This is a belated birthday present to Ladybug-Jojo :) I hope you like it and the scene you wished for is how you imagined it ;)

"Alicia!"

She rolled her eyes as Eli's voice sounded behind her back. She knew from the tone that somebody else had arrived he was 'dying' for her to meet. His choice of words, not hers. She couldn't remember when and why she had agreed to let Eli and Elfman take over the guest list for the firms Christmas party, but somehow it had happened and the more she looked around the room the more she wondered how many of their clients would read about the party on page six in tomorrow's paper instead of attending it. She had seen Diane's disapproving glance earlier, and also the muttering of some of the associates about tonight being a bad disguised campaign contribution event.

"Excuse me." she finally said to the woman in front of her. She already couldn't remember her name, though Eli had only introduced them a few minutes before. The party hadn't started that long ago, but yet her mind wasn't paying any more attention to all the people she had shaken hands with. She plastered a fake smile on her face, repressing a sigh as she turned to look who would be next. The smile froze on her lips as she spotted Peter next to Eli. They hadn't seen each other since she had confronted him with the pictures of him and Ramona, demanding of him to end his affair. She had asked herself a few times since then, if she only wanted him to end it, because it would hurt both their careers if it came out or if it bothered her for another reason, like that he had someone in his life that made him happy, someone he looked forward to. But she never allowed herself to think further to avoid the sting in her heart, she knew she'd feel if she ever admitted to herself that she hated the thought of him happy while she felt miserable in her private life. A sudden flash of light interrupted her thoughts and she looked around, detecting a photographer at the door. She sighed and slowly walked over to Eli and Peter.

"Hi Peter." she stretched the words as he slowly leaned closer, kissing her on the cheek. A part of their well-rehearsed routine for the public. She had learned to block out any feelings during this displays of public affection, but now she couldn't help but wonder about who he thought of as he kissed and hugged her. She could feel his hand on her hip and wondered if it lingered there just a moment too long after they had loosened the embrace. She peered up at him, detecting the same fake smile on his lips as she knew was also visible on her face.

"Go on. Mingle." she suddenly heard Eli's hissing voice in her ear. She rolled her eyes, exhaling slowly as she glanced over to Peter, who offered her his arm.

"Are the kids here?" he asked casually as she linked their arms, following his lead through the crowd.

"Grace is here, but Zach won't arrive until Christmas Eve. He's avoiding me, all I get are texts." she sighed.

"I'll talk to him over the holidays. We don't want him to completely break with us, right?" he offered and she couldn't do anything but nod, agreeing to his words. She knew she had chosen the wrong approach with her son regarding the abortion, but for now she didn't know how to reconnect with him.

"Hello, Mrs. Florrick." she turned her head to the voice that approached them from the side, recognizing Mrs. Warner, one of her few clients, she had spotted so far. She briefly wondered if the bank account of her husband had anything to do with the fact she had gotten an invite.

"Hello, Mrs. Warner. Nice to see you." she smiled, shaking the offered hand.

"Very nice party and finally I get to meet your husband." Mrs. Warner smiled, shaking Peter's hand enthusiastically.

"Good evening, Mrs. Warner. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. My wife told me so much about you. You're one of her favorite clients." Peter smiled at her, switching to charming politician in the blink of an eye. A trait she had always envied him for, now more than ever, as she ran for office herself.

"Oh, you're exaggerating." Mrs. Warner giggled, still clutching Peter's hand.

She felt her mind drift away as Mrs. Warner's gushing washed over her, strangely only Peter's voice keeping her connected with the here and now.

"Of course, we are looking forward to the holidays. It's family time, right Babe?" Peter squeezed her hand and brought her back, briefly wondering when he took her hand in his.

"Sure. Just us and the kids…and Eli over the phone." she winked at him, leaning against his arm, playing the loving wife for the attendees and the photographer, who kept on making pictures as she knew from the ongoing flash, blinding her from time to time.

"I bet you don't see a lot of each other with both your busy schedules. And then you still make time for throwing a party like tonight." Mrs. Warner gestured through the room but Alicia just chose to nod and smile, still holding Peter's hand. Somehow she liked the contact, his presence calming her down like it had when he had shown up when she had announced she'd be running for SA. It felt as if she was untouchable in public when she was by his side. A feeling that scared her somehow, but welcomed just the same.

"And the decorations. So tasteful and festive. You even thought of mistletoe." Mrs. Warner went on, pointing at a spot over Peter's and her head. She followed the gesture and found a branch of mistletoe hanging above them.

"You know the custom, right?" Mrs. Warner smiled at them while Alicia's glance wandered to Peter, who still smiled politely at the other woman. He slowly turned his head and she saw the same glimpse of hesitation in his eyes she felt herself. Their public displays of affection only included kisses on the cheek and hugs, but now standing here under the mistletoe, they wouldn't get away with just that. She chuckled nervously, her gaze wandering around the room, when she met Eli's stare. He had undoubtedly watched them the whole time and surely caught up on their situation. She saw him nudge his head in a 'Go on' movement, before she turned her head around again. Mrs. Warner watched them, an expectant look on her face and Alicia knew she couldn't get out of this. She peered over to Peter, who smiled weakly at her.

"Well, we won't dismiss tradition, right Alicia?" he said calmly, pulling her closer by their still joined hands.

"How could we?" she agreed, smiling brightly at him as he lowered his head to capture her lips. It was as if the contact of his lips on hers caused her body to react on its own, because she couldn't remember making the active decision to let her hands run up his arms, one finding it's way to his neck, drawing him closer while the other one came to rest on his chest over his heart. Her own pulse quickened as she allowed herself to experience the familiar feel of his lips against hers and the warmth from his hand on her hip. A part of her truly enjoyed the kiss while another part of her cursed him for still having this power over her. She pushed both thoughts away, suddenly wanting to savor the kiss for as long as it lasted. It was rather chaste in comparison to the ones they had shared before, in the many years they were together, but already lasted too long for a quick peck on the lips and still she was sorry when she felt Peter lean back, breaking the contact. She blinked a few times as she stepped back herself, glad Peter took her hand again as she still dwelled on the mixed feelings the kiss had stirred inside her.

"It's so nice to see that in spite of all the trouble you went through, you still love each other." Mrs. Warner beamed at them, but they both decided to just smile at her.

"Can I steal Alicia and Peter from you?" Eli's voice suddenly appeared from behind.

"Sure, I've monopolized you long enough. Great party." Mrs. Warner smiled at them, before she turned and headed for the buffet.

"Well played." Eli grinned as he lead them to a group of people, eagerly looking in their direction.

"I need you both to meet these people." Eli instructed them as they approached the group and she heard Peter emit the same sigh that also left her lips.

A few hours later the last guest had left and the caterers had been paid. Alicia was collecting her stuff from her office, slowly approaching the couch under the window where Grace had fallen asleep on.

"Hey, hun, wake up. Time to go home." she carefully whispered while gently stroking her daughter's cheek.

"What time is it?" Grace yawned as she slowly opened her eyes.

"After midnight. Come on, let's get you home and into bed." she smiled as Grace tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Is Dad still here?" Grace asked as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

"No, he left half an hour ago." Alicia replied, still wondering why he had stayed that long, though it had seemed like he had enjoyed himself. She knew Eli and Elfman thought the evening had been a big success as they had left only moments after Peter.

"Come on now, Grace." she urged her daughter on, who was still sitting on the couch, her chin resting on one hand, blinking sleepily. Alicia picked up Grace's coat from an armchair and held it in front of her. Finally Grace stood up slowly, taking the jacket from her mother's hands, putting it on. They went to the elevators, riding down to the lobby as Alicia had parked in front of the door in the afternoon when she came back from court to free a parking space in the garage for one of the guests. They hurried the short distance to her car in the cold drizzle, Grace quickly slipping inside the shelter of the car after Alicia had unlocked it. She opened one of the rear doors to place her briefcase and purse on the backseat, briefly glancing down the street. Her gaze rested on a black limousine parked at the curb on the opposite side of the street. She squinted her eyes, trying to figure out if it was Peter's car. She shook her head at herself as it couldn't be. He had left over half an hour ago. Why would he still be here, sitting in his car? She shut the door of her own car, taking a step forward, reaching for the handle of the front door, when she saw a movement on the other side. The rear door of the limousine swung open and only moments later Peter climbed out of the car. They looked at each other for a few seconds before Peter stepped into the street.

Then several things happened at the same time. Later she would remember the headlights of a car blinding her, a loud bang unlike anything she had ever heard before. Screeching tires and a scream she had no idea if it was her own or Grace's. She felt a chill creep up her neck as she lowered her glance to the middle of the street, the engine of the car that just had sped by, roaring in the distance. She blinked a few times, a feeble hope taking hold of her that her tired eyes only played tricks on her. But each time she opened them the view in front of her stayed the same: Peter lying motionless on the road before her.

She felt paralyzed as she watched big drops falling from the sky now, hitting his face, running over his cheeks like tears. She wanted to move, to run to his side but her legs wouldn't take a single step. She closed her eyes only to open them immediately again, gasping in shock from the images her mind showed her; blood-stains on a vinyl floor, flashes of the photos of the shooting that Will had died in. She tried with all her might to push them away but they blurred with what she saw in front of her. Finally she noticed some movement in the corner of her eye. The front door of the limousine opened, but to her it happened in slow-motion and it took forever until Peter's chauffeur emerged from the car. She saw his mouth move but all sounds were muffled as she continued to stare motionless at Peter's body. Suddenly she heard another sound, startling her but also it seemed to wake her from her paralyzed state. Her head turned and she saw Grace run from the car towards the street, stopping a few steps away from her father's body. Grace turned around, her eyes opened wide, staring at her, the sound leaving her lips dying away in the loud splatter of the rain. Finally she felt herself move, running into the street, kneeling down beside Peter's body. She didn't feel the cold, wet pavement beneath her legs, scraping her skin as she carefully placed her hand on his chest, hoping to feel a steady rise and fall. But all she felt beneath her fingers was the drenched, cold material of his coat. No movement. She peered up to his face, his closed eyes, a small streak of blood running down his chin from the corner of his mouth. Her glance lingered on his lips as she reached to wipe the blood away from his face. She remembered the warmth of his lips on hers just hours ago as they had kissed under the mistletoe. The warmth that was fading into coldness as she brushed his lips lightly with her fingertips. She closed her eyes, conjuring up the memory of the brief kiss, trying to freeze it into her mind. She opened her eyes, forcing her gaze away as she sensed someone standing next to her.

"I called an ambulance."

She could only nod at the chauffeur's words, her eyes searching for Grace, who slowly stepped closer. She could hear the wailing of a siren in the distance and hoped it came from the ambulance headed their way.

"Mom? Will Dad be okay?"