Heavenly Virtues

Part 16

By the time the three got upstairs Ashley was beyond tired, so many emotions and not enough sleep this past week. They shuffled into her place and she quickly locked the door behind them. She went right to her dresser, getting pajamas. "Ya redecorate love?" Murphy asked, noticing the dresser beside the door. She gathered her clothes and gave him a strange look before he gestured to the dresser. Her eyes widened in realization "Oh... uh.. I slide it in front of the door at night." She mumbled, reaching up to the dead bolt and chain lock, rattling them. "Ya know, incase the lock doesn't hold."

The boys shared a disturbed look between them. "I nailed the window shut too so no one can get in from the fire escape." She pointed loosely to the window on her way to the bathroom, closing the door behind her to change.

The boys kept the disturbed looks on their faces as the reality of what this past week had been like for her started to sink in. "Jesus Con." Murphy muttered.

She came out in her usual pajama set of a tank top and a small pair of shorts. "Do um, do you guys want some tea or something?" She asked. "Why don' ye go lay down lass, we'll make some tea." Conner offered. She went to object but was cut off by Murphy who stepped in closer to her. "Go get comfy m'girl." He said as he kissed her forhead. She felt an explosion of butterflies in her stomach as she dazily followed their orders.

She sat cross legged on her bed and watched them stumble over each other at the small excuse for a kitchen. There were more then a few smacks to the back of the head between the two and even more swearing before they brought her a cup of tea. They all quietly drank their tea while the boys smoked. "Was that the last he's contacted ye. The flowers?" Conner asked as he stubbed out his smoke. She nodded her head as she got up and brought her mug to the sink.

"Yeah, but I haven't really had a minute alone since then. I've had officers take me to and from work, wait with me while I work, and at night an officer sits out front." She said. Both boys looked deep in thought before conner spoke "C'mon, let's go ta bed lass." The two stood, abandoning their cups. The boys both stripped to sleep and the familiar blush spread across her cheeks along with the feeling of arousal in her core.

Conner took one side and Murphy took the other effectively sandwiching her between them. Conner wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, pressing her back up against his chest as she faced Murphy. She gave him a tired smile and started to fall asleep.

Murphy interrupted her slip into unconsciousness "can I ask ye a question love?" She opened her heavy lids to him and nodded. He cupped the exposed side of her face as she laid against the pillow and ran his thumb over her cheek. "Did ye mean what ye said the other day?" He asked, even with sleep deprived eyes she could see the pain in his eyes. She sighed, a tiny almost unnoticeable sigh "No." She laced her one hand over Conners and placed the other over Murphys chest. "I'm sorry, I- I was just trying to push you guys away, I didn't want you to get hurt. As I was saying it i wanted to take it all back and..." Conner rubbed his thumb over her exposed belly nudging her to continue "and what, sweetheart?"

She shut her eyes tight as a tear ran down, over the bridge of her nose and hit the pillow. "And... I wanted to tell you both how I really feel about you." She could see the hope return to Murphys eyes as a smile pulled at his lips. Conner had now proped himself up on his elbow behind her, intently listening to her answer. She shifted so she was almost laying flat on her back, so she could look at them both as she prepared herself to tell them.

"I like you, both of you. I- I've never felt this strongly about anyone, and at first it scared me that you might find it... I don't know weird, that I like both of you and I tried to decide early on if I had stronger feelings for one of you more then the other... and I didn't, I don't...." She looked at them worriedly as she rambled. "Lass, we have feelin's fer ya too." She bit her lip, fighting the smile that grew there. "You do?" She asked looking between the two. "Aye love." Murphy smiled as he ran his knuckles over her cheek.