Tangled up in Blue

this is just a small story I've been thinking of starting about Alicia and Will, after Red Team, blue Team, and there seems to not be enough fics about these two out there! Anyway, I could add parts, depending on how this one goes. I would see the story going into Alicia finally deciding that she needs to give Will a chance, as their connection will never really disappear. This is almost just like a prologue, set during and after that episode:

As Will stood in Alicia's office, after she had fled the scene, he tried to process what had just happened.

He had been so angry at Alicia just minutes ago, and now all he felt was... every old feeling he had resurfacing, after all his efforts to push them down, for so long. She had made it clear that she wasn't prepared to pay the price it would cost to be with him, and yet in that moment, as their lips had met, he knew that she had doubts.

In his mind he flashed back to that first night with her, and the almost imperceptible touch of their hands in the elevator. When he'd realized that she needed reassurance, and somehow, for once, been able to give her what he needed.

But what did she need now?

As Alicia berated herself for how easily she had given in to Will only moments before, she couldn't help but compare the passion of their brief kiss, with her interactions with Peter in the previous weeks.

She came to Peter with no expectations of love or even deep affection, but for familiarity, comfort, and the satisfaction of getting what she required, and only what she required out of the situation.

Will, on the other hand, was a completely different story. It has shocked her, intially how soon the word 'love' had cropped up between them, given his age and the fact he had never really committed to anyone. There was a small part of her that wondered had he always hels a small torch for her, all these years? And then, also, she wondered why hadn't she chosen Will, when she had the chance?

Back then, Peter had pursued her with such determination, that she had been sure she was with the man that wanted her the most. Years later, however, she began to wonder if maybe she had actually ended up with the man who loved winning the most,.

Will congratulated her in earnest when she was awarded partnership.

How could he not? He didn't know anyone that deserved it more. And he had felt ashamed to be once again manipulated by David Lee into taking that away from her. The new politics of Lockhart/ Gardner were beginning to make even him queasy, and between his poor performance at the mock trial, losing his cool with Alicia earlier, and the way his decisions were constantly being overturned by the senior partners, he was beginning to wonder whether he was still cut out for all this.

They had promised not to be alone together, but all it took was brushing by her arm at the refreshments table, to make him think the most unspeakable things.

And from the way she has kissed him back, he couldn't help but know that she was thinking those things too.

He thought about Laura, and wondered if maybe he should ask her out, do something to take his mind off the whole Alicia situation? Although that strategy had scarcely worked for him before.

Another thing that he didn't know, was what the hell was going on with Alicia and Pter. Lately he'd got the feeling... well it didn't really bear thinking about, but they certainly didn't seem to have the same animosity that they had before.

And that was not a good thing.

Alicia was one of the last to leave that night.

She kept remembering seeing Kalinda and Cary through the glass of that room full of partners. It had been the most peculiar feeling, to shift so suddenly from the outside looking in, to the inside looking out. She wasn't sure that she liked the view.

As she donned her coat, someone had entered her office, and looking up she noticed it was Kalinda, holding two miniature champagne bottles, and smiling with a slight trepidation that was a charming contrast to her usual cool confidence.

'I thought you were with Cary'

'I was. I helped him drown his sorrows over a beer, and he left, and now I wanted to toast to you. But maybe now isn't a good time?'

There was nothing Alicia wanted more right now than a drink with a friend. She needed someone to trust so desperately, that she knew she would trust Kalinda now.

'No, it is. I mean I'd like that.' Alicia pulled out two mugs from her desk drawer, slightly dusty, but she was past caring.

Kalinda poured.

'To your new life, as partner...'

Alicia smiled wryly 'Cheers.'

'So, does Cary hate me?'

'He would have taken the deal too, and he knows it.'

'Well sure, but...' Alice pondered how much to reveal. 'We were thinking of starting our own firm, did he tell you?'

Neither confirming nor denying, Kalinda said' You would have made a good team' She sipped her champagne. 'Speaking of good teams, Alicia, how about you and Will? What will things be like for you, now that you are peers, he's not you're boss anymore.'

Alicia started, almost coughing as she swallowed the rather delicious bubbly drink.

'Me and Will?' Dam it, Kalinda was a psychic. Or she skulked in shadows watching people in the office, which was also likely. 'What makes you ask about that?'

'Things have been a little off between the two of you recently. But maybe now...''

Alicia laughed to herself ruefully. 'Kalinda, can I ask you, as a friend, to leave that sentence unfinished, just for tonight'

Kalinda laughed in agreement 'Well okay' she refilled her glass 'but you can't put off finsihing that sentence forever.''