A/N: Hello so I'm completely new to writing fics and everything, I hope you enjoy this wild journey with me muahaha! NOW LISTEN UP BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT - I am a musician and obviously a music lover, so I am giving each chapter a song that matches it with the title, lyrical content, musical feel or all of the above. I'll try link y'all to Spotify and YouTube but the title of the chapter is the song. Do whatever you want with them, but these songs are all great and I kinda write the chapters so you can read as you listen! First one is "Come With Me Now" by KONGOS.

(This is the END of the link after youtube or open . spotify or whatever! Just copy and paste it into your browser the address should come up anyway)
YouTube - watch?v=5tDjYuqJRJQ
Spotify - track/2kWowW0k4oFymhkr7LmvzO

Disclaimer: Now while I don't actually need a disclaimer and I'm sure TGW team understand derivative works and fair use and all that legal business, some stuff is ripped straight from the show, particularly in the start as I get the plot going, but anyone who's a fan of TGW obviously knows when the work isn't mine so? Either way all credit goes the creators behind The Good Wife for this incredible story and these amazing characters.

Chapter 1 / Prologue: Come With Me Now

"I understand Mr. Grant, I know. But your son is mid-trial," Alicia reasons over the phone, somewhat bewildered. She notices Cary's questioning gaze and briefly explains before returning to her call. "-the Grants, their son, they want a second opinion - no, I'm sorry, look... Will Gardner is Lockhart/Gardner's top litigator." This earns an incredulous set of glares and gestures from Cary. "No, I'm sorry sir, but you're in good hands. Thank you."

"Wow, you were laying it on thick." Cary jabs playfully as Alicia hangs up.

"Just cooling things down," Alicia justifies, before immediately changing the subject to that of the current thorn in her side, Nelson Dubeck from Justice. He's dragging her into this ballot box mess for representing Peter. "So… will you?"

"You want me as your lawyer?" Cary asks, surprisingly dubious.

"Yeah. Why? You sound incredulous. Wouldn't you want me as your lawyer?"

"Um…" Cary trails off awkwardly, instantly provoking a stunned and offended reaction from his partner.

"Whoa…"

"I'm joking, I'm joking! Yes!" Cary placates, as Alicia lets out a relieved scoff. Of course, Cary is just trying to rile her up. Between their new firm, this bitter rivalry with Will, and now a deposition with Nelson Dubeck for Peter's alleged voter fraud, which Will is also conveniently tied up in, being riled up by Cary is exactly what she needs at the moment. "I'll arrange a date and time for the deposition."

"Good. I have the correspondents' luncheon tomorrow, sometime before that?" Alicia suggests, standing up from her chair.

"Okay. Where're you going?" Cary's query is thrown in casually, but it's delivered before she's taken a single step, so it's certainly not an empty question.

"Court." Behind Alicia's one-worded answer is the unspoken, I dare you to push my buttons more today, Cary. Just see what happens.

"You offering a second opinion?" And of course Cary goes there, but she doesn't really mind. With the exception of her momentary failure to detect Cary's sarcasm, Alicia has gotten used to his teasing and playful jabs. She waves goodbye with a smile, and Cary returns it with his own trademark grin - one that makes you question if he knows something that you don't.

No, they aren't Will and Diane, but they don't need to be. They will get by just fine as Alicia and Cary.

Entering and taking a seat in the back of the courtroom, Alicia feels a little guilty. Like she's stepping on Will's toes. This Jeffrey Grant case is his, after all. But her guilt is fleeting, only lasting until she notices the thinly-veiled disbelief on her former lover's face. Seeing how affected he is simply by her presence is deliciously gratifying, though she would never admit this to him or anyone. Only adding to the denial in their tumultuous relationship, Will refuses to admit that he wouldn't be so angry unless he cared at least a little. But Alicia can't allow herself to dwell on these things, not when this is why she left and started her own firm in the first place. She needs to focus. Focus on Detective Rodriguez's damaging testimony. Focus on Will's brilliantly seamless cross, recovering his case immediately and reminding Alicia why it's him at the defense table for Jeffrey Grant, and not her. They might have their differences, but Will's the better lawyer. Another thing she isn't about to admit out loud. Regardless, Alicia isn't here to do anything besides satisfy the seemingly concerned parents of Jeffery Grant. And if that ruffles Will's feathers, well who is to blame, really.

During the trial's recess, Will storms out of the courtroom doors, and his dark gaze immediately fixes on Alicia. Ruffled feathers, indeed.

"What's going on?" He demands, with those angry furrowed brows that Alicia seems to be seeing a lot of lately.

"The Grants called me for a second opinion on your trial." Alicia decides to play this serious, now finished with the mind games. She did tell Cary she was trying to cool things down.

"You're kidding me," he spits.

"No. I told them no-" Alicia's poor attempt to placate Will is cut off, as he begins on a series of biting remarks.

"Then why are you here? To rub it in my face? Unlike you, I don't have to resort to poaching just to get by. Find your own damn clients, Alicia."

"The Grants came to me, Will, so they're obviously not very happy with their current representation," Alicia challenges. So cooling things down has apparently gone right out the window.

"Oh, so you can do a better job with this case? You really think that?" Will prods angrily, his voice rising with each incredulous word.

"It's not about what I think," Alicia starts. And she's already dug her hole, so she may as well dig it in style. "Your clients, however... seem to have diminishing faith."

And that does it for Will, who advances further towards Alicia with a menacing gaze. "Oh yeah? Well then, why don't you come back inside and observe some more - maybe you'll learn a thing or two about being a lawyer. Now that I think about it, you wouldn't be a lawyer at all without me now, would you?"

It's all Alicia can do to shake her head with a chuckle, and follow him back into the courtroom.

Now, in hindsight, part of her wishes that she hadn't.