In the week and a half that she'd been in Boston, Barrie either woken up to Murphy lying beside her, or woken up to Connor watching her carefully.
So that morning, when she woke up and neither of the twins where in the room with her, she couldn't help the frown that crossed her lips. Had they even followed her to bed last night? She couldn't remember. She'd been so tired after Connor had dragged her all around the city, she hadn't even stayed downstairs for a drink.
As soon as they got back to McGinty's, she'd let Murphy hug her as she yawned and she'd given Connor a kiss goodnight, before staggering her way upstairs, leaving the twins smirking after her.
She'd been asleep as soon as her head hit Murphy's pillow and she couldn't remember waking up as he'd climbed in beside her, or waking up as Connor pressed his lips to her forehead.
She sighed, sitting up and stretching her arms over her head. She couldn't hear the shower, so she knew they weren't in the bathroom. From the looks of things, their coats were gone, too.
…The fuckers had left her on her own.
She grumbled, clambering off of Murphy's bed – she'd taken to sleeping there with him, Connor's tossing and turning proving to be too much for her after she'd woken up one night with his hand in her face – and grabbing her recently acquired jumper (something she'd stolen from Connor, so she had a matching set of jumpers like she did MacManus boys) before pulling it over her short-sleeved pyjama top. She quickly pulled on a pair of socks before shuffling down to the bar, greeting Doc with a wave and a yawn.
"Mornin', Doc," she hopped on to one of the bar stools, glancing at the clock on the wall and wincing at the time as she ran a hand through her ginger hair, trying to pull a few knots out as she went. "Or, well, afternoon, I guess… Think the lads have abandoned me, d'ye need a hand with anythin'?"
"M'fine, Barrie love," the old man smiled at her and Barrie grinned back. She loved Doc already, he'd earned a special place in her heart with his sometimes inappropriate outbursts and his mismatched sayings. He reminded her of her favourite granddad who she'd lost when she was 14 years old – you know, minus the whole Tourette's thing. "You might want to think about gettin' changed out of your pyjamas, though. I'll be havin' customers comin' in soon enough."
"Aye, yer probably right," she pulled a face, looking down at her pyjama bottoms. "Any idea where the gruesome twosome have got to?" she asked. Doc looked at her, stuttering and shaking his head. "Hopin' wherever it is, they bring food back. I'm starvin' and unless I want ta eat day old pizza, there's nothin' upstairs!"
"There's a little diner just down the block, the lads go there sometimes."
"Ah, thanks, Doc!" Barrie stood up, leaning over the bar and kissing his cheek before making her way back upstairs.
She showered and dressed quickly, careful to make sure her hair was fully dry before venturing out into the cold.
It took her a while to find her blue woolly hat, Connor having thrown it across the apartment a couple of days earlier in his haste to get her undressed. It was her favourite hat, the little sequined flower on the side sparkling in the right light. Her mother had bought it for her during one of their shopping trips to Dublin, she'd told her it brought out her eyes. Connor had said the same thing the first time he'd seen her wearing it.
She asked Doc if he wanted anything before she left the pub, waving goodbye to the familiar faces sat around the bar as she stepped outside, pulling her coat around her tighter following the direction Doc had pointed her in. She could smell the deliciousness as soon as she rounded the corner, the scent of burgers wafting past her and practically making her drool as she rushed over to the diner.
She groaned quietly as soon as she stepped inside, the warmth enveloping her, the smell of greasy food and the sound of chatter all around her making her feel right at home. She took a seat in an empty booth close to the counter and grabbed the menu, huffing as she realised she was spoilt for choice – she wanted to order everything.
"What can I get you?"
"Oh," Barrie glanced up at the bored-looking waitress, pen in hand and ready to scribble down her order. "Can I just have a bacon and cheese burger with everything, and… a coke, please?" she asked, snapping her menu shut and putting if back in the middle of the table.
"Sure thing," the waitress nodded, cocking her head to the side and looking down at her. "This your first time here?" she asked, smiling at the look of confusion that crossed Barrie's face. "Pretty much everyone here is a regular. You look sort of familiar, but I can't place where it is I've seen you."
"Just vistin' from Ireland," Barrie smiled up at her. "Stayin' wi' some friends for a little while, just down the road there. Ye might have seen me walkin' past."
"…With Connor MacManus," the woman nodded her head in realistion. "Lucky girl. He's pretty tasty."
"We're just friends!" Barrie told her quickly, a blush creeping on to her cheeks as the waitress raised her eyebrows knowingly, pointing a pen towards Barrie's neck.
"Those tell a different story."
"Jesus Christ, Connor," she grumbled, pulling the collar of her hood up.
"Don't worry about it, sweetheart," the older woman chuckled. "I've seen much worse in here," she reached out and patted her shoulder. "Your food will be about twenty minutes, that okay?"
"Fine, but I can't promise ye I won't try an' eat the paper napkins," Barrie sighed, the waitress giving a little laugh as she walked away. She let her eyes drift over to the other side of the diner, her gaze landing on a little girl, laughing with who Barrie assumed to be her father. She smiled softly, thinking of her own father back in Ireland and realising how much she missed him.
She pulled the phone he'd bought her out of her pocket, thankful that she'd remembered to grab it before leaving McGinty's as she dialled the familiar number and pressed it to her ear, hoping someone would answer. It was only a little after 1pm in Boston, so she knew her family would still be awake.
"Hogan residence?"
"Hogan residence?" Barrie snorted "Dad, since when have ye answered the phone that way? Have ye gone all posh an' upmarket since I came out here?"
"Barrie!" he laughed loudly, the infectious sound making Barrie grin even harder. "How are ye doin' out there, darlin'? Those boys takin' care o' ye?"
"They're takin' care of me just fine, Daddy," she told him honestly. "I'm okay. Connor dragged me round what I think was the entire city yesterday though, I've not long woken up, I was exhausted! Couldn't even stay up for a drink wi' them last night, soon as I got back I went right ta bed! How's things back home? Everyone doin' okay?"
"Aye, fine, lass. We're all fine," her father paused. "…Listen, I've got a bit o' a bet goin' on with Annie MacManus-"
"Dad," Barrie groaned, interrupting her. "Yer not placin' bets on me love life again, are ye?"
"No, love, no! …Not really. Just wonderin' which one o' the twins would be the first to try an' move in on ye?"
"Dad," she huffed in embarrassment. "This needs ta stop. Why would ye bet on some scoundrel comin' on to yer baby girl?!"
"Because I know me baby girl has got more sense about her than ta let them get away with it," he chuckled. "Tryin' ta earn me money back from the last bet I placed on you and those boys. Think I've bet the winner this time, though."
"Don't think ye have, Dad," Barrie laughed quietly. "We're just friends, really. Best tell Annie that yer both losers this time!"
"Ah, Barrie," he sighed into the phone. "If neither o' those boys get their heads out o' their arses and finally try ta make ye theirs, then they're the only losers."
"Aww, Dad…" she cooed. "So come on then, who'd ye put money on?"
"Connor, of course," he sniffed. "Things changed between the two o' ye, anyone could see that. Was sure he'd try somethin' wi' ye."
"And ye still let me come here?"
"Course I did. Yer a grown woman, Barrie, love, and I couldn't ask for a better man than Connor ta take care o' ye. Loved the bones o' ye since ye were both little. I remember, when Murphy used ta terrorise ye, Connor would be the one ta put a stop ta it."
"That's because Con's the nice one," Barrie told him, a small smile crossing her lips and her ears picking up on another voice. "Is that Bethany, is she there?!"
"Aye she is, she came round ta see how her favourite uncle was copin' without his only daughter," he chuckled quietly. "Wanna speak ta her?"
"Yes please!" Barrie nodded eagerly, desperate to speak to her cousin for the first time in weeks. She heard shuffling in the background, following by the closing of a door before Bethany's voice came down the line.
"Which one o' them are ye fucking, then?" she asked, and Barrie just knew she was smirking on the other end of the phone.
"…Connor."
"Thought so," Bethany scoffed and Barrie let a bubble of laughter escape her lips as she sighed happily. "…Oh no. I know that sigh, I've made that sigh. Sounds like a bit more than just sex, hmm? Ye got feelings for this lad?"
"Maybe, a little…"
"After just a week?"
"No, after knowin' him me whole life," Barrie grumbled.
"…But?" Bethany questioned, coughing into the phone. "Sorry, cold. Come on, but?"
"They're keepin' somethin' from me, both of them," she admitted quietly. "They're so secretive and quiet and- they've never left me alone since I've been here, right? And this mornin' I wake up and they're nowhere ta be seen! No note, nothin'. I don't even know if they came up ta bed last night and-"
"Yer startin' ta sound a bit like a nagging housewife, Barrie."
"I feel like a nagging housewife," she moaned at her cousin. "I just know they're lyin' ta me and I hate it. Didn't think we had a friendship based on lies."
"…Barrie," Bethany sighed at her. "Ye haven't seen them in years, remember? They've changed, you've changed. Just… give them a bit o' leeway, alright? Are they takin' care of ye?"
"They are."
"Then don't panic just yet," Bethany chuckled. "If ye needed ta know anythin', they'd tell ye. So… How's Murphy doin', then?"
"H-he's good, yeah," Barrie stuttered, her cheeks turning up. Bethany was silent on the other end of the phone before she snorted out a laugh. "What?" Barrie snapped defensively.
"Please tell me yer not bangin' the pair o' them? Ye father will have a heartattack!"
"I'm not!"
"Ye sure about that?" Bethany teased. "Ye voice went all high-pitched like it does when yer lyin'. Have ye finally bagged Murphy MacManus?"
"No," Barrie growled in annoyance, pulling her hat off and running a hand through her hair. "We just- things are- We don't have the most conventional of friendships, Beth."
"You and Murphy?"
"Me and Murph, me and Con…" she paused. "I'm sleeping wi' Con, we act like we're… together…"
"…So?"
"…I sleep in Murphy's bed of a night," Barrie bit her lip as she heard the woman on the other end of the phone let out a squeal of laughter. "It's not like that! Con- he's restless, he kicks and I can't sleep, I just sleep in Murph's bed, but- Bethany please stop laughin' I really need ta talk about this!"
"Okay, alright," Bethany chuckled, taking a few deep breaths. "Okay. I'm calm. Carry on."
"Do ye remember Jimmy?"
"Aye, the one who's nose Connor broke."
"Con didn't do it, Murphy did," she frowned. "He told me… stuff. About when we were younger. Did ye know he was actin' like that to me on purpose, so I'd go ta Con?"
"Figured that out a while ago, aye," Bethany admitted. "The night they left. I overheard him tellin' ye ta give Con a chance."
"Beth…" Barrie closed her eyes. "I think he liked me too, when we were kids."
"Course he did," Bethany scoffed. "…Wait. Are ye tryin' ta tell me ye didn't know that Murph had a thing for ye?"
"You knew?"
"I had a feelin', yeah," she paused. "The way he used ta look at ye when you were bein' all cuddly and best friend like wi' Connor. The way he tried his best ta keep ye from findin' out about his girls. But I also knew Connor was in love wi' ye, like really in love. Murph had a crush, I think, but Connor had feelings for ye."
"And ye didn't think ye needed ta share this information wi' me?"
"Wouldn't have done any good! Ye were never goin' ta make a move on him because ye were scared, he was never goin' ta make a move on you because of Connor, and Connor was never gonna do anythin' because he knew how you felt about Murph. Barrie… you and Murph…"
"We're just friends. Connor and I are really just friends who sometimes have sex. That's it. There's no labels."
"That's not what I was getting' at," Bethany's voice dropped to a whisper. "You and Murphy. Everyone here, we've been waitin' for it since ye told us ye were goin'. Your dad's the only one who thinks yer gonna wise up and go with the easy, safe option."
"Connor's anythin' but the easy option," Barrie muttered. "…Sometimes I think he acts a little jealous."
"Who, Connor?"
"No."
"Ah. Murphy," Bethany whispered. "Listen, Barrie, ye dad is listenin' in I think. Gimme a call tomorrow or later on, alright? And just so they know who's won – who made a move on ye first?"
"Connor did," Barrie laughed quietly. "Although I think it was more me makin' a move on him, if I'm honest."
"Good, wish I'd had the guts ta make a move on Connor MacManus! …He still cute?"
"More like beautiful," she bit her lip to keep from grinning. "Ye wanna see him, Beth, honestly. He's gone even more handsome, he's just so… he's just beautiful."
"Aye, alright, go get ye beautiful man and have ye way wi' him," Bethany scoffed. "Have one for me, too."
"Beth!" Barrie laughed. "Alright. Tell Dad I said bye and I'll talk ta ye soon, alright? Look after him for me."
"I am doing, Barrie," Beth told her, saying a quick goodbye before she hung up the phone. Barrie sighed, smiling when she spotted the waitress walking over to her with her food. She thanked her, her stomach growling impatiently as she took a bite out of her burger.
It took everything in her not to moan out loud.
She ate quickly, paying at the counter before she began the walk back to McGinty's, her body protesting the amount of food she'd eaten in such a short space of time.
She pushed open the door and frowned when everyone's attention snapped to her, silence filling the bar, exempt from the crashes that could be heard overhead.
"Are they figthin'?" she asked with a sigh, and Doc nodded reluctantly. "I'll sort them out, don't worry," she shook her coat and scarf off, draping it over the bar and making her way upstairs. The door was slightly ajar and she could Connor pacing the room, an older man she didn't recognise watching him closely.
"Ye were supposed ta fuckin' be here ta keep an eye on her!" Murphy shouted.
"S-she was gone by the time I got back! She was sleeping, I didn't think she'd- I had to go to work, MacManus!"
"I swear ta God if anythin' had happened ta her-"
"Murph, stop," Connor mumbled, waving a hand at Murphy. "Doc said she only went for somethin' ta eat."
"Then why the fuck wasn't she there when we went ta find her?!"
"I'm here," Barrie frowned, stepping into the room. The four men inside froze, Murphy instantly letting go of the man who's arm he'd been gripping. "What's goin' on, who are you?"
"Where the hell were ye?!" Murphy stepped forward, taking her face in her hands and looking her over. "Are ye alright?"
"I'm fine, Dad," she grunted, and Connor stifled a laugh as she pushed Murphy away. "I was down the street getting some lunch, I- why are ye dressed like yer about ta rob a bank?" she narrowed her eyes and took in Connor and Murphy's all-black outfits.
"Ye must've gone ta the wrong diner, ye numpty!" Connor snorted, shooting his brother a glare.
"If yer that worried about me bein' on me own, perhaps ye shouldn't wander off while I'm passed out in yer bed!" Barrie raised an eyebrow and poked Murphy's chest. "Who're you?" she asked with a frown, looking at the man she was sure Murphy had been getting ready to kill. "And why were ye supposed ta be watchin' me?"
"This is our friend, detective Duffy, he's-"
"Cute," Barrie interrupted Connor involuntarily, her eyes widening as she realised what she'd said and she clamped a hand over her mouth. "I mean- I didn't mean-"
"He's married, and yer sleepin' wi' Con. Ye can stop trippin' over yerself," Murphy snickered. Barrie shot him a glare, growling and causing his eyes to grow wide as he took a step backwards.
"He was goin' ta come and show ye round a little, Murph and I had some business we needed ta take care of," Connor ignored her interruption. "Murph just got a bit worried about ye wanderin' round Boston on yer own."
"…Who's the old guy?" she gestured to the grey-haired man sat on Connor's mattress, his outfit almost identical to the twins'.
"My name is Noah MacManus, lass," he stood up, holding a hand out for her to shake. She glanced at Connor wearily and he nodded his head, so she carefully took the old man's hand in hers and he grinned at her. "So, yer the girl who's me boys heads in a whirl, hmm?"
"You're their father?"
"Aye, guilty as charged."
"…What's goin'-" Barrie turned to face the others, freezing when she looked at Connor properly. "Connor you're bleeding!" she yelped, reaching out to him. He frowned, gingerly touching the side of his head and wincing when he saw the blood on his fingers. "Are ye goin' ta tell me what's really goin' on, now?!"
"It's nothin'," Connor shook his head, grabbing a threadbare towel and pressing it to the side of his head.
"Murphy?" she turned to look at him. He looked over her shoulder at Connor who shook his head, and Murphy brought his hand up to his mouth, chewing on his thumb nail as he stayed silent. "…Are you for real?" she growled. "I wake up in this dump on my own, I'm gone barely an hour and I come back ta Murphy ready ta smack some man in the face for failin' ta babysit me? I meet yer fuckin' Dad – who ye failed to mention you'd even found, by the way – ye look like yer ready ta go and rob the crown jewels, yer fuckin' bleeding and you still won't tell me what's goin' on?"
"It's on a need ta know basis-"
"Connor is bleeding, Murphy, he's hurt, I think I need to fucking know," she snapped at him. "Are ye in some sort of trouble? Are- …are ye in danger? Am I in danger?"
"Barrie, it's really nothin' for ye ta worry about, it's-"
"Are ya kidding right now, Connor?" she asked in a whisper, tiredness suddenly overwhelming her. "Yer hurt," she sighed, taking a step forward and gently pulling the towel away from his head. "And ye tryin' ta tell me that's nothin' ta worry about? I'm good enough ta share ye bed, but I'm not good enough ta share ye secrets?"
"…Technically, yer sharin' my bed-"
"Murphy," Connor glared at him warningly, his gaze shifting from Barrie as she screwed her eyes shut. "Barrie-"
"If yer goin' ta keep stuff from me, if yer don't want me ta worry and don't want me askin' questions… At least have the decency to not come back here hurt, alright?" she whispered. "Think I'm goin' ta go down ta the bar for a drink," she told them, stepping outside the room and turning her gaze back on Connor. "Come find me when yer ready ta tell me some more lies."
A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update, I've been swamped with work! thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows! :)
if you have any questions you can ask me on my tumblr, which is bangmerick!