So, here we go. Another chapter.

Again, any suggestions and reviews are appreciated.

1

"Larry, we need to talk."

Larry sat down at the kitchen table.

"Talk about what, Piper?"

His heart fell to the pit of his stomach. His nerves were getting the best of him as of late; he just knew that something was going to happen. After the whole ordeal with Alex and now this fight, he did not know what to think anymore.

"Larry, you know I care about you. When I was in the hospital, I had a long time to think." Piper sighed.

She knew she would just have to be direct with him. No matter how much it hurt.

"I-I had a long time to think, and…it wasn't you."

Larry took a sip of water and swallowed hard.

"Don't do this, Piper, please."

His eyes filled with tears. After everything they had been through he could not stand to hear this.

"Larry, I need to be honest. I've been dishonest for too long. When I was in the hospital, I didn't think about you. I mean, I did but I didn't. You weren't my first thought." Piper rested her head against the wall. "I've realized something."

Larry wiped his eyes.

"Please, Piper. Don't say it. We'll fix everything. I'm sorry about everything."

"I don't love you, Larry."

Larry let out a yell. Piper had broken what was left of his heart.

"How could you do this me? After everything my family and I did for you. My father was your fucking lawyer. We were perfectly fine until you saw the fucking bitch. This is all her fault."

Larry had lost control.

"You know what, Piper? You're a bitch. You're selfish. You're fucking insane."

Piper lifted her head. She tried to relax. Losing her cool at Larry would not help the situation any. She could hear the hurt in Larry's voice. No, not hurt. Absolute agony. She did feel guilty, but she could not keep lying to Larry or herself.

"Larry, please, listen to me. I didn't use you. I did love you, but that time has past. I've had to come to terms with who I actually am. I realize I'm a monster. I do awful things. I hurt you. I hurt Alex. I attacked Tiffany. I turned my back on everyone. I need time to figure out how to atone for all of these things and staying with you out of guilt should be one of them."

Piper's voiced cracked a bit. She, too, was starting to cry.

"Guilt? Stay with me out of guilt? How could you, Piper? I did everything for you."

Piper's eyebrow twitched, Larry had crossed a line.

"Everything? You used my situation to get published and exploited me over the radio. Plus, said radio performance almost got me killed and turned everyone in here against me!"

"Well, you know what? You deserve whatever you get in there, Piper Chapman."

Piper heard a swift click and then a dial tone. Larry had hung up. She said and hung up the receiver.

Well, I guess the worst is over. Maybe he and I can make peace in the future. Oh, Piper, you just fucked everything up. Nice blonde lady, my ass.

She walked out of the communication area back to her cube. Taystee head popped up as she heard Piper coming.

"Girl! You're out! I missed your skinny blonde ass."

She jumped up and gave Piper a hug. This was almost of character for Taystee, but Piper was not complaining. She could use a friend right about now. She motioned for Piper to sit down. Piper sat and looked up at here.

"So, what's all happened since I've been gone?"

Taystee made a face a sat down next to Piper.

"Well, you just sit back and let Taystee tell you a story, and girl you're not gonna like it."

Piper looked over at her with a puzzled look.

"To start, I heard your girl Stretch had a little thing with one of Red's girls. The frizzy haired one."

Piper's eyes widened. It felt like she had been punched in the gut. Alex and Nicky, she did not even want to imagine it. It was Nicky and Morello. It was Chapman and Vause. Piper sighed. No, not Chapman and Vause. Chapman and no one.

I guess Larry was right. I do deserve this.

Taystee looked at her.

"Girl, you ok?"

"Yeah, just processing. I still love her."

"I know. Everyone does. I don't think there was anything behind it; I think they were just lonely. If that makes you feel any better."

Piper smiled.

"Go on, what else has happened?"

Taystee made the same face as before. Piper realized this was her 'bad news' face.

"Pennsatucky's girls have it out for you. They are out for blood Chapman. I guess Stretch and Frizzy Hair aren't your friends, either. Who knows what Red thinks? The Latinas, well, god only knows what they think. You shit out of luck, Chapman. You don't have any friends left."

Piper sighed, again.

"Tell me something I don't already know. So, when do I die or should I just take myself out and save everyone the trouble?"

"Don't even say shit like that."

Taystee and Piper looked up to see Poussey.

"That shit is no joke, Blondie. Sure, you may have pissed all your friends off but you don't go and off yourself. They'll get over it."

Poussey leaned against the wall of Piper's cube.

"Besides, since you live her we might as well look after you. I sure as shit don't want any trouble coming to my hood. Plus, I wouldn't mind smacking down those White Jesus Bitches. Oh, no offense. The white thing."

Piper chuckled.

"None taken."

Taystee stood up and hugged Poussey.

"Well look at you, caring and shit. Nah, don't worry Blondie. We like you."

She turned and yelled to the rest of the block.

"Hey isn't that right? We like Chapman, don't we?"

A string of fairly positive response was heard, and Poussey shrugged her shoulders.

"We'll work on that. Until that, Chapman, stick with us. We'll make sure you're ok."

Piper shook her head.

"Why? I don't deserve this."

Taystee stomped her foot.

"Jesus, Chapman. All white folks gotta have details? Just shut up and say thank you."

"Thank you." Piper said while grinning.

"See? That wasn't hard." Taystee smiled.

1

Alex sat in her bunk, knees pulled to her chest. She couldn't help but think about that conversation with Piper. She knew that she was going to get back with Larry and everything would be truly over. Alex would be lying if she said she hadn't of hoped that they're rekindling would spark another relationship. She loved Piper. She always had.

"You think too much. You give yourself headache."

Alex looked up at Red, who sat down next to her.

"Chapman was a good girl. Good girls make mistakes. Life keeps going. She'll come back to you soon enough. Don't fret."

Red patted Alex's knee.

Alex sighed.

"I don't know if I want her to come back, Red. I can't take these games anymore."

Red snapped her head over at Alex.

"Look at you. You a strong girl. I have never seen anything tear you down and you left little blonde girl knock you over."

"She just gets to me, Red. Piper is the one person who can lift me up or destroy me. Just one word from her and I'm either on top of the world or down in the ditch. My life fell apart when she let. I was mad for years."

Red smacked Alex in the back of the head.

"Listen to me. Everyone has that one person. That one person that can make us feel good or like shit. It's natural. You just can't let it kill you. Yes, she leaves, it hurts. You stand up and brush yourself off. If she comes back, she comes back. You open your arms and tell her you love her. If she don't come back you move on. I know you both stuck here together, but make the best of it, because you don't want Red's Couples Therapy"

Alex smiled.

"Red's Couples Therapy?"

"Yes, I'm bluffing, but shut up. You know what you want. Hold onto that. I have a feel that Chapman might be coming around."

Red stood up and put her hand on Alex's shoulder.

"Red, how do you know all of this?"

Red looked at her.

"Really? I'm Red, what else do you expect. Take care. I'll be looking in on you. I guess you could say, you're one of my girls now. I like you, Vause."

Alex leaned back and smiled as Red left. She was one of Red's girls now. Well, at least there was that.

1

Healy stood outside of the warden's office. The door was left slightly ajar. He knew what that meant. It meant 'get your ass in here now.' Which was not, a good sign. He pushed open the door and saw the warden standing over his desk.

"Healy, you're in deep shit. I know about all of your little shenanigans." The Warden pushed his glasses up. "Sit. We need to talk, and you're not going to like it."

Healy sat in the chair across from the warden.

"Sir, I had everyone reason-"

"I don't want to hear it." The warden picked up a file folder. "Let's see, you locked an inmate in SHU for 'lesbian activity.' Two things: One, this is a women's prison. What else do you expect? Two, and most importantly, YOU HAD NO FUCKING PAPERWORK."

Healy jumped in the chair when the warden raised his voice. The warden's face was red with anger.

"That is a lawsuit waiting to happen. The governor could come in a fuck this place for that. Oh, look, there's something else. You turned your back on an inmate fight. Wait, the inmate being attack was the same inmate you put in SHU: Piper fucking Chapman. This woman has become a thorn in my side, but you know what? You're a fucking bullet in my head."

The warden sat down. He reached in his desk and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it and inhaled slowly. He looked up at Healy.

"Oh, and fuck you I was trying to quit."

Healy's stomach was in knots.

"Sir, if I can explain. Chapman over stepped her boundaries as an inmate. She told the new CO to propose reopening the track to Caputo after I had told Chapman it wasn't possible. She tried to run the place."

The warden took a drag and exhaled at Healy.

"Where's your proof? What if this new CO just wanted to do it to benefit the inmates? You're full of shit, Healy. I get that she was probably annoying. From her file it says that she's basically a rich white socialite who got mixed up in drug running."

He glanced at Piper's file.

"Wow, she got mixed up with Alex Vause. Vause was the best of the best. They were after her for years. Well, you can't escape the law." He laughed. "Anyway, Healy you fucked up one too many times. I don't ask for much. You know I don't get involved."

Healy tensed up in his chair.

"Potential lawsuit for unjust imprisonment, civil suit for the fight, state investigation for the lack of supervision, and more. Healy, go clean out your desk. I'm going to make sure you never work in corrections again. Just between you and me, I'd rather keep Mendez than you."

Healy sat, stunned. Chapman had now cost him everything. He refused to believe this was his fault. If Chapman had just have stayed out of the way, everything would have been fine.

"Healy, get out."

Healy stood up slowly. He shook as he walked out the door. He walked down to his office, to clean it out.

1

Piper's eyes opened. She knew what time it was. She did not really want to get up, but she wanted to shower. So, 5 a.m. it was. She got her things together and made her way to the bathroom. She glanced around and did not see anyone else.

Her eyebrows shot up at the fact she may have had the whole bathroom to herself. She took a moment to soak that in. However, her dreams were cut short when she heard someone come in.

Piper turned and saw Alex staring back at her.

"This is just our luck, isn't it?" Alex said with a small smile.

Piper smiled too.

"Yeah, it is. Remember when we were out to dinner in Milan and we got into a fight?"

"Yeah, we both stormed off and ended up in the same taxi."

Both women smiled at each other. Alex slid her glasses up on her head.

"I just want to say, kid. Well, no hard feelings. I understand. Living with me is a free fall and I don't expect you to. Larry is a good man."

Pipe raised her eyebrows.

"Alex Vause, in all the years I have known you, you have never spoken like this. Well, for your information, I broke things off with Larry. Permanently. I need to reflect on everything I've done, and I realized I didn't love him. You're right, he's a good man, but not one I love."

Alex raised her eyebrows.

"And I've never heard you talk like that."

The two women smiled at each other. They both felt a sense of pride in the other.

"So, you a Nicky?"

"What? No. It was a one-time thing. Her "Christmas present.'"

"Is that what you're calling it now? You dirty slut."

Alex pretended to be shocked.

"She was just lonely after Morello, besides it was too involved."

Piper laughed like she didn't believe her.

"Alex, if you and Nicky are a thing-"

"Piper, shut up. We both know it's not true. I was hurt and I needed to get off. So did she. I don't love her. We're friends. I love-"

Piper held up her hand.

"Alex, I know what you're going to say and I can't her it right now."

Alex's shoulders slumped.

"I wanted to say it first. I love you, Alex Vause. I don't want anyone but you. I broke things off with Larry. If you'll have me, I want you back. Let me free fall with you. Cambodia sounds nice this time of year."

Alex stood, stunned. Maybe Red was right.

"Of course I want you. I never stopped loving you. Cambodia does sound great."

Alex stepped forward and pulled Piper into a deep kiss. They pulled apart.

"So, Pipes, think we can squeeze a quick fuck in the shower before other people come in?"

Piper smiled and pulled Alex into the nearest shower stall.

1

Well, I didn't exactly realize it was THIS long. I just got on a roll. It's 9 pages in the a little over 8 pages in the word doc.

Damn. I realize I may have gone a little overboard, but I just got the bug to write.

I really hope you all like the story.

I can crank out another chapter soon enough, I hope. I know the last part of this chapter sounds end-ish, but I want to keep it going for a few more chapters. (Ramifications of calling it off with Larry, Doggett getting out of the hospital etc.)

Well, you guys have yourselves a good one.