The Other Side
Author's Note: So I have no idea if there's even still an interest out there in The Good Wife, and more specifically in Will and Alicia. It's been a while – I've spent the last two years trying to juggle a full-time job and a really demanding masters course (which I've still not finished), but this is the one story that's always haunted me as unfinished, because I really invested a lot into the world I created. So – I'm testing the waters, to see if there is any interest in hearing the rest of Alicia, Will and the kids' story. If you are interested – I'd be super grateful if you could let me know!
Chapter Nine
The week that Peter's appeal comes to a head, Alicia finds herself relying on Samantha and Owen almost entirely for a forty eight hour period as the firm gets sucked into the murder of the babysitter of one of their clients.
And as if juggling her children and the case wasn't bad enough, Alicia also finds herself trying to deal with her decidedly… high competition at work.
Quite literally high, that is.
Slumped in a chair in the Lockhart Gardner meeting room in the bright light of a Saturday morning, Cary looks less like a junior associate in one of Chicago's most respected law firms, and more like a student who had a Friday night that was more than he could handle.
"What time is it?" he asks eventually, rubbing his eyes as he props his elbows on the conference table across from her.
"Midday," she murmurs softly, bare feet stretched out onto the chair next to her as they grab a couple of hours off while Will holds the fort.
"How long have I been here?" Cary groans, dropping his forehead onto the desk. Somehow, Alicia can't help the smile that crosses her face.
"About thirty hours," she murmurs. Suddenly, a commotion out in the corridor spills through the open door and shatters their peace, followed by the unexpected appearance of her children.
"Mom!" Zach exclaims excitedly, bursting into the room and almost tripping over his feet as Alicia pushes her chair back and stands up. "Uncle Owen's takin' us to the aquarium, and he said we could stop by and say hi, first! Hi!" He's all but bouncing as Alicia reaches down to swing him up into a hug, and he throws his arms round her neck happily.
"Hi, buddy," she murmurs softly, raising an eyebrow as a sheepish Owen sweet talks Grace into the room, her little hand grasped firmly in her uncle's. "The aquarium, huh?" she murmurs, turning her attention back to Zach as he bounces happily in her arms.
Amazing how a squirmy little five-year-old who's almost too big to pick up can turn her mood around in a second.
"Yeah, mom, can you come?"
"I can't, Zach," she murmurs softly. "I'm sorry. We have to stay here and work, like I told you." He pouts in a way that she finds entirely adorable, and she ruffles his hair gently as he turns to study Cary curiously, met by an equally curious stare in return. Remembering that his is a face that her kids haven't actually encountered before, she drops Zach down into one of the chairs opposite Cary, making sure he bounces. When his giggles subside, she squeezes his shoulders gently. "This is Cary, buddy," she murmurs softly. "He works here too. Cary, this is Zach," she adds as Cary studies the assembled family before him with bloodshot eyes. A heavy weight slams into her legs, and she reaches down to lift Grace up. "And this is Grace," she adds, giving her a kiss hello.
"Momma, fishies," Grace murmurs softly, her eyes flicking cautiously to Cary before she turns her face into Alicia's shoulder.
Always so cautious, her little girl.
"Yeah, baby, you're going to see the fishes," she murmurs, running her fingers through the curls that always seem a little crazier when it's her brother who's been responsible for getting the children ready.
"Did you go to school with my mom too?" Zach's asking Cary curiously, dragging her attention back to her son as Cary laughs, looking at her in amusement as he tries to figure out an answer.
"No, buddy," she murmurs softly, ruffling his hair. "We work together, but we didn't go to school together."
"Oh, okay," Zach accepts, shrugging his shoulders and twisting his head back to Cary. "Do you like baseball?"
Owen nudges her shoulder at that point, grinning like a Cheshire cat, and she glares at him before he can mention Will's name, watching her son's exuberant personality engaging even a hung over Cary.
"Is he high?" Owen stage whispers eventually, flicking his eyes toward Cary. Alicia laughs, shaking her head and mouthing 'later' at him. "They also want to know if we could come back later and bring you dinner," he murmurs softly, rubbing Grace's back gently.
"I don't know where we'll be," she sighs softly, hugging Grace a little closer. Weekends without her children just feel wrong, and she's not quite sure if seeing them makes it worse or better. "It's pretty... crazy at the moment, this case. Call me when you finish? And be prepared to bring enough for everyone, if it's a yes," she adds, mentally crossing her fingers that she'll get her Saturday night dinner with her children.
"Ooh, will Will be here?" Owen whispers excitedly, yelping when she elbows him. Hard.
"Shut up."
Waving at her kids through the glass as Owen herds them into the elevator, Alicia sinks back into her chair with a smile on her face. Glancing across the table, she finds Cary watching her curiously.
"Your kids are pretty great," he offers eventually, shrugging his shoulder. She smiles softly, nodding her head in thanks.
"They are," she murmurs softly, running a hand through her hair.
"I was… freaking out," he sighs, shrugging a shoulder as she raises an eyebrow at him. "Earlier… yesterday?"
"Yes, I know," she murmurs wryly, remembering the lack of focus in his eyes and his fixation with her scarf, among other things. She has to admit, a larger part of her was amused than horrified.
"Did you tell Will?" he asks suddenly, sitting up straighter.
"Will? What, that you were… freaking out?" she asks, sticking with his euphemism. "No, I didn't."
"Why not?" he asks, confused. "With our contest, why didn't you?" She wouldn't be honest if she denied that the thought had crossed her mind. It would have been a simple enough way to edge a step away from him without having to worry about the inappropriateness of her relationship with Will.
Something stopped her, though.
"Cary, I…" she sighs, trailing off before deciding to just go with the truth. "There are so many people lined up against us. I just don't want one more."
"I don't want you to lose," he offers eventually, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"I know, I don't want you to lose either," she murmurs, and it feels like the most honest thing she's ever said to him. His face spreads into a proper grin, and he leans forward in his seat, elbows resting on the table between them.
"I kind of like you," he tells her, his eyes still bloodshot but truthful. She can't help laughing.
"Yes," she murmurs. "I'm surprised, I like you too." They fall into a peaceful silence for a moment, until she glances at her watch. "We need to get back and relieve Will. Break time's over."
"She settled?" Will asks softly as Alicia returns from her second circuit of the Lockhart Gardner corridors late that evening, rocking a sleepy and unsettled Grace in her arms, complete with the stuffed Nemo she won't let go of.
"Getting there," she murmurs softly, stepping up next to him where he stares out of the window. "Right, sweetheart?"
"Momma," Grace sighs sleepily in response, her little fingers flexing against the back of Alicia's neck. Will smiles at that, reaching over to rest a hand on the back of Grace's head for a moment.
"Momma gives the best cuddles, right?" he murmurs softly, and his eyes are on hers as she feels her cheeks go red. Grace lifts her head to look seriously at Will, nodding her agreement before rooting back into Alicia's embrace. "Mmhmm," he murmurs softly, bumping her hip gently with his. "Best cuddles."
Her mind flits back to another night in his office when that really was true, and she can't help but smile softly at him. Things are so good between them, and she might have been at work for coming up for two days and their current case might be completely up in the air, but she has her daughter in her arms and the man she thinks she might be falling in love with looking at her like she's the best thing he's seen all day, and her son…
Actually.
"Do I know where my son is?" she asks softly, glancing up at Will. He laughs, turning her round carefully so that she can see through to the conference room.
"Your son is charming my partner," he murmurs, laughing softly. "In an embarrassingly shorter period of time than it took me, apparently." Sure enough as she looks through the glass, Zach is sitting on the conference room table, little legs swinging happily as he regales Diane with some tale or other.
"I should go rescue her," she offers eventually, unable to stop a smile crossing her lips. When she heads for the door Will is following her, and she curls a hand protectively around Grace's head as she whimpers her distress at the movement. "I know you're tired, baby," she murmurs softly as they step into the conference room. "Uncle Owen will take you home to bed soon."
"Mom," Zach grins as he spots them, bouncing from his perch on the table as he stretches both arms out to her happily.
"Careful, buddy," she murmurs softly, reaching a hand out to ruffle his hair. "If you fall off, it'll hurt. You know the rules." Zach stills immediately, eyes wide and searching for her approval. "Good boy," she murmurs, sliding her hand down to his back. He's almost vibrating with stimulation, and she can tell he's about ten minutes away from exhaustion to rival his sister's.
"The rules?" Diane asks curiously, reminding Alicia that they're not alone.
"You cause it, you suffer it," she murmurs, biting back a smile. It's an absolute lie because she's a lost cause the second either of her children are in pain, but it makes Will and Diane laugh, and it certainly makes her children think twice about doing things they shouldn't. "What've you been up to in here, buddy?" she asks Zach. "And where's Uncle Owen?"
"He went to the bathroom, mom, but Diane says you can go to parties at the aquarium," he tells her seriously. "At night time, and you can still see all the fish, how cool is that?"
"That is pretty cool," she murmurs, running a hand over Grace's hair as she feels her little body slump heavily against her.
"Can I have one for my birthday mom? Please?"
"I thought you wanted baseball for your birthday?" she asks, flicking an amused glance in Will's direction because she's already half planned that particular birthday surprise. Zach studies her with such a look of horror on his face that she can only laugh. "You think on that, my man," she murmurs, glancing over to Diane with a smile. "Thank you for talking with him," she offers, turning her attention to Diane who seems to be watching them almost fondly.
"He's quite the charmer," Diane offers warmly, holding a hand out for Zach to shake. He grins wider than she's ever seen as he shakes Diane's hand like the little grown up she can see him becoming all too soon.
"Hey Zach, you better give me some tips," Will offers from where he's leaning against the wall. "I've been trying to charm Diane for years."
"Pretty great kids, aren't they," Will comments, leaning in the doorway of Diane's office as Alicia waves off her brother and children. Diane laughs, leaning back against her desk.
"Young Zach is certainly quite a character," she agrees. "Quiet one though, her little girl. Grace, is it?"
"Grace," he nods. "She's taken everything with Peter pretty hard. She's a little heartbreaker once you get past that, though."
"Looks like they've charmed you as much as they've charmed me," Diane comments. For once, he has nothing but the truth.
"They certainly have."
Alicia opens her front door to Will a few days later with her arms full of pyjama clad four-year-old and a similarly attired five-year-old attached to her leg. His smile is warm and it eases some of the stress she's been battling all day.
Peter's appeal was granted about six hours ago, and right about now they'll be setting up his electronic monitoring at Jackie's place.
"Well hey there, Florrick family," Will murmurs, reaching out to tap Grace on the nose before ruffling Zach's hair, "this is quite a greeting." Both her children are quieter than usual, neither of their confident greetings ringing out, and she sighs softly. Will's eyes are concerned as they meet hers again, and she digs out a smile.
"It's been a long day," she murmurs softly, "and this family is just about ready for story time. Care to join us?" Grace winds her fingers into Alicia's hair at that moment, and she shifts her a little so she can rub her back, feeling her start to grow sleepy.
"Love to," Will tells her softly. He shows her the bottle of wine he's carrying, and she tips her head towards the kitchen with a smile.
"We'll be in Grace's room," she murmurs softly, shaking Zach a little to get him moving. Grace crawls under her covers instantly when she lets her down on the bed, arms searching for the bear she won't sleep without, but when Alicia turns around Zach is dragging Grace's giant beanbag chair across the floor, the massive thing almost dwarfing him. She catches Will suppressing a smile, and crouches down in front of her son as he catches his breath. "Are you not crawling into bed with us tonight, buddy?" she asks softly, holding her arms out to him.
Clearly he's intent on forgoing his usual place in the bed, shaking his head stubbornly even as he sinks into her embrace, and she notices his eyes flick to Will in the doorway for little more than a second. And she realises.
With company, he wants to be every one of his five years. Even more so, after the confusing day she knows they've had. Both of them have barely said two words since she explained what was happening, and she's really not sure what that means.
"Maybe Will could come sit here with you?" she suggests softly, ruffling his hair as he nods emphatically. Will moves as soon as he hears her, and she can't help herself laughing a little as he situates himself on the bright pink chair without a second's hesitation.
"Not a word," he murmurs for her ears only, laughing as Zach scrambles onto his lap. "Hey, Zach," he adds softly, taking Rory the elephant from Alicia's outstretched hand with a smile and managing to look comfortable and uncomfortable all at the same time.
He's adorable, and she wishes she was talking about her son.
She doesn't want to think about how wrong it is that she's reading a bedtime story to her children with Will on the night that their father got released from prison, but neither of her children were in any fit state to go and visit their dad, so she's giving them, Zach especially, some time to process what's happening before she suggests it again.
Will's been a constant in their lives for the past four months now, and she can't bring herself to resent a moment of that, especially if it gets a smile out of Zach tonight.
It's only going to get more complicated from here on out, anyway.
"What's it going to be tonight then, beautiful?" she murmurs to Grace, settling on the bed next to her daughter. Grace points a finger to the exact book she was expecting, and she strokes her daughter's curls with a smile as she reaches out for the book. Will almost looks more expectant than either of her children, and she can't help flashing him a smile as she opens the book to the first page.
Grace tilts her head a little to see the pages, and as she watches Zach twitching in Will's lap, she gives him about two pages until he's climbing up onto the bed next to her.
"Early one morning a little, brown mouse went for a stroll in a deep dark wood…"
"I never knew you had such a knack for storytelling," Will murmurs an hour later, leaning against her headboard with his legs stretched out in front of him as he takes his refilled wine glass from her outstretched hand. "Get back over here," he adds, grinning at her. The top three buttons on his shirt are open and his hair looks decidedly mussed, a result of her own hands not five minutes ago.
"One of my many hidden talents," she murmurs softly, settling down next to him with her own glass. His palm rests warm and heavy against her knee through her leggings, and she can't help the shiver that runs through her body.
From the smirk on his face, she doesn't need to ask if he felt it too.
"One of those magic motherhood tricks, huh?" he asks softly, thumb rubbing gentle circles against her knee as she lets her head rest against his shoulder, fighting off the blush that threatens to rise. "Mind you, you had a way of spinning a tale in the courtroom even at Georgetown," he continues, nudging her gently.
"I'm not sure law school is a pre-requisite for The Gruffalo," she counters, tipping her head back enough to look at him. He leans down to brush a kiss over her lips, gentle in comparison to the almost frenzied passion she had felt as she'd straddled his hips not ten minutes ago. Somehow, he knows exactly what she needs. He knows this isn't how she wants the physical side of their relationship to start, not the night that Peter gets released from prison and not before the divorce is finalised. As he nudges his nose against hers and catches her lips in another gentle kiss, she sighs softly. ""I'm really glad you're here. Thanks for coming over."
"Wouldn't be anywhere else," he whispers, curling a hand at her neck gently as she shifts to face him a little. "How are you doing, really?"
"I'm fine," she murmurs automatically, closing her eyes as his thumb strokes along her cheek gently.
"Alicia," he sighs softly, and she knew already that he'd see right through her, but that just confirms it. "Okay, how are the kids?" he asks a moment later, and she leans her cheek into his hand.
"Quiet," she tells him softly. "I'm not sure Grace really understands what's going on, but she's feeding off her brother and Zach's… a little confused. Daddy was here and then he was gone, and now we're living somewhere else, and now daddy's back but he can't leave grandma's house…" she trails off, shaking her head. "It's a lot for a five-year-old to cope with, and for all his bravado, underneath it all he's just a scared little boy." And then she realises exactly what he's getting at. "How can I be worried about myself when they're struggling so much more than me?"
"It's okay to take some time for yourself," he murmurs softly, nudging her forward gently so he can press his thumbs into the tense muscles of her shoulders. "Maybe seeing Peter will help?" he asks, starting to knead her muscles gently as she all but groans in pleasure. "Good, huh?" he murmurs, and she can hear the smile in his voice.
"So good," she sighs out softly, biting her lip. "Zach doesn't want to see him, right now," she murmurs, closing her eyes. "Grace hasn't really spoken to him much, especially not since Jackie…" she waves her hand, shaking her head. "I don't think she'll understand until Peter's in the same room."
"Maybe it's better that way," he murmurs softly, laughing softly as her muscles give and she moans softly. "At least there's a chance she'll remember less of it when she's older." His hands ease against her shoulders, and she lets herself sink back against his chest as his arms slide around her shoulders in a loose hug.
It feels good, being held by him.
"I don't remember you being this… tactile, at Georgetown," she murmurs, feeling him chuckle against her hair. "You gave really good hugs, don't get me wrong," she adds, elbowing him gently as he laughs harder. "Shut up."
"I think your kids weren't the only tired ones," he murmurs affectionately, stroking his thumb lazily up and down her arm. "And I was young and foolish at Georgetown. Didn't know what I was missing." She laughs with him at that, sighing softly.
"It's romantic because it didn't happen, isn't it?" she murmurs softly, and he laughs softly.
"Yeah, it is," he agrees. "My younger self would've been a complete ass to you, and you would've ended up hating me."
They're both laughing at that, and she twists in his arms to kiss him softly.
"I'm glad we didn't happen in Georgetown, then," she whispers against his lips, and he laughs softly, kissing her again.
"Me too."