A/N : Hey you guys, I'm back! It was a quarter to midnight when I suddenly got inspiration.Maybe...Maybe I should get some sleep...

Anyway, please let me know what you think.I really hope you like it.

XO


"Michael, I think we should talk, when you come home tonight."

He knew that this couldn't possible predict good news. Every conversation starting with the woman saying 'I think we should talk' ended in a. a disaster or b. a catastrophe. So, it's safe to say that Michael stared at the clock five times per minute all day long and that he, for once, wished time wouldn't move as fast.

Despite the fact that she'd said Home, which meant she wouldn't be kicking him out – he was a small 'fraidy cat instead of a big, courageous lion. Not his favorite part to play.

"Lincoln?" He pleaded into the phone when his brother answered.

Lincoln knew, immediately, by his brother's voice, that something was wrong. He sat down onto the sofa, pulled Em onto his lap and clutched the phone. "Mike. What's wrong?"

He sighed. "I don't – I don't know. But Sara just called me, saying she thinks we should talk. I mean, that can't be good, right?"

A soft laugh answered him. "Michael, I hope you do understand that talking is a common thing with married people. It's what you do when you're not fooling around."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Oh, thanks a bloody lot, Linc. Make fun of me, why don't you." A short silence followed. "It was just the way she said it, you know. The exact words you always hear in movies when something bad has happened or is going to. The exact same words, Lincoln : 'Michael, I think we should talk'."

The other end of the phone smiled sympathetically. "So what do you think is wrong?"

"I told you. I don't know."

Lincoln nodded. "But there are a few things we do know, Michael."

"Oh yeah? Enlighten me."

He grinned. "Don't be a smart-ass, Michael. You know, maybe that's your problem." He felt bad when Michael stayed silent. "Listen, I'm sorry, I was stooping low with that one. But what I was saying is : Sara loves you more than anything or anyone, and you shouldn't doubt that. Now, let me call Vee, okay – maybe she knows something. I'll get back to you."

Michael fumbled with the papers on his desk for the next hours, but didn't achieve a thing. He didn't even know what he was feeling – how he should be feeling. It's amazing, isn't it? How one little sentence can knock the wind out of you, just like that?

He hadn't figured it out yet when his phone rang. Hesitantly, he reached for it after seven rings and gave a small hello.

"Michael, it's me."

He gave a soft sigh. "Hey Vee. Did Lincoln clue you in?"

"Yeah,"she paused, "he did."

"And?" He gently prodded her.

"Aaaand...I can't help you, Michael. I wish I could."

Michael closed his eyes and rested his head on his desk. He was right back where he started. Nah, that wasn't right – he'd never started in the first place! "You can't."

"Michael, listen. Sara didn't tell me anything, but if there's one thing you shouldn't be doubting, it's the way she feels about you.Now THAT's something she did tell me. She's going to love you for ever and ever, Michael.So no, she will not end things with you."

"Yeah..." he mumbled. "Listen Vee, I've gotta run, okay? I'll let you know what happens... when I'm up to it. Bye."

Disconnecting the call, he gathered his things and told his boss he wasn't feeling well, so he was leaving for the day.

He needed to think.


Michael wandered the streets. The place that he had always run to in the past, had now become their home – and he regretted it for a few minutes. He had just never imagined needing shelter ever again.

Somehow, he ended up at Fox River.

The place he had hoped never to see again, had suddenly become his direction. The guard's eyes widened when he saw Michael stepping through the large gate, walking towards the main entrance.

"Michael!"

Michael gave him a weak smile. "Hello, Louis, how's the secretary?"

"Well, er- she's er –" Louis mumbled all sorts of 'phrases', before Michael decided to put the poor guy out of his misery.

"It's okay, Louis, it's okay. It's er – good to see you. But I'm sorry, I didn't come here for you. I need to speak with the Warden, you know - " he rolled his eyes " rehabilitation things."

Louis slapped him amically on the back. "I understand, Mike. You just er – go ahead, and if you have any problems, tell them to see me."

"Thanks. I will."

It felt weird to be on the other side of the fences, to see the places where Sara had stopped from this side to talk to him. Hottest April on record!

He was almost inside, when he heard Louis call out to him. Looking back over his shoulder, he gazed at the distant guard. "Eh Mike! It's good to see you too."


Henry sat at his desk, wearing his heavy glasses and reading 'Earthsea', because – duh – there were no Pirates of the Carribean books. He had to admit that he loved the story and that Sperwer had become a fictional friend of his. Four knocks on his door shaked him out of his reverie and he hurriedly tucked the book away and pulled out some legal papers. He spread them over his desk before calling out a low 'yes?'.

Well, it certainly wasn't who he'd expected to see. "Michael?"

Michael, former inhabitant of the Fox River penitentiary smiled at him. "It's only me, Pops. So just retrieve that book of yours."

Henry laughed and pulled out his copy of Earthsea. Michael walked over to his desk and flipped the book, read the backside and gave him an appreciative nod. "Looks good."

"Yes, it does." Henry motioned for him to sit down. "Now, Michael, as much as I would love to discuss books with you all afternoon, I know that it's not the reason that you came here. So, what's on you mind."

Michael did. He told Henry everything, and he listened, giving some commentary along the way. Basically, he said the same thing Lincoln and Veronica had told him : Sara loved him, so an end to the relationship was out of the question.

Michael thought back to the times before Sara, how – whenever he'd let someone get close to him, whenever he loved them more than he loved himself – they just left. Sometimes, his LLI got the best of him and he got lost inside his own fears and thoughts. But this time he knew for sure that Sara wouldn't end it all...right? Yes, he did know. More than anything.

But then what was it with the line?

He left Fox River, but this time, he wasn't free of sorrow at all.


Sara waited for him to come home. She'd cooked his favorite dinner and she'd pulled out the nice dishes. She had been fumbling with her ring for hours, because a strange sort of nervosity had suddenly gripped her.

Which was ridiculous, she told herself.Michael will agree.

Sara thought she'd die when she heard his keys on the driveway. When she was pregnant, he'd always made the little bell on his keychain tingle for their unborn baby and she loved the sound of it.

He was home.

The first thing she noticed was that he looked dead tired. She immediately rushed over to him and kissed him sweetly on the lips. "Are you okay?"

He nodded silently. "You er – you said you wanted to talk to me."

She swallowed. "Don't you want to have dinner first? I made your favorite?"

Michael gave her a small smile. "It does smell delicious in here. But –" he frowned, "I'd rather you just give me the news now."

"Well," she sat down on the sofa and motioned for him to do the same. He took a deep breath, briefly closed his eyes and positioned himself beside her. When she immediately cuddled up to him, a warmth flooded over him and he knew that it would all be alright. "It's not really a news-flash," she mumbled, "more like a...suggestion?"

Suggestion. Huh?

"Listen, Michael..."she sighed, "I've been thinking about his for some time now, but I was afraid you'd say no. I was just, you know...wondering, if you..."

He raised his brow at her and squeezed her hand, begging her to continue.

Sara took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would want to have another baby with me?"


Should I have slept instead of written? (translation : was it good?)

XO