Gallavitch Oneshots

Brothers, Burgers and The Bachelor

Original Author: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Dobbying/pseuds/Dobbying

Summary: [Lip POV] Lip and Mickey develop an unlikely friendship, and Lip gains a new understanding of Ian and Mickey's relationship.

Text: Hey Mickey, where's my kid?" Lip called, letting himself in to the Gallagher homestead.

"Shhh, he's sleeping!"

This was unexpected; Mickey cradling a slumbering Freddie against his chest as he spread out on the sofa, the TV playing quietly in the background.

Lip had been in the middle of work when he'd gotten a text from Mickey that simply said Come get your spawn. The message had filled him with dread; Tami was meant to be watching Freddie that day, and Mickey was the last person she would have chosen to leave him with. Luckily, Brad understood the stress of co-parenting with a Tamietti and had let Lip skip out of work early.

"Your crazy baby mama came by in a mood and just dumped the brat on me. You know this is my one fucking day off this week?" Mickey grumbled.

Lip resisted the urge to point out that Mickey was still cradling Freddie to his chest. He seemed in no hurry to give the kid up so Lip went into the kitchen and grabbed himself a soda from the fridge, picking up a can of beer for Mickey as well. He slid onto the couch and handed Mickey his drink, before cracking his own open and taking a gulp. It would never hit the same as a cold can of beer after work, but it would have to do.

"Wait, are you watching The Bachelor?"

"It's Bachelor in Paradise and shut the fuck up, Anna F and Kimberley are about to fight."

By the time Ian came home a couple of hours later, Lip was completely absorbed in the Bachelor marathon. Mickey had been steadily working his way through his 6 pack, and while Lip had stuck to soda and water, he almost felt like he'd caught a contact high. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this relaxed, heckling the TV screen and cracking jokes with Mickey while Freddie miraculously slept peacefully in his travel cot.

"Honey, I'm home," Ian called with a laugh as he entered the living room and made a beeline for the sofa. Immediately, Mickey tilted his head back and Ian leaned over the back of the sofa to give him a kiss.

Lip's stomach lurched. He was happy for Ian, of course he was, but whenever he saw Ian and Mickey performing their very specific brand of domestic bliss, it served as a harsh reminder of how different his life with Tami was.

Shit, Tami!

Lip swiped his phone open and sure enough he had a barrage of missed calls from her.

"I can't believe you roped Lip into this," Ian said, settling on the arm of the sofa. "I swear, you're obsessed with this show."

"Straight people are crazy man," Mickey said with a laugh. "Just look at fucking Ray and Debra over here," he added, pointing at Lip.

"Oh yeah, Tami rang me earlier looking for you," Ian said. "Is everything okay?"

"Guess I'll find out." Lip got up and started gathering Freddie's things. He might as well face whatever rage Tami had worked up over the ensuing hours in person.

***

Surprisingly, the Bachelor marathon marked the beginning of a tentative friendship between Lip and Mickey. Freddie was an easy baby in general – not unlike Liam – but it was like Mickey had a magic power when it came to him. Mickey and Freddie had some weird understanding where they would just stare at each other in silence, until Mickey's uncontrollable eyebrows would send Freddie into paroxysms of laughter. Lip couldn't deny it, it was fucking adorable.