Sorry, guys. I don't really have any excuse other than lack of motivation most of the time and just generally busy in life. Whenever I go to write this I just get frustrated cause I'm so excited it's almost detrimental… Anyways, here's chapter four! Thank you all who have stuck with it and to those who care enough to actually find me on tumblr and give me a good kick in the ass to keep going! 3 As always, unbeta'd so sorry for any imperfections or errors! Disclaimers at the bottom this time, you'll see why. Feedback is so appreciated, and I hope this was worth the wait!
All that you've taken can't awaken any chance with him right now
Your eyes were closed when he left you waiting there
To do this on your own
I'm sorry, he had to find his way
I know the sky could have fallen that day
No one around,
Or there to pick you up
Still I know you can make it along
The Milkovich house was usually filled with noise.
Whether it be the sound of knives being flung at a wall for target practice, water gurgling inside of a bong, the inhalation of bitter chemicals up the nostril or offensive, vulgar music blasting so loud the windows shook – there was always some sort of noise.
The ruckus on this particular day was of a completely different sort.
Mickey pinched the bridge of his nose as he walked in the door from work, praying to a higher power he didn't even believe in for the patience to just make it through the next few days. His daughter still didn't have a fucking name, and her birthday was fast approaching. They had about twenty four hours to come up with something, or the poor kid's first birthday cake was going to say 'Happy First Birthday, _'. Not that he personally gave a flying fuck about birthday cakes or birthdays in general, but it was his kids so it was the first one he ever actually did care about. Other than Mandy's, but he'd just gotten her some bootleg CDs, really good weed or gone light on the tittie twisters for the day as his gifts to her.
"Dada!" The enthusiastic greeting came from the kitchen, where two pairs of opposite bright blue eyes flashed to him. Brooklyn looked exasperated; seeming relieved to see him as she set down a bowl of something and all but threw the bright green spoon into it. Marley was nowhere to be found but he heard a lot of commotion in another room.
"Good, you're home! You can feed her then because she is being fucking difficult tonight." The brunette sighed, padding to the counter by the fridge and grabbing her beer. His girl was perched in her booster seat that Brooklyn had put directly on the counter.
"Well what the fuck are you trying to feed her that she's being difficult?" Mickey replied shortly, going to his baby girl and half smiling at her. "Hey, kid."
"Today we tried new things! She likes mashed up red beets and avocado, does NOT like mashed turnips." Brooklyn answered, her voice sounding weary and exhausted and she took a swig. "Marley got into the freezer while I was trying to feed her, I don't know what got into these two today but they both have a shit ton of energy and I wish they'd share some with me."
"Turnips? I've never even had one and that sounds fucking disgusting." Leaning his elbows on the table, the ex-con put his face within his daughters reach and allowed her to pat it lovingly.
"Dada! Dada!" Her excitement at his appearance was apparent, and he couldn't stop the genuine smile that spread across his lips for a few moments.
"Why you giving Brook a hard time, huh?" Mickey asked, laughing when the only answer he got was a giddy burble and a tug of his hair. "Ow! None of that!" Withdrawing from her reach, Mickey lifted the bowl into his hands and arched an eyebrow at the oddly colored contents. "The fuck is this now?"
"It WAS her dinner but she refuses to eat it! It's bananas and strawberries and a bunch of other fruit thrown into it, she already ate her hot dog that she dipped in yogurt by the way."
"Ewe." Mickey's nose scrunched in disgust. Hot dogs in yogurt? Must be the Russian in her because he sure as hell didn't eat weird shit like that. "That's gross."
"It's repulsive but with her growing desire to be a stubborn little shit about eating things I'm not going to argue with it." Another deep sigh, beer chugged all the way down and she let out a breath. "Now where is-"
Her words were interrupted by a crash coming from the direction of Mickey's bedroom. From where they were standing, he was closer so he beat her there to investigate the sound. Marley stood there, big amber eyes the picture of innocence and a sheepish grin on her face as the two adults stared in horror. The toddler held Mickey's .22 pistol in her hands. It appeared she'd been pulling down a stack of coloring books and knocked over an extra drawer that had been just sitting on top of his waist high dresser.
"Put that down right now!" Brooklyn screeched stepping forward as the color drained from her face. "Bed time! You know better than to get into things like that, Marley!"
"Don't fucking touch that!" Mickey shouted as the little girl blatantly ignored her mother, curiously examining the piece of metal in her hand. Her fingers were dangerously close to the safety, and Brooklyn gasped in horror, running to her daughter.
Thinking it was a game Marley dropped the pistol and ran past Brooklyn, straight at Mickey. He was kneeling down to intercept her with his arms, but the little shit ran between his legs lightning fast. "Hey! It's bed time for you, brat! You know you don't touch the grown up shit!" He yelled after her, giving chase.
"NO! NO BED TIME!" Marley screamed at the top of her lungs, running into the living room and jumping up onto the couch and throwing all the pillows and blankets onto the floor in a fit.
Mickey and Brooklyn weren't far behind, and Brooklyn glared at Mickey. "You had to leave the fucking gun out! She could have-"
"I KNOW what she could have done, we'll fucking talk about it later!" He snapped, stepping forward. He supposed he'd take this one, since Brooklyn had been dealing with the kids all day even though he was damn tired as well. He stepped towards the toddler threateningly. "Marley! Bed! NOW!"
"NO!" Defiant as ever, she scrambled over the back of the couch and ran as fast as her little feet would carry her to the oversized chair across from it and usurping its contents as quickly as she had the couch. Brooklyn shook her head, lifting her hands in the air in defeat and going back to the kitchen to deal with his kid who'd also begun screaming since she only heard commotion but couldn't see what was happening. This was Marley's new thing, throwing fits before bed time if she wasn't quite ready. Her tantrums were getting a bit out of hand. Mickey feared when his girl got old enough to throw them because he was damn sure they'd be a million times worse. His daughter threw tantrums fairly regularly, hers were just more violent and bloody; banging her head off the ground and walls when she didn't get her way, smashing and throwing shit she didn't want. She had taken to head-butting and biting people regularly whereas Marley just made as much of a mess as she could in as little time possible and played little escape artist when they tried to catch her. Fucking kid was good at it too.
Catching up to her, Mickey was just on her heels when Marley's little sneaker caught in a snag on the carpet. She was lucky though, and managed to hop on her other foot fast enough to regain her balance but that just gave Mickey an idea. Popping his foot out he snagged her ankle gently, just enough for her to face plant into the floor. He followed her down, carefully controlling his weight as he slammed down around her. Elbows bracketing her head, he curled around her and had her pinned in two seconds flat. She thrashed, screaming in protest but couldn't really move too much.
"Are you gonna fucking stop?!" Mickey growled, lifting his chin up to avoid her shoulder smashing into it.
"No! No sleepy time!"
Glacier eyes rolling once more in annoyance, he simply gathered her into a little ball in his arms and stood. The closer they got to the girls' room the more she struggled, but her efforts were in vain.
"I'm stronger than you, kid; you're just wasting your energy." He told her, pausing above her bed. She froze, suddenly switching up her game and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Pleaseeeeee! Don't wannaaaaa!" She cried, big fat tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to puppy dog pout him.
"Doesn't work on me, you know that." He scolded her, bouncing her in his arms a bit so she'd knock off the pathetic crying thing. He didn't know where her sudden bad temperament these last few days was coming from; she was usually a fairly well behaved child. Her pout increased, and he sighed before laying her gently in her bed. "Hey, just remember you got a big day tomorrow full of exciting shit."
Or so Brooklyn told him. She had taken it upon herself to plan his kid's "party", although he wasn't quite sure what kind of party she could have with the four of them, and Mandy.
But whatever. It shut her up and kept her busy.
"But-"Marley started, her tears welling again.
"Knock off that crying shit. You're gonna have to toughen up if you're gonna live around here."
The toddler's mood changed suddenly, and she giggled as he sat next to her. "You're tough! Teach me!"
His lips twitched into a smirk. "I will." He ruffled her hair, using his free hand to reach over and turn on the iPod Brooklyn had set up next to her bed. Marley couldn't sleep without music. "Once you're a bit older."
"I'm three!" She said, big grin and lisped words rapping at the doors of his heart. Fuck, he needed to stop that shit too. Getting all stupid and gooey over dumb shit like his daughter's eyes flashing with love when she looked at him, Marley grinning at him like he was going to protect her from everything and Brooklyn being the pillar he leaned on to go on. Not that he fucking wanted her there, he'd just made the best he could with what he had. And now, they were what he had.
"Not yet." Turning the volume up so the annoyingly familiar song floated softly around the room, he pulled the covers over her and tucked her in tight. Some song that he remembered from when he was a kid. "Now fucking sleep."
"And I'd give up forever to touch you, cause I know that you'd feel me somehow…"
A little pink tongue darted out to mock him, before the girls eyes widened and she smiled. "Mommy! Kiss goodnight!"
The look on Brooklyn's face was absolutely heart breaking for a split second before it closed down, all emotion wiped clean. His girl bounced on her hip, reaching excitedly for him. Mickey stood, going to her and taking his daughter from her. Pulling the small, warm body into his arms he cradled her to his chest and watched as Brooklyn disappeared from the room after kissing Marley goodnight. Hm, that was odd. Brook was always very overly affectionate and usually lulled her daughter to sleep a bit, rather than just booking it like that. Maybe her patience for the night was just shot, or she was in a mood. Shrugging, he turned his attention back to his baby. He may or may not have nuzzled her cheek slightly as he kissed it adoringly, setting her into her crib. Her eyes were already closing, and she smiled sleepily at him as she burbled in content.
"Night, little one." Mickey murmured, stroking her chubby cheek with the back of a knuckle before easing out of the room. The smell of weed drifted down the hall and he followed the scent, craving a good high after his stressful homecoming. "What's up your ass? Why'd you dip out of there?"
Throwing him a look as she pulled out the slider and viciously sucked the smoke out of his bong, she blew smoke at his face as if that would offend him. "Fuck off."
"Whatever, bitch. Not like I care." He shrugged, snatching the bong and taking a hit himself. Mickey didn't miss the flash of hurt that crossed her features, but pretended he had. She was so damn sensitive, and she said one thing but wanted another and Jesus, no wonder he was gay because no way in hell could he deal with this shit in an actual relationship.
A fake one, however, was a different story.
If he was being honest, she kept him sane these days. Having her around had lifted some of the burden of being a single, young father off of his shoulders. Sure, he had Brook and Marley to watch after now as well but it wasn't so bad. Marley was worming her way into whatever resembled his heart and Brooklyn just… She was just there. In every possible way, she seemed to just understand him. If he was having a shitty day and was in a pissy mood, she'd take the kids into another room and keep them occupied until he was ready to be around them. If he was having an extra shitty day and punched a hole in their wall, she bought a new poster to cover it up. And when he was just drowning in his misery but was too proud, not to mention stubborn, to admit he just wanted some company, she'd sit next to him on the couch with a book in her lap and a joint in her hand.
Aside from the burning pain in his chest whenever a Gallagher came into the Kash N Grab, or he flipped past a solider getting blown up in a war movie or other crap like that so gay he wanted to punch himself – that happened a lot more frequently than he'd ever admit to- he felt a little better. Like he was getting back to normal after the bizarre last year or two of his fucked life. Unfortunately for everyone else, that meant his knuckles burned from misuse. His lungs, nose and veins were way too clean for his liking. And he was getting a little too good at bottling shit up again, pushing his longing and regret deep down inside. So far down, he eventually just lost it in the depths of all else forgotten and refused.
Taking a fucking impressive hit from his bong, if he did say so himself, he handed it back to the brunette as he blew his smoke in her face in retaliation. "You gonna be in a mood for the rest of the night now?"
The glare he received would have burned holes in him, he was sure, if she were capable of such a thing. Rather than a snarky remark that was her usual, she just shrugged and took a huge hit again before passing it back and lighting a smoke. He followed suit, and they sat on his bed in silence. Mickey didn't mind the silence, setting the bong on the nightstand next to him and reclining back on his side of the bed. Brooklyn did the same, setting and ash tray between them as both pairs of blue eyes contemplated the moldy ceiling.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Brooklyn suddenly broke it. "What did you want to do with your life?" She didn't feel adding "before your kid" was necessary.
Mickey chewed on that for a moment, considering giving her some fuckhead answer and being his usual unpleasant self but something about her demeanor stopped him and he found the closest thing to the truth he could probably manage spilling from his lips. "Nothing. I was fucked for life anyway. Guess I just got extra dicked over…" He almost left it there, but after a moment he swiped his thumb across his bottom lip and added a curious, "you?"
Brooklyn shifted to her side slightly, curling her knees up a bit but tilted her head back to continue staring at the ceiling. "I wanted to be a platform artist in New York or celebrity stylist in LA or some shit since I was in Seattle. Or a kindergarten teacher. Or a marine biologist. Hell, even considered being a criminal therapist once." Mickey couldn't help the snort that left him at that. "But…Then I just…" She trailed off, chewing the corner of her lip nervously.
"What?" He asked, eyes flickering her way and wondering why she'd cut herself off.
"Nothing."
"What were you gonna say?" Mickey pushed, tone becoming menacing.
Her sapphire eyes rolled. "You're just gonna make fun of me."
His rolled in response. "Stop being a pussy and answer me."
Hesitating, she nibbled her lip a little more before giving in with a sigh. Reluctance tainted her voice, with a hint of wistfulness. "I was happy just being his wife. Just…When you're a part of someone like that, that's all you really need and everything else is just kind of background noise ya know? When…When two souls connect that deeply, it's all that's necessary."
Mickey heard the heavy ending on that train of thought that she left unspoken. About how after being ripped away from that whole, you're never quite the same.
Scoffing, Mickey inhaled deeply and let the smoke flow out his nostrils as he spoke. "Christ Brook, there's some Midol in the cabinet." He tried pushing it off like her words didn't get to him. But when her eyes rose and that…That knowing look that punched him right in the heart stared at him and he thanked fuck that her eyes were such a distinguished shade of blue because it was straight up creepy how much that look reminded him of the green ones that used to look at him in that exact way.
And that thought just put him in a piss poor mood right the fuck away, and he scowled at her. All emotion drained from her stare, the fire and assurance in them previously gone in a flash and then they were just utterly void. Dead, almost soulless. It was still creepy.
"It's time to color your hair." Brooklyn stated, eyes flickering to the top of his head as she changed the subject. "Your blonde's coming through."
Mickey gave a grunt of acknowledgment, but couldn't shake off the heavy moment as much as he tried. Not that he was some pathetic sappy fool who was pining away for someone but…Wait. Wasn't he, though? Just living his life, almost stagnant although content?
"You should grow it out."
He just shook his head, stubbing his cigarette in the ash tray and ignoring her. He rolled so his back faced her, wordlessly telling her he was done talking and interacting for the night.
Brooklyn just flicked off the light, plopping down as far away from him as she could get on the bed.
That night, he dreamt of bombs going off. Bodies dropping, limbs flying and blood splattering all around him.
But only half of him could feel it.
The following morning was hectic. Brooklyn had crawled out of bed at the crack of dawn, running around like a crackhead assembling things and throwing shit in the oven. A few curses and what sounded like dishes crashing were heard from time to time, until Mickey threw his covers off and bitched under his breath about loud bitches on his way to the shower.
Why she was making such a big deal about this was beyond him. It was his kid's first birthday, sure. But she was taking it to a whole other level. He had stopped paying attention to all the shit she'd been getting together for a few weeks now long ago. It made his head spin, and his sharp tongue want to lash out at her and he knew that wasn't fair. Over the last few months she'd been around he had grudgingly accepted her entirely way too generous nature. Didn't mean it didn't piss him off, he just had learned to not vocalize it. She knew it angered him. Wasn't going to stop her, stubborn bitch.
After he showered, smoked a joint, popped his knuckles and ran a glop of gel through his wet hair he stepped into their room, throwing on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt that looked half decent. Then he wandered out into the house, going into the kitchen and stopping in his tracks. There were decorations fucking everywhere. Flamingos, rabbits, giant arrow signs that said 'This Way' and 'That Way' in distorted letters and…tea cups amongst other random shit. Rather than the anger that usually would take him over at Brooklyn's extravagance, a brow quirked in amusement.
She really had gone all out.
There was even a giant cake in the shape of a top hat that said 'HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY …' That made him scowl. She'd left room to add something, as if she wasn't quite sure what to put on there.
The rest of the kitchen and living room were decorated similarly, and he had to suppress an obnoxious guffaw when he saw his dad passed out on the couch, right in the middle of the girly decorations.
Striding past the dick, he went into the girls' room and found Brooklyn, Marley and his daughter. Mandy was at school, he knew, although she'd sworn – not that he gave a shit- to be home by the time the 'party' started. Brooklyn's hair was an absolute mess, sticking out from a haphazard bun on the top of her head and was still clad in sweatpants and a tank top. Marley was a vision, and it made a smile start to rise. She was wearing a dark red puffy little dress with a half black and half red heart hat, sprawled on the floor over a big sign she was eagerly scribbling all over. His girl was sitting next to Brooklyn, gnawing on a teething ring and tossing the blocks he assumed were supposed to keep her occupied all over the room.
The brunette was bent over something, intently gluing two pieces of something together. Was that a giant cut out card? He wasn't even going to try to make sense of that. "I'm fucking starving. You eat?"
"I'm good, they need to eat." Brooklyn answered quickly, not even looking up at him as she flattened her palms down and put all her weight onto whatever she was trying to glue together. Music floated out from her phone, plugged into Marley's speakers and playing some band he recognized. He couldn't put a name on it, but he remembered being a kid and thinking he was a bad ass screaming 'BACK OFF, I'LL TAKE YOU ON. HEADSTRONG, TO TAKE ON ANYONE' at the top of his lungs and shadow boxing in his back yard.
Fuck that, he was a bad ass. Nodding in assurance to himself, he shuffled to the kitchen to prepare something easy for himself and the kids. Another song he recognized, though not as well, came on and then some he didn't.
Mickey had just finished some easy mac and cheese for the kids and was right in the middle of making the best Shaggy munchies sandwich ever for himself when the sound of something large thudding to the floor assaulted his ears. Brooklyn ran full speed into the room, skidding to a stop a foot away from him with eyes as big as saucers.
"I've got it." She said, excitement glinting in her eyes and triumph touching her smile.
He waited, cocking his head a bit in question.
"Avelyn."
Mickey froze, sandwich still in hand. It struck something in him. All that flashed through his mind were warm, welcoming arms and a smile so bright it could light up the world. Soft words of love long forgotten from a time he couldn't forget.
Big, blue eyes and long dark hair. His mother.
Amanda Lynn Milkovich.
Mickey just nodded, face blank. No words came to him, but none were necessary. Grinning victoriously, Brooklyn grabbed his free hand and dragged him to the cake. She handed him some plastic bag with a tip in the corner that had bright purple icing inside, and pointed to the empty slot.
Slowly, purposefully, Mickey scrawled the name across the cake.
'Happy 1st Birthday, Avelyn.'
They looked at each other, and he didn't even attempt to fight off the grin.
She finally had a name.
An hour later, things were going into melt down mode. Mickey was pretty sure there was glue in Brooklyn's hair as she frantically hung the last of the decorations, Marley was chewing on a marker that was surely to explode in her mouth so he snagged it, and Avelyn –god, it felt good to finally call her something after all this time- was playing with streamers in her walker.
"Seriously, Brook chill the fuck out! It's not like you have anyone to impress."
"It's her first birthday! It's a big deal!"
"Exactly! Her first! She's not even going to remember it!"
"That's what cameras are for!"
Whatever he was going to say was cut off by a knock at the door, and irritation flared. He stalked over, wondering who it could possibly be. No one came to their house.
He swung the door open, staring blankly at the man there. "The fuck do you want?"
"Uh…" The guy stuttered, and Mickey just glared expectantly. "I'm here to set up the bouncy castle?"
Set up the…
Scowling, Mickey left the door open but stomped over to where Brooklyn was hopping around the kitchen, frantically throwing things in dishes. "A bouncy castle, Brooklyn? Are you fucking joking?"
Grinning innocently at him, she wiped sweat from her brow and tossed the last of the cookies she'd made onto the plate. "What?! It's awesome!"
"Fucking really, woman? We don't even have any friends or anyone who's coming to this damn party other than my sister! And you go and buy something that can fit like, twenty kids?!" Exasperated was an understatement. She couldn't be serious.
"But now we'll have it forever, for all the future birthdays!"
Speechless, Mickey just shook his head and walked away, growling as he did so. She could deal with the fucker, then. Plopping down next to Avelyn, he welcomed her when she hobbled over into his arms. She was walking better and better every day.
"Hey…Avelyn." He tested to name on his tongue, and was glad to find it felt right. It fit. The bright smile she flashed at him set it in stone. She liked it, too.
Marley had been sitting next to her, playing with some stuffed animals she'd been putting on a little play for Avelyn with. She looked up at Mickey, her almost glowing eyes sparkling. "Avelyn?"
"Yup."
"Avvie!" Marley giggled, clapping in excitement and fixing her hat when it started to slide off her head of chestnut hair. Mickey just watched as she continued on with the fake play, making things up as she went that seemed to make total sense to her and draw Avelyn's complete attention.
Later, he found out that Brooklyn had gone with a vintage Alice in Wonderland theme for the party. He had to admit- to himself- that it was pretty fucking cool and it was actually a shame no one else was there to enjoy it. Even his dad had woken up, grunting at Brooklyn in acknowledgement of her existence which was actually friendly for him. Most of the time, he just accepted she was there. He'd gladly drank the beer she'd provided, and then stumbled out the door an hour or so later right as Mandy arrived and hadn't returned.
Mandy bought this funky looking doll for Avelyn that had lime green streaks in its hair and heavy make up on its eyes and some kind of whacky outfit on. Avelyn immediately stuck its head in her mouth, of course. Brooklyn got her a retardedly huge Snoopy; it was like three times as big as Marley. He didn't even question where the hell she'd found that.
'Marley' (Brooklyn) got her a sea foam green quilt that was all fluffy and soft, although she seemed reluctant to hand it over. She was a good sport about the whole day's attention being on Avelyn though, and it was clear that she genuinely loved the little one already.
Mickey didn't give her his present until he tucked her in for the night. He took down the mobile above her crib, replacing it with a new one. He'd searched through at least three stupidly big toy stores trying to find something like this. It was a light up mobile that had faeries and dragons and other mythical creatures on it. He knew she was too young to appreciate it, but he'd loved fantasy shit when he was younger until the real world had been punched into him so many times that he'd forgotten all about it.
He refused to let life do that do her. And so, he'd gotten to stupid thing.
"Happy birthday." He murmured as her eyes fluttered to sleep, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. She was exhausted. After the guy had put up that bouncy castle, they'd all spent all day in the back yard where Brooklyn had set up a water slide and some silly kids games that Marley enjoyed. Mandy, Mickey and Brooklyn had all took turns holding Avelyn in the bouncy castle, until she'd vomited her lunch up onto Mandy's shirt. Both of the kids were beat after all the excitement, and he heard the sound of little feet shuffling in the room and a tug on his pants.
"Mickey?" A sleepy, soft voice said and he reached down to lift Marley.
"Yeah, kid?"
"Can you put the song on and tuck me in again?"
Song? Shit, what song had been on when he'd tucked her in last night? It took him ten minutes to figure it out, shuffling through the songs until he recognized the opening notes. Marley was out within seconds, clutching onto his hand and her mouth hanging open. He kissed her on the forehead in an oddly affectionate moment for him, He stopped by Avelyn's crib, doing the same to her, pulling her blanket up a bit higher and quietly closing the door behind him.
Mandy was sitting in the living room, shoving some cookies into her mouth and guzzling a beer. Brooklyn came out from the kitchen with a platter of fruit, popping some into her mouth as she sank down next to Mandy.
"So, now what?" Brooklyn asked, leaning her head against Mandy's shoulder and eyes slipping closed. "I'm fucking beat."
"Well, our night has only begun." Mandy smirked devilishly, an evil glint in her eye when her brother and Brooklyn both looked at her questioningly. She finished her mouthful of cookie, before reaching into her bra and pulling out a little baggie filled with pink-ish crystals. "Who wants to get fucked up on Molly and jump around in the bouncy castle?"
Her only answer was Brooklyn beaming at her as Mickey snatched the bag from her hand and ran towards the back yard, shoving some of the crystals eagerly into his mouth as the girls chased after him.
An hour later, the three were laughing hysterically and breathing heavily as they jumped around like hyper little kids that had gotten into the candy stash. The pounding of their hearts only served to increase the whirling giddiness the ecstasy brought, throwing each other into the walls and doing back flips. After about forty five minutes of that, they all laid on their backs, panting. Mandy lay in the middle, head down by both of their feet as they all shared a giant blunt.
Suddenly, Mandy sat up. Her eyes shone, and she looked so intensely at Mickey that he swallowed. What was she up to?
That mischievous glint was back in her almost fully dilated eyes, and she cocked her head before holding out the blunt in offering. "To your beautiful daughter, Avelyn. She may not have been brought into this world in the most conventional of ways, but she's a fucking Milkovich and that's usually how it goes. You sure make a beautiful kid, fuckface."
Mickey stole the blunt from her fingers, putting his hand on her forehead and pushing her back down before resting his head on his arm and inhaling deeply. "Yeah, I fucking do. I'm gonna have to kill someone one day,"
"Oh, you'll definitely end up in jail for beating up the guy that nails her first." Mandy said, and Brooklyn sniggered and plucked the blunt from Mickey's mouth as he kicked Mandy in the side of the head. They all laughed, staring up out the opening at the stars and enjoying the cool summer breeze on their overheated skin.
After a few minutes of mindless chatter between the two girls, he reached over and squeezed Brooklyn's wrist as well as Mandy's ankle in silent thanks for taking this day on and turning it into a surprisingly good fucking time for him. Rolling like he was and in as high spirits as he was tonight, he still couldn't bring himself to vocalize his appreciation to these two women who were really the only things he had left in this world other than his daughter, and now Marley.
The world was a funny place, he decided. It ripped him to shreds, saddling him with a woman he didn't want and a kid he didn't want even more. It was especially, ironically, funny how a single year can change so much.
And yet, as he stared up at the sky he couldn't help but remembering a certain redhead who he wished was here for this moment. There wasn't a blanket, but there were stars and drugs and good people and that was the sort of thing he was sure Gallagher would enjoy. A wistful, sad smile crossed his mouth for a moment and he allowed himself that time to honestly feel how much he missed that shithead. And god, did it hurt.
But then Brooklyn was jumping up, tossing the spent blunt into the grass outside the castle and grinning like a mad woman at the two of them, her pupils blown so wide you could barely see the cerulean iris' and the pure happiness on her face dragged him out of his silent pity party. If she could be happy right now, so could he.
"Fucking WATER SLIDE!"
"Oh, FUCK yes!" Mandy laughed, standing up and the two ran off to the slide, dropping to the ground and sliding through it. Maniacal laughter littered the air, and Mickey felt a genuine smile rise to his lips as he hopped out of the bouncy castle and ran after them at full speed.
He's in every one of your dreams
And you still need him there when you sleep
Wait for hours, counting the days
As the tears fall down your face
If there was something more I could be
I would not hesitate to break free
But for everything, there was change
You help yourself to find your way
Why do we always want what we cannot have,
And set ourselves up only to lose?
Hopefully it won't take me another two months to update this. Shits about to get real good. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own the song or lyrics to 'Avelyn', the endlessly inspiring Trapt does. Nor do I own 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls, or anything else that you recognize most likely.