December 31

Sara opened the car door quickly sliding into her seat and pulled it shut behind her. Starting the car she quickly turned on the heat. Throwing her purse beside her, she opened the envelope she'd been carrying. Delicately pulling out the thick pieces of paper. As she slid the first sheet out, she saw she and Michael smiling to the camera and it brought a smile to her own face. Flipping through the rest of the prints, she found the one of Michael, Lincoln, and LJ. These three men…they'd done so much for her over the last two years. All handsome, all brave, all undeniably stubborn.

It'd taken a little work to get them all going that morning, but once things started it'd gone better than she'd expected. After having their faces plastered all over the country while on the run, none of them really cared to have their picture taken anymore. As they all stood nervously huddled together before the pictures, she'd noticed them all sharing a look. It was something unspoken but something very real. It was then she realized they were doing this for her. Her heart had become so full she'd almost cried. Luckily she was saved by the photographer yelling he was ready for them.

Slipping the photos back inside, she put the car in drive and headed to the grocery store to pick up some things for tonight.

Taking out her keys, she let herself into the apartment. Pushing the door shut behind her, she called out. "Michael?"

"In here." He yelled back from the kitchen.

Letting her purse drop to the floor, she headed toward his voice.

Michael looked up briefly and smiled as she came through the door. "Hi."

"Hi yourself." She said a little breathlessly. Sara stood in the doorway a moment holding the bag of groceries, admiring the site before her. Michael wore no shoes or socks and was dressed in fitted jeans that hugged him in all the right places. He was wearing one of his long sleeved t-shirts, which he'd pushed up revealing some of his ink. The man looked devastating standing there preparing dip for the little get together with Matt and Vicki tonight.

Michael realized she hadn't moved. Turning around, he was about to ask her if something was wrong when he saw the look she was giving him. Placing the supplies he'd been using down on the counter, he crossed the room. Lifting the bag out of her hand, he set it on the counter.

Facing her again, he reached out and laid a hand at her waist. Sara stepped forward and pressed herself up against him. Her lips parted and he needed no further invitation. Bringing his mouth down, his tongue sot hers. He pulled her closer and her arms wrapped around his neck. Michael's hands were roaming over her back. He wanted to feel her skin but couldn't get past the winter coat she was still wearing. Ripping his mouth away, "This coat…has to go."

Sara stepped back out of his arms and removed the coat. But instead of coming back to him, she turned and started out of the room. Pausing just inside the door, she looked back. Her eyes telling him she wanted him to follow. He did.

LJ was pacing outside the ticket area. Jess's plane had been delayed for four hours and had finally gotten off the ground just over an hour ago. He looked up at the screen for what seemed like the millionth time and saw it change to "arrived". If he'd thought his heart was beating fast before, now it was thundering. Moving so he could see the terminal entrance clearly, he waited.

Jessica made her way down the long hall toward security and the ticket area, where she knew LJ would be waiting for her. It had been a long day already. She'd wanted to call a cab to take her to the airport, but her dad had insisted on driving her. The forty-five minute drive had not been pleasant. And to round everything off, her flight had been delayed due to bad weather.

Rounding the corner, she spotted him. Picking up her speed she made her way past some slower travelers and without stopping quickly made her way to him. There was no hesitation. She wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug.

LJ hadn't known what it was going to be like seeing her again. But when he'd caught his first glimpse of her, he'd had to make himself stand in place to keep from running to her. Now with her in his arms, he didn't want to let go. After a few minutes, she began to pull away. When he took a look at her, all his guilt began to return. Her eyes were puffy and a little blood shot. She looked worn and tired. "Are you ok?" he asked.

Giving him a little smile, "Yea. Just good to be back." Seeing he was about to ask her more questions she wasn't really prepared to answer at the moment, "We should probably go get the rest of my bags." And without another word, she stepped back and began walking to the baggage claim.

By the time they got to the car, it was already six o'clock. One of her bags was missing and they'd had to go file a claim with the airline. All the way home, LJ had been debating as to whether or not he should bring up the invitation to Sara and Uncle Mike's tonight. She looked so tired.

All of a sudden he heard her shift beside him and take a deep breath. "LJ if there's something you want to ask me just ask."

He hadn't realized his feelings had been playing out on his face, but obviously they had. Taking a breath of his own he said, "It's nothing Jess." When she gave him that I don't believe you look, he relented. "Really it's nothing. Sara just invited us to come over tonight for New Years Eve that's all. But if you're too tired it's no big deal. We don't have to go."

Jessica was silent for a minute and then she surprised him. "Can we stop by the dorm first? I'd like to freshen up a little and change."

"You want to go? Are you sure?"

Jessica turned back to face the window again. "Yea. I'm sure."

At six, the doorbell rang. "Do you want to get that Michael?"

Michael came out of the bedroom and headed for the door. He'd put his jeans and long sleeve t-shirt back on, but had now added both socks and shoes to his ensemble. With his hand on the doorknob he took a deep breath and then opened the door.

Matt and Vicki both stood with huge smiles and Michael stepped back to let them into the apartment. Closing the door behind them, he turned. "Can I take your coats?"

"Oh yes please. Thank you Michael." Vicki said handing her coat over to their host.

"This is a nice place you have here. Nice location too. What is it about ten minutes from the office?" asked Matt.

"Something like that." Michael replied as he put their coats in the closet.

Sara came out of the kitchen drying her hands on a towel. "Hi. Glad you were able to come."

"Oh we didn't want to miss it. I was telling Michael, Vicki's been saying how she wanted us to get together for dinner ever since the barbeque. But the timing just never seemed to be right. This is perfect." Matt said as he rested a hand on Vicki's waist.

Michael seemed rooted in his spot so Sara decided to press forward. "Would you like something to drink? Michael bought something for later, but we have some pop, water, or I can make some coffee if you'd like."

"Oh we don't want you to go to any trouble. Water's fine for me."

Vicki glanced up at her husband who replied, " I'll take a Pepsi or a Coke if you've got it."

Sara turned to head back into the kitchen for drinks.

Vicki stepped away from her husband and gave him a nudge toward Michael. Moving towards the kitchen to follow Sara, "I'll help you with the drinks."

When Vicki entered the kitchen Sara was already pulling glasses out of the cabinet. "What can I do?"

Sara set the glasses down on the counter. "The Pespi is down on the far end if you want to get that while I get the ice."

Vicki moved to the far end of the room where Sara indicated the pop to be and removed a can for her husband. Sara already had the glasses filled with ice by the time she turned back around. Turning on the tap, Sara filled three glasses with water. "Are you sure you don't want anything besides water? I think I noticed some ice tea in there if you'd rather have that."

"Oh no that's ok. The doctor says no more than one cup of caffeine per day and I had that this morning." Vicki said with a shy smile.

Sara being a doctor picked up on her comment right away. With a smile she asked, "How far along are you?"

With Sara's question, Vicki's smile bloomed. "Almost two months. We just found out yesterday. We've been trying for a while now."

"Congratulations." Sara said and she meant it.

Leaning back against the counter as Sara filled the last glass Vicki asked, "So are you and Michael planning to have any? Little ones I mean." When she saw the expression on Sara's face change she quickly added, "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that."

"No. No, it's ok. It's just…" Setting the full glass down on the counter she thought about how much to share. She knew Vicki was extending friendship and she and Matt had already been so good to them. Since Vicki already knew about Michael's history, Sara decided to come out with it. "It's just…Michael is still on parole and we want to wait until he doesn't have to…"

Vicki reaching out a comforting hand. "Say no more. I understand." Turning around Vicki grabbed two of the glasses and she and Sara headed back into the living room with the men.

When the two women entered the living room, their men were both sitting, Matt on the couch and Michael in the chair, discussing work. As Vicki handed the glass to her husband and sat down beside him, "Can't you two find anything else to talk about besides work?"

Sara debated on whether to take a seat on the couch beside Vicki or to sit on Michael's lap. After taking a look at the still tense features on Michael's face, she decided to do neither. Instead, "Michael, could you help me with something for a minute?" Michael stood immediately and followed her into the kitchen.

When he reached the kitchen, he found Sara facing him with a scow on her face. "What?" he asked.

"What? Michael please. We have two people in our living room that are trying very hard to be our friends and you're acting like…your shutting yourself down."

Michael stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Sorry."

Taking a deep breath she let out an audible sigh. "I don't want you to be sorry Michael. I want you to be happy." Stepping toward him, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Michael instinctively moved his hands to bracket her hips. "Can you do that for me?" He looked so vulnerable. Nodding her head towards the living room and their guests, "I don't think they're going to judge you if that's what your afraid of."

Michael studied her face and then closed his eyes. "What about you?"

"Me? What about me?"

Opening his eyes, he pulled her close so she could no longer see his face. "What if they judge you?"

Holding him tighter, "Oh Michael. Don't worry about me." Feeling his protest coming she continued, "And besides, I don't think they will." Pulling back so she could see his face again, "These are nice people Michael. They want to be our friends but in order to do that…in order to do that we have to break down some of these walls we have ok." He said nothing but the look in his eyes told her he understood. Reaching up with her hand she caressed his face and gave him a small kiss.

As she pulled back and found his eyes again she heard him whisper, "I'll try," but she didn't have a chance to reply as there was a knock at the door.