A/N: What follows is what I managed to get done, and what I didn't throw out. Pure fluff as a peace offering for being patient with me. And again, I want to change my 'posting schedule'. It seems that I'm not able to stick to the once a week one. I'm not sure if it's the Monday night deadline that's causing the writer's block but I know that it has stressed me out a few times. So, instead, I'm taking away the deadline. This doesn't mean it's going to be weeks on end between postings. It simply means that I'll get them up as soon as I get them done and maybe without the pressure, I'll be able to write them. :) I am still aiming for a week between postings...but it might vary from time to time. It seems that the full-time adult life really can eat up your time. Especially when your friends and family still haven't grasped the point of having 'writing time.' But they'll learn soon enough. :) And while I hope that I haven't discouraged any of you from reading, I understand if this is getting annoying. But I did want to assure that I'm not burning out on the story. I do know what is going to happen here and there is a very distinct ending (and segway into the sequel--which is still planned to be written.) It's just getting it from the murky depths of my head onto the blank white screen in front of me. Anyhow, here's what I've gotten done...hope to have more up soon.


Katie woke up annoyed. Her side was aching, her ears were popping and Murphy was nowhere to be found, with Connor seemingly as his sleeping replacement. His brother's eyes opened slowly and focused on her before he frowned and sat up.

"Ye alright?"

"Fine, just need to take my pill."

"Okay, so where's it at?"

She ignored his question and tried to consciously grope below her seat for her carry-on bag without bending at the waist. And she thought that while she failed at getting the bag, she succeeded at hiding what she was doing until he rolled his eyes with a half laugh.

"What the fuck do ye think yer doin' Katie? Let me get the fuckin' bag fer ye." And she found herself envious of the ease in which he pulled the bag out, folding his body nearly in half to scoop through the front compartments. "So where's the bottle? Nevermind, found it."

The pill was dropped in her hand and a small bottle of water appeared from his pocket. He held it out for her with a closer study of her face. "Ye look a little better."

"Gee, thanks Doc."

"No, ye're a bit confused. Doc is back in Boston."

"Ha ha." She made a face before swallowing the medicine and relaxing back into her seat with her eyes closed. The shuffling beside her made it clear that Connor was still waiting to know what to do.

"Ye want me ta grab Murph?"

"I'm fine, Conn. I don't need your fucking brother every time I take a pill."

"He's just tryin' ta help ye, Katie. Murph might get a bit overzealous, but he's got only the best intentions for ye." His lips were pressed into a frown as Katie opened her eyes to look at him and she couldn't hold back a sigh.

"Christ, Connor, are you always going to be playing the middle man for us?"

"Katie." He exhaled her name in a long breath and closed his eyes.

She just shook her head, feeling the annoyance sink in. She barely got a chance to wonder if she wasn't just being overly emotional when he sighed again and shifted toward her.

"I'm not tryin' ta be in the middle here. It's just that the two o' ye are emotional and rather fuckin' dramatic. And I know me brother, and that while his actions say a different message at times, I know what's in his heart."

Katie was a little surprised the disappointment in his words. And while the pain in her side was mellowing, she couldn't help but be bothered by the situation. "Conn, you can't always be around to communicate for him. We've got to learn to talk to each other. Without you."

"And ye will, Katie. But ye've hardly had a fuckin' chance ta do so with everythin' goin' on. Ye know that's true."

"Maybe." She conceded with another sigh. And she found it was easy to change the subject as she glanced at him again. "How's Sara doing?"

Connor shrugged, stealing the water bottle from her and taking a long drink before handing it back to her. "Doin' about what? She's entertainin' Murph."

"Is that why you're here?"

He frowned slightly. "Not really. I wanted ta sleep and she wasn't tired. And I knew that Murph can't fuckin' sleep durin' flights either."

"He scared of flying too?" Katie glanced over the seats back to where the other two sat, still laughing and talking.

"Fuck, ye know how Murph is. Can't sit still. Bein' stuck in a plane for six hours isn't an easy feat for him." Connor grinned and then tilted his head slightly at her. "And what do ye mean 'too'? Are ye scared of flyin'?"

"Not me."

"Who then?"

"Christ, you're kind of thick sometimes, aren't you Connor?"

His eyes narrowed at her before he shot a look back Sara. "Ye don't mean…?"

"You didn't notice her getting nervous when we got to the airport?"

"I thought it was because o' Ma."

Katie chuckled softly. "Then you got it wrong. That's probably why she can't sleep."

"Christ, I'm a fuckin' ass, aren't I?" He turned backwards again, shifting in his seat. "I better go fuckin' talk ta her."

"Send Murph here then. I supposed I better talk to him."

Her eyes met his and they both laughed. "Okay, time ta switch again." Connor ran his palm over her hair quickly as he got up, giving her a last smile before moving away.

Katie sat back into her seat, finding that she was actually fairly relaxed now and knew that Connor was usually good for that.

The weight in the seat next to her made her open her eyes and she saw Murphy giving her a cautious look. "How ye doin'?"

And for once the question didn't annoy her. "I'm good. You?"

His smile was bright as he relaxed back into the seat. "I think I'm finally ready for a fuckin' nap. Yer friend there can talk more than yer brother, can't she?"

"Let's just say there was never a quiet moment between the two of them." Katie leaned her head against his shoulder. The seat arm between them disappeared as his arm came around her and she found herself nestled against his chest. Murphy pressed a kiss to the top of her head and she took his other hand, holding it between her own.

"Murph?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." She kept the words soft but felt his slight reaction. His arm tightened around her slightly and he leaned his cheek against her hair.

"What's that for?"

"Because. I don't think I get to say it often enough. At least not without some drama attached. It's kinda nice just to say it because."

He was silent for a moment but she heard the smile in his words when he finally responded. "I love ye, too, Katie. Just because."

"Good." She grinned, squeezing his hand slightly. "Then lets take a nap together. Just because."

"Sounds like a good fuckin' plan. Ye'll need all the energy ye can get if yer ta face Ma first thing." He chuckled as she raised her head to look at him.

"What do you mean, Murph?"

"Nothin'"

"Murphy!"

"Nothin'. She's gonna love ye. She'll love the both o' ye. It might just be an interesting first few minutes."

Katie sighed and sifted her head against his chest. "Fuck, Murph. You know how to make a girl nervous."

"Sleep. We'll be ta Ireland soon enough and ye can get nervous then."

And while she knew that she only when along with his order because she was truly tired, Katie was satisfied to let him think it was because he'd told her to. She knew that sometimes Murphy just needed to know that his words were actually being heard by her. And she knew that eventually she'd be able to make it clear that just because she heard him, didn't mean she had to listen. But that could be saved for another time. Another time when she wasn't so tired, so content and possibly, so in love.