Piper and Larry walked hand in hand down the busy city street. Larry chatting cheerily away as Piper smiled and pretended to listen. It was their anniversary and Larry was taking Piper to the cinema. Usually Piper was giddy when the milestone came around every year. They celebrated meeting each other and falling in love, they talked about the past and the future, and how they hoped their lives would be together. Only this year was different, Piper had been woken up to the usual breakfast in bed before work, she ooh and ahhhed politely over the gifts Larry had bought her, books she had been wanting to read and her favourite perfume. She had arrived at work to the predictable bouquet of roses and smiled at her colleagues who congratulated her on another year with Larry. Yet Piper felt like a robot going through the motions of the day, she felt terrible for not appreciating the things Larry had done and gotten for her but her mind was on the next day. Her date with Alex. When she thought about Saturday night Piper shined, she became excited instantly it felt like it pulsed out off and around her. The people around her thought it was to do with her anniversary and Piper let them believe that, but Piper had thoughts of only one person all that day, and that person was Alex Vause. Even thinking her name made Piper smile.

"Here we go" Larry said ushering Piper through the revolving door of the cinema.

"What are we going to watch again?" Piper asked sure she had asked before but forgotten.

"Die Hard" Larry answered grinning widely.

"Oh" Larry heard Piper's disappointment and turned towards her.

"Don't you want to watch it? I asked before we left and you said ok" Larry said confused by Pipers apparent change of mind.

Piper had no memory of Larry asking to watch the action movie and a wave of guilt swept through her as she watched Larry deflate before her eyes. Piper stepped towards Larry and stroked his chest with her hands, looking him in the eye and smiling.

"Of course I do sweetie, I forgot that's all" Piper placed her lips gently on his giving him a slight kiss and pulled away.

"You've been distracted since you came home from work" Larry stated.

"Everything ok?" Piper nodded.

"Just work stuff, but I'm here now with you" Piper said to her boyfriend determined to shake Alex from her brain for a few hours so she could at least try and concentrate on her night with Larry.

Piper paid for the tickets as Larry bought snacks and drinks; they headed into the dimly lit theatre finding seats in the middle of the rows of chairs. They sat together and placed their goodies and their feet.

"This is going to be great" Larry whispered to Piper as the lights went out signalling the start of the movie.

Piper nodded her head in fake excitement while shoving popcorn into her mouth. She leant back in her seat and watched as images flickered across the screen not taking in anything that was happening. Her thoughts had once again wondered to Alex, Piper sat and relived her time at Alex's apartment. How Alex had touched her, how Alex had felt beneath her fingers, her scent, her taste, the sound of her cumin! Everything that was Alex bombarded Piper as she sat in the dark theatre next to her boyfriend. Larry turned to Piper and looked at her worriedly.

"Are you ok Pipes? You're breathing really funny" Larry reached out and placed his hand on Piper's thigh making her jump at the contact, Larry frowned at Piper.

"I'm fine, I need to pee" Piper whispered placing her hand over Larry's and lifting it off of her thigh.

Larry smiled his worry gone at Piper's words.

"Hurry back it's getting to the best part" Piper nodded as she stood and ducked trying not to block the view for the people sitting behind them.

She hurriedly walked to the back of the theatre to the toilets, she burst through the toilet door slamming it loudly back against the wall, Piper rushed to the sink and turned on the tap, cupping water into her hands she splashed it onto her face. She let the water drip from her face as she stood and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked flustered, her cheeks were rosy red and her eyes appeared glazed. If she didn't know the reason why she looked like that she too would have thought something was wrong with her, but she did know remembering Alex fucking her spread heat throughout Piper's body, remembering made her want it again. Now! Piper splashed her face again with water and dried her face with paper towels from the dispenser. Piper chucked the wet paper into the trash whilst searching her jacket for her phone. When she found it she pulled it out and dialled the familiar number. Piper leant her forehead against the wall listening to the call ring, she felt awful ringing Alex on her anniversary and a part of her hoped she wouldn't answer but she needed to hear her voice. Piper hadn't heard her beautiful voice since Sunday, and they'd only texted once in the week. Piper continued to listen to the phone ring, she was about to end the call when Alex finally answered.

"Hey kid" Alex said, Piper could hear the smile in her voice.

Piper sighed with happiness and relief at hearing Alex.

"Hi baby" Piper whispered into the phone.

Alex grinned and Piper's endearment.

"Why are you whispering?" she asked Piper.

Piper stood straight and lifted her fingers to touch her smiling lips.

"I'm in the toilets at the cinema" She explained.

"Ahhh he took you to the movies on your anniversary. How original" Alex mocked.

"Stop it" Piper chuckled.

Piper became sombre and spoke regretting the words as they came out of her mouth.

"At least he's here" an intense silence answered Piper.

"Al I'm.."

"I'll give you that kid" Alex interrupted not wanting to hear Piper's apology.

"Why are you calling me if you're out for your anniversary?" Alex snapped hurt by Piper's truthfulness.

Piper sighed at Alex's coldness towards her.

"I wanted to hear your voice"

"Jesus kid" Alex ground out between her teeth.

A glow washed over Alex and settled in her chest making her soften towards Piper again. Piper smiled into her phone knowing she'd knocked Alex back with her admission.

"I keep thinking about tomorrow. I can't stand the wait Al" Piper groaned.

"Me either" Alex admitted.

"But tonight you should be with him" Piper huffed in response.

"I know. I best get going before he starts to worry. I'll see you tomorrow"

"You will Pipes. Hey before you go what movie are you watching?" Alex asked.

Piper grinned ready for Alex's reaction.

"Die Hard" Alex burst into laughter, as she hung up, causing Piper to join in with her.

Piper felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her at hearing Alex's voice, now she could concentrate on Larry she thought. Piper walked out into the theatre and took her seat next to Larry. She took his hand in her own and sat back watching him as he enjoyed the movie. Piper smiled and turned towards the huge screen in front of her finally able to focus on the rest of the movie.

After leaving the cinema Piper and Larry ordered from their favourite take out and walked home with their food. Piper snuggled under Larry's arm as they walked laughing as he talked about the movie, going over what he thought were the best parts. Back at the apartment Piper served out their food onto the coffee table in the living room; they ate crossed legged on the floor stealing pieces from each other's plate.

"Where do you see us in five years" Larry asked the same question every year.

Piper put down her fork and wiped at her mouth with a napkin, she tilted her head in thought thinking about her future.

"I hope to have earned a promotion at work and to have finally read everything on my bucket list you know the ones I never seem to get around to" She chuckled.

"Erm I want to travel a little more, see more of the states I guess"

"Ok" Larry butted in.

"That's all you. What about us?" Piper stared at Larry open mouthed.

In the past Piper had known what she wanted from her future with Larry. Now she couldn't think of an answer. Piper opened and closed her mouth like a fish searching for the rights words to say.

"I think where we are now would be good" Larry seemed pleased at Piper's answer, much to Piper's relief.

Piper picked up their now empty plates and headed into the kitchen, she bent over and put the plates into the dish washer, as she did Larry came up behind her and caressed her bum. Piper stood up closing the dish washer door as she did.

"Leave that" Larry mumbled into Piper's ear.

He moved her blonde hair away from her neck and started to kiss along the exposed skin.

"I need to clean up" Piper swallowed as she spoke.

"Do it tomorrow" Larry used his hands to turn Piper to face him.

"Right now I'm going to take you to our bed and make sweet sweet love to you" Piper opened her mouth in protest.

Larry kissed her mouth closed with his own. He pressed against Piper with his body, Piper felt him hard against her. Larry took Piper's hand and led her towards the bedroom, Piper followed with heavy steps. Larry hurriedly undressed then grabbed for Piper helping her take off her clothes. Piper walked to the bed and lay back opening her arms and legs in an invitation to Larry. Larry beamed and climbed on top of Piper kissing her sloppily as he did.

When they had finished Larry laid on Piper panting into her hair.

"That was amazing" he huffed out between taking huge gulps of air.

Piper pushed on Larry's hips signalling she wanted him to pull out of her, Larry pecked Piper's cheek as he slid out, Larry flopped on to his back still panting. Piper turned onto her side facing away from Larry, a silent tear trickled down her cheek landing onto her pillow. Larry snuggled behind Piper wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I love you Pipes" He told her kissing her shoulder.

"I love you too" Piper replied squeezing her eyes tightly together trying to stop any more tears from falling.