Whoever thought that drinking could be done as a social act was wrong. Anytime you have a drink, it never takes much effort to convince you of the next... Until eventually you become 90% alcohol and remove it from your system. The one thing that Gallaghers and Milkovichs have in common, no everyone in the Southside have in common... Party.

The best parties are ones which you either don't remember the next day, didn't pay for a drink all night or waking up in a strip joint in Milwaukee... Strange how far you can go on the average wage in the Southside. This was not one of those evenings. Having decided that no one really wanted to watch another movie Mickey had decided that they should play some games... Never in his imagination would he ever have been seen in a drunken state in this house.

"So what are the rules again?" Mandy asked, already having had a few beers. From what she could see, she had a higher tolerance than Lip did. This was going to be fun.

"Well, you choose either a truth or a dare. If you choose truth you have to take a shot, if you choose dare and don't do it you have to do 3 shots." Ian explained. He was miles behind everyone else. After the last few months, he sure needed to blow off some steam.

"So how is this fun for me?" Lip asked, he already knew everything about Mandy and Ian. For some unknown reason he wasn't that interested in finding out more about Mickey.

"You can encourage some truth out of us..." Ian simply replied, now practically beaming that he'd be able to get some dirty on Mandy out in the open.

"So who starts?" Mickey asked. With everyone's eyes locked on him, he soon worked out that it was the wrong question. "Fuck it. Dare."

"Down your drink." Ian smiled like the joker. Nice and simple to begin with; with that Mickey did as he was told, just the way he liked it.

"Guess you're next..." Mickey said, as he grabbed another beer.

"Truth." Ian said, taking the smile from Mickey's face. He had had plans ruined.

"Wimp! Well shot first..." Mandy stated. She was going to get something out of this. "Have you ever fancied women? Remember it's in the title... Truth."

"Well it may shock you, but yes. Next." Mickey and Lip both looked at him as if he had announced that he was the pope. How did neither of them know this? What else did Mandy know?

"Lip you're up." Mickey said, he really didn't care about anyone except Gallagher. When would he get to taste him again?

"Dare."

Mandy looked around for a minute to see what she could get him to do. "How about something physical?" She said with a grin. "How about 30 press ups? The shirt is optional." She was practically laughing now.

Lip got to 19 before he collapsed. How the fuck did Ian manage to get to 100? The only thing he noticed during him might attempt was the secret glances between Ian and Mickey. Did they really not notice that they were both doing it?

"Dare." Mandy stated proudly before anyone asked and Lip was able to make a suggestion as he was downing his punishment.

"Arm wrestle Lip." Ian was quick to respond. This would be interesting.

With that Lip had been humiliated, everyone else were certainly having fun. Mickey was next with a truth, he apparently had never actually fucked Angie, just finger-banged.

"Dare." There was a look between Mandy and Lip. This was going to be awkward, because they both knew what it was that this party needed.

They both said "Strip tease."

"Fuck." Ian said, should he just take the shots? He'd do them anyway... He'd never actually been asked to do it before now, but at least he'd get a reaction. "Prepare yourself for heaven." Ian said, as he took off his shirt and turned to face Mandy.

With that he got to work, adding his own music with the help of Lip. Those were the longest 30 seconds of Mickey's night so far, was he ever going to get a turn. At least Gallagher had some useful moves.

"No tips?" Was all that Mandy could say before she passed Ian another drink.

.

It was nearly midnight, Lip was throwing up in the bathroom and Mandy making sure it went in the toilet. Mickey and Ian were both sat on the sofa. They never got to kiss during their game, they did however get to feel each other up though. Ian was dared to pin Mickey against the wall and give him a frisk search...

The evening had been so unnatural. Happiness shouldn't exist in a place like this. Was this what they had both prevented themselves from having over the last year? And why? Just in case... Man was Lip a wimp! Yes he didn't manage to do his dares, but it was his own fault for not choosing to do truths.

As they both sat looking at infomercials on the TV Mickey's hand slowly appeared on Ian's leg. This small amount of contact was like electricity. No not quiet, electricity only strikes once... It was more like hearing a gunshot, you never know when but it happens... Mickey was looking straight ahead, not daring himself to see if Gallagher had noticed. Ian knew what was happening, he slowly rested backwards and let his arm linger on the back of the sofa.

They both looked hoping not to see each other's eyes until it happened. From a smile to a desire in just moments. Once their eyes connected they couldn't look away, they had been in a similar position earlier in the evening for it to be interrupted. Mickey's hand moved upwards and rested on Gallagher's crotch as Gallagher lifted his hip slightly. It was a silent step by step to foreplay guide. Then it happened.

Mickey took a chance, he leaned into Gallagher, closed his eyes and hoped that it would be reciprocated. The last time their lips had met were Mickey's wedding. Ian felt guilt at realising this, but having lowered his expectation threshold with beer he allowed his emotions to take control. As Mickey's lips were waiting on Ian's they stopped. They could feel each other's drunken breath. In and out, in and out. Ian could do nothing but lean forward.

It was then that they heard a cough from behind them. Suddenly they were pulled back to normality. They weren't in a magically fairytale. Mandy had sat herself down as Lip finished washing his face. There, for that one moment they both knew that they wanted each other. The forgotten pain had been suspended, the kiss after such a long time just reminded them of what it meant to be whole. Ian had felt like less of a man for months, he didn't feel needs, wanted... Used and abused. Somehow it was the person that made him feel like that that brought him back. Only for a moment, but being complete for that one moment was enough to keep him going for a little longer.

Would it have happened if they hadn't have been drunk? Would they ever get to feel that completeness again? Like a beer on a hot day, like a warm home in a snowstorm. Mandy coughed even harder. Ian looked at her to see what her problem was, only for him to look down and see that Mickey was still rubbing his groin.