Author's note: I feel so bad for not uploading that I almost don't dare to (re)continue. Let's just say that adulting is hard and that this story is so dear to me, that I really want to make sure I get it all right. Or at least, that I've done what I could.
Summary: force ma·jeure noun \ˌfȯrs-mä-ˈzhər, -mə-\ 1: superior or irresistible force. 2: an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled. Alicia & Will, seven months after she left L/G: I get up from the couch and slide my finger over the screen to pick up. "Will?" "Hi, Alicia." It really is his voice. "I thought… it'd be quicker to call. Sorry to hear about the cancellation." "Yeah, well it happens," is all I manage to reply, still a bit unsure of what's going on. I walk over to the kitchen and lean against the counter. "Thank you, for being there the other day. I didn't expect you to."
Thanks: To SongforRegina and pphantast for encouraging me to continue!

Force Majeure

Chapter 20 – Quantum Leap

Light up, light up, light up, light up
- Janne Schra (Light Up)

Two weeks later

Thursday 07:53 PM

"So wait, why did they change the final court date?" Owen asks as he pours us both a glass of red wine in the kitchen.

"I don't know, scheduling issues," I sigh as I kick off my heels and sit down on the couch. "Happens all the time."

"I thought they only changed court dates of cases that don't really matter," he responds as he sits down next to me and hands me my glass. "But you, a sophisticated lawyer, shouldn't you have ways, your contacts?"

I grin. "I wish. And I don't know about sophisticated. The elevator of our office actually broke down this morning."

"But you are sophisticated," he replies and holds up his glass to mine. "Cheers."

"Cheers."

"Did you get a new date?"

"Yeah, next Wednesday."

"Great. I'll be there."

I turn my head towards him. "You really don't have to."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll be there, just like last time. To support you. And to quietly whisper death threats to that horrible, horrible man."

I grin. "How lovely."

"Well, someone has to do it."

"Oh, believe me, I do it too. I'm just… I want to get this over with. This just needs to go away, you know?"

Owen nods. "It will, soon."

"I know," I sigh and look at him.

"You know, I do think you're very brave."

"Thank you," I say softly. "But I'm still too afraid to go into a parking garage on my one."

"Those things take time."

"Yeah…"

We're quiet, drinking our wine. I then notice Owen is staring at me. It's taking a little too long. "What?" I ask.

"You look good! You look really, really good. Why are you sitting here, drinking wine with your gay brother? You should be out in the world, seducing a man who makes loves to you and protects you from parking garages."

"Any suggestions?" I respond dryly and lean over to refill our glasses.

"Let me think," he begins. "I know it's a stretch but…How about this guy… you've loved for more than twenty years, had an affair with that brought you actual happiness and joy, who took care of you for basically 24 hours and showed up at your trial. I mean, I know it's a crazy thought but you know, it's something to consider."

He makes me laugh. "When you put it like that, it only makes sense."

"That's because it makes perfect sense. And might I add, it has made sense for the past decade."

"You're forgetting the part where he no longer wants to talk me, I betrayed his trust and I no longer feel the connection we used to have."

He sighs and thinks for a minute. "Then why did he come to court?"

"Now that's a good question," I reply and take another sip from my wine.

"Because he cares. He just doesn't know how to express it, because he's still hurting, but he does care and he wants you to know that he does."

"Maybe…" I nod pensively..

"You did tell him that there's no hearing tomorrow, right?"

I shake my head. "Nope."

"Alicia! You should."

"Look, hear me out. I don't know if he'll come. To be fair, I don't even know if I want him to."

"Of course you want him to."

I shake my head. "But texting him will be like asking him to come."

"Well, would that be a bad thing?"

I sigh. "Maybe. I already asked him to talk, that didn't do much."

"He came to court."

"Yeah…" I mumble. "And then he texted me afterwards."

"Wait what?! You didn't tell me that!"

I laugh and pick my phone up from the coffee table. "Let me see… He said… you're strong. And you'll win this. I hope you know that." I put my phone back and look at Owen.

His eyes grow wide. "You cannot withhold information from me like that! See! He's supporting you. So he'll show up tomorrow if you don't let him know. Just text him."

I sigh deeply as I stare at the text. "OK, maybe you're right," I mutter.

"Of course I am. You two… You guys connect. Whether you like it or not. Whether he likes it or not. I can't even count the amount of times we've had this talk." He gets up from the couch. "Go, text him. I need to go the bathroom. When I come back, you've texted him."

I shake my head and take a deep breath as I scroll back to my conversation with Will. Owen's right. Owen has always been right. So I decide to just go for it and send a text to Will:

Hi, just wanted to let you know tomorrow's hearing got postponed, A.

I press send and throw my phone away to the other side of the couch. Did it. Now I need more wine. As I reach for the bottle for the second time this evening, I see a notification pop up on my phone screen.

Wait. He already replied? I glance at my screen.

Sorry to hear that. Have a new date yet?

While I'm still taking in the fact that Will instantly texted me back, Owen comes back from the bathroom. "And?!"

"He responded," I say stunned, still staring at the notification. "Asked if I got a new date."

"SEE!" He says triumphantly. "He's intending to come. And therefore he's now asking for the date. Which you will now tell him."

I grin at Owen's excitement.

Next Wednesday.

That's all I write, with Owen looking over my shoulders.

I press send again.

Owen's looks up to me. "Well, you certainly didn't get mom's creative genes," he mutters and sits back down next to me.

"Shut up," I laugh.

I sit there with my phone in my hand, not sure what to expect. And then it's starts ringing.

"O my God," I gasp and look up at Owen. "That's Will."

"Go, go, pick up!" He hisses at me.

I get up from the couch and slide my finger over the screen to pick up. "Will?"

"Hi, Alicia." It really is his voice. "I thought… it'd be quicker to call. Sorry to hear about the cancellation."

"Yeah, well it happens," is all I manage to reply, still a bit unsure of what's going on. I walk over to the kitchen and lean against the counter. "Thank you. For being there the other day. I didn't expect you to."

"I know."

He falls silent for a second.

"It felt right," he adds.

My heart warms as he says that. He sounds genuine, soft. It brings a smile to my face.

"Look," he quickly continues. "I called you because it seems like we're both free tomorrow afternoon now that the hearing is cancelled. I thought… it might be a good moment to talk, if it suits you. Go for a coffee?"

My mouth drops open in surprise. Did he just propose to talk? "Sure, yeah, sure, let's do that. I'm free. That works." I roll my eyes at my own chaotic response.

I think I hear him grin. "All right then. The usual place at three?"

"The usual place at three," I confirm, completely taken aback by this straight forward initiative.

"Great. Then… We'll see each other tomorrow."

"We will. Thank you, for calling… Have a good night."

Does the conversation end here? I'm not sure.

"Yeah, you too," he responds, and then the line disconnects.

So the conversation did end. I shake my head in disbelief and bite my lip as I repeat the conversation in my mind. The usual place. I don't remember how often we would say or text that to each other. Our hotel. Our bar. Our restaurant. I don't think I've even set foot in that place since we ended… whatever is was that we've ended.

"AND?!" I hear Owen shout from the living room.

I don't say a word. I just walk back to the living room, pick up my glass from the coffee table and chug down all that's left in the glass.

He nods approvingly. "Good girl," he laughs. "Now we're talking!"

Thank you for reading!

(Preview for next chapter: Alicia and Will at their usual place, having a good and much needed conversation).