She's Always a Woman (Billy Joel)

Chicago, September 2009

Will let himself into Angela's apartment, shouted a greeting then realized the silence and lack of shoes, purse and keys meant she was still at work. Putting down his things and taking off his jacket, he rolled up his sleeves as he walked to her refrigerator knowing he would find a beer. Twisting off the cap he took a long drink and sighed. Will was confused, conflicted, amused and excited by his encounter in the morning.

He wanted to talk about how he felt.

He needed advice.

He needed Angela.

He picked up his briefcase and moved towards the couch. Opening it to take out the files he should read for court in the morning, he sighed and retracted his hand.

He couldn't work. He'd spent the afternoon once he returned from depositions sitting at his desk pretending to work. He couldn't get Alicia Florrick out of his head.

"Arrghh!" He sighed and took another swig of his beer, swinging his legs up onto the couch. Putting his drink on the coffee table, he lay down and closed his eyes. The image in his head was of Alicia: young, ambitious and happy – his friend from Law School. He still loved the way she would look at him and smile – a special smile that he felt was reserved for him and made his whole body light up. He sighed, thinking that he had put his feeling for Alicia in a box and stored them away. Seeing her again today brought them back to the surface. Especially when she flashed him the same smile he had known all those years ago at Georgetown. Without realizing it he feel asleep.

Angela returned home shortly before seven and as she shut the door behind her, the noise woke Will. "Hey," he said, his voice emanating out of the dark living room served to make her jump. "Jesus!" she exclaimed, letting out a sharp breath and holding her hand to her chest, "Will! You gave me a fright."

He laughed and sat up, leaning over the back of the couch to face her. "Good day?" he enquired.

"Well, nobody died, so I guess, yes," she smiled as she crossed the room, leaning down to kiss him on the top of his head as she reached the couch.

"What are you doing here? Thought you were busy-busy," she asked.

"Arrghhhh," he sighed again, "yes, too much work, so little time and I can't get anything done." Angela retreated to the kitchen, hanging her jacket on the back of a chair before heading to the refrigerator.

"Pourquoi?" she said as she brought him a fresh beer. He frowned at her use of French; it wasn't a language he was conversant in and she frequently teased him with it. They clinked bottles as she sat down beside him, resting her right hand on his thigh.

He didn't know what to say, how to broach the subject, so he went for the basic facts. "I was downtown for depos this morning and ran into Alicia Florrick," he said turning to her, his expression a mixture of apprehension and longing. A longing that had been bubbling under the surface of Will Gardner for over fifteen years.

Angela let out a deep, audible breath, blinked slowly, then looked at Will, equally dumbfounded, "What?" She was almost unable to form the word.

His bemused expression said it all, "I know. The Alicia Cavanaugh that was. Love of my frickin' life," he said quietly, leaning back against the couch.

"Where did you meet? Did you speak to her?" She asked, quickly taking a sip of her beer.

"In the elevator of all places!" he scoffed, "I put my hand in to stop the doors and there she was. Yeah, we talked, briefly. She'd just got a new job."

"She's going back to work?"

"Apparently," he nodded.

"Anywhere you know?"

"Wells & Bowen, it's a good firm," he confirmed.

"Mm-huh," Angela murmured, putting her arm around his shoulders.

Will rested his head on her chest and groaned. "All the times I've seen her on the TV, didn't prepare me for seeing her in the flesh again. I, I, don't know what to think, Ange," he paused, "My mind is spinning. I couldn't get any work done this afternoon for thinking about her." He added, a weary smile crossing his face.

"She might have been just as surprised. She was probably hoping to avoid being recognized and then she bumps into the Georgetown Playboy!"

"Hey," he laughed, "what can I say, I was popular." She smiled at him and chuckled.

He continued, "The moment I saw her, I was taken back to Georgetown, to the first time I saw her at the pool party. Yes, the years have aged us, but she is still beautiful and has the most joyous smile that fills me with warmth." He smiled and closed his eyes, thinking back to the day almost twenty years ago when he first met her during orientation.

"Don't think I really impressed her the first time we met, but I think being a managing partner helped me today," he chuckled, taking another sip of beer.

"Yes, but that first impression back in the day was overcome and you became friends, so I'm sure however goofy you appeared today, she'll forgive. You're still cute and her hubby is in the clink," she joked and smiled at him.

"Well, she noticed I was wearing sneakers, which reduced the tension a bit. Oh," he paused, "I wonder if she thought I meant my baby? She didn't ask."

"Did you clean your shoes?"

"Yeah, don't worry, I haven't dragged baby vomit in here," he laughed.

She chuckled. "I'm sure she'll ask what you've been doing for the past fifteen years later."

"So, do you have any plans this evening or are you happy to get some dinner and let me wallow?" He asked.

"Actually, I have a date," she told him, "with Frank."

"Det. Seabrook, huh," he paused taking a sip of beer, "what is it third date?" he winked at her.

"Yeah, meeting him for drinks at nine. Want me to cancel? I can blow him off?"

Will chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her, "Cancelling and blowing him off are two very different things Ange."

"Don't be filthy!" she joked and playfully slapped him on the arm.

"You went there too!" he retaliated.

She laughed, "Touché!"

"No, you should go," he said quietly, stroking her hair, "it can wait."

"Really?" she questioned, "sure doesn't look like it."

"Yeah," he smiled, "I have work to do, but can I stay here until you get back?"

She nodded. "I need a shower," she pulled at her jumper as she rose and walked towards her bedroom, taking her beer with her.

"OK, then shout when you're finished," he yelled after her, "I'll help you pick out something pretty," he laughed. She giggled and closed the door behind her.

….

Less than an hour after she left for her date, Angela was back, clutching a pizza and a six-pack of beer. "What happened?" Will asked, eyeing the pizza and beer, he figured nothing good

"We'll do it another day."

"You were stood up?"

"No, he didn't come, something got in the way," she paused, "work," she added in a sad tone, shrugging as she hung her jacket on the coat stand. "I'm gonna get changed. Have some pizza, I figured you wouldn't have eaten," she said as she disappeared down the hall to her bedroom.

Will got up from the couch and went to find some plates in the kitchen. As he placed them on the counter, something didn't feel quite right. Ange wasn't that bothered that her date was cancelled, it was unlike her – if she got dressed up for a fella, she expected him to turn up. He moved swiftly and picked up her purse from the floor by the door. Checking she wasn't on her way back, he took her phone from the front pocket and unlocked it – he smiled at the fact she still uses the same code after all these years – and tapped on messages. His finger hesitated over the first entry, the sender of which was Frank Seabrook - he shouldn't be doing this. He took a breath and clicked on the message, 'Yeah, that would be good.' He sighed and scrolled to the top of the conversation. The first message was from Angela: 'Hi, really sorry to do this, but I'm going to have to take a rain check on drinks, got caught up at work.' Huh, so he was right, Angela did cancel the date. Frank: 'Hey, don't worry about it, happens to all of us. Shame though, was looking forward to seeing you.' Angela: 'How about Friday? I'm not in until late Saturday so can have fun Friday night…' Frank: 'I can do Friday.' Angela: 'Same place, 8pm?' Frank: 'Yeah, that would be good.' Will replaced the phone and put her purse back in the entryway. He felt ashamed for reading her messages but his heart warmed that she came back, realising he needed her this evening.

"I decided I'd worn enough outfits for today so thought I'd get ready for bed," Angela announced as she came back into Will's line of sight. "For what it's worth Ange, you looked good earlier, shame Frank missed out," he glanced at her, the corner of his mouth turning up. She smiled at him, shaking her head with a chuckle.

She pulled two beers from the pack and put the remainder in the refrigerator. Will sat at the counter and pulled a slice of pizza onto his plate. "Talk to me," she instructed, sliding a beer across the counter.

…..

Will was startled as Paul McCartney singing the opening to Hey Jude began emanating from Angela's purse. Angela sighed, a little frustrated, as she recognized the caller and got up to silence her cell. McCartney had got as far as remembering to let her into your heart when Angela hit the reject button.

Will looked at her, tilting his head inquisitively, "Nice ringtone!"

"It's Frank," she replied.

"Why Hey Jude? Doesn't really seem like a Frankie kind of song."

"Saint Jude is the patron saint of the Chicago PD," she noted, tilting her head and moving her hands in explanation. Will nodded, "OK," then added, "you should have answered it."

"Later," she said and took a drink of her beer.

Angela's cell phone vibrated and a text alert appeared onscreen. Will picked it up and handed it to her, "Frank," he stated. Angela smiled as she read the message and tapped out a reply. Within seconds, the familiar buzz signalled another message. She touched the screen to read it and sighed, pursing her lips as she contemplated a response. Eventually she replied and set the phone down.

She noticed Will's eyes were on the device as got up to go to the bathroom, "Down boy," she cautioned him. He smiled up at her and raised his eyebrows, "Just wondering if I have real competition?"

"Nah, you'll always be my number one," she winked at him.

"Good. I'm narcissistic enough to think women should give up sex altogether after me."

Angela laughed, "Well, I'm not about to do that!"

Will chuckled. His life was turning into a soap opera. Here he was talking about his feelings for a woman he hadn't seen for over a decade with his best friend – who happened to be his ex-girlfriend and occasional lover, while she sexted a guy she was dating, who was somebody he knew through work. Oh, and the woman he was enamored with was the wife of the former State's Attorney.

When Angela returned Will asked, "You like him, don't you?"

"Yeah," she smiled, "he's cute."

"No, I mean really like him Ange," he said turning to face her. "I haven't seen you this interested in a guy for a long time," he paused to let the words sink in, "which is why I'm surprised that you aren't more upset that you came home early."

"I told you, he had to work," she replied a little too defensively, almost revealing the fact she cancelled on Frank. "You and I have both cancelled dates because a case got in the way, same with Frank. Yes, I'm disappointed, but can't be helped."

Will nodded and looked down at the beer in his hand. "OK," he said after a few moments, "but he's different. I get the feeling that he's more than a one-night stand or you usual two-week romances."

"God!" she exclaimed, laughing, "You know me so well, Mr Gardner!" Will laughed and picked up the bowl of potato chips.

"Yes," Angela continued, "I do want more than that with him, but I'm not sure how it will work out. I'm leaving in a couple of weeks and, well, it's not great timing."

"Bad timing hon, it's how we roll!" They laughed and Angela laid down on the couch, resting her head on Will's lap. "Yeah," she added sadly. "This really is the first time I've felt more than just a basic physical attraction to somebody for a long time. I find him intriguing, funny, and there's a soft side to the rugged exterior I want to get to know.

"Well, from what K says, I think the feeling is mutual."

"Hmmm," Angela smiled, "good to know," she said as she closed her eyes.

…...

"I told her to call me sometime. I didn't get her number," Will said.

Did you check there wasn't a Post-it on your ass?"

He laughed heartily, "She isn't you!"

"You know where she works, Wells Fargo, or whatever, call her there, wish her luck for her first day."

He sighed, "I dunno, she might not appreciate me butting into her life after fifteen years. She's got a lot going on and that ass of a husband can make her life very difficult. She won't want me interfering."

"Maybe she could use a little interference," Angela winked at him, "remember Georgetown…" as she chuckled to herself.

"As much as I would love to, the ball is in her court."

"OK, but I think you're wasting an opportunity. Timing sweetheart. Remember clock is ticking."

He got up to go to the bathroom, as he crossed the room, he laughed, "Wells Fargo!" Stopping to turn around he added, "Janie, you crack me up, don't ever leave." She smiled at his old nickname for her, a moniker that he only ever used when they were alone and was a remnant from their early days together.

…..

Later that evening they were sitting quietly drinking bourbon on the sofa, with Angela resting her head against Will's shoulder.

Will broke the silence: "Thanks Ange," he said, taking her hand and linking his fingers with hers, "thanks for coming back."

"No worries," she replied and lifted their entwined hands to kiss the top of his, unaware that he knew full well that she had broken her date to stay with him.

"I'm going to bed," she leant forward to place her empty class on the table, before rubbing her hand gently on his leg.

He gave her a tired smile and lifted his glass in a mock toast, "I won't be long."

The comfortable relationship they had meant that when they stayed at each other's apartments they were happy to still share the same bed. For both of them, such a simple, platonic gesture gave the illusion of not being alone and, particularly for Angela, helped her sleep more contentedly. Also, given the fact that Angela's spare room housed a multitude of boxes ready for her impending move, there really wasn't anywhere else for Will to sleep.

As Angela moved towards the bedroom, Will sighed and rested his head on the back of the couch, closing his eyes and running his free hand through his hair. He didn't know what to make of today, seeing her was a surprise - a good surprise, he thought to himself. But it had thrown him; all those feelings for Alicia he had buried were now resurfacing. Will refilled his glass from the bottle in front of him and let his mind wander to the stunning brunette. A smile crossed his face as he sipped the amber liquid, he was pleased he ran into Mrs Alicia Florrick.

…..

Opening the bedroom door, he found Angela sitting up rubbing lotion on her hands, "What do I have in the way of clothes here?" he asked.

"Some dress shirts, not sure about pants, look in the closet," she replied.

"I'm not gonna find a fawn and fall into Narnia am I?" he laughed opening one of the doors. "Ah, Armani!" he said, pulling out a beautiful navy wool suit to show her, "I can go straight to court in the morning," a little relieved. He hung the suit back in the closet and sat on the edge of the bed.

"The last time I saw her was before I ever met you," he said looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"I know," she sighed, watching his eyes in the glass.

"Our whole friendship has been conducted in the time since Alicia Cavanaugh and I last spoke. Just seems surreal. So long ago." He sighed, contemplating the passing of the years and the time he had missed out on with Alicia.

"Very nearly eleven years since we met," she smiled and saw him return her gaze, beaming at her in the mirror. He quickly turned around to face her, "15th October," he said positively, seeing the recognition on her face. "Who knew that the beautiful stranger I stole a drink from would become my best friend and would, through fate or luck, forever connect me to Diane Lockhart," he said sincerely, taking her hand and kissing it, just as she had done to his earlier. "I still can't believe that my Diane was your Dad's Diane," he chuckled.

"I know," she replied, "but maybe you both would have approached the merger differently if you had known. Things happen for a reason."

"Yeah, like meeting people in elevators!" he joked. Angela laughed.

"Do you think she's given me a second thought since this morning?" He asked as he took off his pants and placed them on a leather chair in the corner.

"You mean in the, damn, he's mighty fine, gotta get me some of that sense," she smirked. He laughed and threw a sock at her.

Angela giggled, "Seriously though, you probably did cross her mind once or twice," she said nodding gently. "Especially since you asked her to get in touch," she paused, "she could be having this exact same conversation with one of her friends, trying to decide whether to call the Hotshot Lawyer." She used her nickname for him; it was how Diane had introduced him to her all those years ago – unaware they already knew each other. He smirked at her, "You think?"

"Yeah. If I met my old college crush and he said to call him, I would, especially if I was single. Might wait a day or two so I didn't appear needy, but yeah, I would."

Throwing his shirt across the room and into Angela's laundry basket, like a pro player, he joked, "You can wash that." She laughed as he climbed into bed beside her. "OK, so you think she will call me. Am I over-thinking this?"

"Yes and yes." She said in an insistent tone.

"Huh," he sighed, "I'll wait. I've waited fifteen years, guess I can wait a few days."

"Oh, and, needy is not really your thing," he scoffed, "you're more likely to forget you have a boyfriend than to appear insecure and overpower them with texts and flowers!"

"Oi!" she playfully slapped his arm as they both collapsed into laughter. "I didn't ignore you when we were dating," she countered.

"I know. You were very attentive," he reassured her.

"I had a lot to live up to," she turned to him and chuckled.

"Yes, I am pretty memorable!"

"Oh and so humble," she mocked.

"Seriously, Ange, make it up to Frank. He's a good guy."

"I will."

"Night," he said kissing her on the cheek.

"Night sweetie."

She turned out the light and, as they lay in the darkness, Will asked, "Should I call her?"

"Yes," she replied, "carpe diem Will."

A/N: the next chapter will bring Alicia and Angela together again – some tough questions will be asked. Reviews always welcome!