The ring was already earning her more attention than she realized it would. She worn it less than twelve hours and people were constantly stopping her and congratulating her. People that she barely knew, people she didn't know at all, and her neighbors she didn't realize they had.

Danni and Grace pretty well attacked her. They both grabbed for her hand and ooed and awed over it while Zach stared at them like it was crazy. Will assured him that it was a girl thing. However, Alicia found herself in tears all over again when Will revealed gifts for the children as well.

For the girls he bought necklaces. Danni's had the open heart design while Grace wore a cross with a diamond pendant in the middle and Rue's were a pair of wings. Each one he had obviously put a lot of thought in. Danni after all was the one who needed to learn the beauty of keeping her heart open while Grace learned her faith and Rue was his special angel, and had her own angels looking out for her.

Zach had watched his sisters embrace Will with watery eyes as their mother helped them put on their gifts. It was okay that he didn't get anything. Jewelry was a girl thing and weddings were kind of a girl thing. Alicia however could see the disappointment come over her son's features but she could also see the smirk on Will's face.

"You didn't seriously think I'd forget about you?" Will asked as he reached into his breast pocket.

Zach didn't move. His face gave nothing away as Will pulled out a very old fashioned pocket watch. The silver chain was freshly polished as Will offered it out to Zach. The boy's hands moved out to it as though it was made of glass. They cupped the beautiful watch carefully as his eyes studied it.

No one dared to breathe as Zach examined the watch.

"It was, well… it was my step-dads," Will told the boy awkwardly. Will never had a great relationship with his father, and his step-dad came into his life when he was already old enough to decide he was ready for the world without a father. So his step-dad became his friend. He was his dad when he needed a dad and a friend when he needed a friend. The man died not many years ago and Will still missed him. He thanked that man for teaching him how to be a good father to Danni. "I hope that I can be as good of friend to you as he was to me."

Zach continued to run his fingers over the smooth silver exterior, but his gaze returned to Will.

The force of the boy's hug sent Will stumbling back a step, but he quickly wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulders. He was fourteen. He was still confused about what all this meant. His loyalties were torn between his mother and father and suddenly he no longer had to worry about it. Will didn't have to be his dad. Will could be his friend.

Alicia covered her mouth as she tried to muffle her tears, but how could she? Will gave her so much and asked for so little in return. The man opened his home to her in the time of need, gave her a job when she was moments away from her home being foreclosed.

With all her heart she loved him and she never had to question if he loved her. Every day he proved it again and again.

Alicia just watched him that whole night. The way he laughed with Grace and Danni as they made faces at one another over light teasing. The way he played so easily and attentively with Rue. Especially the way he and Zach seemed to have an understanding on their situation that Alicia felt no reason to question.

Somehow they had become a seamless family.

Will was already in bed leaning against the headboard when Alicia came out of the bathroom. One arm was behind his head while the other was holding a book. How To Win Friends and Influence People. Alicia nearly laughed. Will Gardner could probably write his own book on that topic.

He glanced at her as she stood in the bathroom door and she smirked when he did a double take. The red corset that she had been saving for a special occasion had finally made its grand appearance and by expression on Will's face it was doing its job.

Obviously this woman didn't know how freaking gorgeous she was in red. That and her pregnancy glow… Will was growing more impatient by the moment as she took a couple steps toward the bed. Red corset, red and black lace undies, and black stockings. The look on her face told him that she was enjoying her little strut.

"You are very impressive, Mr. Gardner," she hummed crawling up to Will from the foot of the bed. His eyes widened and his visible swallowed as she settled herself on his lap and took the book from him to place on the nightstand. Her eyes never left his as his empty hands quickly found themselves running up the sides of the silk.

"And you look beautiful, soon to be Mrs. Gardner," Will replied, pulling her closer to his body.

His hands continued to make gentle movements over her body as he waited patiently. Obviously she wanted to say something and he would wait until she did.

Soft hands cupped his face as she brought her mouth down to his. "Thank you," she whispered into the kiss. "You gave my kids exactly what they needed today."

Will smiled and brushed his lips against hers again. "Alicia, two of those kids are just as much mine as yours and the other two… I will be whatever Zach and Grace need me to be in their lives."

Alicia's hands caressed his face as she looked into his eyes with her love for him seeming more obvious than he had ever experience. It was in her eyes, in the way she touched him, in the very air she breathed.

Nothing in her life felt more right that that moment and then they made love.

The next day, Will and Alicia had invited Diane out to lunch with them. They had taken the morning off for a doctor's appointment and since Alicia had been given good news for the baby, they decided to share their announcement with their friend. Ten weeks pregnant. She was much further along than she planned to hear. She was nearly into her second trimester with a mostly flat stomach.

They sat together at the little café on the same side of the booth. She leaned into his side as she held the ultra-sound picture in her hand. So far everything was perfect. The baby was right size, her blood pressure wasn't too bad but she did have to watch it and gain some weight, but considering what she was expecting, she was over the moon.

"Absolutely beautiful," she mused as he smiled back at her.

"Like his or her mom," Will replied warmly. He took the picture in his hand and smiled at the clear image of the baby shape. Then he turned to Alicia and reached for his wallet. "Want to see something?"

Alicia gave him her attention as he searched through his wallet before he finally pulled out something he had carried with him for eighteen years. Her eyes widened when she took it from him.

"You carry this with you?" she asked looking at the first ultrasound they had of their oldest daughter. She could still remember the look on a much younger Will's face when the image appeared on the screen all those years ago. It was definitely the moment she knew Will had fallen in love with Danni.

"I do," he said simply.

Alicia looked at both the images. She had two more at her apartment of Zach and Grace, but she really hated the fact she didn't have Rue's. Sometimes she really had to remind herself Rue was not really her daughter. Of course she was her daughter in all the ways that really mattered, but at time Alicia wished she had these moments for Rue too.

Just thinking of the Rue made Alicia miss her. Rue was still at that age where hugs were critical and with her bumpy past Alicia felt the need to hold her just a little longer. The older kids understood. They even offered their own support to Rue as protectors. Lord help anyone who dared hurt Rue.

She smiled to herself. There was no doubt they would be just as protective over the new baby.

"Sorry I'm late," Diane announced, pulling Alicia from her thoughts as Will put the old ultrasound picture back into his wallet where she was sure it was going to stay.

"Hey," Will greeted Diane with a smile as Alicia purposely slid her left hand under the table to postpone their announcement until the right time. "We just got drinks."

"Good, good. How are the kids?" Diane asked seeming glad to be able to sink down into her seat. Apparently it had been a very long day.

Will smirked. "Well, Danni's done so she's doing whatever she wants today while Zach and Grace have another week left. More finals."

Diane made a sound of displeasure. "So glad I never have to take another final. But then again, Danni has prom next year, doesn't she?"

Alicia hummed. "Yes, she does. Oh that's one more thing for us to deal with. All three of the oldest will be in the same school next year too."

The conversation mulled on until they ordered. Diane liked hearing about Will and Alicia's life. Finally someone in her life had a real life, with kids and a home and carpooling. She would never in a million years admit that any part of her ever wanted that. Diane Lockhart was a women who enjoyed executive heirs and corporate suits. But she also knew she was a woman, and like most women she had that maternal side that occasionally came over her.

But finally the time came. Will's right hand found Alicia's left and he gave it a small squeeze. "Actually we asked you to lunch because we had news."

Diane gave them a questioning look, but she already knew exactly what the news was. David Lee and she had been whispering over the fact Alicia and Will had been making several inquiries about the divorce finalization status. They lived together. They were raising four children. It was going to happen sooner rather than later. Still, she knew to be the good, ignorant friend and pretend like she knew nothing.

"Alicia and I are getting married. June 30th."

The date was just around the corner and Diane couldn't hide her surprise at that while she beamed at them. "Well, we were all waiting for it! But why so soon?"

Diane watched as the couple looked between each other.

"Actually, that's the rest of the news…" Alicia explained as she reached for the ultrasound picture again and bashfully pushed it toward Diane.

The couple waited for some glimpse of a reaction, but it took several moments for Diane to process this. They were crazy. They had lost their minds. They were amazing lawyers and were already stretched so thin with four children. Diane thought they were absolutely bonkers, even if it was probably an accident.

By no means did Alicia and Will need Diane's approval, but her support would be nice. The kids were still getting used to the idea (except for maybe Rue, but they'd work on that) and to be completely honest a supportive friend would do them some good. They needed someone to tell them they weren't crazy. Or maybe they were. But they were doing the right thing.

Finally Diane shook her head and laughed a little. "God help us if you bring another Danni into this world."

The three adults laughed away the slightly awkward build they had created as Diane offered them an olive branch. She couldn't say she was supportive, but she did want them to be happy. Honestly, she just hoped they realized what they were getting into.

The Good Wife

Alicia felt terrible for how much she was running Danni for things, but she needed an extra pair of hands and that was Danni. Wedding plans, work, summer schedule adjustment, occasional nausea and vomiting, and then you throw on top of all that the fact Derek Bond was officially out of the firm and just in time for them to pick up a Bishop case.

It had been three weeks since her doctor's appointment and apparently her body was just waiting for the right moment to put on an extra five pounds. The people who knew could tell she was just beginning to show, but the rest of the world was oblivious. Her hands roamed over the firm skin as she leaned back in her chair. If this went anything like her last pregnancies, she would be wearing flats and buying new suits in the next couple of weeks.

Not to mention, her sex drive was a little out of control. Not that Will minded. Still, their lunches more often turned to sex than eating, but he was always sure to feed her. Their wedding was in two weeks and that was… terrifying. Owen was back in Chicago and had "accidentally" let it slip to Veronica that Alicia was getting married. So their small wedding was growing. Danni had already taken Grace and Rue dress shopping and was being extremely helpful with everything possible.

Things were haphazardly falling into place and all Alicia could do was hope things turned out for the best.

Her hand ran over the bump and she smiled to herself. She had been smiling a lot lately. In fact, she couldn't think of a time in her life when she smiled more.

"Mommy!"

Alicia's attention turned toward the doorway to her office just in time to open her arms up and catch Rue. She glanced up, expecting to see Will right behind her but he was not there.

"Daddy need you," Rue explained, already wiggling back out of Alicia's lap and tugging on her hand.

"He does? And he sent you all the way down the steps by yourself?" Alicia asked, clearly not happy about that fact. She was two. Granted the entire firm was really good about keeping an eye on her, Rue needed to have an adult with her when she roamed around the firm. Even on the trip between her and Will's office.

The little shoulders shrugged. "Mercy," she explained.

Mercy? That was a new one to add to Rue's dictionary. Alicia was fairly sure her toddler was not asking for mercy for her father when Alicia got ahold of him for allowing her to run across the buzzing law firm unaccompanied.

Alicia pulled the girl up onto her hip as she climbed the staircase, but stopped at the top of the steps. "Oh… no…" she groaned as she let Rue back onto the ground and took her daughter's hand.

"See? Mercy," Rue explained as she hung onto her mother's hand as they headed into Will's office.

"I can assure you it was never our idea to exclude you," Will tried desperately to explain. His eyes caught Alicia's as she pushed through the door of his office and ended up face to face with Veronica Loy, her mother.

"What are you doing here?" Alicia hissed as Rue wrapped her arms around one of Alicia's legs and looked up nervously to the other woman. If Mommy didn't like the visitor, Rue knew to stick really close to her or Daddy. "You can't just walk into Will's office-"

"No? I should just meet your future husband on your wedding day?" Veronica snapped back as she moved closer to her daughter making Rue whimper. The baby had gotten more used to being around strangers, but she was very aware of the conflict going on in the room. Veronica's eyes dropped to the toddler clinging tightly to Alicia's leg which immediately made Rue burst into tears.

"Mom, please," Alicia sighed, purposely changing her tone to something gentler as Alicia one again lifted Rue into her arms. Her hands rubbed Rue's back gently, trying to soothe her. Her sobs slowed to hiccups and whimpers.

"And who is she?" Veronica asked incredulously frightening Rue once again. Little hands grabbed fiercely onto Alicia's silk blouse that was probably already stained with tears and snot.

"Rue, Will and my daughter."

There was definitely more to the story than that, but sometimes shocking Veronica into silence is the only way to get a few moments to speak. Will, however, could see the line of red growing from Alicia's chest and up her neck, showing just how frustrated she was becoming.

"I know I haven't been around in… awhile, but-" Veronica wasn't fully buying it, but it was obvious that little girl was very attached to Alicia and looked a lot like a small version of Danni.

"She's my niece and my sister left her to us when she died," Will explained carefully. "But yes, she is our daughter."

Veronica seemed surprised, but she shrugged it off. "I think we all should have dinner. Tonight. I'll be over around six and I have presents!"

As quickly as Veronica had appeared, she turned to disappear. Will let out a breath as he walked over to Alicia and Rue. His hand rubbed Rue's back too as he lowered his head to find her eyes. "Good job finding Mommy," he told her.

"I said mercy," Rue confirmed reaching out to go to her father instead.

"Emergency," Will corrected for her making Alicia crack a small smile.

"Mercy fits well in this situation as well," she sighed. Then she shook her head. "I'm going to kill Owen."

Will blinked at her. "Why?"

Alicia shot him a look. "How do you think she got this address and our home address?"

Will nodded slowly. As much as he wanted to prove he didn't mind Veronica, it was just a shock for her to suddenly walk in and start interviewing him, he had a feeling that living with Alicia while Veronica was around was going to be his own reason to hate Owen.

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