A.N Thank you so much for your reviews it has come as quite a surprise to see so much interest in this tale just from the first chapter. Here is chapter 2 I hope you enjoy ...

"Mummy? Mummy are you ok?"

Piper groaned as the small voice filtered through her sleep addled mind and she forced her heavy eyes to open as she realised who that little voice belonged to. Blinking away the sleep and stale tears from her eyes Piper smiled warmly at her little blonde angel who was peering down at her with worry etched across her dainty features.

"Mummy are you aright? Why are you on the floor?"

Piper looked around disorientated she was lying on the carpet still in her dressing gown and Piper realised she must have cried herself to sleep after her conversation with Kubra the night before. Sitting upright she stifled a wince of pain as her sore bruised back protested at moving after spending such a long time in the same position on the hard floor.

"I'm fine darling I just fell asleep that's all"

"But why were you on the floor? You always say I have to go to bed when I'm sleepy, I'm not allowed to stay up in the living room"

Piper smiled at her daughter's pouting expression and she pulled her into her lap pressing a soft kiss to her head. Ignoring the difficult first question she answered the less complicated second statement not wanting to try and lie about her current predicament.

"That's because it's so much comfier to sleep in a bed my body's aching this morning after being so silly to fall asleep here"

"Is that what made you cry?"

Piper froze at the words spoken with such innocence and she nuzzled her nose into the blonde hair so like her own the calming fruity scent of children's shampoo easing her frazzled nerves.

"Yes but I'll be fine you do not need to worry my angel"

The amount of times Piper had said those words to placate felt like an unimaginable amount but she would not allow the burdens of her life to be taken on by such small shoulders anymore.

Ava Alexandra Bloom had been born into this world 8 years and 3 months ago in a rush of pain and panic. It had bee a long arduous labour, the umbilical had become wrapped around her daughters neck and the nurses where unsure whether she would survive. The first time she heard the howling cry of her newborn baby Piper fell instantly in love and she swore that she would never allow herself to disappoint the beautiful delicate creature that had lay in her arms.

Ava Alexandra Bloom her name had already been chosen months before, Ava had been picked by Larry after his grandmother and Alexandra had been Piper's choice. Larry had never understand Piper's reasoning for the middle name given to their daughter but he had not pried instead just smiling his once easy going smile and nodded along. Piper had not really understood why the name had popped into her head one day when thinking of what to call her unborn child. She had not thought about Alex in a long while the thought process was too painful and she tried to avoid it. But Alex kept appearing her mind no matter how much she tried to lock her memories away and once the idea had formed she could not shake it from her mind and so it had stuck. Piper hoped foolishly that with the middle name Alexandra Ava would grow up to be confidant and sure of herself two things Piper herself had wished she had been and admired so greatly in one Alex Vause.

The excitement they had both felt after settling on a name for their baby girl had been indescribable. That was when they had been happy, when Larry had been the perfect man to take home to her parents and the perfect father for her unborn child. He had been safe and predictable loving him had been easy enough at first he treated her like a princess. It was mundane, at times boring, but it was reliable and it fitted in with her mother's idea of the life she should be living. They had gotten engaged shortly after Ava had been conceived and Piper had eagerly accepted but had been quite happy with their long engagement. For some reason she hadn't felt the urge to actually become Mrs Larry Bloom and she would always make excuses for why they hadn't set a date, money, waiting until Ava was older, it was excuse after excuse. Still she had lived a content life until her daughter had just turned 5 and Larry had lost yet another writing job.

She couldn't pinpoint exactly when the drinking had started to become routine or when it had turned from just a couple of beers to a few tumblers of whiskey but she could remember the night he first laid his hands on her. Ava had been ill and so particularly whiney, not wanting Piper to leave her side and so had insisted that night that she got in their bed. After a restless night in which Larry had left their room muttering darkly for the couch Ava had finally settled at around half past 6 in the morning. As soon as she had appeared in the kitchen after just a couple of hours sleep Larry had been waiting staggering drunk and swearing in her face, blaming her for Ava's behaviour and calling her a unfit mother and an terrible fiancée. Piper had snapped and pushed him away from her and he had retaliated, hard, with his fists. That had been the beginning of the end from that point on Larry had beaten or forced himself on her, sometimes both, at least weekly and she had been too ashamed and frightened to leave, to expose what she saw as her sordid secret.

The turning point however had come 2 months ago when this time during a particularly nasty argument Larry had picked up his dinner plate and thrown it across the room. At the same time as the plate had left Larry's hand Ava had come barreling in through the kitchen door tears rolling down her face desperately trying to stop them arguing. The plate had missed her daughter's head by millimetres and it was the breaking point for Piper. She had been naive before convinced that once Larry found a job he would sober up and become the kind man he once was, who had swept her off her feet and cried when his daughter was born. But this hadn't happened and he had nearly caused harm to someone that wasn't herself and Piper was determined not to cower back anymore.

The minute he had fallen asleep in a drunken haze she had packed a bag, told Ava they were going on an adventure and not looked back. The first few weeks she received almost hourly phone calls they would start of remorseful Larry promising he would change, that he loved her and missed his girls. But by the end the words were once again abusive, threatening and he declared over and over that he would find them and when he did she would pay for taking his baby girl away from him.

"I don't like it when you cry mummy, that's what daddy used to make you do because he was mean"

Piper just wrapped her arms around Ava tighter cuddling her as close to her chest as she could feeling her little girl's concern warm her heart.

"But now we have Uncle Kubra you don't need to cry anymore"

It took everything in Piper's being not to shudder at the words spoken in such innocence. To Ava Kubra really was her kind hearted 'uncle' he told her stories while she sat curled up in his lap, let her sit on the big chair in his office and frequently brought her gifts of sweets in every variety. Everything her father should have done but didn't too wrapped up with his writing then drinking to care about his only child. Kubra had taken a shine to his blonde haired angel as soon as he had clapped eyes on her and he frequently made time for Ava which pleased her daughter immensely. At the beginning it had been a blessing to Piper, now she viewed it as a curse. Ava had no idea what her mother endured almost nightly to ensure that this relationship continued and Piper was determined to keep it that way.

"I know darling I'm just aching I promise everything's fine"

Ava stood up from her lap and wandered over to the kitchenette heading for the fridge. Piper stood and stretched following her daughter she flicked on the kettle in desperate need of a cup of hot coffee. She lifted out the lucky charms cereal and placed them on the counter in easy reach for Ava.

"There's no milk"

Piper let her head fall back and she groaned out loud turning the kettle off as she did, black coffee had never been her thing. Turning to see the crestfallen expression on Ava's face she suddenly had an idea and she smiled down at her daughter brightly.

"Shall we go and get pancakes for breakfast at Hyams cafe?"

Ava's eyes lit up a wide smile stretching across her cheeks as she nodded enthusiastically.

"Ok then you go and get changed while I just make a quick call and have a shower then we'll go"

Once Ava was preoccupied in her room Piper picked up the phone and dialled the familiar extension.

"Good morning Piper I trust you are well?"

Always so serious and formal it made Piper wince and her skin crawl.

"Yes thank you Kubra. Would it be alright if I took Ava out for breakfast? I wanted to make sure it didn't clash with any of your plans"

She hated that she had to ask for permission but it was part of the rules and today she definitely didn't want to cause problems. They both knew the word plans meant Alex's arrival and Piper could practically hear Kubra thinking down the phone.

"That will be fine as long as you are back by dinner time that way you won't be interfering with any of my own arrangements"

Swallowing down her temper that she could feel brewing Piper gave her thanks.

"I trust that everything is alright this morning Piper after our little discussion last night?"

"Yes I'm fine"

"Good because Mr Anderson will be joining me in the Casino as my guest tonight and he will be stopping by your suite afterwards"

Feeling the familiar feeling of desperation wrap around her body Piper forced the words past her now tight throat.

"Will you make arrangements for Ava?"

"Of course, good girl Piper I'm glad we are on the same page once again. Now go enjoy breakfast with your daughter and wish her a good morning from me"

Piper uttered a strained goodbye and put down the phone. By the time she had rushed through a lukewarm shower Piper had managed to push her dread at the coming night back to the recesses of her mind determined to enjoy her outing with Ava.

"Mummy are you ready yet?"

Piper rolled her eyes at her daughters impatience and finished applying her mascara. Pulling on her favourite fitted blazer she grabbed her bag and made her way out to the living room.

"Come on then poppet"

Like a blonde haired hurricane Ava barrelled across the room and flung herself at her legs, her head coming to rest at the base of her stomach, her arms wrapping around her tightly.

"I love you mummy"

Piper bent down and pressed a kiss to Ava's forehead before she cupped her little chin in her warm hands.

"I love you too darling now come on let's go and get some pancakes!"

Alex let out a huge sigh of relief as she took a deep breath of New York air. Standing on the pavement she grinned as she took in the sight of the city. It had been nearly four months since she had been here and to say she had missed her home town was an understatement. Flagging down a taxi she slid into the rear of the cab relaxing back into the leather seats gratefully letting her eyes fall shut, she was exhausted. Her flight had only taken three and a half hours from Cuba but she had been awake for almost 28 hours after having a small amount of trouble with a local cartel over Kubra's product. It had resulted in her making a hasty trip to the airport not really wanting to hang around on foreign soil for any longer than was strictly necessary. The only plan Alex had now was to go home and sleep for a few undisturbed hours before she went to meet Kubra at the hotel to discuss his plans going forward. She hoped that along with a rather large pay cheque he would be kind enough to give her some much needed time off while she recharged. Her body, she was certain, was pretty much running on fumes.

Opening her eyes she caught a glimpse of a tall slender woman with shoulder length blonde hair entering a cafe and for a moment her breath stilled and a pang of longing struck her to the very core. Shaking away such thoughts Alex scowled at her own stupidity and her minds unwillingness to let go of one Piper Chapman. Every time she saw someone who looked even remotely like Piper her heart skipped a beat and Alex cursed her own sentimentality. It had been almost 10 years since she last saw her ex girlfriend and Alex felt this was more than enough time for her heart to have healed from being broken. Her body didn't seem to agree with her and still to this day she had flashes of nostalgia where she craved the presence of the spritely blonde. Shaking her head Alex tried to blame this latest pang of want on tiredness and she was relieved when she saw her apartment complex approaching in the distance. All she wanted right now was a hot bath and her four poster bed anything else could wait until she was clean and had had a semblance of rest and relaxation.

When she awoke hours later she felt a hundred times better than she had when she had fallen face first into her pillows moaning in contentedness. Blinking blearily trying to rid the sleep from her eyes she squinted at her alarm clock and noted it was already half past seven. Her phone lit up on the bedside table and she narrowed her eyes as she read the message from Kubra telling her not to be late. Realising that she had only an hour until she had to be at the meeting she threw herself up from the bed and across to her bathroom grabbing her glasses as she went.

Half an hour later she was ready and on route to Kubra's hotel and casino. It was a front, a legitimate business in which he could hide his not so legal activities. The casino itself made fairly decent money and the hotel was occupied by Kubra's working girls and other members of the drug cartel. She had of course been provided with her own suite on the top floor alongside the boss but she hardly ever used it. Unless she needed somewhere to meet with her mules or to take back an evenings conquest she tried to return home as much as possible.

As Alex entered the casino she felt uncharacteristically nervous and she quickly signalled the nearest bartender to bring her a whiskey on the rocks. The first drink went down quickly and as she gestured for a second she noticed Kubra tucked away in the VIP corner. A sleazy looking older man was sat next to him and Alex guessed he was a new associate as she was fairly certain she had never met him before. Kubra caught her eye and he flashed her a quick smile in acknowledgement before he turned back to the man at his left. Half an hour passed and Alex glanced impatiently at her watch noting it was now twenty to nine gathering her glass she made her way over to the VIP entrance and smiled at the guard standing to the side. His name was Aydin and he had been with Kubra almost as long as she had. They had a difficult relationship blowing hot and cold and Alex knew it was because Aydin envied her position as Kubra's closest confidant.

"You're late Vause"

"Doorman duties again Aydin what have you done this time eh?"

He laughed a rather humourless laugh but begrudgingly stood to the side allowing her through scowling as she winked and smirked at him as she brushed past his arm. Approaching the booth Alex watched keenly as the older man excused himself a self satisfied smirk upon his features as Kubra gestured for one of the waiters to escort the man to the private stairway leading to the hotel.

"It has been a pleasure Mr Anderson"

"Oh believe me Mr Balik the pleasure is all mine"

The man she now knew as Mr Anderson winked and the two men exchanged knowing smirks. It was a look Alex had seen all too often and she knew that one of Kubra's girls would be receiving a visitor.

"Alex! Come sit down its been far too long"

"How are you Kubra, business doing well?"

She nodded in the direction Mr Anderson had left in and Kubra let out a bark of laughter and a wolfish grin.

"He thinks he has brokered an amazing deal what he doesn't realise is he could have asked for so much more. Just the promise of a few more nights with one of my girls had him eager to sign on the dotted line"

Alex grinned "You let him have a taste?"

"Oh yes now he's hooked practically twitching in his eagerness to get upstairs back between my blonde's thighs"

"Always blondes with you"

Kubra quirked his brow and smiled "I used to say the same about you"

"Yeah well things change" Alex's smile faltered and she looked out across the dance floor eagerly taking in the sight of an incredibly hot brunette in tight leather pants dancing by herself.

"She was never good enough for you"

Alex shook her head "Let's not rehash over the past I know how you felt about her"

"I nearly lost you to drugs because of her selfishness anything that happens in that bitch's life from now on is karma for how she treated you"

Alex felt strangely touched at Kubra's words even if she didn't whole heartedly agree with the sentiment. Touching her glass to Kubra's in a toast she eagerly knocked back her remaining whiskey trying not to think how even now she still couldn't wish harm to her blonde haired ex girlfriend.

"Come, let's go to my office we can relax there"

Alex reluctantly tore her gaze from the dance floor and followed Kubra to the lift clearly marked private. They made small talk as they walked until they were settled on the plush leather couch in the corner of Kubra's office.

"Well Alex I'm impressed you have managed to import a significant amount of product and money while placating the notoriously difficult locals. I'm truly astounded by how well you have done"

Alex smiled a cocky smirk the praise felt good, well deserved and she was pleased her efforts had not gone unnoticed.

"I'm thinking you deserve some time off, a break if you will. I don't want you to burn yourself out not when I have such high hopes for your future"

Alex let out a sigh of relief she had been worried that after such a good run she would be expected to jet off immediately to the next destination.

"I do not want you to feel as though I do not value your health and happiness Alex for I do, very much. After the last time you became 'burnt out' shall we say I do not want that to happen again"

Alex turned her head away in shame knowing exactly which period Kubra was referring to. After Piper had left her grieving for the loss of her mother and her girlfriend Alex had thrown herself into her work. It had all become too much, the work hadn't been enough to distract her from the feeling as though she was drowning in her own emotions leading her to dabble in the company's product. She had been a terrible addict and as soon as she had returned Kubra had paid for her to enter into the most expensive rehabilitation centre he could find to wean her off the product his business was made from.

"That won't happen again Kubra but I thank you for your concern"

"Anytime Alex now I apologise but I must cut this meeting short I have just remembered I have an important call to make"

"Anyone I know?"

Before Kubra could answer there was a timid knock on the door before it opened slowly. When nobody crossed the threshold Alex turned to look at Kubra and he stood slowly his eyebrows creased in wonder. A small blonde head popped around the door and Alex's eyebrows rose almost to her hairline as the small child shuffled into the room her head bowed.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting Uncle Kubra"

Uncle that one word caused her eyes to widen in shock and she looked at Kubra curiously. Her boss did not seem irritated at the intrusion in fact his face showed a gentleness she had not seen before.

"It's alright my angel but where is Devon I thought he was keeping an eye on you?"

Obviously relieved that she was not going to be in trouble the little girl raised her head and shot a cheeky smile "He fell asleep, he's so boring Uncle he doesn't understand how to play any of our games"

Kubra burst out laughing and he moved gathering the girl into his arms as he placed a kiss to her forehead.

"Well that just isn't good enough is it now, we'll have to do something about it"

Alex knew that Devon would be in for a severe punishment if Kubra cared even half as much for this little girl as she suspected. Lost in her thoughts Alex hadn't noticed that she had now become the object of the girls attention until she felt a curious gaze burning into her. She turned her head immediately noticing the bright blue eyes that captured her own. For a moment Alex was inundated with memories of another blonde with eyes the exact same shade of blue and her heart ached at the images that flashed through her minds eye.

"I'm Ava Alexandra Bloom, who are you?"

Alex looked from the little blonde to Kubra who was watching the scene curiously with a small smile playing on his lips.

"Alexandra Vause, but everyone calls me Alex"

Alex watched as Ava's eyes lit up with glee and her smile brightened considerably.

"We have the same name!"

Alex chuckled she didn't particularly like children not really understanding them or how to act around them but this one seemed pleasant enough.

"That we do"

"My mummy says that she named me Ava after my great grandmama and Alexandra because it would make be brave and confident. Does it?"

Alex looked confused and Ava rolled her eyes "Well did it make you brave?"

Kubra laughed "Alex is the most confidant person I know Ava and very brave you'll be just fine if you turn out like Alex here"

Ava looked at her closely for a moment before she turned back to Kubra "So is this your friend you were talking about? The one who's been away?"

Kubra nodded and Ava smiled "Kubra says your really cool"

Alex chuckled and Kubra held up his hands "That's because she asked me if you were like Aydin"

Alex snorted "No way Aydin's a boring bastard compared to me"

Ava's eyes widened at her swearing and she let out a small giggle.

"You swore that's naughty"

"I am naughty"

Alex pulled out her tongue and winked and Ava giggled again her eyes lighting with mirth.

"Can I stay here with you, just until mummy's finished working? I really don't want to stay with Devon and I'm not tired yet"

Kubra shook his head and the little blonde pouted her bottom lip protruding and Alex watched as the tears built rapidly.

"I have a telephone call to make I'm afraid my angel"

"I'll be real quiet I promise"

Alex turned her head feeling uncomfortable at the sight of the girls tears.

"I'm sorry angel you can stay another time. Now just give me a minute while I think of someone who can come for you"

A couple of tears slipped down the girls cheeks before she turned her gaze back to Alex and she felt her stomach twist anxiously as Ava smiled at her gently, oh hell no.

"Can I stay with you?"

Alex's mouth dropped open and she looked to Kubra for help feeling more panicked when he just shrugged his shoulders smirking.

"That's probably not a good idea I'm not really any good at playing either"

Her response did not seem to deter Ava and she jumped up onto the couch and peered at her intently "I'll teach you!"

Alex stood up trying to put some distance between herself and Ava feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

"Please can I come I'll be good I promise?"

"Alex..."

Kubra's tone was gentle in its warning and she sighed bringing up her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose knowing that she had no way of escaping the now inevitable.

"One hour then you come and collect her you know how I feel about kids"

Kubra nodded "Take her to your suite I'll come for her when I'm done I need to speak with the mother anyway"

"Who is the mother?"

Alex could not contain her curiosity not when the child could be Piper Chapman's double. Kubra however just looked at her with indifference and waved his hand as he spoke although he did lower his tone so that the girl could not hear his response filled with disdain.

"Just one of the whores"

Alex nodded in understanding and turned to face Ava who was looking at her pleadingly.

"Right Kid come on then I'll show you my pad"

"Pad?"

"She means her room Ava" Kubra swept the girl into a hug and pressed a kiss to her forehead "Make sure you are good for Alex don't make me have to tell your mother you misbehaved"

Placing Ava back down Kubra smirked once more at Alex his voice teasing "Now have fun you two!"

"You fucking owe me" Alex whispered the words through gritted teeth as she swept from the room Ava following behind like a lost puppy.

Once they arrived at her suite Alex unlocked the door and made her way to her couch falling into the soft cushions heavily. Light footsteps followed her and when she opened her eyes Ava was stood in front of her standing nervously, worrying her lip between her teeth.

"What are we going to do now Alex?"

Alex almost groaned aloud what were they going to do indeed.

A.N Would love to hear your thoughts :) ...