Alicia walked toward her bedroom, pulling out her suitcase and grabbing clothes without really looking at what she was grabbing. She was smart enough to grab a few suits and hang them on the door handle to grab when she went.

Grace and Zach both barged into her room. "What? Where are we going?" Grace demanded.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with Dad!" Zach argued crossing his arms defiantly.

Alicia's hot glare shot up at her son. "You're going. It's not up for discussion. Pack a bag or you're wearing that to school tomorrow."

Zach turned around in a huff and stomped to his room while Grace still stood there nervously looking at her mother. "Where are we going?"

She sounded every bit like the little girl she was and it made Alicia's anger fade slightly as she looked up at her youngest standing in the doorway. It wasn't their fault. They didn't make Peter do what he did, and Alicia owed it to herself to be happy. One day her kids would understand that, even if it wasn't right then.

"We're going to stay with Danni and Will," Alicia said softly. "Just until I can think of something else."

Grace stepped closer to her mom as she glanced out the door into the kitchen where Peter was already on his phone heatedly talking to someone. Alicia pulled her daughter into a hug and kissed her hair. "It's because of Danni, isn't it?" Grace asked quietly.

"No," Alicia replied firmly, pulling her daughter back to look into her eyes. "It is not because of Danni. It's because sometimes things don't work out like we want them to and we have to go another way. Do you understand?"

Grace nodded and Alicia hugged her again. Alicia didn't want to turn her children against their father, but she also knew that she couldn't leave them there while she stormed off. The fact of the matter was her and Will's plan was kick starting a little ahead of schedule. In a way it made butterflies in her stomach, but it also made her panic. She needed something in her life to work out, it just bothered her that she was now rooting for her affair over her marriage.

No, she corrected herself. She wasn't rooting for her affair. She was rooting for her family. She was rooting for Danni and her father. She was rooting for love. Peter was no longer her family and he definitely wasn't love anymore.

As soon as Alicia arrives at Will's door, Danni is in her arms. It wasn't Danni seeking comfort but knowing that her mother was going to need a hug from someone who isn't wanting answers from her. Danni had no intention of asking any questions or stating any accusations, at least not for a while. There may be a few questions when Alicia was comfortable, but right now she was just going to offer her supportive love and presence.

Will could see the relief on Alicia's face as she returned the hug. Grace cautiously stepped inside the spacious living area while Zach stayed in the hallway, still looking furious with the situation. Grace needed to be reassured while Zach needed to be talked down. Danni had seen what Alicia needed and did not hesitate. Sometimes people just need a hug.

"Grace, you can go ahead and put your bag in Danni's room," Will instructed softly while Danni slowly stepped back from her mom, studying her features. "Zach, you can have the guest room, which is the third door on the right."

Zach said nothing as he pushed past his mother and sisters toward the hallway. Alicia sighed as she watched him go. Danni shot him a warning glare, irritated at his selfishness. He was fourteen, but this was hard. Did he really think he was the only one suffering? Still, Danni had a job to do as the oldest sibling right then.

"Why don't you pick out a movie and we'll watch it in my room?" Danni offered to Grace.

Alicia's heart swelled with pride as Danni tried to guard her siblings and allow her parent's time to talk. Danni's good arm slid over Grace's shoulders as they moved down the hall.

Will walked into the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of wine from the fridge and poured two glasses. In a way, he needed it as much as she did. Will Gardner was not used to a full house. Danni had never really behaved disrespectfully or had classic teenage tendencies of arguments. Alicia called him and sounded upset and scared and he offered his home. He wasn't regretting it, but he was realizing he didn't exactly think this through.

It was hard not to touch her and comfort her, but while Danni will turn a blind eye, Zach and Grace may not be as understanding.

Still, Alicia needed his comfort. She needed his touch and his arms around her body. She laughed a little as Will offered her a glass of wine. Obviously he knew her far better than she realized. His eyes studied her and promised that the moment he could trust there would be no interruptions, he would hold her until she was strong again. Until then, he would be strong beside her.

"I just walked out. He didn't try to stop me." Her voice was nearly a whisper as she looked into the wine glass. "He just called Eli."

Will seemed to think about this as he took a drink. As he swallowed and lowered the glass, he glanced at her. "Maybe he's gay. Eli is actually his secret gay lover."

Somehow, he managed to make her laugh and lean against him. He let one arm curl around her as she stayed there, listening to his heartbeat. The tears were in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. The fact he didn't try and stop her defined how dead their marriage was. It wasn't just about hookers anymore. It was the fact he wasn't a family to her family. He couldn't get past the fact her daughter was not the enemy.

She would feel some sort of moral superiority if she hadn't started an affair with Will, but then again, if she didn't see how a father treated Danni she may have never stepped up. As the silence fell on them, she realized something. She didn't feel alone anymore. That standing in Will's kitchen after walking out of her apartment, leaving her husband with only what she and her kids could carry in a bag, was the least alone she had felt since the entire scandal arose. She felt stronger actually. She felt like the hardest part was over.

She may have felt that way at the moment, but she knew that wasn't true. The hardest part would be starting her new life with Will and her children. Zach would fight, she knew it. Grace may remain silent and resilient, but eventually she would choose her mother's happiness. Danni… Danni would try and fix every problem along the way.

"We'll be okay."

Alicia's gaze shot to Will's as his voice interrupted her thoughts.

"We'll be okay," he repeated, gently cupping her face with his free hand and looking into her eyes.

She nodded. "I know."

It wasn't time to do damage control or think up a plan on how to deal with tomorrow. At the moment, she just needed to believe that they would be okay. And she could do that, in Will's arms.

Danni sat next to Grace, listening to everything she had to say. Her chin quivered and tears rolled from her eyes as she admitted that she scared. They were all old enough to understand their mother's decision, but that didn't make it any less scary.

"She'll let us seem him right?" Grace asked, looking at her sister. There was something in the way that Grace looked at her that made her nervous. Grace truly believed that her sister knew all the answers be it the subject of calculus or life.

"I think so," Danni replied, offering her sister a gentle smile. "I always saw my dad."

Grace nodded as she thought about that. For a few moment they listened to the movie that was on the TV. They weren't actually paying attention to it, they both had too much running through their minds.

"Danni?"

Danni looked at her sister who had fresh tears brewing in her eyes.

"They're going to get a divorce aren't they?" Grace's voice shook and she tried so hard to prepare herself for the answer that no kid is actually prepared to hear.

Though Danni didn't know the answer for sure, she did believe it beyond a reasonable doubt. "I think they are," Danni replied honestly.

Grace nodded numbly before a sob shook her. All Danni could do was hold on. She wrapped her arms around her little sister's shoulders and held her as she cried. Danni wasn't scared like Grace was. In fact, Danni felt guilty. She felt horrible that something she had wanted was causing everyone she loved so much pain. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't find herself faultless.

A little more than two hours after she arrived, Grace was asleep in Danni's bed. Danni tucked her in and took it upon herself to check on her little brother.

Quietly, she walked out her bedroom door and crossed the hall. The door wasn't locked, which surprised her, but as she walked in she found him laid out across the bed with his headphones so loud that she could hear the music. As she walked closer, she realized that he was also asleep. Tear streaks stained his cheeks and her heart broke all over again. He was fourteen, but he always tried to be the man of the house while his dad was in prison.

No one saw him cry.

She pulled a blanket out of the closet and laid it over him. They would be tough together. They would be tough for each other. They both had to be strong for Grace and their mom.

They could take it, they'd be okay.

As she dragged her feet toward the living room, emotional exhausted, much like her siblings, she sees her parents on the couch. Their backs were to her, but Will had his arm around Alicia's shoulders and she was resting against him. They looked comfortable. Probably too comfortable if she was honest with herself.

"Mom?" Danni whispered, poking her in the shoulder. Alicia jolted a bit and sat up, seeming almost confused about where she was. Will was still asleep next to her and she felt herself relax at the sight of him.

"Mom?" Danni repeated, just as softly. Alicia turned and was surprised to see Danni standing there in her pajamas. "Dad's room is set up for you."

Alicia hummed and nodded, confused about Danni's coyness about seeing her mother in her father's arms. She seemed to not care at all. "You should probably move incase Zach or Grace wakes up," Danni added, noticing her mother's hesitation. "I'll take care of Dad."

Alicia nodded and stood up. She took a few steps toward Will's bedroom but stopped to watch Danni. She gentle nudged him and smiled at him when he opened his eyes. "Lay down so you don't wake up with a crook in your neck," Danni told him.

He yawned as he laid down and Danni grabbed a pillow and a few blankets from the linen closet. She was used to him falling asleep on the couch when he was working hard on a case. He accepted the pillow as she draped the blankets over him.

"What would I do without you?" Will said as she kissed his forehead.

"Ice your neck from sleeping wrong and eat take out every night," Danni replied with a smile. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you more, kiddo," he replied tiredly. "Zach and Grace-?"

"Sleeping," Danni told him.

"Alicia?"

"Headed to bed. Go to sleep," Danni said with finality.

Alicia watched as Will pulled Danni into a tight hug and kissed her hair. "Good night," she said softly.

"Night, kiddo."

Danni moved around the couch and Alicia welcomed her into her arms. Danni gave her a comforting smile, but Alicia tapped her lip. "Quit that," Alicia told her daughter as they walked together toward the master bedroom.

"You're the kid," Alicia reminded her. "I'm the adult. It's my job to take care of you. I'm supposed to make you feel better, not the other way around."

Danni sat down on the bed while Alicia changed into her pajamas. "Can I-Can I just talk?" Danni asked carefully.

Alicia blinked as she turned around to look at her daughter. That was a unique question. One that she didn't like. "Of course you can," Alicia said sitting next to her.

The words didn't come like Danni wanted them to. She wanted to say how she felt, how she was worried and needed everything to work out. "Be careful," Danni said instead. "Everything is going to hit the fan and you're not going to be able to shield Zach and Grace from it all. I'm glad you did it, I'm glad you left, and I'm happy that you and Dad are-uh-happy. But-"

"Danni," Alicia cut her off. She put her hands over her daughter's. "Stop."

But Danni shook her head. "No, I'm glad you're happy and all, but I'm thinking about Zach and Grace-"

"And I am too," Alicia said firmly, maybe too firmly by the way Danni recoiled. "Honey, they're all I think about. Them and you. I wake up every morning and you all are my first thought and my last thought as I go to bed."

Danni knew this was true, and she moved into her mother's arms. "I think I'm scared," Danni muttered, realizing she didn't know how she felt at all. "You and Dad… I'm glad but… Zach and Grace…"

Alicia nodded in understanding. "We want to take things slow. I didn't plan on leaving Peter like I did tonight and no matter what's going on in your head, it's not your fault."

Danni nodded and once again slept against her mother's shoulder. Truth was, Alicia was scared too.

The Good Wife

"Danni-"

"Yes, I'm taking everyone to school," Danni replied tugging her cardigan over her head. "Grace has soccer, Zach's going straight home. I got it."

Will gave his daughter a reassuring smile and tugged her hair. "Good girl. Lunch money," he offered her some cash and she tucked it in her bag. Grace and Zach watched them while Alicia tried her best for some sort of normalcy. "You guys hungry?"

Zach and Grace both looked at him.

"No," Zach said sharply silencing his little sister with a glare.

"Me-me either," she said obviously lying.

Danni rolled her eyes. "We can stop somewhere if we hurry."

Alicia came rushing out of the bedroom running her fingers through her hair. Will greeted her with an easy smile that made Zach's blood boil and Grace nervous. Danni greeted her mother with a quick kiss before throwing her backpack on her shoulder and grabbing the car keys. "See you all later," she said wanted to get the hell out of dodge.

"Oh-" Alicia blinked in shock, it wasn't even seven yet.

"We're going to get breakfast on the way," Grace clarified for her, also kissing her mother's cheek.

"Oh-okay," Alicia said with a numb nod. She expected Zach to say something, but he didn't. Instead he just followed his sister out the door and left Alicia standing there.

She sighed and leaned into Will. He laughed a little as he wrapped her into a hug and kissed her forehead. "They'll be okay. They get mad, but they cool off. They're kids."

They were kids, but they were her kids. She was never good at being okay with her kids being mad at her. Honestly she sucked at it. Sure, she put on the tough face when she grounded them, but it was hard to bear the cold shoulders and the dirty looks. She like being the mom that cuddled with her children and had lots of movie nights. She did the hard stuff, but she didn't like it.

"Zach hates me, Grace is looking scared out of her mind and Danni-" Alicia exhaled and then let her head fall a little too hard against Will's chest knocking the breath out of him. She immediately reeled back to look back and apologize but he just smiled.

Damn, this man had to be a saint. He took her and her kids in without even asking a question. He was patient with her craziness and her kids even though they were definitely going to make it hard. He was her rock and she didn't deserve so much kindness. She let out a small laugh as she rested against him again.

"I think Danni gets her strength from you, and she's so strong," Alicia told him feeling like she couldn't get close enough to him. He kissed her lips and shook his head.

"That is where you're wrong, Leesh. All that strength Danni has came from you," he kissed her lips again, deepening the kiss to where she can feel it in her toes. There was a connection that was lacking and she was so grateful to feel from another human being.

"She knows, you know," Alicia told him as they broke apart for air. "She knows about us and she's worried about it. Danni's worried about everything and she's scare and I can't blame her."

Will leaned back and looked her in the eye. "What do you want to do?"

She almost panicked. He was offering her an out if only for the sake of their daughter, not in spite of. She looked at him and clung to him. "That means we have to be sure this works," Alicia told him.

He nodded. "Okay."

They released each other and Will grabbed his car keys. She noticed he flinched for some reason before he turned around and looked back at her with a guilty expression. "Oh… and my sister is coming this week."

Will's family? Oh no, right? Right. But we get to see big brother Will and maybe just what they need to get everyone on the same page. Oh, and an adorable niece.Please review.