A/N: Hey, everyone! Thank you so much for the support, favorites, follows and reviews. You're all simply wonder and I hope you're liking the fanfic. Again, I'm still lurking around looking for a beta so if you know anyone, pls let me know. And review for updates!

Chapter Three – The Wedding & The Book

"Hands touch, eyes meet. Sudden silence, sudden heat." – I'm Not That Girl, from musical "Wicked"

STILL APRIL 12TH OF 2013, 12:47 PM – MELISSA VAUSE'S HOUSE, NEW JERSEY

"Alex, what the hell is going on?" Melissa reached her limit of confusion when she dragged Alex outside her sister's house, through the front yard until they were safe and sound in the quietness of her own place. Away from the madness of seven bridesmaids, three flower girls, a bride and her mother getting ready – besides the reporter and his lovely fiancé accompanying every detail, of course. The men involved in the ceremony were all getting ready in there, but also because of that, it was a way quieter place. She could see Alex completely lost in that whole madness and it scared Melissa how much having Piper around could be affecting her daughter's sanity.

Melissa remembered every detail of their relationship, because Alex always made sure to keep her mother up to date on everything. While they had been dating, the mother could swear to everyone that Piper was the one to Alex, they always made a great match in her view. Piper was spontaneous, funny, charming, caring; pretty much everything Melissa always wished for her baby girl. And it was undeniable the two loved each other and made a perfect couple. It had been a shock to Melissa when they broke up, especially because Alex never specified the reasons.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Alex snorted, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Melissa cursed between a breathe, she hated when her daughter started getting an attitude on her.

"Alex Vause, you better lose your attitude on me." She said in a severe tone and raised her brows, a thing Alex used to do in the exact same way. It was scary how much they looked alike sometimes. Shaking her head, Alex sighed.

"I was just caught unprepared, again."

"Again?" Melissa tapped her foot on the floor, impatient.

"Last week," she started "on Nicky's birthday, Piper was there. I didn't tell you because it didn't mean anything. But I was caught by surprise that she went, I've been managing to avoid her since we broke up. But Nicky and Lorna kinda set up that we'd be there at the same time and I'd have reason to stay, in case Nicky's birthday…" Alex snorted and looked away from her mom. "Anyways, we spoke, me and Piper. And it wasn't like we sorted things out. We decided to act civil in front of friends and shit. Well, I did, because she wanted to be friends. But I don't want to." When Melissa stared her, Alex shrugged. "What, mom? I don't. She broke my fucking heart." Giving up on that talk, Alex just moved to the couch and threw herself on it, seating loosely. "It'd be fucking easier if we only had to act up in front of friends and when her fiancée is not around. Why that idiot had to be friends with Gar?"

"Don't blame Garrett and the poor fiancée on the messed up shit you and Piper got yourselves into." Melissa advertised and sat beside Alex, who stared at her briefly. "I mean it, Alex. You never told me why you two broke up, but I know you was protecting me because of all that happened back then. But it's past, Alex. You should leave it behind you and move on…"

"Yea, she clearly did it." Alex mocked, rolling eyes.

"Oh, don't come with that now, Alex. I know how you slut around New York City, you're no saint." When Alex shot her with a loud and repressive 'mom', Melissa only laughed. "I'm no defending her. I'm saying she moved on with her life and you should forgive her for whatever happened and do the same, darling." Gently, she placed an arm around her shoulders and kissed Alex's head. "Now, let's go back and you help me serve dinner to the bridesmaids and everyone else."

"Fine." She replied, not very excitedly. As they were getting up, the front door opened getting both their attention. It was surprisingly the subject of their conversation.

"Oh, hm, hi." Piper swallowed shyly and tried to smile. "Hm, I'm sorry to interrupt, Alex, Melissa…" She paused, trying to remember what exactly she was there for. "It's just that your aunt told me to come here and get her dress. I couldn't hm, say no… She was very…"

"Hysterical." Alex and Melissa completed, nodding. Alex laughed and continued, "I know." Piper chuckled softly and smiled.

"It should be upstairs in your room, Al." Melissa told her. "The boys are dressing up in my room, so I wouldn't go there. Piper doesn't know the house. Show her the way, will you, dear?" She asked directly to her daughter, whose eyes widened up instantly. "I need to finish getting the lunch ready for the girls. You two catch up with me there." As she spoke, Melissa already directed herself to the door, moving between it and Piper and letting no space for the two of them to talk. "Don't be late." And then she was gone.

"She doesn't change." Piper commented, with a very found smile. Alex nodded with a deep sigh.

"Tell me about it!" She shook her head and then made a sign to the stairs. "Come on. I'll take the chance to get my dress as well." Piper nodded and caught up with her pace, moving upstairs with the brunette. "Ah, sorry about my aunt."

"It's fine." Piper chuckled. There was a pause while they walked the corridor, to Alex's room in her mother's house. The blonde only spoke again once they were in there. "I'm sorry about hm… You know, bursting like that in your family's party. I never though Autumn was your cousin Autumn."

"That's ok, it's a small world." Alex joked truly and shrugged. She stood a few seconds looking at Piper and then focused on their task, going to search for the dresses. Her aunt's was easily placed on the bed. Alex picked and passed it to Piper, "That's my aunts." For a slight second, their hands touched, to hold the piece away from the floor. Both felt the same electrifying feeling from the first time they met, but looked away instead.

"It looks like it's gonna be a great wedding." Piper commented, while Alex searched for her own dress in the wardrobe. Her eyes lurked around the room. It was very simple. There was a queen bed; two bedside tables—one on each side, carrying a lamp and clock on one side and a few books on the other; a wardrobe and a dresser full of picture frames. It was when one caught her attention.

Piper moved smoothly and silently there, to take a closer look at that. It was a photograph of herself and Alex, about seven years ago. If Piper wasn't wrong, it was in their first year officially together. It was taken by Melissa, in the old apartment the woman had in New York. They looked so happy together, so in love. Piper only wondered why it was there. All the pictures she had of them were hidden in a box in her basement and she suddenly felt bad for it.

"I like the picture." Alex voice scared her and Piper let the dress in her hand fall. They both lowered to pick it up and their hands touched again. There was a sudden silence when their eyes met. It lasted brief seconds, but for them it felt like an eternity. Piper was the first to stand up and Alex followed in a slower move.

"It is a beautiful picture." She agreed with a small nod, finally responding. "I don't think I have it." Piper glanced back at it. Felt a lot easier glancing the pictured Alex than the real one.

"I'd say I can get you one, but I don't know if your fiancée would like." The second Alex said it, she cursed herself for being so rude. Piper looked down, but shook her head.

"He doesn't really know about it." She looked up at Alex, feeling ashamed of herself for never telling Larry anything. It was stupid now when she thought about it, but she never felt like it was something to share with her future husband, as much close and open as they were with each other.

"Why not?" Alex really wondered out loud. But before she could apologize, Piper responded.

"I never wanted to share it. To share you." The blonde looked away, although her lips curved onto a smile. "You always felt like a good dream in my life, that ended very soon. And there are dreams you don't want to share with just anyone."

"But he's your fiancé." It was nice to hear something so found, but it got her confused deep down.

"I know." That's why it felt so fool, Piper wondered with a smile. Glancing over Alex, she simply shrugged. "It's kind of dumb and I'm ashamed he doesn't know. But at the same time I'm glad I can save you from dealing with him on a jealous level."

"I wouldn't blame him." Alex chuckled and her comment made Piper frown. "You're gorgeous, Piper. And years only did you better. I wouldn't blame him getting jealous of an old girlfriend. Besides, I'm not bad myself." A flirty smirk grew in her lips as spoke the last part and raised her brows suggestively. Piper remembered how her knees got weak when Alex was being a tease, and it was a great feeling after all. "Come on, before my mom comes back to see if we're alive." Alex went first and opened the door, waiting for Piper to pass first. She took a few seconds before actually forcing her brain to function and made her way out.

APRIL 12TH OF 2013 IT'S A VERY LONG DAY, 12:16 AM – AUTUMN AND GARRETT'S WEDDING RECEPTION, NEW JERSEY

They started lightening up fireworks when the party was in its middle. The ceremony had been incredibly beautiful. Alex cried halfway through it, while the other part she was just sobbing like a fool. Her mother and aunt were no different through the whole thing. When they said yes, there was commotion between the guests and while everyone applauded, Alex glanced at Piper. It was a very small second, but their eyes found one another before both turned attentions to the real stars of the night.

The party was another massive beauty. Between speeches, the dinner and dancing, everything was moving perfectly. Aside from some drunken friends and family members, the celebration couldn't have been better. Alex grabbed a glass of champagne and took some distance from everyone, to watch the fireworks from a quieter surrounding.

Her aunt had installed a little gazebo in the left side of her backyard, while the party was happening on the other side, Alex had plenty quietness. She just didn't expect to find Piper Chapman seating alone there, with a glass of champagne.

"Running from the party or stalking me?" Alex joked with a raised brow. Piper looked surprised over her, but grinned with her comment.

"I'm afraid it's the first option. Sorry to disappoint." The blonde shook her head with a jokingly tone. She wondered how they had reached that smiling and joking game with the past week's talk. If that was Alex's view of acting civil, Piper could say she was happy with it.

"May I?" Alex questioned about the empty space next to the bench Piper had been seating. She just nodded and picked up her standing glass, taking the chance to sip on the liquor. Alex did the same while she took a seat. Her eyes were in the sky for a moment. "I love champagne. It's like…

"Drinking stars." Piper completed together with her. She remembered how Alex always said that about the drink that had been her favorite for so many years. After they broke up, she stood a long time refusing to have champagne, even during New Year's Eve.

"You haven't forgotten." Alex chuckled, shaking her head slightly. She finally looked Piper. The blonde was stunning. Although her hair was way shorter from the time they dated, it was beautiful, had been softly curled. Her dress, loose, long and green matched her eyes beautifully. She was remarkable and Alex wished to be able to tell her it.

"How could I? It was your favorite quote." Piper grinned and sipped her drink once more.

"Lie." She shook her head and laughed. Piper caught in the air that Alex was thinking something naughty, which made the blonde suddenly blush. They both were laughing after, even if the words were never said; it wasn't needed, they knew it.

"You're hopeless." Alex shrugged as it wasn't her fault and chuckled. She looked straight again.

"I'm sorry I was an ass last week." Piper was surprised by her words and didn't have problem showing it. "I know you had the best intentions. It just… Wasn't the best day for that talk." Alex shrugged a little. "I was very pissed for the whole set up situation. But I didn't have to act jerk on you, I knew it was Lorna and Nicky and not you." Piper nodded.

"Thanks." She looked away for a moment. "I understand your point. I'm sorry I went all ballistic too and forced the conversation. I should have waited. It was the first time we saw each other in three years. I was very anxious about settling things right that I didn't think it could get them worse."

"We were both wrong… But I was a bitch." Alex laughed and Piper followed her.

"You weren't… Ok, maybe a little." They chuckled and glanced each other again. "So we're ok?"

"Yea, I guess we're alright." Biting her lip, Alex nodded. Piper smile grew a little bigger and it melted the brunette. If there weren't people around and some could be possibly looking at them, Alex wouldn't have thought twice about kissing her; Larry could screw himself, Alex wouldn't have wasted the chance if it was just the two of them. But it wasn't the case, so maybe on another time.

"Don't run from your destiny, it'll hunt you." - Unknown

APRIL 15TH OF 2013, 09:56 AM – VAUSE BOOKSTORE AT UPPER EAST, NEW YORK

Monday came too soon. Alex only realized her weekend had been extremely exhausting when her alarm clock went off on its usual 8am and she craved for more time in bed. After the wedding, on Sunday, she had helped her mother and aunt with organizing the houses to the normality and packed the wedding gifts for when the couple came back from their honeymoon in France. Spending time with her mother was always a goal, but the whole wedding schedules delayed her routine. It was about 1 AM when she came home, just to throw herself in bed with no shower.

Even managing to put herself together with a good, yet simple, makeup and fine clothes—after quite a long shower, Alex was still a rack when she came in the store that Nicky managed in Upper East. The blonde cracked in a tiny laugh as her eyes spotted Vause coming in the establishment. Her eyes heavy, the brows frowned slightly and a yawn crossing her face every once in a while.

She moved straight to the cafeteria inside the store and asked Lorna for her usual. Lately the tiny brunette had been helping out a lot in the cafe, though it wasn't her task. The woman never worked for Alex, she had some job outside that little bookstore world Nicky and Alex liked to live in. She was secretary to a wedding planner and although it seemed completely craziness and nonsense to the other two, Lorna was extremely good at it. There was something about her and weddings that was insane; it sometimes scared Nicky.

When she finished with a costumer, Nicky joined the two sipping in cups of coffee.

"I'm guessing Autumn's wedding rocked some asses." Nicky took a seat in the tall chair by the counter and greeted her best friend with a tap on the shoulder.

"Surely rocked my big ass." Alex nodded with a laugh after tasting on the new coffee blender. "You're really putting up with those coffee machines, Nichols. This shit tastes amazing."

"Gotta give the costumers what they want, boss." The blonde winked playfully. In that store, Alex gave Nicky almost a hundred-percent liberty on doing whatever she wanted. Alex trusted the woman deeply and she never disappointed her, so why not? The business was doing great and she knew there was no way Nichols could ruins things. There was a natural talent inside the girl.

"You can try and deny that you grew up in Upper East, Nicky. But it's inside you." Alex chuckled with a slight raised brow, as the best friend rolled eyes.

"I must agree with her, love." Lorna nodded, with one of her cute grins.

"Let's not go there again, both of you." She gave them stares and finally looked at Alex. "Ok, now tell us more. How was the wedding? Your aunt kept talking about you becoming straight to have one of those wedding too?"

Alex gave a loud laugh and nodded. "Eventually," she sipped on the coffee "she mentioned how I should do like Piper and get myself a man." As the brunette had been talking, Nicky took her time to sip on her lover's coffee and the shock made her spit it as fast as she took. "Fuck, Nichols." Thankful for being hit by just a few drops, Alex shook her head and laugh.

"How in hell does your aunt know about Piper and Larry?" The mention of her ex's current made Alex chill a bit. "I'm telling you, she's a fucking witch Alex." The joke served well to ease the air. But both Lorna and Nicky looked questioning at Alex.

"She's not a witch, though I fucking suspect of it sometime." Alex chuckled. "But she knew because Piper was there, with Larry." The shock grew more and Nicky said a 'holy shit' under her breath as Lorna took the coffee away from her. "Turns out Garrett and Larry are friends or some shit and he was making an article on their wedding, and his own that's to come soon," Alex said rolling her eyes "so he went as a reporter and a guest. And he took Piper with him."

"Jesus Christ." Lorna blinked slowly, picturing the three of them together the whole Saturday. And especially Alex having to stand the two of them together.

"It wasn't so bad. Aside the fact Larry doesn't know about us, yet he won't let Piper out of his sight even for a second." Trying to act like she didn't care, Alex took a sip on her coffee and waited a few moments to continue, enjoying the flavor of the drink. "But we talked. More decently than the last time, at least." Raising her brows to the two, Alex tried to send a message how fucked up their plan had been of getting them to talk. Just Nicky got it from her face.

"Well, I'm glad you two talked." Nicky decided it was a good time to say something she had been holding back for a while. "It's be terrible if you didn't speak to our author for the book signing tonight." She captured Alex's glimpse of confusion.

"She wrote a book?" Nicky circled the counter and captured a box that was standing behind it. She grabbed one of the books and passed it to Alex.

"They just came in today. But I had her scheduled for over a month. I intended to tell you last week after you two spoke, but that didn't turn out really well, did it?" She said the last part almost to herself. Alex was scanning the book with her eyes and Nicky and Lorna exanimated her. "You're not mad, are you?"

"No," Alex shook her head "I'm just thinking. I never knew Piper was the writing type. Maybe it was her fiancé… He's a journalist, or something." Alex placed the book down and shrugged, trying to show little interest. But the other two saw through it. Glancing one another, Nicky and Lorna smile.

"I think you should read it, sweetheart." It was Lorna who said, obviously, kind. She had placed a hand on Alex's arm and smiled softly. Alex almost felt joy when she looked at Lorna. The tiny woman was so gentle most of times. But she had seen pretty disturbing sides of her. The fact she was so sure Alex had to read it, brought her curiosity higher.

"What's in it that I should read?" She frowned, then raised a brow as she usually did.

"You." Nicky said and smiled. Taking the copy from the table, the blonde opened it and passed her eyes through the pages, looking for something specific. "Prologue. Alex had five different smiles." She read it out loud and closed the book. "I'm guessing her fiancé hasn't read the book if you tell me he doesn't know about you too." Nicky shrugged and placed the book down. Alex had been surprised and it paralyzed her brain for a few seconds.

"I'm guessing he didn't…" Biting her lip, Alex picked up the book again, holding it in a way she could thrill her eyes through its cover again. Inevitable was written in a large hand writing font, indicating it was the tittle. 'Piper Chapman' was in the bottom of the cover and a picture of a beach house was between the title and author's name. He throat tightened, but she turned the book around to see Piper's face and a brief resume about her. On the inside, there was a small description of the book.

A novel about two lovers… An affair that trespassed the barriers of conduct… Alex and Joanne wasn't expecting to fall in love… She read pieced of it mentally and closed the book again. As her eyes moved up, she captured worried looks from her friends.

"Alex, you're pale." Lorna noticed a little bit worried, wondering if Nicky didn't drop the news too soon.

"It's about us." Alex said in realization, almost to herself. Nicky just nodded while Lorna went straight to Alex, afraid she'd pass out or something. "Fuck." She cursed under her breath. It was impossible for her not to read it now.

"She doesn't know you know about the book." Nicky told her suddenly. "She asked me like a hundred times last week. She thought you was mad about it. Because she wrote it and didn't tell you. And I told her I hadn't tell you about the signing yet, because of what happened in my birthday." Alex understood, but she didn't know how to answer that, so she simple nodded. "The signing will be at eight tonight, Alex. You should really come."

"I will." And when she said it, Nicky knew she was being true. "I'll borrow this copy. Later when it's selling, you register I got this, ok?" Alex started getting up and picking up her stuff. "I need to—go." She wasn't sure about explaining herself, so she just smiled briefly and weird to them and left. On her way home, Alex texted people cancelling her appointments of the day. She had a book that needed to be read.