Now twenty two and just starting her apprenticeship at the flower shop Ann felt like she was finally going to have the life she had always dreamed of. She sat on the bed of her small apartment, it wasn't much, definitely in a rough part of town, Southie to be exact, but it was hers and it was clean and cheap. Her friend Finola, who she had met in high school and had also moved here from Ireland, lived down the hall from her. They had plans to go out tonight, so Ann was waiting for Finola to come and get her. Excitedly Finola ran through the door, and hopped on the bed behind Ann.
"Would you hurry up seriously, we are goin ta be so late"
"Late for what?" Ann asked incredulously, "We're going to a pub and I haven't heard about any party, so what's the rush?"
"I just want to go, it's nearly eight. C'mon"
"Alright, jeez Nola ya are one crazy alcoholic"
"You drink more than I do"
"Yes, but the difference is that I can hold my liquor and ya canna at all"
"True, but I think tonight might be different"
Ann cocked her eyebrow and was about to ask her what that was about, but Nola had already run out the door. They took Nola's car and parked outside of their favorite pub, a place called Mcgintys. It was owned by an old irish man that everyone called Doc, he was famous for his stutter and constant tourettes. He has been known to say "Fuck Ass" in front of nuns. It was a cozy place, Ann loved how much it reminded her of home.
She and Nola took there usual seats at the bar, sometimes Ann helped out serving drinks and cleaning up the place. When she sat down she noticed that a couple of the regulars weren't there, namely her mother and her uncle Doyle, who had agreed to her here. Actually now that she thought about it, they were insistent on her and Nola coming tonight; something was going on but Ann couldn't place it yet.
"Oy, Doc where's me mum."
"I canna say dear, I'm sure she'll be here soon."
"Okay, hey Nola do you know what's goin' on"
"What cha mean?"
"I dunno, maybe it's just me head"
Ann sat back and continued to drink her beer, a few minutes later she heard the bell over the door chime and she was about to turn her head and look, but Nola pulled her head back around.
"What the fuck Nola"
"Hold on, you'll see soon"
All of a sudden Ann's world went dark even though her eyes were open. She felt cold fingers over her eyelids and a non-familiar body pressed to her back. She could hear her mom's voice to her side. Who the Hell had their hands on her eyes, she thought, and she tried to pry the fingers away. She could tell it was a man by the significant lack of breast, but beyond that she couldn't think of any person who would wrap their hands over her eyes.
"Alright, what the fucks goin' on and who has their fuckin' hands on me eyes"
She could feel the strange body lean down towards her ear.
"Now is that anyway to greet chur best friends"
HOLY SHIT!!! Ann spun around so fast she nearly fell off the barstool. She blinked a few times and felt all of the wind escape her. It was almost like a dream, a great, amazing, and wonderful dream. Connor was standing there staring back at her with a big goofy grin on his face. Ann leapt into his arms and hugged him tight around the neck.
"Well… what the hell, wait wheres…?"
She looked over Connor's shoulder and saw Murphy just behind him, she let go of Connor and gave Murphy the same tight hug.
"Jesus Christ, what are you guys doing here."
She had seen the boys only twice over the past eleven years since she had moved to America. They had come to stay over the summer and they had stayed with her family, but the last time was after she had just graduated high school. She thought that they had grown into men then, but now… Damn no wonder I didn't recognize the body. Connor gave her another hug and led her and Murphy back to the bar. She was still staring at them both.
"When did ya get here?"
Connor averted his eyes and took a large swig of rum right after Ann asked this and Murphy cleared his throat. "Umm… actually we've been here for two weeks"
"WHAT?" She slugged Connor hard in the upper arm.
"OWW Fuck, why me?"
"Murphy was out of reach; now why the fuck didn't you tell me you were here"
"Well we wanted ta get everything in order first" Murphy said
"Yeah we had a lot of stuff to do that we wanted to surprise you with" Connor shrugged his shoulders but couldn't contain the smile on his face.
Ann looked from Connor back to Murphy, she had a skeptical look to her face. "What are you guys getting ready for?"
"Well for livin' here a'course" Murphy threw his arms in the air; like she should have known.
Ann stared at Murphy, and then looked into Connor's eyes. "Are you serious?"
"Completely"
Ann squealed and once again threw herself at Connor; she grabbed Murphy and pulled him into the hug as well. She didn't let go until Murphy pried her hands off his neck. He stood back and massaged around the abused area.
"I really want a drink now"
"Fine… oh man, this is with out a doubt the best thing I've heard all year."
Ann looked down at Connor and just beamed at him, when they had come to visit during the summers she had had a boyfriend both times. It was always so awkward, because Murphy always felt the need to start a fight with the guys and Connor just ignored them all together. Actually the boys had been the reason for her last breakup. Her ex, John, had said that he hated the twins and had told Ann to not speak with them. Well Ann gave him a black eye and sore testicals, and then she called the boys ten minutes after it happened. She told them she had broken up with John, and they asked if it was Murphy's fault, but she just said no and told them she and John just didn't get along anymore. Now they were here, she was single, and Connor was giving her the weirdest look she had ever seen on his face.
"What?"
He looked away quickly and took a sip of his rum. "Oh nothin'"
"Don't act dumb with me, I know ya remember. Now out with it, why were you looking at me so funny"
"Well I wonderin' on the best way to ask if ya had yourself a lad that you've been se'in"
"You couldn' just ask?"
"Ok fine… Do ya have a special some one"
"No, I don't at the moment, why?"
He paused a second and looked at his drink and then looked at her completely serious. "I'm tryin' to keep Murphy from fightin'"
He chuckled a little and Ann laughed at his cheekyness; they both turned back to the bar and continued to drink.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
By the end of the night both Connor and Murphy were not fit to drive. So Ann opted to take them back to her place, and then take them home in the morning. So she carried the two boys out to her car with the help of Nola and together they got them into the apartment. She walked Nola back to her place and said goodnight.
"Are you sure you won't let one of em' stay with me?"
"No, you've got a man and…" then she added with a whisper "If I can help it I'm goin' ta have one or both of em' for myself"
"Ohh… you naughty gurl"
"Uh huh, goodnight Nola"
She hugged her and headed back to her own apartment, the boys were sitting on the couch looking fairly sedate. She tsked them once and began to undress them. First she pulled off Connor's boots, and then Murphy's. Next she took both their jackets and hung them on the coat rack next to the door. Lastly she removed their shirts and rosaries. She hung the rosaries on her peg by the door hanging with her triskell. She turned back and lost her breath again at the sight of Connor shirtless, Dear Lord forgive me she thought, she was practically drooling hoping the only thing keeping Connor from seeing was the fact that he was piss drunk. She was shaken from her thoughts by an audible groan from Murphy.
"Shit woman, you did it again'" He put his forehead in his hands. "I never drink like this, unless I'm around ya, Christ, do ya have a place we can lay down or somthin'"
"Well I've only got one bed, but it's a queen so we can share or you can take the couch. Its yur choice."
Connor stood quickly, "I for one choose the bed, if Murphy joins us, yur in the middle."
"Deal."
Murphy stood too and followed Connor in the direction of Ann's finger. When he got to her he threw an arm around her shoulder. "Aw just like the good ol' days"
Strangely enough it was; the last time the boys had visited they stayed through the Christmas holiday since they were both out of school by then, and on several nights it had gotten to cold in her families small apartment for Ann to sleep by herself and not catch her death. So her mother had suggested that Ann and the boys all sleep in one bed, so they could conserve blankets and still be warm. Ann had never been so warm in her life, and to tell the truth most of it came from being in a bed so close to Connor, a little though came from the fact that both boys turned out to be internal combustion engines and gave off enough heat to warm an entire Irish neighborhood.
Ann woke up the next morning feeling extremely hot and stifled, she bolted straight up in bed and gasped for air. Murphy jumped slightly and turned to look at her.
"What the hell are ya doin' woman"
"I (gasp) forgot how (gasp) fuckin' warm you (gasp) guys got"
"Oh yeah, sorry I guess" He rolled back over and scooted a centimeter away from her.
"Yeah, uh huh, thanks"
She looked down at Connor who was still sound asleep and figured out why she had felt so stifled, Connor had his arm draped across her stomach. He gave a small squeeze and involuntarily pulled her back down. Ann felt like she was going to panic; one: she was too hot, two: She had Connor MacManus's arm draped across her now naked stomach; which was another puzzling aspect; since she couldn't remember when she had taken off her shirt leaving her in only her sports bra... and when had the boys lost their pants. She became frustrated with the situation so she pulled Connor's arm off of her and leapt over him out of bed. He woke up at this and turned over to face her retreating back.
"Where ya goin'"
"To cool off…" In more ways than one. She hopped into the shower and kept it somewhat less than her normal scorching degree.
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