A/N: It has been a long time! I was encouraged to re-start this story so thought a little festive update might be a start.

Eternal Flame (The Bangles)

Chicago, December 2009

The Stern Lockhart Gardner holiday party had come and gone, the office had slept over Christmas and come Monday 28th the staff returned to their desks. As small talk was made about gifts, family and peace, the law machine began to turn, for justice never sleeps. Will was at his desk before 8am, eager to get started and complete preparation for a case that started after the New Year, after all, everyone loves a bit of Colin Sweeney! He watched through the glass as associates exited the elevator, brewed coffee and began to work. He raised his mug in greeting to Diane as she walked towards him, but the person he really wanted to see was Alicia. It had been a long Christmas without her. Yes, he had spent the past God knows how many without her too, but now she was back in his life, he wanted her in his life. But he was her boss and she was married. Nothing is ever simple he mused. Apart from a couple of cheerful 'Happy Christmas' texts he hadn't heard from her since she left for the holiday weekend.

Diane entered Will's office with a cheerful, "Morning, Will," as she placed her purse and wrap on the chair in front of his desk. "Good weekend?" she queried.

Will turned away from the glass and his view of the hallway, "Yeah, quiet, saw a few of the guys and had a drink with Frank Seabrook, nothing much. You?"

"Quiet too. You should have come for Christmas dinner, lots of people were there. David's plans changed so he was there, and Lionel and his wife came over."

"Yeah, thanks for inviting me Diane, but I didn't want to impose as you had Dave and your friends, I'll come for a drink tonight though," he responded.

"Good," said Diane. "So, you saw Det. Seabrook," she mused, "how is he?"

"He's good," Will replied, "busy too."

"And his relationship with Angela?" Diane enquired.

Will traced a line across his throat with his finger, shaking his head. "Nope."

"Well, I guess it was to be expected," Diane sighed, "there is quite a distance between them and I don't think they are really on the same page."

"Yeah, I think Ange backed away as Frank was pushing for more," Will agreed.

"I need to get on as Julius has a few things to discuss," Diane said as she picked up her belongings. She walked towards Will and squeezed his arm, "Come on Hotshot, get to work," she smiled warmly. Will smiled back, the moniker hurling him back to the early days of Stern Lockhart Gardner. "Really happy you're still here, your honour," he responded. Diane smiled as she walked through the vestibule between their offices and into her own domain, dumping her purse on the desk as she surveyed the city below.

Will turned back to looking into the hallway. He noticed Alicia exiting the elevator and heading down the hall, he quickly finished the rest of his coffee and rushed to cut her off in the corridor, accidently on purpose of course. "Hey," he said as she came up to him, "good holiday?"

Alicia looked up at him, her breath caught in her chest and she felt her heart quicken a little, "Well, yes, I guess," she began, "the kids enjoyed it but missed Peter, and my mother and brother came so that was good. And Jackie. Not so good," she smiled but rolled her eyes a little. Will chuckled at that, wondering what to say next. He was pleased it wasn't all doom and gloom chez Florrick, but equally he would love to sweep her up in his arms and show her what she was missing. He liked the smart blue skirt suit she was wearing and noticed how low the front of the jacket was cut, wondering what she was wearing underneath. "Glad it was OK," he replied.

"How about your weekend?" she asked. "Did you visit your sisters?"

Will smiled, "No, not this year. It was OK. I always enjoy New Year more than Christmas, and you know I hate the snow."

Alicia nodded gently, she remembered he wasn't really a cold weather penguin. "Do you have plans to celebrate?" she asked.

"Not yet, but I'm open to suggestions," he said with a hint of optimism. He hoped Alicia would suggest a drink or something, but he knew he would either end up working then getting drunk with K or seeing some of the basketball guys.

"I'll keep you posted," she laughed back, "see you later," as she continued down the corridor. "Later," Will replied. He went to get himself another coffee and pulled his cell from his pants pocket as he walked.

"K, happy Monday, where are you?" he said as the investigator answered his call.

"Just pulling in, Will. Be up in five."

"Great, come see me when you're in, bye," he hung up and poured coffee into his mug.

….

Alicia sat at her desk and thought about what Will said earlier, 'open to suggestions' - did he want her to actually suggest something?

….

Kalinda entered Will's office, closed the door behind herself and sat down at his desk. Crossing her legs, her green leather skirt slid upwards exposing her toned thighs; Kalinda's legs were not something Will ever noticed.

"K, how is Peter Florrick's appeal going? Find out what you can about it, I think it is due to start in January, maybe early Feb." he asked. She nodded.

"And K," he added, "how strong is the Florrick marriage? Really. Not what Peter wants the media to know, not what Alicia tells her fellow associates or Jackie, but how is it? I know they won't divorce, but is there distance?"

"OK," Kalinda nodded, stood, and turned on her heel and left. No request ever seemed to faze her.

Will picked up a baseball from his desk and leant back in his chair, tossing it in the air. He thought back to a recent discussion on the basketball court with Henry Baxter, where he taunted him about Alicia and questioned whether he was sleeping with her. He wasn't, but Henry poked the bear and knew he wanted to, he realised that Will fantasised about it. Will caught the baseball and wondered how real Alicia's marriage really was. Was it only for political purposes, or was there still love at the heart of it? He doubted that, but Alicia loved her children and would do anything to protect them, even staying in a loveless marriage. He respected that, even if he didn't agree with it. He would wait.

….

Flashback to earlier in the month, Will is talking to Angela on the phone:

"OK," he said thoughtfully, "so apart from hundreds of screaming patients you'll be alone on New Year?"

Angela chuckled, "Yeah, you know me so well!"

"Wanna friend?"

"Is that a come-on or an honest enquiry Mr. Gardner?"

"It's an honest... come-on."

….

Will closed the door to his apartment, it was nearly eleven pm, in an hour it would be New Year's Eve, in twenty-five hours it would be 2010. He hung up his long wool coat and took off his shoes, sighing as he contemplated his next move. Alicia had been distant the past couple of days. He appreciated she had been involved with a case with Cary but had also spent a lot of time away from the office supporting her jailbird husband. Given some of the information Kalinda had given him about the likelihood of Peter being released, he thought for now he had better distance himself from the former State's Attorney's wife.

Across town, Alicia lay in bed and her thoughts flickered between work, her husband and Will. One of the worst, and the best, years of her life was drawing to a close. She had to look after her kids and her brother suggested they make a night of New Year and invited himself to stay longer. She was looking forward to spending time with Owen and her kids, but she missed adult company outside of work. She wondered what Will was doing for New Year. She would ask him tomorrow if he fancied going for a drink after work, it would be nice to toast the end of her first year at the firm and look towards the future, whatever it brought. She knew she couldn't stay late, but a little bit of downtime with Will would be lovely.

…...

A few hours and 150 miles later, Will sat on the hood of his car in the hospital car park sipping a coffee that was rapidly cooling in the cold morning air. He looked up as Angela walked towards him, wrapped up against the winter weather, "Hey you," he smiled as he stood to wrap his arms around her taking care not to spill his beverage. "Missed you, thanks for coming," Angela responded as Will kissed the side of her face. Will sighed and agreed with her, "Me too."

Opening the door to her apartment, Angela was glad to be home; she was exhausted. Will was tired too, he'd had very little sleep and the drive was longer than he remembered. Taking off their coats, Will laughed as he saw Angela was wearing one of his old Georgetown sweaters. She took his hand and lead him to her bedroom, for now, sleep was all she wanted.

…..

It was New Year's Eve, or Thursday as David Lee put it, and Alicia was in the office early, hoping to complete what she needed to do before asking Will for a festive drink. She'd walked past his office when she arrived just before eight but it was in darkness, so she would go back mid-morning and try to casually drop the invitation into the conversation.

She went by his office again at eleven and couldn't see him. She asked his assistant if he was in yet and she said no, and she wasn't expecting him. Alicia felt sad, her heart sank with the realisation that she might not get to see Will today. It hadn't crossed her mind that he wouldn't be in the office, but he is a partner and could take leave when he wanted.

Turning, she saw Kalinda, "Kalinda," Alicia caught her friend's attention, "do you know where Will is?"

"Mad-i-son" the investigator replied in a sing-songy way, walking quickly down the hall.

Alicia was puzzled, she sighed and walked back to her office.

Angela woke up and saw the light dancing on the floor under the drapes, she figured it must be about midday. She looked across the bed at Will, he was sleeping but stirred a little. She moved so she was next to him and rested her head on his chest. Immediately she felt him turn, drawing his arm around her and pulling her closer, kissing the top of her head. Comfortable in each other's arms, they fell asleep again.

Early afternoon Will woke, made coffee and took one to Angela who was now flicking through TV stations, dressed in the blue button-down he had discarded hours earlier. "Tell me why you came," she asked, taking one of the mugs from him.

Will sat down beside her and sighed gently. "I don't know what to do about Alicia," he began. "I thought we were moving towards something, not sure what, but now, I don't know," he sat back against the padded headboard. He took a long sip of coffee before continuing, "There was definite flirting," he noted, adding quickly, "and don't forget her husband is in jail," he felt he had to defend his improper thoughts.

Angela nodded, sipping her coffee, "She is married, however bad that marriage is, so has made a commitment. You might be just a flirtation, something to amuse her with, look but don't touch territory," she put the coffee on the nightstand and turned to him, "it is not what you want to hear, but could she be playing with you? Georgetown was a lifetime ago."

Will wrinkled his brow, "No," he replied, "that is not like her. She is not going to go running into Peter's arms. A lot has changed since Georgetown, yes, but a lot has changed since her husband was SA."

"OK" she said taking hold of her coffee again.

"I don't know what to do, Ange, I really don't. The only thing I can do is wait. Wait to see what happens with her husband," he said sadly. She reached out and took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently, "We'll wait and see," she agreed, "then make a plan."

…..

Later that evening, Will and Angela are at a bar preparing to welcome the New Year, Will is still torn over Alicia and has resolved himself to let her go, at least for now. He finished his beer and took Angela by the arm, leading her to the dancefloor. As they began to dance together, she asked, "How you doing, hon?" "Better," he smiled, "much better," as he leaned in to kiss her. She felt herself kiss him back and they fell in to each other's arms as the DJ started the countdown to 2010.

"Happy New Year, Janie" Will said as he nuzzled her ear, "I love you."

"I love you too, Hotshot, Happy New Year," she replied as streamers fell around them and distant fireworks signalled the start of a new decade.

Alicia stood in her kitchen as cheers and music reverberated around her family room where Owen celebrated with Zac and Grace. She tapped out a message to Will on her cell phone, unsure of what to say, she kept it simple: Happy New Year. She held her thumb over the 'x' as she wondered if she should add a kiss. A kiss is nothing, it doesn't mean anything does it? Or does it mean everything? It isn't like an accidental 'I love you' on the phone, but it does send a warm message. And hope. She took a gulp of the wine from the glass at her elbow, blinked, looked up to the ceiling, and pressed down her digit. 'Happy New Year x' she wrote. Pressing send, the message was out in the ether. Now she just had to wait for his response. Hoping he would reply swiftly, she sat down at the counter with her wine, staring at her phone.

Will felt his cell vibrate several times in his pants as he received greetings from friends, ignoring them, he pulled Angela closer as the opening bars of 'Disco 2000' began to play.

A/N: So let me know what you think, I've got a few more ideas…