A/N: Ok so a quick update this time and hopefully the next chapter shouldn't be too far behind it. Wrapping up loose ends here and laying the seeds for what will be my favorite chapter I write! Thanks again to everyone for all the great reviews, my husband laughs at me because I announce every time I get a new review or follower. Each and every one is precious to me I hope you all know that! So this chapter has a rather extensive playlist so here it goes.

Savage Garden:

The Lover After Me

I Don't Know You Anymore

Crash and Burn

Ingrid Michealson:

Stick

Over You (featuring Great Big World)

Girls Chase Boys

Chicago- Look Away

Nelly – Just a Dream

Emmelie de Forest:

Only Teardrops

Let it Fall

David Buckley – Peter the Penitent

Garth Brooks - She's Gonna Make It

Unnoticed, Peter slipped out of the courtroom, he knew he hadn't been seen, Alicia would have said something, even if all she did was tell him to fuck off. Peter sat down on a bench in the courthouse. He had come to talk to Alicia and tell her that he was sorry and that Eli was working on it. Instead he had had it slapped in his face that it was all over with him and Alicia. He thought he had accepted it when she had called him a few weeks ago, but after today he would never have to wonder. He had seen Alicia's amazing smile, her real smile, the one she reserved for when she was truly happy. He couldn't deny the smile. He realized now that he should have spent the last 20 years making sure that smile never left her face.

He had seen the love he had lost when he had watched the features on Will Gardner's face lit up when Alicia had walked in the courtroom. He'd never seen that dress. He noticed how Will couldn't help but follow her from the room.

Why hadn't he thought of that? Why didn't he remind her every single day how lucky he was to have her?

Peter let out a defeated sigh, one way or another he had to talk to her, he had to face her and it was easier just to go ahead and get it over with. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

"Hello?"

"Alicia, we need to talk. Can you meet me after work for a drink before I head back to Springfield?"

"Peter…" Alicia didn't mind talking to him on the phone but she really wanted to have a few days, hell maybe even a few weeks before she had to actually see him, she knew it was stupid and immature, but after being "Saint Alicia" for so many years she just wanted to be a little selfish. "Meet me at my apartment at 5:30. We can have dinner with the kids."

Peter could hear the hesitation in her voice, but noticed she had relented anyways.

"Thanks Alicia, see you then."

The rest of the day passed with little excitement and Alicia headed home after work to begin making dinner. As soon as she walked in the door she took off her dress suit and changed into yoga pants and one of Will's sports team t-shirts. She was putting the spaghetti noodles in the water when the doorbell rang, Alicia wiped her hands on her pants and went to answer it. As she walked to the door she called out to the kids. When she opened the door Will was standing on her doorstep with a bottle of wine and a new board game. As he leaned in for a kiss Alicia realized that she had completely forgotten game night with Will, and a few moments later the elevator announced its arrival and Peter walked around the corner.

Will followed Alicia's eyes to see Peter walking towards them also holding a bottle of wine. The two men eyed each other with contempt as Alicia watched on helplessly. Suddenly she began laughing. Barely able to stop herself from doubling over in laughter she stepped back from the door and gestured that the two men come in. Trying to avoid contact with each other the two men filed into Alicia's apartment and went to the kitchen to place their respective wine bottles on the counter. Alicia found herself still laughing as she closed her front door and leaned against it. Someday her life would be less interesting and awkward but it appeared that today was not that day.

Grace and Zach joined them moments later and surveyed the scene, Peter and Will were squaring off in the kitchen as if preparing for a fight and their mother was laughing almost hysterically against the door. Will made the first move as he held out the newest game offering to the teenagers which Grace accepted,

"Zach, Grace, why don't you say hello to your dad and then we can go look at the instructions for this game for later."

This was his night with the Alicia's children and Pater or not he was going to spend it with them. The trio headed to the living room and left Alicia to deal with the situation.

Once Will had left the room Peter visibly relaxed,

"Why's he here Alicia?" Peter asked quietly.

"I'm so sorry, Peter, he comes over on Tuesday nights and we play games with the kids, I forgot about it when you asked me if we could talk, I didn't mean for it to be awkward, I can talk to him, and you are welcome to stay but I won't ask him to leave. We're having spaghetti and there's plenty for everyone."

With that Alicia returned to getting dinner ready as Peter stood contemplating his choices. Alicia knew what his decision as he walked to the drawer where she kept her wine opener and then seated himself at the counter with a bottle of wine in front of him. Alicia offered him a smile as she reached for three wine glasses. Peter filled them and she picked up two and walked into the living room.

"Zach, Grace; Dinner is ready Will and I are going to talk for just a second then we'll join you and your father."

Alicia pulled Will into the hallway and looked at him lovingly,

"I completely forgot it was game night can you forgive me? And I told him he could stay," Alicia gave him a coy smile hoping it would convince Will not to be mad at her.

"Ugh, I guess I have to get used to it eventually and I guess we can talk to him about the whole voter thing…but you owe me, and I fully expect payment after that tease in the elevator today… Jeez I'm getting cockblocked by the ex-husband… I'm gonna need more wine…"

Alicia laughed and kissed him on the cheek,

"You have no idea." Her voice changed to a serious tone Will, I love you, you know that right?"

"You better, woman"

Dinner started out with difficulty, the kids were nervous about how to react to Will with their dad but Alicia was determined to make it work. She managed to steer to conversation to Zach's impending graduation and discussions about plans for the summer. Zach was heading to DC soon after graduation as a friend had helped him get a job that started in June and he wanted to be settled before he had to start work. When dinner was finished Alicia and Will both got up to do the dishes, Peter could tell it was a practiced move and as he watched from the table he could see the chemistry flow between the two. It was the little things that the couple didn't notice, tiny smiles to each other, a gentle brush as they maneuvered around each other, Peter also noticed the ease with which Will moved around the kitchen as though he knew every inch, and it was yet another reminder of all the things he had missed.

Alicia told Zach and Grace to start setting up the game and that they would join them once they were done discussing things. Alicia poured more wine and her and Will rejoined Peter at the table. Peter began,

"Eli is working with Kalinda to find out if there is anyone else who may know anything about Moody giving the order to replace the ballot boxes, We'll need some legal help with the admissibility of the tape, which Elsbeth Tascioni is working on, all we need from you and Will is just to give us time."

"I can give you time, Peter, but you have to be honest with me, I can't keep getting blindsided I have to know what's coming."

"I can understand that, and I'll be honest, there were four women all together, Amber, Kalinda, and two interns, It was stupid and I don't know what I was thinking,"

Unconsciously Alicia reached for Will's hand under the table, she had known this conversation wouldn't be easy but she hadn't expected the ache from the realization that Peter had yet again let her down, she wasn't sure why she always got her hopes up when it came to Peter. Peter continued,

"Eli is also taking steps to insure that there are no more issues with those, including the reporter that called Zach, it'll still be a couple weeks but we should be able to avoid any excess press and to stall the story long enough to stop it completely."

Alicia drained her wineglass with her free hand then offered Peter a smile,

"Assuming that Will agrees," Alicia squeezed Will's hand under the table, "I think that sounds acceptable, Will?"

"That's fine. Now if you'll excuse me Peter I have a game night to return to, you're welcome to join us if it's alright with Alicia."

Peter stood, Well thanks for the offer and for dinner, but I had better be getting back to Springfield, I'll just go say goodbye to the kids and see myself out. Alicia, I'll be in touch, Will, I'll see you around." With that Peter shook hands with Will and headed to the living room.

Alicia stood and turned to Will who enveloped her in a big hug, It was comforting, this, to know that he would be her rock through this. This and everything that would come along the way, and knowing her there would be quite a few bumps. But with Will they'd get through it somehow.

As Peter heard the door shut behind him He realized, the lights go out the same, the only difference is Alicia calls another name. He knew he had never treated her right and he'd pay the price for the rest of his life.