a/n : *waves* hey.. so bad news. I won't be updating faux until this is complete. good news.. this is the final chapter! enjoy (or don't)
Piper wrung her hands together nervously as she watched her words tumble around the mind of the stunned figure seated across from her on the uncharacteristically bustling patio; coffee's long forgotten as they had begun to discuss the future. After another few moments of creased brows and heavy sighs, Piper cleared her throat as she decided she should break the heavily weighing silence.
"You should say something." She whispered tentatively as her eyes searched around the café's open patio; silently envying all the seemingly content people surrounding her- people that weren't currently in her impossible situation
Another moment of silence followed before a deep sigh was released with a shake of the head in utter disbelief
"So you've made a decision." Came the barely audible, husky reply
"I want to be very clear here," she began as she licked her lips to moisten them before leaning in closer, resting her weight on her elbows "Yes, I have made a decision; I haven't made a choice. It had nothing to do with choosing between the two of you."
"Oh, well that makes it suck so much less" was bitterly mumbled a beat later
Retracting her arms from the table and crossing them, the blonde turned her face to the right as her eyes glassed over with unshed tears. Resting her gaze upon a young, hipster looking teenage couple laughing over their lattes, she exhaled slowly. A small tinge of a smile unfurled itself across her lips as she was reminded of all the reasons she was doing this; why she needed to do this. To push through the pain she will inevitably cause; because she had in fact made a decision to follow her heart.
Looking back into the face riddled with heartbreak, she reached forward to tangle her fingers with the apprehensive ones tapping nervously on the table top
"I love you" she whispered finally
"That sounds so final" came the slightly watery reply in a whisper
"That's because it is." She stated simply "You deserve to be happy; and maybe we could manage to be for a while but-"
"I know, just, please go." Piper nodded as she silently collected her belongings from the unoccupied chair to her right. Placing a few crumpled bills onto the table, she placed her wallet into her purse before slowly standing. "This is what you really want?" Piper recognized the desperation in the low timbre of the voice she knows so well
"Yes." She replied confidently after taking one final moment to reflect. Receiving no indication that her words had been heard other than a subtle nod, she lifted her purse onto her shoulder and turned to leave
"Pipes?" her eyes closed tightly as she heard her name being called out behind her. Stopping in her tracks, she turned around; silently waiting for possibly the last words she will hear breathed through lips she would never touch again. "Tell Alex she's taking that ugly fucking coffee table with her."
Piper let out a laugh; a laugh that was caught somewhere in between a sob as she covered her mouth and approached the man. As always, he used humor in the worst of situations, yet always made you feel lighter.
As she neared him, he jumped to his feet and enveloped his girlfriend of two years in a ferocious hug, Piper burying her face into his shoulder as she continued to chuckle a watery laugh. The two swayed slightly, holding onto each other for as long as they could
"I'm going to miss you" she mumbled into his slightly damp JCrew sweater
"I know" he nodded, unable to say anything else.
"Vause, will you slow down?" Nicky called out as she jogged a couple of steps to catch up with the long strides of her friend "Christ, what's the rush? I think I just saw through time." She quipped breathlessly as she simultaneously attempted to power walk and smoke.
"Nicky, I need a coffee the size of my bathtub after last night." Alex reasoned as she continued to stride forward, ignoring the huffs of her companion lagging behind her
"That's a grande, right?" Nicky mumbled as she tapped away at her phone before taking a long drag of her Marlboro light. Bumping suddenly into the brunette as she had stopped rather abruptly, Nicky hissed out suddenly "Shit!" she grimaced as she saw the fresh cigarette burn she had just created in the back of Alex's leather jacket
"What?" Alex asked sharply as she glanced behind her, waiting impatiently for the 'pedestrian crossing' sign to flash
"Uh…" Nicky paused as she looked up wide eyed at the inquisitive glare of the woman "Nothing." She sputtered out before tossing her cigarette to the ground, stomping on it needlessly. Looking past the brunette suddenly, she narrowed her eyes a she took in the blonde figure across the street. Nodding her head in the direction for emphasis, she nudged the arm of the taller girl. "Isn't that Chapman?"
"Where?" Alex asked suddenly as she followed her friends gaze across the way to a busy cafe patio. Standing squarely in the middle was indeed Piper; locked in an intimate embrace with Larry. Alex felt a warm dread envelope her heart as she took in the way that the two swayed slightly in the embrace; the slight bob of their heads making it visible that the two were talking quietly to each other. Alex watched with intensity, ignoring the shoves from the people passing around her to cross the street.
Suddenly, Alex felt as though her entire world came crashing down around her as the two separated far enough for Larry to leave a lingering kiss on the blonde's lips. This is it. She mused sadly; she had lost. She had lost a great friend in Larry; she had lost the only woman she has ever loved.
Nicky watched on, rooted beside her in complete silence; save for the occasional explicit she hurled towards the passerby's shoving her out of their way. After a final bump of the shoulder, she turned towards the brunette sympathetically.
"Tell me what you want me to do." Nicky stated softly as she held the girl's elbow, absentmindedly tugging her away from the scene
"Get me away from here." Alex murmured despondently, earning a quick nod in response as she allowed herself to be lead away to her friend's apartment
Piper rode the elevator to the fifth floor with a radiant grin; the nervous energy mixed flawlessly with the excitement she was suddenly feeling. As each floor was illuminated above her, she felt her knees getting weaker. She had never, in her life taken a chance. Always daddy's little girl; always the overachiever; always the safe bet. Piper had just thrown everything she had every known to the wind and was prepared to freefall headlong into love with Alex Vause. She had no idea what would be waiting for them at the bottom. There was once a time when that terrified the blonde, however standing here, shifting from foot to foot nervously as she awaited the generic 'ding' of the elevator, Piper didn't want to know.
As the elevator came to a halt on Nicky Nichols' designated floor, the blondes nerves got the best of her as she felt slightly dizzy; she was deliriously happy to the point that it was taking over her physically. Taking a deep, calming breath as the doors slid open, she stepped with shaky legs onto the carpeting lining the long hallway.
Fiddling with the ring on her middle finger, she mumbled the numbers of each apartment door to herself as she passed before finally reaching 5G. Smoothing out her light grey blouse, she took one more deep breath before raising her hand into a fist and knocking repeatedly onto the mahogany door in front of her.
Silence.
Furrowing her brows, she huffed slightly before once again rattling off a string of knocks on the solid door in front of her. Smiling as she heard the voice of the woman whom had unintentionally and unwelcomely captured her heart, she stepped back and teased her curly hair once more self-consciously.
Opening the door, Alex assumed it was Nicky, who had ventured out with Lorna a little over an hour ago. Sarcastic remark at the ready, her words died on her lips as she took in the form of woman who had not but this afternoon, broken her heart.
"Piper" she stated simply. Ducking her head outside the threshold, Alex looked left and right, eyeing any movement from her friend's obnoxiously nosey neighbors. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Piper responded nervously as she chanced a glance around herself. Turning her gaze back to the woman's curious eyes, she pressed on. "Can I come in?" she questioned, slightly thrown that the brunette hadn't offered already
"Sure, yeah." Alex mumbled as she sidestepped to open the door widely for the other girl to enter.
"Thanks" Piper murmured as she brushed past her and into the slightly disheveled, yet beautiful studio apartment. Azure eyes travelled along the length of the open space taking in the changes. When she had been here before, Nicky's apartment had resembled somewhat organized chaos. Now, she noticed blankets lining the couch and floor, a discarded pair of pants flung carelessly on the kitchen table, and many empty bottles scattered throughout the space. Turning once she heard the click of the door shut, Piper grinned. "You've been here for two days. How did you two create such havoc?"
Alex quirked her eyebrow in a way that simply suggested, 'seriously'?
Chuckling, Piper nodded her head in understanding. "Right"
A silence fell over the two as Piper attempted to collect her thoughts. She had tried desperately to come up with the perfect, 'romance movie' delivery but had quickly realized that isn't who she and Alex were. They weren't a cliché; or a grand gesture; or a perfectly articulated speech. She decided that she would do what she and Alex had done since the beginning, and say what she felt in that moment.
"I spoke with Larry today…" she began, raising her eyes to those of emerald before her "I made a decision today, Alex." She added after a moment, slowly shuffling closer
"Look, you don't have to explain." Alex jumped in. Unable to bare hearing the words that were sure to spill from the blondes lips, she decided to protect what little shattered pieces of her heart she had left. Waving her hand around nonchalantly, she plastered on a superficial grin. "I get it. I know what this was; we fooled around for a while and now it's over." Alex rattled off without meeting the widened eyes boring into her "It was fun and we had a great time, but I get it. Say no more."
"It was fun." The blonde recited the woman's words to herself in a mumble
"Wasn't it?" Alex grinned seductively; however Piper was completely unfazed by the gesture that would have previously sent her into a lust-filled frenzy. The sexy smile offered to her used to make her feel seductive and beautiful, wanted, and lately special. However now, witnessing this same smile made her feel cheap; used like the string of girls before her. How could she have thought that she meant more to Alex than that? How could she have allowed herself to be so stupid?
Holding her chin high in a way only a Chapman could, Piper's eyes turned to ice as she slapped on a wide, close-lipped smile. "It was fun" Piper nodded in agreement, unwilling to let the immeasurable amount of hurt she was currently feeling to show through her poised exterior. "I'm glad you understand."
"Yeah" Alex trailed off as she had noticed the visible difference in the other woman. Not many people would be able to notice when the blonde flipped the switch so subtly on them. However, not many people have had the privilege of knowing intimately, every contour and line of her impossibly beautiful face
"Great, well I'll see you around." Piper smiled almost manically as she stepped forward to place a quick peck of a kiss onto the porcelain skin of the taller woman's cheek; barely able to hold back the waiver in her voice. Pulling back, she smiled once more before turning to towards the door. Approaching it slowly, her body literally yelling at her to yield, she stopped suddenly as she reached for the doorknob. "Oh, Larry said that you could take the coffee table." She spat in an eerily calm timbre. "See you."
Piper didn't wait for a response as she closed the door behind her. Not wanting to be there a second longer than she had to, she decided to forgo the elevator, opting instead to take the stairs two at a time as she raced away from the apartment. Finally making her way outside, she was suddenly hit with an overwhelming sense of loss accompanied by the slight breeze.
Deciding she was not going to waste another tear on Alex Vause, she straightened her posture as she suddenly had a previous piece of advice make itself know in her mind. Narrowing her eyes, she began to walk briskly towards the line of idle cabs with one mission in mind. Climbing into the first available taxi, she cleared her throat with a sense of authority. "Chapman Industries, please and step on it."
"I'll get back to you when I have sufficient information to provide you with." Bill Chapman chirped impatiently into the phone's receiver just as he heard a tentative knock on his lavish, oak double doors before seeing the head of his daughter poke through cautiously. Waving her in, he smiled while rolling his eyes, pointing to the phone cupped in his right hand. "Mhm, John I will get back to you. When I know, you'll know, okay?" Pause "Great. I'll see you next week." He finished with an impatient tinge in his voice before lowering the phone to the receiver. "Piper honey, come in." He smiled widely as he stood, making his way over to greet his only daughter with a kiss to the cheek. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" he questioned as he walked around his desk, lowering himself into his oversized leather chair.
"Oh, you know me. I was in the neighborhood, etcetera." Piper rattled off absentmindedly as she took a seat opposite her father's exquisite desk
"Okay, I believe you." He chuckled before leaning over to grasp his porcelain coffee mug, bringing it to his lips. "Let's try again, pumpkin." He pressed with knowing eyes
Piper sighed heavily in annoyance. Just once in her life, she would love for her father to be unable to read her like a book. The two had always had a special bond; her father showing slight favoritism to his only daughter as well as claiming the majority of his attention. It was both a gift and a curse, Piper mused.
"I actually came to ask a favor" she began before turning her head to see her father's assistant enter holding a cup of tea for the blonde, placing it in front of her with a smile. "Thanks, Penny." She mumbled as the woman nodded and quickly retreated out the door, closing it softly behind her
"What kind of favor?" Bill questioned with a furrow of his brow
"Well, do you remember my friend, er, Larry's roommate Alex?" Piper stumbled as she lifted the tea cup to her lips, blowing softly on it before deciding it was too unbearably hot to drink before lowering it once again to the desk in front of her
"Yes, I remember Miss Vause." Bill nodded in recognition "What about her, pumpkin?"
"Well, I know that you're lining up some architectural engineers for the San Francisco division and I thought I would come here and ask you to consider Alex? She's one credit from graduation and she's the top of her class. She's really talented, daddy" Piper rushed out after seeing the apprehension in her father's features.
"Piper," Bill began with a sigh "I can't just hire a young woman with no experience, and fresh out of school no less, to head up a major project just because she's a friend of yours."
"Daddy, I'm asking you to consider it. I can give you her number; call her and have her come in. Let her show you some of the designs she has come up with in school. They are really remarkable." Piper passionately spoke before catching herself, realizing that she no longer owed Alex admiration, as genuine as it was
Bill regarded his daughter curiously. There had been a major change in her within the past year and he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly it was. The past few months had seen his daughter the happiest he had ever witnessed. Suddenly, his eyes widened
"Are you pregnant?" he asked softly
"What?! No." Piper shrieked as she was raising the steaming cup of tea to her lips.
"Okay, I was just wondering, sweetie." Bill sheepishly shrugged before straightening his posture, clearing his throat. "Anyway, I'm not making any promises. I want to stress that."
"Of course" Piper nodded eagerly, thankful that they had veered back on topic
"Okay, leave me her number with me and I will consider it." Bill relented with a sigh
"Thank you, Daddy." Piper grinned as she attempted once again to sip from her tea. Furrowing her brows in confusion, followed by slight irritation, she lowered the cup once again and glared at her father. "Do I look pregnant?"
"Oh boy." The man huffed as he ran a hand nervously through his greying head of hair
Three months later…
"and I will call every Sunday night to listen to you talk about who got fat at work; and I will send you a… what does this say?" Alex asked with a squint of her eyes as she pointed to Nicky's famous chicken scratch
"Postcard" Nicky mumbled angrily as she tossed what remained of her whiskey back in one swig
"I will send you a postcard every time I come across one with a topless broad… really Nichols?" Alex smirked at the woman's choice of word. Earning a nod of the head in response, Alex continued "With a topless broad on it and sign it," Alex paused as she read the next words over once more before raising her eyes to lock onto her lifelong friend's. "and sign it, 'your best friend Alex; who misses you more than anything in the world." Alex finished softly
Sniffling slightly, Nicky leaned over the table with a pen at the ready "Sign there."
Alex rolled her eyes before taking the proffered pen and signing the 'contract' Nicky had drawn up. It had been just over two months ago that Bill Chapman had reached out to her; offering her a chance to change her life. She had nervously and very apprehensively agreed to meet with the man, bringing with her, her portfolio.
As he eyed her work critically, she stood by and observed with baited breath. She had graduated the previous month, finally completing the next step in fulfilling her dream. However, receiving a call from the head of Chapman Industries requesting her for an interview was the last thing she had ever expected.
The two had met several times after that fateful meeting, Bill seemingly impressed with the precision and skill that Alex had demonstrated. Alex however, could never escape thoughts of Piper throughout their meetings. She had tried to separate herself and Piper from the situation, however every time Bill had mentioned her name, Alex's heart seized in her chest.
She had not heard from the blonde again after that day at Nicky's place. Alex had surmised that Piper was moving on with her life with Larry. When she had spoken those false words, belittling their time together, she was silently praying that Piper would tell her it meant more to her. However, it never came and Alex had no choice but to accept that Piper was never hers to keep.
Alex threw herself into making the best of her situation, meeting with Bill and offering suggestions when prompted. It wasn't long after that Bill had willingly relented and offered Alex one of the five positions in San Francisco.
So here they sat, the night before she departs and Alex couldn't think of a better send off than to share a drink with her best friend in the world.
"I am going to miss you." Alex murmured as she reached forward to place her hand atop the other woman's.
"Come on, Vause. Don't get soft on me now." Nicky mumbled, followed by a sniffle as she retracted her hand away from the contact, trying desperately to keep her emotions at bay. "I was just starting to like you." She added with a watery smirk
"Oh, that only took fifteen years. I must be losing my charm." Alex chuckled before sighing as she glanced at her watch. "I've got to get going. I still have some things to pack; moving sucks." Alex finished with a groan
"Seriously? It's only ten o clock. We haven't even seen those underage kids at the next table throw up yet!" Nicky exclaimed as she gestured to the teens currently pounding back shot after shot, clearly unaware of their limitations.
"Well, as fun as that sounds" Alex began with a sarcastic quirk of her brow "I need to get going. I wanted to finish packing tonight so I can spend the morning with my mom." Alex mumbled as she searched her bag for her weathered, leather wallet
Nicky leaned back in her chair, shoulders sagging in defeat. Eyes scanning around the practically empty bar, she took in the few other patrons with little regard. Shaking her head suddenly, she locked her gaze back onto Alex as she finally managed to retrieve her wallet from the endless abyss of her hand bag.
"This isn't about Chapman, is it?" Nicky questioned lowly, elbows leaning on the table top as she leaned closer
"No, Nicky" Alex sighed as she dug around her wallet; movements seizing at the mention of the woman's name "This is about me. I was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm going to take it."
"Would you have taken it if you and Piper were together?" Nicky pressed as her finger circled the mouth of her tumbler absentmindedly
"It's irrelevant." Alex dismissed as she reached into her wallet, pulling out a few bills to toss carelessly onto the table top
"Is it?" Nicky quirked her brow, intrigued by the response
"Nicky, what the hell are you- can you stop talking in riddles?" Alex growled out in frustration. She rested her elbow onto the table as she cradled her head in her hand. The other hand lifting her frames into her hair, pulling it back slightly. Seeing her friend sitting silently, she could almost see the words fighting to escape her lips. With a heavy sigh, Alex closed her eyes in preparation. "Okay, speak."
"All I'm saying," Nicky began almost immediately, the urgency in her delivery making it well known to Alex that she had been waiting to say these words for a while. "is maybe you should talk to her. I mean, I've seen it. I've seen the way you look at each other Vause, and it makes me sick; and a little like I need a shower, but it's also really fucking beautiful, man." Nicky rushed out. Noting her friend's silence, she continued softly "and listen, your mom is here; I'm here…get your girl and we'll all live like the fucking Waltons."
Alex regarded her for a long moment before her expression hardened as she stood. Reaching for her jacket that had been resting on the back of her chair, she wrestled it on with a huff.
"She's not my girl."
The next day had been nothing short of chaos as Alex had per usual, procrastinated on her plans of getting a jump on packing her belongings; the truth being that she could not escape the haunting words of her best friend. She had spent the night considering what had been said; if she should make one last attempt at happiness. However, Alex came to the realization that she had already caused enough pain for the couple. She would have to settle for another type of happiness in the form of her career.
Racing around Nicky's apartment, she had scrambled to throw whatever she could into the two practically empty pieces of luggage, deciding that the rest could wait until she was settled into her new life on the west coast.
The next task on her list was not a simple one; Alex hesitated at the gates of the cemetery for some time before she managed to walk down the long gravel path, flowers in hand. Alex spent two hours with her mother; talking casually and occasionally shedding a tear or two. She had to keep reminding herself of Piper's words that she knew applied now more than ever. "You don't have to visit her grave to feel close to her." Alex took refuge in those words, deciding that her mother would be coming with her on this journey and not lying in the ground in Jersey.
After kissing her mother's headstone one last time, she decided to head back to Nicky's to gather herself before the girl was to drive her to the airport. As she arrived, Nicky and Lorna stood by the kitchen table with a bottle of champagne and flutes at the ready. Alex smiled warmly at the gesture and joined them, wrapping her arms around each of them.
"Okay, you got your bags; you got your ticket?" Nicky asked from the drivers seat of the rental as they sat idle in the departure drop off
"Yes." Alex nodded, somewhat nervously as she held the plane ticket up for emphasis
"Your passport?" she questioned suspiciously
"Yes; next time do a better job of hiding it, Nichols." Alex smirked, seeing the disappointed look cross her best friend's features.
"Yeah, okay. Get the hell out of my car" Nicky joked as she shoved the girl's shoulder playfully. Alex laughed for a moment before taking on a more serious expression. Nicky eyed her skeptically as she leaned away from her "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm going to miss you so much." Alex whispered with a slight sniffle "Give me a hug" she said softly as she leaned in closer to the other girl
"No, I don't want one" Nicky shook her head as she leaned further away and into her drivers side door
"No, come on; bring it in" Alex grinned as she leaned in further over the center console
"Vause, I swear to God-"
Nicky's words were muffled short as Alex launched herself on top of the girl while cackling. Nicky struggled against her for a few moments, a string of explicits falling from her mouth before finally relenting with a chuckle and wrapping her arms around her tightly. Nicky stroked her hair as they sat still in the embrace; Alex practically on top of her with her head on the girls chest.
Suddenly, they heard a tap on the window. Both looking up slowly, they saw a police officer glaring at them from the driver's side window. Both were staring up at him silently waiting for him to say something. With a roll of the eye, he tapped on the window once more.
"Move your car" He shouted monotonously through the window
"Oh right; shit." Nicky cursed as the two detached themselves from the embrace. With one final grin over her shoulder, Alex exited the car, tugging her bags behind her without looking back. Nicky sighed heavily as she watched after her until she disappeared through the sliding doors.
"This scent is actually a very popular one amongst our regulars." Piper spoke softly to the woman across from her as she handed over a pouch of bath salts. "It has a hint-" Piper stopped herself short as she heard a bang on the storefront window. Furrowing her brows and tilting her head to the left to inspect the disturbance, she shook her head with a smile, focusing her attention back onto her customer. "It has a hint of chamomile in it which is really, very relaxi-"
"DEA, nobody move!" Nicky belted as she strutted in; her hands hanging off the waist of her jeans lazily
The few customers littering the store's open space did as was told and halted all movement with wide eyes. The poor, unsuspecting customer standing next to Piper dropped the bath salts to the floor with a soft thud before raising her hands above her head in surrender
"Excuse me; what the hell are you doing?" Piper exclaimed as her eyes scanned the store, offering silent apologies to the rattled patrons inside
"Ma'am, I have it on good authority that this store is a front for a massive Methamphetamine laboratory." Nicky rattled off with false bravado as she walked casually around the store. Picking up a clear bag of blue-hued bath crystals, she tossed it in her hands a few times before turning towards the customer currently flanked to her right. "You ever see Breaking Bad?" she asked as she leaned in closer, earning a horrified look in response
"Nicky!" Piper shrieked with eyes impossibly wide
"I'm going to have to ask all of you to file out of here in a calm and orderly fashion, please." She continued, completely ignoring the blonde's protest.
Piper watched helplessly as a herd of her customers were marched out of the store. Turning towards Nicky as the final straying customer shuffled out, Piper narrowed her eyes on the grinning woman in front of her.
"Do you have some kind of disorder?" Piper questioned calmly before continuing "Like, can you not help it or something? Please tell me Nicky, because I am really trying to find any excuse not to murder you right now."
"Vause." Nicky replied simply. All traces of her infamous smirk vanishing from her features.
"Nicky…" Piper trailed off with a sigh as she reached down, retrieving the dropped bath salts from the floor.
"I dropped her off at the airport half an hour ago." Nicky continued nonchalantly with a shrug as she trailed behind the retreating blonde, picking at the odd product along the way
Piper froze. She knew that this day was coming. Her father had kept her well informed about how well her recommendation was panning out. He offered nothing but praise regarding the young architect; all the while making Piper both incredibly happy and her heart ache all at once.
"That must have been hard for you." Piper offered, somewhat distantly as she busied herself with counting the register. She was obviously not having any other customers walk through her doors today. "I know how much she means to you"
"Yeah," Nicky scoffed a laugh "More than what she means to you, I guess." Nicky spat as she turned on her heel to leave
"What do you want me to say, Nicky?" Piper called out, throwing the bills in her hand to the counter as she stepped around and closer to the girl. "Alex made it quite clear that we were only 'having fun'" Piper added, aggressively quoting the term for emphasis. "How do you think that made me feel after just breaking up with my boyfriend of two years, who adored me, so that I could be with her?"
"You broke up with sweater-vest?" Nicky exclaimed, wide eyed
"Larry," Piper sighed in annoyance at the nickname. "Yes, I broke up with him the same day I went to your place to talk to Alex."
"The same day…" Nicky trailed off in thought "Did you happen to break up with him around three o clock at that café on Madison?" Nicky asked, the dread in her voice easily being played off as subtle curiosity
"I'm terrified that you know that." Piper responded unnervingly. Suddenly it dawned on Piper that it was impossible for her to know that unless… "Nicky, how did you know that?"
"Oh," Nicky groaned out, her face skyward as she ran her hands roughly over her face "We are such stupid motherfuckers."
"Nicky!" Piper exclaimed as she grasped the shoulders of the other woman roughly
"We saw you guys; Vause thought that you two decided to stay together." Nicky grimaced
"That's why she said those things…" Piper trailed off in realization
"Of course that's why, Chapman!" Nicky exclaimed "She fucking loves you, man. She's willing to leave the state because she can't deal with running into you and sweater-vest."
"She loves me." Piper repeated the words softly to herself with a slight shake of the head. "Nicky, what time is her flight?"
"You've got an hour, Chapman." Nicky smirked as she held up the car keys to the rental. As the blonde snatched the keys from her hand, she turned on her heel and sprinted out the door. Nicky stood motionless for a moment, staring at the closed door. Suddenly, it opened once more with the signature ring of the bell overhead; Piper reappearing frantically. "Gate 5." She smirked
Piper nodded once before once again, slipping through the door in a hurry
Nicky stood rooted in her spot with a hopeful grin on her face. Furrowing her brow suddenly, she turned, eyes glancing around the empty store she was left to attend to. Hearing the ringing of the overhead bell, she turned towards a woman in her mid-forties. They locked eyes silently before Nicky shuffled from one foot to the other.
"Welcome to Popi?"
Piper weaved in and out of traffic at a frantic pace. It felt eerily like movie; racing to the airport in hopes of reaching the one that almost got away but didn't because you made it in time; except, this was far more terrifying, realistic, and somewhat dangerous.
Looking towards the illuminated digitalized numbers on the dash, Piper sighed heavily as she noticed she had fifteen minutes to get to the designated gate. Stepping on the gas and breaking just about every traffic violation possible, she made her way to the departures section in record time, abandoning the rental and racing in through the sliding doors.
Piper raced through the massive airport, desperately trying to ignore the scent of cinnabon calling out to her. Pushing her way past a group of people idly standing by, she cursed under her breath as she chanced a glance at her watch. 5 minutes.
Suddenly, her eyes landed on the 'Gate 5' sign and she breathed a sigh of relief. A smile spreading across her lips as she slowed her pace to a determined walk. Breathing heavily, she picked up her stride in anticipation as she pushed past the bodies surrounding her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the last crowed of people separated, giving her a clear view of the seating area- the vacant seating area.
Piper felt a wave of panic come over her as she raced towards the attendant who was occupied removing the sign from beside the closed shuttle door.
"Excuse me; is this the flight to San Francisco?" Piper questioned frantically; her tone an octave higher revealing her desperation
"Yes; they're just taxing to the runway now." The woman smiled a practiced grin, clearly not hearing the panic in the woman's voice
"No, no they don't leave for another…" Piper glanced down at her watch with dread. 5 minutes. Her watch had of course stopped. Why wouldn't it? The woman was suddenly hit with an inconsolable need to cry. This was meant to be her great, grand gesture. She was supposed to make it just in time. Grab the brunette's arm as she stepped through the threshold and kiss her passionately followed by a declaration of her love. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Piper sighed in defeat and made her way over to the large window, watching as the plane made its way slowly towards the runway. Laying a hand on the cool glass, the blonde leaned closer, her breath slightly fogging the pristine glass.
Feeling the vibration of her cell phone in her back pocket, Piper closed her eyes. She was not going to miss watching the love of her life leave her while she takes a phone call. If she wasn't going to have her ideal romantic movie ending, she could at least have her 'classic drama' ending which consisted of her staring out the window longingly while 'time to say goodbye' plays in her head. Too bad it's not raining. That would have made it. She mused to herself sadly
Watching as the plane sped off down the runway, Piper let a single tear fall as she watched it ascend out of view. Feeling the vibration of her cell once more, she rolled her eyes as she retrieved it. Without bothering to check the caller ID, she answered in a slight huff.
"Hello?"
"Hey." The hesitant, husky reply came a breath later.
Piper's posture straightened as she felt her knees almost give way at the sound of the voice she had been aching to hear once again.
"Hey" Piper responded softly as she closed her eyes. Piper heard soft breathing coming from the other line and she finally allowed herself to break down. Cupping her hand over the bottom half of her mouth, she let a soft sob escape her throat. "I'm too late. I tried to get here Alex, I did but my watch stopped, and I thought I had more time and Nicky…" Piper choked on a sob "Nicky…" she attempted once more before falling apart once more
"Piper," Alex cooed softly. Receiving another sob in return, she chuckled softly. "Pipes, it's okay. Where are you?"
"At the airport" Piper finally responded as she gathered herself enough to strange a reply
"You're what?" Alex exclaimed in disbelief
"Yeah. I just watched your plane take off." Piper sniffled as she looked out the window once again "Did you see me?"
"No, I didn't see you. I'm at your fucking apartment." Alex huffed out incredeously
"You're what?" Piper shrieked
"Ughh…" Alex sighed heavily as she raised her fingers to pinch the bridge of her nose "This is so us."
Piper felt her knees give way so she made her way over to the empty lounge, taking a seat in a ridiculously uncomfortable chair. Cradling the phone to her ear, she lifted her knees to her chest and picked absentmindedly at her shoelace.
"So…" she began curiously "What are you doing in my apartment instead of being twenty-thousand feet in the air?"
"What are you doing at the airport instead of closing up your store?" Alex remarked with a smirk.
Piper grinned as she came to the same realization. Lifting her head from her distracting shoelace, her eyes travelled around the airport's bustling departures area. She silently watched as numerous people embraced, shed tears and laughed together
"I came to tell you that I love your sorry ass." Piper said simply. There was no practiced spiel; no finesse or romance whatsoever. It was simply the truth. "Thanks for ruining my grand romantic gesture, by the way." She smiled adoringly into the phone
"This is who we are." Alex chuckled as she took a seat on the soft cushion of Piper's couch, hunching over to lean her elbows onto her knees "We're a mess, kid. I came to tell you the same thing." Alex spoke softly with a smile "However, convincing your super religious roommate to let me in was a ridiculous task." Alex huffed, followed by the low chuckle from the blonde "Seriously, I think you had it easier with airport security; that is saying something."
"So, what does this mean?" Piper asked cautiously as she inspected her nails to occupy her slightly shaking hands
"I want to be with you, Pipes." Alex murmured into the line; her voice wavering slightly
"You know that this means you're going to have to be in a relationship, right? And with said relationship comes all the things you didn't see before." Warned playfully
"I'm looking forward to it." Alex chuckled
"I snore sometimes."
"Everyone does"
"I'll sometimes push the limit of a couple of days with shaving my legs."
"I always wanted a firby."
"There's a good chance that this may not work." Piper finally spilled seriously. "That we may have only worked together because we weren't in a relationship."
"There is a good chance." Alex nodded her agreement thoughtfully. "There's also a good chance of the other thing happening."
"What other thing?" Piper asked as she knitted her eyebrows together
"That we wake up everyday, more in love than the previous one." Alex smiled softly
"That was so fucking cheesy." Piper stated incredulously, her eyebrows raised almost to her hairline as a smile spread across her features. Alex's husky laughed rang through the other side of the line. Piper smiled as she turned towards the window, watching as the various planes littered the space around her. "So we're doing this?"
"Yes." Alex responded in murmur. The simple answer causing Piper's eyes to close involuntarily as a shudder ran through her. "Now can you please come back to your place? I think 'Tucky is preparing a ceremonial witch burning for me"
Piper laughed as she walked towards the exit at a steady pace. Her feet moving of their own accord as she chattered softly to the woman on the other line. As Piper exited the sliding doors, she stopped abruptly, searching around for Nicky's rental. Not finding it anywhere, Piper let out a loud explicit.
"I think they towed Nicky's car."
"Did you just leave it out there?" Alex asked in a disbelieving tone
"Yes." Piper replied sheepishly
"Not like the movies, is it kid?" Alex chuckled
One month later…
"And I will let you take a bunch of those amazing smelling bath bomb things so that you can put them in a bucket of diet coke and…" Piper stopped mid sentence as she turned to Alex flanking her left side with her arm wrapped securely around her "Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously; just read or she'll keep adding things." Alex whispered before placing a kiss to her girlfriend's ear
"But this is ridiculous; and I can't even read half of what this says. It's completely illegible." Piper irritably responded as she tossed the cocktail napkin to the table top
"Hey! You got that rental car towed and I had to pay insurance fees." Nicky pointed an accusatory finger and the blonde in front of her as she chewed on a gin soaked olive
"I offered to pay!"
"Yeah, I just like collecting favors instead. Now, keep reading college."
Piper rolled her eyes as she once again retrieved the napkin from the table top, holding it in front of her as she began to read once again with a visible lack of enthusiasm.
"I will also name my first born child with Vause, 'Little Nicky'. I thought about Nicky Junior but the kid might end up not being awesome like Nicky, but instead uptight like myself; or maybe I will add a number like those royalty assholes, like Nicky the Second- okay I can't read anymore of this." Piper huffed as she threw the napkin down to the table.
Alex laughed as she wrapped her other arm around the woman, bringing her closer to deposit a kiss on her temple. Piper smiled softly as she turned her head to claim a quick, playful peck on the brunette's full lips.
"Ugh, you guys are nauseating." Nicky mumbled in faux annoyance as she stood from her seat. "I'm going to get another drink; Chapman, sign on the dotted line." Nicky added with a casual point of her index finger to the discarded napkin on the table
Rolling her eyes in response, Piper leaned in closer to Alex with a hum of contentment. The month had seen the two inseparable for the better part of that time. Between cotton sheets or coffee dates, the two had learned more about each other everyday and turned it into a sort of game. They would each say something about themselves that could potentially make the other run for the hills. So far, both were rooted firmly to eachother.
"Oh, I've got one." Alex said suddenly, breaking the silence between them. Piper turned her full attention to her; smiling as she reached her hand up to brush away a stray lock of hair from the woman's eyes.
"Okay, go." Piper grinned adoringly as the brunette adjusted her frames
"Being with me means that you are probably going to spend more time with Nicky." Alex spoke seriously; the humor in her undertone shining through as she awaited the blonde's response
Piper leaned further away from Alex as she considered her words. Brows knitting in concentration, she chewed on her lower lip. "Yeah, that might be the one that does us in." she nodded, smiling when Alex's laugh filled her ears. The blonde sat silently still for a moment as she took in the flawless features of her girlfriend. "You are so fucking beautiful." She whispered quietly before leaning in to capture the full lips of Alex, catching her slightly off guard. Alex hummed her approval and tangled her fingers in blonde tresses, deepening the kiss.
"Oh Jesus, Vause. Get a room." Nicky grimaced as she sat down, beer in hand
"Would love to." Alex murmured against Piper's lips with a smile and playful nip of her bottom one as she pulled away. Piper smiled as her teeth sunk into her bottom lip as she leaned further away. Her hand lovingly ran up and down the length of Alex's leather clad back until she felt something strange. Knitting her eyebrows in confusion, she pushed the brunette forward as she inspected the jacket closely.
"Babe, you have a hole in your jacket."
"What? Where?" Alex asked as she tossed a look over her shoulder
"Right here." Piper pressed as she stuck her nail into the hole of the material, lightly scratching Alex's skin with it. "It almost looks like a cigarette burn." Piper mumbled aloud
Alex's eyes widened with realization. Snapping her gaze over to Nicky, she saw the look of absolute fear cross her features as she held her hands up in surrender.
"Vause… remember that I have the pork chop story." Nicky threw out in a last ditch effort for self- preservation.
Alex's shoulders sagged as she threw a worried glance over to the blonde, who's interest had obviously been piqued by Nicky's declaration. "You motherfucker…" Alex mumbled with distaste
"Quiet, baby." Piper mumbled with a quick peck to her lips before turning to the mane haired girl before her. "You were saying?" Piper smiled and hushed her girlfriend once more as a groan escaped her lips. This is what they were. Teasing and smiles spawned from loathing. Beauty evolved from deceit and betrayal. They had a long way to go, and the road was long and bumpy; but really, who needs roads anyway?
"Right, so there's Vause, a pork chop, 'Dr. Mcgillicuddy's Fireball Whiskey' and a blow horn…" Nicky began before stopping abruptly "Did I say a banana? Okay, well there was also a banana, anyway…"
THE END (is near... apologies; couldn't help it)
Down here *waves* Thanks for all the kind words throughout this disaster. you're beautiful humans and I thank you.