Disclaimer: The Good Wife is not mine

August, 2017, Chicago

Despite the fact that she seriously did not want to be in a room filled with politicians and gossip, she knew that if she was serious about opening up shop in Chicago then she would have to attend the most important law ball of the year. That was why, only two weeks after her meeting with David Lee, and only a week after news of her divorce had broken, she was dolled up and ready to charm.

To her surprise both Peter and Eli had agreed to everything she had requested in the divorce, and signed the papers without hassle. Alicia had a feeling that it was Eli she had to thank for the lack of drama her divorce had caused. Her children had been a little upset by the news but both accepted it was for the best and were pleased at the prospect of their mother moving on and towards better days. Zach had now returned to MIT as school would be reconvening in a week. Grace was to leave on Friday, everything in Washington had been packed and she was now packing the few things that she had brought to Chicago with her ready to start the latest chapter of her life.

The taxi pulled up outside the venue and Alicia thanked her driver when he opened the door, immediately looking around. Thee were numerous members of the press, all of whom immediately swarmed around her but who she attempted to ignore as she made her way into the venue. Her hair was loosely curled and left down. The dress which she wore was simple, white, with long sleeves, and a slash neckline that went from one shoulder to the other. The dress was floor length but had a split she would have thought was too high if it weren't for her daughter's reassurance. Her lips were stained red, and she wore a gold bracelet on each wrist. The dress made her look younger, and she knew it would catch the eye of the press. Alicia had wanted her first public appearance since the divorce to make a statement, she knew the dress did that.

When she walked into the dining room she put on her fake smile and went about the room, small talking with those she knew and introducing herself to those she didn't. By the time the meal and speeches began, Alicia was glad not to have to answer any more questions about her divorce. It never ceased to amaze her how much people were fuelled by gossip. It was almost as though their lives were so boring they had to immerse themselves in someone else's.

Alicia picked at the rubber chicken dinner she was served, and half listened to what the speakers wee saying. One spoke about women in the workplace – and was completely inaccurate – another was about the recent changes to some land act she was pretty sure she had never even read. They went on, but after the dessert dishes were taken away, people began to stop listening and get up. Alicia stayed, however, she had spoken at the ABA conference a few years ago and had four hundred people leave her speech, she didn't want the speaker to feel the same. Even if she was immensely bored. Finally the host of the evening, a round man with balding hair and a grin that sent shivers down her spine told them all to enjoy their evening and she stood up, heading off in search of another glass of white wine. She had decided that wearing a white dress and drinking red was just asking for trouble.

Alicia had just spotted the bar when she heard her name called out. Turning to look at the table she had just passed she saw Will Gardner waving her over. Her heart fluttered a little at the sight of him. She had thought he looked good when she saw him a fortnight ago. However he looked even better in a dinner suite and bow tie. He stood up and smiled before introducing her to the woman who he was sat next. "Diane, this is an old friend of mine-"

"Alicia Florrick." Diane said. "I know who she is Will. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Alicia this is Diane Lockhart, my partner." Will stated, looking between the two women.

"It is very nice to meet you Ms Lockhart, however it is Cavanaugh these days." Alicia said. It felt strange to be going by her maiden name again. However it also gave her a sense of freedom that she had not had in a very long time. It made her feel like she was more than just a name, more than just the wife of someone. "I've been a fan of yours for many years, you were the keynote speaker at the first ABA I ever went to."

"Well thank you. Will, you never told me you knew Ms Cavanaugh." Diane said, turning to her partner with a knowing look on her face, raising an eyebrow a little.

"Alicia, please." The brunette said, whilst she looked between the two partners. There was a bond there, but it wasn't sexual. It was strong, but it wasn't romantic, it was almost like they were just the best of friends, like they had an immense amount of trust in one another. Almost like she and Will had back in the early days of Georgetown, before they crossed the line.

"It never came up." Will replied, looked a little flustered. How exactly could he ever have told Diane? "I'll go get us a drink, Alicia?"

"White wine would be great." She replied before he walked away. "May I?" Alicia questioned, nodding towards the seat.

"Of course, be my guest." Diane was classy, Alicia had decided she liked the woman instantly. Dressed in a very simple black gown, with pearls around her neck she looked effortlessly sophisticated. A style Alicia had never quite managed to get the art of. "How do you know Will?" She questioned, Alicia did not miss the look of mischief that sparkled in the older woman's eyes as she asked.

"We went to Georgetown together." Alicia replied, simply, deciding not to elaborate.

Diane smiled; "What was he like back then?"

Alicia just laughed, shaking her head. "Popular, sporty, I thought he would never grow up. The first time I met him he was being the life of the party, jumping into the pool simply to splash everyone." The brunette watched the smile that spread across Diane's face as she pictured the scene. "Will knew how to have a good time, but he was ambitious too."

"I guess he hasn't changed in that respect." Alicia wondered just how much Will had changed since those days, wondered whether he was still partly the same person he had once been, or whether the Will she had been so close to had long since gone. Just like she was pretty sure that the Alicia he had known was no longer around. "Rumour has it that you are looking to set up offices here." Diane was straight to the point, and Alicia liked that. She had spent so many years of her life around politicians who would run a marathon before they got to the matter that they wanted to discuss. It was nice to be with people who didn't hedge quite so much.

"Yeah, I've ben looking at office space, and listening out for people I might want with me." She still wasn't completely certain that she was going to open up in Chicago, but she had decided that she needed to get out of DC. The more she thought about it the more she realised that there was nothing there for her. In the divorce she had told Peter he could keep the house but if he ever sold it then she were to get half of the proceeds. That meant she had no where to stay when she returned in a couple of weeks. Wherever she did end up living would be empty as well, because Grace would be off at university just like Zach was. Being back in Chicago, with Owen, it made her feel like her old self, or at least a little bit more like her old self.

"I'm sure that there are tonnes of lawyers who would jump at the chance to work with you."

"Most of the ones I want to work with are comfortable. Nothing is certain yet though." Will sat down and handed both women a drink, he sat behind Diane, so he could see both of them. The round table made a three way conversation a little easier, but he was still on the outside. The pair were deep in conversation so he decided just to listen, but the topic was certainly not what he had been expecting.

"Have you considered merging? You would get your new offices, but without the struggle of finding clients and without the bore of searching for new lawyers."

Alicia's eyebrows rose at the suggestion. She had certainly not considered a merger. "No, I hadn't actually. The idea had never really entered my mind."

"Maybe you should, consider it I mean. What is your opinion Will? How would you feel about merging with an old friend?"

Will looked shocked, just like Alicia did. Looking over at her, however, he knew that she was thinking. She was remembering all the times back in georgetown when they had laid in bed and planned their lives out. Back before he had said no to New York. Back when they had thought they would last forever. Nights had been spent lying in bed, in that tiny apartment, planning out their lives. How they were going to own their own firm, how they were going to be the best, doing more pro-bono cases than any other firm. They'd said that they would work their backsides off, then when they had enough money saved they would buy a little house down on the beach somewhere, it would be away from everyone else and they would spend their weekends there.

"We always said we would have our own firm." He said, softly, Alicia just smiled at the memory and Diane looked a little surprised. Not because of what he had said, but because of how he had said it. She had been working with Will, running a firm with him, for a very long time, but never had she heard him speak to anyone quite like that. His voice was so gentle, so tentative. It was so heavily laced with emotion and memories. It was a tone which told her there was an awful lot of heartbreak in the story that belonged to the two people she was at with.

"Just so I know, how serious are you both?" Alicia questioned. Many people proposed the idea of merging but few ever actually did. The brunette looked at Will and Diane as they shared a glance.

"Very."

"Then may I take some time to consider?" Alicia didn't even know where to start, didn't even know what she thought about merging, she was just taken aback. She had arrived at the ball hoping to steal a few good lawyers, not merge with the top firm in Chicago, not merge with his firm.

"Of course." Diane said, taking a sip of her wine. "Now, tell me more about Will at law school." Alicia laughed at the older woman, but more so at the way that Will's face turned white in fear and he groaned. That made Diane smirk.

"Where do I start?" Alicia said, giving Will Gardner an evil look.

"Be kind, I have some stories on you Cavanaugh." He replied.

"I have twice as many on you Gardner."

Diane sat there, watching the interaction between the two old friends. Never had she heard anyone call him 'Gardner'. Never had she seen anyone manage to make him look so in awe just by sitting there. Diane was not stupid, watching the pair she knew that there was more to their relationship than 'we went to Georgetown together'. Whilst they were playful around each other, there was something that was being held back, their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes. Diane knew that there was a reason Will had never told her that he knew the now ex-wife of the Vice President. Knew there was a reason that Alicia's name had never once come up in conversation. The lawyer just didn't know why. Well, not yet anyway...

Thanks for the reviews! Please keep them coming.

Abby