Summers at the Gallagher house were rough. The shitty AC that was on it's last legs (and that Fiona couldn't afford to get replaced) only worked half the time, and the house got hot very, very quickly with how many bodies there were and how much movement that went on inside every single day.

Six kids.

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and of course Liam. Plus Frank. And Fiona was the only one who could properly provide for the family that relied on her. But that was hard when she couldn't leave the house for hours at a time. She couldn't bring herself to leave a baby and elementary aged kids alone.

Ian and Lip were teens. Often not home. She didn't want to steal their youth and time like Monica and Frank had stolen hers. So she stayed home, worked the night shift. But her pockets suffered for it. Ends still met. But just barely.

And then she met you. Initially she didn't think she would like you. You were a neighbor who had moved into the little white house across the street. She'd seen you move in matching furniture and tasteful decor. Put-together, soft-spoken, and gentle. You had no business living on the South side in her opinion.

And then you offered to help watch her siblings. For free. She was skeptical.

But... she came around. You came over to watch the kids so she could pick up a shift at the odd jobs that she did, bartending, waitressing, etcetera. And... somehow you managed to keep the Gallagher kids from tearing each other (and the house) apart.

And... you two had a few odd rituals. She'd accidentally said "okay, love you, bye," the first day you babysat for her. You'd been a little confused but you'd said it back. And it remained like that even now. You were touchy. You liked hugs. You'd put your arms around her neck and put your face on her collarbone.

She liked that more than she wanted to admit. The softness, the openness of your soft heart.

Fiona was running late. Rushing around and shoving things into her purse. You were holding Liam already. "God damn it. I can't be late again. I'll see you later. Love you." She kissed your cheek - a little rough in passing. She'd never done that before.

Things were complicated between you.