lennon — the older man remained convinced that with a little luck and flair the Party will never know. Big Brother is not infallible, he kept saying. But George knew he isn’t right.

Big Brother is everlasting.

Big Brother knows everything.

They’ll find them.

He’s finished.

And so is Ringo.

George didn’t care about himself as much as about his lover. He feared what the government could do to this man, how could they punish him. He desperately wanted to protect Ringo, anyhow, just protect him until his last breath. Harrison couldn’t stand the thought of putting him in such a danger.

What would he do if one day Richard just didn’t come?

He tried not thinking about this, drowning himself in endless work. Soon. Soon this madness will end, and they’ll see each other.

One day, he saw Starkey, sitting alone in a lunchroom. Desperate to talk to him, even for a moment, hear his voice, he walked into the man’s direction, but sudden scream stopped him:

“George! Comrade!”

Damn, Harrison said to himself and turned back.

His colleague from the Department, working at the same floor, Eric Clapton. George liked him even though Eric was one of those blindly worshiping, mindless people. He was energetic, nice, but always liked to brag about his achievements in job and for the Party. It annoyed the hell out of Harrison, but always listened to the man, knowing that he should show any kind of interest. In this moment, however, he wanted to punch Clapton right in the face.

The colleague opened his mouth and immediately started talking; George was only nodding, from time to time murmuring something, his thoughts far away.

The next opportunity came up at the very same day, near the Main Square. Coming back from work, Harrison noticed big group of people and, whether he liked it or not, joined them. He saw Richard’s head and pushed through citizens to reach him. Truck transporting war captives passed through the streets. People screamed and George touched his lover’s hand delicately.

They didn’t know when they could see each other again. They didn’t know for how long. But they had each other. And that gave them a sense of safety.

* * *

George picked a flower and weaved it into Richard’s hair. He smiled, watching his lover’s face shining in the spring sun. So young, so innocent.

The Week of Hate has ended and the government gave them kindly one free day from the work. He and Ringo had finally a  chance to meet, in their secret place, a clearing covered in flowers. The weather was becoming warmer, the wind carried a summer breeze.

“You’re beautiful,” he said to the blue-eyed man.

“Am I?”

George nodded and leaned in, kissing Starkey to confirm his words, feeling free. Ringo hugged him, they fell to the ground with rustle of leaves. Richard laughed and brought Harrison’s face closer.

Not much time passed until George started to slowly unbutton Ringo’s shirt. While doing this, he looked in the man’s eyes, waiting for a sign of protest, but he didn’t find any. So the brown-eyed man continued, stopping again at the lover’s belt.

“Are you sure you want this?”

Richard nodded and then, wanting to make it clear, kissed George passionately, until their tongues met. He reached into the man’s shirt and nearly tore it, showing Harrison’s thin chest. The younger one sighed, feeling the whiff of coldness on his bare skin.

“I’ll take it as ‘yes’,” he laughed and embraced the lover, clinging closer to him, leaving no gap between them.

“You’re all red!” said Richard, smiling.

“Oh, shut up,” George murmured, his breath becoming heavier. “You too.”

They were alone, having only each other. Nobody watched them, except for birds hidden in between the leaves. But the entire world didn’t matter right now. Harrison has never expected his first time will be like this: outdoor, with a man, the man he loved.

They improvised. At first the younger man was unsure, afraid of hurting his lover, but soon they both found a pleasure. George couldn’t even describe this feeling. John would call it only a riot — they would call it a confirmation of their feelings and a sign that the Party couldn’t completely control them, hold their feelings.

When they finished and got apart, they laid for a while, hugging, not wanting to break the magic of this moment. But sun went down, it got colder and the lovers had to finally stand up to dress and pull leaves out of hair, seeing scratches made by twigs on their bodies. They were happy.

Harrison leaned his head on Richard’s arm, watching the sunset painting sky crimson. There was something ominous and beautiful at the same time with this view. The lovers heard sounds of nature all around; delicate singing of birds or rustle of bushes when herd of curious roe-deers passed near. Here, far away from dullness and noisy Liverpool, nature glittered with a rich palette of colours, from the luscious grass’ green to azure of a lake. It was hard to not be impressed by this.

“Joj?” Richard’s tender voice broke the silence.

“Yes?”

“I love you,” the man whispered.

“I love you too.”

“Remember when I talked about the Brotherhood?” asked Ringo all of a sudden, looking more serious now.

George felt a pang of an anxiety. “That you wanted to join them, just like John?”

“Yes.”

“You still want this?” He couldn’t help the tone of skepticism in his voice.

“Yeah. Joj, it’s an important thing. Our love is a victory towards the Party, but… only our victory. If we join the Brotherhood, we will serve the bigger thing.” Starkey was talking with a self-confidence, convincingly, but Harrison backed away.

“Ringo… I… I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

“Why not?” Richard answered sharply. There was something in his voice that reminded George of John the day when they argued. He didn’t like where this was going.

“Because I don’t want to lose you, Ringo! What would I do if you got vaporized?!”

“I could be vaporized right now, for the crimes I’ve committed so far. If we’re both practically dead, why don’t keep on fighting?”

“But the forbidden love is one thing, an open riot… other,” Harrison swallowed and came closer to Richard, knowing that the man is angry. Their faces were only inches apart. “Ritchie… I can’t promise you that we’ll survive this. I don’t care right now. Sometimes… sometimes I let myself dream, y’know? That one day we would just leave. Leave this city once and for all. Reached to another city. Change our names. Become proles, find some job, live together… It…” His voice became a soft whisper. “It isn’t impossible.”

The older one looked at him, his eyes shining. “I could die with you, Joj.”

“I could die FOR you, Ringo.”

Silence.

Richard kissed him one last time. “Think about it, George. Please.”

“Alright, I’ll do,” Harrison promised.

He feared the decision he’d make.

//AN: Yes, expect non-regular updates, school has started ,_,
But watch out for a plot twist in a few chapters!//