"Uncle Mickey." Franny said as she walked holding both Ian and Mickeys hand. Mickey hummed in response while opening the door. "Can I please get a cake pop?" She asked and Mickey looked at Ian who nodded. "Only good girls get special treats." Mickey said and Ian smiled. "But I'm a good girl." She pouted and Mickey laughed. "Yeah? What's this?" Mickey asked while holding his hand up showing off his black nail polished fingers. Franny only giggled. Ian smiled and they all got in line at the coffee shop. "They make you look pretty." Franny said with a giggle and Ian laughed. "Yeah Mickey, you look extra pretty now." He said and Mickey scoffed.
They stood in line. They were at the mall all day doing Christmas shopping when Franny asked for hot cocoa. They both decided they wanted coffee as well. It was snowing outside but they were all bundled up. Ian was wearing his long snow coat along with a beanie. Mickey had his snow coat as well and he wore one of Ian's old beanies. Franny was in a pink snow coat and had a black beanie on. Mickey was holding Franny's hand when he realized she started moving up and down. "What's wrong kiddo?" He asked and Franny began squirming even more. "Gotta pee." She said and Mickey glanced at Ian. "Ian." He said and Ian laughed. "Take her, I'll get the stuff." He said and Mickey glared at him. He looked back and Franny who was now doing the pee pee dance. Mickey groaned and reached his hand out for her. Ian smiled as she took it and they both began to walk away.
Ian was second in line when Mickey and Franny left. The person before him ordered and he was next. "Hey, I'll have one hot chocolate, small. Two coffees one with cream and one black with two sugars please." He said and the barista nodded. "Oh and one birthday cake pop, please." He added and the barista made a small laugh. He swiped his card and she smiled. "Name?" She asked and he said "Ian." She smiled and he walked away to a table. After a while he noticed a man standing near the wall. He had a long coat on and a beanie as well. He could hear Franny asking Mickey a billion questions in the back. He smiled. "Gallagher." The barista said and Ian looked up. They guy by the wall stood up and began walking to the pick up area. Then another barista called Ian's name. The man stopped and turned to Ian. He took his beanie off revealing his bright ginger hair, just like Ian's.
Ian's eyes widen at the sight of who was standing in front of him. Clayton. He walked up to the pick up station and smiled to Clayton. "Oh my goodness, Ian, how are you?" Clayton asked and Ian grabbed his tray of drinks. "I'm good, you?" He asked and Clayton smiled. "Fantastic I was just getting some coffee." He said holding up his drink. Ian looked at his drink, he ordered the same exact thing. Black with two sugars. "You here with your family." Clayton asked as he took a sip. "Yeah my niece and my husband." He said and Clayton eyes widened. "Husband? Wow." He said with a smile. Ian felt a hand on his back and turned to Mickey. "Hey." Mickey said and stared at Clayton. "Why hello." Clayton said as Franny appeared hiding behind Ian's leg. "Uncle Ian and you have the same hair." She said and Mickey stared at Clayton even more, more confused. "We do don't we sweetheart, that's because me and your uncle are related." He said and she smiled. "Hi." Clayton said turning his attention to Mickey and reaching his hand out.
"Hey." Mickey said and shook his hand. "Clayton this is Mickey, my husband, Mickey this is my uh-" he said pausing which made Mickey look at him. Clayton shifted and rubbed his head. "I'm-I'm Ian's dad." He said and Mickeys eyes widened. "What?" He said and Ian looked away from him and back at Clayton. "It's a long story, I'm sure Ian will tell you, but yeah I'm his dad." He said and Mickey nodded. "You have the same hair and almost the same face." Franny said and Clayton smiled. "You guys look like twins." She added and Ian laughed. He looked at Mickey who was looking at Clayton then back at Ian, then back at Clayton. "Your dad?" Mickey asked and looked at Ian. Ian nodded and Clayton smiled. Ian turned his attention back to Clayton. "So are you here with your wife?" He asked and Clayton gave out an awkward laugh. "No, she got remarried after our boys left for college, it's just been me on my own for a while." He said and Ian nodded. "I'm sorry." He said and Clayton waved his hand. "No Ian, don't be, something's aren't just meant to be." He said and Ian smiled. "Are you doing alright kid, you know like I said before if there's anything you need, you can asks." He added and Ian looked up at him. "I know I wasn't there but I'm still your dad." He said and Ian nodded. "Frank he uh, he did good I guess, he did a lot better then me." He said and looked down. "Fiona, your sister, did more than the both me and him combined." He added. Ian stared at him. "Maybe you and your husband can stop by for dinner some time, like I said it's just me." Clayton said and Ian smiled. "Yeah, maybe we will." He said and grabbed Frannys hand. "We have to get going, have to bring her back to her mom." He said and Clayton laughed. "Alright, it was nice to meet you Franny." He said and she smiled. He turned to Mickey and reached his hand out again. "It was nice to meet you Mickey." He said and Mickey shook his hand. "You too." He responded and he also grabbed Frannys hand. Ian and Clayton stared at each other. Mickey watched them, they looked so alike. Ian never told Mickey about him, he would say he was his uncle, not his father.
"Bye dad." Ian said and Clayton let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding. He laughed then smiled. "Bye Ian." He responded and Ian smiled then they all left the coffee shop. Ian grabbed Frannys hand and they began walking. They all walked in silence. Ian glanced at Mickey who was staring at the ground as he walked. "Uncle Ian." Franny said and Ian looked down at her. He hummed in response and she smiled. She pointed to a park. Ian smiled and nodded. She yelped in glee and ran to the swing. "Just ten minutes Franny." He yelled and she nodded. He looked up at the sky and it began to snow. He took a sip of his coffee and sat at the bench. Mickey sat by him and drank his cup as well. Ian cleared his throat and scooted closer. Mickey looked at him and smiled. "What's wrong?" Ian asked and Mickey stared at him. He took a deep breath and smiled. "You never told me about him." He said and Ian nodded. "You never asked." He said and Mickey scoffed. "Look at the time I found out we weren't you know, together." He said and Mickey stared at him. "Kinda figured Mandy would have told you." He said and Mickey laughed. "Fucking Mandy knew before me, Christ." He said and Ian laughed. "I did want to tell you, but I didn't think you'd care and at the time I was mad because I had a different dad then my siblings." He said and Mickey looked at him. "I mean Frank as shitty as he is, he knew and didn't turn me away, in some fucked up way he accepted it." He said and smiled. "Clayton wasn't around and I figured he didn't want me but it was his wife who decided for him a lot, he probably deep down did but it was different back then." He added. "He seems nice." Mickey said with a smile. "He invited us to dinner." Ian responded and Mickey laughed. "We gonna go?" He asked and took a sip of his coffee. "I don't know, maybe." Ian said and Mickey scooted closer. "Whatever you decide, if you don't want to form a relationship with him, that's understandable." He said and Ian smiled at him. "Thanks babe." He said and kissed Mickey. Mickey smiled into the kiss and Ian looked at him confused. "What." He said with a toothy grin. Mickey smiled then nodded, "Now." He said and moved away. Franny behind Ian, tossed a snowball and hit Ian on the head. Her giggles filled the air and Mickey laughed as well. Ian laughed and reached for the snow and made a snowball. He tossed it at Franny and hit her shoulder. She giggled even louder and ran off. Another snowball hit Ian on the back and Mickey stood there laughing. Ian reached and grabbed some snow. "No no no, I was just messing around." Mickey said and walked away from him. "Get over here." Ian said and they began chasing each other. Ian finally grabbed Mickey by his jacket and turned him around, he kissed him softly. Mickey broke into a smile on the kiss and Ian laughed. "I love you." Mickey said staring at Ian. Ian smiled and wrapped his arms around Mickey. He patted the snowball on top of his head and the snow dripped down his face . Mickey shook his head and smiled. "I love you too." Ian responded with a toothy smile.
