End or the beginning?

A/N: I do not own Ally McBeal. I am just borrowing for sake of finishing up the story they left us on.

/

"I'll miss you most scarecrow." I was crying openly now, there was no way I wouldn't cry saying goodbye to John Cage. His eyes are filled with tears and we hug. I can't believe I am leaving them all. As I hug John, I see Billy who is looking on. "Gotta go." I smile at all of them and turn heading home to finish packing up with Maddie. When thinking back, some of my happiest times were the saddest, so that means it's all going to be good...or else I wouldn't be crying.

"Ally! Wait." I turn and see John running over to me. The gang is already back inside its just John.

"John." I am still crying. He is making this harder.

"I know you have to go, but you don't have to leave the firm."

"Huh?"

"Once you are settled up there with Maddie, we can start a division of Cage, Fish and McBeal in New York."

"What? John we just got through financial troubles. We can't afford that." He is smiling at me. "Hey! Why are you smiling at me?"

"Because you are still saying 'we'. Ally it's a good idea." I was about to chime in but he shushed me. "You bring in a large amount of business for the firm. You helped organize and bring up back from the brink. We have clients who have offices in NY and use different attorneys when they have issues there. They love us. If we have the ability to represent them there as well. It would benefit the firm." he paused grabbing my hand "Please think about it. I will talk to Richard. This would be good. You can go still have us...I mean your job and we can go up there if need be for cases. We can all still be in each others lives." His voice cracked on the last part. I grabbed him and hugged him tight.

"I promise I will think about it. Let me get up there and see what I am dealing with first...but at moment I am thinking yes." I grinned at him.

"Good. That's...good." he smiled. "Now go or you'll miss your flight."

"Love you..." I whispered to him the way we do.

"Love you too..." he still looked lost but I turned and continued home to Maddie.

/

Three weeks later...

"Maddie! Wake up! You're going to be late...again!" That girl is never on time.

"Coming! I'm up."

"Wow. You're ready."

"See I can be on time...occasionally." I laughed at her. "Ally, is today the day?"

"Yes, i sign the papers today and we will be out of this apartment." Maddie just grinned at me. She was so much happier since we arrived in NY. "Now go before you are late. I have a lot to get done today."

"Bye Mom." She shouted as she left. She called me Mom. I think it was a slip, she hasn't done that before. It felt great! I am tearing up. Before I could go on my emotional ride the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Ally."

"John...hey how you doing?"

"Good good, wanted to see if you made a decision about what we...discussed."

"Yes I have and I will."

"That's great." I could hear his happiness through the phone and that made me smile.

"I have had some more thoughts on it too. I found office space already. I will have realtor send you over specs. I am using same realtor for house I am signing on today."

"Wow you did think about it. Good."

"One thing, I really want to ask Elaine to come here." he isn't saying anything..."Hello? You still there?"

"Yes, I am just surprised I didn't think of it."

"I was thinking of coming up there one day and we can talk about more details. Plus I really want to be the one to ask her."

"That would be great. When? Friday?" His voice was hopeful. I missed him too.

"Yes that should work. I will take train as soon as Maddie leaves for school."

/

Friday came faster then I thought, for some reason I was nervous about going back. I guess in partial fear that it would be hard to leave again. When I stepped off the train in Boston it was like breathing freely for first time in three weeks. I missed it here and yet my first thoughts were of Billy and Larry. It was probably good I was gone.

It was early. Nobody was in the office yet...except John.

"Ally!" John gave me a huge hug. "God I missed you." As we pulled away, he looked at me his eyes teary. "It's not the same without you here."

"Now dont do that." I started to choke up. "You are going to get me all weepy." He nodded and did that little nod he does when he tries to hide his emotions. We headed to his office and closed the door. "So what's the plan?"

"I spoke to Richard, he agreed with everything." John smirked "Quite frankly I think he just was high on dollar signs of potential business." I laughed hard.

"Well I think you will like the office." I pulled the pictures from my briefcase. "Good location. Not too pricy. Also ample room to expand." I grinned

"Ambition looks good on you Ally." He leaned back. "Seriously. How is New York?"

"It's not Boston. Maddie is doing great. Seeing her old friends, spending time with her Aunt. When I told her about this, she was happy." I threw myself back into John's couch. "Honestly...I think she feels less guilt knowing I still have a link here."

"Ally...even if you didn't do this..." He took my hand. "You will always have a link here." My eyes started to tear up again.

A knock at the door interrupted us.

"John?" Elaine's voice carried into the room. God I missed her.

"Come in."

"John you wanted to see me this morn...Ally!" She ran over and hugged me.

"Hey Elaine." I smiled, i missed her.

"What are you doing here? You coming back?" Elaine looked so excited.

"Um..." I shook my head and looked at John who just smiled at me with his little noise twitch. "I am here to talk to you actually. Have a seat"

Elaine sat down and looked apprenensive if I could give it a good name.

"I want you to come to New York." As predicted her mouth dropped and her eyes were wide.

"I'm sorry...what?" her voice took on that excited whisper like when she had gossip

"We are opening a division of Cage, Fish and McBeal in New York City." I grinned at her. "Annnd I dont think it would be the same without you with me." I held up my hand to stop her from talking. "You would be office manager / paralegal. It's a promotion. You would help me run the office. At first it would be you and I, hopefully if business booms I will hire more associates and need assistants. I want you in charge of hiring assistants and also to manage them. I also realize since we would be in New York City or I hope that you will be auditioning...I will be flexible with your schedule to ensure you are able to do just that." I stopped my ramble and she looked at me she looked floored. John was sitting next to me and we both looked at each other. "Elaine?" Then we saw the tears.

"Really?" She was opening crying.

"Elaine. You and Ally work great together. I think you would be happy there and I know it would make Ally happy." he smiled "Plus if I have to watch you mope around here anymore"

Elaine sprang up and hugged John and I into a big group hug.

"Oh...ok." I laughed half suffocating from her hug. "That a yes."

"Yes yes yes. When do we go?" She was grinning ear to ear and ready to run.

"I am still getting the office space situated, plus I am in the middle of my house closing. A month or so? Also if you want to come up between now and then to check out houses or apartments you are welcome to stay with Maddy and I."

Elaine got up looking like she was going back to her desk when John called her.

"Elaine?"

"Yes."

"Don't you want to know salary details?"

"Oh...I was so excited I forgot." she laughed and sat back down.

"After talking with Richard and John. They agreed and we decided to double your salary since you will be in a more managerial role." I smiled waiting for the reaction.

"Elaine?" John leaned forward waving a hand in front of her and I giggled. "You in there?"

"Double?"

"Yes double. It's new york, its not cheap to live in and you earned it."

Again John and I found ourselves in a tight hug.

"Elaine...air." John whispered horsely.

/