I apologize for any errors in this chapter, after watching that new episode of TGW I was too much of a crying mess to edit it, arrghh! It was beyond amazing. Some feedback would be nice, please!

Will

He woke to the sun's strong rays shining through his bedroom's window, turning his head towards the wide window that faced out to the magnificent view of the lake below his house, he sighed. Rubbing his eyes in sleepiness he turned to the side to see his on and off again girlfriend Amy splayed out, naked before him. Shaking his head, disappointed in himself he hopped off the bed and began to dress for the day.

Friday's were Will's favourite, mostly because it was a beginning of a weekend, which meant he had time to lay his frustrations out and work on the house. Weekends also meant that he had enough time to himself; in which, he avoided work as much as possible and drunk himself to the point of intoxication. He had even once considered burning the house down once he had finished working on it but then recognised he'd most likely be smouldering his only memorabilia of her as well. Will Gardner was privy to heartbreak, it wasn't a foreign concept to him but his idea of heartbreak was different to anybody else's. Heartbreak was falling for someone and experiencing the best months of one's life only to be pushed apart and never falling out of love for that one person. He often wondered if he would ever forget about her completely, he sometimes wished he hadn't met her in the first place, then maybe he wouldn't have to suffer through her face constantly shadowing his mind.

He waited for Amy to leave, kissed her goodbye and reminded himself that this was only temporary, he knew she wanted more but he couldn't give her that, she wanted him to travel with her on her journalism work, she wanted to live with him in the house which was definitely out of the equation, and of course, she wanted them to be official but it wasn't necessary.

He arrived to the office early, being the only one there he grasped the files from his brief case and walked towards his former work partner's office, throwing the papers on his desk, before he could turn something familiar caught his attention. It looked like some kind of gift that David obviously had no interest in as he had clearly ripped the wrapping paper apart and its content was splayed out on the desk as if it had no meaning to its owner. It was a new photo frame, in which Will was sure that David must have received just the day before. He looked more into the depth of the image before him and felt his heart stop.

Alicia.

It was definitely a new piece; considering most of David's photos of his daughter were from back in the day when she was just a child, this image was different, she looked, she looked…. like a woman.

She was wearing a simple navy blue sweater, her arms were wrapped around a stranger's neck, they were both staring towards the camera, their smiles as wide as Jupiter. Her beautiful brunette hair was leaning to the side with its movements and her eyes were sparkling in its magnificent shade of green and hazel. God she looked beautiful. Happy. He only wished he could say the same about himself.

"Oh Will, good, you're here, I need you to second chair with me on the case with me on Monday. I won't be in today"

Will bolted away from the desk, feeling himself swallow thickly and trying to regain his breathing in which he hadn't even known that air had caught his breath. "Uh…. Yeah sure, you won't be in today?" he said to David

"No, I'm going out for lunch with Alicia" he watched as a wide smile spread across the older man's features. "She flew in last night"

Will felt himself tense at the mention of her name, forming an escape plan, he cleared his throat. "Oh, cool. What case did you want me to second chair with?"

"The preliminary hearing"

"Okay, I will get started on that right away" he rushed out as quickly as possible and could feel the sense of David's intense gaze from behind.

Running his hands through his hair as he sat on his office, leather chair he shook his head in frustration but all that could come to mind was Alicia. Alicia, Alicia, Alicia. He was a fool for letting her discard their relationship all those years ago, he often wondered what life would be like now if they had stayed together. Would she be the one he was to wake up to each morning in house? Would they have made it work? Would he have taken a transfer to Georgetown so that they could have been together? Most likely.

Love was unrequited and completely unfair.

Alicia

She walked through the large restaurant, completely content in herself and feeling a wonderful smile playing on her lips. Today, she was going to make it her mission to prove to her father that her fiancé was everything he would have liked, if not more and that she was going to marry him regardless. Feeling the Chicago, spring air circle her nostrils she inhaled deeply. God, she had missed this place. After she had taken her god daughter to school that morning, so many memories had crashed into her mind. Emily attended the same preschool Alicia did as a child and the recollections of the past had surfaced in her mind. She had gotten herself a hired car considering Liz needed hers for work. Alicia still couldn't believe that Liz was a nurse and that her husband Chris was chef and the owner Chicago's finest restaurant. She knew that it had taken them a while to get to this place but the fact that Liz and her now, stable family lived out in the outskirts of Chicago in a big country house, made Alicia smile and inhale its pure smell.

"Alicia" she turned to see her father walking towards her, taking in his appearance, she couldn't help but notice how healthy he looked. His broad chest was visible and his grey hair was only snippets mixed with the clean brunette behind it. She still found it surprising that he was at the age of sixty.

"Dad" she smiled, widely. Standing up and straightening her dress that skimmed over her body she jumped into his arms and laughed as he pulled her off her feet, embracing her into one of the most tightest hugs she had experienced in a long time.

"How's my girl doing?"

"Good" she smiled, pulling back she took in the glimmer in his eyes and the happiness behind it.

"You're still as beautiful as ever"

"Thanks" still feeling awkward in her embrace she pulled away to sit down and watched as he sat opposite her and covered her hands with his as she had hers placed on the table.

"How have you been sweetheart, I mean really, it's been a while since I've seen you"

"Four years" she said, recalling the day of her graduation in which it had been the first time they had seen each other since she left for college. Pushing the memory away she sat up straight and grasped his hand.

"And you dad? Owen tells me you haven't been listening to your doctor?" she smirked as her father shook his head lightly, clearly frustrated at his son's loose tongue before smiling.

"I'm fine, you know how your brother is, he's jst being dramatic. Anyway, I'm glad you're finally here in Chicago, I can show you around the city, it's changed a considerable amount don't you think"

"It has. Did you get my gift I sent this morning?" she smiled widely and watched as the smile on her father's face fell into a straight line.

He cleared his throat "Yes, your boyfriend looks nice" if it weren't for the tone of his voice, she would have been sure that he was genuine but she knew her father better than anyone. She covered his hands once again and leant in.

"He is nice, he's really nice and I can't wait for you to meet him. You two are going to get along, I just know it"

He shook his head "I don't see that happening sweetheart"

"Why not?"

"Because how am I supposed to know I can trust this guy? He asked you to marry him and doesn't even have the decency to come to me and ask for permission"

"This is the twenty first century dad, we're not in the eighties anymore. And besides, it isn't exactly easy to come to you and ask for permission when you live halfway across the country."

Her father sighed "Alicia, you are my daughter and regardless, that man should at least have had enough respect to fly to Chicago and take my consideration into taking you under the oath of marriage. This isn't a game and if he doesn't have the courtesy to meet your family, then I don't see the point in accepting him as a part of you"

"Finn wanted to meet you a long time ago dad, it was me that was preventing it from happening" she justified

"Are you ashamed of us?"

She sighed, looking down towards the table she hadn't even known that she had pulled away from his hands. She looked up to meet her father's expectant gaze and shrugged "Can you blame me?"

Her heart sank as she watched his face falter "I see" he murmured

She shook her head "I didn't mean it in that way. I was afraid of introducing my crazy family to him because I didn't want to put him under that kind of pressure"

"Pressure?" he asked confused

"Mom." she shrugged, watching as a smile formed on his lips, he laughed causing her to grin.

"You know how crazy and involved she gets in my life, partly the reason why I chose to stay in Washington" other than additional circumstances. She took his hands once again and stared deeply into her father's eyes. "I know you still think I'm your little girl but I'm not a child anymore. I'm an adult, I'm educated and independent and I don't need your blessing because I am going to marry him regardless of what you or Owen, or even mom think. He makes me happy, isn't that enough to convince you?"

"Alicia" he sighed once again. "I've seen you at your happiest, you may be happy now but in the next few years? He won't make it lasts forever darling"

"How do you even know that?" "I haven't seen you in four years! And the last time I had seen you was at graduation and you were only there for a day before you took off. Honestly dad, I do not need your permission, you haven't played much of a part in my life in the last ten years, therefore you don't have the right to choose who I marry, like I said. I am going to marry him whether you like it or not and if you want to be a part of my life, you're going to have to accept it"

The pause that followed was excruciating, locking eyes with her fathers she could clearly see that he was thinking thoroughly and she knew that when his mind was processing, he couldn't be disturbed. She kept quiet, pulled away from his hands and glanced down, almost disappointed in herself, for leading them to this place, for preventing Finn's wishes of meeting her family all those years ago and causing such a mess. She knew her attitude towards her father had everything to do with a grudge that she still held, over a decade ago.

"Okay" he murmured. She shot her eyes up and raised a brow.

"Okay, what?"

"I don't accept it Alicia, I still dislike this equation but I am willing to consent it, under one condition"

She felt a smile shape on her lips. "What?"

"I want you to come over for dinner tonight" he said, simply

"Okay, what time?"

"No" he paused "I want you to come over because I want you to meet someone"

She suddenly felt her heart beat slower and slower with each pulse. "Someone?" she raised a brow

He nodded his head "She works with me, she's my second half, name partner" he explained

"Right, and "she's" your girlfriend?" she raised both eyebrows, feeling content but also wary of the current situation.

He shook his head, firm. "Just a friend" he smiled.

Will

Being with her felt different, she made him feel exhilarated, she made him feel like he hung the moon, she made him feel like he was loved for being himself, Alicia didn't tease or laugh at him about it, but instead she said that it made her love him even more and by fault, it completed his love for her ten times greater.

"Are you even listening to me?" he opened his eyes, blinking at the sudden loom of light as they laid under the autumn trees, on top of a hill with leaves surrounding them and a sense of utter peace and serene adjoining them.

He glanced to the side to stare at Alicia "What?" he watched her frown before rolling her eyes, causing him to smile.

"You weren't even listening to me!"

He lifted an arm as an invitation for her to rest her head on his shoulder but instead, she kept still and glared at him.

"I'm sorry" he rolled his eyes, half-heartedly "What were you saying?"

"I was asking you about the birds." he laughed at her words, louder than expected.

"Find something funny Gardner?"

He shook his head "No, I was just wondering what on earth brought birds to your mind"

"Can't you hear them? They're beautiful" he opened his eyes to see her flop down on the grass, opening her arms towards the blue sky and inhaling the smell of fresh, unsullied air. He made eye contact with her as she turned her head to the side. "Do you know anything about the heron?" she asked causing him to smile. The heron was apparently, her favourite type of bird, he had no idea why but she seemed to rave on about it quite a lot.

Feeling her loving embrace, as she snuggled against his chest, he sighed in bliss and kissed her forehead. "This really annoying girl, once told me, no, ill rephrase, because she tends to over exaggerate when I call her annoying." Alicia slapped him against the chest, bringing a smile to his face before he carried on. "It has similar looks to a seagull but it's striking wings make it look beautiful, it has such large white wings that when it flies above your head, it's like it's shadowing the entire sky. It only comes to one land every now and then and migrates across the country before returning back to its home but if you are lucky enough to see it pause somewhere, it will most likely return to that same spot sometime in the future. That's what makes it special"

"I love that you know so much about my favourite things" she said bringing a light chuckle out of Will.

"What is up with you and herons anyway?"

"What?... They're stunning" she shrugged

"Yea, but so are other birds as well."

"Yes, but its unique. It's large and out of place and somewhat ugly but when it flies, you feel like it's going to overtake you and they're one of the nicest species out there, that's what makes them beautiful"

He smiled contently to himself, one of the things he loved most about Alicia, other than her intellect, was that she was different and unique in her own way, and her previous statement was the perfect testament to that. She wasn't like other girls who liked Swans because it reminded them of Swan Lake, she had a passion for the out of sort's things, the ugly orange peak ones with the beautiful nature that was only seen inside. Sighing in pure bliss as he pressed another kiss against her forehead, gazing upwards, towards the current tree that was above them he felt a sudden idea surge through him causing him to sit up, abruptly, much to her disappointment and pick up on his feet.

"Will! What are you doing, I was comfortable!"

He stood up, gesturing his hand out to her and smiled as she glared at him through her eyelashes. If it weren't so adorable he would have found it annoying and left her there. "Just trust me"

She grabbed his hand, reluctantly and stood up rubbing bits of grass off her clothing. He moved towards the tree, let go of her hand and grabbed hold onto one of the branches as he lifted himself onto the tree making his biceps stand out.

"Will, what the hell are you doing?" she stared at him as if he were an idiot. He set himself on top of a stable branch and reached his hand out to her, laughing as she widened her eyes in horror and eyeing him as if he really were crazy.

"No way!"

"Come on Leesh, I know you're scared of heights but you're going to be working in an office on top of the clouds sometime in the future, you have to trust me"

"Will, there's a difference between a building and a tree! You could fall off and break a leg!"

"Do you trust me?"

-"Yes, but…"

"Then hurry up" he gestured his hand out to her and chuckled as she glared at him before reluctantly, making her way towards the bottom of the tree. He helped her gather her footings and pulled her onto his lap. She smiled before slipping her arm around his neck and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

"What are you upto?"

He grabbed his pocket knife out of his pocket and patted the side of the tree, clearly getting ready to carve into it. "I'm carving our initials"

"Our Initials?" she laughed, obviously surprised at his sudden proposition.

He stared at her as she smirked at him, clearly taking amusement in the situation.

He raised a brow "Well? What letter do you want me to use for your name?"

"Will, this is so lame" she shook her head, grinning

He raised both eyebrows in question and amusement causing her to smile with a blush forming on her cheeks. If he wasn't so crazy about her he wouldn't have noticed how cute she probably found the situation.

" 'A' " she replied

" 'A' " he mimicked

"And make it look nice" she instructed causing him to laugh.

"And make it look nice" he repeated, grinning as he started to carve their initials into it, starting off with hers as a capital 'A' and a capital 'W' finishing off with a heart around it. His heart filled as he felt her soft lips against his cheek, followed by "I love you".

He awoke to the sound of his pounding alarm, flicking it off he flopped back down onto the bed. Having no idea how the memory had surfaced through his mind, after all, he had pushed most of them away for so many years that he was sure most had faded. Except, he was wrong.

He prided himself on having everything a young, immature attorney desired, a brand new, large renovated house, good job, partnership in a business and a huge amount of student loans and debts to prove his education. Except, not all had everything, not everyone's happiness could last for too long and not everyone could get the girl.