I am not sure I am overly thrilled with the way this turned out. I tried writing and rewriting the chapter multiple times and I'm not sure I can make it any better. I hope you enjoy it.
ALEX POV
"Hey mom," I whisper as I leave the bedroom and shut the door quietly behind me.
"Hey kid how are you holding up," she asked me concern evident in her voice?
"I'm doing ok," I said running my hand over my face trying to rid myself of this sleepy fog.
"How is Piper?"
"Still kind of out of it, she has been sleeping mostly. I haven't been able to get her to eat anything yet which is a little concerning," I relay thinking about my girlfriend sleeping in the other room.
"Did the doctor say anything about that?"
"Just that this is all pretty normal for the side effects of Rohypnol…nausea, loss of appetite, drowsiness…doesn't mean that will stop me from worrying. I know I am being crazy but I don't even want to leave the apartment, every time she makes a noise I jump to make sure she is ok."
"Oh my sweet child I can't wait until you have a baby," she said laughing.
"Moooooooooom," I groan.
"What? Babies make all sorts of noises and you have no idea why."
"Can I just get through one crisis at a time please before you start asking for grandkids again? I'm too young for that! You're too young to be grandma."
"It just means I will be the super cool grandma."
I can't help but roll my eyes. Ever since her co-worker became a grandma my mom has been not so subtly hinting she wants grandkids.
"Back to reality, Piper and I are going down to the police station tomorrow night to talk to the detective in charge of the case. They have a suspect in custody based on the surveillance tape from the bar and they need to get a statement from her."
"Is she going to be up to that?"
"She said she would be, but I don't know. I guess we will just see how she is tomorrow but if she doesn't start eating she won't have the energy."
"Just make sure she is drinking plenty of fluids."
"I have every flavor of Gatorade made I think," I chuckle at my over zealousness.
"You're doing such a good job of taking care of her baby."
"I'm trying I just hate seeing her like this."
"It is tough seeing someone you love sick and struggling."
I don't know how to respond to my mom. Love. That was something Piper and I never discussed before. I mean I know I love Piper but so far, I have never spoken those words out loud. It is not something I easily do and I certainly don't throw that term around loosely.
"Mom, I…"
"Don't even try and tell me you don't love her kid. I have known you for 27 years and I have never seen you so happy than you are with Piper."
"Mom you haven't met Piper yet."
"So literal this one…fine I have never heard you so happy then when you call me gushing about Piper. And that also brings up a very good point…I haven't met her yet and that needs to happen."
"You know you're welcome in the city anytime," I tease knowing she hates trekking into Manhattan, "and we haven't told each other yet…I don't know mom it is just different with her."
"Well, what are you waiting for? A written invitation? You love her Alex and that is why it is different. Don't be afraid to love."
"I do…love her," I confirm.
"Tell her."
God my mom always just cut straight to the point. She wasn't wrong, I do love Piper. Over the last 48 hours there was no doubt I loved this woman but now I just needed to tell Piper that. We talked for a few more minutes about less heavy topics before she has to run. I hang up the phone and was about to make some tea when I hear some shuffling around in the other room.
"Pipes, you ok," I ask walking back into the bedroom?
"Mmmhmmm," she mumbled sitting up her legs thrown over the side of the bed like she was going to try and stand.
"You want to stand up," I asked?
"MmmmMmmm," she responded shaking her head no.
"Ok, then let's try and lay back down ok," I say walking over to help ease her back to the mattress.
Once her head hits the pillow her eyes flutter shut again.
"Don't feel good," she says her voice muffled by the blankets.
"Do you feel nauseous?"
"Uh-huh."
"Ok," I said looking at the nightstand to see her medicine and a bottle of water there. "Ok, we need to sit you back up to get some medicine in you," I inform her.
She groans less than thrilled by the thought of sitting back up.
"Put the pout away," I said tapping her lower lip. "That isn't going to help this process go any faster."
I hated seeing her sick and uncomfortable, but she was such a cute patient. Normally, Piper was pretty up beat and a glass half full type person but apparently when she got sick she was a Grumposaurus. I help her sit up just long enough to get some medicine in her before she is laying back down.
"Stay," she murmurs.
"I am just going to go get a water bottle and book and I will be right back," I said leaning down to kiss her forehead.
I couldn't have been gone more than a few minutes but when I walked back into the bedroom Piper appeared to be sleeping. I slip into the bed beside her propped up by pillows and leaning against the head board so I could read.
"Read to me," she requested snuggling up to my side resting her head on my stomach.
Even though I am half way through the book I read a million times already I flip to chapter one and get comfortable.
"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
I start reading the familiar words of The Great Gatsby with a smile on my face. This might be the most read book in my arsenal, but I never shared the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald with anyone else before. I had never read to any of my girlfriends, but in this moment, I had never been more content in my life.
PIPERS POV
We walked into the police station and I suddenly get a little nervous. I reach for Alex's hand gripping it a little tighter than usual. She leans over, kisses my temple and whispers reassurances in my ear. I know I didn't do anything wrong and I am here as a victim, but still being interviewed by the police was intimidating.
"Hi this is Piper Chapman, she is here to meet with Detective Fox," Alex tells the man sitting at the front desk.
"Is she expecting you?"
"Yes, she said to come down around 5."
"Ok, just have a seat and I will let her know you are here."
"Thanks."
Alex directs us over to the chairs along the wall.
"You are going to do fine. Just answer any questions they have to the best of your ability."
"Thank you for coming…thank you for well everything you have done for me over the past few days," I tell her never wanting her to feel like I am ungrateful.
"You're welcome, but you don't have to thank me Pipes…"
Alex was interrupted when, who I presumed was Detective Fox, walked into the lobby.
"Piper," she directed towards me.
"Yes, that is me it is nice to meet you," I stand shaking her hand. "This is Alex."
"Thank you both for coming down," she said shaking each of our hands. "If you would like to follow me to the back," she said opening the door locked by a card swipe.
"Alex can come with me right," I asked fearful she might not be allowed back?
"Absolutely, you are not in trouble Piper. I just want to know what you know so we make sure we have all our T's crossed."
I breathe a sigh of relief and walk through the door with Alex and wait for the Detective to direct us where to go. We are led to a small interview room and offered bottles of water.
"Again, thank you for coming in," the detective said once again. "We have the surveillance tape from that night and have reviewed what it showed. Have you seen the tape since that night?"
"No, neither of us have," I answer.
"Ok, that might actually be better so we know what you tell us today is actually your memory and not from the tape. So just tell me wat you remember of that night."
"I met Alex at AVDV around 7:30, but she was working. I didn't have anything to drink there before I headed over to Red's where I work to wait for Alex to get done working. I probably arrived there around 8pm. One of our mutual friends was working the bar, Nicky Nicholas, she got me a beer when I first sat down. I felt fine drinking it I swear," I quickly add hoping I didn't just get Nicky in trouble.
I looked at Alex worried as the detective scribbled notes. She just gave me an encouraging smile to continue on.
"A guy sat down next to me, the bar was pretty full, so I guess I didn't really think anything of it. He introduced himself…John or Joe…I think it was Joe. He ordered a beer but he wasn't staying…I forget where he was going but I think he was meeting someone else. It all starts to get pretty foggy from there. I remember having a second drink but I think it was with Nicky…Joe left," I said almost like it was a question.
"We have the tape so we have a pretty good idea of the order of events. We just wanted to know if he told you anything when you were talking."
"Like I said his name was Joe and the best I can remember it was just small talk."
"The guy we are holding has asked for a lawyer and refuses to speak to us. His real name by the way is Steve Gamble."
"What the fuck!"
The detective and I are both slightly startled by Alex's outburst.
"Does that name mean something to you Alex," the detective asked?
"Can I see his mugshot," she requested?
The detective flipped through the flip before pulling out the photo and slide it across the table to Alex. The picture does nothing to job my memory but Alex's seem to get more agitated.
"That little bitch," she grits out. "That ranging super cunt bitch," Alex is now steaming.
"Alex who is this," I ask worried about her reaction.
"This is Steve Gamble brother to Sylvia Gamble."
I never knew her last name but I can't imagine Alex knowing to many other Sylvia's. I am shocked that she had something to do with this…was this all because an ex-lovers scorn?
"And who is Sylvia Gamble in context to you," the detective asked?
"My ex-girlfriend, the person I was seeing before Piper," Alex explained.
"Ahh ok now we are getting somewhere. Has she made threats to either of you before?"
"Not that I am aware of…I mean she wasn't happy with the breakup but I never thought it would escalate to this."
"We are certainly going to investigate this new information and see if we can't use it to get Mr. Gamble talking. I cannot stress this enough you need to stay away from Sylvia Gamble. Let us do our job and we will let you know if there are any new developments."
After we leave the station we go out to get something to eat. I spend most of the time trying to calm Alex down. She is raging mad that Sylvia had anything to do with this, even though we aren't certain to the full involvement she had. I convinced her that the only people to blame for my getting drugged was Steve Gamble and probably Sylvia… but I knew Alex was still harboring some blame.
By the time we made it back to Alex's apartment I am beyond tired. This was the most activity I had in almost four days and I was feeling it. I could tell Alex wasn't in a talking mood and while I went to bed she grabbed a book and joined me.
It was just after midnight but I had been tossing and turning for the last hour. As much as I had tried to calm Alex before I was uneasy about this whole situation.
"Just how unstable is this Sylvia person," I asked flipping on the bedside lamp and sitting up in bed.
Alex groaned at the soft light now filling the previously dark room.
"More unstable than I thought…but I think what happened is exactly what she was aiming for."
"It was a very clear message…I know what you did bitch and I want you to know that I know."
Alex blindly reaches for her glasses and then glances at the clock.
"Look being with you was my choice," she said struggling to wake herself up, "I wasn't happy."
"And I took advantage of that," I spoke the untold words.
"I'm a grown-up Piper," Alex said laughing.
"Do you think she is going to come after me again," I asked genuinely worried.
Alex tossed her glasses back on the table and snuggled into me.
"I think she needed to get it out of her system…sometimes you just need to rage to move on. She knows she hurt you and by extension hurt me too. I hate what she did, I hate you were put in the cross hairs but I don't think she wanted anything worse to happen. As much as I want to burst through her door and punch her in the face we have to let the cops do their job."
"Do you think she loved you?"
"Yes."
I hesitate for a moment unsure if I should ask this question, but it is falling from my lips before I can think of the repercussions.
"Did you love her?"
Alex grabs my hand and brushes her thumb over my index finger.
"No," she says without hesitation.
Relief floods my body but Alex isn't done yet.
"But I love you," she adds looking me square in the eye.
I certainly wasn't expecting that.
"You do," I ask a smile growing on my lips?
Alex suddenly gets shy and smiles burying her face in the pillow. I pull back the covers slightly so I can lay down beside her. She lets out a nervous chuckle as we get comfortable laying so close we are sharing a pillow. She softly brushes my hair behind my ear. When I look into her eyes all I see is the truth to her words, she loves me.
"I don't say that to everyone…you have to say it back," she smiled.
I was so happy she told me that she loved me I hadn't realized I hadn't returned the sentiment. I run my finger down the line of her jaw and rest it just below her chin. I continue to search her eyes, it is so easy to get lost in them.
"I love you too."
She smiles and leans over to kiss me. Saying those words out loud was so freeing and made me so happy I just wanted to keep saying them over and over again. I kiss Alex back but it wasn't enough, I want her.
I deepen the kiss and slide on top of Alex.
"Are you sure," Alex asks pulling away slightly?
I sit up so I am a straddling her waist.
"I am sure I love you," I smile saying those three words again. "And I am sure I want you," I add pulling my shirt over my head.
Alex sits up so she is practically cradling me.
"I love you," she said.
And those were the last word we spoke all night.