Chapter Text
+1.
“D’you ever think this would come?” Lip walked over to where Ian leaned against the bar. He had two cokes in his hand and offered one to his little brother who gladly accepted.
The two leaned against the stool seats, looking over at the dance floor.
“Carl getting married?” Ian turned his head to face Lip, glass reaching against his bottom lip.
Lip gave a little shrug. “Any of it? Marriage? Kids? Actual legal jobs” He took a second, sipping at his drink. “Real stability?”
A slight smile curled up onto Ian’s pressed lips as he took another drink. “Honestly? No” he took one of the ice cubes in his cheeks, crunching it. “Glad we ended up here though”
Lip looked back over the venue. Tami was on the other side of the room, laughing with her sons. Robbie overdramatically demonstrated something with his body, the little crowd bursting into another round of giggles.
“Cheers to that” Lip’s eyes were averted back onto his brother once more, glass reaching up to clink Ian’s. The ginger man followed the gesture instantaneously. They both took another drink, reverting back to their people watching.
They were stationed in one of the Bamboo Lotus’s ballrooms. The place was much nicer now. Rebuilt after Terry burnt it down. Maybe it was symbolic of the family's growth. Or maybe it was just the cheapest and most readily available place in town. Either way, Ian felt contentment bubble up in his chest as he watched Carl spin his bride around the dance floor.
He thought about his own relationship. His own wedding and how long ago it was. Almost fifteen years ago. Felt surreal. He was so glad that he and Mickey were able to stick it out. They made it.
He was happy for Carl. for Lip. For Fiona and Debbie. All had found their own people. That felt good, the realisation. For a group of kids that never had a healthy relationship, they were able to make their own everlasting ones.
His husband danced with their daughters. Ruby clung to his back, arms wrapped around his neck as Mickey poked Autumn’s side. The shy little girl gave a nervous smile, taking Mickey’s extended hands in her own. She held on as he goofily danced around. Ian could hear Ruby's laughter at the unexpected jerking movement from across the dance floor. His smile deepened, admiration clear on his expression.
He let his eyes peel off of them again. “So you have anything to share with me?”
Lip stiffened. Ian’s tone wasn’t at all accusing like he knew something Lip didn’t. It was posed as a serious inquiry. “You usually have some type of news at events. Always have something to say” Ian elaborated.
Lip thought about it with a little hum. Ian did have a point. He usually had pending news of all different degrees waiting to be shared at events. At Ian’s wedding, he scaredly declared that Tami was going to take Fred. Ian’s first anniversary that they were having another baby. The next day he was also burdened with the task of telling his whole family that Frank was dead. At Carl’s bachelor party Lip had to be the ones to inform them that Fiona was expanding her business. He was always saddled with the task of being the one to break -the usually- bad news. He seemed to be coming up short that evening thought. “Nothing” He gave a solemn nod. “You?”
Ian thought for a moment. A little teasing smile broke out. “Autumn lost a tooth the other day”
Lip snorted in response, bumping his arm into his brother. “No shit? And you didn’t alert the news?”
Another beat full of laughter. Both glad gone were the days of Earthshattering news about incarcerations, deaths, breakdowns, whatever. Their air no longer rang stiff with bad news. They were all on the up.
Carl broke away from his wife, kissing her hand before trotting up to the bar between Lip and Ian.
He extended a hand outward, getting the bartender’s attention. Carl rose the glass up to the bartender’s eye line. She gave a nod, working to get Carl his two refills.
“Aye, there’s our fellow married man!” Lip was quick to greet.
Ian teasing followed, “Hey Mr Tilly” he hit his little brother’s arm, his contagious smile transferring over to Carl.
Carl was definitely a little tipsy, Bryn on the dance floor dancing with Sandy looked even more wasted but they both seemed to be having the time of their life.
“Tilly-Gallagher to you” Carl corrected a little more serious as he was telling the truth. The young couple were the second of the Gallagher clan to hyphenate last names. “Dunno. Maybe I’m a feminist” was Carl’s reasoning as to why.
Ian figured that if Debbie and Sandy ever got over their commitment issues -not likely- they would also have the same last name as him and Mickey which was a little weird to harp on so he moved on, watching as Carl took the space beside him.
The song suddenly changed. The opening notes of Perfect rang throughout the banquette hall.
“I found a love for me”
Carl turned his body to completely face Ian. he offered him a thankful smile. Ian knew that expression all too well. It was an affirmation, brotherly love.
“Aye, this is your song” Carl tried to remain nonchalant. As if this wasn’t part of a scheme hatched long ago
“Go find your husband” he persisted, grabbing Ian’s wrist trying to pry him forward.
“Oh, darling, just dive right in and follow my lead”
Ian jolted forward a little. He got his footing back before giving Carl one long thoughtful gaze. His hand reached his little brother’s cheek, patting a thank you before pulling him into a hug.
Carl gave Ian one last hardy pat before once again shooing him away. “Yeah, yeah, go dance”
Ian, of course, did beeling straight down the dance floor to the dead centre where Mickey was still swaying.
“Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me”
“Aye, little lady” Ian looked over at Ruby who hopped down from Mickey’s back.
“Uh-huh?” she gave him a little smirk, eyes squinting from her happy laughter.
“'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love”
“Mind letting me have this dance with your dad” he nodded over to Mickey who gave an affectionate eye roll from his sweet. Always a sappy husband.
“Not knowing what it was”
“Fine” Ruby sarcastically drew her arms up to her chest. “Don’t let him fall” she moved off to the side, giving Ian a direct path to Mickey who stood expectantly.
Ruby grabbed Autumn’s hand, dragging her deeper into the dance floor. The two sisters giggled, finding Franny and Robbie, joining their older cousins in their own little dance circle.
“I will not give you up this time”
Ian walked up to Mickey, hand-holding out an invitation. Mickey took it without a second of hesitation, their two bodies drawing close together with no space between them.
“But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own”
Ian felt one of Mickey's hands drawing soundly on his lower back, the other around his shoulder. “Your brother isn’t a complete idiot” Mickey spoke up once they had comfortably assumed the slow dancing position.
“And in your eyes, you're holding mine”
“Uh-huh? Why’re that” Ian’s lips curved up into a smile. He couldn’t help it as all the nostalgia rushed to his head paired with the soft lights hitting Mickey’s face perfectly. God, he looked beautiful. The fond memories, enticing beauty of Mickey, knowing his family that he loved so much surrounded him. It was all too much. Ian felt his heart constrict in his chest as Mickey’s hand brushed up and caressed his cheek. The look in his eyes was completely intoxicating, Ian figured he was thinking the same as him.
“Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms”
“Cus he played this song on purpose” Mickey’s thumb brushed against Ian’s cheek, a nervous smile forming on his lips. “Hear him telling Bryn he wanted to have a song for you and me”
God damn it, Carl. The one time he decided to use his brain seemed to be for good.
“Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song”
“I’m so glad I married you” Ian mumbled, head going to rest in the croon of Mickey’s neck. He felt the stretch of Mickey’s face as he settled into another smile. His hand rose to gently pet Ian’s hair.
“When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath”
“Yeah, think that was a good idea on our part,” Mickey agreed. They continued to sway in comfortable silence, the entire venue dissolving around them. All their world became was just Ian and Mickey.
“But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight”