Hey I'm back from the dead. No seriously I am sorry for such a long update. Writer's block and a mix of school does not make it easy to update. But I do have internet now so faster updates. Also because I hadn't updated in a while, I made this chapter long. I was gonna break it up, but I decided not to torture you guys. Thank you all for the reveiws and I hope you enjoyed it.

It had been four months since Alicia's final divorce proceeding were over, And things only went up from there. The firm was going great now that Bond was gone, and all of their debt was gone as well. Since Peter made sure that the press wouldn't hound Alicia and the kids so much, the children had only small problems with school and being in the news. Owen had been a wonderful team player helping with the kids. But the one person who helped Alicia more than Owen was Will.

In the past four months Will has been her everything, lover, friend, concubine. Anything she needed, he was or got for her. So far their relationship was going by so well, no really bad fights, amazing sex, and no life changing, relationship turning problems. But today, today Alicia would tell the kids about Will, and that night, she would formally introduce them to him. Yes it was a big day, but it was also a long time coming.

The happy couple was in the living room, naked, happily taking advantage of the kids being with Owen for the morning. Alici would, in two hours, go get the kids, take them to lunch and tell them about Will. Then they would spend the day together and go out to dinner with Will. It was perfect, at least she hoped it was.

"Will."Alicia breathed as he stood up from the floor.

"Well that was…"

"Amazing."Alicia finished for him, completely out of breath.

"You wanna do it in the shower? We got two hours until you have to go."Will raised an eyebrow and shifted his head towards the bathroom. Then a knock came to the door.

"Who could that be?"Alicia wondered as she grabbed Will's shirt and went to the door.

"Oh shit! Will I am so sorry for this,"Alicia said hitting her head against the door as soon as she saw the person on the other side of the door. And before Will could respond, she opened the door.

"Alicia!"

"Hi mom."Alicia said, not enthused to she her mother at all.

"Well you don't seem to happy to see your mother."

"Mom, I thought Owen was supposed to pick you up?"Alicia said, preparing herself for the embarrassment of a lifetime.

"Alicia, what are you wearing?"Her mother said as she stepped into the apartment and smiled, she was happy to see her daughter enjoying herself.

"Mom please don't" Alicia closed the door behind her mother. She quickly ran towards the living room and put her hands up.

"So why didn't Owen pick you up?"

"He had the kids, so I assumed you would be alone. And I guess I assumed wrong. Who's in there?"Veronica said trying to look pass her daughter. Unfortunately Will decided it was time to make his appearance.

"Alicia is everything ok?"He said as he emerged behind her. Alicia's face turned pale.

"You must be Will."Veronica said, a wide smile forming on her lips. Alici dropped her guard, failing in protecting Will from her mother.

"Will. This is my mother. Mom, this is Will." Alicia said bowing her head in defeat. WIll snaked from behind her wearing a pair of shorts.

"Oh uh, it nice to meet you Mrs. Cavanaugh."Will said, completely freaking out.

"Oh I haven't gone by Cavanaugh in years sweetie. Call me Veronica."She reached out a hand and started to inspect him head to toe with a devious smile on her face. This Alicia could not stand anymore. Pushing Will into her room, she glared at her mother.

"Enough. Will can you put some clothes on, I really should be getting the kids soon." She said as she closed her door and went back to her mother.

"Really?"

"What? I was just looking."She said, smiling.

"Well you can look out the door to Owen's."Alicia said going towards her door.

"Why would I do that when you are going there too. I mind as well wait for you."

"No, you're tired, you should go put your stuff away at Owen's."Alicia said hoping to get her mother out before Will comes back out.

"But I'm staying here for the week."

"What? You were supposed to stay with Owen, that's what you said."Alicia backed from the door, she knew she would not be getting rid of her mother anytime soon.

"No Alicia, I said I am going to see Owen while in Chicago staying with you. Alicia you really need to open your ears and listen more."Veronica moved towards the living room and sat down.

"Now Alicia don't tell me I have to sleep in his room. Because I would rather sleep on the couch."

"Well you won't have too if you just stay with Owen."Alicia said as she stood next to her mother.

"Maybe Owen could stay here and we could be like in the old days."Veronica smiled as she looked up at her daughter.

"One, that would involve dad and two there is no room." Veronica's face turned grave.

"Geez Alicia I was only joking. If you don't want me that bad I'll just go."Veronica got up and went for her bags.

"Ugh, Mom wait."Alicia grabbed her mom's arm and stopped her from leaving.

"I don't want you to go back. I...just wanted, needed some time alone. And this was not the best of times for you to pop up, that's all. Please stay."Alicia practically begged. She loved her mom, but it wouldn't be the worse if she wasn't always around.

"If you think so."Veronica said, not completely sad, hiding her victory.

"We would be happy to have you."Came Will's voice, fully clothed leaning on the kitchen counter.

"Alicia?"Veronica saw her daughter's stunned face, unsure of her agreement in this situation.

"Yes."Alicia said assertively

"Well then, couch?"Veronica said pointing to the living room.

"Will, my room."Alicia said as she walked towards her room with Will in tow.

"I know, I know, it wasn't my place but I just felt that you two needed to spend time together and...I don't know."Will said in defeat.

Alicia walked towards the bathroom and took his shirt off.

"Will I'm not mad, I just didn't think that you would want her here, because then we couldn't…"Alicia paused to turn the shower on and get in.

"Alicia you know I don't care, I just hope the kids are ok with me like your mother is."Will said leaning against the shower, watching her every move.

"I'm sure they will love you. And my mom is just happy that you are not Peter. She never liked him, she thought he was too made up and 'stiff'. He didn't have any 'karisma' so she said, I guess that's what made me fall more in love with him."Alicia said as she shouted through the shower head.

Alicia loved how comfortable they were with each other now. She rarely talked to Peter while he was in the shower, or about other people for that matter. But Will didn't care, he had her, that was all he needed.

"I hope you won't stay with me just because I'm not like Peter. Or not be with me because your mother likes me." Will said becoming increasingly nervous. Alicia however pulled the shower curtain back and looked at him. She had all soap running down her body. She grabbed Will's shirt and pulled him to her.

"I'm with you because I lo..like you Will. I have for a very long time. And no matter what anyone thinks, I am staying with you."Alicia pulled Will in with her and started kissing him. She had gotten his shirt soaked as well as his hair, but neither one of them really cared.

Three hours later, Will was back at his apartment, Veronica at Owen's and Alicia and the kids were at a diner not to far from their apartment. Alicia choose this place because it was quiet and homey. Also, she was less likely to run into anyone that knows Peter or the press.

"So what's up?"Zach said, stuffing his mouth with french fries.

"What do you mean?"Alicia said, trying to hide her anxiety.

"Why did you bring us here, buying us our favorite food and having lunch together. The last time you did this, you told us our fish died."Grace butt in, getting a spoon food of noodles.

"Oh, well it's not that bad."Alicia said, pushing her food around, looking for a way or breaking the news to her kids.

"So there is news. Now you have to tells us."Zach said sitting up. He was ready for the news, bracing himself for the news.

"Ok, Ok. I just wanted your opinion. I know that it has only been four months since me and you dad got divorced, but…"Alicia hesitated about saying the last part, but was cut off by Grace.

"And now you dating Will. Yeah, we know."Grace said going back to her food. Alicia was stunned, both of her kids knew about her and Will. And for one didn't care and two didn't tell her that they knew.

"So you two are ok with it. Wait, how did you know?" Alicia grew concerned that she wasn't as careful as she thought. Zach decided to take it from there.

"Well whenever uncle Owen says his name you blush. At night after you think we have gone to sleep, we hear you talk to him. And that one time that I came to your office to fix your computer, he acted like a weird boyfriend."Zach said going back to his fries.

"Weird boyfriend?"

"You know, stumbling, making weird dumb jokes, trying to be cool. Weird boyfriend things. Not stuff your boss would say."Zach responded.

"So you guys are ok with it?" Alicia being fiddling with her fingers. Both children looked at each other.

"Yeah." They said in unison.

"We are just happy that you are happy. And I heard he is really into basketball, unlike dad, maybe he could teach me?"Zach said sounding a little too excited for Alicia.

"Well I was hoping that we could have dinner together if it is ok with you guys."

"Yeah, and maybe it could be all of us, meaning grandma and uncle Owen?"Grace said with her head down. Owen had already told the kids and told them to ask for him and their grandmother to join.

"He told you didn't you?"Alicia said growing furious.

"Mom don't be mad, he was bracing us. But we didn't need it. We already liked him."Zach said, saving his uncle from certain death.

"Fine, but I will be having a talk with Owen about how much he tells you guys." The kids started to snicker at the thought of their mother fighting with their uncle.

After spending most of the day together, the trio settled in their mother's homey apartment as they wait for the arrival of their mother's boyfriend. The sheer thought of calling Will their mother's boyfriend was foreign and unwelcoming. Yes the kids were ok with their mother being happy with someone, but having to deal with their parents boyfriends and girlfriends, or worse, possible husbands or wives, would mean that they would have to finally admit that their parents marriage was over. While for Zach, being older, he was more keen to the idea and accepting than his sister. No doubt though, Zach would not just fall into this man's arms and call him dad, but he wouldn't resist as much. Now Grace was a bit wary.

Yes Grace told her mother that she was ok with it, and somewhere in her heart, she was. But once Will walked into the door holding boxes of pizza, enough to fuel an army. It hit poor Grace like a brick, causing her to run frantically to her room.

"Grace?"Alicia called as she opened the door of her daughter's room, sobs filling the whole apartment.

""Mom I don't want to talk right now."Grace sobbed through a pillow. Alicia knew that this would not be the end of it, and if she did not talk to her now, Grace will end up crying herself to sleep.

"Grace , honey what is the matter?"Alicia said closing the door behind her as she walked into her room.

"Mom please!"Grace pleaded, wanting to just cry her eyes out.

"Is this because of Will? Am I pushing you two too fast?"Alicia blurted out, she had hoped that those worries would have stayed in her thoughts. Though she was curious of her reply. Even though she was prepared for something like this.

"Yes...No...I don't know."Grace pleaded as she shot up to look at her mother. Just to shoot back down to her now soaked pillow.

"Grace I don't understand. Do you want Will to leave? I can if you want."Alicia said, holding her breath. She was sure that Grace would want him to leave, but she hoped she wouldn't.

"No."Grace got up, slowly this time. She swung her legs and looked at her mother, sitting posely next to her.

"I want him to be here, well I want you to be happy. And I know that he makes you happy." This caused her mother to turn a fluffy pink.

And I know dad hurt you, he hurt me too with his scandals. I also understand Zach, where we should be happy that you are doing something for you and being happy for once. But I always had this dream that we would be this big happy family forever. And seeing Wil…..He is the proof that I will never have that. And I know this is not his fault. But I can not seem to still not feel so much pain just thinking about it."Grace weeped, hoping her mother was not too mad at her.

"You're mad."Grace said, seeing her mother's stunned face of her daughter's revelation. But Grace was completely wrong. She didn't hate her, she never could. It is just that she never thought that this would ever be a problem. And now she was trying to figure of a way of fixing it.

"Grace sweetheart, I could never hate you. But I am sorry that I destroyed your dream of a happy family. And while I can not promise a perfect two parent home, I can promise that we will both still love you no matter what. And I hate that you feel this way. And I know that if you give Will a chance, he will love you as well. But he will not replace your father. Peter will always be your dad, and he loves you very much…"Before Alicia could continue, Grace stopped her with a hug.

"Mom, I know you will always love me, I just think it was too much to deal with at one time. I think I am ok, and I would like to meet Will, if it is ok with you?"Grace gleamed.

"Of course. He is actually very excited to meet you."Alicia said getting up from her daughter's bed.

"Me? Why?"Grace got up, confused in a daze.

"Well, Will is into sports. While he favors in baseball and basketball, he dabbles in soccer."Alicia shined a cheshire smile, knowing this would cause her daughter to be more excited to meet Will.

"Really?"Grace said, getting up faster than anticipated.

"Yeah he had hoped you would show him some of you moves, if you want."Alicia said, gesturing towards the door.

The two of them strolled into the living room, only to be meet with loud music, alcohol, and two visitors. Will and Zach were immersed in a voracious battle of Wii. Owen and Veronica were watching and listening to music. While neither one of them really paid any attention to the game, but more or so the player.

"Ahmm"Alicia cleared her throat, more for her family than for the boys.

"Is anyone hungry?"Alicia said gesturing towards the kitchen. As if knowing their cue, Owen and Veronica exited stage left to the kitchen. This left the kids alone with Will, and Alicia alone to murder her mother and brother.

"What the hell?"Alicia started, grabbing plates for the pizza.

"Ok I'm not drunk yet, but you will have to fill me in here."Came Owen, as he gulped down some more wine, which Alicia took from them.

"You telling the kids about Will. You gawking at him and embarrassing me."Alicia grabbed her mother's glass. Both adults almost whimpered when the glasses were snatched from them. As if they were starving and Alicia just took their last piece of bread.

"No more wine. I want all of you out after this "outing". Which was supposed to be a simple meet and greet."Alicia scolded as she placed pizza on a plate.

"Oh Alicia, don't be such a party pooper. We are here to have fun. And I came to spend time with my grandchildren. Total coincidence that you decide to show the kids your boyfriend today."Veronica said strolling into the living room with plates. A faint 'who's hungry' could be heard in the kitchen.

"She means well sis. And Will and Zach were just being bored talking about boring sports before we came. Any later that kid would have been bored to death."Owen said grabbing his own plate and walking into the living room. Alicia shook her head and sighed.

"This will be a long night."She said out loud before following her brother with more plates of pizza.

While Alicia expected the worst, it was a very fun and happy night. With the exception of Grace's breakdown of course. But after Alicia left them alone, Grace became instantly attached. She began to hang on to his every word. And when they decided to watch a movie while they ate, something that was normal for them, Grace chose to sit beside Will instead of her mother.

As things started to whined down, the place became warmer, in a family sense. Owen and Veronica left with Owen a little past eleven, and WIll left a little after midnight. He decided to wait until the kids fell asleep to leave. He was sure they would pass out on the couch from all of the pizza and she would need his help.

After the kids were in bed, the couple talked for a while longer, but after seeing the time, she didn't want him driving home late so she insisted he go home and get some sleep.

"Leesh I'm fine."Will yawned as Alicia pushed him to the door.

"You are tired and so am I. And I will not be responsible for you causing a car crash."Alicia teased as she was able to get him to the door.

"I could always stay here."Will teased halfingly, half serious.

"No. As much as I would love to, I do not wish a repeat of this morning. But I did have a wonderful time. Night."Alicia gave will a normal passionate goodbye kiss and only let go for air.

"Night. I love you."Will said dazedly as he walked to the elevator.

"Love you too."Alicia said closing the door and going to the kitchen and proceeded to clean it. But then something dawned on her. Her heart rate raced and she had to grip the counter for support.

"He said I love you? And I said it back?"Alicia said to herself as she unsteadily walked to her bedroom. The dishes could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, she would have Will on the brain.

As Will got into his car, he was hit by a bus of reality.

"I said I love you? And she reciprocated it?" Will shook this from his brain. He was worried if he thought of this any further when miles from home, he would surely crashed. Instead, he zipped home in lighting speed just so he could think of her.

So the 'l' word is tossed out there. What do you think they should do about it? Did anyone catch my faux word? Tell me how you guys feel. Review and I hoped you enjoyed it. Do not hesitate to ask questions.