Chapter Text
Julian was sitting in the corner of his bedroom in his modest flat, face tacky from the drying tears. It had been a damnable past few weeks with uni amongst other things. He hadn't been home recently and he was juat all around feeling like garbage.
He had the phone sitting on the floor beside him, his blessedly dark and he dropped his head in his hand. He wouldnt be up surely. Or maybe he would be. He supposed he just needed to try.
He picked up the phone and dialed a very familiar phone number. One ring. Then another and finally, "Hello?"
Jules inhaled. Thank God. "Hi dad." A pleased sound came from the other end.
"Jules! What a surprise this is. I figured you'd be asleep right now." John's voice was warm and it made a treacherous warm feeling rise in Julian's stomach. "I probably should be, yeah." God, he was bad at this.
John made a questioning noise in the back of his throat. "Then why aren't you?" Julian swallowed. "Just remembered I haven't checked in recently. School's been doing my head in." Julian just had a feeling his dad was smiling. "Oh Jules. We're all doing well. Am a bit concerned to hear School's been bothersome love."
His dad never used to use pet names especially in regards to him. But things changed. His dad was making a conscious effort and Julian was learning to allow himself to be vulnerable with John and giving more of himself to this relationship. As well as...
"I'll be alright. By the way, how's Sean doing? New grade i heard." It was weird to be considered a big brother, but the moment Julian had met Sean, the runt had him wrapped around his finger in no time. John was thrilled that they both got along so well.
"He's enjoying it actually! Made some friends and had some adventures. Made mention of wanting to tell you all about it."
For some reason, that made Julian tear up. He still had a smile on his face, but the pain was very much present in his voice. "Y-yeah? I'll call when he's up so he can tell me."
Sniff.
"Jules..." tears dripped down his cheeks.
"Jules, love..." hiccup and a sob, harsh and biting. And then he was crying again.
"Oh Julian..." John's voice was full of pain. "Something tells me it's more than uni bothering you darling..." Jules inhaled shakily and wrapped an arm around his stomach and looked up towards the faint light coming through his curtains.
"It's stupid...". John tsked. "Not stupid. Not to me and especially not if it's got you crying."
Julian brought his knees up to.his chest. "Uni's a lot...more tests and projects than I've ever had to do..."
Julian picked at a hangnail. "But I can't help but miss you..." he whispered. The confession made John gasp.
"Julian..." Julian wiped his face roughly. "
"Mum is literally twenty minutes away but..." he inhaled through his nose. "You're the person who's voice i needed to hear. You're the person who i desperately want to see. I miss you, and Sean, and Paul, and Ringo, and George and..."he sobbed harder than before.
"God I feel so bloody stupid for calling to tell you I need a bloody hug." His walls were going back up and John could tell. "Julian Lennon do not hang up this phone!"
"I have to go dad! Sorry to bother you!" He hurried out.
"Julian don't you d-!"
Click.
Julian curled up in the corner and cried into his knees. So stupid. Why did he have to go and say anything?
Julian stayed in that dark corner as the sun began to fade and the only light that came through his curtains was the light of the moon.
Meanwhile, across the world, John Lennon boarded a private plane and flew to Liverpool.