Svetlana was walking towards her new home. She saw the Gallagher boy arguing at the front door and leave. She was just glad to get indoors, it was freezing outside. The TV was still on, it lit up the alcoholic dump in the living room. Why they couldn't put empty bottles into the bin as they got more didn't make any sense to her. She noticed the blanket and pillow on the sofa. Why would they have been there? Then she realised that it was Gallagher, he was here, then he left.

As she looked up she noticed that the kitchen light was still on. She didn't want to know, and tried to head to bed. Before she could do anything about it she had knocked one of the empty beer bottles over, it clinked against another one. She was just hopeful that they'd all had enough to drink and would sleep through the noise.

"Too cold..." Mickey came bouncing into the living room, thinking that Gallagher had come back. All he could see was his wife as his tongue caught in his mouth. "Hi Babe."

She could tell something was wrong, Mickey's eyes were red, but clearly he'd been angry about something. There was also relief until he noticed it was her. He'd been drinking, or was that just the smell of the last drops of beer on the ground? He'd barely spoken to her since she helped him get Gallagher to hospital. He'd spent ages there, she'd gotten rest at last. It had worked out well for her during those weeks.

"Hi. You good time?" Svetlana said, she didn't want to know about what had happened.

"Yeah, Mandy and Lip are asleep. Lip threw up..." Mickey said, she was here, Gallagher was not.

"Is cleaned?"

"Yeah, Mandy made sure of it." Mickey needed some normality, some stability right now. Was Gallagher on his period or something? One minute wanting to be together, kissing, touching, the next he changes the subject and runs for it. "How was work?"

"No good. No one around. I leave early." Svetlana had never been asked about work before, it was the one good thing about Mickey. She never had to explain anything, it was much more a marriage to get a green card.

Mickey knew what was going to happen. He needed to get his own way, he'd sleep with his wife to help him forget his emotions; who knew that he'd also find an ear.

.

It was nearly 2 a.m. when Ian got home. Yes it was cold, but he found relief in that. His anger had been calmed, his pain had been removed with the cold of his cheeks. He somehow found himself thinking that he should head back. It was too late, too cold and he was too weak to turn back now. It wasn't often that he'd admit he was wrong or being a dick - especially not to himself.

He got in to find that Fiona was sat still watching TV. Had she been waiting up for him? He felt a pang of guilt at this. She needed to rest, she shouldn't have to worry for them all. As Ian closed the door he walked in and sat next to her, no she wasn't awake. She'd fallen asleep. He simply lay her down into a more comfortable position, put a blanket over her and watched. He found such peace in seeing her like this, especially since she had probably tried her best to stay up to make sure he was fine.

Ian walked into the kitchen to grab a soda, he'd nearly sobered up. At least he'd be fine for work in the morning... We'll supervised recovery. He had a feeling that Mickey wouldn't be as lucky as he would be. He pulled out his phone at the thought of him... Never go to bed angry as his mum used to tell him after he and Lip had been fighting. With that he pulled out his phone and texted Mickey.

Sorry for being a dick. I shouldn't have been like that, but I hope we can talk properly soon, not just when we're both drunk! Thanks for the kiss. G