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“Jesus man, I’m starting to think that you like my sister more than me” Mickey’s eyes followed Ian as he went around the living room.
Ian had been at it all week. Cleaning their house from what seemed to be corner to corner in preparation for Mandy’s visit. Neither of them had seen the Milkovich girl in person for over a decade. After her escort stint, Mandy got a little more of a grip on her life. She started dating this guy who was some big-to-do overseas, had a corner office and everything. She ended up following him to England where she got a job as a travel company assistant. The relationship didn’t last but her job did. Mandy eventually became the social media advisor for her company.
Honestly, neither man could truly understand what she did for a living, but it seemed not reasonably unshady so they went with it. All they really were able to grasp was that she moved back to the States a little less than two months ago. Her career move meant she had to move to the company home base of Ann Harbour. Mandy didn’t mind any and she was glad that she could see her family again. She practically booked the plane ticket to Chicago the second she stepped foot in Michigan.
As the weeks drew into days drew into hours, Ian seemed to become more and more eclectic and obsessed with making their house look more livable. Mickey had sworn up and down that Mandy wasn't going to care what their house looked like. She would have been okay with a dormant crackhouse so long as they provided her with a place to sleep and at least a meal a day. That didn’t calm Ian down any.
Mandy had texted them a little over an hour ago that her plane landed - and because she was the same ol’ Mandy she rathered exploring her old city with rough public transport. Rather than letting them pick her up. She was due at their door any minute. That anticipation made Ian even antsier.
Mickey had already gotten chastised multiple times that afternoon for ‘being in Ian’s way’ while he cleaned. That just meant Mickey hid in the room most of the day. With his sister’s arrival coming sooner and sooner he migrated to the couch. He even sat perfectly still as to not rile Ian up anymore. Ian appreciated the gesture but still gave his husband the side-eye whenever he was starting to look a little too comfortable.
Ian seemed to be at the end of his crazy-clean streak. Finishing up the last details. Lighting a candle that Mickey didn’t remember ever seeing, straightened every pillow atop the couch and organised each of the kid’s toys -Which Mickey vocalised had no point when the kids woke up from their naps and destroyed the living room all over again.
“I thought we already knew Mandy’s my favourite Milkovich” Ian teased back, scanning the space once more. Mickey grabbed one of the fluffed pillows Ian had just put down, throwing it at his husband with good enough aim that it hit his head and bounced back onto the floor.
Ian glared at Mickey before retreating the pillow. His shoulders relaxed a little, Mickey silently prayed he was ready to calm the fuck down. To his relief, Ian was content with his work. He put the pillow in its right spot - because ‘there's a pattern on which they go on the couch, Mick’- before following. He sat on the opposite side of the couch, pulling out his phone.
“She just tipped her uber, that means she’ll be here any minute!”
“Christ, you’re stalking her now too?”
Ian didn’t have time to respond as their doorbell sounded. Ian did all but practically run to the door. Mickey trailed after him, watching from behind his husband’s tall figure as he opened the door, flinging towards Mandy.
Mickey heard Mandy’s suitcase fall over into the entryway as Ian dragged her into the house. A squeal escaped Mandy’s lips as the two held onto one another, rocking back and forth for an awkward amount of time.
“Easy there, Gallagher,” Mickey cleared his throat from behind them. “We can’t afford to take her skank ass to the hospital if you pop a lung”
They held on for a few more seconds before Ian finally released Mandy. She stood in front of him, her hand going up to his cheek as they took each other in.
She dropped her hand, taking a few steps to see her brother. “Mick” She greeted with that same smirk she had as a girl.
“Asswipe” Mickey greeted back. Despite his words, he leaned in, giving his sister a good squeeze.
Mandy looked good. So much more grown than Mickey ever remembered seeing his little sister. The couple eventually fell into a semi-regular schedule of FaceTiming whenever they could find the time in their busy week but their iPhone screen really did the girl no justice. She was fuller now, a few tattoos scattered up and down her arms. The bangs that hung over her forehead were long abandoned. She still sported that box-blonde hair but it looked way more put together than it ever did back in the Southside. Mandy was her own grown woman now and though he didn’t know how to say it, Mickey was incredibly proud of her.
The three eventually migrated to the living room to continue their catch up. Ian and Mandy sat on the couch, their feet both tucked to their side. Mickey sat on the recliner adjacent, scarfing down the snacks Ian had brought out. Mickey really fucking liked that pepperoni.
“I can’t believe we’re all real tax-paying adults!” her voice dripped in sarcasm as she popped another grape in her mouth. “But I seriously can’t believe that you guys have kids now. God that sounds terrible”
She was half-joking. She was proud of the family they had become but at the same time, she really was never a big fan of kids. Mandy most definitely didn’t ever picture herself with any of her own and after she dated a single dad that suspicion was confirmed.
“I’ve been here for like half an hour already and not a peep? Starting to think these kids of yours aren’t real” Mandy fell back against the couch, one of her feet extending to the floor below her.
That entire conspiracy could be debunked with one visit to their laundry room which was absolutely crawling with kid clothes, but that was beside the point.
“‘Cus we got good kids,” Ian beamed “... that are quiet because they’re asleep”
“Yeah and don’t even think of waking ‘em” Mickey spoke up, polishing off the last of the pepperoni. “Their fucking nap schedule ain't getting all fucked just cus you’re here”
“I’m sorry,” Mandy snickered. “Is Mickey Milkovich, former king of the southside, really bitchin' about a baby’s sleep schedule right now?”
“Fuck off” Mickey was quick to defend himself, raising his hand up in a one-finger salute. The first of many birds were given during Mandy’s trip.
Mandy returned the gesture before changing the subject slightly. “Have you been in contact with the bros at all?” She knew the answer so she just continued. “No you haven’t and you know how I know that? ‘Cus Collin didn’t even know you were married’
Mickey gave a little shrug. His life was finally at a place where he constantly felt happy and safe, he didn’t need to jeopardise any of that just to be in contact with his family.
“He’s on probation now. Oh, and Iggy has a kid too, he’s like two now I think”
Mickey looked his sister up and down, his eyebrows furrowed together. “Why’d you know all of that?”
“Iggy’s baby mama added me on Facebook” She shrugged. “They moved to Ontario not too long ago”
“The fuck is Iggy doing in Canada?”
Mandy shrugged “Probably running”
Yeah, that definitely checked out.
They didn’t have any time to elaborate as little footsteps clambered their way down the hallway that led from the bedrooms and into the living room.
“Daddies?” Ruby’s voice was heavy with sleep, a yawn shortly followed.
“Hey lovebug, c’mere for a second” Ian took his eyes off his sister-in-law to throw his head back on the couch, trying to get a better view of the kid.
Ruby did as asked, sleepily shuffling a few more feet so she was situated on the carpet in front of the couch. Her pyjamas were awkwardly scrunched around her body, her hair was wild, sticking out in each and every direction. She paused for a second, seeing the extra person in the room. “Are you my aunt Mandy?”
“Sure am kid!”
Ruby eyed her again, still sleepy enough to not fully register what was going on around her. “Wait, are you daddy or dadda’s sister?”
Mandy went quiet for a second. “Um, dadda’s?” Mandy blindly guessed looking between the two. That’s what made the most sense in her head at the time. She really couldn’t imagine her brother being called ‘daddy’ in any context she cared to think about.
“She’s my sister, sleepyface ” Mickey corrected. His arms opened like an invitation for her to crawl into sensing she wasn’t ready to be fully awake.
“Okay” Ruby easily accepted, taking a few seconds to cuddle up against Mickey’s chest comfortably. “Aunt Mandy, can I meet you when I’m awake?”
Even half-dead to the word the little girl’s personally sure as hell shined through. Mandy, not expecting that, just gave a little chuckle. “I’ll be here”
Mandy thought she heard a mumbled ‘good’ but she really couldn’t see past her brother’s arms instinctively relaxing around her frame. As if he had done that very move a hundred times before. She guessed he must have by the way Ian moved on as if the scene beside him wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
“Speaking of our dumb fucking families, did I tell you about the whole squirrel incident with Carl’s girlfriend?” Ian resumed the conversation. Already laughing at the story before he could let it unfold.
Not that Mandy could even really pay attention. Her eyes kept shifting to her brother. He contributed, what Ian deemed to be, unnecessary comments throughout the story but otherwise, he stuck to petting down Ruby’s wild bedhead, placing a few stray kisses on her head absent-mindedly, nodding along to whatever Ian was saying.
Without the visual, Mandy didn’t think she could imagine her brother embracing a kid. The Mickey she grew up with definitely did love hard, just not like that. Never had she seen Mickey Milkovich be so loving. Granted, she hadn’t been there for any of him and Ian’s relationship but to see was almost astonishing.
Maybe it was her daddy issues that she was projecting but she had never seen a parent care for a kid like Mickey was doing at that moment. It was so different from anything she ever knew.
The difference wasn’t unwelcomed, it was just that; different. Mandy couldn’t seem to drop it all evening, though.
Eventually, Mickey let go of Ruby, excusing himself to ‘go take a piss’. He returned with Autumn who was also just waking.
After coddling her in his embrace, he placed her into Ian’s lap. “Dinner?” He asked as if he didn’t finish half of the snack plate by himself.
Ian nodded his head before handing off the baby to her Aunt Mandy went still, frozen and unsure what to do.
‘Don’t drop the kid” Mickey teased, the faintest of grins across his lips as he resorted to gently shaking Ruby awake.
Mandy herself huffed, shifting so that her eyes could meet her niece's own blue. Autumn blinked at her once. Twice. Trying to make sense of who this new person was. She then promptly, burst into tears.
“It’s not you,” Ian immediately promised, taking Autumn out of a confused Mandy’s lap and placing her on the floor. “She’s not a fan of being held, would have done the same thing if I was holdin’ her” Ian crouched back down giving the baby a jingly toy which she happily took. He finally stood back up when the crying subsided as Autumn stuck the toy in her mouth.
Besides that initial bump, the rest of the night went smoothly. Ruby joined Ian in the kitchen to make chicken and spaghetti. Mandy remembered that Ian had mentioned this once on Facetime a few months ago. Since Ruby could stand on her own she would join Ian in the kitchen to help him cook. It was their little routine. Every night without a doubt Ruby would trail behind Ian, shadowing his every move. Be given small tasks, lifted up to salt the pasta water, help him chop up greens with her kid-safe knife, anything to help.
Mickey eventually joined the two leaving Mandy to watch over Autumn in the living room. She heard the three of them laugh from behind her but didn’t turn around to watch. She felt like a fly on the wall. A presence there wasn’t meant to see the domesticity she was never able to achieve on her own. Domesticity she thought not possible for a Milkovich who never experienced this love, or really any, in their childhood. She was brought from her introspection by the cold condensation of a beer bottle being pressed against her upper arm.
Mickey sat next to her on the couch, muttering something about ‘his stupid ginger ass kicked me out’ as he handed her over her own bottle.
The two stayed that way complacently watching some cop procedural that played on the TV, nursing a few beers. Thirty minutes into the show neither seemed interested in pretending they cared what was happening. Mandy reverted back to lurking on Tindr. The Chicago men didn’t seem to gain any quality from when she pursued them in her youth.
From her peripheral, she could see Mickey pull his phone out from his pocket.
“Auttie” He cooed softly. Immediately Autumn’s eyes drifted from her beloved plastic green ball over to her dad’s.
“G’girl” He muttered, tone lovestruck as he snapped a photo of the baby's confused goofy face.
Mandy watched as her brother snapped a few more photos, looking back at them with amused delight before he felt her eyes trailing over his every move. “What?” He scowled.
She just then realised she was staring. “Nothin’” She took another sip of her beer, eyes falling back onto her own screen.
As the afternoon drew into the evening Mandy had made the realisation that she really liked her nieces. Autumn was a great baby despite her first impression. Mandy had managed to sit cross-legged on the carpet across Autumn, rolling the ball back and forth to a wildly impressed audience.
Ruby was cool too and had a huge personality. Energetic and funny as all hell. She came to gather Mandy for dinner, dragging her to the table by her hand, settling at what she deemed to be the ‘guest chair’. Mandy sat there as instructed. She ate, drank, laughed with her family.
There was an empty seat in front of her, for what she assumed would be Ruby’s. That was until the little girl came back from the kitchen and Mickey scooted his chair back. He scooped her up, balancing her on his knee and moved her plate so she could reach before continuing to eat. The hand, not occupied by a fork, rubbed small circles against her skin. Mandy tried to make her staring more inconspicuous this time. She wasn’t great at achieving her goal as Mickey flipped her off. She returned the gesture and just for a moment familiar warmth was brought back to her.
The night of hosting was coming to a close. Autumn had been put to sleep almost right after dinner, her older sister begged to stay up with the adults.
“Ok weirdo, fine” Mickey flicked her nose before unexpectedly snatching her up, tickling her. Mandy got better at keeping the staring down.
The three adults and Ruby stayed in the living room, talking, sharing stories, Ruby asked questions about her aunt like she was holding an interrogation but Mandy didn’t mind. She laughed, answered anything asked of her. She even had the opportunity to tell embarrassing stories from their childhood at Mickey’s expense. A few about Ian. Mandy was even able to tell a sweeter story of a ten-year-old Mickey getting expelled for punching out a group of middle school boys that took Mandy on as their pray.
The night settled down, Mandy was tired and jetlagged. Ian directed Mandy to the guest room, gathering sheets just out of the wash to put on the bed. Carl was the last family member to stay over with them and Ian didn’t trust his hygiene against his new guest.
Ruby trailed in behind Ian. “Dadda will you tuck me in?” she pleaded, bringing out the puppy-dog eyes which Mandy thought was a good effect. Ian’s mouth was slightly agape as he wrestled with getting the sheet over the corner of the mattress.
“I got it” Mickey offered himself, appearing in the hallway to swoop Ruby up into his arms.
“Thank you” Ian mouthed silently, watching as the sheet crept its way back off of the edge, only to be pushed back down with Ian’s forceful hands before he smirked up. “Sure you can read her books for her?”
“Fuck you,” Mandy noticed the venom of his words was seemly untraceable now.
“Love you!” Ian amended watching as Mickey rolled his eyes, walking away.
There was a beat of silence where Mandy was sure Mickey would let the affirmation roll off his back. “Love ya too” echoed from down the hall.
Ian was finally able to secure the bedding, shaking the pillow into its case.
“Hey” Mandy elbowed Ian, doing the same to the other pillow. “Are you like a hundred percent sure that’s my brother?”
Ian gave a chuckle, a genuine smile spreading across his features as he went to poke her ribs. “Pretty. Why do’ya think it's some weirdo in a skin suit?”
“It's just” Mandy’s face twisted as she really couldn’t articulate what she was feeling. “No way he’s always been so,”
“Touchy?”
“I was gonna say fatherly?”
Ian nodded at that in agreement, “He loves us” was his simple statement. Mandy definitely couldn’t disagree with that.
Ian eventually left her, hugging her a good night and reminding her how grateful he was she was their visiting them. And like that, he was gone, lost behind the door of his own bedroom.
Mandy stared up at the ceiling unable to sleep, her mind was racing, all the information she had been collecting that day replayed and looped in her head. She rose to her feet, walking pasted the living room and kitchen to the patio outback.
She quietly opened the door, her bare feet touching the cool wood. She couldn’t see much in the moonlight other than the wood planks in the far side of the yard that Ian said he wanted to turn into a chicken coup. She pulled a cigarette out from the carton, lighting it and placing it to her lips. Taking a deep inhale, she leaned against the porches railing for support as her mind continued to drag on. Back in her early twenty-somethings when she had finally left Kenyatta and was stranded in Indiana she promised herself she would never return to the Southside. She broke that promise almost immediately, and now again as she stood in her brother’s backyards. Southside came with too many painful memories. She knew the same could be said for almost everyone she grew up with. Despite that, it seemed Ian and Mickey were able to sprout from their past. Move past it, lay down new foundations that overshadowed the hurt. Mandy didn’t think she’d ever be able to do that. A part of her remained jealous that life worked out for them, but the majority of her was proud. Proud they made it work when most everyone else couldn’t.
She wasn’t alone with her thoughts much longer as Mickey opened the sliding door behind Mandy. She felt as he approached, settling next to her with a long sigh.
She extended the cigarette out towards Mickey, who immediately waved off his hand in protest.
“God, you’re so boring now”
“Gotta live till at least my girl’s graduation” His hand went up to scratch the end of his brow.
‘My girls’ the words rang through Mandy’s ears. She took another drag of her cigarette before continuing. “Autumn looks a lot like you”
Mickey snorted. “Those damn fucking Milkovich genes. Hopefully, she doesn’t grow up to be a homicidal maniac”
Mandy gave another laugh. The two stood in comfortable silence, overlooking the backyard in front of them.
“Hey, for what it's worth, I think we turned out pretty ok”
“Yeah” Another small shrug. “Guess there’s hope for her then”