"Let me get this straight," Alex stared at Nicky in disbelief, "you offer Piper your place to stay in because you want to move in with Lorna, then when Piper suggests redecorating not only do you agree but you volunteer me to help her?"
"Well yes, but not just you." Nicky added hastily, "Lorna and I will be there too. She promised chocolate cake. I am guessing from the fact you scoffed the lot last time, and I saw none, that she makes good cake. So it seemed fair to offer."
"Yes fair for you to offer, why do I have to help?"
"OK please yourself," Nicky grinned. "With you not there not only will I get more cake but Piper can fill me in on the porn you two watched the other night. She seemed quite impressed."
Alex looked closely at Nicky. "I know Piper did not tell you that. I know because we did not watch porn."
"So no lesbian activity at all on screen, all night?" Nicky asked far too innocently for Alex's liking.
"Piper may have put a film on without knowing what it was…"
"Well how she told it was you fell asleep with chocolate all round your mouth, then woke from your orgasmic chocolate induced coma to find her watching your dirty films. She seemed interested by the way."
Alex hated Nicky in this mood; she threw in just enough truth to have Alex question the validity of the story, while in reality she just wanted to mess with her mind.
"Just go eat cake, paint walls and leave me out of it." she muttered. "But before you do any of that please go do your job so I can do mine!"
Once Nicky had left the room and returned to her desk Alex replayed her friends words in her head. Yes she had woken to find Piper watching a film which Alex knew featured all aspects of a lesbian relationship, but it was certainly not porn; and from the little she had seen Piper would have witnessed kissing, nothing more. The crack about her waking from and orgasmic coma covered in chocolate made Alex uncomfortable on several levels. Firstly when she had entered her bathroom that night she had indeed got chocolate still on her lips. Would Piper have told Nicky that? She didn't think so. No, what made Alex feel so uncomfortable about Nicky's description was how closely it mirrored the dream that had followed that night. A dream of her and Piper together, kissing and her holding Piper close, feeling her tremble after Alex had introduced her to the ways of Sapphic love. Alex had woken the next morning distinctly aroused and in need of a long cold shower to calm her down. It had been years since she had dreamt like that, so vivid that it could have been real. It had convinced her Piper leaving was a good thing, she certainly did not want her to feel awkward knowing how Alex was attracted to her. What she didn't need was Nicky teasing Piper in the same way.
When Suzanne had called later that afternoon however to say she had paid another visit to the unit and Piper and Polly were ready to hand over some samples for testing Alex had found herself volunteering to go collect them.
"Where you off too?" Nicky frowned, she had checked Alex's diary herself that morning and knew she did not have any meetings booked in.
"Out. I should not be long. Just try not to cause too much trouble!"
"Spoil sport!" Nicky called after a retreating Alex. Expecting Alex to return with another fist full of orders she was more than a little surprised when an hour later Alex deposited a basket of toiletries on her desk.
"You went to see Piper?" Nicky grinned. "Why didn't you tell me? I'd have come too."
"That's why I didn't tell you!" Alex grinned, "Suzanne wants these distributed as we did the first time but don't let her see anything green. Polly has only sent her written descriptions, I want to check all reviews before Suzanne so nothing is vetoed simply on colour."
Laughing Nicky rummaged through the basket. "Hey, 'Nicky' isn't in here! Why?"
"While I would love to tell you they had abandoned, the idea sadly it has already received approval. Maureen it seems is a huge fan of both pink and tequila. Just save yourself the trauma I went through and don't ask if Suzanne tried it. Just take it from me the joint shower they evidently took was a huge success and leave it at that." Alex shuddered at the memory.
Nick looked horrified. "She gave you details."
"Oh god yes! Anyway, get these out today and hopefully by Monday Daya can start on the packaging."
"How was Piper?" Nicky grinned.
"She wasn't there, it was Polly I met. Piper is decorating remember."
"Oh." Nicky looked disappointed. Then asked hopefully "Is she going to the bar tonight?"
"I doubt it, at least Polly didn't say, Polly is away this weekend and I assumed Piper was decorating."
"Hmm." Watching Alex return to her office Nicky sent Piper a text. There was no way she was going to let Alex get out of decorating so easy.
As Piper did not respond by 5 when Nicky was leaving she decided to call in on her way to the bar. The sight that greeted her made her smile.
"Oh blondie, looking good!"
Piper grinned. She knew she must look a sight but she was on a tight schedule so had not got time to worry about what she looked like. "Hey Nicky, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"You didn't get my text?" Nicky frowned.
"Err, I may have done, to be honest my phone is probably under the dust sheets somewhere, I haven't checked it today."
"Oh, I was asking if you were coming to the bar, I thought you might need a break from this."
"You think I look like I am dressed for the bar?" Piper laughed.
Nicky grinned Piper was in some sort of working man dungarees, vest top underneath and her blonde hair partially hidden under a cap.
"I think, Nicky grinned "you look incredibly sexy! Just don't tell Lorna I said that. With a wink she looked round the room. It is very… white!"
"Nicky there were so many colours in this room I am surprised you didn't have a permanent headache." Piper laughed. "But rather than criticise why don't you grab a brush and help me."
"Because its Friday. We go to the bar on a Friday, remember."
"Where's your sense of adventure," Piper challenged, "one Friday without tequila wont kill you, then you can bathe in the smell of both success and tequila with your new soap when you go home. Lorna will be proud."
"Lorna will be waiting at the bar!" Nicky whined. "Come on blondie, I said I would help tomorrow."
Piper smiled, "Go on go, before I change my mind and try blackmailing you with the fried chicken I made earlier or the strawberry pie."
"You made pie?" Nicky hesitated.
Piper laughed, "I have beer too," she added with a wink.
"Give me that!" Nicky grabbed the cap off pipers head shoving her hair into it.
"Hey that's mine."
"Oh blondie you have more paint on you than that wall. Get over it, now give me the brush while you crack open the beer."
o0o
"She definitely said she was coming straight here?" Lorna asked Alex, surprised to see her enter alone.
"Yes she left over an hour ago. Have you called her, knowing nick she got distracted!"
"No, I just assumed you were busy so would arrive together." Lorna grabbed her phone and sent a text while Alex fetching more drinks sat listening to the conversation around her. Quickly realising the topic of conversation was a planned staff night out Alex tuned out sipping her beer and letting the noise wash over her. Hearing sudden laughter brought her back to the present and seeing Lorna grin and hold her pone Alex took it and read the text.
I have been kidnapped! Being held hostage by a blonde paintbrush wielding fiend! Send help, and tequila!
"Serves her right!" Alex laughed, "wait one moment." Jumping up from her stool, Alex went to the bar ordered a round of shots. Bringing them back to the table she lined them up and using Lorna's phone took a picture with the message,
Look what you are missing!
Her smile was short lived when Lorna sheepishly handed the phone back.
I know its you Vause, I may be missing tequila but you are missing this.
The accompanying picture made Alex groan, she didn't need that image in her head disturbing another nights sleep! Nicky had captured Piper, covered in paint, dungarees slipping off one shoulder walking towards the camera holding pie.
Downing 2 of the shots before her, to the surprise of everyone round the table, Alex deleted the picture before handing it back to Lorna.
"Did you reply?" She asked not sure what Nicky had done but knowing she had scored some sort of victory.
"No." Alex muttered, "just tell her she won that round." Alex was quiet for quite a while after seeing Nicky's picture, drinking far more than she normally would she decided she had better leave her car and walk home.
"Come on boss, we will give you a ride." Daya grinned as she walked to the car waiting for her driven by John.
"No its OK," Alex smiled, "the walk may just clear my head, help me sleep. You go have a good weekend."
o0o
"OK I don't understand you." Piper said 2 hours later.
Nicky had to her credit worked hard and the living room was almost finished. She had been complimentary about the chicken, eaten 3 helpings of pie and surprisingly stayed off the beer after her first one, what she had done, all evening, was quiz Piper about Alex.
"What's not to understand? What you see is what you get with me blondie."
"OK, so how is it you spent a great deal of time and energy warning me off Alex, yet tonight you have done nothing but talk about her and quiz me on my feelings? And don't think I didn't see you take that picture then send it. It doesn't take Einstein to work out who too."
Nicky laughed, "She was winding me up, sending me pictures of the bar, shots, what I was missing; so I sent one pic of what she was missing and she shut up! Victory!"
Piper shook her head. "You are like kids! The pair of you."
"Oh to be fair its not really Alex. I have been tormenting her all day."
"But why, that's what I don't get. You warn me off then act as if you are encouraging something."
"Well I thought about what we had spoken about the other night, I told Lorna I was worried you would hurt Alex. But as Lorna pointed out, you are both adults. She reminded me that when we had met she had only been in relationships with men and it hadn't stopped us or made our feelings any less real. And to be honest Alex is a different person since you and Polly walked into the bar that night."
"What night?" Piper asked confused, trying to remember a significant incident.
"The night of the big proposal." Nicky grinned. "Alex had spotted you as soon as you walked in. She positioned herself at the table so she could watch you, then when you were dancing her eyes never left you. When that lame brain ex of yours proposed I thought she was going to launch herself across the dance floor and drag you away. She was so angry when you said yes. I was laughing because I had never seen her so mad before, she thought I was laughing at the proposal. I'm telling you blondie, from day 1 you have got under her skin like no-one else. That being the case I say if you want to give it a go, go for it."
Piper was shocked. She had not expected Nicky to suddenly be encouraging this, whatever this was, with Alex. "I am not sure I even know how to 'give it a go'" Piper admitted finally. As she saw Nicky smirk she frowned added, "not the sex nick! I mean, a relationship."
"What are you talking about. You were engaged of course you do."
"Exactly, I was engaged. I had been with Larry for years. But I look back now and think it wasn't a relationship it was a convenience. For me at least. He kept my mother form being on my back, he was, oh I don't know, he was just there."
"Wow! Fireworks." Nicky smirked.
"Exactly! And that's my point, it wasn't fireworks, it wasn't romance, it was a convenience. If that's a relationship then maybe Alex has the right idea after all."
"Listen blondie, you only had to look at Larry to know thee would not be fireworks, can you honesty say that about Alex?"
Piper hesitated then shook her head.
"Exactly. Look I am not saying you are going to live happily ever after, or have some harlequin romance of the century, but who knows you might have fun, and right now I would say you both deserve a bit of that."
Piper didn't reply. She let Nicky's words register deciding she needed to really think about what she felt. Looking at the time she grinned, "Look at that, nearly 11pm and you survived!"
"Only for you blondie," Nicky laughed. "But I have earned a late start tomorrow! So don't be expecting any of this crack of dawn arrivals."
"Fair enough." Piper agreed. "Thanks Nicky. Id never have got this much done on my own."
"Well how about you bag up the rest of that chicken and pie as my reward."
Laughing Piper did ask she was asked and waved Nicky off.
Later, lying staring at the ceiling Piper thought about Nicky and he relationship her and Alex had. They were quite clearly friends as well as boss/employee. Nicky obviously cared a great deal for her friend and Piper knew one of the reason Nicky had stayed tonight was to test how serious Piper was. If he was honest with herself she knew she had felt an attraction to Alex straight away. Maybe affinity was a better description. She was drawn to her, even when Alex thought she had shit for brains it had mattered, her opinion, this total stranger, it had mattered. She had told Polly she was envious of Alex's life, but Piper knew she was envious of her confidence. The confidence to voice her opinion even if she knew it was not popular, her confidence to live her life as she chose, to chase her goals, fulfil her dreams. As for the rest, well all Piper knew was when she saw Alex she felt happy. Happy, excited, hopeful. She hadn't felt that way in as long as she could remember, so maybe Nicky was right, maybe she deserved it.
o0o
"Alex!" Piper stood staring at the woman at her door.
"Hi." Alex shifted uncomfortably the look of shock on Piper's face telling her all she needed to know, "Damn it, she didn't tell you did she. Nicky called, she said to tell you she would try to get here later but she conned me into coming to help."
"She did huh! And how exactly did she do that?" Piper grinned. She knew as soon as she saw Alex that Nicky was up to something, what however, was still a mystery.
"Well first of all she said you were expecting her at 8, but judging by the fact you are not dressed this was lie number 1. She also said Larry was arriving at lunchtime with furniture so you needed this place ready."
"He is," Piper smiled, "lunchtime tomorrow! Look come in, let me grab a quick shower and get dressed then I will buy you breakfast before you go kill Nicky."
Leaving Alex, Piper rushed to the bathroom. God she looked a mess. She had paint in her hair no amount of shampoo was shifting, so deciding she would just tie her hair back and use the cap Nicky had used yesterday, Piper pulled on some jeans, grabbed a sweater and went back into the lounge to find Alex perched nervously on the old sofa Nicky had left behind.
"OK, lets go." Piper grinned.
Alex followed without comment. She knew Nicky had tricked her into this but now she was here with Piper, leaving didn't seem such an attractive option. "I don't mind helping." she finally spoke as she watch Piper concentrate as she surveyed the menu of the little café round the corner from the apartment.
Piper grinned, "you really don't have too. I wasn't expecting Nicky till late afternoon, we got so much done yesterday, so-" Piper let the statement trail off. She did not want to send Alex away but having Nicky force her to go round was hardly conducive to a friendly atmosphere.
Alex listened to Piper then grinned, "I think then miss Nichols needs an early morning call. I mean it would be rude for her to miss this beautiful morning right."
Piper shook her head, "Leave them. Lorna doesn't need any more punishment than living with Nicky already brings and Nicky really did do me a favour last night."
"So what do you have left to do?"
"Well we got the lounge finished so just the bedroom, its much smaller so I should be able to manage and not have to ruin your entire Saturday."
"Or," Alex said slowly, "we order breakfast, both paint the bedroom then we can invite ourselves to Nicky for dinner. She will owe us."
"What is it with you two?" Piper laughed.
"She pushes me." Alex muttered.
"OK, well you can negotiate dinner. I will get our food and maybe some coffee to take back with us, I only have instant."
When she returned with a stack of pancakes, fruit bacon and syrup, Piper was rewarded with a huge grin from Alex.
"Wow! I normally have coffee, maybe if I remember to go to the store a bagel. You cant eat like this every day though, look at the size of you."
Piper laughed. "For breakfast yes. But more often than not I forget lunch and if we have been working on production I will only have something light before bed. So breakfast, my time to stock up. Piper grinned as she watched Alex attack her food. So you like pancakes huh. Pancakes and chocolate, healthy!"
"I like them," Alex admitted with a mouthful of food, "I don't eat them often though."
"So what would you have done this morning if Nicky had not sent you to rescue me again."
"You don't need rescuing Piper, at least not this time. But I would have done some work I guess, maybe gone for a ride on the bike." Alex shrugged, "no major plans."
"Well at least the weather is nice." Piper smiled "Maybe if we finish early enough you can take me for a ride on this bike you love so much."
Alex blinked, "er, I don't think so."
"Why not? You let Nicky ride it."
"Because Piper Chapman you are not a biker girl. A limo maybe, or flashy sports car but bike. No!"
"Well now who's judging!" Piper grinned. "OK, I will wait til you lend it to Nicky she will give me a ride."
Alex laughed that Piper was using Nicky against her, but was confident even Nicky was not that stupid carried on eating. Once her plate was clean she said "OK, now I have stocked up as you call it I am ready to show off my handy man skills. Lead me to your paint brush!"
Piper grinning went to collect the coffee and pastries she had ordered and joined Alex outside. The walk back to the apartment was far less awkward and letting them in Piper deposited the snacks in the kitchen and grabbed a cap to give to Alex, "Here, my hair is beyond saving but you may as well protect yourself. Have you got something else you can wear?" Piper frowned realising the jeans Alex was wearing, while casual compared to her business suits, were probably designer and did not deserve white paint all over them.
"I'm putting paint on the walls Piper, not me." Alex grinned.
"Suit yourself." Piper shrugged then excused herself to change back into her dungarees.
"Nice!" Alex whistled when she return.
"Don't give me that," Piper laughed "I know Nicky was send you pictures last night, she wasn't exactly subtle."
"And look, one picture and here I am so I could see you in the flesh." Alex grinned winking.
Flustered at Alex's gentle teasing, Piper busied herself getting the paint ready.
"Should we not move the bed first?" Alex frowned.
"No, Larry is delivering my bed tomorrow."
"What will you sleep on tonight if this ends up with paint all over it?"
"Polly's!" Piper grinned. "She chose this weekend to go away to avoid helping so I snagged her keys and intend to avail myself of her nice fume free home and spare room."
Satisfied Alex grabbed the brush and set to work. She laughed a few minutes later when music began to blare out and Piper began to throw paint at the wall as she dance to the music.
"No wonder you made such a mess next door." Alex smirked. "I can just see you and Nick in here, bet the neighbours thought there was a party going on. How drunk was she?"
"Nicky? She wasn't, she had 1 beer and more chicken than I have ever seen one person eat, then enough pie to feed a family of 6!but yes I think the neighbours panicked, I met a few of them last night as result." Piper laughed, "I think they had heard the noise and assumed the rumour Nicky had moved out was a lie."
"I bet they were relieved to see you!" Alex grinned.
"Maybe. I had a few strange comments which made me think different women in this apartment was not an unknown occurrence."
Alex grinned. "No before meeting Lorna Nicky was wild."
"And your neighbours? I know they aren't plagued by loud music but strange women?" Piper asked curiously.
"Not strange," Alex winked "perfectly lovely women!"
Piper snorted. "I bet before Lorna was around you and Nicky were wild."
"Nicky still is!" Alex pointed out, "but no. no strings of women."
"So the other week was an exception?" Piper couldn't help ask but knew she may have crossed a boundary when she saw Alex tense.
"Yeah she was an exception." Alex said softly. "In more ways than one." She added under her breath. "What about you?" she decided turn about was fair play, "since you set yourself free from Larry you had many wild nights?"
Piper grinned, "I went clubbing! That was pretty wild, as was the hang over." She grinned as Alex laughed. "Other than that no. the only woman to take me home is you!" Piper winked, then remembering g that night she asked more shyly, "did you undress me that night?"
"What?" Alex spun round in shock, splattering the bed, her leg and Piper in paint. "What did you say?"
Piper cringed. "The next morning I woke up, I wasn't wearing what I had on the night before I wondered if..."
"You wondered if I took you home and took advantage?" Alex couldn't believe Piper thought that of her.
"No, no!" Piper cringed. "Look Polly said she had the clothes on from the night before when she woke up, I didn't…"
"OK," Alex put down her brush. "You want to know what happened?"
Piper nodded.
"You sure?"
Another nod.
"OK." Alex shrugged, this story was one that while fuelling her wild dreams of late she had definitely intended keeping to herself but - "you were drunk, very drunk. I took you inside and upstairs. I went down to get you water and look for some aspirin as I could not find any in your bathroom cabinet. When I returned you were sprawled across you bed in just your panties." Alex saw Piper gasp and go red, but she continued "I looked for your nightclothes but couldn't find any. I shook you to try to wake you and you," Alex was grinning now, amused by how red piper was and how cute she looked squirming as the story unfolded. "you told me you were lonely and asked me to get into bed with you!"
"I did not!"
"No? you have no recollection of saying you had been dreaming of me for weeks? That men were crap at sex and you wanted me to show you how much better it would be with a woman."
"Oh my god!" Piper slumped on the bed looking at Alex in horror.
"Now as nice as your tits are Piper, I felt I would be overstepping the mark so I grabbed the first t shirt I could find bundled you into bed and ran!"
"Does Nicky know?" Piper whispered trying not to cringe at the image of Alec running to get away from her.
"What do you think? No Piper, Nicky doesn't know. Believe me you would have heard this story weeks ago if she did. I figured you would suffer enough the next morning without me rubbing your nose in it to embarrass you."
"And yet you still took care of me. After I accosted you you still looked after me."
"What can I say kid, you have great tits!" Alex turned back to face the wall hiding her grin, and resumed painting in silence.
"I'm sorry." Piper whispered. "I should not have made it sound like I was accusing you."
"No, well for future reference I usually don't need to get a woman so drunk she can barely speak to sleep with me. I prefer my women sober. Now I suggest you make it up to me by going to fetch that coffee you ordered and I will pretend I am insulted just long enough to eat the pastries I saw you buy too."
Relieved Alex was smiling and didn't seem as offended as Piper thought she probably should be she retreated to the kitchen. When she came out of the kitchen with the food and coffee she found Alex sat on the sofa in the lounge.
"I opened the windows wider to get rid of some of the smell." she explained. Nodding Piper handed her a mug and plate and went to sit on the floor.
"OK, so now you are too scared to sit next to me?" Alex smirked pushing her hair out of her face and using her glasses on top of her head to keep it there.
"No, just embarrassed." Piper admitted.
"Well I'd get over it kid because Nicky just text to say her and Lorna are on their way over and believe me if she senses embarrassment she will not give in til she knows why. So just forget it OK."
"I'll try," Piper smiled, "but I cant believe I flashed you."
"And begged me to show you how a woman does it!" Alex reminded her laughing.
Piper was still feeling flushed when Nicky arrived letting herself in.
"Keys!" Alex held out her hand.
"I was going to give them to her that's why I brought them." Nicky laughed. "Jeez boss what are you the fun police?"
Alex looked at Piper saw her blush brighter and laughing as she winked said "yeah I think I am."
"What did I miss?" Nicky asked looking between Piper and Alex.
"Coffee," Alex snapped back quickly, "and pastries, and pancakes and bacon and fruit."
"She made you all that?" Nicky looked at Piper in awe.
"No I took her for breakfast to repay her for your stunt." Piper admitted.
"And the painting? You have finished?"
"More or less." Piper nodded.
"See!" Nicky grinned looking at Lorna, "I told you if we waited they wouldn't need us!"
Lorna smiled apologetically before saying "maybe we can make you both dinner tonight? It is the least we can do." She threw Nicky a glance.
Before Piper could reply however, Alex stepped in, "That's kind Lorna, thank you. But I promised Piper a ride on the bike this afternoon and I know she has an early start tomorrow. Why don't you take this lunatic you live with now and make her spend some of the overtime she has earned lately." Alex grinned at Nicky "I know she has been dying to treat you."
Suddenly alone again Piper looked at Alex. "What was that about? It was you that suggested dinner with them and I thought I was not allowed near your precious bike."
"Your not." Alex confirmed firmly "but believe me if you blush that red every time Nicky mentions anything even slightly suggestive your secret will be out in no time. Now I may not be able to cook but I can order a mean pizza and I have all the making for margaritas which if memory serves is your signature drink."
Piper smiled. "Was. I think it has got me into enough trouble to risk that again."
"OK. well you go clean up and change, I will wash these brushes then we can leave these fumes behind."
Once in the bathroom Piper groaned. Oh god! She could not believe she had told Alex she had been dreaming of her, slightly relieved Alex hadn't made so much of this, Piper scrubbed at her paint covered hands. Brushed her hair and added some lipstick. Returning to see Alex ready and by the door she smiled. "So you came on your bike?" She asked excitedly.
Alex laughed, "no Piper I walked. Come on the fresh air will do you good." And before Piper could register the action Alex grabbed her hand and slamming the door behind them led her outside.
o0o
Laying in Polly's spare room later that night Piper started at the ceiling. So much had happened today. She had had a lovely evening eating pizza and watching an action movie she now knew Alex must have bought specially. She had driven Piper to Polly's but in her car not her bike despite Pipers protests.
Piper however kept thinking of the look of amusement in Alex's eye when she had teased her about getting naked; then the feel of her hand as they had walked home. Piper could still feel the knot of excitement as Alex's fingers wrapped round her own and the disappointment when she had had to let go. Closing her eyes she willed herself to sleep. Tomorrow she would see Larry and Piper knew even when they first met she had never felt the rush of excitement Alex had caused today.
Just as she was drifting off her phone buzzed. Picking it up she saw she had a new message.
Sweet dreams Pipes. ;-) AV
Grinning at the new nickname, much preferring it to 'kid', Piper read and reread the message over and over; she got very little sleep that night.
o0o
A/N: Once again so happy to hear how you are enjoying the story. Both women, with Nicky pushing them of course ;-) are getting braver. Looking forward to hearing what you thing .
Ali x