IMAGINE #5 : RINGO STARR

FOR aaronsjudge

Maddie was a mess. Her relationship of two years with Ringo had ended. The past two weeks since Ringo had left to tour in America had been hell. Maddie repeatedly wanted to pick up the telephone and call Ringo. She wanted to ask him to get together again. Each time Maddie found the energy to get up and dial the telephone, she stopped.

What was she doing? There was a reason their relationship had ended. The distance between them was horrible. Timezones were horrible. Ringo missed birthdays, and anniversaries. He missed important milestones Maddie was reaching. It was sad and disappointing. Not to mention Maddie wouldn't be able to have a normal life if she stayed with Ringo. Staying with him meant being recognized, it meant Ringo would have to be away if they got married and had kids.

So yes, Maddie was heartbroken. Yes, it was almost impossible to get out of bed every morning and get ready to go to work. But Maddie did it anyway, because life had to go on. It had to. After two weeks, she began to feel some sense of normalcy make its way back to her life.

She called up her good friend and went out for a cup of tea. They ordered some English muffins and spread jam over it. Her friend took a bite first, "how are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Maddie replied. She was used to giving everyone that response the last couple of days, even when she was on the verge of tears. But she felt better now. Her heart ached, but no tears came.

"I'm glad you're doing better," she said. "Do you mind if I ask Ringo out?" Maddie looked up from her cup of tea, looking at her friend. After a moment, her face broke into a smile.

"Come on!" Maddie laughed.

When Maddie got back home after work that afternoon, she was starving. She eat a chocolate bar as she unlocked the front door. The telephone was ringing, so she quickly threw her bag on the couch and ran towards the ringing device.

"Hmm?" She managed to say. Her mouth was full of chocolate and she wanted to savor it. The person at the other end had to understand.

"Maddie?" The voice at the other end said. George, Maddie thought, it sounds like George. "It's me George!"

"Oh hello," Maddie swallowed.

"Were you eating?"

"Yes," Maddie coughed, the chocolate getting stuck in her throat. She reached for a cup of water. "George is everything—"

"I recognize that hmm, sound all too well Mads," George said. Maddie agreed, when wasn't his face always stuffed with food? "Everything is alright."

George was lying.

Things were in fact, not alright.

"Oh," Maddie felt relieved. She'd half expected the call to be bad news, she was glad it wasn't.

"Is what I would like to say. But Maddie, things are in fact, not alright," he said. Maddie felt her heartbeat quicken. "Ringo is miserable without you. He told us about the breakup, how you both agreed it was best. Mads, he can barely keep it together."

"Well, I can say I relate to that," she replied.

"That's brilliant! I mean no, it's not, but it means you feel the same about him. Do you want him back?"

Maddie heard noises at the other end, then another voice came on. "What George so stupidly wanted to communicate is, you better bleedin' take back Ringo back. I cannot stand him being mopey."

"Did you just threaten her so she'll take Ringo back?" George asked at the other end.

Maddie knew John wasn't really threatening her. She knew John cared about Ringo, and wanted what was best for him. (Even if sometimes he was a bit of a jerk.) Maddie wanted to cry knowing Ringo wanted her back.

"What's goin' on?" A voice asked in the background. Maddie recognized the voice so well. She didn't need to pause and process who it was: Ringo. She closed her eyes, wishing he'd speak more.

"Brian has it all set, if you want to come Mad's, you know who to call!" George said. He hung up the telephone, and Maddie was left to her thoughts. She paced the room, and chewed her nails. Time passed slowly, as she thought.

Though, deep down Maddie knew there was no other answer than yes.

Maddie reached for the telephone.

A knock from the door interrupted her. She didn't welcome the distraction, she wanted to call Brian now and get his help flying to America. Maddie quickly checked to see who it was, and let out a sigh when she realized it was her good friend. She opened the door, took her arm and dragged her inside.

"Help me pack," Maddie instructed.

She frowned, then smiled. "Where are you off to?"

"America," Maddie replied. They walked together to Maddie's bedroom. Her friend went into her closet and began suggesting clothes. Maddie contacted Brian, then let out a little sigh.

Her flight was tomorrow.

She'd be with Ringo tomorrow.

There was so much longing inside of Maddie. And so much regret for breaking up in the first place. She could hardly sleep throughout the night, and instead kept thinking of when she'd see Ringo's face.

. . .

The elevator went up slowly. It stopped various times on it's way to the ninth floor. Maddie kept tapping her foot impatiently, though that didn't make the elevator move any faster. People went in and out, as Maddie felt herself yawn. On her way here, she'd managed to get only a few hours of sleep.

The excitement, the expectation had kept her awake. It reminded her a lot of waiting to go with Ringo on her first date. Maddie had been so excited, and nervous she couldn't sleep. Maddie yawned, and the elevator doors opened.

Floor nine.

Maddie knew the information Brian had given her by memory. She walked to door 909, then stopped. She paced around the door, then knocked. She felt her heartbeat fluttering inside of her chest. Her hands were sweating, her blood rushing to her cheeks. The door opened, and Paul smiled at Maddie.

"Mads!" He wrapped her in a quick hug. "George said you might be coming. It was my idea of course. It was my idea all along."

Maddie smiled. "You're a genius, McCartney."

"Damn, right," Paul stepped outside of the room, knocking on the door across. The door across opened, and George waved. Maddie stepped inside the suit Ringo was sharing with Paul, and looked around.

She could hear the shower running.

She hadn't expected there'd be more waiting. It all felt so anticlimactic.

She paced the room, then decided to sit on the bed. Then, she wondered if that was too suggestive, although damn it, she did want to have sex with Ringo.

She sat on the chair next to the desk, instead. She turned the newspaper over and read the sports section. Maddie loved baseball, so much.

Maddie could help her eyes closing. She put her head on her arm, and rested. "Maddie?" A voice asked far away. Maddie stirred in her sleep, and didn't open her eyes. Gentle hands shook her shoulders. "Maddie!"

Maddie opened her eyes. Ringo was standing in front of her wearing only a towel. Maddie blinked, then blinked again. This felt a lot like a dream she had had before.

"Ringo?"

"Maddie," Ringo bent down on his knees and caressed Maddie's cheek. "Ya came to me, Mads. Ya came."

"Of course," Maddie said. "Of course."

Ringo kissed her. And despite being tired, Maddie found the energy to kiss him back.

"Promise me we'll never be apart again," she said. "Ever."

Ringo didn't hesitate. "I promise, Maddie. I promise."

He took her head and lead her to the bed.

. . .

[ a/n: aaronsjudge I'm so so sorry this was so late! I began writing it a couple days after you requested it but never had the inspiration to finish. I hope this was worth the wait, thanks so much for requesting 💕💕 ]