ARRIVAL
"I did it Pipes! I fucking did it!" said Alex, half laughing, half crying. She simply couldn't believe it. "Shit I didn't think I could "she said, a mixture of pure relief and euphoria etched on her face. It was a feeling she didn't think she would ever be able to put into words.
She dropped her sweaty and flushed head fresh from her efforts behind her before lifting it up again to get a better look at the currently crying, brand new Chapman- Vause being wiped down by a nurse on her chest.
Piper could barely get any words out. It was one of those rare occasions where Piper Chapman had been momentarily rendered completely speechless.
"You did so good Al" she eventually said through tears, brushing strands of sticky hair away from her wife's face and placing an affectionate kiss on her forehead.
Alex was so absorbed staring at the little life in front of her she had managed to forget the one very important detail she had patiently waited for and had desperately wanted to know the most.
"Wait what is it?" Alex asked.
"What is what honey?" replied Piper clearly just as entranced with their new-born as she was.
"The sex you idiot. Boy or girl? Piper can you see?"
Piper pulled back the towel covering the baby.
"She's a girl. Oh my goodness it's a girl. She has you're nose and lips! Alex look at her. My god I am so proud of you" gushed Piper.
She was getting no reply as Alex had gone quiet basking in the amazingness of this tiny girl who had now quietened down and was sucking her fingers contentedly snuggled against her mother, gazing up at her, already capturing her heart.
XXXX
"Wait where are you going to take her?" protested Alex, her maternal instincts already kicking in just like Piper knew they would. She held onto her daughter that little bit tighter – she clearly didn't want to let her go just yet.
"We just need to do some quick health checks and clean her up a little more, get her in a baby gro, stuff like that. We'll be as quick as we can and I promise you we'll take good care of her. We'll just be over there so you can still see what's going on" said the kindly nurse.
She still looked reluctant to hand her over to someone else at present. After some gentle persuasion from Piper Alex eventually released her hold.
"They need to make sure she is ok Al and the sooner the tests are done the sooner we can have her back" reasoned Piper.
"Sorry" said Alex sheepishly to the nurse.
"Don't apologise - this is the first time you've been apart for nine months it's understandable" said, according to her name tag, Melissa, who then whisked the baby off for her first check-up. Alex vaguely recognised her from the delivery but everything had been bit of a blur.
Piper sits down on the bed beside Alex, taking her hands in her own "I love you so much. You did such a good job back there. She's finally here. We're moms Al"
Alex gave her a tired smile and a content sigh. Piper bent down and sweetly captured her lips with her own.
"Moms who'd of thought" said Alex who was clearly exhausted after all her efforts. She looked upset and lost without the baby.
"I want her back Pipes"
"I know you do and you will really soon. Look she's just over there see look at all that hair" said Piper reassuringly.
Alex was still in quite an agitated state "Can you go and see her please? I don't want her to be by herself"
"Are you sure?" asked Piper "She's just over there"
"Please I need to get cleaned up and checked over myself anyway. I'll be okay just go and see her" implored Alex.
Piper hesitated before leaving "Thank you so much for doing this for me, for us. I know you weren't sure about it but…"
"I love her already Pipes. Jesus it's only been five fucking minutes and I don't even want to let her out of my sight" said Alex "And why can't I stop crying!" she proclaims angrily to herself, beginning to tear up again.
Piper started affectionately laughing at her "Shh I know me too. You've gone soft in the space of about five minutes"
"Don't tell Nicky" ordered Alex wiping her eyes.
"You know I will. I'll be forever grateful to you, you know. Look at what you gave us" said Piper.
XXX
Alex and the newly born baby girl had been cleaned up, tested and declared fit and healthy. The family of three were now lounging together on the hospital bed, having just been left alone for the first time.
"Piper"
"Mmm"
"I think Ella" said Alex shyly.
"What?" said a surprised Piper "I didn't know you had names on your brain at all"
"I needed to meet her. I didn't know if it was going to suit her but I think that's her name. I know I didn't mention it before but I think she's Ella. Do you like it? I know you had other ones in mind" said a nervous and a rambling Alex.
"I love it. It's perfect. She's perfect. You're perfect" Piper was on cloud nine, if Alex had wanted to name the baby orange she probably would have agreed.
"You are such a goofball" said Alex.
"Shut up. Ella Diane though" said Piper, testing the waters, stroking Ella's hair.
Alex reluctantly took her eyes off their daughter to meet Pipers.
"Really? Are you sure?" said a clearly moved Alex.
"That's her name" said Piper, beaming from ear to ear.
Alex couldn't stop the tears from falling. She hadn't cried this much since Piper left Litchfield for the last time, leaving her alone to finish the remainder of her sentence.
"I miss her" confessed Alex "Now more than ever. She would have loved her so much Pipes I wish she was here to meet her"
Piper's heart broke for her wife. Alex rested her head in the crook of Piper's neck.
"I know you do but Ella is going to know all about her you know that. After we get settled in back home I thought we could go and visit her? Only if you wanted though" suggested Piper.
"I do. So much"
Piper had no room for her own family today they had all been completely forgotten. Now it was all about her newly formed one. They were her new priority. The next few days were all about Alex, making sure she was comfortable in her new role before they had any visitors descend. It was a lot for a normal person to take in let alone Alex Vause who never in a million years thought she would ever be in this position.
Piper knew Alex needed this alone time with their daughter – she had hardly let her go since her arrival a couple of hours ago. They lay in comfortable silence for a while, Ella holding onto Piper's finger like her life depended on it.
"Have you told anyone yet?" inquired Alex.
"Nope I figure we need a couple of days just us three. No interruptions, isn't that right Ella?" answered Piper and Ella to Piper's obvious delight unintentionally let out a little squeak of approval.
Alex was visibly relieved at her suggestion. She couldn't think of anything worse than facing Mrs Chapman right now. She needed to brace herself for impact so to speak.
"What would Diane have wanted to be called? Do you know?" asked Piper.
"We never really talked about stuff like that. She would be so shocked she never would have guessed I'd actually be a mom. Shocked but so happy" said Alex, stroking Ella's face with her index finger, taking in her features.
"Not grandma that's for sure though" laughed Alex.
"Why?" asked Piper.
"She always hated getting older. Anything to do with ageing actually so she'd probably come up with some crazy ass name for herself that was the farthest away from grandma you could possibly find"
They both started laughing but the noise caused Ella to start whimpering. To Piper's surprise Alex didn't panic.
"Hey there shh shh. We were doing well so far. You can't let me down now after all I've just done for you kid" joked Alex.
Piper could not stop smiling seeing her wife and daughter interact. She always knew she would make a brilliant mom.
"Do you think she's hungry?" asked Alex.
"Only one way to find out I guess" said Piper.
With some help from Piper Alex managed to adjust her top and using some tips the nurse had told them earlier Ella seemed to know exactly what to do.
Alex had her hair piled on top of her head and no makeup on but she had never looked more beautiful to Piper than in that very moment.
"You are so gorgeous" remarked Piper. Alex as usual ignored the compliment bestowed upon her by her wife.
"I can't stop staring at her Pipes"
"Me neither. I'm gonna have to get used to sharing you're boobs with her though" joked Piper. This caused a hearty chuckle to escape from Alex.
"God she is hungry" said Alex, watching Ella feed away to her hearts content.
"She's had a big day too" said Piper "How does it feel? Is it sore?"
"Not really it just feels weird as hell" answered Alex "She smells so good Pipes"
"I know look at her little fingernails and her hair she has so much. She is so beautiful, we are so lucky"
"I love her so much already" admitted Alex, before letting out a huge yawn.
"You need to at least try and get some sleep you know" said Piper.
"But I don't want to" replied Alex stubbornly.
"We'll be here when you when you wake up don't worry. You're stuck with us now"
"I've been hogging her" confessed Alex.
"No you haven't don't be silly. I love watching you hold her. I can't get enough of you holding her" said Piper, still clearly giddy with happiness from today's events.
Alex eventually transferred Ella over to Piper to burp once she had had her fill.
"Go to sleep" ordered Piper, gently patting Ella's back, baby resting against her shoulder "You have totally earned it"
"I'm really happy we did this Piper. I didn't think I would be but I am" said Alex, sinking under the covers.
"What you just said makes me so happy you have no idea" said Piper "I can't wait to take her home. Do you think we'll be able to tomorrow? I think we will if…"
She didn't get to complete her sentence as Alex Vause was already fast asleep. It had been a long day. One hell of a day she thought looking over her shoulder at her daughter. One which they would both never forget.