Ok, guys, last chapter for this story. I really hope you've enjoyed reading "Walking Home" as much as I've loved writing it. I never expected it to get to 37 chapters but that's what happened…and even though it's taken its sweet time to come out, I hope you don't hold it against me. :)

I've written an original song, based on this story, I've just finished it, and it's integrated into the story… you'll know when to listen to it, it's around halfway through the chapter. You'll find it on youtube, search for: "Wherever With You - mliess (fanfiction: Walking Home)"

Hope you'll like it.

I'm working on a new Vauseman AU story, hopefully with more original music worked into it… but I will post it once I'm finished, so stay tuned :)

And for the last time… Enjoy!

/mli

Chapter 37

Previously:

"What's going on Pipes, you're scaring me…" She searched for Piper's eyes but the blonde ducked her head.

"I have to go… hmm, I have to go back home" The blonde still had her eyes glued to the bed they were sitting in.

Alex was confused. Was this because of their fight? She knew she had behaved badly, horribly even, but this….wasn't this to overreact?

"What do you mean, Piper…what the fuck…? I'm so sorry about last night, it was fucking stupid of me, but can't we talk about this? I mean… I haven't even explained…"

"No, no, it's not that… Dr. Cooper called me an hour ago, saying that he can't cover for me any longer; I need to get home to my patients. I pleaded with him to take care of them at least a couple of more days but he's being a real asshole… And there are a few of my patients that need taken care of… and he refuses, so… I don't really have choice…" She looked at Alex apologetically.

"Look…" Piper started. "I know you, I understand some of the reasons why you got drunk last night…and it's ok. I mean I was worried and scared shitless last night and that is why I came down so hard on you but I'm not mad anymore… I could never stay mad at you for very long…. You know that" Piper reached out and touched Alex's cheek, which caused the other woman to lean into her palm.

"I can't really imagine what kind of stress you've been under these last couple of days. This past year really… And you deserve some time. Time to think, time to… just be. And maybe it's a good thing that I have to leave, maybe you need time alone. And when you've made a decision you tell me, ok? But I need to tell you what I'm thinking before I leave, you don't have to say anything but you need to hear me out… is that ok? " Alex nodded and felt the urge to cry, but she tried to hold it together for Piper, and she knew that the blonde did the same.

"I love you. I've never loved anyone like I love you. You're it for me. I think you know that. My greatest wish is for you to come back with me, marry me, raise a dozen babies with me." Tears started to run down Piper's cheeks, but she tried to ignore them.

"I don't know if that is anything you've ever dreamed about, I'm not sure if that's something I ever dreamed about before I met you. But I do now; I want nothing else but to spend the rest of my life with you. And if you need to stay here and work as a cop, I understand that…. And if you want me to, I will try to live in this city with you. "

At this Alex drew in a deep breath. She never thought there was even a possibility that Piper would consider moving to New York for her, but here she was, offering just that.

Piper continued, as did the tears. "I will do just about anything in my power in order to spend my life with you, anyway I can. But I need you to ask me, I need you to really want this. Want us." She paused for a moment, to wipe away some tears, and to collect her thoughts. Alex couldn't keep her own tears at bay any longer as they too started trickling down her cheeks.

"So, I have to leave you, today… but know that I am yours. And please think about what I've just told you. And think about what would make you happy. And I will do anything to make that happen."

Piper then grabbed Alex, pulling her toward her and kissed her with everything she got, trying to convey the true feelings behind her words, trying to imprint them in the raven haired beauty in front of her.

The blonde pulled back. "You deserve to be happy, you need to know that. Please just think about what would truly make you happy, what would make the person you are today… happy…"

Alex was stunned. The hangover was gone, the only thing she could hear was the beating of her heart, and it was drumming away inside of her chest. She couldn't get a word out, and maybe that's what Piper meant, she didn't want her to say anything right now.

With one last kiss, Piper got up and whispered a sad, but hopeful, goodbye and soon Alex could hear the door close.

Piper was gone.

And Alex could hear her own heart breaking.

Day 5 (after Piper leaving New York…)

Piper had yet to hear anything from Alex, and even though she tried to stay calm, there was this uncertainty growing inside of her, what if Alex had decided to stay in New York…? What if she didn't want Piper to come…? What if she wanted to end their relationship…? End them?

These thoughts were growing by the minute and it was driving Piper insane. She got up from her desk and stalked across the street over to Tom's bar, desperate in need of a drink, and some words of encouragement from her oldest friend.

Entering the bar, Tom was nowhere to be found. She took a look around and decided to go check if he was out in the back, taking inventory… or whatever bar owners did during the daytime. She knocked softly at the door to Tom's office and opened it up, interrupting a very guilty-looking Tom, who quickly pulled the phone he was talking into, from his ear, turned it off and put it in his pocket.

"Piper… hi!" He tried to look happy to see her but failed, miserably. She gave him a suspicious look.

"…What are you doing, here all by your lonesome?" She tentatively asked. Something was off with him. Who had he been talking to? Was he cheating on his wife?! Piper would kill him if he did! Just thinking about it made her mad.

Tom saw the anger building in his friend's eyes and had to stop her.

"It's not what you think!" He sputtered out, without really thinking.

"What do I think?" Piper challenged.

"I don't know, but you are thinking something horrible, and it's not that. So just… stop. Ok?" He was pleading like a little boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. 'Just you wait; I'll coax it out of you…'

"So, you're not… doing something horrible then?" She walked a bit closer to him. She continued "Just so you know; I would have to kill you for being so stupid, you know that right?"

"I know, Pipes, jeesh, you and my wife both… I promise, please just take my word for it, ok?" He pleaded and Piper decided that she had hackled him enough, he was telling the truth.

But still… who had he been talking to? And why would he keep it from her….? She did have a birthday coming up…. Hmmm… Maybe a surprise-party? She could use a good party…. And Alex could come and… oh right, Alex was still halfway around the country…"thinking"…

"Pipes, did you need something?" He pulled her away from her inner musings.

"…eerrh, yes, I need a whiskey, on the rocks, and you could probably need one too, by the looks of it!" Maybe she could get him drunk, and then he'll tell her all his secrets. Yes, she was on a mission.

Two hours….and four-five whiskeys… later…

"And she still hasn't called me… or texted me… or anything really…. And I suspect I'm slowly losing my mind… just a little bit…" She measured a small distance between her thumb and her index finger as she said those last four words.

Piper was drunk. And she was slurring… and frowning. And it was only five PM in the afternoon.

"I thought I could handle it… I thought I was being all noble and crap but… I kind of expected her to stop me before I stepped out into the hall…." Tom smirked at that last sentence. The blonde threw her head, dramatically, face down into the bar, leaning her forehead against the cold wood.

Tom was just about to say something when Piper, still with her head on the bar, started again.

"I mean, I shouldn't have left like that, right? I just unloaded all my thoughts on her and then I just left. I mean, I had to, my patients… but I could have asked her to come, right?" Without giving Tom a chance to answer she continued ranting on.

"I mean, what if she decides to stay there… what if…." Lifting her head to look at Tom, and he could see tears in her eyes now. "What if she doesn't want me?" Tom had never heard Piper sounding so small, so vulnerable. He hated to see his friend so distraught.

"Piper, listen to me." She squinted with her eyes, trying to focus on him.

"Alex loves you. You hear me? She loves you, and she wants you. Just give her some time. Just give her the time you told her to take. Trust the process. I know that that woman is absolutely crazy about you. Let her figure things out. Please…" He took the glass of whiskey from Piper's hands and placed it out of her reach, earning an extra frown from the blonde.

Standing up, he reached out his hand for her to grab.

"Now come, I'll drive you home. And then you're gonna go to sleep."

She frowned some more, but after a few seconds she grabbed his hand and let him lead her out of the bar.

She was going to trust the process.

Day 10

Piper was sitting on her couch, laptop open in front of her, with a half-written e-mail addressed to Alex.

She stared at it, frowning. 'I've gotta stop frowning… I'll get wrinkles soon…'

Piper had known that this probably wasn't a great idea. She'd had many much, much worse ideas than this during these last few days… this was actually one of the better ones; Which wasn't to say it was a good one.

It started rather light; asking Alex how she was doing, nothing too serious, just… considerate. She was allowed to miss her. Piper suspected it had all gotten out of hand once she had emptied that bottle of red wine… 'Jep, that must have been it. I should not drink and write!'

Piper had gotten in her head that she might not have been totally clear with Alex that she would, in fact, move to New York if it meant that they could be together. It had been nagging her the whole time. She wanted to say that it didn't matter where they lived, as long as they had each other. And it was the truth.

Piper didn't really feel like home in her own house anymore. Not in her clothes… or even her own skin; not if Alex wasn't there. And when walking down the streets of her hometown she felt out of place, because she didn't have Alex there to hold her hand. She was really coming to the conclusion that her home was in fact… Alex.

And that bottle of wine had brought out the poet in her, and she was now staring at her e-mail, her words… her rather ambiguous poem; in black and white.

'I can't send her this…. It's sad and needy… She's got enough to think about… oh god, I miss her…'

Silent tears started to roll down her cheeks and she didn't even bother wiping them away, as she re-read her letter.

...

Hi Alex!

I was just wondering how you were? How's Nicky? Did she hook up with Lorna yet? :) I got home alright, and all my patients are fine. The clinic is going fine… I'm fine by the way… just fine! :) I really like the word "fine"…

I just opened that bottle of red wine you liked so much, I really can't pronounce the name… it reminds me of you though… cheers!

…great wine, it was even better than I remembered!

I just wrote this awesome poem for you…

Wherever with you

(((*find song on youtube: Wherever With You - mliess (fanfiction: Walking Home))))

These walls don't feel the same, when you're not here with me

These hands don't feel complete, when they're not holding on

To you

And you

To me

.

This town just feels too small, like there's no room for me

This heart won't beat at all, there's just too many miles

To you

And you

To me

.

You're my home; I've searched the world for you

You're my home, I'll hold my breath; we'll do

All the things, we never got to, my home

Is wherever, with you

.

This life don't feel like my own, these clothes won't fit me at all

These tears won't stop, they fall; it's raining when I'm not

With you

And you

With me

.

You're my home; I've searched the world for you

You're my home, I'll hold my breath; we'll do

All the things, we never got to, my home

Is wherever, with you

...

Piper emptied the last out of her glass and pressed 'delete'. She was supposed to give Alex time. She was really beginning to hate the word "time"…. as well as "fine".

She closed the laptop and dragged herself upstairs, towards another sleepless night.

Day 15

Piper was furious… at herself….what the fuck had she done?! Telling Alex to think about it… without setting a time limit?

In retrospect, however noble the cause; she must have been batshit crazy! The waiting alone would drive a person mad… and when the stakes are this high… Trust the fucking process…my ass!

'Maybe I should just have stayed and talked to her, she was just confused… and then I up and leave her…asking her to "figure out what makes you happy…" I am officially insane! And I probably scared her off with all the talk about marriage and a "dozen" babies…. A dozen…really Piper, really?! Batshit crazy… it's been 15 days and not a single word from her, not a text or a call… she probably flew out of that apartment, free as a bird, got her job back and forgot all about me.'

Piper was currently sitting in her office, not thinking about her patients… again. She had tried to be there, but her mind was somewhere else. Putting her head down into her hands again she pondered the possibility that Alex might want her to move to New York.

'Could I do that? Sell my house? Sell the practice? Who would take care of all the people in this town? It's not my problem. I can't live my life here just in case someone might get sick? Can I? Should I? Could I work in New York? It would be a whole different pace for me; I've done it before, true…. But can I do it again? I could do that for Alex. I would do that for Alex. I don't care where we live as long as I'm with her. She's my home.'

And so her afternoon continued… between patients and friends stopping by she would find herself here, tearing herself up with these thoughts.

It was close to 6 PM when she finally locked up the clinic and headed home.

She had been driving for about five minutes when suddenly a red and blue light caught her eye in the rearview window. 'That's odd, Jack would never flash his lights at me… he'd just honk his horn 'til I pulled over…'

But she did pull over and came to a full stop, 'coincidently' she thought… 'This was where Alex and I met the second time… Miller's old road…' she remembered where she had fished the black-haired beauty up from the ditch she'd been stuck in, all those months ago.

She was so lost in her thoughts she jumped when there was a knock on her window, indicating that she should roll the window down. And she did. She had yet to see who had been knocking; assuming it would be Jack she began ranting away, annoyed with this interruption of her plans.

"Jack, what are you up to, flashing your lights at me, you and I both know I wasn't speeding, so give me one good reason I shouldn't tell your mom about this?"

'That ought to shut him up… I don't have the time or energy for this crap; I need to get home to my Ben & Jerry…'

She expected to hear a hasty apology but what she heard was instead the most beautiful sound in the world; One raspy, hearty laugh. And her heart just stopped.

The source of the laugh came into her vision and she melted.

There she stood, her love… suited up in a tight sheriff's shirt and pants, and a cowboy hat, and Piper didn't think she had ever seen anything as beautiful…or sexy… as this… vision, in front of her. Alex was smiling from ear to ear and leaned her arm, casually, up against Pipers door. And in her best 'southern' accent she spoke.

"Excuse me, mam, but as an officer of the law, I don't recon' I can accept that kind of back-talk from you. I just might have to take you down to the big house and lock you up."

Piper was still in a daze, but finally catching on to the playfulness in Alex's voice. She started by biting her lower lip, knowing the effect it would have on the woman looking at her intently, and then she did her best 'damsel in distress' voice.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, Officer, I thought you were someone else, if I'd know I'd be talking to a handsome fellow like yourself, I'd never use that tone of voice, I promise, Officer…."

Both women were now grinning like idiots, and Piper reached for the door handle and opened it slowly. Alex backed up to let her out, taking her hat off in the process.

The charade was gone, and now there was only the two of them, standing in front of each other.

Piper found her voice first, albeit a shaky one.

"Is it really you…? Are you really here?" Tears started to fall against her smiling cheeks. She was almost afraid to touch her, scared that this was all a dream.

Alex took one step closer and reached out to grab the blonde's hand, squeezing it gently. She could feel the smaller woman trembling at their connection.

"Yes… looks like I got an offer I couldn't refuse."

"Yeah?" Piper's smile grew wider; all the fear that she'd been holding on to for these past cruel days began to slowly melt away.

"Yeah…. I'm sorry it took me all this time; Caputo had to call in some favors to get me a job here. And Tom has been helping me trying to keep it all from you. Don't be mad. As soon as you left the apartment that day, I knew. It was probably the push I needed to really understand what I wanted. And it is you. It's always been you. I just got confused for a little bit. Forgive me?"

Piper was nodding intently, crying and smiling, fully, at the same time. "I forgive you. Are you staying then?"

"Yes, if you'll have me?" Alex nodded, and then her smile turned into a smirking one, one of her signature traits. "I remember being promised something about marriage, and a dozen of babies? I sorta came to take you up on that offer, if it still stands?"

"I thought I'd scared you away with all that….." Piper flung herself into Alex's arms. "Yes, yes, yes! The offer still stands!" She muffled out through her tears and then she grabbed Alex, her palms on each side of her face and kissed her with everything she had. And Alex kissed her back. The last coherent thought that went through Alex's mind was that this is where she belonged.

She'd been walking, searching for this place, in Piper's arms, all of her life… and now; she was finally home.

One year later…

The front door flew open, two women, limbs all tangled up in each other, stumbling through it.

"We don't have much time…" The blonde quipped between kissing the woman in her arms, and moaning out loud from what said woman was doing to her neck.

"I know… I know…" Alex momentarily pulled away from Piper's neck, smiling devilishly "So, we're going to be quick about it, so…." She returned her attention to her neck. "… No talking." she said in her most authoritative voice.

She continued to pull the blonde into the kitchen, casually tossing the black-rimmed glasses on the counter, and sitting Piper down on the edge of the table in the middle of the room.

"Alex!" Piper yelped as her lover viscously ripped open her shirt, buttons flying all over the kitchen floor. Looking all sad she added "…oh, I liked that shirt…."

"Well, you're gonna like this too… it'll compensate for the fucking shirt…." Smirking, she raised a perfect eyebrow as she placed her palm on Piper's chest and softly she pushed her down to lay flat against the hard table…placing herself between the blonde's long, smooth legs.

"… but Nicky and Lorna will be here…." She looked at her watch "…in 40 minutes….what if they're early?"

"I've known Nicky my whole life…. If she's early… she deserves to see this… ´cause that would be a first."

Piper laughed at that, until Alex started placing small kisses, beginning at her breasts, and ending at the lining of her panties.

"Alex…" Piper moaned, indicating she was getting close to where she was needed. The raven-haired woman smirked again and proceeded to pull the small piece of clothing off, along with the short jeans shorts she secretly loved Piper in. Well, it wasn't really a secret anymore; the blonde was very aware of how those shorts affected her lover and she used them frequently to get her way… she was kind of surprised that the smart, beautiful, strong police officer, currently between her thighs, still hadn't caught on…. Well, as long as it works, she couldn't really complain.

Finally ridding Piper of the only thing standing in her way, Alex grabbed a chair, pulling it up so Piper could place her right foot on it for support. The left leg, however, she hitched above her right shoulder and chuckled lightly at the urgent look Piper was giving her.

She pulled her black, long hair over to her left shoulder, then dipped her head down and drew in a deep breath. 'I'll never get enough of her scent…' She used her tongue to part the delicious lips and went to town. Sucking and licking the blonde to the brink of her sanity. Piper had grabbed hold of the edge of the table above her head and held on for dear life. When she felt Alex ease two fingers inside of her it didn't take long for her to find her sweet release, convulsing against her fingers and her mouth. Alex knew no better sound in the world than that. And knowing she was the one that could bring that out of the blonde, currently thrashing beneath her, almost made her come right there and then.

When Piper had come down from her incredible high, Alex gently pulled her up in a sitting position, taking the blonde into her arms and softly placing a sweet kiss on her lips, making Piper taste herself.

"Hi…" Piper's head was spinning.

"Hi, yourself…." Alex purred.

"That was some ride, my sweet wife…" Alex's smile grew even wider at that.

"It sure was… I love it when you come in my mouth…" Piper blushed furiously and the black-haired woman would never stop being amazed that her wife still would blush after hearing her say things like that. She loved it. She was so innocent…yet still… so not innocent. A perfect blend and she was all hers.

Suddenly Alex's expression went from smiling to that of unsure.

"What's wrong?" Piper placed her warm palm against her cheek.

"Do you think… do you think that the baby can feel it?" Alex looked down at the small baby bump that was beginning to form on Piper's stomach.

The blonde smiled and shook her head.

"You worry too much, I think the baby is happy knowing that his, or her, mothers are getting along and enjoying life…. Don't you?" Piper stated perky and went on to smirk and Alex visibly relaxed.

"Yeah, you're right… what's good for you must be good for the baby…"

"Oh yes, and that, my love… was really good for me…" Piper leaned in to kiss along Alex's neck and all worried disappeared from their thoughts.

"So… Do you want to chat some more… or… do you want me to make it really good for you… preferably before our guests arrive?" Piper was giving Alex an innocent look; a look that meant her thoughts were anything but innocent. Taking her silence, and the darkening of her eyes, as a "yes", she then proceeded to make it very good for her wife and future mother of their unborn baby.

The End

You like? Please take a second to review, it would really mean a lot to me. This has been an awesome journey for me! Thank you so much for all the support though it all. I'm in awe of all of you!

And I hope you liked the song!

Keep your eyes open for my next Vauseman AU-story!

All my love,

mliess