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Ian passes the flower shop every day on his run. It’s a hole in the wall kind of shop with beautiful floral arrangements surrounding the doorway and a small cafe with soft music playing. He keeps meaning to stop and take a look around because the flowers are gorgeous but he never does.
The house feels empty when he comes home. He walks into the hallway, pulling his shirt off on the way and flinging it into the laundry basket near the bedroom door. If he strains his ears he can hear the shower running and he smiles to himself.
Lip texts him and asks if he’s still on for today, they were taking the kids to the park and Lip had told him Freddie specifically asked for him to come. He changes into some comfier clothes, knowing he’s going to be running around and playing on the playground he’s way too big for.
“How’s it going?” Lip asks, unbuckling the freshly turned one year old out of the stroller and letting her stand on unsteady legs next to it.
“Getting by” Ian shrugs “Work is really piling up”
“You gonna hire more people?”
“I should” Ian sighs and rubs a hand over his face “Mickey’s in charge of that”
“I’m sure he won’t mind if you do some head hunting”
He does end up chasing Freddie around the oval, running slower than normal so Freddie can chase after him for a change. It’s a beautiful day today.
He stops by the Chinese restaurant on the way home to pick up some takeaway to bring home for dinner. Spring rolls are always Mickey’s favourite so Ian makes sure to get double. He walks back to their apartment, waving with his free hand to the neighbours he’s gotten to know and forgoes the elevator to take the stairs.
He doesn’t call out to Mickey that he’s home but he can hear his footsteps coming from their bedroom and meeting him in the kitchen. Can feel his arms wrap around his waist and stand on his tip toes so he can hook his chin over Ian’s shoulder.
He runs by the flower shop again the next morning but this time he pauses to sniff the new arrangements. The girl behind the counter waves at him and he waves back and gives her a small smile. He keeps running until his legs are too sore to keep going and ends up back outside the apartment complex.
He has to go to work today and he can hear Mickey yelling at him to hurry the fuck up because they’re gonna be late. He changes into the camo uniform and looks at himself in the mirror. It feels off wearing the uniform but he sucks it up and grabs the keys from the table.
Mickey always likes to drive but today Ian slides into the driver's seat and pulls up the itinerary for today. Business has really skyrocketed over the years. He drives by the flower shop and glances out the window as he does so. He must go inside one day.
He has dinner with the whole family that night. Ian laughs and smiles along. They’re having Mickey’s favourite, or one of his favourites and it makes Ian’s heart hurt from how far they’ve come. He remembers his family not liking Mickey because he was a Milkovich but over the years their perception of him changed and now they love him. Because he’s family.
He takes home all the leftovers, shoves them half-heartedly in the fridge and settles down to watch a tv show. He’s not really paying attention but he can hear all of Mickey’s snarky comments about what the chick is wearing.
He stops by the flower shop today and sits down to have a coffee and listen to the music. He can already hear Mickey’s voice mocking him for being a stereotypical gay but Ian doesn’t mind.
He buys a bouquet of dark purples and reds and says yes when the girl behind the counter asks if he wants a written letter to accompany it. It’s the sappiest shit he’s ever said but he thinks Mickey will get a good laugh out of it and love it all the same.
There’s a cold breeze that makes him bundle up as he walks with purpose to surprise Mickey with the flowers. They were never flower people, didn’t even know Mickey had a favourite flower to begin with until they started wedding planning.
“I got these for you” Ian says with a smile on his face “From the flower shop I pass on my run”
He places them down in front of the grave, right next to the small framed picture of the two of them on their wedding.
“Thought you’d like them” Ian sniffs and sits down on the damp grass. “Can’t believe it’s already been a year”