Chapter Text
Ian and Mickey had agreed to stay in on New Year’s at Fiona’s and watch all the kids. Even Lip dropped off his girls. Elise, Ethan, and Yev had built a pillow and blanket fort in the living room and were on their second movie, Spiderman. Lacey was asleep upstairs and Lucie was asleep on Ian’s chest.
It’d been a quiet evening despite all the treats the kids had to eat. That had lured Liam out of his room and he was currently in the blanket fort.
Ian had his head in Mickey’s lap and Mickey played with his hair. “Think they’ll make it to midnight?” he asked looking up at Mickey.
“Elise might, but I don’t know about the others,” Mickey said. “Yev won’t. If he makes it past ten I’ll be shocked,” he laughed. It was just past nine and they could already hear the yawns.
Mickey liked their quiet New Year’s. Ian hadn’t felt like doing anything crazy and Mickey was okay with that. There was even beer in the fridge that Mickey hadn’t felt like drinking. He was okay with Ian laying against him holding Lucie. It was a perfectly cute domestic evening.
Mickey thought about how the beginning of the year had been a drag, but that summer had changed everything. His job, Ian… so much was different in such a short time. He never wanted it to end.
New Year’s used to make him think about how he’d survived another miserable year, but this time Mickey was thinking of all the new opportunities a New Year brought.
None of the kids made it to midnight. Mickey fed Lucie as Ian switched over to the lame Chicago countdown. They whispered the numbers to each other. Ian smiled, leaning in to kiss Mickey as the clock hit midnight.
“Wanna go out and smoke?” Ian asked Mickey when they broke apart. Mickey nodded.
“Let me just lay Lucie down,” Mickey said.
“Okay, I’ll check the fort,” Ian said. They stood. Mickey watched Ian peek into the blanket fort before heading up to put Lucie in bed. He hadn’t held a baby in a long time. He hadn’t really held Yev as a baby. He’d initially been afraid when Ian handed Lucie to him, but she was a good baby. Tiny and small and fragile, but good.
Out back, Ian and Mickey sat on the deck steps in the below 0 temperature. Mickey lit two cigarettes quickly, sticking his between his lips before shoving his hands back into his pockets.
“Why’s it so fucking cold?” he grumbled. Ian snickered.
“I don’t know, but the steps are freezing my balls,” he said to Mickey. Mickey laughed because yeah his ass was frozen. “So what are your resolutions?” Ian asked.
Mickey shrugged, staring at the huge moon. It lit up the entire backyard.
“Keep looking forward?” he said and frowned. “That sounded better in my head,” he told Ian.
“It’s okay. I think it sounded fine,” Ian said. Mickey shrugged again. “What are your plans for the future?” Ian asked.
Another shrug.
“Well, you looked cute holding Lucie,” he said. Mickey felt himself blush.
“You did too,” he told Ian quietly. “I guess in the future well… I didn’t think about the future really until this year when I realized I could have nice things. A house, a job, a happy kid. I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything, and it makes me realize that I can have more like a bigger house, maybe some more kids, a dog or something, a husband,” Mickey said, trailing off to look at Ian.
“You want to get married?” Ian asked.
“I don’t really care, but if you asked one day, I’d marry you,” Mickey said making Ian give him that brilliant Ian smile.
“And more kids?” Ian asked.
“I think I could do one or two more. There are plenty of kids that need to be adopted. And besides, I can’t let you be the only one saving southside kids, Mr. Teacher,” Mickey said with a laugh.
“Mmm and we’d have a nice cozy house and a cat and a dog and Yev,” Ian said leaning against Mickey.
“And I’ll be there even if things get tough. These last few months were hard, but I know it could have been worse,” Mickey said softly.
“Come meet my therapist?” Ian asked, looking up at Mickey.
“Of course,” Mickey said when really he wanted to shout to the world that he’d do anything for Ian. Mickey took Ian’s cigarette and stubbed it out with his own. Then he leaned down and pushed their lips together. The angle was awkward but neither of them really cared.
“I love you Mickey Milkovich,” Ian whispered.
“I love you Ian Gallagher,” Mickey whispered back.
There was a thud behind them and they turned to see Elise and Yev with their faces pressed against the glass door watching them.
“Guess our time’s up,” Ian laughed. Mickey smiled standing with Ian. They went into the warm house and each picked up a kid.
“Bed,” Mickey said to Yev. Yev nuzzled against him.
“Is it New Year now?” he asked as Mickey headed upstairs. He watched Ian go up with Elise. One day they’d be doing this and it’d be their own family. Their own kids and their own house.
That thought made Mickey happier then he’d ever felt.
“Yeah, it’s the New Year Yev,” Mickey said lying Yev down. He took his hearing aids.
‘Happy New Year, dad,’ Yev signed with a big yawn. Mickey smiled, kissing him on the forehead.
‘Happy New Year, Yev,’ Mickey signed. Good things were on the horizon and Mickey was surrounded by people who loved him.
It was going to be a good year.