Chapter Text
Eight Years Later
Over the course of six years Ian and Mickey had added two more children to their family; their only daughter-Harlow Rue Gallagher-was born when Max was three and a half, and their youngest son-and only brunette or green eyed child-Cian Lawson Gallagher, was born just after Max turned six. The family had moved into a quaint little three bedroom brick bungalow just outside of Chicago when Mickey was still pregnant with Harlow, and were happier than ever by the time Max's eighth birthday rolled around. "Happy birthday, to you! Happy birthday, to you! Happy birthday, dear Maxton! Happy birthday, to you!" The entire Gallagher/Milkovich/Ball family sang as Max blew out eight candles on his birthday cake with a wide, dimpled smile on his face as he pushed his glasses back up his nose.
"Can you fuckin' believe he's already eight years old?" Ian asked his husband as they watched Mandy-heavily pregnant with her and Lip's second child-serve all of the children a slice of cake.
"God no." Mickey said, trying not to laugh as Harlow smeared icing on Carl's face. "Seems like yesterday we were pickin' out his name."
"Now we have two more little monsters." Ian joked, allowing Cian to shove a bite of cake into his mouth. "Thank you, Mousy."
"We did pretty good, huh?" Mickey asked as he helped Harlow wipe the red and blue icing from Max's Spiderman cake off her chin.
"Never doubted we would." Ian said softly, leaning in to kiss his husband's cheek. "We made a damn good lives for ourselves. And for them."
"Stop bein' all fuckin' affectionate and eat your cake; Max wants to open his birthday presents!" Vee exclaimed, winking playfully at the eight year old.
"Harlow's gonna eat your cake if you don't, Dad." Max offered, pushing his glasses up, again; the damn things could never seem to stay put on his face.
"Okay, okay, we get it." Mickey laughed, ruffling his son's hair. Ian couldn't believe that-just nine and a half short years ago-he'd been ready to give up his chance to be this happy; his chance to have a life he wouldn't trade for the world. This was all he'd ever wanted, and he had it with the best person he could think to share the rest of his life with.