A/N So I'm officially the worst. So sorry it's been so long since I've last updated. I've been super busy, but am going on a road trip today and hope to get a lot of writing done! Anyway to make up for my absence, here's a bittersweet, somewhat fluffy chapter. Enjoy!

Ch. 10: USA

Sara rocked her nine month old son in her arms in an effort to soothe him. She didn't know why he was acting like this. Overall, Mikey had proven to be his father's son in that he was always pretty calm, cool, and collected. He rarely had temper tantrums, but when he did, look out world. His incessant crying often made Sara nervous that he would stop breathing, or something, because of his loud shrieks and beat red face. She could usually calm him down pretty easily, but for some reason today was just one of those days where Mikey could not be soothed.

Sighing, Sara made her way over to the cabinet where she kept everything she had left of Michael: a couple of his shirts, the origami flower, and the DVD he made for her and Linc to watch. She reached for the DVD, and walked over to the DVD player. She put in the disk, turned on the TV, and was once again amazed by her husband's ability to bring a sense of calmness to any given situation, even from the grave. Almost immediately upon seeing his father's face and hearing his soft voice, Mikey's cries died out as he watched his father on the screen.

It was then that she heard it. It was…soft, almost like a question. But upon hearing it, Sara's face broke into the biggest smile she thought she would ever smile. Her son, her precious baby had just said his first words. Now granted it was hardly a word, and could possibly be overlooked by some as incessant infant babble, Sara knew there was no way in the world that it could be nonsensical chatter.

"Da da," her son called out as he waved his arms and pointed at the screen at his father. There was no doubt in her mind that Mikey had no idea what his father was saying, but it didn't matter. Her son knew who his father was, and that fact made her heart soar.

"Yeah buddy," Sara beamed. "That's your Daddy."

When the video ended, Mikey was calm, and on the verge of sleep, probably exhausted from his incessant screaming and crying from his temper tantrum. She took him to his room, kissed him on his forehead, and laid him down in his crib. She smiled as she saw the smile form on his face as he dozed off, the same way it always did, and the same way Michael's used to.

Sara walked back to the living room, and collapsed on the couch. She was wrecked. Watching that video, although necessary to ease her son's mental state, always took a lot out of her. She missed him so much. It was days like these where she longed to return to the cemetery where Michael was buried, just to feel like she still had some sort of connection to him; to feel closer to the one who stole her heart. But she knew she couldn't do that.

A few months ago, Sara, Lincoln, Mikey, and Sofia returned to the United States. After discovering all of their names had been cleared of all charges, Lincoln insisted they return to the place they knew as home. Sara was reluctant to leave, because she didn't want to leave behind her husband's grave, or Linc's scuba shop that he had always dreamed of owning. So they compromised. Every year on the anniversary of Michael's death, they decided that they would return to Panama for a few days to visit his tombstone. As for the scuba shop, it was in an ideal location, and was not hard to sell.

They moved to Florida two weeks after Sara found out her name had been cleared. While Linc knew Sara truly wanted to return to Chicago, Sara insisted that Lincoln could not give up on his dreams. They moved to Miami where Linc opened up a new and improved "Mike's Scuba Shop" on the Florida coast. He was content with how well his business had been doing, and happy to be back in the states.

Sara had received many job offers from several Miami hospitals, and decided to choose Miami Presbyterian, because it had the best pediatrics program, and offered a day care where she could drop off Mikey during the day. Of course she loved having Sofia watch him, but she loved being close to Mikey all day more.

Sara's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of keys jingling in the locks. She tensed only for a second before realizing that it was just her brother in law coming to check in on her.

"Hey sis," Lincoln greeted. "Where's my favorite nephew?"

"Sleeping," she responded as she met Lincoln for a hug.

"So how has your day off been? Have I missed anything exciting?" Lincoln inquired.

"Well actually, now that you mention it, Mikey may have a little surprise for you when he wakes up, which should be any minute now," Sara finished proudly.

As if on cue, sounds of Mikey's babbles filled the room and Lincoln immediately seized the opportunity to greet his nephew. Sara smiled at her brother in law's eagerness to see his nephew. They truly had a special bond.

As Lincoln entered the room, Sara caught the end of his conversation with Mikey, which mainly consisted of Mikey babbling excitedly and Lincoln smiling and nodding.

"Hi baby boy," Sara greeted in response to her son's outstretched arms toward her upon noticing her sitting in the living room. She plucked her son from Linc's arms and cuddled him close to her chest, kissing him on the back of his head.

"Did you have a good nap?" she asked not really expecting an answer

Lincoln smiled at his sister in law and nephew. He would give anything to have his brother here to witness this moment. He was so proud of the mother Sara had become, and how far she had come in coping with her grief. He knew the pain had to be unimaginable, but he also knew that having Mikey with her, her little piece of Michael, helped ease the ache in her heart. At least, he knew it did for him.

"Hey bud," Sara started, "are you ready to show Uncle Linc what you learned today?"

Mikey looked on at his mother curiously. Sara grabbed the TV remote, turned on the TV, and pressed play on the DVD player. Michael's face filled the screen.

Mikey squealed excitedly upon seeing his father's face. He waved his arms enthusiastically before pointing at the screen, looking at his Uncle Linc, and saying the very name that filled Sara's heart with so much joy.

"Dada."

A/N So there you have it. Thank you guys for continuing to read! Next chapter we'll be back to Michael, Mahone, and the General. Reviews are always welcome! XOXO