A/N: Hi everyone! My apologies for the delay in updating. If you read the drabble I posted earlier today, you know already that some things in my professional life have unfortunately been taking time away from things in my personal life. I am hopeful things will settle down soon.

You will recognize a couple of Alicia's lines in here from Season 5-from 5.14, "A Few Words" and 5.17, "A Material World." I think I like the way they're used here a little better. ;)

So for now, the next installment of this wonderful collaboration. Thanks as always to MayAnderson19, my wonderful writing buddy. This story wouldn't exist without her :)

Alicia picks up her phone, stares at it for a moment, then sets it back down on the counter.

This is stupid, she thinks. You're not in high school.

Then she pushes her wine glass away with her index finger, watching the red liquid slosh around in the glass.

She picks up her phone, stares at it for a moment, then sets it back down on the counter.

Then she downs the rest of the wine in her glass and decides to just call him.

"Hey!" Will answers, happy to hear from her. "What's up? I'm just finishing a couple things here."

"Oh, um...do you want to come over?" she says nervously, then exhales. "I...the kids are down in Springfield for the weekend, and I just thought maybe we could watch a movie or...something?"

Sweet lord, Alicia, is this the first time you've ever talked to a man?

She's not sure, but she thinks she can feel him smile through the phone. "I'll pick up some food on my way. Thai?"

"Yes please. And maybe some wine?" she asks hopefully. You're apparently going to need it to construct complete sentences.

"You got it. I'll be there in an hour or so."

Alicia's lips form into a confused pucker. She realizes she has absolutely no idea what she (or they) are doing. Are they dating? Are they friends? Are they not-dating-but-more-than-friends? She's never been a fan of those "defining the relationship" conversations (DTR, as Owen likes to say) but it looks like she and Will are going to have one, and soon.

And speak of the devil, her phone begins buzzing.

"Hellooooo!" Owen says brightly when she answers. "Whatcha doooooin?"

"Owen," she says, a little more sharply than she meant to.

"You're busy," he states. "Sorry to bother you."

"No, no, Owen, I'm sorry. It's just been a weird night so far. What's up?"

"Just wanted to see how you're doing," he says, sounding softer and more mature than usual.

"I'm...fine. Good, actually," she corrects herself. "Will is coming over tonight."

"Oooooh," he says, and Alicia rolls her eyes; he's back to the normal Owen state of mind. "Kids are away, eh?"

"I don't think it's like that," she says, unsure. "I...don't really know what we're doing. He's bringing food over. We'll probably just eat and watch a movie."

"Mmmhmm," he teases, then pauses. "'Licia, you know you guys are gonna have to talk about it eventually, right? You can't go on forever just assuming you're something if you're not, or assuming you're not something if you are."

Wiser words had rarely, if ever, left Owen's lips.

"I know," she says, sighing. "It's just...Owen, we're not kids anymore. I feel a little ridiculous talking to Will about whether or not I'm ready to be his girlfriend." But as ridiculous as she thought the word would sound coming out of her mouth, she realizes she doesn't mind it so much after all.

"You and Peter officially divorced less than a month ago. If Will is the kind of guy you say he is, he's not going to expect anything more from you than what you're able to give," he says, that softer and more mature Owen returning to the conversation. "Don't rush into anything. But, you know, don't let that stop you from sleeping with the guy. He's dreamy."

Alicia wonders how he can switch back and forth between these two completely different versions of her brother so very quickly.

"I've liked Will for a long time," she adds. "That hasn't changed. It just feels a little strange and sudden to be with him so soon after Peter."

"Peter hasn't been your husband for a long time," Owen says, his voice low, and Alicia knows he's right. "Like I said, don't...do anything crazy. But don't be too scared to be happy, sis. I know how you are."

She chuckles. "Thanks. I'll call you next weekend? Maybe we can have breakfast. I know Zach and Grace would like to see you."

"Sounds good. Love ya!"

"Love you too, Owen."

Setting the phone down again, Alicia considers briefly if she should change: she's in yoga pants and a t-shirt. Will has seen her in worse, for sure, but not recently. Not since Georgetown.

"Good morning," Will said, reaching over to rest his hand on her cheek. He brushed her cheekbone with his thumb as he smiled at her. Alicia returned the smile as she opened her eyes fully to the man opposite her.

"Good morning," she responded as she looked at him suspiciously. "You're looking at me all weird, Will."

He shook his head. "Not weird. Just glad I get to see you like this."

"What do you mean?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

Will laughed softly, gently. "It's not bad. You're just...beautiful, Leesh."

He saw her look down and survey herself: gray sweatpants, a navy blue tank top with a faded Georgetown emblem, and crazy messy hair.

"I don't know what about this would make you think that," she said, gesturing to herself.

Will surveyed her, and what he saw was completely different: a tank top that hugged her in all the right places, adorably messy, curly hair, a little bit of mascara smudged under her eyes that she'd missed the night before. He saw her bright hazel-green eyes, her perfect cheekbones, and that smile she reserved only for him.

"Everything."

She is immediately returned to the present when she hears a knock on the door. No turning back now.

Alicia opens the door to Will, who stands there in jeans and a crisp white button-down, holding food in one hand and wine in the other.

"Hi! C'mon in," she says, and steps aside to let him enter. He sets the food down on the kitchen counter and pulls the wine out of its paper bag. It's merlot, something he knows she likes.

Alicia follows him to the kitchen, admiring the way he's mixed casual and work clothing, admiring the way he'd slipped off his shoes at the door and left them next to hers, admiring the way he looks here, standing in her kitchen. It doesn't feel weird, or wrong, or any of the things she had anticipated it feeling. It just feels good.

"Do you want to…" Will starts to ask, but he is cut off by the sudden assault of Alicia's lips on his and her hands on the back of his neck, her body pushing him toward the counter behind him.

She stops momentarily for air, and Will's eyes are wide open. "I was gonna ask if you wanted to eat in here or in the living room, but I think I like your plan better."

Alicia laughs against his mouth, and his whole body is filled with the joy of her laughter. He puts both hands on her face as he takes control of the kiss, practically smashing his lips into hers.

This isn't the first time they've kissed in the past month, but it's the first time it's been like this.

She walks backward, ever so gracefully toward the bedroom, his hands never leaving her face, her lips leaving his only slightly when she stumbles over something on the floor. They fall onto the bed in a singular motion, and the rest of the world disappears for the next thirty minutes.

Will props himself up on his arm, looking at Alicia next to him, all sweaty and undone. "Well," he says, and she just laughs.

"Yeah," she says, almost sheepishly. "I, just...you, in my kitchen...I couldn't wait 'till later."

He runs his thumb along Alicia's cheek, smiling down at her. "This is nice," he adds, with a contented sigh.

"Yeah. It is," she agrees, as she bites her lip. "I..." she pauses, and he looks at her concernedly.

"I know," he says simply, continuing to smile down at her, using his fingers to brush her hair from her forehead. "How about we eat first? Then we can talk."

Alicia agrees before reluctantly slipping away from his touch. She throws on pajamas and runs her fingers through her hair as Will dresses, but only in the t-shirt and jeans. The button-down remains haphazardly on the back of the chair.

As she twirls pad thai around her fork, she thinks about how much she likes this: Will in her kitchen, eating takeout with her on a Friday night after work, with no reason for him to leave if he doesn't feel like it.

But then she thinks about how she hates it, too, because they have to keep it secret. Because she can't run around telling everyone that Will Gardner is finally her boyfriend and that she adores him and that she's happy and screw everyone who thought it would never or should never work out between them.

"Are we dating?" she says suddenly, the words spilling from her lips a little unexpectedly. Will's mouth is full of rice and curry; he looks at her, holds up one finger to indicate his need for a moment, then finishes chewing before he speaks.

"Are you ready for that?" Will asks, his voice caring but not uncertain. "I don't want to rush you into anything you're not ready for." He covers her hand with hers and rubs circles on her skin with his thumb. "I'll give you as much time as you need. I'm not going anywhere," he reminds her, repeating his words from a few weeks before.

"I know," she says softly. "But I am ready. Peter and I...well, we hadn't really been in a relationship for a while. I lost my husband a long time ago." An expression of sadness washes over her features, and Will's heart aches for the woman he loves. He never wants to see her like this, so sad, so hurt. "I want a happy life. And I want to control my fate."

Then a smile appears on Alicia's face. "And I want to be with you."