Author's note: Looks like my writer's block has lifted slightly, so here's another chapter. Once again, I will try and update a bit more regularly but I can't make any promises. Thanks again for all the lovely comments on the previous chapter!
"To us", Diane said cheerfully as the three champagne flutes clinked together in a celebratory toast. "To us", Alicia and Cary repeated in unison.
They were the only three people left in the office, everyone else had long since gone home or was finally getting some well-deserved drinks down them to celebrate the end of the working week. Once the others had left, Cary suggested they'd drink to their new partnership. When the two women agreed he had produced a bottle of non-alcoholic cider so Alicia could join in as well.
"I've got to ask though," Cary started as they each sipped their drink, "I still don't fully understand why you were so keen to join our firm. Not that I'm not pleased, but every other law firm in Chicago would have bent over backwards to have you."
Diane waited a moment before answering. "It's like I said at the meeting earlier. You have a fighting spirit that a lot of the other, established firms are lacking. It's the reason why I wanted to become a lawyer in the first place, to fight the good fight. And I'm afraid that over the years I've become too comfortable in my position. I wanted to shake things up for myself, and your firm seemed like the perfect place to do that. So, I'm glad that you agreed to have me."
"And we're so happy to have you here, Diane", Alicia added. She raised her glass again. "To Cavanaugh, Agos & Lockhart."
"I'll drink to that," Cary chimed in.
"Hear, hear", Diane added.
When Alicia drove herself home that evening she felt exhausted and exhilarated all at once. Everything had gone so much better than she had dared to dream.
Earlier that evening
Around five o'clock she had received a text from Diane saying 'On our way. Be there in 20', which meant that the walkout had been successful. By that time their employees had started gathering in their main conference area – you couldn't very well call it a conference room since it still lacked walls – and they were getting restless. There was a tension in the air, and everybody could feel that something was about to happen, but nobody knew what it was exactly.
She saw every single jaw literally drop when those elevator doors finally opened and Diane came strolling out, with a number of other familiar faces following in her wake. Alicia was surprised and slightly shocked to see Kalinda among them.
Cary ended up doing most of the talking at first, explaining to everyone what was happening and that the firm would be expanding quite significantly. A few murmurs of dissent could be heard here and there, but the reaction to the news was mostly positive.
Diane then took a moment to say a few things, mostly to reiterate and reassure everyone that this wasn't a takeover and that they needn't worry about this firm becoming anything like Lockhart/Gardner had been before they left. This seemed to go over reasonably well and people's minds appeared to have been put at ease. Diane always was a very convincing speaker who had no trouble persuading a crowd with just a few, simple words, Alicia thought to herself.
And then it was Alicia's turn to speak. The next few items on the agenda were more personal, so she knew it would be best if her employees heard it from her directly.
"Right, as you have all probably heard by now," she started hesitantly, "my divorce was finalised last week. And I have decided that I will no longer use the Florrick name either personally or professionally. Which means that, in addition to adding Diane's name to the letterhead, our firm will have another name change."
She nodded to Cary, who by now was standing a little off to the side holding what seemed to look like a plaque covered with a blanket. He removed the blanket to reveal the new letterhead that would be adorning the reception area from now on. "From next Monday, you will be employees at Cavanaugh, Agos & Lockhart," he announced cheerfully.
Alicia took a couple of deep breaths while everyone applauded and admired the new letterhead. She had to announce it now and do it quickly, like ripping a band aid off. That way it would be out in the open and she could finally get on with her life. She was sick of the secrecy.
"Okay, before I let you all go to finally enjoy your well-deserved weekend, I have one last announcement to make. And this one's of a more personal nature."
She took a moment and looked around the room, which she decided immediately was a bad idea. The room had suddenly gone very quiet and everyone was looking at her expectantly, which did nothing to calm her nerves.
Say it. Just do it. Just get it over with, her inner voice practically screamed at her. "I'm pregnant," she finally managed to blurt out. "And now I don't want any of you to worry, this will not impact the future of this firm or your jobs in any way. I will continue working for as long as I can, and when the moment comes for me to take a step back you will be left in the very capable hands of Cary and Diane," she assured them.
"Come on people, let's give her a big hand now," Cary said to the room and initiated an applause, to which the others soon joined in. Alicia was grateful for Cary's interjection at this point, which meant that she didn't have to do any more talking. By the end of her announcement she had started rambling and she was glad that Cary had cut her off before it became too awkward.
Congratulations and well-wishes were exchanged, and people soon started filing out of the office to finally start their weekend celebrations. It was then that Alicia breathed a sigh of relief. They had done it; they had actually managed to pull it off. And most importantly: no more secrets.
Monday
Alicia had barely stepped off the elevator before her assistant came rushing towards her.
"Morning Alicia, there's an A.S.A. waiting for you in your office," she said before Alicia even had time to open her mouth.
She looked at her watch. It was only a quarter past eight. "Okay," she finally said. "Did they give a name?"
The assistant shook her head. "No, he said you knew each other and that you'd be ok with him coming in without an appointment. Since your first meeting isn't for another hour, I figured that it would be ok."
"Yeah, no that's fine. I'll just go and see him now. Thanks."
Alicia headed for her office, curious to find out who she was going to find there. As she got closer to her office, she spotted the back of the occupant's head, but it didn't immediately register who she was looking at. Suddenly, something clicked. "Finn?" she asked as she walked in.
The person turned at the sound of her voice. Alicia's suspicion had been correct, it was indeed Finn.
"Alicia, hi. I eh, I hope you don't mind me barging in like this without calling ahead."
She shook her head and walked over to her desk. "No, not at all. How have you been?"
"Wow," Finn exclaimed as Alicia put her large handbag down on her desk.
"What?" Alicia asked, but then followed his gaze down to her midsection. "Oh, that." She laughed.
"Congratulations, I had no idea," Finn said.
"Thanks. I hadn't told many people yet, but now it just kind of speaks for itself." She smoothed down her dress over her belly.
"Anyway, what can I do for you?" she asked, taking a seat behind her desk and gesturing for him to take a seat as well.
"A few weeks back when you came to see me you warned me about Castro. I waved it off because I couldn't believe that he would try and put the blame for the mistakes that were made in the Jeffrey Grant trial on me. But last week he called me into his office to discuss the trial and, I don't know, it was odd. He seemed distant and he was questioning my methods in a way that didn't sit right with me."
"So, then what happened?" Alicia asked.
Finn pulled an all too familiar looking yellow-ish envelope out of his jacket pocket. "I got subpoenaed to appear at a preliminary hearing tomorrow."
Alicia sighed. "Unbelievable. I just knew he'd pull a stunt like this."
"So, I was hoping you could represent me tomorrow," Finn said.
Alicia nodded. "Of course, you definitely need a lawyer for this and I'm more than happy to do it. What time is the hearing tomorrow?"
"It's at nine," he answered.
"Damnit. I've literally got back-to-back meetings today. I had hoped to have at least a little bit of time to prepare tomorrow morning or something."
"If you're too busy I completely understand. I could always try and ask someone else," said Finn. "It's all very last minute so I don't expect you to drop everything just to help me."
She waved off his concerns immediately. "No, no don't worry about it. I'll figure something out."
Alicia took a moment to go over her options. "Come by my apartment tonight. My kids are staying with their dad, so I have the place to myself. Bring over the files you have, and we'll go over them and try and devise some kind of strategy for tomorrow."
Finn looked surprised. "Are you sure? I don't want you to give up what little free time you have for me."
"Honestly Finn, it's fine. And if you bring me a Pad Thai, I'll be even more cooperative," she smirked at him.
That last remark made him laugh. "Ok, duly noted. What time do you want me to come by?"
"Is seven ok for you?"
"Perfect. I'll see you then." He got up to head out but turned back to Alicia one last time. "Thanks, I really appreciate it."
"Hey, that's what friends are for. See you tonight."
Thanks again for reading. Please let me know what you think!
