Rating: PG-13
Pairing: John/Paul
Disclaimer: Here there be fiction.
Summary: Forever! What a wretched word upon broken hearts, albeit a promising hope, a songbird to a waiting lover. What a haunting time line for things eternal.
Author's Note: MY TV WON'T LET ME WATCH DOCTOR WHO

001) "Think we'll last forever, John?" Whether Paul is referring to their fame or their entwined fingers, John is not sure, but either way, the younger would have found himself with the same answer.

"Nothing lasts forever, Macca."

002) The same question dances on Paul's tongue in the hotel room in L.A, and although no one has spoken in hours, he knows John well enough to be sure that the elder of the two hasn't even had sleep cross his mind, not with the moon and the stars spinning challenges through the window.

"Do you think we'll last forever?" John just sighs, the taunting moon's rays on his face making all the red in his eyes a stunning white.

"I need a cigarette," He says after a long pause, and the sheets rustle as if protesting his movement. Paul just nods, and follows him when he offers.

He couldn't have said it better himself.

003) The day after Brian dies, John doesn't let Paul in his room, so George goes to talk to him instead. Paul waits eagerly outside of the door.

"What'd he say, then?" George shrugs, looking apologetic.

"Nothing, really, just a bunch of nonsense." Paul frowns.

"Nonsense?"

"Yeah. Asked if I thought that Brian's spirit would last forever, just like everyone else's ghosts." Those words definitely ring a few bells in Paul's mind. he nods.

"Well, what'd you tell him?"

"Didn't know what to. Just listened to him cry for a right while, then told him I'd be back after me fag." Paul thanks George and waits for him to leave before poking his head into John's room. He finds the guitarist  sleeping, so he scribbles a note on the pad of paper by his bedside.

Yes., it says, and when Paul walks out, he has no doubt that John will understand what he means.

004) The next day, John's back with a glint in his eyes and his Lennon-wit doesn't miss a beat. he gives Paul an appreciative smile.

005) After John breaks the news to Cynthia, Paul is comforting her like only a best-friend-of-the-ex can do.

"He said forever," She sobs into Paul's shoulder, and he reflects upon the words said to him so many years ago now.

"Nothing lasts forever, Cyn," Then he thinks twice, "Only ghosts." Her sobs subside before returning suddenly with even more force, and Paul stays until it's time for him to leave.

006) Forever! What a wretched word upon broken hearts, albeit a promising hope, a songbird to a waiting lover. What a haunting time line for things eternal.

What a dreaded thought for two tired souls.

Paul and John lay on the floor of the studio, watching the flickering lights as though stars in the sky. Paul sighs.

"We're not going to last forever, are we?" It's a hopeful plea, so contradictory to the amusement and the fascination with the word that had racked his mind in dreams of years past.

"Nah," Is John's reply, "Not unless we're already dead. well. Maybe we'll make it to one more album." Paul frowns, says something about needing a cigarette. John agrees wholeheartedly.

007) It's a little while before everything blows up in their faces. Paul doesn't worry about the Divorce much, though, because he knows that nothing really does last as long as you think it will, down in Heaven's shit hole - not even John's biting words of contempt.

He hangs up the phone with those words ringing in his ears and takes a sip of his drink, prepared to wait it all out.

008) Not long after John's death, after the tears stop stinging and New Years' plans never carried out have long since passed, Paul remembers a certain auburn - haired Teddy Boy standing next to him in the mirror about to face another black - and - white Hamburg evening.

"Jesus, Paulie," He says, their grins stretching so far as to make them seem endless, "Look at us. We're gonna fuckin' live forever."

And even then, Paul never simply saw two Liverpool boys trying to make the everlasting road. He just saw two ghosts in the making.