Chapter Text
“Just look at this mess!!” Debs looked around the kitchen, the mess of food, broken dishes and cereal boxes everywhere. Sighing, she bent down and picked up a plastic sippy cup that had been launched off of the fridge. Holding it up top the light, she made a face of disgust “Ugh, who knows how long that's been up there! Glad there are lots where those came from.” She tossed it in the garbage, it's not like Freddy would need it just yet anyway.
“I'll get the broom!” Liam offered as Lip came toward Debs. He was holding Freddy who was still bawling his head off.
“What can we do auntie?” Lip asked in a cute voice “We want to help.”
“Not funny, Lip. I need you to get him to shut up!” she snapped, rubbing at her eyes and her temples and shrugging her shoulders, sighed.
“I'm sorry, I love my nephew, I really do but if he doesn't shut up soon, I am going to strangle him!”
“You alright, Debs?”
“ Headache and it's been hangin' on for going on three days now.”
“That sounds more like a migraine to me, you might want to see a doctor,” Lip advised
“Yeah, you might want to get your kid to shut up.” Debs teased, just because she could; as he had teased her when she had Franny.
Lip smiled tiredly at his little sister “Well, I guess that makes us even.”
“Here, give him to me.” Ian walks up to his siblings, a smile on his face. “Let's see if this works...”
Lip hands baby Freddy carefully over to Ian who cradles him in his arms, talking softly to the infant and rocking him gently. After a few minutes, Freddy goes quiet and is drifting off to sleep.
“Boom! There you have it!...the Uncle effect!” Debs points to Ian and baby.
“Now I will know who to go when I can't get the little guy to sleep.” Lip smiled at Ian and Freddy.
“I will go put him upstairs.” Ian offered
“Sure! I'll uh, help Debs” Lip takes out a cigarette and lights it before beginning to gather up the pots and pans.
They were almost finished when Debs cell phone began to ring. Putting aside the broom and dustpan, she takes the phone off of the counter.
“Guys! It's Fiona! And she's video calling!”
Everyone gathered around Debs as she answers, Fiona's face pops onto the screen, teary-eyed, she tried to appear happy.
“Hey, Gallagher's!”
Everyone around the phone waved and greeted back and when everyone was quiet, Debs asked “What's up? Is everything OK?”
Fiona wiped away tears in her eyes with her knuckles before she answered: “Yeah, it's good to see you guys!”
Although she tried, she couldn't hold the emotions back any longer and her face scrunches up
“I.....” She broke down into tears, her face still scrunched up underneath her hand as she sobbed.
“What is it, Fiona?” Debbie asked, worried “Is everything OK?”
“Yeah..it's just I ..I have something to confess...”
“What? What is it?..” Debs couldn't stand a kept secret, especially if it was one of her sisters.
“I just couldn't wait to tell you anymore because...well...I was supposed to be there by now..”
“What? Really!” Debbie's face lit up at the news.
“Yeah, but my flight was delayed, then they canceled it.”
“That Sucks!” Lip piped up as he moved to be able to see Fiona better.
“Oh wait, it gets worse..” Fiona paused to wipe at her eyes again, this time with her sleeve “I asked them if they could get me on the next flight going out but everything into Chicago has been grounded. Have you been watching the news?”
“No..why?”
“There's a storm headed that way, gonna be bad. Winds and heavy snowfall so hunker down, Gallagher's!”
“So when are you going to be able to get here?” Debs asked, desperation in her voice.
“I dunno Debs, I guess we will see when the storm passes...Shit... I really wanted to surprise you guys.” There was a look of disappointment that came across on Fiona's face as she said it and her eyes welled with tears again.
“It's OK Fiona” Debbie offered “You couldn't help it, stupid storm!” She rolled her eyes which made Fiona smile.
“Yeah Fiona” Ian's face appeared in the frame now
“Ian! Move your big ass head!” Debs teased, giving Ian a shove “I can't see Fiona!”
On the other end of the phone, Fiona was smiling and even laughing a little as Ian appeared back in the frame, scowling at his little sister.
“Ian! I didn't expect you to be out of prison yet!” Fiona smiled at her brother
“Yeah, well I came up for parole and at the time, Mick and I weren't doing so hot and needed a break. He encouraged me..”
“More like forced..” Mick interjected
“To go for my parole..” Mickey came over and put his arm around Ian's shoulders since Ian was hunched over a bit.
“And, here we are!” Mickey was grinning from ear to ear, as is Ian.
“Heya Mickey! Did you get paroled too?”
Mick grinned devilishly “Nope, I dug my way out with sharpened spoons!” He stuck out his tongue “I couldn't stand being away from this guy any longer!” pointing to Ian who was grinning boyishly.
Mickey kisses Ian on the cheek, like a goof before they move on, filling Fiona in, telling her the story from earlier that day starting with Ian's Christmas surprise and ending with Frank being terrorized by Hooligan which was the reason for them still being conscious at this hour.
This, of course, had Fiona laughing “I'm sorry I missed it! That's Hilarious! Great choice of a gift, Mickey. It sounds like Hooligan is fitting right in; I can't wait to meet the critter!” she had to also stifle a yawn. “I've probably been keeping you guys up, I should let you get to bed.”
“Yeah” Debs agreed “Frannie will be up before you know it.”
Fiona smiled at the mention of her niece “Give Frannie and Freddy my love.”
“We will!” Debs and Lip echoed.
On the phone, Fiona saluted them “Merry Christmas To All, And To All, A Good Night, Gallagher's!!”