Chapter Ten

Looking back on it, Alex really shouldn't have been surprised that it was Piper that lost her temper first. She was eating the best fucking meal she'd had since the last time Cal got creative. She decided to just focus on her food and Piper. Mandy wasn't in the least bit comforting as she seemed immensely interested in Larry. She stroked his ego and asked him about his writing.

She had winced when Mandy did it and tried to kick her slightly under the table. "I had a very successful article in the New York Times about what it is like to have a loved one incarcerated specifically-"he began in a voice that Alex could tell he had used in many different cocktail parties.

"It was a wonderful article. Yes, I tried to read it but my sadistic counselor tossed it in the trash and poured his fucking coffee on it. I then of course, dove after it because well, he pissed me off and yet another asswipe CO yelled at me. So you read it to me on the phone, remember that?" Piper began after placing her fork down on her plate. Alex saw how she sat and straightened her back. Piper had fucking perfect table manners and it was something that Alex had always loved. She knew from the way she shifted though that Piper was going to lean over the table. This was the way she would lean in to make a point to Nicky when her temper flared over some comment she made.

"Yeah, I do. It was one of my more pleasant memories of your time there, because I got to share it with you over the phone...first. I know you felt awful because it was later than others because of where you were, but it was nice to read it to you," Larry said with a smile that seriously made Alex want to toss her glass at his head.

"It was pleasant because I went out of my way to be sweet and supportive. I mean, you finally got something published! Fuck, it was a paycheck and we were rather fucking broke at the time. I had sunk all my savings into a company that was bankrupt because I was suddenly incarcerated and you just couldn't find anything to write about for years. Years...but you know what I was really thinking?" Piper smiled at him and lowered her voice to a soft dead tone that was strangely attractive to Alex. Polly glared at Piper for cursing in front of Finn. He seemed not to notice at all. He was going to town on Cal's awesome mac-n-cheez.

"What?" he said suddenly defensive, "you told me what you thought of it, you didn't think much of the title-"

Alex snorted. "It was way too much like Two Girls One Cup" and any fu- um anyone could see that," Alex observed with a glance towards the cute kid with the cheese on his face. Larry glared and started to speak but Piper held up her hand.

"I got off the phone and felt depressed beyond words. I felt so awful that I had missed your article, that you really thought I was some Yuppie cocktail story...and I was so very angry at you. You said I could think about it, and then you just did it anyway. That was my life...no our life, mine and Alex's life together. I left that call and walked straight to Alex...she understood. She held my hand for the first time in over a decade and suddenly I didn't feel so fucked up anymore," Piper said to him with such painful agony in her voice that Alex's breath actually caught. She flashed to Piper sitting on her bunk and how scared she was to take her hand.

Larry clenched his jaw and raised his hand, "Could we not share the details of how you cheated on me?"

Alex turned her head with a snap, "She is sharing how something you did broke her heart and all you can hear is how turning to someone that could relate hurt you!"

"Enough, please...we are all going to be civil to one another, especially at the dinner table!" Polly exerted. Alex looked over at her and she thought that maybe Polly had grown quite a bit as a mother. However, she wasn't Alex's mother and she wasn't going to let her dictate how she behaved at the table.

"I have to agree with Piper on that one. Writing an article about an inmate, in that huge a market, WHILE they were incarcerated is simply stupid. Your radio show interview actually led to the investigation that put Piper in the SHU. The Assistant Warden had her over a barrel so to speak. She was desperate and had to scramble to fight a transfer to a...very bed facility. Now, she has to testify in Federal Court. I was really curious as to what type of self-righteous, nimrod would risk someone he supposedly loved for his own fifteen minutes of fame. Piper is strangely quiet to me about you. Just mentioning your name makes her wince now...and yet here you are. You could have dropped Polly off or just stopped acting like a caveman and let her drive herself. OR if you were really worried, hired a driver to take them...all valid options...yet you chose to come to this haven, where she is recovering from a vicious physical assault and inflict your presence on them. I'm not curious anymore, you're just a fucking idiot," Mandy said in a very polite tone. Finn just kept eating while all the adults just stared mouth open at Mandy.

Larry just stared at her as if she had grown another head. Alex could see his face turning read and he looked over at Piper with eyes swimming. "You said it put you in danger with the inmates but-"

He had ignored the insult and went straight to the meat of the fact his actions caused Piper real danger. Alex put it together as well then and suddenly she really wanted to kill him. Piper was fast to step into the conversation gain. "You didn't care Larry; you wanted to hurt me for sleeping with Alex. You did. I lost you both and a crazy meth head tried to kill me...I was still willing to marry you though because well I lvoed you."

"I still love you Pipes and I made myself come because she was...is...very important to-me," Larry just stopped talking and got up. He made sure to place Finn's cup closer to his mother as he got up. He just took his untouched plate to the kitchen. Alex frowned at the name he used. Cal and Brian had kept on eating so Alex turned as well to take another bite.

Polly wasn't in the least bit bothered by Larry's confession. Alex looked at her and took a sip of wine. Polly looked right at her and raised her eyebrows inquiring. She was very much like Piper and Alex just darted her gaze towards Larry's retreating back. Polly looked that way and then back at Alex. "Loving Piper is something that has always been there with us...I'm not jealous of it because I know that at the heart of all three of us, we are friends. I think we can get back to it eventually. His timing sucks as usual but he does want the best for her. I um sorta didn't tell him about you until yesterday as a last ditch effort to keep him in the City. He is still upset with me over that," Polly answered.

Piper groaned but did go back to eating her salad rather than share her comments with Polly. Alex had no doubt what she thought about their 'friendship'. Piper held her tongue though and Alex patted herself on the back for getting her meds early. Piper held up her water in salute to Cal. She told her brother how wonderful the food was and everyone chipped in with compliments.

"Well, I'm glad Larry is here to hang out but at the same time, I'll slug him if you wish sis," Cal offered with good natured, y et Alex felt rather serious tone.

"I may take you up on that, since my love might get in trouble if she assaults someone while on House Arrest. No, I take that back. I'm a Free Woman in a few days and I'll take care of him myself," Piper replied with a chilling smile. Cal just nodded and looked back at his dinner with renewed interest.

"Now, kid, if you hurt yourself further over him, I'll spank you," Alex bantered back. She hoped her playful tone would pull Piper from her darker wishes.

Piper grinned at her and leaned closer to her. She whispered in a sultry tone so only Alex and maybe Polly could hear, " Promises Promises," Alex's mouth went dry and her sex suddenly sprang to life with such a longing that she had to stop herself from moaning with lust.

Polly looked at them and then turned her head to the side as if she was trying to figure something out. Piper didn't seem to pay her any mind and Alex found that to her own liking. She smiles at Piper and reached her finger over to take a piece of carrot from her salad. Piper made a playful stab at her finger like Nicky would do. Alex was fast though and crunched down on the morsel with her eyes flashing.

"Fuck I miss Neri," Cal sighed suddenly. Alex looked down at him and he seemed so sad. "She'd hate eating this because I didn't kill this hog myself, but I miss my wife doing her wifely duties." Cal slumped some and they spent the next little bit trying to cheer him up with details of how soon she'd be back. He was really lonely for his solitude in the woods. Alex could tell that Piper felt very guiltily over keeping her brother from his own place. They finished dinner and Brian helped Alex clean up. Larry had exited upstairs to his room.

Apparently, Cal put him in the room that he always shared with Piper. Alex was glad that they were in the main suite and it was all theirs. Brian was very fast in the kitchen. He joked about KP duty in the Army. He also slipped Alex some anti-inflammatory meds and b12 for in the morning. Cal had made the Marshals and security plates. He left to take them their plates and Alex suspected he'd be smoking an after dinner joint. He didn't wreak of the stuff, but she could tell a difference in him when he returned. No one seemed that concerned about it and that amused Alex.

She carried her meds into their room and came back to the living room find Piper kissing Finn's head as Polly headed upstairs with him. "I'll give him a bath and we'll put him down. I'll be back in an hour or so, will you still be up?" Polly asked Piper.

Her lover looked over at her to inquire. Alex smiled softly at the decision that Piper gave her to make. She had napped but Alex had not and it had been a very big day. "I may hit the hay a bit early tonight but I think I can handle two friends catching up...as long as she is helped to bed before too long passes and HE stays upstairs," Alex added the last part and was surprised herself. She wasn't jealous perse but she wanted to be there if he was near Piper. She wanted to protect her. These thoughts made her frown because surely Piper was able to handle him herself. Alex then remembered the devastation that his sleeping with Polly brought to Piper. She remembered the looks she would get when people would bring up Larry. No one really knew the deal with them, except maybe Red and Nicky. Piper was more private than people gave her credit for most times.

"I'll help her to bed," Polly said with a smile then she got to putting her son to bed. Mandy walked in from the study where she'd retired to take a call with a stupid happy grin on her face.

Alex sat next to Piper on the couch and was pleased when she leaned over to snuggle with her immediately. Alex adjusted so her leg was up on the couch and Piper was leaning back against her body. She circled her waist as Piper put her hurt leg up and sighed relieved saying, "That look has to mean your girl is coming?"

"Yeah, Anika will be here soon...to be honest I was going to drive out as soon as it got above freezing tomorrow. Cal isn't the only one missing his significant other. She beat me to it though. They closed all courts until after the Holiday weekend. The snow should be melted enough by then. Um, you'll have a trip to New York that week as the trial against the Assistant Warden and her husband has been moved up the docket," Mandy answered. She was happy but still thinking like a lawyer. Alex remembered doing that. She would experience her time with Piper but always had something else going on in her head. She was always busy and now...now she focused on her love.

"I can't wait to meet her," Piper answered. She was relaxed against Alex and it felt amazing. She leaned forward and kissed her ear. "I know our snuggling and googly-eyed attention is hard to watch when you're missing your girlfriend. Give us time though, we really aren't this goofy about it...just fuck we've spent the last year and then some held apart."

"I know, it is really fucking sweet you guys," Mandy said back with a smile.

"Thank you...for what you said to Larry. It was much nicer than what my darling or I was about to say or do. I think...maybe a toddler around two ex-cons is going to be an issue," Alex said. Piper tensed then she sighed. Alex knew she agreed.

Mandy snorted and put her phone down. "I can see Polly here with Finn though. Piper is her best friend and she hasn't even seen her son. Plus, she really wants Piper to forgive her for breaking the number one best friend rule...WHILE Piper was locked away fighting for her life."

"She also called my crooked parole officer and got me tossed back in prison with time added. Now, I got myself out of that predicament and she did it because she was trying desperately to get Piper to forgive her," Alex observed.

"She knows she fucked up but couldn't help herself. Surely, you and I can relate to that Al," Piper answered. Alex sighed some and told herself something she had told herself before.

Piper's best friend was that bitch Polly and they came as a pair.

Alex nodded and kissed her ear again. "You need her, I understand." Piper laughed softly. Alex didn't need to see her face to know Piper was touched that she understood that Polly was important to her. Mandy smiled but Alex could tell she didn't think Polly deserved Piper.

"It isn't easy being my friend, you are relearning that I guess," Piper said to Mandy and it made Alex smile.

"Yes but I'm having a blast as your lawyer. I have discovered I really like criminal law. I'm...rather good at it and I'm thinking of shifting the responsiblities of ETW to another partner so I can give my time to work in that area," Mandy said casually. She was asking Piper her opinion and it irked Alex. She thought Mandy should share that with her girlfriend and was about to say something when Piper answered.

"I haven't met them...I mean, do you mean now or later? I have only gone over notes with you-"

Piper's body tensed as she said it and Mandy turned towards them and held out her hand. She was smiling at Piper with such humor and grace that Alex felt her stomach twist again. She hated...fucking hated how Mandy's interactions with Piper twisted her up inside. She had always felt that when anyone looked at Piper but mainly it was when a man came on to her. She was sure of her hold on Piper when she was younger because she was pretty much the only good lover the girl had ever experienced. She was Piper's world. Now her insecurities could be heard because Alex wasn't crazy busy working moving a crazy amount of drugs or keeping them alive.

"Later, I'm just bringing it up because I too want to reach out in my career and ETW is very important to me as well. The future is coming Piper, I know you are focused on the here and now, but your Freedom is right around the corner. You can take over ETW or continue like you have with an active board. Is there anything else you want to do?" Mandy asked her casually. Alex realized she was talking business and suddenly she wondered exactly how involved she was in the company.

"I have experience in producing television and starting a small business. I will need time to study the company. I trust your counsel though, if there is someone at your firm that is as open minded as you...and will not treat me like an ex-con, I'd be happy to try. I think I want to work with an organization to help women in prison," Piper said with a confidence that warmed me to my heart. She could do whatever she wanted.

"You can do anything you want. What about Popi?" Alex asked her. She wondered about the business she started with Polly.

"Polly shut the business down about a month after I was incarcerated and the Barney's deal fell through," Piper said with distaste in her tone. "I don't really blame her but she did tell me in a letter that she kept making soaps and products but now she has all natural baby soap as well. If Finn's skin is any indication, she is on to something. I could eat him up." Piper laughed and she smiled as well. Her girlfriend was having baby urges. It should scare her but suddenly it didn't. Alex always thought Piper would make a good mother one day. She was a self centered narcissist at times but her capacity to love would ensure her kid was fantastic. Alex never wanted children but she felt this warmth in her chest at the idea of giving Piper what she wanted.

"He is stupid cute. I don't get those baby urges but I can see the appeal if they were that adorable," Mandy answered.

"Larry is rather good with him too. How are you with that?" Alex asked her gently.

Piper sat up some and moved her leg so she could look at Alex. "It pisses me off. I thought I was pregnant before I self surrendered. I mean, yeah it was better that I didn't have my kid in shackles...or with him. But at the time he was spastic about it and now he is a defacto instant Dada dee...and they fell in love actually taking care of Finn the first month of his life. I can't help but think his feelings for Polly are all wrapped up in his love of Finn. Really guys, Pete and Polly were our very best friends. We went on vacations together and we were thrilled when they actually got pregnant. So, it's all jumbled up but I kind of see how it happened. Still, I can't say exactly how I am with that. Part of it turns my stomach because I just...don't see them together that way-" Piper explained and shivered some like the thought gave her the weeby jeebies. It made Alex laugh.

"Well, that is a complicated soup of a mess. I think maybe we should use plastic utensils at Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, really you may go after one of them. I don't think cute Finn would enjoy that...so how about we take a page from Brian's playbook," Alex offered with a smile.

"Oh?" Piper inquired.

"Yeah, when one of us is going to go off or if we see it in the other and want to call a ...time out or something...we will just stop talking and walk away...we will say a certain word," Alex offered. Piper laughed and even Mandy gave a good chuckle. She then told Piper seh thought it was a brilliant idea.

"The cussing is something that I can't guarentee I will not do, but Larry told me that everyone does it and Polly just complains. What word then? Not unicorns, it might confuse Brian," Piper answered with a gleaming smile.

"How about um...ah Cambodia?" Alex offered.

Piper loved it. Mandy demanded an explanation and they told her about the one serious conversation they've had about their future.

"You're having a good one right now. I know it will be hard to leave Alex to go testify in a few weeks. You'll be back in a couple of days though. Alex might have to give a deposition as well before Christmas. Maybe we can arrange a City trip. Do you still want to find a place in Brooklyn?" Mandy asked her.

Piper looked at Alex and shook her head softly, "We can look wherever we both want...but no, I don't want to move to the City really. I was thinking that maybe I should buy this place from Cal and stay here with Alex after she finishes testifying. If she is here, they wont make her go to Riker's right?" Piper said with true hope in her voice.

Alex's heart broke when she realized that all of Piper's thoughts about the future were stuck around Alex possibly going back into a Federal facility. "Pipes, I had nine years and I'll only have to stay about forty-eight hours in there each week. We can do this baby. Don't let my sentence change the way-"

"Shut up Alex. I mean it. I know you have this "oh free falling through life is what it's all about' schtick going on but cut the crap. Being in a relationship with someone means you think about them when you make a decision. I don't just mean about when we go to bed. It means you get to choose homes together and make decisions about where we live based on how fucking scared I am that you'll be in custody again. Get over it because this is what being my girlfriend means now...if you can't handle it, tough! We are slap fuck in love and neither of us want to do this life thing without the other," Piper said with her finger up in Alex's face. The more she rambled on in her tirade the more Alex wanted to burst with joy. Her woman claimed her beautifully and she realized no one in her life had ever loved her as much as Piper.

"Hey, give me time to work into this new reality we share. I just want you to feel free always, Pipes," Alex said as she stroked down Piper's cheek. "I pissed you off really badly just this morning and I fuck up all the time Piper. I'm not sure I'm someone to set you plans by...I still can't see past my crazy mess of a life...or at least not yet."

"Yeah well, I'm still pissed at you Alex but I can give you time to see that my thinking about you in my decisions isn't a bad thing. I hope you think about me too. Um, Mandy...Alex has expressed some issue with inheriting all of my money if I died tomorrow. So, I was thinking a trust fund would be fine and we can leave the rest of Danny and Cal...for now," Piper said to her lawyer with ease. Alex had thought she forgot about that conversation with all of her medical issues. Nope, not Piper...she said she'd think about it and then they'd talk to Mandy. They talked about specifics and Alex still felt like her family would accuse her of going after Piper for her money. It didn't sit well but she just didn't think that Piper gave a fuck.

Polly came down and Alex excused herself to let them talk. She leaned into Piper's ear and told her she'd be on the couch in the bedroom when she gets done. Piper turned her head and whispered in her ear, "No, sleep in the bed. We can adjust it after Polly helps me to bed." Alex hoped they didn't adjust but she'd leave that up to Piper.

****Please Review. My cat is mended completely. I appreciate you for reading my stories. Peace, Fae***