Thank you so much to each person who has taken time to read my chapters and to leave reviews. It really does help, especially since I'm using your ideas as fodder for this story. I truly am listening. Your words are greatly appreciated. BTW - pretty good at keeping this story smut free, right? I have an on-going bet with my favorite Brit. ~wink~

This is no ordinary love
it's no ordinary love
This is no ordinary love
it's no ordinary love

When you came
my way
you, brightened every day
Umm with your sweet smile
With your sweet smile

After a relaxing afternoon as darkness began to seep into the warehouse, Piper lazily turned over and draped her arm across Alex's torso. "I love you; do you know that?"

Alex lifted Piper's hand to her lips and kissed each finger. "Of course I know that. What kind of question is that?" She continued to kiss Piper's fingers and up her arm, pulling Piper closely to her. "And I love you." Alex turned Piper's wedding band on her finger. "My ring looks good on your finger. I still find it hard to believe that you are my wife."

Piper smiled at how adorable her wife was being. If only Nicky could see her now, she'd never hear the end of it. "You trust me, right?"

"With my life. I think that's been proven already. You are the reason I still walk this earth." Alex rolled over on top of her mate and began to slowly move her hips against Piper's as she stared into her crystalline blue eyes.

"Mmmm" Piper let out an appreciable noise. "Careful there tiger. We need to save some energy."

"For?"

"For your other surprise."

Alex stopped her ministrations and cocked her head sideways. "My other surprise? What, pray tell are you talking about Piper Vause?"

Piper giggled. Alex tended to have that effect on her. "Now if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise. Come on; we have to get dressed." Alex resisted slightly as Piper pulled her out of bed. "Don't give me that look now Al. It's a surprise."

Piper had Alex blindfolded as she led her into the freight elevator. "Piper what is going on?" Despite trusting Piper whole heartedly, Alex did have some hang-ups about not being able to see whether they were because of control or deeply seeded fear. "This blindfold is kind of freaking me out."

"That's not what you said in Thailand." Piper let out a short squeal as Alex managed to nudge her in the ribcage. Despite their busy vacation schedule, Piper had held true to her original promise to make sure Alex was dutifully rewarded for complying with her demands and the busy schedule. And what rewards they were!

Alex playfully pushed Piper. As the elevator ground to a halt, Piper gently grasped Alex's elbow with one hand and placed her other around Alex back. She guided Alex though the empty gallery showroom and through the open, newly installed French doors to the courtyard. She positioned Alex where she felt would have maximum effect and stood silent for a few moments. "Close your eyes Alex." She whispered. "Are they closed?" Alex nodded. Piper removed the blindfold. "Better late than never my love. Here is your wedding present. Open your eyes."

Alex opened her eyes and slowly looked around. She was silent as she took it all in. In front of her was a shiny, metal sculpture of two women with interwoven bodies. Flowers of various kinds lined the perimeter. Piper slowly turned Alex around so she could take it all in. There were three curved benches for seating around the perimeter. On the wall of the building was a mural of the rose tattoo that stretched up Alex's right arm. There were low flood lights which could change colors. Right now they were a soft red and pointed to spotlight the tattoo mural on the wall. Alex grasped Piper's hand and began to walk around. The flowers were various colors of roses interspersed with white and yellow daffodils to represent both Alex and Piper. There were even some garden variety daffodils of pink and orange to match the wide colorations of the roses.

Alex turned to Piper. The tears pooling in her eyes spilled out at she looked at her wife. She grasped Piper's face and gently kissed her. "Babe." Her voice was soft. "Besides you marrying me, this is the most special thing anyone has ever done for me. I don't know how you pulled it off but thank you." She pulled Piper into her chest.

Neither women noticed the back wooden gates open. Soft clapping started as a group of people came in. The shock on Alex's face was priceless as she recognized the group walking in. Of course there was Michael and Nicky. But also with them were Lorna and Flaca. Alex released Piper and ran over to her friends. "My girls!" Alex's shouts echoed off of the brick perimeter walls. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Nicky was glowing like the mother of a newborn child. "This is my crew Vause. We planned out and installed the landscaping and electrical. Of course, electrical is my main gig. This landscaping stuff is my side business." All four women laughed.

Alex hugged Lorna and Nicky together. When she got to Flaca, Flaca just rolled her eyes. "You got ou some nice digs there Vause. Where you are… this is like, next level crazy. Good life." She nodded her head in approval. Alex and the crew took another tour around the courtyard with Nicky pointing out the finer details of the design she had worked out with Michael.

Michael came over and wrapped his arm around Piper who was standing alone, watching the reunion. "It came out well dear. I think she likes it."

Piper wiped away her tears. "Yes, I think she does."

A motion near the back gates caught Piper's attention. She caught her breath and tensed up when she realized someone was standing there. Michael kept his arm around Piper. "It's okay. Just watch."

Soon it became apparent that it was a black woman dressed in baggy gardener clothes. Her hair was pulled into nubs protruding all around her head. She cautiously approached Alex with her head slightly lowered. Nicky saw the woman from her peripheral vision, placed her hands on Alex's shoulders and turned Alex slightly so she could see the approaching woman whose hand was now raised to the side of her head as if she was about to strike herself.

Alex's eyes widened as she recognized the former Litchfield inmate. "Cra… Suzanne. Hi." Suzanne shook her head as she looked at Alex. Then she looked around at the flowers. "Roses, Suzanne, and daffodils."

Suzanne nodded. "Yeah I was here." Nicky nodded her head in encouragement. "Dandelion?" Suzanne looked around the courtyard with questioning eyes.

"No Suzanne. No dandelion. She was a weed. And she's gone."

Suzanne thought for a moment. "She was not a nice person Vause. She's a mean person. And I used to think she was a yellow dandelion, but she's really all dried up with the puff blown off."

Alex smiled. "I agree Suzanne. You won't find dandelion here, ever. But there's someone I want you to meet." Alex motioned Piper and Michael over. "Suzanne this is Piper. Piper Vause. She's my wife." She showed Suzanne their rings.

Piper smiled warmly and reached out her hand to shake Suzanne's. "It is certainly nice to meet you Suzanne. Do you work for Nicky, I mean Nichols?"

Suzanne smiled and nodded her head. "She lets me shovel dirt and sometimes I get to plant the flowers."

Piper kept hold of Suzanne's hand and said, "Well then, why don't you give me a tour? Show me what all you did." Piper reached up and pecked Alex briefly. "We'll be back."

Alex just looked at Nicky. "You brought Crazy Eyes here?"

"Vause, she's actually one of my best workers. She really is."

"Warren is pretty cool now Vause. She's different." Flaca agreed with Nicky. "Just give her a chance."

"Lorna, Flaca – that's Piper, the woman who has successfully tamed our Vause. I'm sure you will get to meet her later. Meanwhile let's get this party started."

The courtyard lights were brought up and music turned on. A cooler appeared from somewhere and everyone helped themselves to the beer. Nicky spent some additional time explaining the features of the electronic system then everyone just let loose and partied.

Eventually Piper and Suzanne finished their vast tour and returned to the group. While wary at first, Alex relaxed as she realized that this was not the Crazy Eyes she had known in prison. She had grown and matured. In fact, they all had. Alex looked around at her friends and realized just exactly how many people there were from her past that actually cared about her. She felt quite blessed.

As the night drew on and the alcohol flowed freely, the stories began. Much to Alex's chagrin, the stories from prison caught up with her as the women relieved the funnier times at Litchfield. Piper also told stories of Alex's fear of heights when zip-lining in Costa Rica and her disgust at Piper's mention of monkey hunting. Nothing was said of Fahri, Kubra, or Aydin. Only the good memories were shared. The women sat and drank and visited well into the night.

Cabs had been called to ensure their guests were tucked safely in their hotel rooms. Piper and Alex were exhausted as they fell into bed. "No rest for the weary, huh?" Alex pulled Piper close into her. "Thank you Pipes. You are sure full of surprises these days."

Piper just smiled. She was delighted that she'd been able to pull a few over on Alex. The courtyard was gorgeous. Even more special, the work had been done by the hands of her friends, friends who obviously loved and respected Alex. Finally Piper had given Alex something she could have never given herself.

Alex awoke the next morning to the fragrant aroma of Costa Rican coffee brewing upstairs. Having the trap door open left just the right amount of breeze to carry in the odors to help with waking someone up with smells like bacon and coffee. Alex pulled on some clothes and climbed the stairs. Piper was standing in the kitchen with her back to Alex, dressed simply in a long shirt which came down to right above her knees. Alex snuck up behind her, wrapped her arms around her and kissed her solidly on the neck. "Mmmm you look good. And it smells good in here. Is the coffee ready?"

Piper turned around with a steaming mug and offered it to Alex. "I was just about to come down and wake you up. But this is okay this way, too. Good morning."

"Good morning back to you." Alex settled on the barstool and let out a groan. "Why did you let me drink so much?"

Piper chuckled. "Perhaps because you were having fun with your friends? You never really let loose, and it was nice to see you being happy."

"I'm always happy with you. The friends – they were just bonuses." Alex laid her head on her arm. "But now I have to deal with this fucking headache. Then we have to go clean the courtyard. I'm sure that place is a pigsty after all the alcohol and food we went through last night."

Piper patted Alex gently on the head. "I don't think we have to worry about that. Something woke me up this morning. Come look." She pulled Alex up and guided her to the back so they could look out into the courtyard. A few barrels of trash were the only evidence of last night's party. A large push broom stood next to the bar. But the place was spotless. Alex was perplexed. "Look over there." Piper pointed to the far corner of the courtyard. A figure was bent down, mussing with plants and rearranging leaves. The trademark braids protruding from her head gave Suzanne away. "I woke up this morning to noises down there. When I looked, she was busily cleaning up everyone's mess."

Alex shook her head as a broad smile crossed her face. "Crazy Eyes was on the maintenance crew when we were locked up. She always loved to clean. I guess some things never change. Thanks for spending time with her last night. She wasn't on good terms with my ex. Do you mind if I invite her up for coffee?"

"Of course not. Let me get dressed."

Alex entered the courtyard softly as to not startle the working woman. "Suzanne." Suzanne's muscles tightened and she slowly stood up and faced Alex. "Suzanne, thank you for cleaning up down here. Have you had breakfast? Coffee at least?" Suzanne shook her head side to side. "Well things are looking pretty good here. Come up and have some coffee. My wife makes the best coffee. It beats the fuck out of prison coffee."

Suzanne looked behind her and put her hands on her chest as if to say, "Me?"

"Yes you. Come on up."

So Crazy Eyes. What's her story here? Do you want her to stay as a character here? Any story lines for her if so? I have a few I'm toying with. I also have another character or two I'm going to bring in.

Carol's chapter is coming. I just have a few more things to handle with the crew!