They left Suave and moved to a small bar a little closer to Piper's apartment after fifteen minutes. Piper would have been happy remaining where they were for the rest of the evening, but Alex was keen to move on. That probably had something to do with the fact that Nicky took every opportunity she could find to lean on the bar and stare at her boss, grinning.

The bar they moved to was one Piper hadn't visited before. It was in the basement of a building a few minutes away and Alex was greeted warmly when they entered firstly by a burly guy standing just inside the door, then by a very tall, very beautiful, dark skinned woman behind the counter. Alex introduced Piper by name, but nothing more, and chose a table in the corner for them both after ordering a bottle of wine.

Piper followed Alex to the table and watched her pour the wine into their glasses, thanking her quietly.

"I didn't even know this place was here, yet I must walk past it five or six times each week."

Alex smiled. "They don't have a sign. The customers here have found out about it purely by word of mouth and that's the way they like it. They're pretty much always busy, but don't advertise their presence. Reggie – the guy at the door? He makes sure the customers are the kind of customers Sophia wants. Everyone else gets notified of their error in assuming this is a bar and redirected."

"Sophia?"

"The tall chick behind the bar. She owns this place. I've known her for five or six years, ever since she opened up here."

"So, this place is your competition, I guess."

Alex smiled again and sipped her wine. "I guess so, although we've never seen it that way. We're friends, first and foremost. Also, this place is about a third of the size of mine, so..."

Piper smiled. "Size isn't everything, Alex."

Alex smirked and raised an eyebrow. Piper sat back in her seat, watching her as she sipped her wine.

In contrast to the lively atmosphere of Suave, the ambiance was very different in Sophia's bar; the lights were low, a small candle in a blood red glass vase sat in the centre of each table, there were maybe twenty people in the bar scattered at different tables but conversation was muted and the soft sound of a piano drifted towards them. Piper couldn't be sure if there was a piano actually in the room, or if it was coming through hidden speakers. Either way, she smiled a little as she listened.

"Mendelssohn," she said, tilting her head to the side slightly as she listened. "I always liked him, although not quite as much as Dvořák. I always thought Dvořák sounded a bit more folky, more fun. I like Mendelssohn, but he always seemed more conservative somehow."

Alex widened her eyes a little in surprise. "I didn't have you down as a classical music aficionado."

"Oh I wouldn't say I was any kind of authority on the subject, I just like the piano. Well, I like the piano now, I wasn't such a fan when my mother made me go to lessons every week between the ages of five and fifteen."

"Ah," Alex started. "So you had to like the piano by default."

"Mmm. I hated it. I used to try and feign sickness most weeks to try and avoid going. I didn't enjoy it, but maybe because I didn't have any choice in going. I remember I broke my arm when I was nine and was absolutely thrilled because it meant I had a ten week piano vacation. Now, looking back, I'm glad she made me go. I can't play like this guy," she pointed up into nothing, indicating the sounds filling the air around them, "but I have a good appreciation for what it is and I do find it relaxing. Playing as well as listening."

"Do you still play?"

"Sometimes. Only for myself though, for pleasure, not profit. As with most things." Piper smiled as she said this, then lowered her eyes from Alex's gaze and took another sip of wine.

"What other hidden talents do you have?"

Piper grinned. "I'm not sure I have a talent with the piano, to be fair. I find it relaxing, but I'm not about to put on any public performances."

"Well the piano is just over in that corner," Alex tilted her wine glass across the table, indicating the direction. "I'm sure Sophia wouldn't mind you stepping in for a quick go when Anton goes on his break if you change your mind."

Piper shook her head, her smile matching Alex's. "I'll pass, thank you. How about you? Do you play?"

"I play nothing," Alex replied. "I'm completely tone deaf. I tried to play the drums once, but apparently I have no rhythm either."

"You should try the piano, you might surprise yourself."

Alex grinned. "I'd surprise myself if I ever found myself sitting in front of a piano, that's for damn sure. No way kid, not a chance."

"Oh but..."

"No buts."

"But," Piper began again, she reached out and took hold of Alex's left hand, her voice soft as she continued, "I bet you'd be really good at it. You have such elegant hands, such long, graceful fingers. I could show you how..."

As she spoke, Piper turned Alex's hand over in hers, examining it, her thumb gently stroking along the length of her middle finger. When she finished speaking she took a second or two until she looked up at Alex's face.

Alex's eyes were dark, her pupils large. For a moment, Piper thought this was because of the subdued lighting in the bar but then she noticed something else in Alex's eyes, a glint that she hadn't seen before. She noticed how her breathing had become marginally more rapid, noticed how her fingers had curled around her own and how her short thumbnail was now dragging lightly across her palm.

For a long moment the two women just looked at each other, until Piper bit the inside of her bottom lip and looked away shyly. Alex released her hand and took another sip of wine. She cleared her throat quietly before speaking again.

"So, no. I don't play the piano."

Piper nodded quickly, keeping her eyes averted and drank some more wine. More of a mouthful than a sip this time.

Alex smiled, watching her, then frowned as a thought struck her.

"I don't know your surname."

"Excuse me?"

"It just occurred to me, I don't know your surname. And if you're going to, ah, show me what to do with my fingers, I should at least know your surname."

Piper blushed a dark shade of red and just about managed to blurt out "Chapman. It's Chapman."

Alex watched Piper for a couple of seconds, then smiled and spoke softly. "You're very pretty when you blush, Piper Chapman."

"You're quite good at making me do that."

Alex smiled more and lifted Piper's hand, then brushed her lips against her knuckles and murmured "Let's go, Pipes."

Alex stood and Piper did the same, not letting go of Alex's hand. Alex led them out of Sophia's, blowing a kiss to the woman behind the counter as they left. They said goodbye to Reggie and made their way up the steps in the darkness and back out onto the street.

Alex squeezed the other woman's hand a little tighter as they set off on the walk back to Piper's apartment. After a couple of minutes of walking in silence, Alex spoke up.

"Do you like to dance, Piper Chapman?"

"Dance?"

"Yeah. It's where you, like, move your body rhythmically to match the beat and tempo of music."

Piper tutted and bumped her shoulder against Alex's. "Smartass."

"I did warn you about that."

"You did."

"So, dancing?"

"Yeah, I like dancing sometimes."

"Well, I really have to work at the bar tomorrow night, but Friday I'm supposed to meet some friends at a club in the city. Do you, um, I mean… would..." Alex huffed out a breath, then inhaled slowly, steadying herself before she spoke again. "I'd like it if you came with me." A pause, then, "If you're free." Another pause, then quickly, "And want to, only if you want to."

"Oh wow, I'd like to Alex, but I can't."

Piper could feel the slight but immediate change in Alex, the tension that became evident as she continued to hold her hand, so continued "The problem is, that would officially be a third date and so we really should be buying those suitcases instead of dancing."

Piper heard the short exhalation of breath that came from Alex, almost a laugh but not quite. "That was a dick move, Chapman."

"I know," Piper grinned. "But I can't let you have everything your own way, can I." She glanced across at Alex, then continued "I'd love to go dancing with you on Friday. Yes."

Alex looked back at her, then squeezed her hand again. "Awesome," she murmured.

A few minutes later they arrived outside Piper's building. Piper cast her eyes upwards towards her darkened apartment windows, Alex followed her gaze.

"So, Friday." Alex said.

"Mmm."

"I'll pick you up around ten?"

"Sure, yeah, sounds good."

"Good."

"Good."

A silence descended and after a couple of seconds Alex smiled a little and looked at her feet, shaking her head as she scuffed the toe of her boot against the pavement.

"What?" Piper asked.

"You."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You make me… awkward. Nervous. What's that about?"

"I make you nervous?"

"Mmm. Hesitant."

Alex raised her eyes and met Piper's. Piper bit her lip again, but took half a step closer to Alex.

"Don't be hesitant," Piper murmured.

Alex held her hand a little tighter. Piper's tongue darted out to wet her lips and Alex saw this movement and stepped in closer. Keeping hold of Piper's hand in her left, Alex lifted her right hand and slowly moved it to the side of the blonde's neck. She brushed her thumb slowly along Piper's jaw and stepped even closer. Her gaze flicked from Piper's eyes to her lips and back again and she let out a slow breath before leaning closer.

She hesitated for just a moment, feeling Piper's breath warm against her lips, then closed the remaining gap and pressed her lips against Piper's, allowing her eyes to flutter closed. She felt Piper's hand move to rest on her hip, then a moment later her grip tighten. Alex parted her lips very slightly and touched the very tip of her tongue against Piper's lips, feeling them open at once in response. Encouraged, Alex slid her hand from Piper's neck back into her hair and scratched her fingernails against the blonde woman's scalp as she deepened the kiss.

Alex released Piper's hand and moved her own up to cup the other woman's jaw. She tentatively pushed her tongue between Piper's lips and immediately felt Piper's tongue meet her own. She heard a small moan, but if asked who it had come from would honestly not be able to say.

When she broke the kiss a few seconds later, a thin string of saliva stretched between them from Piper's lip to her own, keeping them linked. She smiled slightly, then brushed her thumb gently over Piper's bottom lip, breaking the connection. She found both of Piper's hands were gripping the lapels of her jacket, keeping her close. Her eyes explored Piper's face for a moment, then she let out an unsteady breath before leaning in and kissing Piper again, softly and slowly, their lips moving against each others, unhurried, almost savouring the taste of each other. When they pulled away a second time, Alex rested her forehead against Piper's for a moment, then brushed her lips along the blonde's cheekbone.

"Al?" Piper's voice was soft, quiet, almost a whisper.

"Yeah babe?" Alex murmured.

"That saliva thing? Not hot."

Piper felt Alex's mouth form into a broad smile against her neck, then heard a quiet laugh. Alex lifted her head and looked at Piper.

"You're adorable, Chapman."

Piper released her grip on Alex's jacket and smoothed her hands over the fabric, watching her own hands move as she tried to smooth the creases she'd created away.

"Sorry about your jacket," Piper murmured.

Alex rested her hands on Piper's hips. "You're just trying to cop a feel, trying to get to second base so you can report back to Holly."

"Polly."

"Piper I was looking for a denial!" Alex grinned, trying to sound indignant but unable to keep the amusement from her voice.

Piper laughed, then rested her forehead on Alex's shoulder. They stayed that way for half a minute, silent, close, Piper's hands now safely around Alex's waist.

"Thank you for tonight," Alex murmured.

"No, thank you." Piper replied softly. "I had fun again tonight."

"I'll see you on Friday."

"Yeah."

"But I might call you before then."

"I'd like that." Alex could hear the smile in Piper's voice.

Alex reluctantly took a step back a moment later. She looked at Piper, smiled softly, then kissed her on the corner of the mouth before turning and walking away into the night.