It was nearly 7, and boy was his head banging. Why had he agreed to do shots? Why had he agreed to play their little game? His mouth felt like a desert, his stomach like an erupting volcano. Lip ran for the bathroom, a true appreciation of morning sickness came across his mind. It had been 10 minutes of throwing up and another 10 of dry heaving. His stomach was empty at last. Now he needed something to eat, to drink and more importantly mouthwash!

With that going through his mind he slowly got up, his head still feeling light, and walked down the corridor. Where was Ian? He couldn't remember much after he began vomiting last night. He just hoped he'd not be in the same state as he was. As he got into the living room he saw the blanket and pillow, but no one to fill it. As he made his way to the kitchen he assumed that maybe Mickey and Ian had ending up staying in Mickey's room. Grabbing some toast and a large glass of water, he headed back to Mandy's room.

As he was walking past, he decided to pop his head around Mickey's door. Bad timing, as he looked in Mickey turned over in his sleep completely naked. He didn't want to see that. But beside him, he could see Svetlana, good body... Just a pity about the personality. It was somewhat of a pit... Crisp packets on the ground... Empty hair gel, clothes, tissues around the full bin, and a condom. The smell...

As Lip walked back into Mandy's room it suddenly occurred to him. Where was his brother? With his reflexes still on slow he tried to find his jeans and grabbed his phone out. He hadn't seen him in the bathroom, the living room or the kitchen. He certainly wasn't in Mickey's room... What was Mickey doing? Had he actually slept with Svetlana last night? Had he led his brother on last night just to do that? He couldn't blame him, he was married to Svetlana and had Terry as a Dad. Lip just hoped that it was something which Ian knew about.

Ian. Lip didn't have his new number... The only person who had it was Mickey. After a few minutes of slowly eating, drinking and adjusting to the light Lip headed to the front room. Mickey's phone had been his jacket pocket last night, so that's where he'd probably find it; Lip thought to himself that he'd certainly prefer to check there first than seeing Mickey butt naked again. He was just glad he'd already thrown everything up. before it occurred to him that he had just eaten again.

"Thank fuck." Lip said to himself as he found Mickey's phone in the jacket in his hand. There was a message from Firecrotch... "Really, pet names!" Lip allowed himself a short lived grin.

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

.

Where are you? Lip

Ian woke up with a text. He'd for a moment thought it was Mickey finally replying. No such luck. He'd forgotten about Lip last night, he'd needed to clear his head. Even if he'd wanted to have texted him last night he couldn't, he didn't have his number. At least that little problem had been solved.

With that renewed optimism since leaving last night, Ian had finally realised that complete and perfect were never really needed. He'd make mistakes, he already had, but being able to apologize for them made you near complete. He bounced down the stairs waking everyone else up. No hangover! He immediately grabbed some orange juice from the fridge and began to get breakfast ready. He wasn't going to school so decided to be a brother and let the others get into the shower whilst the water was still hot.

It was cold, but somehow it didn't stop him. Today was a new day. For a moment he thought he must have been on ecstasy... No it wasn't, it was hope. After putting the cereal and milk out, as well as starting to make sandwiches for lunch he turned to see Fiona coming into the kitchen confused.

"Were the hell were you last night?" Fiona wasn't happy, but that was suddenly overtaken with the fact that her brother was firstly up before she was, and secondly that he was doing all her chores voluntarily."Well?"

"I was out with Lip." Ian stated and he threw the used knife into the sink. "We watched Mad Max last night with Mandy."

"And Mickey?" Fiona gave Ian a suspicious look before shouting up the stairs, "Bathrooms free!"

It always made her laugh that those were the words that could wake the dead or Carl. How could they sleep through a bomb, but the words bathrooms free get them up quicker than peanut butter disappeared if not supervised?

"So why didn't you tell me that you were going out?" No way was Ian going to get away with it, especially since Fiona's neck was cramped from it.

"I left a note Fi." Ian innocently replied, as he pointed to the fridge. He pulled out his phone to reply to Lips text, as Fiona noticed.

"Where did you steal that from?" Fiona had been glad that he hadn't had a phone the last few weeks, so that he'd be forced to stay indoors and rest.

"Gift... Early Christmas present." Ian said, hearing the sent tone confirming it. As he turned around Debbie came running down the stairs with Liam in her arms. Carl had gotten there first this morning. She'd grown up so much the last few weeks. Somehow that had always been the case. "Morning."

"Morning, why are you so happy?" Debbie asked setting Liam down in his chair. Suddenly Ian had been surprised by a question, he hadn't expected such personal insight from her.

"Erm,..."

"Good question Debs." Fiona quickly said, as she sat down to eat.

"Nothing. I'm just happy." Ian said, looking anywhere other than at Fiona.

"So how was last night?" Debbie stated matter of factly.

"Fine, Lip's still there. He's up and on his way." Why, why couldn't he think of any way of distracting them? "I'll be back in a minute."

Before either Debbie or Fiona could ask him anything more, he'd practically jumped out the front door. He needed to be rescued, with that he pulled his phone back out to check on Lip. There was something that he needed to know.