Author's Note: Thank you for supporting this story.

What do you feel when you are in each other's arms?

You're in my arms, and all the world is calm.

The music playing on for only two.

So close, together.

And when I'm with you, so close to feeling alive…

(So Close)

Chapter Ten: Conversation Over Pasta

"What makes you think that she will accept your invitation?"

"Well, she owes me one favor after rescuing her." I answered apprehensively.

"Wow, Vause! Is that really you? Resorting to blackmail just to get what you want?"

"It's only a dinner date! What is wrong with that?" I answered.

"Vause? Do you want to say something or are you high right now?" Nicky asked. I looked around and see everyone looking at me confusingly. I shake my head in annoyance.

"No. I'm sorry. You may continue." I said expressionless but nervous cause I know that Nicky will not let this pass it without interrogating me hard. I have to escape this room before Nicky see me leaving.

"This is the first time that you are not listening to the progress report of your company Vause. I think you should really asked her for dinner."

"Yes I will! Not because I like her but because of what I'm planning for her." I said more anxious than ever.

"Hmmm…Yeah yeah, Vause. Tell it to the fishes as if they care."

"Vause, I had reserved a lunch for the whole team in the nearest restaurant in here. I would suggest we ride the same car to discuss something. Is it fine with you?" Nicky said professionally. I groaned but nodded my head in recognition. "The limo will be ready in 5 mins. I suggests you go down with me." She added slyly. I walked lazily to the elevator and dreaded the time I'm alone with Nicky.

"So how did you think the meeting went?" she asked once we are inside the elevator.

"It is fine. As expected from the offices here in Los Angeles, they are doing well. Thanks to Fig, we are reaping what we have sown." I answered nonchalantly.

"I just hope that the newest venture we have in here will be as lucrative as our other companies." She said.

"Well, I think Dasha is a very competent leader. I'm not really worried about it." I said.

"I know. You are more worried with her newest talent than any other things." She said meaningfully. I didn't comment on anything she said. If there is one thing I learn from having a friendship with Nicky is that she is a keen observer and could put two things together and infer the situation from there. She might be an easy-going one but she is very smart when it comes to matters that concerns her.

"So you will resort in not talking to me about what you did back there? Is that it Vause?" she asked.

"What is there to talk about?" I said carefully.

"Oh nothing. It's just that you are talking to yourself the whole time we are talking about your company. And for starters, you are not the one to space out during the meetings. What is going on, Vause? Is it about the last time we talk about Piper?" she asked with concern.

"No! It has nothing to do with that." I answered abruptly.

"Then why are you acting strange? Why are you talking to yourself? I have never seen you act like some derange human? Tell me what is happening to you, Vause?" Nicky said seriously.

"I don't know" I honestly answer her.

If there is one thing I learn from reading many books is that I could easily tell what I'm feeling inside of me. I could put on a plaster outside but in reality I really know what is happening to me.

"Piper? Why are you not answering my question?" Polly asked seriously.

"Huh? What? What, Polly? I didn't hear you?" I said confused.

"I said, did you and Alex have sex in your apartment?" Polly asked.

"I wish." I answered dreamily. I hear her chuckle loudly.

"Fuck! Polly no! We didn't! I mean we kissed passionately! Oh my gosh! I mean we are not doing anything!" I answered weakly.

"Oh really? If I didn't know any better Piper Elizabeth Chapman is in love right now." Polly said. I could feel my cheeks burning. I tried to hide from Polly but it was too late, she saw how red my face is.

"Fuck! Are you?" Polly asked suddenly serious.

"No." I whispered.

"Not yet"

"Damn! Stop messing with my mind!"

"Nope. I'm not your mind"

I ignored the little voice in my mind and concentrated with typing the added scenes the producers asked. I trust Jenji enough to agree with some of the things they wanted to add.

[Ext.: Inside the recreation room]

[Int. Alex and Piper playing cards then Alex holds Piper hands]

Alex Vause: "I think when you have a connection with someone that never really goes away you know, you snap back to being important to each other cause you still are."

"I'm cooking pasta today, Piper, and based on the boxes of pizza you have in your kitchen I guess, you haven't eaten a decent food. How long have you been sitting in front of computer now?" Polly asked with concern.

"12 hours, I guess. I haven't sleep yet since I received Jenji's mail. I wanted to do these perfectly." I said to her. She looked at me hard and sighed.

"You know you need to slow down. I'm worried you might have got sick" Polly said.

"Don't worry mother, I will not." I said jokingly. Polly has been a very good friend of mine that she knows more about me than my own family.

"Take a shower first then go to the kitchen, okay?" Polly said.

"Okay." I said then saved my work. I shut down the computer then grabbed my towel. After few minutes of showering, I decided to go to the kitchen with just the towel wrapping around my body. I shamelessly walked to the kitchen because I'm confident that we are the only one in my apartment. My eyes went wide when I see a black raven haired woman looking at me intently.

"Alex! What are you doing in here?" I asked loudly and unintentionally gripped the towel around my body.

"Uhhmmm. I wanted to invite you for dinner but a woman in here said that she was cooking pasta and invited me instead." She said then blushingly looked away in the floor.

"She said that she has something to tell you. But I guess the more important matter in here is for you to have clothes on, baby. Let us go to your room." Polly pulled me to my room.

"Really, Polly?" I asked when Polly and I are already in the confines of my room.

"What?" she asked then throw clothes to my face.

"You really need to point out that I don't have a clothes on?" I said.

"Oh. But really, you don't have a clothes on." Polly said. "You really looked good in a white shirt." She added. After combing my hair, Polly and I walked out of my room and went to the kitchen.

"Sorry for waiting. Please sit in here. I will serve the dinner." Polly said. "Piper, entertain our guest." She added and left the dining area.

"So what brings you here, Alex?" I asked, not really comfortable with how she looked at me. It is burning but not the kind I wanted. Her stare is making me squirm, I could tell that it is almost angry.

"I wanted to invite you for dinner. It is my last night here. I didn't know you have a visitor." She coldly answer.

"Actually, I'm always here. By the way sorry for being rude, I'm Polly. What is your name?" Polly said even before, I could answer Alex back. She offered her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Alex." She answered shortly then shook Polly's hand.

"I will get the wine." Polly said again.

"That is Polly, my best friend." I said defensively. Alex didn't said anything until Polly comes back with a wine.

"Thank you, Alex." Polly said.

"For what?" she asked.

"For keeping my best friend safe from that maniac. Piper told me the whole situation." Polly said gratefully. I saw Alex face soften from the gratitude of Polly.

"It is nothing." Alex said shyly.

"So, Alex, what do you do for a living?" Polly asked.

" I have businesses here and there." Alex said smoothly.

"What is the name of your company?" Polly asked again while pouring the wine.

"Vause Airline Company" she answered. I saw how Polly's eyes went wide and spilled the wine in her glass.

'You mean the biggest airline right now?" Polly shouted.

"Polly please, lower your voice. My neighbors might think there is a fight going in here." I said warningly to Polly. I heard a low chuckled across me and saw Alex covering her mouth. She is really beautiful even when laughing.

"I see now the resemblance between you two. I got the same reaction from Piper when I told her the name of my company over dinner in here." She answered.

"So you have been here in her apartment before?" Polly said looking at me amusingly.

"Well, I…I…Polly!" I said to Polly warningly.

"She cooked dinner for me as a signed of gratitude for what I have done for her." Alex explained further.

"Oh! And she cooked for you? Is that so, Piper?" Polly said more amused than before. I could not say anymore because I'm too red to speak.

"Oh my poor baby, all shy and grown up." Polly said meaningfully. They continue their conversation and I just listen to them as they talked. After an hour of having dinner, Peter fetched Polly and went home.

"So can I stay a bit longer?" Alex asked politely.

"Yes. We can finish the wine outside my balcony." I said to her. We walked to the balcony with the wine in our hands. We sipped our wine silently for a couple of minutes.

"You're really close to Polly." Alex said.

"Yes. Polly is one of the few people who genuinely cares for me." I answered.

"You're lucky to have her." she said.

"Yeah. I know." I said.

"Then why are you not a couple?" Alex asked seriously. I spat out the contents of my mouth and laughed hard.

"What?" Alex asked annoyed.

"Oh my. Polly is as straight and besides she is like a family to me." I answered shaking my head. "If I didn't know any better, I would tell that you are jealous." I added jokingly. She looked at me fiercely but didn't said anything.

"So this is your last night? When are you going back?" I asked shyly.

"Yes and I don't know. Maybe it will take me a while to be back." she answered. I bowed my head to hide the sadness slowly creeping in my face.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say that you will miss me so bad." Alex said jokingly.

"Conceited." I said whispering.

'So now I'm conceited." Alex said almost laughing. "Come here." she added then put down her glass.

I opened my arms, inviting her in my arms. She walked slowly and I enveloped her. We faced the city lights and tighten my arms around her, embracing her with her back in my front and my chin on her shoulder.

"You know why, I choose this place to be my home?" Piper asked with a low voice.

"Why?' I asked with the same volume.

"Because I see a lot from here. It has one of the nicest view in this place." She said then looked at me sideways. I tilted my face to her and saw looked at her eyes.

"Yes. It has a nicest view." I said not really talking about the view but the woman in my arms. I could feel my heart still beating fast but felt calm at the same time. I sighed hard.

"Why?" she asked.

"I will be very busy when I get back to New York." I lied. I don't want her to know that she is getting my mind and heart confused at the same time.

"Take a rest too. It will be good for your health." She said with concern. It warmth my heart that even if we just knew each other little, she is genuinely concern with me. She turn around to look at me when I chuckled softly.

"Why?" she asked puzzled with my action.

"You sounded like my mother." I said looking at her. She chuckled too but we stopped when we saw that we are just inch apart. Without hesitation, I bridged the gap between our lips and tasted perfection in her lips. I felt something change the way we kissed each other. I can't pinpoint what is it but it is making me more breathless and floating.

"Wow. Just wow." Piper said embarrassedly. She turn around again after catching her breath and I snaked my arms to hug her. I looked at the view that we have. I looked at it intently.

The brightness of the city is visible but the darkness of the night is looming above us.