The wait is over! Thanks to everyone for all of your support, and I hope you enjoy this update!
Ahhh! I can't believe that I've written the 20th chapter of this story! Thanks to everyone for all the views and positive reviews for this story – you've helped motivate me to keep writing! Enjoy.
Chapter 20
"Evening Kalinda, Cary," Alicia said, breaking the awkward silence as she stepped out of the elevator. Will silently followed her, with Kalinda and Cary eying them both closely as they headed for Diane's office. "You're sure that you don't want me to look into it?" Kalinda asked once more.
"I'm sure," Cary replied, "I'll call you later, okay?" He gave Kalinda a pat on the shoulder and walked into the elevator. He pressed the button for the first floor of the garage, and gave Kalinda a reassuring smile as the doors closed between them.
"Seriously?" Diane asked, Will and Alicia, who were now both sitting down in front of her desk with the door shut behind them. "Seriously what?" Alicia asked innocently.
"You two have reconciled, haven't you," Diane replied, in more of a statement than a question, "Haven't you?" she asked, now questioning them.
"First of all, before you jump to conclusions," Will began, seeing that Diane's patience was like the cork on a champagne bottle – ready to explode out of its confinements, "Yes, we have reconciled. But it isn't what you think."
"What am I supposed to think? Would you either of you mind telling me what I'm supposed to think?" Diane said, unable to believe that she was having to deal with two potentially dangerous reconciliations. "Do either of you realize how dangerous your relationship could be to our two firms. Or for the governor's reputation?"
"Don't bring Peter into this, Diane," Alicia said, leaning closer to Diane's desk.
"How can we not?" Diane asked, "When he's your husband? And the governor of Illinois. He could destroy all of us and our firms if he wanted to."
"But he wouldn't," Alicia alleged.
"And how would he not punish all of us or our respective firms?" Diane said, now more curious than at the beginning of the conversation.
"Two reasons," Alicia began, gripping the edge of her chair, "One. Peter cares about Zach and Grace. And if he pisses me off, he knows that I would take him to court to get his custody rights taken away. Two. He doesn't know that this," Alicia said, pointing back and forth between her and Will, "Is happening. Are we clear?"
"But he'll find out," Will said. "Not until I tell him," Alicia retorted.
"Peter Florrick has eyes everywhere," Diane contended.
"Are you seriously taking his side now?" Will asked, now getting a little angry.
"I want to figure out how to resolve this problem. I don't want you two on the opposite sides of a courtroom when you're involved with each other," Diane said, feeling slightly bad that she was having to be the party pooper in the room. But she had to get her point across.
"We could merge our firms," Will suggested. Alicia nodded in consideration of the idea, but Diane immediately replied, "No. That wouldn't work. It might even make things worse."
"Have things already worsened since we reconciled, Diane? Have they?" Will asked.
"You were shot, for one," Diane said.
"Oh my God! That wasn't even Alicia's fault! And that was before we got back together, for your information," Will said, emphasizing the last three words.
"Both of you, stop!" Alicia yelled, bringing both Will and Diane's eyes towards her. Both of them were already standing, so she stood up to be level with them and said, "Look, Diane. We are adults, not adolescents. We can handle our own relationship and personal business, okay? We don't need a lecture. And I'm sorry if I'm offending you, but I needed to make my point clear too. We promise that we won't let our relationship get in the way of things at either of our firms, okay?"
Diane sighed, leaned against the table, and asked, "How many people know?"
"As of right now, just you," Will said quickly, with a slight smirk on his face. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get some files before the weekend. Come on, Alicia." As they both turned to head for the door, Diane asked in a calmer tone, "You promise that it won't get in the way of things? And that certain people won't find out?"
Will and Alicia looked at each other, and Alicia responded, "We promise," with a slightly fake smile. She had always admired Diane for her legal talents, but on occasion she stepped over the line. She followed Will into his office as he picked up some files, and said, "I'm sorry for what happened in there, Will. I didn't mean to hurt Diane."
"Alicia," Will said, grabbing her shoulders, "You don't have to apologize. None of that was your fault." He paused, then smiled, and said, "Although, you looked pretty smashing while you were defending our relationship."
Alicia chuckled and said, "Yeah, that kind of just came out. I was tired of her lecturing us on how to handle our lives."
Will put the files he was holding into a bag, and asked, "Do you fancy a drink?"
Alicia thought for a moment, and when she remembered that Zach and Grace were with Peter and Jackie for the weekend, she replied, "I'd love that. Where?"
"I know a nice bar about ten minutes from here. Fabulous scotch and appetizers," Will said, smiling, heading for the elevator.
"Sounds good to me," Alicia replied, stopped next to him as they waited for the elevator. "I'll follow in my car, okay?"
"Okay, if you want to," Will replied, the elevator making a ding noise as the doors opened, "But we could always just take one. This garage doesn't close until midnight."
"Fine," Alicia said, liking the new idea, "But as long as we're both sober enough to get ourselves home by the end."
"Sounds good," Will said, and he turned to kiss her again once the elevator doors closed.