Diane walked out of her office and watched their associates and partners celebrate Will's win over Wendy Scott-Carr. Though she was primarily happy that Will wouldn't spend the next few years in prison, she couldn't help but think that half of the people currently dancing, drinking, and laughing had no idea what fight they had fought or really cared about Will. At least not the way she did.

Maybe others would have cut the ties and left their partner on their own because it would have been the easy way because it would have been safer. That was not who Diane was though, others might laugh it off or think of it as weak, but Diane couldn't leave her friend alone like that, especially not Will. Their friendship meant so much to her, to them both. Even though Will liked to pretend he would have pushed her away, taken the easy way, and abandon her, Diane knew better. He would have done everything in his power to help her.

They have been through so much together that they would never abandon each other. They had been together when they hit rock bottom and when they had been on top of the world. Loyalty was everything in the law, and yet, true and honest loyalty was probably the scarcest thing in their world.

In weeks Diane hadn't seen Will so happy, hadn't seen him laugh like that, and it felt wonderful to have her best friend back. She raised the glass of Whiskey to her lips and enjoyed the warm burn as the liquid ran down her throat. It wasn't her first glass, and through the stress of the last days, Diane hadn't exactly eaten much or regularly, for that matter, so the alcohol was doing its work.

Diane watched as Will tried to get Elsbeth to dance with him, he was so carefree, and she didn't fight the smile that laid on her lips. Then Will looked up, and their eyes met. He sat his glass down and hurried over to her while Diane also walked closer, so they met in the hallway.

"Diane, I can't say how happy I am. Without all of you, I'd soon be walking around in a ugly orange overall…but it was a pretty close one." Will said as he took her hand in his and laced their fingers together.

"Indeed it was, so let's keep the excitement down for a while, okay? At least try not to get indicted again for another month?" Diane said, and there was the typical Will grin she loved so much. He then took the glass from her other hand and placed it on the table next to them before he turned around again.

"Maybe you want to be the next to get indicted?" Will asked as he laid his arm around her waist and began to sway them to the music.

"I think I'll pass and leave that to you," Diane replied and smiled as they started to dance, first in their typical silly way, but soon enough, Will's arm pulled her as close as possible. The familiar smell of his cologne tickled Diane's nose. It was his favorite, and secretly hers too, expensive, nothing very tangy or too sweet that assaulted one's nose, it blended in perfectly with Will. She could feel his warmth even through his shirt and jacket and couldn't deny how much she had missed this.

"I can never thank you enough, Di...never" Will whispered in her ear.

"I never said you had to... I'd do it again, and I know you'd do the same thing for me," Diane answered and heard him chuckle.

"I would, without hesitation," Will answered quietly as he pressed a kiss to her cheek while they continued to dance.

"Do you think Peter will leave you alone now?"

"I certainly hope so...after all, there is no reason for him to come after me again," he said soberly, and Diane squeezed his hand. She knew of his feelings for Alicia. How could she not? Diane knew him so well, it might be unwise and immoral and everything in between, but that was how he was feeling and who could really control their heart, how they felt deep inside? She certainly couldn't.

"Will I know what I said, but you can't switch off your feelings-"

"I can, and I did. Whatever it was isn't worth the States Attorney and wanna be Governor coming after me or us for that matter. That was some kind of excitement I really don't need again," Will told her, and he meant what he said, though it still hurt Alicia had broken things off, though he hadn't planned out a real, long-lasting relationship with her, the thoughts about a future together had been there. But that was over now once and for all. He just wasn't made for something like that, and staying single wasn't the worst thing that could happen to Will.

"I don't wanna talk about that anymore. Tonight is supposed to be fun, our big celebration!" Will then said, quickly putting his usual smirk back on his lips.

"No, it's your night, your celebration," Diane told him, and so they did just that, celebrate. They continued to drink, dance, and laugh like they hadn't in months. Of course, they hadn't had a real reason to, so now that there was a good occasion, they enjoyed themselves for once in a while, before the next problem was knocking on their door again.

"Alright, I'll head home now," Diane said as she stepped over to where Kalinda and Will had been drinking and laughing together. The offices and the conference room had cleared significantly over the last few hours, and the last dozen people or so would also leave soon. But, of course, Will and Diane hadn't been foolish and had already made clear that whoever didn't have to absolutely be there the next day or had a court appearing could work from home.

That also included Diane, Will, and Kalinda, who all deserved a day off after the last couple of weeks and days. And Diane decided to call it a night as long as she was comfortably tipsy, Diane knew her limit, and though she would have to call a cab, at least there wouldn't be a hangover for her in the following day.

"What? No, come on, Di!" Will pouted, but Diane only shook her head, smiling.

"It was a wonderful night, but I know when to call it a night. I'd like to spend my only free day in peace and without an annoying hangover. But you're welcome to continue and call me tomorrow to whine about your headache." she replied, and Kalinda chuckled.

"And how do you plan to get home?" Will asked, downing the last of his drink.

"I'll take a cab Mr. Gardner, I-"

"Oh no, I'll go with you!" Will quickly said, and Diane arched an eyebrow at him while Kalinda snickered beside them.

"Will, I feel very honored, but I can take care of myself. That's definitely not the first time I've taken a cab alone at this hour."

"Yeah, maybe, but not tonight! I'll go with you!" Will argued, and Kalinda laid a hand on Diane's shoulder.

"Just take him with you and save yourself the pathetic call and whining about his oh-so-bad headache tomorrow morning!" their investigator said, and Diane rolled her eyes, but all of them knew that was true.

"You're probably right," Diane answered, and Kalinda nodded.

"I'll go get your briefcase and coat!" Will said, and before Diane could say anything, he was already gone halfway to her office. So Diane used the moment to talk to Kalinda.

"I really want to thank you, Kalinda, without you...I don't know what we would do without you, you saved Will, and I can never thank you enough," she said and laid a hand on the shoulder of the younger woman.

"You don't have to thank me, I did my job. I could never let something like that happen to you guys. I'm also glad you choose not to cut your ties with Will just because it would have been the easy way. There are not many people who would have stood by his side. And it really helped him through this." Kalinda said, and they shared a brief but honest smile before they turned to look at Will.

"I could never do that to him," Diane murmured, but Kalinda still heard her and her smiled widened a little.

"Okay, I got everything, we can go," Will said as he walked back to them and handed Diane her briefcase.

"Thanks," Diane said and then turned back to Kalinda, "Goodnight, Kalinda, you should take tomorrow off too. If someone deserves a day off, it's you."

"I will, thanks. Have a good night," Kalinda said and raised her half-empty bottle of beer in their way. Will, to the surprise of them all, pulled Kalinda in for a short hug.

"Thank you for everything, Kalinda," he whispered, and Kalinda couldn't help but hug him back even though that was really not her thing. But this was Will, and after everything he had been through, she gladly made an exception for him.

"Any time," Kalinda answered and then watched them closely as Diane and Will walked towards the elevators.

"Thanks for coming over...I know I should have let you go home instead of dragging you here," Will said as he handed her the glass with a generous amount of Scotch, which Diane accepted with a smile.

Once they had been in the cab, Will had asked Diane if she could come with him because he didn't want to be alone tonight. After all, he just had to talk to someone he trusted about everything that had happened in the last few days and weeks. In front of everyone else, Will liked to pretend that everything was fine. He had won after all, so what was there to talk about? But now that everything was over, it all came crashing down on him.

"Will, you don't have to explain yourself if you want to talk. I'll always be there for you," Diane said and took a sip of the drink while Will sat down on his sofa next to her.

"I know, I just- I came so close to losing it all...everything I worked for all these years would have been gone. My whole life would have been meaningless." Will said but didn't look at Diane, who laid a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"We wouldn't have let that happen, Will! We wouldn't let them ruin your life like that, I certainly wouldn't have, and no matter what happened, your life could never be meaningless." Diane told him, and Will nodded slowly, he knew he could always count on her. No matter how often they fought or were annoyed by one another, they would always have each other's back, Will knew that many others would have kicked him out of the firm to save themselves and would have left him to deal with all of this on his own.

But not Diane. While he might have teased her about her idealism in the past, it now had saved his ass, and he promised himself he would never tease her about it again, at least not like that. She was the only real constant in his life.

Will would have loved to have an explanation for what happened next. He didn't know what it was, maybe a reaction to the stress of the last days finally falling off his shoulders, perhaps he did it because he finally wanted to be close to somebody again. It certainly wasn't to blame entirely on the alcohol while they were both tipsy, maybe even a little bit drunk, neither of them was so drunk they didn't know what was happening or what they were doing.

Or maybe Will could no longer ignore the latent romantic feelings he harbored for Diane for years now but on which he had never acted because it was silly and would never work out and because he didn't want to ruin their partnership. But these thoughts ran through his mind in the fraction of a second, in which he leaned forward and pressed his lips on Diane's. Right then and there, all thoughts left his mind, apart from one, how incredibly good it felt, like finally having something you had been unknowingly craving for years.

Will was sure that Diane would pull back and ask him what the hell he thought he was doing, that this was crazy, that he was crazy and then would leave his apartment immediately. But nothing like that happened. Instead, Diane, against all his expectations, responded to his kiss. Will almost broke off the kiss in shock because he couldn't believe this was really happening, that Diane would actually kiss him back. But he didn't, in fear that when he pulled away, he would never get to kiss her again, that the moment would be gone forever. And right now, there was nothing in the world Will needed and wanted more than this.

The kiss quickly grew more heated with each second, and Will traced her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, begging for entrance which Diane granted all that willingly. It tasted addicting to him, the mix of Diane and the Scotch and Will wanted more, soon they were making out like they would never kiss anybody again in their life or each other. Pleasure and arousal began to pulse through his body.

After a few minutes, both Diane's and Will's hands grew bolder and began roaming each other's bodies, learning what they liked, which touches fuelled their desire for each other. Feeling his arousal grow so much, Will thought he would actually go mad, Diane then straddled his lap and could undoubtedly feel his growing erection now.

Will wanted her so bad. He wanted to worship her body like the queen she was deserved. But then his brain managed to catch up with him. He had to know if she was really okay with them crossing this line, he had to give them both the last chance to stop and forget this ever happened before they could never return to how things were before.

"Diane..." Will murmured as he pulled back, and they caught their breath. He was enchanted by her beautiful lips, now swollen from their kiss, and against his expectations, Diane's response to his words was to ground her hips into his lap, causing a groan of pleasure to escape him.

"Will, I want you," she whispered before she kissed him again; his mind was drowned in happiness and pleasure. Will wrapped his arms around her, and his hands sliding over her body, sparks of pleasure rising in them, which only increased when he grabbed her ass and pushed her down while thrusting his hips up at the same time. This caused Diane to break the kiss and moan loudly, throwing her head back, which was the perfect invitation for Will to place kisses all over her delicate neck.

Diane continued to moan as his lips danced over her skin sucking and nibbling at all the right places, arousal, and pleasure pulsing through her body like her blood. She could feel her hardening nipples brushing against the fabric of her bra, which trapped them, begging to be touched by Will and only him. Her skin was on fire; she had to get out of these clothes. Diane wanted to be close to him, as close as two humans could possibly be. She wanted to feel him against her, inside her.

Diane untangled her hands from his hair which she had buried in there, and grabbed his arms to push his hands to the hem of her blouse and then up her body. She could feel his grin against her skin as his hands pulled the blouse off her and then ran over her back. Will's hands were leaving burning trails on her skin as they ran over her naked back, only to grab her bra and tear it off her body with a quick but strong tug, but in the heat of the moment, Diane didn't care about that.

Will was at a loss of words as he looked at her, took in every detail of her body to memorize it until the day he died. Her smooth skin, perfect breasts, which were neither too small nor too big for his taste, her rosy nipples erect and begging to be touched.

Will's vision was blocked for a moment when Diane pulled his shirt over his head, but once she had thrown it somewhere behind them, Will leaned forward and licked over her breast before he sucked her nipple in his mouth while his free hand cupped her other breast. Diane moaned louder than ever before and ground herself harder on his lap, sending waves of pleasure through his body, particularly his now hard dick.

"Will..." she moaned, and her fingers dug into the skin of his shoulder. "Please," she all but begged him, and Will let go of her breasts so he could lift her up and carry her to her bed. Laying her down on the bed, Will came to lay on top of her and kiss her once more, both of their hands roaming each other's body. When Diane's hand cupped him and then palmed him through his trousers, now making him moan and groan in pleasure, Will thought he might lose it right there. Then kissed his way down, exploring her body with his lips.

"God, you're perfect," he groaned as he pulled the skirt off and threw it away before his fingers hooked on her slip which he noticed with great satisfaction was already wet. While his kisses traveled even lower, he slowly pulled them off her, leaving her naked and heaving under him, which made him even harder. Will kissed his way up her thigh again, and once his head was between her legs, he looked at her pussy glistening with her arousal and inhaled her scent driving him mad. He had to taste her.

Will leaned down and took a long lick over her slit, sucking her clit in his mouth and circling it with his tongue. In mere seconds Diane was a writhing and moaning mess under him as Will made her feel pleasure she hadn't ever felt before like that.

Will felt her hand on his head and thought she might want him to stop, but when he looked up, he saw Diane had her eyes closed, her back slightly arched while her free hand knead one of her breasts, and he couldn't help but smile. He really liked eating women out. It was a quirk, maybe even kink of him, that he wanted to bring a woman to a climax with his mouth the first time they had sex. Diane was no exception to this. There was something about giving his lover pleasure without actually feeling the same thing that made this so good. Will loved what he could do to them, watched them feel this kind of pleasure, and knew it was him that made them feel it.

"Will...Will," Diane barely managed a few words in between moans now, "Ohh God Will, I'm gonna cum...oh god yes, yes." this only spurred him on more, and Will grabbed her hips so tight he was sure it would leave marks on her.

With a long scream, she came on his tongue and fingers, her back arched and her hips bucking wildly, so she almost caused Will to roll off her. He continued with his ministrations for a few moments, taking his time in drinking her essence before sitting up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, coming to kneel between her.

Will once again saw a sight he would never forget in his life. She never looked lovelier than right now, breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath, her hair a mess, and looking at him with a faint smile on her lips.

Diane couldn't quite put to words what had just happened, only that it had fuelled her desire even more. She had never felt this way before, this kind of want to be with someone so much, this lust. Sitting up, she knelt before Will and pulled him into another kiss, tasting herself on his lips, as her hands opened his trousers and free his already leaking cock of its clothed prison. She wrapped her delicate fingers around him, slowly stroked up and down, feeling his pulse in her hand, Will certainly was well endowed, and she wanted to feel him inside her.

Will broke their kiss once more and got rid of the last disturbing clothes before he laid Diane back down, placing kisses over her neck. Diane moaned before pulling him up to kiss him again, not breaking their kiss, Will lined up at her entrance before pushing in. Both moaned at the incredible feeling.

He filled her in the most desirable way, more than ever before. She had never felt so good, Will was different than anyone before him; he lit a fire within her that only he could tend to. As he began to thrust inside her and build up a fast and hard rhythm, they both needed it right now.

Will placed kisses over her breasts before he caught one nipple between his teeth and dragged it up, letting it slowly slip through his teeth. Diane felt terrific around him. Will felt like he never had good sex before in his life, everything else was nothing compared to this though he couldn't explain what was different, apart from the fact that this was Diane. Deep inside, he prayed that this wouldn't stay the only time they had sex. He wanted to worship her body and never wanted anyone else again.

Will felt her legs coming around his hips as he began to move deeper inside her. Their lips and hands roamed their bodies, their moans, pants, and groans getting louder and louder as they became one. Diane's nails scratched over the skin of his back as she held onto him, as he thrust even harder inside her. Will put his weight on one arm so he could knead her breast with the other, sucking on a spot between her shoulder and her neck that had her wail in pleasure.

Will then pulled Diane up, so she was once again seated in his lap. One hand came down to grab her ass as she began to move, alternating between rolling her hips and thrusting herself down on his dick.

Their mouth clashed together again, her arms wrapped tightly around him, pressing her breasts against his chest so he could feel her hard nipples against his own. They both were sweaty and moaning messes when Will felt himself getting rapidly closer to release, but wanting Diane to come again, he reached down between them, felt how his cock entered her again and again; his fingers found her clit and began to rub it fast.

"I'll make you cum again...come for me Di," Will panted, and his hot breath tickled her neck, and he could feel her began to clench around him, making her so deliciously tight as he desperately tried to hold his orgasm back until Diane had come again. He then pushed her back down on the bed, his hand continued to rub her clit until he felt her spasm around him, and Diane came screaming his name, and it was too much for Will as he fell over the edge as well. He thrust himself as deep inside her as possible when he came, groaning her name over and over again. After some last lazy thrusts, Will barely managed to roll off her before post-coital bliss overwhelmed him.

They didn't talk as they laid next to each other, catching their breath. Neither of them wanted to talk about what had happened. Right now, they just wanted to bask in the afterglow, enjoy this intimacy they hadn't shared with anyone in a while. Will and Diane didn't want to think about everything that had happened, because while nothing had changed, everything was different.

Will grabbed the blanket and threw it over them; using the momentum, he laid his arm around her waist. When Diane didn't respond in any way, Will already wanted to withdraw his arm, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, but then her own arm came to lay over his, and she laced their fingers together. Will slowly began to move closer until he was spooning Diane, who leaned back into his touch. Even if this would remain the only time they slept together, which he hoped wouldn't be the case, Will couldn't help but feel a kind of happiness and peace he had never felt before, and he pressed another kiss to Diane's neck. He had never dared to act upon his feelings for Diane before, but maybe now the time had come. Perhaps they really were the perfect couple.

But Will never saw the tears shimmering in Diane's eyes as she tried to take in what had just happened as she laid in his arms. She had slept with her best friend, her best friend with whom she was leading a law firm, and for whom she secretly felt more than friendship. But Diane couldn't let her feelings grow because of this, Will had probably only slept with her because of the indictment because he was hurt and lonely and had been through so much. This was nothing more, it wouldn't even be happening again, it couldn't, it would never work, they had a firm to lead!

A couple of minutes later Will had fallen asleep, and his slow and even breathing began to lull Diane into sleep as well. She had planned to slip away once he had fallen asleep, not ready for the conversation they had to have in the morning. But she couldn't, right now, Diane wanted to savior the first and last moment she would spend in Will's arms. Nothing would ever come from this.

"Well, Miss Lockhart, I can't really come up with another way to tell you this, so I will just say it, you're not menopausal," Diane closed her eyes for a second. Fuck, this couldn't be good. Of course, it couldn't be something good with the stressful weeks that laid behind her; it just had to be bad news. With everything that had been going on in the firm, she couldn't guarantee not to have a meltdown when her OB/GYN told her she had cancer or something like that.

"Just tell me," Diane said, ready for everything, except for the words that left the mouth of the doctor in front of her.

"Congratulations, you're about seven weeks pregnant." Diane's mouth dropped in utter shock.

"No."

"Yes-"

"No! I can't be, you must have made a mistake. I can't be pregnant. I'm 46!" Diane tried to argue, and her OB/GYN arched an eyebrow at her.

"You're not the first woman pregnant at that age, and you won't be the last. Also I detect pregnancies for a living, and even checked twice, I made no mistake, you are definitely pregnant," the woman answered, and Diane sunk back down on the examination table.

"Fuck."

Hello, my dear readers,
I checked the Lockner tags on Tumblr and stumbled over this prompt from HeroineGauddess for a Lockner fanfic like this. So my imagination ran wild, and the plan for this piece formed in my head and then slumbered on my pc for a while. Only when I (sort of) had the permission did I really approach the idea and decided to write a real story.
Of course, I hope everyone else enjoys this new story too, and I'd love to hear what you think about it in a review
Take care of yourself and stay healthy and well!