Alone Together (Gallavich)

thirty-five

epilogue

The beautiful thing about Ian and Mickey was the way they always showed each other how they loved the other more without words.

It was easy to be distracted from their feelings through the chaos of their individual lives - homophobes, alcoholics, mental disorders, crimes, etc. The passion their relationship fostered often times showed through in violence and fighting, hiding the underlying reasons for their connection.

Ian and Mickey found each other at a young age where it was unclear how life would pan out for them individually, let alone as the couple they formed into. But they quickly realized they needed each other. Their love was not something that could be ignored or pushed aside.

Mickey tried to get the Gallagher out of his mind on several occasions but somehow he failed every time. Ian had so much going through his mind as it was, it's a surprise Mickey stayed on it. The two always found each other though- in good times and bad; sickness, health, all that shit. They were meant to be with each other.

Mickey could have walked away from the Gallagher house that first day and ran in any other direction away from the cops. He could have hopped on the L or hid in an alley. He didn't have to run into Ian's house either, but rather could have simply stood outside in a hidden place. But he ran inside. And Ian just so happened to be home alone. Mickey just so happened to have run into Ian's room. Ian just so happened to grab the baseball bat from his wall on the way upstairs. And when all was said and done, Ian just so happened to let his gaze fall to Mickey's lips; a spot where they would frequent often later on.

Ian could have left the situation alone and not have become friends with Mandy. He could have walked away when he saw Mickey in the dugout laying down. He could have stayed in the living room when Mickey came home hurt. He could have not gone to St. Louis or not have found Mickey when he got back. He could have not gotten Mickey that bottle opener or let Mickey stay with him for a while.

But he did. And Mickey let him.

The whole time, through yelling, crying, running away and even the silence, the two were getting closer and closer without even being conscience of it. Their bond was solidifying into one that had the ability to conquer anything and everything. Each day when they vowed to themselves to show kindness to the other - when Mickey stayed by Ian through his mania and depression, when Ian waited for Mickey to deal with his dad - they proved to be capable of love for each other in a greater capacity than most people can even imagine in their lifetime.

They argued and shoved each other around, often solving their problems with sex or making out. But the one thing that could never be solved was the question of who loved who more. To anyone else, it'd be impossible to give so much of yourself to someone so mentally unstable or someone so violent and criminal, but for Ian and Mickey, it was just another day. Loving each other was easy. The battles they had to fight with the real world showed they were willing to sacrifice momentary happiness and comfort for the sake of their love. They always came back to each other.

It had been a year since Mickey had gotten his dad sent off to prison. Terry, as Terry did, caused enough trouble behind bars to practically solidify a spot in cell block C for the next five years or so. Ian stayed at Mickey's most days, a relieving escape from the chaos of five siblings and spotty parents. He still worked at the Walmart while Mickey did his part by continuing side hustles as he pleased. They'd gotten more and more comfortable being together outside of the house - well that is Mickey got less paranoid that one of his dad's buddies would come up behind them with a gun. They even made their way to a steak house a month into their "freedom" and sat across from each other in the cheap booth of the restaurant while they ate.