Chapter 35: I've got something to tell you

The next week flew by pretty fast. Alex and Piper were both happy and blissful the whole week. On monday Polly was very curious about Piper's weekend as she had been part of Alex's surprise for her now fiancée.

"Hi Piper." Polly greeted her with a wide smile when Piper came to work. "How was the rest of your day? And the weekend?" She shot her a half-knowing smile.

"Oh my god. So good Polly." Piper's eyes got dreamy thinking back to the weekend.

"Oh, come on! Tell me about it!" Polly couldn't wait.

"Well. The driver brought me to Diane. We had lunch and talked. She was the next one to give me one flower after the driver gave me the fourth. She even made my favourite! It was great. After that Scott drove me to meet Nicky and Lorna at the Liquid Temptation. We had a drink and talked about the last few months. Nicky was as serious as I've never seen her before and told me how happy she was for Alex and me that we met. It was so sweet. And then Scott took me to Luigi's where I finally met Alex. Who of course had the last flower for me. Along with a question and a little something." she held her hand up to show Polly her ring. Polly screamed in surprise.

"Oh my god. Piper! Is this what I think it is? Did she ask you to marry her?" Polly's eyes were wide open from surprise.

"Yes she did. And yes I said yes." Piper's smile was so wide it gave everything away. How happy and excited she was and the love she felt for Alex.

"Oh my god. Don't you think…" "...it is to soon?" Piper interrupted Polly's question. Polly nodded. "No. I don't think it is too soon. That's the point with Alex and me. Everything happens so fast but I never feel like it is too soon. And I am so ready to spend all of my life with her, Polly. She is the one I'm supposed to be with. Remember our discussion about the 'Right One'? I think - no I don't think- I know I found that one. If I didn't believe in it back then now with Alex I do. I can't imagine ever being with someone else. Nobody could make me as happy as she can."

"Okay. You got me convinced. I am so happy for you. Oh my god. You're getting married!" Polly was excited. She loved to plan parties and events and stuff like that.

"Yes. I'm so excited. You're the second one to know about this, so I guess the next couple days is gonna be me and Alex telling everyone." Piper felt joyful at the thought.

"Nobody else knows? Nobody you visited knew why Alex had planned all this?" Polly was surprised.

"No. Just my dad. He was the only one who knew what would happen later that day. Remember that day when I was so mad at Alex for not being at the café when I wanted to surprise her?" Polly nodded, rolling her eyes, she had thought Piper overreacted a little. "Well she was actually visiting my dad, asking for his blessing."

"Oh my, how cute." Polly grinned. At some points she was still fascinated by the couples love story and thoughtful and sweet behaviour with each other.

"Oh and I got a question for you, Polly." Piper said meaningful.

"Yes?" Polly stood there in anticipation.

"Will you be my maid of honour?" Piper asked with a big smile on her face.

"Of course!" Polly seemed happy that Piper asked her but who else should she have asked. Polly was and would always be her best friend.

XXXXX

On friday they planned dinner with Diane. They wanted to tell her together about their next step. Alex knew her mom would be very happy for them but was nervous to tell her nonetheless. The newly engaged couple was swimming in bliss the whole week and spent every second together that they didn't have to work. They had talked about when and where they would like to get married and where to go for their honeymoon. They were both surprised that their honeymoon would be the first time they went on holiday together. With their flourishing businesses both women had no chance to take off for a long enough period of time for a real vacation. They had been away for long weekends, so they took one day off. Longer just never worked out. They both liked the idea of getting married on the day they had initially met. It would be their one year anniversary and their wedding. They just weren't sure if they should take the weekend after, their anniversary would be a tuesday after all and they were sure most of their guests would have to work.

They met Diane at a restaurant close to her place, deciding not to go to Luigi's this time to mix things up a little.

"Hey girls. So great to see you." Diane greeted both with a big smile and a tight hug. "If possible you two look even happier than the last time I've seen you."

"Hi mom." Alex greeted her. Piper and Alex looked at each other meaningfully.

They went in, sat down and ordered as soon as the waiter came over with the menu and took the order for their drinks.

"So. How was your week? And especially last weekend?" Diane asked with a hint of 'I think I know what happened'.

"It was great." Alex started. Diane gave her a sign to go on. She was dying to know what happened last friday and if she made the right guesses.

"Oh, come on, Alex. Don't let me hanging like this. I might have an idea about what might have happened after lunch but I want to hear it from you!" Diane was getting a bit impatient.

"Oh, wow. Well I thought you knew something or guessed something, as I had been planning that day for a bit. And I don't know what your assumption was, but after Piper had lunch with you she met Nicky and Lorna and after that the two of us had dinner. And I asked Piper to marry me." Alex told her in one go.

"That's the perfect point to stop telling me." Diane said sarcastically. "But as I see you both happy and blissful I'll guess the answer was yes?!"

"Yes it was." Piper answered her and smiled widely at Alex.

"That amazing! I am so happy for you. Ever since I met you, Piper, I hoped my daughter here would realize what a catch she made and make sure not to ruin this. So far she's never introduced someone to me, let alone cared for someone as much as she does for you. She used to tell me she wasn't a relationship person and doing commitment like that. But after her trip to Washington I saw that something was different and she changed her mind. I am happy that it was you to be the reason for that change and that Alex realized what a great woman you are. I am so happy that you two found each other." Diane ended her little speech.

"Thank you, Diane." was all Piper could reply as now tears were streaming down her face. She was so touched by Diane's words that she could barely speak. She just simply added: "I actually think I'm the lucky one here. I mean you have an amazing daughter, Diane." she smiled widely and looked at Alex with all the love she felt for her in her eyes. Alex couldn't help but return the bright smile and her eyes showed pure love and adoration through a veil of tears in her eyes. Diane took the moment in and felt like she could burst any second from happiness.

"I love you." Piper quietly said.

"I love you too, Pipes." Alex replied and they exchanged a short kiss before starting a new less emotional conversation with Diane.

XXXXX

"Pipes, how does this look?" Alex asked stepping out of the bathroom. The two women prepared for Piper's father's birthday party and Alex wanted to make a good impression on the guests as she had developed a quite close relationship with Bill. Both women were fully aware that Piper's mom would be there too and she still hadn't spoken much with her daughter as she seemingly hadn't changed her mind yet, but Piper and Alex decided to ignore that for now and try to have a nice evening for Bill's sake.

"You always look great." Piper gives back.

"Seriously Pipes. Think the lipstick goes with the dress? I am not so sure about this." Alex asked a little annoyed.

"Yes, it does." Piper stepped closer and hugged Alex. "Why are you so nervous, babe?"

"I'm not nervous. I just want to make a good impression on your family and friends. Those I haven't met yet. Which I guess are quite a few." she tried to reason.

"They'll like you. Don't worry. I mean how could they not?" Piper smiled at Alex.

"Oh believe me, there are quite some people out there who could make you a list of reasons…" Alex replied. "And don't you think you're a little biased?" she chuckled. She pulled Piper closer who had been collecting the last things into her purse and gave her a peck on the neck. Piper turned around to face Alex and looked her into the eyes. She could melt every time she saw those beautiful green eyes.

"Maybe a little." Piper chuckled and kissed Alex. "But as your fiancée I am officially allowed and supposed to." she explained.

"Sure you are." Alex placed soft kisses on Piper's cheek and neck.

"If you keep doing this we're going to be late to the party." Piper warned.

"Are we?" Alex kept on kissing Piper and let her hands run down her body. A quiet moan escaped the blonde's mouth.

"Yes we are. I don't mind though, but you were so worried about the first impression." Piper said. She was enjoying this and already immensely turned on.

"Shit, you are right. I got totally distracted for a minute. But I'd rather not be late." Alex said slowly getting away from Piper.

They both got ready and left. Soon they arrived at Piper's parents house and were ready to go in.

"Hey girls." Bill greeted them with a big smile pulling first Piper and then Alex into a hug.

"Hi dad. Happy birthday!" Piper handed him the present they had brought. A bottle of red wine and a book they were both sure he'd enjoy reading.

"Hi Bill. Happy birthday." Alex said and they went inside.

Some guests were already there and some still arriving during the next half hour. Piper went looking for her mother. Even if they weren't on best terms right now she wanted to be polite and at least say hi. She found her in the kitchen preparing snacks for the party.

"Wait Piper!" she suddenly said when Piper turned to go back to the party after they said hello. Piper turned around to face her mother with a questioning look on her face.

"Would you mind lending me a hand?" Carol quietly said.

"Sure." Piper wasn't sure what her mother wanted by making her stay here but she wanted to find out. Carol though stayed silent for a bit while Piper was waiting for her to say something.

"I'm sorry Piper. That I've been like that. It has been hard for me though." she finally found words.

"Hard? For you to accept that I am happy? Why does it matter who makes me happy? The important thing should be that I am happy." Piper said.

"It doesn't matter. I am sorry that I acted like that and that I haven't found the courage to come to you and apologize for my behaviour. But you have to give me a chance to understand why I did what I did." Carol looked at her waiting for her answer.

"Ok. I'm listening." she quickly told her so her mother would go on.

"There are many reasons, actually. You know I was raised in a time when things like being with the same sex was frowned upon and not accepted. And I know that times change and today it is different but sometimes it is not that easy to adjust to that when you've been raised differently. The next thing you will understand if you'll have children yourself one day. When you give birth to a child you only want what's best for this little thing and try to give your child the best that you can. I know I failed that sometimes and I am sorry for that. But then you think of the life your little girl could have. How she could be a mom too one day and have something so small and amazing herself and have a home and could possibly do so much better than you yourself and you want to see all that happening. So it is hard when this picture you have of how amazing her life could be is destroyed and you don't know what her life might be like now. Then you realize it's not your life but hers and are mad at yourself for pushing her away when all she wanted was that you'd be happy for her." Carol said and soon added: "Piper I am sorry that I couldn't accept the fact that it is a woman who makes you happy earlier. I am sorry for how I behaved and hope you'll give me a chance to make it up to you and maybe get to know your Alex."

Piper was speechless. She just looked at her mother unbelievingly and felt shocked by her moms explanation and apologies. She noticed her wet cheeks, she obviously had been crying while her mom told her all this. She had been waiting really long for her mom to at least acknowledge that she had been wrong. Never though had she expected all this. She went over to her mom and hugged her. Carol was taken aback for a second but soon returned the hug.

"Thank you, mom. It's so great to hear you say that." she said tears still running down her face.

Like this - hugging and both crying - Alex found mother and daughter in the kitchen after looking for Piper when she had been gone for longer than Alex had expected. Carol loosened the hug and went over to Alex.

"I think I owe you an apology too. Alex I am sorry for my reaction and what I said the first time we met. I guess there is no way I can take back the first impression but I hope you'll give me a second chance to make it up to you and Piper. Bill has told me a bit about you and I'm sorry I couldn't see how good you are for Piper and how happy you make her. If you give me another chance I'd like to get to know you, Alex."

Piper noticed that Alex too was surprised by the change of her mother's behaviour but found words sooner than Piper.

"Thank you. Apology accepted. And I'd like that." she cautiously smiled at her.

"Nothing to thank for. This was long overdue." Carol said. "I'll leave you two alone for a second. Just one question. If you come outside could you bring the last bowls with snacks? Thank you." she said and left.

"Yeah of course." Piper only said now turning to Alex. "Did this really just happen? I feel like I dreamed this and wake up soon only to realize this didn't happen."

Alex chuckled. "It did happen, Pipes. It's somewhat unbelievable but I am glad she finally found the courage to apologize and noticed her mistakes."

"Wow. You'll need to remind me tomorrow though again." Piper chuckled. "I just can't believe it."

"What did you do to mom?" Piper asked her dad when she ran into him a bit later.

"Why? What did she say?" he was anxious.

"Oh nothing bad. Actually really good. She finally came around and apologized for her behaviour." Piper told him, the amazement and happiness still visible in her eyes.

Her dad seemed to lose some tension. "That's great. I hoped she would but I can't make her do anything. I'm glad she finally found the courage."

Later in the evening Piper got something to drink when her mom joined her. Alex was engrossed in a conversation with Piper's cousin.

"Hey, honey. How have you been?" her mother wanted to know.

"Uhm, good actually. PoPi is still growing and we're doing great. I've been working a bit more, cause Polly is always easily exhausted recently with the baby coming. Alex is still great and we're happier than ever. I couldn't be happier right now." Piper said sincerely and her smile gave away how happy she was.

"That's so great to hear. Now tell me a bit about that girlfriend of yours. I want to know whatever you are ready to tell me." Carol asked.

"Uh, well. I could start with the fact that she's not my girlfriend anymore but as of recent I like to call her fiancée…" Piper started but got interrupted by Carol.

"You two are engaged?" she sounded really surprised.

"Yes." Piper answered quietly and suddenly a little anxious of her mother's reaction.

"That's great Piper. I've been watching you two a little this evening and it is obvious how happy and in love you and Alex are. Again I am sorry I couldn't see that earlier but I love to see you this happy. That's all I ever wanted for you. Congratulations!"

"Thanks, mom." Piper was relieved.

"Do you have a date already?" Carol asked.

"Not really. We intended to take the day we first met. It would be our first anniversary but it is a tuesday and we both don't want to ask everyone to take a day off for the wedding so I think we'll decide to take the weekend after. The saturday should be the 15th of March. But it's not completely decided and we'll let everyone know soon."

"Oh my. I'm a bit excited I have to say. My little girl is getting married!" Carol said. Piper was still getting used to her mother's newfound happiness and interest in her life. Not that she didn't appreciate it, it was just very new to her.