A/N- well…I hope I don't lose steam too quick.

3 readers! Not too shabby for such a quiet section, but I'm hoping to convert more. Tell ur friends about this wonder semi-fic :o) Thanks to you girls though; Lady Anck-su-namun (good to see ya again!), Reid's girl and GoddessLaughs. Glad u like it and I hope the rest suits u just as well.

Leannáin na Naomh

Lover of Saints

Guardian Angel

Laura Bennett was a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She came from a wealthy family and was given every advantage. She was the daughter of a very well respected criminal lawyer and a park avenue princess, but she wasn't snobby. She was painfully shy. She was also slightly built and skinny and the perfect target.

But she knew about being a target. She was a target at school, where her money made some ridicule her while the others chose her mousiness to laugh at. She was a target at work where people didn't respect her because they thought she bought her way to the best position in her editing company.

A normal, honest life without fuss was high on her priorities and it was hard to get when mommy and daddy would send her $2,000 presents for no reason. Laura didn't think these held evil intentions, but her parents always thought she was snubbing advantages that many would kill for. It seemed that Laura could never please anyone.

She moved from Park Avenue to a more working class neighborhood. She kept all her fancy presents locked away and she lived off of her own wages. All she wanted was to live normally and not cause any trouble. Her parents had never given her a religion, but she took up Catholicism. Something about the archaic serenity of its laws and its churches comforted her. She would go to church in the morning, before work.

Not many people went into church that early, and she liked the comfort of being alone. She never was very good with people and found she did her best communication when it was to a priest she couldn't see, or a statue that couldn't respond. This existence may seem boring to many, but it suited Laura. It allowed her to be normal, or what she thought of as normal anyway.

One day two men came to church, they were there even before she was. They both looked up as she came in, alarmed that they weren't alone. She held up a shy hand to wave and took a seat far away from them, kneeling to pray. After long minutes they stood, crossed themselves, and made their way out. They walked by her, and she looked up curious to see these early birds. They were tall men, dressed in black shirts with black jackets and jeans; one blonde, the other with black hair. Both had tattoos she could see, on their necks and hands, and long wooden rosaries.

And that's all the attention she paid them.

That day at least.

They became a part of her daily routine, always in the church about the same time as she was. One day they even bumped into each other as they walked in and the dark haired one held the door open for her, "Ladies first."

His words held a thick Irish accent and she smiled at him and his friend and went inside. It was starting to get colder outside and she shivered lightly, keeping her coat on as she went to pray. The two men weren't sitting so far away anymore; they'd take a pew closer to her if they walked in after she did. There was a kind of unspoken friendship developing between the three people in New York who thought that 6 am church was a fantastic idea. When they left, a little while before she did, they both nodded to her, the dark haired one whispering good-bye which resulted in a playful elbow from the other.

The first snow came shortly there after, without much warning, and she trudged her way to church after stopping for a hot coffee at a local deli. For some reason, maybe some small social part of her springing to life, she ordered two more coffees. The boys were already there, kneeling, when she entered. Feeling as though she may be intruding, but having a smidgen of courage, she walked up to their pew, laid the two coffees by them and made to leave but one said, "Well, ye can't just buy us coffee and not join us."

They slid over and made room for her, and she sat and went about her prayers. When she looked up from them the two men were drinking their coffee and watching her, whispering in a language she didn't understand. They silenced as she caught their eyes and the blonde held out his hand, "We think this relationship has reached the point where names might be a nice addition. I'm Connor."

"And I'm Murphy." The black haired one shook her hand in turn.

"Laura." She squeaked out, blushing and smiling.

Murphy smiled at her, Connor whispered something that earned him a smack.

She took a deep breath and tried to be friendly, "Are you two brothers?"

"Aye, twins." Murphy nodded.

"Irish Catholic, too?" She knew it sounded stupid but she wasn't good at this type of thing.

"Very observant." Connor smirked, "Since that explains our reasons for church-going so early, may we ask what yer doing here at this ungodly hour?"

"I'm comforted by church. And I don't get out much so this is sort of my big thing during the day."

"Is that right? A pretty thing like ye doesn't get out much?" Murphy studied her, "What does yer husband think of that?"

She blushed a furious shade of red, "I'm not married."

"Boyfriend?"

Before she responded Connor elbowed him, "Yer fucking embarrassing the poor soul, Murph. Let it go."

Winking playfully at her, Murphy replied, "I don't mean no harm, but I've always been a curious bastard."

She smiled at them but realizing she would be late for work if she stayed too long, she politely took her leave. Despite their vulgarity and the feeling that they were probably talking about her in another language, she liked them. No matter their language or their tattoos, how bad could they be if they went to church as much as she did?

They had a closer kind of relationship now, they shared a pew and sometimes somebody would bring doughnuts, coffee, bagels. It became a kind of Catholic 6am club. They didn't talk much, but they did a bit of gossiping as they ate, or walked out, and it became a part of her routine. Something about knowing them made her a bit braver. She actually let out a couple curses around them, and wore less drab clothing. It wasn't as though she was running around in halter tops and mini skirts, but she was letting her barriers down a bit. The boys were easy to get along with.

One day she got there and only found one of them. Murphy sat alone, hunched over in prayer. He looked as though he hadn't gotten sleep all night and was muttering his prayers frantically, in different languages.

"Murphy?" She squeaked, afraid she was interrupting something.

He jumped about a foot in the air, "Christ, Laura, it's only ye. Ye nearly gave me a heart attack."

Then she saw a streak of blood on his cheek, small and dried but she gasped and took out a Kleenex to wipe it away, "Are you hurt?"

"Me? No…oh that's not mine."

The words made her uneasy, what made her more uneasy was that he looked ashamed that he'd said them the moment they were out, "Is Connor alright?"

Murphy paused, then shook his head, "He'll be fine. We… we had a bit of a scuffle last night and he got hurt. Nothing that won't fix itself in a few days."

Laura could tell he dodged the issue and was being vague on purpose. Out of respect she let it go, she wouldn't push him to talk. But she did say her prayers aloud…and she made a point to include Connor in them.

She felt Murphy watching her as she spoke about his twin, and she added, "And help Murphy through this because I think he's having a hard time. Amen"

Quick as a flash of lightening she felt a kiss pressed firmly against her cheek and it startled her so much she nearly fell over, causing Murphy to laugh aloud and help her back to her seat.

"Jumpy, aren't ye? I just gave ye a little peck and ye nearly jumped out of yer skin!" It was good to see him smile, even if his eyes were still heavy.

Laura blushed furiously and gave a shy smile, "You surprised me."

"Ye act like no one's ever kissed ye before."

"No I've been…that is I, it's not as though…" she stumbled and stuttered and it only added to Murphy's amusement.

"Don't hurt yerself trying to get all those words out at once, little bit! I didn't mean nothing by it. I'm sure the boys line up to kiss ye."

She rolled her eyes and actually snorted, she didn't know she could snort.

"Is that right, now?" Murphy read her reaction and something flickered behind his eyes, "Interesting…"

She desperately wanted to know what was interesting but she was already running late for work.

"Oh shit!" She blushed when she cursed, "I have to go…I hope Connor gets better soon!"

"Thank ye…"

Outside it was the semi-chill of a winter ending, perhaps prematurely, but at least winding down. She was wearing the battle worn peacoat she'd bought two years ago and was wishing she'd thought of a hat this morning…

Suddenly she was shoved violently from behind and flew face-first into a brick wall. Yelling in pain and clutching her forehead she didn't even see the man who attacked her, but she felt him pin her to the wall with strong arms, felt his putrid, hot breath on her face, and felt the tip of the gun as he cried, "Give me your money!"

She was crying from pain and fear, and trembling with both. She was trying to open her bag but was distracted as he kept yelling at her, pointing his gun at her, shouting, calling her 'bitch' and even shoving her violently against the wall. She finally found her wallet and held it out meekly. He reached to take it but a muffled thud sounded through the alley and he slumped forward, blood everywhere.

He'd been shot. One clean shot, in one temple, out the other. Footsteps angrily approached and a figure in black stood over the man, making sure he was dead. Laura didn't look up, she buried her face in her knees and sobbed, letting her fear overtake her.

The body moved and she heard someone shuffling through pockets, and then a gentle lilting voice began praying, "And shepards we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee…"

Laura jerked her head up when she heard the voice, and made a muffled cry as she saw Murphy placing two coins on the dead man's eyes. He met her eyes and without stopping his prayer, raised a finger to her lips indicating quiet, "And we shall flow a river forth to Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomini Patri, et filii, et spiritus sancti."

That's when he turned his gaze fully to her, "Are ye alright, Laura?"

She was paralyzed, "Your…your…"

"I'm here to help ye, now, can ye stand?" He handed her the wallet that had fallen to the ground. For a moment she tried to stand, but was dizzy and her knees gave out. Her vision was beginning to blur.

"Laura," Murphy cooed, "Laura! Try to stay awake now…tell me where you live."

She must've gotten the words to her address out because after that, she didn't remember anything until she woke up in her apartment. On her forehead was a clean bandage and on her bedside table was a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. Groaning as the pain hit her, she tried to roll over but her arm hit something. Someone. She shrieked when she saw Murphy snoozing beside her in bed.

Irrationally she looked down and was immensely relieved to find she was fully clothed, and so was he…well considering the morning she'd had perhaps not so irrational. Her scream had woken Murphy and he was alert in seconds, "How are ye?

"Confused."

"I'll bet... how's yer head?"

"It hurts."

He reached past her and got her the water and aspirin, watched her take both, and then relieved her of them. Taking the bottle back to the medicine cabinet he found them in, he returned to her room and prepared for the questions he was about to get.

"Who are you?" She asked.

Trying not to burst into a monologue of righteousness, Murphy slowly exhaled, "I'm a man who helped ye when a low-life street thug would've beaten ye up, maybe even kill ye, for whatever was in yer wallet."

"You shot him."

"Aye."

"That prayer…your one of them, aren't you?" Her voice was a fearful whisper.

"Aye…I'm a Saint. As is Connor."

Laura sobered for a minute, "Is that how he got hurt?"

Murphy had almost forgotten that Connor was at home nursing injuries of his own, "Aye, he's got a little gunshot wound on his right leg…and he took a firm hit to the face. It could've been worse but I don't like seeing him like that."

"You…you…" Even her words were trembling, "you killed men last night?"

Nodding gravely he answered, "Aye. Mobsters, about six of them."

Her eyes filled with tears, her friends, her good church boys, were killers.

"Why?"

"Why? Why!" Murphy tried to contain himself, but it was a sensitive subject, "Because there are men out there that would murder innocent people, steal from innocent people…because there are men in the world that haven't the slightest hint of goodness in them, and they're willing to fuck over good, honest people for their own fuckin' pleasure. Someone has to stop them."

Laura couldn't respond, there wasn't anything she could think to say… she stared off into the distance and tried to understand what she was being told, even though her throbbing head was making it difficult.

Finally Murphy took a seat beside her and part of him felt terribly guilty when she shied away from him, "Listen, dove…yer the most innocent fuckin person I've ever met. Ye don't have a shred of evil in the whole of yer body. Can ye tell me why some man with a gun had the right to beat ye up and steal yer fuckin money?"

"He didn't." A surge of courage overtook her, "But why does another man with a gun have a right to kill him?"

"Because the fucking system won't do it! Because the fucking law won't do it! Because it's too easy for fucker like that to avoid persecution and harm good people! That's why."

He cupped her chin and made her look at his eyes, "I'm not a bad person, dove. I kill bad people."

She nodded solemnly, "I understand that. And thank you. Thank you for helping me."

He dropped her chin, "Yer welcome."

They sat in silence for a long minute before she reached for the phone. He looked at her questioningly, afraid perhaps she was too much of a good person and was going to call the cops, but his fears were laid to rest when she spoke, "Hello Debbie, its Laura…. I know its after 9. I was mugged this morning and…yes I'm fine….no he didn't get anything…my guardian angel chased him away…I know I'm lucky…but could you put in that I'm taking a sick day? Thanks….Yes I'll be in tomorrow. Thanks…uh-huh…good-bye."

When she put the phone down she mumbled, "I wasn't going to call the cops."

"So I see." Murphy fidgeted restlessly before blurting out, "What do ye think of me?"

It caught Laura by surprise and she chewed on it for a long time…too long maybe the pause seemed to be killing poor Murphy, but she finally spoke very carefully, "It scares me that you kill people, but…I don't think you'd hurt someone who didn't deserve to be hurt."

"So…ye don't think I'm some monster?"

"No…no I don't."

Nodding to himself he got up and squatted down in front of her so she'd have a hard time looking away, "I know this is poorly fuckin timed…but I don't know if I can wait much longer…" taking another breath he continued, "Yer a sweet girl, a really sweet, pretty girl, and I fancy ye. Especially with things as they are, I don't know what to do…but I know what I want to do."

In one powerful surge he leaned forward and kissed her. He kissed her powerfully, a man who wanted desperately to claim something, and when he pulled away even innocent Laura wanted more. But she quickly snapped out of that, blushed and put a hand to her lips.

He then kissed her cheek and stood up, "With the commotion last night, and that bloke this morning…I don't know how much longer we can stay here. But if ye'd like to see me or talk to me, leave word with the priest at the church…he's a friend of a friend."

"Aren't you coming to church anymore?" Her tone was more hurt then she'd intended it to be and Murphy sensed it.

"I'd go just to see ye…but I don't think I want to be traipsing around a crime scene especially when I'm the perpetrator. At least not for a few days, til it calms down a bit."

He turned to go but she called out his name, in the tiniest voice he's ever heard, and he stopped dead in his tracks and turned.

"I…it's just…how do I…what do I…"

He smiled as she fumbled around with her words and blushed like a schoolgirl. It was that damnable innocence of hers that made him want to pull her close, protect her…and maybe corrupt her just a little.

Laura finally regained enough stability of thought to form a cohesive sentence, "I don't know what I should consider you as."

"Ye mean like a boyfriend?" He knew the word would make her blush and he wasn't disappointed, "I'm not sure that'd be the best choice…how about ye call me yer guardian angel?"

She blushed again and managed to smile through it and in the deepest part of her she knew that the second Murphy walked out her door, she'd begin wandering when he'd walk through it again.

A/N- 3 updates in 2 days…. Call me God, it seems appropriate. So there we have to intro to each girl…I should timeline u this, this is POST movie, as everything's taking place in New York which is where my little brain has sent them because the heat turned up in Boston.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Connor's romance and Murphy's are not going on simultaneously…there might be some minor overlap, I haven't decided, but be on the lookout for story clues as to when these things are happening. Setting this up so all the one-shots are in one place makes it confusing because it is laid out linearly, but the fics may not necessarily be in linear order.

As it is, I think we need to get the boys' views on things, eh?

Review please!