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Lily had her first Father’s Day at 4.
Well Mickey and Ian had been quietly celebrating since her birth.
But at 4, her daycare talked about it and she was fascinated.
Daddy, Papa and Liam were her life and she loved their was a day for her dads.
Liam and Aunt Mandy were ready to help, but it was mostly coaching. The tiny redhead was insistent on doing it herself .
***
It was 6 am and the dads were spooned into each other , in a cozy peaceful slumber .
Until the bedroom door banged open and they jumped like it was a random cell search back at Statesville.
Lily stood in the door way, ladybug pajamas , rainbow tutu and Burger King crown.
Liam stood in the door way, bemused at his sister antics , plus Lip and Carl promised him two new books if he recorded to post toddler chaos.
” Daaaaaaaady “ She ran and lept , landing in Ian’s arms. He set her on his stomache .
” Good Morning Lily Girl , good morning Liam , what’s all this?”
Liam kept back a giggle. “Lily made you all breakfast…ALL by herself”
Lily nodded then stood on Ian, on his groin to jump on Papa. Her chin gave the Gallagher tilt when Papa did not wake up.Mickey was hoping playing possum would buy himself 10 more minutes. He forgot that while she looked like Ian , part dna was Milkovich. Persistence.
She stood on his chest and leaned in, prying his eyes open
“Papa wakes up”
Mickey moved her between him and his husband so she did not break one of his ribs. He looked at the clock then Liam and Ian and groused. “ She gets this sunny morning crap from you all.”
” Ok punk what was so important that it could not wait til 9 am” But his words had no bite , just tenderness and love .
” Papa , I mades you and Daddy breakfast “
Ian and Mickey just looked around confused but sat up, glad they put sweats on last night.
” Hold out hands please” she bossed .
They did as they were told and Liam hit play on his phone .
Under the tutu was her Fischer Price tool belt, the one she played outside with and they always forgot to wash.
She dug in the pockets and two little hands felt around .
She deposited small hand fulls of Lucky Charms with grass and twigs mixed in.
” The black dots are peppermint patty minis, so you don’t have morning breath “ Liam chided in.
Lily sat between her dads grinning from ear to ear .
Back into the pocket she went and they each got a juice box .Ian got a candy bracelet and Mickey a candy necklace. Both looked well, broken in .
” Sing them the sing Uncle Iggy taught you Sissy” Liam prompted , seconds away from cracking up.
Sung to happy birthday, at the top of Lily’s voice in her very very exhausted papa’s ear..
Happy Father’s Day to you happy Father’s Day to you
Happy Father’s Day, dear Daddy
Happy Father’s Day to yoooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
And then Lily squealed.
Then it’s Papa‘s turn and getting even louder, proceeded to sing the same thing, but putting Papa in place of Daddy.
Mickey turned to his husband, and said quietly “ So remind me to smother my brother with a couch pillow.”
But they clapped and praised her and the little blue eyes drilled into them both.
” You need to eat your breakfast”
Her eyes shone with pure earnest love and excitement , so as total loving dads, they choked it down , Mickey mumbling about the extra fiber from a twig he swallowed by accident.
They swallowed it down, potting soil and all, and then Ian turned to Lily .
“ Thank you baby girl, wait , Lily?”
Lily was between them fast asleep.
Mickey groaned.” Oh for fucks sake”
Liam put away the phone and reached down. He walked to the bed, handing each dad a card and a hot coffee in their drink mugs.
” “Well to be fair , she was up at five am , sorting cereal. If you did not notice, Pops got the green marshmallows and Dad you got the blue. I love you , Happy Father’s Day.”
Both men hugged Liam and scooted so he could crawl between them as well. In under five minutes, Liam was out. Mickey and Ian were now wide awake, just staring at each other.
” I feel like we may need a shot of some kind after cereal from that tool belt,” Mickey smiled rubbing Liam’s back .
Ian nodded.” Yeah, that is going in the laundry, tonight. Happy Father’s Day Mick.”
Mickey reached over the kids to stroke the side of Ian’s face.
“ Happy Father’s Day Ian.”
Both men fell asleep warmed by the love of the kids.