biological 》ian gallagher

seven

Ian had spent the rest of the day searching for a job. He had gotten applications for places he never even knew existed in this washed up town. He knew that the money Hayden left for him would suffice for a while, but it definitely wasn't unlimited. There was no way he was going back to high school, either, which automatically wouldn't help with a lot of the applications. Soon enough, he had walked so far that he reached Boystown, the holy land for homosexuality in Chicago.

Upon entering that part of town, his mind wandered back to Mickey. Surely, it wouldn't be long until Mickey would find out that Ian was back. Needless to say, the pair had ended on bad terms. Which was part of the reason why Ian wouldn't even ask Kevin for a job at the Alibi. Ian knew how well Mickey liked the bar.

Debbie and Rosie walked, hand in hand, away from the park. Debbie couldn't help but wonder how Ian had managed to do something like have a child. Still, Debbie refused to dive too deep into the questions, especially since Ian had been acting strange, ever since he left the Army for 'reasons'. It worried Debbie, but only in the slightest. She knew how weird Monica would act in between spans of depression and mania. Perhaps Debbie just didn't want to believe it.

"Debbie, who is that?" Rosie grasped her attention, as she pointed towards the front porch of the Gallagher household as they approached closer to it. Debbie noticed the dark haired boy, standing in front of the door, knocking at it harshly. Debbie didn't respond to the child, just sighing as she walked closer.

"Mickey?" Debbie called, as they began to walk up the porch steps. Mickey turned around, glancing down at Rosie, with a slight look of confusion.

"Heard Ian was back." He said, bluntly. Debbie knew, too well, how Mickey felt for Ian. Although Mickey would never admit it to anyone, even himself, his actions spoke louder than he ever could scream.

"Uh, yeah, he's out looking for a job." Debbie told him, opening the door for all three of them to enter. Mickey finally decided to ask about the little girl with her.

"The fuck is that?" Mickey asked softly, and quietly, as the little girl went on her own, towards the kitchen. Mickey became one, of many, to notice how familiar her face looked, although none of them had ever seen it beforehand.

"Ian's daughter, I guess." Debbie realized just how confused she really was about it, still. Mickey's expression mirrored her thoughts, as he looked at the little girl, who waited for Debbie to follow her, as Debbie had promised that they would make cookies together.

"You gotta be fuckin' kidding." Mickey looked back at Debbie, searching for answers that she didn't have. Debbie shrugged, sighing, slightly.

"I'll be there in a second, Rosie!" Debbie said, loud enough for the girl to hear, before Debbie jogged up the stairs. Mickey and Rosie were the only two remaining, locking eyes for a second. Mickey walked towards the kithen, thinking that it would be best to wait a while for Ian, than to run around town searching.

"Who are you?" Rosie asked in a small voice, looking at Mickey, who towered over her like a giant, in her eyes.

"Mickey." He stated, softly, with his expression showing full confusion. Yet, Rosie couldn't decipher it.

"I'm Rosie." She grinned softly, before turning away to open the refrigerator, to pull the gallon of milk out. They both remained in silence, as Mickey watched her struggle to retrieve the milk. Hesitantly, he approached her, taking the gallon of milk from her hands, and placing it on the counter. Rosie looked at Mickey with a grin, making Mickey's heart thump harder by the second. He saw how much she resembled the red headed boy he was falling so hard for. "Thanks." She thanked him, circling around the counter to sit on one of the bar stools.

Moments later, Debbie came down the stairs again, giving Rosie a small smile before getting the ingredients to make cookies. Mickey's blue eyes couldn't look away from the sight that was Rosie. Mickey thought that she would suffice his need to be around Ian again, for now, at least. Being around Rosie felt like Ian was right there - smiling, laughing, speaking. Mickey sat down next to the girl.