The next morning Ian left early, texting Mandy that he wanted to meet at the Alibi. He felt shitty for not delivering the rest of his goodbyes in person, but he had written a letter to Fi and Gus. In it he thanked them for their hospitality and asked for their forgiveness for leaving so abruptly...but it was time he got back to New York, back to Linus...before Chicago messed him up anymore than it already had. He had wrote little notes to each of his siblings, except Lip. He figured he would just text him on the road. But Ian knew leaving Mandy a note wasn't going to do it this time. He had to give her a proper goodbye, and maybe leave her a message for Mickey...He had no clue what he wanted to say to the other man, not after last night.

Mickey had just finished returning and unloading everything his siblings had stolen from the Lishmans. When he had found out what they had done he had ordered them to return it themselves. After getting shot in the ass for his troubles, he was wary of robbing that family ever again. Unfortunately his siblings were all dicks and refused to do so. So it was on him to pack it all up again, and drive it back to Northside...their argument had been that he was heading that way anyways...God his siblings could be bastards sometimes. As he leaned against the truck, catching his breath, he saw a fancy car drive out. Out stepped an attractive man, if not boring looking, in Mickey's opinion, man. All his features merged seamlessly together to create a reasonably attractive looking visage. Above blue eyes was a swoop of dark hair, that reminded Mickey a bit of his own. However it was clear this man spent a lot more time on his hair, and had perfected the smile.

"You here for the Lishmans? Pretty sure they're outta town," Mickey said, still leaning against his truck.

The man frowned slightly. "I'm actually here to surprise Ian. My fiancee."

"You got the wrong house," Mickey said with a snort.

"Isn't this the McBryan's? Ian McBryan?"

"Are we talking about the same boy?" Mickey said with a nervous laugh. There was no way that this could be the man Ian was marrying.

"Ian McBryan. I got his address from my mother's PA," explained the stranger.

Mickey nodded then slowly he said, "for a moment I was sure you were talking about Ian Gallagher."

"Gallagher?"

Mickey tipped his head. "I can take you to your fiancee. But first how about we stop and get something to drink."

The man agreed and got into the beat up truck before introducing himself, "I'm Linus Hennings, by the way."

"Nice meeting you, Mickey," the shorter man said by means of introductions. They shook hands and Mickey began to drive to Southside.

After a few moments of silence, "so who's Ian Gallagher?"

Mickey kept his eyes on the road, but his lips quirked into a soft smile. "Local hero round where I grew up."

"Why is that?"

"When he was younger he wanted to join the military as an officer more than anything. He joined ROTC when he was in high school, and spent a whole summer being tutored by his older insufferable brother just so he could get into West Point," Mickey continued to watch the road.

"And that made him a hero?" asked Linus.

Mickey glanced over at his companion. "Not a lot of selfless people here in Southside. Most folks just lookin' out for themselves, or too drunk to care. His father was one of them. Never around when his children needed him, always using welfare to buy booze...it's a miracle Ian turned out the way he did."

"What ever happened to him?" Linus asked, tipping his head to the side.

Mickey's smile turned dark. "Enlisted too soon, went AWOL...ended up marrying some Southside trash – not such a nice story."

Linus frowned. "That's a shame."

Mickey nodded. "It sure was."

They arrived at the Alibi Room, where Mickey had promised to buy Linus a drink, before taking him to the Gallaghers. God Ian was gonna hate him for this, thought Mickey. He hoped to slip away and text Fi a warning, but as they entered the place one head stood out from all the rest.

"Ian?" Linus said with shock, running up to join the redhead. Ian looked a bit shell shocked as he returned his fiancee's hug. "Are you surprised?"

"What are you doing here?" Ian muttered.

"I came to deliver your fiancee," Mickey said with a smirk as he leaned against his sister's shoulder. Mandy looked just as shocked as Ian.

"I think he was talking to me," Linus said still beaming.

"Mickey," Ian said softly, staring at his ex.

"Must be exhausting," Mickey said coldly.

"What?" both men in front of him asked.

"Living a lie," Mickey quirked his eyebrow, before he was elbowed by Mandy in the gut.

"You're one to talk," she growled, but neither Ian nor Linus heard her.

"What's he talking about?" Linus asked.

"You and I are in love with two different people," muttered Mickey, still trying to regain his breath.

"Ian, how do you know this man?" asked Linus, looking Mickey over with a touch of disgust and disapproval.

"He's my husband," Ian said staring Mickey in the eyes.

"What?"

"I mean, ex-husband," Ian looked away at his fiancee. "I came down here to finalize my divorce."

"Hey, Gallagher this must be your new man!" Kev said wandering over from the other side of the room. "Fi was telling me all about him last night."

"Gallagher?" Linus was staring at Ian, reappraising him. "Ian Gallagher?"

Linus backed away.

"Linus, wait," Ian started.

The man continued to walk away, shaking his head and muttering something to himself.

"Linus! Please, wait!" Ian chased after him out onto the sidewalk. "Please, let me explain. You don't understand. I'm not this person anymore…"

Linus stopped. "I always knew it was something with you. McBryan? Really? Do you take me for a fool. That's a Scottish name. I've always known that, but I hoped you were telling the truth about Ireland somehow...I was a fool. I don't know who you are, or what else you've lied about...but I do know one thing. There's a plane with my name on it. I'm going back to New York, Ian. I recommend you give me some space."

With that Ian was left alone crying on the street. A few minutes later Fiona came running up the street. She found Ian crumpled in a ball in the alleyway leaning against the outer walls of the Alibi.

"Oh, Ian," she said softly.

He looked up, a question in his eyes.

"Mandy called me. She took Mickey home, she told me that someone needed to bring you home too," Fi said softly, helping her brother up. Once he was standing he leaned heavily against his sister. She began the long walk home.

Once they got there she helped Ian take some pills, and make his way to bed.

"I know what you're thinking," he said softly. "I spoiled things good this time..."

"Oh Ian, don't go accusing me of thinking that rubbish," Fiona said putting her hand on her brother's forehead. "Because I haven't, not for one second. Besides, spoiled is in the eye of the beholder…like take our family. A lot of people would look at us and see our parents and think that we are ruined because of how they treated us. But we Gallaghers stick together. Lip is interning in a big firm in Chicago, and got a college degree, you're a famous writer, I married Gus, Debbie is in college with Carl and they are both doing fine. And Liam? He is doing well in school, and loves when his siblings drop by for a visit. We could have spoiled this life, messed it up so many ways, but we're here. We'll always be there for each other, that's what it means to be a Gallagher." Fiona explained, gently brushing Ian's red hair back from his face. She kissed his forehead. "Get some rest. I'll wake you up in time for dinner."

Ian made his way down to the kitchen on his own and found his sister already cooking some food with Liam's help. At that moment, the front door swung open and Gus walked in with a guest.

"Look who I found hanging around the Alibi, he's been looking for you," Gus said smiling at Ian.

The redhead's eyes lit up a bit. "Thought you'd be in New York by now."

"So did I," admitted Linus, looking sheepish.

Fiona smiled, "Ian, are you going to introduce us?"

"This is Fiona, my oldest sister, and her husband Gus," Ian said. "And that's my youngest brother, Liam."

Liam smiled up at the stranger.

"Is he adopted?" started Linus.

Fiona frowned slightly. Ian replied, "no. He's biologically my brother. Well half brother, my mom had an affair with my dad's brother...and then she had me..." Ian looked around the messy living room and cheap tiles of the kitchen. He felt embarrassment flood his body as he saw it how Linus must be seeing it for the first time. "And this is our home. I grew up here."

"Well it's a pleasure meeting the three of you," Linus said apparently getting past his shock. "I'm Linus Hennings...Ian's fiancee. Well that is if he'll still have me. I really don't care what happened here. So you have a past. Who doesn't? What I need to know is if there is a place for me in your future."

"Oh good lord, that's the sweetest thing," Fiona murmured. Currently Gus had one arm around her shoulder and the other was resting over her hand on Liam's shoulder.

"Well go on," murmured Gus.

Ian nodded. "Yeah. Of course you're there."

Linus smiled, but still he didn't take Ian into his arms. "Perfect, New York City it is!"

"What?" Fiona asked cocking her head.

"Well, you see my mother happens to be the mayor...and uh, she'd like nothing better than a big snazzy New York wedding." Linus explained.

"Linus...actually I was wondering if we could have the wedding here, in my hometown?" Ian asked, wrapping his arms around himself self consciously.

"Look Ian, if you're worried about the money-"

"It's not about the money, Linus...not in Southside…not down here," Ian said looking around his family home. Sure they had been broke, but there was a lot of love given in this home. His sister had been right about what she had said.

"You know there are a lot of people expecting us to get married in the city...but I think that this might be better," Linus said smiling at his fiancee. "Fiona, if you could take care of the rehearsal dinner, I would like to do the rest."

Fiona and smiled at Gus, "I think we can manage that. After all how many times does your little brother get married...um...other than before."

Everyone laughed.

Internally Linus winced. Oh god..how was he gonna manage to sell his mother on the idea….?

Got this written early and thought I ought to post it. This is un-betaed so any mistakes are mine. Also to any of you Cameron Monaghan fans out there, his show Mercy Street is amazing. I seriously recommend looking it up. Please leave a comment, and don't worry there's a happy ending for Gallavich I promise! ~T.W.o.W.

Ps: the next chapter is probably going to contain sex between Ian and Linus, you've been warned...also I will change the rating if I choose to write the chapter as such, we shall see.