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Julie sat at the table, drinking a soda the boys had brought home. Home. She was amazed at how quickly the dingy apartment was taking up that place in her heart. She was still giggling to herself as she listened to the brothers try to calm their mother down. Having had enough of listening to them, Julie decided to do something about it.
Setting down her can, she walked over to the boys and took the receiver from them. They looked up at her almost in awe when she said "Ma?"
The woman on the other end quieted her rambling and replied sweetly "Yes, m'dear?"
"I do believe their proposal was a joke," Julie commented flatly.
"Oh, I know dear," Ma assured with a cackled. "But this'll teach 'em to joke like tha'."
Julie smiled. "Honestly, I don't know which one I'd choose."
Both twins' jaws dropped as she looked back and forth between them. "I mean, Murphy says he's really good in bed. But Conner doesn't feel the need to boast about it, you know what I mean?"
They looked horrified, but Ma was laughing hard, spurring her on. "Give 'em hell, Julie."
"It's settled then, I guess," Julie beamed. "I'll take both. See you at the wedding! Bye Ma."
Even as she hung up the receiver, she could hear Ma laughing. The brothers looked astonished, like their whole world had just been turned upside down. Smiling sweetly, she turned away, back toward the kitchen. She could hear them stand and move toward her.
"What have ye done, Julie," Conner asked behind her. "Our Ma takes marriage very seriously."
"Aye," Murphy added, sounding distraught. "She says she wants grand babies from ye now."
Julie laughed out loud at that. "Well, then you both had better get to wooing me. We've barely made it past casual acquaintance, and I am not a one-night-stand type of girl.
She turned around, laughing evilly as she pulled down some pots and pans to make something for their late lunch. Her laughing stopped when she heard Conner's voice again.
"Well, if I'm ta marry ye, then I want what's rightfully mine."
When Julie turned to look, Conner was there, grabbing the back of her neck and crushed their lips together. She was too stunned to do anything for a moment, just let his lips cover hers as heat filled her face. It wasn't until she felt his tongue start to slide over her lips that she pulled away.
"Your Ma and I were only kidding, Conner," she said, eyes wide and breathing heavy.
"I know," he smirked darkly. "But tha's what ye get fer tryin' to pull one over on us."
"Bastard," she huffed, smacking at him.
She made contact with his chest, over his heart where the wound had been made the night before. He let out a sharp, painful hiss.
"Oh God, Conner," Julie yelped, all the anger leaving her as she pressed her hand gently over the wound. "I'm sorry."
"'S'alright, darlin'," he chuckled gently, clutching her hand to his chest. He hooked a finger under her chin and raised her face so their eyes met. "maybe next time though, ye'll not try to play such a cruel trick on me and me brother."
"How was that cruel," she protested.
"Getting' our hopes up by sayin' ye'll marry us with no real intention a doin' so," Conner scoffed. "Now what could be more cruel than tha'?
He leaned closer and kissed the tip of her nose, making her smile broadly.
"Alright, now tha's just not fair," Murphy pouted playfully, drawing attention back to himself. "That's two kisses Conner got that ye've not given me. I'm startin' to think ye like 'im more."
Julie looked up at Conner for support, but he just smiled and threw his hands up in surrender. "I've got nothin' ta do with how ye handle Murph here."
She rolled her eyes and too the two steps that put her in front of Murphy, who was leaning against the counter. He smirked down at her with a look she imagined was close to naughty expectation. Julie leaned up on her toes, putting a hand on either shoulder for balance, and softly kissed the corner of his lips. He let out something that sounded like a purr, grabbing her hips before she could pull away.
"Murphy," she warmed playfully, pulling her face away from his.
He ignored her, tilting his head and going for her neck. Julie laughed wildly as he tilted her backwards and started pummeling her neck with overly-dramatic, tickling kisses. When he'd had his fill, he pulled her back up close to his chest, nuzzling at her neck. She petted his hair, still giggling.
"Okay, back to me brother with ye," he said, letting her go with a smile. "I've taken more of ye than I probably should've."
"Oh, is that how it's gonna be," she asked, folding her arms in mock frustration as she looked from Conner's smiling face to Murphy's. "You two are going to pass me back and forth like the last cigarette in the pack?"
"Well, since ye put it that way," Conner laughed, stepping closer and kissing her forehead right above her eye. "I'd have ta say yeah."
"Except we'll be savorin' ye a wee bit more," Murphy added with a chuckle.
Julie shook her head, laughing. "Fine then, just make sure you make me last."
"Oh we will, "Murphy replied, winking as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Conner.
"Out of the kitchen now please, boys," Julie smiled. "And I'll fix up lunch."
"Oh no," Conner said, waiving his hand. "We'll be makin' lunch since you got breakfast."
Julie folded her arms over her chest again. "Oh really? And what will you be making?"
"Conner," Murphy whispered loudly, trying to hide his lips with his hand. "What do we know how ta make?"
Conner seemed to think it over. "Spaghetti?"
"Mmm, that sounds delicious," she smiled, moving to the table. "Well, have at it boys. But please don't get any ashes in the food."
"Oi, we've been doin' this a long time," Murphy called over his shoulder, filling a pot with water and talking around his cigarette. "We won't get any ashes in yer precious food."
There was a bit more rattling around in the kitchen and she saw Conner turning on the stove.
"You do know how to boil water for the pasta, right," she asked, laughing.
"Keep it up, Julie," Conner said, feigning anger. "Maybe we won't let ye have any of our spaghetti when it's done."
Julie smiled, but quieted down as she watched them, The brothers both stood at the stove, pushing each other back and forth trying to add ingredients to the sauce. They argued which would be better to put in, garlic or salt and pepper. She got up and walked over to see if she could lend a hand in deciding. When she got over there, she tapped both of them on their shoulders and squirmed her way in between them.
She stuck her finger in and pulled it out, licking it clean. "It needs garlic."
Conner gave a triumphant snort.
"And salt and pepper," she added, smiling up at him.
Murphy stuck his chin in the air.
Julie laughed at both of them, then helped out by draining the pasta.