Chapter 2: Ma tells all

Ma and Rosie had settled down on the couch. Ma was smiling. "Oh you should have seen them when they were born. Connor was screaming his head off and Murphy lay next to him, quiet as a lamb. Had to put them in the same bed, because Connor wouldn't shut up unless Murphy was along side him and the same went for Murphy. You moved Connor and he would go to whimpering. Was like that their whole lives too. Wouldn't see one without the other. When they first started crawling Murphy was the first to get it right, but he wouldn't move till Connor could do it too. He would sit along side Connor and rock back and forth till Connor got it and then their rein of terror truly began." Ma laughed. "They would get into everything. Dumped a bag of flour on themselves one day when I wasn't looking. Scared Murphy half to death. I come in and Connor's hugging his brother and Murphy's crying around his thumb. Both of em white as ghosts!" Rosie joined in her laughter. They both took a sip of tea.

"Despite being first to crawl, Murphy had trouble walking. Connor was first there. He stood up and helped Murphy stand, just held his little hands out to his brother and helped him up. He taught Murphy how to walk by holding his hands and walking backward. Ye should have seen how proud of themselves they were that day. I'm sitting there sewing up a tear in Connor's pants knee and I hear a chorus of Ma! I look up and there they were walking towards me, biggest grins on their faces. They could be so sweet to each other, but they also fought like cats and dogs. On their first birthday, I made them little cakes that they could just play in and Connor took a chunk of his and pushed it into Murphy's face. Not to be outdone Murphy took a piece of his and did the same. Then Connor pulled Murphy's ear and Murphy screamed and smacked Connor in the face. Soon they were both crying, both of them covered in cake." Ma shook her head smiling. "Minutes later after I had cleaned them up they were best friends again, feeding each other pieces of each others cake."

Rosie smiled. "Always quick to forgive were they?"

"Most times. I remember once when they were five, Murphy accidentally broke Connor's favorite toy soldier. Connor wouldn't speak to him for two days and Murphy cried himself sick. Connor finally forgave him when he saw Murphy puking his guts out from all the crying. Murphy fixed the soldier by breaking his apart and using the pieces from his to fix Connors." Ma took a sip of tea and bite of a cookie. "Murphy was my sensitive one. Oh everything made him cry. A movie, if he got yelled at. Most especially if he thought Connor was mad at him. Could barely startle him and he'd go to crying. Connor on the other hand was the troublemaker. He did all kinds of things just to get your attention. If Murphy did something sweet like picking me a flower, Connor would act out so I'd pay attention to him too. He never could understand how to get attention any other way. That's not ta say Murphy never got in trouble. Oh they both got in trouble all the time, but Connor was the mastermind behind it all. Murphy went along with whatever his brother did. Connor stayed in so much trouble that at one point Murphy started taking the blame, just to save Connor's backside. I remember one time they tied their Uncle Sibeal's underwear to his bumper and he drove through town draggin them behind him. He come to the house screaming for blood. Now I knew right off whose idea it was. Connor had that look on his face. But then Murphy stepped in front of his brother and said he did it. He looked up at his uncle and took the blame. Afterwards he was standing in the corner after getting his butt spanked and Connor sat next to his brother looking guilty as hell. He kept trying to say sorry to Murphy, but Murphy, bless him told his brother that he'd do it again. Connor followed his brother around for two days after doing whatever Murphy wanted from the guilt. When their Da left they were three and he told them that it was them against the world and that they should always look out for the other. I don't think they needed to hear it because they were that way anyway."

Ma pulled up a photo book and showed Rosie a picture of the boys dressed up in nice striped shirts and little khaki pants. Connor's hair was nice and straight while Murphy's was sticking out in some places. Rosie giggled. "He's never been able to tame that hair."

"Nope!" Ma laughed. "This was their first day of school. I remember when I took them down to their class they wouldn't let go of each others hands. Not me or the teacher could pry them apart. They sat playing with each other, and then another little boy wanted them to come play tag. Connor led them to go play, Murphy trailing behind him sucking his thumb. It was the cutest little sight watching them run with each other." Ma pulled another picture out. It was the boys clinging to each other on the couch hiding under the blanket; their faces the only thing that could be seen. They were staring opened mouthed at the TV. "This is when they were seven and begged and pleaded to watch the Exorcist. I warned them but they assured me they were big boys and could handle it. They had nightmares for weeks and refused to sleep separate. If I tried making them sleep in their own beds Murphy would start crying and Connor would cry and beg for his brother until I let them sleep together. They'd fall asleep facing each other holding hands, Murphy sucking his thumb. I thought I'd never get him out of that habit, wasn't actually me who got him to quit. It was Connor of course. Murphy always did it when he was scared or unsure of something. Connor would tape his thumbs and put hot sauce on them so he wouldn't put them in his mouth." Ma shook her head. "Didn't work all the way though cause he still bites his thumb nails."

"Did they get into fights in school?" Rosie asked.

"They're MacManus's aren't they?" Ma grinned. "Oh aye they fought in school. Got called down to the school several times. The time I was proudest was when they were twelve. I get a call and come down and there they were sitting outside the principals office. Murphy was covered in mud, his lip bleeding looking at his feet and Connor was madder than the devil, his face was so red. He sat there so defiant, arms crossed that the school secretary was giving him a weary glance like he would hit her too if she said anything. Some boys had been picking on Murphy and he got shoved into the mud. Connor shoved them back and they all got into a brawl. They got suspended, but I didn't have the heart to get onto them. Right proud of them I was."

Rosie smiled. "I would have been too." She flipped through some of the pictures and found one of them sleeping together on a bed. "When was this?"

Ma looked and sighed. "Ah that was when they were nine and both of them had the flu. Sick as dogs. Murphy couldn't keep anything down and Connor could barely life his head, but they were still trying to take care of each other. I was down fixing them some soup and I hear a great big thud. I run up and there they are passed out on the floor. Connor had had to go the bathroom and Murphy bless his little heart tried to help him to the bathroom. Neither one had any strength in their little bones and they wound up passing out on the floor."

"Were they ever apart?" Rosie wondered.

"One time when they were little, Connor wanted to go to a baseball camp. Murphy hated baseball so he stayed home. He was only gone a week, but I swear it was the longest week of my life. Murphy did nothing but mope around the house, wouldn't talk. Just sat there like a bump on a log. Cried himself to sleep a few times. When Connor finally got back Murphy clung to him for hours after he got home. Connor did much the same thing when Murphy stayed over at a friends house for a weekend. They got better when they were teenagers and started liking different things. But they've never lost that closeness and for that I'm glad. I've seen too many siblings break apart and hardly ever speak to one another."

Rosie shook her head. "I don't think I could imagine one without the other. They sort of move as one."

"That they do. So you want to hear the embarrassing stories? We've covered the love between them. By the by lass did you want to know whose older?"

Rosie shook her head. "I don't want to know. They would hound me to death over it. I do want to hear the embarrassing stuff though. I've been waiting on that."

Ma laughed and pulled out a small tin can. "I keep these away from the other pictures and hidden in a drawer. If the boys ever found em they burn as quick as they could. They're mostly baby pictures."

Rosie picked one up and laughed. It was the classic nude baby picture. She picked up the next one to see them in the tub together with bubble bath beards, rubber ducks floating along side of them. The next one was them both in sleepers dragging their blankies behind them, rubbing their eyes from sleep. The next one made her choke on her tea. Connor and Murphy were maybe three and they were dressed in little sailor suits. They were both smiling, holding hands. She laughed. "Oh aren't they the cutest little things! I'm almost tempted to blow this one up and hang it on the wall, but I think they'd kill me."

Ma reached in the can and pulled a picture out. "Now if you wanted to drive them mad, blow this one up and hang it on the wall."

She handed her the picture and Rosie laughed till tears were coming down her face. The back of the photo was labeled, "Connie & Muriel". On the front was Connor and Murphy dressed in their mothers Sunday dresses with hats on smiling wide. They had to have been four in this photo.

"Oh gosh this is now my favorite picture of them! I don't know how I'm going to look at them now without seeing this anymore!"

Ma laughed with her. "I thought I'd never stop laughing that day. They ran around like that for hours! Couldn't get them to take them off!"

Both women laughed for a good while after, continuing to rifle through the photos. Later after Ma had left, Rosie was still chuckling over their visit. She had just finished making a meatloaf when they came in.

"Rosie? You here luv?" Connor yelled out.

"In the kitchen!" She yelled back.

They came walking in and the memory of the photo floated back to her and she burst out laughing all over again. They grimaced in unison. "Alright what did she show ye?"

Rosie was still giggling. "She showed me everything! You two were the cutest little sailors I ever saw!"

Their faces flooded red with embarrassment. "Ah Christ, not that one!" Murphy groaned.

Rosie continued laughing. "That wasn't the worse one though Connor and Murphy, or should I say Connie and Muriel?"

Their faces, if possible got even redder. They sat at the table and hid their faces. "That woman is pure evil!" Connor said into his arms. Rosie decided to take mercy on them finally. "Ah but she told the sweetest stories about you as well. Makes me wish that I had a sibling."

"Did she at least tell you who was older?" Connor asked finally raising his head.

"I told the both of ye that I refuse to have that knowledge. Besides what does it matter?"

"IT MATTERS!" They said together.

"Oh you're both being silly. Now go wash up, I'm almost through here. I made a cheesecake for after. Go on with you both."

They left and were back a few minutes later. Dinner was spent with Rosie occasionally giggling at them and their faces going red all over again. The phone rang just as she was washing up the dishes and Murphy answered. He was silent for a minute and then he said, "Ma did you really have to show her those pictures? She hasn't been able to stop laughing all evening!" He paused. "Yes we'll be there. Aye love ye too. See you in a few."

He turned to them. "Ma says to get down to the Anvil, the family wants to celebrate Rosie's being pregnant."

"Do ye feel up to it Rosie?" Connor asked her. She nodded her head. "Just let me get my coat. We haven't been out in a few nights, it'll be fun even if I can't drink."

Murphy laughed. "Don't worry luv, we'll drink for ye."

Connor smiled. "Aye consider this payback for all that laughing you did at our expense."

She stuck her tongue out at them both and pulled her coat on. They laughed and followed her out. She decided to take the car since the boys had tomorrow off. She knew they wouldn't be sober enough to walk home. When they walked through the doors of the bar a loud cheer went up and Rosie's cheeks went pink. She was passed around the family in a series of hugs and twirls before she was let go. She just laughed and went along with it. They all drank several rounds in her name and she danced with almost every male in the MacManus family, Connor and Murphy more than the others. It was late when they finally made it home. She poured the boys into bed, where they lay snoring. She wasn't sleepy so she sat in the living room with her crocheting stuff. She was making a throw blanket just for fun, but she thought might start making some baby blankets. She worked on it for awhile and then fell asleep thinking of possible colors for blankets. Morning came and she woke to a stiff back from sleeping on the couch. She felt a little nauseous but it wasn't too bad so she showered and changed. The boys were still passed out from the night before so she decided to go out for a while. She left a note on the table that she'd be back and she headed up town. She decided that she really did need more flowers for the front yard and had a grand time picking them out. She returned home an hour later to find them still asleep. She shook her head laughing. She put on some coffee for them and left some aspirin on the kitchen table. She went into the yard after changing and started to plant her new flowers. She was digging a hole for the next plant when a shadow fell over her and bare feet were in front of her. She looked up to see Murphy. His hair was as usual sticking out in every direction, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. He sat down beside her.

"Morning luv. Been up long?"

"It's the afternoon now and yes I've been up since nine. Did you sleep well?"

"I was till the sound of Connor's snoring woke me."

Rosie laughed. "You were just as bad, which is why I fell asleep on the couch. You two were hogging the bed."

Murphy laughed. "Now you know how we feel. You hog everything on the bed when you sleep."

Murphy sat outside with her watching her plant flowers till she was done and then they went inside. She cleaned up and lay on the couch with him watching tv till she fell asleep on top of Murphy. He just held her and kept watching tv. Connor finally got up, walking in nodding to his brother before sitting in the chair beside him.

"Been that way long?" He asked.

"Just for an hour or so. She's been up all morning playing with her plants."

They sat in comfortable silence watching tv until Rosie started to shift, mumbling.

"Da." she said.

This put them at close attention. Rosie never made it a habit to speak of her family. Her father was in prison, her mother dead by her fathers hand. It was how they met her; she'd come beaten and bloody up their road to escape him. They thought she was finally over her nightmares. Murphy held her tighter when they heard her whimper. She balled up her fist, her face scrunched up. Then suddenly she shot up, the phone ringing almost simultaneously. She ran to it and picked up.

"Hello?…..Yes this is she…..Ok, and um when did this happen?…..Yes…..No, I'll be there….I guess in an hour?….Ok thank you." She hung up the phone and wrapped her arms around herself. Connor and Murphy moved to hold her and she stepped back.

"Rosie? What's happened?" Connor asked.

"That was the prison. Me Da's dead. Some kind of prison fight. They need me to come up there for his stuff. Said he wrote me a letter. I've got to go up there now." She moved to walk around them, but they stopped her. She fought for a second before almost collapsing in Murphy's arms. "I have to go, they said already cremated him. He requested it they said in his forms."

Murphy held her tighter. "You don't have to go right this second lass. Not while you're upset, take a deep breath and just sit a minute." He guided her to the chair Connor had just vacated. Connor handed her a cup of tea.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it go. She looked at them confusion all over her face. "He wrote me a letter, what more would he have to say to me? I thought he'd pretty much covered everything when he beat the hell outta me and called me a dirty bitch."

"I don't know Rosie, we can only go and see." Connor said kneeling in front of her.

"We?" She asked.

Murphy scoffed. "Did ye really think we'd let you do this on your own? At a prison no less? So yes we luv."

She nodded and sipped her tea. Setting it down. "I'm ready now."

They knew she wasn't, but they didn't say anything. Connor hoped to get this done quickly so maybe there'd be less stress on her and the babies. Murphy wanted it done quick cause it made him feel gut sick to see her in pain. They both silently prayed that whatever was in that letter was good and not more insults and lies to drag her down. She'd come so far since the last she saw him. The grabbed their jackets and followed her out. She drove claiming she needed to focus on something. Forty minutes later they were sitting in front of the prison. Rosie steeled herself for what lay on the other side.

A/N: And there's chapter 2! Already have people faving my story, very cool! And my first review! You have my appreciation and love. Speaking of love, reviews give much the same feeling! I own nothing by the by. Next chapter: The letter from dad.