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As christmas approaches, Liam remembers what the holiday was like at the old Gallagher house.
Finoa put out whatever little decorations they owned and always made sure that everyone had at least one gift. She tried her best to make christmas something exciting and memorable instead of a day where they were reminded of how little they had.
Liam loved christmas, it got the family all together and seemed to push all the problems the family accumulated during the year away.
Now that he lives with Ian and Mickey he doesn’t really know what to expect. He wonders how this christmas will be different from all the others.
____________
5 days before christmas
“So, you’re finally on break kid?” Mickey asks, smoke blowing from his mouth due to the cold.
“Yeah, don’t have to go back until the 6th of January.” Liam replies, happy to take a break from school.
“Nice.”
They fall into a comfortable silence, almost at the apartement when Liam speaks up.
“What are we gonna do for christmas?” He had been wondering this all day at school.
“Hm…the usual shit, y’know?” Mickey pauses, thinking. “We’ll probably decorate and have a nice dinner, watch you open some gifts first though.”
Liam hummed in understanding, content with what’s to come. Soon he’s smiling, excited to see what he’s gonna get.
“Once you get comfortable, you’ll have to make santa a christmas list of the stuff you want.” Mickey says, making Liam burst out in a fit of giggles.
“What?”
“You believe in Santa?”
“No, thought kids like you did.” Mickey smiles.
“Nah, never got the chance to believe he was real with the way I grew up.” Liam says, Fiona made sure to let all of them know santa wasn’t real so they didn’t create any unrealistic expectations.
Mickey nodded in understanding, secretly planning to make this christmas the best one Liam has ever experienced
_____________
4 days before christmas
Liam sat in the Living area munching on cereal while Ian and Mickey looked through a box of christmas decorations.
“Why do have to put this shit up anyway, we’ll be the only ones to see it.” Mickey grumbles.
“Decorations really bring out the christmas spirit.” Ian smiles and holds up a christmas wreath.
Mickey rolls his eyes.
“Let’s hurry and get this over with, gotta finish some last minute shopping.”
“Alright.”
Liam wonders if they’re talking about gift shopping or grocery shopping.
___________
3 days before christmas
Ian and Liam walked of the snack isle of their local grocery store looking for some good snacks for their movie night.
“We still have to get those donuts Mick likes, he’d kill us if we came back without them.” Ian mutters.
Liam chuckles before grabbing a box of glazed donuts, making sure to get the box with the large fluffy ones.
“Mickey always makes sure to get these.” He never forgot to make sure the two knew what kind he liked just incase he wasn’t with him.
Ian and Liam share a smile toward each other before placing the box of sweets in the cart before wheeling off to checkout.
____________
2 days before christmas
“I really don’t feel like looking at Lip’s ugly mug.” Mickey grumbles as he slips on his jacket.
“Lip isn’t that bad, you only hate him because he’s made a few mistakes.” Ian smiles at his grumpy husband.
“Yeah, like I’d listen to his number one fan.” Mickey huffs, shaking his head.
Ian pouts, “I’m not his fan.”
“Whatever, red. Stick that lip back in and finish getting ready.”
Lip and Tami we’re hosting a family get together, deciding to do before christmas due to everyone having their own plans for the holiday. Liam was nervous but excited, he hasn’t seen all of his family, minus Fiona and Frank, together since Ian and Mickey’s anniversary.
Liam really loved his family, they weren’t the best of course, but they were his family.
“Hey kid! Ya’ ready?” Liam hears Mickey yelling.
“Yeah, i’m coming!” Liam tugs his hat on before exiting his room.
He meets up with Ian and Mickey at the frint door before they all leave.
…
When they arrived, everyone was already there. Multiple cheerful greetings were thrown their way.
As soon as Liam’s jacket was off, Carl was quick to elope him in a hug. They stayed like that for a minute before Carl pulled away.
“Hey, how ya’ been?”
“Fine, how’s being a cop?”
“...Legal”
The brothers look at each other before bursting out in laughter. Carl pulls the younger close once one and ruffles his hair.
“You’re not the only one who missed him Carl.” Liam hears a voice and immediately knows who it is.
Looking behind Carl, Liam sees Debbie standing with her arms crossed and a playful smile on her face. He swifty let go of Carl before hugging his sister,
He doesn’t share many words with her but makes sure to show her some love. Debbie honestly wasn’t his favortie though she is his sister, he never understood why she wanted to make sure he struggled like the rest of them. Wanting to make sure he understood their struggle, which he did enough.
But maybe a little part of him could understand, I mean, you’d be a little resentful if your sibling had somewhat of a better life than you. Right?
Everyone spent about one hour catching up before they pulled out some board games and spent the rest of their time snacking and playing games. Liam at some point playing with Franny and her action figures.
Everyone had a nice time.
__________
1 day before christmas
Liam was in the kitchen helping Mickey with Christmas dinner prep.
“Okay today we’ll tackle the cakes and macaroni salad right now, later we’ll put the ham in the oven and have it ready for tomorrow. Everything else can be made tomorrow, they don’t need that much time.” Mickey explains, Liam nods his head along.
“Wouldn’t things be easier with an extra pair of hands?” Liam hears Ian behind them and turns to see his brother shaking his hands in the air.
“You can keep your hands of distruction to yourself. I don’t need any of the food turning out like the turkey on thanksgiving.” Mickey warns making Liam laugh.
“...It was still edible.” Ian mumbles before grabbing a donut and heading to the living room.
Mickey and Liam made quick work of the cakes, Mickey allowing Liam to lick the left over batter out the bowls while he slide them in the oven. The macaroni salad took a little while longer than the cakes but it was simple none the less.
Hours pass and Liam was asleep as the ham was slid into the oven. After making sure everything was alright in the kitchen, Mickey quickly made his way back into the living room where Ian was wrapping presents.
“At least this is something i’m good at.” Ian chuckles as his seals the present in his lap in wrapping paper and tape.
“Yeah, I’ll stick all the shit you can’t wrap in bags.” Mickey says as he joins his husband on the floor.
__________
Christmas day
Liam woke up at 7 am in the morning, murky and tired, but excited. Leaving his room, he saw Ian in the living room and heard Mickey in the kitchen.
“Hey kiddo, good morning & merry Christmas!” Ian shouts, standing from the couch.
“Merry Christmas, kid.” Mickey peeks from the kitchen and sends Liam a small smile.
Liam smiles and tells them merry Christmas right before he spots the many presents propped up under the Christmas tree.
It wasn’t a crazy amount, but it was more than what he was used to. Liam was taken away by the sight, this many presents for three people?
“How many of those are mine?” Liam couldn’t help but ask, if they were split the way he was thinking, he hoped to have five.
“All of them.” Ian held a Large grin on his face as he watched his brother’s eyes widen even more than when he saw the presents.
“All of them.” Liam whispered in shock. He couldn’t believe it.
Excitement began to take over his body and he practically jumped over to Ian and eloped him in a hug.
“Thank you!” Liam shouts, Ian has only a second to hug his brother back before he’s running over to Mickey.
He makes sure to give Mickey a really tight hug, “Alright kid, no need to take my breath away.”
Everyone basked in joy Liam gave off.
“Are you ready to open some presents?” Ian asked.
“Yep.” Liam answered eagerly, quickly going over to the tree and dropping to the floor.
Ian pulled out his phone to record while Mickey turned the food on the stove down before joining them in the living room.
Liam’s first present was a medium sized brown bear dressed as a trucker.
“That’s from me, I thought it looked cool.” Mickey informs.
His next present was a bag containing new socks and underwear. He’s been needing some.
As time went on, the presents only got better as he got to the back of the Christmas tree.
So far, he’s got a small speaker, some Bluetooth headphones, candy, a basketball, and a lot of clothes.
The last present under the Christmas tree was a picture frame containing a Gallagher family picture, one they took at the Christmas get together at Lip’s.
“Thank you guys so much.” Liam says as he turns to look at them.
“You’re welcome, but we have one more thing to give to you.” Ian says as Mickey retreats to their room before emerging with the last wrapped present.
“We can’t wait to see your reaction to this, that’s why we wanted to give it to you after you opened everything else.” Mickey says as he hands the gift over to Liam.
As he held it in his hands, Liam could feel the weight of the box. What could this be?
…
It turned out to be something he never thought he’d be able to have.
Ripping open the wrapping paper revealed an IPad, not the latest model but it was one that came out not too long ago.
Before he knew it, Liam was crying while hugging the couple.
“Knew you’d like it.” Ian says.
“The $500 was worth it.” Mickey revealed making Liam look at them.
“$500! Why would you spend so much!” Though he loved the gift, he couldn’t help but feel bad they spent that much money on one of the many gifts he’s received.
“Cause you’re a good kid, Liam.” Ian says while Mickey nods his head in agreement.
Liam just hugs them tighter.
.
.
.
_______________
A small New year special
Liam loved staying with Gallavich, they’ve shown him much love and care. They introduced him to new experiences and will most likely continue to do so.
Liam remembers when they took him in.
When they took him to bed shopping and got him a nice bed.
Helped him decorate his room.
Walking with him to and from school when they had the time.
Always giving him attention.
They’ve shown him nothing but their best and as they all sit in the living room drinking hot chocolate while watching ball drop live on tv, Liam can’t wait to see how their small family will blossom in the new year and the years to come.