A/N: What if the tables were turned and Will was the wronged spouse starting over at a new law firm? Not sure if this will be a one-shot chapter. Let me know what you think.

Two young wannabe lawyers met at Georgetown Law School and became friends. They shared parties, late-night study and mid-terms together, falling into a happy friendship. They didn't have a great love affair, but they did have a great love for each other although, ultimately, they didn't share their growing feelings with each other and their love remained, unrequited.

After Law School, they drifted apart.

Will Gardner married within a year of graduating. His wife, Jennifer, became a successful cardiac surgeon. They had two children and lived in Washington D.C. before a scandal forced them to leave the city and move to Chicago. Will suddenly found himself a stay-at-home dad as he looked for a new position.

Alicia Cavanaugh also walked down the aisle. She said "yes" to fellow lawyer and future politician, Peter Florrick, two years after Will said "I do." However, her story didn't have a happy ending and within seven years they were divorced.

Chicago, Fall 2009

Alicia Florrick sat at her desk at Stern, Lockhart and Lee. She was an equity partner and one of the top litigators at the Chicago firm. She was happy: she enjoyed her work and enjoyed the single life. After all, you didn't get to the top without making sacrifices. She looked up from her computer and saw a familiar face walk past her office: Will Gardner, now that was a blast from the past. She smiled to herself and shook her head, wondering what he was doing at her firm. She stood up and left her office in the direction he went. Smiling, she saw him fiddling with his cell phone, stood in front of the elevator.

"Will Gardner," she said, her tone light and inviting, "what brings you to the windy city?"

Will spun round, a broad smile crossing his face, "Alicia," he replied, "you work here?"

"Yeah, litigation. Been here for six years now," she answered.

"Wow, it's a good firm," he commented.

"It is," she nodded, "so, are you here for depositions?"

"No, no," he held up his hand, looking a little embarrassed, "I was interviewing for a new job with Diane Lockhart."

"Oh," Alicia was a little taken aback, "I thought you were a partner back in Baltimore," she questioned.

"I was, but," he paused, fiddling with his cell, "things change," he made a grimacing face, "and we moved to Chicago."

Alicia smiled at him, aware that it might be a sore spot she changed the subject. "How's married life?" she asked.

"Not great," he said shaking his head. "We've grown apart, I think that is what people say," he bobbed his head and gave a half smile at Alicia.

"I'm sorry," she replied, looking down at her feet.

"Yeah, so am I," he sighed biting his lip. "I should go," he replied, pushing the elevator call button.

"Yeah, me too. Good luck."

"Thanks," he smiled at her as he got into the elevator car.

"Will," Alicia called after him. Hearing her voice sent a bolt of lightening through him and he furtively pressed the button to keep the elevator doors open. She stepped into the elevator with him and the doors closed behind her. "Alicia," he said teasingly leaning towards her.

"Do you want to go for a drink sometime, catch up?"

He smiled and shook his head, "Yes, I would like that."

Alicia nodded, "Well, you know where I am, can I get your number?"

"I haven't got a card, so, here," he grabbed her hand and she giggled as he wrote his number on it. "What are you in, the fifth grade?" she laughed at him.

"I'm resourceful," he commented, buttoning his suit jacket.

"I remember," she smirked at him.

….

Later that week, they met up for a drink.

"So, to our newest litigator," Alicia smiled at Will as she raised her glass. He clinked his glass to hers, "To old friends," he smiled back.

"I can't believe you're in Chicago," she began, "how did you end up here?"

"Well, you know I married Jennifer right after she graduated from medical school and we just settled down in Washington. I became an associate at Osterman, Lee and Canfield, worked my way up to Head of Litigation and made partner. I was happy at work," he said, taking a drink of his scotch.

"But," Alicia pushed, sensing there was more to come.

"Yeah," he waved his hand at her with a knowing smile, "not so happy at home. Turns out my cardiac surgeon wife can mend hearts at work, but she sure as hell can break them at home," he added downing the rest of his scotch. "You want another?" he questioned. Alicia held her nearly full wine glass in front of him and said, "No, thanks, I'm good." With that, Will got up from the table to go to the bar.

When he returned, he settled himself across from her again, waved a finger before saying, "I don't need your pity," he smiled, "and," he paused, "I've done enough wallowing, not enough drinking though," he added, winking at her.

She laughed, remembering how easy it was to talk to him. "So, are you still together?"

"Yeah," he said, looking into his glass. As he swirled the amber liquid around he continued to tell his story to the woman he wished he'd married, "After I found out about Jenny's affair, I left her, for about three days," he scoffed, "moved into the Hyatt, but I missed the kids and, if I'm honest, I missed her."

Alicia nodded, "You have two kids?" she questioned.

"Yeah, two great kids," he smiled, "they are the reason we are still together. Catherine is nearly fourteen and Samuel just turned six."

"Wow! Big age difference!"

Will laughed, "Yeah," he held his hands up, "I admit, not my plan, but Jenny got pregnant soon after we married and then had to work her way through training and residencies to get up the ladder before we had a second. I didn't want Catherine to be an only child, so I went along with it and I'm so pleased, we did eventually have Sam, as he is fantastic. But," he cautioned, "it is very difficult juggling a teenage girl with a young boy – two very different personalities and energies!"

"I bet!" she agreed, "Peter and I didn't have kids, just didn't happen for us, then we parted. We're still friends though, just divorced. I'm grateful we don't hate each other," she smiled at Will, "it could have been a lot worse."

"How is the State's Attorney?" Will questioned.

"Fine, loving the job," she bobbed her head, "he's doing well, conviction rates are up."

"Good," he said, "from what I remember, he's a decent guy."

"Do you still love your wife?" Alicia asked. Will looked up, a little surprised. Alicia quickly withdrew her question, "I'm sorry Will, that's too personal, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, no," he sighed heavily, "don't worry about it," he said as he took a drink. "Truth is, I don't know," he looked directly at Alicia when he said it. "I still struggle to comprehend her affair, so I haven't even started on the concept of love. I just focus on the kids, especially Sam. He needs protecting and would be broken if we split up."

"What happened when you left, for the three days?"

"Jenny told the kids I'd gone away on business, not a complete lie I suppose."

"I don't want to pry, but do you know how long the affair lasted," she paused, "sorry no, what I mean is," she bit her lip, "can your relationship survive?"

Will leant back against chair, "I don't know if it will, or even if it can. She was sleeping with a colleague, a vascular surgeon, for, well," he sighed heavily and looked out towards the centre of the bar, "off and on, three years." Alicia's hand went to her mouth as noticed tears beginning to form in his eyes. She wished she could do something to take the pain away for him, like he had done so many times for her at Georgetown.

"Oh, God, that's awful."

"Yeah, and, on top of the affair with Geoff," he almost spat the name out, "she had been having random one-night stands."

Alicia's eyes closed slowly as she leant across the table and reached for his free hand. She let her thumb rub small circles across the top of his hand and instinctively he turned his hand over to grab hold of hers, squeezing it gently. "Thanks," he said quietly, "thanks for listening." Alicia smiled at him, "I'm always here for you."

They looked at each other and realised that the passion they felt for each other, almost twenty years earlier at Georgetown, was still smouldering. It was dangerous and perhaps something that would only become more perilous when Will started working at Stern, Lockhart and Lee.

…..

After they parted at the end of the evening, Alicia stood outside the bar waiting for her cab. She was surprised when Will came out of the door behind her, "I thought you already left," she said. "Bathroom," he replied.

"Will, it's been really good to talk tonight," she smiled at him.

"Yeah, been quite cathartic for me, the wronged husband," he chuckled.

"I can't believe that somebody would cheat on Mr Georgetown," Alicia replied, "I know I wouldn't," she added quietly.

"No, you wouldn't," he said. As the words left his mouth he closed the space between them and ran his right hand up her arm until it reached her neck. She felt her breathing quicken as he cupped her face in his hands. Before he leant in to kiss her, he closed his eyes and backed away, removing his hands, "Sorry, err, sorry Leesh, I should go," before walking briskly down the street.

"Will, wait!" she called after him, but he was gone. She sighed and shook her head, wondering what might have been.

A/N: OK, so not sure quite where I'm going with this – came to me when I was sick and couldn't update my other stories, I also thought I'd wait to update them until after the finale! Please review and let me know if I should continue.