A/N:I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I jus thought to myself, these two can only stay rational for so long. Maybe this messes things up, maybe this makes things better. Let me know how you feel at the end of the chapter!
Disclaimer: Could only wish I owned any of it, but I don't.
Summary: "I guess I shouldn't offer you to stay at my place… Right?" It's out before I realize. I glance at her, in an attempt to see her reaction. "Right," she replies, but it doesn't sound that convincing. "So then… " I think of how to work my way out of this one. "I won't be offering that," I mumble.
Thanks: To my lovely beta Romantic Southerner!


To Keep The Good Alive

Chapter 9 – Headlines

"You can't control what others think. The only thing you can control is yourself. Some people will look down on you for your choices in life, no matter what they are. You can't do anything about that. The only thing you can do is decide how to live your own life. And to hell with everybody else" ― Marie Sexton

The headlines are everywhere. Florricks Separate, Hypocritical Campaign Marriage Ends, St. Alicia Breaks Away From Cheater Husband, it goes on and on. I wonder how she got through her day. I briefly passed her in the hallway this morning, on her way to court. We didn't get a chance to talk. I went by her office later, but her assistant told me she was out, then I was stuck in negotiations and now it's… I glance at the clock in the upper right corner of my laptop. 19:30. I should get out of here. I look up from the screen. The lights have dimmed in the offices around me. A familiar view.

Alicia must be at home with her kids, exhausted most likely. I wonder if I should give her a call. It seems odd not to get in touch with her after a day like this. On the other hand, the whole world tried to get in touch with her today. I'll ask her tomorrow, get her a cup of coffee or something.

I crack my neck and push my chair away from the desk. I should get going. This hiding away in my office isn't doing me any good. I miss her, I realize. I want to know how she's doing, what's going through her mind… But it's not up to me to get in touch with her.

That's the thing with me and her. She always… comes and goes. I'm all right with it now, but I'm hoping that it will start to change now that the divorce is filed. I didn't expect her to call me last weekend. I was glad she did. However, when I got there it felt good, but out of place at the same time. It's like she didn't know what she was doing; and honestly, I didn't have a clue of what to do either. I knew what I wanted to do, I just didn't know what was the wise thing to do was.

As I walk out of my office I suddenly see a dim light coming from the back of the floor. Is that Alicia's office? It can't be. Perhaps she forgot to turn off the light. I walk to the end of the hallway and then I notice her, sitting on the couch in her office, working on her laptop.

"Alicia?"

She looks up to me, a little startled. "Oh, hi," she smiles.

"I didn't think you'd still be here."

"Neither did I," she responds sarcastically.

"Hiding out?"

"Pretty much. There was a reporter with a camera following me to court this afternoon."

"Are you serious?"

"Yep," she sighs as she closes her laptop.

"So why don't you go home?"

"My doorman gave me a call. Told me there are at least two reporters waiting outside my apartment."

"That's crazy."

She nods. "So I'm just sitting it out till they're gone."

"That's ridiculous."

"Peter says he's handling it," she replies dryly. "But apparently, they're just sitting in a café across the street or a car. What can you do?"

"I think you could use a drink. Unwind a little."

She smiles. "OK. I need to call the kids first."

"Go do that. I'm gonna get us a beer. Come over to my office when you're done," I say as I look around. "Corner offices are way better for late night drinks. I know from experience."

She laughs at that. "I tried redecorating. But it doesn't come close, does it?"

"Not really. Let me get those beers."

"Will, you were about to head out," she says, gesturing at my coat. "You don't have to do this. Staying here. I'm fine, really."

"What if I want to? I'm glad I got a chance to see you."

She looks at me for a second. "Ok then," she nods with a smile. "I'll be right there."

Ten minutes later, I'm sitting on my couch. I turned one lamp back on, got us two beers and threw my coat and briefcase back on the chair. Then, I hear footsteps. I see her walking down the hallway, heading to my office. It's only when she comes closer that I notice she's wearing a pretty black dress. I've always loved her in dresses. They flatter her figure so nicely, but it's always in a discrete way. Never showing too much. It always excited me, that she was hiding her gorgeous body so perfectly and that I got to undress her at the end of the day.

"Hi," she says as she walks in my office.

"And?"

"They were fine," she answers. "Unfortunately, they've had their practice," she sighs as she sinks down in the couch next to me.

"Thanks for this," she gets her beer from the table.

"Of course." I reply. I'm a little distracted by the fact she's sitting down next to me, and I can't get my eyes off that dress. I've seen it before.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I like that dress." I answer bluntly. I don't look her as I say that. I just stare straight in front of me, taking another sip from my beer. "You should wear it more often. It suits you."

"Well, thank you," she smiles at me. Her eyes search mine. As if she's unsure how to take that compliment. I'm not sure what I meant. I mean, I'm thinking a whole lot more than just 'nice dress', but don't go there, Will.

"So, what were you still doing here at this hour?" She asks.

"I got stuck in negotiations. Finished up some e-mails, then checked the headlines… Saint Alicia," I look back at her at the last words.

She smirks. "I can't believe I've been stuck with that nickname for four years now."

"Oh, it would have even been a great nickname back at Georgetown," I tease her.

"What? No!" She exclaims and slaps me on my arm. "What makes you say that?"

I laugh as my mind goes back to those days. "Will. You can't cheat on that exam, how can you justify that?" I say in a nagging high-pitched voice.

"I never said that!"

"You did… you did," I say laughing. "Always being the good girl."

"Well, not always."

"Let's just say most of the time. A little shy…"

She shakes her head in denial.

"High on principles," I continue. "Hard to get, too," I add with a smirk. Now that hasn't changed, I think to myself.

"Ok. Stop talking," she grins and drinks from her beer.

"But you're right. You deserve a better nickname. Saint Alicia doesn't even come close to most eligible bachelor, I'm afraid."

"Maybe I'll get that title myself now. Most eligible bachelorette." She gives me a cheeky look.

"Definitely a contender," I nod.

She throws me another look. God, we're flirting.

Then, her phone buzzes.

"More reporters?"

"No," she says as she picks up her phone. "It's the doorman. They're still there. He thinks he spotted a camera."

"They're very persistent," I say. I honestly didn't think it would get that much attention.

She sighs and throws her phone back on the table. "I hate this." She's quiet for a moment, takes her beer. "You know…," she starts. "I really thought I stopped caring about all of it. But I'm just not going to give them footage of the broken down ex-wife to accompany their crazy headlines, or to Photoshop into some viral video."

"You're right. You shouldn't," I answer. "But are you?"

"What?"

"Broken down?" I repeat her words.

She thinks about how to answer that one for a moment. Then, she looks back at me. "No. But they'll want me to be. These reporters just create the situation they want to see. It's not about how I feel or what I want. I'm not going to contribute to that."

"I thought some articles appeared to be rooting for you. That you made the right choice. 'An example for other women' I think it said."

"I don't know about that," she grins. "And I don't want to be an example. I wish everyone would just keep their opinion to themselves."

"That might prove to be difficult," I respond.

"Yeah, I know. It's just… Tiring. And now there are reporters camping in front of my building. Can you believe that?"

I just shake my head and watch her as she takes another sip from her beer. I find it enjoyable that I'm sitting here with the woman that's been in the news all day, and is now just lounging on my couch, drinking beer. And even though the media attention is getting to her, she seems to have lightened up quite a bit ever since she sat down.

"You know what, you should distract them."

"How?"

"Let your doorman tell them you decided to stay at a hotel. Name the Conrad, Four Seasons, they'll buy that."

She turns her head towards me. "You know, that's actually a very good idea."

"Don't sound so surprised," I grin. "Wait a little longer, ask your doorman to text you when they're gone, go home."

"Really good,'" she smiles. She puts her empty bottle down and then picks up her phone to text him back.

"One more?" I ask.

She stares at the bottle for a second. Then at her phone. "One more," she responds. "Can I use your bathroom?"

"Of course."

She leaves to the bathroom, and I get us two more beers. I sit back on the couch, loosen my tie a little bit. I turn my head as I hear the door of the bathroom open and Alicia walks back out. Again, I'm mesmerized by how good she looks in that dress. That dress… I can't seem to get my mind off of it. I've seen it before.

I watch her closely as she walks past me and sits back down on the couch. Then, it its hits me. She wore that dress the very first night we had sex in my office bath room. Yes. Definitely. I remember pushing the dress up her thighs with one hand, while placing kisses along her neckline. It's all coming back to me. I'd have to feel the fabric to make sure though.

"Here," I just say, handing her the beer, in an attempt to distract myself.

"Thanks," she says and gratefully takes a sip.

I'm having a real hard time not taking any initiative, I realize as I watch her. She's just so close and the touch of her lips on my cheek the other night definitely recharged me. As her touch always does. There's been none of that tonight. Only massive flirting, lots of glances, lots of smiles.

I've been patient. I still am. But it's just all very tempting and being wise about something like this is just a little more difficult two beers down in a deserted, dim lighted office.

"I can't believe this," she says as she checks her phone again.

"Still there?"

She nods.

Well, I know a solution. It was the first thing that came to mind when I saw her sitting there in her office. It seems obvious. And my apartment is much more comfortable than this place in the end. But that's not taking it slow. That's not being wise or patient at all.

"I guess I shouldn't offer you to stay at my place… Right?" It's out before I realize. I glance at her, in an attempt to see her reaction.

"Right," she replies, but it doesn't sound that convincing.

"So then… " I think of how to work my way out of this one. "I won't be offering that," I mumble. Great, Will. Just great.

She throws me another one of her looks. There's a spark in her eyes I find hard to place. "I think that would be considered moving too fast," she replies with a hint of flirtation. The sound of her voice suddenly turned sultry.

I grin at that. "Probably." I can't take this anymore, I realize as we look in each other's eyes once again. What are we doing? What to do? What does she wants me to do?

"Well, luckily there's no sexual tension in this room at all," I finally can't help to joke.

She laughs out loud at that. I love it when she laughs like that. It opens her up. It makes me laugh as well. I stare at her. At her beautiful face, her red lips, the subtle pearls earrings, her bare neck and then… the dress. It's what has mesmerized me this whole evening. It's so perfect on her, and ever since I realized what we did the last time I saw her wearing this dress… I really have a hard time shutting down my feelings.

Then, my eyes find hers. I'm about to drown into them. I feel my breathing increase. I realize that there's no turning back from this moment now. I don't want to. I want this to never end. She's allowing me to look in her eyes. This is different than at her apartment. There's flirting. Bold, shameless flirting. And now we're just looking at each other.

My eyes drift off to her dress once again, and then I lift my hand to her shoulder, gently touching the fabric with my fingers. Yes. It is that dress. Now I'm sure. I watch my hand touching the neckline of the dress, then slowly on to her skin. Then, I look back into her eyes. Our eyes lock into each other once more. She leans in, our faces are only inches apart. And then she closes the gap, placing a soft and gentle kiss on my lips. I give in without a moment's resistance.

Her hand crawls up to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. Her tender kiss quickly deepens. My hand slides off to her chest. I can feel her chest going up and down, her breathing increases. For a moment, she pulls back, as if she's checking if I'm enjoying it. Or just making sure this is really happening. Because I actually need a second to process this. She gives me a smile.

"Rebelling against the headlines?" I whisper with a chuckle. She grins against my lips.

"Shut up," is all I get in response before her lips find their way to mine again.

Then, her phone buzzes. Please, let it go, I think to myself. But I've known Alicia for a long time. She'll always pick up that phone. She doesn't let herself indulge in a moment like this if it means the rest of her life can't continue.

As I expected, she breaks away from our kiss. I do get an apologizing smile. I lean back, clear my throat, watch her take her phone. I reach back from my beer, finish whatever is left in the bottle.

"They left." She sounds surprised and relieved at the same time.

"Nicely played," I grin.

She laughs. "Thanks for the tip."

"You're welcome."

We fall silent. The moment we just experienced seems far away already. Surreal almost.

"Guess you can head home then," I say.

"Yeah… I probably should." She seems a little flustered, still looking at her phone. Then she gives me a dubious look, biting her bottom lip. "Sorry for this."

"Sorry?" I repeat with a chuckle. "Trust me. Don't be sorry."

"It was nice," she answers.

Nice? That was heavenly, is all I can think. That could have lasted forever. She makes it sound as if she's admitting it to herself. She looks a little worried. I'm unsure whether it's because she's heading home now or because of our little make-out session. I can't imagine it's that. She took the initiative. But then again, I never really know what's going on in her head anyway.

"Time to leave?" I just ask.

"Yep."

I turn off the lights, we both get our stuff and head out to the elevator.

"You know what I just realized?" I say as the elevator doors open for us to get in.

"What?" She asks as she presses the button of the parking garage.

"We had good timing. Tonight."

She smiles. "You're right."

As the elevator starts to go down, I gently brush my hand against hers. Then, I can't help to say, "I could get used to that."


Thank you for reading!

Preview for next chapter: Alicia wouldn't be Alicia if she wouldn't have doubts about well, her life and what to do with it. Talking to Will might make things better, or make things worse…

Aah so many followers! Makes me so excited! Please tell me how you feel about this chapter, I'd love to know.