A Robert Fanfic
Late 1968
The day was just beginning, the sun rising through the thick haunting clouds that almost completely covered the English sky menacingly. I had only been here in England for a week and my long wanting trip was coming to and end quickly. I lived in New York, working for my Aunt and Uncle in their family restaurant part-time to save money for college. I was only 17 and the only way my Aunt would allow me to come to England alone was if I agreed to pay for it on my own, send her a call every other day and bring her back something.
I smiled at the thought of her as I walked along the quiet downtown street hoping for something to catch my eye. I went into a couple of colorful boutiques but nothing tickled my fancy. I decided to keep going down the street in hopes of finding some excitement elsewhere.
I hummed a tune I had heard for the first times in one of the stores earlier, as I wandered aimlessly.
“You have quite the lovely voice.” I heard a man say from behind me.
I quickly turned around to see a tall, beautiful man with deep blue eyes and bright blonde curls bouncing just above his shoulders as he silently laughed at my bewildered expression.
I stood in front of him like a deer in the headlights, not knowing how to reply.
His eyebrows slightly furrowed but quickly smoothed over as he spoke again. “I’m sorry If I frightened you love. I certainly didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t help myself when I recognized the song you were so beautifully humming.” He grinned sweetly.
“You have quite the lovely voice.” I heard a man say from behind me.
I quickly turned around to see a tall, beautiful man with deep blue eyes and bright blonde curls bouncing just above his shoulders as he silently laughed at my bewildered expression.
I stood in front of him like a deer in the headlights, not knowing how to reply.
His eyebrows slightly furrowed but quickly smoothed over as he spoke again. “I’m sorry If I frightened you love. I certainly didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t help myself when I recognized the song you were so beautifully humming.” He grinned sweetly.
“Oh no it’s okay.” I assured him. “I don’t actually know what the song is… I heard it earlier today and can’t seem to get the melody out of my head.” My mind wandered off in search of the song.
“I believe it’s called ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’.” His thick accent carried me back from my reverie.
“Hmm… I like it.” I affirmed, my head in the clouds as I thought about the song. “It was nice to meet you.” I said as I turned around to continue walking.
“Wait, wait.” He called, meeting my pace.
I stopped confounded by his interjection and turned to face him.
“I believe it’s called ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’.” His thick accent carried me back from my reverie.
“Hmm… I like it.” I affirmed, my head in the clouds as I thought about the song. “It was nice to meet you.” I said as I turned around to continue walking.
“Wait, wait.” He called, meeting my pace.
I stopped confounded by his interjection and turned to face him.
“Technically darling we haven’t met yet.” He smiled smugly.
“What do you mean?” I asked confused.
“Well I don’t even know your name. Meeting someone requires the telling of names.” He said matter-of-factly.
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “My name is Caroline.”
“What a lovely name.” He hummed as he gently took my hand in his and kissed the top of it before introducing himself. “I’m Robert.”
I blushed and looked down.
He let go of my hand and pulled my face back to his view with a soft finger.
“Don’t hide love. Your eyes are too spectacular to keep away from the world.” He stared into mine as I stared into his. “Green…” He smiled. “Not very common. I think I only know one other person with eyes like yours.”
I felt the blood rushing back to my face again, I tried to turn my head back down out of habit but his finger held my eyes to his.
He laughed at my concerned expression. “Why don’t we go for a cup of tea.” He suggested.
I opened my mouth to reject the offer but he stopped me by placing the finger he used to hold my head up, on my lips.
“I wont take no for an answer.” He grinned widely.
He guided me back through the down town street to a small colorful cafe. He sat us at small circular table beside the window. I peered through it at the stores that sat across the street, a record store, one for antiques, and another cafe. The streets were starting to fill with young people around my age and could only assume it was noon. I turned my attention back to Robert who was now looking at me.
“What?” I laughed feeling self-conscious.
“Oh nothing darling.” He smiled.
An older woman with a note pad and apron came to our table then with a large smile. “Well hello Robert, always nice to see you here love.” She smiled widely and looked over at me. “And who’s this lovely young lady. I hope your not harassing her darling, you know girls don’t like that.” She tisked.
“Bettie this is Caroline,” He gestured to me laughing. “Caroline this is Bettie.” He gestured to the lady.
“It’s very nice to meet you lovey.” She welcomed with a squeaky British accent.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” I returned the smile.
“Where are your other little friends Percy?” She asked Robert. I raised my eyebrows at him and giggled a little at the nick name.
He rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen them yet today. I think Jimmy is working on something with the manager. I’m supposed to meet up with them later on today.”
“Oh that Jimmy, such a nice boy.” She cooed. “And cute too. Let me tell you if I was young again, I’d have him snatched up.” She giggled. “Are you going to be bringing Caroline with you? I’m sure the boys would love her.”
He raised his eyebrows in contemplation as he thought for a moment. “That’s a fantastic idea Bet. How bout it? We can go to dinner after too?” He turned his attention toward me, a hopeful grin playing on his lips.
I looked at both of them, with their hopeful smiles and couldn’t resist. “I would love to.”
“Well alright then!” She cheered. “What can I get for you too youngings?” She pulled her glasses on and held out the pad in front of her.
“I’ll have a black coffee.” He turned to me with a questioned expression.
“I’ll have a green tea.”
She quickly wrote them down and returned the pad into the pocket of her apron.
“Now Robert, you be careful not to let that John boy scare the living wits out of her.” She turned to me. “He’s sweet as a teddy bear but loud as a freight train!” She warned before turning to leaving the table.
Robert laughed at her. “It’s true. He’s harmless as a flower but can get quite loud.”
She returned with our drinks and left with just a smile.
“So where are you from?” He asked between sips of his coffee.
“I live in New York but grew up in California.” I sipped at my hot tea, feeling it burn down my throat.
“Hmm… So what brings you here then?” He wondered, intrigued.
“I’ve read many wonderful things about England and wanted to see it for myself.” I shrugged.
“I suppose it would be interesting for someone from another country.” He smiled. “I find yours very interesting. I would love to just pack a suitcase and go for pleasure.” He smiled at the thought.
Just then a group of boys came crashing into the cafe. There were three of them, the first one was tall and lanky with long black curls and a large smile on his face, the second was a more muscular man with long straight brown hair and a mustache and the third was a slightly shorter than the first but just as lanky with long strawberry blonde hair. He looked more conserved then the other two.
“Ey mate!” The one with the mustache yelled at the first one for stepping on his toes.
“Sorry man.” He laughed at his childishness in the situation.
They started play wrestling each other in the middle of the cafe. The quiet one rolled his eyes then made his was over to us.
“Hey Percy. We saw you through the window and thought we would say hello.” He smiled innocently.
Robert laughed at the other boys and turned his attention to me.
“Caroline, this is John Paul Jones but we call him Jonesy.” Robert said proudly.
Jonesy extended his hand to mine and shook it firmly with a infectious smile.
“The other idiots fighting in the doorway are Jimmy and John.” He rolled his eyes.
I assumed the louder one with the mustache was John and the smaller cute one was Jimmy.
Jimmy looked up suddenly at the sound of his name and quickly brushed off John and made his way over to the table, dragging a chair with him. He sat it beside mine and took his seat.
“And who’s this lovely bird?” He asked raising his eyebrows at me, a sly smile spreading across his face.
“Back off mate.” Robert said quickly. “This is Caroline.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes and laughed. He took my hand and kissed it like Robert had done earlier. “James Page, you can call me Jimmy.”
I smiled and pulled my hand back.
John threw his hand to mine, nudging Jimmy on the way. “I’m John, but like everyone else you can call me Bonzo.” He smiled widely as he shook my hand roughly.
“Ey mate get your arm away from me.” Jimmy complained. “And let go of the poor girl. Your gonna break her.”
Bonzo let go and smiled sweetly. “Sorry love.”
“That’s okay, I like it rough.” I joked.
All there eyes went wide for a moment then they burst out in laughter.
We sat in the cafe talking about California and England, music, books, antiques and girls through the afternoon. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this group of boys. They were infectious and growing on me with increasing speed.
“Oh its almost 4” Robert said looking down at his watch. “We have to rehearse before 6.”
“Why 6?” Jonesy asked.
“Well I would like to take Caroline out to dinner.” He said proudly.
“What do you mean?” I asked confused.
“Well I don’t even know your name. Meeting someone requires the telling of names.” He said matter-of-factly.
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “My name is Caroline.”
“What a lovely name.” He hummed as he gently took my hand in his and kissed the top of it before introducing himself. “I’m Robert.”
I blushed and looked down.
He let go of my hand and pulled my face back to his view with a soft finger.
“Don’t hide love. Your eyes are too spectacular to keep away from the world.” He stared into mine as I stared into his. “Green…” He smiled. “Not very common. I think I only know one other person with eyes like yours.”
I felt the blood rushing back to my face again, I tried to turn my head back down out of habit but his finger held my eyes to his.
He laughed at my concerned expression. “Why don’t we go for a cup of tea.” He suggested.
I opened my mouth to reject the offer but he stopped me by placing the finger he used to hold my head up, on my lips.
“I wont take no for an answer.” He grinned widely.
He guided me back through the down town street to a small colorful cafe. He sat us at small circular table beside the window. I peered through it at the stores that sat across the street, a record store, one for antiques, and another cafe. The streets were starting to fill with young people around my age and could only assume it was noon. I turned my attention back to Robert who was now looking at me.
“What?” I laughed feeling self-conscious.
“Oh nothing darling.” He smiled.
An older woman with a note pad and apron came to our table then with a large smile. “Well hello Robert, always nice to see you here love.” She smiled widely and looked over at me. “And who’s this lovely young lady. I hope your not harassing her darling, you know girls don’t like that.” She tisked.
“Bettie this is Caroline,” He gestured to me laughing. “Caroline this is Bettie.” He gestured to the lady.
“It’s very nice to meet you lovey.” She welcomed with a squeaky British accent.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” I returned the smile.
“Where are your other little friends Percy?” She asked Robert. I raised my eyebrows at him and giggled a little at the nick name.
He rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen them yet today. I think Jimmy is working on something with the manager. I’m supposed to meet up with them later on today.”
“Oh that Jimmy, such a nice boy.” She cooed. “And cute too. Let me tell you if I was young again, I’d have him snatched up.” She giggled. “Are you going to be bringing Caroline with you? I’m sure the boys would love her.”
He raised his eyebrows in contemplation as he thought for a moment. “That’s a fantastic idea Bet. How bout it? We can go to dinner after too?” He turned his attention toward me, a hopeful grin playing on his lips.
I looked at both of them, with their hopeful smiles and couldn’t resist. “I would love to.”
“Well alright then!” She cheered. “What can I get for you too youngings?” She pulled her glasses on and held out the pad in front of her.
“I’ll have a black coffee.” He turned to me with a questioned expression.
“I’ll have a green tea.”
She quickly wrote them down and returned the pad into the pocket of her apron.
“Now Robert, you be careful not to let that John boy scare the living wits out of her.” She turned to me. “He’s sweet as a teddy bear but loud as a freight train!” She warned before turning to leaving the table.
Robert laughed at her. “It’s true. He’s harmless as a flower but can get quite loud.”
She returned with our drinks and left with just a smile.
“So where are you from?” He asked between sips of his coffee.
“I live in New York but grew up in California.” I sipped at my hot tea, feeling it burn down my throat.
“Hmm… So what brings you here then?” He wondered, intrigued.
“I’ve read many wonderful things about England and wanted to see it for myself.” I shrugged.
“I suppose it would be interesting for someone from another country.” He smiled. “I find yours very interesting. I would love to just pack a suitcase and go for pleasure.” He smiled at the thought.
Just then a group of boys came crashing into the cafe. There were three of them, the first one was tall and lanky with long black curls and a large smile on his face, the second was a more muscular man with long straight brown hair and a mustache and the third was a slightly shorter than the first but just as lanky with long strawberry blonde hair. He looked more conserved then the other two.
“Ey mate!” The one with the mustache yelled at the first one for stepping on his toes.
“Sorry man.” He laughed at his childishness in the situation.
They started play wrestling each other in the middle of the cafe. The quiet one rolled his eyes then made his was over to us.
“Hey Percy. We saw you through the window and thought we would say hello.” He smiled innocently.
Robert laughed at the other boys and turned his attention to me.
“Caroline, this is John Paul Jones but we call him Jonesy.” Robert said proudly.
Jonesy extended his hand to mine and shook it firmly with a infectious smile.
“The other idiots fighting in the doorway are Jimmy and John.” He rolled his eyes.
I assumed the louder one with the mustache was John and the smaller cute one was Jimmy.
Jimmy looked up suddenly at the sound of his name and quickly brushed off John and made his way over to the table, dragging a chair with him. He sat it beside mine and took his seat.
“And who’s this lovely bird?” He asked raising his eyebrows at me, a sly smile spreading across his face.
“Back off mate.” Robert said quickly. “This is Caroline.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes and laughed. He took my hand and kissed it like Robert had done earlier. “James Page, you can call me Jimmy.”
I smiled and pulled my hand back.
John threw his hand to mine, nudging Jimmy on the way. “I’m John, but like everyone else you can call me Bonzo.” He smiled widely as he shook my hand roughly.
“Ey mate get your arm away from me.” Jimmy complained. “And let go of the poor girl. Your gonna break her.”
Bonzo let go and smiled sweetly. “Sorry love.”
“That’s okay, I like it rough.” I joked.
All there eyes went wide for a moment then they burst out in laughter.
We sat in the cafe talking about California and England, music, books, antiques and girls through the afternoon. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this group of boys. They were infectious and growing on me with increasing speed.
“Oh its almost 4” Robert said looking down at his watch. “We have to rehearse before 6.”
“Why 6?” Jonesy asked.
“Well I would like to take Caroline out to dinner.” He said proudly.
“Awe.” Bonzo and Jimmy teased rolling their eyes.
“Will you be joining us to my house for rehearsal then?” He asked me.
“Yes she has already agreed to.” Robert said quickly so I couldn’t change my mind.
“She has a voice of her own you know Percy.” Bonzo laughed.
“Well if she were to answer your question, we wouldn’t have the honor of having her over this evening.” He laughed.
I laughed. “It’s true.”
Bettie came running over to us as we started standing. “Are you lovey’s leaving?”
“Yes Bettie. Thank you for the amazing service as always.” Jimmy flirted.
“Oh it’s nothing.” She cooed.
The boys started pulling out their wallets.
“Oh no loveys, its on me today.” She smiled sweetly.
“Well here then, this is for being so lovely to us.” Jimmy placed a couple bills in her apron pocket.
Once we were outside Robert smacked the back of Jimmy’s head and laughed. “Would you quite flirting with the poor girl. She’s going to end up with a heart attack one of these days.”
Jimmy smiled proudly at what he could accomplish.
“So what are you rehearsing for?” I asked curiously.
“Yes she has already agreed to.” Robert said quickly so I couldn’t change my mind.
“She has a voice of her own you know Percy.” Bonzo laughed.
“Well if she were to answer your question, we wouldn’t have the honor of having her over this evening.” He laughed.
I laughed. “It’s true.”
Bettie came running over to us as we started standing. “Are you lovey’s leaving?”
“Yes Bettie. Thank you for the amazing service as always.” Jimmy flirted.
“Oh it’s nothing.” She cooed.
The boys started pulling out their wallets.
“Oh no loveys, its on me today.” She smiled sweetly.
“Well here then, this is for being so lovely to us.” Jimmy placed a couple bills in her apron pocket.
Once we were outside Robert smacked the back of Jimmy’s head and laughed. “Would you quite flirting with the poor girl. She’s going to end up with a heart attack one of these days.”
Jimmy smiled proudly at what he could accomplish.
“So what are you rehearsing for?” I asked curiously.
“She doesn’t know?” Jonesy quickly asked.
“No I guess it slipped my mind.” He teased.
“Know what?” I asked growing more confused.
“You’ll see.” Robert assured me, pulling his arm around my waste.
Bonzo drove us over to Jimmy’s house. It was quite large and beautiful. They brought me in side and into a room clad with instruments.
“Your in a band?” I asked Robert.
He simply shrugged and smiled. “Sit here.” He placed me on a small couch in front of the instruments, like a concert.
Bonzo took his place behind the drums, Jonesy picked up the bass that sat on the right of Bonzo, Jimmy picked up one of the many guitars that sat on the opposite side of the bass and Robert took place in the middle of them all with the mic.
Robert turned to the others and whispered something.
They all nodded in unison. Jimmy started with his guitar, a melody that sounded so familiar. Then Robert joined in with vocals.
‘Babe, baby, baby, I’m gonna leave you.
I said baby, you know I’m gonna leave you.
I’ll leave you when the summertime,
Leave you when the summer comes a-rollin’
Leave you when the summer comes along…’
As the others joined in, I recognized the song. It was the one Robert had caught me humming earlier that day. It was theirs.
My mouth dropped open as I watched and listened. They all seemed so lost in the music.
“Know what?” I asked growing more confused.
“You’ll see.” Robert assured me, pulling his arm around my waste.
Bonzo drove us over to Jimmy’s house. It was quite large and beautiful. They brought me in side and into a room clad with instruments.
“Your in a band?” I asked Robert.
He simply shrugged and smiled. “Sit here.” He placed me on a small couch in front of the instruments, like a concert.
Bonzo took his place behind the drums, Jonesy picked up the bass that sat on the right of Bonzo, Jimmy picked up one of the many guitars that sat on the opposite side of the bass and Robert took place in the middle of them all with the mic.
Robert turned to the others and whispered something.
They all nodded in unison. Jimmy started with his guitar, a melody that sounded so familiar. Then Robert joined in with vocals.
‘Babe, baby, baby, I’m gonna leave you.
I said baby, you know I’m gonna leave you.
I’ll leave you when the summertime,
Leave you when the summer comes a-rollin’
Leave you when the summer comes along…’
As the others joined in, I recognized the song. It was the one Robert had caught me humming earlier that day. It was theirs.
My mouth dropped open as I watched and listened. They all seemed so lost in the music.
When the song was over Robert suggested that Jimmy get some drinks for everyone. The other boys joined him and left the room. Robert made his way over to me and sat on the couch.
“So what did you think.” He smiled smugly.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that was your song!” I tried not to smile as I scolded him.
“Well I didn’t want to show off.” He teased. “We are Led Zeppelin!” He exclaimed throwing his arms out. “Used to be The New Yardbirds.”
“Wait is Jimmy, the Jimmy Page from the Yardbirds?” I was so shocked that I hadn’t recognized him.
“Yeah he played with them for a while.” He said bored with the subject of Jimmy.
“Oh wow. I saw them on a program on the television once. I remember him. He had shorter hair…” I trailed off.
The boys came back with drinks then. We decided to stay and have dinner at Jimmy’s house. They played music and asked what I thought, and talked all through the evening. It was just passed midnight when John Paul decided it was time for him to go home. Robert and I followed shortly after. He took me to my hotel.
“Thank you for the wonderful evening.” He smiled as we stood outside the door.
“I had a lovely time.” I smiled.
He quickly dipped down and kissed me tenderly on the lips. It was short but sweet. He pulled away and smiled.
“Can I see again?” He asked.
I nodded in a daze.
“Sweet dreams.” He whispered before disappearing into Bonzo’s car.
I walked up to my suite and found my way to the bed feeling around groggily for the sheets in the dark. I pulled off my clothes and hopped in, hoping his wishes for sweet dreams would come true.
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“So what did you think.” He smiled smugly.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that was your song!” I tried not to smile as I scolded him.
“Well I didn’t want to show off.” He teased. “We are Led Zeppelin!” He exclaimed throwing his arms out. “Used to be The New Yardbirds.”
“Wait is Jimmy, the Jimmy Page from the Yardbirds?” I was so shocked that I hadn’t recognized him.
“Yeah he played with them for a while.” He said bored with the subject of Jimmy.
“Oh wow. I saw them on a program on the television once. I remember him. He had shorter hair…” I trailed off.
The boys came back with drinks then. We decided to stay and have dinner at Jimmy’s house. They played music and asked what I thought, and talked all through the evening. It was just passed midnight when John Paul decided it was time for him to go home. Robert and I followed shortly after. He took me to my hotel.
“Thank you for the wonderful evening.” He smiled as we stood outside the door.
“I had a lovely time.” I smiled.
He quickly dipped down and kissed me tenderly on the lips. It was short but sweet. He pulled away and smiled.
“Can I see again?” He asked.
I nodded in a daze.
“Sweet dreams.” He whispered before disappearing into Bonzo’s car.
I walked up to my suite and found my way to the bed feeling around groggily for the sheets in the dark. I pulled off my clothes and hopped in, hoping his wishes for sweet dreams would come true.
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Notes · posted
