No one will win this time

I just want you back

I'm running to your side

Flying my white flag, my white flag

My love, where are you?

The four adults and kid ended up spending nearly the entire day together. After a quick short walk from the diner to Millennium Park, they wondered around the park. Sara, Aurora and Veronica walked ahead of Michael and Lincoln, giving the perfect opportunity to apologise to his brother.

Lincoln cleared his throat, trying to find the right words as they walked. "Mike… I just want you to know I'm sorry. I should have told you."

Michael shook his head, "I shouldn't have left Sara. This is on me Linc."

Lincoln stared at his brother, "How did you find out?"

Michael took a deep breath. "After seeing you and Vee yesterday, I thought about seeing Sara. I thought of how badly I've wanted to see her and since I didn't know where she lived, I thought I'd visit her folks' house." He smiled at the memory of the first glimpse he had of his daughter. He'd been scared shitless is an understatement. But Sara had done a good job assuring him that it is water under the bridge, still he couldn't help but worry about her parents. After all they were the ones that had to pick up the pieces he left. "And there she was, playing in the garden."

Lincoln listened in; he felt the raw emotions his brother exhumed. "I thought she was John's daughter, well hoped and prayed more like. But then I saw her eyes, there was just something so familiar and then I knew." He shrugged his shoulders.

Lincoln was pretty impressed that Sara didn't kill him right there and then. "And Sara?"

"She was shocked. But she told me that Grace had told her I was back in town, she must have seen me visit mom's grave."

Lincoln tensed beside Michael. Lincoln could only go on their mother's birthday. It's been ten years going eleven since their mother died but it still felt like yesterday.

Michael laughed, "I think Sara wanted to kill me… I don't blame her to be honest." He paused. "It's all my fault, I should've opened the letters."

Lincoln contemplated his next words, "So what's going to happen now? Sara will tell Aurora about you and then what? Aurora will split her time between Chicago and New York?" He worried about the welfare of his niece and just wanted the best for her.

Michael was touched at the hint of concern in Linc's voice. He shoved his hands in his pockets as they continue to walk behind the females in their lives. "I told Sara I'm ready to come home. Because of your wedding I have a month off work anyways, so I'll spend that time getting to know Aurora, and house hunting and…" he suddenly stopped as his eyes landed on Sara.

Lincoln followed the trail of Mike's gaze. Sara. Something's don't change. He knew that his younger brother had been in love with his best friend since they were teens. He wondered if there was a way for these two to realise their feelings for one another and stop being scared of the what ifs. Then an idea hit him. They should invite Sara to Mike's birthday dinner on Thursday night. Yes.


Aurora raced to the rock-climbing wall, giving Veronica and Sara some privacy. She was very familiar with this park since she comes here quite often with her grandparents.

"I take it Michael knows." Veronica asked.

Sara nodded, "He showed up at my parents' house last night. He was the last person I expected to see." She snorted.

"Wow, I told him to talk to you, I didn't think he'd do it the same day." Veronica paused. "How was it?"

Sara took a deep breath, "Oh at first I felt guilty, then angry then I just wanted to kill him. But then he wants to try, you know, to get to know her." Again, Sara's eye shone with tears.

"Hey, hey." Veronica hushed as she put an arm around Sara. "You know what, you two are meant to be."

Sara chortled, "It was one-night Vee." She looked around and saw Michael and Lincoln out of their earshot walking towards them.

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Sara looked at her. "What do you mean?'

Veronica raised an eyebrow at Sara. "Come on! Do you think I'm or everyone else with a set of working eyes are blind?! Everyone knew you were in love with the guy, have been since we were fifteen!"

Sara's lips parted in stunned surprise. Was she that obvious? She let out a nervous laugh, "Of course I loved him, he was my best friend."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Oh please! Remember the spring dance in junior year and he had gone with that girl Nika because she practically begged and chewed his ear off till he said yes? You had a scowl on your face the entire night and went home early!"

"In my defence I went home early because I wasn't feeling too… good."

Veronica laughed, "The entire week leading up to the dance, you were a real bitch!"

Sara laughed, "Well I think I was menstruating."

"Whatever Tancredi, no matter how much you deny your feelings it doesn't make it any less true. Anyways, Michael feels the same way."

Sara stopped smiling, "What?"

Oh god. Did she really just let that slip? She looked at Sara nervously, she saw the other woman was about to ask for more details, so she quickly called her fiancée over.

"Coming dear." Lincoln joked as he and his brother quickly joined the two ladies.

Sara gave her one last look before turning her attention to her daughter who was halfway up the wall. She contemplated on what Veronica had slipped out. Michael felt the same way? Surely, Vee didn't mean that. When she smelt his cologne and felt his presence, she pushed the thought out of her mind and smiled at him as he came to a stop next to her. He'd been looking at her with those intense blue eyes only to be torn away as their daughter ran towards them.

Aurora tugged on her mother's arm. "Could I go onto the big slide mom?"

Sara nodded and her daughter raced to the top of the slide. She wasn't sure what to do with what Veronica slipped but she had to know more.

Luckily there weren't that many people in the park, so they sat on the blocks under the little trees.

Lincoln cleared his throat, "So Sara, you got any plans for Thursday night?" He asked shyly.

Sara smirked, "Are you trying to ask me out in front of your fiancé and brother?" She teased.

Lincoln violent shook his head in Michael's direction. "Of course not." Veronica, Michael and Sara laughed at his over-reaction.

"Relax Linc, I'm only teasing." She paused, "I happen to be free for the next week and a half, for Aurora's birthday and the wedding rehearsals."

Lincoln nodded towards Mike, "Well you know it's his birthday and we were going to take him out, if you want to come with?"

Sara contemplated whether this was okay, she saw hope in Michael's eyes. She nodded, "I would love to."

"Great, I'll text you the details Sara." Veronica interjected.

Suddenly, Aurora ran back to her mother. "Mom, I'm starting to get hungry again."

Sara laughed, "Of course you are."