Thanks to those who are still around and enjoying this!

Alicia opened her eyes slowly and immediately shut them to block out the sunlight streaming in through her blinds. Stretching slightly as she turned onto her side, she found Will wide awake and staring at the ceiling. She placed a gentle kiss on his shoulder, prompting him to shift his gaze to her briefly and offer a small smile.

"Hey," she whispered. "What are you thinking about?" She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him when he didn't answer immediately.

Glancing at her quickly, he cleared his throat before finally answering. "What if he doesn't like me?" Noticing her look of confusion, he offered clarification. "Your father."

"Aww," She smiled and moved closer to him. "You're worried about my dad? Don't be. He's just a huge teddy bear. He doesn't bite. My mom on the other hand..."

"Your mom? I thought," he stopped when he saw the smirk on her lips. "maybe you should give me some pointers."

Her laughter quickly ceased when a loud bang caused them to bolt upright in her bed and look toward her bedroom door. Noticing the light streaming in from the hall, Will turned to her, questioning with his eyes and she shook her head. "I heard some rustling around before, but I thought it was my imagination," he whispered. Hearing footsteps, he immediately put an arm in front of Alicia, protectively. She yelped at a series of knocks, immediately followed by her door opening to reveal her brother on the other side, wide-eyed and disheveled.

"Owen!" Alicia shrieked as she pulled the blanket up and around her tighter. "What the hell are you doing?"

Seeing Will next to her, he winced. "Shit. Shit. Shit!"

"Get out, Owen!" Alicia yelled at him.

"You," Owen said as he pointed to Will. "You...you...you have to go. Now."

"What?" Will asked as he ran his hand through his hair. "It's too early for this man."

Owen turned his attention to his sister. "I messed up. Bigtime. Huge." He pointed at Will. "You need to get him out of here."

"No...you need to get out of here," she told him.

"Look, you guys, I'm sorry. For...barging in here like this and you're all...naked...and stuff." He turned away. "But, we have a bigger problem. I got the time wrong."

"Owen…" Will sighed as he lay back down. "You're making no sense right now."

"Mom and dad, sis. I got the time of their flight wrong," he revealed as he slowly turned to face them again.

"And…?" Alicia pushed.

"And they're pissed...because...I wasn't there to pick them up as planned and...they're on their way here right now." He blurted the last part out so quickly that Alicia didn't realize what he had said until Will sat up again, eyes wide with terror.

"What?!" They asked, in unison.

"Here? As in...here...my apartment?" Alicia asked, a hint of panic in her voice. When Owen nodded, she quickly turned to Will. "You have to go."

Will glanced over the side of the bed before turning back to her. "I thought I didn't have anything to worry about?" He turned his attention back to the floor, making sure to keep the blanket around his waist. "What happened to 'He's just a huge teddy bear'?" he asked, mocking her. "Where are my clothes?"

"Teddy bear?" Owen asked, looking at his sister. "Dad? He is not-"

"Owen!" Alicia cut him off and glared at him. "Would you please go get Will's clothes from the living room?" She asked calmly. When he walked out of the room, she rose and quickly dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, throwing her robe on top of it. "It's going to be fine, Will, I promise." She assured him. "As long as you're gone when they get here." She turned just in time to duck out of the way as Owen threw Will's clothes into the room and onto her bed.

"Hurry up!" He hissed from the hall as he paced.

She watched as he dressed quickly, mentally urging him to move faster. "He really is a teddy bear but if he sees you here...this early. He'll...he'll know you spent the night and that won't be something-"

"Ha! Daddy's little girl." Owen mocked from the hallway.

"Shut up!" She yelled.

Will sighed and shook his head before pulling his sweatshirt on and walking past her out of the room. "You mean to tell me your father doesn't know that you..." He waved his hand around in an attempt to finish the sentence without words as he searched for his jacket.

"I don't know. I don't want to know," she replied.

"But she does want to maintain her good girl status with dear old dad so, you my friend," Owen said as he pushed him toward the door, "must leave."

"Oh would you stop being an ass?" Alicia complained as she pushed him out of her way and approached Will. "I'm sorry. I know he'll love you but I don't want you to meet him like this."

"I understand," he told her before kissing her quickly and turning to open her door to leave, only to stop dead in his tracks.

"Daddy!" Alicia exclaimed behind him.

"Dammit. I knew we should have pushed him out of a window," Owen whispered behind her.

"Well, well, well." Alicia discreetly rolled her eyes at the tone in her mother's voice. "And what have we here?"

Ignoring her mother, Alicia quickly moved around Will and embraced her father. "Hi, Daddy."

Will watched as the man seemed to melt in his daughter's arms. "Hi sweetheart," he greeted her as he squeezed her tightly and kissed her cheek.

"You guys are early," she said as she moved to hug her mother.

"How was the flight?" Owen asked as he, too, hugged them.

Will moved to the side as Alicia led her parents into the apartment. She glanced at him and he could see the worry visibly etched on her features. His mind raced for a way out of this predicament, unable to find an obvious and quick solution.

"Who are you?" He looked up at her father, who had stopped in front of him.

Clearing his throat, he put his hand out. "Will Gardner, sir."

"Jack Cavanaugh. My wife, Veronica." He gestured to her as he shook his hand.

"Will, was it?" She asked as she looked from him to her daughter. "As in your boyfriend, Will?" Alicia nodded.

"Ahhh...is that so?" Jack asked as he eyed Will. "It's a bit early for you to be-"

"I brought him," Owen interrupted. "He came...with me. When you called...I...well...you're here to meet him, right? So..."

"Then why were you leaving?" Jack ignored his son and kept his attention on Will.

"Coffee. Breakfast...stuff. Alicia wanted to make sure there was something for you to eat," Owen told him.

"Well, isn't that sweet of you, darling..." Veronica cooed as her gaze remained on Alicia. "I have a better idea," she said as she walked over to stand in front of her daughter. "Why don't we all go out for breakfast together?"

"That sounds like a grand idea," Jack agreed. "You'll join us, won't you, Will?"

Will nodded and glanced at Alicia. "Sure...of course."

"I'll go get dressed," Alicia murmured as she avoided her mother's gaze.

"Alright sweetheart," her father answered. "We'll just grab a seat in the living room. Don't rush."

"No, darling, don't rush," her mother agreed. "But do be sure to clean the scent of sex off of you." She added in a whispered tone, prompting Alicia to look up and finally meet her gaze.

"Mom…"

"Shhh...just go," she said gently. "And do something with your hair. Or would you rather I-"

"No! No, thanks, I can handle it." She moved toward her bedroom. "I'm just going to go...die...now." She glared at Owen on her way past him, who shrugged apologetically.

Will watched as Jack Cavanaugh strolled around Alicia's living room, scrutinizing her space and made a mental note to thank Owen for cleaning up after them. He glanced behind him in the direction that Jack's attention was diverted from the Contract Law textbook in his hand to see Veronica rummaging around in Alicia's kitchen.

"Did you guys check in to your hotel, yet?" Owen asked, tentatively. "I know Alicia can sometimes take long to get ready so, I can take you guys if you...want." He stopped when the look he's become all too familiar with appeared on his father's face and followed his gaze into the kitchen.

"For Christ's sake, Veronica!" Will jumped slightly at the sound of Jack's voice. "It's not even 10 am. Have you no shame?"

Exiting the kitchen slowly, Veronica crossed her arms in front of her and glared at him. "For your information, dear, I was making sure our daughter had food. Is that okay with you?" Will glanced at Owen to make sure he wasn't the only one that heard the tone in his mother's voice and knew he did as well when he looked at her, curiously.

"Oh please." He scoffed. "Don't pretend to be a concerned parent. We both know what you were looking for."

"A new husband?"

Will's eyes widened as Jack slammed the book he held onto the coffee table. "Hey! That was quick!" He exclaimed as Alicia rushed into the room.

"Quickest shower I've ever taken in my life," she said as she rushed over to his side. Her smile faltered when she looked at her parents. "Is everything...okay?"

"I think everyone is just hungry," Will told her. "Ready to go?"

She looked around the room. "Sure... I mean... If everyone else is."

"Yup. Absolutely famished. Let's go." Owen grabbed their mother's arm and rushed her toward the door.

Alicia let her father help her into her jacket and followed Will out, her father trailing behind. "Where to, sweetheart?" He asked as she locked the door.

"Um...well...there's a good place for brunch that we could go to," she suggested. "We'd have to drive..."

"Bottomless mimosas?" Veronica asked.

Feeling that was a bad idea, Will offered a different location. "Actually, maybe they'd like to see where we spend a lot of our time studying?"

"The library?" Owen asked.

"No silly, The Diner," Alicia told him and smiled at Will. "I think that's a great idea and we can walk there."

"Well then," Jack held his arm out for his daughter. "Lead the way, sweetheart."

"Good call on the diner," Owen whispered to Will as they followed. "Thanks."

"I hope this place isn't far. I'm not a fan of walking." They stopped long enough to allow Veronica to fall in step in between them.

"No ma'am," Will assured her. "We'll be there before you know it." He flashed a smile in her direction and turned to look ahead as they continued to walk.

"You seem like a nice young man, Will. I hope you and my daughter are being smart." He glanced at her confused. "Protection, Will. I hope you're wearing a raincoat when you and Alicia give in to your hormones."

Alicia gasped next to her father and glanced behind them at her mother and Will. "What is it, sweetheart?" Her father asked.

"Nothing," she turned back to her father, thankful he didn't hear her mother's inappropriate remark and shook her head. "Nothing, daddy. This way," she said as she steered him onto another street, rushing toward the diner.

"Well...this is...cute," Veronica remarked as she looked around the diner after they were seated.

"It's very...cozy. Do you two have a regular spot or something?" Owen asked as he, too, took in their surroundings.

"Right over there," Alicia said, pointing to a booth behind him that was currently occupied by a group that seemed to be attempting to recover from a late night of too much drinking.

"In a secluded corner," Veronica commented. "What a surprise."

"I'm sure this provides a necessary change of atmosphere for you while studying," Jack smiled at them. "I imagine the library can be quite stuffy after some time."

"Provided that's all you're doing," Veronica mumbled next to him as she flipped through the menu.

"Do us all a favor and keep your comments to yourself, dear. Just this once?" Alicia gaped at her father in shock before shifting her gaze to Will apologetically, smiling when she felt him gently squeeze her knee under the table.

Turning her attention back to her parents, she addressed her mother in an attempt to ease the tension she felt rising between them. "Mom, they make great omelets here. Let me show you…" she reached over to point them out to her on the menu in her hand.

"That's not exactly what I had in mind," she replied.

"Need I remind you that you're in a diner?" Jack asked her, his tone low and measured. "I doubt you will find any alcohol here."

Alicia glanced sideways at her brother, who sat with his head down, reading the menu. "Um...we can go somewhere else…" Alicia suggested, quietly.

"Not necessary, sweetheart. This is perfectly fine." Jack said as he patted her hand and smiled at her. "Besides, I like seeing where you spend a lot of your time."

Veronica snorted at this and sensing the possibility of another inappropriate comment, Will jumped at the chance to change the subject matter. "So, Mr. Cavanaugh, Alicia tells me you are a sports aficionado." Owen lifted his head quickly to look at Will and slowly shifted his gaze to meet his sister's across from him. "Though, she of course couldn't remember which one you enjoyed most."

"Hey…" she uttered, defensively.

"Well, Alicia never really cared for sports growing up. I can't imagine that's changed much." He chuckled when Alicia shook her head. "While I don't consider myself an expert of any sort, I do enjoy a good baseball game."

"Is that so?" Will asked, nodding slightly at Alicia when she flashed him a grateful smile before turning her attention to the waitress that arrived to take their order.

Alicia could feel the tension in her muscles dissipate as Will and her father continued to discuss sports over breakfast. However, she couldn't help but remain attentive to her mother's silence and the fact that she hardly touched her food.

"Do you not like it, mom?" Alicia asked. "We could have them make something else for you…" she offered.

After a brief silence, during which Alicia wondered if her mother were outright ignoring her, Veronica finally spoke. "It's fine," she told her. "The small talk is what's bothering me." Alicia glanced at her father when he exhaled deeply and sat back.

"Not now, Veronica," he warned.

"What my husband wants to know, Will," she said, turning her gaze on him as she spoke, "are your intentions regarding his precious little girl."

"Mom…" Alicia started.

"Is she a body to keep you warm on the nights you spend with her or…"

"Mom!" Alicia hissed. "Don't answer that," she told Will.

"One weekend, Veronica. That's all I asked for," Jack spoke quietly before turning to her. "One weekend, as a family, catching up with our children's lives."

"Do you not think I'm asking the question you won't out of genuine interest in our daughter's life?" she asked him. "Has it ever dawned on you that maybe, just maybe, I want to make sure she's actually happy and not going through life keeping things bottled up inside until she explodes?"

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Jack straightened in his seat and eyed her suspiciously.

"Maybe if you paid more attention, you wouldn't be asking that question," she told him before pushing away from the table and standing.

"Mom, where are you going?" Owen asked.

Veronica bent slightly and kissed his head. "I think I'll go take a nap," she told them. "Will, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can talk more later." She lowered herself to hug Alicia. "I'm sorry, darling," she whispered.

Alicia watched her mother walk away, trying to grasp the meaning behind her words when the sound of her father clearing his throat broke her train of thought and she turned back around.

"Will," she looked up at her father then, for a brief moment, before lowering her gaze again, troubled by her mother's abrupt exit. "Do you love my daughter?" She felt Will stiffen next to her and from the corner of her eye, saw him straighten in his seat.

"Yes, sir," he replied. "I do."

"And you tell her...show her?"

Will nodded and cleared his throat. "I have...I do...all the time."

"Boy does he…" Owen mumbled, quickly shutting his mouth when he caught the glare from Alicia.

Jack nodded and rose from his seat, retrieving his wallet from his pocket and placing cash on the table. "Well, then, that's all I need to know." He nodded in Owen and Will's direction and placed a kiss on his daughter's cheek. "We'll talk later, sweetheart."

They sat in silence after he left; the three of them, for what seemed longer than the minute that had actually passed before Alicia finally spoke in a choked whisper. "What just happened?" Owen looked at her and shrugged, unable to provide an answer while Will grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. Standing abruptly, she pulled her hand away from Will and grabbed her jacket. "I'm going for a walk."

"Sis, it's raining," Owen pointed out.

Sighing when she looked toward the window to see that he was right, she sat down again. "Of course it is," she mumbled. "I just want to go home."

"We could make a run for it…" Owen suggested as Will placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Will you come with me?" she asked Will, in a whisper.

"Of course," he replied with a smile as he stood and reached for her hand. "I'll even shield you from the rain."

"Oh...then maybe I should just hang here," Owen said. "Don't want to interrupt anything…"

Alicia stood and looked at him, her head tilted to the side. "Not now, Owen," she reproached him, weakly. "Come on."

"You're right, you're right." He rushed over and placed his arm around her. "I'm sorry. It didn't feel right rolling off my tongue, either." He squeezed her when he heard her chuckle lightly and led them toward the exit. Will grabbed his jacket, thanked the waitress and followed them out.