A/N: The title pretty much says it. I don't own The Good Wife or the characters.

The early morning sun streamed in through the curtains. He watched her sleeping form, the rise and fall of her of her chest as she breathed. She always looked so peaceful as she slept, and she couldn't say a word to him for looking at her and admiring her beauty, unlike when she was awake and caught him staring at her. He never tired of catching glimpses of her throughout the day, whether she noticed or not, or pretended to not notice.

He glanced over at the clock and saw that it was two minutes till the alarm was set to go off.

He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and then whispered in her ear, "Good morning, Mrs. Gardner."

September 2009

She was running late. Her first day in court in over 13 years - well, first day in court as a lawyer in over 13 years, and she was running late. She'd been back to work for a week. It had been crazy and stressful and difficult and demanding working over 40 hours a week and being a single mom, who was reentering the workforce, but it was also exhilarating to be back in the law that she had so loved throughout law school and her early, but brief, career. She was feeling prepared for court. She had researched well, believed in her client, and had been trying, she felt adequately, to keep any feelings of insecurity at being a forty-year-old, first-year associate at bay.

But now, she was in a rush, which was causing her to feel flustered. It didn't help that the judge assigned to this case was Cuesta, whom she knew wasn't fond of Peter. Well, neither was she for that matter, but it wasn' helping her nerves wondering how he might be biased towards or against her.

She really wanted to win this case. She felt that she needed to. She needed to to feel validated. She needed to feel some sort of satisfaction from winning. She needed to prove to her new boss, her colleagues, to the world that she was worth something, she had value. She doubted that her job would be in jeopardy if she lost the case. Her new boss seemed enamored with her. If she had had choices, she probably wouldn't have accepted Louis Cannings offer of employment. She didn't like him. She didn't have a specific reason not to, just her instincts. But since most law firms viewed her as a liability either because of her name or by the fact that she had been out of work for so long and had a family, she really couldn't be picky. Mr. Canning also had two children, and he seemed to admire and respect her for trying to jump back into her law career, while maintaining that her children were her top priority. That was the truth, they were, and most law firms hadn't been impressed by that. Mr. Canning was, and he had offered her really good working hours, even though she was at the bottom of the totem pole. That was part of what made her uneasy about him. She felt he had ulterior motives, but maybe after all she'd been through with Peter, she just wasn't as trusting as she once was.

She made it to court with a minute or two to spare. She likes to be there at least ten minutes before the case is to be called, so she's not technically late even if she feels like she is. She greets her client and is introduced to opposing counsel, a "real" first-year associate by the name of Cary Agos. He strikes her as arrogant and young. She's not going to let herself feel intimidated.

The case goes well. By the time the judge adjourns, Cary doesn't seem so arrogant. She's not sure if she's winning, but she feels alive - she feels competent for the first time since she found out Peter was a cheat and went to jail. Every headline could just as well have read "Alicia Florrick doesn't measure up and her husband had to go look elsewhere." If it hadn't been for her kids, she wouldn't have held it together. She wouldn't have held her head high. She wouldn't have left the house. But for them, she had stayed strong. They had survived the trial, selling their home and moving to a less expensive apartment, and starting new schools and a new job. It had all been difficult and overwhelming, but now for the first time, she felt in her element. She felt that maybe the difficulties were behind her, and she could start moving forward instead of feeling like she was using all of her energy just to stay in place.

"Mom's home!" Grace heard the key turn in the door. As soon as she walked in, she was greeted by Zach, Grace, and Owen.

"How was your first day in court," Grace asked. She couldn't get over how encouraging and supportive her kids had been of her going back to work. Maybe starting in a new school themselves, they could identify with her.

"It was great." She smiled and gave each of them a hug.

"You won?" Now it was Zach who was wide-eyed and interested.

"No, but I didn't lose either. It's adjourned till tomorrow. How was school?"

Both of the kids filled her in on their days as they all ate dinner together. Owen had arranged his teaching schedule that he was finished at 3 pm and could be at Alicia's by the time the kids got home from school and stay with them until she got back. Canning had given her a really good working-mom's schedule, but still, he couldn't let her leave at 3, especially since afternoon court sessions could last until 5 or 6. But still, for a first-year associate, being able to be home by 7 at the latest was not something to take for granted as well as her brother's generosity in helping with the kids.

After dinner the kids went to finish up their homework, and Alicia took out a bottle wine. She offered a glass to Owen, but he refused indicating it was time for him to go.

As she walked with him towards the door he said, "So you forgot to tell us the most important part of your court experience?"

"What?" She looked at him quizzically. She wasn't sure what she had left out of the details that weren't in violation of attorney-client privilege.

"Whether or not you met any good-looking lawyers?"

She rolled her eyes. "Owen, I'm not looking. If I decide to start dating, you'll be the first to know."

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes, "Not for you, for me. Here I am looking after the kids and cooking dinner. You could at least help me find a man."

She laughed. "I'll try to keep my eyes open for you tomorrow."

"You better. Now, get a good night's sleep so you can kick ass in court tomorrow."

She smiled and hugged him, "I know I keep saying this, but thank you, Owen. I wouldn't be able to do this without your help and encouragement."

"You're welcome, sis."

It was already dark out - had been dark out for a while already when Diane made her way across the hall to Will's office. He looked up from his paperwork when he heard her come in.

"I see I'm not the only one still here."

"I'm on my way out. What's your schedule for tomorrow?"

He pulled out his phone to check his calendar. "Client meeting at 9 and depos all afternoon."

"Can you be in court at 10:15? I'm pulling Cary of the Adelson case, and I've got a hearing at 9:45, so I'm not going to be able to take it."

"Adelson...I thought that was today?"

"It was, and it's been adjourned till tomorrow."

"So why are you pulling him? It's an open and shut case. No reason a first year can't handle it."

Diane scoffed, "It should have been an open and shut case. Three hours in court today, and it's adjourned for tomorrow. Canning's got a new lawyer, and Cary's apparently no match for her. I haven't had time to look for a replacement, so I was hoping you'd take over."

"Sure, I'll take it." It was an easy case, or at least it should be. He would just need to review the details of what happened in court today. Hopefully Cary's notes and maybe a quick phone call, if needed, would be enough.

She put the Adelson file on his desk. "Great. Have a good night." She raised a brow at him as she walked out, "Don't disappoint me."

He flashed her his infamous boyish grin, "Diane, when do I ever?"

"There's always time for a first. Don't let it be tomorrow." She smiled and waved through the glass wall as she made her way down the hall.

Will put aside what he was working on and opened the Adelson file. It wouldn't be the first time he jumped into a case. He was more than a day or two more experienced than Cary, and no doubt this new lawyer of Canning's. He wasn't too worried, but prepared thoroughly none the less.

Alicia sat on her bed in her pajamas going over her notes. Court had gone well, but she knew tomorrow was a new day and she'd need to be on top of her game. She wanted to know her argument inside and out and make sure she hadn't looked over any holes in her case that the opposition could pick apart. She was feeling more confident than she had the night before, but she didn't feel invincible; in fact, she still felt vulnerable.

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