First of all, I don't know anything about Baseball lol. All I know is that Josh Charles seems to talk about them a lot so I took that and put it in this chapter. Sorry I took long to update I'm currently writing something else and I cant stop... Thanks so much for sticking to the story, I've answered some of your reviews below.
"Well….. hello" Veronica said through her amused grin. Oh shit. Will faces Alicia once again, (There hands still gripped on each other) and he slowly pulls away but she touches his forearm so he doesn't move away completely.
"Mom" she hesitates embarrassed "What are you doing here? Its only three a clock. Where are the kids?"
Veronica smirks and eyes Will's body up and down, taking in the fact that her daughter is holding his hand. He notices Veronica's curiosity towards him and immediately speaks up. "Hi Veronica, I'm Will, I'm not sure if you remember me?..." He walks over to her and greets her with a warm smile and firm handshake.
"No… I remember you" she chuckles and before she can continue her little tirade Alicia rudely interrupts their exchange, walking beside Will. Alicia has a possessiveness when it comes to her mother, Veronica can tend to say inappropriate things to people without recognising that she's being rude. Similar to David Lee.
"Mom, you're not supposed to be here until later on tonight, where are my kids?"
"Calm down Alicia!" she exaggerates "They're in the car getting their new toys I brought them…" Alicia interrupts her "You brought them new toys!? Oh my god" she groans and Will can't help but form a smile "Mother, they have a whole room full of toys upstairs" she loses her temper.
They hear the front door open and little footsteps run through the hall searching for the one woman they love the most. "Mommy!" Grace exclaims running to her mother's arms and Alicia meets her height as she squeezes her little girl into a hug.
"You missed me already?" she laughs at her littlest one and Grace blushes. "Butterfly kisses?" Alicia whispers and Grace leans in to her mother's nose giggling as Alicia and her eyelashes interact with one another. By now Alicia has completely forgotten that there are other people in the room and she is pulled back to reality as Zach walks in with what looks like a brand new set of baseball gear.
"Mom, look what Grandma brought me" Zach exclaims happily.
"I can see that buddy" she locks eyes with her mother giving her that knowing look with a shake of the head.
Both Zach and Grace take in that there is a man standing next to their grandmother and immediately shy away, Grace leaning beside her mother and eyeing him suspiciously. "Guys, this is a friend of Mommy's, his name is Will" Alicia gestures towards him who is staring at the two with extreme fascination.
"HI" Will beams into a warm smile making Grace blush.
Veronica's cell phone rings in the middle of the exchange and she excuses herself. When she leaves the room Will and Alicia lock eyes with each other and she expresses everything through her eyes that she's sorry for the embarrassing interruption and he offers her a sympathetic smile. "I should go?" he whispers gently as he begins to move away and she responds without thinking.
"No, stay" she demands straightaway without a train of thought towards the idea and she feels like kicking herself for acting so poorly, the last thing she needs is to be doing this (introducing a man she just kissed to her children and asking him to stay longer) but the thought of being left alone to listen to her mother's evasive comments is unbearable.
He raises an eyebrow as if to say 'are you sure?' and she nods her head certain. "How old are you?" Zach's little curios cute side pokes in at the other man who seems to be very close with his mother. Will turns his attention to the little boy "How old am I?" he plays along. "I'm 30, I'm pretty old compared to you" he chuckles.
"That's the same number as mommy!" Grace cuts in and Alicia chuckles as she lifts Grace onto the counter and wiping her face which annoyingly has dried up chocolate ice cream on it.
"I'm five" Zach expresses the palm of his hand out to Will displaying the numbers. "And Grace is only three, I'm older"
"Three and a half!" Grace cuts in eyeing her brother and then facing Will's amused and fascinated gaze. "It's my birthday in twenty one more sleeps" she smiles and Alicia quickly steals a kiss away from her daughter's cheek before setting her on the ground.
"You play baseball?" Will interacts noticing the boy has his cap on and clutching onto his baseball glove.
Zach nods his head shyly and slightly nervous. "Do you have a favourite team?" Will asks leaning against the counter, genuinely interested in his answer.
"Orioles"
Will locks eyes with Alicia who seems to be busy arranging dinner but she stares at him curious as he gazes at her in shock. "You didn't tell me you had a son who is a big fan of the best baseball team in the whole world" he jokes and she shrugs and rolls her eyes grinning. Alicia has never been a big fan of sports, tennis is probably the only one she slightly enjoys but other than that, there's nothing else that catches her attention. She suddenly remembers why Will was so shocked, he used to go on about that baseball team all the time back at college.
"Do you like them too?" Zach says nervously as he struggles to sit on the chair nearest the counter.
Will nods his head and beams "They're cool right?" Zach nods his head agreeably and he may seem slightly shy – Grace as well but he's beginning to think he can like this man.
Veronica walks in "My flight has been cancelled until tomorrow morning so looks like I'll be staying!" she exclaims enthusiastically. "Grreeaattt" Alicia voices sarcastically with a groan.
"Sooo Will, you have your own law firm now?" Veronica says while helping herself to some wine in the fridge. "Uh yes, kind of. I was just promoted senior partner not long ago." He explains
"Mom, don't you think it's a little too early to be drinking wine already?" Alicia complains while preparing the pasta and Veronica rolls her eyes. "It's never too early to be drinking wine Alicia" she gestures towards Will asking him if he wants some and he politely shakes his head.
"So Alicia tells me that she's hired your firm for the divorce?"
"Uh, yes that's correct. Not exactly me but I'm helping out" he explains.
"I see. I didn't realise you and Alicia were still…. friends, well still hanging out." Alicia stares at her mother with that knowing evil eye and Veronica dismisses it.
"Well, no we hadn't seen each other in a long time but we were still close in a way. I mean, we work in the same area so we would bump into each other now and then" he smiles and Alicia secretly takes in his words with interest.
"Well, it's good to know that you two are still… close" Veronica chuckles and Will doesn't seem to mind at all, in fact he grins at her words.
"Mom" Alicia sighs suddenly unable to take any more of it "Can you take Zach and Grace upstairs and help them change their clothes, they have ice cream all over the top of their t-shirts" she complains
"Sure, oh and did I mention that I'm staying here tonight" she voices while motioning towards Zach and Grace.
"You're what? Why?"
"Because your house is closest to the airport" she shrugs
Alicia moans much to Veronica and Wills amusement. "Grrr noooo!"
"I heard that!" Veronica yells from upstairs.
Will chuckles "Is she really that bad?" he asks curious.
She shoots him a look as if to say are you serious? And he shrugs his shoulders. "This bickering that you have just experienced in the last 15 minutes is absolutely nothing compared to what happens when it's just me and her"
Will Grins "You have it easy, my mother does the same thing except she's ten times worse"
Alicia chuckles and shakes her head in memory. "Do you need any help?" he asks her as he watches her prepare dinner.
"Yea, can you chop the mushrooms" she smiles politely, her mind still set in another place. Still thinking about that kiss; that kiss that she has absolutely no idea was about or what they were thinking doing it in the first place. At the time it seemed great, it seemed wonderful actually but she's still unsure of what this all means. No, she has absolutely no idea what this means. She feels terrible because it's only been close to a week since she found out about Peter and she's already managed to stick her tongue into another man's throat. It's stupid and yet-oddly she finds herself wanting to do it again.
He walks beside her and they brush against each other's shoulders as he chops the mushroom and she begins the pasta.
"I'm so lost right now" she chuckles and he stares at her confused.
"What's that?" he speaks softly and it calms her nerves.
"The kiss" she sighs frustrated and she can't find it in her energy to face his eyes so she keeps her attention focused down.
"Regrets?" he says softly, assuring her that he wouldn't be offended if she does but it takes him by surprise as she shakes her head certain.
"No" she has no idea why they're whispering, the only other people in the house are upstairs but she enjoys the intimacy of just whispering to each other. "It's just, It feels weird, I feel weird" she sighs frustrated at her own sanity of being unable to form the right words. Will raises an eyebrow at her. "It's only been a week since I found out about Peter." She explains "I feel like I'm betraying my vows, or I'm using you to get back at him. I don't wanna feel like I'm using you Will"
He shakes his head "Alicia, you're not using me. I know you. You are one of the most kind hearted, generous and wonderful woman I know" he admits. "And I may be losing my mind but I know I felt something with that kiss" he whispers and she finally turns her head to face his, her facial expression astonished from his words. She looks down thinking and then back up
"I did too, I felt it too but I'm just confused. My mind is literally racing a hundred miles at the moment, I can't think properly" she shakes her head squinting her eyes wishing the headache to disappear.
I felt it too. Those four words erase all nerves from Will's body and can literally reduce him to being the happiest man in Chicago. He manages to hide his relief and excitement because he jumps straight to the main point of her admission. "I understand Alicia, I don't want to rush you into anything but I'm always here if you want to talk. I'm a good listener" he smiles.
She smiles back nodding her head, grateful of his patience. If they were to lean in a few more inches their lips would probably be touching. She looks into his eyes contemplating on how to dismiss, maybe turn her head back to what she was previously doing? But then they hear Veronica's steps trailing down the stairway and they are both forced back to reality. Will returns back to chopping while Alicia dries her hands and quietly excuses herself. "I'll be back" she whispers over his shoulder.
She brushes her mother's shoulder as she passes her and heads upstairs. She worries of the fact that she's left Veronica with Will in the kitchen alone and the last thing Alicia wants is for Veronica to cause Will to runaway but she's glad that she meets Zach as he heads downstairs towards the kitchen, because that would mean Veronica wouldn't be as inappropriate to Will around a five year old.
"Where's your sister?" she asks him as he walks downstairs with a few of his toys, just in time to hear Grace scream horrifyingly as if someone's kidnapped her. Her scream reaches the whole house and Alicia's blood pressure drops south. She sprints towards Graces room and the little girl comes running out tears all over her face, straight into Alicia's arms. "What is it sweetheart, tell me" she asks softly, padding Graces back. "There was a big spider on me mommy" she sobs into Alicia's shoulder and Alicia's releases a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding, she's glad it wasn't the result she was thinking of; a person hiding out in her daughter's bedroom waiting to scare the hell of out her. "Where's the spider honey?" she opens the bedroom door and Grace Points towards the bed and then quickly hiding her face into the crook of her mother's neck. Will and Veronica as well as a curious Zach are standing behind them and Alicia see's the ugly thing Grace was terrified of, it was about the size of a coin and has somewhat like eight or six legs, but anyway she doesn't care what it looks like, she just wants it out.
"Was that naughty spider on you my darling?" Grace nods her head and then stares back at it while clutching onto Alicia's silk blouse. Alicia glances in Will's direction noticing that Veronica has left; probably gone to keep an eye on dinner. Alicia knows from past experience that Will is better at handling things like this and so the minute they meet eyes he can read her mind. "I'll take care of it" he smiles towards the little girl and Grace slightly gasp and clutches tighter onto her mother as Will assist the spider onto a book and takes it with him. "Can I come?" Zach exclaims happily.
"Sure"
Grace wiggles out of her mother's arms and starts to eagerly follow her brother and Will outside leaving Alicia to quietly follow downstairs. Will and the two curious children meet the front porch and he gently lays it in the grass and dirt beside the deck. "See, spiders belong outside" he whispers to the two and they stare at him with fascination. "Not in my room" Grace shakes her head and Will chuckles "Not in your room"
"Weren't you scared?" Zach asked curiously. Will lightly shakes his head "They're not going to hurt you, as long as you don't hurt them they won't hurt you"
"Why was it crawling on me?" Graces little innocent and curious self said and Will grins; knowing the answer immediately. "Because you're special"
Grace's face beams into what Will thinks is the most widest smile he has ever seen from a child and in this moment he takes in how much these two kids look so much like Alicia; its breath taking. Alicia walks outside searching for the three "Everything alright?" she smiles curiously noticing how her kids seem more attached to Will then before. Both Zach and Grace nod their heads happily and Zach grabs onto his mother's hand. "Did Will take care of the spider?" she chuckles.
"Yes, mommy, he put it in the garden" Grace explains and Alicia nods her head. "Hopefully there will be no more of those spiders in the house huh?"
"Spiders belong outside" Grace reiterates and Alicia chuckles "Yes they do honey." She locks eyes with Will expecting him to be looking at her and only her but instead he's smirking down at the fact that Zach has clutched on to his hand as well. "Let's go inside" Zach bosses and he pulls Will along with him leaving Will smiling with wide questioning eyebrows as he gets dragged into the house with Grace running behind them eagerly telling Will to come play. He looks back towards Alicia and she lifts an eyebrow and he shrugs his shoulders, not really sure what he done to make such good friends with the kids; it may have been the cause of his words outside but he was only being honest and it seemed to work because even though they seem extremely shy they all of a sudden want to be his best friend. Maybe that spider was more of a good luck charm.
I hope that wasn't too extreme with the whole love, kiss, spider thing, I don't know how you all feel about it, I feel like I go too lovey dovey with Will and Alicia's relationship but I cant help it lol. Please review would be much appreciated.
-guategal- First of all, thank you so much for your reviews! I love that you review every single time and have a lot of opinions towards it, I love opinions!. I totally understand what you were talking about in your last review, I know I crammed a lot of their feelings together and I did consider making the chapter longer and splitting it to hold it in but I found it difficult to incorporate that because the next couple of chapters are all based on this day, if you know what I mean? I didn't want to stretch it because I feel like its already stretched enough. I hope I answered your review right because I don't even know if I did lol. I will try and place everything in its right place and I'm sorry but I think the next chapter is exactly what you were talking about as well lol. But I don't know, lets just see where it goes:)
