Weeks had passed since Louisa had her treatment and Connor, Murphy, Doc and Rocco had visited nearly every day.

She was getting anxious about what would happen when the bandages were removed.

Would she be able to see?

If she could, just how much would she be able to see?

Was she going to be legally blind?

Would she be able to take care of herself?

Would it be fair to Murphy if she needed him to take care of her?

She knew he loved her, and she loved him, but she didn't want him to regret being with her or pity her.

"Knock it off," she whispered as the doors opened and her parents, Rocco, Connor, Murphy and her specialist, Doctor Brian Welker walked in the room.

"Hey, Lou," Connor said as he walked to the bed and he leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Hey, Connor. Where's Murphy?"

"Right here," Murphy said as he walked closer and he kissed her cheek.

"I'm here, too," Rocco said and she smiled.

"Well, are you ready?" Brian asked.

"I guess," Louisa said with a shrug.

"I understand you're nervous, but I have done this treatment tons of times and only one percent of my patients fail to regain their sight."

"What do we do now?" Sean asked.

"I am going to close the curtains and turn the lights off then I'm going to remove the bandages."

"Why do you need to close the curtains and turn the lights off?" Rocco asked.

"If she can see, the bright light will hurt her eyes."

Brian went to close the curtains and turn the lights off while the room became darker except for the light from the window in the door and he walked to the bed.

"Ready?" he asked and Louisa looked toward him.

"No, I need Murphy to sit next to me," Louisa said.

"Why?" Murphy asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"If this does work, the first thing I want to see is you."

She pictured him blushing as he took her hand and she wrapped their fingers together.

"Right. Let's get started," Brian said. He moved the small table toward the bed when he picked up the scissors and he slowly cut the gauze. He removed the gauze when he placed the scissors on the small table. They looked at the gauze taped over her eyes as Murphy said a small prayer and he rubbed his fingers over the cross. "Louisa, I need you to keep your eyes closed, ok?"

"Ok," Louisa said. Brian gently removed the tape and the gauze from her right eye then from her left eye as he placed the gauze on the small table and he picked up some cotton balls and some saline solution. He softly cleaned off her bruised eyelids as she winced and Murphy glared at Brian. "Sorry about that."

"That's ok," Louisa said and he looked at Murphy then he looked back at her.

"Is this your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"What's his name?"

"Murphy," she said with a grin. Connor could just see the disgusted look on Lilliana's face and he frowned.

"Murphy, I need you to let go of her hand."

"Aye," Murphy said, letting go of her hand.

"Now, Louisa, I want you to place your hands over your eyes then I want you to open your eyes."

Louisa lifted her hands when she covered her eyes then she opened her eyes. She only saw darkness as her heart sank and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

"Move your hands down," Brian said in a soft voice.

Louisa lowered her hands. Everything still was in darkness when the darkness slowly became a dark gray then a lighter gray and she could just see shadows and shapes. The shadows and shapes changed to blurry black and white to black and white and she blinked. She started to see light and dark as she turned her head toward Murphy and she could just see the soft color of his face. She blinked her eyes again as his face became clearer and Murphy arched his eyebrows up.

"Lou? Are you ok? What do you see?" Murphy asked.

"I see you," she said and he felt his heart slamming in his chest. "I see hair the color of fresh dug earth, eyes the color of an icy winter sky and this."

She moved her finger toward his face and she stroked the mole on his left cheek as she smiled.

"Christ," Murphy said.

"Lord's name." Connor corrected and Louisa looked at him.

"Leave him alone, Connor," she said with a grin. She could just see her parents hugging each other as she smiled and she blinked her eyes a few times.

"Look at me," Brian said and she turned her head to look at him. She winced when he had to turn the overhead light as he gave her an apologetic look then he examined her. She followed his finger as he moved his right index finger and he gave her a big grin.

"What do we do now?" Sean asked.

"Well, I need to run some tests, but, for now, we should let her get some rest," Brian said.

"Thank you, Doctor," Lilliana said. Nodding, Brian cleaned up the bandages and the gauze when he gave Louisa a sideways hug then he left the room.

Connor and Murphy had switched places on the bed as Louisa looked at Connor and he smiled.

"Well, tell me what you see," Connor said.

"I see hair the color of milk chocolate, eyes the color of an icy winter sky and a smile any women would love," Louisa said when she looked at Rocco and she frowned. "Rocco?"

"Hey, Lou," Rocco said as he and Connor switched places on the bed and Rocco took her left hand.

"Damn, you're cute," she said and Rocco blushed while lowering his head.

"Thanks."

"Hey, no flirtin' with my girl," Murphy teased and they laughed. Sean saw the look on his wife's face as Lilliana glared at Murphy, Connor and Rocco and he gently pulled Lilliana over to the side of the room.

"What are you doing?" Lilliana whispered.

"I am giving you a warning," he whispered.

"But she…"

"She just regained her sight."

"I know that," she said through clenched teeth.

"Is everything alright?" Louisa asked and they looked at her.

"Yes, everything is just fine."

Connor felt the tension in the air as he frowned then he looked at Louisa.

"Well, we should go," Connor said as he leaned in and he kissed Louisa's cheek.

"Yeah, I gotta go to work." Rocco said, kissing her cheek.

"I'll come back an' see you later," Murphy said, but he didn't move and Connor pointed with his thumb toward the door. Nodding, Rocco followed Connor out of the room as the door closed and Murphy softly held Louisa's face in his hands. He moved to kiss her lips as she slid her arms around his neck and they moved back, placing their forehead against each other.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," he whispered and he gave her a small smile.

"Even with me looking like this?"

"You're beautiful."

"Oh, please," Lilliana said. Murphy turned his head to look at her and both he and Louisa gave her a confused look.

"Is there something you wish to say, Mother?" Louisa asked.

"Yes," she said as she walked to Murphy and he got up, standing his full height. "I want to thank you for making my daughter's stay here bearable, but she can see now. She doesn't need you anymore."

"Lilliana!" Sean warned.

"No, let her finish," Murphy said with a small growl in his voice.

"I understand the attraction," Lilliana said as she looked at the fury on her daughter's face. "But I am afraid she is out of your league. I mean do you really think she could be happy being with…? What do you do?"

"I work in a meat packin' plant."

"Ah. Well, then you see what I'm talking about."

Murphy didn't answer as he felt anger building inside him and he snorted a breath of air out of his nose.

"Mother!" Louisa cried out.

"As for you," she said as she turned. "Once you are well enough, we are returning to New York. I'm sure you'll be glad to see your real friends again. I know they can't wait to see you."

Before Louisa could speak, the door opened when a nurse suddenly walked in the room and she walked to the bed.

"I'm sorry, but all of you have to leave," the nurse said.

"Why?" Sean asked.

"I was told someone in here upsetting this patient. Now, please leave."

Murphy looked at Louisa when he stormed to the door, opened the door and Connor and Rocco followed him while Louisa called his name. Her calling his name echoed down the hallway as he broke into a run and he felt the tears rolling down his cheeks.

Boston Logan International Airport

Murphy and Louisa stood at the security area as he held her hands and he looked down at their feet. He was surprised when she called to ask him and Connor to come to the airport to say goodbye and she glanced over at Connor glaring at her mother.

"Do you have my phone number?" she asked.

"Aye, do you have mine?" Murphy asked.

"Yes."

They went silent again as he felt a knot forming in his chest and she squeezed his fingers.

"Look at me," Louisa said.

"I'd rather not."

"Please."

Murphy raised his head as they locked eyes and she moved a little closer. She reached up to move his head forward as she kissed his lips and he wrapped his arms around her. They moved back while she locked eyes with him and she lightly moved her thumb over the mole on his cheek.

"Come with me," she said and he gave her a shocked look.

"What?"

"Come to New York with me."

Murphy glanced over at Connor then he looked at her and she waited for him to say something.

"Louisa, we need to get going," Lilliana said as she walked to her.

"I know. I'm just waiting for Murphy to make up his mind," she said and Lilliana frowned.

"Make up his mind about what?"

"About going to New York with me."

Lilliana glared at Murphy as he gave her a blank look and Louisa placed the palm of her hand against his chest.

"I'm sure Murphy wants to stay here," Lilliana said with an icy tone and Murphy swallowed the bile building in his throat. "Don't you, Murphy?"

Murphy moved back as he walked away and Connor went to catch up with him.

"Murphy!" Louisa called out as he walked faster and Lilliana led her toward her father. Sean glared at Lilliana as his wife gave him a warning look and Louisa blinked the tears from her eyes.

Murphy couldn't sleep. All he could see was Louisa's face and the sadness in her eyes. He pulled the pillow out from under his head as he placed the pillow over his eyes and he held the pillow in place with his arms.

"You alright?" Connor asked. Murphy moved the pillow away as he placed the pillow back under his head and he sighed.

"Aye, I'm fine," he said.

"No, you're not."

Murphy went quiet as he looked at the dark ceiling and he felt his chest hurting.

"Fine. I'm miserable."

"Murphy?"

"Aye?"

"Why didn't you go with her?"

"What?"

"Why didn't you go to New York with Lou?"

"Her ma made it perfectly clear what I told you before. I'm not the type of man Lou should be with."

"We both know that's bullshit."

"Right," he sighed and Connor rolled onto his back. They laid in silence for a few minutes when Connor turned his head and he could just see his twin's face.

"I'm jealous," Connor said.

"What?"

"I said I'm jealous."

"You're jealous!?"

"Aye. Lou's th'love of your life and I feel like…. Like I don't matter t'you anymore. That you… That you don't love me. I hate thinkin' things like that, but I feel like I'm losin' you," he said while he blinked the tears out of his eyes and Connor sighed. "Shit. I'm actin' like a weepy lass."

Connor rolled over onto his left side and he sniffed. He felt the mattress dipping then he felt Murphy's arm draping over his waist and Murphy leaned his head against his. The last time Murphy shared a bed with him was when they five and Connor wiped the tears away with the back of his right hand.

"You're right. Lou is th'love of my life, but you are my brudder. Nothin' is ever gonna change that an' nothin's ever gonna destroy th'love I have fer you. Now, stop cryin' an' go t'sleep," Murphy said.

"Murphy…..."

"Jus' one more thing," he said with a yawn.

"What?"

"You're never gonna lose me," Murphy grumbled before he drifted off to sleep.

"You're never gonna lose me either," Connor whispered while he closed his eyes and he soon joined his twin in a peaceful sleep.

February

Greenwich

Lou walked down the hallway when she stood in front of the door to her apartment and she felt her stomach sinking. She knew she needed closure. She knew she had to say goodbye to the past. As she was about to knock on the door, her mind replayed Dillon's attack and a wave of dizziness moved over her.

"Are you alright?" a woman's voice asked. Louisa didn't notice the door opening as she looked at the woman with dark hair standing in the doorway and Louisa blinked her eyes a few times.

"Yes, I'm fine," Louisa said. She took a slow breath then she turned and she quickly walked down the hallway.

A week later, Louisa looked out the window as she placed the palm of her left hand on the glass and she felt the coolness of the glass. She saw Murphy's sad face and eyes reflected in the glass and tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. She hadn't heard a word from him in a month and she was beginning to think he had forgotten her.

"Thinking about him again?" made her turn and Sean walked in the room. He knew Louisa had been miserable since she returned to New York. She hadn't left the house and she barely spoke to them.

"Maybe," she said. Sean walked to stand next to her as they looked out the window then he turned to look at her.

"Have you called him?"

"No. He hasn't called me either."

"Is it because of what your mother did?"

"Of course, it's because of what she did."

"Lou, you know how she is."

"She a snob!"

"She only wants…"

"She only wants to control me. She's done that all my life. That is why Norman…"

Louisa paused as she lowered her head and he gently lifted her chin.

"You and Norman were always doing whatever you wanted to do. That's one of things I love about the both of you. You never let anyone tell you what to do. In retrospect, you two remind me of how I used to be," he said and she smiled. "So, take my advice and go home."

"I am home."

"No, you're not, lass."

She liked it when he used his accent as she nodded then she left the room.

Boston

The doors to the elevator opened while Connor and Murphy walked out then they stopped when they saw Louisa sitting against the door to their apartment. Connor expected Murphy to run to her, but his twin only stood there and Louisa got to her feet. She looked at Murphy as he walked down the hallway, unlocked the door, walked inside and he closed the door. Connor saw the hurt on her face as he swallowed the lump in his throat and he walked to her.

"Hullo, Lou," he said.

"Hello," Louisa said.

"What brings you back?"

"He just went into your apartment."

"Uh. Ok."

They stood in silence for what felt like forever as she sighed and she looked at the door.

"Connor, be honest with me."

"About what?"

"He's found someone else, hasn't he?"

"What makes you think that?"

"I gave him my number, but I haven't heard from him."

"You didn't call him either."

"That's because I was afraid to."

"You were afraid?"

"I didn't want my mother to find out."

"Th'Lou I remember would have jus' told her t'fuck off."

"You're right. But I don't feel like that Lou anymore. Well, I do, but only when I'm around the two of you."

The door opened when Murphy appeared in the doorway and she looked at him. He looked angry and tired at the same time and she noticed he needed a shave. His eyes were red and wet and he wiped his eyes with the back of his right hand. He leaned on the doorframe as she walked to him and he arched an eyebrow.

"Hullo, Louisa," Murphy said with a crack to his voice. It hurt her to hear him call her by her full name and she sighed.

"Hey, Murphy."

"You didn't call."

"You didn't call either."

"I didn't wanna."

Her heart sank.

"Why not?"

"What's th'point?"

"Murphy, will you jus' tell her th'truth?" Connor asked. Murphy glared at his twin then he sighed and be blinked his eyes a few times. He kicked off the doorframe when he walked to Louisa then Murphy placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I didn't call because I'm not right fer you," he said. He made a small grunt after she balled her fingers into a fist and she slammed her fist into his stomach.

"You're not right fer me?! You're not right fer me?!" she shouted. Connor hushed her as he pointed to the doorway and they went inside the apartment. He closed the door while Murphy went to sit on his mattress and he went to rest on his back. Connor watched Louisa walk to the mattress when she sat on Murphy's sore stomach and he looked up at her. She went onto her hands and knees as her face hovered over his and her hair floated down around her face. "Now you listen to me, Murphy MacManus. You told me that I was someone special. Someone you wanted to spend every fuckin' day with. Someone you care so deeply about that I am always in your head and in your heart. Well, guess what. It goes both ways. Since I was sixteen, I knew you were the boy I was going to spend the rest of my life with. It didn't matter to me that you lived on the poor side of town. It didn't matter to me that you didn't have money, went to the right schools, have the right friends or family or live in some big house. What matters to me is you make me feel safe. You make me laugh. You make me feel whole. You want more proof?! Norman wasn't the only one I wanted to show my photos to after I was done with an assignment or talk about the places I had been to or the people I met. I wanted to share all of it with you!"

She glanced over at Connor sitting on his mattress when she noticed the look on his face and she crawled off Murphy and she headed for Connor. He watched her place her hands on his shoulders as they locked eyes and she smiled.

"Both of you," she assured him.

"Both of us?" Connor asked.

"Tell me something. Are you jealous of what Murphy and I have?"

"Uh… Aye, I was. How did you know?"

"Call it a hunch. You see, even when I was blind, I knew there was something wrong. You would go from being happy having me around to being really quiet. And I understand why you were acting that way."

"You do!?"

"Yeah. Do you remember that girl I told you about? The one who was naked in my apartment? She wasn't just Normie's girlfriend. She was his wife."

"He was married!?" Murphy asked as he crawled off the mattress then went to sit next to her.

"Yeah, he was. When they first got engaged, I wasn't happy about it. I was jealous because he had the woman he loved and I didn't have the boy I love."

Murphy noticed she didn't say "loved" and Connor glanced at him.

"When I talked to Normie about how I felt, he assured me that there was no way in Hell that he would ever leave me behind. And his wife told me she would never try to break us up," she said as she looked at Connor. "As for the three of us? Tout pour un et un pour tout."

"One fer one and one fer all," Connor said.

"Right," she said with a grin. She moved closer to kiss Connor's cheek while he blushed then she looked at Murphy. Murphy was looking at the ceiling when he made a deep sigh and he moved his eyes to look at them.

"I'm not sharin' her," Murphy suddenly said. Louisa gave him a stunned look while Connor broke out laughing and he went to rest on his back.