Larry sat outside Popi, trying to build the courage to walk inside when he saw Piper come out, a baby on her hip. He had blonde hair too, but there was no way she had a kid, right? He couldn't tell if it was the same color blonde from so far away. Maybe Pete and Polly had another. He knew they had reconciled, it was a possibility.
He watched her look both ways, then cross the street headed for the coffee shop ahead, looking down and laughing at the animated boy. He saw the love in her eyes when she looked at him. Did she have a kid?
x
As they walked under the coffee shop awning, thunder cracked. Piper stepped inside as it started to rain. She put Jack down and pulled her phone out. His hand wrapped around her finger.
It rang once before Alex picked up.
"Hey, Pipes."
"Someone's eager," she smiled at how quickly Alex answered.
"In more than one way."
Piper could feel her smirk through the phone.
"So what's up, kid? You call to hear my sexy voice? You could just walk a few feet and see me, ya know. One of the benefits of owning our own businesses."
"Actually, I was taking our son to get you a surprise. Coffee from across the street."
"Ya know, you lose that element of surprise when you tell me what said surprise is," she drawled.
"Ha. Ha. It started raining and we don't have our coats."
"Oh, Piper. What am I gonna do with you?"
She smiled, "Bring us an umbrella and a kiss."
"Just one?"
"Get over here. We miss you."
"On my way."
Piper smiled again, pocketing her phone and moving into the line with Jack. She knelt down next to him, pushing his hair back.
"You want some milk, baby?"
He nodded yes, then started sucking his thumb. Gently she pulled it out of his mouth. Alex didn't care if he did it, but Piper was worried about his teeth growing crooked.
She straightened out, asking for the coffee, milk, and juice. As she was loading her order into a drink carrier she heard a voice behind her that was familiar but she couldn't place.
"Piper?"
Turning, she saw Larry.
x
Larry followed Piper into the coffee shop. He watched her put the boy down, hold his hand, and call someone. He could only hear her half of the conversation.
Taking our son? So the boy was hers. He looked at him, suddenly compelled forward. When she started gathering her order he stepped closer and spoke.
"Piper?"
She turned around, shock obvious on her face.
"Larry?!"
He didn't notice her look away, towards the door. He was staring at the little boy in front of him. He had dropped his mother's hand and walked behind her, hiding behind her leg from the stranger in front of him. His arm wrapped around her leg, holding onto her jeans. His thumb went back into his mouth. Larry could only see one eye peaking out from behind her and the top of his ruffled blonde hair. He had Piper's sparkly blue eyes.
Larry was in a trance, reaching down to touch the blonde head when the boy looked up suddenly. His face broke into a huge grin and he ran out from behind Piper.
"Mama!" he screamed.
"There's my boy."
Larry turned to see Alex Vause bend down and scoop the boy up. Kissing him all over his face, making him giggle. She closed her eyes, hugging him close, breathing in his scent. His arms were around her neck, hugging her back just as tightly. It looked like they hadn't seen each other in weeks, not the 3 hours it actually was since they'd parted for work.
When Alex opened her eyes she looked at Piper. She could see panic all over her face. She looked where Piper's eyesight traveled and saw Larry Bloom.
x
"Larry?!"
Even though she was shocked to see her ex fiancé, the magnetic pull between her and her wife pulled her gaze up when the door opened.
Alex walked in pulling her hood off and shaking the rain out of her hair. Piper heard Jack yell for Alex and run from her side to his mother. She watched Alex scoop him up and her family get lost in their usual love affair.
Alex's eyes finally opened and locked onto Piper, like they usually did. She had always been able to read Piper and today wasn't any different, of course she saw Piper's panic stricken face and noticed the source of the panic... Larry Bloom.
x
Larry Bloom? Larry fucking Bloom? And he was standing near her family? What the fuck?
She immediately scowled, "Oh, fuck no."
"Alex!"
Alex covered the boy's ears and kissed his head. "Sorry, Jacky."
"That's your baby?"
Alex glared back at Larry and his question.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to live thousands of miles away?"
"I'm in the city for work. I heard Piper and Polly had opened a store. I wanted to see it."
"It's over there."
"Yeah, I saw Piper come in and wanted to talk to her. And I saw your baby..."
His voice trailed off as he looked at the boy again. How could he have missed the color of the blonde hair? It was Piper's. And the eyes. It was uncanny. Without thinking he reached out to touch the golden blonde locks that hung in loose curls on his forehead.
Alex jerked back holding Jack away from him and Piper stepped forward between them.
"Stay away from my family," she said in a low tone, making her words sound even more menacing.
She turned back to Alex and took Jack. Alex handed her the umbrella and looked back at Larry. She took a deep breath and scowled, trying to control her anger and language in front of her son.
Calmly she spoke, "I don't care if you want to talk to Polly. That's her business, but call her if that's the case. That's my business next to my wife's. And yeah, that's my wife." She pointed at Piper. "And that's my son." She pointed at Jack. "Don't come near them again."
