Robyn stood waiting to be served at the store, her hood up as she fidgeted relentlessly. When it was her turn, the older woman scanned the item and Aria didn't fail to notice the sympathetic glance shot her way. No doubt caused by her behaviour, it was clear she was shitting herself. She all but threw the money at the woman, grabbing the bag with the evil item inside and fled the store, not even waiting for her change as she ran back to the apartment and went into the bathroom. Noah was gone on business, as usual, and the boys had gone out on their Da's orders to scout a place for their next hit. Her hands trembled as she opened the box. She hadn't really expected to be in this position but she didn't know why she was surprised. They hadn't used protection once.
It felt like an eternity that Aria sat on the bathroom floor staring at the pregnancy test. Her chest felt tight like she couldn't seem to get enough air and her hands were shaking violently. The two pink lines were glaring up at her almost like they were mocking her and she couldn't get the tears to stop. She knew already she had to have the baby. She wasn't about to abandon it like her own mother did to her and she couldn't even think about having an abortion. But what kind of life could she give a baby? With her career choice, the fact she was on the run and the father was one of two Irish vigilantes. She didn't even know who the father was. She'd had a period since Connors accident, so it wasn't like she thought there was more chance it could be Murphy's, she really had no clue. Would she even want to know? Wouldn't it cause friction between them if they found out? The thought of the brothers made her feel sick, what would they say? Would they still want her around? She felt like her world was caving in and she couldn't get a handle on her emotions. She was so wrapped up in her current state she didn't hear anyone enter the apartment.
Murphy and Connor heard her gasps and sobs as soon as they got in and they darted to the bathroom.
"Little bird?! What's wrong?!" Connor called out frantically. Both boys were worried she was hurt or something had happened whilst they were out. She looked at the door but couldn't bring herself to answer. Her silence only unsettled the boys further and they cast each other worried glances, their minds running rife with what could have happened to her.
"Aria fuckin' open the door!" Murphy yelled as he slammed the door with his fist, making her flinch. Still she couldn't answer them. She heard them arguing in another language before a muttered 'fuck it' came from who she presumed would be Murphy, ever the angrier of the two and the door suddenly flew open with a hard kick. They rushed in and saw her sat on the floor, Murphy's eyes immediately seeing something in her hands. He had a sinking feeling in his gut and couldn't bring his feet to move from where they were firmly planted on the ground. Connor didn't seem to notice, more concerned with her crying as he rushed over to her and crouched to eye level.
"The fucks in her hand?" Murphy asked flatly, his voice wavering slightly and sounding hard and cold. Connor looked at him confused and then to her hands, his eyes widening slightly. A small sob escaped her as she handed the test to Connor with shaking hands. He looked at it in shock, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
"Positive." He whispered to himself, then looking to Murphy with wide eyes.
"It's positive." He said again, this time louder and more firmer. Murphy felt like someone knocked the air out of him and in a flash he was gone from the room, making Aria cry more at his rejection. She flinched when she heard the front door of the apartment slam and it made her feel hollow where her heart should be. Connor took a deep breath before settling against the wall next to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Shh sweetheart. Don't cry. It's gonna be alright." He soothed gently. He didn't really know how to handle the news at first but images of her pregnant with their baby swam in his mind and he found his heart feeling warm.
"We're gonna be Da's." He smiled to himself, slight awe in his voice. She looked up at him with hopeful eyes, hearing his tone and feeling a little better.
"You...you don't mind?" She asked with a slight frown. He just smiled at her, kissing her cheeks where the tears had fallen.
"Fuckin' happy lass. Don't need te worry. We'll take good care o' ye both." He promised firmly. She smiled at him, feeling infinitely better at his words.
"What about Murphy?" She asked carefully, her eyes glancing to the bathroom door that was now hanging on its hinges. Connor took a deep breath and shook his head.
"He'll come around Aria, he has te." He said softly. He was worried if he was honest, he didn't know how his brother would process this news, storming out and leaving wasn't exactly the best reaction, especially when their girl clearly needed them.
It had been a shock for them all, he hadn't really thought about them not using protection and looking back now, he knew it was stupid of them. But if this was how God meant for things to be, who was he to argue, or his brother for that matter. He needed to find Murphy and go and talk to him, he needed to make sure he got his head on straight. This was big news, their whole lives would change with this and he wasn't really sure what would happen. He needed to talk to his Da too, to get his advice. They sat like that in silence for a while, his arm around her as she leant into him.
"I need te find Murph, will ye be alright?" He asked quietly, moving away to assess her tear stained face. He didn't really want to leave her alone, she was clearly distressed about the whole thing but he had no clue where his brother went and he was concerned. He needed to bring him home and have a stern talking to him. She just nodded, not trusting her voice. He wished he didn't have to go because it wasn't very convincing, but he just kissed her forehead before he stood up and left. Aria stood on shaky legs, going to the bedroom and laying on the bed. She slept with the boys most nights in Murphys bed now but she didn't feel like he would want her in his bed. She was terrified he hated her, scared this had gone back to how they used to be when he was horrible to her and that she had lost her sweet Murphy. She cried softly as she curled up under the covers.
Connor walked around trying to get a feel for where his brother would go. An Irish pub seemed his best bet but he knew it wouldn't be McGintys, they hadn't been able to go back there since they started this whole thing. He found a small Irish pub not too far from the apartment and it was like his twin senses were tingling that his brother was inside. He pushed open the door, his eyes scanning the place and they settled on his brother sat at the bar, knocking back shots like water. He hadn't been here long but he had no doubt his twin would be three sheets to the wind rather fucking quick at this rate. He walked over, gripping the back of his neck firmly, making his brother whip around to look at him like he was ready to fight. When he saw it was Connor though, he relaxed.
"What?" He spat, turning away from him and downing another shot. Connor clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to hit him.
"What do ye mean what? We've just found out we're havin' a wee babe and ye fuck off, leavin' Aria cryin' and yer grand plan is te get sloshed?" Connor snapped, yanking his brother off the bar stool with the hold he had on his neck. Murphy grumbled as his feet hit the floor and he tried to catch his balance, Connor hadn't been wrong about the amount of alcohol he had already consumed.
"Aye! We're havin' a fuckin' baby! Isn't it grand?!" Murphy laughed maniacally, clearly not happy with the whole thing. Connor shook his head as he looked at his brother disgusted, dragging him out of the pub.
When they got outside, Connor shoved Murphy into the wall and the darker twin glowered at him, pushing him away.
"The fucks gotten inte ye? It's not all about you, ye know?! Did ye not see upset she was?" Connor bellowed, getting angrier by the second.
"I don't blame her for bein' upset!" Murphy growled, trying to push past his brother, but Connor wasn't having any of it, he knew something was going on with his brother and he wanted to know what the fuck it was. He grabbed him and pinned him to the wall with an arm over his throat, making his drunk brother thrash against him.
"The fuck is that suppose te mean?" Connor asked harshly, pinning his brother harder and making him finally relax in his grip, stopping fighting him since he wasn't getting anywhere.
"Do I look like good Da material brother? Ye really think I'll do a bang up job o' raisin' a fuckin' kid?!" Murphy sneered at him, picking up his fight once more as he tried to shake his brother off him. Connor squinted, not relenting on his hold from him.
"That's what this is about? Ye think ye won't be a good Da?" He asked carefully, his eyes staring so hard at Murphy he felt like he could see into his soul.
"I don't have it in me Connor. I'm a mess, I drink like a fish, smoke like a chimney. I mean for fuck sake, look how I treated her! I was in love her and I treated her like shit! I don't even deserve te be around her!" Murphy yelled, getting more worked up with each word he spoke. Connor looked at him so disappointed, his words hurting his heart as he stepped away. Murphy didn't try to flee this time though, he sagged against the wall and glared at the floor.
"Murph, she forgives ye for that, ye know she does, she loves ye, she loves us both. And now she's pregnant, whether ye like it or not, and I know My raised us right enough te fuckin' be by her side." Connor stated firmly, making Murphy run a hand through his hair and make it stick up everywhere.
"And what if one o' our enemies use the baby against us? What if something happens te the baby or te Aria?" He asked coldly, making Connor tense. It felt like his heart froze inside his ribcage at the words.
"It won't happen." He retorted, making Murphy scoff and shake his head at him.
"What, like Roc didn't happen?" He asked him harshly, making Connor step back like he had been physically struck by his brother. The words hurt his soul and he felt the pain he had pushed so far down fighting its way back up, clawing at him. This what this was about, he knew Murphy had never really dealt with Rocco's death properly, he had drank himself stupid and tried to forget about it. But now this seemed to have brought it all back up for him and his brother seemed to be spinning once again.
"We go back home." Connor said firmly, making Murphy glance up at him like he was crazy.
"Right, yeah okay." He snorted derisively, Connor stepped towards him then with a steady gaze.
"I'm fuckin' serious Murph. We tell Da and tell him we're done, we've done our part now and we don't have a choice. I'll not let anythin' happen te the baby or Aria for that matter. We go back home and settle down. We fuckin' earned it after all we've done." He insisted. Murphy looked at him, letting the words sink through his fuzzy brain.
He chewed his thumb, he knew he would like that. Being free from this life and the constant danger he faced of losing his brother. He wasn't so much bothered what happened to him, but losing his brother, he knew that would kill him, especially after he had been shot. That had woken him the fuck up and he had been so close to losing his twin, his other half. He had longed to be back in Ireland since the second they got here and now they were having a baby, the idea of raising their child there almost made him smile. He wasn't sure how his father would take the news, but he and Connor weren't their Da, they had no plans to abandon their family, their children, just to continue this life. That wasn't them. They didn't hold it over their Da what he had done, but they had seen their mother have to raise them single-handedly on their own and like fuck they would put Aria through the same fate. They would set down their pistols of righteous fury and raise their baby, have a normal life and recover from all that they had been through once and for all. Like Connor said, haven't they earned it?