"Hey Jude, don't let me down... the bloody taxi has been waiting for-eeeva!!!" I sing-songed "Hurry up!"

"Ok... OK! Don't get you lacy knickers in a knot" Julian yelled, he was pushing the limits of friendship so I pushed back.

"Damn, I was sure I didn't put any on this morning" I went to bend over and he started blushing, I was in a fairly short skirt and the knickers would peek out soon, or not,  If I bent over any further.

"I'm sorry, alright!!!!!! Don't go any lower I don't want to know the answer EITHER way, Rat!"

I laughed and opened the door for him "Gee, I was just kidding! Come on, lets go see Old Blighty"

The trip was horrible. Turbulence, storms and a jam packed jet. Julian would duck his head through the 1st class curtain every now and then, point at me, laugh like a hyena and raise a glass of something nice for me to see, and poke his back in. Tease.

I just poked out my tongue.

We landed at Heathrow.

He- smart casual with shades and definitely assured a pleasant first class passage off the tin can...

Me- left to rot with the masses at the back of the flying rusty tube for what seemed like hours......

"Hello there, do they let the minions off with business or did you push through?" Julian slid his glasses down his nose to watch me then took my bag and walked off in search of his mum. He was more comfortable here than in LA. I shoved him, the cheeky monkey and grabbed my carry on, then followed him like a puppy to find our lift.

"Mum there you are! Missed you" Julian hugged his mum tightly, giving her a smacking big noisy overdone kiss... and I smiled at her over his shoulder. Her expression unreadable.

"Mum this is..."

"She's too old for you, Julian" Oh that's why she has an unreadable face- she thought I was, oh my goodness.

Julian and I nearly fell on the ground with a fit of giggles right there in the middle of Heathrow airport just outside Gate 39.

Let's clear this mess up.

"Hi, I'm Rat- Catlyn, um drummer with John's band, arrr maybe, maybe not John's girlfriend?!" The end of the sentence going up an octave with the question. She studied my outstretched hand, thinking over what I had just said. Grabbing it finally,  she smiled.

"Oh the band-right and maybe maybe not.... I understand completely now. Sorry about before" Cyn gave me a small hug and we left the airport.

"So where to?" Cynthia started driving from the Heathrow, Julian beside her and me in the back seat.

"Oh I'm off to Paul and Linda's place- taking it over while I'm here for the wedding"

"Keith, mum you know The Stones, Richards" Julian glanced back at me and smiled his 'mother doesn't know anything' smile.

"Oh yes! Of course I know, I got an invite too but I won't be able to attend"

"You got an invite, mum.... Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you would want to go actually. Keith's not your friend" Julian was taken aback by his mum, and I laughed at his stunned face. "So where to luv?" Cyn completely ignored Julian's unbelieving face, and drove on.

"St. Johns Wood or a train station whichever is easiest for you"

"Well.... How about you have dinner with us and I'll drop you off later?" Cyn glanced up in the rearview mirror and smiled.

"Oh great thanks, Julian says you're a great cook!" We were travelling along the motorway now so the trees and cars flew by.

"Beans on toast!" Julian laughed uproarously "That's Rat's classy dish mum. Beans!!" I whacked him softly over the ear.

"Julian!! Don't be mean! And yes it's a little more substantial than beans on toast"

Over a couple of drinks Cyn opened up and we had a nice evening, I ended up sleeping over. It being decided that I would travel into Linda's and Paul's the next day to drop my things, then I would head off to the wedding.

Cynthia, should I take Julian along?" I broached as Cyn opened the door to the guest room. She tapped her chin thoughtfully looking deeply into my eyes.

"To the wedding, hmmm. I suppose there will be family and normal people there"

"I know exactly what you are saying; so what do you say? I haven't a 'plus one' "

"He's an adult"

Julian was so excited grabbing all his gear in record time the next morning. All the while bouncing off the walls. Then he set about calming himself down for the rest of the day although little bursts of energy and jitters would pop through intermittently and I would tease him and he would quell the excitement a notch for another hour, til he exploded again. I will need to have a chat before we get there.

"Ok now we are in the taxi heading to the wedding, here are my rules!" I watched him as he listened to me being a mock mother, just waiting for the snide remark.

"Go ahead Cat, carry on.. I will need a badgering to shut me up" He smiled and I knew he would be ok.

*******

"Babe, I knew you would come. How was the trip darlin?" Keith leaned over to hug me, Bunny still attached to his side.

"The flight was bearable...Don't you two look lovely. Keithy you're looking extremely dapper and you, you are simpy gorgeous Bunny... Bunny this is Julian, Johns son. Did you meet at the party in the states?"

Bunny enveloped Julian in a big hug almost cutting off oxygen.

Keith ignored my party comment. His parties and mere mortals parties were miles apart in terms of... well in terms of everything! "Well it's party time here all the time!- Drinks all round!" Keith turned and swaggered off to the bar barely missing running over Elton John in the process.

As the reception went through the normal procession of dinner and speeches I watched Julian take it all in. He was a great kid and I wished him a nice wife and family in the future.

The roll call of stars and managers made the eye boggle, we chatted to most, but also watched many others from across the room. Then the bridal waltz began and Julian and I held hands watching the vision.

"Isn't love grand when it all works out" I was now leaning on the table, my chin on the palm of my hand happily sighing at the love and emotion. Keith was a laid back dude but here you could see him happy and totally engrossed in Bunny.

"Well, well, well if it isn't Rat the banger and Johnnies kid, Jules. Hey man" Mick flopped down and dragged his arm up and over my shoulder, exaggerating the motion, the fingers grazing along my skin.

"Really, the banger?" I gave him a glare but he just pouted at me, dragging an ashtray toward him as he lounged in the chair. "Drummer, nice lady, friend, but Mick, not banger- please."

"You know Jules this 'nice lady..'' He even put that in inverted air commas "punched Charlie, our banger, in the nose.. and me in the stomach once!" Mick rubbed his tummy like it was yesterday, drawing up half his shirt suggestively. Julian raised an eyebrow intrigued "..Was years ago, but she broke my heart, she did"

"It was professional differences not breaking of hearts, you lip with a man attached!" I was laughing at him but embarrassed at the way he slipped the information to Julian.

"Anyway where is he- the- was dead, now alive one??" he looked under the table like that was John's usual place at a wedding and then about the room settling his eyes on the doors immediately behind me "There he is! John man, how's life treating you!!"

I nearly fell off my chair but managed to stay upright as a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I couldn't, wouldn't, turn.

"Hey Mick, not annoying my girl are you, where is your lovely missus then?" John snuck a kiss on my cheek as if he had been here all afternoon. 'Julian be a lad and go get your old man a drink, eh"

John slipped into Julian's seat and gave Mick a ice cool look "See ya Mick, I think I hear Jerry calling" Waving him gone, John grabbed me and kissed me hard. "Wowsers, aren't you're a sight for sore eyes!"

Before I could say a 'Hi, hello or even Do I know you?' to John, Bunny tumbled over or, should that be, bounced over?!

"Kitty Cat! Where's Julian, my sister wants to meet him! Oh hi Johnny" Bunny was tapping on the back of my chair "This is Amy" Amy was completely opposite to Bunny from outward appearances.

"Oh..... Julian's just-"

"Julian's what?" Julian plonked his father's drink in front of him and interrupted the flow of words.

"Julian, Amy needs a dance partner, can you come pretty please" Bunny grabbed his shirt and took them both across the room.

"Is he alright?" John eyed the three retreating figures as they moved away through the crowded room.

"Oh yeah sure, you'll have a daughter in law and grand kids in no time!" I was going to have fun, I decided with him, like he hadn't left for weeks. There was no time to pout and grumble, he might be gone too soon again.

"Noooo, give me a few more years before grand kids! I want another of my own before that happens" He kissed me again and the room tilted.

"Well for that to happen you actually have to be in the same room as the girl. Unless... you already have?"

"Now, what's that supposed to mean?" John grumbled and stared me down, really unaware of my fears.

"Nothing, I'm jealous I guess. I'm sort of way down your dance card...a long way down, lately" I frowned and kissed him. Because I missed him too much not to.

"Well lets horizontal dance the night away darlin" He winked and pulled me up.

"We can't- Julian" I tendered my excuse.

"Well not all night, maybe half an hour, an hour tops. Come on, there must be a quiet room somewhere around here to reconnect?"

"So, all this way and straight in the pants Len. Smooth, really smooth" I was beginning to feel ever so slightly used.

"Catlyn, I missed you, I want you, I need you" My ear was glowing with his lips pressed close, speaking in whispers.. Sexy, sexy whispers..

"Isn't that an Elvis song?Well... I suppose you did come all this way..."

"That's me girl, come on before Mick comes back and kills us with boredom" John yanked me out of the room straight into the kitchen "Here?" He quizzed with an eyebrow raised and wiggling suggestively. I swung my head hard in the negative and laughed. It was lovely to be front and centre in his gaze again.

The reception was in an old Monastery type building, lots of chapels and hidden vestibules, a room full of pews and an altar- he waggled his eyebrows yet again and I repeated my negating response. Around we went, stopping at doors and finding them locked, John's pulling and shoving his shoulder into them almost comical.

Up some stairs then down a long corridor. I was lost. Down more stairs, finally we found a room full of old furniture covered with dust sheets. In the corners of the room there where some double doored entrances which opened to the outside world. They were bolted and locked with huge old fashioned locks, we must have been in some sort of olden day garage room as in two rows beside the doors were an open fancy sulky and an enclosed carriage, the doors, a beautiful dark timber.

"There" He pointed over all the dusty sheets and my eye followed his vision.

"In there?" I had been dragged closer quickly and I rose on tiptoes to look in the darkened interior.

John opened the door flicking his lighter in the process, the inside was immaculate, so well preserved I felt bad for getting in the wobbly contraption but in I got, John stumbling up the steps behind me.

"I feel like a highway man ready to pounce on a poor misfortunate damsel in distress" He leered at me and threatened to handcuff me to the seat.

Giggling I joined in the scene. I was so happy John was here, I smiled like a maniac.

"Take me you naughty highway man. My beau has all but left me languish these past months. I feel my bosom will burst if I do not receive my daily doses of nocturnal and /or daytime, shenanigans" I feigned feeling faint, hand across my brow "Oh sir please, please deliver me to heaven.." John dived and I screamed with delight and happy shock into his lips.

We didn't get to see the bride and groom off on their honeymoon.....
Oh wellllll