If you're still reading this, thank you. I have not abandoned it at all. I just got stuck with where I wanted the story to go. I'm still not sure, but I couldn't leave all you nice people waiting any longer.

As soon as she was sure Will wasn't going to die, at least due to complications of gunshot wounds, Lucy took the first flight back to Baltimore. Sophie dropped her off at the airport. Her mother bid her goodbye with a brisk hug and then a slight wave of her hand as she entered the doors and headed to check in.

Sophie chuckled to herself, thinking about how predictable their mother was. Even when she and Will and Aubrey were little, their mother was never the warm, caring type. They had essentially been raised by nannies, seeing their parents in passing, at the dinner table, when they were in trouble. They had all grown used to it far earlier than they should have. They accepted it as a way of life. It was the reason they all had worked so hard to leave. They had no attachments at home. Will went to law school and moved to Chicago. Aubrey went to Brown and married a doctor. Sophie was the youngest and therefore she was cosmically destined to do things a little bit differently. She chose to go to NYU, knowing that living in New York would be the best way to piss off her mother and ensure her parents wouldn't visit too often. Her mother hated the city. She said it was dirty. Sophie pursued a career in journalism. She loved that it afforded her the opportunity to see every show she wanted to. She loved meeting different people. After landing a job at Rolling Stone after graduation, Sophie went on the road to report. The lifestyle was addictive. It was different cities every night. It was show after show. It was a big party. Then she met Adam and had Bea and everyone expected her to settle down and for once in her life, she did exactly what people expected and she was miserable.

It wasn't that she didn't love Bea because that simply wasn't true and everyone knew that. Sophie loved being a mother. She even loved being a wife. She just never understood why she couldn't be those things and have a career. Adam never understood her frustrations and this put a strain on her marriage. Looking back now, Sophie couldn't see why she was so shocked when Adam filed for divorce. They hadn't been happy for a long time. She was ready to be happy again.

/

After leaving the airport, Sophie headed to the hospital to check on her brother. The Saturday traffic moved slowly but she didn't let it crush her good mood. She rolled the windows down and turned the radio up. Freedom.

When she finally arrived at the hospital, she found Will sitting up in his bed watching some sports newscast.

"Hey Soph-," he said, keeping his eyes glued to a replay of a "spectacular play" from last night's baseball game.

"I'm over here…" She said as she sat down next to his bed.

He turned toward her. "Sorry, I had therapy during the damn game last night."

"It's okay. I'll forgive you this time. I know I'm not as interesting as a baseball game but—I did drop your mother off at the airport this morning so I think that deserves at least a few minutes of attention."

"Definitely a few. So, how was your date last night?" He asked sardonically.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "It was not a date."

"I guess that means you went."

"I did go, and I had a good time."

Now it was Will's turn to roll his eyes. "Are you going to be Mrs. Agos soon?"

Sophie laughed, probably more than she should have. "I don't think so. Cary's a nice guy but I don't know if I can date someone who's so much like you."

Will scoffed. "He is nothing like me."

"He kind of is. He's good looking…"

"That I am."

She continued, "He's a ruthless lawyer. You have the same sense of humor, you know." Sophie leaned back in the chair.

"Sophie, I just want you to be happy. I don't give a damn who you're with. I really don't."

"Aw, thanks big brother. What would I do without you?" She patted his arm.

Will turned back toward the TV, catching the final score of the game. He simultaneously shouted and groaned in pain.

Sophie warned him, "Take it easy there, big boy. You're still in recovery. Cheer a little calmer next time."

"What would I do without you?"

They laughed. Sophie's phone rang out. She quickly replied to the text message.

"I will see you later, okay?" She kissed his forehead.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a date with your girlfriend."

"I always knew she liked you better than me."

"What can I say," Sophie paused as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and put on her sunglasses, "I'm fabulous."

/

Alicia and Grace were waiting for her at a café not far from Will's apartment. She greeted them as she took the empty chair at the table on the patio.

"How are you, Grace?"

"I'm good. This week has been a little crazy though." She looked at her mom sympathetically.

Sophie and Alicia both nodded in agreement. "Just a little," Sophie said.

They ordered their lunch and Alicia and Sophie ordered a glass of wine to go with their food. They felt like they deserved it after the week they'd had.

Sophie asked Alicia if the press had calmed down any yet. Alicia said, "Not quite, they're not parked outside my front door anymore but they stand at the corner waiting for me to come out. There's someone standing on the other side of that building over there." She pointed across the street.

"That sucks. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, that's the price you pay I guess."

They ate and talked. Sophie noticed how natural it felt. Alicia already felt more than family than most of her own family. She'd also really grown to love Grace too. She was different than her mother but she had the same strength. It was the type of strength that didn't roar but instead built a foundation for calm and seemed to soothe everyone around them too.

Grace asked, "When does Bea come home from her dad's? I miss hanging out with her."

"Me too!" Sophie responded. "She'll be there for a few more weeks unfortunately."

Alicia tried to reassure Sophie about the situation. "I'm sure those weeks will fly by."

"I sure hope so. I miss her so much and it's only been a couple of days. It's just so weird without her. We've spent almost every minute together for the last 4 years. I don't know how to be without her for this long. "

"I feel the same way about Zach going to college. I know it's where he needs to be but I can't help feeling selfish and wanting him home with me."

Grace joined in, "I'm telling Zach you said that when I talk to him later."

"Grace…" Alicia scolded. They all giggled.

Alicia then turned back to Sophie and tried to change the subject. "So, did you go last night?"

Sophie's face turned red and she buried her face in her hands.

Alicia said, "I take that as a yes."

"Oh my god, you sound just like my brother," Sophie stated.

Alicia smiled. "Did you have a good time?"

"Yeah…"

"Are you going to go out again?"

"I don't think this is that kind of thing. It was fun…but that was it. It was just fun. It wasn't anything serious and it probably won't be."

Grace had been texting and not paying attention to Sophie and Alicia's conversation. She suddenly burst out with, "Wait…who did you go out with?"

Quickly, Sophie said, "No one."

Grace sighed and said, "Okay, if you say so."

The three of them got up to leave and Alicia's phone rang. She dug it out of her purse and answered it just before the last ring. She walked out of earshot of Grace and Sophie. They looked at each other, wondering who it could be.

Alicia walked back to them and said, "It was my mother. She's here and she wants to see Will at the hospital."

"Well, she can't be any worse than our mother…" Sophie tried to decode Alicia's feelings about her mother from her facial expression but she couldn't figure it out.

"All families have their own brand of dysfunction, Sophie. Mine just happens to be terribly eccentric with a hint of crazy."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I should do it alone. Bite the bullet, you know?"

They had plans to go shopping and get a manicure after lunch. Sophie was looking forward to it. "I guess our manicures are postponed then."

Alicia knew that both Sophie and Grace wanted to go. She told them to go without her. They could meet up before dinner. Sophie protested but Alicia insisted. Finally, Sophie conceded and she and Grace walked towards Will's car and Alicia walked in the other direction, rather slowly Sophie noted.

/

Her mother was waiting at her door when Alicia reached her apartment. Veronica pulled her daughter into a hug and whispered into her hair, "I'm so sorry about Will. I'm not sorry about Peter. Sorry."

Alicia pulled away. "Mom—don't."

"What? You know how I feel. I don't have to hide it anymore."

"You never hid it before."

"I know, but now I don't have to."

Alicia and Veronica had always been different. Veronica's freewheeling attitude and laid-back lifestyle had caused Alicia to yearn for structure and a conservative routine. Alicia hated to admit that her mother had been right about Peter all along and she would never say so out loud.

They drove to the hospital together, in Alicia's car, of course. Alicia took a deep breath before she entered Will's room. She was nervous. Will had met Veronica briefly before but never in this capacity. Veronica knew how Alicia felt about Will for a long time, maybe even before she did. It was all just nerve wracking for Alicia. Her structure and routine were being disrupted and even though it was what she wanted she couldn't help but feeling anxious about it. She liked to have a plan and there was no plan for anything anymore.

No plan except she loved Will and that would have to be enough for now.

Will was sleeping. He looked so peaceful she hated to disturb him. Luckily she had Veronica for that. She started making a fuss before they entered the room and it continued after.

Responding the commotion, Will opened his eyes slowly. When it registered that it was Alicia there, he smiled. "Hey," he said, the sleep still in his voice. She kissed him softly and whispered in his ear that her mother was there.

"Hello Will! How are you? I'm so sorry about all of this. I am glad you guys are together though so maybe getting shot wasn't so bad after all," Veronica said in one breath.

Will laughed. Alicia shot her mother a dirty look and then mouthed 'I'm sorry' to Will.

"Thanks, Veronica. I'm pretty happy about how things have turned out as well." He grabbed Alicia's hand tightly.

Alicia forfeited this conflict. "I'm glad too," she said.

"Now, we're all on the same page. What are your intentions with my daughter, Will?" Veronica pulled no punches. Will liked it. It made Alicia's stomach hurt.

He sat up straighter, fixed the blanket, and took a deep breath. "I asked her to marry me. She thinks I was under the influence of too many pain killers but I stand by my proposal. I don't know how she could refuse a man who had just been shot."

Alicia gritted her teeth. "I didn't refuse. I told you we would talk about it when you were out of the hospital."

Veronica moved closer to Will. She liked the direction of this conversation.

"I don't know either, Will. She's always been stubborn like that. I do know that deep down she wants to but she won't let herself do anything that might seem a bit reckless."

"She surprises you sometimes," Will looked at Alicia in pure admiration. "I'm sure she'll give in sooner or later. I'll still be here, waiting. I'll probably still be in this hospital bed."

Veronica stated simply, "You'll be out of here soon and then you two need to sit down and figure this out. I've watched my daughter be miserable for too long. She deserves to be happy and I think you make her happy."

"I hope so. She makes me happy. I was going to ask for your blessing but you know, painkillers and whatnot."

"Of course, Will. You don't need it. Alicia hasn't needed anything from me in a long time."

Alicia interrupted their moment, "I'm still here."

"Leesh—just accept that we're going to get married. Everyone knows it. I've known it since the first day of law school."

"Will, it's not that easy. I have the kids. I am still legally married to Peter which is another mess in itself. We can't just run off and get married because we want to. No matter how much I want to do just that. We have other things to consider."

"I'm so tired of worrying about what everyone else thinks. I waited too damn long to have you. I know there will be bumps in the road but it doesn't matter. None of it matters as long as we're together."

Alicia had tears in her eyes and when Will saw them, he wiped them away with his thumbs. Veronica excused herself from the room. "I have to go to the…uh…bathroom, I'll be back in a few minutes." The tension was palpable in the hospital room at that very moment.

"Alicia, I know you're nervous. I know that things have not been easy for you over the past few years but I'm not Peter. I will never hurt you. Never. I've waited 20 years, I can wait another one."

"I love you," Alicia hoped that would be enough. She hoped that with that Will would know she was all in. She wasn't sure so she kissed him. Hard. She exhaled her tension into the crook of his neck. He rubbed circles on her back. He kissed her. They had always been good at that and now that they were together, really together, it seemed better. It was better. It was real and raw. Will couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life kissing her.

Eventually they separated and Veronica came back into the room. "Is everything okay in here? It was getting a little heavy."

Alicia sighed. "Yes, mom. Everything is fine. Will and I are fine. We are not going to discuss getting married anymore until Will is out of the hospital."

Will winked at Veronica and they all nodded in agreement.

/

Sophie and Grace sat side by side in chairs at the nail salon getting pedicures. They'd decided to go all out, even without Alicia.

"I think we'll owe your mom after this," laughed Sophie.

"Oh yeah, after spending all day with my grandma, she'll definitely need more than a mani/pedi," Grace replied.

"I'd need more than this after a day with my mother too."

Grace giggled.

Sophie then asked, "So, how are you really doing with all of this? I know it has to be hard."

Grace turned serious. "It's hard. I've known my mom and dad were getting a divorce for a long time but it sucks that it has to be front page news, that I can't go on Facebook or check my twitter without seeing something about it. I love my parents, both of them. I know my dad's done terrible things but he's still my dad, you know? I don't want either of them to hurt."

"Baby, I'm sorry. It's no place to be stuck in the middle. Your mom will not be angry if you feel bad for your dad. He is still your dad, no matter what he's done. No one is ever totally innocent in things like these and no one ever gets out unscathed. Take it from someone who's been divorced. There are two sides to every story and it's your job to find the truth in the middle. I guess the most you can hope for is that it's done quickly and that things can get back to some sort of normality soon. "

"I'm not a little kid who thinks my mommy and daddy will be together forever. I just want them both to be happy. I'm really glad my mom has Will though. He makes her so happy, more than she'd ever admit, and definitely more than she ever was with my dad," Grace confessed.

"He is pretty great. She makes him happy too. You know, Grace, you're a pretty smart girl. I'm glad Bea has someone like you to look up to." Sophie smiled at Grace.

"Thanks. I'm glad we talked. I feel better now."

"Me too, baby, me too."

They picked their nail polish colors. Grace chose a lilac shade for her toes and a light pink for her fingers. Sophie reverted to her rocker days and chose bright red for her toes and black for her fingers.

She giggled and asked Grace, "What color do you think your mom would have picked?"

"Clear, probably," Grace replied, sending them both into a fit of laughter.

/

The ladies met up for dinner following Alicia and Veronica's visit to the hospital and Sophie and Grace's trip to the nail salon. They were all exhausted, for different reasons. They ordered Chinese take-out and picked it up on the way back to Alicia's apartment.

Veronica took the liberty of pouring wine for everyone, Grace included. Alicia snatched the extra glass out of her mother's hand and said, "I don't think so."

Sophie took an immediate liking to Veronica. They were a lot alike. She also understood why Veronica drove Alicia crazy. They couldn't be more different. It's strange how people can come from the same family and seem like they came from different planets.

After dinner and a couple bottles of wine, the women sat on the couch. Grace had gone to a friend's house for the night, leaving Sophie, Alicia, and Veronica alone in the apartment. They sat in silence for a few minutes, feeling full from dinner and feeling buzzed from the wine. Finally, Veronica got up and pulled something from her purse. They were magazines. She tossed them at Alicia who flipped them over and groaned when she saw exactly what type of magazines they were; wedding magazines.

Veronica grabbed another bottle of wine and said, "Let's do this."