He's gone. I'm alone again, naturally. Only things left in my life are my job, the bar, and my colleagues. There's Vonda singing "For Once In My Life". Catchy song, love the theme...

Walking down the street, bad mood, see Kimi Bishop. Don't make eye contact McBeal, you're just going to get sued. Keep walking. Damn it! She saw me... run, run, running, stop.

"Ally." Kimi said with her usual tone of prudeness. She was with one of her "Women of Virtue" girls. Perfect time to insult. Resisting the temptation...

"Hey, Kimi. So have you slipped anyone anything lately?" I said with a smirk on my face. Wonder how she's going to respond to that.

"Ally, do you just look around to be sued or is it just the fact that you can't live without insulting me." Kimi said a matter-of-factly.

I replied, "Well, Kimi. I guess it's your incredible innocence that makes me ill. So what do you feel like suing me now for? Maybe defamation? Oh no, too old for you, right?" "Ms. McBeal, you better watch out for a complaint in the mail. Better go look for a lawyer. God knows you can't defend yourself."

How dare she say that... She isn't winning this case, not if I can help it.

Great! Just wonderful. Here's Elaine. What is it now, a new radioactive bra?

"Uh, Ally? A complaint has came in from a Kimi...", Elaine started to say till I *Rudely * interrupted her. I finished her sentence, "Yeah, I know. Kimi Bishop. Hand it to me." She replied, "Oh, I thought you would have John or Richard take care of it for you." I said with this annoyed tone, "Well, Elaine I think it would be better if I got opposing council for this one. John has once again lost Barry White and, well Richard isn't my first choice as council...especially not first chair."

"Renee? Are you free this week.", I said to my roommate. She is a lawyer to, and she isn't at my firm so she could probably work. She replied, "Actually, I sort of have to be at divorce court with Jackson tomorrow." Renee and Jackson had gone through a really tragic divorce. How could I forget?

I said, "Oh, right! That's why you are living with me again. I feel stupid. It's just, you see, I want outside council, but it seems all my favorite lawyers are busy." I gave a silly smile in Renee's direction. She smiled and went into the kitchen.

I went into the kitchen after her and pulled the phone book out of the kitchen drawer. I started to thumb through it. Let's see, Lawyers, L....La....Law...Lawyers...LARRY PAUL?!?!??!??!!? I screamed. "RENEE!! Get over here NOW!" I shouted. She came running in. "What in god's name are you screaming about Ally?" I stared up at her. She saw what name my finger was pointing to in the phonebook.

"Larry Paul?" she questioned. "Wait a minute, Ally, are you sure that isn't a phonebook from two years ago or something?" I flipped to the cover, nope. "2003, what is Larry's name doing in a MASSACHUSETTS phone book? He lives far away in Detroit. No way, no possible way."

"Well, Ally, I guess that you'll just have to call 411 and ask if they have any recent listings."

Oh my god. Is this really happening? 1, 2, 3, breathe.

411 Machine: What city and state?
Ally: Boston, Massachusetts.
411 Machine: Thank you! An operator will be with you shortly!
Be calm McBeal, stay calm.
Operator: Name please?
Ally: Oh, uh... LARRY PAUL.
Operator: Okay, here we go. Larry Paul. We have two numbers. One for an office and one for a home.
Ally: Oh, I will take the office phone number.
Operator: Okay, the number is 398-2937
Ally: Thanks
*click*

Well let's see, that was the easy part. Now all I have to do is call him. Pick up the phone, Ally. Call him and your life will be happy again. Just do it. Come on. Why is this so goddamn hard? It's Larry! What am I supposed to say? "Hi, will you get Kimi off my back and take me back?" Ugh, this is too difficult.

A few hours passed. Thank god it's the weekend, or else I'd have to do this at work where everyone would be all over me about this. Here we go. Pick up phone. Dial number. Listen.

Two rings.

A familiar voice rang through my ear drum like a gong. "Hello, this is Larry Paul." Obviously it was Larry. "Umm,Larry? Larry, it's Ally... Ally McBeal." I sound like an idiot! Of course it's Ally McBeal! How many Allys does he know??...

"Ally, Oh my god", he said. His sweet voice...ahhh...it seems like only yesterday he was singing "Chances Are".

"Ally, I really meant to call you. I just...couldn't. How did you find this number? How are you?" Happiness takes over.

"Um. Hi Larry. That's okay you didn't call. I know it's hard. I'm doing okay, actually. But the reason that I called you, that's my problem. It's kinda hard to tell you over the phone, but can I meet you somewhere?" Was that just one big mess of words? Oh god, I hope what I just said made sense.

"Larry, meet me at the Ice Cream parlor, you're favorite one, tomorrow, threeish?"

He replied, "Sure, Ally, I'll see you then."

*click*

AAHH! I'm going to see Larry. I'm going to see Larry. Remember that breathing thing? That sometimes works, Ally.

Larry: Ally!

Ally: Larry!

Larry: Wow, you look great! I've missed you so much.

Did he just give me a kiss on the cheek? God I've missed that.

Ally: Me too, but I called you here for a totally different reason. I have been sued for defamation by this total witch from law school! Oh right, you know Kimi.

Larry: Oh yes! I remember it clearly! I represented you. What have you done now, Ally? Remember my peeve... all of the information!

Ally: Okay, okay! All of the information! I saw her on the street, asked her if she slipped anyone anything lately. She was with a friend so she found this *Embarrassing *. The usual small talk with people you run into on the street, right? Well, she is suing me for defamation now and I don't have a lover... uh... LAWYER! I meant lawyer...

Larry: Why didn't you get someone from your firm?

Ally: Because I wanted outside council, and it just seemed like everyone I knew was busy. Looks like fate was playing cupid. Actually not. Since I did find your name in the phonebook, I thought, hmmm...maybe I can get that old boyfriend back? That often works, right?

Larry: Dinner, tonight?

Ally: Done!

Larry, Boston, dinner, deposition, court. Overwhelmed. I have way too little time on my hands.

Larry: Hi Ally. You look great.

Ally: You do too.

Larry: I've missed you so much for the past two years. You have no idea.

Ally: I have more of an idea than you think...

Larry: What happened to us, Ally?

Ally: You didn't want strike three.

Larry: Right.

Thank god dinner went off without a hitch. We started talking about the case. It was, after all, in two weeks. Then we started talking about our relationship two years ago. Then we started talking about other things. Like, me, him, and now. Wow.

Larry: Ally, this was great, I feel really bad I didn't call you earlier. I had a really nice time, and we could have done this so much sooner, but I was just afraid to call, cause, you know, our relationship ended so oddly.

Ally: Yeah, I know what you mean, but I had a great time.

Larry: Can I walk you home?

Ally: Yeah, sure, that would be great.

It's just like when we were going out. He'd walk me home. Except, most of the time I knew he'd end up staying. Much longer.

We walked back to my house, and chatted mostly about our lives without each other, and our failed relationships. We finally got back to my place.

Ally: Thanks so much for walking me home, Larry. I'm so glad that you are able to represent me.

Larry: Oh no problem. Um....I don't mean to end the night on a funny note or anything, but do you think that I can use your bathroom?

Ending on a good note, eh? Well that sure is one.

Ally: Yeah sure, come right up.

He came up the stairs with me. When we got into the apartment, Renee wasn't there. I pointed to the bathroom door. "I know," he said. I smiled and started to put my coat onto the coatrack. I heard the bathroom door open. I turned around to let him out. I had my back against the door, my hands behind me on the door knob. He stood so close to me. What is he doing? Is this like a first date thing? Or a we're already going out thing? Or is this a friendly thing? What's going on? Ally, whatever happens, just let it happen.

He whispered "I had a really great time."

I replied, "Me too, let's do it again sometime, that would be good." He backed away, and started to laugh. Woah, Ally, what did you say? Why is he laughing?

"You know that's what you said the night I first kissed you?" he chuckled.

How did he remember something like that? "Really? That's really funny," I replied. He kissed me. And after that, well, things just got a little bit crazy.

Kimi's Lawyer: Ms. McBeal, you embarrassed Ms. Bishop in front of her friend and in a public area, right?

Ally: Well…

Kimi's Lawyer: Come on Kimi! See you in court!

They left.

Ally: What happened to your rhythm? Larry: Nothing, but why waste your words on a deposition when you could use them to sweet talk you.

Ally: Nice, Larry. Real nice. I love you Mr. Larry.

Officer: Rise.

Judge: You may all sit. I'm not one for this kind of practice. Why, may I ask is this the second defamation trial between Ms. McBeal and Ms. Bishop?

Larry: Your honor, Ms. McBeal was only bringing back these * precious * memories that she shares with Ms. Bishop. Although embarrassing, Ms. McBeal didn't mean to be harmful.

Ally: I object! I meant to be harmful!

Judge: Ms. McBeal, do you not want to win this case, because if you do want to win, you have a funny way of showing it.

Kimi's Lawyer: Ms. McBeal caused embarrassment to Ms. Bishop in a public area AND in front of one of the ladies in the "Women of Virtue" club. This particular lady that was at the scene looked, emphasizing on the "ed", looked up to Ms. Bishop. Now, she does not, leaving Ms. Bishop out of the club that is in question.

Judge: Final closings?

Larry: Your honor, Ms. McBeal wasn't aware that Ms.Bishop's friend, or shall I say bystander, was part of the "Women of Virtue"club. If this women was Ms. Bishop's friend then you would think that she wouldn't believe anything that Ms. McBeal,and ENEMY ever since college had said. This women did obviously not care enough to negotiate with Ms. Bishop before kicking her out of the club in question. What kind of friend is that and would you care if embarrassment was performed in front of them?

Judge: Alright, this court is in recess while I reach my verdict.

Ally: Do you think we will win?

Larry: With the comment you made, no, probably not. But it doesn't matter to you does it?

Ally: Who cares if I win... it's a stupid case. At least I have you back.

"For Once in my Life" starts playing in my head. Record scratches... court's back in session.

Judge Whipper: On the matter of McBeal verses Bishop, I vote in favor of the defendant. As embarrassing Ms. McBeal could have been to Ms. Bishop, she didn't know that the person next to her was a friend. Court's dismissed.

Larry: Why don't we go out to dinner for a little celebration meal?

Ally: How about we go back to my place for a little celebration party? But just you and me?

Larry: That works too.

Dear Diary,
Larry and I won our case. That was a really lucky win. I can't believe that while I write this entry, Larry's next to me with his cute little eyes closed. I better take off his glasses... God I love ‘em.

He looks so sweet..why did we ever break up?

Larry: Ally?

Ally: Yes...

Larry: I think that was the best night of...

Ally: Yeah...me too.

Larry: Yeah...Ally, meet me for lunch today, okay? I have something to tell you...

Ally: Uh.... yeah....sure.

Okay, where's mom's number......Ally...Oh, okay here we go!

Dialing...ring! AHHHH!

Ally's Mom: Hello.
Ally: Hey, uh mom?
Allys Mom: Ally, whats wrong?
Ally: Nothing...nothings wrong...I just wanted to call to say hi...
Ally's mom: I know something's wrong. You only call when something's wrong.
Ally: Well maybe that's because whenever I call I get the 3rd degree! BYE! LOVE YOU!

Ally: Hey Renee!

Renee: Ally, hey... whatcha doing here?

Ally: Oh...Larry and I have a lunch date...He said there was something important. I wonder if everything's ok.

Renee: Okay...whatever. Order something yummy!

Larry: Ally, did I ever tell you that I was going to propose with a ring in a fruit cobbler at that fancy French restaurant and that the waiter brought the wrong fruit cobbler?

Ally: You were going to, what? And what happened?

Larry: Calm down, this time I brought in.

Larry takes out a fruit cobbler out of a brown paper bag...

Larry: Eat up!

Ally: Oh Larry...the last time I ate one of these, it lead to bad things, you know that.

Larry: Fine then, go on the wild side, Ally! For once?

Ally: Okay...hmm good!

And right after that, her jaw dropped at the sight of a velvet ring box...

Larry: Oh! Let me get this out of here for you....how dare the bakery contaminate the food...

Larry gets on his knees...

Larry: Ally McBeal, will you marry me?

"For Once in My life" starts playing in my head again...oh well, it's perfect timing!

Ally: Of course, Mr. Larry!

Larry: I love you Ms. McBeal.

Ally: That's Mrs. Paul to you!

Larry: Right!