-X-

Two months later:

Things had almost gone back to normal for Alex and Piper, at least, as normal as they could have. Alex had regained a bit of her confidence back, but she still wasn't tough Alex that had left for Cuba. Piper had gone back to work, just for a sense of normality. Neither of them had heard anything from the new ring, and Kubra hadn't called either. Both of them were guessing that it was because Kubra had heard about the incidents involving the other ring, and that he probably didn't want to get involved. They continued settling into their new apartment, setting books into their proper places on the shelves, placing picture on the walls.

Alex was startled awake in the early hours of a Sunday morning by the shrill ring of their phone. Piper reached over and grabbed the wireless hand-set, bringing it to her ear and clicking it to life. "-Hello?" she muttered. Alex leaned towards Piper, trying to listen to the conversation that was going on. She watched as Piper nodded softly, listened as she murmured a soft "I'll be there," and then hung up. She threw the phone softly onto the carpeted floor and ran her hands through her hair, shaking her head and sighing loudly.

Alex rested her head on crossed arms, softly reaching out a hand and brushed Piper's hair aside. "They finally need you for something?" she whispered. Piper nodded. Alex's eyes searched Piper's face, trying to understand. "You want to tell me?" she asked softly. Piper shook her head. Alex bit her lip and let her fingers trail down Piper's cheek and onto the pillow underneath her. She nodded softly, rolling onto her side, facing away from Piper. She bit her lip, curling her knees up to her chest and sighing softly.

Piper looked over at Alex as she rolled over, instantly regretting her decision not to tell Alex what was going on. She rolled over closer to Alex, wrapping her arms around Alex's waist, brushing the black hair away from her neck and pressing soft kisses against the other woman's neck. Alex tensed up slightly and crossed her arms. Piper pulled away and rested her fingers against Alex's shoulder, urging her to roll to face her. "Alex, come on." She pleaded softly.

Alex sighed quietly and rolled to face Piper. She sighed and looked away from Piper. "I – I just want things to go back to normal." She murmured.

Piper sighed and nodded. They'd had that exact conversation time and time again, Alex voice her worries over and over about the flimsy plan that Piper had, and Piper kept assuring her that it would work. "I know." Piper responded. "But this is just temporary." She whispered. "You know that, right? We're going to get past this." She whispered.

Alex shook her head. "I don't know." She whispered. "Piper, they're bigger than Kubra, stronger. I don't think that they'd let you live even if you got enough to take the whole ring down with you. This thing is so much bigger than I'm used to." She whispered. Alex sighed once again and looked up into Piper's eyes. "Piper please," she pleaded. "I'm so scared." She whispered.

Piper shook her head. "So then what do you suggest we do?" she said, feeling her temper rising to the surface. "We've been through this over and over again." She said. She sat up abruptly and rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand. "This is our only way out of this." She said, looking down at Alex.

Alex sat up, crossing her legs and shaking her head. "This isn't our only option." She murmured.

Piper scoffed and shook her head. "What, run?" she bit her lip and shook her head sharply. "Alex, we can't. You said it yourself! They're too big, they'd find us anyways." She said.

Alex shook her head and looked away. "Doesn't mean we couldn't try." She hissed darkly.

Piper shook her head and stood up, pacing back and forth. "Listen," she said, leaning with her hands on the edge of the bed. "This is our best option. Our safest option." She said firmly. Alex crossed her arms and shook her head. Piper shook her head and sat back down on the edge of the bed. "Alex, please, just listen to me. This is the only way I can keep you safe now. You have to do what I'm telling you." Alex let out a sharp breath and shook her head. She rolled back onto her side, her back facing Piper. Piper shook her head in return and sighed loudly. "Fine." She murmured. "I'll be in the guest room." She closed the door behind her, making her way down the hall and dropping rather ungracefully onto the bed. She sighed loudly and covered her head with one of the pillows, trying to get a few more hours of sleep before she met with the new ring to find out what they wanted her to do.

-X-

Piper's sleep was filled with images of guns and flying bullets, the sounds of screams, Alex pleading for her help. She woke with a start, jumping up slightly and calling out for Alex. She sighed loudly, laying back on the bed and running her hands through her hair. She cleared her throat and sat up once again, quickly throwing on some spare clothes that she hadn't managed to unpack and turning on the coffee maker. The conversation from the early morning ran through Piper's head, and in her mind's eye, she saw Alex laying back down and turning her back on her. Piper admitted to herself that it had stung, seeing Alex turn away from her.

She looked over to their bedroom door, noting that the door was still closed. She padded towards it, trying the doorknob, finding it locked. She knocked softly on the door, listening intently to see if she could hear anything on the other side. She knocked again and called through the door. "Alex?" she murmured. "Alex, please open the door." She said. Nothing. "Alex, listen, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we got into this mess, and I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you from this, but I'm trying my best to protect you from it now." She said. Nothing. Piper sighed and let her hand drop from the door. "Alex I'm leaving now. I'll see you in a while." She called.

Still nothing. She sighed and put on her shoes, making her way out to her car, her brain feeling fuzzy and pre-occupied. She drove to the address she was given, parking a few blocks away as she had been instructed and walked to a small park that was a few minutes away, meeting with the woman she had first met.

The woman gave a small smile and stuck out her hand. "I never properly introduced myself." She said. "Evette." She said.

Piper raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "What am I doing here?" she asked.

Evette sighed and dropped her hand. "For now, you're just going to observe. Once we think you're ready, you'll start as the muscle, then work your way up to my current position. Negotiator. At least, that's what we call it." She explained. Piper nodded once and crossed her arms. "Just stand back and watch." Evette explained.

Piper watched as another car rolled up and the business deal began.

-X-

Piper locked the front door behind her and slumped against it. This was going to be more work than she thought. They obviously didn't trust her, and it would definitely take them a long while before they would. She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands and sighed loudly. She pulled off her shoes and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and pouring herself a generous amount in a tall glass. She downed it quickly, before noticing the door of the bedroom was still closed. She walked over to it and tried the knob again. Still locked. She banged on the door hard, calling through it. "Alex? Alex! Alex, open the door!" She tried the knob with two hands, not feeling any give. She took a few steps back and kicked at it a few times before it swung open.

Piper looked around the room, searched the closet, and then the bathroom, not finding any sign of her. She glanced over at the bed, seeing a white piece of paper folded and placed neatly on her pillow. She picked it up and opened it with shaking hands, fearfully reading it.

'Piper-

By the time you get this, I'll be half way to my destination. I can't be under that ring. Not forcefully. You wouldn't be able to keep me safe. Your plan wasn't going to work. I'm sorry you ever got involved in this.

I wish I could've been stronger for you. I still love you Piper.

I'm sorry.

-Alex'

Piper dropped to the floor, staring at the note. She was gone.

-X-

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