"Watch Me While I Bloom" by Hayley Williams

"Again?" Adrienne asked, raising her eyebrows at me. "You're gonna run me out of paperwork. Again."

"Why does everyone keep saying 'again?' And it's only twins, it won't be quite like last time," I insisted.

"Good because you're much better in the field than you are with paperwork. Plus you can't leave me with Eunice as your replacement."

I stared at her, trying to figure out how to politely ask about what Smecker had told us about Eunice, Connor, and Adrienne.

"What?"

"Is being with Eunice such a punishment still?"

"I knew Smecker couldn't keep his mouth shut."

"He never keeps his mouth shut about anything." I realized that this wasn't true as soon as I said it. He technically never told anyone I was involved with the Saints at all. And nobody outside of anyone who was involved knows anything about it. So I guess that's not technically true.

"And to answer your question: yes, sometimes it's still a punishment to be around her. She was not made for archaeology."

"That's a valid point," I laughed. I paused again.

"You're wondering how exactly this happened?"

"I mean a bit. I know Connor is smooth but he's not that smooth."

Adrienne laughed. "He's a lot less smooth than you'd think he is."

"Oh? Give me all of the incriminating details. I need ammunition."

"Who are we incriminating?" Eunice asked, bringing a box of things that needed to be cleaned into Adrienne's tent. Adrienne put her pen down dramatically and stared at the tall Southern belle. "These don't go here, huh?"

Adrienne sighed. "Put them down over here. And help me spill the dirt on Connor."

"Now that I'm good at."

"As for how this started, we decided it and then made him think it was his idea so he'd think he's smoother than he is."

"And by we decided it, you mean I proposed it because I knew you liked Connor and I liked Connor and there was no reason to fight over it. None of us are getting any younger."

"That's very true."

"We also both know that we're worth more than any man we might share."

"That makes perfect sense to me," I nodded. "I didn't expect either of you to be so progressive."

"Neither did we," Adrienne admitted with a laugh.

We spent the next hour gossipping before Adrienne sent me to work on what Eunice had been carrying around all morning to look busy. Life really doesn't end up where we'd expect, does it?

That night, Mom and Noah joined us for dinner. Mom and I cooked dinner while Noah, Connor, and Murphy played with the kids. Noah had bonded with the youngest ones just as much as Declan and Kelly. It was nice to see them doing family things together. They all looked much more relaxed when doing those things.

"You're oddly quiet," Mom interrupted my thoughts. I glanced up from cutting the vegetables in front of me to look at her. She was studying me. "Are you alright? You and Murphy? And the babies-born and unborn?"

"Yes, we're all fine. I was just thinking," I smiled. "I was thinking about the first time I met everyone and how we've all ended up in such different places than any of us thought we would."

"It has been a weird journey," she agreed. "I haven't ended up where I thought I would, either. Especially not after Killian."

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I miss him."

"Every day. But he's here. And he's proud of you. I talk to him every day. And I always will."

"Is that why you never remarried?"

"I don't need to. Killian was it. I don't need or want anyone else in my life. Nobody can replace him. I imagine you feel the same about Murphy."

"Yeah, I do," I smiled. Ever since we had gone to Boston for the second time, Mom and I have been a lot closer. We understand each other a lot better now. Silence was also now comfortable instead of awkward. So it wasn't uncomfortable to finish cooking in relative silence.

"Mom, do you need help?" Declan asked as he and Kelly came into the kitchen, likely escaping the chaos of the living room.

"Actually, that would be wonderful. Could you two set the table?"

"Sure," Kelly nodded as she and Declan wordlessly began setting the table. Just like Connor and Murphy, they often didn't need to speak to accomplish tasks together. It still creeped Mom out a bit but she was slowly getting used to it.

After the triplets were asleep and Mom and Noah had left, Connor, Murphy, and I were sitting in the living room with the twins watching TV. They loved getting to stay up later than the triplets with us. It made them feel more grown up. And, honestly, it was nice to get some time with just them again. Obviously I love the triplets, but I miss some of the antics I'd get into with Kelly and Declan before we moved to Ireland.

It still feels crazy how we've ended up here.

"You picked yesterday," Kelly insisted as she tried to grab the remote from Declan. Connor looked down at the redhead beside him with raised eyebrows.

"I'm pretty sure ye picked yesterday, lass."

"No, it was definitely Decs."

"It was definitely you," Declan stuck his tongue out, cuddling into my side and holding the remote out in the air over my lap so that Kelly couldn't reach it with Connor between them. This continued until Declan settled on some educational documentary. Kelly immediately slumped over and blew her hair out of her face.

Murphy and I exchanged glances, trying not to laugh, while Connor just rubbed his forehead and yawned.