If you were to give me the choice of going back and not stepping through that door to the pub, and consequently erasing the last year, as well as everything that is to come, I would have to tell you no. I would walk through that door all over again.

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It was the end of February and a biting wind was blowing through the streets of South Boston. It was about nine o'clock at night and the streets were pretty much empty except for the few people walking to their places of residence or some other warm shelter intent on escaping the chill that was creeping under their clothes and against their skin.

All except one; they stood in the middle of the street just beyond a square of light from the large window of McGuinty's Pub. They stood slouched with a hat low over their face and the hood of a well worn sweatshirt over that; a pack hung limply from one shoulder.

The warm glow from the window beckoned. They could see through the window the blurred forms of people moving around. The door opened as somewhat left, laughter, and shouts of farewell drifted out along with an escape of warm air that just brushed their face before being swallowed by the cold.

That was all the incentive they needed. Clutching the pack tightly against their shoulder they stepped out of the shadow and into the light, moving toward the door. Once inside their head lifted ever so slightly - anyone watching close enough would have had time to see a pair of brown eyes do a quick scan of the room - and then drop back down. They sat at the end of the bar and dropped the pack at their feet. Reaching into their pocket they removed some crumpled bills and dropped them on the counter.

The girl behind the bar came over wiping her hands on a towel. Picking up the money she asked, "What'll it be?"

"Beer."

"What kind?"

"Doesn't matter."

The girl shrugged, and placed a bottle of domestic beer down in front of them. She tried to get a look at their face but they just tilted their head down even farther. Then she got a call from the two guys playing pool for more beer. Leaving the stranger alone she went to oblige.

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"Here you go boys." Mary placed a couple of Guinness bottles on the edge of the pool table.

"Thanks Mary, yer an angel." Murphy MacManus grabbed one and took a large swallow while his twin, Connor, broke on the pool table.

"Indeed." Mary brushed a stray strand of curly red hair that had escaped from her bun back behind her ear. She leaned back against the wall with her arms crossed and examined the person sitting on the edge of the bar with a furrowed brow.

Connor stood up from taking his shot and saw the look on her face. "Hey, what's the matter?"

Mary looked to the slightly taller and more mature MacManus. With his dark blond hair, that had that 'I just got out of bed' look, rugged features and piercing blue eyes he was handsome man. His brother was no exception either, though in a different way. Murphy had the same blue eyes, but his hair was a dark brown, nearly black, and his face slightly rounder.

They had matching tattoos of the holy virgin mother on the left side of their necks as well as a cross on either forearm. Connor had the word veritas (truth) tattooed across the back of his pointer finger on his left hand while Murphy had one reading aequitas (justice) on his right. Murphyhad about three others that were covered by his shirt.

She tilted her head to the solitary figure at the end of the bar. "Him."

Connor followed her gaze. He didn't see anything of consequence, just some guy of slight build hunched and huddled over his beer. Not an uncommon sight in any pub or bar. "What about him?"

Mary shrugged. "I'm not sure; I just got this weird feeling of him. Something about him doesn't seem quite right."

"The only thing not right about him is that he's taking yer attention away from me." Murphy slung an arm around her shoulder. "So Mary, what do ya say we go upstairs and christen that new apartment of yers?" He gave her the smirk that both the brothers were famous for. A smirk that could make any girl forget whatever she was doing.

Except for Mary. She turned her head and gave Murphy a coy smile. "I can't I'm working." She ran a finger down his chest and felt him give a slight intake of breath. "But why don't you drop by later," she placed her hand on the side of his face and gave him a light pat, "when hell freezes over." She headed back towards the bar.

Murphy watched her walk away purposely sashaying her hips.

His brother slapped him on the shoulder. "Fuck Murph, I think she likes ya." Connor laughed and took a swig of his beer. "And it's yer shot." He motioned to the pool table.

"Shut the fuck up Connor." Murphy walked around to the other side of the table to line us his shot. There was a satisfying crack as the cue ball connected with the seven, knocking it into the side pocket. "Solids," he declared proudly. His glance went back to Mary standing behind the bar. "Sides, I think she's warming up to me." He hit in two more of his balls and then missed

"In yer fucking dreams." Connor examined the table. "Fuck. Ya didn't leave me with a bloody decent shot."

Murphy wasn't even listening to his brother grumble. His eyes narrowed as he watched three guys approach Mary at the bar.

"Connor."

"What?"

"I think we got some fucking trouble makers."

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"So I get home today and not only do I find you not at the apartment, I find my stuff fing gone."

Mary glared at the guy standing in front of her. "Really? Considering how little time you spend there I'm surprised you even managed to find your way there in the first place. Besides the rent for that shit hole came out of my paycheck. And as for your stuff not being there, that's because I told the movers to throw it all out."

"Movers?"

"Right, you weren't here. I got another apartment Joe. It's over, it's been over for the two weeks you've been gone."

"Why you little bitch."

Mary stumbled back, throwing a desperate look over at Murphy and Connor, as Joe went to lunge over the bar. But before Murphy or Connor could get there he was yanked backwards by the collar of his shirt. Mary was surprised to see that her rescuer was the little guy from the end of the bar.

"Leave her alone."

"Who the fuckck are you to tell me what to fucking do?" Joe shook him off. He took a swing but the guy sidestepped him and ducked under his arm kicking Joe in the back of the knee so that he fell hitting his head on a barstool.

Joe's friends went to step forward only to have their heads knocked together by Connor and Murphy who had come up behind them.

Joe got to his feet, charging at the little guy who just sidestepped him again. Only this time Joe was able to grab his sleeve, and Joe's forward motion ended up pulling the sweatshirt and cap completely off and over his head.

The entire bar got real quiet. The "he" was in fact a she.

She stood about five foot eight with long thick blond hair that fell about halfway down her back and was mussed from being shoved inside the cap. Her skin was cream colored. She had face was heart shaped with a pink mouth and dark brown eyes under a furrowed brow. She was wearing extremely loose jeans that hid the shape of her lower figure. But with the removal of the oversized sweatshirt she was left wearing a tight fitting white t-shirt that showed off her firm and undoubtedly lithe upper body. Thin, but not skinny, with slight curves. On her face was a look of utter contempt.

Joe stared at her in surprise before his anger came back and he went after her. Only this time she grabbed the beer bottle of the bar top and slammed it down breaking off the end. She spun around with her impromptu weapon causing Joe to come to an abrupt stop.

"I said to leave her alone." Her voice was icy and her grip on the broken bottle tight.

Connor came up next to her. "Ya heard the women."

Murphy appeared on her other side. "So you and yer buddies, get the fuck out."

Seeing that he was out matched, Joe made for the door. But not before throwing one last hateful look Mary's direction.

Murphy took a threatening step forward causing Joe and the other two too finally leave. "Well," he said turning around, "that was interesting"