Part 4: the Lip Equation

Mickey was five more ticks away from reaching out his arm and decking Lip Gallagher. Ian had invited Mandy and Lip over to paint the nursery for Anessa. Mickey still could not see what all the fuss was about over the little girl, all she did was eat, sleep, and shit, Biscuit and Jean-Claude could do that so in Mickey's eyes that wasn't much of a trick.

But still she was his family and he would anything in his power to protect her. Like when Lip picked her up, Mickey wanted to rip his arm out of its socket. He didn't recall giving Lip permission to handle his niece.

"She's way too cute to be Iggy's kid," Lip said as he made faces at the baby. Mickey looked at Mandy who seemed entranced by Lip with the kid. Mickey rolled his eyes.

"Put her down and get back to painting. Austin wants this done today and I don't want to be on the end of one of his lectures."

An hour of Austin bitching at him would be better than spending the day listening to Lip Gallagher talk about how unfair the world is when he literally gets things thrown at his feet. He's never worked a day in his life. Mickey snatched his niece from Lip.

At least she won't have to hear him griping. Mickey took Anessa to the living room and put her in her crib which Biscuit guarded like her life depended on it. If the baby even tried to move Biscuit would fetch Austin or Iggy and bring them to her side without waking her. Mickey wondered if Biscuit had been trained to do that or if she was actually smarter than she let on. He scratched her ears and looked down at Jean-Claude who was chewing on his stuffed monkey toy that Ian bought him.

Fucking useless, aren't you? Mickey craved a cigarette and the warm embrace of Ian's arms and right now he couldn't have either. He pressed a kiss to Ian's lips the second he got a chance and watched as Lip rolled his eyes and made gagging sounds.

"Do you have to do that in front of me?" Lip asked.

"This is my fucking house and he's my fucking boyfriend. Don't like it? Leave."

"Calm down, Mickey. I asked Lip to be here," Ian said, kissing Mickey's nose to calm him down.

Mickey began painting his section of wall and every so often heard Lip and Mandy giggling. They were having a paint fight and it was getting on Mickey's nerves. He had been with his brother when he bought the paint and it was very expensive and they were wasting it. Eventually, Mickey threw his brush down, slapped Ian on the ass playfully and went to check on Anessa.

Austin and Iggy were out doing wedding stuff, filing paperwork for Austin to adopt Anessa, and getting stuff to baby proof the apartment. Mickey and Ian were supposed to be watching the tyke. Mickey took her out of her bed and put her on a blanket on the floor in front of the TV. She was a couple months old but wasn't quite sitting up on her own. Mickey lay beside her on a few pillows he propped her. Biscuit lay on the other side of the little girl and watched her like a hawk.

"Is this what you're going to do today?" Ian asked.

"We're supposed to be baby-sitting," Mickey said.

"Yeah, and we're supposed to start the nursery."

"I'm sick of Lip," Mickey admitted as he started to twitch from not having a cigarette in several hours.

"He's only been here for two hours," Ian said.

"That's all it's been?"

Ian sat down beside him and took his hand. Mickey laid his head on Ian's shoulder and kissed his neck. He nuzzled in close and bit down on Ian's ear lobe.

"So I think we should try to figure out if Lip likes Mandy or not."

"I don't want to," Mickey said.

But all Ian had to do was bat an eye and Mickey caved. He made sure he kept Mandy and Lip near each other while they were all painting. When Mickey got a second, and Mandy was in the corner painting a bit of wall with Ian—laughing had having a great time—Mickey seized his chance.

"You keep flirting with my sister," Mickey said.

"What you gonna kick my ass?" Lip asked.

Don't fucking tempt me, Phillip.

"Nah, I want you to go out with her."

Lip snorted then laughed. Mickey wanted to slap his smugness off his face. Lip wiped his face and took out a pack of cigarettes. As much as Mickey wanted one he knew Austin would kill both of them if they smoked inside.

"Ian, go check on the brat," Mickey hollered.

Ian nodded at his boyfriend and he and Mandy left to check on Anessa.

"Don't fucking smoke in here. Austin will skin us alive."

Lip shook his head and put the cigarettes away.

"Living with that guy has turned you into a fucking pussy."

Watch it. That's my future brother-in-law, asshole.

"He's fucking family," Mickey said stiffly, watching Lip out of the corner of his eye for a reaction.

"He's not like us. He acts like he's better than us because he could afford this," Lip said.

"He's more Southside than you are," Mickey said through gritted teeth.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Lip said.

"Mickey, Mandy and I are going to take the dogs for a walk can you two watch Anessa?" Ian asked coming in with the baby and handing her off to Mickey. Mickey leaned in so Ian could kiss him on the cheek. He handed his boyfriend five dollars and gave him a pat on the ass. Ian kissed the baby before leaving.

"Let me have her, you're going to drop her," Lip said.

"I know how to hold my fucking niece," Mickey said.

"I've been raising babies my whole life," Lip said as he took Anessa from Mickey.

Lip acted like the he was better than Mickey at taking care of a baby. Lip changed her diaper and fed her, but Mickey picked out her outfit. He insisted on dressing her.

"Go out with Mandy," Mickey said again, "I don't just mean fuck her every once in a while. I want you to go out with her."

"What the fuck is in it for me?"

Is he fucking serious?

"The chance to take out an amazing woman," Mickey said, feeling prideful in his sister's accomplishments. He couldn't help but smile. "She's better than that bitch Karen."

"The last thing I need is another Milkovich fucking up my life. You're already fucking my little brother, I don't need Mandy too."

Mickey looked at the tiny little girl with a pink bow in her hair. She smelled like talc and Johnson baby shampoo. She had her hand wrapped around Mickey's. He smiled at her.

"I'll fucking pay you," Mickey said cringing.

"That's just like a fucking Milkovich," Lip said with a condescending laugh.

"Take her one date and if you don't like her then break it off. Let her see what a motherfucking lowlife, piece of shit you are and maybe she'll move on and find someone better."

Lip shook his head. He started to leave, but Mickey grabbed his arm, spun him around and pinned him to the wall. "Take out my fucking sister or I'll kick your fucking ass. If you won't do it for me, do it for Ian."

That had Lip's attention.

"How much?" Lip asked.

How much is my sister worth? More than you, fuckbeans. Mickey reached for the money that he earned by working with Ian at Kash 'N' Grab. He gave Lip a twenty.

"I'll ask her out when they get back."

Lip and Mickey fought over who was taking care of Anessa while waiting for Ian and Mandy to get back. Ian was upset over something a man said to them at the market, and Mickey was trying to calm him down.

"I should fucking kill the guy," Ian said. "How fucking dare he say gay's are going to hell. I should have punched him in the face."

Mickey rubbed Ian's shoulders to calm him down. He was acting irrationally. The doctors had told him this was a bipolar thing. Mickey looked for the pills that Ian was prescribed. Austin kept them in a drawer in the kitchen.

"I hate the pills, Mick," Ian admitted.

"I know you do, Ian. I know." He petted the side of Ian's face and kissed him gently on the cheek. "But it's better if you take them okay."

"They make me feel numb."

"I know," Mickey said softly.

He heard Lip talking with Mandy in the corner. Guilt washed over him and his wallet suddenly felt heavy. He swallowed a lump in his throat. He wanted to tell Ian, but when he spotted Ian staring at him as if he hung the moon he couldn't do it.

"I love you," Ian said leaning against Mickey.

"Yeah, I know. Ditto," Mickey said.

"It's okay you have trouble saying it. I know you love me," Ian said with a smirk.

Austin and Iggy came home before Mickey could respond to Ian. They seemed happy and deeply in love. Mickey pulled his brother, and future brother-in-law aside as he sent Ian to check on the baby. Austin tried to disengage and check on Anessa but Mickey really needed to talk to them.

"I fucked up," Mickey said.

"If you did something to Anessa I'll fucking end you," Iggy said.

"No. Not that. I paid Lip to take out Mandy," Mickey said.

Austin slapped his hand over his mouth and took a seat. Mickey watched his face turn in the direction of Ian and Mandy who were playing with Jean-Claude and Anessa on the sofa.

"Don't tell Ian or Mandy. I feel like shit, but it's the only way that dick waffle was going to consent to date her."

"I can't believe you did that," said Iggy and Austin together.

"I'm a shitty person. What the fuck am I going to do?"

"Hope and pray Lip falls in love with her and never fucking tells her," Iggy said, "Mandy is the scariest of all Milkovich's."

"I betrayed her."

"Yeah you did, bro." Iggy patted Mickey on the shoulder. "Now, excuse me I have a little lady to see too." He disengaged and stole his baby back from Ian. Mickey sat down across from Austin who was obviously thinking about what to say.

"I don't necessarily think what you did was wrong. It was, but you had good intentions. Lip's a dick—and not in a good way. I don't blame you at all, but I hope you're prepared to face the consequences of hurting not only your sister but Ian too."

"Jesus, I know."

"She can do better," Austin said.

"You think."

Mickey stood up and headed for the door.

"Where you going?"

"To have a fucking smoke," Mickey said.

This won't end well.