(Piper's POV)

I couldn't sleep. It was too dark, too quiet. I was in my old bedroom at my parents' house, I knew there was a nightlight in here somewhere. I hadn't used it since I was tiny but right now I felt it was essential. I rummaged through some drawers and found it lying there. I quickly plugged it in, it provided a small source of light which was a lot more comforting than the dark. I found my old stereo and turned it on with the volume right down. The constant noise was also comforting. I didn't feel so alone now. This was my nighty routine now and I accepted that.

Alex and I spoke everyday on the phone after she got my letter. It was short and sweet but still the best part of my day. I borrowed my parent's car when the day finally arrived. My stomach had constant butterflies all the way to Litchfield.

It felt weird going back, it made me feel sick and scared but I had to face it, for Alex, I knew it would be worth it.

I was searched on the way in, just like old times. I sat in the familiar room but this time at the wrong side of the table. It wasn't long before people dressed in orange and khaki started walking into the room however I couldn't spot her perfect face.

She was one of the last people to walk in, and I almost ran to her but knew it could get us in trouble. I stood and she moved quickly towards me. Our bodies crashed in a tight embrace, I pulled away slightly so I could kiss her.

"That's enough inmate." A guard shouted to Alex. We pulled away and sat down. I stared into her eyes for a few moments before speaking.

"Hi." I whispered.

"Hey Pipes." She whispered back.

"I love you so much, god I miss you like crazy, I don't know how to survive this Al, I need you." I burst, I let it all out.

"Back at you kid." She smiled. "We are going to be fine. This is only temporary. We will make it, eventually."

I hung on to Alex's words. I visited her every Saturday and each time it got better but at the same time worse, I needed to touch her, to hold her but I couldn't, each time it was harder to stop myself reaching out to her but I knew each week it was getting closer to Alex's release.

I lived with my parents for a few weeks after my release until I told them that I needed somewhere of my own. They told me my grandmother had left me some money when she had died and transferred it to my bank.

It was a lot, more than I needed and I was so thankful for my wonderful Grandmother. She was the only one who supported me in anything and I loved her for it. She was helping me survive right now and she didn't even know it.

The money she left me would pay rent for at least a year, if I got a small one bedroom apartment it might last longer. It meant I could move to the city and start a real job.

"Piper!" My father shouted up the stairs. "Come down, there is someone here for you to meet!" God knows who that is but I went down anyway.

"Piper this is a dear friend of mine from college, Harry Jackson, Harry this is my daughter Piper."

"It's nice to meet you."

"You too Piper, Bill has told me all about you!"

"Oh right." I wasn't sure what to say at this point.

"Harry is head of marketing for an up and coming business in the city."

"Wow that sounds impressive."

"Well it is pretty successful but I'm not here to brag. Bill tells me you need a job and I want to offer you one."

"Look Mr Jackson, I really appreciate you coming here but I want to be completely honest with you, I just got out of prison and I…"

"I know Piper, your father has told me. I trust this man completely and everyone deserves a second chance, I want to offer you that. What you did was foolish but we were all young once right." Harry smiled at me, I genuinely liked this guy, he wasn't judging me like all my parents other friends. "So listen, I want you to join my sector, I need an assistant right now but I'm sure you will progress to be much more. Bill tells me you have a college education, that's great. I'm sure you will be an asset to the company."

"I'm sorry, this is all a bit crazy, I mean are you sure?"

"Of course sweetheart! You will start on quite a low wage but within a few months after we see how you do it will increase and as the company grows so will our bank accounts."

"This is perfect, thank you so much!"

"Great, I take that as a yes! I will send more information and forms to you before you get started, we are located close to Times Square, will that be an issue?"

"No, it won't be a problem, I'm hoping to find a place in the city as soon as possible so taxis and the subway will be fine! Thank you sir! Thank you so much!" I couldn't wait to tell Alex the good news!

(Alex's POV)

I rang her at our usual time but she took longer to answer.

"Hey Al." I could tell she was smiling.

"Spill it Pipes, I can practically see your smile through the phone." I smiled thinking of her smile. She told me all about the job her dad had got her and her grandmothers money, I couldn't help the sad sigh that escaped my lips.

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing kid."

"Alex, talk to me."

"You are so lucky Pipes, I wish I had family around to support me like yours do."

"Alex you have me and I will support you in anything forever." I smiled at her words.

"Thanks babe. So when do you start?"

"I'm not sure, I need to find a place for us first, do you have any preferences?"

"Pipes I don't care as long as I am with you and we have a soft bed, food and a roof."

"Okay, I can work with that." I smiled at her.

"You have made it babe. I'm proud of you."

"It's only a small start."

"But it's still a start. You are doing good Pipes, I'm happy for you, for us."

I genuinely was so proud of Piper and I couldn't wait to start my life again with her. I was counting down the days.

A week later Piper visited as usual on a Saturday. She was practically bouncing out of her chair before I reached her.

"You are extra excited today."

"Okay I have news, I found us a place. It's small and cheap but I think with a bit of work it could be perfect. When you walk in there's a large open area with the kitchen with a bar to sit at and then just a sofa. There's not much to work with but there's a really big window with a window seat so I'm thinking bookshelves on either side then get a big comfy sofa and maybe some chairs to match. The kitchen is pretty modern but the wall colour is all wrong so I'm going to lighten it up a bit. There's only one bedroom but I didn't think that would be a problem, so one wall is all wardrobes, there should be enough storage for us both but if not there's a big queen sized bed in the middle with space underneath. The room looks good as it is, there's one wall that's like a reddish brown colour behind the headboard and the other walls are just brick but the bed is so fluffy looking. It's cream with lots of pillows which I think I will go for. The bathroom is simple and modern, black and white, there's a shower cubicle and there's also a pretty huge bath. So that's it really, I have my grandmother's money to pay for the rent but with this job I shouldn't go through it too quick, we are good for a while."

I loved listening to her talking about our place, it sounded amazing and exactly what I wanted.

"Fuck I love you." The words fell out of my mouth, the smile Piper gave me was the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

"So shall I get it?"

"Yes!"

"Good because I kind of already did…" She admitted looking slightly scared but I only laughed.

"Of course you did! You did good kid. Hey I have something to tell you."

Her eyebrows shot up and she looked intrigued.

"So I don't know if I should say this here but I need to tell you." She leaned in closer so I didn't have to talk as loud. "I spoke to my aunt yesterday and she has been watching my finances and stuff, so anyway basically all my money has gone and they took my flat obviously but she managed to save some of my stuff, she has my clothes, books and even some bits of furniture. But there's some good news, when I sold my mum's house I gave half the money to my aunt then I also asked her to take another quarter of it and save it for me. She still has it Pipes, she put it in a new account, it has been sitting there getting a little interest put into it but it's completely safe. It's not much but it will help."

"Alex that's great! I'm so glad she saved your stuff."

"Yea and the money is just a bonus." I said sarcastically.

"Well the money is good but there's nothing better than having your own things, I'm glad you aren't getting out of here with nothing."

"Yea me too I guess. So anyway there's more, I told her about you, she wants to meet you just so she can meet you and then to also sort my stuff, she wants to transfer it to you, all the money, all my things, is that okay?"

"Only if it is okay with you."

"Of course, I trust you with my life."

"Well then I will definitely meet her."

"Good because she is coming today to see me too. I told her to wait a while so I could see you first and then you could leave if not but she's coming any second."

(Piper's POV)

I was in shock at first, was I ready to meet a member of Alex's family. If she wanted me to then I knew I could do it.

"Right okay." I said simply.

"She's here." Alex said. She introduced us and I immediately noticed the resemblance to Dianne. We got on pretty well and she seemed like a nice lady, I liked her just because of how much she had helped Alex even before I met her. We talked about it all and got everything sorted. Her aunt and I would meet at the bank to transfer all the across to a new joint account that me and Alex would have and she was also going to bring Alex's things to the new apartment once I moved in, I couldn't wait.

I was allowed to move into my apartment a couple of weeks later. I didn't however move everything in straight away. I spent a week there decorating. I painted the walls, cleaned all the surfaces and then moved in the essentials first. Cal came round and put up shelves that ran wall to wall across the left side of the front room surrounding the large window area. I placed a few cushions there and it was a perfect place to just sit and look out at the city whilst reading, I knew Alex would love it. Her aunt brought her books and they filled around half of the shelf space, I added my own collection and now the wall was nearly full.

Alex's aunt had also managed to save a few vases and picture frames which were now scattered around. I hung a large picture of Dianne and Alex on the wall next to one of Alex and I when we were a lot younger. She had managed to save some of Alex's seat cushions and a large plush rug which I now placed in front of our new sofa.

The apartment was now a perfect mix of the two of us, it felt like it could be home, all I had to do was add Alex and it would be perfect.