"Hello, I'm In Delaware" by City and Colour

"Oh come on!" Connor said petulantly as he threw his hand of cards on the table. Romeo had, once again, managed to have a better hand than him in poker.

"That's bullshit," Murphy agreed.

"What? I'm just lucky," Romeo argued with a smug grin.

"Only the Irish are that lucky," Connor said, his face incredulous. Romeo shrugged smugly, pulling his winnings towards him.

I shook my head, standing up and stretching. Murphy also stood, instinctively knowing that I was about to wander off. I smiled, holding out my hand. He took it, leaving Connor and Romeo behind to sort out who has a luckier heritage.

Murphy and I walked around in silence. Nobody even spared us a second glance. People here at least tend to keep to themselves for the most part. As soon as we were far enough away from everyone, Murphy kissed me, pinning my back to one of the storage containers. I couldn't help but smile. The spontaneity was appreciated.

He pulled away slightly, resting his forehead on mine. "I can't wait to be off of this boat," he admitted.

"It's only been two days," I teased.

"That's forever," he corrected stubbornly. I couldn't help but laugh. He smiled softly. "I've missed ye."

"You keep telling me that." I rubbed my nose against his. "I've missed you, too."

"I never get tired of hearing ye say that."

"I hope I don't have to keep saying it," I frowned. "Unless you're planning on going somewhere."

"No," he reassured me quickly. He sighed. "I'm glad yer coming with us. I don't like the idea of leaving Kelly and Declan behind, but I'll worry less this way."

"I know, it's as if I have good ideas." I was teasing him, trying to keep the mood light. He gave me an unamused look. I sighed. It wasn't going to be easy to just pull him out of this mood. "I know what you mean, I'm just teasing you."

He brushed my hair out of my face, kissed my forehead, and pulled me close to him, his arms wrapping around me protectively. It was almost as if he were afraid I was either going to change my mind and leave or that I might just shatter and fall to pieces right then and there.

"I'm okay, Murph," I assured him, hugging him tighter. "I'm just sad. I never dealt with anything that happened in Boston. I just left. And then I had Declan and Kelly to worry about." I pulled away from him.

A pained look crossed his face as he tried to figure out how to respond to that. I shook my head at him.

"No, there's nothing to be sorry for. Things happened the way that they did and we can't change it. We wouldn't be where we are now if they hadn't. And it's not a perfect life, but you and I found each other. Our children are safe."

"Things could have been different."

"But they aren't." I placed my head against his chest, enjoying the feeling of closeness. "I want to visit Rocco when we get to Boston."

"It'll be the first stop."

"Thank you."

"Where'd you two run off te?" Connor wiggled his eyebrows suggestively when we finally returned. Romeo was nowhere to be seen.

"Shut up, ye eejit," Murphy grumbled, slapping him gently on the back of the head.

This devolved into their typical twin bickering before Connor finally called a truce and requested that Murphy touch up the tattoo on his back. After a few more quips, Murphy agreed. I settled into my usual place with a book in my hands on the cot I shared with Murphy. It was hard to concentrate though.

"If ye could dye yer hair any color, what would it be?" Connor questioned. Murphy gave it some thought as I turned my head to stare at them.

"Lighter," Murphy decided. Connor lit up like someone had just told him that whiskey was half off today.

"Blond? Like gay, gay blond?"

Murphy began to protest before giving up and stabbing Connor with the pen he had been tattooing with. And then they were once again wrestling. I sighed, trying to resume my book, and decided to just not get involved. They'll sort it out. I was also silently thankful that Declan and Kelly didn't do this. They'd bicker and tease one another, but physical altercations were out of the question.

I sighed once again, this time in irritation at the noise as they knocked over the table, spilling the bowl full of water and coins they had been cleaning. Swinging my legs off of the cot, I sat up to yell at them only to realize that Romeo was there staring at the coins.

"Holy shit," he breathed out, glancing at the twins, then to me, and then to the coins. Murphy and Connor immediately threw him to the ground, putting the barrels of their guns to his face. Oh for God's sake. "No, no, no, wait! I want in."

The twins looked confused, exchanging looks of disbelief.

"You guys do the right thing. I want to help. It's badass."

"Stop trying to kill the sympathizers," I eventually chided the boys when they didn't move their guns from pointing at Romeo's face. Romeo grinned at me gratefully.

"Wait, are you actually in charge? That's hot."

I laughed. "Absolutely not. No one is in charge of the McManus twins, trust me."

Connor and Murphy exchanged indignant looks before looking at me and speaking in unison: "what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're both stubborn and impossible."

"Well she's not wrong," Connor admitted. Murphy scowled but didn't argue.

"Are you boys gonna clean up the coins, or am I going to have to do it?" I interrupted what was sure to be another whole ordeal of arguing.

"We've got it," Murphy grumbled. I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and tried to resume my book. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and I'm going to be glad to be off of this ship. Even if it is in Boston.

That night, I slept very poorly. I gave up about halfway through, climbing over Murphy, and leaving our little area to try and walk around the ship to clear my head. I didn't get very far before I found Romeo doing some sit ups very vigorously. He stopped and grinned when he saw me.

"Hey boss," he greeted brightly. Nothing seemed to phase him. I started crying. "Whoa, whoa, don't cry. I'll get better, I swear!"

He came over and immediately tried to rub my back. I wiped my eyes, shaking my head.

"I'm sorry, you just remind me of someone," I said, fighting to gain my composure. Romeo said nothing, looking up at me with concerned, big brown eyes. He led me over to what I assumed was his cot and handed me a bottle of water. I held it but didn't open it. Instead I stared at it like it might have the answers to the aching pain I felt in my chest.

"What was he like?" Romeo asked after a few moments of silence.

"He was kind and funny. And he always thought he could handle anything," I smiled, remembering Rocco's easygoing smile and how his eyes lit up when he smiled. "He died about eight years ago. In Boston. He won't be there this time."

"He wouldn't want you to be sad," Romeo insisted, rubbing my back. "I don't want you to be sad either, boss."

I glanced at Romeo and laughed. "I'm not the boss."

He waved his hand dismissively at me. "They listen to you. Usually."

"Sometimes."

It was his turn to laugh. "Fair enough."

I handed him back the water bottle. "Thank you."

Romeo shrugged with an easy grin. "No problem. You just come to me any time you feel sad and I'll make you laugh." I surprised him with a hug and then returned to Murphy.

Murphy stirred slightly when I climbed back in bed, throwing an arm around me and pulling me close to him. I watched him sleep for a few moments before falling asleep myself.