A/N: Thanks again for keeping with me on this. I have had a really bad time over the last few months, so have not felt like being involved in FF, but now feel I have time to come back to my hobbies. This is just a very short chapter to get myself used to the characters again.

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Chicago, Fall 2009

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Across town, Alicia stepped out of her own shower, grabbed a fresh, white cotton towel from the chair beside the bath and wrapped it around her lithe, warm, damp body. She picked a smaller guest towel up and began to rub at her hair, beginning the long task of drying it. How she wished she was a man who could just shower, dress and be out the door in mere minutes. Her mind leapt to Will Gardner - he was that type of guy - he could leave his hair after a shower and be good to go. Hmmm… she thought to herself, a shower-fresh Will would be a great morning pick-me-up, his tousled, wet hair could probably rouse any woman's passions, regardless of context.

As she continued to towel her hair she walked towards the counter. She noticed that the steamy heat from the shower had created a layer of condensation on the mirror above the hand basin. Ordinarily, she would wipe the mirror with either the flat of her hand or a towel, so she could see her reflection in the shimmering surface. Today, she felt like a giddy schoolgirl on the first back after the summer vacation. To befit the persona of a teenager in a short skirt and high spirits, she reached out her hand and, with her forefinger, drew a heart in the condensation. She smiled. She put her damp finger to her lips, running the moisture from the mirror along her bottom lip as she breathed deeply, her chest rising quickly as her heart began to race. The thoughts of Will Gardner that ran through her head were not what she should be thinking at this time of the morning, especially today when they had to stand together in court and defend (she chuckled) their client. She closed her eyes and shook her head as she laughed gently - their client would be most amused that his Lead Counsel was having improper thoughts about her Second Chair. Mr Sweeney was not the world's most straightforward character and he loved sandal. He revelled in it, enjoyed it, and would be thrilled to learn his legal team got thrills of their own from each other.

Alicia finished rubbing her hair with the towel and threw it into the hamper as she walked from her en-suite bathroom into her bedroom. Sitting down at her dressing table, still dressed in her towel, she picked up her hairdryer and began to dry her hair. She closed her eyes and rolled her head in small circles as the blast of hot air threw her hair out behind her and warmed her face. Once her hair was dried, she brushed it and curled it slightly to give it a little volume - almost in the style she had it in college. She smiled at the inadvertent blast from the past and wondered if Will would notice.

She applied her make-up, taking a little extra care this morning, both to appeal professional and to be a little more attractive than usual. She knew she was being a bit provocative and daring, but she fancied a little danger in her life at the moment, and, despite his denial the other evening, she was sure that Will Gardner did too.

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Unplugging her cell phone from its charger, she sent Will a quick message.

"You ready?" She typed, a smile crossing her face, as she looked forward to her first day in court with Will since their student days.

"Always ready.Like a marine." Came the response. With that, she dropped her cell into her purse, grabbed her files for court and headed out the door.

Will chuckled to himself at his playful reply, as he tucked sandwiches, fruit and chips into boxes for his kids' lunches. He left the boxes on the kitchen counter along with a note for Cathy warning her he might be late home, as it was his first day back in court. He picked up his briefcase, took his overcoat from the back of a chair and opened the door to his apartment. "Good luck, Dad," Cathy shouted from her bedroom, "Thanks sweetheart, means a lot – been a while! Have a good day too. Let me know how your Math test goes." With that, he walked out the door filled with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Will Gardner felt like he was going on a first date.

A/N: Sorry it is short, will try to update quicker and shorter to keep the new momentum going. Best wishes.