Note: This one is rather short, but I'm already working on the next one. And apologies for the late update, I'd just gotten back.
"So, how was Red?"
"Older. But still tough as hell. I may or may not have gotten a head smack or two."
Piper laughed, and she heard Alex's low chuckle from the other end. "Pretty sure you deserved that."
"Yeah, I did."
From the trolley seat, Jack randomly picked out some snacks from the aisle and lifted it up to Piper's face. She shook her head at him and took it from his hands, then put it back on the shelf.
"Have you planned anything for his party?"
Piper didn't answer straight away, grabbing the trolley handle instead and pushed to another aisle. Ever since Alex left she couldn't focus her thoughts on Jack's birthday party, so she hadn't really dwelled on it that much. Alex sounded like she was really curious about it, but a part of Piper felt like she'd asked to keep her from fishing for more information. This whole debacle they were in had left Piper feeling emotionally exhausted, no matter how much she would try to understand the real reason why Alex had left in the first place. A party is the furthest thing from her mind right now, and she was sure she'll get to it on time. As far as she was concerned, they were all still on a roller coaster, no matter how many times Alex had tried to convince her otherwise.
"Well, are you going to be there?"
"I wouldn't miss his birthday. You know that."
"Lately I'm not so sure what I know anymore."
"Jesus, Piper." Alex wasn't even trying to hide her exasperation.
Jack seemed to have heard Alex's voice, because he lurched his hand to the phone and babbled non-stop.
"I think he wants to talk to you."
"Sure. Put him on."
When his mumbling and raspberries sounded clear to Alex, the brunette finally spoke.
"Hey, Kid. How've you been?"
Babble.
"Good? Been taking care of mommy?"
More babble.
Then he said "Mama".
Piper's eyes widened in surprise and she could hear Alex's laugh and urging him to say it again. A man was passing by with his daughter in the trolley, and he gave Piper a knowing smile before walking on.
He said it again, then giggled as Alex praised him through the phone.
"Pipes," Piper took the phone away from Jacks ear and snugged it between her ear and shoulder.
"I gotta go. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Before she could catch herself, Piper decided to give it one more try.
"Alex?"
"Yeah."
"Are we going to talk about this?"
A pause, and Piper could only hear Alex breathing through the phone.
"I can't answer that yet."
