"Alex…Alex…earth to Alex." I shake my head and turn to my right, to come face to face with the voice that has been calling my name.
"I'm sorry Pipes, what were you saying?" She looks at me annoyed and then sends me a small smile. She knows that today is a big day so I am guessing that she is not going to hold anything against me at this point.
"You okay Alex?" I know that I should tell her yes, I mean I am getting released today I should be beyond happy. It is two months earlier than anticipated, and I know it should be one of the most exhilarating days of my life…but it isn't.
I turn to Piper who is sitting next to me on my bunk. Her fingers are laced with mine and her head is on my shoulder. This is one of my favorite things about being in this place with her. Times like this when we get to hold each other and just talk, or not talk at all and just be here with each other.
I sigh, sliding my hand over to hers and lacing our fingers together.
"You know, I was thinking, I could go and kick Pennsatucky's ass again and end up in the Shu for a while and then I could get some more time and maybe we could walk out of here together?" She looks at me wide eyed at first but then her face falls.
"No Al, you did your time, you're getting out. You should be happy." She's right. I should be excited and overwhelmed and ecstatic at the fact that I can toss my khaki jumpsuit into the air and walk out of this god forsaken place. And the truth is that I could be happy if…
"I have to leave you behind." It comes out and then my emotions hit. I was always so badass, so set in my ways, so strong…until I met Piper. She has always been able to bring out this emotional me, which I have to admit…sometimes it's really nice.
"You are not leaving me behind Alex. You get to visit my on Saturday's, and I don't have much time left either." She is right, she only have three months left, but those three months without being able to hold her in my arms are going to feel like an eternity.
I already went 8 years without being able to hold her and I vowed that if I ever got her back, that I would never let her go again. I have to hold true to my word. I have let her down and hurt her too many times to count in the past. It is time to show her how much she really means to me.
I turn towards her, but keep our fingers locked together. I want to gauge her reaction with what I am about to say. More importantly I want her to know that I am being serious...that I am being genuine.
"Pipes, you know I love you right?" She nods and smiles sweetly.
"That's good, because I do." I take a deep breath.
"I've done a lot of shit things to you, most of them unintentionally, but some of them intentionally because I am such a bitch." I give her a small smile, because she knows it's true.
"It makes me sick that I get to walk out of these doors today, and you won't be there beside me. I just thought we would walk out together and then we would be able to start this amazing life together. But I realize that I have to let that little fantasy of mine go, and pitch the real thing to you." She looks at me a little confused.
"What I'm saying is, when I get out today I am going to get my life together. I am going to get us a place to live, furniture to sit on, groceries to eat and most of all an honest job. I am going to save up and hopefully by the time you get out of here Pipes, we can have a real life together. Maybe it won't be filled with extravagant adventures and exotic islands, but it will be something that we both put equal effort into, and it will be honest. I love you more than I have ever loved you before Piper." I bend down to place a kiss on her now tear stained cheek.
"I want to have this real life with you Pipes, one where we are not on the run. One where we can come home after our LEGAL jobs and cuddle up on the couch together reading a book or take off running to the bedroom to make amazing love together because we missed each other so much. I have never wanted this ever in my life. I realize that I fucked things up real bad the first time, but I won't do it again."
She is leaning into my front sobbing as my speech is cut short and my name is being called.
"Vause." Caputo calls from just inside the door.
I look up and realize that my own tears are falling. I hug Piper tightly again before I am pulling her up with me. She is still clinging tightly to me, and to be honest I have yet to loosen my grip on her...I don't want to let her go.
"I'm gonna miss you Vause...you were a pretty good fuck there for a while." I feel Piper start to cringe a bit at the thought of me and Nicky together. Of course it was nothing serious between the two of us. We were lonely and we dealt with it.
I smile at her and make my way down the hallway still holding on to a sobbing Piper.
Everyone wishes me their best, including Red, who was never really a big fan of mine. No matter what though, we all pretty much had each other's back in here. It was just one of those unspoken things you know. The girls stick together.
When I come to the end of the line I realize that it is time to let her go. Bennett is holding out the things that I walked in here in. I don't even remember what it is like to where regular clothes. I think that is the one thing I am most excited about. I smile internally and then take take a finger to lift Piper's chin so that she is now looking at me.
"I love you, with everything that I have, and with everything that I am. I am going to make this right. I am going to make you proud of me Pipes. You will be proud to call me yours by the time you get out of here." With that I lean down and capture her lips in mine. This place has taught me a lot but the most important thing of all is not to take things for granted.
I intend to live by that for now on. I have to...I intend on keeping her this time.
I had to pull away. There is a van outside waiting to take me away from here...away from her. I kiss her one more time and hug her tightly before I am given my belongings and I have to begin my walk...alone.
Just before I get to the door I hear my name. I turn around quickly, realizing that it's Piper. She is smiling, but still sobbing. I blow her a kiss and turn to walk away.
"I love you too." The last thing I hear from her before I walk out that day and towards the start of my new life...the start of OUR new life.
Author Notes.
I usually only write Pezberry stories for Glee, but I decided to try my hand at a Vauseman since I absolutely am in love with them... I hope that you enjoy this story.
Please Review.