Author's note: I know it's very long but I didn't want to spilt it beyond two chapters. Hopefully, Vonda Shepard isn't insulted.

Thanks, please add reviews.

Ally left the building with the address where Elaine was now working at. That office required stricter checks for COVID-19 but Ally passed them all. She was made to wait for around fifteen minutes before the old very capable legal assistant appeared also wearing a mask. Both ladies refrained from hugging each other. Ally started asking a simple 'how are you' and

Elaine brought her to the office pantry. Over fresh coffee and doughnuts, Ally asked her about what she learnt from Richard.

"Yes, I was taking law night classes and this firm offered me financial aid and a higher starting salary."

"But why did you leave Cage & Fish? Did Richard not offer you the same funding?"

"Err...Ally..." Elaine hesitated then continued, I dated and fell in love with one of the litigators here but it was a short love then he left this place. Under some funny contract, I'm... she paused as someone entered the pantry but that person left quickly..."I'm not allowed to leave any time."

"Aw...that's terrible. But are you still yourself? Like full of gossip, are you also still singing that sort of stuff?"

"Well, this office just wants normal or proper legal assistants. I continued singing but the band at the Cage & Fish building quickly changed. When COVID-19 started, Vonda the vocalist cum pianist left to her home town in LA. So that's it."

Ally gave another 'aw' and with a chit chat, she left. The next person she headed for was John Cage, her almost boyfriend. After a longer wait at the restuarant, John, wearing a mask with the colours of the flag of Mexico. "Hello Amiga!" he greeted.

"John, nice mask. Well, not surprised to find you back here. Richard told me..."

"I'm fine with this lifestyle, this job. I help Mexican immigrants and homeless."

"But the old office is now in a mess. Elaine is in another office, none of the former staff exist..."

"I know all this but I want to stay here really. Elaine made her choice. Richard's at the helm. Even more so, there's Nelle who wanted to senior partner, well you have to talk to her."

Ally finally agreed, exchanged cell phone numbers with John then headed next to the residential address of Nelle Porter. She couldn't find the initials 'N' but remembered Nelle's original name.

"Well, hello, hello," the stark blonde-haired lawyer greeted her old colleague and boss. After pleasantries, Ally the pertinent question, "Richard and well John told me you are senior partner at the office yet you won't have your name printed on the glass or any of the legal papers."

"Ally, that's so nosy, so typical of you. I..."

"Mom, can you reset the Wi-Fi; I need to quickly submit this essay!" Ally saw a young teenager appearing from the steps. Nelle replied, "My adopted daughter Sierra. I was saying, it's quite gaudy to have your surname printed in large view. I've a daughter to care for with like for sitters, get the picture?"

"Right. Are you bitter at any one at Cage & Fish?"

"Nope not sore at anyone. I'm not so sub-zero Nelle anymore. Anything else?"

"Elaine?"

"What you heard about and from her is right."

Ally thanked Nelle but still had some suspicions. As she walked down the road, she heard a familiar song.

Ba ba, ba ba ba ba,

Ba ba ba ba,

Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba,

Tracy, when I'm with you, Something you do,

Bounces me off the ceiling...

Oh gosh that was the theme song of Dr. Tracey Clark! Then the busker changed to another familiar song:

Oh I believe I am ready for what love has to bring

Got myself together, now I'm ready to sing

That was what she first sang at the psychiatrist office! Then a third song came:

I know something about love...

Tell him that you're never gonna leave him

Tell him that you're always gonna love him

Ally dropped a $100 bill as a token of appreciation. "Ally?!" She turned and saw both Georgia and Renée, standing at least six feet apart, obviously wearing face masks. After introducing each other's presence-both lawyers were in separate firms, then they added their version of the Cage & Fish story.

"One of the new female girls hated the unisex toilet. Even Nelle couldn't control her. Thus, the change to separate male and female," Georgia added.

"I tried to get the bar musicians back but failed. Vonda really returned home. Elaine had a fight with the guy she met so gave up inventing and singing and her old self," Renée remarked.

Ally discussed what she knew then returned to her temporary lodging. Suddenly she received a cell phone call from John who started with "I've just talked to Richard and Nelle. I'll stay working as where I am but will still officially work for the office for any cases." He continued to explain Nelle finally agreed with adding her surname to the office and John was fine with that. "I'm so," Ally began to show how elated she was

"Ally, I was considering moving to a Mexican-related law firm in New York City." John mentioned a name that Ally recognised. "Why so sudden?"

"I...I... want to be close to you," John lapsed into his old stuttering and told Ally he hoped Maddie would accept him.

"That's so touching John, but I've been wondering about Elaine, the structure of the firm..."

Ally was told to hold the line and Elaine's voice came on admitting the truth - Renée's facts were right. "And I found a way to leave my firm and will region Cage, Fish & Porter, and singing virtually." Ally squealed. Richard came on and mentioned the unisex toilet would return and Ally squealed three times.

Epilogue

"Hey Dad, thanks for recommending that book; it worked well for another of my graduate classes," Maddie thanked John passing back a book.

"No prob kiddo, always here."

"Dad. How does that feel?" Ally asked, poking her new husband.

"Like a nice teddy bear. We should have..." John recalled all the times both he and Ally were so close. Suddenly, both their phones rang,

"Hey," Richard greeted.

"Hey," Nelle greeted

"Hey, hope we aren't distracting anything?" That was Georgia who re-joined the old firm.

"What's up?" Ally asked but was cautious.

"There's a case coming up and one of the clients is a New Yorker..." Richard explained.

"I know it's a weird jurisdiction, but hope you two will help. I'll be come up to NYC if it is clear and Elaine will send over relevant files," Nelle concluded.

The End.