A/N: As promised, here is another chapter to make up for how much I've sucked for the past few months. Thanks to those who are sticking with me through this crazy journey!

Chapter 8: Coincidences

"Sara…Sara…Earth to Sara…hello?"

"Do you think I should call Michael?"

Sara's eyes fluttered open to meet those of Maricruz.

"Hey, sleepy head," Maricruz greeted, moving to sit at the table with Sara.

"Where am I?" Sara asked, slightly disoriented.

"Carter's birthday party?" Maricruz answered.

"Right," Sara said, sitting up straighter. "Sorry. I must've just dosed off."

"Is everything okay?" Maricruz asked.

"Yeah, I've just been working really hard lately. Lots of overtimes, lots of sleepless nights, you know how it is," Sara said attempting to brush off her worries.

"But you finally got off last night, right? Did you even sleep then?" she asked.

"What's with the twenty questions?" Sara snapped. She immediately regretted her tone when she saw the looks on her friend's face.

"I'm sorry," she said sighing.

"It's okay," Maricruz told her. "I'm just worried about you."

"I know and I love you for it. The truth is, I haven't slept in three days and I'm just really run down," Sara conceded.

"Well, why didn't you sleep last night? Weren't you off work?" Maricruz asked.

"Couldn't sleep," Sara said, trying to brush off her friends once more.

"Why not? Michael keeping you up all night?" Maricruz asked her, nudging Sara's side with her elbow.

"I wish it were that simple," Sara said under her breath.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"Nothing. I should go check on the kids," Sara said as she moved to stand.

"Sit down," Maricruz said. "Talk to me."

Sara sighed, but conceded.

"It's just…Mikey had this dream last night, and it was all too specific for my liking. And as much as I've tried to brush it off and tried to act like it means nothing, there's a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that tells me that the dream wasn't random and that something bad is coming. And I'm just afraid and exhausted because I couldn't turn my brain off for two minutes much less try to get any sleep last night. And, god, you guys should see what it did to Michael last night. I haven't seen him that shaken up in I don't know how long. I've just worked so hard to get my life to where it is and I can't stand the idea that it might be ruined," she finished with a sigh.

"What was the dream?" Maricruz said breaking the silence.

"There was a man who was hurting me," Sara said.

"That doesn't seem like—" she started.

"The man only had one real hand. The other was fake," Sara said.

"Oh," Maricruz replied. She knew who that must be and could now see why Sara was so tense.

"Sara," Maricruz started.

"Before you say anything, I know it sounds crazy and that it can't really be him. But what if it is?" Sara said nervously.

"Sara—" Maricruz tried again.

"He has already caused this family so much pain and there is no way in hell I am letting him anywhere near us ever again. I'm just afraid what Michael is going to do if—"

"Sara!" Maricruz said, finally getting Sara's attention.

"The dream…" she started, "it's not what you think."

"What do you mean?" Sara asked curiously.

"I mean that yesterday when I picked Mikey and Lila up from school, I took them back to Fernando and my place and they watched a movie."

"I don't see how—"

"The movie was Peter Pan," Maricruz said.

And suddenly it dawned on her. All this time, she and Michael had been assuming the worst. They didn't even take the time to think about a logical explanation for their son's dream.

"You mean…" Sara trailed off.

"The man with hand was probably Captain Hook? That's exactly what I mean."

"Oh my god," Sara said, resting her head on the table. She never thought she would be more relieved to learn that her son's nightmares were a result from a Disney movie.

"You have no idea how relieved that makes me. All this time, I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I've been waiting for something to come along and ruin our happiness. And I was sure we had just found it. But, wow. Nothing more than a simple coincidence. Am I crazy?" Sara asked, rambling.

"No, you are not crazy. Things have been crazy for you guys in the past, and it's only natural for you to assume the worst, as bad as that sounds. You're only human," Maricruz said, rubbing her friend's arm in an attempt to comfort her.

"Mommy!" Sara smiled at her son as he rushed toward her, face and clothes covered in cake.

"Hi, baby. Did you get to eat any of your cake or did it all end up on your clothes and face?" she asked jokingly, tickling his sides.

"You're silly, Mommy. Of course I ate my cake. I love cake!" Mikey said excitedly.

Sara laughed at her son's response.

"Baby, come sit down by me, okay?" Sara said quietly, patting the spot on the bench next to her. Mikey obliged and was sitting at her side in an instant.

"Auntie Mari told me that you guys watched Peter Pan yesterday," Sara started.

"Yes," Mikey said. "And I really liked it a lot except for the scary man with one hand."

"Did the man from your dream last night look anything like the scary man with one hand?" Sara asked, trying desperately to keep her voice even. Unbeknownst to him, Mikey's response would be the determining factor on whether she would be able to sleep at night or not.

"Actually, yeah he kinda did," Mikey said quietly, remembering the nightmare.

"Okay, buddy. I just want to tell you that he is not real and he will never hurt me or Daddy ever."

"Promise?" Mikey said looking up at her.

"Promise."

"Okay, Mommy, let's go home."

"You got it, buddy."

Sara walked into her house with a sleeping Mikey in her arms. Not only was the party during his usual naptime, he was overloaded on cake and ice cream and crashed in the car from his sugar high.

Michael came from around the corner and smiled at the sight of his wife and son.

"Partied too hard?" Michael asked, lifting their son from her arms.

"Looks like it," Sara said, stroking her son's short hair.

"I'll go put him down. I have something to tell you," Michael said.

"So do I," Sara added with a smile.

"Sweet dreams, angel," Sara said kissing her son's forehead.

"While you put him down, I'm gonna go check on Jake. I missed my other baby," Sara said following Michael up the stairs.

"Okay. I'll meet you in the living room when you're done."

Sara walked down the stairs to see her husband pacing back and forth in the living room. She smiled. Even though her husband was a nervous wreck right now, she was about to make everything so much lighter. The dream meant nothing. Sure, it freaked them out and reminded them that try as they might, they can't outrun their pasts, but in the end, it was just a random coincidence.

"Hey," she called over to him, causing him to cease his movements.

"Hey," he said back with a sigh.

"Can I go first?" Sara asked. "I have a feeling what I'm about to say is going to make everything seem better."

Michael motioned for her to sit on the couch.

"Let's hear it," he said, leaning against the cushions and draping an arm across the back of the couch.

"It's about the dream," Sara started. "It was all just a misunderstanding."

"Sara, I don't think—"

"No, listen, Michael," she said cutting him off. "His nightmare? It was about Captain Hook. He watched Peter Pan the other day with Lila, and I guess it just freaked him out. But it's fine. He isn't coming back into our lives and things can go back to normal."

"Sara—" Michael tried.

"And that's good. It's kinda sad to think that we jumping to the worst case scenario was our first instinct. But thankfully, worst case isn't the actual case," Sara said with a smile. "Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?"

"He's out."

A/N: Dun dun dun dun! Hope you enjoyed chapter 8! Reviews are awesome :) XOXO