*Steps in the room with colander over head*

Okay, I realize that no amount of excuses could ever justify me going this long without updating this fanfic but I am extremely sorry. This chapter was very, very difficult for me to write on a number of levels, mainly because I did not anticipate how much of a life-changing chapter this would be for Branna and the boys. So taking that under consideration, it does contain a lemon (threesome, if you must know) but its a little bit of a darker lemon than you guys are probably used to seeing in this fic. Its not too dark - probably not even dark at all, maybe gray - but the ending will definitely raise a few hairs. Again, I'm sorry for not updating in forever, it seems, I'll try not to let it happen again :)

Leyshla Gisel and jouetdedestin - Yeah, last chapter was partially dedicated to you guys. I know you were really hankering for some Murphy love :)

HermioneandMarcus - Thanks for reviewing - keep it up :)

Guest - Thank you for the amazing review and yes, I thought it was pretty nice too ;)

Read, review and enjoy!

- Nagiana


Couldn't really blame you if you turned and walked away

But with everything I feel inside, I'm asking you to stay

Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool

Loving both of you is breaking all the rules

Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool

Loving you both is breaking all the rules

- "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary McGregor


Favorite Line:

"I don' know how ya can' see it! She doesn', Conn – she'll never love me like she loves ya! And do ya really want ta share her wit me all ya life – do ya really?"

"Hey, wha's up wit ya?"

Connor's deep blue eyes, pensive and slightly shielded, turned onto Branna at her words and he gazed at her for a moment, not speaking, as the fingers of one of his hands moved to press against his lips. His eyes ran over her slightly confused expression as she sat there beside him on the couch and he continued to watch as her delicately plucked eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and as the questioning look in her eyes grew. He couldn't begin to tell her what was on his mind and that thought alone made him grit his teeth in frustration. He hated when he couldn't talk to her . . . when he couldn't confide in her like he so desperately wanted to and like he normally always did when he had something bothering him (which, granted, wasn't that much of the time).

Eventually, he shook his head and returned his eyes onto the current James Bond movie playing out on the TV, From Russia with Love. "It's nothin', mavourneen. I've jus' got a lot on ma plate right now tha' I don' wanna talk 'bout."

A skeptical look appeared in her eyes then. "Connor MacManus, I know ya and ya moods! Wha's up?"

He ignored her, his eyes remaining on the movie and her lips pursed in irritation as she rose up on her knees and moved to straddle his lap facing him. His teeth gritted in slight anger as he rolled his eyes in irritation. "Branna, I don' wanna -!"

"I don' know why ya don' wanna talk ta me, Conn! Ya know ya can talk ta me 'bout anythin'!" She interrupted him and he shook his head, his eyes focusing on an indeterminable spot on the nearby window to avoid looking at her.

"Branna, please get offa me . . ."

"Whatever this is – whatever is botherin' ya, I'm sure we can work it out -!"

"Branna Whelan, get tha fuck offa me!" He interrupted her in a snarling snap and his eyes frosted over in anger when he finally settled them onto her. Branna immediately recoiled, her eyes growing wide with both shock and slight fear. She nodded as she quickly got up from his lap and after swallowing hard, her eyes hardened as well and her lips pursed as she turned around and headed for the showers, her body unnecessarily tense. She heard Connor heave a sigh behind her and she could only imagine the roll of his eyes that he had performed as well. "Mavourneen, I'm sorry, I shouldn' 'ave snapped at ya like tha'!"

"No, no, it's fine. Don' worry 'bout it, Conn." She shot him a terse smile over her shoulder as she turned the faucet, the water that rained down from the showerhead overhead, lukewarm for once instead of freezing cold. He shook his head as well as he got to his feet and moved over to her. Standing out of the way of the spray the entire time, he watched as she jerkily got undressed and knew by her movements as she would toss her clothes out of the way at his feet, that she was irked.

"No, Bran, it's not fine – I shouldn' 'ave snapped at ya like tha'! I jus' . . . I don' wanna talk 'bout it wit ya, not 'cause I'm tryin' ta push ya away, but 'cause . . ." He swallowed hard and gave a small shrug then. "I jus' don' wanna talk 'bout it, okay? Jus' . . . Jus' know its not 'cause I don' wanna, but because I can'!"

She nodded silently in both reply and understanding. Her movements were still cold as she stuck a hand underneath the shower spray, checking the temperature and after deeming it comfortingly hot enough, stepped fully underneath it. She drowned out Connor's presence behind her as the warm spray ran over her body and her eyes closed in contentment as she ran her fingers through her long black hair. She was very much irked at him and she supposed giving him the cold shoulder was her way of getting back at him for not talking to her. She didn't know why it he couldn't – they always could before! What had changed this time?

She was so deeply immersed in her own thoughts that she hardly took notice of Connor getting undressed himself and stepping into the shower too until she felt his arms wrap around her and bring her back against his hard, corded frame. "Ya trust me?" He murmured in her ear and she shuddered at the warm breath that fanned out across her neck. She pursed her lips and ignored him, however, and his arms that had wrapped around her, brought her closer to him in a tight embrace as his face buried in her neck. When he finally spoke, his voice came out slightly muffled due to his mouth being pressed against the smooth skin of her neck. "I'm sorry for causin' this 'tween us, mavourneen, I really am. But part of why I don' wanna tell ya is ta protect ya."

"Are ya in trouble?" She immediately asked him, her voice coming out slightly terse and fearful, and he shook his head.

"No, but . . . this information I 'ave could cause me ta be in trouble and if it does, then I want ya ta be separate from it. I want ya ta be untouchable if tha need arises."

"Is Murph involved?"

She could feel Connor hesitate behind her. Finally, he answered her and when he did, it sent slight chills down her spine. ". . . Yes." She turned her head to gaze at him then, her brown eyes meeting his beautiful blue ones and she swallowed hard.

"Will it cause tha two of ya to be in trouble?" She asked him and he looked away for a minute before slowly nodding.

"Prolly."

"Will I end up losin' ya?" She asked him next, her voice quieting slightly and he could see a slight sheen of tears on her eyes as he swallowed hard and nodded.

"P-prolly . . ." Branna stood there for a minute gazing at him before she gave a nod and moved to nestle herself even more into his arms. They tightened around her, enveloping her in the warmth of his body as his chin moved to rest on her shoulder. They stood there for a moment under the warm spray before Connor gently moved to nuzzle the nape of her neck. "So do ya trust me, mavourneen?" He asked again as his fingers moving to entwine with hers across her stomach, and she nodded.

"I guess I have no choice, right?" She asked with a little laugh and he smiled as well as her head turned so that their lips could meet. Her mouth opened to him and his tongue entered her mouth, tangling with hers. They parted for a moment as she turned around in his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck right when he crashed his lips against hers again, his tongue moving past her lips to settle hot and invitingly thick inside her mouth.

They collapsed backwards against the nearby shower wall seconds later, their mouths still connected and as his weight pressed her further back against the wall, she felt how hard he was despite their so recent altercation, and somehow that made her happier than anything else had in days. Sliding a hand down between them, she pressed her fingers against his erection and he groaned into her mouth when her hand wrapped fully around him. He groaned again, huskier this time as he broke the kiss, and a grin spread across his face as a laugh came from his lips seconds later.

"Branna, mavourneen, would ya wait jus' one minute -?" He panted the words out, fighting for control of both his breathing and his body, but Branna didn't want to wait. She tightened her hand around his erection, fingers moving up and down along the silken flesh. Hand guiding him, she turned them around so that he was the one against the shower wall. Then she knelt and slid her mouth over him, pumping hard with her hand. He let out a low moan as his fingers slid through her hair, moving the black locks out of the way so that he could watch as she went down on him.

"Jesus Christ, mavourneen . . .!" He breathed before gritting his teeth and biting back a strangled groan as she took as much of him into her as she could before swallowing, the muscles of her throat feeling like pure heaven as they contracted around his head.

"Lord's name, Conn . . ."

She could see the grin that immediately appeared on Connor's face then as she released him with a vulgar pop at the sound of Murphy's voice coming from behind them. She glanced behind her at him before turning her eyes up to Connor's. He gave a shrug.

"I told ya ta wait a minute, didn' I? 'Tho', by all means, continue – I wasn' exactly complainin'!"

Branna couldn't help but shoot him a look as Murphy helped her to her feet, where he immediately pulled her back up against his front with his hands on her hips. It wasn't soon after that, that Connor closed the distance between them as well, his lips connecting with the hollow of her throat as they pressed her in-between them. Murphy's lips found the skin behind her ear and Branna felt herself swoon from the heat and the pressure both. Her hands clenched on Connor's shoulders and her skin burned from their fingers trailing all over her body – pulling and pushing, trying to get as much as her against them as the other would allow.

Which, granted, wasn't much. Her boys weren't exactly known for being the most compromising fellows when they were together in bed with her.

She found herself quickly forgetting the earlier spat she had, had with Connor, for the only things there with her at that moment, were their hands, their bodies and their mouths as they murmured increasingly dirty things in her ear. Connor's voice came out as a growl as Murphy pulled her back against him and thrust his hips forward, making her feel how hard he was. She felt Connor's hand run up the inside of her thigh and she found all thoughts ceasing to be again.

Branna closed her eyes and moaned as she allowed her head fell back against Murphy's chest when she gave into the feelings that were starting to surround her. A pair of demanding lips met hers as Connor pressed his to hers. It was hard to form coherent thoughts when the both of them were moving their bodies like they were against her - like how Connor was moving his hands up her thighs and kissing her the way he was, but she was glad for the peace she felt as her mind went blissfully blank. At least she wouldn't have to worry about what Connor had told her about him and Murphy possibly being 'in trouble' at that particular moment. Talk about a mood killer.

Murphy grabbed her hips and pulled her back against him, groaning into her ear and the sound immediately sent bolts of warmth shooting throughout her lower stomach. She felt Connor's lips trailing down her neck, her shoulder and her chest and then Murphy's hands were on her breasts, cupping them and pushing them upwards to meet his brother's scorching hot mouth. She moaned again as his lips enclosed around her nipple, where his teeth teased it into a hardened peak before moving over to the other one. Her entire body was on fire, and all she knew was them and the consuming desire that made her act on instinct instead of logic. She became long past the point of thinking when she felt them press her between them - now it was time to feel.

She reached back and pulled Murphy's head down to her, where she crashed their lips together as soon as he was close enough. Her other hand moved to Connor's head, pulling him firmly against her at the same time. It felt so good - they were so good - and she couldn't imagine it being any better.

Of course, she should have known better than to think that. They were Murphy and Connor MacManus, after all - her insufferable Irish twins - she should have known that they would try their damndest to one up the last time they had been in bed together like this.

One of Murphy's hands left her breast and moved downward, where it slid in-between her body and Connor's, and down her stomach, where it disappeared in-between the juncture of her thighs. She broke the kiss when he slid a finger inside her, slowly . . . so deliciously slowly . . .

After a moment, he brought his hand back out from between her legs and moved it to his lips, where he sucked his finger into his mouth. His eyes stayed on hers every second as he slowly twirled his tongue around the tip of his finger, his lips twitching into that insufferably sexy grin of his when she moaned.

But of course, Connor wasn't about to be ignored for long. As they stood there, Branna watching Murphy's lips and his finger, Connor's mouth had left her breast, only for his lips to trail down her body until he was kneeling before her, his tongue teasing her skin as his teeth marked it. Then his hands were moving up her legs and she felt Murphy's arm snake around her waist, helping her keep her balance as Connor moved one of her legs over his shoulder. His tongue made contact with her heated flesh her seconds later and all her mind could suddenly focus on was him. The strokes of his tongue against her core were light, teasing and expertly maddening, but the hold of his fingers on her legs were strong and almost primal.

"Ya love it when one of us is on our knees before ya, don' ya creena?" Murphy murmured in her ear and she shuddered at the silkiness of his words. "And ya know that this ain' even tha best we can do, right?"

His words seemed to encourage his brother, for no longer after those words were out of his mouth, did Branna feel Connor's fingers pushing inside her - one, two, three - his thumb joining his lips, where he teased her clit and made her moan his name in pleasure. Then, Murphy's hand moved to Connor's head, pushing him against her, which caused him to let out a groan as he yanked her towards him still. "Make her come, brother . . . make her take tha' Lord's name in vain." He told him and Branna could almost see the evil grins the twins' had on their faces as Connor's fingers started thrusting faster within her - twisting as they reflexively sought out that spot inside her. And all the while, Murphy was nibbling on her neck - his teeth grazing her flesh and causing shivers to go up and down her spine. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the feeling of Connor's head between her thighs and Murphy standing behind her, pushing his hips against hers rhythmically as he moved his hand into her hair and yanked her head back so that he could sink his teeth into the nape of her neck. Then there was nothing but pleasure as she screamed her release and Murphy's mouth was back against hers, greedily swallowing every sound as she vaguely heard Connor grinningly say:

"Lord's name, mavourneen."

But in a second, it seemed everything changed. As if by some unspoken agreement between them, Connor stepped away as Murphy turned her around and pulled her into his arms. He wrapped them around her waist and with their lips connected, he pulled her up and carried her the few steps that separated them from the bed. He laid her down on it as she heard the squeaking sound of Connor turning off the shower. He then sat back on his heels and after grabbing her ankles, pulled her entire body to the edge of the bed. There was something in the way he was looking at her, though, that made her shiver in both anticipation and slight nervousness. And when she glanced at Connor standing behind him, she could see the same and something in her heart twitched – something that immediately made her on edge.

Something was wrong between them . . . something she knew she wouldn't like.

But Murphy's hands slowly trailing reverently up her legs to eventually push them apart as he pulled her closer to the edge still, kept her thoughts from going anywhere else. He bent down and his lips met hers as she felt the tip of his cock against her. And then, with one smooth, upward and slightly rough thrust, he was inside her. His fingers wasted no time in finding her nub and making her moan - God, he was good!

"Jesus, creena . . ." Murphy hissed as he started thrusting, hard and deep and fast. "Ya so fuckin' tight . . .!"

But Branna wasn't listening. Connor was kneeling beside her now and when she felt his hand gently bury in her hair so that he could help hold her head up, she wrapped her hand and her lips around his cock. She moaned as Murphy's thrusts became deeper, though, and she readily begin moving her hips up to meet his every thrust as she focused on Connor kneeling beside her. His hand was still in her hair, supporting her head as she moved her tongue around him, then hollowed her cheeks as she sucked. She heard him hiss and then felt his hips jerk as she took him in deeper, his eyes darkening with desire.

When he finally pulled out, she gasped for air but it faded away into a loud moan of Murphy's name as he tilted up her hips and thrust harder, finally finding just that right angle that she loved and which caused her entire body to shake as a sudden orgasm ripped through her. Connor let out a curse in Gaelic under his breath as her muscles rippled around him and he rode out her orgasm without missing a beat. And when he pulled out, Branna barely had time to regain her thoughts and feel both relief at being able to breathe, as well as frustration at the feeling of emptiness that they left behind, before Connor's hands were on her hips and he was flipping her over onto her stomach so that he could pull her back onto her hands and knees before thrusting into her.

He filled her so deliciously that she immediately let out a moan of his name as his thrusts came just as hard and fast, perhaps even more-so than his brother's had. Branna closed her eyes and focused on the feeling of him moving inside her - fucking her so hard while his fingers buried into her hips with a bruising grip. But then she felt the bed bow underneath her and directly in front of her and wasted no time in wrapping a hand around Murphy's pro-offered cock, giving no thought to the fact that he had just been fucking her a moment earlier.

Connor's thrusts pushed her forward and lodged Murphy deeper into her mouth and it like that, that they worked her as one, in the way she had a particular fondness for. Their movements were perfectly coordinated as usual, the both of them thrusting into her at the same time. Connor's hands were on her thighs, spreading them and forcing her hips down against the mattress in a way that made her muscles burn but in a completely good way, and she moaned around Murphy's cock, causing him to grin. He murmured something to Connor in Gaelic and Connor grinned, laughed and breathlessly agreed while Branna fought the urge to slap the shit out of the both of them for the particularly lewd comment.

Then, with a loud groan, Murphy was coming down her throat, one of his hands burying gently in her hair as she slid her mouth back to his tip as she swallowed. The second he pulled out, Connor was flipping her over again and throwing both her legs over his shoulders as he changed the angle and continued to fuck her, his rhythm faster and harder. And then Murphy was leaning over her, nibbling on her nipple before kissing his way down past her belly and down her hips, until he was right where his twin's cock was thrusting into her. His tongue flicked over her clit, slow strokes at first, and then steadily more insistent - building.

Well, that was certainly something new!

And then suddenly, her back was arching as a blinding pleasure overtook her, and she didn't care. Hell, she barely noticed Connor's last few thrusts as he came inside her. And even then, Murphy's tongue - his lips and his teeth - kept teasing her, never letting her body come down from the high they had her on. He didn't stop when his brother came, nor didn't even stop when Connor slowly pulled out of her. Instead, her took her hips and moved her closer. He moved in-between her legs, where his fingers soon joined his mouth, tasting her and himself and his twin as he gave her more pleasure than she thought her body could take for that night.

She felt a hand on her hair again and tilted her head back just as Connor leaned down and crashed their lips together, where he swallowed her screams as she came again and again, his tongue moving her mouth like his brother's was moving inside her. His hand moved over to grasp her breast, his thumb skating over the nipple and when she came again, Murphy let out a groan as he swallowed her juices before moving up to her. She broke apart from Connor in order to move her lips to Murphy's, where she kissed him for a minute. She felt Connor lift her up gently as he slid into his customary spot on the bed behind and partially underneath her and when her and Murphy finally broke apart, instead of moving down to wrap his arms around her waist and sleep with his hand pillowed on her stomach like usual, he simply turned around and coldly got to his feet. He swiped up his clothes from the floor and yanked them on before mumbling something about going to go get more cigarettes and quickly leaving the apartment.

Branna lay there in stunned shock for a moment, especially when she heard the sound of Connor's lighter firing up as he lit his cigarette.

Oh yeah, something was definitely up.


Earlier That Day . . .

"I tink . . . I tink we need ta end this, Conn . . ." Murphy finally spoke up as the two of them loitered out at the empty docking bay of the plant, and Connor watched as his brother expelled a long held-in breath before furrowing his eyebrows and shooting him a look of confusion.

"End wha'?" He asked and when Murphy pinned him with the firm, 'what-do-you-think' look – it was a look that immediately made a look of alarm spear through Connor's eyes. "W-wha' do ya mean ya wanna end this - why do ya want ta end this?" He asked him, and Murphy gave a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders.

"It's jus' . . . it simply ain' fair anymore, ya know?" He told him and Connor rolled his eyes in irritation.

"Fair – wha' tha fuck are ya talkin' 'bout -?"

"Don' ya see - I can' compete wit ya anymore!" Murphy interrupted him, anger flickering through his eyes and Connor immediately came to a stop, his eyes growing wide in alarm at his brother's sudden outburst. Murphy shook his head, grasping desperately now for words. "We-we've always shared girlfriends and it's never come 'tween us before but Branna . . . I don' know wha' it is, but Branna's different! Used ta be, we loved her equally and she loved us equally and it was harmonious and shit but lately . . . lately tings 'ave changed. When we're together, jus' me and her, we're perfect together – there's no two other people in tha world but us and I 'ave no doubt in ma mind tha' she loves me! But when ya walk through tha' door, Conn - when ya walk through tha' bloody door it's almost as if . . . it's almost as if every worry in her life is gone when she sees ya – like tha clouds suddenly parted or some shit like tha' and a ray of Heavenly light comes through tha' ceilin' and falls on ya head!" He shook his head, his expression becoming pained. "I tried ta pass it off as nothin' before and its mainly worked 'till now but . . . I jus' . . ." He shook his head and turned the same pained expression onto his twin then. "I can' do this anymore, Conn! I don' like feelin' like I'm tha fuckin' third wheel – tha' whatever happens 'tween us when me and her are alone has nothin' ta do wit tha' fact that we love each other, but 'cause ya ain' there!"

"Well . . . then wha' do we do?" Connor asked him, his voice coming out helplessly quiet before he shook his head. "We . . . it's not like we can go home tonight and make her choose!" Murphy shook his head.

"And I wouldn' want her ta anyway. I care for her too much ta jus' watch her choose ya over and over again, every damn time. Tha' and I love her too damn much to make her 'ave ta make tha' decision!" Connor gazed at him for a minute before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Murph. I don' . . . I don' know how this could 'ave happened – how I didn' see this comin'! If I had known I wouldn' 'ave spent as much time wit her – I would 'ave left ya two alone more -!" Murphy gave a laugh and shook his head.

"Ya but when ya tink 'bout it, Conn, all tha girls we shared in tha past, was wit us 'cause they had wanted tha both of us from tha get-go. Branna, she . . . she didn' want this at first, remember? When Roc first told her what we did and she confronted ya, it wasn' 'cause she wanted ta immediately hop on tha bandwagon, no, it was 'cause she thought ya was going ta hurt her or was wit her purely 'cause we had some sick, twisted sexual fetish goin' on," He pinned his gaze with his brother's then. "She wanted ya, Conn. Ya were her first choice, brother - ya were tha one of us who she went ta bed wit first!" His gaze softened for a minute then and he averted his eyes to the cold black pavement underneath their feet. "I knew she was all too good ta be true . . . I knew tha' there had ta be a catch – there always is, after all, isn' there? And she is – she's such a good woman and she deserves ta be happy and if her happiness comes most easily wit ya then I'm pretty sure where this is goin' -!"

"Shut up, Murph – ya can jus' shut up right there!" Connor finally hissed, his eyes becoming angry as he interrupted him before approaching him, his voice lowering threateningly. "Ya don' know wha' ya are sayin' – ya talkin' crazy! Ya know this will hurt her, not 'cause she will tink this is ya growin' a pair and jus' steppin' down gracefully – she'll tink she did somethin' wrong – ya know she will! She loves ya jus' like she loves me, Murph – I promise ya tha' she does! We're her boys – her twins – we'll always be her boys!" Murphy slowly shook his head.

"I don' know how ya can' see it. She doesn', Conn – she'll never love me like she loves ya! And do ya really want ta share her wit me all ya life – do ya really?"

Connor stood there for a minute, not knowing what to say before pursing his lips and shaking his head, his eyes darkening in anger as he pointed a finger at him. "Okay, here's wha' we're goin' ta do. We don' say anyting 'bout this to her until after we come back, ya understand? When – if – and tha's a pretty big if – we come back from this whole Russian killin' spree - then and only then will we sit down with her and lay all our cards out on the table." He shook his head then as he rubbed his face with his hands and turned around, where he walked away a few feet. "Shite, how tha fuck did this happen?" He cursed bitterly under his breath and Murphy gave a weak shrug. It was all he could think to give him at that moment but Connor would take it. Right then, that was probably the only thing he was willing to take from his brother.