Piper relaxed into the couch, clutching a coffee mug as she pulled her knees close to her chest. It was only 2 p.m. and she was utterly exhausted. She was beginning to wear thin lately. Being a single mother was hard. She'd heard so from nearly everyone. She would be the first to admit it was hard, but fulfilling at the same time. She wouldn't trade a moment with her son for anything in the world.

He was just a year old and already Alex had missed so many firsts. Piper could remember the first time she saw him smile, it brought tears to her eyes. God, he looked so much like Alex. She'd missed the first time he was able to sit up on his own, the first time he began to crawl or took his first steps.

So many more firsts were to come, but it was unlikely that Alex would see any of it. She wouldn't see him off to his first day of school, she wouldn't see him score the winning goal at the season's last soccer game, or help him mend his broken heart that first time he really thought he was in love, dance at his wedding, know her grandchildren. This list just went on and on.

Piper placed her mug on the coffee table in front of her, slipping her hand over her mouth shortly after, suppressing a sob when she noticed her son was watching her. He was still so young, he wouldn't pay any mind to her crying. Still, she hated to do it in front of him. He looks so much like Alex. She repeated to herself. He was missing out too.

Alex had question herself, doubting that those motherly instincts would kick in for her. Piper knew better, Alex would be a wonderful mother to their son.

The baby stumbled toward Piper, dragging his teddy bear behind him. Piper couldn't pry the thing outta his hands. Alex had gotten it for him the day she found out Piper was finally pregnant. She couldn't imagine a day when they were happier. They held each other, laughed, cried, celebrated. It was one of the few memories that helped Piper through another hard day.

Her arms stretched out toward her son as his pace picked up a bit. Piper scooped him up, tickling him as he began to wriggle around on her lap. He giggled uncontrollably, staring up at his mother with those emerald green eyes. Alex.

"Piper, are you sure about this?" Alex readjusted her glasses as she looked over a few brochures that were spread across the counter. All containing some sort of information on nearby fertility clinics.

The blonde looked over at her, disappointment in her eyes. "I thought you said you wanted this with me. I know I want it with you."

It was just a couple of months ago that Piper had confessed she wanted a baby with Alex, who was completely perplexed by the idea in the beginning. What kind of mothers would they really be? To be quite honest Piper was narcissistic and self-centered, which suited Alex just fine, but how would that affect their child? Then again she had such a kind heart, she could be so caring toward others; when she really wanted to be.

"Don't look so sad, kid." Alex slipped her hand into Piper's, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was all the reassurance Piper needed, for now. "Tell me again, how this works."

At first they had opted to go with adoption, but the process seemed to be long and grueling, and they felt as though the odds wouldn't be in their favor. After checking with a few adoption agenices it seemed to be more of a popularity contest than anything.

Eventually they had settled on what they thought would be the perfect decision. Alex's eggs were to be taken, inseminated and then placed in Piper. She was ecstatic about the whole idea. Just the thought of carrying Alex's child completely overjoyed her.

They were in such bliss, things were amazing between them so far. The two of them had gotten married nearly a year ago and now they were discussing having their first child.

Piper moved closer to Alex, standing next to her as she sat on one of the bar stools. Piper's arm slipped around the taller woman's waist, her head laying against her shoulder. "Alright, well, long story short.. you and I are going to make a baby together." It sounded a bit patronizing, but she meant well by her words.

Alex pulled Piper onto her lap, brushing her hair behind her ear while leaving a trail of kisses down the blonde's jaw. "Maybe we should start practicing now." Piper's eyes closed instinctively, her head tilting slightly to the side, granting Alex the access she needed.

Piper's eyes opened slowly, squinting a bit as she fell deep into thought. "Al.." She spoke, barely above a whisper.

"Hmm?" Alex hummed between kisses, lightly sucking on the blonde's pulse point.

"What do you want to name the baby?"

"Really, Piper?" Alex nearly whined in frustration. "I think we've got some time before we've gotta think of baby names. Don't you think you should be pregnant first?"

Piper smiled innocently at Alex, who couldn't help but chuckle. She's just so cute. Alex thought.

"Nothing that's completely overused. I want the name to be unique, not odd. Something simple, but bold."

"Piper.."

"I'm terrible with picking out names. What if I choose one and they hate it? What if I hate it later?"

Alex knew this was what she did best, she could rant for hours if allowed to. She couldn't help but love her for it, though. "Piper.."

"What about Owen for a boy? No, God, I hate it already. Riley for a girl? But what if people just assume she's a boy because of the name. I just ca-"

Alex leaned forward, pressing her lips softly against Piper's. She was never usually this neurotic, but Alex just assumed it was the excitement.

Piper pulled away in a haze as Alex smirked. "I had a feeling that would shut you up. Now, listen.. calm the fuck down, alright?" She cocked an eyebrow, seeing that she now had Piper's full attention. "We have so much time. We'll figure this out."

"Well, maybe we could practice now.."

Alex nearly beamed from ear to ear. "Thank God, I thought you'd never ask."

They both stood from the bar stool. Piper nearly knocking Alex over as she bolted toward the stairs.

"Hey, don't start without me." Alex yelled.

She quickly caught up with her wife, grabbing her hand as they made their way up the stairs.

"I've always liked the name Elliot for a boy, maybe a girl too."

Piper placed the little Alex mini-me back on his feet. He held onto her knee, steadying himself while staring up at her.

He smiled. She melted. Those eyes piercing her soul.

Piper's gaze couldn't keep his attention occupied and before long he turned to run toward something else in the room that had caught his eye. He tripped over the rug near the table, falling forward and hitting the floor with a thud. Piper rose to her feet quickly, rushing over to him. She grabbed him, inspecting every inch of his body for some sort of injury.

"Elliot Alexander, don't you scare me like that."

The expression on his face was so smug it caused her to chuckle. She had obviously overreacted, as any good mother would do. "You do these things to me on purpose, don't you?"

Piper kissed Elliot's left cheek then his right, repeating the process a couple times as he began to laugh. "Tough guy, huh? Just like your mommy." Of course she wasn't referring to herself. She thought of herself as fragile, weak even. Alex had always been the strong one, keeping things together when they threatened to fall apart.

Piper missed her. God, she missed Alex more than anything.

Elliot's arm draped over Piper's shoulder, his head laying against her chest while he let out a yawn.

"How about we take a nap, hmm?" She glanced down at him, picking up his teddy bear from the floor. She knew if she didn't bring it he would wake up crying for it later. "I know I could use one."

Sometimes she felt somewhat silly, having so many one sided conversations. But Polly had reassured her it was something she needed to do, for developmental purposes. As much as Piper spoke to Elliot he would be talking in no time.

Piper carried him into the bedroom, laying him on her bed. She knew it was frowned upon, but she loved having him so close to her. And of course he loved the contact as well.

He snuggled into his mother, his teddy bear the only thing between them.

Piper wrapped her arm around him, her eyes closing slowly. But her thoughts wouldn't allow her to sleep. She kept thinking about Alex and everything that had happened.

Elliot was snoring already, which brought a smile to Piper's face. He's just like Alex.

She couldn't control herself any longer, the tears that had previously threatened to spill over rolled down her cheeks. Her sobs were frequent, but quiet. She hated herself for what she had done, what she had said. She knew it was in her best interest. She did it for herself, for Elliot, for Alex.

"Piper, please." Alex pleaded with her, begged even. Her throat was burning as she fought back the tears she thought would perceive her as weak. She was weak now, though. She didn't know how to fight against this.

Piper was frantically running around their bedroom, gathering clothes from their closet as well as dressers. She threw them into a suitcase that was open on the bed. Her eyes were red and puffy, she'd cried all day. This was the hardest thing she would ever have to do. She had to, though. She kept repeating that to herself. It had to be done.

Alex grabbed onto Piper's wrist spinning her around to face her, placing her other hand against her wife's cheek. "Don't leave me, don't go. I need you." She leaned in to kiss her.

Piper turned away, tears slowly sliding down her cheeks. Alex felt like she had just gotten the breath knocked out of her. Was this really happening? Piper was leaving, again. She was breaking Alex's heart, again.

She leaned against the wall for support, her knees felt like they were going to give in at any second. She slumped to the ground, no longer fighting against the urge to cry. She hadn't cried this hard since her mother died. She could barely breathe between sobs, it felt like she was having a panic attack. The room was closing in on her. The one person who had promised to stay by her side through better or worse was leaving, just like that. No warning, nothing.

Piper closed the suitcase, zipping it up, her vision blurry as the tears continued to fall from her eyes. "Alex.." She spoke quietly while keeping her head down, refusing to see the raven haired beauty in such a state. "I know you don't understand why I'm doing this, but I have to. I can't explain, but things have changed." So vague. Vague was good, though. Vague would work. Piper couldn't tell her the real reason behind it.

"I thought we were happy."

We were, we are. Piper thought, but didn't dare say aloud. Her heart was shattered, completely, into a million little pieces that would never be reesembled. She would never love anyone again. She couldn't. Alex was it for her.

"What about the baby? That's my baby too." Piper could hear the hurt, betrayal and anger in Alex's voice. She couldn't blame her.

"I don't know. I'm still trying to decide." Piper was only about three months pregnant, she wanted Alex to think she was still keeping her options open. Even though she's the one who pressed this.

Alex stood up, furrowing her brows. "Still trying to decide?" Now it was mostly anger. "You told me you wanted a baby. You said it would brinig us closer together. You claimed we'd be the perfect family. Now what? You're just going to leave, get rid of the baby and forget about me?" She'd never been so hurt, only Piper had gotten close enough to hurt her like this. She'd allowed it both times. She let her in, hoping this was it. She would give her heart to Piper and they'd live happily ever after. Bullshit.

"I can't do this.." Piper couldn't go back and forth with Alex any longer. She would change her mind about the whole thing and blow her cover, putting both of them in danger.

She grabbed her suitcase off the bed, quickly making her way down the hall toward the front door.

"Piper, you can't tell me this is what you really want."

Silence. Piper never even turned around to look at Alex, who was trailing closely behind her.

"Please, I'm asking you one more time.. please, don't go."

Silence. She couldn't look into those eyes, not even one more time. She just couldn't see how badly she'd broken her.

Piper opened the front door, the cab she'd called earlier waiting outside for her.

Alex couldn't control her anger, she wouldn't bottle it up to spare Piper's feelings now. She would surely say things she would soon regret, but in the moment she felt it was worth the risk.

"Fuck you, Piper!"

Silence. Piper was crying so hard she could barely see what was in front of her, but she refused to turn around.

"God, I fucking hate you! I hate you so much right now. You broke my heart again, and I let it happen. I was stupid to let you back in, but it won't happen again. I never want to fucking see you again. Do you hear me, Piper?! I better not ever see you again. Don't come running back to me when you can't handle things on your own. You're a narcissistic asshole who only cares about herself."

Piper opened the cab door, throwing her suitcase on the back seat before slipping inside.

"Fuck you!" Alex slammed the door as hard as she could, kicking it once it was closed. She ran her fingers through her hair, wiping the tears away from her face, although they kept falling. That was it. She was gone.

Piper leaned back against the seat of the cab, still crying as she pulled her phone from her pocket. She opened recent calls, pressing the last number she'd gotten a call from. It rang a couple times before someone was on the other line.

"It's done." She said between sobs. "I left her, I did what you asked."