A/N; Thank you so much for the reviews of the last chapter. It's nice to know people are still reading this.
The weeks following Mother's Day went by in a whirlwind. The weather grew increasingly warmer. Both Will and Alicia's work schedules got hectic. As did the kids schedules with end of school year projects.
By the end of the second week in June the kids had finished out the school year, and the case Will and Alicia had been working on together was finally ready to go to trial after two months of endless preparation.
Late Friday afternoon Will sauntered into Alicia's office tightening the tie around his neck, then pulling his black jacket back on.
Looking up at him from under her dark lashes, she smiled broadly, meeting him half the distance to the door. His hands immediately went to her hips pulling her in for a quick kiss.
"Are you ready? You look stunning!" he said, stepping back to take the full length of her in.
She chuckled, blushing a bit at his gaze. "Yes, I'm ready. Thank you for the compliment for the third time today."
It wasn't even debatable who was more excited about their partners meeting in a few minutes where they'd reinstate Alicia as a name partner. Approval from the disciplinary board of her passing the bar exam, and the dropping of all restrictions for her to practice the law, had come a week prior. Ever since they'd received word, Will had tried to keep his enthusiasm under control, but both Alicia and Diane had gotten a few good laughs out of the enthusiastic energy he'd seemed to have. Even showing interest in the firm finances, which he normally avoided discussing like the plague. That and he'd had a permanent grin plastered across his face for a week.
He drew her close again, running his hand along the soft fabric of her dark red dress. "You're welcome! It won't be the last time I compliment you today either." His eyes wandered over her one last time before he took her hand and led her to the conference room.
A few hours later Will, Alicia, Kurt and Diane went out to celebrate at a high end restaurant with a incredible view of the city.
After their meal they sat together in the restaurant lounge enjoying a few drinks when Will's attention was caught by someone from across the room.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," he sighed heavily, taking a sip of his drink.
"What?" Alicia asked.
Everyone's attention focused on his line of sight across the room.
"Our favorite lawyer is here," he remarked, looking at the middle aged man making his way towards them.
"Did he really not show up for any of the depositions?" Diane asked.
Will set his drink down. "He really didn't. He sent associates to do all the dirty work. But he's listed as the lead attorney on the case, and will no doubt be the one arguing in court on Monday."
Alicia was only paying partial attention to the conversation. The man in question was Mark Thompson. The man who'd voiced his doubts over her ability to practice the law. The one whose son Zach had punched at school a few months back. A real piece of work from what Alicia had gathered in the past few months trying to work this case against his firm.
Her eyes remained fixed on him as he purposefully came over to them, and sat next to Alicia in an empty chair. The way he looked at her made her skin crawl.
Will's defenses shot through the roof. Glaring at him with a, get your eyes off my wife before I punch you, look in his eye.
"Fancy meeting all of you here," Thompson said, sipping his own drink.
Diane, sensing the tension, took over the conversation. "It is. This is a good restaurant. The food's good, the drinks are excellent."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is." His attention was quickly turned to Will. "I have one last deal to present to you. I was going to have my assistant send it over to you tomorrow. But since you're here..."
Will shifted a bit. "We're off the clock tonight. Send it over tomorrow, and we'll look at it."
Playing dumb, Thompson chuckled. "Oh that's right. You're both working on this case." His eyes briefly met Alicia's.
"We are. And like I said, we'll look at before Monday." Will said. His dislike for this man was genuine. He'd had just enough alcohol in the past hour that if the two of them had been in a room alone together Will would have given serious thought to punching the guy in the face. The rumors he'd spread about Alicia throughout the legal community in the past few months had made their way to far too many people.
"Whatever you want. But I think you'll regret not looking at it tonight."
"I think we're done talking. Send it to us tomorrow. Now, if you'll excuse us, my friend and I promised our wives a dance." He stood pulling Alicia up with him. Kurt and Diane followed suit moving towards the dance floor.
Alicia felt the tension in Will's shoulders as she placed her hands on him. He pulled her closer so he could whisper in her ear. "I don't like the way he was looking at you."
Alicia nodded resting her chin on his shoulder. "I know. I don't either. But we know how he is, and what he thinks. We just have to ignore it."
"I know." Turning his head pulling her closer as they moved around the dance floor, he whispered in her ear. "Have I told you today how beautiful you are?"
Laughing under her breath, she turned to him. "Only a few times. Why don't you tell me again?"
He smiled against the bare skin of her neck, breathing in the faint scent of her perfume, turning to whisper in her ear.
Sometime later, they were all sitting together again, slightly drunk, laughing at something Will had said.
"I think I've had too much to drink tonight," Alicia admitted, setting her glass down on a the table next to her.
Diane sighed. "You're not the only one. It's a good thing tomorrow is Saturday." They all heartily agreed. "We're heading home in a few minutes. We'll take a cab. Do you two want to ride down the in the elevator with us?"
Will took Alicia's hand. "No. I promised Alicia one last dance before we left."
Once they exited the building, Alicia assumed they'd take a cab home, just as Kurt and Diane had done. It wasn't smart for either of them to be driving after the amount of alcohol they'd consumed over the course of the evening. But Will didn't stop at the curb. He continued walking with her down the street. "Aren't we taking a cab?" she asked.
He smiled. " 're staying there tonight." He pointed to a hotel across the street. "And before you ask, the kids are fine. They're spending the night at Mom's. She couldn't be more thrilled to have them overnight in her new apartment. Her moving so close definitely has some advantages. And I packed a bag for you. I had it the trunk. It's already in our room."
Alicia couldn't help but laugh as they crossed the street. "It's a little scary. Sometimes you know what I'm thinking even before I do."
Will chuckled wrapping his arm across her shoulder. "No. It's purely a survival tactic. I learned a long time ago that if I was going to surprise you like this, I better be prepared."
"I take it you weren't once?"
"Only once, and it wasn't that bad. After we won our first case together I thought doing something like this would be fun, a way to celebrate. I made arrangements for Zach overnight, but I hadn't thought to pack either of us anything."
He stopped across the street, and turned to face her. "I mean it was one night, and I wasn't planning on us necessarily needing any extra clothes." He raised his brow to her, running his hand down her side.
Alicia chuckled. "Mmhm, typical male thought."
He laughed. "I hadn't thought about the fact that you hate going to sleep without brushing your teeth and washing your makeup off. It turned out fine, and we still had a good time together. But ever since then I've tried to be more prepared." Pulling her close to him, he leant down to whisper. "And when I pack a bag for you now, I can always add something extra to it if I want."
Catching his drift, she took his hand and they continued walking. "Did you pack anything extra this time?"
"Yes. Something I wouldn't mind you modeling for me if you don't mind."
Between the alcohol and dancing, with their bodies pressed together in the past few hours, they were both anxious to get to the room.
As soon the door to the elevator closed, her lips crashed into his, her hands at his tie, his hands firmly on her hips.
Once inside their suite, Will had her pinned against the wall, his lips pressed firmly to hers, before she even had time to walk five feet into the room. She responded to him with eagerness, her hands sliding his suit coat off, and then making their way to his belt.
His hands moved to the zipper of her dress. Breaking the kiss briefly, he slipped the dress off her shoulders. "I've been waiting all day to get you out of this," he breathed against her neck, trailing a line of kisses from her ear to her chest.
She moaned at the sheer pleasure of his lips touching her bare skin. She was already hot and wet at her core. "Did you want me to change into whatever it is you packed first?" she said, his lips still assaulting her, his hands slowly sliding her panties down.
"Not this round." His pants slipped to the floor. Lifting her off the floor she wrapped her legs around him, as he carried her to the bed. "I don't think either of us can wait that long."
Not long after, she stood in the bathroom pulling a red silk chemise from her bag. It wasn't the item from her drawer full of intimates that she thought he would have brought along. She would have assumed something with more lace, easier for him to see through, something with less fabric than this.
"Leesh, you want some champagne?" he called, from behind the closed door.
"No, I don't think I can handle another drop of alcohol tonight, or I'll have a blazing headache in the morning." Straightening the silk fabric, she turned in the reflection of the mirror before stepping back out into the room.
Admiring her from across the room in his boxers, he set his glass of champagne down. He'd dimmed the lights, pulled the soft bed coverings down, and turned on the gas fireplace. Admittedly the room was a tad warm, but he knew how easily she got chilled.
He made his way to her, his eyes never leaving her. When he reached her his hands ran smoothly over the soft fabric down her sides. "You look amazing!"
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed a firm, hot kiss to his lips. This time they made love to each other slowly and passionately, taking in every breath, and touch, rolling together beneath the sheets, body temperatures rising. At one point, with tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead from the exertion and raised temperature of the room from the fireplace, she grasped onto the bedding, breathless, as his fingers played with her core for the second time. Her fingers ran through his dark hair as his lips kissed her breasts.
Her eyes closed taking it all in, moaning at the pleasure he was providing her, he pulled his fingers from her, allowing his lips to meet hers once again. She gasped in pleasure as he entered her. Moments later, she begged him to move faster, but he slid out of her.
"Will!" she whined, opening her eyes. He grasped her hand, bringing her to a sitting position. Their bodies joined again as he sat on the edge of the bed. She lowered herself onto him, wrapping her legs around him. His hands held her hips. Her arms wrapped around his neck. They moved in sync, their bodies pressed firmly together, faster and faster, until they simultaneously rode out the wave of pleasure.
/
They woke late the following morning, the after effects of their evening still wearing off. Alicia sat up in bed against the pillows. Will leaned against her, resting his head near her shoulder.
One arm around him, she ran her fingers softly through his hair. "When do we need to pick the kids up?"
"Mom said she'd bring them home tonight," he said, yawning, still trying to wake up. "I thought we could do some wedding planning today since we haven't had time before now. And against my better judgment we should take a look at Thompson's offer."
"We aren't going to accept any offer are we?"
"We have to let our clients see it. But unless the offer includes an amount that's as high as we think we can get from a jury, then no."
He shifted some to wrap an arm around her middle. "For now, I'm going to rest here and listen to your heart beat." He closed his eyes settling more comfortably into her embrace.
/
Monday morning they walked into the court house together. Alicia's stomach was in knots. Her first time back in court in front of a real judge, and peers who weren't employees, was making her overly anxious.
She'd tried hard to push away all thoughts of what Thompson had said about her. But now that she was actually here to try a real case, she began doubting her abilities. The last thing she wanted to do was prove Thompson and his colleagues' right.
Will sensed her nervousness, and had been doing his best to calm her all morning. But he couldn't help the feeling of excitement that filled him. He'd been waiting a long time to argue a case in court with her again. Before her accident they'd been nearly unstoppable together. Everyone in Chicago's legal community knew it.
Will would never admit it, but there were a few times in the early months after her accident where other firms had taken advantage of the fact that the stellar duo had been broken apart. Will had managed fine, but even he would admit he was a better lawyer with his wife at his side. He and Alicia used to joke with each other that one good legal mind was him, another was her, but the best legal mind was by far the two of them together.
Thompson sat in court with his co-council, a smug smirk on his lips, across the isle from them. Will handled the questioning during the morning. When they came back from lunch, and Alicia had been delayed at the office a few minutes, Thompson rolled his chair closer to Will.
"Pressure too much for Alicia?"
Will sighed, closing the file in front of him. "It's Mrs. Gardner. And no, the pressure is fine," he said, glancing towards the door the judge would hopefully come through any second.
"Are you going to let her do any of the questioning? If it were me, I'd be worried she wasn't up to it. I mean she doesn't remember the past twenty years of practicing the law. I wouldn't want to let a case this big, that I'm certain to win by the way, rest in her hands."
He was trying to get under Will's skin, and it was almost working. "I don't tell her what to do. And I have every confidence in her abilities. My wife is going to destroy your case."
Thompson chuckled, nodding. "We'll see about that. I have a reputation for taking down first time lawyers in court."
Will wanted to punch him, but restrained himself as Thompson moved back to his table. Just seconds later he heard the familiar click of Alicia's heels coming towards him.
Court adjourned a few hours later. Flustered and fuming, Alicia fled the courtroom as soon as she could. Will followed right after. She refused to say anything until they were behind the closed doors of her office.
He wanted to hold her, make her feel better, but she moved from out of his grasp. Folding her arms across her chest she looked at him from across the room. A thin line spread over her lips. "I can't do this. He destroyed me. I looked like a complete idiot." The more time that passed the angrier she became.
"No, you didn't," he reassured her.
"If I would have done a better job, he wouldn't have been able to object so often." Her hands went to her hips. "All the objections threw me off track. I wouldn't be surprised if Marcy calls you up this afternoon and tells you pull me off the case."
"Leesh, calm down. You're being too hard on yourself. I thought you handled it fine. Throwing you off your game is exactly what he wanted."
"Well he succeeded!" she interrupted.
He moved closer to her. "Listen to me. It's okay. Marcy is not going to ask me to pull you off the case. Thompson was being a jerk. Most of the objections were unnecessary and the judge knew it. That's why he finally put a stop to it."
Moving to her again she didn't step away, so he reached to pull her closer. "It was your first day in court. It takes time to get into a rhythm. No one expected you to be perfect today. The fact that you're standing in court a competent lawyer fifteen months after that accident is nothing short of amazing. Everyone in that courtroom knew it, even Thompson."
She sighed, looking down at the floor, the tension in her body settling some. He gently reached a finger to her chin so she'd look at him again. "I'll tell you the same thing I did a few months ago when we did that mock trial. If you don't want to do any more of the questioning you don't have to. I'm happy just having you next to me in court again. But I believe in your abilities. If you decide you want to continue questioning witnesses, I'll support you."
She nodded, and stepped back to her desk. "I have some things I need to get done before we go home. Tonight we'll go over the remaining witnesses, and I want you to grill me, hard, just like you would with opposing counsel. I don't want you to hold back."
He nodded, placing his hands in his pockets. "Okay," They held eye contact for a few moments before he spoke up again. "I love you."
A little smile crossed her lips for the first time all afternoon. "I know. I love you too."
In the following few days Will handled all the questioning, but that was part of their plan, to make Thompson think he'd beaten Alicia down. Make him think he'd been right about her all along.
Will had come in fast and hard in defense of their clients, but by the end of the week it was still debatable as to which side the jury would choose. The following Monday the last few witnesses were being called to the stand. To the complete astonishment and utter surprise of Thompson and his team, Alicia went in for the kill.
Will sat back and watched the show play out before the courtroom, having to suppress a laugh a few times when Alicia had shut Thompson completely down with her own objections.
When it was her turn to question the witnesses Thompson tried to trip her up again, but this time it didn't work. She didn't miss a beat, tearing Thompson's witnesses to shreds, and showing an unmanning amount of sympathy for their own clients. Proving to the jury that what this company had done to her clients was unlawful, and immoral.
The whole thing had been quite the spectacle, and Will had drunk every second of it in. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed watching her in court until she was standing next to him doing it again. There would be no more questioning from the legal community about her abilities after this.
By the end of the day Thompson was red in the face with anger. He knew he'd lost before the jury would ever be sent out to decide on a verdict.
The courtroom emptied out quickly. Will and Alicia were gathering their things. "I think you should handle closing arguments tomorrow," Will said.
"Are you sure?" she responded.
"Yes. The jury likes you. They responded to you better than they did me."
Facing her he wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her in for a kiss. "You were amazing!" he said, smiling down at her.
"Thank you," she said, running her hand down his tie. "Let's go home. I'm exhausted."
He took her hand and they started for the exit. "I'll run you a warm bath when we get home. You certainly earned it today."
She paused and turned to look at him. "I think I'll just take a warm shower. But I wouldn't mind a massage after."
He nodded, and then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I think I can handle that."
