Just the Three of Us: Chapter 1

"I'm late," thought Eric as he rushed to meet the other lads to rehearse the new sketch Michael and           Terry'd written. 

It took three telephone calls from Michael to finally wake him up and remind him. Eric hadn't been sleeping well and last night was the first good night he'd had in months. He'd get a right teasing from John for sure.

When he pulled up to the studio at the BBC he noticed something, rather someone out the corner of his eye.

A lonely sad looking someone.

Getting out of the car, he started to walk to the door and paused, looking at the person again. It wasn't just any person in particular but the prettiest person he'd expect to see, and you just don't see pretty persons much anymore.

The sadness on the bird's face saddened him to see it, and he found himself wondering what was wrong, even though she was a total stranger. Chappie teased him always for being a tenderheart, but Eric couldn't help it, sure he was quick, clever, rather smart looking and the nicest of the bunch (which was contested quite a bit), ha, but he was still human wasn't he, eh?

Little lad Gilliam peered out of the window, a puzzled look on his American face.

Eric was at a crossroads, should he go in or should he see about the bird.

Decisions, decisions.

Eh, bugger Chappie. I'll see about this girl, make sure she's alright. Whether any of the lot of them like it or not.

He started to walk to her, all the while thinking; Alright Eric old chap, nice and easy now, don't want to make this bird fly away. Don't want to scare 'er.

When he finally approached her, he looked down, just as she looked up at him. She was the prettiest girl he'd seen in a long long time, a total knockout, but that face, so sad a one, he found himself wanted to hold her close, to make her happy again.

"Hullo, love," he said.

The girl didn't speak, just blinked her big blue eyes at him. "Hullo," she finally said.

"Mind if I join you then?" asked Eric.

She shook her head no, and he plopped down beside her.

"Where is that bloody Idle then?" said John. "He's late!"

"Aye," said Terry J. "No telling where mate. No telling where. Sure he'll be here though."

"I see him," said Gilliam. "He's outside."

"Where?" asked Chappie.

"Out there."

"There where?"

"OUT THERE!"

The girl sat silently for a few minutes, every now and then glancing to Eric who'd smile at her, she shyly smiling back. Each time his smile'd get bigger, or he'd make a silly face.

"Gosh," he said in a upper class voice. "Dearie me. Where are my manners. I've forgotten to introduce myself."

"It's okay," said the girl, trying not to laugh.

"I'm Eric."

She smiled. "Last name?"

"Idle..Eric Idle. And you are?"

"Julia."

"So do you have a last name then?" He said. "Or do I 'ave to guess?'

"Guess if you want," said Julia.

Eric paused, scrunching up his face in mock thought. "I 'aven't a clue, love," he said finally.

"It's Boyd, silly goose. I'm Julia Boyd."

"Lovely name for a lovely lady," smiled Eric. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," said Julia, smiling back, smile disappearing shortly after. The sad face he'd first seen reappeared.

"He's chattin' her up!" squeaked Michael.

"So," said Eric softly, "If you don't mind me asking, What's wrong?"

"You wouldn't want to know."

"Obviously I would otherwise I wouldn't ask."

Julia drew in a breath, and Eric said; "Sorry, love, I didn't mean to be cross at you or nosy or any rubbish like that."

"'Tis alright. I wish I looked better than I do, would've made a better impression. "

"You made a great one," said Eric, then blushed. " I interrupted again. Sorry."

Julia smiled shyly at him, and Eric felt a twinge in his heart. "I moved to London only yesterday, and..and..."

"Go on," said Eric, scooting himself a little closer to her.

"I was s'posed to move in to me flat and start work today, but I lost everything to someone else, and the people I was s'posed to work for decided they didn't want me, had no place for a Northerner. So I've been sitting 'ere, a bit lonely and a bit confused. No clue what I should do on anything." She blinked tears as she spoke.

His heart broke into smithereens as he listened, wanting again to hold her. Eric found himself reaching out, and nervously pulled her to him.

Julia fell , her face in his shoulder, softly sobbing.

The two Terrys and Michael peered out the window at the sight. "Come away you lot," Michael said finally. "Leave them be. Bird's got a bit of sad on looks like."

Eric held her close, stroking the back of her head, letting her lean on him. "Shh...love.." he whispered. "Shhh..."

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled. "Sorry for the blubbering too."

"'Tis alright," said Eric softly. "Didn't mind it at all."

Julia pulled away just a little, still allowing Eric to hold her. Don't run away love, don't run away.

"Thanks," she said, wiping at her eyes."I'll leave you be then, you look like you were going somewhere."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be, love," said Eric, his blue eyes looking straight into hers.

She blushed pink. "Thanks...I think," said Julia, who then paused.

"What?"

"We've got an audience."

"Oh..." said Eric. "That's just me mates I bet. You can come up w'me if you like."

"Come up where?"

"I'll show you love. Come along then."

"He's bringin' her in 'ere!" said Terry, eyes huge.

"What's the matter mate?" laughed Chappie,"Never seen a girl before?"

"Aw, leave TJ alone," smiled John. "Look at wee little Gillie over there scribbling away so he'll look busy."

"You hush," said Gilliam, trying not to smile. "I don't have to look busy to be busy. I AM BUSY."

Michael snorted, some of his soda pop going up his nose.

"That's attractive!" giggled TJ.

"SHUT UP TJ!" yelled Michael, coughing.

"My friends are a bit odd," said Eric as they went down the hall.

"That's alright," smiled Julia. "I like odd."

Eric smiled, felt himself reaching out for her as if automatic. A blush crept across his face at the idea.

"'Tis alright, " said Julia. "Not every day I let a bloke I just met hold my hand." As she spoke she held out her right hand to Eric, who immediately grasped it with his left, gently giving it a squeeze.

"I'm not just any bloke," he winked.

Julia smiled bright in return, which made him feel like King of the Mountain.

He opened the door, and as they went through, there were his mates, sure enough pretending to be hard at work.

"Don't get up on my account," he said in a prim voice. "Don't want you lot hurtin' yourselves on the get up."

"Don't worry," snickered Michael. "We won't."

"See?" said Eric to Julia. "Odd. Damned fools won't even say hello."

Julia raised an eyebrow.

"I'll say 'Ello!" bellowed TJ, swooping Eric up off the ground.

"Enough TJ," grumbled Eric. "Put me down, mate, 'fore you squeeze all me stuffin' out."

TJ laughed, grinning at Julia who couldn't help but return it.

"Awright then," said Eric, straightening himself up again. "The big moose here is Terry."

"Jones...Terry Jones at your service ma'am," said Terry, shaking her hand. "This lot calls me TJ, to tell me apart from the wee American over there."

"I'm Julia, nice to meet you."

Gilliam looked up from his pad of paper and said; "I'm the "wee" one they're referring to. You can just call me Terry if you want, sometimes I go by just Gilliam. But nice to meet you Julia."

"Likewise."

"And I'm Mike," said Michael, giving Julia a hug. "Nice to meet you as well."

Julia smiled.

"Have to one up me eh?" said TJ. "I try to be gentlemanly and shake 'er hand and you go for the huggle."

"Keeping me rep as the nicest of this lot," said Mike, who made a funny face at Julia. "They tease me for that."

Eric's arm was around Julia, relieved at her not shrinking back at him doing so. "This is John," he said. "And that's Graham."

Graham walked up to her, a warm friendly smile on his face and said; "Hello darling, see you've made quite the impression on our kid Eric. Right lovely one you are."

"Ta," blushed Julia. He seemed almost grandfatherly, puffing away on his pipe.

"And last but CERTAINLY not least," said another voice. "I'm John."

"Nice to meet you," said Julia. "All of you."

They all smiled at her.

Michael whispered in Eric's ear; "She doesn't realize who we are does she?"

"No," Eric whispered back. "Doesn't seem to."

"MARVELOUS!" said Michael.

"She may catch on I s'pose," said Eric.

"Caught yourself a beautiful bird mate," smiled Michael.

"Have I? Aye," mused Eric. "S'pose I have. Didn't really catch her, she was...just..."

"No words needed," said Michael, with a knowing smile. "None at all."

They got to work shortly after that, Julia sitting off to the side.

"You be alright over there?" asked Eric.

"Aye. Alright if I stay?"

Eric beamed, looking to Julia like a small lad at Christmas.

She smiled back.

As the boys rehearsed, Eric would look towards her, Gilliam sitting a foot away, still drawing. He'd smile or make a funny face at Julia, scrunching up his nose like a bunny rabbit, anything to make her laugh. He was caught once by Graham for doing this, but instead of a reprimand, he got a wink as if to say Righto ol' boy!

Eric bandied the thought of asking Julia to stay with him in his flat, since he'd remembered her saying she'd lost her own.

Just long enough till she got settled. Just long enough. He was unsure how she'd react, just meeting, him asking her to move in and all.

Worth a shot, anyroad.

The next sketch they rehearsed was one he'd written called "Wink Wink Nudge Nudge" a bit he was to do with TJ.

Michael was over next to Julia, Eric could see him talking to her, as he got on his wig for the bit.

"You love her don't you?" whispered TJ, slipping on his bowler.

"Eh?"

"The bird, Julia. You love her don't you?"

Eric paused, then whispered; "Aye. I do. I just met her but I love her."

TJ smiled. "It shows mate."

"I've never done that, fallen for someone immediate."

"Never?"

"Never EVER," whispered Eric. "I was even just bouncing the idea of asking her to stay with me in my head, 'cause she doesn't have anywhere to go."

"Doesn't?"

"Nope, no job, no flat, nothin'. That's why she was so sad when I met her. She had everything set to go when she got to London, then nothin'," said Eric.

Terry paused, listening to Eric's words, then looking towards Julia.

"I immediately wanted to be with her, wanted to look after her. I immediately started loving her, Terry. I even let her cry on me, how many birds do I let do that?"

"Not many."

"No," said Eric. " I think she's the one. She's the one I've been looking for all me life."

"Well, I've got news of my own," said Terry. "Carol's had to leave us."

"She has? What happened?"

"Something came up apparently, I dunno what, seems urgent. But you say this person needs a job right?"

"Yeah."

"Ask Julia if she'd join us," whispered Terry.

Eric's eyes widened. "Serious?"

Terry smiled warmly at his friend.

"Golly yeah," he said.

"Hold on though," whispered Eric. "Looks like Chappie's asking her already."

They watched as Graham, still puffing on his pipe, spoke to Julia. Michael stood behind Graham, looking at Terry and Eric as he eavesdropped.

Eric's eyes were only on Julia.

Graham was seen to ask 'Will you Join us?' Julia nodded, Michael beamed ear to ear, flashing a thumbs up.

Eric's smile was so bright it could have lit up all of London.

Terry tapped him in the ribs and whispered; "Alright loverboy, we going to get any work done or not?"

"Alright TJ," whispered Eric, to his Welsh friend, a smile in his voice. "Alrriiightttt."

They began with the sketch, everything going smoothly, giving Eric a sense of pride that the very first Python bit Julia ever saw was one he'd written. When the parts where he'd exclaim "SAY NO MORE!" came up, he could hear Julia's laughter, and that made Eric even happier.

The more he was around her the more he'd loved her, minute by minute.

She tried to cover her mouth, to muffle her laughter, and was failing, Graham and Mike both grinning as well.

Once in the evening, she asked Mike; "What is it I'm supposed to do then?"

"Oh, we all just mess about, different little bits, sometimes one person's one character, sometimes they're another," he answered. "Sometimes say for example Terry's a biker or somethin', next he's a bitter old lady complaining about the price of tea."

"You dress up as women?"

"Aye, voices as well, " laughed Michael. "It's all a lot of fun, the things we do, good for laughs. TJ and I write together, Chappie and John write things, Gilliam does these wicked cartoons, which we all talk in parts for, and our kid Eric writes things as well, but he writes by 'imself."

"What shall I do then?"

"Well, we'll find spots for you," he smiled, his friendly brown eyes on hers." You'll have to be willing to be flexible, that's the only requirement. And to be silly."

"That won't be hard," said Julia. "I can go for silly. And flexible? Not a problem at all."

Michael smiled at her. "You'll be just fine, Jules. Alright if I call you that?"

"Sure," smiled Julia.

"Well, I'd best be getting on, they need me for a bit, so feel free to watch how it goes, get an idea of what to expect."

"Okay."

For the rest of the evening, as the lads went through their paces, Julia sat with rapt attention, watching and enjoying everything. She was sorry when it ended, that's for sure. It was groovy how kind these fellows were, especially since she'd been a total stranger off the street.

The super nice one Eric was slipping on his coat, super nice and quite dishy indeed. He'd been so kind to her out on the street, Julia thought. She knew then she liked him best of all, would love to get to know him better.

"Hey!"

"Hey," she blushed.

"I got something to ask you, Julia," he said, sitting beside her.

"Ok," she said.

"I remember earlier you said something about losing your flat," he whispered. "Well, if it'd be alright with you, I've plenty of room if you wouldn't mind sharing."

"Sharing? Be like flatmates then?"

"Aye."

"Oh...that's awfully kind of you! I mean, I wouldn't want to impose."

"You wouldn't impose, love, not in the least."

"Alright then," she smiled. "I'd love to."

Eric smiled at her, and said; "Let's go then. "

When they disappeared, Michael said "What'd you lot think of her?"

"I like her," said Terry.

"Me too!" said Michael.

John and Graham were nodding their heads.

"Gillie? What about you?"

"I like her as well," said Gilliam. "'I've never seen Eric happier."

"I explained to her how things went round here, to be prepared for being put in things," said Michael.

"How'd she take it then?"

"She's up for anything, she said, I told her we'd find a place to put her."

"Well..remember that bit we'd written, Mike," said Terry. "The marriage counselor bit."

"Yeah?"

"How's about putting Julia in where Carol would have been? Our kid can smooch on 'er then."

"We can see how she is at ad-libbing then after that."

The rest of the lads headed home on that note.

Eric and Julia spent most of the remainder of the evening just talking, talking about everything. Their childhoods, likes/dislikes, and so on, each one learning more about the other one, such as their birthdays were within days of each other's, both lost their fathers at a early age, and so on.

He found he loved listening to her speak, just really listening. In previous relationships he was the talker, he was the doer, it was him, him him all the time. He never really had the chance to get to know the particular girl, not like he was doing now, a really serious conversation. The last girl who actually spoke, spoke while shagging, which defeated the purpose of shagging all together.

He'd had his arm round the back of the couch, almost touching her shoulder, almost not.

A song appeared in his head, one from the year before; he'd knew that John Lennon had wrote it about his Mum Julia and his new bird Yoko, but Eric couldn't help but think of the Julia sitting right next to him.

Eric paused, lost in his thoughts, when Julia did that little blink the eyes and smile bit that seemed to turn his insides to mush and whispered "If you wanted me to move, all you had to do was ask me."

He looked at her, watching as she moved an inch to her left, his arm falling around her shoulder almost automatic, like it was supposed to be there all along.

"How's that then?" she whispered.

"That's...that's lovely," he said, pulling her closer. "Lovely..."

The urge was there for other things, growing greater the more he looked at her, but he knew one thing he could do, innocently do.

"There's something else, though," he whispered, as he reached for her.

She looked at him, eyes searching his.

"Just...one...more...thing," he whispered before he kissed her.

A worry was in his mind that she'd pull away, slap him in the face and storm off, but to his relief...she didn't.

She returned his kiss, and Eric found himself getting lost in her, in everything about her, things seemed to be falling...falling...the world disappeared around them, the world as he knew it, the only thing that mattered was the now..what was happening right then at that very moment to the both of them.

He wanted to do more than what was happening, wanted to go on full stop..but he knew he shouldn't. He didn't want to take advantage. What was between them now was good enough.

GOOD ENOUGH, he told himself inwardly.

His mind and his heart agreed but painfully his body didn't, but eventually it came around as well. The last thought he'd had before settling off to sleep was tucking in behind her on the couch, his arms round her middle, her hand clasping his.

Sleep...blissful beautiful sleep.

The next day, while Julia was squirreled away, TJ poked Eric in the arm. "How'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" asked Eric, innocent expression on his face.

"You and Jules," said TJ. "How'd it go?"

"Oh....Marvelous," smiled Eric. "Simply marvelous."

"Eh?" said TJ. "Details then?"

"Details? You wanna know if I shagged her?"

TJ looked at him in mock horror. "No!"

"Liar."

The two friends looked at each other, before Eric chuckled. "Actually...I almost did."

"Oh?" laughed TJ.

"Aye, I slept with her, yes, but I didn't shag her."

"There goes me chance of living vicariously through you then."

Eric laughed. "You just pick odd moments to do it, that's all," he then said, pausing for a bit. "I did snog her though."

"Did you?" asked TJ, eyes wide. "How's she then?"

"On a scale of 1 to 10 she's a 25," said Eric.

"Wow! I'm right jealous of you for sure."

Eric laughed.

"Oh, by the way, that marriage counselor bit, Jules is gonna be in it, so you get to smooch on 'er again."

Eric grinned from ear to ear.

The taping that night went terrific, Julia watching the skits, holding her laughter in, but grinning all the while.

Gilliam hopped up beside her. "Hey!'

"Hi," she smiled.

"How'd you like it so far?"

"Great!" she said. "You lads are absolutely great."

"Thanks," he smiled. "Just wanted to see 'cause you're up."

"Up for what?"

"Mike and TJ wrote you in somewhere."

"They have?"

"Yeah," whispered Gilliam. "It's a sketch where you and Michael are married. You go to a marriage counselor, to try to sort things. Arthur and Deirdre Pewty are your names. Only you, Julia, get the counselor to fall for you, kinda battin' your eyes and stuff. He winds up going to shag you and Arthur, that's Mike, gets left out in the cold."

"Ohhh.....That's a bit mean, isn't it?"

"One could say so yeah. But funny all the rest though."

Julia nodded, the words sinking in. "Who's the marriage fellow?"

Gilliam paused, trying to hold a grin off his face, knowing it was Eric, the man who was already snookered over Julia. "It's Eric."

The memory of what'd gone on the night before flashed in her mind, her eyes clicking from Gilliam to Eric and back again, a blush growing across her face.

"Oh my...OH my," she said softly.

Gilliam didn't say a word, just grinned and walked away.

"Wait!" said John to Eric. "You slept with her?"

"Aye," said Eric softly. " I did."

"First night then, hmm. Record for you ."

"He didn't shag 'er man," said TJ. "He kipped with her."

Terry looked at Eric. Eric made a face. "Spoilsport."

Terry laughed.

"It's true mate, it was only sleep. But it was lovely though. LOVELY indeed."

"Alright then, loverboy, time to smarten up now," said Terry. "Work to be done."

"Yes sir," said Eric, giving a mock salute.

A few minutes later, the sketch started, Michael entering the "Counselor's office" followed by Julia, Eric was at his desk, head down, writing stuff.

Michael said his lines introducing himself and Julia as Arthur and Deidre Pewty, and when Eric looked up to respond to Michael, he locked eyes on Julia immediately.

His hand continued moving across the page, never stopping looking at her. "And what is the name of your ravishing wife?" he said, hand going for Julia's." Wait. Don't tell me - it's something to do with moonlight - it goes with her eyes - it's soft and gentle, warm and yielding, deeply lyrical and yet tender and frightened like a tiny white rabbit."

As he spoke he thought to himself; She's doing that blink thing she did last night...Cor....I had to fake it when it was Carol...but god, Julia, GOD...it's taking everything for me not to jump over this bloody desk and shag her for real..

Eric could see the reaction from Julia, the blush creeping across her face and smiled inwardly to himself, knowing full well, she was feeling the same about him.

"It's Deirdre," said Michael.

"Deirdre,"said Eric softly." What a beautiful name. What a beautiful, beautiful name." He reached out, touching Julia on the side of the face, whilst remembering touching her from before, his insides already going to mush. "And what seems to be the trouble with your marriage Mr Pewty?"

"Well, it all started about five years ago when we started going to Brighton on holiday together," said Michael. "Deirdre, that's my wife, has always been a jolly good companion to me and I never particularly anticipated any marital strife - indeed the very idea of consulting a professional marital adviser has always been of the greatest repugnance to me although far be it from me to impugn the nature of your trade or profession."

Eric's eyes stayed on Julia's, him now having moved to the front of the desk, sitting on the edge, an inch away from her, as Michael trailed off, falling silent for a moment.

"Go on," he said to Michael, as he took Julia's hand in his, raising it to his lips, kissing her first on the hand, the slowly up the arm, constantly watching her reaction to him.

"Well, as I say, we've always been good friends," said Michael, standing to Eric's left as Eric brought Julia to her feet."Sharing the interests, the gardening and so on, the model aeroplanes, the sixpenny bottle for the holiday money, and indeed twice a month settling down in the evenings doing the accounts, something which, er, Deirdre, Deirdre that's my wife, er, particularly looked forward to on account of her feet. I should probably have said at the outset I'm noted for having something of a sense of humour, although I have kept myself very much to myself over the las two years notwithstanding, as it were, and it's only as comparatively recently that I began to realize - well, er prehaps realize is not the correct word, er, imagine, that I was not the only thing in her life."

Eric's right arm had slid down Julia's left side as Michael spoke, almost seeming as if Eric was planning on lifting her up or something. He felt Julia tremble, her breathing getting unsteady.

"You suspected your wife?" he asked, looking from Julia's wide eyes to Michael and back again.

"Well yes - at first, frankly yes," said Michael. Eric motioned to Julia to go behind a screen, and she did so, while Eric continued to listen."Her behaviour did seem at the time to me, who after all was there to see, to be a little odd."

"Odd?" asked Eric.

"Yes well," said Michael. " I mean to a certain extent yes. I'm not by nature a suspicious person - far from it - though in fact I have something of a reputation as an after-dinner speaker, if you take my meaning...."

Julia noticed there was a bunch of clothing tucked behind the curtain, she supposed she was to pretend they were hers. There was a bra and knickers there as well. She thought, well, I'll take me jacket off, that should be all I'd need to.

She did, and it appeared over the screen.

Eric saw it appear, and naughty naughty thoughts went even more rampant through his head. I'll jump right through that curtain and pounce on 'er if I can get away with it.

"Yes, I certainly do," he said.

Julia s'posed she was to pick the bra up next, and she did, her hand shaking as she dropped it on top of the screen, wondering with a giggle whether or not he'd think it was really hers. She dropped the knickers up there as well.

"Anyway in the area where I'm known people in fact know me extremely well," said Michael.

"Oh yes. Would you hold this?" she heard Eric ask.

"Hold what?"

"The jacket, hold my jacket, please."

"Oh! Certainly, yes!" said Michael. "Anyway as I said, I decided to face up to the facts and stop beating about the bush or I'd never look myself in the bathroom mirror again."

"Er, look would you mind running long for ten minutes?" she heard Eric ask. " Make it half an hour."

OH CHRIST! she thought.

And before she knew it, there he was, back there with her, the room getting all blurry, his eyes so dark they seemed more to be sapphires instead of eyes.

"No, no right-ho, fine. Yes I'll wait outside shall I?" she heard Michael ask in a forlorn voice." Yes, well that's perhaps the best things. Yes. You've certainly put my mind at rest on one or two points, there."

She felt a little twinge of guilt, even though she knew Michael was just playing the part, she still felt guilt. He sounded like a little lost boy. A poor little lost boy.

"He's alright, love," Eric whispered softly.

She nodded. "Can anyone see in?" she whispered, feeling a fool for even saying the words.

He shook his head no.

"Can they hear us?"

He shook his head once more.

Julia's eyes looked up and down and back again at Eric, who was only in his shirt, tie, and boxers.

"Alright if I?" he whispered.

She nodded, unable to speak.

He pulled her close to him, moving them back against the wall.

The fact that she was touching him, completely, able to feel him, floored Julia more so than anything. She'd never even been this close to a man before. EVER. Sure she could talk a good game as well as the next girl, but when it came to the actuality...

He pressed close to her, pressing her into the wall.

Eric's eyes searched her own, much as they'd had out in the open room. His hand cupped her cheek, much as he'd done earlier, only this time he kissed her fully, more as he'd done the night before.

Her heart beat furious in her chest, so furious she thought it might explode.

She could hear Michael outside the door, talking to John, who was speaking in an American Southern voice. She tried not to giggle, 'cause he'd sounded like Foghorn Leghorn.

"Don't do that," said Eric, sounding mumbly, 'cause he'd had to break the kiss to speak. "Making me lose me concentration."

"Sorry," whispered Julia. "As you were then."

Eric scrunched up his nose, deepening the kiss, pushing her further against the wall. The nerves she'd had seemed to go away. That was a relief.

She could hear Michael exclaim; "Yes I will. I will!. I've been pushed around long enough. This is it. This is your moment Arthur Pewty - this is it Arthur Pewty. At last you're a man!"

The door swung open, and Michael marched in saying; "Deirdre! All right, Deirdre, come out of there."

"Go Away!" said Eric in a rough voice.

"Right. Right," said Michael, in a sad voice once more.

She heard the sound of the door close, and her mind went back to what was happening. "You trying to make me go to pieces then?" she whispered, trying to keep her wits.

"Is it working?"

"Keep on like that, you'll have to scrape me off the floor."

Eric growled in satisfaction.

"Well, we'd best not get too involved, too many lookies."

"Right," said Eric. "Truth be told, Julia, I do fancy you. Fancied you the minute I laid eyes on . And I know you like me too, I could tell, the way you reacted to me out there."

She paused. "Aye I do."

"So we can just see how this goes 'tween us then? "

"Alright," she smiled. "Be fine by me."

"Great then," Eric smiled. "GREAT."

"Amazing how things go in a couple of days isn't it?" she whispered.

Eric smiled, kissing her on the forehead, then resting his own against hers. "True that," he said softly. "Now if you'll excuse me, darling, I've got to take care of a situation. It's a bit drafty."

Julia laughed. "You go do that."

Later that night, as things seemed to get particularly close yet again, she'd stopped.

"What's the matter, love?" he'd whispered.

"I-I-I've...never," she stammered, looking up at his puzzled face. "I've never been with a...a...man before."

"Never been with? Like, you've..not.."

Julia shook her head no. "I've only been to first base ever, as the Americans say," she said softly, a blush flaring across her face.

"Ohh...don't be ashamed, love," Eric whispered. "Nothing to be ashamed of at all."

"You don't think bad of me for stoppin' you?"

"No, no," he said, stroking the side of her face. "I'll go only as far as you'd want me to. I'd never do anything to make you uncomfortable."

"I'll be ready someday, I'm sure, honest."

"Don't rush yourself, love. That's nothing to be rushed. When you're ready, you're ready."

"It'd mean you'd be my first," she whispered.

"I'd be honored."

The blush flared redder. Eric chuckled at the bashful look on her face, then planted a kiss on her forehead.

" 'Twas funny, the bit we did today," he said.

"Aye, me as a boy and you as my mother. Odd indeed. Had to fight the giggles the entire time."

Eric grinned from ear to ear, then spoke in his voice he used for such scenes. "Made you laugh talking like this then?"

"Aye, stop that, stop that. I 'ad to look like bloody Tiny Tim in my outfit," said Julia. "I dunno how Connie ever does it. Or that other lass Carol. How they keep their wits about them is admirable."

"Lose your wits already?" he asked in a mock voice.

"No, no, didn't mean that."

"I know what you meant," he said in an Irish accent.

"Stop that, stop that."

"What you want then?"

"Haven't decided."

Eric propped himself up, looking down at her. "You're lucky I love you, dearie me, torturing a fellow like that."

"You love me?"

"I didn't say that."

"Yes you did, yes you did. You said you love me."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"Must have been an accident," he said in a joking tone. "But no, seriously. I do love you. Very much."

"I love you too," whispered Julia. "With all my heart."

Eric snuffled playfully.  She said, "Not going to cry are you?"

"No, no," he sniffed. " I won't.. I promised meself I wouldn't."

"Ooh you!" she laughed.

He pouted, letting his lower lip tremble. "I won't cry..I won't..I won't."

Julia socked him on the arm.

"OUCH!" yelped Eric. "What's that in aid of?"

"Stopping you, that whole whimper bit."

"I wasn't whimpering."

"Liar."

"Wasn't!"

"Ok."

"What?"

"Okay, you win."

"Knew you'd cave. Sucker for me charms,eh?"

"OOH!"

"OW! Had to hit me did you?"

"Sorry," said Julia, backing down.

Eric laughed wickedly.

Over the weeks that followed, things went smashing. She was included fully into the Python gang, and when Carol returned, she too happily accepted Julia, saying how jolly glad she was not to be the only girl in anymore, since Connie wasn't around that much.

Julia met as well Terry's wife Alison, or Allie, and Gilliam's wife Maggie, who were smashing as well. When the lads would be off doing their bit, there was always someone round to talk to.

As for her relationship with Eric, it was going absolutely fab. They grew closer and closer as the days went on.

The lads always found a spot for her in the sketches, whether she had to be a nun in one bit, a teenage girl, an old woman, or even a man, Julia was up to the challenge.

One time she was in the background, sitting on a stool, Eric and Michael were doing a bit about naughty chemists or something, and she got a case of the giggles. She tried her best to muffle them, clapping her hand over her mouth, and accidentally the stool fell over backwards, Julia landing hard on her rear, tears streaming out of her eyes she was giggling so.

"JULES!" said Michael, breaking character. "You alright?"

She nodded.

Eric crouched down beside her and whispered; "You alright darling?"

"I'm..." said Julia, still giggling. "I'm alright. Honest."

He smiled down at her. "Right giggler, eh?" he said, helping her up.

"Aye, I get an idea inside me head you see, all the walls of Rome can't stop me," she said.

He grinned.

"Sorry for that lads," said Julia. " Didn't mean to mess everything up."

Michael made a funny face, scrunching up his nose. " 'Tis alright, Jules," he said. "Just means ol' Eric's gotta do his bit over."

Eric smiled. "That's what you think, Palin," he said. "Might be you who's the mess up."

Michael laughed.

"I know! Let's see how long Julie can go 'fore she breaks up again!" said TJ.

Julia turned red. "Carol? Help?"

She was over with John, going over a bit.

"She can't help you," said Michael in a dangerous voice. "No one can, fair little lassie. No one can save you now. You are in the clutches of the fearsome GIGGLE MONSTER!"

Julia howled. "Getting me back for tickling you the other day then?" she asked.

"I got you ALL figured out. You just don't know it."

"We'll see."

"I figured her out first. So ha ha to you," said Eric.

"I figured her second!"

"People, people, people, let's not bicker and fuss about who figured who," said Michael in a posh voice. "Best get back to work."

"Right," said TJ in the same tone, but failing to keep it from laughing.

"Got you too, eh?"

"Yeah, contagious," smiled TJ, looking at Julia. "She started it."

"And I'M ending it!" laughed Eric. "Come along, lads. Leave me girl alone."

Michael smiled, walking over to his spot, the smile slowly fading as he looked back at Eric still standing with Julia. TJ quickly followed.

"What, TJ?" he said under his breath.

"You love her don't you?"

"WHAT?"

"Julie. You love her don't you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"It's obvious, mate. RATHER obvious."

Michael paled. "Damn," he swore softly. "I've been doing my best to hide it."

TJ looked at him.

"I've been gone on 'er, since that first bit she and Eric and I did," said Michael, his Yorkshire accent a little thicker than usual. "I got bloody jealous, sitting there watching 'im, what he was doing to her, the way she reacted and all that. It should be me over there with 'er, Terry. Not Eric. Eric gets all the birds that come 'cross. You and Gillie are all married off, John as well, Gray chases the boys, and Eric gets all the chicks. Every damn bloody one. Won't leave any for me, no sirree."

"What about Helen?" asked TJ quietly. "I thought things were good with her?"

"Aye, they were. Emphasis on the were." said Michael. " We weren't meant to be."

"And you think you and Julie are?"

" Everyday I wake up hating my own damned bloody luck that HE met her first. She just likes me as a mate, Tj. Bloody kills me everytime I'm round her. And there's nothing I can do 'bout it."

TJ listened, a sad expression on his face, remembering when he'd had this conversation with Eric weeks earlier, how bright and happy he was, his blue eyes all aglow as he spoke of this new girl. Michael was the polar opposite, heartbreak and despair all over his face, which saddened TJ because Mike was the giddy one, the happy one, the good natured one. Whenever anyone was down about anything, even back in Oxford days, Mike would cheer 'em up. Now it was he who needed it, and TJ was at a loss.

"Have you told her how you felt?"

"No," said Mike. "I've thought about getting her off to the side, just having a chat and saying it straight out. But I dunno. Eric might show up and think I'm borrowing her for a bit or something. I fell for her harder than I did Helen. And I fell pretty damn hard then. I mean, lookit, Terry, he's telling her somethin' and she's all laughing and stuff. That's supposed to be me, I'm SUPPOSED to do that. Not him."

"Tell her!"

Michael sighed.

TJ rolled his eyes and said in a prim voice; "You and your dramatics, Palin. Dearie dearie me."

Michael cracked up." 'Twas you that got in with your fartin' nose up. All high in the air.
The two friends laughed.