AN: Please don't run me down with your car or your bike or whatever mode of transportation you use! I've been away for so long and I honestly feel so terrible. It's taken me WAY too long to update but I haven't gone anywhere and I won't go anywhere. It's just been a crazy time and I've had some trouble with this chapter. SO it may not be all up to scratch but I'll get back into the swing of things soon and make it all better with awesome chapters.
I owe all the thank you's I can give because if those reviewers out there who kept telling me they wanted more didn't do that then there would be no more. But less of my rambling, on with the chapter! (I also owe a thousand thanks to Fleetwood Mac because having their songs playing got me through writing this.)
P.S. Seriously, it'll get better soon after this chapter. I just need to use that writing muscle more.
Will eventually lost track of the time while he was waiting for Alicia. He felt a small amount of irritation that she was taking so long to get back but he soon dismissed that feeling because he understood that things with Peter and Alicia may not always be so great and they may have a lot to discuss. Will also didn't want to be one of those people in a relationship who always monitored where their partner was and what they were doing. Will trusted Alicia more than anyone so he wasn't worried.
Will was lounging on the couch flicking through channels on the TV when he heard a knock at the front door. He didn't know whether he should answer it or not. Alicia letting him hang about the apartment was one thing but opening up the door to somebody was a little different. Whoever it was knocked again. Will switched off the television and got up carefully. He silently walked to the door, trying not to make any noise so the person on the other side of the door didn't hear him and think he was Alicia and that she didn't want to see them. He was a few steps away from looking through the peep-hole in the door to see who it was when he heard them speak.
"Alicia, open the door for your dear brother!" Will knew right then that it was Owen, and again he wasn't sure whether he should open the door. Owen would stay and wait for Alicia, which was fine but Will wasn't sure if he wanted to sit with Owen and wait. Though he decided to do the right thing and opened the door to find not only Owen, but Veronica too. Will was glad he had decided to throw on a pair of pajama pants he kept at Alicia's earlier because he really didn't want to open the door to her family in a pair of boxer shorts.
"Will!" Owen yelped.
"Hi Owen." Will let out an awkward smile and looked to Veronica. "Mrs. Loy."
"No need for formalities here. Call me Veronica, Will." Will nodded to her comment, feeling a little idiotic that he called her that.
"So… Alicia home?" Owen piped in.
"Actually no, but she should be back pretty soon." Will answered and stepped back, pulling the door open wider to invite them inside.
"Where did Alicia go on a Saturday morning?" Veronica asked as Will was closing the door. To save Alicia from some endless questioning by her mother, Will acted like he didn't really know.
"Just a work thing. She got called in for something quick." They both nodded to Will and stood around awkwardly. "Anyone ant some coffee?" Will offered, trying to lessen all the awkwardness between them.
"God, yes." Owen blurted and headed for the kitchen. Will gestured for Veronica to go in first and she did so. Will went to the coffee machine and turned it on, noticing there was no coffee left.
"So how are you Will?" Owen asked him.
"Yeah, great, thank you. How are you both?" He said as he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.
"I'm just fine." Owen replied.
"I couldn't be happier." Veronica said rather knowingly. "Will, since we're both here and Alicia isn't, I was wondering if we could have a little chat?" Will started to get really anxious. He knew where that was going and he didn't think he'd be able to get out of it.
"Mom, I don't think Will really wants to talk about anything too heavy this early in the morning." God bless Owen for trying to intervene, Will though, but it was useless because Veronica wouldn't listen to him.
"Nonsense Owen, it's just a friendly talk. You don't mind, do you Will?"
"Uh, no. It's alright. What do you want to chat about?" Veronica walked closer to Will and placed a hand on the same counter Will was leaning on a meter away from him.
"I'm aware that you and my daughter are seeing each other, and I'm over the moon about it."
"I'm going in there…" Owen said pointing to the dining room and walked in.
"You know Alicia's father isn't with us anymore so it's now my duty to tell anyone she's with that if you break her heart, you won't know what's hit you." Will took in a quick breath and raised his hands up.
"Veronica-"
"No, Will, listen to me." Will stopped what he was saying and gave Veronica his full attention. He had almost a full pot of coffee and yet it still wasn't enough to get through his conversation he was about to have. "I know she loves you, and you love her and I don't believe you would do anything to hurt her because the entire world can see how in love you two are. Still, on the off chance that you do something to hurt her there will be a world of hurt coming to you." Will hoped he was having a crazy dream, or rather nightmare. This was a conversation parents have with their kids' boyfriends or girlfriends when they were in their twenties and yet here he was, forty-something and still getting the "Don't do anything to hurt my baby" talk.
"Veronica, I would never do anything to hurt Alicia."
"Good."
"I'm not done." Will said abruptly. "Your daughter is the most important person in the world to me and we've waited years to be together. I never thought it was actually going to happen."
"You and me both." She quipped, and Will almost laughed but he held it together.
"It's bewildering to me to get this talk from a parent so late in the game and I appreciate you looking out for Alicia but I'm going to take care of her. You have nothing to worry about. That's partly why I asked her to move in with me." Veronica paused and looked genuinely stunned for a moment.
"She's moving in with you?" Will paused himself and wanted to take back what he just said. She clearly didn't know, and though it was a new development between him and Alicia he would assume she would have told her own mother. He told his sisters and mom, all three of whom were thrilled because it was "such a long time coming".
"She didn't tell you?" Will softly questioned.
"No. No she didn't. I'm slowly realizing she doesn't tell me anything herself anymore." Her tone began to sound upset and hurt, and Will didn't want to be the one that caused that. They both stayed silent for a minute or two, keeping their thoughts to themselves.
"So how's that coffee?" Owen walked back into the room, probably because he didn't hear them talking anymore. At the sound of his voice Veronica whipped around and stepped towards him.
"Did you know about this?" She asked Owen. He looked to Will, most likely seeking some sort of guidance on what the hell she was talking about but Will turned around and reached in a cabinet to get three mugs.
"Know about what, mom?" Owen asked her nervously.
"That these two are moving in together?" Owen hesitated before answering and that gave Veronica all the conformation she was looking for. "How could you not say anything about this?" She asked him, sounding both hurt and angry.
"It wasn't really any of my business. Besides, I though Alicia would have told you about it." He tried to defend himself.
"Of course she wouldn't have told me about this. It only has to do with a huge change in her life." Will picked up two of the mugs he had filled with coffee and gave one each to Owen and Veronica. "Alicia never tells me anything. I don't know why she always does this."
"I don't know why she does it either. Don't feel bad, mom. She doesn't tell me everything about her life." Veronica just dismissed Owen with a wave of her hand and walked out of the room, heading towards the living room.
"Sorry about that Will. About her." Owen said to him, taking a sip of coffee.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I get it." Will had a gulp of his coffee and looked back to Owen. "She does tell you everything though, doesn't she?"
"Yeah. Pretty much every detail. I'm being selfish and saving my own ass rather than telling mom that but you do not want to see her get way more upset about not knowing what is happening in Alicia's life. Sometimes it looks like she doesn't care too much, but she does. A whole lot more than Alicia even knows." Will took all of that it and admired that about Veronica.
"I should maybe go see if she's okay. Right?" Will said, and Owen shrugged then nodded. Will thought that it wouldn't hurt to try and make Veronica feel a little better. He wouldn't let out details of what was happening, knowing that it was up to Alicia to do that when she got home. Which Will was hoping would be soon. He walked past Owen and went to the living room.
"Veronica." Will caught her attention and she looked up at him from the couch. "I'm sorry Alicia didn't tell you anything, but I'm sure she would have told you when she was ready."
"It's alright, Will." She smiled gently to him. "I know she would have. I'm just disappointed that she has to wait and figure out when that is instead of it being soon after she decides on major life changes."
"She should be home soon. You can talk about it then, but in the meantime can I get you anything else?" She shook her head no and leaned back against the couch.
"Let's not dwell on all of this." Owen said. "Mom and I have come here to have some coffee and talk about happier things. Why don't we get started on that?" Will couldn't thank him enough because talking about happier things was exactly what Will had in mind. He was getting worried and a little scarred about where their conversation would lead if somebody didn't change it up. Though before any of them could actually say anything they heard the door open and heard Alicia call out for Will. He popped his head around the corner and just looked to her, trying to smile but the worry on his face wasn't going anywhere. He sensed Owen step behind him and heard him greet his sister. Will noticed her face drop as she realized that it wasn't just those two in the apartment. She said nothing as she walked past them and stopped as she saw Veronica.
"Hi Alicia." Veronica said, a little too hostile to sound real. She wasn't happy with Alicia.
"Hi mom."
"I didn't say anything." Owen blurted out and left the room. Alicia looked back to Will, her facial expression asking him what Veronica was clearly upset about. Will opened his mouth, about to tell her but instead nothing like that came out.
"I need more coffee." He said and left the room, joining Owen in the kitchen.
"Not staying around for that conversation either?" He asked Will.
"Nope."
"Good call."
Almost as soon as Will left the room Alicia's mother stood up from the couch and started talking.
"So you're moving in with him and you never told me?" Alicia could have sworn that it was Owen who told her because she knows how often Owen never keeps his mouth shut.
"When did Owen tell you?" Alicia asked defensively.
"Oh, Owen didn't tell me. Will did. Actually, he didn't really tell me. He already thought I knew." Alicia felt horrible. She should have told her mother, but she just wasn't ready for that yet. She always had a way of making everything a big deal when it came to her relationship with Will. It was extremely clear that she wanted them together for a while now but it wasn't any of her business.
"Okay, mom, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but you always get so… Involved when it comes to my relationships."
"I'm so sorry I care about what happens in your life, Alicia. I would just like to be kept informed about these sort of changes."
"I didn't mean to say it like that. I'm glad you care, and I was going to tell you. I just wasn't there yet."
"That's my point, Alicia. You're never ready to tell me anything. I almost always have to hear about it from Owen and pretend I don't know until you tell me yourself." Alicia did feel pretty bad about not telling her mother things like this. She knew she should but sometimes she can only handle telling Owen about it and didn't have the strength to tell Veronica too.
"Okay, well you know now. Can't we just put this behind us? I promise I'll inform you of my other life choices from now on."
"Because that sounds reassuring." Alicia rolled her eyes, feeling fed up with how her mother acted when she felt hurt.
"I can't guarantee I'll tell you as soon as it happens but I'll tell you when something big happens in my life. I swear. Mom, please." She stepped towards her mom and rested her hands on her arms.
"I'm not happy about this." She paused for a minute. "But I'll accept it." Alicia smiled to her mother to reassure her that it was all alright.
"Since you're here and before I forget, Grace wanted me to ask you if you would like to come over for dinner one night. She misses you."
"I think we can arrange that for my gorgeous granddaughter." Veronica lit up and smiled at the offer and Alicia felt relieved that the worst part over and done with. Alicia wasn't ready to get into it with her mother right then so she just said what would make Veronica happy, which wasn't great but it did the trick.
"I really am happy you and Will are making progress." Veronica let out, and hearing her say that made Alicia happy too.
"So am I mom. It feels… right."
"Good. It took you long enough to get there." Her mother said and picked up her coffee she left on the coffee table and left Alicia standing there alone. Alicia let out a sigh and shook her head.
Owen and Veronica didn't end up staying too long after Alicia got back. They all talked together a little but nothing terrible interesting came up into the conversation. Alicia picked a date to have dinner with Owen and her mother for Grace and Zach, and soon after that they left. Will would never say it but he was relieved that they had gone. Although he liked both Owen and Veronica, those two together with Alicia around wasn't the greatest group ever. Will felt like he was imposing on their little trio and he suspected that was why no one talked a lot.
"I'm sorry about them." Alicia said to him as she slipped her arms around his waist and held onto him tight. Will wrapped his own arms around her.
"Don't be. They're great. I'm sorry for letting it slip to Veronica that you're moving in with me."
"It's not your fault. I should have told her. I figured Owen would have told her."
"Does Owen do that a lot?" She took in a long breath and let it out as she rested her head against Will's chest.
"Not a lot, but enough." Will kissed the top of Alicia's head and gripped her body tighter. He wanted to ask how it went with Peter but he wasn't sure when would be a good time. He clearly didn't have the option when she returned home because of her family but he really wanted to know what happened.
"Do you think we could go for a walk?" She said abruptly. She pulled herself away from his chest and looked into his eyes.
"If you want to, sure." She smiled to him.
"You should probably get dressed." Will didn't even notice that he was still in his pajamas. He cracked a smile and a small laugh and went into the bedroom to put some clothes he could be seen outside in.
As they stepped out of Alicia's building she grabbed his hand, which made Will incredibly happy. He couldn't count the times he had wanted to go outside with Alicia and just be seen with her, with them being a couple and though they went out a lot it was different when she held his hand. They usually weren't the holding hands type of people so though Will was happy for it to happen he sensed something was up.
"What's on your mind, Alicia?" He asked her with his tone full of concern. She didn't say anything for a couple minutes, so Will kept them walking at a slow pace until she said something.
"Peter is okay with it all. He didn't actually say that but he wasn't opposed to it. He just wants to make sure the kids are okay with it all." Will noticed how she spoke with a rather sullen tone, but he dismissed it. Knowing Peter didn't make it a huge deal and blow up at Alicia made him feel better.
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Yes. Very good. I just… I think I'm still worried about what Grace will say. I'm not sure what she is going to decide." Will stopped walking and pulled Alicia around in front of him.
"Hey, even if Grace doesn't want to move in then it'll be alright. You two will stay at your apartment, I'll be at my house but we'll still be together. As long as we are together Alicia, it doesn't matter where either of us live."
"You are too good for me, Will Gardner." Alicia gave him a huge smile and kissed him.
"You really don't deserve me." He joked as he wrapped an arm over her shoulder, and they continued walking.
"I think it'd help Grace decided if we had dinner with her and Zach at your house soon though." Alicia suggested.
"Whatever you think is best."
"Do you want to walk to the park a couple blocks away?" She asked him softly.
"Sure thing." Will wouldn't deny feeling a bit nervous about having dinner with Zach and Grace again. Mostly because he didn't have dinner with Zach the first time, and he really wanted Alicia to move in with him so he needed Grace's okay. Not to mention he wasn't really a good cook so he wouldn't know what to serve them for dinner. He could do breakfast foods but that was the extent of his cooking knowledge. And the way he usually did breakfast would definitely not be appropriate for Alicia's kids, only Alicia herself. There would be no way he could convince Alicia he would make any sort of edible food, but he wouldn't just order food from a restaurant and heat it up later. He'd have to get some homemade meals if he was going to make the evening enjoyable, which wouldn't be an easy task. Will was glad that he knew what to talk about with Zach and Grace this time around though. He had been asking about them on a regular basis so the conversation department he was confident in, but the rest of it made him sick to the stomach. He was basically hoping for a big miracle.