That evening, the Gallaghers and half of Southside were hosting a block party, so when Ian returned home, everyone was in a flurry. Frank had slunk off somewhere, and was sure to show up again in time for the party. Meanwhile, Carl and Kev pulled out massive amounts of fireworks and firecrackers that Ian was pretty sure were illegal.

"What's this for?" Ian asked Mandy, watching her help Fiona carry food.

"It's summer, gotta celebrate somehow," laughed Mandy. She looked so beautiful and grown up. Ian wondered what else he had missed when he had gone away. His oldest sister was teasing her husband, as he helped her with the grocery bags. Every so often their eyes would meet, or they would share a kiss and Ian felt warm inside. After so many failed relationships, she deserved this. It was healthy and stabilizing, and Gus was a great guy. He was good at keeping Fiona on track, working with her to save money and keep a budget, and he was also great with the kids.

Debbie came in, following Mandy around, and the two of them were laughing together like old friends. Even Liam was helping out, managing to pull beers out of the fridge and put them in the coolers. There was something so dysfunctional about a ten year old handling alcohol that casually, but Ian couldn't help but feel fond of the situation. This was his family, messed up as it was. He only hoped Linus could accept it. He couldn't imagine never coming back here again. He couldn't do that to them. He couldn't do that to himself.

As the sun began to set, neighbors from all over began to show up. Friends from the Alibi even managed to leave their bar stools, on the promise of more alcohol that was free. Soon the streets began to fill with laughter and the sounds of people. Gus' band arrived, and people began to dance. Fiona was at the front of the impromptu stage, supporting her husband with her most beautiful smile.

Ian couldn't tear his eyes away from them, they radiated happiness. He was sitting by Mandy in his yard when he saw Mickey walking up the street. The man was dressed in his usual sleeveless button down but there was something different about him. An air of confidence, like he had found something that he had never really had when Ian was around. Mandy looked at what Ian was staring at and smiled softly.

"You know he went up there," she said quietly.

"Who? Mick? When?" Ian asked, still not taking his eyes off the shorter man. Mickey greeted Fiona affectionately before moving on to talk to Carl and Lip, who had finally arrived from Northside.

"About a year after you left," confessed Mandy. "He doesn't think anyone knows, but Svetlana let it slip once."

Ian froze. It had been a long time since he had thought about the prostitute Mickey had been forced to marry, and hadn't been able to divorce until after his father's death. He shivered remembering the circumstances that had led to that whole angst filled part of his life. Memories of small Yev filled his head, and he couldn't help but wonder what had ever become of them. When he looked at Mandy he saw how earnest she looked. "He realized right away that it would take more than an apology to win you back. He needed to conquer the world….he's been trying ever since."

Ian felt a pang, and looked back at Mickey, but the other had gotten lost in the crowd. "That's why he kept sending the papers back..."

"It's funny how things don't work out," Mandy said watching Ian intently.

"Funny how they do," he said still searching for his ex.

"Look who I found," Carl said coming up with a smile. In tow was Mickey, and he didn't seem to happy about it.

"What did I say about dragging me about?" huffed Mickey.

"Debs bringing us some food, said you should join us," Carl smirked. "Like a real family."

Debbie arrived bringing plenty of food for everyone. When Ian was passed a plate of food however he couldn't help but notice the silverware. In the past the Gallaghers never bothered to use anything other than plastic, but what was in his hands was a stunning piece of twisted sterling silver that was both elegant and practical. It was clear that in it's past life it had been something else, but the artist had managed to re-purpose it and make it useful. Gentrification at it's finest...and this time he wasn't being sarcastic. He was staring at it intently.

"Don't tell me you forgot what a fork was," laughed Mandy.

"These would be perfect for the wedding. I'm just trying to see who makes these Canary Metal Works," Ian explained squinting at the small print embossed into the back. "I wonder if you can get them in New York. They're stunning"

Carl opened his mouth with a smirk. "Hey Mick, Ian is wondering where he can get some old as fuck twisted metal...got any ideas?"

"Why ask me?" Mickey said with a scowl.

"Oh I don't know," Debbie cut in with a huge smile, "maybe cause you're-"

"All fancy yourself...finally selling the house that is," Mandy interrupted, reading the look in her brother's eyes as easily as an open book.

"Am I missing something?" asked Ian looking first to his younger siblings, before looking to the Milkovich siblings.

Mandy rolled her eyes. "When was the last time we danced together, c'mon."

She dragged Ian towards the band. A makeshift dance floor had been created by closing off the road, and couples were dancing to the lively music. Behind them Debbie smirked, "Come on Mick, let's go."

"Not my type," he muttered.

Debbie smirked. "Oh yes I am...well if I was a boy that is. Face it, you like redheads."

"Fucking bossy-" Mickey complained, but he allowed himself to be pulled towards the music. For awhile both couples were content to just dance to the music, laughing and having a good time. The band then announced they were going to slow it down, Gus stepping off the stage to join his wife. Mandy managed to guide Ian over towards where Debbie and Mickey were near the front of the crowd.

"He's hopeless," announced Debbie.

"You know, he's pretty good," laughed Ian. "It might be you."

"Fuck you, Ian Gallagher," Debbie flounced off.

"Care to dance?" Ian asked.

Mickey nodded, because at this point what else was there he could do? They began to sway lightly to the music, the contact was light and shy….as if everything that had gone down between them had never occurred. To a newcomer they looked like strangers.

"Look at them welded together," sighed Fiona, watching her brother closely. Although their touches were light and tender, she could read them like a book. "Why do they fight it?"

Gus, having no good answer, just spun his wife and continued to hold her close.

After that the music continued, and for awhile Ian and Mickey lost each other. The latter headed over to talk to his brothers and Ian was left alone, watching him leave. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned expecting it to be Mandy. Instead he was faced with the evil eye of an angry Russian woman he hadn't seen in years.

"Svet-"

"You don't get to talk, come with me," she ordered.

Ian followed her away from the party, he hadn't expected to see her again.

"You get a few minutes, but don't think about stealing him away again. I know people who will have you killed."

Ian was still confused as he was led back to the Gallagher house, into the kitchen. Sitting at the table was a young boy who looked like he could be in kindergarten. His hair had darkened over the years, but his eyes remained that intense blue color they had been when Ian had known him.

"Yev?"

The boy looked up from his sandwich with curious eyes. "Ian?"

"You remember..." Ian sounded skeptical.

The child shook his head. "No, but Dad talked about you a lot. He didn't want me to forget."

The innocence in Yevgeny's voice, the earnest expression, was all too much for Ian. He could feel tears pooling in his eyes. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to come home, it was selfish of me to forget..."

Yev nodded in agreement. "And cruel. Dad missed you. Quite a bit when I was younger even more-"

"Yevgeny," his mother reprimanded from the kitchen door. The child got the hint and stopped talking.

"I'm just sorry you weren't around, you were like a legend...a bedtime story. I always have wanted to meet you," Yev continued after a moment.

Ian smiled as tears ran down his cheeks. "You were always there for me, even when things went wrong...I had you. I doted on you and took you everywhere...hell I even took you on an 'unexpected' road trip...and then I just left you. You and everyone else...you must have been so confused, wondering if you had done something...what were you two?"

"I told him it was my fault."

Ian turned to see Mickey standing beside Svetlana. Yev's eyes lit up, he ran to Mickey yelling, "Dad!"

Mickey gave him a tight embrace before saying, "go back to the party with your mother."

Yev nodded, before running and giving Ian a hug...which the redhead was pretty sure he didn't deserve. Then the two, mother and son, walked away.

Finally the Ian and Mickey were left alone. "Everyday. Whenever he asked, I told him it was my fault."

"Quit being so nice," Ian said wiping away his tears.

"It's the truth," shrugged Mickey. He was now leaning against the counter, still not daring to come any closer.

"How come it has to be so complicated? Truth...life...this?" Ian slumped.

There was a pause.

"You looked like you were having fun tonight," Mickey said.

"I like it in New York, Mickey. I like it a lot. But when I'm here? This fits too." Ian didn't want to admit how much he missed his home.

"Since when does it have to be one or another? You can have roots and wings too, Ian." Mickey said earnestly, running the pad of his thumb across his lower lip.

"Maybe I could fly home for the winter," laughed Ian, knowing that that wasn't an option.

From outside they could hear people cheering and laughing as the fireworks were set off.

"Do you remember that old dug out? The one we snuck off to if your house was too full and my dad was outta jail."

"Had a dream about it the other night," confessed Ian.

"Sometimes I go there to think. Just to listen as the sprinklers come on, it's nice...I sometimes wonder what would have happened if we had just gone straight to our date and never come home. Then Sammy-"

"They still would have found me," Ian replied. "They're with the government, one date wouldn't have stopped them."

"That's when things went south for us," Mickey replied earnestly. "I sometimes try to figure out what I could have done differently."

"At least you didn't go to prison for try to get rid of her," Ian said resolutely. "At least I wasn't so far gone that I couldn't protect you from that."

Mickey smiled gratefully. "I wanted to set up house with you, raise Yevgeny and be a family. I thought it could be an adventure, as shitty and cliché as it sounds...I guess I didn't realize that it would be your only adventure...and that without your meds it would be torture. Guess Mother Nature knew best, she gave you an out."

"Bipolar isn't a way-"

"Shit. I didn't mean it like that, Ian..." Mickey sighed. Thinking for a moment before saying, "if you had never gotten sick, would you have ever left?"

Ian looked down at his hands. "Probably not."

"So it was a gift in disguise. This life was never for you, you deserved to see the world, to be useful." Mickey explained.

"I was so ashamed, Mick. I couldn't look anyone in the eye without feeling guilt which only made me feel worse. I was relying so much on everyone, and when things started to get worse I saw how hard you all had to work just to pay for my medication. It was like the old days, everyone chipping in what they could...and I hated it. And all of a sudden, I just needed a new life. I needed to get out of Southside, were everyone knew everything I had done. A clean slate. That's what New York is." Ian felt like he was about to cry again.

"You've done well for yourself. I'm proud of you," Mickey said, with a small smile he added, "I'm just sorry I never got to dance with you at our wedding. I'm sure this next one will go better for you."

Ian felt sick, he couldn't look at Mickey anymore, but there was nothing in the world he would rather be seeing. "Mick, I can't"

"Go home, Ian."

Ian frowned as he was already in his own kitchen.

"To New York. You'll be happier there."

As Mickey walked out of the kitchen he brushed past Fiona who had come to find her brother. He nodded his goodbye, leaving the two Gallaghers in the kitchen.

"I saw the way you two were looking at each other," Fiona said softly, sinking to a crouch so as to look her brother in the eye.

"Would you shut up, Fi? I can't help the way Mickey feels about me."

"Now Ian, he hasn't done anything wrong," reminded Fiona.

"He hasn't done anything right," Ian said with an almost hysterical laugh. "I can't believe we're even arguing about this. I'm marrying another man, Fiona."

"Yes, you're getting a second chance. Don't you dare mess this up," Fiona threatened.

"For who? Me or you? Cause you've fucked up plenty of your own relationships, Fi, so I don't think you're one to talk." Ian shouted back.

Fiona's face spasmed in pain and fury. "I know. It takes one to know one."

With that she stormed out back to the party. Ian was left alone, he felt lost in a storm of emotions and didn't know what to do. All he knew for sure was that sleep would help. He took his meds, and curled up in his borrowed bed. He was leaving tomorrow.

Sorry it's been so long! My computer was broken and I had no way to access these files. Plus school has been so busy! I am sorry to everyone in the fandom who has to deal with s666, I am not watching it and don't think I ever will. I loved Shameless, and I will continue with this fic. But I don't think I can watch the show anymore. Hope this update leaves you satisfied, I will try to write another one soon! ~T.W.o.W.