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It was early Sunday morning and Mickey and Ian decided that they were gonna spend the day finishing up the nursery. Not because their child was due in two months, but because they were tired of dodging past all the amazon boxes and large pieces of unbuilt furniture all over their apartment.
Lip and Ian had finished painting it last week. The soon to be dads decided on painting the room a light turquoise. Since the crib they got from Kev and V was white, they stuck with white and gray for the rest of the furniture.
Despite being told no from pretty much everyone, Tami and Debbie teamed up and insisted on having a baby shower for the newest Gallagher addition. Mickey, who hated the idea of them having one, got the most into it. Especially when it came to registering for baby gifts. Ian was mind boggled when he saw all the things that Mickey was asking for and that he actually knew what everything was. There was a generic registry for necessities; changing table, diapers, bottles, rocking chair, clothes and toys. Tami also helped Mickey make two additional registries in case people wanted to send gifts after the baby arrived, depending on their gender.
Ian was shocked at how much stuff they were given for the baby. Mickey was shocked that people actually bought some of the expensive things he asked for.
Fiona sent a gray rocking chair/glider and included a note saying that it was from her and Jimmy/Steve. That was a hell of a surprise for everyone. Ian's crew at work pitched in and got them a changing table dresser. Mandy sent a few baby blankets and some toys. Clothes and even more toys from various friends. Kev and V got them diapers, wipes and a wipe warmer that Kevin swears will change their life, peaking Mickey's interest. Debbie got them a pack n play; Carl bought them a new car seat and Liam got them some books to read to the baby. Lip and Tami, who were outright the most supportive of the two men starting a family, got them a baby bathtub with all the trimmings, crib sheets, baby monitor and a stroller.
The shower was almost 2 weeks ago, and they hadn’t touched anything. The main reason being Mickey. Ian could tell that the reality of being a dad soon really punched Mickey in the face and was giving him anxiety. But, if Ian kicked or ran into another box in the middle of the night, he was gonna chuck it all off their balcony and into the pool.
Mickey was just about finished putting the changing table dresser together and Ian was getting the rocking chair set up in the corner next to the crib.
“You’d think with how expensive these fuckers are it could at least put itself together.” Mickey commented, screwing together the last of the dresser drawers.
Ian sat down in the chair and tested it out, making sure it wasn’t hitting the wall as it moved.
“Come try out the chair.” Ian called out to Mickey.
The dark-haired husband pushed one of the drawers into place before going to the chair. He took a seat and got comfortable. He swiveled the chair from side to side before testing out the rocking motion.
“It’s nice, right?” Ian asked, leaning against the crib.
“Real nice. It’s quiet too. Didn’t expect that.” Mickey answered looking at Ian, his hands gently hitting the arms of the chair. Ian tilted his head and looked at his husband with furrowed and confused brows.
“I hear rocking chair I think of those old, creaky, wooden things that you see on porches in the middle of nowhere. Ya know, the kind that’ll give you a splinter in the ass just by looking at it.” Mickey said as a matter of fact.
Ian let out a small laugh.
“Of course, it’s quiet. That way we don’t wake the baby when we get up.” Ian reached out for Mickey's hands and pulled him up out of the chair.
“Well, whatever the reason, it works. I feel like I need a fucking nap now. I say it’s time for a beer break. Want one?” Mickey asked Ian as he went toward the door.
“Sure.” Ian responded. While Mickey was gone Ian grabbed one of the plush baby blankets they got from Mandy and draped it over the back of the rocking chair. The blanket was a lighter shade of gray compared to the chair. It had white clouds with dark gray and white stars.
Ian couldn’t help but take it all in. The room was so close to being finished. Mainly cosmetic things still needed to be done, like decorations on the walls and getting all the baby things on shelves and in drawers.
But there was one shelf that Ian focused on the most. It was a floating white shelf that was on the wall between the crib and the chair. On it was a framed photo of the first ultrasound they got of their child.
The young girl they were adopting from, Claire, had invited them to join her for the 3-month scan. Ian smiled at the memory of him and Mickey hearing their child's heartbeat for the first time. He could still feel Mickey squeezing his hand tight and the happy tears that came from them both.
Next to the frame was an empty spot which was reserved for their child's name. Ian thought it would be cute to have their name spelled out with blocks.
The realization suddenly washed over Ian. They hadn’t talked about names yet. The only discussion they had was Ian's block idea, nothing more.
Ian immediately pulled out his phone and took a seat on the floor in front of the crib and started to look up baby name websites. Mickey eventually came back with 2 beers and handed one off to Ian. He took a seat in the chair and took a swig of his beer before nudging Ian with the tip of his foot.
“If you’re ordering lunch I vote for pizza.” Mickey gave Ian another nudge when he didn’t get a response.
“Yo, fire crotch.” Mickey used his go to nickname for Ian.
Ian looked up at Mickey with slightly urgent eyes.
“We need a name for the baby.” Ian blurted out quickly.
Mickey raised his brows, taken aback by Ian's announcement. Those brows soon settled back down and the same conclusion that Ian came to also dawned on him. Mickey rubbed the back of his neck and took a few big chugs of his beer.
“Like right now? You want us to name the kid now?” Mickey asked anxiously.
“We should at least have some ideas. We can’t have everyone calling them ‘baby Gallavich' for the rest of their life.” Ian pointed out.
Mickey nodded his head and sighed. Ian grabbed Mickey's phone, which was on the floor next to the partially built changing table and tossed it to his husband. Mickey caught it and knew that Ian was being serious about doing this now.
“Fine!” Mickey agreed, setting his beer on the side table next to him and unlocked his phone.
“But no names that start with F.” Mickey said in a no-nonsense tone.
Ian looked up from his phone curiously looking over at Mickey.
“Why not?” Ian asked genuinely.
“Because our niece and nephew both have F names and they're both named after addicts. We’re staying as far away from that letter as fucking possible.” Mickey stated simply and sternly.
Ian couldn’t help but smirk and look back at his phone.
“So, naming our child Fiona is off the table.” Ian remarked.
Mickey threw his arm up in the air.
“See, you’re just proving my point.” He stated, not looking away from his phone.
____________________________________________________________________________
It didn’t take long for the nursery set up to be completely forgotten as the two men focused on the new task at hand. They were working on figuring out a name for a boy first, thinking it would be easy. An hour had passed and the only thing they had agreed upon was a middle name, Blake.
Mickey ended up ordering that pizza, the box wide open on the floor of the nursery as the two continued to call out names. Ian was now sitting in the chair while Mickey was on the floor grabbing another slice.
“What about…. Brandon?” Ian suggested, not entirely convinced himself.
Mickey immediately scrunched his face and shook his head. Ian sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Okay. Um… Issac?” Ian blurted out.
Mickey swallowed the piece of pizza he was chewing and took a drink of what would be his 3rd beer.
“Seriously, Gallagher. All the names you’ve suggested are either gonna get the kid shoved in a locker or be the biggest douchebag in the city.” Mickey pointed out.
“Well, it’s not like your names have been any better.” Ian commented. His voice was full of frustration.
Mickey's shocked expression would have made Ian laugh if he wasn’t so annoyed with his husband.
“I’ve said some awesome names. It’s not my fault you lack creativity.” Mickey scoffed.
Ian laughed.
“You suggested we name our child Seagal McClane! This is a baby, Mickey. It’s gonna be crying, shitting and sleeping. Not crawling through air ducts and taking out a bunch of mercenaries.”
Mickey waved his hand dismissively at Ian as he stood up from his seated position.
“Whatever, man. I need a smoke.” Mickey walked out leaving Ian alone in the nursery. Ian took a breath and followed his husband out of the room and to their balcony.
Leaning against the rail, Mickey lit his cigarette and inhaled. Noticing Ian next to him, handed the cigarette over. Ian accepted it and took a hit himself.
“Can you maybe try to think of a name that isn’t based around an action movie?” Ian asked, handing the cigarette back.
Mickey rolled his eyes and stuck the cigarette in his mouth and let it hang there for a moment.
“I don’t fucking know…. Rocky.” Mickey suggested, the nicotine stick pinched between his lips.
Ian gave him a look, unsure if Mickey was serious or not.
“Be serious, Mick.” Ian said firmly.
Mickey lifted his hand and brushed his thumb against his eyebrow. Ian watched Mickey concentrate as he tried to think of a name.
“Dylan?” Mickey looked at Ian. Ian thought for a second before he shook his head.
“Kade.” Mickey said with more confidence. Ian made a face and nodded his head. He liked it but it didn’t feel right. Mickey must have felt the same cause he continued on.
“What about Caleb?” Mickey asked but was quickly shut down by Ian.
“Absolutely fucking not.” Ian said seriously.
It didn’t take long for Mickey to remember that was the name of one of Ian's exes while he was locked up. His eyes softened apologetically to Ian, and he rested his hand on top of Ian's, who had it hanging over the railing.
Mickey kind of just started making noises until a name came off of the tip of his tongue.
“Ahh–Al– Ol— Oliver?” Mickey spat out, just before flicking his now finished cigarette over into their neighbor's balcony. Ian scoffed and shook his head at Mickey's action, but then looked at his husband.
“Oliver.” Ian said. Mickey looked at Ian and studied his face, it looked like Ian was actually considering it.
“Oliver.” Mickey repeated.
Ian turned his body to face his husband, resting his elbow and the railing.
“Oliver Milkovich Gallagher. I like the sound of that.” Ian said with a smile.
“Yeah?” Mickey was surprised. The more he said it in his head the more he liked it too.
“Yeah. I really like it.” Ian assured him.
“Me too, red.” Mickey wrapped his arms around Ian's waist and looked into his green eyes.
“Guess we have a boy name picked out.” Ian said slowly as he wrapped his arms around Mickey's neck.
“Guess so. That wasn’t so hard.” Mickey admitted as he leaned his head up to kiss Ian.
Ian gladly accepted the feeling of Mickey's lips softly pressing against his. Ian moved his hands up to run his fingers through Mickey's black hair. Mickey's hands wandered around Ian's thighs and moved toward the front of his jeans.
“Speaking of hard.” Ian whispered seductively into Mickey's ear.
“Hmm mmm.” Mickey hummed deeply, closing his eyes and going to undo Ian’s jeans.
Ian pulled back causing Mickey to open his eyes and look at Ian's who had a smirk on his face. Ian moved Mickey's hands from his jeans and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Now we have to figure out a girl's name.” Ian said simply.
Mickey's jaw dropped as he stared at his husband. Ian walked away, but not before shrugging his shoulders, pursing his lips together and holding his hands out in front of him. With that, Ian left Mickey standing on the balcony in shock.
“Fuck you, Gallagher!” Mickey yelled before turning to head back into the apartment.
____________________________________________________________________________
After settling on a boy name, and Mickey taking a much-needed cold shower, the two continued working on the nursery while figuring out a name for a girl. Which was proving to take much longer for them to decide. Mickey was cutting down boxes while Ian was hanging up some Winnie the Pooh watercolor prints over the changing table.
“What about Brooklyn?” Ian threw out over his shoulder as he tried to get the prints straight.
“I don’t wanna name my kid after a city.” Mickey said quickly.
Ian's body tensed and he took a breath. Mickey was turning down every name he threw out and had a reason for every single one. It was really getting on his nerves.
“Fine. No cities. Anything else you wanna add before you turn down the next one?” Ian asked in frustration.
Mickey, naturally ignoring the tone in his husband's voice, answered directly.
“Yeah, nothing that ends with ‘lyn’.”
Ian whipped around and glared at Mickey. The sudden movement got Mickey to look at him and raise his brows.
“What?” He asked.
“You’re fucking with me, right?” Ian asked seriously.
Mickey continued to look at Ian like he had no clue what he was talking about. Ian shook his head and reached for his phone and started reading off a list he has in his notes.
“Nothing that starts with an F, no Disney princesses, no names that could be mistaken for stripper, no colors, no flowers, no seasons, no months, no “grandma” names, no names if it’s a song, no pop stars, no cities and nothing that ends with lyn.” Ian recited, typing in the latest two in his notes.
Mickey had a guilty and embarrassed look on his face by the time Ian was done reading. He could feel Ian's eyes on him. Mickey picked up the boxes by his feet, went to the door next to where Ian was standing and chucked them out of the room. Continuing to avoid Ian's gaze, Mickey walked over to the crib and started to grab some of the various things they put in there to sort through.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, man.” Mickey said quietly, opening up a package of tiny socks.
Ian put his hands back on the changing table and leaned on them.
“You didn’t have as many restrictions when it came to the boy names.” Ian stated. Mickey continued to keep his back to Ian.
“I just don’t want the kid to have a name that 20 other kids in the school are gonna have.” Mickey shrugged, not sounding confident in his own reasoning.
Ian pushed himself forward and over to Mickey. He leaned against the crib in the same way he was just a moment ago by the table. He was able to look at Mickey directly. His soft green eyes carefully scanned Mickey's face, looking for an answer. The moment Mickey's guilty blue eyes met Ian's; he knew he was caught.
A smirk along with bright eyes immediately appeared on the freckled face.
“You’ve been looking up girls' names before today, haven’t you?” Ian asked sweetly.
Mickey looked uncomfortable by Ian's tone of voice and just wanted to hide away. Instead, he shrugged.
“Maybe I have. So?” He responded gruffly.
Ian grabbed Mickeys and forced Mickey to look right at him. Ian's thumbs grazed the side of his face.
“Nothing. I think it’s adorable.” Ian smiled.
Mickey rolled his eyes and tapped his hands on top of Ian's.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Mickey pulled away and took a seat in the rocking chair.
Ian took a seat on the floor against the crib, just as he had when they first started this whole conversation hours ago.
“So, what kind of a name are you wanting if it’s a girl?” Ian asked him genuinely wanting to know what was going on in Mickey's head.
“I don’t know. Something different, but not weird. Something that means something… sweet.” Mickey trailed off and looked sheepishly at Ian, who was sporting an adoring smile.
“Oh, fuck off man!” Mickey reacted more harshly than intended, but Ian knew that already.
Mickey was still working on being more open and honest with his feelings around his husband. It wasn’t an easy road for him, but he was taking baby steps. Ian never wanted to push, but he would give him a gentle nudge if he thought that Mickey needed the help.
Ian nodded and pulled out his phone once again.
“Something sweet. Let’s see what I can find.” Ian started tapping away at his phone.
Ian found a blog that listed names that had “sweet meanings and origins”. He read a few off and him and Mickey just weren’t feeling them. Some of them were too on the nose, like Hazel. Others were a little bit too unique for their taste.
Ian was about to suggest they call it for the day and pick it up later. But just as he was about to say this to his husband, who was now leaning back in the rocking chair with a blanket over his face, he scrolled down to the next.
“Hmm.” Ian hummed to himself, but Mickey still heard it in the silent room.
“What?” Mickey asked from under the blanket.
“This next name. It means ‘sweet like honey’. It’s of Greek origin. Intelligent, compassionate, optimistic and generous.” Ian looked up at Mickey, who was now blanket-less and sitting up. Seems like he liked what he was hearing.
“We could only wish to have a kid like that. The complete opposite of our sorry asses.” Mickey gave Ian a swift slap to the shoulder and shot him a smile.
“What’s the name?” Mickey asked eagerly.
“Melina.” Ian answered, not taking his eye off the screen.
Something about the way Ian said that name made Mickey's heart jump. All the other names they’ve said sounded unsure and wrong coming out of their mouths. But this one, this one sounded like it fit perfectly.
“Melina Blake Milkovich Gallagher.” Mickey said in full. A soft smile pulling at his face.
“We could call her Lina, for short. Little Lina Gallagher.” Ian suggested.
A spark of excitement flashed in Mickey's eyes and a warm feeling overcame Ian. The two lovers at the same time let it hit them.
“So, we have names?” Ian asked, setting his phone down and looking at Mickey. He moved his hand, so it rested on Mickey's knee.
Mickey grabbed Ian's hand and looked back at him.
“We have names.” Mickey answered.
The two looked around the basically complete nursery. Not too long from this very moment they would be bringing their child into this room. They sat in silence for a few moments letting this all-sink in.
Mickey and Ian both stood and decided that they would finish up the last few things another day. Mickey left the room smiling and headed out and toward the kitchen to grab some food. Ian took one last look at the nursery before leaving. His eyes once again landed on the empty space on the shelf with the sonogram.
Soon there would be a name there and a baby to go with it.
He couldn’t be happier.