A/N: Your eyes are not deceiving you and I ask your forgiveness for the embarrassingly long time that has passed since I last updated. Yes, this story is still alive and I hope that whomever is still around enjoys this. I had gone back and forth numerous times on the direction of this chapter and finally decided it was time for a little glimpse into how the bond between these four came to be.

Thank you to Sab for the quick beta!

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Alicia followed the scent of coffee and bacon to her kitchen, surprised to find Tess standing at her stove. "Hey. I thought you weren't back until next week."

Tess turned to her, a small smile on her lips. "Found myself in need of some family time, you see what you've done to me?" she asked her in an accusatory tone that made Alicia laugh.

"I've been blamed for worse," she answered through her laughter.

"Anyway, I decided to fly in for the weekend. Got in late last night and I didn't want to bother you, so I made Will pick me up. Crashed in Grace's room, hope that's okay."

"Of course. The kids are with Peter for the weekend, I'm sure she won't mind if you use her room while she's gone," she told her as she poured herself a mug of caffeine.

"Thanks," she replied softly before turning back to the stove. "Can I make you some eggs?"

"Oh no. No no no. No eggs." Placing her mug down on the counter, she rushed over and grabbed the frying pan from the stove. Switching the overhead fan on, she quickly walked to the sink, scraped the eggs out of the pan and turned on the garbage disposal.

"What...the hell...are you doing?" Tess demanded as she watched her place the pan in the dishwasher and turn it on before opening the window over the sink. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

Turning to face her friend, Alicia sighed and picked up her coffee. "Sorry," she replied before taking a much needed sip of the brew. "Eggs make Lucy sick. Let's hope the smell is gone before she wakes up."

"No they don't," her voice trailed off when she looked at Alicia. "Since when?"

"Since she started growing a human inside of her," she told her as she took a seat at the island.

"I'm missing everything," Tess mumbled as she grabbed her mug and joined Alicia. Sighing, she sipped her coffee and looked at her friend. "I'm sorry." Seeing her brows furrow in confusion, she continued. "For burdening you. Lucy is my responsibility and here you are taking care of her."

"Lucy isn't a burden, Tess. That's my niece or nephew she's carrying, too. Besides, we're family. We have always been. We promised to be there for each other when needed, remember?"

They stumbled in the sand, holding onto each other for support and shrieking when the ice cold water washed onto the shore and pooled around their bare feet.

"Here. This is good. Let's sit here. I can't walk anymore." Alicia said as she flopped down in the sand.

Tossing the blanket she carried behind Alicia, Tess sat down next to her and started rummaging in the bag she carried. "Ah-ha," she held up a bottle in triumph and sipped from it before handing it to Alicia.

Sniffing it, she grimaced and looked at her. "What is this?"

Tess shrugged in response. "I don't know. I just reached into the liquor cabinet and grabbed the first thing my hand touched," she told her. "It's actually not bad."

"It smells…strong," she complained. Deciding that she'd rather numb herself to the conflict boiling inside of her, she took a hefty gulp before handing it back to Tess. "Hmmm, you're right, not bad." Sighing, she laid back, using the blanket as a pillow. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Tess asked, lying next to her.

"My parents. Who was I kidding thinking a family getaway to Lake Geneva before I leave for law school was a good idea? I can't believe they argued like that in front of your family. It's my mother's fault, you know. So embarrassing," she paused, reaching for the bottle to drink more of the mysterious alcohol. "Your poor little sister was so scared."

"Oh, please. That little brat is scared of everything," Tess rolled her eyes before drinking. "Lucy used to run from her own shadow. Probably still does," she mused, squinting to make out Alicia's face with the aid of the moonlight when she felt her shake next to her. "Are you laughing?"

"You're so mean to her," Alicia observed, as she tried to regain her composure.

"Because she's a pain in my ass," Tess responded, defensively. "You don't know what I deal with. Owen isn't that much younger than you."

"Maybe not, but he sure acts like it. So, I think I have an idea of what you have to deal with," she joked.

After a few minutes of silence, Tess heard Alicia sigh next to her. "Are you feeling better yet?" she asked softly.

"Thank you," was her quiet reply. "For getting me out of there when you did."

"No big deal. What are friends for?" she responded. "Besides, I wasn't sure I wanted to see what would happen if I let you continue to drink around your mom."

"I probably would have ended up screaming every swear word I could think of at her," she confessed. "I'm that angry with her."

"Dammit. We should have stayed there. That would have been entertaining," Tess teased. "Here, drink some more and we'll go back."

Giggling softly, she grabbed the bottle from her but didn't drink. "I have to admit, law school doesn't seem as daunting when I realize you'll be with me."

"Does that mean you'll let me cheat off of you?" she joked. "I'm just kidding," she told her before she could protest. "You know that I would have been there whenever you needed me, even if I ended up going to Columbia, right? In a heartbeat, Alicia."

"And I, for you. But, who's to say we would have actually done it? People change," she replied. Tess abruptly sat up and started looking in her bag. "What are you doing?" Alicia asked as she slowly sat up beside her.

"Trying to find..." She stopped and Alicia saw something in her hand, glinting in the moonlight. "Yup...this'll do." She turned to Alicia, her hand outstretched. "Give me your hand."

"What? Why?" She asked, tentatively.

"Just give it." Reluctantly, Alicia complied with her request and Tess turned her hand, palm up. "Are you worried that we'll drift apart once law school is over?"

"Tess...what...aren't you?"

"You are a woman of your word, right? If you make a promise, you'll keep it?"

Alicia nodded. "Yes. Tess...I'm confused...what-OW!"

"Oh! Oh my God! Did I really hurt you?"

"You just stabbed the palm of my hand! What the hell do you think?" Alicia yelled.

"I guess you haven't consumed enough alcohol, after all," she wondered aloud. "Are you bleeding?"

"Of course I am!" Alicia's eyes widened in horror as she watched Tess cut her own hand. "You...are insane."

Taking her bleeding hand in her own, Tess looked at Alicia. "Say it," she demanded.

"What?" Alicia tried to pull her hand from her grasp. "Let go of me, you nut job."

"Promise me we will always be there for each other. No matter what."

They both looked at their hands, which bore the tiniest of scars, and chuckled.

"You know, I'm sure a simple verbal promise would have sufficed," Alicia told her.

Tess shook her head. "Who would have thought I'd be the one to mess up after all that?"

"Mm? What are you talking about?"

Inhaling deeply before she replied, Tess turned to make eye contact with her. "You needed me. Five years ago, when your life turned upside down, I was nowhere to be found. I'll never forgive myself for that."

"Tess," Alicia started. "Stop. I..." She paused and looked away. "I didn't exactly open myself to anyone at that time. I pretty much shut everyone out. So...even if you had tried," she told her.

"Please don't do that," she shook her head. "Don't make excuses for me. You were there for me when I needed it most and I couldn't even find the time..." Her voice caught and Alicia looked at her, concern etched on her face.

"Hey...what's wrong?" She asked when she noticed the tears in her eyes.

Shrugging her shoulders, she waved her hand dismissively. "It's just...this day..." She attempted a small smile. "It never gets easier."

This day? Alicia tried to search her still sleepy brain for the date. With a quick glance at the calendar on the wall beside them, it dawned on her. Dammit. The anniversary of her parents' death.

"Oh, Tess. I'm sorry...I didn't-" A knock on her door interrupted her apology.

A mumbled "I'll get it," from behind caused them to quickly turn and see Lucy retreating to answer the door.

"Crap," muttered Tess.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine," Alicia assured her. "I do wonder who the hell that is this early, though. God, please don't be work."

"Oh. Actually, that's probably Will," Tess informed her. "And now that I think about it, I really should have made sure it was okay to invite him over. I am so sorry. I just offered breakfast as a thank you for the late night impromptu airport pickup."

"Will? What...oh dammit!" she said looking down at her attire; a navy blue Georgetown t-shirt and black sweatpants.

"Oh please. You look adorable," she assured her. "Besides, we both know this isn't the first time he sees you when you wake up. Except, you are probably wearing more clothes than any of those times."

Alicia swatted at her, playfully. "Shut up. It's not that."

"Good morning," Will's appearance cut their conversation short.

"Long time, no see buddy," Tess joked as she looked behind him. "Where's Lucy?"

"Do you mean the dark haired blur I last saw running toward the nearest bathroom?"

"Oh boy. Let me go make sure she's okay," Tess said as she stood. "And give you two a moment alone."

Placing the box of bagels he had picked up on the way over down on the counter, Will quickly made his way to Alicia, arms outstretched. Standing and moving into his embrace, she wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up to place a soft kiss on his lips.

"I missed you," he whispered before kissing her forehead. "And my t-shirt."

She looked up at him, fighting the smirk that threatened to appear on her lips. "Your what?" she asked innocently.

"Two years, Alicia. Two years, I've wondered what happened to this shirt. And here it is," he said as he ran his hands down her sides. "After all these years, you finally got your hands on it. I did always like the way you looked in it, though."

"My shirt, Will. Mine," she smiled before kissing him in an effort to stop his rebuttal. "Maybe one of your women took it so that they could wear it when you weren't with them and they missed you terribly."

"Come to think of it, I think I know exactly who-OW!" He rubbed his side where she had pinched him.

She glared at him playfully until they both gave in and smiled, Alicia shaking her head at him. "Do you know what today is?" she whispered, glancing behind her.

"Yeah. Tess was pretty somber last night and mentioned something before getting out of the car. It didn't make sense until I woke up today and saw the date," he responded.

The incessant ringing of the phone roused her from her deep slumber. Before she could move to answer, the ringing stopped and she felt strong arms embrace her from behind.

"That's the fourth time. Whoever it is really wants to speak to you," Will whispered in her ear before placing a gentle kiss on her neck.

"Mmm...Or Tess," she responded, enjoying the feeling of his lips on her skin until a hard knock on her door interrupted them.

"Hey, lovebirds, I'm making breakfast. I'm sure you've worked up an appetite," Tess called out from the other side of the door.

Giggling as she climbed out of bed, she looked around for clothes, deciding on shorts and Will's t-shirt. "We'll be right out," she responded as she reached out her hand to Will. "Come on." As he dressed, their phone rang again.

"I got it!" Tess yelled from the kitchen.

"Um...can I have my shirt?" Will smirked in her direction.

Looking down at the shirt in question, she shook her head and raised her eyes to meet his again. "What do you mean your shirt? This is mine."

"Fine. If you won't give it back, you leave me no choice but to take it myself," he playfully threatened as he moved toward her.

"Okay, okay!" she laughed. "I'll give it back later; just grab another one for now."

When they emerged from the bedroom, they made their way toward the kitchen, stopping when they saw Tess seated on the edge of the sofa with the phone in her hand.

Noticing how her hand that held the phone was shaking, Alicia rushed over to her side. "Tess?" When she didn't respond and continued to stare at the floor, she glanced at Will. "Honey, who was on the phone?" she asked as she slowly sat down beside her and gently removed the phone from her hand, grasping her hand in hers tightly.

"My...my…" her breathing quickened and the tears that welled in her eyes, started to stream down her cheeks as her grip on Alicia's hand tightened further.

"Tess, breathe. Please," Alicia struggled to remain calm as Will moved closer and placed his hand on Tess' shoulder.

"Hey, come on. Breathe. What happened? Who was on the phone?" Will asked as he lowered himself to kneel in front of her.

Trying and failing to gain control of her breathing, Tess choked out a sob. "My...parents…"

"That's who was on the phone?" Tess quickly shook her head and Alicia glanced at Will, who met her gaze and swallowed hard. "Is everything okay?" When she continued to shake her head, Alicia pulled her closer and wrapped her arms around her, fearing she knew what the call was about.

"They're…" Tess inhaled deeply and Alicia felt her best friend shake in her arms. "They're dead," she whispered as the initial shock lifted and she collapsed in Alicia's arms, sobbing uncontrollably as Will ran his hand along her back in a soothing motion.

They turned when they heard Tess clear her throat and were met by two definitive smirks.

"I wish you two weren't so adorable," Lucy stated. "It would make it a lot easier for me to be annoyed by you."

"Hey, do I know you?" Will asked, his arm still around Alicia's waist. "I...I kind of feel like I saw you run away from me a few minutes ago."

"Ha ha, doofus," Lucy replied as she made her way over to the box he had placed on the counter a few minutes ago. "Oooohhhh, bagels!"

"Oh honey, I made some bacon for you. I was...waiting for you to wake up to see what else you wanted," Tess told her, casting a sideways glance to Alicia.

"Yum!" she responded as she walked toward the stove, opting for the bacon over the bagels.

"So," Alicia spoke up as she sat in her seat again. "I was thinking we could do something…different today."

Lucy turned to her, "Like what?" she asked through a mouthful of bacon.

"I was actually thinking we would go look at a few apartments so that we could finally get out of your hair," Tess spoke up.

"What? Don't be…" she shook her head. "There's no need to rush that," she assured her.

"Then what do you have in mind?" Will asked as he walked over to join Lucy in opening the box of bagels.

"Let's drive up to Lake Geneva," she suggested, looking straight at Tess, who immediately smiled.

"I'd love that," she replied softly.

"Oh God," Lucy backed away from the bagels. "Is there…" she swallowed back a gag reflux. "A banana...bagel in there?"

Will wore a look of confusion as he peered into the box. "I...I don't know. Maybe? I just told-" He looked up as Lucy ran from the kitchen with her hand over her mouth and glanced over at Alicia who sighed before lowering her head onto her arms in defeat.

"You two are going to be the death of me," she said quietly before raising her head to glare at them.

"Banana, too?" Tess asked, shocked.

Alicia nodded. "Banana, too."

Tess looked at Will and pointed in the direction Lucy had just run. "I've already done it once today, your turn."

"My turn for what?"

"She's throwing up because of you," Tess reminded him. "Go help her."

"What?" A look of disgust formed on his face. "Ew! Hell no!" Both women glared in his direction until he acquiesced and sighed. "Fine. What do I do?"

"Just make sure she's okay and not in any pain," Alicia told him as he walked out.

Tess looked over at her and smiled. "Lake Geneva. I haven't been there in years," she said.

"Neither have I. Figured we both could benefit from a day there," Alicia replied.

"All of us, I think," Tess said softly as she grabbed their mugs and walked over to place them in the sink.

Turning in the direction that Will had just walked, she nodded in agreement. "Yes. All of us."