Moving in together, all of their individual possessions became collectively owned. Mickey thought that would bother him, never really having to share anything of his own. Although the Milkovich house was flawed, they respected each other's stuff, so long as it was kept in their room. Ian on the other hand, had always worn hand-me-down clothes, and shared everything he owned. All Gallagher kids knew that they were only as strong as each other, so they did whatever they could to keep each other afloat.

But Ian and Mickey had also always shared, from before they had lived together. Cigarettes were just bought by both boys, and passed between them. Beers had been passed back and forward from day one. And then there were things that couples naturally shared: toothpaste, soaps and the like. In the end the last thing that stayed their own was their clothes, and that was not always the case either. Generally, they wore different styles. Mickey didn't wear colour, wore only loose clothing, and cut the sleeves off every teeshirt he ever owned. Ian took more care to show off his body. It wasn't always a conscious choice, but he'd found that men, and sometimes ladies, often gave him things when he looked good. So his clothing choices meant tighter tee-shirts that highlighted his build, jeans that fitted, and shoes that he liked to keep clean, but could still run in. With Ian being a good few inches taller than Mickey, it wasn't too often they swapped clothes, but it wasn't unheard of either. The apartment wasn't big enough to have secrets, there wasn't any space to hide anything.

And so it was when Mickey was going through Ian's wallet to grab some cash that he found out Ian's birthday on an I.D. card. Reaching into his pocket, Mickey pulled out his phone and brought up the screen. 'Shit' thought Mickey. Ian's birthday was only a few days away. Since they'd moved further from the Gallaghers, things like that didn't get warning. There was no Fiona to organise a Gallagher party that would ultimately go wrong, or Lip asking Mickey to help him nick something for Ian's present. Ian certainly hadn't mentioned anything. Mickey wondered if he hadn't found the I.D. whether he would have mentioned it at all. It wasn't as if they went on date-night every week, but they definitely had changed as a couple, and Mickey wasn't sure how to feel about Ian not telling him. Or, that he didn't know it already.

'Shouldn't I know his favourite colour or some shit too?' Mickey thought. 'Am I enough for Ian?'. This wasn't the first time Mickey had asked himself this. Not even the first time this week. It was something that constantly plagued him. Was he good enough? Did Ian deserve better? When was Ian going to leave him, and if he was going to leave him, should Mickey leave first so he didn't get hurt? But Mickey was in far too deep for that. He knew he couldn't leave Ian, and he knew he would fall to pieces if Ian ever did leave him. So he pushed these thoughts down, and instead focused on what he could do to be better to Ian. Better for Ian. Mickey sat on the couch, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, slowly burning itself down without Mickey actively taking a puff. Inspired, Mickey pulled his phone out again, and stepped outside onto the landing, walking up and down past the doors of the estate.

"Hey Fiona, you still got those pictures you took on that camera from the last Gallagher party?" Mickey tossed his cigarette on the ground as Fiona answered her phone

"Yeah good morning to you too, Mickey. I'm well, thanks for asking." Mickey rolled his eyes, knowing Fiona was probably doing the same thing.

"Yeah yeah, good fucking morning. So you got those pictures or what?" Mickey was starting to wonder if this was a good idea, getting another Gallagher involved. What a stupid idea. He should just ignore the fact that he'd seen the birthday.

"Yeah I got them, they're still on the camera. Why?" came Fiona's distracted reply

"Nah, no reason. I'm going come round and get them, you gonna be home?"

"I've got to go to work, but I'll leave the camera on the bench, okay? You tell Ian that if he doesn't come over for a proper dinner soon, he's going to get himself de-Gallaghered."

Mickey hung up the phone and smiled a lopsided smile. As he let himself inside, Mickey called out to Ian who was coming out of the shower.

"I'm going out, see you tonight!" Mickey ignored Ian's questioning reply, and closed the door behind him, only remembering at the last minute to grab his keys. Months living in this place together and he still wasn't fully used to having to lock the house after him, or having keys to let himself back in. Leaving a spare set under a mat wasn't an option in this estate, and they didn't have the relationship to leave a spare with a neighbour either.

Mickey felt strange spending the afternoon finding a good picture of Ian and himself, and printing it out. The act of shopping for a photo frame and wrapping paper all felt so unnatural. But the weirdest part, was that Mickey enjoyed himself. It was such a normal thing to do, that he ignored the snigger from the off-license vendor who sold him a red ribbon bow to put on top once he'd wrapped it, and even said thank you when the same man suggested he also purchase sticky tape to wrap it up. By the afternoon though, Mickey was feeling quite chuffed with himself.

Mickey pulled the fly-screen door open, and fumbled in his pocket for the main door key. Before he could put it in the lock, Ian flung the door open.

"Where the fuck have you been? Why didn't you answer your phone?" Mickey took half a step back, stunned.

"What? It's been in my pocket all day, it must be on silent. You alright? What's going on?" Mickey tried to move the backpack that contained the photoframe out of sight. Ian saw the move and grabbed the backpack.

"What's wrong is that you leave all day, without telling me where you're going, when you promised me we were going to buy a bed frame today. But I guess you were out doing more important things like.." Ian stopped short when he pulled out the wrapped present, complete with bow.

"Yeah" said Mickey "that's for you, happy birthday or whatever. I'm sorry I forgot about the bed frame I just.." but it was Mickey's turn to be interrupted, this time, as Ian pressed his lips to Mickey's, present still in hand.
"Can I.. can I open it now?" asked Ian, holding it was two hands now.

"You're not mad?" asked Mickey

"I can be mad at you later, I want to unwrap my present now!" and Ian did something he hadn't done in a while, which was drop to the floor cross-legged where he had been standing a moment earlier and unwrapped his present, ripping the carefully wrapped gift. Mickey took the moment to take off his jacket and close the door which still was open from Ian's abrupt greeting.

"I love it, Mick. I love you!" Ian scrambled up, gave Mick a quick peck on the cheek, then ran into the bedroom. When he rushed out again he held something small in his hand.

"I was going to wait too, but I guess now is a perfect time." He opened his hand to reveal the small jewellery box "Mikhailo Aleksandr Milkovich, will you marry me?".

Mickey stood there stunned for a moment, finding himself in a moment he had never even dreamed would exist before stammering

"O-oonly if you never call me Mikhailo again!"