Chapter Fourteen

Morello was a bit shell shocked. Nicky was so tender with her that it made Piper smile. She didn't think about her Grandmother's letter. She thought about how Alex hadn't liked Mandy hugging her. It made Piper feel better somehow. She felt better knowing that she had Mandy on her side.

"You look happy to see her back," Alex said. She was watching Piper. She used to do that. They would all be out, watching something exotic or new. Piper would watch it and look to Alex. She'd be watching her.

"I am. Seems to be good for Nicky," Piper observed. Alex nodded and seemed to get lost in thought. Piper focused on her a minute and down to Nicky. She knew Nicky was having issues before Alex arrived. They had talked and Piper had lost sight of what they discussed. She thought maybe she should ask Alex later. After dinner, they went to the rec room but Lorna went to lie down. Piper wasn't surprised that Nicky went with her. She saw Poussey as she entered and was invited to play a game of scrabble.

"Come on College, whoop my uneducated ass," Poussey snarked. She usually played with Taystee but she didn't see her. Piper sat and started to play. Alex stood over by the window and looked out over the exercise yard. Piper felt her looking.

"You are more educated than you let on," Piper said to her in a low tone. "You've travelled some in your life, I'd say. What is your favorite country?"

Poussey blinked and looked around. Black Cindy and a few others were across the room watching an intense game of checkers between Big Boo and Norma. "My pops was military. So I travelled a bit...Germany was my favorite. We lived there for three years." The way she said it made Piper think that she got her heart broke there. Piper didn't press.

"Wissen Sie, wiefließend Deutschzu sprechen?" Piper asked her. Poussey's face broke out in a bright smile.

"Ja, aber es ist rostig...Mangel an Gebrauch," Poussey responded.

Piper smiled and spelled her first word, LANCE. "My mother's father, Opa Fredrich, would only speak German to us when we visited. So we would learn. I also took it through school so I could write with him. He died when I was in college but I kept a lot of it. My French sucks...passable with a terrible accent but my German was good, once. Perhaps we could help each other remember," Piper offered softly.

Poussey swallowed and seemed to think about it. She nodded then said, "Okay then we can add German spelling to the game..make it more interesting." Piper liked the idea. They played for an hour and Poussey came close to beating her. Alex played solitaire until Soso came over and started to talk to her. Piper headed back to the Dorm so she didn't have to watch her fawn over Alex. Piper knew she was annoying Alex but it didn't keep her for trying to show Alex interest. Nicky had said she was a decent lay if she used her mouth.

Piper didn't like the idea of Alex's mouth on her or her mouth on Alex. As a matter of fact, it was insane how much she didn't like that picture in her mind. She shook it off and walked towards the dorm. She heard boots behind her and turned to see Poussey approaching. She stopped.

"Hey...you okay?" Poussey asked with her brow furrowed.

Piper nodded and smiled. "I'm fine. Thanks for the game...and for watching out for Alex at work." The past part she said in a quiet voice. Poussey said she was a quick study and able to be friendly enough not to scare shy new prisoners away. She already knew the ins and outs of what they had in the library. She said no one was snooping about and no one new had asked about when she worked. It made Piper feel better to have folks watching her.

Poussey seemed to blush a little and Piper was hit by how cute she was...and how much she was trying to game her into something. Poussey had game alright...she just didn't have the right girl. Piper smiled and told her goodnight. She left her by turning down the hall to her dorm. Piper sat in her cube and turned on the light. She got out Alex's letters...and then got her Grandmother's letter out.

Piper knew she needed to read it. Perhaps there were details she needed. She just couldn't wrap her mind around being a millionaire. Her Gran had actually used her inheritance to make it big. Piper cried quietly wondering if she ever felt lonely with her secrets.

Finally, Piper pulled out the letter and opened the seal. She immediately recognized her Grandmother's stationary. She had written Piper on it more than once she was in here. She would write Piper about her rose garden and how much she missed seeing her in person. Piper had agreed that she didn't want her Gran to make the trip out to Litchfield from Connecticut. Now she regretted that with a passion. There were two letters. The first one was dated about two years before Piper was indicted.

Dearest Piper,

I am writing this letter to explain a few things to you my dear girl. First, I want you to know I love all of my grandchildren. I love Danny's stalwart work ethic and Cal's creative take on life. Each of you are individual and perfect. You are however, like looking in the mirror. I see some of your mother in you but really my girl, you are just like me.

You will probably end up marrying a nice guy and doing what is right. I hope that when you do, you actually care for him. I did not love your grandfather when we married. Love was something that came to me later in life. I did however, respect him. I knew he would provide for our family and I knew he would be a partner with me as we raised our kids. It wasn't much to base a marriage on but we got it right.

I want more for you. I wanted it since you sat at that table and told me you caught your father cheating. I love my son, but I wasn't surprised. I wanted for you at that moment to have the freedom as you grew to walk away from situations where you are forced to live a lie.

Don't ever live a lie...it is a life that isn't worth living and your soul is too bright and too honest for such shenanigans. So...I am leaving you my fortune. I earned it playing the market and investing my proceeds with good people that work hard. I have it all set up where you do not have to manage it, just make decisions about where the future of your money will go. You do not have to tell your family the details. I have left them each something and fulfilled what your Grandfather wished from his will. Now, my money is yours to do with as you will. I have no doubt that you will choose something fantastic. Remember, my dear Piper, to "Eat The World" or it will eat you first.

Love always,

Grandmother

Piper wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew her Grandmother had loved her best. Her father had actually told her that at her funeral. Piper wiped her eyes and put the first letter aside. She read the date at the top and realized it was written after she'd been in prison for a month.

Dear Piper,

I write you at least once a week but this letter is so much more important that I've stopped and started it three times now. You're reading this because I am gone. I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I will not get to see you free again. I've been feeling off and not myself. I really wanted to get my affairs in order before I am incapacitated.

First, let me tell you that I am still very proud of you. You admitted your crime and took the punishment. I do not disagree with your mother (imagine that!) in that I felt you could have gotten a lesser sentence with the proper lawyer. However, I respect your wishes not to accept your parent's help. I know you've had to over the years but that you are really trying to make it on your own with Larry...or at least depend on his parents rather than your own.

I know you love him. I do not however, feel he has the balls to love you through your incarceration. He hasn't ever had to face anything this hard before. He is going to try and that says a lot about him. Just remember, you will grow stronger and harder through this ordeal. Ask yourself if he is the kind of man that can live with the person you are really.

You told me that you didn't commit the crime for money but for love. I was a bit disappointed at that but then I started to think about it. It makes perfect sense to me now. You needed love so badly. Your parents love you very much but they love the you that they want you to be. I love the you that you are...but I will not always be here for you my girl. So...I left you a fortune. Take this money...and the person you are now...and go out there and change the world.

Amanda will help you do whatever you want with your money. I suggest that you do not tell your family the details...they will know you were given more but the exact details I'd leave vague. Your mother will not discuss money directly, but Danny will. He has approached me more than once about investing part of your Grandfather's pension. I would just pat his cheek and ask him about his latest medical discovery.

Cal will be happy for your good fortune but expect to be taken care of if the need arises. He can take care of himself just fine. I've actually never seen him this happy and I hope he has enough sense to grab on to that Neri girl because it is a rare woman that can put up with our Cal. I know you'll always look out for your baby brother.

I know you are upset with your father for not visiting you. Good for you. He is being a first class prick. It is hard for him but it is harder for you and he never really understood that his job was to make life easier for his kids. He provided you with an education and he would financially support you with strings attached. He would use money to try and get you to act like the little girl he thinks you are...he can never do that again now.

It is your choice whether or not to tell them. Now, I heard from Cal that the woman you travelled with is in prison with you. She is the one that gave you the suitcase. You chose to carry it but she did set it up. Cal also told me that he thinks you still care for her and have always cared for her. I have a feeling that Larry doesn't stand a chance really. Piper, you were always the kid that did the right thing. You followed the rules given to you by your parents with a fervor that had me worried about you for a long time.

Then...you met her. I thought that it was your worldly travels that changed you so. I had no idea it was gaining and then losing the love of your life. You were right to leave her when things got bad. You told me in a letter that she wanted you to carry drugs and you just couldn't do it. This is a good thing. You are still that smart, careful girl...but you were able to love someone so much you let that go.

I don't know if she is a piece of shit person or if she is just someone that has a less than perfect moral center. I don't know this person but you do. Be careful with your heart but please, my dear girl, be honest with yourself. If you feel like she sees the real you, hold on to that. Hold on to it with both hands and forget everything else.

I will always love you Piper, no matter where I go in this great universe. You be safe in there and please stay out of trouble...or get in to just enough to keep it interesting without getting caught! Remember, you can Eat The World, no matter where you are Piper...it is always around you.

Love always,

Grandmother

Piper was still crying softly in the corner when Nicky found her. She folded up the letters and put them in the envelope as she approached, " Hey Chapman, you alright?" Nicky asked as she sat down beside her. Piper put her shoulder on Nicky's shoulder.

"It was a letter from my Grandmother. Her estate was settled. She had written two..one before I was in here and one after. I guess it was a bit too much to read so soon," Piper said through her sniffles.

"Aww damn Chapman, I'm sorry," Nicky said softly. "I was in County lock up when Maria died. She was my Nanny...hell she raised me really. I felt so bad I couldn't be there. She had her kids there and grandkids but they told me later that they kept a chair open for me. I would give anything to have one last letter from her. I know it hurts now, but you'll be thankful for those words some day." Piper nodded and cried some more. She turned and buried her head in Nicky's shoulder. She heard boots but didn't look up.

"Is...everything okay? Do you want me to leave?" Alex asked tentatively. Piper tried to wipe her eyes some but couldn't turn her head to look at Alex yet. She was still so raw.

"Yeah, Chapman read a letter from her Grandmother...I guess it was a last letter from her will sorta thing," Nicky explained. Piper nodded confirming it was.

"Oh Kid,"Alex said as she got in the floor with them. Piper looked at her and then leaned up into her embrace. Bell walked by and looked into her cube. Piper pulled back and wiped her tears. Bell frowned but didn't say anything mean. She just walked on down and left them alone in their cube. Piper wasn't sure what had brought on the newer kinder Bell but she was happy to enjoy it.

"She wrote about you. Cal told her you were in here with me. I told her that I did my crime for love. She thought that was stupid when I told her but she thought about it and gave me some good advice. Oh...how I wish you'd met her," Piper breathed and started to cry again. Nicky slipped out of her corner and gave it over to Alex. She heard the tall woman tell her thanks, then she was surrounded by her favorite thing in the world...Alex's arms.

"You speak about her with the most love of anyone in your family...except maybe Cal. I think she is all the best parts of you that I love. She is your temper and your energy that makes you believe you can change the world. She is the cynic and the critic inside of you. I know her Pipes," Alex whispered in her ear. Piper clung to her and vowed to do what her grandmother said. She wasn't sure what was going to happen inside Litchfield but she knew without a shadow of doubt that she would always love this woman. So Piper held on to that with both hands until they were called for count.

**Another quick chapter..I know..but emotionally packed! It is hard to write letters from family or lovers...it puts ya through a ringer. Please review and let me know how you like the story thus far. I have some fantastic ideas about where this is going and I can just tell you to BUCKLE UP! Peace Fae**