The day Ian was well enough to be released from the hospital, everyone was fucking ecstatic. Gallagher had been stuck in there for another month while they made sure he wasn't going to drift into another coma, and then to make sure he was better. "Observation" was what the doctors said.

The Army had notified Fiona the week before that they'd be paying for all the hospital expenses, which relieved everyone. And everyone saw the look in her eyes now that she'd have a lot of extra money for a little bit.

Ian being awake didn't make Mickey stop staying all the time, but it definitely gave everyone an excuse to make him go home and shower more often. When they'd tried to make him leave one night to finally get some sleep in his own bed, Mickey just told them to fuck off and continued to stay by the redhead's side that night.

Now, he was watching Gallagher from the doorway as he packed up his things, finally out of that fucking hospital gown and in normal clothes. Well, normal as in his uniform since they were the only clothes he had with him at that current moment that fit him. Even then, the green shirt clung to Ian's muscles, making Mickey's dick twitch impatiently and desperately.

After eighteen months, Mickey could touch Ian-really touch him- and feel him there. He wanted to feel Ian's red hair knotted in his fingers, feel Ian's lips crushed against his again ready to be bitten, and most importantly wanted to feel Firecrotch's dick in his ass. Let's be honest, shoving his own fingers up there and jerking off wasn't even close to feeling as amazing as Ian.

As much as the others wanted to be there to bring Ian home, Fiona knew it could wait. Mickey and Ian needed their real alone time. So she told Mickey to bring him over to the house that evening for a "Welcome Home" party.

Ian shouldered his duffel bag and turned to face Mickey, a smile on his face.

"Where we off to first?"

Mickey pulled his attention away from his thoughts to the actual Gallagher standing in front of him. He pushed himself off the doorway, uncrossing his arms.

"Well, considering you've been served fuckin disgusting hospital shit excuse of food, I figured we'd just grab somethin at the IHOP down the block. Problem with that?" Mickey asked.

Ian shook his head, the smile widening. "No, sounds perfect. I need real food for once since I left."

Mickey smirked. "Aw, it's your first time having human food since you went off to fight in some bullshit "war". And it's with me? I'm fuckin honored, Firecrotch."

"Shut up, Mickey." Ian rolled his eyes.

Mickey barked out a laugh as he turned and walked. Once they reached the outside of the hospital, Ian stopped for a moment, eyes adjusting to the natural light of the outside he'd missed out on for two months. Gallagher also took that moment to look around at the home he's been long away from. His smile turned sad and fond, like he just woke up from some nightmare.

Considering where he had been, Mickey thought nightmare was a perfect term for it.

"You okay?" He asked Ian, who looked at him like he'd just remembered Mickey was there.

"Sorry, just…Nostalgic, I guess."

"Nostal….What?" Mickey furrowed his brows.

Ian chuckled. "I just missed seeing Chicago. I actually missed it. All my life I wanted out, but I've never been happier to be back."

"For the moment, everyone is fuckin happy to be in this shithole. Well, technically Lip and Mandy haven't been here thanks to him being at MIT most of the time." Mickey pulled out a cigarette and lit up, taking a nice calming drag. He offered the cigarette to Ian, who gladly took it and dragged from it like he hadn't had one in a long time.

"It's great they got things figured out." Ian said, breathing out the smoke.

"Most of us got things fuckin figured out, Gallagher."

"Do you?" Ian asked after a pause.

Mickey took another drag from the cigarette, letting the smoke blow out from his nose and started walking again.

"Yeah. I do."

Ian fell in step at Mickey's side like he'd done so many times before. The redhead had listened to everything Mickey had told him, and what everyone had written, but a part of him just never really believed his Mickey could do any of it. That Mickey could actually get along and merge with his family, or that he'd actually go to college. Or let Mandy make him dance at her wedding.

But then again, Mandy always had a strong grip. That he remembered well.

So…Did this mean Mickey was happy now? Was he happy being in South Side? Ian had always thought the ex-con wanted out. Maybe that changed the moment Mandy pulled the trigger on their father.

Which meant…Maybe there'd be a new outlook with their relationship?

"So what did you get figured out, then?" Ian asked as they were seated in some little booth in the back of IHOP. Mickey ordered himself a coffee and didn't bother with the sugar or cream, just went right to downing that first cup before filling it up for another. Ian ordered a soda, excited to have sugar again. After months of dehydrated food, he was ready to indulge.

"For starters, this shithole doesn't seem as fuckin bad now that my dad and brother's are out of my fuckin life." Mickey opened his mouth to continue, but then shut it and drank his coffee as the waitress came over. They ordered, and the ex-con remained quiet.

"What else?" Ian pressed. He had the feeling he was doing a bad job of hiding his nervousness and excitement all from the glare Mickey gave. Him.

The glare faded though, replaced by an expression Ian had never seen before. And the thing was, he knew exactly what the expression said. He noticed that Mickey had been much more relaxed now. He didn't spit at the Gallagher's like the redhead assumed he would, even made actual conversation. He didn't try to kill Lip, either.

"And I realized that I have people to fuckin stay here for that give a shit about me. And that college wasn't that bad. Well, community college, but still."

Ian laughed, Mickey scowling at first but then joining in.

"Is…Is that all?" Ian asked a little after their food came. It felt so good to be out like this in public with Mickey. No hiding or pretending to be acquaintances. No more being in fear that Terry Milkovich would see and kill them. Nothing was in their way.

Mickey didn't even bother to wait until his mouth wasn't full, because that's how classy he is.

"I realized I actually want us to fuckin live with each other instead of making bunches of energy wasting trips back and forth."

There it was. Exactly what Ian wanted to hear. Well, not exactly like that, but still. Slowly, he grinned.

"So it has nothing to do with the little fact you love me?" he teased.

"Don't act all sappy, Gallagher. It was a fuckin invitation to move in, not a proposal to get married or some shit." Mickey groaned.

Ian laughed. "Yeah, I'll live with you and your mess, Mick."

"Good. Because Lip and Mandy already moved your shit in."

"How do you know I wasn't going to just say no?" Ian stared.

"Because, Firecrotch, I am irresistible as fuck, and you've yet to say no to me before." Mickey burped and took another sip of his coffee, a smirk on his face at Ian's expression. The redhead threw at napkin at him.

"You're such a arrogant dick." Ian said.

"Aw, that's the sweetest fucking thing you've said. Careful, Gallagher, don't get all pussy on me yet." Mickey joked.

Ian couldn't help but roll his eyes and grin.