I don't own The Good Wife.

This chapter is dedicated to you, the reader who clicked on my story. The ones who reviewed, favorite, followed. You are all amazing. Thank you for sticking with my story.


Alicia had been in court all day. She got the message Zack had tried to call her and rushed all the way home. When she got to the apartment she fumbled with her keys and stumbled through the door. She called out for her kids, and found her husband and two kids crying, sitting together on the floor. Her eyes filled with tears and she dropped to floor and held her daughter. After awhile of being held by her mom, Grace calmed down and had fallen asleep. Will carried her to bed. After brushing the hair out of her face, he kissed her on the forehead and whispered,

"I love you so much baby girl. You are so strong, so brave."

He turned off her light and shut her door. He walked back to the kitchen, where Alicia was sitting. Zack had brewed a pot a coffee. Alicia spoke first.

"So. What was that?"

Zack took a sip of coffee before answering.

"I don't know, mom. She was fine. We were eating, and all of sudden she was crying and freaking out. She kept repeating shut up, even though no one was talking. I couldn't get her to calm down, so I called you guys to see who could come help me. I didn't know what to do."

Will touched his shoulder.
"You did the best thing you could have done."

Alicia nodded in agreement. Will then spoke again.

"She said there is a voice in her head that she can't get to stop. One that tells her she is fat, and she can't get it to stop. Grace called it Ana."

"That's short for anorexia."
Alicia whispered.

Zack and Will looked at her in surprise.

"I researched everything I could about eating disorders. Some girls hear a voice, and the voice calls herself Ana."

"You used the computer, Mom? By yourself?"

Alicia rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I used the computer, by myself. Mostly. Cary helped, a little."

Will smiled briefly at their exchange, before getting the conversation back on track.
"Ok. What are we going to do? More therapy sessions? Family sessions so she knows we are there for 150%? What else can we do?"

"I don't know. We could try that. We could try. I just want my little girl back. It is killing me to see this disease have control over her."
She looked so defeated.

Will wrapped his arms around her.
"Me too. Me too. We are getting there though. She wants to get better. She does. If only you could have heard. It was heartbreaking. She just wants to get better."

When Zack left that night, Will walked him to his car.

"Thanks, Will. For coming straight to my sister. I know that you have an important job, and I am sure I interrupted something. I couldn't handle it on my own, and I couldn't think of anyone else to call."

"Don't ever apologize for that. You and your sister are more important to me than my job. Do you understand that? I am so glad you called me. Thank you for staying with her. You are a good big brother."

Zack smiled.
"And you are a great dad."

Will pulled him in for an unexpected hug.

"You have no idea how much that means to me, Zack. No idea."

Letting go, they said their goodbyes, with Zack promising to come up in a few days to visit.

When Grace woke up the next day, Will and Alicia were sitting at the kitchen table. There was an apple and water waiting for her.

"Good morning, sweetie."

"Morning."

Grace stared at the apple for a few minutes. With a look of quiet determination as though she was going to battle, she picked it up. She started eating, and then Alicia spoke.

"Gracie, we want what's best for you. You know that right? We want you to get better."

"I want to get better too. I am trying. Really!"

"We know, babe. But we were thinking. Would you be interested in more therapy sessions? Maybe even family sessions? So that we can get Ana to stop talking?"

Grace looked up.
"All I want is to be normal. That's all I want. I just want to be normal. And not have her there anymore. Do you really think we can get her to leave? Really?"

She looked hopeful for the first time in a long time.

"Yes, Grace. I really do."

"Then I will do whatever it takes. Whatever it takes."

And so, they started more therapy. It was getting easier for her to talk about what she was feeling, knowing people didn't think she was insane for hearing Ana. Family therapy was even easier for her. She could snuggle with her mom, or hold Will's hand when it got tough. Occasionally Peter joined them, but it was uncomfortable for him. Feelings weren't his thing, and he did have a state to govern. He stopped by to see Grace a few times, but he didn't come by very often. There were rumors flying around about why the governor's daughter was in the hospital in the first place, and he didn't like it, and Eli didn't want it to hurt his image. Alicia was upset that Peter was keeping his distance from his daughter when she needed support the most, but Grace said it was fine. That she understood the his career was important, and she didn't want to hurt it. Will was proud of her for being so strong, but it hurt him to see her father push her away. So he just became even more of a rock to her.

He went to every therapy session he could. Told her she beautiful everyday. Made her feel safe. When she ate, he held he hand to make it seem less scary. Sometimes, she would grip his hand so tight, she would leave bruises. But he would rather hurt on the outside, than have her hurt so badly on the inside. When she became overwhelmed, he held her tight. When she couldn't sleep, he stayed up with her, when she wanted to talk he listened. When she needed him, he was there. Every time.

And slowly, so, so slowly, she started to get better. The voice started to fade, and now it was whisper instead of a scream, and it was only occasionally, not the overwhelming constant it was before. It was a long road, but she could finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

And she knew it was eventually going to be ok.


All right, one more chapter to go, and it is more of an epilogue. Review, please?