"You ready to go back in there?" Alex asks, rubbing her thumb along the back of the blonde's hand after having sat in silence for what must have been nearing 10 minutes.
She waits patiently, watching the woman next to her seemingly giving herself an internal once-over.
"Yeah," Piper begins, her voice quiet. "We probably should," she continues, clearing her throat to try and mask any sign of emotion.
Reluctantly releasing Alex's hand, the blonde stands up and brushes along the front of her dress, making sure the material isn't creased. She watches the brunette walk around the other side of the bench to join her in a walk back into the building, and smiles at the other woman's attempts to resolve her emotional breakdown. She knows she should tell Alex what had happened, but she doesn't want to relive that moment - not just yet.
"We'll leave whenever you want," Alex voices as they begin to walk in time towards the building now ahead of them. "Okay?"
"Okay," Piper nods, using her left hand to again link their fingers together. "Thank you, Alex." she adds.
"You don't need to thank me," Alex chuckles, using her free hand to pull open the door. "I'd rather be out here with you than stuck in there alone."
For what's been the first time since her encounter with her parents, Piper genuinely laughs - something that doesn't go unnoticed on Alex's end.
"Let's get this over with," the blonde lets out a heavy breath, almost as though psyching herself up.
Without voicing a response, Alex squeezes her hand, letting the woman next to her know she'll be there with her the entire time.
"I'll never forget that morning at the hospital," her father says into the microphone at the front of the room, causing some of the audience members to laugh at his words.
She's always hated when her parents would do this: boast about their lives. And worse than anything, is when they do everything and anything to make Danny sound like the only child in the family.
"The day our perfect boy was born," he continues, looking over at his son seated next to his wife along the long table they're seated at.
Of course he's perfect, Piper thinks to herself, knowing despite it only being a speech, it's a thought her father has when comparing Danny to herself and Cal. Clenching down on her jaw, the blonde attempts to hold in her frustrations, glad at least that she had grabbed herself and Alex new drinks before any of the speeches had began.
She isn't too sure how long she felt herself space out, but Piper is eventually brought back into focus at the loud sound of applause and cheering coming from those around her.
"You good?" she hears Alex as a hand is placed her knee.
"Mmm, yeah," Piper nods slightly, knowing that despite the front she's currently putting on, the woman next to her knows she just wants this thing to be over as soon as possible.
"Do you want something stronger?" the brunette goes on to ask, eyes looking down at the glass of champagne resting in her hand.
"Please," Piper responds, doing her best to let a smile out.
She watches Alex deliver a wink and raise herself from her chair in one fluid movement. Despite the mass of people in the room surrounding her and possible conversations she could be having, her attention is focused on her girlfriend. Apart from the overall shitty mood she's currently in, just being in Alex's company alone manages to ease some of the present tension. Knowing that woman is here putting up with all the rich, snobs surrounding them makes her smile.
She thinks back to when she first saw Alex hours before and is reminded of how blown away she felt by how she looked. She wonders whether she really gave off that impression well enough, and makes a mental note to tell the other woman again, even if it meant feeling slightly embarrassed.
While her girlfriend is waiting to be served at the bar, Piper observes her talking to someone. Who? She can't quite figure out straight away, but after some people shuffle out the way to let someone get by, she notes her girlfriend is in conversation with Danny's best man and his wife.
If Alex were in a conversation with anyone other than a couple she knows is wholly committed to one another, Piper would start to let her jealousy get the better of her, but if there's one thing she's learnt from her time with Alex - both before and during their relationship, it's that she sure knows how to charm people. She can't exactly blame people for falling for it - she herself fell face first, but something about that fact makes her chest thump. It's one of the many qualities she's growing to appreciate about her girlfriend, especially when it means she gets to observe that bright smile she can currently see all the way from her chair across the room.
She can see Alex turning slightly to grab her drinks order from the bartender before stopping as she does to turn back around. Piper isn't really too sure what's happening, but what she does know is that there's now another person in a very close proximity to her girlfriend.
When Alex does turn around fully, she can see her hands are holding two glasses a fair distance away from her body and that her vision immediately shoots down. Piper smirks to herself as she observes what clearly must have been a drink spillage, but that is immediately wiped away when she sees that it's her father that had knocked into her girlfriend in the first place.
Her instinct is to march over there and defend the brunette, but from the sight of her moving mouth, the blonde gathers Alex can handle this one on her own. The exchange doesn't seem anything like the one she had with her parents earlier - thank god, but she knows that given how hers had ended, this one currently happening can't be all too good.
She's surprised how calm Alex looks talking - well, she hopes rather than arguing - with her father, yet stands from her chair once deciding she should go and save the woman from having her ears chewed off.
She doesn't get the chance to walk over, however, when she watches her father tilt his body to the side - no where near accommodating enough - for Alex to make her way past. She sees her father's mouth open slightly as though he was going to say something before Alex's retreating form seems too far away to be able to hear.
Her girlfriend maintains a calm look on her face, and even if her recent exchange had been a negative one, there was no way of being able to tell. Another thing she's growing to adore about the other woman.
"You're all wet," Piper says when Alex eventually approaches, handing over one of the two glasses in her hands.
Lifting an eyebrow, Alex smiles.
"Forward," she says, slightly surprised. "Although, not exactly false either," she continues, her vision resting on Piper's chest.
"That's not what I meant," the blonde uses her free hand to wipe away some of the spilled liquid along her hand. "Did my dad do that?" she asks, immediately making sure the other woman knows she had seen her recent interaction.
"It's only a little on my arm," Alex shrugs. "An accident," she explains, moving to sit back down in her seat next to the blonde.
"Did he say that?"
"He said," the brunette pauses, and Piper wonders whether she's thinking of a way to somehow bend the truth. "He said some things."
"Like what?" Piper squints her eyes, not liking the thought of her father saying something that Alex doesn't want to share.
"Pipes it doesn't matter," Alex turns her head, after taking a sip of her drink. "He apologised and asked a few questions. We can talk more about it later, alright? It's nothing to worry about."
Slowly nodding in acceptance of her girlfriend's request, Piper takes a moment to think.
"Let's go back to the bit about you being wet," she voices, attempting to change the mood of the conversation, placing her hand on Alex's wrist, rubbing the skin slowly.
"Later," the brunette chuckles, leaning forward to kiss the blonde's jaw.
"I have to admit," Alex whispers from where they're standing in a group at the side of the dance floor watching Danny's first dance. "It I were straight," she shakes her head, looking at her girlfriend's brother.
"Al," Piper hits her arm lightly, surprised by her comment. "That's my brother. My now married brother."
"You look alike," Alex shrugs, placing a hand around Piper's waist. "It makes sense."
"I'm kidding," she continues, pulling Piper's body close to her own. "I much prefer his sister."
"Wow, you make me feel so special," the blonde smiles, her tone of voice sarcastic.
"And don't you forget it," Alex mirrors the expression, feeling Piper's hand rest on top of her own.
Despite not exactly enjoying the occasion, Piper is happy for her brother. She doesn't get to see as much of him as she would like, but when she does, she's reminded of some of the more happier memories from her childhood.
The song eventually ends with the group of people cheering for the dancing couple, before the track merges into a new one, the tempo still remaining slow.
"Would you like to dance?" Alex asks, breaking Piper out of her daydream in seeing a number of pairs starting to dance along to the song together.
Twisting her body to the side, Piper runs a hand along the taller woman's shoulder, smiling while doing so.
"Yes. I would."
Pulling Alex's hand away from her waist, Piper links their fingers, directing them to a space on the dance floor that isn't too crowded, yet isn't completely empty.
"You know," Piper begins, her hands resting on Alex's lower back. "I don't think I told you how how beautiful you look today."
It isn't often she gets to see Alex blush, but despite the darkness of the room they're in, the blonde can see her skin slightly flushed from her observation.
"You may have already mentioned something earlier," the brunette responds, and Piper wonders whether she has the sudden urge to fix her glasses - a recurring nervous habit of hers.
"I know, but I wanted you to know I meant it. And I mean it more now than I did earlier."
"I appreciate that," Alex whispers. "I'm guessing you're not gonna let me return that sentiment though."
"Nope," Piper smirks. "You've said more than enough already."
Instead of responding verbally, Alex squeezes one of the hands that are on Piper's shoulders, hoping that what she wanted to say back is clear enough.
With more people now on the dance floor with them, Piper pulls their bodies closer to ensure that whatever they're saying to one another is as close to private as possible.
"I didn't have you down as a dancer," the blonde whispers into Alex's ear, unaware that her girlfriend's focus is now elsewhere.
With her height as an advantage, she can just about make out Piper's brother, Danny, in a conversation with his mother. She obviously can't tell what they're talking about, but given what seems to be a conversation heavily led by her girlfriend's brother, she does begin to wonder what exactly they're talking about.
"When have you had an opportunity to see me dance before this?" Alex eventually chimes in, choosing to not voice what she had seen and risk ruining their moment.
"You have a point," Piper responds, her warm breath slightly wetting Alex's ear.
Since they had sat outside in silence, this is the first time Alex allows herself to think back to her prior thoughts about her girlfriend. Seeing her in this sort of environment did nothing but heighten her growing feelings for the other woman, and she again feels her chest clench when she feels Piper's warm breath against her ear once again.
"What you thinking about?" the blonde asks, clearly sensing that the brunette had been deep in thought.
"You," Alex reveals, momentarily wondering if she'd said the wrong thing as she feels Piper slightly stiffen up in her arms, but realising it's only so she can pull her head back level to establish eye contact.
"Nothing bad I hope," she ponders, blue eyes searching her own.
"Never."
She feels Piper's hands tighten around her waist and her forehead come into contact with her own. She wonders what the blonde is thinking about, whether she's internally processing the rollercoaster of emotions she's been through over the past few hours. Her eyes are closed over, and given the light hint at a smile on her lips, Alex comes to gather that she's doing quite the opposite.
"You doing okay?" the brunette goes on to whisper, hoping she can be heard in the bubble they've created despite the loud noises all around them.
"I am, yes," Piper pulls her forehead away, again establishing eye contact. "Thank you for asking."
The slow song around them comes to its end, but the one following transitions into one still making it acceptable to be dancing like they currently are. On Alex's part, the feeling of Piper's eyes staring unrelentingly into her own is somewhat daunting yet reassuring at the same time. What she does know, however, is that it doesn't change the way she feels towards the woman before her, or her growing urge to share that information.
She's trying to find the right words, feeling them on the tip of her tongue, yet all she can do is give a toothy smile in Piper's direction. She can tell Piper too is wanting to say something, but likewise doesn't want to interrupt the atmosphere they've created.
"I love you," Alex spills out, clearly failing at trying to work her way around to explaining her feelings. "That's what I was thinking about."
She observes Piper's smile mould into her mouth opening slightly, top row of teeth still on show. It's an expression she hasn't quite seen before, but assumes it's not a negative one.
"It's been a long time since someone's said that to me," Piper says slowly, Alex's words clearly having an effect.
"It's been a long time since I've said that to anyone."
Moving her hands from the top of Alex's back, Piper now places them on either side of her collarbone, fingers brushing the tops of her shoulders.
Alex observes the blonde blinking quickly, as though trying to disguise any sign of emotion. She does manage to see the slight welling up of her eyes, but takes it as a positive sign.
"I-" Piper pauses, swallowing before letting out what looks like a relieved heavy breath. "I love you too."
Alex can tell her girlfriend is momentarily overwhelmed by the emotions that are contrasting against the many ones she's already experienced today, but allows her to bask in those feelings.
"So much," Piper continues, unhesitantly pulling them into a kiss.
The brunette is surprised by how open her girlfriend seems to be in such a setting, but that thought is only temporary. She can feel the slight dampness of Piper's cheeks against her own, and it - for what must be the hundredth time that day - makes her chest tighten.
"Wanna get out of here?" Alex asks once they break away, foreheads resting against one another.
She can see some eyes wandering in their direction, but if it doesn't bother Piper, it doesn't bother her.
"Yes," the blonde whispers against her lips. "We should probably tell Danny though," she adds, using her left hand to link with Alex's and drag them away from the dance floor in search of her brother.
Having said their goodbyes to Piper's brothers and a few other people they had spoken to throughout the night, the blonde takes Alex's hand and walks them out the grand building. Alex takes out her phone with her free left hand, ready to order a cab, before they're stopped by a voice trailing behind them.
"Piper," the masculine voice shouts, clearly not wanting them to be leaving before they get their word in.
Upon hearing the voice, Alex finds it somewhat familiar, but given the sigh she hears come from her girlfriend's lips, she knows the blonde is certain of who it is.
"Yes?" Piper asks, turning to face the person wanting her attention, refusing to breaking her hand connection with Alex.
"I've been looking for you," he pants slightly - a sign that he must have rushed after them. "I didn't realise you were leaving without saying goodbye."
"I wonder why that is, Dad," Piper hits back without missing a beat, her tone of voice clearly showing how little she wants to be having this conversation right now.
"I was talking to your mother and we think that-"
"I don't need to hear what you and Mom think," the blonde interrupts, seriousness running off her tongue.
Alex watches the older man scratch his grey beard - seeming as though he was trying to think of a way to come back from that blow.
"Do you need some money for a cab?" he asks, assumingly changing courses from the real reason he had run after his daughter.
"No. We don't. Thank you for thinking of me so considerately. I'm not too sure it suits you though."
Again, Alex just watches as her girlfriend talks to her father in a way that is clearly sending some sort of message, but hasn't caused her to raise her voice enough to be considered angry. Piper's father again scratches his beard, and if it weren't for the fact that she knows something has been said to the woman next to her presumably about their relationship, she would feel sorry for the man.
"Let's go," Piper says, now looking over at Alex as she begins to lead them back in the direction they had initially been walking.
"That was badass, Chapman," Alex says, trying to lighten the mood.
"You think?" Piper laughs. "I don't know whether I should be offended or not by him offering up cab money. He wouldn't even help me out when I bought my first apartment."
"Must be tough."
"Oh, no, I don't mean to sound like an ass," Piper stops walking once they reach the car parking area. "I'm fortunate for many things that have stemmed from my childhood, it's just," she pauses, trying to find the right words for what she's trying to say.
"I just I sometimes wish it was more normal," she concludes, shrugging slightly.
"Believe me, you had it a lot better than I ever did," Alex pulls her hand away to check her phone. "Driver's a minute away," she digresses slightly, pointing to the screen.
"I'm not trying to make this a bragging competition or anything if you feel that's what I'm doing," the blonde says softly, placing a hand over Alex's wrist.
"I don't think that," Alex responds, brushing a piece of Piper's hair behind her ear. "A lot's happened today. It's okay to want to talk about it."
"I just don't want to bore you about my issues," Piper chuckles in a self-deprecating manner.
"You'd never bore me, Pipes," Alex leans forward, kissing her on the temple. "It's one of the many things I love about you."
I'm starting to plan how this story is going to end as I don't want it to be going on for too much longer. I've also done the same with my other story I still have going, so I'll probably be splitting my time updating both of those.
I'm planning on writing a new story when they're both done. I wasn't really going to anytime soon, but all my summer plans and any work I had have been thrown out the window quite obviously. So, keep an eye out for that, although I can't imagine that will be happening quite yet as I haven't even started brain storming any ideas! (Do PM any ideas of anything you think may be a good read - sometimes my creativity can go a bit down the drain after writing as much as I have been recently.)