Piper woke up alone, both Alex and Nicky had gone to breakfast. They didn't want to disturb her. Piper put on her new uniform and headed to the dining hall. She saw a very happy Red. She must have gotten her kitchen back Piper thought to herself as she went to get herself some food. The food looked so much better so it had to be Red that made the food. She got her food and looked around for a table, she spotted Alex and Nicky sitting in their usual table. Wandering over Alex looked up and saw her.

"Hey Pipes" Alex said smiling.

"Morning Chapman" Nicky said with her shit eating grin.

"Morning Ladies" Giggled Piper as she dug into her food.

"You been assigned yet?" Nicky asked to start conversation.

"Yes, I'm in Laundry" Piper smiled.

Alex tried to hide the smile on her face.

"Where's your girlfriend Al?" Piper asked curious as she hadn't seen Ashley since she got back.

Alex looked down. Nicky talked for her.

"My cunt of a cousin cheated on her with Justin Bieber" Nicky said whilst looking over at Justin Bieber.

Piper felt a pang of anger.

"I'm sorry Al" Piper said whilst rubbing Alex's shoulders.

Alex smiled from the touch and the fact she used the nickname from all those years ago.

"It's fine, She wasn't worth it anyways, sorry Nicky" Alex said stating the truth.

"No problem Vause" Nicky said laughing at loud at Alex's emotions.

Piper smiled at Alex and Nicky's friendship. She always loved how they bonded so well and so quickly.

"Well we better be getting to work kid" Alex said smiling at Piper.

"So we should, See you later Nichols" Piper said smiling at Nicky.

Nicky headed to work as well.

Alex was watching Piper fold the laundry. She was a mysterious creature that Piper, Alex thought to herself. Piper had been watching Alex too, she didn't know where they stood. Piper didn't want to get thrown back in SHU but she knew she had to speak to Ashley, what she did to Alex wasn't okay, even though she did something similar, she had learnt from her mistakes. Ashley needed to do the same.

Alex could see the concentration on Piper's face and it was cute but she knew that Piper wasn't just thinking about laundry.

"I'm sorry" Alex decided they'd have this conversation here and now because no one was here it was just her and Piper on shift today.

"For What?" Piper replied as she continued to do her work.

"For punching you in the face, I don't know what came over me" Alex sighed and folded more uniforms.

"I deserved it, It spoke about Dianne and i had no right to do so" Sighed Piper who looked up at Alex.

"That doesn't mean i should have punched you" Alex stated.

"True but you did and i forgive you" Piper let a small smile shine through.

"Thank you, but i'm also sorry for before" Alex gulped.

"For what? Alex i've been in SHU i don't remember much else" Piper said warmly.

"For what i said to you in the greenhouse that day" Alex said whilst shuffling her feet and folding clothes.

"Don't be, Once again I deserved it Alex, I fucked you over and I didn't deserve your sympathy, I was a monster and I realise now that prison has changed me but i'm working on getting better" Piper blurted out whilst trying to focus on her work.

Alex secretly smiled to herself, she was happy to get it off her chest. It was clock out time and Piper and Alex met up with Nicky and the gang at their usual table.

Alex overheard Ashley talking to Stella about her. Piper heard too but just before she got up to go and tell her a thing or two, Ashley said the one thing you should never say to someone. Especially if that someone is Red.

"This food is disgusting, the food was better when the latinos made it." Ashley said really loud.

Piper smirked. Alex looked over to Piper and let out a giggle as did Nicky.

"She's screwed" mumbled Nicky to Alex and Piper.

"Agreed" Piper and Alex said in unison.

Everyone stopped their conversations and the hall went quiet.

"What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking they're just too scared to tell it to that big red headed bitches face" Stated Ashley.

Nicky tightened her fists. No one insulted her mommy. No one. Alex tried to relax Nicky but she didn't see Piper get up.

"Hey Ashley?" Piper called out.

"What on earth do you want kid" Ashley yelled back.

"You really shouldn't go offending my family bitch" Piper said trying to refrain from hitting the bitch in front of her.

"Ha! They aren't real family, They don't love you, Alex doesn't love you she's been fucking Nicky for weeks, Some family" Ashley spat words that didn't dent Pipers armor.

Nicky and Alex look at Ashley with eyes full of fire. Ashley laughs it off.

"I only dated Alex because she was easy picking not this badass she says she is, she fucking cries in her sleep" Ashley started to mock Alex. "Dianne? oh woe is me? Piper?".

Alex clenched her fists. Piper took a deep breath and Punched Ashley square in the face.

"Listen here, Bitch. You don't get to talk about Dianne or Alex or Nicky for that matter and you most definitely don't get to disrespect Red, she does a lot for us here in Litchfield. You can say what you want about me bitch but leave them the fuck alone, You were lucky to have even known Alex Vause she's a badass, sure she's having issues but so do you. Alex Vause is amazing and Nicky is just as wonderful. They are my family. I love them all. I don't care if it's one sided. You don't get to insult or harm my you better watch where you walk. Don't cross me or you'll get more than a broken nose." Piper said whilst trying to breath in and out.

Red came out of the kitchen and heard pretty much all of the speech. Red shot a smile at Piper and mouth "i got this from here". Piper sat was about to sit back down with the group when Ashley lunged at Piper.

"I'm not done with you" Ashley squawked.

Before Piper could react a unpredicted person came to help out the gang. Pennsatucky had enough of Ashley's bullshit. She didn't care about being put in the SHU.

"Leave them alone Ashley" Pennsatucky spat.

"Oh look if it isn't the chosen one" Snapped Ashley.

"I didn't appreciate you calling my friend a fat dyke" Pennsatucky stated.

"Well she is and your just a fucking weirdo" Ashley spat whilst trying punch Pennsatucky.

Big Boo overhead what Pennsatucky had said, since their new friendship they've really enjoyed eachothers company. Big Boo held back Ashley's punch. Leaving enough time for Pennsatucky to punch Ashley.

"You don't care that they are punching your baby cousin Nicky" Piper asked Nicky concerned.

"No she's on the step part of my family so i really couldn't give to shits if i'm honest" Nicky laughed at her misery.

Healy came into the dining hall to see Ashley and Pennsatucky. Red went over to healy and told him what went down. Healy and Red were going strong, they really liked each other and it kept Healy off everyone's back.

"Ashley Nichols! You're going to SHU! you and your lesbian activity Stella Carlin" Healy yelled as officers took them to SHU.

"Never offend Red's food it's common sense people" Healy laughed as he smiled softly at Red whilst walking back to his office.

"Urgh, they are so gross" laughed a disgusted Nicky. Red shot Nicky a glare causing Nicky to laugh out loud.

They were all in their bunks. Before lights out. Nicky and Alex both spoke about what Piper walked in on last night.

"Ladies, It's okay. I know it's someting you two do" Piper said with a soft smile.

"Thanks for standing up for us" Alex and Nicky said together.

"I meant it, you guys are my family and I heart you guys" Piper giggled at their silly faces.

"Well goodnight Ladies" Piper said to Alex and Nicky.

"Goodnight Pipes"Whispered Alex with smile plastered on her face.

"Night Chapman" Nicky smiled at a sleepy Piper.

Piper still wasn't sure where she stood with Alex or Nicky, but Piper didn't care she was just happy they weren't fighting.