A/N: This is only a short chapter. I will filter the conversations between Alicia and Angela post-finale into coming chapters. I didn't want to focus too much on what happened as people have different (and sometimes very extreme!) views and I wanted to get back to the women trying to heal and laugh over Will.
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Chicago, March 2016 – after the trial
Video Killed The Radio Star (The Buggles)
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Later that evening, Alicia and Angela met in a diner. It was not the type of establishment that they would normally meet at, indeed, diners held a negative air for Alicia. It was in a diner in New York that she had a tense meal sat next to Will following her less-than-glowing speech at the ABA conference. She also found solace in low-key meetings with Finn in Chicago diners in the aftermath of her run for State's Attorney.
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"I don't want to know if Kurt really cheated on Diane, or how far any affair went," Angela said quite sternly, sighing, "that information is for Diane's ears only, and," she paused, "if she wishes to share it, I will be there for her." The redhead stared, unblinking at Alicia, "I, I, can't comprehend why you and Lucca would bring Diane and Kurt's marriage into the courtroom. I just can't believe it. You were on the same side," she said in an exasperated tone, gesticulating with the palm of her hand. Waiting for an answer, Angela took a sip of the hot coffee in front of her.
Alicia bit her lip and took a deep breath. She didn't know what to say. She recognised the hurt in her friend's eyes. It was the same mix of confusion, pain and anger that she saw in Will's eyes the day she left Lockhart/Gardner with the fourth years. Will had felt for himself, Diane and the firm. Angela felt anger for Diane and Kurt. After what seemed like ten minutes, but was probably only about twenty seconds, Alicia began, very quietly, "It wasn't personal." With that comment, Angela's head snapped up so she was looking directly at Alicia again. Alicia realised that the three words that had slipped from her lips meant nothing to Angela, just as the same phrase had meant nothing to Will that morning in the Lockhart/Gardner offices. She also realised it sounded like a mere platitude and wasn't a real reason behind their accusations. "I needed to defend Peter," she said with honesty, "he is my husband, the father of my children and, until earlier today, the Governor of Illinois. I couldn't let him go to jail. Not again." Alicia spoke with clarity, laying her palms on the table and leaning forward towards Angela.
"You undermined Kurt," Angela began, "a man, no," she shook her head, "an expert known for his integrity and inability to bend the truth or defend a guilty party." She looked down at her mug of coffee and cupped the white porcelain in her hands. Looking up at Alicia, she furrowed her brow, "Why?"
"For Peter," she replied again.
"But it was such a sly move. Cutthroat even. Friends and colleagues don't do that to each other."
"Will did some pretty dubious things in his time," Alicia retorted. As soon as she said it she realised she'd engaged her mouth before engaging her brain again. Her snappiness was instinctive, defending herself, as she had had to do since Peter's first scandal over seven years ago. She didn't mean to drag Will into it. Not now. She had loved Will and belittling his memory and his worth was beneath her. She swallowed hard and looked to Angela.
Angela bit her bottom lip and sucked her cheeks in a little, creating hollows either side of her mouth. Alicia surmised that she was trying not to yell in response to her flippant comment about Angela's best friend. Angela let out a short breath. "Regardless of what Will did in the courtroom, or, outside of it if we're thinking of the reasons behind his suspension, he would never, never," she emphasised, "trade his friendship with Diane for a case. He wouldn't. He had been hurt by an interview she gave when she was proposed for a judgeship and that caused so much friction, he vowed once they made up that he would never do that to her, even if it was at the detriment of the firm." She looked at Alicia and saw tears begin to form in her eyes, "And," she paused, "he respected Kurt too much. He knew Diane and Kurt had something he didn't and wouldn't want to wreck it for them."
"I also did it for myself." Alicia replied, trying to defend her actions again.
Angela furrowed her brow, "For you?" she asked, a small sigh escaping her mouth.
"I need to be free from Peter. We are going to divorce. But, the point has been raised that if Peter was sent to prison again, I wouldn't divorce him," Alicia replied. Angela nodded, realising where this was going. "I would stand by him again, be the good wife, and ignore the pleas of my heart. I need to try to be happy. I let my needs take second place in the past and I lost a great love."
"Will," Angela confirmed and Alicia nodded. Alicia continued, "I can't make the same mistake again. My children are grown and I need to live a life for myself. I deserve it." Alicia heard Angela snort a little into her coffee mug.
"Regardless of what spin Eli Gold tries to put on this, you are no longer Saint Alicia. You may have survived all the crap with your husband and the scandal over your SA election, but I think this is worse," Angela said sadly, "maybe the people of Chicago won't agree with me. You stuck by your man again, they like that Tammy Wynette-Hillary Clinton sound bite." She took a drink of her coffee and, waving the mug in Alicia's direction, added, "I'm really disappointed in you and Lucca."
Alicia nodded, "I know." She looked down at the table and studied her hands; she thought to herself, when did my hands become so old? She shook her head briefly, damn it! Not about you now. "I'm sorry," she squeaked.
"It's not me you need to apologise to," Angela said dryly. "In time, you and Lucca need to consider your position and response to Diane. Don't forget you were on the cusp of becoming a female-led law firm together. I except that has been thrown to the curb. Even if there is nothing in the Kurt story, you have hurt and embarrassed Diane." Before she could continue, her cell phone rang and put a sudden halt to their conversation as she looked at the called ID.
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A/N: So, this was just an introduction to their conversation. Not sure where it will go. I might jump forward in time and then backfill.
