Will stood there, his clients congratulating each other.
NOT GUILTY
That term was still ringing in his head. Even hew as surprised and very rarely is Will surprised by a verdict. He looked over at Alicia who was trying to comfort Logan. A long battle, long fought, lost at the bitter end. He wanted to go over to Logan, but what good would it do. It didn't matter how Will felt about his client, he was the one who took the case away from Logan. He was the one who made the death of Dean Shepherd not mean anything. That's something that Will has to live with.
The day was swept away by the rain and cloudy skies. Maybe somewhere in the universe, someone was crying for the verdict against Logan Grey.
Will stepped into Alicia's office, she was typing something on her phone.
"Hey."
She looked up, still the same look of heartache she had in the courtroom. "Hey, I'm just finishing up this text to Logan."
"No worries," Will sat down in the chair in front of Alicia's desk. "Tough loss." "For some." She nodded, still texting on her phone.
"Alicia." He waited for her to raise her head to face him. "I wanted the bastard locked up for what he did." "Will…"
Before Alicia could respond Logan was knocking on her office door.
"Hey." He had a small wave.
"Logan, hi, I was just about to send you a text." "I just wanted to say thank you." He was still agitated from the entire court experience.
"You don't have to thank me, I was proud to represent you."
"You're the only one who cared." His voice was breaking. "And you treated me like a human being."
Will stepped over to the window, sending an email on his phone while they talked.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more." "No, you did more than I ever thought possible. You made everyone aware of what they did."
"But house is still there."
"No, actually it's all over the news. Phi Beta Sigma got shut down. After the trial started a lot of people came forward, some not even in the same house, saying they were victims too." "Wow, I had no idea." She gave Logan's area squeeze. "Thank you for telling me that." "And I didn't tell you before, congratulations."
Alicia rubbed her belly. "Thank you, we're really excited." She nodded her head towards Will.
"Wow." Logan walked to be in between Will and Alicia. "You…and you?" He was pointing at both.
"Yeah, we are." Will had a glassy look over his face, he walked over to stand beside Alicia, kissing the side of her head.
"I'm happy for you two, you were able to find it, don't take it for granted." Logan wiped a couple of tears streaming down his face. "Like I did sometimes."
Alicia entwined her fingers with Will's holding them above her belly.
"Do you have names picked out?" Alicia and Will looked at each other. "If that's too much to ask."
Alicia smiled. "No, it's okay…and we have."
Logan looked at his watch. "Oh, I have to go meet my parents downstairs. Thank you, both, again."
Will waited until after Logan left. "I'm still ill about the verdict."
"There's nothing we can do now." Alicia was packing up her desk. "And Logan said the house was being shut down." "But Phi Beta whatever isn't the only house to do this. Everyone hides and does whatever they can be accepted. I never liked fraternities."
Alicia laughed out loud. "So Alpha Epsilon Pi…"
He laughed. "That's different." "Please tell me…"
Will couldn't hide the smile on his face. "I thought you liked guys in fraternities."
"When did you ever think that?"
"That really cold day, it was snowing, we walked around campus." Will sat on the against her desk. "I said something stupid about how greek life changes you and I'll never forget." Will paused to remember the exact moment from that day. "You said it seems kind of nice, to belong to something."
Alicia was confused. "I never said that…to belong?"
"I remember it perfectly."
"You remember it wrong."
They were now in the elevator.
"You were wearing that gray sweater with the pink scarf…pink boots."
Alicia was trying to remember the outfit. "Those were like a trillion percent off because I wasn't thinking it snow so soon when I was at school."
"You were beautiful." He kissed her, whispering, "And still beautiful." He rubbed her belly, feeling his daughter kick. "Someone agrees with me."
"Daddy's girl."
They were driving on their way home, both silent form their long day and the verdict.
"There's a Georgetown Reunion this weekend." Alicia looked over at him. "I know, I've been getting emails like crazy to sign up, attend, volunteer."
"It's been twenty years."
Alicia's thoughts were racing. "Has it really…wow, twenty years."
"A long time ago, a lot has happened."
"Yes it has." She smiled at him. "I never thought things would turn out the way they have. Two kids…pregnant with our third."
Will always wanted to ask this question. "Any regrets."
Alicia sighed. "I wish I would've stayed…"
*flashback*
Will and Alicia were studying for their English exam in the library. She had agreed to study with him only because he always look great notes and she felt like a failure in the class.
"I just don't…get it."
"It's reading between the lines." Alicia groaned. "Everyone says that like it's supposed to mean something."
"It does." Will took out the book of poetry from the assignment. "How could it end any other way…you called me and I came home to your heart."
"So he came home because he loved her." "Yeah, but Alicia, it's so much more than that. He was waiting for her to say something to say that she loved him. He knew it wasn't over…he was just waiting for her to realize it."
"Why not just say it, say how you feel."
Will was frozen in that moment. He felt like all the moments in the world lead to this one, a moment he wanted so badly to do exactly what she was saying.
"Will?" Alicia pulled him out of his own thoughts.
He took the opportunity from Alicia's words. He touched her lips with his fingers, she didn't move. He began to kiss her, she didn't reject. They parted ways, looked into each other's eyes. There was something there, Will knew it and now he knew Alicia felt it. She kissed him back, sharing a passionate kiss.
They parted. "Alicia…" He looked into her eyes, needing to know something.
"We can't do this…"
"Why not. I love you…" Will didn't realize he revealed his feelings until he did.
The feeling in her expression was lost. "You can't, no, you can't. It's just…no."
She quickly packed up her books and ran out of the library.
*flashback*
Cary's cell phone was buzzing non stop since the sun came up. The last thing he wanted to do was wake Kalinda, she had finally stayed the night at his place and the last thing he wanted to do was wake her. He took the phone and slid quietly out of bed.
"Tammy."
She was furious that he now finally calls her back. "Where were you?" He looked at his watch, just shy of nine am on a Saturday. "Sleeping, I am human." "I was checking on my case, I haven't heard back from you." "Our investigator is still looking into it. He's not the easiest guy to track down." "He's on every commercial Cary, he's on every billboard. How can you not catch him." "Billboards aren't very talkative these days, Tammy."
"Are you mocking me?" "No, Tammy, I am not."
"Are you planning to help me or not?" "Yeah, meet me in my office at noon."
"That sounds better, thank you."
Cary walked slowly back into the bedroom, Kalinda's eyes were open, laying in the same position as she was sleeping.
"Hey." He said softly, laying on top of the covers beside her.
"I was wondering when you were going to get that. Obsessed fan?"
"I wish."
He gave her a sad look, Kalinda sat up, folding her arms. "You have to go."
"It's just for a few hours." "Cary, we were going to the park, do all those couple things that couples do."
"And we will. It's just a quick meeting."
"Her name is Tammy." She saw Cary's look. "I looked at the caller ID." "Yeah." "Is it a small world or is that the woman Will used to date."
"Nope, it's a small world." "So that's who I'm investigating for." "Yeah."
"I never liked her, you know. Always tying Will down like she wanted a husband."
"Maybe she did." "Barking up the wrong tree on that one. Will Gardner wasn't getting married, not to her anyway." "Some women think they can change the man they're with."
"Do you think I'm trying to change you?" He kissed her. "If you are, I'm liking the change."
Kalinda seceded her argument. "I want us to work Cary."
"Things will work, Kalinda."
They started kissing and slid back under the covers.
Kalinda reached over Cary and grabbed his phone. "You have a meeting at noon." "And?" He started kissing her neck. "We have time."
She let out a soft laugh, something was finally feeling right. "Yeah, we do." She kissed him hard as he entered her.
Cary's phone was buzzing again. He picked it up and threw it to the other side of the room. "It can wait."
Zach called Will for them to meet the park to go for a run.
Zach looked at his watch. "I guess lawyers don't have an essence of time on the weekends."
Will smiled, he knew he was late. He and Alicia couldn't get enough of each other. "Yeah, well."
"If this is about mom, I don't want to know." "Then you don't to know." They started a slow trot. "So we're running, let's talk." "Nisa chose a family." "So soon? It's only been a few weeks." "I think her parents are actually part of the rush decision."
"Okay, so do you want to meet them."
They were now running faster.
"Yeah, this is my child too. I may be only eighteen, but this is my kid too." "Very true. I can call Nisa's parent's lawyer and set up a meeting." "Why can't I just meet them, me and Nisa."
"That's not how this whole thing works, Zach."
"Everything is all about lawyers and contracts." Zach stopped to catch his breath. "I'm never having sex again." Will laughed hard. "Don't sell yourself short."
"I mean it's so stressful choosing lawyers, is having a kid always this stressful."
They started back on a slow walk.
Will thought about his words. "It's amazing. I can't wait until I get to meet our daughter. But Zach, it's about timing. Alicia and I found the right timing. Zach…you're eighteen. You're going off to Princeton, being on your own. There's so many life experiences to have that you don't even know yet."
"Like when you met mom." "Yeah, when I met your mom." "So it gets easier." Will laughed. "I didn't say it'll get easier. Remember, it's all about timing."
"So what can I do?"
"I will call NIsa's lawyer and set up a meeting. You sure you want to meet the parents?" "I know I"m not going to raise this baby and I don't have a clue of how to take care of one. But ten years down the road when I am ready to have a baby and the timing is right, I want to know that my baby is in a good home."
"Okay, that's fair." Will swigged his water down. "Give me a few days. I'll have something."
"One more thing."
"What's that?"
They started back on their run.
"Do my parents have to be there? I'm eighteen now and I now it's a decision I need to make for myself. I feel like they have my best interests at heart, but sometimes I feel like they don't know me."
"Zach, I can't legally tell you to have them there…as your lawyer."
"And as my almost step dad."
Those words were more than Will was prepared to hear.
"As your stepdad. I know Alicia would be hurt if you don't want her there." "It's just…I feel…ashamed. I was the good kid who had this promising future and I screwed up."
"Zach, yeah you screwed up big time."
They were now walking towards the house.
"But it's what you're being able to do about it."
"What do you mean."
"You're giving a couple a family, hope for the future. They'll always be indebted to you for that."
"Then why does it make me feel so awful."
"Zach your child is apart of you, there's no escaping that. And this child will always be apart of you. I can't tell you how to feel or what the next few months or years are going to be like."
They were now sitting in his office.
"Maybe I shouldn't even meet the parents Nisa has chosen. Then that'll mean I'm still connected and always knowing who is taking care of my baby." "But then you'll never knew who they go to and thoughts of what kind of parents are caring for your child will be unknown. Unknown conclusions are the worst type of conclusions."
"Are you going to be there." "As your lawyer, yes, I will be there."
"But if you're there as my lawyer you can only give me legal advice." "Correct."
"What if there was someone who was a lawyer and you there as a friend." Will started writing notes. "I can recommend someone, but Zach…."
"I need a friend who is going to stand by me and not give me their opinions and control everything."
"Is that what you think your mom would do."
"Yeah." Zach's face fell.
"Zach…" Will leaned forward on his desk. "I've known your mom for probably longer than just about anyone. She does know what's best of you. You think that she'll try to persuade you to decide something different. She is allowed to do that, even though you are eighteen because she is your mom. But I can be there as legal counsel. I'll be able to shift to where you want it."
"Are you sure because mom can be really convincing."
Will smiled. "I know she can, I know your mom." "So you will be able to…go against her."
"In the court system, yes." Will smiled. He loved talking about family with Alicia's kids. "At home…not so much."
"So, two days?" "Give me a couple of days."
"Does my dad have to be there?" "Do you not want Peter there?"
"Just everything he's done with hurting mom and all the political stuff…it's kind of like he would take over just by reputation alone."
"That can be done but it's something you have to do. I can deny him from being apart of the meetings and the adoption process. But the reason why has to come from you."
"How hard is this going to be?" "It's something that will stick with you for the rest of your life."
Grace knocked on the door.
"Mom wants to know what you two want to do for dinner. We're ordering out and mom's hormonal, so…"
"Chinese." Zach spoke up.
Will thought. "We had Chinese two days ago…Mexican…"
Grace looked at the menus. "So we have Thai and…well, we have American."
"American." Zach and Will said in unison.
Will tossed the towel into the laundry basket and got into bed beside Alicia, she was going through a box of things.
"What's all this?" "I never knew it at the time but I kept everything. Cards, pictures…anything….of us."
Will looked at some of the pictures. "We were such nerds, wow."
"I do remember seeing a bottle of hairspray in your possession."
"It wasn't mine." "Sure it wasn't. Everyone was using hairspray back then."
Alicia flipped to a couple of pictures of her slim figure.
"Oh, a time machine."
"That was the Bison game."
"Yeah, Teresa…the crazy roommate, they were all crazy, she swore I had to go to the game. I think it was the only game I went to."
"Frank from Ethics class made sure I went."
Alicia was remembering talking to Teresa a little while ago. "I think they're married now."
Will kept thinking about her ring that he purchased a while ago. "The Georgetown reunion, it's this weekend."
Alicia put all the pictures and things back int he box. "I never thought about going back there, but it might be fun."
"Good because I already register us."
"What if I said no." Alicia got up to put her night lotion on her arms.
"Then we'd be missed. I hear Edward Lohman is the committee chairperson."
"Do I remember him?"
"Are you kidding he drooled whenever you were in a fifty yard radius."
"Aw, now I remember him. I think I had psychology with him…he was so quiet." "He was ogling at you…fantasizing." Will was starting to laugh.
"Don't make fun of Eddie, he's sweet. Besides, I'm sure he's changed. you did."
"I've always been awesome."
Alicia laughed out loud. "Really, do you want me to bring out the college box of goodies to disprove that fact?"
He looked at her, eyes always glowing when he did that. "You would sell me out."
"In a heartbeat." She got into bed, kissing him. "Night Will."
"Goodnight…" Will let his thoughts roam…Mrs. Gardner.
Eli knocked on Peter's door, it was late, Peter was in his robe and pajamas answering the door.
"Eli, you need a life, man." "You are my life Peter." "Such a reassuring thought."
Eli almost raced into the dining room and laid all the files out on the table.
"What is this?" Peter was looking at unfamiliar documents.
"The families…that Nisa is considering for adoption." "Why do you have this?" "This child, whether it was meant to be conceived or not is still apart of your political campaign." "Eli, in case you haven't noticed, I'm just a lawyer, I'm not the states attorney or governor or anything political." "Then why are you taking a meeting with my ex wife?"
"Vanessa called me, she is thinking of running, she wanted some advice, that was all." "Did she ask you to run with her? I distinctly remember her saying something."
Peter walked around, eventually got a glass of brandy.
"I can't ignore if I ran again, I'd probably never get elected." "You're not saying no." Eli was getting a glow in his eye like a boy on Christmas morning.
"Eli, that ship has sailed, although I have a few docking stations on my table."
"Oh, right. These are the families that Nisa is swaying for when giving the baby up for adoption." "And again, why are you bringing me this. This is Nisa's decision and Zach's decision. I don't have a say in this." "They could be out there for political gain, power, money." "Or, you know they could be out just for a baby, that does happen in adoption cases."
"Just look them over…" "Eli!" Peter shouted. "Get these out of my house." "Zach doesn't want you there."
"Want me where?" "At the meeting with the perspective parents." "How do you even know about this?"
"I have friends at Cavanaugh and Gardner…they hear things."
"Understandable, he is an adult…still a kid but an adult at the same time."
"He wants Will there representing him as his stepfather."
Peter's world stopped. When did his son want to represented by Will Gardner.
"I'm Zach's father, his real father, he'll want me there." "The meeting is the day after tomorrow and I'm gathering he hasn't asked you yet."
"The day after tomorrow is still a lot of time."
"Peter…he doesn't want you there, I'm sure of it."
Peter got his phone out, pressed the familiar contact.
"Alicia…you'll get this in the morning. I need to speak with you about Zach and an upcoming meeting. Call me back in the morning, we need to talk." Peter took a sip of his brandy. "We'll straighten it out."
Will's phone was buzzing, waking him up. He checked the clock and it was just shy of two in the morning.
"This is Will." He said going down the hallway, not to disturb Alicia, he was still whispering.
"I don't know what you think that woman is…" Arnold Donnelly speaking very harshly. "She is responsible."
"Arnold it is very late and extremely tiring talking to you right now. Your son wasn't even on the case, what more do you want?"
"The house was destroyed, everything that those boys built, was destroyed, by her."
"Arnold, what the hell are you talking about. Who are you talking about?" "Alicia…that lawyer you knocked up." Will's attention was now at a boiling point. "She did this." "I am hanging up now."
"I'm calling because I am suing that whore for everything she is worth." "Arnold, if I were you, I would use words very carefully in this conversation."
"Because of that woman, my son is in the hospital!"
"Wait, Jared is fine, I talked to him this morning. He was good." "Because of his lifestyle, he was a target." "Arnold, just tell me what happened." "What happened is he was found in his room bloody and bruised….he was attacked on campus."
"Wait, what?" "He was out at the library, coming home late…he was attacked… His younger sister found him, she is traumatized." "Arnold, there was never an intention." "I am hanging up now. I will see you in court." The phone slamming down almost deafened Will's eardrum.
There were no amount of steps to his bedroom that could make what he just heard any easier to take. He knew Alicia was doing her job, Arnold is just angry and upset, as he should be. Does he tell Alicia? He can't tell her, it would destroy her thinking she assisted in someone getting attacked.
He climbed into bed, Alicia snuggling up to him, her pregnant bell up against him.
"Who was on the phone?" She mumbled.
"Um…no one."
Alicia sat up on her side, facing him. "You're upset, that wasn't no one."
"Alicia…"
He knew after telling her everything would change, she would change. Nothing would be the same.
Alicia started smiling, almost crying. "She's kicking…she knows you need her. Feel it." She grabbed his hand, putting it on her stomach.
Will had tears streaming down his face. "That's amazing." Alicia noticed he still wasn't okay. "What can be so bad that our daughter can't fix."
Will started to smile…feeling a little less overwhelmed. "Nothing that our daughter can't fix."
He kissed her, grabbing her lips into a passionate kiss. "I love you so much."
They laid back in the bed. Alicia knew something was going on but she didn't want to press the situation. She was sure Will would tell her, he just needed time…but time in their journey has mostly been against them.
