He stood, cursing under his breath as he paced the room. And then in a fit of anger he picked up the red folder and threw it across the room, sending the contents flying in every direction before they floated to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Will." Alicia whispered.

"You have no reason to be sorry, Alicia. You didn't do anything wrong! Whatever you said, or did… I'm sure it was well-intended."

"No."

"Alicia, listen to me! Whatever Wendy asked you-."

"Our relationship is none of her business, Will! It's none of anyone's business! I don't care what the damn Grand Whatever you and I did-."

"Come on, Alicia, tell me what she asked you; please."

Tears streamed down her cheeks but she made no attempt to brush them away. "I-I can't! I-."

He held up his hands in obvious frustration and then placed them on his head. And suddenly she was afraid that she'd made him angry. "Will, I didn't mean to-."

"I swear, whatever you say is just between us, all right? I won't judge you in any way. Now what happened?"

She sniffled and nodded. "Will, she knew things; private things. She asked if we were sleeping together. She…. wanted to know when and where and how long it had been going on. She asked about Peter and-and Grace and Zach. Cary tried to get her to stop with the questions but she kept on going. They were going to charge me with contempt but I didn't care. I'd rather have been thrown in jail than have our relationship-."

"Damn it."

"She made me feel cheap, like I was some… someone who stood on street corners, waiting for men! I'm not like that, Will, I'm-."

His fists were clenched and he paced the room. "Damn her!"

"I –I couldn't take it anymore! I just-I walked out! I-." When she began to sob openly, his anger disappeared. His gaze softened and he held out his arms. "Alicia, come here."

She filled his embrace, sobbing against his chest while he held her close. "It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. Believe me; I would have done the same thing."

But Alicia continued to cry, comforted by the feeling of his arms around her and the sound of his heartbeat in her ear. His hand moved up and down her back and she held him even closer.

Surprisingly it only took moments for her sobs to diminish into shudders, but he didn't let it go. He continued to hold her until finally she slipped out of his arms.

God how she loved him.

His expression was different now; more serious than before. "Alicia, I'm, sorry. This is my fault."

"Will, no."

"But it is! The Grand Jury case, the affair, all of it!"

The last words cut through her like a knife and she swallowed hard. "Is that what you think? That our love is just an affair?"

"No! Not at all! Damn, I'm not saying the right things here, am I?"

"Well, what is the right thing, then?" She snapped.

"Look, I love you, all right? No. That's wrong. I'm in love with you. I know you're married with two children and I would never want to interfere with that. But I can't help the way I feel."

She moved closer and kissed his mouth, her hands poised to reach for the buttons on his shirt.

"Neither can I."

His arms went around her and pulled her closer to him, his mouth just inches from hers. "Well then, perhaps we should…"

"Mom, pick up the phone. Mom, pick up the phone…"

Startled apart, her heart jumped at the recorded sound of her daughter's voice; the ring tone Grace had designed just for her. She then gave her boss a sympathetic glance. "I need to take this."

He smiled. "Sure. I'm just going to make an appearance out-." He gestured toward his office door and when he kissed her forehead she nodded.

"Okay."

Alone in his office, she ran her finger across the smooth, flat surface of her phone and brought it to her ear. "Grace?"

"Yeah, Mom. It's me."

"What's going on? How are you and Zach?"

There was a sigh on the other end of the line, which caught her attention. "Yes, Mom. We're fine. I just-when are you coming home?"

The tiny spark of anxiety within her started to build. "Home? Oh, I-."

"I hope it's soon."

She looked at the clock hanging on the wall. She'd barely been here for two hours and everyone at Lockhart/Gardner knew that parties lasted well into the night; even with the obligation of coming into the office the following morning. She hadn't planned on coming home for quite some time. Grace had never objected to her staying late at work before and wasn't it Grace who encouraged her to go to the party?

An alarm sounded in her head. "Grace, what's wrong?"

A pause and then- "Um, nothing. Zach and I just-."

Tears sprang to her eyes as a million horrible scenarios raced through her mind. "What, Grace? What is it? Please, tell me what-." She looked up to see Will enter the office.

"What's wrong?" He mouthed.

"I don't know." She replied in the same voiceless manner.

"Is Will coming home with you?"

Alicia sat down on the sofa, surprised by her daughter's question. "Will? No, I-brought my car, remember?"

"I know, but can't he follow you here in his car or something?"

"Grace, you barely know Will! Now will you please tell me-."

"I'm fine, Mom. I swear. Don't get upset!"

"What about Zach?"

Alicia sighed at the way the sofa shifted when Will sat down beside her. And then he felt the touch of his hand on touch of Will's hand as it moved in circles around her back.

"Zach's fine, Mom. We both are. What's wrong with wanting you and Will to come home?"

"Nothing, but I'm in the middle of-."

"I know Mom. How's the birthday party?"

She was momentarily at a loss. "Birthday party?"

"Will's birthday party? Did he get a lot of presents?"

"Oh, well-."

"Right, it's probably too early for those. They usually have cake and stuff first. "

"Look, Grace… it's not really a-."

"Can you just please bring him over tonight? For a little while? Please, Mom?"

Alicia glanced at Will. "Oh… Well, all right. I'll be home a little later, okay?"

"Thanks, Mom. You're the best. I love you."

"I love you too. We'll see you then. But it might be pretty late."

"That's fine. We'll wait up. There's no school tomorrow, remember? Teacher in-service day?"

Alicia laughed. "You're right. I almost forgot about that. Good thing you reminded me before I woke you both up at dawn for school."

"Have fun, Mom. And don't worry. We're totally fine."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

"Bye." Woodenly, Alicia hung up the phone and stared straight ahead. Will, however, was looking at her in concern.

"What's wrong? Are your kids okay?"

"I don't know…"

"What do you mean?"

"Grace asked if you were coming home with me. I don't know, it's… weird. Something's going on."

"You think she's lying?"

"No, but…I don't know what to think! I can't ask you to leave your party. Surely Grace can understand that."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I, which is why it worries me. Diane will understand. And so will Cary and the others. Come on. I'll take you home."

"But-."

"It's fine. We'll just tell them that I'm taking you home because of Grace and Zach."

"Will, it's really not that big of a deal. I have my car and-."

"I'll take you home. Or how about I'll follow you home."

"I really don't-."

"You don't want to take this lightly; especially if you're not sure what's going on. But I don't have any idea why Grace would want me to be there. I don't mind, but-."

"God, Will, what if something's really wrong?"

He grabbed his keys from his desk and she stared at him in disbelief. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. Let's tell them we're leaving so that we can get you home to your kids."

He took her hand and they headed out of his office. But she paused at the door and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek.

"What was that for?"

"Thank you, Will."

He held her closer and smiled, touching his forehead to hers. "You're most welcome."