"I know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there's a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it get, stick your chest out, keep ya head up... and handle it."
― Tupac Shakur

Alex awoke at the splatter of raindrops on the soft top of her Jeep. She flipped on the dome light and looked at her watch. Damn. I must have really been tired. It was 5:45 am. Alex had fallen asleep in her Jeep at the lake. From the number of the beer bottles littered around the oak tree, it looked as though it was a good thing she had not gotten on the road. She threw her slicker over her head and ran to gather the debris. After she cleaned up her clutter, she sped off towards the house.

Alex pulled into the garage and cleaned out her Jeep. She then went upstairs and took a hot shower. Her body was sore from sleeping in her vehicle. The steaming water pounding on her back was relaxing. Alex spent quite a while in the shower which made a world of difference in her body as well as her mind.

Alex toweled off and slipped on Piper's thick terry cloth robe. She gathered the material around her face and breathed deeply. Piper's perfume lingered on the robe. Alex loved that smell. It made her feel as though Piper was right there next to her. She smiled and smoothed the robe down over her body.

The plane ticket laid on the dresser. Alex picked it up and checked the itinerary. Her smile soon turned to horror. The ticket was for a flight leaving at 8:43 this morning. It was now 7:00 and the airport was a forty minute drive from their house in Donovan. If she wanted to see Piper, she had to get going.

Alex panicked. There was so much to do and she had to leave quickly if there was any chance of making the flight. Her first thoughts were about the restaurant. She looked at the plane ticket again. It was an open-ended ticket with no return date. Alex did not even know how long she was to be gone.

She raced downstairs and grabbed her cell phone and returned upstairs. She dialed Celeste's number, put it on speaker, and began throwing clothes onto the bed to be packed. Celeste had mentioned wanting to work some extra hours after semester finals during the holidays. Her schedule had increased some, but she was about to get a lot more than she bargained for.

Celeste finally answered the phone. "This had better be good at seven am on a Sunday morning," she grumbled.

"Hey! Good morning!" Alex stopped searching for clothes and sat on the edge of the bed. She had realized exactly how little time she had to explain the situation. "Do you have plans for today?"

"Hey boss lady. Good morning to you, too. Nope. I have no plans. Do you need me to go into work?"

"Kind of, but not at the restaurant. I need you to drive me to the airport."

"That's not work, but sure, I will take you. When do you need me to pick you up?'

Alex laughed. "Now. I am late. Can you do it?"

"Of course Alex. Let me throw on some clothes. I'll be on my way shortly."

"Bring Boo. I can use you both."

"Okay, but she won't be alive!"

"Thanks Celeste. You are a lifesaver. I will see you soon. Bye."

Alex hung up and threw the phone on the bed. She was relieved that she had some extra time to take care of the restaurant, as if forty minutes could be considered ample time to arrange everything. But at least now she could focus her attention on packing.

Alex dug an athletic bag out of the hall closet. Getting to the airport this late would mean she would have to carry on her bag. She looked over the clothes she had thrown on the bed. She groaned with the realization that she had taken out winter clothes, suitable for December in Donovan. Key West. I know that Florida won't be comfortable in these clothes. She would need the summer clothes that were mostly put away for the time. Now Alex was thoroughly frustrated. The sense of urgency overwhelmed her. She flopped on the floor beside the dresser. From the bottom drawers, she managed to find a couple of pairs of shorts and some lightweight T-shirts.

This will have to do, she thought as she stuffed them in her bag. She found a file box she had stored in the top of the closet. After a few moments of searching, she came up with a credit card. That's what they make plastic for.

Since Alex came on as The Place's manager, she had managed to pay off all of her credit cards. She had not planned on using them again, but she had kept one to use in an emergency. This pretty much qualified as an emergency. Whatever she did not bring from home, she could purchase it in Florida. Alex gathered a few more essentials and took her bag downstairs. It was 7:20. Celeste and Boo had not arrived yet, so she sat at the table and began to make out a list of things that she needed to tell them about The Place.

Shortly, Celeste and Boo pulled up. Alex heard the gravel crunch beneath the tires as they pulled into the driveway. By the time they sounded the horn, Alex was out the door. She opened both garage doors and motioned Celeste to pull into the empty slot. Alex grabbed her bag, keys, and plane ticket.

"Let's take my Jeep. Your car can use a break." They both had done exactly as Celeste had said – crawled out of bed and thrown on some clothes. If Alex had realized how little time she had to catch the plane, she would have done the same thing. She was thankful for the shower though. At least one thing had worked out well today.

Celeste drove and Boo rode in the passenger seat. Alex chose the back seat so she could go through the paperwork and list scribbled out while waiting on the pair to arrive. They were on their way at 7:30. That gave them enough time to get to the airport with a small bit of extra time to spare to get checked in.

"What's up boss?" Celeste glanced over her shoulder at her boss who was frantically shuffling paper in the back seat. "You look like you have been through the wringer."

"Hell, I feel like it, too." Alex had not told them that Piper had left her. She had told the crew that Piper had taken some time off to visit her family. Piper had never even talked about family, but Alex did not know what else to say. She had wanted to buy some time in case Piper came back soon to save everyone the worrying she herself had done the past two weeks. So far, nobody had questioned Piper's absence. Alex could only speculate how her own leaving would affect things.

"I got this plane ticket in yesterday's mail. I guess Piper got lonely. So I am flying to meet her."

"Where are you going?"

Alex laughed. "I shouldn't tell you. You'll probably stop the Jeep, kick me out, and leave me stranded." All three women laughed. "Key West."

"Ooh girl! You didn't tell us The Place was doing that well. You two are just off on a winter vacation! I'm jealous. How long will you be gone?"

"That's the problem, I don't know. Piper has been very mysterious lately. That's why I wanted the two of you to take me to the airport. Celeste, I know asked for extra hours and there weren't many available in the schedule. Do you still want the extra cash?"

Celeste grinned. "Sure boss."

"Good. Do you think the both of you can handle operations on your own for a while?"

Boo looked at Celeste and chortled. "Sure. I have nothing else to do but to run a restaurant. Into the ground maybe."

"Don't be like that! I have faith in both of you Boo. I certainly appreciate this, especially on such short notice. I promise that you both will be compensated well. So there is the extra Christmas hours you wanted Celeste."

Alex gave them the paperwork and a few instructions and promised to call as soon as she got to Florida. She was utterly relieved that they agreed to help out. She knew they would love the extra work, but to have them actually agree took a huge weight off of Alex's shoulders. "And for God's sake, use my Jeep until we return. It certainly won't do anybody any good sitting in the garage.

"You have a deal boss." Boo had finally come alive and was returning to her lively self. "What time does your plane leave?"

"8:43. It looks like we are going to make it after all."

"Great – it's a tiny airport. You have plenty of time! Celeste pull off. If I don't get some coffee and food, I think I might die!" Boo had a penchant for being dramatic. All of the women laughed in agreement. Celeste pulled off at the next exit and they did a quick run in the first place they came across. They reached the airport in the nick of time, and Alex was on her way to Key West.

As soon as Alex was through security, Celeste and Boo headed back to the Jeep. "So what's up with those two?" Celeste unlocked the vehicle and both climbed in.

Boo shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows? Alex and Piper are the mystery women who appeared out of nowhere. I would bet that those two women have more past than all of the staff put together. I can feel it."

Celeste shoved the Jeep into gear and pulled away from the airport. "But I'm glad they came along. My life needed this."

"Didn't all of ours? I never imagined my life revolving around a restaurant."

Boo grinned. "Yeah and they'll find out how well we run The Place without them and they won't return. Ha! What do we know about a business?"

"Hey," Celeste objected, "collectively, we helped create The Place. Piper just had a building and some ideas. The Place has a piece of all of us inside it. I think we know exactly how to run the restaurant."

At the luncheon after Piper's first meeting, each women took on a task she felt she could do best. Everyone decided how she each could maximize her own contribution to the new café.

Nicky was the musically inclined woman of the group. She adopted the entertainment branch. After ensuring the sound system was set up just right, Nicky developed different musical plans for different days. The breakfast mode was much up-beat and pick-me-up than was lunch. Weekends were much different than weekdays. She made hours and hours of playlists, each to be played at a specific time and a specific volume. She also started a collection of records for a rare "DJ night". Alex had recently approved a DJ lunch every third Saturday to see if it would draw enough business to make it a regular event.

Kristie had the most waitressing experience so she took on organizing wait stations, scheduling, and all the particulars that came with a smooth running wait staff. She also spent many hours with Piper on the computer, setting up layouts for the tables and decor.

Boo and Celeste approached the most difficult task of the food, although it turned out to be a much easier task than first thought. They visited dozens of restaurants and coffee shops in the area to get ideas of the layout and selection of the menus. The menu was kept relatively simple; soups, salads, and sandwiches along with breakfast pastries which were acquired from the nearby bakery.

The six women worked seemingly non-stop. Boo and Celeste had been trying out their ideas with the staff each day. They took advantage of the tight schedule to shower their co-workers with food. They served their menu ideas, item by item, making all of the foods they would soon be serving to the public. This turned out to help tremendously in solving problems before they opened.

The women worked diligently every day. They worked together as if they had been lifelong friends, almost as if a force from a higher authority was guiding them. True to the promise of Alex Vause, The Place opened a week and a half later on Friday afternoon. Through a swarm of advertising both at The Rainbow Room and in The Labyrinth, The Place opened with a surprising crowd.

Faces soon became familiar as women returned and brought their friends. A small yet steady stream of customers grew and grew. Soon there was hardly any time from open to close when there were not patrons in the establishment.

Alex and Piper rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside the girls. They cooked, waited tables, the works. It was a tremendous step towards creating the "family" Piper was so desperately wanting to develop. After a few weeks of hard work, Alex convinced Piper to allow her to hire additional staff so they could fall into their supervisory roles. But even so, it was common to find Piper wandering around, ensuring everything was in place and running smoothly. The patrons seemed to be impressed by the way Piper ensured their every need was met.

Maybe that is what made The Place so successful. The women that frequented the restaurant raved about the excellent service and atmosphere. It was said that no matter how busy The Place got, you felt as though you were that waitress' only table. Complaints were nonexistent, unless you counted the women who wanted extended hours.

The Place originally was open early morning through late-afternoon. Giving in to numerous requests, the weekend hours were changed to open at 1 am to accommodate the women who liked to have a place to chill and possibly sober up after going out. The Place was definitely "the place" to eat in and around Donovan. It seemed as though the women in the area were starved for someplace to go where they could be themselves, away from prejudices and judgment passed by the "norm" of America.

Boo and Celeste had become exceptionally close while they worked on the opening. While scouting the other restaurants, they had plenty of time for conversation. They found their likes and interests to be quite similar. They were two peas in a pod, except that Celeste was an average looking woman – typical – and Boo was the typical dyke.

Celeste roomed with a man whom most would consider on the odd side of the human spectrum. Unfortunately the roommate situation was out of necessity for her since working full time had a tendency to pull her grades down so she could only work part time during school. She could not afford a place by herself while she was in school. But his late hours and strange tendencies were definitely taking their toll.

"You know Boo. I don't feel like I actually live there. Everything is his. Plus when his girlfriend comes over, I have to disappear. He literally tells me that I cannot make an appearance in my own apartment. I either have to leave or stay locked in my room. And to even think of me bringing someone, even a friend, over... Hell, I doubt he even realizes I'm gay. I don't know. It's so difficult to study because I like to spread out in the living room but he always has people over. And when he isn't home, I don't sleep well because I know he will come traipsing in at some wee hour. I'm worried. Midterms are coming up. I can't blow my grades now."

Boo took Celeste's hand. "Why don't you stay at my house for a few days? The break would do you good. You know I have plenty of room." Boo was renting a house from a retired couple. The couple had relocated to a warmer climate but did not want to sell their home. So in exchange for maintenance and upkeep, Boo rented the house from them at an extremely reduced rate. Celeste agreed. She definitely needed a break from the cramped apartment and from the freak.

Celeste spent most of her time at Boo's. It was indeed a well-needed respite. Soon midterms were behind her. But before either of them realized it, finals were here. And Celeste was still at Boo's, living out of a suitcase.

"People are beginning to talk, you know." Boo gently brushed Celeste's hair away from her face. The girls at work would harass Boo to no end if they saw how tender she was being with her best friend. It would definitely ruin her image.

"I guess I forgot to go home. I do enjoy your company though. Plus you are so much cuter than the freak." Celeste settled into Boo's lap. "And squishier! I'm so glad you agreed to a draw with Nicky on that stupid sex contest you started when we first opened. I think I was jealous."

"No need to be jealous Celeste." Boo grinned. "It was just a fun way to see how far I could push Nicky. Why don't you just move in here, you know, completely? I mean, you're over here all the time. Neither of us can stand your creep roommate. Why help him with the rent? In fact, you wouldn't even have to pay rent. Just live here, like now, but with all of your stuff here."

Celeste was shocked. "I don't know what to say. You've been so nice to me already. I can't let you do that Boo."

"What to say? Say yes. Your last final is in the morning. Neither of us have to work tomorrow, so let's get you in here then. I won't take no for an answer."

"Thanks Boo. You're great. But I insist on splitting your measly rent with you. It's only fair."

It was near 3 when Boo pulled the Jeep into the parking lot. Boo and Celeste headed directly to The Place. Alex had given her a makeshift checklist of things that had to be done, and they wanted to get an early start, not wanting to miss even a minor detail. "Well Celeste, we are in charge. Now what?"

"I don't know. But this could be pretty fun. Alex is so laid back. I think that management is afraid to mess with the formula of The Place." Celeste grinned. "But if we mess up..."

"We could fix things before they got back," Boo finished. "Nothing drastic. We'd both be left without a job if something terrible happened."

The lunch crowd was just thinning out when they arrived. One of the newer but established servers was out front. Nicky was floating from front to back as she trained a new cook.

"Hey guys. You aren't on schedule today, are you?"

Boo playfully punched Nicky in the shoulder. "Things okay here?"

"Of course. We've had the normal quiet group for a Sunday. Routine. Hey, do you know if Alex's around? I tried calling but only got voicemail."

Boo laughed. "No, she's not around. In fact she nor Piper will be here for a while. It seems as though they had the winter blues or something. Celeste and I just got back from taking Alex to the airport. Those bums are in Florida. What a life!"

Nicky was shocked. "You mean they have a life outside this restaurant? I'm hurt, and all this time I thought they couldn't make it even three days away from here. So when will they be back?" Nicky turned to wipe off a table.

"That's the weird part. Alex had no idea when she'd be back. She asked us to take care of things while they were gone."

"Hmm..." Nicky pondered this for a while. "Does this mean we can throw a party?" It was plain to see the wheels turning in her head.

"Hold up killer. No deviations from the norm just yet."

"Just yet? So you've thought it, too? Come on, it'd be fun. That's what I wanted to talk to Alex about anyway. We need a Christmas bash."

"I feel like I am back in high school. The folks are gone, so it's party time." Celeste shook her ass as she spun in a circle and grinned. "Let's just lay low for a while. I don't know how long they'll be gone. And it's up to us to keep this place going in their absence."

Nicky grinned from ear to ear. "Whatever. But I am sure you will relent. If not, I'm gonna say fuck 'em and feed 'em fish heads."

"Watch it, I may end up being tougher than Alex herself, although that'd be quite a feat." Boo jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. What are you two gossiping about?" The other waitress had come over to join in on the conversation.

Celeste filled her in on the owner and manager's trip away. "Would you two like some extra hours? Alex was really concerned about operations since she had to leave on such short notice for an indefinite time. She told me to pull ourselves off the schedule which frees up plenty of hours."

"Sure," Nicky exclaimed.

"Great! I have to go rework schedules. But after shut down tonight, plan on staying after and we'll hit the details." With this the women got back to work. Boo and Celeste headed to the office to get organized.

Now that Alex had made it through security just in the nick of time, she had the rest of the morning during the flights to think about the situation with Piper. She felt the letters which were stuffed in her pocket burning a hole through the fabric. Alex had no need to read them. Every word was ingrained on her aching heart.

During the past two weeks, she had experienced every emotion known to womankind. Alex was surprised that she now finally felt relief. She had been worried about Piper and questioned her safety and what had happened to her. Alex then became almost disgusted with her excitement to be on the plane, headed towards the Florida Keys. Like this is some sort of vacation.

The more Alex thought, the more flustered she became. She did not know which emotion was winning: anger at being hurt or joy of being remembered. She finally fell asleep with pure exhaustion. Actually sleep was the best thing for Alex. She had no idea what awaited her in the Sunshine State.