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When he was little, Halloween was always Ian’s favourite time of year.
When he thinks back far enough he smiles at the memories of him and Lip toddling along the street under Fiona’s watchful eye, two old pillow cases being used as candy bags and two older ones thrown over their little bodies, making them part of the gaggle of ghosts that were wandering around the South Side that evening.
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Once Debbie and Carl came along and were old enough to get excited about trick or treating, Lip declared that he and Ian were ‘too old for that kid shit’ now and would be staying at the Gallagher house to watch the scary movie he’d swiped from the store. Ian didn’t agree. He wanted to dress up in a shitty homemade costume and hold Debbie’s bag of candy when she got tired and make sure Carl didn’t try and smash up anyone’s pumpkin. But Lip was Ian’s big brother, his best friend, so he parked himself on the couch for the night and tried not to look too upset.
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One of Ian’s favourite Halloweens was the year Mickey was living with him at the Gallagher house. They miraculously had the place to themselves, so decided to share a joint and some beers and watch an old rerun of A Nightmare on Elm Street. When Mickey was turned around and trying to throw his empty beer can all the way into the bin in the kitchen from the couch, Ian quickly slipped the shitty dollar store vampire fangs into his mouth before Mickey noticed.
It was around ten minutes later, when they kept sneaking sideways glances at each other and creeping closer together that Mickey broke first and climbed his way into Ian’s lap. He immediately went in for a hard kiss, but reared back when he felt plastic against his tongue.
“What the fuck?” Mickey’s outburst had Ian grinning, showing off his impromptu costume. “Cmon, it’s Halloween Mick! Plus vampires are kinda sexy, right?”
Rolling his eyes, Mickey tried his hardest not to let a smile break onto his face. “Maybe when they look like Brad Pitt, gotta say the half alien look isn’t cutting it for me.” Ian knew he was joking and Mickey knew Ian knew, so neither of them were surprised when Mickey dove right back in for another kiss, vampire fangs and all.
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The next time Ian really enjoys Halloween he’s long past the age of dressing up and staying up late with Lip, making themselves sick by eating all of their candy in one sitting. Long past the age of making out with his boyfriend on the family couch while some old slasher film plays in the background.
This year, he gets to enjoy it with his husband.
When Mickey comes out of Maggie’s bedroom with her dressed in the tiny pumpkin outfit they got for her at Target, Ian has to try his hardest not to burst into tears at the sight. Mickey must notice the strange looks on his face because he lets out a fond sigh and hands Maggie over to Ian with a kiss on his cheek.
“If you’re going to act like this all night then we might as well just stay in.”
“No! No, sorry, it’s just. I never thought I’d get to have this with you. This is everything I used to dream about when we were younger.” Ian knows this isn’t news to Mickey, but he wants him to hear it anyway. “I love that we get to have this. That I get to have you. I love you.”
“I love you too, you fuckin’ sap.”
Maggie must sense that all attention isn’t on her, because she starts to coo loudly and smack her hands against Ian’s chest. It brings both men back to the present and they exchange goofy grins.
“We love you the most Mags, don’t worry.” Ian pecks a kiss to one of her chubby cheeks and she giggles with delight. Just when he’s about to turn around to get her shoes and coat on so they can leave for the evening, he’s stopped by a hand on his bicep.
When he catches sight of what Mickey’s holding up between them, he can’t help the loud laughter that bubbles up and out of his mouth.
Leaning over to smack a kiss onto Mickey’s lips, he vaguely wonders what it’ll feel like later when the plastic of the shitty vampire fangs gets in the way.