Melanie's POV

Murphy and I were laying on our backs in my bed trying to catch our breath from the interaction we had just had. I had winced through the pain from my wound in order to enjoy the intimacy with Murphy, and it was well worth it. I turned slightly to face Murphy and just admired what was mine, I was seriously so thankful everyday that I had someone to enjoy life with, and I was so thankful that he had returned to me after he had been taken away.

"I love you" I whispered and Murphy glanced over at me an a small smile spread across his face.

"Love ya too" He moved so he could kiss me easily and gave me a quick but deep kiss on the lips. After he had returned to laying on his back I followed suit and sighed heavily.

"What was dat sigh for?" Murphy asked and propped himself up on his elbow so he could look at me.

"Just trying to absorb this moment, I never want our happiness to end, but I know that it won't be long until something else goes wrong, and I can't help but worry about Cassidy and even Connor, what if something happens to them" My mind was flooded with all these horrible thoughts of just what could happen to any of us, both Murphy and Connor were at risk just being near Cassidy and I. It would break my heart if anything happened to Murphy because of me, and I knew he felt the same way when it came to his lifestyle.

"Ya worry too much" Murphy scoffed and sat up in bed and rubbed a hand over his face and then scratched his head before looking down at me.

"Murph' you're a Saint and Cassidy is the head of the mob, both of you have enemies that include the Russian mob now, and I just don't want anything to happen to you, you promised me before that nothing would happen, but Joe took you and you could have been killed" I stopped and looked up at him and he just shook his head.

"I wasn't though" He replied and I rolled my eyes, a typical answer from a man when it came to a woman worrying.

"That's not the point" I groaned and pushed myself up and out of bed. I grabbed my clothes that were dusted across the room and walked into the bathroom to refresh myself. Standing in the middle of my bathroom and staring at myself in the mirror, I felt like something had changed, I didn't look the same, I looked tougher and harder, like I had seen things others weren't meant to see and survive. I assumed it was Murphy's influence and job that had created these changes and I wasn't sure if I was on board with them, I liked my old life, fun clubs and living the high life, but I felt like I had lived more in the past few months than I ever had in my entire life. I got dressed and then decided to look at my face and apply some makeup, my eyes, staring back at me were almost trying to tell me something, but I immediately ignored it and started to walk out of the bathroom, until something horrible popped into my head and I immediately turned around rushed back to my vanity.

Cassidy's POV

I had left Connor downstairs and had headed up to my room and used the time alone to try and control all the emotions that seemed to be surging through my body. I still couldn't believe that I had growled earlier without even knowing, and the fact that my body was practically pulsating every time I looked at Connor was driving me crazy. I was finding it harder and harder to actually keep control, but there was still a part of me that so badly wanted to know just what Connor felt for me, what he honestly and truly felt for me, but I also knew deep down that he would never actually tell me. I needed to talk to someone about all of this, and the only person I could trust would be Melanie. I got up off my lounger in my room and headed out of my door and walked over to Melanie's. I knocked lightly and I head Murphy say come in, when I opened the door, I was for once not shocked to see he was naked and in bed, but at least he was under the covers.

"Hey Murph' where's Mel?" I asked and he pointed to the bathroom door, "Mel, it's me Cassidy, everything ok in there?" I asked and the door swung open and I was pulled in before I knew what was going on.

"Geez Mel, what the heck" I gained my balance and focused on Melanie standing in front of me, "Oh god, what's wrong?" I asked worried, Melanie was standing in front of me, her face was super pale and she looked like she had seen a ghost.

"I'm late" Two simple words, but they had sent my jaw to the floor.

"What?" I questioned, not believing I had heard he right.

"I just checked my calendar, I'm a week late, Cassidy what if I'm pregnant" She was pacing back and forth in her bathroom with her hand pressed against he forehead.

"Calm down, there is no need to panic" I was telling both her and myself. Finally I got a hold of the situation and grabbed onto Melanie's shoulders to make her stop pacing, "We don't know for sure what is going on, we need to go to the store and get a pregnancy test" I told her and she started shaking her head uncontrollably.

"No, no, no, Murphy will know, oh god, what is he going to think, Cassidy I'm scared" Melanie leaned into me and I wrapped my arms around her and comforted her as she sniffled into my shoulder.

"Now stop, you are a strong woman, now calm down and we are going to take this one step at a time, but the first step is for you to walk out of this bathroom without freaking out, then we will go to the drug store and get a pregnancy test and if its positive or negative we will assess the situation" I finished my little speech and Melanie backed away from me and nodded her head in agreement.

"Okay, are you ready to go?" I asked and she nodded once again. Melanie grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes before following me towards the door to the bathroom.

"Murphy, we are headed out we will be back later, don't burn down the house while we are out" I smirked and we left the room, leaving behind a very confused Murphy. We headed down the stairs and past the kitchen when Connor stepped out and stopped me.

"We need ta talk" Connor looked me in the eyes and I actually glanced at Melanie and thought about leaving her to see what Connor had to say, but when I saw the look in Melanie's eyes I knew I couldn't leave her.

"Connor, now isn't a good time, we are headed out, we can talk later, right?" I watched Connor and he seemed deflated at my question.

"Sure" He stated and vanished back into the kitchen, I felt so bad for leaving him like that, but Melanie needed me more, so I made my decision and followed through. Melanie and I made our way out to the garage and got in the car before pulling out and heading down the road and into the city to the drug store.

Connor's POV

I walked back into the kitchen after Cassidy had told me she was leaving and we would need to talk later and I was a little disappointed. I had finally mustered up some courage to talk to her about what we had left off talking about back at McGinty's, but she had to go and leave. I had decided to make some lunch when Murphy walked in and started rummaging through the cabinets looking for something.

"Can I 'elp ya wit somting?" I asked as he continued to look through the cabinets.

"No" Murphy stopped and looked at me exasperated.

"Ya look like ya been 'it by a bus" I smirked and Murphy just shook his head.

"Somting is wrong with Mel, I jus' know it" Murphy shook his head and walked over and sat down at the table, "Cassidy walked inta 'er bathroom 'nd dey were in der for a while 'nd den when dey came out dey left" Murphy was rubbing his forehead and I could tell he was seriously worried about Melanie. I had to hold back my laughter because it was comical to see my brother so worried about a woman.

"Well maybe she figured out she don't like guys anymore" I laughed and when I glanced at my brother, he was glaring at me and for once I was a little afraid of my brother's stare.

"Conn" He warned and I could tell he was legitimately worried about everything.

"Murph', it's gonna be fine ya know women, dey sometime have a wild hair to go shoppin', dat's all that's goin' on" I tried to reassure him, but he didn't seem to be absorbing my words.

"She was talkin' 'bout how dangerous our lives were, what if she tinks it's too dangerous and wants to back out" Murphy was being ridiculous at this point and worrying about things that were not meant for men to worry bout.

"Murph' can ya 'ear yaself, ya talkin' crazy" I shook my head and went back to making my sandwich.

"Connor, I don' know what's wrong wit me, she's my everyting, I chose her over ya, and I don' wanna lose 'er" Murphy confessed and I was surprised my brother was divulging this information. I had to admit I was a little shocked that he had chose Melanie over me, but I could also understand where he was coming from, so I wasn't going to hold that against him, but I would so use the fact that he was wrapped around Melanie's finger to my advantage at some point.

"Murph' she adores ya, and if she stuck around dis long, she ain't goin' anywhere" Finally some of my wisdom was making it through my brother's thick skull as he nodded in agreement, "Everyting is jus' fine" I spoke with a mouth full of my ham sandwich and Murphy just shook his head at me in disbelief.

Cassidy's POV

We made it to the drug store and went in, Melanie was still frazzled about the whole thing and was terrified to even go anywhere near the pregnancy section, so it was up to me to go and get the tests. I walked down the aisle and started looking at all the different brands, there were some that let you know weeks before your body did, there were some with easy to read screens, hell there were even some that talked to you, I was so confused about what to get as I stood in the middle of the aisle.

"Excuse me" Someone called from behind me as I held two different pregnancy tests in my hand. When I turned around to say sorry I was shocked to see Alex standing there, as soon as he recognized me he looked around worriedly.

"Connor isn't with me" I smirked a little, apparently that one punch from Connor had set Alex straight, "So what brings you here?" I asked.

"Just picking up some essentials, chips and toothpaste" He smiled.

"Ah, yes, can't go on without chips and toothpaste" I laughed and then Alex looked at what I was holding in my hands and his mood changed dramatically.

"I think congrats maybe be in order" He pointed to the tests in my hand.

"Oh, these aren't for me" I waved my hands and shook my head. If I wasn't embarrassed before about seeing Alex again I sure as hell was embarrassed now.

"Well even if they were, that guys would be one lucky bastard" Alex smiled before walking away to finish his shopping. I hurried up and grabbed a few tests and headed for the check out, I noticed Melanie had walked out to the car and was pacing again, so I had to check out on my own.

"Oh, is this all for you dearie?" The check out lady asked and I nodded yes, "Looks like you might be expecting, congrats if they say yes" She said, and I didn't even bother telling her that they weren't for me, I paid for them said my thank you's and goodbye's and left.

"I hope you're happy, I ran into Alex and he thought I was buying these for me, and the check out lady thought I was pregnant too, I don't look pregnant do I?" I questioned spinning around and looking down at my stomach. All the while, Melanie was laughing, as much as I liked that she was in a better mood, I didn't like the fact that she was laughing at me.

"Oh shut up and get in the car" I grumbled and she tried to control her laughter as she got in the car and we pulled out of the drug store.

We made it home and Melanie practically ran out of the car and all the way up the stairs. I laughed to myself at the nervousness of Melanie and the secretness of her actions. When I walked into the kitchen to grab an apple Connor and Murphy were sitting at the kitchen table talking.

"Wow, you two are actually having a civilized conversation, who knew it was possible" I smirked opening the fridge and looking inside. I found the apple I wanted and walked over to the sink to wash it off before I started to eat it.

"So where did ya and Melanie go?" Connor walked up behind me and asked. I turned towards him and took an aggressive bit out of my apple before responding in mumbles. Connor bit his lip slightly before shaking his head in disbelief. I hurried and took another bite of apple to distract me from the sexiness of him biting his lip and tried to leave the room.

"Cassidy, what's goin' on wit Mel?" Murphy asked and the sad look in his eyes was almost heartbreaking.

"Murph' she will tell you when she's ready" I explained and left the room, taking my apple with me. I walked up to my room and was just rearranging things on my desk as I ate my apple, when I passed my mirror and decided to look at myself. After a few minutes I ended up taking my shirt off and examining my figure from afar, I still felt weird that the check out lady thought I was pregnant, even though I was just buying pregnancy test, it still made me feel self conscious. I traced my hands over the scarring tissue that was around my bullet wound and then I rested a hand just above my belly button. It was weird to think that before I had been shot, there was a little human growing inside of me, when I looked up at myself in the mirror I had a small smile gracing my lips and I was slightly confused, until something broke my concentration.

"Ya dint tell me ya were puttin' on a show" Connor's husky voice came from the other side of the room. I whipped around and stared at him with wide eyes before speaking.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, worried that Connor had seen my whole examination.

"Long enough" He stepped further into my room and I looked away from him, "What ya doin' all dis for anyway?" Connor asked and stepped close behind me and ran his one hand up my ribcage, his touch leaving Goosebumps behind and giving me the chills. I wasn't going to tell him anything as I stood there contemplating, that was until he placed both hands on my hips and then gently rubbed circles on my bare skin above my pants with his thumbs. The touch of his skin against mine was driving me crazy and my knees were getting wobbly beneath me.

"I don't look pregnant do I?" I asked and I immediately regretted saying anything, it was like his touch just made me vomit out the question before my brain had fully processed anything.

"What kind of a question is dat, ya aren't are ya?" Connor turned me around and looked down at me. I was hesitant to say anything, I knew I wasn't pregnant, but I couldn't help but think about what Connor had said a while back about having a family with me, "Cassidy" Connor snapped me out of my thoughts, and when I looked into his eyes I saw what looked like hope and fear.

"No, I'm not, someone just said I looked like I was, that's all" I shook my head as I looked down at my feet. Connor lifted my head up so I was making eye contact with him and he planted a kiss on my lips before dropping his hands down to my butt and bringing my hips into his.

"Ya'd tell me if ya were though" Connor looked at me with intent eyes and I felt like I was disappointing him by not being pregnant.

"Of course, for you, I'd tell you anything and everything" I dropped my gaze from his and he growled low in his throat.

"Cassidy" His voice was very low and very rough, and when I looked back up at him, there was a fire burning wildly in his eyes and it just made me want to give into my body even more.

"Yea" I managed to gasp out as I felt him against my thigh.

"I-" Connor was interrupted by Melanie busting into my room screaming and shouting incoherent things. I groaned to myself as the moment was lost and went to tend to my cousin as Connor looked after me with heated eyes.

A/N: One step closer to 60 chapters, super excited about this chapter, it's over 3000 words! Hope everyone enjoys. And just a little fun tidbit, as of June 10th Sean Patrick Flanery tweeted me back when I asked him a weight loss question, so the Connor MacManus responded, though readers might enjoy that. Song for this chapter is Alone With You by: Jake Owen. Thanks Sissymac for the review. Wanna be mentioned R&R Please.