Imagine

Wait, ash. What just happened in that last TL post?

Paul and Linda McCartney, while riding horses at their Tucson ranch (which Paul still owns in OTL) discuss Paul's desire to reform the Beatles for an album recorded in America in L.A. but he is unsure how to recruit George without falling into the toxic trap of him dominating things too much. The solution is to recruit Billy Preston, who played with them on their last two albums, to be part of the reformed Beatles and let him as the outside but still insider suggest the idea to George- giving George lots of control.

It isn't explicity stated, but it's implied that John is full on board already with this, including letting George be more in control.
 
Would be interesting. John was the band leader until '66, then Paul took over until the breakup. Having George be the kinda sorta band leader in the reformed group would be a nice touch.

Billy Preston as the for-real Fifth Beatle... so much potential there too. You'd get a dedicated keyboardist which would help with playing some of the newer stuff live (and it's the 80s, everyone uses synthesizers now!).
 
Billy Preston as the for-real Fifth Beatle... so much potential there too. You'd get a dedicated keyboardist which would help with playing some of the newer stuff live (and it's the 80s, everyone uses synthesizers now!).

And add a lot of drama with poor Billy's struggle with his sexuality versus his faith. :(
 
Billy was on his knees praying.

He was in agony. He was praying about last night.

Then he'd been on his knees too. But he hadn't been praying.

But he'd been in ecstasy. Damien hadn't wasted any time approaching Billy when he gave into temptation and went to the club. He'd just gotten his beer (another sin) and was still at bar when the beautiful young man had stepped up next to him and said, "You're Billy Preston."

"I hope you don't spread that news around that I'm in a Gay Bar."

Damien smiled, "Why not? It's the 80s. Freedom. Liberation. Love."

"I'm serious. I really shouldn't be here."

"Yet you are. I'm not going to out you, Billy."

He'd relaxed. It was a risk every time he gave into temptation and went somewhere he could meet a man.

"I'm a Christian."

"I am too. You said it, what God wants from us is to love. I'm Damien Jones. Let's go get a table and get to know each other."

Damien had left early in the morning. Billy had gone to prayer after he left. It was his prayer every time like this. "God, take this away. Make me like everyone else."

He was just starting to feel like the shame and guilt wasn't destroying him when the phone rang.
 
Billy, I hope you can get some therapy and sort yourself out- you can be both Christian and Gay. Even in the 80’s.

As long as your safe.
 
Billy, I hope you can get some therapy and sort yourself out- you can be both Christian and Gay. Even in the 80’s.

As long as your safe.

Yeah, but not if your a pop singer with roots in Evangelical Gospel and that's still your community. In OTL he never was able to reconcile the two. But in TTL he's going to be in the Beatles in the 80s and that changes everything.
 
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