Ian had a plan. He wasn't going to stay long. Go in, help Mickey change the sheets, clean up the room, say hi to Mandy, say goodbye to Mickey then leave. He wasn't going to stay long only so it wouldn't be hard on Mickey. As much as Ian wanted to stay, he promised himself and Fiona that they were going to take a break.

Ian needed to get use to his new life. He needed to figure how he would deal with the changes and obstacles that that he knew he was going to face. Ian needed to deal with what he had done in his past recently and forgive himself for leaving his family, hurting them and especially hurting Mickey. He needed this break because he knew that it wasn't going to happen overnight.

Ian also wanted this for Mickey. He knew that the changes in his life was also going to change his relationship with Mickey and he wanted Mickey to be 100% sure that Ian is what he really wants. Ian knew that Mickey shuts down when things start to get hard and he doesn't want Mickey to have to deal with something that he doesn't have too.

"Holy shit!" Mandy took Ian in her arms once the two walked through the front door of the Milkovich house. "You fuckin' gave us all a scare!" Mandy hugged Ian tightly, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. She pulled away and framed Ian's face with her hands and pressed her forehead against his. "How are you? Do you feel okay? Do you need anything? Hungry? I can make you something to eat if you want."

"Jesus, Mandy, leave him alone. He just walked in the house. Give him some space. Fuck." Mickey mumbled and walked past the two, bumping his shoulder against Mickey's.

"What's your problem, asswipe? I haven't seen my best friend in days. I'm excited that he's back." Mandy grinned back at Ian.

"He's not comin' back." Mickey shouted back at her before he slammed the door of his bedroom.

Mandy looked at the closed door then back at Ian with her eyes slightly widen. "What? You're not coming back?" She asked.

"Only for now." Ian shrugged at her. "I need a break. I need to spend time with my family. After what happened." He didn't mean to sound harsh but lately that's all he ever sounded like.

"Right…so what are you doing here then?"

"I'm just here to help Mick clean up my uh, mess. And get some of my stuff."

Mandy shook her head and stepped back from her bestfriend. "You know this is gonna kill him right?"

They both looked back at Mickey's closed door and Ian nodded at her. "Yeah, I know."

After a couple minutes of Ian catching up with Mandy; explaining to her what happened, telling her his plans for the next couple weeks, what is going to happen now that he is treating his illness, Ian made his way back to Mickey's room. He opened the door slowly and peaked his head though the crack before he let himself in completely.

Mickey was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring out the window. Ian closed the door behind him and sat down next to him staring out the window just like Mickey was. He let the silence take over for a while before Ian spoke in a low tone. "You know this isn't forever right?"

Mickey only shrugged then looked down at his tatted knuckles. Clenching and unclenching his fist. Ian watched him then grabbed Mickey's hand and held it in his. Their fingers laced together, and fit together perfectly. He brought up Mickey's hand and kissed his knuckles gently before he looked back up at the Thug.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Mickey mumbled.

"Finding me trying to kill myself."

Mickey's breath hitched and he shook his head. "No. We don't gotta. I was there. I know what happened."

"You know why I'm doing this, right? Why I need to do this for myself?"

"I get why you're doing this, Ian. I get it more than anything. I just don't get how you can be so okay with just – leaving me. Again. Fuck, you make it look so fuckin'….easy." Mickey looked back down at his feet and went quiet. "I just got you back."

Ian thumbed Mickey's knuckles and nodded. "It wasn't easy. None of this has been easy for me."

"Well, you're real damn convincing."

Mickey stood up and looked down at Ian. "Move so I can help you clean your shit up."

Ian stood up, sighing and started stripping the bed of its sheets. He piled them together and replaced them with clean ones. Ian started the laundry and before he was about to leave, he collected a couple of his things into a bag. He grabbed one of Mickey's shirts and stuffed it in as well.

Mickey was leaned up against the wall with is arms crossed over his chest, staring at Ian. The ginger made his way over to the Thug, moving Mickey's arms so he could wrap his arms around the dark haired boy. Ian hugged Mickey close to his body and kissed his cheek before stepping away.

"I'll call ya in a couple days, alright?"

Mickey nodded and looked down at his feet again, but Ian quickly tilted his head up with his fingers.

"Give me a proper goodbye." Ian demanded.

"Bye."

"Seriously."

Mickey hesitated for a moment before he rolled his eyes and cupped Ian's cheek with his tatted hand. He caressed the pale skin then moved the hand around to the back of his head, tangling his fingers into the fire red hair, gripping and pulling Ian in for a kiss.

It was desperate. It was a kiss pleading and begging Ian not to do this. Slow, steady and focused. He took in every second, taste, scent that he could of Ian's to make it last for however long Ian needed space. Their lips moved together then stopped, staying put, pressed against each other then slowly pulled away. Ian gave him a small smile and nodded.

"See you."

Mickey nodded.