A/N Thanks to all those who read and reviewed the last chapter : ) You guys rock!

A special shout out: Thank you, Rebecca Taylor, who messaged me saying how much she enjoys my stories. You're a doll!

Fun Fact: Cesar calls George a "perico." For those who didn't know, this means "parakeet." Most liking indicating if you try you can make the man sing.

Chapter Eleven: Promises and Opinions

Connor, Murphy, and Romeo sat in a booth in a back corner of the Mexican themed restaurant. Cesar had just finished explaining the prize money set against the brothers for whoever caught the Saints. Not that the boys weren't flattered that the prize on their heads was a quarter of a million dollars, they just didn't feel like letting anyone have that money. The hazel-eyed twin could think of only one person in the whole world he'd ever want that money to go to. She deserved it after raising her own set of twins alone for just over seven years and whatever hardships had come along with it. He didn't believe her when she said none had come. Raising kids alone was tough; he knew that from his own mother. Raising twins with his temperament was undoubtedly a hundred times harder. Connor refused to believe it had been a cake walk for Kareen.

Romeo gave a little whistler. "A quarter mil for us?"

Cesar turned a confused look upon his nephew. "'Us'? What are you talking about, 'us'?"

The twins brothers watching and listened as the two men bantered back and forth in an argument spoken in rapid Spanish. They shared a look and Connor prompted his brother to end the nonsense.

Murphy cleared his throat. "El esta con nosotros."

The older gentleman looked at the Irishman in surprise. "Is he?"

The blue-eyed twin simple gave a nod of his head.

Cesar turned to Connor. "And is my nephew here pulling his own weight?"

"Mucho corazon."

With a nod the salt-and-pepper haired man put his hand on his nephew's, telling him this was a good thing. Redirecting his focus, Cesar turned back to the twins. "Ahora, Gorgeous George is running the show for Little Yaka. And if anyone knows where he is, it's that fat, fucking ugly perico. I'll get it out on the wire." He quickly stood and made his way to the back room where he would begin making calls instantly for the noted whereabouts of the New York born mafia member.

Murphy stared at his brother. Their moment of silence with drinks before them gave him time to think. He had walked into the apartment earlier and was happy to see Kareen looked fit and well. He wasn't shocked to hear she had had a couple kids. Oh no, just as he had told Connor that it was possible. He really should've put money on it…But…There was one thing he was having trouble understanding. How could the two kids he assumed were twins be Connor's? He tried his damnedest to think of how it was at all possibly. Then a thought struck. He remembered when they had returned after three months of being gone. Connor had begged him to go and see the woman one last time. Murphy had told him over and over again it was dangerous. Their father had agreed! Noah had insisted that was why he left their mother. He never elaborated, but the old man always said his past had forced the matter from his hands. The two men rallied against Connor's wishes. Neither wanted him to be seen and both feared he could be seen with Kareen. They were certain that could only lead to trouble. In the end, however, they just let him go with the knowledge he was putting their operation and even Kareen's life in danger. If he was stupid enough than so be it! Murphy stared long and hard. Connor had obviously been more stupid than his brother or father could ever have guessed.

Connor raised a brow. "What?" He had noticed Murphy was staring at him for a good five minutes now and was wondering what he could possibly be thinking about.

Murphy turned to Romeo. "Hey, can ye give us a minute?"

The swarthy man stood and gave a little nod. "Yeah, sure, sure. I'll just go see how Uncle Cesar is doin'."

The twins watched as their new found sidekick traced his uncle's footsteps to the back room.

Murphy turned a hard stare on Connor. "Dat day before we off'd Yakavetta ye went an' saw her."

His brother only nodded in response.

"An' ye fucked 'er, didn't ye?"

Connor sputtered a bit. "Et wasn't really—I mean ef ye put et dat way—Et's not like we—Ye really just…" He trailed off, realizing his plea was getting him nowhere. Instead he just heaved a sigh and nodded before taking a long drink. "Aye."

His twin groaned audibly. "Conn! Ye're so fuckin' stupid!"

Going a bit red in the face, he tried to defend himself. "Ye don't understand, Murph. When I saw 'er again and we got ta talkin' et just happened! We honestly didn't mean fer et ta happen at first, or at least I didn't. Ef et makes a dif'rence I never told her exactly where we would go or exactly whah we were doin'. I couldn't not tell 'er, though. I left 'er wit' hints an' clues, but no more. Murph, please understand dat I knew you said et was dangerous an' stupid ta see 'er, but ye don't know whah et's like."

Murphy flared slightly. "Don't know what what es like, exactly?" He couldn't help but think one rather rude thought: Please don't let this dumb fuck say love…

Connor looked at the beer in front of him. "Lovin' someone."

"I fuckin' knew! Connor, ye can't let thes shit get into yer head, man! We've got a job ta do an' I ain't riskin' et because ye're still all doe-eyed fer some woman."

"But—"

Murphy set him with a hard stare. "No. I want ye ta be focused. I ain't usually de focused one an' I ain't ready ta start."

Connor nodded. "Understood. I promise I won't let 'em become distractions." He turned a hard eye on his brother. "I just want one thing."

"An' dat would be?"

The man took a swig of his drink before staring at the glass. "I want ta be able ta see 'em any time we aren't too busy and back en Doc's spare storage room." He turned a burning gaze back onto his brother. "An' I dare yah ta tell a man he can't see 'is kids."

Murphy was at a blockade. He knew if he let Connor see the woman and the kids that he could become distracted…but he also knew if he didn't allow this that the man would do it anyway and risk getting in trouble. Murphy stared at his drink, trying to decide on the matter. It wasn't too dangerous. They were in the same building. So long as Connor didn't go promising family trips to the park or some other bullshit like that all would be fine! Murphy heaved a sigh. "Fine. But ye never leave de pub or promise ta meet 'em anywhere. I won't risk ye bein' seen…an' ta be honest I really hate ta bring Kareen into any of this. She's probably got her hands full right now."

Connor simply nodded in agreement and the two fell into a more comfortable silence. They finished their drinks and just sat there. Nothing was said between them since no more was needed to be said. Connor turned to his brother suddenly. "Hey, ye know how ye said she was probably married ta some guy named Joe er Bobby?"

Murphy turned to his brother. After about seven and a half minutes of silence that was the topic he chose? Shrugging, he nodded. "Aye."

Connor gave a little snort. "She's actually gettin' married next month ta a guy named Bobby."

"Oh? Does 'e have an American last name? Or es he Irish?"

Another snort. "He don't even know, man. Some friggin' Euro-mutt. He's not at all 'er type. I don't see why she's wit' 'im."

Murphy shrugged. "Who knows? Perhaps 'e may not be 'er type en body, but ye never know 'bout mind."

Connor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure."

His brother looked him over with a keen little grin and couldn't help but chuckle. "Ye're jealous!"

The accused man scoffed. "I am not!"

"Aye, y'are! Ye're jealous of thes Bobby fella an' et's killin' yah! How long dey been tagether?"

Connor grumbled. "Five years."

Murphy slapped the table. "Oh, ye're jealous! Ye hate ta think he's been wit' 'er longer, helped raise your kids, an' now 'e's marryin' 'er! Connor MacMannus, ye're a jealous fool an' don't ye deny et!"

The man crossed his arms. "Yeah? And ef I am? Wit' any luck I won't hafta cross Bobby's path anyway. He had ta leave fer a while. Family shit or whahever."

Murphy's grin faded away. He had a bad feeling sink into the pit of his stomach. "Connor, I know ye an' I know yer ways. You make me a promise right now."

Connor raised a brow. What the devil was his brother talking about?

Murphy stared at him long and hard. "Ye promise me dat ye won't go tryin' ta change Kareen's mind on anythin'. Ye know as well as I do dat once we've finished our shit 'ere we're heading right back 'cross the pond an' goin' home. We ain't stayin' an' I don't want ye ta put thoughts en Kareen's head ta make 'er leave Bobby. I don't know 'im, but I don't hafta. Kareen es an excellent judge o' character an' ef she thinks 'e's worthy of 'er time an' 'er heart, den so be et. I don't ever wanna find out ye did somethin' ta make her kick a probably perfectly good fella out on 'is ass."

The hazel-eyed twin stared at his brother in utter and complete shock. Where had this sudden worry and care come from? Murphy had never had a steady relationship in his life! Connor looked at the empty glass on the table before him. Perhaps that was the point behind it all. Because Murphy had never really had that sort of relationship he didn't want to see someone else lose the one they had. It was plausible.

With a heavy sigh, Connor nodded. "Alright. I promise I won't try an' persuade Kareen ta go against 'er promises ta Bobby. Cross me heart an' hope ta die. All I'll do es visit a while, get ta know me kids, an' stay out of 'er love life."

Murphy nodded. "Good. Now, let's go an' see what Romeo an' 'is uncle are up to."

The two men stood and made their way to the back room where after a moment of knocking they were let in to sit on a small sofa. The four men began to discuss what possibilities there were in the pursuit of Gorgeous George. Cesar also mentioned if the brothers ever needed somewhere other than the spare storage room at the pub he had spare place in his own home where they would be welcome to stay.

Meanwhile, Kareen was standing in a small circular room walled with mirrors. She was frowning down at herself. The woman assisting her had taken Kareen's mentioning of Bobby's extravagant wants to heart. She was currently dressed in a gown with a long train and highly decorated skirt. The dress was beautiful…but Kareen hated it with a passion.

Ryanne was standing beside her mother in a pale green dress that had a slightly belled skirt and reached just a short way past the girl's knees. She absolutely adored her flower girl's dress and had thrice refused to take it off. Now she was looking at her mother with a very scrutinizing gaze.

The mother looked to her daughter. "Well?"

Ryanne shook her head. "No, no, definitely not! It's too much, Ma."

Kareen nodded in agreement. "I know what ye mean, Ry." She turned to the woman helping her find a dress. "Do ye have anythin'…simple? Plain? Just anythin' not so…busy?"

The young girl ran over to the woman with a smile. "I'll help! I know what my Ma likes." She beamed a rather proud-of-herself grin before walking out the door with the chuckling woman to find a different dress.

Kareen quickly changed out of the extravagant gown and put on her normal clothes. She heaved a sigh that seemed to express she currently had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Walking out of the dressing room section of the dress shop she sat down on the small bench beside her son. With a little grin she gave him a nudge. "Bored ta tears yet?"

The boy looked up to his mother and raised a brow. "Not at all, Ma. I'm enjoyin' this so much…"

She laughed and hugged her son to her. How magnificent is was to her that her seven year old son understood and delivered sarcasm! She couldn't help but think how much the boy was like his father.

The attendant came up to the two of them sitting on the bench with the dress laid across her arms. Ryanne had a big grin on her face. The child knew she and the woman had struck gold with their find.

"Ma'am, I believe your daughter thinks she has found the one."

Kareen stood and turned a curious gaze upon her daughter. "Oh aye? Well, let's see then."

The two women went back into the dressing room where the attendant assisted Kareen whenever needed as she dressed in the gown. When finished, she moved from the dressing room and into the circular room of mirrors. A gasp left her lips. A grin spread over her face. She left the room of mirrors to show her waiting children. Both of which smiled and shared a glance. Ryanne and Liam knew their mother. They knew a roundabout idea that a bride's dress should reflect her in person. For an extravagant woman to wear a simple gown was shocking and for a simple woman to wear an extravagant gown was gaudy. They knew the first gown was horrid for their mother. However, this gown that she wore was absolutely perfect.

Ryanne nodded happily, audibly voicing her adoration for the dress.

Liam just gave a little smile, thinking to himself that his ma was incredibly pretty and that he hoped one day he might meet a girl as pretty as she.

Kareen beamed a happy smile at her children and turned to where she knew a single, full-body mirror was. She ran her hands down her sides and came to rest on her hips with a grin on her face. The dress really was perfect. Who gave a damn if Bobby didn't think the dress was flashy enough?

A thought crossed her mind and it almost knocked her off her feet. In her heart she knew that Bobby would tell her the dress was lovely, but she should have picked something flashier. Yet, at the same depth in her heart she knew if it was Connor he would tell her it was the perfect dress.

The tiniest of smiles came to her face. She ran her hand across the fabric lovingly. To hell with Bobby's opinion, if there was one thing in this wedding he would not take hold of it was her choice in the dress. All that mattered to her at that moment was her imagined opinion that Connor would have.

A/N Perhaps Murphy's forced promise has come too late. Has Kareen already begun to change her mind about Bobby?