A/N: A new lunch break, a new one-shot. But the story is not marked as complete because I'm planning to write many different versions of this conversation. Some will be more realistic and thus angsty, others will see them make up. This one is all-dialogue since I'm experimenting with that formula these days and assumes that Kalinda told Will about Cary's new firm. I'm not sure that it would happen but just go with it ;). For the idea, you can thank/blame Ausiello that confirmed that this conversation will happen. I am waiting for StrawberrySab to write her wonderful version of it but since she is tied up at the moment you'll have to make do with mine. This one is angsty, so beware.

"Alicia, you didn't have to come. You could have made some calls from home."

"No, it's ok."

"I'm very sorry. It's just Kalinda told us that Cary is leaving to start a new firm and we have to make sure that all our clients are staying with us."

"Will, please, don't be sorry. Not today. I have to tell you something."

"From the look on your face, I would say that Sweeney is leaving. Please, tell me that's not true."

"He is leaving. And so I'm I."

"What?"

"It's the only way to close it, Will. I have to not see you every day. For my sanity and yours."

"You're not serious. Tell me you're not seriously considering abandoning me."

"I'm not considering. I have decided."

"You're making a mistake. Maybe this is the only way to close it but we shouldn't close it at all."

"Will, we have talked about this."

"Have we? When, Alicia? When have we talked about why it's so important for you to fight whatever there is between us, uh?"

"You've always understood."

"And I do, Alicia. I understand the complications and I'm telling you that I'm willing to work through them. Why aren't you?"

"Will, don't make this more difficult than it already is."

"I'm not making anything difficult. I'm making it clear. You seem to be drawn to me, Alicia and I'm conceited enough to believe that it's not just sexual attraction. So why are you so scared of giving us a chance? Are you afraid of getting hurt, is that it? I'm never going to hurt you, Alicia. Never. You have to believe that."

"Of course I believe that, Will."

"Then what?"

"I can't break up my family, I just can't."

"Do you want them to learn that once they are parents they can't have a life of their own?"

"I want them to learn than when they become parents they have to think about someone else before thinking of themselves. Grace didn't even want me to go in the car with you, let alone having a relationship."

"She doesn't know me. How could she approve of a man she doesn't know? You saw what happened with Zach in court. I would dare say that he liked being questioned by me. I told you once before. I could make a good impression, Alicia."

"You could, Will but you would always be the man that broke up their family and I would be the mother that let it happen."

"So it's all on you? Your family was perfect before?"

"No, but we have repaired it. I have repaired it. I won't destroy it. That's something my mother would do."

"Your mother strikes me as an happy woman, one without regrets."

"It's good to know then that she doesn't regret hurting me and my brother. You don't have children, Will. I will do anything for them."

"I think sometimes you hide behind being a mother, Alicia. It's your way of justifying to yourself why you shouldn't take risks and be happy with me."

"Once you're a father, Will, we'll talk about hiding behind roles versus really loving your children."

"Fine, ok, I can't argue against your parenting decisions, but, please don't leave the firm, Alicia. A slew of clients will come with you and we will already be crippled by Cary. More than that, Diane will probably leave now that Peter is Governor, I need someone I can trust. Someone that will be by my side. I need you. I can even make you name partner, if that's what you're after."

"It's not. Will, I wish I could stay. I can't. We have tried avoiding each other and it doesn't work, we have tried being friends and it doesn't work. Whenever we are in the vicinity of each other, I have to fight and fight. I'm tired."

"Then I'll fight for the both of us, Alicia. If you can't be with me, work with me, help me through this difficult period."

"Will, please, stop. Saying no to you over and over again is painful. Let me go. It'll better for the both of us in the long-run."

"It will be better for you, Alicia. You're being selfish. Just own it."

"You'll move on, being away from me."

"Because it worked like a charm last time, didn't it? 15 years and I was still waiting for you. 15 years of being away from you and it took a few months for us to find our way back to each other. I won't move on this time that I have gotten to see that it wasn't just a juvenile crush."

"I'm sorry, Will. I don't know what else to say."

"If you leave Lockhart/Gardner, if you leave me, our friendship is over, you realize that, right? I can't justify to myself why I'm still friends with someone who doesn't care about me at all."

"Don't say that. I do care about you."

"Just not enough to fight."

"Will..."

"You can go, Alicia. I don't even want to know what clients you are taking. I'll have Kalinda handle it. Go. But know this: one day, soon, you'll find yourself navigating through the turbid waters of being a name partner. You'll fight with Cary over a questionable client, maybe one that interferes with Peter's image or you'll have a problem with secretaries or other employees, maybe Sweeney will drive you crazy, I don't know. You'll need someone to talk to, someone that won't see the issue in a political light, someone that could just comfort you. That day, Alicia, you'll be tempted to call me. Because you know that I would understand, because you know that I could make you laugh, because you know who I am and who we are. But you won't call me. We will be nothing more than bitter adversaries by then. When you're alone with your wine or tequila in your office, remember today. Remember that you decided that our friendship wasn't worth fighting for."

"So see, after all, you will move on. You'll hate me but you will move on."

"I'm not sure I'm even capable of hating you, Alicia. And even if I were, you know that hate doesn't let you move on. Indifference does, and no matter what happens, I could never be indifferent to you. Now, please, leave."

"I'm going to miss you, Will and I'll always be sorry."

"I have heard that before. Goodbye, Alicia."

"Goodbye Will."