AN: Alright everyone. Here it is! The first real chapter! I hope y'all enjoy it! And remember to review!

- Chapter One -

There was a loud ringing from next to me. I quickly picked up the phone and put it to my ear. "Hello?" I asked squeezing the receiver between my shoulder and my neck. I went back to cooking dinner for the boys like I always did at night.

"Hello, is this Elliot Parker?" the man on the other end of the line asked.

"The last name is MacManus now but yes, this is her," I told him I chopped up a carrot. I felt my husband come up behind me and wrap his arms around me. "May I ask who this is?"

"I'm Dr. Jones from the Massachusetts General Hospital," the man said as I swatted at Murphy's hand, which was trying to steal a part of dinner. Once I heard the word doctor I grabbed the phone with my hand. "I'm sorry to inform you of this, but your uncle has had a heart attack."

My hand flew to my mouth and Murphy pulled away from me. "Is he alright?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"For now yes. We're not sure how long he has though. From our records, you're the only family he has left. We'd like you to come to Boston and make some arrangements if things don't go well."

"Alright," I said in a quiet voice. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright. I'll see you soon," the doctor said. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," I said hanging up the phone. A chocked sob left my lips as I gripped the edge of the counter.

"Elliot what happened?" a calm voice from behind me asked.

"Uncle Doc's had a heart attack. They don't know how much longer he'll live," I told my husband as I turned around to face him. I met his blue eyes as his arms went around me. I rested my head on his chest as he stroked my hair.

"Everything will be alright lass," he whispered to me as I started to cry. Uncle Doc was my last blood relative.

I pulled away from Murphy's chest to look at him. "I have to go back to the states. I know that you don't want me to, but I have to. I don't know the next time I'll be able to see him."

"Do you want me to go with love?" he asked me gently wiping my cheeks with his thumbs.

I wanted to say yes but I knew that he didn't want to return to the city just yet. We were all happy here in Ireland. Connor, Da, Murphy, and I had all been living on the small sheep farm for almost eight years.

I shook my head to answer my husband's question. "I think that I just need some alone time with him."

"Alright. Let's get your stuff together and then get you to the docks," he said grabbing my hand.

All I could do was nod along with what he was saying. I knew that at any second I would break. I mean, I was losing one of the last people on Earth that I cared about. Who wouldn't be affected by that?

Murphy pulled me back to our bedroom. I sat on the bed as he moved around the room. I watched as he collected up everything that I needed. He grabbed out one of our suitcases and neatly folded clothes and put them in. He then put in my underclothes and few other necessities. It seemed as if he was the one who was leaving and not me. All I could do was sit numbly on the bed.

"Elliot," Murphy said breaking me out of my trance. My eyes snapped to him and he jerked his head to the doorway. I looked over and saw Connor leaning against the doorframe.

"What's going on?" Connor asked as he pulled out one of his homemade cigarettes.

"Uncle Doc had a heart attack. I'm heading back to the states to see him," I told my brother in law.

Murphy and Connor's eyes met. "Are we going with?"

"No," I said standing. Connor's eyes flashed back to me. I was lucky that I was still able to see them behind all of his unruly hair. "I need some alone time with him. I'll be back as soon as I can, but I don't know exactly when yet."

Connor nodded and left the doorway, most likely to go tell Da where I was going and then to call Ma as well. It seemed that in the MacManus family, when something happened to one of us, it happened to all of us.

"Love, take as long as you need," Murphy said snapping my suitcase closed.

I gave him a small smile and said, "Thanks." I grabbed the suitcase from his hand but he pulled it back just enough for me to lose my balance and fall into him. I gave him a glare and he cheekily smiled down at me. "Bas…" I started to say when a set of lips were on my own.

I sunk into the kiss and ran my hands up Murphy's arms, my suitcase now forgotten. He wrapped his free arms around me and pulled me even closer to his body. I tangled my fingers into his now long hair. I always asked him to cut it and to shave his beard but he never listened to me. Now I was just trying to remember the feel of them for when I was gone, seeing as I didn't know when I was returning.

Just as soon as the kiss was started, it was over. "Fucking tease," I playfully growled at my husband as I released his hair.

"Are ya' sure ya' don't want me to come with?" he asked me as his hand ran up and down my lower back. Even through the thick material of the sweater I was wearing I shivered at his small touch. He had found the sweet spot about two months after we had been married and he never had stopped teasing me with it since.

"I'm sure," I said after a few moments to collect my thoughts. "I won't be gone long I promise. Plus knowing Uncle Doc, he'll come out of it within a few days." Or so I hoped. I gave my husband a quick peck on the lips before grabbing my suitcase. I turned to go when I felt his arms go around my waist.

"I love you so much Elliot," he whispered against my neck.

He nuzzled the skin there as I responded, "I love you too Murph."

That's when he bit down. I gasped with both pain and pleasure as he claimed me as his lass. He gently licked the new love bite before letting go of me.

I walked over to the mirror and looked at the big old bruise that was now forming. I looked at Murphy and raised my eyebrows at him. "Just something to remember me by."

"I could never forget you," I told him rolling my eyes. It was true though. No matter what I would never be able to forget my best friend, lover, and husband. He was entirely too unforgettable. "I'll see you soon."

"Wait!" Murphy said before I walked out the door. I turned to look at him and he grabbed my suitcase. He threw it on the bed and then quickly opened it. He reached into one of our bedside tables and pulled out my pistol from all those years ago.

"Murph what are you doing?" I asked him as he wrapped the gun in one of my shirts then put it into my suitcase.

"So that nothing happens to you. I've already seen you get shot once and I don't need to see it again. Stay safe. For me?" he said closing the suitcase once more.

"Alright, but I pray to God that I don't have to use it. I thought that it had stopped once we left the states," I told him grabbing my suitcase once again. "I'll be back in time for our anniversary, I promise you that much," I said as I moved from the room.

I heard Murphy sigh behind me then follow me out. "I'll drive you," he told me grabbing his coat.

"No, I'll walk there. It's only about a mile. I can handle it Murph. Plus it will give me time to think," I told him. Being outdoors was the one way that I thought best. The fresh air helped my clear my mind and really focus on stuff.

I paused on the porch of the small house. Da, Connor, and Murphy were standing in front of me.

"Take as much time as you need lass, but be gone too long. I think that me boy just have to follow ya' if ya' do," Da said as I gave him a hug.

"Don't worry. I'll be back in time for our anniversary," I told my father in law. I gave his cheek a quick kiss before moving to hug Connor.

"I love ya' lass. Don't get yourself killed," was all he said to me. I gave his cheek a kiss as well before pulling away to roll my eyes at him. Then my mind flashed to the gun in my bag. I wondered if the twins planned that together.

It didn't matter though as I moved to say goodbye to my husband. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him with everything that I had. I could feel the tears running down my face. The last time that we were apart for more than a few days was eight years ago just before we left to come here.

Once I pulled away from his lips Murphy said, "I love you Elliot. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

I smiled at him as he wiped my tears away. "I love you too. I'll call you as soon as I get there."

My boys nodded at me as I grabbed my suitcase from where I had set it. I walked down the steps of the porch and was off back to the states.

The walk from the farm to the dock was peaceful. Once I got there I got on the next boat to America. I was lucky that it was a cargo ship and I was able to find somewhere to hole up in.

I sat facing the ocean, my back again a crate. The rocking motion of the ship was calming as I stared at the sea. I let my mind drift and of course it drifted to the man waiting at home for me.

I thought of our wedding four, almost five, years ago. It had been a small service with just a few of the boys' closest friends and family. By that time I had been in the town a while and had gotten to know quite a few of the people as well. The boys' Uncle Sebil did the service.

It was the best night of my life. I was finally able to be tied to the man I loved. Uncle Doc was able to come over for it and he walked me down the aisle. I had on a light green dress with orange accents. It was beautiful and so me. Murphy had on black dress pants, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. We had wanted to keep the looks simple so that's what we did.

I had called an old friend from the states to come over and be my maid of honor. Her name is Eunice Bloom. I had met her while in school. She loved cowboys and had a permanent southern accent. We had stayed in touch over the years but once my parents died we had lost all contact. Eunice was my oldest friend that I had so I knew that I had to reach her.

Once she had gotten here it was like we were never apart. We had the best time together going dress shopping and everything. She told me that she was now working for the F.B.I under a guy named Smecker. I figured that he hadn't told her about the Saints yet seeing as she didn't recognize Murphy, Connor, and Da. I figured that Smecker would tell her eventually so I said nothing about it.

I felt the boat lurch suddenly and I was drawn from my memories. I looked around and saw that we had arrived. Obviously the trip had taken a lot shorter time than I had remembered or I just daydreamed that long.

I grabbed my suitcase and got off the boat. I hailed a taxi and got all the way to the bar. Being back here brought so many memories back. I looked around the empty place before walking behind the counter. I grabbed the spare guitar that I had stashed there on one of my trips back here. The last time I was here was almost two years ago.

I threw my suitcase near the stairs to the upper level. I knew that Doc had an apartment up there seeing as I had lived there during Murphy's absence.

Once I had everything I needed I went back outside. I got another taxi and got to the hospital. Once finding out what room he was in I headed back there.

I entered Uncle Doc's room and gasped. He was hooked p to a bunch of machines and looked so pail and fragile. I set my guitar down and pulled a chair next to his bed. I grabbed his hand and rubbed circles on it, like Murphy would do to me when I was sick.

"Are you Elliot Pa… I mean MacManus?" someone said as they walked into the room.

"That's me," I said looking up at the doctor. "Are you Doctor Jones?"

"Yes. Thank you for coming. We have a lot to discuss."

I spent the entire day at the hospital. I fell asleep that night holding my uncle's hand and crying.

AN: So what do you think? Let me know! And remember to review! Pretty pwease? For me? *makes puppy dog eyes at you until you review*