A/N: Thanks for the reviews. For those who asked, I have written more about Will and Alicia and it will come in time, need to build up to it as I have a long term plan for the story.
This is just a short chapter as I realised the date and wanted to post something!
Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
Chicago, October 15th 2015
The elevator opened on the 28th floor and Angela took a deep breath before walking into the reception of Lockhart, Agos & Lee.
She took in the scene in front of her, very little had changed since the days of Stern, Lockhart & Gardner. Those damn glass walls, she thought, smiling at what she saw as an absurd design choice. Diane was the only survivor; Jonas and Will were gone and it seemed surreal to be back here without either of them. Apart from a few occasions she hadn't been here since Alicia started and even those visits were relatively recent: the last time had been the Christmas party nearly two years ago.
Approaching the front desk, she said, "Hello, I've come to see Diane Lockhart."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Not officially, it's personal, not legal. My name is Angela Austen, she knows I'm coming."
"Hello, can I help?" the question came from behind her and she turned round to look at the man who spoke.
Smiling, she replied, "I'm just waiting for Diane."
The receptionist interrupted, "Excuse me, Miss Austen, Miss Lockhart said to go straight down."
"Thank you."
"I'll walk you down. I'm Cary Agos," he said offering his hand.
She smiled at the younger man as she shook it, "I'm Angela, an old friend of Diane's."
Cary nodded and held out his arm to guide her past reception and down the corridor towards the partners' offices. "You know Alicia?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied, "I think she's still figuring me out though!" she chuckled. "I knew Will," she offered as a means of clarification, aware that he probably knew more about her already.
Diane saw them approach and got up from her desk to open her office door, "Thanks Cary."
"Nice to meet you," Angela said, smiling as she stepped into Diane's office. "Yeah," he replied in a soft voice, a cross between intrigue and politeness, as he turned to walk back to his office.
Diane embraced Angela then went to pour them both a drink. As Angela moved towards one of the chairs in front of Diane's desk she paused to look through the void to the office opposite. Taking in a quick breath she put her hand to her mouth, realizing that her eyes were starting to water. "I know," Diane said gently, handing her a glass of bourbon, "to me it will always be Will's office." Angela turned and nodded at her friend, managing a weak smile.
Taking a seat, she said, "You know, it's seventeen years ago today that I first met him." Smiling at Diane, she added, "We always celebrated the date, kinda like an anniversary." She sighed and sniffed, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to roll down her face. Looking down, she fumbled in her purse for a tissue to dab her eyes.
"You knew him longer than I did," Diane said quietly, "for that I will be eternally envious. For all the challenges partnership threw at us, he was my best friend and, at heart, a good man. I keep expecting to look over to see him, sitting at his desk, throwing a baseball in the air or simply smiling through the glass at me."
Angela smiled and nodded slowly contemplating the loss her friend felt. "Well, if you're jealous of me, my green-eyed monster is firmly fixed on Alicia Florrick. She was always there in the background, even before she became a junior associate."
Diane nodded, understanding the pull that Alicia had on her former partner and the fact that the First Lady of Illinois had stopped him from ever moving on.
