This chapter isn't as long, but I added some Rue cuteness and some Will/Alicia fluff.

The Good Wife

Danni watched. Her eyes scanning the busy office as people pushed past her. Yet, something felt wrong. People were tossing her looks and she couldn't understand them. Normally she was greeted with pleasant hellos and smiles, but there was no such thing in the office today. Today it was like she possessed some extremely contagious illness that was putting her surroundings at risk by standing too near.

Kalinda caught sight of her and looked equal amounts alarmed and confused. Unlike the rest of the people that were walking past her, ignoring her, she moved right up to Danni and pulled her into the nearest office.

"What are you doing here?" Kalinda hissed glancing at all the people watching them.

For a split second Danni was sure she was dreaming or had woken up in some alternate reality. She had been coming to her father's office every day after school for years. It should have been more of a question if she didn't show up.

"I came to see Dad," Danni replied, trying to show Kalinda that she was very lost.

Kalinda blinked. "No one called you?"

Immediately Danni's mind went to the worst. Something had to have happened to her parents or siblings. Someone was dead. Someone had to be dead with the way everyone was acting. But the Kalinda shook her head, obviously seeing the sheer fear in Danni's face.

"There's been some pictures in the media," Kalinda continued. That meant little to nothing to Danni. Obviously something was going on with the campaign and she really didn't care. Then Kalinda leaned over to the computer beside her typed something before turning the screen to show Danni.

She closed her eyes and rested her hand on her face. Well, this certainly wasn't good.

The Good Wife

Rue watched her uncle. Her big blue eyes watching him oh so closely. He was sad. She could tell. But she didn't know why. She knew she had been bad lately. She caused problems at daycare and been difficult, but she never meant to make him sad.

She moved closer to him as he continued his work in his home office. Danni was with her boyfriend and Zach and Grace were at their fathers. It was just her and Will for the moment. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her moving closer to him until she was just next to his chair still watching him.

He turned to her with a soft smile. "Yes?"

"Sad," she said putting her little hands on his face.

He frowned. "You're sad?"

But she shook her head and pointed to him. "Sad."

Guilt washed over him as Rue struggled to climb into his lap, pulling up on the office chair and wiggling. As he pulled her into his arms, he kissed her hair and decided he had probably already done enough for a little while.

"It's been a long day, kiddo."

That was maybe the understatement of the year. He and Alicia were front page news and were constantly getting met with press outside their doors. It made him a nervous wreck to know that Danni was out in the craziness. He had planned on waiting for Alicia to get out of court and driving her home, but she convinced him that Rue really didn't need to be shuffled through more cameras and irritating questions. Danni was convinced that she could handle herself and could spend time with her boyfriend before dinner.

"I bad," Rue said shamefully, her head falling into the crook of his neck.

Will hugged her and shook his head. "You're just hurting. We know you're not bad."

Rue said nothing more, just allowed her uncle to carry her into the living room. It was more than just today that sucked, the entire week sucked actually. Layoffs had begun, Eli Gold had become a client of theirs only to be closer to Alicia and pester her into helping with Peter's campaign, and there were plenty of vengeful people in their mitts at the moment.

He was fine with watching his own back, but Danni was getting too independent for him to watch her like a guard dog and Rue was just a baby, she was barely a toddler. Plus Alicia was on edge with her kids being so close to such a mudslinging campaign. In reality, Danni's too old boyfriend was at the bottom of their problem list and Danni was probably exploiting that a bit.

Zach and Grace were supposed to stay at his place tonight, but they wanted to see their dad and Alicia couldn't say no with all that was going on.

The sound of the deadbolt turning caught Will's attention and he let out a breath when Alicia walked in. She dropped her bag at the door and kicked off her heels without thought of moving them out of the walkway. Worry and exhaustion was written all over her face as she walked to him and let him put his free arm around her as she rested her head on his chest.

A little hand patted Alicia's face and though she thought she would not be able to smile until she got a nap or a glass of wine, she smiled when she saw Rue watching her. The little girl seemed truly happy to see her.

"I missed you," Alicia said softly, still leaning into Will.

"I missed-" Will began but stopped.

When Alicia pressed a kiss to Rue's cheek, Will smirked. "And I thought you were talking to me."

Alicia smiled again, taking Rue into her arms and putting one arm around Will's neck as his arms loosely fell around her waist. Her lips hit his for a deep kiss that definitely told him just how much she missed him too. His hold tightened and Rue groaned.

"Squished!" she announced, obviously frustrated by her guardians' disregard.

They broke apart laughing lightly as they both turned to look at Rue. Will tickled her sides and she giggled as she clung tightly to Alicia.

"Squished, huh?" Will teased glancing at Alicia again and not being able to help himself when he captured her lips again for a quick kiss. "I missed you too," he whispered as he looked into her eyes.

Chills ran down her spine at the look he gave her.

"When does Danni get back?" Alicia asked as she tried to work out Rue's nap with the amount of time they would have for… um… adult activities.

"She said around nine," Will licking his lips.

It was just past seven. Rue had already eaten and going to bed a little early wouldn't hurt. Still, Alicia felt a little guilty for not spending much time with Rue.

They had only been functioning as this family, without Katie in the picture, four a little over a month, but Alicia's maternal instincts already outstretched toward her. It was true though, when you become a mother again, your heart just grows more than you thought possible.

If anything ever happened between Alicia and Will, it was decided that Rue would have a similar arrangement as Danni had. They had no intentions or plans for this good thing to end, but they had to be realistic if it did. Rue had already lost one mother, and she wasn't going to lose another.

"I think Rue and I need some play time," Alicia said with an apologetic undertone to her voice. "But I'm sure bedtime will be about eight."

Will eyes twinkled with mischief making Alicia laugh as she walked Rue into the living room. Alicia thought Rue would be eager to play with her blocks like she normally was, but for the moment, she just wanted Alicia to hold her. They sat on the floor, Alicia's back against the couch and Rue on her chest as they watched the evening news.

The featured story was them, of course. Pictures of Will walking out of the office building talking on his phone and carrying Rue, obviously annoyed. Alicia rushing out of the court room, not even sparing the reporters a look. Grace and Zach walking into Peter's apartment and Peter meeting the reporters at the door.

"My wife and I have been separated. Will Gardner has always been a good friend to my wife, and they share a child together from before I met Alicia," Peter told the press calmly. "I respect my wife's decision. She and Will seem happy together, our children approve of the relationship and I have no doubts that my wife was faithful to me during our marriage. However, our marriage is coming to an end."

Alicia let out a breath as her phone chimed. It was a text from Eli: If you want the press to go away, you may want to make a statement. That or an interview. There's a lot of questions being asked about the little girl and the sooner you nip this, the sooner your kids are out of the press.

She knew he was right, but she was overwhelmed. How in the world was she supposed to know what she was going to say about something she wasn't exactly sure of herself. She had pretty well gone from one life partner to another without batting an eye. There were many months that she spent on her own, thinking about what she was going to do next and now… now she was happy. Very stressed out, but happy.

"We'll figure it out," Will assured her, sitting down next to her and offering her a wine glass.

She hoped so. As she took a drink of wine, she glanced down at Rue who was still watching the TV. Her cheek rested on Alicia's breast and her little eyes seemed to be sleepily following the news stories. She would be asleep soon and that gave Will and Alicia plenty of time before Danni got home.

"Bed time, little miss," Alicia announced taking a drink of her wine before handing it back to Will and standing up.

There wasn't a peep of an argument, but Alicia almost didn't want to put Rue down. It was the most content the little girl had been all day and she almost didn't want to risk disturbing it. But the girl was tucked in and was sound asleep within minutes.

As she walked back into the living room, Will was still sitting on the floor against the couch with her wine glass in hand his hand as he nursed his own. She took her wine glass first and finished it without sitting down, then she reached for his and did the same.

He looked at her, obviously surprised, but the look she gave him quickly cleared up any confusion. Pulling her skirt up enough to get better movement of her legs, she straddled Will's lap. Her lips hit his and they melted into each other.

They had ended up in their bed, neither of them had any incentive to more after they managed to pull minimal clothing on incase one of the girls walked in in the middle of the night. Their legs were tangled and Alicia's head was on his arm. He was still awake, she could tell, but he seemed to be thinking about something.

Her hand went up to turn his cheek and she looked him in the eye before kissing his lips once again.

"I love you," she told him softly. She had waited so long to say the words that when she actually did, he looked truly surprised. There was a gentle laugh at his response and she kissed his lips again. "Did you think I just stuck around for the free rent?"

Her joke made him smile and he kissed her back. "I don't ever want to let you go."

"Then don't," Alicia replied.

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