"Okay, spill," Bevin dropped her bag to the floor as she sat down, smiling thankfully at Murphy when he pushed her drink towards her. "What's Connor up to?"

"I dunno what ye mean," Murphy shrugged his shoulders, but his smirk told her he was clearly hiding something.

"Of course you don't," she sipped at her wine. "Because you just always invite me out for a drink after work, don't you, Murph?"

"Maybe I'm tryin' ta move in on ya?" he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows and earning himself a slap on the arm from Bevin. "I'm serious, though. I asked ye ta meet me for a reason. I'm gonna need ye ta stop tryin' ta set me up wi' Charlie, Bevin."

"I don't know what you mean…"

"Yes, ye do," Murphy laughed, leaning back in his seat. "Ye've been plottin' ta get us together for goin' on two years now, love. Ain't happened yet, ain't goin' ta happen either."

"Why not?" Bevin pouted. "The four of us go out all the time, it's like we're on cute little double dates and you're always walking her home-"

"Aye, so she doesn't get attacked! S'not polite ta leave a lady ta make her own way home!"

"You're practically a saint, Murphy MacManus," Bevin smirked, reaching across the table and pinching his cheek as he scoffed and swatted her hand away.

"Don't be sayin' stuff like that in public," he grumbled, grabbing his pint and taking a gulp. "I'm serious. Dunno who's listenin'."

"…You're paranoid."

"Yer an idiot," Murphy pointed at her. "Careless talk costs lives and all that shite, remember?"

"This isn't a world war, Murphy," Bevin rolled her eyes. "So come on then, tell me why you really asked me to meet you. If you tell me the truth, I give you my word that I'll stop trying to set you up with Charlotte," she crossed her arms and leaned on the table. Murphy paused for a minute, considering her deal before he smirked.

"Promise me yer not gonna try and set me up wi' any more o' yer friends at all, and we've got a deal."

"Fine, I promise!" Bevin huffed. "I'll stop trying to find you a lady if you tell me what Connor's up to. I don't like surprises."

"He's proposin' ta ye."

"Murphy," Bevin sighed. "I said tell me the truth," she hit his arm. "You're a terrible liar, your ears turn pink. Come on, what's he up to?"

"I really don't know, lass," Murphy chuckled. "I just thought it'd be nice if we had a catch up, feel like I ain't seen ye in weeks. How's life?"

"Life would be better if you let me get my own way once in a while," she poked her tongue out at him and nudged her toes against his leg underneath he table. "Do you and your brother have some sort of pact that you'll keep secrets from me? You're both mean."

"Ye find it hard ta believe I really just wanted ta have a chat?" Murphy asked with a frown. "I'm interested in yer life, interested in what ye've been up ta. Con mentioned somethin' about trouble at work? Yer boss bein' a bit too grabby? Want me ta do somethin'?"

"It's fine, really," Bevin smiled and shook her head. "He's just a bit handsy with the new girl, but she gave him a swift kick to the nuts the other day so that's sorted out that little problem," she snorted. "What about you, Murph? Any ladies on the horizon?"

"I'm startin' ta wonder why yer so interested in me love life, Bevin. Realised yer shacked up wi' the wrong twin?"

"You wish," she smirked and Murphy's heart jumped in his chest, his smile faltering.

He did wish, sometimes.

Not that he'd ever admit it, certainly not to her or Connor.

He'd found a confidante in Charlie and he was forever grateful for it, that's why they spent so much time together. Of course, he could never tell Bevin that. But it helped, having someone to talk to. He knew Charlie herself had been a little reluctant of the growing relationship between Bevin and Connor during the first few weeks – she had, after all, spent most of her teen years lusting after the lighter haired twin, and her newfound best friend swooped in and he was smitten in less than 24 hours.

Not that Murphy could blame Connor, obviously.

He'd known as soon as Connor had asked him to back off that he'd wanted something with her, that it wasn't just going to be a fling or a one night stand like the previous girls had been. Murphy had never seen his brother so taken by a girl before. As soon as he'd found out Connor had taken a spontaneous trip to London, Murphy knew he was a goner and he'd fallen for this girl hook, line and sinker.

It had been easy for Murphy, as first, to be around them. His attraction to Bevin was nothing more than physical and it had been easy for him to ignore it, to act like he hadn't wanted to steal her away from his brother, just for a night. It wouldn't have been the first time they'd shared a girl, but somehow, deep down, Murphy knew they wouldn't be doing it again. He knew Connor wasn't about to let Bevin go without a fight.

It had grown difficult over time, once feelings had started to develop. It was just a crush, she was a sweet girl and he cared about her. Of course he did, his brother loved her so Murphy was going to care about her by default. That's what he'd told himself, anyway.

Connor had worked it out eventually and he'd confronted Murphy, not in a violent way as most men would – as Connor would had it been anyone other than Murphy – but in a calm, rational way.

Well, calm for Connor, at least.

Murphy's heart had been beating erratically in his chest the entire time and he'd been terrified Connor was going to be angry at him.

He hadn't been, though. To Murphy's surprised, he'd laughed. He'd slapped Murphy on the shoulder and laughed, telling him it was okay, he understood, it was easy to fall under Bevin's spell and so long as he kept his hands to himself, he didn't mind.

The sense of relief Murphy felt had been overwhelming, even more so when Connor had taken care to tone down what he and Bevin did in front of him. There were less kisses, less little touches and less cuddling.

"Murphy?" Bevin coughed, clicking her fingers in front of his face and snapping him back to reality. "Did you hear a word of what I just said? Are you alright?"

"Sorry, what?" Murphy shook his head quickly. "Drifted away ta me own world for a second. What did ye say?"

"Nothing, never mind…" Bevin pursed her lips and looked at him carefully, crossing her legs and running her finger round the edge of her wine glass. "Are you sure you're alright, Murphy? You don't seem yourself."

"Aye, lass, I'm fine," he nodded slowly, a small smile on his face. "Go on, what were ye sayin'?" he asked. Bevin cocked her head to the side and eye him curiously, letting out a small sigh as she brought her glass up to her lips and took a sip. Her tongue snaked out to lick her bottom lip and Murphy shuddered involuntarily, making her shoot him a look of confusion.

"I was just saying that you're right, we haven't really hung out lately," she frowned. "I'm off this weekend, why don't we go out for lunch or something?"

"Lunch?" Murphy scoffed. "I'm not one o' yer girlfriends, Bevin. I don't go out for lunch."

"Okay, fine, how about I take you out on Friday and get you rotten drunk?" she rolled her eyes when he grinned at her.

"That's more like it!"

"Only if you buy me dinner first."

"…Are ye askin' me ta take ye on a date, lass? Not sure Con would like that too much."

"What can I say?" Bevin rolled her eyes. "You're a package deal, can't have one without the other so I thought I'd try my luck. You're just too damn irresistible, Murphy."

"'Bout time ye realised that!" he laughed quietly, looking at his watch. "We've got an hour ta kill before I'm ta send ye back home, what d'ye wanna do?"

"A-ha!" Bevin pointed an accusing finger at Murphy. "So he is up to something, then! Come on, Murph, tell me and I promise I'll never try and set you up with anyone again!"

"Ye know, as temptin' as that offer is… I think if I tell ye, Connor would give me the beatin' o' me life. Sorry, princess. Suck it up for another hour and then ye can find out. Quit poutin' at me, too, shit like that don't work on me," he told her, covering his eyes with his hand as Bevin sighed heavily. "Ye've got me all ta yerself for a whole hour, Bevin. I'm sure ye can think o' somethin' ta do other than sulk."

"Twenty questions."

"Ye wha'?"

"Twenty questions," Bevin repeated. "I want to play. We get to ask each other twenty questions each and you have to tell the truth."

"…M'not fuckin' playin' truth or dare wi' ye, Bevin," Murphy shook his head.

"No dares, I swear! Just truths. C'mon, Murph, it'll be fun! …Please?" she pouted at him again and he huffed, waving a hand at her to start. "What's Connor planning?"

"No!" Murphy yelped. "No, I told ye, me life won't be worth livin' if I tell ye what he's doin'! That's not fair, ask me somethin' else."

"Fine…" she sighed, taking a sip of her wine. "Do you find Charlotte attractive?" she asked with a smirk.

"Course I find her attractive, ye'd have ta be blind ta not realise how hot Charlie is," Murphy frowned. "Why are ye so insistent on tryin' ta set me wi' her?"

"Why are you so insistent to not be set up with her?"

"I asked ye first, it's my turn, ye've got ta answer first."

"Fine…" Bevin sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Because I'm happy. Because what I have with Connor is amazing, it's beautiful and it's special and I believe everyone should feel that way about someone at least once in their life, and I know Charlotte has never had it. I know you haven't, either. And I know just how good you MacManus boys are, I know you'd treat her the way she deserves to treated… and I kind feel bad for taking your brother away from you."

"Ye didn't take Con away, what are ya on about woman?" Murphy frowned at her. "I see him every day."

"Please, Murphy, you guys where practically attached at the hip before I came alone," Bevin rolled her eyes at him. "I feel like I stole him away and I just want you to have someone like he does. Your turn, same question as before."

"Because I don't want ta be set up," he grumbled. "I know yer happy and I know ye love Con, but I want ta find me own woman. I'm perfectly capable of meetin' someone meself, and when I do meet her I'll know right away. S'not like that wi' Charlie, she's a just a friend. Care about her too much that way ta ever get involved wi' her. 'Sides, I'm not her type and she's not mine. She's too classy."

"Murphy she can drink you under the table, she swears like a sailor and smokes like a chimney, and she starts competitions on who can burp the loudest," Bevin snorted. "She's classy when she has to be. Do you think she's too good for you, is that it?"

"Not yer turn ta ask the questions," Murphy smirked at her. "Hmm… What can I ask ye… What's somethin' I've always wanted ta know…?"

"I'm not telling you my bra size," Bevin raised an eyebrow and Murphy stuttered, coughing loudly. "You okay over there, Murph?" she grinned at him.

"Does me brother know ye talk ta guys like this?" he pursed his lips.

"I don't talk to guys like this, I talk to you like this," she corrected him. "And that counts as a question, so it's my turn. Do you ever miss Boston?"

"Aye, sometimes," Murphy admitted quietly. "We had friends over there, ye know? Friends we can never see again. If I thought it was safe for him, I'd tell Con ta take ye there. Think ya'd like it. It's nothin' special, just a different way o' life. Think ya'd like Doc, too."

"The guy who owned the bar, right?"

"My turn ta ask the questions, but aye, that's Doc," Murphy smiled. "Do ye ever miss home?"

"I am home," Bevin shrugged.

"I mean London, home."

"…No," she replied after a pause. "Don't get me wrong, I loved living in London for the time that I did, but I went there for a reason. I went for work and to get away from my family, to start a new life for myself but it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. I'd been there for… God, since I was 19 so… I'd been there for eight years before I met you guys. I was getting bored of the place, anyway. Charlotte was the only person I really made an effort to hang out with, I'd known her since college and when she moved back here just before I met you guys, I'd been a little lonely back there. I found what I was looking for in that bar, Murphy. I found Connor. I have my new life and I'm happy. This is home, now."

"Don't think I've ever heard ye talk about yer family before."

"They're not worth talking about," Bevin pulled a face. "And that wasn't a question."

"Wasn't s'pposed ta be, was just an observation," Murphy told her. "It's yer turn, love," he leaned back in his seat and Bevin paused, wondering if she should ask him what she really wanted to as she leaned across the table.

"Was there ever a time you resented me for coming into Connor's life?"

"What?" Murphy spat. "Yer kiddin', aren't ye? No, there wasn't, at all," he shook his head. "Ye make him happy, s'all I care about. I'm a great believer in fate, Bevin. There's a reason we saw ye in the pub that night. That reason was Con. Ye were meant ta make him happy."

"…Who would've thought the strong and silent Murphy MacManus was such a secret sap?"

"Ah shut yer face," he scoffed, pushing at her arms so she was back in her seat as she giggled. "Why Connor?"

"What?" she asked in confusion, and Murphy sighed.

"Why'd ye choose Connor, ta be with? Why not someone from back home? Why'd ye move ta be wi' him?"

"Because I love him," she answered simply. "Because he was the only guy who'd ever held my attention long enough."

"Aye, but why'd ye stick around? After he told ye about the Saints?"

"I do believe you've just asked me three questions on the run there, Murphy," she raised her eyebrows. "I'll admit, I was… shocked, maybe even a little scared when I found out about the Saints. I hauled my ass off to the library, too, to do some research on the both of you. Connor explained the bits the media didn't and I thought you were fighting a good cause. So Connor had a past, big deal," she shrugged her shoulders. "Everyone has a past. Granted, yours is a little more… colourful than the other guys I've dated, but you had a reason. You were doing what needed to be done, I agreed with it. You more than likely saved innocent lives by ending the guilty ones. How could I run from a man who did something like that, who put others before himself the way he did?"

"…Ye really love him, don't ye?" Murphy smiled softly.

"Fourth question? I don't think so. My turn. Did Connor think I was going to leave after he told me about the Saints?"

"Aye, he did," Murphy nodded. "I'd been tryin' ta get him ta tell ye for weeks and he wouldn't. I said ye needed ta know and when I realised he was serious about ye, gave him an ultimatum; either he told ye, or I did. Fuckin' punched me in the face after he'd told ye and ye went runnin' off," he huffed. "Knew he didn't have anythin' ta worry about, but he wouldn't listen ta me."

"He punched you?" Bevin's mouth fell open. "I didn't know that. I'm sorry, Murph."

"It's not yer fault me brother can't control his temper," he snickered. "What would ye have done if he'd never told ye? If I'd had ta do it?"

"I probably would have punched you myself," she snickered and Murphy huffed as she shrugged her shoulders. "I probably wouldn't have believed you, honestly. That counts as a question, too."

"How many are we on?"

"Uhm…" Bevin paused, counting them off and mumbling under her breath as she did so. "…I have no idea," she admitted sheepishly. "But I do know that it's my turn."

"Fire away," he waved a hand for her to continue as he lifted his glass to his lips.

"Have you ever been in love, Murphy?" she asked quietly and he spluttered, his drink dribbling down his chin as he sat forward. "Is that too personal? I'm sorry."

"No yer not," he narrowed his eyes at her and wiped his face. "Yer not sorry at all, so don't lie ta me. Yer nosy, is what ye are."

"But have you, though? I've never heard you talk about anyone, I've never seen you show an interest in anyone. It leads me to believe you're a little hung up on someone else. I know the signs, Murphy, I've been there before."

"…Ye have?" he asked uncertainly.

"Of course I have, who hasn't?" Bevin shrugged her shoulders. "You love someone who doesn't love you back, you lose them, you sit around forever thinking about what you did wrong or ways you could have kept them, until you meet someone who makes you realise that it wasn't your fault. That it just wasn't meant to be and that you're glad for it."

"…Aye," he mumbled. "Dunno if I'd call it love. More like infatuation."

"There's a very fine line between the two," she told him.

"Alright, if I wanted ye ta analyse me I'd ask ye," he scoffed at her, checking his watch. "I think yer alright ta go home, now."

"Are you just going to leave a poor defenceless woman to walk home alone, Murphy?" Bevin raised an eyebrow as she drained her glass and licked her lips, the taste of her wine lingering on them.

"Yer anythin' but defenceless," he grumbled. "Aye, c'mon, I'll walk ye back," he sighed, finishing his drink and standing up.

"What a gentleman!" Bevin rolled her eyes, linking her arm through Murphy's as he smirked.

"Don't go spreadin' that around, I've got a reputation to uphold."

"Of course you have…" she nodded slowly. "The resident heartbreaker, right? Use and abuse them, love them and leave them?"

"More use, less abuse. Definitely love 'em and leave 'em," he nodded in agreement. "Ye think I'm a heartbreaker. I'm flattered, Bev. Really."

"What have I told you about calling me Bev?!" she reached a hand out and Murphy yelped as she pinched him. "Go on, it's your turn to ask a question."

"Hmm…" Murphy paused in thought, tapping his chin with his index finger before a grin slowly spread across his lips. "Does Con still have a rope fetish?"

"A- does he have a what?" Bevin laughed quietly. "…Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not," he chuckled. Bevin raised an eyebrow at him and Murphy laughed, shrugging his shoulders at her. "Back in Boston, when we first started. Made me fuckin' carry this huge thing o' rope around on our first hit. Nearly got us fuckin' killed."

"Ah, stop right there," Bevin shook her head. "I don't want to be hearing stories of your near death experiences, thank you very much!" she told him. "But, no, I don't think he has a rope fetish. He's never tried to tie me up, anyway," she shrugged her shoulders, smirking when she caught the face Murphy pulled at her. "Something wrong, Murph?"

"Bevin," he groaned. "I don't need ta know the details of me brothers sex life."

"You asked!" she laughed at him.

"I didn't fuckin' ask if he tied ye ta the bed, did I?!"

"It was implied in your question."

"Was it shite," he scoffed, sticking his hands in his pockets and kicking at the ground. "It's yer turn ta ask a question."

Bevin paused, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought over the question she wanted to ask. She didn't know how he'd react to it – she knew if anyone else asked him, he'd put walls up immediately. He'd grunt out a response and tell them to leave it alone, she knew enough from all the times Connor had tried to get him to talk about their friends death.

Connor had told her the basic details – Rocco had walked in on them after their first hit, he'd joined their little crusade and he'd been killed, Murphy had blamed himself for his friends death.

Bevin wanted to know what he thought, how he was feeling and her curiosity got the better of her, her brain barely catching up as she spoke the words.

"Do you still think it was your fault Rocco died?" she asked quickly, wincing when she felt Murphy tense beside her.

"What makes ye ask that?" he asked carefully, and she shrugged her shoulders. "Did Con put ye up to this?" he frowned. "Is he even plannin' anything for ye? Is this some sort of ambush ta talk about me feelings?"

"No!" Bevin shook her head quickly. "No, Murph, it's nothing like that, it's- I shouldn't have asked."

"Aye, ye shouldn't have," Murphy growled, taking a step away from her and letting her arm fall back to her side. "It's in the past. Leave it there."

"I'm sorry," she whispered with a sigh. Murphy nodded, pressing his lips together as he stayed quiet. They walked the rest of the way in silence and Murphy huffed in annoyance when they reached the house. "I'm sorry, Murph," Bevin sighed. "I didn't want to-"

"S'alright, I know," he mumbled. "S'fine. I'm sorry for snappin' at ye, I didn't mean to."

"…I know," she smiled softly and reached up, kissing his cheek and giving his hand a squeeze before she pushed open the front gate and walked up the driveway. "Thanks for keeping me occupied tonight, Murphy. We should hang out more, I've missed it."

"Tell Con I said hello," Murphy told her. Bevin nodded, wiggling her finger at him in a wave as she said goodbye, unlocking the front door and walking in to the house she shared with Connor.

She hung her coat up and paused, sniffing the air and wincing at the scent of something burning, quickly followed by the sound of a crash and Connor muttering obscenities from inside the kitchen.

"Do I even want to see the mess in there?" Bevin called.

"Fuck! Er, yer back early, lass!" Connor popped his head out the door and Bevin covered her mouth with her hand to hide her giggles as she took in his appearance; his hair was a mess, some of it plastered to his head and some sticking out in different directions, giving him a mad scientist type of look. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes wide as he looked at her.

"I'm right on time, according to Murphy," she told him with a smirk. "What have you done to my kitchen?"

"Our kitchen," Connor corrected, pointing a finger at her. "And I, erm… I tried ta cook. It… it didn't go accordin' ta plan."

"Yes, I can tell from the smoke," Bevin raised an eyebrow and pointed behind him. Connor yelped and disappeared back into the kitchen, to deal with whatever was burning. Bevin slipped her shoes off and walked inside, her breath catching in her throat.

The table was laid out beautifully, the candlesticks she'd bought months earlier finally being put to use as two long, white candle burned in them, the case Charlotte had given them as a moving in present sat in between them full of red and white roses. The tablecloth – she didn't even know they owned a tablecloth, was white and pristine. An ice bucket was placed towards the edge of the table, a bottle of what looked like champagne sat in it.

"Oh, Connor…" she whispered, smiling over at his pouting face. "You're so getting laid tonight."

"Even though I made a mess?" his pout turned into a smirk as he gestured to the plates and pans piled in the sink. "Even though I ruined dinner?" he pulled a face as he looked at the mess on top of the stove and inside the open oven.

"Yes, Connor, even though you're a terrible cook and should never try it again. You're still getting laid tonight," she smirked, her fingers trailing across the tablecloth. "No one's ever done anything like this for me before."

"Are ye serious?" he asked her with a frown. "…No one's ever cooked for ye?"

"You haven't cooked for me yet," she teased. "And… Yeah, they have, but no one's ever gone to this much effort before? Look at you laying the table and everything… You bought me roses… candles… champagne… Did you even try and cook, Connor, or did you know this was enough to get me in bed?"

"No I really tried to cook!" Connor chuckled. "Went out and bought the ingredients this afternoon, got right to it soon as I got back… I forgot ta turn the pan off and then all hell broke loose," he groaned. "So I hope yer alright eatin' soggy pasta, dried out bolognaise and burnt garlic bread."

"…I'm sure we have pizza in the freezer," Bevin giggled. "But… I'm not really hungry, Con," she picked the bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket and turned to look at him, raising her eyebrows as she took hold of the two glasses on the table. "How about we take this to the bedroom?" she winked at him. Connor grinned, throwing the tea towel he'd been holding over his shoulder and following her out of the room.

"Don't need ta ask me twice!"


"Can I ask ye somethin'?"

"Kinda just did, Con," Bevin shuffled, lying on her side and propping herself up with her elbow.

"Cute," Connor smirked, raising an en eyebrow at her. She giggled, gesturing for him to carry on. "Can I kiss ye?" he asked with a grin. Bevin smiled, reaching a hand out and touching his cheek as she brought her lips down to his.

"Mhmm…" she sighed happily, her eyes still closed as she pulled away. "Easy question."

"Can I ask ye a harder one, then?"

"…That sounds promising," Bevin licked her lips with a laugh as Connor raised his eyebrows at her.

"Ey, none o' that, need ta get me breath back first!" he reached out to pinch her hip and she squealed, wriggling away from him. "I'm serious, though, Can I ask ye a more difficult question?"

"Of course you can, babe," she nodded her head, shifting under the covers and pulling them up around her as she rolled onto her back, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. "…You gonna ask me or what, Connor?" she asked, turned her head to look at him and frowning in confusion when he threw a small, black box at her. "…Con?"

"Will ye marry me?" he asked nervously, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip as she stared at him.

Her eyes searched his for some sort of sign that this was a joke – she half-expected to hear Murphy giggling on the other side of the door – but she saw nothing. Every ounce of cockiness she'd ever witness in Connor, every bit of confidence she knew he had was seemingly gone, and he looked weary… nervous… scared, even.

"This some sort of joke, Connor?" she asked him, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she gulped away her nerves.

"Depends on what ye answer is," Connor chuckled quietly. "I'm hopin' it's an easy question, like the last one was."

"Con…" Bevin paused, rolling the box over in his hands as she sat up slightly, keeping the covers wrapped around her.

"Are ye goin' ta open it?"

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, reluctantly meeting his gaze and waiting for his answer.

"Of course I'm sure about it," Connor nodded his head. "Now, open it. Murph helped me choose it so if ye don't like it, it's his fault."

"Connor-"

"I love ye, Bevin," he interrupted her. "Want ta spend me life wi' ye. I know I ain't got much t'offer ye, but- mmph!" he stopped, his sentence cut short as Bevin threw her arms around him and crushed her lips against his. "That a yes, then?" he mumbled between kissed, smirking against her lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Yes, that's a yes," Bevin nodded, a small smile on her face as she bit her lip. "That was an easy question, too."