The soft beeping coming from his cellphone woke him as Diego sighed and opened his eyes.
"Hmph," he grumbled when he reached over for his cellphone and he pushed the button to turn off the alarm. He could just see Annie sleeping next to him when he gently shook her left shoulder and she opened her eyes to look at him.
"Morning," she grumbled.
"We gotta get up," he said. He showed her the time after he flicked the switch and the lamp on the night table clicked on.
"Guess having a shower together is out."
"Only if we wanna miss our flight," he said and lightly kissed her lips before getting out of bed. Annie sat up as she watched him head for the bathroom then she looked toward the door.
In Connor's room, the soft beeping sound from her cellphone woke her as Lisa opened her eyes and she turned to pick her cellphone off of the night table. Moving the bedding up to cover herself, she flicked the switch as the lamp on the night table clicked on and she looked at the time
She turned off the alarm, placed her cellphone back on the night table then she looked at Connor sleeping on his right side. Smiling, she moved her fingers over the tattoo on his back as he snorted a breath of air, turned to face her and his eyes opened.
"Mornin'," he grumbled.
"Time to get up," she said and he grinned.
"I think I already am," he said, lifting the bedding up.
"That is not what I mean. We have to get up or we'll miss our flight."
"Ah," he said, moving the bedding back and she watched him quickly head for the bathroom. Softly laughing, she rolled onto her back as she looked at the ceiling and she placed her hands behind her head.
In Murphy's room, the soft beeping sound from her cellphone woke her as Darcy opened her eyes and she turned to pick her cellphone off the night table.
Sitting up and moving the bedding up to cover herself, Darcy pushed the button to turn off the alarm and she placed her cellphone on the night table. She flipped the switch as the lamp on the night table clicked on and she rubbed her face with her hands.
"Mornin'," made her look at Murphy facing her and she smiled.
"Morning," Darcy said.
"We have t'get up?"
"If we don't, we'll miss our flight."
"Right."
She watched him move the bedding back then he sat up to kiss her lips before he got out of bed. He reached down for his bunny slippers, tossed them into the suitcase then he headed for the bathroom and the door closed behind him.
Softly laughing, Darcy shook her head, bending her knees up and she placed her elbows on top of her knees.
Murphy held onto Nicole as they headed for the departure gate and she had her head resting against his left shoulder. He understood why Lisa had decided they should take a family vacation instead of three separate honeymoons, but he promised Darcy they would have a formal honeymoon next year.
Connor and Diego were checking to see if they had all their plane tickets, boarding passes and passports as they talked and Lisa, Darcy and Annie were walking behind them. Chandler, Mark and Peter were walking with Murphy while they checked to see if they had enough comic books to read on the plane and Murphy hoped Nichole would go back to sleep once the plane took off.
They arrived at the departure gate as they sat down on the black plastic chairs and Chandler, Mark and Peter went to look out the window.
"Here," Connor said as he handed the boarding passes to Murphy.
"Thanks," Murphy said, talking the board passes.
"Are we going in the plane now, Papa?" Nichole asked with a sleepy tone to her voice.
"Not yet," he said and she leaned against his chest.
"We have t'wait fer them t'put th'suitcases in th'plane," Connor explained.
"Ok," she said with a yawn and Murphy watched her close her eyes.
A short time later, their flight was called as Murphy carefully stood and he carried a sleeping Nichole in his arms. They headed for the plane as he smiled at the stewardess and handed her the boarding passes. They walked down the aisle after going inside the plane and Darcy pointed to their seats.
The stewardess handed Darcy a blanket and pillow for Nichole while Murphy carefully placed Nichole on the seat, placed the seatbelt around her waist and clicked the seatbelt into place and Darcy covered her with the blanket after placing the pillow under Nichole's head.
Murphy sat to Nichole's left as he placed the seatbelt around his waist and clicked the seatbelt into place. Darcy was sitting to his left as she clicked the seatbelt into place after placing the seatbelt around her waist and Mark looked at the seatbelt. He clicked the seatbelt into place as he moved the blanket up to Nichole's right shoulder and she sighed, but didn't wake up.
Lisa watched Peter, Connor and Chandler sit down and put the seatbelts on and they clicked the seatbelts into place. She sat down when she put on the seatbelt on and she clicked the seatbelt into place.
Connor knew he was sitting behind Murphy as Connor strummed his fingers on his knees and Lisa nudged his left side.
"Don't even think it," Lisa whispered.
"Don't even think what?" Connor whispered.
"Don't even think of kicking Murphy's seat the whole trip."
"I would never…"
Lisa arched an eyebrow as he sank into the seat and frowned.
"You're no fun," he whispered.
"I just don't want to be kicked off the plane because you two started fighting in the aisle," she whispered and he moved the armrest up. Connor slid his left arm around her shoulders as she moved closer and she smiled at him.
Soon, the plane started moving down the tarmac then the plane rose into the air and the pilot informed them they could remove their seatbelts. Murphy removed the seatbelt from around Nichole's waist when she sighed and her eyes opened.
"Papa?" she asked with a sleepy tone and she sat up straighter. "We're in the plane?"
"Yep," Murphy said.
"But I wanted to say hi to the pilot."
"I know."
She frowned as he moved the armrest up and she snuggled against him.
"Do you want me t'read yer book t'you?" he asked, picking the book off of the small table on the back of the seat in front of him.
"Aye," she said and he opened the book then he started reading.
"Dad, can we watch a movie?" Chandler asked, pointing to the screens on the back of the seats.
"I did get some earpieces in case you did," Lisa said and she handed them the small plastic wrapped earpieces. The boys opened the plastic wrap as they placed the earpieces in their ears and Connor checked the menu for a movie both of them could watch.
"I got a pair for you, too," she said, handing the small plastic wrapped earpieces to Connor.
Smiling, he opened the plastic wrap, placed the earpieces in his ears and he looked at the menu before picking a movie to watch.
Smiling, Lisa went back to reading her book when she glanced over at Connor and he was frowning. She tapped his left and he removed the earpiece from his left ear.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I've seen this movie before. It sucks," he whispered.
"Then don't watch it."
"But I don't have anythin' t'do."
"Why don't you try and get some sleep?"
Removing the earpiece from his right ear, Connor moved the seat back a little then closed his eyes and she watched him drift off to sleep.
"Mom, what do we do if he starts snoring?" Chandler whispered, taking the earpiece out of his left ear.
"If he does, I'll move the seat like last time," she whispered.
Nodding, Chandler placed the earpiece back in his left ear and Lisa went back to reading her book.
Orlando, Florida – Disneyworld
The elevator doors opened while Chandler, Mark, Peter and Nichole ran into the hallway then stopped to wait for Connor, Lisa, Darcy and Murphy to exit the elevator.
Annie helped Diego push the luggage cart out of the other elevator as they stopped in the hallway and they watched Connor and Murphy push the other luggage carts out of the elevators.
Lisa had found a hotel only a few minutes from the park and had reserved rooms on the same floor so everyone was together. She and Darcy exited the elevator as they walked to Connor and Murphy and Lisa glared at the kids.
"Sorry," the kids said at the same time and she nodded.
Chandler and Peter ran to the luggage cart Connor was pushing when they jumped onto the luggage cart, climbed onto the suitcases and held onto the bar over their heads.
"Are yer legs broken?" Connor asked and they shook their heads. "Then get off."
Nodding, the boys climbed off of the luggage cart and he let them help him push the luggage cart down the hallway. The others followed him when they came to the doors to their rooms and Annie and Diego walked to the door on their left.
"Later," Diego said, using the keycard to open the door and they went in the room as he pushed the luggage cart. Annie closed the door as they looked at the queen size bed and Diego gave her a grin.
"We can unpack later," he said, scooping her up into his arms and she held him around his shoulders.
"You really are in a rush to have kids," she teased.
"Damn right," he said as he walked to the queen size bed and he lightly placed her on the bed.
"Even if we have twins? Can you handle that?"
"Seeing how I can handle your brothers, the answer is "yes"."
Annie laughed as he crawled onto the bed, knelt over her and he lowered his head to kiss her lips.
"Dad, can I open the door?" Peter asked.
"It that ok?" Connor asked as he looked at Chandler and Chandler nodded. Connor handed Peter the keycard and Peter used the keycard to open the door.
They headed into the room while Connor pushed the luggage cart into the room and the door closed behind him. He noticed the two double beds as he parked the luggage cart near the dresser and leaned against the edge of the dresser.
"I thought we asked for bunkbeds," Connor said with a sigh.
"It's ok. We had to share a bed when we stayed with Mark, Nichole and their Gram," Chandler said.
Darcy's mother looked after the kids while they were Ireland and Connor had wondered how they all slept in one room.
Connor noticed Peter wanted to say something as Connor walked to Peter and knelt down in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Connor whispered.
"I don't wanna get in trouble," Peter whispered.
"Why would you get in trouble?"
"Well…," Peter whispered then he looked at his feet. "Their Gram snores louder than you do."
Connor smiled as he ruffled Peter's hair and Connor stood up.
"Let's go get unpacked," Connor said and Peter nodded, following him to the luggage cart.
In the hallway, Murphy used the keycard to open the door as Darcy, Nicole and Mark walked in the door and Murphy pushed the luggage cart into the room. He saw the large double bed and the bunkbeds as he placed the luggage cart near the dresser and Darcy started removing the luggage.
"You sure it's safe fer Nichole t'sleep on that?" he asked, pointing to the bunkbeds
"There's a safety bar," she said.
Nodding, he went to help Nichole unpack as Mark walked to the door and he frowned.
"Papa, where does this go?" he asked, pointing to the door.
"I think that's the bathroom," Darcy said.
Mark opened the door when he saw another door and he turned to look at them.
"It's not the bathroom," Mark said.
Murphy walked to him, looked at the door and he thought he heard Connor's voice on the other side.
"Connor?" he called out as he knocked on the door and Connor opened the door. "Hi."
"Uh…," Connor said, looking back at Lisa and she smiled.
"Thought it would be better than you two running in and out of the room if you needed to talk to each other," Lisa said.
"And the kids could switch rooms if you, me, Connor and Lisa need some alone time," Darcy explained as she walked to Murphy.
"That does make sense," Connor said.
Murphy nodded as Nichole walked to Murphy and he was startled when she pulled on his fingers.
"Just like in my dream," he thought as he looked down at her and she smiled up at him.
"Sorry, Papa," she said and he knelt down on his haunches.
"It's ok. What did you want?" Murphy asked.
"Can we go to the park now?"
"Not until tomorrow," he said as he stood up.
"Then what are we gonna do?" Mark asked.
"We were gonna go check out the pool," Chandler said.
"Can we go, too, Papa?" he asked, looking at Murphy.
"Already text Darcy," Lisa said and Murphy turned to see Darcy putting their bathing suits on the bed.
"Meet you out in th'hall," Murphy said as he closed the door and they went to get into their bathing suits.
Later that night, Annie snuggled next to Diego as she felt his fingers moving up and down her back and she sighed.
"Are you ok?" Diego asked her.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"About what?"
"About Connor and Murphy keeping that secret from me."
"I kept secrets from you, too."
"Promise to never do that again?"
"Promise."
She could always tell when he was lying and she kissed the center of his chest before she got out of bed then headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked, sitting up and she picked up the keycard.
"Need to see my brothers," she said.
He watched her leave the room as she walked down the hallway and she knocked on the door to Connor's room. She waited a few seconds when the door opened and Connor looked at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, slipping out of the room and he used his right foot to keep the door open.
"I need you t'look me in th'eyes an' promise t'never keep secrets from me again," she said, using her accent. He knew he could never look her in the eyes and lie and Connor sighed.
"I promise never t'keep secrets from you ever again," he said and she kissed his left cheek, headed down the hallway and she knocked on the door to Murphy's room. The door opened as Murphy looked at her then he slipped out into the hallway.
"What's th'matter?" Murphy asked, keeping the door open with his right foot.
"I need you t'look me in th'eyes an' promise t'never keep secrets from me again," she said, using her accent. Murphy cleared his throat as he locked eyes with her and she waited for him to say something.
"I promise t'never keep secrets from you ever again," he said and she kissed his left cheek.
Connor and Murphy watched her walk back down the hallway when she opened the door and went inside her room. They looked at each other when Connor shrugged his shoulders and they went back inside their rooms.
the Golden Cactus Ranch – ten days later
The front door opened while Devil ran inside and Connor, Murphy, Diego, Annie, Lisa, Darcy, the boys and Nichole followed him.
"Hold on," Lisa said as the kids stopped at the stairs and turned to look at her. "Don't forget to put all your dirty clothes in the laundry baskets."
The kids nodded while they went upstairs and Lisa and the others followed close behind them. Connor followed the boys to their room then he leaned against the doorframe and he watched them unpacking their suitcases.
"Where do we put the new stuff?" Chandler asked.
"Yeah. They're still in the bags," Peter said while he removed a plastic bag and he looked at the new t-shirts.
"Good question," Connor asked, turning to see Lisa heading for the master bedroom. "Lisa, what do they do with the new shit."
"Connor!" Lisa warned then she smiled and rolled her eyes. "Leave them on the bed. We'll wash them later."
"You heard her," he said and the boys placed the new t-shirts on their beds.
In the hallway, Darcy noticed Murphy looked at the framed photographs on the wall as she walked to him and he had a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked and he glanced at her.
"Who's that?" he asked as he pointed to the man with dark hair in the photograph with Darcy.
"That's Anthony. Why?"
"Well…," he said then paused. "Just before I came back from almost dyin', I saw this man standin' in front of me."
"And that was him?" she asked, pointing at the photograph.
"I think so. He didn't seem angry or anythin'. In fact, he just smiled an' nodded his head."
Darcy felt the tears in her eyes as he held her then she looked at him.
"I guess he was giving you his blessing," she said in a soft voice and he smiled.
"Guess so," he said in a soft voice and he gently kissed her lips.
Later that night, the house was dark while everyone slept and the moonlight cast long shafts of light along the floor. The shafts of light were broken by a man walking down the hallway, but his footsteps were silent on the hardwood floor.
He stopped in front of the door to Nichole's room while the door opened and he could just see her sleeping under the bedding. He walked to the bed as Noah looked down at her and he could just see Fuzz tucked under arms.
"Sleep well, Little Angel," Noah whispered then he walked out of the room, went down the hallway and stood in front of the door to the boys' room. The door opened as he looked at Mark, Chandler and Peter sleeping under the bedding and he placed his hands in the pockets of the black Navy pea coat before walking to the beds.
"If I didn't know better, I swear you three came from my boys," he said while he looked at the boys. "Sleep well."
He walked to the doorway when he left the room and he walked down the hallway. He stopped at Murphy's room as the door opened and he could just see Murphy sleeping under the bedding.
Ebony lifted its head as Noah looked at the glowing eyes then the cat lowered its head.
Noah walked to the bed when he looked down at Murphy and Darcy was holding him. Murphy held onto the edge of the bed with his right hand as he made a little moan and Noah knelt down on his haunches. Noah started humming the lullaby he used to sing to Murphy, Connor and Annie and Murphy's face relaxed. Standing, Noah watched Murphy slid his right hand under the pillow and Noah smiled.
"G'night, My Darlin' Boy," Noah whispered.
"Night, Papa," Murphy grumbled, but didn't wake up.
Smiling, Noah stood, left the room and walked down the hallway. He stopped at the door to Connor's room as the door opened and he could just see Connor sleeping under the bedding.
Connor was sleeping with his left hand on the edge of the bed and Lisa was holding him. Connor moaned and moved on the bed while Noah knelt down on his haunches and started humming the lullaby. Connor's face softened as Noah stood and he walked to the doorway.
"G'Night, My Sweet Boy," Noah whispered.
"Night, Papa," Connor grumbled, but didn't wake up.
Smiling, Noah stood, left the room and walked down the hallway. He headed for Annie's room when the door opened and he headed into the room. Devil opened its eyes as the wolf sat up then wagged its tail while looking at Noah.
"Some guard dog you are," Noah said with a grin and he headed for the bed. He looked down at Diego holding onto Annie while they slept under the bedding and Noah knelt down on his knees. He watched his daughter sleeping as he thought back to the hospital chapel and how badly he wanted to hold her by the shoulders while they prayed.
"I never fergot you. How can I ferget my little angel? How could I ferget how tiny you were an' how scared I was holdin' you. You weren't born early. You were jus' so tiny. I remember how you would look at me whenever I fed you a bottle an' how you'd wiggle an' make noises when I changed yer diapers. I would have dreams of you growin' up into a beautiful woman. I also dreamt of me walkin' down th'aisle of yer weddin'," Noah said and Annie sighed, moving under the bedding. "Th'day I left fer that final job, I had placed th'copy of th'photo of yer mother an' brudders in my hat, but I couldn't find th'copy of th'photo of you an' me. If I had known it was gonna be th'last time I would see you, I would have looked harder."
Annie made a little moan then made a little sniffing sound and Noah frowned from what he thought was tears rolling down her cheeks.
"When I was reunited with yer brudders an' we went into exile, I asked them about you. They told me stories an' I would dream about you. But none of the Annie's I saw in those dreams compared to th'woman I am lookin' at now. I am so proud of you, Angel. I just hope you can fergive me," Noah said as he stood then he headed for the door.
"Papa?" made him turn and he could just see her looking at him.
"Aye?"
"I forgave you a long time ago."
"That's good t'know. Did you hear all that?"
"Aye."
"I meant every word."
He could just see that she wanted to say something then Annie sighed.
"Did you…? Did you ever get offered t'give up bein' a Saint?" she asked.
"Several times, but th'callin' was too strong."
"I wondered if you knew some of th'people who asked you t'do a job fer them were themselves evil."
"Aye, I knew. An' I took them down as well."
Annie looked at him as Noah titled his head to one side and he seemed to be shimmering in a white light.
"Are you at peace?" she asked.
"Aye, I am," he said.
"Did you find out why you were betrayed?"
"He was t'be my final job."
Annie heard the truth in his voice as she closed her eyes and she snuggled under the bedding.
"Love you, Papa."
"Love you, too, Little Angel."
Noah walked through the doorway as he slowly disappeared and Devil lowered itself onto the floor, closed its eyes and the room became quiet.