AN: So some of you wanted to see Will's thoughts as he went running, and here they are! Ye asked so ye shall receive. It is a shorter chapter but the next parts just didn't fit into the tune of this chapter. So yes, I've started the next one already and I'll finish it pretty soon.
And to one reviewer ( Reader ) who mentioned the part about Will being weird with the fridge, I promise that is coming back up. I may have put it in too early but then things in the story happened and it got away from me, but it has not been forgotten!
Hope everybody likes this little bit!
Will wasn't sure which way he was running. He had just started and turned a few corners, and then a few more and he stopped noticing the streets altogether eventually. Everything seemed to have become blurred right in front of his eyes, and he wasn't referring to his current surroundings. He'd asked Alicia to move in with him. Not even asked her to do it, he just asked her to think about it. He wanted to sit down and start talking about it at least and yet she just walked away. She made up some shitty excuse and walked away, not even looking back. Alright, it wasn't like he followed her to see that she looked back but she certainly hadn't come back anyway so she couldn't have looked back and realized that what she was doing was crap.
He felt his calves and thighs begin to burn with his fast pace along the sidewalk. He was always a good runner and he liked feeling the burn in his legs. He liked to feel his chest expand while he ran because he felt like something was happening. Right now nothing was happening, and he wanted it to change. But it wasn't like he'd just show up on her doorstep. That was out of the question. She had walked away, refusing to talk about it. Actually, not even refusing, just staying quiet. That sent a surge of anger course through Wills body and he started to run faster. She may have been unprepared to hear it but the least she could have done what voice her refusal to not peak about it.
She needed to think. Couldn't she think while staying with him, Will thought to himself. She could have stayed and had had a hot bath maybe. Relaxed and thought about it then and there, and then discussed it with Will. But no, she had to go be alone, and that hurt. He didn't ever like to admit he'd been hurt; he was a strong guy who never got hurt. Or so he liked people to believe. But Alicia could hurt him. She could hurt him like no one ever could. He realized that many moons ago. She was someone special in his life and he needed to make it work out between them. So perhaps that meant giving her some space. Maybe that meant she needed to think alone, completely alone… That didn't make it any easier to deal with though.
He started to slow down beside a small park and stopped in front of a bench. He didn't sit down, he bent is knees a little and rested his hands on his knees. He tried to catch his breath, which wasn't hard. He was fit and had an excellent resting heart rate. Though soon when he looked around and had absolutely no clue as to where he was, he sat down on the bench. The cool air felt good when it cloaked his hot body. There was something about running in the dark sometimes. He just felt a little bit freer. He looked across the street and saw a couple walking around a corner together. They were holding hands and smiling with each other. Laughing even.
He missed her laugh. It wasn't like he would never see it again. He knew he would, and probably within a few days (hopefully less), but when you leave things of a little ragged with the woman you loved you just missed everything more.
He took a quick glance at his watch and realized he had been running for 45 minutes already. He was probably very far from the house so he started to walk back in the direction he had come from. He sped up to a jog and just followed his instincts to find a main road, or something that looked familiar. He had jogged around for ten minutes and found a main road. He couldn't remember which one it was but there were a few cabs racing by. He managed to get one and just took a ride home. He ran into the house and got some money for the taxi driver, paid his fare and went back into the house. He didn't like how empty and alone it felt. She should be there with him. She should be there that night, the next night, the next night, and every other night after that.
He wanted to tell her that. And he wanted to tell her that he didn't want to waste more of their time together by not living together. He very much knew that it was a major decision but they were still adults. They knew how these things went, and they knew each other very well. Will didn't have to think about the fact that Alicia was the one who knew him better than anyone. Kalinda and Diane were close behind, but Alicia knew him in a time when neither of those two had. And his family didn't know things that all three of them did. Maybe that wasn't such a good thing but he just never saw them. It wasn't like they needed to know his firm issues, his professional issues. They would most likely fall asleep anyhow. But these women knew about his life in Chicago and they all wanted to know. And Alicia had been a part of pretty much all of it.
He walked up to his bedroom and went straight to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, stripped down to nothing and stepped in. It was always such a good feeling to wash the sweat off his body after a good run. And though he hoped it would make him feel better, it hadn't. That was what Alicia did these days, and she just wasn't there… He could be in that shower with her right now if he had delayed his moving in together thought. Though maybe she would have reacted the same in a couple of weeks too. He would never know, and he didn't want to dwell on it anymore. If he did, he would never get to sleep and if that was one thing he needed right now. He quickly scrubbed his body with some shower gel, washed his hair, and stepped out of the shower. Will then went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of black briefs and a white shirt. He slipped them on and crawled under his bed sheets. The faint smell of Alicia on the pillows still lingered and though he should have turned over to his side of the bed more Will moved closer to where she had been and breathed in the scent of her perfume, and drifted off to sleep.
Will hadn't been able to get much work done on Saturday. He set up his study as best as he could for the time being, mainly just leaving the books in boxes and not put them on the shelves. He had managed to set up some cabinets for his work files. He'd even gone into L/G early in the morning to pick up copies on current cases he was working on, and he had sat at his desk with his laptop open and ready to go with the files around him, but nothing of substance came out. He just sat there trying to find some motivation to do something, with no such luck.
Eventually lunch time came around and he made himself a sandwich with leftovers (which wasn't interesting but Will couldn't care less). Alicia hadn't called, emailed or even texted him since she left the day before. Resentment was starting to sink in and he didn't want it too, but he couldn't control it. He couldn't believe she hadn't made any sort of contact. Not even a I still need time to think or anything. Not that Will wanted her to say that. He wanted to hear that she was ready to talk, or something. Just something would be just fine with him.
He also couldn't believe what a shambles he was in. How was it so easy for Alicia to get to him? He knew he would definitely have to work on that. He would have to build up a sort of tolerance against her so he couldn't affect her in the ways she did.
After another couple hours of sitting at his desk with his work out and accomplishing absolutely nothing, the doorbell at the front door went off. He didn't know who it could possibly be. Not many people knew his address yet and not one of those people had said they were going to pop by, so Will was curious. He walked to the door and opened it. He was completely surprised to see Alicia. Her standing at his doorstep, looking nervous, was not on the top of his list of who it could be.
"Hey." He wanted to say a happy 'hey' but also a confused 'hey' so the two options mixed and he came up with an awkward sounding 'hey'.
"I want to." She quickly said. She wanted to? Hello confusion.
"You…" He started but she stepped closer to him and rested a hand over his heart.
"I want to." She said it softer this time, and he understood what she was saying. He felt a warm surge of happiness spread from the touch she had on his body and radiate through his chest. He started to smile at her, but then he stopped. He couldn't tell why she had suddenly decided on this overnight without talking to him.
"Why now?" He whispered, he needed to know, but she shook her head at him. She didn't seem to be getting it, just like he hadn't with her 'I want to.' "Why now?" He repeated. He could see her face change into a form of recognition. She understood now. He felt her hand leave his chest and reach up to his face, feeling her other hand do the same.
"I felt ready now…" She whispered it so it was as if they were in a crowd of people and only he could hear it. He remembered saying those exact words to her half a year ago. He was astounded that she even remembered that, so he reached his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face into his neck. It was the only answer he needed right now. He knew that she would stick to her word and they would be living together soon. He knew it would happen. Though they did still need to talk, so Will pulled back from her and brought her into the house more. They walked up the first flights of stairs and Will lead her into the living room.
"As happy as I am that you've thought about this, and that your decision is to try it out, we should still talk about it." He said seriously as he sat down on the couch, grabbing her hand and letting her sit right beside him. They faced each other and let their sides lean against the couch.
"I know Will. That's why I'm here now. I have been thinking about it, and I just want to say that as much as I want to move in with you…" She took a deep breath, swallowing the words, "I think it should be just before Zach leaves for college. That way he only has to move his things around once and he can keep everything he wants to take with him packed up." She smiled nervously to him. Will noted that her idea made perfect sense.
"I agree. I think it'd just be unnecessary for him to pack up his things now, sort it all out and then repack. At least he could settle his things into one of the rooms upstairs." She nodded along with his words.
"I just don't want to disrupt the kids' lives more than I have to. Grace is about to start her last year of school, and though I'd like to wait for her to finish, I just can't stand the thought of waiting a whole year to move in here with you. It's a perfect house. You being here makes it perfect to me."
"No, you being here makes it perfect." She smiled warmly to him and placed a hand over his knee.
"I have to let the kids know now. And Peter too. That'll be interesting." She softly and awkwardly laughed. Will knew Peter would probably have a tough time getting used to the idea of Grace living with him. Oh shit. Grace would probably have an even tougher time getting used to that.
"You've got to give them all time to get used to it, I think. We've just got to tell them and let it sink in, then start moving."
"I know. I'm terrified, and excited." Will reached a hand up to her face and lightly stroked the soft skin over her cheeks.
"You don't have to be terrified, Alicia. I'm here." She smiled sweetly to him and leaned in for a kiss. She lingered on his lips for a while but eventually pulled back, much to Will's disappointment.
"I think I should tell Grace and Zach alone. I think it's be better coming from me alone."
"I agree. I'll let you handle that. You're their mom."
"And I should also tell Peter and Eli alone too."
"Oh I wasn't going to go near that one." Will quipped and they start to laugh together. "I'll tell Diane. She deserves to know." Will didn't know how well she'd take it if he was being honest. It was going to be a lot to take it, but he was sure she would be supportive for him. He was almost very sure she just wanted the best for him.
"I guess I'll have to tell Cary too. Damn, so many people to inform."
"Too many, but if we don't tell at least those people, we'll be in for it."
"You're right." Will didn't want to even imagine the reactions to all of those people when they found out Alicia would move in with him and neither one of them were the people who told them. There would be total mayhem. Though he couldn't help but think of the riot David Lee might create. He was still mad as hell at Alicia, even though Will and Diane (and thereby the firm too) weren't holding any grudges. It might be another six months before he'd start to calm down.
"So even though there is still a lot to figure out, what do you plan to do as your first official act as my new roomie?" Will said huskily to Alicia. She let out and deep laugh and stood up, taking hold of his hand and pulling him up with her. She started to walk backwards slowly, pulling him behind her.
"Well… I think that would have to be taking you up to our bedroom." That was all he needed to hear in that moment, and it was all he wanted to hear her say.