I appreciate your reviews! You are catching on to the schemer known as Alex Vause!

"Oh, you're the best friends anybody ever had. And it's funny, but I feel as if I'd known you all the time, but I couldn't have, could I?" —Wizard of Oz

Dressed in clean, un-coffee-stained clothes, the pair took a taxi to the tapas restaurant. Piper squirmed in the seat as she looked up at Alex. "Babe?' she asked with pleading eyes. "Do you mind if I take off my ring? For less than half an hour. I promise. I just want her to meet you, the real you, before she gets a glimpse of this rock." Piper batted her eyes. "Otherwise, the focus will be on the ring and the proposal."

"The things I let you do woman. This time – yes. Only because I love you. But hereafter, that ring stays on your finger. Permanently. Do you hear me future Mrs. Vause?"

"Aye aye future Mrs. Chapman." Piper expeditiously pocketed her ring, summarily reaching over to peck Alex on the tip of her nose. She reached for the cab door as they had just pulled curbside to the establishment. "I'm so excited for you to really meet Polly. She's going to love you."

Alex rolled her eyes as she paid the driver and exited after Piper. She swiftly beat Piper to the door and held it open for her. Piper bee-lined for the bar and almost knocked a waiting Polly off her barstool.

"Polly! I've missed you! You remember Alex, yes?"

Polly returned Piper's hug. "Of course I remember Alex." Polly's reply was sarcastic. "She stole my best friend."

"Now, now Polly. Remember your manners." Piper chucked Polly under the chin. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous."

"No. I'm just glad to see you. Hi Alex." Polly eyed Alex. "Let's eat. I'm starving."

Alex procured their table and ordered drinks for herself and Piper as Polly had brought hers from the bar. The women made their decisions without delay as Piper and Polly chattered away, catching each other up on the recent events of their lives. Alex quietly cleared her throat. The woman turned to look at her. Piper blushed sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I guess you were right and I shouldn't forget about my friends for so long." She reached over to brush Alex's cheek with her lips.

"So Alex," Polly started. "What type of work do you do?"

Somehow knowing that she needed to ensure Polly was on her side, Alex was completely honest about her job at the GLBT Center and the volunteer work at the homeless shelter, including that she was a lawyer and did not just "help people with their problems". Polly was intrigued, asking many questions. Alex answered them freely and asked about Polly's life as well, her family, relationships, etc. It seemed as though the two were hitting it off quite well.

Piper had slipped her hands into her lap during the exchange then discretely lay her left hand atop Alex's right. When there was a natural break in the conversation, Piper glanced down at her hand and smiled. Polly's eyes followed Piper's and settled on Piper's ring.

"Oh. My. Goodness." Reaching over Piper, she grabbed Piper's hand and brought it towards her. "Piper! That is a gorgeous ring." As she continued to fawn over the ring, Alex chuckled as she could tell the exact moment realization hit Polly's face. "Piper Elizabeth Chapman. Are you getting married?"

"Yup. Isn't that normally what a ring like that on the left hand means?" Piper was absolutely beaming. "Oh Polly, please be happy for me. I love her so much."

Polly's eyes narrowed. "Piper, I'll always be happy for you. What did your parents say?"

Piper withdrew her hand from Polly's. "I haven't told them yet. I didn't even go home for Christmas. Ms. Vause here took me to Costa Rica then to Belize."

"What a trip! I'll have to hear all about that, too. But I bet your mom wasn't too happy about you missing the holidays. That was a first."

"It won't be the last if she continues to refuse to meet Alex." Piper looked adoringly at Alex who was tickled at the interaction between the close friends. "But enough of that. Polly will you be my maid of honor?"

"Yes Piper. I would really disown you if I wasn't. Have you started planning yet?"

"Sort of. We've only found a caterer and decided on our colors." Piper looked at Alex who had raised an eyebrow. "Red and blacked. Checked. Flannel." The entire table burst into laughter. "Seriously though. With my schedule, I haven't a clue when you and I can get together and plan. I'll make time though. But enough of this." The women's shared plates had arrived. "Let's eat."

Throughout dinner, Piper told Piper all about the holiday trip the pair had taken together, leaving out why they had to go to Belize, of course. Alex was surprisingly good-natured as Piper explained, in detail, the anxiety Alex experienced on the zip lines. Alex turned the tale of their trek through Manuel Antonio Park into a gruesome saga about monkey hunting and natives cooking brains for the Christmas feast. At one point, Piper pulled out her phone to show Polly the pictures of how beautiful the jungle and beach was. The friendship level between Piper and Polly was quite evident as Piper's excitement as she relayed details of the trip fueled delight in Polly.

Once the women had eaten until they could eat no more, Piper promised she would stay in touch better and make arrangements for them to start planning. As they were departing, Polly even gave Alex a hug. "She's quite happy Alex. Keep her that way."

Alex smiled charmingly. "I plan on it. It was a pleasure meeting you."