#gallavich adjacent

[depressedstressedlemonzest]

Filled out a job application that had a question that reminded me of Ian when he was applying for the EMT gig.

Had a few of my lil brain sparkle terms thrown into a list asking about disabilities.

I was like....

How the fuck do I answer this?

Luckily they had an "I dont wanna discuss this" option.

So we'll see.

[ohkate]

[michellemisfit]

@gallacrafts Theme 35: Let’s Ride

Ian should really have clocked the teasing smirk on his husband’s face as Mickey pulled up outside Ian’s work, but it’s been a long day and Ian is fucking exhausted, so excuse him if he isn’t at his sharpest. He falls into the passenger seat with a brief ‘hi’ and a heavy sigh, immediately closing his eyes.

All he wants is to sleep through to Monday, but eventually Ian catches on to the excitement radiating off the man in the driver’s seat, drags his eyes open and turns his head, drawing breath to ask Mickey what’s going on. Which is when he sees… it.

“The fuck, Mickey?”

Mickey immediately bursts out laughing. “It’s you, see?”

No. Ian does not see.

“I found it at the gas station, by the check out! The packet said it’s a ginger! … Get it?” Mickey gleefully explains, and Ian? Well. Ian does not have the energy to deal with this right now, so he shakes his head, closes his eyes again, and tries to ignore his husband’s continuous chortle.

He’ll get him back. After he’s had some sleep!

It takes Ian a lot longer than expected and several fruitless online searches - who knew cutsie car air fresheners were that fucking popular?? - but after clicking through seemingly hundreds of different ones - almost giving up and just buying the middle finger one cause… well… Mickey - he finally finds and orders the perfect one!

A grumpy black cat, with scruffy hair, blue eyes, and ridiculously angry eyebrows.

And the crowning glory? The cat is much shorter than the ginger!

“Oh, fuck off!” Mickey grumbles, while Ian beams, attaching the second air freshener to the rear view mirror of their car.

Mickey may bitch about how he’s not “a stupid fucking cat”, and later on that it “doesn’t even make sense. You actually are ginger!”, and even later still “And my eyebrows do not look like that!!”

And yet, Mickey doesn’t take them down.

In fact, Ian often catches Mickey glancing at them - swaying and bouncing against each other as the car rumbles down the road - and sometimes Mickey even cracks a little smile.

But only when he thinks Ian isn’t looking, of course.

The End.

Medium: Felt

(Some in progress pictures behind the cut)

[jrooc]

✨weekly tag wednesday : super random edition✨

Thanks for hosting @deedala and @energievie + @sgtmickeyslaughter for the tagssss.

name: Jess

zodiac sign: Libra ⚖️

how many trips have you made around the sun? Noel -2

what time is it where you are right now? 3:07PM

what is your favorite the candy you wish you were eating right now? always Super Nibs or Jelly Belly's. I'll eat both until I'm sick.

would you rather swim in a swimming pool or a natural body of water? swimming pool 🏊🏻‍♀️ Love a good natural body of water tho :ianguestwomb:

what's the last thing you ate? kale salad with turkey... wow do I wish that was more exciting

find the closest book, what's the last two words on the last page of the last chapter? even is. (sorry that's boring but it's ITQD but these are the words)

what's the last scene of shameless that you've watched? I rewatched the 7x10 Mickey and Ian scenes so Let's Ride, I think?

what's the next song you're going to listen to? Pool House by the Backseat Lovers is on right now. Always reminds me of Gallavich cause he says 'this song is called Duggout.' and someone else yells 'Pool House.' in the intro.

what scent is your body soap? Lemon

what does your pillowcase look like? its a white fake silk one that is covered in mascara stains. #classy

when's the last time you did laundry? I was away and haven't done it yet! It's downstairs next to the machine. Machine adjacent! so it's practically, sort of, happening. So much judgement!

what's the sky look like where you are right now? So dark and cloudy but the rain is like 10 hours overdue.

go drink some water and put any emoji here to denote completion of this task: 💀 I'm literally always dehydrated lolol

what was the name of your earliest childhood teacher that you can remember? omg I'm so bad at this. My high school history teacher? Mr. Hannah. He used to show episodes of Faulty Towers cause he was hilarious.

Taggggggssssss:

@runawaybrainsc @gallapiech @spookygingerr @mickeysgaymom @such-a-barbarian

@heymrspatel @crestfallercanyon @creepkinginc @michellemisfit @guinguin1984

@rayrayor @ian-galagher @stocious @transmurderbug @transsexual-dandelions

@transmickey @celestialmickey @too-schoolforcool @thepupperino @rereadanon

@callivich @francesrose3 @doshiart @sandrashaine @lee-ow

@vintagelacerosette @andthatisnotfake @look-i-love-u @burninface @mmmichyyy

@darlingian @samantitheos @sam-loves-seb @roryonic @ifallonblackdays

@blue-disco-lights @ms-moonlight-inn @solitarycreaturesthey @deathclassic

[ryantryinx]

Need some Gallavich fic rec’s!

Something cannon/ cannon adjacent. Characters acting like they should.

Drama, hurt/comfort, slice of life, smut. Preferably husbands!~ :P

[lingy910y]

Gallacrafts #24: Eras

I'm already incredibly late for @gallacrafts, so I’m only posting the 4/10 of the eras that I managed to finish before it’s even more late. At least the endings of S5 & Red also mark the end of a distinct era? (copium) Maybe I’ll finish them all one day, who knows!

So I drew accompanying art pieces of canon adjacent moments of gallavich's eras to their matching Taylor Swift eras with songs and lyrics that fit.

I'm Only Me When I'm With You - Debut - Puppy Love

"Friday night beneath the stars/ In a field behind your yard/ You and I are painting pictures in the sky"

Fifteen - Fearless - Kash & Grab

"And when you're 15 and your first kiss makes your head spin around"

Ours - Speak Now - Secret Boyfriends

"And any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos will be ignored/ Cause my heart is yours/ So don't you worry your pretty little mind/ People throw rocks at things that shine"

Forever Winter - Red - Ghetto Married

"All this time I didn't know you were breaking down/ I'd fall to pieces on the floor if you weren't around/ Too young to know it gets better/ I'll be summer sun for you forever/ Forever winter if you go"

[rayrayor]

Chapter 34 is here and with it 18 days to Gallavich reunion.

Ok we all wished we could have seen it in cannon. This story not cannon compliant but cannon adjacent . But we needed a lighthearted minute and Larry meeting Mickey provides it !

Lots of the word fuck cause Mickey is freaking out .

Ian reminds Mickey he is going to be there as he navigates life outside prison walls.

As always making sure I sing the praises of @darthvaders-wife and her art in this fic and all the art she shares with us

[astaraels]

i was tagged by the lovely @callivich for some fandom asks, let's fuckin goooo

What’s a fic you’ve read more than once? Cold Feet by aeli_kindara; In a Haze of Smoke & Fire by IanRightsOnly; please don't say I'm going alone and broad-shouldered beasts by biblionerd07; Cooperative Gameplay and Bright by grayola; to think that we could stay the same by teatrolley; love, let your hands be tender by sadwhales; to stop our hearts from drowning by enbytim; Redheaded Stepchildren by ZebraWallpaper (there's a lot, I know)

What’s a gifset you always have to reblog? anything with 5x10 i'm a slut for love and violence interplay

What’s a headcanon you can’t stop thinking about? honestly when/if ian and mickey do eventually end up with a kid (it would happen completely by accident, of course) they're the biggest girl dads ever.

What’s a fanart you love looking at? this one is g o r g e o u s

What’s an idea you’d love to create if you had the time/inspiration? well, i'm currently working on a soulmates au fic that's canon-adjacent of seasons 1-5, so that's been fun! (featuring romantic and platonic soulmates because i refuse to write only the romantic kind :p) i'm also fond of writing character study fics when the mood strikes. i haven't been motivated to write fic and post it in nearly ten years, but i'm very happy that shameless and gallavich have helped me knock some of the rust off the old writing skills.

What’s an underrated trope or concept you’d like to see more of? SHOTGUNNING. where are all the shotgunning fics. also nurse!mickey (I read a fic with this once and it's a crying shame there's no emt!ian/nurse!mickey fic--at least none that i've ever seen...)

What’s your favourite season? And has this changed after multiple rewatches of the show? i've only watched the show through once but honestly s4/5 are my favorites, but i have a special place in my heart for s1 and s10.

What’s a plot hole you wish had been answered or resolved? I mean the fact that they managed to convict mickey of attempted murder and debbie of statutory rape is insane. (the age of consent is 17 in illinois! and it's literally sammi's word against mickey's AND debbie's! but it's fine, just fine, everything's fine...)

What line/dialogue/description from something else (a poem, a book, a tv show, a movie, or something else) do you feel describes Ian and Mickey’s relationship? these two are the most siken-coded ship since dean/cas. in particular: little beast, saying your names, you are jeff, and wishbone. I even named my gallavich playlist on spotify after a siken poem, and half the chapter titles in my long fic will end up being from his works as well....

What do you think is next for Ian and Mickey post-finale? i think things are gonna go okay for them! i think that they may make their way back to the south side, but in a house of their own not too far from the other gallaghers. i like the idea of them ending up with a little girl of their own but i can also see them just being cat dads and being the best uncles to ian's siblings' kids. i would love for them to reunite with svet and yev later down the road, as well. there's endless possibilities <3

[bluerazzice]

Looking for Gallavich roleplay partners! I prefer playing Ian but I like playing Mickey too. I’m most familiar with doing cannon/cannon adjacent plots, but I do like AU’s as well. 18+ only please! Just like this post if you’re interested and I’ll message you, I’m okay with roleplaying on here or moving to discord :)

[angelicseven]

jordan ✧･ﾟ☄️･ﾟ✧

23. black. he/they/ask.

full about below the cut !

⌦ basic! ## name: jordan

## age: 23

## birthday: october 30

## pronouns: he/they/ask

## gender: gnc transmasc

## sexuality: bisexual

## ethnicity: black

## nationality: american

⌦ mental!

i am autistic, and i have bpd, and did. i'm brainweird in other ways, but these are the three things i consider the most important to share, since they impact my life in the biggest way, and i post about them quite often.

⌦ system!

## sys name: chiron

## type: pf-did

## active: ~25

## total: 100+ recorded

⌦ boundaries!

## dms: yes

## flirting /p: moots only

## flirting /r: moots only

## teasing: ask

## venting: no

interests ✧･ﾟ☄️･ﾟ✧

(bolded = active interest, italicized = special interest)

⌦ media

atlanta (fx), bad girls club, big brother, community, euphoria, girlfriends, grey's anatomy, it's always sunny in philadelphia, LOST, malcolm in the middle, on my block, one on one, scrubs, shameless, spop, station 19, stranger things, the game

⌦ music

autumn!, bktherula, blackpink, britney spears, childish gambino, iayze, ice spice, izaya tiji, jhene aiko, jvcki wai, lil uzi vert, lil tecca, lil wayne, loona, megan thee stallion, mitski, my chemical romance, nsync, one direction, pinkpantheress, playboi carti, rico nasty, rihanna, slayyyter, slump6s, sofaygo, sza, the weeknd, tinashe, trippie redd, v.v lightbody, vonte*, yeat, zayn

( i do not condone the actions of every single person on this list! music is music it's not that deep to me lmao)

⌦ games

animal crossing, cities, skylines, fall guys, grand theft auto v, minecraft, roblox, stardew valley, the sims (3&4),

comforts ✧･ﾟ☄️･ﾟ✧

⌦ characters

alex karev, andrew deluca, arnaz ballard, ben warren, breanna barnes, callie torres, carla espinosa, cassie howard, charlie kelly, charlie pace, christopher turk, claire littleton, cristina yang, delilah alves, darius epps, earn marks, elliot reid, fiona gallagher, ian gallagher, jackson avery, jo wilson, joe goldberg, john dorian, kate austen, kevin ball, lexie grey, love quinn, lucas sinclair, lynn searcy, maddy perez, malcolm wilkerson, mark sloan, maya bishop, michael dawson, miranda bailey, nancy wheeler, sawyer ford, sayid jarrah, sun-hwa kwon, veronica fisher, vic hughes

⌦ ships

admelia, areanna, benley, brittannie, calzona, charmac, gallavich, goldquinn, japril, jolex, jdox, jdturkcarla, kateclaire, katesaw, marder, mckassie, meradd, merder, mertina, mikejin, rules, sawyid, trobed, troynnie, slexie + a bunch more. everyone is polyamorous and gay in all of my interests :pray:

BYF ✧･ﾟ☄️･ﾟ✧

i reclaim the f slur, n word and r slur and don't tag them

i block often

anon will always be turned off because it triggers my paranoia LMAOOOOOO

⌦ dni

(bodily) under 16, endogenic "systems" and their supporters, proship and anything adjacent to that, terfs/swerfs/etc, frequent lgbt discourser (no one cares it's 2023), idk i'll just block if you rub me the wrong way/are annoying tbh.

⌦ links

discord: halogen#2050

pinterest

twitter

spotify

sys blog

sys carrd

[slim-jims-in-this-shit-hole]

❆ welcome to the twenty-five days of kinkmas: gallavich edition! ❆

- - - - -

day five: weekend away by @thisdivorce

↳ rated E / one-shot / 2.8k / husbands / mirror sex

“Just thinking about how what the best position is. You know, for the mirror.” Mickey chuckles. “I think you’re overthinking it, man.” “Was thinking I could maybe fuck you up against it.” “Oh... keep talking.” “Or maybe we start on the bed, doggy style, facing the mirror. Or maybe we do it doggy style adjacent to the mirror… or maybe we just fuck missionary... or...” Ian looks over at Mickey and Mickey has a massive grin on his face. “We got all weekend, you know. We can do anything you want Red.” Mickey pauses. “Getting kind of hard hearing you talk this way though.”

- - - - -

don't forget to leave kudos & comments when you read! xx

[roleplayfinder]

Heyooo. Looking for someone to RP Gallavich with as Mickey. I've been playing Ian for a couple years now. Open to all kinds of stuff but typically do canon and canon-adjacent stuff. 18+ please (I don't feel comfortable RPing with minors.) Smut is likely. That's it, really. Please message me on discord! I also have an Ian FB account if you're up for FB rp. I'm neeeever on tumblr anymore though so msg me on discord! username: discobones

discobones

[meyhew]

sorry 2 be me but gallavich? andreil adjacent

[zutaralesbian]

Tag people you want to get to know better. Thanks for the tag @tridentarius ❤️

Favourite time of the year: It used to be Christmas time. Call me corny but I genuinely love seeing lights everywhere and having a Christmas tree set up in the house. However…not to be overly personal and depressing, but I don’t think I quite feel the same way about Christmas (or just the holidays in general) since my brother died. I always get strongly reminded of his absence, more so than usual :( So nowadays I think it’s probably summer time. I hate cold weather and I live in an area where it gets pretty damn cold in the winter and fall.

Comfort foods: My mom’s spaghetti. It was my favorite meal growing up.

Do you collect anything: Nope. I used to collect elephants though. And I still have a bunch of porcelain elephants, partially because my grandma gave them to me before she passed.

Favourite drinks: Soda. Particularly Pepsi. It’s a horrible addiction that I really need to lay off of tbh

Favorite music artists: I hate music questions because my taste is all over the place. But lately I’ve been digging a lot of stuff from the 70’s and 80’s. Again, call me basic if you want lol

Current favourite songs: See above answer

Favourite fics: 90% of the time I read fic for shippy purposes. So almost all of my faves are romance lol. I’m just going to take a peak at my ao3 bookmarks and list 5, each one for a different ship.

1. A Saint’s Just A Sinner by killingsaray - An AU Villaneve fic with priest! Eve and temptation! Villanelle. Also just all of the Villaneve fics from this author tbh.

2. sideways by whaticameherefor: Gallavich canon divergent fic after/during S6. My favorite of its breed.

3. I’m still here by owedbetter: Zutara canon divergent after The Southern Raiders. Usually post-canon is more my speed for Zutara canon adjacent fics but this one is my biggest exception. It’s so lovely and well-written.

4. a fleeting moment by thchateaus: Daensa (Sansa/Daenerys) fic that is essentially a re-write of S8 of GoT. It pains me to rec anything GoT related but this is one of the more recent fics that I read and it’s so good. It left an impact on me.

5. Strong Enough To Bind by Magnetism_bind: The Black Sails AU where Eleanor doesn’t die and ends with Eleanor/Max/Anne ot3. Aka the Black Sails fic of my dreams lol

favourite video games: I don’t play a lot of video games tbh. I love the Life is Strange franchise even tho it’s very flawed. It was one of my first exposures to gay media when I was coming to terms with my sexuality. I also have a big soft spot for the Fable franchise because I loved it as a kid and it reminds me of my brother. It was one of the things we used to bond over.

I tag: @anniejanuarygf @sonyarebecchi @mrs-n-uzumaki @patrooclus @melroesplace @witch-apologist @dollsome-does-tumblr @whaticameherefor @ecstaticallyelectrifying @tectonicduck

[catgrassplantdad]

There are few fictional relationships that make me feel more unhinged than Mickey & Terry. And I’m sure it’s been dissected to death, but I think about their confrontation at the beginning of 10x11 a lot and it makes me feel extremely. So here I am to talk about why. CW: abuse and homophobia below the cut (I mean, it’s Terry).

I don’t think I need to give a history lesson here, but the abuse and violence Mickey endured by Terry’s hand unfortunately shaped a lot of Mickey’s life. Mickey didn’t take forever to be comfortable and open with Ian because he wanted to, he didn’t marry a woman because he wanted to, he didn’t live a lie for so long because he wanted to. This all happened because he actually, literally feared for his life. Additionally, there was the complicated fact of him starving and striving for his abuser’s approval. He wanted more than just bodily safety; he wanted to be in good standing with Terry. This is despite enduring what he described as torture. Terry “tortured [him] every day for years,” and yet he still desired a relationship with him. This happens sometimes in abusive relationships, it’s definitely not unusual that he felt that way. But it’s still hard to watch, knowing about their background and knowing that Mickey was aware of what Terry was capable of.

Mickey knowing what Terry was capable of is precisely why their interaction at the beginning of 10x11 made me go “yooooo” out loud at my TV at the end of the scene. I had to pause it, my eyes were bugging out of my head, I had to let it sink in, etc. etc. It really struck me hard. Mickey heard Terry shouting slurs at him from outside on the damn sidewalk where anyone could hear, and he put on an unamused look and stepped outside and walked right up to him. Terry pulled out a gun, and Mickey did not even flinch and instead pulled out one of his own. He listened to his father berate and then threaten him, and instead of backing down he proceeded to do the opposite of what he had done his whole life and deliberately said shit that would piss Terry off. And on top of it, he then went back into the house and started planning his big gay wedding with specific details designed to make Terry mad. He wanted to rub his happiness, his gay love, in that prick’s face. And he begins this endeavor with that line “I definitely love one.”

There’s an important detail in that exchange (“You must really love cock.” “I definitely love one.”) that is what ultimately elevates this scene from merely insanity-inducing to "Jessie will never be normal about this ever in their entire life," and that’s Mickey’s wording. It’s such a good comeback and it hits so hard, but it’s important that it also hits Terry hard. And it does, because he used language that Terry understood. I think if he had phrased it differently by saying something like “I just love Ian” or “I’m just in love” or something similar, it wouldn’t have landed the same with Terry. Terry had taken Mickey’s gayness and reduced it to something so base and vulgar because he hates gay people and doesn’t care to know shit about the gay experience. And instead of throwing his gay love in Terry’s face by using language that’s less horrendously offensive, Mickey fucking embraces it. Mickey takes Terry’s words and twists them to suit himself and throws them back at him. Mickey’s gay and he loves cock, and he definitely loves his partner’s cock. You know, his partner? Who he’s in love with? And gonna marry? Because the gay experience isn’t just about sex? Mickey’s not getting married because he wants to get fucked, he’s getting married because he’s in love. Terry doesn’t give a shit about all that and Mickey knows this, so his comeback utilizes language that Terry can wrap his head around, but he still manages to convey the fact that he’s in fucking love with one person. It’s affirmation and ownership and it is so badass. Terry was actively trying to be cruel and Mickey threw back at him in one of the most elegant comebacks I have ever seen. And yeah, we know Mickey is capable of being vulgar as hell, so it’s not like saying something like this is particularly out of character for him anyway. It just worked so damn well in accomplishing the goal of getting Terry to shut the fuck up while conveying to Terry and the audience that he’s in love and willing to engage in risky behavior to defend it.

I mean, he was doing all this with a gun in his face. Terry wanted him to feel fear, he wanted him to feel threatened because he genuinely thought that Mickey deserved to experience violence, and he wanted him to feel ashamed. But Mickey decided years ago that he was done feeling fucking ashamed, and he was so accustomed to Terry’s violent behavior. So whether he stood up to him with a gun in his face because he was desensitized to Terry’s violence or because he just decided to be brave and ignore whatever fear he may have been feeling in that moment, either reason speaks volumes. If he did it because he was desensitized to Terry’s violence then that really speaks to the tragedy of his upbringing. If he did it because he just decided to be brave in that moment then that speaks to just how much he was willing to risk for his principles. Either way, he could’ve ended up dead. We know this because Terry does end up trying to shoot him in the end. And yes, Mickey had his gun aimed at Terry, but I don’t know if I think he’d actually shoot him and I think his actions towards Terry in season 11 may speak to that. But Terry would shoot. And he does shoot later on. Again, he knew what Terry is capable of. And he stood up to him anyway and it was amazing to watch. Mickey used to be so afraid of Terry that he feared for his life while vying for approval. He used to live in a way that was the very antithesis of what he actually wanted for himself, just for his piece of shit father. And in this scene he shows us just how far removed he is from that fearful kid now, openly in love with his partner and standing up to his father in a way that will expressly make him angry about his gayness specifically, the thing that he was so tortured over in his youth. Tortured because he was hiding out of fear and the internal conflict that he experienced because of that, and then physically and emotionally tortured by his father once he’s found out. That abuse may have shaped his past, but he was ready to move the fuck on and not let it define his future. So this scene is just unreal. A neat little package of character and relationship/dynamic development in a little 70-second scene that packs an enormous punch.

[arrowflier]

83 and 84

Mutual I Love You's + Eavesdropping/Overhearing

A series of outsider POV scenes, for sure (7 scenes outlined below):

1. At the Gallagher house after the Yev incident, when Mickey comes back. Fiona is surprised to see him standing at their back door, bruised and scowling, and turns him away.

"You weren't there," she says, like that's all there is to it. Because for her, it is.

"He's here now," Debbie argues, and sticks her foot in the door. Because Debbie still cares when people come back.

Mickey slips through while they stare each other down, and goes up. Slips into Ian's bed, holds him, kisses his face.

Fiona follows, ready to barge in, ready to kick him out for hurting her little brother. But she stops at the door, caught off guard by the words Mickey is whispering.

"I meant it, you know," he says, his face hidden against Ian's. "In my message. I..."

"Yeah," Ian replies coarsely, the first words he's spoken all night. "Think I love you too."

2. The first time Ian visits Mickey in prison, he's alone. Trying to make sense of everything happening, even though he knows he should keep his distance.

"Why did you do it?" he asks, quiet, broken. "Why would you do something so stupid?"

"Cause I love you, asshole," Mickey grunts down the line. "Even if you can't fucking see it."

He drops the phone. Catches the eye of the guard, and goes to the door to be led back to his cell.

The guard doesn't say anything about the wetness in Mickey's eyes, or the words he overheard. But he goes to hang up the receiver, he catches the whispered response of the redheaded boy on the other side, the words the prisoner would never hear.

"You're an idiot, Mickey. But I love you too."

3. On the run, in the car. They're whispering in the front seat, thinking Damon is asleep.

"Can't believe you came," Mickey murmurs, barely audible over the music.

"Course I came," Ian answers, just as low.

"Course nothing, man." Mickey rubs his eyebrow, then his mouth. "You got a life, a fucking boyfriend. Didn't even think you'd show."

"Yeah, well," Ian says, and shakes his head at himself. Reaches over and grabs Mickey's hand, holds it between them.

"Love makes me do stupid things."

Damon can see the brightness of Mickey's smile in the rearview as he lifts Ian's hand to his lips.

"Yeah," he says softly. "Yeah, me too."

He catches Damon's glance in mirror, then, and the sappy look drops right off his face.

"The fuck are you looking at?" he demands, and Damon has never feigned sleep so fast or unconvincingly.

4. In prison, the first night. Under cover of darkness. But a lack of light can't stop sound, and the man in the neighboring cell hears it all.

Hears feet hit the floor, the bed creak under too much weight on the bottom bunk. Hears sheets rustle, low voices rumbling.

"You're really here." That must be the new guy, a voice he doesn't recognize.

"Course I am." That was Milkovich, the tough guy that had made the place his bitch in just three days.

"Why?" the new guy asks, and he waits for the commotion to start. You don't just ask people like Milkovich what their in for and escape unscathed.

But all he hears is more rustling. Then:

"You're here, aren't you?" and a little laugh, he can't tell from who.

"I love you," soft but firm, and not what he thought he would here.

"You'd better," Milkovich answered, full of humor but something else too.

"Love you too, you moron," came next, "but you better not make this prison thing a habit."

5. When Mickey gets out, Tami thinks it weird that he just shows up and is welcomed. The convict Ian brought home, more part of the family than she is. She hates how at home he is when she still feels like she's interuppting every time she enters a room.

He's even there when she goes into the kitchen at 2am to feed her crying baby, taking up space in front of the fridge. And she's tired, and annoyed at how long he lingers, and is ready to say something.

Then Ian wanders down the stairs, eyes barely open, and migrates right to Mickey. Folds himself over Mickey's back, and tucks his face into his neck.

"Told you to stay in bed," Mickey murmurs, a hand coming up to card backwards through Ian's hair. "Was gonna bring ya something."

"Bring me you," Ian whines, and there's a wet sound like he's kissing the other man's neck.

"Sap," Mickey responds, fond.

"Yup," Ian agrees. "Cause I love you."

Mickey laughs.

"Love you too," he says, "now get your ads back to bed."

By the time they both leave, Fred has stopped crying, and Tami understands Mickey's easy presence a little better.

6.They're late to their first appointment with the pastor. She's getting a little annoyed waiting for them, another young couple with no respect for someone else's time. Then there's shuffling outside her door, low voices coming through.

"You sure this time?" a man asks, sounding hesitant.

"Was sure the first time, Mick," came the response. "Just didn't know it."

"Good," the first voice says. "Cause if you back out again, I'm afraid I might break more than just your leg."

The pastor stares at the door, eyes wide. What had she gotten herself into?

"Not gonna do that," comes the promise. "Love you too much."

"Good." The voice is softer, now. "Love you too, even all crippled."

Then the door opens.

7. Years later, outside the local high school, a mother waits next to two men. One of them looks nervous, shifting his feet, while the other stands with hands in pockets and a soft smile on his face.

She wonders why they're there. They don't seem old enough to have a high schooler, but too old to be waiting for a friend.

"Shouldn't be here," the nervous one says. "He's not gonna want to see me."

A hand comes out of a pocket, rests on a tense back.

"He literally invited you, Mickey," the other man says. "He's the one that reached out."

"He must hate me."

The nervous one is pulled into a rough side hug, a kiss pressed to his head.

"He's gonna love you." A little shake. "I love you."

"You're too optimistic." He pulls away, but takes the other mans hand. "Love you too."

Then the doors open, teenagers filing out. A blonde boy leads the pack, and fixes on the two men right away.

"Dad!" he calls out, waving. "Ian!"

She sees the two men startle. Smile. Then her own daughter comes out, and she loses track of them.