Catherine poked one of the potatoes swimming in boiling water as Padraic sat on the counter. Brien handed him and Catherine each a can of Guinness which they opened without the slightest hesitation.

"The scary lookin' bloke with the neck tattoo," Padraic said, then taking a sip from the can. "You're shaggin' him."

Catherine nearly choked on the mouthful of beer she was in the middle of trying to swallow when her cousin so bluntly spoke. Normally considered to be the quiet Telford, Catherine hadn't expected such a statement.

"Aye," she coughed. "And it's the best goddamn sex of me'life, thanks for askin'."

"I didn't ask."

Brien's face twisted with repugnance. "Ya need more female friends to talk to. There's just somethings a brother doesn't need to hear about his sister's personal life."

Catherine grabbed the damp hand towel sitting on the counter and threw it at him.

"He's a Provo, right? I mean look at him; he's gotta be," pried Padraic.

"He was," she said, feeling comfortable enough to divulge that piece of info. It was public knowledge that the Provisionals disbanded three years prior.

"So he's True Army now, isn't he?" Brien asked.

Now that she couldn't admit to, so she shrugged.

"Are ya talkin' of Dessie?" Kerrianne asked joining her cousins in the kitchen. She leaned into Brien when he threw an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, Caitie, he's a bleedin' stunner, so he is. Please stay with him, he's so sweet. The only person who can't stand him is Jimmy. And your babies'll be so adorable, too."

Catherine felt her cheeks instantly start to burn at the mere mention of babies. Logically, she knew it was still far too early in their relationship to be thinking about wee ones. And considering Dessie had just turned forty-two, she wasn't even sure if he wanted any. Though, every time she saw him with the boys, her hormones took over, her ovaries screaming at her to let the most wonderful man she's ever been with knock her up. She couldn't shake the fear she felt over the stigma of having children with different fathers, and that's what made her keep her pants on.

"If Jimmy hates him, then ya know Dessie's treatin' ya right," Padraic chuckled.

"Amen to that." Brien clinked cans with him. "He's a keeper so long as Jimmy can't stand him."

Catherine turned off the burner under the potatoes. "Sean's still a wee jealous of him bein' around so much now, but Eamonn is practically glued to his hip. Did ya see how it didn't faze Eamonn when Jimmy showed up? He kept on playin' with Dessie."

"Am I interruptin'?"

The four of them turned around to see Jimmy standing in the doorway. They all made "oh, shit" grins at one another, unsure as to how much of their conversation he heard.

"Nope, all's good, Jimmy." Padraic jumped off the counter.

Brien nudged Kerrianne forward. "Just gettin' out of Caitie's way so she can set the table."

Catherine was none-too-pleased they were leaving her alone in the kitchen with him.

Jimmy set his empty glass on the counter and unscrewed the cap from a bottle of Jameson. He poured heavily, watching Catherine remove a stack of plates from the cabinet.

"Eamonn and Dessie seem to be gettin' along," he said, putting the bottle back.

Catherine squeezed her eyes shut for a quick second, resenting him for bringing this up on Christmas, out of all days.

His son seemed too cozy with the south Armagh man for Jimmy to believe their relationship was only three months old.

"How long were ya hidin' that from me?"

Catherine gently set the plates down then dug into the drawer for silverware. "Please don't do this today."

"Hey," he huffed defensively. "I'm not lookin' for a fight, I just wanna know when youse started shaggin'."

"That's none of your goddamn business. But if you're so inclined to know, we first shagged about a year ago. We were both confused about how we felt after that and it wasn't until three months ago did we decide to give it a shot."

That wasn't at all what Jimmy wanted to hear. They spent a lot of time together during the months they weren't screwing around. It was a lot of time for a genuine friendship, and romantic feelings to evolve.

"Ya love him?"

"Yup."

Tossing napkins on top of the plates, Catherine gathered them and the silverware, then marched into the dining room. Unfortunately for her, Jimmy followed.

As she started setting the table, Jimmy stood off to the side nipping from his glass.

"I doubt ya love him more than ya love me. And the sex can't be all great...how are ya even attracted to such a low life?"

What neither of them knew, was Dessie had seen Jimmy follow Catherine into the dining room. He didn't like the idea of her being left alone with him, so Dessie inched his way down the hall, ready to jump in if need be. When he heard Jimmy's question, he strained hard to hear, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Ya wanna know somethin' Jimmy?" she asked, placing her hands on the table. "I love him more than I ever loved you, and - no disrespect to Darragh - the sex I'm havin' with Dessie is the best I've had. Was it love at first sight? Absolutely not. Did it take me a long time to realize I was attracted to him? Aye. But now that I'm with him, I truly understand what a kind, lovin', and - and gentle man he is. I will never lessen what I had with Darragh, but in the decade I knew Darragh, I never felt like I knew him. And to be honest I've never known you, either. Dessie, he actually lets me in...he talks to me. I feel like he's the only man I've ever gotten to know emotionally. Knowin' he can be open and honest with me, and I can be open and honest with him, well, it makes me feel like the luckiest girl in Ireland."

Both men were left stunned for very different reasons.

"So, Dessie's a pussy is what you're sayin'. Can't lessen what we have either, a chuisle. We share a son."

Catherine snorted and got back to work setting the table. "What we had was nothin' more than a fling between two people with very misplaced feelin's. As for our son, he was nearly two-years-old before ya even met him. Don't act like you're some super da. Dessie has been more of a father to Eamonn in the last year than you've ever been."

"You're a fuckin' cunt, ya know that? You kept pullin' Eamonn away from me every time I tried to be a father, and don't you ever fuckin' dare say Dessie is more of a father than I am. He's the biggest deadbeat of 'em all."

It took everything Dessie had not to jump in and defend himself. He knew Jimmy's tactics, and he was afraid she would believe the lies Jimmy told her about him.

"I kept Eamonn from you because I couldn't trust ya to be a good da. So go ahead and call me all the names ya want. The difference between you and Dessie is that he knows he was a terrible father and he's desperate for the chance to make it right. You're just a shite father who doesn't realize it."

"I'm a shite father?" he sarcastically asked. "You've never given me a fuckin' chance to be one."

"And ya never ya will have the chance. I'm movin' to Cross when the boys finish school in June."

"No you're not," Jimmy said firmly.

Yes, she is, Dessie thought. Even if it were just for the summer, he didn't need to know that.

"I am, and there's nothin' you can do to keep me from leavin'."

"You are not fuckin' takin' Eamonn from me, ya hear, Catherine? If ya dare try to come between my son and me, I swear to God I'll-"

"You'll what?" she taunted. "You'll try to make mine and Dessie's life miserable? Get over yourself, and stop actin' like a teenage girl."

"If you leave for Crossmaglen, those boys'll never see you again."

Jimmy's vicious warning sent a chill through both Catherine and Dessie. The thought of anything happening to her, almost made Dessie lose his mind. He couldn't let Jimmy talk to her like that anymore.

Catherine picked up a plate to throw at Jimmy, but she stopped herself when she saw Dessie in the doorway. The hard expression on his face assured Catherine he heard everything Jimmy said.

"There a problem, Jimmy?"

Jimmy looked at Catherine and smirked. It was a smirk that scared her half-to-death. Dessie may be True army now, but he still held the old-school intellect of a Provisional. Meaning, he'd be unforgiving if he were to find out about her affair with an Englishman or the fact she touted to the Kings. Jimmy could ruin her relationship and her life in the blink of an eye.

"No problem here," he said, keeping his eyes on Catherine.

Dessie tossed his thumb over his shoulder. "Then get the fuck out."

Jimmy was man enough to admit that Dessie had a set of steel balls. Every few men in the ranks dared to speak to Jimmy in such a way. As far as Dessie was concerned, Jimmy wasn't his chief of staff - he didn't care enough to watch his words.

Strolling towards the doorway, Jimmy drank the rest of his Jameson. Dessie moved out of the way so Jimmy could squeeze through, and he had to stop himself from laughing when Jimmy tried sizing him up. At 5'11 and breaking the scale at just under two-hundred-pounds, Dessie knew Jimmy could probably knock him around in a fight. While Jimmy had his SAS physical training to fall back on, Dessie had been forced to learn unconventional self-defense tactics during his years inside Maghaberry, back when the IRA, UVF, and UDA were integrated.

Dessie wasn't intimidated. He had more respect for the UVF - not a fellow countryman who enlisted in the British Army, then only joined the IRA to mitigate his guilt for betraying the Irish nation.

It was a slap in the face, Dessie thought, for the Kings to promote a man who once patrolled the streets of Northern Ireland wearing the uniform of the enemy. There were so many men worthy of the top-position, himself included.

Watching Jimmy disappear down the hall into the living room, Dessie closed the space between him and Catherine. He placed his hands in the curves of her sides.

"You okay? I'll never let him do-"

Catherine slapped her open hands down his chest. Tears instantly exploded from her eyes.

"I can't do this again, Dessie. He pulled the same shite when I was with Darragh. That's why I left for Sinn Fein - couldn't play the mind-games anymore."

He had no idea Jimmy had been the reason why she left the Ra nearly seven years ago. Like everyone else, he assumed she couldn't handle the life anymore.

Pulling her in for a tight hug, Dessie placed his cheek on the side of her head so his mouth was close to her ear. He lowered his voice, "When we're done with 'em, you'll never have to worry about Jimmy O again. I'll kill him me'self, so you can be sure of it."

Catherine took a sharp breath, finding herself intoxicated by his comforting notes of tobacco, whiskey, and vanilla. She didn't doubt a word he said. Lifting her head off his chest, Dessie's stomach twisted as he watched her eyes glaze over with violent abhorrence.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "If anyone's takin' him out, it's gonna be me."


Crossmaglen - Northern Ireland

Catherine peered into the rearview mirror and smiled. Belted into their booster seats, Eamonn and Sean were sound asleep. It was only an hour's drive from Belfast to Crossmaglen, but their tiny bodies were still trying to catch up on the sleep they lost during the Christmas hype.

They looked so innocent and peaceful - two things Catherine had never known when she was their age.

A heavy blanket of guilt was wrapped around her shoulders as it set in she was about to take it all away from them. They were supposed to grow up in a better than she did. Not plagued by bitter violence and paralyzing fear.

Three months ago, Catherine stood before her men and self-righteously claimed she was a mother first, and that's why she couldn't lead the rebellion against Jimmy and the Kings. With an envelope full of cash in her bag, she was nothing more than a hypocrite. But then again, she'd been asked before the Kings nearly took out her and half of the south Armagh crew. Catherine tried to justify her actions by reminding herself that an Ireland without Jimmy O'Phelan or the Irish Kings would be a safer place for all.

Parking her Passat behind his Jetta, Catherine killed the engine as she shot him a quick text, asking for help to carry the boys in. As she waited for him to come down, she absently started down the street.

Dessie lived in a one-bedroom flat in the heart of Crossmaglen. The narrow road was lined with Irish tri-color's, as well as the black and amber checkered flag to show support for the Rangers, the local Gaelic football team. She somewhat hated to admit it, but the small town was starting to grow on her. She wondered if she'd really be heading back to Belfast come fall.

When she saw Dessie step out onto the sidewalk, she got out of the car. The first thing he did was hug and kiss her. Though they'd only been apart for a few days, it felt like a month.

Catherine unbuckled Sean and carried him up, while Dessie took Eamonn. He would grab the bags later. Once in the flat, they laid the boys down on Dessie's bed.

"How long've they been sleepin'?" he asked, quietly closing the door behind him.

Catherine grabbed his hand and led him into the living room. "Like an hour. They zonked before I even got on the motorway."

They both collapsed onto the couch. Dessie motioned for Catherine to sit on his lap, but she took him by surprise when she straddled him instead. He ran his hands along her thighs, up her hips, onto her sides.

"How was the drive?"

"Grand, except I was bored outta my tits without ya keepin' me company."

"I doubt that. Bet ya were so relieved when I finally left Belfast."

Catherine laced their fingers together. "I missed ya like hell. Eamonn was sad ya weren't there to read with him at bedtime. I think Sean may've been relieved to see ya go. The first night ya were gone, he was insistent on sleepin' in my bed."

Dessie chuckled, then bit his lip when Catherine started unintentionally rocking on his lap.

"He's slowly comin' around, but I think he will even more when youse are here for the summer."

"Jesus, I hope so," she breathed. "If he's jealous now, who knows how he'll be when we've a wee one."

Catherine dropped his hands so she could slap one of hers over her mouth. She couldn't believe she said that. Dessie looked wholly amused at how embarrassed she became. He rested his head against the back of the couch and rested an arm along the top of it.

"Already thinkin' of us havin' a wee one, huh?"

"I haven't."

Dessie saw right-through her lie.

On Christmas, he admired her courage to take a blind leap of faith and tell him how she felt. He owed the same to her.

"Well...maybe I have."

"Ya have?" she asked, resting her hands on his chest.

"Mmhmm." He nodded. "At first, I was like...it's way too bloody early to even be thinkin' of wee ones, we're not even livin' together, and that they'll come if and when we're ready. But then common sense set in and I realized they don't wait until you're ready. Considerin' I've been shaggin' ya raw without a johnny for some time now, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it happens."

They were always on the same page.

Catherine was silent for a moment as his words soaked in. Throughout her affair with Ian, they'd used condoms. The first time she rode Dessie in the passenger seat of his car outside of a pub in Newry, they used a condom. Catherine wondered if they both let their guards down and nixed the rubbers because they wanted a baby.

"And if it does happen?"

"We'll figure it out. Don't think you're gettin' away easy though, because I will marry ya. I actually can, unlike Darragh."

"Please don't remind me," she snorted.

Dessie ran his hands up her thighs, cupping her ass. "How much time ya think we've got before the weans wake up?"

Catherine narrowed her eyes. "Forty minutes. An hour if we're lucky. Why?"

In swift motions, Dessie tossed her onto her back and went right for the button on her jeans. "That baby ain't gonna make itself, and all I need is ten minutes."

"Ten minutes, huh?" Catherine asked, pulling his belt loose. "Someone's feelin' ambitious."

Dessie slid her pants and underwear off. "Be careful there, O'Toole. Your mouth is writin' cheques your ass can't cash."


The boys were down for the night, sleeping soundly in the bedroom. A little after nine, Rory came over and the three adults quietly spoke over glasses of whiskey.

"No chance ya can come up with anymore? Jimmy's gotta have a stash somewhere ya can swipe from," Rory insisted.

Catherine brought the glass to her mouth, taking a sip. "Jimmy would be on the war-path if he found out someone stole from him. And, not to mention, he stopped tellin' me a lot of shite after I was demoted, so I doubt it's even in the place I remember it bein'."

She felt terrible for only being able to come up with half the money after telling them she'd be able to cover the entire transaction. It made her seem unreliable. Catherine had no idea she'd been blowing through her savings so quickly.

"This is a decent start, though," Dessie said, poking the envelope in the center of the table. "If we pull cash from the pubs and combine our cuts of the profits from the smokes and petrol, we should just barely be able to make the payment."

She lit a cigarette. "What if there's a way for us to do this without spendin' a cent of our own money?"

Dessie and Rory glanced at one another, not sure if what they were thinking was the same thing on Catherine's mind.

"How do ya plan on achievin' that?" asked Dessie.

"How would the Provos get money when they needed it?"

Rory chuckled, not thinking Catherine was serious. Dessie, on the other hand, poured himself another shot because he knew she wasn't joking.

"Ya really wanna…" Rory trailed off, and Catherine nodded her head.

"Northern Bank headquarters in Belfast." She locked eyes with Dessie. She could tell he wasn't dismissing her; she needed to sell it to him. "We hit on a Wednesday night - my da said that's the best time because-"

Dessie interjected, "Because all the money that'll be loaded into the ATM's for the weekend'll just be sittin' in the vault."

"Aye."

"You've really thought about this, haven't ya?" Rory asked, passing Dessie the lighter.

Catherine said nothing. She needed a plan b after falling through on plan a. And besides, maybe a small bank heist was exactly what they needed to boost morale again. Fellas across Northern Ireland and the Republic were starting to lose faith in south Armagh's ability to take charge.

Dessie twiddled the lighter between his fingers. His face didn't show a shred of emotion. "If we were to do it, how do ya wanna see it play out?"

"Ya can't be serious, Dess," Rory blurted.

Dessie shushed his unusually jumpy intelligence officer, more interested in what Catherine had to say.

Catherine stubbed out her cigarette and gave Dessie the rough overview of what she came up with.

When she finished, Dessie poured himself and Catherine more whiskey. "Ya know what, O'Toole, it's just crazy enough to work."