Chrysanthemum sat at Rocco's kitchen table and twiddled her thumbs. Her twenty-second birthday was fast approaching; and she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it. She had no idea why society had placed such a stigma on aging; wasn't getting older supposed to make you wiser, or something? She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard of someone being excited about getting older, unless it was someone coming of legal drinking age, and Chrys' had passed her by in both Ireland and the U.S. For Chrys' 18th birthday, Conn and Murph had gotten her a specialty bottle of whiskey as a joke; because she hated the way whiskey tasted.

Much to the boys' protestation, Chrys had decided that if she was going to live in Boston with them, she was going to get a job. "I don' know why you two are putting up such a fight." She had told them after they had unanimously shot her idea down. Not that there were many decisions between the two of them that weren't unanimous. "I don't know." Murphy had said, shrugging. "It makes us feel inadequate, I'spose, that you would have to get a job to make yer own money."

"It's not about the money!" She protested, throwing her hands in the air. "I mean, not that extra money wouldn't be nice," She said, thinking that clothes actually tailored for a girl might be something she wanted to try one day. "I'm more worried about going crazy from sitting around Rocco's place all day while you two are at work. I'm not the kind of person who can just sit around and vegetate. I need to be on my feet and around people." After a little deliberation the twins finally gave up their argument and let Chrys look for employment on one condition; they had to approve where she worked. "No strip clubs." Murphy had said, pointing at her in jest. "Actually, I don't know if I would mind you workin' in a titty bar, 'Mum." Connor said, grinning and elbowing Murphy in the ribs. "On second thought, I saw a nice pink sequined number in the window of a costume shop down the street I think you'd look good in. Maybe you should give dancing a try." Chrysanthemum flicked both of their noses. "In your dreams, horn dogs." She'd said, sticking out her tongue at them. "Nah." Connor said, sharing one of the looks he and his brother gave each other all-too frequently. "Our dreams about yeh are much more inappropriate."

MacDowd's Arrangements is where the three of them finally decided Chrys would work. It was a nice mom and pop flower shop owned by the sweetest old woman Chrys had ever met. Her name was Ellen MacDowd and the shop had been passed down to her by her parents who had immigrated to Boston from Ireland. Ellen's her daughter Helena helped her manage the shop part time. When Chrys had seen the opening in the wanted ads she'd called immediately; Ever since she was a little girl she'd been interested in flowers and gardening, it was a hobby her mother had shared with her and helped her improve as she grew. Ellen didn't need much convincing that Chrys was right for the job, and the fact that she had been named after her mother's favorite flower certainly didn't hurt her chances. The pay wasn't astronomical, but the work itself was fun and relaxing. Chrys helped Helena prepare arrangements and also made deliveries occasionally. She also liked the idea that by working there she was supporting locally owned businesses instead of national chains; it seemed like in the states all there was anymore were silly chain businesses like Starbucks' and Burger Kings. Things had been different back in Ireland. Although there were some national businesses, the ratio on the locally owned side was much larger, and she liked it that way.

Chrys had today off though, and was currently spending it watching daytime television with Rocco in his apartment. "You know, I'll never understand what the point of Court TV is." Rocco commented, tossing a few pieces of stale popcorn in his mouth. "If I wanted to watch two people yell and try to steal each other's money I'd put in my old home videos." This comment got a chuckle out of Chrys. Rocco was always making her laugh; well, her and just about every other person he came in contact with. That was his gift. Even though most of his humor was self-depreciating, it never failed to get a rise from those around him and brighten at least part of their day. She could tell why the boys kept him around. David Della Rocco had his faults, but he was an all around good guy; and not to mention a loyal friend to them. Chrys was stirred from her thoughts by the sound of Rocco's home phone ringing. He got up from his seat and crossed the room to answer it. "What, why?" He said into the phone, in a seemingly annoyed tone. "I just don't thin- OKAY, alright! I'll be there in a fricking minute. Jeeze."

He slammed the receiver down and looked back at Chrys. "Look, um, that was Vincenzo. He said that my boss needs me to do something." Chrys nodded. "Go ahead, Roc. Do what ye've got to do. I'm a big girl; I'll be fine. And s'ides, the boys will be back 'round to get me in a few hours." He looked visibly relieved. "Yeah. Okay. I should be back before they get here but if I'm not, make sure and apologize to 'em for me." He said, grabbing his jacket. "They'll understand, Roc. I mean, they can't just expect ye to sit on yer arse and babysit me all day. I mean, you have to make a livin' for yerself." Rocco broke out into his signature broad grin that she had come to love. Nobody could smile like Rocco, not even her boys. "Thanks for being so understanding, Chryssy." He said, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I'll see ya later."

"Bye Roc." She said, as he exited his apartment.

There was only so much Court TV Chrysanthemum could take in one day, and sadly, Rocco's Rabbit-eared old television didn't pick up much else worth watching. She decided to go for a walk. After all, it was a gorgeous day outside, which hadn't happened often since Chrys had come to Boston. Even when the weather was nice she was almost always stuck indoors. I'll go shopping. She decided. She got paid every week and had saved up enough money to buy at least a few decent outfits. Chrys had been wearing Connor and Murphy's old clothes ever since she'd been adopted by them and their mother, because they were closer in size to her than their mom was. She was tired of dressing like a boy.

Chrysanthemum got up and clicked off Rocco's TV, and rummaged around until she found some old coffee stained paper and a pen to leave a note with; in case any of the boys arrived back before she did and freaked out when they discovered she was gone.

Boys,

I went out to do a bit of shopping. Will return soon.

Xoxo, 'Mum.

Chrys left the note in the most obvious place she could think of, then exited the apartment and locked it behind her using the copied key that she had been given. She was so glad she'd decided to come out today. It was warm, breezy, and bright outside. She inhaled the fresh air around her and smiled. After browsing around in some random shops for a while, she actually found some pretty cute stuff. She ended up buying two pairs of jeans, a pair of shorts, a cute skirt, and several nice tops. She was a shoe store now, and was in the process of trying on the first pair of high heels she'd ever worn. They made her calves look amazing; but she decided not to purchase them based on the fact that she would never ever have cause to wear them in her daily life. She ended up buying a plain pair of black sneakers and some sandals, for warmer days. Finally satisfied that she had at least somewhat of a wardrobe to go on, she decided to head back to Rocco's and wait out the boys' return.

Chrysanthemum's stroll slowed to a stop as she noticed a police investigation taking place in an alleyway on her way back. There was already a pretty stout crowd of onlookers; but she was able to get a good look at what was taking place on the other side of the crime scene tape. There was one dead body lying in a pretty sizable pool of blood with what looked like a crowbar in hand, and all of the lights hanging from the two buildings that formed the alley had been busted out. Amongst the few police officers milling about there were three main detectives from the BPD conferring with each other about what may of may not have taken place.

"So here's what went down." said the tallest investigator of the three. He had short dark hair that was flecked with gray, and had started to recede. He pointed in the direction of the body with a latex gloved hand. "This dude comes outta the bar all pissed off, right? Maybe his girlfriend told him to fuck off or something. So he decides to take out his anger with that crowbar and busts out all of the lights in the alley." He said, walking over to one of said broken lights and pointing up at it. The other two detectives watched him with skeptical gazes. "So someone comes by and sees that he's bustin' out all the lights, gets angry at such an ignorant show of vandalism, and decides to make an example out of him."

"So they decided to make an example out of him by shooting him?" said one of the other two detectives. This one had longer, wavy hair. "Yeah." Said the first detective. "Yeah? Why not?" He asked, questioning himself. The third detective spoke up, the shortest of the three. "Greenly, that's the most fucking retarded theory I've ever heard." Wow. These Boston cops sure know what they're doing. Chrys though, internally rolling her eyes. She wondered where Detective Greenly had even gotten his license, with a bum theory like that. She couldn't help smiling to herself though; these cops were so ridiculous that it was actually kind of cute. At least they weren't the garden variety, down to business, asshole police she was used to. She hadn't been in a whole mess of trouble up to this point in her life, but the boys had. Every time she'd had experience with the 'Razzers' as the boys called them, they had been extremely rude.

Murphy had punched a cop in the face one time for slapping her ass when she'd come to bail them out of jail for getting into a bar fight several years back. He was then promptly escorted back into his cell for assaulting an officer of the law. Connor had insisted on staying in with his brother for as long as they were planning to hold him; when they told him they wouldn't allow him to do so, he punched the same officer in the face so that he'd have to stay longer as well. Reminiscing about Connor and Murphy reminded her that she needed to get back to Rocco's place before they got home and found out she was gone and made a big stink about it.

"Fuck you, Duffy! I'd like to hear you come up with a better one!" She'd heard Greenly say as she continued in the direction she had been heading before she stopped. "Alright. Here's what really happened." The detectives' voices faded into the distance as she lugged her shopping bags back to Rocco's apartment.

She had barely unlocked the door and set her bags down before she was bombarded by Connor and Murphy, still dressed in the clothes they had worn to work. "Where da fuck have you been?" Connor asked, clearly upset. "Yeah, we were worried!" Murphy added. Chrysanthemum threw her hands in the air. "Are you two a pair of retards? I left a note!" She pointed to the note that she had left on the fridge; she had even used the most colorful magnets to draw more attention to it. The twins' heads both snapped toward the fridge. "Oh." They both said. "Sorry. We were just worried about yeh." Murphy said. "Aye. You could'a been kidnapped or somethin'."

"Kidnapped? Really? You guys act like I'm some kind of princess that criminals want to snatch and put up for ransom!" They both grinned, and Murphy plodded over to her, throwing her over his shoulder. "Aye, but ye're our princess!" He said, dropping her on the sofa and launching a tickle attack, which Connor excitedly joined in on. "Maybe she's righ', Murph." Connor said as his fingers wiggled back and fourth across her ribcage. "I mean, who would want to kidnap her wit' her hair dat crazy blonde color anyway?" Murphy removed one of her shoes and began assailing her foot. "Aye. I guess she decided jus' havin' the brain of a dumb blonde wasn' enough. She needed to complete the look so people could tell jus' by lookin' at her!" He quipped. "Oh my Lord! Stop it!" She was too busy attempting to kick and bite her way out of the melee to acknowledge them poking fun at her makeover. She hated being tickled. "Why should we?" Murphy asked. "Aye, it's been forever since we gave yeh a proper tickle attack! Yer way past due." Connor said, laughing along with his brother.

Chrys figured there was only one sure-fire way out of this tickle storm. Managing to free her hands momentarily, she grabbed both twins by the groin and squeezed. They both cried out in surprise; she hadn't used enough pressure to cause any real damage. "Oi!" Connor yelled. "That's no fair!" She grinned coyly. "Oh yeah?" She asked. "What about this?" Without relinquishing her grasp on either of them, she lifted her head up to nuzzle Connor's neck, before biting down. She felt his body go rigid; and she loved it. "Was that fair enough for you?" She whispered in his ear. "Oh you're in trouble." He growled. Working in sequence with his brother, Murphy pinned her down to the couch and watched as his brother mimicked what she had done to him; only he bit harder. "Mmmm…" She moaned and pulled Murphy to her, taking his bottom lip between her teeth and nibbling it softly. His breath became increasingly rough and unstable as they kissed; and Connor's hands exploring her body wasn't helping Chrys steady her breathing either. He trailed kisses down her torso and nibbled at the taut skin stretched across her hip-bone. She buried her free hand in his hair, urging him lower. She wasn't going to be able to withstand this heat growing within her for much longer. They were too wrapped up in each other to hear the front door open.

Rocco must have been standing in the threshold for a full minute before commenting. "There are so many things wrong with this situation." The trio stopped what they were doing and turned to look at their Italian friend standing dumbfounded in front of them. Murphy and Connor grinned. Chrys was completely caught off-guard, and had no idea what to say. "Would any of you be put off if I said I was turned on?" Rocco quipped, feigning seriousness. Or at least, hopefully feigning seriousness.

Connor and Murphy collapsed onto the couch laughing. However the couch, it seemed, had had enough of their shenanigans for one night; and proceeded to collapse under the combined weight of the twins and their lover. "Ow!" Chrys screamed. "Get off of me, fat ass!" She kicked Murphy in the side, trying to get him off of her bad ankle. "Hey, I'm not fat!" He faked a wounded expression. "I'm jus' big boned, ye'see." He lifted up his shirt and sucked in so far his ribs poked out in every direction.

After they had all had a good laugh, Connor and Murphy helped Rocco fix the legs of his couch. Only two of said legs were even usable anymore, so they had to improvise and prop the rest up with books and a paper weight. "Sorry about your sofa, Roc." Chrys said, clapping him on the back. "Aye." Connor said. "But at least now ye'll have a story to go along wit' it."

"What story is that? A pair of Irish twins and their smokin' hot girlfriend had an orgy so intense it broke my couch? No one would believe me." Chrys thought that over for a minute. "You're right, Roc. No one would believe you."

They continued laughing about it all the way down to McGinty's, where they spent the rest of the night enjoying themselves. Not before Chrys had a chance to change into one of her new outfits, of course. When she had put on a purple sweetheart cut tank-top and the pair of shorts she had bought, the boys eyed her hungrily. "Ah, ah, ah." She'd said, wiggling her pointer finger in their faces. "Ye've already had yer fun with me today."

"We'll jus' see abou' that." Murphy had said. Connor nodded. "Aye."

"Well if it ain't my favorite g-g-g-" Doc stuttered. "If it ain't my favorite gg-g-g, Aw fuck! Get over here, 'Mum!" He said motioning for her to come give him a hug. She hugged him around the neck and kissed the top of his head. "Hey Doc. You doing alright tonight?"

"Oh I'm f-f-fine as ever, lass." Doc and Chrysanthemum continued to chat while Murphy reached over the bar and poured shots for himself, Connor, and Rocco. They clinked their tiny glasses together and downed them one by one, without a chaser. "Hey." Rocco said, looking over his shoulder to make sure Chrys couldn't hear him. "I thought you guys said she was like your little sister, when did the three of you start boning?" Murphy pinched him and Connor punched him in the shoulder. "Ow! You two have got to stop doin' shit like that!"

"When we said sister, we didn't really mean sister, per se." Connor said. "Yeah, we meant more like cousin." Murphy added. "She's like our distant cousin, maybe a couple'a times removed." They all broke into hysterics once more, which drew Chrys' attention to them. "What are you three queers laughing abou'?" She asked, raising her eyebrow. "We were laughin' at yer gay hair." Murphy said, pouring them all another shot, and grabbing one more for her. She covered her head with her hands. "Would you two quit pokin' fun at my hair? I happen to like it." She stuck her tongue out at them, and accepted the shot glass Murphy handed to her. "You'd be'er leave my girl alone!" Doc said, pointing a warning finger in the boys' direction. "If you hur' her feelin's I'll sock ye both a g-g-g-good one." Chrys downed her shot after clinking her glass with the three boys. "Yeh heard that yeh couple o'jerks? Doc'll sock yeh both a good one, and then I'll sock yeh two more for the road!"

"Well ain't she a fire cracker." One of the other bar patrons commented to a buddy of his sitting next to him. "Yeah. Break me off a piece of that one." Connor and Murphy both spun around on one heel and pointed at the two men who were talking about Chrys. "She's spoken fer!" They growled, in stereo.

Chrysanthemum shook her head, trying to hide how much it pleased her to be defended by them. That's my boys.