Sara came back from the grocery shopping, one bag in hand and Faith's seat in the other.

She sighed, putting one heavy bag on the counter and Faith's seat down, she unbuckled her immediately as Faith fussed slightly.

"da..da!" Faith squealed and crawled over to the loving room, where Michael napped on the couch.

Sara looked up, he must be so tired, this situation was an emotional toll on everyone and Michael couldn't sleep for nights,
Sara tried to stay awake with him, never leave him alone, but she often sucombed to sleep.

"Hey no ! don't you dare wake dada." She instructed firmly.

Faith turned to her and frowned. "dada.."

"Yes dada needs his rest." Sara came to kneel to her level and removed her winter coat, taking her small gloves away. "So don't you wakey him, okay ?" she explained softly and kissed her forehead, taking the car keys from the counter and going to take the rest of the groceries bags, putting her stuff on the coat rack on the way.

Faith looked back at Michael, she crawled to the bottom of the couch.

"dada!" she squealed, after receiving no response she put her elbows on the couch and tried to climb up but failed, she huffed, trying again, her leg dangling in an unconfortable position and her waist slipped down.

Frustrated, she tried again and this time managed to ease herself right next to Michael. She tapped on Michael's cheek. "dada.." she slowly said and then grabbed his ear, playing with his face as he slept.

"Faith !" Sara exclaimed in a low voice coming back to see her right on Michael's sleeping shoulder. Faith squealed startled and laughed hiding behind Michael who let out a small groan the movement waking him up.

"How did you get up there ? I told you not to wake dada." Sara scolded once she left all the bags on the counter.

Michael blinked, his eyes still red with sleep.

"I am so sorry Michael, I tried to stop her." Sara desolated shaking her head.

Michael yawned and smiled grabbing Faith by the waist. "It's okay.." He kissed the side of her face.

"It's not, stop pampering her. She disobey all the time." Michael laughed at that remark as Sara went to the kitchen and began putting their groceries in cabinets.

"She's on you then.." Michael chuckled as Sara rolled her eyes shaking her head.

"She's my baby, she can wake me anytime." He craddled Faith against him sitting up slightly.
"Besides, maybe I could actually get some sleep if her mom stopped snoring all night." He teased with a smirk, rubbing Faith's small back.

"I do not snore Scofield, that's diffamation and I could sue you for that." Sara slammed a cabinet in mock anger and he looked up at her.

Her hair was a natural messy, she was panting a little from carrying the groceries and the sun shone on her face, in patterns as she moved and opened and closed the glass made cabinets. She looked so beautiful.

"I love you." He let out affectionally and Sara looked up to watch him, bottle of olive oil in her hands, groggy as he just woke up, with their daughter craddled against his chest and her heart melted.

He looked adorable, salt hair appearing again as his dye wore off during quarentine. She smiled back tenderly. "I love you too Michael."

"Dad ! Can we do the trains setting now ?" Mike devaled down the stairs and asked.

Michael smiled, he had bought a miniature train collection to Mike and promised he'd set it up with him, it was a collection of real models, "very fancy stuff" as Sara had called them.

"Sure, if Faith here agrees." He looked down, Faith was calmly resting on him, not sleeping but relaxing entirely, her limbs spread out.

Mike sat beside them, leaning into Michael, who passed an arm over him and brought him closer. He loved his children so much, they were his and Sara's treasures, he adored them.

"Family hug without me ?" Sara teased from the other side of the kitchen and Michael chuckled.

"No one invited you." He quipped and Sara raised her eyebrows.

"Fair enough.." She said in mock annoyement and Michael laughed, kissing the top of Mike's head.

"No..no!" Faith pushed Mike away, jealous.

"Heyy, he is my dad before you!" Mike complained laughing and Faith babbled to him.

"Tell her dad, who is your favorite between the two of us." Mike asked and Michael laughed. "I love you both equally, there's no competititon, you're my first baby, and I am so fond of you, you were hope, and I loved you since mom hadn't even told me about you, but I just knew.." Michael smiled at him sharing a look of tenderness with Sara.

"And she here, she's new and she's my absolute sweetheart. She's a new chance and so precious.." He stroked Faith's light copper hair.

Mike smile, satisfied by the anwser.

"And you mom ?" Mike asked as Sara and she chuckled.

"I claim I love my children equally, but there's certainly one who was a quieter baby and much more easy to handle." Sara stated and Mike laughed.

"Faith is crazy." He kissed the babe's cheek and Faith gurgled happily.

"She is.. come here, today is dada's afternoon with Mike, let them be." She took her from Michael and Faith frowned looking at her, Sara frowned back, gazing back at Faith with a raised eyebrow and a serious look, and the baby laughed hiding in her mom's neck, Sara smiled rubbing her back.

"You two go." She ushered Michael and Mike off the couch, and watched them as Mike explained the technicity of their game and Michael aquiesed telling him something in reply as their voices muffled uptstairs.

"So ? What do we both do huh ? Would you let me have some tea ?" She asked with a smile kissing Faith's temple. She was so happy Faith was safe, it would have destroyed them, their couple and even their family if they lost her.

Faith babbled something in response and looked at her mom attentively before pinching her nose, playing with her skin.

Sara giggled "What are you doing ?"
...

Sara came back from work, in her scrubs, "Hey, anyone home ?" She greeted, finding it particularely quiet.

She made her way upstairs and Michael peered from the doorway of his office.

"Hi.." He greeted.

"Hey, where are the kids ?" she asked curiously, this much quietness was a luxury in their home.

"They're both napping, a miracle isn't it ?" Michael let out and Sara chuckled.

"Mike must be tired, god this homeschooling thing is terribly exhausting for kids, way more than school." She shook her head.

"Yeah, he's been doing homework till late yesterday. What's this ?" He pointed at flayers popping from her bag.

"Uh, we had an Union meeting today, just, need to share this around the neighborhood to inform everyone, if people don't see the importance of our Hospitals now, I don't know when they will." Sara shrugged.

Michael nodded pensively. "Freshen up and then I need to talk to you about something.." He nudged and Sara frowned a little.

"Nothing bad ?" She asked cautiously.

"No, no, don't worry. I just...depends on the way you see it but knowing you, I think you'll like it."

"Okay...I'll be quick." She smiled, stopping herself from touching him without having washed her hands.

Sara came back after a shower to find him sitting on his desk, she pecked him in greeting and sat on the little couch accross from him.

He turned to her, laptop in hands.
"Okay, I want to resign." he let out watching for her reaction, his income was afterall consequent in their family, and he knew that this decision will have economical consequences, he wouldn't go on the path if Sara objected it or thought they needed the money.

She looked at him eyes widening a bit, "I thought you liked what you did ?" She asked bluntly.

Michael smiled a little, taking her hands in his, she was making it about him, and about what he felt, not the money, and his heart swelled with love, she was exactly the Sara he knew her to be.

"I like what I do, just not for this firm.." Michael said and let it sink and Sara pensively nodded.

"Is it the fact that your work from home ? I know it's depressing Michael, but we'll all overcome this.." She said sympathetically.

Michael shook his head. "No no no, it's not about quarentine. I was already losing interest and feeling detached from all of this, way before covid hit, but you were pregnant, and then Faith was small, I thought we needed the money.." Sara sighed.

"Why didn't you talk to me ?" she said feeling bad, a marriage and partnership and she didn't even knew her husband disliked his job ?

"High-risk pregnancy, premature newborn, then the messy situation at your Hospital after your maternity leave...you really think I wanted to worry or burden you with this ?" Michael let out stroking her hand.

Sara looked at him knowing his nature. How could Michael be any more...Michael ?

"But now I feel it's the right time, this crisis definetely made me realise a lot of things and I think its a good moment for a new start." he said more positively and Sara looked on. "Okay.." she said understanding.

"I just..I need to know if that's a road you're okay to go on ? I've talked with Mike already - " He was cut.

"You've talked with Mike ?" She aksed a bit taken aback, not offended, their son was big now, so understanding, and it could only make her happy that both her boys shared things, but a little surprised.

"Yeah..I mean just to know how he feels ?" He apologised. "I was going to tell you Sara, I just wanted to figure some things out and uh..I didn't want us both to impose our decision on him, I have made enough changes and havoc in his life already." Michael explained.

Sara frowned at this. "You've not," She scolded, almost.

"Okay okay...and he was fine, he said a lot of things that really made me feel less..guilty maybe ? He's all on board, money doesn't matters he says, and the more I see him, the more I think he is a copy of you, in terms of values. You raised him so well." Michael smiled and Sara chuckled.

"His nature is on you though.." She teased.

"Yeah, he's not doing any Revolution anytime soon.." Michael laughed.

"Faith got the spirits for that." Sara quipped and Michael chuckled. "She will get into so much trouble when she grows up.." he smiled fondly.

"So..?" He asked more seriously.

"Ofcourse I don't mind Michael, I'd hate you to keep doing a job you don't like and you know how I feel about your firm already.." Sara rolled her eyes and Michael laughed.

"I know..." He let out. "you can be happy I won't work with real estate gluttons...and I think you called them machos once ?" Michael laughed.

"They're such...don't make me swear now..with your boss that covered how that business partner raped his secretary.." She shook her head and he chuckled.

"So when are you quitting ?" Sara asked.

"If I send the letter now, a month." Michael said and Sara nodded.

"Okay, I've got no problem with that, we can live with my little 2k a month, and maybe you can join some boring art classes to express your talent now.." Sara quipped and Michael craddled her waist, delighted at her reaction, he knew her, but a doubt persisted in his head, always. What if he was not good enough ?

"Oh well, you know how I am always the man with a plan ?" Michael smiled.

Sara looked at him suprised. "You've already found something else ?" She asked.

"Something like that.. I've been on an engineers and architect forum since a while, you know where there's always lots of projects that are circulating..we just discuss geek engineer things usually...but with the election of Bernie Sanders, I've gotten a job offer." Sara's eyes widened, Bernie Sanders was barely sworn in, and the political tension in the country was explosive.

"You've gotten an offer from the Sanders administration ?" Her eyes widened and she shook her head. This was dangerous..

Michael nodded. "Something like that, they are creating a federal social housing agency, it's going to be permanent and independant tax fund, whatever happens next, no other President can undo this. And they want to build social housing complexes all around the US to fight against the housing crisis." Michael explained.

Sara nodded. "Okay.."

"And they need me, because with the crazy architectural wonders project offers they're getting, this will be by far the most challenging work of my life." Michael showed the power point to Sara, with 3D representations of the futurist neighborhoods with all kind of atypical architecture.

She chuckled. "I love it, the third one looks so cool." she exclaimed.

"Yeah..they're offering me the job and I might take it. I want to do something meaningful, be part of the solution, not the problem.." He quoted her and Sara chuckled blushing slightly.

"What's the offer ?" She asked.

"25 to 35 hours a week, in Chicago, they will open agencies in every city so we don't have to move and Chiacgo and New York will be in the center of the project, this is where they want to start." Sara nodded.

"Right, so we don't have to move.."

"Yes, I wouldn't do that again to Mike, he's made a home and roots here." Michael smiled.

"It's our city too." She smiled, recalling their Fox River days with an intensity, would this be how it worked out if they had met randomly in the streets of Chicago ?

"There's great benefits, guaranteed pension for me, two months of paid leave a year, free College education for both Mike and Faith, Healthcare taken care of.." Michael listed.

Sara smiled. "This does sound appealing.." She smiled, squeezing his hand in support.

"Yes, and it's ambitious projects, for new ways of life, that will probably change the real estate market entirely. I - for the first time since I got my job before Fox River, I am actually feeling ambitious and excited because look at these, god are these ambitious projects with the goal of guaranteeing housing to every American, and it drives and motivate me much more than building corporate towers." Sara listened and stroke his arm.

"How much is the pay ?" she asked.

"Less than this job, it'll near a little more than 3k a month." Michael let out, watching her expression.

Sara rose from the couch and kissed his lips, putting the laptop away on his desk and taking it's place on his lap.

"I am with you." She said grinning. "Whatever makes you happy Michael, and I am so glad you will be part of the change I want to see in the world." She said cockily and Michael laughed kissing her.

"Right, I don't care about the job I am just doing this to be the change you want to see.." He quipped making her laugh and she pecked his lips tenderly.

"I am also thinking something else.." He began.

"Whoa..great decisional day I see." She backed turning more serious.

He craddled her hand stroking her ring while Sara rubbed his chest.

"I realised what's really important with all of this, you, Mike, Faith... I want us to spend time together, just be more there for you, and specially for my children.. I want them to have the treasure childhood memories I never had." Sara kissed the top of his head at this, her head bursting with love.

"And I want to educate them, with the values their mother carries.. I fell in love with your devotion the first day I read about you.." he admitted and Sara smiled.

"I want us to sell whatever stock fund we have, I want our savings off the market, just cut off. I'll open an A booklet for Faith, we both have a common one and Mike has his, we're shifting everything to them. It's going to be deposit savings, no placement, no nothing. You know we dont have any credit or debt to pay, so they'll be enough whenever we need money, to buy cars or something, I don't know." Sara's eyes widened.

"And when did you have this realisation ?" she asked curiously, Michael seemed to want to draw a line and start afresh.

"With all of this pandemic mess, and because I have an amazingly inspiring wife... whatever happen, I don't want us to be part of the problem. The house is ours anyway." Sara nodded.

She recalled a little discussion they had before moving to Chicago, very early after Michael's come back, things were still messy, and their relationship still on the path of reconstruction.

Michael had wanted to put Mike in a private school in Chicago, a very expensive one, saying he wanted the best for his son and would do anything for him. Sara had looked at him, half fond, half scorning.

"You will do a lot of things for him Michael, but our son won't go to a private school. If I can't be the solution, I won't be the problem either." Michael had been taken aback, disagreeing, but hadn't pushed, he didn't felt very legitimate to take decisions about Mike back then.

And now ? he wholeheartedly agreed with Sara, Mike was doing great at school, he loved school, had friends, and Michael feared he won't, because of his reserved nature but also his parent's humiliating past. But there was no jugement in his school, every parent had a little baggage and no one took interest in anything but the children's well being.

He and Sara were members of the parents Union and regularely attended meetings to collectively better the lives of the kids. Mike loved group work, he was often the brightest and took great interest into helping and explaining things to his camrades. It was much better than the competitive and individual vibe private schools reinforced, the accent here was also put on relaxation time, it was important to remember that children were children, and that school shouldn't become a pressure or burden to them.

And Mike just had the toppest grades of the entire Illinois at State Exams, much better grades than most private school students.

"So all the credit goes to me." She said faking pride and Michael kissed her.

"Are you okay with this thought ? I don't want to impose anything on you - " Sara cut him.

"Oh Michael my heart can only be delighted that my children will make something of themselves on ethical bases, and that not a cent of that Wall Street greed will fund my household, we will be whatever we are because of our work and dedication, and that's the greatest example the father of my children can ever give them." She said fondly kissing him, Michael kissed her back, shutting the office door ar he carried her up in his lap and both on the couch.

Sara giggled quietly, kissing his neck and shifting them so she was on top.

"You know whenever you're this smart and come up with all sorts of plans...I really like it.." She said against his neck.

"What else do you like ?" Michael teased his hands slipping under her shirt making her sigh at his touch.

But whatever they had in mind was put to an abrupt stop when Faith's cries reasonated in the hallway.

Michael sighed and Sara laughed.

"Here goes your daughter.." he feigned anonymement.

"MY daughter ? I remember her claiming she only loves you." Sara slapped his cheek playfully.

"I'll got get her," Sara smiled and walked off while Michael rose, closed his laptop and decided to make them all some snack, time with his family was his only priority now, they meant his entire life.

...

Michael woke up to the sun shining in Sara's face, illuminating her features, she was so beautiful, he thought tenderly.

"What are you staring at, Scofield ?" She whispered, eyes still closed but a smile beaming on her lips.

He chuckled, kissing her bare shoulder, and planting passionate kisses up at her clavicule and neck, up till her jawline.

She opened her eyes smiling even more as their smiles touched, Michael teased however, taking his lips back and pecking her over and over again.

Sara laughed, her arms going to rest behind the nape of his neck. "Just staring at how pretty my wife is in the morning.." he breathed and she laughed rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah ? I'd like to know her secret, I don't look good at all when I wake up.." Sara said with a smirk and Michael kissed her neck again, passionately smootching his favorite spot under her left ear, she giggled, grasping his biceps as he purposely tickled her, nuzzling his nose in her neck.

"I like to think..maybe it's the love I have for her that makes me see her all pretty.." Michael teased, backing and tenderly putting a strand of her messy hair behind her hair.

Sara's lips parted in mock shock. "So you don't think she actually is pretty, she just looks that way to you ?" Sara attacked his neck too, fiercely.

Michael groaned quietly. "Technically, even colors aren't the way they are, they just appear so to us." She flipped over him, straddling his boxer clad waist.

"Why did I marry a genius already ?" She mocked, bending to passionately take his lips in hers, their crotch rubbed together, the friction heightening their senses as Sara's hands played with the waist band of his boxers.

Michael craddled her head, kissing her passionately and groaning as their arousals were only separated by the soft fabric of her panties.

"Because you couldn't resist him." He said smuggly and flipped her over, pinning her on the bed and she let out a laugh, their eyes locked before their lips, in passionate frenzied dance, while he worked to swiftly get rid of her panties.

Suddenly, small taps were heard against the wood of their door.

"Ma..ma." came Faith's voice.

Michael and Sara stilled, looking at each other startled.

Faith babbled some more, hitting the door again.

Michael growned at the position they were in. "Shh..sh-sh, pretend we're sleeping." Sara whispered, holding onto his neck.

Faith babbled once more, calling out to her parents. "We can't let her - " Michael's hands reached for his discarded boxers but Sara caught his wrist.

"Michael, don't you dare." She warned, her eyes dark with arousal as she looked down to their naked sexes, an inch away from joining. "she'll leave." Sara pointed.

Michael looked at her and sighed. "You're so baadd." He alongated teasing her bare nipples with his thumb.

Sara pressed her lips together in amusement.

"Faith no ! What are you doing, you'll wake them, that's not the plan." Mike's voice came through.

"That's my smart boy." Sara grinned and Michael chuckled, rolling his eyes.

Faith seemingly babbled something back but Mike carried her up and took her away as he distracted her, their voices too far to be heard.

"I think they're gone." Michael said. "Yeah, they're downstairs, Mike better teach her that dada needs some time to himself too sometimes. she's such a daddy's girl." Sara teased.

Michael laughed making her moan as they were still deliciously pressed together. "Well A, she was calling for you, and B, you mean time for her mommy, I am so tired of you girls being jealous of each other." He kissed temple and Sara smiled wickedly.

"Firstly, I am not jealous, and secondly, who won ?" Her eyebrows danced teasingly as she bit her lip seductively and rubbed herself against him.

Michael growled now, closing his eyes craddling her waist and finally joining them by one swift thurst.

Sara moaned quietly closing her eyes, he kissed her passionately as she panted, her hips moving with his rythm.

"Promise me..that we'll always make love like this, even when she's gone off to college, and we're all old." Sara whispered and Michael nibbled at the corner of her lips.

"I might need something to keep up with my uh..performance." He teased with one hard thurst emphasing his statement and Sara gasped, he silenced her squeal with his lips and she laugh-panted "I wouldn't worry about that."

...

After a quick, individual shower, Michael followed Sara downstairs as they heard their children in the kitchen.

"What mess have they made ?" Sara asked rhetorically and Michael chuckled hearing Faith's chirpy blabber.

"Nooo, put that down." Mike said to her, making Sara smile, he was so good as a big brother.

They turned the corner and saw Mike grabbing a spoon out of Faith's reach.

She was right on top of the counter, flour on her nose and all over her hands and clothes, she played with a piece of butter, rubbing it right on the counter.

"what's all this ?" Sara asked and Mike turned from his position over the stove.

"Mom ? Oh no, I knew she was making too much noise and would wake you. I wanted to surprise you both with breakfast." Mike let out and Sara smiled, the mess could be handled later, she brushed her hand in Mike's hair.

"And what are you making ?" Michael asked the boy bending over the pan to check.

"Blueberry pancakes." Mike grinned as Michael picked some berries and put them over in the pan.

Sara turned to Faith raising an eyebrow.

"What in the world is this, miss ?" She put her hands on her hips.

Faith blabbed. "mama.." and picked a tiny pinch of flour and reach over to Sara to feed her.

"No thanks." Sara laughed and took a hold of her hand and grabbed a tissue, cleaning her hands.

"God, you're awful." she scolded raising her hands up and realising this wouldn't be cleaned solely with tissues.

"Mom we're almost done, do you want jam or mapple syrup ?" Mike asked from the other side of the counter.

"Wait baby, I'll serve myself." She promised wiping the opposite counter where Faith sat.

"Sweetheart, do you want some coffee ?" Michael asked and Sara halted, a smile playing on her lips, her heart still melted at his pet name of affection.

"Yeah..coffee sounds good." Sara turned over to him and anwsered with a smile.

She turned back to see Faith reaching to grab one most fistful of flour. "hell no, you''ve done enough." she took the flour packet away and Faith whined, tapping her small hands against the counter Sara had just cleaned.

"Faith, you know this is bad, how will mama clean all this now ?" Sara scolded her a little and Faith watched as her mom took the groom to clean the floor, she turned the corner to the other side of the counter and to her shock, there was even more mess, flour and even an egg broken on the floor.

"Oh my god..." Sara exclaimed and looked up at Faith. She shook her head reprimandly but Faith made a gasp of shock at this and repeated : "oh..mad gad.." uncoherantly in the same tone as her mother.

Michael turned, as Mike laughed out loud. "she's mimicking you!" Mike chuckled hitting Faith's shoulder playfully and the baby laughed.

"Did she just say oh my god ? She's so quick at this, baby you're getting so smart.." Michael said in awe.

"Smart at being a trouble maker, come here you nasty girl." Sara reached out menacingly with a laugh and Faith squealed, pulling away.

She crawled to the other side of the counter and launched herself at Michael who received her with an "oof" of surprise.

"I almost missed you, crazy girl." Michael chastised kissing the top of her forehead.

She was so dynamic, and Sara laughed, allowing herself too, she had taught Faith could possibly not move again.. "Dad can't always save you from me."

"dada...da!" Faith hid herself in Michael's chest and Mike put a pancake off the pan and on the plate, Faith reached out for one with her dirty hands and Mike batted her hands away.

"Hey, no !" he let out taking the plate away.

"Okay, come here, you're such a trouble maker." Sara chuckled, she had forgotten how little Faith could be over active and completely drive them all mad.

It made her feel all fuzzy inside, she thought she would never see such moments with her babe again.

She reached out for Faith and took her from Michael putting her down.

Mike sat at the dinning table setting breakfast and putting the radio station on, on the music channel and Faith laughed, waving her hands with the music.

The three of them laughed and Sara gave her a look.

"to the bathroom Faith, let's clean you up before I have some breakfast.." she instructed and Faith crawled forwards.

"And I've got to clean all this, right ?" Michael asked sighing as Sara handed him the broom laughing slightly with an apologetic smile.

Their hands brushed and eyes locked.

"I am happy right now." Sara whispered with a content smile.

Michael craddled her face "me too." he smiled back, she closed her eyes leaning against his touch.

He hated to see her disheartened when Faith was in the hospital, he knew it would have broke something irreparable in her, he was really glad he got Sara's smile back in the same package as his little Faith.

"mamaa.." came Faith's voice from the hallway and Sara chuckled pulling away.

"I am coming.." she called back going out of the kitchen and Michael could hear her scold Faith as Faith babbled back equally, he smiled looking at Mike who had already began eating the hot pancakes.

"You could have waited for us." Michael stated.

"I could, but between Faith and her drama and you both getting all lovey, I think it would be dinner time already." Mike teased and Michael laughed. "Don't play smart with me, young boy." he warned lightly and Mike laughed as the music filled the air.

They were truly happy.