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He turned the page to parent information. He looked right to the father section. She had his name listed as M.M. She had wrote down his physical features, what his favorite thing to eat and drink were, where he grew up, how old he had been when Liam was born, his family information, leaving out his family name. She had wrote that they had meant through a friend, which was true.
flash back to 13 years ago:
" I really don't want to meet anyone, I don't need a boyfriend." Jillian said to her friend Alexis as they walked into McGinty's. Jillian and Alexis were only 19 but they had fake I.D.'s.
" You're going to like him, I promise." Alexis said.
" Why is it that when you start dating someone, you think I should date someone?" Jillian asked.
She followed Alexis through the crowd. She agreed to meet Alexis' new boyfriend and brother but she hadn't found out it was a double date until they got to the bar. She was annoyed with her friend because she did not want a boyfriend. She had two years into nursing school and wanted to concentrate on school, she didn't want a guy to distract her.
" Just give him a chance, okay?" Alexis said as her face light it. Alexis grabbed Jillian's arm and pulled her forward. When she greeted her boyfriend, she dropped Jillian's arm and wrapped herself in his arms as they kissed. The man beside him, shook his head and looked at Jillian.
" They are always like this." He said. Jillian rolled her eyes but smiled. He was holding a smoke in his mouth, so he took it out and stuck out his hand. " You must be Jillian. I"m Murphy."
" I am Jillian." She said as she shook his hand.
" Let me get you a drink, they are going to be like this for a while." Murphy said.
Murphy and Jillian sat together and took turns buying each other drinks. They were getting along great. He made her laugh and he liked her attitude. She thought he was very attractive and even liked him but she still didn't want a boyfriend. She decided she won't mind spending more time with him as long as he didn't get attached to her. By the end of the night, they were outside the bar talking while Connor and Alexis were making out again. Connor had called a cab to go to Alexis' place and Murphy had offered to walk Jillian home since she didn't live to far from the bar.
They walked slowly down the sidewalk, still talking quietly together. She liked that he was keeping a respectable distance from her, not trying to hold her hand or push himself on her. She was liking him more and more. When they reached her apartment building, he didn't ask to come up and she was surprised. She had a string of reasons ready for why he couldn't if he had asked.
" Well, thanks for walking me home." She said.
" You're welcome." Murphy said as he took another smoke out.
" So I'm not sure what Alexis told you, but I really don't want to date anyone right now." She said. He smiled.
" I feel the same way." He said.
" Then why did you agree to a double date?" Jillian asked.
" Why did you?" Murphy asked before he took a long drag from his smoke.
" I did not know I was going on a date until I got to the bar. She lied to me. I thought I was just meeting her new boyfriend and his brother. When we got there, she told me she was trying to fix me up with you." Murphy laughed.
" I came because I was bored besides, fellas don't turn down the chance to meet pretty girls." He said, making her laugh.
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They had meant up again whenever Connor and Alexis meant up. Murphy and Jillian became friends quickly since they got along so well. She had a party at her place, three months after they meant, and after the party everyone left but Connor, Alexis, and Murphy. Alexis had pulled Connor into Jillian's spare room and locked them in there so Jillian and Murphy were sitting on the floor of her balcony enjoying the warm night air when the topic of sex had been brought up.
Jillian told him how much she missed having sex and foreplay. He agreed with her and they were silent for a while, then he had grabbed her and they started making out. They made it into her apartment and to her room, while pulling on each other's clothes. Murphy kicked her door shut and moved to kissing her neck as she was yanking his shirt up.
" I was serious when I said I don't want a boyfriend." Jillian said as he sucked in her neck. She moaned softly.
" I don't want to be your boyfriend." Murphy's voice was low and moved through her skin, sending chills down to her center.
" So this is just sex then? We are both clear on that?" She asked as she pulled his shirt off.
" Aye, Lass. We are just having sex.' Murphy said as he grabbed her shirt.
" Thank God because I want you so bad!" She almost panted as they tumbled onto her bed.
That was just their first time together. In the morning they agreed to be friends with benefits, pulling out if either one started dating someone. They got together three to four nights a week, sometimes spending the night together, sometimes just staying together until they got off. But they didn't just have oral sex and sex, they talked, joked together and got along well. It was a perfect arrangement for them both and neither one cared to meet anyone else.
end flash back
The next page of the baby book was filled with Liam's birth information. He had been born January 6, 2001 at 1:10 in the morning. He had weighted 6 lbs 14 oz and was 21 and a half inches long. Jillian had been 22 at the time. There were pictures of her in the hospital bed before she gave birth and after. There were picture of her in the hospital bed, holding Liam right after he was born. There were pictures of her parents holding him and smiling. The rest of the pages were filled with pictures of Liam, sleeping, eating, crying, running around, taking baths, and playing. Murphy relived the first ten years of his son's life through the pictures.
" Does anyone know who his dad is?" Murphy asked as he looked through pictures from Liam's birthdays and holidays.
" My parents do. They kept bothering me about who I had been with. I think they thought I was seeing a married man. I knew my parents were Saint supporters so I told them that you and I had an arrangement but that you had left the country before I found out I was pregnant. They know Liam's full name." She said. Suddenly he slammed the book shut and handed it to her.
" What does the lad go to sleep?" He asked as he looked at her.
" 9, why?" She asked. Murphy stood up quickly.
" I have to go but I will be back before then. I have something I need to give you." He said. " I will be right back." Without another word he rushed out.
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Murphy jogged down the stairs but stopped at the bottom. In the parking lot where the three boys with their bikes. Liam was standing with his bike balanced between his legs. He was smiling at his friends as they talked. Murphy was struck at how much he looked like them both. He had Murphy's face but his smile was 100% Jillian's, bright, stunning and beautiful. He shook himself and put his hands in his pockets as he started towards his car.
He walked past the boys without looking up. He knew the boys were staring at him but he kept walking. If he had to face Liam, he wasn't sure what was going to be showing on his face. He had his keys out and reached his car quickly. He unlocked the door and had his hand on the handle, still knowing the boys were staring at him.
" Hey mister!" Murphy's eyes snapped shut as his hand shook. His son was addressing him. Murphy took a deep breath, opened his eyes and turned around.
" Aye, Lad?" He asked.
" You're friends with my mom?" Liam asked.
" Aye, Lad." Murphy said. Liam nodded.
" My mom's an awesome lady." He said.
" Aye, Lad." He said softly. " She is."
" I take care of her, you know? I make sure no one bothers her." Liam said. Murphy smiled. He knew what Liam was doing, he was the man in her life and he was letting Murphy know that in his own way. Murphy was proud that he was protecting her.
" Good. That's what a real man does for his ma." Murphy said.
" Where are you from? You don't sound like us." Mike said. Murphy smiled again.
" Ireland." He said.
" My dad lives in Ireland." Liam said. Murphy's heart was pounding as he nodded. " Alright, see ya later, mister." And just like that, Liam dismissed his dad.
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Jillian was sitting on the sink in the spare bathroom that was by Liam's bedroom. She was watching Liam as he brushed his teeth. She reached forward and brushed the dark hair from her son's face. It was getting long, almost getting into his eyes. Liam looked at her and crossed his eyes, making Jillian laugh. She pushed Liam's head away with her hand and jumped off the sink. Liam leaned down and spit then followed after her. They were very close, closer then most of his friends were to their mothers and she was grateful for that.
" Hey Mom, can I ask you something about that guy who came to see you?" He asked as Jillian went into the kitchen.
" Sure." She said as she took the bottle of vitamins off the top of the fridge.
" He said he was from Ireland. Did he know my dad?" Liam asked. A knock came to the door again. Jillian sighed as she looked at him.
" Take you vitamin." She said as she handed it too him. She walked past him and to the door.
" Did he, Mom?" Liam asked as she opened the door. Murphy smiled at her.
" Hi." He said. Jillian leaned against the door frame, feeling like she was 22 again.
" Hi." She said softly with a smile.
" Mom?" Liam asked. Jillian sighed and looked at him.
" Later, okay? We will talk about this later." She said. She looked back at Murphy. " Come in." She said. Murphy walked in and looked at Liam.
" Hello again, Lad." He said. Liam popped the vitamin in his mouth.
" Hey." He said. Jillian closed the door, trying to ignore the tension coming from Liam.
" Liam, this is a good friend of mine. His name is Murphy." She said.
" If you're such a good friend of my mom's, how come I have never meant you before?" Liam snapped.
" Liam!" Jillian said quickly. " Where are your manners? And watch your tone."
" It's okay, Lass. He's doing what he should, he's watching out for you." Murphy said. He was standing next to Jillian. " You're the man in the house, aren't you, Lad?" Liam nodded. " You have never meant me before because I have been gone, been out of town. But your mom and I used to be very good friends."
" Did you know my dad?" Liam asked quickly.
" Liam, I said we would talk about this later." Jillian warned. Liam turned his eyes to his mom as his shoulders dropped.
" Yes, Mama." He said. They didn't say anything for a few minutes then Jillian spoke up.
" Why don't we sit down at the table." She said, pushing Murphy lightly on the arm. She followed him to the dining room table. " You want some coffee, Murphy?" She asked.
" Aye, Lass. Thank you." He said. She nodded then went back to the kitchen. She walked past Liam, patting his shoulder. He leaned against the fridge, trying to not let Murphy know Liam was checking him out.
" So Mom," He started.
" So Liam." Jillian said as she grabbed two coffee cups. She loved coffee and always had it ready.
" Mike wants me to spend the night tomorrow night so can I?" He asked as he looked at her. Murphy watched the interaction between his son and Jillian.
" If Mike's dad says it's okay then I don't care." She said as she poured the coffee out into the cups.
" He said it was up to you." Liam said.
" I will call him tomorrow and tell him you can come. Should I pack your superman pajamas?" She teased him. Liam looked at Murphy then back at her quickly.
" Mom! Stop it! I don't wear those anymore! I haven't wore them since I was 5!" He said. Murphy started rubbing his chin with his finger, trying not to smile. Jillian took a hold of Liam's hair at his forehead and tugged it slightly.
" You need a hair cut." She said. He tried to flick his head away from her.
" I just had a hair cut!" He whined.
" Stop whining. You're too old to whine, you big baby." She said before she let him go.
" You're a big baby." Liam said as she walked past him.
" Oh, I'm the baby, am I? Then since you're such a grown up, you go to work tomorrow." Jillian said as she set the cup down by Murphy.
" I will then." Liam said, playfully. " Let me drive your car." Jillian smiled as she came back into the kitchen. The kitchen, living room and dining room were an open plan.
" It's nine. Say good night to my friend, Liam." She said as she pushed him out of the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took out the creamer.
" Good night, Mr. Murphy." Liam said. Murphy smiled.
" Good night, Lad." Murphy said. Jillian came out of the kitchen and Liam started to grin at her. He was tall for his age, almost as tall as she was but then she was only 5 ft 1in.
" Good night, Mom." He said. She tilted her head slightly as she looked at him.
" Good night , Liam." She said.
" What's wrong, Mom? You aren't hugging me, you always hug me goodnight." Liam said. She shook her head.
" Not tonight, I'm not. I know that look in your eyes." She said with a smile as she walked to the table. Suddenly Liam was at her side. He wrapped his arms around her, making her cry out in surprise. He licked the side of her face. " Liam MacManus Winters!" She shouted as Liam started to laugh. He pulled away from her then. Murphy was grinning. She was glaring at Liam as she wiped her cheek.
" My point! We are almost even! I love you!" Liam called out before he retreated to his room.
" You're going to regret that!" Jillian called out.