Okay this story is set post 4.10 and it include a scene I have actually taken fro Gossip Girl but Terri and I a long time ago talked about would have been adorable with AP and something we could totally see happening. It is the flashback paragraph.

Oh yeah and hope this makes up for the lack of AP in 4.10

I don't own the Good Wife if I did Alicia and Peter would be waking up in each others arms first scene ever episode and make out in the last scene of every episode.

Of Innocence and Guilt

She knew this wasn't a very good idea, showing up at his doorstep late at night. It was past midnight as she knocked on his door. She knew she could very well risk waking the kids or Jackie. Still here she was. She knew there was a chance he might not hear her, because she couldn't risk ringing the bell that would be too loud. She knocked again, begging to a higher power he would hear or sense her or something like that, but nothing happened. She was about to turn around and leave when the door was opened. It was more than clear she had woken him up, the sleep in his eyes confirmed that. His eyes were heavy and his hair messy, 5 o'clock shadow on his cheeks they were all signs of him haven already been fast asleep. Just like his open dress-shirt and sweat pants were. She knew he easily got warm at night and many times preferred to sleep with nothing but boxers on, so the clothes had probably been thrown on before he went to answer the door.

"Alicia? Are you okay?" He asked confused, clearly not knowing why she was here. She shook her head. No if there was one thing she didn't feel like, it was okay. Years ago when she had first started to work as a defense lawyer, she was once told that some day her work would catch up with her. That she was too pure and good to really fit on that side. It hadn't happened back then, she had stopped working too soon for it to happen. She had a few cases since she came back that left her feel morally ambivalent since she came back to work. But it wasn't until today she really felt it. In order to protect their client, a guilty client, for killing a young woman that could just as well have been Grace in a few years. She had helped having an innocent man thrown into jail. And Though he would appeal and they could now give the evidence there, it didn't change fact that she knew how long ti would take before that appeal came to happen and that he would by then have served jail time that shouldn't be his.

Peter stepped aside letting her in. She had only stepped over the doorstep before she turned ti him throwing herself in his arms. She needed the comfort he always offered her. She needed the warmth of his body against hers. And more than that she needed the safety she knew he gave her. She pressed her face against his warm bare chest, breathing in his musky scent. He was so warm and strong, her man. All powerful, gentle and protective of her at the same time and she needed that right now. His arms came to rest around her holding her closer against him as one of his hands found her hair combing it and stroking it softly.

"Alicia what is wrong?" He asked her gently as she snuggled deeper into his comforting embrace, breathing him in.

"I just helped send an innocent man to jail today. I was told to help send someone we had proved was innocent to jail just so our client who was really guilty could walk free. The poor guy, he was so broken. Peter I helped commit juridical murder. Just in the hopes it would let a really killer walk. For the first time I wished I was bad at my job." She whispered against him half in tears.

She felt him nod against her, letting out a deep breath.

"we are talking about the double case right? Where the murder was prosecuted two places at once?" He asked her softly.

"Yes. They send me there so I could help the prosecution. I feel so terrible Peter. I really hated this, how do you learn to live with it?" he nodded again and caressed her hair and back.

"Come one lets go into the living room instead of standing here, and we can talk." She looked up at him, hesitating a little. She really didn't want to talk, she just wanted to have him hold her, and warm and comfort her. Maybe share her pain a little. And Peter himself looked so tired and worn, how had she missed how tired and worn he really looked. She suddenly felt a little bad for waking him up like this. So she whispered the reason she had really driven the 45 min trip to high land park.

"Can't you just hold me through the night." She asked softly, this was what she really wanted. To rest in his arms, letting him take her tears away.

He looked unsure for a minute until she realized how it might sound to him. After all here he was offering her an ear to listen, and she asked him more or less to take her into his bed with him.

"I'm not talking about sex. Just, will you hold me?" She clarified the meaning behind her words.

"Of course if that is what you would like. Go on up, and I will lock up again and come join you." he told her, letting her step out of his arms. She could feel his eyes following her up the step of the stairs. She went directly to his bedroom, the room that was once their bedroom. It felt weird how it wasn't the case any longer as she stood there just inside the door. Well it didn't look like the bedroom they had once shared either. It was more masculine, more Peter and less her, but not in a bad way. It wasn't bachelor style at all, and certainly nothing like Will's bedroom she had seen more of last year. That had clearly showed he didn't live with anyone, and he was a true bachelor. Peter's bedroom was masculine, but not over done, and she actually liked it a lot, could see herself enjoying this room and setting. It was surprisingly well decorated, pictures, and wardrobes and nips. The covers on the bed though messed up now, she could make out to be a rich blue color. She was truly pleasant surprised. She actually liked the way he seemed to have decorated it. It was his and she could recognize him in this room. Her eye caught sight of a couple of pictures he had on his dresser and walked over to take a closer look. She smile as she saw what pictures it was, the first of Zach and Grace in a very young age holding hands and smiling at the camera. There were also one of each of them as older, along with the family photo, she herself still had as her screen saver on her laptop, even though Zach had offered to change it many times, she liked having it there her family smiling at her, and it was one of the last times her and Peter were truly happy before everything fell apart. The last photo she picked up to study and almost dropped it again in complete surprise. It was a photo of her in profile, she had no idea when exactly it was take, and she clearly hadn't noticed it happening either, because she wasn't looking in the direction of the camera instead her gaze was fixed upon the ocean in front of her. She had never seen it before, and had no idea where Peter had gotten it from.

"It's form Sicily." She hadn't heard Peter approach so she almost dropped the photo in mere surprise of the sound of his voice so close by. She nodded.

"yeah I almost guessed that, because of the dress. I have never seen it before though." She answered softly, still amazed.

"I took it back on the trip, no idea why you haven't seen it before though. I used to have it in my office on my desk." He explained carefully.

"I guess, I just haven't noticed it before." She wondered slightly, still part in shock.

"Do you mind I have it?" He asked nervously.

Alicia shook her head, she didn't mind. She just wasn't sure why it was that picture of her he had chosen to display in his bedroom or office of anything. He answered the question in her thoughts without her saying it out loud.

"I like that photo of you Alicia, because of the way you carry yourself in it. You look so gentle, innocent and yet so strong and powerful. You remind me of one of those ancient goddesses in it. The dress is so thing and light on you, and the wind blowing in your hair, you looks in peace. The picture captured the essence of who you are, and that is why it is my favorite one."

She placed it back down and looked over at him and nodded softly, taking in his sweet words. She wasn't completely sure how to take his gentle words. But they did make her feel warm and flattered.

"I guess we should try and get some sleep?" She whispered softly, making Peter nod. She shrugged out of her jacket and stepped out of her shoes.

"Would you like a shirt to sleep in?" he offered her and she nodded, but just pointed to the button down he still had one hanging completely open.

"I can just use that Peter, you don't need to find me a clean one." She hopped her would agree, because she would truly prefer to use the one he had worn through the day and which was now soft from wear and smelling of him and his cologne. Peter nodded and took it off and handed it to her.

"Do you need a shower or something? Would you like for me to find you an extra tooth brush?" Alicia nodded and Peter stepped around her and walked into the bathroom. She undressed further, not really thinking about how he could return any second now. She pulled the shirt around her as she pulled her chemise over her head. As she was done undressing except for her tong she walked into the bathroom. Peter had already found her a tooth brush and was now pulling out towels for her.

"Do you need me to go look for some of Grace shampoo?" He asked her gently.

"No this is fine. I'll be quick." he left her alone to business. She showered and brushed her teeth. After that she dressed in his soft shirt, (she had already decided he wouldn't be getting this one back, it was coming home with her as her new night dress) and her tong again, before walking back in to his bedroom. He was in bed with the bedside lamp on reading. She walked to the opposite side, smiling internal she knew he had been sleeping on the other side before but had moved over to give her, the side she preferred and she normally slept in. She pulled back the sheets a bit more and slid in beside him. He turned off the lamp and laid down beside her, turned so he was facing her. She moved over to him so she was snuggled up against him. Peter placed his arms around her pulling her even closer to him and she moved so she was mostly lying directly on top of him. For a long time she had only slept like this it had been the way she got the best rest and felt the safest, with Peter's warm bare chest as her pillow. She turned so her face was pressed into him. His hand finding her hair again and stroking it softly. She remembered another time so long ago where his arms had been all she need to find comfort again.

They had been dating for almost 9 months and she was at her 2nd year at Georgetown and Peter had recently moved to DC in order to be closer to her. Her mother had come to visit her the first time ever while she was in D.C. They had lunch out in town, Owen was there as well. Peter had a court hearing. He couldn't get out of, no matter how hard he tried, so he hadn't been able to join her. The lunch had gone horrible, and ended in another fight with her mother. She had originally planned on sleeping in her own apartment that night. Peter had to work late, but she had felt that miserable after the lunch that she gone back to his place.

Peter walked in to his bed room and intermediately noticed the silhouette of her lying on her side in his bed staring out of the window.

"I thought you said you would sleep at your own place tonight?" He asked a bit confused. She had told him she needed to study and catch up with Will, and would stay home that night.

"I changed my mind." She whispered. He could hear the tears in her voice. So he walked right over and laid down beside her.

"How was the lunch?" He asked her carefully, already knowing it might be a sore subject from the way she was acting.

"Bad. I fought with her about same things as always. Not visiting enough, calling and all that. I told her that I at least called more than she. Owen was on her side as he always is." She whispered softly. Peter wrapped his arms around her pulling her close.

"I'm sorry." he told her. And he really was. He wished she didn't have such a awful relationship with her mother. And that the father whom she adored lived closer than the opposite side of the country.

"It's okay... I have you. That is all I really need." She admitted pulling his arms around her, as he placed he kiss on the crown on her hair. He was he shelter against everything bad.

"You are sure, you don't want to talk about it?" he offered, they both knew what he was referring to.

"There are not much more to say. I was helping my own client and that meant an innocent man went to jail for a crime he never committed and murder of the woman he had loved. How do you live with that Peter? How do I live with it?" She whispered but the force behind her words was clear.

"You learn to harden yourself and learn that sometimes wrong things happens but you can't dwell on it. How do you normally handle knowing your client is guilty and you still get him out and you know there is a huge chance he will do it again? You do the same here." He explained softly as he caressed her back.

"That is the problem I can better deal with 3 murders walks than an innocent goes to jail. And now I had to go so far for a guilty client that is what happened. I am exhausted Peter." She mumbled as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being this close to the only person she had ever known that made her feel completely relaxed and safe.

"I know Alicia. I hate it too when that happen, can't you remember the many times I have come home to you to do nothing but hold you close and let you take my pain away, because I had realized I had been a part of that happening. There is no true cure. Do you need me to try and pull some strings to see what I can do about it?" He asked her tenderly.

"We both know you can't do that but thank you." She whispered.

"Is that all that is bugging you, I mean since you are so exhausted?" he wondered.

" No. not just this. But my mom, the kids, your campaign, a creepy client that now finally seems gone but who threaded me two days ago. I am so tired." She answered honestly, glad to finally share her burden with someone, especially when that someone was Peter.

"What? You were threatened?" Peter started to sit up, and she knew he was anything but calm now.

"yes, but Peter it is dealt with. I got nothing to fear anymore." She answered as she pressed him back down.

"You threatened you Alicia? And nothing to fear anymore? What is that supposed to mean?" He was really angry and she was pretty sure if Kalinda hadn't already done god knows what with Nick, Peter would. Never less she shouldn't have mentioned it, this might create trouble.

"No one you knows Peter a client and he is gone now, I am alright. Plus I am here with you, how could I worry when I am lying like this." She placed a light kiss on his chest hoping it would distract him. It did, though he didn't seem happy to let it go.

"Okay but if you hear anything about him being close again you'll come me, alright?" He asked her gently but yet forceful.

"I will. I promise." She whispered.

"Okay, you say you are exhausted. Maybe you need a vacation." he offered her caring.

"That would be nice. I promised the kids that back in February but it never came to happen. And I don't know if I can now I mean with work and everything." She explained.

"Let me take you and the kids away for Christmas, Alicia. I know you fear your mother will show up again for that. So let me take you away." He offered her carefully.

She looked up and met his gaze and smiled when she realized he really meant it.

"You are offering to take me and the kids away for the holiday season? What about Jackie?" Alicia asked because she would definitely say yes if it was just Peter, the kids and she who was going but if Jackie was coming it wouldn't be the relaxing trip she could really use now.

"Melanie own me a favor or two. I know that would only stress you. I want to take you away so you can relax again." He explained.

"So you would leave Jackie with your sister, just to spend Christmas with the kids and me, so I could relax?" Alicia asked just to be completely sure.

"I would. So you're up for it?" He asked.

"I am... I will get the time off and we can go. where will you take us?" She asked curiously.

"That however will be a surprise. But it will be cold." He teased her gently as he ran a finger down her cheek.

"You don't know it yet do you? But it is okay." She yawned during the last couple of words.

"I do know it already. But it will be a surprise. We should try and get some sleep if you are feeling happier now?" He reached down and placed a kiss on the top of her head, as she stretched out on him cuddling a little closer to him.

"I am and you are right we should. What about the kids? I mean I can't wake up in your bed what will they think?" She asked suddenly she really hadn't thought this through when she decided she wanted to sleep in his arms for the night.

"I have set the alarm early before they wake up. I will sneak downstairs and take the couch and we will say you came over late last night to talk and everything will be fine." he explained to her.

"Okay sounds fine." She looked up at him again. "Good night Peter and thank you for this." She wondered if she should reach up and give him a good night kiss, but didn't.

"Good night Alicia." he placed another kiss on the top of her head before they both snuggled more into each others embrace, before falling asleep.

AN Okay so the set up with Peter taking Alicia and the kids away for Christmas is a set up for another story I will write as a Christmas present for a very good and sweet friend of mine.

Also note I have a few more of these episode tags oneshots planned and a couple of them written and almost finished.