Heavenly Virtues

Part 36

The apartment was a little chilly when Ashley woke up. She reluctantly crawled out of bed, leaving the two snoring boys to cuddle up to each other. As she pulled on socks and a big t-shirt over her naked body, she smirked at the two. She pulled back her hair and got to work, preping the turkey. She started cutting vegetables and potatoes while she made pancakes.

She thought the guys would be tired of pancakes now, she was, but the two seemed so excited every time she made them. As she fluttered around the kitchen, she didn't notice the two sets of eyes watching her from the bed. Murphy slipped out of bed. She heard a pair of feet padding behind her before she felt arms around her waist and a face buried into her neck. She closed her eyes and hummed in contentment, leaning into him. The sweet scent of him enveloped her senses, knowing it was Murphy before he even spoke.

"Mornin love." He smiled into her neck as he peppered kisses there. "Morning Murphy." She said with a giggle. When he didn't let her go, she turned her head to him. "This dinner isn't gonna cook itself." He kissed her lips quickly as he moved away from her and towards the counter to get a cup of coffee for him and Connor.

Connor sat in bed watching his brother and their girl. He finally felt like things were starting to come back together for them. Murphy brought him his coffee as he sat smoking tucked under the covers. "Ye need some help lass?" He asked as he snuffed out his smoke in the ashtray and pulled back the covers.

"Pancakes are ready. You can plate them if you want, I'm not gonna start cooking everything til a little later. Just the turkey for now." She bit her lip, holding back a smile as she tucked the recipe from their Ma under the cutting board. The three sat and ate, discussing the car Murphy had gone to see last night that he thought would be a good choice. When they were done, Ashley did the dishes after the boys promised to clean up after dinner tonight.

As she was finishing drying, there was a knock on the door. When Murphy opened it up, Rocco stood on the other side, arms full of foldaway chairs. "Ya, micks gonna help me with this shit or not?" Both brothers laughed at him."Ye look like yer doin' a pretty good job yerself there Roc." Connor joked. "Aye! Our girls cooking ye a meal, least ye could do is bring in tha chairs.

Ashley scoffed "boys go help him!" She laughed as she hugged Rocco hello. "No, Mary?" She questioned as she pulled away. "Eh, she had to work. She'll be off before dinner, so I'm gonna go pick her up later." Ashley smiled, excited to have her here. Ashley enjoyed Mary's company and was glad the two were hitting it off.

The three guys set up while Ashley got the turkey into the oven. After they set up, Rocco brought up a case of beer, and the four sat around laughing and talking, watching the Macy's Day parade on their little TV. Her granda showed up and started drinking with them, and finished up watching the parade with them. Everyone pointed out their favorite floats.

Ashley excused herself to start the stew, and once it was on, Darlene showed up. "I brought pie darlin, didn't know if you needed me to bring anything." She said as she hugged Ashley and handed her the pie. "Homemade, none of that store bought crap." Darlene laughed to her. Connor and Murphy got up to greet her, only ever meeting her in passing.

"Hello ma'am," Murphy reached out to shake her hand. "Oh please dear, none of that ma'am shit. Call me Darlene." She ignored his hand and gave him a huge hug, then moved onto Connor. "It's so nice to meet you, boys! This one won't shut up about you two when she works." Darlene playfully rolled her eyes as the boys smiled at her.

"Good things, I hope." Connor joked. Darlene winked at him. "mosta the time." Darlene brought the pie in and set it on the counter. "Wanna beer?" Ashley asked her as she stired the stew. Darlene shook her head with a scrunched nose. "I brought my own." She smiled at Ashley as she pulled out a bottle of Jameson whiskey out of her bag. "Want some hun?" Ashley scoffed and nodded "yes please!"

As the four guys sat around the TV, Rocco stood. "I should be on my way to get Mary, I'll be back in a bit, guys." He waved as he left the apartment. While Rocco was gone, Ashley started the rest of the food, enlisting the boys to help. Murphy on mashing the potatoes and Connor for carving the turkey.

Rocco and Mary made it back in time for dinner. As soon as Mary came through the door, she hugged Ashley. "Hey! I'm so sorry. I'm just showing up now." Ashley shook her head with a smile. "Stop it, you were saving lives and shit." Ashley waved her to the fold out tables her granda had brought as they all sat to eat. Murphy took the lead as everyone bowed their heads and led them in prayer. They didn't make it a habit to pray at every meal, but this was special.

"God, we thank ye on this day for all ye have given us. Ye have bestowed us wit health, love, family, and friends. We will be forever grateful for yer blessings in our life, and will forever carry out they command.
Amen."

As Ashley raised her head from prayer, she took in those around her. Everything Murphy said was true. They were all in good health now, the love radiating from this room was overwhelming, and the three were on the road to becoming connected again after almost being completely torn apart. The people in this room were not only her friends, but she considered everyone of them family.

Ashley smiled to herself. It really felt like this was the start of their new beginning, like nothing bad could happen from here on out.

As everyone dug in, Ashley watched the boys stop as they took their first bite of stew. She watched them look at each other, then back at the stew. "Lass?" Connor questioned as he raised his head to her. "Where did ye get the recipe fer this?" Murphy looked at her as he took another bite. "Aye love, this tastes jus' like our ma's from back home." Ashley smiled and bit her lip."You like it?"

"Aye," Connor said as he shoveled more in his mouth. "This is wonderful, lass." Ashley beamed at them."Good, I'll have to thank you ma for the recipe. Let her know I nailed it." She said with a giggle. "Ma gave ye her recipe?!" Murphy exclaimed. "She refused ta give it ta us." Connor said with furrowed brows. "That's probably because she knows you two can't cook, and would just fuck it up." She joked with them.

"Well ye can make this any day mgirl." Murphy said as he kissed her cheek. She thought she heard a quick "Aye" from Connor but didn't know for sure as he was stuffing his mouth.

After dinner, everyone enjoyed pie and some whiskey before heading out, Ashley insisting the everyone that she didn't need help with cleanup as she had two perfectly capable men to help her. As the boys started cleaning so did Ashley, against their protests. It helped move things along faster and in no time they were all cuddling in bed.

"You know, I think this is it." She said with a smile as she laid on her stomach between the two, both of them running their fingers over different parts of her body. "What's that sweetheart?" She sighed happily. "Our new beginning. Everything feels right. Like it should've felt all along. You two are the loves of my life. Thank you for everything." Murphy moved his hand to her face, rubbing his knuckles over her cheek and Connor dragged his fingers over her arm.

"Were tha lucky ones lass" "Aye love, we can't believe ye picked us." They laid together, Ashley on her back, Murphy resting his head on her chest and Connor just laying on his side, soaking the sight of her up. This wouldn't last forever, the safety of this moment, they all knew that. But in this moment, everything felt perfect.