The cars pulled up to the stairs in front of the farmhouse when the doors opened and Diego, Annie, Connor, Lisa, Murphy and Darcy got out of the cars. They closed the doors as Darcy's mother walked outside and she headed down the stairs. Darcy gave her mother a hug then her mother got in her car and they watched the car go down the drive a few seconds later. They walked up the stairs when Diego opened the screen door and he lightly pushed the gray wolf back. They walked inside and Diego closed the screen door then the front door.

"Right…," Annie said while watching Lisa and Darcy leading Connor and Murphy up the stairs. "You put those two to bed and we'll lock up."

"I'm not tired," Connor said with a yawn.

"That says otherwise," Lisa teased and he sighed, rolling his eyes.

"You need to put this in the kitchen," Darcy said as she handed the plastic bag to Annie and Annie looked into the plastic bag.

"Peach cobbler?" Annie asked.

"Yep."

"Uh…," Diego said as he looked at them. "We need to tell them."

"Tell us what?" Murphy asked with concerned in his eyes.

"You're still gettin' married, right?" Connor asked with a worried look on his face.

"Yeah. We're still getting married," Annie said.

"We just decided on a wedding date," Diego said.

"Well…?!" Lisa asked with wide eyes.

"We decided on Saint Patrick's Day," Annie said. Lisa and Darcy walked to Annie and Diego as they hugged and Annie looked at Connor and Murphy. "Don't you like that idea?"

"Um…," Murphy said.

"It would make it easy t'remember," Connor said while looking at his twin.

"But all th'decorations will be white an' green."

"What's wrong with that?"

"No one will know it's a weddin'."

'True. But it means we can get really drunk at th'reception an' no one will care."

"Aye. There is that."

"And…."

"Ok. Let's get you two upstairs," Lisa said with a laugh and Connor frowned as she lightly pushed him toward the stairs. Darcy pointed to the stairs and Murphy lowered his head. She leaned her head down to look at his face and he crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue.

"Move," Darcy said with a laugh and they headed up the stairs.

"They're your brothers," Diego said with a grin as he looked at Annie.

"And I wouldn't trade them for anything," Annie said and they headed for the kitchen.

Upstairs, Lisa had gone check on the boys when she walked to the doorway to Connor's bedroom and she saw him standing at the sink in the bathroom. He was only wearing his jeans and she could barely see the angry expression on his face. She walked closer when she carefully slid her arms around his waist and her hands moved over his stomach.

"Christ," Connor whispered.

"Lord's name," she whispered. Murphy had told her to say that and Connor turned to look at her. She glanced at the scars on his chest and stomach while her mind reminded her how close she came to losing him and she moved her fingers over the scars on his chest.

"You sure you don't wanna go t'bed?" he asked as he looked over at his bed.

"Are you talking sex or sleeping?"

"Whatever you want," he said as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

"As much as I would love to spend the night… We have to think about the boys. How do we explain me coming out of your bedroom?"

"You…got a point," he said then looked at the clock sitting on the night table. "It's midnight."

"Happy New Year, Cowboy," she said with a smile and he cupped her head in his hands.

"It sure is," he said and leaned her forehead against his forehead. They looked into each other's eyes when Lisa backed up and she headed for the door. He watched her leave then looked down and he felt a tightness in his jeans. "Shit."

Sighing, he walked back in the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Across the hallway, Darcy helped Murphy out of his black linen shirt as she looked at the scars on his stomach and chest and he watched her move her right index finger along the scars on his chest.

"Not again," she whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"I swore I would never again lose the man I love," she said and looked into his eyes. He moved closer as he kissed her lips and her fingers moved up his chest. She lightly touched the tattoo on his chest as a grin moved across her lips and he arched his eyebrows. "Who's Norman?"

"He was my best friend growin' up," Murphy said and he told her about Norman. Darcy's fingers circled his left nipple as he shivered and she slid her left hand up to his right shoulder. "Christ."

"Lord's name."

He grinned when he felt like they were being watched and he looked at the doorway. Nichole stood in the doorway as she held onto Fuzz and she had a sleepy look in her eyes. She was wearing a red flannel nightgown with cartoon snowmen printed on it and her hair was sticking up on her head.

"Mommy? What are you and Papa doing?" Nichole asked then yawned.

"I was helping Papa get ready for bed," Darcy lied as she turned to face her daughter and walked to her. "Why are you awake?"

"I heard people talking."

"Oh. Sorry if we woke you up," Darcy said when she picked Nichole off the floor and held her in her arms. "Aren't we, Papa?"

"Aye," Murphy said as he walked closer and hoped the tightness in his jeans wasn't showing.

"Let's get you back to bed," Darcy said as she looked at Nichole.

"You didn't kiss Papa goodnight," Nichole grumbled and Murphy smiled. Darcy kissed Murphy's lips then all of them walked out of the room and he watched them go down the hallway. Sighing, Murphy walked back in the bedroom as he headed for the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Downstairs, Annie placed the peach cobbler in a glass storage container while Diego placed the plastic bag in the recycling bin and he closed the backdoor. He walked to Annie when she closed the top of the storage container and Diego leaned his forearms on the top of the kitchen counter. She looked at him as Diego sighed and he slightly lowered his head.

"Are you ok?" Annie asked.

"I was just thinking about the whole Smecker thing. There has to be a way for us to know for sure if he's no longer out there," Diego said, looking at her.

"If you are talking about Agent Bloom then the answer is no."

"She is the only one who could help us."

"How!? By having the FBI swarm this place and take my brothers!? Arrest us for harboring wanted criminals?! Seize the ranch!? Take Lisa and Darcy's kids as well as Devil and Ebony?!"

"They wouldn't do that."

"Th'hell they wouldn't!" she said with her Irish accent.

"Annie…."

Diego stood straighter when he walked to her, picked up the glass storage container, placed the glass storage container in the refrigerator, closed the door then walked to her. He pulled her into a hug as she placed the top of her head against his chest and he felt her shaking. He let her cry as he rocked her and he kissed the top of her head. H waited for her to calm down when he removed some tissues from the box on the kitchen counter and he handed her the tissues. She used the tissues to wipe her eyes and nose and she sadly smiled at him.

"Sorry," she said a few times and he lifted her chin so she looked up at him.

"About what? About caring about your family? About caring for your friends? About caring about Devil and Ebony? About caring about this place and the people who work here?" he asked.

"I can't help it. I get my protective streak from my ma."

"Yeah. And I wouldn't want to mess with her when she's in protective mode. She's scary."

She snorted a laugh as he smiled and she lightly pushed him.

After cleaning up the kitchen, they headed for the staircase as they went upstairs and Annie flicked the switch to turn the downstairs lights off. They went down the hallway when they walked in their bedroom and Diego closed the door after the gray wolf followed them in the room.

Houston – FBI Headquarters – the next morning

The sounds of her high heels clicking on the tile flooring echoed behind her while Eunice walked down the hallway and she frowned. Her mind replayed what she saw the night before and how wild Smecker's eyes were while he slammed into the door. Sighing, she shook her head then saw Agent Fred Owens walking down the hallway.

"Hey, Fred," she said.

"Shit. Keep it down," Fred grumbled.

"Partied a little hard last night, hunh?" she teased and he sighed, rolling his eyes.

"You could say that," he said then gave her a puzzled look. "Where did you go? Saw you going off with one of the higher ups."

"We went to check on Smecker."

"He's still here!? Damn. I thought they would have let him go by now."

"Not with the evidence they have on him. And I guess they don't want to cause a bloodbath."

"You believe that's what would happen if he got out?"

"He's obsessed with the Saints."

"They're dead."

"I know that. You know that. But Smecker….? He doesn't believe they're dead. What makes things worse? He's lost his mind. He attacked the head shrinker they sent to evaluate him. Who knows who he'd attack or kill to get out of here. And once he is out….?! He'd do anything to find the Saints. Even kill people."

"Shit."

She watched Fred headed down the hallway then she sighed, turned and she headed to the door to her office. She opened the door as she walked in the office and she headed for the desk after she closed the door. She walked to the desk when she sat on the high back chair and she turned the chair to look at her computer. She powered up the computer when a soft buzzing sound came from her purse and she looked at the purse sitting on the desk. She had placed her other cellphone in her purse as she looked at her purse, but didn't remove the cellphone. She opened the file folder as she read the report and the soft buzzing sound happened three more times.

"Shit," she whispered. Eunice picked up her purse, opened her purse then she removed the cellphone after she turned the high back chair to block the security camera. She looked at the screen when she saw the text icon was blinking and she leaned back in the high back chair. She tapped the screen and she looked at the text.

Are you there?

We need to talk.

Are you there?

I guess not.

She recognized the phone number as Diego's phone number, but she had no idea who sent the text.

Who is this?

She looked at the screen as she waited and the soft buzzing sound came from the cellphone.

The fiancé.

I thought you didn't want me to contact you again.

She waited as she looked at the screen and she wondered if she should end the call.

I didn't want to contact you. But we need to know a few things.

"We?" Eunice whispered and frowned.

We?

Me, my friends, my fiancé and my brothers.

I told you everything I know.

Not about him.

"Him?" Eunice whispered then she realized who she was talking about.

Are you talking about Smecker?

She waited when the soft buzzing sound came from the cellphone and she looked at the screen.

Yes.

I told you I can't say where he is, but I assure you he isn't going to be released.

We don't believe you.

I know you don't.

She looked at the screen as she wondered if she should tell them about Smecker and her fear that his lawyer might get him released. A soft buzzing sound filled the air and she looked at the screen.

Are you still there?

Yes.

Are you talking to someone!? Are you playing us again!?

Who am I talking to?

The one who likes Connor.

"Damn. You are paranoid," she whispered.

No. I was trying to figure out if I should tell you something,

He's been released, hasn't he?

Now who am I talking to?

The one who likes Murphy.

He hasn't been released, but I fear he might be.

Why!? You said they wouldn't release him with all that information they have on him! Were you lying about that?!

"And we're back to Miss Paranoid," she whispered.

I wasn't lying. What they have on him will put him away for the rest of his life. What might get him released has to do with what I did.

What did you do?

Who is this?

The fiancé.

Eunice thought for a few seconds as she looked at the screen and she sighed.

Meet me at my place around five tonight and I'll tell you.

Fine. But you better not be playing us. Remember what I told you.

"Whatever you say, Miss Paranoid," she whispered.

Eunice watched the screen go dark then she deleted the text. She placed the cellphone back in her purse as she sat back in the high back chair and she looked at the door.

The Golden Cactus Ranch

The door to Connor's bedroom opened as Lisa walked in the room and she had a breakfast tray in her hands. A white coffee mug with coffee, a glass of water, a plate of dry toast and some scrambled eggs, a napkin, a fork and some aspirin were on the breakfast tray and she placed the breakfast tray on the floor.

Connor was sleeping on his right side with the pillow over his head and the bedding was down by his waist. Lisa looked at the tattoo on his back as she slowly moved her right hand toward his back and she softly moved her fingers over the tattoo.

"Hm….," Connor hummed then he winced as pain moved through his head and he tightly closed his eyes. "Shit."

"Morning," Lisa whispered after she slightly lifted the pillow off his head and he rolled onto his back. He half-opened his eyes as her face came into focus and he sighed.

"What time is it?" he grumbled and she helped him sit up then she placed the pillows behind his back.

"It's a little after nine."

"Why didn't you wake me up? I got things t'do."

"No one's doing anything. Seems the guys partied hard last night."

"Hmph."

She reached for the breakfast tray then she placed the breakfast tray on his lap and he looked at the white coffee mug and the plate of dry toast, a glass of water and scrambled eggs. He picked up the glass of water and the aspirin when he placed the aspirin in his mouth and took a drink of water. He placed the glass of water on the breakfast tray and Lisa carefully sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked and he nibbled on the dry toast.

"Been worse," he said as he took a sip of coffee.

"Sorry about last night."

"No. I understand. We were rushin' shit."

"Still sorry."

Connor made a goofy face as she softly laughed and he went back to eating his breakfast.

"Where're th'boys?" he asked.

"They're downstairs having breakfast," she said. She watched him eating his breakfast when he sighed and placed the fork on the breakfast tray. "Not hungry?"

"Just tired," he said.

She picked up the breakfast tray after she stood up and she headed for the doorway. She watched him slid down onto his right side as he looked at the wall and Lisa sighed.

"I'll wake you up when lunch is ready," she said.

"Ok," he said and she heard the small growl in his voice. He closed his eyes as he felt Murphy's mind waking up and Connor pulled the pillow over his head.

In the other room, Murphy slept on his left side with the pillow over his head and the bedding was pulled up to his right shoulder. The door opened while Darcy and Nichole walked in the room and Darcy had the breakfast tray in her hands. The red coffee cup with coffee, a glass of water, a plate of dry toast and some scrambled eggs, a napkin, a fork and some aspirin were on the breakfast tray and Darcy placed the breakfast tray on the floor.

"Careful," Darcy whispered while Nichole climbed onto the bed and sat next to Murphy's left side. He was barely awake when he felt Nichole shaking him and he smiled under the pillow.

"Papa?" Nichole whispered as she lifted up the corner of the pillow and he half-opened his eyes.

"Don't wanna go feed th'cows," Murphy grumbled and Darcy moved the pillow away from his head.

"You don't have to," Darcy said as he carefully sat up and she placed the pillows behind his back.

"What time is it?"

"It's a little after nine."

"Hmph."

"How are you feeling?"

"Been worse," Murphy said as he sipped on the coffee.

"Wanna come watch cartoons with me?" Nichole asked while Murphy nibbled on the dry toast.

"I think Papa wants to go back to sleep," Darcy said as she lifted Nichole off the bed and Murphy watched them leave the room. He saw Lisa leaving Connor's room then he started eating the scrambled eggs and he glanced over at the cat.

"Hey," made him looked at the doorway as Connor leaned on the doorframe and he held the handle of the white coffee mug in his left hand. He was wearing his blue bathrobe over a pair of white pajamas bottoms and his slippers.

"Hey," Murphy said with a small nod. Connor walked to the bed while Murphy picked up the glass of water, placed the aspirin in his mouth then took a drink of water. He placed the glass of water on the breakfast tray and Connor sat on the edge of the bed.

"Tell me summat. Did I make an eejit outta myself last night?" Connor asked after a few seconds.

"Not any more than usual."

"I'm bein' serious."

"You just flirted with Lisa an' danced with her."

"Anythin' else?"

"We talked about those news stories we saw on television."

"I remember that."

"Lisa an' Darcy told us they talked to th'FBI about what happened with Sam an' us findin' them."

"Still don't know how Rocco an' Romeo got there."

"Like Lisa said. We've got guardian angels."

"Still tryin' t'picture those two as angels."

"Aye."

"What else?"

"You said you're worried about Smecker findin' us."

Connor sighed while ducking his head down and Murphy bumped his left leg against Connor's leg. Connor looked at him as they locked eyes and had a silent conversation. Murphy took a drink of coffee while Connor pressed his lips into a thin line and Murphy placed the red coffee mug on the breakfast tray.

"Know what we should do?" Connor asked.

"What?" Murphy asked.

"I think we should get up an' find summat t'take our minds off of this shit."

"Nichole wanted t'go watch cartoons."

"Sounds fun."

"My robe is over there," Murphy said while quickly finishing the scrambled eggs, toast and coffee. Connor had gotten up when Murphy lifted the breakfast tray off his lip, moved the bedding back and got out of bed. He placed the breakfast tray on the bed when he slid his feet into the bunny slippers and Connor handed him the blue bathrobe. Murphy slid on the blue pajamas bottoms then picked the breakfast tray off the bed and they headed for the doorway. Murphy looked back at the bed when the cat hopped off the bed and followed them out of the room. They headed down the hallway when Diego walked out of the bedroom and he scratched the back of his head.

"Hey," he said and they nodded.

"How're you feelin'?" Connor asked.

"As rough as I look."

"Darcy said we don't have t'do anythin'," Murphy said.

"Yeah. No one's gonna be in the mood do so shit."

"We were goin' downstairs an' watch cartoons with Nichole."

"Sounds like a plan."

They headed downstairs while the cat walked behind them and they headed down the hallway to the kitchen.

Houston – Eunice's apartment

Eunice walked to the door after someone had knocked and she looked through the peephole. She had made sure to take the long way home then search the apartment for bugs or any other devices. She opened the door as far as the security chain would go and she was surprised to see Connor, Diego and Murphy standing near Lisa, Annie and Darcy. Chandler, Peter, Mark, Nichole and Devil were near Murphy, Connor and Diego and Murphy held the handle of the cat carrier in his hands.

"What the hell?" Eunice whispered. She moved the security chain back then opened the door and she looked at them.

"Hey, Blonde," Diego said with a small grin.

"I thought you said you wanted to talk to me," she said as she looked at Annie.

"I said we needed to talk to you," Annie said as she glanced at Lisa, Darcy, Diego and her brothers.

"Why did you bring your kids?"

"Did you really think we were going to leave them back at the ranch?" Lisa asked with an angry look on her face.

"Did you see anyone before you came up?"

"We checked. No one's around unless they're in that buildin' across th'street," Connor said as he turned to look at the building across the street. Sighing, Eunice stepped back as they walked by her and she closed the door after she checked to see if anyone was around. She closed the door as Connor, Murphy and Diego walked around the room and Connor went down the small hallway.

"What are they doing?" Eunice asked while walking to Annie.

"They're making sure it's safe for us to talk," Annie said.

"I scanned the place before you arrived."

She saw the blank look on Annie, Darcy and Lisa's faces as Diego, Connor and Murphy walked in the living room and Eunice looked at them.

"Clear," Connor said and Diego placed a small black box on the counter. He pushed the buttons as small lights blinked and Eunice gave him a confused look.

"It's a white noise emitter," Diego said.

"Where did you get that?" Eunice asked.

"I was able to keep a few "toys" after I left the FBI."

"You think they're listening in?"

"Wouldn't put it passed them."

"Still think one of us should stand guard at th'door," Connor said.

"You expecting company?" Eunice asked.

"More like an ambush."

"This isn't…" she said then paused. She walked to the door when she opened the door and she looked outside. She didn't see anyone as she closed the door then looked at them. "There's no one out there."

"Not now. They're probably waiting until we leave," Lisa said.

"She has a point," Connor said.

"An' we need to stay away from th'windows," Murphy said.

"Will you guys please stop? You're scaring the kids," Eunice said as she looked at Chandler, Peter, Mark and Nichole.

"Seeing how we were kidnapped at gunpoint, taken to some compound 'cause some asshole wanted to make my mom turn over the ranch, had to escape outta window, climb a tree to get over a fence, got taken to some house in the middle of nowhere and nearly had them die on us…," Chandler said as he pointed to Diego, Connor and Murphy. "I don't think there's much that can scare us."

"He's right," Peter said.

"Yeah," Mark agreed.

"Yep," Nichole as she nodded her head and Murphy picked her up then held her in his arms after he placed the cat carrier on the floor.

"Ok. You're scaring me," Eunice said as she flipped her hands up and sighed.

"Why? They're not after you," Lisa said.

"You really believe that!? If anything happens to Smecker while he's still in custody? The first person they'll suspect is me!"

"Would they arrest you?" Peter asked.

"In a split second."

"No. They wouldn't. You're their top bitch," Lisa said as she crossed her arms under her breasts and Eunice glared at her.

"That's it," Eunice said as she walked closer and they stood toe-to-toe. They locked eyes and Diego sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh boy," he whispered.