Clara wondered why they had to be back in that apartment, but she knew that Sara and Michael were still there with Lincoln and Sucre. They hadn't left Miami since the General had been arrested, even though Clara and Alex had moved on. Alex had insisted on finding somewhere to live and Clara had been hesitant, wondering if he meant together. But Alex had asked her what the point was in finding their own apartments when they spent most of their time together.

"You're thinking."

Looking over to Alex, Clara remained sat on the bed as the sun slowly set. The following morning they were going to visit Krantz and Michael intended to go and see Sara. Michael had told them how he suspected Krantz had put a hit on Sara and that his wife was now suffering from attacks in prison from the prison guards. Michael had to go and see the warden. He had to get Sara moved, but he knew that the chances of the warden cooperating were slim.

Alex had sat and watched Clara, knowing that she was lost in her own thoughts. She was perched on the edge of the bed, legs crossed beneath her. She had a hand drumming against her kneecaps while the other held her chin, elbow bent and resting on her thigh. He had watched her for a few moments before heading to sit down behind her. She turned her head over her shoulder and smiled to him as she felt his hand move to the small of her back.

"What if Lisa can't dissuade him?" Clara wondered, searching Alex's face. "Sara does not deserve this."

"Clara," Alex sighed her name, "I know that you have some hope that Lisa can talk some sense into him, but he is a desperate man. A man like that will only care about revenge…even his daughter…as much as might love her…wouldn't be enough to change his mind. Look at everything he has done. He had your parents killed. Your own uncle did that to you."

"Thanks for the reminder," Clara mumbled. "Always the optimist, right, Alex?"

He picked up on her annoyed tone and did his best to dig himself out of the hole he was in. He grabbed hold of her by the waist then, pulling her to his side. He kept her arms tightly wrapped around her and she didn't pull away. Instead she sighed and lowered her head, cheek pressing against his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she felt Alex kiss the top of her head.

"I am just trying to be realistic," he said to her. "I think we have more chance of breaking Sara out than Krantz helping us."

"I do too," Clara admitted, "I just hoped that we might be able to do things the easy way instead of the hard way."

Alex chuckled at that. "When have we ever done things the easy way?" he asked from her and knew that he had to tell her the truth. He had to tell her what he was thinking of doing, but he knew she might not appreciate it. She was loyal to a tee. She always had been. But Alex kept thinking about his old job. He kept thinking that he could have it back.

"Listen, I need to talk to you," Alex said and Clara frowned at his serious tone. She moved her head up, turning her face to look up at him. He raked a hand through his thin hair and looked nervously down to his lap for a second, tapping his foot. Clara shook her head, managing to work him out.

"No," she said firmly to him, slipping from his hold.

She moved from his grip and stood up, hands dropping to her hips. She jutted a hip out and Alex groaned. He should have known that she would be able to read him. It was impressive, really. They had been together for a couple of years and she already knew him better than he thought. On the other hand, they had gone through a lot together. It seemed likely that she would know his tell tale signs.

"Just titbits," Alex said to her, hoping that he could make it sound better than it was. "I can just give them little bits of information, Clara, nothing big…Sara…she will still get out and I will have done what I could to help and that might be enough to get my job back."

"Stop it!" Clara snapped at him. "What the hell are you talking about? Do you think they will reinstate you if you fail? Alex, the only chance of them reinstating you is if you hand them Michael on a plate breaking into that place."

"They might not," Alex retorted.

"But that is not the point," Clara said. "The point is that we came here to help them. We came here to help and not betray them for our own gain."

"I'm lost, Clara," Alex admitted to her, finally moving up to his feet. He pointed to his chest, his face contorted. "I spent my days trying to figure out what to do because all I have known is routine. My entire life has been spent with a routine…I get up…do my job…and without a job I feel lost. I just feel completely lost without the Bureau."

"But there is more to life than the Bureau."

"Not for me," Alex said. "I went straight from the military to the Bureau. It is all I have known, Clara."

"No, it isn't," Clara responded, moving towards him and realising that she was shocked they hadn't had this conversation earlier. Alex had appeared to be doing surprisingly well since they had moved in together, despite not having a job. "Look at everything you have faced…Sona…Scylla…none of that had any structure to it, did it? Besides, what would be so wrong in having a change, Alex?"

"Because change…doing something outside of law enforcement…it isn't me," he said to her with a shrug. "And I want that badge back, Clara. Do you know how badly I wanted to say yes to Sullins?"

"But you didn't," she responded. "You did the right thing."

"Yeah, well I'm beginning to wonder if it is worth it."

"Do not say that," she warned him, nudging him in the shoulder. He frowned as he watched her grab her shoes, slipping into them. "Alex, I do not want to argue with you. I understand you're scared about what the future holds…about what you should do. I completely get that…but to even consider getting that by betraying the very same people who helped us…well, that's the part I'm having a hard time dealing with."

She grabbed her bag, shrugging it over her body so that it bounced against her hip. She walked over to the door and Alex sighed.

"Where are you going?" he asked her.

"I need some air," she said. "I'll see you in a bit."

Alex didn't say anything as she walked away. He groaned to himself and sat down on the edge of the bed once again. He flopped back onto the mattress and covered his face with his hands. He had been honest with her. He had been completely honest, but he should have known that it would end in tears. He shouldn't even have thought about going against them. Clara had been right. Why did he even think it?

But he felt desperate. Clara went to work every morning and he watched her leave. She was happy in her job and Alex wanted that feeling back. He was jealous of her. But the people in that apartment had helped him in the past. They had helped him clear his name and given him so much in return. Without them he wouldn't have the life he had with Clara. That was worth more than any job. He regretted the discussion instantly and knew he had to make it right.

…

Clara had told them all that she would be back in a little bit. She had walked down to the marina and perched on the very same bench that she and Alex used to sit on when they had been dealing with Scylla. She folded one leg over the other and placed her bag down on the seat besides her. Looking at the glimmering water as the sun set, she closed her eyes and wondered why Alex had said what he had. Did he really feel that lost? Was he truly willing to betray the very same people who had helped them?

"I hoped I would find you here."

Clara resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she opened them and he sat down besides her. She slouched back as Alex took a seat next to her.

"I'm sorry," he said and she looked at him. "I know how stupid I sounded as soon as I had said it. I just feel…well…the way I feel would be completely worse if I betrayed them."

"I want to help you, Alex," Clara said to him, turning her upper body to face him. She felt his hand move out, daring to rest on top of hers, his fingers entwining with hers. "I know that the past few months have been hard for you and I understand how you feel. If I couldn't lecture then I would feel lost too. It is all I have known for so long…but…there will be something else. I want to help you find something else, I really do, but the idea that you could even sell out the people who helped us-"

"-I know," he interrupted her. He didn't want to think about it again. He shook his head slowly and moved his other hand to rest on her cheek, observing her features as he always did when he looked at her. it was almost as though he was scared that she was going to get taken away from him again. "It was stupid. I know that, Clara. I'm not going to do it. We're going to help them. We're going to do whatever we can to help them and when we return home…well…I will find something to do, but my conscience will be clear and I will have you. You'll be with me because, despite everything, that is enough for me."

Clara's lips curled upwards. She was shocked at how easily she could forgive him when he messed up. Then again, she had held grudges against Alex before and she had realised that life was too short. Life was too short to spend arguing. She didn't want that. She wanted to be happy and Alex made her happy. They resolved their difference together.

"Are you going to say anything?" Alex wondered, noticing how she was simply smiling.

"No," she said with a shake of her head and he arched a brow, looking slightly bemused. "I'm not going to dwell on a stupid thought you had. Instead we're just going to focus on the future, okay?"

"I like the sound of that," Alex nodded at her and he moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, keeping a hold of her hand. She leaned against his side and ran her thumb over his knuckles. "You're the best thing I have in my life, Clara Reynolds. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

….

Clara quickly finished showering. She had told Lisa that she would meet her for breakfast before they went to visit her father. She was dreading going, but she knew that she had to do something to try and help Sara. Besides, she wouldn't mind giving Krantz a piece of her mind after everything that he had done to them. He was in prison and yet he was still terrorising them. After she had finished showering, she dressed as fast as possible, slipping on a long black dress and grabbing her sneakers, opting for comfort if she had to walk around for a while.

She left the bathroom and saw that Alex was still in the bed. He was sat up against the headboard, wearing his pyjamas. His hair was messy and he still looked exhausted. Clara smiled when she saw him, reaching for her watch that she had left on the dressing table. She fastened it around her wrist while Alex spoke to her.

"You sure you don't want me to come?" Alex asked from her.

"No," she shook her head. "I'll be fine doing this with Lisa. Besides, I never want you to have to see him again after what he did."

"Yeah," Alex muttered, remembering everything that had happened. His son had been taken from him because of Krantz. He had been stolen away and there wasn't a day that went by when Alex didn't think about his son.

"Hey," Clara said, knowing that he sometimes went back to that dark place. They both went back there, but somehow they managed to get themselves out of it. She went to kneel on the bed, hands in her lap while she watched him. She smiled sincerely and Alex's own lips lifted at the sight of her. "You okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Alex promised her. "Listen, I'm going to play that agent. I talked with Michael last night and he agreed that it was the best decision."

"You sure?" Clara asked him.

"Positive," he responded. "I can play him. I've had experience lying, haven't I?"

"Don't talk like that," she pleaded with him, closing her eyes and remembering all of the lies they had been involved with. She knew that it was a miracle that they were still together. She felt him grab hold of her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"We did what we had to do to survive," Alex said. "Look where we are now. We're both free…living a good life…we're fortunate."

"I know," she agreed, remembering all of those who had they had lost. "I have to get going, Alex. I will see you when I come back, okay?"

"I'll be here," Alex said, leaning in to kiss her. He felt her smile against his lips for a moment before she pulled back. She climbed from the bed, tugging her dress down after he had ridden up.

"I hope not, you need to at least get dressed," she said to him and he chuckled, watching her grab hold of her satchel. She shrugged it onto her shoulder. "I'll see you later. Love you."

"Love you too," Alex responded and she left him in the apartment.

…

Alex made himself a cup of coffee when he got up. He stood in the kitchen with Lincoln. Sucre was still sleeping and Michael had arranged to go and see Sara, hoping to check on her and tell her that he would do everything in his power to get her out. He needed her. He missed her so much.

"So," Lincoln began, not enjoying the silence between him and Alex, "you two are still together."

"Yeah," Alex nodded his head, uncertain of what more he should say in response to that statement. He suspected it was clear to see that they were still together. Hell, they had arrived at the apartment with each other. "We moved in together anyway."

"Really?" Lincoln asked, sounding shocked.

Alex chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. Shrugging his shoulders, he placed he mug back down onto the worktop. "Everyone sounds shocked when we tell them."

"Well, it hasn't been that long since everything finished," Lincoln commented. "I would have thought that you'd maybe date…you know…not rush into moving in together."

"That's the thing," Alex said to him. "It doesn't feel like we've rushed into anything, not after what we've been through. It felt natural. We lived apart for a while…went on some dates…but…well…I always ended up staying at her apartment and we both decided that why wait? We were happier when we were together and so we bought a place."

"And the next step?" Lincoln wondered. "You know, Michael married Sara before all of this happened."

"Yeah," Alex said and shrugged his shoulders. "I mean...I love her. I love her more than I thought possible, but I don't think I'm ready for marriage. I've been married before. I just don't see why there would be a rush to get married. We're happy as we are."

Lincoln chuckled and Alex drank more of his coffee. "So you moved in together but marriage is a step too far?"

"Good job we're not traditional, huh?" Alex joked. "Anyway, what is the plan for today?"

…

Standing next to Lisa, Clara tried not to let nerves get the better of her. Her cousin had taken hold of her hand, squeezing it tightly. Clara knew that she was nervous too. She hadn't seen her father since he had been incarcerated. She had cut all ties with him and apologised profusely for everything. Clara had insisted that it was fine. She had never blamed Lisa, not really. She knew that her cousin didn't know the entire truth of what had gone on.

They had sat and ate breakfast at a fancy restaurant together. Clara had ordered the pancakes, but she hadn't been all too hungry. She was nervous. Lisa had also ordered waffles, but she had struggled to finish them. She felt the exact same way. Instead she had been more interested in discussing Clara's love life with Alex, questioning her on what it was like to live with him and whether or not they were both still madly in love and adjusting to normal life.

Before they knew it, the time had come to go and visit Krantz. Lisa had drove them to the prison and they had gone in together. They had signed in and had the usual safety checks conducted on them. They had walked into the visitation room and sat down at the round table next to each other, waiting for Krantz.

"You okay?" Clara asked from Lisa.

"No," Lisa admitted for the first time. "Despite everything, he is still my dad."

"I know," Clara said, knowing how difficult it had to be for Lisa. She couldn't even imagine how she felt to know her own father had betrayed her and committee heinous crimes. "After this, we'll go and down a bottle of wine. How does that sound?"

"Pretty damn good," she admitted to her.

The buzzer loudly sounded, indicating that visitation had begun. Clara inhaled a sharp breath and let it out after a moment. Krantz was escorted in. There were numerous other prisoners with him, each going to sit at their own specified table. Krantz moved over to their table and sat down. Looking between the two women, he sighed.

"So," Krantz drawled, "I assume you are here to appeal to my better nature?"

"Do you have one?" Clara wondered, unable to hold her tongue.

Krantz looked smugly at her then, lips arching upwards. He leaned back on the bench. "So," he said, "did Michael send you?"

"No," Lisa said, voice firm. She tried not to break. She had to be strong. "We came because we know it was you who ordered for Sara Tancredi to be…" Lisa couldn't even say it. She didn't want to think it, but she knew that it was true. "You framed her, didn't you? You had her set up and now you are trying to finish the job, aren't you?"

"I did no such thing," he said.

Clara scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Are we expected to believe you?"

"Believe what you want," Krantz responded to her. "I admit, it was excellent luck having Sara incarcerated."

"So you really didn't set her up?" Lisa pushed him.

He looked his daughter in the eye. "Lisa, I did not set her up," he said. That was the truth, at least. He had then done everything he could to try and have her killed. He wanted Michael to feel pain. He wanted him to pay for what he had done.

"But you are trying to have her killed, aren't you?" Clara continued to push him. She was not going to back down on this. She would not back down. "We're not idiots."

"If you are not an idiot then why are you here? You already believe you know what I did. Why do you need me to confirm it?"

"Because it is wrong," Lisa answered for Clara. "She is pregnant, dad. She just got messed up in all of this. Has there not been enough pain? Have enough people not been hurt?"

Krantz went silent then. Clara suspected he felt uncomfortable. She certainly hoped that he did. She said nothing for a moment. Instead Lisa stared at her father, wondering if she could break him down. But there was nothing inside of his gaze that showed the man she had known.

"Be sure to pass on my best wishes to Sara," he said.

"I knew this would be a waste of time. He said it would be," Clara grumbled and made a move to stand from the bench. She pushed herself to her feet and Lisa did the same. She wanted to go. Being in that place was just giving her the chills.

"He?" Krantz echoed back to her and then nodded in understanding. "Alex Mahone," he said his name. "You are still with him then?"

"None of your business," Clara responded.

"He'll never fulfil you," Krantz said. "You know that Pam will always be his one true love…you can never replace her."

"That's enough," Lisa snapped this time, glaring at her father. "What happened to you? How the hell did you become so twisted?"

"Come on," Clara said, taking Lisa by the arm. "We had a wasted journey."

They stormed off, not allowing Krantz to have the final word. They left the prison and did what they had said they would do. They went to find the nearest bar.

….

Returning to the apartment, Clara had embraced Lisa tightly. She thanked her for coming with her to the prison, telling her that she would see her soon again. Clara had fund Sucre and Lincoln pouring over plans on the dining table. She asked them where Alex was and they motioned to the balcony. She moved over as he was finishing up his phone call.

"Everything okay?" she asked and he turned to look at her, depositing his cell into his pocket.

"Fine," he promised her. "Just talking to Agent Wheatley. He's keeping tabs on Scofield…thinks he intends to break Sara out. I fend him some information about a blind spot in the prison Sara is being held in. I'm getting his trust."

"You're playing a dangerous game," Clara warned him.

He chuckled. "When do we not play a dangerous game?" he retorted and took a seat on the chair at the small table. "So how did visitation go?"

"Exactly as you had said," she responded, sitting in the other chair and folding one leg over the other. "He gave us nothing, but he is the one who has ordered a hit on Sara. She won't last, Alex. He's such a bastard…he…just the things he says."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing," Clara said.

Alex tilted his head to the side. "You know you're not a great liar."

"It's fine," Clara said, trying to act nonchalant. "He just said the usual things. He tried to make me feel insignificant…saying how I am just second best for you…how I'm just destined never to be happy."

Alex sighed. He had been here before. He had successfully navigated those waters, but he knew that there were choppy tides. Clara, despite being confident and able to cope with anything, still had her insecurities. She still struggled to believe that Alex had completely moved on. She always wondered that, if Pam said she wanted him back, he would go. Would he just leave her, no questions asked? Pam was his first love. They had been married for years. They had been college sweethearts. Clara sometimes reminded herself that she was just the woman he had found. Perhaps he had just settled for her?

"Come here," Alex said, moving his hand out to her.

She ignored the outstretched limb. "I'm fine," she said to him.

"Come here," he repeated, grabbing hold of her hand and crouching up from his seat. He hauled her from her own chair and dragged her over to him, urging for her to perch on his lap. She draped an arm over his shoulders and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You shouldn't let him get to you like that."

"I didn't," she said.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you're it, Clara?" Alex wondered. They hadn't had the conversation in such a long time, but he knew that she was insecure. "You're the only for me, okay? We're the endgame."

"I know you say it," Clara said to him. "But you know how I get. I know how much you loved Pam and-"

"-Loved," he interrupted her, squeezing her waist as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I loved Pam…hell…a part of me will always have a soft spot for her. She was my wife and we had a son…but I don't love her like I love you. We cannot be together."

"But if she wanted you back-"

"-She wouldn't."

"But if she did," Clara said, "would you go to her? Would you leave me without a second thought? Sometimes I wonder if you've just settled, Alex."

"Hey," Alex said forcefully. He hated hearing her speak like this. He just wanted her to see that she was enough for him. "Clara, no one simply settles for you. You are smart…beautiful…funny…loving…do you understand me? I did not settle for you. I wanted you. I still do want you. You have absolutely nothing to feel insecure about. I love you and I want my future to be with you."

"I know," Clara said, moving to pat a hand against his chest. "Sorry," she said to him. "He just gets in my head."

"Don't let him," Alex urged from her, resting his forehead against hers. "You don't owe him any of your time. We're fine, Clara. We're better than fine. You're the woman I love."

Clara smiled at that, nose brushing his. "I love you too," she replied and kissed him.

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!