A/N: This picks up right where The Cure (1) leaves off. The Epilogue is the aftermath.

For some, two weeks is nothing but within those two daunting weeks, I have longed for nothing more than to hold my Piper. So at this moment, I am doing what I think is a good idea, anything that allows me to take advantage of the closeness of Piper after so long of being away from each other. So here I am, standing on the dance floor that I have created in this very living room as I take Piper's hand and ask her to join me. So we stand together, with the music playing quietly in the background and my arms around the petite frame that stands in front of me.

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

Call me, baby, if you need a friend
I just wanna give you love
Come on, come on, come on
Reaching out to you, so take a chance

No matter where you go
You know you're not alone

As I look to the eyes I have missed, the feelings overwhelm me and hit me with how much I have longed for this, more than I could have ever imagined. Suddenly I know that I can never be without this again. Without Piper. It feels as nothing between us as changed as Piper's head comes to rest in the crook of my neck. I feel the warmth of her breath against my skin, the tingling feeling that it leaves on me. I have to respect this for what it is. I must fight the urge to reach out and kiss Piper. Needing to distract my thoughts as I refrain from pursuing this any further, I close my eyes shut and bite down on my lip as I keep my thoughts a secret. I fight my urge and allow the music to guide me. Humming to the song as I sway my hips, I move a small step closer to Piper as I long to feel her touch for more than what it is.

I am overwhelmed by emotion and savour every moment. To think that I almost lost Piper. After things exploded at the restaurant, suddenly there were two long painful weeks between us. I thought this had vanished and I would never be able to hold Piper again. However to be within the same proximity of Piper along with the familiarity of touch and smell of her allows me to be lost in the moment. Fighting the want that builds within me, I close of my eyes as I treasure all that I have missed.

I become lost in my thoughts as I naturally lean into the touch as if we had never been apart. It's the warmth of her breath lingering on my neck that breaks me from my thoughts. I have to close my eyes shut further to contain the tingling feeling that it sends throughout my body, and how much it increases my need to feel more of Piper. I feel content. I feel complete. I close my eyes and take in the scent that is Piper. Nuzzling my nose into her hair, I relish the sweet smell that I have missed, the intimacy of Piper.

"Now what Al?"

She sounds so sweet and innocent, her voice so delicate. Yet I know if I pull back to look into her eyes that I will see the hurt that my actions of tonight have inflicted upon on her, something that I know I'll have to struggle to deal with. So I do what I think is needed for now, tighten my hold on Piper, keeping her as close to me as she can be as I seek the words to reassure her. I feel the need to protect her.

"I don't know Pipes. What even happened between us?" In the heat of the moment and the contentment I feel, I have forgotten why we are here and the reason that this is happening. Just when I wanted to forget all that had happened, I am left to face the consequences of my actions and provide answers for the waiting questions. I gulp and pull back from Piper far enough to see her eyes as they lock with my own. I take a deep breath and allow the silence between us to continue for that little longer.

"Can we get past this?"

My heart sinks as I ask that question. I fear the answer and what may follow from this. I hate to think of what it could become and I can barely raise my head to look at Piper. But it takes me by surprise when I feel her lips upon mine. She kisses just as I remember, softly and delicately. It wasn't alcohol that I needed. It was Piper. The cure. I feel myself getting lost in the feeling as I begin to take advantage and think that everything in the past is forgotten. Seeking entrance, my tongue touches her lips.

Then I lose contact with Piper's lips as she breaks this kiss and contact with my embrace. Her softness is replaced by air that distances us. I am afraid to open my eyes, scared of what I would see. Forgetting myself in the moment, and that all is not what I thought it would be. I open one eye slowly, but the visibility of what lays in front of me is unclear. I slowly open both eyes to see the familiar head of blonde hair is indeed still in front of me. I let out a sigh of relief, watching as Piper paces back and forth. She runs her hand through her hair, as she is unable to look at me. I freeze in position, taken back at the sudden change in emotion. My arms are still held in front of me from where I had been holding Piper. I slowly lower my hands to my side as I take a small step forwards and reach out to touch Piper.

"Piper?"

"Pipes?"

Why did I do it? Why did I give into the charm of Alex and allow myself to fall into a trap that I shouldn't believe? Why can it not be two over three. She tells me that she loves me, but why was she all over that woman on the dance floor? A third person seems to always be involved.

I can't kiss Alex any longer. All I can think about when I close my eyes is Alex and that other woman, all of those women that have come between us and the reason that we are in this position. A kiss doesn't justify how we got here, or how Alex is going to prove that it's me and only me that she wants. I need answers. Not Alex trying to pursue this intimacy further.

Fuck.

"Piper?"

I can't bring myself to turn and face her. Knowing what separates us and that despite our time apart Alex hasn't changed her behavior. Fuck her, and fuck her for calling my name. I am not going to be fooled by her charming behavior.

"Pipes?"

No. Don't do it Alex. Don't say my name. I don't want to hear it.

"Fuck Piper. Look at me!"

I feel her hand clasp around my arm as she pulls me to turn and face her. How dare she?! I can feel the anger and resentment building within me, all because of the jealousy that I am feeling and the image that I see of Alex and that stupid bitch dancing. I thought she loved me. This isn't going to end well because Alex is frustrated at me too. I can't bear to look at her. How does she have the audacity to come back to me? To my apartment?

"What do you want Alex?! Why are you here?"

I pull back from her hand, pushing Alex away from me as I take a step back away from her. Needing the distance between us as I feel the anger continue to rise within me. I cannot bare to be close to Alex through the pain that she has inflicted on me and the torturing image of her and that woman.

"Why am I here? Because I fucking love you Piper. Is this about Lorna's cousin at the bar? How many times do I have to explain that what you saw wasn't what you thought it was? That I am here to make amends with you."

Ha. I turn my body around to face Alex, opening my voice to speak as she beats me to it. Striking further frustration within me.

"How can you kiss me Piper and then be so angry?"

How can I kiss her and then be so angry? Because I am an idiot. Thinking that she could actually change. Fooled by the Alex Vause charm. But who am I kidding? Alex Vause, the badass bitch caring about nobody but herself and getting to put out. From what she said in the restaurant, to this evening at the club. I thought she could change.

"How can you be all over another woman and come back to me Alex?"

"What the fuck Piper. I could lie to you, but I have more respect for you. Tonight I could have easily gone home with any woman. You know when I first got to The Beat, I saw this drop dead gorgeous Hispanic woman go onto the dance floor. I started to follow her, like I normally would do before meeting you. But I couldn't. All I could do was think of you Pipes. I thought of you and what this means to me. If that's not enough for you, if my love isn't enough for you, then I don't know what I am supposed to do."

"Like that stopped you. Kissing that other woman that apparently Nicky invited. Yeah right. First the blonde we danced with. The woman on the beach… what next Alex? What did you have on the list tonight? Take the red-head back to your bed that we once shared and fuck her? Because I never was good enough. It was always about three with you wasn't it?"

"Fuck you Piper. Are you forgetting how this started? How you suggested the idea? Tell me Pipes. How did it feel when you suggested the power of three? When you were kissing another woman and encouraged me to do so?"

Fuck.

Now the tables are turned and this has backfired on me. What rights do I have to stand and criticse Alex when it comes down to me and what occurs when I am under the influence of alcohol. Under the influence. Fuck. I almost giggle because actually I'm quite drunk. I have provoked this myself, pushing Alex away from me. I only have myself to blame for the actions I have caused, and now I am here. Arguing with Alex over something that shouldn't be. Only I can make this right? But how do I get Alex to forgive me and take back the harsh words that have been said?

I had only wanted Alex to want me. Just me.

For it to be two, not three.

Now I am faced with it potentially being only me.

How can I find the words so she forgives me?

I watch as Piper falls to the floor, raising her knees to her chest as she buries her head in her legs and avoids looking at me. It's so painful to see, and I know that the words that I said are harsh. My actions have no justification and could have been avoided, but we are in this together and have been from the beginning. I did this for Piper and not for me. Actions and words have been taken too far and now we are faced with the difficulty of them coming between us. I can't lose Piper over this. Over something that means nothing to me.

"Piper"

I am praying that she looks at me. I am torn between reaching out to comfort her or giving her space and room to breathe. I can't stand to see Piper so hurt; it breaks my heart, more so knowing that I am unable to do anything for her and that I am the reason for the pain she is experiencing.

But she doesn't respond to me. Her head doesn't raise, her arms just pull her knees closer to her as she protects herself tightly on the floor and the sobs begin to come. I can't bear this any longer.

"Pipes." I move down to crouch down in front of Piper. "Please." Pausing, as I look to her with heartfelt eyes and hope that she looks to me. But when nothing comes, I take a move. Placing my hand upon the side of her leg gently, and I feel her body twitch in front of me. I gulp, witnessing how scared she is. Like she is afraid of me, it's not how it should be.

I lift her head slightly to look at me. Running my thumb across her cheek to clear the tears. But she is looking at me. Sadly. "Piper. I'm sorry." Why didn't I say this sooner?

She shakes her head at me, as she wipes away her tears. Lowering her head from me. "No. No Alex. It's me. I am sorry. I did this. I started it, because of jealousy. I was jealous Alex. But I…"

"Shhh Pipes. It's okay."

But it's not. Because suddenly I am surrounded by nothing but guilt, guilty for my actions this evening. My memories are beginning to fade back in. I had gone to the club in search of a cure for the pain in my chest. I got more than I bargained for.

"Alex." I can barely look at her. I feel her hand place on top of mine as she comforts me, caressing my hand back and forth gently and the faint shh's that I choose to block out. "That woman… the Hispanic girl you thought was so hot." I raise my eyes to see Alex's, as she looks to me lovingly. Without any judgement, she is there. Listening to me, not knowing what I have done wrong. "I-I… "

"I missed you Piper. I love you Pipes, so much. I was scar…."

"Al. That woman. I think I know who she was. I danced with her. The first song I danced to when I came into the club… this woman started dancing with me. I think that was her." I dipped my head as I felt the red flush creep up my face. Guilt.

As I feel Alex pull back from me, it's then that I know I have done wrong. That I have messed up and she isn't going to forgive me. I feel the emptiness and the coldness between us as I lose the warmth of Alex's touch and she leaves me. I can't look up. But I want to. I do. I raise my head from my arms to see Alex moving to my side. Her arm wraps around me as she pulls me to rest my head upon her shoulder, and I think she hears it too, my sigh of relief that she didn't leave me.

"It's okay Piper. It's not like I danced alone, either."

The guilt flush quickly turned to anguish. "Alex. I have missed you so much. I went out last night to try to drink away the thoughts of you. When I saw you dancing with the red head, my mind was so warped. I think I was literally losing it. You kept changing clothes and I was spinning around, confused. And then… then you kissed her."

I feel Alex fidget at my words, and her defense kick in, but to my surprise she stays calm. Raising her head from me. "I thought I had explained this Piper. If you don't believe me, take my phone. Text Nicky again. You've already talked to her once tonight. "

"Alex. I do believe you. But I can't handle the jealousy."

"Piper, if you can't trust me then why am I here?"

I am here to save what Piper and I have, not to argue and to explain myself. I can accept that I did wrong, but we both did the same. I refuse to pursue the discussion because my mind is set on Piper and what I want. I have no intentions to argue, so I am going to be the better person and walk away. If there is any hope of saving this, to prove to Piper that I can change my ways, then I have to be the better person and keep my cool.

Keep my cool and just walk away.

I stand to my feet, I can't look to Piper because I know that it will end badly, nor do I want to see her tears. Everything that I hoped would happen by following her here, … is the opposite.

As I make my way to the door and straighten out my clothes, I hear the sound of Piper's sobs and her broken voice. I turn my head to take one look back, to see Piper shaking her head at me with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Don't leave me."

A/N: This was a pretty intense fic to write for both of us. All we ask is that you see all three chapters through. Thanks for reading.