Chapter 9: Two Worlds

Torrey woke to an empty bed, and felt a slight twinge of disappointment. She had kind of expected Connor to be there beside her still, maybe even still asleep so she could wake him up with kisses. That was a stupid thought, though; the night before didn't mean anything, it was just a fling, so there was no real point in him being there still.

But still, Connor had made it sound like he wanted to be serious with her, especially with all those comments about not sharing her with Murphy.

Torrey shook her head, clearing those thoughts away. She barely knew those boys, and they barely knew her. She'd fucked Connor to get her mind off of Monica, and it had helped. It was that simple.

She slid from bed and searched out her clothes, pulling them on quickly so that she wouldn't freeze her ass off standing there. Unfortunately, she'd forgotten her toiletries in her duffel bag, which was still downstairs in the rumpus room. She'd planned on bringing it up with her when she left Connor, and the two sleeping MacManuses, to head to bed for the night; she cursed herself for forgetting it because of Connor.

Well, she could just grab her bag and head into the bathroom to brush her hair and her teeth and such. She simply ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing the ends down, and prayed no one would be able to tell Connor's fingers had been tangling the strands most of the night.

Connor and Murphy cleaned themselves up, fixed their clothes, and used their fingers to push their hair back into the proper position, grinning at each other all the while.

Once they looked mostly normal, they embraced, hugging each other tightly. It was something they did every morning, something they would continue to do for the rest of their lives. They began each morning wrapped in each other's arms, sharing their warmth and their love, reassuring each other that no matter what dreams had plagued them they were still right there beside each other, and always would be.

Connor sighed contentedly, breathing in Murphy's sweet scent. Murphy was so loyal, so loving, so perfect; Connor could never even think of forsaking this. Connor needed Murphy as much as Murphy needed him, maybe even more so. Murphy kept him sane, kept him stable, and brought him back into reality whenever things got tough.

Maybe Connor did like Torrey, at least a little bit, and he'd had fun with her, but Murphy was the one in his heart. Murphy was the one he give his love to for the rest of their lives.

"Good morning, Noah." Torrey smiled brightly at the older man as she entered the little rumpus room.

He turned towards her and nodded, giving her a small smile of his own. Without a word he poured an extra shot of Jameson and placed it on the edge of the pool table, sliding it towards her.

"That's just what I needed to wake me up." She laughed as she picked up the shot and downed it. It burned more than it had last night, but maybe that was just because her throat was little bit raw.

"Have a good night's sleep, lass?" Noah asked, quirking one eyebrow.

Torrey met his gaze, and she could swear he already knew what her and Connor had been up to. But if he did he wasn't letting on, and she wasn't about to either. "I did, thank you. How about yourself?"

"As good as one can get on a few blankets on the floor, I suppose." He smirked, pouring them both another shot.

"Now I feel bad; Doc let me sleep in the spare bedroom upstairs, complete with a comfy bed." Torrey sipped this shot rather than gulp it; she didn't want to get drunk before the day had even begun.

"Don't ye worry about it, lass. I'd not have ye sleepin' on the floor just for my own comfort, an' I wouldn't let my boys do that to ye neither."

Torrey blushed then, appreciative of Noah's gentlemanly nature.

The two sat in silence for a while, unsure of what else to say, but comfortable in the other's presence.

"I think it's about time fer a smoke, Conn." Murphy said as he pulled back from the hug, his eyes wide and bright, his smile nearly sparkling.

"Aye. Have ye tried the ones that lil' lass bought yesterday? Best damn cigarettes on the planet." Connor chuckled. "Perhaps she'll let us have a couple more, eh?"

Murphy rolled his eyes, but nodded anyway, following Connor out of the bathroom and down the stairs.

When they entered the rumpus room they were greeted with a gruff nod from their father, and a warm smile from Torrey.

"Mornin', boys." She grinned, grabbing two spare shot glasses; she walked over to Noah and calmly tipped the neck of the bottle still in his hand, filling the two glasses. She handed one shot to each brother, which they downed eagerly.

Connor, being the jokester that he was, cut a sidelong glance at Murphy, and then leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss to Torrey's cheek. Torrey smirked, but Murphy was fuming; after what he and Connor had just done, after all that had been said, for Connor to just kiss Torrey like it was nothing, right in front of their Da, was an insult.

Murphy, not to be upstaged by his brother, did the same; his lips connected with Torrey's cheek almost hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure this was what he should really be doing, even though he didn't want Connor to have all the fun.

Torrey blushed bright pink at having both men kiss her at the same time; though, truth be told, it was close to a dream come true considering how sexy they both were.

Noah cleared his throat from the back of the room, making all three of them jump. Torrey skittered away, heading out onto the fire escape to rid herself of further embarrassment, leaving the brothers to face their father.

"An' where have ye boys been this morning?" Noah asked, leveling them with an intense stare.

Murphy looked to Connor, hoping he would get them out of this mess; Murphy never had been the best at lying.

But the words fell easily from Connor's lips, and he didn't even bat an eye as he spoke them. "Can't get t'church this mornin', Da. Me an Murphy needed t'find some place quiet t'pray."

Noah regarded them with his unwavering stare for several minutes, but finally he nodded. "Good of ye to keep up yer religious duties. Prayer is more important than ever for us now."

The twins nodded their agreement, then went to join Torrey for a cigarette on the stairwell.