Disclaimer: I still don't own Shameless.

A/N: I noticed that the response to this story has tapered off quite a bit, I still hope you guys are enjoying it at least half as much as I am writing it!

Changed-Chapter 11

After the shock of finding out that Ian and Mickey are in fact together settles, another feeling sets in for Vee. A feeling of hurt that Vee can't really explain. She knows that she shouldn't feel this way. That Fiona has enough on her plate with everything going on that telling her best friend that her little brother is fucking the neighborhood bad ass is the last thing that Fiona has time for. But, it still hurts. She and Fiona tell each other everything. She and Kev have stuck by the Gallagher's since this whole shitstorm started with Ian. When no one in the neighborhood would acknowledge them except to make a nasty comment about Ian's sexuality, she and Kev's friendship with their neighbors has never wavered. They were too close for that to happen, at least she thought they were.

And it's this irrational feeling that sends Vee next door at nine o'clock the next morning.

"Morning, Vee." Fiona greets her as she walks into the kitchen.

Vee doesn't exchange pleasantries as she walks farther into the room to get a better view of the living room checking to see If Mickey is still there. She doesn't want to have this conversation if he's around. She's relieved when she sees that he's gone.

"Debs and Carl at school?" Vee asks as Fiona pours Vee a cup of coffee.

The younger woman nods her head. "Yep, they just left."

"Where's Lip?"

Fiona shakes her head. "Who knows? He's all over the place with everything going on with Ian. He can be anywhere. School. With Mandy."

"Where's Mickey?" Vee asks.

Vee can see the tension in her friend's body after she asks the question.

"Wh-what? Why would you ask me that?"

"Well, he's only been sleeping on your couch for a month. Thought you would know where your favorite house guest is?" Vee bites out sarcastically.

"Vee, I told you—"

"You haven't told me jack shit!" Vee explodes.

"Wh-what do you want me to say?" Fiona replies raising her voice to Vee's level.

"You mean you don't know if Mickey's at the hospital visiting Ian?"

"Don't know what you're talking about, Vee."Fiona says innocently.

Vee's done with this shit. "Don't play dumb with me, Fiona! I know! I know about Mickey and Ian."

The feign look of innocence on Fiona's face is replaced with one of confusion and fear. "How-how do you know about that?"

Vee takes a seat at the kitchen table next to Liam's high chair. "Mickey was there when I went there to drop the stuff off for Ian."

Fiona nods her head but doesn't say anything as she walks over to the sink to do the dishes from breakfast.

"You're honestly just gonna stand there and not say anything?"

Fiona stops cleaning the frying pan in the sink and throws down the sponge before she turns around to face her friend. "What do you want me to say?!"

"Tell me something, Fi! I thought we tell each other everything. I thought we were family."

Fiona shakes her head."It wasn't my place to tell you!"

"Really!? Was it my place to tell Tyler Pembroke to fuck off when he made that comment that you all would be better off if Ian was killed because that would be better than having a faggot as a brother. Was it Kev's place to kick out Crazy Kenny from the bar when he was talking about finishing off what those assholes started to Ian? We did it because we're family. Us and all of six of you crazy Gallagher's."

Fiona lets out a small smile.

Vee continues. "And that means family stands by each other no matter what's going on. But, that also means you tell each everything. EVERYTHING."

Fiona moves over to the table and takes a seat across from Vee. "I just found out, Vee. I'm still trying to get my head around it. My little brother and fucking Mickey Milkovich." She says as she shakes her head.

"The heart wants what the heart wants. Who the fuck are we to judge that," Vee says in hopes of comforting her friend.

"I know that but Jesus, Vee. Mickey?"

Vee gives her a lopsided family. "Think of all the shit that Jimmy put you through. You mean to tell me that if he showed up here today that you wouldn't take him back?"

Fiona's lack of answer says it all.

"So, um how did you find out?" Vee asks.

Fiona's absentmindedly tapping her fingers on her coffee mug. "Woke up one morning to find him passed out on the couch. Lip brought him home. Guess Mickey was spouting off shit about redheads, so Lip got him out of there before anyone could put two and two together I put the pieces together."

Vee nods her head as she listens to her friend. "So, Lip knows?"

Fiona lets out a sarcastic smile. "He's known for awhile. They've been together for years, Vee. Years!"

"Really?" Vee asks.

"Remember when Monica came back with Bob and wanted to take Liam?"

Vee has to think for a second. That feels like forever ago. Before Jimmy left for the first time. Before Ethel ran away. Before Cheryl came to town with Kyle in tow saying kid was Kevin's. Before Jimmy came back married. Before Monica came back again only to slice her wrists in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. Finally, locating the long ago memory, Vee replies "Yeah?"

"They got together before then."

Vee can't help but be shocked. She whistles loudly "Damn! In the Southside that's like forever. "

"I know! Been a rocky road. Lots of ups and downs."

"Fi, we live in the southside and they're gay. Of course it isn't rainbows and fucking unicorns."

"I know, but Jesus. Mickey?"

"Is it just about sex or something more?" Vee asks.

Fiona shakes her head. "I think it's more than just sex. I mean if it was then I don't think Mickey would be doing what he's been doing."

Vee quirks her eyebrows in confusion, "Like getting hammered every night at the bar?"

"It's not just that, Vee." Fiona sighs. "You should see him with Carl. He's actually pretty good with the kid. A couple of times I had no choice but to leave Liam with and Liam was fine. Hell, he even went with Lip to try and track down Monica. For all the good that did. He visits Ian every day. He's the only one who could get him to eat."

"Damn!" Vee exclaims. "Who would've thought that there was all that underneath the constant layer of dirt and excessive use of obscenities."

Fiona can't help but laugh. "I know, right?"

Vee joins in with Fiona, laughing. "Damn you Gallagher's have a weak spot for those Milkoviches! Is Iggy out of jail? Maybe you can have a triple date?"

"Fuck no!" Fiona says as her laughing dies down. "Thanks, Vee. I feel a lot better now. Been tough keeping all this inside."

Vee nods her head. "I feel like I just became part of a gay soap opera."

Fiona shakes her head. "Nah, more like a club. So you ready to be a member of the 'Ian and Mickey are together secret society'? Sadly there's not a lot of perks. Mainly you keep your mouth shut about the two of them being together. Our main goal is to ensure that Terry doesn't find out."

"Damn right I am." Vee puts her hand over her heart. "As a proud member I swear to keep this secret safe and do everything in my power to ensure that Ian stays safe." Vee quickly adds. "That Mickey stays safe too."

Fiona holds up her own coffee cup in a cheers. "I'll drink to that."

After Vee takes a sip of her lukewarm coffee, she turns to Fiona. "I have one thing to ask since I'm now a member of this secret society, I feel like I should know one important thing."

Fiona bites her lip, nervously. "What?"

"Who tops?" Vee asks with a smile."

"Oh God, Vee. Nor do I know, or more importantly want to know."

"Come on, Fi. You mean to tell me that you haven't been wondering who's been doing the topping since Mickey first passed out on your couch."

Fiona shakes her head.

"Come on, Fi! Who do you think? I sweat it won't leave this table." Fiona still remains stubbornly silent. "Kev and I have a bet going. I say Mickey's a bossy bottom. He says Ian's doing the catching. Got fifty dollars on it."

"I say Mickey's the bottom," Fiona mutters.

Vee gives her a high five. "That's my girl!"

Fiona can't help but laugh again. "All right. That's enough about my little brother's sex life. I'm too sober to talk about this shit."

Vee nods her head. Seeing Fiona laughing, Vee feels better. She and Fiona are once again on the same page. She'll be by her friend's side, helping her and the other Gallagher's with Ian's recovery. She'll be part of the ride in keeping Ian and Mickey's relationship secret. Because like she said they're all family. Black, white, gay, straight, her and Kev, Gallagher…and now Milkovich.

I know it got a little light hearted near the end, but I think after all that has happened there needed to be some humor.

Chapter 12 Preview: Fiona knows that Mickey cares about Ian. Why else would he have stayed around after everything that has happened? She hears about how kind he is with Ian from the nurses. But, she has never seen it first hand when he's with Ian. She just wishes that the first time she does isn't when Ian is in the midst of a grand mal seizure in the middle of their kitchen.