They walked in to find the guys around a table talking excitedly about something. “Why the excitement?”  Emma asked, walking up to them with Cyn right behind her. Five heads turned to look at the two girls and five mouths dropped open. Emma and Cyn did a little turn showing off their outfits to the gawking guys. “Why so dressed up?”  George asked after picking his jaw up off the table. “No reason.”  Cyn explained.  “Girls just like to get a little dressed up some time.” “Well I don’t mind!”  John cried, grabbing Cyn by the waist and pulling her onto his lap. Emma glanced around the table and when she looked at Stuart he was staring at her in an odd way.  She ignored it and turned to Paul.  “What’s going on?”  She asked him. He smiled up at her and then mimicked John and pulled her into his lap.  “We’re going to Hamburg!”  “Are you serious?”  Emma asked, turning her head so she could look into his eyes. “Yeah, I’m serious.  We leave in August.” “For how long?”  Cyn asked.  Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Not long,” John reassured her.   “We’ll be making a lot of money and it will be a good experience for us. I’ll write everyday, I promise.”  He kissed the tip of her nose. Emma looked over at Stuart.  “You finally get to leave this shite hole and see the world.” Stuart winked at her.  “Hamburg is just the beginning, Miss James.  I plan on taking you with me when I really see the world.” Emma smiled and then felt Paul’s grip around her waist tighten.  Taking her hands she eased his hold and hopped off his lap.  “Come dance with me?”  She asked.  He smiled and followed her to the dance floor.  Paul wrapped his arms around her waist and Emma wrapped hers around his neck leaning her head on his shoulder. “What’s going on?”  John asked Cyn at the table. “Isn’t it obvious?”  She asked him.  “They’re in love.” “You really look wonderful tonight,” Paul told Emma as he walked her home later that night. “Thank you,” Emma smiled.  They walked down the street, arms linked, her head on his shoulder.  “I’m going to miss you when you go to Hamburg.” “I’m going to miss you too, but it won’t be for long and before you know it I will be back.” “What am I going to do though?  All my friends are leaving me.  Cyn and I have to stay in Liverpool while you get to go and have all the fun.” They had reached Emma’s house.  “You can come visit maybe.  I know Cyn will be coming.”  Then he started laughing. “What?”  Emma questioned. “I’m just laughing at what John said to me tonight while you and Cyn went to go get drinks.  He told me that if I hurt you or mistreated you in any way I had him and Stuart to answer for.” Emma smiled, her heart growing more with love for her two best friends. Emma looked into his eyes and smiled. “Goodnight Paul.” He leaned forward and gave her a gentle goodnight kiss.  “Goodnight Emma.” “You promise to write?”  Emma asked Paul one last time.  They had all gathered at Pete Best’s house, the new drummer they had acquired for Hamburg, to say their goodbyes. “I’ll write twice a day.”  Paul smiled giving her a kiss. Emma threw her arms around him.  “Be careful.”  She whispered into his hear. “I will.” Next she went to Stuart and wrapped her arms around him.  “Have fun.  Maybe you will meet some nice German girl and fall helplessly in love.” Stuart smiled at the idea.  “I’ll watch over Paul for you.”  He told her, knowing that was on her mind. Cyn and Emma stood together waving as the van carrying the men they loved disappeared from site. Dearest Emma, Hamburg.  What words can I use to describe it!?  Thrilling.  Fantastic.  Mind blowing.  And then you enter the Reeperbahn.  It’s like you are entering a whole new world.  Drunken sailors and prostitutes litter the streets while women sit naked in windows.  We have the luxury of staying at the Indra Club. We sleep on bunk beds in a tiny room that is located behind the movie screen that plays movies while we try and sleep under the flags that we have to use as covers.  Now we head over to the Kaiserkeller.  This is where we play every night for hours and hours at a time.  If I said I was enjoying myself I would be lying. It’s really horrible, Emmie.  I’m exhausted and miserable but I wont complain.  One thing I'm sure about since I've been here, I hate brutality. There is so much in this area. . .                                                          Stuart                                                                Emma, I’ve only just arrived here and already I miss you.  I’m sure you want to here all about what Hamburg is like. I’m not sure if I want to tell you.  It seems all nice until you enter this area called the Reeperbahn.  I can’t even begin to describe it.  It’s something you need to see with your own eyes.  So it’s even more of an excuse for you to come here. . .            Love Paul Emmie, I’m sure you’ve gotten letters from Stu and Paul describing what Hamburg is like so I wont go into that again.  I’ll just go into all the sexy details of the streets of the Reeperbahn! You’re looking after Cyn for me I hope.  I miss her something fierce and I don’t want her to be lonely or worried.  I am dead tired.  We play all night and all day to a bunch of drunks who don’t even listen to our music.  This guy Burt is always yelling at us to Mac Shau!  So that is just what we do. . . Emma sat in amazement as she watched The Beatles perform.  They were still her friends, yet they had changed.  Gone was the innocence, in was the maturity and confidence.  They jumped around that stage as if they owned it.  Their outfits had changed, too.  Leather has entered their wardrobe.  Through the entire performance, Emma sat at the edge of her seat, unable to take her eyes off of them.  George sang the last song and before he finished the last chord, John and Paul had put down their guitars and were off the stage and over to the table before George even finished.  Paul had Emma up from her chair and in his arms.  He kissed her and she eagerly kissed him back. “I’ve missed you,” she managed to say between kisses. “I’ve missed you,” Paul answered, continuing his kisses. They were introduced to Astrid and Klaus and Jurgen.  Then they all went to Astrid’s house. Cyn and Emma’s visit to Hamburg was fun and exciting.  Astrid had let Emma take some of her pictures of the group so Emma could paint them. At the train station there was promises of quick returns and I love you’s. Then Emma and Cyn were on a train back to Liverpool. Emma was at home, reading a book and escaping the rain that was pouring outside.  Her mother and grandmother were out shopping and she was enjoying the peace and quiet when there was a knock at her door.  She put down her book and got off the couch, walked to the door and opened it. “Paul!”  She cried when she saw who was standing on her doorstep.  She flung her arms around him. “You’re not supposed to be back yet!” He just walked past Emma into the house.  She gave him a quizzical look as she shut the door and then followed him into the living room.  He was sitting on the couch, leaning forward with his hands covering his face. Emma sat down beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Paul?” He shook his head.  “It’s over, Emmie.” Her heart pounded and for a split second she thought that he meant that he and she were over but he corrected her assumption. “The band is over.” “What?” Paul lifted his head and looked Emma in the eyes.  “Pete and I were deported. George was deported and who knows what John is doing.” Emma sat there in shock.  “What happened?” Paul started to explain.  “They thought Pete and I were trying to burn down the movie house.  What really happened was we were packing up our stuff because we were moving to the Star Club, so we stuck a condom on the wall and lit it in fire to get some light.  We had no intentions of burning down the bloody theater!” Emma couldn’t help but laugh at the situation and she laughed even harder when Paul looked at her because he had this look of shock and disbelief that she would laugh at his horrible situation, but soon a smile broke across his face and they spent the next few minutes laughing. “I’m sorry!”  Emma finally managed to say.  “It isn’t funny at all.  What about poor George?” “They found out he wasn’t 18 yet.  No one would have found out if it wasn’t for Bruno.  We were leaving his club and going to better, the top ten.  So he got the cops in.” “Aw, you poor thing.  The band is no more, then?” Paul got up and began pacing the room.  He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets.  “I don’t know,” he answered, shrugging his shoulders.  “I really don’t know.” John showed up at her doorway a week later.  He was all depressed when he came into her house and did just as Paul did, sat down on her couch and put his head in his hands. “It’s all over,” he moaned into his hands. Emma put a consoling arm around him.  “Maybe you just need a few weeks away from each other so you guys can sort everything out and then get back together.  Did Stuart come back?” “Yeah, he’s back at the flat all depressed because he had to leave Astrid.” “I like Astrid.  I’m glad Stuart found her.” “Me too,” John agreed. “So, what will you do now?”  Emma asked John. “Not sure,” he responded.  “Just don’t worry about anything.  It will all work out in the end and before you know it you’ll be at the top.”                                                                                      That brought a smile to John’s lips.  “And don’t forget, I am taking you with me.”  “Stuart?”  Emma tapped lightly on his front door as she came into his apartment.  She looked around and almost didn’t see him slouched down in a chair by the window.  She walked across the room and crouched down beside him, resting her arms on the arm of the chair. Stuart moved his head and looked at Emma, a smile breaking across hi face. “Guess you heard we were back.” “Yeah.  You doing okay?” Stuart let out a little laugh.  “Just completely fucking miserable, but that’s about it.” Emma smiled.  “I’m sure you will see her again.” “I’m going crazy, Emmie.  I haven’t been able to paint anything.  All I can think about is Astrid.” “You really are in love, aren’t you?” “In as much love as you can be in, Em.” Emma was so happy for her friend.  She had Paul, John had Cyn and now Stuart had Astrid.  “I’m happy that you’re happy, Stuart.  I really liked Astrid.” “She really liked you.  I knew you would hit it off.  I just hope we get back to Hamburg before I go absolutely crazy!” The Beatles got back together after a few weeks of wallowing in their own misery.  They made an appearance at The Cavern club and then were asked to come back to Hamburg to play at the Star Club.  They would be payed 100 pounds each and would sleep in a nice hotel this time.                                                                   The night before they left Paul took Emma to Strawberry Field.  “Back to the scene of the crime,” he whispered to Emma as he pulled a bouquet of roses that were hidden in the branches of a tree.  They lay down on the blanket he had brought. “How romantic, Mr. McCartney.  Moonlight, roses, it’s magic.”  Paul leaned over and gently kissed Emma, pulling her down onto the ground. They kissed for a while then lay in each other’s arms, enjoying the moment. “What do you see in your future?”  Emma asked. “You,” Paul said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Oh really?” “Yes.”  His arms tightened around her.  “I see us together, married.  I, a famous rock star, and you a famous artist.  We’ll have a flat in London and when we have to get away from everything we can escape to our farm in Scotland and ride our horses at sunset.  I see a family.  Us just happy.” Emma snuggled into Paul.  “That sounds like a brilliant future.”  Then she got quiet. “I wish you were going away again.” “I wish I didn’t have to leave you, either, but this is something great for the band.” Emma felt a twinge of jealousy over the prominent place music held in Paul’s life.  Sometimes it seemed that the band was more the center of his world than she was.  The feelings were childish, but that didn’t stop them from coming.  “Well, if you get to the top, I’ll promise to buy all your records, how does that sound?” “If I go to the top, you’re coming with me.” “Really?  And what would I do?  Organize your social calendar and commercial endorsements?” “Not to worry - I’ll find something for you to do.”  He plucked a red rose from the bouquet lying on the ground next to them and pulled the stem through her silky strawberry blond hair above her ear.  “I’ll cover you in roses someday, Emma - girl.  And you wont be able to refuse me anything.” She laughed.  “For every flower, you’ll get a kiss.” “Promise?”                 “Promise.”    As was before, Emma kept in touch with her friends via letters and the occasional phone call while the band was in Hamburg.  Even Astrid and Klaus were writing her.  One Friday afternoon, just as Emma got home from school, her phone rang. “Hello?” “Hey Emmie!” “Stuart!” “Hi.  What’s up?’ “Nothing, I just got back from school.”  Emma took the phone and flopped down on her couch.  “So what do I owe the honors of this phone call?” “I have some good news and some bad news.” “Give me the good news first, no wait, no, yes the good news first.” Stuart laughed.  “Well, the good news is, I asked Astrid to marry me and she said yes!” Emma nearly dropped the phone, then let out a shriek.  “Oh my god!!  Oh, congratulations!”  She could just see Stuart smiling on the other end of the phone.  “Have you picked a date?” “Sometime in June.”  Stuart answered. “Oh this is such good news.  Tell Astrid, congratulations from me and that she is one lucky girl!” “I will.” “Now I’m not so sure if I want the bad news.” “Well, it’s not bad news, you just might be a little disappointed.” “Don’t leave me hanging!” “I got accepted to the Hamburg school of art.  I’m quitting the band and staying in Hamburg.” Emma could feel her heart start to pound and she got this sick empty feeling in her stomach.  Stuart wasn’t coming back to Liverpool with the rest of the group.  She had just lost her closest and dearest friend in a matter of seconds. “Emmie, you still there?” “Yeah,” she managed to whisper. “Are you mad?” “No!  God no.  Just surprised and sad.  What will i do without you?”  She could feel the tears sliding down her cheeks. “It’s not like I will never see you again, Em.  I’m just in a different city.” “I know.”  Wiping away the tears, she took a deep, unsteady breath.  “I’m happy that you got accepted to the art school.  I was beginning to worry you might actually stick with the music.” Stuart laughed.  “As you have heard, it’s for the best that I leave the band now before I totally ruin their chances of any success!” “Does John know yet?” “He’s next on my list.” “He’ll be happy for you.  He always knew you would leave the band eventually.” Stuart didn’t reply and Emma heard him gasp as if in pain.  “Stuart?” “Yeah?”  He managed to say.                      “Are you okay?”    There was a pause.  “I’m fine.  Just a headache.  I’m going to have to go. I’ll talk to you later, Em.” “Okay.  Bye Stuart.” “Bye Emmie.” Emma hung up the phone and sat, staring at the wall, absorbing every word from the conversation she just had with Stuart.  She had just lost a friend.  Little did she know that in a few months, she too, would be leaving behind Liverpool for something else. Dear Emma James,   Congratulations, you have been accepted to New York University . . .    The guys came back, minus Stuart, and were on such a high from their shows in Hamburg, that Emma didn’t want to put a damper on their happiness by delivering her news.   Paul took her out to diner the night after he got back and just after their ordered their meals, he pulled out a small black velvet box from the inside pocket of his dark brown leather jacket. He placed it down on the table in front of Emma. She looked at Paul then down at the box and then back up at Paul.  “What is this?”  She asked, confused. Paul laughed.  “Open it!”  He encouraged her. Emma pick up the little box and slowly opened the lid.  Her eyes grew wide. Inside the box was a ring.  It was a silver band with a three tiny sapphire stones in bedded in the band.  “Oh, Paul,” she breathed, looking up into his chocolate brown eyes. “There’s an inscription.” Emma tilted the ring.  “With you I am complete,” she read out loud.  That did it.  Tears slowly slipped down her cheek. “This wasn’t supposed to make you cry!”  Paul laughed, reaching across the table and gently brushing away the tears with his fingers. “It’s just so beautiful,” Emma breathed. Paul took the ring from her and then lightly slipped it on to her ring finger on her left hand.  “A perfect fit,” he murmured, kissing her lightly on her lips.    There was no way Emma could tell Paul tonight that she would be leaving Liverpool in less than 6 months.