A/N: I won't state my usual sob excuse because you all know me by now lol. For new readers (welcome!), well…I'll just say I'm a work in progress.

But after an unintended mini break, I'm back! I know I'm kidding myself even calling it a break. Ha. Good news is I've been writing quite a bit so hopefully you all enjoy this update, the chapters that follow and triple cross your fingers that I post them quick enough!

A Proposition—Part I

Eli Gold stood outside the door of the office that was meticulously curated in part by him. A wave of pride rolled within his chest as he admired the bolded name inscribed on the frosted glass door: Peter Florrick/Cook County State's Attorney.

His visit today was intentional, as was the nature of the times when he did visit this office. Which, it occurred to him the longer he stood in front of the door, was not often. Not that there was always a need to drop by per se. After Peter derailed their talks months ago for another campaign, Eli relocated his firm to Lockhart & Gardner and patiently waited for the opportune time to visit this office again.

Today was that time.

An unexpected phone call yesterday was the fuel behind his visit, and also gave him the charge to turn those former talks into a plan—one that had taken shape in the form of a loosely mapped blueprint. His sole intent and agenda once he walked through the door was only to layout that blueprint and reignite discussions about a future bigger than this office.

For after lengthy persuasions and premature negotiations, the pieces were now positioned on the chessboard, ready for them to play. He just hoped the man on the other side of the door was willing and ready for this familiar game.

Pocketing his cellphone, Eli smoothed a hand down his silk tie, then rapped lightly on the door.

"Come in!" Peter called from the other side.

Smiling broadly, Eli swung open the door with an arm dramatically outstretched. "Hello Pet—"

"Oh yeah?" Peter chuckled into the phone as he looked towards the doorway; their gazes locked in a mix of surprise and amusement.

Eli lowered his arm as his smile morphed into a discomfited smirk. He swiftly closed the door.

"Okay, h-h-honey," said Peter hurriedly. "I have a visitor…yeah my apartment is fine…see you tonight…love you. Bye." Setting the phone back on the cradle, he bolted up from his chair. "Eli Gold."

Eli walked further into the room, interpreting the tail end of the conversation he overheard.

"Uh, did I interrupt a special afternoon call?"

"Nah, nah." Peter walked around his desk to embrace him in a manly hug.

"Uh huh," he mumbled once they parted.

"So." Peter stood back, arms folded, grinning at the man he'd grown to love like a brother. "You had to go through my assistant to meet with me?"

Eli shrugged. "I try to keep an element of surprise." His eyes roamed around the room. "It's smaller in here than I remember. What did you change?"

"Nothing. I grew taller," Peter said dryly, recalling Eli wasn't always a fan of this office setup. He gestured for them to sit at the conference table. "As good as it is to see you, I know this isn't just a personal visit."

Eli nodded as he took a seat opposite him. "I'm sure you know why I'm here."

Peter smirked. "Enlighten me."

Eli rolled his eyes. "Last time, you told me a few months," he cautiously started.

Peter sank further into the chair and began rubbing his upper lip, eyes squinting.

"It's been almost a year. You've been doing very well this time around as State's Attorney and it's noticed."

Peter lowered a hand to the table and drummed his fingertips along the wood, trying to contain a smile.

"And I know you're happy here, but have you finally started to envision a bigger office for yourself?" His eyes swept across the room again, the tip of his nose crinkling in disdain. "One with more windows at least?"

"Eli," Peter unbuttoned and rolled up the cuffs of his shirt, "just say it."

Eli leaned forward, fisting his hands together and resting them on the table. "Are you ready to run for Governor?"

"Governor?" Peter slowly sat upright in the seat, looking back at him as if he uttered the word in a foreign language. "Governor," he repeated again, stating it slowly.

"Y-y-yes." Eli laid both hands on the table. "Are you purposely playing coy because I know—have you forgotten the plan because you're so deep into being a good Samaritan State's Attorney?"

"Eli, no. I—"

"I know you don't want to stay here for the rest of your career!"

Peter sighed, stroking his jaw in thought. "This is coming from…?"

"Does it matter?"

"On some level…yes. I've been running a clean office so far." He leaned back in the chair and crossed his elbows. "And I like it here. We're actually doing good work, given the size constraint."

Eli pursed his lips, rolling his eyes for a second time.

"A few appointed chairs of the Democratic Committee vouched you are the next best candidate to enter the race. Although we're nearing the mid-way mark, it's still not too late for you to enter. They would like your name on that ballot next November, Peter. And to be honest, so would I. But to do that, we'd need to kick off the campaign now. Make up for lost time and get ahead."

"Wait a minute." Peter remembered the young nominee from Glencoe whose name was highly predicted to be on the ballot next year. "What about Chris Gaines? He's the leading democratic candidate now, right?"

Eli nodded. "They're going to ask him to step down if he doesn't voluntarily."

"Why?"

"Obviously this bears repeating in detail," Eli huffed while sucking his teeth. "Mister Picture Perfect Prince of Glencoe Chris, has a problem with fidelity. He may have the perfect little family, perfect little house in Evanston and had a perfectly good career up until now, but he prefers women other than his wife. That are also a lot younger than his wife. There are strong rumors about a…child…as a result of his affairs. My source tells me the rumors are valid and the woman—mother, will be going public with her story soon. It's probably a matter of two news cycles before it all blows up. So, there will need to be another candidate in the lineup."

Peter vehemently shook his head. "And I was cherry picked to move to the front of the line instead of the other candidate already in the race?"

"Peter, look at it as the door opening for you again. You wanted this months ago."

"But I don't want it again like this, Eli." He combed a hand through his hair, grazing over the issues of both pros and cons from this offer. "It's all...wrong."

"On the contrary. The other democratic candidate is a waste. Dan Smith may be a prominent real estate developer, but he's old. And stingy. His campaign is about out of money and apparently he doesn't want to put up much more of his own money. And he's also ranking low in the polls. If you don't enter, the Republicans will likely win the Governor's seat."

Peter passed a hand over his face, grappling with the specifics. "How dirty is the other side playing?"

"Someone on their team is helping the mother come forward." Upon seeing Peter's widened eyes, he sighed in agreement. "Yeah. I know."

"Eli, if I enter, no matter how hard they try to take a hit, my limits are still the same."

"No kids, no using the family—I know. We'll get creative if the time comes."

"Okay." Peter smoothed a hand down his throat. "So if I enter, that's roughly nine—ten months time to raise enough money, to—"

"I worry about those details. Not you. That's my job."

Peter's shoulders faltered slightly as he fell against the back cushion.

"Look," Eli said calmly, "compared to Chris, you're no saint either, Peter. Especially in the arena of fidelity. I'm sure some bored housewives club has not forgotten that. But you have redeemed yourself and a great number of people accept this new Peter Florrick. You are liked, and have more than a solid chance at becoming Governor."

"What's the catch?"

"Nothing. Only that you win," he said plainly.

Peter stared at him, trying to gauge his expression for any sliver of deceit or doubt.

Seconds of scanning his face resulted in only seeing the candid honesty he had grown to know and expect from his trusted campaign manager.

"I see," he said after a minute.

"You see?" Eli's eyes bulged. "A normal person would be doing backflips and that's all you have to say? These types of second chances only come once in a lifetime, Peter!"

Sighing, Peter rose from the chair and walked to stand in front of the windows lining the wall near his desk. "A lot has changed since I took over this office, Eli."

His brows gathered upon hearing the more serious tone in his voice. "Such as?"

Slipping his hands into his suit pants pockets, Peter looked back at him, speaking over his shoulder, "For starters, my personal life. And where it is right now."

Eli observed him with unsettled eyes as he picked apart his reserved stature and considered the weight of his response.

"Where is it right now?"

Peter looked back out the window. "In a good place. I don't want to—no. I won't jeopardize that."

Eli stared at his profile, waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn't, he digested this news and reflected on a few observations he had noticed at the firm as of late as well.

"That would actually explain some things," Eli muttered with a slight rock of his head.

"Explain what things?" Peter walked back over to the table.

"Nothing," he said dismissively.

Sitting back within his seat, Peter studied his aloof expression for a second more before catching on.

"Alicia?"

Eli matched his studious gaze, giving a slight nod.

"What about her?" He tipped his chin up. "What are some things?"

"Nothing. Just…at the office I've noticed a subtle change in her from a distance." When he saw Peter's brows begin to rise, he stretched out a hand out on the table. "A good change," he reassured. "Nothing to be concerned about. But to confirm, how are things with you two?"

"We're good."

He nodded slowly. "Still separated?"

"Technically." When he saw Eli's eyes narrowing, he waved away his concern. "Don't read too much into it."

"Peter, if we start this campaign, I need to read into it. I'd like to know if I will be selling a happily married candidate or some—"

"I'll think about it."

Eli stared back at him, his mouth slightly agape. "You'll think about it," he repeated.

"Yes. Eli, look." With a heavy sigh, Peter leaned forward, massaging the muscle at the base of his neck. "Of course I would love to run for Governor, but…I need to take everything into account. Make sure that's really the next step."

Eli eyed him knowingly. He knew that resigned tone of voice; it said he wasn't going to get an answer today. Deciding to accept his decision, or lack there of for now, he slowly rose and reached into his suit jacket for his cellphone while making a mental note to work on the other Florrick later.

"I need to know a decision within two weeks, Peter. We can't afford another six months of soul searching if you want to be Governor."

With a wry smile, Peter bid him goodbye then sank back into his chair.

Lacing his fingers behind his head, he surveyed the room, honing in on the States' Attorney Seal and other accomplishments that hung on the wall behind his desk as he chewed over he and Eli's conversation just now.

A demur smile formed on his lips. "Governor Florrick…."

#

Grace peered around the corner of the hallway and into the kitchen at Peter putting the final touches on dinner.

She needed to get upstairs and strategize with her brother before they sat down for dinner on what happened earlier before Peter came home. To do that, she'd have to bypass him in the kitchen.

Biting her lower lip, she drew back and pressed herself against the wall, closing her eyes for a second in an attempt to settle her nerves. Her breathing was shallow and her stomach was contorting in what felt like an array of knots.

The last thing she wanted right now was just the two of them in a room. She'd purposefully avoided any possible one-on-one time with him since he walked through the door, afraid her grandmother had blabbed and she'd be cornered on the events of this afternoon.

The reminder roped her stomach in even tighter knots.

Her eyes opened and gaze drifted from the family room in Peter's apartment and then to the staircase just steps away. She could do this. Her father hadn't suspected a thing when he checked on them earlier. So she was good. Right? At least on the flip side—she told herself—it could have been much worse. She could've decided to test her unpredicted boldness at her mom's apartment, which would have brought a whole new caveat of issues.

Inviting someone over without checking with either of her parents was something she'd never done before; something that definitely would not have flown under the radar as long as it was now if it happened at her mother's apartment.

Because the last thing she needed—or wanted—was to be on the forefront of her mother's mind after their talk last week.

Thankfully, it was Thursday, the start of their weekend at Peter's. She had a little breathing room to continue flying under the radar while figuring out the best way to make sure neither of her parents ever found out about this afternoon.

Blowing out a slow breath, she mustered as much courage as she could and rounded the corner. She couldn't waste anymore time; her mother was supposed to arrive soon and she needed to make sure Zach's mouth stayed shut.

"Hey, Dad," she said coolly, strolling into the kitchen. "Need help with anything?"

Peter glanced up at her while busily chopping the final toppings for salad.

"I've got it under control. Pizza should be here in about five minutes." He observed her leaning against the other side of the island seeming in a daze, staring at him. "You need something, sweetheart?"

"No. Oh no I'm fine," she said quickly, nervous eyes sweeping back towards the direction of the family room. "Umm…did you talk to Grandma today?

"Earlier. Why?"

"Is she…okay?"

"Yes," he said with a smirk. "Is there a reason she wouldn't be?"

"Oh no! Just checking. You know…her health and…everything." Seeing Peter now looking at her with questioning eyes, she quickly added, "Also, Dad, me and Zach are old enough to take care of ourselves. We don't need Grandma to watch us."

"I know," he said with a sigh. "But she likes to feel…wanted. We're all she has. Let's not take that from her just yet. Alright?"

"Okay. Sure." She brushed a skittish hand through her hair. "Mom's still coming over for dinner right?"

He checked his watch. "She is. Actually, can you or Zach call her to see if she's still at the office or on her way?"

That was the only green light she needed.

"I'll do it. Be right back."

Her foot had barely touched the bottom step when he called her name.

"Grace."

She slowly leaned over the railing, her heart pace quickening. "Yeah?"

Peter grabbed a dishtowel, wiping his hands as he walked over to look up at her, his warm eyes laced with concern.

"You alright, hon?"

"Mm-hmm." She quickly nodded, breaking eye contact. The unconditional love in his eyes nearly made her confess all her sins on the spot. "Just a little wired from studying too much. I'm going upstairs to check my phone and call Mom."

"Okay. Dinner will be ready in about ten."

With a curt nod, she practically bolted up the stairs to her brother's room. His door was ajar. Without warning, she opened then closed it.

Startled, Zach swiveled around in his chair to stare at her glued to the door.

Silent.

Their eyes met in a web of unspoken questions while each waited for the other to speak.

"What are you doing?" he asked after a minute of them staring at one another.

"We need to talk before dinner."

He arched a brow. "About what?"

"About today."

He snickered when he saw her eyes widen. "Oh. Scott."

"You're not going to tell Mom and Dad are you?"

Laughing, he swiveled back around to the computer screen. "No. I'll keep it in my back pocket for later."

She unhinged herself from the door and neared him. "Zach, I'm not joking."

"I'm not either." He swirled back around. "I have to tell Mom every time Nisa comes over and you sneak Scott over without—"

"We didn't do anything! He only came to bring me my notebook I left in bible study."

Yes, Scott. The boy that filled her thoughts more than she felt she could control at times, came over this afternoon.

Within the righting-wrongs list of justifying her rule breaking and rebalancing her conscience, she'd also convinced herself Scott's dropping by was innocent, even though they were alone during the duration of the visit.

Though truthfully, it wasn't entirely innocent.

There was a generous three and a half-hour window after school let out. Within that window, she'd attended afterschool bible study (surprised when Scott actually showed after not responding to texted her invite), took the train to Peter's apartment and invited a boy over for the first time.

Peter was still at work when Scott came by and Zach was upstairs while Jackie was out at the grocery store. It crossed her mind to call her father to ask if it was okay for him to come by. But, Scott was only dropping something off, not coming to hang out.

At least that was the original plan.

When she opened the door to greet her Cheshire smiling, light blue-eyed, six foot one athletic build and dark, wavy haired crush, she felt compelled to invite him in for a few minutes to talk.

For she always wanted to talk to him. All the time. About anything.

So they sat on the couch in the family room, chatting, laughing, and she grew even more besotted with him than she already was.

In total, Scott stayed for a matter of thirty minutes. That's all: an innocent thirty minutes. A time slot she had prepared not to tell a soul about. No one besides her brother that is, given his untimely one-minute interruption.

But that hope of only the three of them knowing was quickly ruined.

As soon as they heard Jackie putting her key in the lock, Scott was fast on his feet, practically greeting her grandmother at the door as soon as it opened.

"Hello," said Jackie airily, her eyes shifting rapidly between the two of them. "You are?"

"Scott." He outstretched out his hand, smiling warmly.

Jackie looked at his hand and then to Grace, reluctantly shaking it.

"Grandma, Scott goes to my school. He came by to bring my notebook I left at bible study. He's actually leaving."

"Uh huh. I see."

"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you, ma'am." Scott looked back at Grace. "See you at school tomorrow." With a flirtatious grin and wink, he walked out the door.

"Gracie," Jackie's judgmental eyes grazed over her in disapproval. "Does your father—"

"Yes," she said quickly, desperate to switch the topic as she honed in on Jackie's empty hands. "Where are the groceries? In the car?"

"They are, but that young man—"

"I'll go get them."

She left before Jackie had a chance to ask more questions.

Afterwards, surprisingly Jackie didn't ask too many additional questions and hadn't let it slip to her father. Yet. Coincidentally, she had to leave an hour before Peter got home to make an engagement downtown.

But if it so happened that Jackie did share her little secret, Grace had also decided she had no reason to feel guilty about today. For the most part. Sure, she invited a boy over while her father wasn't home, but it wasn't under the pretense of simply that she shouldn't.

He came for a reason. To bring her notebook, and he just so happened to hang around for a little idle chat after.

For thirty minutes, they'd had a largely innocent conversation on the couch.

That was it.

"He couldn't give it to you tomorrow at school?" Zach asked, pulling her back to the present.

"No! My notes are in that one. I need it to study for a quiz tomorrow."

He relaxed against the mesh back of the computer chair, a smug smile beginning to spread across his lips. "Then what were you two doing on the couch before I walked in the room?"

Her cheeks instantly flushed a shade of pink. She could still smell a faint trace of his cologne in her hair.

"None of your business! Promise me you won't tell Mom. She wants to meet him."

"Why? You're dating him?"

"No! Just…promise you won't tell, okay?"

"Why does it matter? Besides, you said Grandma saw him on his way out. She's going to tell Mom or Dad anyway."

"Mom never believes Grandma. She hates her. Zach—"

"Hey kids! Did one of you call your mom?" yelled Peter from downstairs.

Grace looked back at the door then to her brother, a pleading look in her eyes.

"Okay," he reluctantly said, "but you owe me."

Letting her shoulders fall in relief, she left the room, practically skipping to her own.

Her secret was safe.

For now.

#

Peter set the bowl of salad in the middle of the dining table and stood back, rolling up his sleeves, a proud smile on his face. For once, he had dinner on the table, ready to eat with time to spare. Granted it was a simple dinner of pizza and salad, it was a record for him.

Noting the time—fifteen minutes past seven—he was still waiting for his children to confirm they called Alicia. He hadn't spoken to her after Eli's dropping by cut their call short earlier. If he were to admit it, he was relieved they hadn't spoken again. Because for the remainder of the afternoon, he both struggled and wondered how he would share the news with her.

And after a solid afternoon of ruminating, he was still stumped.

The offer was attractive. A bit tarnished, but still atrractive. Very attractive.

Of course he wanted to run for Governor.

It was always in his plan.

Alicia knew that, and at some point, she believed he could too. The question was: did she still? Could their marriage now, a semi-complete by product of Dr. Adam Lewis, survive the good and bad that came with a statewide campaign? Or all the responsibilities and intricacies that came with being Governor of Illinois (if he did decide to run and won)?

Honestly, he wasn't sure.

Their relationship now, in the state it was in now, made him believe they could. Still, there was one thing incomplete. Something he couldn't put his finger on.

As the minutes carried on, he decided to shelve that worry for later; dinner tonight would put that matter in question on the sidelines and temporarily relive him of a decision. Tonight, he and Alicia would finally broach the topic of attending a family therapy session to the kids.

"What are you guys doing up there?" he yelled in the direction of the stairs.

Walking over to the wine cooler built into the buffet table, he reached in and grabbed one of Alicia's favorite Chardonnays.

"Sorry, Dad. We were finishing our homework," said Zach walking into the room. "Grace called Mom a bit ago. She said she was on her way." His eyes grazed hungrily over the food. "Can we eat now?"

"Let's wait for your mom." He began uncorking the bottle, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Does she usually get home late?"

Zach walked around the table and grabbed a warm roll from the breadbasket. "Sometimes. She has lately," he said in between bites. "Said she's working on a big case that may go to trial."

Eyeing him, Peter grabbed two wine glasses and set them on the table.

"Dad, can I try for my license next week?"

"Mom said you have to wait until the end of the month," said Grace, walking into the room, pulling her hair back in a ponytail.

Zach ignored her, focusing on Peter. "You said I could by the fifteenth. That's next week."

"I'll talk to your mother about it."

"I have enough hours," he stressed. "Well, almost. Grandma Veronica said I could drive her places after school sometimes if it's okay with you and Mom. So…is it okay now?"

Peter almost dropped the wine bottle. "When did she say that?"

"Last week. While she was staying with us. She said she would mention it to you and Mom."

"Uh, Zach," Peter slowly set the wine opener, cork and bottle on the table, "we'll talk about this more when your mom gets here."

"When is she coming? The food will be cold," Grace said, taking a seat at the table.

"And I'm starving," echoed Zach.

Peter checked his watch. It was almost seven thirty. Alicia hadn't mentioned earlier she would be late, and for a second, he wondered just what was keeping her. Or...who?

"Alright." He quickly filled both wine glasses. "Dig in. I'll call and see where she is."

Picking up his glass of wine, he took a sip, trotting towards the kitchen to grab his cellphone when at that moment, the front door swung open. Alicia flashed an apologetic glance his way as she turned to close the door, cellphone glued to her ear.

"Uh huh…okay. I'll do it first thing in the morning…you too…bye." Shrugging off her coat and shoes, she set her bags on the table near the door, sighing loudly as she walked over to him. "I'm sorry. It's been a crazy afternoon."

"Everything alright?"

She nonchalantly shrugged. "Mostly."

He nodded and pointed towards the dining room. "Kids couldn't wait."

"Hi, Mom," they said in between mouthfuls.

"Hi," she replied as she grabbed Peter's glass and drank a long sip.

He snickered. "That kind of day, huh?"

"Yes. Mmmmm." She licked her lips, smiling up at him. "A favorite." She swallowed another hefty mouthful. "I just might drink a bottle."

"How about start with the glass I poured for you first."

Seeing the dormant glass in front of the plate adjacent to Grace, she turned back to him and beamed. "This is why I love you."

Grinning, his eyes swept to her belongings by the door, focusing on a particular, larger bag nestled beside her purse. "What's that?"

She slowly spun around, following his gaze, glass stitched to her lips. "What's what?"

"Is that an…overnight bag?"

She peered back up at him with a sly smile as her voice dropped to a whisper. "I have an early meeting in the morning and thought by the time we finish dinner, it will be late. I didn't want to risk another walk of shame," she finished, the teasing look in her eyes leading him to smile.

"You know," his voice now matched her whisper, its deep baritone sending tingles down her spine, "maybe you should leave a few things here."

"Hmm…I could." She tilted her head, giving him a slow once-over as she considered the option. "Maybe I should."

He inched closer, dragging his gaze down her body then up to rest on her face. Her eyes were playful and he was drawn even more into her mood as the light scent of her perfume filled his nostrils.

"Or maybe you should just move in?" he teased.

She pulled the glass from her lips and cradled it against her chest. "But sleepovers—our sleepovers, are so much fun…"

Matching her sly smile, he lowered his head for a kiss.

Instead of his lips meeting her mouth, they landed on her cheek instead. When he pulled back, the slightly embarrassed look on her face took him by surprise.

"The kids," she quickly murmured.

Alicia turned to walk into the dining room, not giving him the opportunity to inquire about the switch. Before she could flee, he caught her arm, gently pulling her back.

"What was that?" he hissed.

Shaking her arm from his grasp, she handed him the wine glass, not saying another word as she spun around, this time escaping into the dining room, leaving him to reluctantly follow.

Peter watched their kids at the table, eating and chatting between themselves, not paying them a bit of attention. But if they were watching them seconds ago—as he assumed she was somehow implying?—there was no mistaking what was going on between the two of them.

The open floor plan of his kitchen and dining room allowed little room for privacy.

But why would their kids care?

He knew she wasn't the biggest fan of PDA, but in the past, she'd kiss him without hesitation when at home and their kids happened to be nearby.

As he downed the remaining quarter of wine from his glass in a gulp, he realized he now had two things he needed to discuss with her before the night was over. Though the newest he was positive would make her sleeping over tonight anything but fun.