A/N: Finally! Happy Halloween!

The remainder of the plane ride flew by for Connor as he managed to tease and talk to Sara without admitting to her that he knew she was scared. Her smile had been bright when he had interrupted her and Murphy and after Connor had sat down in his seat next to her, she had taken his hand instantly, tracing the scars on his knuckles for a large part of their next hour together.

There was a glimpse of fear in her as the plane met the runway smoothly but Connor had simply put his arm around her and brought her attention away with a long, soft kiss. And while it had worked to pull her away from her worries, it had also freed him from his for that moment of connection. It was that connection that they both needed for different reasons.

They all left the plane silently, gathering their coats and bags, filing through the long, clumsy line to the terminal. Sara's hand slipped into his as they moved into the warmth of the airport and he felt Murphy step up to stand beside him as they looked around. They were home. They'd made it back home.

As their eyes wandered, Connor felt Sara sigh beside him, and he glanced over to see a big smile on her face. "Even smells like Ireland."

"What do ye mean?"

"We're not far from alcohol or smoke. The air is full of it." She just laughed as he made a face at her.

"Don't be insultin' me home."

"Why don't we got get the luggage, Sara? Let the boys find Ma on their own." Katie spoke up from the other side of Murphy and Connor looked away from Sara just in time to see his brother shake his head.

"Ye pick up one fuckin' suitcase, Katie, and I'll…"

"And you'll what?" Her smile was tired but her eyes were still bright and full of laughter as she raised her eyebrows at Murphy and waited. There was a long moment of silence before Sara released his hand and laughed.

"I'll take care of the lifting. Katie can guard the bags."

Connor's eyes had started wandering, looking for their Ma again as he heard his twin give a long, drawn-out sigh. "Fine. But ye're in charge, Sara."

Katie moved to debate that further but Sara just took her hand and slowly pulled her away. They were both laughing before they reached even a short distance from them and Connor couldn't help but to smile at the sight.

"What in the world have we got ourselves in ta here, Murph?"

"Fuck if I know."

The deep sound of a woman's laugh made them glance together toward the bar nearby and Connor met his brother's eye with a grin. Their Ma was seated at the bar and talking with a burly bartender who seemed to be hanging on her every word.

"Big fuckin' surprise there." Murphy's words were soft but Connor didn't miss the laughter in his voice.

The bar didn't look any different than the last time they'd been in it, ten years before when they'd been young, stupid and determined to find their life in the States. Ma had hidden her tears behind a few rough jokes and a few more scotches as she'd come to see them off. And the words slipped out that only his brother would understand. "Ye think she ever left?"

Murphy's laughter filled the air, causing it to roll out of Connor as well and the tension of the moment was broken. It was their Ma and their airport bar and finally, their time to be home.

Their laughter caught the attention of folks around and Connor fought against the immediate feeling to keep hidden, keep away from the attention. They were free now, away from the police, away from Boston, and even, in some small way, away from the Saints.

"Ye know, Conn, I think what we need is a nice Guinness ta make the welcome proper."

"At least ta start with. Lead the way, Murph."

They entered the pub area, working their way around the mostly empty round tables. Connor kept his eye on their Ma, waiting for her to turn around, to see them before they got there. But the first recognition came from the bartender who simply met their gazes and gave a slight nod.

"What'll it be?"

"Well, first ye need ta be cuttin' this young lady off." Murphy's teasing caught their Ma's attention.

Her voice was deep and smoke covered, and it was a voice he would recognize with his eyes closed. And it was a voice that had echoed in his dreams.

"And ye need ta politely fuck off…" The remainder of her words were lost as her eyes fell on them, flicking between their faces.

Connor heard Murphy say it first. "Ma!"

Her arms pulled them both into a strong hug with less trouble then if they'd still been ten years old. She smelled of cigars and sweet perfume, and as she smacked a kiss onto both of their cheeks, Connor knew he'd been marked with the same mauve lipstick she'd worn since they were little. Christ, in the ten long years of hell and hardship, their Ma had barely changed.

But the tears in her eyes surprised him as she pulled back to take a good, long look at the both of them. "Ye're finally home. Me boys are home. It's about fuckin' time."

"And we're here ta stay Ma." Connor found himself saying, and as he spoke the words he realized there was nothing else he'd rather do. Murphy nodded quickly from beside him.

"We're here fer good this time."

Ma's arms came around them again and Connor found himself drawn into another hug. And with one arm around Murphy and the other around his Ma, he leaned his head against Ma's with the realization that this really was exactly where he needed to be. They'd had their time away, their time to find themselves and to become the men they needed to be. And now it was their time to find out exactly how that would fit into the world they'd left at home.

"I sure hope it gets better than this airport." Katie looked around them again as she waited for Sara to pull the final suitcase off of the conveyor belt.

"God, you still hate traveling, don't you?"

"From the bottom of my heart."

"But how can you hate this trip?" The last word was emphasized as Sara heaved the worn brown suitcase off and onto the ground. She flexed her fingers as she looked up at Katie with a raised eyebrow. "It's Ireland, Kat. Fucking Ireland. Finally."

Katie just shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. It wasn't really clear to her even why she felt that way. She'd always been anxious while they'd traveled; only feeling free from it when they'd finally reached either their destination or their home. But this time the nerves were a bundled knot buried deep in her gut and she'd worked hard this whole time to keep it hidden, to keep it bundled, and to keep it from ruining this for everybody. And as she felt Sara's eyes still on her face, she realized she'd failed on all parts.

"You'll feel better once we reach their house. You know that." Sara's hand squeezed her shoulder and Katie covered it with her own. She knew her friend understood what little of the feelings she expressed and she hoped the weight from her chest would disappear as they left the airport. But for the moment it was there to stay.

"Ye know, I thought I'd trained me boys better than ta leave the girls ta do the heavy work." The woman's voice was thickly accented and Katie knew before she even turned at it was Ma. She smiled with ease as she saw the humor on the woman's face, and as she saw the clear resemblance between her and both of the boys.

Murphy stepped forward from the left side of Ma and put his arm around her, his hand rubbing gently down her back. "Ma, this is Katie. Katie, this is our Ma."

"So ye're the innocent who led me boys astray." The teasing tone in her words was the only thing that let Katie know she was joking. And she found herself grinning widely.

"Well, somebody had to do it. Your boys were perfect angels when I met them. Disgusting, really."

"Ye lie wonderfully, Katie. It's wonderful ta finally fuckin' meet ye. And this is your accomplice?"

"This is Sara, Ma." Connor laughed as he brought her closer. Katie could see the sudden nerves in the way Sara's fingers gripped Connor's forearm for a brief second before she offered her hand to Ma.

"Nice to finally meet you, Ma. I've heard a lot about you."

"All good, I hope."

"Of course." Sara winked at Connor who just shook his head with a smile.

Ma chuckled softly and pulled her cigarettes from her coat pocket. "Than ye've been told all wrong, m'dear."

"That's our Ma, rotten ta the fuckin' core." Murphy dodged a half hearted slap from his mother as he stepped closer to Katie.

"Watch yer mouth, boy. Or I'll have yer Da after ye."

"Where is Da?" Katie broke Murphy off from any response as she brought Ma's attention back to her. Ma took a long drag on her cigarette before offering the pack around. Murphy and Connor both took one, lighting them together.

"At the hospital with Sibeal. Which is where these boys'll be goin' as soon as we get movin' here." Ma took the shoulder bag strap from Katie's hand and set it on her own shoulder. "The two o' ye will be coming with me ta run the bar for a little while. If ye're feelin' up ta it, that is."

Since she felt all eyes on her, Katie nodded instantly, forcing a smile. "Sounds like fun."

With another brief study of her, Ma nodded in response and tipped her head toward the exit. "Than let's get goin'. Yer Uncle'll be better and back ta the Anvil before us at this pace."

Both Connor and Murphy picked up the rest of the bags, leaving two smaller carry-ons for Sara to handle. Katie crossed her arms over her chest for lack of anything better to do and trailed behind them slightly as they led the way out. A short ways from the exit, Murphy fell back beside her, his gaze on her face.

"Ye doin' okay?" His tone was light.

"I'm fine. Tired, but so are you."

"Aye, but a good night's sleep and we'll be back inta the swing o' things."

Katie grinned and took his hand, squeezing it. "I'll believe it if it happens."

The Irish air hit them full force as they left the protection of the airport terminal and Murphy pulled her closer to him, blocking her a little from the wind. "Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Go easy at the bar. The two o' ye don't need ta do anythin' but keep Ma company. We'll be back before it gets too crowded."

"That takes away my plan to earn souvenir money by dancing on the tables."

He laughed softly and she felt some of the earlier anxiety leave as she realized that little had changed. They may be on a different continent, but Murphy was the same, they were the same.

"How 'bout this? Ye give it a bit more time than we'll ease ye inta the table dancin'. Ye can try it out for me first, and then once I've approved that ye're good enough, ye can move your act ta the bar."

Connor pulled the car up beside them as Katie just shook her head with a smile. "And how shall I ever repay this act of kindness, Murphy?"

"I'm sure we can think o' something." He winked and kissed her lightly before opening the door for her. "I'm sure Conn can help with creative ideas when the time comes."

Looking back at them in the rearview mirror, Connor raised an eyebrow. "I can help with what?"

"Nevermind." She said quickly, giving Murphy a look as he opened his mouth to reply. He grinned and kept silent, putting his arm around her.

"So, boys. What parts o' the town gossip do ye want ta be caught up on first?" Ma turned in her seat to look at Murphy as well. Katie felt him laugh beside her and there was a moment of silence as the twins shared a long look through the rearview mirror.

"Everythin' Ma. Absolutely everything." Connor grinned, keeping his eyes on the road as he pulled them onto a two-lane road and Ma's smile matched his.

"I was hopin' ye'd say that."

"Aye, we knew that ye were." Murphy's whisper barely reached Katie's ear and she nudged his softly. The soft vibrations of his laughter made her join in and they all listened with grins as Ma hopped and skipped over ten years of vital gossip.

Even in the early afternoon hours in the middle of the week, the bar was loud and smoky, despite the fact that those working the bar outnumbered the patrons. Katie was perched on the stool across from where Sara was working, drying glasses and attempting to stack them in a pyramid.

"If you knock that over, I'm going to laugh."

"Go back to your beer pouring, bar wench."

"Christ, do I have that tattooed on my forehead?" Sara raised an eyebrow as her friend merely grinned.

"Nope, but I bet you the boys know a good tattoo parlor around here."

"There's one on the other end o' town. Their cousin Desmond opened it up a few years back. Before that the lot o' them had ta go quite a bit further ta find a someone less than half drunk ta do it. The two o' ye thinkin' of getting inked?" Ma rested her arm on the bar beside them, her cheeks red from the work of filling the ice bin.

"Yeah, Sar. You thinking of getting inked?" Katie grinned and Sara fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Not as of yet." She smiled and filled the last glass with Guinness. Ma set them in front of the men a few feet down and came back to lean against the bar.

"The two o' ye seem ta get along quite well."

"Well, that's because we've known each other for a while."

"For a long while." Sara emphasized the words, giving into the laughter as Katie made a face at her.

"So ye didn't meet through the boys?"

"We went to college together. We just sort of re-met through the boys."

"I always hoped that the lasses me boys found in the States would be willin' ta spend a lot o' time together. I'd hate the twins ta be separated on account o' feuding girlfriends."

Sara took a still wet glass from Katie's dwindling pile and dried it with her own towel before reaching for another one. "And here I thought they were quite entertained when we fought."

Ma's laugh was loud and made then both jump a little before giving into their own giggles. "I'm sure they do enjoy it, m'dear. Oh and Katie, I've been meanin' ta tell ye. There's a cot in the backroom if ye get a bit tired and want ta lay down."

"Christ, Murphy." The mutter was quiet but was still clearly heard by them all.

"Now, Kathleen, Murph didn't tell me anythin'. Pat gave me the details last night when he arrived. And all the bellyachin' in the world isn't goin' ta heal that if ye don't take it easy." Ma patted her on the hand with a surprising motherly smile before turning away to move down the bar. Sara let out a half laugh.

"Ma, why is there a cot in the backroom?"

"It's fer the terrible snowstorms we used ta get. Both Patrick and Sibeal were snowed in more than once and sleepin' in the booths before they thought ta bring it in here."

"Now don't ye believe a filthy lie from that woman's mouth." The words came from behind them in a voice Sara could only describe as bitchy and British with a slight Irish accent. The woman was a sort of refined pretty from the way her graying hair was pulled up in a French twist to the way she clutched her purse in her hand instead of letting it dangle and swing over her shoulder.

Katie's eyes were wide as she turned back to share a glance with Sara and they both brace for what she was sure would be a loud response. Instead, after only a brief moment of silence, both Ma and the woman broke out into laughter. The woman took a seat beside Katie and a smile lit up her face as she looked between the two of them.

"The cot was for both Annabelle's and my own pregnancies. It's amazin' how many hours ye can end up volunteerin' o' your time at this bar."

"Girls, this is the boys' Aunt Lucy. You want your regular, Luce?"

"I hardly drink enough to have a regular." Lucy said primly then smiled again. "But I'll have what I always have."

"Rum and coke it is. Girls?"

Sara grinned. "I'll join Aunt Lucy on that one."

"A girl after me own heart."

"I'll have a screwdriver. Without the screwdriver part, that is." Katie made a face that just had Sara laughing at her.

"As soon as you can drink again, we'll come down here and get drunk. Make the boys responsible for hauling us home."

"Or the two o' you can just share the cot." Ma offered dryly as she set the drinks down. "It might be a tight fit but it can be done."

"Yeah, but Annie, we didn't stay the whole fuckin' night that way. I clearly remember bein' dragged home by Sibeal." Lucy lifted her glass up in a toast, glancing around as she waited for the others to join her. "To family."

"And ta friends." Ma offered and her eyes twinkled as she winked at Lucy.

Their voices were in unison as they finished the toast. "And ta those in-between."

The glasses had been clinked and the two older woman had already taken drinks by the time Sara realized what they'd said. But the focus was off of them as Lucy began to fill Ma in on how their husbands were passing time at the hospital. And as she tried to meet Katie's glance, she caught a glimpse at the fatigue that her friend had been hiding fairly well.

"Go lay down, Katie."

"I'm fine."

"Go, then you can be fine when Murphy gets here."

"I'll show ye where it is, lass." Ma nodded at her and to Sara's surprise Katie slid off of the stool in agreement. They disappeared behind the bar and after a long moment, she brought her gaze back around to find Lucy watching her.

"She doing okay?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine." Sara shared a smile with the older woman before moving down the bar again to check on drink orders. Ma came out alone a few minutes later and the two woman talked while she worked down at her end, the noise level of the bar rising to meet the growing number of patrons.

And as Sara poured drinks on her end, she observed Ma and Aunt Lucy, and realized she'd been completely wrong. Her imagined version of the boys' Ma was nothing like the real one.

She was rough in words and in image, like Sara had imagined, but at the same time she had an amazingly soft quality to her. More than once since leaving the airport she'd seen Ma convey a motherly feeling in a simple touch or glance. And she could see bits of Murphy's obnoxiousness mixed in with a large dose of the same responsibility that ran through Connor in the woman.

Sara realized that as much as she was prepared to dislike her, she truly enjoyed being around Ma. And in the few hours that had lapsed since she'd met her, she really started to care whether or not she was liked by her. It was suddenly vital that Connor's Ma approved of her.

The backroom was smaller and dustier than Murphy remembered, but the cot hadn't moved more than an inch since he'd last been back there. As he turned the corner, he saw that Katie was curled up beneath the old blanket, still sound asleep. It took his breath slightly away to see her like that, with the setting sun splashing across her hair and her cheeks.

Sitting down beside her, he brushed a hand down her hair, feeling the sudden need to wake her up, to talk to her. There was so much he wanted to tell her about the feelings rushing through his mind and through his heart, but as her eyes blinked opened, he kept silent, simply offering her a smile instead.

"Murph." Her lips spread into a grin and she pushed herself up with her arms. "What time is it?"

"Nearly seven. Have a nice nap?"

"A surprisingly comfortable one. I had doubts when I saw the cot."

He laughed. "It's not too bad. I've slept here once or twice meself."

"How's your uncle?"

Bringing her hand to his lips, Murphy pressed a kiss to it before answering, feeling the nerves from the hospital fighting to come back as he thought about it. "He'll be alright, I guess. Comin' home in a few days."

"Good."

A commotion came from out in the bar but the laughter made it clear that nothing was wrong before he coul move to see. Katie wrinkled her brow and grinned. "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not. But let's go find out anyhow. It's time fer ye ta meet the family."

"Fuck." She stood up away from the cot and Murphy felt the warmth of her body as she put her arm around his waist. Raising an eyebrow, she stared up at him. "They aren't like the Adams family, are they?"

He couldn't help but laugh. "Nope."

"The Manson family?"

"Hardly. More like the fuckin' Partridge family. Without all the singin' and dancin'. And without the fuckin' wholesome goodness ta us."

"So nothing like the Partridge family then."

Kissing her softly, he smiled down at her. "We're like the McManus family. Ye'll get the official welcome tonight."

"Can't wait." The sarcasm wasn't lost on him but the laughter in her eyes made him grin as they left the backroom together.

Sara leaned against the bar with her elbows on either side of her drink. The laughter of the bar throbbed around her, increasing her headache and she fought the urge to put her forehead on the bar. Ma had insisted that she sit down for a break after the fourth Irishman had hit on her in a row. Christ, there's got to be something in the fucking water.

Arms surrounded her waist from behind and she relaxed against the warmth as she heard his voice in her ear. "Waitin' for me, m'dear?"

"It's about time." She laughed softly. "I thought you'd dropped me off with your Ma and ran." Grinning, she turned to face Connor and her eyes widened as she saw it wasn't him. Strange eyes stared back into her own and she let out a scream as she pushed him away.

Sara hit the floor before she realized she'd pushed too hard and lost her balance. His voice had sounded so much like Connor's! Laughter floated around her and as she stood up quickly, she found herself looking into the real Connor's face. He put his hands on her shoulders and his mouth was spread into a grin.

"Ye meetin' another man here, m'dear?"

Feeling the annoyance swarm through her, she pushed him away. "What the fuck was that? Who is that?" Her eyes landed on the man in question, who stood watching them with a smile of his own.

"Sara, I'd like ye ta meet me cousin, Aidan. Everyone's been sayin' for years that we sound just alike. What do ye think?"

"I think you're an asshole."

"It was my idea." Aidan stepped forward, the twinkle still in his eyes and held out his hand. "We used ta do it ta our girls all the time. And when I heard Conn here had a new girl, I had ta do it."

Sara studied him for a moment, and found that as the fear faded, so did the annoyance. She could see the humor in the situation, even if she could still feel the throbbing in her knee where it hit the floor.

"I'll forgive you." She offered, shaking his hand and then turned to face a sheepish looking Connor. "But you don't get off so easily."

"Sorry." He gave her a small smile.

"Is that all you've got?"

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he grinned and put his hands around her, dipping her in his arms. His lips met hers sweetly and she felt him smile against her before he finally broke the kiss. "Do ye forgive me now?"

"Connor Nolen! Ye'll be takin' that kind of behavior out o' me pub." The shout was high and Sara felt him laugh as he brought her back up. His body met her stomach and she was up over his shoulder. Slapping her hands on his back, she found herself giggling too hard to speak.

"In a hurry for somethin', Conn?" Murphy's voice made them stop and she managed to catch her breath enough.

"Put me down!" She slapped her palm against the middle of his back again. The room tilted upright again as her feet met the floor and he put his arm around her.

His expression was that of a little boy denied his favorite game. "No caveman?"

"Christ, Connor. Later." Her laughter bubbled out again as he grinned widely.

"I'll be takin' ye up on that. But first, ye've got ta meet me family."

"I don't know if I can handle anything worse than you."

Murphy ducked closer and laughed. "Then ye better prepare yerself. We've only had twenty-eight years ta get this bad. And we're the youngest o' the cousins. It only gets worse from here."

She was led by Connor back up to the bar and the talking and laughter surrounded them as he ordered a few drinks. And as Sara glanced around, she was reminded briefly why she preferred her small quiet family. And she wondered how long it was going to take for her to get used to this family. To Connor's family.