Kira greeted Ian with a huge hug. "It's been so long!"

"Good to see you too, Kira," Ian smirked. "Ready to go to Northside with me?"

"Huh? Oh never mind. I've got loads to tell you," the young woman beamed.

Ian opened the side door for his friend. Kira had flown in a couple days ago, but Ian had been kept busy with wedding planning with Linus' mother that he had had no chance to see her. He had finally found the time to go to her hotel to pick her up. "Tell me about it on the drive."

He got in on the drivers side and began to navigate them towards the store.

"You remember the shiek," Kira asked.

"Yeah," Ian didn't take his eyes off from the road.

"Well he proposed to me...and I think I loved him, despite his billions," Kira rambled.

"Then why didn't you say 'yes'?" asked Ian skeptically, he had noticed no ring on his friend's left hand.

"Because I hesitated long enough to realize my head and my heart were saying two different things." Kira said.

Ian set the car in park, before getting out. "It's this way."

"Well it is a big decision," Kira continued.

"It's supposed to be be the easiest one you make," Ian said dryly.

"Was it?"

Ian coughed. "Hey, Kira. This is it."

They were standing in front of a bustling shop right on the main strip of Downtown Chicago. It had big storefront windows which allowed plenty of natural light to shine in and reflect off the sterling silver within. The sign showed a bird flying free of a cage. Below it was written Canary Metal Works in a careful script.

"This is the stuff I was telling you about," Ian said.

"Canary Metal Works." Kira said reading the sign. "Oh yes. Let's."

Ian and Kira entered the bustling shop. Table upon table held artisan wooden crates which held the silverware. On stands above them were candelabras, platters, vases, and pitchers. Ian had been right. Everything in here had had a past life before it had been melted down to be remade. It was like him…

As Ian was gazing at one of the candlesticks by the back his eyes caught the unmistakable form of his ex husband. He froze. What was Mick doing here?

Kira noticed her friend staring at a stranger. "What's the matter."

"Oh. My. God." Ian said as Mickey began heading towards them. He stopped a few times chatting easily with other customers.

"Do we know-"

"Mickey?" Ian's voice caught in his throat making it come out all wrong.

Mickey had a warm smile on his face, so different from Ian had remembered him in Southside. The smile faltered for a moment. "Ian?"

"Friend of yours?" Kira asked uncertainly.

"I tried to call you a couple times," Ian said softly.

"Listen," Mickey's smile returned but looked forced, "since you're here you and your friend should look around and have some lunch. There's a great place across the road. It was nice seein' ya, Gallagher."

Mickey jammed his hands in his pockets, before moving away to chat with some of his other customers. Ian couldn't help but follow the other with his eyes. Kira stood beside her friend frowning. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she knew it was important. For the rest of the trip, Ian was unfocused...paying almost no attention to the shop assistant who was trying to help them. His wedding was getting closer and closer, but still he couldn't forget Mickey's smile. Mickey seemed so at ease here…he was no longer the thug he had used to be, he had started a successful business...why had none of his family bothered to tell him?

A well dressed man stumbled into the Alibi Room, much to the amusement of its patrons.

"I'm looking for...for Ian McBryan." The man said to the bartender.

"Anybody recognize that name?" Kev asked.

The drunks around the room responded in the negative.

"What business you got with him," Kev asked leaning in towards the old man.

The gentleman drew himself up to his full height. "I am afraid that's a private matter."

"Well then, I'm afraid we can't help you," Kev said not sorry at all. He watched the man leave. "Damn reporters.

"Like the first ant at a picnic," Frank nodded wisely.

It was obvious he was completely drunk. "Oh shut up, Frank."

The day of the wedding finally dawned on Southside Chicago. In the Gallagher household, all the siblings were home again under one roof. Everyone rushed to get their things to get ready at the chapel. It took longer than it should have, but it was managed. And by Gallagher standards they probably got there early.

Debbie, Fi, and Kira were the bridesmaids. Linus' best friend as well as Lip and Carl were groomsmen, Liam was the ring bearer and Linus' goddaughter was their flower girl. Gus was there to ensure everyone's sanity. And he had also offered to walk Ian down the aisle. Frank had not been invited for obvious reasons.

At the chapel security was monitoring everyone who arrived.

"Name?"

"Uh, Buford...Wallace Buford." The old man swallowed. He hadn't had much luck with the people of Chicago as of yet, after his awkward run in at the Alibi Room… "Uh, I'm no on that list. But I've got some urgent business with the groom."

"Are you joking?" asked one of the security guards.

"Which one?" asked the other skeptically.

"Ian McBryan-"

"Yeah, not today you don't." interrupted the first.

"Alright sir, time for you to go." added the second.

Across town, Mandy watched her brother put two six packs into the back of his borrowed car. She was sitting on the stairs watching him walk away.

"Hey, there's a weddin' goin' on," she said softly.

"Yeah, I heard a mention of it a time or two," Mickey said with a wry smile.

"I sure hope this weather cooperates," Mandy said looking at the sky. Clouds were beginning to gather, and there was almost no doubt that it would rain soon.

"It's supposed to be a big one," Mickey sighed.

"You know, Mick, you're my closet brother, and I love you...but sometimes you act too much like our father."

Mickey glared at her.

"You're both stubborn fools," Mandy furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry-"

"He made his decision," Mick said referring to Ian and not their father.

Mandy's face softened, her heart breaking for her brother. "For somebody who's been holdin' onto somethin' so hard, you're pretty quick to let it go."

Mickey turned on his heel, to see that Mandy had stood and walked towards him. "You know I can't control him any more than I can control the weather."

Mandy watched her brother get into the car. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere to think." Mick responded, starting the car.

"Where?" persisted his sister.

"Old baseball field, probably," Mickey said gruffly. Mandy smiled, whenever Mickey was thinking particularly about Ian he liked to go there.

"See you after?"

Mickey nodded before driving off. Mandy started her walk to the chapel.

"It's just nerves." promised Debbie, squeezing Ian's arm.

He was standing before a mirror in slim black suit. He was ready, but he couldn't stop fiddling with his green tie.

"You're doing the right thing," added Lip.

"Am I?" Ian asked so quietly it was hard to hear.

Fi smiled, coming over to her brother. She set down the bouquet she was holding and pulled him into a hug. She drew away, leaving her hands on his shoulders. "When I married Gus...oh, lord. I was a fool for that man. I couldn't put one foot in front of another. I remember standin' there, thinking 'oh, preacher, hurry up before he changes his mind.' Look where it got me. Sometimes that man makes me so mad, I could wring his neck."

"But you still love him." Ian confirmed.

"God knows I do. And only he knows why."

Ian had tears in his eyes. "Fi...I think...I..."

"He can give you a life that we never dreamed of," Lip added.

"And he adores you," Debbie sighed.

"He does, doesn't he?" Ian couldn't help but sound insecure.

"Well even if he is a New Yorker, at least he's sober," Lip teased.

Ian took steadying breaths. He could do this. The rest of his family began to order themselves, and line up. Ian just kept repeating to himself that he could do this.

Ian and Gus followed the rest of the party. The small chapel was decorated with flowers and ribbons, thanks to Fiona and Debbie's dedication. He had the best sisters in the world. Ian focused on the pews, barely able to bring himself to look at his fiancee. On his side, he saw Kev and Vee with their children. Behind them were a few of his friends from New York, including Kira's brother and sister who had always been kind to him. In the pew behind them sat Mandy. She was smiling, although he guessed that this must be torture for her. She looked stunning in her simple purple dress, and Ian almost wished that he could stop and apologize to her about how much he had fucked things up. They had almost reached the front when the small chapel's doors flew open.

In flew the small old man from before. "Mr. McBryan!"

"Hey!" that was one of the security guards hired for the wedding. He was followed by another who was chasing after the elderly gentleman.

"Mr. McBryan!" he called again, dodging his would-be-captors.

"Get him!"

"Mr. McBryan!"

"Get back here!"

"Mr. Buford?" Ian was gobsmacked. Why would his lawyer be here?

The two guards caught up to the lawyer and grabbed him. He shook them off immediately. "Get your hands off me."

"Wait, let him go," Ian said.

"Ian?" asked Linus from the front of the church.

"You are one hard man to get in touch with," panted Mr. Buford coming up the aisle.

"What are you doing here?" Ian asked slightly under his breath.

"He did," the old man was panting. "You didn't."

"What? You mean I'm still married?" asked Ian.

"Well not unless you want to be," Mr. Buford said, pulling the documents out.

"Oh for god's sake, Ian," sighed Linus shaking his head. "I thought you took care of this."

"It's an honest mistake, Linus," Ian defended himself.

"Well then can we fix it? Now." Anna Carlisle said from her seat impatiently.

"Does anybody have a pen?" asked Ian, panic closing in. "Fi? Gus?"

Fiona gave her brother her most sympathetic eyes. "These things don't just happen, you know."

Ian rolled his eyes. This really wasn't what he needed right now.

"Can't ride two horses with one ass," muttered Lip.

"Linus," Ian turned to his fiancee desperately.

"You don't want to marry me," Linus said quietly.

"I don't?" Ian asked.

"No." Linus sighed. "No you don't...not really."

Ian's shoulders dropped. He recognized the truth about what the other man said. "You see, the truth is… I gave my heart away a long time ago...my whole heart...and I never really got it back. I can't marry you. And you shouldn't want to marry me."

Linus chuckled a bit, "so this is what this feels like."

His mother stood up. "That's it!? You're just gonna let him humiliate you with some bullshit about an old husband?!"

"Yeah, I think I am." Linus figured it might make a nice pity card in the future, he always liked having a few of those lying around.

"Excuse me?" Mayor Carlisle began to make her way up the aisle, towards where the Gallaghers were standing around Ian. "In my entire life I have never met anyone so manipulative, so deceitful! And I'm in politics!"

"I'm just trying to be honest," sighed Ian.

"I will not allow the future President of the United States to be dumped at the altar by some psycho ghetto trash! You go after him, you little bitch!"

"Wait just a minute, missy," Gus said stepping in between Ian and the mayor of New York. "Uh, there's no need for name calling, now."

Fi stepped foward to stand by her husband. "Now he spoke his piece, and that's all there is to it."

"Oh go back to your trashy home and fry something," hissed Mayor Carlisle.

"Nobody talks to a Gallagher like that," Ian fumed. He pushed past his family and punched the mayor in the face.

From the pews Kev cried, "praise the lord! Southside rises again!"

"Hey Kev," Ian called back, "mind if we move this to the Alibi?"

Kev grinned. "Not at all."

"If you're on my side of the church why don't you head back to the Alibi Room. I'm gonna go find my good for nothing husband!" Ian cried.

As Ian headed out, Mandy intercepted him by grabbing his arm. Her smile was so much brighter than before. She whispered in his ear "he's at the dugout."

Ian beamed. God it was good to be back.

"Hey man," Ian said leaning against the fence by the entrance of the dugout. By the brunet's feet were several cans of beer, all of them untouched. "You owe me a dance."

"Nice suit." Mickey said refusing to look directly at him. "Where's your husband?"

"I'm lookin' at him. Apparently you and I are still married," Ian said still smiling.

Mickey's characteristic grin bloomed on his face. He ran the pad of his thumb across his lower lip. "Is that right?"

He looked over at Ian, eyebrow quirked. Ian moved so that he was right in front of Mick. "Why didn't you tell me you came to New York?"

"I needed to make somethin' of myself," confessed Mickey, gazing adoringly into Ian's eyes.

"About done?" asked Ian.

"What is it about you Southside boys? You can't make the right decisions 'til you tried all the wrong ones?" Mickey asked slowly.

"At least I fight for what I want," Ian said hotly.

"Oh, what do you want, Ian?" suddenly Mickey seemed tired, and hesitant. "I don't even think you know."

"You're the first boy I ever kissed, Mickey, and I want you to be the last."

Mickey got up, he brushed past Ian to the exit and the field beyond. "Maybe you and I had our chance."

Ian followed him out. "Fine! Have it your way, you stubborn ass!"

All of a sudden the sprinklers came on; rendered completely useless however, as it had begun raining mere minutes before. "Whatcha want to be married to me for, anyhow?" Mickey's voice was rough.

Ian took a step forward. "So I can kiss you anytime I want."

He easily closed the distance between them. Mickey's face split into a smile. He pulled Ian to him by his lapels into a kiss. It was their first kiss in years. Ian's fingers curled around Mickey's neck, his lips pressed firmly against Mick's. Mickey opened his mouth, tongue already pushing into Ian's. It was their first kiss in years, but neither of them felt out of practice. All the passion and pining that had occurred in that time made the kiss hot and anxious. Ian held onto Mickey, afraid that if he let go of the other man he would lose him, that he would wake up to find himself in New York...that this was all a dream.

"What the hell are you two trying to do get yourselves killed!?" Tony Markovich asked, standing by outfield.

"What seems to be the trouble, officer?" asked Ian smile wide upon his face.

"I'm here to bring you in, young man."

"What did he do this time," Mickey said laughing.

"Well, the way I hear it, seems he ran out on a perfectly good cake."

"Look who finally made it to their reception," Lip mused noting Ian and Mickey's disheveled appearances.

"Well I do believe I owe this man a dance," Mickey said referring to their first wedding.

Ian smiled, "you sure do."

Mandy smiled watching her brother and best friend move to the center of the Alibi. She walked over to where Gus' band was standing. "make it a slow one," she told them. Fi caught her eye with a smile.

Everything was as it should be. Ian Gallagher was home, and he was here to stay.

Although this is where the movie ends I would feel awful changing the rating for this fic without any gallavich smut. So there will be an epilogue I promise! Leave a review or favorite, thanks ~T.W.o.W.