**Yay! Chapter 3 is up. Thanks to my newest reviewers, Madame Director, CarAnn, and Jaded21Lillies! As always, I don't own BDS, but Siobhan and the non-movie related plotline are mine. Enjoy!**

Chapter 3

The bed was cold when I finally woke. I could hear sounds coming from the kitchen, but I couldn't find the energy to move. I liked sleeping and getting up meant that I had to start the day, but nature called. I used the bathroom quickly and crawled back under the covers.

"Yer up," Murphy said, poking his head into the room. "Tis almost noon, ye sleepyhead."

"Yeah, yeah. " I sat up and rolled my neck, cracking it and both of my shoulders. He handed me a cup, which I took warily. "There better be cream and sugar in this."

"Con warned me." He nudged me over to sit next to me, piling the pillows behind him for support.

I took a sip and sighed. "This is heaven."

He kissed the top of my head. I scooted into that special nook between his arm and his body where I seemed to fit perfectly. We enjoyed the coffee until I was human enough to talk without being cranky.

"Where is Connor?"

He shrugged. "Had work. Took off yesterday and needed to make up fer it."

"What do you mean, he took off yesterday? When he dropped me off, he said that's where he was heading to."

"Don't git mad, Siohban. Neither one o' us wanted to leave ye alone. Didn't know if that piece o' shit would bother ye at work so Con kept an eye on ye and Aileen until I got done work. Then we switched."

I wanted to be mad, but I was feeling more grateful than anything else. "You guys don't even know me."

He took my cup and placed it on the end table with his. Both boys liked to move me where they wanted me, but it wasn't forceful. Each touch was a question, a request. He pulled me into his lap.

"Life is too short not to grab something great when it walks by ye. Don't ye realize that ye are that something?"

"Don't joke, Murph. It's not funny."

"It's not a joke, lass." He kissed me, hard. "I cin see it. Con cin see it. Why cain't ye?"

He was crazy. I was in the arms of a man who was certifiably insane, but seeing as how playing it safe got me black and blue, a little bit of crazy may have been a good idea.

We untangled ourselves and got dressed. He promised not to peek, but I caught him looking. There was a reason I had worn cute underwear to bed. Saturdays were my time to clean and to shop. Connor had cleaned up the kitchen before bed, so that made one less thing for me to do. I got another load of laundry together while Murphy ran the vacuum. We got the bathroom scrubbed and the bookshelves dusted. The trash was gathered and thankfully, he took it out to the dumpster. I wouldn't be going out back for a while.

"What's next?" he asked.

I handed him his coat off of my desk chair and grabbed my purse, making sure my wallet and debit card were in there. "Now, we go shopping." I had a bunch of reusable bags in the closet which he also got to carry.

We walked the few blocks and got onto the T, Boston's metro system. I used my card to get us both on and found us a seat. Murphy dropped into the seat beside me and grabbed my hand, entwining our fingers. It felt so natural to be with him, just like kissing Connor last night was perfect. They were so similar, but so different like two halves to the same coin. Or maybe it was more like the light and dark side of the moon by the wicked grin on Murphy's.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'll show ye later instead." He wouldn't tell me more.

The grocery store was busy but we were able to grab a cart. We walked up and down each aisle, finding decent sales. In the coffee section, Murphy grabbed the jumbo size can of dark roast.

"I usually just get the small can since it's just me," I said. He stared at me and waited for it to sink in. It took a few minutes for it to finally dawn on me what he was implying. It made feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Ye don't mind that we're goin' ta be around?" he asked. In reply, I grabbed a second container of coffee, dropped it into the cart, and kissed his cheek.

"Nope."

We got to the register and the total added up quickly. Feeding three people was seriously going to hurt my budget. I added up quickly in my head what bills needed to be paid and when the rent was due. If I scrimped in a few places, I figured that I would be okay. As I was rummaging for payment, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I watched as Murphy paid for the groceries in cash.

"What?"

"I can buy my own food!"

He grabbed the bags and started walking. I had to run to catch up with him. "We work too. Ye don't have to take care o' us all da time. We git to take care o' ye too."

I wanted to be mad, but he was just too damn cute! He was so proud of himself, carrying our food and humming what I could only assume was an Irish drinking song. We made it home and started putting things away. He was graceful while I bumped into everything, though it was nice to have company.

"I have a couple articles I need to look over for Monday's print," I said, booting up my computer in front of the window. I had forfeited a lot for this apartment, including said dining room table, but my desk was imperative to my job and therefore more important than somewhere to eat. "Do you think you can stay out of trouble for a few hours?"

He grinned mischievously. "I'll see what I cin do. Cin I wash some o' me and Con's clothes?"

I nodded. "Of course."

"I'm gone ta go get the wash bag from our place and then I'll be right back." He kissed me quickly and headed out.

I locked the door behind him and got to work. I didn't really want to do the reviews but I was in desperate need of a new coat. The one I had wasn't warm enough, so reviews it was. I had gone to school for journalism, hoping to one day find a job writing a daily column for a decent newspaper. I kept applying, but Boston just wasn't interested in what I might have to say.

Murphy eventually returned, two bags in hand. I was grateful when he made me a cup of coffee, sweetened perfectly. I was finding it hard to stay focused on what I was doing. The writing wasn't as bad as others I had dealt with, but the spelling was atrocious and the punctuation was nonexistent.

"Dinnertime, m'leannán."

Connor's voice made me jump. I hadn't even realized that he was in the apartment. No wonder, considering the clock was reading almost seven. I got up and stretch and gave him a hug hello.

"What did you call me?" I asked as I was handed a plate.

He shrugged and dished me out a ladleful of some sort of stew. Murphy was the one who answered.

"He called you sweetheart." He grabbed two rolls and put one on my plate, the other on his.

"Cain't grab me one?" Connor grabbed for Murphy's plate, but he was quicker.

The bickering didn't really bother me as they bitched over who got to sit next to me. It was kind of cute, but to settle the dispute I sat back at my desk. "I have to finish the article before I do anything else, okay?"

Both boys groaned, but didn't argue. I was finally able to hit the submit button an hour later. The boys had finally agreed on a movie and were sharing the couch. I grabbed three beers from my fridge and knew someone was going to have to go get more. The case was almost empty. I debated if I should disturb them or if I should sit on the recliner.

"Screw it," I muttered, stepping over Muphy's legs and wedging myself between them on the couch.

I wasn't comfortable for long and decided that since it was my apartment, I could sit any way that I please. I made Connor twist slightly so I could use him as a backrest and draped my legs across Murphy's lap and over the armrest. I sighed. That was much better. Connor wrapped his left around me, just above my chest. Not to be outdone, Murphy pulled off my slippers and started to massage my feet.

It felt good to have someone take care of me for once. I was so used to cooking and cleaning all the time that I forgot was it was like to be pampered, not that the thought would ever have crossed Richard's mind. Speaking of which…

"Connor, what did you say to Richard yesterday?" I caught the look the boys shared. It was a normal thing for them to communicate silently, but I wanted in on this conversation. "C'mon, guys. What's going on?"

"I just told 'im to git and that if he bothered ye agin, I would put 'is face inta a concrete wall." He tightened his hold on me. "He left a little bloodier than I would've preferred, but he didn't seem ta want ta take me advice."

Bloodier? I pulled at his free hand and examined his knuckles. A few of them were busted up. I tilted my head back to look at him. "Don't you go getting yourself hurt on my account, Connor MacManus!"

"Murph woulda done the same."

I smacked his twin who was cracking up, tickling me at the same time. "I don't care. If you two are going to be sticking around, I don't want to be worrying about you all the time. Promise me that you'll be careful." Both of them agreed. "Good. Now what the hell are we watching?"

When the movie ended, we made our way down the hall, ignoring the disaster zone that was my kitchen. As usual, I was the first in bed, but it was Connor who climbed in and spooned me.

"Tis my turn to watch ye sleep," Murphy explained.

Whatever. I didn't really care as long as they turned off the light and stopped talking. I was exhausted.

"We are goin' ta Mass in da morning," Connor said sleepily. "Missed two days on account of being with ye. Confession should be fun."

"Come wit us?" Murphy begged, snuggling up close.

I guess after what they had done for me, I shouldn't say no. I knew there was an outfit or two that still fit that would be acceptable for a Catholic service. "I'm not really a church-going woman, but as long as you don't care, I can go."

I was a creature of habit so sleep took a little longer to come. Connor held me a different angle, and his brother's beard rubbed my neck where he had settled. It wasn't bad, just different.

As I lay awake, listening to them breathe, I realized that maybe there was a God up there. Maybe He was looking out for me. I was not a naturally trusting person, but the men who held me had already earned their place in my heart. A voice deep inside of me told me to be careful, but somehow I knew that I was going to be okay.

"Its okay, lass. We got ye. Sleep," Connor whispered in my ear, kissing my head. I snuggled down under the covers and did just that.