Work Text:
New Years Eve
1999
Paul McCartney stood out, looking at a window of his penthouse apartment in New York City. A dreadfully cold place this time of year, but it was the place to be to celebrate the new year. A ritual elites like himself live by. Always keeping up with the Joneses and he was ready for a grand party. Dressed in clothes that cost more than normal people make in a month, he looked down at the world from his high tower.
“It still amazes you?” John Lennon’s voice said in his head. He was thinking of John again, which must mean his spirit was close. That’s what the former Beatle told himself whenever this happened. His late wife Linda appeared in his bed that morning, now John was here with him. His John! The one no woman could take away from him, his spark of his late friend and secret lover. “You know, now that I’ve spent more time with Linda, I finally see what you love about her.” The ghost seemed to tease.
“You be nice to my Linda.” He warned, as sternly as if Lennon were standing before him. He was talking to himself, or maybe he was praying. Praying to reunite with all the people he had lost. Not just his two loves, but his parents, Brian, Ringo’s ex wife Maureen, who was a sweetheart…
“You know George is next.” The spirit interjected ominously. This made Paul’s heart break and he could feel his stomach sink.
George would be on that list soon. He saw George just before the holidays and he didn’t look good. He was thinner than ever before and was desperately looking for a cure. The sad truth when you have all this money is there is a shorter time to realizing there is nothing modern medicine can do. If they had a cure, the doctors would have gladly given it to them already. He learned that from Linda’s cancer. The baby of their group had maybe a year or two of life left, but likely not much more.
“Death comes for us all.” Paul uttered meekly.
“you will be the youngest when George is gone.” The haunting words pierced McCartney’s mind in John’s voice.
“I know.” The bassist of the dead band said to the dead friend.
“But it’s not just about to be a new year, but a new millennium. A year so many we both knew never made it.” What John said was true. Some from their circle should be dead by now. Old age was acceptable, as we can not live forever, but John and Linda should be there with him. He and Linda arm to arm, John and Yoko the same way. Truly they would have all been close again by now.
John would be making jokes and being a show off and Paul would try to keep up. Oh his heart ached. That’s how tonight should have been. So predictable, so planned, the way he would have wanted it. Maybe the four of them would have surprised New York with a concert. They would have found a way, even if it was just one song!
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. There was really nothing there, but the old musician didn’t fight the experience. He knew better, because John always won.
“I’m happy you’re alive.” Lennon confessed. “You can still experience life and it has changed so much.” This made Paul smile.
“Yeah, I have a portable phone like Elvis had, but it’s even better.” Paul could see the smile that comment would have brought to John’s face.
“I love you Paul and remember the answer to your question is yes.” Now Paul was crying. On Johns last birthday he left a message asking John to rekindle their affair after Ringo’s wedding to Barbara, the following spring. John never gave him an answer. He never knew if this was Lennon’s real feeling or wishful thinking.
Still he decided to believe this answer, so he could put a smile on his face. The world was a show and he was ready to perform. Leaving the room, he let himself visualize John naked. Standing by the window he saw John’s naked form. It was literally the image of John from his two virgins album, without Yoko. He buried any petty jealousy he had towards Lennon’s widow after John died, but he just wanted his John.
Leaving the home, the motion sensor dissipated the lights. The naked figure of John remained. He stood there as real as any other object, hoping his lover truly realized he was never alone.