Author's Note: Well, here it is, chapter one of the sequel. I tried out a different format for this one, being in first person, hoping to be able to get into the character's personalities easier, let me know how it's working.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own any of these characters. Prison Break and all related elements, characters, and indicia are copyright Paul Scheuring, 20th Century Fox Television, Adelstein-Parouse Productions, and Original Television.

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The day had faded into another humid night in Panama, the seven of us back on the porch, enjoying everything about freedom that we used to take for granted.

"This place is great, Uncle Mike, how'd you find it?"

"I designed it a while back."

"By yourself?"

"More or less."

LJ's been asking questions since we met him in Chicago, mostly to me and Lincoln. I could've swore that kids his age should be too busy lounging around, too carefree to bombard people with questions, but I guess LJ's an exception.

"Are we really gonna open a surf shop?" His intuitive excitement could warm even the coldest heart.

"I think we need to learn to surf first, don't you think?"

He seemed to ponder the question like it had never crossed his mind. "Yeah, I guess we should. How about now?"

"Tomorrow, LJ. I think your dad's too drunk to stand up, much less learn to surf."

"That's not true, Uncle Mike, dad's fine, aren't ya, dad?"

"Huh? Oh…yeah. I'm great."

"Do you know what he's talking about, Linc?"

"Not a clue. You need to go get some sleep, kid. We're gonna spend tomorrow on the beach."

"Yeah, like I wanted to stay out here with a buncha stiffs like you," he laughed. "Goodnight, everyone."

I watched LJ disappear into the house before letting myself drift back into thought. I had to leave tomorrow morning, be back in the states and serve my probation. I figured since I wasn't on the run anymore, I could find some little beach town in Florida and settle down with Sara, if she made the choice to leave Fox River behind. I had talked to her alone earlier, and she said she was almost one hundred percent sure, but I had told her to sleep on it. She still wanted to go to rehab meetings, though, wanted to make sure she didn't have another lapse.

Sitting there in Panama with the four people I love in this world, along with two friends, I can't help but think how lucky I am. The moon's high in the sky now, and the light of it dances off of the rippling ocean, making the sight, Sara included, look more beautiful than ever. Her long auburn hair is framed around her face by the wind, her eyes squinted just slightly, looking like she's deep in thought, just like everyone else. There's a glimmer in the hazel of her eyes, making her face sparkle just as much as the ocean, and it's constricting my chest. No matter what she says she wants, just me and a family, I know she wants to be supported more than emotionally. She'll want stability, if not now, then sometime in the future, and it's not something I'm positive I can give her. Structural engineering was my life, it was the job that I loved, and I couldn't do it anymore, not legally at least. The felony charge had made sure of that. No matter how much the old firm wanted me back, they knew that people talked, and my employment would lead to bigger problems. If only there was a way that I could give Sara a financially secure future. Sure, we have a good bit of Westmoreland's money, and for that I'm thankful, but it won't last forever, I know this, especially with the family we plan on starting. I know Sara's too strong of a person to complain, and too stubborn to leave even if she realizes that I can't give her all she needs, it's what makes it so hard. I have to excel beyond anyone's expectations, just to make sure she's taken care of, to make sure there's no possible way I can fail her.

"Mike, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lincoln's voice thrust me back into reality, a place where everyone was staring at me like my growing hair was on fire.

"Uh, yeah." I stood up and followed him down the steps to the white sand of the beach, aching to feel it on my feet, but too self conscious to go barefoot. John Abruzzi had royally screwed me out of my toes, and while I didn't mind when I was a fugitive, it was different now. I was a free man, and I couldn't enjoy the soft sand of the beautiful beach because of my eight toes. I've been telling myself to get over it, throw on a pair of sandals, and just go with it. It didn't look like it was happening any time soon.

"You have to go back to the States, don't you? I mean…they're not letting you serve your probation in some Middle American country, are they?"

"Yes, I'm going back. They're not going to know anything about Panama, not while Sucre's still here. I'm moving to Florida, get some little beach house in an unknown town, some place where I can start over."

I watched my brother rub the stubble on his chin and give a slight nod. "Sara going, too?"

I looked over my shoulder and saw her sitting there talking with Veronica and Maricruz about God knows what. "I hope so." I had to pry my eyes away from her before I ran back up the steps and claimed her as mine all over again. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason. It's just, I was talking to Veronica earlier, and we agreed it might be good if LJ was somewhere near his uncle, with everything that's happened. Ya know, Veronica thinks he might lose sleep, worrying about you, not knowing if you're okay."

It was my turn to nod. "So what are you thinking?"

"I dunno. Maybe the three of us could move up to Florida with you, somewhere close by."

"You mean next door, don't you, Linc?" He broke out into an intoxicated grin.

"Yeah."

"Well, it's really up to you and Veronica. If you want to, be my guest. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find a couple of nice little houses next to each other."

"You're paying for both, right?"

I let out a sarcastic laugh that must've been heard on the porch. "Yeah, right, Linc. I think you've had a little TOO much to drink tonight, it's got you hallucinating."

"Can't blame a guy for tryin'."

I laughed and nudged him in the shoulder, and he ended up toppling over into the sand. If he wasn't wasted, that fall would've been less than comforting, but he just laid there and stared at me with fake puppy dog eyes like I'd done some horrible thing.

"Veronica's gonna kill you if you fill the bed with sand, tonight." I extended my hand and barely managed to pull him up, almost falling on him.

"Maybe she'll get violent," he said with a wink, heading back up the stairs. I stared at him, amazed at how he could fall over at the slightest nudge, but be able to stand up and walk the uneven stairs in a straight line.

"That's it," I muttered to myself. "The stairs are uneven, therefore matching him stumble for stumble." I shook my head and trudged after him, the sand crunching against the wooden steps under my shoes. I watched each step before I took it, as if I was warning it I was going to step on it, urging it to take cover. God, I need to stop drinking, I'm talking to stairs here.

"Yes." I jerked my head up and grabbed the rail for balance, caught off guard by Sara's comment.

"Huh?" I was shaking my head, trying to clear the cobwebs, thinking I'd missed something.

"I'll go." I had about a million things to say, and they all tried to come out at once, instead getting caught in a jumbled mess in my throat. Sara must've noticed how aggravated I was getting at my lack of verbal skills because she came over and laced her arm around my waist, tilting her head up and to the side to kiss me. Every kiss tasted better than the last, and I knew it was something that would always happen that way. I'd managed to get my hand to the back of her head, my fingers running through her hair and dancing on the nape of her neck, something she'd told me drove her crazy. I smiled in the kiss just thinking about it, I'd tease at her for a bit until she was about ready to lose her inhibitions, then I'd stop, just like that. Having freedom enabled me to actually get to know Sara instead of just constant planning, and it was nice to have a conversation without a thousand other thoughts racing in my head. It seemed like throughout the few hours we'd been back in Panama, everyone had gotten to know everyone else a lot better and it felt nice because for the first time, it seemed like everyone around was on the same wave length. She broke the kiss and pulled back, her eyes fixed on mine.

"I'm glad. Who knows, maybe there's even a prison you can work at." It was meant to be more of a joke, but apparently it came out wrong.

"Who said I wanted to work at a prison, much less even stay a doctor?"

Now she had me baffled. "What would you do, then?"

"A housewife doesn't sound like such a bad job." Just hearing her say "wife" was enough to make me smile.

"I'd like that." She accepted my response and laid her head on my chest with a yawn, she was obviously exhausted from all the excitement that happened today. I kissed the top of her head, her hair feeling like the finest silk against my lips. "Why don't you go to bed? I'll be there in a few minutes." She yawned again and pulled back, studying me for a moment before kissing me goodnight.

"Goodnight."

"Night."

I took my seat at the table and picked up my beer, taking a long drink. It was down to four of us now, but I was almost positive everyone would be asleep in no time.

"So, Michael…Florida, huh?"

"That's right."

Sucre smiled at me, but I could see something else behind his eyes.

"Don't worry, Sucre. You and Maricruz can stay here as long as you want. You'll have my number, so you can call if you need anything." That brought the happy-go-lucky Sucre back.

"You're a life saver, papi!

"It seems to be a trend for me now." I stood up and nodded to Sucre, Maricruz, and Veronica after I drained the last of the liquid from my bottle. "Goodnight."

The sleep I got was better than any night in a long time. It was as if it was the first time I was actually able to turn my brain off and really rest. Having Sara's slender, partially sweaty body pressed against me didn't hurt, either. We'd definitely have to buy a few air conditioners in Florida, even though waking up with the sheets sticking to me wasn't all bad. It was kind of refreshing, like I went to sleep and by the time I woke up, I had sweat out all of the negative energy I had.

The morning had been filled with everyone bustling about in a rushed but cheery mood, either cleaning up or packing things. Veronica had asked me to help Lincoln talk to LJ about leaving Panama, and it went a hell of a lot better than I thought it would. As it turns out, he just wants to be somewhere sunny where the girls wear skimpy bathing suits, and his explanation brought a huge smile to his father's face.

"Like father, like son," I had thought with a smile.

"Are we gonna live with you, Uncle Mike? And Doctor Sara?"

"Nope. Next door. We figured it'd be better that way, everyone needs some privacy sometimes." As usual, LJ seemed to genuinely understand. He had really matured recently, but his now hard exterior brought a sinking feeling to my stomach now. It was like he was forcing himself to only show positive emotions, keeping all the bad things bottled up inside, and I knew firsthand that it wasn't a good habit to pick up on.

Veronica had apparently been online already and found two houses next to each other that she swore would be perfect. Turns out, she was right. The architecture was stunning, it mixed modern design with gothic style, and we could pay cash and move in right then. The price was nearly dirt cheap, too, being right in the center of where a good amount of hurricane activity takes place, some town called New Smyrna Beach. I didn't mind, I could tell by looking at pictures of the houses that they could withstand anything a hurricane could throw at it, and all the thunder would just give Sara more of a reason to cuddle up against me, even though we both knew she didn't need a reason. As we were headed out of the house, I joked with Sucre and told him not to knock over any of Panama's liquor stores, told him that they were armed for that kind of thing. He laughed, but it was laced with nervousness, which just made everyone else laugh harder, knowing Maricruz would knock him three ways to Sunday if he did anything like that again.

We took an actual airline to Florida and got a rental car, some late-model Honda, to make our drive in. Lincoln drove and Veronica directed him, the rest of us in the back, once again cramped together. I was starting to get used to it, and that was sad, but humorous at the same time.

"So, Doctor Sara, you got something goin' on with my Uncle Mike over here?" Sara had learned that it was a waste of time to be uncomfortable with LJ's straight-forward questions, seeing as how he'd ask them regardless, but she blushed anyway.

"I'm pretty sure I do. What about you, huh? Any special ladies?"

"Veronica's about as special as they come."

I caught Veronica's eyes in the rearview mirror, and I could see the silent tears at LJ's honest flattery. Sara seemed to be just as touched.

"You're a lucky guy, LJ, having someone as great as Veronica care about like she does."

"I know." His remark was so self-assured that the car erupted in laughter.

"You sure are a compliment killer."

"It's genetic," he said, hitting Lincoln playfully in the arm.

"You're forgetting one thing, kid."

"What's that?"

"I can ground you now."

"Aw, dad." His whiney protest only fuelled everyone's fit of laughter.

Twenty minutes of easy conversation passed, ranging in topics.

"Here's our street, turn here," Veronica instructed. I glanced at the street sign and scoffed. Riverside Drive. How generic. LJ seemed to notice it, too.

"Hey, V, why's it called Riverside if it's beachfront?"

"Because people like you overanalyze everything just like your Uncle Mike."

"Hey now," I said. "This is 'Gang Up On LJ' day, leave me out of it." Everyone laughed as Lincoln pulled the car over on the side of the road.

"You're too used to the city, Linc. We have driveways now." He seemed to be almost ashamed with his mistake, but he laughed it off and said we needed the exercise anyway. LJ made sure he was the first one in his new house, darting from room to room, inspecting every inch of the place, finally meeting up with us in the living room, completely winded.

"This place is HUGE!"

"This place is CHEAP." Lincoln high-fived his son and looked at the vacant house, Veronica standing next to him, admiring the start of their new lives.

We rented a couple of big U-Hauls and somehow managed to get every piece of furniture purchased, delivered, and set up in its respective place by sunset. After Veronica and Sara had picked out everything they would "die if they didn't get" they had headed to the supermarket, stocking up on an array of foods and dishes and assorted household supplies. Everyone had been too tired to drink that night, everyone except Lincoln, that is, and we exchanged goodbyes and goodnights.

I was relaxing comfortably on our new bed listening to the clock radio and I sat up when the song changed to "Back At One" by Brian McKnight. It was the same song that was playing when I asked Sara to dance, and I couldn't wait for her to get out of the bathroom so I could do it again. I must've startled her when she opened the door, because she recoiled slightly until she realized it was me.

"May I have this dance?" I questioned, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Michael…I'm pregnant."