Chapter Text
When Gwen opened her eyes, it took her some seconds to remember where she was, at the May-Taylor’s house, in one of their guest rooms. She also recalled Facetiming with Joe, then changing into a pair of comfy jeans and a black jumper.
When Brianna opened the door of the room, she found Ben’s was open. When she didn’t see him, she ventured into the living room, where she found Roger and Ben chatting, cups of tea already on the table and Brianna walking in with a tray of sweet treats.
“Did you have a good nap, dear?” Brianna asked her, already pouring tea into her cup. “Come, have a sit.”
Gwen felt herself blushing again. Ben moved a bit to give her more room and Gwen took it as an invitation to sit next to him. “I did, thank you. Sorry for missing tea.”
“Oh please, we were just starting,” Roger smiled at her. “So Ben’s telling me you’ve already been to costume and hair and make-up.”
“Tried many wigs and clothes,” Ben was the first to speak. “Had some photoshoots too, you know, for costume – so they compare them to the original looks.”
Gwen took the cup of tea to her lips and nodded. “Same here. So far I’ve tried the Live Aid wig and costume and a couple of fake bellies.”
“I was pregnant with Rufus back then. Six months.” Brianna turned to Roger. “Had two doctors on stage disguised as roadies. There was an ambulance too in case I got into labour.”
“The boy wouldn’t stop moving,” Roger added. “it was risky for her to perform that day and I was reluctant she played.”
Gwen nodded. There was a little scene in the script between Roger and Brianna right before getting into the stage. Roger asked her if she was okay and Brianna only silenced him with a kiss and made it to the stage, behind Freddie.
“Did it all go well at the end?” Ben asked, curious.
Brianna nodded. “Rufus was born two months later.”
“She got into labour while we were recording a song.” Roger remembered. “She finished playing her part and said her water was broken.” The drummer looked at his wife. “We were all nuts and you were so calm.”
Brianna nodded. “Hopefully you won’t have to film all that.”
Brianna and Roger told them about the many versions the film had. They had been involved in the project for almost ten years and the original idea some script writers and directors had in mind was a film focused solely on Freddie and the life he led behind the scenarios and the cameras.
“I guess we were never interested,” Brianna admitted. “But I told Rog that we’d better get involved and have a say on it or they’d show the Freddie we didn’t… they wanted to show Freddie’s sexuality and illness. And we didn’t want that,” Gwen noticed the guitarist looked away, possibly holding back tears. “Yes, he was gay and yes, he had AIDS. But he was more than that.”
“He was an artist.” Roger added. “He was a genius. That’s what we want people to remember him as. Not as some sort of… dunno, there was this actor that wanted to add orgies and whatnot to the script.”
“There were more scenes that focused on us,” Brianna revealed. “the original script that was presented to us also covered the divorce from my first husband and the…well, the unwanted coverage my relationship with Rog had at the beginning…”
Roger nodded. “We wanted the film to focus on Freddie. There’ll be a kiss or two – I insisted on that.” He added with a smile, which made Brianna roll her eyes.
“Yeah, um, we’re almost always together in all our scenes.”
Gwen soon felt Roger’s intense blue eyes on her and felt herself turning red. She felt as if the legendary drummer knew something about her that she didn’t know herself.
Yet.
“Would you like to see our practice room?” Brianna asked them, placing the used cups into a tray. “There are some things we’d like to show you, folks.”
Gwen and Ben immediately nodded, feeling as if they were two little kids about to go to the biggest candy store in the world.
And it was like it.
“These are the original drums I used when we recorded Bohemian Rhapsody,” Roger said, handing Ben a pair of sticks. “Wanna give it a try?”
Ben was speechless.
“He doesn’t even allow Rufus to get near those, so I’d take the chance if I was you,” Brianna said with a smile, sensing Ben’s shyness. “Would you like to play with this one, dear?”
Gwen didn’t know what to say. There was Brianna May-Taylor standing right in front of her, offering her own and original – the one and only Red Special – the legendary guitar built by Brianna herself and her father Harold May, used to create the most iconic riffs in the history of rock and she was given the chance to play?
“I don’t… I don’t wanna break it. This is…”
Roger patted her back softly. “Rufus’ not only an excellent drummer but also a guitarist and she has never let him use it,” the drummer smiled. “You’d better take the chance, young lady.”
“Are you sure about this?” Gwen asked once the strap was secure and the Red Special in her arms. She felt the strings and god, she was dying to play with it.
“C´mon, Gwen. Let’s play BoRhap.”
They weren’t even wearing costume or their wigs, but Brianna could have sworn she saw herself and Roger there the moment Gwen turned to Ben, both shared a smile, and then they began playing.
Maybe Roger was right. It was time to do this. Let themselves and other people tell the world, the old and the new generations, about Freddie and about Queen.
And Roger was also right when he said Gwendolyn Lee and Ben Hardy were perfect. The chemistry between them was undeniable. The girl could play very well and the blond was definitely Roger behind those drums. Maybe, physically speaking he didn’t look exactly like Roger, but he had the energy and something else Brianna couldn’t pin down just yet.
And Bohemian Rhapsody they played. Gwen played Brianna’s most famous riff, while Ben followed in the drums.
“I still need to improve several things.“
Brianna placed an arm on Gwen’s shoulder. “You’re perfect, Gwen.”
Behind those legendary drums, Ben watched the exchange in silence, while admiring the effort Gwen had put in learning not only how to be Brianna May-Taylor, but also in learning how to play the guitar as well as her.
And it was while his eyes were on Gwen, his co-star and the woman he believed was the most beautiful in the world, that Roger Taylor’s eyes were on him.
Roger smiled to himself and decided to give Ben some tips and a drumming lesson.
...
They didn’t realise they had spent some hours playing and discussing their instruments until one of the ladies that helped them in the house told them dinner was ready.
Both Gwen and Ben weren’t surprised when they were served vegetarian food and bread baked by Brianna herself. Apart from the music, Brianna was well-know for being an activist against animal cruelty and it included not eating meat.
Nothing regarding the film was discussed on the table. They talked politics, Brianna and Roger were quite interested in knowing about Gwen and Ben's careers and why they decided to become actors. Roger said he couldn’t act even if his life depended on it and Brianna laughed at the comment, and actually confirmed he sometimes had to have a drink or two before filming a video.
“I was drunk when we filmed that video for Who Wants to Live Forever, I admit it.”
“That’s true,” Brianna nodded. “At least we didn’t need to repeat his scenes.”
After dinner Roger took Ben out to the garden and soon the blond understood why. “You don’t smoke?”
“Used to.” Roger sat across him. “Quit when Bri’s dad died and she was pregnant with Tigerlily.”
“Oh.”
“Why don’t you tell Gwen you like her?”
The question, completely unexpected, took Ben by surprise. And so much so that the blond started coughing so hard Roger almost went back inside to get him some water.
“How – I don’t like her.”
“You do,” Roger winked at him. “what is it with you young people, you don’t tell girls you like ‘em?”
It felt like the first time they met. Ben was extremely nervous and had been ever since knowing Roger Taylor was visiting the studio where they rehearsed. That morning he could barely keep his breakfast down, felt sick the whole day and smoked non-stop until he saw the legend cross the door and there was Roger Fucking Taylor carrying two drumming sticks and Ben felt his heart pounding hard within his ribcage.
He knew he was blushing for sure.
“I guess I like her.”
“And why don’t you talk to her? She got a boyfriend or something?”
“I think she’s seeing Joe.”
“John?”
“Joe – well, yes, the Joe who plays John Deacon.”
Roger smiled. “When Deacy joined Queen I thought he and Bri were shagging.”
Ben didn’t know what to say to that. He had watched tons of interviews, looked at pictures and he could have never pictured Brianna May and John Deacon together.
“I’ve seen the way she sees you.”
“Even if she’s not with Joe… I don’t want to fuck up the dynamics, all right? What if we don’t work? We still have months of filming and then the premieres…”
“You won’t fuck anything up, son.”
“It’s gonna be weird.”
“Take a leap of faith.” Roger concluded. “Fortune favours the bold.”
“Is that what you did… when you started dating Brianna?”
“Well, you must have read she was married back then,” Roger began. “I was mad about her. All I could think of was Brianna and that body.”
Ben laughed a little.
“It happened. Maybe it wasn’t the best way to begin a relationship, yes. But it didn’t fuck up the band. We took a leap of faith. And here we are forty years later.”
Ben said nothing for a moment. Maybe Roger was right. Maybe if he talked to Gwen they could go out on a date, get to know each other more than just knowing what was her favourite Queen song. Or maybe she could say no, but that’d be okay, he guessed. He had asked out girls and he had got no for an answer.
“How many children have you got, six?”
“Is it five?” Roger frowned. “No, wait. Six. Yeah. Six.”
Ben laughed.
…
“We took these right before our presentation,” Brianna handed the pictures to Gwen and looked at the actress observing every detail. “here’s Rog with Rory and Emily. And this is me with Jimmy.”
Gwen smiled as her eyes scanned the pictures. There was one where both Brianna and Roger were together with their three kids. Brianna was visibly pregnant and she was holding her Red Special.
“How… How did you do it? I mean… I’ve watched Live Aid on YouTube… countless times and it still amazes me to see you playing. You know, after so long and you were heavily pregnant.”
Brianna nodded. “There were risks, but I’d do it again.”
“I won’t let you down,” Gwen said, her blue eyes on Brianna, her hands still holding those pictures very few people had ever seen. “I’ll never be able to become the guitar genius you are, but I promise I’ll make my best.”
Brianna handed Gwen more pictures. This time, they were pictures of her wedding to Roger. “I know you won’t. You’re a very talented actress and we’re lucky to have you. And Ben.”
When the guitarist mentioned his name, Gwen busied herself with the new bunch of pictures she was given.
Another thing she didn’t want to fail at was in getting the connection Brianna and Roger had on and off stage. After reading the script and those lines she was to exchange with Ben, she ventured into YouTube and found amazing joint interviews. While all of them showed a very professional Brianna and Roger discussing music only – and not answering questions regarding their personal lives – it was clear the chemistry that existed – and still existed – between them.
“You and Roger share an incredible love story.”
The guitarist smiled. “We’ve had our moments, mind you. You must have read about Debbie.”
Gwen didn’t know whether to nod or play stupid. Of course she had read about the affair Roger had with model Debbie Leng back in the early eighties. It seemed a territory that saddened Brianna. Gwen had also read that later on the affair, plus Freddie’s illness and Harold May’s death almost made Brianna commit suicide – or at least contemplate the idea, as it was revealed by the guitarist herself during an interview.
“I’ve never seen myself as a pretty woman. Was bullied as a child for being too tall, too skinny,” Gwen listened in silence. “You know, before my husband, I was in a relationship with Smile’s singer. Tim Staffell.” Brianna said nothing for a moment. She looked down at the pictures of her children. “He was abusive. Made me believe no one would ever like me the way I was.” The guitarist paused and decided to open her heart to the actress that was going to play her. “He attacked me one night. Left me with a broken nose and a cut. Roger took me to the hospital and spent a few days there with me. I spent many years hating the woman I was, even when I was with Chris. He was supportive of my career and the band. He loved me for who I was… he was such a loving and caring person.”
Gwen, who had been following Brianna’s tale in silence couldn’t help but wonder how come Brianna, the woman who was seen as the strongest, who campaigned for animal rights, who took to social media to defend many causes and used her fame to do so many good things for so many people could have one day be treated that way.
"It was Roger who helped me to love myself. Then he had that affair and I… I lost a child. For months I contemplated killing myself. Spent years and years pretending I was strong. For my kids and for Freddie. But I guess his death and my dad’s was my limit.” Brianna smiled to the young Welsh actress. “None of these will be featured. But I believe you needed to know. You’ll have to play a strong woman, but inside I was just like any other, with insecurities and broken, somewhat.”
“I’m sorry, Brianna.”
The guitarist smiled a bit. “It’s okay.”
“If you could change anything about your life,” Gwen began, watching Brianna putting the photographs back into a box. “what would it be?”
“Nothing. Everything that happened, good and bad, made me who I am today. Would you change anything about yours?”
“I wish I was a bit shorter,” Gwen joked. “it intimidates men sometimes.”
Brianna shook her head.
“Real men don’t get intimidated by tall women.” Roger said, sitting across Gwen and next to Brianna. “Isn’t that so, Ben?”
“I was telling Brianna I wish I was shorter.” Gwen explained the blond.
Ben took the pictures that were offered to him as he sat down next to Gwen. “Don’t be silly, Gwen.”