Okay thank you to Steffi, Mary and Moni! for the tweaking help ! Without them this chapter would never have been done already. Also Mary owe a huge part here as she was the one to name Will's mother! And Moni was the one to chose Susan Sarandon for the role. So yeah thank you to my great girls!
So happy November Sabby! My dearest amazing girl ! You are the best you are wonderful and the best!
I don't owe the good wife
This is the mother waiting by the phone,
Praying for her son
This is the mother waiting by the phone
She looked up with the knock on her door, surprised to see Alicia there. She smiled as she slipped in and placed the folder on her desk.
"I was on my way out and just wanted to hand in the document I cut the hours as needed. You were right, they did seem to take up extra hours among the associates on the Lawson case." The younger woman told her with a hand movement to the brown folder now in front of Diane.
"Thank you Alicia... are you heading out?" Diane asked her and Alicia nodded.
"Yes I am, I hope it is okay, I know it is a bit early and I promise to make it up, but I really have a place I need to be soon." She explained, and Diane couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her in wonder. She was tempted to ask, but it was none of her business. Not really, especially not when Alicia made Will smile and seem younger than he had been in a long time. When he had extra energy that he was giving for the firm. And mostly when he finally had a good woman. She hadn't been that for him when she was married or when he kept going out of his way to help her, but now she was. She was a good person, and one Diane could respect to see her partner with.
"Of course Alicia it is not a problem." She answered, and Alicia nodded and gave her a smile and turned to leave, but then paused, turning back around to Diane. Who looked expectantly up at Alicia.
"Have you ever met Will's family?" She asked looking unsure, and Diane stared at her in surprise. They normally didn't talk about these kinds of things, though things had shifted a bit there after last month's gala.
"His sisters?" She asked to clarify, and Alicia nodded.
"Yeah and his mother..." Diane stared at her. Could it be Alicia was actually asking for advice here? That Alicia had actually never met Will's relatives?
"Well I can't say I know them, but I have met them once... you have never seen them before?" She asked and Alicia, shook her head.
"No never, not even while we were still in law school. Somehow I never ran into them. I know it is weird asking this.. but... the last family I met was Peter's... and to say I wasn't his mother's biggest favorite would be a grave understatement. Even less when I went back to work..." she admitted, and Diane nodded slowly, she actually found it funny that Alicia came to her with this. It was different, but in a good way. She looked at Alicia, for a few seconds considering what to answer. She had issues first when she met Kurt's friends and Kurt's family as well. Being outside the bubble was hard, and it seemed it was what Will and Alicia took the step toward. It would have been easier for them meeting friends as to them it meant people at work, but she knew very well family could be even harder.
"Take it easy... you love him... they will see that as well... don't give up too much of yourself..." She advised her and Alicia nodded with a shy but thankful smile.
"Thank you. I guess it is normal to be nervous." She answered with a sigh, and Diane nodded agreeing with her.
"It is. Just relax." She advised again and Alicia nodded.
"I will, I better head out I need to make dinner..." She admitted, and Diane had to hide a chuckle. She figured Alicia would at least have a better head start with the family there, as she was never a big cook herself, something that hadn't made Kurt's family that impressed.
"Good luck..." She offered, and got a smile in return as Alicia turned to leave. Diane looked after her as she saw her say something to Will and receive a quick peek on the lips before she left. Diane sighed and checked her watch. She should think about heading out, too, she could maybe surprise Kurt with shared early dinner, out of course.
She couldn't help but smile when she saw Will's bright eyes as he returned to work a bit more.
She sighed, she wasn't one of the best lawyers for nothing. She had good observation skills though many often underestimated them. She had such good ones that she also knew Alicia and Will had a shared secret, one that made her very surprised Alicia hadn't met Will's family yet. She had been suspicious ever since Will had been so much involved with Alicia's leave, even more when Alicia had returned and she still looked tired and stressed. That all in all there was something different about her, something she had tried to place. Will's sudden interest in charity for neonatal had spiked her suspicion as well. And when she had seen how Alicia had reacted to him at the gala she had felt herself a little more than confirmed. They had a child together. She had wished to confront them, to ask them about it. She was curious, after all how could she be anything else when she knew her long time friend and partner had a child. However the way they did everything to hide it as she looked back she became more and more sure they actually wanted no one to know about it. She had no idea why but she could only assume it connected back to how Peter was still the Governor, a Governor there was much talk about running for President someday. She assumed Alicia and Will had decided the kid growing up in private was for the better to not risk any media attention. All of this held her back. It wasn't her business, she had feared Alicia and Will would let it take their attention from work but she saw no such signs, just like they were amazing at handling their romantic involvement while at work. Yes, she caught touches and light kisses, but nothing over the top, and it more made everyone smile for the happy couple than uncomfortable. Therefore she left it alone, she hoped they would someday trust her enough to involve her in their secret, and let her meet what she assumed would be the wonder child of Will and Alicia.
Alicia was cooking, she had carefully planned the menu, one that was simple but just complicated enough. Three courses of course, she had considered skipping the starter but her many years as a housewife had taught her to never do such a thing. When Will had first mention that his sisters and mother had insisted on coming on a visit she had paled. First and foremost it was complicated, especially with her secret. The more people involved, the more risk of it getting spilled or slipped up was there. However she also knew that Will had given up trips to see his family because of her, first then she was pregnant and he had stayed close, later on when they started dating. She couldn't be the ground for him not seeing his mother or his sisters, even though he kept insisting it wasn't the case. She still felt responsible. She had considered saying he should meet them but not mention her or anything, but just the thought of the hurt it would bring him had been heartbreaking. He was so good to her, the least she could do was to show his family that he was everything to her. She had considered meeting his sisters and his mother with him alone, but just the thought of how they would need to do that forever, keeping Cat away from them was too much and too complicated. So here she was, adapting to the thought that three more would learn about her daughter's existence except her and Will had both agreed only to show the partly truth, the same one Grace and Zach had, unknown father, embarrassing story, secret because of the media. She had insisted they used her place for the dinner instead of Will's. First and foremost was it easier with Cat and Grace, secondly because Will was hardly at his own place anymore. She couldn't remember the last time he had been. Instead of that they were practically living together without ever agreeing to do so.
Grace was staying with a friend overnight. Alicia had convinced her it was for the better when she faced Will's family for the first time. Cat was sleeping and Will had just arrived home from work and was taking a quick shower. Grace had made a remark of it being very the American dream like the other day where they had cooked together and had a family dinner. That all they needed was a dog and a house instead of an apartment.
As Will came out he slipped his arms around her waist, placing light kisses on her neck, something that always had her giggling and squirming in laughter. Alicia couldn't help but laugh. It was perfect everyday with Will, she couldn't remember every being happier than here with him.
"Hey you are burning the food..." Will teased her, making her quickly pull the pan off the heat to make sure it didn't get blackened. He was right, it had started to ooze a little. While she did that there was a knock on the door.
"Damn it..." Alicia cursed softly, she knew her hair was messed up again from Will's playfulness, and she also knew her face was red form the heat and the laughter.
"Go in and change, love. We turn down the heat on the food and I will go open..." Will offered her calmly, and Alicia felt like she could kiss him right then and there. She reached in and gave him a quick peek on the lips before hurrying into the bedroom to freshen up.
Will took the food off the heat and turned it down a little, knowing Alicia would only panic more if something ruined the food. When done he moved to the door and opened it. He was pretty sure he was way more nervous than Alicia to be fair after all, he had never introduced a significant other to his sisters, or his mother much to their annoyance. It had made them so much more intended on setting him up with all and everyone. He had for the same reason not mentioned they were just about to meet the love of his life and the woman he intended to marry, though she didn't know so yet, in the future. Because if he had even mentioned the word, girlfriend or someone special he wanted them to meet over the phone, they would have been on his doorstep an hour later. Of course his very girlfriend didn't know that as she would only have panicked more over that. He also knew this arrangement was a risky one that could possible end in him sleeping at his own place or on the couch, depending on the hormones of his love.
"William!" Aubrey cooed as she hugged him tightly the moment the door opening allowed it, and that one was followed by one from Sara and at last his mother. His mother than first hugged him tightly and then pulled back and looked at him strangely like she could read him. Something he as a kid had often wondered if she could.
"You changed... what happened?" She asked, while Aubrey and Sara were already moving inside the apartment.
"You also moved... what happened to the old place? Did you get bored?" Aubrey was already asking, while Sara was taking off her coat. His mother however followed them inside but said nothing, she just kept looking at him. Up and down and he was pretty sure she was reading into his very soul. The way only a mother could. However he relaxed a little when he noticed a smile creeping up on her lips. Something that was short lived as he heard Sara gasp.
"Is this even your place William? I mean it is wayyyy too clean for you..."
"Do you have a girlfriend? Is it Kalinda?" Aubrey was quick to add hopefully.
Will felt like rolling his eyes. He could feel his mother's gaze we squinting at him as well.
"Also why the hell haven't you mentioned you were seeing anyone?" Aubrey continued. And Will snorted.
"How do you know I am seeing someone?" He couldn't help but ask, it was just too tempting.
Now having them here he knew they would most likely start looking at all of Alicia's family photos. He had hoped his family wouldn't need to know the Florrick connection yet, but that they could get to know Alicia as herself and not the ex-wife of governor Florrick. Or the man that tossed her aside to screw hookers. He could however already see that was a dead and impossible hope.
"So is it Kalinda? Because this doesn't seem like her style?" Aubrey asked again. And Will was pretty sure he had never wanted to kill his sisters more as Alicia decided that very moment to join them. One look at her face there confirmed he might be spending more than one night on the couch, and he wasn't completely sure why, but he was pretty sure it was connected to Aubrey's question. That one he needed to look into later.
He gave her a soft smile though and stepped over to her, knowing it was the best he could do now.
"Mom, Sara, Aubrey... This is my..." He stopped for a second what was he actually going to introduce Alicia as. Girlfriend was juvenile, fiancée no matter how much he wished so was wrong, life partner sounded weird. Lover sounded down right bad.
"This is Alicia..." He finally settled on, and the glare he got from Alicia he knew it wasn't the right thing to say. However he guessed she hadn't been a politician's wife for nothing. As she managed to place a smile on her face, only a flicker in her eyes showed she didn't feel it at all, and she stepped forward to shake the other 3 women in his life's hands.
"It is a pleasure to meet you... I am glad you could come. I have looked forward to meeting you..." That was the lines she gave them. Lines he was sure she had used thousands of times on people Peter would once have invited into her life and to her home. Lines that probably held very little true meaning.
"We didn't know you were seeing someone, William... why haven't you mentioned Alicia... and what happened to Kalinda...?" his sisters insisted while his mother stayed silent, and he could see she was looking Alicia over.
"Yes, how long has this been going on...?" Aubrey inquired further.
"A few months... and nothing happened with Kalinda because there was nothing there..." He explained, and he knew from Alicia's body language that he really was very much in the dog house.
"But..." they started to say again, but his mother cut them off.
"Now stop it... I don't like that I raised girls with such bad manners. You are clearly making our hostess very uncomfortable in her own home. As I assume it is your place, Mrs Florrick..." His mother's voice commanded. Both helping him and Alicia, and making it worse at the same time. She had clearly recognized Alicia, which could both be good and very, very bad, depending on things.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gardner, but it is alright... I had assumed Will would have told you all about me... also please, just call me Alicia. I haven't been Florrick in close to a year now... and I returned to my maiden name when I finalized the divorce..." She explained calmly, like she handled stuff like this every day.
"Only if you drop the Mrs. Gardner, there is only one of those and it was my mother in law. Please call me Eleanor." She smiled gently, something Will could see made Alicia a bit more at ease with the whole thing. Though his sisters still didn't seem much on board. He was almost regretting this event a little as it was certainly not going as well as expected.
"Thank you very much... Eleanor. Would you like me to take your coats...?" She offered and Will felt bad again that he hadn't thought of that.
"No it is fine my son can do that... Right William...?" He got a scolding look from his mother, and he felt like a kid once again being reprimanded in such a way.
"Of course..." He answered and stepped over to take coats from both his mother, and sisters. Sisters that were for once speechless. Something he was pretty sure the Florrick name was ground for. He was also more than a little relieved, that Alicia was used to playing host so she held out her hand and invited them into the dining room, saying the starter was almost done. Before she hurried into the kitchen to set the last.
"Why the hell have you not told us you are seeing the governor's ex-wife? Where in the world did you meet her?" Sara hissed at him in a low voice.
"Yes, also what did happen to Kalinda... I liked Kalinda... she was cool and different... what are you doing here?" Aubrey added, and Will wished more than once again that they had never run into Kalinda and gotten that ridiculous idea.
"She works with me and with Kalinda...they are friends." He hissed in a low voice, hoping Alicia didn't hear it. However the moment Will saw the look on his sister's faces, he realized he had just made it way worse.
"You are a jerk, dating Kalinda's friend. Don't you know anything about the codes..." they hissed at him.
"I am not breaking some code, I never dated Kalinda." He defended himself. "I went to law school with Alicia, that is where we know each other from. And I gave her a job when she returned to work, after the scandal." He added in a low voice while wishing Alicia would stay in the kitchen and not walk in right now. Of course he wasn't that lucky, as Alicia joined them in the very same moment.
Sara and Aubrey staring from him to Alicia.
"God damn it... you are her?" Sara gasped, her eyes wide in surprise. Will looked up at Alicia who looked like a deer caught in the headlight.
"Who?" She asked softly as she took a side by Will's side at the table.
"The one he dumped that girl... Helen... or something for... the study partner... the one he practically wrote an ode to and couldn't stop singing her praises. The one he said married the biggest jerk ever, who never deserved her, and would break her heart... the one he also said he felt sorry because she was stuck with a husband and a kid before her career could ever really take off. Even though he said you were the smartest of them all. That is you right?" Will was pretty sure he wanted the ground to swallow him with all the personal information his sister had just given up.
"I... yeah..." Alicia answered hesitatingly and he looked over at her to see her blush.
"You broke his heart!" Sara stated, as she glared at Alicia.
"Sara..." Will hissed at her.
"What? it is the truth! You were heartbroken! Because of her..." Sara fired back, and he noticed Alicia flinch out of the corner of his eye.
"Sara!" His mother interrupted again, and he was thankful she seemed to be on his side, though he wasn't sure. Even less when she continued.
"So you work together? How long have you been seeing each other?" His mother asked.
"Is that why you got a divorce? For Will?" Aubrey suddenly asked, making them both flinch.
Alicia looked pale and uncomfortable.
"Yes, I work for Will... with him actually, as I am an equity partner now... we have been together for a few months now..." She sighed, and he could see that she considered her choices.
"And yes, Sara, I broke your brother's heart, and I also did it more than once which I better add before you start digging further. I am also sorry for hurting him. I never wished to cause him any harm, as he means the world to me. Also before you start, I better say I have kids and I am complicated and I am probably very far from what you wish for your brother. Even more because I have a baby daughter who is a few months old." She finally laid her cards on the table and everyone stared at her in shock and surprise.
"You have a baby daughter?" Sara asked and Alicia nodded slowly. Will exchanged eye contact with his mother, begging her to help. His eyes also told the answer to the unspoken question about if he was the father to Cat.
Alicia had no idea if she had done the right thing. Actually she was pretty sure she hadn't. She was pretty sure she had done it very, very wrong. But when his mother send both her daughters cold silencing looks she felt a bit relieved and knew she had done the right thing to stand up for herself.
"Dinner smells very lovely Alicia, what are we having?" Eleanor asked her, making Alicia let out a relieved sigh. This she could do, this she could focus on. Being the hostess and making sure the dinner was well and enjoyed. She could do and focus on that.
"For starter will we be having Stir-fried warm salad of prawns & baby courgettes, and lasagna for main course, and tiramisu for dessert, a special recipe I have that Will loves." She explained, before getting up again and going to the kitchen to get the food. No one dared to say anything, and she returned soon. They liked the food, and apparently no one dared say another harsh word. Instead was she learning about Will's sisters lives, and his mother's. Even though she received more than one death stare from one or both his sisters. However his mother still seemed to have declared an armistice while eating. Alicia was just relieved that her food seemed to fall in good grace with his family, like with him. They often shared the cooking, but she had been the one handling it all today. And she was even more relieved when she served the tiramisu and all 3 pairs of eyes on the 3 other ladies in Will's life lit up. She did thank her luck that Cat stayed asleep and only at the end of dessert started to cry, needing her to rush into her nursery to tend to her daughter. She picked her up and cuddled her into her, walking over to the rocking chair, arranging her clothes so she could nurse her daughter. She didn't do it as much anymore as she used to. To be fair she mostly had her bottle but she still did it once in the evening and once at night. And would keep on doing that as long as she could handle it and still had milk. She had a feeling that would soon be coming to an end though, since she did have a lot less milk now than she had in the beginning. She changed Cat as she was done and sat a little while with her after rocking softly as her baby drifted off to sleep again. She softly hummed some Disney song Grace had taught her.
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
She hadn't even noticed she was being watched as there was a knock on the door. She looked up surprised to see Will's mother standing there.
"I just wanted to make sure we hadn't scared you completely away..." She offered as she stepped in. She spoke in a low gentle voice, clearly intending not to wake up the sleeping baby.
"No, it is fine... I just... she was hungry and she is still not completely back asleep. And if I put her down before she is, she will start crying..." Alicia explained, feeling a bit insecure if his mother actually wanted to know such things. "Are you done eating? Would you like coffee? I will be there in a minute..." Alicia started to babble instead.
"Yes we are done eating thank you... no rush I made my daughters help Will clean up the kitchen. I figured it would be the least we could with the wonderful dinner you supplied us with. Plus it gave them a chance to catch up a bit more... I am sure they will handle coffee as well..." Eleanor explained, making Alicia sigh. Like this wasn't already bad they would now hate her for needing to clean up in her kitchen.
"You shouldn't have, I can handle all of that... either when she falls asleep or later tonight..." Alicia admitted and looked down.
"No need for that... it was the least we could do... and I assume my son does make sure to help you out there as well." She answered and raised an eyebrow at Alicia.
"Yes of course. He is wonderful..." Alicia admitted, a softer smile playing on her lips.
"Good, I would be very disappointed in the boy I raised if he didn't." Eleanor answered, and Alicia nodded. "Especially knowing you have a baby and work, all at the same time as well..." She added and raised an eyebrow at Alicia, who felt herself blushing. She wasn't sure if Eleanor would blame her for having a baby and working. Jackie would have for sure. But she wasn't sure what Will's mother's view was on that subject.
"Yes I do... I have a nanny, your niece actually. Will's cousin Rachel. She looks after her when we are at work." Alicia admitted, the we slipping out unintentionally.
"We?" Eleanor caught it right away, making Alicia look down.
"Will... we... he is wonderful with her..." Alicia finally managed to say, not sure it came across the right way.
His mother nodded slowly, and considering.
"Can I?" She made a motion towards Cat, and Alicia's eyes widen in surprise. She had never imagined Eleanor would want to hold her.
"Of course..." She whispered and gently stood up so the older woman could take the seat, before she carefully placed Cat in her arms. Her daughter squirmed a little before settling in again.
"What is her name?" Eleanor asked her looking up at Alicia.
"Catherine Amy..." Alicia answered softly.
"A beautiful name to a beautiful little girl..." she complimented them, and Alicia blushed lightly.
"Thank you..." She whispered softly.
Eleanor looked up at Alicia, squinting at her, and Alicia started to feel uneasy.
"My son loves you very much... he is here for you now even though you just had another man's child... Because I can assume it is not Will's daughter the way you both talk about her." Alicia looked down, feeling embarrassed and insecure.
"No she is not... I had her with an unknown stranger. I got pregnant by accident. But I could never give my child up. I could never have an abortion. Will is amazing with her." Alicia whispered softly, and she could hear Eleanor sigh.
"You have a lot of power over him. And my daughters might have been blunt in what they said but you have hurt him a lot in the past. Will's heartbreak, they never turn into tears but in him holing up in his job so that when he's heartbroken his entire family loses him and it's unhealthy? Did you know that?" She asked Alicia, who flinched.
"No I didn't... I don't want that..." She whispered, and Eleanor nodded.
"I am happy for you two if you are serious about this... otherwise you have to understand as one mother to another, that I have to be on guard for the risk that you will go and break my son's heart irreparably..." She explained and looked at Alicia head on now, holding her gaze, as Alicia nodded slowly.
"I don't want to hurt him..." Alicia whispered, but Eleanor held up her hand.
"I believe you don't want to right now. I am not blind, but I am a mother. I ask you to consider it to keep it in mind and in your heart, not just tonight but always..."
Alicia nodded softly, unsure what else to say. Cat had fallen back asleep so Alicia took her from Eleanor and placed her back in her bed, before they both moved back out into the living room. The looks Alicia got from his sisters made her flinch a little, even though Will looked at her softly and tenderly.
Will sighed as he closed the door after his sisters and mother, and looked over at Alicia. Alicia who looked exhausted now. He couldn't blame her. Though things had calmed down somewhat in the end it had been a killer affair. His sisters hadn't been able to understand that he was in love with her and had always been and wanted her like he had explained while they cleaned up the kitchen. And they had still given Alicia killer looks during coffee, even though they had avoided any more jabs at her. He walked over to her and reached out to her.
"Love? You know nothing they say matters, right? That all that matters is how we feel...!" He told her gently as he touched her cheek making her flinch. He looked at her eyes. They looked hollow and tired.
"Come on, let's go to bed... you are exhausted..." He offered, but by the sound of the word bed she stiffened up.
"I..." She whispered and took a step back. He looked at her and remembered his earlier thought that he might very well be sleeping on the couch. The way she was looking at him right now told him he had been correct in that assessment.
"You don't want me to share a bed tonight." He whispered, his voice cold and scared, and then she nodded slowly. He had to clench his hands to not get angry but just accept it. He understood it after all tonight had been hard on her. And she looked like she needed time alone.
"I am sorry Will... I need to be alone right now..." She whispered, and looked at him, her eyes misty before she turned around and moved to her bedroom, closing the door after her. He stood there in the hallway for a few seconds. He considered if he should go home or not. But he had a strange feeling that he needed to stay, that leaving right now would only make it worse. So instead he used the kid's bathroom for his nightly routine before going back into the living room where he took a seat on the couch, grabbing a blanket and trying to sleep there. He knew they would need to talk in the morning. To make this better. She was finally his girlfriend and he wasn't about to let that go without a fight. She was his soul mate and you don't just let your soul mate go.
She couldn't sleep. It wasn't Cat that kept her awake, not even the night's events. But the fact that she was alone in the big bed, for the first time in a long while was different. She rolled over again, throwing her pillow away in frustration. This wasn't working. Why had she been this stubborn? Yes she was angry with Will for the night's events from how he hadn't told his family about her. From all the Kalinda stuff. It was all too much, yet she missed him in her bed. Something she had denied him earlier when they went to sleep. She wasn't even sure if he had stayed or gone home. She couldn't blame him if he had gone home in the end, after all her couch was terrible to sleep on. Though she guessed he could have taken Zach's room.
She finally sighed in defeat and got up from the bed. She told herself she would just check on Cat but in reality she would be checking if Will was still there or not. She walked out of her bedroom and made her way into the living room.
"Alicia?" His sleep laced thick voice made her stiffen up. She felt relief wash over her. He was still here, and no matter how angry she was it all felt washed away. She quickly slipped over to the couch where he was and when he lifted the blanket she didn't waste any time in lying down half on top of him, cuddled into his body. She placed her head on his chest, where she could listen to his heartbeat.
"I am sorry..." She mumbled, not really sure why she was the one apologizing. She felt him sigh under her.
"No, Love I am... I should have told my family about you long before. And I should certainly have made them shut up with all the stuff about Kalinda... Alicia, I was in shock. I had never imagined that it would go this terrible either." He admitted as he slid his hands around her, caressing her slowly.
She flinched as he mentioned the Kalinda part, suddenly feeling bad once again.
"Please tell me there has never been anything between you two... I know it is not my right to ask as I know it would never have been while we were together. But just the thought alone..." She shuddered in discomfort.
"There has never been anything than friendship between Kalinda and me... When I was suspended my sisters came to visit. And they heard me talking with someone about a case on the phone. They concluded I had a thing for the person I was speaking with. Later on Kalinda showed up and they found out she was also on the case. And thought they had it figured out. They didn't figure out that Kalinda and the one on the phone were two different people. That the one I had been on the phone with is currently resting on my chest." He explained softly, making Alicia look up at him in surprise through the darkness. Her head and heart feeling lighter. While her heart was also beating faster. A lot faster actually, because they had not been together back then.
"We were not..." She whispered softly, and she felt his hands twist on her back.
"I know, but it didn't change my feelings..." he admitted softly, and Alicia moved so she could kiss him on the lips. It was a deep lingering passionate kiss. One that had her toes curl. She hadn't kissed him goodnight earlier and she regretted that now, and tried to make up for it.
As she pulled back she cuddled against his chest once more.
She was debating to tell him why the Kalinda part had hurt so deeply or not. Almost no one knew that one, and she often had wondered if Kalinda had told Will.
"It was mostly that it was Kalinda that hurt..." She whispered softly, and felt him sigh under her.
"Alicia..." he whispered gently, and she nodded slowly against his chest.
"Before I met her, she and Peter..." She mumbled and broke off. She felt Will's hands twist on her back.
"Alicia..." He whispered gently once again, and she sighed.
"They didn't tell me... someone else did... I asked Kalinda if there was something I needed to know there. But she didn't tell me. When I found out I felt like she had only ever been my friend out of guilt, nothing more... and Peter and she had lied to me for so long. It was terrible..." She explained softly, and felt Will sigh deeply under her.
"When did you find out?" He asked, and she fasted her hand in his shirt lightly. Needing to hold onto something a little.
"When I kicked him out after his reelection for Stat's Attorney. I found out at election night. I wondered if Kalinda..." She broke off. But she could feel Will nod slowly, and for a second she felt sure Kalinda had indeed told him.
"No... she never told me. She told me you had separated. But never why. I knew something was up with you two but never what." He admitted, and Alicia felt a bit relieved.
"Yeah we were... we are better now... a lot happened after and we are getting better... but the thought of you and her..." She broke off not even wanting to let her thoughts go there, and start making up images.
"I get that... how about we go into your bed instead Alicia, the couch is crowded and my leg is starting to cramp. And I can in there show you how there is only one woman I want. At the firm, in the city, actually in all of the world. And that woman is currently in my arms..." He admitted gently making her heart skip a beat. She couldn't help but smile, as she did get off him and he stood up as well and took her hand. He raised it slowly to his lips and pressed a kiss to her wrist. A kiss that had her shivering, already before he reached down so he could lift her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her lips found his as he carried her bridal-style into her bedroom. As she later on fell asleep she was relieved, she was exhausted but being in Will's arms always made everything a little bit better. Even when she didn't get to sleep for long because of Cat. Nursing her, changing her and cuddling her until she went back to sleep, and being able to slip back into Will's warm arms was still better than anything else.
Will was busy, buried in papers the next day when there was a knock on the door. He looked up, surprised to see his mother there.
"Mom?" He started to get up but she made a motion with her hand indicating that he should remain seated.
"Yes, I was just dropping by. We didn't get much chance to talk at the end of last night..." She answered and walked in, taking a seat in front of his desk. Will sighed, he already knew this wouldn't go well. Knew that his mother most likely was as little a fan of Alicia as his sisters had been.
"Mom before you start, a lot of it was my fault. I should have told you about her before. She is without fault. She is a good person. She is not trapping me into something because she has a baby. I am not the father to her kid I know that, I always knew that. But I still care about her, I love her daughter like she was my own... it doesn't matter if Alicia had her with some unknown guy... she didn't do anything wrong there, though you all seem to think so... if it gets out, if the press pick up on it, it will really hurt her. She doesn't want her daughter growing up in the public's eye which she is still bound by because of her past. I know you don't support the choices I have made but please try and understand... I love her... I have always loved her..." He sighed, laying it all out on the table. Last night had been a disaster, and he needed his mother to understand it wasn't all there was to Alicia.
"I believe you... she is a good person. I came here a little while ago and waited until she left the meeting you two had... last night I saw her with her daughter. I saw the strong woman willing to stick up for herself. And I like that, I respect that. She was a mother to her new born, giving her sweetness. But I was unsure if she was the right for you. If she cared enough about you. Or if I should fear her breaking your heart again. That makes me glad I came here today. The look she had as she left the meeting in here a few minutes ago told me all I needed to know." Eleanor sighed, and Will was left speechless. He had feared his mother would tell him Alicia wasn't good enough for him. Or she was all wrong, that he should get rid of her like his sisters had implied.
"Mom you have to believe me she is amazing... she is... wonderful, smart, so frustrating sometimes, and still warm, gentle, and kind. She connects with the clients in a way I have never seen before. She can make me more frustrated than anyone else, but she can also take it all away in a few seconds." He sighed and looked at his mother, hoping he had made his case, and he knew he had when she nodded.
"She loves you, I saw that today. And that is enough for me. I will take your word for the rest. I think she is a good match for you. All the others I have seen you with or all of those I haven't seen I always felt you had something lacking with. But the way you two look at each other. That gives me hope. I am glad that I now know that when I go back home, my son is in good hands. That he has someone that loves him here. That you chose and fell for someone like her also makes me proud as it tells me I raised a good son. One that is not ashamed of powerful and brilliant women. That would never stand aside while you took the spotlight. Knowing that gives me greater pleasure and peace than you can imagine. Now do you think you can take a couple of hours and drive me and your sisters to the airport?" She offered, and Will groaned. He had no desire to see his sisters again after last night.
"I will handle your sisters. And they are sorry about their behavior. We will be back soon. And hopefully you will allow us all three to make it up to you and Alicia..." She answered as she stood up. Will nodded and got up to follow her.
"They will like her. When they give her the chance... no one really keeps disliking Alicia..." He answered as he grabbed his coat.
"I am sure. And next time they will have to make it up..." She answered and Will nodded. He would need to tell Alicia about this conversation later and that his family would be back but next time to be the one making a good impression.
"You look like you need a drink! Did the meeting with the she-wolves go that bad?" Kalinda's voice made Alicia look up from her notes. She saw the investigator rested against her door-frame.
"The what?" She asked confused, unsure what Kalinda could possible mean.
"Will's sisters... and his mother..." Kalinda elaborated, making Alicia raise a confused brow. How in the world did she know about that one.
"How did you..." She started to say slowly while blinking a few times.
"I am Kalinda..." The I know everything was left hanging in the air unspoken. "I just saw him leaving his office with his mother..." Kalinda added, and Alicia sighed.
"Yeah... Kalinda you met them... right?" She asked squinting at the other woman. Even though Will had explained it all to her, she needed to be sure.
"Yes I did... why I ask if you need a drink..." She offered, and Alicia rolled her eyes in light amusement, because she was right, very right actually.
"yeah I do... but you know I still can't drink..." She mumbled, and Kalinda nodded.
"You can have a club soda and watch while I drink tequila for the both of us. And you can rant over the she-wolves. Though I wouldn't worry too much. Will didn't look like one that had just been told the love of his life was the wrong woman for him. Instead he looked very pleased and lighthearted. So I assume momma-wolf gave her blessing to you two..." Kalinda smirked at her, and Alicia's eyes widened. She might have gotten Will's mother to understand her more last night but she hadn't been sure it made her think she was the right for Will in the end.
"I can leave early tonight, and with the fact that Will had forgotten to mention me to his mother he is still on the couch and has some making up to do, I guess we could have an hour of drinks. Especially because I do need your version of why his sisters think he is or was in love with you..." Alicia gave Kalinda a pointed look, one that made the investigator sigh.
"You will get that one, Alicia. But you have nothing to worry about. Will has only eyes for one woman in this room and it is not me, and has never been. Meet you at the bar at 4?" Kalinda offered and Alicia nodded. Her heart a little lighter as well, with all Kalinda had just told her. Maybe she in the end could also win over the other she-wolves like Kalinda called them.
okay so please please let me know your thoughts on this one! i love to see your reviews! What do you think of the meeting?