Author's note: Oh my god, I actually just now realized how far this story already is! Sorry for you having to wait so long! But in the next chapter, after this one, you get to see (or read) something that most of you has been waiting for ;)

Enjoy!

"FUCK!"

Alex woke up to someone rather loudly cursing next to her. "I'm trying to sleep here", she mumbled.

"We forgot to put the fucking alarm!" Piper exclaimed frustrated.

Alex finally opened her eyes sighing. "What?"

"We forgot the alarm", Piper sighed as she rested her head in her hands.

Alex sat up and put her hand on Piper's back. "Hey, what's the matter? You know that my mom owns the shop?" Alex asked. She had never fully understood why Piper was so obsessed with work.

"You don't understand!" Piper said in frustration as she stood up to put her clothes on.

"My mom does. She wouldn't be mad", Alex said as she stared at Piper's body smirking.

"I know she wouldn't! That's the problem", Piper said as she put her jeans on. "Stop staring at me like that."

"What? You're not making any sense, right now", Alex chuckled.

"I don't want your mom just to smile and say that's fine because she wouldn't do it if she had some other employee. I don't want you two to not be mad at me just because you think that I can't handle it!"

Alex got up from the bed with raised eyebrows. "Woah, calm down. You're mad because we are not?"

"I don't want you to treat me like I'm going to explode. I want you two to start treating me like a normal people and not some broken thing", Piper said as she marched out of the room.

"Fuck", Alex sighed as she heard the door slam shut. She crashed on Piper's bed again and thought about what Piper had said. She was right, Diane and Alex had been careful around her and they had let some little things slide but would Piper actually want that they'd be mad at her?

Alex stared at Piper's pillow and just now realized that her sheets were full of confusing patterns that Alex couldn't figure out.

She smiled, they were a little like their owner.

After a while, she got up groaning and got dressed. It was time to clean up this mess.

"Where's Piper?" Diane asked once she saw Alex come into the shop.

"Wait, she didn't come here?" Alex asked confused. She was sure that would find Piper here.

"No. She has never been late from work before, is everything okay?" Diane asked worriedly.

"I'm not sure actually... We were looking at stars last night and it went pretty late-"

"That's kind of romantic", Diane interrupted smiling.

"Well, yeah. I guess. But anyways we spent the night at Piper's and she forgot to put her alarm. Then when she woke up she just freaked out that she was late and when I said that you would understand, she got mad and said that she doesn't want you to say that it's fine..."

"What?" Diane asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Okay, I need you to tell me exactly what she said."

Alex told Diane the whole conversation and Diane nodded in understanding.

"I think that I know what bugs her."

"What?"

"You know her. She doesn't want any benefits. She definitely doesn't want pity. We've been too careful around her because we were afraid to upset her."

"That worked out well, didn't it", Alex said sarcastically.

"Look, Alex. She doesn't have anyone who would hold her in check. She needs that in her life. Everyone needs some kind of disciplinary. It just doesn't work if you get to do whatever you want whenever you want. That's why she was mad that we've gone so easy on her", Diane explained.

"So, she needs you to punish her because she was late?" Alex asked confused.

"Not necessarily punish her, just not to let everything slide like it didn't happen."

Alex nodded. "I think I get it."

"So, any ideas where she has gone?"

"Probably drinking", Alex said.

Diane sighed. "Just let her be and let her gather her thoughts. She'll show up at some point.

Piper didn't show up that day but the following day she came into the shop exactly on time.

"Look who decides to show up", Diane said behind the counter as she saw Piper coming in.

Alex was also there since her work didn't start until 11 a.m.

Piper just glanced at them before disappeared into the backroom.

Diane shook her head before went to follow her.

"Can I talk to her?" Alex asked suddenly. She really wanted to talk with Piper about something.

"Sure", Diane shrugged before went back behind the counter.

Alex stopped at the door and took a deep breath before went into the room.

Immediately she noticed Piper staring at the wall deep in her thoughts.

"Piper?"

Piper jumped a little before turned to look at Alex. "Alex, hey."

"Sorry for startling you."

"No, no it's fine. I actually wanted to speak with you."

Alex nodded. "Okay..."

"Sorry for just leaving like that. It wasn't your fault, I was just... frustrated", Piper said smiling a little awkwardly.

"Hey", Alex said as she went to hug Piper. "I'd say that it's okay, but you wouldn't like that would you?" Alex chuckled.

Piper laughed quietly. "Not really."

"Look, Piper. I've not had a girlfriend or even a friend that's even close to you. I have no idea how to deal with you. You're temperamental, you're sensitive, you're also just a softie", Alex smiled. "I like all these traits of you and without them, you wouldn't be Piper, but you need to communicate with me and tell me what you want."

Piper smiled at Alex's words before kissed her slowly. "I want you", she whispered. "Enough communication for you?"

Alex chuckled as she tangled her fingers in Piper's hair. "You could also show it. Just to prove a point."

"Aren't you just needy?" Piper grinned.

"I didn't get even a morning kiss yesterday. I've got every rights to be needy", Alex pouted.

Piper laughed. "You're cute."

Alex smiled widely before kissed Piper softly.

"I should have guessed that you only escaped here to make out", Diane's amused voice said.

Piper and Alex broke apart, Piper again a little flushed. She was not accustomed to kissing a girlfriend in front of her mom.

"Mom", Alex acknowledged, a little annoyed from the interruption.

"Alex, may I have a chat with Piper or do you two have some urgent business to deal with?" Diane asked and couldn't stop the smirk forming on her face even if she tried.

Alex narrowed her eyes and Piper looked everywhere else expect Alex and Diane.

"Sure. I should go to work too", Alex said finally before gave Piper a smile and left the room.

"So, where were you yesterday?" Diane asked curiously as she sat on the couch.

"In the woods."

"In the woods?" Diane repeated surprised. "We were pretty sure that you were drinking."

"I was drinking. In the woods", Piper smirked.

"What?"

"Kidding. I was taking a long... very long walking in the woods to clear my thoughts", Piper said.

Diane nodded. "Mhhm. Well, I'm glad. Alcohol is not good for you."

"I know", Piper smiled little.

"Also. You don't have a day off tomorrow", Diane said.

"What?"

"You didn't show up yesterday, did you? I'm not going to give you any benefits just because you're my daughter's girlfriend. Wait. Did you already sort that one out?" Diane asked curiously.

Piper stared at Diane with wide eyes. She had not actually believed that Diane would do anything. "Uhmm, yeah. She is my girlfriend?"

Diane laughed. "You made that sound like a question. Are you sure?"

Piper groaned before repeated with a much more determined voice. "Yeah. She's my girlfriend."

"I'm happy for you", Diane smiled. "But you're still coming here tomorrow at 10 a.m."

Piper tried very hard to stop grinning but obviously failed when Diane groaned. "Come one, Piper! Could you even try to look mad that you need to work on your day off? Like a normal employee."

"You know me", Piper shrugged grinning. "I like working here."

"And I'm sure that you'd get withdrawal symptoms if you would have over a week vacation."

Piper's eyebrows rose and Diane quickly realized that Piper probably didn't need a reminder of her other withdrawal symptoms. "Sorry. Didn't mean to-"

"All good", Piper smiled. "Better be a workaholic than a drug addict, don't you think?" She said before left the room.

Diane let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Right", she nodded to herself. Piper really was a complicated person.

Few days went by and everything was fine until Piper woke up at 2 a.m. Outside of her apartment.

"What the actual fuck", she grunted as she got up.

It was a bit chilly night and she only had her T-shirt and pajama shorts. She cursed when she realized that she didn't have her keys or a phone with her.

Goddamnit, couldn't she sleepwalk when it was a bit warmer?

Piper sighed before started to walk towards Alex's and Diane's home. It was her best option because she didn't want to spend the rest of the night out here.

Even if Piper walked pretty fast, it took her over an hour to get there. It really was a bit chilly and Piper had bare feet. The walking journey hadn't been a very pleasant experience.

The whole journey, Piper cursed in her mind and swore to tape keys to her arm next time. Luckily this wasn't a common thing. Piper spoke in her sleep and sometimes sleepwalked but she had never left her apartment.

Finally, Piper saw Alex's and Diane's house and practically ran the last steps there. She knocked and wasn't surprised when no one came. Piper didn't like that she needed to come here middle of the night. Well, it was more like an early morning.

She ringed the doorbell and after a while of silence did it again.

"What's happening?" Alex mumbled sleepily as she stumbled into the hallway where she saw Diane coming out of her own room too.

"I have no idea", Diane said as they heard their doorbell ring again. "Better not let our guest wait", she said as she walked downstairs.

"Who the hell is visiting at this our?" Alex asked grumpily.

Diane opened the door. "Piper?"

"Piper?" Alex repeated confused.

"Hey", Piper said with a yawn. The tiredness was starting to get better of her.

"What are you doing here?" Diane asked. "Not that your company is unwelcomed, but it's a weird hour to visit."

"Yeah, that's a funny story actually. I sleepwalked- for real, unlike you", Piper started as she looked pointedly at Alex. "I sleepwalked out of my apartment and got locked out. It is a bit chilly night, so I was hoping to come here to sleep?"

"You walked all the way here?" Alex asked bemusedly.

"No, Alex. I took a cab but because I didn't have any money I escaped from the cab and now polices are after me", Piper said sarcastically. "Yes, I fucking walked here and I'm tired, are you going to let me in or not?" Piper said as she trembled. She was cold and tired.

Diane stepped aside. "Of course, of course. Come in."

"Thank you", Piper sighed in relief.

"Do you want something warm to drink?" Diane asked worriedly as she saw Piper's state of clothing.

"I just want to sleep. Thanks."

"Right. Well, I'm heading back to bed then", Diane said yawning.

Piper nodded. "Good night. Or morning. I'm not sure."

Diane chuckled. "Good night."

"Do you want to come to sleep with me?" Alex asked, secretly happy about Piper's sudden visit.

"Sure", Piper nodded smiling.

"Good morning", Diane said behind the newspaper as she saw Alex to walk into the kitchen.

"Morning", Alex answered. "Do we happen to have a thermometer for fever?" she asked.

"You feeling feverish?" Diane asked as she got up to try Alex's forehead.

"No, not me. I woke up and Piper was burning. I think she might be sick", Alex clarified.

"Oh, okay. Yeah, we should have one, I'll go to check."

Alex nodded. "I'm heading back to my room to check on her."

When Diane had found the thermometer she walked straight into Alex's room. "She's sleeping?" Diane asked surprised.

"Do you actually think that if she was awake, she would let us measure her fever?" Alex asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, probably not", Diane agreed smiling a little as she pictured the situation. She gave the thermometer to Alex. "It's an oral one."

Alex nodded as she turned it on and carefully put it in Piper's mouth trying not o wake her up.

Piper really looked feverish Diane noted as she studied Piper's slightly red cheeks.

Soon the thermometer beeped and Alex took it out and checked the reading. "102°F", Alex said to her mom.

"Nope. She is not coming work today. Do you have to work today?"

Alex shook her head as she sat next to Piper. "I have rest of the week off."

"What? Why? It's four days", Diane said confused.

"Yeah. Our manager is kind of weird, he gives always many day offs in a row and then we have to work many days in a row too", Alex shrugged. "But it's fine. The days aren't that long and it's a decent job."

Diane nodded. "Okay then. You can stay with Piper then?"

"Of course", Alex nodded.

"You know, I'm sure that there are better places for you to talk than where I'm sleeping", Piper interrupted with a hoarse voice.

Alex chuckled. "Sorry for waking you."

Piper opened her eyes. "What time is it?" She asked before cleared her throat.

Alex checked the clock. "It's almost nine."

Piper sat up. "Can you give me a ride? I need to go home before work."

"Oh, no. You're not going to work today. You're sick."

"Don't be ridiculous. I feel fine", Piper rolled her eyes.

"Say that to the thermometer", Alex said as she nodded towards it.

Piper took it in her hands and looked disbelievingly at the reading. "You measured my fever when I was asleep?"

"You wouldn't have let me do it if you were awake!" Alex defended herself.

"I think your thermometer is broken. Because I'm fine."

Diane groaned. "You're not coming to work today Piper."

"What I'm supposed to do then?" Piper huffed as she threw herself back to back to lay down.

"You're spending the day with me", Alex grinned.

Piper looked at them before finally growled: "Fine."

"We weren't asking for a permission", Alex chuckled.

"But you both know that if I really wanted, I would go to work."

Alex went to lay half on top of Piper. "I need to be prepared to that then."

Diane chuckled. "Right. I'm heading off. Piper, I'm serious. Do not come to work. You wouldn't want to get customers sick too, right?"

"I'm hardly sick", Piper huffed. "But fine! I'm staying here."

"Good. Bye then!" She called out as she left the room.

"Now when you're sure that I won't leave, you can get off of me", Piper chuckled at Alex.

"But I like being on top of you", Alex smirked.

"I'm sure you do", Piper laughed. "But I'm actually really hot under these covers and your body on top of me doesn't help the situation."

Alex reluctantly got up. "Right. You should take a cool shower to calm your body temperature."

"You sure you don't want to change your career to doctor?"

Alex chuckled. "Positive. I'm going to fix us some breakfast."

Piper looked at her hesitatingly. "Sure. But nothing major, I'm not really a fan of breakfast."

Alex furrowed her eyebrows. She had noticed that Piper had never eaten breakfast when she was living there but never thought much about it. She nodded nonetheless. "All right."

Piper took Alex's advice and went to take a cool shower. However, soon she became cold and turned the shower warmer.

Piper hated being sick. Luckily she wasn't very often sick and when she was, she did a good job pretending that she wasn't.

But even more she hated when she had a fever and she always was alternately hot and cold. That didn't do any good to her already fastly changing moods.

Finally, she got out of the shower when she had managed to get her body temperature near normal.

She put back her pajamas and walked downstairs where she smelled freshly made coffee.

Piper smiled as she walked quietly into the kitchen. She might not like to eat in mornings but she would never turn down a nice cup of coffee.

Piper walked to Alex who was facing away from her and hugged her from behind. "What are you doing?"

Alex turned around with a worried face. "Don't you remember? Breakfast. Are you suffering from some memory lost too?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Smartass. What are you making?"

Alex kissed gently on top of Piper's head chuckling. "Nothing really. I just took bread, yogurt and some fruits. Pick whatever you want."

"Are you on the list?" Piper asked smirking.

"I would be if you weren't sick. I'm not trying to get sick myself."

Piper groaned. "Party pooper."

Alex chuckled. "Now eat."

Piper glared at Alex as she went to pour herself a coffee.

Alex found it adorable and turned around to make herself a bread with a stupid smile on her face.

"You want some?" Piper asked as she pointed at the coffee.

Alex looked at her direction. "Yeah, thanks."

"Great. Then you can make it yourself", Piper smirked.

"What?"

"Kidding. Black, right?"

Alex shook her head and mumbled something that Piper couldn't quite hear. "Yes. Thank you."

Piper chuckled as she poured another cup for Alex. When she was ready, she put both of the cups on the table and went to get some yogurt. That she could handle.

Soon they were both seated and sipping their coffees.

"So, is there any reason why you don't eat breakfast?" Alex asked curiously.

"I'm eating breakfast right now", Piper said with raised eyebrows.

"That's not breakfast. That's yogurt", Alex grinned.

Piper chuckled too and shook her head. "I don't know. After the accident, I have just become nauseous if I eat something in the mornings."

Alex nodded. "That's a pity. Now I can't make breakfast for you in the bed."

Piper grinned. "If you did, I would gladly eat. You just need to hold my hair up later when I'm vomiting it out."

"Some people are actually trying to eat here", Alex said but was smiling widely.

"So, what are our plans today?" Piper asked as she ate a spoonful of yogurt.

"Our plans are to watch TV, read a book, lay in bed and order some Chinese", Alex stated.

Piper groaned. "I'm not that sick!"

"Sick anyways. You need to stay inside so you will get better."

"Fine. Mom."

"Don't get that tone with me, young lady", Alex chastised jokingly.

Piper burst into a laughter and shook her head.

Alex smiled at her fondly. Nowadays it seemed that the same stupid smile was plastered on Alex's face always when she was with Piper.

They spent the day watching random movies and reading. Piper started reading the Career of Evil that she has been planning on to lend from Alex and Alex read some book that Piper had never heard of.

Piper fell asleep multiple times when they were watching TV and then once in Alex's lap when they were reading.

Alex had let her sleep and just caressed her hair and made sure that Piper wasn't too cold or too hot.

At some point Alex ordered Chinese and they ate and talked in Alex's bed.

The day had been pretty fun, even though Piper had had her suspicions. Piper's fever went down but she spent the following night too with Alex and Diane because she wasn't really in the mood to go home.

Diane promised that Piper could work tomorrow if she didn't have a fever in the morning. Alex and Diane had both laughed when Piper looked like a kid on a Christmas morning.

When Alex and Piper were in the bed going to sleep, Alex remembered something she has been meaning to ask.

"Why are you so obsessed with work? I mean it's cool that you are responsible and I know that it's probably fun to work with my mom and all but still..."

Piper was quiet for a while as she played with Alex's fingers. "It was all I had before you. After the accident, everything was different. I was a mess. Well, more mess than I'm now, anyways", Piper chuckled. "The job, however, stayed same. It was the only normal thing that I had back then. When you came into a picture, I was less dependent on work, but you know... old habits."

Alex nodded. "Now I understand better."

"Had you any theories before?" Piper asked.

"Not really. My only thought was that you were afraid that my mom wouldn't like you if you didn't take your job seriously", Alex chuckled as she turned around to spoon Piper.

Piper laughed. "That's just plain stupid."

"I know it is", Alex laughed too. "But I seriously didn't think about it that much."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Heyy", Alex said in mock hurt.

"Let's sleep. I'm tired", Piper mumbled.

"You slept most of the day", Alex pointed out.

"Shhh", Piper said smiling.

"Good night Pipes", Alex whispered.

"Good night", Piper responded as she snuggled further into Alex.

Thank you for reading! As always, please review and tell me what you thought. Suggestions and/or questions are welcomed :) I'll try to update soon!

-Iina