Alicia put her hand over Logan's arm. He was trembling all over, the thumping of his foot almost shook the table. He had obviously not gone this far in any ability to get justice for Dean's death.
"Oh come on!" Alicia corrected the attorney across from her. "You're claiming that Mr. Shephard was going there to get drunk. Do you have any witnesses to that?!"
Nancy Crozier, counsel for the Roosevelt University, scoffed at Alicia. "College kids, they go out to have fun, they drink, they get caught up, it's no one's fault but their own."
Logan was now standing. "You killed my boyfriend, he didn't drink, he would never do that. Just because you have millions of dollars you can…" Alicia stood to try and get Logan to calm down. "That you can just sweep everything under your golden rug. I loved him!" Logan slowly sat back down, fixing his jacket and tie.
"That won't happen again. i apologize for my client."
"Mr. Grey, we are very sorry for your loss. We are willing to compensate for Mr. Shephard's death. We are willing to work with you." The school president finally spoke up.
Alicia eyed the man's composure during that statement. "Mr. Collins. I'm sure you think, at the end of the day, that your money will be in the best interest of Mr. Grey or Mr. Shephard's family and the some how be closure for Mr. Shephard. Did you know about the others?"
He stuttered…"The others?"
"Richard Winston, Patrick Salimon, Wallace Farmer…" Alicia stopped when seeing Mr. Collins shaking his head. "Do you have something to say Mr. Collins?"
"I'm sure these men have accused something somewhere in this university. It was never bought to my attention and now they have probably forgotten about whatever its is they're complaining about. What did they have to say, assuming you probably contacted them."
"See, Mr. Collins. they're dead." She saw him get very uncomfortable. "So, Mr. Collins, you see where our problem is. There are more than those three gentleman on a list that this fraternity has put into an early grave. What do you have to say about that."
"Every university…"
Alicia cut him off. "This is not every university, Mr. Collins. This is Roosevelt University. This is Chicago. We take college crime very seriously. And before you stand up and try to intimidate me that this is not a crime and kids will be kids, you can save your breath." Alicia was now hovering over him. "I have a son about to go to college,I've done research about your university with other clients, I know what goes on. We'll see you in court." Alicia slammed her notebook shut and walked out of the office, Logan quickly after her.
"Wait, what was that?" Logan was catching up to Alicia.
She sighed. "That was me telling them we're going to court and they can't sweep this under the rug, like you said. You did good, but spare the dramatics."
They were now in her office.
"I don't know what came over me. I just didn't want to sit there and feel like I'm not fighting for Dean. I just wanted to feel like I was doing something."
"That's good, but we also need to do some trial prep for you when we do go to court."
"I'll be testifying?"
"Yes." Alicia noticed his demeanor change. "Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah. I mean this is all new. I never got this far. I always knew what was happening with every thing I went through before. And now I don't know what to expect. This time finally feels like something will happen, someone will finally pay for what happened to Dean." He grabbed a tissue to dry his tears.
"And what do you have going on tomorrow."
"I have class until three.
Alicia tapped her pen. "I've contacted Richard's mother, she'll be here tomorrow. I haven't gotten any info from the other familes."
"Really? They said yes."
Alicia smiled. "Yes, Logan, they will be here. They are ready to fight the university. They are just glad that there is someone with a voice to finally read to stand up to the school."
"Thank you, Ms. Cavanaugh." Those words were still ringing in Alicia's ears.
"So, tomorrow."
"I can be here, trust me, anything to get justice for Dean.
"Good, then tomorrow at ten. Then Mrs. Lloyd, Richard's mother is coming in tomorrow around noon. So we can prep and get a lot of work done and be prepared when she gets here and so on."
"What do I wear, suit and tie?"
"Just like you are right now."
"Thank you, again, Mr. Cavanaugh." She never gets tired of hearing those words in her direction.
"You're welcome Mr. Grey. Now get some rest, big day tomorrow."
"Yes, I'll be ready and prepared."
Will was looking over depositions when a familiar knock came at his door.
He smiled. "Your honor." He smiled towards Diane, giving her a big hug. "What brings you down to the lower rankings of the lawyer world."
"I wanted to see how my former firm was doing. I'm hearing good things about Alicia."
"She's doing really good." There was a twinkle in his eye.
"And by the way you talk about her, it's not just professional." She saw Will's face change. "I've seen the headlines, Will. I'd be blind not to see them. She's divorced, back to her maiden name."
"Yep, all is true." She could tell he was holding back.
Diane starred at him. "Will, come on. I'm not some associate you have to impress. I built this firm with you."
"I'm having dinner with her and the kids tonight. She called us a relationship."
"That's good. I'm happy for you."
"I…" He sighed. "I never thought I would do it."
"Do what?"
"The family thing, to want the family, to want the kids. I never thought I would be that guy."
"Is it that you never thought you'd be that guy or that you'd never find that girl."
"I think it's more that I never thought Alicia and I would happen. I've thought about her every day since college and when she was a junior associate, she was all I could think about. What if she divorced Peter, would I have a chance with her. And now, my head spins when I think about it."
Diane looked at the letterhead on Will's desk. "Lockhart and Gardner."
He looked at her, almost reading her mind. "I haven't begun to ask her yet."
"Why not? You've wanted Alicia as a named Partner ever since she was in your office interviewing for a job that did not exist."
"She's got a lot going on with this case inv…" Will realized he was talking to a judge. "I can't discuss cases with you anymore." That part made him a little sad and at a loss for words.
"You shouldn't talk to me about making Alicia name partner either, but here we are. Will, I am still your friend."
"I know." Will paused. "I want her to have that name partnership. She has worked hard for it and I can't find the balance yet."
"You don't want to ask her as her boyfriend, but as her boss and that line hasn't been drawn yet."
"Boyfriend." He laughed. "I feel like I'm in college again."
"Will I've seen you grow up in this firm. You've pulled together this firm better than anyone else could. When David Lee was killed in that court room, you soldiered the partners, you bought the firm back to life." Diane stood up when she saw Alicia walking towards his office. "Now you're having trouble asking a fourth year associate to be a named partner? What are you afraid of Will?"
Alicia walked in knocking. "Hello Diane." She smiled.
"Alicia, very good to see you. I'm hearing good things."
"I'm glad, it's not the same without you."
"I suggest it wouldn't be." Diane had a reminder on her phone. "I've got to run, a judge's life."
"Good to see you." They hugged.
Will focused on Alicia. "The Logan Grey case, how's that going."
"We're going to court."
"So soon? I thought at least a few more depositions and you'd be all wrapped up."
"Well it's been very clear, written on the wall that Roosevelt University not only doesn't care about the kids who have died at any fraternity. They aren't willing to do anything about it. Oh, but they are willing to throw money at Logan to, well, shut him down and make it all seem like Dean's death to Logan meant nothing."
He saw Alicia having trouble facing him when she starred at the window. "Want Cary to second chair, he's had experiences with these types of cases."
Alicia cleared her throat and turned around. "I can do it, I will do it. I'm not going to let them put fancy words on a paper just to make Logan think Dean's death was justified. And it's Roosevelt University. Zach has the brochure in his room as the top pick. How can I just let him go to a college that I'm suing for wrongful death at a fraternity. Of course he's going to want to join a fraternity. How can I stop him? He's smart, kind….he's nice to everyone. He…" She stopped when Will pulled her into a hug.
"Hey…it's okay. Zach is not just some kid. Zach is a good kid." He kissed her forehead. "He may not even go to Roosevelt."
She pushed him away. "But Roosevelt isn't the only school that has fraternities. What then? What he goes to California, I've seen the UCLA and USC brochures on his desk. He could go anywhere and if something happened, I wouldn't know about it."
Will pulled Alicia into a kiss, parting very slowly. They stood there in silence. Will began in a whisper "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together. You have me, I'm not going anywhere. And you said it, Zach is a smart kid."
Alicia was soft. "I know…" She looked up at him, kissing him back. "Thank you."
Will looked passed Alicia to see Peter Florrick standing in the door frame. He composed himself as did Alicia.
"Peter…great timing." Will walked around Alicia to hide her from Peter. "What can I do for you."
"Workplace romances. I see romance isn't dead."
"Are you here for something Peter, or just to remind yourself of what you never had."
"Funny…Mr. Gardner"
Will sat at his desk, waiting for Peter to take a seat. Doing so, he watched Alicia slowly walk back to her office. She slightly nodded to him from the hallway that she was okay.
"Going over some financial statements, I realize that I'm still paying you."
"For what? We liquidated everything when you were…putting it nicely…overthrown."
"As was I, then I found this." Peter handed documents to Will.
Will glanced at it for about five seconds. "This is crap. We don't anything to do with this."
"Then why don't we take into account that you are still operating under a partnership name that is no longer a partner."
Will laughed. "Mr. Florrick, you have about three seconds to get the hell out of my office and to never bring me this garbage. If you want to go after me, then see me. Don't bring my firm into this and don't you dare bring Alicia into this."
"Who said anything about Alicia?"
"We all know what this is about. If it was anyone else, you'd be wishing me well. You're just upset that Alicia finally moved on. You can't control her anymore. You an control Grace and Zach either…" He could see the veins in Peter's neck popping.
"They are my children."
"That's the thing about you and I Peter. I respect that you have more of a relationship with Zach and Grace than I'll ever have. You're a great father…just a lousy husband." Will saw Peter's face change with that last statement. Will had the upper hand and he knew it. "You had to pay someone to sleep with you, used the money right out of your own pocket, taking it away from your family, then you had to embarrass the state for the fact that you couldn't get it up at home. Yeah, you son of a bitch, I can be that guy too. Remember that. Now get out." Will sat down his chair, starring at Peter, not moving a muscle. He saw Peter turn around like an animal with his tail between his legs.
Zach and Grace looked at their lasagna. Will was going to be at the apartment in less than thirty minutes and their dinner looked like…
"Did you fry it?" Veronica was coming into the kitchen seeing the burnt lasagna.
"No, the package said three hours and I put it in three hours."
Zach chimed in. "But what she didn't do was check the temperature for the stove. She put it in at four hundred and fifty degrees."
"And what's wrong with that?"
Grace got the box out. "It was only supposed to be three hundred and seventy five. It's toast. Will's going to be here in minutes and…"
Veronica came around the counter, got a fork and took a bit of the lasagna, swallowing hard. "Maybe we could order pizza, that's still Italian."
"Maybe he won't notice." Grace said to Zach right after Veronica left.
"If he chews really slowly, maybe.
Will knocked on the door and was greeted by Alicia.
"You don't have to knock." She kissed him. "And you bought wine."
"It is dinner, wine always goes great with dinner."
"And for later." She smiled at up at him. "If you want you can put your bag in my room."
"Good, I'll be right back."
Alicia walked into the dining room with the wine.
Grace looked around. "Where's Will?"
"Oh, he's putting something away. He did bring wine…"
"For those who can drink it." Grace scoffed.
"Not now Grace, this is family dinner so let's have dinner."
Will returned loving the scenery he was taking in. Alicia at the head of the table, Zach and Grace on each side and Will having a seat at the other end of the table, Veronica sitting beside Grace. Family
The lasagna was served, everyone chimed in on how great of a job Grace did on how the presentation looked. Veronica kept her mouth shut about the lasagna being extra crunchy on the inside. She just smiled and sipped her wine.
Will took a bite, chewing it slowly…swallowing hard. "It's perfect." He saw Grace have a sigh of relief as she took a bite of her dinner, knowing Will was lying.
After dinner, Will volunteered to pile up the dishes in the dishwasher while Veronica and the kids played a game in the other room. Alicia came in to join him.
"Now I know why you're a good lawyer."
He chuckled. "Why is that Alicia?"
"You are the best liar, that dinner was burnt to a crisp."
"When I was in the dorms, I was always studying and staying up late. There wasn't exactly a good selection of food in the middle of the night. So I found random things in the vending machine, heated them on a mini stove that was in the kitchen. One night I was starving, so I got something out of the vending machine, thought it would taste a lot better cooked. I put it on the hot plate and didn't think the hot plate was, well, that hot. I came back, it was burnt. Best food I ever had. It reminded me of Georgetown. Being on my own for the first time." He smiled at her. "And meeting a very beautiful woman that day and not being able to stop thinking about her."
"Yes, Marcy was beautiful." Alicia said joking with Will and thinking back to when she met Marcy.
He laughed. "Yeah, she knew it too. It think the one afternoon I had to partner up with her on some project she talked about what color to dye her hair at least thirty four times."
"Yes, I know, she told me it would be auburn brown."
Her and Will starred into each other's eyes for what seemed to last a lifetime.
"Alicia…it's always been you. You know that." She nodded silently. "I love you." He pulled her into a kiss and she wrapped her arms around him. They still couldn't get enough of each other, making up for lost time they would tell themselves. They parted abruptly when Peter's voice was sounding through the apartment. Will quickly went back to making sure everything in the kitchen was cleaned up.
Peter came into the kitchen, scoffing at Will already there. "Are the kids ready?"
"Yeah." Alicia left the kitchen, walking to the living. "Zach, Grace…everything ready? Your dad's here."
"I'll go get the bags, you help grandma clean up." Zach went upstairs.
Peter and Will were standing in the kitchen, avoiding the obvious and saying nothing.
Veronica walked in seeing them, standing there.
"Well, if we're going to act like children then, well, act like children."
Peter looked at his watch. "Zach, Grace, we have to go."
Veronica looked at Will when Peter left. "It'll get easier, I promise."
"It's not that I hate the guy, I don't. Just every time I see him, I just get this vision of him coming home to Alicia, the doting husband after he's fu…had sex with some prostitute. She was hurt so bad and he acts like nothing ever happened.
"I know the feeling. I wanted to rip his heart out when Alicia told me about the divorce. I knew something was going on, but how can you say something when everything looks so…right?"
"Yeah, I know."
Alicia closed the door from Peter and the kids leaving. She walked into the kitchen and looked at Veronica.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Veronica saw that Alicia and Will were starring at each other, like no one was around.
"We've all seen this part of the movie, this is where the meddling mother exists." Veronica stopped at Alicia. "I want details." That made Alicia smile.
Will and Alicia waited patiently for the door to shut knowing they were completely alone.
Alicia smiled at him. "And then there were two."
Will picked Alicia up, her legs wrapping around his waist. "Finally." His mouth pulled her lips into a passionate kiss.
Will opened his eyes to a dark room and an empty bed, he looked around. Everything was silent and Alicia wasn't there. He then squinted to the light of the bathroom shining as she opened the door.
"Sorry to wake you." She had an awkward smile.
"Nah, I just woke up and you weren't beside me, that's all." He spoke softly.
Alicia wrapped herself up in Will's arms, contemplating whether she should tell him how she's really feeling.
"What's wrong?" Will said when Alicia thought he was sleeping.
"Nothing…why would something be wrong?"
He positioned his head right beside hers. "I know you Alicia."
She had to say it, he knew something was there. "I was looking at the pregnancy tests yesterday…"
Those words hit Will with a bolt of lighting. He was wide awake, no question about it. He sat up and turned the light on.
"Are you…are we…" A million questions raced through his mind trying to figure out Alicia's next words.
"Me? Oh, no, Will, we're not pregnant." He let out a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding, she noticed this. "What if I was?"
"I don't know, it's a lot take in." He intertwined his fingers with hers. "I would be happy and we would figure it out." He kissed her hand. "Together."
"I was standing there, talking to you about the kids dinner and when I stopped at the tests, all I could remember were the times that I found out I was pregnant with Zach and then with Grace. I remember being happy. Then I remembered how my marriage wasn't a marriage and I wondered how different our lives would be if you were always there. What if I stayed with you and not Peter. How different would our lives be. Would I be happier? Would I still have Peter in my life? Would I be in the same place professionally and personally. I've been thinking about a lot of things."
"I love that you have always wanted me to be apart of your life because I've always wanted you to be apart of mine in every way a man and a woman should be." He noticed the concern on Alicia's face. "What is it?" He rubbed his thumb against her hand.
She sat up, sitting right next to him, leaning on his shoulder while him still holding her hand. "I want another child…with you. I feel like you and I should've always been together. Having the big family and making plans for school and colleges." She knew it was a lot to throw at him, but she said it, it's out in the open.
"Alicia, I…"