A/N: I'm glad to hear you all needed an AU after 5x15. I think we all did *group hug.

This chapter was so difficult to write but it will get more interesting, I promise lol. Actually, I hope.

I do not own the Good Wife or the characters. I do own the plot. All mistakes are mine (including accidentally writing "Robin" instead of "Robyn." Whoops).

All Alicia could so was try not to stare. The guy in front of her was the same one from last Monday, the one from the elevator. His medium-length floppy brown hair was a giveaway. She was surprised at herself for remembering what he looked like, especially since he didn't have his sunglasses on today, or a sweater tied around his neck.

"Are you Alicia Cavanaugh?"

She looked into the room. The boy in front of her walked away.

Diane Lockhart was a tall thin woman in her early 50's, with shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Come in," she motioned with her hand for Alicia to come in. "You can leave the door open. Will only closed it so he and I could have a private discussion."

"Will…" Alicia said the name to herself. "Gardner?"

Diane smiled. "The one and only. Have a seat."

Alicia looked back to the direction Will would have walked in, but he was already gone.

She sat down on the chair across from Diane. "Mr. Gardner really liked you when he met you. And by Mr. Gardner I mean Paul, just to clarify. You might not know Will but you'll be getting to know him. Usually we would have him working with Kalinda, but the Florricks will be in attendance at this wedding so his father will be busy, leaving Will with you."

The Florricks? Will staying? Alicia's head started spinning.

"Patti Nyholm said I was going to be replacing Will."

Diane laughed. It was a very catchy laugh and Alicia felt herself smiling. "Not replacing him, just seeing him less. Once he goes back to school, he doesn't come around often unless it's to see either me or Mr. Gardner. He's only a summer hire because he works closer to school during the year. But having him work with you gets him out of Patti's hair so I'm sure she already loves you for that," she laughed again. "Robyn is coming in a few minutes. You'll like her; she's not a typical bridezilla."

"When you said the Florricks, did you mean the governor and his family?"

"I did."

"I'm guessing they know the Burdine family if they're going to the wedding?"

"Mr. Florrick is going to be out of town that weekend but his wife Jackie and their son Peter will be there. The Burdines and the Florricks have been friends for years."

There was a knock on the door. Alicia turned around. A girl, not much younger than Alicia herself, stood in the doorway.

"Robyn's here."

"Alicia, this is Kalinda Sharma. She's a favorite around here for the way she gets things done. Kalinda, Alicia Cavanaugh is new so play nice. You can let Ms. Burdine in," Diane told her.

Kalinda looked at Alicia. "What will you be doing?"

"Working with Will apparently."

Kalinda shot a glance at Diane before saying "good luck with that," and leaving.

Robyn Burdine came in. To Alicia's surprise, but not Diane's, she came in with a box of pizza.

"My mom is driving me crazy. She won't even let me eat pizza because she thinks I won't fit into my dress otherwise, so I bought some on my way over but don't tell her," she opened the box. "Help yourselves."

Alicia hesitated but took a slice.

"So where are we on the budget?" Robyn asked Diane.

"Up to $10,000 so far."

Robyn whistled. "Damn, I'm glad my parents are taking care of this. I only had to pay for the dress and flowers."

"Ms. Burdine, this is Alicia Cavanaugh. She's just starting work and will be joining us. She and Will are overseeing the staff."

"So you and Will are going to be the bossy ones?" Robyn looked to Alicia.

"I don't know if I can be bossy," Alicia admitted. "I have a hard time just telling my brother to pick up his mess in the kitchen."

"You'll learn," Diane assured her. "You have to be friendly, but firm."

"She can be the friendly one and Will can be the bossy and mean employee everyone will hate. Problem solved." Robyn finished one slice and picked up another.

"Why does Will have such a bad reputation around here?" Alicia was genuinely curious. She had only met him for a few minutes but he hadn't seemed mean, just moody.

"It's not intentional," Diane assured her.

"Let me tell you about Will Gardner," Robyn interrupted. Diane rolled her eyes but sat back and listened. "Don't piss him off, that's rule number one." She was interrupted when a blonde guy around Alicia's age knocked on the door.

"Ms. Lockhart, you asked for me earlier?"

"Oh! Yes, Alicia this is Cary Agos. I asked him to show you around while I talk with Robyn."

Cary picked up a slice from Robyn's pizza box and beckoned Alicia to follow him.

"You should know that we're nice people here. Kalinda and I are to give you any help that you might need per Ms. Lockhart's request. How have you been doing so far?"

"I haven't done much," Alicia told him. "I went straight to Ms. Lockhart's office when I came in today."

"Who have you met so far?"

"I've met Mr. Gardner of course, Diane Lockhart, Patti Nyholm, Kalinda, and you."

"Then you're nearly all set. We all have our little assignments and that's what we primarily focus on. Ms. Burdine's parents already have a few staff of their own. You're just going to double-check to make sure everything runs smoothly. The wedding is in two weeks and then shortly after that we have a conference for local politicians. Security is going to be the primary focus for that one. And then there are massive parties and events around the 4th of July. Will you be here at that time?"

"Of course. My family stays in town for most holidays."

"Perfect. Hey Kalinda," he ran up to the girl from earlier. "Ms. Lockhart wanted us to show Alicia the ropes. Think you can do that?"

"Can't do it yourself Cary?"

"Of course I can, but since Ms. Lockhart was clear that you and I would help Alicia, I'm inviting you along."

"Let's show her the most important things right now. Shall we?" Kalinda led the way. "You know how to use simple office supplies, don't you?"

Alicia nodded.

"Good. The main offices are right across from each other, one being Ms. Lockhart's and the other is Mr. Gardner's." She didn't stop to point out, even if Alicia already knew where they were. "The restrooms are near the elevators. The ladies room is to the left of the elevator, and the men's is to the right."

"Can I ask you two a question?" Alicia spoke up

"What do you want to know?" Cary answered.

"About Will. I'm just curious after everything I've been hearing. Ms. Burdine said I shouldn't piss him off. I would really appreciate any advice on how to not do that."

Cary and Kalinda exchanged a glance.

"I'm probably not the person to ask," Cary confessed. "I scratched his car just a couple of weeks ago."

"Don't argue with him. And if you do, do it quietly and have a reason for disagreeing. He would make a great lawyer in terms of some of the convincing arguments he can make in his own case, or against yours. And don't lie to him. If you do, don't get caught."

"I don't lie, especially to employers…or their children."

"He's eccentric," Cary said.

"Rude," Kalinda added. "He could use some manners."

"Self-centered."

"A brat."

The pit in Alicia's stomach grew bigger by the second.

UGH! Sorry for the lameness. Next chapter we have more with Alicia and Will. And don't worry, Will has his reasons for doing things the way he does or being who he is.