"Addio mio santi" roughly translated to "goodbye my saints"

A few weeks had passed since that night at the bar. Heather's wound had been healing pretty nicely; the sling Conner had made for her has made it easier to deal with. The boys had received a few more injuries since then, doing what they do, so it was expected, but Heather took care of them all. Conner's "crush" on her had grown more and more over time, but he was afraid to say anything, and today she was leaving to go back home.

Heather was going around the room she had stayed in grabbing her things and packing them into her suitcases. She folded her clothes as neatly as she could with her good arm before setting them in the suitcases.

"I don't remember bringing this much." she said to herself.

In the twins room Conner paced while talking to his brother about the whole thing.

"I know ye gonna miss er, but ye didn't think she was going to stay 'ere forever did ye?" Murphy asked his troubled brother.

"I know I know, it's just that…" he sighs and stopped pacing. "I love er." He said then he slumped down on his bed.

"Christ Conner, I knew you loved er, but ye kept denying it. When did ye know anyway?" Murphy asked.

"Aye, when I first saw er. I knew I would fall for er quick, but Christ Murphy, she's Rocco's little sister." Conner said.

"So? If Rocco were around he'd give ye his blessing, I know e would, as long as ye were serious about this." Murphy said to his brother trying to consol him.

"I am serious, but I can't tell er now, she's leavin, and who knows when or if she'll return." He replied sadly.

"Christ Conner are ye blind?!" Murphy raised his voice, "Have ye not seen how she acts around ye, or how she looks at ye? Come on!" He shouted.

"Will ye keep it down? These walls are not made of cement ye know?" Conner replied nervously. "'sides, I don't notice, what ye notice, and I usually notice things like that." He added as he stood up.

"I'm going te the kitchen for a drink." He said as he left the room.

Hours had passed and the taxi that would be taking Heather to the airport had arrived. The boys carried her luggage to the taxi for her.

"Have a safe trip Heather." Murphy said and gave her a hug.

"Thank you Murph, I'll miss your crude humor." She said as she smiled while hugging him back with her good arm.

Murphy chuckled. "I might miss ye too, I dunno yet." He said laughing a little louder this time.

Heather laughed then turned to Conner.

Conner hugged her and said, "I guess I'll be missin ye too." He chuckled even though those words were true.

"I will miss the both of you, but it's not like I'll be gone forever, I don't make friends in other countries without intentions of visiting them from time to time." She said as she hugged him back, then she kissed Conner's cheek and got in the taxi.

"Addio mio santi." Heather said and waved to the boys before the taxi drove away.

Conner stood there for a moment till the taxi was not in view anymore before the two headed back inside.

"See Conner, she won't be gone forever." Murphy said as he patted his brother's shoulder to comfort him just a few minutes after the taxi left.

Both were sitting on the couch in the living room passing the whiskey bottle back and forth.

"I know Murph, but…you know," He said and paused for a moment, "shit", he said as he stood up, "what am I doin? I need to tell her now, if I don't I may never get to."

He started heading for the door before Murphy interrupted.

"Ye aren't goin te make it on time Conner!" he shouted.

"Watch me." He said as he darted out of the door. He ran as fast as he could, he knew where to go, he'd been to that airport a few times.

He finally got there in what seemed like a week after he took off, but it had only been an hour. Conner was a fast runner, Murphy too; they had to do it so much, they became really good at it. He got inside and was trying to catch his breath while he looked for which flight Heather would be going on; Boston to Rome leaving at 7:30pm. It's 7:15! There's still time! At least I hope there is. He thought to himself then checked to see which gate before he took off to get to it.

He made it to the gate her flight was leaving from and there she was sitting in one of the rows of seats. He ran over to her.

"Heather!" he said breathing heavily.

"Conner??" she asked confused as she stood up. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't go." He said, still catching his breath.

"What?" She said even more confused. She looked at him waiting for an answer.

He finally caught his breath and nervously said, "I love ye, don't go." He took her good hand. "I always have."

"Conner…I…" She started to say something back.

"Northwest Airline, flight 304 to Rome, Italy is now boarding in gate 12"came over the intercom and repeated.

"I have to go Conner." She said, she broke free from his hand then went and showed her boarding pass, looked back at Conner with sadness in her eyes, then disappeared.

Conner ran to the window and stared out at the plane Heather would be getting on. He stood there watching until the plane took off and out of his sight, then he went and sat down in the same spot Heather had been sitting in; somehow it was still warm and he could smell her - the sweet smell she always smelled.

Heather sat in her seat fidgeting and staring out the window into the darkness then started crying. He loves me?? She thought to herself. I realized he had a crush, but love? Me?? She had no idea that what he felt was that deep and it was surprising to her because no man other than her father had ever told her that he loved her.

She didn't know whether she should be sad because she left him just after he told her or because she didn't get to say it back. Of course she loved him back! The first time she saw his beautiful blue eyes she felt something. She didn't quite know what it was at first because she in turn had never been in love, but with all the time spent, she knew she was in love with him. She didn't want to leave, but she couldn't stay forever.

Murphy finally found Conner who had been sitting in the same spot for a while. "Christ Conner, ye worried me to death!" He shouted.

"She's gone Murph'…she's gone…and she didn't even say it back." Conner said, not looking up from the ground.

Murphy gently placed his hand on Conner's shoulder. "Aye, maybe she was just scared Conner, come on back home now ok?"

The boys' mother and father had made there way over to both the boys. When Murphy told them what he had been up to, they decided to head down there.

"I can't believe ye fell in love and I never got to meet the girl." Ma said.

"And I guess ye never will, I probably scared er off telling her." Conner said sadly.

"Didn't ye hear what I said before she left Conn? I told ye, I know she does, she just probably wasn't able to say it back." Murphy reassured Conner.

"Murphy said she been 'ere a few weeks, she couldn't have brought all of her belongings with er, she'll be back dear." Ma said as she wrapped her arms around Conner and hugged him.

"Come on, let's go te the bar, bein around ye buds outta help ye feel better." Da said.

"Aye", Conner said as he stood up, "I hope she calls when she gets 'ome. We gave her the number te keep in touch and address if she'd rather write."

The four made their way out of the airport, then into the car and were on their way home.

"She might realize she made a mistake not saying anything back and come back sooner than ye think." Murphy said in the back seat as he placed his arm around Conner.

"Maybe," Conner sighed and sat back. "Maybe."

thank you a whole bunch to those that been reading a reviewing. I know this was a sad chapter, I cried myself writing it!

peace & love. truth & justice

Heather