Family Ties

By: Lockhart-writer

Disclaimer: Annabel Gordon is mine. She is a young first year associate in the family law department at Lockhart/ Gardner. She's working on a special case that involves Diane. The story will feature the rest of the regular cast but focus most on Diane and Kurt. The story does not take into account the recent split between Lockhart/Gardner and Florrick/Agos. The story is AU but also draws upon the actual show timeline - including the marriage of Diane and Kurt.

Rated: T - English - Romance/Drama - [Diane L., OC] Kurt, Kalinda.

Chapter 1

Diane Lockhart felt good. Really good. The firm was in a good place. She was in a good place with Kurt and life was pretty darn good. It was almost too good to be true.

Sitting back in her office chair, she sighed and looked at her watch. It was 1.00 P.M. Kurt was picking her up for a late lunch. Hopefully, she would only have to go back to the office for a few hours afterwards, since it was Friday afternoon.

A knock on her door made her look up and gesture for Alicia to enter.

- Diane, do you have a minute? Alicia started to ask just as David Lee knocked on Diane's other door and signaled that he wanted to have a word with her.

Diane raised her right hand to let David Lee know she would be a minute.

- Alicia what can I do for you?

Alicia was about to start speaking when Diane noticed Kurt had just walked into the front office. Their eyes met and she raised her eyebrow to let him know, she would be right there. He nodded and sat down. Diane focused back on Alicia.

- Diane, I wanted to ask you to sit in on the depositions in the Peterson case this afternoon. Mr. Peterson is asking for a name partner to be present and Will has court all day.

Diane knew the few hours she was counting on being back in the office after lunch has just turned into a lot more. But then again, this was what she loved, so she didn't think much of it.

- Sure, I'll be there. It's at 2.30?

Alicia nodded and turned around to leave. Kurt was already at the door opening it for her. He was about to step into the office as David Lee came in from the other door. A young blond woman was following him. Diane had seen the young woman a few times before. She worked with David Lee in family law and was a graduate from Georgetown, if she remembered correctly.

- Kurt, I'm sorry, will you give me a minute, Diane asked him. When she saw the look David Lee gave her, she corrected herself

- Give me 10 minutes and I'll be all yours, she said to Kurt.

- Sure, Kurt replied as he stepped out of her office and shut the door. He was used to her busy work schedule and didn't mind waiting a few minutes here and there. He liked that she was so passionate about work.

Inside the office, Diane gestured for David Lee and the young woman to take a seat.

- Diane we're here to talk to you about the Neeley case from last year, David Lee began.

Diane gave them both a surprised look.

- Okay, she said, what about it?

David Lee looked at the young lady next to him and gave her a small nod.

- Annabel, why don't you lay it out for Diane?

She sat up a bit straighter and began speaking.

- Ms. Lockhart, two years ago you defended Mrs. Neeley in the criminal case against her for murdering her ex-husband.

Diane gave David Lee a quick look not really following where the young woman was going.

- Obviously you won the case and Mrs. Neeley was freed of any charges, but as you also know one of the key parts in the prosecution was the fact that Mrs. Neeley was a recovering drug addict and that she needed money to pay off her debt.

I know, but I don't really see where this is going, Diane said, her eye drifting to her watch. It was almost 1.20. Lunch would have to be cut short if she was to make it back for the deposition at 2.30.

- During the trial, Mrs. Neeley's sister, Ms. Reid, was awarded custody her two daughters until Mrs. Neeley could go to rehab and pay off her debt, and now Ms. Reid is suing for full custody of the two girls. She came to us yesterday and wants us to represent her.

Diane looked from David Lee to Annabel. For a long second she didn't say anything.

- But Mrs. Neeley completed rehab and she worked hard to pay off her debt. I heard from her just last week. She was so happy to be out of debt, clean and ready to get her children back.

- I know, Annabel said, so what should we do? Represent her sister or?

Diane looked at David Lee and immediately knew what he was thinking. He wasn't in her office to ask her, he was here to tell her, what they were going to do. Bringing Annabel was his way of softening the blow.

- Annie, would you excuse us for a minute, Diane asked.

- Certainly, Ms. Lockhart. Annabel rose and went out into the front office.

As soon as the door closed, David Lee started talking. Diane held up her hand to stop him.

- David you know I spent almost a year on the Neeley case. That woman has worked so hard to get her children back. I never thought her sister would pull anything like this. I even encouraged Mrs. Neeley to place her kids with her sister back then. She doesn't have the money to go to court and win back her kids, because all her money went into paying off her debt.

- Diane, I ...David Lee began before Diane interrupted him.

- And her sister counted on that all along. Diane felt a headache coming on. She would surely have Mrs. Neeley on the line asking her to represent her as soon as Ms. Reid sues her.

- Diane, I know this case got to you, David Lee said, but we need to make money and as sorry as I am to tell you this, this is a winnable case. Ms. Reid is a better mother and guardian to those two kids than Mrs. Neeley ever were.

- Were, David, Diane said and continued, you know as well as me, that Mrs. Neeley was forced into drug use by her ex-husband and the debt she has been paying off is because of the shady business deals her ex-husband did. But I guess you're right, Ms. Reid came to us first and we can only represent on of the sides.

Diane got up to leave. Her eyes drifted to the front office where Kurt and Annie had struck up a conversation. Her eyes lingered on Kurt for a second before they moved to Annabel. The young lawyer was very beautiful. Tall, thin and her blue eyes shone as she laughed at something Kurt said.

As she and David Lee stepped into the front office, Diane caught the last of Kurt's sentence:

-...ain't nothing like going hunting in the early morning hours.

She walked over to the two and Annabel quickly excused herself and followed David Lee.

- Bonding with our first year associate over hunting? Diane wondered out aloud as Kurt reached over, grabbed her coat and held it out for her to get into.

Kurt stepped in close as she tied the belt on her coat and whispered:

- Wanna go hunting?

- Not really, but I wanna go for lunch, Diane said and together, they walked to the elevators.

As soon as the doors of the elevator shut, Kurt put his arms around her and drew her in for a kiss. Usually, a small peck on the lips or his hand on her waist didn't bother Diane but serious public displays of affection made her slightly uncomfortable. Never mind, the fact that she had kissed him in public on their first date or the kiss they shared before their wedding ceremony, affectionate displays felt private and special to Diane and she had asked Kurt to keep it that way - especially around the office.

- Sorry, he murmured, just couldn't help myself. You look amazing in that dress. The dress was tight fitting, light burgundy color dress with 3/4 length sleeves. Happy warmth spread throughout her body as he took in his words. She had worn the dress especially for him and their lunch date. Although by now he was used to seeing her dress everyday and had seen her in a lot less to be frank, she still enjoyed dressing up for him.

Diane laughed and gave him a quick peck on the lips just as the doors opened and they stepped into the lobby.

- No harm done, she told him playfully as they walked down the street towards lunch.

Back at the office, Kalinda came through the elevator doors just as Diane and Kurt had left the office. Kalinda walked straight to Diane's office.

- Where is she, Kalinda asked Diane's secretary.

- Out to lunch. She'll be back for the Peterson deposition at 2.30, the secretary informed Kalinda.

Kalinda stood for a moment, her fingers drumming on the blue book, she was holding in her hands. Then she turned around and walked back to the elevators. Inside the elevator she picked up her phone and dialed a number.

- Hey, Diane, it's Kalinda. I need to talk to you. Give me a call when you hear this.

Notes: First TGW fic-ever:) I hope you like this story. I've given a few hits for you to think about...and I'll pick this up as soon as I have more time. Let me know what you think! The dress referred to is the one from 3x18 Gloves Come Off - the same one Christine Baranski wore to the The New York Women In Film and Televison Awards' 25.05.10.