**Hello again everyone! I'm sorry this update took so long and a huge shout out to BTGJONES for kicking my butt into gear. This is a short chapter, but chapter 16 is almost complete and it will make up for it, I promise. Also, I realized I have taken liberties with the cities of Ireland. All faults are mine. Please bear with me and as always – BDS doesn't belong to me. Much love, ya'll!**

Chapter 15

Two days into my new life and I was already cursing Ireland. It was an amazing country but the coffee was terrible! Murphy and I had gone into the heart of Dublin, hoping to find better shopping. We made time to stop and have breakfast, but each sip was like choking on tar.

"Ye're face is priceless."

I reached across the table and smacked him. He could joke all he wanted. This just meant that I had to add coffee maker and some recognizable brand of beans to the ever growing list of things to get. I wasn't sure which Murphy I was going to be spending the day with: the lover or the moody, emotional pain in the ass. As we walked, he insisted on holding my hand and stealing kisses every chance he got. It was much better than the alternative.

"Ye alright, lass?"

He must have heard the gurgling in my stomach, but I nodded anyway. "Yeah, but that coffee isn't agreeing with me. I told you it was gross."

We made our way back into the bustle of the shopping district. We found this amazing thrift store off of the main street and realized that we had very different tastes. "But I like dis pattern!" he cried, holding up the tackiest plate I had ever seen.

I shook my head and put the set I was holding into the cart. It was a cream base with blue vines on it. It was a much better choice than the art deco option Murphy was still arguing for. He eventually gave up, but I gave in when he found a serving platter that he liked. Not everything had to match and it made him happy. We found a coffee maker that was still in its box and a myriad of other things, including towels, sheets, new pillows for the living room, a hair dryer, and a jewelry box with etched roses that Murphy insisted that I have. He even counted out the money from his own pocket to pay for it.

We took a taxi home, my thoughts drifting as we got closer to the house. Murphy was content to rub his thumb over my knuckles. The country side was beautiful, but I found myself getting nauseous watching it go by. When we reached home, I let Murphy carry most of the bags inside, depositing what I was carrying on the table. I gave Connor a quick hello before making my way upstairs to lay down.

"M'leannán, ye're burning up," Connor said quietly, shaking me awake.

I glanced around and checked the clock. I had napped for nearly two hours. I didn't feel warm, but I was definitely dizzy. I needed help sitting up and Murphy was waiting with a cool wash cloth.

"Con, I think she needs ta see a doctor," he murmured, wiping my face. "She's too pale for me comfort."

I tried to argue, but I forgot I was involved with two stubborn, bullheaded, thick skulled Irishmen. At least the clinic they dragged me to was close by. It wasn't a full hospital, but it did have a full set of stat of the art equipment. I was taken into a private area where a nurse checked me over. It was all typical stuff. She took my temperature and blood pressure. She even checked my pulse to make sure I was still alive. She left, replace quickly by the doctor in a white lab coat. It felt sterile but at least he had a kind face.

"I take it those two in me waiting room belong to ye?" he asked, reading over my chart. I nodded and he laughed. "Then I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with ye. They're already pacing holes in the carpet."

"That would be my boys. I'm sorry. They tend to worry." I paused. "And overreact."

He pulled out his stethoscope and listened to my heart. He rechecked my vitals and recorded the results. "I don't think this is anything ta worry about, Ms. O'Grady. Tis probably only from traveling and lack o' sleep, but I would like ta run some blood work just ta make sure."

I consented and let the nurse draw multiple vials of the red stuff out of my arm. She promised to have my results back shortly. I got permission to have Connor and Murphy come back and wait with me. We passed the time discussing how to decorate the house.

They assured me their dad had purchased it legally, using a lifetime of savings he couldn't access while in prison. Neither of them felt the need to change their names upon returning to Ireland. MacManus was like Jones or Smith back in the States. They knew they were safe enough, but I was glad I had taken the precaution. All three of them planned to find jobs, but so far the pickings had been slim. They had some savings left, but funds were starting to run dry.

"I like yer hair like dis, Siobhan," Connor said, running his fingers through it.

I managed a smile for him, but he wasn't convinced. He moved his hand to massage the back of my neck. The doctor came back in with a nurse and requested the boys wait outside.

"No." Connor was adamant.

"Whatever ye have ta say will just be repeated ta us later," Murphy added.

I took his hand, Connor still with his arm around me. "They stay."

"Very well. Siobhan, what was the date of yer last monthly cycle?"

I thought about it. "I'm not really sure. With losing my Gram and the other stress I've been under," I said looking pointedly at one brother then the other, "I haven't really been keeping track."

The nurse handed me a sheet of paper. I had to read it a couple of times for it to sink in.

"What does it say, lass?" Connor asked, but it was Murphy who was the one who answered, having been reading over my shoulder.

"it says she's… pregnant."

I turned to look at him. He attempted a grin, but his eyes rolled back into his head and he dropped like a ton of bricks.

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