Chapter Text
I would gladly do it twice.
Julian was a few steps behind his father and Yoko as they made their way back to the Dakota from the recording studio. John had invited his oldest son with them and Julian was honestly unsure how Yoko would welcome him, but then he decided that he really didn't care too much. She had ignored every attempt that Julian had made to try and bridge the gap, so Julian had decidedly given up trying.
It was about reconciling with his father and getting to know his brother. Nothing more, nothing less.
Julian had fallen into step a few feet behind the couple as he smoked one last cigarette for the night. He didn't miss how his dad kept looking behind to ensure Julian was still behind them. Julian shook his head. His dad was doing so much better bridging the gap between Julian and himself, so much so that Julian almost found it strange how doting his father was being.
The trio reached the doors to the Dakota and John held the door open for Yoko and was waiting on Julian when a loud commanding voice shouted out.
"MR LENNON!"
Time seemed to freeze as Julian turned around and saw a man kneeling down with an object extended out, both of his hands wrapped around the object.
'Gun.' Julian's mind supplied for him. He also noticed that the gun was aimed directly at his father.
It was at that moment, Julian moved. He could see Yoko watching horrified. His dad wasn't paying attention to Julian, eyes firmly fixated on the gunman. Julian through his whole body weight into his father just as the first shot rang out.
BAM!!
John Lennon was thrown to the ground as the events struggled to make sense in his head. Everything moved too fast. He remembered a shout, a gun, and....
Yoko was screaming. John looked to his side and there lay his oldest son. Bleeding.
"JULIAN!" John crawled over and wrapped his arms around Julian and lifted him against his chest. "No no no stay with me son!"
There was so much blood. John tried to press down on what he thought was the main wound. Julian had blood trailing from the side of his mouth and he tried to look but John kept his focus on him as people were calling emergency services.
"Look at me Jules....eyes on me darling." John lifted his face up and made Julian look at him. "You're going to be just fine do ya hear me Jules? Just fine. Just hang in for me lad." John watched as Julian's eyes turned glassy and Julian swallowed roughly as his lips trembled.
"D-da..." Julian croaked as he raised a bloody palm to his father's face. John took the shaking hand im his own. "Im right here Jules. I have you love. I have you..." John's own eyes were wet and burning. All of his attention was on the boy in his arms. The son he had gotten another chance with. He didnt even notice Yoko kneeling beside them.
Julian coughed and sobbed as the pain the action caused him. John just held him tighter. "T-take care of S-sean..."
John felt his heart stop. Not just because of the request, but because Julian's eyes started to slowly shut. "NO!" John roared. "NO JULIAN LENNON! DON'T YOU DARE!" He buried his face in his son's hair. "Open your eyes Jules....OPEN YOUR EYES!"
John didnt even realize the ambulance had pulled up beside them as he clutched onto his child.
Please....please not Jules. Not my boy.