Author's note: Just letting y'all know that I haven't forgotten about this story. Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen: Shameless Celebrations

"Mickey," Ian said quietly.

He pushed past everyone and rushed to the kitchen, throwing his arms around Mickey and holding him tightly. Mickey hugged Ian just as tight. Then they shared a quick kiss. Mickey grabbed a beer before the couple returned to the living room. The others greeted him with hugs and slaps on the back. Then Mickey looked at Callie.

"You Lip's girl?" he asked.

Callie smiled and introduced herself. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"You, too." As the two shook hands, Mickey leaned in and whispered a thank you to her.

"How is this even happening right now?" Kevin asked. "They didn't just…let you out of jail."

"Nah," Mickey said, and he took a swig from his beer. "It's kind of complicated, though."

They all gathered around Mickey as he told his story. He had previously been in jail for attempted murder of the Gallaghers' half-sister Sammi. He believed she had it coming for ratting Ian out to military police for his pre-diagnosis mania. After awhile Mickey broke out of jail and fled the country. When news of the gay Jesus movement got to him, Mickey turned himself in. He managed to work out a plea deal and got locked up in the prison where Ian was. However, Ian's lawyer teamed up with mental health advocates and were able to negotiate his release.

"Three days ago, the judge came to visit me with a shrink," Mickey explained. "They asked me a whole bunch of questions. Then this morning, I got word that I was going to be released."

"Why?" Vee asked.

Mickey shrugged. "Maybe they think I'm mental. I don't know."

"This sounds too good to be true," Liam pointed out.

"Well, catch is I'm getting picked up tomorrow morning to go to a halfway house. I don't know all the details yet."

"Well, then," Fiona said. "We celebrate tonight."

Everyone agreed and toasted to celebrating the night. The party continued into the night, with drinks flowing and music blasting in the Gallaghers' living room. Ian was never far from Mickey's side, feeling the need to maintain some form of physical contact with him.

Debbie was first to bow out of the party, carrying a very cranky Franny off to bed. When Amy and Gemma fell asleep, Kev and Vee took it as a sign that it was time to go. They scooped up the slumbering twins and carried them home. Liam agreed to stay over at Fiona's apartment while Carl would spend the night on the living room couch, leaving their shared bedroom to Ian and Mickey for the night.

"What about the mess?" Mickey asked.

They looked around the living room at the scattered paper plates, pizza boxes and empty beer bottles.

"Fuck it," Lip said. "We'll clean it up in the morning."

The others shrugged and headed upstairs to bed. Once in his room, Lip wrapped his arms around Callie and kissed her deeply.

"What was that for?" she asked when the kiss broke.

"You are amazing," he said. Callie giggled. "You are. I don't know how you pulled this off."

"Nothing illegal. Just calling in favors."

"Tell me."

"My dad is good friends with the judge that handled Mickey's case. They really felt the pressure of the mental health advocates descending upon them to get Ian released, so I played that to my advantage. All I had to do was convince him that releasing Mickey would be beneficial to Ian's mental health."

"That's it?"

"That's it. I can be very persuasive, you know."

Lip gave her a devilish grin and went in for another kiss, but stopped.

"What?" Callie asked.

"You don't hear that?" he asked.

Callie listened carefully. Faintly, she could hear the sound of a rhythmic thumping against the wall. A little smile crept to her face.

"Is that what I think it is?" she asked.

Lip nodded and the two of them shared a small laugh.

"I'm surprised Ian didn't jump Mickey the minute he walked in the door," Lip said.

Callie nodded. "Well, this is their night."

"Agreed. Let's get to bed."

Callie got changed into her pajamas while Lip stripped down to his boxers. Then they climbed into Lip's bed. Callie snuggled close to him, resting her head on his chest. She closed her eyes, about to drift off to sleep.

"Callie?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Callie's eyes opened. She turned to look up at Lip and she smiled.

"I love you, too," she said.

Lip smiled back at her and they kissed again.