Hi, this is my first fanfic so please go easy on me :) Reviews are welcome

Disclaimer- I don't own anything except parts of the plot and dialogue

Unexpected Visitors

Alicia had had a good day. She had won her case in court, Peter was up in the polls one week out from the election, and things were going smoothly at the office, bar some awkward tension here and there. She had even been able to get away from work at a decent time today and was spending time with her kids watching TV. Without wine. And Alicia thought that that, if anything, was a testament to how great the day was.

Then the doorbell rang.

Leaving Zach and Grace in the living room, Alicia went to answer the door. Swinging it open, she found Peter.

"Peter... hi." Her surprise was clear in her voice. She wasn't expecting him, and couldn't think of a reason he would be here. "Is there some campaign emergency?" she asked, checking her phone for missed calls from Eli. There were none.

"No, no. The campaign is fine. I just came to talk to you," Peter said, smiling. "May I come in?"

"Of course."

Alicia opened the door wider, and he walked in past her, greeting the kids who replied distractedly.

Peter gestured to her bedroom, "In your room?"

"Sure," she shrugged, following him in and closing the door behind them. Alicia sat on her bed and looked expectantly at Peter to begin. He paused for a moment, nodded his head as if in agreement with himself before taking a seat next to Alicia. He looked determined, she thought, if not a little nervous. That was not good. He would only be nervous if he was unsure as to how she would take whatever he has to say. And this day was going so well!

"We've been doing well haven't we?" he started.

She nodded. "Yes." Though still wary of the conversation, she had to agree.

"I thought so too. We've come a long way." he smiled at her to put her at ease, but the direction of this conversation was only increasing her concern. He paused again to build up his confidence.

"So..." he grabbed her hand and moved to the floor. "Alicia, will you marry me? Again?" he added.

What?

"What?"

"I want us to renew our vows, honey," he squeezed her hand. "I love you."

Again, what?! She was speechless. She had been completely blindsided. He'd been hinting at taking things further but she would have expected him to ask her to move in with him, not renew their commitment to each other in the most definite way possible. Could she do this? Did she want to? Sure, she loved him. She wanted to help him where she could and she cared about him. But vow renewal? That recommitment would be definite. Final. She had made the decision to make it work with Peter, to forget Will. She had thought that that had been her final decision, but now faced with this decision she was forced to think again. Because if it had been her final decision, why hadn't she said yes yet?

Peter was looking to her for her response. What was she going to say?

Her phone rang. She jumped at it and breathed a sigh of relief. Saved by the bell.

"Owen?"

"Hey sis. I'm calling to-" the doorbell rang for the second time that night.

"Um, Owen? I'm going to have to call you back," Alicia looked to Peter apologetically before leaving to answer the door. "Someone's at the door-"

"That's the thing. It's mom." Sure enough, when Alicia opened the door she found her mother.

"Hi Alicia," Veronica stepped past her daughter into the apartment, giving her a kiss. "How are you?"

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"I don't need a reason to visit, but I thought I would to see how my daughter and her wonderful kids are doing."

Alicia gave her a sceptical look. It's never that simple.

Veronica cracked under the glare. "And I might need your help," she added.

Sighing, Alicia shook her head in defeat. Gone was the bliss of earlier that evening.

At that moment, Peter appeared in the doorway. "Hi Veronica."

"Peter."

Alicia glanced between her husband and her mother- the two people who just complicated her night. And without a word, she left for the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine.

Veronica followed her to the kitchen. "It's nothing really. It's just that my friend's company is cheating him out of his benefits. He wants to sue."

Alicia leaned against the bench and continued to sip her wine. A moment later, Peter entered.

"Alicia?" Their conversation had been interrupted and he hadn't received an answer from her.

Alicia looked from him back to her mother, "Ok, mom," she said, sighing. Turning again to Peter she half-smiled, "We'll talk later." Hopefully that would placate him for the moment.

And it did. He looked disappointed, but nodded and headed back to the door, saying goodbye to the kids on his way out.

"Did I interrupt something?" Veronica asked.

Alicia rolled her eyes. She knew that her mother knew that she had interrupted. She also knew that while Veronica didn't plan to interrupt during Peter's proposal, she didn't care that she had. Neither did Alicia though. In fact she was glad, not that she'd tell anyone that.

"We'll talk tomorrow, Mom." she was suddenly quite tired from the night's events. Grabbing her glass, she said goodnight to Zach and Grace and retired to her room.