The elevator to the thirtieth floor woke Diane out of her sleepy haze. Surviving off four hours of sleep and a cup of caffeine should have been her days a decade ago, though, she found herself living it once more for today.

She rubbed her temples as she made her way toward her office, she stubbed her toe against one of the boxes that sat outside her door. Half her office was packed into cardboard and she almost almost forgot about her farewell party later that evening.

She counted the seconds for Will to rush in for his daily update, one, two, three, four, five..

"How was it?" the length between his office and hers was short enough for her to know that he had probably been waiting outside the edge of it all morning.

She turned around in time for him to catch her face, she sighed, and slumped onto her chair.

"You look like you're in the arcades of a hangover. What happened? Alicia didn't introduce you to the liquor cabinet did she?"

"Very funny.. I didn't land in Chicago till one a clock this morning. The weather in DC went from Hawaii to the North Pole in the course of a few hours and our flight was delayed once again"

"It's a rough life isn't it?"

"Shut up."

"How was the meeting?" he tucked his hands in his pockets and walked toward the window, pretending to take in the view of Chicago's skyline.

"It was…. Interesting.."

"What does that mean?" he was failing at hiding his concern for the issue, she could see the significance of the subject reflecting in his troubled eyes, but he tried to push it off by playing his usual facade.

"Well, for starters, did you know that Alicia's father is rich?"

"Was rich, he passed away twenty years ago. Why? Did something happen?"

"Peter's attorney brought her inheritance to attention.. I had no idea.."

"Peter's gonna try and go after the money. That son of a bitch.. I knew it."

"No Will, calm down, jesus, anyone would think that you're close with the Florrick's." his strong silence raised questions, 'close' probably wasn't an authentic choice of phrase, but 'affair' wasn't either, she thought.

"Anyway.. Peter's not after money. He just wants to make sure that she sticks to the agreements within the will."

"Which are?"

"Once Grace reaches the age of twenty four, Alicia is entitled to touch the entire inheritance with the promise that both kids get their share. In case Alicia gets married anytime in the future, Peter wants her to agree toward a prenup, a contract agreement within the settlements of their divorce, so that his children aren't liquidated of their own money. Which bearing in mind, I wouldn't mind if she agreed to it, as her lawyer, it is important that she sees the consequences of marrying somebody who could potential bankrupt her.."

"We're talking as if she's already decided upon marriage."

"Peter seems pretty determined that she and Brad are determined to have a family."

"Peter doesn't know shit"

She stood up and rushed to close the door, she sighed slowly rubbed her temples once more. "What is this about Will? You can't just say things like that, not in this environment. What is it about this case that interests you so much?"

"Because this isn't just any divorce case. Our firm is already under enough scrutiny as it is."

"You know what. From now on, if you need consult, go to Richard. I can't talk to you about this."

"Why not?"

"It's unprofessional"

"I'm a partner!"

"You're Will" she folded her arms. "To her, you're just Will. It's wrong. It's like me asking for details on Kurt's second marriage, that's if he were ever to remarry, bearing in mind that I wouldn't let him live to see the day.. I'm sorry," she shook her head. "To put it mildly. You can't know all the details. Not with your history"

"My history?"

"Will. I'm ending this discussion. Please don't put me in this position" she begged

He looked at her with disdain and then blinked it away, leaning against the wall, he swiped his hand against his face and folded his arms.

"Signing a prenup should be her decision" he said. "Not his. It's her money, she's been through a lot regarding her father in the last year. And if she agrees to Peter's request, then he'll assume he still has control. She's trying to get out of the white house, not back into it. Tell her to compromise."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Alicia's not an idiot. She's probably invested the money into an account that can't be accessed. Tell her to compromise."

"Okay. I'll let Richard know."

"Good."

He stood still in his same position and stared at his phone. "She asked about you. Alicia"

"How is she?"

"Fine…. I guess.. She was tired, exhausted. And she didn't look good. Health wise. But I think it's just the job."

"Yea. Probably"

"She asked about Mace too.. I was a bit surprised actually"

"Yea.. We are.. we sort of spent some time together before she left. She booked out the aquarium for the day and I took Macey, she brought Zahara. Grace and Carter tagged along as well. It was a good day. One of the best actually."

Diane smiled, happy for him, happy for the both of them. They had found a land of solid foundation in their puzzling relationship, Diane only hoped that this was a chance for Will to finally move on now that Alicia had her own happiness.

The sound of Cary's clutches charged against the floor, he made his way in her office, using one finger to turn the doorknob. "Hey" he smiled.

His leg was slowly recovering from the shooting three months ago. He was still in physical therapy and had only recently revisited the courtroom again. Will didn't like seeing him in this state, not when he was still in the stages of recovery, it made him feel guilty. Cary didn't deserve to be in so much pain, not when he had finally grown out of his immature ages.

"How was it?" he asked.

"Good. There was a little drama, but nothing significant."

"Alicia's comfortable with Richard?"

"I think so."

"Good" he nodded.

"Oh, and she asked me to give these to you" Diane handed him a box of chocolates and a small card. Cary laughed and slowly shook his head.

"I can't believe she got them for me. They're from Europe. The best in the world, apparently."

"How nice" Will mocked, he walked out of the office, and toward his own

"What's wrong?" Cary asked

Diane watched him with concern, he slammed his office door and sat down, running his hands through his hair. "Nothing. He's just in a bad mood, that's all."

"He's been in that mood for a few weeks now"

"Maybe you should talk to him. Man to man." She joked

"Do you think it's about Samantha?"

"Possibly. She did leave him pretty abruptly."

Alicia woke early and packed Zahara's belongings. She was glad Diane had come, she needed her company, a sense of home, she needed home, and she needed to know what her kids were doing and how Will was. She had a loyalty to him that would never cease her attention, not even with his mixed signals and lack of communication.

"I didn't know you were still here" Peter's voice was soft and forgiving, in comparison to the day before where one would have assumed that they hated one each other.

"I decided to stay. I thought Zahara would like to see you when she wakes up, and quite frankly, I need a break from hotels."

"I'm surprised you and Brad haven't brought a place in DC yet"

"Well, I've been looking into apartments, but I don't know if buying is ideal, rent is expensive, and I don't want anything tying me to DC in the next twelve months"

"I was joking Alicia" he interrupted. "I didn't think you were actually thinking about it. You know that you're welcome to live here"

"Under the same roof as your girlfriend and with Brad? No thank you: I'd rather camp out at my hotel"

"The thought of you living in a hotel for the next year literally sickens me, Alicia. Find you and Zahara a place now or else I will do it for you."

"Peter, please just stop. Your pursuit for more power doesn't influence me at all, in fact, it makes my intense migraine grow even more painful" she sat down on the edge of the bed pressed her hand against the ache in her skull. She sighed, she didn't want to snap at him, he didn't deserve it.

"You okay?"

"No! NO! I'm not! I'm tired and angry and impatient and for some reason I'm mad at you, yesterday wasn't supposed to happen. Our fight, it was unnecessary and damaged and to top it off, my lawyer thinks that I'm a spoilt bitch and Diane thinks I've gone mad. Zahara is in love with Brad, and I think I actually hate him for trying to repair my reputation; this whole façade is doing more damage to me than I ever thought impossible. I can't play fake anymore."

"Alicia you don't have to pretend anymore"

"Pretend for what?"

"I'm okay with you and Brad. At first it was odd, knowing that it was a disguise for the divorce, but I've come to accept that he makes you happy. It's okay, you're free now, be with Brad, marry him, travel with him. I don't want you to act as though it's all pretence to get through this divorce."

She loved him, Peter, despite their issues, but she couldn't help but grow angry at his need to think that everything was about him. "Peter it's not real" she stood up. "I'm not with Brad. Not in any mode or possibility. I don't love him.. I.. Are we.. are we that convincing?"

"Your interview yesterday…" he stuttered. "and your photos online.. I thought.."

"No.." she grabbed her bag. "No. This is what you and Eli suggested. Don't act as if my relationship with him was my own idea."

"But I thought.."

"I have to go. Zahara should wake up soon. Her breakfast is in the fridge. The sitter will be here in an hour or so. Don't wait up."

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Okay. Bye."

Steve drove her to the closest beach, they arrived a little less than a couple of hours and were greeted with Brad and his photographer. They needed a few more photos to prove to the world that they were who they were. The last ones of them holding hands with children in Cambodia had given the campaign a fair amount of attention, and boosted her reputation as the Presidents ex scandalous wife with a positive light.

She slipped out of the SVU and stood on warm sand. Her gaze set on Brad, he wore a pair of sandals with beach shorts and a half buttoned dress shirt, exposing his nice chiselled chest. "Hello" he smiled,

"HI" she smoothed out her dress.

"You're gonna have to put something on a bit more comfortable for the beach. We don't want to look as though we just came from a conference." He teased

She rolled her eyes and took the bag of swim gear that he handed her. "I'll get dressed in the car."

She came out wearing a white bikini with small grey shorts and a light cardigan. She threw on a sun hat and slipped into a pair of flats. "Okay. Alicia, I want you and Brad to walk along the beach with big happy smiles. Hold hands and cuddle, like a real couple would." Their photographer said. "I'm sure it will be a piece of cake for the both of you. Now go on. Quickly. This is private property so there aren't much people around but I need the sun to stay in place. You both need nice lighting."

They rushed toward the shore until she could no longer hear the shutter of his camera. She took Brads hand once they slowed down, and rested her head against his shoulder. Breathing in the air, she allowed her lungs to drink in the fresh aroma on the edge of the mainland.

"This has to be my favorite photoshoot so far. I haven't been this alone in… well.. in three years" she looked back and relished in the sight of her security being so far away.

"It's good isn't it?" he commented.

"Let's just keep walking" she said. "Let's just go, and leave them."

"Steve would murder me"

She remained quiet and shook her head. Obviously he wouldn't understand her nostalgia, her spent bereavement over the longing for her own freedom. She grasped onto his hand anyway, hoping he could understand through her skin.

"We should turn back, so he can get photos of us from the front." Brad encouraged

She followed his instructions and allowed herself to indulge in the cold sensation of the sea against her feet.

"Do you feel good?"

"Yea. It's nice. I feel replenished."

"You could have this everyday Alicia" he looked down at her. "Every day for the rest of your life. If you just allowed yourself a chance to be happy."

"With you?"

"Yes. With me."

She let go of his hand and continued walking beside his warm body heat. "Brad. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I could love you in the way that you want. You've been everything to me in the last few months, but I can't look at you in the eye and tell you that I think we could be together forever. It wouldn't be true and it wouldn't be fair. I need normal, I need stability. I've been living in a bubble for the last four years. I want my life back. Do you understand me?"

He nodded slowly, and smiled gently in her direction. He lifted his arm as an invitation and she slipped under his warm shoulder. They looked toward the photographer just in time to catch him nodding in their direction.

"I think that's his cue for us to return."

"Can we stay a little longer?" she asked

Brad made a signal toward their group whilst she found herself a spot on the sand. He sat next to her and together they watched the waters descend back and forth between the land and the ocean. She took her hat off, closed her eyes and smiled as the wind soared behind her ears and through her hair. Another gust of wind forced sand into her thick curls and she laughed.

She took Brad's hand for support and told him a story. "When I was twenty, before I met Peter. A few friends and I went for a holiday, Will's parents had a beach house and we stayed there for a couple of weeks. We hated each other, he and I, we never really got along in our first two years of law school, but my friend lily forced me onto this trip and then.. suddenly.. we just grew close."

"Why didn't you like him?"

"Immature" she guessed. "I was raised to be responsible and he.. he was reckless and forgetful. But that summer, everything changed for me. He taught me that I could have a life and a career. He taught me how to be happy."

"Did you ever thank him?"

"I kissed him. I think that was good enough."

She felt Brad chuckle and squeezed his hand. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

"I don't wanna hold you back Alicia"

"Is that what you think you're doing?"

"I've witnessed it. In your eyes. The last three months, you've been happy but just not enough. I've tried so hard to access your mind but I can't and I feel as though Will probably can. I can't compete with that. You wanna be somewhere else and I can see it."

"I'm sorry"

He touched her cheek and smiled gently. "Don't apologize. Don't ever apologize for being yourself. You have a beautiful soul Alicia, I just wish you believed it."

She smiled in response. He stood up and stretched a hand out to her. They parted from the beach and slowly made their way toward the crew. "I rented that house up there for the day" he pointed to the small two story villa up the bank.

"It's beautiful" she commented

"We're all gonna stay for some food and beverages. You're welcome to come if you want."

"I'd love to."

She watched him stop and dig into his pocket for his wallet. He pulled out a card and handed it to her. "This is the number to my private jet. I want you to take it for the week, my pilot is lovely and the plane is perfect for Zahara. I'm going to California for work and I want you to take some time off.."

"Brad I cant.."

"Yes. You can. You've been working nonstop for the last twelve weeks. Call him, and go somewhere. Hide out. I don't care where, or what you do. I'm just sick of seeing you so unhappy. You deserve better."

He pushed a strand of hair behind her hair and began to walk away. She tugged onto his arm and wrapped around his shoulders. "I can't thank you enough for being so understanding."

He moved back "You know how I feel about you."

"Yes.. I think so."

"And I cant.. I can't keep doing this if you don't feel the same way about me"

"What about Zahara? and the press?" she asked

"Will sort something out. Even if its just for a few more months, just until it all calms down. I want you to be happy again."

The sound of Macey's loud singing in the bath caused a smile to fall upon Will's lips. He drained the pasta and switched the element off. Pulling the fridge open, he grabbed a fresh bottle of bear whilst sprinkling some pepper on the chicken. Alicia had taught him how to cook a few years ago, back when they were together.

"Will, your girlfriend is making headlines once again" Sara remarked.

He wiped his hands with the towel and watched as she set her ipad on the counter. "She's not my girlfriend Sara"

"But you do have a major crush on her." She teased as she made her way upstairs.

He grabbed the device and scrolled through TMZ's recent freight. Alicia looked beautiful on the beach, with her hair down and her long legs and her lean stomach, free for the world to see. He hadn't seen her in a bikini in years, and she still managed to take his breath away. Vanilla was his preferred colour on her, it made her stand out, not in the way that red did, but in the way that made less men stare.

He closed his eyes when he saw the photo with her wrapped under Brad's arm. He thought it would get easier, the façade, and the game and the interviews and the pictures and the endless talk and countless stories of their fake love story. He shook his head in frustration once more and made his way for the patio. The unusual warm night allowed him to leave the doors open just in time to catch the stars linger in the distance.

He heard his phone buzz in the back of his mind and tried to ignore it, holding onto the thoughts in his head until the phone continued to explode, and he picked it off the table.

'Alicia's Private..'

The caller id had grown to be as familiar as the night itself in the last few months. He wasn't sure whether answering right now was for the best, then again, he hadn't answered any of her calls in the last ten days.

She slipped into age appropriate clothes this time, finding a pair of old jeans and one of her hooded jumpers, she made her way for the balcony and closed the doors, basking in the still tranquility of her surprisingly wonderful evening. She missed her daughter and she longed for those perfect small arms to wrap around her, she longed for bedtime story and night time kisses, but Peter had his day with her and so she housed in her first experience of being a separated parent.

She took a sip of wine and leaned against the rail. The sun had set, and she could see the lights of other houses twinkling in the distance. The waves were whispering as they came in, and she thought about Will. about the life they could have with this kind of view to admire each day.

She dialed his number and waited for his voicemail. She had a long speech prepared, an apology followed by a lecture followed by another apology.

"Hello" she almost jumped out of her flats when she heard his voice.

"Will?"

"Hey" his deep soft tone made her spine tremble.

"You answered"

"I've been avoiding you" he admitted.

"That much is obvious"

"Will you forgive me?"

She pulled the phone away from her mouth and chuckled to herself. She didn't think it would be this easy, getting him to own up to his irresponsibility's had never been a comfortable task.

"Can you do me a favour?" she asked

"I hope so"

"Tell Macey to choose a place on the atlas. Any place. And I will take you both there with me. I promised her a ride on a plane.."

"But.."

"Put her on the phone now. And while you're at it, get a map, place it on the floor, and tell her to choose whichever one she wants. I'm abducting you both and I don't care for your excuses. Now do it."