Shoutouts:
Spotted One: You cried? COOL
Moth: Here's the next chappie! You thought it was dramatic? *grin*
Rabbit: This is a 5 or 6 chapter thing. The hospital scene was difficult.
Keza: Made your night? *grin* I hope I can keep putting out chapters quickly but the muses are fickle
Thumbsucker Snitch: yup. Counting this one... three more.
Mist: Well written? Awww *blushing* Original plot? Awww *blush* I try
Half-Pint: Kill off Dearbhail? NO! She's dead before the start of the first chapter! They lived a long life together.
Act: No pressure though, right?
A/N: Uh right. I got the ages wrong for Dearbhail and Erin and how long her parents have been married. Dearbhail is 20, making Skittery 21. Erin is 13. The Murphey's have been married for almost 21 years at the point of Chapter two. One more thing: Milk. It does a body good. *snicker* Youll see. Whooops
Chapter 3: Goin' To The Chapel
After telling the requested story to his granddaughter, leaving out quite a few details, Skittery was left alone with his memories as Moira had retired to get her "Beauty Rest". Skittery stood, walking over to the mantel where the bulk of the family photos were kept. his eyes falling on a picture of the wedding party with all their friends and Dearbhail's family standing on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Aiden Murphey wrote a note to Skittery, leaving it at the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. It said to meet Aiden for lunch at a little pub a few blocks from the LH. At noon he opened the door to the pub, nearly knocked over by the cloud of of smoke and noise that accosted him. Unfortunately for the young newsie, most of the inhabitants of the pub resembled Aiden, making it difficult to spot the balding Irishman straight away.
"Micheal! Over here!," he finally spotted Aiden at a table near the back, two dark glasses sitting on the other side of the table.
Coughing due to the smoke filling the air and blurring his gaze, Skittery made his way over "Good afternoon, sir"
"How are you, son?... Sit. Sit. I've had five already" Aiden grinned amiably, waving a hand to the drinks before Skittery.
Laughing, the young man chugged the first beer with ease "I'm fine, thanks. How 'bout yerself?".
"Im good. I brought you here ta discuss the weddin'," Aiden shrugged, sitting back and watching Skittery as if inspecting him.
Returning the challenging gaze to show he wouldn't back down easliy, Skittery nodded "Yes, sir. Anything specific?". It came out sort of rude sounding but Skittery hoped Aiden wouldn't notice. He didn't.
The older man appeared to be struggling with his next words. The color rose steadily in his face and neck. The already thinning red hair became a mass of sweat soaked disarray he spoke "I still dont like da idea of Dearbhail marrying outside her religion".
Here we go. To keep from rolling his eyes, Skittery chugged the second beer "Oh?" He had collected himself enough to look Aiden in the eyes.
Aiden continued as if he had not heard the young man sitting in front of him, "...and a newsie's wages are no way ta make a livin' ta support a family," he's stalling for time as he signaled for more beers "... you like Irish beer, son?"
He couldn't hold back a laugh from bubbling up "Yes, sir, I do. I plan on getting a better job" Did Aiden think Skittery was that naiive?
Seeming almost relieved, Aiden relaxed slightly "Ive got one in mind fah you if you want...". The two men regarded one another across the table slowly as if feeling the other out. He either thought Skittery was lazy or was looking out for the young man. Most likely, Aiden was only taking care of Skittery... let alone the fact that the young newsie was in love with Aiden's daughter.
Swallowing half of his third beer, Skittery met Aiden's challenging gaze "Oh yeah? like what?"
"A milkman. I know a guy". Without saying anything, Skittery finished off his glass of beer and contemplated the proposal. Plugging ahead in his Irish doggedness, Aiden continued "Its real early hours, like you're used to for about 6 times the money and only a fraction of the work".
The revelation that this new job would be less work for more money seemed to appeal to Skittery. He sat up, lost in thought "That could woik".
"You only work from four in the morning until eight. You're off before lunch! Then you can sleep all day," Aiden ran on, running through his spiel.
Unable to hide the smirk on his face, Skittery answered him "Sounds good!" 'And do other things,' the thought caused an almost evil glint to appear in his eyes which Aiden either didn't see or chose not to pick up on.
Aiden finished off another beer before continuing "Now the only question is ya religion. It's not like I don't like you, Micheal. We're a very strict Catholic family, ya see". When he saw Skittery nodding his head he continued "Would you object ta converting to Catholicism?"
Sitting back in his chair Skittery thought over what Aiden had just proposed to him. After a long pause "...Are there any restrictions I should know about?"
Aiden pulled out the piece of paper he had written all of this down on when he had discussed it with Father O'Leary. "It's one ceremony during the Easter celebration. There's a class you take before hand. At the class they explain what the ceremony entails but it's pretty simple. Think you can wait until April to marry Dearbhail. It's already January," he explained, removing his reading glasses and folding the paper back up.
Skittery sat and stared into his fifth beer, lost in thought, finally meeting Aiden's expectant gaze "Alright". With that, Skittery downed his fifth beer.
Aiden smiled appreciatively. "Either way, It's happening... but you know". Skittery gulped down his sixth beer and mumbled his understanding. "Do you smoke?" Aiden asked, pulling out a package of cigars.
"I smoke cigars every now and then," Skittery answered, growing more comfortable with Aiden. This was the rightr move though because Aiden smiled broadly and handed him one of his cigars. "Thanks" Skittery lit the cigar with his own lighter and puffed slowly on it.
"Have you decided yet?" Aiden asked quietly, finishing off his eighth beer.
Skittery thought he had answered Aiden already "I suppose.. if its the only way to be with Dearbhail".
"You can be with her no matter what but it'd make her mother and I feel better," Aiden supplied, signalling for another beer.
Skittery nodded slowly before answering "Well, I wouldn't want to upset either of you".
"I knew I liked you, son," Aiden swallowed the last of his ninth beer as Skittery laughed and continued to puff on his cigar. "You're coming for dinner tonight, right?" the older man inquired. He had a nervous habit of wringing his hat in his hands. Skittery reminded Dearbhail of Aiden in that respect.
"If you want me to," Skittery replied, watching him closely.
"A coise. Dearbhail would panic if you didnt. Oh and she doesnt know we had this little talk," Aiden warned.
Why's he keeping secrets from his daughter? "Aiight" he responded, raising an eyebrow.
Standing up, Aiden placed his hat on his head. "Good see you tonight then around six".
He's not paying the bill? "You're leaving?," Skittery asked, watching him start walking away from the table.
Aiden nodded "I gotta get back ta work. Can't lose my job. With Dearbhail's hand broken she cant work". Thoroughly confused, Skittery stared at the bill then back up at Aiden. "Come on, Skitt. I know da owner. He wont take your money or mine," Aiden finally explained, waving at the bartender, still grinning like a cat who just ate the canary. With that, Skittery joined Aiden and the two left.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From that night on, it seemed Skittery had become a permanent fixture in the Murphy home. Unfortunately, the two lovebirds had yet to find five minutes alone. Dearbhail had been working at home with her mother instead of the factory. Trapped, as she put it, in that house all day with two screaming kids and a worrisome mother. Skittery would come by and visit but there was always some one hovering around them.
Finally the day came. Dearbhail talked her parents into leaving her alone on a Sunday after Church while the family visited friends in Brooklyn.
A phone call came for Skittery at the Lodging House. Kloppy tramped up the stairs and woke the disgruntled- soon-to-be-kicked-out-newsboy. "Skitt? Skittery? Your girl's on the phone. Wake up, boy!".
Seconds later he bounced down the stairs, sliding on his rear end off of the banister to the floor. "Dearbhail? What's wrong?" his questions was met with a light hearted giggle. Immediately his worries were squelched.
"Why would anything be wrong, Grumpy?" the firey redhead teased. "Guess who is all alone for the day and would like some company?" Dearbhail added mysteriously.
"Gimme an hour," he rushed off the phone, his mind spinning with possibilities. The two of them hadn't been alone in so long he had almost forgotten what she looked like. If he hopped the back of a carriage he'd be there in no time. After hanging up the phone, Skittery mounted the stairs three at a time, skidded across the floor and into the washroom. Fifteen minutes later, a freshly showered and dressed in his best suit newsie ran down the front steps of the lodging house, catching the bumper of a passing truck. He recognized it as a truck that usually made rounds from Manhattan into Queens. The ride took longer than he expected but half an hour later he was in Queens a few blocks from the Murphey's tenement. Fishing for the last of his change, Skittery bought a small bouquet of daisies, Dearbhail's favorite flower, from a florist then knocked on her door.
After throwing the door open, Dearbhail stood before him, propped up against the door frame. "Daisies! I love them, Grumpy. Hungry?" She greeted him, pulling him inside. Kissing his cheek briefly, Dearbhail rushed off into the kitchen area to retrieve a green glass vase, setting the flowers onto the one table in the apartment. The expression of extreme puzzlement darkening his features produced a laugh from Dearbhail. "Saving the best for last," standing on her toes, her back against the door, Dearbhail pulled Skittery against her and kissed him deeply. Feeling the situation escalate quickly, she broke away from his embrace and ventured further into the drafty tenement. "Lunch is almost ready," she explained quickly.
Skittery sat at the table, trying to push away the sense of forboding that settled in his stomach from her standoffish manner. What was going on? Was she calling it off, after everything the two of them had been through already?
Spotted One: You cried? COOL
Moth: Here's the next chappie! You thought it was dramatic? *grin*
Rabbit: This is a 5 or 6 chapter thing. The hospital scene was difficult.
Keza: Made your night? *grin* I hope I can keep putting out chapters quickly but the muses are fickle
Thumbsucker Snitch: yup. Counting this one... three more.
Mist: Well written? Awww *blushing* Original plot? Awww *blush* I try
Half-Pint: Kill off Dearbhail? NO! She's dead before the start of the first chapter! They lived a long life together.
Act: No pressure though, right?
A/N: Uh right. I got the ages wrong for Dearbhail and Erin and how long her parents have been married. Dearbhail is 20, making Skittery 21. Erin is 13. The Murphey's have been married for almost 21 years at the point of Chapter two. One more thing: Milk. It does a body good. *snicker* Youll see. Whooops
Chapter 3: Goin' To The Chapel
After telling the requested story to his granddaughter, leaving out quite a few details, Skittery was left alone with his memories as Moira had retired to get her "Beauty Rest". Skittery stood, walking over to the mantel where the bulk of the family photos were kept. his eyes falling on a picture of the wedding party with all their friends and Dearbhail's family standing on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Aiden Murphey wrote a note to Skittery, leaving it at the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. It said to meet Aiden for lunch at a little pub a few blocks from the LH. At noon he opened the door to the pub, nearly knocked over by the cloud of of smoke and noise that accosted him. Unfortunately for the young newsie, most of the inhabitants of the pub resembled Aiden, making it difficult to spot the balding Irishman straight away.
"Micheal! Over here!," he finally spotted Aiden at a table near the back, two dark glasses sitting on the other side of the table.
Coughing due to the smoke filling the air and blurring his gaze, Skittery made his way over "Good afternoon, sir"
"How are you, son?... Sit. Sit. I've had five already" Aiden grinned amiably, waving a hand to the drinks before Skittery.
Laughing, the young man chugged the first beer with ease "I'm fine, thanks. How 'bout yerself?".
"Im good. I brought you here ta discuss the weddin'," Aiden shrugged, sitting back and watching Skittery as if inspecting him.
Returning the challenging gaze to show he wouldn't back down easliy, Skittery nodded "Yes, sir. Anything specific?". It came out sort of rude sounding but Skittery hoped Aiden wouldn't notice. He didn't.
The older man appeared to be struggling with his next words. The color rose steadily in his face and neck. The already thinning red hair became a mass of sweat soaked disarray he spoke "I still dont like da idea of Dearbhail marrying outside her religion".
Here we go. To keep from rolling his eyes, Skittery chugged the second beer "Oh?" He had collected himself enough to look Aiden in the eyes.
Aiden continued as if he had not heard the young man sitting in front of him, "...and a newsie's wages are no way ta make a livin' ta support a family," he's stalling for time as he signaled for more beers "... you like Irish beer, son?"
He couldn't hold back a laugh from bubbling up "Yes, sir, I do. I plan on getting a better job" Did Aiden think Skittery was that naiive?
Seeming almost relieved, Aiden relaxed slightly "Ive got one in mind fah you if you want...". The two men regarded one another across the table slowly as if feeling the other out. He either thought Skittery was lazy or was looking out for the young man. Most likely, Aiden was only taking care of Skittery... let alone the fact that the young newsie was in love with Aiden's daughter.
Swallowing half of his third beer, Skittery met Aiden's challenging gaze "Oh yeah? like what?"
"A milkman. I know a guy". Without saying anything, Skittery finished off his glass of beer and contemplated the proposal. Plugging ahead in his Irish doggedness, Aiden continued "Its real early hours, like you're used to for about 6 times the money and only a fraction of the work".
The revelation that this new job would be less work for more money seemed to appeal to Skittery. He sat up, lost in thought "That could woik".
"You only work from four in the morning until eight. You're off before lunch! Then you can sleep all day," Aiden ran on, running through his spiel.
Unable to hide the smirk on his face, Skittery answered him "Sounds good!" 'And do other things,' the thought caused an almost evil glint to appear in his eyes which Aiden either didn't see or chose not to pick up on.
Aiden finished off another beer before continuing "Now the only question is ya religion. It's not like I don't like you, Micheal. We're a very strict Catholic family, ya see". When he saw Skittery nodding his head he continued "Would you object ta converting to Catholicism?"
Sitting back in his chair Skittery thought over what Aiden had just proposed to him. After a long pause "...Are there any restrictions I should know about?"
Aiden pulled out the piece of paper he had written all of this down on when he had discussed it with Father O'Leary. "It's one ceremony during the Easter celebration. There's a class you take before hand. At the class they explain what the ceremony entails but it's pretty simple. Think you can wait until April to marry Dearbhail. It's already January," he explained, removing his reading glasses and folding the paper back up.
Skittery sat and stared into his fifth beer, lost in thought, finally meeting Aiden's expectant gaze "Alright". With that, Skittery downed his fifth beer.
Aiden smiled appreciatively. "Either way, It's happening... but you know". Skittery gulped down his sixth beer and mumbled his understanding. "Do you smoke?" Aiden asked, pulling out a package of cigars.
"I smoke cigars every now and then," Skittery answered, growing more comfortable with Aiden. This was the rightr move though because Aiden smiled broadly and handed him one of his cigars. "Thanks" Skittery lit the cigar with his own lighter and puffed slowly on it.
"Have you decided yet?" Aiden asked quietly, finishing off his eighth beer.
Skittery thought he had answered Aiden already "I suppose.. if its the only way to be with Dearbhail".
"You can be with her no matter what but it'd make her mother and I feel better," Aiden supplied, signalling for another beer.
Skittery nodded slowly before answering "Well, I wouldn't want to upset either of you".
"I knew I liked you, son," Aiden swallowed the last of his ninth beer as Skittery laughed and continued to puff on his cigar. "You're coming for dinner tonight, right?" the older man inquired. He had a nervous habit of wringing his hat in his hands. Skittery reminded Dearbhail of Aiden in that respect.
"If you want me to," Skittery replied, watching him closely.
"A coise. Dearbhail would panic if you didnt. Oh and she doesnt know we had this little talk," Aiden warned.
Why's he keeping secrets from his daughter? "Aiight" he responded, raising an eyebrow.
Standing up, Aiden placed his hat on his head. "Good see you tonight then around six".
He's not paying the bill? "You're leaving?," Skittery asked, watching him start walking away from the table.
Aiden nodded "I gotta get back ta work. Can't lose my job. With Dearbhail's hand broken she cant work". Thoroughly confused, Skittery stared at the bill then back up at Aiden. "Come on, Skitt. I know da owner. He wont take your money or mine," Aiden finally explained, waving at the bartender, still grinning like a cat who just ate the canary. With that, Skittery joined Aiden and the two left.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From that night on, it seemed Skittery had become a permanent fixture in the Murphy home. Unfortunately, the two lovebirds had yet to find five minutes alone. Dearbhail had been working at home with her mother instead of the factory. Trapped, as she put it, in that house all day with two screaming kids and a worrisome mother. Skittery would come by and visit but there was always some one hovering around them.
Finally the day came. Dearbhail talked her parents into leaving her alone on a Sunday after Church while the family visited friends in Brooklyn.
A phone call came for Skittery at the Lodging House. Kloppy tramped up the stairs and woke the disgruntled- soon-to-be-kicked-out-newsboy. "Skitt? Skittery? Your girl's on the phone. Wake up, boy!".
Seconds later he bounced down the stairs, sliding on his rear end off of the banister to the floor. "Dearbhail? What's wrong?" his questions was met with a light hearted giggle. Immediately his worries were squelched.
"Why would anything be wrong, Grumpy?" the firey redhead teased. "Guess who is all alone for the day and would like some company?" Dearbhail added mysteriously.
"Gimme an hour," he rushed off the phone, his mind spinning with possibilities. The two of them hadn't been alone in so long he had almost forgotten what she looked like. If he hopped the back of a carriage he'd be there in no time. After hanging up the phone, Skittery mounted the stairs three at a time, skidded across the floor and into the washroom. Fifteen minutes later, a freshly showered and dressed in his best suit newsie ran down the front steps of the lodging house, catching the bumper of a passing truck. He recognized it as a truck that usually made rounds from Manhattan into Queens. The ride took longer than he expected but half an hour later he was in Queens a few blocks from the Murphey's tenement. Fishing for the last of his change, Skittery bought a small bouquet of daisies, Dearbhail's favorite flower, from a florist then knocked on her door.
After throwing the door open, Dearbhail stood before him, propped up against the door frame. "Daisies! I love them, Grumpy. Hungry?" She greeted him, pulling him inside. Kissing his cheek briefly, Dearbhail rushed off into the kitchen area to retrieve a green glass vase, setting the flowers onto the one table in the apartment. The expression of extreme puzzlement darkening his features produced a laugh from Dearbhail. "Saving the best for last," standing on her toes, her back against the door, Dearbhail pulled Skittery against her and kissed him deeply. Feeling the situation escalate quickly, she broke away from his embrace and ventured further into the drafty tenement. "Lunch is almost ready," she explained quickly.
Skittery sat at the table, trying to push away the sense of forboding that settled in his stomach from her standoffish manner. What was going on? Was she calling it off, after everything the two of them had been through already?