When Love Marches in 2

March 17, 1999 was going to be a day that Ashley and the MacManus brothers would never forget. Morning had come too soon for Ashley, she didn't get to sleep until two in the morning thanks to the boys' bickering at each other. And she had been woken up to water hitting the floor, meaning they were letting it warm up so they could take a shower. Turning her back to the shower, Ash let out an inaudible sigh as she snuggled into her pillow more. She had been living with the MacManus twins for a little over a year but knew them for six years. They had first met down at McGinty's and the three of them just clicked.

She ended up moving in with the twins a little over a a year ago due to some drunk resident in her apartment complex. The person was so drunk off their ass that they ended up stumbling, knocking over some kind of oil lamp and loosing their cigarette in it in the process which burned the building straight to the ground. When Ashley told them about what happened to her apartment building the twins told her she could live with them until she found a place. Three months into living with the MacManus brothers something happened with Ashley...it had been a long day for the three of them, the boys had worked a double shift at the meat plant and Ash was hired to plan a 'super sweet 16' for a rich family with an extra spoiled daughter. To say the very least Ashley and the client exchanged a few choice words. So there the three were down at their normal hang out spot, McGinty's. Five or six Guinness' later Ashley was trashed, she couldn't even stand up on her own let alone walk. The boys felt sorry for her because she was falling all over the place in the pub, Murphy ended up taking her back to the apartment so Ashley could sleep the drunkness off. The whole trip to the apartment consisted of lots of laughter, stumbling, cursing and holding onto each other for support. But things took a drastic turn once they entered the elevator shaft. The elevator jerked which made Ashley stumble right into Murphy, the two of them were so close to each other that their breathes were hot on each others' face. Before her brain could process an apology, Murphy's lips attacked hers in a lust and drunk filled kiss. Murphy pushed her against the old creeky elevator shaft wall, their bodies tangled with each other as they frantically made out. It barely registered to them that the creeky metal box stopped on their floor, Murphy ended up picking Ashley up and wrapping her legs around his waist as he walked them to the apartment door. She ended up pinned to the door with her legs wrapped around Murphy's waist tightly grinding against him and her hands pinned above her head from one of his hands. Their lips disconnected from each other so Murphy's could travel down the side of Ash's neck. When Ashley's hands became free she reached down and turned the door knob the best she could to get them away from any peeping eyes. Murphy kicked the door shut, still latched onto her and the two of them tumbled onto his bed with breathless laughs before starting a more heated session. Within minutes clothes were scattered, moans, panting, groans and skin wildly hitting skin could be heard throughout the apartment. When Ashley and Murphy came to that morning it was awkward for them, once the two of them finally spoke they agreed to act like that night never happened. But as the months past Ashley's feelings started to grow for Murphy but she had to keep them hidden.

"Ash, are ye goin' te get up lass?"

The voice of the Irishman that she was falling for broke her out of her thoughts. "In a minute." Ashley groaned out pulling the covers over her head.

She ended up letting out a yelp of surprise as the sheets were yanked off of her. "C'mon lass ye gonna be late fer one o' ye meetin' t'ings."

Ash glared at a smirking dark haired Murphy. "Well, I wouldn't be tired if you and Connor weren't arguing all night."

"Ah, lass don't be like t'at. We know ye still love us." Connor chimed in as the two of them attacked her with bear hugs.

Even though Ashley wanted to stay mad at them, she couldn't and hugged them back. "Alright...anyway, are we going down to McGinty's tonight to celebrate St. Patrick's day?" She sat up when the boys let her go.

"Aye!" The twins said in unison with grins plastered on their face.

Great, that meant there was going to be a fight tonight between them and patrons...and it was going to be worse because it was St. Patrick's day so they were going to get their Irish drinking on.

"So what time should I be down there?"

"Usually time lass." Murphy said, which meant right after the twins got off work.

"Okay..." Ashley slid out of bed then went to her dresser drawer to pull out some clean clothes then headed to the shower.

Since she was the only girl living with them, Ashley made a few changes...for instance, the shower. Before she moved in with them, if you walked into the apartment, you would be able to see their bare rear ends in the shower. So Ashley made them help her put up a makeshift shower curtain. The boys installed those screw hooks in the ceiling while Ashley made holes in a king sized sheet so the hooks could hold the makeshift shower curtain up. And it worked! The sheet didn't reach the ground, it was about knee high from the ground but the sheet would keep the important parts out of others' view. Ashley set her clothes down on a chair then turned back to the boys to see them putting their boots on then their rosaries.

"No fighting at work you two...I know it's 'your guys' day' but you still have to be good."

"Aye lass..." They went up to her, Connor ruffled her bed head before kissing the top and Murphy pecked her cheek. "But we can't make any promises." The boys said in unision again before laughing and walking out the door.

Giving a roll of her eyes towards the door, Ashley shook her head then shed off her night clothes before going into the shower to wash up. Once she was done and changed into the clean clothes Ashley put her shoes on, grabbed the apartment key then walked out of the apartment and locked it up before getting in the elevator shaft to go to work.

Those few hours of planning a baby shower for a mother to be felt like an eternity. Going through decorations, invitations, food and drinks...every time the mother-to-be got happy or overwhelmed she'd cry, which made Ashley feel a bit out of place since she was here to plan a baby shower not play a comforting therapist. Ashley was glad the mother-to-be loved the ideas and said go for it, that made Ashley's job more easier and she could get down to McGinty's now to celebrate St. Patty's day with the twins.

"T'ere's te lass! Over 'ere Ash!" Murphy's voice rang out in the pub once Ashley went through the doors.

Ashley looked over to the bar to see her favorite pair of twins already getting down to partying. She saw them grinning at her while Murphy held out a full glass for her once she reached them.

"Fer ye lass."

"Thank you." Ashley said with a smile as she took the glass and took a hearty swig of the dark alcoholic drink.

"Easy t'ere lass, we go' all nigh' te celebrate!" Connor said with his voice carrying amusement.

"After a day like today, that was needed." She laughed as she sat down next to Murphy.

"It couldn't 'ave been t'at bad."

Ashley leaned forward to look at Connor. "Believe me. It was. You try to come up with ideas for a baby shower with the mother-to-be. I would love to see how far you get along with the planning before she bursts into tears."

"On second t'ought, t'at is bad." Connor commented before taking a drink.

The bar erupted with greetings when someone entered the pub. Before Ashley could turn around to see what was going on, someone hugged her from behind and kissed the back of her head.

"Hey Fuck Ass! Get me a beer!"

"Rocco!" Ashley exclaimed happily as she maneuvered her arms behind her to hug him.

"Ashley! The boys been treatin' ya good?"

"O' course we 'ave." Connor said feigning hurt.

"We fin' offense te t'at!" Murphy mocked anger.

"Bullshit!" Rocco stated as he sat down on the other side of Ashley.

The hours ticked away and before Ashley knew it, most of everyone was gone. It was just her, the twins, Rocco, Doc and a few laid back patrons. Ashley had her head down on the bar top trying to get the headache to die down a bit. She was internally cursing the twins poking fun at her because she couldn't hold the liquor like they could. So she just had to open her mouth and say she could...Ashley could tell she was going to have a bad hangover later.

"Listen boys and Ash, I've go' some very bad news." Doc started.

Ashley lifted her head off the bar, squinting her eyes at Doc because the lighting in the building was making her head hurt worse. "What is it?"

"I'm gonna have to close down t-t-the bar. The Russians are buying up buildings all over the town, includin' this one. Fuck! Ass! And they're not lettin' me renew my lease." Doc finished.

"Are you kidding me?" Ashley said as the others chimed in with their dis approvals.

"Let me talk to my boss. Maybe he can do something." Rocco said.

"Wha' t'e feck's yer boss gonna do?" Connor asked as Murphy smacked the back of Rocco's head.

"Hey, hey, hey. Listen, fellas and Ash, I don't want anyone to know. So you keep your traps shut! You know what they say: People in glass houses sink s-s-ships."

Even though this was a serious conversation, Ashley couldn't help but chuckle softly as Doc got the proverb wrong.

"Hey Doc, I gotta buy you like, a proverb book or somethin'. This mix-and-match shit has gotta go." Rocco said.

"A penny saved is wort' two in t'e bush, isn't it?" Connor piped in.

"'nd don't cross t'e road ye can't ge' out of t'e kitchen." Murphy stated after he took a drag from his cigarette.

Everyone, including Ashley started laughing until the doors behind them slammed shut. Ashley jumped and turned her head to see three pretty tall guys come into the bar.

"Murphy..." Ashley said barely above a whisper as the three guys stopped in front of where everyone was sitting at.

Everyone slid off their bar stools and Murphy carefully pulled Ashley behind him so she could be protected.

"I am Ivan Checkov, and you will be closing now." The tall bald guy in the middle said as he took his leather gloves off.

"Checkov. Well, t'is 'here's McCoy. We find a Spock we've go' us an away team." Murphy joked as he held on to Rocco.

"Murphy..." Ashley mumbled to herself, she had a bad feeling in her gut.

"Me in no mood for discussion. You, you stay." The Russian said pointing to Doc. "The rest of you, go now."

"Why don't you make like a tree and get the fuck out of here!"

The bar groaned as another proverb was said wrong and Ashley watched the twins carefully, it seemed like they were trying to side track the Russians but it wasn't working so well.

"Ye know he's go' 'till t'e week's end, righ'? Ye don't 'ave te be hard-arses do ye?" Connor stated calmly before taking a drink.

"It's St. Patty's day. Everyone's Irish t'nigh'. Why don't ye jus' pull up a stool 'nd 'ave a drink wit' us?" Murphy said, trying to defuse the problem right along side his brother.

Maybe a little too Irish. Ashley thought as she held back a groan when a wave of pain went through her head.

Ashley jumped in fear when the sound of glass broke and Checkov's voice came out harsh and loud.

"This is no game! If you won't go, we will make you go."

Being around the boys so much, Ashley knew by their stance that things were about to get ugly so she carefully side stepped her way around the bar to stand with Doc.

"Listen, if ye want te figh', ye can see yer outnumbered 'ere. We're tryin' te be civil, so I suggest ye take our offer."

"I make the offers."

And what do you know, Ashley's feeling was right. Rocco intervened, trying to make a joke and Checkov slugged Rocco a good one. A couple of patrons lashed out verbally, Connor said something in another language that Ashley couldn't understand and Hell broke lose from there. The boys slammed their shot before tackling the Russians, Ashley didn't know exactly what to do. Sure she'd seen them in a few bar fights but this fight was way different, these were Russian mobsters that they were fighting. Seeing the other regulars go after the Russians, Ashley ducked under the bar just in case glasses or bottled went flying her way.

"Ash, where are ye?" Murphy's voice rang out once things started to quieten down.

Ashley cautiously stood up from behind the bar. "Right here." She blinked as the brothers tossed Checkov onto the bar top and tied him down. "What are you guys doing?"

"Teachin' Ivan 'ere a lil' lesson on how te treat ot'ers 'nd te tell him he ain't welcome 'ere anymore." Murphy said while Connor sprinkled the remains of the liquor out of a bottle.

Ashley watched Connor light up a match and drop it onto the Russian's backside, causing his back to go up in flames. She honestly didn't know if she should be enjoying the Russian's pain for everything that he'd done moments before or be disgusted that the twins she lived with could be this cruel to a person. Ashley had ended up running to the back to hurl her guts up from the scene and from too much alcohol in her system.

"Ash, ye ok lass?" Murphy's voice came to her ears.

"I'm ok..." She groaned in agony as she felt Murphy pull her hair back. "Remind me to never try and beat you two at drinking."

Pushing herself away from the trash can, Murphy helped her to her feet and over to the sink so she could wipe off the excess vomit.

"She feelin' alrigh'?"

"Aye. Jus' had too much te drink." Murphy told his brother.

Ashley let out another groan as she fell into Murphy's chest. "Home." She mumbled.

"Lass, I t'ink ye should crash 'ere fer t'e nigh'." Connor said.

"What about you guys?"

"Don't worry 'bout us lass. We'll be fine. 'sides, already talked te Doc, he said ye coul' stay in the bedroom above t'e pub fer t'e nigh'." Connor explained.

Ashley didn't even try to protest as the boys helped her up the stairs and to the small bedroom that was above the pub. Murphy gently laid her on the bed then took her shoes off as Connor waited by the door.

"Nigh' Ash." Murphy's voice hit her ears before she fell into an alcohol induced sleep.