The door opened while Margaret walked in the room and she held the wooden tray in her hands. She watched Connor sleeping on his right side as she walked to the bed and she placed the tray on the floor. She sat on the edge of the bed as she lightly moved her fingers over his left shoulder and he made a content sigh.
"Are you watchin' me sleep again?" he whispered. His eyes were slightly open as she leaned down and she kissed his shoulder.
"Yes, I am," Margaret said. He yawned before he sat up and he placed the pillows behind his back. He noticed she was dressed, but what worried him was the concerned look on her face and he frowned.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I'll tell you after you've eaten," she said, picking the tray off the floor and she placed the tray on his lap. He looked at the food on the plate and the small cup of tea as he picked up the fork, but his left hand started shaking. "Let me do it."
He let her feed him as he ate and she helped him drink some tea.
"What time is it?"
"It's a little after two in the afternoon," she said and his eyes widened.
"I've been sleepin' all day?!"
"Most of it."
His mind tried to figure out what was going on when he remembered the dream and he made a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Talk to me."
"I don't know where t'start."
"I have a feeling you had one hell of a nightmare."
"You're right," he said and she fed him some more food and she helped him drink some tea. "It felt so real."
"Tell me about it," she said and he told her. She nodded her head a few times when he stopped talking and she moved the tray onto the floor. She crawled onto the bed as she sat next to him and he rolled into her. She wrapped her arms around him as he leaned his head against her shoulder and she lightly kissed the tip of his nose.
"This was not how I wanted t'spend th'first day of our honeymoon," he said.
"It wasn't how I wanted to spend it either."
"Where did all of this come from?"
"I used my satellite phone and called for a food and supply drop."
"I didn't know you could get a signal here."
"I was surprised to."
"Is Murphy alright?" he asked, looking at the doorway.
"I think so. Louisa said he's still asleep."
Connor blinked his eyes a few times while he moved his fingers along her side and she gently rubbed his back.
Louisa opened the door as she carried the tray in the room and she saw Murphy was curled up into a small ball under the blankets. She walked to the bed when she placed the tray on the floor as Murphy's eyes fluttered open and she smiled.
"Hey," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed and his body straightened. He looked at her with a strange look in his eyes and she reached over to brush some hair out of his eyes. He moved back and she felt a small ache in her chest. "It's really me."
"Sorry," he said. She nodded when she went to pick the tray off the floor and he sat up. He placed the pillows behind his back when she placed the tray on his lap and he looked at the food on the plate. "Where did this come from?"
"Margaret called for food and supplies."
"What time is it?"
"Around a little after two."
"In the afternoon?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I didn't wanna."
He thought about the dream as he looked at the fork and she picked the fork up. She started feeding him and she helped him drink some tea and he glanced at her from time to time.
"Lou?" he asked and she waited for him to continue. "I was so scared."
"I figured as much. Remember what Connor told me when I had my nightmare?"
"Aye."
"Then bring it into the light."
He nodded as he told her and she felt her stomach sinking. She looked over at the framed photograph then she looked at him and he gave her a guilty look.
"Shit," she whispered.
"The odd thing was, I believe it."
"Do you know why?"
"No. I have no fuckin' clue. All I knew was I couldn't wake up no matter how hard I tried."
"Do you remember that one time we went for a walk and you finally talked to me? You told me you felt like you and Connor were being punished. Not for what you guys did, but for what happened to Rocco. You blamed yourself for his death and being here was your hell."
"I remember."
"Well, I did the same when Norman died. I thought my blindness was my punishment."
"You never told me that."
"I didn't wanna."
"What stopped you from punishin' yourself?"
"You, Connor, Romeo and Rocco. Being a part of all this. It showed me I had no control over what happened and punishing myself was wrong. And it is wrong. Rocco knew what he was getting into. Just like Romeo does. Like you and Connor do. And the fact you believe you should be punished proves you and Connor're not some sort of killing machines. You still have a soul and you still feel. That is why it took a lot for you two to decide if you should kill Smecker or not. Even after he asked you to."
Murphy heard the truth in her words as he nodded and she started feeding him again.
"The worst part was that," he said, pointing to the frame photograph. She knew how much the photo meant to him and Connor and she brushed some hair behind his ear. She thought back to the other photographs she had taken during their exile and she knew neither of the twins ever looked at them. He watched her get off the bed as she walked to the wall then she took the frame down and she placed the frame in her suitcase. "Why did you do that?"
"I wanna take it home where it belongs," she said when Connor appeared in the doorway and she walked to him. He was wearing a white sweater, jeans and his light brown leather cowboy boots and he had his hands in his pockets. She gave him a hug while Connor leaned his head against hers then he let go. "You ok?"
"Aye," he said, looking toward Murphy. "You ok?"
"Aye," Murphy said with a nod.
"Maggie said she got summat fer us. It's outside. Do you wanna go see it?"
"What is it?"
"Dunno."
Murphy looked at the blankets as Connor nodded then he walked away and Louisa helped her husband get dressed.
The air was cool and crisp as the front door opened and Murphy and Louisa walked outside. He looked around with his eyes when he looked up at the light gray sky and he blinked his eyes a few times.
"Over here," Margaret said. He looked over at her when Louisa led him to her and Margaret was standing in front of something covered in a gray tarp.
"What's that?" Murphy asked.
"Take a look."
Murphy moved the gray tarp back when he looked at the motorcycle with two black helmets sitting on the seat and he looked at her. Smiling, she nodded and Murphy picked up one of the helmets. He placed the helmet on his head then he handed the other helmet to Louisa then he mounted the motorcycle. He started the engine as the engine growled and he moved the kickstand up. He motioned with his hand for them to get out of the way then he rode the motorcycle down the road. He made a turn as he rode back to them, placed the kickstand down, turned off the engine and he got off the motorcycle. He removed the helmet as he placed the helmet back on the seat then he walked to Margaret. She laughed when he hugged her while he leaned his head against hers and she lightly patted his back.
"Where's Connor?" Murphy asked, moving back.
"He's enjoying his present," she said, pointing toward the fence. Murphy walked to the fence when he climbed up to sit on the top part and he watched Connor riding a chestnut brown stallion. Margaret and Louisa walked to the fence as Louisa climbed up to sit next to Murphy and Margaret leaned on the top part of the fence. Connor saw them as he steered the stallion to the fence then the stallion stopped.
"What do you think?" Connor asked. The stallion nudged Murphy while Murphy lightly patted the stallion's nose and Murphy smiled.
"He's great," Murphy said with a nod.
"There's a horse in the stable for you if you want."
"Nah."
"Suit yourself," he said as he held his hand out toward Margaret and she climbed up onto the fence. He helped her onto the stallion as he rode off and Louisa moved closer to Murphy. She glanced over at the motorcycle when she nudged his right arm and he looked at her. He then looked at the motorcycle as he smiled and they got off the fence.
The sun peeked out from behind the clouds while the stallion moved through the grass and Margaret held onto Connor's waist. They had headed into the hills as the wind moved through their hair and she felt how relaxed he was. He stopped the stallion near a lone tree with slightly bare branches and she could see for miles in any direction. She watched him dismount the stallion when he held his arms out and she slid into his arms. He placed her on her feet when she realized she recognized the tree and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"This is where Louisa took that photograph of you," she whispered and he rubbed her back.
"Aye," Connor said while looking around with his eyes.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"I guess I needed to."
She moved back to lock eyes with him while they stood in the silence and she saw the misery in his eyes.
"No, not again," she thought. She placed her arms around his chest as she leaned up to kiss his lips and his face looked surprised then relieved. She pushed him against the trunk of the tree while they kissed and he liked how she was rubbing against him. Her right hand moved to pull his sweater up as her chilled fingers moved over his stomach and he shivered. Her left hand slid down to help move his sweater up a little more and her fingers moved up his chest.
"Christ," he whispered against her lips.
"Lord's name," she whispered and he smiled. She moved back while she pulled his sweater down and he frowned.
"Hey."
"Sorry. I didn't… I shouldn't have…."
He noticed she was shutting down as he pushed off the trunk of the tree and he watched her walking back to the stallion. He quickly followed her when he placed his hands on her shoulders and she turned to look at him.
"What's wrong?" Connor asked.
"I made you do something you didn't want to do again."
"You think I didn't wanna make love t'my wife under a tree?!"
"No, I didn't want you to be miserable."
"I'm not miserable."
"You looked like it."
"So, you think makin' love t'me will make me not be miserable?"
"Maybe."
She didn't expect him to softly laugh as he held her and he kissed the side of her head.
"I love you," he said and she smiled. She then saw his face change while he looked at the horizon and he sighed. "Wanna know summat?"
"Sure."
"I have been thinkin' an' I've come up with a plan. But I'm not sure Murphy will go along with it."
"What's the plan?"
"Well, I've been wonderin' what I wanna do if I wasn't a Saint anymore. Like, say, I lost a leg or summat."
"Don't say things like that."
"Sorry. Anyway, I know Da took us here t'help us ferget what we did, but it never worked. Not really. But th'one thing I liked was bein' out here. Sittin' on horseback and jus' watchin' over th'sheep."
"You want to be a sheep rancher?" she asked with wide eyes and he nodded. "Why do you think Murphy wouldn't like that plan?"
"He doesn't like t'stay in one spot. He likes t'keep movin'. Goin' from one place to th'other. Then there's Lou. She loves her career. I can't see her givin' it up for my idiotic plan."
"It's not idiotic."
He noticed she was going into ice queen mode as he sighed and she brushed some hair out of his eyes.
"So, you wouldn't mind bein' married t'a sheep rancher?" he asked.
"No, I wouldn't mind. Now, let's go home and see what Murphy and Louisa want to do."
Nodding, he helped her back onto the stallion then he got on the stallion and the stallion headed down the trail.
The motorcycle came to a stop near the curb while Louisa looked up at the four story, white brick building and Murphy placed the kickstand down. He stood then turned to sit facing her and he moved the visor up.
"Is this where you lived while we were in exile?" Murphy asked, looking at the building.
"Aye. It was the fourth floor, third window," she said while she pointed and he looked at where she was pointing. "Want to go up and see it?"
"You still have the keys?"
"Yep," she said and he lowered his head. "Murphy?"
"It's nothin'."
"Talk to me."
He lifted his head as he sighed and he removed the helmet. He noticed no one gave him a second look as he placed the helmet on his lap and she removed the helmet. She locked eyes with him and he titled his head to one side.
"You're goin' t'think I'm nuts," he said with a sigh.
"No, I won't."
"I was thinkin' about what I'd do if I couldn't be a Saint anymore."
"What would you like to do?"
"You know I like workin' on my bike an' I'm pretty good at tattooin', but…"
"But what?"
"I also like lookin' after th'sheep. I admit I felt like it was a prison while we were in exile, but I wouldn't mind givin' it a chance."
"Are you saying you want to stay here?"
"Aye, that's what I'm sayin'. Don't get me wrong. I love livin' in Costa Rica. It's jus'…"
"You're homesick," she said with a nod.
"Do you feel like that? Do you miss New York?"
"Sometimes, yeah."
"So, what do you think I should do?"
"Dad always told me and Normie we should do what makes us happy. If staying here makes you happy then that's what we'll do."
"What about Connor? Do you think he'll wanna stay?"
"Let's go ask him."
Nodding, he placed the helmet back on, stood up, turned, sat down then he started the engine. He moved the kickstand up and Louisa put the helmet on before holding onto his waist. The motorcycle headed down the road while she listened to a silly song Murphy was singing and she smiled.
The motorcycle stopped in front of the house while Murphy put the kickstand down, turned off the engine and he removed the helmet. Louisa removed her helmet as they dismounted the motorcycle and they headed for the front door. He opened the door when they walked inside and he noticed the small table next to the door. He placed the helmets on the small table while Louisa walked into the bedroom and she walked to the suitcase. She removed the frame when she walked back in the main room and he watched her walk to the fireplace. She fixed the frame so she could place the frame on the mantel, but she couldn't reach the mantel and he walked to her. She giggled while he lifted her up and she placed the frame on the mantel.
"Aw….," Connor said after he opened the front door then he and Margaret walked in the room and Murphy lowered Louisa to her feet. He walked to Connor while Connor walked to him and they stood in the middle of the room.
"We need t'talk," they said at the same time and Connor frowned.
"You go first," Connor said.
"No, you," Murphy said. Connor explained what he wanted to do as a slightly stunned look appeared on Murphy's face and Connor wondered what was wrong. "Shit, that's what I want t'do."
"You do?!"
"Aye."
"But I thought you hated this place."
"I didn't hate it as much as I hated why we were here."
"That's why I hated it."
Smiling, Murphy shoved him then they broke out laughing and Margaret and Louisa smiled.
"But we can't do it. We're still th'Saints," Murphy said.
"No, you're not," Margaret said and they gave her a puzzled look. "Remember when you two were in the hospital and I made a phone call?"
"Aye, you never told us why," Connor said.
"It has to do with Baker and would he get in trouble for killing the Saints. That got me thinking. Why not kill them?" she asked and their eyes widened. "I don't mean really kill them. Just make people think they're dead."
"In other words, fake their deaths," Louisa said, sliding her arms around Murphy's waist.
"Exactly."
"But there were those sketches of us. People know what we look like," Connor said.
"Those sketches are nearly a decade old. You've aged since then."
"Our photos were taken at the prison."
"Those have mysteriously disappeared."
"Including mine," came from the front door while Romeo and a young Hispanic woman with long black hair and brown eyes walked inside and he smiled.
"Where did you come from?" Murphy asked.
"An' who is she?" Connor asked.
"This is Jessie. She was my date for your wedding and she was or is my bodyguard."
"Hey," Jessie Gomez said with a wave and Louisa noticed the sweet look Romeo was giving her.
"And they were the other surprise," Margaret said.
"So much for the honeymoon," Connor teased and she lightly tapped her fingers against his chest.
"Are the Saints dead?" Louisa asked.
"As far as the Chinese, Russian and Italian Mafias and the world governments are concerned, yes, they're dead," Margaret said with a nod.
"Does that mean I can travel with Lou when she goes on assignment?" Murphy asked.
Louisa had forgotten about her career.
She knew she loved what she did, but she also wanted to support Murphy and Connor just like they had supported her.
She looked at Murphy then at Connor then at the framed photograph on the mantel when she blinked her eyes a few times and he gently turned her toward him.
"Lou, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I told you if this is what will make you happy then that's what we'll do," she said.
"But I don't want you t'give up summat that makes you happy."
"I wouldn't want that either," Connor said, looking at Margaret. "That goes fer you, too."
"Yes, I get that," Margaret said, crossing her arms under her breasts. "But what you two have to understand is we want to do this."
"Exactly. You two bent over backwards to make me happy when I was blind and I appreciate it. Now…? Now it's my turn," Louisa said.
The twins looked at each other while they had a silent conversation then they smiled and nodded their heads.
"Ok. What do we need to do first?" Romeo asked as he looked at them. "Unless I'm not included in all this."
"Are you serious?! Of course, you're included," Connor said and Romeo sniffed, lowering his head. "Aw, don't cry!"
Connor and Murphy walked to him as they hugged him and Romeo softly laughed.
Later that night, the house was silent while Romeo and Jessie slept in the sleeping bags on the floor in the main room and Margaret and Louisa slept while holding onto their husbands. Murphy and Connor rested on their backs while they thought about what the voices had told them in the dream when they carefully got out of bed and they walked in the main room. They stood in front of the fireplace while they looked at the frame on the mantel, slid their arms around each other's shoulders and they nodded, smiling at each other.
