Author's Note:- I do not own the rights to these characters. I do not own the rights to my title; it is St Augustine's famous quote, also used by St. Thomas Aquinas in relation to naturalism theory.

Hey everyone. Only a short update as I have worked six days this week to pay for my flat set up and am exhausted. I like to make sure every chapter and idea is well crafted, so I wasn't going to add more if it wasn't what I had intended.

Thank you for all of your feedback! I have read Flawed-Fallacy's "Second Favourite" lately and I like that she responds to the reviews she gets. So I will now do that, too! Thank you for the inspiration Flawed-Fallacy!

Feedback to Reviews section: (Chapter Ten)

1. dillydill11 - Thank you! I will continue to update, I assure you.

2. Librarybook - You have been a constant encouragement, so thank you. The intention wasn't for Nicky to be selling drugs, she is just buying in bulk because of her senseless wealth. The angle I was going for was that inadvertantly it was Alex who ended up selling drugs - kind of. I tried to make this more clear in this chapter with Piper's dialogue, I hope this clears things up.

Any new reviews I will respond to at the beginning of Chapter Twelve, which should come in less than a week!

Much love, MaraLover x

Chapter Eleven

She Then Began To Feel Herself Falling Asleep

Piper rubbed her eyes as she heard yet another furious knocking at the door. It was insistent, but not rude.

Another knock.

"Yeah, alright, I'll get it then," Piper called out, rolling her eyes as she threw herself out of the last stage of waking up from her nap.

She trudged through her room, down the hallway into the open living space, then over to the front door and entranceway.

"Hang on," she called, flipping the deadbolt and opening the door wide. "Alex?"

"Pipes," Alex breathed, pulling her lover softly into her. "Got room for me tonight?"

"Of course," Piper nodded into Alex's neck. "But, Al, it's eleven o'clock at night. And you didn't call, that's unlike you too."

"Shhh," Alex cooed, rubbing big circles on Piper's arms. "What can I say? I needed to be beside you."

"You're so full of shit," Piper replied, biffing Alex on the arm. "Come in."

Piper pulled Alex behind her gently into the house, reaching around to secure the locks once they were inside. Piper led Alex further through the house to her room and pushed the door closed once Alex was in her room.

"Okay," Piper said, running her hand through her hair. "I know something isn't right with you, Alex. But I also know that you can't breach confidence on whatever case it is that you're working on, so I won't push you. But you should know that if you need, you are allowed to consult another professional. That will mean I am also bound by the confidence, but you know I will respect that. I would never disrespect you..."

"Pipes," Alex cut her off. "Pipes, it's fine. It's all going to be okay, okay?"

Alex linked fingers with Piper and held her close. Piper bowed her head to rest it on Alex's forehead, but Alex nudged her head back up to stare Piper in the eyes.

The two women said nothing for a couple of moments, instead staring at each other's resolve. Finally, Piper's broke.

"Let's go to bed, Al," Piper smiled, stepping around Alex and sliding into the still-warm cocoon she had made for herself.

Piper rolled onto her side and opened up the covers, allowing Alex to lie down behind her once she had stripped down.

Alex nuzzled the back of Piper's neck, kissing the baby fuzz at the base of her scalp.

Piper sighed peacefully, sinking her body down into Alex's chest.

Alex responded by running the tips of her fingers up and down Piper's arms, resting her forehead against the back of Piper's head.

"Nicky's doing heroin," Alex admitted suddenly, breaking the silence.

Piper's body tensed up, pushing away from Alex slightly.

"I said, Nicky's - "

"I heard what you said," Piper interrupted, not moving an inch.

Alex couldn't see, but Piper's eyes were wide open and she was looking around frantically as her mind attempted to put the pieces together.

"When did you know?" Piper began, asking quickly as if the answer were going to lunge forward and stab her.

"About midday," Alex replied, holding nothing back from Piper.

"I knew she was reckless, I knew she liked a good time. I just, I just never thought she would do hard drugs."

"I know, Piper."

There was a moment of silence as Piper allowed the new information to sink in.

"How?"

"What do you mean, 'how'?"

"How did you find out?"

"Just chance, really. There was about half a kilo of the stuff concealed underneath one of our kitchen cupboards. I was reaching around in the back and felt it attached to the roof, only I didn't know what it was."

"Half a kilo?" Piper exploded, rolling over to face Alex. "Half a fucking kilogram, Alex?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, what the hell did you do? Need I remind you that you are narcotics counsel?"

"No, you don't," Alex sighed. "I got some money back for it and gave it to Nicks."

"How the hell did you get money, Alex?" Piper asked slowly, becoming very wary of the situation.

"I called up an old client, then he took it off my hands," Alex said quietly, looking away from where Piper's face would be in the dark.

More moments of silence passed, tension building as each did so.

"Alex," Piper swallowed, her voice shaky. "That, now correct me if I am wrong, would be considered 'drug dealing'. Would it not?"

"I don't think it would really constitute it, not in court."

"I think you're being idealistic. Alex, wake up! You just sold half a kilo of heroin back to the place it came for. You just participated in a drug exchange."

"That's not technically then 'drug dealing' if I am just getting a refund on some unwanted product."

"Oh my god," Piper groaned, pushing the heels of her hands into her eyes.

"I know it's bad, Pipes," Alex admitted, her usual confident voice failing her. "But I don't think it will happen again."

"What if it does, Al?"

"She's my best friend, I am not about to kick her out. She's your good friend's lover!"

"You realize you should be taking legal action against her right now, right? You are in fact aware of the misdemeanor you have committed by not reporting this?"

Alex squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing her thumb and index finger over the bridge of her nose.

"Al," Piper said softly, touching Alex's cheek softly in the dark. "I am not mad at you, okay? I am mad at Nicky for putting you in this position. I don't want you in any trouble."

"I know," Alex replied, moving into the gentle caress. "I am sorry, Pipes."

"Don't be. We will do this thing together, okay? I will support you, no matter what."

"Me too, baby."

"Now let's try and get some sleep. We can't think straight without a few decent hours of sleep."

Alex nodded, feeling Piper's soft lips touch her own. Her heart fluttered, the way it always did when Piper kissed her. She closed her eyes deeper, feeling herself connect with Piper and her heart coming to a place of peace.

"I love you," Piper breathed against Alex's lips as they broke away.

Piper rolled over, splitting Alex's fingers and rubbing her thumb over their tips.

Many moments passed, and both women's ragged breathing began to slow to a pace conducive to falling asleep.

Alex felt Piper's breathing grow quiet, indicating she was falling asleep. Alex wasn't sure when she herself would fall asleep, but she knew she couldn't be far away. This beautiful, young law student had opened her heart and she was the only drug Alex needed. She was grateful Piper had allowed her in so willingly tonight.

"I love you more, baby girl," Alex whispered into Piper's mess of blonde hair.

She then began to feel herself falling asleep.