"I really have to go home Al – I've been here all weekend, I need to do some washing. I have fish to feed."
Alex laughed and pulled Piper back onto the bed for the third time as she raised an eyebrow, "Didn't pick you for the pescatarian type."
"I don't eat them. I nurture them. With fish food." Piper let herself get swept into an embrace with the brunette, giggling as she nibbled at her neck.
"Ok…but I need nurturing too. It's nearly 10am and you haven't fed me." Alex was keeping it light but she really couldn't think of anything worse than Piper not being in her apartment all of a sudden.
She released the blonde and sat up on the bed. "Ok. I'll make you a deal, or a deal with your fish. You come to brunch and then rehearsals and I take you home on my super hot motorcycle with a super delicious bag of organic fish food. Deal?"
Piper laughed and shook her head "You're talking out of your ass Vause. You have no idea if organic fish food is even a thing do you?"
"That's what Google is for. C'mon Pipes. The crew would love to see you. I promise I'll get you home before Cal arrives."
Piper really didn't need much convincing. Truth was she was looking forward to seeing her brother but not to going home. Part of her was spooked that Larry would be hanging around and the fact he'd followed her to Nurse Diane still gave her the creeps. She'd almost told Alex a few times but stopped herself - she didn't want to add any more drama to the situation she'd already involved Alex in.
"Welllll…" she pretended to consider it for a moment, kneeling back on the bed in between Alex's legs.
The brunette pulled her legs back, moving to kneel facing Piper as she kissed her neck, "C'mon babe…I want you to come. And…I want you…to come." Her hand slid down the front of Piper's pants eliciting a short gasp that she kissed, smiling wickedly.
"Is that a yes?" She kept grinning as Piper's mouth struggled between a smile and open-mouthed pleasure.
"Yesss." Piper managed before collapsing against Alex in sublime surrender.
The pint sized redhead stomped her feet to get the attention of the rowdy group. She was fired up and they all knew it was a fine line between temper and passion with Morello.
"OKAY. So we've got THREE WEEKS to go until show time. You're all doing a great job so far but now is not the time to get lazy. In fact, I wanna see some character development coming out. Find your character's walk, their personality – follow them on the street if you see them and study them. I will personally bail you out of lock up if you get done for stalking."
The women laughed at Lorna's joke, especially knowing her history. Alex knew she'd always wanted to be a professional actor but life had taken her a different route. Her very vivid imagination had got her into more than a little trouble and she was not unfamiliar with restraining orders involving unsuspecting men.
She'd done a lot of work on those issues - albeit with a mountain of persistent support from Nicky - and Alex was proud of how far she'd come. She knew there was no such thing as "normal" but Lorna was a far cry from the paranoid obsessive woman she'd first encountered in Litchfield.
But boy, could she still yell.
"WHERE THE HELL IS TRICIA?" Morello spun around the room, hands up as she scanned unsuccessfully for the young woman. "Nicky…"
"I'm on it!" Nicky called, pulling out her phone and jogging to check the toilets. A few minutes later, she returned, motioning Alex to the toilet as she whispered something to Lorna.
"Ok. No Tricia today. Everyone else – take your spots and work around where she should be OK? CHOP CHOP LET'S GO!"
Alex squeezed Piper's leg as she excused herself to follow Nicky.
"Ok Stretch. So promise you won't lose it?" Nicky stopped her as she went to push open the bathroom door.
"Oh great. Just let me through Nick."
"Wait, wait. Look – the kid is young. She's been doing real good. You gotta give her a break, just this time ok?"
"Nicky…" Alex growled, pushing her hand away.
"Vause." The tone in her friend's voice was one she rarely used. Nicky was a typical class clown, always in trouble, always mucking around. But every now and then Alex heard that voice. The one that came from the truest place, and she had to listen. She sighed and took a step back, folding her arms.
"Thank you." Nicky took a breath before continuing. "She fucked up ok. We all do – you know I have, more than once…a lot more. And anyway, I don't have to tell you what it means to get a second chance. Just give her another shot. I'll keep an eye on her I promise."
Alex nodded tersely and pushed her glasses up her nose as Nicky opened the bathroom door.
Tricia was slumped on the floor against the wall, legs sprawled and a dazed smile on her face as she licked her lips. "Heyyyy Alex! Oh man! You look different! Have you done something with your hair?"
Nicky bit a laugh back from behind her friend as she saw Alex blush slightly in the mirror. She'd already given her shit for looking ten years younger and enjoyed watching Piper blush as she gave her the credit. There were also a few jokes about expecting them to be walking like they'd been riding a horse for a week, but the jokes had ended there along with a sharp punch to her arm.
Alex crouched down, attempting to look Tricia in the eye. It was difficult as the woman was basically nodding off but she persisted.
"Tricia. What have you taken?" she watched the previously carefree expression morph into uncertainty, fear and finally defiance.
"Nothing." The young woman pursed her lips like a toddler and then burst into a fit of giggles. "Ooo-k that's a lie. Alex it's nothing really though. I was just, I just needed…"
"Tricia." Alex's tone stopped her giggling and again her face took on the appearance of a little kid. "Who gave you the drugs?" Alex persisted but the woman shook her head, pursing her lips again and frowning to herself.
"I just found them. I'm sorry Alex. I won't do it again." She had started crying now, hiccupping into a strange laugh as she slipped further down the wall. The girl was all over the place.
Alex sighed, giving up getting anything coherent and gently lifted her chin up. "Listen kid, Nicky is going to take you home now. We'll check in with you later on. No more of this shit though, ok?" she paused, watching the girl nod slowly before adding, "You don't want to go back to Litchfield do you? Or worse?"
Tricia shook her head but Alex couldn't tell if any of her words were actually sinking in. She helped Nicky lift her up and was relieved that she could walk quite competently. They went out the fire escape avoiding anyone else seeing them. "Nick, make sure she's ok and check the room, you know…"
"I know the drill Stretch. I got this." Nicky pulled Tricia in firmly and moved off down the alley.
Alex took a minute in her office before returning to the rehearsal. She let out a shaky breath – partly anger at drugs being used in her bar partly over the memories she'd rather forget and partly at her dismay at seeing Tricia so fucked up.
"Drugs?" Red stood at the door, watching Alex's expression closely.
"Ah…look it's under control Red, ok?" Alex's feelings about drugs in Nurse Diane paled in comparison to Red's overall hatred for the stuff.
"Sure. Under control. Control is the chief enemy of every drug. I saw Nicky left with her – is that wise?"
Alex looked up sharply, "Red. Nicky is the perfect person to help her. You of all people should know that."
"Don't lecture me about Nichols, Vause. Don't you dare. That girl has taken more than her share of my tears over the years and I will not see her go back to that shell. Next time, you let me take care of Tricia. You keep Nicky away."
Alex held up her hands, quickly placating her, "I'm sorry. Ok, Red? You're right."
There was a pause as the older woman sat down. "Where did she get the drugs?"
"I don't know, she said she found them. I just hope it's not Kubra playing some sick game…"
"There are wolves closer to home Vause." Red interrupted distractedly.
"What the fuck does that mean? Is someone dealing drugs out of my club Red?" Alex couldn't help her voice rise as she felt her blood pressure start to simmer.
The fire-haired woman shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. I don't know." She leant over conspiratorially and growled, "Don't worry. I am watching always."
Alex's head was reeling. The fucking Fed's were visiting her tomorrow. More to the point, Diane. She'd promised Diane – no more drugs.
Red looked up to see the hopelessness ghost over Alex's face. "Vause. There is nothing to worry about. I am only talking out loud – there is a better chance she got it from a dealer in her shitty apartment block. Leave it with me, ok? If anything is happening internally, I will find out." she waited until Alex met her eyes and nodded.
"Now. Go – join your lover." Alex's eyes shot up and she instinctively fiddled with her glasses to hide the heat finding her cheeks. Red chuckled "You think I'm blind Vause?"
She paused waiting for Alex to join her at the door before turning to face her. She lifted her hand to her cheek and patted her softly "Your mother would have liked her. She could see it in your face, your eyes - like I can."
Alex continued to flush, lost for words as Red chuckled and walked away. She took a breath and rejoined Piper, relaxing as soon as she felt the woman slide her hand into hers. She leant over and kissed her cheek gently, "Thanks Pipes."
"For what?" She whispered back.
"Tell you later." She forced a wink and a mischievous smirk when really her heart wanted to tell her in all seriousness how being with her had suddenly made everything more important, how she'd only just realized that she'd needed something other than guilt and sorrow over her mom to keep her going. And now she had it.
Alex made a pact with herself, with her mom, with whatever was listening to tell Piper everything the next time they saw each other. About the cartel, Litchfield, Kubra, Sylvie, the debt – even the fact Piper was being watched. She wanted to be honest, wanted her whole story known, not just the bits she was brave enough to show. If Piper wanted to run then she had to have that choice. Just…not yet. Just give us this weekend.
She looked back to the stage in time to see Stella's flashing eyes flick away from watching the two of them. She let a smug satisfaction settle in her chest as she pulled Piper in closer.
"Hey, Morello." The group paused as they were getting into their starting positions to run through the routine again, all eyes turned to Stella.
"You know, it might help if we have someone stand in for Tricia you know? Just so we can get our blocking right. Plus, I'll just say it since no one else will – it might be a good idea to have a back up?"
The room fell silent and Morello's eyes flicked over to Alex. "Ah, I guess it wouldn't hurt…"
"You won't need a back up." Alex's voice was calm but anyone who knew her could hear the edge in it. "Tricia is just not feeling well. She'll be back next rehearsal."
"Sure. We all hope she is." Stella didn't bother to look at Alex, keeping her attention on Morello as she shrugged self-effacingly, "But I personally still think it would help us today – you know, we all want to get our positions perfect and it's hard working around an imaginary person…"
The rest of the group nodded as Flaca added, "Yeah you know they do that on Broadway – stand ins and shit. It's professional like."
Soso spoke up, "Actually, they're not called stand-ins. They're called understudies." Flaca turned a withering gaze over to the woman who continued quickly "But…whatever."
Morello hesitated, "Ok, sure. Well you know I guess I could jump up there…"
"You're our director! No way! We need you out the front watching." Stella paused, an Academy award winning moment in Alex's view, before continuing, "How about Piper? I know she knows this number, told me it's her favourite – right girl?" Stella grinned at Piper who'd instantly turned a shade of pink.
"Ah no…I mean yes it is but…no, I'm not a performer…" Piper sat up in her seat, glancing over to Alex whose eyes were trained on Stella.
"That doesn't matter! We just need your body, professionally speaking of course." Stella's grin widened as the group chuckled and started cajoling Piper up to the stage. Alex consciously re-arranged her face that wanted to scowl at the bullshit performance from Stella and turned to Piper.
"Up to you, kid." She smiled and squeezed her hand "No pressure."
"You know Piper it would really help us…" Morello walked over and held out her hand as the group started a maddening clap.
"Ok ok! But don't blame me if I get in your way or break something!" Piper jumped up grabbing Morello's hand as they group cheered and Alex couldn't help but smile at the sweet excitement in the blonde. Her smile quickly faded as her eyes flicked up to catch Stella's fixed on her – triumphant was the only word for it.
Alex wasn't the only one who saw it. Red sat quietly in her booth at the back and watched the scene unfold. She raised an eyebrow and went back to her crossword.
It took a couple of runs for Piper's nerves and self-consciousness to ease. By the third run she was actually getting most of her moves right. Alex was enjoying watching her get into the character – she could see the perfectionist coming out in her and, mixed with the slightest bit of clumsiness – Alex found it utterly adorable.
Less pleasing was watching Stella interact with her. All the characters had moments together during the act but it was clear she was milking it with Piper, her hands and eyes wandering liberally. Then after each run through, she would whisper something in her ear or touch her arm and Alex's jaw was starting to ache from clenching.
Finally, Morello called time adding, "…and thank you PIPER! You're a natural! We'll have to get you your own routine one of these days!" The cast whooped and Alex's heart swelled a little bit more watching Piper beam and shake her head.
"Ah I don't think so – but thanks, that was fun!"
Alex watched as Stella maneuvered her way to be standing next to Piper and was leaning in just as Sophia piped up "Ok bitches. Time for wardrobe fittings. Stella – you're up. The rest of you – don't go anywhere."
Alex sent a silent thanks to Sophia and the Universe and smiled as Piper walked over to her. "I'm feeling a little cheated Piper Chapman."
"Oh really? And why's that Alex Vause?"
Alex grabbed her waist and pulled her softly against her body "You never told me you were such a talent. I thought I was the one with the teasing credentials…and hear you are, busting out the burlesque moves…"
Piper chuckled and leaned in close, brushing her lips against Alex's "You should know by now I'm a fast learner." Alex's eyes darkened a shade as she smiled and shook her head slightly before fusing her lips with Pipers.
They said their goodbyes, Alex secretly very pleased that Stella was being told to "stand the fuck still" by Sophia getting her fitting done. She kicked her bike to life as Piper climbed on behind her, both of them a little quiet now knowing their weekend together was drawing to a close.
Alex rode slowly through the city, enjoying the cool air and Piper's warm body. She slowed down even more once they got to Piper's street, feeling the woman tense behind her and knew she was looking out for Larry. She felt the familiar pangs of guilt as she scanned the street for Kubra or his cronies, knowing Piper would think she was looking for Larry too.
She cut the engine and waited for Piper to dismount before pulling off her helmet. "Looks like the coast is clear kid." She smiled softly as Piper nodded, handing over her helmet. She caught Piper's hand, waiting for her eyes to reach hers "Do you want me to come up – just in case, you know?"
Piper shook her head, squeezing Alex's hand "Nah, he won't be here. And besides – judo." Alex chuckled once and pulled Piper closer, rubbing her hand softly. "Anyway, if you come up there, I don't think I'll want you to leave." The younger woman continued softly, eyes bright with everything unsaid.
Alex reached up, both hands on the sides of her face as she drew her closer, kissing her tenderly, carefully, her eyes closing as she committed their taste and texture to memory. There was so much to the kiss – a kaleidoscope of colour and feeling. Piper's eyes remained closed for a beat after Alex pulled away and she smiled, kissing the perfect nose in front of her.
"Well, I'll wait down here until you get inside just to be sure. I want to see you at your window ok, Rapunzel?" she grinned as Piper hesitated, staring at Alex's lips.
"Ok…Bye, Alex." Piper failed to move, hypnotized to the spot, "Thanks for…the weekend." She said weakly, biting her lip as her body started to lean back into Alex's.
"Chapman. Go. Before I really give your neighbours something to talk about." Alex smacked her butt, laughing as she yelped and reluctantly walked backwards, tripping on the step behind her.
"Woah careful – aren't you a graceful burlesque performer now?" she teased as Piper turned red and continued up the stairs. She turned at the top as though struggling with the cosmic forces of physics.
"Will we…shall I call you?" she blurted stupidly as Alex started to chuckle.
"Yes Piper. We will and you should. Now go – seriously, you're killing me." Alex kicked her bike back to life and laughed as Piper hurried through the door, disappearing.
She re-emerged a moment later at her window, and waved as Alex blew her a kiss and roared off down the street, forcing herself not to draw out leaving any longer.
Instead of going back to her empty, Piper-less apartment, Alex headed for Nicky's. They needed to talk about Tricia and find out more about these drugs. Smiling as she remembered Piper's lips on hers she knew now more than ever, she was not going to let drugs fuck up her life again.
A/N – Hello lovelies. The silly season is in full swing and I've had a little less time than I'd like to write for you all. At least I've scraped in with another weekly update. Promise I'm not going anywhere! Thanks for all your well-wishes and reviews – aren't you guys the frickin best?! Yes, yes you are. So their weekend (and ours) is over. What, I wonder, is around the corner for our fave couple?! Back soon x