Shamelessly Devoted [sequel Only You]

what happens in South Side; stays in South Side

"I'm coming home for lunch today since you know, I can do that now." Lip smiles like a little kid–I'm so proud of him. I can't believe he owns EX, "I can't believe you're an owner of your own business." I say, standing on my tippy toes to peck his lips, "Yuck." The boys gag as they eat their breakfast, "Hush." I close my fingers at them, "No playing outside today, you two are still suspended." Lip fathers before sipping his coffee, "Fine." They groan in unison, shoveling more food in their mouths. "Have a good day. I love you." I say, "I love you and I love you two too, behave for your mom." He fathers once more before leaving for work. "Love you." They mumble. "Okay, finish up; go shower and get dressed, you're running errands with me." I smile innocently as their faces scrunch together–they know errands means shopping and they hate going shopping with me. I 'take forever' they say; I say they're haters, my mini-me haters.

Just then there's knocking on the front door, "One sec." I say, walking over and peaking out of the window to see who it is–it's Franny and she looks nervous. "Hey Fran-" "Don't tell my mom I'm here, I don't even exist at this point." Franny rambles as she pushes past me as soon as I barely open the door. "What did you do?" I close the door and furrow my eyebrows. "I may or may not have shot at someone on accident." "Frances!" I government her and her face scrunches, "I know." She whines, plopping down backwards on my couch. "You're a lawyer right? Get me out of it!" She begs. "First of all in a courtroom I'd be deemed conflict of interest because I'm your aunt however. Fran, you live on South Side, no one is reporting you." I say and she looks up at me, "You did it here didn't you?" I glare and she nods. "Fuck, Fran." I huff. "Who, where, when?" I ask. "Some group of boys, they were down the block and just now." "Why were you even on North Side? Shouldn't you be in school?" "That's besides the point!" "Call Mickey. He can help you morally. I can help you legally. I'm gonna go take a walk, see what's going on you, stay put and don't tell the boys anything." I scold her. "Boys, do what I said to, I'll be right back." I pop my head back into the kitchen before walking outside.

As I make it to the end of our neighborhood, I notice what I assume the same group of boys Franny was talking to in a group circle whispering and flailing their arms around. "Everything okay?" I call to them gently, all four of them jump and turn towards me, "Yes! Nothing's wrong!" They're just as freaked out as Fran, "You sure? You guys seem a little nervous." I begin to mother the four boys; their ages range from Fred to Fran, "N-No Ms. We're okay." The eldest speaks; he's shook up. "Okay." I say, nodding and walking away back towards my house.

"You're fucking lucky." I mutter as I close my door, Franny's worried expression lifts, "What happened? Did they call the cops?" She panics, "Cops?" Freddie questions, "Go shower." I shove his head gently towards the stairs. "They're scared shitless, they probably won't call because they're skipping, they're scared to get in trouble." I explain and Franny sighs in relief, "Thank G-" "No, don't thank him yet. What the fuck were you doing here and why the fuck do you have a gun, Fran?" I fold my arms and shift my weight to one leg, my expression grows sharp. "I knew the boys were home today because they got suspended for being too South Side so I wanted to show them how to really be South Side." She explains and I throw my head back, "Fran, we left South Side to keep them away from this shit. I love you and appreciate you caring so much for your little cousins but Franny keep your South Side shit in South Side." I explain in the nicest way possible. "I'm sorry." She huffs, "Fran maybe I'll talk to Lip and see if maybe the boys can spend the night over at your house and you can show them all of that but it needs to stay in South Side." I speak gently to her, she doesn't mean harm and I don't want to yell at her and freak her out because then she gets spiteful and then she will mean harm; she's definitely a Gallagher. "Promise?" She asks and I nod, "I promise." I caress her cheek gently. "Help yourself to breakfast, I'm gonna go get dressed and I;ll bring you back to your mom's." I explain, "No uncle Mickey's, I want to talk to him just in case." She says and I nod, "Fine." I say before going upstairs.

++

"The fuck'd you do?" Mickey scoffs as he walks to my passenger side window, "She'll tell you inside." I lean over and motion my eyes towards the backseat, "Jesus Fran." Mick sighs and opens her door, letting her out. "How're you?" Mick leans back into my passenger window after he closes the door. "I'm okay, going shopping." I smile and shimmy my shoulders, "You two fucked up bad didn't you?" Mickey jokes with the boys and they nod, "Oh shopping with me is not that bad!" I finally defend myself, "Yeah fucking right." Mick scoffs and I lean over to slap his shoulder. "I'm kidding!" He throws his hands up in surrender. "Whatever." I tease, "Ay," Mickey says, leaning back into the window, "Love you, Mitch." He smiles softly, "Ew. I love you too, Milkovich." I emphasize the ending sound, "Milky boy!" I tease him as he flips me off and walks Franny inside. 

++

"Your dad's home." I say to the boys and instantly their tortured expressions lighten, "Dad!" They shout, jumping out of the car as I park it in the driveway, running into the garage. I roll my eyes at the dramatics as I grab my bags from the trunk, "Sounds like they had a great day." Lip says, taking my bags and giving me a soft kiss. "Oh yeah they did." I say, looking down at them laid out on the garage floor; fake sobbing. "New glasses?" Lip holds my face gently with his free hand. I smile and nod, "Like them?" "Love em." He says, kissing me again, "Yuck." Fred says, getting up and walking inside. "Gabe go inside too, shower you were on the ground; tell Fred too." Lip says gently. "Were they okay?" He asks once they are both inside. "Yeah, we got Canes and we went to Navy Pier area so-" "How long were you in Target?" He chuckles, "Only forty five minutes!" I defend, "Sephora?" He tilts his head, smiling, "Enough scolding." I wag my finger in his face before walking inside. "After dinner you two can play the new game you got." I say as I walk upstairs, grabbing a cute purple pajama set and going into my bathroom.

A few minutes into my shower I'm slightly startled by Lip's hands gripping my lower back as he steps in the shower behind me. "Announce yourself." I say, turning in his grasp. "Sorry." He says, kissing me softly. "Are the boys still upstairs?" I ask against his lips, he shakes his head before kissing me once more and picking me up. "Was it the new glasses?" I tease him as I feel him against me. "Oh, obviously." He jokes gently before pulling me onto him, covering my mouth so the water can drown out my muffled whimpers.

Lip and I's sex life has slowed down since the boys have become nosy and needy, not that I'm complaining. I love them and I love that they need me but please just give me five minutes so I can fuck your dad! Shower sex has been our only space to do anything lately, our work schedules don't match; I get home when the boys do and either Lip comes home right after or right before I get there, we never have alone time anymore but hopefully since Lip is the owner now he can change his schedule around because based on how quick our shower sessions have been; we need it.

++

"Hey how would you feel if the boys spent the night at Debs'?" I ask Lip as he dries himself off, "Um are you okay with that?" He chuckles, I shrug, "Not sure. I trust Debs but it's South Side, without us." I say, getting dressed, "It's super gentrified now though." He points out, putting on a white t-shirt, boxers and sweats. "But Fran." "That's also my concern." Lip agrees, holding my hips gently as he leans against the bathroom sink. "We'd get alone time. The boys are smarter than we give them credit for." I mention and he nods in agreement. "You ask Debs?" "She agreed to keep them Thursday and bring them back home Sunday for dinner." I say and he instantly smirks. "My birthday and our big anniversary?" He asks, "Perfect timing." I say with an arrogant smirk, "You really think they'll be okay?" Lip asks, nodding towards downstairs. I nod, "They're Gallaghers. We always make it through." I say. "You are amazing." He says, kissing the top of my head then kissing my lips, "Whatever happens in South Side is staying in South Side." Lip says walking downstairs, excitedly. I sure hope nothing does happen in South Side.