2007 – Ireland

The door to the apartment opened while Louisa walked inside then she placed the luggage on the floor. She closed and locked the door as she turned and she scanned the main room with her eyes.

It had been nearly eight years since she went into exile with Noah, Murphy and Connor.

She had contacted the agency to tell them she was moving to Ireland because New York held too many bad memories.

She had found a small apartment in the village and the people of the village turned out to be very friendly.

Sean had sent her some new equipment and her landlord allowed her to convert the spare bedroom into a darkroom.

She walked to the wall with framed photographs on it when she looked at the framed black and white photograph of a man with long dark hair and a full beard sitting on the grass and his face was barely visible. She touched the glass as she smiled and she looked at the gold chain with two gold wedding rings dangling on the nail next to the framed photograph.

Five years earlier

Louisa spent all the free time she had at the homestead with Noah, Murphy and Connor.

She learned how to ride a horse and she admitted she liked sheering and taking care of sheep.

Noah was his usual silent self, but what worried her was how quiet Murphy and Connor had become.

She decided to make sure the twins didn't sink further into whatever darkness they were sinking into.

She took long rides on horseback with Connor and he would eventually open up to her.

She would take Murphy on long walks into the hills, but he wouldn't speak. They would just sit on the grass and look out over the scenery. At some point, he would slowly slide closer to hold her and she realized that was his way of telling her he was alright.

"Marry me," Murphy suddenly said one day while they were lying in the grass and she sat up, looking down at him.

"Marry you?" she asked.

"Aye," he said as he sat up and he brushed the hair out of his face. "Right here. Right now."

"Murphy…"

"You still love me, aye?"

"I can't believe you asked me that. Of course, I do."

"Then marry me."

"Don't we need a priest or witnesses?"

"No, we have all we need," he said as they got onto their knees then he leaned back on his legs. They locked eyes as he lifted her right hand and he pressed her palm against his chest. She could just feel his heart beating as he sighed and she placed the palm of his right hand against her chest. "Dear Lord, we ask Thee fer your blessin' on this day of our weddin'. I am aware enterin' into th'holy act of marriage with regrets or doubt is a sin. But I have no regrets nor do I doubt th'love I have fer th'woman kneelin' before me. She has been my love since we were young an' I believe it was Thy will which brought us back together. An', even though I am now one of Thy Saints, I promise t'love, honor and protect her with every breath in my body and with every beat of my heart until death takes me."

She heard the honesty and love in his words as she blinked the tears from her eyes and he nodded his head for her to speak.

"Dear Lord, I thank Thee for bringing this man into my life. I never knew there was someone so wonderful, yet so reckless in the world," she said and he softly laughed. "I am also aware entering into the holy act of marriage with regrets or doubts is a sin. The only regret I have is my sin of dishonoring my mother. I pray for Thy mercy for that. I do not have any doubts though. I love this man since we were young and I also believe it was Thee who led me down the path which brought me back to him. Even though my sight was taken, I could feel the love we share and I thank Thee for returning my sight. I know I am rambling now, but I promise to love and honor him and I will be there for him in his mission as one of Thy Saints until death takes me. Finally, I ask Thee to watch over him, his brother and father."

They moved to kiss each other as he held the back of her head in his hand. She gently pushed him down onto the grass while he locked his legs over her legs and he deepened the kiss. They were breathless when they moved back and he looked deeply into her eyes.

Louisa placed her hand over the wedding rings as she smiled then she looked at the other framed photograph. The photograph was a black and white photograph of a woman's back. A tattoo of a perfectly detailed pair of angel wings started at her shoulders and the tips of the wings ended just above her bottom. Where the wings joined was an eight-point star, four large points and four smaller points, and there was a letter in each of the smaller points.

What no one knew was the woman in the photograph was Louisa herself.

Three years earlier

Louisa walked in the barn as she saw Murphy and Connor sitting on the floor and Murphy was working on the tattoo on Connor's back. Both of them had their shirts off and she looked at the tattoo on Murphy's back. The tattoo was of Christ's lower legs and feet on the cross and she looked at the tattoo of two winged demons next to it . She walked closer when she saw what looked like a cross and a man's head and chest on Connor's back and she tilted her head to one side.

"Hullo, Lou," Murphy said, glancing at her.

"What is that?" she asked.

"It's gonna be Christ's head and chest on the cross."

"It looks really good."

"Thanks."

"You should give her a tattoo, Murphy," Connor said.

"No thanks. I am not a big fan of needles," Louisa said.

"I barely feel it."

She saw the reassuring look in Murphy's eyes as she sighed then she nodded her head.

A few days later, Murphy came up with the design as she sat on the floor and Connor sat across from her. She kept her eyes focused on his eyes while Murphy moved the needle over her skin then he would gently wipe her back with a clean cloth. When he was finally finished, he kissed her left shoulder and Connor helped her to her feet.

"Let's have a look," Connor said. She turned around as his eyes widened and he smiled. "Christ."

"Lord's name," Murphy warned and he nodded.

"What does it look like?" Louisa asked.

"It's a pair of angel wings," Connor said. He went to get her camera when he took a photograph of the tattoo and she looked at the screen after he handed the camera to her.

"Wow," she whispered. She gave Murphy a hug and he lightly kissed the side of her head.

"Uh, Murphy, what's that at the center of th'wings?"

"That's a star," Murphy said.

"Why are there letters in th'smaller points?"

"Letters?" Louisa asked, frowning.

"L, M, C and N."

She thought for a few seconds then she smiled and she shook her head.

"Louisa, Murphy, Connor and Norman."

Murphy nodded and Connor sadly smiled.

"Stretch your back," Murphy whispered and Louisa stretched her back as the wings seemed to move.

"Damn," Connor said.

"What happened?" Louisa asked.

'It looks like th'wings are movin'."

She smiled at Murphy as he kissed her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Louisa walked back to her luggage as she picked up the luggage and she walked down the small hallway to the bedroom. She looked at the double bed as she smiled then a cold blast of air moved through her. She placed the luggage down when she ran down the small hallway, opened the door and she left the apartment.

It didn't take long for her to drive to the homestead. She stopped the small, dark blue car near the black sedan with darkened windows and she got out of the car. She watched the door opened while Connor and Murphy followed the older man down the stairs and Noah stood in the doorway.

"Murphy!" she called out and Murphy and Connor stopped. She noticed they were dressed in black sweaters, black leather belts, black jeans and black boots and the black Navy peacoats they were wearing swayed in the wind. Their hair had been cut and they had shaved off their beards. The sunlight shimmer off the silver circlets on the wooden crosses at the end of their rosaries and she noticed how serious they looked. She walked to them as Murphy reached for her and she moved into his embrace. "What is going on?"

"They have work t'do," Father Sibeal said. Sibeal was Noah's younger brother. He knew about their mission and he had brought things and food to them over the years. He also acted as their spiritual leader and he liked Louisa.

"What are you talking about?"

Sibeal explained as she nodded her head from time to time then she looked at Murphy.

"Promise me both of you will be careful," she said. Murphy gave her a nod as she lightly brushed her finger over the mole on his cheek and he took hold of her hand. "I really have missed seeing that."

She walked to Connor as he gave her a grin and she saw the sadness in his eyes.

"Still good lookin'?" Connor asked. Nodding, she gave him a hug and he wrapped his arms around her. They moved back as she walked back to Murphy and he leaned in for a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck while he held the back of her head in his hand and she silently prayed for them to be safe. She moved back while the sunlight shimmered in his blue eyes and he looked toward the homestead.

"Go be with Da," Murphy said, letting go of her. She watched Sibeal, Murphy and Connor get in the sedan as she gave them a small wave then she walked to Noah. He moved back to allow her to go inside then he walked inside while he closed the door behind them.

A few weeks later

Louisa walked out of the bedroom as she walked down the small hallway and she headed for the kitchenette. The sound of someone knocking on her door made her freeze as the knock came again, but in a different pattern. She slowly walked to the door when she looked through the peephole and she opened the door enough to see out into the hallway. Noah looked at her when she closed the door, unlocked the door then she opened the door enough for him to enter the apartment. She closed and locked the door as he walked toward the frame photographs and she went to stand next to him

"Is this Murphy?" he asked, pointing to the framed photograph.

"Yes," she said. He noticed the gold chain hanging on the nail next to frame when he lightly slid his hand under the wedding rings and she wondered what was going through his mind.

"Are these yours?"

"Yes."

"When did you get married?"

"It was the third year of our exile."

"Where is your husband?"

"He's not here right now."

"Does Murphy know you were unfaithful t'him?"

She didn't answer him as she walked away and he pulled the gold chain until the clasp broke. He held the chain in his hand as he stormed toward her and she spun around to face him.

"Murphy's my husband," she said through clenched teeth and he dropped the chain onto the floor. She bent down to pick up the chain as she held the chain tenderly in her hand then she looked at him. "He asked me to marry him during one of our walks."

"Where were you married?"

"It was right there on top of a hill. We knelt in the grass and we spoke our words of love and devotion to each other."

"Why didn't you wait until you could be married in a church?"

"He said we had all we needed."

Noah walked back to the framed photograph of Murphy as he looked at image of Murphy and he could see and feel the pain in the partially hidden face of his son.

"I didn't want this fer him…Or Connor," he said after a few seconds. She walked to stand next to him and she slid the chain over the nail. She tied the ends of the chain into a knot and the wedding rings slowly spun in a small circle. "I thought th'peace of being here would release th'memories of their past. Like waking up from a strange dream."

"Hasn't it?"

"Not if they are willin' t'o back t'their past so easily."

"Do you think I was one of the reasons why it was so hard for them to forget?"

"No, you are a Godsend."

She was surprised by his words as he walked to the framed photograph of her back and he frowned.

"Murphy did that," she said.

"He took th'photo?" he asked.

"No, he did the tattoo."

"Who's th'woman?"

"Me," she said. He saw the blush moving over her cheeks as he softly laughed and she shrugged. "He wasn't pleased when it was published as the cover of a tattooing magazine. He told me the only one who should be looking at my back is him."

"Well, you are his wife."

She was pleased with him accepting their marriage when she thought of something then she frowned and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I need you t'do summat fer me."

"Does it have to do with Murphy and Connor?"

"Aye, it does."

"Are they alright?"

"I don't know. All I know is you need t'go t'Boston."

She saw the seriousness in his eyes and she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"When do you want me to go?" she asked.

"Now," he said and she felt a cold chill move through her.

"Now?!"

"Aye," he said. Nodding, she headed for the small hallway then she went into the bedroom and he looked at the framed photograph of Murphy.

Boston Logan International Airport

Louisa picked the overnight bag and the small suitcase when she led the small suitcase out of the luggage pick up area and she headed for the exit. The morning sunlight hit her as she removed the sunglasses from her purse and she placed the sunglasses on. Having to wear sunglasses was one thing. Being sensitive to sunlight was another. She looked around when she tried to figure out where the twins would be and she leaned against the wall.

"Think, Lou. Where could they be?" she whispered, placing her head back. "Shit. Rocco, I wish you were here."

She closed her eyes when she thought she heard Rocco's laugh then his voice whispered "Go to McGinty's." in her right ear. She quickly opened her eyes when she took hold of the handle of the small suitcase and she walked down the sidewalk.

McGinty's

The door opened while Louisa walked inside and she held onto the strap of the overnight bag. She led the small suitcase toward the bar as Doc walked out of his office and his eyes widened.

"Hey, Doc," she said.

"Wha-what are you doin' he-here, lass!?" he asked as he walked to her and she hugged him.

"I don't really know. Do you know where Murphy or Connor are?"

Doc knew the twins would be furious if he told her where they were, but he trusted Louisa and he held his right index finger to his lips. He led her to the door which led to the stairs leading up to the storeroom and she left the overnight bag and the suitcase at the bottom of the stairs. They quietly went upstairs as he unlocked the door and he barely opened the door. He looked inside when he turned the light on and she walked by him. He closed the door as she walked toward the pool table and she looked down at the young Hispanic man lying on his back. She then saw Murphy sleeping on the floor and Connor was snoring on the couch. Smiling, she walked to where Murphy was sleeping then she knelt down and she brushed her fingers through his hair. A smile appeared on his face as he wiggled a little bit and she moved her hand down to move her finger along his jawline. He snorted awake as he looked up at her and she leaned down to kiss his lips. She made a little yelp as he pulled her down on top of him and Connor opened his eyes.

"What was that?!" Connor asked with a sleepy tone to his voice and Romeo woke up. Romeo sat up then he crawled to the other end of the pool table and he looked down at Murphy and Louisa.

"Looks like Murphy's getting lucky," Romeo said, grinning. Connor walked to his twin as Louisa sat up and her hands rested on Murphy's chest.

"Lou?!" Connor gasped. She got up to give Connor a hug and Murphy got to his feet. They moved back as Romeo climbed off the pool table then he leaned against it.

"That's a guy?"

"No, Lou is short fer Louisa," Murphy said, sliding his arms around Louisa and he pulled her against him.

"Oh," he said while he elongated the "o". "Mind telling me how you two met?"

Louisa, Connor and Murphy took turns as they explained and Romeo made a soft sniffing sound. Louisa noticed the tears rolling down his cheeks and he moved his head side-to-side.

"Are you cryin'?" Murphy asked.

"So, what if I am. That is one of the most romantic stories I have ever heard," Romeo said with a smug look.

"Who are you?" Louisa asked.

"This is Romeo," Murphy said.

"He's our Mexican," Connor said then he told her how they met Romeo.

"Pleased to meet you, Lou," Romeo said and they shook hands. Murphy turned her to face him and she saw the worry in his eyes.

"What are you doin' here?" Murphy asked.

"Your dad told me to come," she said.

"Why? Is he alright?"

"He did seem a little upset about something, but he didn't say what. All he said was I had to go to Boston."

"How did you figure out where we were?" Connor asked.

"It's going to sound weird."

"Tell us."

"When I arrived, I had no idea where you were. Then I wished Rocco was here to help me."

"Who's Rocco?" Romeo asked.

"He was our friend," Murphy said.

"Was?"

"He's dead."

"Oh."

"Now, this is where it gets weird. I thought I head Rocco laughing. The next thing I knew, he whispered in my ear to come here," Louisa said. Murphy and Connor looked at each other while they had a silent conversation and Romeo frowned.

"What are they doing?" Romeo asked.

"They're talking to each other."

"They're not saying anything."

"I know."

Romeo shrugged while Doc opened the door and Romeo went to take the tray Doc had in his hands.

"So, is someone going to tell me what's going on?" Louisa asked. Murphy took her hand as he led her to the couch then he sat down and she sat on his lap. He explained while Romeo placed the tray on top of the pool table and Romeo and Connor started eating the food. Murphy saw the confused and worried look on her face as he leaned her against him and she placed her right hand on his left shoulder. "Why are we just sitting here!? We need to go get this asshole!"

"No no no no no! There is no "we". There is jus' me, Connor an' Romeo," Murphy warned, pointing his right index finger at her.

"I want to help."

"I said no."

"What do you expect me to do? Sit here and make bandages?!"

"Are they married?" Romeo whispered while Connor took a sip of coffee and he nodded his head.

"No, I don't expect you t'do that. I jus'…," Murphy said then he paused. Murphy knew he was losing as he lowered his head and she placed the palm of her left hand against his chest. He noticed she had her wedding ring on as he smiled and he placed his left hand over hers.

"You are one stubborn woman," he teased and she laughed.

"Now that we established that, can we please eat?!" Romeo asked. Murphy held Louisa to his side as they walked to the pool table and Romeo handed Louisa a cup of coffee.