A/N: So here we are, this is it eeek! I'll possibly do an epilogue and go through the entire thing to do some polishing, but this is looking like the final proper chapter :( Thanks so much for reading/reviewing xx

Ok so if you haven't been listening to any of the songs, I REALLY want you guys to listen to this one! If you're Australian you're probably sick of it haha, but it's beautiful and basically what I've based the whole story on. Here's a corny but wonderful quote from Matt Corby who wrote it, and it kind of explains what Alicia realizes.

"I decided to finally ask the right questions, I think. I started to try and understand why I was here and what's the point of it all and was it all just a bunch of bullshit, to live and exist... I just realized that it should just be about people and it should just be about love because without them there's nothing."

Resolution - Matt Corby

YouTube - watch?v=Nj4q4rfDcNw

Spotify - track/6C2PcJaxG7OXRU86zZiQOz

Chapter 27: Resolution

Alicia is sitting up in bed, wide awake before her alarm has even sounded. She never sleeps in when she knows that something important is happening the next day. It's like her body can tell that she shouldn't be snoozing through it. Today, that particular occasion is her wedding. After all of the endless planning, she feels like something should be going wrong or that she's missed a crucial detail. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath - she hasn't, she hasn't forgotten anything.

She hears Ruby groan while shuffling in the bed behind her.

"Morning," the young woman yawns. "You alright, not freaking out over there?" She asks the bride-to-be in her croaky morning voice.

Alicia smiles. "Morning. No, I'm good. Are you okay?"

Ruby lets out an exasperated sigh, gazing at the bedroom ceiling and holding her belly. "Every day, I wake up feeling more and more like Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. After she's had that chewing gum."

"Well, you don't resemble a giant blueberry just yet," Alicia laughs.

"Well, I feel like one," Ruby grumbles. "I'll be fine once we get all spruced up, though. When are we going to get out hair and makeup done?"

"Not for a few hours."

"Good, because I'm going to need a crane in here to help me up!" Ruby jokes after a sigh. Alicia laughs and lays back down, welcoming the distraction from the thousand things that still need to happen for today.

Ruby is so happy that they're all able to cruise through the start of the day quite leisurely, thanks to the bride's extensive planning. Alicia doesn't seem anxious at all, Ruby feels like she's more nervous than the bride herself.

When they arrive at the venue, she marvels at how the place is decorated. She has to hand it to Alicia; this wedding is super beautiful and well-executed. Ruby can tell before it's even started. She peeks through to the hall that's not quite filled just yet and walks around to the back room. She tries to see if she can spot Will and the other lads, tease him and give him a pep talk at the same time. When she lays eyes on him, however, Will looks like an absolute nervous wreck. He's pacing around in his fancy suit, pulling at his bow-tie.

"Ruby," he gulps as she enters into the back room. "I'm freaking out just a little bit."

She tries not to giggle at him. "And why is that?"

"Because I don't want to screw this up!" Will cries incredulously whilst throwing his hands up, as though Ruby has asked him the stupidest question known to man.

She quirks her head. "Screw what up? The wedding, or the marriage?"

Will is pacing furiously by this point. "Either, both! Take your pick."

"Okay, okay. Let's take this down a notch."

Will is too busy shaking his head. "I can only imagine how much Alicia is panicking right now if I'm like this. I need to talk to her."

"Hey, look at me. In fact, sit down," Ruby instructs. She does the same once Will sits, taking a seat across from him. "You think Alicia is freaking out? Well, just FYI, she isn't. She's cool as a cucumber. And you wanna know why? Because she loves you, and she's so sure of it." Will takes some steadying breaths as she talks him down. "And I know that you're every bit as crazy about her. You're just worried that she isn't ready, right? Well, let me tell you - she's so ready, Will. She said yes. She's making this commitment to you. So, are you ready?" She asks encouragingly.

Will closes his eyes and nods. When he looks up again, he smiles contentedly. "Okay. Yes. I'm good."

"Good," Ruby nods and begins the process of standing up with her pregnant belly in a bridesmaids dress. "Now, fix that bloody bow-tie," she orders, whacking him lightly over the head.

"Hey," Alicia smiles at Ruby, turning around in her wedding dress.

This is the first chance that Ruby gets to see the full look, the bride all done-up and ready. Alicia is positively radiant, blooming even more than the floral piece woven into her hair which is cascading down in waves.

Ruby's mind wanders back to the hospital where she first met Alicia. Where she first saw her with Will. She had no idea that this is how things would turn out, back when Will was discharged. When she saw them walk out through those hospital doors, she thought that she would never see them again. Now, she's a bridesmaid at their wedding.

"Alicia," is all that Ruby can choke out before the tears start flowing.

"Aw, Ruby don't cry, your makeup will run," Grace says with a giggle.

"It's the pregnancy hormones, okay?! I'm fine," she insists, using a tissue to dab carefully under her eyes. She tries to pull herself together, takes in Alicia again. "You look incredible," Ruby tells her.

Grace nods. "Yeah, mom, so pretty."

"Thank you," Alicia smiles and looks down self-consciously. In a heartbeat, her gaze darts right back up to Ruby with wide eyes. "Do you have my vows?"

"Right here," the bridesmaid assures, revealing the folded piece of paper wrapped between her hand and the bouquet she's holding.

"Great," Alicia breathes. "How was Will?"

"Having a panic attack?" Kalinda chimes in wryly.

Alicia quirks her lips and Ruby scoffs at the accuracy. "Yep, pretty much. He'll be fine."

"Okay, you ready?" Zach asks his mother, walking into the back room with the bridal party and taking a deep breath. Ruby quirks her head.

"He's giving me away, walking me down the aisle," the bride smiles in response to Ruby's unspoken question.

Ruby gasps and looks at Zach. "That's possibly the sweetest... oh damn it, here I go again." She looks up to the ceiling and takes a breath, trying not to recommence her crying.

"Alright, let's do this." Alicia picks up her bouquet and adjusts her dress with the other hand. "Wait, Grace, Zach. Come here. I love you both so much, okay?" Alicia brings her children in with her free arm, kissing them both on the cheek.

What exactly is Ruby supposed to do? Not cry even more? She eventually gives in to her fate and lets a couple more tears roll down her cheeks. The ceremony hasn't even started yet! Even the look on Kalinda's face shows that she can also tell how sweet this moment is. As Ruby helps adjust Alicia's dress, as they prepare to walk down the aisle, her own heart begins to pound a little harder. But Alicia has such a look of calm on her face.

This is her moment, and she's more than ready.

Alicia doesn't feel even a hint of nervousness and it's surprising her a great deal. She expected at least a little bit of anxiety, she'd certainly felt it throughout the whole process. But no, not today. She knows that Will is at the other end of this, waiting for her. All she has to do now is walk there in a stunning dress. She can do this.

The hall is exactly how she wanted it to look. The warm hanging lights, white decorations, and flowers complement the brick building. The lights are pretty but they aren't needed just yet, as the large windows allow the setting sun to peek through over the Chicago skyline. Brick buildings such as this used to make her think of her and Cary's start-up firm, how she abandoned Will - at least until he asked her to marry him. Even then, she hadn't truly been sure, but she promised herself that she would finally put her heart on her sleeve for Will instead of looking for reasons to push him away. So far it's done her a world of good. As she walks down the aisle and sees the look on Will's face, she can't keep the smile from hers.

This is exactly how she wanted it to be.

Will's hands are shaking when she takes them. She barely registers what the celebrant says until she realizes it's time for the vows. Will clears his throat and Alicia squeezes the hand that isn't reaching for the paper with his vows on it.

"We've been in each other's lives for decades, now," Will begins. "Sometimes, it felt like the universe didn't want us to be together. Occasionally I found myself thinking that I would never be happy, not in love. We had so many obstacles in our way. Some of them were just part of life, but I think we put some others there ourselves. But standing here with you today shows just how strong we are together. We've been through things that could have easily torn us apart, but they only brought us closer to each other. Staying by your side is one of the best decisions I ever made. I knew it would be all worth it, to be here with you, looking more beautiful than I ever thought was possible. I promise to never give up on you. I promise to be there for you in the hard times, in the fights. I promise to be there for your children. I promise to love you for as long as I'm breathing."

Will's voice is shaking slightly. Alicia smiles and squeezes his hand a little tighter. Ruby is heard sniffling behind her, but it's clear that she's not the only one emotional judging by the group of friends and family witnessing. She only realizes that it's her turn to say her vows when Ruby hands her the paper. Her heart pounds a little harder, but she takes a deep breath and begins.

"When I first met you, Will, I thought you were almost too good to be true. I didn't let myself have you, for reasons that I'm still trying to figure out," Alicia shakes her head. She hears the wedding guests laugh quietly. "I may not know fully why I didn't open myself up to you, but I do know that I was scared. For 20 years, the way that you've made me feel has intoxicated me, consumed me, and yes, really scared me. So, when I first gave in to you - as I couldn't help but do - I only gave you part of me. Call it self-preservation or plain stupidity, whatever you like. But I ran. It was the only thing I knew. That all changed when I nearly lost you. At that moment, I discovered something far worse than my fear of being vulnerable to you - I felt regret. Nothing made sense after that, none of my priorities mattered. Not when you didn't know... not when you didn't know how much I loved you. How much I do love you. Whatever happens, that's the one thing I want you to know." Alicia brings the paper that she was reading to her chest. "Everything I just said, I wrote on here nearly two years ago now. I was told to write you a letter, to process every unfiltered thought of you that I had in my head, everything that I wanted to say. Now that we're here on this day, I thought I would share all of these things with you, things that I truly feel. All that I want to add is my promises to you. Today..." Alicia tries to steady her breathing and not cry. "Today, I'm giving you every part of me. I promise to continue giving myself to you, to cherish you. I promise to trust you, I promise to be faithful and trustworthy to you in turn. I love you with all that I am, Will Gardner."

As they exchange rings, as they say 'I do', as they kiss for the first time as husband and wife, Alicia feels like her whole life is being put into place. Everything is coming together, and this is how it's supposed to be. As she starts to think it could've been this way 20 years ago, she remembers that she has her two beautiful children because it took so long for her and Will to come together. Maybe it was supposed to happen like this all along.

The evening eventually sets on their festivities, and the music starts. The tension behind Will's shoulders finally eases. Between all the hugs and kisses and congratulations, she hasn't managed to have a moment with her husband all to herself. Will Gardner is her husband. That is going to take some getting used to.

"You were really nervous, weren't you?" She smiles at him, once they finally have a moment just with each other.

"Weren't you?" Will asks.

"Not that nervous," she giggles. He shakes his head and slides an arm around her waist. They start swaying to the music together. It's not exactly a slow-dance kind of song, but she thinks they make it work. She doesn't care, either way. It's their wedding and they'll dance however they want to. "Were you getting cold feet?" She asks teasingly.

"No," he answers instantly. "I just didn't want to mess anything up."

"Well, you didn't," Alicia laughs.

"Was I a good groom?" Will asks teasingly into her neck. Alicia muffles a squeal with his shoulder and wraps her arms around him. She shakes her head, Alicia really is in love with this ridiculous man.

"The best," she assures him. Feeling him so close, his cheek to hers, she can't help but press a kiss to his lips.

While watching the happy couple dance, Ruby feels Luke slide his arms around her from behind to rest on her pregnant belly. "I have to say, I'm impressed," Luke comments.

"Impressed? By what?" Ruby asks, tilting her head back at him.

"All this talk of weddings, and you haven't once hinted that we should have one of our own."

"What makes you think I haven't been dropping hints this whole time?" She grins.

Luke blanches. "Um... I-"

"Kidding, love, I'm kidding," Ruby laughs. "No, I think we should wait."

"Until when?" He asks.

"Well, at least until this thing is out of me." She gestures to her bulging stomach.

Luke is silent for a few moments. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why should we wait until you've had the baby?" He asks. "Believe it or not, you are actually allowed to marry someone when you're pregnant."

Ruby blinks at him. "What are you saying?"

"Well, as I said, all this talk of weddings. I think we should have our own."

"Even if It means that I waddle down the aisle?" Ruby snorts.

Luke hums his agreement. "You've never been one to do things the conventional way."

Ruby scoffs. "That's true. And a wedding in under four months, well that's..."

"Unconventional," Luke says. Ruby can't help but snort out laughter. "So, what do you say?"

She looks up at him, turns around in his arms. They share a secret smile. His grin gets wider as hers does. "Yeah," she whispers with a nod.

Luke pulls her in closer and rests his chin on her shoulder.

"I should walk down the aisle to the Jurassic Park theme song," she says in his ear. "I'll probably be the same size as one of those dinosaurs by that point. Very fitting."

As they are cackling to each other, the bride approaches the bar next to them. "Hey," she smiles. "What are you two laughing about over here?"

"Nothing, nothing," Ruby titters. "Just... Jurassic Park."

"Jurassic Park?" Alicia asks. Luke starts humming the theme tune and eventually, the three of them are in stitches together, only Alicia doesn't quite know why.

The evening turns into the early hours of the morning, and gradually the guests begin to leave, congratulating the newlyweds. Alicia and Will stay at the venue until quite late with both of their families - it turns out that she gets on surprisingly well with Will's sisters. Her mother isn't too intolerable throughout the wedding, she always seemed to approve of the two of them together. Somehow, she and Will have formed this mystifying understanding and bond with each other.

Eventually, it's just Will and Alicia, Ruby, Luke, and her kids. Ruby has her feet up on another chair, sipping on a lemonade through a straw and giggling at whatever story Will is telling. Alicia can tell that she's exhausted, however.

"We should probably get you home, Roo," Alicia suggests.

"I'm fine," Ruby insists.

Luke gives her a nudge. "But remember, she and Will are still going to..."

Ruby instantly perks up. "Oh, right! Children, we should get home. Say goodbye to your mother and Will, you won't see them until they get back from their honeymoon."

Alicia does a double-take. "What?"

"Yep, surprise," Will grins.

"We have a change of clothes for you so you don't have to walk around in your wedding dress," Ruby adds, smiling when Luke offers to grab them.

Grace and Zach gather their things while Alicia tries to figure out what is going on. "Have fun," Grace farewells, hugging her confused mother and Will.

"Not too much fun," Luke adds with a cheeky grin.

"Hey!" Ruby chastises with a laugh and a light pinch to his side. "It's their honeymoon. They can have as much fun as they bloody-well please."

"Okay, that's our cue," Zach cringes as he and Grace say their final goodbyes, get kisses on the cheek from their mother and head out. Seeing that Alicia is still completely bewildered, Ruby suggests that they go on one last walk together before they leave. Alicia agrees, thinking maybe this way she can get some answers about what exactly is going on!

"I'll miss you all over again," Ruby laments, holding onto her left arm as they stroll down the street. They probably look ridiculous to people walking past, but it's the middle of the night and Alicia is married so she doesn't care.

"I'm gonna miss you too, honey. I was thinking maybe Will and I could take a trip to London, visit you when the baby is born. The kids even could come over with us."

"That would be really nice," Ruby smiles. "Also, you could kill two birds with one stone... and come to our wedding as well?"

Alicia does a double-take. "Your wedding?!" She cries.

"What can I say? You two inspired Luke today. Filled him with ridiculous ideas of flowers and vows and marzipan."

Alicia laughs. "Wow," is all she can say. The surprises just keep coming with this girl.

"Yeah!" Ruby cries in disbelief. "It's insane. I'll be a mother and a wife in less than 5 months, all going to plan."

"I'm so happy for you, Ruby. I can't wait to visit you in London."

The expectant mother smiles. "You should know, where we live is nearly not even called London, that's how far away it is. Don't think we're living across the road from Big Ben or anything."

"Oh, well that changes everything. I'll never go over now," Alicia quips.

Ruby shakes her head. "I'm just saying."

Once they arrive back outside the venue, Alicia is hesitant to say goodbye. That is until Ruby reminds her that she and Will have plans that Alicia doesn't even know about, and they'll see each other again in no time. Feeling Will's hands on her shoulders from behind her keeps her grounded, and helps her not to spiral too much as she gives Ruby one last hug.

A car pulls up to take her and Will, she's assuming not back to their place. "So, what is going on?" Alicia insists with a bemused laugh.

"It's our wedding night," Will simple explains. "Let's remember it."

"But our bags, we leave tomorrow..."

"I've got them," he assures with a smile, opening the door for her.

Alicia is quite exhilarated by the mystery of it all and Will's mischievous grin. Unable to help themselves, they give the driver some entertainment on the way to wherever it is that they're going. It's hard to resist his wandering hands in the backseat, not when they've just gotten married and she's a little buzzy from all of the champagne. Once they end up outside a hotel, Alicia holds onto her husband's arm as they enter the building and walk through the lobby. She would've been fine relaxing with Will and everyone staying at their place, but she's certainly pleased that he booked a room for the night. In all the excitement, it takes a moment for her to catch on and realize where they are.

The hotel. The hotel. The one where they spent their first night together.

"You didn't," Alicia gapes.

"Oh yes," Will responds with a smug grin. "The presidential suite is ours for the night."

"Will!" Alicia cries with an incredulous laugh. They end up in the same elevator again. The same exhilaration pulsing through to her chest. This time, Will steps towards her until he has her up against the elevator wall. From there, he reaches to the buttons and drags his hand across all the floors. Alicia gasps, and can't help but find the whole situation hilarious. Maybe she's tipsier than she thought.

"I've always secretly wanted to do that," Will says.

"Yeah? Well, what if it takes us too long to get up to our room?" Alicia teases.

Will tightens his grip around her waist and attaches his mouth to her neck. "I can think of something to pass the time."

Empty floor after empty floor goes by. His hands are everywhere, and she's so distracted that she wouldn't even realize if someone was standing on the other side of the doors with each ding of the elevator. There's no trouble with the room keycard this time. Lucky, because tonight there is so much urgency between them. Will slows, only slightly, to undress her. Their last time here was much less hurried, but they were so new to each other then - their bodies were, at least. Now, they know each other inside and out. Their breaths mirror each other's, as Alicia briefly takes control to straddle him and attack the buttons of his shirt. Her mouth is on his neck, and she nearly reaches his pants before Will stops her by holding onto her wrist.

Alicia leans back. "What's wrong?"

"Didn't you hear the knock? Our bags," Will explains in a whisper.

Then she does hear someone at the hotel door. How did she miss the first knocks?! She gasps as slides away too quickly, rolling off the bed very ungracefully wearing nothing but lingerie. Will doesn't care about being quiet anymore, he just lies there and cackles.

"You have to get it! I'm not dressed!" Alicia hisses, which only adds to his amusement. He eventually gets up, re-buttoning his shirt only partially.

Once Will returns with their bags, he joins her on the bed. "You think Grace and Zach will be okay while we're gone? And Maisey?" He asks into her lips.

"Yeah," she assures. "My mother and Owen have offered to stay in town if they need anything."

"That's exactly my point," Will snorts. Alicia can't help but laugh at him. "What?!"

"They'll be fine," She says. "They've got Peter, as well as Ruby and Luke while they're still here. They're both practically adults now." She crawls over the bed to Will, straddling him to regain his attention. "It's sweet that you care, though," she says, leaning down and pressing their lips together. "Now, are you going to make love to your wife?" Alicia purrs. "She gets quite impatient, you see."

"Oh?" Will grabs onto her, running his hands over her whole body until it's on fire. "Well, she's just going to have to wait until I think she's good and ready."

Alicia holds back a squeal as he trails kisses along every inch of her skin. She could definitely get used to being married to Will Gardner.

Sitting in the back of the car to the airport, Alicia's mind is racing. She starts to think of how different her life might have been if even just one thing had changed. She thinks of how frighteningly close she and Will were to not finding each other. She had so many issues of her own to work on before they did. She nearly couldn't make her way through it all, she wouldn't have without Ruby.

"How do you thank someone," Alicia asks, "for doing what Ruby's done for me? For us."

Will rubs her back. "She's been amazing, Alicia. But I also think you need to take some credit for yourself."

"Every step I made in the right direction... it was because of her."

"But you did it, Alicia. She may have sped up the process, but you were the one that actually picked yourself up. And once I was out of the hospital, you also took care of me at the same time."

"That feels like so long ago," she smiles.

"A lot has changed," Will notes, "but not everything. You've always been strong." She wants to tell him that she isn't, that he's just blinded by his love for her. "It was you, Alicia. You healed yourself," he assures her. He leans into her more, resting his forehead against her temple. "And you fell in love with me yourself," he tells her softly.

"I would hope so," she giggles, turning her face to feel the warmth of his breath on her lips.

"Did you really write me that letter over a year ago? It wasn't just for our vows?" Will asks after stealing a few kisses.

"No, I wrote that before we even got back together," she chuckles.

Alicia looks out the car window and thinks back to the night she first told Will that she loved him, in the empty offices of Lockhart/Gardner. It was so cold that she nearly froze out there, pacing outside the building, just thinking. That was when she decided. She decided to release everything that she had bottled inside of her. Not all at once, but she was going to start with Will. She would start with how she truly feels about him, no matter how frightening it was. She would close her eyes and fall backward, hoping that something would catch her on the other side, after stripping herself of all the masks that she used to wear. Hoping that there would be love on the other side.

This was her resolution.